South Africa: 2021 Local Government Election results trickle in

The African National Congress (ANC) has emerged as early frontrunner in the wake of Mondays 2021 Local Government Elections, with results confirming the party had secured three local municipalities.

The Local Government Election results started trickling in on Monday night at the Results Operation Centre in Pretoria, as soon as voting stations closed at 9pm.

By 8.51am, the ANC had secured 46% of the counted votes. Overall, the 1.5 million votes to its names saw it gain control of five municipalities. The party had won 282 seats. Coming in second,at this time, was the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 25% of ballots accounted for. Its over 800 000 votes saw the party win 111 seats and one council. Other parties shared 8.8% (291 000), of the counted ballots.

Of the five councils won by the ANC at the time, three municipalities are in the Northern Cape, the countrys least populated province.

The ANCs first coup was in the Khai-ma Local Municipality, in the Namakwa District.

With 4 403 (50.55%) votes in its favour, the ANC secured six in the council. With 1 709 (19.62%) votes against its name, the Namakwa Civic Movement (NCM) will have two representatives on the council.

The biggest loser here was the Democratic Alliance (DA), which saw its support drop dramatically to 11.7% compared to the 48.99% it achieved in the 2016 Local Government Elections. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Congress of the People (COPE) also secured one seat each in the council.

A coalition government will be required in the Thembelihle Local Municipality, in the Pixley Ka Seme District, after none of the contesting parties secured enough votes to control the 11 seat council.

The ANCs 4 343 (39.81%) could only secure five seats for the party. The EFF, with 2 677 votes against its name, claimed three seats. The DA, the VF+ and SGB will all have a seat each in the council.

In Renosterberg Local Municipality, also in the Pixley ka Seme District, the ANC won 5 seats from 4 922 votes to its name. Its 53.01% was almost twice the votes secured by its closest competitor, the DA got three seats (28.75%) from its 2 669 votes. The EFF will have one seat in the council after achieving 14.1% of the votes cast.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: IEC officials ambushed in Mpumalanga

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

Over eight million South Africans had cast their votes at 23 148 voting stations as at 5pm, the Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Monday. Giving an update on the progress on Election Day of the 2021 Local Government Elections, less than an hour before the polling stations closed at 9pm, IEC Commissioner, Dr Nomusa Masuku, said the Comm... See more
South Africa: Press Club calls for probe into journalist's arrest

The National Press Club has called for an urgent probe after a Newzroom Afrika journalist covering local elections in Soweto was detained by the police.

National Press Club Deputy Chairperson, Willem van de Putte, said the arrest of the journalist, who was doing his job, was a blight to free and fair elections.

It is ironic that on a day on which citizens are exercising their democratic rights, a journalist is arrested for doing his job.

The Newzroom Africa journalist, Zinokoka Mhlaba, was accosted by police as he made a live report.

A senior police officer could be seen in the live footage moving in front of the camera as the reporter pleaded to be left alone as he was doing his job.

The footage becomes distorted as the police officer apparently wrestles the camera away from its operator, said Van de Putte.

He said the incident was shocking, as it sends the wrong message that police can act with impunity, even where no crime has been committed.

He called on the Electoral Commission, the SAPS and IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] to thoroughly investigate the incident.

We need assurance that journalists can continue to do their jobs unhindered in all public circumstances, especially on such an important day in our democracy.

We condemn the overzealous actions of the police and hope that the reporter, as well as his colleagues, managed to continue to do their jobs unhindered, Van de Putte said.

The journalist was later released and he continued with his duties covering the elections.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Massive fuel hike to kick in from Wednesday

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a massive fuel hike from Wednesday this week.

According to the department, petrol (both 93 and 95) will go up by R1.21 per litre, while the price of diesel (0.05% and 0.005% sulphur) will increase by R1.48 per little.

In addition, a litre of illuminating paraffin is set to cost R1.45 more, the departments statement read.

Minister Gwede Mantashe, who made the announcement on Monday, said the adjustment of fuel prices was based on current local and international factors with effect from the 3 November 2021.

South Africas fuel prices are adjusted on a monthly basis, informed by international and local factors, the department explained.

International factors include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including importation costs, shipping costs and so on.

According to the department, the average Brent crude oil price increased from US$75.50 to US$83.40 per barrel during the period under review.

The Brent Crude oil reached the highest level since October 2018. The key driver is the higher global demand recovery amid a weaker supply response from non-OPEC and other oil producers. The situation was exacerbated by the impact of the current gas challenges experienced by European countries that are having on the prices of energy commodities, the department said.

In addition, the rand weakened from an average of R14.56 per dollar to R14.72 per dollar.

The Automobile Association (AA) said the price of 95ULP in Polokwane is already testing the R20 per litre mark, with fuel there now costing R19.97 per litre.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: 90% of votes to be counted by Tuesday evening

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) estimates that 90% of vote counting in the Monday 2021 Local Government Elections will be concluded by the end of Tuesday.

In its first media briefing since polls closed at 9pm, the IEC reported that, as at 10.30am, 27% of the 64 502 results expected, had been finalised.

This status is in line with the expected result capturing process. It is estimated that 90 percent of results would be finalised by the evening. The balance of 10 percent would take another 24 hours to complete, said Sy Mamabolo, IEC chief electoral officer (CEO).

Statistics revealed that the Northern Cape had completed 74% of its results. It was followed by the Western Cape at 46%.

In third position comes the Free State at 26%.

The rest of the provinces completion rate range between 15 and 37%.

Mamabolo said the result capturing involved several processes, including the verification of the result slips, the capturing, scanning and the auditing of the results.

An independent audit firm have been procured for purposes of auditing the results, he said.

Voter turnout

During the briefing, the IEC also bemoaned political party leaders for unwarranted attacks on the Commission.

It urged party leaders to act and speak responsibly as the result collation process unfolds.

The CEO said: As you will recall, the Commission had anticipated the prospect of a lower voter turnout already in July and approached the Constitutional Court. Nonetheless, the Commission implemented an extensive education and communication campaign to ensure that voters turn out. This included educational programmes that assured voters that it will safe to be at a voting station.

He said it was important to realise that voter turnout was a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by different factors.

Some of the elements that motivate voters to go relate to factors outside of the purview of the Commission such as disruptions to services, levels of trust in political institutions. Regrettably, unwarranted attacks on the Commission could potentially also influence voter turnout, he said.

In the analysis of voter turnout, the COVID-19 context in which the election happened should not be forgotten. The national message has been that people must not be in congregated environments.

Voter Management Devices (VMDs)

On VMDs, the Commission said it believes that these were the mainstay equipment for this election.

Mamabolo said the devices ensured that the IEC continues to meet the constitutional courts injunction that voters only vote in the wards in which they are registered and that every voter must have an address on the voters roll.

Over the voting period, the IEC said it processed 12.1 million votes through the VMDs.

This means that we are confident that these voters voted in the wards in which they are ordinarily resident. This is an important control measure in a local government election.

Through the use of the technology, the Commission was able for the first time to register voters and simultaneously capture their addresses during the registration weekend in September. Address capturing would have taken months to complete without the VMD as was previously the case, said Mamabolo.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: HK-Cambodia webinar held

The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau and the Cambodian Consulate General in Hong Kong jointly held a webinar today to explore partnership between both places on trade, investment, professional services and technology.

About 350 people signed up for the Hong Kong - Cambodia Partnership webinar.

Speaking at the event, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau highlighted the longstanding and close relationship between the two places, adding that Cambodia has been fertile ground for Hong Kong enterprises and investors.

He said Cambodia offers ample opportunities to foreign investors and Hong Kong could further strengthen its ties with the country.

Mr Yau also urged more Hong Kong enterprises to explore the potential of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) and to use it as a landing spot in expanding to Cambodia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at large.

The SSEZ is one of the overseas Economic & Trade Co-operation Zones recognised by the Ministry of Commerce and is an important deliverable of the Belt & Road Initiative.

Interested Hong Kong enterprises may apply for support from the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading & Domestic Sales overseen by the bureau for expansion into the SSEZ or other places in Cambodia, Mr Yau noted.

The commerce chief also encouraged Cambodian businesses to leverage Hong Kongs position as a gateway to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Belt & Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area.

Enterprises may also make use of the Mainland & Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement to enter the vast and growing Mainland consumer market through Hong Kong, he added.

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: ANC takes lead in most KZN municipalities

As vote counting for the 2021 Local Government Elections continues in different parts of the country, the African National Congress (ANC) continues to hold most of the seats in various municipalities, especially in that of KwaZulu-Natal.

As at 2pm, with 23% of the provincial votes counted, statistics showed that the ANC was leading in KwaZulu-Natal with 42.87% of the votes, followed by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) with 26.12%, and the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 10.64%.

In eThekwini Municipality, the ANC is still holding the majority of the votes with 54.39%, followed by the DA with 23.25%, and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 8.34%.

In Umzimkhlu, the ANC received huge support with 80.74% votes, followed by the EFF with 9.71%. The ANC is also taking the lead in Greater Kokstad, with 58.59% of the votes counted so far, followed by the EFF at 20.66% and the DA at 12.99%.

The ANC also seemed to gain lots of support in the rural community of Impendle with 59.16%, followed by the IFP at 19.36% and EFF (17.81%).

The party is, however, seemingly losing its support in Msunduzi Municipality, where the DA is currently leading with 68.64%, ANC 15.24% and EFF following with 9.38%.  SAnews.gov.za

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Hong Kong: HK set for maritime mediation

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng

It is my pleasure to join you in todays forum. The Hong Kong Legal Week is held in the first week of November each year. And this year we have a beautiful collaboration with the Hong Kong Maritime Week. And for this reason, naturally, I am doubly happy today.

Global calls for collaborative innovation within the maritime sector

With maritime transport handling 80% of global trade volume, the maritime industry was the first to bear the brunt of the effects of COVID-19. Nonetheless, global maritime trade picked up in the first quarter of this year. This is indicated by the increase of 10.7% in the volume of container shipping, which amounts to 42.9 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit), as reported by BIMCO (The Baltic & International Maritime Council). Chinas exports have surged by 33.7% from January to August this year, providing an impetus to the recovery of maritime activities.

Sailing into the new normal under the post-pandemic world, the maritime industry is still overwhelmed by the rising tides of digitalisation and decarbonisation. To stay competitive, the maritime industry must act promptly to upscale its innovation capabilities to achieve technological and green industrial transformation, which calls for a new source of funds and talents. Enhanced collaboration within the industry and associated services suppliers are crucial to meet new trends and demands, including smart ports, green financing, sustainable energy etc. As a premier international maritime centre and gateway for trade between the Mainland and the rest of the world, Hong Kong has much potential to advance and strengthen our position as a high value-added integrated service hub.

Hong Kong as an international maritime centre

(i) Policy support for Hong Kong to develop its high value-added maritime services

In its recent 14th Five-Year Plan, the Central Peoples Government expressly supports Hong Kong to develop into an international financial, transportation and trade centre, as well as an international legal and dispute resolution hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The GBA (Greater Bay Area) development plan also supports Hong Kongs development of high-end maritime services, including legal and dispute resolution services.

It is in line with the Governments commitment to leverage on our intrinsic strengths in high value-added maritime services.

The global competitiveness of Hong Kong as a maritime hub is fuelled by Chinas increasing influence in the commercial maritime world developing in the past decade. In the first quarter of 2021, China possessed 11 of the top 100 ports in the UNCTADs (United Nations Conference on Trade & Development) Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, including Hong Kong. China accounted for seven of the worlds top 10 busiest ports, with three of them from the bay area, namely Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

As an international maritime centre, Hong Kong aims to differentiate itself from other counterparts by its offerings of a host of quality and wide-ranging maritime services, including ship management and ship owning, to high value-added professional services such as ship finance, marine insurance and dispute resolution. At present, there are over 900 shipping-related companies operating here, and I believe that this will continue to grow.

Hong Kong's advantages in maritime arbitration

(i) BIMCOs recognition of international maritime centre status

Let me turn to todays topic, which is the current and future of maritime dispute resolution in Hong Kong. Arbitration, as we all know, has been a preferred mode for resolving maritime disputes. It provides for a final and binding award enforceable in over 160 jurisdictions under the New York Convention. Hong Kongs strength as a reputable maritime arbitration centre is evidenced by its inclusion as one of the four designated arbitration venues by BIMCO under its new Law & Arbitration Clause 2020.

(ii) Unique benefits under one country, two systems

Hong Kongs arbitration services have been increasingly relied upon by local and international parties for its advantages. Under one country, two systems, Hong Kong has recently entered into several arbitration-related arrangements with the Mainland, including the supplemental arrangement to refine the mechanism of mutual recognition of arbitral awards, and an arrangement to allow parties to Hong Kong seated arbitrations to seek interim measures directly from Mainland courts. Hong Kong is the only jurisdiction to benefit from this interim measures arrangement.

(iii) Strong pool of talents

Hong Kong has an international and diversified pool of legal and dispute resolution talents with over 11,500 practising solicitors and barristers, together with more than 85 foreign law firms and 1,500 registered foreign lawyers from 33 jurisdictions. As Hong Kong has attracted many commercial principals of the maritime industry to establish their presence here, we have abundant commercial men who know the industry well.

China Maritime Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center, established in 2014, and the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group, established in 2019 (originally formed in February 2000 as a Division of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre) are well-known arbitral bodies providing professional and specialised services for maritime arbitration with experienced shipping lawyers and commercial men on their list of arbitrators.

(iv) Unparalleled advantages of Hong Kong law

While English law has been the most commonly chosen governing law in international arbitration, in particular in maritime contracts, I would say Hong Kong law is an attractive alternative as a governing law in contracts involving international maritime transactions, particularly those involving Mainland-related parties.

As guaranteed by the Basic Law, Hong Kong practices common law, which is based on the English law. Lawyers in Hong Kong with a common law background are well versed in our legal system and also other common law jurisdictions around the world. Hong Kong shares the same roots with the English law, especially in commercial matters. Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction where our law is enacted in both Chinese and English. All courts and tribunals can operate in both languages. This bilingual policy provides easy access to justice in Hong Kong for both English and Chinese operated businesses. Hong Kongs judicial independence is world renowned, with its open and fair proceedings where due process is well observed. As Lord Sumption, one of the 12 non-permanent judges of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, said, (t)he permanent judiciary of Hong Kong is completely committed to judicial independence and the rule of law. Successive chief justices have made this clear in public statements. These statements are not just lip service. They represent the convictions of experienced, courageous and independent-minded judges.

According to the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group, Hong Kongs percentile rank in respect of the rule of law was 69.85 in 1996. Upon Chinas resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kongs score reached 74.75 in 2000, and has been consistently above 90 since 2003. The latest result published earlier showed that Hong Kong attained the score of 91.83, a minor improvement over last year.

Hong Kong's advantages in maritime mediation

(i) Possibility of achieving mutually satisfactory results

Turning now to mediation. Mediation is recently growing in popularity as a mode of dispute resolution in the shipping industry. There is no winning party or losing party. It preserves relationships and aims for a negotiated outcome that is agreed upon and beneficial to both sides, thereby creating a win-win situation.

(ii) Mediation clauses and procedures developed by maritime arbitral bodies

The increase of maritime mediation is evidenced in the introduction of mediation clauses by maritime arbitral bodies. BIMCO has redrafted its Standard Dispute Resolution Clause and carved out the mediation part into a stand-alone Mediation Clause 2020, for parties adoption into their contracts during negotiations. In addition, parties may incorporate mediation by adopting hybrid modes, including Arb-Med or Arb-Med-Arb. Mediation rules and procedures are also developed to facilitate mediation processes either within or associated with the arbitration processes.

(iii) Governments support of mediation services

Hong Kong is well positioned to provide mediation services to both local and foreign business, including the maritime industry. First, it is the long-term policy of the Government to promote and develop the wider use of mediation. Being aware of the importance of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution process, we initiated the Mediate First Pledge campaign in 2009 to encourage companies and organisations to make a statement of commitment to use mediation first in resolving disputes. The initiative is now extending to other jurisdictions, including Shanghai, Qianhai and Shenzhen, demonstrating our effort to promote and develop Hong Kong as an international mediation centre.

(iv) Legal framework for mediation

Hong Kong has a comprehensive regulatory framework for the conduct of mediation, including the Mediation Ordinance and the Apology Ordinance. Hong Kong is the first jurisdiction in Asia to enact apology legislation, which promotes amicable settlement of disputes. Further, the Arbitration & Mediation Legislation (Third Party Funding) (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 provides that third party funding for arbitration and mediation is permitted under Hong Kong law.

(v) Strong pool of talents

With the strong strength of our legal sector and commercial men, they could be very competent mediators once they have acquired the necessary mediation skills, and provide professional mediation services to the industry. Indeed, given their daily experience in negotiations, they themselves may well be inherently a very good mediator already.

Hybrid dispute resolution

Whilst we are looking at arbitration and mediation in isolation, in Asia, it has been seeking to amalgamate them in various effective ways, such as Arb-Med or Med-Arb. Whereas the subject may not be covered today, I think it is incumbent upon me to share with you that under the Arbitration Ordinance, we cater for such hybrid mechanisms. Among which, sections 32 and 33 of the Arbitration Ordinance provide that an arbitrator may act as a mediator if the parties consent in writing.

Hong Kongs advantages in online dispute resolution

While the pandemic has stretched the technical needs of businesses over the tipping point, the process of evolving to deal with emerging technologies has been going on in the maritime world well in advance. The Department of Justice has long recognised the emerging new demands for online legal services and has from 2018 supported the development of the eBRAM (electronic Business Related Arbitration & Mediation) platform, to provide an efficient, cost-effective and secure platform for online deal-making and disputes resolution among parties from all over the world, offering services such as e-negotiation, e-mediation, e-arbitration and e-signing of ODR (online dispute resolution) agreements by integrating the latest technology such as blockchain, smart contract and AI. As maritime trade often involves parties in different countries, the eBRAM platform may well offer cross-border one-stop dispute resolution services to maritime enterprises worldwide.

Concluding remarks

Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, with China emerging as a global maritime power, maritime disputes involving Mainland parties will inevitably arise.

Coupled with our talents, unique strengths and inclusiveness of Hong Kongs arbitration and mediation regime as mentioned above, in particular the distinctive features of Hong Kong law, I am confident that Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in the provision of high value-added professional services to the global maritime industry.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng gave these remarks at the Maritime Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong: Current & Future as part of Hong Kong Legal Week 2021 on November 2.

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Capturing, auditing of KZN voting results underway

The Electoral Commission (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal has announced that result counting at voting stations has been completed, with capturing and auditing of the results on the system currently underway.

The Commission said a total of 13 943 results are expected, including all wards, local municipalities and district municipalities.

Currently, we have received a full set of results in three of the provinces small municipalities, which is Mooi Mpofana Municipality with 27 voting districts, eNdumeni Municipality with 24 voting districts and eMadlangeni Municipality with 34 voting districts.

These results have all been captured; however, they will not be immediately available because they still have to go through the auditing process which is currently under way, the Provincial Commission said.

The Provincial Commission said it is impressed with the level of capturing in their offices, however, it noted that there are few sites - including AbaQulusi Municipality in Vryheid and uMdoni Municipality in Scottsburg - experiencing connectivity issues relating to either power outages or network connectivity.

It said these offices were able to relocate to nearby sites that are not experiencing these difficulties and commence capturing results.

In the eThekwini Metro Municipality, which is the biggest municipality in the province, the Provincial Commission reported that the area managers are still transporting [ballots] from voting stations to the Moses Mabhida Stadium results capturing site, and the staff is still clearing some exceptions on the system.

Meanwhile, counting had to be moved from some voting stations to another site due to volatility in the community.

One of them is the eight voting stations in Mkhambathini that we have been reporting about in the last three days. We had to request authorisation from the Commission because of the volatility in the community to relocate the count to the MEO office.

SAPS had to guarantee that they will secure the material, voting station officers and SAPS officers that were stationed in that area. However, SAPS could not guarantee because of the terrain, poor lighting in the area and the tensions that were in the community. Voting station staff, party agents and ballot boxes were escorted to the MEO office to administer the count, the Provincial Commission said.

Also, counting at the voting station at eThekwini College Ward 32 had to be moved to another site because some community members had interfered with the voting process, alleging that they updated their registration detail during the registration weekend, but some of their names did not appear on the voters roll.

According to IEC, the community disrupted the voting process and confiscated the ballot box from the voting station for about 10 minutes.

SAPS was reinforced; the ballot box was secured and the crowd was also dispersed. In consultation with the political party liaison committee, a resolution was taken to request the Commissions authorisation to move the counting process from the voting stations to the eThekwini Metro capturing site.

These ballots will be counted in the presence of the Party Liaison Committee to include a process of verification whether the number of ballots in the ballot box reconcile with the numbers that have been crossed off and marked as voted on the voters roll in the voting station. The matter is still under investigation by SAPS, the IEC said.

The period between today and tomorrow at 5pm marks the time during which political parties can lodge their objections.

Legislation provides for objections material to the results that were captured at a voting station.

Section 65 of the Municipal Electoral Act empowers political parties and any other member of the community to lodge an objection with the Commission if they think that something went wrong at the voting station during the voting process that may prejudice the credibility of the election.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: HK's future bright

Chief Executive Carrie Lam

The 2021 Policy Address was delivered exactly four weeks ago. If you ask me, this Policy Address, which is entitled Building a Bright Future Together, what is the buzzword in this Policy Address? It is this word: new, n-e-w, new. I have given an account of Hong Kong entering a new era. I have briefly mentioned that we will shortly welcome a Legislative Council based on a new electoral system. And then we will be performing, or governing, with a new paradigm. There will be new impetus to Hong Kongs economy and we can all welcome a new future. In practice, we shortly will welcome a new Legislative Council after the election on December 19. This seventh Legislative Council will take office from January 1 next year, and after another election on March 27 next year, the sixth-term Chief Executive will be elected and take office on July 1 next year.

With all these new things, new ideas and new scenarios, it is incumbent upon the current Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to also give people this freshness in governance and also this innovation in taking Hong Kong forward. One of the initiatives that have been talked most after the Policy Address, which was touched upon by Connie (Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Vice-Chairman), is the Northern Metropolis. I have explained at length the Northern Metropolis, which Im not going to repeat it here but if you want to ask me questions thereafter, Im happy to respond.

How do we devise this Northern Metropolis Development Strategy? It was also guided by the following new features. One is a new spatial conceptualisation. We are looking beyond Hong Kongs geographical spatial layout into Shenzhen, the Greater Bay Area and also the Mainland of China. It also displays a new mindset breakthrough. It contains a large number of new policy formulation and then we will shortly be putting in place a new institutional arrangement. All these four attributes of new innovation are interrelated. In other words, we could not just have a new spatial conceptualisation without having a new mindset in working and co-operating with the Mainland authorities. We could not have new policies without a new institutional arrangement to ensure that we could implement all these new initiatives. I hope that in future when you look at the Hong Kong SAR Government policies, you will appreciate that all these new concepts have seeped through the various things that we want to do for Hong Kong.

In the past four weeks, including two weeks when I was being incapacitated, I have been promoting this Policy Address on many, many occasions. And if you want me to give you a buzzword of the messages that I am sending out about Hong Kongs future, it is this word: confidence. I am extremely confident about Hong Kongs future and this confidence is built on a very solid basis. Its not just wishful thinking or the way that I try to appease people that lets be confident. It is built on very strong fundamentals and I will take you through these four aspects one by one.

Constitutional order restored

One is we have restored Hong Kong SARs constitutional order. We have not only restored this order and brought it back to the right track of one country, two systems, I would boldly say that perhaps this is the first time since 1997 that we can deliver one country, two systems confidently for the people of China, not only for the people of Hong Kong. This outcome is attributed to two decisive acts by the central authorities. The enactment and implementation of the National Security Law on June 30 last year, and by the way I must stress again, the National Security Law is not just about punishing people who have committed national security crimes, it is also about preventing and suppressing acts or activities that will endanger national security.

The second decisive act is the electoral arrangements, amendments to Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law, which will usher in a new Legislative Council, which Im quite certain will be far more rational, far more pragmatic and governed by people who are patriotic. But that doesnt mean that we are going to have one voice in the Legislative Council. We are looking for inclusiveness. So as long as any person who is patriotic and who could pass the scrutiny by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, he or she is more than welcome to join in this election because of the importance we attach to inclusiveness, diversity. Wed love to see the Legislative Council together with the Executive to strive to build consensus. We can agree to disagree on some of the things but at the end of the day we need to move forward. For example, the Government introduced half a year ago a piece of legislation to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance in order to bring in non-locally trained doctors. This bill was now passed but it has been subject to very extensive amendments in order to reflect the opinion of the Legislative Council members, which in turn, I believe, reflect the community aspirations that we should be even more open, even more innovative in bringing in non-locally trained doctors because of the shortage of medical manpower in Hong Kong, which has been the cause of a lot of complaints by the common people. On this occasion, since we are still in the candidate nomination period, I would urge every one of you for your active participation in this coming election, both in terms of nominating suitable candidates to stand for election, engaging confirmed candidates in the course of their electioneering campaigns - we should ask them questions Whats their manifesto? Whats their vision for Hong Kong? - and finally, on December 19, casting your vote and encouraging your friends and family members and relatives to cast their votes. This is a vote of confidence in Hong Kongs future and Hong Kongs constitutional order.

The second basis of my confidence about Hong Kongs future is that Hong Kongs fundamental strengths have not been weakened or eroded by what has happened in Hong Kong in the last two years or so, particularly the riots in the latter half of 2019 and the enactment of the National Security Law. On the contrary, as a result of all these things that have happened, which were quite unprecedented in Hong Kongs history, many people came to appreciate much better these fundamental strengths of Hong Kong.

First and foremost is the rule of law. The rule of law is as robust as ever, despite a lot of smearing and coercing that overseas judges should no longer sit on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. We actually have seen new judges  I have appointed a new lord of the UK to become a new judge of the Court of Final Appeal, and at least two serving judges have accepted my invitations to be reappointed to the Court of Final Appeal. We continue to have a very visible, very transparent and very independent judiciary which has been adjudicating cases including cases on national security without fear or favour. Hong Kong has been made one of the most popular arbitration centres by a UK college. I think we are now the worlds number three in being the choice of arbitration centre by corporations.

Hong Kong has regained its position as one of the safest cities in the world according to the latest ranking released by The Economist. We dropped to the worlds number 20 in the aftermath of 2019. We are now back to the worlds number eight. I am sure we could continue to do better with our excellent Police Force. In terms of our financial services, we used to be number three after New York and London, then since the latter half of 2019, we dropped to number six and then gradually, and successively, we regained our third position in the latest index released by the Global Financial Centres Index institutions. In terms of our higher education, despite the fact that many of the students were involved in the riots and the chaotic situation in universities, four or five of Hong Kongs universities are ranked amongst the worlds 100, depending on which ranking index you look at. The University of Hong Kong actually rose to being the worlds number 30, which is the highest ranking ever achieved by a Hong Kong university in the past decade.

Our robust economy

Fraser Institute continued to rank Hong Kong as the freest economy in the world, in their latest report released earlier this year. And what is even more exciting is, as a recognition of the investment and work done on promoting innovation and technology in Hong Kong, the IMD (Institute for Management Development), which is a Lausanne-based Swiss institution, the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking has put Hong Kong as the worlds number two, only after the US. The list will continue as we move on. Im sure we will regain either some of the things that we have lost as a result of those challenges and even excel in other areas.

The third basis of confidence is hard data. Lets look at some of the hard data to demonstrate how resilient Hong Kongs economy is. The provisional third quarter GDP (Gross Domestic Product) figures were released yesterday. Some said that it was slightly less than expectation - at year-on-year 5.4%, but taking the first three quarters together, Hong Kong fared quite well at a year-on-year growth of 7%, and that's why my economist colleagues were quite optimistic that, on a whole year basis, we probably would be making the high end of the range, which is 5.5% to 6.5%.

In terms of merchandise trade, because of the significant and speedy recovery in the Mainland manufacturing, the merchandise trade actually has broken a record. In the first nine months, I think total import and export of goods amounted to $7.300 trillion, which was a two-digit growth over the historic high back in 2018. Assets under management also rose by double digits, air cargo volume registered double-digit growth year on year in the first half of this year; retail figures were also good. Later this afternoon at 4.30pm, the Government will announce the September retail figures and they are good. I could not disclose to you the exact figure, but the figure looks good, partly because of the consumption voucher. Unemployment has dropped from the high point of 7.2% per cent at the beginning of this year to the latest three-month figure of 4.5%. We have seen a lot of job vacancies being advertised in the Labour Department and other forum, suggesting that maybe we are going into a shortage of labour in some of the sectors, for example the F&B (Food & Beverage) sector. Even applications for social security, as a result of unemployment, has dropped by over 50% year on year.

All these figures confirmed that Hong Kong's economy is very resilient, that Hong Kong people are very resilient. When circumstances improve, we will bounce back, and bounce back pretty quickly. Hong Kong people are also very good consumers, if you look at the good business in the F&B sector. Somebody told me that Lan Kwai Fong has never had such good business, not even pre-pandemic, perhaps again on the historic basis. And even horse racing turnover last season broke the record. On the first day of this years season, at which I officiated, again it was a historic record in terms of turnover.

And finally, Hong Kong athletes have made us so proud in four successive major games, the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Tokyo Paralympics, the National Games and the National Games for Persons with Disabilities. We've fetched so many gold medals. This is Hong Kong. Hong Kong will bounce back. There is absolutely no worry about Hong Kong despite the smearing and bad-mouthing and negative reporting in some quarters.

The fourth and final basis of the confidence is the staunch and unfailing support of the central government. And this, I am telling you first-hand, as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, whether in bad times or in good times, the central government is always our strongest support ever. In March this year, we had the 14th Five-Year Plan promulgated. For the first time, apart from giving us support in the four traditional economic sectors  that is finance, trading, transportation and legal  for the first time, they said that they will support Hong Kong to become an international innovation and technology hub, an art and cultural exchange hub, IP trading hub in Asia Pacific, and also an international aviation centre. You have all these fact sheets of the eight centres in the folder distributed to you over lunch. On top of that, as the country is moving into the dual circulation, no place stands better than in Hong Kong in capitalising on this dual circulation, whether in the domestic economy or as the Mainland economy goes global. We are the bridge, the gateway and the connector, whichever way you call it. We are here to serve the country and also to benefit. On financial services alone, since August this year, we have witnessed the introduction of A-shares trading in Hong Kong, the Southbound Trading under Bond Connect, and the much-awaited GBA Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme. And also we welcomed for the first time the issuance of bonds by a municipal government in Hong Kong and that is Shenzhen.

It is against the above backdrop and amidst that confidence that I have for Hong Kong, that I and my colleagues compiled the 2021 Policy Address. I hope this Policy Address is matched with your support and enthusiasm and we will act in concert to make sure that we could deliver this vision for Hong Kong, especially for our younger generation.

App's use appeal

Meanwhile, I have no doubt that on the top of your mind is when we can resume travel with the Mainland and with overseas. I can only assure you that this is also on the top of my agenda. We are working very hard to achieve this goal and as you notice, we have been introducing measures which many people feel are unjustified. Hong Kong is already at zero infections. Why do you have to do all these things which give us a little bit of trouble and inconvenience? I am sorry  I know some Consuls General are in the audience  I am sorry about that, but we have to do that in order to achieve the goal together. My final appeal is: please help us in promoting, or even mandating the use of the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app when entering your business premises or institutions, and also encourage Hong Kong people, especially elderly people, to take the jab. Thank you very much.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the Joint Business Community Luncheon on November 2.

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: IEC pursues 90% target of vote counting into Tuesday night

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is determined to complete at least 90% of the vote counting this evening.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said this during a media briefing on the commissions progress in capturing the results of the 2021 Local Government Elections.

According to Mamabolo, by 7:30pm on Tuesday, at least 55% of the results had been finalised.

The Northern Cape has completed 89% of its results, followed by Western Cape at 72% and in third position comes the Eastern Cape at 70%. The rest of the provinces completion rate range between 37% and 67%.

At the level of capturing 78% of results are already in the system waiting [for] scanning and auditing. We are still pursuing the target of reaching the 90% still in the course of tonight, he said.

Mamabolo said the results of at least 94 municipalities had been completed and emphasised that the commission would spare no effort that the majority of the 163 municipalities are completed by Thursday.

IEC Commissioner Mosotho Moepya said the commission is dealing with matters related to the absence of some registered voters from the voters roll during Monday's Election Day.

I accept that there were people who were not on the voters rollthose that we knew and we had records of, we have included on there and we indicated that out of the 240 000, 140 000 of them we can account for by name of having come and having voted, he said.

On allegations of votes being cast illegally, Moepya said those allegations can be brought forward for investigation by the commission. He also assured South Africans that the integrity of the results is not in danger.

Where someone has evidence on the numbers that are presented, there are processes and we will deal with those numbers. But we are not going to account for persons who have not come. The numbersare in fact those numbers that are beyond doubt. By the time they get there, theyve been audited, they get checked and theyve gone through a whole set of integrity tests. That means that the persons who are alleged to have been voting or not voting  weve dealt with them in the results.

In every election that we have conductedwhen voting closes and counting begins theres a lot of apprehension understandably. We are very careful to be defensive but we work hard to bring certainty to the nation and to the world as soon as possible, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Thai sugar imports sour prospects for domestic producers

Sugar producers in Vietnam have failed to compete with imported products on the local market as traders are using various tricks to avoid taxes.



According to acting general secretary of the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association (VSSA), Nguyen Van Loc, a large amount of sugar from Thailand has entered Vietnam from neighbouring countries to avoid anti-dumping duties.



"Since Vietnam started imposing anti-dumping duties on sugar imported from Thailand in October 2020, sugar importers have switched to other countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Cambodia," Loc said. "The total amount of imported sugar to Vietnam in 2020 reached 1.38 million tonnes which was four times higher than that of 2019. And the country imported nearly 1.2 million tonnes of sugar in the first eight months of this year."



Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, sugar smuggling into Vietnam has become worse in the southern west border of Vietnam. During the first eight months of 2021. Statistics from VSSA showed that Cambodia imported 393,414 tonnes of sugar from Thailand in the first eight months of this year and exported 100,000 tonnes to Vietnam through official channels. Meanwhile, the remaining nearly 300,000 tonnes are being placed at the border with Vietnam to wait for being smuggled into the country.



Vietnamese sugar sector losing ground





Harvesting sugarcane in Vietnam. Illustrative photo



Thu Thua District in the Mekong Delta Province of Long An was once well-known for its vast sugarcane area with about 11,000 hectares of the plant between 2012-2013. However, local farmers have started to switch to other plants since local sugar companies started decreasing sugarcane prices in 2013.

Then the two local sugar companies, Nivl and Hiep Hoa, faced continuous losses and closed, owing a huge amount of money to local farmers.



Vice director of Long An Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Chi Thien, said that despite lots of efforts, local authorities had failed to help the farmers sell their sugarcane and they finally had to remove the plant from their key plant lists.



"We have to advise farmers to turn to other crops," he said.



Cao Anh Duong, Acting Chairman of the VSSA, said that the local sugar production has reduced in both quantity and quality.



"Many farmers have turned to other plants," Duong reported. "This year the sugarcane area has reduced by 19.83 percent to 187,100 hectares compared to last year's area. Local sugar factories have so far received only 6.7 million tonnes of sugarcane which is one million tonne lower than expected. Sugar production output stood at 901,230 tonnes which was the lowest output in the past 20 years. Nearly half of the sugar factories in Vietnam have closed."



Duong said that after the anti-dumping duties were imposed on imported sugar by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, factories have raised prices of sugarcane to keep the sugarcane farming. However, the huge amount of imported sugar has continued to dominate the local market.



"Locally-produced sugar just cannot compete against imported sugar," the official said.



The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just launched investigations into the practices of sending made-in Thailand sugar to some other countries before importing to Vietnam to avoid anti-dumping duties demanded by the VSSA.
Vietnam aims to put Long Thanh Airport into service by 2025

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has asked the parties concerned to take every measure possible to complete the construction of Long Thanh Airport and put it into operation by 2025.













Deputy PM Le Van Thanh at the conference (Photo: VNA)



Located in Dong Nai Province, Long Thanh is a key national project designed to replace the overburdened Tan Son Nhat Airport in neighbouring Ho Chi Minh City.



Speaking at a conference on November 1, Deputy PM Thanh asked Dong Nai Province to finalise the site clearance for the first phase by the end of 2021, while clearance for entire 5,200 hectares of the airport must be completed within the first quarter of 2022.



The Airports Corporation of Vietnam and the Ministry of Transport were required to quickly complete the procedures so that the ground filling could start in December this year.



The construction start date of the passenger terminal is scheduled for before March 2022 while work on the runway and apron is slated to begin in August 2022.



Deputy PM Thanh asked that the runway and terminal must be completed by January 2025 and the airport put into operation in the first half of that year.
Two airplanes collide at Noi Bai airport

Two Bamboo Airways planes collided at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi this morning, November 2.



The incident occurred at around 7:20 am when one airplane which was about to leave Noi Bai for Phu Quoc suddenly hit another which was being parked at the airport, said Tran Hoai Phuong, director of the Northern Airports Authority.





The two Bamboo Airways planes collided at Noi Bai International Airport (photo by Th.Mai)

Both planes suffered minor damage, but luckily, none of the passengers on the flight were injured.



The incident was reported to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam for investigation.



Noi Bai International Airport experienced rains this morning, which had an impact on visibility.


Northern Vietnam to face strong cold spell

The northern region of Vietnam has been forecasted to experience the strongest cold spell since the onset of this years winter.



According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, on November 4-6, northern localities would have an average temperature of around 25 degrees centigrade. However, on November 7-8, there would be rains and the temperature would considerably sink to below 20 degrees centigrade.

The northern region of Vietnam has been forecasted to experience the strongest cold spell since the onset of this years winter





"This will be the strongest cold snap so far this year, said Nguyen Van Huong, head of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecastings Forecasting Department. He added that the centre earlier forecasted that this years winter would come earlier than usual.



Huong added that between October 28 and November 1, the rains caused the temperature in many northern localities and the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh to fall to 21-23 degrees centigrade. The temperatures even dropped to between 19-21 in many mountainous areas.



He cited statistics from the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting for Vietnams weather by the end of October over the past 50 years as saying that the phenomenon of being rainy for 3-5 consecutive days with the temperature of 20-22 degrees centigrade like this year was not common.
PMs France visit expected to lift two-way trade

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to France from November 3-5 at the invitation of his French counterpart Jean Castex is expected to open up new opportunities and lift bilateral ties to a new height.



France is always one of the top trade partners of Vietnam in the European Union (EU). Two-way trade grew by 15.7 percent annually on average during 2011-2019. France is now the fourth largest importer of Vietnam in the EU with a share of nearly 10 percent of the countrys exports to the region, according to a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of the European-American Markets.



Due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade declined by 10 percent year-on-year in 2020 to 4.8 billion USD. Vietnams exports to France reached 187.9 million USD in September 2021 and 2.25 billion USD in nine months of this year, down 9.9 percent annually, mostly footwear, apparel, household appliances, agro-forestry-fisheries, gemstones, jewelries, electronics, mechanical engineering tools, rubber, coal, plastics, bamboo and rattan items.



Meanwhile, Vietnam mainly purchased high-value and hi-tech goods from France, including pharmaceuticals, machinery and equipment, and transport vehicles, amounting to over 1.5 billion USD last year, down 4.3 percent annually.



As of August 20, France ranked 16th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 632 valid projects worth more than 3.6 billion USD.





In order to increase the presence of Vietnamese agro-fisheries in France, experts suggested outlining strategies to attract consumers as well as specific action programmes to build trust and prove product quality.

Thanh Ha lychees in a supermarket in France (Photo: VNA)





According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Vietnam, there are huge opportunities for Vietnamese goods to navigate France but its requirements are also high. Therefore, suppliers need to continue maintaining product quality, or invite French experts and skilled workers to Vietnam to inspect quality.



To lift two-way trade to a new height, experts proposed that Vietnam should ask the EU and France in particular to work closely together with the country to make the best use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
Xi calls for stronger actions to jointly tackle climate challenge

Xinhua) 08:09, November 02, 2021

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows wind turbines in Jiucaiping scenic spot in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on all parties to take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge.

Xi made the remarks in a written statement for the World Leaders Summit at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is being held in Glasgow from Monday to Tuesday.

"I hope all parties will take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge and protect the planet, the shared home for us all," he said.

The adverse impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident, presenting a growing urgency for global action, he said.

The Chinese president made a three-pronged proposal to address climate challenge, including upholding multilateral consensus, focusing on concrete actions, and accelerating the green transition.

"When it comes to global challenges such as climate change, multilateralism is the right prescription," he said.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement provide the fundamental legal basis for international cooperation on climate. Parties need to build on existing consensus, increase mutual trust, step up cooperation and work together to deliver a successful COP26 in Glasgow, he added.

Parties need to honor their commitments, set realistic targets and visions, and do their best according to national conditions to deliver their climate action measures, Xi said.

The Chinese president stressed the responsibility of developed countries in tackling climate change, saying that they should not only do more themselves, but should also provide support to help developing countries do better.

In terms of green transition, Xi said it is important to harness innovations in science and technology to transform and upgrade the energy and resources sectors as well as the industrial structure and consumption pattern.

Guided by the vision of a community of life for man and nature, China will continue to prioritize ecological conservation and pursue a green and low-carbon path to development, he said.

"We will foster a green, low-carbon and circular economic system at a faster pace, press ahead with industrial structure adjustment, and rein in the irrational development of energy-intensive and high-emission projects," he said.

He added that China will speed up the green and low-carbon energy transition, vigorously develop renewable energy, and plan and build large wind and photovoltaic power stations.

China has recently released an action plan for carbon dioxide peaking before 2030, as well as a document titled "Working Guidance For Carbon Dioxide Peaking And Carbon Neutrality In Full And Faithful Implementation Of The New Development Philosophy."

Xi said the country will roll out specific implementation plans for key areas such as energy, industry, construction and transport, and for key sectors such as coal, electricity, iron and steel, and cement, as well as supporting measures in terms of science and technology, carbon sink, fiscal and taxation, and financial incentives.

"These measures will form a '1+N' policy framework for delivering carbon peak and carbon neutrality, with clearly-defined timetable, roadmap and blueprint," he added.

Full text: Written Statement by Xi Jinping at the World Leaders Summit

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Splendid Dunhuang: Millennial cultural embassy

08:15, November 02, 2021 By Wu Chaolan, Gao Ge ( People's Daily Online

Photo taken on Oct. 16, 2021, shows the desert scenery of Mingsha Mountain and the Crescent Spring scenic area in Dunhuang, northwest Chinas Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Lv Qiang)

"I am very anxious to see you, but I have no luck" - a Sogdian woman named Miwnay who followed her husband to do business in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, lamented in a letter to her far-away mother, in which she indulged in bouts of nostalgia and pined for home. Sadly, her mother never had a chance to read of her grief, as the letter was engulfed by a sandstorm and buried under layers of thick sand. Thousands of years later, the letter was found by archaeologist Aurel Stein, shining a light on the bustling trade and cultural exchanges between East and West along the ancient Silk Road.

Lying at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang is located at a cultural and religious crossroads on the ancient Silk Road. Over 700 years ago, when Italian adventurer Marco Polo first arrived at Dunhuang, which was crowded with people of different nationalities, he was left spellbound by the thriving fusion of international trade and culture. As the first trading cities encountered by foreign merchants, Dunhuang turned into a fantastic marketplace and led to a cultural big bang that created an unprecedented connection between East and West. The ancient Silk Road has been swallowed up by time, but Duhuang remains a vibrant hub of exchanges as the Belt and Road Initiative has reinvigorated the city, injecting a new energy into this ancient oasis.

"Dunhuang is a city with a long history, forming a distinctive Dunhuang culture, with openness and inclusiveness as core values. This is the reason why Dunhuang is still shining its ancient light on the modern era," said Shi Mingxiu, the curator of Dunhuang Museum.

Photo taken on Oct.15, 2021 shows a cultural relic conservation expert from the Dunhuang Academy restoring a mural at Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest Chinas Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Lv Qiang)

Global, multicultural past

Some twenty-five kilometers southeast of Dunhuang, hundreds of caves are hewn into a cliff lavishly decorated with wall paintings and sculptural works. Buddhist gods in their sequestered shrines have witnessed the flourishing international exchanges between the diverse peoples who traversed the great trade routes of antiquity, stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea.

"The history of this ancient Silk Road city is reflected in the Mogao Grottoes, the depositary of a multicultural past that adds fluidity and color to Chinese civilization," said Shi.

The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Qianfodong (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), boast a rich trove of Buddhist artworks, including more than 2,000 sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals that span a thousand years and contain a wide range of iconography such as Chinese deities and Hindu gods.

These Buddhist artworks show a striking cultural diversity in the caves. The murals in the 492 Caves at Mogao depict how Buddhism spread into and became indigenized in China. One example is the Bodhisattva known as Avalokitesvara, which was transformed into the figure of Guanyin in China. The Nine-Colored Deer Jataka in Cave 257 is a Chinese interpretation of the Ruru Jataka, which originated in India, and tells of the Bodhisattva's birth as a deer. The characters in the murals with their different clothing styles also reflect the busy cultural exchanges that took place in Dunhuang.

(Photo/Xinhua)

"The strong inclusiveness of Chinese culture allowed people in Dunhuang to enjoy, respect, and absorb the porous cultures from Central and Western Asia, as well as Europe, which resulted in the brilliant cultural fusion in Dunhuang," said Shi. "This mirrors a confident China that embraced foreign influences with a sense of tolerance and openness."

People from inside and outside China can find traces of their aboriginal culture in this grand cultural cache. The world-famous Cave 17, also known as the Library Cave, is home to more than 50,000 cultural relics including scrolls and manuscripts that shed light on the global civilization of the time. Sealed away for more than a millennium before their rediscovery in 1900, these precious manuscripts contain books of Psalms in Syriac, the only surviving copies of essential Mantras, rare manuscripts with Hebrew prayer, and a book of omens written in Old Turkic, providing valuable materials for other cultures to study their past.

"Dunhuang is not only a splendid treasure of ancient Chinese civilization but also an important witness to the frequent cultural integration and mutual learning among the diverse civilizations on the ancient Silk Road," said Shi. "The multiculturalism is testament to Dunhuang's past, which benefited both China and the rest of the world."

(Photo/Xinhua)

Ancient culture that thrives today

The best way to protect a culture is to make it popular again. Scholars from Dunhuang Academy have looked into ways of protecting and promoting Dunhuang arts for decades, looking to bring the glorious culture of Dunhuang alive in the modern age.

To this end, Dunhuang Academy (the Academy) launched the Digital Dunhuang Project, where visitors from around the world can enjoy frescoes and painted sculptures in 30 caves for free. In 2020, the Academy and tech giant Tencent jointly launched a WeChat mini-program offering online tours of China's Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. Tourists can enjoy frescoes and Chinese Buddhist art in the caves by just clicking on their phones and learning about the stories behind the relics.

In October, the Academy teamed up with Chinese telecom giant Huawei to launch the "Flying Apsaras" thematic tour, which offers visitors an immersive fantasy experience. The AI technology shows off the cultural relics to visitors before they even enter the physical caves. With this technology, the visitors can enjoy the artwork in greater detail and obtain more information about it.

In addition, the Academy has also blazed new trails in innovative cultural products such as music, games and cartoons to further unleash the vitality of the cultural relics that date back thousands of years.

"The culture of Dunhuang needs modern content to thrive. Digital and innovative cultural products can help the public better appreciate the artistic charm and cultural value of Dunhuang, which will bring the public closer to Dunhuang culture and pass on these splendid ancient cultural artifacts to future generations," said Yu Tianxiu, director of the academy's cultural relics digitalization institute.

A visitor visits an exhibition of the duplications of Dunhuang overseas fine cultural relics in Dunhuang city, Northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 24, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua)

The Belt and Road Initiative has also brought new energy to Dunhuang culture. The initiative, which not only features the connectivity between markets but also exchanges of academia and culture, has further promoted the Dunhuang culture to the world. The Dunhuang Academy is now working with Western colleges and museums on preservation techniques and is sharing its experience in historical restoration and digitalization with others along the Silk Road.

"We have conducted academic exchanges and held exhibitions in different countries, introducing the culture of Dunhuang to more people in other corners of the world and driving the connection of people from the Belt and Road countries," said Guo Qinglin, deputy director of Dunhuang Academy.

In September, more than 200 representatives of countries and regions and international organizations, including officials, diplomats, and experts attended the 5th China Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo and the 10th Dunhuang Tour-Silk Road International Tourism Festival, with the aim of enhancing understanding of Dunhuang culture and promoting cultural exchange and cooperation.

The hubbub of voices along the ancient trade route may have been silenced over the course of history, but Dunhuang city will always embrace the spirit of the Silk Road, which served as a conduit for the exchange of cultures, trade materials, and knowledge between the East and the West for millennia.

"Dunhuang might have lost its status as the center of world trade, but the city will always be a blazing beacon for multiculturalism," said Shi.

A performer dances at an exhibition of the duplications of Dunhuang overseas fine cultural relics in Dunhuang city, Northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 24, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
Iran warns against Israeli threats, calls U.S. military flight over regional waters "provocative"

Xinhua) 08:29, November 02, 2021

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Nov. 1, 2021. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest U.S.-led military flight over regional waters "provocative." (Photo by Ahmad Malek/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest U.S.-led military flight over regional waters "provocative."

When asked about the allocation of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars by Israel to counter Iran's nuclear program, Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran has never ruled out or ignored the threats posed by Israel against stability and security in the region.

"Basically, the nature of this regime (Israel) is creating crisis, and the roots of this regime are growing in insecurity and instability," Khatibzadeh said during his weekly press conference.

In the meantime, Israel is well aware of Iran's capabilities and its own limitations, and also knows that Iran is serious about its security, he added.

"We closely monitored and followed it in details," the Iranian spokesman said. "Those who carried out these provocative actions know that it was a colorless show not worth paying more attention to."

On Sunday, Israeli, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini fighter jets flew with a U.S. advanced fighter-bomber across the Middle Eastern maritime vital points, including the Strait of Hormuz south of Iran.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China to boost international IPR cooperation

Xinhua) 08:30, November 02, 2021

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China is endeavoring to promote a broader and deeper opening-up of the intellectual property rights (IPR) sector to boost international IPR cooperation during the 14th five-year-plan period (2021-2025), said the IPR authorities at Monday's press conference.

The IPR authorities have drafted three major moves targeted to make breakthroughs in IPR global cooperation, Gan Shaoning, deputy head of the National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA), said at the press conference.

Firstly, China will actively participate in the IPR global governance, play roles in improving international rules on IPR, and actively promote multilateral and bilateral intellectual property negotiations related to the economy and trade.

China will strengthen cooperation and consultation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as promote improvement to IPR international rules and standards related to international trade and investment, said Gan.

The country will also study and participate in the formulation of IPR international rules and standards in new fields and new business forms.

Secondly, China will improve its international cooperation on IPR, strengthen mechanisms for IPR international cooperation, and optimize the environment for IPR international cooperation.

China will consolidate IPR cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road, step up IPR cooperation with global and regional organizations and major countries and regions, and support IP capacity building in developing countries.

Thirdly, China will strengthen international cooperation in IPR protection, facilitate overseas IPR acquisition, and strengthen assistance in IPR disputes.

China will strengthen international cooperation in IPR reviews, support better use of the WIPO global service system, and establish international IPR risk early-warning and emergency response mechanisms.

Over the past four decades, China has maintained close cooperation with the WIPO. "The country has actively participated in global IPR governance and international rule-making under the WIPO framework and joined almost all major international intellectual property conventions," said Gan.

"Next, China will firmly stick to the path of multilateralism, further strengthen cooperation with the WIPO, promote the development of global intellectual property causes, and forge a community with a shared future for humanity," he added.

China recently released a 15-year plan (2021-2035) on IPR development in September. It demands stricter IPR protection, a high level of public satisfaction, and greater market value of IPR by 2025. By 2035, China's IPR competitiveness will rank among the top globally, said the plan.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China can be counted on for "solid action" against climate change

Xinhua) 08:31, November 02, 2021

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows wind turbines at the Jiucaiping scenic area in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

-- China is serious about reducing carbon emissions and pursuing green development.

-- Scientific top-level design and strong implementation of plans are keys to the country's achievement on climate change.

-- As a responsible country, China is ready to share its experience and approaches with the rest of the international community.

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Amid a strong call to save the planet, China has set ambitious targets and taken solid actions to address climate change, injecting certainty to the global combat against the worrying issue.

"Visions will come true only when we act on them," Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday in a written statement to the 26th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change.

"Parties need to honor their commitments, set realistic targets and visions, and do their best according to national conditions to deliver their climate action measures," Xi said.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows a photovoltaic power station at a green industrial development park in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Hainan, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

China aims to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. To meet these goals, the country has formulated and released a top-level design document for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030.

"Specific implementation plans for key areas such as energy, industry, construction and transport, and for key sectors such as coal, electricity, iron and steel, and cement will be rolled out, coupled with supporting measures in terms of science and technology, carbon sink, fiscal and taxation, and financial incentives," Xi said.

"Taken together, these measures will form a '1+N' policy framework for delivering carbon peak and carbon neutrality, with clearly-defined timetable, roadmap and blueprint," he said.

Aerial photo taken on July 22, 2021 shows a villager walking past a solar powered street lamp in Maobishan Village of Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

"Anyone who knows China well is sure my country is serious about reducing carbon emissions and pursuing green development, and that we mean what we say," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said in an article published in The Guardian on Wednesday, shrugging off worries about whether China will honor its pledges to reduce emissions.

"Anyone familiar with China's political system knows that once decisions and goals are set by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the top leader, they are incorporated into the overall national development program, turned into feasible action plans and delivered faithfully by local governments and competent departments," Zheng said.

China has long been hailed for thinking strategically and playing the long game. Scientific top-level design and strong implementation of plans are keys to the country's achievement on climate change.

In terms of climate action, China met its target for 2020 ahead of schedule. By the end of last year, carbon emissions intensity had come down by 48 percent compared with 2005, and non-fossil fuels accounted for 16 percent of primary energy consumption. China phased out 120 million kilowatts of installed coal-fired power generation capacity during the past decade.

Workers assemble new energy vehicles at an automobile company in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 12, 2021. (Photo by Li Hanchi/Xinhua)

"The most crucially important contribution of China was its strong commitment to fighting against climate change," said former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Ban said China played "a decisive role" in the negotiation process of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, adding that without China's efforts, "we would not have the Paris Agreement on climate change even now."

As a responsible country, China is ready to share its experience and approaches with the rest of the international community. From supporting Africa in monitoring the climate system with satellite technology and building low-carbon pilot zones in Southeast Asia, to introducing energy-saving bulbs to small island countries, China's cooperation with less developed regions of the world has produced tangible results.

China has launched green action initiatives that encourage green infrastructure, energy, transportation and finance under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework. In 2020, 57 percent of China's investment in BRI partner countries went to renewable energy projects, up from 38 percent in 2019.

Photo taken on Oct. 29, 2021 shows the first China-developed hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive in a trial run in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua)

"Developed countries should not only do more themselves, but should also provide support to help developing countries do better," Xi said.

"Ancient Chinese believe that 'successful governance relies on solid action'. I hope all parties will take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge and protect the planet, the shared home for us all," Xi said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Tanzania receives 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China

Xinhua) 08:37, November 02, 2021

A staff member unloads the COVID-19 vaccines from China at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Nov. 1, 2021. Tanzania on Monday received the second batch of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China, boosting the east African nation's drive to vaccinate its people against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Monday received the second batch of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China, boosting the east African nation's drive to vaccinate its people against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early October, Tanzania received 1,065,600 doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by the Chinese government via the COVAX facility.

Speaking shortly after receiving the 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dorothy Gwajima, thanked the Chinese government for the timely donation.

"The second consignment of the vaccines donated by the Chinese government will go a long way in helping Tanzania to fight the virus pandemic," said Gwajima.

The minister appealed to her fellow country men and women to get the Sinopharm vaccines, saying they are safe and they have been approved by the World Health Organization.

Chen Mingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, said the Chinese donated vaccines will play an effective role in helping the Tanzanian government to control the spread of the virus and protect the life and health of Tanzanians.

"We have developed safe and reliable vaccines that meet scientific standards and have gradually realized the recovery of social and economic development," she said.

Chen said China has until now provided more than 120 batches of pandemic prevention supplies to African countries, donated vaccines to more than 50 African countries and the African Union.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Interview: CIIE good opportunity to further boost Ethiopia's coffee export to China

Xinhua) 08:46, November 02, 2021

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) says the upcoming 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) would serve as a good platform to further boost the ever growing Chinese market for Ethiopia's coffee.

The 4th CIIE is scheduled to take place from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, creating a platform for companies from around the world to display their products, promote their brands, and find more business partners in the world's second-largest economy.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Shafi Oumer, ECTA deputy director general, said CIIE would facilitate interaction between Ethiopian exporters and Chinese potential buyers of the East African country's coffee, further enhancing coffee export to China.

Reiterating that China is the fastest growing market for Ethiopia's coffee export, the deputy director said more business deal is expected to be signed at the Expo among Ethiopian sellers and Chinese buyers of coffee.

With many exporters, Ethiopia had participated in the previous expo before COVID-19, Shafi said, adding that the registration of exporters was taking place for the upcoming 4th CIIE, which the deputy director said is a very good opportunity for East African country's coffee sellers and also for the Chinese buyers as the coffee from Ethiopia is quality coffee with varieties and different flavors.

"This year, we are registering our exporters, so, we are participating as association, also the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority. So, this is a very good market; the seventh among the top ten markets. We will be participating in this exhibition," said Shafi.

"It is also a good opportunity for China because they get quality coffee from our country. So, this is really a good opportunity to boost our market," he added.

Chinese firms had earlier discussed with Ethiopian coffee exporters, recalled the deputy director, and he noted with appreciation that the Chinese side has demonstrated the business dialogue by tangible and practical outcome, thereby contributing to the increase of China's import of Ethiopia's coffee over the last two and three years.

China was ranked 20th and more in terms of importing Ethiopia's coffee three and more years ago, he said, but this year, it has become the seventh importing country of the commodity.

"The Chinese market is a good market... Because we discussed many times with the Chinese buyers; also many leaders of companies came, and we discussed and signed with them," he said as a result China has become among the top 10 buyers of Ethiopia's coffee, assuming the seventh rank.

Ethiopia is known for its organic coffee and it is the epicenter of origin and diversification of Arabica Coffee.

According to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, in the previous 2020/2021 fiscal year, Ethiopia earned 906 million U.S. dollars through exports of 248,000 tons of coffee.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
China's input key to revitalize fight against climate change, Kenyan expert

Xinhua) 08:59, November 02, 2021

NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The global fight against climate change is likely to acquire new momentum and vitality thanks to China's commitment to low carbon development pathways, a Kenyan expert has said.

Gibson Mwangi, a climate change expert noted that China has demonstrated commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, thereby boosting transition to a green, inclusive and resilient future for humanity.

He said that leveraging China's resources, expertise and technological prowess is key to boost climate response in developing countries that have borne the brunt of global warming.

"China is way ahead of developing nations in mitigating and reducing carbon emissions," Mwangi said in a virtual interview with Xinhua during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) slated for Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12.

He noted that technology transfer facilitated by China combined with capacity building and sharing of best practices can be harnessed to help developing countries cope with negative impacts of climate change.

China's wealth of experiencing in tackling extreme weather events like droughts and floods could be useful in development of a global climate response strategy, said Mwangi, who is currently in Glasgow for the COP26 meeting.

He added that developing countries can also tap into expertise from Chinese scientists in their quest for a climate-resilient future.

The former head of Climate Change Unit in Kenya's Ministry of Water and Irrigation said that investments by Chinese companies domiciled in the Belt and Road Initiative have also contributed positively to climate response in the global south.

Mwangi said that African countries are keen to join hands with China at the global climate summit to push for a just and fair deal to hasten green transition.

He revealed that the group of 77 that include 134 developing countries has resolved to negotiate as one bloc together with China in order to realize positive outcomes at the Glasgow climate summit.

Mwangi said that African Group of Negotiators attending COP26 are keen to involve China in deliberations aimed at delivering climate justice to a continent reeling from a series of extreme weather events.

He noted that both China and Africa are united in the quest for low carbon development, adding that there is a consensus among the long-standing partners on the need to improve adaptive capacity of local communities.

Mwangi said that in the absence of solid commitment from the industrial north to help Africa tackle the climate crisis, China could fill the gap through showcasing its best practices in dealing with severe weather patterns.

He said that African countries expect their wealthier counterparts to honor financial pledges, facilitate technology transfer in order boost the continent's response to climate change.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Chinese top political advisor meets Thai Senate speaker

Xinhua) 09:11, November 02, 2021

Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, Thai deputy parliament president and Senate speaker, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang Monday met with Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, Thai deputy parliament president and Senate speaker, via video link.

Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said that China and Thailand's brotherly friendship of mutual assistance has grown stronger. He said the common interests between the two countries are extensive and profound. He noted that China is ready to work with Thailand to implement the consensus reached by their senior leadership and strengthen strategic communication.

China is willing to work with Thailand to deepen cooperation to combat the COVID-19, jointly build the Belt and Road initiative, and expand people-to-people exchanges. China will also promote and accelerate high-quality development of China-Thailand ties and make a greater contribution to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, Wang said.

The CPPCC is ready to maintain close exchanges with the Thai Senate and play a significant role in enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples and promoting bilateral ties, Wang added.

Pornpetch spoke highly of the impressive achievements made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in uniting and leading the Chinese people in the past century. He said that the Thai Senate supports the Thailand-China friendship and will continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPPCC to promote the in-depth Thailand-China relations development.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Record high number of Danish companies to take part in 4th CIIE

Xinhua) 09:32, November 02, 2021

COPENHAGEN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Denmark will be represented by a record high number of companies at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) scheduled for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai.

The area of Denmark's national pavilion will reach 500 square meters this year compared with 300 square meters last year.

"It is the largest pavilion Denmark has ever constructed in China," said Soren Falck, head Of the Danish delegation to the CIIE, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

More than 30 Danish companies, according to Falck, will be present at the national pavilion, including food, agriculture, and nutrition companies.

"We have a close collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders in China," said Lise Walbom, CEO of Food Nation, the official marketing organization for Danish food. "This is, of course, a foundation for continuously meeting the expectations of the Chinese consumers and business partners within food safety."

Danish exports to China have increased significantly over years. According to figures form Statistics Denmark, China has become the fifth biggest export market for Denmark in the period of September 2020 to August 2021.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Chinese mainland reports 54 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

Xinhua) 09:49, November 02, 2021

A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid testing in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 54 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Tuesday.

Of the new local cases, 27 were reported in Heilongjiang, eight in Hebei, another eight in Gansu, three in Shandong, two each in Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi and Qinghai, and one each in Beijing and Ningxia, the commission said.

Monday also saw 17 new imported cases, including four previously reported asymptomatic carriers, it said.

Two new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on Monday, it added.

A total of 9,654 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Monday. Among them, 9,275 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 379 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 97,314 by Monday, including 912 patients still receiving treatment. Among them, 35 were in severe condition.

A total of 91,766 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

A total of 13 asymptomatic cases were newly reported, all were from outside the mainland. There were a total of 392 asymptomatic cases, of which 351 were imported, under medical observation as of Monday.

By the end of Monday, 12,347 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 213 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 77 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 16,417 cases, including 847 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 12,034 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 73 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 13,742 had been discharged in Taiwan.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Chinas law on personal information protection enters into force

09:54, November 02, 2021 By Yu Sinan ( People's Daily

Chinas law on personal information protection took effect on Monday. The new law specifies and completes the guiding principles for the protection of personal data and rules that must be followed when processing personal information, defines rights and obligations in personal information processing activities, and improves working systems and mechanisms for personal information protection.

Photo taken on Sept. 27, 2021 shows visitors watching a sand table of 5G-empowered smart city at PT Expo China 2021, an influential information and communications technology (ICT) annual event in Asia, held in Beijing. (Peoples Daily Online/Chen Xiaogen)

The law states that the handling of personal information should be guided by and directly related to clear and reasonable purposes, and be carried out in ways that affect the rights and interests of relevant individuals the least, said experts.

It also stipulates that the collection of personal data should be limited to the minimum extent possible to achieve such purposes, according to experts.

To address problems that have been complained about the most, such as bundling various policies into one agreement and forcing users into consent, the law requires personal information processors to obtain individual consent in links including processing sensitive personal information, providing personal information for third parties, disclosing personal information, and cross-border transfer of personal data.

The law clearly stipulates that personal information processors shall not excessively collect personal information or refuse to provide products or services for users simply because they do not agree to share their personal information.

Citizens pay via self-service terminal with facial recognition system at a supermarket in Taizhou city, east Chinas Zhejiang province, Aug. 11, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Jiang Youqing)

Meanwhile, individuals should be allowed to withdraw their consent to the handling of their personal information, and after the withdrawal, personal information processors shall immediately stop processing or delete their personal information, according to the law.

In an effort to put an end to big data-enabled price discrimination against existing customers, the law states that personal information processors shall ensure the transparency of their automated decision-making based on personal information and the fairness of the decisions and shall not unfairly treat individuals in terms of transaction price and other trade conditions.

Sensitive personal information, which includes biometrics, medical and health, financial accounts and whereabouts, can only be processed with specific purposes, absolute necessity, and strict protective measures, according to the law.

Photo taken on Sept. 27, 2021 shows two girls passing by a poster of PT Expo China 2021, an influential information and communications technology (ICT) annual event in Asia, held in Beijing. (Peoples Daily Online/Chen Xiaogen)

Sensitive personal information processors shall assess the influence of their activities and inform individuals about the necessity and impacts of such activities on their rights and interests beforehand, says the law.

The number of Chinas Internet users reached 989 million by the end of 2020. The huge netizen population serves as the cornerstone of the countrys digital economy, for which data is an important driving force.

Protecting personal data isnt contrary to developing digital economy, said experts, who noted that the key to a win-win situation for both is to keep a balance between the utilization and security of information on the basis of protecting individual rights and interests and promoting reasonable flow of information.

The law designed to tighten personal data protection has arrived amid rising concerns and complaints about excessive collection of personal data by some service providers.

More often than not, people find they are asked to provide information about their geographical locations when they only want to install a flashlight app on their mobile phones; when they download a text editor app, the app provider asks for access to their address books; and their facial information is probably captured without their consent as they enter the sales office of a real estate company.

After investigating hundreds of thousands of apps, a research team of Renmin University of China found that many of the more than 30 permissions requested by apps do not match with the requirements of apps for realizing their functions.

Commercial exploitation of some information is the primary purpose of apps excessively requesting permissions from users. For instance, pushing personalized advertisements and other information to users represents the potential commercial value of personal information.

App operators can even make a judgment about users jobs and the places they often go to after acquiring certain permissions, according to an app developer.

Analyzing users characteristics based on data can help improve their consumption experience and at the same time lead to infringement acts in consumption activities, such as price discrimination against existing customers.

High hopes are usually placed on the self-discipline of personal data collectors for protecting peoples personal information. However, information leakage can happen easily due to the lack of solid protecting wall. Whats worse, some information collectors even trade in data, which could result in illegal use of personal information. Against the backdrop, the execution of the law on personal information protection becomes all the more significant.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China calls on countries to build fair and rational global climate governance system for win-win results

09:58, November 02, 2021 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Through a sense of responsibility to human civilization, China calls on countries to commit to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and concrete actions in addressing climate change and has actively promoted the building of a global climate governance system that is fair, rational, cooperative, and beneficial to all, making its due contributions to tackling climate change using its greatest strengths and most effective solutions, according to a white paper released recently by the State Council Information Office of China.

Photo taken on Oct. 19, 2021 shows a photovoltaic power generation project of PetroChina Jidong Oilfield Company under construction in Caofeidian district, Tangshan city, north Chinas Hebei province. (Peoples Daily Online/ Yang Jun)

Climate change poses real, severe, and ongoing challenges. Addressing the issue requires broad participation and concerted efforts from around the globe, according to the white paper titled Responding to Climate Change: Chinas Policies and Actions.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the cornerstone of global climate governance. It is believed that adhering to the principle concerns the future of international response to climate change.

Developed and developing countries shoulder different historical responsibilities for climate change, and they also have different development needs and capabilities. Therefore, it is unreasonable and unfair to enforce uniform restrictions on them, the white paper stated.

The international community should fully recognize and accommodate developing nations' contributions to climate action, as well as their unique challenges and concerns. Meanwhile, affluent countries need to increase climate ambition and action. They should make concrete efforts to help developing countries strengthen their capacity and resilience against climate change and support them in relevant aspects, including financing, technological development, and capacity building.

Technicians operate automatic equipment at a factory of HPWINNER, an outdoor high-power LED lights manufacturer located in Changxing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Huzhou city, east Chinas Zhejiang province, Oct. 14, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/ Tan Yunfeng)

As a responsible major county, China has introduced a series of strategies, measures, and actions on responding to climate change and actively involved itself in global climate governance.

China has initiated the establishment of multilateral negotiation mechanisms such as the BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change and the Ministerial on Climate Action, and actively coordinated the positions of countries within climate negotiation blocs, including the Like-Minded Developing Countries, playing an essential role in maintaining the unity of developing countries and defending their shared interests, according to the white paper.

Convinced that It is more important to show people how to fish than just giving them fish, China has done its best to help other developing countries improve their capacity to tackle climate change. Since 2011, it has accumulatively allocated about 1.2 billion yuan ($187 million) for South-South climate cooperation, signed 40 cooperation documents with 35 countries, and trained approximately 2,000 officials and professionals in the field of climate change for nearly 120 developing countries.

From remote sensing satellites for climate monitoring in Africa to low-carbon demonstration zones in Southeast Asia and energy-efficient lights in small island countries, the South-South climate cooperation has yielded genuine, concrete, and substantial outcomes.

Looking back on the history of mankinds response to climate change, countries will find that putting their policies and commitments into practice holds the key to achieving practical results in global climate governance.

The Paris Agreement on climate change charts the course for the world to transition to green and low-carbon development and outlines the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth.

In implementing the Paris Agreement, countries must maintain continuity and not reverse course easily; and they must honor commitments and not go back on promises.

Workers at an electricity transmission and transformation subsidiary of State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd. are busy installing devices at the construction site of a 500 kV power transmission and transformation project in east Chinas Jiangsu province, August 25, 2021. Once completed, the project will increase the offshore wind power transmission capacity by about 6.4 million kWh and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 17.6 million tons. (Peoples Daily Online/ Shi Jun)

All countries should actively fulfill the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) they themselves have set and turn their goals into concrete policies, measures, and actions.

China has made a substantial contribution to adopting the Paris Agreement and made active efforts toward implementing it.

China announced that it would peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030, achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, and put forward a package of measures to scale up its NDCs, making every effort to enhance climate actions and positively contributing to the global fight against climate change with a sense of responsibility.

It will take 71 years for the EU, 43 years for the US, and 37 years for Japan to achieve carbon neutrality from carbon peak. However, China has set itself a time limit of only 30 years, which means that the largest developing country in the world will complete the worlds most dramatic reduction in carbon emission intensity, and realize carbon neutrality from carbon peaking in the shortest time in global history.

The country is taking active action and effective measures to make strategic deployment to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.

Chinas climate actions announced by Xi have rekindled genuine hopes for the world, said Laurent Fabius, President of the Constitutional Council of France, who praised Chinas major contributions to implementing the Paris Agreement.

In pushing ahead with the building of a community of life for man and nature, China is willing to unite with other countries in purposes and efforts and work together with solidarity and mutual assistance in a bid to push the implementation of the Paris Agreement steadily forward and contribute to global responses to climate change.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Tongling in Anhui province seeks to revive traditional opera through inheritance, innovation

People's Daily Online) 10:24, November 02, 2021

Zongyang Opera originated in Zongyang county in east Chinas Anhui province in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Unlike other traditional operas, the musical instruments used in Zongyang Opera are simple, usually using only the flute or suona horn. The earliest historical records of Zongyang Opera can be found in a book written during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.

Photo shows Zongyang Opera inheritor Wang Lijuan in performance costumes during a show. Photo/Peoples Daily Overseas Edition)

Zongyang Opera shares similarities with Peking and Kunqu Opera, but is also quite different from both. Opera enthusiasts can still find a hint of characteristics of Zongyang Opera in more than 50 operas.

Zongyang Opera is a miracle of Chinese opera. It was carried forward over the course of more than 300 years, with some of its original characteristics still preserved even to this day. Most operas change over the course of just 30 years, but Zongyang Opera hasnt changed at all, something that is rarely seen in the history of opera development, said Wang Kui, director of the opera research institute with the Chinese National Academy of Arts.

However, the opera was once nearly lost in its hometown. A lot of opera performers know very little about Zongyang Opera, revealed Wang Lijuan, director of the Art Theater in Tongling city and also a first-class artist in China. As an inheritor of Zongyang Opera, Wang proposed a plan to rejuvenate the art form by cultivating talents and editing and writing opera scripts.

Photo shows Zongyang Opera performer Fan Yibing in performance costumes during a show. (Photo/Peoples Daily Overseas Edition)

In addition to teaching theoretical knowledge and offering acting lessons to Zongyang Opera performers, the Art Theater in Tongling also reproduced six Zongyang Opera shows. We hope to stage the shows in a way that was close to the way they were performed in ancient times, through the arrangement of the band and the use of musical instruments, Wang explained, while adding that the shows are also being performed in local dialects so as to cater to audiences.

To better preserve and carry forward Zongyang Opera, the culture and tourism bureau of Tongling formulated a guidebook on protecting and rejuvenating the art form and sent personnel to look for folk artists and collect opera scripts in Zongyang. It invited folk vocal arts experts to recompose music used in Zongyang Opera and look for and collect classic opera pieces, in a bid to push forward protection and development of Zongyang Opera. In recent years, it has taken vigorous efforts to popularize the art in schools and in rural areas.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese snowboarder pulls off insane stunt

(People's Daily App) 10:33, November 02, 2021

Su Yiming, a 17-year-old Chinese snowboard prodigy, became the first person in the world to pull off an insane stunt called "Backslide 1980 Indy Crail" in Austria on Thursday.

At the age of 14, Su began training with China's National Snowboarding Team for Slopestyle and Big Air. He has mastered some of the world's hardest tricks, including "Bs Triple Cork 1620 Mute" and "Cab 1800."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Frigate Yichang fires rocket depth charges

China Military Online) 10:37, November 02, 2021

A ship-borne helicopter prepares to land on the flight deck of the guided-missile frigate Yichang (Hull 564) during a coordinated operation in late October, 2021. A destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Northern Theater Command organized a round-the-clock maritime drill to beef up troops maritime operation capability. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Chenjie)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
German man presents Beijing 2022 co-host city Zhangjiakou to world

People's Daily Online) 13:26, November 02, 2021

Peter Merker, a German man who has lived in China for nearly 40 years, has showcased Zhangjiakou city in north Chinas Hebei province, also a competition zone for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, to the world, calling it an international city characterized by rapid development and a thriving winter games industry.

Peter Merker (Photo/beijingreview.com.cn)

Previously a CEO of a German automobile company in China for 25 years, Merker from Berlin saw bright prospects for Zhangjiakou when it won the co-bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in 2015 along with Beijing.

Merker has worked as head of a center for international exchange and cooperation in Zhangjiakou since its inception in 2016, devoting himself to letting more people across the world know about the city.

He is also working on ways to exploit and utilize clean energy in Zhangjiangkou, bringing quality resources from abroad to the city, as well as helping local enterprises go global.

Merker became interested in Zhangjiakou during his childhood when he learnt about the camel caravans for trade that travelled across the city. He got a masters degree and a Ph.D. in Peking University in the 1980s, and later settled in Zhangjiakou.

Zhangjiakou, where trade flourished in ancient times, is embracing new opportunities today, Merker said.

Merker established a band and produced several original songs themed on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics while publishing a book about how over 20 foreigners view the city.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China at the UN: Half a century of contributing to world peace and development

People's Daily Online) 14:34, November 02, 2021

Fifty years ago, the People's Republic of China had its lawful seat restored at the UN. During the past 50 years, the country has always been a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods. During the past 50 years, China has written an epic chapter in human progress with its own national development and is now making greater and greater contributions to the promotion of world peace and development. The past 50 years has meant much more than one could have ever imagined during such a short time span.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu)
Healthcare products under the spotlight at 4th CIIE

People's Daily Online) 15:45, November 02, 2021

A large number of new products and technologies from global pharmaceutical companies will make their international debuts at the upcoming 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10.

Photo taken on Oct. 22, 2021 shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), a main venue for the fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

The Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products exhibition area, measuring 70,000 square meters, has drawn about 350 exhibitors, including more than 70 Fortune 500 and industry-leading companies. This year, the number of new products and technologies to be launched by these exhibitors will be much higher than in the previous three expos.

Varian Medical Systems, a leading U.S. company in radiotherapy, will unveil its artificial intelligence-powered personalized cancer care delivery system in radiation oncology for the first time in the world. The system is designed to complete adaptive treatment in a 15-minute time slot and enables personalized treatment based on patients anatomy and position at the time of treatment. The companys ProBeam 360 Proton Therapy System, which is the next generation in proton therapy, and internet-based cancer treatment solutions will also make their global debuts at the event.

French-Italian multinational EssilorLuxottica will release an all-in-one automatic optometry instrument for the first time in the world at the expo.

This years CIIE has great significance as it will deliver more opportunities to the world, said Bian Xin, CEO of Roche Pharma China, noting that multinational pharma giants are eyeing the great potential of the Chinese market.

Noting that the new drugs Roche unveiled at the previous three expos have entered the Chinese market at a faster pace, Bian said the company expects to benefit Chinese patients with more innovative products through the platform of the CIIE.

In recent years, various drugs exhibited at the previous expos have gained approval in China. Some new drugs were included in Chinas national medical insurance catalog, according to Cecilia Qi, general manager of Pharma and Vaccines of GSK China.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese craftsmen set example with outstanding skills

People's Daily Online) 16:44, November 02, 2021

Yang Danni, a woman in her early 20s, has come under the spotlight thanks to the outstanding creativity and craftsmanship she demonstrated during a fashion design competition held last November. Her outstanding skills earned her second place in the competition held during the National Competition for Skills of Vocational Education.

Yang Danni cuts a piece of cloth.

Yang believes that it was her attention to detail, including how the clothes were proportioned, the methods adopted in making the clothes, and how the clothes were tailored and sewed that made her stand out.

According to Yang, producing a piece of clothing is not as easy as people imagine, and takes at least six hours. I get inspiration when I watch a movie, go shopping or dine at a restaurant. Designing clothes has become a part of my life, said the young woman. After repeated practice, Yang is able to cut a piece of cloth perfectly without the use of a cut ruler.

In September 2021, Yang became a student at Guangdong Polytechnic, majoring in clothing design. I have always wanted to open a workshop of my own, and because Im from the Yi ethnic minority group, I want to make breakthroughs in combining the styles of Yi clothing with that of modern clothing.

Li Rulin, born in 2004 in Shenzhen, decided that she would go to a vocational school after her graduation from middle school, an idea that was opposed by all her relatives. However, the strong-minded Li wanted to choose a major based on her interests so that she could always stay motivated while studying it. She was eventually recruited by a vocational school in her city, majoring in jewelry design and making.

Li Rulin creates a piece of jewelry.

While at school, Li always got up early in the morning to practice basic skills such as cutting, carving, and polishing. In 2020, Li participated in a national jewelry design competition and won first place in the making precious metal jewelry competition. Lis professional skills changed her relatives opinions on not only herself, but also on vocational education in general.

Zhao Pubo was born in 1997 in a small mountain village in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, southwest Chinas Sichuan province. At the age of 16, out of curiosity and a fascination with welding sparks, he chose to take up the profession of welding. The hardships involved in the job are unimaginable to most people, as Zhao revealed that he practiced welding for at least 14 hours a day and took just a few days off a year.

Photo show Zhao Pubo at work.

According to Zhao, welding sparks can reach temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, and can even burn his skin through the thick protective suit. Zhao said the scars on his arms show his growth, but he has no regrets about his choices. The bright sparks and beautiful scars accompanied Zhao to the highest podium of the 45th World Skills Competition held in August 2019.

Countless young craftsmen in China are carrying forward the spirit of craftsmanship by devoting the best years of their lives to their jobs. It is through such hard work that young people are contributing to efforts to turning Made in China into Perfectly Crafted in China.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
On Oct.30, the travel program Charming China - Charming Anhui was broadcast on Seven Network, Australias largest free-to-air television network, showcasing the picturesque scenery and historical culture of Southern Anhui.

In this episode, award-winning Australian TV presenter and producer Greg Grainger connected remotely with Amy Lyons, an Australian Youtube Vlogger who is currently in China and introduced Anhuis cultural heritage and its charm.

Anhui Province is located in the hinterland of eastern China. The history and culture of Anhui is constantly attracting visitors from all over the world. In this episode, the audience was taken on an immersive journey through multiple historical and cultural sites in Anhui, where they could experience and explore a variety of features, traditional customs and local cuisine of Anhui, including Xuancheng city, the hometown of the Four Treasures of Chinese Study, and Huangshan city, home to Mount Huangshan, known as the "Most Spectacular Mountain in the World."




US nuclear stockpile Illustration: Liu Rui/Global Times

The US plans to finalize the Nuclear Posture Review as soon as the end of this year. It is reported that the Biden administration is discussing whether it should put some limits on the use of nuclear weapons, such as the announcement of "no first use of nuclear weapons," or a declaration of "sole purpose" that means nuclear weapons can be used under certain circumstances, including responding to a nuclear attack.

According to media reports, US allies, including the UK, Germany, France, Japan and Australia, have strongly opposed the US' adjustment to its nuclear policies. They believe such a move will weaken the US' protection of its allies. This possible adjustment also means the US would offer a courtesy to China and Russia.

It has long been discussed whether the US should put limits on its use of nuclear weapons. The US was about to nail the adjustment during former president Barack Obama's tenure. The Obama administration considered adopting a "no first use" pledge and laid out a vision for a world without nuclear weapons. Obama's plan was soon abandoned after being rejected by US allies including Japan.

When Donald Trump was in the Oval Office, the US accelerated the modernization of its nuclear arsenal. The Trump administration's fiscal 2018 budget included $60-90 billion for nuclear weapons programs. Now it's the turn of the Democratic administration led by Biden to control the nuclear button, and it is completely possible that it thinks about reducing the nuclear risks in the world. If Biden can really take the step to announce "no first use" of nuclear weapons or take pragmatic measures to restrain US nuclear policies, the move will be widely welcomed across the globe.

However, Biden obviously continued with the strategy of enhancing major power competition adopted by the Trump administration. Great power relations nowadays are much tenser than during the Obama administration. Biden stresses coordinated action with its allies and fierce competition with China and Russia. It is highly doubtful whether Biden has the courage to take real steps in restricting the use of nuclear weapons.

The reactions from the US' allies, as reported by the media, are pretty much disappointing. In particular, countries like Japan which once suffered from nuclear strikes oppose restricting the use of nuclear weapons. The anti-nuclear doctrine the US allies have advocated is entirely deceitful. On the contrary, what they pursue is unilateral nuclear security. They want to expand their own right to use nuclear power, but have tried every possible means to squeeze the right of the others to use nuclear power.

China has announced the "no first use" nuclear policy at a very early phase. It has adhered to this policy since the first day it owned nuclear weapons. US allies should think this way: If China walks away from this policy, how much pressure will it add to regional security? Similarly, if the US, as the world's No.1 military power, announced restrictions on the use of nuclear weapons, it will without doubt create constructive opportunities to global security, with advantages outweighing disadvantages.

Nuclear posture is the thorniest security dilemma - particularly issues such as the number of nuclear warheads and anti-missiles. If the US can take the lead in restricting the use of nuclear weapons in this era, it is likely to expand the route undertaken by China in the past and push forward a new period of nuclear security. US allies such as Japan and Australia are falling into the trap of their own petty calculations, but they will not feel more secure if the US does not try to make the commitment of restricting the use of nuclear weapons.

A group of former US officials and experts, including former secretary of defense William Perry, wrote a letter to then Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga and other Japanese leaders of political parties, asking them not to oppose a "no first use" nuclear stance that may be announced by the US. Those former officials certainly did not make their appeals from the stance of China and Russia. Their considerations on nuclear security deserve comprehension from the Western world, rather than a fundamental rejection.

China has no way to influence whether the US will eventually head toward the direction of restricting the use of nuclear weapons. Even if the US does that, it will highly unlikely remain to be a unilateral decision. The US will likely require China, Russia and other countries to meet some of its demands. That being the case, it is possible that it will constitute new pressure on China.

China still has to do its own things well and strengthen its own nuclear deterrence capabilities. China is the only nuclear power that has declared it will not use nuclear weapons first. The development of second-strike capability is particularly important. China's morality in its nuclear policy has always been adequate. Those countries and forces that oppose US restrictions on the use of nuclear weapons are simply not qualified to point fingers at China's nuclear policy. Their moral coordinates are wrong.
By Guo Chunmei, Associate Researcher, Institute of Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies, CICIR

Recently, the U.S., Britain and Australia abruptly announced the formation of a new trilateral security alliance: AUKUS. The two nuclear-haves promised to help Australia build nuclear submarines, causing an uproar. The partnership was widely seen as targeting China, but it has attracted strong opposition within the region and around the world.

First, the Australian people are not ready to be tied to the American war chariot. As the nominal biggest beneficiary of AUKUS, the administration of Prime Minister Scott Morrison was clearly overjoyed, even elated, at being given access to advanced equipment far beyond the means of a middle power.

Others with vision, including former Prime Minister Paul Keating, question the value of the arrangement and worry about potentially endless consequences. These people are concerned that Australia will become a vassal of the United States and lose its defense sovereignty. The high-end American equipment, nuclear submarines included, in service of the natural mission to support the U.S. will undoubtedly lock Australia into the American power structure and make the country an American frontier base in the Indo-Pacific. Australia, which is nominally under the protection of the U.S. military, has in reality become part of America's Indo-Pacific command. If and when there is war, Australia will bear the brunt.

They also worry that taking the U.S. side now in a changing world is equivalent to an automatic abandonment of other good strategic options. The new alliance has strengthened the Asian conviction that Australia is alien and Anglo-Saxon at the bottom of its heart. Such a perception will deprive Australia of its capital to maneuver and exert creative influence in an era of uncertainty.

A further concern arises over the Morrison administration's shift in focus towards unwarranted security threats and its commitment to building long-range offensive strategic weapons that will cost a lot of money and take a long time to deliver, against a backdrop of economic strains and high deficits. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, defense spending may well crowd out the private sector, putting the government to a test of popular support.

Second, countries in the region oppose stirring up tension. The nuclear submarine cooperation will be the first of its kind by the U.S. since it transferred nuclear submarine technology to the United Kingdom in 1958. With regional security situation heating up, the move has obviously opened Pandora's Box. It has upset the regional balance of military power and fueled regional arms race.

If all goes well, Australia could become the seventh country in the world to possess nuclear submarines. Given the historical entanglements, this enhanced underwater attack capability can hardly be good news for its Southeast Asian neighbors. Out of security concerns, countries of the region may be forced into a vicious circle of arms races.

In addition, the arrangement may well fuel Australian adventurism and increase the risk of more regional tensions. The U.S. has gone all out to arm Australia for nothing more than tapping the latter's geographical advantages and hardening its forward deployment to potentially stir up the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, as such operations had be beyond American power. The blessings of the U.S. and UK have further boosted Australia's ambition to continue playing deputy sheriff in the region, making an accidental discharge of fire more likely. After the AUKUS announcement, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries were among the first to warn Australia to avoid provocative behavior.

Another hazard is the potential secret transfer of nuclear submarine technology, putting pressure on non-proliferation institutions. The U.S. and UK, despite their professed adherence to the NPT, are making it possible, by helping Australia build nuclear submarines, for the non-nuclear-weapon state to acquire weapons-grade enriched uranium. It is hard to imagine that Australia, which is rich in uranium and has the technology to process it, will give up the opportunity to become a nuclear weapon state, or that other non-nuclear weapon states will not be tempted to follow suit.

Third, the exclusive small circle has annoyed other allies and partners of the U.S. The new trilateral security alliance is seen as a top priority by the Biden administration, which also promised to share highly sensitive defense technologies among the three maritime democracies of the same origin and with deep mutual trust. The formation of a small clique has chilled other transatlantic partners. France became the first victim, with a $9 billion conventional submarine order poached by the U.S. and Britain.

The EU member saw it as an insult and denounced the Australian betrayal and the American stab in the back. The EU has had misgivings about the ongoing free trade talks with unreliable Australia and has again felt an urgent need for strategic autonomy.Indo-Pacific partners don't seem to enjoy the distinction between close and more distant allies, either. In recent years, the U.S. has pursued an Indo-Pacific strategy and advocated the centrality of the Quad (U.S., Japan, India and Australia). But on critical issues like defense technologies, the U.S. has ditched its ally Japan and important partner India.The Five Eyes, the intelligence alliance of the Anglosphere relied upon by the U.S. around the world, is supposedly a group with high internal trust, but Canada and New Zealand have been excluded from AUKUS. By far, Japan, South Korea and other allies have expressed a clear desire for equal treatment. India showed an interest in buying French nuclear submarines. Canada and New Zealand have been struggling to hide their feeling of being ill-treated.

A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust one finds little. The Biden administration's moves to build alliances are in nature no different from the frequent withdrawals by the previous Donald Trump administration. Both have put America first above everything else. Even close allies are only pawns of America, the hegemon. AUKUS has further disillusioned many. At a time when most countries in the region are striving to maintain peace and stability, the U.S., out of its own selfish interests, has deliberately stirred up regional antagonism and vicious competition, which naturally makes such moves unpopular.
BEIJING, Nov. 2 -- To actively implement the visions of building a community with a shared future for mankind and a global community of health for all, which are initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinas Ministry of National Defense will hold a thematic conference on military medicine under the framework of China-Africa Peace and Security Forum via video link in Beijing on November 4, 2021.

The conference will invite heads and experts from military departments on health and international cooperation in relevant African countries to conduct online exchanges and discussions, through which the Chinese military will share its domestic COVID-19 prevention and control experience, brief on its relevant international cooperation, and jointly explore with its African counterparts the methods and measures to improve the construction of the military medical and health care systems of African countries, as well as their capability to respond to public health contingencies.

China and the Africa are good brothers, friends and partners that always stand together through thick and thin. The Chinese military is willing to further strengthen the solidarity and cooperation with the militaries of African countries, carry out pragmatic cooperation in multiple fields under the condition of normalized pandemic prevention and control, and work with them to build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future and a closer China-Africa community of health for all.
A non-governmental organization (NGO) carried out maritime garbage collection activities in China, besides environmental monitoring for overseas agency.

BEIJING, Nov. 2 -- November 1st of this year marks the seventh anniversary of the promulgation of the Counterespionage Law of the People's Republic of China. In recent years, foreign spies and intelligence agencies have attempted to jeopardize Chinas national security in more non-traditional security areas, and a large number of such cases have been uncovered under the investigation of Chinas national security agency.

Recently, a case was publicized, in which a non-governmental organization (NGO), funded by some foreign ones, set up maritime garbage monitoring points in China, collected and sent abroad the monitoring data and other sensitive information.

It is reported that those monitoring points basically covered China's coastline from north to south, which involved the waters of the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and Bohai Sea. Among them, 22 monitoring points were close to military targets, which directly threaten China's military security.

After investigation, it is revealed that the organization has complicated overseas backgrounds. It has continuously received funding from more than 20 overseas institutions since 2014, and the funding from overseas just from 2018 to 2019 reached more than two million RMB Yuan. According to the procedures established by overseas institutions, the organization set up maritime garbage monitoring points in coastal areas of China, and then formulated and published China's maritime garbage distribution map and relevant research reports.

Even though the monitoring point near a military installation was blocked by the fence and the gate was locked, the organization still sent people to bypass the tidal flat and arrived at the location to carry out monitoring activities.

The staff of Chinas national security agency pointed out that maritime data leakage could threaten China's military security, and the so-called monitoring report from this organization also deliberately discredited China's environmental protection work. According to the assessment by the PLA Navy, the 22 military-related monitoring points have posed a real threat to China's maritime military security. The information they collected on latitude and longitude, environment, geology and ocean flow could easily be exploited by foreign intelligence and military agencies, posing a potential threat to China.

In addition, the "monitoring report" released by the organization declared that the amount and weight density of waste it detected were 20 times and 8 times compared with that of China's official data, respectively. These fabricated data were also utilized out of ulterior motives to blacken and hype up China's environmental protection cause, bringing about negative impacts on China's international image.

The national security agency has punished the organization in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Counterespionage Law and the Implementation Rules of the Counterespionage Law. At the same time, the relevant organizations and personnel should be alert to such infiltration and exploitation from overseas organizations or personnel with ulterior motives, and stamp out any act that endangers national security.
By Zhao Ruiqi

Recently, Washington is taking issue with Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly passed 50 years ago and using that as an excuse to create political disputes and strengthen the collusion with Taiwan authorities. First, it publicly criticized China for so-called misusing the resolution to exclude Taiwan, which was a new move on the US side, and then it held discussions with Taiwan authorities on how to get the island to meaningfully participate in the UN system. In this trend, the US Secretary of State Blinken on October 26 openly supported Taiwans participation in the United Nations system.

Why did the US come out and express its support for the Taiwan region to expand its international influence when PRC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the UN?

By playing the Taiwan card, the US is attempting to cross the line little by little and contain China by cornering it into a position where it is unable to attend to all the domestic and international matters on its plate at the same time. Despite its constant subtle moves before, Washington has rarely made a public statement to support Taiwans participation in the UN system, but now, its covert moves have become overt and the official making such a statement is of a higher rank. However, previous experience tells us that Americas support for the Taiwan region is never serious and always half-hearted. After all, China-US cooperation brings far more benefits than challenges.

The contact between China and the US has brought long-term peace for East Asia, so there is both a historical foundation and realistic motivation for them to maintain a healthy relation. The recent acts by the US are rife with hostility and myopia, arrogance and prejudice. How will these acts, void of any sense and sensibility, affect the strained China-US relation, the US and the Taiwan region?

First of all, they will halt the communication and coordination between China and the US. The chaotic and rigid US policies and actions toward China will in no way help the two sides get out of the current stalemate. Americas high-profile provocation to Chinas bottom line on the cross-Straits relations will only deteriorate the bilateral ties and drain Beijings patience to discern its different goals contained in the so-called policy of cooperate where we can, compete where we must and confront where necessary. As a result, the China-US talks on multiple levels and in various fields will come to no great result.

Second, the aggressiveness of Taiwan authorities may drag China-US relations into an unstable state. China bashing is the usual trick played by Taiwan DPP. Although the US views Taiwan as a tool to contain the Chinese mainland, it may not necessarily be able to always keep the Taiwan authorities on a leash and may find itself being dragged into a dangerous position if the regional situation reaches a critical point or some unexpected factor triggers a greater conflict.

Third, the US supporting Taiwan to participate in the UN system was actually putting the island over a barrel and it will throw the island under the bus if things get out of control. Taiwan seems to have come in Americas favor not because of its democratic values, or to seek greater international space for the island or because of their friendship  the only reason why its picked by the US is that it has immense geopolitical and military value in Americas containment strategy against China. Every time China and the US have a disagreement or tension, the US would secretly agitate Taiwan to make trouble. China has gained sufficient means and strengths in responding to such situations over the years, and it is able to lend a deadly blow once the timing is right. At that time, the Taiwan authorities would pay a heavy price for its wrong choice even if the US didnt discard them.

If the US ever touches Chinas bottom line, no matter how many allies it ropes in, how many alliances like AUKUS it forms, and how many forces it mobilizes, it will never shake Chinas resolve and will to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We advise the US and the Taiwan authorities to give up any illusions and stop playing with fire  they will only get burned themselves.

The author is a professor at the Communication University of China

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on www.china.com.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
They must, however, be double vaccinated and only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families can return home at this stage. Australia will reopen quarantine-free entry to fully vaccinated Singaporeans from Nov. 21, but it is unclear when other foreign nationals, who have been mostly banned since March 2020, will be permitted to enter.

Australians can now travel freely overseas without needing official permission. Returning travelers flying home into the states of New South Wales and Victoria no longer face mandatory hotel quarantine.

After more than 18 months, Australia is reconnecting with the world as vaccination rates increase. There were tearful reunions at Sydney Airport as the first overseas passengers landed after restrictions came to an end.

Australians are being allowed to travel overseas without COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in almost 600 days. Previously they needed government permission to go overseas under strict measures designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Thousands of Australians have been stranded overseas during the pandemic by some of the world's toughest border controls. Authorities placed limits on the number of travelers allowed back because of constraints on the quarantine system.

Melbourne Airport has also been preparing for the resumption of large-scale passenger numbers.

Chief executive Lyell Strambi said pandemic border closures have been hard on staff. "We have not really stopped flying, so we have been able to keep things working and making sure that everything is in great shape," Strambi said. "But the stop-start nature of the whole episode we have been through has been really tough. In particular for the employees of the airport. We would normally have 20,000 people working at the airport. I think a few times there we were down to as low as 500 people. So, it has been really hard on those individuals in particular."

Internal border controls remain in parts of Australia. Residents in Sydney and Melbourne, for example, can now fly freely to Paris, France but not to Perth in Western Australia.

Travelers from New South Wales and Victoria, which have been at the center of delta variant outbreaks this year, can only enter Western Australia with an approved exemption permit and must be double vaccinated. Queensland state authorities plan to ease their internal border restrictions on Dec. 17.

Australia has diagnosed 170,000 coronavirus cases during the pandemic, and 1,700 people have died. More than 77 percent of eligible Australians have been fully vaccinated.
The attacker, whom police identified as 24-year-old Kyota Hattori, was arrested on the spot after Sunday's attack and was being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder, the Tokyo metropolitan police department said Monday.

The Tokyo Fire Department said 17 passengers were injured, including three seriously. Not all of them were stabbed and most of the other injuries were not serious, the fire department said.

A man dressed in a Joker costume and brandishing a knife stabbed at least one passenger on a Tokyo commuter train before starting a fire, injuring passengers and sending people scrambling to escape and jumping from windows, police and witnesses said.

The attacker, riding an express train headed to Tokyo's Shinjuku station, abruptly took out a knife and stabbed a seated passenger -- a man in his 70s -- in the right chest, police said. Injury details of other 16 passengers are still being investigated, police said.

Police said he told authorities that he wanted to kill people and get the death penalty. Nippon Television said he also said that he used an earlier train stabbing case as an example.

Witnesses told police that the attacker was wearing a bright outfit -- a green shirt, a blue suit and a purple coat -- like the Joker villain in Batman comics or someone going to a Halloween event, according to media reports.

A video posted by a witness on social media showed the suspect seated, with his leg crossed and smoking in one of the train cars, presumably after the attack. Tokyo police officials said the attack happened inside the Keio train near the Kokuryo station.

Television footage showed a number of firefighters, police officials and paramedics rescuing the passengers, many of whom escaped through train windows. In one video, passengers were running from another car that was in flames. NHK said the suspect, after stabbing passengers, poured a liquid resembling oil from a plastic bottle and set a fire, which partially burned seats.

Shunsuke Kimura, who filmed the video, told NHK that he saw passengers desperately running and while he was trying to figure out what happened, he heard an explosive noise and saw smoke wafting. He also jumped from a window but fell on the platform and hurt his shoulder. "Train doors were closed and we had no idea what was happening, and we jumped from the windows," Kimura said. "It was horrifying."

The attack was the second involving a knife on a Tokyo train in three months. In August, the day before the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony, a 36-year-old man stabbed 10 passengers on a commuter train in Tokyo in a random burst of violence. The suspect later told police that he wanted to attack women who looked happy.

While shooting deaths are rare in Japan, the country has had a series of high-profile knife killings in recent years. In 2019, a man carrying two knives attacked a group of schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop just outside Tokyo, killing two people and injuring 17 before killing himself. In 2018, a man killed a passenger and injuring two others in a knife attack on a bullet train. In 2016, a former employee at a home for the disabled killed 19 people and injured more than 20.
Actress Han Hyo-joo will star in a new TV series on cable channel tvN. It is her first small screen drama in Korea in almost five years, after she appeared in MBC's "W" in 2016, while she appeared in the U.S. TV series "Treadstone" in 2019.

The apocalyptic thriller "Happiness," set in the near future, is about the isolated residents of a big-city apartment building that has been quarantined amid an infectious disease outbreak. The drama depicts the residents' struggles to survive and cope with their fear, and the psychological battles that take place in the building.

Han plays a quick-witted, decisive and determined member of a special police squad who is also a resident of the apartment building.

"I studied to understand my character's job, as it was unfamiliar to me. I also received training for action scenes and practiced shooting at a shooting range," Han said at a press event on Monday. "But the drama focuses on what happens inside an apartment building after it is sealed off, so I mostly approached my character from the perspective of an apartment resident, rather than a police officer, and was able to immerse myself in the role with ease."

The series, which is set to start airing on Friday, also stars Park Hyung-sik and Jo Woo-jin.
One country after another is reopening its borders to vaccinated travelers, and travel agencies and duty-free shops are rolling up their sleeves to kick-start their business.

Thailand opened to fully vaccinated travelers from 63 countries including Korea on Monday as long as they spend one night in a designated hotel on arrival while they await their coronavirus test results.

Singapore has also decided to exempt Korean travelers from hotel quarantine if they carry a vaccination certificate, a COVID negative certificate and a travel insurance from Nov. 15. Vietnam will reopen some major tourist spots to fully vaccinated foreign tourists in December, and Cambodia will reopen some tourist spots on Nov. 30 and Angkor Wat temple in January.

Vaccinated Koreans can already travel to Hawaii, Saipan and the Maldives without quarantine, while Guam does not even require vaccination. In Europe, where vaccination rates are relatively high, about 20 countries like Czech Republic, France, Switzerland and Turkey are exempting foreign tourists from a quarantine.
Actress Park Eun-bin will appear in an upcoming Netflix series set to begin shooting this month.

In the series, Park plays a lawyer with Asperger's syndrome who has high intelligence and the ability not to forget what she has seen.

The courtroom drama is scheduled to be released in the first half of next year.


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HUNTINGTON, Ind., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc., (OTCQB: NIDB), the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, is proud to announce the Corporation has increased the cash dividend paid to shareholders for the 27th year in a row.

The cash dividend of $0.30 per common share per quarter represents a $0.02 per share or 7.1% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. President and CEO Michael S. Zahn stated, "We are pleased to reward our shareholders with our 27th consecutive year of increasing our cash dividend. Due to our continued strong financial performance and capital levels, the Board of Directors feels the dividend increase is warranted." The dividend will be payable on November 26, 2021 to shareholders of record on November 11, 2021. This makes an annualized dividend yield of 2.7% based on a closing price of $44.50 per common share, which was the last reported trade on October 27, 2021. The book value of NIDB's stock was $40.75 per common share as of September 30, 2021 with 1,202,985 shares outstanding.

In addition, Christopher D. Cook had joined the bank on October 25th, 2021, assuming the role of Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. Cook has over 25 years of banking experience and has 10 years of experience as CFO at another institution. In addition, Cook was appointed to the Board of Directors for both the Bank and the Holding Company. Zahn comments, "We are extremely excited to welcome Chris to our team. His vast banking experience and expertise will immediately add value to the organization." Cook is a Certified Public Accountant along with a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's of Business Administration from Ball State University and completed the Graduate School of Banking in Madison WI.

Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered at 648 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, Indiana. The company offers a full array of banking and financial brokerage services to its customers through its main office in Huntington and five full-service Indiana offices in Huntington (2), Warsaw and Fort Wayne (2). The Company is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) utilizing the OTCQB platform under the symbol "NIDB". Our web site address is www.firstfedindiana.bank.

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Press Release

November 2, 2021 De Lima condemns killing of radio anchor in Davao del Sur, urges for swift passage of bill on journalist protection Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima condemned the recent brutal killing of radio anchor Orlando "Dondon" Dinoy inside his rented house in Bansalan town, Davao del Sur. De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, said she hopes that the recent incident will prompt her Senate colleagues to help push for the swift passage of her Proposed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1523 or the "Journalist Protection Act of 2020." "As we commemorate International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we join the media community in condemning the brutal killing of radio anchor Orlando 'Dondon' Dinoy," she said. "Another member of the media brutally slain. Another call for a prompt and impartial investigation. Another prayer, hoping that it will be the last of the killings. But it will never stop as long as impunity remains to be a state policy," she added. Based on media reports, Dinoy, a reporter of Catholic radio station dxOM in Kidapawan City, was gunned down in his residence in Bansalan, Davao del Sur last Oct. 30. Media Security Task Force Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Egco was reportedly mum on details of Dinoy's death but shared that they are looking into the possible involvement of two or three individuals. Dinoy was the 21st journalist killed since 2016, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). In urging her colleagues to help push for the passage of SB No. 1523, De Lima underscored the importance of crafting laws that will protect media practitioners who risk their lives to provide the public with relevant and updated news. "Our fight against human rights violations entails that we continue to push, vigilantly, for laws that will strengthen safety and security measures for those who are risking their lives to serve as critical voices of the people amid an environment of pervasive impunity," she added. Under her proposed measure, media entities are required to grant additional insurance coverage and hazard pay to journalists and other media persons on field assignments, including those who are assigned to cover disease-infected areas and disaster-stricken zones. In the Global Impunity Index 2021 released by the Committee to Protect Journalists in October, the Philippines remains to be the 7th deadliest in the world for journalists in terms of unresolved cases.
Press Release

November 2, 2021 'It's a great time to serve during pandemic,' Gordon tells Rotarians Senator Richard J. Gordon has commended members of the Rotary Club of the Philippines for its invaluable role and contribution in providing humanitarian and community services to Filipino communities, especially during this pandemic. Speaking before the members of Rotary District 3810 during its recent Community Service Webinar Project, Gordon urged Rotarians to step up to the plate of rendering assistance to Filipino families during the COVID-19 pandemic. "What a great thing to be able to serve our fellowmen, especially during this pandemic. Let us start the revolution from within ourselves," he said. "Dapat tumutulong tayo sa ating bayan. Hindi lang sa salita pati na rin sa gawa. We want to see a Rotary Club that is vibrant, always there for others," he added. Since the start of the pandemic, the Philippines has struggled to stem the further spread of the new coronavirus that infected more than 2.7-million Filipinos, 43,172 of whom have died. The pandemic-induced lockdowns have also resulted in the displacement of millions of Filipino workers and the closure of many business establishments here and abroad. Gordon pointed out that the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the country's largest humanitarian organization, has responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through its "predict, plan, prepare, and practice" program. Under his leadership, PRC has augmented government response by establishing the largest testing facility in the country, accounting for almost 4.8 million swab and saliva tests since April 2020. The PRC has also put up 70 field hospitals across the country and has administered vaccine to over 400,000 individuals through its "Bakuna Bus" initiative. It has also granted financial aid to retrenched workers and has provided hot meals. Gordon said Rotary Clubs can work together in reaching out to those who are most vulnerable sectors not only through blood donation program but also through other services, programs, and projects. "In helping others, you are helping yourselves kasi 'di tayo mauubusan. 'Yan ay magagawa natin kung tayo ay magsasama, kung tayo ay may partnership, we already have a partnership, pairalin na lang natin," said Gordon. According to him, the two organizations could go beyond the donation of blood because there are other immediate issues that need our immediate attention, like COVID-19 response and alleviating the suffering of the less fortunate. The Rotary Club of the Philippines is a local chapter of Rotary International in the Filipino community known to be the first Rotary Club in Asia. To date, there are around 800 Rotary Clubs in the country.
Press Release

November 2, 2021 Lacson: LGUs Should Have Greater Autonomy, Accountability to Implement Mandanas Ruling More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/lacson-lgus-should-have-greater-autonomy-accountability-to-implement-mandanas-ruling With greater tax revenue shares come greater accountability. On this note, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson batted Tuesday for greater autonomy alongside greater accountability for local government units as they start getting an increased share of government tax revenues starting in 2022. Lacson, a champion of empowering LGUs in implementing local development projects, said this is the key to true decentralization in the country while minimizing the chances of corruption in the use of the bigger revenues. "Sa tingin ko mas makakabuti na bigyan ng laya ang LGUs. Kaya lang, palakasin natin ang reportorial at accountability. Bigyan sila ng responsibility mag-report kung paano sila nag-implement ng pagbaba ng projects (It would be for the best if we give LGUs the proper autonomy. But the LGUs must have additional accountability, including the responsibility to report how they implement their local projects)," he said in an interview on DZRJ radio. Starting 2022, the country will implement the Mandanas ruling that increases local governments' share of tax revenues. Under the Supreme Court ruling, Internal Revenue Allotments (IRAs) will increase from P695.5 billion in 2021 to P959 billion in 2022 - a growth rate of 37.9 percent. The ruling is expected to be fully implemented by 2024. But Lacson said the government also has to make the proper adjustments to make sure decentralization involves not only functions but also funds. "As we speak, the 2022 budget's compliance to the Mandanas ruling is only on paper. While functions have been devolved, the funds are still with the central offices in Metro Manila," Lacson lamented. Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, likened the Philippines' economy to being in an Emergency Room, even as he and Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III are offering their brand of leadership to address the situation. "Ang ino-offer namin Kakayahan, Katapatan, Katapangan sa pagsagupa ng problema ng bansa (We are offering our brand of KKK in solving the problems of the nation)," he said. One of the programs the Lacson-Sotto tandem plans to implement should they win in 2022 are: * to fully fund the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act to provide free health care for all Filipinos * internship programs for the youth and emergency employment programs to help Filipinos who lost their livelihood to the pandemic * comprehensive targeted fiscal stimulus packages for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), implementation of eviction and foreclosure moratoriums, and grant of employee-retention tax credits * a holistic approach to ending the illegal drug menace, which will include drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation instead of law enforcement alone Lacson added he wants to leave behind a legacy where Filipinos have regained their dignity and self-respect - and what follows is just as important: restoring trust in the government. "Pinaka-important ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa ating pamahalaan (The trust of our people in government is very important)," he added.
Press Release

November 2, 2021 Villars congratulate the winners in the 4th Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge 2021; cite significant contributions to the nation CITING their efforts to help ward off poverty amid the challenges brought by the Covid pandemic, former Secretary Mark Villar, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vista Land Mr. Paolo Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar led the awarding ceremonies and congratulated the winners of the 4th Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge. "We know it is more challenging this year because of the situation we are all in, but you all rose to the occasion despite the challenges. We hope you will continue your winning ways in helping our fellow Filipinos beat poverty," Sen. Villar told the winners. Rep. Villar recognized the selfless act of the youth in helping their communities and chosen beneficiaries to get them out of their hardships at this time when self- preservation is the most important thing in this health and economic crisis. "This is youth empowerment. You have proven that despite your young age, you can maximize your potential to bring the much-need hope and joy to your communities," she said. For his part, the former DPWH secretary Mark Villar told the youth, "Let this awarding remind you that we believe in you and in the causes of your social enterprises. " He said the program intends not merely to encourage the youth to engage in business for profit or livelihood. He also said it goes beyond just lifting you and your family from the cycle of impoverished life. This is also about change," said the former Cabinet official. "Through the deeds and little causes you advocate with your social enterprises, you spark change for the betterment of our society," he further told the youth. Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge is a competition designed to encourage and empower youth organizations to embark on social enterprises that made significant impact in reducing poverty in their respective communities. Participants were composed of college students, out-of-school youth, young professionals, and young entrepreneurs among others. Each organization received P100,000 cash incentive and the highly coveted Villar SIPAG Award trophy. This year's award recipients are: 1.Christian Youth Fellowship -Quezon City, NCR 2.Tanghalan ng Mandaluyong, Inc. - Mandaluyong City, NCR 3.Pinablin 4H Calasiao, Inc. - Calasiao,Pangasinan, Region 1 4. Rice-Up Farmers, Inc. -Lubao, Pampanga, Region 3 5.Youth for Mindoro Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Region 4B 6.Borres Youth Leadership Institute Inc. - Roxas City, Capiz, Region 6 7.Cebuano Youth Ambassadors, Inc. - Cebu City,Cebu, Region 7 8.Shadow Arts Theater Organization - Palo, Leyte, Region 8 9.Vitali 4-H Club -Vitali, Zamboanga City Region 9 10.Youth Cooperative for Ecological Protection -Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City, Region 10 11. Peace Creed Philippines - Midsayap,North Cotabato,Region 12 12. E-Agrikultura Farmers Organization, Inc. - Butuan City, CARAGA The senator noted that the entries to the poverty reduction challenge underwent rigid evaluation, comprehensive screenings. They also had to meet specific criteria like sustainability and successful poverty reduction strategy. She assured that the Villar SIPAG, where she sits as director, will continue to recognize the outstanding youth-led groups or enterprises that have made a significant impact on poverty reduction in their communities.#### Mga Villar, binati ang mga nagwagi sa 4th Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge 2021; kinilala ang kanilang mahalagang ambag sa bansa Sa pagkilala sa kanilang pagpupursigi na puksain ang kahirapan sa kabila ng hamon ng Covid pandemic, pinangunahan nina dating DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, Vista Land President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Paolo Villar at Sen. Cynthia Villar ang awarding ceremonies sa 4th Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge, at binati ang mga nagwagi rito. "We know it is more challenging this year because of the situation we are all in, but you all rose to the occasion despite the challenges. We hope you will continue your winning ways in helping our fellow Filipinos beat poverty," pahayag ni Sen. Villar sa mga nanalo. Kinilala ni Rep. Villar ang 'selfless act' ng mga kabataan sa pagtulong sa kanilang komunidad at napiling beneficiaries para hanguin sila sa kahirapan ngayong pinakamahalaga ang self- preservation sa ating kinakaharap na health and economic crisis. "This is youth empowerment. You have proven that despite your young age, you can maximize your potential to bring the much-need hope and joy to your communities," ayon pa sa kanya. Pahayag ni dating Sec. Villar sa mga kabataan, "Let this awarding remind you that we believe in you and in the causes of your social enterprises. " Sinabi niya na layunin ng programa na hindi lamang hikayatin ang mga kabataan na mag negosyo para sa kita o kabuhayan. "It goes beyond just lifting you and your family from the cycle of impoverished life. This is also about change," sabi pa ng dating Cabinet official. "Through the deeds and little causes you advocate with your social enterprises, you spark change for the betterment of our society," dagdag pa niya. Isang kumpetisyon ang Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge upang himukin ang mga kabataan sa social enterprises at palakasin ang youth organizations. Hangad nito na magkaroon ng mahalagang epekto ang social enterprises sa pagpapababa ng antas ng kahirapan sa mga komunidad. Ang mga kalahok sa patimpalak ay college students, out-of-school youth, young professionals, at young entrepreneurs. Ang bawat organization ay tumanggap ng P100,000 cash incentive at highly-coveted Villar SIPAG Award trophy. Ang mga nawagi ngayong taon ay ang mga sumusunod: 1.Christian Youth Fellowship -Quezon City, NCR 2.Tanghalan ng Mandaluyong, Inc. - Mandaluyong City, NCR 3.Pinablin 4H Calasiao, Inc. - Calasiao,Pangasinan, Region 1 4. Rice-Up Farmers, Inc. -Lubao, Pampanga, Region 3 5.Youth for Mindoro Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Region 4B 6.Borres Youth Leadership Institute Inc. - Roxas City, Capiz, Region 6 7.Cebuano Youth Ambassadors, Inc. - Cebu City,Cebu, Region 7, 8.Shadow Arts Theater Organization - Palo, Leyte, Region 8 9.Vitali 4-H Club -Vitali, Zamboanga City Region 9 10.Youth Cooperative for Ecological Protection -Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City, Region 10 11. Peace Creed Philippines - Midsayap,North Cotabato,Region 12 12. E-Agrikultura Farmers Organization, Inc. - Butuan City, CARAGA Ipinahayag ng senador na sumailalim sa rigid evaluation at comprehensive screenings ang lahat ng entries sa poverty reduction challenge. Natugunan din nila ang specific criteria gaya ng sustainability at successful poverty reduction strategy. Tiniyak ng senador na magpapatuloy ang Villar SIPAG, kung saan siya ang director, na parangalan ang outstanding youth-led groups o enterprises na nakatulong sa kanilang komunidad.###
The kingdom of Saudi has deposited $3 billion into Egypts central bank, CBE, in a move to shore up the foreign reserve of the Arab republic, reports say.

The fund, Arab Finance reports citing the kingdoms state-run news agency, is also meant to help Egypt to overcome the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has dealt a huge blow to world economy including that of Egypt. The country has seen its foreign reserve gradually shrunk. Arab Finance however notes, that the Arab African country has recovered of the reserves it spent during the height of the COVID-19 market panic last year.

The reserve stockpile, the media further notes, resumed growing in 2021, reaching $40.8 billion in September after having fallen almost $10 billion between March and May last year to $36 billion.

With the deposit, the stockpile will hit close to $45.5 billion, the level prior to the pandemic.

The kingdom has also extended the maturity of $2.3 billion worth of existing deposits, the media note.
Oman is mulling plans to launch its first satellite into orbit next year amid regional space race, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports.

Local companies ETCO and Tuataraand the Polish firm, Sat Revolutionare behind the project, MEMO notes citing local media Al-Shabiba.

The satellite is named CubeSat and is expected to collect and send satellite images and process data to benefit both Muscat and other partners across the globe. The launch will propel the sultanate among countries in the region namely Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar who have already launched their own locally made satellites.

The Gulf country initially planned to launch its first satellite in 2024.
Arts performances in November will include the Emory Dance Companys fall concert Nov. 18-20. Tickets are on sale now.

From creative conversations to concerts and an immersive Macbeth experience, November brings a variety of events for arts enthusiasts that highlight Emorys diverse range of programs.

Creative discussions

The Michael C. Carlos Museum hosts a series of events to complement and contextualize its ongoing exhibition Each/Other: Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger.

This month begins with a Carlos Reads discussion on Monday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m., of Malinda Maynor Lowerys The Lumbee Indians: An American Struggle, a book that examines the remarkable history of the largest tribe east of the Mississippi The museums artist in residence, Cannupa Hanska Luger, whose works are featured in the current exhibition, discusses his practice and the collaboration and social engagement at its core as a contemporary Indigenous artist on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. Luger will also participate in the Emory Climate Talks series on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m.

For those wishing to attend virtual events, join artist Michael Rakowitz as he speaks about his ongoing project, The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist, and other works related to questions around reappearance, restitution and restoration. This event is part of the Monuments and Memorials Lecture Series and will be held on Zoom Thursday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Emory Art History Department, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, History Department and the Hightower Fund.

Music fans should attend a recital and lecture by Indigenous violinist Heidi Senungetuk on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. in the Carlos Museums Ackerman Hall. She will present two works that highlight Indigenous modes of creativity in music.

Hear from the impressive cohort of Emorys creative writing fellows in a joint reading Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cox Hall Ballroom. Yolanda Franklin (Provosts Postdoctoral Fellow), Justin Haynes (Nicholas Jenkins Barnett Fellow in Fiction), Maya Marshall (Creative Writing Fellow in Poetry) and Megan Tabaque (Playwriting Fellow) will all present excerpts from their work.

Concert performances

Emory artists and guest performers are glad to be back onstage at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts and other areas on campus. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for any patrons of events at the Schwartz Center. Event listings include more details.

The Candler Concert Series continues on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. with a performance from violinist Leonidas Kavakos and pianist Yuja Wang. This pair of superstars share the stage in their first visit to the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale now.

Community members can support Emorys student musicians on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. for the Emory Chamber Ensembles performance. Mentored by Emorys artist faculty, student musicians perform chamber works for strings, brass, winds, percussion and guitar. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Schwartz artist in residence Geneva Lewis hosts a violin master class for students on Friday, Nov. 12, at 12:30 p.m. Schwartz Center patrons are invited to observe the class; registration is required. Lewis also joins pianist Chenny Gan in a performance of Homage to the Blues on Friday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. in the Emerson Concert Hall.

On Sunday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., Emory undergraduate students perform some of the best-known pieces in four-hand and two-hand piano repertoire in the Collaborative Piano concert.

Fans of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (ECMSA) are invited to experience Mozart at the Museum as part of the Cooke Noontime Concert Series on Friday, Nov. 19, at 12 p.m. at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. The ECMSA also hosts John Dee, one of the nations finest wind players, in residence at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, as he shares his musical wisdom with members of Emorys oboe class on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 10 a.m.

Finish this musical month on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. for Emory Jazz Ensembles, a performance led by Emorys director of jazz studies, Gary Motley.

Film and theater

The Department of Film and Media hosts David Barba in an online program Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Media Lives: Conversations with Creative Professionals Series to discuss his latest film, Guadalupe.

On Monday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m., the Visiting Artists series by Photography at Emory features an online program with Rachel Fein-Smolinski. Barba also joins the series on Monday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. This series of artists talks focuses on photography, film, video, art and activism.

On the heels of its acclaimed streaming event Caesar: A Surround Sound Experiment, New Yorkbased immersive audio company Knock at the Gate returns to the space between your ears Nov. 4-7 and Nov. 11-14 with an all-new reimagining of Shakespeares Macbeth, designed for a pair of headphones and pitch darkness (no screens, no Zooms). Created in collaboration with Theater Emory and Multiband Studios, this unique and intimate audio production invites listeners to put on a pair of headphones, turn out the lights and be transported into the beating heart of Shakespeares dark tale. Tickets are free of charge but must be reserved beforehand through Knock at the Gate.

Dance

The Emory Dance Company presents its Fall Concert Nov. 18-20 in the Dance Studio of the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Performances will be each evening at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. The program will include a selection of works from faculty members Angela Harris, Julio Medina, George Staib and Lori Teague along with guest artists Xan Burley and Alex Springer. General admission tickets are $15 and are on sale now . Discounts for some patrons may apply; call 404-727-5050 for information.

All events are open to the public and most are free. Check individual event information for more details.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
To

The Prime Minister,

On 10/8/21 over 60 citizens of our nation wrote to you expressing utmost concern over the recent decision of the Government of India to restart seven under-construction hydroelectric projects (HEPs) on the Ganga, in the Himalayan basin. The signatories representing a wide spectrum of our public, are prominent scientists, politicians, lawyers, social activists, field experts, villagers and members of reputed environmental organizations, all with a long experience and ground knowledge of the issues we have raised.

The planet is now being devastated by extreme weather events, which are only set to increase with the rapid onset of climate change. One of the major impacts will be on glaciers, that are melting and retreating across the globe. This phenomenon will have a tremendous impact on rivers and water bodies. For example, the glacial lake outbursts, floods, and avalanches like the recent ones in Chamoli district are expected to increase significantly. Similarly, it is anticipated that the frequencies and magnitude of extreme weather events such as high precipitation (cloudbursts) and draughts would adversely impact the Himalayan ecosystem particularly the rivers and waterways. The human suffering this will entail is also a matter of dread. In such a scenario, large scale reservoir dams like Lakhwar HEP on the Yamuna, that are yet awaiting cabinet approval, will only aggravate the crisis.

HEPs that lie right in the path of rivers, are bound to be destroyed or extensively damaged, as we witnessed all too clearly in 2013 during Kedarnath and the 2021 Chamoli floods. Thousands of crores of public funds were literally washed away overnight. Adding to that the aggravation of the natural disasters which these HEPs caused, resulting in traumatic deaths and immeasurable human suffering, makes the decision to invest in such projects inexplicable and unjustifiable.

The disappearance of the Ganga into tunnels through bumper-to-bumper projects is a cultural and civilizational loss, for which the future generations will hold us to account. Destroying rivers, our primary water source, will also prove disastrous in a world where water scarcity is predicted to be severe enough to threaten life itself. We have learnt the costly lesson that HEPs ultimately do not contribute to progress or development for the pahadi mountain villager; nor for the nation. On the contrary, we cannot even begin to calculate or quantify the irreversible loss to our ecology and natural resources.

There is an avalanche of data and scientific research on which we touched upon briefly in our first letter, supporting our view that these 7 HEPs should be cancelled immediately. We had hoped to present the same to you, in detail, in the best interest of our nation. The MoEF&CC, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and your office too, has in fact expressed similar views of cancelling HEPs in the past. Hence the complete silence from your government, the unwillingness to engage in meaningful public dialogue and ignoring genuine concerns raised by leading scientists, has come as a huge disappointment.

Our intentions stem from a genuine and profound concern with the crisis humanity is facing today. The Ganga-Himalaya is a collapsing ecology, overburdened beyond its carrying capacity. Development for the people must focus most importantly on what the people themselves consider to be in their best interest. Recently, speaking in the United Nations, you accurately pointed out that India is the Mother of democracy. It is in keeping with this spirit of our civilization, that we expect our government to listen carefully and incorporate the public view, especially when it has been abundantly proven, time and again, by both experience and science. Hence, we are baffled by the wall of silence from the government.

The unexpected floods in Kumaon just last week, in the winter months, with 500 mm rainfall in just 24 hours, caused extensive landslides and the deaths of over 60 people; Nainital was devastated with the loss of electricity, water, internet and road connectivity. The continued occurrence of floods, forest fires, heatwaves, cloud bursts and storms, in and out of season, are all indicators of escalating climate change. The increasing propensity for such recurring disasters requires immediate measures to ensure that the environment is stable enough to withstand and reduce the impact of destruction. Slope cutting, blasting, tunnelling, tree felling, muck dumping and such anthropogenic activities undoubtedly increase the vulnerability of the terrain and the threat to life. The east, with its accumulated wisdom, must provide a spiritual, harmonious and balanced alternative to the western model of wasteful and unsustainable consumption.

Hence, we reiterate our request to cancel the seven projects. Once again, we gravely caution against building HEPs on our pristine Himalayan rivers. And finally, once again, we request for a meeting with the government (through Sri Kunwar Rewati Raman Singhji, MP Rajya Sabha) to present all the scientific data and facts, so that such an important decision may be taken in an informed manner, and with an unblinkered view of the long-term consequences.

Sincerely,

Name Signature

1. Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh MP, Rajya Sabha

Coordinator  Indian Parliamentarians forum for Ganga and Himalayas

2. Justice Giridhar Malviya (Retd Judge  Allahabad High Court)

Chancellor  Benaras Hindu University

3. Padma Shri Prof. Shekhar Pathak Retd. Professor Kumaun University, Nainital

4. Pradip Tamta MP, Raya Sabha, Uttarakhand

5. Dr. Ravi Chopra Chairman, Supreme Court appointed Expert Body (2013) on Impacts of Hydro Projects and Former Member- National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)

6. Rajendra Singh Tarun Bharat Sangh, Former Member- National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)

7. Mallika Bhanot Ganga Ahvaan, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

8. Sushila Bhandari Kedarghati Bachao Sangarsh Samiti Rudraprayag

9. Keshar Singh Panwar Environmental Activist, Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone, Uttarkashi, Uttarkhand

10. Swami Avimuktesharanand Saraswati Coordinator, Ganga Sewa Abhiyanam,

Varanasi

11. Manoj Mishra Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan India Rivers Forum

12. Dr. Navin Juyal Retd. Scientist, Physical Research Laboratory, Member-Supreme Court appointed Expert Body (2013) on Impacts of Hydro Projects.

13. Shashi Shekhar Ex-Secretary  MoWR & GR, New Delhi

14. Ramchandra Guha Indian Historian, Bengaluru Endorsed

15. K.N. Govindacharya Founder-Bharat Vikas Sangam, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan, New Delhi Endorsed

16. Kishore Upadhyaya Himalaya Bachao Andolan & Van-adhikaar Andolan, Dehradun Endorsed

17. CP Rajendran Adjunct Professor, NIAS Bengaluru

18. Medha Patkar, Founder- Narmada Bachao Andolan, Endorsed

19. Malika Virdhi Uttarakhand Mahila Manch Munsiyari, Uttarakhand Endorsed

20. Reena Gupta Environment policy Advisor, Delhi govt. Endorsed

21. K.J.Joy Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India Endorsed

22. Himanshu Thakker South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), Delhi Endorsed

23. Rajiv Lochan Shah Editor, Nainital Samachar Nainital Endorsed

24. S.P.Sati Head, Department of Basic and Social Sciences, College of Forestry,

Tehri Garhwal

25. E.Theophilus Ecologist, Munsiyari, Uttarakhand Endorsed

26. Smt. Rama Rauta Founder, Save Ganga Movement

Former member  NGRBA Endorsed

27. Neha Bhadbhade Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India Pune Endorsed

28. S.P.Ravi, River Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala Endorsed

29. Shripad Dharmadhikary, Manthan Adhyayan Kendra. Endorsed

30. Kavita Upadhyay Independent environmental journalist/researcher Nainital, Uttarakhand

31. Siddharth Agarwal Researcher, Activist, Filmmaker Veditum India Foundation India Rivers Forum

32. Gorky Chakraborty Institute of Development Studies (IDSK) Kolkota Endorsed

33. Dunu Roy Director- Hazards Centre, New Delhi Endorsed

34. Shankar Sharma Power & Climate Policy Analyst Anugraha, Sagara, Karnataka Endorsed

35. Kshama Metre National Director CORD Office of the National Director

Sidhbari, Distt. Kangra (H.P. Endorsed

36. Y.N.Yellappa Reddy Ex IFS, Chairman Bangalore Environment Trust

37. Dipak Dholakia Convener, Indian Community Activists Network (ICAN) Endorsed

38. Lokesh Ohri, Convenor, Uttarakhand, INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage)

39. Abhayraj Naik, Azim Premji University, Bangalore, India Endorsed

40. Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh, Pune. Endorsed

41. S Janakarajan Former Professor Madras Institute of Development Studies Chennai Endorsed

42. Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of Peoples Movement (NAPM) Endorsed

43. Partha J Das,Head, Water, Climate & Hazard Division Organising Secretary Aaranyak, Guwahati Endorsed

44. Hariballabh Bhatt & Sumit Mahar Mahakali Lok Sangathan Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand Endorsed

45. Brig. Kapil Chand, Veteran Endorsed

46. Abhay Mishra Journalist, Author, Riverine Culture scholar, New Delhi Endorsed

47. Dr. Meeta Khilnani Earth Scientist (Geophysist), Consultant Functional Area Expert (Hydrogeology), NABET

48. Sandeep Pandey Social Activist, Founder Member- Asha for Education Endorsed

49. Prakash Bhandari & Himshi Singh Himdhara Collective, Himachal Pradesh Endorsed

50. J.P.Maithani Founder- Alaknanda Ghati Shilpi Federation (AGAAS), Chamoli, Uttarakhand

51. Raghuram RP Purnapramati, A center for Integrated learning, Banglore

52. Neha Khandekar Doctoral Researcher, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore Endorsed

53. Yash Marwah, Writer, Climate Change Campaigner, Let India Breathe  Mumbai

54. Cara Tejpal, Director Conservation, Sanctuary Nature Foundation Endorsed

55. Atul Sati, Coordinator, Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

56. Sangram Singh, former member, block development council (BDC), Reni village, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

57. Kamal Raturi, Secretary, Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

58. Indresh Maikhuri, Social Activist, Columnist, Uttarakhand

59. P C Tewari Chipko Movement Activist Almora, Uttarakhand Endorsed

60. Snigdha Tiwari Advocate High Court of Uttarakhand Endorsed

61. Ayush Joshi Environmental Engineer Dehradun, Uttarakhand

62. Dr. Soumya Prasad, Ecologist and Research Scientist Nature Science Initiative, Dehradun Endorsed

63. Swami Samvidanand Chief Coordinator- Greenvein, Kerala

64. Geeta Gairola Environmental Activist Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand Endorsed

65. Deepak Ramola Environmental activist Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand Endorsed
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on November 2, 2021

2021/11/02

Xinhua News Agency: The World Leaders Summit at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is held in Glasgow, the UK, from November 1 to 2. President Xi Jinping delivered a written statement to elaborate on China's propositions on climate governance and share China's achievements and contributions in climate governance. Could you offer more information?

Wang Wenbin: The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is held in Glasgow, the UK, from October 31 to November 12. The UK hosts the World Leaders Summit on November 1 and 2. President Xi delivered a written statement at the summit.

In this statement, he offered China's solution to major tasks of our times including how to address climate change and revitalize the world economy. He put forward three propositions, namely, upholding multilateral consensus, focusing on concrete actions, and accelerating the green transition. He stressed that China, guided by the vision of a community of life for man and Nature, is committed to a green and low-carbon development path that gives priority to ecological conservation. The "1+N" policy framework has identified the timetable, roadmap and blueprint for China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

President Xi's statement demonstrates China's sense of responsibility as a major country in actively addressing climate change and leading global climate governance. It has been highly acclaimed by the international community. Just as President Xi emphasized, "successful governance relies on solid action". China stands ready to work hand in hand with the international community to tackle the climate challenge, protect the planet we all call home and foster a community of life for man and Nature.

Reuters: Why did the Chinese leader only deliver an address at the opening leaders' segment of COP26 in written format, and not via video link?

Wang Wenbin: As I understand, the host of the conference did not provide the option to participate by videoconference. What I want to stress is that President Xi Jinping's written statement to COP26 demonstrates China's firm position to actively promote international cooperation on climate change and protect the planet we all call home and its sense of responsibility as a major country. China's proposals and measures have been highly praised and recognized by the international community.

MASTV: Antiy Labs, an anti-virus company of China, announced that a number of phishing activities and cyber attacks targeting China and countries in the South Asian Subcontinent have been busted this year with India-based hackers behind attempts to launch attacks on China's defense and military units as well as state-owned enterprises. The analysis report will soon be published. Do you have any response?

Wang Wenbin: I would like to refer you to the competent authorities of cybersecurity for the specifics. As a principle, China stands against all forms of cyber attacks.

Yonhap News Agency: I have two questions. It is reported that China and Russia recently circulated a draft resolution on the DPRK at the UN Security Council. Can the foreign ministry share more information on the content? Also, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met with the DPRK's ambassador to China last week, and Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs had a video conference with his ROK counterpart yesterday. Can you share more information on what China has done to encourage the DPRK to return to dialogue and negotiation and China's expectation in this regard?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, China and Russia circulated a DPRK-related draft resolution at the Security Council last Friday. The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and sensitive with the political settlement process at a standstill. The main consideration behind China and Russia's decision to put forward this draft resolution at this point lies in the following aspects. First, it is aimed to strengthen the trajectory of a political settlement to the Korean Peninsula issue and create an enabling atmosphere to facilitate the early start of dialogue. Second, given that the DPRK has taken multiple denuclearization measures in recent years, its legitimate and reasonable concerns deserve attention and response. Third, the negative impact of international sanctions and COVID-19 on the DPRK's economy and people's livelihood is a cause for concern, so the Security Council should facilitate external support and assistance to the country. Fourth, the Security Council should activate provisions on modifying sanctions in DPRK-related resolutions at an appropriate point to make adjustments to some sanctions concerning the economy and livelihood, which is in line with the spirit of the resolutions. Fifth, to improve inter-Korean relations and promote reconciliation and cooperation is the overriding trend, which the international community and relevant parties should all support by creating necessary conditions. We hope relevant parties will look at the draft resolution by China and Russia with a positive and constructive attitude and make joint efforts to advance the political settlement of the Peninsula issue.

On your second question, China has been playing a constructive role in promoting peace talks on the Peninsula and maintains active interaction and in-depth communication with relevant parties. We firmly uphold peace and stability of the Peninsula, stay committed to promoting peace talks, and support all efforts conducive to easing the situation and facilitating dialogue. The dual-track approach and the phased and synchronized principle put forward by China has received great attention and recognition from all parties. China and Russia jointly proposed a draft resolution at the Security Council on the political settlement of the Peninsula issue, calling for the resumption of talks at an early date. This is very constructive under the current circumstances.

China believes the crux of the Peninsula issue lies in the fact that the denuclearization measures the DPRK has taken have not won due attention, and the country's legitimate concerns have not received due response. The US should face the crux of the problem squarely, propose attractive plans for dialogue and take real actions instead of simply shouting slogans. China is ready to strengthen communication with all parties on the Peninsula affairs and continue to actively contribute to the political settlement of the Peninsula issue.

Shenzhen TV: According to media reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on November 1 that amid the turmoil in Afghanistan, the US had attempted to persuade Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to allow American forces to be stationed in their territory. All rejected the US proposal. During a meeting between the Russian and US heads of state this June, the Russian side stated explicitly that it categorically opposes US attempts to deploy military bases in Central Asian countries. Does the Chinese side have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant reports. The countries you mentioned are all SCO members. To safeguard regional peace and stability is the shared objective of all SCO members. Relevant countries maintain close cooperation. The two-decade war in Afghanistan waged by the US has wreaked havoc on peace and stability in Afghanistan and the wider region and led to a huge humanitarian disaster. The US should draw a hard lesson, rectify its belligerent policy, earnestly respect regional countries' sovereign independence and territorial integrity, act to promote regional peace and stability and avoid repeating past mistakes.

People's Daily: At the World Leaders Summit at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26), more than 100 countries, including China, will join the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use. Could you share more details on that?

Wang Wenbin: Forests are the lungs of our planet and the largest carbon sinks in terrestrial ecosystems. China's participation in the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use demonstrates its resolve and contribution to protecting ecological environment and actively addressing climate change.

Guided by the concept of a community of life for man and Nature, China has taken concrete measures in terms of forest and land use and achieved remarkable results. Against the backdrop of continuous decline of global forest resources, China's forest coverage rate has risen from 12 percent in the 1980s to 23.04 percent today, and its forest stock volume has increased by 8.5 billion cubic meters, registering the largest national increase in forest resources in the world and contributing a quarter of the world's newly forested land.

China has continued its efforts to control desertification, successfully curbed the expansive trend of desertification, realized a historic transformation from "sand forcing humans to retreat" to "trees forcing sand to retreat", and achieved the goal of zero net land degradation by 2030 set by the United Nations ahead of schedule. China has contributed one-fifth of the world's net restored land area.

Planet Earth is what all human beings call home. China's efforts to protect forests and land has not only greened China but also made the world a more beautiful place. In the face of global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, China is ready to work with other parties to take concrete actions to address crises, resolve difficulties and build a beautiful world where man and Nature coexist in harmony.

CCTV: China has applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) on November 1. Could you share China's consideration and tell us the significance of this decision?

Wang Wenbin: President Xi Jinping announced that China has decided to apply to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement during his attendance at the 16th G20 Leaders' Summit. China yesterday submitted the application to New Zealand, the depositary for the DEPA. This showcases China's constructive attitude in actively participating in international cooperation on digital economy and relevant rules-making and reflects China's firm resolve to expand opening-up and align with high-standard international rules.

China is an active advocate of regional economic cooperation, a staunch defender of multilateral economic and trade rules and a strong promoter of an open world economy. China has been firmly committed to deepening reform and opening-up, actively participating in improving international economic and trade rules, and promoting regional economic integration and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. China was one of the first countries to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and has formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to further enhance its commitment to opening-up. At the just-concluded leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation, China called for deepening economic integration and promoting the early entry into force and implementation of the RCEP to bring benefits to people in the region, which has received positive response from regional countries.

In just several days, the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will open in Shanghai. This year, a total of 58 countries and three international organizations will join the country exhibition during the expo, and nearly 3,000 businesses from 127 countries and regions will attend the business exhibition. The numbers of participating countries and businesses are both higher than those at the previous expo. China will continue to take concrete actions to support the multilateral trading system, promote the building of an open world economy and make new contributions to global economic recovery and common development of all countries.

Bloomberg: A question about the statement of the Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) issued on November 1. It voiced concerns about the foreign media coverage environment for the Beijing Winter Olympics and called on the Beijing 2022 Olympic Organizing Committee and the IOC to improve conditions and access. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: First of all, China does not recognize the organization you mentioned. It cannot represent the genuine voice of the over 400 foreign journalists in China.

The statement you mentioned is not based on facts. The preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games follows the principle of openness. From the outset of the preparation work, we have always welcomed media outlets from across the world for reporting and coverage. With the ongoing pandemic, in order to protect the health and safety of all parties attending the Experience Beijing test matches in the second half of 2021 and to lower the cost for media operation by reducing the number of people that need to be put in quarantine after the matches, the organizing committee of the test matches made thoughtful arrangements and the organizing party overcame huge difficulties to divide the space into two sections, one under outside-loop management and one under in-loop management, and put the media reporting area under outside-loop management. Because of the limited space of the stadiums and venues, not all media organizations are invited to report on every test match.

The principle to follow when inviting media outlets is that only international news agencies recognized by the IOC, the IOC's official photographic agency, and some media from countries that hosted Olympic Games in recent years or will do so in the coming years are granted access. They can represent the majority of media organizations and meet their needs. In the meantime, the Beijing Organizing Committee provides Newsletter as the matches progress and sends information to all overseas media outlets. There is no such thing as inadequate disclosure of information.

We understand that media organizations are paying much attention to the preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympics and welcome more coverage on the relevant work. To meet the needs of the media, the Beijing Organizing Committee is making active coordination to organize a series of reporting in the three competition zones without affecting the ongoing test matches. Most of the media outlets invited will be overseas resident media in Beijing who have not participated in the test matches. To accommodate the reporting demand of the media, the organizing committee overcame difficulties by coordinating the venues and stadiums to expand the media operation space and has added more media outlets to the list of invitation on the basis of conditions on the ground.

Phoenix TV: Two questions. First, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan referred to China as a significant outlier on climate action and said the US will continue pressing on that. How do you respond to this? Second, reports show freight trains have resumed operation between Afghanistan and China. China has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban interim government yesterday announced that it has exported pine nuts to China. Can you confirm the reports and share more information?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, President Xi Jinping said at the 16th G20 Leaders' Summit that China has all along undertaken due international responsibilities commensurate with its national conditions. We have actively advanced the green transition of our economy and raised the ambition of our climate actions on our own initiative. We will honor our words and strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

China always delivers on its commitments and has made arduous efforts and achieved remarkable progress. China's carbon intensity in 2020 was 48.4 percent less than that in 2005, which means that China had more than fulfilled its commitment to the international community  to achieve a 40-45 percent reduction in carbon intensity from the 2005 level by 2020. The drop in carbon intensity translates to a total reduction of about 5.8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. China has made great effort to advance a green and low-carbon energy transition. Electricity generated by non-fossil energy represented more than one third of the power consumption of the country. The total installed capacity of PV power generation increased by a factor of more than 3,000 compared with 2005, and wind by a factor of more than 200. China has led the world in PV capacity additions for eight consecutive years. In the manufacture of wind power and PV power generation equipment, China is the global leader in terms of technology and output. Recently China has started construction of a batch of large wind power and photovoltaic bases with a combined installed capacity of 30 million kW, marking the beginning of the first phase of projects with an installed capacity of approximately 100 million kW. As I said yesterday, developed countries generally set a timeframe of 40 to 70 years to move from carbon peaking to carbon neutrality while China, the largest developing country in the world, only gives itself 30 years. China's carbon neutrality targets are fully consistent with the Paris Agreement goal of holding global average temperature increase to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. They also fully demonstrate China's climate ambition and global leadership commensurate with its development stage and national realities.

I would also like to stress that as a challenge to all humanity, climate change bears on the future of us all and thus requires joint actions of the international community. Developed countries have unshirkable and historical responsibility since they have been releasing a tremendous amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for the past 200 years or so. In particular, the US, a major emitter in history, has seen reversal and retrogression in its climate policy. Its emissions peaked and began to decline only in recent years. We are looking forward to concrete emissions reduction policies and measures rolled out by the US as soon as possible. Developed countries should earnestly follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, take the lead in fulfilling emission reduction obligations, and provide financial, technological and capacity building support to help developing countries enhance their capacity to respond to climate challenges. They should also stop asking China to reduce the use of coal while sanctioning Chinese photovoltaic companies.

On your question about Afghanistan, freight trains between China and Afghanistan have never been suspended. Agricultural trade between the two countries is recovering. The small pine nuts, while bringing an exotic delicacy to the Chinese people, also fetch foreign exchanges for Afghanistan every year and alleviate the difficulties facing a large number of Afghan farmers as a means of living. The "air corridor of pine nuts" captures China-Afghanistan friendship that goes way back and economic and trade cooperation that grows steadily.

As we speak, Afghanistan still faces grave humanitarian crisis and economic difficulties. China has announced to provide 200 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan and our first batch of emergency humanitarian assistance supplies has arrived in Kabul. China will continue to listen to the appeal and demand of the Afghan people, provide support and assistance for them to the best of our abilities and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan regain stability and achieve development.

AFP: Could you confirm reports that three Chinese workers were rescued from kidnappers in Mali? And would you be able to share any details about this case?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese government attaches great importance to the kidnapping of three employees of a Chinese company in Mali. Since the kidnapping happened, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Mali have been closely following the development of the case, continuously urging the Malian side to make all-out efforts for rescue, and guiding the enterprise concerned to properly respond. Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, the three abductees were safely rescued on November 1 and are now in good health. We thank the governments of Mali and relevant countries for their efforts and support for the safe rescue of the Chinese nationals.

The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Mali will continue to comfort and take care of those rescued. At the same time, we will further heighten risk alert and consular protection for Chinese citizens and enterprises in Mali, and earnestly safeguard their safety and legitimate rights and interests.

Global Times: According to media reports, French President Macron said in an interview with an Australian media outlet during the G20 Summit that Australian Prime Minister Morrison lied to the French side on the nuclear submarine contract. Whether he will trust the Australian side again will depend on what Morrison delivers, he added. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: China has clearly stated its principled position on Australia's nuclear submarine cooperation with relevant countries. Australia should not only give honest answers to its partner's questioning, but also honestly face up to the international community's concerns, earnestly fulfill its non-proliferation obligations, and stop such irresponsible behavior as creating bloc confrontation and proliferation risks.

CRI: The WTA Best Practices of Rural Revitalization Through Tourism 2021 was released in Beijing recently. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The World Tourism Alliance (WTA) recently released the WTA Best Practices of Rural Revitalization Through Tourism 2021. This report fully demonstrates the excellent achievements of China's rural revitalization through tourism, and puts forward suggestions on rural revitalization based on in-depth analysis, summary and research. The release of the report is part of the series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. It is also an important measure taken by China to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in tourism and promote mutual learning among countries in this area.

The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government always attach great importance to rural work. We have introduced a host of policies and measures to accelerate rural infrastructure construction and public service improvement and stated clearly that we must continue to make solving problems relating to agriculture, rural areas and farmers the top priority in the Party's work, make comprehensively promoting rural revitalization a major task of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and mobilize the efforts of the whole Party and society to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas so that farmers can live a better life. This 50 cases from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China compiled in this report are a vivid illustration of the achievements of the path of socialist rural revitalization with Chinese characteristics and China's unique contribution to global poverty reduction and development.

In this report, there are many success stories of achieving development and revitalization through ecological progress. You can find the inspiring stories of how villages achieved prosperity by implementing the strategy of "village development through ecology" and developing featured tourism of the local ecology, how they converted land once used for industries with heavy pollution to scenic spots through ecological upgrading, and how they made full use of the endowment of local world natural heritages to find ways for heritage protection, rural tourism and sustainable livelihood to integrate with and reinforce one another. These cases are positive outcomes of China's commitment to prioritizing ecological conservation and promoting green and low-carbon development and its effort to build a beautiful country with the harmonious coexistence of man and Nature.

We believe that if we humanity do not fail Nature, Nature will not fail us. Rural revitalization cannot be achieved until the vision of blue sky, green land and clear water is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Similarly, the development of China and the world at large cannot be achieved without taking good care of our planet. In the future, we will make unremitting efforts to firmly implement the new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, continue to follow through on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and work with other countries to build a world of harmonious coexistence between man and Nature and a community with a shared future for mankind featuring zero poverty, zero hunger, and common development. We sincerely hope you will look around in China's beautiful rural areas.

South China Morning Post: Yesterday the US Navy released results of the investigation into the collision of USS Connecticut last month. It stated that the submarine grounded on "an uncharted seamount", not another ship, and suffered serious damage. I wonder if the foreign ministry has any response to this?

Wang Wenbin: We have expressed our grave concern repeatedly over this incident and asked the US side to adopt a responsible attitude, offer a detailed explanation, and provide a satisfactory answer to the international community and regional countries.

What we have seen is that a week after the incident, the US issued an evasive statement, saying the submarine hit an unknown object. Nearly a month after the incident, it said the submarine grounded on an uncharted seamount. It also deliberately used the sweeping term "international waters in the Indo-Pacific region" and has yet to give clear answers to questions like the intention of the operation, the exact location of the incident, whether it lies in the exclusive economic zone or territorial sea of any country, and whether the collision led to a nuclear leak or polluted the marine environment, all causing great concern and doubt. This fully exposed the US lack of transparency and responsibility.

We once again urge the US to give a detailed description of the incident and fully address regional countries' concern and doubt. The key is to stop deploying military aircraft and warships to harass and provoke others and flex muscles, and to stop harming other countries' sovereign security, otherwise it will be inviting more, not fewer, similar incidents.

Bloomberg: Can the Foreign Ministry confirm if a fertilizer company in Sri Lanka secured a court order to block payment to a Chinese company over a shipment of fertilizer found to be contaminated?

Wang Wenbin: I'm not aware of the specific situation you mentioned. I would like to tell you that China attaches great importance to the quality of exports. With regard to fertilizer trade and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, the fertilizer concerned had passed tests of third-party agencies assigned by the Sri Lankan side before shipping. At the moment, China and Sri Lanka are working on the issue through communication and coordination.

China Daily: We noted that the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently held a plenary session to review a report of the Human Rights Council. At the meeting, China expressed explicit opposition to politicizing human rights. Could you share more details, including on the role China has played?

Wang Wenbin: As you said, the 76th session of the UNGA recently held a plenary session to review a report of the Human Rights Council, and the Third Committee had an interactive dialogue with the President of the Human Rights Council. China worked with many countries at the meeting to jointly oppose politicizing the issue of human rights and taking advantage of the human rights issue to interfere in other countries' internal affairs.

The representative of China pointed out that human rights is not a patent held by a few Western countries, but rights enjoyed by people in all countries. The Human Rights Council is a platform to conduct constructive dialogue and cooperation on human rights issues, not an occasion to create disputes and stoke political confrontation. The work of the Council is now faced with challenges posed by aggravating politicization of human rights issues, inadequate input in economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development, an excess of country-specific human rights resolutions and mechanisms, and the violation of the principles of objectivity and impartiality by some special procedures. China firmly opposes politicizing human rights and adopting double standards on this issue, as well as interference in other countries' internal affairs in the name of human rights.

Venezuela delivered a statement on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, of which China is also member. Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, Cuba, Syria, India, Indonesia, Iran, Algeria and other countries all spoke up. They called for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states and an immediate stop to politicization of and double standards on human rights. They also rejected interference in the internal affairs of member states and voiced grave concern over the proliferation of country-specific human rights mechanisms, increasing frequency of failure in reaching consensus on Human Rights Council resolutions, and special procedure experts' deviation from the principle of objectivity and impartiality. They called on the Council to pay more attention to unilateral coercive measures, racism and terrorism and urged special procedure experts to adhere to their code of conduct. It is a strong voice for justice in line with the aspiration of the international community at a multilateral platform.

China stands ready to work together with other countries to advocate adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international relations, jointly check the morbid tendency to politicize human rights issues, and work relentlessly for the lofty cause of human rights for all.

Beijing Youth Daily: According to an NPR poll, 81 percent of US adults say the future of US democracy is under threat. I wonder if you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: I have noticed relevant reports and have no intention to comment on the American people's perception of their democracy. I would just like to stress that people in all countries have the right to democracy, which is not a patent held by a few countries. Whether a country is a democracy or not should be determined by its own people, not a few captious outsiders. There are many ways to realize democracy. It is impossible to apply one single script to all scenarios. American democracy has its own problems, which can only be resolved by the American people, not other countries.

In the same vein, the path and model a country chooses to achieve democracy should be in keeping with its national realities and stage of development and should be explored and developed by its own people. It runs counter to the very idea of democracy to use one standard and model to gauge whether any given country is democratic or not. To impose one's own model of democracy on others through force, coercion or pressure is hegemonism disguised as democracy, which is the very opposite of democracy. It will only aggravate division and confrontation and lead to conflict and chaos. This sort of pseudo-democracy and fake democracy is bound to be opposed and rejected by the international community.
NASA is delaying the upcoming launch of the agency's SpaceX Crew-3 mission due to a minor medical issue involving one of its crew members.

The issue is not a medical emergency and not related to COVID-19. The launch to the International Space Station was planned for Wednesday, Nov. 3.

The agency takes every effort to protect the crew prior to its launch through a health stabilization plan. Crew-3 astronauts will remain in quarantine at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida while preparing for their launch.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft are photographed at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A on Oct. 31, 2021.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-3 mission, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Teams will continue to monitor crew health as they evaluate potential launch opportunities at the end of the week. The earliest possible opportunity for launch is 11:36 p.m. EDT Saturday, Nov. 6.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket are in good shape and will remain at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.

The Crew-3 flight will carry NASA astronauts Raja Chari, mission commander; Tom Marshburn, pilot; and Kayla Barron, mission specialist; as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who will serve as a mission specialist, to the space station for a six-month science mission, staying aboard until late April 2022.

This is the third crew rotation mission with astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and the fourth flight with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight, as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.

NASA also will continue to evaluate dates for a return to Earth for NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission with NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

Mission teams are reviewing options including both direct and indirect handovers for the upcoming crew rotation at the microgravity laboratory. Teams will review all options for safely launching and returning crew members and continue the agency's important work on the International Space Station.



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Racing resumes at the iconic Cumberland Raceway on Wednesday (Nov. 3) for the first of 29 Southern Maine racing dates dubbed the Winter Festival.

Racing Secretary Marc Reynolds was quite pleased with the full entry box and has carded 10 races of full fields that are set to begin with an earlier 11 a.m. post time.

The horsemen and women are eager to get back racing as the Maine Fair circuit ended last month, and everyone is excited to return back home to Cumberland, noted Reynolds.

The $4,500 co-features mark the return of many of Maines harness racing families as their familiar faces fill the pages of programs and overnight sheets. The opener pits the Craig Hall-trained and Aaron Hall-driven Mr Blissful (post two, 5-2) against the Mike Graffam-trained and Nick Graffam-driven Cyclone Pass (post one, 3-1). Both horses have won in excess of $15,000 this season and look to add to that bankroll in the conditioned pace. Of course, anytime top reinsman Bruce Ranger is in the mix, punters take note. The leading New England driver leaves from post five with Bolt Ruler (4-1), who took his seasonal 1:57 mark at the Cumberland Fair in September for trainer Eric Bickmore.

The fourth race, second $4,500 split, has Bali (post four, 5-2) looking for his third victory in a row. Now driven by Bruce Ranger for trainer Benson Merrill, the 10-year-old son of Dali has been dropped in for a tag to fit the condition. Another son of Dali looking for his piece of the pie is Daliocity (post five, 4-1). Driven by Andrew Harrington for trainer Sara Gibbs, Daliocity took his 1:56 seasonal mark at Cumberland during the spring/summer meet and has six wins and $24,616 earned this year. Sanattle Slew (post one, 4-1, Deslandes) and Captain Nash (post six, 3-1, D. Campbell) make this a competitive race worthy of further study.

Overall, the entire card has a lot of action for horseplayers as the $3,000 guaranteed Pick 5 starts with the first race, and every event has either full seven or eight-horse fields. In fact, 45 different conditioners have entered horses for opening day, making this a homecoming week like no other. Free past performances will be available on the USTAs Strategic Wagering page.

Fans can visit the Trackside Pub on Saturday, Nov. 6 to benefit Futures for Standardbreds. Round up, donations and raffles will take place during the races with giveaways throughout the event.

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for the Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting featuring back-to-back cards on Tuesday, Nov. 9 and Wednesday, Nov. 10, and continues weekly through December 31, 2021.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and the UN have discussed recovery and sustainable development in the post-pandemic period.

The discussion took place during the meeting between Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and UN Development Coordinator Office for Europe and Central Asia Regional Director Gwi-Yeop Son on November 1.

The parties also focused on strengthening cooperation on the implementation of the framework document for 2021-25.

"During the meeting with the regional director of UN Development Coordination Office for Europe and Central Asia Ms. Gwi-Yeop Son, we discussed strengthening cooperation on the implementation of the Framework Document for 2021-2025, as well as recovery and sustainable development in the post-pandemic period," the minister wrote on his official Twitter page.

It should be noted that the UN and Azerbaijan's Economy Ministry signed the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2021-25 in March. The Cooperation Framework, fully compliant with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is based on the principles of human rights, gender equality, sustainable development, resilience, and responsibility, including socio-economic development priorities, and will cover entire Azerbaijan.

The UNSDCF is the fifth UN-Azerbaijan cooperation framework and is based on an analysis of Azerbaijans progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The implementation of the cooperation framework puts the UN development system reform into practice, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and joint action in the delivery of all development results.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) sold funds in the amount of $539.9 million at foreign currency auctions in October, the funds press service has reported.

SOFAZ sold funds in the amount of $4.8 billion at foreign currency auctions in January-October 2021. The amount of funds sold at foreign currency auctions in 2020 made up $3.8 billion.

It was earlier reported that the State Oil Fund revenues from the major oil and gas fields amounted to $4.2 billion in January-September 2021. Of these, revenues from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of fields, which are the largest oil fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, amounted to $3.9 billion, while the fund's revenues from the Shah Deniz field, which is among the worlds largest gas-condensate fields, amounted to $329.1 million.

Additionally, the fund's budget revenues amounted to AZN 10.4 billion ($6.1bn), while the budget expenditures constituted AZN 7.3 billion ($4.3bn) in the first nine months of 2021

Established in 1999, SOFAZ is a sovereign wealth fund, which accumulates and preserves Azerbaijans oil and gas revenues for future generations.

The fund accumulates income from the sale of oil contracts, and in 2003 it started to make transfers to the state budget of Azerbaijan. As for now, SOFAZ's contribution to the countrys GDP is over 80 percent.
By Trend

The Astrakhan business center is planned to be opened in Azerbaijan soon, head of the Regional Agency for International Relations of Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation Vladimir Golovkov said, Trend reports on Nov. 2 with reference to the website of the government of Astrakhan region.

"Azerbaijan is one of the main partners for us in the Caspian region," Golovkov said. "Tourism is a promising sphere of our cooperation."

The head of the Regional Agency said that the promotion of the Astrakhan tourism product will be one of the tasks of the Astrakhan business center.

"Moreover, we are connected by direct flights and there are all the prerequisites for the development of the tourism sector," Golovkov said.

The plans for the development of business and medical tourism with Sverdlovsk region, wine and gastronomic tours along the Iter Vitis wine route with Krasnodar region, historical and cultural heritage with Tatarstan, the creation of cruise routes in the Caspian Sea with the Astrakhan region were also discussed at the online conference.

Moreover, Azerbaijans tourism potential, including Nakhchivan, was presented at the event.

The representatives of the Azerbaijan Tourism Agency discussed the issues of cooperation with the Russian side during the online conference.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The 4.4 Festival of Short Performances has opened at the State Academic Musical Theater.

The festival is being held for the first time and is co-organized by the Culture Ministry and Teatro.az with the support of the State Academic Musical Theater and the International Union of Theater Critics.

The first day of the festival brought together well-known theater actors, directors and playwrights.

The main goal of the festival is to increase the number of dramatic performances reflecting the courage and heroism of the Azerbaijani soldiers.

It also focuses on reviving the work theaters which were previously suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The five-day festival features theatrical productions, workshops and panel discussions.

The festival's theatrical performances cover the military theme.

The duration of each production is 15 minutes. The winners will be awarded with a cash prize.

A minute of silence was observed at the festival's opening ceremony. The attendees paid tribute to the Azerbaijani martyrs, who fought heroically for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

Next, the festival`s director, theater critic Elchin Jafarov introduced the festival's jury members Honored Art Workers Israfil Israfilov (chairman), Aydin Talibzade, Ali Amirli, theater director Mehriban Alakparzade, People's Artist, famous theater and film actor Parviz Mammadrzayev.

Head of the Culture Ministry's Arts Department Farah Ajalova addressed the event.

" When we received an offer to hold the festival, we were very pleased to support this initiative. The festival became the first theatrical project dedicated to the glorious victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. It is remarkable that many applications have been sent to the festival. This indicates that the festival's initiative has been accepted with enthusiasm and success," said Ajalova.

The project manager Vidadi Gafarov and art director Emin Aliyev said that the festival involves new theater performances that have not been shown anywhere before.

"Theater teams from Baku and the country's regions, including 1 state, 6 private and 5 independent theaters, are taking part in the festival which reveals new talents. A total of 22 theater performances will be presented as part of the festival," said Gafarov.

The ceremony was followed by the presentation of the theatrical performances.
By Azernews

By Vafa Ismayilova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed the work done at the Youth Park in the city of Shamakhi, Azertag has reported.

The Youth Park was established under President Aliyevs order at the initiative of the Regional Development Public Union.

The Shamakhi region executive head, Tahir Mammadov, briefed the president and the first vice-president about the projects being implemented in the region.

Digitalization

He said that under the action plan to promote open government, a number of activities had been carried out in Shamakhi region, including several projects related to digitalization. The e-application portal stands out among them.

Such a portal has been created together with the Digital Development and Transport Ministry. It has been available to citizens since September 2020, so that our people can communicate with government agencies more easily and apply directly and without any obstacles. Citizens apply directly to any government agency, and during the initial application, their personal e-account is created so that they can receive information about the status of their application. At the same time, one of the advantages of this portal is that local and central executive authorities can follow the appeal addressed to a relevant body at any time, Mammadov said.

It should be noted that the project was declared the winner of an e-government nomination in the competition held by the World Telecommunication Union. The data collected under this project, which is an indicator of ecosystem development in Azerbaijan, is then analyzed.

Mammadov stressed that after the earthquake the reconstruction is underway in Shamakhi entirely at the expense of the state at Aliyevs direct instruction. He noted that about 4,000 houses had been renovated in Shamakhi, and this project is still ongoing.

Mammadov added that funds had recently been allocated again and all damaged houses would be restored on the presidential instruction.

Another project was implemented as a primary element of the geographic information system. Data about Shamakhi was collected and placed on a 3D map. It also includes information on agriculture, education and health in the district. This allows for more objective decisions in economic analysis, the report added.

Mammadov noted that one of the projects that is being currently implemented in the region is the introduction of a new payment model for public transport in Shamakhi.

I must note that this is one of the first pilot projects to be implemented in public transport, which you donated to our district. Our people are very happy. They have very modern buses, he said.

He added that the opportunities provided by modern technology, salary and pension cards and even mobile phones, mobile watches, smartwatches and other devices can be paid for in transport.

Education, health

It was noted that a lot had been done in Shamakhi in recent years. Forty-nine out of 70 schools in the district have been renovated.

This is graphic evidence of your attention and care for education, and all this work is aimed at improving the quality of education. As an indicator, we can say that Shamakhi has moved from 66th to 49th place among 76 educational entities in the country. Both students and teachers are very pleased with the conditions available. Projects are currently underway. I must note that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation helps us in this work at a very high level. Various initiatives and projects are being implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in most of the schools being built in our district. Therefore, dear First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, we are always grateful to you for your great attention and care for our district, both in this area and in all other areas, Mammadov said.

It was noted that another priority in Shamakhi is the health sector. Currently, the World Health Organization together with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is implementing a major pilot project to improve primary health care.

At present, mobile clinics are in operation. There are medical centers built by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the villages. In general, the main direction of the model is to create family health centers so that the population can go to central hospitals only when there is a special need. They can easily receive daily health care there, the executive stressed.

It was also noted that landscaping work had been expanded in Shamakhi and work was continuing on the development of tourism.

Mammadov underlined that the Cultural Center for the organization of cultural events in Shamakhi was reconstructed with the Heydar Aliyev Foundations support.

A fully renovated house of culture meeting modern standards were put in place. Of course, the safety of traffic in the tourist area is the most important issue. In this regard, circular overpasses and other facilities are currently under construction. The involvement of foreign experts of the Automobile Federation in this matter, of course, simplifies our work and increases efficiency, he added.

The head of state was informed that the city's inner streets were also being reconstructed.

The president noted that the foreign company has already started installing energy-saving poles. I saw it along the way.

He stressed that the new poles save about 50 percent of energy, in some cases 70 percent if we compare this to traditional poles.

Meeting with martyr's family members

Then, President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva met martyred sculptor Samir Kachayevs parents.

Aliyev thanked the martyrs father for raising a talented and patriotic man Motherland and for the state. He died heroically, rose to the peak of martyrdom. And he was a talented young man, a patriotic young man. Thank you for raising such a child, a child who sacrificed his life for the Motherland.

The consolation may be the fact that his blood was not left unavenged. He was killed during the April fighting [2016]. We took revenge for his and all our martyrs' blood. We have returned our lands, we have achieved a great victory, and the April battles have their role and share in this victory. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace. This will be an eternal monument created in his memory, the president said.

Aliyev hailed the course of work in Shamakhi.

Great construction work is underway. We strive for the comfort of people in all areas. Our martyrs have sacrificed their lives for this day so that our people could live in peace, safety and security, return to their homeland. And they are already returning. In a few days, we will celebrate the first anniversary of the historic Victory. All our martyrs have a great share in this Victory. Each martyr has his share., the head of state noted.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

On September 27, 2020, in response to a large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, the Azerbaijani army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist".

The 44-day war put an end to nearly 30 years of occupation, ensured the liberation of Azerbaijan's lands and the restoration of the country's territorial integrity.

Chronicle of 44-day Second Karabakh War: November 2, 2021

- President Ilham Aliyev shared a publication in connection with the liberation of several more villages of the Jebrail, Zangilan and Gubadli regions by the Azerbaijani army from the occupation.

- President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

- President Ilham Aliyev received the Turkic Council Secretary General and other officials.

- The list of destroyed military equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces was published.

- The Armenian Armed Forces fired at the territory of Aghdam and Aghjabadi regions. Armenia violated the ceasefire at the state border. Armenian troops retreated, suffering losses of up to 30 people.

- The Armenian Su-25 attack aircraft was destroyed. Four more "GRAD" missile launchers of the Armenian Armed Forces were destroyed.

- The Armenian Armed Forces intensively fired at the territory of the Terter and Goranboy regions. Armenia again fired at Gubadli from the territory of Armenia.

- Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has disseminated a video of the destruction of enemy personnel.

- Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has disseminated a video of the destruction of the KUB anti-aircraft missile system of the Armenian Armed Forces.

A Moscow-brokered ceasefire deal that Baku and Yerevan signed on November 10, 2020, brought an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s.

The peace agreement stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Armenian-occupied Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions and urged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s. Before the signing of the deal, the Azerbaijani army had liberated around 300 villages, settlements, city centres, and historic Shusha city.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

A documentary film "Shusha, you are free!" will be screened on the eve of Victory Day, celebrated on November 8.

The film is co-produced by Baku Media Center and Salnamafilm studio with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry.

The documentary provides insight into some interesting details of the "Shusha operation".

The film also contains interviews with Azerbaijani valiant soldiers and officers - participants of the operation and exclusive footage taken during the battles for the city of Shusha.

Shusha was liberated from around thirty years of Armenian occupation during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.

The clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed after Armenia launched large-scale attacks on Azerbaijani forces and civilians on September 27, 2020.

The 44 days of war ended with the Russian brokered peace deal signed on November 10 by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders.

The peace agreement ended the 30-years-old conflict between Baku and Yerevan over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region that along with the seven adjacent districts came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

For about three decades, Armenia failed to implement the UN Security Council resolutions demanding the withdrawal of the Armenian troops, which was the main obstacle to the resolution of the conflict.




By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that Azerbaijan can normalize relations with Armenia on the basis of respect for the principles of international law, in particular sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders.

He made the remarks at a meeting with the delegation led by Estonian-Azerbaijani InterParliamentary Group Chairman Sven Sester on November 1.

Sester underlined Estonias unequivocal position on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. He emphasized the importance to provide minefield maps for the rapid development of the liberated lands.

The chairman added that they will visit the liberated territories to familiarize themselves with the situation and the reconstruction carried out by Azerbaijan.

Bayramov thanked Estonia for supporting Azerbaijans territorial integrity within its international borders. He briefed on the problems stemming from the trilateral statements of November 10, 2020, and January 11, 2021, as well as the threat of landmines in the region.

The parties discussed the demining activities, the reconstruction in Karabakh, infrastructure projects, and other issues that are currently underway in Azerbaijans liberated lands.

Bayramov noted the high-level cooperation between the countries.

He stressed that next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The minister underlined the importance of expanding trade and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Estonia.

In turn, Sester noted the importance of expanding bilateral relations within international organizations, as well as the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $4.8 million in the first nine months of 2021.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani army is holding a military training session for the reserve forces, the Defence Ministry reported on November 2.

The military exercises are being conducted at one of the military units under the 2021 training plan approved by Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov, the report added.

Under the plan, reservists carried out shooting at designated targets, using various caliber weapons.

The training session is aimed at increasing the level of combat readiness, knowledge and skills of the reservists, the ministry said.

During the training, the reservists are trained to improve their service experiences, along with the skills of using modern weapons, which have been newly adopted to the military arsenal.

It should be noted that, under the law on military service, Azerbaijani citizens can be involved in the 10-day training sessions.

Azerbaijan periodically holds drills to improve its military personnels combat readiness.

The drills also aim to improve interaction and combat coordination between the servicemen during operations, as well as to develop commanders' military decision-making and unit management skills.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani army is holding a competition for the best combat vehicle crew title, the Defence Ministry reported on November 1.

The competition for the Best IFV-2, IFV-3 and APC -82A crew title is being conducted by the Land Forces under the approved combat training plan, the report added.

The competition consists of four stages and is aimed at maintaining a high level of combat readiness.

In line with the rules of the competition, the military personnel are performing physical training, shooting training and driving tasks, as well as, fulfilling the norms both individually and in a group.

The competition will last until November 4, the report concluded.

Azerbaijan periodically holds drills to improve its military personnels combat readiness.

The drills also aim to improve interaction and combat coordination between the servicemen during operations, as well as to develop commanders' military decision-making and unit management skills.




By Trend





A great interest was shown in the TURKIC.World project developed by Trend News Agency and the Turkish Albayrak Media Group at the media forum of the Turkic Council recently held in Istanbul, during panel discussions and presentation of the project, representative of Albayrak Media Group Samir Babaoglu said in an interview with Trend on Nov. 2.

According to Babaoglu, other media structures of the Turkic-speaking states became interested in the project, which unites news from all Turkic world countries, as well.

He also spoke about the steps that are being taken to attract new media structures to the project, shared the details of the ongoing negotiations in this direction, and the upcoming tasks.

Babaoglu noted that the presentation of the project at the forum took place at the invitation and with the organization of the Communications Department of the Administration of the President of Turkey.




By Trend

Erika Olson, the newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State, will travel to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia to promote regional cooperation and discuss bilateral issues, Trend reports citing US embassy in Azerbaijan.

While in Yerevan, DAS Olson will participate in a regional Chiefs of Mission meeting in November 2-4, joining US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan, and US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Litzenberger, as well as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Andrew Schofer and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Alexander Sokolowski.

The participants will engage in internal discussions as well as informational meetings with representatives of the Armenian government and civil society. Most recently, US Embassy Baku and US Embassy Tbilisi hosted regional Chief of Mission meetings in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has published the video footage from Goydara village of Kalbajar district, previously liberated from Armenian occupation.

The clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed after Armenia launched large-scale attacks on Azerbaijani forces and civilians on September 27.

The 44 days of war ended with the Russian brokered peace deal signed on November 10 by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders.

The peace agreement ended the 30-years-old conflict between Baku and Yerevan over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region that along with the seven adjacent districts came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

For about three decades, Armenia failed to implement the UN Security Council resolutions demanding the withdrawal of the Armenian troops, which was the main obstacle to the resolution of the conflict.




By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan handed over the remains of 11 servicemen to Armenia, Information Center for Azerbaijani Captives and Hostages Coordinator Ahmad Shahidov has said.

He noted that the remains of Armenian servicemen were found in the Azerbaijani lands liberated from Armenian occupation in the Second Karabakh War in 2020.

Shahidov emphasized that the remains of those servicemen were handed over to Armenia in the village of Qirmizi Bazar with the mediation of Russian peacekeepers.

It should be noted that the bodies of more than 1,600 Armenians have so far been found on Azerbaijani territories liberated from occupation and transferred to Armenia since the end of hostilities in Karabakh on November 10, 2020.

A Moscow-brokered ceasefire deal that Baku and Yerevan signed on November 10, 2020, brought an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s.

The peace agreement stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Armenian-occupied Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions and urged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s. Before the signing of the deal, the Azerbaijani army had liberated around 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historic Shusha city.

It should be noted that Armenia has failed to provide any information about more than 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens who went missing during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in the early 1990s. At the same time, Armenia does not provide information about the Azerbaijani citizens who were in captivity during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war.
By Trend

Azerbaijan will consider the issue of declaring amnesty in connection with the Victory Day celebrated on November 8, Trend reports on.

According to the information, at the next plenary session of the Milli Majlis (parliament), the bill "on the declaration of amnesty in connection with November 8 - Victory Day in Azerbaijan" will be discussed.

The Victory Day in Azerbaijan is celebrated on November 8 to commemorate liberation of Shusha and other Azerbaijani cities and villages from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has expanded powers of the Azerbaijan Investment Holding, Azertag reported on November 2.

The Azerbaijan Investment Holding has been empowered to approve corporate governance standards for the management of state-owned enterprises.

This is envisioned by the amendment made to the holdings charter in accordance with the decree signed by President Aliyev.

The Azerbaijan Investment Holding was established on August 7 under a relevant presidential decree. It is a public legal entity that carries out activities in the field of management of state-owned companies and enterprises, economic enterprises with a state share of participation based on common principles.

The Holding was created for managing state companies and enterprises, as well as economic companies with the state share according to unified principles. In addition, it is envisaged to increase transparency and economic efficiency of investment projects implemented by state enterprises.

The authorized fund of the Azerbaijan Investment Holding is AZN 10 million ($5.8m).
By Azernews

By Vafa Ismayilova

Azerbaijan has restored almost 5,600 buildings damaged by Armenia's armed attacks in Tartar region during the 44-day war in 2020, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture has reported.

In the 44-day Second Karabakh War, Tartar region suffered the most from the aggression of the Armenian armed forces. Almost 6,000 buildings in the area were damaged, the report added.

"Of these, 57 private houses and five non-residential buildings were completely destroyed," the committee reported.

The repair and restoration work was completed in almost 5,600 buildings, 44 private houses and four non-residential objects were rebuilt and handed over to their owners on behalf of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the committee added.

The construction of 13 private houses and one non-residential facility, the repair and restoration in over 300 buildings was reported to be currently underway.

According to the State Committee, as a result of the Armenian aggression during the second Karabakh war, more than 13,000 houses were damaged in 11 cities and districts of Azerbaijan.

The committee also noted that construction, repair, and restoration work has already been completed on more than 12,000 residential and non-residential buildings.

Armenia's aggression and illegal occupation caused irreparable damages to Azerbaijan's cultural heritage, which includes thousands of cultural values, including monuments of the world and national importance, mosques, temples, mausoleums, museums, art galleries, sites of archaeological excavations, libraries, and rare manuscripts.

More than 900 cemeteries were destroyed and vandalized by Armenia. The evidence of illegal "archaeological excavations" and so-called "restoration work" was found on the liberated Azerbaijani territories, confirming previous reports of Armenia's attempts to hide and falsify cultural, historical, and scientific evidence.

In its official statement in May 2021, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said that hundreds of cultural institutions, 927 libraries with a book fund of 4.6 million, 22 museums and museum branches with more than 100,000 exhibits, 4 art galleries, 8 culture, and recreation parks, as well as one of the oldest settlements in the world in Fuzuli district - Azikh Cave, Shusha State Historical and Architectural Reserve has become a victim of Armenian vandalism.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Turkey will hold a defence industry fair at the Istanbul Expo Center between 10-13 November, Yeni Shafak newspaper has reported.

As the first hybrid fair SAHA EXPO 2021 will exhibit the latest products of domestic and international companies and bring defence industry giants together, the report added.

Those joining the exhibition will be able to benefit from the cooperation opportunities while introducing their new products.

The fair will turn into a 3D virtual fair on 15 November and remain open for visitors until February 15, 2022.

The exhibition will provide a real fair experience to its visitors in a virtual environment and will be available 24/7 to serve the guests.

Over 600 companies from 30 countries, will join take part in the fair supported by Turkeys national defence, interior, industry and technology, commerce ministries and the Defence Industry Presidency (SSB).

The BAYKAR, ASELSAN, TUSAS (TAI & TEI), ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, BMC, STM, KALE GROUP, FNSS, TAIS, PRATT & WHITNEY, DOWAKSA, UKRSPECEXPORT, IVCHENKO-PROGRESS and MOTOR SICH companies will also join the fair.

The defence industry products such as unmanned armed and unarmed aerial vehicles, helicopters, aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, rockets and ammunition manufacturing, submarines and warships production, tanks and equipment, production of communication devices and equipment will be exhibited at the fair.

Moreover, from cyber security to software and hardware development, as well as numerous items produced with the latest technologies in the sector will be introduced for the first time.

The SAHA EXPO 2021, where more than 25,000 visitors are expected this year, will play an important role in bringing together hundreds of SMEs producing parts, components, subsystems, and systems with world-renowned platform manufacturers.

Over 10,000 meetings are expected to be held at the fair among domestic and foreign platform manufacturers and delegations.

Along with world-renowned companies, there will be special areas for Start-Up companies, where they can make their presentations.

Participants will present and launch some of the latest technological defence industry products for the first time at the SAHA EXPO 2021 Hybrid Fair.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Ten more Azerbaijani servicemen wounded during the last year's 44-day war with Armenia have received medical treatment in Turkey through Azerbaijan's Yashat Foundation support.

Servicemen Duniyev Kamil, Akbarov Khayal, Aliyev Kamran, Agamammadov Yusif, Shukurov Tural, Azizli Saddam, Hasanov Anar, Musazade Shokhlat, Quliyev Shahin and Jamalov Taleh returned to Azerbaijan after successful completion of their treatment.

The treatment and rehabilitation of 44 more veterans are underway in Turkey and the Yashat Foundation monitors the treatment process for servicemen until they are fully recovered. In addition, the foundation also provides medicines for the treatment of servicemen.

Set up by the presidential decree in December 2020, the foundations work covers the families of servicemen killed or got disabled during the war and also the families of employees of state bodies (institutions) who became disabled or lost their lives while serving in the liberated lands or while removing the consequences of military operations in the liberated lands.

It was earlier reported that the foundation had allocated AZN 22.6 million ($13.2M) to improve living conditions of martyrs' families and wounded servicemen after receiving 5,667 appeals from them, as well as AZN 5.6 million ($3.2M) were allocated to pay for the medical and educational expenses of 2,357 such citizens. The foundation also repaid AZN 3.8 million ($2.2M) in loans following appeals by 1,152 martyrs' family members and disabled war veterans.

Yashat receives donations made through voluntary financial aid provided by Azerbaijani citizens, Azerbaijanis living abroad, other individuals and legal entities, as well as other sources not prohibited by law.

As of November 2, the foundation has collected over AZN 63.6 million ($37.4M).
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijans State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance has paid urgent supplements worth nearly AZN 7.7 million ($4.5M) and AZN 1.1 million ($650,000) to medical and non-medical workers, respectively, involved in the fight against coronavirus in July-August 2021.

The agency also paid AZN 4.6 million ($2.7M) during this specified period to medical workers of private medical institutions involved in measures to combat coronavirus infection.

Volunteers were paid bonuses in the amount of AZN 7,500 ($4,410), or more precisely AZN 250 ($147) per month each.

It should be noted that the agency continues to pay allowances for July and August.

The payment of urgent salary increases for medical workers involved in the fight against COVID-19 has been extended until November 1, by the decision of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.

Azerbaijan confirmed its first COVID-19 case on February 28, 2020. The country introduced a special quarantine regime on March 25 and took a number of measures to fight COVID-19 in the country.

The nationwide vaccination is free and on a voluntary basis and is in line with the Strategy of vaccination against COVID-19 in Azerbaijan for 2021-2022.

The country started vaccinating citizens using Chinas Sinovac on January 18, Vaxzevria vaccine produced by AstraZeneca on May 3, Russias Sputnik V on May 18 and U.S-produced Pfizer on June 7. The country started offering COVID-19 vaccination to citizens aged over 18 from May 10.

At the same time, as of August 9, Azerbaijan started issuing vaccination exemption certificates for citizens with contraindications to coronavirus vaccines approved for use in the country.
Lepidico, a global lithium exploration and development firm headquartered in Australia, will set up the first lithium production facility in the Middle East at UAEs Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) investing AED348 million ($95 million).

Utilising a first-of-its-kind design process, the facility covers a land area of 57,000 sq m and the first phase will house clean-tech L-Max and LOH-Max process technologies.

For this Kizad, a subsidiary of AD Ports Groups Industrial Cities & Free Zone (IC&FZ) cluster, has announced the signing of an agreement with Lepidico.

The vertically integrated Phase One Project (P1P) comprises two-small scale open-pit mines that will feed a mineral concentrator in Namibia, following which the lepidolite concentrate will be shipped to the facility being developed in Kizad via Khalifa Port.

An innovative developer of sustainable lithium hydroxide and chemicals for the 21st century, Lepidico plans the investment for the chemical conversion plant in Abu Dhabi for an initial term of 25 years, which will employ the companys proprietary process technologies, L-Max and LOH-Max.

The project is a significant step forward in developing a sustainable lithium hydroxide industry and supports the global clean energy revolution.

The process extracts lithium and recovers valuable by-products from lithium-mica and phosphate minerals. As an eco-friendly, zero-waste facility, the residue predominantly gypsum, will be repurposed for use in the construction industry.

Abdullah Al Hameli, Head of Industrial Cities & Free Zone Cluster, AD Ports Group said: AD Ports Group is committed to supporting cutting edge innovative solutions that advance industrial development within the UAE. The Lepidicos process technology also aligns with our sustainability principles, and our vision to support innovative environmental solutions that contribute to the long-term sustainable development of Abu Dhabi, as outlined by the leadership of the emirate.

We are pleased to host an innovative and environmentally conscious company like Lepidico, which aims to establish the regions first lithium production facility in the Middle East, located in Kizad. The project is a critical enabler for developing an electric vehicle supply chain in the Middle East.

Joe Walsh, Managing Director, Lepidico, said: The signing of the agreement represents an important milestone in developing the first phase of the new chemical plant and enables critical path geotechnical, and infrastructure EPCM works to commence.

In our endeavour to developing a sustainable lithium industry, we plan to integrate social, economic, environmental, and health and safety opportunities as part of the project design criteria and strive for a zero-waste process through our innovative and proprietary technologies. We look forward to working with AD Ports Group as we bring the lithium chemical industry to the UAE and wider Middle East region.-TradeArabia News Service
Imdaad, a Dubai-based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable Facilities Management (FM) services, has signed a new three-year contract with Abu Dhabi Business Hub, a premium business park located in the Industrial city of Abu Dhabi (ICAD 1).

As per the deal, Imdaad will deliver a full spectrum of hard and soft FM solutions, together with a comprehensive collection of specialized services.

Imdaads team will provide a technology-driven suite of Hard FM solutions including HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing services, as well as minor civil works.

The contract also encompasses soft services including the cleaning and disinfection of office buildings and warehouses, facade cleaning services, security services, landscaping, pest control, and waste management, in addition to specialized services such as fire safety systems, elevators, CCTV systems, automatic doors and barriers, and water tank cleaning.

Imdaad said it will deploy a total of 44 personnel including 11 mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers and 33 soft service specialists.

The contract scope encompasses three office buildings and more than 20 warehouse facilities within the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD-1), which span a combined built-up area of 3,210,472 square feet.

On the three-year contract, Group CEO Jamal Abdulla Lootah said: "We are pleased to enter into this new agreement with Abu Dhabi Business Hub, one of the key business parks in the emirate. Our innovative FM solutions will help further enhance the facilities at this world-class location and create a more attractive environment for companies and investors."

"We are proud to be associated with this exceptional destination for entrepreneurs and businesses, and look forward to further consolidating our plans for expansion in the UAE capital," he added.
The wide-scale disruption, decarbonisation and digital transformation impacting four of the Middle Easts crucial economic sectors will be laid bare at Expo 2020 tomorrow (November 2) when the curtain rises on the inaugural three-day Hypermotion Dubai exhibition and conference series.

An essential gathering for all in the regions transport, logistics, mobility, and materials handling industries, Hypermotion Dubai, and its co-located Materials Handling Middle East 2021 trade show, will reveal the biggest transformation in the sectors histories with advanced technology driving automation and sustainability to evolve the way people travel, transport, and deliver goods.

This is a magnifying glass view of the here and now and very near future of industries that will be forever changed and will permanently impact global lifestyles, explained Simon Mellor, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which is organizing the events as key Expo 2020 features.

Hypermotion Dubai will feature three conferences pivotal for the region's mobility and logistics sectors with a combined multi-national line-up of over 150 industry pioneers speaking.

These include Anthony Foxx, Chief Policy Officer at Lyft, and a former US Secretary of Transportation; Harj Dhaliwal, Managing Director, Middle East & India, Virgin Hyperloop; Mohammed Al Muallem, Executive Vice President, DP World; Suliman Almazroua, CEO, National Industrial Development Logistics Programme; and Balkiz Sarihan, Head of UAM Strategy, Execution & Partnerships, Airbus.

Hypermotion Lab will give attendees genuine insights into the future solutions being developed in the mobility and logistics arena.

The Smart Mobility Conference has pulled together the industry-defining game-changers and innovators who are reshaping the regions mass transit industry while Scalex will take a deep dive into the quest for supply chain and logistics excellence including last-mile delivery.

Held for the first-time outside Europe, Hypermotion Dubai is attracting a stellar mix of public and private sector leaders and policymakers, business owners and strategists, start-ups and innovators looking to network and pitch the technology and breakthroughs which will forever change the way we travel well into the future and spur the creation of localized hi-tech economies.

Packing the exhibition floor and conference rooms will be high-level participation from Government ministries and authorities, business pioneers, entrepreneurs, technologists, mobility innovators, urban planners, manufacturers and suppliers.

The event will also hear the latest market intelligence on both the GCC logistics and electric vehicle sectors, as exclusively commissioned whitepapers will be presented during the event and are set to act as way finders to the future.

Among these, from consultants Frost & Sullivan, is an update on Gulf container volumes, which rose by more than 15 percent in the first half of 2021, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounting for 83 percent of the regions logistics market.

Hypermotion Dubai will also power the Asyad Logistics Startup Challenge where innovators will network with thousands of decision-makers, investors, and government buyers, to grow their business across three days of mentorship workshops, clinics, and networking while pitching to win up to $40,000 cash prize.

For many startups, this will be a launchpad as they will be able to pitch their ideas to regional and global investors who are equally keen to meet with some of the brightest innovators, and network with tech giants and corporate buyers from multiple industries, explained Mellor.

Hypermotion Dubai will run under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman & CEO, Emirates Group and Chairman, Dubai Airports.TradeArabia News Service
Emirates District Cooling (Emicool), a subsidiary of Dubai Investments, has conducted a weeklong performance review test at its AI enabled Expo 2020 cooling plant, which over-achieved its performance autonomously.

The performance test has demonstrated reliable demand, load and environmental compliance. The test was conducted by a leading European company to ensure the plants efficiency and performance in successfully meeting the cooling requirements of the Expo facilities.

Commenting on the performance review, Dr Adib Moubadder, Chief Executive Officer of Emicool, said: Providing efficient district cooling solutions to a mega event like Expo 2020 marks a key milestone for us alongside our steady progress towards embedding digital transformation within the district cooling industry. Located in the Expo 2020 Opportunity wing, the plant is designed to maintain highest international standards, incorporating special architectural elements without compromising the technical requirements. We are extremely satisfied with the results of the performance review, ensuring optimised cooling facilities to Expo 2020 visitors and reinstating Emicools capabilities within the district cooling industry.

Marked as the 14th DCP (District Cooling Plant), Emicool is providing chilled water for many prestigious facilities at Expo 2020 including the Expo village, RTA Expo Metro Station, Dubai Exhibition Centre and Dubai South Mall.

The company has strategic plans to increase the overall cooling capacity to 500,000 TR in the coming years across different sectors.

The Expo 2020 plant has also been uniquely designed to operate using direct Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) feed, which provides better discharge quality and ensures a more sustainable approach to water-cooling mechanisms.-- TradeArabia News Service
Representatives from the mining sector, companies and Colombian leading officials are set to discuss the potentials and opportunities to invest in the countrys mineral resources at Dubai Expo 2020.

In a series of upcoming conferences within the framework themed Colombia Beyond El Dorado Mining Leyend, the events, which will take place at the Colombia Pavilion seeking to explore the progress made in the mining sector and how new sustainability and innovation trends promote the use of natural resources such as metals and other minerals.

Jose Manuel Restrepo, Minister of Finance of Colombia, and Juan Miguel Duran, President of the Nation Mining Agency, will be among the leading speakers during the conference. They will discuss the current investment climate in Colombia and the favourable market conditions for foreign direct investments.

Durans conference will shed light on the countrys ideal geological location as a rich source of minerals, as well as the current regulations in the mining sector which help ensure the sustainable management of natural resources to lessen environmental impact.

Duran said: Expo 2020 Dubai has opened the gates to new conversations on technology, innovation and sustainable development. Colombias presence at the worlds fair paves the way to present to the world our potential in the areas of mining, agriculture, technology, and renewable resources. We believe it is the right time to discuss the sustainability and progress of the mining industry at the global level through this conference.

Duran said: With Colombias low FDI barriers, we are confident that we have the competitive advantage to add new growth opportunities for businesses in the UAE, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. We are keen to present the various sectors in which Colombia has been performing very well, such as business process outsourcing, agribusiness, renewable energy and digital technology. Investors will see how they can investors can leverage Colombias position in Latin America to expand their growth.

Finally, Duran stated that it is necessary to generate innovative strategies to increase mining sectors competitiveness, while generating benefits for the government, employment and companies.

Located at Opportunity District, Colombias Pavilion has been among the favourite sites for visitors keen to explore the countrys rich and diverse culture, scenic landscapes, vibrant beats of its music, and experience its flavourful Colombian coffee.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a major new initiative, led by UAE and US with the support of over 30 governments, was officially launched today (November 2) at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

Launched as part of the World Leaders Summit at the COP26, the initiative aims to increase and accelerate agricultural and food systems innovation in support of climate action.

Nearly 25 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. AIM for Climate is focused on leveraging high-potential economic returns and job creation from innovation investment in a sector that employs over 2 billion people and feeds the worlds growing population.

AIM for Climate has announced an 'early harvest' of $4 billion of increased investment to accelerate innovation for climate-smart agriculture and food systems over the next five years. The UAE has pledged $1 billion of increased investment as part of this initiative.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: "AIM for Climate is focusing on a sector that has been previously overlooked in terms of the opportunities it offers for global climate action."

"This initiative demonstrates the UAEs holistic and inclusive approach to climate action, which characterizes our offer to host COP28. The United Arab Emirates has already driven change in the energy sector through green innovation and growth, investing over $17 billion in clean energy around the world. AIM for Climate is a smart extension of that investment strategy, and the UAE is pleased to pledge $1 billion as part of the initiative," he noted.

John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, said: "We are proud to be launching the initiative alongside UAE and over 80 partners across the globe. Investment in climate-smart agriculture innovation is critical to addressing the climate crisis."

"Innovation can reduce emissions, feed the worlds growing population, and help farmers and ranchers mitigate and adapt to climate change. AIM for Climate has an impressive start, garnering $4 billion in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation thus far, but together AIM for Climate partners can and must do more to catalyze even greater investment in the years ahead. I look forward to seeing what AIM for Climate can accomplish and encourage more to join this effort," he added.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: "A major part of the climate challenge revolves around food and agriculture. When we consider that about a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, and the worlds growing population is increasingly dependent on climate-vulnerable food production, we can see the urgency of driving investments in agricultural innovation and R&D."

"AIM for Climate is the kind of bold move towards accelerating the global food systems transformation that we need, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 and eradicate world hunger by 2030. The initiative will go a long way in mobilizing a global movement to strengthen food security, transform our food systems into more sustainable ones and mitigate climate change," noted Almheiri.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said: "The climate crisis threatens to disrupt food systems around the globe, exacerbate food insecurity and negatively impact farmers livelihoods. We must invest in innovative, science-based solutions to help agriculture mitigate and adapt to climate change  and thats what AIM for Climate is all about."

"We welcome our newest AIM for Climate supporters and urge additional nations and organizations to join us in this global effort to accelerate agricultural innovation through increased investment in research and development," he added.

AIM for Climates diverse list of supporters include over 30 countries from six continents including the recent addition of Azerbaijan, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as numerous other non-governmental agencies.- TradeArabia News Service
The Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF), at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), re-elected of majority of the current committee members and added one new member for the 2021-23 term.

Attended by Roddy Drummond, the British Ambassador to Bahrain, the meeting saw the BBBF Deputy Chair Paula Boast opening the proceedings and Khalid Al Zayani OBE, BBBF Chairman, giving his annual report summarising the forums activities during the year and outlining the BBBFs financial highlights.

The executive committee members for the next term are:

 Khalid Al Zayani OBE, Chairman

 Paula Boast, Deputy Chair

 Phillip Solarski, Treasurer

 Nasser Al Arayedh, Honorary Secretary

 Ava Garbutt, Committee Member

 Mark Gravener, Committee Member

 Maureen Bannerman, Committee Member (new)

 Mike Jackson, Committee Member

 Zee Bassila, Committee Member

 Dena Wales, BBBF Executive Manager

Under the challenging conditions brought on by the global pandemic during 2020 and the first half of 2021, the BBBF shifted its networking meetings online, arranging numerous online events and collaborations with other networking organisations in the region.

The forums online meetings were successful during the year, featuring high-profile speakers from local businesses and government entities, including ministers, and business and community leaders, from Bahrain and the UK.

Al Zayani said in his address: Despite the tumultuous year, the BBBF continued to strengthen its position as the largest and most active business group in Bahrain, as demonstrated by the successful online events during the year. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse our membership is, and how many great business leaders and entrepreneurs we are fortunate to have as members. We look forward to welcoming new members, particularly new Bahraini members to boost our membership even further.

Al Zayani expressed his appreciation and thanks to the forums Executive Committee, and corporate sponsors Euro Motors, CharlesRussell Speechlys, Etihad Airways, Gulf Brands International, RSA, Bahrain Financial Harbour and Yoiku PR.

I would also like to thank our extremely supportive British Ambassador and Stuart Summers, Deputy Ambassador, for their unwavering support. The committee looks forward to making the year ahead even more successful, concluded Al Zayani.-- TradeArabia News Service
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has announced the introduction of new service to three destinations in India starting from November 3, as part of its ongoing plans to cater to travellers' needs from Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi travellers will be now able to fly to Cochin, Calicut and Trivandrum. The new service represents the 15th route for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi since the launch of the carriers service from Abu Dhabi International Airport in July 2020.

Customers can now book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and the announced destinations by visiting Air Arabias website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies, the airline said.
At the start of a crucial week for global governance, tourisms relevance will be part of the discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), just as it was in Rome when G20 leaders met to co-ordinate plans for sustainable and inclusive recovery.

In Italy, UNWTO succeeded in placing tourisms importance in the spotlight. The leaders of some of the worlds biggest economies endorsed the G20 Rome Guidelines for the Future of Tourism, committing themselves to taking action to fulfil its objectives, particularly to accelerate the return of safe and seamless travel and the digital transformation of the sector, according to a statement from UNWTO.

The G20 Rome Leaders Declaration states: We will continue to support a rapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector, with a special emphasis on safe mobility and seamless travel and sustainability and digitalisation.

Concluding, the G20 leaders called on their Ministers of Tourism to build on existing collaboration with UNWTO and other international organisations.

From Rome to London

The G20 represent 70 per cent of world tourism and are in a natural position to lead tourisms recovery, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said. He stressed the need for co-ordination, strong actions, political and financial support for tourisms transition to greater inclusivity and sustainability, which we will be addressing tomorrow at our Minsters Summit during World Travel Market in London.

Investing in Tourisms Sustainable Future is the theme for this years Ministers Summit, organised by UNWTO, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and WTM, gathering over 20 tourism ministers leading private sector operators.

In London, UNWTO will make clear that tourism will only be able to recover and meet its climate action commitments if it is given the proper political and financial backing.

With the importance of funding and investments made clear, and with the G20 Tourism Ministers also having welcomed the Recommendations for the Transition to a Green Travel and Tourism Economy, developed by UNWTO and the G20 Tourism Working Group, the focus will then shift to Glasgow later this week.

UNWTO will play an active role in climate action discussions and will launch the Glasgow Declaration, a commitment to accelerating the sectors shift to net-zero. The Declaration already counts on more than 150 signatories from every part of the sector and of every size.

Tourisms voice at COP26

Tourism is now an established part of the UN agenda, recognised for its ability to contribute to all the Sustainable Development Goals. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, UNWTO will be bridging the gap between governments and the private sector to ensure tourism lives up to its climate action responsibilities.

Leading the main tourism related event at COP26, UNWTO has gathered hundreds of private sector operators from across the world to commit to the Glasgow Declaration.

Spearheaded by UNWTO, this Declaration is aimed at aligning the diverse tourism sector behind a single, overarching goal of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050 at the latest. The Declaration is to be implemented in collaboration with the Travel Foundation and within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.-TradeArabia News Service
In Hong Kong, four activists calling for universal suffrage were arrested. Turkey is reportedly negotiating with Russia to give the green light to the expulsion of Kurdish militias from Kobane in Syria.

COP26: GLASGOW SEEN BY BEIJING AND NEW DELHI

After the opening session, the positions of China and India have sparked global debate. The neighbouring superpowers have announced that they will keep their carbon-neutral targets well beyond 2050. How do the local media report these positions? The China Daily highlights Beijing's achievements to date and the need for a multilateral approach expressed by Xi Jinping. In India, while Modi points to 2070 as the target date for ecological transition, an editorial in The Hindu newspaper reminds us that it is time to act.

HONG KONG

Three elderly people in Hong Kong were arrested on charges of "sedition" for displaying a banner calling for universal suffrage. The slogan had been used by the Umbrella Movement in 2014. Activist Tony Chung, who has been in pre-trial detention for over a year, could admit to being guilty of "secession" and "money laundering". Chung is the second person in Hong Kong to be charged under the new security law imposed by Beijing.

NORTH KOREA

China and Russia would like the United Nations to lift sanctions against North Korea. A first attempt was made in 2019. The intention is to "improve the living conditions of the population". USA: "Pyongyang has not complied with Security Council demands on nuclear programmes".

JAPAN

The Liberal Democratic Party, which won the elections on Sunday 31 October, won 261 seats in the House of Representatives, well above the absolute majority, exceeding expectations. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he had "won the confidence of voters" and added that he would draw up a stimulus package by mid-November to support the economy hit by the coronavirus.

MYANMAR

The war between Myanmar's military junta and anti-coup protesters is also online. After banning Facebook in February, the army is carrying out propaganda activities with fake accounts. Activists are fighting a counter-offensive on Twitter. Soldiers try to join online groups of anti-golpe militiamen to follow their movements.

SYRIA

Turkey and Russia are reportedly negotiating an agreement for a military operation in Kobane, in northern Syria on the border with Turkey, to expel Kurdish YPG militias that Ankara considers terrorist groups linked to the PKK.

AFGHANISTAN

The price of chicken and eggs in Afghanistan has skyrocketed due to import restrictions and high transport costs. It is another face of the humanitarian emergency that is becoming more serious as winter begins.
by Ngoc Lan

Pope Francis appoints a 56-year-old biblical scholar, vice-rector of Ho Chi Minh City's major seminary, to join Msgr Cosme Hoang Van at to guide the populous northern diocese where there are just 140,000 Catholics.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) On Saturday Pope Francis appointed Fr Joseph Do Quang Khang as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Bac Ninh, in northern Vietnam. To date he was the vice-rector of St Joseph's Major Seminary in Ho Chi Minh City, northern Vietnam. As coadjutor bishop, he will join 74-year-old Jesuit Cosme Hoang Van at in leading the diocese.

The new bishop was born on 7th November 1965 in the Thu uc district of Ho Chi Minh City. He is the eighth child in a family of ten brothers and sisters. He studied at the College of Pedagogy in Ho Chi Minh City and worked as a teacher in his hometown. He entered the seminary in 1993 and was ordained a priest on 30 June 1999 by Cardinal Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Man.

After serving as parish vicar in Cho ui, he studied biblical theology first at the Catholic Institute of Toulouse in France and then in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, where he obtained a licence in Sacred Scripture.

On his return to Vietnam in 2010, Mgr Joseph o Quang Khang taught Sacred Scripture and Biblical Greek at St Joseph's Major Seminary in the former Saigon, at the Catholic Institute of Vietnam and at some local congregations.

The Catholic community is a small minority in the province of Bac Ninh, which is home to over 9 million citizens: 140,000 baptised Catholics account for 1.38% of the population. The diocese relies on the service of about 100 priests for a total of 77 parish churches and 263 chapels.

Many young couples are forced to emigrate from this region of Vietnam to the cities in search of work. As a result, in most cases it is the grandparents who raise their children.

The appointment of the coadjutor bishop was greeted with joy by the young Catholics of the Bac Ninh diocese: "We thank God for this gift," they told AsiaNews, "even before his arrival, each of us is already praying for Msgr Joseph o Quang Khang".
by Dario Salvi

After groups, individual visitors can now enter Israel if they respect a strict health protocol. As of 6 November, people can stay overnight in Bethlehem. For Fr Patton, it is possible to get over the emergency; in fact, while the virus remains, now it is manageable. Religious tourists, especially Christians. make an essential contribution to the local economy.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more evident that "life is a pilgrimage" during which "we must rediscover the value of trust, of hope" that go beyond "death, said Fr Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, speaking to AsiaNews.

People should overcome the logic of the emergency in order to learn to live with the coronavirus which at present seems more of a "pretext" to put the world on hold.

According to the religious, the Holy Sepulcher is a place that, more than any other, exhorts us to overcome fear. Today, as we celebrate our dead, we can discover that there is no stronger antidote than the Risen Christ.

After more than a year and a half of closures and restrictions, without tourists and pilgrims to the Holy Land, Israel reopened its borders to individual travellers (if they are vaccinated), while it quickly proceeds to give a third dose of COVID -19 vaccine to its own citizens.

Small merchants and businesses in Jerusalem, as well as Bethlehem, Palestine, have been waiting for this moment after Israeli authorities recently authorised travel to the occupied territories.

In the past few months, a small volume of domestic tourism has been reported, the Custos said. What changed yesterday is the possibility not only for groups, but also individuals to enter with a tourist visa.

Of course, visitors will have to follow rules on vaccination, testing before and upon arrival, as well as a series of public health guidelines.

Hopefully, there will be a gradual recovery in November, boosted in December with the entry of a larger number of pilgrims".

On Saturday, 6 November, it will also be possible to stay overnight in Bethlehem, which, according to Fr Patton, has suffered more than others during the pandemic.

Local Christians rely on religious tourism for their living, in particular "hotel owners, guides, restaurants" as well as those who make "small handicrafts, from rosaries to creches.

Lately, life has been very difficult because of the lack of income and relief. The same applies to the Custody, which runs about 70 shrines with relative maintenance costs without visitors.

This said, "we cannot live imprisoned by fear", even more so now, at a time, when we do not want to die from a virus, but we authorise death by law with euthanasia.

I have been informed that hundreds of groups are waiting for a green light in Italy, Spain, the United States, and Mexico. Many agencies are contacting us, because they are ready to go.

Before the health emergency, religious tourism was constantly growing.

In 2016 80,000 came from the United States and 40,000 from Italy, rising to 160,000 and 80,000 respectively in 2019. In three years, the numbers doubled. Then come those from Indonesia, the fifth country in terms of booking Masses in places of worship.

For the Custos, people who received the third dose of the vaccine in August must be able to enter and have an experience of faith, without too many constraints. We must stop thinking as we did in March-April 2020, when the emergency was beginning.

The virus is still around, but we are not in the same situation and it is manageable. It is necessary to change mindset because this virus will remain forever, but this should not mean resorting to a state of emergency.

For Father Patton, pilgrims are an "element of stability" amid religious, social and political tensions.

They allow a population that is mostly Jewish and Muslim to breathe a different air, and are radically different from tourists, because they have a horizon of faith that moves by looking at God and the people they meet.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

In the most recent episode, ethnic Kazakh and Uyghur youths clashed on the border with China. The authorities down play the incident, but the division between the various nationalities is growing. Recently, there have also been fights between Kazakhs and the Dungan minority. The majority group supports the concept of "Kazakh sovereignty".

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Street clashes have agitated Pidzime, a Kazakh town in the province of Panfilovo. The local authorities spoke of a "fight between young people" that began on the night of October 28 with verbal clashes and ended in a brawl with the use of sticks and improvised weapons. At a meeting of the municipal assembly, however, it became clear that this was a real inter-ethnic conflict.

The town meeting was broadcast by Radio Azattyk. Videos taken by those present show one of the boys collapsing on the ground, and as the police explained, the victim was transported to hospital and rushed to neurosurgery. The provincial (akym) governor, Talgat Umraliev, assured that the 16-year-old boy was stable, 'his arms and legs remained intact'. A 53-year-old man, who intervened to calm the situation, also received blows and was hospitalised with minor injuries.

The injured boy comes from a Kazakh family, which is said to have provoked a reaction from other ethnic Uyghur locals. The group of attackers soon dispersed, but during the night there were several acts of vandalism and a fire was set in a private house in Pidzim, although the police say the fire 'has nothing to do with the previous beating'.

Pidzim is located 15 kilometres from the Chinese border, and has 12,000 inhabitants: 7,000 Kazakhs and 5,000 Uyghurs, almost all of whom are farmers. The name of the village itself comes from the Uyghur language and means 'main village'. The Uyghurs settled in the area in Soviet times, and now a social transformation is underway.

During the town hall meeting, in front of the authorities and the police, the villagers said that 'the conflict did not start yesterday, the youth has long been divided between the different nationalities', calling on the local government to establish a real policy of tolerance. With the meeting, the authorities wanted to calm down, but the videos show that the situation remained very tense. Several residents called for the renaming of the town and the local schools.

The main school is named after Abdullah Rozybakiev, a Soviet-era Uyghur politician and hero of the revolution, and one of Almaty's main streets is also named after him. The village elders asked "not to punish anyone" so as not to worsen the situation, and to start really educating students in civil coexistence.

On 29 October, the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan (Apk), created and led by former president Nursultan Nazarbaev to increase 'the effectiveness of mutual relations between state and social institutions in the sphere of inter-ethnic relations', met. The APK discussed a report on the events in Pidzim, presented by a representative of the local administration. Maya Bekbaeva stated that "there was no conflict between the inhabitants of the village". Bekbaeva made general accusations of "provocations" that would excite the spirits of some youths, who "started to throw stones, breaking the windows of some houses and cars along the road". The police are conducting investigations against unknown persons for "voluntary damage to the health of two or more persons" and for "group hooliganism", but so far no one has been arrested.

Asked by Azattyk, Kazakh sociologist Serik Bejsembaev said that 'those who hide their illness are doomed to perish'. He recalled that similar incidents to the one in Pidzim had recently occurred in the provinces of Almaty, Zamblisk and Turkestan: street brawls degenerating into inter-ethnic clashes. In his opinion, 'in Pidzim there was a clear group mobilisation between Kazakhs and Uyghurs, but we always try to ignore the problem, assigning it a neutral and trivial character. Bejsembaev explains that 'as long as we don't really get to grips with the situation and give a full and detailed assessment of these conflicts, they are bound to increase'.

Last February, 11 people died in the province of Zamblisk in a clash between Kazakhs and Dungans, another Turkic-speaking Chinese minority that is Muslim like the Uyghurs. Bejsembaev warned that 'neither the authorities nor the citizens have learnt the lesson, despite that tragedy'. Ninety per cent of the social comments on these events support the idea of 'Kazakh sovereignty', according to which 'people of different ethnicities must learn their place'.
Francis celebrated Mass at the French military cemetery in Rome. I am reminded of an inscription at the entrance of a small cemetery in the north. You who pass by, think about your steps, and when thinking about your steps, think about your last one. You who pass by. Life is a journey; we are all on a journey. All of us, if we want to do something in life, we are on a journey. It is no stroll, not even a labyrinth. No, it is a journey.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The Pope celebrated Mass today, feast of All Souls, at the French Military Cemetery, on Monte Mario, in Rome.

In his homily, he said that the graves of those killed in wars "are a message of peace: 'Stop, brothers and sisters, stop! Stop, weapons makers, stop! In his view, No economies have been strengthened by the arms industry.

For the pontiff, the graves should make us think about "the last step" on the journey of life, i.e., a journey, not "a stroll" nor "a labyrinth".

This is not the Popes first visit to a military cemetery. In 2014 he travelled to the Redipuglia War Memorial (north-eastern Italy), to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and in 2017, he visited the SicilyRome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno (near Anzio, not far from Rome).

The pontiff led the service from an altar, placed under a canopy amid the olive trees that stand along the graves of 1,888 soldiers who died for France in the Second World War. Most of them, 1,142, were Muslims, from Frances then overseas territories, mainly from Morocco.

Upon arriving shortly before 11 am, Francis walked among the graves  all the same; some with a cross, and others with the crescent. On some, the Pope placed a white rose.

Many worshippers were present. The readings were in French, the songs in Italian. The homily was delivered without a prepared text.

I am reminded of an inscription at the entrance of a small cemetery in the north, said Francis. It read: You who pass by, think about your steps, and when thinking about your steps, think about your last one. You who pass by. Life is a journey; we are all on a journey. All of us, if we want to do something in life, we are on a journey. It is no stroll, not even a labyrinth. No, it is a journey.

On a journey, we pass by so many historical events, so many difficult situations. Cemeteries too. The advice from this cemetery is: You who pass by, stop and think about your steps, your last step. We shall all take one last step. Someone might say to me: Father, don't be so mournful, don't be tragic. But its the truth.

The important thing is that that last step finds us on the journey, not just passing by  in the journey of life, not in an endless labyrinth. Being on a journey so that the last step finds us on the way. This is the first thought that I would like to say, from my heart.

The second thought are about the graves. These people  good people  died in war; they died because they were called to defend their country, defend values, defend ideals and, on many other occasions, defend sad and deplorable political situations.

It is about the victims, the victims of war, which eats a countrys children. Anzio, Redipuglia, the Piave in 1914 come to mind; many never made it home from there; Normandy beach comes to mind, 40,000, in that landing! It doesn't matter, they fell ...

I halted in front of one grave, over there: Inconnu. Mort pour la France. 1944. Not even the name. [But] Everyones name is in Gods heart, yet such is the tragedy of war.

I am sure that all these [soldiers] who joined in good will, called up by their country to defend it, are with the Lord. But we, who are on a journey, do we fight sufficiently so that there may be no wars? So that countries economies may not be strengthened by the weapons industry?

Today the sermon should be Look at the graves: Died for France. Some have names, a few others don't. Yet these graves are a message of peace: 'Stop, brothers and sisters, stop! Stop, weapons makers, stop!

I leave you with these two thoughts. You who pass by, think about your steps, about your last step; may it be in peace, in peace of the heart, in peace everything. The second thought [is]: These graves speak, shout, cry out on their own 'Peace!' May the Lord help us sow these two thoughts and keep them in our hearts.
by Shafique Khokhar

Stephen Masih, who is mentally disabled, has been deemed unfit to stand trial by the Punjab Institute of Mental Health. He was arrested in March 2019 after an argument with his neighbour.

Sialkot (AsiaNews) - Human rights activists in Pakistan have called on the government to release Stephen Masih, a Christian from Sialkot district who has been detained for over two years awaiting trial for blasphemy.

Masih, who is mentally disabled, has been deemed unfit to stand trial by the Punjab Institute of Mental Health. According to the Jubilee Campaign, 42 court hearings have been held so far and in no case has any evidence emerged against Masih.

The Christian had been arrested in March 2019 after an argument with a neighbour in which he used abusive language. The next day, the woman's husband, a Muslim cleric named Hafiz Muhammad Mudassar, gathered a mob who violently attacked Masih and his family after accusing him of blasphemy. The Punjab police, instead of arresting the attackers, drew up a first information report against Masih for blasphemy.

Voice of Justice, a humanitarian organisation that campaigns for the Christian man's release, said there were serious concerns about his life in prison. People accused of blasphemy are usually kept apart because they run the risk of being killed, and Masih was not provided with adequate medical care.

"Stephen Masih has long suffered from a mental health condition that prevents him from understanding and thinking properly, and for this alone he should be acquitted," said Joseph Jansen, founder of Voice for Justice. "In addition, life in prison for a Christian is more difficult: we know that Muslims harass and abuse him".

His sister Alia claimed that Masih had used offensive language during the argument with his neighbours, but had not done anything blasphemous, and urged the authorities to release him.

According to activist Ashiknaz Khokhar, there have been at least 78 extrajudicial killings in recent times after accusations of blasphemy and apostasy. Most of them were Muslims (42) and Christians (23). In July last year, the Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution asking the federal government to improve the existing ones to handle blasphemy cases more strictly.
by Sumon Corraya

Two high school students received their first dose of Pfizer yesterday. At least 3.5 million vaccines have been donated by the United States. At present, students attend classes on alternate days.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  Yesterday, Bangladeshi Health Minister Zahid Maleque inaugurated the vaccination programme for students.

Tahasan Hossain and Mahajabin Toma, two students attending the Ideal School and College in Dhaka, received the first dose of Pfizer under the eyes of their classmates.

Starting today, another eight schools will vaccinate children aged 12 to 17.

According to the plan, 5,000 schoolchildren will be vaccinated per day to start with increasing to 40,000.

Some 25 booths have been set up in each school to enable the Pfizer vaccine to be injected.

The United States donated the vaccine in late October, pledging to donate some 3.5 million doses by the end of November.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed us to complete the student vaccination programme as soon as possible, said Bangladeshs Education Minister Dipu Moni, who was present at yesterdays event.

We are prepared if students have any problems after vaccination. But at least, this way the children will be able to go back to school. At present, students have to attend classes on alternate days.

Tahasan Hossain expressed satisfaction after getting the jab. Thanks to the vaccine, I'm no longer afraid of going to school, he said.

Our children will be safe and will be able to return to lessons worry-free, said some parents, happy about the vaccination.

Bangladesh reported 214 new cases and two deaths yesterday. Since the start of the pandemic, the country has had 27,870 deaths.
But Saul Ewing cast its upcoming move as sustaining its commitment to the city, where the firm has had a presence since 1918. It said it will remain at 500 E. Pratt until spring, when renovations on its 30,000-square-foot space on the Fleet Street buildings top floor are expected to be completed. About 80 employees will work in the new office.
The system reported a vaccination of over 99% by the middle of last week. But that leaves close to 200 employees and more than 200 contract or irregular workers who will have to leave their jobs if they dont show proof of their first shot or receive an exemption on medical or religious grounds.
Police responded around 2:30 p.m. Sunday to the Halloween store for a reported theft and hit and run. An employee told police she was assaulted by two women when she confronted them for stealing from the store. The women then left the store and got into a silver Acura occupied by a man and a teen boy. The driver of the Acura attempted to hit the employee with the car, police said, before hitting a parked car and fleeing the scene.
County spokesman Sean Naron said the county has seen encouraging progress on the number of coronavirus cases. Hospitalizations due to coronavirus complications in the county are down by 37% over the prior three weeks, and the seven-day positivity rate has declined to 3.13%. When the state of emergency order was approved in August, the positivity rate was 4.79%.
Rodriguez said he got sanitizer from the ambulance and cleaned himself off. When he went back to his car to get his phone to call his fiance, he said he found the glove compartment had been opened and someone had gone through his car. He was unable to find his phone, and he said some pizza and chicken wings were missing.
His ways were old school  grinding paints from dry pigments instead of squeezing them from tubes, working from a palette on his left arm  and he would sit or stand at a wooden easel, a brush in his right hand and maybe another in his left. There would be a paint-splattered table nearby and another for jars and brushes. The wood floor had been rubbed raw and stained with oils and other droppings from the artists alchemy. There was an upholstered chair and blankets, buckets and ropes, stereo speakers and stools, a ladder and mirrors, a platform on wheels and tall wooden brackets for Middlemans largest canvases. The studio was part workshop, part magic shop.
Is there accountability? The EIP report suggests not, at least if measured by fines from the Maryland Department of the Environment. State officials contend the violations are mostly paperwork  farmers not properly filing records. But advocates say thats part of the problem, that the agency rarely seeks to enforce anything other than paperwork violations. And they point to a troubling pattern of lax environmental enforcement during the years that Republican Larry Hogan has served as governor under a pro-business mantra. Is it really pro-business to neglect the health of one of Marylands most important economic assets? The decline of the seafood industry, the impairment of waters used for recreation and tourism, and the potential loss of value of waterfront property as the waterfront becomes less appealing are among the costly consequences.
The hour that we had outside our cell quickly turned into service consultations for me as the other ICE detainees found out that I spoke fluent English. I was approached with basic questions such as how can I use the phones here to get in contact with my family? Many hadnt had the chance to communicate with their families since being detained. There were questions with more urgency such as Im diabetic, and I want to ask the guards if they can provide me with small snacks in between meals, to Im in pain, and really need to see a doctor, but none of the guards have listened to my pleas.
It is true, however, that in the Mosby years the line item in her budget labeled Prosecution of Criminals has not risen quite as much, up 43% from $26.4 million in 2015 to a planned $37.7 million in 2022. This raises obvious questions. With so much blood in the streets, why is criminal prosecution being de-emphasized relative to other budget lines? Are Ms. Mosbys budget priorities, or her management of budgets and personnel, endangering lives?
The City Councils bill, sponsored by Council President Nick Mosby, would require city officials to provide reports to the council on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis about how the money is being spent. The monthly reports must include data about how the funds have increased the effectiveness and broadened the reach of city government services, according to the legislation. Data also has been requested about how the spending has made government more efficient and sustainable.
Minister of Public Security meet

Minister of Public Security meets UK Home Secretary

Minister of Public Security General To Lam on November 1 met with UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in London, during which the former affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing relations with the UK.

Minister of Public Security General To Lam and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, Patel said Lams visit to the UK is of significance as it contributes to further enhancing the bilateral ties to deal with non-traditional issues, especially cross-border organised crime like economic crime, illegal migration, human trafficking, money laundering and high-tech crime.

The UK will step up cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) across spheres, and supports the groupings centrality in maintaining the regional architecture, she pledged.

The UK will also make more contributions to maintaining peace, stability, security and safety of aviation and navigation in the East Sea/South China Sea in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

Minister Lam congratulated the UK on becoming ASEANs 11th dialogue partner, saying Vietnam stands ready to work as a bridge promoting cooperation between the UK and the bloc, and back the UK to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific (CPTPP).

Vietnam always regards the UK as a leading priority in its foreign policy, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, the minister stressed.

According to Lam, Vietnam highly values the UKs agreements with the EU after Brexit in different fields, the countrys Global Britain strategy, and its announcement of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy by 2025 with a vision towards 2030.

He held that cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the UK Home Department has been deepened in such areas as the sharing of information and data, personnel training and crime combat.

The minister suggested the two sides promote delegation exchange, information sharing and collaboration in fighting illegal migration, and called on the UK to help Vietnam in accessing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs, and create conditions for Vietnamese citizens to get visas, enter, study and work legally in the UK.

Host and guest noted with pleasure new developments of the Vietnam-UK relations, especially after the two countries signed the Joint Declaration on the Vietnam - UK Strategic Partnership: Forging Ahead for Another 10 Years, in September 2020, and the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement on December 31, 2020.

At the end of the meeting, Patel said she plans to pay a working visit to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2022 to discuss plans on bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Source: NDO
Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input.
Marie-Elena studied creative writing, art, and photography at University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating with a BA in Studio Art -Visual Media. She moved to California from Nebraska in 2019 and is happy to call Calaveras County her home.

Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input.
Officers believe the man was standing at a gas station on the corner of Reisterstown Road and Belvedere Avenue in Northwest Baltimores Woodmere neighborhood when he was approached by an unknown individual wearing all black, who began shooting at him. The 23-year-olds injuries were non-life-threatening, police said in a news release.
The boards mission is to assist the administration in its review of continuing education courses, examinations and other matters related to education and qualification of Maryland insurance producers. Only 19 producers from the thousands licensed by the state are selected to serve in this capacity.
To avoid a crowded waiting room, people will wait in their cars in the parking lot until they are called in for their vaccines. Face masks are required in the building, and staff members ask residents to not attend the clinic if they have any symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Harford Community Action Agency is the 2021 Harford Award recipient in the Nonprofit category. The agency has received national praise for its working relationships with numerous agencies and community partners throughout the county. Given these relationships, Harford Community Action Agency was able to handle the increased need during the pandemic. With the pandemic, HCAA saw a 43% increase in food pantry need, which equates to about 9,000 households. The agency rose to the occasion, adding two new programs to fulfill this need.
Attending one of our federal service academies is an honor and a privilege, and for many students across our state, it is a life-long dream. Securing one of these nominations is highly competitive, and every Maryland student deserves an equal chance to access this opportunity, Van Hollen said in a statement. This legislation will help ensure that a Congressional vacancy does not stand in the way of our students achieving their dreams and serving their country.
Curtis was found shot in the head behind the My Place Bar and Lounge in Odenton in the early morning hours of Aug. 12, 2006. He was an officer with Federal Protective Services, a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement responsible for guarding federal buildings. Police said McDonald attempted to rob Curtis and his friend, Rhonda Briscoe, who were sitting in Curtis car parked behind My Place. McDonald approached the car, announced a robbery and got into the back seat.
While the defendant did not wield a knife to kill the victim, he used his authority over fellow gang members to order them to carry out this attack on his behalf and to further the gangs reputation. The State sought the maximum sentence for this crime, which is life without parole, Leitess said in a statement.
After the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the complexities including militancy and sectarian violence are widely arising in the country, according to a media report.

Pakistan's government hinted earlier at these challenges, but its voice is muted after what it perceives as its "strategic victory" with the group that it sheltered for long taking power in Kabul.

According to Al Arabiya Post, these complexities depend on two factors --one, Taliban themselves encounter more extremist Al Qaida and local affiliates of the Islamic State-Khorasan and other, the Kabul government is unwilling to curb their ideological allies, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In Pakistan, the Imran Khan-led government is facing challenges from the TTP that are from the Deobandi section of Islam and from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) that belongs to the rival Barelvi section.

TTP is consolidating itself with help from Kabul and the TLP has unleashed its "Long March" from Lahore to Islamabad. Experts and human rights bodies fear that the inevitable socio-religious fall-out will be sectarian violence in the country, Al Arabiya Post reported.

The number of the violence registered in the portal "Violence Register Database Pakistan"

In the Christian community there are 304 incidents of violence against Pakistani Christians, specifically attacks on places of worship and persons; targeted killings, kidnappings, sectarian attacks, mob violence, bomb blasts, rapes and forced conversions between 2005 and 2021.

While in the Hindu community, over the 2010-2021 period, it reported around 205 reported incidents of violence. For Ahmadi community at least 274 Ahmadis are said to have been killed in violent attacks since 1901. At least 1,436 incidents of violence against the Shia community have been reported in the form of attacks on Shia mosques and community centres, targeted killings, abductions, blasphemy, mob violence, bomb blasts and religious discrimination between 1963 and 2015.

Most of the data in the portal are sourced from official sources like the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, according to Al Arabiya Post

(ANI)

Also Read: S Korea allows gatherings of 10-12 people, business to operate 24 hrs
As Pakistan is facing an energy crisis, the federal minister of the Imran Khan government has said that country's government is taking all possible measures to prevent the looming gas crisis.

Pakistan is on the verge of a massive shortage of gas and rationing due to depleting local gas reserves and the failure of the Imran Khan government to procure a sufficient quantity of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

According to The News International, energy minister Hammad Azhar on Monday informed that the Pakistan government has arranged 11 LNG cargoes for the month of November.

Two LNG trading companies have backed out of an agreement made with Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) to provide two cargoes for November for mammoth monetary gains of up to 200 per cent profit in the international spot market, according to the publication.

The two LNG trading companies had made an agreement with PLL, with Italy-based ENI promising to deliver the LNG cargo on November 26-27 and Singapore-based GUNVOR promising delivery on November 19-20.

ENI informed PLL on October 30 that it won't deliver the term cargo on November 26-27. GUNVOR, meanwhile said that there was a system breakdown at the loading port, which is why it may not deliver the term LNG cargo on November 19-20.

Pakistan's cost of energy production has increased following an increase in fuel prices. Almost two-thirds of the country's electricity generation is based on fossil fuels, as per The Tribune.

The rise in crude oil prices have hit the highest in the last three years - USD 86 per barrel, the newspaper reported.

The energy crisis is worsening due to the rising cost of the LNG.

It seems, this winter Pakistan is set to face its third successive winter energy crisis.

(ANI)

Also Read: Taliban pledge to support freedom of expression based on Islamic values
Clay Center, KS (67432)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Chris Kempczinski

McDonalds

110 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60607

November 3, 2021

Dear Mr. Kempczinski:

We were outraged to read a text message you sent Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, blaming the murders of Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Latino boy, and Jaslyn Adams, a 7-year-old Black girl, on their parents.

Tragic shootings last week, both at our restaurant yesterday and with Adam Toledo, you wrote to the mayor. Both the parents failed those kids, which I know is something you cant say. Even harder to fix.

Its clear to us youre the one who has failed here. Your text message was ignorant, racist and unacceptable coming from anyone, let alone the CEO of McDonalds, a company that spends big money to market to communities of color and purports to stand with Black lives.

Earlier this year, in a memo to employees about McDonalds diversity and inclusion goals, you wrote, We cannot be complacent in our pursuit to better ourselves and our communities. Few brands in the world have our size and reach  [o]ur customers, franchisees, employees, suppliers, and shareholders expect us to make a difference.

Yet when faced with the tragic murder of Black and brown children, you were complacent. You relied on lazy, outdated and racist stereotypes in order to uphold the status quo and avoid accountability for those in power.

Mr. Kempczinski, your offensive comments at least provide some insight into why McDonalds has failed to address its rotten, racist culture under your leadership.

For more than nine years, McDonalds Black and brown workers have been speaking out about racial discrimination at the companys stores nationwide. They have been called ghetto, lazy, smelly, and told they shouldnt even exist. They have faced targeted retaliation for raising the alarm about racism in the workplace. They have long been paid starvation wages and dismissed in their demands for $15/hr.

Dozens of Black former McDonalds franchisees joined workers in speaking out, filing a $1 billion federal lawsuit blasting the company for for racial bias and barriers within the McDonalds franchise system that forced Black owners on a financial suicide mission. Your response to the suit, much like the murders, was to blame the franchise owners for mismanagement.

Last year, as millions of Americans flooded the streets to demand racial justice, McDonalds tweeted that George Floyd, Michael Brown, Travyon Martin, Alton Sterling, Botham Jean. Atatiana Jefferson and Ahmaud Arbery were one of us. The tweet continued, We do not tolerate inequity, injustice, or racism.

But Mr. Kempczinski, its clear what you say in private does not match what your company claims in public. Youve sought, through glossy PR statements and flashy marketing partnerships, including with the rapper Travis Scott, to disingenuously proclaim McDonalds stands against systemic oppression. But tweets and advertising cannot hide the deep-seated racism laid bare in your text message to the mayor. As the leader of one of the worlds largest private employers and most iconic brands, you have a responsibility to do so much better.

That must start with listening to your workers and communities of color in Chicago and beyond, not just relying on them to boost your companys bottom line. We demand that within seven days, you sit down with McDonalds Black and brown workers and community leaders in Chicago to tell us what your plan is to address systemic racism at McDonalds and beyond. If you want to be one of us, prove it  not with more tweets, but with actions that lift up your Black and brown workers and our communities.

Signed,

Centro Sin Fronteras

Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Chicago Fight for $15 and a Union

Color Of Change

Family Reunification

Lincoln UMC

Little Village Community Council

Movement for Black Lives

Poor Peoples Campaign

Right 2 Family

SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas

Showing Up For Racial Justice




On a chaotic August night in Kenosha, a white 17-year-old who had just shot and killed two people and wounded a third approaches police with an AR-15 style rifle slung across his chest, a rifle he was too young to carry in Wisconsin. His hands are up part of the time. At other times they are down near the rifle. People are yelling that he had just shot someone. He walks past armored police vehicles and a police cruiser without being stopped. Then he returns safely to his hometown of Antioch, Illinois.
Theres much to embrace and absorb for the excitement and history-rich potential of the new musical Paradise Square as it stops in Chicago for a pre-Broadway run, but understandably there are still some frayed threads to mend.
But the events being marked this week are not just about the addition. The entire public space has been remodeled with new bars and signage and various other branded attractions, including a kind of memory wall featuring boxes containing props and memoirs both from previous Steppenwolf productions and from the personalities for whom the theater has been their lives work. There is one of Laveys signature scarves, along with a dog-eared copy of Herman Hesses Steppenwolf, the novel that Sinise was reading when he was searching for a new name for his irreverent theater company. And there is a note written by the late ensemble member Mariann Mayberry and a photo of the late Sheldon Patinkin, a creative guru both at Steppenwolf and at Second City.
There have been 203 shootings on expressways so far this year, far exceeding those in all of 2020, when there were 128 such shootings, according to state police data. And in 2020 there had been more than twice the number of shootings than the 52 expressway shootings in 2019. There were 43 in 2018, according to state police.
SEIU waited until two weeks after the employees were laid off, and until the water issue became highlighted in the media, to allege the village illegally laid them off and imply that the layoff contributed to the water supply issue, the statement continued. As stated previously, the cause of the water issues is a supply problem and has nothing to do with labor negotiations in the village of Dixmoor.
Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly before her parents were convicted in 2015. Under Indonesian law, she was allowed to live with her mother in her cell in Kerobokan female prison until she turned 2, when Mack gave custody of her young daughter to an Australian woman until her release from prison.
We need to keep in mind the context of that night, Binger said. We need to keep in mind the fact there were hundreds of people on the street that night experiencing the same chaos, the same loud noises, the same gunfire and the same arson, the same tear gas, the same hostile confrontations with people who believed the opposite of them. And yet out of these hundreds of people, only one person killed anyone that night, only one person shot anyone that night. When we consider the reasonableness of the defendants actions, I ask you to keep that in mind.
To dismiss more than three decades of systemic and sustained abuse and harassment as simply something not being handled in a timely manner, suggests a stunning level of tone deafness and a failure to accept responsibility as Chair by Ms. LaVelle, Smith said. In order to rebuild trust in the program and within the Park District, Ms. LaVelle needs to explain her communications with Ms. Little and what was communicated to the board. Given todays events, nothing has changed my opinion that Ms. LaVelle should resign.
Ultimately, thanks to the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, Jackie was able to obtain permission to have an abortion from a judge over Zoom  without notice to her parents. I was not allowed to accompany her to provide support, and Jackie bravely faced the judge physically alone from her hospital bed, with her ACLU lawyer joining also by Zoom, and her nurse mostly visible through the window. She had an uncomplicated abortion in the hospital, recovered, and was discharged after receiving a very effective contraceptive that she was able to consent to on her own in the state of Illinois.
The office will be asked to identify the 10 most violent community areas in Chicago based on the number of gunshot victims per capita from 2016 through 2020 and seven others by considering the overall number of gunshot victims as well the per capita rate. Grants also will be available to the most violent communities outside Chicago.
John Halgren, John Stiegler, Gil Cortez, Chris Garon, Robert McCormick and Joel Fox sued Pritzker, the city of Naperville and Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare on Sept. 23, maintaining they  and not the governor or their employer  should be responsible for deciding if they should obtain the vaccination or undergo testing.
On the occasion of the CGCC Chicago 2021 Annual Gala, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to all of you!

Economic and trade cooperation has always been an anchor and propeller of the China-US relationship. Now this relationship is going through a new round of adaptation and adjustment. Under such circumstances, I hope that economic and trade cooperation will also serve as a lubricant and stabilizer of our ties. The Annual Gala itself demonstrates the business communitys strong desire to promote such cooperation. Manufacturing can best reflect the in-depth development of global value chain and international division of labor. This sectors global cooperation is in line with the objective laws of economic operation. Chinese and American economies have highly complementary structures and deeply integrated interests. From addressing the challenges brought by the disarrayed global industrial chain and value chain, to promoting post-pandemic economic recovery, China and the US must coordinate and cooperate with each other.

Manufacturing was the first sector to open up in China, and competition is greater in this field than others. Since China joined the World Trade Organization, it has basically opened its manufacturing sector to the full. Only four items are remaining on the negative list for foreign investment access. Opening-up has brought in foreign capital, technology and talents for the sector, which has in turn provided good returns for foreign investors.

China is the most promising market in the world. We have been the worlds second largest importer for 12 consecutive years. From January to September, Chinas imports were worth almost two trillion dollars, up by 32.6% year-on-year and reaching a record high. According to the latest WTO statistics, Chinas global share of imports in the first six months this year went up to 12%, which represents 15% of the global increase. In the next decade, China will import over 22 trillion dollars of goods. The annual China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai on November 5, and more Fortune 500 and industry-leading companies are signing up this year than last year. In the previous three years, the numbers of participating American companies were all among the most. I wish them plenty of sales this year. China will continue to welcome American companies to expand their investment in China. We will open wider to the world and build a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment for foreign investors. In particular, we will step up efforts on IPR protection. We also hope that the United States will remove its restrictions and barriers for the cooperation between Chinese and American companies, and create a fair and equitable environment for Chinese investors.

The CGCC Chicago Annual Gala is an important platform for Midwestern business community to engage with China. It is also a great event of China-US subnational exchange. I wish it a full success!




On October 31, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome.

Wang Yi said that bilateral relations between China and the United States in the past few years have suffered an all-round impact due to the wrong China policy pursued by the United States. The United States has wantonly interfered in China's internal affairs. The current U.S. Congress has introduced more than 300 anti-China bills, and the United States has included more than 900 Chinese entities and individuals in various unilateral sanctions lists, which severely disrupted normal bilateral exchanges between the two countries. Moreover, the United States is also forming various small cliques to suppress China on a global scale, and even exerting pressure on many small and medium-sized countries. These practices are not in line with the interests of the peoples of the two countries, not in line with the expectations of the international community, not in line with the development trend of the times, and hence China voices its clear opposition.

Wang Yi said that the important experience accumulated over the past four decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries is that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. The two sides have learned from several contacts in Anchorage, Tianjin and Zurich that China and the United States must respect each other and treat each other equally. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has repeatedly called for the world to prevent division and avoid a new Cold War. The important consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the United States during the two phone conversations this year is that the two sides should restart dialogue and avoid confrontation. The urgent task at the moment is that the two sides must earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and make political preparations and provide necessary conditions for the next phase of exchanges.

Wang Yi said that I am willing to establish regular contacts with you to exchange views timely and in a frank manner on how to manage and control differences between our two sides, properly resolve problems that have arisen, so as to enhance understanding, eliminate doubts, avoid misjudgments and explore cooperation.

Wang Yi pointed out that the Taiwan issue is the most sensitive issue between China and the United States. If it is handled wrongly, it will cause subversive and overall damage to bilateral ties. Recently, the situation across the Taiwan Straits has become tense again, and the United States has repeatedly stated that this was caused by China's change of the status quo, yet this is not a fact at all but a serious misleading to the international community. Wang Yi stressed that the true status of the Taiwan issue is that there is only one China, Taiwan is a part of China, and the mainland and Taiwan belong to the same country. Historical experience has repeatedly proved that any change to this status quo will seriously damage the stability and even create a crisis across the Taiwan Straits. The crux of the current situation across the Taiwan Straits is because the Taiwan authorities have repeatedly tried to break through the one-China framework, and the United States' connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" forces are also to blame. To stop the development of the "Taiwan independence" tendency is to maintain peace across the Taiwan Straits. We urge the United States to realize the serious harm of the "Taiwan independence", to pursue a real one-China policy, instead of a fake one, to fulfill its commitments to China faithfully rather than treacherously. We also urge the United States to truly implement the one-China policy and put it into action, instead of saying one thing and doing the opposite.





Blinken reiterated that the United States will continue to adhere to the one-China policy. He said the two sides should develop bilateral relations in the spirit of mutual respect. The United States is willing to maintain communication with China, manage differences responsibly, and avoid confrontation or crisis.

Wang Yi also expressed China's solemn concern over various issues that the United States has harmed China's legitimate rights and interests, and requested the U.S. side to change its course and push China-U.S. relations back onto the track of sound development.

The two sides also exchanged views on important issues such as climate change, energy supply, the Iranian nuclear issue, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, and expressed the willingness to maintain dialogue on addressing various global challenges.








Distinguished Chinese writer Zong Pu, 93, is best known in China for one of her short prose pieces, "A Waterfall of Purple Wisteria Vines," thanks to its presence in Chinese textbooks for middle school students.

But she is so much more than a writer of elegant prose.

Zong made her name at a young age for her short fiction "Red Beans," a painful romantic story that explored the conflict between love and moral convictions of a person at a time of dramatic social changes. The story, with a soft feminine touch, was a huge hit in China in the 1950s, making her a beloved popular author at the time.

The reform and opening up heralded literary revival on the Chinese mainland in the 1980s and many Chinese writers welcomed their belated golden days. After a two-decade-long hiatus, Zong created a slew of literary pieces that won her fame both at home and abroad, such as "Melody in Dreams" (1978), "The Everlasting Stone" (1980) and "Who Am I?" (1983).

At the age of 57, Zong started to write her epic series "Wild Gourd Overture." The story is set in the National Southwest Associated University during the 1930s and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, featuring intellectuals of several generations in China.

She was awarded the Mao Dun Literature Prize, China's most prestigious literature prize, for the second book of her "Wild Gourd Overture" series, "Note of Hiding in the East." In 2019, "Back to the North," the last book of the series, was published when she was well past 90.

"I've always remembered what writer Wang Anyi once said, 'You were born to write this novel. Maybe that's true,'" she told CGTN during an exclusive interview recently.

Zong considered herself a witness and a destined recorder of a most turbulent time of the country when Chinese people rose up against the Japanese invasion and tens of thousands of people sacrificed their lives for the cause.

On July 7, 1937, Japanese troops crossed the Lugou Bridge on the outskirts of Beiping, then Beijing, beginning Japan's full-scale invasion of China. In the same year, Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University moved southward for safety. The three schools then merged to form the National Southwest Associated University in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Zong moved there at a young age and spent eight years there, following her father Feng Youlan, who was working as a key faculty member at the school.

Zong recalled her childhood time living in Kunming when the city was often bombarded with enemy shells and people would bump into Chinese troops on the street once in a while.

"I would sit out on the street in the evening as troops passed by. They sang as they marched past. I couldn't hear clearly all of what they sang, but one phrase always stuck: 'death before surrender.'"

In the 1980s, she revisited Yunnan Province and made a trip to the National Memorial Cemetery in Tengchong City, where the soldiers who fought and died to defend Yunnan during the 1930s and 1940s were buried. She couldn't help but feel sadness welling up and wept outside the cemetery.

"The war was an effort of the entire Chinese nation to resist Japanese aggression. Just as China absolutely had to win the war, I had to finish my novel."

Zong was born into a scholarly family. Her father was one of the leading Chinese philosophers of the 20th century and is widely credited with creating the discipline of comparative philosophy in modern China.

Under the influence of her father, she read a wide variety of classical books and was greatly influenced by Chinese philosophy and literature. In readers' eyes, her writing is classical and delicate in style, and her exquisite writing reflects her pursuit of "sincerity" and "elegance" in literature.

"For poem writing, sincerity is the essence and elegance is the character, from ideological and artistic perspectives, respectively. It cannot truly be poetry if one is a hypocrite," she said.

Writer Zhang Kangkang once said Zong's writing is like a strong, long-lasting parchment book; no matter how many times you read it, its quality never fades. One of the most significant artistic values in her writing is this tenacious beauty that can stand the test of time.
China shall explore more possibilities in the development of Chinese science fiction, insiders and experts told China.org.cn during a sci-fi summit held in Chongqing, Oct. 22-23.

Narrator Jiang Guangtao reads excerpts from sci-fi radio play "The Cloud of Poem" at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards gala held in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Innovative approaches to present sci-fi

The 12th Chinese Nebula Awards gala held on Oct. 23 included a performance of "The Cloud of Poem," a radio drama adapted from a short sci-fi story by China's famous sci-fi writer, Liu Cixin. Wang Mengbi, spokesperson from audio show platform MissEvan, said the eight-episode radio drama will tell a poetic sci-fi story while exploring how to present Chinese culture in a more innovative way.

Later, China's top sci-fi writers Han Song, He Xi, Chen Qiufan, and Jiang Bo, read their stories inspired by Guojiao 1573, a Chinese baijiu produced by Luzhou Laojiao, one of the four best-known liquor brands in China.

(From left to right) China's top sci-fi writers He Xi, Chen Qiufan, Jiang Bo and Han Song, read their stories inspired by Guojiao 1573, a Chinese baijiu produced by Luzhou Laojiao, one of the four best-known liquor brands in China, on stage during the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards gala held in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

As the event sponsor, Luzhou Laojiao will work with the sci-fi culture company Eternal Vision Science Fiction & Media Co., Hainan (EV/SFM) to launch a new sci-fi themed liquor brand later this year. Gan Weikang, president of EV/SFM, said he has been trying to realize more effective business models for the Chinese sci-fi industry with his peers for years, and will continue his crusade in the years to come.

Ji Shaoting, head of Future Affairs Administration, a company that deals with sci-fi businesses and promotes sci-fi culture, described how their Diu Diu podcast has been listened to 10 million times since its launch more than a year ago. The podcast is an example of how in China, the development of sci-fi is no longer limited to movies and books.

Yao Xiaoguang (left), president of Tencent's TiMi Studio Group, and prominent sci-fi writer Liu Cixin (right), present awards to award winners at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards gala held in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Sci-fi and video games

At the just-concluded 12th Chinese Nebula Awards, Yao Xiaoguang, vice president of Tencent and president of Tencent's video game developing arm TiMi Studio Group, presented awards to winners alongside Liu Cixin. "I'm looking forward to the future when science fiction and games can meet and have new chemistry," Yao said.

Internet giant Tencent has started to turn its eye to sci-fi, and is currently working with Chinese sci-fi writers to create games. "We are inspired by sci-fi, and there are many sci-fi elements in our games," said Guo Zhi, a game producer from Tencent TiMi J3 Studio.

He added that he hopes that unique Chinese sci-fi-inspired video games, as a cultural vehicle, can be enjoyed around the world in the future.

Wu Yan, a sci-fi scholar, writer, and professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology, noted the total market value of the Chinese sci-fi industry in 2020 was 55.1 billion yuan, among which 48 billion yuan came from video games, according to incomplete statistics compiled by his team for an annual sci-fi industry report.

Video game developers join sci-fi experts and writers in discussion at the Science Fiction Summit Forum held in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Jiang Bo, a renowned sci-fi writer, added that games will also help promote the advancement of technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

Heading to a brighter future

Dong Renwei, 79, a sci-fi mogul and one of the founders of the Chinese Nebula Awards, who has been interested in children's sci-fi literature for many years, inaugurated the world's first children sci-fi award this year.

"Children's sci-fi is becoming the focus of literary creation and incubation," said Dong, adding that he hopes children's sci-fi can contribute to the cultivation of Chinese children's creativity and imagination. He also has plans to build China's first public sci-fi museum.

Wu Yan, sci-fi scholar, writer, and professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology, delivers a speech at the opening of the Science Fiction Summit Forum in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

During the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards and related activities, many attendees raised the prospect of a metaverse, but many traditional projects were also announced, including "Folding Universe" by Hugo Award-winner Hao Jingfang and the online movie series "Underground Deep Palace" based on writer Xiao Xinghan's novella. Recently, the blockbuster sequel to "The Wandering Earth" has started filming.

"Science fiction goes beyond national and ethnic boundaries and is the type of literature that can most resonate with readers from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Now there are quite a lot of Chinese sci-fi works translated into foreign languages and spread overseas. The world understands Chinese sci-fi much more than ever before," Liu Cixin said.
Most U.S. congressional districts exported more goods to China in 2020 compared to the previous year despite bilateral tensions and the beginning of a pandemic-induced global recession, according to a report released Monday by the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).



U.S. goods exports to China grew by roughly 18 percent to 123 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, marking a sizable rally from a near-decade low in 2019, while U.S. goods exports to the rest of the world fell by 15 percent, the report said.

"This disparity is likely the result of China outpacing the rest of the world in its recovery from the pandemic-induced slowdown," the report said, noting the top U.S. goods exports to China are oilseeds and grains, semiconductors and their componentry, oil and gas, and motor vehicles.

A total of 278 out of 435 U.S. congressional districts saw growth in goods exports to China in 2020, and 72 districts increased their exports by more than 100 million dollars, according to the report.

The increase was particularly sharp in the farming communities of the Midwest, oil-exporting regions in Texas and Louisiana, and Oregon's semiconductor hub, also known as Silicon Forest, the report said, adding China remained the United States' third-largest goods export market.

"Our data show that tariff relief by China's government, which allowed Chinese buyers to purchase U.S. goods based on market demand after years of hampered trade, also helped fuel American goods exports in many parts of the country," USCBC President Craig Allen said in a statement.

"USCBC continues to advocate for both the United States and China to draw down and permanently remove all of their respective tariffs," Allen said.

U.S. services exports to China, the data for which lag a year behind, fell slightly to just over 54 billion dollars in 2019, partly due to declining numbers of Chinese travelers to the United States for business, pleasure and education, according to the report.

"The decline in travelers could have been the result of the trade war and other bilateral tensions, which might have made the United States an undesirable destination in the eyes of Chinese travelers," the report said.

However, of the United States' top 10 services export markets in 2019, China had the highest average annual growth rate over the previous decade.

Meanwhile, China was the United States' fourth-largest services export market, and many congressional districts, particularly those that represent large metropolitan areas, college towns, or logistics hubs, still generate substantial economic value from service exports to China.

"As our data show, trade between the United States and China has real consequences for businesses, workers, and communities all across the country and nearly every industry," Allen said.
Thailand has completed ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, Jurin Laksanawisit, Thai deputy prime minister and commerce minister said Monday.



The country has ratified the tade pact upon depositing its instrument of ratification with the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Oct. 28, the official said.

Apart from Thailand, other ASEAN members including Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos have already ratified the RCEP agreement. Meanwhile, China and Japan have also completed ratifications of the pact.

Signed in November last year, the RCEP is a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Ratifications from at least six ASEAN member countries and three of the other five member countries are needed for the trade deal to take effect.

Once in effect, the deal will eliminate tariffs on as much as 90 percent of goods traded between its signatories over the next 20 years.




Speakers:

Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA)

Zhang Maoyu, vice chairman of the CIDCA

Zhou Liujun, vice chairman of the CIDCA

Deng Boqing, vice chairman of the CIDCA

Chairperson:

Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and SCIO spokesperson

Date:

Oct. 26, 2021

Shou Xiaoli:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today we are very happy to be joined by Mr. Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and the agency's vice chairmen, Mr. Zhang Maoyu, Mr. Zhou Liujun and Mr. Deng Boqing, who will introduce China's COVID-19 assistance and international development cooperation, and answer any questions you have. Next, I'll give the floor to Mr. Luo Zhaohui.

Luo Zhaohui:

Good morning, friends from the media. It is a pleasure to meet you all. This is the first press conference held by the CIDCA since its establishment more than three years ago. I would like to thank you for your long-term interest in China's foreign aid and for your support of our agency's work. I would also like to thank the SCIO for inviting us to participate in today's press conference.

Yesterday, a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations was held in the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important speech. What you may not know is that our foreign aid work played a unique role in this historic event. For U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, 22 of the 23 co-sponsors are our recipient countries. This is the epitome and pride of China's foreign aid cause from "yesterday."

At present, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, the world economy is struggling to recover and sustainable global development is facing severe challenges. Under the personal command and deployment of President Xi Jinping, we have not only achieved the "double lead" in fighting the pandemic and in economic recovery, but also carried out the longest period and widest scope of emergency humanitarian aid operation since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Last year, China provided a large number of anti-pandemic materials such as protective suits, masks and ventilators to 150 countries and 13 international organizations. Since the beginning of this year, we have provided more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines to 106 countries and four international organizations, which have played an important role in controlling the pandemic and leading the anti-pandemic cooperation. This is the rainbow and glory of our foreign aid cause for "today."

Our foreign aid cause has gone through 71 years of glorious history from 1950 to the present day, carrying a strong friendship and bearing fruitful results. From the Tanzania-Zambia Railway to the Karakoram Highway, from hybrid rice to Juncao planting, from artemisinin to COVID-19 vaccines, these are all amazing business cards and witnesses of China's aid. You can see "China Aid" written on the packaging of donated vaccines  this is the very business card of China. The foreign aid work is a glorious chapter in the 100-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC). So far, China has provided various types of aid to more than 160 countries, including implementing thousands of complete projects and material aid projects, carrying out tens of thousands of technical cooperation and human resource development projects, and offering over 400,000 training opportunities for various types of personnel from developing countries. These achievements are inseparable from the hard work of our generations of foreign aid workers, and the continuous struggle of various departments on our foreign aid front.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China's foreign aid and international development cooperation have opened up new prospects and made new achievements on the existing basis.

China continues to innovate its ideas on international development cooperation. With a big heart and a global vision, President Xi Jinping put forward the important concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests, the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, good faith, and the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefits and inclusiveness. These ideas have inherited and carried forward Marxist internationalism and humanitarian spirit, and at the same time have combined with such traditional Chinese concepts as "making the world better if you're capable" and "creating a world of harmony and unity." Our foreign aid work is aimed at realizing these important thoughts and practicing these important ideas.

China's international development cooperation mechanism is improving day by day. More than three years ago, the Chinese government specially established the CIDCA to provide an important mechanism guarantee for promoting the quality and upgrading of international development cooperation. We also set up the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and established the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development to help developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development.

China's contribution to international development cooperation has expanded significantly. We have contributed "Chinese solutions," "Chinese wisdom" and "Chinese power" to solve the world's development problems. In the face of endless global challenges and disasters, "Chinese aid" has never been absent. The focus of our aid is on vaccines and anti-pandemic supplies, while routine aid has not stopped, especially for overseas projects involving people's livelihoods. Taking into account the continuity of these projects and the urgent needs of recipient countries, we have overcome many difficulties and continued our aid. Of course, we did not relax for a moment regarding project safety, supervision and anti-corruption issues. We also had to change some foreign aid training projects from in-person to a combination of online and offline methods.

China is still a developing country. We attach great importance to and actively conduct foreign aid, first of all in order to practice Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Human beings share the same Earth, depend on each other and share a common future. President Xi Jinping creatively put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Our foreign aid work is a great practice toward building a community with a shared future for mankind, and is also the lofty embodiment of the CPC's original mission in the cause of human progress.

Second, our work is in order to consolidate and deepen friendly cooperation with other developing countries, expand our circle of friends, and seek common prosperity and development. The current international situation is not peaceful, and a Cold War mentality and ideological disputes have never ceased. As a responsible major country, it is increasingly important and urgent for China to carry out foreign aid, lead South-South cooperation, build consensus on development and practice true multilateralism.
Phoenix TV:

A recent American research report on Chinese project abroad under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) points to many major problems like corruption, labor violations, environmental risks and public protests, causing that participating countries' willingness is fading. What is your comment on this? Besides, what is China's role in foreign assistance and international cooperation regarding the BRI? Thank you!

Luo Zhaohui:

This is a very good question. To build a community with a shared future for mankind is the essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and the BRI cooperation has been considered as an important platform. President Xi Jinping on Sept 21 proposed a Global Development Initiative, which was highly spoken by the UN. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN would support and cooperate closely with China to further promote the Initiative when he met with President Xi yesterday via video link.

This question has also attracted much attention. I will invite my colleague Deng Boqing to answer it.

Deng Boqing:

Thank you for your question. As the most significant platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind, the BRI highly resonates with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has been widely recognized by the international community. To date, up to 140 partner countries and 32 international organizations have signed documents on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Over 90 bilateral mechanisms have been established.

We follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and champion the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, in a bid to make Belt and Road cooperation high-standard, people-centered and sustainable. With regard to a blueprint and specific project for the BRI, we always act in the spirit of broad participation and equal negotiation in a public and transparent way and take a "zero tolerance" approach to corruption. Recently, President Xi Jinping announced that China would not build any new coal-fired power plants abroad, which are highly praised by the international community.

It is our important responsibility to serve the BRI. President Xi Jinping announced a series of foreign assistance measures at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), including that China will provide assistance worth 60 billion yuan to developing countries and international organizations participating in the BRI and China will launch 100 "happy home" projects, 100 poverty alleviation projects and 100 health care and rehabilitation projects in countries along the route. We have fully implemented these measures and make greater efforts to support the BRI. The overall effects of China's foreign assistance are on a consistently upward trajectory.

Since the pandemic, some projects have been affected. However, it is an indispensable obligation for China to help other countries fight against COVID-19 and restart development. During the pandemic , China has stepped forward to inject impetus into the implementation of the Agenda for Sustainable Development. Instead of hitting the "pause" button, we have continued to jointly build the BRI despite challenges and promote global development and cooperation with great zeal. We noticed that during the pandemic, a series of major projects such as the China-Laos Railway and the Hungary-Serbia Railway made breakthrough progress. Meanwhile, China-Europe freight trains and traffic volume throughout the year expanded 50% and 56% year on year, respectively. In addition, China's non-financial outbound direct investment to countries along the BRI rose by 18.3% year on year.

We will continue to act according to our capability and try our best to help those countries in need without any political conditions by the principle of equal treatment and mutual respect, to better serve the Belt and Road Initiative. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Luo. Now the floor is open to questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising questions.

CCTV:

We all know that China first began providing foreign aid to friendly neighboring countries. What assistance did China provide those countries in their fight against COVID-19? What has been achieved? Thank you.

Luo Zhaohui:

That's a very good question, thank you. China started providing foreign aid to neighboring countries 71 years ago. In 1950, a Chinese military advisory group was sent to Vietnam to assist the country in its fight against the French invasion, and the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army entered the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the war to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea.

During the past 71 years, the "neighborhood" has always been the top priority for China's diplomacy. It is often said that it is difficult for China to remain peaceful and secure unless its neighbors are secure. Neighborhood is the foundation for our livelihood, development and prosperity, and our privileged direction in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, neighboring countries have lent helping hands to China, a testament to the verses "Miles apart but close at heart." The prime minister of Cambodia and Pakistan's president paid special visits to China, and Mongolian president donated 30,000 sheep as a token of support to Wuhan city. A 10-year-old Mongolian child studying in China donated 999 yuan ($156) to Wuhan city and another two areas of China which were relatively seriously affected, expressing support for China's COVID-19 epidemic fight. We are all deeply moved by the kindness. There is a Chinese saying: "A favor of a drop of water should be repaid with a surging spring." Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the international community, including neighboring countries, has provided valuable support, and of course, we should return the favor. Thanks to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and under the coordination of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council and the direct command of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission have proactively coordinated and launched timely humanitarian aid. We have done the following work.

First, meeting urgent needs. Emergency relief demands urgent action. Although providing foreign aid has its own procedures, we have to handle urgent and difficult cases with creative thinking and special measures. At the end of April, South and Southeast Asia saw a resurgence of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant. China launched an emergency plan to support neighboring countries fighting the pandemic. To overcome difficulties such as shortages of goods and production schedules, we donated emergency supplies including oxygen cylinders, as well as oxygen generators and ventilators to Nepal, Afghanistan, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and other countries. Within several days, we sent a team of medical experts to Laos and delivered anti-epidemic materials to Nepal.

Second, providing various support. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has supported neighboring countries in their fight against the pandemic through numerous means, such as donating medical supplies and vaccines, sending medical experts, holding online meetings, and setting up reserves of anti-epidemic materials in South Asia. Ever since China achieved notable success in slowing the spread of the virus, we have gained invaluable experience and time for the world and didn't disappoint neighboring countries. So far, China has donated multiple batches of anti-epidemic materials and more than 80 million doses of vaccines to neighboring countries and regions, especially sending out groups of vaccine experts over 10 times while holding over a thousand of video conferences to share our experience and trained foreign medical staff, which had direct beneficial effects.

Third, moving the anti-pandemic barrier forward. Since last year, Ruili, a China-Myanmar border city in southwest China's Yunnan province, has been closed three times due to the pandemic. We have worked with domestic departments and Myanmar's government to donate anti-epidemic materials and vaccines to northern Myanmar. By establishing an effective mechanism to curb any cross-border spread of the virus, the epidemic in northern Myanmar has been controlled, and China's approach to preventing the coronavirus from entering the country and stemming a domestic resurgence has been guaranteed, with benefits that extend into anti-epidemic, diplomatic and political areas.

Fourth, strengthening good neighborliness. China's emergency aid to neighboring countries is still underway. A friend in need is a friend indeed. China's timely and efficient assistance, first, has played an important role in helping relevant countries control the pandemic, protect people's lives and reduce property losses. Second, it has contributed to domestic epidemic prevention and control. Third, it has enhanced traditional and people-to-people friendship between China and neighboring countries. Fourth, it is in sharp contrast to the indifference of some major countries towards epidemic control in other countries. We are glad to see that many foreign political leaders attended the handover ceremony of China's donations at the airport. Some leaders took the lead in receiving Chinese vaccines, and a lot of foreign media outlets praised Chinese vaccines as "timely rain." During the past two years, we've often worked overtime and met extraordinary situations with extraordinary perseverance, receiving recognition from both leaders and society. Thank you.
Beijing Youth Daily:

What's the progress of China's COVID-19 assistance to Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific region? What measures will be taken in the future? Thank you.

Zhou Liujun:

China and countries in Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific region enjoy a history of profound friendship and share weal and woe together. We are good partners, good friends and good brothers on the path of development. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China upholds the values of greater good and shared interests and follows the principles of sincerity, affinity, good faith and real results. Under the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and China-CELAC Forum, we have cooperated in areas such as health, agriculture, education and green development, and achieved remarkable results in building an even closer China-Africa and China-Latin America community with a shared future.

Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in 2018. The sudden outbreak of the pandemic brought us a severe test. We have actively responded to multiple impacts of the pandemic and provided support and assistance within our capacity to African countries and the African Union (AU), to aid their economic and social development, mainly in the following aspects.

First, conducting anti-pandemic cooperation. We immediately donated more than 120 batches of testing reagents, ventilators and other anti-pandemic supplies, while providing vaccines to 50 African countries and the AU, and sending medical expert teams to 17 African countries.

Second, supporting economic recovery. We have implemented nearly 400 assistance projects across various fields. Despite the impact of the pandemic, nearly 10,000 Chinese engineers, technicians and medical workers remain in their posts. Likewise, hundreds of assistance projects have already been implemented, which provide strong support for African countries to resume work and production.

Third, advancing project cooperation. We have fully implemented the "eight major initiatives" introduced at the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Construction on the headquarters of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) began ahead of schedule at the end of last year. Other projects that China provided aid for such as a children's hospital in Senegal and a center for treatment of infectious diseases in Mauritania's Nouakchott National Hospital were successfully completed and handed over to local governments. Such key medical projects have played an important role in African countries' fight against the epidemic. An additional 50 Chinese assistance projects in each of the six areas of industrial promotion, health, peace and security, green development, trade promotion and people-to-people exchanges will all be completed soon.

Fourth, reducing and canceling debt to alleviate African countries' financial burden.

Fifth, improving capabilities. We have trained more than 25,000 talents and technical personnel for African countries, and cooperated and shared experiences with 45 hospitals in 40 African countries. The governments and people of those nations expressed their sincere appreciation for China's help and cherish China as a true friend of Africa.

China also provided assistance to Latin American countries and island countries in the South Pacific region. We have carried out a large number of assistance projects covering transportation, agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery, infrastructure, culture, education and health, and trained more than 50,000 managerial and technical personnel in various fields, which strongly supported regional economic and social development. More specifically, since the outbreak of COVID-19, China promptly provided anti-epidemic materials and vaccines to countries in need. To date, 53 batches of anti-epidemic materials and 28 batches of vaccines have been delivered to relevant countries. Chinese experts communicated with other countries' medical staff and shared their experiences during video conferences. We have actively implemented the G20 debt relief initiative and helped those countries alleviate their debts.

Next, besides deepening anti-pandemic cooperation, we will focus our foreign cooperation on public health, trade promotion, connectivity, poverty alleviation and benefiting rural workers, digital innovation, green development, peace and security, capacity building and similar fields. Through promoting small but beautiful, advantageous and effective projects, China vows to deliver the benefits of assistance to people of recipient countries, work together to fight against the pandemic, and accelerate economic and social recovery, so as to make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Thank you.
On Oct. 25, 50 years ago, the People's Republic of China was welcomed to the UN as the lawful representative of China. The country has since implemented the UN's acquis, i.e., the rules, norms, and practices accepted within the organization before its entry, especially human rights. Thus, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has started to play an essential role in national human rights discourse.



Furthermore, China has submitted comprehensive reports to the bodies overseeing the human rights treaties to which it is a party and to the Human Rights Council as part of the Universal Periodic Review. It has engaged in discussions with these treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council about possible shortcomings. Chinese NGOs are constantly organizing side events during Human Rights Council sessions, during which international experts take the floor. China also hosts several important international human rights conferences, such as the Beijing Forum on Human Rights and the South-South Human Rights Forum, which has developed into the leading discussion platform on human rights in the Global South.

In addition, the State Council has launched and implemented four human rights action plans to promote and protect human rights in Chinese society. Furthermore, all Chinese children learn about human rights during their civic education course in middle school, which contains a module primarily devoted to this topic. And a growing number of universities are offering human rights courses and Ph.D. programs.

UN membership has brought much to China, and China has also offered a lot in return, mainly how the UN human rights mechanism operates. But, unfortunately, this comes at a time when the UN human rights mechanism is facing several serious challenges, such as the non- and underreporting by states to the treaty bodies. This is mainly due to many countries in the Global South regarding the format prescribed for their reports as a liberal straightjacket, which does not allow them to present their human rights accomplishments based on their culture and traditions.

The human rights discourse is also increasingly politicized, as demonstrated by a recent decision by the new Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan. He decided to exclude alleged war crimes committed by U.S. armed forces during the Afghanistan investigation started by his predecessor. Instead, he would only scrutinize war crimes allegedly performed by the Taliban. But war crimes are war crimes, regardless of the perpetrator.

These ills can be redress with the help of the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind, also known as a community of common destiny, which China launched at the world stage in 2017 during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The community of common destiny concept can turn the relationship between states within the international human rights system into a partnership based on respect and equality rather than a hierarchy. Countries will then no longer be allowed to use human rights as a Trojan horse to mask their civilizing mission.

The community of shared future will ensure that the culture within the international human rights system will become one of encouragement and assistance rather than criticism and condemnation. It calls for constructive human rights dialogue based on equality and respect, aiming to exchange creative ideas and best practices regarding human rights based on harmony. Participants should identify common dilemmas and try to find solutions for them jointly. The aim of the human rights dialogues should be learning through self-cultivation rather than lecturing others.

The community of common destiny concept also recognizes that the drafters intended the Universal Declaration to be a "big tent," reflecting all worldviews and civilizations. This requires a fair representation of different views rather than one singular view as the sole acceptable human rights approach. Furthermore, the drafters of the Universal Declaration intended it to be applied first and foremost by the people in their relationships with others, which an inner drive should stimulate. It calls for human rights which enjoy cultural legitimacy, i.e., which match the values and norms of the people on the ground.

The community of common destiny will also challenge the myth that law enjoys a monopoly as the only means to implement international human rights obligations. Social institutions and culture are equally essential vehicles for human rights implementation, especially in the Global South. Encouraging states to rely on culture and social institutions as pillars of human rights protection is called the receptor approach to human rights.

During the past 50 years, China has shown its commitment to the UN human rights system. The country recently emphasized that it remains committed to building a better world in which democracy and freedom are a common pursuit to mark the anniversary. This signals that China will continue expanding and deepening its human rights protection, which is a welcome aspiration. At the same time, applying the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind will benefit the international human rights community.

Tom Zwart is Professor of Cross-cultural Law, Utrecht University; Director of the Cross-cultural Human Rights Centre, Free University of Amsterdam.

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

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on all parties to take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge.

Xi made the remarks in a written statement for the World Leaders Summit at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is being held in Glasgow from Monday to Tuesday.

"I hope all parties will take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge and protect the planet, the shared home for us all," he said.

The adverse impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident, presenting a growing urgency for global action, he said.

The Chinese president made a three-pronged proposal to address climate challenge, including upholding multilateral consensus, focusing on concrete actions, and accelerating the green transition.

"When it comes to global challenges such as climate change, multilateralism is the right prescription," he said.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement provide the fundamental legal basis for international cooperation on climate. Parties need to build on existing consensus, increase mutual trust, step up cooperation and work together to deliver a successful COP26 in Glasgow, he added.

Parties need to honor their commitments, set realistic targets and visions, and do their best according to national conditions to deliver their climate action measures, Xi said.

The Chinese president stressed the responsibility of developed countries in tackling climate change, saying that they should not only do more themselves, but should also provide support to help developing countries do better.

In terms of green transition, Xi said it is important to harness innovations in science and technology to transform and upgrade the energy and resources sectors as well as the industrial structure and consumption pattern.

Guided by the vision of a community of life for man and nature, China will continue to prioritize ecological conservation and pursue a green and low-carbon path to development, he said.

"We will foster a green, low-carbon and circular economic system at a faster pace, press ahead with industrial structure adjustment, and rein in the irrational development of energy-intensive and high-emission projects," he said.

He added that China will speed up the green and low-carbon energy transition, vigorously develop renewable energy, and plan and build large wind and photovoltaic power stations.

China has recently released an action plan for carbon dioxide peaking before 2030, as well as a document titled "Working Guidance For Carbon Dioxide Peaking And Carbon Neutrality In Full And Faithful Implementation Of The New Development Philosophy."

Xi said the country will roll out specific implementation plans for key areas such as energy, industry, construction and transport, and for key sectors such as coal, electricity, iron and steel, and cement, as well as supporting measures in terms of science and technology, carbon sink, fiscal and taxation, and financial incentives.

"These measures will form a '1+N' policy framework for delivering carbon peak and carbon neutrality, with clearly-defined timetable, roadmap and blueprint," he added.
 Flash

Egypt signed on Monday seven grant agreements with the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), worth 125 million U.S. dollars as part of the joint economic relations program between the two countries.

The agreements aim to bolster the Egypt's development efforts in the fields of education, science and technology, agriculture, health, economic governance, trade and investment, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat said in a statement.

Al-Mashat pointed out that the strategic partnership with the United States is integrated with Egypt's national efforts to achieve economic and social development.

She revealed that Egypt's International Cooperation Ministry and the National Council for Women, as well as the World Economic Forum, had launched the "Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator" initiative, the first of its kind in Africa and the Middle East, which works to take institutional measures to empower women.

"The ministry is seeking to agree on a new partnership with the USAID in the context of achieving the goals of the initiative to bridge the gender gap, improve the work environment for women in the private sector, and enhance financial inclusion for women," the minister said.

She noted that the partnership with the USAID is also reflected in motivating the participation of the private sector in Egypt's development and increasing its role in various projects, by supporting small and medium-sized companies.
 Flash

A total of 25 people was killed in a missile attack by the Houthi militia against the strategic northeastern Yemeni province of Marib, a military official told Xinhua on Monday.

"The Houthis carried out a missile attack against an Islamic educational center and a mosque in Al Jubah district of Marib late on Sunday night, killing at least 25 people at the scene," the local military source said on condition of anonymity.

He said that the shelling injured more than 10 others, including children and students.

A religious educational center and a mosque were partially damaged in the ballistic missile attack which caused a huge explosion in the area.

Earlier in the day, Yemen's Minister Information Moammar al-Eryani confirmed in a brief statement posted on his Twitter account that "about 29 people were killed and injured by the Iranian-made ballistic missile attack."

However, there were no immediate reports commenting on the incident or claiming responsibility by the Iranian-backed Houthi group.

Last week, the Houthi group achieved on-ground military progress and managed to capture the center of Al Jubah's district in the southern part of Marib, after days of deadly fighting with the Yemeni government forces.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia began in February a major offensive on Marib with an attempt to seize control of the oil-rich province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
 Flash

Egyptian and U.S. naval forces have conducted a joint drill within the range of Southern Fleet in the Red Sea, the armed forces said in a statement on Monday.

The activities took place with the participation of the Egyptian frigate "Alexandria" and the U.S. amphibious ship USS Portland, it said.

"The drills are part of the Egyptian Armed Forces' efforts to promote military relations and exchange of expertise with different countries," according to the statement.

The joint exercises covered naval combat activities and security naval measures at the Red Sea amid presence of specialists from both sides, followed by the implementation of a set of combat operations that aimed at securing sea navigation and global trade movements against any threats.

Egypt regularly holds joint military exercises with other countries to boost military collaboration and exchange military expertise.
 Flash

The Iraqi judiciary on Monday issued the death penalty against the killer of a reporter and cameraman in 2020 in Iraq's southern city of Basra.

A statement by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council said that the Basra Criminal Court issued the death penalty after the convict confessed to killing the reporter Ahmed Abdul Samad, and the cameraman Safaa Ghali.

In January 2020, unknown gunmen shot dead Abdul Samad and Ghali, who both worked for the Dijlah TV, inside their car while they were leaving the protest site in Basra province.

Mass anti-government demonstrations have been launched in capital Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since October 2019, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services, and more job opportunities.
If youre a Christian youve almost certainly been in a setting where it was time to praise God, and if youve been in that situation, youve definitely had times where you didnt want to.

Maybe youre tired, maybe youre angry, or maybe you just dont want to look weird. Well I want to encourage you today, friends, we all feel these ways sometimes. I dont know another Christian alive who hasnt had one of these thoughts even though we all know intellectually that we shouldnt. Im not the first to say it and I wont be the last; it can be tough.

Why we praise

Countless times through the Bible we see examples of people praising and countless verses declaring the goodness of God.

Perhaps the most succinct summation of the why can be found in Ephesians, where Paul writes Let us praise God for His glorious grace, for the free gift He gave us all in His dear Son! (Ephesians chapter 1 verse 5, Good News Translation), meaning that Gods love is well worth it; we praise to thank Him.

But we also praise because it feels good, because it frees us, because when the weight of the world feels like its pressing you down sometimes just shouting to God can put hope back in your heart. Praise makes the enemy flee, because when we do it, when our hearts and minds are completely set on His goodness, the adversary has absolutely no hold on our lives, it just cant seem to get a grip.

Theres something supernatural about it Praise (and prayer) causes things to happen that wouldnt have happened had you not done so. Take Paul and Silas for example, when they were locked up together in Acts chapter 16 they prayed and sang praises unto God. Suddenly a great earthquake set their hands loose and opened the doors.

Obviously, God could have done this whenever He pleased, yet He did it when Paul and Silas first sought Him. While its not a hard and fast rule - stuff can still supernaturally happen without it - clearly praise engenders a response.

Bring a sacrifice

I find myself greatly moved by one of Planetshakers new songs lately, titled Move out of my way, in which they sing Cause I am here to lift His name, and bring a sacrifice of praise, cause he has been so good to me..

As we already discussed, sometimes it can be hard to praise, but I think those are the best moments to praise and to push in. These are the moments when our sacrifices are greatest, when our praise means the most and when our lives are most in need of change.

Sometimes it hurts; sometimes it feels strange, sometimes its the last thing we can imagine Thats why its a sacrifice. Thats why God loves it. Thats why we have to do it. I wonder how different so many peoples lives would be had they just pushed their praise that tiny bit more, had they gone to that next level.

The music can be awesome, or it can be terrible, there can be great lights, or interesting ones, and all of that can definitely help to create an atmosphere, but its no one elses responsibility, only we as individuals can push our hearts and bring that sacrifice to get ourselves to that new level where God wants to meet us.

It's up to us

Thats right! Although God can meet us anywhere, He WANTS to meet us at the next level, He wants us to push harder, He wants us to bring a sacrifice or else there is no growth.

The other week I heard someone share their thoughts on modern praise, the likes of Planetshakers, and they said, The lights are good, the music is good but Jesus isnt there. I havent stopped thinking about it since I heard those fault-finding words and indeed it breaks my heart to hear so many Christians who cant help but be critical of other Christians.

I could go on about the Unity of the body we so sorely need but what I want to say here to anyone else who may have thoughts along these lines is this; its all about the heart. I guarantee you these people with their big sounds and crazy light machines arent thinking Were gonna do a cool show and we dont need Jesus: their goal is not to just have a show and be worshipped themselves, their goal is to celebrate Jesus.

Indeed if no one does the rocks themselves will (Luke Chapter 19, Verse 40). If you find yourself in a situation where youre not quite able to get with the atmosphere the praise is trying to set, then that perhaps should be seen as an opportunity to bring a greater sacrifice of praise. Like I said, its about the heart, and so when youre struggling more and more to get your heart there it just provides greater opportunity to praise and worship more fully.

Its worth it. I guarantee you that. Lives change, hearts heal, minds are restored, all because we praise Him. Theres something supernatural about it, about when we bring that sacrifice, that shifts the natural and shifts the supernatural.

So the next time youre in a situation where the criticisms are overflowing in your mind  I can tell you thats normal  I want to encourage you, friends, that it can be the greatest opportunity to see something amazing happen. I know it can be tough, and I know we can do it. Come on, Believers, bring a sacrifice of praise.
When I released my collection of short stories years ago I used an extremely talented illustrator to give a visual representation of each story. More recently I decided to challenge myself and illustrate my first picture book.



While I wait for a publisher to pick it up Ive decided to release the artwork from each page as an NFT (non fungible token). If you have questions about NFTs Id be happy to help you in your journey of learning.

To stay up to date with future NFT releases visit https://nevillehiatt.com/
I had the pleasure of walking in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, wherein, amongst the magnificent scenery I happened upon an antechinus.

Before this occasion I had only witnessed this small marsupial in the form of sad skeletal remnants, yet even the dead form of the animal caused me great curiosity and respect for the native animal. Despite this, the living form was certainly more exciting, hopeful and noteworthy.

This experience led me to think about how we as humans, in almost all cases, have a level of reverence for the dead. We value those who have gone before us and 'idealise many of their traits and characteristics'.

Different cultures express this in different ways. Several years ago, while my family and I visited a church friend in Taiwan, we came across a sign on a fishing wharf. The sign was a fairly standard list of things that cannot be done in the area, no skateboarding, no bikes, and no dogs, however one of the signs was quite unexpected for us, coming from our Australian culture.

We asked our friend what it meant and were told; it read "no ancestor worship". The hills across the bay were covered with traditional graves, facing out so that they would catch the sun. Apparently it is very expensive to be buried in such a place, and yet families would pay the sum to have their elders buried there, and would come to burn offerings.

While this is a clear case of valuing the dead many times, I wonder about the usefulness of such actions and our reverence for the dead.

Christian view

Christians do not believe that the body has to be in good condition, buried in a special way or special place. We do not worship the dead as is the case in some religions. So why should we remember the dead? Is it not more useful to focus on those who are still alive?

There is still credence for Christians to remember the dead. Partially this is for similar reasons to most people; we can learn and be inspired by those who have trod the path of life before us. Yet this may also be achieved through the strong Christians around us. I know that in my case, I have met many by whom I have learned from or been encouraged by. Beyond this, there is an additional reason for remembering the dead which is related to our belief in the resurrection of the dead.

As part of the Kingdom of God we will have fellowship with other Christians as the Church, the body of Christ, even those who have passed away. In Anglican circles this is known as the communion of the saints. It is an example of the 'now and not yet'.

By this I mean our current experience of remaining in our earthy bodies while at the same time being fully a part of the revealed Kingdom of God. Thus in many ways we have more reason to remember the dead as we have the hope of true fellowship with them, but this is not tied to rituals or practices which are banned on fishing wharves.

No, Christian reverence for the dead does not require even a place of burial, for those who follow Jesus are tied to the omnipresent Father through Christ and the Holy Spirit.


Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents





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Samuel Adams brews 'Space Craft' beer with Inspiration4-flown hops



November 2, 2021  Samuel Adams is ready to toast the world's first "all-civilian" orbital spaceflight with a beer made using hops flown on the private mission.



The Boston-based brewery has announced "Space Craft," its Inspiration4-inspired special release, which marks the brand's first use of "out-of-this-world" ingredients. The hops used to brew Space Craft orbited Earth with the Inspiration4 crew for three days in September, flying more than 360 miles high (585 km)  above the orbit of the International Space Station  on board a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.



Led by Jared Isaacman, the billionaire CEO of Shift4 Payments, the inspiration4 crew also included Hayley Arceneaux, a cancer survivor and physician's assistant; Sian Proctor, a geoscientist and science communicator; and Chris Sembroski, an aerospace data engineer. The mission made history, in part, by being the first to enter orbit without a career astronaut on board.



Isaacman initially shared the idea of flying hops on Inspiration4 in a post to Twitter about a month before he and his crewmates were set to launch. "Who wouldn't order a beer brewed with space hops?" he asked, soliciting brewers to respond "if interested."



Samuel Adams replied and, in addition to receiving the space-flown hops to make Space Craft, was named the official beer of the mission.



"The 66 lbs [30 kg] of Citra and Mosiac orbited hops that returned, landed right in this stellar west coast style IPA," Samuel Adams wrote on its website.



The brewery describes Space Craft as having a "firm bitterness" with tropical notes of grapefruit, guava and passionfruit that "co-pilot" with piney and resiny hop aromas. The label art depicts the hops floating around the head of a spacesuited astronaut with what appears to be an Apollo command and service module in orbit over Earth reflecting off the suit's helmet visor.



The name "Space Craft" came from a poll of more than 5,000 Samuel Adams' fans with input from the brewers and the Inspiration4 crew.



Samuel Adams is set to release Space Craft on Nov. 16 so that it coincides with the expected peak of the Leonid meteor shower. A four-pack of one pint (16 oz.) Space Craft cans is priced at $22.33  an homage to the length of time that the Inspiration4 crew was in space: 2 days, 23 hours and 3 minutes.



Initially offered for pre-sale on Give Them Beer, the online craft beer gift delivery service quickly sold out of its supply. Cans are still available for pick up from the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston and the beer will be available on draft at both the brewery and Samuel Adams' downtown Boston taproom starting Nov. 16 and Nov. 17.



In celebration of the release and the mission that both inspired and enabled it, Samuel Adams will be donating $100,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, furthering the Inspiration4 crew's successful goal of raising $200 million for pediatric cancer research and patient care.



Although perhaps now the highest profile brand to do so, Samuel Adams is not the first to make beer using space-flown ingredients. In 2009, the oldest brewery in Japan, Sapporo, used barley grown from seeds flown to the International Space Station to create a limited edition ale. Five years later, the Oregon-based Ninkasi Brewing Company launched yeast aboard a commercial suborbital spaceflight to make "Ground Control," an imperial stout.



Budweiser has also been working on crafting a space beer. Since 2017, the Anheuser-Busch brand has funded and flown a series of experiments to the U.S. National Laboratory on the International Space Station to better understand the germination and growth of barley in the space environment.



Space Craft, a new special release from Samuel Adams, was made using hops flown on the Inspiration4 mission. (Samuel Adams)





Inspiration4 mission commander Jared Isaacman (at left) with the Samuel Adams' brewers creating Space Craft. (Samuel Adams)





Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman (left) unpacks the flown hops used in Space Craft at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston. (Samuel Adams)



(Samuel Adams)



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How was the UVA event? my mom excitedly asked my little sister over the phone. Instead of accompanying the rest of our family to a wedding over the weekend, my sister was dressed up to meet with representatives from the University of Virginia, or as I had come to know it, Virginia Techs a
According to the latest report by IMARC Group, titled, Ablation Devices Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026, the global ablation devices market growth exhibited strong growth during 2015-2020. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to grow at a CAGR of around 11% during 2021-2026.

Ablation devices refer to minimally invasive (MI) medical instruments utilized for the excision or removal of abnormal body tissues for therapeutic purposes. Their commonly used variants include fluid-cooled, temperature-controlled, robotic catheter manipulation and laser ablators, balloon ablation devices, tissue contact and spray probes, etc. These devices operate using various technologies, such as hydrothermal, laser, cryoablation, microwave, ultrasound, etc. They find extensive applications in treating different disorders, including oncological, ophthalmological, gynecological, urological, cardiovascular, etc., as well as in managing several chronic diseases, removing kidney stones and cancerous tumors, managing chronic neck, lower back, and arthritis pain, etc.

Get a PDF Sample for more detailed market insights: https://www.imarcgroup.com/ablation-devices-market/requestsample

Market Trends

The surging prevalence of life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, atrial fibrillation, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), etc., is among the primary factors driving the ablation devices market. Moreover, the growing public awareness towards the increasing availability of effective ablation procedures is further augmenting the product demand. Additionally, the rising adoption of electrophysiology to remove abnormal tissues that cause irregular heart rhythms or cardiac arrhythmia is bolstering the market growth. Furthermore, the development of various innovative products, such as next-generation ablation devices with robotic navigation systems, is also catalyzing the global market. Besides this, the introduction of non-thermal, non-tumescent, and non-sclerosant endovenous variants for effectively treating superficial vein reflux is expected to stimulate the ablation devices market over the forecasted period.

Note: We are regularly tracking the direct effect of COVID-19 on the market, along with the indirect influence of associated industries. These observations will be integrated into the report.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players.

Abbott Laboratories

Angio Dynamics Inc.

AtriCure Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

CONMED Corporation

Elekta AB (publ)

Johnson & Johnson

Medtronic plc

Olympus Corporation

Smith & Nephew plc.

Ask Customization and Browse full report with TOC & List of Figure: https://bit.ly/3zjLs3C

The report has segmented the market based on device technology, application and end user.

Breakup by Device Technology:

Radiofrequency Devices

Laser/Light Ablation

Ultrasound Devices

Cryoablation Devices

Others

Breakup by Application:

Cancer Treatment

Cardiovascular Disease Treatment

Ophthalmologic Treatment

Gynecological Treatment

Urological Treatment

Cosmetic Surgery

Others

Breakup by End User:

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Browse Other Reports by IMARC Group:

 Patient Handling Equipment Market 2021-2026: Share, Size, Development Trends, Growth, Report Analysis and Forecast

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 Metal Foil Tapes Market Development Trends, Growth, Size, Share, Research Report and Forecast 2021-2026

 Smart Stadium Market 2021-2026: Growth, Share, Size, Development Trends, Report Analysis and Forecast

 Managed Print Services Market Report 2021-2026: Growth, Size, Development Trends, Share and Industry Analysis

 Poultry Diagnostics Market Report 2021-2026: Development Trends, Share, Size, Growth and Industry Analysis

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IMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.

IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.

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According to a new study published by Polaris Market Research the worldwide battery management system (BMS) market is anticipated to reach USD 14,422 million by 2026. In 2017, the lead-acid batteries dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.

The rising demand of BMS from the automotive sector primarily drives the growth of this market. These systems are increasingly being adopted across various industries such as aerospace and defense, healthcare, and electronics among others. The increasing adoption of BMS in data centers, and renewable energy systems further supports the growth of this market.

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The demand for electric vehicles has increased significantly over the years owing to increasing prices of gasoline prices across the globe, which leads to increased adoption of battery management systems. The exponential growth in the prices of gasoline and diesel owing to the depleting fossil fuel reserves has encouraged consumers to switch to battery based electric vehicles. Limited availability of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure for electric vehicles had restricted the adoption of these vehicles to a certain extent in the past. However, with significant government initiatives and substantial investments, the development of public charging infrastructure has accelerated significantly. Technological advancements in components such as lithium-ion batteries, which are majorly used in electric vehicles, along with decreasing prices of the same is expected to further increase the demand of battery based electric vehicles in the market.

North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The increasing demand for alternative fuel vehicles, especially the electric-vehicles is expected to drive the growth of battery management systems in this region. The growing use of BMS in renewable energy storage systems also accelerates the adoption. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for BMS from countries such as China, Japan, and India. The presence of large number of automotive manufacturers and portable device suppliers also augments the growth of this market in the region.

Browse summary of this report with TOC @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/battery-management-system-market

The different types of topologies included in the report include centralized, distributed, and modular. In 2017, centralized topology accounted for the highest market share. However, during the forecast period distributed and modular topologies are expected to represent strong growth.

Modular topology offer high computational power, and enhanced safety. Modular topology is also increasingly being used for various applications such as drones, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems among others.

The various end-users of battery management systems include medical, automotive, telecommunication, consumer electronics, military, and others. In 2017, consumer electronics accounted for the largest share in the global market, and are estimated to grow at a substantial rate during the forecast period. The automotive segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to increasing applications, stringent government regulations regarding vehicular emissions, increasing acceptance of electric vehicles.

The well-known companies profiled in the report include Texas Instruments Inc., Johnson Matthey PLC., Linear Technology Corporation, vecture Inc., Elithion Inc., NXP Semiconductors, Intersil Corporation, Nuvation Engineering, Ventec SAS, Generex Systems, and Lithium Balance A/S among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

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Key Segments:

 Battery Management System Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Battery Type

o Key Findings

Lead-acid Batteries Nickel-based Batteries Li-ion Batteries Flow Batteries Others



 Battery Management System Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Component

Key Findings Hardware Components Software Components



 Battery Management System Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Charging Source

Key Findings Conventional Non-conventional Hybrid



 Battery Management System Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Topology

Key Findings Distributed Centralized Modular



 Battery Management System Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by End-user

Key Findings Medical Automotive Telecommunication Consumer Electronics Military Others



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world.

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The global aluminum curtain wall market expected to reach US$ 69.93 billion by 2028, according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. The report Aluminum Curtain Wall Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Type (Stick-Built, Unitized, Semi-Unitized); By Application (Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure); By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa); Segment Forecast, 2021  2028 gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth.

The demand for aluminum curtain walls is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for the protection of residential and commercial building walls. In addition, the use of exterior glass walls for commercial and infrastructural buildings is expected to have a positive impact on the aluminum curtain wall industry.

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Increasing urbanization and several infrastructure projects sanctioned in the developing economies of the Asia Pacific and Latin America are likely to complement aluminum curtain wall industry growth over the forecast period. Furthermore, the need for eco-friendly material and increasing regulations pertaining to the use of green building materials is expected to drive aluminum curtain wall demand.

Segment Highlights

Unitized aluminum curtain wall accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019. The segment accounted for over 55% of the market share owing to the low cost of installation and growing demand in developing economies.

The commercial application segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019 with over 50% of the market share. This can be attributed to the growing demand for aluminum curtain walls for the construction of malls, offices, institutional buildings, etc.

Asia Pacific region is dominating the global aluminum curtain wall industry, holding almost one-third of the market share throughout the forecast period. Increasing construction projects and rising investments by global market players in the region is likely to complement demand.

The major players operating in the aluminum curtain wall industry space provide several services to retain and gain customers. In addition, the growing construction projects across the globe have led manufacturers to provide customized solutions to meet specific requirements.

Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aluminum-curtain-wall-market

List of Key Players

Alumil Aluminium Industry S.A.

EFCO Corporation

GUTMANN AG

HansenGroup Ltd.

Kawneer Company, Inc.

Sapa Building Systems Ltd

Schuco International

Josef Gartner GmbH

Kalwall Corporation

Others

Polaris Market Research has segmented the aluminum curtain wall market report on the basis of type, application, and region

Aluminum Curtain Wall, Type Outlook (Revenue  USD Million, 2016  2027)

Stick-built

Semi-unitized

Unitized

Aluminum Curtain Wall, Application Outlook (Revenue  USD Million, 2016  2027)

Commercial

Residential

Infrastructure

Aluminum Curtain Wall, Regional Outlook (Revenue  USD Million, 2016  2027)

North America U.S. Canada

Europe France Germany UK Italy Spain Netherlands Austria

Asia Pacific China India Japan Malaysia South Korea Indonesia

Central & South America Mexico Brazil Argentina

Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Israel South Africa



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.

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The global ammunition market size is expected to reach USD 26.91 billion by 2028 according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. The report Ammunition Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Product (Aerial Bombs, Artillery Shells, Bullets, Grenades); By Type; By Caliber; By Application; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2021  2028 gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth.

The increasing military expenditure coupled with growth in growth in terrorist activities & drug trafficking drives the growth of the ammo market. Increasing occurrences of unrest in society, modernization of army warfare, and greater use of the product for personal safety further boost demand for the product.

The demand for the small caliber segment is expected to be high during the forecast period. This product segment is used by the defense, sports, and hunting sectors. The U.S. army collaborates with small companies for the development of small caliber technologies.

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The demand for medium caliber product segment is also expected to increase in the coming years owing to its greater penetration, and efficiency. Governments across the globe are investing in improved warfare and procurement of guns & rifles.

The applications of the product include defense and civil & commercial. The defense segment is expected to account for a major share during the forecast period. An increasing number of terrorist activities, greater instances of cross-border conflicts, and increasing military spending are some factors contributing to the industry growth.

Industry players are collaborating with each other for research and development, strengthening their presence, and technological innovation. The greater need to cater to growing customer requirements has encouraged the industry participants to leverage new technologies for the development of high-quality products.

Browse summary of this report with TOC @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/ammunition-market/toc

Polaris Market Research has segmented the ammunition market report on the basis of product, type, caliber, application, and region:

Ammunition, Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016  2028)

Aerial Bombs

Artillery Shells

Bullets

Grenades

Others

Ammunition, Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016  2028)

Rimfire

Centerfire

Ammunition, Caliber Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016  2028)

Small 5.56 mm 7.62 mm 62 x 51 mm 62 x 39 mm Others 9 mm 9 x 18 mm 9 x 19 mm Others

Medium 23 mm 30 mm Others

Large 60mm 81mm 120m 155mm Others



Ammunition, Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016  2028)

Defense

Civil & Commercial

Ammunition, Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016  2028)

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Netherlands Russia

Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Indonesia Malaysia

Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina

Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Israel UAE



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers.

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San Francisco, 2 Nov 2021: The Report Chile Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Device (Handheld Instruments, Electrosurgical Devices), By Application (Orthopedic, Cosmetic), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The Chile minimally invasive surgical instruments market size is expected to reach USD 101.4 million by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2021 to 2028. Minimally invasive surgery is highly efficient as it enables the surgeons to use advanced technology and surgical techniques during surgery in a less harmful manner. It reduces the number and size of incisions made, lowering the risk of complications and damage to surrounding muscle and tissue. The improving healthcare infrastructure and the ease with which the instruments are accessible are contributing to the market growth. In addition, the growing geriatric population is expected to boost market growth. For instance, as per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chiles population over age 65 is expected to reach 24.9% by 2050.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become the standard of treatment in almost every field owing to advancements in technology and methodologies. MIS offers reduced pain, increased accuracy, quicker recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, decreased risk of infection, lower incidence of post-surgery complications, and overall improved quality of life compared to conventional open surgeries.

In Chile, as budgets allow, hospitals exhibit a willingness to invest in the highest-quality products available. For medical devices and supplies, Chile is 95% reliant on imports. The medical device market in Chile is competitive, with numerous companies from around the world easily finding their way in. In addition, the rise in public hospital infrastructure will create an increased demand for minimally invasive surgical instruments as the Chilean government will invest large sums in hospital construction in the future years. However, longer surgery wait times and inequalities in healthcare access are anticipated to hinder the growth of the Chilean market for minimally invasive surgical devices.

Access Research Report of Chile Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/chile-minimally-invasive-surgical-instruments-market-report

Chile Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments Market Report Highlights

By device, the handheld instruments segment accounted for a leading revenue share in 2020 owing to its higher precision and versatility

The electrosurgical devices segment is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period

Based on application, the orthopedic segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 owing to the effectiveness of MIS in this application

The cosmetic application segment is predicted to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period on account of the rising demand for technologically improved minimally invasive equipment

List of Key Players of Chile Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments Market

Medtronic

Stryker

Smith & Nephew

Abbott

CONMED

Zimmer Biomet

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

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According to a new study published by Polaris Market Research the global artificial intelligence market is anticipated to reach USD 54 billion by 2026. The advancements of robots and the rise in their deployment rate particularly, in the developing economies globally have had a positive impact on the global artificial intelligence market. Augmented customer experience, expanded application areas, enhanced productivity, and big data integration has highly propelled artificial intelligence market worldwide. Although, absence of adequate skilled workforce as well as threat to human dignity are some of the factors that could affect the growth of the market. However, these factors are expected to have minimal impact on the market attributed to the introduction of advanced technologies.

An extraordinary increase in productivity has been achieved with machine-learning. For instance, Google, with the help of its experimental driverless technology has transformed cars including, Toyota Prius. Integration of various tools by artificial intelligence has helped in the transformation of business management. These tools include brand purchase advertising, workflow management tools, trend predictions among others. For example, the Googles voice accuracy technology has 98% of accuracy rate. Furthermore, Facebooks DeepFace technology has a success rate of approximately 97% in recognizing faces. Such accuracy in technologies is further anticipated to bolster the market growth during the forecast period.

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Currently, North America dominates the global artificial intelligence market attributed to the high government funding availability, existence of prominent artificial intelligence providers in the region, and robust technical adoption base. Also, the region is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Moreover, the adoption of cloud-based services in key economies, such as the US and Canada, is considerably adding to the market growth in the North American region. The markets in Asia Pacific, MEA and South America region are expected to notice a high growth during the coming years. The growth in Asia Pacific region is attributed to the increasing demand for artificial technologies by the developing economies. Thus, the region is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Major companies profiled in the report include Google Inc., Intel Corporation, Nvidia Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, General Vision, Inc., Qlik Technologies Inc., MicroStrategy, Inc., Brighterion, Inc., and Baidu, Inc. among others

Complete Summary with TOC Available @. https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-market

Key Findings from the study suggest North America is expected to command the market over the forecast years. APAC is presumed to be the fastest growing market, developing at a CAGR of more than 65% over the forecast period. The artificial intelligence market is presumed to develop at a CAGR of over 55.9% from 2018 to 2026. The high implementation of artificial intelligence in several end-user verticals including, retail, automotive and healthcare is projected to boost the growth of the market over the forecast period. Several companies are making considerable investments to integrate artificial intelligence competences into their portfolio of products. For instance, in 2016, SK Telecom and Intel Corporation signed an agreement for the development of the artificial intelligence based vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology as well as video recognition.

Artificial Intelligence Market Size and Forecast by Technology Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Image Processing Speech Processing

Artificial Intelligence Market Size and Forecast by End-use Verticals BFSI Transportation & Automotive Manufacturing Healthcare Retail Media & Advertising Others

Artificial Intelligence Market Size and Forecast by Regions North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.

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The worldwide automated guided vehicle market is anticipated to reach USD 3,977.8 million by 2026 according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the automotive sector dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. Europe is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.

Growing need for automation and increasing labor costs fuel the market for adoption of AGV. Use of these automated vehicles increases productivity, and efficiency, while saving time and costs. The increasing demand from industries including healthcare, defense, aerospace, agriculture, and food and beverage is expected to provide growth opportunities in the coming years. Emerging and untapped markets of developing economies further provide growing opportunities to key players in the market. Increasing investments, research and development further boosts the growth of the market.

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There has been a high demand for automation in the global market. Companies are automating processes to reduce cost, save time and deliver better quality products. With stiff competition existing in the global market, companies are automating their processes for better quality and increased productivity. These vehicles automate internal processes and reduce the workload of employees, by working in collaboration with workers for better efficiency. Due to stringent safety regulations, companies are forced to employ Automated Guided Vehicles for dangerous and hazardous environment conditions. Automation of manufacturing processes was earlier restricted to only automotive sector. Now, industries such as healthcare, aerospace, food and beverage are also adopting the automated vehicles solutions. Increasing need of automation in various industries is a key factor driving the growth of the market.

With ever-increasing labor costs existing in most of the countries, companies are turning towards AGVs to save costs and time. Their usage increases efficiency while reducing wastage. They also eliminate chances of faults occurring due to human errors. These vehicles can be operated with the help of software, thereby saving the expense spent in training and management of labor. Unavailability of skilled labor to manage the processes along with high labor costs pushes companies towards automation and supplements the growth of this market.

Europe generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Rapid industrialization and increasing automation in the region drives the market growth. Introduction of new advanced technologies and increasing applications in automotive, aerospace, electronics and healthcare sectors is expected to support market growth. Growing demand from automotive industry for high quality products, along with increasing labor costs encourages companies to invest in automation, thereby augmenting growth.

Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/automated-guided-vehicle-market

The various end-users of AGVs include automotive, aerospace, healthcare, food and beverage, and others. In 2017, automotive accounted for the largest share in the global market, and is estimated to grow at a substantial rate during the forecast period. Companies use these vehicles in the automotive sector to save cost and increase their production. The key factors driving this market include increasing labor costs, new safety regulations, and need for increased efficiency. Use of AGVs in the automotive industry enables manufacturers to achieve high quality, reliability, economic efficiency and less product life cycle cost.

The well-known companies profiled in the report include Toyota Industries Corporation, KUKA AG, Daifuku Co. Ltd., Bastian Solutions, Inc., JBT Corporation, Swisslog Holding AG, Seegrid Corporation, Baylo, Inc., EK Automation GmbH, Kion Group AG among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Product

 Pallet Trucks

Forklift Trucks Unit Load Carriers Tow Vehicles Assembly Line Vehicles Others

Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Guidance Technology Vision Guidance Inductive Guidance Laser Guidance Magnetic Guidance Laser Guidance

Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Industry Automotive Aerospace Healthcare Food and Beverage Others

Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Application Assembly Storage Distribution Transportation Packaging Others

Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.

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The report " global Polyolefins Market by Type (Polethylene, Polypropylene, and Functional Polyolefins, Application (Film & Sheet, Injection Molding, Blow Molding, Fibers & Raffia), and Region - Global Forecasts to 2021", The market size of PO is estimated to grow from USD 206.81 Billion in 2015 to USD 297.09 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.82% between 2016 and 2021. The market is driven by the increasing demand for plastic products in end-use industries such as packaging, plastic molding, automobile , and other customer products.

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Film & Sheet: The Largest Application of PO Market

In 2015, film & sheet application accounted for the largest market share, in terms of volume, followed by injection molding and others. PO films are the most widely used polymers, which have high demand owing to low cost and technical advantages over other polymers. PE film is the substrate used for grocery bags and food packaging. It is thermoformed to manufacture plastic bottles and medical packaging products. PP films are used in end-use applications such as clear films, matte films, hazy films, colored films, metalized films, holographic films, adhesive backed films, and coated films. The important applications of EVA films include modified atmosphere packaging, vacuum bags, shrink films, thermal laminations, and others.

POP and POE: The Fastest-growing Type Segment of PO Market

POP and POE copolymers are estimated to register the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2021, in terms of volume. The high growth is attributed to characteristics such as excellent impact resistance, easy colorability, and excellent melt strength, which drive their use in end use applications such as automotive, wire & cable coating, and injection molding.

Asia-Pacific: The Largest Market for PO

Currently, Asia-Pacific is the largest market for PO. China is the largest while India is the fastest-growing market for PO in the region.

The following factors drive the PO market in Asia-Pacific:

Growing industrialization in China and India leading to rapid growth of the food & beverage, agriculture, construction, solar energy, and other industries

Replacement of woods and metals by PO plastic products

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Sinopec Corporation (China), LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Corporation (U.S.), China National Petroleum Corporation (China), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Braskem S.A. (Brazil), Total S.A. (France), Ineos Group AG (Switzerland), and Arkema S.A. (France) are the key players of the PO market.

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Industry-leadingA companiesA expandA news, data and ESG analyticsA for institutional investorsA and asset managers with new digital platform NEW YORK andA TORONTO and PARIS andA GENEVA, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pensions & Investments, a Crain Communications financial information and media brand, and Trackinsight, have launched a new digital platform, P&I ETF Exchange, to meet the specific needs of asset owners and institutional investors.A "We are excited to announce the expansion ofA our news, data and information services in partnership with Trackinsight," said Chris J. Battaglia, president and publisher of Crain Communications' Pensions & Investments. "ByA leveraging the success of Trackinsight's leading screening and analytic tools on ETFs, we can now deliver best-of-classA researchA and selection servicesA to a much wider group of global investors. "The largest investors in the world, pension and retirement funds, endowments & foundations, and sovereign wealth funds, will now have a dedicated source of information to help them make better investment decisions with the new P&I ETF Exchange in partnership with Trackinsight that includes detailed ESG analytics and ratings to support more sustainable investment approaches. "The addition of Trackinsight's datasets will also allow P&I to expand its audience into the financial adviser communities who keep ! a close w atch on how professional investors are managing their portfolios. "We are also pleased to announce that SSGA's SPY ETF will be our launch sponsor." "For nearly 50 years, Pensions & Investments has been the leading voice of professional investing news and insights. This strategic partnership with Trackinsight will allow P&I to enhance its data, portfolio and information tools and strengthen our value proposition with this important audience of investors," said KC Crain, president and CEO of Crain Communications. "As a company, Crain Communications is dedicated to expanding our digital platforms and finding ways to better serve and expand our audiences. This partnership between P&I and Trackinsight is a great example of how Crain's leading brands can expand to meet the growing information needs of our audience." "The investment world has gotten noisy, and noise clouds judgement. At Trackinsight, we make room for clarity by providing screening, data, and analytical tools that help investors make investment decisions with confidence. The ETF industry welcomes our unique initiative to bring our independent data sets and tools to asset owners who collectively represent the largest and most important pool of investment capital in the world", said Jean-RenA Giraud, founder, and CEO of Trackinsight. "We're proud to have been chosen by the leading media brand focusing on the world's top institutional investors." https://etf.pionline.com AboutA Pensions & Investments,A www.pionline.com

Pensions & InvestmentsA provides one of the most comprehensive manager searches,A hires and termination databases with reported mandatesA from more than 2,000 unique asset owners from 47 countries representingA more than $2.5 trillionA of invested assets. P&I also provides the industry withA performance rankings of asset owners, an M&A database of money managers, and the first risk transfer database for pension buyouts, buy-ins, and longevity swaps. P&IA alsoA offersA aA wideA range of data and information services on theA world'sA largestA asset owners, including US, UK,A Canadian,A European, and Australian retirement funds through its award-winning Research Cen! ter.A A S ince its founding in 1973,A Pensions & Investments, a publication of Crain Communications Inc., has consistently delivered the news, research and analysis to the executives who manage the flow of funds in the institutional investment market. AboutA TrackInsight www.trackinsight.comA

Trackinsight is the leading data provider for the global ETF markets, providing daily data, analytics, ratings and ESG analysis for over 7,500 ETFs listed worldwide. Our white-label technology solutions are widely adopted by Tier 1 wealth managers, private banks, exchanges, and media companies who require accurate, timely and comprehensive ETF data to support their investment decision making and ETF selection processes. For more information, visitA www.trackinsight.comA A
The staff of the Litchfield Jazz Festival is presenting the fourth installment of their free virtual concert series for April.
An Amtrak spokesman on Tuesday said he couldnt say why the two people were on the tracks or even if they were adults or children. Jason Abrams said the investigation by Amtrak police continues.
Three more young teens have been shot in the past few weeks in Waterbury, victims of what Chief Fernando Spagnolo said is a part of a pattern of feuding groups of teens and young adults shooting at each other and into homes. Clustered incidents may be a result of retaliation, Spagnolo said.
Underrepresented minorities were awarded 11.7% of science and engineering research doctorates, while making up about a third of the population and labor force, according to the NSF. Asians received 30.9% of science and engineering research doctorates while making up 6.3% of the population and 6.3% of the labor force.
Kids can suffer the same long-term symptoms or complications, maybe at a lower rate, but it definitely helps prevent the spread of COVID by having more of the population vaccinated, Cruz said. There is a valid point that [kids] get it less [severely] than adults, but also youre trying to prevent the spread of it to people who are immunocompromised or who can suffer severe complications from it.
As the summit opened, the U.S. was still struggling to get some of the worlds biggest climate polluters  China, Russia and India  to make stronger pledges to burn far less coal, gas and oil and to move to cleaner energy. China under President Xi Jinping has made firmer commitments to cut back on coal power and make other cuts, but not at the pace that the United States and its allies are asking.
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Dave Ress Staff writer

Dave Ress covers the military. He's been a reporter in Virginia since 1990 and before that for Reuters in Canada, Britain and Africa. Dave has a PhD in history from the University of New England (Australia) and is the author of 4 books on U.S. and Australian history.
This election has been bitterly contested and far too nasty, but that seems to be the norm these days. Thats not to say Virginia or the nation has devolved in the civility of its politics  one need only crack open a history book to know otherwise  but it does seem like those seeking office are as interested in luring their voters to the polls as they are driving opponents away.
As a child, I encountered in my North Carolina upbringing both legacies: the Native American and the frontiersmen. The experiences were both through outdoor dramas. With my Kale grandparents I saw in the early 1950s, Horn in the West, a production in Boone, North Carolina, about Daniel Boone and his early Yadkin River Valley, North Carolina, life and his beginning as a frontiersman. Unto These Hills, another outdoor production, was about the tribulations and death of the Cherokee Indians of western North Carolina from the War of 1812 until Andrew Jacksons Trail of Tears when the Cherokee were removed to Oklahoma. (Both of the dramas were written by dramatist Kermit Hunter.)
The National Center was born in the spring of 1971 at the National Conference on the Judiciary, attended by then-President Richard M. Nixon and Warren E. Burger, chief justice of the U.S. Burger, in his remarks, called for the creation of a national center to act as a clearinghouse for ideas from any source that might be helpful to improve the administration of justice, particularly criminal justice in the state court systems throughout the country, according to Holtons memoir, Opportunity Time.
While natives of Kurnool district go to other places in search of work, Kurnool district also attracts workers from as far as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.  Representational image/DC

KURNOOL: In the latest incident after drought started stalking Kurnool district, about 200 people have left Valmikinagar in Kosigi area looking for work in Telangana.

With no gainful employment available, there has been an exodus of people, particularly from western parts of Kurnool district, including Pathikonda, Yemmiganur, Adoni, Alur and Mantralayam. They have been heading to Telangana for working in cotton fields of Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts.

Unskilled workers migrating to Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai is a regular phenomenon in Kurnool district. Ranganna, who lives in Mumbai, says once agricultural operations are over, 50 families from Yemmiganur go to Mumbai for working on fishing docks. People also migrate to Bangalore city for taking up jobs in construction sector. A male worker is paid  1,500 per day while a female worker gets  1,000, said Hamapanna, a migrant worker.

Strangely, while natives of Kurnool district go to other places in search of work, Kurnool district also attracts workers from as far as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. They work in hazardous workplaces like quarries, mines, slab polishing units, cement companies and other unorganised sectors. Three years ago, 20 labourers from Bihar and Jharkhand had died in a blast at a quarry in Hatti Belagal. None of their families have got any compensation even after three years of their death.

When contacted, the District Labour Office said it has no information about guest workers, whether going out or coming into Kurnool district. "We have no idea how many people are employed in quarries or other unorganised units. We maintain data of only factory workers, an official maintained.

Bethamcherla slab polishing units, apart from quarries in Banaganapalle, Kolimigundla, Alur and Chippagiri employ workers from Bihar and Jharkhand. Recently, a Bihari worker died of electrocution. But his details are not available with the labour department. Similarly, there is no information about another worker who died of electric shock at Banaganapalle two days ago.

An official of District Labour Department, who does not want to be identified, said, "We have instructions from labour commissioner not to inspect quarries or other workplaces. We will do so only when ordered to do so, he clarified.

He, however, revealed that ease of doing business (EODB) norms exempt them from closely monitoring labour issues.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy pays tributes to Potti Sriramulu and YS Rajasekhara Reddy ahead of the distribution of YSR Awards in Vijayawada on Monday as Governor Biswabhushan looks on. (By Arrangement.)

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday hoisted the National Flag and received the Guard of Honour from the state police at the camp office here on the occasion of the Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations.

The Chief Minister along with his Cabinet colleagues and legislator paid floral tributes to freedom fighter Potti Sriramulu, who sacrificed his life demanding a separate state for Telugu-speaking people.

Speaking to media persons, endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas Rao observed former chief minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy honoured Potti Sriramulu renaming Nellore district after him and now late YSRs son and Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has honoured Potti Sriramulu by restoring the AP Formation Day on November 1, which was cancelled during the earlier Telugu Desam government.

He deplored former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for forgetting the sacrifice made by Potti Sriramulu and for playing enacting dramas in the name of Navanirmaman Deekshas which were rejected by the public.

During the padayatra of Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said people from the Arya Vysya community asked him to restore the AP formation day and the Chief Minister has fulfilled his promise after coming into power.

Several programmes were held across the state to mark the AP Formation Day.

In Prakasam district, the police led by Superintendent of Police Malika Garg paid tributes to Potti Sriramulu. He said that Andhra Pradesh was formed on a linguistic basis as a symbol of the self-respect of the Telugu people and the services rendered by Potti Sriramulu and his sacrifice for the formation of the state should not be forgotten.

The SP remembered that Sriramulu, who wanted a separate state for all the Telugu-speaking people, went on a hunger strike for 58 days. She said that it was only after the death of Sriramulu that the Central Government recognised the need for the creation of linguistic states and formed Andhra state on October 1, 1953, with Kurnool as its capital. Later on, Andhra Pradesh was formed on November 1, 1956, with Hyderabad as its capital, following the first reorganization of states.

In East and West Godavari districts, several organisations paid rich tributes to Potti Sriramulu and by unfurling the state flag. East Godavari district collector Ch. Harikiran said the government aimed at informing the future generations about the sacrifices of Potti Sriramulu for getting a state for the Telugu-speaking people.
This year the Group of Twenty meeting and COP26, the annual climate summit under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, were co-hosted Italy and the United Kingdom in Rome and Glasgow respectively. The latter, the Conference of the Parties (COP), opened on Sunday and will continue till November 12.

With the global focus on climate change, the Glasgow COP26 clearly overshadowed the G-20 summit, although 80 per cent of the worlds CO2 emissions emanate from its members. But the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin was a setback. Neither could participate because remote conferencing was not available. At the G-20 summit, Russia, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, etc resisted any new emission curbing goals. Despite that, British PM Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Boden tried to extract caps on the use of coal and methane emissions, but only a compromise emerged. The communique reflects the softened stand on Net Zero emissions by 2050 as well as the phasing out of investments in new unabated coal power generation capacity as soon as possible, but not by 2030, as the UK and some others had wanted.

But the United States, the European Union and China renounced the overseas funding of coal-related projects. However, while China withdrew support to coal-fired power plants along its Belt and Road network, it announced domestic coal production increase by 220 million tonnes. This reflected its dilemma in both addressing global warming while facing power shortages domestically as its economy picked up and shortages loomed due to barred coal imports from Australia. India cannot also easily wean itself off coal-fed power generation. The Economist magazine noted that India has 700,000 jobs linked to coal and half its railway budget comes from hauling it. Similarly, Russias coal exports to China constitute 15 per cent of its total exports. Indonesia and Australia are also similarly dependent on coal exports. Thus, a bloc of coal and fossil fuel dependent nations have moderated the more radical solutions sought by some developed nations.

Climate evangelism is led by the nations of the European Union. They have announced Net Zero emissions by 2050. China has pegged to achieve that by 2060 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 2070 as Indias target year for the same. If total CO2 emissions are taken, then Indias 2.2 giga-tonnes appears significant compared to Chinas 9.3 and Americas 4.8. But on a per capita basis, India is dwarfed as its 1.58 tonnes is low compared to Americas 15.5, or Canadas 15.32, Australias 15.83, etc. It can also be argued that the EUs current carbon emissions may be eight per cent of the worlds total, but since the industrial age in mid nineteenth century they are amongst the highest. A serious dilution has occurred of the basic mantra under UNFCCC that there should be common but differentiated responsibility, conditioned by respective capabilities. Starting with Copenhagen in 2009 and Paris in 2015, this principle has been whittled away, mainly due to the rapid economic rise of China and India. Thus, the carve-out was slowly reserved for island nations, threatened by rising oceans, and the least developed nations, while pressure was built on big emitters among the developing nations to take more responsibility.

This deal to have developing country big emitters share responsibility, while they still struggled with issues of poverty and development, depended on the developed nations coughing up finance and sharing technology. At Copenhagen, the developed nations pledged to deliver $100 billion annually by 2020 to enable adaptation and mitigation  the two key words. Now Germany and Canada jointly produced a delivery plan, on the eve of COP26, at the request of host UK, that the funds would not be available till 2023.

The save-the-world crusade faced two setbacks after the 2015 Paris Agreement. One, the election of climate-sceptic and science rejecting Donald Trump as US President in November 2016. He withdrew the US from that agreement and espoused pro-fossil fuel policies in America, ignoring evidence of global warming. By comparison, China began appearing a more climate responsible nation, even though its damming of rivers and exploitation of the Tibetan plateau remained troublesome.

Two, the Covid-19 pandemic, that literally shut down most advanced economies. Consequently, global emissions were down last year. But the worlds focus is back on it due to many events this year of fires, floods and droughts. Even India saw a delayed retreat of the monsoon, leading to sudden and heavy rain causing chaos and flooding.

Climate change has seeped into the politics of many nations, especially in the EU. The green parties, once on the fringe, are now mainstream. The Pew Research Centre finds high public concern on this subject. Awareness in France and Mexico is 80 per cent and even in the US it is 60 per cent, a rise of nearly 20 per cent. Green parties today hold 10 per cent of seats in most EU nations. In the last German election, they got 15 per cent of the vote. That is why the EU has declared itself a carbon- neutral continent by 2050. It is also planning to levy a carbon tax on imports from nations lagging in moving towards the same objective.

Therefore, India cant be seen as dragging its feet, despite the developed nations shifting the goalposts from traditional the UNFCCC formulation of historical polluters pay. India in the past tried various arguments like poverty itself being a polluter and thus needs to wait till India alleviates it, as Europe did in the last century. Prime Minister Narendra Modi correctly accepted conformity with the global consensus by pegging Indias carbon neutrality by 2070, while ratcheting up renewable energy by 2030. But that alone will not be enough as solar and other means of renewable energy have a problem of intermittent supply, which require storage. Technology has still to catch up with this dilemma.

But theres no ignoring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning in his opening speech at COP26 that the world was careening towards a climate catastrophe. Coal is one part of Indias problem. The other is greenhouse gases, produced by animals and agricultural activities. One study indicates that India can reduce by 18 per cent its annual gas emissions by three measures: efficient use of fertiliser, zero-tillage and water management in rice cultivation. The agitating farmers can be brought on board by a clever tweaking of their demands into climate-friendly practices, using a carrot and stick approach. But it requires the same statesmanship at home that India displayed abroad.
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China is building its new Type 003, a match for the new Ford-class supercarriers in addition to the Shandong and Liaoning. It will exceed the capabilities of the previous two and bring the PLAN to a higher level.

The PLA is pouring resources to create a modernized armed force that could rival the US in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. But, it is not putting everything in carriers but having technologies that can take out large navy ships like it.

Meet the Type 003 massive aircraft carrier

China's unprecedented naval modernization had begun with the deployment of aircraft carriers. Outside Shanghai, a newer, bigger supercarrier is under construction. The radar satellite photos show that it is as large as China's latest installations permit, reported Naval News.

The PLAN has grown at a tremendous pace. The PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) is a remnant of what it once was. These mobile airfields are among the most exciting advances in naval warfare,

One way to get intel for defense analysts is via open-source intelligence (OSINT) to keep apace of what is relevant for their concerns. Even when clouds cover most of the shipyard, a commercial satellite can still penetrate the cloud cover to capture images, cited Continental Defence.

Beijing upgrades to massive super carriers

The giant Chinese supercarrier is at Sanya in Hainan, which is 1,900 km to the south, in a dry dock where the superstructure of China's New Type 003 is rising. The planner has chosen the place for its easy access to the South China Sea.

Read Also: Type 075 Amphibious Assault Ship Sent to the South China Sea, Close to Taiwan Island

Shandong Type 002 is a port in Sanya with most of the undersea fleet because of the location too.

Recent satellite imagery suggests that China's Type 003 aircraft carrier may be ready to launch later this year. Don't miss CSIS' latest High Resolution Spotlight: https://t.co/3NHKp68yNC pic.twitter.com/ZPUfI1HPkW  CSIS (@CSIS) July 14, 2021

During 2016-17, China built a massive cofferdam to keep the sea out. These piers can now be seen clearly in SAR photography. The narrow beam shows that China has no aspirations for considerably bigger carriers.

The size of the facilities shows the ship can be placed in it. But there are indications that the PLAN will observe a limit, not more significant than that.

Based on the dimensions of the dry dock, it will be the current size for all carriers to follow in the future. New facilities will have to be built for a bigger one. The PLAN will be able to do more as it becomes a blue-water force, the Diplomat.

Satellite images capture massive new aircraft carrier

Images captured with SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites, operated by Capella Space, keep lenses on the up-and-coming carrier. It can even pierce the cloud cover too.

The Shandong and Liaoning were initially derived from Russian tech with evolution to a similar US layout developed homegrown.

With two supercarriers and China's New Type 003 in the works, which deviates from the soviet design under construction will be an upgrade that will be an addition to one of the biggest navies in the world.

Related Article: Shandong Going to South China Sea to Face the US Armada, or is China Getting Desperate?

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US President Joe Biden gave a cryptic excuse for arriving late again, like prior summits that did not surprise the press. Compared to other world leaders who arrive promptly and take questions, he does things significantly differently.

Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump, who was game for the press and other leaders, Biden takes limited questions and always ignores questions like during the recent Geneva Summit.

When British PM Boris Johnson was asked by reporters when he met the US leader in the White House, all the questions were directed at Johnson. It has not changed much since then.

Biden delays G20 Summit with his tardiness

Last Sunday, the G20 Summit got delayed due to his late arrival for the NATO press conference. It took him almost two hours to get there, and he gave a cryptic reason for it, reported the Daily Mail.

This delay happened on the second day at the Rome summit, where Biden just smiled and excused himself.

He addressed the crowd as ladies and gentlemen and said sorry for the wait. He adds they were playing with the elevators, followed by a tall tale.

The US leader has not been early for these press conferences for some reason, and anyone could notice that. Despite the hectic schedule in Brussels last June at a NATO summit, he still took 120-minutes to arrive. Same thing in Rome, but at that time, he did not give an explanation.

Biden told reporters that it's after 9:30 p.m., and he's still at NATO and added they were thrilled at such a late hour, noted CNN. But Joe Biden gave no cryptic excuse for arriving late during the occasion.

Read Also: Britain Angered by Joe Biden's Attempt to Appease France Regarding the French, Brexit Fishing Row As Another Misstep in Foreign Policy

It went over an hour than scheduled in the day and another hour more when the Turkish leader met with Biden. For many news outlets who have covered events with him in it, they've been more than interested in why he took longer than other world leaders.

US President shows up late in recent summits

According to the Fox News network, which is included in his media coverage, they noticed his average tardiness of 22 minutes from June 1 to middle October for all public events. Sometimes it will be about more than sixty minutes late, mentions the outlet.

"I apologize to keep you waiting," Biden said, who showed up more than 20 minutes late. "We were playing with elevators. His mommy let him push all the buttons. #FJB https://t.co/82x8aWja3u  frank scheidell (@FrankScheidell) October 31, 2021

Previous to the G20 Summit, Biden avoided the one-on-one with Vladimir Putin and has never engaged Xi Jinping personally over the months in power.

On Sunday, the president spoke of the absence of the two leaders of Russia and China in the Summit, allegedly speaking in terms that would sound like preaching. Many say the G20 would fail, but the US leader postured on the stage.

Without the two leaders to react, he started saying that Russia and China did not want any commitment to climate change. Adding people were disappointed because of that, and he was disappointed as well.

On the stage of G20, he then mentioned his Build Back Better project that had no relation to the Summit, and it is an interior of matter of the US. The audience mostly ignored this as acting big on the world stage with the wrong timing, letting everyone know how he can't convince even his own party.

Social media users had a turkey shoot when Joe Biden gave a cryptic excuse for arriving late. One even criticized that an 800-person entourage can work an elevator. Another user posted on Twitter and mentioned that Biden was playing with the buttons.

Related Article: Biden Attempts To Make Amends to French President Over the Ill-Advised AUKUS Deal that Ruined US, French Relations

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French leader Emmanuel Macron told Australian PM Scott Morrison that he was not forthcoming over the AUKUS deal, which broke their trust. Oddly enough, Canberra defended its position as a national interest, but Joe Biden admitted that Paris was kept in the dark.

This trilateral deal has gained Australia its nuclear fleet but is left in the cold as Macron seethes over it. The US and UK are not as terribly affected by French anger.

Also, the deal has made rifts in Europe that Joe Biden is trying to repair at all costs. Also, the French are playing it cool.

Paris was never informed of the deal cancellation

President Macron is none to trifle with, especially losing a lot from a deal which the US and UK have a called unfortunate, that Canberra became a recipient of, reported the Express UK.

According to Canberra, one of the reasons for not informing Paris is that it is a national interest, but Paris said to the three nations that are no way to regard an ally. But another report said that Biden acknowledged France over Brexit in the fishing rights row, cited France 24.

Both Macron and Morrison were in Rome for G20 after Canberra dropped the deal for diesel submarines initially planned. But, the deal brokered by the US and UK for nuclear-powered subs was opted for instead in September.

Paris was never informed, and that caused extreme anger with some EU members siding with Macron. When French leader Emmanuel Macron got wind of the AUKUS deal, he immediately recalled consuls from Washington and Canberra, calling the agreement a betrayal by the Australian PM Morrison, even UK PM Johnson's attempts to diffuse failed.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied to him over the cancellation of a submarine building contract in September, and indicated more efforts were required to rebuild trust between the two allies https://t.co/eRmY4wS51R pic.twitter.com/fTmZ3cMUuc  Reuters (@Reuters) November 1, 2021

Read Also: Britain Angered by Joe Biden's Attempt to Appease France Regarding the French, Brexit Fishing Row As Another Misstep in Foreign Policy

The deal cost the three nations more than they bargained for, trying to convince Macron otherwise. According to the French leader, when asked what he felt about getting lied to by Morrison, he respects Australia and its people, but that is not enough, in a statement to a group of Australian press that came to cover Italy where the summit was held. He added that it has to be treated right and behave correctly, not lose it by untoward actions.

Fixing broken friendships during the G20 Summit

A focus on fixing an ally's trust in one another starts a week before the G20 summit, where the two sorted out problems. Next is the symbolic handshake for the press and world to see.

Last Monday, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce asked France to consider the matter and think about it, noted Reuters.

When he spoke to the press in Moree, Mr. Joyce explained that it was the contract that was broken and not something else like defacing the Eiffel tower or stealing an island.

He added that contracts have terms and conditions that keep them current, with loopholes. Defending the position of Canberra, as Joe Biden allegedly threw another ally to the lions.

The deputy PM had a chat with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne before she met the representative of France. Ms. Payne had conversed for an hour to convince her counterpart that their relationship needed resumption.

French Leader Macron spoke to reporters and said the talk with Joe Biden helped support European defense. He added later proof of trust is better, especially with the Australian PM involvement in the AUKUS deal.

Related Article: Biden Attempts To Make Amends to French President Over the Ill-Advised AUKUS Deal that Ruined US, French Relations

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United States President Joe Biden on Monday spoke in front of world leaders during the G20 summit and apologized for the decision of the previous American administration led by former U.S. President Donald Trump to exit the Paris climate agreement.

The Democrat said that Trump's decision and actions subsequently led to the United States being placed behind its climate change goals. During his speech, Biden said that he was apologizing on behalf of the previous administration. He said that it put the country "behind the eight ball a little bit."

Biden Apologizes Trump

Previously, Biden announced that the United States would once again join the Paris accords, a statement he made a few hours after being sworn into office in January. The Democratic president said in his address that about four or five years ago, many Americans were still unsure about the reality of the threat of climate change and whether it was real or not.

"Well, they have, as they say in southern parts of my state, 'seen the lord.' They've seen what's happened back home. The incredible changes that are taking place. And they're now finally, seeing the sense of urgency that you all are," Biden said during his speech, CNN reported.

Previously, Biden issued a plea and a warning to international leaders to take immediate and forceful action against climate change and its effects. The call to action from the U.S. president came as America itself was struggling to meet climate ambitions.

Read Also: Britain Angered by Joe Biden's Attempt to Appease France Regarding the French, Brexit Fishing Row As Another Misstep in Foreign Policy

The Democratic president said that every day that officials delay fighting against climate change, "the cost of inaction increases." Biden's remarks on Monday in Glasgow, Scotland during the COP26. This comes as many believe the event marks a crucial moment for world nations to discuss and conduct immediate remedies to avoid potentially devastating effects of climate change that could threaten future generations, Axios reported.

Biden said that the United States was committed to meeting its climate change goals, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Democratic president also urged other countries to do their part in preventing the catastrophic effects of global warming.

Rising Threat of Climate Change

During his appearance at the global event, the United States president attempted to persuade other world leaders of his country's commitment to tackling climate change. Biden is urging other nations to take drastic actions, warning that the next decade marked a crucial moment in the fight against the issue.

In his Monday speech, Biden said there was no more time left to be complacent or argue amongst each other when making decisions against climate change. He said that this moment was the challenge of collective lifetimes. The U.S. president considered the issue an "existential threat to human existence."

Biden also welcomed questions during his presence on the world stage amid the possibility of changing administrations within the American government every four years. On the other hand, former President Trump repeatedly downplayed the threat of climate change during his term as he recently suggested he could run for president again in 2024 but has not announced or confirmed the rumors, The Hill reported.



Related Article: Democrats Eyeing To Pass Social Spending and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill on Tuesday

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Former Republican National Committee spokesperson Tim Miller is urging Donald Trump's supporters to take the 2020 presidential election seriously. He is also challenging the 10 Republican senators that supported the ex-POTUS to stand up against Trump.

Miller is convinced that Trump could be sworn into office on Jan. 25, 2025, following the 2024 election. After all, online betting sites have been favoring the former president of the United States.

Tim Miller urges media, Democrats to take Donald Trump seriously

The former spokesperson for the Republican National Committee is also urging the media, as well as Democrats to take Trump seriously. Those who spoke up against the former POTUS were either silenced or went silent by choice due to fear.

"So here's my message both to the cowards who know better and to the people of good will who put it on the line because they care about our constitutional Republic. Right now, today, Donald Trump is the favorite to win the presidency again. If you don't want that to happen, then start acting like it," he said via the Huffington Post.

Republicans express support for Donald Trump

Miller couldn't also contain his surprise when Tim Scott, a Republican who had been open to working with Democrats, announced that he is endorsing Trump. Miller was convinced that Scott was a potential presidential candidate in his own right.

And before Scott endorsed Melania Trump's husband, he used to criticize the ex-POTUS publicly.

Read Also: Election Officials Detail Harrowing Threats They Received After Donald Trump Lied About Election Fraud; Democrats Push for Voting Rights Legislation

According to CNN, Scott has been critical of Trump especially on matters like race. But when asked if he would support Trump, he said, "of course."

Other Republicans have also employed a similar strategy. If Trump makes an official announcement regarding his plans to campaign in the 2024 election, his supporters would back out from the race.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley previously said that she won't run for president if Trump runs. And she also said that they will get into some form of discussion about the matter.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott also said a similar thing if Trump would run for president in 2024, as well as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Joe Biden, Donald Trump could go head to head in 2024

The Democrats' current top choice to compete against Trump in the 2024 election is current President Joe Biden. However, the POTUS's approval ratings have been going down due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, among many other issues.

According to NBC News, the majority of Americans disprove of Biden's job performance. And a recent poll also revealed that seven out of ten adults, which includes Democrats, think that the nation is headed to the wrong direction.

Democratic pollster Peter Hart said that Americans voted for Biden after he promised them stability and calm. But what they got is the exact opposite.

Fellow Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt also said that Biden's promise of knowledge, competence, and stability have all been called into question.

As of late, Biden and Trump have not made an official announcement regarding the 2024 election.

Related Article: Donald Trump's Ally John Eastman Reveals He Was Counting on Former VP Mike Pence To Toss Results of 2020 Election

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Joe Manchin held a conference on Monday after he once again trashed the latest draft of Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill.

The West Virginia senator said that he needs more time to consider the $1.75 trillion budget proposed by Senate Democrats.

Manchin also said that he wants to wait for the Congressional Budget Office to evaluate the bill and estimate the fiscal impact of its various tax and spending components.

Some of the provisions included in the bill are universal prekindergarten benefits, subsidizing child care for employed parents, as well as green energy.

However, other provisions included in the bill are temporary, such as the one-year extension of the monthly child tax credit payments for most families in the country.

"As more of the real details outlining the basic framework is released, what I see are shell games, budget gimmicks that make the real cost of the so-called $1.75 trillion bill estimated to be almost twice that amount if the full time is run out, extended permanently," Manchin said via the Huffington Post.

Joe Manchin wants Democrats to vote on bipartisan infrastructure

Manchin also encouraged the House to vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill that the Senate approved three months ago. However, House progressives refused to support it until a decision regarding the Build Back Better bill.

But Manchin said that the House should not keep on waiting. After all, holding the bill hostage won't ensure that he will support the Build Back Better bill.

CNN's Manu Raju, who was at Monday's conference, said that Manchin's recent statement suggests that it will take time to win his support if that's even possible.

Read Also: Joe Biden Ends Bid for Free Community College, Says His Plans for Paid Leave Is Shrinking Due to Lack of Support From 50 Democratic Senators

Rep. Cori Bush slams Joe Manchin

After the conference, Manchin received criticisms from Rep. Cori Bush, a member of the left-wing House squad that supported efforts to defund the police.

Bush said that Manchin's refusal to support Biden's Build Back Better bill is anti-Black, anti-child, anti-woman, and anti-immigrant. She added that Manchin doesn't dictate the future of the country, according to Fox News.

She added that ethnic minority groups had been excluded from the bipartisan infrastructure deal.

Manchin has been forced Biden and Senate Democrats to lessen their Build Back Better bill budget from $3.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion. However, Manchin wants the budget to be lowered further.

In order for Biden's Build Back Better bill to pass, it needs all 50 Democrats in the Senate plus a tie-breaker from Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, Manchin and Sen. Krysten Sinema are blocking the Democratic consensus.

White House releases a statement

After the conference, the White House released a statement claiming that Manchin was prepared to support the Build Back Better bill, but everything is still being finalized.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki added that they are confident that they will get Manchin's support in due time, according to NBC News.

As of press writing, Biden has not responded to the latest blow to the Build Back Better bill that he has been fighting for.

Related Article: Joe Manchin Blocks Universal Paid Leave After Democrats Failed To Convince Him To Support the Build Back Better Spending and Tax Bill

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CONVENTION CONCERNING THE EXCHANGE OF GREEK AND TURKISH POPULATIONS The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Greek Government have agreed upon the following provisions: Article 1 As from the 1st May, 1923, there shall take place a compulsory exchange of Turkish nationals of the Greek Orthodox religion established in Turkish territory, and of Greek nationals of the Moslem religion established in Greek territory. These persons shall not return to live in Turkey or Greece respectively without the authorisation of the Turkish Government or of the Greek Government respectively. Article 2 The following persons shall not be included in the exchange provided for in Article 1: (a) The Greek inhabitants of Constantinople. (b) The Moslem inhabitants of Western Thrace. All Greeks who were already established before the 30th October, 1918, within the areas under the Prefecture of the City of Constantinople, as defined by the law of 1912, shall be considered as Greek inhabitants of Constantinople. All Moslems established in the region to the east of the frontier line laid down in 1913 by the Treaty of Bucharest shall be considered as Moslem inhabitants of Western Thrace. Article 3 Those Greeks and Moslems who have already, and since the 18th October, 1912, left the territories the Greek and Turkish inhabitants of which are to be respectively exchanged, shall be considered as included in the exchange provided for in Article 1. The expression "emigrant" in the present Convention includes all physical and juridical persons who have been obliged to emigrate or have emigrated since the 18th October, 1912. Article 4 All able-bodied men belonging to the Greek population, whose families have already left Turkish territory, and who are now detained in Turkey, shall constitute the first instalment of Greeks sent to Greece in accordance with the present Convention. Article 5 Subject to the provisions of Articles 9 and l0 of the present Convention, the rights of property and monetary assets of Greeks in Turkey or Moslems in Greece shall not be prejudiced in consequence of the exchange to be carried out under the present Convention Article 6 No obstacle may be placed for any reason whatever in the way of the departure of a person belonging to the populations which are to be exchanged. In the event of an emigrant having received a definite sentence of imprisonment, or a sentence which is not yet definitive, or of his being the object of criminal proceedings, he shall be handed over by the authorities of the prosecuting country to the authorities of the country whither he is going, in order that he may serve his sentence or be brought to trial. Article 7 The emigrants will lose the nationality of the country which they are leaving, and will acquire the nationality of the country of their destination, upon their arrival in the territory of the latter country. Such emigrants as have already left one or other of the two countries and have not yet acquired their new nationality, shall acquire that nationality on the date of the signature of the present Convention. Article 8 Emigrants shall be free to take away with them or to arrange for the transport of their movable property of every kind, without being liable on this account to the payment of any export or import duty or any other tax. Similarly, the members of each community (including the personnel of mosques, tekkes, meddresses, churches, convents, schools, hospitals, societies, associations and juridical persons, or other foundations of any nature whatever) which is to leave the territory of one of the Contracting States under the present Convention, shall have the right to take away freely or to arrange for the transport of the movable property belonging to their communities. The fullest facilities for transport shall be provided by the authorities of the two countries, upon the recommendation of the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11. Emigrants who may not be able to take away all or part of their movable property can leave it behind. In that event, the local authorities shall be required to draw up, the emigrant in question being given an opportunity to be heard, an inventory and valuation of the property left by him. Proces-verbaux containing the inventory and the valuation of the movable property left by the emigrant shall be drawn up in four copies, one of which shall be kept by the local authorities, the second transmitted to the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11 to serve as the basis for the liquidation provided for by Article 9, the third shall be handed to the Government of the country to which the emigrant is going, and the fourth to the emigrant himself. Article 9 Immovable property, whether rural or urban, belonging to emigrants, or to the communities mentioned in Article 8, and the movable property left by these emigrants or communities, shall be liquidated in accordance with the following provisions by the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11. Property situated in the districts to which the compulsory exchange applies and belonging to religious or benevolent institutions of the communities established in a district to which the exchange does not apply, shall likewise be liquidated under the same conditions. Article l0 The movable and immovable property belonging to persons who have already left the territory of the High Contracting Parties and are considered, in accordance with Article 3 of the present Convention, as being included in the exchange of populations, shall be liquidated in accordance with Article 9. This liquidation shall take place independently of all measures of any kind whatever, which, under the laws passed and the regulations of any kind made in Greece and Turkey since the 18th October, 1912, or in anyother way, have resulted in any restriction on rights of ownership over the property in question, such as confiscation forced sale, etc. In the event of the property mentioned in this Article or in Article 9 having been submitted to a measure of this kind, its value shall be fixed by the Commission provided for in Article 11, as if the measures in question had not been applied. As regards expropriated property, the Mixed Commission shall undertake a fresh valuation of such property, if it has been expropriated since the 18th October, 1912, having previously belonged to persons liable to the exchange of populations in the two countries, and is situated in territories to which the exchange applies. The Commission shall fix for the benefit of the owners such compensation as will repair the injury which the Commission has ascertained. The total amount of this compensation shall be carried to the credit of these owners and to the debit of the Government on whose territory the expropriated property is situated. In the event of any persons mentioned in Articles 8 and 9 not having received the income from property, the enjoyment of which they have lost in one way or another, the restoration of the amount of this income shall be guaranteed to them on the basis of the average yield of the property before the war, and in accordance with the methods to be laid down by the Mixed Commission. The Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11, when proceeding to the liquidation of Wakf property in Greece and of the rights and interests connected therewith, and to the liquidation of similar foundations belonging to Greeks in Turkey, shall follow the principles laid down in previous Treaties with a view to fully safeguarding the rights and interests of these foundations and of the individuals interested in them. The Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11 shall be entrusted with the duty of executing these provisions. Article 11 Within one month from the coming into force of the present Convention a Mixed Commission shall be set up in Turkey or in Greece consisting of four members representing each of the High Contracting Parties, and of three members chosen by the Council of the League of Nations from among nationals of Powers which did not take part in the war of 1914-1918. The Presidency of the Commission shall be exercised in turn by each of these three neutral members. The Mixed Commission shall have the right to set up, in such places as it may appear to them necessary, Sub-Commissions working under its order. Each such Sub-Commission shall consist of a Turkish member, a Greek member and a neutral President to be designated by the Mixed Commission. The Mixed Commission shall decide the powers to be delegated to the Sub-Commission. Article 12 The duties of the Mixed Commission shall be to supervise and facilitate the emigration provided for in the present Convention and to carry out the liquidation of the movable and immovable property for which provision is made in Articles 9 and l0. The Commission shall settle the methods to be followed as regards the emigration and liquidation mentioned above. In a general way the Mixed Commission shall have full power to take the measures necessitated by the execution of the present Convention and to decide all questions to which this Convention may give rise. The decisions of the Mixed Commission shall be taken by a majority. All disputes relating to property, rights and interests which are to be liquidated shall be settled definitely by the Commission. Article 13 The Mixed Commission shall have full power to cause the valuation to be made of the movable and immovable property which is to be liquidated under the present Convention, the interested parties being given a hearing or being duly summoned so that they may be heard. The basis for the valuation of the property to be liquidated shall be the value of the property in gold currency. Article 14 The Commission shall transmit to the owner concerned a declaration stating the sum due to him in respect of the property of which he has been dispossessed, and such property shall remain at the disposal of the Government on whose territory it is situated. The total sums due on the basis of these declarations shall constitute a Government debt fromthe country wherethe liquidation takes place to the Government of the country to which the emigrant belongs. The emigrant shall in principle be entitled to receive in the country to which he emigrates, as representing the sums due to him, property of a value equal to and of the same nature as that which he has left behind. Once every six months an account shall be drawn up of the sums due by the respective Governments on the basis of the declarations as above. When the liquidation is completed, if the sums of money due to both sides correspond, the accounts relating thereto shall be balanced. If a sum remains due from one of the Governments to the other Government after a balance has been struck, the debit balance shall be paid in cash. If the debtor Government requests a postponement in making this payment, the Commission may grant such postponement, provided that the sum due be paid in three annuities at most. The Commission shall fix the interest to be paid during the period of postponement. If the sum to be paid is fairly large and requires longer postponement, the debtor Government shall pay in cash a sum to be fixed by the Mixed Commission, up to a maximum of 20 per cent. of the total due, and shall issue in respect of the balance loan certificates bearing such interest as the Mixed Commission may fix, to be paid off within 20 years at most. The debtor Govern- ment shall assign to the service of these loans pledges approved by the Commission, which shall be administered and of which the revenues shall be encashed by the International Commission in Greece and by the Council of the Public Debt at Constantinople. In the absence of agreement in regard to these pledges, they shall be selected by the Council of the League of Nations. Article 15 With a view to facilitating emigration, funds shall be advanced to the Mixed Commission by the States concerned, under conditions laid down by the said Commission. Article 16 The Turkish and Greek Governments shall come to an agreement with the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11 in regard to all questions concerning the notification to be made to persons who are to leave the territory of Turkey and Greece under the present Convention, and concerning the ports to which these persons are to go for the purpose of being transported to the country of their destination. The High Contracting Parties undertake mutually that no pressure direct or indirect shall be exercised on the populations which are to be exchanged with a view to making them leave their homes or abandon their property before the date fixed for their departure. They likewise undertake to impose on the emigrants who have left or who are to leave the country no special taxes or dues. No obstacle shall be placed in the way of the inhabitants of the districts excepted from the exchange under Article 2 exercising freely their right to remain in or return to those districts and to enjoy to the full their liberties and rights of property in Turkey and in Greece. This provision shall not be invoked as a motive for preventing the free alienation of property belonging to inhabitants of the said regions which are excepted from the exchange, or the voluntary departure of those among these inhabitants who wish to leave Turkey or Greece. Article 17 The expenses entailed by the maintenance and working of the Mixed Commission and of the organizations dependent on it shall be borne by the Governments concerned in proportions to be fixed by the Commission. Article 18 The High Contracting Parties undertake to introduce in their respective laws such modifications as may be necessary with a view to ensuring the execution of the present Convention. Article 19 The present Convention shall have the same force and effect as between the High Contracting Parties as if it formed part of the Treaty of Peace to be concluded with Turkey. It shall come into force immediately after the ratification of the said Treaty by the two High Contracting Parties. In faith whereof, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, whose respective full Powers have been found in good and due form, have signed the present Convention. Done at Lausanne, the 30th January, 1923, in three copies, one of which shall be transmitted to the Greek Government, one to the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the third shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the French Republic, which shall deliver certified copies to the other Powers signatory of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey. (L.S.) E. K. VENISELOS

(L.S.) D. CACLAMANOS

(L.S.) ISMET

(L.S.) DR. RIZA NOUR

(L.S.) HASSAN PROTOCOL The undersigned Turkish Plenipotentiaries, duly authorized to that effect, declare that, without waiting for the coming into force of the Convention with Greece of even date, relating to the exchange of the Greek and Turkish populations, and by way of exception to Article 1 of that Convention, the Turkish Government, on the signature of the Treaty of Peace, will release the able-bodied men referred to in Article 4 of the said Convention, and will provide for their departure. Done at Lausanne, the 30th January, 1923. ISMET

DR. RIZA NOUR

HASSAN


For those waiting for fourth stimulus check updates and other monetary benefits from the government, then you're in the right place.

Starting Monday, families can now update their income changes on the child tax credit portal. Eligible recipients who changed their information could either raise or lower their remaining monthly payments.

The online petition for a fourth stimulus check is also nearing its completion despite making slow progress.

According to Forbes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) promised to let families update their information in the child tax credit update portal. They finally launched the feature this month. On top of updating their income, eligible families can use the online tool for other purposes, too.



Why Should You Update Your Child Tax Credit Information?

Depending on circumstances, eligible recipients might be underpaid or overpaid on their CTC payments. The issue applies to families who had big income swings in 2020 and 2021. The swing can be either higher or lower income earnings.

These changes will be recorded on the incoming CTC payments, which could either increase or decrease the money. Here are some examples to explain the situation:

If you earned lower than your declared, then you should be eligible for bigger CTC payments. The extra money will be added on top of the November and December payments.

If you earned more than you declared, then you should be eligible to lower CTC payments. The money receivable will be reduced to lessen the 2021 tax bills next spring.

For reference, the maximum CTC payment should be $300 per month for each child age under six and $250 per month for each child ages six to 17.

Read Also: Fourth Stimulus Check Update: New $1100 California Payments Coming Soon, Child Tax Credit Extension Facing Issues

When Should You Use the Child Tax Credit Portal?

Along with the update announcement, IRS issued an urgent warning for eligible recipients. It said November 15 payments will only reflect changes made on or before Monday midnight. Changes made after that date will be reflected on the December 15 payment instead.

Keep in mind that the current CTC payments are only half of the advance child credit program. The second half of the amount should be available next year.

What Else Can You Do on the Child Tax Credit Portal?

According to IRS, the newly updated website should also let users:

Switch from receiving a paper check to direct deposit;

Change the account where their payment is direct deposited;

Update their home address or

Stop monthly payments for the rest of 2021.

Online Petition for a Fourth Stimulus Check

It is also worth noting that the online petition for a $2,000 monthly payment is nearing completion. At the time of writing, it had already reached 2,994,959 out of its 3 million goal. Its creator, Stephanie Bonin, also issued an update asking Congress not to "ghost (American) families!"

Despite its number of supporters, both the White House and Congress have yet to acknowledge the existence of this ongoing online petition. At worse, it might even end up completely being ignored despite reaching completion later this year.

Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Update: $2000 Online Petition Slow Progress, $600 California Payments Schedule, Medicare Expansion
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, right, speaks to executives from global financial companies at the Corinthia London, Monday (GMT). Courtesy of Ministry of Economy and Finance



Gov't yet to promise to open offshore currency market



By Park Jae-hyuk



Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki confirmed the government's intention to resume talks with MSCI for the Korean equity market to be classified by the American index provider as a "developed market."



Since Korea was first categorized as an emerging market in 1992, MSCI has mentioned its poor market accessibility as the most significant reason for its refusal to grant "developed market" status to the country. Although Korea was temporarily on the watch list for its status to be elevated between 2008 and 2014, the country has failed to return to the list.



"Considering the status and foreign investors' views about the Korean economy, Korea deserves to be included in the MSCI developed market index," he told executives from HSBC, JPMorgan, Schroder and Goldman Sachs in London, Monday. "The government thinks the inclusion is necessary to enhance the stability of the domestic stock market, overcome the 'Korea discount' and foster Korea's capital market."



Hong added that he will have discussions with relevant ministries after his return to Korea to review the issue more thoroughly before having talks with MSCI.



The finance minister, however, did not guarantee the opening of an offshore currency market.



"MSCI asked us to open a 24-hour offshore currency market and ease regulations on the registration of foreign investors," he said. "We could not reach an agreement with MSCI in terms of these issues, so Korea has not been included in the MSCI developed market index."



The index provider has continued to cite the absence of an offshore currency market as the most important reason for refusing the Korean government's request to be given developed market status since 2008.



Although the low level of Korea's foreign exchange market "liberalization" was again mentioned as a problem in MSCI's latest market reclassification review in June, the Korean government has remained reluctant to open an offshore currency market due to the possibility of facing difficulties in intervening in the foreign exchange market in the event of acute volatility.



Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum also said in September that Korea may face risks from attempts to gain MSCI developed market status.



"The finance ministry has had multiple talks regarding this issue, but financial authorities are still concerned about potential risks," he told lawmakers at that time. "Various systems to manage risks are needed, so the government thinks it is inappropriate to open an offshore currency market at this moment."



Some capital market experts have advised the government to consider opening an offshore currency market in the medium to long term.



"If Korea wins developed market status from MSCI, the net inflow of assets to the country will reach 200 trillion won ($170 billion)," Korea Capital Market Institute senior research fellow Lee Hyo-seob said.



Market observers expect the government to convince MSCI by lifting the ban on the short-selling of securities that are not included in the KOSPI 200 and Kosdaq 150 indices.



Financial Services Commission Chairman Koh Seung-beom has already indicated the government's stance on the lifting of the short-selling ban, saying in September that the complete resumption of short-selling on the stock market is inevitable.



In its latest market reclassification review, MSCI mentioned Korea's short-selling ban on small-cap stocks, which has continued since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, as a reason for rejecting the request from the Korean government and business lobby groups here to upgrade the domestic equity market from "emerging" to "developed" status.



"There is no timeline on the potential resumption of short-selling for the remaining securities in the Korean equity market," MSCI said at that time. "As such, Korea will experience a deterioration in the rating for short-selling, given that current limitations remain in place for a number of securities."






The unification ministry on Tuesday vowed efforts to push for inter-Korean cooperation in the forestry sector as agreed to in an earlier deal, after President Moon Jae-in again stated on the global stage that Seoul will seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the peninsula in cooperation with Pyongyang.







Moon was addressing an annual U.N. climate conference in Glasgow on Monday (local time) that brought together more than 100 world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a written message to the session.







Asked if Seoul plans to make a new proposal to Pyongyang on forestry cooperation, a ministry official said implementing joint projects rolled out under a 2018 agreement would be a practical way to push for inter-Korean cooperation to cut greenhouse gas emissions.







South and North Korea agreed on forestry cooperation during a summit in 2018 that included joint efforts on combating deforestation, research on seedlings and other countermeasures against natural disasters.







But little progress has been made amid a stalemate in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.







"When we can have further discussions with the North within the framework put forth in 2018, we'll also have talks on more various ways to cooperate against climate change on the Korean Peninsula," the official said.







North Korea is reportedly facing a severe deforestation problem, which has rendered the country vulnerable to flooding and landslides. (Yonhap)


Members of migrants' rights groups hold a press conference in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea office in Seoul, Sept. 29, denouncing the human rights violations at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon



By Lee Hyo-jin



Migrants' rights groups here are calling for the immediate release of a Moroccan man held in an immigration detention center, whose human rights have been violated due to excessive use of force by officers.



The Ministry of Justice announced, Monday, the results of its investigation confirming the occurrence of human rights violations at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province between March 23 and Sept. 1.



Earlier in September, the Moroccan man in his 30s filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, claiming that he has been subject to inhumane treatment since he was sent to the center in March.



Following physical conflicts with officers, the man was tied up and left in solitary confinement multiple times.



Surveillance footage of the cell showed him lying on his stomach with his arms and legs bound with rope behind his back, leaving him unable to move around the room. His head was covered in protective headgear fastened with box tape and cable ties.









"Through an investigation, we found that the use of equipment, such as box tape and cable ties used on the detainee, did not have legal grounds," a ministry official said at a briefing, Monday. But he noted that putting the man under isolation was authorized as he had displayed violent behavior.



The ministry viewed the reasons for this mistreatment to be the officers' reported lack of understanding of the use of protective gear, as wells as a lack of other means to deter violence by the detainees. It vowed to come up with preventive measures including providing the officers with education on the use of protective gear.



However, the victim's legal representatives and migrant rights groups claimed the ministry did not investigate thoroughly, and demanded the detainee's immediate release as he requires urgent medical treatment.





Korea Immigration Service Commissioner Lee Jae-yoo speaks during a briefing in Seoul, Monday, on the investigation results of human rights violations occurring at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap
A person receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at a clinic in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



People are showing mixed reactions to stories about jobseekers who claimed that companies refused to hire them because they were unvaccinated against COVID-19 and had no plans to get inoculation.



Some denounced the companies for discriminating against the unvaccinated, while others said they understand the companies would want to reduce the possibility of infection spreading among workers.



A person wrote on an online community of jobseekers, Oct. 29, that his employment was canceled because he was not inoculated.



"I passed the interview yesterday and was supposed to start work next Monday. A company official called to ask if I had been vaccinated, so I answered I haven't and I don't intend to get one due to fear of possible side effects. Then the official told me it is regrettable but I cannot take the job," the person wrote.



"If this is the company's rule, they should have told me about it in advance when I had the interview. I even turned down a job offer from another company."






Dr. Billy Kim, left, the chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), poses after winning the International Affairs Award given by the non-profit, the Seoul Forum, at the Far East Art Hall in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea



By Park Ji-won



Dr. Billy Kim, the chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), received an annual diplomacy award in Seoul, Friday, for his role in enhancing Korea's image via cultural and aid activities in the United States and other countries.



Kim, also known as Pastor Kim Jang-hwan, won the 13th YoungSan Diplomat Award, which the non-profit, the Seoul Forum for International Affairs, awards to a civilian or public official each year for their contribution to Korea's diplomatic interests.



Last year, Choi Sung-jae, interpreter for director Bong Joon-ho during the campaign for the Oscar-winning film, "Parasite" and Kang Hyung-sik, head of the foreign ministry's international safety management bureau, also received the annual diplomacy award for their roles in boosting Korea's national image.



FEBC-Korea said that the 87-year-old also received prize money worth 10 million won ($8,496) at the Far East Art Hall in Seoul, Friday.



The organization was quoted as saying in a press release from the FEBC-Korea that Kim contributed to the improvement of bilateral relations between Korea and the U.S. by helping leaders in the two countries to meet. Kim also served as the first Asian president of the Baptist World Alliance from 2000 to 2005. It added that he improved the country's image by delivering a eulogy during the funeral service for Rev. Billy Graham in 2018, which was attended by political leaders such as former U.S. President Donald Trump.



Kim said, "I receive this award on the behalf of FEBC-Korea members and the audience. Diplomacy cannot be don't by one person. It needs the participation of the 50-million population of Korea."



The awards ceremony was also attended by diplomatic officials such as Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the United Nations and Choi Jong-moon, the vice minister for foreign affairs.



Ban was quoted as saying, "Kim is a symbol of citizen diplomacy. He shows leadership in improving countries' interests. He did diplomacy that the U.N. wasn't able to do. For example, he provided up to 400 container houses for Syrian refugees in 2013  1,000 diplomats cannot do what Kim did."



He donated the prize money he received to the construction of the Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which will include the names of 36,574 American soldiers and more than 7,200 members of the Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army, who were killed during the 1950-53 Korean War. The wall is expected to be built by 2022.




President Moon Jae-in speaks during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Nov. 1. AP-Yonhap



President Moon Jae-in officially declared South Korea's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from the 2018 levels by 2030 as he addressed the annual U.N. climate conference.



Moon also said South Korea will try to bring carbon emissions down on the entire Korean Peninsula by pushing for tree planting campaigns in North Korea during a keynote speech at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.



South Korea's reduction target represents a sharp raise from its previous goal of 26.3 percent.



"This is a bold objective that was raised by about 14 percent from the previous target," Moon told the climate summit that brought together more than 100 heads of state, including U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.



"This is a very challenging task of having to reduce greenhouse gases steeply in a short period of time," Moon told the world leaders. "It is not an easy task, but South Korea has decided now is the time to act."



Last month, South Korea finalized the decision to reduce emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030. It also confirmed that it will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as the nation started tackling the challenge of responding to climate change and attaining sustainable growth simultaneously.



"Following the inauguration of our government, eight coal-fired power plants were shut down. By the end of this year, two additional plants are scheduled to close. We will put a complete end to coal-fired power generation by 2050," Moon said.



"Moreover, official financial support for the construction of new coal-fired power plants overseas has already been suspended," Moon said.





India to hit net-zero climate target by 2070: Modi Over 100 global leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030 [Reporter's Notebook] Gov't pushing forward daring carbon neutrality measures Moon also formally announced South Korea's decision to join the Global Methane Pledge, a global pact to cut methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.



Moon said he will also push for reforestation in North Korea.



"The Republic of Korea will take a leading role in cooperation for reforestation," Moon told the summit, adding that tree planting is one of key solutions to mitigate climate change.



"We will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the entire Korean Peninsula through forestry cooperation between the South and North Korea," Moon said.



North Korea is known for severe deforestation due to excessive logging for fuel, which has been blamed for flooding and many other natural disasters.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged efforts to restore the forests since he came to power, ordering the construction of greenhouse farms and tree nurseries across the country and making on-site inspections to check on progress.



During the speech, Moon told world leaders that South Korea will stay in lockstep with the push for carbon neutrality, briefing them on the nation's efforts to cut emissions.



In Glasgow, world leaders are expected to assess achievements since the Paris agreement to limit global warming, which was signed in 2015. Whether to agree on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is one of the key topics at the U.N. summit.



Scientists said the timing of a 1.5 C rise in the earth's temperature is very likely to come before 2040, a decade faster than an earlier prediction, if greenhouse gas emissions remain at current levels.



Wrapping up the G-20 summit in Italy, world leaders agreed that, "Keeping 1.5 degrees within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries."








Korea has called for Japan to allow entry of Korean business travelers and students to facilitate exchanges in the private sector, Seoul officials said Tuesday, as Tokyo is preparing to ease quarantine requirements for international arrivals.







Japan has restricted entry of foreigners, except family members of Japanese nationals or travelers with special permits, since January. Local media said the government is preparing to loosen the strict rules in line with the falling number of COVID-19 cases and complaints from the business circle.







Seoul's foreign ministry said it has been consulting with the Japanese side to ease the entry ban on its nationals, starting with business people and students who meet quarantine requirements.







"We have repeatedly stressed that business people and students should be first allowed to travel if they meet certain requirements and called for related measures as soon as possible," a senior foreign ministry official said.







The official said eased entry procedures were also discussed during the phone talks between the two nations' leaders last month and a bilateral meeting of the foreign ministers in September.







"We have delivered our opinion via various channels, and the Japanese side is well aware of that," the official said.







Japanese media reported that the Tokyo government plans to allow vaccinated people to visit the nation for business and education purposes later this month and cut the quarantine requirement for business travelers from 10 days to three days. (Yonhap)


By Steven L. Shields







Ernest Bethell / Courtesy of the Independence Hall of Korea

Diplomatic missions today enjoy certain legal privileges and protections in their host countries. The properties of embassies are considered sovereign territory of the representative nation. Many will be familiar with the famous sojourn in the Embassy of Ecuador in London of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. British authorities were prohibited from entering the precinct of the embassy offices for almost seven years until Ecuador withdrew asylum and British police were invited into the embassy for Assange's arrest.







In times now long past, however, some nations with "world power" status arranged treaties with host countries that were further-reaching than the simple sovereign territory of the embassy properties. Such treaties of "extraterritoriality" were signed with Japan, and later, Korea. The embassy properties were sovereign territory, but the world power countries demanded and received full legal authority over their citizens in the host country. Such authority extended in some cases that complaints by host nation citizens against persons or organizations were subject to the laws of the foreign diplomatic mission.







Christopher Roberts, a retired British lawyer with more than 10 years of experience living and working in Asia, and a Ph. D. from SOAS University of London, has done detailed studies of British extraterritoriality in Japan and Korea. His newest book, published by Renaissance Books in June, details the British experience in Korea between 1884 and 1910. Like many Western countries, most British residents in Korea were diplomats or missionaries, with a few business people in the mix.







Dr. Roberts writes that, unlike China and Japan, very few cases in Korea were tried by the British courts in Seoul. Most cases were of little note. British nationals in Korea back then were never more than 100 people. These courts were operated as part of the duties of the consular officers assigned to the British Legation. Consular officials in Shanghai and Seoul had the right to convene a "Supreme" court with equal authority to that in London.







The highest-profile British court cases in Korea were two trials, both charging the businessman cum journalist Ernest Thomas Bethell, with breach of the peace as the first of the cases and seditious journalism as the second. Bethell had arrived in Korea in 1904 to cover the war with Russia and stayed on to start two newspapers (The Korea Daily News and the Daehan Maeil Shinbo), which were widely circulated in English and Korean including Hangeul versions and mixed-script versions. He was clearly against Japanese rule in Korea and how they had pushed their way into most aspects of the Korean economy. Bethell's writings were in step with the early independence-oriented population. Japanese officials in Seoul applied tremendous pressure on the British to do something about him.







The issue that allowed British officials in Korea to delay and sidestep trials and punishment for Bethell was the question of Japanese jurisdiction in Korea. Diplomatically, this was crucial. By what authority did the Japanese resident-general and his staff pressure the British to discipline a British citizen? The Korean government, such as it was, was silent on Bethell's criticism of Japan. The Japanese had been working systematically to neuter any semblance of a Korean judiciary, police and government for many years  long before the 1905 "protection" treaty. Annexation was their endgame from decades before.







After weeks of consultation with British courts in Shanghai and the Foreign Office in London, authorities in Korea charged Bethell with "breach of the peace," convicted him and asked him to "keep the peace." In other words, do not get Koreans riled up to where we have more problems with the Japanese, regardless they are not the legitimate government of the Korean Empire. Of course, Bethell kept doing what journalists are well-known for, and within weeks ran afoul of Japan once again.







In the second case, Bethell was charged with the more severe crime of "incitement to discontent" in breach of a clause of the treaties between Britain and Korea. The Japanese wanted a full-press sedition charge, which would have carried the death penalty. But, again, after weeks of back and forth between Korea and the relevant British authorities, the incitement charge was the best diplomatic solution. Bethell was tried and convicted and sentenced to three weeks in jail. However, as there was no adequate jail in Korea, he was taken to Shanghai to the British jail there, but he returned to Korea on his release. He promised six months of good behavior.







Bethell gave up his ownership in the newspaper venture through some business deals before the trial, and the papers continued for a short time. A few issues were banned by the Japanese authorities, who raided Bethell's premises (through the help of their Korean conspirators) and confiscated printed papers before they were distributed.







Several more significant issues were at play in Japan's pressure. Perhaps foremost on the Japanese agenda was to overturn the extraterritoriality clauses of their treaties with the British (and other Western governments) in both Japan and Korea. The Japanese saw this issue as detrimental to their empirical designs on the region, since so many foreigners (and locals who sought refuge in foreign-owned properties) were out of reach of the Japanese police and courts.







Bethell died on May 1, 1909, and is buried in Seoul's Yanghwajin Foreigners' Cemetery. Officially, he died of heart failure, but many suspect a Japanese hand in his assassination. His funeral was said to be the most significant event for a foreigner ever in Korea's history to that time, with thousands of loving Koreans lining the route of the funeral procession. Bethell's widow left Korea in July 1909 and returned home to Britain.







Many of the Seoul- and Jemulpo-based consular officials and legation officers, in 1900 and later, were members of Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea. J. H. Gubbins, founding president of RAS Korea elected in June 1900, was Her Britannic Majesty's Charge d'Affaires in Seoul. Arthur Hyde Lay, first assigned to Jemulpo and later Seoul, serving until the late 1920s, was president of the RAS Korea for several years. Other consular officials who were members of RAS Korea include Herbert Allen Ottewill and John Langford Smith.









Christopher Roberts will give an

to the Royal Asiatic Society Korea on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. KST. Visit raskb.com for more information about how to join the lecture.















Rev. Steven L. Shields is president of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea (www.raskb.com) and columnist for The Korea Times. Visit raskb.com or email royalasiatickorea@gmail.com for more information about the society.
Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, the presidential candidate of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party, speaks during a television debate at a KBS studio in Seoul, Sept. 30. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun



This article is the sixth in a series on the major presidential contenders' leadership styles, campaign promises, strengths and weaknesses, as well as career histories  ED.



By Kang Seung-woo



Rep. Sim Sang-jeung of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party is preparing for her fourth presidential campaign in the upcoming election slated for March 9.



However, for the 62-year-old, four-term lawmaker, once a household name of the progressive side, this latest presidential run is likely to be her toughest-ever as she appears less competitive than she used to be, in terms of both her presence within the party and awareness of her among the public.



She may once again face the pressure to drop out of the race and instead show her support for ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Lee Jae-myung for the liberal side's victory, if the election shapes up to be a two-way race between the DPK and the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP).



A labor activist who entered politics



Beginning in her college days, Sim spent nearly 25 years as a labor activist. As a college student, she also took a job at the Guro Industrial Complex, formed labor unions, and was one of the leaders in the labor movement at a national level, which led to the creation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.



She was also an ardent activist in the women's rights movement, serving as the inaugural head of Seoul National University's female students' council.



Sim began her political career in 2004 when she was elected as a proportional representative of the now-defunct Democratic Labor Party (DLP).



In particular, she made a name for herself within the progressive camp for her scathing criticism of alleged irregularities committed by Samsung as well as the controversial acquisition of the Korea Exchange Bank by U.S. private equity firm Lone Star.











Justice Party lawmaker Sim Sang-jeung holds a one-person protest at the National Assembly in this Sept. 7, 2020 photo, to urge fellow lawmakers to pass a bill to establish heavier penalties for those responsible for serious industrial accidents. Yonhap

In 2007, Sim launched her first presidential bid, but lost in the party's primary. After the presidential election, she sought to rebuild the party as the leader of its emergency committee. When her proposals for reform were rejected, she left the DLP and launched the New Progressive Party (NPP) the following year.



As talks for a grand progressive alliance gained momentum, she again left the NPP in 2011 and founded the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) with the DLP and the Participation Party.



In the general election in 2012, she was elected on the UPP's ticket to represent a district in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, which was seen as a daunting task for a minor progressive party at the time.



However, shortly after her election, Sim quit the party following the scandal surrounding irregularities in the UPP's proportional representative selection. She then helped to create the Progressive Justice Party (PJP), under which she ran in the 2012 presidential election again. But she quit midway to support Moon Jae-in, who was at that time the candidate of the main opposition Democratic United Party. Her party was later renamed, the Justice Party.



Since 2012, Sim has served three consecutive terms as a lawmaker and submitted dozens of bills related to labor issues, establishing herself as the leading politician of the progressive side.



In addition, she gained 6.17 percent of the vote in the last presidential election in 2017, the most for a progressive candidate.





Rep. Sim Sang-jeung of the Justice Party holds a one-person protest against the Justice Ministry's decision to parole Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, in front of the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 9. Korea Times file
President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech on Seoul's efforts to fight climate change at the 26th Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday (local time). Yonhap



Seoul comes with ambitious package against climate crisis



By Kang Seung-woo



South Korea, regarded as a late starter in moves toward attaining carbon neutrality, has unveiled ambitious proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of taking a leading role in the global fight against climate change.



President Moon Jae-in made the proposals in a speech at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday (local time).



Moon officially introduced South Korea's accelerated goal for carbon neutrality  the country is committed to cutting carbon emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030. The reduction target was raised from the 26.3 percent set in 2020 and from 35 percent stated in a relevant bill passed at the National Assembly in August



"This is a bold objective that was raised by about 14 percentage points from the previous target," Moon told the climate summit, which is being participated in by more than 100 global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.



"This is a very challenging task of having to steeply reduce greenhouse gases in a short period of time. It is not an easy task, but South Korea has decided now is the time to act."






By Kim Ae-ran





"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." In the Gospel according to John 15:13, Jesus says that laying down one's life for one's friends is the greater love.



A good example of laying down one's life for others is that of Saint Maximilian M. Kolbe, a Polish priest and Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die for a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz during World War II.



When I recently visited Soyangno St. Patrick's Catholic Church for the Pauline mission, I became acquainted with another example of laying down one's life for parishioners during the 1950-53 Korean War.



He is Fr. Anthony Collier who was born in Clogherhead, County Louth, Ireland on June 20, 1913. He joined the Columbans in 1931 and was ordained on December 21, 1938. In 1939, he was sent to Korea as a Columban Missionary (a member of Missionary Society of St. Columban) and served as an auxiliary priest at Imdangdong and Hoengseong parishes in Gangwon Province.



In January 1950, he was assigned to Soyangno parish which was established as the second Catholic Church in the diocese of Chuncheon. Then, unfortunately, he was killed by North Korean forces on June 27, 1950, during the Korean War. Thus, he became the first martyr of that conflict.



Chuncheon is a city surrounded by beautiful lakes (Lake Soyang and Lake Uiam) but located close to the 38th parallel, a symbol of division. It was the place where the first fierce battle took place during the Korean War.



Fr. Anthony Collier served at Soyangno parish for six months only, but his dedication is remembered to be a good example of giving out his life for others. He volunteered to die for Gabriel Gyeong-ho Kim, an altar server and catechist at the parish. Fr. Anthony let Gabriel be alive because he had a family.



Gabriel gave an eyewitness account of the martyrdom of Fr. Anthony Collier: "They proposed covering his eyes, but Father refused. They shot him in the back.  They fired five times and the first, fourth, and fifth shots were aimed at Father. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon. Father fell down without any words.  I lost consciousness when the Red Army left the place. When I first regained consciousness, Father was still breathing, and the sun was still high. When I came to my senses again, he had stopped breathing, he was covered with a straw mat, and the sun was setting. There were bullet wounds on Father's face and arm."



In 1953, Fr. James Buckley was appointed as the third pastor of Soyangno parish and was asked to build a church in memory of Fr. Anthony. With the help and support of friends and benefactors, Fr. James completed the church building in a semi-circular interior with no supporting pillars inside and dedicated it on September 3, 1956.



With a modern architectural design, Soyangno parish was designated as a Registered Cultural Property No. 161 in 2005. The pews inside are arranged in a fan shape with the altar at the center.



The "Peace pilgrimage route" in Chuncheon starts from Soyangno parish, passes through Nakwon Cultural Park where Fr. Anthony was martyred, and ends in Jukrimdong Cathedral where the parish martyr cemetery is located.





The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (fsp.pauline.or.kr.) living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication.


By Park Jung-won





In his speech at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 21, President Moon Jae-in once more proposed a declaration to formally end the Korean War and asked for the international community's support. That he would make a desperate attempt to rekindle a spark in the peace process before his term of office ends in May 2022 is quite understandable, yet in actuality this was an admission that his policy toward North Korea has failed.



Aside from historical ideological disagreement, the greatest obstacle to peace with North Korea is now the nuclear issue, which can be divided into the periods before and after Nov. 29, 2017. This was the day when North Korea demonstrated its nuclear capability to strike the United States with the launch of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile and declared the completion of its nuclear force.



Since then, the nuclear issue has taken on a totally different dimension. North Korea is no longer just a problem between the two Koreas or a regional security problem in Northeast Asia, but rather a global issue. North Korea's external strategy is now driven by the confidence it derives from this enhanced nuclear capability.



More than a few pro-Moon policy analysts have argued that the current stalemate between the two Koreas stems from the U.S.'s failure to be fully cooperative with the inter-Korean peace process initiated in 2018 through the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration, the June 12 Singapore Joint Statement and the Sept. 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration.



According to these analysts, the underlying cause of the stalemate is the absence of genuine will on the part of the U.S. to sustain and advance the denuclearization process. In particular, they point to the U.S.'s walking out of talks at the U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi on Feb. 28, 2019, as the key cause. But is that really the case?



The reason the Hanoi summit collapsed was because of the divergent understandings North Korea and the U.S. held of what the denuclearization of North Korea means. As North Korea understood it, the core of the deal in Hanoi was that it would give up its Yongbyon nuclear complex, with the removal of U.N. sanctions in return. However, for its part, the U.S. wanted North Korea to give up more than Yongbyon because it knew that North Korea possessed additional, undeclared uranium-enrichment plants.



Immediately after the Hanoi talks broke down, then North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with South Korean reporters and expressed dissatisfaction, describing the U.S.'s logic as strange. North Korea had ceased nuclear weapons and missile tests, so why wasn't the U.S. lifting sanctions? But this characterization was flawed.



The sanctions were not imposed because of nuclear and missile tests per se, but rather were a response to the enhancement of nuclear capabilities demonstrated by those very tests. Therefore, sanctions will not be eased until the reduction of this nuclear capability is implemented; a mere suspension of testing is insufficient. It was North Korea, and not the U.S., that had got its logic wrong.



Pro-Moon policy experts say that a promise to declare an end to the war affirmed in the aforementioned declarations and statements was not kept. It is theoretically possible to achieve denuclearization by first declaring an end to the war as a gateway toward an eventual peace process. However, this scenario entails peace being "secured" despite North Korea being able to keep its nuclear weapons for some indefinite period.



Moreover, North Korea is not offering to "end the war" at the stroke of a pen. It demands conditions: the elimination of "double standards," such as the disparate treatment of each side's missile launches, and the ending of the so-called "hostile policy," which includes joint military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea and raising North Korean human-rights issues.



Why are North Korea's missile launches considered a provocation, whereas South Korea's missile launches are just a normal part of a military build-up? Because North Korea has developed nuclear weapons that have been outlawed by U.N. Security Council resolutions. This is the fundamental reason why the "denuclearization of North Korea," and not the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," has become the key issue at the U.N. Nevertheless, Moon mentioned but failed to demand the denuclearization of North Korea in his speech at the U.N.



Certain government practices can develop and eventually become established through continued justification backed by persuasive arguments. Moon's administration has failed to persuade the South Korean people why its policies and actions toward North Korea, at every stage of the so-called peace process, are justified.



North Korea's destruction of a joint liaison office, largely paid for by South Korea, in Kaesong on June 16, 2020, in protest of the South's failure to stop anti-North Korean leaflets from being sent over the border is a typical example. Moon's administration has not asked the North for compensation nor an apology.



The pursuit of a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue has now shifted back to a long-term trajectory; there can be no quick fix. If Moon rushes to hold another summit with the North Korean leader, it will be a meaningless political stunt. Since the perception of "North Korea" in South Korean society has long been discussed within the framework of biased ideological thinking, or "camp logic," the problem of inter-Korean relations has also been framed according to progressive and conservative viewpoints rather than an accurate assessment of the situation. Now is the time to abandon this lunacy.





Park Jung-won (park_jungwon@hotmail.com), Ph.D. in law from the London School of Economics (LSE), is professor of international law at Dankook University.


Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, center, speaks during the Global Vaccine Hub Preparatory Committee's meeting in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



Songdo to become biotech production base



By Baek Byung-yeul



Korea is on course to become a global hub for vaccine production and distribution as the government has vowed to strengthen support for bio firms while local biotech companies promised to invest 6.29 trillion won ($5.3 billion) between now and 2024.



The government held a meeting of the Global Vaccine Hub Preparatory Committee, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Tuesday. The meeting was the preparatory committee's second gathering following its first meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in on Aug. 5.



Featuring a total of 27 officials from the government and private sectors, the government discussed providing funds to build production facilities for vaccine and raw materials companies and 6.29 trillion won worth of private facility investment support to foster competitive companies in the sector.



Also, the government is working on attracting investments from overseas companies, announcing that German-based pharmaceutical and laboratory equipment supplier Sartorius AG decided to increase its investment in Songdo to $300 million from its previous plan of $100 million.



As the vaccine hub strategy takes shape, the prime minister said Korea will be able to close in on "vaccine sovereignty" at a time when the country is working on improving the COVID-19 vaccination rate here.



"We will fully support the realization of vaccine sovereignty by commercializing the first domestic COVID-19 vaccine by the first half of next year," the prime minister said during the meeting in Seoul.



"The government will help companies undergoing Phase 1 or Phase 2 clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine to quickly enter Phase 3 trials. In particular, the government will pre-purchase vaccines made by companies that have entered Phase 3 trials. We will also operate a pan-government intensive support system, such as shortening the approval period," he said.



In order to bring vaccine and bio-related raw material businesses up to the status of the country's core industry  like semiconductors  the committee said the government will support private companies to invest in establishing facilities.



Under the plan, Samsung Biologics, the global leading drug manufacturer, will invest a total of 4.24 trillion won between now and 2024. Samsung's investment plan includes spending 1.74 trillion won to build its fourth production facility in Songdo District in Incheon by 2022 and 2.5 trillion won for its fifth and sixth plants there until 2024.



Celltrion will invest 1.5 trillion won to build a production facility and research center, SK Bioscience will invest 270 billion won to open a vaccine research center and Prestige Biologics will pour 226 billion won into adding another production base. In total, 15 private companies will invest 6.29 trillion won.



To help private firms carry out their planned expansions, the government will try to create conducive environment for the local vaccine industry and abolish unreasonable regulations.



The government will provide subsidies for firms that lack financial capability. It will provide 18 billion won secured from this year's supplementary budget to 14 companies by the end of 2021 so that vaccine and raw material companies that have investment plans but lack funding can entrust and produce vaccines independently.



To truly become a hub for vaccine production, the government is pushing for to take part in the World Health Organization's plan to create a hub to nurture human resources in the biotechnology sector.



The WHO is pushing ahead with this project to expand the vaccination capacity for middle and low-income families, and Korea hopes to participate in the field of training to contribute to developing manpower for overcoming the global infectious disease crisis and resolving vaccine inequality.


The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability, Dec. 15, 2016, in Washington. China is accusing the U.S. of a "lack of transparency and responsibility" regarding an accident in the South China Sea involving the USS Connecticut last month. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday said the U.S. should provide full details of the incident. AP-Yonhap



China on Tuesday accused the U.S. of a ''lack of transparency and responsibility'' regarding an accident in the South China Sea involving a Navy submarine last month.



At a daily briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the U.S. should provide full details of the incident that has revived the dispute between the two countries over the strategic waterway.



''We once again urge the U.S. to give a detailed account of the accident,'' he said.



Wang described what he called a ''lack of transparency and responsibility'' by the U.S. in following up with the incident.



He said the U.S. has so far failed to offer ''a clear explanation'' of what the Navy nuclear submarine was doing in the area, as well as ''the specific location of the accident, whether it was in another country's exclusive economic zone or even territorial waters, whether it caused a nuclear leak or damaged marine environment.''



China claims sovereignty over virtually the entire marine area, through which trillions of dollars of international trade pass each year. Six governments in all claim islands, atolls and exclusive economic zones in the sea, while the U.S. insists that freedom of navigation be maintained, reinforcing that with regular military flights and Naval patrols and training missions around the region.



Two Navy officials speaking on condition of anonymity on Monday said the service had determined the nuclear powered USS Connecticut struck a seamount, or underwater mountain.



The Navy has yet to fully explain how or why the sub struck the seamount or to reveal the extent of damage to the Seawolf-class submarine.



The Navy has said the submarine's nuclear reactor and propulsion system were not damaged. The collision caused a small number of moderate and minor injuries to the crew. USNI News, which was first to report that the sub had struck a seamount, said damage to the forward section of the submarine damaged its ballast tanks.



The incident happened on Oct. 2 but was not reported by the Navy until five days later. The vessel sailed to Guam for a damage assessment, where it remains. (AP)


People walk to rescue workers from the rubble of a 21-storey building that collapsed at Ikoyi district of Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 1. AFP-Yonhap



At least two people were killed and dozens more remain missing after the collapse of a 21-story apartment building being built in an upscale area of Nigeria's largest city, witnesses said on Monday.



Rescue operations only started about three hours after the building had crumbled in the Ikoyi area of Lagos. Two bodies had been removed by late afternoon, according to those at the scene.



Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos, was met on his arrival at the site in Ikoyi by angry crowds who said authorities had failed to respond quickly to the tragedy.



''People we eat together with are inside. What are they doing here? Nothing!'' eyewitness Godwin Bere shouted.



Construction worker Eric Tetteh, 41, said that he and his brother had managed to escape. But he estimated that more than 100 people were inside the building at the time it crumbled into a pile of debris.



Workers said the high rise apartment building had been under construction for about two years, and it was not immediately known what had caused the collapse.





Rescue workers are seen at the site of a collapsed 21-story apartment building under construction in Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 1. AP-Yonhap
1. Comedian Amanda Seales (of HBOs Insecure) is about to take you to school. Sick of the stereotypes about African Americans in media and the overall lack of knowledge of black history, Seales mixes humor and her doctorate in African American studies with her love of games and music to cr


Description

Herr Foods Inc Route Sales Representative (Middletown, DE)

Middletown, DE 19709 Herr Foods Inc. is the largest privately owned salty snack food manufacturer and distributor in the country, we are based in Nottingham, PA and we think our 1600+ employees are pretty spectacular! We have been committed for the last 75 years to making our Herrs family business an enjoyable place to work! ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $250.00 SIGN ON BONUS! We are currently seeking a qualified individual for the Route Sales position, joining our Nottingham, PA team. SALARY RANGE: Opportunity to earn up to $42,000-$47,000 annually

SCHEDULE: S plit-week schedule off Wednesday and Sunda y , approximately 45- 50 hours a week.

BENEFITS :This positionis full-time benefit eligible , elective benefits include: Medical, dental, hearing and vision insurance. Opportunity to contribute to a 401k, company profit sharing. Paid vacation, holiday and sick time. Paid Employee referral program.

Job Summary: Safely drives step-van delivery truck over any assigned route to sell, deliver, and merchandise products, as well as provide excellent customer service to a variety of grocery, mass merchandise, and independent chain stores. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Sell, deliver, stock and merchandise Herr's brand snack foods to grocery retail and independent chain stores.

Progressively increase current customer sales volume. This includes and is not limited to:

Building relationships with key decision makers

Providing excellent customer service

Inquiring about customer needs

Communicating product knowledge and suggestive selling

Increase customer base by soliciting new accounts

Execute company sponsored promotional programs by acquiring temporary and incremental product displays, shelving, and racks.

Rotate and provide credit to accounts for stale or damaged items in order to provide the freshest product.

Process orders by entering product codes into hand-held computers.

Collect cash from customers and accurately process associated invoices

Manage daily accuracy of product inventory.

Conduct daily pre-trip vehicle safety inspection, and maintain a clean truck Qualifications Must be at least 18 years of age.

Must have a valid driver's license in the current state of residence.

Must possess and excellent driving record.

No more than 2 moving violations within the past 3 years

No DUIs within the past 3 years

Must possess a high school diploma or general education degree (GED)

Must pass a job-related assessment with a score of 70% or better.

All Herr Foods Inc. job offers are contingent upon successfully passing a drug test. Herr Foods also has a Random Drug Testing program for all active employees.

Able to read, write, understand and speak English.

Possess a stable work history with good references.

Display evidence of sound judgment and have the ability to adapt quickly to different work and driving conditions.

Possess strong communication, persuasion, and organizational skills.

Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage priorities effectively. Physical Demands Constantly reaching; frequently sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, kneeling, climbing, driving and lifting up to 32 pounds

Occasionally lifting and carrying up to 48 pounds and pushing or pulling up to 40 pounds Benefit (Details): Herrs is proud to offer a variety of quality benefits and wellness programs where we have been recognized as a 5-time Well Workplace Award winner in the area! Elective benefits include medical, dental, vision and hearing insurance; long term disability, life insurance, accident, hospital and critical illness indemnity plans, and legal plans. The company also provides opportunities to contribute to a 401k, company profit sharing, vacation, sick and holiday pay; EAP services, and tuition reimbursement. Benefits start the first of the month following 30 days of service (unless otherwise noted in plan description). Herr Foods Inc. is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer M/F/Veterans/Disabilities Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.

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Requirements

None






POSTION: Student Trainee LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI POSTING DATE: October 29, 2021 CLOSING DATE: Open until filled; applications received by November 26, 2021 will be given priority consideration. AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all qualified individuals. EMPLOYMENT TERMS: Temporary (12 months, 1 day); full-time. May extend based on need and budget. Required to use Electronic Fund Transfer for payroll direct deposit. CLASSIFICATION / SALARY RANGE: CL-22 $29,415 to $47,849 (Salary commensurate with experience) Do you have questions or want to learn more about the roles of a Student Trainee in the ED/WI? Curious if this is the career path for you? Please join us for one of the following virtual information sessions hosted by current ED/WI Probation staff members. Visit WIEP / Home / Career Opportunities for the Zoom link details: WednesdayNovember 10-11:00 a.m. TuesdayNovember 16-5:30 p.m. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT No. 2021-03



STUDENT TRAINEE POSITION OVERVIEW:

Explore the field of Federal Probation and Pretrial Services in an operational court support position. Student Trainees provide administrative support to probation officers and officer assistants in a wide range of areas, including assisting with conducting investigations, compiling criminal background information, and contacting collateral agencies.



MISSION:

1) To assist the federal courts in the fair administration of justice.

2) To protect the community.

3) To bring about long-term positive change in individuals under supervision.

4) Charter for Excellence (click link to review)



SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT:

The United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin is committed to promoting the fair, impartial, and just treatment of all people. We are committed to a culture where each person feels seen, heard, and supported. We oppose racism and discrimination in all of its forms and are committed to intervening when these moments occur. We agree to listen, speak up, intervene, and learn from our own mistakes in our commitment toward social justice.



EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN:

The Eastern District of Wisconsin (ED/WI) is comprised of the eastern third portion of the state, with the main office located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a satellite office located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Our organization takes pride in supervising individuals based on their risk, providing thorough and informative reports and recommendations to the Court, utilizing evidence-based principles and providing resources for success. Our agency also takes pride in providing a flexible work schedule, strong office culture, and accountability of staff. REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: Assist officers with preparing and processing forms and documents, ensuring consistency and accuracy among courtsupplied

documents. Contact various local, state and national law enforcement agencies as directed to collect and record information to assist with investigations concerning persons charged with a federal offense when they are arrested or summoned to court.

Assist clerical support with administrative duties such as greeting visitors, routing phone calls, processing mail, scanning case documents, conducting database searches, compiling information, and entering data into the offices computerized database system.

Perform other duties as assigned.



QUALIFICATIONS:

1) The selected candidate must be a U.S. citizen or foreign national eligible for federal employment.

2) Graduation from high school or equivalent.

3) Office or other work experience that indicates the possession of, or the ability to acquire, the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the listed duties.

4) General knowledge of the criminal justice system and legal terminology.

5) Basic computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products.

In addition to the above the following are Preferred Skills and Characteristics:

1) Applicant is currently enrolled or completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in social work, criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, human relations, or a related field of study. Proof of enrollment or completion of degree must be provided.

2) Excellent oral and written communication skills.

3) Effectively communicate with a diverse population with respect and dignity, both in person and on the phone.

4) Ability to maintain confidentiality.

5) Ability to work in a team setting.

6) Flexibility in adapting to workplace changes. BENEFITS:

The opportunity to serve in a rewarding public service position

Accrual of paid vacation and sick leave

12 paid federal holidays

Health, life, dental, vision and long-term care insurance plans available

A defined benefit pension plan

On-site fitness center (Milwaukee)

Traditional (pre-tax) and Roth (after-tax) retirement savings and investment plans through the Thrift

Savings Plan (TSP) with employer matching contributions

Paid parking

Medical and childcare reimbursement accounts

Training opportunities (funds permitting)

Telework and flexible work schedules available, dependent on performance

May qualify for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees program Federal

Student Aid



For more information on benefits visit our website by clicking apply to this job posting. APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

To be considered for this opportunity you must submit ALL required information in one pdf document. Partial application materials will not be considered. Email documents to: Jobs_wiep@wiep.uscourts.gov Attention Student Trainee 21-03 1) A cover letter including a narrative specifically addressing your qualifications, skills, characteristics, and relevant experience which make you a good candidate for this position. 2) AO 78 Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment located at: https://www.wiep.uscourts.gov/... 3) Unofficial copy of academic transcripts. Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position. Due to the volume of applications, the U.S. Probation Office will only communicate with those individuals who will be invited for testing and personal interviews. The U.S. Probation Office will not reimburse candidates for interview or relocation expenses. This office provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interviewing process, please notify the local human resources representative in the e-mail sent with your application packet. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis. The U.S. Probation Office reserves the right to amend or withdraw any announcement without written notice to applicants. If a subsequent vacancy of the same position in either the Milwaukee or Green Bay office becomes available within a reasonable time, the Chief U.S. Probation Officer may select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool without reposting the position. The U.S. Probation Office will not reimburse candidates for interview or relocation expenses.

This office provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interviewing process, please notify the local human resources representative in the e-mail sent with your application packet. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.



The U.S. Probation Office reserves the right to amend or withdraw any announcement without written notice to applicants. If a subsequent vacancy of the same position in either the Milwaukee or Green Bay office becomes available within a reasonable time, the Chief U.S. Probation Officer may select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool without reposting the position.



The Eastern District of Wisconsin Probation Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Opening for Position of Administrative Assistant

The Mukilteo Education Association is an independent, self-governing union for 1,100 certificated

members in the Mukilteo School District. The Association purpose is to advance the interests of the

profession, to bargain collectively, and to promote the cause of public education in the Mukilteo School

District, the State of Washington, and nationally.

The Mukilteo Education Association represents all members of the bargaining unit fairly and does not

discriminate in representation on the basis of membership or non-membership in the Association, race

creed, religion, ethnic or national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression

or identity, domicile or age.

The Mukilteo Education Association is seeking applicants for the position of Administrative Assistant.

A job description is included below.

The deadline for receipt of cover letter, resume, signed application and list of three references is on or

before November 15, 2021.

Location & Demographics

The Mukilteo Education Association (MEA) is located in Mukilteo and serves 1,100 plus members. The

MEA Office is located in the Sterling Business Park in Mukilteo. The office staff consists of the MEA

President and Administrative Assistant.

Responsibilities

 Provide administrative support to ensure efficient operation of office.

 Exhibit polite, professional, and confidential communication via phone, e-mail, and mail.

 Support association by performing administrative/clerical tasks related to organization.

 Collect, record, and maintain information pertaining to membership dues, dues status and dues status;

provide reports as necessary.

 Prepare monthly billing of membership for District payroll and dues process.

 Maintain financial records for the association; compiling and maintaining records of office business

transactions.

 Prepares financial reports, bank reconciliations, and deposits as required.

 Coordinate and prepare documents for the annual audit, regulatory and tax filings, and other reports as

needed.

 Maintain association website.

Job Requirements

 Associate Degree or relevant experience.

 Highly organized and detail-oriented; ability to multi-task.

 Administrative, bookkeeping, or equivalent experience; competence with computerized accounting

software.

 Strong interpersonal skills.

 Computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

 Ability to keep association information confidential.

Salary, Time, and Benefits

The Mukilteo Education Association offers a competitive salary and benefit package, as well as the ability to

coordinate a flexible work schedule.

Salary range: $30.00 - $35.00 per hour, depending on experience. Based on the time commitment outlined

below, this is an annual salary of: $35, 160 - $41,020

Time: We are negotiable on working hours. The expected time commitment is based on 190 six-hour

workdays starting mid-August through the last day of school for the Mukilteo School District.

During the school year, days off/ holidays are based on the Mukilteo School District

Holidays/No School Schedule. The contract includes four-hours per week during summer break.

Benefits: - Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits

- 3 personal days per contracted year

- 2 days of sick leave per contracted year

- 10% of contracted gross salary contributed to a retirement plan

- Mileage reimbursement Application Procedure and References

To be considered for this position the following documents are required:

 Cover letter

 Resume reflecting qualifications for this position

 Signed MEA application form

 List of 2 professional references (including contact information).

The deadline for receipt of cover letter, resume, signed application, and list of # references is on or

before 5:00 pm on November 15, 2021. Interviews will be held approximately 14 days following

the closing date of November 15, 2021.

Mail, deliver or email the above materials to:

Mukilteo Education Association

8221 44th Ave W, Suite A

Mukilteo, WA 98275-2847

Email: DRadabaugh@WashingtonEA.org

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We will be at home during the Thanksgiving holiday.

We will make a brief trip away from home.

We will spend most of the Thanksgiving holiday away from home.

Vote

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In an important development, a fresh wave of strikes is currently rolling across the small Southern African state of eSwatini. This has become some of the most significant movements by the working class in the countrys history. Despite severe repression, new layers are entering the struggle, including transport workers, nurses and government workers, as well as other sections such as students. This entrance of the working class onto the scene in such an organised way could provide the necessary momentum to topple the absolute monarchy of Mswati III.

The country has been rocked by a revolutionary crisis since June, when decades of anger and frustration against intolerable living conditions as well as the despotic rule of king Mswati III finally burst onto the streets. Now, the working class is entering the scene and has launched a general strike, which has crippled the country.

Strike wave

The campaign has gone through many phases, mobilising different sections of the society. Its momentum over the past few weeks has been building on the student front, with boycotts and protests under the leadership of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS). Crucially, this action has now linked up with the movement of the working class. This momentum culminated in a country-wide protest with public transport workers, civil servants and many other sectors taking the streets on Friday.

The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) held protests in multiple locations across Eswatini since Thursday. The latest reports indicate that the workers are continuing the strike. If this is confirmed, it indicates that they are ready to wage an all-out struggle against the regime. Despite heavy repression and censorship, demonstrations were held in Siteki, Manzini, Mbabane, Piggs Peak, Nhlangano, and Hluthi.

Last week Friday; thousands of protesters advocating for democracy gathered at Steki. This was before the army opened live rounds of ammunition shooting and injuring many protesters who are currently flooded in hospitals getting medical attention.#EswatiniProtests #Expo2020 pic.twitter.com/zG8osTQk9H  Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland (@EFFSwazi) October 18, 2021

On 20 October, the unions also held demonstrations in the capital Mbabane and the commercial hub of Manzini. The police opened fire on the demonstrations, killing two and injuring at least 80 protestors, with the majority occurring in Mbabane. Again, the repressive measures failed to quell the protests.

In the east of the country, on the outskirts of Siteki town, a protest was held outside the police station demanding justice for Nhlanhla Kunene, who was killed by the police on 9 October for a curfew violation. The community was furious and decided to break the curfew themselves for several nights, despite heavy state repression. This is just one of many such heroic examples. The movement is now spreading like wildfire.

On 13 October, a student of Nzongomane High School near Nhlangano town was shot dead by the police at a small demonstration. Following the murder of this student, important sections of the society, including public transport workers and government workers such as teachers and nurses joined the protests. A wave of indignation soon swept the country culminating in a national strike on 15 October, which paralysed the country. The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) said the city has been brought to a standstill as public transport operators across the country joined the protests. This is a very important development. The working class is beginning to enter the arena of struggle and through their action, they can sense their strength.

On the same day, dozens suffered gunshot wounds when the police and army attacked unarmed protesters. Four deaths have been reported. Vehicles rushing the injured protesters to the government hospital in the capital city, Mbabane, were not allowed to enter the premises. The entrances were blocked for the security of King Mswati III, who was inaugurating a new outpatient department building in the hospital, less than a couple of kilometres away from where the protesters were being attacked by his security forces.

As it happens at Mbabane #EswatiniProtests pic.twitter.com/8gWqeBnNWf  Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland (@EFFSwazi) October 20, 2021

This was met by scenes of fury and revulsion at the callousness of the king. Running battles between police and protestors went long into the night. Then, in a new development, nurses at the hospital announced that they would refuse to treat any police or security official injured in the clashes. In the northwest, on the outskirts of Piggs Peak town, a police officer was beaten up after his weapon was snatched by the protesters.

Last Friday, the state shut down the internet for two hours as demonstrators headed to the capital. The shutdown came as images of the protests circulated on social and traditional media, including pictures of two people who said they had been injured by gunshots fired by security forces. The internet shutdown blocked social media completely for two hours, and left many services running very slowly afterwards.

On Saturday, the situation was calm. The government said it had shut the schools indefinitely with immediate effect", as the country faces a wave of protests. Students have been protesting for a number of weeks, boycotting lessons and calling for free schooling, as well as an end to the regime under King Mswati III. According to reports, the army and police have been deployed in schools this week, and several students have been arrested.

Repression fails to stop the movement

Protests are still raging across the country despite the heavy response from the state. The killing, arbitrary arrest and detention of unarmed civilians have not made the protests go away. If anything, they seem to be emboldening resistance and creating conditions for the situation to intensify. The Emaswati masses have lost their fear of the regime. This is a very dangerous situation from the standpoint of the ruling class.

The murder of Thabani Nkomonye, a law student at the University of Swaziland, by the police in May triggered an already volatile situation into sustained protest action. Protests erupted after a decree by King Mswati III on 24 June banning citizens from sending petitions to parliamentarians to demand democratic reforms.

The ban fuelled protests in the countrys two largest cities of Manzini and Mbabane, with demonstrators calling for the king to step down and allow for a transition to a more democratic regime. Buildings connected to King Mswati III were reportedly torched by protesters. The anger of the protests has been fueled by the deteriorating economic situation and COVID-19 restrictions.

Since the start of protests, the government has launched a ruthless crackdown. But despite this, the state has failed to quell the masses. On the contrary, the repressive measures only serve to provide new fuel to the burning hatred the masses have for the regime. Dozens of people have been killed and many others tortured, detained or abducted. Authorities have also ordered internet and telecommunications shutdowns. As protests continue to intensify, authorities have deployed security forces to crush dissent, closed schools indefinitely and instructed mobile telephone network companies to shut down the internet and social media platforms.

For an all-out general strike to bring down the king!

The masses of eSwatini must, as a matter of urgency, form Self-Defence Units, and Worker and Peasants Militias and Village Defence Units to protect themselves from the violence of the state. The emaSwati masses must keep up the fight against the cruel and decadent regime, which has brutally exploited the working class and peasantry. We have seen street fights in Mbabane, Manzini, and other urbanised centres, where there is a greater presence of the working class, and it is clear the masses are ready to fight to the death if they must. The ruling class is on the backfoot. But now the masses must finish the job.

The first and most important call from the unions and CPS must be for an all-out and continuous general strike and popular insurrection in eSwatini, with the aim of overthrowing the monarchy. Action committees must be set up in all factories, neighbourhoods and schools and connected on local and national levels, in order to coordinate the struggle. Galvanised around the slogan for a democratic republic, such a strike will paralyse the country, cripple the ailing regime, and set the stage for the working class to take power. This must be organised quickly and decisively.

We must point out that the mere abolition of the monarchy in eSwatini will not end the suffering of the people. Any political democratic reforms that do not include the working class taking power and putting the wealth of Mswati III under democratic public ownership, will see power merely being transferred to a new elite of capitalists who will rush to fill the power vacuum. As long as capitalism is maintained, we will still see the continued exploitation of the Emaswatini people.

The people of eSwatini cannot rely on help from the liberal opposition. Opposition and civil rights groups have called on organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU), or the United Nations (UN) to intervene. Even if these organisations were to force Mswati to step down, such action would only serve to take power away from the working class and hand it over to the liberals. The honeymoon of a new democratic eSwatini would be short-lived, as the assets of the former king, including mines, agriculture and real estate, would be sold off to the private sector instead of taken under democratic public control.

It is critical for the working class of eSwatini to take its future into its own hands. Violence from the brutal crackdown must be defended against by organising community and workers defense committees. Workers across the economy must also organise into a mass general strike. This is the only way forward. From this, the working class can demand not just the kings overthrow, but the placement of his extensive economic assets under democratic workers control for the benefit of the people.
Last weekend saw the inspiring in-person return of Revolution Festival. With over 600 attendees, 32 incredible talks, and tens-of-thousands of pounds raised, this phenomenal event represents a major landmark for the forces of Marxism.

As the global capitalist system lurches from one crisis to the next, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify a single genuine optimist within the ranks of the ruling class.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause chaos throughout the world. The mighty machine of US imperialism has suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. And in Britain, while the Tories indulge in jingoistic adventurism, the working class faces shortages and austerity.

Meanwhile, at the time of writing, world leaders are gathering at COP26 in Glasgow to haggle over emissions targets, while the threat of ecological catastrophe mounts.

The widespread pessimism that engulfs the capitalist class at present contrasts sharply with the exhilarating mood of revolutionary optimism on display at Revolution Festival 2021.

Last weekend, from 29-31 October, over 600 activists gathered in London to discuss the importance of Marxist theory, and the need for a revolutionary alternative to the bankrupt capitalist system.

With a notably youthful and dynamic attendance, this incredible and inspiring event represents a major landmark for the building of the forces of Marxism, in Britain and internationally. As Lenin famously remarked: he who has the youth has the future!

Social explosion

On Friday evening, the queue outside Friends House stretched down Euston Road as comrades waited excitedly to gain entry to the first session of the weekend.

Attendees travelled from as far as Cornwall and Aberdeen  as well as from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and France  for the first in-person Revolution Festival in two years.

Its good to be back, remarked Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, as he opened Fridays rally with a discussion about the crises and class struggles in Britain.

Queue down the DAMN STREET for @socialist_apps Revolution Festival!!



This is gonna be mega.#RevFest2021  pic.twitter.com/u7BS26jG9Z  Joseph Attard (@josephattard02) October 29, 2021

As Rob outlined, British capitalism is under the grip of its worst crisis for over 300 years. Despite the Tories delusional pledge that Brexit would herald a glorious return to the days of Rule Britannia, the reality is that they will deliver only cuts and austerity, as the working class is presented with the bill for the money spent by the government to prop up the system during the pandemic.

Its going to create a social explosion in Britain, Rob explained. Workers have suffered and sacrificed during successive lockdowns, and they are now ready to demand their fair share of the promised recovery. Widespread strikes are therefore on the horizon, as we enter a new period of the class struggle in Britain.

During this session, comrades also heard impassioned reports from the frontlines of the labour and student movements.

One especially revealing intervention came from a junior doctor in the NHS, who gave a poignant and impassioned account of the abject conditions faced by healthcare workers, whose struggles are met with condescending and tokenistic gestures from the government and hospital executives.

The room rose to a standing ovation as the young comrade called for the expropriation of the banks and monopolies to secure a fully funded NHS; and the replacement of unaccountable, self-serving bureaucrats with democratic workers control of the healthcare system.

From Lenin to Latin America

The festival continued with an exciting array of discussions throughout Saturday and Sunday, with each session presenting comrades with a tough choice between five excellent simultaneous discussions.

Talks covered ongoing struggles from Palestine to Latin America, as well as important episodes from revolutionary history, such as the Paris Commune and the life and ideas of Lenin.

Saturday mornings session on Afghanistan, for example, provided vital historical background to the recent disastrous withdrawal by US imperialism.

Jorge Martin, a regular contributor to In Defence of Marxism, detailed how decades of imperialist meddling have sown chaos and tragedy in a country with a proud revolutionary tradition. This is a tradition that must be revived to throw off the yoke of reactionary barbarism and foreign domination.

Revolutionary theory

The weekend also demonstrated a profound and widespread interest in revolutionary theory.

Introductory sessions on economics, history, and philosophy, for example, helped to educate a new layer of activists in the fundamentals of Marxism.

Over the course of the festival, meanwhile, there were half-a-dozen sessions related to philosophy  part of a global campaign launched by the International Marxist Tendency to stress the need for genuinely revolutionary ideas in guiding the movements that are erupting across the world today.

The strong attendance and high level of discussion at these sessions  covering the Marxist view on dialectics, materialism, morality, and postmodernism  demonstrated that the study of philosophy is far from an obscure and irrelevant academic pursuit. Rather, it is of vital importance and interest to activists, with workers and youth looking for ideas that can provide a real understanding and way forward for the struggle against exploitation and oppression.

This culminated on Saturday evening with the launch of Alan Woods new book The History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective  a landmark publication from Wellred Books.

In a broad and far-reaching address, Alan demonstrated the importance of a strong grasp of philosophy for anyone who wants to understand the world  and to fight to change it.

We are publishing this book to allow you to conquer these ideas for yourselves, Alan explained.

Revolutionary theory  of which philosophy is a fundamental part  is the most important weapon in the arsenal of any Marxist. As Alan emphasised, quoting Lenin: Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement.

The study of Marxist philosophy and of theory is therefore an endeavour that must be pursued by all those who wish to commit themselves to the cause of socialist revolution.

Determination and sacrifice

In addition to the fantastic quality of the political discussions throughout the weekend, this years festival also demonstrated the determination and enthusiasm for building a fighting revolutionary organisation based on the firm foundations of Marxist ideas.

This years Revolution Festival also demonstrated the determination and enthusiasm for building a fighting revolutionary organisation based on the firm foundations of Marxist ideas / Image: Socialist Appeal

Following the conclusion of Alans remarks on Saturday evening, the room remained packed out for a discussion on the importance of revolutionary finance  including a collection to raise funds for building the forces of Marxism, in Britain and internationally.

Socialist Appeal activists from across the country had already raised tens of thousands of pounds in the weeks before the event. But comrades in the room set an inspirational example by donating a further 16,000 during the session, bringing the total to 66,000.

A further 4,500 was raised throughout the weekend through the sale of books and other educational material  again reiterating the thirst for theory that exists. A further 2,500 was raised through the sale of merchandise.

Forces of Marxism

This spirit of revolutionary sacrifice demonstrates the wholehearted commitment amongst comrades to the most important historical task of our time: laying the foundation for the construction of a mass Marxist force  one that can play a decisive role in the revolutionary events that impend.

the most important historical task of our time is that of laying the foundation for the construction of a mass Marxist force / Image: Socialist Appeal

This is an urgent task. As Rob remarked on Friday night: If we had five or ten thousand Marxists in 2015, the Corbyn movement would have been fundamentally different.

Titanic battles lie ahead for the working class in Britain and internationally. A leadership must be built that is worthy of these mass movements.

Those who attended Revolution Festival 2021 received an invaluable education in Marxist ideas  the only set of ideas that have the power to radically transform our world.

And as Marx himself stated: ideas can become a material force when they have gripped the minds of the masses.

The next steps are clear, therefore. We must carry these ideas into the struggles taking place  industrially, politically, and on the streets  and build a revolutionary force around them.

We call on workers and youth to join us in this task.


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ORLEANS, MASS.  The search for a plane that took off from Reading Regional Airport on Sunday and never made it to its destination in Massachusetts has been called off, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.
If you have your mail-in ballot, you will need to surrender it (and the envelopes provided) to be voided and will be allowed to cast your vote.
The commissioners have taken responsibility for the mistake and said they know how it was made. They said the instructions were based on a template from the May 18, 2021, primary. The month was changed for the general election, but the day of the month was not.
Other counties require requesters to appear in person at the county election office, an added layer of complication. Counties have different rules about accessing records in person, such as paperwork to fill out or whether to schedule an appointment. And this information isnt usually easily available online  people have to call or email. People who are interested in viewing documents but work during the day face an extra burden, as election offices are often only open during regular business hours.
He said if eligible state workers would get vaccinated at the same rate as state adult residents, about 49,000 of them would qualify for the bonus. If their average salary is $50,000, and half them take the cash instead of the time off, the cash cost would be about $24.5 million.
Prior General Assemblies specified, in establishing the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund, that money be appropriated only when emergencies involving the health, safety or welfare of the residents of this Commonwealth or downturns in the economy  not to be used to start new programs but to provide for the continuation of vital public programs in danger of eliminated or severely reduced due to financial problems resulting from the economy.
He could give them a cash incentive but thats more money on top of their salary. They will get their salary regardless. Maybe hes thinking they wont even be missed if they dont come to work for five days.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-01 18:17:52|Editor: huaxia

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People arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 1, 2021. Israel began on Monday allowing vaccinated tourists to enter the country for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel in March 2020. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, from now on, entry will be allowed to those who have not stayed in a country defined as "red" with high morbidity during the two weeks prior to arrival in Israel. Travelers recovered from the virus will also be permitted to enter Israel if they present a certificate that could be digitally verified by the ministry's systems. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel began on Monday allowing vaccinated tourists to enter the country for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel in March 2020.

So far, the entry of non-Israeli citizens into Israel has been permitted only in exceptional cases, including a limited number of tourist groups.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, from now on, entry will be allowed to those who have not stayed in a country defined as "red" with high morbidity during the two weeks prior to arrival in Israel.

The visitors must be vaccinated with one of eight vaccine brands against the virus, which are Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Covishield and SputniK-V vaccines.

Travelers recovered from the virus will also be permitted to enter Israel if they present a certificate that could be digitally verified by the ministry's systems.

In addition, every traveler will be required to present a negative result of a coronavirus test taken 72 hours prior to arrival in Israel and fill out and submit an entry statement.

The ministry noted that the outline is only valid for entry through Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv.

All arrivals will also have to undergo another coronavirus test at the Israeli airport and enter quarantine of up to 24 hours until result is received. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-01 23:46:00|Editor: huaxia

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Nov. 1, 2021. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest U.S.-led military flight over regional waters "provocative." (Photo by Ahmad Malek/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest U.S.-led military flight over regional waters "provocative."

When asked about the allocation of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars by Israel to counter Iran's nuclear program, Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran has never ruled out or ignored the threats posed by Israel against stability and security in the region.

"Basically, the nature of this regime (Israel) is creating crisis, and the roots of this regime are growing in insecurity and instability," Khatibzadeh said during his weekly press conference.

In the meantime, Israel is well aware of Iran's capabilities and its own limitations, and also knows that Iran is serious about its security, he added.

"We closely monitored and followed it in details," the Iranian spokesman said. "Those who carried out these provocative actions know that it was a colorless show not worth paying more attention to."

On Sunday, Israeli, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini fighter jets flew with a U.S. advanced fighter-bomber across the Middle Eastern maritime vital points, including the Strait of Hormuz south of Iran. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 00:36:19|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member unloads the COVID-19 vaccines from China at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Nov. 1, 2021. Tanzania on Monday received the second batch of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China, boosting the east African nation's drive to vaccinate its people against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)



DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Monday received the second batch of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China, boosting the east African nation's drive to vaccinate its people against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early October, Tanzania received 1,065,600 doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by the Chinese government via the COVAX facility.

Speaking shortly after receiving the 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dorothy Gwajima, thanked the Chinese government for the timely donation.

"The second consignment of the vaccines donated by the Chinese government will go a long way in helping Tanzania to fight the virus pandemic," said Gwajima.

The minister appealed to her fellow country men and women to get the Sinopharm vaccines, saying they are safe and they have been approved by the World Health Organization.

Chen Mingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, said the Chinese donated vaccines will play an effective role in helping the Tanzanian government to control the spread of the virus and protect the life and health of Tanzanians.

"We have developed safe and reliable vaccines that meet scientific standards and have gradually realized the recovery of social and economic development," she said.

Chen said China has until now provided more than 120 batches of pandemic prevention supplies to African countries, donated vaccines to more than 50 African countries and the African Union. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 02:07:51|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers work at the site of a building collapse in Lagos, Nigeria, on Nov. 1, 2021. At least four people were killed after a 21-storey building under construction collapsed Monday afternoon in the city of Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, an emergency management official said. (Photo by Gbenga Omotosho/Xinhua)

LAGOS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed after a 21-storey building under construction collapsed Monday afternoon in the city of Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, an emergency management official said.

Ibrahim Farinloye, the coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Lagos state, told Xinhua on the phone the 21-storey building under construction in the Ikoyi area of the Lagos city collapsed at about 3 p.m., local time, Monday, and so far four dead bodies have been recovered and four people been rescued alive.

Farinloye said the emergency phase of search and rescue is ongoing with additional assistance from the Nigerian army and air force, and more people are feared trapped.

He said what caused the collapse remains unclear and an investigation is underway.

Residents living in the area told Xinhua the building was under construction for more than one year, and more than 50 people, mostly construction workers, were trapped under the rubble.

Building collapses often occur in Nigeria as some property owners and developers do not adhere strictly to planning and building laws and regulations. In most cases, heavy loads are placed on the building and substandard materials are often used in construction. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 11:23:11|Editor: huaxia

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Students walk into a primary school in Phnom Penh Nov. 1, 2021. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at a press conference on Monday that schools at all levels have been reopened across the kingdom, after 13.7 million people, or 85.68 percent of the country's population, have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Dressed neatly in a Cambodia's public school uniform, white shirt and blue skirt, Chhin Putheara Vatey, a sixth-grade student at a primary school here, said that she was delighted to return to school after an eight-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like other students, Vatey has been fully vaccinated with China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine before going back to school and she is pretty confident in the efficacy of the vaccine in protecting her from the disease.

"I have already taken two doses of China's Sinovac vaccine, and I'm really happy to return to school after a closure for eight months due to the COVID-19," the 12-year-old girl at the Wat Tuol Tompoung Primary School in Phnom Penh told Xinhua on Monday.

"The (online) learning atmosphere was not the same as learning at school, where we could meet teachers and other classmates in person," she said. "Moreover, the Internet is very laggy and when it freezes, we miss out on chunks of conversation."

At the Wat Tuol Tompoung Primary School, students had properly worn facemasks while entering the school and had their body temperatures checked and hands sanitized at the entrance.

"Both teachers and students have been fully vaccinated before returning to school, and we have strictly abided by standard operating procedures and other health safety measures," Luk Samnang, a teacher of Grade 6 students at the Wat Tuol Tompoung Primary School, told Xinhua.

"The number of students in each class is limited to not more than 15, and they must sit at least 1.5 meters away from each other in order to keep social distancing," she said.

Primary schools and kindergartens are the latest general education institutions that have been reopened after secondary and high schools, as well as universities, have been reopened since mid-September.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at a press conference on Monday that so far, schools at all levels across the kingdom have been reopened after 13.7 million people, or 85.68 percent of the country's 16-million population, have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines.

Cambodia on Monday began to vaccinate five-year-old children with China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine as vaccinations for those aged six years and older were complete.

"We are recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, and social and economic activities in all areas have been gradually reopened, with the adaptation to the new normal," he said.

The Southeast Asian nation confirmed 91 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the national total caseload to 118,613, the Ministry of Health said, adding that six new fatalities were reported, taking the overall death toll to 2,794. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 18:12:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

Xi pointed out that China and Peru, though geographically apart, enjoy long-standing friendly exchanges and a solid foundation for bilateral relations.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the two sides have deepened political mutual trust, and expanded practical cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges, setting a good example of solidarity, cooperation and common development between China and Latin American countries, Xi said.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Peru have stood in solidarity and helped each other, actively carried out epidemic fight and vaccine cooperation, and demonstrated the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind with concrete actions, he added.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Peru relations and stands ready to work with Castillo to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to enhance the alignment of the two sides' development strategies, upgrade their cooperation in various fields, lead people across sectors in the two countries to carry forward the traditional friendship and push the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

For his part, Castillo pointed out that Peru and China are both ancient civilizations with several thousand years of history. On the basis of traditional friendship, bilateral relations have been upgraded to comprehensive strategic partnership in recent years, he added.

Castillo said that Peru attaches great importance to developing relations with China and thanked China for providing a large number of supplies and vaccines to support Peru's fight against COVID-19.

He said Peru is ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, tourism and digitalization, jointly uphold multilateralism, fight against COVID-19 and realize post-pandemic economic recovery. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 18:18:08|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2021 shows smoke rising from a bomb blast site in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. A bomb blast occurred next to a military hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, casualties feared, spokesman for Interior Ministry Qari Sayed Khost said. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A bomb blast occurred next to a military hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, casualties feared, spokesman for Interior Ministry Qari Sayed Khost said.

The blast took place at the gate of the 400-bed military hospital at around noon and security personnel had rushed to the site, the official added.

Without providing more details, the official noted that the details would be shared after an investigation.

In the meantime, locals close to the site said that two blasts rocked the area and were followed by gunshots.

The hospital in PD 10 is the main army hospital in Afghanistan that provides medical treatments to military personnel and their families in the war-torn country.

No group has yet to claim responsibility. However, the hardliner Islamic State group has in the past claimed responsibility for such attacks in Afghanistan. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 09:42:47|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Monday that 92 illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya.

The UN refugee agency tweeted: "92 persons were returned to Tripoli last night, among them 4 women & 3 children. They embarked one day earlier from Zuwara."

"Nearly 28,000 persons were returned this year to Libya by coastal security," it said.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

Rescued migrants end up inside overcrowded reception centers across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centers.

The UN agency has recently called on the Libyan authorities to address the dire situation of asylum-seekers and refugees. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 18:41:23|Editor: huaxia

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by Gretinah Machingura

HARARE, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Tourism worldwide is one of the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. After nearly 18 months in the doldrums, tourism in the Zimbabwean resort city of Victoria Falls is enjoying a rebound with visitors returning in droves to see the majestic Victoria Falls, explore the mighty Zambezi and navigate the unspoiled safari.

And this is thanks to the strategic decision made by the Zimbabwean government to anchor its vaccination program on Chinese vaccines, Zimbabwe's television network ZTN said a recent documentary.

Zimbabwe kick-started its vaccination program in February after the arrival of a batch of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China, a step marking the successful rollout of the country's vaccination campaign.

A worker transfers Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Sept. 26, 2021. Zimbabwe on Sunday received the fourth batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses from China. (Photo by Chen Yaqin/Xinhua)

Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga, who was the first citizen in the country to be inoculated with the vaccine, praised China for its readiness to support Zimbabwe in the fight against COVID-19.

"Allow me to thank the People's Republic of China for having stood with us in this time of need. We have walked this journey together through thick and thin and this time when the pandemic struck the entire globe, China was again on our door to help us," Chiwenga said.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa received his first shot of China's Sinovac vaccine in the Victoria Falls in March, where he also launched the country's second phase of the inoculation program.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa (C) receives the COVID-19 vaccine in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on March 24, 2021. Mnangagwa got his first shot of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in Victoria Falls on Wednesday. (Photo by Chen Yaqin/Xinhua)

In April, Victoria Falls became the first city in southern Africa to achieve herd immunity with over 77 percent of its residents vaccinated, and also one of the world's safest tourism destinations.

In July, Zimbabwean authorities announced the reopening of the popular tourist destination to visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, in a move welcomed by the suffering industry.

Clement Mukwasi, the public relations manager for Shearwater Adventures group in Victoria Falls, was ecstatic about the recovery in the sector.

"When we closed in March 2020, the livelihoods of our employees were seriously affected because we no longer had any money to pay salaries, neither were we able to open up to any tourists coming through," he said.

"But now there is a positive mood out there. The inquiries that we are getting are quite massive and we can only attribute those inquiries to the attaining of herd immunity," Mukwasi said.

"We are hoping that in the next month we will be seeing quite a lot of people coming through," he said.

Fungai Musinami Mvura, medical officer of Hwange district, said the Chinese vaccines were a game-changer for the city's economy, which relies entirely on tourism.

"These vaccines have been instrumental in our vaccination program and making sure that our population had access to vaccination in the city," Mvura said.

She said with the availability of vaccines, city health authorities managed to put up port health facilities at the Victoria Falls International Airport, helping to strengthen the management of the disease and the ultimate recovery of the city's tourism industry.

The effectiveness of these Chinese vaccines is manifesting itself in the city where new cases have remained relatively low compared to other areas in the country.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun said he was delighted to note that through vaccination, infection rates have lowered and tourism in Victoria Falls has been recovering after massive vaccination.

In the ZTN documentary, one tourist said she chose to visit Victoria Falls among all the destinations in Zimbabwe because it is safer.

"What influenced my decision to come here is my safety. I felt Victoria Falls is one of the safest destinations in Zimbabwe because a huge percentage of people here have been vaccinated and I thought this would be the safest destination for me," the tourist said.

Local residents said business was picking up as they felt safe to go out and do their business.

"I was among the first group of people to be vaccinated because I knew I would not be able to partake in the tourism business if I was not vaccinated. Now I am operating well and I hope business will continue to pick up as more tourists come in," said a local curio seller in the city.

"Indeed, the Zimbabwe-China vaccination cooperation has helped to build a health shield for the people not only in Victoria Falls but countrywide. This shows that vaccines not only save lives but also reopen economic livelihoods for the citizens," ZTN said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 19:11:15|Editor: huaxia

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OUAGADOUGOU, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least ten civilians were killed and four others abducted by gunmen on Monday at the Dambam village in Burkina Faso, official news agency AIB reported on Tuesday.

According to AIB, an attack by unidentified gunmen targeted on Monday morning the population of Dambam, Markoye commune, about 16 km from the border with Niger.

AIB also reported that the armed forces of Burkina Faso launched a quick sweep operation in the area.

Usually, people of Dambam go to Markoye market every Monday on foot, tricycle or animal drawn carts to sell their cattle. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 22:17:31|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese firm, China Electronics Technology Taiji Group Company Limited (CETC), on Tuesday donated 10 computers to Zambia's biggest public university, the University of Zambia (UNZA).

The computers were donated to the Department of Computer Science to support its efforts in imparting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge.

UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba thanked the Chinese firm for its generous donation which will help the department to actualize its mandate to provide quality education, according to a release.

He said the government has a deliberate agenda to embrace digital transformation and an economy that thrives on information technology, adding that to support the effort, the education sector needs to channel out more graduates to drive the digital transformation.

He further said the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the university and the Chinese firm in November 2019 on funding and development of the information technology innovation center reaffirmed the commitment of the working partnership between China and Zambia to support the digital transformation agenda.

"As an institution, we are grateful for your support and are proud to be associated with you. I hope that we shall continue counting on your support in the future as we engage in many other activities," he said.

The computers were handed over by Wang Yao, the company's managing director at the Zambia office, according to the release. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-03 00:40:18|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Tuesday disclosed a nationwide state of emergency rule amid expanding conflict in the northern part of the country.

The decision was made by the Ethiopian Council of Ministers, which is expected to be endorsed by the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives (HoPR) within the coming two days period.

The state of emergency will remain in force for six months.

The move came amid deteriorating conditions in northern parts of the country, as the conflict that erupted a year ago in the Tigray region between the Ethiopian federal government and forces loyal to the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) expanded to neighboring Amhara and Afar regions, and eventually approaching to central parts of the country in recent weeks.

Since the early hours of Nov. 4, 2020, the Ethiopian government has been undertaking military operations against the TPLF.

However, the government in late June announced a unilateral ceasefire in the country's conflict-affected northernmost Tigray regional state. Forces loyal to the TPLF soon took control of much of the area in the region, including the regional capital. The conflict has since then expanded to the Amhara and Afar regions, neighboring Tigray.

The HoPR, the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, had previously designated the TPLF as a terrorist organization. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 09:50:21|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's University of Canterbury (UC) announce Tuesday that its research project evaluating the feasibility of hydrogen production in Antarctica could help to reduce carbon emissions in the future by replacing fossil fuels with a zero-carbon alternative.

The research, in collaboration with Antarctica New Zealand and Callaghan Innovation, is looking at how hydrogen could be generated, used and stored at Scott Base and various remote field camps to reduce the reliance on carbon-based fuels currently used for transport, cooking and heating.

The project team of four UC students is being supervised by UC Adjunct Fellow and Jembec Consulting Principal Brendon Miller.

Miller said with the development of a new wind farm at Scott Base, the surplus electricity generated by wind turbines could be used to generate green hydrogen.

"Currently Antarctica New Zealand uses fossil fuels for transport to and operation of remote field camps but wants to investigate the feasibility of generating and using hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Turning excess energy from the turbines into hydrogen would help reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels and also transporting those fuels to Antarctica.

"Hydrogen is a step in the right direction - if not the eventual answer - to providing a zero-carbon alternative to fossil fuels in Antarctica," Miller added.

Team member Kate Stoddart said the project provides an opportunity to explore a real-world solution involving unique design challenges.

"This project has the potential to help reduce carbon emissions in Antarctica, but there are a number of design challenges to consider, such as the geographic isolation, the pristine environment, extreme conditions and remote field camps. Being able to work with industry on a real-world application is providing a valuable first-hand experience as to what a career in this field could look like."

Another member Indy Platt-Byrnes said the project has provided a valuable insight into the scientific work undertaken in Antarctica, as well as Antarctica New Zealand's progress in reducing emissions.

"It has been fascinating learning about how operations at Scott Base are conducted by Antarctica New Zealand to support research, and how these can be modified within the unique set of considerations and constraints to optimize our proposed process economically."

Antarctica New Zealand's work over the last ten years and desire to further offset their carbon emissions sets a good precedent for the 29 countries that operate bases within Antarctica, Platt-Byrnes said, adding that this project will inspire similar initiatives to be undertaken at other permanent research stations.

Antarctica New Zealand Environmental Advisor Sophia White said the outcomes of their research will be used by the organization to inform futureproofing of their operations. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 10:23:35|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is preparing to welcome back foreign tourists to its pristine beaches and innovated "new normal" touristic attractions as the country's COVID-19 cases keep dropping and vaccination drive continue improving.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently unveiled its "More Fun Awaits" campaign which highlights new tourism products and packages, aiming to sustain the presence of the Philippines as a tourist destination amidst the pandemic.

Like other countries, the Philippines closed its borders to foreign tourists when the deadly coronavirus started to spread early last year. Except for select foreign nationals granted special visas, the Philippines still bars foreign tourists as part of the border measures to curb the transmission.

With most of the tourism workers inoculated, the Philippines now looks forward to being open to international visitors once again, vowing it is "more than ready to provide visitors a safe and pleasant experience."

According to the DOT's plan, fully vaccinated tourists will be welcome and whisked straight to the tourist destinations without the need for hotel quarantine.

"That is why we prioritized the vaccinations of tourism workers so we can start accepting domestic tourists and eventually foreign tourists," Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat told a recent radio interview.

For instance, in the world-famous Boracay island in the central Philippines, she said 91.09 percent of tourism workers and 62.78 percent of the island residents had been fully vaccinated so far.

Famous for powdery white sand, shallow azure water, and spectacular sunsets, Boracay is a favorite destination for international tourists.

"Our vaccination rollouts are crucial in protecting our tourism workers as they face visitors every day," Puyat said, hoping that the island will inoculate its target population by November.

"With 100 percent of tourism workers in Boracay inoculated, the DOT is confident that in the weeks to come, tourism arrivals on the island will further increase, and more tourism establishments will be able to reopen to restore jobs," Puyat said.

Aside from the sun and beach tourist destinations that the country is well-known for, the DOT also spotlights new and enhanced bike tours, dive circuits, farm and food tourism circuits, hiking and trekking, and outdoor museums through historical and cultural tours, among others. These activities cater to tourists' "new normal" preference for outdoor activities and well-ventilated areas.

Puyat said the DOT will continue innovating and developing destinations to ensure safe, fun, and sustainable tourism for local and foreign tourists.

As a key economic driver, the tourism industry's contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 12.7 percent in 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data,

The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the tourism sector, slashing foreign arrivals and displacing service workers. The country received 8.26 million foreign tourists in 2019, including 1.74 million Chinese tourists, while in 2020 only over 1.3 million foreign tourists visited the country due to the hard lockdown imposed in March that year.

The PSA said the number of people working in the tourism industry dropped to 4.68 million in 2020 from 5.72 million in 2019. The share of tourism in the GDP also decreased to 5.4 percent in 2020.

The Philippine government has eased domestic travel restrictions as the country continues to report a dip in new COVID-19 cases after emerging from the third wave of infections that peaked in September. As of Monday, the Philippines reported a total of nearly 2.8 million confirmed cases.

According to government data, at least 26.8 million of the country's 77 million target population received full vaccine doses. In the capital region Metro Manila, home to over 13 million people, at least 8.5 million received the full vaccine doses. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 13:19:53|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Australia's medical regulator has recognized two more coronavirus vaccines for international travel purposes as the country gradually reopens to the world amid battle against the third wave of infections.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently announced that BBIBP-CorV developed by China's Sinopharm and Covaxin manufactured by India's Bharat Biotech will be recognized for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status.

It means that travellers aged 12 and over who have been inoculated with Covaxin and those aged 18-60 inoculated with BBIBP-CorV will be considered vaccinated against COVID-19 by Australia, said TGA.

"In recent weeks, the TGA has obtained additional information demonstrating these vaccines provide protection and potentially reduce the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit COVID-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to COVID-19," the TGA said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

Recognition of the two COVID-19 vaccines, along with the previously announced recognition of CoronaVac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), means many citizens of China and India as well as other countries in the region where these vaccines have been widely deployed will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia, according to the statement.

"This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia," it said.

People who receive either vaccine will have to wait seven days after their second dose to be regarded as fully vaccinated by the TGA.

On Tuesday morning, Australia reported 1,170 new locally-acquired coronavirus infections - the country's fewest since late August - and 13 deaths.

The majority of new cases were in Victoria, the country's second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, where 989 cases and nine deaths were reported.

So far about 88.5 percent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 78.1 percent were fully inoculated, according to the latest figures from Department of Health. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 13:29:31|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Addressing the opening of the National Assembly, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh told members that Laos needs to consider the steps to take to reopen the country, including the start of services on the China-Laos railway.

The National Assembly's (NA) ninth legislature began its second ordinary session with a debate on ways to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak and revitalize the economy, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday.

The prime minister outlined the socio-economic development plan for 2022 at the session on Monday, which seeks to address the country's financial and economic difficulties.

He said the government needs to set out a strategic plan on comprehensive preparations to open up the country, including the start of railway services.

Laos and China have agreed to inaugurate the China-Laos railway on Dec. 2.

International experts say the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to continue and that more potent variants of the virus could develop. This makes it essential to immunize as many people as possible.

The Lao government expects to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the adult population by the end of 2021 -- a figure that exceeds the original target of 50 percent.

So far, more than 3.28 million people have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, accounting for 44.78 percent of the total, while more than 2.8 million people or 38.38 percent are now fully vaccinated.

The prime minister also said that his administration would continue to promote local and foreign private investment in order to finance large-scale projects such as expressways, trade centers, industrial parks, tourist attractions and hotels.

He promised to make breakthroughs in the development of a digital economy and do more to promote commercial-scale production and services, as well as bolster exports and imports. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 15:52:09|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Four terrorists were killed in a clash with police in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police said in a statement on Tuesday.

The counter-terrorism department of police conducted the operation in Hangu district of the province on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of some high-profile targets in a compound, said the statement.

During the operation, an exchange of fire broke out in which four terrorists were killed while four others escaped by taking advantage of the darkness.

Police seized arms and ammunition from the militants' hideout and kicked off a search operation for the fleeing terrorists.

The killed terrorists were involved in planning and executing attacks on polio eradication teams, kidnapping for ransom, street crimes and terrorist attacks on police and civilians, according to the statement. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 16:09:58|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida left Japan on Tuesday to attend the 26th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP26).

The visit to Glasgow, Scotland, has marked Kishida's first overseas trip since he became Japanese prime minister on Oct. 4.

Kishida said before his departure that he will share the measures Japan has been taking toward the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, which was committed by Kishida's pioneer Yoshihide Suga last year.

However, he will not stay overnight in Glasgow as he plans to return to Tokyo on Wednesday to start work with his new team after the Liberal Democratic Party won 261 seats out of 465 in House of Representatives elections on Sunday.

Last month, Japan formally submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by fiscal 2030 from the levels of fiscal 2013. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 17:53:00|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has decided to reduce the mandatory quarantine period for international travelers, both Indonesian citizens and foreigners, from five to three days, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.

"This rule applies to international travelers who have met the requirements, including being fully vaccinated and negative for COVID-19 based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test results since their departures, after the arrivals in Indonesia, and at the end of the quarantine period," Hartarto explained in a press release.

Meanwhile, domestic travelers who have been fully vaccinated are required to show negative antigen swab test results or PCR tests for those who have received only one shot of vaccines.

Hartarto emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is primarily under control as the number of cases continues to decline.

Indonesia is proposing the establishment of a vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with Australia, said Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno during a press briefing on Monday.

To date, visitors from 19 countries, including China, France, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, have been allowed to travel to Bali, which is famous for its emerald rice terraces, Hindu temples and white-sand beaches.

Currently, the Southeast Asian country is trying to reactivate its economy while anticipating a possible arrival of the third wave of the pandemic, which is expected to occur during the long holiday seasons of Christmas and New Year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 19:12:47|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said his country hopes to expand agricultural exports to China and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination in collaboration in trade, investment and infrastructure construction as well as in regional economic and trade cooperation.

Jurin made the remarks on Monday during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang, who assumed his office in August. The two sides exchanged views on a range of economic and trade issues during the meeting.

In the meeting, Jurin also spoke highly of the achievements the Chinese government has made in combatting COVID-19 as well as the support provided for Thailand in anti-epidemic supplies.

Han, in the meeting, said China and Thailand have maintained their strong economic and trade ties amid COVID-19, contributing to the fight against the pandemic and recovery in both countries and bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

China is willing to work with Thailand to continue to enhance the alignment of their development strategies, pushing for cooperation in emerging sectors such as green economy and digital economy while boosting their collaboration in traditional areas.

In the first nine months of this year, the bilateral trade volume between China and Thailand totaled 97.4 billion U.S. dollars, up 36 percent year on year, showed China's customs data.

Imports to China from Thailand rose 33.2 percent during the cited period, and the import of Thailand's agricultural products surged 56.31 percent year on year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 22:17:52|Editor: huaxia

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A damaged vehicle is seen at the site of a bomb explosion in Kharan district, Balochistan province, Pakistan, on Nov. 2, 2021. Fourteen people were injured in the bomb explosion in Kharan district on Tuesday, police sources said. (Str/Xinhua)



ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen people were injured in a bomb explosion in Kharan district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, police sources said.

About four to five kg of explosives fixed in a motorbike were detonated by unknown militants at a busy road of the district, sources told Xinhua, adding that all of the injured were civilians.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital where four of them are reported to be in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, and police have kicked off the investigation process at the blast site.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the attack and directed the hospital to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 23:56:25|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned a terrorist attack in the Afghan capital Kabul, said a statement from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At least 15 people have been killed and several others wounded in the terrorist attack on a military hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, a local Afghan TV channel reported.

"We share the pain and suffering of the families who lost their loved ones in these mindless terrorist acts. We also convey our sympathies and support for those injured and pray for their early recovery," said the foreign ministry statement.

Pakistan also reiterated its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, according to the foreign ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 18:49:42|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Seeking a strong presence in China, one of the world's largest dairy importers, Turkish dairy producers hope to increase their exports to China to a significant level in 2022 as the business is recovering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2020, Turkish exporters enthusiastically welcomed China's green-light for Turkey's milk and dairy exports, which have been a lifeline for the producers beset by the fallout of the global health crisis.

Initially, a total of 54 Turkish companies were authorized to export dairy products to China. The number increased to 56 after two more companies were added to the list later, official data show.

Bedri Girit, chairman of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association, said that exports from Turkey to China are expected to be worth 80 million U.S. dollars this year.

"For 2022, we have bigger projections. We plan dairy products exports to China to be around 180 million dollars, and thus we will maintain a permanent presence in this huge market," he told Xinhua.

The chairman said that Turkey has also started to export Labne, a soft cheese, similar in texture to cream cheese made from strained yogurt, and also Mozzarella, to China.

"We aspire to add more firms to the list of exporters to China," Girit said, adding that Turkish exporters have to make the most of the Chinese market by exporting quality products to China.

In the central province of Karaman, milk producers are very satisfied with their cooperation with China. In 2020, three firms from the province exported 3,000 tonnes of milk powder and other dairy products to China, according to the local producers union.

Sait Koken, finance manager of Slava Milk, a Karaman-based company, recently told the local press that China is a "huge and serious" market with strict quality standards.

"So if we want a sustainable presence, we must meet their requirements," he stressed.

In recent years, bilateral relations between Turkey and China have improved significantly in the economic, commerce, tourism, and transportation areas. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-02 19:19:12|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities have detained 18 suspected Islamic State members in wide-scale operations across the country, local media reported on Tuesday.

Anti-terror teams launched simultaneous raids at 27 addresses in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul, the southeastern provinces of Batman and Sanliurfa, and the southern Adana province against a total of 21 suspects, the state-run Anadolu agency said.

Those targeted in operations were believed to provide financial support for the Islamic State and act on behalf of the group in Istanbul, it noted.

So far, 18 of them have been detained and operations are going on to apprehend the remaining three, according to Anadolu.

The Islamic State has conducted a spate of deadly attacks in Turkey since 2015. Turkey's counter-terrorism units in response have been conducting operations against the group's members in the country. Enditem
The childrens vaccination drive is expected to start later this week and go into full swing by next week. Parents will be able to go to vaccines.gov and filter on vaccines for children 5-11 to find a location near them that is offering the shot.
Theres a lot of people on that flight who have loved ones who are about to die or have people who died this week, so for them to be able to get off the plane and go see them straight away is pretty amazing.
We have been asking when we will be able to expand this protection to our younger children, she told the committee. As you will all be aware, in this most recent delta wave, we saw pediatric admission rates higher than they had been in any previous wave of the pandemic, reaching a rate of 25 hospitalizations per 100,000 per year in children between the ages of 5 to 11.
The trouble began last Thursday when Schiller was filling in for an absent teacher in the schools gifted and talented class and got into a discussion about vaccines and the virus. Twenty-four of the 27 students in the class are Chinese-American, according to one parent.
Agents say they seized a second haul of lawn rollers containing cocaine at the loading dock the following day after a worker tipped off the feds. It contained 10 more coke-filled lawn rollers from the same address in Puerto Rico and the same consignee address in the Bronx.
Roughly 30% of the people who we called who we dont have a record of being vaccinated, they tell us or the supervisors that they have been vaccinated, Minton said. We want to get people vaccinated because the science suggests that is the best way to keep them, their families, their colleagues and New Yorkers safe.
A small snack area was set up for the first responders, offering coffee and doughnuts on a gray November morning. The proprietors of the impromptu operation declined to comment to the Daily News, which reported some 2,000 smoke-eaters were feigning illness rather than simply getting a vaccine.
The feds put some of the blame on the MTA in a new Manhattan Federal Court memo ahead of the sentencing of John Nugent, who earned more than $100,000 in bogus overtime by falsely claiming to have worked hours he did not. Nugent is one of five LIRR workers indicted in the alleged OT conspiracy in which they covered for each others absences while raking in taxpayer money in 2018 and 2019.
Shots were then fired and Ali and his accomplice ran off, cops said. It wasnt immediately clear if the gun was fired by Ali or the accomplice, who is still being sought, officials said.
It wasnt immediately clear if the slaying was connected to Browns arrest on Oct. 24 for an April 5 incident in which he was accused of firing a gun into a car on his block, Willoughby Ave. near Throop Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
He was speeding on his bike and he tried to stop, but he was going too fast. Boom! He hit the cop car and flew over it and he landed on his stomach. His bike flipped. No helmet, no helmet, said Preston Ravenelle, 53.
As they approached the individual, he produced a firearm and fired one round at the officers, NYPD Chief Kenneth Lehr, the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Bronx, said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. One of our officers returned three shots at that individual. The individual then took off and during the course of his flight, he fired two additional rounds at our police officer.
Hednick Wynaar, 22, was remembered by about 80 of his pals outside his old borough home, where they lit candles in his honor and played some of his favorite music, according to neighbors who offered their own fond recollections of the man gunned down while riding a scooter two days earlier.
It was like a student and a teacher, you know? Harvey told the Daily News of his relationship with his father. The stuff that he wanted to teach me when I was little, but he wasnt there. He told me how to be safe. Its making me wonder, am I really safe? Hes a prime example of someone who went into protective custody, changed his name and everything and it still caught up with him. Theres still no way to really be safe. He was so big. I dont even know who hates him.
It will probably move again for another day or so, but when you look at where we are were in pretty good shape. We really want those officers back to work, but for New Yorkers theres really no impact at all on public safety here so well just keep moving.
As for cops quitting or retiring, sources said 58 officers with less than 20 years, but more than five on the job, vested their pensions and quit in October compared with 11 in October 2020. Another 105 officers resigned without vesting their pensions in October compared with 33 in October 2020.
After killing Berman, he went into hiding, disguising himself as a mute woman while living in a cheap apartment in Galveston, Texas. There, he killed a neighbor, Morris Black, sawed his body into pieces, and tossed the remains into Galveston Bay. Durst was acquitted of Blacks killing in 2003 after telling the jury he did it in self-defense.
These abuses are even more dangerous in the current environment where correction staff have abandoned their posts and are not even in the jails to provide basic human necessities. This is a stain on the citys human rights record without parallel in this administration and should be lifted immediately.
On Dec. 6, 2020, Presti struck a deputy sheriff with his Jeep during an operation to close the Grant City pub. Sgt. Kenneth Matos called out to Presti, who then jumped into his Jeep and hit the gas, court records allege. When Presti took off, he struck Matos, knocking the deputy onto the hood, then kept driving and made two turns before he was stopped by a sheriffs vehicle, court records allege.
Zholtay, 27, who lived in Dyker Heights, was not in the crosswalk and was crossing against the light when she was hit, cops said.
Leilani shared a very close relationship with her younger brother and sister who, after she ventured out to college, maintained daily communication with them. We will miss her smile, her laugh, her caring demeanor, her strong will, her passion for life and the love she brought to our family. We love you Leilani.
The cause and manner of death for all will be released by the El Paso County Coroners Office once they make a ruling, the sheriffs office said. Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of all affected by this tragedy. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
William Neil Doc Gallagher, 80, and his Gallagher Financial Group hosted The Money Doctor on a number of Christian radio stations and advertised with the slogan See you in church on Sunday. According to prosecutors, Gallagher met with some listeners to offer them personal investing advice and told them they could earn a retirement income youll never outlive if they invested with him.
The civil rights leader, who was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2017, has now been hospitalized at least three times this year. He and wife Jacqueline were both hospitalized in August with breakthrough COVID-19 and he separately underwent gallbladder surgery in February.
Last month, in celebration of National Coming Out Day, DC Comics announced that the new Superman Jon Kent was a proud member of team LGBTQ  and that he would come out as bisexual in the upcoming issue of the current comic book series Superman: Son of Kal-El, out Nov. 9.
A woman who visited the park Saturday and later tested positive for COVID in the neighboring Jiangxi province was the source of the shut down. Shanghai Disney officials said it was cooperating with an epidemiological investigation and that it would remain closed Monday and Tuesday in order to follow the requirement of pandemic prevention and control, according to a note on the parks website.
Poll workers assist voters at a voting site at a YMCA in Brooklyn on Nov. 02, 2021, on Election Day in New York City. Over 30,000 New Yorkers have already cast their ballots in early voting in New York for a series of races including for the election of the next mayor of the city. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
That just disgusted me, de Blasio said of the incident, which occurred last week. These were members of the Fire Department in uniform who accosted fellow public servants who worked for the state senator. They mistreated them  from everything weve heard  in uniform, on duty, acting on their own political beliefs. Thats unacceptable on so many levels.
I think youve got a situation where people want to have a really robust debate on the future because we know a lot of things have gone wrong in Albany and we know a lot has to be different, he said during a morning news conference. So, I look forward to being a part of that discussion.
This is nothing more than an attempt by the former governor to undermine and criticize this report, James told NY1s Zack Fink as she campaigned with City Council candidate Julie Menin on the Upper East Side. Some would describe it as the big lie.
At the time, the White House said in a statement that the pick was part of the administrations goal of fulfilling the presidents promise to ensure that the nations courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country  both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.
Sliwa and his wife, Nancy, picked Gizmo to accompany them to the polling place because she is the youngest of their felines and was set to be euthanized over a fungus before the couple adopted her.
Ciattarellis tax message resonated with some voters at the Washington Township Senior Center. Joseph Buono, who wore his red Make America Great Again hat to vote, said he voted for Ciattarelli for governor largely because of his promise to address property taxes and because he doesnt want incumbent Murphy to remain in charge of the states pandemic response.
It marked the first time the queen has been seen in public in weeks. Last month, Elizabeth was forced to cancel a trip to Northern Ireland and then spent a night at the King Edward VII hospital in central London, where doctors performed preliminary tests and encouraged her to rest for the coming weeks.
The magnitude and urgency of climate change is, like the end of the Cold War, an opportunity to reimagine the future. Like the samizdats of the Communist-era dissidents, the ideas of activists and rebels have a chance to become the new political mainstream in this era-defining shift that comes perhaps once a century. But we arent making the best of the opportunity. By remaining fixated on green growth, we miss the chance to question the logic of infinite growth. By obsessing about environmentally-friendly products to maintain the daily comforts of those of us living in wealthy countries, we leave low-income countries behind as they face the worst of climate changes impacts. In other words, we miss an opportunity for climate justice, not only for those alive today, but for future generations.
We are immensely excited to have the dynamic Cardi B bring her infectious energy to the American Music Awards as a first-time host, executive producer Jesse Collins said in a statement. She will excite the viewers, push the limits and deliver a show that will be remembered forever!
Baskin also claims that she was deceived by the producers when she first signed on for the project, saying Rebecca Chaiklin and Eric Goode described it as a Blackfish-style documentary about big cat breeding and cub petting. Instead, Tiger King focused primarily upon the portrayal of Joe Exotic as a sympathetic victim and Carole as the villain, according to the lawsuit.
Way back when the city of St. Augustine got hit by (Hurricane) Matthew, and everybody thought that our city was closed, underwater, out of business, Visit Florida came in and not only advertised to the west part of the state to tell everybody we were open, but also to surrounding areas just outside the state and helped my city recover tremendously right after a hurricane, which was very needed, Hutson said.
The Philharmonic will be conducted by Kansas City Ballet music director Ramona Pansegrau, who since 1990 also has served as conductor for the USA International Ballet Competition. Adolphe Adams dramatic score highlights the passion of the Giselle storyline, an homage to the power of faithful love and forgiveness in which a woman is betrayed by her lover but remains true to him, even after her death.
Pie is a quintessential American dessert that is ingrained in our countrys culture. According to the American Pie Council, about 186 million pies are sold at grocery stores every year, not including ones purchased at bakeries or made at home. Pie is simple, but every state has its own local twist on this classic recipe. Based on history, official state desserts and fruits inventions and innovations special to the area, The Daily Meal has identified the most iconic pie from every state.

(Kaitlin Miller, The Daily Meal)
Williams was not accused of any violence, though he entered House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and was photographed standing in her doorway. In videos, he boasted, We are storming the Capitol! Yeah baby! He was also recorded asking fellow rioters, How are they going to arrest every single person?
Williams told jurors Loyds defense claims would be more credible if he had only obtained a bulletproof vest, but he also got two firearms and an extended magazine. He used those guns to shoot at another law enforcement officer who tried to stop him and threaten a man for his car keys as he tried to flee, the prosecutor said.
As he and his companions continued looking for parking, the Volvo approached the intersection a second time. Thats when Middleton said he rolled down his window and fired a Taurus 9mm handgun at Standley, who leaned into his car as though reaching for something, the affidavit said.
Those rules dont have anything to do with the political content of signs, but they prohibit any kind of signs or flags on property along the beachfront road, the newspaper reported.
Hill, who grew up in the neighborhood west of downtown Orlando, argued that redevelopment there had been responsible and had not gentrified it. She said she helped bring in education  including the first public school in Parramore in nearly 50 years and the opening of a joint Valencia College and University of Central Florida campus there. She also helped bring back the citys BluePrint 2.0 job training program.
The grandmother of Isaiah Jones and Jazaaniyah Jones told police that the siblings ran away around 9:30 a.m. from the home in the 2000 block of Orange Center Boulevard after hearing that they will not be able to live with their grandmother for the time being, said department spokesperson Heidi Rodriguez.
If Krause wants to distract overworked educators from the crucial job of making up COVID-19 learning losses so they can review hundreds and hundreds of books, then he must sincerely believe this fishing expedition is the best use of their time. If he wants to shield children from difficult topics and ideas that might challenge them, hes gone about it in a way that will only stoke their interest in what he deems forbidden.
But the far left Squad element of the Democratic Party has decided that attacking Israel is now fair game. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said in May that Israels bombing of Palestinians was not self-defense; it was part of ethnic cleansing. They also verbally attack Jews along with Israel, the most flagrant example being Rep. Ilhan Omars various antisemitic remarks (vigorously defended by Rep. Jim Clyburn and the Black Caucus). So, of course, Jews are going to start leaving the Democratic party.
In fact, my wife and I couldnt help but think about some of the other parents making school news in recent weeks  the ones storming school board meetings and making threats against board members. I have much less of a problem with Triece, whos been volunteering for years and doing whatever shes doing on her own time.
When he said he would be participating as a private citizen, not a faculty member, Wimsett responded, according to the report, UF will deny its employees requests to engage in outside activities when it believes the activities are adverse to its interests. As UF is an extension of the state as a state agency, litigation against the state is adverse to UFs interests.
I dont care who it is, Hays said in a Tuesday phone interview. If anybodys going to be walking around town spreading lies about my office or making allegations about the conduct of ... this office, they better be able and equipped to substantiate their claims. And if they cant, they better shut up.
These changes are a combination of voters being removed from the voter rolls, and voters being marked inactive. Being marked inactive does not make you unable to vote, but it is the first step in a process of list maintenance, or the steps the state must take to clear the voter roll of excess names. Voters can be marked inactive if they do not participate in the last election.
The broader hearing in the case is scheduled to start Nov. 9. But Cooper raised the possibility that the hearing might have to be delayed if he decides Rivkees should be deposed. Another potentially complicating factor is that Rivkees said in a court document that he is having eye surgery Wednesday and will be unable to travel for at least two weeks following the surgery.
Persian Leopard Project Wins The Platinum Impact Award From The International Association of Facilitators

11/02/21

Source: Tehran Times & International Association of Facilitators (IAF)

The Persian leopard project has been chosen as the winner of the International Facilitation Impact Award (FIA), Arezoo Sane'ei, head of the Persian Leopard Research center, has said.



IAF Platinum Award: Asian Leopard Specialist Society Tehran, Iran

As a professional association with members in more than 65 countries, the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) is well placed to recognize the power of facilitation worldwide. For more than 20 years have been a strong advocate for the power of facilitation in helping organizations to address challenges and achieve results.

The FIA honors organizations that have used facilitation to achieve a measurable and positive impact. In 2021, projects in various fields (such as health, wildlife, rural revitalization, housing policy design, performance indicators to improve service delivery, social welfare, etc.) from different companies and countries applied for this award, she explained.

Based on evaluations, projects from Iran, Canada, the United States, Russia, China, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, India, Taiwan, the Philippines, and South Africa have been attended the competition, she noted.

The Persian leopard project from Iran was introduced as the winner of the first level award (Platinum) in terms of the effectiveness of executive methods in terms of quantity and quality and innovation in planning and designing actions with the appropriate benefit of the group process facilitation approach, according to Sane'ei.

The Persian leopard is an endangered species that can only be found in Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and the countries of the Caucasus region. And its number does not cross 1300 collars.



Persian Leopard

(photo by Shahab Ghayuomi, Mehr News Agency)

The largest population of the Persian leopard is estimated to be 550-850 in the mountains and forests. Unfortunately, in the past years, the species' number has decreased dramatically and, in some areas, the species has become completely extinct. Some of the main threats to the Persian leopard are habitat destruction, illegal hunting, road accidents, human conflicts and etc.

Ever since 2007 plan for the land society has begun a project under the title of "The Persian leopard project" in some protected areas with the purpose of research and the protection of the species. This project intends to specify the possibilities of the leopard's co-existence by doing scientific research and using the most up-to-date and accurate methods to offer a practical solution and partnership with the local community to plan long-term protection plans.

The Persian leopard project has been very active in certain areas like Bemo national park, Golestan national park, Qazvin, Hormozgan, Bushehr, And East Azarbaijan provinces.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Posted by Liam on at 09:33 AM CST

Hey there,fans! This week on the site were delving back into the world of Dark Horse comics with our coverage of thecomic book series. Today well be looking at the series development, but stay tuned this week for a lot of great content. In addition to Bobbys video insights on our YouTube channel , check out our Force Facts offering fun trivia, our Character Spotlight on one of our favorite standout characters, and the Timeline Breakdown showing connections to other media.Dark Horse curated a stacked lineup of greatcomic storylines in the middle of the 2000's. Simultaneously, the publisher ran the prequel sagaset thousands of years before the core saga, thestoryline that surrounded the prequel era, and theseries set over one hundred years afterfit nicely into this dynamic. Set shortly after the events of, the series picked up with Luke Skywalker as he struggled with the ramifications of joining the Rebel Alliance. Running for sixteen issues between 2006 and 2008, the series explored an era that had been frequently explored in early comics and novels, but hadnt been delved into deeply since the release of the prequels.The approach worked, and the more fleshed out world-building of the Dark Horse comics offered a refreshing perspective on the era. Technology and events from the prequels could be incorporated for the first time, and attention was paid into Lukes fragmented state of mind at the time. Hes suddenly burdened with the expectations of being the pilot that destroyed the Death Star, and hes exploring a Jedi legacy that no one ever explained to him.It also reintroduced Darth Vader as he held similar obsessions. Vader is left humiliated by the Death Stars destruction, and the most feared figure within the galaxy returns to live up to his reputation by only continuing in his path of devastation. The second storyline The Ahakista Gambit was entirely Vader-centric, and showed the Dark Lord in action. It previewed the success of the current Darth Vader series at Marvel.Unfortunately, the run ofwas short-lived. After two arcs, the comics were put on hold to launchtie-in comic series that ran throughout the course of the theatrical films release and the early stages of the series.returned with its best storyline yet in the grippingstory arc, but unfortunately the series was officially cancelled so that Dark Horse could launch the newstoryline.However,did have room to contribute to one of the most ambitiousstorylines ever.connected four generations of heroes as they encountered an ancient threat, mergingZayne Carrick,Quinlan Vos,Luke, andCade Skywalker.Although it was only with us briefly,offered an expansion of a familiar era, and it's remained a favorite among comic readers. Additionally, the series has sparked some awesome comic book two-packs that collectors will want to get their hands on.What do you think,fans? Did you read? Do you wish the series had been longer? Let us know in the forums , and as always, may the Force be with you!
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
By SA Commercial Prop News

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) funds R300m for student accommodation at University of Venda (UNIVEN). FIle Photo



The University of Venda (UNIVEN) will soon be able to accommodate more students, thanks to a R300-million loan agreement from Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for the construction of student accommodation.

UNIVEN and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) recently signed the agreement for the construction of student accommodation on campus.



The agreement will enable the university to provide approximately 50% to 70% of its total enrolment with accommodation on campus over the next 10-15 years.



Speaking during the signing ceremony, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UNIVEN, Professor Peter Mbati, said the construction of more residences on campus will impact positively on the quality of student lives and contribute to the universitys academic core project.



After completion, the project will have a significant impact on increasing the number of students residing on campus from 18% of the universitys total enrolment to 33%, said Mbati.



DBSA Group Executive: Infrastructure Financing, Tshokolo Nchocho, said international research has shown that on-campus student accommodation is one of the key critical success factors in student performance and increased university throughput.



Nchocho said the expected increase in student enrolment will require significant investment in higher education infrastructure, given the current economic constraints on fiscal policy, as well as pressure on universities to keep student fee increases to a minimum.



The Development Bank has, in line with the National Development Plan, identified higher education infrastructure as one of the primary pillars to be considered to support the governments development agenda, said Nchocho.



Chairperson of the university council, Shirley Mabusela, expressed her appreciation for the partnership and her wish to see a more long-term relationship between the university and DBSA
A woman head constable who was posted outside the Secretariat in Chennai was crushed to death on Tuesday after a tree fell on her. A male head constable who was standing beside her escaped with minor injuries.

Condoling the death of constable Kavitha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to her family.

The police said that the huge tree got uprooted at 9.15 a.m. on Tuesday and Kavitha was crushed to death under it. Half a dozen police personnel who were on duty there managed to run away while constable Murugan suffered minor injuries.

Kavitha is survived by her husband who works with the Southern Railway and family who live in Tondiarpet railway quarters. She has three children. While her eldest is in college, the other two go to school.

According to police, due to incessant rain the Secretariat was deserted as otherwise more than 100 people would have been present to submit their grievances.


Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday resigned from the Congress and sent a seven-page letter to party President Sonia Gandhi. He named his party the Punjab Lok Congress. "I have today sent my resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi ji, listing my reasons for the resignation. 'Punjab Lok Congress' is the name of the new party. The registration is pending approval with the Election Commission of India. The party symbol will be approved later," Amarinder Singh informed in a tweet. Amarinder Singh had quit as the chief minister in September after a power tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Sidhu.




A Delhi court on Tuesday reserved its order on the bail application of JNU scholar and activist Sharjeel Imam, in connection with a 2019 case related to his alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat reserved the order after hearing both sides in the case. The court is likely to pronounce the order on the bail plea on November 15.

His counsel Tanveer Ahmed Mir argued that being critical of the government cannot be the cause of sedition.

While opposing Mir, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad argued that the fundamental right to protest cannot go beyond an extent that causes problems to the public at large.

As per the case, Sharjeel made the alleged inflammatory speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019, and at Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2019.

He has been in judicial custody since January 2020. On October 22, while dismissing his bail plea, Saket Court Additional Sessions Judge Anuj Aggarwal had stated that the tone and tenor of an incendiary speech tend to have a debilitating effect upon public tranquility, peace and harmony.

However, the Judge refused to comment if the speech falls under the ambit of section 124A (sedition), stating that the same requires "deeper analysis".

The Delhi Police on July 25, 2020, had filed a chargesheet against Sharjeel Imam in connection with a case related to his alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against the CAA at several places.

The 600-page chargesheet was filed under section 124A (Sedition), 153(A) (Promoting enmity), 153 (Assertion prejudicial to national integration) (promoting enmity, hatred between different communities, 505 (spreading rumours) IPC and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in Delhi's Patiala House court.
A few platforms at just-a-year old multi-level parking system in south Delhi's Green Park area have collapsed, causing problems to those who had parked their cars here, ruling AAP lawmaker Somnath Bharti said on Tuesday evening.

However, SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan said that it was not a "major incident", caused no damage, and the problem would be rectified on Tuesday night itself.

He said said that an inquiry has been ordered in the incident and the fallen plate tower will be fixed in the night itself. "The multi-level parking at Green Park made operational in November 2020 was functioning alright. Due to some technical issue in tower no 3, a plate at the eight-floor of the parking facility got dismantled. It was not a major incident. There is no damage of any kind and all the officers are present on the spot," he said.

Bharti, the MLA from Malviya Nagar, shared pictures and videos of the incident on his Twitter account.

"This is a multi-level parking built by BJP-led MCD. It was inaugurated recently by the big names of the city and see how this building has succumbed to corruption today with no office-bearer in sight. It has caused a great inconvenience to those who had parked their cars here as they have come from different parts of the city, some from even outside of the capital," he said.

The state of the art 17-storey multi-level automatic parking - Delhi's highest - at Green Park Metro station was inaugurated in November, last year. The parking was thrown open for the public at a virtual ceremony by Union Power Minister R.K. Singh, with Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, BJP leaders like Meenakshi Lekhi, Adesh Gupta, Baijayant Panda and Ramveer Singh Bidhuri present.

"It is a matter of immense shame for both Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi BJP that a new parking structure like this one could not stay intact for even a year. The accountability for this incident falls on Delhi BJP and all the leaders in Delhi Municipal Corporation who uphold the rule of BJP," AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said.

"We strongly condemn this incident and want accountability to be taken so the culprits receive the punishment they deserve."


Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Tuesday and discussed ways to step up activities in India under Mission Innovation -- a multinational initiative to accelerate public and private global clean energy innovations. Meeting Bill Gates on the sidelines of COP26 Summit in the UK's Glasgow, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the work being done by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in India. Bill Gates briefed Prime Minister on the progress of Mission Innovation, and they discussed ways to step up activities in India under it, as well as promising opportunities in areas like green hydrogen, aviation fuels, battery storage, and vaccine research.




Page Content

Minister of VSA, Mr. Omar Ottley expresses shock and disappointment in response to the October 28 public notice of the Paramedic Association Sint Maarten (PASM).





The notice of the association stated that OZR insured would have to pay out of pocket for therapies as of November 1. Minister Ottley would like to give peace of mind to OZR insured patients that their respective therapies will not have to be paid for out of pocket and will continue to be covered by their insurance.





In the week of October 18, Minister Ottley met with representatives of the PASM to address their grievances, to which reasonable agreements were made through positive dialogue and a commitment to work collectively on long-term solutions. The direct result of that meeting was the fast-tracked payment to the health care providers of the one (1) billing month that was outstanding, in the same week.





In coordination with SZV, the PASM has actively been receiving updates regarding the status billing and payments; current bills are being processed within the stipulated contractual agreements and are expected to be paid before the upcoming deadline next week.





Im shocked and disappointed that the PASM would issue this notice, which gives a negative tone to the collective agreements weve made with the association and discussions weve had on long-term solutions.





Ive been grateful for the understanding of the association for the financial challenges of Government and willingness to be flexible and work together to continue providing care under these conditions. This has not been taken for granted, and this is why Ive made all efforts to ensure that we can come to a consensus on realistic agreements and deliver on our promises. Although disappointed, I trust that we will continue the positive dialogue weve started, knowing that both parties share the same interests for safeguarding access to health care to the community. - Mr. Omar Ottley, Minister of VSA




Federalism would not lead to disintegration of existing states but rather pave the way for the establishment of a state where multiple identities can coexist harmoniously.

by V Suryanarayan

In an earlier article, I pointed out a significant omission in the report that Sri Lankan envoy to India Milinda Moragoda had prepared for improving bilateral relations. There was no mention of how Sri Lanka proposes to solve the problem of nation building. It implied that it was entirely an internal problem and India had absolutely no role.

Moragoda's sphinx-like silence on nation building has been criticised by perceptive Sri Lanka watchers across the world, including India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla who visited Colombo this month. Ambassador Moragoda had to revise his views and in an interaction with the media, declared that India and Sri Lanka "can learn a lot from each other". Is it a genuine change of heart? Or will Colombo once again go back on the assurances it had solemnly given several times that it would not only implement the 13th Amendment but also go beyond it.

One significant contribution made by India needs to be highlighted. In the Mannar Convention in July 1983, the Tamil United Liberation Front resolved that it would not enter into any negotiations with Colombo and the only solution to the ethnic problem was the carving out of a separate state. After the genocidal attack on the Tamils in July 1983, the TULF participated in the All Party Conference - thanks to Indian diplomacy - to discuss Annexure C that provided only for strengthening of the District Development Councils. It was silent on the issue of the merger of the north and east.

The chauvinists, both among the Sinhalese and the Tamils (two sides of the same coin), assert that the two communities were at war with one another for several centuries. They ignore the reality that despite diversities in language and religion, the people developed a composite culture. The Tamils and the Sinhalese need to be reminded that the efflorescence of the Theravada form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka was due to benign interaction with Buddhist centres of learning in South India. There were devout Buddhists among the Sri Lankan Tamils. The tendentious arguments remind me of the famous statement of Voltaire: "If you believe in absurdities, you will commit atrocities". It is my submission that the ethnic conflict is an offshoot of the nation-building experiment, when the majority Sinhalese decided to build the nation on the basis of Sinhalese language and Buddhist religion to the exclusion of all minority claims.

Sri Lankans, including Ambassador Moragoda, can learn the right lessons if they introspect and undertake a comparative study of nation-building experiments in Sri Lanka and India. In Ceylon, the first Prime Minister DS Senanayake had the tacit support of many educated Sri Lankan Tamils. In fact, sections of Sri Lankan Tamils supported the government when it rendered the Indian Tamils voteless and stateless. The parting of the ways began in 1956 when the Sinhala Only Act was passed. With the introduction of standardisation for university admissions and the conferment of special position on Buddhist religion, the discontent further strengthened. Even then, the opposition mainly consisted of non-violent struggles and the demand for a federal state. When brute force was used to suppress the non-violent agitation, militancy began to creep in. To the Tamil youth, the majoritarian democracy represented the dictatorial rule of the Sinhala majority. They began to articulate that their salvation consisted in establishing a separate state by force. Thus an overview of post-Independence Tamil politics reveals that the struggle passed through various stages - cooperative, consensual, consociational, competitive, conflictual and conflagrational. More tragic, after the war was over, the government went back on its assurances and was determined to establish a majoritarian state.

India provides an interesting contrast. Along with the growth of the Indian National Congress, Madras Presidency witnessed the rise of the Dravidian movement, founded by EV Ramasamy Naicker. EVR fought Brahmin domination and advocated self-respect; later, he also demanded a separate state of Dravida Nadu. When India attained Independence on 15 August 1947, EVR characterised it as North Indian domination and asked his followers to hoist black flags as a mark of protest. Among his ardent followers at that time was M Karunanidhi. Gradually, leaders like CN Annadurai believed that despite limitations, the Constitution of India provided scope for regional parties to come to power through the ballot box. In other words, in Tamil Nadu, if you are voted to power, you can develop and foster Tamil culture, while at the same time, you can be a loyal Indian citizen. Thus, multiple identities can coexist; you can be a Tamil and an Indian at the same time. In 1962, the DMK renounced its slogan of a separate state. With the formation of coalition governments in New Delhi, another big change took place. The regional parties could influence national politics while at the same time, national needs led to the domestication of regional parties. In other words, those who not so long ago burned the Constitution and the national flag have no qualms today in unfurling the tricolour on Independence Day and swearing by the Constitution. The end result was when the Fourth Eelam War degenerated into a savage assault on the Sri Lankan Tamils, Karunanidhi, who was chief minister at that time, did not pressure the Central government to intervene. To change the optics, he resorted to political gimmicks like hunger strikes - which started after breakfast and concluded before lunch - to retain his image as a champion of overseas Tamils.

The message is clear for those who want to draw the right lessons from the Indian experiment. Federalism would not lead to disintegration of existing states; it would pave the way for the establishment of a state where multiple identities can coexist harmoniously.

(The writer is senior professor (retd), Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras and can be reached at suryageeth@gmail.com)
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Homestead, FL (33030)

Today

A steady, heavy rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

A steady, heavy rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Crocodile Rock Amateur Group on the air

Crocodile Rock Amateur Group (CRAG) based in Scotland, will be operating two Paul Godley commemorative stations to celebrate the centenary of the successful transatlantic test 2 conducted in December 1921. Both the special and rarer special/special event stations will be operated between the 1st - 26th December 2021.

The callsigns used for the centenary will be GB2ZE & GB1002ZE respectively.

Back in 1921, the American Paul Godley (2ZE), embarked on a DX-pedition ultimately to Ardrossan, Scotland in order to receive the first transatlantic shortwave amateur radio message from the amateur station - 1BCG- located in Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.A.

In fitting tribute to Paul Godley, negotiations between OFCOM & CRAG resulted in OFCOM offering all UK and Crown dependency licenced radio amateurs the ability to use the suffix "/2ZE" with your own callsign from the 1st - 26th December 2021. Please join the celebrations and embrace the rare opportunity to use the - /2ZE - allocation.

In addition to the radio celebrations, North Ayrshire Council (in collaboration with CRAG) have jointly created an exhibition surrounding this Centenary which will be hosted in the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre, Saltcoats. This exhibition opens from 1st Nov through to Mid-December 2021.

Further details surrounding the centenary can be found here: www.transatlantic.org.uk.

Additional historical information can be found on the RSGB site:

https://rsgb.org/main/activity/transatlantic-tests/

& also the ARRL site: http://www.arrl.org/transatlantic.

Author: Bob Alexander (GM0DEQ)/ QTHR.
This is the 26th conference since the first UN-sponsored conference was held in 1995.





The 26th World Climate Conference (COP-26) kicked off on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland. About 30,000 people, including leaders from around the world, climate experts and arbitrators, are expected to attend. The participating countries are expected to present their plans to reduce carbon emissions by 2030. The countries that signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 agreed to take measures to ensure that global warming does not rise above 2 degrees Celsius beyond the pre-industrial era. Under the agreement, in order to reduce carbon emissions to virtually zero by 2050, various countries will now have to reduce their carbon emissions at a massive rate. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to address the COP-26 summit. In this year's conference, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh will lead the CVF (Climate Vulnerable Forum), a forum of 46 nations besides Bangladesh. Bangladesh is currently the President of CVF. All concerned, including the people of the CVF-affiliated countries, are particularly hopeful that the CVF-COP-26 Leaders Dialogue will lead to crucial decisions aimed at mitigating, adapting and financing climate change.

This is the 26th conference since the first UN-sponsored conference was held in 1995. When the World Climate Conference is about to take place, many of the evils of climate change are particularly visible to the world. Canada has recently experienced the highest heatwave in history. The floods in Europe are also unprecedented. A record amount of rain has fallen in western Germany, causing floods. The floods have inundated the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. Fires have increased in California in the United States, parts of North America, Siberia, and southern Europe. 134 countries in the world are now facing the threat of fire which is a new record. By 2020, about 20 percent of the world's land area will be affected by drought. All this has happened due to climate change. Earth's temperature is rising rapidly. The last 5 years have been the warmest compared to the last 150 years. Compared to 1901, the rate of sea level rise has tripled. If this situation continues, scientists estimate that by the end of this century, sea level will rise by about two meters. As a result, people living in the sea area will have to face massive floods. People will be displaced. Now the demand is that all the countries that are responsible for the creation of climate refugees should take their responsibility.

Excess carbon emissions are a major cause of climate change. This crisis started from the beginning of the industrial age. The more industrialized the countries, the more polluted the environment. But the countries lagging behind in the industry are suffering the most. The responsibility for dealing with this environmental catastrophe rests heavily on the rich countries. Sadly, rich countries are not yet sincere in keeping their promises. Scientists say the goal of the Paris Agreement on global warming must be achieved if the earth is to be kept in balance. In order to make this planet habitable, everyone must reach a consensus at the World Climate Conference and show responsibility and sincerity in implementing the decision.
The recent ASEAN snub was a huge loss of face for the junta chief. But can India and the international community wait for the group to take action while Myanmar burns?

by Col R Hariharan (Retd)

The 39th ASEAN summit that met on October 26 had a notable absenteeGen Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmars ruling junta. The ASEAN, which had Myanmars internal situation on its agenda, decided not to invite him after he refused to allow the groups special envoy to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, who is imprisoned along with other leaders. Meeting political leaders was an important item on ASEANs five-point proposal for mediation. After taking the unprecedented action, the group offered a sop. It invited Chan Aye, permanent secretary at the Myanmar juntas foreign ministry, to attend the summit. Rejecting the offer, the Myanmar military spokesman said, For us, attending a meeting that doesnt place Myanmar at the same level as others is like an assault on the sovereignty of our nation. Neither the ASEAN chair nor the secretary general chose to refer to Myanmars absence at the summit, sending a clear message that the group was prepared to deal with the Myanmar junta chief on its own terms. It was a huge loss of face for Gen Hlaing, as his presence would have partly fulfilled his quest for legitimacy of the junta government.

The junta chief has also missed attending the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) held virtually after the ASEAN summit, with the participation of leaders from Australia, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US in addition to ASEAN leaders. American President Joe Biden in his address at the EAS was unequivocal in condemning the military takeover. He said, In Myanmar, we must address the tragedy caused by the military coup, which is increasingly undermining regional stability. He added, The US stands for the people of Myanmar and calls for the military regime to end the violence ... and return to the path of democracy.

On the other hand, the brief statement issued by the PMO and MEA said the important regional and global issues discussed at the EAS included Indo-Pacific, South China Sea and Myanmar. Pointedly, it said the PM reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific and highlighted the synergies between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOUIP) and Indias Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). The reaffirmation of ASEAN centrality indicates that India is probably not thinking beyond facilitating the groups efforts at mediation in Myanmar. The same approach was likely adopted when the issue was discussed at the 18th ASEAN-India meeting on October 28.

The UN, which had been preoccupied with the turbulence in Afghanistan, had also banked upon ASEANs five-point proposal for resolving the Myanmar issue. However, after ASEANs refusal to invite the military junta chief to the summit, the mediatory process could be indefinitely delayed.

The moot point is, can India and the international community wait for ASEAN to take action while Myanmar burns? Thomas H Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur in Myanmar, has warned that the nation was heading for full-blown civil war in his report presented to the UN human rights body last month. Andrews said the crisis in Myanmar had become grave, with the army continuing to commit mass atrocity crimes. According to pro-democracy sources, as on October 23, under the military regime, 1,196 people had been killed and 9,175 arrested. These largely conform to the findings of international agencies.

The newly elected members of the NLD and ethnic political parties have formed the National Unity Government (NUG) to visibly reinforce their legitimacy. Though its presence on the ground is shadowy, its official website and interactive social media sites keep the people informed of its activities. The NUG has demonstrated its multi-ethnic character by making the 1st Vice President Duwa Lashi La, a Kachin, the acting President and Mahn Win Khaing Than, a Christian Karen, the PM. The NUG has decided to repeal the 1962 Citizenship Law and replace it with a new law based on proper citizenship criteria. These actions meet the demand of not only Rohingyas but also stateless people of Indian origin in Myanmar.

The NUGs call for a civil disobedience movement against the junta has kept up the spirit of protestors. Many soldiers have deserted their posts. In August, the NUG formed the Peoples Defence Force (PDF), laying down a code of conduct for its fighters. It is carrying out attacks on Myanmar troops. It is significant that these attacks are taking place in regions like Sagaing and Magwe, Mandalay and Tanintharyi (bordering Thailand), and Chin State (bordering Mizoram), which had not seen such protests in the recent past. The coup has almost killed the ceasefire that was in force with nearly 14 ethnic insurgent groups. Such ethnic groups in Northern Shan and Kayah states are regrouping to fight the Tatmadaw. In Rakhine state, the Arakan Army has consolidated its presence.

According to Myanmar media, the ruling junta has deployed thousands of troops to carry out operations in Chin State bordering Mizoram. A few days ago, Radio Free Asia reported the torching of a whole village by Tatmadaw troops after the Chin defence militia attacked a military convoy. Ethnic affinity of tribes living on both sides of Indias border with Myanmar makes it porous, as free movement for 16 km across the border is allowed. Mizoram is already facing the spillover of the conflict in Chin State, with nearly 13,000 people taking refuge with their ethnic kinsmen. It has become a political issue in the state after the Centre refused to treat them as refugees. Last week, the Nagaland government said an unknown number of Nagas from Myanmar have sought refuge in Mon district following military operations in the Sagaing region.

Destabilisation along the border is a threat to the security of both India and Myanmar. Realising this, the armed forces of the two countries have been cooperating to maintain security and stability in their border areas and not to allow sanctuaries for insurgent groups in their territories. This has helped India curb insurgency in the Northeast.

Myanmar is Indias gateway to the East and vital for Indias Act East Policy. India is involved in executing two strategically important projects in Myanmar: the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral that connects the Northeast with Myanmar and Thailand. During the last decade, India has built multifaceted, robust relations with Myanmar and its development assistance portfolio there is now over $1.75 billion.

Indias efforts to build a win-win relation with Myanmar will go to nought if civil war continues. The writing on the wall is clear: The military cannot crush the fight for democracy and the international community is in no hurry to recognise the junta regime, which is running out of cash. The NUG has taken a number of affirmative actions, which need to be encouraged.

As early as last April, a MEA spokesman said: We condemn any use of violence. ... We stand for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. Words alone are not enough. It is time India used its good offices with the Tatmadaw to make it rethink its strategy and get ready for peace parleys as suggested in the ASEAN mediation process.

Col R Hariharan (Retd), Former military intelligence specialist on South Asia and terrorism. (haridirect@gmail.com)
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Skan AG / Schlagwort(e): Borsengang

SKAN gibt vollstandige Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption bekannt



02.11.2021 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Veroffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.





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Ad hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

SKAN gibt vollstandige Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption bekannt

Allschwil, 2. November 2021 - Die SKAN Group AG, Weltmarktfuhrerin bei hochwertigen Isolatorsystemen fur aseptische Produktionsprozesse in der (bio-)pharmazeutischen Industrie, hat heute bekannt gegeben, dass die Joint Global Coordinators die ihnen im Rahmen des Borsengangs gewahrte Mehrzuteilungsoption zum Angebotspreis von CHF 54 je Aktie vollstandig ausgeubt haben.

Die Aktien der SKAN Group AG sind am 28. Oktober 2021 zum Handel an der SIX Swiss Exchange zugelassen worden. Heute haben die Joint Global Coordinators Credit Suisse und Berenberg die Mehrzuteilungsoption zum Kauf von 500'000 bestehenden Aktien zu CHF 54 je Aktie vollstandig ausgeubt.

Einschliesslich der Aktien aus der Mehrzuteilungsoption wurden beim IPO 5'000'000 Aktien platziert, davon 1'731'494 neue und 3'268'506 bestehende Aktien. Das Platzierungsvolumen belauft sich auf insgesamt CHF 270 Mio. Nach Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption betragt der Streubesitz (Free Float) rund 50 Prozent - inklusive des Anteils der pre-IPO-Aktionare, die nach Abschluss des Angebots eine Beteiligung von weniger als 3 Prozent halten.



Kontakte:

Thomas Balmer, Dynamics Group AG, tba@dynamicsgroup.ch, +41 79 703 87 28

Alexandre Muller, Dynamics Group AG, amu@dynamicsgroup.ch, +41 79 635 64 13



Uber SKAN:

1968 gegrundet, zahlt SKAN zu den Pionierfirmen in den Fachbereichen Reinraumausrustungen und Bau von Isolatoren fur die pharmazeutische Industrie. Innovative Produkte, kundenspezifische Losungen sowie eine leistungsfahige Dienstleistungs- und Serviceorganisation haben SKAN zu einem Marktfuhrer und wichtigen Partner der Industrie und Forschungslaboratorien werden lassen.



This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares or other securities. This document is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") or a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction. The offer and listing of any securities will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a prospectus which is to be approved by the competent review body and published. A decision to invest in securities of SKAN Group AG should be based exclusively on the prospectus published by SKAN Group AG for such purpose. Investors are furthermore advised to consult their bank or financial adviser before making any investment decision.

Statements made in this publication may include forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the fact that they use words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "should", "expect", "guidance", "project", "intend", "plan", "believe", "will", "could" and/or other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with, among other things, any discussion of results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies or developments in the industry in which we operate. Such statements are based on management's current intentions, expectations or beliefs and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them. Forward-looking statements contained in this media release regarding trends or current activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Actual outcomes, results and other future events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements contained herein. Such differences may adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein and may result from, among other things, changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic or regulatory factors and other factors affecting the business and operations of the company. Neither SKAN Group AG nor SKAN Holding AG nor any of their respective affiliates is under any obligation, and each such entity expressly disclaims any such obligation, to update, revise or amend any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this media release. It should be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Except as required by applicable law, SKAN Group AG has no intention or obligation to update, keep updated or revise this publication or any parts thereof (including any forward looking statement) following the date hereof.

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The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom, and no such offer of securities to will be made to the public in the United Kingdom, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation: (i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation; or (ii) in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"), provided that no such offer of securities shall require SKAN Group AG to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to the securities means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase the securities, and the expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities falling within article 49 of the Order or (iii) other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each a "Member State"), no securities have been offered and will be offered to the public in that Member State, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in that Member State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation: (i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation; or (ii) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of securities shall require SKAN Group AG to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to the securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase securities, and the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Information to Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares have been subject to a product approval process by each Manager established in the EEA, which has determined that the Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.

The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the offering. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Managers established in the EEA will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

None of the underwriters or any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the group, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Accordingly, each of the underwriters and the other foregoing persons disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability, whether arising in tort or contract or that they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement and/or any such statement.
The airlines arrival in South Florida comes just in time for Canadian snowbirds isolated by the COVID-19 pandemic to head for sunnier climes. Airline executives believe there is pent-up demand among Canadians who could not travel internationally because a ban on non-essential trips.
The school district has hired Ray and Associates, an independent search firm, to lead the effort. Through Nov. 15, the school district is asking district stakeholders to complete an online survey that identifies the top leadership qualities they believe are most important, according to the districts planned timeline for the search.
Nurses are taking advantage of an opportunity to get out of low-pay jobs, Brogan explained. The industry needs to sit down and take a good look at itself as to why this is happening. They are crying shortage because they now see nurses as an expensive unit of labor. Their solutions include trying to replace the gaps with less experienced, lower-paid, right-out-of-school nurses.
"Alexander" is the story of Alexander the Great, the King of Macedonia, who conquered much of the known world by age 32. The nearly three hour-long movie has been described by critics as emotionally and intellectually incoherent, flawed, and an excruciating disaster. (Courtesy of Warner Bros.)
Stone, of Fort Lauderdale, has known Trump for decades, serving as his informal adviser for much of the 2016 campaign. If Florida governor Ron DeSantis does not order an audit of the 2020 election to expose the fact that there are over 1 million phantom voters on the Florida voter rolls in the Sunshine state I may be forced to seek the Libertarian party nomination for governor Florida in 2022 #ByeRon, Stone posted on the social media platform Gab on Sunday.
In another instance, on Oct. 27, DeSantis set primary and general special election dates for three Broward and Palm Beach county seats in the state Legislature. The seats had been vacated when the current lawmakers all submitted irrevocable resignations in July so they could qualify as candidates to fill the vacancy caused by Hastings death.
By offering their expert testimony, in no way do these professors interfere with an efficient academic workplace, the letter states. In fact, they greatly enhance the University of Floridas academic standing ... [T]he faculty at the University of Florida do not give up their rights as citizens by virtue of their public employment. The decision to prevent their expert testimony clearly infringes on the First Amendment rights of Professors Smith, McDonald, and Austin.
Reading the proclamation reinforces the idea that this session is designed for the good of the governor, not the state. Though the session might happen as soon as Nov. 15, theres still no bill. No hearings are scheduled. The proclamation, however, tells all.
Perhaps the investigation by UFs accreditor, or a task force formed by UF President Kent Fuchs to look into the matter, may find that Hosseini played a role in this idiocy as well. Hosseini has already embarrassed the states premier university with his ham-fisted shoving of Ladapo into a job at the university to grease the doctors move to a high-level state job. If the investigations now swirling over this latest affair show that Hosseini had a hand in it, he must be removed from the board of trustees by any legal means possible before he embarrasses the university again. Its clear he puts loyalty to the governor above the mission of the school.
An employer may not prevent or interfere with an employees off-duty activities unless such a decision has been agreed to by all parties in advance. It is true that certain occupations, usually involving public safety, place restrictions on employees non-work behavior. For example, off-duty police officers should not engage in conduct unbecoming and airline pilots and medical personnel must refrain from using alcohol within a certain time period prior to their work shifts.
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Nina Baker

bakernin@grinnell.edu

Candidates for the Grinnell-Newburg School Board (GNSD) clashed over mask mandates, CDC guidelines and culturally responsive curricula at a town hall hosted by the Grinnell League of Women Voters on Thursday, Oct. 28.

The seven-member board has two at-large director positions up for re-election this year. Incumbents Barbara Brown and Meg Jones Bair hold the seats currently and are running for re-election against challengers Roger Belsher and Chris Starrett.

Helen Redmond, director of District 2, and Laurel Tuggle Lucina, director of District 1, are also up for re-election and attended the town hall on Oct. 28. Redmond is challenged by Tyler Harter, who did not attend. Tuggle Lucina is running unopposed.

The four incumbent candidates advocated for adherence to CDC guidelines, for GNSD, which includes indoor masking for the unvaccinated and indoor masking for vaccinated living in high transmission regions. The CDC lists Poweshiek County as a high transmission area for COVID-19 and recommends everyone age two or older wear a mask indoors.

Starrett and Belsher, the two challenging candidates said they do not support the GNSD following CDC guidance.

Starrett said that he thinks GNSD should follow only Iowa guidelines, rather than the CDC because he thinks the CDC creates broader recommendations that cannot be applied universally to each school district. Belsher said that he thinks masks should be optional, citing complaints from students and staff about complications caused by the mandate. He did not explain what these complaints were.

The sitting school board unanimously passed the GNSD-wide mask mandate on Sept. 16, 2021.

Candidates were also asked about their support for Grinnell High Schools Culturally Responsive Scorecard used in their social studies curriculum. In March 2021, the GNSD adapted the Culturally Responsive Scorecard from New York University to expand equity and diversity in Grinnell High Schools curriculum.

Starrett positioned himself as being strongly against the scorecards, which he said were calling CRT by any other name. He gave an example of a disbanded auto-repair company changing names, but still being the same repair company.

Critical Race Theory is a formal name for an educational framework in which educators teach United States history in a way that includes the nations systemic racism in past and present times. The framework (specifically when known as CRT) has recently become a hot-button issue for the political right, although the content and ideas behind it have existed since the 1970s. Progressives have called the recent trend of Republican opposition to CRT-based curriculum racist and regressive.

Do I believe in CRT? I think its wrong, I think it needs to be out of our schools, Starrett said. But I do believe in history, and in history prevailing, so we dont keep repeating our mistakes.

Meanwhile, Jones Bair cited feedback from Grinnell High School alumni that they werent prepared by their GNSD education to live in more diverse areas of the world as the impetus for implementing the Culturally Responsive Curriculum.

Candidates also discussed solutions to fix the infrastructure of school buildings in Grinnell. A $60 million bond initiative has been subject to vote three times since 2015. The money would be diverted towards fixing infrastructural decay and building a new elementary school, which would merge Grinnells three elementary schools into one building. Each ballot initiative failed.

All candidates said they supported the bond initiative. Some candidates also said that the infrastructure is causing low levels of enrollment at GNSD.

Weve got a lot of kids who are open-enrolled and going to other school districts at our time. That is a problem, added Starrett.

Both Brown and Jones Bair said increasing enrollment and constructing a new elementary school were one of their top priorities. Brown added that the bond measure will be put to ballot again, with no date yet determined.

Other issues discussed at the forum were improvements in communication, school board management, budgeting, and each candidates five-year-plan for GNSD. A full recording can be viewed on the Grinnell LWV Facebook page.

School board races will appear alongside citywide races on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
LOBAMBA The countrys Judiciary was yesterday put in the spotlight by Members of Parliament (MPs).

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu was called to provide answers on why some murder accused persons were granted bail and got to roam the streets a few days after committing the crimes. This happened during a question and answer session where Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo asked the minister to inform the House about the judicial progress on a matter he once raised regarding an incident where former Lobamba High School Head teacher Vezamafa Mhlanga was allegedly killed by a relative. MP Khumalo submitted that the deceased was killed almost 20 years ago but that to this day the case was pending and seemingly left to die a natural death whilst his family remained under threat from the suspect.

Family

The Lobamba Lomdzala MP mentioned that the matter was concluded without the satisfaction of the family of the deceased. The family of the deceased has been to the ministry and it was resolved that everything should be started afresh so that fresh investigations can be conducted. We encourage the police to speed up the process, said Khumalo. MP Princess Phumelele thanked Khumalo for raising the issue and said it was clear that dirty tricks were at play. The princess argued that it was ludicrous that for 20 years no one had been arrested for the crime. It appears that the offender did this on purpose. After committing the offence, he went to the police station to report that he had killed someone. He did not spend even a month in custody and was out. It is like there was an agreement reached between him and the police, submitted the princess.

Happy

Nkhaba MP Zakhele Magongo stood up and asked the minister to tell the House if she was still happy with the judiciary in the country. He made an example saying a certain individual who allegedly killed someone in Mbabane recently was granted bail within a few days while there were two MPs who had not been granted bail. Even though he did not name them, it is a fact that two MPs, Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi are currently in custody having been arrested in July this year.

Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni also joined the call to have the minister tell the House if she was happy with the judiciary. Myeni said it was obvious that the Judiciary was selective. In vernacular he said, Inemehlo. Also posing a question to the minister was Motshane MP Robert Magongo who asked the number of judges in the country and cases they handled per month. Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane also asked if the minister was happy with the way things were done in as far as arrests and convictions were concerned. We have people like the two MPs who are still in custody but there are those who took guns at police stations and used them to kill people but today they are roaming the streets, submitted the Nhlambeni MP.

Meanwhile KuMethula MP asked to know if the investigations and eventual findings would be factual since the murder took place several years ago. He wondered what would happen since some key witnesses might not be alive anymore. The KuMethula MP also asked how many years the suspect, if convicted, will serve in jail since the incident happened close to 20 years ago.

Misleading

After the MPs had posed their questions, MP Khumalo rose again and said the minister should admit that the office of the director of public prosecutions (DPP) never applied itself in the matter. According to MP Khumalo, the DPPs Office accepted misleading information that was untrue. He asked the minister if it was true that the deceaseds children could no longer visited their fathers homestead in the Shiselweni Region as the accused allegedly threatened to deal with them the way he did their father. MP Khumalo also asked if the minister had enquired from the national police commissioner on the matter before attending the sitting yesterday.

I am asking this question because the matter was in the notice paper so the minister should by now have spoken to the police in order to respond properly to our questions, said MP Khumalo. Mtsambama MP said if the minister was happy with the Judiciary, she must state how far and if not, she should tell the House what she planned to do.
MANZINI  The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, is set to have face-to-face talks with His Majesty King Mswati III today.

The president of South Africa, who is the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics Defence and Security, will arrive in the country through King Mswati III International Airport today at around 8:30am. This was confirmed by the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sikhumbuzo Bhembe. He said the president would be in the kingdom today as he was expected to land at King Mswati III International Airport.

Thereafter, the communications officer said at around 12:30pm, the chairman of SADC Troika would meet the King at Mandvulo Hall. Bhembe was asked if the agenda of the heads of State meeting would be about the ongoing political unrest in the country, following Ramaphosas decision to send a special envoy to the country late last month. However, Bhembe said the information they had was that the visiting head of State would meet the King this afternoon.

Director

Meanwhile, the Kings Office Director of Communications, Percy Simelane, said the matter was being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In that regard, he referred this publication to the ministry. Worth noting is that Troika sent an envoy to the kingdom to engage with the King and other stakeholders over the ongoing unrest. In the country, the unrest had been characterised by protest actions which have been going on for a while now. During the unrest, especially the countrywide protest action which culminated in looting and vandalism of public and private properties, some of which were torched, some emaSwati were shot. Others died, while some were injured. Again, some were arrested in the process.

Last week, a report which was delivered by the Commission on Human Rights said 291 people were shot in two days (June 28 and 29, 2021). The report also said 46 civilians died. It also said 19 of those who were shot, were children and two of them were killed in the process.
Ebdaa Microfinance is ready to negotiate with any Bahraini financial institution interested in investing in the company and expanding its operation, or launching its own microfinance service, said its CEO Dr Khaled Al Ghazzawi.



He has called on banks and financial institutions in Bahrain to support the microfinance industry in the Kingdom.



Various countries around the world recognized the importance of this type of financing in achieving financial inclusion, allowing people with low incomes to access banking services, and encouraging them to launch micro-projects that contribute to developing the national economy, said Dr Al Ghazzawi.



He stated that the advantages of investing in the microfinance business have significant social elements that help the most needy members of society. In this perspective, he believed microfinance to be an extra sector for the banking industry, both traditional and Islamic, as well as a tributary to it, and that it may greatly contribute to enhancing the financial return of the banking institution.



Since its inception in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2009 under the name of Ebdaa Bank, Ebdaa Microfinance has disbursed more than 16,300 micro-loans to Bahraini entrepreneurs of both genders, totalling BD19.4 million ($51 million), with about 63% distributed to Bahraini women and men under the age of 45, Dr Al Ghazzawi said.



These figures indicate that Bahrain is an appealing environment for the microfinance business, and underscore the need of giving this kind of financing the attention it deserves and marketing its products.



In this context, Dr Al Ghazzawi stated that Ebdaa Microfinance had accumulated a lot of experiences and best practices over the last 12 years, and its administrative and executive cadre has reached a high level of excellence in the microfinance industry, but he added that more support and partners in this industry would speed up the achievement of its goals.



He concluded: "We believe that the presence of more workers in the field of the microfinance industry would advance this industry and accelerate the achievement of the desired goals, especially since microfinance for small businesses is considered one of the successful methods in the development of the individual and society.  TradeArabia News Service
The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) Groups Indian Rupee (INR) suite recorded a spike in trading during October, as market participants looked to hedge their risk amid market volatility.



Notably, the DGCX Groups Weekly INR-US Dollar (USD) Futures Contract traded strongly, registering a Y-O-Y ADV growth of 119.19%. The DGCXs Mini INR Futures Contracts also drew a Y-O-Y ADV growth of 85.21%, compared to the same period last year.



There was also sustained interest in the DGCXs West Texas Intermediary (WTI) Futures Contract during the month, as oil prices soared with US crude hitting a seven-year high during the last week of October. The WTI Futures Contract registered a year-on-year (Y-O-Y) average daily volume (ADV) growth of 44.73%, compared to the same period last year.



Trading across the DGCXs precious metals portfolio was also strong during the month, with the exchanges flagship Gold Futures Contract recording a Y-O-Y ADV growth of 32.62% compared to the same period last year.



Once again, DGCX also registered a high monthly average open interest (AOI) of 135,828 contracts in the month of October.



Following the DGCXs strategic MoU with Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) - the DGCX Groups senior management participated in a four-day workshop in conjunction with VFEX, in Zimbabwe. The session served as an important platform for DGCXs senior team to provide VFEX representatives and other market participants in Zimbabwe with an exchange of technical knowledge, best practices, and support to establish an international commodities exchange in Zimbabwe.



The new commodities exchange will pave the way for more exchanges in the African market and represents just one of DGCXs several initiatives in the African region, as part of the exchanges strategic expansion into the continent.



Les Male, CEO of DGCX, said: The DGCX enjoyed a strong month of trading in terms of increased volumes and value. We registered heightened interest in our INR currency and precious metals portfolios during October, as market participants looked for short-term contracts and arbitrage opportunities to match their business and hedging requirements.



A buoyant sentiment on oil prices also saw DGCXs WTI Futures Contract perform strongly, as US crude reached a seven-year high. Going forward, we have a number of new product launches in the pipeline, which we will soon announce over the coming months.  TradeArabia News Service
Britus Education, a unit of Bahrain-based GFH Financial Group, has acquired the management and operations rights to Athena Private School for Special Education, which it will later rebrand to Britus International School  Special Education.

The rebranding, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education, aligns with Britusefforts to unify and transform its growing network of schools owned and managed across the GCC and North Africa, said a statement from Britus Education.

Britus, a K-12 education platform, already operates seven private schools in the region under its own brand. These include four in Saudi Arabia (Al-Olaya, Al-Murabaa, Al- Rowda and Al- Fayhaa) and recently rebranded schools in Bahrain (AMA International School), Dubai (Sheffield Private School) and Tunis (British International School in Tunis).

As part of the Britus Education platform, students at Britus International School  Special Education who progress to the necessary level can also seamlessly be enrolled and transition into the mainstream Britus school network.

Britus Education has announced the acquisition of the management and operations rights to Athena Private School for Special Education, which it will rebrand to Britus International School  Special Education.

The rebranding, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education, aligns with Britusefforts to unify and transform its growing network of schools owned and managed across the GCC and North Africa.

The school is a leading special education provider in Bahrain. Established in 2019, it serves students age K-16+, catering to a broad range of special needs.

These include general learning difficulties, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Communication Disorders, Physical Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities (such as Dyslexia), Down Syndrome and other genetic or chromosomal disorders and those with neuro developmental disorders such as ADHD, ODD, OCD and ADD.

On the acquisition, Fatema Kamal, Acting CEO of Britus Education, said: "Were delighted to add a leading special education school to our portfolio of schools in order to meet a key need in our community. We will work with special needs students that develop acceptable skill levels with the objective to blend them into mainstream education."

"The conversion of the school to our Britus brand also comes in line with our strategy and focus on building a powerful, home-grown regional education network," stated Kamal.

"With its unique place in the community, serving a broad cross section of students with special needs, we are especially proud of the work of the school and will continue to invest in further enhancing its offering and effectively serving and supporting our special needs students and their families," she added.- TradeArabia News Service
Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of land and air transportation on the sidelines of the Omani delegations visit to the KSA.



The MoU on land transport was signed by Said Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and Saleh Nasser Al Jaser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services in the KSA, reported Oman News Agency (ONA).



Moreover, the MoU on air transport was signed by Naif Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Abdulaziz Al Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in the KSA.



The two MoUs agreed on sharing scientific and professional information between the two countries in order to enhance technical spheres and to boost logistic cooperation. The MoUs will also increase mutual visits between engineers, experts and professional technicians in the fields of land roads and air navigation.



Moreover, the MoUs also agreed on conducting seminars and joint meetings, as well as training engineers, experts and professionals.



The MoUs also agreed on utilizing the geographical areas of the two countries to serve the joint logistical interests.
Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed an agreement with Russias Ros Global Export to set joint development plans and programmes that boost trade, facilitate the exchange of delegations between both sides, and attract investment.



Signed at the Business Communication Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, the agreement supports opportunities for collaboration to ensure both parties benefit from commercial, tourism, and investment prospects.



The accord will see the two parties collaborate to organise conferences, meetings, seminars, and workshops, in addition to agreeing on procedures to participate in external events. The two entities will also work together to set promotional plans and use social networks to announces their respective programmes and organise meetings for businessmen from both sides.



The agreement was signed by Mohamed Ali Al Janahi, Executive Director of Business and Investment Development at Ajman Chamber, and Dmitriy Polyakov, Director General of Ros Global Export.



The collaboration agreement calls for the two sides to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and statistics, and for each to benefit from the training programmes, activities, events, and conferences the other side organises. The two parties also agree to exchange expertise, studies, and research.



The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry is always looking to expand and diversify its network of collaborators and partnerships around the world, said Mohamed Ali Al Janahi.



Signing this collaboration agreement is part of our activities here at Expo 2020, which presents the ideal backdrop for business development efforts and plans to boost and expand commercial activities across various sectors and countries.



Our objective from this agreement with Ros Global Export is to open new markets for Chamber members, increase our trade with Russia, and provide common ground for future meetings with Russian businessmen to explore available opportunities, he added.



As per the agreement, each side will provide all facilities necessary for the other party to implement their programmes and activities. The two parties will also coordinate visits from commercial delegations and explore new, mutually beneficial prospects.  TradeArabia News Service
Northstar Technology has relocated its operations to Harbour Towers within the Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) in Manama.

NorthStar Technology is a leading telecommunications service provider in the kingdom. The company, under licence by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), provides ISP and telephony services in partnership with industry leaders in Bahrain.

We are delighted to welcome Northstar Technology as a new tenant. Northstar Technology is a leading technology company in Bahrain and Harbour Towers was their first choice for their data centre; with our own building UPS, and power supply from two substations, Harbour Towers provides the efficient world-class power infrastructure required by a technology company. Plus, our high speed fibre spine guarantees reliable and ultra-fast network connection, says Alex Craine, CEO of Bahrain Financial Harbour.

He adds: Bahrain is currently expending into the FinTech sector and on its way to become a major international FinTech hub. We can deliver the infrastructure needed for this rapidly growing industry with our state-of-the-art telecoms and power facilities. The future of technology companies is in Harbour Towers.

Harbour Towers is a national landmark and a most prestigious business address at the heart of Bahrain Financial Harbour on the King Faisal Highway. With over 100,000 sq m of Grade-A office space in two 52-storey towers and 4,400 car parking spaces, it is Bahrains largest and tallest office complex.

Ronnie Middleton, Managing Director of Northstar Technology, says: We are delighted to be opening our new office. As a leading player in the industry, we deliver end-to-end turnkey solutions addressing the complete telecom/infrastructure landscape. Our new location at Harbour Towers will serve as excellent location to meet the growing demand for the bouquet of services that we offer. The key advantages that our new location provides for our dedicated data centre makes very good business sense.

Northstar Technology supports end users in a variety of areas, including business infrastructure, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, ISP services, business connectivity, cybersecurity, risk management, SOC|NOC, managing services, SAP HANA, Enterprise Software, cloud computing and testing and benchmarking.  TradeArabia News Service
The first eight films of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RedSeaIFF) make up the Arab Spectacular strand bringing compelling authentic stories from Iraq, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco.

The inaugural edition of the festival is set to take place is Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from December 6 to 15. The line-up of films is part of over a 100 strong programme of the best Arab and international films which will be presented alongside red-carpet premieres, workshops, masterclasses, and networking within the industry market The Red Sea Souk, and a packed schedule of exciting events for Festival-goers.

The Arab Spectacular section will shine a spotlight on the most exciting new works premiering across the Arab world, covering an array of stories from diverse societies.

The films selected focus on the Arab experience, coming from some of the leading established names and trailblazing filmmakers in Arab cinema.

Edouard Waintrop, Artistic Director of the (RedSeaIFF) said: To be able to present the variety of Arab filmmakers and stories being told, and to amplify them on an international stage is the primary aim of the Festival. We know that the Arab world is not a monolith, and to see such diversity in the types of stories being told through these films is unique. We are proud to be able to showcase these films that speak to the progress and evolution of our industry, from some prominent Arab names.

Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programmes & Film Classics at the (RedSeaIFF), added: The stories being told as part of the Arab Spectacular strand speak to the most diverse aspects of our society. The directors of these films reconstitute memories and above all redefine Arab identity, trying to find a specific part of the story and revisit it in an authentic way. The stories also give women a voice and bring perspective from both central protagonists and the directors, reassesing and exploring their place in society. Music is also a central theme in this strand, shaping emotional responses and playing an integral role to build the narrative of the family unit which can often by complex yet fascinating.

Acclaimed Palestinian director Rashid Masharawis world premiere of his feature Recovery tells a deeply personal story. Masharawi, known for his directorial work on Lailas Wedding, Waiting and Ticket to Jerusalem, in his latest feature takes a special journey through photographs from the1930s-1948 across the historical city of Jaffa, where his father lived before being forced to emigrate in 1948.

Leading Algerian director Djaffar Gacems feature Heliopolis takes a historical turn, looking back at the reasons leading to demonstrations in Algiers in the aftermath of the Second World War on May 8, 1945.

Heliopolis raises questions about the meaning of duty, sacrifice and responsibility but also authority, compliance and courage.

Their Heads Are Green And Their Hands Are Blue sees Emmy-nominated director Jay Bulger team with Men in Black: International and Cherry producer Karim Debbagh on a life-changing trip to Morocco. The pair follow in the footsteps of acclaimed composer and writer Paul Bowles, who in 1959 published a brief account of his three years travelling throughout Morocco as he set out to record and document the countrys vast musical landscape on behalf of the US Library of Congress.

Nabil Ayouchs Casablanca Beats was selected to compete for the Palme dOr at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, and has also been chosen as the Moroccan entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 94th Academy Awards. In this, his latest film, the French-Moroccan director tells the story of Anas, a former rapper, who works in Casablanca. Torn between the threat of religious radicalism, the temptation of modernity and the weight of traditions, Anas opens up the minds and souls of his students through his teachings.

Tunisian actor Dhafer L'Abidine presents his feature directorial debut in Ghodwa. The film, which is also written by and stars L'Abidine, describes an unlikely father-son relationship, where the roles become reversed. As Habibs health deteriorates, it brings him together with his 15-year-old son Ahmed from a previous marriage.

Internationally acclaimed Iraqi director Shawkat Amin Korkis fourth feature, The Exam, tells the story of a young woman, Rojan, living in Iraqi Kurdistan. Facing a forced marriage and aided by her sister, Shilan, who herself is in an unhappy marriage, Rojan strives to pass a college entrance exam. The Exam follows these two sisters in their subtle journey to delay a forced wedding and take some control over their lives.

Take Me to the Cinema, a documentary feature from Iraqi director Albaqer Jaafar, was one of 14 films chosen by the Red Sea Fund to receive production and post-production funding. The feature follows the journey of former soldier Nassif, who fled the war in Iraq by escaping to the cinema. This documentary shows a vastly changed Baghdad through Nassifs eyes, as he looks for this film among the Baghdad cinema ruins.

Memory Box, co-directed and co-written by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, had its world premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, becoming the first Lebanese film to be nominated for the Golden Bear for Best Film in four decades.

The story, drawing inspiration from Hadjithomas real-life notebooks addressed to her best friend, focuses on Alex who receives an imposing box from Beirut intended for her mother, Maia. Despite her grandmothers wishes to keep the past sealed, Alex discovers the personal notebooks as well as tapes and photographs that Maia, aged 13 to 18, wrote and recorded for her best friend Lisa, who had left for Paris to escape the Lebanese civil war.-- TradeArabia News Service
Dana Gas collections from the KRI (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) and Egypt increased 86% year-on-year in the first ten months of the year to AED1.03 billion ($283 million) from AED557 million in the same period the previous year.

The Middle East's largest regional private sector natural gas company was supported by higher oil prices and the settlement of past outstanding receivables in the KRI.

Dana Gas, which owns a 35% interest in Pearl Petroleum, saw its share of collections from sales of condensate, LPG and gas in the KRI increase 78% to AED550 million in the first ten months of 2021 as compared to AED308 million, following the full repayment of outstanding receivables from 2019 and 2020.

In Egypt, Dana Gas collected AED487 million during the first ten months of 2021, compared to AED249 million received in the same period of 2020, representing a 96% increase.

Dr Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas, said: We are extremely pleased that the outstanding receivables in the KRI from 2019 and 2020 have been fully paid down, with the company now having no outstanding long-term receivables from the KRI. The levels of collections in both the KRI and Egypt have been exceptional over the first ten months of the year due to the rise in oil prices.

Continuing timely payment of invoices and the settlement of outstanding receivables is so important to providing us with the confidence to carry on with our expansion plans in the KRI and Egypt. Together with the rebound in hydrocarbon prices this will also boost our revenues, profitability and cash position.-- TradeArabia News Service
Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific has urged more governments to reopen borders and relax quarantine requirements especially in countries which have reached satisfactory vaccination rates, to prevent repeat of a dismal year for Asia-Pacific and Middle East airports.

This follows the release of latest figures forecasting sustained losses in 2021 for airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

Asia-Pacific, already adversely affected by constant lockdowns, stringent travel and quarantine restrictions, is forecasted to close out the year with around 56 per cent passenger losses, despite resumption of some domestic travel in a few markets.

Consistent with forecasts previously reported in 2020, the Middle East will be one of the hardest-hit regions globally with almost 70% passenger losses, the council said in a press release.

Compared with ACIs pre-pandemic projections for the same period, the two regions are forecasted to lose over 2.3 billion passengers by the end of 2021. Similarly, airport revenues, a direct reflection of passenger traffic, are forecasted to decline by approximately $34 billion in Asia-Pacific and $11 billion in the Middle East by the end of 2021.

ACI Asia-Pacific Director General Stefano Baronci said: The latest ACI forecast shows that after a bad 2020 in terms of traffic and revenues, 2021 was even more dismal for Asia-Pacific and Middle East airports.

The particularly negative outcome in Asia-Pacific is a direct consequence of travel restrictions and quarantine policies observed in many countries in the region.

Baronci added: A repeat of the dismal 2021 can be avoided for 2022 if more governments can adopt the risk-based, pragmatic approaches recommended by ICAO and the WHO. In pursuit of boosting international travel and stimulating economic growth, some countries are applying these approaches, such as Singapore, Thailand, Fiji and Maldives along with several Middle East and European countries and the United States.

"By the end of 2021, more major economies in Asia would have fully vaccinated over 70% of their populations, bringing an additional layer of protection against the coronavirus.

"With continued careful monitoring of public health situations through indicators such as hospitalisation and mortality rates, more governments are urged to expedite the calculated risk of relaxing quarantine policies, and follow the global trend of adopting digital health certificates with a view of supporting the resumption of international air travel.-TradeArabia News Service
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has appointed The Lux Collective, a luxury hospitality management company headquartered in Singapore, to manage two new hospitality projects set in Sharjahs scenic central and East Coast regions.

The announcement took place during Shurooqs participation at the World Travel Market 2021 held in London, from November 1  3, at the Sharjah stand.

Present at the event were: Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Paul Jones, Chief Executive Officer of The Lux Collective.

The nature-inspired LUX* Al Jabal Resort spans a 260,000 sq m area on a spectacular terrain hill overlooking a beach in Khorfakkan, facing the stunning Arabian Sea. The resort is expected to welcome guests in March 2023 and comprises of 45 eco-friendly units and suites that open out to expansive views of aquamarine waters and a jagged mountain range, offering a complete privacy.

Set adjacent to the largest conservation park in the region and the largest wildlife safari in the world outside Africa in the city of Al Dhaid in Sharjah, Sharjah Safari, the LUX* Al Bridi Resort is scheduled for a 2023 opening.

Upon completion, the project will feature 35 luxurious private tents and the LUX* Me Spa. Another key highlight of the property is the various types of animal encounters that are set in partnership between Shurooq and the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) under safe and secure measures that guarantees protection for both the guests and the animals.

Speaking about Sharjahs growing tourism profile, Al Midfa said: Tourism is a vital pillar of Sharjahs economy and a central underpinning of the emirates sustainable development. As the global pandemic recedes, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority is keen to strengthen its connections with the global travel market and reiterate Sharjahs wealth of attractions to consumers who are keen to commence travelling again as restrictions progressively come to an end.

He added: SCTDA supports the vision of our wise leadership to promote the wonders of Sharjah to as wide an audience as possible and the WTM is an essential platform for us to do this. During WTM 2021, we are in conjunction with our partners in the Sharjah delegation, we are showcasing Sharjahs array of new and future hospitality developments, its advanced infrastructure projects, and its breathtaking natural features that all combine to create a fantastic tourist experience for every visitor.

Al Sarkal said: Our new partnership with The Lux Collective is in line with our vision to add new and exciting dimension to the luxury hospitality experience in the region, and offer the upscale, modern traveller a multitude of sophisticated experiences that not just satisfy but elevate their unique aspirations. Shurooq and The Lux Collective are bound by common values and are committed to providing the highest standards of quality to enhance guest experiences.

Al Sarkal added: These new hospitality offerings bolster Shurooqs eco-luxury portfolio, and with them, we look forward to creating meaningful experiences for our guests while generating sustainable value for the communities in which we operate. Promising authentic yet world-class hospitality, the projects capture the spirit of their surrounding environments and reinforces Sharjah as the hub of responsible and sustainable development in the region.

Jones said: We are honoured to be trusted by Shurooq to manage these two extraordinary properties in Sharjah, the perfect showcases for LUX* Resorts & Hotels to deliver its *Lighter, Brighter hospitality concept to the United Arab Emirates whilst offering imaginative experiences to help people celebrate life.

LUX* Al Jabal Resort

The unique setting of the LUX* Al Jabal Resort - facing a picturesque bay and nestled within deep and dramatic gorges  is reflected in its landmark architecture being developed on the slopes of the Al Soueifa mountain.

Cube-shaped accommodations are being imported by Shurooq from Finland for this project, which are made from a special variety of Finnish pine forest that comes from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), a global initiative to promote sustainable, ecological and healthy living. that is minimally invasive for the soil and the resorts surrounding environment. With these innovative features, Shurooq is fulfilling its commitment to sustainability while offering guests a chance to explore unique, eco-friendly architecture.

Overlooking the pristine waters of the Soueifa beach, this new resort in Khorfakkan comprises 45 eco-friendly units with choices of 1 and 2 bedrooms, of which 15 units are equipped with a private swimming pool each, and a private royal suite with a swimming pool. The accommodation  comprising of 20 units each of standard one bedroom and luxury one-bedroom and 5 two- bedroom  is located within the gently sloping beach-facing lower bay of the cove while the clubhouse and restaurant are located on the hillside and offer mesmerising sunrise and sunset views.

The spa, Royal Villa, and reception are located on natural or man-made plateaus. Various attractions around the project will be connected via walking routes and tracks to enhance privacy. LUX* Al Jabal Resort will also feature a gym and kids play zone and offer facilities for water sports.

LUX* Al Bridi Resort

LUX* Al Bridi Resort, the newly announced five-star hospitality offering from Shurooq, occupies 784 hectares of the Sharjah Safari project, the largest wildlife safari in the world outside Africa, and offers unparalleled opportunities for observing and photographing the Big Five of Africa  the rhino, buffalo, elephant, lion, and leopard  in a natural, desert setting.

When complete, the Al Bridi Nature Reserve will be home to a wide variety of animal species including the native mountain gazelles. It will consist of two parts  a 40-hectare recreation of carefully selected African Rift Valley highlights, and a 650-hectare safari adventure. The reserve will feature the largest collection of African herbivores in the world, including some 45 sub-species of antelope.

The 35 luxurious private tents at LUX* Al Bridi Resort consists of 21 one-bedroom units, 8 two-bedroom units, and 6 three-bedroom units. A gym, spa, pool, and a Kids Club are among the other amenities guests can enjoy here.

While LUX* Al Bridi Resort will bring tourists and visitors from around to world to the heart of a wildlife adventure experience like never before in the UAE, the guests interaction with the animals in the nature reserve including feeding giraffes and other safe wildlife species will be guided by Sharjahs Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA). Shurooq and EPAA will collaborate to curate unique guest interactions with the wild.  TradeArabia News Service
The Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management hosted a scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 28th anniversary of introduction of the national currency - Turkmen manat.

The conference discussed issues relating to the development of the national banking system. In their reports, the participants noted that the introduction of the national currency on November 1, 1993 marked an important milestone in the history of economic development of the Turkmen state, in particular circulation of money. The speakers stressed that this event signified the beginning of a truly sovereign economic policy of the country and played a huge role in strengthening the foundations of the country's independence.

As part of the conference, there was held an exhibition of banknotes, commemorative coins of precious metals issued by the Central Bank of Turkmenistan over the years of independence, jewelry and materials dedicated to the history of Turkmen numismatics.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) Over eight months into the roll-out of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme, India has achieved full immunisation of 35 per cent of its adult population with both the doses of COVID vaccines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Monday.

Meanwhile, 78 per cent of the targeted population has received at least one dose of the vaccines, he added.

Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister described it as an "extraordinary feat" and said India is rapidly progressing on the path to defeat the virus.

"An extraordinary feat of an extraordinary nation! India has administered the 1st Covid-19 vaccine dose to 78 per cent of the eligible population and the 2nd dose to 38 per cent of the eligible people. Congratulations to all as we rapidly progress on our path to defeat the virus!" Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.

According to provisional data from the Union Health Ministry, the cumulative figure of total doses administered has crossed 106.7 crore after 47 lakh doses were administered on Monday.

"More than 33 crore Individuals have been fully vaccinated while over 73 crore people have received at least one shot of vaccines," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the country logged 12,514 fresh cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours, taking the total case tally to 3,42,85,814. Meanwhile, 251 more people died due to COVID in the same duration pushing the death toll to 4,58,437.

UNI ASH SHK2128
MoS Muraleedharan in The Gambia, inks two agreements for fostering of closer ties

Banjul (The Gambia)/New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, who is on a two-day visit to The Gambia, inked two agreements, including a General Framework Agreement for setting up of a Joint Commission.

In tweets, the minister said the inking of the two agreements is a step in fostering closer ties with the West African country.

Glad to have signed two agreements during my visit to The Gambia.
Glasgow/New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative, which he said will benefit small island developing states cope with the effects of climate change and prove beneficial for both life and livelihood.

In an event to launch IRIS, along with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison, Prime Minister Modi also announced that ISRO will develop a special data window, that will help the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) monitor oncoming cyclones, help with coastline monitoring, coral reef monitoring, through satellite link.

He said that the launch of IRIS signals new hope and purpose, for helping the most vulnerable nations.

The last few decades have proven that no one is safe from climate change. But the greatest danger is faced by the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), for them it is a question of survival as the climate disasters cause massive upheaval in their life and economy, he said.

He said the climate upheavals even make tourists apprehensive of coming to the SIDS countries, though tourism is their economic mainstay.

He said the SIDS have a close connect with nature and know how to adapt to climate changes, but are having to bear the brunt of natures fury caused by greedy and wanton exploitation of nature.

The PM stressed that the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and IRIS are not just infrastructure initiatives but a collective responsibility toward humanity. "It is a way to pay for our shared exploitation of nature," he said.

The PM said CDRI was not the outcome of some seminar, but has evolved out of several decades of thought and experience.

India, realizing the danger faced by SIDS, has evolved special mechanisms for cooperation with the Pacific Island states and the CARICOM nations, he said.

We have trained them in solar technology, and have contributed to infrastructure there, he added.

He then announced that ISRO would develop a special data window to help the SIDS for monitoring coastlines, coral reefs, and cyclones, among others.

He said both the CDRI and SIDS have helped to develop IRIS, which he said was a good example of co-creation and co-benefits.

Through IRIS, the SIDS countries will be able to more easily mobilise technology, finance, and relevant knowledge.



With the boost in quality infrastructure in small island states it will prove beneficial to both life and livelihood, he added.

"I have said earlier too that the world sees these small island states as less populated places, but I see them as having great potential, as large ocean states."

"In the way pearls that come from the ocean add to the beauty of a necklace, similarly these SIDS that are surrounded by the oceans enhance the beauty of the earth," he added.

He pledged Indias full cooperation in the new endeavour, and that CDRI will work with other partner countries as well as the UN for its success.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet, said:

"PM @narendramodi launched Infrastructure for Resilient Island States at #COP26 today.

"IRIS aims at achieving sustainable development through a systematic approach to resilient, sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in Small Island Developing States.

"Anchored on co-creation and complementarity, IRIS has been co-curated by SIDS and

@cdri_world.

"Co-hosted by Australia and UK, the IRIS launch event saw over 100 attendees. Leaders of SIDS, including Fiji, Jamaica and Mauritius also participated."

UNI/RN
UW Faculty Recital Series Features Piano Duet Nov. 7

A University of Wyoming Department of Music professor and a UW graduate are the featured Piano Duet musicians in the Sunday, Nov. 7, Faculty Recital Series program.

UW Professor Theresa Bogard and alumnus Dean Zhang will perform a free public concert at 3 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. The performance also will livestream at https://youtu.be/lc8b_BZL1eo.

The program features works by Johannes Brahms, Gyorgy Kurtag, Leo Smit and Igor Stravinsky.

Bogard, head of the Department of Musics keyboard area, is an active performer combining varied interests in historical performance practice, contemporary music, chamber music and the music of women composers. She has presented programs of solo and chamber music throughout the nation and around the world.

Nationally known as a pedagogue, Bogard has received numerous teaching awards, including Wyoming Professor of the Year (2008) by the Carnegie Foundation. She also has served as an adjudicator at numerous regional, national and international piano competitions and is a Steinway Artist.

Zhang has been a featured soloist with the Canton Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, New World Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony and Tucson Symphony, and he is the laureate of numerous competitions. Zhang performs nationwide with clarinetist Ben Chen as the Edgewater Duo, which will perform at UW at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6.

To learn more about Bogard and Zhang, go to the UW Department of Musics Upcoming Performances webpage, locate the Faculty Recital Series: Bogard and Zhang Duet concert and click on Get the Program link.

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.
UWs Brummond Receives Teen Science Cafe Network Rural Fellowship

Karagh Brummond

Karagh Brummond, director of the University of Wyoming Science Initiative Outreach and Engagement Program, has been selected as one of nine Teen Science Cafe Rural Fellows for the 2021-22 program.

The Teen Science Cafe Network is a national organization that supports the development of cafes in communities throughout the United States. The network was formed in 2012 with National Science Foundation funding to expand opportunities for teens nationwide.

In partnership with the UW Science Initiative, the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance and other Laramie community entities, Brummond will lead efforts to establish seven science cafes for teens in Laramie, with plans to extend the cafes to other locations in Wyoming.

The goal of the science cafes is to inspire young people while providing them with interactive and engaging experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leadership skills, says Brummond, who also is an assistant instructional professor in the UW Honors College. The network hopes to motivate teens, build community, open awareness for career opportunities and trajectories, and have fun.

Teen Science Cafe programs are a free, fun way for teens to engage in lively conversations with STEM experts that explore the advances in science and technology that affect their lives, according to the Teen Science Cafe Network website. In these events, teens socialize over teen-friendly food and drink and have lively conversations with local scientists and engineers about current cutting-edge developments in their fields, all in a relaxed and informal out-of-school setting, the website says.



The model of the science cafe is to really allow the teens to drive the success of the events. To this extent, the teen leaders are really there to help run the cafes with myself as the mentor for the students, Brummond explains. My role is to listen to the teens about the types of individuals in STEM they are most interested in speaking with; facilitate communication with those individuals; and support the teens where needed for the events. We hope that the teens will want to hear from STEM professors and local teachers, as well as other community individuals who have STEM-related careers.

Over the next month, Brummonds goal is to identify the group of teens who will be involved and establish teen leadership, with a timeline to have the first of seven cafes operating in January. She has started by reaching out to local teen after-school programs and the STEM Club at Laramie High School. Subsequent cafes established will run once a month, and twice if needed, she says.

Each cafe will take on its own form, depending on the speaker, Brummond says. However, in general, the cafes will last for approximately an hour and a half. They will start with some hands-on demonstration from the STEM speaker and then informal discussion with the teens.

While many details need to still be worked out, Brummond says the cafes will likely be after-school, weeknight or weekend gatherings, with potential locations at the Albany County Public Library or Laramie High School.

The actual time and place of the cafes will be teen driven and, therefore, once I am able to get our general teen pool established, we will discuss best times that work for the teens, Brummond says.

For STEM faculty, students and staff interested in getting involved, or teens and teen parents looking for more information, email Brummond at kmurph17@uwyo.edu.


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Students Visit Tovey Cottage

Nine children, from across our schools and part of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, visited Tovey Cottage for an educational talk on our birds of prey, delivered by Vincent Robba from GONHS Raptor Unit.

He displayed a Lesser Kestrel, a Peregrine Falcon and an Eagle Owl. Some of these students are also actively involved in beach cleaning initiatives with the Nautilus Project.

Tovey Cottage is an educational centre that provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about different species and habitats found in Gibraltar from within the Nature Reserve.

Presentations are often provided to visitors, informing them of all the work that is carried out within the Upper Rock. These talks are often related to the Barbary Partridge breeding programme, Raptor rehabilitation, and other re-introduction initiatives that enhance local biodiversity.

Tovey Cottage is equipped with a number of digital displays which provide details of the rich variety of flora, fauna, and invertebrates that can be found across the Upper Rock. Highlights from the Gibraltar Upper Rock Management Plan also feature on these displays so people can learn about the Nature Reserves vast history, and the effective management measures in place to preserve this gem today.

The Field Centre is currently made available to schools who may want to receive educational talks from the Department, or use the site as a base for their project-based learning activities. The vision, however, is to eventually open the site to members of the public and tourists alike who are interested in learning about all the things that make up Gibraltars unique and wonderful natural environment.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to book a visit to Tovey Cottage.
Launch of Movember Awareness Campaign

Prostate Cancer Gibraltars Movember on the Rock Awareness Campaign was launched by His Worship the Mayor, Mr Christian Santos GMD at City Hall on 1st November.

The Chief Minister, The Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, attended to show his support for the charity and for the Committee Members who work tirelessly to raise awareness about Prostate Cancer.

His Worship launched the event by speaking about the importance of awareness as the early detection of Prostate Cancer can literally save lives.

PCGs Chairman Derek Ghio gave a short speech thanking all those who attended, and His Worship for hosting the event in the Mayors Parlour. He thanked past and present members of the Committee who voluntarily give of their time to ensure the public are aware of the importance of screening, and give families support if they are affected by the illness.

His Worship felt privileged to open Movember, which he knows will have a great response, with men growing their facial hair to support the Charity and spread their message.
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Halls Sophie Garner-MacKinnon has been named the 2020-21 Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year, according to a release from Gatorade. Garner-MacKinnon is the first Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from Hall High School.
11:37 | Lima, Nov. 2.

According to Supreme Resolution No. 191-2021-IN published in the Official Gazette El Peruano the Armed Forces' role constitutes a task to support the mission of the police and does not replace the active participation of the latter.





In fact, the control of internal order remains in charge of the National Police of Peru at all times.





The resolution indicates that the Armed Forces' role is aimed at contributing and ensuring the rights to personal freedom and security; freedom of transit on roads and highways; the right to peace and tranquility; as well as the proper functioning of essential public services and safeguarding matters essential for the normal development of activities by the affected population.





This way, it will be easier for police members to focus their actions on the control of internal order and interactions with the population.





The intervention by the Armed Forces is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 1095. This decree establishes the Rules for Use of Force by the Armed Forces in the National Territory; and its regulation, approved by Supreme Decree No. 003-2020-DE.





The supreme resolution specifies that intervention by the Armed Forces does not imply in any way the restriction, suspension, or infringement of fundamental rights enshrined in the Political Constitution, the laws, or international treaties on human rights to which Peru had adhered.





It also said the National Police of Peru requested that the Armed Forces intervene in support so as to ensure control and maintenance of internal order.





The National Police of Peru based this petition on Report 129-2021-SCG-PNP/OFIPOI, which mentioned the problems existing in Lima and Callao regions as a result of common and organized crime in those areas.




El Peru y China conmemoran hoy 50 anos del establecimiento de relaciones diplomaticas. El pais asiatico es nuestro primer socio comercial, significativo inversionista y cooperante, con el que se ha alcanzado el nivel de Asociacion Estrategica Integral.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The new Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Erika Olson will travel to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to "promote regional cooperation and discuss bilateral issues", the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said in a press release.

While in Yerevan, DAS Olson will participate in a regional Chiefs of Mission meeting in November 2-4, joining U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan, and U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Litzenberger, as well as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Andrew Schofer and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Alexander Sokolowski.

We are excited to resume this long-standing tradition and gather with our colleagues from the region and from Washington, DC, to exchange ideas and information to better coordinate our policy in respect to all three countries in the region.

The participants will engage in internal discussions as well as informational meetings with representatives of the Armenian government and civil society. Most recently, U.S. Embassy Baku and U.S. Embassy Tbilisi hosted regional Chief of Mission meetings in 2019 and 2018, respectively," the U.S. Embassy said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan says theres been a 15% growth of private investments in the country compared to last year, but there are still issues in the sector and some investment projects face problems.

Private investments grew, and in my opinion, comprise around 15% of the GDP compared to last year, he said during a parliamentary committee discussion on the 2022 budget when asked about economic growth projections by Hayastan faction MP Artur Khachatryan.

He referred to the governments plans to increase the share of investments against the GDP in the next 5 years.

It would be wrong to say that our country is managing to smoothly absorb all investment projects, he said.

And we have many projects in both our investment support center and the economy ministry which face numerous obstacles. And making these investments reach their goal and at the same time correcting the legislative issues which were the reasons of these obstacles is part of our daily work, the minister said, adding that there is a lot to be done in this regard.

Kerobyan said that there are some actions which dont require funds, for example the improvement of the business environment. He said that the duties of one of his deputies are entirely directed at improving the business environment.

According to Kerobyan, one of the most important factors which should lead to the desired economic growth is the unprecedented volume of capital spending.

Addressing MP Khachatryans question to clarify how the ministry projected 7% growth and whether or not the Amulsar gold mine will be re-launched, Kerobyan said: Even if all issues were to be solved at this moment, and the mine were to be re-launched, in best case scenario it would start working in 12 months. We are now waiting for the resolution of the criminal case to see the results. Further discussions on Amuslar will depend on it.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, urging world leaders to change mentality in a world that has become quantum in order to effectively tackle the problems that the world is facing.

I would like to thank Her Majesty and Her Majestys Government for organizing this significant and timely event. Special thanks to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his colleagues and the City of Glasgow for an excellent summit and warm hospitality, President Sarkissian said, addressing the conference. First about Armenia - a small state but a global nation.According to the World Bank analysis, Armenia is the 4th most vulnerable country to climate change in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. Armenia has registered a 1.3-degree Celsius increase in temperature, and a 9 per cent decrease in precipitation.



Despite the challenges by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we are committed to a stronger integration into the global agenda on climate change and to demonstrate an increase in our climate ambition.



Armenia has consistently expressed its commitment to joining global efforts to combat climate change. In 2021 Armenia reaffirmed our commitment through the Nationally Determined Contributions and declared an objective of 40 per cent reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to the 1990 levels.



The long-term objective of Armenia is to achieve climate neutrality in the second half of this century.



Transition to climate neutrality is at the core of the countrys energy independence, energy security and green growth policies.



Our vision of resilient and low-carbon growth is directly connected to a solid and effective adaptation strategy based on an ecosystem approach, reforestation, investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, new high technologies, promotion of electric mobility and further development of nuclear energy.

Dear colleagues,



Substantial public debt burdens most developing economies in their ability to access concessional and non-concessional climate finance.



In this regard, a creative approach is crucial. I am delighted to share with you our renewed Debt-for-Climate Swap Initiative. It presents a new climate finance instrument. And it will help developing countries to adapt more efficiently to climate change finance, provides new economic opportunities.



Mr. President,



Exactly one year ago during its war against Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan used internationally banned weapons to target not only civilians but also beautiful forests of the large area, causing massive forest fires and creating environmental disasters in place. We call on international community to step up its efforts to prevent such irresponsible, inhumane behavior.



The environmental challenges do not recognize borders and conflict lines, and we should bring all states of the world into comprehensive cooperation.



Now just a couple of words about this conference.



I thoroughly enjoyed the opening of the conference, enjoyed the speeches of my colleagues from worldwide. And it was confirmed by everybody here, that theres a big problem which is the climate change. But thats not the only problem that we have these days, because we are facing also pandemic, we are facing economic difficulties worldwide, we are facing rise of populism, we are facing uncertainty, we are also facing unpredictability here.



By having all of these problems, we have also recognized here globally that theres huge wealth and that wealth is in trillions of dollars that could resolve the issue. And on the other side during the hundred years of development based on quantum technology and quantum physics, we have achieved phenomenal achievements in science and technology, and that technology today can resolve our problems be that in climate changes, be that in Covid and other problems that we are facing.



So where is the problem? Why are not we so effective or efficient? I think that theres one thing that we should learn from the history of science when 100 years ago great scientists, people like Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Heisenberg, realized that the classical laws of physics and mechanics cannot be applied to the new discovered small particles and atoms. You have to change your mentality, you have to change your philosophy, your logic, even your common sense to understand and create the theory of quantum physics.



We are on the crossroad. The world has become quantum. This is a crossroad that we have to start thinking differently because the world thats ahead of us, is not the one that was there 10 or 20 years ago. If we change our mentality and form our ambition and strategy, then we can effectively use the finances and the wealth that the world created during this phenomenal development and use the technology to handle the problems that we are facing. But not only to resolve the problems but also to create the basis of development to the brighter future years to come.



At the opening of this Summit Professor Brian Cox took us to a trip to Cosmos to see from the above how amazingly beautiful this Planet is and to realize that in the whole Universe this is our Home and the Only One and there is no other alternative for us but to work and to fight for this Green and Blue Planet.



Armenia is committed to become a really Smart State, devoted to our Nature, Planet and Humanity. And Im optimistic that we can overcome these difficulties and build a brighter future for all of us.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the interlocutors discussed issues of bilateral relations, as well as the regional-international agenda.

The sides exchanged views on the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, taking into account that its already a year since the establishment of the full-fledged ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries exchanged approaches on the issues of easing tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, unblocking all transport and economic ties in the South Caucasus, and creating a favorable atmosphere for regional cooperation.

Sergey Lavrov stressed the need to continue efforts aimed at the comprehensive settlement of all of political-diplomatic issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
According to a press release published by Rheinmetall on November 2, 2021, German company Rheinmetall and Intracom Defense of Greece have agreed to cooperate closely in the field of vehicle-based C4I systems.

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The cooperation will center on combining Rheinmetalls TacNet tactical management system and expertise in soldier systems and C4ISTAR applications with Intracom Defenses WiSPRevo communication and information system. (Picture source Rheinmetall)

The two companies will coordinate their activities for joint development and marketing of a vehicle-based C4I system to jointly address the needs of their domestic and international markets. Both partners complement each other in ideal fashion: while Rheinmetall Electronics concentrates on command and communication systems for communication between vehicles and the chain of command, Intracom Defense is a globally acknowledged specialist for intercom systems that enable crewmembers to communicate with each other.



In concrete terms, cooperation will center on combining Rheinmetalls TacNet tactical management system and expertise in soldier systems and C4ISTAR applications with Intracom Defenses WiSPRevo communication and information system and longstanding experience in the field of vehicle communications.



TacNet is Rheinmetalls tactical management system. Designed to meet the needs of fast-paced, high-mobility operations at the tactical level, it essentially functions as a command and weapon engagement system. TacNet harbours massive potential when it comes to information, command and control and fire superiority, ensuring that military commanders can always maintain the initiative.



WiSPR Evolution provides a complete CIS (Communication and Information System) capable of hosting a comprehensive C4I capability, advanced performance and high adaptability to customized operational and technical requirements.



Under the cooperation agreement, Rheinmetall and Intracom Defense will pool their technological, production and commercial capabilities to produce operationally excellent, user-friendly, cost-efficient C4I solutions for military vehicles  invariably geared to the needs of the customer.
The new Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Erika Olson will travel to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to "promote regional cooperation and discuss bilateral issues", the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said in a press release.

November 2, 2021, 12:11 U.S. State Departments Deputy Assistant Secretary Erika Olson to visit Armenia

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 2, ARTSAKHPRESS: While in Yerevan, DAS Olson will participate in a regional Chiefs of Mission meeting in November 2-4, joining U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan, and U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Litzenberger, as well as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Andrew Schofer and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Alexander Sokolowski.

We are excited to resume this long-standing tradition and gather with our colleagues from the region and from Washington, DC, to exchange ideas and information to better coordinate our policy in respect to all three countries in the region.

The participants will engage in internal discussions as well as informational meetings with representatives of the Armenian government and civil society. Most recently, U.S. Embassy Baku and U.S. Embassy Tbilisi hosted regional Chief of Mission meetings in 2019 and 2018, respectively," the U.S. Embassy said.
At least two explosions followed by gunfire hit Afghanistan's biggest military hospital in Kabul, witnesses and Taliban officials said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

November 2, 2021, 15:39 Blasts, gunfire heard at Kabul military hospital

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 2, ARTSAKHPRESS: Interior ministry spokesman Qari Saeed Khosty said the explosions took place at the entrance of the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital.

"Security forces are deployed to the area, there is no information about casualties," he said on Twitter.

Photographs shared by residents showed a plume of smoke over the area of the blasts near the former diplomatic zone in the Wazir Akbar Khan area in central Kabul.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But the official Bakhtar news agency quoted witnesses saying a number of Islamic State fighters entered the hospital and clashed with security forces.
S-400 air defense systems and Pantsyr-S1 anti-aircraft missile/gun launchers enjoyed the greatest demand among foreign customers in 2021, Director of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev said in an interview with the RBC media group on Tuesday.

November 2, 2021, 15:47 S-400, Pantsyr-S1 air defense systems most popular among foreign customers in 2021

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 2, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Our S-400 air defense systems. Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile/gun launchers that proved their efficiency, in particular, in destroying drones. The entire range of our aircraft that account for at least 50% of our sales. Kornet anti-tank missile systems, Smerch multiple launch rocket systems and other guided weapons that we make also continue to enjoy great demand," the defense official said in response to a question about the most popular military products this year.

The heightened demand for Russian air defense and electronic warfare systems suggests that the methods of warfare have changed, he pointed out.

"Now we see that an era of drones and robots has come. The more frequently drones and robotic vehicles are used - and unmanned aerial vehicles are employed everywhere today - the greater the need for weapons of their destruction and electronic warfare systems," the defense official said.
On November 2, the bodies of 11 war victims who were considered missing-in-action in the 2020 Artsakh war were transferred to the Armenian side by Azerbaijani authorities accompanied by Russian peacekeepers.

November 2, 2021, 16:10 Azerbaijan hands over 11 more remains to Armenian side

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 2, ARTSAKHPRESS: The transfer took place at Karmir Shuka, Martuni.

Their identities will be determined after the forensic medical examinations, informed the Artsakh State Service of Emergency Situations.

A total of 1,697 remains of Armeniansincluding of civilianshave been confirmed as a result of search operations and exchange of dead bodies ever since November 13, 2020.
Europe Hereditary Genetic Testing Market to Reach $19. 31 Billion by 2031. Market Report Coverage - Europe Hereditary Genetic Testing Market Segmentation.

New York, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe Hereditary Genetic Testing Market - A Regional Analysis: Focus on Products, Sample Type, Applications, and Nordic and Baltic Region, Country Data (12 Countries), and Competitive Landscape - Analysis and Forecast, 2020-2031" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06178588/?utm_source=GNW



 Product  Kits, Consumables, Services, Others

 Sample Type  Tumor Tissue, Bone Marrow, Blood, Saliva, Others

 Application  Oncology Genetic Testing, Cardiology Genetic Testing, Neurology Genetic Testing, Newborn Screening, Prenatal Screening and Preimplantation Testing, Rare Disease Testing, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Testing



Regional Segmentation



 EU5: Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain

 Nordic Region: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway

 Baltic Region: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia



Market Growth Drivers



 Increasing Awareness Toward Hereditary Genetic Testing

 Rising Prevalence of Genetic Disorders

 Increasing Research Funding in the Field of Genomics



Market Challenges



 High Cost of Genetic Testing

 Stringent Regulatory Standards



Market Opportunities



 Technological Advancements in the Hereditary Genetic Testing Process

 Growing Demand for Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Testing Service



Key Companies Profiled



Agilent Technologies, Inc., Woble Helsinki Oy, Negen Oy, Devyser, CeGat GmbH, Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), BerGenBio ASA, Eurofins Scientific SE, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Illumina, Inc., Myriad Genetics, Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.



Key Questions Answered in this Report:

 What is the current trend in the Europe hereditary genetic testing market?

 Based on products, which segment is anticipated to witness a massive rise in demand during the forecast period 2021-2031?

 Based on sample type, which segment is anticipated to witness a massive rise in demand during the forecast period 2021-2031?

 Based on types of testing, which segment is anticipated to witness a massive rise in demand during the forecast period 2021-2031?

 Based on countries, which country is anticipated to witness a massive rise in demand during the forecast period 2021-2031?

 What are the major drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Europe hereditary genetic testing market?

 What are the key developmental strategies implemented by the key players to stand out in this market?

 Which leading companies are dominating the Europe hereditary genetic testing market, and what is the share of these companies in the Europe hereditary genetic testing market?

 What are the regulations pertaining to the Europe hereditary genetic testing market, and what initiatives have been implemented by different government bodies regulating the development and commercialization of Europe hereditary genetic testing?

 How is each segment of the Europe hereditary genetic testing market expected to grow during the forecast period, and what will be the revenue generated by each of the segments by the end of 2031?

 How is the market for Europe hereditary genetic testing expected to evolve during the forecast period 2021-2031?

 What is the market scenario for the Europe hereditary genetic testing market in different countries?

 What are the key trends of different regions in the Europe hereditary genetic testing market? Which country is expected to contribute to the highest sales in the Europe hereditary genetic testing market during the forecast period 2021-2031?



Market Overview



Genetic testing is a type of DNA testing used to determine changes in chromosome structure or DNA sequence.Genetic testing can also include measuring the outcomes of genetic modifications, such as mutation, RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or biochemical analysis to measure specific protein output.



For cancer risk, genetic testing includes testing for inherited genetic variants that can be associated with a high to moderately increased risk of cancer in the patient and are responsible for inherited cancer susceptibility syndromes.



Hereditary genetic testing classifies changes in chromosomes, genes, and proteins.The outcome of hereditary genetic testing authorizes a suspected genetic condition that further helps to determine a persons chance of passing or developing a genetic disorder.



To date, more than 1,000 hereditary genetic tests have been used, and many others are being developed for testing.



Europe is one of the powerhouses for genomic science and research.Genetic testing data sharing is becoming an integral part as scientists join forces across borders for enabling genetic testing for the benefit of mankind.



Genetic testing can be performed for various purposes, which may or may not fall in medical science.Thus, regulatory needs depend on the context of the test being performed and for which purpose.



It can be either to detect monogenic diseases, medical-nonmedical purposes, predispositions or carrier tests, diagnostic and treatment purposes, predictive tests for late-onset diseases, drug response, family planning, forensics, population screening, and DNA profiling or research.



With several companies eagerly competing to establish dominance in the Europe hereditary genetic testing market, several emerging companies have undertaken significant activities to establish their position in the market. Although these companies are currently far behind the market leaders, some of them have made significant strides to grow into major players, owing to initiatives undertaken to expand their respective product portfolios and regional footprints.



BIS healthcare experts have found hereditary genetic testing to be one of the most rapidly evolving markets. The market for Europe hereditary genetic testing is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 13.34% during the forecast period 2021-2031. As per BIS research, hereditary genetic testing comprises the ecosystem of multiple services offered, products used, and the target population.



The optimistic scenario of the market can be witnessed if the COVID-19 recovery is swift across key countries in Europe.The scenario assumes an increasing demand for technology, products, services, and growth in the end-user base across regions.



Furthermore, the scenario also assumes more product and service launches for genetic testing, especially in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Additionally, the companies in the market are investing more in rare disease and reproductive genetics, which is one of the bolstering factors for optimistic growth.



The following report presents the reader with an opportunity to unlock comprehensive insights with respect to the Europe hereditary genetic testing market and helps in forming well-informed strategic decisions. The market research study also offers a wide perspective of the different types of hereditary genetic testing products and services available in the market and their impact on the diagnostic and genomics industry by providing critical insights into the direction of its future expansion.



The Europe hereditary genetic testing market has been growing since its inception. Several European countries, including Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, are working persistently to enhance the adoption of precision medicine solutions, including hereditary genetic testing market, across Europe region. Acknowledging the unique role of hereditary genetic testing is a significant step toward the establishment of a suitable and effective regulatory approval procedure, coupled with an effective pricing strategy and reimbursement policy. However, country-specific technology evaluation and reimbursement policies in Europe may result in different coverage for many genetic testing technologies across Europe. For instance, in France, Germany, Italy, and the U.K., HER2 testing is publicly funded. However, in Spain, the majority of NGS testing is funded by hereditary-based test manufactures. Therefore, companies are trying to work closely with the payers and other decision-makers to increase the adoption on a country-by-country, and in few cases, hospital-by-hospital basis, which generally limits accessibility and results in a poor adoption rate.



Germany accounted for the maximum share of the market within the Europe region in 2020.The country has one of the biggest pharmaceutical markets in Europe.



Further, it is among the largest exporter of medicinal products and ranks among the top pharmaceutical producers globally.The growth in this region can be primarily attributed to the rising pharmaceutical R&D expenditure, increasing geriatric population coupled with growing disease prevalence, and the rising focus to eradicate rare diseases across the region.



However, the region also faces high competition from the Asian economies that offer cheap manufacturing materials and low cost of labor.



Within the research report, the market is segmented based on products, sample type, applications, and region.Each of these segments has been further categorized into sub-segments to compile an in-depth study.



Each of these segments covers the snapshot of the market over the projected years, the inclination of the market revenue, underlying patterns, and trends by using analytics on the primary and secondary data obtained.



Competitive Landscape



The Europe hereditary genetic testing market is largely dominated by companies such as Woble Helsinki Oy, Negen Oy, Devyser, CeGaT GmbH, Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), BerGenBio ASA, Eurofins Scientific SE, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Illumina, Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Myriad Genetics, Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.



Companies such as LabCorp, Illumina, Myriad, and Quest Diagnostics are the leading suppliers of genetic testing products and services in the Europe market.When compared to the other European countries, the Nordic and Baltic region is mainly dominated by Bluprint Genetics (Quest Diagnostics) and Eurofins.



In addition, regional players such as Devyser, CeGat GmbH, and Negen Oy offer products in the markets.



Among the Nordic and Baltic regions, the Nordic region contributes more to the Europe hereditary genetic testing market.The country which performs the largest number of genetic tests in the Nordic region is Finland.



A lot of investment in research for characterization of the population for rare diseases has been made in Finland by Blueprint Genetics.



Countries Covered

 EU5

 Germany

 U.K.

 France

 Italy

 Spain

 Nordic Region

 Finland

 Sweden

 Denmark

 Norway

 Baltic Region

 Estonia

 Lithuania

 Latvia

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06178588/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Jo Horgan, founder and managing director of Mecca Cosmetica has been names on Forbes Asia's power list. (Source: Getty)

There's been absolutely no slowing down these stellar women in business in 2021 despite the curveballs thrown at them by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a time when survival of businesses has been a great challenge since the onset of the pandemic, Asia's most adaptive and zealous businesswomen have emerged unbeaten.

This year too, Forbes ranked the best female forces in business across ages and across sectors - spanning manufacturing, health care and technology, banking and private equity, and retail - and arrived at 20 prominent leaders who command startups valued at more than US$100 million ($134 million) or are running businesses with outstanding revenues.

While the list is dominated by businesswomen from Japan, Singapore and other South-East Asian countries, one notable name from Australia features on the Forbes 2021 Asias Power Businesswomen list.

This year's list is special because all of them are new entrants amid cutthroat competition.

Meet the Aussie power woman, Mecca's Jo Horgan

Among them is Jo Horgan, founder and co-CEO of Mecca Brands, who redefined the beauty landscape in Australia by leading the way in retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience to customers.

Melbourne-based Mecca Brands - a multi-brand beauty store - was founded by the 49-year-old in 1997.

The idea dawned on her through her own personal experience of shopping for makeup at a department store in her 20s. She noticed the limitations of choosing brands from a shelf and customers being lured by representatives of different brands who were trying to promote their own products.

Overwhelmed by the constant accosting and intimidating experience, she decided to create an experience for her customers to shop for makeup based only on merit of the brands.

Mecca Brands was born and it has now grown to become the largest cosmetic retailer by sales in the $3.2 billion cosmetic and toiletry retailing market of Australia.

Story continues

A former project manager at LOreal, Horgan grew Meccas network to more than 100 shops across Australia and New Zealand. The retail giant's online business houses nearly 200 beauty brands along with its own in-house makeup and skincare products.

While Mecca's net profits grew exponentially until 2019, in 2020 sales dipped drastically with stores being forced to shut down in Australia due to the pandemic.

Notwithstanding slowdown in sales, the cosmetics company has continued to expand, with more stores including a flagship outlet in Sydney. Notably, Mecca has also forayed into the Chinese market in partnership with Alibabas Tmall Global.

With all this under her wing, Jo Horgan is undoubtedly a force to reckon with and a role model for many aspiring businesswomen across Asia.

Women from Japan and Singapore dominate Asia's most powerful women in business list. (Photo: Getty)

Women from Japan, Singapore dominate the list

With only 20 spots on this esteemed list, it's noteworthy that three women from Japan and three from Singapore have been named Asia's most powerful.

Keiko Erikawa, 72, is the executive chairman of Koei Tecmo, a Japanese video game and anime company created in 2009. Erikawa debuts on this list for having reported 11 straight years of record net profits and for managing Koei Tecmos US$1.1 billion ($1.48 billion) in assets across Japan, Hong Kong and the US.

Eiko Hashiba, 43, from Japan, is the founder and CEO of VisasQ, a leading global expert network service. Hashiba reportedly owns more than US$240 million ($324 million) in shares of VisasQ, which has a US$471 million ($634 million) market capitalisation.

Takayo Kotani, 44 from Japan, is the president of robot manufacturer Yushin Precision Equipment. Ever since having taken over the reins of the firm from her mother, Takayo has grown the company successfully and posted about $170 million ($229) in revenue and an operating profit margin of nearly 14 per cent in the recent fiscal year despite the pandemic.

Veteran 58-year-old banker Judy HSU, CEO for consumer, private and business banking at Standard Chartered Bank is a prominent name from Singapore making an appearance on the list.

NG Gim Choo, 69, is the founder of Singapore-based International Education Group EtonHouse. Under her watch and leadership EtonHouse has grown to house 20,000 students across 130 campuses in 11 Asian countries.

Helen Wong, 60, is the Group CEO of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) headquartered in Singapore, and the first woman to hold this position at the second-largest bank by market value.

Meena Ganesh is the co-founder and chairperson of Portea Medical in India. (Source: Getty)

Other prominent names from across Asia

Indian businesswomen aren't too far behind on this list, with two entrants.

Meena Ganesh, 58, is the cofounder and chairperson of Portea Medical, India. It is the largest home healthcare company by revenue. She said the pandemic highlighted the dire need for home health care.

45-year-old Farah Malik Bhanji is the managing director of Metro Brands, Indias fourth-largest footwear retailer by revenues. As the pandemic brought about many challenges, a prudent Bhanji was quick to ramp up online presence and sales.

The two entrants from Hong Kong are 61-year-old Teresa Ko - China chairman of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, one of the largest and most prestigious international law firms in the world - and 51-year-old Janice Lee, the CEO of video streaming platform Viu. Under Lee's leadership, Viu has overtaken Netflix to become the second-largest streaming service by subscription in Asia.

South Korea's two entrants this year are Kim Seon-Hee the CEO of Maeil Dairies and Lee In-Kyung of MBK Partners.

From Indonesia, Marina Budiman, the cofounder and president commissioner of DCI, features on the list, along with Tessa Wijaya, the COO of Xendit.

Cao Xiaochun, 52, is the president of professional clinical research firm Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting. She is the sole name from China on this power list.

Winnie Lee, the cofounder and COO of Appier, from Taiwain, Maria Grace Y. UY, cofounder and president of Converge ICT Solutions, from the Philippines, Wallapa Traisorat, president and CEO of Asset World Corp, Thailand and Nadiah Wan, group CEO and executive director of TMC Life Sciences, also earned themselves a mention among Asia's most powerful women for this year.

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Prominent world leaders descended in Glasgow recently to participate in the COP26 summit on climate change and to lay the path ahead to battle against what is widely seen as a mammoth threat to the planet and to mankind. With the common objective of capping emission levels to take on the challenge, heads of state elaborated on respective plans and proposals.

Similar Cars

But while the cause may have been noble and views nobler still, the irony of US President Joe Biden travelling in an 85-vehicle motorcade just days prior and to meet Pope Francis has been highlighted by many protesting environmental groups.

The US President travels within the country and on foreign soil in an elaborate arrangement primarily to ensure safety and security. And while Biden has previously stated he is open to the idea of having electric vehicles in his security fleet, every single vehicle in his motorcade at the Vatican was a gas-guzzling machine.

The long motorcade made way to Vatican from the residence of US ambassador in Rome.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

NIO opens up power route in Northeast China

NIOs new charging route in the Changbaishan mountain area opened up today. The route covered three battery swapping stations, eight super-charging stations and nine destination charging stations, along multiple scenery sights on Changbaishan.

Photo credit: NIO



Founder of BYD removed from subsidiarys legal representative position

Shanwei BYD Auto Co., Ltd., an auto parts manufacturing subsidiary of BYD, recently changed its legal representative from Wang Chuanfu, the founder and executive chairman of BYD to He Long, the vice president of the company.

HUAWEI refutes Geely, HarmonyOS rumor

The recent rumor that Geelys Geometry Auto will be powered by HUAWEIs HarmonyOS system is denied by the tech company.

NETA V Pro to hit market tomorrow

Chinas EV startup HOZON Autos NETA brand said its new NETA V Pro model will be on the market on November 3rd, and the cars official photos were released today.

Photo credit: HOZON Auto

Shenzhen issues first commercialization standard for low-speed autonomous vehicle



The Shenzhen Intelligent Transportation System Association and over 57 companies in the low-speed unmanned vehicle territory issued a detailed regulation regarding the commercial operation safety standards of the said vehicles in the city of Shenzhen.

Daimler China buys three-year data management service from NavInfo

Chinas navigation giant NavInfo received a three-year contract from Daimler Greater China Ltd. (Daimler) for its autonomous driving data management platform service, NavInfo announced today.

Chery Holding completes 200,000 annual export target with three months to spare

Chery Holding celebrated another new record of monthly passenger vehicle export volume in October.

Volkswagen sells 12,736 China-made ID. vehicles in Oct.

Volkswagen's China-made electric vehicle line, the ID. series sustained its non-stopping growth in sales since delivery started five months ago.

High-end EV brand VOYAH hits 1,000 mark in Oct. deliveries

The premium EV brand of Dongfeng Motor, VOYAH, reported its monthly deliveries had surpassed the 1,000 vehicles milestone for the first time in October, the third month since delivery started.

Chinas Ganfeng Lithium secures 3-year lithium supply contract with Tesla

Ganfeng Lithium, one of the worlds top producers of the commodity used in electric vehicles, and its wholly-owned subsidiary GFL International Co.,Ltd. have inked a contract to supply Tesla Inc. and Tesla (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd. with battery-grade lithium products, Ganfeng said on Monday in a filing to Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (FCRD) and Toyota SinoHytec Fuel Cell Co.,Ltd. (FCTS), two Beijing-based joint ventures of Toyota Motor Corporation, are about to sell the TL Power 100 fuel cell system that is developed and produced for commercial vehicles (CVs), the first-of-its-kind in China, SinoHytec, who is also a shareholder of both FCRD and FCTS, announced on Oct. 26 via its WeChat account.



TL Power 100" fuel cell system; photo credit: SinoHytec



FCRD was incorporated in August last year as a joint venture among the six companies, namely, Toyota Motor Corporation, SinoHytec, BAIC Group, GAC Group, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, and FAW Group. Toyota said FCRD's primary business would be the development of fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles to contribute to the realization of a clean mobility society in China. Since its foundation, FCRD has made plentiful R&D works on the fuel cell systems available for Chinese local CVs.

Founded in July 2021 as a 50/50 joint venture between Toyota and SinoHytec, FCTS aims to build a TPS (Toyota Production System)-based lean manufacturing system this year and is vigorously pushing ahead with the construction of a localized volume production system in China to deal with the drastic market change.

The TL Power 100 is built on Toyota's second-generation MIRAI fuel cell system and some of its parts are locally sourced in China. Through the local R&D in China that highlights domestic application scenarios for CVs, the new fuel cell system reaches a high power density of up to 711W/kg or 4.9kW/L (rated at 101kW), and a ultra-long lifespan of 30,000 hours.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  A jury was selected in a single day Monday for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the young, aspiring police officer who shot three people while they were out on the streets of Kenosha during a protest against racial injustice last year.

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

In an all-day session that ran well past dark, 20 people  12 jurors and eight alternates  were selected. The judge said he would decide at the end of the trial which ones are alternates and which ones will deliberate. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

The seating of a jury moved along rapidly, given the sharp polarization caused by the shootings. About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair.

Rittenhouse had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

The now-18-year-old Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see an undercurrent of race in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

As jury selection got underway, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: This is not a political trial.

It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently, he said.

The judge said Rittenhouses constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and I dont want it to get sidetracked into other issues.

One of the jurors is a gun-owning woman with a high school education who said she was so afraid during the protests that she pulled her cars to the back of her house and made sure her doors were locked. She said she went downtown in the aftermath and cried.

Another woman chosen is a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about being on the jury: "I figure either way this goes youre going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly.

Another juror said he owns a gun and has it for home defense."

One juror is a pharmacist who said that she was robbed at gunpoint in 2012 but that it would have no effect on her ability to weigh the evidence in this case.

Among those dismissed were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when all that happened and a woman who said she watched a livestream video of the events and wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw.

One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction Thou shall not kill even in cases of self-defense.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon. I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public, the woman said.

The start of jury selection was briefly delayed in the morning for unexplained reasons. During the delay, the judge played a mock game of Jeopardy! with prospective jurors in the courtroom, something he sometimes does as attorneys get organized.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a demonstrator from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

 Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin, Forliti from Minneapolis. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.



Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, 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Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Global TimesUS President Joe Biden said in Rome on Sunday that "not only Russia but China basically didn't show up in terms of any commitments to deal with climate change." He boasted that the US is "the most critical part" of the entire G20 summit agenda, declaring that the success of the G20 talks was largely due to "US diplomacy." US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday labeled China as a "significant outlier" and said that the US will "keep pressing" on China.





By talking about the US, China and Russia in such a way, the Biden administration has undermined the achievements of the G20 and cast a shadow on the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Whether in terms of diplomacy or actions, Washington is not qualified to be the "leader" of the UN climate action. At first glance, their performance was quite vulgar.

The US' biggest problem on climate change is the inconsistency of its words and deeds. There is no plan for how the Biden administration's emissions reduction commitments will be promoted in the US. Once the Republican Party comes into power, it is uncertain whether the Democratic government's commitments will be overturned again. Biden's recent approval ratings decline is the largest since World War II. The possibility of Biden leading the US' long-term policy has been far below 50 percent. How can Biden and his administration "lead" global climate action if he cannot even lead his own country?

Beijing's announcement of China's carbon peak in 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060 is a solemn promise. It has now turned into an action of the entire country. When many countries are still engaging in talks only - including the US whose words have been inconsistent - dual control has already become a hard indicator of China's economic and social development, which is reflected in all aspects.

The Biden administration's bragging and accusations show that Washington has so far failed to correct its mentality of humanity coping with climate change together. They are interested in playing a "leadership role." They are keen on pressuring developing countries to take responsibility for reducing emissions beyond their ability. Through this process, they will first place the US and its major allies on the "moral high ground" and restrain major developing countries at the same time. As to whether the goal can be achieved, they do not care.

Developed countries have emitted the most carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since industrialization. To promote the world's transition to clean energy, they must provide developing countries with large amounts of financial and technological assistance. The US has hurriedly urged developing countries to raise emissions reduction targets, but it has been slow in making funds and technological assistance available. The Paris Agreement stipulates that developed countries should provide $100 billion annually in aid by 2020. But the funds will reportedly only be in place in 2023, and it is very uncertain.

Australia is a developed country, as well as a close ally of the US. But as Australia is the leading coal exporting country, it has been holding a twisted attitude toward climate action. Canberra made a last-minute commitment without substance ahead of the UN climate summit. Before blaming China and Russia, should Biden have taunted the little brother of the US?

The issue of climate change concerns the interests of all human beings, which should have transcended geopolitics. However, when the US launches geopolitical attacks, it always names China and Russia. When it comes to climate change, the Biden administration criticized Beijing and Moscow once again. It is undermining the solidarity of UN climate action that it should have had.

The Biden administration should not show off its commitments on emissions reduction, and use it as a lever to pressure China, Russia and other countries. It should get a commitment from the Democratic and Republican parties to jointly support the promise made by the current government and give a legal mechanism that it will not be overthrown by a new government.

The US government needs to clearly tell the world how their emissions reduction commitments will be implemented as a national industrial policy. They cannot use lip service in exchange for real efforts by other countries.
For hotels, its a way to stand out from the crowd and convey a vision by focusing on topics like climate change, said Emanuel Schreiner, founder of RVS Hotel Consulting.

As for customers, personalization is not just a travel trend; hotel guests want to experience unique moments, tailor-made for their vacation, Schreiner added. Having highly specialized staff that is able to cater to the most extravagant aspects of their travel will definitely create added value for the guests. We will see in the long run whether the demand actually meets all these particular offerings.

Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, said he created the carbon offset concierge because some travelers feel guilty for the emissions that come from air travel. Offsets can help guests enjoy a more guilt-free vacation, he said.

Global warming and climate change appear in almost every review of the hotel, Biemans said. Three years ago, most people didnt even know what climate change was or global warming was. Today it is a household word.

Another new take on the concierge position: The Hyatt Regency Portland in Oregon plans to have a concierge of weird, starting in November, to help guests find unique and little-hyped tours and experiences.
How do you approach your art?

Each of my paintings begin with a vision. When I bring that vision to life on the canvas, I seek to express myself and convey my emotions to the viewers. To me, painting is so much deeper than just some brushstrokes of color on a canvas. My work is very personal, so all my designs are original and from the heart. It is my goal to never allow my passion for painting to fade or to become simply a job, so I always paint for my soul.

What is one of your favorite compliments that youve received about your art?

One of the greatest compliments I have ever received about my art was from a homeless man who told me that my mural moved him to tears. He gave me his last four dollars and said that my mural impacted him so greatly that he felt that he needed to give me everything he had to express his gratitude. My heart was deeply affected by his words and I will forever cherish those very special four dollars.

What are some of your hobbies or ways that you unwind or relax?
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North Dakota's Game and Fish Department is asking deer hunters this season to step up efforts to help with chronic wasting disease surveillance, even as a different disease garners most of the attention this fall.

Wildlife officials received about 1,000 reports of dead deer after epizootic hemorrhagic disease -- commonly called EHD -- surfaced in late August, and the department has offered license refunds to nearly 30,000 hunters because of the outbreak. Hunters who do take to the field in western and central North Dakota are being asked to drop off deer heads at collection sites so they can be tested for another disease -- chronic wasting, a brain ailment.

Many folks are aware of the fairly bad epizootic hemorrhagic disease year weve had, Game and Fish Wildlife Veterinarian Charlie Bahnson said. While EHD is a different disease from CWD, it illustrates the impact diseases can have on our wildlife populations. And unlike EHD, which is cyclical, CWD can become an increasing, annual pressure on our herd.

Game and Fish since 2002 has tested for CWD, and state officials are bracing for possible accelerated growth in deer cases. Thirty of the 44 cases identified since the first infection in 2009 have occurred in the past two years, and 18 were confirmed last fall -- the most in any season.

The disease has been documented in five hunting units: 3F2 in the southwest; 4B in the west; and 3A1, 3A2 and 3B1 in the northwest. Infection rates remain low, but in 3F2 -- which has the bulk of the confirmed cases with 34 -- they've been climbing.

Samples will be tested this year from deer taken from units 2H, 2I, 2J1, 2J2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3B3, 3C, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B and 4C.

Knowing where CWD is in the state and how many deer are infected is critical for managing the disease, according to Bahnson.

One major goal is to confidently determine what areas do not have CWD, he said. We need to test a lot of deer to make that assessment, which is why hunters willingness to help is so important.

A list of collection sites can be found at https://bit.ly/3bgs2SN. Hunters can drop off heads of adult or yearling deer. Fawns and head-shot deer can't be tested. Hunters wishing to keep the heads can bring them to a Game and Fish district office during business hours to have them sampled. Results will be provided within four weeks. Hunters can go to "My Account" on the departments website, gf.nd.gov.

Hunter involvement is important because Game and Fish needs a certain number of deer heads to determine infection rates. About 7% of hunters took part last year in the CWD surveillance program.

The overall percentage needed is tough to estimate because of the different numbers of licenses allotted in various units, but "once we start to get a couple hundred deer (heads) within a unit, we start to approach statistically valid estimates," Bahnson said. "If we're down below 100, we get wide margins of error."

He offered 10% as a "crude estimate" of the overall percentage target, with less than 5% being a level at which infection rates can't be confidently calculated.

"Year-round the department works pretty hard to follow up on reports of sick and dead animals, but the bulk of our total from every unit comes from hunters," Bahnson said. "That's what we depend on."

Bahnson said he hopes the attention given to what EHD has done to the deer population raises awareness of the seriousness of CWD. Deer hunting is a hobby and tradition for many in North Dakota, and its also a multimillion-dollar industry.

For more information about CWD and more details on related regulations, go to https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd.

This year's deer gun season starts at noon Friday and continues through Nov. 21.

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  South Dakota's Government Accountability Board called Monday for more information in at least one ethics complaint against Gov. Kristi Noem as it weighed multiple requests from the attorney general to consider whether the governor twice abused the powers of her office.

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg asked the board to consider two issues: Whether Noem's use of state airplanes should be investigated for breaking the law and concerns about whether she interfered in a state agency that was evaluating her daughters application for a real estate appraiser license. The board also considered a third complaint, but the details of who made it or whom it was against were not public.

After meeting for nearly an hour in a closed-door session, the four retired judges on the board dismissed one of the complaints, but did not make public which one. It is sending the other two complaints back to the people who made them with requests for more information.

Attorney general spokesman Tim Bormann said the office had not heard anything from the Government Accountability Board following the meeting.

The board is required to keep the details secret unless it decides the complaints warrant a public hearing. When members of the public were allowed in Monday's meeting, board members said next to nothing about the complaints besides taking a vote on them.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson, who was appointed to the board by Noem, abstained from voting on the requests for more information on two of the complaints. He did not give a reason for doing so.

The Legislature is conducting a separate inquiry into the state agency that grants real estate appraiser licenses.

Noem has faced scrutiny over the matter since The Associated Press reported that just days after the Department of Labor and Regulation moved to deny her daughter's application for an appraiser license last year, Noem called a meeting with her daughter, the labor secretary and the then-director of the appraiser certification program. Noem's daughter received her license four months later.

Ravnsborg and Noem are both Republicans but are not allies.

In response to the board's action Monday, Noem's spokesman Ian Fury said, Were not surprised the Board has apparently sent these baseless attacks back.

Noem, who has positioned herself as a prospect for the GOP presidential ticket in 2024, has defended her conduct by saying she was working to cut red tape to solve a shortage of appraisers and calling the report on the meeting a political attack.

She used a similar defense when a report from the news website Raw Story detailed her use of the state's airplane. Noem flew in 2019 to events hosted by political organizations like the National Rifle Association, Turning Point USA, and the Republican Jewish Coalition. Noem called that report politically motivated and explained that she was acting as an ambassador for the state.

South Dakota officials are not allowed to use the planes for anything other than state business, and Democratic Sen. Reynold Nesiba had asked the attorney general to investigate. Ravnsborg referred that request to the Government Accountability Board in September.

The board has not scheduled its next meeting. Former South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Lori Wilbur said it would once it has something to act upon.

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One more pro-democracy activist has been convicted under Beijings highly repressive NSL, which seeks to suppress subversion by crushing human rights. []

A Hong Kong court has handed down a second conviction under the wide-sweeping National Security Law (NSL), this time for chanting pro-independence slogans.

According to ABC News, Ma Chun-man was convicted on Oct. 25 for inciting secession by chanting slogans such as Hong Kong independence, the only way out on 20 different occasions between August and November of last year.

Mas sentencing was adjourned to Nov. 11, when he could face up to seven years in jail.

This marks the second time an individual has been convicted under the ever-restrictive NSL.

The NSL, which aims to stifle all political dissent, was imposed in June 2020. It carries with it a possible life sentence and bans what the Hong Kong government deems as secession, terrorism, or subversion.

Ma had already been arrested multiple times in the past year for public demonstrations promoting democracy in Hong Kong and independence from Beijing.

Another pro-democracy activist, 24-year-old Leon Tong Ying-kit, was the first to face conviction under the NSL. He was sentenced to nine years behind bars on charges of inciting secession and terrorism after inadvertently running into a group of police officers while flying a flag that read Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times.

The NSL, which was handed down from Beijing, shifted Hong Kong from an autonomous, economically advanced financial hub to a Beijing-dependent government paranoid of losing any amount of control over its citizenry.

The cost of that control has repeatedly proven to be the human rights of its citizens.

More than 120 individuals have been arrested since the NSLs implementation, and influential individuals, including long-time Acton friend Jimmy Lai, have confronted similar pressure from it. Lai is coming up on one full year in prison on charges of collusion with foreign forces and unauthorized assembly in the 2019 pro-democracy protests. He stands trial on Dec. 28 at Hong Kongs High Court, where the highest penalty is a life sentence.

Several organizations and businesses have withdrawn from Hong Kong altogether. On the same day as Mas sentencing, a prominent human rights group, Amnesty International, announced the closure of its Hong Kong branches. It cited as cause the NSLs having made their work effectively impossible to complete.
+2 As Mercy Hospital strike hits one-month mark, both sides report progress amid bitter talks The Communications Workers of America Local 1133 told its members Sunday morning the two sides "were very close to reaching an agreement" after an all-night bargaining session that concluded at 6 a.m.

But first, the two sides need to get back to the table. Hayes said she texted a couple times with the federal mediator Monday, but the two sides have yet to get called back into negotiations.

On the issue of staffing, Catholic Health President and CEO Mark Sullivan said Monday that the health system has built a "progressive plan beyond the ratios," including adding hundreds of nurse assistants and other support staff.

"We just can't seem to get beyond the number when you think of ratios, and our focus has been about you need to look at the whole staffing package," Sullivan said.

"What Catholic Health did is, we went beyond staffing ratios and we actually looked at the whole picture, including those nursing assistants and all the support staff, so those nurses could be at the top of their license," he said. "We're very proud of that advanced care model."

Catholic Health, in an update to staff late Monday night, said it and the union agreed over the course of negotiations to include all members of the patient care team, including nurse assistants and immediate treatment assistants, in developing new staffing grids.

With that added staff, Catholic Health said, a grid of one registered nurse to five patients "ensures our hospitals will provide safe, high-quality care."
To keep Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo operating amid a labor strike, Catholic Health System contracted with a Michigan staffing firm for replacement workers.

And those costs are adding up.

"It's tens of millions of dollars that we're spending, but its to take care of those patients that that we need to take care of," Catholic Health President and CEO Mark Sullivan told The Buffalo News on Monday.

"That's why we're doing that," he said. "It wasn't a choice we made. It was the hand we were dealt.

The strike also is costing Mercy revenue that it is missing out on because of the limited services it now offers. Hundreds of patients who otherwise would have gone to Mercy have been diverted to other local hospitals since the strike began.

When the strike started, Sullivan noted Mercy was caring for more than 200 people, and the health system needed to bring in workers to continue that care. Right now, there's more than 100 patients at Mercy, down from its usual census of more than 300.
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has formed a partnership for its Health Home program, allowing it to streamline administrative functions and boost care to Medicaid-eligible clients with chronic medical conditions in Niagara County.

The medical center said its Health Home service will become a care management agency under BestSelf Health Home and, in turn, receive management services from Health Homes of Upstate New York.

Sheila Kee, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Niagara Falls Memorial, said Health Home will still be part of the medical center, but will be affiliated with BestSelf.

Until now, the medical center's Health Home was an independent operation, leaving it on its own to train workers, navigate state regulations and stay updated on changing technologies. Meanwhile, other companies operating in the space got increasingly sophisticated in recent years.

"It will give us the organizational bandwidth and strength that we need," Kee said. "By having that kind of assistance, well be able to spend higher-quality time on serving the people who need our services."
 Staffing at the U.S. border will be back to pre-pandemic levels, Davies said. "We know and we expect that there will be wait times as travel increases, but we expect to have a full complement of staffing to handle this surge as travel resumes," he said in a Tuesday media briefing.

According to Peace Bridge statistics, the number of autos and buses crossing the span from Canada to the United States in September was down about 78% from the same month in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

 Canadian children 17 and under won't have to be vaccinated to enter the U.S., as long as they are accompanying a fully vaccinated adult.

 Canadians won't have to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test to enter the U.S., but they still face a testing rule to return home. The Canadian government requires them to have a negative Covid-19 test that is no more than 72 hours old by the time they re-enter Canada.

That means Canadians can take a Covid test before traveling to the United States, as long as they return within the 72-hour window. If their test result is over 72 hours old, Canadians will need to take a new test in the United States in order to return home.
There are children in the second grade who have never experienced a normal school year, Walensky said. Pediatric vaccination has the power to help us change all of that.

President Joe Biden called the decision a turning point."

It will allow parents to end months of anxious worrying about their kids, and reduce the extent to which children spread the virus to others," he said in a statement. It is a major step forward for our nation in our fight to defeat the virus.

The American Academy of Pediatrics welcomed the decision as its members get ready to start the first injections into little arms, which the CDC said could begin as soon as possible. The 5- to 11-year-olds will receive two low doses, three weeks apart, of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech -- the same schedule as everyone else, but using a smaller needle.

Pfizer over the weekend began shipping millions of the pediatric shots to states, doctors offices and pharmacies  in orange caps, to avoid mix-ups with purple-capped vials of adult vaccine.
Researchers could be so precise because they found fragments in the artifacts tree rings from a cosmic-ray event that showered the earth with high-energy particles in the year 993. By counting additional tree rings outside the one containing the particles, they were able to identify 1021 as the year that these fir and juniper trees were felled.

All of this would have thrilled my father, who based his historical novel on historical fact. Eriksson converted to Christianity in the years before his voyage, and the novel centers on the tension between belief in the old Norse gods and in this new messiah. (Vikings, a recent drama on the History Channel, also played dark notes on this theme.)

The novels narrator is Thrand, a member of Erikssons expedition. He writes of a journey far south of their encampment that Eriksson takes with some of his compatriots. At one point, many days into their sojourn, they hear a giant rumbling ahead. Here is the passage in which they confront the Falls. (Karfi is the name of a small Viking ship; foss is an Icelandic word for waterfall.)
In the long run, Norkus will be judged down the road for her reporting skills, how well she engages in the community and how long she stays here.

Those are always questions when a promising young anchor comes here who isnt a native of Western New York.

Nalina Shapiro looked like a potential replacement for Walker when the Hall of Famer retires  and then Shapiro left the area and the broadcasting industry.

Madison Carter impressed at WKBW-TV before exiting after almost three years here.

I suspect viewers who recently have tuned in to WIVB have been asking, who is Jordan Norkus?

She worked at WETM-TV in Elmira  which like Channel 4 and sister station WNLO-TV is owned by Nexstar  for almost two years after her college graduation before coming here.

Her strong presence is even more impressive when you consider she is only a few years out of college.

It is a big step up for Norkus to be in Buffalo. Elmira is the No. 178 TV market in the country while Buffalo is the No. 53 TV market.
"It is disappointing that we haven't seen more progress from them on this project," Baynes said.

L.L. Bean had signed a 10-year lease, effective Feb. 27, 2017, to build a 15,500-square-foot store on the site. The Maine-based retailer, popular for outdoor clothing and gear, was the second tenant identified and an early indication of WS' strategy to attract companies with a national or local following.

However, by May 2020, L.L. Bean had asked the town to withdraw its building permit for the Station Twelve site. A spokeswoman insisted L.L. Bean was not pulling out of the project, attributing it to a decision by the developer. But 11 months later, the company announced its Amherst store would move to The Boulevard.

The grand opening for the 15,000-square-foot store, located next to Barnes & Noble in the space formerly occupied by Party City and Dress Barn, is Friday. It's the seventh L.L. Bean shop in the state  the closest is in suburban Rochester  and will have about 70 workers, the company said.

"Well, it's not Station 12, but I am still happy that we were able to get this done. Welcome to Amherst, L.L. Bean," Kulpa tweeted Thursday.
Im feeling good, she said, of the mornings turnout. Its hard to get a sense, because its only midday  so were waiting for the lunch rush.

South Buffalo

Jackie Nelson said shes never missed an election, and she and her husband, Craig, showed up around 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church polling site to vote for Brown.

Nelson said she tends to lean liberal, and she doesnt have any trouble with the democratic socialist tag pinned on challenger Walton, who won the Democratic primary over Brown.

But Nelson said she had too many reservations about Waltons past and wants to see our city continue to move forward under the current mayor.

I wish Byron would have worked to get people out in the primary. Then we wouldnt be in this position, said Nelson.

Brown will be counting heavily on South Buffalo voters like Nelson, who said she had no difficulty writing in the mayors name on her ballot.

Brown supporters stood outside the polling site handing out plastic bags with a pen and rubber stamp, but Nelson said she didnt need it.

I just wrote it in, she said.
Twenty percent of New York farm workers are undocumented. Their work keeps families and individuals fed across the state and the nation as pandemic-related supply chain troubles mount. Overall, undocumented immigrants in New York contribute $14.9 billion to our economy annually, including $2.4 in federal taxes and $1.6 in state and local taxes.

While the Senate parliamentarian denied initial efforts to include immigration reform in the budget reconciliation process, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer has said that is the best chance we have to realizing a path to citizenship. The road ahead may be difficult, but Schumer and his fellow Democrats must not give up the fight.

This state has long welcomed immigrants, providing opportunities and recognizing the many contributions of a diverse population. Buffalos reputation for supporting immigrants and refugees has led to an increase in so-called secondary migrants who come to the Queen City after first arriving elsewhere in the U.S.

It is time for Western New York to live up to this reputation by letting Schumer and other members of Congress know that the reconciliation process must include relief for immigrants so they can adjust their status. We are so close to establishing a pathway to legal status, which is supported by a majority of voters; we must get it across the finish line for the sake of our economy, workforce and future.

Irene Sanchez is the executive director of the Western New York Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies Inc.
Both competition and collaboration drive the technology startup economy. That was evident at last weeks grand finale of the 43North business contest, where the entrepreneurial energy was vibrant.

Audience members in Sheas Performing Arts Center cheered when the grand prize went to Top Seedz, a Western New York company. Seven other companies claimed $500,000 runner-up prizes, including two from our region. All were applauded by a crowd that was grateful to be part of a live competition after last years hiatus.

There was also a feeling of generosity and shared excitement at Sheas, a sense that Buffalos startup ecosystem is revving its engines and ready to climb higher.

The growth of entrepreneurship in this region is both thrilling and a little unexpected. After all, the 43North contest was typically seen as a stepchild to other, more flashy components of the Buffalo Billion economic development program. Indeed, the 800-pound gorilla of that effort was the $959 million RiverBend project whose performance has thus far fallen short of expectations. 43North, by contrast, is building for Buffalos future and showing itself to be a growing powerhouse.
Government forces have been battling rebels for a year

Officials in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa have called on residents to register their weapons and get ready to protect their neighbourhoods amid fears that rebels could advance on the city.

The appeal came days after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) said it had captured two cities about 400km (250 miles) from Addis Ababa.

The federal government has declared a nationwide state of emergency.

The US has urged the rebels not to try and take Addis Ababa.

The capital has a population of more than five million.

"We oppose any TPLF move to Addis or any TPLF move to besiege Addis," said Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa.

War broke out a year ago in the northern Tigray region.

The TPLF has since advanced into the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.

Thousands of people have been killed and more than two million have fled their homes since the conflict began.

The TPLF says it wants to break a siege of Tigray, where the UN estimates 400,000 people are living in "famine-like conditions".

International efforts to broker a ceasefire between the government and the rebels, who initially fell out over Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy's political reforms, have so far failed.

The head of Addis Ababa's peace and security bureau gave residents two days to register weapons or to give them to the government or a relative who could use firearms, the state-linked Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Kenea Yadeta added that people should "organise" themselves, and work with the security services to "control" their neighbourhoods, the report said.

Map of Ethiopia

The TPLF says it has captured the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha and planned to advance towards Kemise, about 325km from the capital.

Government officials have previously dismissed its claims as "propaganda".

Story continues

In a televised address on Monday, Mr Abiy said that foreign forces were fighting alongside the TPLF. He did not give details, while the TPLF denied the allegation.

Mr Abiy said that mobilisation so far had not had proper organisation.

"Battles can go wrong for different reasons but in the end the country will win the war," he added.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said he planned to remove Ethiopia from the list of states that qualify for duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa).

In a letter to the US Congress, Mr Biden cited "gross violations" of human rights for his decision, which is expected to come into effect in January.

The Ethiopian government called for the reversal of the decision, saying the US should not punish people "for confronting an insurgent force".

Officials had previously said that Ethiopia's removal from Agoa could put one million jobs at risk.

More on the Tigray crisis:
COVID response. Illustrated | iStock

The coronavirus pandemic is the most globally disruptive event in decades. The official death toll is around 5 million, but the final tally is certain to be far greater. We'll be dealing with the side effects of this suffering for decades.

But that's not the full story. The fight against COVID-19 has also demonstrated anew that humanity is capable of great things when sufficiently motivated. The pandemic has been a reminder that political capacity isn't set in stone. It has given us a model for the necessary scale of climate policy.

Surely the most impressive accomplishment of the pandemic is the vaccines. All previous vaccines took at least several years to go from design to production to studies demonstrating their efficacy. Most required well over a decade. The first inoculations against COVID-19 were designed in days or hours  and approved for administration about 11 months later  using a near-miraculous mRNA technology that shows great promise in halting other diseases.

That success was thanks largely to government action in the United States and, to a lesser extent, Europe. The Trump administration and a split Congress directed virtually limitless resources to anyone who could make a safe and effective vaccine. Additionally, mRNA technology had been greatly advanced by decades of grants from the National Science Foundation and work from scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). One NIH scientist  a government employee  designed the core of the Moderna vaccine over a single weekend.

However, Big Pharma must also be given its due. Moderna may be essentially an unlabeled government department, but Pfizer and BioNTech (a German company heavily subsidized by their government), Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson spent gobs of money on initial research and crash effectiveness studies. In normal times, pharma companies spend more on advertising than they do on research  and what research they do fund is often concerned with finding some minor tweak for an existing drug so they can extend the patent and keep charging eyewatering markups. Still, these companies have thousands of the best scientists on the planet, and it turns out, if you can just get them pointed in the right direction, they can work magic.

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The vaccine rollout has been no less staggering. Thus far over seven billion doses have been administered  enough to fully vaccinate roughly 45 percent of the world population. Rich countries got first dibs, unsurprisingly, but India and China together account for nearly half the global total. After some delays, most of Southeast and Central Asia as well as Latin America are catching up to wealthy countries. Only Africa remains mostly unvaccinated, though even there progress is being made. All told, this is by far the largest and fastest vaccine rollout in history.

The second-most impressive aspect of the pandemic was the direct policy response. When the virus initially struck, almost every country in the world instituted panicked shutdown efforts to slow the spread. Public businesses closed, people stayed in their homes, and most governments set up test-trace-isolate systems to contain infection.

The bulk of Western countries had middling to poor records at controlling the spread (the U.S. was a dismal failure, while Norway and Finland were quite successful), but Eastern nations like China and Vietnam managed to squelch the initial outbreak so successfully they could cautiously remove most of their controls by mid-2020. To this day China  the largest country in the world, with many incredibly dense and heavily-connected megacities  has managed to keep a lid on the virus after the initial surge, even granting some fudging of the numbers (if there were an out-of-control outbreak, it would be impossible to hide). The much more contagious Delta variant is spreading there, but with over 80 percent vaccination, the worst of the danger has likely passed. (Alas, this summer, before mass vaccination, Vietnam suffered a Delta outbreak that escaped controls and caused thousands of deaths.)

Elsewhere, governments undertook frantic interventions to support the economy. In wealthy countries especially, consumer spending makes up such a huge proportion of the economy that there was no choice but to offer huge rescue packages to prevent a self-perpetuating cycle of bankruptcies and destitution. To my extreme surprise, the U.S. economic response turned out to be one of the most aggressive in the world. As usual, it wasn't particularly competent, but it was really freaking big  arguably the largest social support legislation since the New Deal, and certainly the most generous ever to the lowest-income workers. Poverty fell substantially and incomes rose at the bottom of society during the most severe economic contraction in American history. That's the opposite of what happened in every previous recession.

Amid all these victories, there has been a ton of failure, error, and sheer willful stupidity over the past year and a half. The greatest failure so far  leaving Africa unvaccinated  isn't the result of deliberate malice on the part of wealthy governments, but their failing to follow the logic of self-interest to its conclusion. It is hideously dangerous to all countries to leave any country unvaccinated, because new variants might crop up that get around the vaccines. We've already seen that danger with the Delta variant, and this manifest risk is no doubt motivating wealthy nations to (grudgingly and belatedly) start contributing more to the international vaccine supply.

Beyond that delay, public officials in the United States, Brazil, Sweden, the U.K., and elsewhere opted, at least temporarily, to let the pandemic rip through the population, with devastating results. And America is so politically rotten that after President Biden won the election, Republicans quickly became vaccine skeptics out of a combination of cynical ruthlessness, oppositional defiant disorder, and propaganda-induced brain rot.

But it's still worth taking a step back to reckon with our accomplishments since March 2020. If you had told me then, as the pandemic was taking hold, that within 11 months we'd have multiple safe, effective vaccines, that about a year later we'd have vaccinated half the Earth's population, and that both the EU and the U.S. would spend trillions to stabilize their economies, I wouldn't have been able to believe you. It's astounding to consider even now.

This is an instructive lesson for climate hawks. Before COVID-19, disease experts had been warning for years that a pandemic would strike sooner or later. They weren't heeded until the emergency was already upon us, at which point all the previously firm rules of politics went out the window, and governments flung civilization-scale resources at the problem.

That's exactly what we need for climate policy, too. The task at hand, if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change, is to create that same political urgency before the crisis is here.

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Tech hubs across the U.S. and the Western region continue to lead the way in price growth

Supply and demand pressures converge, creating barriers to entry for first-time buyers

IRVINE, Calif., November 02, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released the CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI) and HPI Forecast for September 2021.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005465/en/

CoreLogic National Home Price Change and Forecast; September 2021 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Demand for homebuying remained strong through the end of the summer. However, the ongoing housing supply shortage has continued to drive up prices, which increased 18% year over year in September, to record highs creating additional challenges for entry into the homebuying market. High demand and low supply levels for entry-level homes, in particular, are sidelining many would-be first-time buyers.

As millennials continue to make up a large part of homebuying demand and flock to tech hubs like Seattle; San Jose, California and Austin, Texas, we may see this challenge intensify. This is reflected in a recent CoreLogic consumer survey, with 47.9% of this cohort stating they cannot afford to purchase a home in their preferred area.

"The pandemic led prospective buyers to seek detached homes in communities with lower population density, such as suburbs and exurbs," said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. "As we head into 2022, we expect some moderation in the current pattern of flight away from urban cores as the pandemic wanes."

Top Takeaways:

Nationally, home prices increased 18% in September 2021, compared to September 2020. On a month-over-month basis, home prices increased by 1.1% compared to August 2021.

In September, appreciation of detached properties (19.6%) was 7.4 percentage points higher than that of attached properties (12.2%).

Home price gains are projected to slow to a 1.9% increase by September 2022, as ongoing affordability challenges deter some potential buyers.

In September, home prices continued to rise sharply in Twin Falls, Idaho, which logged the highest year-over-year increase at 36.3%. For the first time since May 2021, Michigan City, Indiana, outpaced Bend, Oregon, to claim the second-highest ranking for home price gains at 35.5% year over year.

At the state level, the Mountain West continued to dominate the top spots, with Idaho and Arizona again leading the way with the strongest price growth at 30.1% and 29.6%, respectively, and Utah ranking third at 26.2%.

"Remote work has allowed many employees to buy homes further away from their office," said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. "These homes are often in the suburbs or exurbs, where property prices and population density are lower and single-family detached housing more common."

Story continues

The next CoreLogic HPI press release, featuring October 2021 data, will be issued on December 7, 2021, at 8 a.m. ET.

Methodology

The CoreLogic HPI is built on industry-leading public record, servicing and securities real-estate databases and incorporates more than 45 years of repeat-sales transactions for analyzing home price trends. Generally released on the first Tuesday of each month with an average five-week lag, the CoreLogic HPI is designed to provide an early indication of home price trends by market segment and for the "Single-Family Combined" tier, representing the most comprehensive set of properties, including all sales for single-family attached and single-family detached properties. The indices are fully revised with each release and employ techniques to signal turning points sooner. The CoreLogic HPI provides measures for multiple market segments, referred to as tiers, based on property type, price, time between sales, loan type (conforming vs. non-conforming) and distressed sales. Broad national coverage is available from the national level down to ZIP Code, including non-disclosure states.

CoreLogic HPI Forecasts are based on a two-stage, error-correction econometric model that combines the equilibrium home priceas a function of real disposable income per capitawith short-run fluctuations caused by market momentum, mean-reversion, and exogenous economic shocks like changes in the unemployment rate. With a 30-year forecast horizon, CoreLogic HPI Forecasts project CoreLogic HPI levels for two tiers  "Single-Family Combined" (both attached and detached) and "Single-Family Combined Excluding Distressed Sales." As a companion to the CoreLogic HPI Forecasts, Stress-Testing Scenarios align with Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) national scenarios to project five years of home prices under baseline, adverse and severely adverse scenarios at state, metropolitan areas and ZIP Code levels. The forecast accuracy represents a 95% statistical confidence interval with a +/- 2% margin of error for the index.

About Market Risk Indicator

Market Risk Indicators are a subscription-based analytics solution that provide monthly updates on the overall "health" of housing markets across the country. CoreLogic data scientists combine world-class analytics with detailed economic and housing data to help determine the likelihood of a housing bubble burst in 392 major metros and all 50 states. Market Risk Indicators is a multi-phase regression model that provides a probability score (from 1 to 100) on the likelihood of two scenarios per metro: a >10% price reduction and a  10% price reduction. The higher the score, the higher the risk of a price reduction.

About the Market Condition Indicators

As part of the CoreLogic HPI and HPI Forecasts offerings, Market Condition Indicators are available for all metropolitan areas and identify individual markets as "overvalued", "at value", or "undervalued." These indicators are derived from the long-term fundamental values, which are a function of real disposable income per capita. Markets are labeled as overvalued if the current home price indexes exceed their long-term values by greater than 10%, and undervalued where the long-term values exceed the index levels by greater than 10%.

About the CoreLogic Consumer Housing Sentiment Study

3,000+ consumers were surveyed by CoreLogic via Qualtrics. The study is an annual pulse of U.S. housing market dynamics concentrated on consumers looking to purchase a home, consumers not looking to purchase a home, and current mortgage holder. The survey was conducted in April 2021 and hosted on Qualtrics.

The survey has a sampling error of ~3% at the total respondent level with a 95% confidence level.

Source: CoreLogic

The data provided are for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient's publication or broadcast. This data may not be resold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipients parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data are illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Amy Brennan at newsmedia@corelogic.com. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. The data are compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources.

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

CORELOGIC, the CoreLogic logo, CoreLogic HPI and CoreLogic HPI Forecast are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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The Badger Project has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the La Crosse Police Department after the city turned over public records regarding a former officer who resigned in lieu of termination in 2019.

The department has also agreed to pay $1,300 to The Badger Project and the Wisconsin Transparency Project to cover their legal fees within 30 days of the case being dismissed with prejudice. Dismissal with prejudice means the plaintiff cannot refile the claim again in the same court.

The Wisconsin Transparency Project, a law firm that focuses on the states open records and meetings laws, filed the lawsuit on behalf of The Badger Projects managing editor Peter Cameron.

We are glad the La Crosse Police Department immediately agreed to turn over the records, said Tom Kamenick, president of the Wisconsin Transparency Project and Camerons attorney.

In May, the La Crosse Police Department denied Camerons request, claiming internal disciplinary as the reason the records were not subject to disclosure.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Kamenick, La Crosse City Attorney Stephen Matty said that the decision to deny those records was made in error.

It is unknown why the records clerk provided such a response, as the clerk left her employment with the city several months ago, Matty said in the letter. He did not respond to a follow-up request from The Badger Project for comment.

The records requested were held in the City of La Crosse Human Resources Department, Matty said. After the initial denial and filling of the lawsuit, David Buroker, the citys deputy director of human resources, emailed Cameron and offered assistance in finding the records. Cameron told Buroker in an email its up to the courts to decide now.

We shouldnt have to file a lawsuit to get public records, Cameron said Thursday. Public records belong to the public.

The records were turned over last Wednesday to The Badger Project without redactions.

Custodians should learn two things from this case, Kamenick said. First, denials of record requests must be explained. You cannot just cite to a statute and claim it exempts the records. Second, there is no blanket exemption for investigatory or disciplinary records.

According to state law, all public records are open to public inspection unless the government agency can point to a specific exemption on the books.

I founded the Wisconsin Transparency Project to bring a new level of accountability to government agencies around the state, Kamenick said. If you break the law, you will be sued.

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin. For more visit thebadgerproject.org
Lee Newspapers will be carrying a live blog of events in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial online as they unfold. The first day of what may become a weekslong trial kicks off with jury selection on Monday morning, Nov. 1.

Lee Newspapers/Kenosha News reporter Deneen Smith is reporting from inside the Kenosha County Courthouse, with reporting on this page augmented by remote staff.

More coverage:

8 p.m. The jury has been seated in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.

Word came at 7 p.m. Monday that the jury had been decided upon after juror interviews took place throughout the day at the Kenosha County Courthouse, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Twenty people were selected to hear the case. Of the juror pool, 19 are white and 11 are women. The trial is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. Tuesday with opening arguments.

You are in the command seat, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder told the jurors. You are going to know more about this case than anyone in the world.

The case is predicted to run as long as three weeks.

6:05 p.m.: Potential juror, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside student, says he was acquainted with Anthony Huber, one of the men Kyle Rittenhouse killed.

"I dont think it was right for two innocent people to die that night," the student said. "I believe the people were not out to kill him (Rittenhouse). I believe they might have been out to strip his firearm ... Honestly I dont believe he (Rittenhouse) had a reason to come here. I dont believe we needed his help like that  because that led to the death of two innocent people."

The student was excused.

5:51 p.m.: Another potential juror removed, making a total of 30 no longer in the running.

4 p.m.: Judge Schroeder reassures potential jurors of the safety of serving. "Ive never had a juror threatened, Ive never had a juror bothered in any way. I have never been bothered," he tells them.

3:55 p.m.: During questioning, prospective jurors talk about their fear of being involved in the case. "I didnt even drive a car here today because I didnt want to see anyone to see my car," one woman said.

"I really want to serve on a jury. I really do not want to serve on this jury" another person says. "I figure whichever way this goes you are going to have people across the country who are going to be upset ... Whatever the verdict is there is going to be half the population that is up in arms about it, and we have seen what happens ... here in Kenosha."

3:10 p.m.: Defense then asks about views on AR-15s like the gun Rittenhouse carried that night. "Yes, I do have a problem with it," one woman says, saying she does not think "a weapon like that" should be legal.

3:00 p.m.: Judge Schroeder cuts off a question from Defense Attorney Corey Chirafisi. Chirafisi had asked "How many people on the panel are angry about what happened, the whole riots thing why we are here?" Schroeder jumped in, saying "No, no, no, we're not here for riots."

Moments later, one woman said her 19-year-old son went to protests despite her objections. Also, said she also bought a gun for the first time because of the unrest. "My neighbor said my United States of America flag should not be up for whatever reason. I left it up and I got a gun," she said.

2:47 p.m.: Session resumes with defense being able to ask questions of potential jurors.

2:19 p.m.: Binger asks if any of the prospective jurors donated money to the Rittenhouse defense or bail funds. No hands. Asks if any close friends or family donated. No hands.

1:50 p.m.: A potential juror, an older woman, becomes emotional when talking about her granddaughter going to protests after the shootings, and said she does not think she can be unbiased. She is excused. Tom Binger asks people if they took safety measures  armed themselves  during unrest, and about half a dozen say yes. Some said they went and stayed elsewhere. One said did neighborhood watch. One woman said she bought a gun.

Binger asks about familiarity with firearms and a large number of jurors raise their hands. More than a half dozen raise hands when asked about hunting.

A potential juror said she would not want to go home to her husband if the case were decided in the direction that he would not like.

1:30 p.m.: Prosecutors begin questioning potential jurors.

As WPR's Corrine Hess reported on Twitter: "Jury selection in #rittenhouse case continues this afternoon. Assistant DA Thomas Binger is asking people if they took part in protests, counter protests or if they felt the need to arm themselves following the events of Aug. 2020. Many hands went up."

Lunch break until 1:15 p.m.: Potential jurors are taking a pizza lunch. During the break, Judge Schroeder ordered potential jurors to NOT discuss the case.

More than 10 potential jurors have been dismissed in about a two-hour period for reasons varying from no longer living in Kenosha County, to one man who brought up the Second Amendment and "politics," to several others who also said they don't believe they'll be able to silence their preconceived notions of the case, to one who is leaving the country to go to Poland on Friday, to another for her strongly held religious beliefs who said "For religious reasons I really think thou shall not kill, I dont know what else to say."

Per pool reports, the vast majority of potential jurors are white. "Of the 70 or so potential jurors in the courtroom for Kyle Rittenhouse trial, there are 3 Black women, one Hispanic man, rest mostly an older, white group," tweeted one Wisconsin courts reporter.

10:58 a.m.: Prospective jurors now hearing the list of witnesses who may be called in the case to see if they have any connection; this is always done in jury trials here. Kenosha County is small enough that people often have an acquaintance with witnesses.

If there is a connection, they are asked if the connection would influence their judgement on the case.

Three people have so far said they know people on the witness list through family or work.

10:17 a.m.: Judge asks "Is there anyone who hasn't read or heard anything about this case?" Not a single person raises their hand.

9:57 a.m.: One potential juror has already been excused. She told the judge she recently moved to Chicago and is no longer a Kenosha County resident, and thus wouldn't even be eligible to be a juror in a Kenosha County case.

9:48 a.m.: Judge says he can't rule out ordering jurors to be sequestered, but says there's "less than 1 percent chance" that'll happen. "I will resist it any way I can, but I can't rule it out."

9:40 a.m.: Getting started again with about 80 prospective jurors in the room as Judge Schroeder explains voir dire, the process of questioning prospective jurors to try to weed out those who may have a bias in the case  a tougher task than usual in the Rittenhouse case.

9:32 a.m.: Things come to a bit of a halt as the court considers bringing even more prospective jurors to the courtroom. Kenosha County already called 300 prospective jurors for the case. About 70 are now in the courtroom for the beginning of jury selection.

Just before 9:30 a.m.: With all the prospective jurors now in the room, Rittenhouse and his defense team  led by Attorney Mark Richards of Racine  enter the courtroom.

9:18 a.m.: The start of jury selection in the Rittenhouse trial begins like most trials in Judge Bruce Schroeder's courtroom, with the judge asking "Jeopardy!"-style questions with the prospective jurors as they pass time waiting for things to get started.

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Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to meet Wendy Pottorff, an amazing leader and a CHSAA Board of Directors member representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB). We had a great conversation about my new role in the office and one of my first tasks- securing locations for our Student Leadership Summits. As I shared the vision for what we were looking to do, Wendy immediately began to talk about the leadership development that students at Limon High School were involved in, how we could involve schools on the Eastern Plains, and the overall positive impact this would have on student leaders across Colorado. I was drawn to her vision of what this could produce as much as she was drawn to the CHSAA vision of creating multi-site leadership experiences. When we talked a few weeks later and she informed me that Limon High School would host, I was overjoyed.Wendy connected me with Shirelle Bandy, the Student Leadership adviser, and a counselor in the building. In talking with Shirelle about hosting, there was not a bit of hesitation around what her school would be able to do. From the onset Shirelle had big plans. I loved her vision and passion for taking this on and her strong desire to share this growth experience with her students. This was going to be great because Shirelle knew her students, her building, and her community would all come together and create an event that was by, for, and about leaders.If you have never visited Limon High School, you probably have no idea that the success of their Student Leadership program is a product of the overall school culture. The principles of the program are rooted in the core values and leadership standards that the entire school embraces. As a K-12 building, students in all grades have the 7 Mindsets integrated into their curriculum. These mindsets are seen as a great addition to a schools social emotional learning curriculum.As someone who was only on the campus for a brief period, I can tell you that the climate was ripe with teacher/admin passion and the student leaders were eager to share with all attendees that it was about relationships before event production. One example comes from a conversation we had with Secondary Principal, Traci Weisensee. As LHS student leaders were preparing for this summit, Mrs. Weisensee gave them the opportunity to present their workshop in front of 9grade students. After that presentation, students had a chance to work through areas of growth and then they were given an audience of 10grade students. Think about that... When a school leader takes the time to create multiple opportunities like this, it allows you to see where that leader places growth priorities. This is not the only school where this is happening, but it did serve as a reminder that SEL is as important as academic learning.Throughout the day attendees shared in leadership growth. John Register, the summits keynote speaker, shared his message titled, The Journey from Fear to Freedom. In the message he talked about embracing this new normal, walking them through chapters of his own life where this term meant so much more.LHS student leaders took attendees outside for a float-building activity and lunch. The lunch was great! Prepared by the Prairie Ridge Buffalo Ranch, local a family-owned ranch. After lunch, attendees were formally introduced to the LHS student leaders, class advisers, and the 7 Mindsets. The afternoon had students working in groups to shore up their leadership growth in the 7 Mindsets model. As the summit wrapped up, attendees were treated to ice cream, courtesy of Limons Whats the Scoop Ice Cream.How happy am I that Wendy Pottorff and I connected and had a conversation about Colorado Student Leadership? How cool was it to work with someone as organized, passionate, and visionary as Shirelle Bandy? How enlightening was it for my executive assistant, Sandra Williamson, and I to be in Limon and get to meet the student leaders and other staff members at the school? How exciting was it to talk with Mrs. Weisensee, who played a major role in engraining a culture of leadership in the school? They say things happen for a reason. I want to encourage advisers who might be looking for new ways to develop leaders to reach out to Shirelle Bandy, Principal Traci Weisensee, and/or Limon School District Superintendent Robert McMullen (who we also want to thank for attending summit). Again, thanks to everyone who was a part of this summit. We look forward to visiting the Limon community soon, for other CHSAA-sponsored events and activities.John Register, Keynote SpeakerShirelle Bandy, Student Leadership AdviserIf your school is interested in hosting or attending a Student Leadership Summit, please email Rashaan Davis ( rdavis@chsaa.org ) or Sandra Williamson ( swilliamson@chsaa.org ) for information.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1)  Netflix on Monday pulled out two episodes of Australian show "Pine Gap" after the Philippine government protested the depiction of China's territory, which violated Philippine sovereignty.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the series showed a map of China's so-called nine-dash line.

In a statement, the DFA said it earlier lodged a complaint with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, prompting the regulatory body to issue the order on Sept. 28.

"After a thorough review, the Board ruled that certain episodes of 'Pine Gap' are 'unfit for public exhibition.' The MTRCB also ordered the immediate pull-out of relevant episodes by its provider, Netflix Inc., from its video streaming platform," the DFA said.

A check with the popular media service showed that Netflix has complied with the MTRCB's demand and has removed episodes 2 and 3 of the six-part series. The video thumbnails say, "This episode removed by government demand."

The U-shaped "nine-dash line" illustrates China's claims over nearly the entire South China Sea. Based on these expansive claims, parts of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone would be well within Chinese territory.

In a landmark ruling in 2016, a Hague tribunal invalidated the nine-dash demarcation by upholding Manila's position that the claim was excessive and encroached into the Philippines' EEZ. China, however, continues to reject the ruling.

According to the DFA, the MTRCB in its decision noted that the appearance of the said map in Pine Gap "was consciously designed and calculated" to convey the message that the nine-dash line legitimately exists.

"Such portrayal is a crafty attempt to perpetuate and memorialize in the consciousness of the present generation of viewers and the generations to come the illegal nine-dash line," read the department's statement.

It added that in ordering the pullout, the MTRCB stressed the government's responsibility to "counter China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea."

"Using the medium of a motion picture is but China's unconventional approach to gain an upper hand in the territorial conflict in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea," the DFA wrote.

Earlier this year, Vietnam also ordered Netflix to remove the Australian show for a similar reason.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said four partners have collectively pledged $665 million (over 33.5 billion) to support green infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, which are seen to stimulate the region's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ADB announced the funding at the 26th Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, United Kingdom  the international summit where world leaders discuss climate issues.

The bank said $300 million (around 15.1 billion) was pledged by the Green Climate Fund, 132 million (around 7.7 billion) by Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, 110 million (around 7.6 billion) by the UK government, and 50 million (around 3.4 billion) by the European Union.

According to the ADB, the partnerships will be part of a new Green Recovery Platform, which seeks to mobilize an additional $7 billion for low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure projects that will also create more jobs in Southeast Asia and boost economic growth.

Based on ADB figures, the COVID-19 crisis led to around $163 billion to $253 billion in projected gross domestic product losses across the region in 2020.

The bank also said while infrastructure is the backbone of Southeast Asia's economic growth, it faces a huge investment shortfall of more than $100 billion a year.

"The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Green Recovery Platform will help accelerate the flow of investments to support climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia and boost sustainable, equitable development," the bank's president Masatsugu Asakawa said during the event.

The Manila-based institution noted the new platform forms part of its commitment to raise to $100 billion its cumulative climate financing from 2019 to 2030. The bank previously vowed to ensure that at least 75% of its projects will support climate action.

It added that the projects will aid developing ASEAN countries reach their goals under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which was signed by the Philippines in 2017.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the Philippines will do its part to fight climate change  targeting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.

RELATED: Duterte asks rich countries to fulfill pledged climate finance for developing nations
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  San Miguel Corporation opened a rent-free community weekend market in Cabuyao, Laguna for use by farmers and small businesses to help them reach more consumers.

In a statement on Tuesday, SMC said since the formal opening last Oct. 23, some 26 stalls are now operating rent-free for six months at the 4,000-square meter Circolo market.

"The center serves as a ready-market for excess produce bought from farmers at better-than-farmgate prices, which are then offered to consumers and resellers at lower prices," it added.

Through Rural Rising Philippines, our Better World Diliman has become a lifeline for many distressed farmers all over Luzon, whose goods cannot all be sold or transported to their traditional markets. Since July 2020, they have sold over 800,000 kilos of produce and benefited 4,500 farmers. That number can only go higher, now that they have an outlet south of Metro Manila, through Circolo market, said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.

Currently, the community market operates from 6:30 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. on weekends, but already some sellers are requesting for the extension of operating hours.

Ang said if extending the hours would benefit the sellers as well as customers, then they would consult with the local government of Cabuyao and make sure all health and safety requirements are met.
(CNN)  Boris Johnson said he had been humbled to hear the stories of countries on the front lines of the climate crisis and hailed some of the early agreements announced so far at the COP26 summit in an exclusive interview Tuesday with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of talks in Glasgow, Scotland, the British Prime Minister struck a somber tone on the state of the climate emergency, saying "I think you've got to be doom and gloom until we fix this thing" and insisting the world was "inching forward" on solving the crisis.

"The threat is huge, I think it's been very humbling to listen to some of the testimonies from countries like Bangladesh, the Maldives, the Seychelles in the front line," Johnson told CNN. "Are we starting to inch forward with COP? Arguably we are, and in some important ways you're seeing some good commitments on trees and forests, some contributions accelerating the move away from coal."

He also said his government was committing to reducing its reliance on coal, despite the prospect of a controversial new mine opening in northwest England.

"I don't want more coal, and our government doesn't want more coal. We'll do what we're legally able to do," Johnson said.

Johnson also struggled to explain his decision not to wear a mask at all times while sitting next to 95-year-old environmentalist David Attenborough during the summit on Monday. The Prime Minister sparked criticism after he was pictured in some photographs without a mask next to the veteran broadcaster and climate campaigner, though Johnson was seen wearing a mask in other photos of the pair.

Asked about the controversy, Johnson stumbled before saying: "I've been wearing masks in confined spaces with people I don't normally talk to ... it's up to people to take a judgment whether they're at a reasonable distance from someone ... that's the approach we take."

Johnson also praised Attenborough's address to COP26 delegates on Monday as "spellbinding" and drove home the magnitude of the crisis.

"I thought David Attenborough's presentation yesterday morning was absolutely spellbinding because he set out for everybody to understand so clearly the link between the rising carbon and the percentage in the world's atmosphere and the rise in temperature. You see that link over thousands of years and suddenly you see this spike in carbon and the beginnings of the rise in temperature and you know what is going to come."

Johnson was also asked about his 2013 claim that the previous British government had "put in a load of wind farms that failed to pull the skin off a rice pudding." He responded by saying that "everybody has the right" to change their mind and hailed the developments in technology were the driving force for his change of heart.

"If you look at the sophistication of the cells ... the size of the turbines ... propeller blades twice the size of the London Eye ... imagine that. These are enormous creations. They're actually rather beautiful."

Asked about the seesawing nature of US policy on climate and whether the world could trust any American administration on the issue, Johnson struck an optimistic tone.

"What's changed now is the voters in our countries want change and want us to fix this thing. I believe this goes for all great Western democracies. But I think it also goes for populations around the world," Johnson said. He cited the example of Covid-19, saying that when populations "see something that they think is a natural disaster," they change their behaviors.

"People can see climate change is happening. They can see wildfires and flooding. They can see that something out of the normal weather events is taking place," Johnson said. "And it's moving up their agenda."

"I believe Joe [Biden] understands that, and I think people are enthusiastic about his agenda to fix it. But i think any future president of the United States is going to be responding to strong, strong, democratic pressure to join and support the rest of the world in fixing climate change."

Johnson also sought to defend his government's widely-criticized handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and said he did not plan to bring in further measures, including mandating the wearing of masks, despite a recent rise in cases and deaths in the UK.

The Prime Minister said that while he was "watching the data all the time" and that we "have to remain humble in the face of the nature of what the disease can do," he believed that at the moment "we don't see any reasons to deviate the plan that we're on."

He went on to hail the UK's vaccine rollout, saying that the UK was "starting to deal with Covid as part of our lives."
(CNN)  Elon Musk has offered to sell some of his Tesla stock "right now" if the UN can prove that $6 billion will solve world hunger.

His comments came after UN World Food Programme (WFP) director David Beasley challenged the ultra-wealthy  and in particular the world's two richest men Jeff Bezos and Musk  to "step up now, on a one-time basis" to help solve world hunger in an interview with CNN last week.

"$6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally going to die if we don't reach them. It's not complicated," Beasley said on CNN's Connect the World program with Becky Anderson. That sum would equate to roughly 2% of Musk's net wealth.

Posting on Twitter on Sunday, the Tesla chief executive said: "If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6 billion will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it."

"But it must be open source accounting, so the public sees precisely how the money is spent," he added.

Beasley replied to Musk's post on Twitter, saying he could assure the billionaire that the WFP had the systems in place for transparency and open source accounting.

"Your team can review and work with us to be totally confident of such," he said.

"$6 billion will not solve world hunger, but it WILL prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation. An unprecedented crisis and a perfect storm due to Covid/conflict/climate crises," he added.

Addressing the billionaires directly in the CNN interview, he said: "What if it was your daughter starving to death? What if it was your family starving to death? Just, wake up, smell the coffee and help."

As of Monday, Musk had a net worth of $311 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index, making him the richest man in the world.

The net worth of US billionaires has almost doubled since the pandemic began, standing at $5.04 trillion in October, according to progressive groups Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness.

Last week, Tesla became the sixth company in US history to be worth $1 trillion and the second fastest to achieve that milestone after Facebook.

 Additional reporting by Eoin McSweeney and Adam Pourahmadi.

This story was first published on CNN.com Elon Musk offers to sell Tesla stock 'right now' if UN can show how $6 billion would solve world hunger
(CNN)  The actor and former US President Obama adviser Kal Penn has come out as gay, and revealed that he's engaged to be married.

The 44-year-old star, who rose to fame in the "Harold & Kumar" movies, opened up about his sexuality publicly for the first time ahead of Tuesday's release of his new tell-all memoir, which is called "You Can't Be Serious."

In an interview with People magazine, published Sunday, Penn said that he is engaged to Josh, his partner of 11 years. He also told the publication that he felt "very supported" when he came out to his loved ones.

Recalling the conversations, Penn said: "I shared things with my parents and close friends first. I know this sounds jokey, but it's true: When you've already told your Indian parents and the South Asian community that you intend to be an actor for a living, really any conversations that come after that are super easy."

He continued: "They're just like, 'Yeah, okay.' ... That's a wonderful thing. I know everybody has different experiences with that and so I definitely feel very fortunate."

Penn told People that while he was excited to share details of his longterm relationship with readers, Josh and other close family members "don't love attention and shy away from the limelight."

He added that he discovered his sexuality relatively late in life. Speaking of the couple's wedding plans, Penn said he wants a big Indian wedding but his partner would prefer a "quick 20-minute thing with our families and that's it." The actor said the pair would have to "meet halfway in the middle."

In addition to the "Harold & Kumar" franchise, Penn's acting credits also include appearing in "House," "Designated Survivor," "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Big Bang Theory."

In 2009, he took a hiatus from acting to serve in the President Barack Obama's administration as part of the White House Office of Public Liaison, dealing with Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and the arts community.

Last year he told CNN's Becky Anderson about his mission to get young Americans to vote.
Winding rivers flow, emerald-colored trees grow, and fauna seeks refuge in Mindanaos Pantaron Mountain Range. This landform brims with natural diversity  and cultural diversity as well. For the indigenous people who call it home, this landform is a sacred place. Pantaron is where they find sustenance and medicine, where their customs, beliefs, and lives flourish.

Just as this mountain range is more than a landmass, the book We Call Her Ina Bai is also much more than a novel. It is a unique glimpse into the lives of the Pantaron Manobo, and ultimately, it is an invitation to join their cause.

We Call Her Ina Bai'' tells the story of the Manobos fight for Pantaron, which is threatened by developmental aggression, logging and mining operations, and militarization. Written by Margarita Valle and Jeremy Santiago II, the novel looks through the point of view of two real-life Lumad women: Ina Bai and Sharmaine Dausay.

Amplifying voices and experiences of indigenous women

Ina Bai, from whom the book takes its name, is Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay: the first and only female chieftain in the history of the Manobo people. Dausay, on the other hand, is Ina Bais grandniece and Sabokahan youth leader. In the 96 pages illustrated by Emma Muntimbwan, their complex stories come to life.

The novel is based on actual interviews of Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay and the Manobo people conducted by Sharmaine Dausay, Save Our Schools Network, and Liyang Network. Archived recordings from Midya Mindanaw in the early 1990s were also used as a supplementary resource. Photo courtesy of the LIYANG NETWORK

Accounts like those of Ina Bai and Dausay are seldom heard or read. There is a known scarcity of discussion on indigenous people. But even more so, there is a larger lack of literature on indigenous women.

Discussions on the cultures and struggles from the point-of-view of women are lacking in the context of Mindanao, shares UP Professor Kenette Millondaga at the We Call Her Ina Bai book launch. If youre going to scan literature in Mindanao, [you] can only find the voices of women in the footnotes or in the margins.

But in We Call Her Ina Bai, the female voice is loud and resounding. Women are the protagonists of the fight to safeguard Pantaron.

The cover for the book. Photo courtesy of the LIYANG NETWORK

A powerful moment in the book is when tribes band together against the logging company Alsons in 1993. They plan a pangayaw, which is a battle to protect ancestral lands that involve using traditional weapons: the bow and arrow, spear, and suyak. Conventionally, women stay home while men wage war. But Ina Bai is not only a chieftain, she is also a warrior. Spearheading the fight, she unites other Lumad women to take part in battle.

Born years later, Dausay takes after Ina Bais passion and strength. Fuelled by her experiences as a bakwit (forced evacuee) and a Lumad woman, she becomes an activist and a teacher. She willingly takes up the path of the women before her.

My name is Sharmaine, and I come from a long line of strong women who have waged battles large and small to etch their place in our tribe and in the world, says Dausay. My struggle, in truth, may pale in comparison to the struggle the women before me have faced in their lifetimes. They have already blazed the trail in overcoming the fetters of being Lumad and of being women.

Ina Bai and Dausay speak at a forum in 2019. Photo courtesy of the LIYANG NETWORK

Interweaving of stories through land, relationship, and time

As you may now know, We Call Her Ina Bai'' does not narrate an isolated story. It does not end with Ina Bai and Dausay.

According to Ina Bai, their stories make up a tapestry. Woven by various people throughout time, it will remain unfinished until the battle against oppression is won.

In this woven story of our collective life, my story is also held. There are women especially, strong women, whose lives are intertwined with mine and, over the years, I have strived hard to include their experiences in the stories that I tell, says Bai.

The story is not finished yet. It is still unfolding, even as I say these words. The tapestry of our story is still being woven by the hands of my people, the women of the Manobo tribe, the friends who have come to know us and ally with us, and even by the blood-stained hands of our enemies.

The protection of land is significant to the Manobos of Pantaron, but at the end of the day, its conservation also holds importance to Filipinos farther away. It represents an allied struggle. How can everyone survive if forests are cleared, resources are sucked dry, and our lowlands become flooded?

This book, then, becomes an invitation to add a thread to the tapestry: how will you take part in the fight for Pantaron?

***

To buy the book We Call Her Ina Bai, pre-order it by filling up this form or emailing wecallherinabai@gmail.com. You can also visit the book's Facebook page.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines Life, November 2)  This week, order a ghostly twist on a burger giants signature dish, support frontliners and land defenders by buying a line of soy candles, watch a pandemic-inspired virtual concert by musical legends, attend a museums drive-in screening, learn more about the Pasig rivers heritage, and try a 20-day collagen challenge.

The Ghost Whopper (169) has all the workings of a regular Whopper, except instead of the regular buns, it uses buns made with cheddar cheese.

Cap off your Halloween festivities with the Burger King limited-edition Ghost Whopper

Today, Nov. 2, is your last chance to try the ghostly twist on Burger Kings trademark Whopper. The burger giants Ghost Whopper (169) has all the workings of its namesake  a 100% flame-grilled beef patty topped with tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, ketchup, pickles, and onions  except instead of the regular buns, it uses buns made with cheddar cheese. A timely dinner or late-night-snack option to cap off your Undas festivities.  CNN PHILIPPINES LIFE STAFF

Order the Ghost Whopper at 13 select branches: Times Alabang-Zapote, Malabon C4, Gil Fernando, Alabang Town Center, Macapagal Boulevard, Frontera Verde, E. Rodriguez, Fairview Commonwealth, Kamias Kalayaan, Timog, Welcome Rotonda, Ortigas Roosevelt, and BGC McKinley Park Residences.

Buy soy candles to help our food frontliners and land defenders

To close peasant month, SAKA (Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo) is releasing a limited edition line of soy candles in solidarity with our food frontliners and land rights advocates who have lost many defenders, allies, and leaders in the fight for land and justice.

The scents are Nayon (bamboo) and Dagat (sea breeze) which are themed in honor of our farmers and fisherfolk who save us from hunger every day. As food producers, they have struggled for our lands and seas to produce food. Fisherfolk and peasants have always been at the forefront of protecting our territories from the claws of conquerors and corporations; for this  for us  they have bled, and toiled, and suffered, says SAKA on their post.

The candles are available for 400 each or 700 for both scents. Proceeds will go to helping the #StandWithFarmers cause in partnership with SAKAs allies and the peasant sector. This will also help their emergency allocation and relief response during disasters.  DON JAUCIAN

Pre-orders will only be available until Nov. 5 through this link.

M-Flix 2021 will include performances by Ryan Cayabyab, Ogie Alcasid, and Joey Ayala, as well as The Itchyworms, Bituin Escalante, The Company, and Basil Valdez. Photo courtesy of BGC ARTS CENTER

Watch this virtual concert inspired by our collective pandemic feelings

This Nov. 6 and 13, the Bonifacio Art Foundation is presenting a two-part concert called M-Flix 2021: Da Pinoy Pandemic Palabas. Consisting of 12 original songs by renowned writers such as Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Ogie Alcasid, Joey Ayala (to name a few), the concert aims to capture the many emotions Filipinos have experienced throughout the last two years. Besides the 12 songs and a medley of all songs, each performance will be followed by animated sequences in between.

Performers will include songwriters Cayabyab, Alcasid, and Ayala, as well as The Itchyworms, Bituin Escalante, The Company, and Basil Valdez. The concert will be released in two acts: Act 1 will premiere on Nov. 6, while Act 2 will be on Nov. 13, both at 7 p.m. on the Mind S-Cool YouTube Channel.  CNN PH LIFE STAFF

For updates, visit the BGC Arts Center website, and follow @BGCArtsCenter on Facebook and Instagram.

Watch video installations from Seoul, Kowloon, and Chiang Mai at MCADs drive-in cinema screenings

For those looking for safe and socially distant activities outside of the house, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) is hosting "Watch & Chill," a series of drive-in screenings of video artworks from contemporary art museums all around Asia.

From now until Dec. 5, the Manila-based museum is converting its parking lot into a drive-in cinema featuring works connected to the reimagined role of home and lifestyle amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The screenings will feature collections that were and will be shown at physical exhibitions in Seouls National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, West Kowloons M+, and Chiang Mais MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum.  CNN PH LIFE STAFF

"Watch & Chill" runs from Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 5, but slots are limited due to COVID-19 protocols (six slots for vehicles, 10 slots for visitors without vehicles). Ensure a slot by booking in advance through the MCAD website.

Learn more about the Pasig rivers heritage at this landscape talk

Apart from the drive-in screenings, this week MCAD is also holding an online discussion on the Pasig river as a heritage landscape and national environment treasure. Speakers for the Nov. 4 event include landscape architect and writer Paulo Alcazaren, climate action consultant Bea Dolores, and Heritage Conservation Society member Riel Diala.  CNN PHILIPPINES LIFE STAFF

Register through their website or email them at mcad@benilde.edu.ph.

Trizie Collagen Plus (2,495 for 10 sachets) has 9,500mg of fish collagen peptides to help your body synthesize collagen better, decreasing skin dullness. Photo by MARGA BUENAVENTURA

Take the Trizie Collagen Plus 20-day challenge

Like most millennials I know, I discover TikTok videos through reposts on Instagram and Twitter. I get a lot of skincare/makeup content, and one such that struck me was a woman sitting through a facial appointment as her aesthetician pinched, lightly slapped, and poked at her skin  all to prove that she has the kind of bouncy cheeks found only in babies. It turns out I have a lot of collagen, the woman says. Collagen is the protein that helps build and rebuild our skin, hair, muscles, and bones. By the age of 20, we lose about 1% of collagen annually, due to genetics, stress, and other environmental stressors.

Imagine my horror when I looked in the mirror and discovered that my skin, though otherwise perfectly okay, did not have the kind of jelly-esque bounce that the TikTok lady had. I took it as a sign that my favorite health supplement brand Trizie has come up with a new Collagen Plus drink, containing both skin and gut-improving properties. Collagen Plus has 9,500mg of fish collagen peptides to help your body synthesize collagen better, decreasing skin dullness; it also has pre- and probiotics to help you maintain a balanced digestive system.

If youve tried the other Trizie fiber drink varieties, this will taste and feel a lot more different. Theres a slight fishy aftertaste (though personally, it didnt bother me), and the strawberry/lychee flavor is quite strong. The consistency is more akin to a juice than the viscous texture of their other fiber drinks. More than anything, I noticed the improvement on my skin the most: breakouts were kept at bay, my skin indeed began looking brighter, and plumper even. I took the Trizie Collagen Plus drink once a day for 20 days (2,495 for 10 sachets), and have been really happy with the results. With continuous drinking, I might just look 10 years younger in a few months. So, sorry, the old me cant come to the phone right now. Please collagen.  MARGA BUENAVENTURA

Trizie Collagen Plus is available online via Shopee, Lazada, and their website.

The "Oo! Ganda ako!" digital conversation will attempt to uncover where certain Filipino beauty standards come from and how we can help dismantle them.

Attend a talk on Filipino beauty standards

On Nov. 5, watch and join a digital conversation on challenging beauty standards in the Philippines presented by CNN Philippines and San Mig Light. Moderated by content creator Angelique Manto, the discussion will feauture Colourette Cosmetics owner Nina Ellaine Cabrera, actress Chai Fonacier, and San Jose State University Sociology & Asian American Studies Assistant Professor Joanne L. Rondilla. The discussion, entitled "Oo! Ganda ako!", will attempt to uncover where certain Filipino beauty standards come from and how we can help dismantle them.

You can visit this link to register for the Zoom meeting on Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., but you can also catch the re-airing on Nov. 10 through San Mig Light's YouTube, Facebook, and Kumu social media pages.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1)  A COVID-19 monitoring group expressed its support for the further easing of restrictions in Metro Manila amid low risk of coronavirus resurgence.

OCTA Research Group fellow Guido David said there's no COVID-19 variant threatening the improvement in the pandemic situation. He added that more adults in the capital are now protected against the virus.

David noted 96% of Metro Manila's adult population received their first dose, while 80% are fully vaccinated.

"Mas bumababa ang chance na magkaroon ng resurgence dahil maraming protektado," he said.

"We support 'yung pag-relax sa Alert Level 2 para makabawi ang mga negosyo," David added.

[Translation: The chance of having a resurgence decreases because many adults are now protected. We support the relaxation to alert Level 2 for businesses to recover.]

The pandemic response task force decided to still place Metro Manila under Alert Level 3 until Nov. 14.

David said the capital region's positivity rate declined to 5% which is an "ideal" number recommended by the World Health Organization.

The positivity rate is the percentage of tested people with positive results for COVID-19.

"It is safe to reopen our businesses at this time," he said.

David said the country has "enough testing right now".

"We're seeing an actual trend na bumababa ang cases, hindi lang sa Metro Manila, pati sa iba't ibang regions sa bansa," he said.

[Translation: We're seeing an actual trend that the cases are decreasing, not only in Metro Manila, but also in various regions of the country.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  With COVID-19 numbers declining, the Inter-Agency Task Force is considering easing the requirement to wear face shields in closed public spaces, Malacanang said.

I can confirm po na habang bumababa ang numero ay pinag-uusapan na rin po kung ipagpapatuloy pa ang pagsuot ng face shields, said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

[Translation: I can confirm that with the numbers dropping, there are already discussions if the wearing of face shields should continue.]

Following the advice of medical experts from the governments technical advisory group, President Rodrigo Duterte announced last September that the wearing of face shields outdoors was no longer required.

However, the government still requires the use of face shields in closed and crowded spaces.

For his part, Dr. Edsel Salvana, infectious disease specialist and a member of the Health department's technical advisory group, maintained that face shields are effective in preventing the coronavirus from entering the eyes.

Yung face shield kasi, hindi lang siya additional for masking. Ang important diyan ay 'yung eye protection. Alam din natin na pwedeng pumasok ang COVID through your eyes, he said during the briefing.

[Translation: The face shield is not just an additional layer for masking. It is important for eye protection. We all know that COVID could enter through your eyes.]

Salvana also agreed that the face shield mandate could be eased, particularly on vaccinated individuals.

For indoors, siguro we have to make sure everyone is vaccinated muna, before we remove those face shields. Baka hindi muna doon sa mga unvaccinated. We will continue to study this po, he added.

[Translation: For indoors, I think we have to make sure everyone is vaccinated first, before we remove those face shields. Perhaps not yet for the unvaccinated. We will continue to study this.]

Davao City already started to ease its face shield policy by making it voluntary in crowded places, close contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces.

The local government led by city mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte issued the executive order on Monday for the voluntary use of face shields in those areas, and not requiring them to be worn in other places.

The country has been recording less than 5,000 daily COVID-19 cases in the past few days. On Tuesday, the country logged 2,303 new infections  the lowest in eight months  pushing the nationwide tally to 2,792,656.

The effectiveness of face shields has been a thorny issue among the public and lawmakers. A wind engineer from the University of the Philippines earlier said face shields would only trap COVID-19 airborne particles and that they offer no additional layer of protection.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The Philippine Embassy in Japan on Monday said it has not received any reports of Filipinos among the injured during the Halloween train attack in Tokyo.

The Philippine Embassy is closely monitoring the situation. As of today, we have not received any reports of Filipinos among the injured during the train attack, Philippine Embassy in Japan Charge dAffaires Robespierre Bolivar said.

Bolivar urged Filipinos in Japan to remain cautious and mindful of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the police.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after at least 17 people were left injured following the knife attack Sunday evening.

READ: Suspect arrested in Tokyo train Halloween knife attack that injured at least 17 people

Footage of the incident also showed that fire erupted inside the train. The attacker allegedly used cigarette fluid to set the fire.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippine, November 2)  Both Malacanang and the Senate again called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to speed up payment of its unsettled debts to private hospitals, with some facilities now considering disengagement from the agency.

Paulit-ulit na pong sinasabi ni Presidente sa kanya, alam ko po ito paulit-ulit na silang nag-usap: Hayaan mo nang bayaran nang bayaran yan, said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, referring to PhilHealth chief Atty. Dante Gierran.

[Translation: The President has told him again and again, and I know theyve discussed this over and over: Just keep on paying them.]

Dahil sa panahon ng pandemya, talagang magkakagulo at magkakaroon ng kakulangan kung ang mga pribadong hospital ay hindi kasama sa Universal Health Care, Roque further explained.

[Translation: Because during a pandemic, chaos will surely ensue and there really would be a void if private hospitals wouldnt be covered by Universal Health Care.]

Roque, one of the authors of the laws House version during his time as Kabayan representative, said the government will always have enough funding for the UHC from sin taxes, the Health departments appropriation, and revenues from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Gaming Corporation.

Senators separately urged the state health insurer to immediately settle claims up for reimbursement, noting the dire repercussions for hospitals if it fails to do so.

The delay in payment could force hospitals to downsize or worse, halt operations, to the detriment of their workers who will lose jobs, and our people who cannot anymore take a heavy beating from the pandemic, said Sen. Grace Poe in a statement.

Sen. Imee Marcos, meanwhile, noted that the UHC law along with PhilHealth will be rendered useless if hospitals indeed push through with their planned disengagement.

Ngayong walang trabaho at walang pera ang mga tao, sino ang magbabayad sa kanilang medical expenses, kung hindi na rehistrado sa PhilHealth ang mga ospital? said Marcos, adding that tens of millions of direct and indirect contributors might lose their medical benefits.

[Translation: Now that people dont have jobs or income, who will pay for their medical expenses if hospitals arent registered with PhilHealth anymore?]

Sen. Risa Hontiveros also joined her colleagues in urging for the speedy settlement of the claims, but also called on hospitals to remain committed to ensuring access to affordable healthcare.

The government, given its limited capacity to provide hospital care, should explore options to provide crucial financial aid to hospitals at risk, said the senator, emphasizing that the countrys health system must also be able to take care of the needy and not just those who can pay.

Senate Health Committee chairman Bong Go, meanwhile, appealed to hospitals to ensure all their claims are legitimate so as not to prolong PhilHealths vetting process.

Go also reported that he and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea have talked with the heads of PhilHealth and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) to discuss the matter.

Both sides committed to work together in order to protect the welfare of all Filipinos who are affected, said the senator.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The Senate wants to pass the 5.024-trillion national budget for 2022 by the first week of December, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Monday.

Sotto also said plenary debates will start after the upper chamber resumes session on Nov. 8.

The House of Representatives transmitted the proposed budget to the Senate on Oct. 25, two days ahead of deadline.

House Bill No. 10153, or the 2022 General Appropriations Bill, was approved on final reading on Sept. 30 after Duterte certified it as urgent.

Based on the calendar for the 2022 budget from the Committee on Finance led by Senator Sonny Angara, the target date for approval on third reading is Nov. 25. This will be followed by the Bicameral Conference, and its report is scheduled to be signed on Dec. 9 before a final version of the spending bill is printed for President Rodrigo Dutertes signature.

It is considered as the biggest budget in the countrys history as it intends to fight COVID-19 and help the economy get back on track.

Chunk of the 2022 allocation will go to the Department of Education (773.6 billion) followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (686.1 billion) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (250.4 billion). The Department of Health, the lead agency in addressing the health crisis, will get 242 billion.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  Dennis Uy's Udenna Corporation maintained that its decision to buy out a majority stake in the Malampaya gas project was legal.

The corporation argued that the transfer of the shares of Shell Exploration BV and Chevron to Udenna was "above board" and underwent "strict bidding processes."

"Let us be clear that there is no law requiring approval of transfer of shares of companies that have interest in Malampaya. Therefore, no party has the legal ability to rescind the Chevron and Shell transactions," Udenna said in a statement on Tuesday. "Udenna as a key investor in UC Malampaya Philippines Pte Ltd will stand by this legal position."

The group said it released its position due to what it calls "false narratives" flooding social media.

Shell Exploration BV and Chevron each owned a 45% stake in the project, with the remaining 10% maintained by the state through the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corporation. In the past two years, however, Chevron and Shell both sold their shares to Uy's UC Malampaya - giving it a 90% controlling stake.

Uy - a major contributor in President Rodrigo Duterte's presidential campaign in 2016 - is facing a graft complaint over the 2019 deal.

The acquisition allegedly allowed the government to forfeit 138 billion worth of profits - which it could have gained had it acquired the shares - as well as an additional 42 billion if it took control for the remaining three years of the Malampaya contract.

Udenna said these estimates were mere "fabrications" and urged critics to instead focus on the declining gas field.

"What the Senate and the other misinformed 'concerned' individuals should focus on is the reality that given the decline of the field, and the exit of the foreign players in Malampaya, the asset will only be able to service 6% of Luzon by 2024 unless immediate actions are taken to arrest its quick decline and prevent its eventual end by 2027," the corporation said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  An official from the Commission on Elections said on Tuesday there are several safeguards to ensure the company tapped to transport vote-counting machines (VCM) cannot tamper with votes cast in the upcoming polls.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that F2 Logistics, which has been chosen to deliver the machines, cannot not affect the outcome of the votes.

This assurance came a day after it was publicized that the company chaired by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, one of President Rodrigo Duterte's top campaign donors in the 2016 polls, bagged the 535.99 million contract to transport election supplies.

In a series of tweets, Jimenez said that after F2 Logistics delivers the VCMs, the machines will undergo final testing and sealing up to three days before May 9 to check if they are working properly. If it malfunctions, a spare VCM will be used.

Before the opening of voting centers, the VCMs will print out an election return hard copy, which will be certified by the electoral board and watchers.

After that, the VCM transmits election returns to the municipal canvassing system, the central server, and the transparency server.

The official said after transmission, the main memory card will be hand-carried by the electoral board to the municipal canvassing system.

The machines will then be packed and will be returned to the deployment hubs, which means there will be no chance to tamper with the votes, Jimenez said.

"As you can see, at no point is the logistics provider able to tamper with the election outcome, either because of process safeguards (like the zero-report) or the fact that the VCMs have practically nothing to do with the results once the results have been reported out," he wrote.

Comelec guaranteed these safeguards will be carried out with close monitoring of deliveries.

Under the contract signed by Comelec Commissioner Sheriff Abas and F2 Logistics President Efren Uy, the company is in charge of forward and reverse logistics for the equipment related to the automated election system, such as vote-counting machines, transmission equipment, and other devices. The firm will also deliver the official ballots, ballot boxes, voters' lists, and other related supplies nationwide.

F2 bested LBC Express, 2Go Express, and Airspeed International in bagging the logistics deal, with the lowest offer of 535.99 million, against a maximum contract price of 1.61 billion.

Conflict of interest

Poll watchdogs are citing conflict of interest considering Uy helped fund Duterte's presidential campaign.

Presidential aspirant and labor leader Leody de Guzman urged Comelec to cancel the deal, saying Filipinos are right to worry about the potential threat to the integrity of the electoral process.

"Hindi maaring balewalain ang mahabang kasaysayan ng personal na ugnayan sa pagitan ni Uy at ng presidente," he said in a statement.

[Translation: We cannot turn a blind eye on the long history and personal ties between Uy and the President.]

Netizens also put pressure on the poll body, with the hashtag #CancelF2LogisticsContract among the top Twitter trends on Tuesday.

Jimenez, in an interview with ANC, said the poll body reviewed the concerns of possible conflict of interest in the deal. He said the Bids and Awards Committee found "no grounds" to support that claim.

CNN Philippines has yet to receive a response to its request for comment from F2 Logistics and Uy.

Dennis Uy is the chairman of F2 Logistics while his wife, Cherylyn, serves as corporate treasurer. F2 Logistics is also among the subsidiaries of Uy's Udenna Corporation, based on corporate disclosures.

Efren Uy, who F2 Logistic's president and chief executive officer, also sits on the board of Dennis Uy's Chelsea Logistics Holdings.

CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
A national company that has a track record in helping communities' downtown and retail areas will assist Columbus in these endeavors.

Retail Strategies - a community development and retail recruitment organization based in Birmingham, Alabama  met with Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce staff last week on how to attract more businesses to the area.

Chamber President Dawson Brunswick said he has previously worked with Retail Strategies in McCook. He said when he started in his new position earlier this year, the chamber was evaluating several businesses and consultants like Retail Strategies.

Brunswick said he enjoyed working with Retail Strategies and recommended the company to the Columbus Chamber Board of Directors  who approved the decision.

They liked what they heard from Retail Strategies and they were willing for the chamber to work with the city and Loup Power District, Brunswick said.

Additionally, Downtown Strategies  a division under Retail Strategies  will also provide ideas on how to promote and grow downtown Columbus.

But the decision to have Retail Strategies had to come from a Columbus City Council vote.

Recently, the council members OKd $85,000 to the chamber so that Retail and Downtown Strategies could consult on possible retail recruitment and downtown development. The funds come from the citys 840 Local Economic Development Fund.

Mayor Jim Bulkley said hes looking forward to seeing how the plan unfolds.

This is really exciting that we are spending some money on the possibility of trying to draw in retail development with a company that has a track record of doing this in other communities, Bulkley said. We are constantly being challenged with why dont we have this and why dont we have that and what could we do to get this and what could we do to get that. Well, this is a great starting point. So we took a chance on what we could do, roll the dice and see if we could get some favorable returns.

City officials said multiple Nebraska municipalities have used similar retail companies in their community but the City of Columbus hasnt previously tried this approach. Several community entities and city staff have worked hard to make downtown into a destination" and believe Downtown Strategies could help in this regard, the officials noted.

Community feedback will be part of the process, Brunswick said.

That way they will be able to see what the community thinks we need, he said.

Interestingly, Columbus will be one of the first communities in which Retail Strategies will use 2020 census data in determining its plans for the area, Brunswick said. He said early returns of the 2020 census showed Columbus grew quite a bit in the past 10 years.

Brunswick said Retail Strategies offer another resource for landowners and property owners to find tenants for their space.

It helps us create connections with those large, national sit-down restaurants that everybody would like to see in Columbus, Brunswick said. It helps build relationships with different retailers that want to see here in Columbus. They provide a wealth of knowledge and relationships.  Theyre very well-situated in helping Columbus grow.

Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net.

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Platte County Sheriff Ed Wemhoff credited a joint effort between various law enforcement agencies in apprehending an escaped Platte County Detention Facility inmate Sunday night.

Wemhoff said - along with the Platte County Sheriffs Office - Merrick County Sheriffs Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Columbus Police Department (CPD) and Nance County Sheriffs Office were instrumental in tracking down the inmate identified as Jacob McDermott. Wemhoff added three drones and two K-9 units also helped in apprehending McDermott.

I appreciate the law enforcement community coming together, Wemhoff said. Everyones number one interest was keeping our community and the public safe while trying to apprehend this person. I think everybodys goal was to keep everyone safe and try to apprehend him as quickly as possible. God willing he was taken back to custody in our facility.

McDermott, 29, was transported back Sunday night to the detention facility where he was charged with escape, a Class III felony.

Wemhoff said this kind of incident will not happen again.

Around 7:40 p.m. on Oct. 31, McDermott fled on foot in an escape attempt. Then, at approximately 7:51 p.m., the Columbus/Platte County Joint Communication Center received a call from a residence west of the detention center that a vehicle was stolen. Per the Platte County Sheriffs Office press release, the vehicle was stolen by McDermott. CPD, Nebraska State Patrol and the sheriffs office continued their pursuit of both the inmate and the vehicle.

Wemhoff told The Telegram on Monday that CPD is looking into criminal charges for the stolen automobile.

Some time after the vehicle was taken, around 8:46 p.m., a Merrick County deputy noticed said car driving westbound on Highway 30 near Clarks. Following a short pursuit, the vehicle was driven off the highway onto County Road 21, which is west of Clarks in Merrick County.

The car stopped in a ditch at that location and McDermott  who was operating the vehicle  fled the scene. A search of the area took place and, with the help of the aforementioned law enforcement entities, McDermott was apprehended approximately at 10:30 p.m.

Wemhoff said while he understands a situation like this can be frightening, he assured his office is looking into how McDermott escaped and reiterated that such an incident wont occur again.

This is a very rare incident, Wemhoff said. At the sheriffs office, were looking at our procedures and what took place. In law enforcement, youre always looking at what happened, how you respond and why things happen. Obviously, looking at a circumstance like this were going to evaluate the processes that are in place and maybe where we can improve and get better.

It is still under investigation by the Platte County Sheriffs Office.

If anyone has information about the incident, they can either contact the Platte County Sheriffs Office at 402-564-3229 or Platte County Area Crime Stoppers at 402-563-4000.

Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net.

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The state Department of Health said its National Electronic Disease Surveillance System experienced technical delays for a second straight day Tuesday, resulting in no COVID-19 case data updates.

The PA-NEDSS system did provide updated deaths data, with Cumberland County reporting one death Monday and two deaths Tuesday.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 increased to 95 in Tuesday's report, up one from Sunday. There are 19 adults in intensive care (up two from Sunday) and 17 on ventilators (the same as Sunday). Ten adult ICU beds remain open of the 115 currently staffed across the county, and 36 of 95 ventilators in the county are in use.

"Tomorrow, we anticipate sharing a three-day update report to showcase all COVID-19 cases reported between Sunday through Tuesday," Health Department Deputy Press Secretary Maggi Barton said in an email. "That report will be generated on our dashboard and shared through our daily press release."

Franklin County reports 53 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday (down five from Sunday), with five of 26 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 11 of 35 available ventilators in use. There are 13 adults in intensive care and six on ventilators.

Dauphin County reports 119 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday (down six from Sunday), with 24 of 198 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 77 of 177 available ventilators in use. There are 37 adults in intensive care and 25 on ventilators.

School-age children

In its weekly update for the eighth week of the school year, the department reported 72 cases among children aged 5-18 in Cumberland County during the week of Oct. 20-26, a decrease of 46 from the 118 cases reported last week. That brings the total number of cases in Cumberland County for this school year to 1,261.

Statewide, the number of cases among 5- to 18-year-olds decreased for the fifth week in a row with 5,238 cases reported. The state said the total number of cases in that age group for the school year is 59,743.

Early Warning Dashboard

Cumberland County saw a decrease in its in percent positivity and its incidence rate per 100,000 people in the Health Department's weekly update to its Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard Friday. Its percent positivity decreased to 8.5% for the week of Oct. 22-28, down from 10.6% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people decreased to 123.9, down from 156.7 the previous week.

Philadelphia County, which includes the city of Philadelphia, had the lowest percent positivity in the state for the week of Oct. 22-28 at 3.3% and the lowest incidence rate per 100,000 people at 63.9.

Philadelphia and Sullivan counties each dropped out of high transmission status for COVID, with both listed as substantial spread now.

Penn State Health update (Nov. 1)

Penn State Health lists a COVID-19 dashboard on its website tracking cases at each of its acute care hospitals  Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The dashboard will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Monday's update shows 101 total cases (95 adults, 6 pediatrics) in the health system's four hospitals  17 are fully vaccinated (17.9%) with four in an ICU and no one on a ventilator, 64 are nonvaccinated (67%) with 23 adults in an ICU and 11 adults on a ventilator, and 20 are unknown status patients. Three of six children hospitalized are unvaccinated (three are unknown status), with two in an ICU and one on a ventilator.

Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill has 16 COVID patients. Five are fully vaccinated adults (no one in ICU and no one on a ventilator) and 11 unvaccinated adults (one in an ICU and one on a ventilator).

Hampden Medical Center has six COVID patients. Four are not fully vaccinated (three in an ICU, no one on a ventilator) and two are fully vaccinated (one in an ICU).

Vaccinations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels Cumberland County as having "high" transmission of the virus  the highest level, which is the transmission level for every county in the state except Montgomery, Sullivan and Philadelphia counties which have dropped to "substantial," the next highest level. Community transmission is determined by the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and the positivity rate over the last seven days, so the classification could vary from day to day based on those numbers.

In data updated Monday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has seen 62.9% of its total population of 253,370 become fully vaccinated. For the county's vaccine eligible population of people ages 12 and older, 72.5% have been fully vaccinated.

County numbers in the southcentral region (for Oct. 31) *cases are 2-day weekend totals:

Adams County (pop. 103,009): 76 new cases; 13,377 total cases (10,942 confirmed, 2,435 probable); 44,096 negatives; 225 deaths (+1); 50.1% of county population vaccinated

76 new cases; 13,377 total cases (10,942 confirmed, 2,435 probable); 44,096 negatives; 225 deaths (+1); 50.1% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 56 new cases; 6,856 total cases (4,672 confirmed, 2,184 probable); 12,458 negatives; 171 deaths; 34.8% of county population vaccinated

56 new cases; 6,856 total cases (4,672 confirmed, 2,184 probable); 12,458 negatives; 171 deaths; 34.8% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 199 new cases; 17,706 total cases (13,953 confirmed, 3,753 probable); 47,138 negatives; 388 deaths (+1); 46.2% of county population vaccinated

199 new cases; 17,706 total cases (13,953 confirmed, 3,753 probable); 47,138 negatives; 388 deaths (+1); 46.2% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 114 new cases; 28,275 total cases (22,128 confirmed, 6,147 probable); 101,899 negatives; 626 deaths (+2); 62.9% of county population vaccinated

114 new cases; 28,275 total cases (22,128 confirmed, 6,147 probable); 101,899 negatives; 626 deaths (+2); 62.9% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 155 new cases; 34,955 total cases (30,024 confirmed, 4,931 probable); 128,268 negatives; 651 deaths (+1); 58.8% of county population vaccinated

155 new cases; 34,955 total cases (30,024 confirmed, 4,931 probable); 128,268 negatives; 651 deaths (+1); 58.8% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 88 new cases; 21,904 total cases (17,846 confirmed, 4,058 probable); 64,353 negatives; 460 deaths (+1); 45.7% of county population vaccinated

88 new cases; 21,904 total cases (17,846 confirmed, 4,058 probable); 64,353 negatives; 460 deaths (+1); 45.7% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 16 new cases; 2,266 total cases (1,122 confirmed, 1,144 probable); 5,004 negatives; 32 deaths (+1); 31.4% of county population vaccinated

16 new cases; 2,266 total cases (1,122 confirmed, 1,144 probable); 5,004 negatives; 32 deaths (+1); 31.4% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 33 new cases; 6,888 total cases (5,661 confirmed, 1,227 probable); 20,692 negatives; 157 deaths; 47% of county population vaccinated

33 new cases; 6,888 total cases (5,661 confirmed, 1,227 probable); 20,692 negatives; 157 deaths; 47% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 13 new cases; 2,919 total cases (2,659 confirmed, 260 probable); 6,661 negatives; 116 deaths; 40.2% of county population vaccinated

13 new cases; 2,919 total cases (2,659 confirmed, 260 probable); 6,661 negatives; 116 deaths; 40.2% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 98 new cases; 20,707 total cases (17,710 confirmed, 2,997 probable); 63,123 negatives; 339 deaths; 50.9% of county population vaccinated

98 new cases; 20,707 total cases (17,710 confirmed, 2,997 probable); 63,123 negatives; 339 deaths; 50.9% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 58 new cases; 7,329 total cases (6,934 confirmed, 395 probable); 17,571 negatives; 200 deaths (+1); 49% of county population vaccinated

58 new cases; 7,329 total cases (6,934 confirmed, 395 probable); 17,571 negatives; 200 deaths (+1); 49% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 19 new cases; 5,328 total cases (4,112 confirmed, 1,216 probable); 13,270 negatives; 124 deaths (+2); 47.2% of county population vaccinated

19 new cases; 5,328 total cases (4,112 confirmed, 1,216 probable); 13,270 negatives; 124 deaths (+2); 47.2% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 361 new cases; 62,909 total cases (51,214 confirmed; 11,695 probable); 194,212 negatives; 979 deaths (+3); 55.4% of county population vaccinated

ZIP code-level counts (updated Oct. 31):

17013: 3,390 positives, 15,800 negatives - +14 since Oct. 29

17015: 2,031 positives, 7,700 negatives - +9 since Oct. 29

17050: 3,215 positives, 16,107 negatives - +9 since Oct. 29

17055: 3,623 positives, 18,286 negatives - +17 since Oct. 29

17011: 3,343 positives, 15,295 negatives - +13 since Oct. 29

17007: 481 positives, 1,962 negatives - +0 since Oct. 29

17065: 347 positives, 1,365 negatives - +0 since Oct. 29

17324: 391 positives, 1,414 negatives - +2 since Oct. 29

17241: 909 positives, 3,438 negatives - +2 since Oct. 29

17257: 2,338 positives, 7,768 negatives - +12 since Oct. 29

17240: 223 positives, 698 negatives - +2 since Oct. 29

17025: 1,545 positives, 6,213 negatives - +3 since Oct. 29

17070: 1,441 positives, 5,905 negatives - +7 since Oct. 29

17043: 494 positives, 2,235 negatives - +2 since Oct. 29

17019: 1,703 positives, 6,027 negatives - +10 since Oct. 29

17266: 28 positives, 136 negatives - +0 since Oct. 29

School district and college case counts (updated Oct. 29)

The Sentinel's case counts for Cumberland County school districts and colleges or universities are updated Fridays. The policy for each school districts reporting is noted in the list below.

Big Spring School District (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 17 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of the sites last update on Oct. 27.

(reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 17 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of the sites last update on Oct. 27. Carlisle Area School District (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 10 new cases since Oct. 22; 164 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Oct. 27.

(reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 10 new cases since Oct. 22; 164 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Oct. 27. Camp Hill School District (posts chart that includes total case count): 1 new student case and 1 new staff case since Oct. 22; 62 student cases and 8 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.)

(posts chart that includes total case count): 1 new student case and 1 new staff case since Oct. 22; 62 student cases and 8 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Cumberland Valley School District (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 14 cases since Oct. 22; 194 cases this school year (started Aug. 31.)

(reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 14 cases since Oct. 22; 194 cases this school year (started Aug. 31.) Mechanicsburg Area School District (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 6 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Oct. 29.

(chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 6 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Oct. 29. Shippensburg Area School District (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 2 new cases since Oct. 22; 147 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of the charts last update on Oct. 27.

(reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 2 new cases since Oct. 22; 147 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of the charts last update on Oct. 27. South Middleton School District (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 4 new casts since Oct. 15; 72 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Oct. 22.

(posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 4 new casts since Oct. 15; 72 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Oct. 22. West Shore School District (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 53 student cases and 6 staff cases being monitored as of Oct. 29.

(reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 53 student cases and 6 staff cases being monitored as of Oct. 29. Dickinson College : 2 student cases and 1 employee cases since Oct. 22; 34 student cases and 24 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.)

: 2 student cases and 1 employee cases since Oct. 22; 34 student cases and 24 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Messiah University : 8 new student cases and 6 new staff cases since Oct. 22; 58 student cases and 24 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.)

: 8 new student cases and 6 new staff cases since Oct. 22; 58 student cases and 24 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Shippensburg University: 13 new student cases and 4 new staff cases since Oct. 22; 163 student cases and 21 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 1.)

(Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list)

Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 8.8% last 7 days (9.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 159.5 (175.4 previous 7 days)

Adams County: Percent Positivity - 15.2% last 7 days (16.0% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 192.2 (236.9 previous 7 days)

Cumberland County: Percent Positivity - 8.5% last 7 days (10.6% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 123.9 (156.7 previous 7 days)

Dauphin County: Percent Positivity - 11.9% last 7 days (12.5% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 168.9 (197.3 previous 7 days)

Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 11.7% last 7 days (12.5% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 149.7 (169.0 previous 7 days)

Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 11.7% last 7 days (12.9% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 174.2 (201.0 previous 7 days)

Perry County: Percent Positivity - 15.2% last 7 days (15.5% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 175.1 (164.2 previous 7 days)

York County:

Percent Positivity - 15.4% last 7 days (14.7% previous 7 days)

last 7 days (14.7% previous 7 days)

Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 245.2 (258.1 previous 7 days)

Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt.

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HARRISBURG  The estranged wife of Sean Parnell, the Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, testified under oath Monday that she endured years of rage and abuse from him, including being choked until she had to bite him, a newspaper reported.

Laurie Parnells testimony came during divorce and custody proceedings in Butler County court over the custody of their three school-age children, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

In their suburban Pittsburgh home, the family was walking on eggshells. The minute he walked back into the house we were petrified, she testified.

At one point, Laurie Parnell testified, he tried to choke me out on a couch and I literally had to bite him to get free. He was strangling me, she said, according to the Inquirer.

She testified that, once after a Thanksgiving trip, he forced her out of their vehicle and left her alongside the highway during an argument when he told her to go get an abortion.

Laurie Parnell also testified that Sean once slapped one of their children hard enough to leave welts through the back of the childs shirt.

One time, he called her a whore and other obscenities while pinning her down.

It just got worse and worse she testified.

The Parnells have been living apart for at least three years, but have split custody of their children evenly.

Sean Parnell, a decorated former Army Ranger who led a platoon in Afghanistan, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, she testified.

Parnell has been open about that diagnosis, saying in the past that he was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

In a statement released by his campaign, Sean Parnell disputed her claims and said he would set the record straight when he testifies next week.

We anxiously await the opportunity to refute these hurtful, baseless allegations, the statement said. Let me emphatically state: I have never raised a hand in anger towards my wife or any of our three children. What happened today in court was not justice, nor did it have any basis in fact or truth. Next week, Ill have an opportunity to present the truth to the court and I look forward to that opportunity.

The hearing is to resume in a week.

Parnell penned a memoir of his service in Afghanistan, which became a New York Times bestseller.

In it, he described being in heavy combat during his tour in 2006 and 2007, and sustaining wounds that prevented him from returning to combat, describing dizziness, having difficulty with motion and becoming forgetful and unsteady on his feet.

He also has written four action novels, emerged as regular guest on Fox News programs and ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year.

In the process, he became a friend of Donald Trump Jr. and a favorite of Trump, even landing a speaking slot at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Parnells history with his wife became a subject in the Republican primary campaign, days after Trump endorsed Parnell over several other rivals for the GOP nomination in next years election.

One rival, real estate developer Jeff Bartos, publicly attacked Parnell for allegations in the divorce and child custody dispute, bringing up restraining orders sought by Parnells wife in 2017 and in 2018.

Parnells campaign disputed the notion that the temporary orders  granted prior to a hearing involving both parties  were evidence of any wrongdoing.

Neither lasted more than a matter of days and a judge later ordered both expunged. The applications for the orders  the document that details the allegations  are no longer part of the publicly available filings in their divorce case.

Parnell was unelectable, Bartos has said, and a super PAC supporting Bartos has mounted an ad campaign against Parnell.

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HARRISBURG  Gov. Tom Wolfs administration told more than 70,000 state employees on Monday that it is offering five days of paid leave for getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year, quickly drawing opposition from the state treasurer over the potential cost.

The administration told employees that five days of verification leave can be used between Dec. 20 and March 31. Employees who dont use the days by then will be paid for them and an employee who has verified their fully vaccinated status to the administration will automatically receive the days, it said.

This leave will help incentivize the vaccinations that protect commonwealth employees and the Pennsylvanians we serve, the administration told employees. Its one more way we can show our gratitude to employees who step up to help us protect our communities and bring this pandemic to an end.

The administration already offers employees a paid day off to get vaccinated.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, called on Wolf, a Democrat, to abandon the plan. Her office said the cost to taxpayers for paying employees who do not use the days could amount to more than $100 million.

The decision is fiscally irresponsible, made in secret and without approval from lawmakers, Garrity said in a statement. Also, there are far better uses for the money, Garrity said.

House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, called the plan fiscally irresponsible and tone-deaf to people who lost jobs or businesses during the pandemic.
The agenda for the South Middleton Township supervisors meeting Thursday night included consideration of conditional use requests submitted by developers of two housing projects in the township and a zoning map amendment to permit construction of a multistory apartment complex.

A conditional use hearing held Thursday for Wheatstone, a residential development proposed within a township wellhead protection overlay, has been scheduled to remain open with a board decision pending until Nov. 23. Supervisors opted to keep the hearing open Thursday to give residents more time to review and comment on the revised plans.

We didnt want the folks who came out here tonight to think that we were slamming this plan through. We wanted to give them more time to think this through. This was the first time that some of our residents even saw this tonight, board president Bryan Gembusia said Thursday.

The McNaughton Co. seeks to construct and manage Wheatstone as an age-restricted community for older residents comprising 76 single-family detached homes and 182 single-family semidetached homes on a property bordered by East Springville and Lindsey roads. The project was first proposed in 2018.

Developers requested conditional use for the project because it is in a township wellhead protection overlay district (designated to protect drinking water in the location), in a residential medium-density zoning district on East Springville Road. Township code defines the project as a large-scale residential development that surpasses residential medium-density zoning specifications.

Several residents voiced concerns Thursday that Wheatstones large-scale plan would increase traffic in an already busy area and endanger pedestrians on East Springville Road, although a trail system is planned inside the development. Other locals shared concern about Wheatstones proposed retention ponds potentially causing runoff issues for nearby Misty Meadows properties or other areas.

This doesnt look like medium residential (development) to me, resident Eileen Losi said.

Project representative Joel McNaughton said hes worked very closely with township staff while developing the revised development plans he presented Thursday. The number of (the plans proposed) dwelling units has been reduced since our original plans (258 homes) were presented to the township, McNaughton said.

Plaza Drive

Also Thursday, South Middleton Township supervisors approved a conditional use request from JJC Investment Properties Inc. for a six lot/single-family dwelling unit development in a township wellhead protection district. The property is on Plaza Drive in a residential medium-density district municipal zone.

Supervisor approved the conditional use with stipulations concerning management of a closed underground depression located onsite and establishing a residential homeowners association.

Eastgate Drive

Also Thursday, supervisors amended the municipalitys zoning map to allow development of a multilevel apartment complex on Eastgate Drive. The action rezones a 3-acre parcel proposed for the development from commercial general, or G-2, to Town Center, or TC.

The town center district zone was created in August 2020 and relates to the Walnut Bottom corridor in the townships northeast quadrant that runs from Interstate 81 to the north and Carlisle Family YMCAs Rockledge Drive fields to the south, between Allen Road and North Hanover Street/Holly Pike.

The board reviewed sketch plans of the four-story, 68 unit apartment complex proposed for the undeveloped site near the intersection of Eastgate Drive and Walnut Bottom Road in August. Developers are Lou and Shelly Capozzi. Shelly Capozzi sits on the South Middleton Township Board of Supervisors.

Finally, South Middleton officials announced that Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission representatives are scheduled to present an update about the delayed Childrens Lake Dam repair project at the supervisors Nov. 10 meeting.

The Fish and Boat Commission announced in October that the dam repair is running about a year behind schedule. Delays in obtaining a necessary state permit and a federal authorization will push the start of the construction phase to late summer or early fall 2022.

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Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce members are encouraging women in the region to join them Thursday for its first-ever female leadership conference.

And some might argue women in Missouri need a little support. In 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average female salary in Missouri was $46,787, compared to $63,814 for men. The largest demographic of people living in poverty in St. Francois County were women age 25-34, followed by men age 55-64 and women age 35-44.

Billed as RISE (Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence) to Inspire Her, the conference organizers hope to explore topics unique to women, while offering networking opportunities to attendees, professional development, and inspiration from five speakers struggles and successes.

The conference begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday at Heritage Hall, 118 E. School St. in Bonne Terre. Space is at a premium, with reservations made by calling 573-358-4000 or emailing btchamberofcommerce@yahoo.com.

Chamber Executive Director Leigha Head said its hoped the conference will be held annually.

We currently have 115 women making reservations for the event, she said. During our first women's leadership conference, we will welcome a panel of four local women to share their stories of success.

Head said the keynote speaker for the evening is Leigh Ragsdale-Knoderer, North County Primary School Principal, and we couldnt be more excited to have her. She brings great energy to our community and look forward in hearing from her.

Ragsdale-Knoderer is a longtime educator who, in addition to working in Cape Girardeau Public Schools administration, worked for the Hillsboro School District. She earned a bachelors degree in mass communication from University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a masters degree in educational leadership and administration from Missouri Baptist University. She has experience in being a keynote and motivational speaker, particularly for educational institutions.

Joining her in leading the conversations about encouragement, empowerment and persistence, will be Patricia Murphy, Kim Long, Jane Cook, Melissa Williams and master of ceremonies Audra Caine.

Audra Caine is our emcee for the evening and she will bring fun energy to the evening as well, Head said. We think everyone who attends will get a lot out of the evening. Were really looking forward to the energy it gives everyone.

Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com.

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Drivers on Highway 47 in the western part of Bonne Terre will have noticed the roads been through a lot since Thursday mid-morning. Thats when a vehicle failed to stop at School Street and pushed another vehicle into a fire hydrant, setting off a series of water main problems the city has been addressing ever since.

Shawn Kay, city administrator, explained the accident as he understood it.

North Long is a one-way street. Youre only allowed to drive north. Unless you miss all the signs. Then you might be driving south. And when you get to the intersection of North Long and School Street, there isnt a stop sign there because you dont put a stop sign on a one-way street, he said. And so they went through that intersection and got hit by a car that was traveling west on West School Street (Highway 47) and pushed them over into a fire hydrant at the intersection of South Long and West School, which really caused a mess in our water system, right there.

As of Tuesday morning, School Street/Highway 47 was closed to one lane as backhoes grumbled and men in green vests directed traffic and operated heavy equipment.

Social media posts from residents over the weekend complained of the water main breaks results, complete with brown water and wondering whether a boil-water order should have been issued.

Kay said ultimately, the water was safe, even if it wasnt appealing. He said he might be expanding the scope of the next round of water-system and paving improvements the city undertakes.

Not only did (the crash) damage the fire hydrant, it damaged the water mains that were in the ground, he said. So the area was affected close to the fire hydrant because it jostled those (water) lines, but then when they pulled the car off, the plunger dropped on the fire hydrant and it caused a water hammer.

You remember when you were first learning to drive, you would come up to the stop sign and you didnt know how to feather the brake just right, so when you stopped it would kind of sling you forward and then you drop back in the seat. Its very similar to that. I mean you got water running full-throttle and then all of a sudden, it stops. It just creates a mess in the water lines.

Crews, including Kay, worked all day Thursday into the morning hours of Friday, detecting and squelching leaks. Kay said hes fairly certain theyve stopped most of the leaks.

There was so much water on so many different places. It was difficult to identify all the locations where there was problems. And we fixed six or seven issues within a couple hundred feet of that fire hydrant. And once we got that done, we felt that we had it pretty well handled, he said. So it was probably about nine oclock I guess on Friday morning, when we got when we got the last hole fixed and was able to kind of step back and breathe.

Im not going to say we unequivocally have them all, because we dont say things like that regarding the water system. Its, like, bad karma to say that. So we feel we have a handle on the situation and now were going to start patching the street.

Kay said the temporarily-brown water resulted from sedimentation stirred up by flowing water.

Theres a certain amount of sedimentation that comes out of the ground when you pump water. Every water system has it, he said. Generally, we do flushing exercises to get that out. And were able to say Hey folks, were going to be flushing on such-and-such a day or we do it very late at night when no one is awake. And if you dont open your tap you dont get it into your house because it goes right by, its a sealed system. If you dont open the tap to your house, no water can get into your line.

Kay said the Missouri Department of Natural Resources recommends flushing or unidirectional flushing to get sedimentation out of the line.

Again, which we are usually able to let people know ahead of time, but when you have a main break, things get flushed during times when people are using water and not warned, so they get a little bit of dingy-looking water, he said. It wont hurt. Its just aesthetically not very pleasing.

Kay said the city officials had already been talking about the possibility of replacing the water main from Division Street to Long Street. Kay had talked to an engineer about getting a proposal and an engineering estimate.

And now Im looking at possibly extending that from Long Street to Spruce Street to get rid of another bad section, thanks to the accident the other day. So Im going to try to get a proposal in front of the (city) council on Monday night to see if they want to proceed with doing something with that line.

Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com.

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OTTAWA -- The story of the dramatic change in Canada's global profile -- and in the decline of American influence around the globe -- might be glimpsed in three telling moments.

Back in 1916, when Canada sent troops to assist Great Britain in World War I but the United States remained on the sidelines, one of the leading songs here carried the jaunty reprise line, "We're the boys from Canada/Glad to serve Britannia."

Some 22 years later, in August 1938, Franklin Delano Roosevelt traveled to Kingston, Ontario, to meet Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and extend a military security pledge to Canada that has persisted for more than three-quarters of a century.

And then, this August, Canada stood aghast as the United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan in an episode of mass chaos that raised fresh questions about American resolve, dependability and power on the world stage.

In this capital, as in London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow and Beijing, foreign policy experts sensed a power vacuum, for the scene at the Kabul airport seemed to symbolize a fundamental shift in the world order. In abandoning Afghanistan, the United States appeared to be abandoning its role as a global leader.

Those other world capitals have historical experience with charting their own ways in the world that Canada, dominated diplomatically and militarily first by Great Britain and then by the United States, lacks. None of them shares with another country a 5,525-mile border, 120 land crossings and an economic relationship accounting for $1.7 billion in trade each day. And yet nowhere was the midsummer alteration in the power balance felt as strongly as it was here, where it prompted deep concern, deep debate -- and determination that Canada needed, finally, to come out from under America's shadow and assert itself.

The result: Canada now may be freer of another country's interests and power than at any time in its history.

As Afghanis who worked with Western nations, including Canada, besieged the Kabul airport, five top Canadian diplomats and scholars wrote that the "disastrous retreat from Afghanistan is yet one more development that shows the U.S. has lost the primacy it once enjoyed in international affairs."

They in essence argued that the nation they had depended upon no longer was dependable. Indeed, the United States increasingly appeared as, in the words of the title of a 1958 novel by the beloved Canadian author Robertson Davies, "A Mixture of Frailties."

"Without effective U.S. leadership, the onus to address burning international issues falls more heavily on the rest of us in the democratic world," argued the group, a veritable Canadian diplomatic dream team that included former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy and former Quebec premier Jean Charest. "The rise of illiberal nationalism and authoritarian rule, the declining self-confidence of liberal democracy, the return of protectionism and trading blocs, runaway nuclear proliferation, global health and climate crises -- these are issues that countries such as Canada must now confront if superpowers cannot or will not."

This view, ignored in Washington and barely noted beyond Canada, nonetheless was the functional equivalent of a diplomatic declaration of independence.

It does not mean that the United States will cease to exercise influence over Canada, withdraw from security arrangements with Canada, stop affecting cultural life in Canada, and end enormously important economic ties with Canada, which account for 16.4% of all American international trade. It does, however, mean that Canada may be more willing than ever to go its own way.

This is not a sudden break. Canada did not join the United States in the Vietnam conflict and did not participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Relations between Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and John F. Kennedy were frosty, and American presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon had contempt for Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

But no prime minister and president had as poor rapport as Justin Trudeau and Donald J. Trump.

"Trudeau and Trump were polar opposites on so many issues, including the vision of what each country's role was on the world stage," said Rafael Jacob, an analyst in American politics at the University of Quebec at Montreal.

Trudeau has sought to repair relations with the United States by reaching out to President Biden -- whom many Canadians credit with helping to free two Canadians who were detained in China for more than 1,000 days -- even as he looks across both the Atlantic and the Pacific.

"Trudeau has been relentlessly pragmatic in dealing with both Trump and Biden as a way of maintaining the benefits of the relationship," said Geoffrey Hale, a political scientist at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. "But all the while he has been retaining some discretion to act on his own, and now more than ever."

Though there always has been a strain of anti-Americanism across the 49th parallel, Canadians generally have thought warmly of the United States. But in the wake of the Trump years, the high rates of COVID-19 in the United States and the siege of the Capitol, many Canadians now are looking across the border not with admiration but with horror.

The decoupling that these episodes prompted has served to amplify a movement that has been underway for two decades.

"There are reasons for the two countries to be close, but broader forces suggest Canada will go its own way," said Christopher Kirkey, director of the SUNY Plattsburgh Center for the Study of Canada. "After the death of the Soviet Union, Americans felt less of a need for Canada and there was less of a need for Canada to feel tied to the U.S."

More recently, American actions, in Afghanistan and in trade, have alienated Canadians, who believe the United States is too prone to act unilaterally in international affairs, prompting them to wonder, as Jeremy K.B. Kinsman, former Canadian ambassador to Great Britain, the European Union, Italy and Russia, put it, "if the Biden administration's allegedly globalist world view is in effect not just a nicer mask for Trump's 'America First' mantra, which has support in Congress, where globalization is still blamed for the loss of American jobs."

There now is a sense that American troubles are a Canadian opportunity. Put another way: Sometimes in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that have connected them with another.

David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter at ShribmanPG

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Where do these perceptions come from?

Not from voters personal experiences. In fact, Virginia voters of all partisan stripes had similar experiences  and good ones!  in 2020. Of those who cast their ballots in person, two-thirds reported having to wait less than 10 minutes. Of those who voted absentee, 94% said their ballot arrived without delay.

Election Day woes were few and far between as well. Ninety-seven percent of voters had no trouble finding their polling place; 96% encountered no harassment or bothersome behavior while waiting in line; 98% had no difficulty providing identification; and 99% were checked in with no problems because their names appeared on the rolls. While we certainly dont want to diminish the challenges that some voters faced, strong majorities of Republicans (85%) and Democrats (84%) report encountering no major problems at the polls last year.

Instead, these perceptions  that democracy is in danger, or under attack  are rooted in partisan national narratives about elections.
That said, the odds for margin of victory have dropped from 5% to 1%, Barton said.

PredictIt, a New Zealand-based betting website, gave the nod to McAuliffe, but bettors all over the world spent Monday putting their money on Youngkin. Bettors were also betting on the turnout, the election result compared to opinion polls, the corporate tax rate for 2022, who will be the Democratic Party candidate for president in 2024 and the who will be the Israeli prime minister on Dec. 31.

Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman, of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, are not betting. In a Monday post to the centers Sabatos Crystal Ball, they said the results favor McAuliffe, sort of.

The race has been very close for a long time, based on our understanding of both public and private polling and modeling, they wrote. We kept the race at leans Democratic anyway because, even in a close race, weve come to believe that a states baseline partisanship can break ties in favor of the states stronger party  which is the Democrats in Virginia.

For most voters, its neither the spread nor the opinion polls that matter but who actually gets in the office. Today they will also get to choose Virginias lieutenant governor, attorney general and members of the House of Delegates.
The idea is to put the spine right, add spacers to keep it straight and to have the body grow bone over the hardware to create a strong support where the disc once was.

Were often putting rods and screws in to reconstruct the spine with the goal of getting the bones that the rods and screws span to knit together solid as one, or to fuse, Smith said. The problem is that the rods and screws we put in are metal, and metal is imperfect. If the bones dont knit together solid across those [devices], then the metal has to carry the bodys stress indefinitely. The metal can then fatigue, fracture and fail or the screws can pull out or rods can crack.

An estimated 6 million adults have mild to severe spinal deformity and 1.6 million seek treatment for the condition, either surgery or other treatment, each year.

Prior to aprevo, most spacers were off-the-shelf, devices made from surgical plastics and metals in particular sizes. While those implants have different heights to fit different length spines, theyre basically pre-formed blocks.

Aprevo is different, said Smith, who worked with Carlsmed to develop the device.
NEW YORK (AP)  Democrat Eric Adams has been elected New York City mayor, defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa on Tuesday in a contest far easier than his next task: steering a damaged city through its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Adams, a former New York City police captain and the Brooklyn borough president, will become the second Black mayor of the nations most populous city. David Dinkins, who served from 1990 to 1993, was the first.

Tonight, New York has chosen one of you -- one of our own. I am you. I am you," Adams told a jubilant crowd at his victory party at a hotel in his hometown borough of Brooklyn. After years of praying and hoping and struggling and working, we are headed to City Hall.

Adams victory seemed all but assured after he emerged as the winner from a crowded Democratic primary this summer in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7 to 1.

As a candidate, Adams referenced his working-class roots and being raised with five siblings by a single mother who cleaned houses. He described carrying a garbage bag of clothes to school out of fear his family would be evicted.
A majority of Virginia voters say they have an unfavorable view of the former president, but Youngkin fares better, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters. About half have a favorable opinion of the former private equity executive.

The economy ranked as the top issue facing the commonwealth, with the coronavirus pandemic and education trailing, and voters were split in their opinion of President Joe Bidens performance.

Tuesdays election is the most closely watched contest since Biden defeated Trump last year. It is widely seen as a gauge of how voters are feeling ahead of next years midterm elections, and for both parties it could provide a blueprint for campaigning in competitive states.

Biden won Virginia by 10 percentage points last year. Now, 48% of Virginias voters approve of Bidens job performance, while 52% disapprove.

Voters who ranked the economy and education as the top issues were more likely to back Youngkin over McAuliffe. Voters who identified COVID-19 as the top issue supported McAuliffe over Youngkin. McAuliffe also earned the majority backing of the roughly 2 in 10 who ranked health care, climate change or racism as the top issue.


State Rep. Brian Clem is the latest member to announce he will leave the Oregon Legislature before the end of his elected term.

Clem, 49, is a Democrat from House District 21 in Salem. He unseated Republican incumbent Billy Dalto in 2006 and has been re-elected seven times since. He announced during the Legislature's special session on Sept. 27 that he would not seek another term, but on Oct. 29, he said he would leave before the official end of his term Jan. 9, 2023.

His mother, who has Alzheimer's disease, is living with him, his wife Carol Suzuki  who works in the Senate Majority Office  and their daughter. He is a small-business owner.

His interim successor will be chosen by Marion County commissioners from three to five candidates nominated by Democratic precinct persons within his current district  not the district that will be redrawn for the 2022 elections.

In a statement released by the House Majority Office, Clem did not specify a date, but said his replacement should be chosen in time to serve in the 35-day session in 2022, which is scheduled to start Feb. 1.

From the statement:

"At this time, I have decided it is in the best interest of my constituents that I step down and focus on some immediate needs for my mother in her journey as an Oregonian living with Alzheimer's disease.

"This decision was by no means easy, but in the end I want my constituents to have a legislator who is able to make their needs their complete focus for the 2022 session and I won't be able to do that until we have the support my mom needs in place. I will do everything to make this a smooth transition so Salem has a strong advocate who can hit the ground running.

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"I want to thank my family for allowing me to serve in public office, which has not always been easy on them, and I also want to thank my colleagues in the Legislature, both Democrat and Republican. From them I have learned a great deal about what it means to serve and work together to deliver for Oregonians."

During the 2021 session, Clem led a special House committee focused on recovery from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires that swept Oregon. All the bills that emerged from it passed the committee and the full House without dissent. He led the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in four previous legislative cycles and sat on it two other cycles.

Second resignation

State Rep. Bill Post also will resign his seat on Nov. 30. He had announced on Sept. 7 he would not seek another term.

Post, 61, is a Republican from Keizer who was elected to the House District 25 seat in 2014 after Kim Thatcher vacated it after 10 years to win a seat in the Senate. He and his wife have moved to Fallon, Nevada, so he would be ineligible to continue in office. He was a radio talk-show host between 2009 and 2014, and an internet talk-show host since then.

His interim successor will be chosen by commissioners from Marion and Yamhill counties from three to five candidates nominated by Republican precinct persons within his current district.

From the statement released Oct. 12 by the House Republican Office:

"My intent was to be open with my constituents about my move out of state and the steps I'd be taking to continue to fulfill my duties for the rest of my term to the best of my knowledge and ability.

"After further discussions with an elections attorney and talking it over with my wife, it appears that the best action I can take for my district and my family is to resign before my term is over and give my successor a chance to serve during the 2022 short legislative session."

Senators depart

Senators who have already left the Legislature early are Chuck Riley, a Democrat from Hillsboro in District 15, and Ginny Burdick, a Democrat from Portland in Senate District 18.

The nominating process is underway for Riley, now 82, a retired computer systems consultant who unseated Republican Mary Gallegos of Cornelius in a 2004 rematch in House District 29. He lost to Republican incumbent Bruce Starr of Hillsboro for the Senate District 15 seat in 2010 but won a rematch four years later. He was re-elected in 2018.

Riley had announced during the special legislative session he would leave his seat early.

Washington County commissioners will appoint someone from among three to four candidates nominated by Democratic precinct persons within his current district. Riley's elected term ends with the 2022 election.

Burdick, who turns 74 in December, resigned from the Senate on Nov. 1 to accept an appointment as one of two Oregon members of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. She was first elected to the Senate in 1996. Her 25 years makes her the longest-serving woman in that chamber, although Mae Yih of Albany has a total of 26 years of legislative service, counting Yih's six years in the Oregon House.

Commissioners from Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties will choose Burdick's interim successor from among three to five candidates nominated by Democratic precinct people within her current district. Burdick's district was split among four other Senate districts in the 2021 redistricting  which is under challenge in the Oregon Supreme Court  and there are three years left in her elected term. Much depends on what happens to the redistricting plan, but the proposed Senate District 18 is now within Washington County  and there would be an election in 2022 for the two years remaining in Burdick's term.

Three more in House

Three House members have been replaced since the 2021 session opened on Jan. 11:

 Democrat Andrea Valderrama of Portland took the District 47 seat on April 1. Three-term member Diego Hernandez of Portland resigned on the eve of a expulsion vote based on multiple accusations from a House Committee on Conduct investigation into sexual harassment.

 Republican Anna Scharf of Amity took the District 23 seat on July 12. Four-term member Mike Nearman of Polk County was expelled from the House on a June 10 vote in connection with his aiding anti-lockdown protesters, some of them armed, into the then-closed Capitol during a Dec. 21 special session. Nearman pleaded guilty on July 26 in Marion County Circuit Court to one count of first-degree official misconduct in connection with the incident.

 Republican Christine Goodwin of Roseburg took the District 2 seat on Aug. 25. Two-term member Gary Leif of Roseburg died of cancer on July 12. Goodwin's appointment made her the 33rd woman in the current 60-member House.

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Telecommunication infrastructure in the Solomon Islands requires significant investment due to the geographical make-up of the islands.

Although various international organisations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have taken a special interest in having communication services improved in both the Solomon Islands and the Pacific region in general, internet and broadband penetration remain low. The provision of broadband infrastructure, particularly to rural areas, is also hindered by land disputes.

Internet services have, however, improved with the build-out of the Coral Sea Cable System linking Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands, as also with a connecting cable to a landing station at Sydney. The Australian government provided most of the funding for the Coral Sea Cable System, with contributions and support from the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea governments.

The launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in late 2019 also improved broadband satellite capacity for the region, though for telcos in Solomon Islands satellite services are now largely used as backup for international traffic.

In recent years, the country has stabilised both politically and economically and this, along with improvements to mobile infrastructure, has led to a rise in mobile penetration and the slow uptake of broadband services. While the first LTE services were launched in late 2017 in the capital Honiara, the main platform for mobile voice and data services remains 3G, while in outlying areas GSM is still an important technology for the provision of services.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector, to various degrees, is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Key developments:

Coral Sea Cable System alleviating international bandwidth constraints, focus shifts to improving last mile connectivity;

Solomon Islands Domestic Cable Network connects to Coral Sea Cable System;

Kacific-1 providing additional international bandwidth;

Possible amendment to the Telecommunications Act to address cyber-bullying, SIM card registration required;

Growth in mobile data consumption driven by high proportion of consumers under the age of 25;

Mobile market remaining dominated by prepaid subscribers;

Report update includes an assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, regulators market data report for 2020, recent market developments.

Get a Full Copy of this Report

Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeComm, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.

The above article is a summary of the following BuddeComm report:

Report title: Solomon Islands - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Edition: September 2021

Lead Analyst: Henry Lancaster

Number of pages: 77

Companies mentioned in this report: Our Telekom (Breeze); Bmobile-Vodafone; Kacific Broadband Satellite, O3b, Interchange Limited, Solomon Island Submarine Cable Company.

Single User PDF Licence Price: US$890

For more information or to purchase a copy of the full report please use the following link: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Solomon-Islands-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?r=83
Green Gibraltar, a new player in the Guyanese mobile market, claims to have received regulatory clearance to offer 5G mobile services.

Stabroek News reports that the new entrant applied for commercial operating licences and spectrum rights covering seven of Guyanas ten main regions. The majority of these are coastal areas with a larger population - regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)  but Green Gibraltar will also provide services in the more sparsely populated regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). It has not applied to operate in the remaining three regions given their very small and remote populations.

Green Gibraltar describes itself as being 100% Guyanese owned. Having applied for the operating licences and spectrum in January 2021, the operator has now issued a statement saying: With the approval of the licence, efforts will now focus on the steps necessary to commence operations.

However, TeleGeography reports that Guyanas government has not yet confirmed that it has allocated the licences and spectrum in question to Green Gibraltar. Additionally, the operator has provided no additional explanation of its planned offering, should the licences be issued.
Banking software firm Temenos has announced contract wins in Cambodia and Egypt.

Cambodias Hattha Bank will use Temenos Infinity to power the launch of its SME banking business, with seamless customer onboarding allowing the bank to scale rapidly to achieve its vision of reaching 100,000 SMEs with vital funding and business banking services within five years.

Hattha Bank is a subsidiary of Bank of Ayudhya, the fifth-largest commercial bank in Thailand. It was established more than 25 years ago as a microfinance deposit-taking institution and has expanded over time to offer commercial and retail banking services. By selecting Temenos Infinity, Hattha Bank aims to fulfil its socio-economic duty and provide Cambodian SMEs with essential funding and access to frictionless digital banking experiences.

SMEs comprise about 99.8% of all business entities in the country and 58% of GDP. Temenos Infinitys open and flexible architecture will seamlessly connect to Hattha Banks core system and provide instant access to SME banking features, spanning onboarding, user management and entitlements, bulk payments and approvals and account and cash management. With no need for major customization, Hattha Bank can quickly launch the new business line and respond to the needs of Cambodian SMEs navigating through the pandemic.

Oknha Ieng Tong, President and CEO, Hattha Bank, commented: Temenos supports our objectives, giving us the fastest time-to-value so we can quickly respond to the needs of SMEs seeking critical funding during the pandemic. Temenos cloud technology will also provide us with a solid foundation on which we can hyper-scale our operations profitably and meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of SMEs.

Meanwhile, Egypts Midbank - a universal bank providing retail, corporate, and investment banking services  has selected Temenos' open banking platform to power its digital transformation. The bank will implement Temenos Transact as its core product and Temenos Infinity digital banking platform to replace its legacy systems and streamline its systems and processes as part of a visionary IT transformation strategy.

Temenos open technology will allow Midbank to take advantage of the latest fintech innovations to improve its customer service and experience, enabling the bank to grow its customer base and support the Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) efforts to boost financial inclusion and the transition to a cashless society.

Amr El Garhy, Chairman and Managing Director of MIDBANK, described Midbanks strategy as devout to comprehensive development and growth, adding that it was projected to help the bank keep pace with the plans and ambitions of the Central Bank of Egypt. The strategy also aspires to expand retail banking product and service provisioning, which rely on the latest digital and technological means. Additionally, it aims at diversifying the customer base and banking activities.
Omans first satellite will be launched into Earths lower orbit by the end of 2022.

The CubeSat technology-based satellite is the result of a collaboration between Omans TUATARA, a business solutions provider, ETCO, an international emerging technology company, and Polands SatRevolution a satellite manufacturer and space service company. All three are working with Omans Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT).

The agreement between the organisations was signed at the International Astronautical Congress, which was held from 25 to 29 October in Dubai.

According to the Times of Oman, besides the launch of the satellite itself, a five-year collaboration between the parties will include designing and manufacturing a complete satellite imaging receiving and transmission infrastructure based on CubeSat technology.

The project will be executed in stages comprising several crucial elements of the design, manufacture and development of software, enabling ETCO to operate the CubeSat. These include the creation of the ground station by TUATARA and SatRevolution, providing connection, operations and datalink with the launched CubeSat, along with personnel training and know-how transfer.

The project will be technologically independent, collecting and processing useful data. The partners say that satellite images can be used to monitor agriculture, renewable energy, oil, mining, weather forecasting, border monitoring and national security within the Sultanate.

Downstream analysis of images and data acquired from satellites using computer vision, machine learning and artificial intelligence technology will enable recognition of patterns and trends, enabling the prediction of the impact of climate change or natural disasters, among other phenomena.
Were all rolling on up toward the holidays, and I want everyone who has any connection to me, either positive or negative, to have a good one. Theres been a ton of research coming out this last couple of weeks that many of the COVID-19 ritualistic class would find upsetting. But in the spi
The Baptist College of Florida will soon see a name change, shifting to the Florida Baptist University, when all necessary authorizations are completed.

The school is also announcing a third campus location in the works, this one in south Floridas Hialeah community. The BCF board of trustees formally approved its establishment in late October.

It will be located at the Southeast Florida Center of the Florida Baptist Convention and is expected to start offering classes in August of 2022.

Graceville, the original location, was joined in recent years by the establishment of a central-Florida sister campus, that one in Lakeland.

School officials in a press release explained more about the expected name change.

The institution has established a graduate school, added several new fields of study, and established two new campuses. As a result of all of the changes that have occurred, the BCF President recommended that the name of the school be changed with the new name including the designation of University. The school has been technically eligible to adopt this designation for several years, but the leadership has waited until this time to pursue the name change. The name adopted is Florida Baptist University.
The body of an elderly male homicide victim was found in the Chattahoochee River near Neals Landing in Jackson County on Sunday, and the body of his live-in girlfriend was found on the couples property in Seminole County, Georgia.

The victims were identified as Catherine Kennedy, 77, and Sammy Ray Beasley, 76. The suspect in their deaths is Kelly Kennedy, the grandson of Catherine Kennedy. He lived next door to the victims.

The double-homicide is under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Seminole County Sheriffs Office.

Georgia authorities called for Jackson Countys help in the search for the male victim as its investigation unfolded there Sunday, and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office dive team was successful in finding the body.

Authorities arrested Kelly Kennedy in connection to the case, according to a GBI press release. He was charged in the case with two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, felony theft by taking, and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.
DONALSONVILLEA Seminole County, Georgia, man has been charged in the deaths of his grandmother and her live-in boyfriend, whose bodies were found Sunday.

Kelly Kennedy is charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, felony theft by taking, and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.

The victims are 77-year-old Catherine Kennedy, the suspects grandmother, and Sammy Ray Beasley, 76. Catherine Kennedys body was found on the Seminole County property where the couple lived next door to the suspect. Beasleys body was found in the Chattahoochee River near Neals Landing in Jackson County, Florida.

The double-homicide is under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Seminole County Sheriffs Office.

Georgia authorities called for Jackson Countys help in the search for the male victim as its investigation unfolded there Sunday, and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office (JCSO) dive team was successful in finding Beasleys body.
The Baptist College of Florida has plans to expand its campus, change its name, and offer more student programs.

If approved, the Graceville-based Christian college will become known the Florida Baptist University and will also have campuses in Lakeland in Central Florida and Hialeah in South Florida.

While this process will take quite some time, we are truly excited about unveiling a new name that communicates the breadth and depth of our programming, President Thomas A. Kinchen said. We are also glad to state that while the name may change, the heart and mission of the school will remain constant.

The colleges Board of Trustees adopted plans for a statewide expansion during its recent pre-convention meeting. The trustees also received reports of campus repairs and restoration from damage caused by Hurricane Michael.

Before it can become official, the name change will have to be approved by Floridas secretary of state, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission for Independent Education.

Kinchen recommended the name change for the college due to advancements such as a graduate school, two new campuses, and additional fields of study.
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Registration will end Thursday, Nov. 18. There will be no make-up dates after registration has completed.

Community partners serving as drop-off sites collect toys, which the Marine Corps League picks up to fulfill the Christmas gift lists for participating children. The donated gifts are distributed to families in time for Christmas.

Donation boxes will start going up in local communities this week, Cox said.

Weve already gotten quite a few of them out in the Enterprise area, and were starting this week to get them in the Dothan area, he said.  Last year, we had over 100 boxes out throughout the community, and we did a few toy drives.

The community, he said, is always very generous.

To donate to this years Toys for Tots program or be a drop-off location for donated new toys, visit thewiregrass.toysfortots.org and click on Get Involved/Volunteer or email dothan.al@toysfortots.org.

Cox recommended spending less than $20 so that you can donate multiple toys. If there are enough toys donated, children will get more than one toy  maybe as many as four of five toys. Focusing on older age groups can also help since options on store shelves are typically plentiful for younger children.

Older children in the 10 to 12 range are hard to buy for, Cox said.

Peggy Ussery is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at aussery@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7963. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com.

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A loss in Virginia, which has trended toward Democrats for more than a decade would particularly deepen the sense of alarm inside the party heading into next years midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. But Biden expressed optimism going into the evening while acknowledging that the off-year is always unpredictable."

I think were going to win in Virginia, Biden said at a news conference in Scotland, where he was attending an international climate summit. I dont believe  and Ive not seen any evidence that  whether or not I am doing well or poorly, whether or not Ive got my agenda passed or not, is gonna have any real impact on winning or losing."

Elsewhere, Democrat Eric Adams won the New York City mayoral election, and a ballot question promoted by top national progressives was defeated in Minneapolis. It had sought to reshape policing in the city, where the killing of George Floyd last year touched off sweeping demonstrations for racial justice across the nation.
But Saabs importance to Maduro's government ran much deeper.

As the U.S. ratcheted up sanctions on Venezuela, he is believed to have emerged as the government's main fixer with the international connections to circumvent the U.S. restrictions. His trip to Iran, described as a humanitarian mission by Maduro, was aimed at securing deals to sell the country's crude oil in exchange for much-needed fuel and other goods.

The Biden administration has tried to downplay the political impact of Saabs extradition while blasting Maduro for using it as a pretext to suspend negotiations.

The case however is being closely followed by the families of nine Americans imprisoned in Venezuela who see Saab's future closely intertwined with the fate of their loved ones.

Those jailed include six oil executives who had been working for the Houston subsidiary of Venezuelas state-owned oil giant PDVSA who were convicted and sentenced last year to long prison sentences for embezzling funds from a never-executed plan to refinance Citgos bonds. The families of the so-called Citgo 6 and the U.S. government have vehemently rejected the accusations and consider the men wrongfully detained.
DONALSONVILLEThe body of an elderly male homicide victim was found in the Chattahoochee River near Neals Landing in Jackson County, Florida on Sunday, and the body of his spouse was found on the couples property in Seminole County, Georgia.

The double-homicide is under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Seminole County Sheriffs Office.

Georgia authorities called for Jackson Countys help in the search for the male victim as its investigation unfolded there Sunday, and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office (JCSO) dive team was successful in finding the body.

Authorities have arrested Kelly Kennedy, who was listed as living in the Donalsonville area, in connection to the case, according to a GBI press release. He was to be formally charged (Monday) with their deaths along with other criminal charges in Seminole County, the GBI said. The names of the victims had not been released as of late Monday pending further notifications to family members, officials said.
MONTGOMERY  Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives on Monday advanced new lines for legislative and congressional districts with the expectation that the maps will almost certainly face a court challenge.

Lawmakers voted 65-38 to approve the congressional district lines and 68-35 to approve House of Representatives district lines. Ten or fewer Republicans joined with Democrats to oppose the new boundary lines. Both plans now moves to the Alabama Senate.

Republican Rep. Chris Pringle, the co-chairman of the redistricting committee, said the approved maps comply with the Voting Rights Act and recent court rulings. "Reapportionment is always taken to court. Everything we did will be scrutinized. I think we did a good job of applying the law and the guidelines equitably," Pringle said.

Democrats, who voted against the maps, argued the process was rushed and that the maps, which are expected to maintain GOP dominance in the Alabama Legislature and congressional delegation unnecessarily split counties and do not reflect the state's growing diversity.

"We look forward to fighting this out in court and figuring out how we can get to a process that is going to work for the people of Alabama," House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels said.
The pledge was made at meeting Monday between the two leaders on the sidelines of the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in the U.K., the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

Chinh thanked Morrison and the Australian government for their timely support with vaccines and medical equipment and hoped that Australia would continue to assist Vietnam to deal with complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the end of October, a batch of 800,000 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses donated by the Australian government arrived in Hanoi. With this third delivery, Australia met its initial commitment to share 1.5 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses from its own supplies with Vietnam this year.
Five Chinese men and a Vietnamese woman stand before the Da Nang People's Court, October 29, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Nam Em

Five Chinese men and a Vietnamese woman were sentenced to prison in Da Nang for selling pornography online featuring underaged girls.

Zhuang Hui Min, Liu Xiao Wei, Jiang Deng Jun, and Dai Hong Xi received 7.5 years each for "engaging in sexual intercourse or other sexual activities with a person aged 13 to under 16" and "employment of a person under 16 for pornographic purposes." Fang Jun Jie was sentenced to two years and three months for "molestation of a person under 16."

The Vietnamese woman, Sam Thi Sen, 26, was sentenced to 10.5 years in jail for "employment of a person under 16 for pornographic purposes."

After finishing their jail terms, the Chinese men would be deported from Vietnam, Da Nang Peoples Court said last week.

Min, 40, hired Sen as interpreter when visiting Vietnam on a tourist visa, at which time they became lovers. Min subsequently traveled to Da Nang to produce porn, with Sen renting him a house on Son Tra Districts Le Minh Trung Street.

Sen then sourced girls on Facebook with the promise of an easy, high-paying job. From February to September 2019, she managed to hire four women, coerced into the porn industry.

Sen told the women the videos would be posted onto a Chinese-only social media app. At first, they only recorded videos while removing their clothes, but later engaged in illicit activities with Wei and Jun, both 32.

The group paid the women VND700,000 ($30.85) for six hours of stripping, and VND1 million for each sexual engagement. The videos were sold to porn websites abroad, and could only be accessed through registered accounts, where money was sent to Chinese bank accounts.

In September 2019, with both Wei and Juns visas about to expire, Min hired Xi, 24, and Jie, 35, as new actors.

The family of one woman later discovered she had been coerced to produce porn, so they reported the incident to authority.

Police busted the group on Sept. 14.

Min was determined to be the ringleader of the group, police said.
Vietnam needs continued support for its Covid-19 fight with vaccine, medical supplies and drugs, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in Glasgow.

The two leaders met Monday on the sidelines of the Vietnamese delegation's participation in the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) hosted by the U.K., the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

In early August, the U.K. Embassy in Hanoi handed over 415,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Vietnams Health Ministry. This was part of the U.K. governments pledge to Vietnam during a donation drive to deliver nine million vaccine doses to countries around the world.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (L) and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss meet in Glasgow, November 1, 2021. Photo courtesy of Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Son and Truss discussed several other key issues including Vietnam's climate change mitigation pledges. The foreign minister affirmed that Vietnam is strongly committed to contribute to the global climate crisis response.

Hanoi was ready to facilitate Londons efforts to strengthen substantive cooperation with ASEAN, and to support and share experiences with the U.K. in negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The U.K. has expressed its intention to join CPTPP in February, "in a major push to expand and deepen the country's trade links with the Asia-Pacific region after leaving the European Union."

The two leaders stressed the importance of upholding international law, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, security and peace in the South China Sea.

They agreed that the two countries will work closely on commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.K. (1973 - 2023).
Thailand, Russia, France and Maldives are among a handful of countries to have waived mandatory quarantine for travelers from Vietnam.

The Thai government announced it would exempt quarantine for tourists from 17 more countries and territories, including Vietnam from Monday as part of its tourism reopening policy.

With the latest additions, the total number of countries eligible for quarantine-free entry into Thailand has increased to 63, Bangkok Post reported.

On Oct. 21, Thailand announced it would allow fully-vaccinated travelers from 46 low-risk countries and territories to enter the country without quarantine from Nov. 1.

The Russian government has also listed Vietnam among 48 countries and territories whose visitors are exempt from 14-day quarantine.

Vietnamese tourists must furnish a negative PCR test for Covid no older than 72 hours before arrival. They are required to wear a mask in public, including on public transport and in malls.

Maldives only requires visitors from Vietnam to present a negative PCR test done within 96 hours before departure.

Vietnam is classified orange by France, which means vaccinated visitors no longer need to quarantine. They however need to furnish a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours or a negative antigen test no older than 48 hours.

Vietnam is among more than 135 countries and territories whose full Covid vaccination certificates, often called vaccine passports, are recognized by the U.K. government, according to an updated list by British authorities last week.

Fully vaccinated people must undergo a coronavirus test within two days after entry and are subject to quarantine only when testing positive.

Fully-vaccinated Vietnamese citizens are also exempted from quarantine upon arriving in Greece, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Brazil, Botswana, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belize, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Moldova and Montenegro.

From Nov. 8, Vietnamese tourists are allowed to enter the U.S. but must furnish a certificate proving they had been fully vaccinated and present a negative test result obtained within 72 hours. Although not mandatory, the American government still encourages people to self-isolate for 7-10 days upon arrival.

Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Mexico have fully reopened to all tourists and do not require full vaccination status and negative test results.

However, travelers can be randomly tested for the coronavirus upon arriving at airports or self-quarantine for 14 days if not tested.

More than 24.6 million people in Vietnam have been fully vaccinated.

Earlier, several countries banned or imposed strict quarantine measures for travelers from Vietnam as the Southeast Asian country grappled with its most challenging outbreak triggered by the Delta variant.
The U.K. government made the pledge as the United Nations COP26 summit opened in Glasgow, Scotland. The U.K. also confirmed it will separately provide additional guarantees to the World Bank to fund $1 billion worth of green projects across India, as reported by Reuters earlier.

"The climate has often been a silent victim of economic growth and progress  but the opposite should now be true," U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in the government's statement.

Johnson also addressed the opening ceremony of the COP26 summit, an event that has been billed as a make-or-break chance to save the planet from the most calamitous effects of climate change.

Britain said it will commit more than 210 million pounds in new investment towards financing electric vehicle manufacturing in India, green bonds in Vietnam and solar power in Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Nepal and Chad.

It will also provide guarantees to the African Development Bank to unlock up to 1.45 billion pounds worth of new financing for Africa.

Delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, COP26 aims to keep alive a target of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels - the limit scientists say would avoid its most destructive consequences.

Wealthy nations face mounting pressure to deliver on an unmet pledge, made in 2009, to spend $100 billion a year to help finance an adequate response by developing countries to rising global temperatures.

India's chief economic adviser has urged rich nations to commit much more than $100 billion to help poor countries fight climate change.

Asia's third-largest economy plans to keep adding renewables to its energy mix and push industries to see the benefit of using cleaner fuels but has stopped short of committing to a net-zero emission target year.
Iran and Saudi Arabia, longtime opponents on a range of disputes in the Middle East, recently engaged in direct discussions. We hope they will provide a basis to address issues between the two sides, and we will strive and work to realize that, said Saudi Arabia Foreign Minster Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud.

The United States applauded the news. We welcome any direct talks that lead to greater peace and stability in the region, said Jennifer Gavito, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran and Iraq at the State Departments Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Also in the interest of peace and stability, the United States has repeatedly made clear its hopes that Tehran will renew discussions with the United States and other P5+1 countries over a return by the U.S. and Iran to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the JCPOA. There have been six rounds of discussions this year in Vienna, but they have stalled since June, and Iran has not yet agreed on a date to resume them.

In the meantime, U.S. nuclear-related sanctions against Iran remain in place, and Iran has significantly expanded its nuclear program beyond JCPOA limits.

At a recent press briefing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in Vienna, the United States demonstrated in those talks with European partners, with China, with Russia, that we were fully prepared to go back into compliance with the JCPOA if Iran was prepared to do the same thing. And to date, [the Iranians] have not demonstrated a willingness to do that.

The ball remains in their court, but not for long, said Secretary Blinken. The problem that we faceis that because of the work that Iran is doing on its nuclear program in violation of the JCPOA  spinning more sophisticated centrifuges, building up stockpiles of uranium enriched to 20 or even 60 percent  simply getting back to the terms of the JCPOA at some point will not be sufficient to recapture the benefits of the agreement.

The United States continues to believe diplomacy is the best route to ensure that Iran will never achieve a nuclear weapon. But there is a limited runway on that, and the runway is getting shorter, said Secretary Blinken. Our hope and expectation is that all of our partner countries in this will prevail upon Iran to quickly return and see if we can still get back to the JCPOA.
" " An Amazon Kindle e-reader is seen in a bookstore in 2019 in Qingdao, Shandong Province of China. Visual China Group via Getty Images

In 2007, the internet commerce company Amazon introduced a $399 electronic book (e-book) reader called the Kindle. The Kindle wasn't the first dedicated e-book reader device, but it didn't really have much competition  there wasn't a huge demand in the market for e-book readers before the Kindle's launch.

The Kindle took off because it had one big advantage over other e-book readers: Amazon itself. The Kindle enjoys a seamless integration with the retail giant's online store, which hosts millions of titles in electronic format.

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Because Kindles are wireless, you can access the store without connecting the device to a computer. You can buy a book or subscribe to an electronic version of a newspaper on Amazon and download it directly to the Kindle. Amazon also has a large customer base, which means a big audience for e-books  and lots of publishers and self-published authors wanting to jump into that market. These factors give the Kindle a leg up on the competition.

Why would you want to use an e-book reader in the first place? One reason is that a single e-book reader can hold many titles. The $90 Kindle, Amazon's base model, comes with 8GB of storage. Although there's no standard size for e-books, it's safe to say that that 8GB is enough memory to hold thousands of titles. The original Kindle had a port that allowed users to save titles to a memory card, extending the device's capacity, but then again it only had 250MB of RAM built in. Today's models do not have card slots, but you can get the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Oasis configured with up to 32GB storage. Amazon offers free online storage for all of its content, so you may have a backup plan if you somehow run out of space.

That memory capacity also makes Kindle readers very convenient for travelers. With a Kindle, you don't have to worry about packing heavy books in your luggage to keep you occupied for your whole trip. A single Kindle can hold more than enough titles to tide you over. And if you decide you want something completely different midway through your travels (as long as you're traveling in the United States or a country in which Amazon offers service for its international Kindle), you can always use the Kindle to access Amazon's store and buy a new book.

The Kindle also has several functions that you may find helpful while reading. You can bookmark a page, highlight a selection of text, type notes or look up words in the dictionary as you read.

Interestingly, the biggest users of Kindles are baby boomers and older people who like the ability to make their book print larger. Millennials and member of Gen Z seem to prefer paperbound books when they decide to read. However, a report from the National Endowment for the Arts said that 44.5 percent of adults in its survey said they read or listened to books in digital formats. Only 25.1 percent said that they read only print books.
ELKO  Nevada Humanities is pleased to announce the publication of Sagebrush to Sandstone: A Humanities Guide to Outdoor Nevada, a 100-page nature guide published by Nevada Humanities and designed by Black Rock Press, including special front and back covers letterpress printed by Black Rock Press.

Part nature guide, part poetry book, and part workbook, the book includes poems by writers from around the state paired with illustrations depicting Nevadas natural beauty.

The guide contains a foreword by Nevada Humanities executive director Christina Barr, as well as an introduction by Debra Harry, an associate professor in the Department of Gender, Race and Identity at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a member of the Nevada Humanities Board of Trustees.

The guide, which is edited by Kathleen Kuo and Scott Dickensheets, also includes creative prompts accompanied by scientific text to inspire more active and reflective engagement with the natural world.

Sagebrush to Sandstone: A Humanities Guide to Outdoor Nevada is part of Nevada Reads, a statewide reading program of Nevada Humanities. Designed to complement the Nevada Reads 2021 theme of Cultivating Environmental Literacy, the guide is intended to move people outdoors as they explore the world around them and find new connections between the sciences and humanities.

The book is available in limited edition print copies while supplies last and to everyone online as a free downloadable digital copy at the Nevada Humanities website at nevadahumanities.org/sagebrush-to-sandstone.

The value of the humanities is that it moves us to share the human experience, bringing us closer together, said Barr. We are proud that Sagebrush to Sandstone embodies this ethos of connectivity, where the voices of Nevada thinkers, poets, artists and scientists combine to foster a deeper understanding of our natural world. Our new publication is intended to be the beginning of many journeys, and we cannot wait to see where the guide takes us all as we explore Nevadas open spaces.

The great thing about Sagebrush to Sandstone is that it brings together two of Nevadas most vital resources  nature and literature, said Dickensheets, who co-edited the volume. Many residents might not realize how richly endowed the state is in both, and how long, varied, and fruitful the interplay between them has been. Hopefully this workbook will prompt them to explore each more deeply. Thats exactly the effect it had on me.

Contributions from the following Nevada poets are included in this publication: Michelle Aucoin Wait, Jennifer Battisti, Gayle Brandeis, Angela M. Brommel, Echo Clark, Elaine Dallman, Shaun T. Griffin, Karen Laing, Heather Lang-Cassera, Rodney J. Lee, Stephen Shu-Ning Liu, Adrian C. Louis, Joanne Mallari, Waddie Mitchell, nila northSun, Gailmarie Pahmeier, Melanie Perish, Elizabeth Quinones-Zaldana, Kirk Robertson, Drew Seevers, Gary Short and Charlene Stegman Moskal.

The following visual artists, who were inspired by Nevada, contributed to this publication: Pat Hansen, Jack Malotte, Tiffany Pereira and Sharon K. Schafer.

Additionally, scientists and scholars contributed notes and prompts. They include: Kevin Burls, Kelsey Fitzgerald, Matt Forister, Benjamin Hatchett, Steve Hromada, JD Lancaster, Elizabeth Leger, Morgan Long, Tatianna Menocal, Danielle Miles, Cynthia Scholl, Kacie N. Shourd, Devon Snyder, Katherine Strain, Benjamin Sonnenberg, Henry Sun, and Alexandra Urza.

Visit nevadahumanities.org for more information about this publication, Nevada Reads, and future Nevada Reads programming inspired by Sagebrush to Sandstone.

The publication of Sagebrush to Sandstone: A Humanities Guide to Outdoor Nevada was made possible with help from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Nevada Center for the Book, City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission, the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University, and the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust.

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LAS VEGAS (AP)  Daniel Holstein never thought his career as a Las Vegas police crime scene analyst would lead to a lengthy run working in television.

But when CSI: Crime Scene Investigation creator Anthony Zuiker came to Las Vegas in 1999 in preparation for the crime dramas pilot episode, he coordinated with Holstein to help advise the shows actors on some of the ins and outs of the profession.

Holstein became a consultant for all 16 seasons, making sure the science used on the show reflected real techniques investigators utilized in the field.

Now, Holstein is back working as an adviser on the sequel to the long-running series  CSI: Vegas, which airs Thursdays on CBS.

He worked with the cast and crew on-set nearly every day from May through August, just in time to return to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for the start of fall classes. Hes a criminal justice professor at his alma mater.

Since the reboot of the newest CSI installment, Holstein believes the show is creating a ripple effect thats inspiring a new wave to enter the profession.

Were getting a whole new generation, Holstein told the Las Vegas Sun. Ill ask kids, Hey have you seen CSI? Never even heard of it. But now that the show has a reboot, its bringing it to the forefront again. Theres excitement again, and we can educate them and say, Look, heres an opportunity here for you.

Part of the curriculum Holstein crafted at UNLV is Urban Adventure  a scenario-based class that gives students the opportunity to work through a simulated crime scene several times each semester. It was developed with help from several faculty members in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.

In a courtyard between the Student Union and Greenspun Hall, 24 students divided into three groups: detectives, leaders and investigators.

Students may play roles as crime-scene analysts, detectives, reporters, public information officers, social workers or victim advocates. The mock scene this day had local actors play victims and volunteers.

We make it as realistic as possible under an educational environment, Holstein said.

But aside from learning to work in conditions similar to a crime scene, the class focuses on five core skills: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, leadership and empathy, said Joel Lieberman, professor and chairman of the UNLV Department of Criminal Justice.

Ultimately, its based on trying to get adaptable skills for a nonlinear career path, Lieberman said. The idea being that in having these adaptable skills, youre going to be able to handle the promotions, which are always scary  or if you get laid off, if you decide its not the job you, in particular, want.

But in all those cases, the idea is that you started out with the skills that allow you to go into different positions throughout life.

The class is a huge hit.

Just being able to put yourself in their position and try to understand how they feel, said Mallory Morris, a junior social work major, thats going to go a long way in my career.

Robert Ulmer, dean of the College of Urban Affairs, said the class is one-of-a-kind in that it brings students from several disciplines to learn from their experiences.

I dont think theres anybody in the country thats doing anything like this, bringing so many schools and departments together, Ulmer said. So much of college is writing and reading, and its detached from reality. Understanding and reading case studies just doesnt do it.

Ciara Klick, a criminal justice major who is graduating in December, didnt take the class but was helping assist students at Holsteins request. Klick is hoping to pursue a career in the industry, so learning from Holstein has been invaluable, she said.

While helping students navigate the course, Klick has noticed certain students sparking a passion for investigative work, or in other fields.

I can see when Im working with students and you can see the light go off and theyre like, This is so cool,  she said. Having this is Urban Adventure really shows them what youre getting yourself into.

Klick credited Holstein for creating a learning environment thats accessible to any learning style. She felt so compelled to learn under Holsteins watch that she approached him about an independent study course about bloodstain pattern analysis  a chance she said she wouldnt be able to get anywhere else.

Hes the best professor, the best teacher, the best instructor Ive ever had in my educational career, Klick said. Ive never had a professor honestly care that much about my education. He really wants us to learn. Hes amazing.

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The California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB) has confirmed that the next round of payments as part of the Golden State stimulus check initiative has been sent out.

Last week the state authority began distributing a batch of around 1.15 million direct payments, most of which are expected to be sent out by mail on Monday 1 November. The total value of this round is $857 million, according to the CFTB.

To be eligible for the payments, California residents must have submitted their state tax returns by 15 October. Unfortunately, if you have not yet done so then it is too late to claim your Golden State stimulus check.

How to check your Golden State stimulus check amount

Even once the roughly 750,000 paper checks are sent out on Monday, the CFTB warns that it can take weeks for the payments to arrive. Prior to this batch of payments only 4.5 million of the 9 million stimulus checks had been distributed, meaning that half of eligible residents are yet to receive their money.

If this is you, you may be anxious to learn how much you are set to receive and fortunately the CFTB has introduced an online portal to estimate the size of your payment.

To do so, simply head over to the Golden State Stimulus II Amount webpage and utilise the free estimator tool, which will ask a few simple questions and then outline how much you and your household are set to receive.

When will my Golden State stimulus check arrive?

While there is a fairly simple way to find out the size of your direct payment, finding out when the money will actually arrive is slightly more difficult.

As was the case with all three rounds of federal stimulus checks, those receiving the money in the form of a direct debit into a bank account were prioritised because it is the faster payment method. However now that the majority of direct payments have been made, those waiting for a physical Golden State stimulus check will be next up.

In recent weeks the tax agency has pointed to "various processing complaints, including printing and mailing" as potential reasons for additional delays for paper checks. They added that they have an obligation to validate eligibility, protect against fraud and issue GSS II payments simultaneously with other mandatory disbursements.

To avoid being overwhelmed by a sudden burst of payments, the CFTB will mail out physical stimulus checks in six batches correlating with the final three digits of the recipients ZIP code.
Headlines

- Volcano now into its seventh week of activity, having begun on 19 September

- Armed forces laid a wreath for La Palma dead on All Saints Day (Monday)

- Copernicus observations detect over 2,600 buildings in La Palma have been destroyed as of 1 November

- Spanish government to provide further 70 million among its support measures

-New lava flowing into previously formed 'lava tunnels'

- Concerns about La Palma air quality following main cone collapse

- Over 35,000 earthquakes and tremors recorded in La Palma over the past month

Useful information

- Volcanologist speaks to AS about the effects of lava reaching the sea

- An overview of the active volcanoes on the Canary Islands

- When was the last volcanic eruption on the Canary Islands?

Cumbre Vieja eruption: live video
The organizers presented prizes to the authors and groups of authors who won the provincial preliminary round of the sixth National Press Awards on Party building. (Photo: nhadan.com.vn)

At the event, the organizers presented awards to outstanding works of the provincial preliminary round of the sixth National Press Awards on Party building, called Bua Liem Vang (Golden Hammer & Sickle).

After 6 months of implementation, the contest creating literary and artistic works on studying and following President Ho Chi Minhs ideology, morality and style has received 123 works by 89 authors and groups of authors. The provincial preliminary round of the sixth National Press Awards on Party building received 61 works by 28 authors and groups of authors.

In his speech at the event, Mr. Lam Tan Hoa, Head of the Soc Trang Party Committees Commission of Popularization and Education, praised the creative and positive spirit of the team of artists, writers, and reporters of both competitions in the context of the pandemic.

Mr. Lam Tan Hoa also asked the Soc Trang Party Committees Commission of Popularization and Education, the provincial Party Committees Commission of Organization, the provincial Vietnam Journalists Association and the provincial Literary and Arts Association to coordinate in formulating plans and popularizing and mobilizing literary staff, artists, reporters inside and outside the province, and professional and amateur authors to respond to and join the two contests.

At the ceremony, the organizers awarded prizes to 20 outstanding performers of studying and following President Ho Chi Minhs ideology, morality and style.

The provincial preliminary round of the sixth National Press Awards on Party building has 21 winning works, including 9 C prizes, 8 B prizes and 4 A prizes in the formats of print, electronic, radio and television newspapers./.
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung (L) and the UKs Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Chris Philp sign a Letter of Intent on cooperation in digital economy and digital. (Photo: VOV)



He was accompanying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on a trip to Glasgow to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in the UK).

During the course of the meeting, both sides shared their strategic orientations, national schemes, and projects on developing the digital economy and digital society of each country, in addition to initiatives and support policies to promote the digital economy.

They also exchanged possibilities aimed at expanding co-operation, as well as strengthening co-ordination among management agencies in digital transformation. This is along with boosting links in the digital economy, digital business connections, whilst jointly developing and organizing the implementation of initiatives within the framework of the UK-ASEAN Innovation Partnership and the Asia-Pacific Digital Trade Network.

They signed a Letter of Intent regarding the co-operation in the digital economy and digital transformation. This letter of intent acknowledges the common goals of the numerous parties, including sharing experience in building a favorable environment for the digital economy and digital transformation.

Philp also used the event to introduce a plan to carry out initiatives which can expand co-operation in digital economic development with the Asia-Pacific region and ASEAN, through the UK-ASEAN Digital Innovation Partnership. In addition, he also showcased a program to support ASEAN in carrying out digital trade platforms, along with standards and architectural frameworks for smart building.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung (L) and the UKs Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Chris Philp sign a Letter of Intent on cooperation in digital economy and digital.

From 2022 the Ministry of Information and Communications will consider implementing Vietnam-UK digital forums, investment promotion programs, and seminars so that businesses can find partners, expand into new markets and co-operate in projects on the digital economy and digital transformation.

The same day saw Minister Hung hold a working session with representatives from the trade association techUK and the UK-ASEAN Business Council, during which he affirmed co-operation between the two nations digital enterprises boasts huge potential. Therefore, this needs to be expanded moving forward, with the supporting and connecting role of both nations management agencies and related associations.

TechUK and UKABC also introduced a range of plans and initiatives aimed at developing the digital business community, promote digital innovation, build a favorable environment for digital startups, as well as open international co-operation programs. Efforts to expand partnerships with countries and regions, especially the Asia-Pacific region and ASEAN, will also be made.

From 2022, the Ministry of Information and Communications will consider implementing Vietnam-UK digital forums, investment promotion programs, seminars so that businesses can find partners and cooperate in projects on the digital economy and digital transformation.

PMs France visit expected to lift two-way trade

Illustrative image (Photo: tapchitaichinh.vn)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to France from November 3-5 at the invitation of his French counterpart Jean Castex is expected to open up new opportunities and lift bilateral ties to a new height, reported Vietnam News Agency.

France is always one of the top trade partners of Vietnam in the European Union (EU). Two-way trade grew by 15.7 percent annually on average during 2011-2019. France is now the fourth largest importer of Vietnam in the EU with a share of nearly 10 percent of the countrys exports to the region, according to a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of the European-American Markets.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade declined by 10 percent year-on-year in 2020 to 4.8 billion USD. Vietnams exports to France reached 187.9 million USD in September 2021 and 2.25 billion USD in nine months of this year, down 9.9 percent annually, mostly footwear, apparel, household appliances, agro-forestry-fisheries, gemstones, jewelries, electronics, mechanical engineering tools, rubber, coal, plastics, bamboo and rattan items.

Meanwhile, Vietnam mainly purchased high-value and hi-tech goods from France, including pharmaceuticals, machinery and equipment, and transport vehicles, amounting to over 1.5 billion USD last year, down 4.3 percent annually.

As of August 20, France ranked 16th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 632 valid projects worth more than 3.6 billion USD.

In order to increase the presence of Vietnamese agro-fisheries in France, experts suggested outlining strategies to attract consumers as well as specific action programs to build trust and prove product quality.

Thanh Ha lychees in a supermarket in France (Photo: VNA)

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Vietnam, there are huge opportunities for Vietnamese goods to navigate France but its requirements are also high. Therefore, suppliers need to continue maintaining product quality, or invite French experts and skilled workers to Vietnam to inspect quality.

To lift two-way trade to a new height, experts proposed that Vietnam should ask the EU and France in particular to work closely together with the country to make the best use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement./.

Forty-two wind power plants put into commercial operation

Forty-two out of 106 wind power plants registering for commercial operation received Commercial Operation Date (COD) acceptance as of October 29, according to Vietnam Electricity (EVN), reported Vietnam News Agency.

The 42 plants have a total capacity of 2,131.3 MW.

At Hong Phong wind power farm (Photo: vneconomy.vn)

Under the Prime Ministers Decision dated September 10, 2018 amending and supplementing several regulations on incentives for wind power projects in Vietnam, fixed preferential price of offshore wind power is 2,223 VND (9.8 US cents) while that of inland wind power is around 1.927 VND (8.5 US cents), excluding VAT.

The above prices are applied to wind power projects with a part or the whole plant having commercial operation date before November 1, 2021 and applied for 20 years from the date of commercial operation.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trades Circular dated January 15, 2019 on the development of wind power projects and sample contracts for wind power purchase, sellers must send the draft document on trial operation process to buyers, thus setting the date of commercial operation and calculating power output during trial run.

With the regulation, tens of wind power projects are at the risk of failing to start operations as schedule.

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services rise 59.8% in October

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in October was estimated at 56 trillion VND, up 59.8% from the previous month and up 5.1% compared to the same period last year, according to the Hanoi Statistics Office.

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services rise 59.8% in October. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

Specifically, this month, the city urgently carried out safe and flexible adaptation plans to effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic in the area; step by step reopening many commercial activities, services, restaurants, hotels, transportation and tourism after a long period of restriction and temporary shutdown to prevent and control the epidemic.

Retail sales of goods reached 32.3 trillion VND, up 25.5% from the previous month and down 6.8% from the same period last year; hotel and restaurant revenue reached VND 5.3 trillion, 2.1 times higher than the previous month and up 9.2% over the same period.

Tourism and travel revenue reached 304 billion VND, a sharp increase compared to September but only equal to 68.8% of the same period last year; while revenue of other services posted 18.1 trillion VND, up 35.7%.

In the first 10 months of 2021, retail sales of consumer goods and services totaled 440 trillion VND, down 7.8% year on year. Specifically, retail sales of goods reached 301.9 trillion VND, accounting for 68.6% of the total and down 4%. Specifically, revenue of gems and precious metals decreased by 28.7%; wood and construction materials declined by 22.5%; means of transport dropped by 19.3%; and apparel fell by 10%.

Hotel and restaurant revenue reached 33.8 trillion VND, accounting for 7.7% and down 20.9%. Tourism revenue reached 2.5 trillion VND, accounting for 0.6% and down 53.4%. Other service revenue reached 101.8 trillion VND, accounting for 23.1% and down 11.5%./.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Nov. 1, 2021. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest U.S.-led military flight over regional waters "provocative." (Photo by Ahmad Malek/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest U.S.-led military flight over regional waters "provocative."

When asked about the allocation of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars by Israel to counter Iran's nuclear program, Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran has never ruled out or ignored the threats posed by Israel against stability and security in the region.

"Basically, the nature of this regime (Israel) is creating crisis, and the roots of this regime are growing in insecurity and instability," Khatibzadeh said during his weekly press conference.

In the meantime, Israel is well aware of Iran's capabilities and its own limitations, and also knows that Iran is serious about its security, he added.

"We closely monitored and followed it in details," the Iranian spokesman said. "Those who carried out these provocative actions know that it was a colorless show not worth paying more attention to."

On Sunday, Israeli, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini fighter jets flew with a U.S. advanced fighter-bomber across the Middle Eastern maritime vital points, including the Strait of Hormuz south of Iran.
Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows wind turbines at the Jiucaiping scenic area in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

-- China is serious about reducing carbon emissions and pursuing green development.

-- Scientific top-level design and strong implementation of plans are keys to the country's achievement on climate change.

-- As a responsible country, China is ready to share its experience and approaches with the rest of the international community.

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Amid a strong call to save the planet, China has set ambitious targets and taken solid actions to address climate change, injecting certainty to the global combat against the worrying issue.

"Visions will come true only when we act on them," Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday in a written statement to the 26th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change.

"Parties need to honor their commitments, set realistic targets and visions, and do their best according to national conditions to deliver their climate action measures," Xi said.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows a photovoltaic power station at a green industrial development park in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Hainan, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

China aims to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. To meet these goals, the country has formulated and released a top-level design document for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030.

"Specific implementation plans for key areas such as energy, industry, construction and transport, and for key sectors such as coal, electricity, iron and steel, and cement will be rolled out, coupled with supporting measures in terms of science and technology, carbon sink, fiscal and taxation, and financial incentives," Xi said.

"Taken together, these measures will form a '1+N' policy framework for delivering carbon peak and carbon neutrality, with clearly-defined timetable, roadmap and blueprint," he said.

Aerial photo taken on July 22, 2021 shows a villager walking past a solar powered street lamp in Maobishan Village of Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

"Anyone who knows China well is sure my country is serious about reducing carbon emissions and pursuing green development, and that we mean what we say," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said in an article published in The Guardian on Wednesday, shrugging off worries about whether China will honor its pledges to reduce emissions.

"Anyone familiar with China's political system knows that once decisions and goals are set by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the top leader, they are incorporated into the overall national development program, turned into feasible action plans and delivered faithfully by local governments and competent departments," Zheng said.

China has long been hailed for thinking strategically and playing the long game. Scientific top-level design and strong implementation of plans are keys to the country's achievement on climate change.

In terms of climate action, China met its target for 2020 ahead of schedule. By the end of last year, carbon emissions intensity had come down by 48 percent compared with 2005, and non-fossil fuels accounted for 16 percent of primary energy consumption. China phased out 120 million kilowatts of installed coal-fired power generation capacity during the past decade.

Workers assemble new energy vehicles at an automobile company in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 12, 2021. (Photo by Li Hanchi/Xinhua)

"The most crucially important contribution of China was its strong commitment to fighting against climate change," said former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Ban said China played "a decisive role" in the negotiation process of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, adding that without China's efforts, "we would not have the Paris Agreement on climate change even now."

As a responsible country, China is ready to share its experience and approaches with the rest of the international community. From supporting Africa in monitoring the climate system with satellite technology and building low-carbon pilot zones in Southeast Asia, to introducing energy-saving bulbs to small island countries, China's cooperation with less developed regions of the world has produced tangible results.

China has launched green action initiatives that encourage green infrastructure, energy, transportation and finance under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework. In 2020, 57 percent of China's investment in BRI partner countries went to renewable energy projects, up from 38 percent in 2019.

Photo taken on Oct. 29, 2021 shows the first China-developed hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive in a trial run in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua)

"Developed countries should not only do more themselves, but should also provide support to help developing countries do better," Xi said.

"Ancient Chinese believe that 'successful governance relies on solid action'. I hope all parties will take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge and protect the planet, the shared home for us all," Xi said.

Editor: WXY
Ukrainian soldier killed as result of one shelling of Russian-occupation forces this day  JFO HQ

Since the beginning of the day, a Ukrainian serviceman has been killed as a result of one shelling by Russian-occupation forces in Donbas, the Joint Force Operation (JFO) press center said.

"As of 07.00, November 2, one violation of the ceasefire was recorded. As a result of hostile actions, one soldier was wounded incompatible with life," according to the morning report on the headquarters Facebook page on Tuesday.

In particular, the enemy opened fire from small arms at Ukrainian positions in the direction of Pavlopil.

The JFO press center also said that over the past 24 hours, on November 1, some 11 violations of the ceasefire regime were recorded in the JFO area, two of which were with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements.

Thus, near Novoluhansk, the enemy fired at the positions of the Ukrainian defenders eight times, using 82 mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and small arms.

Not far from Svitlodarsk and Vodiane, Russian-occupation forces used grenade launchers of various systems and small arms.

Near Avdiyivka, occupation forces fired from 82 mm mortars.
The Servant of the People faction supported the nomination of MP Iryna Vereschuk to the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, faction press secretary Yulia Paliychuk said in her Telegram channel.

She also said that Serhiy Kostriychuk will become the MP instead of Vereschuk.

"After the vote on the appointment of Iryna Vereschuk to the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Serhiy Kostriychuk, the 140th number of the party's electoral list, will join the Servant of the People faction. Serhiy Kostriychuk has been on our team since September 2018. In the presidential and parliamentary elections, he coordinated the work of the headquarters in the regions. In 2020 he served as a member of the Supreme Council of the party, in 2021 as the head of the Control and Auditing Commission," Paliychuk said.
Servant of People supports Zelensky's decision to nominate Reznikov for post of Defense Minister  faction press secretary

At a meeting of the faction, MPs from the Servant of the People supported the decision of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to nominate Oleksiy Reznikov for the post of Defense Minister of Ukraine, faction press seretary Yulia Paliychuk said in her Telegram channel.

Earlier, Reznikov held the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories.
Court imposes new measure of restraint on Medvedchuk in form of personal recognizance on first episode of suspicion

Pechersky District Court of Kyiv extended the measure of restraint for MP Viktor Medvedchuk on the episode of treason and attempted looting of national values, imposing personal obligations on the suspect.

The court made such a decision on Tuesday, sustaining the motion to choose a preventive measure in the form of a personal recognizance.

"I see no grounds for choosing any measure of restraint for me in this case," Medvedchuk told reporters at the end of the meeting, calling the election of a measure of restraint unlawful and politically motivated.

Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) said that the maximum period of stay of a suspect under round-the-clock house arrest in this criminal proceeding, six months, has ended, so its further extension is impossible.

"The only preventive measure that the prosecution can petition for is a personal obligation with the imposition of duties on the suspect. On November 2, Pechersky District Court of Kyiv will consider the relevant petition of the prosecutors," the PGO said.

A preventive measure in the form of a personal obligation involves arriving at each request of the pretrial investigation agency, prosecutor or court, not leaving Kyiv and the region without the permission of the investigator, prosecutor or court, informing the investigator, prosecutor or court about a change in his place of residence and/or place of work.
Zelensky, US Secretary of State Blinken discuss military-defense cooperation between Kyiv and Washington

On the sidelines of the climate conference in Glasgow, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed military-defense cooperation between the countries with Secretary of State of the United States Antony Blinken.

"Discussed the tense security situation in Donbas with Secretary of State Blinken. Talked about Ukraine-U.S. military-defense cooperation, challenges in the energy sector," Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

He noted that the United States firmly supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, praises progress in reforms and a strong commitment to their implementation.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran has submitted his resignation letter, government spokesman in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk has said.

"Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran has submitted his resignation letter to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," Melnychuk wrote on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

Taran has served as Minister of Defense since March 4, 2020.

As reported, head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia said that Andriy Taran "has complaints about his state of health," in connection with which another person may head the ministry.

Later it became known that Oleksiy Reznikov is a possible candidate for the appointment as the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, and for the post of Minister of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories (instead of Reznikov) the candidacy of MP from the Servant of the People Iryna Vereshchuk is being considered.

On November 1, Reznikov submitted his resignation letter from the post of Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.
SREW N.V., an open joint-stock company registered in Belgium, which owns 75% of the charter capital of Dnipro-Buzka wind plant LLC, has initiated arbitration against Ukraine, it registered a request for arbitration with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID) on October 28, 2021.

According to information on the ICSID website, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Justice and the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine have been identified as defendants in the claim.

The basis for the arbitration is the violation of BIT Belgium-Luxembourg - Ukraine 1996, an agreement between the government of Ukraine and the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union on mutual encouragement and protection of investments dated May 20, 1996, the report says.

Yuriy Kubrushko, the managing partner of Imepower consulting company, which also operates in the green energy market, noted that this is the second company from the renewable energy sector after Modus Energy International, which began a full-fledged arbitration against Ukraine this year.

At the same time, he drew attention to the difference in the reasons that contributed to the initiation of arbitrations.

"The main difference between the SREW N.V. case and the Modus case is that in the first case we are talking about a wind farm that could not be built due to the crisis in the renewable energy sector, and Modus disputes the deterioration of the working conditions of the already built solar power plants," Kubrushko explained.

According to information published on the website of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), on July 10, 2019, the EBRD board approved a loan for the implementation of the Dnipro-Buzka wind farm project in the amount of EUR51.8 million, but then the bank refused to finance the project. At the moment, the status of the implementation of the project for financing the construction of the Dnipro-Buzka wind farm with a total value of EUR179.488 million is listed on the EBRD website as "canceled."
Bukovyna interested in presentation of economic and investment potential in Israel - The Embassy of Ukraine

The possibility of launching direct flights from Chernivtsi to Israel and holding regional business events to present Bukovyna's economic and investment potential in Israel was the subject of an online meeting between Ukrainian Ambassador to the State of Israel Yevhen Korniychuk and Chernivtsi Mayor Roman Klichuk. The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel reported this at Facebook.

The state and prospects of cooperation between Ukraine and Israel at the regional level in the economic, investment and humanitarian spheres were discussed. The interlocutors agreed to work out the possibility of launching direct flights from Chernivtsi to Israel. The idea of organizing regional business events (business forums, conferences, seminars, etc.) to present the economic and investment potential of Bukovina and neighboring regions in Israel aroused mutual interest, - the statement says.

During the conversation, the directions of bilateral cooperation in the field of education, culture and medical tourism were also outlined.

As a result of the conversation, the Bukovynian Clinical Oncology Center was involved in the international online conference" Oncology 2021: Experience and Achievements ", organized by the Israeli partners of the Embassy, which is scheduled for November 3, - the Embassy noted.
The Military Joint Committee between Egypt and Israel agreed to increase the number of Egyptian border guards at the Rafah border area with Israel, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday called on African nations to heed warnings posed by crises in Ethiopia and Sudan, take seriously popular demands for better governance and enact reforms.
Libya's parliament speaker Aguila Saleh registered Saturday to run in next month's presidential election, joining a military strongman and the son of Moamer Kadhafi in the contest.
Egypt received on Friday the third shipment of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine comprising 1.4 million doses donated by the United States, bringing the total to 4.6 million.

This shipment is part of more than 8 million Pfizer vaccine doses the United States is sending to Egypt as we work side by side to fight the pandemic, the US Embassy in Cairo wrote in a statement.

The shipments are part of 500 million Pfizer vaccine doses donated by the US to the African Union countries through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX).

Additional millions of Pfizer doses will arrive in Egypt over the coming weeks, US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen said.

Egypt's first Pfizer vaccines shipment arrived in the country from the US late in September.

Egypt has vaccinated around 22 million people against coronavirus and has administered 30 million doses since the beginning of its nationwide vaccination campaign early this year, presidential advisor for health affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din told media on Friday.

He said Egypt has spent $300-400 million to acquire vaccine doses from different sources.

Egypts vaccination campaign currently uses various types of imported vaccines, including Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer, in addition to its locally-made Sinovac/VACSERA.

Egypt aims to vaccine 40 million citizens by the end of the year, allocating around 1,100 vaccination centres nationwide.

Egypt has also adopted a mandatory vaccination approach with many sectors, including all staffers in the education sector and the university students, as well as public employees, and those working in the tourism industry.

Egypt is currently suffering from the peak of the fourth coronavirus wave, reporting 322,852 coronavirus cases since the outbreak began in February 2020.

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Ethiopia's military on Thursday carried out an air strike on the capital of the war-torn Tigray region that a hospital official and rebel sources said killed six people and injured 21 others.

The government said the strike, the latest in a campaign of air bombardments, hit a factory in Mekele used by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

The air force "destroyed the second part of Mesfin Industrial Engineering. The facility was used by TPLF terrorist group for maintaining its military equipments," said government spokeswoman Selamawit Kassa.

Dr Hayelom Kebede, research director at Mekele's Ayder Referral Hospital, said a residential area was hit and casualties were inflicted.

"So far six people died and 21 injured. All came to Ayder hospital," he said.

The Tigrai Communications Affairs Bureau, a TPLF-linked information channel, reported the same toll and said the strike hit a residential area.

Earlier, TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda confirmed the strike on Mekele and said the rebels' air defence units were engaging an enemy jet.

Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to verify independently.

Tigray was pounded by near-daily aerial bombardments last week as the military stepped up its use of air power in the year-long war against the TPLF.

The government said the facilities bombed in northern and western Tigray were military in nature and aiding the TPLF, the former ruling party in the region.

The UN said two strikes on Mekele on October 18 killed three children and wounded several other people. Another person died in a later strike.

Control of the skies, along with superior manpower, is one of the few remaining areas where the federal government holds a military advantage over the rebels.

The bombings have drawn international censure, and disrupted UN access to the region where an estimated 400,000 people face famine-like conditions under a de-facto aid blockade.

Tigray erupted in conflict in November 2020 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to topple the TPLF.

The 2019 Nobel Peace laureate said the move came in response to TPLF attacks on army camps and promised a swift victory, but by late June the rebels had regrouped and retaken most of the region, including Mekele.

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Ethiopian forces and Tigrayan rebels fought a pitched battle for control of Kombolcha on Monday, terrified residents reported, after the rebels claimed to have taken over a second town in two days.

Reports of rebels capturing Kombolcha came a day after they claimed control of Dessie and, if confirmed, would mark a major advance by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in the nearly year-long war.

Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout, and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to verify independently.

Kombolcha residents described non-stop gunfire overnight and into the early hours on Monday, with some saying they heard what sounded like an air strike on the town's outskirts around midnight.

"The night was filled with many gunshots," said Mohammed, who like other locals declined to share his last name for safety reasons.

"I heard an air strike past midnight outside Kombolcha borders," he added.

Hamdiu, a shopkeeper in Kombolcha, told AFP he too heard what sounded like an air strike around midnight.

"Huge gunshots were heard until (this) morning", he said, as the rebels battled federal troops and local militias.

But a government spokeswoman on Monday told AFP: "There were no air strikes in Kombolcha overnight."

Over the past two weeks, Ethiopia's air force has carried out a string of aerial bombardments in Tigray.

Control of the skies, along with superior manpower, is one of the few remaining areas where the government holds a military advantage over the rebels.

'Deadly siege'

Meanwhile the government Monday accused the TPLF of having "summarily executed more than 100 youth residents of Kombolcha", but provided no details about the killings.

"The international community should not turn (a) blind eye to such atrocities," it said.

The TPLF did not respond to requests for comment.

AFP was unable to reach anyone in Dessie, where heavy fighting was reported on Sunday.

Residents had earlier reported a heavy military build-up in the area, as civilians fleeing conflict-hit towns further north poured into Dessie seeking refuge.

As of September, Amhara authorities estimated that at least 233,000 people fleeing the rebel advance had found refuge in Dessie and Kombolcha.

The conflict has alarmed the international community, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for an immediate halt to military operations.

Referring to "reports of the TPLF takeover of Dessie and Kombolcha", Blinken tweeted: "Continued fighting prolongs the dire humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia."

The rebels' offensive in the towns south of Addis Ababa has fuelled speculation that the TPLF was approaching Ethiopia's capital.

But the rebels' spokesman Getachew Reda said the TPLF, which dominated national politics for three decades until 2018, had no "other motive than breaking the deadly siege" on Tigray, which is in the throes of a severe humanitarian crisis.

'Survival campaign'

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has urged Ethiopians to use "any type of weapons... to block the destructive TPLF, to overturn it and bury it".

"Dying for Ethiopia is a duty (for) all of us," he said.

The Amhara administration Sunday ordered all government institutions to suspend regular services and divert their budgets to "the survival campaign".

Elsewhere in Amhara, rebels from the Oromo Liberation Army -- who are allied with the TPLF -- announced Sunday that they had captured the town of Kemissie, south of Kombolcha and located on a major highway to Addis Ababa.

The conflict erupted last November when Abiy deployed troops in Tigray, with the operation spiralling into a prolonged war marked by massacres, mass rapes and a humanitarian crisis.

The conflict has pushed an estimated 400,000 people to the brink of famine, with Tigray under a de facto aid blockade, according to the UN.

Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, said the operation was in response to attacks on army camps by the TPLF.

He vowed a swift victory, but by late June the rebels had regrouped and retaken most of Tigray, including the capital Mekele, and fighting spread to the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.

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Egypts House of Representatives approved on Monday amendments to the traffic regulations law (66 of 1973) that will lower the age requirement to acquire a drivers license for motorcycles from 18 to 16 years of age.

Mohamed Abdel-Rady, the secretary-general of the Defence and National Security Committee, justified the amendment by saying: We decided to lower the driving age to 16 years for motorbikes as this is the standard being following around the world.

He added that the amendment does not apply to Tok Toks, which are being licensed from local city councils.

Abdel-Rady also indicated that article 81 of the law will be amended to punish anyone caught commandeering a vehicle without a drivers licence.

This means that all those who drive Tok Toks without a professional licence  which are issued at the age of 18  will be subjected to legal questioning.

Atef Meghawri, the spokesperson of the leftist Tagammu Party, rejected the law, arguing that the amendments do not tackle the problem of the random spread of Tok Toks in Egyptian villages and cities.

Lowering the age of driving for motorbikes will exacerbate the problem of traffic congestion in most parts of Egypt, Meghawri added.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on developed countries on Monday to fulfill their pledge to provide $100 billion annually to developing countries to address the effects of climate change.

"We are concerned about the gap between the available funding and the actual requirements for developing countries to face climate change," the Egyptian president said in a speech delivered to the UN Climate Change Conference Summit (COP26), which is being held in Glasgow, UK.

He also expressed his concern about the obstacles facing developing countries to access the funding necessary to confront climate change.

The Egyptian president described the funding issue as the "main determinant" of developing countries' ability to achieve their climate change adaptation ambitions within the framework of preserving the Paris Climate Accords.

"Developing countries' implementation of their commitments in the face of climate change depends on the proportion of funding they receive," El-Sisi stressed.

The Egyptian president seconded United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' remarks at the COP26, which highlighted the need to allocate at least half of all public climate finance to adaptation measures.

He affirmed the need to preserve the Paris Climate Accords to ensure the bolstering of efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the negative implications of climate change.

The Paris Climate Accords  adopted at the COP21 and signed by over 190 states including Egypt  came into effect in 2016 with the aim of reducing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in this century.

"Strengthening climate action to achieve the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal has become imperative and undeferrable," El-Sisi affirmed.

Egypt aspires to host COP27

President El-Sisi also expressed Egypt's readiness to host the 27th edition of the UN Climate Conference Summit (COP27) in 2022, as the country was recently selected as a nominee to hold the event.

"We will seek during our presidency of the COP27 to enhance international climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris agreement, which will achieve the interests of the global community," El-Sisi said.

Egypt, climate change, water scarcity

In his speech, the president stressed that Egypt is implementing projects to rationalise its water usage, including lining canals and fostering integrated coastal zone management.

Egypt is one of the countries most affected by climate change, according to Mohamed Abdel-Ati, Egypt's Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources minister.

Abdel-Ati has warned on more than one occasion against the negative effects of global warming on Egypt's water resources, people's access to water, and the country's efforts to achieve sustainable development.

One of the threats of global warming on Egypt is the risk of losing 12 to 15 percent of the total area of the Nile Delta - the country's most fertile soil - as a result of the expected rise in sea levels and the intrusion of saline water.

Egypt, a dry country that imports 54 percent of its virtual water, has developed a four-pronged 'National Water Resources Plan' that will run through 2037, which is based on rationalising water usage, improving water quality, providing additional water resources, and creating a climate suitable for optimal water management, the minister added.

Egypt has also drawn a strategy for its water resources until 2050 at a cost of EGP 900 billion.

Egypt: Developing renewable energy sources

The president highlighted that Egypt has taken serious steps to implement a sustainable development model centered on adaptation to climate change.

He affirmed that this model seeks to increase the percentage of government-funded green projects to 50 percent by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030.

Egypt also seeks to boost the percentage of renewable energy sources in its energy mix from the current 20 percent to 42 percent by 2035, he said.

The country also aims to rationalise energy subsidies, the president added.

According to the 'Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index for 2021', Egypt has advanced from 26th place in 2020 to the 20th among the world's top 40 markets.

Furthermore, the president said that Egypt seeks to transition to clean transportation by promoting electric modes of transportation, such as the metro, electric trains, and electric vehicles by developing the necessary infrastructures.

The country is also establishing smart and sustainable cities, he noted.

"In order to fund these projects, Egypt recently issued its first-of-its-kind green bonds at a value of $750 million," El-Sisi stated during the speech.

The Egyptian government sold green bonds with a five-year maturity in September last year, becoming the first government in the Middle East and North Africa to make such offering.

On Monday, El-Sisi highlighted that Egypt has completed the development of a national strategy for climate change until 2050, in order to place all efforts on the issue in an institutional framework.

"This strategy will open the way for Egypt to modernise its locally-based initiatives, in a way that integrates the policies, goals, and measures into the state's development efforts, and to help the country recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic," the president explained.

Fighting for Africa

In his speech, the Egyptian president called for the necessity to treat Africa in a special way within the framework of implementing the Paris Climate Accords, highlighting that the continent, which contributes the lowest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, has suffered the most negative repercussions of climate change.

"Even though the African continent is not responsible for the climate crisis, it suffers from the most negative consequences of the phenomenon - economic, social, security, and political," El-Sisi said.

The president added that Africa, however, is considered a "role model for serious climate action according to the continent's capabilities and the available funding allows."

According to the World Bank's Groundswell Africa reports that were released late in October, Africa is expected to face the hardest impacts of climate change, displacing up to 86 million Africans by 2050 in the event concrete climate and development action was not taken.

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Mediation efforts in Sudan and abroad are underway to find a possible solution for the crisis in the country, the UN envoy to Khartoum said.

"Many of the interlocutors we are speaking with in Khartoum, but also internationally and regionally, are expressing a strong desire that we move forward quickly to get out of the crisis and return to the steps of normalcy," Volker Perthes told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York, during a video conference from the Sudanese capital.

The UN envoy to Sudan met Sunday with ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is under house arrest. Perthes said on Twitter they "discussed options for mediation and the way forward for Sudan."

Perthes on Monday urged Sudan to return "to the steps of political transition, as we viewed it before 25 October," the date of the military takeover.

On Monday, Hamdok said the reinstatement of his government could pave the way to a solution in the country, according to a statement from the information ministry.

Hamdok, according to the statement, demanded that the situation in Sudan return to what it was before the military takeover, refusing to negotiate with the military rulers.

On October 25, Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved the cabinet as well as the ruling joint military-civilian Sovereign Council which had been heading Sudan's transition towards full civilian rule following the 2019 overthrow of autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

In a move widely condemned internationally, Burhan declared a state of emergency and detained Sudan's civilian leadership, including Hamdok and members of his government.

Hamdok, an international economist, was later released and placed effectively under house arrest.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development have allocated a loan worth $200 million for the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) with the aim of supporting Egypts efforts to enhance the growth of investments across various infrastructure sectors, the bank announced.

The signing took place on Monday in the United Arab Emirates and was witnessed by the AIIB Vice President for Policy and Strategy Danny Alexander.

The NBE is expected to utilise the loan facility by providing loans to the infrastructure sector in Egypt.

This is the AIIBs first nonregional syndication transaction in the financial institutions sector and the NBEs first on-lending project directed to the infrastructure sector, according to the bank.

This is the AIIBs first engagement with an Egyptian bank and the project will help the NBE diversify its funding sources for lending to the infrastructure sector. It is fully aligned with AIIBs thematic priority to advance sustainable infrastructure and, in partnership with the OPEC Fund, will support the Government of Egypts intention to bridge the maturity gap between the demand for longer-term loans and the availability of short-term deposits in the Egyptian financial system said AIIB Vice President, Investment Operations (Region 2) Konstantin Limitovskiy

The NBEs head of Financial Institutions and International Financial Services Hesham Elsafty said that the infrastructure sector is of great importance to Egypt and its economy.

With the $200 million in funding from the AIIB and the OPEC Fund, the NBE will be in a position to expand its existing funding to this crucial sector, hence improving services offered to Egyptian corporations and making a wider impact on the economy as a whole, Elsafty said.

OPEC Fund Assistant Director General for Private Sector and Trade Finance Operations Tareq Alnassar said that Egypts significant infrastructure needs can be met by increasing investments in both the public and private sectors, and that banks such as the NBE will play a critical role in deploying funding where it is most needed.

We are delighted to support the NBEs efforts for on-lending to the private sector and pleased to cooperate for the first time directly with the AIIB in a partner country that is important to our institutions. Our loan aligns well with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), he added.

The AIIB is a multilateral development bank whose focus is financing the infrastructure with sustainability projects with a total capital of $100 billion.

Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat has said that 143 projects in various sectors in the field of infrastructure are underway with a total amount of $18 billion.

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Egypt's Luxor International Airport received on Monday night its first flight from Heathrow Airport, London, after a hiatus that lasted for almost two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on Tuesday, CEO of EgyptAir Airlines Amr Abul-Enein said the Luxor-London flight service, usually operated during the Winter season, will have one weekly flight carrying 140 passengers.

The step comes in correspondence with the inauguration of Egypts activities at the World Travel Market 2021 London (WTM) on Monday, which were attended by Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Manar and Tourism Minister Khaled El-Enani.

During the inauguration, Manar said his ministry seeks to boost aviation flow to Egypt from the UK, especially at the Egyptian airports in coastal cities.

He also hailed the strategic relations between Egypt and Britain in various fields, saying the two countries have been among the first to be linked with an air transport agreement.

As Egypt gears up for the winter tourism season, EgyptAir resumed flights between Luxor, a city that is known for ancient antiquities, and the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh in October after a six-year hiatus.

The move is part of the states efforts to allow local and foreign tourists to have an integrated experience of leisure and cultural tourism through linking coastal and heritage cities.

Luxor also prepares for a planned reopening ceremony of the Rams Road after its restoration. No official date has been set for the reopening to date, but officials expect it to be held later this month.

Officials affirm that the reopening ceremony will be as magnificent as the Golden Pharaohs Parade that captured international attention in April.

Egypt resumed international flights in June last year after a three-month-suspension due to the pandemic, opening its major tourist attractions amid strict coronavirus measures.

The country announced earlier this year that it had vaccinated all workers in the tourism sector in its Red Sea resorts, with vaccination efforts for tourism workers in Luxor and Aswan ongoing.

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A final push is needed to ensure that a global solidarity agenda is in place to secure the future of the planet.

At the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, world leaders discussed the need to scale up their ambitions to address key global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, political extremism and widening inequality. With fewer than two weeks to go before the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in the UK, however, the world is not delivering on its promises.

At this critical juncture, urgent action is needed to ensure that COP26 delivers for people and planet. This requires not only accelerating efforts to decarbonise our economies and societies, but also taking an integrated, holistic approach to sustainability by placing climate action firmly within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Finance must also be massively scaled up to support developing countries in this effort, including middle-income countries, while ensuring that every decision, every policy and every investment is based on an agenda of global solidarity.

Five years on from COP21, when the Paris Agreement on Climate Change entered into force, this years COP26 could be a pivotal moment for climate action. It will be the first time that countries update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to limit climate change to 1.5C since 2015, and some countries have pre-emptively noted that they will announce major cuts in emissions at Glasgow.

Despite progress in the advanced economies, emerging markets and developing economies (and in the private sector), the Covid-19 pandemic  the greatest development emergency in over a century  significantly derailed multilateral efforts to offer global solutions to global challenges, as countries became increasingly myopic and focused on their domestic situations.

This was most evident in the worlds failure to ensure that all countries could respond adequately to the pandemic, including through equitable access to vaccines and sufficient finance, which has not only harmed the developing world, but also prolonged the crisis for everyone. While seven out of every ten citizens in some G7 countries are already vaccinated, less than one per cent of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa has been fully vaccinated, with estimates suggesting it could be 2024 before Western levels of vaccinations are reached.

Meanwhile, the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19, which caused global public debt to soar to almost 100 per cent of GDP, have further complicated governments ability to invest in a sustainable future, producing a great divergence in recovery tracks that now threatens to become systemic.

Similarly, while some policymakers capitalised on the opportunity to re-focus attention on climate action as part of their response and recovery efforts, these cases remained the exception rather than the norm. According to an analysis of spending by leading economies led by Oxford Universitys Economic Recovery Project and the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), only 18 per cent of announced recovery spending can be considered green.

Going into COP26, global actions on climate action paint a similar picture of narrow self-interest rather than global solidarity. While pre-existing decarbonisation efforts are welcome, they remain underwhelming and insufficient to meet the sheer scale of this challenge.

The green transition could potentially generate 100 million new jobs by 2030, and it could also displace millions of people dependent on the fossil-fuel industry in the short term. In the absence of well-designed policies, including job-reskilling and up-skilling programmes, a mismanaged energy transition could exacerbate inequalities, sow distrust and foster growing unrest. A just transition is necessary to seize the benefits of this transformation.

Ahead of COP26, support for a just transition, in addition to decarbonisation and other climate pledges, must be elevated to the top of the policy agenda, including in extractive-dependent economies that will be most affected by the transition to net-zero. If we can succeed in the goal, we can not only arrest and reverse growing inequalities, but also bolster resilience and restore peoples trust in their governments ability to deliver and in multilateralism at large.

To get the world back on its feet, we need a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability, one that is not limited to climate action or to climate action that is limited to mitigation. To achieve these goals, finance not only needs to be massively scaled up in support of the developing countries, including middle-income countries, but also invested in alignment with a comprehensive sustainability agenda based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2009, the developed countries agreed to mobilise $100 billion annually from public and private sources for mitigation and adaptation action in the developing countries by 2020. Yet, according to the UK-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI), of the 23 developed countries responsible for providing international climate finance only Germany, Norway and Sweden have paid their fair share.

The global development community, including the G20 group of countries, must do more. It must not only meet, but also surpass, existing targets. All donors should also heed the UN secretary-generals warning that the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is code red for humanity and ensure that at least 50 per cent of climate finance is allocated to adaptation, in addition to mitigation. Indeed, chronic gaps in adaptation finance expose the worlds poorest people to climate chaos.

Recovery packages from Covid-19, as well as the recent issuance of $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), offer a vital opportunity to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. But of these, only $274 billion have gone to the emerging and developing economies.

In this regard, the UN secretary-general in his Common Agenda has called for an SDG investment boost, including through a last-mile alliance to reach those furthest behind. But to get there, governments need adequate fiscal space to invest in recovery, including by ensuring they are not forced to choose between servicing their debts and serving their people.

There should be a boost in global liquidity to the developing countries, including through a re-allocation of SDRs to vulnerable countries, greater debt relief for all who need it, including through the operationalisation of the Common Framework for Debt Treatment and its expansion to include private-sector creditors and middle-income debtors, and a reform of the international debt architecture to prevent future debt crises.

International financial institutions and multilateral and national development banks have an essential role to play here, including by revising operations and asset-management rules to increase their capacity to support investment in the developing countries, de-risking sustainable investments, and drawing capital to create bankable, job-creating projects in communities that need them. Their support for developing countries to achieve sustainability objectives could set countries on a path to an inclusive and climate-resilient future, while their neglect would all but ensure that they are left further behind.

Success at COP26 means meeting this challenge by taking an integrated, holistic approach to sustainability rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensuring that finance is invested adequately and sufficiently where it is needed most.

It could also pave the way for an even more ambitious agenda, focusing on implementation, during COP27 in Egypt, when those in the Global South most affected by the impacts of climate change will have a platform to more visibly demonstrate the challenges they face.

But to get there, a final push is needed to ensure that a global solidarity agenda is in place. The very future of this planet depends on whether we can rise to this challenge and convert words into action.

*A version of this article appeared on the website of the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A new exhibition draws attention to the use of papyrus as a writing material in ancient Egypt, arguing that it was the countrys single greatest invention, while a slightly older one brings together recent titles in French on the Arab Maghreb, writes David Tresilian

Asked to name the greatest inventions of the ancient Egyptians, many people might point to their architecture, with ancient Egypts stone-built monuments, the oldest in the world on a comparable scale, producing awe in visitors to Egypt in antiquity as they still do today.

They might point to ancient Egypts hieroglyphic writing system, a source of wonder in antiquity and of puzzlement over subsequent millennia until finally deciphered at the beginning of the 19th century. Or they might cite its art and religion, apparently untouched by influences from outside Egypt and immediately recognisable as important expressions of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

How many, though, would choose the pith of the stems of the papyrus plant when cut into strips and stuck together as a writing material as an invention of comparable importance? Perhaps the answer is only a very few, but if so then the vast majority of people are mistaken, at least according to a new exhibition. This makes a compelling case for considering the development of a writing material from papyrus as arguably ancient Egypts greatest invention.

The exhibition, which opened at the College de France in Paris last month and runs until the end of October, reminds visitors of some of the reasons why papyrus when used as a writing material was so important both in ancient Egypt and beyond. Other civilisations of comparable antiquity developed writing systems for their languages as the ancient Egyptians did for theirs in the shape of the hieroglyphic and demotic scripts. They also identified various materials that could be used to record texts and documents.

The ancient Assyrians and Babylonians used clay tablets, which when baked or dried in the sun could be used to preserve written records. Other civilisations used pieces of clay or stone, animal skins, or even bones or bark as writing materials. The Romans used wooden tablets coated in wax. However, all these materials had disadvantages. Some were restricted in size, meaning that not very much text could be recorded on them, while others, among them clay tablets, were bulky, difficult to store, and could not be reused once fired.

What was needed was a writing material that was cheap to produce from plentiful raw materials, easy to write on using pen and ink, flexible and possible to produce in large sheets or rolls if necessary, easy to store, and having, in Egypts climate at least, excellent storage properties. These criteria were met by sheets made from the stems of the papyrus plant, a kind of wetland sedge then common in Egypt, and they served to record the bureaucratic and other documents necessary for the development of an increasingly centralised and sophisticated state.

The oldest papyrus documents that have come down to us date back to the ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom (c 2575-2150 BCE), with the exhibition pointing in particular to one, discovered only in 2013 at Wadi Al-Jarf on the Red Sea, that records the delivery of stone for use in the building of the Pyramids. However, it seems that during both the Old and New Kingdoms (c 1539-1075 BCE) reading and writing were relatively restricted skills, being largely monopolised by specialised scribes. Writing had not yet spread to the wider population, and written texts, as well as the ability to read them, were still invested with a certain mystique.

All this began to change with the advent of Greek (Ptolemaic) rule in Egypt after the conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. According to the exhibition, while papyrus was an ancient Egyptian invention, it was the countrys later Greek rulers who were responsible for turning it into something like a mass medium.

According to exhibition curator Jean-Luc Fournet, himself a professor at the College de France, while some 2,000 papyrus documents are known from Egypt from the period between the Old Kingdom Pharaoh Cheops, the builder of the Great Pyramid, and the arrival of Alexander the Great, this number increases to some 55,000 for the subsequent Ptolemaic period that have been published by scholars. Even this number represents only some 10 to 20 per cent of the total number that have been discovered.

Papyrus scrolls were used for copies of ancient Egyptian religious texts, otherwise only appearing on the walls of tombs, among them the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. Stone tablets or the walls of buildings could also be used for these, like the famous Rosetta Stone, a stone slab or stela bearing an official inscription in three different scripts that is now in the British Museum in London. All visitors to ancient Egyptian temples will be familiar with the habit of covering the walls of public buildings with written inscriptions.

But such stone-supported writing could only be used for certain purposes, and its drawbacks are obvious. Papyrus scrolls, on the other hand, could be transported long distances, were comparatively easy to use, were durable, and could be easily labelled and stored. Individual sheets of papyrus could be used for the more mundane purposes familiar from the often still largely paper-based bureaucracies of today.

The ancient Egyptians also used papyrus for the records of everyday life, from court records to commercial receipts and civic and legal documents to private letters and school exercises, each written in whichever language and script seemed most appropriate. Hieroglyphics were used for religious or literary texts and the demotic Egyptian script for everyday documents and records.

Greek and Latin were used when the country came under first Greek and then Roman rule following the defeat of ancient Egypts last Ptolemaic ruler Cleopatra VII at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE.

TRANSMISSION: One main reason why all this is so important, the exhibition says, is that without papyrus probably all, or almost all, of the written heritage of antiquity would have been lost, including that of ancient Greece and Rome.

Without papyrus, we would not now be able to read the works of the ancient Greek philosophers or the Latin poets, since their works would originally have circulated on papyrus scrolls.

While the earliest copies of such materials that have survived from antiquity are generally written on parchment, a kind of animal skin, or, somewhat later, on wood or rag-based paper, these materials were only introduced from the second century BCE, in the case of parchment, and as late as the 13th century CE in Europe, in the case of paper, and any copies made on them of earlier texts would have been copied from papyrus originals.

Even with parchment being more widely used in the late Hellenistic and Roman periods, there is still every reason to believe that the holdings of the famous Library of Alexandria would have been made up of papyrus scrolls. This means that during the crucial centuries between the composition of the ancient texts and the more general use of parchment or paper, almost the only way that irreplaceable works could have been read and stored was on papyrus.

Such reflections are likely to make visitors to the exhibition view the papyrus plant and the writing material made out of it with new respect, even if to modern eyes the writing surface can appear rough and irregular in quality. As if anticipating such reservations, the exhibition displays a range of original documents on papyrus, most of them taken from French collections, notably the Institut de Papyrologie of the neighbouring Paris university the Sorbonne, showing the ways the material was used in antiquity and even as late as the early Middle Ages in Europe.

There are receipts with details of commercial transactions recorded on them, for example. One such receipt, dated to the reign of Cleopatra VII and thus to Egypts last Ptolemaic ruler, records a sale of wheat by a man named Ptolemaius to another called Antiphilos and is written in Greek. A later example of an administrative document is a papyrus from the office of Qurra ibn Sharik, Egypts then Arab governor and written in Arabic and dated 709 CE, instructing a certain Basile to provide high-quality bread for his soldiers. Basile, presumably a Greek speaker, would almost certainly have required a translator.

There is an estimate for a water project from 259 BCE, the record of a court case from 350 CE, and a copy of part of the Homeric poem the Odyssey, apparently done by a student, made in Fayoum between 250 and 200 BCE. There is also a fragment from a play by the ancient Greek author Menander, the earliest ancient copies of whose works only exist on papyrus, from 225 BCE.

Very few papyrus documents have survived from Europe or locations outside Egypt because the wetter climate meant that the papyrus rotted and documents written on it were not preserved as they often were in Egypt. However, there seems little doubt that Roman libraries would have consisted largely of papyrus scrolls, and a complete private library of such scrolls was discovered in the remains of a villa at the ancient site of Herculaneum on the Bay of Naples in the 18th century. Unfortunately, it was deeply buried in ash and its contents had carbonised during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.

The exhibition also includes official documents sent in the name of the Byzantine emperor Theodosius II to Elephantine in Upper Egypt between 436 and 450 CE and from the later emperor Michael II dated to between 820 and 829 CE. There are various documents on papyrus preserved from the northern Italian city of Ravenna, capital of the Western Roman Empire after the fall of Rome itself, some early bulls (religious decrees) issued by Roman Catholic popes, and a series of documents made in the name of Frances Merovingian kings between 625 and 679 CE all similarly written on papyrus.

A nice final touch is that the exhibition includes some planters full of genuine papyrus. The plant itself, plentiful in Egypt in antiquity but then largely dying out, has since been re-introduced from Sudan where it continues to flourish. Some visitors to the exhibition may find themselves realising that they have never actually seen papyrus plants in the flesh despite their familiarity with their pith as a writing material.

The Paris exhibition helpfully gives them the opportunity to do so. For residents or visitors to Cairo, the Dr Ragab Papyrus Institute and Pharaonic Village in Giza also provides many examples of the plants, along with demonstrations of how they can be made into a writing material.

Le Papyrus dans tous ses etats, College de France, Paris, until 26 October.

This years Maghreb des Livres book fair in Paris found a novel solution to the problem of how to hold a public event of this sort while still respecting the Covid-19 restrictions that, though relaxed, are still in force in France.

In order to cut interaction to the minimum and prevent the public handling of books, there were no books at this years book fair  seemingly an overly dramatic solution until one remembers the other activities for which the Maghreb des Livres has established itself on the Paris calendar, including lectures, readings, and discussions of the years crop of books published in France relating to the Arab Maghreb countries of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.

As a result, while the absence of books would have been missed by all attending this years fair, held over the weekend of 10-11 July in the gilded 19th-century splendour of the Paris Town Hall, there was still a rewarding programme of discussions to inform the public of at least some of the books that have appeared in French on aspects of the Maghreb this year.

In previous editions, the fair has overflowed from the Town Halls first-floor function rooms into subterranean committee rooms and other areas of this evocative building, a replica of the original burned down in the 1870 Paris Commune. This year, discussions took place on a smaller scale, and for those not able to attend there were also live transmissions of some of them on Facebook. The fair had also been rebaptised the Maghreb-Orient des Livres in order to signal some Middle Eastern content.

As is so often the case with events of this sort, even for the most committed audience members it was not possible to attend every discussion, talk, or lecture owing to various overlaps. But from those that Al-Ahram Weekly was able to attend over the two-day fair, perhaps certain themes stood out, even if these were presumably accidental, not having been programmed by the invited authors or their publishers in advance.

One such theme was memory, a fashionable theme at present across a range of subject areas and not only in relation to the Maghreb. Participants at this years fair thus discussed what and who has been remembered from the generally quite recent past and the purposes for which this has or has not been done, looking particularly at issues surrounding the memory in France of the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s and of the 2011 Arab Spring revolutions.

Speaking at a panel discussion on the fairs first day, French-Tunisian writers Hella Feki, Saber Mansouri, and Hatem Nafti talked about Tunisia 10 years after the removal of former president Zein Al-Abidine bin Ali in the countrys Jasmine Revolution. Feki and Mansouri are Tunisian novelists writing in French, and in their books Noces de jasmin and Sept morts audacieux et un poete assis, both published in 2021, they had sought to reconstruct the events of ten years ago in imaginative form through the eyes of ordinary people.

One thing fiction could do, Feki said, when compared to other forms of writing, was to connect individual experiences to historic events, helping to fill out the forms of emotion felt by people at the time. In her novel, she had aimed to communicate something of the hopes of the time to the reader, Feki said, even after a 10-year period following the fall of the Bin Ali regime that had been marked by a certain amount of confusion and disillusion.

Nafti, a journalist and commentator, explained that he had been an adolescent during the Tunisian Revolution, perhaps one of the young people who had filled the streets of Tunis and other cities across the country to demand the fall of the regime. One of the issues in Tunisia now, he said, drawing on arguments presented in his De la Revolution a la restauration, published in 2021, was that while there were many economic and other problems facing particularly young people in Tunisia today, there was not the same obvious target for popular anger as there had been in the last days of the Bin Ali regime.

Earlier in the day, panelists at a session on writing about Beirut had also sought to connect past and present, in this case with memories of the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s and 1980s connecting with the present economic crisis in Lebanon in the writings of Lebanese authors writing in French and resident in Paris.

The session temporarily extended the focus of the fair from Maghreb to Mashraq and from Tunis to Beirut, but in the works of these four authors, Lamia Ziade on her Mon Port de Beyrouth, Hyam Yared on Nos longues annees en tant que filles, Camille Ammoun on Octobre Liban, and Sabyl Ghoussoub on Beyrouth entre parentheses, there was a similar focus on how to write about the citys complex present, while aiming to make sense of it in relation to the past.

However, memories from Algeria provided the lions share of reflections on this theme, with a panel discussion on the fairs second day bringing together French writers on Algeria to consider ways in which questions relating to Algerian memory are today being approached in France. French historian Benjamin Stora, author of a widely discussed French government report on relations between France and Algeria (France-Algerie, les passions douloureuses), spoke interestingly on the background to this report, commissioned by French president Emmanuel Macron, on what memory could do in clearing the way to a better future.

Tramor Quemeneur, author of La guerre dAlgerie revisitee, nouvelles generations, nouveaux regards, gave an expert overview of debates about memories of the Algerian War of Independence, suggesting that silence and forgetting, at least on the French side, were now giving way to more productive forms of remembering, because focused on small steps and concrete initiatives, some of them related specifically to the younger generations, that could help to lift the burden of the past.

OTHER THEMES: Two other themes that cut across discussions at this years fair had to do with Frances relations to the Maghreb countries today and the role particularly of young people in helping to move forward in improving or even transforming them.

In a session on 40 years of difficult relations between the French Republic and Islam in France, the participants, each the author of a recent book bearing on the topic, discussed some of the problems or misconceptions that may have arisen in recent years. According to French author Agnes de Feo, author of Derriere le niqab, there has been an increase in the number of women of Muslim background choosing to wear the niqab, or full face veil, in France, with this raising certain legal questions after the passage of legislation designed to ban full face coverings in public places in the country.

For French academic Raberh Achi, speaking on the same panel, it was important to take a historical approach to present issues, looking back over the course of a century at administrative traditions between the state and Islam and other religions in France. One of the things that could be done as a matter of urgency, Achi said, was to improve the provision of Arabic classes in French schools. Though there was considerable demand for such classes among French young people of Maghreb descent in France, he commented, the state education system had not always been agile enough to respond, causing some to take refuge in the private sector and French young people as a whole to be denied the opportunity to learn Arabic and more about Arab civilisation in schools.

One of the things that this years Maghreb des Livres was unable to do was to give a sense of the overall production of books and other written materials, fiction or non-fiction, written in French on the Maghreb this year. It is to be hoped that at next years event, with Covid-19 restrictions lifted, visitors to the fair will be able to enjoy browsing through the stands of the different French publishers that maintain Maghreb lists, as has been the case in previous years.

However, perhaps just as importantly, it is also to be hoped that the fair will be able to reach out to publishers based in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco in ways that it has not always been able to do in the past, bringing their representatives to Paris such that French audiences are able not only to gain a sense of books published in France on the Maghreb, but also books published in French in these countries themselves. This would undoubtedly help to complete the panorama provided by what currently is the only French event dedicated to French-language Maghreb publishing.

Similarly, while in previous years there have been attempts at the Maghreb des Livres to provide a sample of literary and other publishing in Arabic in the Maghreb countries, this has often seemed to present additional difficulties. However, there seems to be no real reason, apart perhaps from economic, for Maghreb Arabic-language publishers not to be present at the fair, since not only are many of those who regularly attend competent in both French and Arabic, but also it would give even monolingual visitors a keener sense of the connections between the parallel linguistic productions of the different Maghreb countries.

In the meantime, this years fair was also marked by a third major theme, which was the impact of young people in contributing to, and perhaps also shaking up, the French-Maghreb publishing industry. Speaking at a session on writing about the banlieue, a group of young French authors of various backgrounds described their experiences of writing about the popular city districts in which they had grown up.

One came away with a sense of the range of genres and sometimes pressing questions being attempted by these authors, who included Seham Boutata for La melancolie du maknine, Abdoulaye Sissoko for Quartier de combat, les enfants du 19eme, Adnane Tragha for Cite Gagarine, on a grandi ensemble, and Rachid Santaki for Laisse pas trainer ton fils.

Elsewhere, another group of young people, this time slightly older and more settled in sometimes international careers, spoke on questions of diversity in the French media. There might be problems, moderator of the session Nadia Henni-Moulai suggested, in the range of experiences covered in the French media, as well as in the absence of people from different backgrounds covering them.

For Walid Hajar Rachedi, founder of the French alternative media site Frictions, the problem went deeper since it could not be treated only by including token or cosmetic stories about non-mainstream experience on terrestrial TV channels. There was also a need for access to financing, for the broadening of existing business models, and for alternative media to find mainstream audiences and the advertising revenues and other financing that went with them.

Karim Baouz, a journalist with French television as well as various international channels, said that minority communities in France, like elsewhere, could produce grassroots media that reflected their experiences and communities, often on a small-scale or even volunteer basis. Even so, he admitted that this left problems in the mainstream media untouched and for the most part could continue to shut young people from minority backgrounds out of sometimes lucrative media careers.

Le Maghreb Orient des Livres, 10-11 July, Paris.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Last week the fifth El Gouna Film Festival (GIFF, 14-22 October) wrapped up its activities in the beautiful little town that has it all. Disaster had nearly struck some 36 hours before its opening ceremony when a fire ripped through the main open-air auditorium, but the Sinai governorates intervention was spot-on, and the firefighters managed to put out the fire overnight.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the festival took the plunge and committed to a large-scale physical event with a focus on presenting new talent to global visitors with a selection of exceptional films. Thanks to the work of its director Intishal Al Timimi, Co-Founder-COO Bushra Rozza and artistic director Amir Ramses  three indefatigable and brilliant figures  over the years GFF has become a premieres filmmakers hub and an important platform for narrative, documentary and short films alike. Disaster struck again when Rozza had a car accident she thankfully survived, but by the end of the round Ramses had tendered his resignation. Since its inception in 2017, the festival has managed to secure the participation of the best and most important Arab productions, as well as hosting the MENA premieres of films first seen at Cannes, Venice or Toronto. This year was especially impressive. The festival honoured Egypts best-known action film star Ahmed Al-Sakka as well as the great Palestinian actor Mohmed Al-Bakry, who was sadly denied entry at the airport. Red carpet shenanigans aside, Darren Aronofskys masterclass was a major highlight. Attended by a huge audience, it drew in celebrities like actresses Youssra, Elham Shahin and Laila Elwy and directors Marianne Khoury and Inas Al-Degheidy.

Due to health concerns, despite my love of cinema, my own viewing had to be restricted to open-air screenings, but I also had the chance to attend the launch of the Noura initiative: Investing in Girls for the Bright Future of Egypt, a project undertaken by the National Council for Women (NCW), the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM), the Dutch Embassy and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development. The reception  the first public discussion of Noura  brought together Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Al-Said, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, MCW President Maya Morsy, NCCM President Sahar Al-Sonbaty, diplomat Nabila Makram and UNFPA Egypt representative Frederika Meijer. They discussed different aspects of the future of Egypts nearly nine million teenage girls, from providing medical care to preventing gender-based violence.

I also happily attended Cinema in Concert, the orchestral event conducted by Ahmed Al-Saidi featuring the scores of such classic films as Amadeas and The Pianist and Platoon. Along with filmmakers from all over the world, many from South Africa, I was invited on Samih Sawiriss boat to go dolphin watching, a cruise that also included a marine life and environmental talk focusing on the Hurghada Red Sea by award-winning marine biologist Angela Zikler. Indeed the fifth round of GFF marks the introduction of El Gouna Green Star Award which focuses on inspirational films that raise awareness on issues related to the environment, ecology or wildlife and sustainability.

As for the films themselves, I personally thought Omar Al-Zoheiris Feathers  which, having won the Cannes Critics Week Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize, caused the biggest controversy here at home  was a beautiful art work despite the intensity with which it presented a social critique involving the plight of women in a conservative, patriarchal environment of great poverty. Some scenes prompted actors and filmmakers to walk out of the screening, and it was later publicly claimed that the film tarnished the image of Egypt abroad. But, as critic Tarek Al-Shinnawi put it, does making art about the poor offend Egypt? The films producer Mohamed Hefzy said he had known the film would be divisive, though in my view it makes such a strong case for the poor womans plight that the NCW should organise its own biggest possible screening. The films potential difficulty is rather that it uses amateur actors and an innovative style. I was pleased to see it win the GFFs Best Arab Narrative Film.

Other winners worth mentioning include Mounira Akes Costa Brava (Lebanon), which won the Green Star; Teemie Nikkis The Blind Man (Finland), which won the Golden Star (Nikki famously refused to see Titanic); Svetlana Rodina and Laurent Stoops Ostrov Lost Island (Sweden), which won the Cinema for Humanity qward; and the young director Sarah Al-Shazlys Black Home (Egypt), which won the best short film award.

GIFF is committed to championing rising filmmakers and providing them with opportunities through its industry arm the CineGouna Platform, judged by some of the most accomplished filmmakers, film critics and industry professionals, this year including the Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby the first Arab actress on the jury. It is not only artists and enthusiasts who invest in the cinema. Beginning in the 1920s, nationalist entrepreneurs led by Talaat Harb, the founder of the Misr Bank, worked to develop an independent national industry. The foundation of the Egyptian film industry was laid in 1934-35 when Misr Bank established Studio Mirs, through which the industry rapidly grew. By 1948 six further studios had been built and a total of 345 full-length features produced. In the years after World War II, cinema was the most profitable industrial sector after textiles. The reasons why Egypt alone in the Arab world managed to establish a national film industry are various. Egypt has a dynamic multicultural life in which Egyptians always played an important role, and which remained relatively undisturbed by the colonial authorities. Particularly after the 1919 revolution, native Egyptians developed a stronger interest in the medium. At the same time, Studio Misr sent young Egyptians on scholarships to Europe; directors Ahmed Badrakhan and Niyazi Mustafa were among that programmes beneficiaries.

Reviving this kind of practice, GFF is on a mission to support emerging talents and it has helped shape Egypts modern film industry. Enabling and giving voice to young and exceptional filmmakers, as Rozza said, will always be more important than the red carpet. As GFF executive director Amal Al-Masry says, by encouraging cultural activity, creating world-class international events, the Sawiris brothers have been able to transform tragedy into triumph.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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COP26 was an opportunity for Egypt to remind the world that the GERD file remains unresolved, but the situation in Sudan could affect the restart of tripartite negotiations

Last week, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Dina Mufti told Sky News Arabia she expects the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the current chair of the African Union (AU), to send delegations to Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan soon to hold talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Restarting negotiations, however, is likely to prove difficult given the situation in Sudan where the military dissolved the transitional government on 25 October, triggering protests. Meanwhile, Egypt is continuing its diplomatic campaign to explain its position and the dangers of maintaining the status quo. It is a strategy, explained Ali Al-Hefni, a former deputy to Egypts foreign minister, that began several months ago.

Al-Hefni pointed to the two Security Council sessions on the issue, one held last year, the second this year, and the UNSC presidential statement issued in October, as developments on which Egypt needs to build. This weeks COP26, and last weeks Cairo Water Week 2021, also provided international forums for Egypt to press its case, he told Al-Ahram Weekly.

American University in Cairo professor of political science Tarek Fahmi, however, ruled out GERD, or indeed any other water security issues, being discussed on anything but the sidelines of COP26.

Given the AU remains responsible for the file, and Algeria has yet to pursue its initiative on the matter, the only avenue open is for Egypt to continue raising the issue in international forums and summits wherever possible, Fahmi told the Weekly.

Algeria proposed an initiative to restart negotiations in August but nothing has happened since.

During COP26, which focuses on international efforts to combat climate change, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was expected to foreground issues of concern to developing countries in general, and African states in particular, with the outstanding conflict over GERD accorded more than passing mention given its importance to Egypt and the continent.

In his meeting with the Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg on the periphery of COP26, President Al-Sisi underlined Egypts historic rights to Nile water, describing it as an existential issue, and called on the international community to exert every effort to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation and regional issues, including illegal immigration, extremism, and the latest developments in the Palestinian cause. Al-Sisi also affirmed Egypts wish to host next years COP27.

COP26, which opened on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland, aims to agree mechanisms to keep global warming below2 oC. It ends on 12 November.

In his meeting with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on the sidelines of the summit, Al-Sisi underlined Egypts determination to reach a legally-binding agreement on GERD and hailed the efforts exerted by the DRC to bring Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia back to the AU-sponsored tripartite talks.

Al-Hefni explained President Al-Sisis meetings with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior officials were also likely to be pertinent to the outstanding issues over GERD, given Cairo is seeking to build up as much pressure on Addis Ababa as possible.

President Al-Sisi held brief meetings with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the second between the two leaders since the resumption of relations between Cairo and Qatar in January, and with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Armenian President Armen Sakissian, and the prime ministers of the Netherlands, Palestine, Lebanon, and Libya.

The dispute over GERD was high on the agenda of last weeks Cairo Water Week 2021. In a video address to the opening session, Al-Sisi underlined that Egypt is seeking a balanced and legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, and explained that Cairo wants Addis Ababa to pursue its development ambitions while minimising the social and environmental consequences on Egypt and Sudan.

Despite Cairos efforts to push forward tripartite negotiations, commentators fear the situation in Sudan will be counter-productive.

Abbas Sharaki, professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, believes things will have to settle in Sudan before negotiations can begin. Al-Hefni argues the opposite, saying that Sudan is too aware of the dangers of maintaining the status quo not to engage with the issue.

Cairo has repeatedly stated its fears that GERD will significantly reduce Egypts share of Nile water, on which it depends for more than 90 per cent of its fresh water needs, while Khartoum is concerned GERD could threaten the safety of Sudans dams.

Ethiopia claims Egypt and Sudan will not be harmed by the dam but has repeatedly refused to show studies that back its assertions and insists it will only accept guidelines on the operation and filling of the dam rather than a legally-binding agreement. Ethiopia has also rejected Khartoums proposal that the UN, the US, and the EU be given mediating roles in the dispute.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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An Egyptian economic court issued a final ruling on Tuesday cancelling asset freezes on the sons of former President Hosni Mubarak after they were exonerated on charges of illicit gains last year

Gamal and Alaa Mubarak were put on trial following the 2011 ousting of the late president, who ruled Egypt for 30 years. They have since been acquitted of all charges.

The asset freeze decision also included Gamal Mubaraks wife Khadiga El-Gammal and his children Mahmoud and Farida.

The decision to freeze the assets was issued in 2012 over accusations of manipulating the stock exchange.

The economic courts ruling on Tuesday is unappealable.

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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed in a meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) to strengthen the UKs engagement in implementing Egypts priority development plans.

During the meeting, PM Johnson described Cairo as one of the main partners of the UK in the Middle East, affirming British support to the ambitious development projects being carried out in Egypt, according to Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

El-Sisi and Johnson agreed on strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially the areas of investments, security, intelligence, military, as well as education, tourism, and health.

El-Sisi and Johnson also agreed on opening new cooperation horizons between the two countries, Rady said.

The Egyptian president hailed the UKs efforts to hold the COP26 amid various challenges.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments in the efforts to confront climate change.

Egypt has been seeking continuous cooperation with the United Kingdom, especially in supporting efforts for adaptation to the effects of climate change through the Egyptian-British alliance for adaptation and facing the effects of climate change.

Egypt also partnered with the UK on leading on the issue of developing sources of adaptation and resilience within the climate change summit in New York in 2019.

During the meeting, the president affirmed to Johnson Egypts aspiration to host the 27th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November 2022 in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

In early October, Egypt was selected as a nominee to host the COP27.

In his speech to the COP26 on Monday, the president called on developed countries to fulfill their pledge to provide $100 billion to developing countries to face global warming.

He also highlighted Egypts latest steps in promoting sustainable green development, including plans to increase clean energy sources in Egypt from the current 20 percent to 42 percent by 2035.

El-Sisi met other world leaders on Monday on the sidelines of the conference, including leaders of the DR Congo, Armenia, Romania, Germany, Lebanon, Libya, and the European Commission.

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Egypt will vaccinate teens aged between 15 to 18 nationwide starting from Wednesday as the country is expanding its mass vaccination campaign against Covid-19, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad said on Tuesday.

In statements to Sada El-Balad TV channel's "News Room" show, Saad stated there are 8 million Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses allocated to students in schools.

Egypt has already received a total of 8,255,520 doses of the American-German vaccine donated by the United States via COVAX initiative. The last shipment was received on Saturday.

"Medical teams are going to be sent to schools to vaccinate teens because it is hard to depend on this age category in going to the vaccination centres," Saad said.

According to the cabinet spokesman, 12 million citizens received two doses while 25 million citizens received one dose so far. He noted that Egypt currently has 34 million doses available to be administered.

The government has set a goal to vaccinate 40 million citizens by the end of 2021.

Egypt administers Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines in its public vaccination campaign.

The cabinet spokesman reiterated that starting from 1 December, un-vaccinated citizens won't receive any public service.

"They [citizens] must present the vaccination certificate even if they had taken one dose of the vaccine," he added.

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Ten unarmed Egyptian peacekeepers from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) were shot and wounded on Monday afternoon in the capital Bangui by members of the countrys presidential guard, MINUSCA said on Tuesday in a statement.

An Egyptian police unit that is part of MINUSCA  which includes 139 staff members, 14 of which are women  came under heavy fire from the Central African Presidential Guard without prior warning as they travelled by bus on their way from Banguis MPoko International Airport to Fidel Camp.

The attack left ten of the officers wounded with two sustaining serious injuries.

The Egyptian unit was deployed in the Central African Republic as part of the periodic rotation and deployment of MINUSCAs UN Police.

As it attempted to flee from the attack, the bus carrying the Egyptian unit ran over and killed a woman, the statement read.

MINUSCA strongly condemns what appears to be a deliberate and unspeakable attack that there is no justification for, said the statement, expressing the missions condolences to the families of the victims during a meeting at the end of the day.

MINUSCAs leadership and members of the Central African Republics government will be starting an investigation in order to legally address the ramifications of the incident in accordance with the Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of the Central African Republic, the statement noted.

Egypt  which is the 7th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Corps  has deployed nearly 3,100 military and police personnel to the UN peace operations in the Abyei Area, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Western Sahara region, according to the latest UN figures.

Deputy head of MINUSCA Lizbeth Cullity said in August that Egypts military personnel contribution is the fourth largest in the mission, which is a demonstration of its ongoing commitment to peacekeeping.

Since 2016, a 1,130-strong Egyptian contingent has supported peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic through its police and military units.

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Ethiopian officials Tuesday ordered residents in Addis Ababa to register their firearms and prepare to protect their neighbourhoods, as fighting raged north of the capital between government and rebel forces.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has in recent days claimed control of two key cities about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Addis Ababa and has not ruled out marching on the capital.

The government has denied claims of TPLF territorial gains which, if confirmed, would represent a major strategic advance for the rebels in the year-long war.

Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout, and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to verify independently.

But in Addis Ababa, officials announced new measures for the city's five million residents including that all firearms be registered within two days and preparations made to secure the capital.

"All residents must be organised by blocks and neighbourhoods to protect peace and security in their home area in coordination with security forces, who will coordinate activities with community police and law enforcers," said Kenea Yadeta, chief of the city's Peace and Security Administration Bureau.

"There will be recruitment and organising of the city's youth to work in coordination with security forces to protect peace and security in their area," Kenea said in remarks carried by state media.

He said "all sections of society" must cooperate with efforts to increase alertness, including landlords and hotel owners checking IDs of tenants and guests.

Those publishing "fake information" on social media were ordered to cease immediately.

International alarm

The restrictions come as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged unity in the fight against the TPLF, saying that victory was possible if the "full force" of the country was brought against the rebels.

In an address broadcast on Monday, he also claimed that foreigners were fighting alongside TPLF fighters, without elaborating.

The only confirmed presence of foreigners on the battlefield in Ethiopia is that of Eritrean forces, who have been fighting alongside federal troops against the TPLF.

The international community has expressed alarm at the expanding conflict, and called again for an immediate ceasefire and for the African Union to broker peace talks between the warring parties.

Abiy sent troops into Tigray in November 2020 in response to what he said were attacks on army camps by the TPLF, and promised a swift victory.

But by late June the rebels had regrouped and retaken most of Tigray, and fighting spread to the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.

The latest fighting has been in Amhara over the cities of Dessie and Kombolcha, which lie at a strategic crossroads on the main highway to Addis Ababa.

The government has also carried out a steady campaign of airstrikes in Tigray itself, hitting targets it says are military in nature and aiding the TPLF.

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Ethiopia's cabinet on Tuesday declared a nationwide state of emergency after Tigrayan rebels seized two crucial towns in an apparent push towards the capital, state-affiliated media reported.

"The state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorist TPLF group in several parts of the country," Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported, referring to the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

Lawmakers are expected to approve the measure within 24 hours, Fana said.

In recent days the TPLF has claimed control of two key cities about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Addis Ababa and has not ruled out marching on the capital, which has so far not seen any fighting.

The government has denied claims of TPLF territorial gains which, if confirmed, would represent a major strategic advance.

Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout, and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to verify independently.

Earlier Tuesday, officials ordered Addis Ababa residents to register their firearms and prepare to defend their neighbourhoods.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray a year ago to detain and disarm the TPLF, a move he said came in response to attacks on army camps.

The 2019 Nobel Peace laureate promised a swift victory, but by late June the rebels had regrouped and retaken most of Tigray.

They then launched offensives into the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.

The international community has expressed alarm at the expanding conflict, with Western powers reiterating calls for an immediate ceasefire and for the African Union to broker peace talks between the warring parties

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DHL, the global logistics service provider, said on Monday that it has received instructions from Saudi Arabia to halt all posts from Lebanon to the kingdom, Annahar local newspaper reported.

The company told the local publication that it is now in the process of returning the posts, that it received on Saturday to be transported to Saudi Arabia, to clients in Lebanon.

The instructions came after Saudi Arabia's decision to take escalatory measures against Lebanon in light of the comments by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi criticizing the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's war in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia also banned all imports from Lebanon and expelled the Lebanese ambassador from the kingdom.

The escalation comes at a time when Lebanon is suffering from its worst economic and financial crisis in its history.

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Pirates attempted to seize an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden in the second such incident in a fortnight, Iran's ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The vessel was headed towards the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the entrance to the Red Sea when six pirates aboard four vessels attempted to board it, drawing warning shots from the Iranian navy, ISNA said.

It is the second such incident involving Iranian shipping in recent weeks after pirates attacked a convoy of two vessels on October 16.

Like other countries dependent on the shipping route through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Iran stepped up its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden after a wave of attacks by Somalia-based pirates between 2000 and 2011.

But the number of attacks has fallen sharply in recent years.

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The island kingdom of Bahrain on Tuesday urged all its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately as a diplomatic crisis escalates between Gulf Arab states and cash-strapped Lebanon.

Bahrain's foreign ministry ordered all Bahrainis to leave Lebanon ``due to the tense situation there, which requires caution,'' days after the United Arab Emirates did the same.

The ministry also warned its citizens not to travel to Lebanon ``permanently . in order to prevent exposure to any risks.''

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait have all withdrawn their ambassadors from Beirut over televised remarks critical of the war in Yemen made by Lebanon's game show host-turned-information minister.

The comments by the minister, George Kordahi, ricocheted around the internet over the past week, infuriating the Gulf Arab region and triggering a series of punitive steps that further isolate Lebanon and threaten to split its new coalition government, now tasked with halting the country's economic tailspin.

The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa, 120 kilometres west of Marib, prompting Saudi-led forces to intervene to prop up the government the following year.

Along with pulling out their envoys, the four wealthy sheikhdoms expelled Lebanon's ambassadors from their countries. Saudi Arabia also banned all Lebanese imports, a major blow to the tiny country in desperate need of foreign currency.

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At least 19 people were killed and 50 others wounded in an attack on a military hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, the latest assault to rock Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power.

The attack got under way when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the entrance of the sprawling site.

Gunmen then broke into the hospital grounds, firing their weapons there, the Taliban said.

"Nineteen dead bodies and about 50 wounded people have been taken to hospitals in Kabul," a health ministry official who asked not to be named told AFP.

The Taliban spent 20 years waging an insurgency against the ousted US-backed government.

Now they face the struggle of bringing stability to Afghanistan, which has been hit in recent weeks by a series of bloody assaults claimed by the Islamic State group's local chapter.

Tuesday's attack has not yet been claimed by any group.

"All the attackers are dead. The attack was initiated by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who blew himself up at the entrance of the hospital," a Taliban official from the media team said.

"Some attackers entered the hospital compound."

Two explosions targeted the hospital area, he had earlier said in a statement.

AFP staff in the city heard a second explosion some 30 minutes after the first was reported.

"I heard a big explosion coming from the first checkpoint. We were told to go to safe rooms. I also hear guns firing," a doctor at the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital in Kabul told AFP while the attack was being carried out.

"I can still hear gun firing inside the hospital building. I think the attackers are going from room to room... like the first time it was attacked," the doctor added.

Ambulances Speeding Through Kabul

The hospital, which treats wounded soldiers from both the Taliban and former Afghan security forces, was previously attacked in 2017, when gunmen disguised as medical personnel killed at least 30 people in an hours-long siege.

Although both IS and the Taliban are hardline Sunni Islamist militants, they differ on details of religion and strategy.

IS have claimed four mass casualty attacks since the Taliban takeover on August 15, including suicide bomb blasts targeting Shiite Muslim mosques. The group regards Shiite Muslims as heretics.

In the 2017 attack on the military hospital, militants went room to room killing people, switching to knives when they ran out of ammunition.

That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, and the Taliban denied responsibility.

However, survivors told AFP that the attackers chanted "Long live Taliban" in Pashto and attacked all but two wards on the hospital's first floor where Taliban patients were admitted.

Black Smoke

An Italian NGO which runs a separate hospital in the capital tweeted on Tuesday that it has received nine patients with injuries from the blast site.

Pictures shared on social media showed black smoke billowing into the air after the explosions, the first of which went off at around 1:00 pm (0830 GMT).

AFP journalists saw Taliban fighters racing to the scene in at two armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and pick-up trucks.

Roads close to the heavily fortified "Green Zone" where the buildings of several former Western embassies were located were closed off to traffic and Taliban guards scaled up searches.

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Intra-Palestinian reconciliation, reconstructing Gaza, and de-escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are the goals of a series of meetings taking place in Cairo.

Egypt continues to host talks among Palestinian factions as it meets with different parties to discuss a number of issues. At the top of the agenda are de-escalating tensions between Palestinian groups and Israel in Gaza, reconstruction there and intra-Palestinian coordination.

The latest of these meetings took place on Saturday night between the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel and a delegation from the Islamic Jihad movement, headed by its secretary-general Ziad Al-Nakhala. This was preceded by a meeting between Kamel and leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which tackled a number of issues.

Maryam Abu Daqqa, a member of the political bureau of the PFLP, told Al-Ahram Weekly that Egypt is focusing on the Palestinian file, especially with regard to Palestinian reconciliation, calm in the Gaza Strip and the living conditions of Palestinians there.

Meetings between Abbas and PFLP leaders were very positive, she stressed. Reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas was discussed with participation from all Palestinian factions. Kamel and Egyptian officials discussed this file in detail, she added, saying that it was agreed to continue working on the Palestinian and Egyptian levels in order to end divisions and accomplish this critical national achievement.

The talks also tackled the relationship between Egypt and the PFLP in the next phase, with Egypt playing a special role in the Palestinian cause, Abu Daqqa continued. Regarding the Rafah crossing, which connects Egypt and the Gaza Strip, she said Egyptian officials have vowed to enhance work in this context, pointing out that the Egyptian promises will materialise in the next few days.

Abu Daqqa said that, according to Kamel, the Rafah crossing will witness positive developments in next few weeks and that travelling procedures to Egypt will be facilitated in the short term. She pointed out that the PFLP delegation and Egyptian officials discussed the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the truce with Israel, as well as the steps necessary to improve the living conditions of Gazans.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) file and the possibility of implementing the agreements inked by Palestinian factions were also discussed, she said. Egypt is serious about making achievements in all Palestinian files, from reconciliation and the truce with Israel to ending the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip.

Abu Daqqa added, We all realise that Egypt is a source of power for us Egyptian and Palestinian security issues are connected. What happens in Palestine affects the Arab region generally, and Egypt in particular.

Egypt is heavily engaged in separate talks with Palestinian factions. Unfortunately Egypt cannot at present gather all the factions in a meeting due to the different goals and political agendas of each party, especially Fatah and Hamas, she pointed out.

This collective meeting should have taken place following the latest military confrontation between Palestinian factions in Gaza and the Israeli army, but the factions different agendas prevented Egypt from organizing it, she added, stressing that there should be comprehensive national dialogues based on the vision of all Palestinian groups, instead of bilateral talks based on single views.

Egypt did not find common ground between Palestinian factions on the basis of which it could hold a national meeting in Cairo, she said, so it was pointless to hold a meeting that would not yield any results.

Meanwhile, Nafez Azzam, a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Jihad, said Egypt had made solid promises to facilitate Palestinians movement through the Rafah crossing by increasing the number of travellers and easing the means of travel.

The Jihad delegation discussed a number of files with the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, most importantly reconciliation and the Israeli siege of Gaza, added Azzam, currently in Cairo to attend the talks.

Egypt has taken steps on the ground regarding the reconstruction of Gaza, he noted.

However, the horizons of intra-Palestinian reconciliation remain unclear. The ball is in the Palestinians court and Egypt has promised to continue its efforts to restore domestic solidity, Azzam said.

The Jihad thanked Egypt for its efforts in the case of prisoners, especially during the latest [hunger] strike, he added.

Jihads leading figure Dawoud Shehab said the meeting between Egypts Kamel and the movements Al-Nakhala tackled developments in the fight between the Palestinians and Israel as Kamel reviewed Egypts efforts to alleviate the Israeli siege and reconstruct Gaza.

Armed Palestinian factions in Gaza reached a ceasefire agreement in May through Egyptian and international mediation.

The Islamic Jihads Cairo visit is part of a series of meetings held in the Egyptian capital that are focused on reconciliation, reconstructing Gaza and de-escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. The talks included a meeting between a Hamas delegation headed by Ismail Haniyeh and Egypts head of the General Intelligence Service for the same purpose.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Arab Gulf countries are stepping up the pressure on Lebanon after comments by a Lebanese minister about the Saudi involvement in the Yemen War.

In the latest escalation of disputes between the Gulf states and Lebanon, the UAE called on its citizens to immediately return home this week, updating its travel guidance for UAE nationals not to visit the country.

The move came a day after the UAE had recalled its diplomats from Beirut over a Lebanese ministers remarks on the war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia also condemned the remarks by the Lebanese information minister, who described the war as an aggression by outside countries. Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador in Beirut and asked the Lebanese ambassador in Riyadh to leave. The UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait then followed in Saudi footsteps.

Qatar condemned the Lebanese ministers remarks but did not sever diplomatic relations with Beirut.

The only member of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to take a neutral position was Oman. The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep regret over the strained relations between a number of Arab countries and the Republic of Lebanon.

The Sultanate also calls on all countries to exercise restraint and work to avoid escalation and address differences through dialogue and understanding in a manner that preserves the supreme interests of countries and their people and security, stability and cooperation based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, it said.

In an interview recorded in August and aired this week, Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi said Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were defending themselves against an external aggression, sparking a diplomatic row between Beirut and the Arab Gulf states.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said it had moved after the insulting remarks on the Yemen War and the influence of Lebanons Iran-backed Shiite movement Hizbullah in causing them. The moves made by the GCC countries also come against the backdrop of the remarks about Yemen.

Irans influence in both Lebanon and Yemen is a major concern for the GCC, especially now that there is a possibility of rehabilitating Tehran internationally.

Last week, Iranian negotiators had a positive meeting with the European countries that signed the Iran nuclear deal in 2015. The aim is to resume Iranian-US negotiations meant to bring Washington back to the deal, from which former president Donald Trump withdrew in 2018.

The move coincided with a lull in the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement that has been the talk of media reports over recent weeks. The Iranian news agency IRNA reported this week that Iranian officials see Saudi Arabias response in bilateral meetings as very slow, and Tehran has asked Riyadh to speed up the resumption of diplomatic relations, though it seems that the Saudis are reluctant.

According to one Gulf analyst who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly, Saudi Arabia considers that the resumption of relations would be a reward for Iran. He said that Iran is still following its aggressive policy of supporting terrorist groups in the region like the Houthi militia in Yemen and Hizbullah in Lebanon Resuming diplomatic relation would be like you give them something and they give nothing back. Unless they show a change of policy, stop meddling in the region, and refrain from supporting these proxies, you would not expect normal relations.

A Western diplomat who has spent time in the Gulf said that the rift with Lebanon was mainly because efforts to combat Iranian influence in the country had not paid off. Gulf aid to Lebanon stopped years ago, and that led to a dire economic crisis that Hizbullah tried to alleviate by drafting in Iranian support. The current financial crisis has stirred popular anger at the Gulf countries in Lebanon more than it has at Hizbullah and its allies, he told the Weekly.

The Gulf countries seem to have abandoned Lebanon years ago, but they have not ignored the Iranian influence in the country through Hizbullah. Gulf aid to Lebanon has dried up, and Gulf investments and deposits in Lebanese banks are no longer coming in. But the countries have maintained relations and some support so as not to leave the country entirely under Iranian influence. As the region is being reshaped, all the players are playing their crucial cards.

In a briefing to journalists in Dubai some years ago, an Emirati minister said that his countrys stance on Lebanon was close to indifference. He said that all attempts to find a credible partner in the country had come to nothing. It was clear that there was frustration in the UAE about the direction of politics in Lebanon and its lack of alignment with Gulf strategy, especially in the conflict with Iran.

The alliance between Lebanese President Michel Aouns party and Hizbullah has clearly sidelined other political parties having close relations with the Gulf countries. Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Al-Hariri and the coalition comprising forces opposing the Aoun-Hizbullah alliance have always been favoured by the Gulf. But recent developments in Lebanon have proved that the coalition is not capable of changing the facts on the ground.

Except for Oman, and to some extent Qatar, the GCC countries are determined to exert maximum pressure on Irans proxy groups in the region. With the resumption of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, probably soon, the escalation in Yemen and Lebanon might increase.

Some expect this to be the climax of tensions before a settlement of some sort is reached. The other scenario is a regional war in which Israel is involved, though the US is keen to avoid this. For the time being, the situation is a wait and see game testing the resolve of all the parties concerned.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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In the wake of comments by Lebanese Minister George Kordahi, Saudi Arabia has suspended imports from Lebanon further damaging the countrys economy, writes Rita Boulos Chahwan

The Lebanese Shia group Hizbullah intensified Lebanons problems this week when Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi criticised Saudi Arabias policies on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, causing Hizbullah to describe the resulting backlash against Kordahi from Riyadh and other Gulf capitals as unjust.

Kordahi called the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen futile and said Yemen was being subjected to aggression. The Iran-aligned Houthis were defending themselves, he said, leading Hizbullah to support Kordahi since it is also an ally of Iran.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Kordahi had been expressing his personal opinions, but for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries his words were a political intervention that led to Lebanons ambassadors being expelled from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Saudi Arabia has halted Lebanese imports to the country, something which could cost Lebanon up to 8.25 per cent of its total exports. The value of Lebanese exports is around $3.54 billion, of which $243.7 million is to Saudi Arabia.

If the Saudi measures continue, the crisis in the industrial sector in Lebanon can only worsen, according to expert Paul Abi Nasr, who pointed out that the other GCC countries have not banned imports from Lebanon. He said that 50 per cent of Lebanese exports go to the GCC countries and that Lebanon did not have an alternative to this major market.

Abdo Ghasoub, an expert in international law, said that Lebanese citizens working in the GCC countries were not likely to be affected by the moves, as they were mostly employees and were not charged with interfering in political affairs.

Secretary-General of the Lebanese Business Council in Kuwait Karim Darwiche told Al-Ahram Weekly that Kordahis statement had had serious repercussions on relations with Lebanon, however, and that it was an attack on the policies of Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

He said that the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs had expressed its regret over the situation, stating that the well-being of the Lebanese in Kuwait was its priority. He said that Lebanon should draw closer to the Arab countries and seek Arab support for its economy, adding that the GCC countries had historically supported development in Lebanon without considering political factors.

Some Lebanese businessmen, among them President of the Lebanese Exhibitions & Conferences Association (LECA) Elie Rizk, told the Weekly that they would take legal action against Kordahi under the Lebanese Constitution that states that any person doing harm to Lebanon can be prosecuted.

Charles Jeha, president of the Lebanese Business Council in Dubai and the UAE, described the situation as a loss for Lebanon, especially considering that the current economic conditions are not favourable and the Lebanese government has a responsibility to support the countrys industrial and agricultural sectors in managing the crisis.

He said that what was needed was change in the status quo or a new government in Lebanon. The current Lebanese government did not have appropriate policies, he said, and there were problems between the political parties.

He added that he was focusing on the interests of Lebanese abroad and those in Lebanon involved in exporting, where good relations with the GCC were very important to putting the country back on track diplomatically and economically.

Journalist Tony Boulos said Hizbullah was trying to detach Lebanon from Arab influence, adding that the group has always had an agenda that it has aimed to impose on successive Lebanese governments, especially during the period in office of Lebanese President Michel Aoun.

The government had not taken action against Hizbullah to protect the interests of the GCC, he said, and the reaction of Saudi Arabia was understandable. The GCC had acted in the interests of the Lebanese abroad, who condemned Hizbullah attempts to stir up conflict with the Arab countries, he added.

Boulos said he hoped that Lebanese citizens and parties considering themselves to be against Hizbullah would push for change.

Kordahi was considering his resignation until last weekend, but this was refused by head of the Marada Movement Suleiman Franjieh, who had named him to the position. Franjieh is considered to be pro-Hizbullah.

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During his speech at the United Nations Climate Change Summit President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said the urgency and universality of the issue prompted Egypt to implement a sustainable development model centred on increasing green projects to 50 per cent by 2025 and 100 per cent by 2030.

For example, renewable energy sources currently represent 20 per cent of the Egyptian energy mix, and we are working to increase it to 42 per cent by 2030, he said.

He also noted that the Egyptian state has recently issued the first offering of green bonds with a value of $750 million, adding that Egypt has completed preparing the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050 in order to institutionalise efforts to confront the issue.

Earlier this week, the city of Glasgow in the United Kingdom hosted the participants in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in a global atmosphere fraught with concern over the dangers of climate change, which reinforces the importance of the 26th round of the conference coming out with decisive results.

The climate change summit is known by the acronym COP26, which stands for The 26th Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The summit brought together 197 countries, with the aim of discussing the issue of climate change and finding solutions to thorny problems.

One of the most important challenges in this context is limiting the rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the President of the United Nations Climate Change Conference Alok Sharma, who stressed the need to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030.

Sharma believes that the $100 billion that industrialised countries have pledged to contribute to achieve this goal is no longer enough because the world needs trillions annually.

In any case, major countries only fulfilled the amount of $79 billion out of the $100 billion pledged. Moreover, in 2018, three-quarters of those pledges were disbursed in the form of loans that need to be repaid, which will put a strain on poor countries.

Since President Al-Sisi launched the initiative to link the three conventions (climate change, biological diversity and desertification) at the opening of the Egyptian Presidency of the Biodiversity Conference in 2018 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt has been seeking continuous cooperation with the United Kingdom, supporting efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change through the Egyptian-British coalition.

Egypt partnered with the United Kingdom to take the lead on the issue of sources of adaptation and resilience at the climate summit held in New York in 2019, on the understanding that the axis of resilience and adaptation is the most important priority axis for developing countries which are the most affected.

A total of seven initiatives have been put together as part of the flexibility and adaptation plan, ready to be implemented once funding becomes available, with the African energy initiative announced by the Egyptian president being the most important.

During afringe event organised at COP26, Egypt will present its success story in expanding renewable energy and green transformation; its work on the African adaptation initiative, which aims to enable African countries to access the funds necessary to implement adaptation measures; as well as its work to achieve equal proportions in financing adaptation and mitigation alike - among the issues to be highlighted by Egypt during the climate conference.

Egypt aspires to host COP27 as a representative of the African continent in order to provide a platform for new and ambitious commitments that develop innovative solutions to achieve progress in the face of climate change.

It also aims to host next years conference to build on the previous session of the climate change conference in Africa, which was held in Morocco in 2016.

The Morocco conference marked the starting point of a roadmap for action that Africa can take to overcome the negative effects of climate change on the continent despite the fact that Africa contributes the lowest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions.

Egypt also aims to host COP27 to affirm its commitment to work with all countries to consolidate efforts with all parties and stakeholders to confront climate change and strengthen climate action.

The world attaches great hopes to COP26, especially in the light of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, and the demands of countries to raise ambition, update climate indicators and develop work on zero-emission measures.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The COP26 meeting in Glasgow is an opportunity for all of us to come together to combat climate change, writes Danish Ambassador to Cairo Svend Olling

The COP26 meeting, the most important climate conference since the Paris Conference in 2015, is currently underway. For Denmark, it is essential that we fulfil the promise of the Paris Agreement and reduce emissions to limit the worlds rise in temperature to 1.5C from pre-industrial levels. The COP26 meeting is an opportunity to get on track: all countries need to commit to adopt more ambitious emission-reduction targets.

Denmark has a national target to reduce its emissions by 70 per cent by 2030. Yet, if other countries stick to their current official climate targets  the Nationally Determined Contributions  it will lead to a catastrophic 2.7C global temperature rise. That will mean rising sea levels and more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and storms across the globe.

The evidence is clear: we need more ambition by countries now.

Egypt is a great example, with the oldest country in the world making impressive progress in the green-energy transition over recent years. Egypt has been taking the lead on the green-energy transition in the region, particularly with its intention of hosting the COP27 meeting and aim to reach 20 per cent of renewable energy by 2022 and 42 per cent by 2035.

However, there is still a lot to be done, and Egypt is also a unique case of the possible repercussions of climate challenges. The Nile Delta hosts 95 per cent of the Egyptian population and is severely threatened by sea-level rises, according to UN Development Programme (UNDP) data, while the need for water is growing rapidly.

Denmark commends Egypt on the important leadership it has displayed in hosting the COP27 meeting, and we are looking forward to this opportunity to engage and support Egypt on its ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Climate change is global, yet its impacts are skewed. The recent International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is a stark reminder of the challenges facing humanity. Even at 1.5C global warming, there is a need to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, such as building houses and infrastructure that can survive extreme weather, planting new crops that can withstand the heat, and improving weather forecasting to predict storms and floods.

Furthermore, adaptation remains the neglected half of the climate equation, accounting today for only 25 per cent of climate finance in support of the developing countries. That is why Denmark has committed to spend 60 per cent of its grant-based climate finance on adaptation from 2022. We openly ask other developed countries to step up and join us.

The Danish-Egyptian partnership is an excellent example of a long-standing and meaningful partnership in renewable energy and energy transition. Our climate partnership with Egypt goes back to the 1980s, when the Danish Development Cooperation DANIDA began working with Egypt in the early days of Danish climate cooperation from 1980 to 2005, along with its Environmental Sector Programme (ESP) in the 1990s and 2000s.

In cooperation with the Ris National Laboratory at the Technical University of Denmark, Egypt developed its first Wind Atlas in the 1990s, which is still in use today. The Danish Sustainable Infrastructure Fund was one of the major contributors to the financing and development of the Zaafarana Wind Farm in Egypt in the 2000s. This onshore wind farm is still operating today and is one of the largest such power plants in Egypt.

The energy partnership between Egypt and Denmark resumed in 2019, with bigger targets and larger ambitions through Strategic Sector Cooperation on renewable energy for technical cooperation and the sharing of Danish experience between the Danish Energy Agency and the Egyptian ministries of Electricity and Renewable Energy and International Cooperation particularly on the integration of renewable energy, specifically wind energy, into the power system. The cooperation focuses on long-term energy planning, wind project development and the integration of renewable energy in the power grid, including the liberalisation of the power market.

This partnership has the high-level support of the Danish government with a view to ensuring a solid basis for the transfer of knowledge and experience to support Egypts green-transition journey.

Denmark is committed to giving our fair share. We will provide at least $500 million annually by 2023 in grant-based climate finance and commit to spend 60 per cent of our grant-based climate finance on adaptation from 2022. At the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in 2009, the worlds developed countries promised the developing countries $100 billion a year in climate finance. We have a responsibility to increase individual pledges so that we can collectively deliver the promised amount. Recent Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) figures clearly indicate that we are not there yet.

Keeping our promise from Copenhagen is vital to building trust and ensuring the optimum circumstances for a successful COP26. We are proud to announce that our embassy in Cairo has been appointed as a Green Mission together with 20 other Danish embassies around the world. We are working daily on strengthening our climate-related work and reducing the embassys emissions.

Green investments are important and partnerships are key to delivering efficient support for climate adaptation. We need to share experiences and look for new ways to move forward.

That is why Denmark highly appreciates its partnership with Egypt and the precedent Cairo is setting in the region around climate issues.

It is essential that countries come together in the run-up to COP26 to rebuild trust and restore the spirit of the Paris Agreement. Denmark will do its best to accelerate action and raise ambitions, so that we can pass on a prosperous, just and sustainable world to the coming generations.

We are looking forward to the COP27 meeting hosted in Cairo to bring us all together, government, businesses and civil society, to build partnerships and bridges for a green world.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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If only that stance could have come from Al-Azhar, with its proud history of disseminating the Muslim faith as it should be practised. At its height, the scholars of this famous religious institution showed that Islam is a contemporary faith, suitable for all times and places. When President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi sounded the appeal at the beginning of his term, for the modernisation of religious discourse, to free it from the accumulations borne of backwardness, ignorance, fanaticism and terrorism, I thought that Al-Azhar would rise to this noble cultural, religious and national task. I pictured this venerable institution at the vanguard of a much needed major reform movement such as that spearheaded by such figures as Sheikh Mohamed Abdu or Jamaleddin Al-Afghani. Instead, Azhar appears to have chosen to remain a bastion of conservative, traditionalist thought. Such thought and the attitudes it represents have long been exploited by the Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafis and other such political movements that cloak themselves in religion and contribute to the dissemination of the type of fanaticism that breeds not only terrorism but also all kinds of malignancy that we will never be rid of until we eliminate their ideological roots through a modernisation movement such as that which the president called for.

The stance that I had hoped Al-Azhar would take was, in fact, precisely that of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman which, voiced some months ago, has since then been circulating on social media. Unfortunately, just as Al-Azhar turned a deaf ear to the presidents appeal, it deliberately or perhaps helplessly ignored the princes call for a systematic overhaul of the hundreds of thousands of Hadith traditions (sayings or deeds attributed to the Prophet) that have accumulated over the centuries. As he pointed out, many of these traditions contradict each other and sometimes even contradict the Quran. In an interview on Saudi state television, the prince called for the elimination of ahadi traditions as a source of Saudi law. Ahadi traditions are those sayings transmitted by a single narrator. More than 90 per cent of Hadith that are thought to be true fall into this category. In that interview, Mohamed Bin Salman said that ahadi traditions along with khabar traditions (sayings of doubtful authenticity) cannot be considered binding and, hence, a source of law, regardless of whether or not they were included in such collections as Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari. Instead, he said, the laws and punishments applied in Saudi Arabia must be based on a clear Quranic stipulation or a mutawatir hadith, mutawatir being the category of Hadith tradition that has been relayed by an uninterrupted chain of groups of several narrators generation after generation over the centuries.

This decision would have a profound impact in application. For example, it would abolish hudud punishments (a category of corporal punishments under Islamic Sharia) that are not specifically stated in the Quran and derive their legitimacy solely from ahadi traditions which, according to the crown princes explanation, are of uncertain authenticity. An example is that which relates that Aisha said that hudud was mentioned in the Quran, but that a camel came into her room, where she kept the holy book, and ate the pages in which this term was mentioned. I have no need to comment on this or similar traditions that speak for themselves.

Now, why was Al-Azhar the agency to take this sort of initiative, placing Cairo at the helm of a major modernisation process and ideological renovation project which the Arab nation and the Islamic world need? Renovating religious discourse is a fundamental part of the cultural renaissance to which we aspire in tandem with the nation-wide infrastructure projects that are proceeding full steam ahead. It was no coincidence the Mohamed Abdus enlightenment project took off against the backdrop of the cultural and national awakening that Egypt experienced during the 19th century and that culminated in the 1919 Revolution. This was also one of the brightest chapters in the history of Al-Azhar, which contributed to that awakening in many ways. It was an Azhar scholar, Ali Abdel-Razeq, who laid the conceptual foundations for secular rule in Islam. Another Azharite, the dean of Arab Literature Taha Hussein, did more than anyone else in his era to develop literary discourse in the Arab world. Nor should we forget the religious upbringing of the famous musician and innovative composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab who received his primary education in Al-Azhar schools.

If Al-Azhar is to resume this important national, religious and cultural mission, it must perform the task entrusted to it, namely to modernise religious discourse. It should take inspiration from Saudi Arabia which has preceded it thanks to the bold decisions of the crown prince.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The crises in Sudan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Iraq cannot be reduced to civilians versus the military, nor to pro-democracy versus pro-dictatorship camps. They are not about rich versus poor, corrupt versus ethical, or traditionalist versus modernist. Such dualities have often led analysts to stray from the central question concerning the survival and progress of the state. They particularly appeal to Western think tanks fond of casting everything in terms of good versus evil. In their eyes, civilians are democrats, liberals and tolerant. Their adversaries, the generals, thirst for power, wealth and privilege, the corollaries to which are prisons, torture and sick minds. Religious extremists, jihadists and just plain fundamentalist also see the world in such black and white terms. They divide people into the faithful and the heretical. The former are blessed, so when they are in power their countries prosper. The others are doomed to hellfire and deserve nothing but destruction.

Many Arab countries have suffered dearly from ignorance of the fact that there can be no progress in the absence of a nation state that is stable and governed by a capable, effective and united political elite. The confessional-ethnic quota system implemented in Lebanon and Iraq does not resolve the problem of the state; it just postpones it. In the meantime, it occasionally breaks down, giving way to civil strife.

Sudan is a variant of the same problem. It unfolds in an endless cycle of rotation between military and civilian rule in the course of which not a single problem of the state is resolved. So there is no effective unity and no economic or social progress. This has been going on ever since independence. A civilian elite comes to power, crumbles and is swept away by a military coup. Some years later, the people rise up and get rid of the dictatorship. Sudan has had political parties and elections, but never a step in the direction of progress. The masses rise up in a fury and a decade later they rise up again. On and on it goes, in an endless, futile cycle.

This is because there has been no national project to found a state to which all political elites belonged and towards which they all felt duty bound, responsible to prevent its disintegration and, of course, to protect it against aggression from other states. Generally speaking, political elites of this sort are civilians, not because they are not professional soldiers but because they represent a polity that believes in a national project. Without such a polity and its project there can be no stater at least no homegrown one. With a state founded by external forces, such as colonialism, you have elites split between right and left or the kind that jump from one side of the fence to the other.

The so-called Arab Spring gave us elites who cried The people want the fall of the regime and shouted at the top of their lungs Leave! in the hope that the president would do so. These slogans expressed no project of any sort. They said nothing about the purpose of the state or its raison detre. They presented no plans for new cities or new streets, let alone ways to promote innovation and progress, to increase economic growth or to improve minds and elevate the intellect. In the absence of anything constructive, the country was handed over to a religious movement to whom political power was not about leadership, responsibility and rule of law but pietism, dogmatism and no end of charlatanism and opportunism. When the Muslim Brotherhood came to power in Egypt and Ennahda became the majority in Tunisias parliament they brought nothing but confusion, chaos and preparation for war against real or illusory enemies. They opened doors to everything but the path to a healthy economy, technological progress or a better life.

Sudan is currently in the grips of such leadership failure. The Sudanese had their promised spring. They struck a power-sharing formula giving the generals sovereignty and the civilians control of government. In other words, both sides had the opportunity that had presented itself so often before, plus the time to search for a way forward or a national project around which to rally all the people. They had two years to do this. During that period the elites were taken off international terrorist lists, the governments debts were rescheduled, and the taps to aid and loans were opened. Yet the anger continued to flow because the price to pay in return was profound economic reform. As every country that has to go through it knows, reform comes with a lot of pain. But being frank about that was of little avail. The people had been promised that with the overthrow of Al-Bashir, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, milk and honey would flow and life would be wonderful.

Of course, real life does not work that way. No country has ever attained its aspirations as soon as the tyrant was eliminated. In fact, it is when the tyrant is eliminated that the hard work begins, the work it takes to build the state. People have often asked how the Germans and the Japanese managed to make such progress after all the destruction and disintegration of World War II, not to mention the suffering caused by atomic bombs. How did they salvage the remnants of their state after overthrowing the Nazis in Germany and imperial military rule in Japan? The answer is that they rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Colonial powers have invaded many countries and the US has liberated other countries. But no country has risen from the crucible of colonial domination or from liberation unless it had the elites endowed with the necessary will, persistence, intelligence and foresight to lay the foundations for a state and then seize all available opportunities to consolidate and build on such foundations.

In the Arab countries, people take to the streets and squares because the price of state building is not clear to them. They want change, but most often they are looking for a magic wand that might change some things on the surface but in reality makes no difference. So when the government lifts subsidies, it is caving in to the imperialist IMF, and when it floats the national currency to give it real value, it is trampling on the national character. There are reasons to reject everything and more than enough accusations to hurl at every decision. As a result, those who are in power find themselves bound to distribute non-existent wealth and, in the era of Facebook, to appease the virtual crowds that speak of the people one moment and delegitimise the government or the state the next. Sometimes affiliations along religious, sectarian, ethnic and regional divides elbow forward, raising threatening fists and preparing to veto the entire state project.

Sudan has already been split in two: a Sudan in the north and another in the south. But apparently that was just a rehearsal for more divisions to come after a revolution that brought no project for unity apart from high hopes and vague slogans about freedom, justice, equality and change. Freedom for whom and how much? What kind of change? Towards growth, prosperity and progress? Or the redistribution of poverty? Will the pursuit of justice promote competence, hard work, knowledge, ability and efficacy or just more sloganeering and underdeveloped skills.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 4 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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As deadlines loom for military and defense civilians to get mandated COVID-19 vaccines, senior leaders must now wrestle with the fate of those who flatly refuse the shots or are seeking exemptions, and how to make sure they are treated fairly and equally.

The vast majority of the active duty force has received at least one shot, but tens of thousands have not. For some it may be a career-ending decision. Others could face transfers, travel restrictions, limits on deployments and requirements to repay bonuses.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. [Photo: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta]

Exemption decisions for medical, religious and administrative reasons will be made by unit commanders around the world, on what the Pentagon says will be a case-by-case basis. That raises a vexing issue for military leaders who are pushing a vaccine mandate seen as critical to maintaining a healthy force, but want to avoid a haphazard, inconsistent approach with those who refuse.

Brig. Gen. Darrin Cox, surgeon general at Army Forces Command, said commanders want to ensure they are following the rules.

Because of some of the sensitivities of this particular vaccine, I think that we just wanted to ensure that we were consistent and equitable" in meting out a punishment that would be a repercussion of continuing to refuse a valid order.

Military vaccination rates are higher than those of the general population in the United States and the reasons for objecting  often based on misinformation  are similar to those heard throughout the country. But unlike most civilians, military personnel are routinely required to get as many as 17 vaccines, and face penalties for refusing.

The military services are reporting between 1%-7% remain unvaccinated. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called for compassion in dealings with those troops, which totals nearly 60,000 active duty service members, according to data released last week. Officials say the numbers change daily, and include those who may have gotten or requested an exemption. They have declined to say how many troops are still seeking an exemption or refused the vaccine.

Asked about possible variations in the treatment of those seeking exemptions or refusing the vaccine, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said its up to the services. "Each case is going to be treated specifically and individually as it ought to be, he said.

Kirby said Monday that the secretary doesn't want to tell commanders how to resolve the punitive measures, and instead trusts that they will do what is best for their units.

So can we promise you that there will be absolute uniformity across the board? No. And we wouldnt want to promise that because it wouldnt be the same way we handle the orders violations for other offenses as well, said Kirby.

It unclear how widely religious exemptions will be granted. Under military rules, commanders can take into account the potential impact on a units mission, and reject a religious exemption if it puts performance at risk.

Commanders can also move service members into another job, deny them overseas deployment or limit unit access if they get an exemption or while a request is being reviewed. Those steps may be more common in smaller units such a special operations forces who usually deploy in small numbers.

The Navy has warned that sailors who refuse the shot and dont get an exemption may have to refund bonuses and other financial payments, based on existing military justice procedures for disobeying a lawful order. The other services are expected to follow similar procedures.

Unvaccinated troops will also be subject to routine testing, distancing guidelines and possibly travel restrictions.
A majority of the Supreme Court signaled Monday they would allow abortion providers to pursue a court challenge to the controversial Texas law that has virtually ended abortion in the nations second-largest state after six weeks of pregnancy.

This artist sketch depicts Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, right, presenting an argument before the Supreme Court, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Washington. [Photo: Dana Verkouteren via AP]

But it was unclear how quickly the court would rule and whether it would issue an order blocking the law that has been in effect for two months, or require providers to ask a lower court to put the law on hold.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, two conservative appointees of former President Donald Trump, voted in September to allow the law to take effect, but they raised questions Monday about its novel structure. The law, written to make it difficult to mount legal challenges, subjects clinics, doctors and any others who facilitate abortions to large financial penalties.

Millions and millions retroactively imposed, even though the activity was perfectly lawful under all court orders and precedent at the time it was undertaken, right?" Kavanaugh asked, one of several skeptical questions he put to Judd E. Stone II, representing Texas.

Barrett, too, pressed Stone about provisions of the law that force providers to fight lawsuits one by one and, she said, don't allow their constitutional rights to be fully aired.

The justices heard three hours of arguments Monday in two cases over whether abortion providers or the Justice Department can mount federal court challenges to the law, which has an unusual enforcement scheme its defenders argue shields it from federal court review.

The Biden administration filed its lawsuit after the justices voted 5-4 to refuse a request by providers to keep the law on hold. Justice Neil Gorsuch, also a Trump appointee, and two other conservative justices joined Barrett and Kavanaugh in the majority to let the law take effect. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the courts three liberal justices in dissent.

The justices sounded less convinced that the Justice Department lawsuit should go forward, and Justice Elena Kagan suggested that a ruling instead in favor of the providers would allow the court to avoid difficult issues of federal power.

In neither case argued Monday is the right to an abortion directly at issue. But the motivation for the lawsuits is that the Texas law conflicts with landmark Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy.

Arguing for the United States, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices that Texas law was enacted in open defiance of Supreme Court precedent. It enacted a law that clearly violates this courts precedents, she said.

Under the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, states are prevented from banning abortion before viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

The justices will hear a separate challenge to those decisions in a case over Mississippi's ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Those arguments are set for Dec. 1.

The most direct reference to the Mississippi case came from Justice Samuel Alito, who asked if the decision by providers to stop doing abortions in Texas is attributable to the fear of liability if Roe or Casey is altered?

But most questions focused on the Texas law and how it has altered abortion in the state even before the high court has made any change in abortion law. Kagan told Stone that until Texas passed its law, "no state dreamed" of trying to make an end-run around Supreme Court precedent in the same way.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2021 - 21:39 | All, Japan

The leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yukio Edano, said Tuesday he will resign from the post after his party failed to win over voters in last weekend's general election despite public dissatisfaction with the government's COVID-19 response.

Edano decided to end his four-year stint since founding the CDPJ in October 2017, after the party's seats shrank from 110 to 96 in the election on Sunday as it was shunned by voters in the proportional representation section of the election.

"My inadequacy is the reason this happened," he said at a party meeting. "I apologize from the bottom of my heart to all of the party executives, to all of our supporters across the country, and most of all to our colleagues who unfortunately were not elected."

The 57-year-old said he will remain in the post until the end of the special parliamentary session to convene Nov. 10.

CDPJ Secretary General Tetsuro Fukuyama said the same day he will also step down to take responsibility for the election result when Edano's successor is chosen in a party vote to be held by the end of the year.

Junya Ogawa, who won his sixth term in the lower house last weekend, said he is willing to run in the leadership election. Several other lawmakers, including former land minister Sumio Mabuchi and Kenta Izumi, the party's policy chief, have been floated by CDPJ members as the possible successor to Edano.

Ogawa told Kyodo News he will work toward securing people who will give him an endorsement to run in the election.

Edano had criticized Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his predecessors for their handling of the pandemic and economic policies, calling for a change in government from the ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party.

The approval rating for the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had been falling in media polls, partly as the public was not satisfied with the government's measures against the pandemic. After Kishida took office on Oct. 4 to replace Suga, the support rate for his Cabinet was also relatively low for a new prime minister.

The CDPJ had expected to increase its numbers in the 465-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, after unifying candidates with other opposition groups including the Japanese Communist Party in more than 200 single-member districts to avoid splitting the anti-LDP vote.

A number of high-profile CDPJ candidates lost in their single-member districts, including heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa in Iwate Prefecture and deputy leader Kiyomi Tsujimoto in Osaka Prefecture, who failed to even gain a seat under proportional representation.

Major supporter Rengo, Japan's largest labor organization, had strongly opposed cooperating with the JCP and said in a statement following the election that the CDPJ had "significant issues to resolve."

"It is the CDPJ's responsibility to take the next step toward becoming an alternative choice for government. In order to do that, I decided we need to prepare for next year's House of Councillors election and the next general election under a new leader," Edano said.

In a press briefing, Fukuyama, the secretary general, said, "Never in my dreams did I imagine we would lose seats."

"It's unfortunate, but some of our new candidates were able to eke out wins thanks to cooperation with other opposition groups," he said.

Well known for his time as the government's top spokesman during the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Edano led a group of liberal lawmakers who moved from the now-defunct Democratic Party to form the CDPJ.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2021 - 17:02 | All, Japan

Three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. pleaded not guilty Tuesday in an appeal trial for failing to prevent the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, triggered by a devastating quake-tsunami disaster in northeastern Japan, according to their defense counsel.

The lawyers for former TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 81, and former vice presidents Ichiro Takekuro, 75, and Sakae Muto, 71, called for the Tokyo High Court to dismiss the appeal filed in 2019 by court-appointed lawyers acting as prosecutors on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

In September 2019, the Tokyo District Court acquitted the three former executives of the Fukushima plant operator on the charges, saying they could not have foreseen the massive tsunami that crippled the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and caused core meltdowns.

The court-appointed lawyers maintained the district court ruling contained factual errors.

Those acting as prosecutors had sought five-year prison terms for the executives, arguing they could have prevented the nuclear disaster if they had fulfilled their responsibility to collect information and put in place safety measures.

The appeal trial, which began at the high court Tuesday, is expected to again focus on whether the former executives could have predicted the tsunami following a magnitude-9.0 earthquake that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011.

Katsumata did not make a court appearance Tuesday due to ill health.

In 2016, Katsumata and the two former vice presidents were indicted for failing to implement tsunami countermeasures leading to the deaths of 44 people, including patients forced to evacuate from a nearby hospital, as well as for injuries sustained by 13 people in hydrogen explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Related coverage:

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TEPCO was informed in 2008 by one of its subsidiaries of the possibility that a tsunami as high as 15.7 meters could hit the Fukushima plant based on the government's long-term evaluation in 2002 of quake risks.

The district court ruled in 2019 that "it would be impossible to operate a nuclear plant if operators were obliged to predict every possibility related to tsunami and take necessary measures."

On March 11, 2011, the six-reactor plant on the Pacific coast was flooded by tsunami waves exceeding 10 meters triggered by the massive earthquake, causing the reactor cooling systems to lose their power supply.

The Nos. 1 to 3 reactors subsequently suffered core meltdowns, while hydrogen explosions damaged the buildings housing the Nos. 1, 3 and 4 units. Many people were forced to evacuate in what is known as the world's worst nuclear crisis since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Katsumata and the two former vice presidents were indicted by court-appointed lawyers in 2016 after an independent panel of citizens mandated indictment.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2021 - 14:43 | Arts, World, All, Japan

Japan is considering temporarily lending a statue of a famous Chinese Zen master to China in a goodwill gesture as next year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The move is intended to help improve Sino-Japanese relations through cultural exchanges, at a time when the two nations have been at odds over several issues including Taiwan and China's alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing is pushing the project as a "homecoming" of Zen master Yinyuan Longqi (1592-1673) , known as Ingen in Japan, from Obaku-san Manpuku-ji, a Buddhist temple in Japan's Kyoto Prefecture, to Wanfu Temple in China's southeastern Fujian Province, according to the sources.

Ingen served as chief priest at Wanfu Temple before leaving China. After arriving in Japan in 1645, he founded the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism and is known for having brought to the country a kind of bean called "Ingen-mame."

The 1.6-meter wooden statue was created in 1663 using his hair and beard, according to Obaku-san Manpuku-ji. The temple said it would positively consider lending the statue if Japan's Foreign Ministry makes every effort to have the artifact returned from China.

Besides the bean, Ingen introduced a number of things to Japan, such as art, medicine, architecture, music, history, literature, printing, green tea and Buddhist cuisine, according to the temple. He strongly influenced the culture of the Edo Era (1603-1868).

Related coverage:

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Japan PM Kishida faces diplomatic challenges after election win
KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2021 - 20:58 | All, Japan

The approval rating for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet stood at 58.1 percent in a Kyodo News survey conducted through Tuesday, up 2.4 percentage points from when he took office in early October.

The disapproval rating for the Cabinet was 26.8 percent, up 3.1 points from early October, the survey found after the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito retained a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of parliament, in Sunday's general election.

Only 35.3 percent of respondents of the two-day nationwide telephone survey said they were satisfied with the election outcome, while 16.5 percent were dissatisfied.

Nearly half, 47.9 percent, said they could not say either way.

The LDP won 261 seats, 15 fewer than before the election but enough to effectively control all of the lower chamber's standing committees by itself and push forward its legislative agenda. Komeito took 32.

Among the opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan won 96 seats, the Japan Innovation Party secured 41 and the Japanese Communist Party took 10.

In the survey, 42.5 percent of the respondents said the opposition parties should have won more seats, while 39.9 percent thought the outcome was appropriate and 14.0 percent said the ruling coalition should have won more seats.

The strategy of opposition groups including the CDPJ and the JCP to unify candidates in single-member districts to avoid splitting the anti-LDP vote proved unpopular, with 61.5 percent saying they should change it compared to only 32.2 percent who said they should continue to pursue it.

Asked which party they support, 45.7 percent said the LDP, followed by the Japan Innovation Party with 14.4 percent, up from 5.0 in early October.

The sharp increase in support of the Innovation Party was in line with nearly quadruple of its standing in the lower chamber to 41 seats in Sunday's election.

The CDPJ was backed by 11.2 percent, Komeito 6.2 percent, the JCP 4.0 percent, the Democratic Party for the People 3.3 percent, Reiwa Shinsengumi 1.8 percent, and the Social Democratic Party 1.2 percent, while 10.5 percent said they do not support any party.

Economic policy was chosen as the most important issue in the general election by 33.5 percent, followed by pensions, medical and elderly care with 16.0 percent and the COVID-19 response with 14.9 percent.

Regarding why voter turnout was so low at 55.93 percent, 50.0 percent of the respondents said it was because they thought casting ballots would not change anything, 17.9 percent said there were no candidates to their liking, and 17.4 percent said it was not easy to understand issues of contention.

The survey covered 636 randomly selected households with eligible voters, of which 522 responded, and reached 1,686 mobile phone users, also securing responses from 522.

Related coverage:

Japan opposition leader Edano to quit post after poor election results

Japan foreign minister Motegi to become ruling party No. 2

Lawsuits filed to void Sunday's general election over vote disparity
New Delhi :

Former Army chief and Union Minister General (retd) VK Singh on Saturday accused the Congress party of lying about its claims of multiple surgical strikes during UPA government. "Congress has a habit of lying. Will you please let me know which So called Surgical Strike are you attributing to my tenure as COAS," the BJP leader asked.

The remarks of the BJP leader came after the Congress on Thursday came out with its claim that six surgical strikes were carried out during the erstwhile regimes of UPA-I and UPA-II.

Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Rajiv Shukla elucidated the details of the surgical strikes. He said while six were carried out during the UPA regime, two more carried out during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"We never did chest thumping. The one who did only one surgical strike is patting his back. Neither Dr Manmohan Singh nor Vajpayee did a press conference on it," Shukla said.

Shukla listed out the six surgical strikes carried out during the UPA regime:

June 19, 2008  Bhattal Sector in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch

August 30-September 1, 2011  Sharda Sector, across Neelam River Valley in Kel

January 6, 2013  Sawan Patra Checkpost

July 27-28, 2013  Nazapir Sector

August 6, 2013  Neelam Valley and another one on January 14, 2014, just before the Lok Sabha elections.

One of the surgical strike claimed by the Congress party was carried out during the time when VK Singh was the Army chief. Singh had held the office as the 24th Chief of Armed Staff from March 31, 2010 to May 31, 2012.
New Delhi:

The Election Commission on Saturday gave clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Patan speech in which he claimed that his government had kept Pakistan on toes for safe release of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

The commission concluded that PM Modi has not violated the model code or its advisory on armed forces in his speech in Gujarat's Patan city on April 21.

This is the sixth speech of the prime minister which has been cleared by the poll panel is the last few days.

On Friday, PM Modi concluded that PM Modi did not violate the model code or its advisory on armed forces in his speech in Varanasi.

It also found nothing wrong in his comments made in Nanded, Maharashtra where he reportedly dubbed the Congress as a 'sinking Titanic'.

In his Nanded speech, Modi had reportedly said that the Congress today is like Titanic ship which is sinking. All those who are in the ship like the Nationalist Congress Party are either sinking or jumping off to escape, he had reportedly said.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi, he had said that the Congress chief has traced a seat using microscope from which he can take on the BJP.

Modi was apparently referring to the Wayanad seat in Kerala from where Rahul is contesting, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

He had reportedly said that in Wayanad, the country's majority is in minority.

Referring to Modi's Varanasi speech on April 25, where he had gone to file his nomination for Lok Sabha elections, the EC said a detailed report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh was obtained.

The Election Commission had on Thursday given a clean chit to Modi, saying he did not violate the model code of conduct during his election speech in Rajasthan's border town of Barmer where he invoked the armed forces and said that India's nuclear button was not kept to be used for Diwali.

Earlier, the EC had had found nothing wrong in the prime minister's speech at Wardha on April 1 where he attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for contesting from minority-dominated Wayanad seat. It has also cleared the PM for his appeal to first-time voters by invoking the Balakot air strikes and the Pulwama martyrs in Latur on April 9.


New Delhi:

At least two people were injured on Sunday after fire broke out in Mumbais Andheri. The fire broke out on fourth floor of Sarita Building at Mazil Masjid Chowk in Andheri's Yari Road area following a cylinder blast. The fire was extinguished after five fire tenders rushed to the spot. The injured are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Mumbai, news agency ANI reported.



Last month, six workers were injured in a fire at a club at Aarey Colony in suburban Goregaon. A fire broke out at Emerald Club at Royal Palm Estate at 10.12 am. A team of fire brigade personnel was sent immediately, but before they could douse the flames by 10.50 am, six people -- workers engaged in renovation job -- were injured, one of them suffering 80 per cent burn injuries.

In December 2017, a fire that started at a rooftop pub hosting a birthday party spread rapidly through the building, killing 14 people, most of them women, shortly after midnight in a posh Mumbai locality. The fire, which also injured 21 people, started after 12.30 am in the "1 Above" pub on the terrace, and spread to Mojo pub on the third floor one level below.

Most of the victims, who included 11 women, died of asphyxiation, said Avinash Supe, dean of the KEM hospital where the injured and dead were brought. Some reports said among those dead is the woman who was celebrating her birthday but this could not be independently confirmed.

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New Delhi :

In a soul spraining revelation in Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has told the Supreme Court that key accused Brajesh Thakur and his accomplices allegedly killed 11 girls, whose bones were recovered from a burial ground in the state-run accommodation.

In its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the CBI stated that names of 11 girls have emerged from its investigation who were allegedly murdered by Thakur and his men. The CBI told the court that it has recovered a bundle of bones from a burial ground in the shelter home compound on the pointing out of one of the accused persons.

Over 30 girls were allegedly raped and sexually assaulted by Brajesh Thakur and his accomplices at a state-run shelter home in Bihars Muzaffarpur. Brajesh Thakur, a well-known name in the power corridors of Patna, was accused by the girls of forcing them to sleep with him naked.

The issue had come to light following a report by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on the condition of shelter homes across the country. Following peoples outrage over the issue, the probe into the case was transferred to CBI and the agency chargesheeted 21 people, including Thakur.

"During investigation, from the statement of victims recorded by IOs (investigating officers) and NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences) team, names of 11 girls emerged who were said to be allegedly murdered by the accused Brajesh Thakur and his accomplices," the CBI said.

"Based on the facts revealed by one accused, namely Guddu Patel during his interrogation, a particular spot in burial ground as identified by accused Guddu Patel was excavated and a bundle of bones were recovered from the spot," CBI said in the affidavit filed on an application which had alleged that it had not conducted a proper probe in the case.

The matter came up for hearing on Friday before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta. The bench said that it would issue a formal notice to the CBI on the application and the agency would file its response within four weeks.

(With inputs from the agencies)

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New Delhi:

Calling the trade across Line of Control a confidence building measure Pakistan on Thursday condemned its unilateral suspension. Pakistan expressed hope that the trade is resumed soon between the two nations. India last week indefinitely suspended cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, following reports that it was being misused by elements from across the border to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency.



The trade was halted at Salamabad of Baramulla in Kashmir region, and Chakkan-da-Bagh of Poonch district in Jammu region.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal condemned the unilateral suspension of the trade by India and said, We hope that trade is resumed soon, as it is a confidence building measure between the two countries.

Earlier, an official had said at least 10 militants, who had crossed over to Pakistan, set up businesses across the border with the active aid of ISI and were involved in the recently suspended cross LoC trade to provide funds to terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.

These Jammu and Kashmir natives are either based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan or Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and operating businesses ranging from almonds, dry dates, dry fruits to mangoes as part of the modus operandi to send money to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, they had said.



"These 10 militants were using the cross LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and PoK to fund terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir," a senior security official had said.

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New Delhi:

The judges of the Supreme Court Justice Chandrachud and Justice Nariman have asked the in-house panel probing sexual harassment allegations against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to not proceed without the presence of petitioner. Justice Chandrachud, accompanied by Justice Rohintan Nariman, met the inquiry panel comprising Justices S A Bobde, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee on Friday evening. It is believed that the two judges discussed their concerns about the ongoing probe with the panel, according to the Indian Express.



Justice Chandrachud is in line to be the Chief Justice for two years, from 2022 to 2024 and Justice Nariman is at present a member of the Collegium.

Earlier, the woman, who levelled the allegations, walked out of the inquiry committee, raising objections over various issues, including denial of her lawyer's presence.



The woman, who issued the press statement after participating in the proceedings for three days before the three-member panel headed by Justice S A Bobde, also expressed apprehension that she was "not likely to get justice" from the panel which not only refused her request for presence of lawyer Vrinda Grover during the proceedings but also told her if she did not participate "they would proceed ex-parte".



On Wednesday, CJI Ranjan Gogoi met the three-member panel, headed by Justice S A Bobde, looking into allegations of sexual harassment. "A letter of request was issued to the Chief Justice of India asking him to meet the committee and he responded to it and he met the committee on this issue," the source said.

In her affidavit, the woman described two incidents of alleged harassment, days after Justice Gogoi was appointed CJI last October and her subsequent persecution.

The woman alleged that she was removed from service after she rebuffed his "sexual advances". She claimed that her husband and brother-in-law, both of whom were head constables of Delhi Police, were suspended for a 2012 criminal case that had been mutually resolved.

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New Delhi:

A Russian plane made an emergency landing at Moscow airport after a fire broke out mid-flight on Sunday, according to initial media reports. Videos on social media show passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the aircraft. Other footage shows the plane landing while on fire and black smoke billowing from it on the tarmac.A At least six people were injured during evacuation of the plane, Interfax reported.

BREAKING: Aeroflot #SU1492 Moscow Sheremetyevo to Murmansk (Sukhoi SuperJet SSJ100 RA-89098) declared an emergency & returned to SVO on fire at 1530UTC. Passengers seen evacuating. Extent of casualties not yet known. More soon...



Video credit & more videos: @dimsmirnov175 pic.twitter.com/HUPHJl9aIb a Airport Webcams (@AirportWebcams) May 5, 2019

The Interfax agency reported that the plane, a Russian-made Superjet-100, had just taken off from Sheremetyevo airport on a domestic route when the crew issued a distress signal.

"It attempted an emergency landing but did not succeed the first time, and on the second time the landing gear hit (the ground), then the nose did, and it caught fire," a source told Interfax.

The agencies did not immediately say how many people were on board and TASS did not specify the number of injured. It said ambulances were sent to the scene of the landing and the passengers were evacuated.

Russian television showed a column of smoke towering over the plane. Other images showed the aircraft on fire as it attempted to land, then passengers leaving by a forward door.

According to the Ria Novosti news agency, the plane had been headed to the far northwest city of Murmansk in Russia. It said initial indications suggested an electrical fault might have caused the fire while the plane was in the air.A

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New Delhi:

One of the worlds most influential businessmen and billionaire Warren Buffett on Saturday said that he would not hesitate to fly in a Boeing 737 Max airplane, despite the grounding of the planes after two fatal crashes. I will never hesitate even for a second to fly on a 737 MAX, he said in response to a question from news agency AFP on the side lines of the annual shareholder meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway empire in Omaha. Buffett, the worlds third-richest man, owns stakes in companiesfrom Coca-Cola to JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs to Apple and, recently, Amazonbut he holds no shares in Boeing.

Boeings entire 737 MAX fleet has been grounded since shortly after the latest crash in March, while investigators study the incidents and engineers work on solutions.



On Saturday, a Boeing 737 went into the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida in US with 136 on board after landing on Friday, a spokesman for Naval Air Station Jacksonville said, reported news agency Reuters. No fatalities were however reported. The flight arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba went into the river at the end of the runway at about 9:40 p.m. local time, the air station said. The mayor of Jacksonville tweeted that everyone on board the flight was alive and accounted for but that crews were working to control jet fuel on the water.

"The plane was not submerged. Every person is alive and accounted for," the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said on Twitter. The sheriff's tweet was accompanied by two photographs showing the plane bearing the logo of Miami Air International resting in shallow water and fully intact.

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New Delhi :

The Narendra Modi government on Saturday told the Supreme Court that its December 14, 2018 order upholding 36 Rafale fighter jets deal was correct and it now cant be reviewed based on internal file notings. In a fresh affidavit filed before the top court, the Centre said, "The Dec 14, 2018 judgement upholding 36 Rafale jets' deal was correct and unsubstantiated media reports or internal file notings deliberately projected in a selective manner cannot form basis for review."

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Rafale review petitions on May 6. The top court had issued formal notice to Centre seeking its replu on on review petitions filed against the December 14 judgement on Rafale deal.

On this, Attorney General KK Venugopal had sought four-week time to file reply on the review. Court then asked Centre to file reply by May 4 and posted the matter for hearing on May 6.

Last month, the Supreme Court had dismissed governments objection claiming privilege over stolen documents which were used by petitioners to seek review of Rafale judgement. The Supreme Court had allowed the admissibility of three of the procured documents in Rafale deal.

On April 13, the Ministry of Defence had rejected a media report claiming that France waived off taxes worth 143.7 million Euros to a telecom subsidiary of Anil Ambani's company in 2015, months after India's announcement of buying 36 Rafale jets.

The clarification from the government came after The Le Monde, a leading French newspaper, claimed that the tax authorities in France accepted 7.3 million euros from Reliance Flag Atlantic France as a settlement as against original demand of 151 million euros. Reliance Flag owns a terrestrial cable network and other telecom infrastructure in France.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Saturday slapped by a man during his roadshow in Delhis Moti Nagar area. Ever since he entered politics, this Aam Aadmi Party chief has been a target of public attacks. Kejriwal was atop an open jeep when a man wearing a red t-shirt jumped onto the vehicle and slapped the chief minister.

Kejriwal, who now has a Z-plus security, has been attacked several times since 2013. Here is a look at the previous incidents:

February 2019: Kejriwals car was allegedly attacked by a mob armed with sticks in Delhis Narela. A group of about 100 men tried to stop Kejriwal's car and attacked it with sticks. The incident occurred when Kejriwal had gone to the outer Delhi locality to inaugurate development works in 25 unauthorised colonies.

November 2018: A man flung chilli powder at Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat. The accused was targeting the bespectacled chief ministers eyes, according to police. After throwing red chilli powder on the Delhi CM, the accused threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail.

April 2016: An Aam Aadmi Sena member hurled a shoe at Kejriwal while he was announcing details of the second phase of the odd and even road rationing scheme.

Barely a minute after the CM began reading details, man identified as Ved Prakash shouted that an odd even scam was being done by giving away CNG stickers through illegitimate means, following which he hurled a show towards Kejriwal but failed to hit him.

March 2016: A mob pelted Kejriwals vehicle with stones and broke its widnscreen at Punjabs Hassanour village. Kejriwal escaped without injury though the shattered glass fell on him.

January 2016: In first attack on him since he became the chief minister of Delhi, Kejriwal was attacked by a woman who threw ink on him alleging a CNG scam in the national capital.

April 2014: During his roadshow in Delhis Sultanpuri area, Kejriwal was attacked by an auto rickshaw driver who slapped him twice after garlanding him.

Delhi Assembly elections 2014: Holding a roadshow in Delhis Dakshinpuri area, Kejriwal was punched on his back by a man while the former was shaking hands with his supporters.

March 2014: Some people threw ink at Kejriwal and even threw eggs at his open vehicle when he was campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi.

November 2013: A man, claiming to be a supporter of Anna Hazare, threw ink at Kejriwal when he was holding a press conference in Delhi.
New Delhi:

In the fifth of the seven phases of general election 2019 two school buildings that were designated as polling booths have been set on fire in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district. In Jammu and Kashmir, polling is taking place in Ladakh constituency and Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag seat.



On Friday, at least three terrorists were killed on Friday morning in south Kashmir's Shopian district. Acting on a specific input, security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Adkhara area of Imam Sahib of Shopian district. As the search party reached, security forces received bullets from the terrorists ensuing into the encounter. Immediately security forces retaliated heavily and eliminated three hardcore terrorists. The three slain terrorists were identified as Lateef Ahmad Dar, Tariq Moulvi and Shariq Ahmad Negroo.

Interestingly, with the end of Lateef Ahmad Dar  all 11 out of 12 Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists led by Burhan Wani are now eliminated. Only of the remaining 12, Tariq Pandit, was arrested by the security forces in 2016. So, officially one can say that so-called Burhan Brigade has been wiped. Also, with an end of Lateef, it is an end to the pioneers of new-age terrorism in Kashmir valley.

Earlier, a BJP worker, identified as Gul Mohammed Mir, was on Saturday shot dead by terrorists in Verinag area of South Kashmir's Nowgam village. The official said Mir was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition where he succumbed to injuries.
New Delhi:

Bharatiya Janata Partyas (BJP) Amethi Lok Sabha candidate Smriti Irani on Monday accused the Congress of booth capturing as voting is currently underway in the constituency where she is challenging Rahul Gandhi. She alleged that that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was "ensuring booth capturing".

While talking to media, the Union Minister said, "I tweeted an alert to administration and Election Commission, hope they take action.a "People of the country have to decide whether this kind of politics of Rahul Gandhi should be punished or not," she added.

Smriti Irani also accused Rahul Gandhi of resorting to stealing votes in desperation. "He is already a land thief and now is also stealing votes," the Minister added. "They said that chowkidar chor hai but they are the ones who are stealing votes. Rahul Gandhi will have to answer for such acts and the administration must look into the matter," she concluded. Irani, meanwhile, questioned the absence of the Gandhi scion from Amethi.

Earlier, in the day, Smriti Irani tweeted saying, "Alert @ECISVEEP Congress President @RahulGandhi ensuring booth capturing."

Take a look:

A

The Minister also tagged a video in which an elderly women is seen claiming that she was forced to vote for the Congress even though she had planned to press the button against the BJP's lotus symbol on the voting machine.

"They forcibly took my hand and made me press panja," the elderly woman said in the video.

However, there is no written complaint on the matter.A A

On the other hand, the Congress said Smriti Irani was alooking for excusesa. Dismissing Iranias allegation, the Congress said that the BJP candidate was staring at a defeat and so alooking for excusesa. Congress spokesperson Zeeshan Haider said, aIt now is more than clear that she has lost. Now, she is looking for excuses. If Rahul Gandhi ji is capturing booths, and capturing votes, then what is the election commission doing that has been working in a biased manner in favour of Modi and Amit Shah.a

It is to be noted that Amethi had witnessed a bitter battle between the two leaders in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well. Rahul Gandhi had won the seat with a reduced margin of one lakh votes compared to three lakh votes in 2009.

There are five assembly segments in the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency - Amethi town, Gauriganj, Jagdishpur, Tiloi and Salon. Of the five assembly segments, four are represented by the BJP and one by the SP. Salon and Jagdishpur are reserved constituencies.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's had allaeged links with the Scorpene deal and stated reports that mentioned how Gandhi's former business partner benefited from the deal. The PM was addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh. PM Modi was referring to a report which stated that the co-promoter of UK firm Backops Limited acquired defence offsets during the UPA regime. According to filings made by the Backops UK, Rahul Gandhi and Mcknight were the founding directors of the company. Ulrik McKnight was the 35% owner of Backops UK, in which Gandhi owned a 65% equity between 2003 and 2009 before the firm was wound up. McKnight was later director in a company ythat acquired offset contracts from French defence supplier Naval Group against Scorpene submarines in 2011, the report stated.

Rahul Gandhi has also been associated with a company with similar name Backops Services Private Limited where his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra served as a co-director.

On April 30, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice to the Congress president over his citizenship after receiving a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy. "Ministry has received a representation from MP Dr Subramanian Swamy in which it has been brought out that a Company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in the year 2003 and that you were one of the Directors and Secretary of the said Company," the notice read. The company in question was Backops Limited. A firm called Backops Services Private Limited was opened in India with Priyanka and Rahul as directors in 2002. In 2003, it a firm called Backops Limited was incorporated in the UK by Rahul Gandhi and one Ulrik McKnight. Gandhi had 65% stake while McKnight had 35%.

In 2004, in his election affidavit, Gandhi had declared moveable assets belonging to Backops UK. The company was subsequently dissolved in February 2009 along with the Indian entity Backops Services Private Limited.
Seoul:

North Korea launched unidentified projectiles into the sea on Saturday, the South Korean military said, in what could be Pyongyangs first short-range missile launch for more than a year as it seeks to up pressure on Washington with nuclear talks deadlocked.

The United States and North Korea have been at loggerheads since the collapse of a summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump in February, where the two sides clashed over sanctions and the extent of Pyongyangs concessions on its atomic arsenal.

North Korea "fired a number of short-range projectiles from its Hodo peninsula near the east coast town of Wonsan to the northeastern direction from 9:06 am (0006 GMT) to 09:27 am today", the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The projectiles travelled from 70 to 200 kilometres (45 to 125 miles) towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, the JCS added.

In an earlier statement, it had said Pyongyang had launched an unidentified short-range missile.

The last North Korean missile launch was in November 2017.

The latest firing comes just a day after South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Pyongyang should show visible, concrete and substantial denuclearisation action if it wants sanctions relief.

That issue was also at the centre of the February talks in Hanoi, where North Korea demanded immediate sanctions relief, but the two sides disagreed on what Pyongyang should give up in return.

Earlier this week, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui warned Washington of an unwanted outcome if it did not adjust its stance on economic sanctions.

North Korea did not carry out any missile or nuclear tests last year, as Kim held his first historic summits with the leaders of the United States and South Korea.

Saturdays launch does not violate Kim Jong Uns self-imposed missile-testing moratorium, which only applied to intercontinental-range ballistic missiles, said North Korea analyst Ankit Panda.

North Korea historically did not generally test anything while talks were on with the US. Talks are not on. The White House said it was aware of North Koreas actions tonight.

We will continue to monitor as necessary, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Japan, meanwhile, said there was no confirmation of ballistic missiles entering its territory.

At this point, there is no confirmation of any situation that may impact our national security, the Japanese defence ministry said in a statement.

Hodo Peninsula, where Saturdays firing took place, has been used as a training area for live-fire testing, training exercises for artillery and coastal defence cruise missiles since the 1960s, according to the respected 38 North website.

It wasnt until the mid-1990s that a formal training area was established in the region, and Hodo has been increasingly used for ballistic missile and long-range artillery rocket testing during the last 10 years, it added.

Since the collapse of the Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump in February, South Korean president Moon Jae-inwho brokered the first meeting between the mercurial leadershas tried to salvage diplomacy, but Pyongyang has remained largely unresponsive.

Kim slammed the South in a speech to his countrys rubber-stamp legislature last month, saying it should not pose as a meddlesome mediator between the US and Pyongyang.

Last week, on the anniversary of the Panmunjom summit, Pyongyangs state media KCNA said Washington and Seoul keep pushing the situation of the Korean peninsula and the region to an undesirable phase, criticising their joint military exercises.

Chairman Kim has decided to remind the worldand specifically the United Statesthat his weapons capabilities are growing by the day, said Harry J Kazianis, Director of Korean Studies at the Center for the National Interest.

My fear is that we are at the beginning stages of a slide back to the days of nuclear war threats and personal insults, a dangerous cycle of spiking tensions that must be avoided at all costs.

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Noida:

A bus ferrying over 40 female employees of a private company overturned here on Saturday morning after it was hit by a speeding truck, resulting in injuries to several passengers, police said.

The incident took place around 6 am at a roundabout in Sector 93 here, under Phase 2 police station limits, an official said.

The bus had 42 passengers, all women employees of a private firm, who were on their way to work when their vehicle overturned after being hit by a truck, SHO Phase 2 Farmood Ali Pundir said.

All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, while those critically wounded were taken to Kailash Hospital, he said.

The truck involved in the incident has been impounded and its driver detained, the SHO said.

There is no law and order situation at the site and further probe is underway, Pundir said, adding there has been no official complaint in the matter.
New Delhi:

The Ramzan moon was not sighted anywhere in India on Sunday evening, hence the first day of Ramzan will begin on May 7 (Tuesday), announced Hilal committees. The crescent was predicted to be spotted on Sunday. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka will begin their fasts from May 7.

As per precedent, the moon is sighted in Indian subcontinent region only a day after it has been spotted in the western hemisphere. Hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world began fasting on May 17 from sunrise to sunset for the month of Ramzan, a time of contemplation, fortitude and intense worship.

Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk on Ramzan, which is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar and is considered a holy period.

The objective of the fast is to remind the suffering of the less fortunate and to bring the followers closer to God. As mentioned in the holy book, Quran, Muslims, during this month, are supposed to donate alms to the poor and feed the hungry.



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New Delhi:

Asteroids may hit Earth in next eight years, reports suggest. The proceedings on the second day of a conference on cosmic threats to our planet was interrupted by Paul Chodas for an important message. Paul is the manager of NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies. According to the new calculations there are 10 per cent chances that an asteroid named 2019 PDC would strike Earth. This can happen anytime in next eight years and can tether enough energy to level a whole city.

Soon after he made the announcement, he asked audience, what did they want to do about it? Quickly turning sides, Paul said, before you start stocking up on canned goods know that this was a fictional exercise. The asteroid 2019 PDC does not exist. No city on Earth is thought to be imperiled by a catastrophic impact. Indeed, analyses of more than 20,000 known near-Earth objects suggest the chance of any hitting us in the next century is less than 1 in 10,000.

According to the Weather Network, there are just over 20,000 known Near-Earth Asteroids. A little less than 10 per cent of those are considered 'potentially hazardous asteroids' or PHAs. A potentially hazardous asteroid is not necessarily one that is expected to hit Earth. It is simply an asteroid that is at least 140 metres across, which comes closer than 7.5 million kilometres from Earth at some point in its orbits around the Sun. The smallest PHA, if it actually hit Earth, could potentially level a city. The largest, up above 1 kilometre in diameter, could cause catastrophic damage on a planetary scale.



The population of smaller objects such as the fictional 2019 PDC, which was estimated to be about 600 feet wide, is not so well defined. However, these objects still have the potential to demolish states and even continents. This is the seventh table top exercise NASA has participated in to help game out what scientists and emergency managers would need to consider if one of these asteroids was headed our way.

NASAs top concern this week seemed to be making sure everyone understood this was a drill. "If you tweet about this," communications officer JoAnna Wendell urged the audience, "please use the hashtag 'exercise only.' We don't want to get into a 'War of the Worlds' scenario."

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New Delhi:

Kerala SSCLC Results 2019: SSLC result for Kerala students has been announced today. The Kerala Board students who have appeared for the examination are asked to keep all the details ready for the fast and easy access to the results. The scorecards will be available on the official website of the board i.e. keralaresults.nic.in. The candidates must also note that they can also check their results by clicking on the link given below.

CLICK HERE FOR KERALA SSLC RESULTS 2019

So according to the latest reports, Kerala Education Minister Prof. C. Raveendranath will announce the SSLC result in a press conference and then the results will be released online. More than 4.35 lakh students took the SSLC exam held in March and are awaiting the results. Along with the SSLC results, Kerala government will release THSLC, THSLC (Hearing impaired), SSLC (Hearing impaired) and AHSLC results.

For the convenience of the students, we have mentioned the steps through which the candidates can download the answer sheets:

Step 1: Visit english.newsnationtv.com/board-result

Step 2: Click on the Kerala Board class SSLC result page

Step 3: Enter your roll number/roll code

Step 4: Click on the submit button

Step 5: Check your scores

Last year, the results of Kerala SSLC were declared on 3 May, 2018 and the pass percentage stood at 97.84 percent.

About Kerala State Education Board

The Kerala State Education Board is also known as the Kerala Board of Higher Secondary Education. It is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The state Education Board was established in the year 1990 to restructure the operations of Secondary and Collegiate Education in Kerala. There are quite a few private and government schools associated and affiliated with the Kerala Board. The SSLC and the HSC Board exams are conducted by the Kerala Board every year and the results are declared by the board as well. The certificates are provided to the qualified students by the Kerala Board. The official website of the board is www.keralaresults.nic.in.

Apart from the SSLC examination, Pareeksha Bhavan also conducts other examinations, for certification of qualified teaching faculty through KTET and other similar examinations. The Kerala SSLC Result 2019 will be accessible through the official website of Pareeksha Bhavan.
New Delhi:

MAT Admit Card 2019: All India Management Association (AIMA) has released MAT 2019 Admit Card on its official website. Candidates who have registered themselves for AIMA MAT paper based test for May 2019 session can download the admit card from the official website aima.in.

The AIMA MAT Admit Card are available for all those candidates who have done the registration till April 26, 2019. Candidates are required to enter their Registration number, Date of Birth and Email ID to download the admit card.

Steps to download the admit card:



 Visit the official website of AIMA, aima.in

 Click on the MAT link on the homepage

 A new page will open. Click on the link on the homepage which says click here to download PBT Admit card

 A new window will open. Enter Roll number, date of birth and Email-ID

 Click submit button to view admit card

 The Admit card will be displayed on the screen

 Download it for further reference



The offline examination will be held on May 5, 2019, while the online examination will be held on May 18, 2019. The offline examination will be held for a duration of 2.5 hours and the computer-based test will be held in single or different time slots at specific test venues; depending on the candidates' registration. The admit card for the computer-based examination will be released online on May 13, 2019.
New Delhi:

Former IPS officer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate Bharati Ghosh has sparked a controversy with her alleged remarks that she would get Trinamool workers beaten like dogs if they wont allow proper conduct votes.

Ghosh, who was once considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said this while campaigning at Ghatal constituency.

"Get inside your houses and do not try to show your smartness here. There will be no place to hide. I will drag you out of your house and kill you like a dog.... I will bring over 1,000 men from UP, put them inside your residence and teach you a lesson," the BJP nominee said while campaigning in his constituency.

Mamata Banerjee hit back at Gosh saying dont make me open my mouth.

"Do not make me open my mouth. If I make public the SMSs that you had sent to me as a police officer, I won't have to say anything more against you. You must remember, there are so many cases against you. Had we wished to keep you behind bars, we could have arrested you. There is Supreme Court bar on arresting you only in one case," said Banerjee while campaigning for Trinamool candidate and Bengali film star Dev Adhikari.

Meanwhile, senior Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee said in Kolkata that the party will move the Election Commission to complaint against Ghosh, who was once the superintendent of police in West Midnapore district in which Ghatal falls, for this comment.

The Election Commission sought a report from the district administration after taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, officials said in Kolkata.

Ghosh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the month of February and was later fielded from Ghatal parliamentary seat, which will go to polls on May 12.

She was the West Midnapore SP for more than six years. The officer was transferred as commandant of the third battalion of the state armed police, considered a less important post, on December 26, 2017 and she resigned from service two days later.

Winner of a service medal on August 15, 2014, Ghosh was transferred by the Election Commission before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. She was, however, reinstated as West Midnapore SP as soon as the elections got over.

An arrest warrant was issued against Ghosh in February, 2018 in connection with an extortion case registered at Daspur police station in West Midnapore district, following her resignation.

With PTI Inputs
New Delhi:

Hours after former prime minister Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack at the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hit back at the former, saying the Congress leader has no sense of economy and politics. Earlier in the day, in one of his most fierce attacks on the BJP dispensation, Singh said Modi should be shown exit door as his five-year rule has been "most traumatic and devastating" for India, adding that demonetisation was perhaps the "biggest scam" of independent India.

In a stern reply, Jaitley, on the other hand said, the former prime minister had brought down his party to the lowest ever strength in Parliament and lost the sense of economy after he stepped into politics.

Taking to twitter, Jaitley wrote, "When an Economist turns into a politician, he looses sense of both economy and politics". "Dr Manmohan Singh left behind in 2014 an economic slowdown, policy paralysis and corruption. He brought down his party to lowest ever strength in Parliament. India was a part of the fragile five," he added.

"Today he regards the Worldas fastest growing major economy as disastrous," the finance minister alleged in a series of tweets.

When an Economist turns into a politician, he looses sense of both economy and politics. a Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 5, 2019

Dr. Manmohan Singh left behind in 2014 an economic slowdown, policy paralysis and corruption. He brought down his party to lowest ever strength in Parliament. India was a part of the fragile five. a Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 5, 2019

Today he regards the Worldas fastest growing major economy as disastrous. a Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 5, 2019

Singh, in an exclusive interview with PTI, on Sunday accused the Modi government of leaving the economy in dire straits due to its "lack of economic vision". The senior economist also alleged that the lack of any vision or understanding of the country's dynamics of the economy by the Narendra Modi-led government has led to "disruptive" decisions like demonetisation.

In an apparent reference to Modias "bhrashtachari No 1" remark on late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Jaitley further asked why Rahul Gandhi gets disturbed when integrity issues of his father are raised and the 'Q' connection in the Bofors gun-deal is questioned.

Addressing an election rally in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, Modi had on Saturday took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, sayingA "Your father was termed Mr Clean by his courtiers, but his life ended as bhrashtachari No 1".

Replying to this, the Gandhi scion had tweeted, "Modi Ji, The battle is over. Your Karma awaits you. Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won't protect you. All my love and a huge hug?"

Jaitley in his response, said, "Why is Rahul Gandhi so disturbed if integrity issues of the Rajiv Gandhi Government are raised? Why did Ottavio Quattrocchi get kickbacks in Bofors? Who was the aQa connection? No reply has come".

Why is Rahul Gandhi so disturbed if integrity issues of the Rajiv Gandhi Government are raised? Why did Ottavio Quattrocchi get kickbacks in Bofors? Who was the aQa connection? No reply has come. a Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 5, 2019

"The Dynast can attack the integrity of India's Prime Minister a a man of utmost honesty. Does he believe that the dynasty does not have to answer any questions?" the senior BJP leader went on to claim further.

The Dynast can attack the integrity of Indiaas Prime Minister a a man of utmost honesty. Does he believe that the dynasty does not have to answer any questions? a Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 5, 2019

Moving on to former prime minister Indira Gandhi, Jaitley said the Congress is questioned about the Emergency and the Operation Blue Star even after the assassination of the party stalwart. "Indira Gandhi was also assassinated and yet Congress is questioned about Emergency and Operation Blue Star," he wrote.

Indira Gandhi was also assassinated and yet Congress is questioned about Emergency and Operation Blue Star. a Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 5, 2019

The Bofors defence deal was believed to be one of the primary reasons for the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress's defeat in the 1989 Lok Sabha polls.
New Delhi:

A three-member in-house committee of the Supreme Court has found no substance in the sexual harassment allegations against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. The panel headed by Justice SA Bobde "has found no substance" in the allegations by a former woman employee of the apex court.

A notice by the office of Supreme Court Secretary General also said that the report of the committee constituted as part of the In-House procedure is not liable to be made public. The In-House Inquiry Committee has submitted its report dated May 5, 2019 in accordance with the In-House procedure, to the next senior judge, after Justice Bobde who is competent to receive the report and also sent a copy to the judge concerned, namely the Chief Justice of India, it said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea seeking direction to the CBI to lodge an FIR into the alleged conspiracy to "fix" Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in a "concocted, false sexual harassment" case and said the matter would come up for hearing in the "due course".

The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench comprising Justices SA Bobde and SA Nazeer. Advocate ML Sharma, who has filed the petition, urged the bench to list his plea for hearing on May 8.

"What is the urgency? You have filed it and it will come up for hearing," the bench said. "It will be listed in due course," it added.

Sharma, who initially urged the apex court that his plea be listed for hearing on May 8, later told the bench that he was not seeking urgent listing of the matter. He said his plea be listed for hearing before the same bench which has dealt with a matter in which a lawyer has filed an affidavit claiming larger conspiracy to frame the CJI.

Sharma has named activist lawyers like Prashant Bhushan, Shanti Bhushan, Kamini Jaiswal, Vrinda Grover, Indira Jaising, Nina Gupta Bhasin and Dushyant Dave as parties in his public interest litigation (PIL).

He has alleged that the actions of some of the lawyers amounted to "contempt of court" and there was a "planned conspiracy" to defame the CJI.

It also seeks a direction to CBI to register an FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against these lawyers and the NGOs run by them, to arrest them and to investigate the case since 2010.

The apex court had on April 25 appointed former apex court judge Justice AK Patnaik to hold inquiry into the allegations of larger conspiracy to frame the CJI and fixing of benches in the top court. However, the court had made it clear that inquiry by Justice (retd) Patnaik will not deal with the allegations of sexual harassment against the CJI, levelled by an ex-employee of the top court.

It had also said that outcome of the inquiry will not affect the in-house committee, which is dealing with the complaint against the CJI.

The court's order was passed while hearing advocate Utsav Singh Bains' affidavit in which the lawyer has claimed larger conspiracy to "fix" the CJI and fixing of benches in the apex court.

Bains had filed an affidavit following the unprecedented hearing on April 20 during which Justice Gogoi had said some "bigger force" was behind the sexual harassment allegations as they wanted to "deactivate" the CJI's office.

(With PTI inputs)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

A 32-year-old man and his 33-year-old childhood sweetheart were arrested for allegedly killing the formers wife and trying to project it as a suicide in southwest Delhis Kishangarh, the police said. The accused, Rahul Kumar Mishra is a mechanical engineer and Padma Tiwari, who works at an MNC in Gurugran, were arrested on Wednesday, they said. On March 16, the Kishangarh police station was informed by Fortis Hospital that one Pooja Rai was brought to the hospital by her husband and she was declared dead there, police said.

Since Pooja died within seven years of marriage, the Mehrauli executive magistrate was informed an enquiry was initiated. Her autopsy was conducted at the Safdurjung Hospital and the reports showed that her death was homicidal. Pooja was found to be strangulated and had injury marks on her occipital bone. Her fathers statement was recorded and a probe initiated to ascertain the cause of death. Her husband, other family members and his friend Padma, who was said to have visited Rai on the day of her death, were kept on technical surveillance, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Devender Arya said.

On Wednesday, the accused were interrogated and confronted with the discrepancies in their statements. During inquiry, it was revealed that the childhood lovers had hatched the conspiracy to eliminate Pooja in order to re-unite, he added. The accused told the police that they were schoolmates in Padma and Rahul had studied together in Jharkhands Sindri Dhanbad and were in a relationship but eventually lost touch.

They reunited in 2015 and wanted to get married, however, their parents opposed the relationship citing different castes. Rahuls marriage was fixed to Pooja, who also belonged to Sindri, Jharkhand, in January 2017. Rahul told Pooja about their relationship with the hope that she would refuse to get married to him but she didnt and they got married in April that year.

Meanwhile, Rahul and Padma continued their relationship. Eight months ago, Rahul asked Pooja to take Padmas help in securing a job. Pooja allegedly taunted Padma over her relationship with Rahul. They then hatched a plan to kill Pooja, the officer said.

On the day of the killing, Padma went to meet Pooja at her house in Kishangarh as per plan. They had breakfast together, but Padma had to wait to execute the plan as the domestic help was still present there, he said.

Later, Padma overpowered Pooja and hit her head on the ground several times and smothered her. Then, she kept a letter close to the body to mislead the police. In the evening, she told Rahul on phone that she had murdered Pooja, the police said.

In the four-page fake suicide note, Padma mentioned that a man had committed suicide because of Pooja, which is why she was committing suicide. "The fake suicide note written by Padma spoke about how Pooja had 'cheated' a man, which led to him committing suicide. The note mentioned how this has affected her badly and prompted her to take the extreme step, the police said. The accused wanted to make it seem like Pooja had committed suicide out of guilt and wanted to defame her.

For all the Latest Crime News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Tokyo:

A Japanese aerospace start up funded by a former internet maverick has successfully launched a small rocket into space. Interstellar Technology Inc. says the unmanned MOMO-3 rocket has exceeded 100 kilometres (60 miles) in altitude before falling into the Pacific Ocean.

The company says it proves that a rocket using mostly commercial parts can reach the space.

The rocket, about 10 meters (32 feet) long and 50 centimetres (1.5 feet) in diameter, weighs about 1 ton. The rocket is capable of putting payloads into orbit.

The company, founded in 2013 by former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie, aims to develop low-cost commercial rockets to carry satellites into space.

Saturdays success came after two failures in 2017 and 2018. It is Japans first privately developed rocket to reach the outer space.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

When you are sick, you need 'khichdi', says senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders repeated khichdi government barb at the opposition. The country will "resoundingly cure" the nation's "political sickness" by showing the door to the BJP, the author-politician said, referencing the 'khichdi', a dal-rice-vegetable mix viewed as a recipe to counter all kinds of ailments that has become an oft-used metaphor in political discourse.

In an interview to PTI, he said there will be a new coalition government at the Centre with the Congress as its fulcrum come May 23 when the Lok Sabha poll results will be out.

On Modi's 'mahamilawat' (adulterated) jibe, Tharoor said the BJP has resorted to similar messaging every time it is pushed to the back foot, whether it is speaking of a "tukde-tukde gang", labelling people "anti-national" or asking those who don't agree with their worldview to go to Pakistan.

"Narendra Modi and his party are clearly experts in the politics of misrepresentation and peddling a divisive and jingoistic narrative, which is all they have to offer given their disastrous record in office," the former Union minister said.

On the BJP's nationalism narrative, he alleged that Prime Minister Modi himself has not shied away from politicising the armed forces, or projecting himself as the only capable protector of the country's national security.

He said the BJP is making the "callous assumption" that the Indian voter will forget that the promised "achhe din" never came.

"When BJP supporters speak of ?mahamilawat' or say another coalition government would be a 'khichdi', I respond that when you are sick, you need khichdi!" he said.

"I have no doubt that the country will resoundingly cure our nation's political sickness by showing the door to the BJP by the 23rd of May," the former Union minister added.

Addressing a poll rally in Koderma, Jharkhand, Modi last week said the opposition's 'mission mahamilawat' is keen to form a "khichdi" government at the Centre, the strings of which will remain in the hands of the Congress.

Other senior BJP leaders have also warned against a ?khichdi government' of opposition parties, asserting the BJP can provide a "mazboot sarkaar (strong government)" as opposed to the opposition's "majboor sarkaar (helpless government)".

Tharoor, who is seeking a third straight Lok Sabha term from Thiruvanathapuram, that went to polls on April 23, also said the current mood of the nation is overwhelmingly in favour of the Congress and this has been a source of great optimism and infectious energy for the party's ranks.

The voters of the country are simply fed up with the last five years of inept governance, divisive and communal politics and callous policymaking that has been the hallmark of the present ruling dispensation and are making their frustration clear while exercising their franchise, he claimed.

The Congress' credible narrative that has been put forward by the party has found widespread acceptance and popular support across the country, Tharoor added.

"At an ideological level, our idea of an inclusive India, one where all voices matter equally and are heard is in stark contrast to the idea of India that our present political masters have put forward, one where some voices come first and others are beyond comprehension," the 63-year-old leader said.

Tharoor also said the Congress has spelt out a vision for the country that has been equally well received. The most notable example of this being the minimum income guarantee scheme ?NYAY'.

The scheme's design, scale and impact is nothing short of revolutionary and there is palpable excitement across the country on the new paradigms of development, social justice and mobility that this will introduce, he said.

"There is the undeniable fact that several parties that are currently ranged against our candidates in various states are far more likely to support a Congress-led UPA-3 in a post-poll scenario than to go with a BJP-led alternative," he asserted.

In the event of neither party being able to command a majority by itself, the Congress' chances of forming a broad-based post-poll coalition are much brighter than the BJP's, Tharoor claimed.

Asked whether post-poll alliances could be a tricky proposition for the Congress as SP and BSP could seek a hard bargain, Tharoor said the Congress has an impressive track record of being able to stitch together post-poll alliances with like-minded partners.

There is mutual respect between regional players and the Congress, which has always left the door open for an amicable post-poll alliance, he said.

"At the same time, with regard to situations we have seen with the SP and the BSP prior to the elections, what needs to be made clear is the distinction between the grounds for a pre-poll alliance and a post-poll alliance," he said.

Asserting that the calculations are very different in a post-poll scenario, Tharoor said the question that needs to be answered in such a situation is fundamentally whether parties that are not regular allies of the Congress can find enough common ground with it to form a government together.

"If the answer is yes, then we will strive towards drawing up a common minimum programme that is acceptable for all partners, as opposed to the broader, more widespread and more enduring agreement that we have with our pre-poll partners," he said.
As he's gotten older, British actor Idris Elba has changed his drinking habits since beer is "not so good on the belly" anymore.

"Back in the day, I was a good beer drinker, but as I've gotten older, it's not so good for my stomach." I've become really interested in whiskey, particularly Japanese whisky, as a result of seeing amazing locations in Japan and conversing with people who know more than I do.

"If it's the beginning of the night and we want to party and I'm not too exhausted, I'll start with vodka and work my way up to tequila and tonic - I prefer to keep things simple." According to media sources, the 'Mountain Between Us' actor has built his own bar, Porte Noire, in London's King's Cross, and has drawn inspiration from his "warm connection" with other bars and pubs.

"I've been going to bars my whole life and I have a really warm relationship with them - definitely more than I'm permitted to confess," he told Big Hospitality. I've lived in a lot of different locations, met a lot of interesting people, and expanded my bartender profession.

"I've worked in them, been drunk in them, and they're a place where I feel at ease." I wanted to make something that was luxurious and unique, but yet relatable, warm, and inviting."

Dressed as Baby Yoda for Halloween, Lizzo strolls among Hollywood tourists wearing an unrecognizable dress

Alec Baldwin's wife Hilaria says 'I'm here' in a supportive message surrounding the Rust shooting

Idris Elba says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was his 'most stressful' gig; Here's why
Israel: For the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, Israel has begun allowing vaccinated tourists to enter the country. According to reports, non-Israeli citizens have only been allowed into Israel in exceptional circumstances, such as a small number of tourist groups.

According to the Ministry of Health, those who have not spent the previous two weeks in a country classified as "red" with high morbidity will be allowed to enter Israel. Visitors must be immunised against the virus with one of eight vaccine brands: Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Covishield, and SputniK-V.

Travellers who have recovered from the virus will be allowed to enter Israel if they present a certificate that the Ministry's systems can digitally verify. Every traveller will also be required to present a negative coronavirus test result taken 72 hours prior to arrival in Israel, as well as fill out and submit an entry statement. The outline is only valid for entry through Ben Gurion International Airport outside of Tel Aviv, according to the Ministry. All arrivals will be subjected to a second coronavirus test at the Israeli airport, as well as a 24-hour quarantine period until the results are received.

Sri Lanka approves launch of five new airlines in order to boost tourism.

Civil Aviation Minister Scindia flags off first Dibrugarh-Shillong direct flight

SpiceJet announces launch of 28 new domestic flights from Oct 31
Srinagar: Pakistan is not taking the name of deterring from its nefarious activities even after eating its mouth from India every time. He is constantly trying to create a sensitive situation between the relations between the two countries, including the border through his actions. Militants have reportedly carried out a grenade attack in Bandipora area of north Kashmir.

According to sources, the intention of the attack was to target security forces but the terrorists missed the target and the grenade fell not on the security forces but among the civilians, injuring six civilians. The injured were immdiately rushed to the hospital where they are undergoing treatment. After the attack in Bandipora the situation in the valley has once again become worrying. The deployment of security forces in the Valley has now been increased after the cowardly act of the terrorists.

The deployment of troops has been increased to monitor the activities of the terrorists and a complete roadmap has been prepared by the Army to put an end to every suspicious activity. The Army has also been given a free hand by the Union Home Ministry.
UK: At the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative. On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Glasgow for the COP26 summit.

In Glasgow, Scotland, today, the Prime Minister will meet with the leaders of Ukraine, Nepal, Israel, Switzerland, Finland, and Malawi, as well as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. He is also expected to attend the United States of America's side event, Build Back a Better World. PM Modi will also participate in an event titled "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Development."

PM Modi met Boris Johnson on the sidelines of COP26 on Monday. He stated that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted Prime Minister Modi's invitation to visit India, and that he will plan his trip as soon as the circumstances permit. In Glasgow, he also met with members of the Indian community to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries ahead of his participation in the Conference of Parties' 26th session (COP26).

The COP26 is being hosted by the United Kingdom, with Italy as a partner. The World Leaders' Summit (WLS) is the high-level segment of COP-26, and it brings together heads of state and government from over 120 countries. The Prime Minister is in town for a two-day visit to take part in the festivities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attend COP26 climate summit

Boris Johnson applauds Modi's commitment to a net-zero climate policy.

PM Modi will address CPO26 today, will meet Boris Johnson
Home  Just In  Its Tihar, and its time to talk about light pollution in Nepal

Whereas people enjoy Tihar as the festival of lights, by illuminating their houses and localities in such a way that is never seen other times, Manisha Sharma, a resident of Pokhara, has a peculiar problem about excessive and unplanned use of lights. As a person whose eyes are very sensitive to light and dust, she always has too much trouble with excessive lighting.

A few months ago, there was construction work going on near her home. They had installed extremely bright lights there for security reasons. As the light was nearby my room, it obviously entered my place, and I couldnt sleep that whole night. The light was so bright that it hurt my eyes. It caused a headache

Sharma assumes that as light pollution does not show any direct effects on many people, most Nepalis are unaware of it. With the festival of lights, Tihar, approaching, and with very few people conscious of the light pollution and its consequences, experts suggest this is a good time to make yourself aware of light pollution.

Negligible awareness

Somy Bhattarai, a student of environmental science, says light pollution is a sensitive issue, and people should know this.

When I was a child, I remember gazing at skies where nights looked bright and beautiful full of stars and I chased those fireflies which looked amazing hovering around the ground, she questions, Why dont the skies look like before? Where are the fireflies now? Then, she answers that these changes are the result of light pollution.

The Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute in Italy has reportedly said 80 per cent of the landmass of the earth suffers from light pollution.

But, the situation here in Nepal is such that until a neighbour installs a floodlight in his house and projects outside disturbing another neighbour, it will not be realised as pollution, informs Diwakar Bista, an assistant professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kathmandu University, also an expert in the field of illumination engineering.

He adds, People have felt the disturbance caused by light pollution. However, they are yet to realise the discomfort they are suffering from is light pollution, due to a lack of awareness.

Bista explains when light installed is projected in excessive amount or misdirected in some other area or direction than the targeted area or if the light is confined to a certain object or area trespasses, it is called light pollution. In other words, when light, instead of facilitating, affects the natural appearance of any object or thing, this is light pollution.

There is nothing in the world that light pollution does not affect. According to Bista, light pollution not only disturbs the circadian rhythm of humans but also affects the ecosystem, hence impacting the behaviour and survival of numerous species and disrupting nocturnal activities.

Besides, excessive light pollution also washes out starlight in the night sky and contributes to energy wastage, he adds.

Tihar lights vs pollutants

File: An illuminated street in Kathmandu during the Tihar/Deepawali festival, 2019.

However, the issue of light pollution is very subjective. It depends on several factors such as its permissibility given the time and location. For example, festival lighting as during Tihar is not counted as pollution, says Bista.

He describes, No doubt, it does affect but unlike other pollution sources, its effect remains for a short term until the light is turned off. Regarding Tihar, lights are used for a few days only.

Also, as a human, it generally affects the brain. However, Tihar lights are seen as pleasing by most people, so it does not create discomfort, hence is not considered light pollution, he says.

Sharma also shares similar views, I think the lights used as decorations in Tihar are not that bright. Also, I usually dont get outside my home, probably thats why the Tihar lights have not discomforted me.

Meanwhile, Bista comments the key culprit about light pollution is decorative lighting.

Need to control

What is more problematic than festive lighting, according to him, is the similar kind of lighting used all around the year, which is a must to control.

There is no standard of lighting in Nepal, and it has aggravated the problem. Also, neither there is a practice of consulting lighting engineers before installing lights in houses in Nepal, nor is there any discussion about light pollution in society.

The problem of light pollution is not limited to urban areas. The only difference is the intensity of pollution in cities and villages.

Wherever there is the application of electrical lighting systems, if that light is not installed in a well-planned or well-oriented or well-directed way, it will contribute to light pollution, Bista says, But, in the cities, there is the excessive use of commercial lights, hence, it appears there is more pollution in the urban areas.

Like Bista, Bhattarai and Sharma also feel the need to address this problem as soon as possible.

In order to control this, the government should make an arrangement that a system of drafting electrical and light arrangement layout of any structure is followed while constructing a building. The government also needs to monitor the quality of light sources imported, recommends Bista.

There should be a guideline relating to the light use, he says, They should at least follow some global standard even if they cant make their own and follow.
" " "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist" is considered one of the most important paintings in the Western world. And some wonder if it's Caravaggio's tacit admission of killing a man. Alonso de Mendoza/Wikimedia/Public Domain

For centuries people have wondered who was the model for Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and what was the reason for her smile. And why do her eyes seem to follow you around? Some scientists think that thanks to spatial frequency, the smile changes depending on where you look. And as for the model, some think she was the wife of a wealthy patron or that Leonardo even painted himself in the portrait. But the Mona Lisa is just one of the many mysteries in the art world. Here are seven other notable unsolved art mysteries that might be a little less familiar.

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1. Did Caravaggio 'Confess' to a Crime in a Painting?

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was a master of the Italian Baroque, who was known for his strikingly modern use of light. He was also a hot-tempered artist who often got into brawls. In 1606, he killed a man during a petty squabble, then fled Rome for Malta. It was there, in 1608, that he created the masterpiece "The Beheading of John the Baptist." The painting is the only one he signed. Even more intriguing, he signed his name in the pool of blood spilling from St. John the Baptist's neck.

Caravaggio had fled to Malta and joined the Order of St. John, which served the pope, as the court painter. And he needed the pope's permission to return to Rome. Perhaps his bloody signature indicated he'd be saved through the Order of St. John. Or perhaps it was his admission of guilt for the Rome murder. The signature reads "f. michelang." Some think the "F" was shorthand for "frater" or "brother," since Caravaggio was affiliated with the order. Others think the "F" stood for fecit, a Latin word meaning "did," so the signature is really saying "Michelangelo did it," an ambiguous comment, for sure.

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2. Who Is the 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'?

" " The "Girl with a Pearl Earring" has inspired a best-selling book and a popular movie, but the model is still unknown. Crisco/Wikimedia/Public Domain

Around 1665, Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer painted a seductive portrait of a young girl glancing over her shoulder, lips slightly parted. A very large pearl hangs from her ear, while her eyes seem to follow you everywhere. People around the globe have long pondered who this fetching young lady was.

Many say she must have been Vermeer's daughter or mistress. Others posit she wasn't a real person, but rather an intentionally mysterious, timeless figure. Vermeer was a person of intrigue himself. He didn't produce many works of art, for one, and very few biographical documents exist. We do know he was married and had 15 children.

The painting, dubbed the "Mona Lisa of the North," has been part of The Hague's permanent collection since 1903. But it draws record-breaking crowds whenever and wherever it tours around the world.

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3. Where Is Raphael's 'Portrait of a Young Man'?

" " Raphael's "Portrait of a Young Man" went missing during World War II and has still not been found. No one knows its exact colors as the only photos taken of it were in black and white. Algotr/Wikimedia/Public Domain

Seized by the Nazis, "Portrait of a Young Man" is considered one of the most important pieces of art to go missing during World War II. The painting was created around 1513 by Raphael, a famous Italian Renaissance artist, and swiped from Poland's Princes Czartoryski Museum in 1939.

Hans Frank, head of the Nazi General Government in Poland, was the first person to receive the painting, which was intended to be hung in Hitler's planned Fuhrer Museum in Linz. The portrait then traveled to Germany and Austria before ending up back with Frank. When the Allies arrested him in 1945, it was gone.

Rumors occasionally arise that the painting lies with a private collector in another nation, but nothing has ever been confirmed. Today, the Polish government owns the Czartoryski art collection. If the painting is found, it will be hung in the Princes Czartoryski Museum, where its original frame now hangs, empty. The picture is thought to be a self-portrait of Raphael.

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4. Who or What Is Banksy?

" " This Banksy artwork was done on Brick Lane, London, in 2004. To this day, no one knows who the artist Banksy is. Matt Whitby/Wikimedia/Public Domain

Of all the mysteries in the art world, the hidden identity of Banksy may be the most vexing, as Banksy is still alive and creating. Banksy  who some say may be a collection of artists  was first noticed in the early 1990s, creating easily recognizable street art and graffiti. The pieces often carried social or political themes, but some were poignant or humorous. Despite working on highly visible projects over the years, such as the 2010 documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (which received an Academy Award nomination), Banksy has managed to keep their identity hidden.

Most believe Banksy is British; in the one-off awards show "Greatest Britons 2007," Banksy won the Arts category, besting nominees Antony Gormley and Sam Mendes. In what may have been a wink at Banksy's ability to remain anonymous, the artist(s) arranged portable toilets into a Stonehenge formation during England's 2007 Glastonbury Festival.

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5. Was Van Gogh Murdered?

" " "Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe" was one of the many self-portraits painted by Vincent Van Gogh. But was he murdered? Wikimedia/Public Domain

One of the main things people know about Vincent van Gogh is that he cut off his ear. That was likely because the Dutch post-impressionist painter suffered from mental illness, probably severe depression. And while hailed as a genius today, he only sold one painting before he died in 1890 at age 37. The official cause is suicide from a gun shot at close range.

That certainly seems plausible, given his poor mental health. However, no gun was found near his body, and locals reported two teenage boys bullying him shortly before his death. One possibility, put forth in the flicks "Loving Vincent" (2017) and "At Eternity's Gate" (2018), (as well as in the 2011 biography "Van Gogh: The Life") is that Rene Secretan, one of the bullies, pulled the trigger. Besides being troubled, Secretan is said to have owned a gun that frequently misfired, so another possibility is that van Gogh's death was a tragic accident. Secretan denied any involvement when interviewed in 1957, though he did say he had a pistol van Gogh may have taken. The biographers think van Gogh may have welcomed death and so did not accuse the boys while on his deathbed.

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6. Did Hilter Really Do These Paintings?

" " "Vienna State Opera House" was painted by Adolf Hitler in 1912. The art school that rejected him thought he'd be better at architecture than painting. Wikipedia/Public Domain

As a youth, Adolf Hitler just wanted to be a painter. But he was rejected from art school and eventually turned to other pursuits, namely becoming the notorious dictator who engineered the Holocaust. For decades after his death, Hitler's paintings were largely ignored. They weren't considered very good, for one, plus many considered purchasing his artwork immoral. Nevertheless, numerous fakes were produced, many of which weren't even that precise.

Then, in the early 2000s, a niche market for his pieces arose, and prices jumped. There was just one problem: how to identify Hitler's original works. Due to the wealth of inaccurate fakes, experts are often unsure what an authentic Hitler piece really looks like. One of the few recourses is to compare pieces with verified Hitler works in Bavaria's state archive, but there are only a few in there. Germany is now cracking down on the sale of Hitler artwork to help reduce the number of fakes in circulation.

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7. Who Pulled Off the Gardner Heist?

" " The frame from the 1633 Rembrandt painting "A Lady and Gentleman in Black" was still on the floor where thieves left it after the Isabella Steward Gardner museum robbery in 1990. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

A cool $10 million will be yours if you figure out who stole 13 masterpieces from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The 1990 burglary is the biggest art theft in history, as the paintings, which included works from Vermeer and Rembrandt, were worth a combined $500 million in 2020. So what happened?

Two men posing as police officers pulled off the heist after handcuffing and gagging the two young security officers on duty, who didn't have any formal training. The thieves then pried the masterpieces from their frames before removing the security camera videos, none of which were in the galleries. Curiously, the robbery lasted a leisurely 90 minutes, far longer than the average three-minute job.

Despite numerous leads over the decades, the artwork hasn't turned up. The blank frames now hang in their original spots, an eerie remembrance of the crime. In addition to the $10 million reward for information that directly leads to the recovery of all 13 items, there's a $100,000 reward for helping recover just one.

NOW THAT'S PRICY One of the biggest art frauds in U.S. history occurred in the 1990s and 2000s, when Glafira Rosales began selling valuable works by Rothko, Jackson Pollock and other expressionists to New York's M. Knoedler & Co., an art gallery founded in 1846. After raking in more than $80 million, authorities discovered the paintings were fakes created by a Chinese immigrant, who copied the masterpieces and aged them using items like tea and vacuum cleaner dirt. Besides defrauding buyers, the scam killed the venerable art gallery.

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Originally Published: Apr 20, 2021
" " The Venus de Milo is perennially one of the hottest attractions at the Louvre Musuem in Paris, France. Todd Gipstein/Getty Images

She's one of the most recognizable figures in the art world, but shrouded in mystery. Ever since Louis XVIII donated her to the Louvre in 1821, she's captured the attention and praise of audiences and historians, but many are still baffled by her origins  who is Venus de Milo, and what exactly happened to her arms?

The half-naked marble goddess many of us know as Venus de Milo actually likely represents two figures who are not Venus, the Roman goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility. The statue is thought to represent either Aphrodite, Venus's Greek counterpart, or Amphitrite, the goddess-queen of the sea and wife of Poseidon. But when the statue was discovered in 1820 on the Greek island of Melos (Milos in modern Greek) and presented to Louis (who in turn donated her to the Louvre), no one was quite sure what to make of her.

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"When the Louvre acquired the statue in 1820, the British Museum had just acquired the Elgin Marbles (1816), universally attributed to the fifth-century B.C.E. sculptor Pheidias, generally acknowledged by ancients and moderns as the greatest of Greek sculptors," Andrew Stewart, Nicholas C. Petris Professor of Greek Studies Emeritus at UC Berkeley, says via email. "Moreover, the Louvre and in turn, French art as a whole, had just suffered huge losses when in 1815-1818 Napoleon's looted art collection was returned to its countries of origin. The museum lost some of its most iconic pieces, such as the Vatican Laocoon and Florence's Venus de Medici. So national pride needed to be restored, and the Venus de Milo (properly, 'Aphrodite,' since she's Greek) was literally a godsend."

But because of the statue's unique attributes, experts had some trouble identifying her origins. "Since she was obviously later stylistically, but still classical, she was immediately attributed to Praxiteles, the greatest fourth-century B.C.E. sculptor and universally acknowledged master of the female nude, epitomized by the love-goddess Aphrodite. A base found with her signed by the sculptor [Alex]andros of Magnesia on the Meander (a city not founded until the third century B.C.E.), was thus immediately and conveniently lost."

According to Stewart, German archaeologist Adolf Furtwangler is credited with discovering Venus de Milo's true roots as a Greek neoclassical statue, not a classical one, but the revelation didn't come until the late 19th century when he realized that her drapery was clearly Hellenistic and probably created in the second century B.C.E. Despite her authentic identity, the statue is still often tied to an older era. "She still is regarded as a masterpiece of the [classical] genre, partly because we have so few originals of her size, state of preservation and quality," Stewart says.

While the Louvre website describes the statue as "shrouded in mystery," some details of her original appearance are known. For one thing, she originally wore metal jewelry including a bracelet, earrings, and headband, since there are fixation holes remaining in all those areas on her body. The marble that she's carved from may have been embellished with polychromy that's now faded. And at some point, she did, in fact have arms  but they were never found.

" " A close-up view of the Venus de Milo at the Louvre Museum shows the dowel holes in the right arm that once probably grasped the top of the statue's drapery. Francois LOCHON/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

"The right arm is broken away: its hand originally grasped the top of her drapery," Stewart says. "The bust, legs, left arm, foot, base and herm [an archaic bearded head of the god mounted on a square-section stone pillar] socketed into the base, were carved separately, and doweled on with iron dowels set in lead: a common technique."

Stewart says that at the end of antiquity (a time period that signifies the transition from the Greco-Roman period to the Middle Ages), someone removed Venus' limbs in order to take the metal dowels and recycle them. "The best bet, in my opinion, is that she held an apple in her outstretched left hand, which would have rested on the herm," he says. "Such an arm was found in a nearby niche, and is represented in a 19th century drawing in the Louvre. The apple would be both her personal accessory or attribute (her token prize at the "Judgment of Paris") and a pun on the name of the island, since the Greek for apple is  (melon), and apples feature prominently on Hellenistic Melian coins."

The "Judgment of Paris" is an important Greek myth that's central to Venus' meaning and describes a contest between three goddesses  Aphrodite, Hera and Athena  for the prize of a golden apple addressed "To the Fairest." In his book, "Art in the Hellenistic World: An Introduction," Stewart describes the Venus de Milo's many symbolic ties. He writes, "Dedicated to the gods of the gymnasium in which she was found, she would have symbolized the ties of affection (eros) that united the Melians who exercised there. Moreover, Greeks had long understood the 'Judgment of Paris' as symbolizing a man's three principal life choices: war (Athena), politics (Hera) or love (Aphrodite)." Stewart says that because the Romans were now largely engaged in war and politics, the third category  love, marriage and domesticity  "had become increasingly attractive." According to Stewart, Venus's multidimensional appeal "would have created the sense of an in-group among the gymnasium's clientele, satisfying at one stroke the demands of local piety and this culture's overriding desire to connect."

But according to Elizabeth Wayland Barber, professor emerita of archaeology and linguistics at Occidental College and author of "Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times," Venus's missing arms were very much engaged in a different, meaningful domestic activity. "While studying the origin and development of textiles in the Eastern Hemisphere (we now have evidence there for humans spinning thread or yarn back more than 50,000 years, and weaving back 25,000 years), I found copious evidence that women were always doing most or all of the textile-related work," Barber says via email. "The Venus de Milo is in exactly the position used at that time and place for spinning thread  the part of the job that took the most time, so women were spinning every moment they could find."

" " Contestants at a West End Cinema in London are measured in 1924 to see whether any of them compare with the vital statistics of the Venus de Milo, an old fashioned and, thankfully outdated, measure of feminine beauty. Firmin/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Barber says that although the statue's arms are long gone, the musculature sculpted in her shoulders and upper back suggest they were raised in just the position required for spinning, and her eyes are focused on the exact spot one would have to watch as they spun. "Also, Aphrodite (aka Venus) was viewed by the Greeks as the goddess of spinning as well as of procreation," Barber says. "But the two are closely linked, both by the umbilical cord attached to the new baby, and by the fact that, in both spinning and baby-making, you start with a formless blob and create something remarkable out of it, seemingly by magic." In Barber's book, there's even an illustration of the Venus de Milo reconstructed as spinning.)

While experts hold varying theories over Venus de Milo's original activities, many are in agreement that she continues to be one of the most fascinating, albeit puzzling, products of the Hellenistic Period. And as The Guardian's Jonathan Jones wrote in 2015, "The Venus de Milo is an accidental surrealist masterpiece. Her lack of arms makes her strange and dreamlike. She is perfect but imperfect, beautiful but broken  the body as a ruin. That sense of enigmatic incompleteness has transformed an ancient work of art into a modern one."

HowStuffWorks may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article.

Now That's Interesting Many art lovers don't realize just how much larger than life the Venus de Milo really is until they see her in person: she's 6 feet 8 inches (2 meters 20 centimeters) tall.
Description

Coche Comedor (74A Montauk Highway, Amagansett, NY, (631) 267-5709 www.cochecomedor.com) will honor Dia de los Muertos with the following specials available on Tuesday, November 2nd and Wednesday, November 3rd.

Chile en Nogada $15

Poblano pepper stuffed with Picadillo

pork, apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, golden raisins, onions, garlic

served with Walnut Sauce, Pomegranate Seeds

Considered by many to be the national dish of Mexico, chiles en nogada showcases the colors of the countrys flag: green, white and red. Created by nuns in Puebla in 1821, the dish was presented to the general of the Mexican Army, Agustin de Iturbide, after he signing the treaty that recognized Mexicos independence from Spain. The nuns used the best of the late-season harvest in the dish, including poblano chiles, peaches, pears, apples and walnuts grown in farms near Puebla.

Short Rib Barbacoa $32

Huarache, Refritos, Mole Coloradito

Short Rib Barbacoa Huarache  huarache layered with refritos & short rib barbacoa topped with mole coloradito, pickled onions & micro cilantro. The short rib is first marinated for 24 hours with guajillo chilies, pullia chiles & garlic, the meat is then wrapped in plantain leaves with avocado leaves and bay leaves and steamed. Mole Coloradito  guajillo pullia ancho, all spice sesame seeds cinnamon cloves raisin plantains garlic onion.

Arroz con Leche, Dolce de Calabaza $12

Creamy rice pudding with stewed sweet pumpkin, vanilla ice cream
Workforce

Details on discipline emerge as contractor vaccination deadline looms

Federal contracting firms will decide for themselves on how to manage employees who aren't vaccinated against COVID-19 by the Dec. 8 deadline, but agencies are authorized to restrict unvaccinated workers from federal facilities.

The vaccination mandate and deadline apply to most contractor employees, including those working remotely on covered contracts, although there are exceptions for those entitled to accommodations.

The administration has already made clear that contracting companies, not agencies, will be collecting vaccination proof and giving out reasonable accommodations. According to the latest guidance from White House's Safer Federal Workforce Task Force companies are the ones deciding how to discipline employees who refuse to get vaccinated.

"A covered contractor should determine the appropriate means of enforcement with respect to its employee at a covered contractor workplace who refuses to be vaccinated and has not been provided, or does not have a pending request for, an accommodation," the guidance states.

Contracting firms could do this "using its usual process for enforcement of workplace policies" that might be in handbook or collective bargaining agreements, according to the guidance. The latest instruction also points to the procedures being used in federal agencies as a "model for enforcement."

The recommended approach for federal employees is to cycle noncompliant feds through education and counseling before removing anyone who refuses to comply from their job. Although agencies can start that process as soon as Nov. 9, White House officials have stressed recently that these upcoming deadlines "are not cliffs," as employees will go through established human resources processes before dismissal or other disciplinary measures occur.

Whatever process contractors go with, the companies will be charged with ensuring that any unvaccinated employees covered by the mandate follow all appropriate safety protocols. Generally, that will include masking, distancing and testing, but agencies can decide that heightened safety protocols are needed, or that the nature of the responsibilities of a contractor is such that nothing other than a vaccine is adequate, according to the latest guidance.

Agencies will also have the power to decide that covered contractor's employees who aren't inoculated can't enter a federal workplace per the agency's safety protocols.

The update comes as at least 18 states have filed several lawsuits in federal district courts to block the vaccine mandate for contractors, contending that it violates federal procurement law and exceeds the federal government's authority.
Health IT

Morale plunges at site of VA's new electronic health record

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com

Morale among clinicians at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Washington is tanking as a result of dissatisfaction with the new Cerner electronic health record system, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to the survey, which was discussed at a hearing of House Veterans Affairs subcommittee devoted to agency technology on Tuesday, 83% of employees say their morale has worsened since the switch to the Cerner software in October 2020.

One year after the initial go-live  the first of the planned 10-year, $21 billion project  just 16% of those surveyed said they were "very confident" using the Cerner EHR system, 22% said they were "neutral" and 62% indicated a lack of confidence with the new software.

Fewer than 1% of respondents said their job satisfaction has improved as a result of the new health record software implementation.

The survey of 833 employees at the facility, conducted by VA's National Center for Organization Development, found job satisfaction is getting worse, employees are feeling more burned out and more employees are questioning whether they want to remain at Mann-Grandstaff. Survey results were discussed at the hearing, and top-line results were shared by a committee staffer. A VA spokesperson said the survey was conducted for internal purposes and declined to share the full results.

The survey was conducted as part of a strategic review ordered by VA Secretary Denis McDonough after a strategic review and pause to further implementations of the Cerner software at agency facilities. However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed frustration that the changes suggested by the strategic review haven't been put in place.

"The strategic review made sound recommendations for some of the key problems with the [electronic health record], ignored several others, and so far has implemented virtually nothing," Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on IT Modernization, said in his opening statement.

VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy, the sole witness at the hearing, testified that he thought the Mann-Grandstaff facility was safe, but acknowledged multiple issues arising from the transition to the new software, including productivity loss, data management and governance, a "fragmented" patient portal experience and other issues. The strategic review also identified multiple management weaknesses.

"Given VA's past challenge with modernization programs, it is critical that we work together to review and possibly revise the management structure surrounding IT acquisitions in general and the [Electronic Health Records Modernization] program specifically," Rep. Mark Takano (D-Cailf.) the chairman of the full committee, said at the hearing.

Some management changes are already in the works. Remy testified that the Office of Electronic Health Records Modernization (OEHRM) is dividing leadership roles and responsibilities among three separate leadership positions: an executive director to manage the contract and the program, a "functional champion" representing the clinicians of the Veterans Health Administration and an official designated by the Office of Information and Technology, who has not yet been named. Remy also said in his opening statement that he was in the process of hiring "a full-time EHRM executive-in-charge under my direct supervision who will administer and manage the day-to-day integration responsibilities for EHRM."

VA is also awaiting the Biden administrations appointment of a permanent assistant secretary for Information and Technology  a post that requires Senate confirmation.

Lawmakers are concerned in part because of persistent patient safety issues and other complaints about use of the patient portal, which patients access to refill mail-order pharmaceuticals online, and issues with other errors in prescription orders  problems that were apparently flagged and corrected in real time in the VA's homegrown VistA system which Cerner is replacing.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who represents the Spokane area where Mann-Grandstaff is located, said that pharmacy is "perhaps the No. 1 concern" among patients and staff communicating with her office.

More generally, McMorris Rodgers said, "there is a sense you're moving on to Columbus and you're done at Mann-Grandstaff."

VA has selected Columbus, Ohio, as its next go-live site. Remy said the agency plans to begin deployment in February 2022 and go live at some point by the end of the second quarter. However, Remy said that the problems at Mann-Grandstaff have not been forgotten and that he is planning a visit to the site in the coming weeks.
FCW Insider: November 2, 2021

Federal contracting firms will decide for themselves on how to manage employees who decline COVID-19 vaccinations but agencies can restrict unvaccinated workers from federal facilities.

Republican leaders on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are calling for an inspector general probe into how the Transportation Security Administration developed its first ever pipeline-specific security directives.

Steve Kelman spotlights recent research on when and how to respond to social disapproval.

The deadline for submissions is Dec. 24.

Quick Hits

*** The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will host an "election situational awareness room" on Nov. 2 to bring together feds, state and local officials, political groups and others to monitor potential threats to elections being held in more than 30 states. According to a CISA statement, "there is no specific, credible threat to election infrastructure" on Election Day.

*** The U.S. Digital Corps, a program designed to recruit early-career technologists into government services, begins accepting applications on Nov. 8.
* UK, India launch plan to connect world's power grids

* Part of broader 'Breakthrough Agenda' on green tech

* U.S., UAE launch sustainable agriculture plan (Adds context, investor comment)

By William James, Simon Jessop and Ross Kerber

GLASGOW/BOSTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Britain and India launched a plan on Tuesday to improve connections between the world's electricity power grids to accelerate the transition to greener energy.

Linking the grids would allow parts of the world with excess renewable power to send it to areas with deficits. For instance, countries where the sun has set could draw power from others still able to generate solar electricity.

Launched at the COP26 climate talks https://www.reuters.com/business/cop in Scotland, the "Green Grids Initiative" was backed by more than 80 countries and could set a model for how rich countries help poorer ones to reduce their emissions and meet the goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial norms.

"If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement.

Modi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously outlined the trans-national grid effort. On Monday also Modi said his country would reach net zero https://www.reuters.com/world/india/modi-says-india-targets-net-zero-emissions-by-2070-2021-11-01 carbon emissions by 2070, two decades later than scientists say is needed.

But although seen as sceptical of efforts to slow climate change, Modi has attended the climate conference, while leaders of other major emitters, including China and Russia, are not attending in person.

The grids plan showed Modi willing to move the world's second-most populous nation away from fossil fuels as long as developed countries help, Julie Gorte, senior vice president for sustainable investing at Impax Asset Management, said.

"Left to their own devices India is going to build coal plants," she said.

Story continues

The plan is part of a broader effort to speed up the roll out of affordable low-carbon technology, covering more than 70% of the global economy.

Announcing the first five goals of the plan, dubbed the "Glasgow Breakthroughs", Johnson flagged targets to push clean power, zero emissions autos, near-zero emission steel, low-carbon hydrogen and climate-resilient agriculture.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, launched an initiative, with $4 billion in backing, to help farming https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-uae-lead-4-bln-effort-help-farming-adapt-climate-change-2021-11-02 adapt to climate change.

(Reporting by William James and Simon Jessop in Glasgow, Scotland and Ross Kerber in Boston; editing by Barbara Lewis)
The best gifts for best friends.

 Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.

Gift shopping can be tough, especially when you're purchasing something for a best friend. Not only do you want to get something that shows you listen to their interests, but you also want to make sure it's good quality and not a cheap gag gift that will sit unused for months.

Tackle your holiday shopping with deals and expert advice delivered straight to your phone. Sign up for text message alerts from the deal-hunting team at Reviewed.

Here at Reviewed, we've spent the entire year testing and reviewing products that all sorts of best friends would love, from cooking gadgets to the latest tech. Here are 40 incredible gifts that any BFF would appreciate, no matter what they're interested in.

Please note that many of these products are already selling out, so make sure to get your orders in soon!

Dont get thwarted by shipping delays or sold-out favorites this holiday season. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get the product reviews, deals and holiday gift guides you need to start shopping now.

1. For the friend who needs to relax: Airome Serenity Medium Diffuser

Best gifts for best friends: Airome Serenity Medium Diffuser

Life is rough, but sweet and calming scents can help your best friend relax after a stressful week. That's why an essential oil diffuser is a great gift if your pal tends to be on edge a lot. The Airome Serenity Medium Diffuser is our favorite essential oil diffuser and can run relaxing scents like lavender and eucalyptus for up to six hours. It's also not too expensive, which means you can throw in some essential oils for them as well.

Get the Airome Serenity Medium Diffuser at Amazon starting at $14.99

2. For the friend who's always napping: Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

Best gifts for best friends: Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

Help your sleepiest of friends catch some midday ZZZs with a contoured sleep mask. Rather than just resting over your eyes, these eye masks are shaped to keep light out and sleep in. After napping with the best sleep masks on the market, this one from Nidra took the top spot in our tests because it actually stayed in place throughout the night. It may look a bit silly, but your friend will appreciate how much easier it is to get some shuteye.

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Get the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask at Amazon for $11.95

3. For the friend obsessed with Apple products: AirPods Pro

Best gifts for best friends: AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro are without a doubt, one of the most beloved earbuds on the market. In fact, they're our favorite wireless buds for iPhones too! We especially liked their noise cancelation, which was on par with some of the pricier headphones we tested. The silicone ear tips are great, too, and come in multiple sizes, so your giftee can easily wear them all day long. Not to mention, a quick five-minute recharge will give them an additional hour of listening timesomething that's especially useful when they're in a rush to get going. They'll also be able to share audio with another pair of AirPods, so you can your bestie can jam out to your favorite tunes together.

Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Amazon for $189.99

4. For the friend who keeps things spicy: Good Hurt Fuego Hot Sauce Sampler Pack

Best gifts for best friends: Good Hurt Fuego Hot Sauce Sampler Pack

If your friend likes things spicylike really spicythis sampler pack of hot sauces will definitely bring the heat. This offering from Thoughtfully Gifts includes seven different flavors of hot sauce, ranging from mild to very hot. Plus, these hot sauces don't just burn your mouththey offer incredible flavor that will amp up any meal, which is why reviewers love it.

Get the Good Hurt Fuego Hot Sauce Sampler Pack at Amazon for $34.99

5. For the friend who needs a cozy: Parks Project Tie Dye Beanie

Best gifts for best friends: Parks Project Tie Dye Beanie

If youve got a best friend who likes to bundle up and stay cozy, give them something cool to wear. This slouchy beanie from Parks Project has a ribbed knit, cuffed brim and tie-dye finish that screams laidback. Grab one in yellow, green or pink, and hand it to your most chill friend. Your BFF will thank you for such an effortlessly casual style piece.

Get the Parks Project Tie Dye Beanie from Free People for $40

6. For the one who loves new makeup trends: Glamcor Riki

Best gifts for best friends: Glamcor Riki Skinny

A lighted mirror is great for that friend obsessed with new makeup trends or creating their favorite TikToks. Our favorite lighted makeup mirror is the Glamcor Riki Skinny, which we loved for its compact size and smart featuresit connects to your phone's Bluetooth! There are multiple buttons right on the mirror, including one that will let your bestie snap a picture. They'll even like the adjustable lighting settings, perfect for adjusting brightness. Whether they're making their next YouTube video or just taking selfies with you, this is the mirror they need.

Get the Glamcor Riki Skinny Makeup Mirror from Amazon starting at $195

7. For the one who likes to get cozy: Bliss Plush Throw Blanket

Best gifts for best friends: Bliss Plush Throw Blanket

You can never have too many throw blankets, and your bestie will be obsessed with this one. Like the name implies the Bliss Plush Throw Blanket is pure bliss. It's earned a 4.8-star rating from more than 2,000 Nordstrom reviews for being super soft and snuggly. It's also available in multiple different shades so you can get one that matches your bestie's home decor.

Get the Bliss Plush Throw Blanket at Nordstrom for $39.50

8. For the friend who's always eating: These incredible mini cupcakes

Best gifts for best friends: Baked by Melissa cupcakes

Know someone who can't get enough sweets? These mini cupcakes from Baked by Melissa make an amazing gift, and they come in a variety of tasty flavors, like chocolate chip cookie dough, caramel apple pie, triple chocolate fudge, and mint chocolate chip. The company even sells gluten-free options, so your friends with food allergies don't have to feel left out.

Get the Latest & Greatest Cupcakes from Baked by Melissa starting at $32

9. For the friend who's a plant mom: Pilea Peperomioides

Best gifts for best friends: Sill plants

Whether your friend has a green thumb or a black one, they'll be able to care for this plant. The Pilea Peperomioides only needs to be watered every two to three weeks and it's pet friendly, meaning it's pretty hard to kill. It's also nicknamed the Friendship Plant because it produces offshoots from the base that are easy to repot and share, making it a great gift for any friend in your life.

Not their style? You can also gift them a three-month Sill subscription and make all their plant-parent dreams come true.

10. For the eco-conscious friend: FinalStraw

Best gifts for best friends: The FinalStraw

As the name implies, the FinalStraw may be the last straw your friend ever needs. It conveniently folds up into a container that attaches to a keyring meaning they'll never be without their reusable straw. For this reason, we named it the best reusable straw on the market, and anyone who's constantly refusing straws at restaurants will appreciate it.

Get the FinalStraw at Amazon for $19.95

11. For the friend who needs their caffeine fix: Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Best gifts for best friends: Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Let's face it: Iced coffee is better than regular coffee. And, if your friend is wasting money each day buying a cold brew from Starbucks (and complaining about how much they spend on coffee), then they'll love the ability to make it at home for cheap. The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is the best iced coffee maker we've ever tested and is easy enough for anyone to use.

Get the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon for $22.20

12. For the friend who loves their vino: Winc subscription

Best gifts for best friends: Winc Subscription

If your friend's go-to nightcap is a glass of vino, then they'll love a Winc subscription, which will deliver a variety of wines based on their taste preferences each month. After trying Winc, we quickly became obsessed with the service, finding that it consistently delivered high-quality wines and recommendations throughout the months. Here's to hoping they'll share a glass with you during your next wine night.

Get the first Winc box for $40

13. For the friend who asks for massages: Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager

Best gifts for best friends: Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager

Your friend claims you give the best massageswhich is why they're always asking you for a rub. Instead of working your tired hands, get them a back and neck massager that will provide hours of relief. People love this one from Zyllion and it has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon from 38,000 reviews. Your recipient can use it on their neck, back, shoulders, legs and more, and reviewers claim that it provides incredible pressure and will last for years.

Get the Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager at Amazon for $59.95

14. For the friend who loves to host: A gemstone cheese board

Best gifts for best friends: A gemstone cheese board

We all have that friend who suggests a wine and cheese night every chance they get, so gift them a platter that will take their cheese board to the next level. This gemstone platter is the perfect starting block to layer on favorites like brie, sharp cheddar, and goat cheese alongside jams and assorted nuts. Each piece is cut a little differently, making for a unique gift. For a full entertaining gift set, throw in some nice wine glasses, too.

Get the Agate Cheese Board at Anthropologie for $54.60

15. For the friend who's always dehydrated: Hydro Flask

Best gifts for best friends: Hydro Flask

Hydro Flasks are all the rage and if your best friend doesn't already own one it'll make for a great gift. It's one of the best water bottles we've ever tested because it keeps water cold for hours and comes in many stylish colors. Plus, it's a great way to show you care by reminding your friends to drink water and stay hydrated.

Get the Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle from Amazon starting at $34.95

16. For the techie friend: Echo Dot 4th Gen

Best gifts for best friends: Echo Dot

The orb-shaped Amazon Echo Dot (fourth generation) comes in three colors (Glacier White, Twilight Blue and charcoal) that will look great in your bestie's apartment, dorm room or wherever they decide to place it. We named this gadget one of our favorite smart speakers for its compact, minimalistic design, and upgraded stereo sound when paired with a second Echo Dot. If your best friend is in need of an entry-level smart home speaker, this is one of the best (and most stylish) picks available.

Get the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) from Amazon for $39.99

17. For the friend who's always asking for a charger: Mophie Powerstation PD

We all have that friend. You know, the one who always seems to need a phone charger. Gift them a powerful portable charger that will assure they're always juiced up. Our favorite battery pack is the Mophie Powerstation PD, which is powerful enough to juice up two phones at onceperfect if they've got multiple devices that need charging.

Get the Mophie Powerstation PD from Amazon for $40.66

18. For the one who loves a blowout: The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

Best gifts for best friends: Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

With thousands of reviewers praising this item on Amazon, its fair to say that the Revlon One-Step hairdryer and volumizer is one of the most beloved hair care products available. We particularly loved this one-and-done haircare solution for transforming our frizz-prone, wet locks into a perfect blowout in minutes. I've also had mine for over a year and can safely say this hair care tool your bestie will use every morning.

Get the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer from Amazon starting at $34.88

19. For the friend who's an aspiring yogi: lululemon Reversible Mat

Best gifts for best friends: Lululemon mat

A true friend wouldn't let their friend go to yoga class with a cheap, slippery mat. No, they would make sure they have the best of the best: The lululemon Reversible Mat. Not only is this mat iconic amongst modern-day yogis, but it's also the best yoga mat we've ever tested. We found that it won't move an inch as your friend goes into downward dog.

Get The Reversible Mat 5mm at lululemon for $88

20. For the friend who shares their Netflix password: Roku Streaming Stick+

Your BFF has been kind enough to let you use their Netflix password for years, so gift them a better way to watch their favorite Netflix shows on their TV. The Roku Streaming Stick+ is the best affordable streaming device weve ever tested. Its fast and offers 4K and HDR for the ultimate binge-watching experience. It's the second-best thing to getting them a new smart TV with Roku built-in.

Get the Roku Streaming Stick+ from Amazon for $29.99

21. For the friend who's with the trends: Crocs

Best gifts for best friends: Crocs

Yes, Crocs are popular againand you don't want your BFF falling behind on the trends, so you might as well get them a pair. One of our editors is obsessed with these ugly-cute rubber clogs because they're comfortable and functional for a wide variety of activities. You can snag a pair in your friend's favorite color and get them a few jibbitz that speak to their personality, too.

Get Classic Clogs at Crocs for $49.99

22. For the friend who loves to read: Kindle Paperwhite

Best gifts for best friends: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Your friend is always recommending books and posting their reviews on Goodreads, so even if they prefer a "real" book, they'll still appreciate a Kindle. The Kindle Paperwhite is still the best e-reader weve ever tested and makes for an amazing gift, especially for the bookworm in your life. It gives them a seemingly unlimited library at their fingertips and it's waterproof, so they can even read in the bathtub without fear. Plus, the two of you could even start your very own book club together.

Get the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon for $89.99

23. For the friend who's always losing things: Tile Mate

Best gifts for best friends: Tile Mate

If your friend is always late because they can't find their keys, get them the Tile Mate so they can finally put an end to their forgetfulness. The Tile Mate is so popular because it easily attaches to the most commonly forgotten items. The next time your friend loses their keys, they just use an app to ping the Tile, so they can quickly find their keys and make it to brunch on time.

Get the Tile Mate at Amazon for $24.99

24. For the friend who always visits you: The Away Large Everywhere Bag

Best gifts for best friends: The Away Large Everywhere Bag

For short weekend trips, your BFF is going to want a tote bag that will fit all their outfit options and still fit in the overhead compartment. The Away Large Everywhere Bag not only fits the bill but has neat features like a wrap-around zip opening and a padded laptop pocket, so your friend can stay organized. Even better, it easily slips over a suitcase handle, making travel easy when you both finally go on that European getaway you're always talking about.

Get the Away Large Everywhere Bag at Away for $245

25. For the friend that moved away: Homesick candles

Best gifts for best friends: Homesick Candle

If your best friend recently moved to a new city, remind them of the place where you made the most of your memories together with a candle that smells like their old home. These "Homesick Candles" have scent profiles of different states to remind them of the peaches and barbecues of North Carolina or the smells of apple-picking in Massachusetts. They're only a wick away from your time together.

Get the Homesick Candles at Uncommon Goods for $34

26. For the friend who's on a health kick: Cuisinart Compact AirFryer

Best gifts for best friends: Cuisinart Compact AirFryer

Air frying makes it easy for your bestie to make all their favorite fried food (french fries, chicken wings, etc.) sans grease. So if they're on a health kick or just love crispy foods, then your friend would love an air fryer. The Cuisinart Compact AirFryer is our favorite affordable air fryer because it has a wide basket that allows for more even crisping and its boxy shape makes it easier to store.

Get the Cuisinart Compact AirFryer at Amazon for $99.95

27. For the fitness-obsessed friend: ClassPass gift card

Best gifts for best friends: ClassPass gift card

It's harder than ever to motivate ourselves to workout these days, and with IRL and virtual boutique fitness classes running anywhere from $20 to $35, it only makes it harder. Give your friend the gift of affordable classes with a ClassPass gift card. They can use it for credits that will get them into loads of the most popular workout classes for a fraction of the cost. ClassPass also offers a ton of virtual classes, which is a great option in this day and age that you two can take together.

Get a ClassPass Gift Card at ClassPass for $50

28. For the friend with the perfect playlist: JBL Flip 5

Best gifts for best friends: JBL Flip 5

JBL's "Flip" line of portable Bluetooth speakers are some of the best on the market. We praised the Flip 5 for its warm, clear audio that packed a hefty amount of bass, perfect for jamming sessions. They've also got rubber-capped ends and water-sealed inputs so you can bring your new speaker along to the beach, pool or on your next buddy campaign trip. If your best friend can't start their day without their favorite tune, this is the gift they need.

Get the JBL Flip 5 from JBL for $129.95

29. For the one who's always shopping: Baggu Reusable Shopping Bag

Best gifts for best friends: Baggu Reusable Shopping Bag

Shopping comes with a toll (aside from draining your bank account): a ton of wasteful bags. If your friend is always running errands to Target, Home Goods and the like, then they probably want a reusable bag to cut down on waste. But Baggu bags are normal reusable bags, they come in adorable patterns and easily fold up into a small bag that makes it easy to slip into a purse or pocket, so your bestie can easily keep it on hand.

Get the Baggu Reusable Shopping Bag at Amazon starting at $12

30. For the photogenic friend: Custom photo tile

Best gifts for best friends: Custom Photo Tile

Bring your friend's Instagrams to life with personalized photo tiles from Shutterfly, the best online photo printing service we've ever tested. These photo tiles have a 3D effect and pop out of the wall. Plus, they're super easy to place and remove thanks to the double-sided adhesive, making them more functional than a hanging frame. Order one picture of the two of you or several, for a gallery wall of your adventures together.

Get One Frame Photo Tile at Shutterfly for $17.99

31. For the funny friend: What Do You Meme?

Best gifts for best friends: What Do You Meme?

Your friend constantly sends you memes in your group chat, so they'll be an expert at the hilarious game What Do You Meme? The premise is simple, just match a caption to an iconic meme and the funniest card wins. It's great to play with friends and family, making it the ultimate stocking stuffer they'll want to use immediately.

Get the What Do You Meme? Party Game at Amazon for $29.99

32. For the tea-obsessed friend: Manatea Tea Infuser

Best gifts for best friends: Fred & Friends Manatea Tea Infuser

Some of our friends like to end their day cozied up with a cup of teaand if they prefer loose leaf tea then they need a good tea infuser. The Manatea is not only adorable and punny, but it's the best tea infuser we've ever tested. Even though it may look like a gag gift, it fits snugly on mugs and doesn't let any leaves slip out, which your friend will enjoy while sipping their favorite Earl Gray tea.

Get the Fred & Friends Manatea Silicone Tea Infuser at Amazon for $9.90

33. For the friend who's always taking pictures: Polaroid Hi-Print

Best gifts for best friends: Polaroid Hi-Print

If you and your bestie love taking pictures and printing them out in tangible form, the Polaroid Hi-Print is the perfect gift. This accessory was named our favorite portable photo printer for its sleek, colorful design and ability to easily connect to our smartphones. It also comes with quick setup instructions through Hi-Prints companion app as well as basic editing tools to make each picture Instagram-worthy.

Get the Polaroid Hi-Print from Amazon for $89.99

34. For the friend who enjoys their zzz's: Brooklinen down pillow

Best gifts for best friends: Brooklinen pillow

This feather pillow is available in three versions, one for side-sleepers, one for back-sleepers and one for stomach sleepers. We especially loved the firm pillow as it cracked our necks and offered maximum support while we slept. Each pillow is also treater with 'antimicrobials' so your bestie doesn't have to worry about her pillow getting dirty over time. What's more, if they hate it, they can easily return it to Brooklinen within a year of purchaseno matter what condition it's in.

Get the Brooklinen down pillow from Brooklinen from $69

35. For the friend who travels far: Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow

Best gifts for best friends: Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow

If your bestie travels by train, plane, or car to visit you or is obsessively talking about their latest trip, then they need a comfortable travel pillow for the journey there. That way they can actually get some rest. The Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow is the best travel pillow we've ever tested for its contoured memory foam design. It'll keep your friend supported even if they're traveling to the other side of the world.

Get the Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow at Amazon for $23.99

36. For the friend who's obsessed with 'Friends': A 'Friends' sweatshirt

Best gifts for best friends: Friends Sweatshirt

Friends first aired over 25 years ago, but the show is still as popular as ever. If Friends is the most queued up on your BFF's Netflix account, then they should show their affliction with a sweatshirt featuring the iconic logo. This one is quite popular on Esty with reviewing raving it's cozy and brings on loads of compliments. When your friend opens it, it'll be like an episode title "The One Where You Get the Perfect Gift."

Get the Friends Sweatshirt from Etsy from $19.66

37. For the friend who's addicted to coffee: Zojirushi Travel Mug

Best gifts for best friends: Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

Nothing is more frustrating to a coffee addict than sipping on lukewarm coffee. But after testing the Zojirushi Travel Mug, we found that it kept drinks very hot even overnight, which is why it's our favorite travel mug. Any friend who commutes or likes to sip on a PSL while running errands will become obsessed with their new coffee mate because they'll never have to drink not-hot-enough coffee again.

Get the Zojirushi Travel Mug at Amazon for $28.57

38. For the friend with cold feet: Ugg slippers

Best gifts for best friends: Ugg Slippers

Slippers are now the official work from home footwear, and Ugg still reigns supreme in this department. A friend with particularly cold feet would appreciate one of these soft shoes. The Scuff Slipper is a popular men's option with more than 1,100 reviews on Nordstrom, and the Fluffette Slipper is a great women's pick that'll cover your bestie's toes.

39. For the friend with a sweet tooth: Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Best gifts for best friends: Cuisinart bowls

If your friend spends too much time on Pinterest or watches a lot of cooking shows, they'll love these Cuisinart mixing bowls. They were named our top pick, thanks to their durability and lightweight design. The air-tight lids are a great addition too so your bestie can store that cookie batter in their fridge for days.

Get the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids from Amazon for $36.33

40. For the workout junkie: Fitbit Charge 5

Best gifts for best friends: Fitbit Charge 5

Named as our favorite fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 5 is the workout companion your website needs. We adored its comprehensive fitness tracking, built-in GPS and better than average sleep tracking features. It's also easy to set up and super comfortable to wear for multiple hours, not to mention its slim design is both stylish and sporty. They'll even be able to monitor their blood-oxygen levels with this device! Plus, this smartwatch connects to your smartphone so they can receive all their calls and text straight on their wrist.

Get the Fitbit Charge 5 from Amazon starting at $178.95

41. For the friend who is an inner hippie: Kombucha Starter Kit

Best gifts for best friends: Kombucha Starter Kit

If your friend drinks at least one kombucha a day, you might want to save them some money by helping them brew their own bactch. Making the fizzy fermented tea isn't too hard with the help of a kombucha starter kit. We tested this one out from the Kombucha Shop and love that everything was included to brew and that the directions were easy to follow. Plus, your friend will love coming up with unique flavors that match her favorite store-bought ones.

Get The Kombucha Shop Kombucha Brewing Kit at Amazon for $44.99

42. For the beauty-obsessed friend: Jade facial roller

Best gifts for best friends: Jade Facial Roller

Any friend who spends hours watching their favorite beauty vloggers would love getting a jade roller to add to their beauty routine. While it's unclear how effective jade rolling actually is, there's no denying it does feel great on your skin. This one from Sephora is quite popular, and although it's not made of real jade, it will still give that cooling feeling to your friend's face.

Get the Herbivore Jade Facial Roller at Sephora for $30

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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 42 best gifts for friends 2021 - Perfect gift ideas for your best friend
(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnsons office sought to defend the U.K. prime ministers plans to fly to London rather than take the train after his attendance at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.

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Both the fuel that we will use for this flight is sustainable and the emissions are offset as well, Johnsons spokesman, Max Blain, told reporters at the conference. Its important that the prime minister is able to move around the country and obviously we face significant time constraints.

Blain said the fuel used by the plane the premier will use on Tuesday is a blend of 35% sustainable fuel with 65% normal aviation fuel -- the maximum permitted. He said it produces 50% less carbon dioxide than the Voyager plane that the premier usually uses for foreign visits.

Johnsons plans open him up to charges that hes not heeding his own words on the need to translate words into action. On Monday, he told world leaders at the climate talks that they need to get real in tackling climate change, or their promises would amount to nothing more than blah blah blah.

The primer ministers government drew criticism from environmental groups last week when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak cut air-passenger duties on domestic flights as part of efforts to improve national connectivity.

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2021 Bloomberg L.P.
"When it comes to climate and weather, our oceans are our blind spot. We are on a mission to fix that," says CEO Tim Janssen

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sofar Ocean, the world's largest ocean intelligence platform, announced today it has secured a $39 million Series B syndicate round with Union Square Ventures (USV) and the Foundry Group. With this funding, Sofar will further scale its technology platform and grow its team across key regions worldwide. The funding empowers the team to execute its mission of delivering climate insights through ocean intelligence, enabling strategic business decisions, and promoting climate adaptation and mitigation.

Sofar Ocean secures a $39 million Series B round to deliver real-time ocean intelligence through its distributed network of IoT-enabled Spotter buoys (pictured above).

To date, Sofar's subscription base includes hundreds of climate and ocean scientists, more than a dozen global shipping carriers, and international government agencies that leverage its IoT-enabled ocean intelligence platform for applications including: climate research; fuel-efficient ocean mobility; offshore energy site and risk assessment; weather models and forecasting; protection of coastal communities, local economies, assets and more.

"Uncertainty, in any form, translates to risk. The lack of accurate ocean data increases operational uncertainty and inefficiencies for major global industries, like maritime shipping," said Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures. "The financial and environmental costs of uncertainty are massive. For instance, today, 3% of global GHG emissions come from the shipping industry. Sofar's ocean intelligence platform, powered by its global ocean sensor network, will provide insights needed to help major ocean industries, like shipping, improve inefficiencies, reduce risk, and most importantly, mitigate their climate impact."

The round is a syndicate with USV's Climate Fund, which invests in companies that decarbonize the economy and provide solutions to mitigate or better adapt to the climate crisis, and Foundry Group, which has a track record of working with Silicon Valley's best and brightest. Both will be instrumental in Sofar's continued growth and maturity.

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"Sofar has built the first ocean intelligence platform to provide valuable insights to existing and emerging ocean industries, and to drive critical progress in addressing the climate crisis," said Lindel Eakman, Partner at Foundry Group. "Changes in climate and extreme weather are increasing uncertainty and risk and impacting every major industry in the world. As an end-to-end platform with a global ocean sensor network, data, insights, and applications, Sofar's platform is well positioned for success with the best integrated customer experience. As a start, data and insights from the platform immediately help industries like maritime shipping reduce emissions and increase efficiency. We believe that large-scale ocean sensing and intelligence will play an increasingly important role across multiple industries in reducing climate risks and weather uncertainty."

Founded to bridge the glaring data gaps in ocean monitoring and research, Sofar has built a powerful, first-of-its-kind ocean intelligence platform. With thousands of IoT sensors across our oceans that have racked up over 5 million ocean hours and deliver over 100,000 unique ocean data points every day, Sofar collects unprecedented amounts of ocean data around the world  from the Southern Ocean to the kelp forests of California and the coral reefs of Australia. The rapid growth of Sofar's distributed sensor network across the world's five oceans mirrors the acceleration in big data networks in space.

"At Sofar, we aim to deliver large-scale ocean data to accelerate climate insights," said Sofar CEO Tim Janssen. "Oceans drive global weather and are a critical component of our climate system. Although we experience climate and weather changes primarily as atmospheric processes, a lot of what we see, like the intensification of tropical storms and hurricanes, is powered by ocean processes. Ocean data and insights are increasingly critical for successful climate mitigation and adaptation. Over the last few decades, with advances in IoT technology and distributed sensing, we've become great at collecting data at scale on land and in space. Oceans are now the last frontier. Ocean intelligence, powered by global sensor networks, is essential to reduce weather and climate uncertainty, help industries operate more efficiently, lower operational risk, and reduce emissions. With rising sea levels and intensification of storms, accurate and abundant ocean data is needed to keep vulnerable coastal communities safe, and protect valuable infrastructure and industrial plants. Our mission is to build a more sustainable future powered by ocean intelligence."

About Sofar Ocean Technologies

Sofar Ocean connects the world's oceans to provide data-driven insights to science, society and industry for a more sustainable planet. Sofar owns and operates the largest open ocean sensor network providing critical real-time insights that power applications for customers across industries from shipping and government to environmental research and more in order to demystify the world's oceans. For more information please visit: http://www.sofarocean.com .

About Union Square Ventures

Union Square Ventures is a thesis-driven venture capital firm based in New York City. USV's current thesis is focused on products and services that leverage networks to broaden access to capital, knowledge and wellbeing. The portfolio includes Twitter, Etsy, Twilio, MongoDB, Coinbase, Carta, and Stripe, among others.

About Foundry Group

Foundry Group (www.foundrygroup.com), based in Boulder, CO, was established in 2007 and manages multiple funds representing more than $3.0B in assets under management. Foundry invests in technology companies and venture capital funds throughout the United States and Canada.

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SOURCE Sofar Ocean Technologies
Third Quarter 2021 GAAP loss per share of $0.90; Core EPS of $1.69

EIX and SCE revise best estimate of total potential losses from 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events to $7.5 billion; $5.3 billion has been resolved and $2.2 billion remains to be resolved

SCE executes agreement with CPUC Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) to resolve enforcement actions related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events

EIX narrows 2021 EPS guidance to $4.424.52. Also reiterates long-term EPS growth rate target of 57%

ROSEMEAD, Calif., November 02, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edison International (NYSE: EIX) today reported third quarter 2021 net loss of $341 million, or $0.90 per share, compared to net loss of $288 million, or $0.76 per share, in the third quarter of 2020. As adjusted, third quarter 2021 core earnings were $644 million, or $1.69 per share, compared to core earnings of $632 million, or $1.67 per share, in the third quarter of 2020.

Southern California Edisons (SCE) third quarter 2021 core earnings per share increased year-over-year primarily due to higher revenue from the 2021 General Rate Case (GRC) final decision and higher Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revenue, partially offset by increased wildfire mitigation expenses due to the timing of regulatory deferrals in the third quarter of 2020.

In August 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a final decision on track 1 of the 2021 GRC. The revenue requirements in the 2021 GRC final decision are retroactive to January 1, 2021. SCE recorded the prior period impact of the 2021 GRC final decision in the third quarter of 2021, which increased core EPS by $0.35.

SCE's non-core loss during the quarter was primarily attributable to a pre-tax charge of $1.2 billion recorded for 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events claims and expenses, net of expected recoveries from FERC customers.

This charge is described further below and for additional information, the company also provided a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, which can be accessed here.

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Edison International Parent and Other's third quarter 2021 loss per share increased year-over-year primarily due to higher preferred dividends as a result of a preferred equity issuance in 2021.

"SCE continues to make solid progress in the execution of its Wildfire Mitigation Plan, including the installation of 2,500 miles of covered conductor to date. These ongoing mitigation actions combined with the PSPS Action Plan strengthen our confidence in SCEs overall improved risk profile with respect to wildfires," said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International. "Considering physical mitigation measures, operational practices, and the use of PSPS, SCE estimates that it has reduced the probability of losses from catastrophic wildfires by 55 to 65%, relative to pre-2018 levels."

Pizarro added, "Ensuring reliability is essential to the transition to a clean energy economy. Looking forward to summer 2022, SCEs recently announced 535 MW utility-owned storage investment is a material increase in capacity to mitigate the risk of statewide customer outages caused by extreme weather events and continued drought conditions."

Edison International uses core earnings, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that adjusts for significant discrete items that management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings. Edison International management believes that core earnings provide more meaningful comparisons of performance from period to period. Please see the attached tables for a reconciliation of core earnings to basic GAAP earnings.

2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events Update

In October 2021, SCE and the SED executed an agreement (the "SED Agreement"), subject to CPUC approval, to resolve the SEDs investigations into the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events and three other 2017 wildfires for, among other things, aggregate costs of $550 million. The $550 million in costs is comprised of a $110 million fine to be paid to the State of California General Fund, $65 million of shareholder-funded safety measures, and an agreement by SCE to waive its right to seek cost recovery in CPUC-jurisdictional rates for $375 million of third-party uninsured claims payments. The SED Agreement also imposes other obligations on SCE, including reporting requirements and safety-focused studies. In the SED Agreement, SCE did not admit imprudence, negligence or liability with respect to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events or the three other 2017 wildfires.

During the quarter, EIX and SCE increased the estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire Mudslide Events by $1.3 billion, reflecting the review of information obtained as a result of achieving key milestones in the litigation process, including settlement activity to date. The estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events as of September 30, 2021, reflect the impact of the SED Agreement. After giving effect to all settlements entered into through September 30, 2021, Edison International and SCE's best estimate of expected losses for remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events was $2.2 billion.

This settlement and revised best estimate of potential losses do not change EIXs previous disclosed 2021 financing plan. Edison International continues to anticipate issuing securities with up to $1 billion of equity content to support its investment grade credit ratings.

2021 Earnings Guidance

The company narrowed its earnings guidance range for 2021 as summarized in the following chart. See the presentation accompanying the companys conference call for further information.

2021 Earnings Guidance 2021 Earnings Guidance as of September 16, 2021 as of November 2, 2021 Low High Low High EIX Basic EPS $ 4.21 $ 4.41 $ 1.62 $ 1.72 Less: Non-core Items* (0.21 ) (0.21 ) (2.80 ) (2.80 ) EIX Core EPS $ 4.42 $ 4.62 $ 4.42 $ 4.52

* There were ($1.07) billion, or ($2.80) per share of non-core items recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, calculated based on an assumed weighted average share count for 2021. Basic EIX EPS guidance only incorporates non-core items to September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast Details

When: Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) Telephone Numbers: 1-888-673-9780 (US) and 1-312-470-0178 (Int'l) - Passcode: Edison Telephone Replay: 1-866-429-9466 (US) and 1-203-369-0920 (Intl) - Passcode: 6891 Telephone replay available through November 16, 2021 Webcast: www.edisoninvestor.com

Edison International has posted its earnings conference call prepared remarks by the CEO and CFO, the teleconference presentation, and Form 10-Q to the company's investor relations website. These materials are available at www.edisoninvestor.com.

About Edison International

Edison International (NYSE: EIX) is one of the nations largest electric utility holding companies, providing clean and reliable energy and energy services through its independent companies. Headquartered in Rosemead, California, Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, a utility that delivers electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central and Coastal California. Edison International is also the parent company of Edison Energy, a global energy advisory company delivering comprehensive, data-driven energy solutions to commercial and industrial users to meet their cost, sustainability and risk goals.

Appendix

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Edison Internationals earnings are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles used in the United States and represent the companys earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our management uses core earnings and core earnings per share (EPS) internally for financial planning and for analysis of performance of Edison International and Southern California Edison. We also use core earnings and core EPS when communicating with analysts and investors regarding our earnings results to facilitate comparisons of the Companys performance from period to period. Financial measures referred to as net income, basic EPS, core earnings, or core EPS also apply to the description of earnings or earnings per share.

Core earnings and core EPS are non-GAAP financial measures and may not be comparable to those of other companies. Core earnings and core EPS are defined as basic earnings and basic EPS excluding income or loss from discontinued operations and income or loss from significant discrete items that management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings. Basic earnings and losses refer to net income or losses attributable to Edison International shareholders. Core earnings are reconciled to basic earnings in the attached tables. The impact of participating securities (vested awards that earn dividend equivalents that may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock) for the principal operating subsidiary is not material to the principal operating subsidiarys EPS and is therefore reflected in the results of the Edison International holding company, which is included in Edison International Parent and Other.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements contained in this presentation about future performance, including, without limitation, operating results, capital expenditures, rate base growth, dividend policy, financial outlook, and other statements that are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations; however, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from current expectations. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations only as of the date of this presentation, and Edison International assumes no duty to update them to reflect new information, events or circumstances. Important factors that could cause different results include, but are not limited to the:

ability of SCE to recover its costs through regulated rates, including uninsured wildfire-related and debris flow-related costs, costs incurred to mitigate the risk of utility equipment causing future wildfires, costs incurred to implement SCE's new customer service system and costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;

ability of SCE to implement its Wildfire Mitigation Plan and capital program;

risks of regulatory or legislative restrictions that would limit SCEs ability to implement Public Safety Power Shutoff ("PSPS") when conditions warrant or would otherwise limit SCEs operational PSPS practices;

risks associated with implementing PSPS, including regulatory fines and penalties, claims for damages and reputational harm;

ability of SCE to maintain a valid safety certification;

ability to obtain sufficient insurance at a reasonable cost, including insurance relating to SCE's nuclear facilities and wildfire-related claims, and to recover the costs of such insurance or, in the event liabilities exceed insured amounts, the ability to recover uninsured losses from customers or other parties;

extreme weather-related incidents (including events caused, or exacerbated, by climate change, such as wildfires, debris flows, droughts, high wind events and extreme heat events) and other natural disasters (such as earthquakes), which could cause, among other things, public safety issues, property damage, operational issues (such as rotating outages and issues due to damaged infrastructure), PSPS activations and unanticipated costs;

risk that California Assembly Bill 1054 ("AB 1054") does not effectively mitigate the significant exposure faced by California investor-owned utilities related to liability for damages arising from catastrophic wildfires where utility facilities are alleged to be a substantial cause, including the longevity of the Wildfire Insurance Fund and the CPUC's interpretation of and actions under AB 1054, including its interpretation of the prudency standard established under AB 1054;

ability of SCE to effectively attract, manage, develop and retain a skilled workforce, including its contract workers;

decisions and other actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other governmental authorities, including decisions and actions related to nationwide or statewide crisis, determinations of authorized rates of return or return on equity, the recoverability of wildfire-related and debris flow-related costs, issuance of SCE's wildfire safety certification, wildfire mitigation efforts, and delays in executive, regulatory and legislative actions;

ability of Edison International or SCE to borrow funds and access bank and capital markets on reasonable terms;

risks associated with the decommissioning of San Onofre, including those related to worker and public safety, public opposition, permitting, governmental approvals, on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel, delays, contractual disputes, and cost overruns;

pandemics, such as COVID-19, and other events that cause regional, statewide, national or global disruption, which could impact, among other things, Edison International's and SCE's business, operations, cash flows, liquidity and/or financial results and cause Edison International and SCE to incur unanticipated costs;

physical security of Edison International's and SCE's critical assets and personnel and the cybersecurity of Edison International's and SCE's critical information technology systems for grid control, and business, employee and customer data;

risks associated with cost allocation resulting in higher rates for utility bundled service customers because of possible customer bypass or departure for other electricity providers such as Community Choice Aggregators ("CCA," which are cities, counties, and certain other public agencies with the authority to generate and/or purchase electricity for their local residents and businesses) and Electric Service Providers (entities that offer electric power and ancillary services to retail customers, other than electrical corporations (like SCE) and CCAs);

risks inherent in SCE's capital investment program, including those related to project site identification, public opposition, environmental mitigation, construction, permitting, power curtailment costs (payments due under power contracts in the event there is insufficient transmission to enable acceptance of power delivery), changes in the California Independent System Operators transmission plans, and governmental approvals; and

risks associated with the operation of electrical facilities, including worker and public safety issues, the risk of utility assets causing or contributing to wildfires, failure, availability, efficiency, and output of equipment and facilities, and availability and cost of spare parts.

Additional information about risks and uncertainties, including more detail about the factors described in this report, is contained throughout this report and in the 2020 Form 10-K, including the "Risk Factors" section. Readers are urged to read this entire report, including information incorporated by reference, as well as the 2020 Form 10-K, and carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors that affect Edison International's and SCE's businesses. Edison International and SCE post or provide direct links (i) to certain SCE and other parties' regulatory filings and documents with the CPUC and the FERC and certain agency rulings and notices in open proceedings in a section titled "SCE Regulatory Highlights," (ii) to certain documents and information related to Southern California wildfires which may be of interest to investors in a section titled "Southern California Wildfires," and (iii) to presentations, documents and other information that may be of interest to investors in a section title "Presentations" at www.edisoninvestor.com in order to publicly disseminate such information.

These forward-looking statements represent our expectations only as of the date of this news release, and Edison International assumes no duty to update them to reflect new information, events or circumstances. Readers should review future reports filed by Edison International and SCE with the SEC.

Third Quarter Reconciliation of Basic Earnings Per Share to Core Earnings Per Share Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, 2021 2020 Change 2021 2020 Change (Loss) earnings per share attributable to Edison International Continuing operations SCE $ (0.75 ) $ (0.70 ) $ (0.05 ) $ 0.98 $ 0.90 $ 0.08 Edison International Parent and Other (0.15 ) (0.06 ) (0.09 ) (0.36 ) (0.33 ) (0.03 ) Edison International (0.90 ) (0.76 ) (0.14 ) 0.62 0.57 0.05 Less: Non-core items SCE (2.59 ) (2.43 ) (0.16 ) (2.81 ) (2.69 ) (0.12 ) Edison International Parent and Other     (0.07 ) 0.07 Total non-core items (2.59 ) (2.43 ) (0.16 ) (2.81 ) (2.76 ) (0.05 ) Core earnings (losses) SCE 1.84 1.73 0.11 3.79 3.59 0.20 Edison International Parent and Other (0.15 ) (0.06 ) (0.09 ) (0.36 ) (0.26 ) (0.10 ) Edison International $ 1.69 $ 1.67 $ 0.02 $ 3.43 $ 3.33 $ 0.10

Note: Diluted (loss) earnings were $(0.90) and $(0.76) per share for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $0.62 and $0.57 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Third Quarter Reconciliation of Basic Earnings Per Share to Core Earnings (in millions) Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (in millions) 2021 2020 Change 2021 2020 Change Net (loss) income attributable to Edison International Continuing operations SCE $ (284 ) $ (264 ) $ (20 ) $ 371 $ 336 $ 35 Edison International Parent and Other (57 ) (24 ) (33 ) (135 ) (123 ) (12 ) Edison International (341 ) (288 ) (53 ) 236 213 23 Less: Non-core items SCE1,2,3,4,5 (985 ) (920 ) (65 ) (1,065 ) (994 ) (71 ) Edison International Parent and Other3     (28 ) 28 Total non-core items (985 ) (920 ) (65 ) (1,065 ) (1,022 ) (43 ) Core earnings (losses) SCE 701 656 45 1,436 1,330 106 Edison International Parent and Other (57 ) (24 ) (33 ) (135 ) (95 ) (40 ) Edison International $ 644 $ 632 $ 12 $ 1,301 $ 1,235 $ 66

1 Includes charges of $54 million ($39 million after-tax) and $161 million ($116 million after-tax) for the quarter and year-ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $85 million ($61 million after-tax) and $252 million ($181 million after-tax) for the quarter and year-ended September 30, 2020, respectively, from the amortization of SCE's contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund. 2 Includes charges of $1.2 billion ($899 million after-tax) and $1.2 billion ($909 million after-tax) for the quarter and year-ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $1.2 billion ($880 million after-tax) and $1.2 billion ($889 million after-tax) for the quarter and year-ended September 30, 2020, respectively, for SCE's 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events claims and expenses, net of recoveries. 3 Includes income tax benefit of $18 million and income tax expense of $3 million recorded in the first quarter of 2020 for SCE and Edison International Parent and Other, respectively, due to re-measurement of uncertain tax positions related to the 2010  2012 California state tax filings currently under audit. 4 Includes gains of $10 million ($7 million after-tax) recorded in the second quarter of 2021, and $28 million ($21 million after-tax) and $80 million ($58 million after-tax) for the quarter and year-ended September 30, 2020, respectively, for SCE's sale of San Onofre nuclear fuel. 5 Includes an impairment charge of $79 million ($47 million after-tax) recorded in the third quarter of 2021 related to disallowed historical capital expenditures in SCE's 2021 GRC final decision.

Consolidated Statements of Income Edison International Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (in millions, except per-share amounts, unaudited) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Total operating revenue $ 5,299 $ 4,644 $ 11,574 $ 10,421 Purchased power and fuel 2,088 1,817 4,384 3,813 Operation and maintenance 1,222 1,248 2,817 2,885 Wildfire-related claims, net of insurance recoveries 1,273 1,297 1,276 1,303 Wildfire Insurance Fund expense 54 85 161 252 Depreciation and amortization 599 490 1,657 1,463 Property and other taxes 113 114 356 328 Impairment and other expense (income) 78 (28 ) 67 (46 ) Total operating expenses 5,427 5,023 10,718 9,998 Operating (loss) income (128 ) (379 ) 856 423 Interest expense (245 ) (222 ) (694 ) (676 ) Other income 47 84 195 217 (Loss) income before income taxes (326 ) (517 ) 357 (36 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (29 ) (275 ) 3 (355 ) Net (loss) income (297 ) (242 ) 354 319 Preferred and preference stock dividend requirements of SCE 27 46 80 106 Preferred stock dividend requirement of Edison International 17  38  Net (loss) income attributable to Edison International common shareholders $ (341 ) $ (288 ) $ 236 $ 213 Basic (loss) earnings per share: Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 380 378 380 371 Basic (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Edison International common shareholders $ (0.90 ) $ (0.76 ) $ 0.62 $ 0.57 Diluted (loss) earnings per share: Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, including effect of dilutive securities 380 378 380 372 Diluted (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Edison International common shareholders $ (0.90 ) $ (0.76 ) $ 0.62 $ 0.57

Consolidated Balance Sheets Edison International September 30, December 31, (in millions, unaudited) 2021 2020 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 524 $ 87 Receivables, less allowances of $245 and $188 for uncollectible accounts at respective dates 1,612 1,130 Accrued unbilled revenue 1,122 521 Insurance receivable  708 Income tax receivables  68 Inventory 412 405 Prepaid expenses 327 281 Regulatory assets 1,553 1,314 Wildfire Insurance Fund contributions 204 323 Other current assets 274 224 Total current assets 6,028 5,061 Nuclear decommissioning trusts 4,769 4,833 Marketable securities 13  Other investments 35 53 Total investments 4,817 4,886 Utility property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $11,093 and $10,681 at respective dates 49,561 47,653 Nonutility property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $98 and $94 at respective dates 193 186 Total property, plant and equipment 49,754 47,839 Receivables, less allowances of $93 uncollectible accounts at September 30, 2021 106  Regulatory assets (includes $329 at September 30, 2021 related to Variable Interest Entities "VIEs") 7,386 7,120 Wildfire Insurance Fund contributions 2,410 2,443 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,532 1,088 Long-term insurance receivable 76 75 Other long-term assets 914 860 Total long-term assets 12,424 11,586 Total assets $ 73,023 $ 69,372

Consolidated Balance Sheets Edison International September 30, December 31, (in millions, except share amounts, unaudited) 2021 2020 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Short-term debt $ 3,042 $ 2,398 Current portion of long-term debt 776 1,029 Accounts payable 2,039 1,980 Wildfire-related claims 84 2,231 Customer deposits 200 243 Regulatory liabilities 583 569 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 355 215 Other current liabilities 1,883 1,612 Total current liabilities 8,962 10,277 Long-term debt (Includes $320 at September 30, 2021 related to VIEs) 23,342 19,632 Deferred income taxes and credits 5,524 5,368 Pensions and benefits 531 563 Asset retirement obligations 2,739 2,930 Regulatory liabilities 8,584 8,589 Operating lease liabilities 1,177 873 Wildfire-related claims 2,308 2,281 Other deferred credits and other long-term liabilities 3,114 2,910 Total deferred credits and other liabilities 23,977 23,514 Total liabilities 56,281 53,423 Commitments and contingencies Preferred stock (50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,250,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021) 1,235  Common stock, no par value (800,000,000 shares authorized; 379,887,286 and 378,907,147 shares issued and outstanding at respective dates) 6,033 5,962 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (63 ) (69 ) Retained earnings 7,636 8,155 Total Edison International's shareholders' equity 14,841 14,048 Noncontrolling interests  preference stock of SCE 1,901 1,901 Total equity 16,742 15,949 Total liabilities and equity $ 73,023 $ 69,372

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Edison International Nine months ended September 30, (in millions, unaudited) 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 354 $ 319 Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,709 1,512 Allowance for equity during construction (92 ) (87 ) Impairment and other expense (income) 67 (46 ) Deferred income taxes (1 ) (344 ) Wildfire Insurance Fund amortization expense 161 252 Other 34 31 Nuclear decommissioning trusts (204 ) (123 ) Proceeds from Morongo Transmission LLC 400  Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Receivables (706 ) (556 ) Inventory (10 ) (24 ) Accounts payable 282 7 Tax receivables and payables 204 197 Other current assets and liabilities (716 ) (311 ) Regulatory assets and liabilities, net (484 ) (1,074 ) Wildfire-related insurance receivable 707 73 Wildfire-related claims (2,120 ) 1,267 Other noncurrent assets and liabilities (1 ) (22 ) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (416 ) 1,071 Cash flows from financing activities: Long-term debt issued, plus premium and net of discount and issuance costs of $(40) and $26 for the respective periods 4,798 2,726 Long-term debt repaid (1,031 ) (1,098 ) Short-term debt borrowed 2,105 1,929 Short-term debt repaid (1,355 ) (800 ) Common stock issued 28 896 Preferred stock issued, net 1,235  Preferred and preference stock redeemed  (308 ) Commercial paper (repayment) borrowing, net (435 ) 73 Dividends and distribution to noncontrolling interests (85 ) (97 ) Common stock dividends paid (741 ) (691 ) Preferred stock dividends paid (35 )  Other 22 17 Net cash provided by financing activities 4,506 2,647 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (3,948 ) (3,897 ) Proceeds from sale of nuclear decommissioning trust investments 3,218 4,754 Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments (3,014 ) (4,631 ) Other 90 80 Net cash used in investing activities (3,654 ) (3,694 ) Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 436 24 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 89 70 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 525 $ 94

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006187/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations: Sam Ramraj, (626) 302-2540

Media Contact: Jeff Monford, (626) 476-8120
FILE PHOTO: Woman holds smartphone with Facebook logo in front of a displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration picture

By Elizabeth Culliford

(Reuters) -Facebook said on Monday that last month it removed a troll farm with more than 1,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts which it was said was run by the Nicaraguan government and the country's ruling party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

The social media company said the troll farm - a coordinated effort to manipulate public discourse using fake accounts - was intended to amplify pro-government and anti-opposition content. It said it had been active on its platforms since 2018 and was primarily operated by staff of TELCOR, Nicaragua's telecoms watchdog, working from the postal service headquarters in capital Managua.

The Supreme Court, which has been an Ortega ally, and the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute also ran smaller clusters of fake accounts, Facebook said.

The Supreme Court and the office of Nicaragua's Vice President Rosario Murillo, the spokeswoman for President Daniel Ortega and his government, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment about the report.

"This was one of the most cross-government troll operations we've disrupted to date, with multiple state entities participating in this activity at once," Facebook's investigators said in their report.

Facebook said it had this year taken down other government-linked networks from Ethiopia, Uganda https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-uganda-election-facebook/facebook-takes-down-ugandan-pro-museveni-accounts-ahead-of-election-idUSKBN29G1H9, Sudan https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/facebook-shuts-fake-accounts-sudan-fight-public-opinion-rages-online-2021-10-19, Thailand and Azerbaijan for breaking its rules against so-called coordinated inauthentic behavior, calling this "an especially troubling trend."

The company, which last week announced https://www.reuters.com/technology/facebooks-zuckerberg-kicks-off-its-virtual-reality-event-with-metaverse-vision-2021-10-28 it would start trading as Meta Platforms Inc on Dec. 1, has been under scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators over potential harms linked to its platform, particularly after former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents.

Nicaragua will hold https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nicaraguas-ortega-seen-tightening-grip-election-that-critics-call-sham-2021-11-01 its presidential election on Sunday, which Washington has denounced as a sham organized by an increasingly authoritarian Ortega.

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Facebook said the operation ran a network of blogs, websites and social media assets across TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Telegram.

A spokesperson for Alphabet Inc's Google, which owns YouTube, said the company had terminated 82 YouTube channels and three blogs as part of its ongoing investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Nicaragua.

"These channels had fewer than 1,500 subscribers in total and primarily uploaded spammy content in Spanish about gaming and sports. A small subset uploaded content supportive of President Ortega and the Sandinista party and criticizing the U.S. This campaign was consistent with similar findings reported by Facebook," they said.

The other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Facebook said the activity began in April 2018, as student-led protests against the government broke out. It said the network created fake accounts to discredit the protesters, including through posing as students and through attempting coordinated reporting of critics' accounts. From late 2019, Facebook said it increasingly focused on posting and amplifying pro-government content.

Facebook said it removed 937 Facebook accounts, 140 pages, 24 groups and 363 Instagram accounts as part of the Nicaraguan network.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Culliford in New York; Additional reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City and Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Leading Senior Care Franchise Expands Footprint in Atlanta Suburbs

ROSEVILLE, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced today the launch of its second territory in Georgia with the opening of a new location in North Fulton. Located at 903 Macy Drive, Always Best Care of Roswell is owned and operated by franchisee and Peach State native Kathryn Godwin. The new business will provide award-winning senior care services to the suburbs of the Atlanta area, including Dunwoody, Alpharetta and Milton, among others.

Always Best Care Logo (PRNewsfoto/Always Best Care)

"We are delighted to see our services expanding in the greater Atlanta market, which in turn will lead to more quality care for the growing senior population. We are equally pleased to welcome Kathy, who brings years of financial and business savvy to the brand," said Jake Brown, President & CEO of Always Best Care. "As we continue to expand our footprint across the country, we look forward to welcoming those with similar strong business backgrounds to the team."

Godwin opens Always Best Care of Roswell following a career as a senior finance professional with expertise in finance, operations and people management. Born and raised in Atlanta, she graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in management and earned a master's in finance from Georgia State University. Godwin has spent the greater part of her life preparing for an exciting career of entrepreneurship. Enthusiastically taking on this new endeavor, she also welcomes her mother, Sylvia Godwin, to the business as a care coordinator responsible for providing quality home care. Godwin is also a member of the Alzheimer's Association, where she plans to continue to build on her connections to make a difference in the lives of seniors.

"I am thrilled to be opening my Always Best Care business in Roswell, a community I have been a part of for more than 22 years. I look forward to providing care to the elderly population and pairing them with caregivers who provide high-quality assistance and support," said Godwin. "By taking control of my own destiny and receiving franchise support from Always Best Care, I am prepared and excited to grow the business through both clients and caregivers, aiming to hire more than 100+ professionals within my first year."

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Always Best Care is one of the nation's leading providers of non-medical in-home care and assisted living referral services. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada.

By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and assisted living finder and referral services, with skilled home health care in some limited markets.

For additional information on services available through Always Best Care of Roswell, or for a free evaluation, please call (404) 822-0934, email kgodwin@abc-seniors.com or visit alwaysbestcareroswell.com.

About Always Best Care

Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care assists seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs, and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company's clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas.

Always Best Care also offers an exclusive program called Always in Touch, a telephone reassurance program that provides a daily phone call to seniors and disabled adults who are living alone and have limited contact with the outside world. Always in Touch is a national telephone reassurance program offered in the USA and Canada. For more information on Always in Touch, or to request an application, visit www.Always-In-Touch.com .

CONTACT:

Paige Alonso

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

palonso@fish-consulting.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-native-opens-always-best-care-of-roswell-301414206.html

SOURCE Always Best Care
OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - New Canadian Media is proud to announce an important marker in our evolution: 2,000 stories ! As a member-based, non-profit digital news organization that was founded to highlight the voices of immigrant diasporas which often go unheard, these 2,000 stories capture the rich and varied lived experience of newcomers to Canada as told by our talented NCM Collective of reporters.

As a member-based, non-profit digital news organization that was founded to highlight the voices of immigrant diasporas which often go unheard, these 2,000 stories capture the rich and varied lived experience of newcomers to Canada as told by our talented NCM Collective of reporters. (CNW Group/New Canadian Media)

This is a celebration for all our members, partners and collaborators who have been working tirelessly to create more diverse, inclusive news media from the time we opened our virtual doors in 2014.

"As founder, I never thought we'd ever get to 2,000 stories -- with some 300 individual bylines. More than the number, I'm impressed by the sheer range of stories and themes, a reflection of the varied lived experiences of immigrants to Canada. We've only just begun," said George Abraham, NCM's publisher.



NCM primarily taps into the deep reservoir of global journalistic talent that has congregated in Canada. While our objective is to cover marginalized, racialized and new-immigrant communities that are not adequately reflected through mainstream news, our readership includes a diverse make-up, evenly split between Canadians born here and newcomers, bridging the gap between the two.

Our perspective is always Canadian. We cover international, national, provincial, local and hyper-local issues that resonate within diaspora communities. Our coverage highlights immigrant perspectives on a wide range of topics including current affairs, education, politics, health, policy, youth, arts and culture.

NCM is grateful for the support of our partners with whom we have collaborated over the years to help us reach this exciting milestone: the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), TVO, ipolitics.ca , The Walrus, Metroland, The Pointer, Black Press, Village Media, The Tyee, J-Source, Ryerson Journalism Review, Nieman Reports, Policy Options, Canadian Press, CBC, The Globe and Mail, Postmedia, and others.

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As we move forward towards creating new milestones, we invite new Canadian journalists as well as those born and raised here to contribute to the national conversation and join our 200-strong Collective , 65 of whom are also part of the burgeoning NCM-CAJ Collective.

"In less than one year, the NCM-CAJ Collective has created a remarkable forum for intercultural dialogue between journalists of different lived experiences," said Brent Jolly, president of the CAJ. "Building off this incredible foundation, we look forward to breaking new ground with this partnership in the coming weeks and months."

One example is the forthcoming survey on diversity in Canadian newsrooms, which the CAJ will be releasing this autumn. NCM has been a helpful partner in this project. As well, Abraham will serve as a mentor in the upcoming round of the CAJ's mentorship program .

"Our goal is not just to be yet another media platform. We are raising a cadre of journalists from immigrant backgrounds that is truly reflective of a multicultural Canada, even while publishing stories that you won't read or hear elsewhere," said Abraham. NCM is actively involved in raising professional standards through in-person training workshops, interactive webinars and mentoring under its educational mandate.

SOURCE New Canadian Media

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2021/02/c3480.html
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or "the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) reports that at the Court hearing on October 28, 2021, the High Court of Namibia ordered the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia ("Ministry") to complete its filing of the documents supporting the decision of the Minister to refuse the Haib Copper licence renewal before November 11, 2021. The Ministry proceeded with a first filing on October 21, 2021 but it was not complete and did not include any documents directly related to the decision of the Minister to deny the renewal of the Haib Copper licence.

High Court of Namibia orders The Ministry Of Mines to file further documents with the Court before November 11, 2021 (CNW Group/Deep-South Resources Inc.)

The Court will hold another hearing on November 11, 2021, to define the further procedures with regards to the review of the decision of the Minister.

The Company will provide regular updates in this regard and any other matter concerning this situation.

As disclosed in our press release dated June 16, 2021, the Company had received notice from the Ministry informing the Company that its application for the renewal of its EPL had been denied citing the Company's inability to advance the EPL to Pre-Feasibility and complete the proposed drilling program as planned. The Company maintains that the Ministry was kept well apprised, with no objection on their part, of a proposed change from the Pre-Feasibility study to an upgraded Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and commencement of a full feasibility study. The latter was already started at the time of the refusal. Moreover, the Ministry issued all permits required for the drilling program and are well aware that Deep-South has completed the drilling program.

As a result of the Minister's refusal to renew the Licence, the Company terminated all work on site and proceeded with the retrenchment of its employees on site.

The Company is vigorously contesting the decision by all means necessary and available under the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act (the "Act") and other applicable laws of Namibia. In its application for renewal and subsequent representations made to the Ministry, the Company maintains that it clearly demonstrated having met all criteria under the Act to justify the renewal of its Licence.

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About Deep-South Resources Inc

Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company Deep-South growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper project, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Minister's refusal to renew the Company's Licence, the Company's intention to contest the Minister's decision before the Courts of Namibia and the outcome of such proceedings.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Deep-South, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Namibia; the failure of the Namibian Government to comply with its continuing obligations under the Act to allow for the renewal of the Licence; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis for its quarter ended ended February 28, 2021 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Deep-South, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

Suite 888, 700 West Georgia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7Y 1G5

Tel: +1-819-340-0140. E-mail: info@deepsouthresources.com

Web site: http://www.deepsouthresources.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-court-of-namibia-orders-the-ministry-of-mines-to-file-further-documents-with-the-court-before-november-11-2021-301414283.html

SOURCE Deep-South Resources Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2021/02/c1683.html
Votes are being cast across the county today, including in New York City, above, where voters will select a new mayor. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

Its Election Day in states and cities across the country with nearly all the attention focused on places like Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. They feature contests that are widely expected to have national implications.

Voters are also considering ballot initiatives that could have an impact on the housing market elsewhere and also provide a test run for more far-reaching measures in 2022 and beyond.

Here are a few of the measures voters are considering today.

Affordable housing and outside speculators

Many of the affordable housing measures up for vote directly target home-sharing companies like Airbnb (ABNB) and VRBO - owned by Expedia (EXPE) - and attribute the decline in affordable home options to the boom in short-term rentals in recent years  especially in tourist destinations.

XLincoln County in Oregon has an initiative to prohibit new short-term rental licenses and phase out existing licenses in certain parts of the county. A local advocacy group argues the rule would restore Lincoln Countys long-term housing stock by discouraging outside speculators from buying up houses, citing an Arizona study on what is described as the negative consequences of short-term rentals.

Lincoln County in Oregon features tourist destinations like the Yaquina Head Lighthouse near Newport. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Other studies have looked into the Airbnb effect, and some have found a link between an increase in Airbnb listings and rising rents and house prices in the area. Another study described a more "nuanced characterization of the winners and losers of the sharing economy," including the finding that the benefits for low income-areas in hosting opportunities may outweigh housing cost increases.

Colorado also has a housing measure on the ballot. The New York Times visited the town of Leadville in advance of the Nov. 2 election there and found business owners supportive of new taxes  with the money going to create more affordable housing  because their potential workers cant find places to live in the ski destination town.

Another place the issue is on the ballot is St. Paul, Minn., where voters are considering a rent-control ballot initiative.

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An Airbnb spokesperson told Yahoo Finance in a statement that countless families depend on Airbnb to pay their rent and stay in their homes, which has become an even more crucial lifeline amidst the unprecedented economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

"As a number of experts have concluded, home sharing has little impact on housing affordability and is not a factor in housing supply, the spokesperson added.

A 2016 survey conducted by Zillow found that just 5.1% of experts said short term rentals "would have a meaningful, large impact on the supply and affordability of more traditional, longer-term rentals."

Opponents of Airbnb rally in New York. (REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

Economic justice measures

There are also a series of measures focused on "economic justice" by a progressive group called the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.

Maine has a referendum election today and is considering one measure to enshrine that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing. The measure would be the first in the nation and part of a movement undertaken by progressive groups to secure a "right to food" across the country.

Colorado residents are voting on a measure to increase the marijuana sales tax, while and Tucson, Ariz., is looking to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

Other cities and states have tackled the minimum wage issue in recent elections, including Florida, which last year passed a measure that raises the state's minimum wage to $10 an hour, aiming for $15 by 2026.

Police reform

Another measure sure to draw a lot of attention is in Minneapolis where voters are deciding whether to replace the citys police force with a department of public safety.

It is the first election there since last summers protests and the Wall Street Journal visited ahead of the election and found voters torn over how much to reform the city's police force one year after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Department officer on May 25, 2020.

This story has been updated.

Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

Election Day 2021: Key races to watch

Biden economic advisor: Progressives 'need to take this win'

How the White House is trying to shake off the loss of a key climate provision

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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JetBlues Code Now Available on Seven Routes to Europe With Option to Stopover in Iceland to Enhance the Journey

NEW YORK, November 02, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced it is expanding its codeshare with Icelandair  the national carrier of Iceland  to offer customers more ways to book and connect their travel between the two airlines networks across Europe and North America. The new codeshare flights are now available for booking on jetblue.com.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005406/en/

October 04, 2021  JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes (left) and Icelandair CEO Bogi Nils Bogason at the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Boston celebrate 10 years of partnership and expansion of codeshare. (Photo: Business Wire)

"We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Icelandair to offer our customers more options when traveling beyond Iceland," said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. "With our recent launch of services to Londons Heathrow and Gatwick airports, this expansion with Icelandair provides customers even more choice for travel across the Atlantic and the ability to enjoy a stopover in Iceland en route."

Icelandair Chief Executive Officer, Bogi Nils Bogason, said: "This year marks the ten-year anniversary of our successful partnership with JetBlue, where we have been able to offer great connections and enhanced comfort for our customers. The similarities between our business models and a strong focus on customer experience means that we can offer complementary service throughout our networks. We are very pleased to expand our partnership and offer travelers new options for connecting between the two airlines networks."

JetBlue's current codes on Icelandair offer customers direct flights between New Yorks John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, Bostons Logan International Airport (BOS), Newarks Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Icelands Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in the capital city of Reykjavik. As part of the codeshare expansion, the JetBlue "B6" code will initially be placed on seven of 24 European routes that Icelandair operates beyond Reykjavik. The plan is to add more in the near future. The initial routes are:

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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Netherlands

Copenhagen Airport (CPH), Denmark

Glasgow Airport (GLA), United Kingdom

Helsinki Airport (HEL), Finland

Manchester Airport (MAN), United Kingdom

Oslo Airport (OSL), Norway

Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), Sweden

Customers traveling on connecting flights between Icelandair and JetBlue will enjoy both combined ticketing and baggage transfers. Additionally, when customers fly Icelandair across the Atlantic, they can stop over in Iceland at no additional cost, selecting a stopover duration of one to seven days to pack more experiences into their travel.

Iceland is a year-round destination with adventure waiting to happen every day. With its abundance of mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, lakes, caves and otherwise rough terrain waiting to be tackled, Iceland is truly an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. But it is also a warm and welcoming place for travelers of all types.

JetBlue and Icelandair customers enjoy benefits across loyalty programs. Since 2017, customers have had the opportunity to accrue loyalty points from both JetBlues TrueBlue program and Icelandairs Saga Club, and soon will have the ability to redeem points on either carriers flights.

This expanded codeshare agreement builds upon JetBlue and Icelandairs partnership that first began in 2011. Icelandair passengers already benefit from access to a network that spans to 45 destinations in more than 15 countries around the world. This further strengthening of the partnership will allow JetBlue customers to enjoy additional travel options via Icelands Keflavik International Airport, Icelandairs connecting hub.

About JetBlue Airways

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, and between New York and London. For more information, visit jetblue.com.

About Icelandair

Icelandair is the leading airline of Iceland, offering efficient connections to, from, via and within Iceland. Connecting gateways in Europe with gateways in North America through Iceland as a hub, its network gives streamlined access to travels across the North Atlantic. Icelandair also allows passengers to take an Icelandair Stopover at no additional airfare. For more information, visit icelandair.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005406/en/

Contacts

JetBlue Corporate Communications

Tel: +1.718.709.3089

corpcomm@jetblue.com
Vancouver, British Columbia and London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Lynx Global Digital Finance Corporation (CSE: LYNX) (OTC Pink: CNONF) (FSE: 3CT0) ("Lynx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Georg Hochwimmer to the board of directors.

Dr. Hochwimmer is the Chief Analyst at General Research, GmbH, a leading Munich-based securities research and analysis firm.

Dr. Hochwimmer is a noted business consultant and academic responsible for aiding in the development of several highly profitable companies throughout Europe. He serves as the CEO of supraMAT Technologies AG, a business incubator for German technology companies and is a Managing Director of Microdrop Technologies.

"I have been working with Lynx on a consulting basis and in doing research I have become very excited about the opportunities and business strategy they are executing. The concept of a financial ecosystem that uses technology to drive down transaction costs and make digital banking widely available in untapped markets is a very timely strategy. I believe I will be able to bring a lot of accretive opportunities to the management team over the coming quarters," stated Dr. Hochwimmer.

Dr. Hochwimmer joins the board as the Company is working diligently to harmonize the components of Lynx's digital payment platform, including a fully licensed Bank.

"I have enjoyed working with Dr. Hochwimmer immensely and I look forward to having his experience and skills come to bear on financing and growing a multi-national corporation. We have already discussed the many ways his client base can help increase the revenue streams at Lynx," stated Mike Penner, CEO Lynx.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Penner, CEO

+1 (604) 396-9974

mpenner@lynxglobal.io www.lynxglobal.io

ABOUT LYNX DIGITAL GLOBAL FINANCE:

Lynx seeks to become a leader in financial technology, solutions, and services for large-scale merchants, financial institutions and other B2B industry partners by way of integration to the Lynx digital payment platform. The Company's payment solutions are powered by a broad suite of payment technologies and services. The Company has targeted banking and fintech relationships in ASEAN and Oceania, a region with a population approaching 700 million, that can provide Lynx a financial network hub location to service and operate a global traditional and digital financial infrastructure. By working with selected banking and/or licensed EMI partners, the Company will be able to offer a digital payment platform with a full suite of payment solutions, which may include merchant acquiring solutions; card issuing; remittance and forex; and custodial digital asset services, including digital wallet services. The Company seeks organic growth while investigating potential strategic acquisitions that may contribute critical technology applications, additional services and revenue streams, and that can complement or enhance existing offerings and potentially increase or expedite the path to future profitability. While Lynx believes that significant near-term opportunities exist for the Company's strategic initiatives, there can be no assurance that goals and objectives will be reached or that any such underlying efforts or agreements will provide successful or positive outcomes should they be implemented.

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Phone: 1-888-273-1332

Email: ir@lynxglobal.io

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation, including the ability of Dr. Hochwimmer to bring accretive opportunities to the management of Lynx over the coming quarters, the impact of Dr. Hochwimmer on Lynx's ability to finance and grow as a multinational corporation and the ways in which his client base could help increase the revenue streams at Lynx. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lynx to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures, other costs, or implied future forecasts. The Company further again cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Lynx will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101681
Hello and welcome back to Max Q. It feels odd to be living in a time when companies are announcing their plans to develop commercial space stations and yet, here we are! Read on for news from Sierra Space, Blue Origin, Boeing and others on their plans for a station, called Orbital Reef. Plus this week, another space SPAC and more.

Tips, opinions, criticism, thoughts? Email me at aria.techcrunch@gmail.com or find me on Twitter at @breadfrom.

Dont forget to sign up to get the free newsletter version of Max Q delivered to your inbox.

Orbital Reef is claiming its slice of LEO real estate

Let's get into it: Sierra Space, Blue Origin and Boeing are teaming up to send the spacecraft to orbit in the second half of the decade. The planned station, called Orbital Reef, will also include tech and services from Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering and Arizona State University.

The news comes less than a week after Voyager Space, Nanoracks and Lockheed Martin laid out their own plans for a commercial space station, which the group says will launch in 2027. Axiom Space is also planning a commercial station.

The big questions that remain: how much it's going to cost. None of the executives would say. The other major piece of the puzzle is the launch capabilities of Blue Origins New Glenn, Boeings Starliner and Sierra Spaces Dream Chaser spaceplane. None of these vehicles have yet reached orbit, and the team wants their commercial station in space by the latter half of the decade.

Image Credits: Orbital Reef (opens in a new window)

Satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital is going public via SPAC merger

The trend of space companies heading to the public markets via SPAC mergers is not over yet. Terran Orbital, a leading manufacturer of small satellites, is going public in a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Tailwind Two Acquisition Corp. The deal has a post-transaction enterprise value of $1.58 billion and will furnish the company with around $470 million.

Terran Orbital is a contract manufacturer of satellites, working primarily with the government. The company will be opening the world's largest spacecraft manufacturing facility in Florida. It also has plans to launch and operate its own satellite constellation and to deliver satellite imagery as a service. In a statement, CEO Marc Bell called it the new SaaS: Satellites-as-a-Service.

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Other news from TechCrunch

Gitai Japan successfully completed a technology demo of its robotic arm aboard the International Space Station, a major milestone in the Tokyo-based startup's goal of commercializing its space robots. Gitai has a really fascinating vision for the future of space, which sees robots as composing the labor force in off-world colonies on the moon and Mars.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpPlBEcmYy8]

Promus Ventures, a VC firm based in Chicago, closed a 120 million ($139 million) space fund, dubbed Orbital Ventures. The new fund, which will operate out of Luxembourg, will be focused on early-stage space companies.

Other news from around the web

ABL Space had a huge week, closing $200 million in funding from existing investors including Fidelity Management and Lockheed Martin Ventures. The financing shot the company's valuation to $2.4 billion. The company aims to launch its first rocket, dubbed RS1, from Alaska before the year is out.

Amazon has a new agreement with telecom giant Verizon for its Project Kuiper internet satellite project. Verizon will aim to improve wireless internet access in rural areas in the U.S. by expanding its LTE and 5G service.

Astroscale and ClearSpace were awarded a collective 700,000 ($1 million) from the U.K. Space Agency to conduct mission feasibility studies into de-orbiting unusable satellites -- AKA cleaning up space junk.

Firefly Aerospace is on track to send its Blue Ghost lunar lander to the moon in September 2023, announcing it had completed a critical design review with NASA that paves the way for it to begin construction of the spacecraft. Firefly eventually wants to complete annual missions to the moon's surface.

Isar Aerospace inked a firm launch services agreement with satellite company EnduroSat to launch multiple satellites to orbit from the company's site in Andya, Norway between 2022 and 2025.

ispace scored a new investment from Airbus Ventures, part of a Series C extension that brings the company's total raise to around $200 million (ispace has three lunar lander missions planned through 2024).

Image Credits: ispace (opens in a new window)

Join us at TC Sessions: Space in December

Last year we held our first dedicated space event, and it went so well that we decided to host it again in 2021. This year, its happening December 14 and 15, and its once again going to be an entirely virtual conference, so people from all over the world will be able to join  and you can, too.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 02, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The all-new 2022 Nissan Frontier continues to bring home awards, the most recent being voted "Mid-Size Pickup Truck of Texas" by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA). Winners were determined during the annual TAWA Truck Rodeo, a three-day rugged terrain evaluation held at Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave, Texas.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006173/en/

The all-new 2022 Nissan Frontier continues to bring home awards, the most recent being voted "Mid-Size Pickup Truck of Texas" by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA). Winners were determined during the annual TAWA Truck Rodeo, a three-day rugged terrain evaluation held at Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave, Texas. (Photo: Business Wire)

"Texas is Nissan truck country and the 2022 Frontier is right at home on the range, the ranches and the backroads with its best-in-class1 310-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and maximum 6,720-pound towing capacity," said Jared Haslam, vice president, Product and Services Planning, Nissan U.S. and Canada. "Were honored to be recognized again by the Texas Auto Writers Association."

The all-new 2022 Frontier builds on Nissans six-plus decades of mid-size truck leadership with a bold new exterior, adventure-oriented interior and the latest driver assistance and connectivity technologies. It is an authentic mid-size truck with a range of body, drivetrain and equipment configurations carefully selected to fit customer needs.

"It's clear that Nissan put a lot of work into redesigning the Frontier, and it shows," said TAWA President Kristin Shaw. "Our members were impressed by not only its prowess both on and off the dirt, but also its comfortable and upgraded interior. We are glad we had the opportunity to put the Frontier through its paces, Texas style."

Along with its powerful new exterior, Frontier features an available, largest-in-class 9-inch color touchscreen display1 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all models. Further making life easier, a largest-in-class2 standard 7.0-inch Advanced Driver Assist Display offers configurable information directly in front of the driver. Addressing common customer needs, Frontier provides 4.0 liters of center console storage  almost double that of most midsize pickups.

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The 2022 Frontier is available in King Cab and Crew Cab body configurations, 4x2 and 4x4 drive and choice of S, SV PRO-4X (4x4 only) and new-for-2022 PRO-X (4x2 only).

About TAWA

Founded in 1987, the Texas Auto Writers Association has grown to become one of the most recognized and reputable automotive press organizations in the industry. TAWAs mission is to promote quality and accuracy in automotive journalism and to disseminate information about the automotive industry through news-related print, online and broadcast media. For more information, visit www.texasautowriters.org.

For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

Comparison based on 2022 Frontier PRO-4X vs. latest in-market Ward's Small Truck segment. Based on manufacturer's website. Comparison based on 2022 Frontier S vs. latest in-market Wards Small Truck segment. Based on manufacturers website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006173/en/

Contacts

Media Contact:

Steve Parrett

Manager, Central and Southeast Regions

Office: 615-306-9599

Steve.parrett@nissan-usa.com

Colin Price

Nissan Product Communications  Trucks & SUVs

615-289-5237

colin.price@nissan-usa.com
North America EV Battery Market by Type (Li-ion, Ni-MH, SLA, Ultracapacitor, Solid-state Batteries), Capacity (<50 kWh, 51-100 kWh, 101-300 kWh, >300 kWh), Bonding Type (Wire, Laser), Form, Application, End User, and Country - Forecast to 2028

Redding, California, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new market research report titled  North America EV Battery Market by Type (Li-ion, Ni-MH, SLA, Ultracapacitors, Solid-state Batteries), Capacity (<50 kWh, 51-100 kWh, 101-300 kWh, >300 kWh), Bonding Type (Wire, Laser), Form, Application, End User, and Country  Forecast to 2028, published by Meticulous Research, the North America EV batteries market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30% from 2021 to reach $22.79 billion by 2028.

Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5219

Electric vehicle batteries are used to power the electric motors of battery electric vehicles (BEV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). EV batteries are made up of numerous cells which are inserted into a module to provide protection from external shocks such as heat or vibration. EV batteries with high power and high energy density provide an optimal driving range to vehicles.

The major factors driving the North American EV batteries market include increasing investments by leading automotive OEMs to set up battery manufacturing facilities in the region, increasing adoption of EVs, and decreasing battery prices. The high Import cost of raw materials for battery manufacturing is a major challenge for the growth of the EV batteries market.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the North American Electric Vehicle Batteries Market

The COVID-19 crisis led to disrupted supply chains, limited operations and workforce, and factory closures, causing a severe decline in electric vehicle sales, which directly affected the sales of batteries, especially in the electric vehicles segment. The energy materials and renewable generation and conversion market, including battery-powered electric vehicles, grid storage, and personal electronic devices, were no exception to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In North America, the U.S. was impacted severely by the pandemic causing significant damages in terms of life, resources, and economy. The adoption of EVs had fallen in the first & second quarters of 2020, which affected the sale of EV batteries in North America. People avoided shared mobility and public transit to reduce the risk of infection, and due to remote working, distance traveled also decreased. In the U.S., vehicle sales declined by 12% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to Q1 in 2019 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, vehicle sales declined significantly as the year progressed, with a 33% year-on-year decline in Q2, followed by a slight rebound in Q3, with sales 7% lower than 2019 Q3 sales. The cost of battery packs witnessed a drastic fall, from over $1,000/kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2010 to approximately $137/kWh in 2020, which affected the North American EV batteries market.

Aggressive government initiatives in stabilizing the automobile industry are anticipated as a key factor to trigger the adoption rate of EVs in the coming years. For instance, in June 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $200 million funding over the next five years for electric vehicles, batteries, and connected vehicles projects at DOE national labs and new DOE partnerships to support electric vehicles innovation. The government of Canada has already invested over $1 billion to support increased zero-emission vehicle adoption and aims at pursuing a combination of investments and regulations to help the citizens and industries in this transition. These initiatives are expected to boost the North American EV batteries market.

Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5219

The North American EV batteries market is segmented by type, capacity, bonding type, form, application, end user, and geography. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the market at the country level.

Based on type, the lithium-ion battery segment is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is mainly attributed to its higher energy density, lightweight feature, compactness, and durability. Various automotive OEMs are partnering with battery OEMs to develop lithium-ion batteries and secure a battery supply chain for their existing and upcoming electric vehicles and achieve technology leadership in EV batteries. For instance, in 2021, Retriev Technologies Inc, a pioneer and market leader in the North American battery recycling industry, and Marubeni Corporation signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop a new circular business for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.

Based on capacity, the 51kWh to 100kWh segment is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is mainly attributed to the increasing initiatives by leading automotive OEMs to launch long-range and more powerful electric cars, rising adoption of electric cars in developing economies, and targets set by governments across the region to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030. Additionally, governments in the region are increasingly launching subsidies and initiatives to increase electric mobility adoption.

Based on bonding type, the wire bonding segment is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is mainly attributed to the high reliability of wire bonding technology, low production cost, better thermal relief properties, lower scrap production, and easy replaceability of faulty wire bonds. Wire bonding can handle extreme temperature ranges, shock, and vibrations over increasingly longer lifetimes. Hence, wire bonding is increasingly utilized in battery cell-to-cell connections, battery cell-to-busbar connections, and battery management system (BMS) interconnects.

Based on form, the prismatic segment is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is attributed to its high-power quality and its thin profile, which provides better space utilization and flexibility in battery design. Prismatic cells offer better layering options than other types of cells, due to which they are commonly used in EV batteries. Additionally, prismatic cells are highly stable since they are encased in steel or aluminum casing.

Based on application, the electric cars segment is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is mainly attributed to the growing concerns regarding the negative environmental effects of vehicular emissions, supportive government initiatives to decarbonize transportation, and the increasing efforts by major automotive OEMs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform their product line-ups into green and clean, environment-friendly vehicles. Battery OEMs are increasingly investing in the R&D of new battery technologies to cost-effectively reduce the battery size of EVs and improve their performance and power-to-weight ratio.

Based on end user, the electric vehicle OEMs segment is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is mainly attributed to increasing consumer adoption of EVs for personal use, increasing investments by automotive OEMs in EV battery manufacturing capacities to create a secure supply chain for their future electric vehicles, and increasing launch of new EV models by automotive OEMs. Additionally, all major EV OEMs currently offer warrant coverages for batteries for eight to ten years, due to which customers buy replacement batteries for older EVs from OEMs, further supporting the battery demand by EV OEMs.

Based on country, the U.S. is expected to account for the largest share of the North American EV batteries market in 2021. The large market share of this country is mainly attributed to the rising adoption of electric vehicles in this region, the presence of raw materials for the production of cobalt and lithium, and increasing investments in EV battery development to support the increasing demand for EV batteries.

Quick Buy  North American Electric Vehicle Batteries Market Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/52284271

Canada is also expected to witness a decent growth during the forecast period. The growth of EV batteries market in this country is mainly attributed to the availability of cobalt, lithium, and other raw material reserves in the country and increasing initiatives by battery manufacturers to set up battery manufacturing plants. For instance, Martinrea, an auto car manufacturer, and NanoXplore, a graphene producer, set up a joint venture called VoltaXplore to manufacture EV batteries with improved charging time, range, longevity, and the ability to operate at lower temperatures. The plant has the capacity to produce 1,000 batteries per day. Also, Britishvolt, a UK-headquartered cell manufacturing startup, announced its plans to build a 60GWh plant in Quebec. Additionally, Stromvolt, a Canadian headquartered startup, announced to build a 10GWh plant in Ontario.

The key players operating in the North American EV batteries market are NOHMs Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), QuantumScape Corporation (U.S.), American Battery Solutions, Inc. (U.S.), Clarios (U.S.), Romeo Power, Inc. (U.S.), and Electrovaya Inc. (Canada) among others.

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/north-america-ev-battery-market-5219

Scope of the Report

North America EV Battery Market, by Type

Lithium-ion battery

Sealed Lead Acid Battery

Nickel-metal Hydride Battery

Ultracapacitors

Solid-state Batteries

Other Batteries

North America EV Battery Market, by Capacity

Less Than 50 kWh

51 kWh to 100 kWh

101 kWh to 300 kWh

More Than 300 kWh

North America EV Battery Market, by Bonding Type

Wire Bonding

Laser Bonding

North American EV Battery Market, by Form

Prismatic

Cylindrical

Pouch

North America EV Battery Market, by Application

Electric Cars Battery Electric Vehicles Lithium-ion Battery Nickel-metal Hydride Battery Ultracapacitors Solid-state Batteries Other Batteries Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Lithium-ion Battery Ultracapacitors Solid-state Batteries Other Batteries Pure Hybrid Electric Vehicles Lithium-ion Battery Nickel-metal Hydride Battery Ultracapacitors Solid-state Batteries Other Batteries

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

E-scooters & Motorcycles

E-bikes

North America EV Battery Market, by End User

Electric Vehicle OEMs

Battery Swapping Stations

North America EV Battery Market, by Country

U.S.

Canada

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Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth.

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Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/439/north-america-ev-battery-market-2028

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E-Commerce giant and countless other European companies continue turning to Nylas for scalable, secure, and automated API-driven applications

LISBON, Portugal, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nylas , provider of communications APIs for business productivity automation, today, at Web Summit in Lisbon, announced that one of Europe and the world's leading e-commerce platforms have selected Nylas to quickly, securely, and automatically connect real-time communications data into their application. With Nylas's Email and Neural APIs, this fintech enterprise can more intelligently extract and structure data from the more than 2 million transactions on their platform each day, and create actionable workflows and experiences that drive ROI and customer satisfaction from a user base of global retail partners and consumers.

With Nylas, developers and companies across Europe, and the globe, can seamlessly integrate and connect mission-critical workplace applications through the Nylas platform to structure their data and keep teams more productive. In addition, Nylas will be scaling its go-to-market, product, and customer support teams within Europe to further drive its growth.

The company's European expansion comes after a year where it raised $120 million in Series C funding led by Tiger Global. The round also featured individual investments from some of Europe's most notable entrepreneurs. Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of Klarna, and Stripe's Co-Founder's Patrick and John Collison all contributed to Nylas' funding. Additionally, Nylas is now supporting more than 100,000 developers globally on its platform. These developers are using the Nylas platform and its APIs to advance innovation and software development in the rapidly growing global API economy. Along with funding and developer growth, earlier this year, Nylas was recognized on the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the second consecutive year as well as awarded Best Places to Work awards from Comparably, including Best Company Happiness, Best Company Compensation, and Best Company Perks & Benefits.

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"It is both incredibly humbling and exciting to see Nylas grow from a small team of engineers to a global organization spanning multiple countries and continents," said Gleb Polyakov, Co-Founder & CEO, Nylas. "Europe has been fast to recognize how easy, simplified, and secure access to communications data can lay the foundation for digital-first initiatives and business outcomes."

As the demand for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) tools and features increases, companies across Europe are turning to Nylas to help them quickly and efficiently structure large amounts of communications data and build modern workflows layered with intelligence and automation. As a result, some of Europe's most notable brands are able to meet customer and market needs faster while simultaneously generating huge operational savings.

Jobylon , a multinational recruiting SaaS platform based out of Stockholm has partnered with Nylas to add their Email and Calendar APIs to create end-to-end communication and scheduling between candidates and recruiters without ever having to leave the Jobylon platform. As a result, Jobylon was able to expand its customer base by 10% across Europe and achieve 25% YoY growth.

Founded in Estonia, CRM unicorn Pipedrive leveraged Nylas to help them quickly and securely scale their ability to support multiple email providers including Office365, Outlook, Exchange, and IMAP resulting in increased customer engagement and millions in additional revenue through their Gold and Platinum plans.

"Businesses are increasingly embracing CPaaS as it fills gaps in their communications. It also enables them to embed (new) real-time communications elements in their applications without significant investments into new systems or services by building on existing systems and solutions; this makes business communications better integrated into key workflows and creates innovative customer engagement tools," said Melissa Fremeijer-Holtz, Research Manager, European Enterprise Infrastructure and Communications, IDC. "Going forward IDC expects to see continued expansion as EU companies realize the benefits of CPaaS to accelerate developer-driven initiatives, business productivity, optimize digital multi-channel engagement, and ultimately drive innovation and growth."

"Europe has always been at the forefront of software innovation, and APIs are no different," said John Curtius, Partner at Tiger Global and Nylas board member. "The modern platform and secure architecture that Nylas has built makes it easy and secure for companies to access and structure their data in order to formulate more strategic business decisions and build better solutions. We're incredibly excited for Nylas to accelerate its growth and impact within the European market."

Nylas is also scaling its operations in Europe, specifically within its go-to-market, product, and customer support teams. Along with employee growth, the company is also looking to increase its physical footprint. Currently, Nylas has offices in London and Amsterdam, and while the company will remain a remote-first workforce, additional locations throughout Europe are seen as a core component of its global growth.

Visit Nylas at booth #E331 in the main expo hall. And don't miss Nylas' Co-Founder & CTO, Christine Spang at her sessions, Accelerating Growth and Innovation through Culture and Diversity , Who's Got Patience for Inefficiency Post-2021? , and Secrets of Scaling a Software Development Team .

For more information about Nylas, please visit www.nylas.com .

About Nylas

Hundreds of thousands of developers around the world use Nylas to quickly and securely build email, scheduling, and work automation features into their applications. With Nylas, developers at innovative companies like Upwork, Wix, Freshworks, Lever, Dialpad, and Ceridian get unprecedented access to rich communications data from their end-users, pre-built workflows that automate everyday tasks, embeddable UI/UX components for fast front-end development, and comprehensive security features - all delivered via a suite of powerful APIs that make integration easy.

Learn more at www.nylas.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook .

CONTACT:

Jason Sophian

Director of Communications, Nylas

jason.sophian@nylas.com

Samantha Miller

BLASTmedia for Nylas

317.806.1900 x 161

samantha@BLASTmedia.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nylas-accelerates-its-european-expansion-by-powering-one-of-the-worlds-largest-e-commerce-platforms-301413328.html

SOURCE Nylas
Figure 1

Location of the Companys uranium properties

Location of the Companys uranium properties

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pegasus Resources Inc. (TSX-V: PEGA: Frankfurt  OQS2, OTC/Pink Sheet symbol: SLTFF) (the Company or Pegasus) is pleased to announce exploration plans for its recently acquired uranium projects located in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan. Cumulatively, the uranium land package encompasses approximately 60,054 ha over 19 mineral claims and includes the Pine Channel, Mozzie Lake, Wollaston Northeast, and Bentley Lake properties (Figure 1).



Charles Desjardins, President of Pegasus Resources, states, "We are excited to have built this prospective uranium portfolio at such a key time in the market and look forward to advancing exploration and unlocking value for our shareholders.

Summary of exploration plans:

Pine Channel Property

Radon soil gas survey, to detect possible uranium mineralization at depth.

Ground gravity survey, to detect possible alteration zone related to uranium mineralization at depth.

These targeting methods, in combination with the historical geophysics, will bring the project to a drill-ready stage.



Mozzie Lake, Wollaston Northeast, and Bentley Lake properties

Data compilation of the historical exploration.

The compilation will allow for a methodical exploration approach in the spring.

Figure 1: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/482f3ea8-43e3-4304-8705-19ad515951ab

The following includes a summary of each property.

Pine Channel Uranium Property:

The property is prospective for unconformity-related uranium mineralization, with a relatively shallow depth to the basement from surface of about 60 to 100 metres.

Historical work identified two conductive trends on the Property. One trend is approximately 2.5 km long, defined by both airborne and ground electromagnetic (EM) surveys. The second, a 600-metre long conductor, has not yet been followed up with a ground EM survey(s) or drilling.

Drilling in 1981 identified anomalous uranium in a hematite-rich fracture, within Athabasca sandstone rocks, directly above unconformity in hole PC81-2 with 0.15% U3O8 over 0.15m .

The property is overlain by a thin cover of Athabasca Basin and is underlain at shallow depths by the structurally complex Tanto Domain, which is host to numerous U, Cu, Ni, and Au occurrences.

Wollaston Northeast Uranium Property

Story continues

The Wollaston Northeast Property is situated outside the northeastern edge of the Athabasca Basin, about 45 km northeast of the Eagle Point Uranium Mine. The Eagle Point uranium deposits are entirely hosted by basement rocks of the Wollaston Domain.

Extensive land position within the Wollaston Domain where several recent uranium discoveries have led to renewed exploration activity.

Wollaston Domain is host to numerous mines and uranium showings such as Key Lake, Rabbit Lake, Eagle Point, and others.

Prospective for basement hosted uranium mineralization, with at least five documented uranium occurrences and at least eight known base metal showings.

Historical exploration successfully identified numerous uranium/base metal showings, including an unresolved radioactive boulder train at Gallagher Lake with up to 0.244% U 3 O 8 .



Bentley Lake Uranium Property



The Bentley Lake Property is situated approximately 35 km northeast of the edge of the Athabasca Basin. It is located at the transition zone between the Wollaston and Mudjatic geological domains.

Located on the transition zone between the Mudjatic-Wollaston domains is a notable trend as several notable deposits such as Roughrider, Midwest, Cigar Lake, McAurthur River and others.

Mozzie Lake Uranium Property (20A Zone)



The Mozzie Lake Property consists of two claim blocks that are situated approximately 25 and 40 km northeast of the edge of the Athabasca Basin. It is located within the Charlebois-Higgingson Lake Uranium District.

Historical resource estimate* at the 20A zone with 204,200 tons at 0.119% U 3 0 8 at an average width of 15.8 feet (4.8 metres), containing 535,718 pounds of uranium.

The mineralization is hosted within pegmatite intrusions. The pegmatite deposits of the Charlebois-Higgingson Lake Uranium District have remained largely unexplored since it was first explored in the 1940s to 1960s era. There are historical references to rare-earth-element (REE)- bearing minerals in the region, including at the Pinkham Lake prospects on the Mozzie Lake Property. The Company believes that a re-evaluation of the district with respect to REE mineralization should be conducted to potentially bolster the uranium potential of the project(s).

*The historical resource estimate for the 20A Zone was completed by Trigg, Woollett & Associates Ltd. on behalf of King Resources Company in 1968 (Sask. assessment report 74P07-0043) and includes certain criteria and assumptions; a) the pegmatites are conformable with the enclosing rocks, b) grade of individual sample widths within the blocks outlined is 0.05% U 3 0 8 or greater, b) mineralization has been projected up to 50 feet in both directions from diamond drill intersections, and up to 50 feet beneath surface showings. c) grade of blocks having no available assays, but whose existence has been confirmed by radiometric surveys, have been taken to be the average [estimate grade], d) tonnages have been calculated using a factor of 12 cubic feet per ton of solid rock, and e) tonnages have been calculated to the nearest 100 tons.

The historical mineral resource estimates noted above has not been completed in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and therefore cannot be compared to NI 43-101 mineral resource categories, and therefore should not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the estimates as mineral resources in accordance with NI 43-101 and, therefore, Pegasus is not treating the historical estimates as a current mineral resource estimate. However, the estimates are relevant to guiding the Companys exploration plans and provide geological information regarding the type of mineralization that could be present in the Mozzie Lake area. The QP has reviewed the historical report and the historical resource estimate was prepared within a high-quality report which stated several key assumptions and criteria as has been presented above.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Darren L. Smith M.Sc., P.Geo. of Dahrouge Geological Consulting, who is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

About Pegasus Resources Inc.

Pegasus Resources Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a focus on uranium, gold and base metal properties in North America. The Company is also actively pursuing the right opportunity in other resources to enhance shareholder value. For additional information please visit the Company at www.pegasusresourcesinc.com or contact Charles Desjardins at charles@pegasusresourcesinc.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Charles Desjardins

President and Director

Pegasus Resources Inc.

700  838 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6

PH: 1-604-369-8973

E: info@pegasusresourcesinc.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning the Companys plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, expects and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Companys future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.




Plan Ahead

Plan ahead if youre travelling to the U.S. after Nov. 8, when the border reopens for Canadians, says CAA

Plan ahead if youre travelling to the U.S. after Nov. 8, when the border reopens for Canadians, says CAA

OTTAWA, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the U.S. Governments announcement that the U.S.-Canada border will open next week on Nov. 8, 2021 for Canadians travelling to the U.S., CAA North & East Ontario is urging travellers to plan ahead.



CAA supports the safe return of travel but recognizes the health and safety of Canadians remains the top priority.

When planning your travel, Ontarians should be thinking ahead and taking steps to protect themselves and others by following official health and travel guidance, says Jeff Walker, President and CEO at CAA North & East Ontario.

Top of that list should be downloading ArriveCAN, the official Government of Canadas app that provides travellers vaccination information when reentering Canada, he adds.

In addition, CAA North & East Ontario offers the following advice to Canadians considering travelling to the U.S.:

Standards will vary by destination, and not everything may be open, or fully open. Book your accommodations and activities before you go and check out their protocols in advance to make sure you will feel comfortable.

Pack snacks, water, masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies  not only for the trip across the border, which may experience longer wait times, but to have on hand at your final destination. This will help to reduce the number of trips to stores.

Dont travel if anyone in your party or household is sick.

Monitor local media to stay informed of the situation at your destination.

Consider updating your passport now so it is ready when you are. And always travel with all necessary travel documentation, including passport, proof of vaccination, negative COVID test as required, your provincial health card and health insurance cards. Have the ArriveCAN app loaded on your phone and populated. In case of internet outages, you may want to print your documents to have on hand.

Insurance policies vary and can change during COVID, so its important to review your policy, and understand what youre covered for before you travel. If there is an advisory in place before you go, review your options with your policy issuer. A CAA Travel Consultant can help you review your existing policy to identify gaps in coverage, or help you purchase the policy thats right for you.

Register as a Canadian travelling abroad with the Government of Canada to receive important information and updates. Visit travel.gc.ca/register to register online.



For more information and resources on travelling during COVID-19 visit travel.gc.ca and CAAs website. You can also speak with a CAA Travel Consultant, your trusted travel professional, to help you navigate changing travel advisories. Visit a CAA Store or call 1-800-267-8713. CAA North & East Ontario remains a trusted resource for travellers as they consider the decision to travel as rules change.

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About CAA North & East Ontario

CAA North & East Ontario is a non-profit club and part of a federation of eight Clubs providing over six million Members with exceptional emergency roadside service, complete automotive and travel services, member savings and comprehensive insurance services. CAA North & East Ontario also advocates on road safety, the environment, mobility, infrastructure, and consumer protection. CAA has been named for the second consecutive year as Canadas Most Trusted Brand by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.

For further comment, or to book an interview, please contact:

Julie Beun

Director of Communications and Public Relations

jbeun@caaneo.on.ca

613 371 9060

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/964d269c-f934-438a-8733-52a8e414d281




HALIFAX, NS, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - Nova Scotia Health's QEII Health Sciences Centre is now home to the Mako SmartRobotics system  the second surgical robot of its kind in Canada. The innovative robotic arm is controlled by a surgeon during hip and knee surgeries and offers unprecedented precision for the placement of a joint implant (arthroplasty surgeries).

The QEII Foundation raises funds to advance care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, the most specialized health centre in Atlantic Canada. (CNW Group/QEII FOUNDATION)

Nova Scotia Health is planning to deliver robot-assisted partial and total knee replacements later this fall at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. The $2.5-million project will be fully funded by QEII Foundation donors, with the QEII Foundation actively raising funds to support the robot and the affiliated research.

For Dr. Michael Dunbar, it is a personal career highlight. He is considered an international thought leader in his field, and is spearheading this work alongside Dr. Glen Richardson and Dr. Janie Wilson. The team is conducting critical research to validate the efficacy of robotics in hip and knee surgeries. The long-term goal is to broadly offer better, more personalized surgery for Nova Scotians and to lead innovations in robotic arthroplasty globally.

Nova Scotia Health's Innovation team collaborated with the organization's orthopedic surgeon leads and Stryker, an industry partner and one of the world's leading medical technology companies, for over a year to secure the Mako System. The surgical team will be the first in Atlantic Canada to maximize the personalization of procedures based on patient factors and unique, individual anatomy. They will evaluate patient outcomes when compared to traditional surgery, and how the surgical robot could be used on other joints in the body as part of their research study. This cutting-edge technology will transform the future of arthroplasty in Nova Scotia for the benefit of patients.

QUICK FACTS:

Mako SmartRobotics by Stryker is a system that combines CT-based 3D images with haptic technology to guide surgical cuts that are more precise than what the human hand can offer. Haptic technology acts as 'guardrails' during the procedure  the surgical cuts are pre-planned, and the system shuts off if the surgeon moves the robot beyond the planned cut.

The robot is for surgeries of the hip and knees, which includes both partial and total knee replacements and hip replacements.

The orthopedic robotics program will be implemented in a phased approach at Nova Scotia Health's QEII Health Sciences Centre, beginning with knees this fall and expanding to offer robotics-assisted hip joint replacements.

Hip and knee replacement surgeries are some of the most developed surgeries in the world. Traditional surgery continues to be an excellent option for patients. The robotic technology is simply evolving these surgeries to the next level of excellence.

Nova Scotia Health's QEII Health Sciences Centre has a rich history of research and driving innovations in orthopedics. Teams have studied how individuals move and feel before and after joint replacement surgery. This robot creates precise data at the time of surgery.

Early research indicates the robot offers many benefits to patients including less pain, quicker recovery, shorter hospital stays and more natural feeling movement after surgery. It is also believed to reduce the likelihood of a second surgery and may allow more patients to avoid a more invasive total knee replacement if a partial knee replacement is possible. All of this must be proven definitively  the goal of the research program at Nova Scotia Health is to position the QEII Health Sciences Centre as a leader in this area and provide additional evidence for the research community.

The QEII Health Sciences Centre became the first location in Atlantic Canada with a surgical robot in 2019  when robotics technology transformed urological and gynecological cancer surgeries. The $8.1-million initiative was entirely funded by QEII Foundation donors and has since expanded to include ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancer surgeries.

In 2020, Nova Scotia Health's QEII Health Science Centre Division of Neurosurgery also became the first in Canada to use new robotic technology for brain surgery.

This latest expansion of surgical robotics to now include orthopedic surgery will help further establish the QEII Health Science Centre's reputation for innovation and excellence, establishing it as a Canadian leader in innovative surgical robotics, research, and care.

Nova Scotia Health's innovation team, as part of the organization's Health Innovation, Research, and Discovery Hub, is transforming health care delivery and improving the health of all Nova Scotians by leading initiatives that deliver high-impact health care solutions and developing strategic partnerships with clinical champions, industry, healthcare foundations, government and academic partners.

QUOTES

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"Nova Scotians deserve more timely access to the hip and knee surgeries that can dramatically improve their quality of life. Surgical robots are another medical advancement we can use to improve outcomes for patients."

- Minister Michelle Thompson

Nova Scotia Department of Health & Wellness

"We are proud of our community of donors who continue to support changes in how care is delivered at the QEII. Donors are hungry for opportunities to step outside the status quo and do better for Atlantic Canadians. We are confident that the orthopedic surgical robot will offer that opportunity."

- Susan Mullin

President and CEO, QEII Foundation

"Nova Scotia Health is now a leader in surgical robotics. Having this innovative technology  and this innovative surgical team  is key to our ability as a province to be a magnet that attracts and retains bright minds and top talent. Support from the QEII Foundation and its donors, along with our clinical, academic, research, innovation and business partners, is allowing us to spearhead world class innovation and research through the application of robotics technologies to optimize care and outcomes for patients and families."

- Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy

Vice President, Research, Innovation and Discovery, and Chief Nurse Executive

Nova Scotia Health

"Having this piece of technology will revolutionize the way we provide orthopedic care for Nova Scotians. For the first time, using this surgical robot, we're able to investigate and precisely replace a joint that is tailored to the patient, by being able to adapt the surgical plan based on their unique skeletal shape and soft tissue envelope. Paired with our research study, what we learn will benefit many people in the future."

- Dr. Michael Dunbar, MD, FRSCSC, PhD, FCAHS

QEII Foundation Endowed Chair Arthroplasty Outcomes

Orthopedic surgeon, QEII Health Sciences Centre

Professor of Surgery (Orthopedics), Dalhousie University

"We've developed an ecosystem that brings biomedical technology and clinical studies together to understand particular aspects of patient outcomes that aren't possible without that technology. The robotic technology will now allow us to leverage the knowledge we've developed from years of research by allowing us to develop and validate precise surgical plans that are specific to the needs, the anatomy, and the function of the individual patient."

- Dr. Janie Wilson, PhD

Director, School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University

Affiliate Scientist, Nova Scotia Health

"With more than 1,000+ Mako systems worldwide and over 500,000 procedures performed, it's exciting to see our SmartRobotics footprint expand to Nova Scotia. We're looking forward to seeing the Mako technology support this research, which we believe will highlight improved clinical outcomes for joint replacement patients in Canada."

- Tom Chergey

Vice President & General Manager, Stryker Mako



ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

SOURCE QEII FOUNDATION

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2021/02/c8087.html
LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education think-tank and compilers of the world's most-consulted university rankings portfolio, today released the fourteenth edition of their annual list of Asia's best higher education institutions. The National University of Singapore is named as the continent's best university for the fourth consecutive year.

logo

The 2022 QS World University Rankings: Asia contains 687 universities, including forty new entries, and is QS's most extensive independent comparison of the region's higher education system. The table accounts for eleven key indicators of university performance, which capture academic standing, graduate employability, research quality and productivity, internationalization on campus, and the diversity of each institution's international collaborations.

QS World University Rankings: Asia 2022 - Top 10 2022 2021 University Location 1 1 National University of Singapore Singapore 2 7 Peking University China (Mainland) 3= 4 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong S.A.R. 3= 3 Nanyang Technological University Singapore 5 2 Tsinghua University China (Mainland) 6 5 Zhejiang University 7 6 Fudan University 8 9 Universiti Malaya Malaysia 9 8 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong S.A.R. 10 10 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China (Mainland) QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2004-2021 www.TopUniversities.com

Highlights:





The 687 featured universities can be found in 18 locations across Asia.

The most-represented location is Mainland China (126 ranked universities), followed by India (118), Japan (108), South Korea (88), Pakistan (47), Taiwan (46), Malaysia (36), Indonesia (33), Thailand (23), Philippines (15), Vietnam (11), Hong Kong S.AR. (9), Sri Lanka (6) Singapore (3), Brunei (2), Macau S.AR. (2), and Mongolia (1).

Peking University rises to 2 nd  its highest position in the history of the ranking.

The University of Hong Kong rises one place while joint-third Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, keeps last year's spot.

Universiti Malaya (8 th ) reached its highest rank since the ranking's inception, and 24 Malaysian universities improved their position.

Japan has more universities in the top 50 of the ranking (11) than any other location.

South Korea's top institution is Korea University (13t h ).

Seven of Asia's top ten universities for research productivity are Indian. However, Indian research quality does not match quantity, and Indian teaching capacity and employability scores decline.

Ben Sowter, Director of Research at QS, said: "This year's results reiterate the intensely competitive, intensely dynamic nature of Asian higher education. China's best universities continue to progress, Japanese higher education is stagnating  and Malaysia remains on the rise."

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The complete rankings can be found at www.TopUniversities.com .

Methodological details can be found here .

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503777/QS_World_University_Rankings_Logo.jpg

SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds
San Antonio Visit

Rep. Henry Cuellar, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Omar Ornelas

Rep. Henry Cuellar, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Omar Ornelas

San Antonio Visit

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, SBA state officials, San Antonio small business owners

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, SBA state officials, San Antonio small business owners

San Antonio, TX, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), visited San Antonio, Texas last week as part of a national tour highlighting economic recovery and President Bidens Build Back Better framework and how it will help small businesses.

Administrator Guzman met with San Antonio small business owners who have benefited from the American Rescue Plan , area community organizations, and economic development advocates to hear their experiences directly and discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's path forward for the small business community. In addition, she also highlighted the significant progress of the Biden Administrations vaccination efforts critical to helping businesses fully reopen and get more Americans safely back to work.

I was thrilled to travel to San Antonio to meet with small business owners and hear their inspiring stories, said Administrator Guzman. These entrepreneurs have demonstrated impressive resilience and innovation as we continue to recover from this pandemic. I want to thank Congressman Cuellar for his leadership and for hosting us in Texas. Congressman Cuellar has long been a committed champion of resources for entrepreneurship and small business, and I am thankful for his partnership and the partnership of the other local leaders and elected officials who joined us in Texas as we continue to work together to Build Back Better.

Congressman Cuellar joined Administrator Guzman to kick off her San Antonio visit with a stop at Luna Rosa, a family-owned Puerto Rican restaurant where they met Omar Ornelas, son of Chef Iris Ornelas. Luna Rosa is a recipient of the SBAs Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Paycheck Protection Program. Following Luna Rosa, the group visited City Base Cinema, a local theater that used the SBAs Shuttered Venue Operators Grant to reopen and once again bring cinema back to their community.

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The COVID-19 pandemic pushed our small business industry in unimaginable ways. Overnight, thousands of businesses were forced to close their doors while bills and payrolls continued to add up. In response, I passed critical legislation that allowed us to provide billions in federal relief funds for small businesses across the nation, said Congressman Cuellar. The three small businesses that we visited today have been serving San Antonio residents for over 37 years combined. They are an integral part of our community and provide steady jobs for hundreds of residents. Through the Small Business Administration, we were able to provide nearly $5 million in federal aid so they could retain their employees and keep their doors open for business. Our small businesses are the heartbeat of our national economy, and we cannot afford to lose them. Thank you, Administrator Isabella Guzman, for taking the time to visit us today and for working with me to keep our economys motor running.

The Administrator concluded her trip to San Antonio with a final stop at Big Lous Pizza, a recipient of the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Big Lous officially opened in 2000 and continues to be a staple in the southeast San Antonio community.

Administrator Guzman was joined by local elected officials in San Antonio including State Senator Jose Menendez, State Senator Ronald Gutierrez, State Representative Liz Campos, State Representative Diego Bernal, and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

This marks Administrator Guzmans first visit to Texas. Since June, Administrator Guzman has visited 17 states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Attachments

CONTACT: SBA Press Office United States Small Business Administration Press_Office@sba.gov




FILE PHOTO: A Stellantis sign is seen outside company headquarters in Auburn Hills,

(This Nov 1 story corrects to say Automotive News, not CNBC, first reported the development in paragraph 5)

(Reuters) - Stellantis NV, the world's fourth-largest automaker, is offering voluntary retirement program to pension-eligible employees in the United States, the company said late Monday.

The Netherlands-based firm said the early retirement is available to workers who are at least 55 years old and have been with the company for 30 years or who are at least 58 years old with 10 years of employment.

The employees being offered the buyouts are already eligible to retire.

"To assist in our transition, and to align our business priorities to a new set of critical skills and investment opportunities, Stellantis North America is offering a voluntary retirement program to eligible members of our team," the company said in an emailed statement.

Industry publication Automotive News first reported the development.

Unionized-salaried employees are not eligible for the buyouts, according to a CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/01/stellantis-offering-buyouts-to-pension-eligible-us-salaried-workers.html report. The company cited the buyouts as a way to assist in its pivot to focus more on electric vehicles, according to the report.

Stellantis, formed at the beginning of the year from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, had announced plans to build factories in North America with LG Energy and Samsung SDI Co to jointly produce electric vehicle (EV) batteries for the North American market.

(Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla and Rhea Binoy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
Company launches eighth annual Maine App Challenge, encourages innovation

PLANO, Texas, November 02, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) today signaled its ongoing commitment to innovative thinking with the launch of its eighth annual scholarship competition, the Maine App Challenge. Each year, the Maine App Challenge provides students in Maine with the opportunity to win college scholarships totaling $10,000 for developing a mobile application and a video to showcase its design.

According to a report from McKinsey & Company, innovation is critical to corporate growth. By increasing students exposure to innovation in middle and high school, the Maine App Challenge is helping to build a strong pipeline of creative technology workers in Maine. Past scholarship winners have invented mobile applications that help their peers stay organized at school, encourage independent reading, and even find ways to donate time, money, and needed items to the community. They have noted that developing a functional mobile application provides a leg-up in the college application process, as well as invaluable exposure to computational thinking, design principles, and software development.

"Tyler Technologies brings the latest technology to the public sector," said Chris Hepburn, president of Tylers Enterprise Group. "To remain competitive, we continually find ways to build career pathways to innovation. The Maine App Challenge has been a unique way for us to facilitate an innovation mindset across the next generation of professionals in Maine. This year were planning to expand our impact by working with the University of Maine to provide local students with important opportunities to develop innovative skills through increased exposure and practice with innovation."

Participants in the Maine App Challenge, and the educators supporting them, will now have the opportunity to complete a series of free workshops related to brainstorming, customer discovery, prototyping, testing, and promotional pitching offered in collaboration with the Foster Center for Innovation at the University of Maine. The workshops  presented as live webinars on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons throughout the month of December, and recorded and posted for viewing anytime  are the first step in the pathway to earning a University of Maine System Innovation Micro-Credential. Not only will they provide students with a solid foundation to assist with the design and development of their apps, but they will teach participants a system to conceive of unique, meaningful ideas  and act on them.

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"Participating in Tyler Technologies Maine App Challenge is a powerful way for students in Maine to learn new skills and differentiate themselves in the college admissions process," said Jake Ward IV, vice president for innovation and economic development at the University of Maine. "Were thrilled to validate their efforts to think creatively and bring ideas to life by offering them a pathway to receive a micro-credential in innovation. Their takeaways from the workshops, combined with this verifiable credential, will help them to stand out in their educational pursuits and their future careers as well."

Tyler has had a strong presence in Maine for many years and has more than 1,200 employees in its Bangor, Falmouth, and Yarmouth offices, where the companys ERP Division is based. Tyler supports more than 250 clients across the state. Since its inception in 2015, the Maine App Challenge has gifted more than $70,000 in 529 college savings plans to students in Maine.

Tyler Technologies developed the Maine App Challenge in partnership with Educate Maine's Project>Login. In addition to awarding three students college scholarships totaling $10,000, Tyler will be gifting tablets to the first 50 students to complete a submission, offering an internship interview to students who have submitted the top 10 mobile applications, and awarding a $500 check to the Maine high school with the most eligible participants. The submission process is open now through May 15, 2022.

For more information about the Maine App Challenge, including additional details on how to participate, please contact MACT@tylertech.com.

About Tyler Technologies

Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate more efficiently and connect more transparently with their constituents and with each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions are transforming how clients gain actionable insights that solve problems in their communities. Tyler has more than 37,000 successful installations across more than 12,000 locations, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler was named to Government Technologys GovTech 100 list five times and has been recognized three times on Forbes "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005084/en/

Contacts

Jennifer Kepler

Tyler Technologies

972.713.3770

Media.team@tylertech.com
LONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - A British fishing vessel seized in France remains in the port of Le Havre, a spokesman for the environment ministry told Reuters, confirming that UK environment minister George Eustice had misspoken earlier on Tuesday when he said it had been released.

The owner of the vessel said that it remained held at the port of Le Havre at least until a hearing tomorrow, disputing what Eustice had said on Sky News.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge. Editing by Andrew MacAskill)
HONG KONG, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The veggie craze has swept Hong Kong by storm and is seen as one of the top choices for healthy eating. With that said, the pigs bred locally through Hong Kong Heritage Pork founder John Lau Hon Kit's innovative breeding methods are fresh, natural and hormone-free. The nutritional value of real pork like this is far from lower than that of vegetarian pork alternatives. The Tai Chi pigs bred by John Lau Hon Kit are full of nutrients, flavorful, and make the taste of the locally bred pork unforgettable.



Hong Kong Heritage Pork

Real pork is in low sodium and high protein



John Lau Hon Kit ensures that all the pigs raised on his farms are fed with only top-quality feed that does not contain added hormones and unnecessary or excessive drugs. As a result of his stringent breeding and raising method, he is able to produce pork of the highest quality that is natural, healthy and delicious. All feed for his pigs is delivered through a feeding machine imported from Denmark that is quality certified by the European Union. Moreover, the drinking water for the pigs comes from Lau Fau Shan Mountain, a spring with water rich in minerals.



Compared to the vegetarian pork currently on the market, John Lau Hon Kit maintains that his innovative and science-backed operation and breeding methods can effectively ensure that the quality of pork is top-class, nutrient dense and delicious. The majority of vegetarian meat needs to be processed with salt, oil and other flavoring agents to simulate the flavor and texture of real meat, resulting in a higher sodium content that is similar to processed or canned foods. For example, a 100g loaf of vegetarian meat already contains 550 mg of sodium. Whereas the same amount of fat and lean pork (fresh uncooked) is only 59.4 mg. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, an adult's daily sodium intake should not exceed 2000 mg, which is approximately equivalent to one level teaspoon (5 grams) of table salt.



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Real pork is lower in saturated fat



To maintain the high standard of pork quality within Hong Kong Heritage Pork farms, John Lau Hon Kit was adamant on implementing a new breeding and pig farm operation method that champions rearing pigs with healthy and nutrient-dense feed. Not only is the pork from John Lau Hon Kit's farms fresh, delicious, and safe, but everyone can eat it with confidence. Since pork is naturally low in saturated fat, the meat of John Lau Hon Kit's Tai Chi Pork is moderately fatty and lean, meaning it's rich in healthy fats but at the same time not overly greasy. The Tai Chi pigs bred by John Lau Hon Kit combine the best characteristics of the flavorful Berkshire pig with the leanness of Danish Landrace pigs, and the vibrant color of the Duroc pig to make Hong Kong Heritage Pork's Tai Chi pigs.



Although vegetarian pork does not contain cholesterol, its saturated fat content is much higher than pork. Moreover, vegetarian pork is mostly made from soybeans, peas, rice, vegetable oil, and yeast extract. This can cause problems for those who cannot consume foods high in cholesterol or people with food allergies such as wheat or gluten.



New breeding protocol raises local pigs



John Lau Hon Kit insists on raising his Tai Chi pigs without using hormones and antibiotics and only uses EU-certified premium corn and soybeans from America as their daily feed. From beginning to end, he is dedicated to rearing high-quality pigs and providing the Hong Kong market with delicious and fresh pork without additives.



In terms of farm operations and breeding technology, John Lau Hon Kit took the lead in introducing a new breeding model from Denmark in Hong Kong to replace the traditional pig farm operation model. Including batch feeding design, biometric security mechanism, water cooling system, 24/7 automated monitoring of room temperature, and more.



If you want to buy local pork raised by John Lau Hon Kit or want to know more about Hong Kong Heritage Pork, please contact us.

E-mail: info@hkpork.com

Facebook: Hong Kong Heritage Pork

SOURCE Hong Kong Heritage Pork
Whats old is new again

The parallels between the Protestant Spiritualists and many contemporary SBNRs can be striking. Both are repulsed by the ethical failings and exclusivism of religious communities. Both emphasize the responsibility of the individual to follow their own spiritual quest. Both believe that authentic experience of God or ultimate reality is available to all people, regardless of their specific beliefs. Whereas Franck and Denck used the early printing press to spread their message, today a spiritual teacher might record a podcast or YouTube video.

But it is important to emphasize that the Spiritualists were still decidedly Christian. Contrary to most SBNRs, they considered Jesus Christ the authoritative revealer of truth. Some believed he would soon return to Earth for his Second Coming and waited as expectantly as any end times-focused fundamentalist does today. They may have seen other religions as valid paths, but they didnt turn to them as resources for spiritual practice.
For those who prefer to wait until Election Day to cast their ballots at the polls in person, your big day is here.

A calm, brisk fall morning awaits those voters this Tuesday, when polling stations across the region open their doors for the day beginning at 6 a.m. Voters coming to the polls later in the day must be in line by 7 p.m. to cast their Election Day ballots.

Tuesdays gubernatorial race pits Democrat and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe against Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin in a contest drawing national attention. Virginia and New Jersey are the only states with governors races this year.

Voters across Virginia are also choosing representatives for the House of Delegates. Del. Joshua Cole, DFredericksburg, and Republican Tara Durant are also facing off Tuesday in the 28th House District that covers parts of Fredericksburg and Stafford County. This local contest is seen as one of a handful of close races that could determine which party controls the House.

Cole, a Stafford native and minister, has been on the job for nearly two years after he narrowly defeated Republican candidate Paul Milde in the November 2019 election. Durant is an educator at Staffords Holy Cross Academy and a military wife who has lived in Stafford County for more than 20 years.

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Webinar set for Thursday

The University of Nebraska-Lincolns Center for Agricultural Profitability will host a webinar focused on the impact of price and management on culling decisions at noon on Thursday, Nov. 4.

The webinar will look at price trends in cull cows and the impact of exports and domestic meat consumption on those prices.

It will discuss what decisions need to be made for early cull or post-pregnancy-check cull cows, and address feed resource requirements.

Presenters from Nebraska Extension include Elliott Dennis, a livestock marketing specialist; Kacie McCarthy, a beef cow-calf specialist; and Karla Wilke, a range management cow-calf specialist.

To register for the webinar, visit the Center for Agricultural Profitabilitys website at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.

Tea Party plans Thursday meeting

WinItBack, TEA Party Patriots of Dodge County, will be meeting from 6:30-8:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at Keene Memorial Library in Fremont.

The group will be discussing current events, especially in regards to its last two presentations on election auditing and CRT.

The public is invited. For more information, call Doug Wittmann at 402-317-1270.

Tribune staff

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A 33-year-old West Point woman was sentenced in Dodge County District Court Monday to one year in the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women for possession of methamphetamine.

You received this charge while you were already given the privilege of probation and you expressed no request or no desire to be put on probation, Judge Geoffrey Hall said.

Donna L. Bouwers also pleaded guilty to the charge and was found guilty by Hall prior to her sentencing, as she waived her right to a presentence investigation.

On May 7, a Fremont Police Department officer made contact with a male party with an active warrant who was with Bouwers. They were notified by dispatch that she had an active Mental Health Board commitment warrant.

The defendant was detained by officers, Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan said. Officers searched the backpack on her person and located a white, crystal-like substance in her backpack.

Although the officer was told the warrant had been canceled, probation had a detainer against Bouwers, who was sentenced to 18 months of probation for attempted possession of a controlled substance and assault by mutual consent on Nov. 17, 2020.

On Oct. 4, Bouwers failed to appear for a court appearance and a bench warrant of $100,000 was issued for her arrest, which was made the next day.

As part of her sentencing, both the state and defense had a joint recommendation of a one-year prison sentence for Bouwers, which Hall honored. She was given credit for 66 days previously served.

In other district court news on Monday:

Richard R. Clausen, 58, of Bennington was sentenced to 120 days in jail and 24 months of intensive supervised probation for driving under the influence and failing to stop and render aid. On March 30, Dodge County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a car accident. They were told by witnesses that a car hit another one, causing it to go into a ditch, leaving the 81-year-old driver with a neck fracture, brain damage and other injuries. A witness followed the driver of the other car home before they were identified by local authorities as Clausen. After being placed into custody, Clausen failed a preliminary breath test. Although he initially filed a not guilty plea to the charge, Clausen withdrew it to plead guilty on Aug 30. Vaughan said the state was seeking a prison term of three years due to the severity of the victims injuries, who he said will be affected for the rest of his life by the crash. Clausens attorney asked for a probation term, as she said her client had shown extreme remorse and guilt for the outward manifestation of his demons. She said Clausen had a history of trauma and turned to alcohol, but had made significant efforts at recovery. She also said Clausen went through inpatient treatment and aftercare and was an active member of therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous. I wish it had never happened, but it did, and Im truly, truly sorry, Clausen said. In hearing both sides, Hall said he would give Clausen a fair and significant sentence. For his charge of failure to stop, Clausen was sentenced to 128 days in the Dodge County Jail, a $500 fine, drivers license revocation of two years and 24 months of post-release supervision. He was given credit for two days previously served. On his DUI charge, Clausen was sentenced to 24 months of probation and a $500 fine. Although the sentences were ordered to run consecutively, Hall had the probation and PRS run concurrently together. After a request from Clausens attorney, he was given permission to report for his jail sentence on Friday.

Stephanie A. Contreras, 37, of Omaha was sentenced to 30 months of ISP for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. On July 15, 2020, FPD officers received a report of Contreras, who had a suspended license, operating a vehicle and in possession of drugs. After her arrest, a baggie of meth was found on Contreras, who said she was planning on selling it. Although she initially filed a not guilty plea to the charge, Contreras withdrew it to plead guilty on Sept. 16. At Contreras sentencing, Vaughan said the state was seeking a prison sentence due to the amount of meth involved. Contreras attorney said his client had completed long-term treatment and had received a general manager position in Omaha. He said Contreras was a rare exception to her case and went above and beyond in making the necessary changes to her life. What I ask of you today is to please have mercy on my sentencing, Contreras said. Give me a chance to keep reaching these goals, and I promise that given this opportunity, you will never see me in this courtroom. Hall said he would give Contreras another chance as she had taken her addiction seriously. Along with probation, he also ordered Contreras to take part in 60 hours of community service, a cognitive program and relapse prevention.

Jillian R. Buck, 35, of North Bend pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and two counts of terroristic threats. On Aug. 8, FPD officers responded to a trespassing complaint at a residence. Upon searching the parties vehicle for possible stolen property, they located a glass pipe containing meth. On Aug. 20, an FPD officer responded to a criminal mischief complaint of a group smashing car windows. Buck was arrested after she was found standing on a car hood smashing the front windshield. While at the Dodge County Jail, a sergeant was told by the cars driver that Buck had made threatening comments to them. As part of Bucks plea, her attorney said she would make an application to the Dodge County Adult Drug Court and that separate charges would be dropped. Hall found Buck guilty, ordered a PSI and set her sentencing for Dec. 20.

Carrie Lynn A. Smith, 39, of Fremont pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. On Jan. 5, investigators with III Corps Drug Task Force contacted Smith at her home after a report of suspected drug activity at her residence was made. Smith admitted that she had drug paraphernalia and consented to a search of her house. A meth pipe and bag containing the substance were found with a table. As part of her plea, Smiths attorney said she would make an application to drug court. Hall found Smith guilty, ordered a PSI and updated substance evaluation and set her sentencing for Dec. 13.

Justin E. Abney, 32, of Fremont admitted to violating the terms of his probation. Abney was initially sentenced to 30 months of ISP for attempted child abuse on Oct. 28, 2019. A motion to revoke his probation was made after he was arrested on May 15 for driving under the influence and three counts of child abuse. Abneys attorney said his client would plead to the charges Tuesday in county court, which was not opposed to a probation term. Hall found Abney guilty, ordered a PSI and set his sentencing for Dec. 13.

Leah R. Cramer, 28, of Fremont had her bond lowered from 10% of $100,000 to $50,000. Cramer was initially sentenced to 30 months of ISP for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver on April 4, 2019. A motion to revoke her probation was made after she was arrested on Sept. 11 for driving under suspension. Cramers attorney said his client had completed most of the probations requirements and wanted her bond lowered to go back to work. Vaughan did not oppose the reduction, which Hall granted.

Michael J. Gonzales, 33, of Omaha did not appear for his hearing. Gonzales is facing a possession of a controlled substance charge from June 22. Hall issued a bench warrant of $150,000 for Gonzales arrest.

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Tuesday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Letters to the Churches of Revelation, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Supportive Singles, 11:30 a.m., Mels Diner, 4240 N. Broad St., Fremont. For more information, call 402-660-8474.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Steps of Freedom meeting, 1 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Broad St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Public information meeting, 5-7 p.m., North Bend Auditorium, 741 N. Main St., North Bend. The Nebraska Department of Transportation is holding the meeting regarding roadway improvements at the U.S. Highway 30 expressway and Nebraska Highway 79 intersection in Dodge County. A presentation will begin at 5:15 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Mens and Womens Bible Study, 6 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Wednesday

Dodge County Board of Supervisors, Dodge County Board of Equalization and Dodge County Board of Corrections meetings, 9 a.m., board room, third floor, Dodge County Courthouse, 435 N. Park Ave., Fremont. The meetings are open to the public.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Mens Bible Study, 1 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Three Rivers Public Health Department Board of Health meeting, 6 p.m., Fremont Public Schools Board of Education Room, 130 E. Ninth St., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public.

Narcotics Anonymous Library Group, 7 p.m., Keene Memorial Librarys east building, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Thursday

Mens Bible Study, 8 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Kiwanis Club meeting, noon, Midland University Private Dining Rooms, Ninth and Pebble streets, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The menu will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, tacos and soup. Everyone is welcome.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

The Banquet, 5:30-6:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Drive-thru meals served. The dinner is free.

WinItBack, TEA Party Patriots of Dodge County, 6:30-8:15 p.m., Keene Memorial Library, Fremont. The public is invited. For more information, call Doug Wittmann at 402-317-1270.

Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., 1201 W. 23rd St., in yellow hangar at Fremont Airport.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave.

Tally Ho Toastmasters, 7-8 p.m., Midland Universitys Anderson Building, Ninth and Clarkson streets, Fremont. Everyone is welcome to learn skills in communication, self-confidence and leadership. For more information, call 402-936-3479.

Narcotics Anonymous Back to Basics meeting, 7:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 N. Davis St., Oakland.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

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One of the main border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan has reopened after being closed for almost a month, allowing the passage of thousands of commuters and hundreds of trucks.

The Chaman crossing is an important transit hub for trucks moving fruit and produce exports from the area of the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

Its closure had been a serious hit to farmers unable to get their produce to market. Half of Pakistan's $2.5 billion worth of annual exports to Afghanistan also passes through Chaman.

The reopening of the border point comes as a relief to the Taliban-led government as Afghanistan's cash-strapped economy has few legitimate sources of foreign revenue besides customs revenues from the border posts.

Thousands of people including women and children crossed into Pakistan on the first day of reopening, according to Hazrat Ali, a local official in Chaman.

Nearly 200 trucks carrying food, medicines, and other supplies crossed the border into Afghanistan, local exporter Imran Kakar said.

Trucks carrying pomegranates, one of Afghanistan's main exports, have started arriving in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's province of Balochistan, Pakistani media reported.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Since the Taliban's return to power in August, Afghanistan's economic situation has rapidly worsened. Salaries have gone unpaid and jobs have disappeared. The impact of the crisis is apparent in Farah Province, in the country's southwest, where day laborers wait on city streets for rare offers of work and displaced people say emergency aid is scarce.
The Taliban has announced a ban on the use of foreign currencies in Afghanistan, threatening further disruption to an economy pushed to the brink of collapse following the hard-line Islamic groups takeover in August.

From now on, anyone using foreign currency for domestic business will be prosecuted, the Taliban said in a statement shared with journalists on November 2.

"The economic situation and national interests in the country require that all Afghans use the afghani currency in every transaction," the statement said.

The national currency, the afghani, has dramatically depreciated since the Taliban overthrew the internationally backed government in mid-August.

Many transactions inside the war-torn, drought-stricken country are conducted in U.S. dollars, while border areas use the currency of neighboring countries such as Pakistan for trade.

With Afghanistan's economy in a parlous state with most aid cut off as winter nears, food prices rising, and unemployment spiking, the Taliban is seeking international recognition and is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of frozen Afghan assets parked abroad.

Afghanistan was heavily dependent on international funding for the last 20 years, with three-quarters of the entire public spending budget coming from aid.

In an effort to try and contain the spiraling humanitarian crisis, the international community has announced support packages for Afghanistan and its neighbors.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling on Pakistan to immediately withdraw a draconian new set of regulations that it said will give authorities the right to control and censor any type of message" posted on social-media platforms.

Analysis of the rules published last month reveals alarming legal pitfalls, including extremely vague definitions, the provision of absolute powers to the government, and a lack of legal recourse for those targeted, the Paris-based media freedom watchdog said in a statement on November 2.

According to RSF, the Internet is regarded as the "only remaining space for free speech and independent journalism" in Pakistan, which ranked 145th out of 180 countries in the watchdog's World Press Freedom Index.

The regulations proposed by the government and published on October 14 refer to the guarantees for freedom of expression in Pakistans constitution, but they also affirm the need to ban any violation of this freedom regarding matters such as the glory of Islam, the security of Pakistan, and integrity or defense of the country.

Such vague concepts provide the government-controlled media regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), with a blank check to censor any content that is not to the authorities liking, according to RSF.

The new set of rules gives the PTA the power to unilaterally decide to block a social-media platform such as Facebook and Twitter and fine it up to 500 million rupees ($2.9 million).

It also gives the federal and provincial governments as well as Pakistans intelligence agencies the right to ask the PTA to have content removed or accounts blocked.

Daniel Bastard, the head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk, urged Prime Minister Imran Khans government to amend the new regulations without delay so as to incorporate strong safeguards for the freedom to provide news and information.
Building a natural-gas pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India (TAPI) was the main topic of conversation when Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov went to Kabul to meet with the Taliban's interim government on October 30-31.

Since coming to power 15 years ago, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has been fixated on completing TAPI. But the authoritarian ruler's attention might be better turned to the Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP), which looks more attractive to its European market than ever before.

Due to a lack of pipelines connecting Turkmenistan to other markets, this period of record gas prices on world markets is quietly passing the Central Asian country by -- a shame for cash-strapped Ashgabat and its destitute citizens since it holds the fourth-largest proven reserves of natural gas on the planet.

A Salesman In Kabul

Meredov met with Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, and acting Defense Minister Mawlawi Muhammad Yaqoob, the son of deceased Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Atop the agenda of their meetings was -- as Muttaqi said of his meeting with Meredov -- Important issues such as TAPI, railroads, and electricity."

Yaqoob tweeted: I am directly responsible for overseeing the security of the TAPI project[and] we will not hesitate to make any sacrifices for the implementation of this national project."

TAPI was an important issue when Turkmen officials met with former Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis government as well as that of his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, and with representatives of the Taliban when it ruled the country in the late 1990s.

The Afghan government has been promising since 2010 to create a special force of some 7,000 troops to guard the TAPI pipeline.

The Taliban even promised to guard TAPI in 2018 when they were battling government forces.

The pipeline aims to carry some 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from fields in Turkmenistan more than 1,800 kilometers through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

Pakistan and India would each receive 14 bcm and Afghanistan would receive 5 bcm, which would be a huge increase for Afghanistan compared to the countrys recent annual use of less than 200 million cubic meters.

Additionally, it was reported during Meredovs recent meeting with Taliban representatives that Afghanistan could earn some $500 million in transit fees annually, though Meredov said in November 2017 that Afghanistan would earn some $1 billion from transit fees.

When the price of gas briefly shot to more than $1,000 per 1,000 cubic meters in October this year, officials in Turkmenistan must have broken out in a sweat.

Twenty-five years ago, Turkmen officials were trying to get their only gas customer at that time -- Russia -- to pay $40 per 1,000 cubic meters instead of $32.

But even if the security situation in Afghanistan becomes more stable under the Taliban, there are still significant problems with financing the approximately 775-kilometer stretch of TAPI through Afghanistan.

The estimated cost of the total project is some $10 billion, though that estimate is a decade old.

In a recent article for the Atlantic Council, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Steve Mann wrote that even with an improvement in security inside Afghanistan, the ascent of the Taliban will do nothing to address the projects dire flaws, including financing, bankability, and pipeline ownership and operation.

He added that On top of that, the severe [economic] sanctions on the Taliban introduce a new deal-breaker."

Pakistan has sought to renegotiate the price of Turkmen gas from TAPI several times in recent years and Turkmenistan reportedly agreed in 2020 to consider lowering prices.

India might now be out of the project entirely as New Delhis relations with Islamabad have never been good and are even worse with the Taliban.

The Kazakh and Uzbek foreign ministers have also visited Kabul since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August, and Meredovs visit may have also been aimed at firming Turkmenistans ties with the new Afghan authorities.

Pivot To The TCP?

But it is odd that Turkmenistan is making an effort to revive TAPI while the possibilities of constructing the TCP seem to have improved significantly.

The TCP aims to carry some 30 bcm from Turkmenistan across the bottom of the Caspian Sea to the pipeline network in Azerbaijan and eventually to Europe.

The European Union has been hoping for years to see the project realized as part of its Southern Gas Corridor (SGC).

With the record gas prices at the moment and fears that the EU is becoming too dependent on Russia as Nord Stream 2 reaches completion, a boost in gas volumes from a different supplier should be seen by the EU and Turkmenistan as a golden opportunity -- especially as some of the key obstacles to the TCP's construction have been removed.

One was the dispute between Turkmenistan, on the east side of the Caspian, and Azerbaijan, on the west side, over three oil and gas fields located halfway between the two countries in the middle of the sea.

That decades-old dispute was resolved in January.

There was also the problem of needing a pipeline that stretched from Azerbaijan to Europe, but the 1,841-kilometer Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) that runs through Turkey was completed in 2018.

The TANAP project foresees expanding pipeline capacity to some 60 bcm annually.

But Azerbaijan does not have enough gas to provide such a volume, so TANAP would have to include Turkmen gas to reach that level.

The SGC pipeline network was completed at the end of 2020, and gas from Azerbaijans Caspian field Shah Deniz 2 is already being supplied through the SGC and TANAP to Greece, Albania, and -- via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline -- to Italy.

All that is needed is to build the roughly 300-kilometer TCP at an estimated cost that ranges from $5 billion to $8 billion.

A U.S. company called Trans Caspian Resources just proposed an option that would carry smaller volumes of gas but be operational within two years.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Alan Mustard attended the recent Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan International Conference and suggested an alternative: the Caspian Connector. It could carry some 10-12 bcm of gas annually and, using existing infrastructure, be built for $500-$800 million.

But one major obstacle remains.

Russia and Iran have raised environmental concerns over the construction of a pipeline along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, despite the fact that Kazakhstan has already done so in the northern part of the Caspian. And Russia has constructed longer and deeper pipelines across the bottom of the Black Sea to Turkey and, in the case of Nord Stream 1 and 2, across the bottom of the Baltic Sea (some 1,222 kilometers), making the two lines the longest underwater pipelines in the world.

There was little, however, that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan could do in the face of Russian and Iranian resistance.

Turkey is a rising power in the world again with its influential roles in the conflicts in Libya and Syria, not to mention the military support it gave Azerbaijan during the recent conflict with Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh. It has even recently supplied armed drones to Ukraine, one of which Kyiv recently used to destroy some artillery of the Russia-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.

Ankara has shown its willingness to stand up to Moscow and Tehran, and if Turkey increases its public support for the TCP that could convince Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan to move forward with the project.

But obtaining Ankaras support might be the problem for Turkmenistan.

Turkmen officials are urging Turkish authorities to shut down protests in Turkey against the Turkmen government that are led by migrant laborers. It is also seeking to have the activists deported to Turkmenistan.

Ankara was apparently upset when one Turkmen protester was forced into the Turkmen Consulate in Istanbul and beaten in early August.

The Turkish government has been sensitive to such incidents since Saudi journalist and activist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

There is speculation that Turkeys reluctance to shut down anti-Turkmen government protests on Turkish territory has led to Ashgabats hesitancy in accepting Ankaras offer to join the Turkic Council, which comprises Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

But Turkmenistan needs to move on its proposed gas pipelines if the country is ever going to cash in on its extensive gas reserves.

While TAPI seems no closer to being realized than it was 25 years ago, the TCP or some form of it -- with a guaranteed market of paying customers -- could be completed in the near future.

RFE/RLs Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, contributed to this report.
A jury has been seated in the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three people during a protest against racial injustice on the streets of Kenosha last year
A familiar view for drivers en route to Salida is set to last forever, thanks to a conservation easement.

The Trust for Public Land, Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust and Central Colorado Conservancy recently announced buying rights to preserve the land and water of a century-old ranch. Over the past decade, the Pridemore family has worked the 392-acre ranch seen from Colorado 291  hayfields cut by the Arkansas River and overlooked by the Collegiate Peaks.

In a news release, Chelsea Pridemore said her family "has worked extremely hard to care for and improve the ranch with the hope that we can make it a part of our family's long-term legacy."

With the conservation easement, "we can now be confident that the ranch will be passed on to our children and grandchildren," Pridemore said, "all while still making the upper Arkansas Valley such an incredible place."

The deal was boosted by lottery-funded Great Outdoors Colorado. Last year, the organization granted $1.6 million to the multi-agency mission to conserve four ranches spanning 2,400-plus acres in Chaffee County.

The idea is to help landowners "achieve their financial goals and to protect the working lands and water rights that are the lifeblood to agriculture and public recreation" in the valley, Trust for Public Land's Wade Shelton said in the release.

Of the four-part mission, Pridemore Ranch is the second deal to close. It was the first to use money from Chaffee County's Common Ground initiative, a voter-approved initiative aimed at protecting the local landscape.

GOCO Executive Director Jackie Miller said "residents, Coloradans traveling by and wildlife passing through" would benefit from the conservation easement. Natural Resources Conservation Service, another funder of the deal, said Pridemore Ranch was home to several threatened or endangered species and was an area of "biodiversity significance."

The land will remain private, but anglers can fish the river that flows through the ranch via the adjacent Pridemore State Wildlife Area.
A murder trial was delayed until early February after a Colorado psychologist with past conduct issues appeared to amend his mental evaluation of a murder suspect less than a week before his trial was set to start.

After expert witness Dr. Scott Wylie for the defense of James Hanlon, accused of gunning down his neighbor after he was cited by the humane society for a dangerous dog, last week submitted notes that appeared to obfuscate his original evaluation, Hanlons trial was delayed to Feb. 7 on Friday afternoon.

Hanlon's trial, originally slated to begin Monday morning, was rescheduled because district judge Samuel Evig said it would be an abuse of discretion to take away the defenses main defense.

Hanlon, 56, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to first-degree murder in August 2020, a defense that typically uses expert medical testimony to claim a defendant was legally insane at the time a crime was committed.

Wylie, a medical and forensic psychologist based in Fort Collins, originally evaluated Hanlon as having a severe cognitive impairment and said he couldnt form a culpable mental state, prosecutors said, which they accepted as the basis for Hanlons insanity plea.

However, after a roughly two-hour follow-up session with Hanlon on Oct. 26, he submitted a second, handwritten summary of his evaluation that prosecutors said was riddled with redactions and used several new terms to evaluate Hanlon.

Prosecutors said that among those terms were new mentions of a fugue state, obsessive compulsive disorder, and hallucinations, adding that critical components of the report, like symptoms and diagnoses, had been scribbled out with a permanent pen.

Hes expanded one very specific ... diagnosis to four different ... diagnoses, deputy district attorney Andy Vaughn said Friday. And so far, Ive been stonewalled on his final diagnosis.

On Friday, prosecutors asked Evig to order that Wylie produce a full, unredacted report on Hanlons mental state and send that to defense attorneys so they and the court could be prepared on how attorneys would be defending Hanlon.

When Alan Davis, who represents Hanlon, reached Wylie to ask for the full report, Wylie told Davis over email that he was in court in Wyoming all day and wouldnt be able to produce the information.

Davis noted that the defense had turned everything over to prosecutors as soon as they had it, and hadnt scheduled the meeting or made the redactions at issue.

He added, however, that the defense needed an expert witness to make an effective case for Hanlon, who waived his right to a speedy trial to help resolve scheduling issues.

That prompted Evig, who said he didnt believe defense attorneys had acted in bad faith, to vacate upcoming trial dates and reschedule to Feb. 7. Before he did so, however, he aired his frustration with the timing of the summary, calling it wildly inappropriate and personally apologizing to victim Gary Dolces family, who on Friday objected to the trials latest delay.

When people talk about the inefficiencies of the judicial system, and when they talk about the problems of the judicial system, this is what theyre talking about, Evig told Dolces family on Friday. Im sorry. Im apologizing to you.

Vaughn noted that the late filing of the summary could be viewed as a strategic decision made on Hanlons behalf to distract him and his fellow prosecutors from the trial.

Ms. McKinney and I have done nothing but chase our tails since this came out, Vaughn said. There is some strategic value to that.

In 2017, Wylie was cited by the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners for substandard record-keeping and for issues with conducting and interpreting tests, according to Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies records. He was also cited in 2013 for issues with "abused prescription medication."

As part of the 2017 citation, Wylie was ordered in April to begin 18 months of probation, during which he was to report to rotating practice monitors who would supervise and evaluate Wylie's work.

On Friday, however, Vaughn said Wylie had told Davis he didnt have a practice monitor, which Vaughn said raised concerns for prosecutors about whether he was licensed to practice psychology in Colorado.

When Evig asked Davis if hed known about the potential issues with Wylies license, Davis said he knew about past conduct issues, but didnt know about potential problems with his license.

Friday afternoon, Wylie was ordered by Evig to appear in court Monday morning on a subpoena filed by prosecutors after they received his second round of notes.

When he didnt show, Evig ordered him to return to court Dec. 17, this time on pending contempt of court charges to be filed by the district attorneys office.

The contempt proceedings, prosecutors said, came in lieu of a bench warrant, which Evig said couldnt be issued because the jury trial set for Monday had been vacated.

When reached via email for comment, Wylie told The Gazette that hed withdrawn from the case on Friday after misconduct on behalf of the district attorneys office.

Ongoing and highly inappropriate harassment and intimidation of me and my family by ... Vaughn and those working for him has left me with no other choice but to withdraw my testimony and resign from this case effective Oct. 29, Wylie wrote in an email.

Howard Black, spokesman for the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's office, said in a Monday statement that "Dr. Wylie is a defense endorsed expert witness who was ordered by the court to appear in person this morning, but Dr. Wylie failed to comply with that order."

On Monday, Vaughn noted to Evig that Wylie had said he was planning to withdraw his testimony and drop out of the case. Evig said that was a defense issue for attorneys to iron out with Wylie, and that Wylie was still on the hook for his court date in December.
In this June 27, 2020, file photo, demonstrators carry a giant placard during a rally and march over the death of Elijah McClain outside the police department in Aurora, Colo. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, that a grand jury has returned a 32-count indictment charging three Aurora police officers and two paramedics, including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges for each.
The vice chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party is calling for Vickie Tonkins, the party's chairwoman, to "resign or be removed" after she sent a scathing email to county Republicans that began with an encouragement to vote in Tuesday's election but quickly veered into an extended attack on the organization's No. 2 officer, a GOP state lawmaker and a longtime party volunteer.

After urging fellow county Republicans to "VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!" in an Oct. 21 email, Tonkins pointed to results of a controversial school board candidate survey that included questions about voting equipment and whether the candidates support a "full forensic audit" of the 2020 election.

The survey, distributed last month by Tonkins, sparked a backlash by the county party's executive committee  made up of GOP officers and elected officials, it's essentially the county party's board of directors  who voted to send a different survey with questions they said were more pertinent to school board races, including about school choice and civics education.

Calling them "establishment insiders," Tonkins wrote in the email that three members of the executive committee  county party vice chair Karl Schneider, former county chairwoman Kay Rendleman and state Sen. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs  had tried to "hijack, and block this survey" to prevent candidates from "being exposed on where they stand on election integrity."

"Make no mistake, the same trouble caused by the party elitists in our county is the same treatment that President Trump received from the establishment in Washington," Tonkins wrote. "The days of your local party providing dishonest political cover for anyone is over."

Tonkins went on to accuse the three of never having supported Donald Trump and suggested "most" of them boycotted the party's Lincoln Day dinner because U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was the keynote speaker.

Schneider vehemently denied the accusations in a lengthy response to Tonkins' email he said he had to send from his personal email because Tonkins cancelled his party email account last month in the dispute over the candidate survey.

In his email, Schneider called points Tonkins made about the role school boards play in election administration "patently false" and said both her refusal to follow the executive committee's direction and the attack-laden email were "enough to warrant her removal without delay."

Schneider wrote that he was "dumbfounded as to the intent of the party leadership behind this email and how a scorched-earth approach brings anyone together." Saying that he was "absolutely stunned at this behavior," Schneider added: "Our chair should resign or be removed."

Liston, an early supporter of Tonkins who has turned into one of her most vocal critics, said it was only the latest example of Tonkins ignoring the executive committee's direction.

"She just makes up her own rules, she ignores the guidance and intent of the executive committee," he told Colorado Politics. "Shes virtually turned herself into a dictator."

Added Liston: "When you think things cant get any lower or worse by Vickie Tonkins, they do. She just relishes in creating divisiveness and mayhem."

Rendleman, who chaired the county party a dozen years ago and currently serves as a legislative district and congressional district officer, said conversations were underway to decide how to respond to Tonkins' latest broadside but declined to speculate what course county Republicans might take.

"Those of us whove been attacked and others are discussing what can and should be done, and whats in the best interests for the party," she said. "This is a serious thing shes done and there need to be serious consequences."

She said she believes Tonkins' attempts to stoke division within the party are "sad."

"She is attacking people when shes supposed to be working on party unity. She has said things that are false about me in that email, just blatantly false. But using the county party email list and resources to viciously attack executive committee members is just beyond the pale."

Rendleman said it's the opposite of the approach the party should take to capitalize on a favorable political environment.

"Its just very sad when we have such great opportunities coming up in 2022. I am very excited about the kind of field of candidates we can run and other opportunities we have with redistricting and reapportionment and the failure of the Democrats in power in Colorado and the presidency and U.S. Congress. To see it sidetracked is just sad."

Tonkins didn't respond to an email seeking comment.

A spokesman for the Colorado Republican Party said state chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown had no comment. Earlier in October, Brown attempted to broker accord between the county party's feuding factions in what was only the latest quarrel over party operations to spill into public view.
Blue-collar laborers in Colorado, particularly those of color, had higher rates of COVID-19 death than workers who could work from home, state and federal data shows. The findings are further evidence, experts said, of the disproportionate risk of serious illness and death borne by minority communities throughout the pandemic.
The Run4Hope 5K for Schools color run raises money for suicide prevention programs in D-38 and D-20 schools. The competitive race, which began in 2017 as The Ascent Churchs Run to the Ascent 5K and was later renamed, funds the schools Sources of Strength suicide prevention programs.
Normally during jury selection for a trial, one of the questions a judge asks prospective jurors is whether any of them have read or heard about a case.

Is there anyone who hasnt read or heard anything about this case?

Not a single one of the prospective jurors in the jury box raised a hand.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with homicide and attempted homicide for the shooting deaths of Anthony Huber of Silver Lake and Joseph Rosenbaum of Kenosha, and for shooting and seriously wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz of West Allis during unrest that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha Police officer in August 2020. Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty; his attorneys plan to argue he was acting in self-defense.

The criminal case against Rittenhouse became highly politicized  and highly publicized  even before charges were filed, with video of the shootings shared widely on social media within hours of the trigger being pulled. Opinions on Rittenhouse and his actions  and those of the men he says he shot to protect himself  have become one of the political dividing lines cutting through American life.

In preparing for his trial, the court summoned 300 prospective jurors, expecting about 150 people to turn up for jury duty on Monday. Some of those prospective jurors were held in a separate building while about 80 prospective jurors  each identified only by number  were brought into the courtroom.

Thirty-four of those prospective jurors were initially placed in the jury box and in front of the bar, the wooden barrier that divides attorneys and court officials from the audience. The balance of prospective jurors sat in reserved seats in what is normally the audience gallery.

Putting personal feelings aside

Questioning during voir dire, the process the court uses to try to weed out those with biases that could affect their judgement, focused first on those 34, with other prospective jurors pulled from behind the bar to replace them as they were dismissed.

Schroeder told the jury that while he realized that the case was highly publicized, much of that pretrial publicity was biased. Those of us who are picked for this jury will be in a front row seat in learning what happened, the judge said.

He asked the prospective jurors if they could put aside their thoughts about what they had already heard about the case to focus on the evidence presented at trial. If you cant do that, you cant be fair and you are not in step with what the Founders expected, he said.

In the morning session, many of the prospective jurors said they could not.

I cant put aside my feelings aside, I know what I think, one woman said.

Well, you know what you think, but were talking about hearing the actual evidence, Schroeder answered. So if you heard someone testify directly to the contrary  lets say you heard four witnesses testify directly contrary to what you think  you wouldnt be able to put that aside?

No, the woman answered. She was excused.

Another man said he had been commenting online about the case since it happened, then began talking about his support for the Second Amendment. Schroeder stopped him.

Ive said it before and Im going to say it again, this is not a political trial, Schroeder said. To the extent that this trial is about the Constitution, its about the right to a fair trial.

The judge told the man that when it came to picking a jury he didnt care about his feelings about the Second Amendment or about the feelings of others that were strongly to the contrary.

Do you think there are other people here who would be fairer than you would be? Schroeder asked.

I dont know, I would hope so, answered the man who was bearded, his grey hair in a ponytail.

Do you think you are biased? the judge asked?

Yes I do, and it goes back to politics.

By the lunch break, about a dozen prospective jurors were excused because they said they could not put aside their feelings about the case.

Jury pool demographics

Prospective jurors were chosen at random from Wisconsin Department of Transportation records of those with drivers licenses or state identification cards, Clerk of Courts Rebecca Matoska-Mentink said last week. Jurors must be at least 18, an American citizen and a Kenosha County resident.

Those prospective jurors in the courtroom Monday were largely white and appeared to be mostly middle-aged. The media is barred from identifying those serving in the jury during the trial, or those in the jury pool.

Lawyers for the state and defense had discussed using mailed questionnaires to weed out people who would have conflicts, including strong feelings of bias in the case. Schroeder decided against that, putting his faith in the traditional voir dire system.

Schroeder scheduled two days for jury selection. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

The judge warned the prospective jurors that because of the publicity surrounding the case there was a chance they would be sequestered, requiring them to stay together at a hotel during the trial. But the judge said he believes that possibility is very unlikely.

I will resist it in any way I can, but I cant rule it out, Schroeder said, estimating the chance of sequestration at less than 1 percent.

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Dont let your guards down; this continues to be a serious and dangerous virus, and will likely be with us for several more months, Spillmann told the Register & Bee on Friday.

Simply put, we arent yet to the pre-COVID business as usual stage, he said.

Danville and Pittsylvania County are averating about 21 new COVID-19 infections per day.

Also, a one-time clinic is planned from 8 a.m. to noon Friday at Three Arc Family Life located at 427 E. Thomas St. in Danville that will offer booster shoots, along with first and second doses of all three vaccines.

If youve already completed your initial vaccine series and are eligible for a booster, please consider getting a booster as well, Spillmann said. Boosters are now available for all three vaccines.

Anyone 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson version at least two months ago may receive a booster dose.

For those who received the Pfizer or Modera shot at least six months ago, the CDC recommends boosters for those 65 and older, those who live in long-term care facilities or anyone with an underlying medical condition.
BOSTON (AP)  Boston voters, marking a key milestone in the city's long political history, for the first time elected a woman and an Asian American as mayor on Tuesday, tapping City Councilor Michelle Wu to serve in the citys top political office.

Wus victory marks a turning point for the city. Boston had only elected white men as mayor before her.

One of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor of Boston," Wu told supporters. They have been, and they will again someday, but not tonight.

The choice of Wu over fellow Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George is just the latest marker of how much the Boston of not-so-long-ago  known for its ethnic neighborhoods, glad-handing politicians and mayors with Irish surnames  is giving way to a new Boston.

Wu wont have much time to revel in her win. She will be sworn in on Nov. 16.

We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone. Were ready to be a Boston that doesnt push people out, but welcomes all who call our city home, Wu said.

Just before Wu spoke, Essaibi George conceded the race.
The first witness was Dominick Black, who was dating Rittenhouse's sister at the time. Black faces charges he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse months before the shootings because the teen was not old enough to own one at the time.

Black testified that he and Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha to help protect a car dealership after vehicles were burned the night before. Black said he thought nobody would start trouble if they saw him with his assault-style rifle. He also said Rittenhouse helped give medical aid and put out fires.

Black said he was on the roof as protesters hurled gasoline bombs and rocks at the business. He said he heard gunshots but didn't know Rittenhouse was involved until the teenager called and said, "I shot somebody, I shot somebody.

Afterward, Black said, Rittenhouse was freaking out. He was really scared. He was pale, shaking a lot. Black said Rittenhouse told him that he acted in self-defense because people were trying to hurt him.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest in Kenosha as two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen" and said outsiders were drawn to the city like moths to a flame.
Exercise your power.

If youre reading these words today, and youve already stood in line at your polling precinct to fill out your ballot and turn it in for tallying, or if in the days or weeks prior, you mailed in your early ballot, or dropped it off at the registrars office (with a proper witness signature on your envelope, lets not forget)  Well, wonderful! Congratulations!

You have exercised the power that our democracy grants you, you have participated in shaping our government, and we salute you.

If youve not done those things, and the polls havent closed, June Carter Cash and her first husband Carl Smith have a message for you: Times a-wastin.

By the way, if you received a ballot in the mail, and you filled in the wrong oval because you were distracted, that is still no excuse for not following through and voting. Bring your ballot and all the envelopes and materials that you received in the mail to the registrars office and they will get you sorted out so that you can properly dispose of the old ballot and cast your vote using a new one. The process is sensible and secure.
RALEIGH  The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Oct. 28 that it's going ahead with the lease of a nearly 200-square mile area off the North Carolina coast for offshore wind development.

On Nov. 1, the department will publish a notice in the Federal Register proposing the lease sale of a large portion of the Wilmington East Wind Energy Area, starting a 60-day public comment period that lasts until Jan. 3, 2022, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported.

When completed, the Wilmington East area could generate more than 1.5 gigawatts of electricity, enough for more than 500,000 homes, according to the department. By comparison, Duke Energys natural gas-powered Sutton Plant near Wilmington has a capacity of 625 megawatts, less than half the offshore wind areas potential.

President Joe Biden has set a national goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind built by 2030. Earlier this year, Gov. Roy Cooper announced state targets of 2.8 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 and 8 gigawatts by 2040.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell is calling for an investigation into allegations of financial impropriety in the Town of Rural Hall.

In a statement released Monday, Folwell said he wants State Auditor Beth Wood to investigate the towns financial statements. This comes after three members of the Rural Hall Town Council resigned abruptly at a meeting on Oct. 21. At that same meeting, Town Manager Megan Garner also resigned. The next day, she accepted a job as manager for the City of Graham. The town attorney, D. Barrett Burge, and Town Clerk Dora K. Moore also resigned.

The members  John McDermon, Ricky Plunkett and Jesse Stigall  said they resigned over conflicts among the towns elected officials and what they called unfounded allegations against Garner of financial impropriety.

Citizens and property taxpayers deserve to know that governance, competency and transparency exist with the administration of the finances of Rural Hall, Folwell said in a statement. At the end of the day, everyone will benefit if the accusations of financial malfeasance are thoroughly investigated so the town can get on with serving the people.

Folwell is the chairman of the Local Government Commission, which oversees 1,300 units of local government in North Carolina.

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"I regrettably will forever ask myself: If he had taken the vaccine, would he have lived life past 43?" she said.

The upcoming clinic at New Life Ministries is among more than a dozen community-based clinics in the next few weeks. Organizations such as churches and nonprofits can schedule clinics with the local health department. Holding clinics in these settings does make a difference in drawing people, said Kenya Smith Godette, a spokeswoman for the Guilford County Health Department.

"Through research we've found that for some groups, whether in rural areas or minority communities, it's just that factor of trust," Godette said.

That's what Miracle hopes.

Kermit had attended N.C. A&T in the early 2000s after earning a bachelor of science degree in natural sciences from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va. At A&T, he earned a master's degree in food and nutritional science. He would later earn a master's divinity degree in pastoral preaching from Liberty University.

He was an operations supervisor at Post Consumer Brands.

"Kermit was kind-hearted, gentle, jovial, loving and wanted the best for everyone," his wife said.
Once polls close across the country, election officials focused on counting ballots cast by every eligible voter and reporting the results, which are all unofficial until the election is certified. That will not happen for days or even weeks as election officials finish their counting and then conduct their post-election reviews to ensure the number of ballots cast equals the number of voters who voted. Any discrepancies are researched, and election officials provide detailed explanations prior to any election being certified.

In Georgia, Fulton County elections director Rick Barron said turnout had been light but steady. Two county polling locations did not have all the equipment they needed when polls opened, but poll managers allowed voters to use emergency paper ballots until the equipment issues were resolved, Barron said.

Lines were short and Election Day was an easy experience for the vast majority of voters, said Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts.

Election officials said demonstrating secure, consistent and fair practices would help reassure those who still have doubts about last years presidential election as preparations begin for next years midterms.

It is a great dress rehearsal for 2022, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said.
MOSCOW  The Kremlin says that Moscow remains fully committed to global efforts on controlling climate change even though Russian President Vladimir Putin won't attend the U.N. climate conference this week.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the format of the conference in Glasgow wouldnt allow the Russian president to address the gathering via video link. But he added that Putin will record a video address to be delivered to a forest and land use conference which is part of the U.N. climate conference.

Peskov told reporters Monday that Russia fully shares global climate efforts and will stick to its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The U.S. and the EU have prodded Moscow to set a more ambitious goal and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Peskov charged that Russia is already ahead of some Western European countries regarding the share of low-carbon power generation sources. The Kremlin spokesman also emphasized the need to pay special attention to the needs of developing countries while mapping global climate efforts and consider their low emissions in the past.



GLASGOW, Scotland  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has opened a global climate summit saying the world is strapped to a doomsday device.
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As with the 2020 vetoed bill, Republican lawmakers are unlikely to locate the votes needed to override the veto on this bill. Only one Democrat joined Republicans in voting for the final measure. GOP leaders said the measure is not about maligning the governors past actions, but rather restoring some checks and balances to emergency management by taking decision-making out of the hands of one leader.

The governors veto undermines our constitution, the balance of powers and the rule of law, said Rep. Keith Kidwell, a Beaufort County Republican and bill sponsor. It also further shows the dangers of when power is centralized in the hands of one person.

Often the governor has issued orders during the pandemic without the concurrence of the Council of State, and in many cases state law doesnt require that, or courts have upheld his actions. The council is defined in the measure as the nine other statewide elected executive branch leaders, such as the lieutenant governor and attorney general. Republicans currently hold majorities on both the council and at the legislature.

The bill also would have demanded that a governor obtain formal Council of State support when the state health director wants to issue quarantine and isolation orders for groups of people that last longer than seven days.
Anderson Cooper on CNN asked the right question of the president: On voting rights, if it is as important  as you say, I think theres a lot of Democrats who look at the filibuster and would like to see it changed, even if its just on this one case.

Why does the president oppose this?

Start with Sen. Joe Manchin. He speaks of the filibuster rule as if it is holy writ, on which the functioning of our whole system of government depends.

Secondly, President Biden continues his public tease over filibuster rule reform  to keep liberals excited  while in private negotiating with the senator from West Virginia as if he were a foreign head of state.

Cooper hung in there: But are you saying, once you get the current agenda passed  on social programs, that you would be open to fundamentally altering the filibuster (which requires a three-fifths vote to shut off debate) or doing away with it?

Alas, the president would have us believe that pushing too hard to save voting rights by bringing back the talking filibuster would endanger his chances of saving the imperiled budget reconciliation bill.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers.
The Kurdish component is considered the oldest component lived in the Mid-east, they have strong relationships with the others components in the region, particularly, the Arab and Kurd who lived with each other for long time.

Arab politician, member of Presidency Council of the Syria Democratic Council, SDC, Hussein al-Azzam confirmed that Kurdish Arab alliance is very old, it was going through many stages in all whole Syria not only in Jazira region, noting these relationships are limited on the social aspects, such as, good neighbourhood, and the strong relationships were consolidated between them, after entering the region new phase, after announcing the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, AANES, politically and militarily were mixed with each other, it has become a sense of coexistence , destiny and common purpose.

Hussein Al-Azzam asserted that, following the 19 July Revolution, the alliance between the Kurd and the Arabs came spontaneously: "We did not make an agreement. It came spontaneously out of a sense of a coalition at all levels, as we now see in ANNES."

Hussein Al-Azzam has made it clear that the Kurdish and Arab alliance has achieved a great deal, primarily by enabling stability in the region: "AANES foes have bet on and are disappointed that there will be discord between the components of the region.

Hussein Al-Azzam stressed that Arab- Kurdish alliance succeed in establishing AANES in NE, Syria, this administration became the focus of attention, everyone is watching what she has done and is waiting for what she will do as well, many gains had been achieved by ANNES, we see the positive implications that the administration has achieved through its engagement and communication with AANES.

Al - Azzam asserted that the Kurdish - Arab coalition would stop the Syrian bleeding. "We are working to stop the Syrian bleeding and are open to dialogue with the Damascus Government and the opposition at anytime and anywhere, without preconditions, we want to spread stability in Syria. We want to stop the Syrian blood bleeding. "

Following its establishment on December 8th, 2015, the SDC, presented a political document in which several principles were adopted, namely, the end of the authoritarian regime, the establishing of a pluralist parliamentary democratic system in a decentralized state in Syria, the fight against blind terrorist groups in reference to ISIS/ Daesh mercenaries and the Turkish occupation, the recognition of Syrian social diversity and the constitutional recognition of the national rights of the Kurdish people, Syriac, Assyrian Chaldean, Aramaic Turkmen, Armenian and Circassian peoples.

Al-Azzam praised the statements made by, co-chair of KCK, Jamil Bayik, to the Al-Nahar Newspaper in connection with the Kurdish-Arab alliance. Jamil Bayik explained: "We believe that the Arab-Kurdish alliance in Syria will launch a new historical era for all Arabs and Kurds. This experiment has been manifested in Syria. It is essential that the Kurdish-Arab coalition be carefully protected and circulated. Both Arabs and Kurds will come out harder than this. It will stop the new Ottoman dreams of the Turkish state. "

Azzam added "We are faced with Turkey's attacks and we must take them seriously, and all components of Syria must join forces against them, because the attacks target Syria in general; With our solidarity, we can stop them, and Syrian people must be vigilant to confront these attacks.

T/S

ANHA
An April 11 jury trial has been set for a Plentywood man accused of three counts of sexual intercourse without consent against two developmentally disabled women.

And the net for the jury pool was widened from 60-70 candidates in Sheridan County to 150, given defendant Timothy Marshs longtime presence in the community. Attorneys asked the number be "bumped up" in order to find jurors. There was no discussion of a change of venue for the trial during Thursday's discussion.

Judge Brenda R. Gilbert of the 6th Judicial District Court out of Livingston is presiding over the Sheridan County trial after the previous judge was asked to recuse himself, when prosecuting attorney cited his possible familiarity with the defendant.

During the Oct. 28 omnibus hearing, state Assistant Attorney General Mike Gee of the Montana Department of Justice, which is prosecuting the case, said the investigation into Marsh is continuing and would provide any new discovery to Marshs attorney as that unfolds.

He said there would possibly be more subpoenas issued soon.

I think there will be more motions, he said.

Marshs attorney, Samantha Howard, said her client did not plan to waive his right to a speedy trial.

The alleged incidents occurred in 2015 and in 2018, according to court documents filed Aug. 16. Marsh at one time worked as a maintenance worker at Glenwood Inc., a facility for adults with disabilities. He is no longer employed there.

Each count is a felony. The first count can bring imprisonment of two to no more than 100 years, a maximum fine of $50,000 or both.

Marsh pleaded not guilty Aug. 25 and is out of jail on $150,000 bond.

Gee filed the request for the new judge on Aug. 30. Gee said no one was asserting that the previous judge, David Cybulski of the 15th Judicial District Court in Sheridan County, could not be fair or impartial, but said there was a specter of a conflict. Gilberts courtroom is based in in Livingston.

The trial is expected to take five days. At one time, the trial was scheduled for February.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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Last year was a historically destructive wildfire season. While we havent yet seen the end of 2021, nationally 64 large fires have burned over 3 million acres. The economic damage caused by wildfire in 2020 is estimated at $150 billion. The loss of communities, loss of life, impacts on health, and untold environmental damage to our watershedsnot to mention the pumping of climate-changing carbon into the atmosphereare devastating. We are the National Association of Forest Service Retirees (NAFSR) and are pleased that much of the American public and Congress seem supportive of action to alter our current terrible path to continuing wildfire disasters.

We are, however, dismayed at the proliferation of misinformation about what can be done about wildfires. More work is needed to address many issues within the wildland-urban interface (in which people live in proximity to forestlands) and, of course, the national and global priority of climate change. Alongside this work, reducing fuels by thinning forests followed by prescribed burningespecially in our western mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forestsis essential. Such work must be increased quickly on a landscape scale if we are to even begin to save our forests and communities.

Small treatment areas, scattered random acts of restoration across the landscape, are not large enough to make a meaningful difference. Decades of field observations and peer reviewed research both document the effectiveness of strategic landscape fuel treatments and support the pressing need to do more. The cost of necessary treatments is a fraction of the wildfire damage such treatments can prevent. Todays wildfires in overstocked forests burn so hot and on such vast acreages that reforestation becomes difficult or next to impossible in some areas. Soil damage and erosion become extreme. Watersheds which supply vital domestic, industrial, and agricultural water are damaged or destroyed.

Restoring our forests to a more natural level of tree density does not mean clear-cutting and does not mean removing the largest trees. It does mean striving for and achieving forests which can withstand wildfire without massive damage to forests, wildlife, watersheds and communities. Research now shows that, in California before European settlement, most forest types contained around 60 trees per acre. Today it is 300 trees per acre, helping to make the incredible fire behavior and damage we now see more and more common.

This summer, America watched with great apprehension as the Caldor Fire approached South Lake Tahoe. In a community briefing, wildfire incident commander Rocky Oplinger described how active management of forestlands assisted firefighters. When the fire spotted above Meyers, it reached a fuels treatment that helped reduce flame lengths from 150 feet to 15 feet, enabling firefighters to mount a direct attack and protect homes, The Los Angeles Times quoted him.

And in a Sacramento Bee interview in which fire researcher Scott Stephens was asked how much consensus there is among fire scientists that fuels treatments do help, he answered Id say at least 99%. Ill be honest with you, its that strong; its that strong. Theres at least 99% certainty that treated areas do moderate fire behavior. You will always have the ignition potential, but the fires will be much easier to manage. I dont know if its 99% or not, but a wildfire commander with decades of experience recently told me this figure would be at least 90%. What is important here is that there is broad agreement among professionals that properly treated landscapes do moderate fire behavior.

During my career, I have personally witnessed fire dropping from tree crowns to the ground when it hit a thinned forest. So have many NAFSR members. This is an issue where scientist and practitioners agree. More strategic landscape treatments are necessary to help avoid increasingly disastrous wildfires. So, the next time you read or hear someone say that thinning and prescribed fire in the forest does not work, remember that nothing can be further from the truth.

Steve Ellis, Chair of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, is a former U.S. Forest Service Forest Supervisor and retired Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director for Operationsthe senior career position in that agencys Washington, D.C., headquarters.

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On October 15th the Police Department suffered a loss of a friend and colleague. Assistant Chief Curt Stinson lost his battle with cancer. Even before Curts passing, the Helena Community rallied to support Curt, most notably in our purple patch program which helped to raise over $3,500 for Curt and his family. The support grew as Curts family and the department grieved his passing and worked to honor Curt.

The Stinson Family and all the members of the Helena Police Department Family would like to thank everyone that provided support through these difficult times. We want to specifically recognize a few businesses and organizations who went above and beyond for us: St. Peters Hospital, Anderson Stevenson & Wilke Funeral Home, the Montana Police Protective Association, Helena Police Protective Association, Fast Signs, Town Pump Car Wash, Helena Regional Airport, 1889 Coffee, City of Helena, Albertsons, Helena Fire, Rural Fire, New Life Lutheran Church, Four Georgians School, Capital High School, First Student, I Fly Big Sky, Dirty Dozen Donuts, Harrington Pepsi, Lehrkinds Coca-Cola, Auto Trim Design, Montana Highway Patrol, Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, and The Floral Cottage.

We would like to thank all the law enforcement agencies from around Montana that sent representatives to Curts funeral, provided flowers, and sent cards to support the family and department. Also, to everyone that took a moment to call, send a card, or just stop one of us to ask how we are holding up, thank you. Its a good reminder to us all that we need to take care of each other and just take a moment.

Curt will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but your support for the Stinson Family and the HPD Family has helped us to work through this difficult time.

Submitted by Helena Police Chief Steve Hagen on behalf of the Helena Police Department and the Stinson family.

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And out of the blue came the Ag CEO Council.

Have you heard of that before? Me neither, nor had anyone else outside of their corner offices. But the Biden administration just received the blunt force of 17 heads of farm and commodity organizations who want the nations supply chains fixed. Now.

Those men and women lead groups which have tens of thousands of members that have hundreds of billions of dollars at stake in agricultural exports and domestic commerce. Their needed inputs are not being delivered. Their outputs are not being shipped. And the chief executives sent a letter to the Biden administration strongly suggesting that changes must be made as soon as possible.

The letter concluded by saying: The issues addressed in our comments reflect the diverse challenges currently and eminently facing the U.S. agricultural sector. After many years of low farm prices, recent price increases were poised to help elevate market net returns. Given these supply chain issues, that optimism has faded into a desire to simply not do worse than those lean years.

So, what got into their craw to send a 17-page letter full of concerns and warnings? Many of them made the news, but are still making news, since little is being done to remedy the problems.

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1. Labor shortages exist on the farm, in processing facilities, and among critical service providers. A National Council of Farmer Cooperative survey found that 77 percent of responding coops had issues retaining a skilled workforce during the pandemic.

2. Hurricane Ida closed the Lower Mississippi River and grain unloading facilities in New Orleans. Grain shipping volumes and prices have yet to recover.

3. Import volumes have overloaded marine terminals, particularly on the West Coast. This has caused shipping delays, canceled bookings and surcharges. Containers are leaving the U.S. empty rather than being filled and returned with agricultural products, as is normal practice.

4. Over the past 20 months, the transportation sector has experienced congestion, equipment shortages and constrained capacity. General freight trucking prices increased by 21 percent since May 2020.

5. A confluence of factors negatively impacting global fertilizer market supply chains include (global demand, weather, COVID-driven issues, trade actions, transportation costs, natural gas prices).

6. Regulatory action by EPA is limiting the availability of pesticides necessary for agricultural production.

7. Energy consumption abruptly changed, suddenly reversing, and gasoline prices have shot up more than 40 percent in the past year.

8. Steel prices rose dramatically during the pandemic due to both demand and tariffs levied on multiple steel products in August 2021.

9. 75 percent of the Western U.S. and the Dakotas are in severe drought. Ranchers have had to liquidate portions of their herds, and irrigation costs have increased.

Extensive details were provided for all their concerns. The farm organization leaders obviously want and need government assistance in addressing the issues. But added, We at the Ag CEO Council and our respective organizations stand ready to partner on these issues and look forward to assisting in helping address these time-sensitive challenges.

Stu Ellis is an observer of the Central Illinois agriculture scene. In addition to his weekly column, you can view his From The Farm and Harvest Heritage reports on WCIA 3 News.

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Whether its your first or 15th hosting job, we have a whole slew of tips and tricks to help plan and execute the perfect holiday dinner. Not sure which kind of turkey is right for your dinner table? Intimidated by the prep? Dont know when to take it out of the oven to rest? Well provide all these answers, and more.
DECATUR  Steps are being taken to get ready for COVID-19 vaccines for children in Macon County.

The Biden administration released news on Monday that COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 are on the way, with the first doses expected to be administered by midweek. The White House said there are enough vaccines ready for all 28 million children in the country who are eligible.

Crossing placed our order for pediatric Pfizer vaccine on Oct. 20 from" the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Tanya Andricks, CEO of Crossing Healthcare. This was the first day we had the ability to place this order.

They have not yet received the vaccines, she said, but expect them any day.

As soon as we get the Pediatric Pfizer vaccine we will let the public know and will open our online schedules, Andricks said. Right now we are planning to vaccinate kids ages 5 to 11 on Nov. 9 and 10, as long as our vaccine supply is delivered prior to those dates.

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The schedule will be available at crossinghealthcare.org/covid19-update.

Once we receive the vaccine and open these dates on our schedules, people are welcome make appointments on our website, Andricks said. We will add more dates and times based on our experiences on the first two days. Our team is extremely experienced giving pediatric vaccines and COVID vaccines to adults. Obviously, this will be our first experience giving pediatric COVID vaccinations. After the first two vaccination clinics are completed, our team will discuss what went well and what can be modified and then schedule subsequent vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11 in the following days and weeks. We understand that parents have varied thoughts around this vaccine and we want to ensure we support the kids and their parents as they make this important health decision.

The Macon County Health Department is awaiting instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before proceeding, said Marisa Hosier, director of health promotion and public relations.

Decatur Memorial Hospital is also waiting for direction before making any plans, said spokesman Michael Leathers, and HSHS Medical Group and HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, are also awaiting direction from the CDC, said spokesman Andrew Dilbeck.

The Federal Drug Administration has cleared the Pfizer shots, which deliver about one-third of the adult dosage, for use on children, and a special advisory council of the Centers for Disease Control planned to meet on Tuesday to discuss next steps. After CDC advisers make their recommendations, agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky will give the final order.

Today is a monumental day in the course of this pandemic, Walensky told the advisory panel as it began its deliberations earlier Tuesday.

In the U.S., there have been more than 8,300 hospitalizations of kids ages 5 to 11, about a third requiring intensive care, according to government data. The CDC has recorded at least 94 deaths in that age group, with additional reports under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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DENPASAR, Indonesia  An American woman convicted of helping to kill her mother on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali and stuff the body into a suitcase was tightly escorted to the airport Tuesday for her deportation to the United States.

Heather Mack, 26, was released from prison on Friday after serving seven years and two months of a 10-year sentence. Her then-boyfriend, who was also convicted in the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and remains in prison.

The badly beaten body of her mother, wealthy Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was found in a suitcase inside the trunk of a taxi parked at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.

The killing generated national and international attention for years, in part because of photographs of the suitcase that appeared far too small to hold an adult womans body.

Mack, who was almost 19 and a few weeks pregnant, and her then-21-year-old boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were arrested a day later after they were found at a hotel about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the St. Regis.

Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly before her parents were convicted in 2015. Under Indonesian law, she was allowed to live with her mother in her cell in Kerobokan female prison until she turned 2, when Mack gave custody of her young daughter to an Australian woman until her release from prison.

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Until she was freed on Friday, Mack had not seen her daughter for about 20 months because authorities halted prison visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her attorney, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said earlier that Mack had asked for the girl, who is now 6, to remain with her foster family to avoid media attention in the U.S. However, Indonesian regulations refused.

Minors must be accompanied by their mothers when their mothers are deported. There is no policy that allows a mother to leave her underage child here, said Amrizal, chief of the Bali immigration office.

Macks sentence was shortened by a total of 34 months due to reductions that are often granted to prisoners on major holidays because of good conduct.

After being released, Mack stayed at an immigration detention center for four days while waiting for her flight tickets and travel documents to be ready.

She was closely escorted by immigration officers to Balis airport for a flight to Jakarta.

Jamaruli Manihuruk, chief of the Bali regional office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said she would fly from Jakarta to Chicago on Delta Air Lines. He said his office has asked the central government to ban Mack from Indonesia for life.

Mack reportedly had a troubled relationship with her mother, with officials in the U.S. confirming that police had been called to the familys Oak Park, Illinois, home dozens of times.

Bali police said the hotels surveillance camera showed that Mack and Schaefer had argued with the girls mother in the lobby of the hotel shortly before the killing, which allegedly took place inside a room in the hotel.

Schaefer testified in court that von Wiese-Mack was angry at him when she learned about her daughters pregnancy. He said she insulted him and Mack, wanted her to get an abortion and strangled him in a heated argument before he struck her several times with a fruit bowl.

Prosecutors said Mack helped stuff her mothers body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

Later video from the corridor showed Mack bringing a cart to move the suitcase and Schaefer carrying the suitcase to the cart. Video also showed the couple talking to a taxi driver. The two allegedly abandoned the suitcase in a taxi and left through the hotels back door.

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Rewind! Rewind!

A portion of a videotape that was in the digital Herald & Review newspaper had to be rewound more than once. At a DPS 61 school board meeting on October 12, surely, the acting superintendent did not tell the school board that a meeting was going to be held next week to continue the discussion on how to address violence in the schools.

However, that is precisely what happened after student ambassadors pleaded for help with the numerous fights happening in the high schools. For school boards to meet, there must be a public notice within a given timeframe. However, superintendents and administrators can be called to a meeting at a moments notice.

School safety is an urgent issue that must be dealt with as soon as possible. While it appeared that the administrators were cognizant of the violence, most disturbing was the seemingly lack of urgency to address the problem. The student ambassadors told the board members that fights had been going on since the first day of school.

Where is the sense of urgency? It is understood that the new plans on what was being done to curtail the violence may not have been ready for public consumption. However, it was inexcusable not to let the student ambassadors know that currently the student discipline policies were being implemented to the fullest extent.

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The administrators acknowledged that parents want their children to be in a safe environment. Obviously, the school board members were being kind and gentle with the administrators by not publicly demanding answers on what steps had been taken.

The acting superintendent rather quickly suggested that perhaps a former group from the community could be asked to assist the schools with the violence while at the same time expressing not knowing if the group still existed.

The lack of a sense of urgency is disheartening. Without any hesitancy, the school board an public have been told, if valid, some of the following: (1) Students who have been engaged in violence have been suspended or expelled. (2) Principals have had assemblies letting students know the behaviors that are expected at school and which behaviors will not be tolerated. (3) Meetings have been held with parents whose children are disruptive. (4) Administrators have made suggestions, and some remedies have been implemented already.

It is commendable that the district does not want to infringe upon students rights. It is a fact the names of the students who have been disciplined cannot be revealed to the public, but what actions or means controlling the violence should be revealed. Providing lip service that the school board wants to have safe schools is meaningless unless the public knows what measures are being taken to keep the schools safe.

Suffice it to say, it is not necessary to reveal every entity of what is being done but at least provide enough information so that it recreates a sense of urgency that something is in place already with the consistency of making improvements.

While it is not time to do the blame game, it is crucial that parents know that there is a sense of urgency and that something is being done to address the school violence which is also a national issue. What role does the school district expect the parents to play? How can the school and parents work as a team to curve the violence? How can other municipalities assist in alleviating the problem?

Round table discussions are essential with the gathering of ideas, but actions are needed if real changes in real times are to occur. The sense of urgency is crucial to the development of resolves.

Jeanelle Norman is the branch president of the Decatur NAACP.

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The program is designed to allow an entity to save enough money in energy costs to cover the annual loan cost, Perrigan said, adding that if the savings arent what is promised, the contractor would pay the difference.

It would include new heating and cooling systems and control systems, but specific project details are confidential at this stage, according to a School Board document.

Because significant work has already occurred at Stonewall Jackson Elementary, the savings would be minimal, Perrigan said, making the most expensive $8.9 million scenario an unlikely choice.

The work would be planned for Virginia High, Virginia Middle and Van Pelt Elementary but not the two elementary schools targeted for closing if a new school is built  Highland View and Washington-Lee.

Perrigan said savings generated from the 2012 improvements allowed that loan to be paid off years ahead of schedule. As presented, the other two plans would cost $5.6 million or $4.1 million but generate estimated annual savings of $116,400 and $113,800, respectively  both less than the estimated annual loan cost.

However, the system is also considering allocating up to $2 million of federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding toward the work.
There is one contested Wise County Board of Supervisors seat, as Robert Anderson meets Randy Carter. District three features a School Board race between Stephanie Kern and Lorenzo Rodriguez. There are also Town Council races in Big Stone Gap and Pound.

Polls show the gubernatorial contest between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin is a virtual tossup entering Election Day. McAuliffe, who previously served one four-year term as governor from 2014-2018, has led from the outset according to polls, but that has shrunk to single digits and now to within the margin of error.

Although Youngkin is the overwhelming favorite in GOP-leaning Southwest Virginia, he barnstormed through the region nonetheless Sunday, attending events in Gate City, Lee County and Abingdon, accompanied by Winsome Sears, candidate for lieutenant governor, and Jason Miyares, candidate for attorney general.

McAuliffe spent the weekend campaigning across the state, with a series of rallies featuring Del. Hala Ayala, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, and incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring.

A Roanoke College poll released over the weekend shows McAuliffe with a 1 percentage point lead over Youngkin, 47% to 46%, with 6% of voters undecided, while the other races are also in the 1% to 2% range.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  Frances president offered Britain extra time for negotiations on Monday to try to reach a compromise on a troubling post-Brexit fishing spat, hours ahead of a threatened French blockade of British ships and trucks.

France has threatened to bar British boats from some of its ports and tighten checks on boats and trucks carrying British goods if more French vessels arent licensed to fish in U.K. waters by Tuesday. Paris has also suggested it might restrict energy supplies to the Channel Islands, which are heavily dependent on French electricity.

The French government had said the port blockade would begin at midnight Monday if no compromise was found. But late in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron's office said talks would continue this week and no measures would be taken until at least through Thursday.

Speaking to reporters Monday in Glasgow, Scotland, where he is attending an international climate conference, Macron said the discussions center on a proposal he made to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after they met at the G-20 meeting in Rome on Sunday.

I asked the British to come back to us tomorrow with other propositions, Macron said. We will see where we are at the end of day tomorrow.
" " donahos /Flickr/(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) The Crazy Horse Memorial is the worlds largest mountain carving currently in progress.

Out of the hills of South Dakota, just 18 miles (28.9 kilometers) or so west of the quartet of presidential mugs that peer down from Mount Rushmore, another mountainside monument slowly rises. For more than 70 years actually, it's been rising and rising and rising. But it's getting there.

The Crazy Horse Memorial, the only active mountain carving in the world, is a project so literally monumental in size, so audacious in scope that it's become practically legendary in its own right, like the man carved into the mountain himself. The massive sculpture is the drawn-out dream of a long-sighted Native American chief and a dogged Polish American sculptor. And it's a weighty legacy for the sculptor's family, which toils still to complete that vision.

"We've lived it all our lives, and we just go ahead, and keep our nose to the grindstone, and just do it. You just do it," says Jadwiga Ziolkowski, who along with her sister Monique, serves as the CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial. "You keep your eye on what it is you're working toward, something that's bigger than yourself, something that's going to be here a long time after the family is gone. You just know it's the right thing to do, and you move forward."

" " Crazy Horse was a Lakota leader who is best known for his part in the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn where Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and 200 of the Seventh Cavalry were killed. This painting on cloth by Sioux Indian Kills Two (1869-1927) depicts a battle between Custer and Crazy Horse. UniversalImagesGroup/Contributor/Getty Images

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Who Was Crazy Horse?

Tasunke Witco was a heroic Lakota leader of the Oglala band of Native Americans. He was born in the mid-19th century, probably around 1840, as white armies began their marauding ways through the West, driving the natives from their lands.

Crazy Horse, the English translation of his name, was given to him later in life. Noted Western author Larry McMurtry explains in his 1999 book "Crazy Horse: A Life":

His own people experienced him as a mystery while he was alive: they called him Our Strange Man. In his life, he would have three names: Curly, His Horses Looking, Crazy Horse (Ta-Shunka-Witco). We know him as Crazy Horse, but in life few knew him well; in truth it is only in a certain limited way that we who are living now can know him at all.

Crazy Horse spent his formative years hunting on the plains of the Dakotas and was a full warrior by his midteens, according to his Crazy Horse Memorial bio. He soon became a good one. In 1865, at somewhere around 25 years old, he was named a "Shirt Wearer" (a war leader) by his tribe.

He's probably best known for his part in one 1876 battle in particular: the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He led the band of Lakota warriors who rose up against Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his entire Seventh Cavalry. Custer was killed (the battle is also known as Custer's Last Stand) along with nine of his officers. Another 280 enlisted soldiers and 32 Indians also died.

A year later, as soldiers unexpectedly tried to take a war-weary Crazy Horse into custody at Fort Robinson, Nebraska  after he walked willingly into the camp to discuss terms of a possible truce  Crazy Horse was bayoneted in the back by a soldier and died. He was in his mid-30s.

Crazy Horse, who famously never had his picture taken and is revered by Native Americans today, ended up as mysterious in death as he was in life. His burial spot is unknown.

" " Designer Korczak Ziolkowski had been working on nearby Mount Rushmore when Oglala Lakota Chief Standing Bear asked him to create the Crazy Horse Memorial. Carl Iwasaki/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

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The Story of the Monument

Not long after Crazy Horse was murdered, Mato Naji was born around Pierre, South Dakota. He was educated in Western ways at the Carlisle Indian School, took the name Henry Standing Bear, and later became an Oglala Lakota chief.

In the 1930s, looking for a way to honor Crazy Horse and his people, Chief Standing Bear jumped on a project designed to rival the one that was currently being blasted out of a mountain in the Black Hills. He quickly recruited designer Korczak Ziolkowski, who had been working on nearby Mount Rushmore, to carve Thunderhead Mountain into a monument that would, in the end, dwarf the paean to the presidents to the east. (See sidebar below.)

"Henry wrote to Dad," Jadwiga says, "and said, 'We would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, also.'"

It would become Korczak's life's work (he died in 1982), that of his wife, Ruth (she died in 2014), and many of their 10 children.

"To a degree, it was the challenge," Jadwiga says of her father's motivation to shape the mountain. "But mostly, he had seen from his visits here how important the Native people are to one another, how they respect their elders, and how they lived with such grace. How they took care of each other no matter what. It was just such a beautiful thing ... He just thought that was something that should be taught, that people should know about something that wasn't from the TV or the newspapers. It wasn't the wars or Custer's Last Stand or anything like that.

"He came out and learned a whole different side of the Native American people, how gracious they were, and how they cared about each other. He wanted to keep that culture alive."

" " A crew of 15 spends five days a week blasting and chiseling the mountain. When the massive sculpture is finished it will depict Crazy Horse from the torso up on the back of a horse. SteveElliott /Flickr/(CC BY-SA 2.0)

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The Future of Crazy Horse Memorial

Begun in 1948, the Crazy Horse Memorial was slow to take shape in the first few decades of its existence. But it's clearly, if agonizingly, getting there. The front half of Crazy Horse's massive stone head  easily visible with a zoom-in on Google Earth or Google Maps  was completed in 1998, his eyes staring sternly to the southeast across the hills. A yet-to-be-finished outstretched arm points his way.

When the sculpture is finished  it's still probably decades away, at least  it will depict the chief, from the torso up, on the back of a horse. The horse's head, with flowing mane, will forever rest under Crazy Horse's arm.

"It really has been getting there. And people are starting to see that now. It's grown and changed so much in the last four or five years, it's incredible to see," Jadwiga says. "In the next six to 11 years, [we'll be finishing] the hand, the Indian's arm ... going back and finishing up the hairline at Crazy Horse's scalp, and always working on the horse's head, working down toward the horse's head and mane. You start at the top and work down."

The Crazy Horse Memorial (in non-pandemic years) is visited by more than 1 million people annually. The site now includes a welcome center, theaters, a Native American museum, a restaurant, an educational and cultural center, a "university" that sponsors educational programs that allow Native Americans to earn college credit and the inevitable gift shop.

Though there has been some controversy about the memorial throughout its history. Some Native Americans object to its place in the sacred Black Hills, some wonder whether it's all just a big money-making scheme, some bristle at the massive tribute to such a humble and mysterious man and some say that non-Indians should not be running the place. Though it's important to note that the project, on private land, never has accepted any federal or state money for its work. It's supported entirely by donations and visitors' fees.

For those who have long been working on the project  a crew of 15 spends five days a week blasting and chiseling the mountain into what Standing Bear and Korczak imagined all those years ago  the doubters, the impatient, the critics have proven to be not nearly as difficult to shape as the rock itself.

"There's a lot of people that never thought it would be done," Jadwiga says. "And it's not always been easy. You have your moments. My dad had a line; 'Everybody has a mountain ...' Each one of us in life has something that we're struggling with, that we have to get over."

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING How massive is the Crazy Horse Memorial? The entire carving is to be 641 feet long (197.5 meters) and 563 feet (171.6 meters) high. Crazy Horse's face alone is more than 87 feet (26.5 meters) high. In comparison, if you stacked the busts of Mount Rushmore's George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln atop of each other, they wouldn't stand half as tall as Crazy Horse and his trusted steed.
" " A Blackfoot chief regards the invasion of his hunting ground by the Canadian Pacific Railway, 1884. Ilustration from the magazine The Graphic/De Agostini/Getty Images

In the long, dark history of the United States government's mistreatment of Native Americans, most people are familiar with the Trail of Tears, in which approximately 15,000 Native American men, women and children died during forced relocation from their tribal homelands in the American Southeast to Indian Territory in modern-day Oklahoma.

But the theft of Native American tribal land didn't stop with the Indian Removal Act of 1830 that authorized the Trail of Tears. Over the next century, Congress passed a series of laws that systematically stripped tribes of their lands, selling them to white settlers and corporations.

The Dawes Act, while not a household name, was perhaps the single most devastating government policy of them all. Also known as the General Allotment Act of 1887, the Dawes Act resulted in the loss of 90 million acres (36 million hectares) of Native lands from 1887 to 1934  the equivalent of two-thirds of all tribal landholdings at the time.

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Solving the 'Indian Problem'

Nineteenth-century Americans, driven by Manifest Destiny and rapid industrialization, were hungry for more and more land upon which to farm, ranch, harvest timber, mine minerals and build railroads. Because of earlier relocation policies that resettled Native Americans in Western reservations, many large tracts of attractive Western land were in the hands of Indians by the 1880s.

Politicians and businessmen who saw tribal land ownership as an obstacle to American progress were constantly searching for a solution to the so-called "Indian Problem," and they found it in an unlikely source: progressive social reformers.

Mark Hirsch is a historian at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. He explains that many well-intentioned Americans were appalled at the desperate conditions on Western reservations, where hunting was forbidden and starvation was rampant. Backed by early anthropologists, these social reformers believed that private land ownership and cultural assimilation as farmers and ranchers were key to saving the Indians from their own "savage" status.

" " Sen. Henry Dawes, the author of the Dawes Act, once said that to be civilized meant to "wear civilized clothes ... cultivate the ground, live in houses, ride in Studebaker wagons, send children to school, drink whiskey [and] own property." Bettman/Getty Images

"These people really believed that they were doing a good thing for Native Americans," says Hirsch, "that they were true 'friends of the Indian.'"

As a result, two very different groups  land-hungry capitalists and social progressives  threw their support behind the General Allotment Act of 1887 (called the Dawes Act for Sen. Henry Dawes of Massachusetts, the bill's lead proponent in Congress). This law gave the U.S. president unprecedented power to break up tribal lands into small parcels or "allotments," some of which would be offered to Native American families as private farmland, and the rest sold to white settlers and business interests.

The idea was that the American Indian landowners would emulate the success of their new white neighbors and leave behind their tribal ways to become profitable farmers and ranchers themselves.

"Congress thought that the best way of curing the 'Indian problem' forever would be for Indian people to assimilate into white culture and society," says Stephen Pevar, senior staff counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union Racial Justice Program. "Congress came up with the General Allotment Act as the vehicle to accomplish that."

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How the Dawes Act Worked

Before the Dawes Act, Native American land (including reservations) was communally owned by the tribe and the fruits of labor were shared collectively by all tribal members. For most 19th-century Americans, that traditional Native way of life was antithetical to American ideals of personal responsibility and capitalism.

Teddy Rooseveltfavorably described the Dawes Act as "a mighty pulverizing engine to break up the tribal mass," adding that "the effort should be to steadily make the Indian work like any other man on his own ground."

Under the Dawes Act, tribal lands would be divided into allotments between 40 and 160 acres in size (16 and 65 hectares) and legally changed from community property to privately owned parcels of land. In some cases, Native American families were given the option of choosing their allotment, but in most cases it was assigned to them by officers of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Once all of the Native American families received their small allotments, there was plenty of tribal land left over. This "surplus land" the Dawes Act said, could be sold to non-Native settlers and corporations with the proceeds held in a government account to be used exclusively "for the education and civilization of the Indians."

That surplus land amounted to 60 million acres (24 million hectares)  nearly half of all existing tribal territory  that was immediately ceded to the U.S. government, according to the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

In an insidious twist, the framers of the Dawes Act added a stipulation that Native Americans weren't "competent" to own their allotments outright. Instead, the deeds to the land would be held in a government trust for 25 years, after which they would be transferred to the Native individual. No such waiting period existed for white settlers and corporations.

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The Devastating Aftermath of the Dawes Act

Hirsch says that U.S. politicians largely saw the Dawes Act as "a win-win situation" in which Native Americans became "civilized landowners" and assimilated into the broader culture and economy with the help of friendly white neighbors.

"Plus, if you had enough white people moving into Indian territory, that area could become an American territory," says Hirsch. "If the population kept growing, you could apply for statehood, which is exactly what happened."

But while the Dawes Act was a clear "win" for white America, it was absolutely devastating for Native people.

First, says Pevar, "the majority of Indians didn't want to become farmers and ranchers. Plus, you needed money to buy equipment, cattle and seeds, money that they didn't have. Here they were with hundreds of acres of land that they couldn't even use."

In most cases, the parcels that were allotted to Native families sat vacant until the 25-year trust period was over and the land could be sold. But here again was another hidden stipulation. After the 25-year trust period expired, the land was suddenly subject to state and local property taxes, which most Native landowners couldn't pay. So, the land would be seized by the tax court and sold at auction.

"There were white people literally waiting in line for the land to go into forfeiture for failure to pay taxes," says Pevar. "They would bid on it and purchase it."

" " April 22, 1889: White settlers rushed to claim Cherokee land in the Oklahoma Territory, after the Dawes Act of 1887, which had robbed the Cherokee of their rights to the land. MPI/Getty Images

Later laws passed by Congress made it even easier to sell off Native American-owned allotments before the 25-year waiting period. The Burke Act of 1906 authorized the Secretary of the Interior to deem a Native landowner "competent" to receive the deed to his own land, at which point taxes were due. This often happened without the Native landowner's knowledge or consent, and before he knew it his land was in forfeiture and sold to the highest bidder.

An additional 27 million acres of Native land were lost through these additional laws and amendments to the Dawes Act, including the so-called "Dead Indian Act" of 1902 that allowed Native heirs to sell their family land before the 25-year trust period was up.

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The End of the Dawes Act

So much land was lost that even the federal government was concerned. In 1928, a damning report written by the Department of the Interior titled "The Problem of Indian Administration" described the state of abject poverty and disease in which most Native Americans were living. The authors of the report criticized the faulty logic that handing private land to Native families would automatically turn them into successful farmers.

"It almost seems as if the government assumed that some magic in individual ownership of property would in itself prove an educational civilizing factor," said the report, "but unfortunately this policy has for the most part operated in the opposite direction." The report noted that many of the Indians were living on lands that even "a trained and experienced white man could scarcely wrest a reasonable living."

Congress repealed the Dawes Act in 1934 as part of the larger Indian Reorganization Act, but the systematic theft of 90 million acres (36 million hectares) of Native lands was already accomplished.

"The Dawes Act is one of the most fundamental and important pieces of legislation that affected Native American people," says Hirsch. "Tragically, it was fundamental in mostly very negative ways."

Court cases related to allotment and American Indian land tenure are still going on.

Now That's Interesting The Dawes Rolls, lists of Native Americans given allotments among the "Five Civilized Tribes," has become a valuable genealogical tool for tracing Native ancestry.
" " Rows of rails for anti-tank protection follow the Maginot Line in France. Walter Sanders/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

World War I absolutely devastated France. Of the roughly 8.5 million French soldiers mobilized in 1914 to fight Germany and the other Central Powers, more than 6 million became casualties, either killed, wounded or declared missing during four years of grueling trench warfare.

In the wake of that catastrophic war, the French government vowed to protect its vulnerable northeast border with Germany from any future attacks. With fresh memories of fighting and living in squalid, open-air trenches, the French spent a decade building a 300-mile (482-kilometer) series of underground fortifications that would be both impenetrable and comfortable to live in. Behind an imposing line of pop-up gun turrets, tank traps and 12-foot (3.6-meter) concrete walls were fully equipped subterranean military bases complete with mess halls, hospitals, recreation facilities and railway lines.

These impressive fortifications  142 large artillery forts called ouvrages or "works," 352 fortified gun emplacements called "casemates," and 5,000 smaller bunkers and pillboxes  became known as the Maginot Line, named after the French politician Andre Maginot (pronounced Mah-ji-noh). The line wasn't Maginot's idea alone, but he helped push the ambitious, multimillion-franc project through parliament.

" " This exterior view of the Maginot Line shows a triple casemate with 75 mm guns. Walter Sanders/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

Despite its monumental concrete glory, which was the pride of interwar France, the Maginot Line ultimately wasn't able to stop Adolf Hitler's Nazi war machine from quickly overwhelming and occupying France in World War II. But does that mean that the Maginot Line was the colossal blunder that many historians have made it out to be?

Not according to Robert Kirchubel, a military historian with the FORCES Initiative at Purdue University.

"The Maginot Line was meant to stop a World War I-style attack of infantry and artillery, and it did what it was supposed to do," says Kirchubel, who's written multiple books on World War II military campaigns. The problem was that Hitler and his generals abandoned the "static" style of WWI fighting for a far more mobile blitzkrieg attack that punched a hole into France through Belgium and the Netherlands. "That's the part that fell apart for the Allies."

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A Love of Fortresses

The Maginot Line was the brainchild of Marshal Joseph Joffre, a French WWI general, but it was hardly a new idea. The French had been building state-of-the-art fortresses and fortified cities along the German border for centuries.

"That's just what the French did," says Kirchubel. "The Maginot Line fit perfectly with this kind of thinking."

In the 17th century, from his luxurious palace at Versailles, Louis XIV oversaw the construction of citadels and fortresses meant to mark and protect the Sun King's territory. The genius behind these innovative fortifications was Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban, who designed dozens of strongholds, including the magnificent fortified town of Neuf-Brisach in the contested Alsace-Lorraine region bordering Germany.

Fortress construction in France continued through the 19th century. After a humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the French built a ring of 19 heavily fortified military bases around the ancient city of Verdun in northeastern France near the borders with Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. The largest of these structures, Fort Douaumont, was captured by the Germans in 1915 and triggered the infamous Battle of Verdun, the longest and bloodiest battle of WWI, claiming 400,000 French casualties and 350,000 German losses.

"With the Maginot Line, Joffre's idea was to take these fortifications that France had had for 200 years and bring them into the mid-20th century," says Kirchubel.

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Constructing an Unbreakable Wall of Defense

The Maginot Line took 10 years to build, starting in 1929. By the eve of WWII, the French had constructed a string of fortifications stretching from the Swiss Alps to the English Channel, but the heaviest defenses were along the 280-mile (450-kilometer) border with Germany.

The Germany-facing section of the Maginot Line presented a string of obstacles, traps and artillery forts that ran 16 miles (25 kilometers) deep in places. An advancing German army would first be spotted by camouflaged observation points hugging the German border. The enemy's position would be communicated to a cluster of 78 fire control stations that coordinated the French defense from hilltop outposts.

" " A sectional drawing of the Maginot Line, constructed to act as protection against German invasion. eystone/Getty Images

The fire control stations would give orders to the hundreds of anti-tank and heavy artillery positions that could pop out of the ground and fire from armored turrets. Behind them were minefields and tank traps made from row after row of porcupine-like iron girders that would cripple armored vehicles. French engineers even constructed emergency dams and levees that could flood the surrounding fields to further slow the German attack.

The last line of defense was the Maginot Line's massive ouvrages, each large enough to hold 500 to 1,000 permanent troops. These colossal concrete "works" packed heavy firepower and were connected to nearby stations by underground rail lines to shuttle men, weapons and supplies. While the accommodations weren't luxurious, the barracks and mess halls were a tremendous improvement over the mud, freezing cold and disease of WWI trenches.

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Planning for the Wrong Kind of War

When Joffre, Maginot and others conceived of the Maginot Line, Germany was under tight military restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.

"The Maginot Line would have done just fine against a German army with no tanks, airplanes or heavy artillery," says Kirchubel, all of which were banned inside Germany after WWI.

But when Hitler and the Nazis rose to power in the early 1930s, they quickly backed out of the Treaty of Versailles and began equipping for a much different kind of war. While the Germans built a fleet of bombers and armored vehicles for their mobile blitzkrieg strategy, the French were putting the finishing touches on their very large and static underground fortresses.

"Maginot Line" has acquired a secondary meaning: a defensive barrier or strategy that inspires a false sense of security, according to Merriam-Webster. But this may not be a fair characterization.

Keep in mind, says Kirchubel, that the French didn't believe that the Maginot Line alone could win another war with Germany. The heavy fortifications were designed to block the most direct line of attack into France and avoid repeating what happened in WWI, when the German forces occupied large swaths of the strategically important Alsace-Lorraine region.

"Maginot and these other guys weren't dumb," says Kirchubel. "The Maginot Line was never meant to fight the war by itself. It was part of a bigger plan to force a German attack through Belgium. When the bigger plan went to crap, the Maginot Line went along with it."

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The Nazis' End-run Around the Maginot Line

By the time Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it was clear to French military leaders that they had greatly underestimated the speed and ruthless efficiency of the German blitzkrieg. But it was too late to reorganize the entire French military in a matter of months. The French strategy was already set in millions of cubic feet of concrete.

" " French civilian refugees live inside the tunnels of the Maginot Line for safety. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Nazis knew that the heart of the Maginot Line was nearly impenetrable, so they feinted attacks along the heavily fortified border while they planned for their massive 1940 invasion of France through the Netherlands and Belgium. The boldest and most pivotal German line of attack ran through the dense Ardennes Forest in Belgium, which both the French and the other Allies had dismissed as impassable.

The thick-walled forts and casemates of the Maginot Line withstood direct hits from German bombers as they were designed to do, but the real action happened far away from that solid line of defense. By the time the Germans crossed into French soil through Belgium, the fight was all but over.

"The French were beaten emotionally and spiritually," says Kirchubel. "They cashed in their chips. They fought for four years in WWI, but were done in a week in WWII." Just six weeks after Hitler began his land invasion of the country, France surrendered to Germany.

Now That's Cool While most of the giant underground fortresses of the Maginot Line were abandoned or destroyed, you can visit a few of them, still in working order. Check out the Hackenberg Maginot Fort, now a military museum offering tours, and the Schoenenbourg Fort.
The controversial AUKUS defence deal has proved to be fortuitous for Canberra-based quantum-safe encryption firm QuintessenceLabs (QLabs), which is accelerating its overseas expansion after a $25m capital raising that will help it engage with IT executives who are increasingly concerned about the threat of quantum decryption algorithms.

The investment  led by CSIRO-backed VC Main Sequence and Canadian firm TELUS Ventures  is all about supporting scale-up for the company, QLabs founder and CEO Dr Vikram Sharma told Information Age.

QLabs has deployed its quantum-based Trusted Security Foundation (TSF) technology in a dozen marquee customers including Fortune 500 companies across ten countries, he said, and is focused on building out its US sales, business development and marketing presence and really scaling it up to be a global organisation.





QLabs founder and CEO Dr Vikram Sharma

And while the pandemic had forced QLabs to shelve planned UK expansion for a time, the recently-announced AUKUS technology-sharing deal  which includes technology-development partnerships in areas such as cybersecurity and quantum computing  had revived that roadmap in an unexpected way.

The geopolitical context aligns itself exactly with our plans, Sharma said, noting that we believe we will be very well positioned to contribute towards that agenda.

The funding is a vote of confidence in a disproportionately strong Australian quantum-computing industry driven by innovations such as room-temperature quantum computers and a locally-built quantum control chip that will help quantum systems scale to massive sizes.

QLabs particular area of focus  developing quantum-safe encryption techniques that can survive brute-force attacks by quantum computers that can decrypt conventional encryption algorithms within seconds  has gained urgency for security practitioners keenly aware that rapidly-improving quantum technology means Q-Day is ever more imminent.

As computing power increases exponentially, the tools needed to secure critical data and assets must stay several steps ahead, Main Sequence partner Bill Bartee said, noting the value of QLabs technology to help protect sovereign and commercially sensitive information with a critical layer of protection.

Surviving the quantum era

Quantum computers pose major problems for the encryption algorithms used for everything from protecting website visits and online purchases, to securing smartphone messaging tools and protecting remote workers from cybercriminal attack.

To get a quantum computer to decrypt an encrypted piece of data, algorithms use brute-force techniques in which they test every possible encryption key until they find the one that was used to encrypt the data.

Quantum security tools leverage the natural characteristics of quantum computing to generate truly random keys that cannot be reverse-engineered.

Using quantum techniques to improve security is one of the first viable nearest term applications for the technology, Oxford Quantum Circuits CEO Ilana Wisby said during a recent webinar, noting that there is very exciting work in the pipeline for security and pharmaceutical applications.

Were really on the cusp, she continued, and making sure that we help end users identify these really useful, meaningful problems is going to be really important.

The US-based National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) is undergoing an extensive evaluation process to choose a universal PQC standard; the process is currently in its third round, with a draft standard expected next year.

Accommodating PQC algorithms is driving an increased need for cryptographic agility, VMware Research senior staff researcher David Ott recently explained, noting in a recent demonstration that cryptographic agility is simply good engineering [and] a proactive way to support future standards migration.

Interest in quantum computing has surged, with Gartner fielding more than twice as many client engagements about the technology in the last three years.

This is expected to more than quadruple in the next three years, VP analyst Chirag Dekate told the firms recent IT Symposium, noting that the firm is tracking over 50 companies that have already started their quantum journeys and regularly discusses the technology with CIOs, enterprise architects, application development teams, and infrastructure and operations teams.

Quantum computing is not a general purpose technology, he warned, noting that general-purpose productivity in quantum computing is still a decade away and that vendors needed to be wary of vendors that over promise and under deliver.

Security is one of just five areas where quantum computing is showing early promise, he said  the others are optimisation problems, organic chemistry, biochemistry simulations, and materials science  and growing interest in quantum encryption and PQC techniques validated QLabs specific industry focus.

Businesses interested in quantum should, Chirag said, prioritise use cases based on business impact; focusing on developing skills and choosing partners; and building internal quantum working groups to focus value capture.

Quantum computing is applicable for a very special class of problems and can deliver transformative impact, he said, but you need really large systems that are just not around just yet.. Capturing value from quantum computing will require a team effort.
The sculptor, Ed Hamilton, is an award-winning American artist and sculptor. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and resident of Louisville, Kentucky, his commissions over three decades includes statues of boxer Joe Louis (Detroit), Abraham Lincoln (Louisville), and Martin Luther King Jr. (Newport News). With numerous awards, honors, and several works all over the country, Hamilton has dedicated much of his art to preserving history and celebrating Civil Rights leaders. Hamilton serves on many boards and panels for community arts organizations, and spends time teaching workshops and lectures for public schools, colleges and conferences.

I was honored to be selected for the opportunity to memorialize my fraternity brother, Julius Chambers. I hope this statue provides proper context for the community, so children can aspire to achieve as he did and discover ways to help accomplish his goal of justice for all, said Hamilton.

The Chambers sculpture will be the ninth project and 13th statue in the Trail of Historys collection, which is near uptown Charlotte in Midtown and follows the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
MATTOON  To meet state requirements, Lake Land College has initiated a weekly COVID-19 testing process for the approximately 200 employees and 1,000 students who are not vaccinated or choose not to share their vaccination status.

The testing process, which uses the free SHIELD Illinois saliva test, started on Nov. 1 for employees and is scheduled to begin on Nov. 8 for students from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the West Building on the main campus in Mattoon. Lake Land also is offering testing at its Kluthe Center in Effingham, Eastern Region Center in Marshall, and Western Region Center in Pana.

Lake Land Police Department Sgt. Todd Short, who is the college's coordinator for emergency management response and training, said the testing site at the West Building was "beta-tested" beforehand to ensure it can serve people in a timely manner.

"We can comfortably get about 60 people an hour through the line, while keeping the line moving pretty steadily, to get people through with very, very minimal wait times," Short said. He noted earlier that Lake Land started developing its testing plan in early September shortly after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for higher education employees and students.

The SHIELD Illinois saliva test was developed by the University of Illinois and is being used by colleges and public school districts throughout the state "with the goal of minimizing the spread of COVID." Short said the test is simple and noninvasive, and results are typically known within 24 hours.

Before joining Lake Land, Short said he served with the University of Illinois Police Department and was actively involved with that school's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He got to see the SHIELD Illinois saliva test in use firsthand there.

"When I came here, it was a natural fit to help Lake Land to get up and running," Short said of the COVID-19 testing. He added that every department on campus played a part in getting ready for the tests to start Monday. "This has absolutely been a team effort."

Short said Lake Land has hired approximately 25 part-time employees to work at the West Building site and with other aspects of the testing process.

Lake Land student Allison Stewart said she became a COVID-19 tester because she already works in health care as a certified nursing assistant and because of the easy scheduling, which helps because she is also a Laker cheerleader.

"The first thing that caught my eye was the flexible hours," Stewart said. "And it's relatively easy. It's something where I feel like I'm doing my part and helping us keep everybody safe."

More informing about Lake Land's COVID-19 testing process, including registering for a test, is available at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/shield-illinois-covid-19-testing/.

Contact Rob Stroud at 217-238-6861.

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CHARLESTON  Two gas leaks around downtown Charleston over the last few days caused sudden road closures.

Both leaks were unrelated, said Ameren representative Marcelyn Love, and were safely resolved within a matter of hours.

The most recent occurred on Tuesday morning. The city of Charleston reported at approximately 11:50 a.m. Tuesday that 18th Street/Illinois Route 130 has reopened at Madison Avenue/Illinois Route 316 following a natural gas leak but the 1700 block of Madison remains closed.

The leak was caused when a contractor was performing boring work and hit a half-inch natural gas service line, Love said in an email.

"Crews responded to the scene and the gas was safely shut off around 12:14 p.m.," said Love.

The city reported at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that the intersection had been temporarily closed.

Crews from Ameren were also out late Monday morning working on a line on Seventh Street, just south of the courthouse square.

This gas leak occurred Friday in the line running between the courthouse and the jail.

"Ameren Illinois crews monitored the situation over the weekend while we worked with the city to coordinate the repairs," said Love. "Crews were back at the location beginning around 7 a.m. on Monday and repairs were complete and the line retired by 2 p.m."

Contact Rob Stroud at 217-238-6861.

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Rob Stroud Reporter Rob Stroud is a reporter for the JG-TC, covering the city of Mattoon, Lake Land College, Cumberland County and areas including Oakland, Casey and Martinsville. Follow Rob Stroud Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
The marketing has begun for an anchor building soon to be vacated by Inmar Intelligence in downtown Winston-Salems Innovation Quarter.

The Triad chapter of CBRE has been hired to handle the leasing for 635 Vine St., which is owned by Ventas Inc.

The 242,000-square-foot building spent much of its existence as a R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. facility.

It was given new life in 2013 by Wexford Science & Technology LLC, the primary developer of Innovation Quarter.

Inmar announced in May that it was leaving the space to take about 177,000 square feet in the One West Fourth tower a few blocks away.

Inmar is actively working with our new landlord at One West Fourth Street to create our new corporate team support center, the company said in a statement Wednesday. We are excited by the progress of the project and look forward to moving to the new facility in spring of 2022.

Inmar represents about 25% of the workforce in Innovation Quarter, which also has Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest School of Medicine as anchors.

CBRE said the 635 Vine building is expected to be available in April with space as small as 20,000 square feet available.
Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican and congressional map co-author, told reporters that he hadnt looked at partisan data to evaluate political outcomes. He said the map met other criteria well by minimizing the number of counties overall that are divided between districts and the municipalities that are split.

Its been a tremendous feat that weve been able to accomplish, Hise said. And I think it best meets the criteria of anything submitted or considered by the committee.

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Out of the state's current 13 seats, Republicans now hold eight  two fewer compared to after the 2018 elections, after which state judges declared the U.S. House map lines were likely excessively partisan and unconstitutional. They were redrawn, leading to 2020 election wins by Democrats Kathy Manning and Deborah Ross.

Should the map get General Assembly approval, Manning's return to Congress would appear difficult. Her current district contains parts of Forsyth but all of Guilford County. Senate Republicans instead want to divide Guilford into three districts, all of which would likely favor a Republican candidate. Although members of Congress only have to live in the state they want to represent, Manning's residence is drawn into the same northwestern district with veteran GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of Watauga County.
Isn't salvation more important than elections?

I dont know if the American Christian church is up for that challenge.

Kathy Figg

Winston-Salem

Whats keeping them?

How should your tax dollars be spent? Surely this is a question every North Carolinian ought to be able to answer. Right now, while Gov. Roy Cooper and the N.C. General Assembly are negotiating our state budget, there are $7.2 billion in state coffers. So far, draft budgets have not included Medicaid expansion.

North Carolina is one of only 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Federal incentives would allow us to expand our state health safety net with no additional expenditures this year. After that, the federal government will cover 90% of our states Medicaid expansion costs in perpetuity.

Who would gain coverage? The people who make too much for current Medicaid coverage (42% of poverty level) but not enough to be able to obtain ACA coverage with subsidies (138% of poverty rate).
Americans love turkey so much we buy over 40 million for Thanksgiving every year. This means that one out of every three American households serves a beautifully roasted whole turkey, most likely with all the fixings, proving that the nearly 80-year-old iconic Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving feast image, Freedom From Want, still resonates today.

Here are 10 practical tips to ensure your turkey not only looks as pretty as a picture, but tastes amazing, too.

1. Choose the best bird

Whether you plan to purchase a fresh or frozen turkey breast or an organic heritage bird, it helps to plan in advance. Keep in mind your budget and guest list. Many organic and heritage breed turkey farms require orders well in advance. As a general rule, based on a whole turkey, estimate purchasing one pound of uncooked turkey per person; that will give you enough for the meal, plus leftovers the following day.

2. Menu matters

A great number of recipes including this weeks provided by White Oak Pastures and the USDAs recommend roasting a turkey at 325F. Will the oven accommodate the turkey and the other desired side dishes for the menu? Do they all bake at the same temperature as the turkey? Perhaps the sides can bake at a higher temperature while the turkey rests? Or maybe this year consider smoking or deep-frying the bird to make room in the oven. It helps to keep your oven capacity in mind when choosing the rest of the menu.

3. Pan Perfect

Once you've purchased the bird you want to roast, make sure you have a roasting pan large enough to hold the turkey and then some. The pan should have enough space around the sides to allow heat to circulate around the bird so that it doesnt steam. A roasting rack is ideal to lift the turkey off from the bottom of the pan, but aromatic vegetables, such as quartered onions, carrots and celery, do the trick as well, and they will season the drippings for the gravy.

4. Dont forget the other supplies

To truly know when the turkey is done, the best tool is an accurate thermometer. The pop-up thermometer included with some store-bought birds are not 100% reliable. An instant-read thermometer is recommended to easily test both the breast and thigh temperatures. A programmable digital probe thermometer is another excellent option. Additional wares to have at the ready are an extra-large cutting board, sharp carving knife and serving platter.

5. Thaw the bird well in advance

Give yourself plenty of time to thaw the turkey in the refrigerator. Never defrost it at room temperature; the safest method is in the refrigerator. Allow yourself 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of frozen turkey. Remember, once thawed, it can remain in the refrigerator 2 more days. So, for the average 16 pound frozen turkey, begin the thawing process the Friday before Thanksgiving. Place it in its roasting pan on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to ensure water nor juices drip onto food below.

6. Prep school

Getting the bird ready to roast can be a time-consuming process. Consider prepping the turkey first thing in the morning. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkeys cavity and pat the inside and outside well with paper towels. It is unnecessary to rinse the turkey, and the USDA does not recommend it as the process can easily spread bacteria in and around the sink.

Place the turkey, breast side up, on its rack or over vegetables in a large roasting pan. To flavor pan juices, fill the cavity with herbs and more aromatics or halves of lemon. For a nice appearance, tie the drumsticks together with kitchen string; tuck the wingtips under the turkeys back so they say in place and dont overbrown in the oven. If you plan to fill the cavity with a bread or rice stuffing, do so just before roasting. Wrap the turkey well in plastic wrap and refrigerate until later.

7. Trim off some time

Take the turkey out of the refrigerator an hour before you plan to roast. Remove the plastic wrap to allow the skin to dry out a touch which helps it become crisp while it bakes. If youd like, brush the turkey with oil or melted butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. This step will take the chill off the turkey and reduce the roasting time.

8. Keep tabs on temperature

The USDA recommends roasting a turkey at 325F or above, as lower oven temperatures can promote bacteria growth. Roasting time will vary depending on ones oven or the cooking method, the size of the turkey, the depth and color of the roasting pan and whether the turkey is stuffed. Plan on 12 to 15 minutes per pound of turkey. Start checking for doneness 30 minutes before the recipe suggests.

9. Is it done?

Check for doneness by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone or pockets of fat as both will render higher temperatures than the meat.

To keep the turkeys juices intact, try to avoid poking the bird too frequently or cutting into the thigh to see if its done. If the breast is becoming too dark towards the end of roasting, place a foil tent loosely on top to protect it. Remove the turkey from the oven once the thighs internal temperature reaches 160F. A turkeys stuffing must reach 165F.

10. Let it rest

Once the turkey is out of the oven, transfer the turkey to a large carving board or platter. Allow it to rest 20 to 30 minutes. The internal temperature will rise 5 degrees thanks to the turkeys residual heat, and the juices will be reabsorbed and distributed throughout the entire bird. This is the perfect time to prepare the gravy.

Once you carve into the turkey, if the meat near the thigh or breastbone has a rosy tinge, it is likely from nitrates in the birds feed or water supply, or oven gases may react chemically with the meat turning it pink. If the internal temperature registers safe and juices run clear, the meat is perfectly safe to eat. If the meat has a raw, gelatinous appearance, then it is underdone, and requires additional roasting.

Bonus Tips: Its always easiest to remove any leftover meat from the bones while it is still warm or at room temperature. If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, turkey and the trimmings can keep three to four days in the refrigerator. Make sure they are reheated to 165F. And dont discard the carcass. Cover it with cold water, heat to boiling, then simmer for several hours. Strain it to create a rich turkey broth incorporating any small bits of turkey meat that may remain for any favorite fall soup.

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In mid-August, the state listed 4,146 staffed adult and pediatric medical/surgical and intensive care beds, based on a 14-day average.

Dr. Bob Rauner, president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, said the big question is whether Nebraskas COVID cases will drop to a low level, as in Italy, or rebound again, as they have in the United Kingdom.

Our approach is more like that of the United Kingdom, so we need statewide data that most states other than Nebraska have on their state dashboards to know if this is happening, he said. Taking down the dashboard again right now is a big mistake and could put us at risk of overstretching our hospitals a third time.

The state also added 37 deaths during the week, bringing the total of confirmed and probable COVID deaths in the state since the pandemic began to 2,975. Total cases as of Friday stood at 284,766, according to the CDC.

Looking more broadly, the state now has seen roughly 4,000 to 5,000 cases every week since mid-August, with most of those cases continuing to occur among the unvaccinated.

The state administered 48,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine last week, the most in any week since the spring. It appears that almost three-quarters of those shots were boosters given to those who were previously vaccinated.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission voted in favor of amending a special permit to allow the part of the proposed solar farm that's in the city's jurisdiction but it failed to approve a special permit for a portion that's in the county's jurisdiction.
Our nations capital is not a place known for its ability to get things done. Pick any problem debated in Washington, D.C., over the years, and Congress has probably found a way not to act on it.

But after years of failed infrastructure weeks, both sides of the aisle came together in the U.S. Senate this past August to deliver the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Outside of the halls of Congress, most folks dont spend too much time discussing infrastructure, but this tangible framework of our country -- from sturdy roads and clean pipes -- plays a critical role in maintaining public health and our environment.

This important, truly bipartisan legislation features a major transportation, clean water and power infrastructure package that will have a big impact on Nebraska.

In particular, this bill makes a number of first-time and landmark investments to help improve Nebraskas water quality. And we need it.

Nebraska is home to an estimated 97,000 lead pipes, the 15th-most of any state in the union. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that no level of lead exposure is safe and that lead is particularly harmful to children.
Sen. Cap Dierks was there for ethanol and wind development, mandatory livestock price reporting, COOL, the Standing Bear Missouri River Bridge, the Family Farm Act, rural school funding, Contract Growers Bill of Rights, reducing meatpacker concentration, Missouri River sedimentation and so much more.

Senator Dierks was there for Nebraska, for all family farms and for our nation. He stood tall not just in stature but in life itself. His ethics and beliefs were as solid as a rock. His efforts to help rural Nebraskans and rural Americans were infallible. His hard work ethic is legendary. As a veterinarian he worked cow herds until every cow and calf was processed no matter what.

As a legislator, he worked until every law he wanted was passed or used to find a solution to very serious issues. His soft-spoken voice and unwavering determination for democracy and justice in rural America was unwavering.

I had the honor of working with Senator Dierks and a core group of Midwest legislators. We formed the Midwest Farm Price Coalition. We introduced similar bills in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and had farm rallies and even went to Washington, D.C., to stand up for fair prices for independent agriculture producers. Senator Dierks was an integral part of our success.
KYLE RITTENHOUSE TRIAL

Jury selection underway in Rittenhouse case; at least a dozen people excused due to personal beliefs

SEAN KRAJACIC, Lee Newspapers Kyle Rittenhouse looks back Monday at the potential juror pool during the jury selection process at the Kenosha County Courthouse. SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, who once unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat to be Racine County District Attorney, listens as potential jurors are questioned for the Kyle Rittenhouse trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. SEAN KRAJACIC Wendy Rittenhouse, Kyle Rittenhouses mother, left, appears in court for her sons trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC Media stages near the Kenosha County Courthouse on the first day of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial on Monday.

KENOSHA  Normally during jury selection for a trial, one of the questions a judge asks prospective jurors is whether any of them have read or heard about a case.

When jury selection began Monday morning for the Kyle Rittenhouse case, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder turned that question around.

Is there anyone who hasnt read or heard anything about this case?

Not a single one of the prospective jurors in the jury box raised a hand.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with homicide and attempted homicide for the shooting deaths of Anthony Huber of Silver Lake and Joseph Rosenbaum of Kenosha, and for shooting and seriously wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz of West Allis during unrest that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha Police officer in August 2020. Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty; his attorneys plan to argue he was acting in self defense.

The criminal case against Rittenhouse became highly politicized  and highly publicized  even before charges were filed, with video of the shootings shared widely on social media within hours of the trigger being pulled. Opinions on Rittenhouse and his actions  and those of the men he says he shot to protect himself  have become one of the political dividing lines cutting through American life.

In preparing for his trial, the court summoned 300 prospective jurors, expecting about 150 people to turn up for jury duty on Monday. Some of those prospective jurors were held in a separate building while about 80 prospective jurors  each identified only by number  were brought into the courtroom.

Thirty-four of those prospective jurors were initially placed in the jury box and in front of the bar, the wooden barrier that divides attorneys and court officials from the audience. The balance of prospective jurors sat in reserved seats in what is normally the audience gallery.

Putting personal feelings aside

Questioning during voir dire, the process the court uses to try to weed out those with biases that could affect their judgement, focused first on those 34, with other prospective jurors pulled from behind the bar to replace them as they were dismissed.

Schroeder told the jury that while he realized that the case was highly publicized, much of that pretrial publicity was biased. Those of us who are picked for this jury will be in a front row seat in learning what happened, the judge said.

He asked the prospective jurors if they could put aside their thoughts about what they had already heard about the case to focus on the evidence presented at trial. If you cant do that, you cant be fair and you are not in step with what the Founders expected, he said.

In the morning session, many of the prospective jurors said they could not.

I cant put aside my feelings aside, I know what I think, one woman said.

Well, you know what you think, but were talking about hearing the actual evidence, Schroeder answered. So if you heard someone testify directly to the contrary  lets say you heard four witnesses testify directly contrary to what you think  you wouldnt be able to put that aside?

No, the woman answered. She was excused.

Prospective jurors also worried about the impact of the case on the community.

Do you have concerns about the impact a specific verdict would have on the community? defense attorney Corey Chirafisi asked a woman.

SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News Chirafisi

Potentially, she said, adding Im not afraid for my personal safety, Im afraid for the communitys safety.

Are our tires going to be slashed

Another woman said the thought of being on the jury was frightening.

My fear is just walking out of court and wondering what we are going to walk out to  are our car tires going to be slashed, am I going to be able to get home safely. Thats scary, she said.

While criminal trials are focused on the specific allegations of the crime, in the Rittenhouse case some prospective jurors had a hard time putting aside politics.

Another man said he had been commenting online about the case since it happened, then began talking about his support for the Second Amendment. Schroeder stopped him.

Ive said it before and Im going to say it again, this is not a political trial, Schroeder said. To the extent that this trial is about the Constitution, its about the right to a fair trial.

The judge told the man that when it came to picking a jury he didnt care about his feelings about the Second Amendment or about the feelings of others that were strongly to the contrary.

Do you think there are other people here who would be fairer than you would be? Schroeder asked.

I dont know, I would hope so, answered the man who was bearded, his grey hair in a ponytail.

Do you think you are biased? the judge asked?

Yes I do, and it goes back to politics.

So strong are many persons feelings about the case that several jurors said they were concerned about the effect of being on the jury  and possibly reaching a verdict opposed to the views of family and friends  would have on their lives.

One woman became tearful when asked by Assistant Kenosha County District Attorney Thomas Binger whether anyone has friends and family so dead set one way or another on this case that you would be afraid to make a decision on this case, to have to go home at the end.

KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC Binger

Basically, my husband, the woman said. I would not want to go home if the verdict was in opposition to his views, she said, adding that the situation could end my marriage. She was later dismissed.

By the lunch break, about a dozen prospective jurors were excused because they said they could not put aside their feelings about the case. After 4 p.m. the lawyers, along with the judge, began questioning individual jurors on their own away from others.

Rioting concerns

The fear many county residents felt during the unrest and rioting that followed the Jacob Blake shooting came up frequently during questioning. During those days, rumors on social media fueled worries that people would be attacked in their homes, or that subdivisions away from Downtown would be targeted.

One man said he boarded up his business, although it was never damaged. Another man said he guarded his church. We heard all the rumors, he said.

Another woman said her 19-year-old son attended the protests, but said she was also so worried that she purchased a gun for the first time. She said she had never before handled a weapon. My neighbor said my United States of America flag should not be up for whatever reason, I left it up and I got a gun, she said.

Many of the prospective jurors said they have guns at home, and regularly handle guns.

One woman who spoke about her opposition to public ownership of the style of AR-15 rifle used in the shootings was dismissed.

Yes I do have a problem with it, the woman said. A weapon like that should not be in the general public.

Asked if the woman felt she would find Rittenhouse guilty on all the charges just because of the type of gun he was carrying she answers pretty much. She was dismissed.

Jury pool demographics

Prospective jurors were chosen at random from Wisconsin Department of Transportation records of those with drivers licenses or state identification cards, Clerk of Courts Rebecca Matoska-Mentink said last week. Jurors must be at least 18, an American Citizen and a Kenosha County resident.

Those prospective jurors in the courtroom Monday were largely white and appeared to be mostly middle-aged. The media is barred from identifying those serving in the jury during the trial, or those in the jury pool.

Lawyers for the state and defense had discussed using mailed questionnaires to weed out people who would have conflicts, including strong feelings of bias in the case. Schroeder decided against that, putting his faith in the traditional voir dire system.

Schroeder scheduled two days for jury selection. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

The judge warned the prospective jurors that because of the publicity surrounding the case there was a chance they would be sequestered, requiring them to stay together at a hotel during the trial. But the judge said he believes that possibility is very unlikely.

I will resist it in any way I can, but I cant rule it out, Schroeder said, estimating the chance of sequestration at less than 1 percent.

Key events in Wisconsin surrounding Rittenhouse shootings Here's a timeline of key events before and after Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people during a night of unrest in Kenosha last year.

Related
RACINE  A Racine man has been accused of having child pornography on his phone.

Juan A. Espinoza, 19, of the 1600 block of South Memorial Drive, was charged with five felony counts of possession of child pornography.

According to a criminal complaint:

On Friday, members of the Racine County Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant in the 1600 block of South Memorial for child pornography.

An investigator spoke to Espinoza who had videos on his phone containing child pornography. He said he found a SD card at Monument Square and used it to transfer files from his phone to his computer. When asked if he suspected there would be additional images/videos, he reportedly said: I suspect theres quite a few more on there.

Some of the videos contained children as young as 4-6 years of age and most contained children between 8-10 years of age.

Several other items of evidentiary value were seized inside the residence for forensic examination, the Racine County Sheriffs Office said. Racine County Human Services was contacted due to the deplorable living conditions within the home, a release said.

Espinoza was given a $20,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 10 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.
MADISON  Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday that Racine County officials should file charges if they believe election laws were broken at a Mount Pleasant nursing home as alleged by the Racine County Sheriff's Office.

Among the allegations are that a woman who cast her ballot early then died still had her vote counted contrary to Wisconsin law, and that elderly people with diminished mental capacity were "coerced" into voting by nursing home staff.

Its pretty simple, the Democratic governor said at a Capitol news conference. Its not something that should be made more complex by the politics. Somebody screwed up, they should be prosecuted. Simple as that.

Last week, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling called on the Wisconsin Department of Justice to investigate a decision by the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission last year to instruct local elections officials to send absentee ballots to nursing home residents instead of dispatching poll workers to them to oversee voting in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state justice department has already said it has no plans to pursue the case, the sheriff said.

Evers noted that the state Elections Commission cant bring charges and said the matter should be left to local officials, according to reports reported.

If indeed something happened at a single Racine (County) nursing home, that should be investigated and charges brought if theres a crime, Evers said.

Schmaling has contended crimes occurred at the Ridgewood Care Center but has not recommended any charges. District Attorney Patricia Hanson has not said whether she is considering bringing any; she is yet to comment publicly.

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KENOSHA  The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse began in earnest Tuesday in the same way public debate began shortly after the shootings, with dueling stories.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with homicide and attempted homicide for shooting three men, killing two, on Aug. 25, 2020, during protests and rioting in Kenosha following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha Police officer. Jury selection for the trial was completed late Monday.

Take advantage of this limited-time offer Just $5 gives you full access for 5 months to exclusive content from The Journal Times. The incredible deal won't last long, so support local 

Ultimately, what this case will come down to isnt a who-dun-it, or when did it happen, its not anything like that, Defense Attorney Mark Richards told the jury in his opening statements Tuesday morning.

Richards acknowledged that Rittenhouse killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, and shot and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, that night.

What the case will come down to, Richards told the jury, is whether Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was acting to save himself from death or serious injury when he shot the men. The jury will have to make that decision from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances that existed on Aug. 25, 2020.

Kyle Rittenhouse protected himself, protected his firearm so it couldnt be taken and used against him or other people, Richards argued, saying the mob that ran after Rittenhouse after Rosenbaum was shot attacked him in the street like an animal.

In his opening statement, meanwhile, Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said Rittenhouses actions were anything but reasonable.

Binger said there were hundreds of people on the street the night the shootings occurred and during the unrest earlier that week.

They were all experiencing the same chaos, the same loud noises, the same tear gas, Binger said. And yet out of these hundreds of people, only one person killed anyone. Only one person shot anyone. He then silently pointed to Rittenhouse, seated nearby.

Rittenhouse looked on in apparent calm in a dark pinstripe suit and tie throughout the opening statements. He occasionally fidgeted with a water bottle or glanced toward the jury box. His mom, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him on a nearby spectators bench.

Black testifies

The first day of testimony provided some answers about what brought Rittenhouse to Kenosha that day.

Rittenhouses friend, Dominick Black, the first witness in the case, testified that he and Rittenhouse had a friend that had previously worked at the Car Source used car lot, which was hit by an arson fire during the first night of rioting following Blakes shooting. Black said the afternoon of the shootings, he and Rittenhouse had met the owner of the car lot through their friend and that they arranged to go back that night to protect the property.

Black is charged with the straw purchase of a firearm, the AR-15 used to kill Huber and Rosenbaum, on behalf of Rittenhouse. Binger and Black both said that Black had been offered nothing in exchange for his testimony Tuesday.

Black said that the gun purchased for Rittenhouse was being kept in a locked safe in Blacks stepfathers house in Kenosha, and that Rittenhouse wasnt allowed access to the gun until he turned 18. However, the safe was unlocked the day of Aug. 25, and so Rittenhouse and Black armed themselves.

When Richards asked Black, You wanted Kyle to have the gun, correct? Black replied, It wasnt really a thought in my mind. Black said he wanted to be armed for safety if he was going to be out amid possible rioting, but was also scared and wasnt thinking about how it was illegal for a 17-year-old to be out and armed.

Although an owner of Car Source has said in multiple media interviews after the shootings  including with The Journal Times  that he didnt know Rittenhouse and hadnt asked anyone to protect the property, Black testified that one of the owners drove them from one Car Source location to another and gave them keys to the building to get on the roof.

During Blacks testimony, the defense showed a photograph of Rittenhouse, Black and other armed men posing with their guns outside the Car Source building. Black testified that the other men at the car lot were strangers who had come to Kenosha from out of town because of the riots.

Black also testified that he remained on the roof of the building on the corner of Sheridan and 59th Street during the night, while Rittenhouse was on the ground.

Before the Rosenbaum shooting, Black testified, Rittenhouse was asked by someone to go to the Car Source lot at Sheridan and 63rd Street, because another armed group that had been at that location had left and there was information that vandalism was happening there.

Rittenhouses encounter with Rosenbaum happened in that lot.

Black also testified that, after the shootings, he drove Rittenhouse back to his home in Antioch, Illinois, where they met with Rittenhouses mom and siblings. Black said he convinced Rittenhouse to turn himself in, even though his mom had talked about fleeing the state and going to Michigan.

Shot four times

According to comments from Bingers opening statement, Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum four times.

The first two hit him in the lower body, one to the pelvis, one to the thigh. Those caused him to start falling face forward, and he lands on his face, Binger said. As hes falling, two more shots. One hits him in the back, and that is the shot that kills him.

Black testified that Rittenhouse called him.

I didnt believe the gun shots were actually his until I got a phone call, Black testified. He just said I shot somebody, I shot somebody! and hung up.

Black said he saw Rittenhouse running north on Sheridan Road back to Car Source. When Black got off the roof, he said, Rittenhouse was in the Car Source building.

He was freaking out, he was really scared, Black said. He wasnt really talking, he just said it was self-defense, that he had to do it.

Did (Rittenhouse) ever say someone was trying to attack him with a gun? Binger asked.

No, Black answered.

Did he ever say someone was trying to attack him with a knife? No.

Did he say someone was trying to attack him with any weapon? No.

Black testified that he could not see any injuries on Rittenhouse, besides some marks on his head, and that the teenager said his head hurt.

Black also testified that while there was chaos during the night and people throwing rocks and plastic bottles filed with liquid at him, he did not consider that he was in danger and said he did not see anyone who was injured.

Did you ever consider using your gun to shoot at anyone? Binger asked Black. Black said he did not.

Also testifying Tuesday was an FBI agent who had been operating an airborne infrared camera that recorded the shooting of Rosenbaum.

Up next

Testimony in the case continued Tuesday afternoon with Koerri Washington, known online as Koerri Elijah, who was livestreaming throughout the unrest in Kenosha. His testimony was interrupted when Judge Bruce Schroeder ordered a recess for the evening promptly at 5 p.m. Thus, Washington is expected to be the first to testify Wednesday.

Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this story.

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Syndrome

Known as shaken baby syndrome (SBS), the Mayo Clinic explains the injuries that result from an infant being forcibly shaken are caused by the brain moving violently back and forth inside the skull.

As a result, the brain experiences bruising, swelling and bleeding.

Parents may shake a baby for any number of reasons, but the most common is lack of patience by the parent  sometimes from lack of sleep  during prolonged crying spells by the baby.

There may be no visible signs on the childs body, but there may by internal injuries, such as bleeding on the brain or in the eyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called shaken baby syndrome a public health crisis and estimates that one in four infants with SBS will die.

However, the science behind SBS has been under attack for years by some of those in the medical field, who argue the symptoms common in SBS could come from any number of causes.

The debate was examined in an article published in The Guardian on Dec. 8, 2017, which followed the case of two parents charged with SBS who were ultimately exonerated as they were able to prove their infants symptoms were caused by disease, not shaking.

The article references one of the challenges of SBS: How can a child be held with enough force to be shaken and yet there are no injuries on the body otherwise? Wouldnt that level of force needed to grab and shake a baby leave marks?

This lack of other injuries to the infant indicative of abuse is expected to be raised in the Marquez trial, and the defense has signaled they will present evidence the infants injuries were caused by disease, not SBS.
RACINE  Imagine a man walking down the street. The man is black with long braids down his back. He is walking with his hands in his pockets.

What can we assume about this man? In reality, absolutely nothing.

However, due to the upbringing a person may have had, the media he or she might be exposed to, and/or cultural influences, people will begin to make assumptions almost immediately.

These kinds of immediate assumptions, made without any additional information, are known as implicit bias or unconscious bias.

Last week, the entire Racine Police Department  from patrol officers to command staff  engaged in training to help them address the negative impacts of implicit bias in policing.

Police Chief Maurice Robinson took the training in 2019 with the Cincinnati Police Department, and the impact was such he thought it would be beneficial to the RPD as well.

The reason I wanted to do that is I want to make sure we are being fair, and were being impartial, and we gain peoples trust, he said.

The police are like everyone else: human.

Robinson added, We acknowledge the frailties of being human and to that end through policy, procedure, training Im doing literally everything I can to ensure were delivering fair and impartial police services.

Implicit bias

It is important to understand that implicit bias is different than explicit bias.

With explicit bias, a person is aware of their negative feelings toward a group of people due to ethnicity or race, which is most often expressed as racism. Explicit bias also includes misogyny or negative feelings due to gender identity or sexual preference.

Implicit bias, in contrast, is an unconscious bias, based on stereotypes and assumptions.

Psychologists who study implicit bias believe it is the brains reaction to a complicated world with an abundance of stimuli. The brain is looking for patterns and attempting to determine if a situation poses a possible threat, even if no threat exists.

Unfortunately, these biases could also affect the individuals understanding of others and could potentially lead to a negative interaction.

This kind of bias is problematic in a large range of professions, including health care, education, court and social services.

Implicit bias is especially problematic for law enforcement.

Noble Wray, executive level instructor with Fair and Impartial Policing, delivered the training to the RPD and he spoke about the negative consequences of implicit bias for law enforcement.

Wray was the chief of police for the Madison Police Department for ten years and was also the independent investigator the Kenosha Police Department hired to review the Jacob Blake case.

He explained when a police officer encounters someone, it could impact them for life.

Therefore, it is important that law enforcement begin to understand the implicit biases that everyone has, so they can address the issue.

Impartial policing

Wray said the training was designed to help police officers connect with others as human beings and to help them understand that everyone has implicit biases.

More to the point, he continued, is how they manifest themselves at work and then the next level, what do we do about them at work.

That is the difficult part, he added, because implicit bias is not recognized but it can still have an adverse effect on someone or a group.

The first step is to recognize it, Wray say.

Implicit bias is not only what the officers are dealing with in the moment  a domestic violence call or a traffic stop  but also the history, past, culture and the media a person has been exposed to.

You bring all that into that particular moment, he said.

The training also provides officers with options when they find themselves delving into implicit bias.

Effect

Wray said the process for determining whether or not the training had been successful was still being evaluated.

What we know is the officers awareness was increased, he said of those who have gone through the training.

That is an important point, he said, because for implicit bias training to work, first the individual has to realize it is real and part of their nature.

Once you know it, you can take control measures, Wray continued.

However, there is no study that demonstrates if a person goes through the course, there will be immediate changed behavior.

RPD officers do wear body cams, which can be monitored randomly at any time, and that is an opportunity for command staff to observe whether the training has been effective.

Community

While this particular program was designed for police officers and command staff, there is also a component for the community.

Robinson said he would like to bring Fair and Impartial Policing back to work with the community, when he has the budget for it.

Its not cheap and its not free, Robinson said, but this community is worth it.

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Two employees of a Native American addiction and counseling center, including its executive director, have been sentenced to prison on charges of embezzling more than $777,000 in federal funds.

Federal officials in Wisconsin say Fredericka DeCoteau, 63, of Cloquet, Minnesota, was sentenced Friday to 2 years in prison and Edith Schmuck, 77, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison.

They were charged with theft of federal program funds. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley ordered DeCoteau and Schmuck to jointly pay back restitution of $777,283.

DeCoteau and Schmuck worked at Ain Dah Ing, which has operated as a non-profit halfway house in Spooner since 1971. DeCoteau was the executive director from 2002 to 2017. Schmuck was the bookkeeper from 1990 to 2017.

The center offers mental health and alcohol and substance abuse services to Native Americans from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin tribes. Its funding came from a federal commercial contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The complaint said DeCoteau and Schmuck paid themselves unauthorized bonuses via payroll checks that were signed using a rubber signature stamp of the centers treasurer. The judge said they lost most of the money at local American Indian casinos.

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Health care providers and other coronavirus vaccine distributors in Wisconsin say they could have doses that are ready to be administered to younger children by the end of the week.

On Tuesday, a special advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet to consider recommendations for administering the Pfizer vaccine to children 5-11.

The Food and Drug Administration has already cleared the shots, which deliver about one-third of the vaccine given to adults. The Pfizer vaccine for children is a two-dose series, just like it is for adults.

After CDC advisers make their recommendations, agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky will give the final order.

The White House says the government has enough of the Pfizer vaccine for all 28 million children in the 5-11 age group. There are about 500,000 children in Wisconsin who will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine when it's approved.

Milwaukee County's chief health policy advisor, Dr. Ben Weston, says doses could be available as early as Wednesday evening, though he said Thursday was more likely, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

Anticipating a green light from vaccine advisers, the Biden administration is already assembling and shipping millions of COVID-19 shots for children, the White House said Monday.

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State elections commission administrator Meagan Wolfe said Monday that calls for her resignation by some state Republicans following allegations brought forth last week by the Racine County sheriff are partisan politics at its worst.

Wolfe also said she is still learning the details of Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmalings investigation related to the Ridgewood Care Center in Racine County, but added that it sounds like there are some procedures that may not have been followed related to absentee voting at the Mount Pleasant center. If anyone felt coerced or influenced to vote in a specific manner, as Schmaling suggested, Wolfe said local law enforcement should investigate.

The commission is not a law enforcement entity and we cannot prosecute crimes, she said.

Wolfes comments came after Schmaling last week accused the commission of breaking the law during last years election by issuing guidance directing election clerks to mail absentee ballots to nursing homes if special voting deputies, or SVDs, were unable to visit residents in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The allegations were followed by calls for Wolfes resignation from close to a dozen state Republicans, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester.

I think in some ways they think Im an easy target  Im not, Wolfe said during a press conference Monday. I dont think that the claims have any basis and I do think this is partisan politics at its worst, but at the same time I have an obligation as the states nonpartisan elections official to rise above it.

Schmaling said eight residents of the Ridgewood Care Center cast ballots in the November election even though their families believed they did not have the capacity to vote. Without the poll workers, known as special voting deputies, to assist them, Schmaling suggested someone else had to have helped the voters, possibly even filling out their ballots for them.

State law does not bar those with cognitive delays or disabilities from voting unless they have been deemed incompetent by a court.

Wolfe said challenges surrounding last years election were compounded by the fact that many nursing homes were not allowing election workers inside due to the pandemic. If special voting deputies cannot meet with a resident, they have to mail an absentee ballot to ensure their ability to vote, she added.

In March 2020, the commission voted 5-1 that poll workers should not be sent into nursing homes to help with voting due to an order issued by Gov. Tony Evers that closed all nonessential businesses early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement from five commission members  three Democratic appointees and two Republican appointees  issued Thursday outlined the process special voting deputies, or SVDs, must adhere to under state law when attempting to help nursing home residents vote, and how slower mail delivery and restrictions on who was being allowed into nursing homes last year put that process in jeopardy. Robert Spindell, a Republican appointee, was the only commissioner who did not sign on to the statement.

Wolfe also said the Wisconsin Elections Commission will convene on Dec. 1 to discuss next steps following the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureaus report released last month that made 48 recommendations for improvements in how elections are run. The Audit Bureaus report did not find any widespread fraud or abuse that would have affected the outcome of the election and Republican lawmakers said the audit showed that the election was safe and secure, even if mistakes were made.

The commission is very anxious and staff is very anxious to start working on those items, because I think well be able to show that were able to make a very immediate, very good faith effort to make sure were addressing those concerns, Wolfe said. I think were all thankful to the Audit Bureau for providing us with a roadmap, in some senses, of some things we are able to take care of right away.

Senate Republicans last week said they were also launching an investigation into issues raised by the nonpartisan audit. Sen. Kathy Bernier, a former county elections clerk and chair of the committee that will head the Senate investigation, said the review might begin sometime later this month.

Speaking on PBS Wisconsins Here and Now on Friday, Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, said she disagrees with calls for Wolfes resignation, adding that, as administrator, Wolfe follows directions from the bipartisan commission.

I dont believe it is fair to a staff person to hold her 100% accountable for what the Elections Commission has decided, Bernier said. I believe the commission is set up for failure at this point with the personalities that are involved, with three Democrats and three Republicans, each voting their separate partisan wishes.

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A small crowd of protestors gathered Monday morning outside the Kenosha County Courthouse as the trial for Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three people and killed two during the unrest last year, began.

The protestors included some familiar faces and opinions on both sides of the politically charged trial, which began Monday at the courthouse with jury selection.

Among the group were: Justin Blake, Jacob Blake's uncle; Anthony Davis, president of the Kenosha NAACP; and Bishop Tavis Grant, national field director of the Rainbow Push Coalition, the civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Also on the steps of the courthouse Monday was Emily Cahill, with a sign calling for the arrest of Gov. Tony Evers, Jacob Blake, whose Aug. 23, 2020 shooting by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey sparked the protests and riots in Kenosha, and Gaige Grosskruetz, the surviving victim of the Rittenhouse shooting.

Rittenhouse's attorneys and his supporters say the teen acted in self defense.

Describing herself as a "patriot," Cahill, who is from Illinois, said she was there "to show support for Kyle."

"If it was me, I'd want someone here," Cahill said.

According to media reports, Cahill has appeared at protests throughout the Midwest. She has protested in favor of preserving police funding and against the outcome of the 2020 election presidential results.

Hoping for impartiality

Anthony Davis, president of the Kenosha NAACP, said he hoped that the judge would approach the trial without political biases.

"I'm just looking of it to be a fair and just trial," Davis said. "We all look for people to put their personal feelings aside."

When Grant spoke to the crowd, he lambasted what he perceived to be unfairly lenient treatment that Rittenhouse had received leading up to the trial.

In a statement, the Rainbow Push Coalition said it considered Rittenhouse to be a "domestic terrorist," who came to Kenosha "with the expressed intent to not only shoot but shoot to kill."

"All Americans should be outraged by even the idea that this case is anything less than domestic terrorism," the statement said, "We must be safe and civil in our attempt to exercise our freedom of speech and right to protest in this democracy."

They also emphasized the impact the trial could have on national issues.

"We consider this trial a turning point in the discourse of social justice and reforming the criminal justice system," the statement said.

The statement argued Rittenhouse had become a hero to some, who had "coddled and comforted" him with "money and motivation.

"We must expose this cancer for what it is. We cannot sit as spectators and be entertained by the sensationalist," the statement said.

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KENOSHA, Wis.  Kyle Rittenhouse instigated the confrontation that led him to shoot three men on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice, and he killed one of the victims with a bullet to the back, a prosecutor said in opening statements Tuesday at Rittenhouse's murder trial.

But Rittenhouse's attorney told the jury that his client acted in self-defense after one of the men dove for his gun and others kicked him in the face and clubbed him in the head with a skateboard.

"You as jurors will end up looking at it from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances as they existed," defense attorney Mark Richards said.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third with an assault-style rifle during the summer of 2020. He could get life in prison if convicted.

The one-time aspiring police officer traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, after protests broke out over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two nights in which rioters set fires and ransacked businesses.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest as "two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen," and said outsiders were drawn to Kenosha "like moths to a flame."

Yet Binger repeatedly stressed that amid the hundreds of people in Kenosha and the anger and chaos in the streets, "the only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse."

Binger told the jury that self-defense can be a valid claim only if Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was using deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

The prosecutor said that it is not known exactly what words were said, but it is clear that Rittenhouse started a confrontation that caused the first person shot that night, Joseph Rosenbaum, to begin chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot.

Binger emphasized, too, that Rosenbaum, 36, was killed by a shot to the back after he threw a plastic bag. The prosecutor noted that the first two bullets hit Rosenbaum in the lower extremities, causing him to fall forward.

Richards, the defense attorney, said Rosenbaum yelled an expletive at Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before Rittenhouse fired at him. It was Rosenbaum who "lit the fuse that night," he said.

Richards said Rittenhouse fired four shots at Rosenbaum in less than a second "as he's trying to take Kyle's weapon from him to use against him."

Binger, the prosecutor, said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fled the scene instead of rendering aid, despite portraying himself as a medic earlier in the night. But Richards said Rittenhouse didn't stop to help because the crowd wanted to "kill him," and instead ran toward police.

The crowd at that point clearly believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter, according to the prosecutor.

Moments after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, who was seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. He wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

The defense also apparently pushed back against the notion that Rittenhouse was an outsider drawn to Kenosha by a call to arms on right-wing social media. Richards said Rittenhouse had strong ties to Kenosha -- his father lived there and Rittenhouse worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard -- and had seen livestreams of what was happening.

The prosecutor said there was nothing wrong with Rittenhouse offering to protect Car Source, the used car dealership where the first shooting occurred. But he repeated that amid all the chaos, only one person killed anyone.

"When we consider the reasonableness of the defendant's actions, I ask you to keep this in mind," Binger said.

As his attorney displayed photos and video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse, wearing a dark pinstriped suit and tie, leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of gunfire was played, and occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

His mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him.

The jury was selected with remarkable speed in just one day Monday, considering how politically polarizing the case has proved. The most serious count against Rittenhouse, first-degree intentional homicide, is Wisconsin's top murder charge.

Twenty people in all were selected to hear the case: 12 jurors and eight alternates. Eleven are women and nine are men. The court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group, but it appeared to be overwhelmingly white.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see an undercurrent of race in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

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On Oct. 12, Rep. Robin Vos made this statement, Attorney General Kaul has sided with the out-of-state billionaires meddling in our elections and ignored Wisconsin citizens who bring up irregularities.

"Meddling" is defined as "intrusive or unwarranted interference." Which is contrary to what was done. What was done? Help was given to "Wisconsin citizens" ( 200-plus communities, both Democratic and Republican) to vote during the pandemic legally and fairly, which it appears Vos has a problem with.

Vos says he is concerned about irregularities that Wisconsin citizens perceive and think they should be investigated. How many citizens does it takes for Vos to act on such concerns? He has acted on the behalf of one person (Trump). But how many "Wisconsin citizens" does it take for him to act on our concerns? Is it one (like Trump) two, three, four or maybe more? I would like to know, because Wisconsin citizens do have the following concern/questions and would like to see Vos held accountable.

A) When will the following be investigated? The "irregularity" of Vos initiating an investigation into an election that was fair and legal, as determined by judges/courts and election officials; and was ratified by both the State of Wisconsin and Federal government.

B) Where/why does Vos get to pull $676,000 from the State Budget for this investigation?

C) Why doesnt Vos investigate the legitimate concern of gerrymandering?

D) What is Vos hiding by not releasing court-ordered public records related to the Vos/Republican investigation?

Lets hold Vos accountable.

Dan DeMatthew, Racine

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1. Yes. Council members appear to have taken time to review each section carefully.

2. Yes. The council has set up town halls and a public hearing to inform the residents.

3. No. The council should have set up a charter review committee, including residents.

4. No. Some of the items proposed so far benefit the council more than the community.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say until after the public has had more opportunities to weigh in.

Vote

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Meanwhile, KRMC leaders and the recruitment team have been proactive in creating new ways to attract talent. This year, it launched a nurse residency program that allows newly graduated nurses to work in each hospital unit before choosing the one where theyd like to begin their career.

KRMC personnel go to career fairs and work creatively to create more of a presence throughout Nebraska and surrounding states, Fecht said. We are always looking for creative ways to display our culture and showcase our talented staff that new applicants would be working with daily, she said.

Calhoun said the hospital is working on a new holistic recruitment structure. The hospital has offered not only signing bonuses, but extras like housing credit and child care, tailored to each applicant. It has rented rooms for traveling nurses as well.

Were thinking of all sorts of ideas to make coming here more marketable, he said. Were willing to negotiate for the right person. Our retention rates are higher, and weve filled some positions, but more positions are available than there are people out there.

Costs climb

Meanwhile, the cost of hiring traveling nurses keeps climbing. It has risen by 30% since the pandemic began, Calhoun said.
Blood said the governors office owns many of Nebraskas real problems.

She said a real environmental catastrophe is percolating near Mead, where an ethanol plant is contaminating streams and an aquifer by storing chemically coated seed in a dangerous way.

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Our governor hasnt set foot in that community once, Blood said about Gov. Pete Ricketts. We have all of these real problems that our executive branch is ignoring  real problems.

Prisons, a poorly managed Department of Health and Human Services and dysfunctional tax system all are problems that can be traced to Republican administrations.

Now the taxpayers are having to pay the bill for this mismanagement, she said. A lot of people are talking about implementing a consumption tax, she said, but first Nebraskas elected leaders need to solve the problems with the current system.

Campaigning for governor wasnt on my radar, Blood said, But then I started reading about the other candidates. Were wasting energy on pretend problems.

Blood was born in McCook and raised in rural Adams County. She and her husband, Joe, have been married 34 years. They have three adult children and 10 grandchildren.
Herbster talked about the pressure that he, as governor, could apply to advance his agenda.

Governors can apply a lot of pressure. They have the power of the purse, he said. He believes department leaders would rather fall into line than try to manage their departments without adequate funds.

Herbster said he knows what its like to have money problems. He said he brushed with bankruptcy three times. I know what its like on a Thursday night to not have money for payroll on Friday.

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He said Washington politicians dont control their spending. Washington is not going to fix itself.

Raising the debt ceiling only puts the nation deeper in debt, he said. America is broke, and the answer is term limits: two terms for the Senate and three or four terms for the House.

He said the media is pressuring Americans to social distance, wear masks and be vaccinated. Herbster said the choice to be vaccinated is personal, between an individual and their doctor.

Herbster told about his recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. Pray for the border patrol agents. Theyve been abandoned by the Biden administration.
But that may change. The U.S. Senate recently advanced a proposal to allow funding for regular government services, and the House of Representatives will consider a similar measure.

So some county officials are waiting and watching. Time is on their side  counties, cities and states have until Dec. 31, 2024, to obligate their American Rescue Plan funds. They have until the end of 2026 to actually spend the money.

One of the things we preach to our folks is that were not in a rush, we have time, said Cannon, of the county officials group.

Right now, the money can be used for four general purposes:

* Responding to a public health emergency and the negative impacts of COVID-19, such as providing grants to impacted businesses.

* Maintaining government services impacted by a reduction in tax revenue caused by the pandemic. While there werent losses in property taxes, some counties saw a drop in lodging taxes, according to Cannon, when people stopped booking hotel and motel stays.
The Reformation's leading figures had diverse views, and some might have recognized themselves in "spiritual but not religious" people today. Rijksmuseum

For over a decade, one of the biggest stories in American religion has been the rise of the Nones, a broad term for people who do not identify with a specific faith. The religiously unaffiliated now make up just over one quarter of the U.S. population.

While the Nones include agnostics and atheists, most people in this category retain a belief in God or some higher power. Many describe themselves as spiritual but not religious, or SBNR, as researchers refer to them.

As a professor of theology at a Unitarian Universalist and multireligious seminary, I encounter many students who fit within the SBNR mold. They are studying to become chaplains, interfaith ministers and social activists. But they may be surprised to know how much they resemble certain Protestants who lived five centuries ago  some of the so-called radical reformers who split off from Martin Luthers Reformation.

Spiritual but not religious

Scholars fret over the slippery definitions of spiritual and religious. What the average person tends to mean by spiritual is seeking or experiencing a connection with a greater reality, however they understand it. Meanwhile, religious often means belonging to a group with specific doctrines and rituals.

The spiritual but not religious are independent seekers, many of whom pray, meditate, do yoga and other spiritual practices outside the confines of a particular tradition.

The theologian Linda Mercadante spent several years interviewing SBNRs. In her book Belief without Borders, she identifies some common values. SBNRs tend to be individualistic, trusting their own experience and intuition as a guide. They reject claims that any one religion contains the ultimate, exclusive truth, but they also believe religions possess wisdom and offer many paths to the same summit.

Repudiating organized religion as a bastion of dogmatism and moral hypocrisy is common among SBNRs. They often explicitly reject what they understand to be central Christian beliefs. They dont welcome a message that God loves them but will send them to hell for not accepting Jesus. But many continue to experiment with rituals and prayers that draw on established religions, including Christianity.

A Spiritual Reformation

In 1528, Lutheran pastor Sebastian Franck decided hed had enough of organized religion. Deeply disturbed by the moral failures of professing Christians, he resigned his pulpit.

The Protestant Reformation had recently split the Christians of Western Europe into various factions, pitting Roman Catholics against Lutherans, Zwinglians  whose influence lives on in Reformed churches today  and Anabaptists, who practiced adult baptism. They couldnt all be right, so Franck concluded they must all be wrong.

Martin Luther, drawn here burning the popes threat to excommunicate him, is the most famous Reformation-era reformer, but there were many more. Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector via Getty Images

Franck declared that the true church was the invisible fellowship of people who were instructed, not by the pope or the Bible, but by the divine spark within. He became a leading figure in a form of radical Protestantism that scholars would later call the Spiritualists or spiritual reformers. This diverse cast of characters downplayed or rejected the outward trappings of religion, such as rituals and sacraments. What really mattered was each individuals direct encounter with God.

Hans Denck, who is sometimes credited as the first Spiritualist, described this experience as the inner Word speaking from within a persons soul. The Word of God is already with you before you seek it, he wrote. Unlike typical Protestants, Denck and the other Spiritualists saw the Bible as redundant. Its purpose was to confirm what the believer already knew from the heart.

Because the inner Word resided within all human beings, certain Spiritualists held that salvation was not limited to Christians.

Consider as thy brothers, wrote Franck, all  who fear God and work righteousness, even those who never heard of Christ. There was no need to send missionaries to other nations. They already had the Holy Spirit to teach and spiritually baptize them.

Partly because of persecution and partly because of their emphasis on the individual, the Spiritualists rarely formed structured communities. Today, they are mostly forgotten outside of church history courses. But their influence shaped the founding of Quakerism, a branch of Christianity that, to this very day, seeks the guidance of the inner light.

[Explore the intersection of faith, politics, arts and culture in an email newsletter. Sign up for This Week in Religion.]

Whats old is new again

The parallels between the Protestant Spiritualists and many contemporary SBNRs can be striking. Both are repulsed by the ethical failings and exclusivism of religious communities. Both emphasize the responsibility of the individual to follow their own spiritual quest. Both believe that authentic experience of God or ultimate reality is available to all people, regardless of their specific beliefs. Whereas Franck and Denck used the early printing press to spread their message, today a spiritual teacher might record a podcast or YouTube video.

But it is important to emphasize that the Spiritualists were still decidedly Christian. Contrary to most SBNRs, they considered Jesus Christ the authoritative revealer of truth. Some believed he would soon return to Earth for his Second Coming and waited as expectantly as any end times-focused fundamentalist does today. They may have seen other religions as valid paths, but they didnt turn to them as resources for spiritual practice.

Even so, the Spiritualists demonstrate that the values and attitudes of SBNRs are far from a new development. They wrestled with similar difficulties in religion and came up with similar answers. As the spiritually independent continue to seek wisdom and meaning, they can find good company in the radical reformers of a bygone age.

___

Starr King School for the Ministry is a member of the Association of Theological Schools The ATS is a funding partner of The Conversation U.S. The ATS is a funding partner of The Conversation U.S.

Christopher Schelin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

***

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La Crosse officials are looking at changing a zoning rule in the wake of debate over expansions to the Bethany Lutheran Homes campus on the citys South Side, hoping the change will dismantle a hurdle for other developments down the road.

The La Crosse City Plan Commission voted Monday evening to refer a zoning change for Bethany Lutheran that has met opposition from neighbors. The move would give the city time to amend the current zoning law in a compromise.

This will be the third time the issue has been referred, though all parties involved seemed to be in agreement of the latest plan.

Bethany Lutheran has proposed plans to expand its Eagle Crest South facility with a four-story, 60-unit addition to the existing building.

In order to construct the addition, the property it would be built on needs to be rezoned from the R5-Multiple Dwelling District to the R6-Special Multiple District to allow for the intended use of the building, which would be to spread out its existing residents who currently share units. Its current zoning only allows for up to three-and-a-half stories on a property.

The new zoning level could allow up to 10 stories on the lot, however, which has been a point of concern for some neighbors who have shown support for the overall four-story project, but have voiced worries that bigger projects could come in the future.

Last month, officials decided to refer the zoning decision another month in hopes that neighbors and Bethany leaders could come up with a deed restriction that would limit its developments to four stories, but on Monday city staff said that an agreement could not be reached in time.

Instead officials hope to amend the R5 zoning law to allow for four stories or 55 feet to make way for Bethanys expansion, but put a restriction on how high any other developments could go.

Council member Jennifer Trost, who has been leading the conversations between neighbors and Bethany Lutheran, said that the amendment would not only remedy this specific situation, but also help address a missing middle in the city.

What it will do is give more flexibility in the height limit of the residential zoning codes, and the amendment creates the missing middle in La Crosse, which is four stories. We dont currently have a zoning category for four stories  its either three-and-a-half and 10. And thats a big jump, Trost said.

Trost said that this change would not create any new zoning districts, but would allow for an additional 10 feet or one floor to existing ones. We would then have a standalone four-story housing option thats useful for the entire city, she said.

The gap in height allowances has had an impact on development throughout the city, Trost said, pointing out that existing R5 buildings include the Villas on Cass and the Holy Trinity School, while R6 buildings include Washburn on the Park, Elliot Arms and the Millenial  none of which reach 10 stories.

These existing height limits have pushed property owners to seek zoning changes for heights that vastly exceed their needs and then alternatively might have even inhibited some other mid-rise projects, Trost said.

So thats my goal here, is to create a policy solution by tweaking the zoning code just a little bit and in the end were dealing with the zoning rather than the development, she said. Were finding a zoning solution that is actually applicable to other options on the city or in the future.

I appreciate this compromise, one neighbor said to the commission on Monday. Another neighbor thanked officials for listening to the neighbors concerns.

Bethany Lutheran CEO Todd Wilson called it a resolution that suits everybodys needs.

The 30-day referral for this project will need approval from the Judiciary & Law Committee on Tuesday evening and the full La Crosse Common Council next week, but it is likely to pass.

Officials hope to then submit the amendment to the zoning rule later this week so that it will be ready for approval in December.

A second component to Bethanys expansion project was partially approved by the commission, which waives an off-street parking requirement for the new expansion, since no new residents will be moving in, but there will be a requirement to allow for bicycle parking near the buildings entrance.

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Kyle Rittenhouse trial coverage

The jury has been seated in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.

Word came at 7 p.m. Monday that the jury had been decided upon after juror interviews took place throughout the day at the Kenosha County Courthouse, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Twenty people were selected to hear the case. Of the juror pool, 19 are white and 11 are women. The trial is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. Tuesday with opening arguments.

In preparing for the 18-year-old's trial, the court summoned 300 prospective jurors, expecting about 150 people to turn up for jury duty on Monday. Some of those prospective jurors were held in a separate building Monday while about 80 prospective jurors  each identified only by number  were brought into the courtroom.

By the lunch break, about a dozen prospective jurors were excused because they said they could not put aside their feelings about the case. After 4 p.m. the lawyers, along with the judge, began questioning individual jurors on their own away from others.

Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide for the shooting death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting death of Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shooting and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis.

The shootings took place on Aug. 25, 2020, on the second night of rioting in Kenosha following the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey during an attempted arrest on a domestic disturbance call.

Rittenhouse is also charged with recklessly endangering safety for firing his rifle toward other people in the crowd, and for carrying a dangerous weapon as a minor.

Rittenhouse's legal team says he was acting in self defense at the time of incident. The teen joined other militia members who said they were answering a call to help protect local businesses during the rioting.

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder advised jurors not to discuss the case with anyone and of course dont read, watch or listen to anything about the case.

Schroeder noted the national interest in the case.

You are in the command seat, Schroeder told the jurors. You are going to know more about this case than anyone in the world.

The case is predicted to run as long as three weeks.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Vel Phillips, Wisconsins first Black secretary of state, will be honored with a statue on the state's Capitol grounds, a state board decided Monday.

The Capitol and Executive Residence Board voted unanimously to erect the statue of Phillips, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Phillips, who died in 2018, broke a number of gender and race barriers throughout her career: The first Black woman to graduate from the UW-Madison School of Law and the first woman, as well as Black person, to serve on the Milwaukee City Council and to become a Wisconsin judge.

Republican Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, who is the chairperson of the board, called the vote historic.

Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County, began the push for the statue last year amid widespread protests over police brutality. His organization is trying to raise $1.3 million for the statue.

The statue of Phillips, which will be installed at the South entrance to the Capitol, will join the Forward and Col. Hans Christian Heg statues, which were reinstalled in September after being toppled by protesters in June 2020. Heg was an abolitionist who died in a Civil War battle, and the Forward statue has come to represent womens rights.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Wisconsin State Journal.

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Rhoads Energy announced Monday its giving a 25% stake in the company to its 160 employees, implementing a timely and potent program to help reward, retain and recruit workers.

CEO Mike DeBerdine, who owns the business with his family, said the maximum number of shares an employee can receive under its newly created employee stock ownership plan will be pegged to their salary.

Employees will get the shares according to a vesting schedule.

Employees are embracing the opportunity, DeBerdine said. He pointed to a Facebook post by an employee on Wednesday, a few hours after employees were told about the ESOP: Yesterday, I was just a truck driver. Today Im an owner-operator.

Management began thinking about creating an ESOP and selling some of Rhoads' stock to the plan five years ago, but its advisers said Rhoads profits before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization werent high enough. Now they are, according to the CEO.

The fact that employee ownership is becoming possible just as companies are aggressively seeking ways to make their workplaces more attractive, to help cope with an ongoing labor shortage, is just a coincidence, DeBerdine said. Companies are using a host of strategies, such as pay hikes and hiring bonuses, but few if any other companies in the county are rolling out ESOPs.

DeBerdine hopes the feature is a positive differentiator for Rhoads, as employee ownership is relatively rare among businesses. Within Rhoads business niche, only one other company in the region is employee-owned, he said.

Whether the size of the stake of Rhoads thats earmarked for employee ownership gets increased in the future remains to be seen, DeBerdine said. He noted that the plan is too new to be making decisions about the future.

Rhoads is a Lancaster-based company that provides propane, natural gas, heating oil, diesel fuel and HVAC services to residential and commercial customers. Annual revenues were $67 million last year.
In between the weddings, baptisms and regular church business, the online events calendar at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church reads more like a restaurant kitchen diary: Saturday 9 a.m., syruping baklava pans; Monday 6 p.m., macaroni prep.; 9 a.m. Wednesday, pastitsio prep (3 shifts).

Some 200 church volunteers, who have been rolling, stuffing, baking and portioning since late September, are in the final stretch of food prep for this weekends main event, the 63rd annual Greek Bazaar. Due to COVID-19, the two-day extravaganza is limited once again to drive-thru, but the amount of food on offer will feel anything but.

We are still planning for 10,000 meals, said co-chair Kosta Kontanis, referring to the popular traditional Greek platter, which is back on the menu this year. The platter is a greatest hits of Greek favorites, including a baked chicken leg scented with a Greek tomato sauce, a pair of spinach pies (aka spanakopita), pastitsio (Greek lasagna with ground beef), Greek salad and a roll from nearby Alfred & Sams Italian Bakery.

Essentially, we are running a small restaurant for two days, said co-chair Alex Schramm, to which this reporter replied, Large is more like it.

Schramm and Kontanis have got a pantry list to prove it, too. (See our sidebar with more details on what it takes to prepare for a food sale of this size.)

In addition to baklava and katafi, three traditional Greek cookies will be available (finikia, kourambiethes and koularakia) along with the sweet fritters known as loukamathes and rice pudding.

This years savory items, much of which is available frozen, include yiaprakia (stuffed grape leaves, with ground beef), moussaka and tiropita (cheese pies).

As the main fundraising event for this congregation of 550 families, the Greek Bazaar earmarks one-third of proceeds to various charities, many of which are in Lancaster County, Schramm said. But the multi-week lead-up of rolling grape leaves and cookies with her fellow congregants carries an equally important, but non-monetary value, one of fellowship.

We had eight to 10 ladies today 75 years and older, said Schramm, who spoke to LNP | LancasterOnline last week after a long day of making the cinnamon cookies known as finikia. They come and they hang out and theyre rolling and sitting with friends and speaking Greek. Thats pretty special.

IF YOU GO

What: 63rd annual Greek Food Bazaar.

Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 64 Hershey Ave.

When: 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Cost: Tickets are $15, an equal exchange for the traditional Greek platter or the pastry variety box. Pricing varies for other menu items, starting at $5.

Ordering: Online ordering available until 10 p.m. Friday; visit annunciation-greek-orthodox-church.square.site. Day-of ordering also welcome.

More info: annunciationorthodox.org.
The two former Lancaster city police officers who were fired last month for submitting falsified COVID-19 vaccination cards may have violated federal law, according to warnings issued by the FBI this year.

If you did not receive the vaccine, do not buy fake vaccine cards, do not make your own vaccine cards, and do not fill-in blank vaccination record cards with false information, the FBI and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General warned earlier this year.

Thats exactly what Heather Schaeffer and Benjamin Lapp did, according to documents related to their firing, which LNP | LancasterOnline obtained through a Right to Know Law request.

Schaeffer got a blank vaccination card from her cousin, who is in the military and involved in vaccination efforts. She then made a copy and sold it to Lapp for $20, according to the documents. Fake vaccine information was filled out on the cards.

The city does not mandate employees to get vaccinated. Employees who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks in city buildings; those who are fully vaccinated do not, according to city policy.

A man who answered at a phone number listed for a Benjamin Lapp hung up after an LNP reporter identified himself on Monday. Efforts to reach Schaeffer at a Facebook account and phone number believed to be hers were unsuccessful.

Lancaster police Chief John Bey declined comment Monday when asked whether the FBI was notified and if the department was still investigating.

The FBI also declined to say whether it was investigating, or planned to investigate, the matter.

Its the FBIs standard practice to neither confirm nor deny the existence of investigations, a bureau spokeswoman said.

In its warning earlier this year, the FBI said misuse of a government agencys seal is a crime punishable by a fine and or up to five years in prison. Official vaccine cards carry the seal of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In documents relating to Schaeffer and Lapps firings, police officials wrote that their actions resulted in an investigation by the Lancaster County District Attorneys office. The office has declined comment.

A check of online court documents Monday afternoon did not show criminal charges filed against either Schaeffer or Lapp.

Cases targeting fake and stolen vaccine cards have been filed and prosecuted in the months since the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available.

Among the federal cases brought so far is the September arrest of a Michigan nurse charged with stealing and selling authentic COVID-19 vaccination cards from a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. The nurse is accused of selling the cards for $150 to $200 each.

In August, a Chicago pharmacist was arrested on charges he sold 125 authentic vaccination cards for about $10 each.

The FBI is also investigating accusations that three Vermont state troopers were involved in a scheme to create fraudulent vaccination cards. The troopers resigned in August and September.
Its Election Day in Lancaster County and across the country.

Voters will cast their ballots in Tuesdays municipal elections to decide who will represent them in local offices, school boards and county row offices.

Heres what you need to know:

Polls are open

Lancaster Countys polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where to cast your vote

If you dont know where your polling place is, visit www.vote.pa.gov. Under the Voting in PA tab, click on Voting at a Polling Place, then click on Wheres my polling place? to get to the online lookup tool. Enter your home address, and the website will tell you the street address of your polling place and give you the option of getting directions.

Whats the weather forecast?

Mostly cloudy skies are predicted Tuesday, along with a 30 percent chance of showers, according to National Weather Service in State College.

Tuesdays high will reach the lower 50s before dipping down to the lower 30s on Tuesday night.

What if I have problems voting?

If you have problems at your polling place Election Day, call the Lancaster County Elections Office at 717-299-8293. You can also stop by the office at 150 N. Queen St., Suite 117. Thats the former Armstrong building at Queen and Chestnut streets in Lancaster city.

If youd like to report a voting problem to the newspaper, call 717-291-8622. If youre on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, report voting problems or issues using #LancasterVotes.

Reminders for first-time voters

If you are voting in person for the first time or voting at a new precinct for the first time, you must bring one of the following approved forms of photo identification:

Pennsylvania drivers license or PennDOT ID card

ID issued by any commonwealth agency

ID issued by the U.S. government

U.S. passport

U.S. armed forces ID

Student ID

Employee ID

If you do not have a photo ID, you can use identification without a photo if it includes your name and address. Approved forms of ID without a photo include:

Confirmation issued by the county voter registration office

Nonphoto ID issued by any commonwealth agency

Nonphoto ID issued by the U.S. government

Firearm permit

Current utility bill

Current bank statement

Current paycheck

Government check

Drop-box option for mail-In ballots

Voters who are using mail-in ballots must make sure their ballots are received at the county election office by 8 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 2. Mail voters who are concerned about their ballots arriving on time can hand-deliver them at a drop box at the Chestnut Street entrance to the Lancaster County Government Center at 150 N. Queen St. in Lancaster city.

The drop box is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 27, and until 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 28, and 29. It will be available from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 30; from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1; and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 2.

County officials are reminding voters that the Pennsylvania Election Code states that each voter may only return his or her own mail ballot.

Where can I find results?

The Lancaster County Elections Office will begin receiving vote totals shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 2. Check LancasterOnline.com for results, live coverage and breaking news throughout the day and evening.

For more election coverage:

- Here are the 9 Lancaster County townships with contested election races Nov. 2

- These 9 Lancaster County school districts have contested ballots in the Nov. 2 election

- Lancaster County elections office hopes for smooth mail-in ballot election following problems in primary
More than 130 candidates are running for offices in contested races across Lancaster County in today's municipal elections.

Countywide, there are nine contested school board races, nine township contests and eight borough council contests.

Among those are some closely watched races, including the races for county row offices: county controller, clerk of courts and recorder of deeds. For the first time in at least the past 20 years, Democrats are contesting each of those open positions.

Meanwhile, voters in Manheim Township will decide whether Democrats will continue in power two years after gaining a majority on the board of commissioners, or if Republicans will be put back in control based on their promises to bring steady leadership back to the board. Democrats took control of the board of commissioners in the 2019 municipal election, flipping the longtime Republican stronghold from a 3-2 Republican split on the board to a 4-1 Democratic majority.

In Elizabethtown, all eyes are on the school board race, where there is a sharp contrast between the Democrats and Republicans running and there's been controversy over views on the 2020 election, COVID-19 and race-based education.

In Lancaster city, incumbent Mayor Danene Sorace faces the first test of her performance since taking office in 2018. While the Republican Party is not putting up a challenger, independent candidate Willie Shell Sr. will be on the ballot. Shell is a small business owner who says hes running to ensure the economic development happens in neighborhoods that have been traditionally overlooked. And in the Lancaster city council race, Republicans are hoping they can achieve representation on the council, as Democrats currently hold all seven seats.

LNP|LancasterOnline spent the day visiting polls and talking with voters. Here's what they had to say:

In Lancaster City

At St. Peters United Church of Christ at Buchanan and College avenues, 153 voters had shown up to vote by 1:45 p.m.

Judge of elections Amy Bamford Hopkins said turn out was a little slower than expected.

Its certainly a lot slower than the presidential election, she said.

But she said they had received a pretty substantial amount of mail-in ballots. She expected voter turn out to pick up after work, noting the precinct 9-5 traditionally has a strong turnout.

In Manheim Township

As of 9:40 a.m., about 60 voters had cast their ballots at Manheim Townships 11th precinct at St. Mathew Lutheran Church. Judge of elections Karen Melchionni said voters have been steady so far this morning, adding that a lot of people in the precinct are politically involved in a social way.

Tim Kauffman, whos been voting at the 11th precinct since 1983, didnt want to say who he voted for in the highly contentious school board elections, adding that he voted for the candidates he thought would do the best job.

Kauffman, an Army veteran, said that hes been registered as a Republican, Democrat and independent, and the one thing hes learned is that the parties arent important. The people are the important part of the election.

As of 10:30 a.m., 82 voters cast their ballots at the 19th precinct at Grandview Church, which is the polling place for both the 19th and 10th precincts. Judge of elections Barry Price said that its been a steady flow so far and no big issues have been reported.

Not having perforated papers has been helpful, Price said if the ballots.

In the 10th precinct, about 10 feet across the entrance to the church, 120 voters had turned out by early morning, according to judge of elections Ava Bowser, who added that the flow of voters had been steady.

At Manheim Townships 3rd precinct, judge of elections Joe Wells said more than 160 voters cast their ballots before Tuesday afternoon.

I was surprised were getting as many people as we have, Wells said. Were doing pretty well, considering the mail-in votes.

Across the sanctuary, at the 16th precinct, judge of elections Kevin Byrne said that everything was super smooth so far, with no issues to report.

As of 11:45, 225 of the precinct's 2,216 voters had cast their ballots.

In Elizabethtown

Susan Sharp, 56, turned out at 7:30 a.m. to cast her vote in the school board election, at Mount Calvary Church, 625 Holly St. in Mount Joy Township. She voted for the three democratic candidates.

I trust them she said. I dont trust the ones that are running for Republican. They cause a lot of division at school board meetings.

She said the Republicans havent earned her vote because one hasnt paid his taxes, LNP|LancasterOnline reported last week, and another wants to restrict the books children read. He wants it to be parent choice but he wants his options to be his choice.

Were hoping to have 5-600 voters turn out, said majority inspector Dendra Gerberich at Mount Calvary. She said school board brings out more than usual. They have about 1,500 registered. Usually the off years, we dont get as many as the governor or president.

Debbie Nissley, election judge at the Elizabethtown Municipal Building, 600 S. Hanover St., said around 7:30 a.m. that they'd had 40ish so far and expect a good turnout today.

Sue Heiser, 70, a registered Democrat, said she voted for Kristy Moore and Sarah Zahn in the highly anticipated school board election.

Kristy seems like a decent human being," Heiser said at the municipal building. "Elizabethtown does not need an extremist on the school board.

Kristy Moore plans to camp out all day at the Mount Calvary Church polling place on Holly Street in Elizabethtown. Rain or shine -- and its been much of the former -- the Elizabethtown school board candidate will be talking with voters before they hit the polls.

Im feeling very hopeful and really excited to see all of our hard work pay off, Moore said.

Shes been campaigning since December alongside Democratic candidates Sarah Zahn and Jagger Gilleland. The three are running against Republican candidates Jim Read, Stephen and Danielle Lindemuth and James Emery.

I feel like most people come in knowing who theyre going to vote for, she said. Ive had a couple people that have come through that said I came out to vote for you.

Pat Smeal, 76, walked out of the Elizabethtown Borough Municipal Building early this morning donning her I Voted sticker.

She voted for all four of the Republican candidates in the school board election.

Im a straight Republican, always have been, she said.

Rich Koetzle, 87, voted for Republican candidates in the school board election as well, but specified that he did not identify as a Republican.

Theyre liberal and Im anything but liberal, he said. Im a conservative, not a Republican because theyre a bunch of feckless people who have no guts.

A school should only teach (children) reading, writing and arithmetic, Koetzle said.

Forget all that other bull, he said. That, to me, is ridiculous.

Jennifer Hatala, 42, voted on the other side of the spectrum at the borough polling place. Hatala said she cast a vote for Democratic candidates Moore, Zahn and Jagger Gilleland.

I am registered to vote as a Democrat, but I will vote for whoever I think is best, Hatala said. In this case, when I looked at the Lindemuths, specifically, they were very supportive of Trump they criticized their daughters education as far as the race-based material and they were pro pulling some of the Black authors, which I completely disagree with pulling any kind of authors that are already approved for the school.

Turnout for some polls was slow, but steady this morning.

Around 8:30 a.m., the Elizabethtown Borough Municipal Building polling place at 600 South Hanover St. had seen about 40 voters, said poll volunteer Peggy Warren.

Voters were trickling in steadily this morning despite the rain. Many carried umbrellas or pulled a hood over their head as they came by.

Its busier than I expected it to be, Warren said.

Elizabethtown Borough Judge Debbie Nissley thought things were up and running smoothly. By 9:30 a.m., another 20 voters had rolled in, bringing their total to 60.

Normally at an election like this, we would have low numbers, she said. But since our school board is contested with seating for people, were expecting a lot of people. Were expecting a good turnout and weve already had that with our numbers this early in the morning.

Already, the borough has a lot of mail-in ballots, which might take away from the number coming in physically, Nissley said. As of 2:30 p.m., 64 mail-in ballots were received at the Elizabethtown Borough Municipal Building.

The rain was holding off around 11 a.m. at Lifegate Church, 5636 Bossler Road, Elizabethtown and judge of elections Mary Conrad said she hopes it stays that way.

Rainy weather can sometimes deter voters, she said. But, Conrad said she expects a high voter turnout today as 150 had already cast their votes by 11 a.m.

Conrad, who has been judge of elections for 30 years, said usually a school board race does not have as much of a draw as it does this year.

Regardless, she doesnt expect any challenges for the day. Out of the 1,200 registered voters in the precinct, she expects to see 600.

Greg Fouse, 61, came out to Lifegate Church to vote for all four of the Republican candidates in the school board election: Jim Read, Stephen and Danielle Lindemuth and James Emery.

Ive been paying attention to whats been going on in school board meetings across the country and I am totally against critical race theory being taught in our schools, Fouse said. Im totally against the government thinking they have a better idea how to teach our children than we do.

Fouse has one grandchild in private school while the rest attend public school. However, if he could afford it, every single one of his grandchildren would be in private school.

I am really disgusted with what our public schools are doing with our children today, he said.

Martha Esoldo, 72, said she feels as though the Democratic candidates would do a better job on the school board. She and her husband Richard Esoldo, 74, a former school teacher at the Harrisburg City school district, voted for Kristy Moore and Sarah Zahn.

We know Sarah, Martha Esoldo said. Shes a level-headed, intelligent young woman. I think she has the best interest of the school, the children, the community and the future of the schools. I think she has a good head for things.

Shes on top of things, Martha Esoldo said. I have faith in her to do whats right for our community and our kids.

Marie Ober, 69, said she voted for all four of the Republican candidates.

Ober said she no longer has children in the Elizabethtown school district but her four daughters were taught in the district.

This country is based upon the words of God, she said. Now were headed down a crazy road of confusion for children, teaching things that really shouldnt be taught to our children. God created us, male and female so why in the world are we going to be so crazy to confuse our children.

All of her daughters, she said, were respectable children who serve as teachers and nurses. Many of her grandchildren who now live out of the state, were pulled out of public schools by their parents due to the crazy stuff that is going on.

Tomas Estrada, who declined to give his age, said he voted for all three Democratic school board candidates because he believes critical race theory should be taught in schools.

Its important for kids to have an accurate full story of a particular American history, he said. Im troubled by how certain members of our school board are trying to whitewash a lot of the problematic elements of our history, in particular with the opposition to critical race theory.

Estrada said he thinks American history should be told as it is, even the parts that are hard to grapple with.

Kristy and Sarah in particular, I know for them it was important to have our kids have a fuller picture, Estrada said.

He said it was heartening to see so many people turning out at the Lifegate Church to vote.

Its an important time for all of us to be engaged in these conversations, Estrada said. I hope that our community finds the space to become more compassionate and finds the space to become more open-minded.

As of 2:30 p.m., poll volunteer Craig Bennage at Calvary Church in Mount Joy Township said 290 voters had come to the polls. Around the same time, at the Elizabethtown Borough Municipal Building polling location, there had been 235 voters according to Nissley.

In Colerain Township

In Colerain Township, a pair of write-in candidates for township supervisor said they planned to spend the day outside greeting voters at the local municipal building -- the townships lone polling place.

Running a joint campaign, Andrew D. Orechovesky and Jeffrey T. Spangler hoped to unseat incumbent Republicans Robin Church and Scott Shoemaker, both of whom were seeking re-election with their names officially on the ballot.

Orechovesky recognized the longshot chances of seeing success as a write-in candidate.

Its going to be tough, said Orechovesky, a Republican.

However, Spangler, who said he was running unaffiliated, was more optimistic about the pairs chances.

I now believe that its likely to be very close, he said, citing a campaign that included door-knocking and mailing fliers among other efforts.

The pair announced their candidacy a little more than a month before Tuesdays election, basing the decision largely on growing frustration with current leadership.

Mainly, a group of outspoken residents have repeatedly accused those leaders of mishandling a local farmers proposal to construct a controversial duck farm in the township.

Its an accusation that both Church and Shoemaker have denied. Some of the sitting supervisors supporters have branded Orechovesky, Spangler and their backers as anti-farming -- a claim the write-in candidates deny.

Spangler welcomed those attacks as evidence that the sitting supervisors and their supporters might fear the write-in challenge.

If you think youve got it all sewn up, you dont take that approach, he said.
Coatesville City Council met on Oct. 25 to discuss its upcoming budgeting process, share the progress that has been made on stormwater mitigation efforts and celebrate breaking ground on construction of the citys new train station.

Rich Troutman, financial adviser for the city, presented highlights from the 2021 fiscal year as the city begins its 2022 budgeting process. Budget work sessions will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 10, Nov. 15 and Nov. 17, in person.

The city anticipates entering 2022 with a balanced budget, continuing the trend from 2020 and 2021, Troutman said. The city does not anticipate a tax increase for residents in the upcoming fiscal year.

The city is in a position to finally start addressing some of (its) deferred maintenance, Troutman said. Several of the citys capital plan projects, including upgrading local parks and making improvements to streets within the city, are being fully or partially funded by grant money. Grant money allows the city to invest financial resources in other necessary infrastructure improvements, such as stormwater mitigation efforts, Troutman said.

Many of you know, Coatesville is a very old city. Many of the stormwater pipes and the system itself has been stressed, City Manager James Logan said. This is part of, you know whether you believe it or not, environmental changes, global warming. Call it what you like. This city (could not) take the volume and velocity of the water (that came) down on Sept. 1.

Logan said the city is working with Cedarville Engineering Group, Chester County Office of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Association, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association and several local nonprofits to compile a preliminary report addressing the necessary infrastructure damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

This has revealed what we need to do moving forward, Logan said. The city is applying for grants to assist with stormwater mitigation efforts and necessary infrastructure repairs.

Council person Nydea Graves said, The issues that are causing these floods are systemic and we need large action from our state and federal government if we are going to be able to (fix) this.

The city held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 22, officially initiating the construction of Coatesvilles new train station. According to Logan, construction is estimated at $65 million in total and is projected to be completed by 2025.

Logan expressed gratitude for the assistance being provided by the state Department of Transportation and Amtrak throughout the process. He said the city will meet with both the state Department of Transportation and Amtrak monthly moving forward as construction progresses.

Vice President Carmen Green said the train station project, which has been discussed for 20 years, is a key part of the citys overall revitalization. For a lot of people, things dont happen fast enough, but I guarantee you, just hold on. Theres a lot going on in the city of Coatesville.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 8.
Effort Begins to Relocate Homeless in `Veterans Row Encampment near Brentwood

Outreach crews, sheriffs deputies and federal officials worked with residents of a homeless camp on the outskirts of the West Los Angeles VA campus today in hopes of clearing the longtime encampment that has become known as Veterans Row.

Some residents in the Brentwood area have long decried the encampment as an eyesore in the upscale neighborhoods, while also expressing dismay that many veterans were forced to live in ramshackle tents erected on the sidewalk in the shadow of the VA complex.

U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough recently toured the encampment, and last month he vowed to find temporary housing for about three dozen homeless veterans who have been living in the encampment, while also saying hundreds more homeless vets would be given shelter by years end.

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On Monday morning, sheriffs deputies joined outreach workers and other officials to begin the process of relocating the homeless. At least one resident of the encampment told KNX Newsradio that he was looking forward to moving onto the VA campus into sturdier structures that include running water. Homeless in the new facilities will also be provided with meals. It was unclear exactly how many people were residing in the encampment or how long it would take to complete the relocation effort.

McDonough said the VA had deployed a team to meet with the vets living in the encampment and get them into housing. He also indicated the VA would work to provide housing for another 500 veterans in the Los Angeles area by the end of the year. His announcement last month was met with praise from local elected officials.

Im pleased that, following his visit to the West L.A. VA (in October), Secretary McDonough is taking concrete steps to address veteran homelessness in Los Angeles, said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance. During the visit, I urged the secretary to prioritize veteran homelessness at the agency, and specifically to focus on Southern California. He reaffirmed his and the Biden Administrations commitment to this effort and todays announcement reflects that.

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, called the announcement the exact kind of leadership needed to get folks in homes. This crisis is not going to go away overnight, its going to take concerted efforts at all levels of government in collaboration with outside groups to get this done, Bass said. Addressing this crisis cannot wait.
Former Employee Conditionally Settles Suit Over Pandemic Concerns

A businesswoman and one of her former employees have reached a tentative settlement of the ex-workers lawsuit alleging her onetime boss  who runs her company out of Caitlyn Jenners Malibu guesthouse  fired her in 2020 in retaliation for advocating that the marketing team work from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawyers for Rosa Chu filed court papers with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elaine Lu on Wednesday stating that her case against Sophia Hutchins and her company, Lumasol, was conditionally resolved depending on the

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satisfactory completion of specified terms. The court papers do not specify what those terms were nor do they explain the overall obligations of any of the parties under the proposed settlement.

Lumasol markets an odorless sunscreen mist created to be used after makeup is applied. In her lawsuit filed in October 2020, Chu alleged unlawful discharge, unlawful retaliation and unfair business practices.

Defendants Lumasol and Ms. Hutchins terminated Ms. Chus employment in retaliation for her continuous complaints regarding employee safety and working from home related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the suit alleged.

The plaintiff also alleged that Hutchins made racially insensitive remarks, including Asians are such bad drivers and We need to try to be as Jew-ey as possible and that perhaps her sunscreen product was not meant for Black people.

In his court papers, Lumasol attorney Joseph A. Schwachter stated the pandemic severely dampened the market for sunscreen products in the months after Chu was hired because people were warned not to stay outside, resulting in Chu and most of Lumasols remaining employees being laid off beginning in late July 2020.

Chu started working for Lumasol in January 2020 as the creative marketing lead and often had to work weekends with little or no prior notice, her suit stated. She initially reported directly to Hutchins and Kianoosh Darabi, the performance marketing lead, then later as well to Noah Wossen, managing director of operations, the suit stated.

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Despite the pandemic and associated government and health officer orders, Hutchins often required Chu and other employees to be physically present and there was no mandate that they undergo testing or wear face masks, according to the suit.

In March 2020, before arriving at the office, Chu and other employees exchanged messages agreeing they should not be going into work, the suit states. After they arrived at the office, the entire team talked about how the company should publicly respond to the pandemic and decision to work from home, the suit stated.

Hutchins said she would make an Instagram post informing the public that her employees would be working from home, but also expressed her dissatisfaction with the team doing so, the suit alleges.

Hutchins also had a friend, who had just traveled from Chicago and was also at the office that day without a mask, despite having recently been at two major airports, the suit stated. On May 1, 2020, Lumasol launched its product for sale to the public and Hutchins had a video conference with Wossen sitting next to her with no mask on, the suit stated.

In a snarky manner and tone that meant to degrade other employees for not being present at the office, Ms. Hutchins thanked Mr. Wossen for being physically present with her, the suit stated. Ms. Hutchins tone implied that the rest of the team did not care about launch day.

Hutchins attitude made it clear that she did not appreciate the marketing teams decision not to be physically present on launch day as a result of COVID-19 safety, the suit stated.

In June, Wossen sent an invitation to the entire team for a dinner and asked for restaurant recommendations, but Chu told Wossen and Hutchins she did not feel comfortable dining out during the pandemic, according to her court papers.

Ms. Hutchins acted annoyed and angry that they did not want to go out to eat, the suit stated. Hutchins fired Chu in July 2020, despite praising her work and talent in an email, and directed the plaintiff to train her replacement for the next two weeks, according to the suit.

Hutchins subsequently hired three additional employees, all of whom are regularly present in the office on weekdays, have attended dinners and social gatherings with Hutchins and have been appeared in still and video images smiling and laughing while sitting close to each other and to Hutchins at the office, the suit stated.
Reseda Veteran Faces Sentencing for Terror Plot to Bomb Long Beach Rally

Prosecutors are recommending that an Army veteran from Reseda is sentenced to life imprisonment today for attempting to bomb a Long Beach white supremacist rally.

Mark Domingo, 28, was found guilty in August in Los Angeles federal court of providing material support to terrorism and attempting to use of a weapon of mass destruction, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The investigation into Domingo was prompted by his online posts and conversations in an online forum in which he expressed support for violent jihad, a desire to seek retribution for attacks against Muslims and a willingness to become a martyr.

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After considering various attacks  including targeting Jewish people, churches, and police officers  Domingo decided to bomb a rally scheduled to take place in Long Beach in April 2019.

In sentencing papers, federal prosecutors wrote that evidence at trial  including Domingos own sworn testimony  revealed that he was intent on killing innocent Americans and would have done so had he not been stopped.

He intended to commit mass murder to vent his own anger at the world, to avenge the shooting of Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, and to sow civil unrest that would weaken Americas ability to fight ISIS and other Jihadist groups.

Domingo repeatedly expressed his desire to kill various groups of Americans: police officers, Jews, Christians, military personnel, and ultimately, attendees at a political rally in Long Beach, according to prosecutors. 

He admitted on the stand that he led and fully intended to carry out a plot to detonate bombs at that rally to commit mass murder. Had he not been stopped, he planned to commit further terrorist attacks to kill more innocent people and attempt to divide and weaken the United States. As part of the plot, Domingo asked an accomplice  who actually was working with the FBI as part of the investigation  to invite a bomb-maker into the scheme.

Domingo then purchased and provided to the accomplice and the bomb- maker  who was an undercover law enforcement officer  several hundred 3 1/2- inch nails to be used as shrapnel for the bombs. Domingo specifically chose those nails because they were long enough to penetrate organs in the human body.

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Leading up to the attack, Domingo called for another event similar to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Following an attack on Muslims in New Zealand in March 2019, Domingo called for retribution in an online post. Domingo selected the Long Beach rally as his target and, in April 2019, drove his accomplice and the undercover officer to Long Beach to scout the location he planned to attack.

While there, Domingo discussed finding the most crowded areas so he could kill the most people. On April 26, 2019, Domingo received what he thought were two live bombs, but were actually inert explosive devices delivered by an undercover law enforcement officer. He was arrested that same day with one of the bombs in his hands.
Villanueva Steps Up Attack on LA County COVID Vaccine Mandate

Sheriff Alex Villanueva was continuing today to assail Los Angeles Countys COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which he calls an imminent threat to public safety that could prompt a mass exodus from a department he says is already woefully understaffed.

I have repeatedly stated the dangers to public safety when 20% to 30% of my workforce is no longer available to provide service, and those dangers are quickly becoming a reality, Villanueva said in a statement last week. We are experiencing an increase in unscheduled retirements, worker compensation claims, employees quitting, and a reduction in qualified applicants.

The sheriff also sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors last week echoing those concerns. He noted that the department has 1,605 employees with 28 years of service or more, meaning they could retire without financial consequence. In that letter, he claimed the mandate could cause him to lose up to 44% of his workforce, repeating his assertion that he will not enforce the mandate for his deputies. Villanueva has scheduled a late-morning news conference Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles to further rail against the proposed mandate.

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The sheriff has said he expects homicide rates in the county will continue to rise as the departments ranks are depleted, and response times would increase with patrol services declining. He has also insisted that COVID case rates are on the decline in the county, making a vaccine mandate unneeded.

With the pandemic waning, there is no justification for your mandate, he wrote in his letter to the board. This mandate is like putting up storm windows after the storm has passed.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ratified an executive order in August that required all county employees, including sheriffs deputies, to register their vaccination status by Oct. 1 on an online portal. The mandate allows for religious and medical exceptions.

Board members have criticized Villanueva, accusing him of failing to display leadership in the department by encouraging deputies and employees to get vaccinated. Board chairwoman Hilda Solis said the sheriff was acting more like an obstacle instead of working to educate employees about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

Villanueva said he is vaccinated and believes in its effectiveness, but the choice to receive the vaccine is a personal one, and an individual who served the community tirelessly before there was a vaccine should not now be fired because they made a decision about their own body.
Wilmington Highlights Black Art with Return of Exhibition

It was 1968 and Wilmington was recovering.

The National Guard had occupied Delawares largest city for nine months in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination, and the trauma from both of these events left the Black community reeling, marking a moment in Wilmingtons history that city residents still recall today.

Percy Ricks, an artist and longtime educator, however, had something he thought people needed to see. A momentous exhibition composed of drawings, paintings, prints and photographs created by 66 Black artists.

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Ricks, a Washington, DC., native, previously served as a combat artist in World War II and became the first Black art instructor in Wilmingtons public schools  eventually becoming a driving force behind the citys art scene.

Ricks would go on to found the Wilmington arts and humanities collective Aesthetic Dynamics Inc., which aimed to highlight Black artists and their contributions to the arts. Still, the organizations inaugural exhibition struggled to find a home as Black artists were shut out of institutions and segregation persisted across Delaware.

In the 50 years since Ricks premiered this exhibition in Wilmington  eventually finding a home for it at the Wilmington Armory  the collection has largely been forgotten and overlooked by historians and institutions despite its significance in Wilmington following two flashpoint moments in history.

Now, the Delaware Art Museum  which at the time overlooked requests to stage the exhibition within its walls  is reprising the exhibition in an effort to reconcile its initial disregard and to illustrate the cultural legacy that Ricks left behind.

One way to get people to begin to acknowledge the treasure that African Americans have was to expose them to it, said James Newton, professor emeritus of Africana Studies at the University of Delaware, and Percy Ricks was the vehicle for that.

`TURBULENT TIMES

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In 1968, the National Guard began its nearly yearlong occupation of Wilmington after rioting and unrest flooded the city following Kings death. National Guardsmen focused primarily on West Center City, a mostly Black community.

The presence became the longest occupation of an American city since Kings assassination.

The 1971 exhibition served as a reaction to the traumatic events and an effort to connect the community to emerging Black artists and their work. In the process of organizing the event, Ricks sent a letter to the Delaware Art Museum asking for the institution to host the upcoming exhibition.

No reply was received.

In the years that followed, Ricks was critical of the museum and its exclusion of Black artists and work. Ricks felt that Black artists were not recognized or appreciated by the arts community and were mostly neglected as a result of segregation, Newton said.

Delaware Art Museum, which had rejected him, today can look at it and say that the fence was broken and that there was a need to have it mended, said Newton, the UD professor.

Ricks instead showcased the exhibition at the Wilmington Armory, where the National Guard had been housed during the occupation a few years prior. The venue and the exhibition were meant to create an inclusive space where Black artists and attendees could celebrate the art, given that segregation was still prevalent at the time.

The armory and its significance became symbolic in the face of the exhibition that was put on inside, according to Newton.

Here we have an outstanding African-American art show being shown in the community and at the same time, those men had been probably organized and set out to occupy Wilmington a few years earlier, Newton said.

The exhibition drew about 7,000 people during its initial run in 1971.

Ricks continued staging exhibitions after the inaugural 1971 show and became a monumental figure in the Delaware art scene in the years that followed.

In 2001, then-Senator Joe Biden wrote him a letter to express his support for his work and Aesthetic Dynamics.

The arts as a tool for social change is not a new concept, but it is seldom shown so clearly as it is through your lifes work, the letter reads. One can not talk about the arts in Wilmington without mentioning Percy Ricks and that speaks volume about your impact and contribution to the arts in Delaware.

A VISION REALIZED

A half-century after the premier, the reprised exhibition titled Afro-American Images 1971: The Vision of Percy Ricks represents a completion of Ricks vision and a moment of reconciliation between the community and the museum, according to Newton, who described Ricks as a longtime mentor.

Margaret Winslow, curator of contemporary art at the Delaware Art Museum, described the renewed exhibition as incredibly important, in part to ensure that its significance and art are thoroughly documented in art history and the public archives.

Most of all, celebrating the legacy of Percy Ricks, the influence he has had on arts and culture in Wilmington, but more broadly as well, and the influence of this important exhibition, she said.

My hope is that it encourages others to think about those individuals who should be supported and the platforms that they need, and should have, to support their creativity.

For Arnold Hurtt, vice president and organization officer of Aesthetic Dynamics Inc., the reprised exhibition still represents what it showcased in 1971  a platform for current Black artists and inspiration for future ones.

We are taking steps to preserve the heritage, to preserve our spiritual life for people, especially for those who rarely get those chances to be seen, Hurtt said. Theres always a new horizon out there for someone to discover and we hope that this whole exhibition is something for somebody else to discover.

Hurtt hopes the exhibition allows for children to see themselves in the art and to embolden them to create their own art in the future.

If you dont see it, you wont know that the flowers are growing in your backyard because you dont go back there, he said. This is the beginning to open doors for the future, for other artists.
China has criticized a formerly secret U.S. intelligence report that examines the possible origins of COVID-19.

The newly-declassified report was released Friday by the Director of National Intelligence. It was based on the findings of investigations carried out by several U.S. intelligence agencies.

The report leaves open the possibility that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may have escaped from a Chinese laboratory. It also states that the virus could have spread from an animal to a human.

The report notes that intelligence agencies will likely never know the exact origins of COVID-19 unless major new evidence is discovered.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, commented on the report Sunday. Wang called the report political and false and said it had no scientific basis or credibility.

He said the study of the origins of COVID-19 is a serious and complex scientific issue. Such an effort should only be carried out by a team of world scientists cooperating with one another, Wang added.

The earliest known cases of the new coronavirus were identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. China has repeatedly denied accusations that the new coronavirus may have escaped from a specialist laboratory in the city.

The new report expands on findings released in August of a 90-day review of the issue ordered by President Joe Biden. That review said U.S. intelligence agencies were divided on the origins of the virus.

The latest report said four U.S. intelligence agencies and a multi-agency body had low confidence that COVID-19 originated with an infected animal or related virus.

But one agency said it had moderate confidence that the first human infection likely resulted from a laboratory accident. The agency said such an accident probably happened during experiments with animals at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The report dismissed suggestions that the new coronavirus may have originated as a biological weapon.

The report said U.S. agencies and the world scientific community lacked "clinical samples or a complete understanding of epidemiological data from the earliest COVID-19 cases."

A joint study by China and the World Health Organization (WHO) published this year mostly ruled out the possibility that COVID-19 originated in a lab. It said the most likely theory was that the virus infected humans naturally, probably through the wildlife trade.

Critics said the study failed to investigate labs in Wuhan and did not examine enough data to understand the early transmission path of the virus.

Last month, the WHO asked China to supply original data to help any new investigation. China has declined, noting patient privacy rules.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

origins  n. the cause of something or where something begins or comes from

declassify  v. to say officially that political or military information is no longer secret

credibility  n. the fact that someone can be believed or trusted

review  n. the act of considering something again in order to make changes to it, give an opinion of it or study it

confidence  n. a feeling of being sure that something will happen or that something is true

clinical  adj. used to describe medical work or teaching that relates to the examination and treatment of sick people

epidemiological  adj. relating to epidemiology: the scientific study of diseases and how they are found, spread and controlled in groups of people

transmission  n. the process of passing something from one person or place to another


The United States is considering suspending Ethiopias tax-free trade position to punish it for violence and food shortages in Tigray. Ethiopia launched a military campaign in the northern state a year ago to try to crush a local force, the Tigray National Liberation Front. The conflict has largely blocked aid transports to the area.

Ethiopias favorable tax position was awarded under the U.S.s African Growth and Opportunity Act, also called AGOA.

A suspension of the tax-free recognition would seriously threaten Ethiopias cloth products, or textiles, industry. That growth industry is part of Ethiopias plan to become a center for manufacturing and improve its economy.

On workdays in Addis Ababa, the capital city, thousands of women sit at sewing machines making cloth products for export.

Many of these workers will lose their jobs if the U.S. suspends the countrys special tax break.

Finoteselam Nigussie is a 40-year-old textile worker who pays for her home and her daughters school from her earnings. The companys owner, Sammy Abdella, set up his business almost 20 years ago. He has 250 workers.

Peoplehave worked with us since we started. We have created a family, he said.

While Ethiopia is a comparatively small textile exporter, loss of its trade status would still cause problems for several worldwide clothing sellers, such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. They have already been hurt by COVID-19 linked slowdowns in transportation and other areas.

The U.S. has repeatedly expressed concern about reports of sexual violence by Ethiopian and allied Eritrean soldiers in Tigray.

The United Nations says a refusal to permit aid to enter the Tigray area has forced 400,000 into famine, or severe food shortage. On Thursday, it said no food trucks had entered Tigray for the past 10 days. There have also been many reports of mass killings of civilians.

The government has denied it is preventing aid from entering Tigray and said some soldiers have been tried for abuses. It did not give additional information.

The chief trade representative for the U.S. said there will be a decision soon on Ethiopias AGOA standing.

AGOA gives sub-Saharan African nations special, tax-free access to American markets if they remove trade barriers to American products and work toward democracy.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's chief trade negotiator Mamo Mihretu told Reuters that AGOA had directly created 200,000 jobs and indirectly created millions.

"We should not politicize trade," he told Reuters.

Over the past ten years, Ethiopia has spent billions building up its manufacturing. Some factories produce goods for large clothing companies such as PVH, owner of Calvin Klein, Speedo and Tommy Hilfiger.

At Sammy Ethiopia, where Nigussie works, about 90 percent of products are exported to the United States. If Ethiopia is suspended, Abdella said his company will close.

Ethiopia exported about $237 million worth of goods tax-free to the United States under AGOA in 2020, most of it clothing and textiles, says the U.S. commerce department.

It is unclear what will happen to international investors and Ethiopian companies if the U.S. goes ahead with the suspension.

Mamo warned an AGOA suspension would hurt U.S. companies trying to move production from Asia to Ethiopia.

Though Ethiopia would suffer from an AGOA suspension, large fashion companies would find other suppliers, said Neil Saunders. He is a retail expert who works for Conlumino, a retail research company.

Raghavendra Pattar is head of Nasa Garment, a manufacturer in Hawassa Industrial Park. Nasa exports about 95 percent of its clothing to U.S. companies. It has 1,200 workers, mostly women, and spent $7 million to set up the factory two years ago.

An AGOA suspension would stop its plans to expand.

"AGOA  is the reason buyers are coming to Ethiopia," he said. He added that if the tax-free status is removed, the buyers will go to another country."

Im Susan Shand.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.
A new study suggests that female California condor birds can reproduce without a male.

Researchers with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said genetic tests confirmed the findings. The group said that two baby males, called chicks, that hatched in 2001 and 2009 from unfertilized eggs, were related to their mothers. But neither chick was related to a male.

The study was published last week in the Journal of Heredity. It is the first report of asexual reproduction in California condors.

Reproduction from an unfertilized egg can happen in other animals such as sharks and bees.

But in birds, it usually only takes place when females are not around males. In this case, each mother condor had bred with males before. The two mothers involved in the research had produced 34 chicks. Each was with a fertile male condor at the zoo when they produced the eggs without male help.

The researchers said they believe it is the first case of asexual reproduction in any bird species where the female had access to a mate.

Olivia Ryder leads genetics work for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. She is also the studys co-writer. She said the findings raise questions about whether this kind of reproduction is happening in other species.

The non-profit Wildlife Alliance runs the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. It has been involved in a California condor reproduction program that helped save the huge birds from disappearing.

California condors are the largest flying birds in North America. They used to be found throughout the West Coast. But only 22 remained in the 1980s when the U.S. government captured condors and placed them in zoos to increase their numbers. About 160 were raised at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

There are now more than 500 California condors, including more than 300 that have been released into the wild in California, Arizona, Utah and Mexico.

The asexual reproduction was discovered a number of years ago. Testing of genetic material collected from condors, both living and dead, in reproduction programs and in the wild appeared to confirm the results.

The study tested 467 male California condors to find out if they were related to the two birds in question. None of them were found to have a genetic connection.

California condors can live up to 60 years. But the two male birds that hatched in 2001 and 2009 were not healthy. One was less than 2 years old when he died. The other lived less than eight years.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

hatch v. to be born by coming out of an egg

asexual adj. (scientific) of or relating to a kind of reproduction that does not involve the combining of male and female cells

access n. the ability to get something, enter a place or meet someone

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
This week at the United Nations climate change conference, leaders are talking about ways to end the worlds dependence on coal for fuel.

Alok Sharma represents Great Britain. He said the world needs to leave coal in the past where it belongs.

Coal is the worlds biggest source of fuel for electricity. It is also the worlds biggest single source of greenhouse gases.

Some wealthy nations may be able to put technology in place to reduce their need for coal. But developing countries like India will not be able to make such a change so easily.

Take, for example, a worker named Raju. He lives in the city of Dhanbad in eastern India. He steals coal from mines and takes it to people who will sell it. The Associated Press news agency talked with Raju about his work.

He told the AP he gets paid about $2 for his delivery. Each delivery contains up to 200 kilograms of coal tied to his bicycle. He rides the heavy bicycle about 16 kilometers from the mines to the buyers during the night so he cannot be seen by police.

He is one of thousands of people who do the same to earn a small amount of money.

Rajus work is one example of how the worlds economy depends on coal. He once worked on a farm. However, flooding in the area took away most jobs. Now, he can only make a living delivering coal.

Climate change -- caused in part by burning coal  led to the flooding that made Raju find a new job.

It is a sad story, he said, but so many people, theyve been saved by coal.

Developing countries say they should be permitted to burn coal for power, just as the wealthy countries did in the past. They argue that the wealthy nations got rich by burning coal to make steel and send electricity to factories.

In India, many people live without electricity. However, that may change as more people will need air conditioning as temperatures rise.

Coal India wants to solve Indias energy problems by mining more coal. By 2024, it expects to mine over 900 million metric tons per year.

D.D. Ramanandan represents the Center of Indian Trade Unions. He said talks about moving away from coal are only happening in places like Paris, Glasgow and New Dehli. In the industrial parts of India, people have used coal for 100 years, he said, and they will continue to do so.

Experts say this way of thinking in India will hurt the planet overall. It will also hurt Jharkhand, the part of India that produces the most coal.

Sandeep Pai studies energy and climate change for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He sees the problem. Millions of people in India make a living from coal. Some are employed by coal mines. Others work for businesses that make steel and brick. Their power comes from burning coal. Indias railways are the largest employers in the country. Much of their money comes from moving coal.

Coal is an ecosystem, Pai said.

The economic slowdown that came from the COVID-19 health crisis hurt some people in India. People who used to work other jobs, like driving taxis, do not have as many customers.

In the mining region of Dhanbad, coal is the only work there is.

Naresh Chauhan and his wife, Rina Devi, make $3 per day selling coal. If the coal mines close, they will not be able to do anything else.

As renewable energy becomes less costly, the demand for coal will go down and people who work in coal will not earn as much. Pai said countries whose economies depend on coal will need to teach workers how to do other jobs.

Murti Devi is 32. She is a single mother of four children. She lost her job at a coal mine four years ago. The only thing she can do is look for coal to sell to traders. She might make $1 on some days. Other days she makes no money and must ask others for help.

If there is coal, then we live, she said. If there isnt any coal, then we dont live.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Aniruddha Ghosal of The Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

What can India do to help workers who depend on coal to make money? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

greenhouse gas  n. gas from the burning of fuel that traps warmth in the Earths atmosphere

air conditioning  n. a system used for cooling and drying the air in a building, room, etc.

customer  n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

ecosystem  v. everything that exists in a particular environment

renewable  adj. restored or replaced by natural processes : able to be replaced by nature
A booster shot is recommended after two months for those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Both Trapp and Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Global Center for Health Security, pointed out that it is still predominantly people over age 65 and those with serious health conditions who have especially troubling vaccine breakthrough cases.

That's borne out in the numbers from Bryan, which show that as of Wednesday there were only two vaccinated patients in intensive care  both over the age of 75  and none on ventilators. Among the 12 vaccinated people who have died from COVID-19 this month in Lancaster County, all but one were older than 70.

While Lawler said it's likely that those over age 65 are seeing some decreased effectiveness of their vaccines, he also pointed out that because that age group is so highly vaccinated, it becomes more and more likely that cases will be in vaccinated people. In Lancaster County, for instance, more than 90% of all residents over the age of 65 are fully vaccinated.

Even with the increase in hospitalizations among vaccinated people, Lawler said he's still confident the vaccines are doing their job in preventing serious disease.
Investments in water/sewer or broadband are also an appropriate use of the ARPA funds, Cannon said. Broadband expansion has come into focus for many rural counties over the past several years, as people want reliable broadband where they live. The need for some people to work remotely in 2020 only highlighted this need further.

Cannon noted only 17 counties in Nebraska have gained population over the past 10 years, most of them on the eastern side of the state. Many rural counties, including Dawson, lost population, according to the latest census. One way to help retain the population is through reliable broadband access.

Another way to spend the funds is premium pay for essential workers, which Cannon said, could be controversial. Recent guidance now states state and local government employees are considered essential.

Recipients may provide premium pay retrospectively for work performed at any time since the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Premium pay that would increase a workers total pay above 150 percent of the greater of the state or county average annual wage requires specific justification for how it responds to the needs of these workers, according to NACO.

Elected officials are not eligible for premium pay because their wages are set by statue.
The audits may well relate to the prosecution of Anna Idigima, Bender wrote in an email. And there may be information in the policy that, if disclosed, could compromise patrol operations or officers. The example about the handling of large sums of money fits that criterion.

But Bender said it seemed excessive to redact nearly the full document: It seems hard to believe that all of it is of such strategic or tactical importance.

Unlike other states, which have limitations on which investigative records can be withheld and for what duration, or that allow requesters to challenge that a record pertains to an investigation, Nebraskas exemption for investigative records is among the most sweeping in the nation, Bender said.

The Nebraska exemption can be invoked by a wide range of state agencies beyond just the traditional law enforcement ones, and it is not limited in duration, he explained. Conceivably, the records could be sealed forever.

Cody Thomas, public relations director for the patrol, said the agency would not release any materials that may be part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged theft from its evidence locker, even as more than 60 drug cases and convictions have been dismissed by prosecutors.
Idaho Fish and Game commissioners will meet Monday to consider potential next steps after the discovery of chronic wasting disease  a fatal and contagious illness affecting deer, elk and moose  near Lucile.
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These same lobbyists met with LaMahieu about Prehns term before his replacement was announced. In other records, he suggested he should remain on the NRB to block the governors proactive approach to PFAS contamination (the toxins found in Teflon and other products), policies that WMC is also fighting tooth and nail.

The records law has given the public a clearer picture of what Prehn and others are up to. But the picture is far from complete, and that is why my group has sued Prehn.

Midwest Environmental Advocates believes Prehn may have illegally hidden the full extent of his coordination with WMC and others. We requested all forms of written communications Prehn sent and received about his decision. He turned over no text messages. But through a request to another official, we later discovered a text message in which Prehn reflected on his decision to stay on to oppose the governors policies. Prehn was legally obligated to retain and disclose this message.

Our lawsuit is about holding Prehn accountable by obtaining records that we all have a right to see. Prehn is not respecting the states open government traditions, so essential to the NRB.
Rep. Dorothy Moon will run for Idaho secretary of state in the states Republican primary in May, citing election integrity issues and her desire to serve on the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners.

Moon, R-Stanley, confirmed in an interview with the Idaho Capital Sun that she appointed treasurer Vicki Keen on Monday and will officially announce via a press release this afternoon.

We need to guarantee 100% that our elections are accurate in counting, Moon said. It should be 100% accurate, especially if were being careful and doing our due diligence.

Moon is one of 10 Idaho legislators who signed a letter written by Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers calling for a 50-state audit of the 2020 election results.

The Secretary of States Office has conducted audits in Butte, Camas and Bonner counties in Idaho to assure the 2020 election results were correctly tabulated and found an error rate of less than 1%. Moon said thats not good enough, and that larger counties should have been audited versus the states smallest counties.

The main thing is that we need the confidence back after this past election  theres a lot of people who have been disillusioned by what has happened, and we just have to guarantee that their vote matters and its going to be a fair election, Moon said.

Moon, who is in her third term as a representative, will run against Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane, state Sen. Mary Souza of Coeur dAlene and Deputy Secretary of State Chad Houck for the seat.

Idahos primary election will take place May 17, 2022, and the general election will be held on Nov. 8, 2022. The deadline for candidates to file for statewide office is March 11.

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As campaign season approaches, more than $1.6 million has already been hauled in by candidates for statewide office in Idaho, including nearly $600,000 to Gov. Brad Littles campaign and more than $430,000 between three Republican candidates for lieutenant governor.

Idahos primary election will take place May 17, 2022, and the general election will be held on Nov. 8, 2022. The deadline for candidates to file for statewide office is March 11.

Many candidates have already announced their intentions to run for office, while some have not publicly announced but have started to fundraise or appointed a treasurer for a campaign. Candidates wont be on the ballot unless they officially file for office in 2022.

According to Idaho law, candidates are responsible for declaring donations of $1,000 or more within 48 hours to the Idaho Secretary of States office. In January, those candidates will begin filing monthly reports for all donations of any amount. If a candidate declared earlier than 2021, such as Luke Malek, who announced he was running for lieutenant governor in November 2020, monthly reports are required for 2021.

The Idaho Capital Sun has compiled all 48-hour donations declared by candidates for statewide offices into searchable tables sorted by the date of the donation. These tables will be updated regularly throughout the 2022 election.

Idaho governor outraising opponents 5 to 1

Gov. Brad Little is raising the most money out of all candidates by far, with $591,250 in donations as of Oct. 27 and more than six months to go before the Idaho Republican primary.

Little has not publicly announced his intention to run for re-election in 2022.

Little has reported 192 donations in excess of $1,000, the majority of which are from Idaho individuals and business entities, with 48 donors from outside of the state, including Arizona, Utah and Washington, D.C. Notable contributions include $5,000 from real estate developer Tommy Ahlquist and $10,000 each from Melaleuca Chief Executive Officer Frank VanderSloot and his wife, Belinda. Many of Littles contributions are from businesses and lobbying groups, including Union Pacific Railroad, Idaho Forest Group, Idaho Association of Realtors, Clearwater Paper and Simplot.

Should he choose to run, one of Littles opponents in the primary will be Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who has raised $104,500 so far, with all but two contributions coming from Idaho donors. McGeachins total includes $10,000 transferred from her previous campaign for lieutenant governor. Most of the contributions to her campaign are from individuals, including Rep. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, Southwest District Health board member Viki Purdy, and Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan, who is also a member of the Idaho Freedom Foundations board of directors.

Ed Humphreys, who is also running as a Republican, has raised $155,020, mainly from Treasure Valley-area donors. That total includes $10,000 from Humphreys own funds.

Ammon Bundy, who has announced he is running as a Republican, has six donations amounting to $6,000. Steven Bradshaw, a Bonner County commissioner who announced his candidacy for governor as a Republican at the end of July, has raised $5,050, including $2,050 from his own funds.

Other Republican candidates, including Lisa Marie, Cody Usabel and Jeff Cotton havent reported any contributions.

Only one potential Democratic candidate in the race for governor has raised funds so far. Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad, who recently told the Sandpoint Reader he is exploring the possibility of a formal campaign, has raised a little over $15,000, including $5,000 from his own pocket. Democratic candidate Melissa Sue Robinson has not reported any contributions.

Unaffiliated candidates John Dionne and Robert Dempsey have also not reported any contributions, nor have Constitution Party candidates Pro-Life and Chantyrose Davison.

Heavy fundraising underway for Idaho lieutenant governor

Three Republicans are vying for the lieutenant governors seat, all with ties to the Idaho Legislature. Former Rep. Luke Malek, who represented the Coeur dAlene area from 2012 to 2018, declared his candidacy for the office in November 2020, and has raised $177,823 in the months since. That figure includes a $20,000 loan from Malek himself.

His supporters include former state Sen. Jeff Siddoway, of Terreton, as well as former Sen. John Goedde, who represented the Coeur dAlene area and served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Former Rep. Maxine Bell, who represented the Jerome area in the Idaho Legislature, has also donated to Maleks campaign.

Malek also has significant support from firefighters across Idaho, such as the Pocatello Firefighters Political Action Committee, Northern Lakes Professional Firefighters and Middleton Firefighters Political Action Committee.

Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, who announced she would run for lieutenant governor in May, has raised $116,785 so far. Among her sizable contributions is $5,000 from Doyle Beck, a board member for the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and $5,000 from Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan, who is also a member of the Idaho Freedom Foundations board of directors.

Speaker of the House Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, announced his bid for lieutenant governor in May as well and has raised $138,856 so far, including $2,500 of his own funds. Bedkes list of contributions includes funding from several legislators, including:

Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian

House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star

Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby

Sen. Van Burtenshaw, R-Terreton

Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian

Rep. Julie Yamamoto, R-Caldwell

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley

Former Sens. Jeff Siddoway of Terreton and Brent Hill of Rexburg have also contributed to Bedkes campaign, along with $5,000 each from real estate developer Tommy Ahlquist and his wife, Shanna.

Terri Pickens Manweiler, a Boise attorney who is the only Democrat in the race so far for lieutenant governor, has raised $43,500 since her announcement in August, including $5,000 of her own funds. Other significant contributions include $2,500 from Fred Cornforth, chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party, and $5,000 from A.J. Balukoff, a former Democratic candidate for governor, as well as $5,000 from his wife, Susie.

One candidate actively fundraising for Idaho attorney general

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has not announced if he will run for re-election in 2020, so there are only two official Republican candidates in the race  Dennis Colton Boyles, an attorney in Sandpoint, who recently represented Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin in a lawsuit over public records, and Arthur Macomber, a Coeur dAlene attorney who recently appeared with McGeachin at an event in Ammon, Idaho, to respond to press coverage of the public records dispute.

Two days after the event in Ammon, Macomber reported a $1,000 donation from McGeachins campaign.

Macomber has reported $82,874 in donations, with more than $49,000 of that sum from his own funds. His support also includes $2,000 from Doyle Beck, a board member for the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and $5,000 from Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan, who is also a member of the Idaho Freedom Foundations board of directors.

Boyles has not reported any contributions.

Idaho secretary of state fundraising is neck and neck

Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane and Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur dAlene, are Republican candidates for secretary of state and have raised nearly the same amount of money for their campaigns  about $44,000. Chad Houck, who is Idahos deputy secretary of state, also announced his candidacy for the position as a Republican, but has so far only reported a loan from his own funds of $5,000.

Secretary of State Lawerence Denney has not announced if he will run for re-election.

Among those supporting McGrane are Rep. Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, former Sen. Jeff Siddoway, of Terreton, and former Sen. John Goedde, who represented the Coeur dAlene area and served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

Souza has received support from Siddoway as well and has received $5,000 from Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan, who is also a member of the Idaho Freedom Foundations board of directors.

One candidate receiving majority of support in Idaho superintendent race

Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra has not announced if she will run for re-election in 2022, but she has raised $7,500 since June. That amount pales in comparison to one of her Republican opponents, former president of the Idaho State Board of Education Debbie Critchfield, who has raised $95,500 since she announced her campaign in May.

Her supporters include several current and former legislators, including Rep. Julie Yamamoto, R-Caldwell, Rep. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, Rep. Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, and former Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, who represented the Eagle area and served as chairman of the House Education Committee.

Branden Durst, who is a former Democratic legislator running as a Republican for the office, has raised $6,500 so far, including a $1,000 donation from Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan, who is also a member of the Idaho Freedom Foundations board of directors.

Idaho state controller running unopposed

Brandon Woolf, who has been Idahos state controller since 2012, is running unopposed so far for re-election to the post. He has raised $11,500 from business entities, including Simplot, Idaho Power and the Idaho Association of General Contractors.

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BOISE  Idahos health insurance exchange, Your Health Idaho, opened Monday with a new slate of plans that qualify for subsidies.

Idahoans can sign up for health insurance plans through the exchange at yourhealthidaho.org, or browse anonymously to see whats available.

The deadline to sign up is Dec. 15.

Every year we encourage Idahoans to begin the process as early as possible. This year that is especially true, Your Health Idaho Executive Director Pat Kelly said in a news release. While we have expanded our customer support channels with new online and chat options, Your Health Idaho is not immune to the current labor shortages and customers could see longer wait times with the increased demand.

Anyone who isnt insured through an employer, and doesnt qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, can get insurance through the exchange. While the insurance coverage itself is provided by private insurers, the Affordable Care Act created subsidies to help cover premiums for exchange-based plans.

Your Health Idahos website allows users to anonymously enter their income and a few other basic facts, to calculate how much they would pay in monthly premiums for each plan available. The exchange includes medical and dental insurance.

Two new insurers join the exchange for the 2022 coverage year: Utah-based EMI Health and Molina Healthcare of Idaho, which has administered plans for Idaho Medicaid. Blue Cross of Idaho, Mountain Health CO-OP, PacificSource Health Plans, Regence BlueShield of Idaho and SelectHealth will return to the exchange for 2022.

Not only do we have two new insurance carriers and a record number of plans, but Idahoans are also seeing more savings than ever before thanks to the enhanced subsidies that are only available through Your Health Idaho, Kelly said in the release.

The enhanced subsidies became available in March, allowing higher income families to buy plans on the exchange. The subsidy, which acts like an instant discount, would allow a family of four in Ada County with an annual income of $85,000 to pay $0 for a health insurance plan, the news release said.

Likewise, a married couple in their 50s from Bonneville County making $55,000 could get covered with a mid-level plan for less than $300 per month, it said.

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Looking at the duties of Idahos secretary of state, its a wonder why anyone would want the job  especially someone such as Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane, who says he loves what hes doing.

The secretarys job description is far from glamorous. Duties include registering business entities, filing liens under the Uniform Commercial Code and registering trademarks and service marks within the state.

Theres more.

The secretary is the keeper of the Great Seal of Idaho, and as such ss responsible for licensing notaries public, as well as authenticating documents and issuing apostilles.

Whatever in the heck that means.

Then, theres publishing Idahos Blue Book (a certain cure for insomnia), administering a will registry and lets not forget serving as an ex officio member of the Idaho Code Commission.

Oh, theres one other chore  and one that puts McGrane and two other strong Republican candidates (Deputy Secretary Chad Houck and Sen. Mary Souza of Coeur dAlene) in the race. The secretary of state oversees elections in Idaho, which becomes a high-profile position in the era of Donald Trump and allegations of irregularities in last years presidential election. Idaho was not so much in the limelight, because Trump won easily. But election integrity is high on the minds of Idahoans.

McGrane, a self-described elections junkie, has been Ada Countys chief election officer for three years as clerk  and longer than that as far as involvement with elections.

My passion for elections began in 2005 counting punch cards and recruiting poll workers, he says on his campaign website. Since then, I have gone on to serve as a law clerk to the United States Elections Assistance Commission and have been involved in every aspect of running elections in Ada County.

As a county clerk, hes also the courts guy for lawyers and judges and the budget guy for county commissioners, so multi-tasking in the secretary of states office would not be a great transition. He already has working relationships with county clerks on elections, organizing a training program for clerks and staff. Being secretary of state would allow him to increase that involvement  which is another reason for seeking a career change.

First, he must defeat Houck and Souza, who also are vying to replace retiring Secretary of State Lawerence Denney. Souza is sounding alarms about the vulnerable nature of election security in the Gem State. McGrane disagrees with that assessment, saying Idaho elections are as airtight as people can expect.

Idahoans have a lot to be proud of regarding how we run our elections, he says. In Idaho, we have good systems and good laws in place.

Certainly, there are small irregularities that occur in almost every election. McGrane has isolated cases of people trying to vote in two counties, or occasional voters from other states casting votes in Idaho. One of the biggest problems McGrane has seen are felons trying to vote.

They dont get away with it  at least not for long, and thats because Idaho has sophisticated communication channels aimed at stopping fraud. We catch these things and prosecute, McGrane says. I am the only candidate (in this race) who has been actively involved in voter fraud cases. We take it very seriously. Having a secretary of state who has been involved with that experience makes a difference.

McGrane, a fourth-generation Idahoan (roots in Pocatello) is no stranger to the statewide political scene. He ran unsuccessfully for the office in 2014 against Denney and hes familiar with county officials throughout the state. Hes well known by legislators and the media through his involvement with election issues.

Theres no question that McGrane has the qualifications for the job. The outcome may hinge on how Idahoans feel about election security overall  and who is best equipped to ensure the integrity of Idahos voting system.

Chuck Malloy is a longtime Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com.

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While other children were sent to daycare, when I was 3 years old I was sent to a Japanese-American prison, Carlene Tanigoshi Tinker, now 82, told the Washington Post recently.

She was one of some 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly imprisoned during World War II, a time when racist fears swept the country.

After traveling in a railroad car from the West Coast, Tanigoshi and her family arrived at a prison camp close to Kansas that became known as Amache. The military-style barracks were laid out on a barren landscape in lightly populated eastern Colorado. It was one of 10 such prisons hastily erected in America during the 1940s.

Now, thanks to a bill that passed the House and is now before the Senate, theres a good chance that Amache will become a new national historical park, telling its story of mass hysteria, hardship and survival.

Tanigoshi, who I met at Amache recently, said that the people imprisoned were patriotic Americans, and after men in the local town of Granada joined the military and labor became scarce, camp prisoners filled in at harvest time, mostly as volunteers. The need to harvest the main crop of sugar beets set the stage for camp residents and locals to trust each other.

Once Amache Director James Lindley got to know the incarcerated families, he began to relax restrictions, opening the door for a new community to form. Teachers were allowed to move into the camp to be closer to their students. He also allowed internees to work at other jobs in Granada, one mile away, and permitted camp residents to go to town for social activities such as seeing a movie or going to a soda fountain. According to reports told of the camp, Amache was humanely run, the place internees in other camps wanted to transfer into.

Living conditions, however, were grim for the approximately 7,000 people who were never allowed to protest their incarceration. Still, 441 men from the camp served in our military during World War II.

When the camp was closed after three years, its origin story was mostly neglected. But in 1993, Granada High School teacher John Hopper asked his students if theyd like to do some volunteer work, helping to restore the camps water tower and signs and any structures that remained standing. The students were enthusiastic, he said in an interview, and so began the Amache Preservation Society that continues to maintain the site today, along with other volunteer groups.

Generations of kids and their parents have worked to keep Amaches history alive, said Hopper, who is now school principal. Students travel all over, including Japan, to tell the story of how the camp came to be and what it was like.

Another frequent visitor is Bonnie Clark, archaeologist at Denver University. Since 2008, she and her team, some descendants of internees, have been researching life at the camp.

When I visited the camp and its museum, one of her team, Greg Kitajima, showed me butterflies made from tiny seashells that his mother made when she was an internee. The layered shells give shape to the insect forms; the pastel stripes of the shells add delicate color to the shapes. Greg also tells me stories he heard from his grandparents, strawberry farmers in San Jose, California, who suffered severe discrimination as war fever swept through America. They, too, were sent to Amache. His eyes well up as he shares the memories. It is painful to hear. My eyes tear up, too.

I believe that the move by four Colorado Congressmen to designate Amache a national historic site is one that can bring us together. This place of deprivation, yet community, needs to be preserved.

Late in the day, when Im walking around the camps recreation hall, bunkhouse and a guard tower, the setting sun mellows the landscape. I think about what Greg told me, about how his family feels linked to this place. They were people who made the best of a bad situation  the best they could.

Amaches power is that it invites us to listen and learn from the past, to renew our sense of humanity. Perhaps Amache can help to heal our nations troubled soul.

Paul Zaenger is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, a nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He was a supervisory park ranger who recently retired after 40 years in the National Park Service.

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Miracle Wilson called the health department to inquire about scheduling a clinic the day before his funeral.

"I regrettably will forever ask myself: If he had taken the vaccine, would he have lived life past 43?" Miracle Wilson said.

The upcoming clinic at New Life Ministries is among more than a dozen community-based clinics scheduled in the area in coming weeks. Holding clinics in these settings does make a difference in drawing people, said Kenya Smith Godette, a spokeswoman for the Guilford County Health Department.

"Through research we've found that for some groups, whether in rural areas or minority communities, it's just that factor of trust," Godette said.

That's what Miracle Wilson hopes.

Kermit Wilson attended N.C. A&T in the early 2000s after earning a bachelor of science degree in natural sciences from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va. At A&T, he earned a master's degree in food and nutritional science. He would later earn a master's divinity degree in pastoral preaching from Liberty University.

"Kermit was kind-hearted, gentle, jovial, loving and wanted the best for everyone," Miracle Wilson said.
Credit: University of Louisville

Bubonic plague may not seem like a significant problem in the world today. While it killed millions of people in Europe in the Middle Ages and was known as the "black death," it mostly has faded from public concern.

Microbiologists at the University of Louisville study Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes bubonic plague, however, because it has the potential to be used as a bioweapon and it provides knowledge that may apply to efforts to defeat other bacteria. Through this work, they have made an important discovery about a molecule secreted by Y. pestis and other bacteria that helps defeat the host's immune defenses, allowing the bacteria to infect its hosts.

Sarah Price, a doctoral student researcher, and her mentor, Matthew Lawrenz, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, have found that yersiniabactin, a small molecule secreted by Y. pestis, gathers zinc, a necessary element for bacterial replication. This discovery may have implications in other infections as well since bacteria causing pneumonia, sepsis and other illnesses also are known to release yersiniabactin.

"While yersiniabactin's role in iron acquisition has been well known for over 30 years, we were surprised to see its significant impact on zinc acquisition during Y. pestis infection," Price said "This is very exciting because it helps us understand how Y. pestis and other bacteria acquire nutrients that allow them to cause disease."

Invading bacteria as well as the hosts they infect all require iron, zinc and other metals in order to grow. The host's immune system employs a strategy called nutritional immunity to protect against these bacterial infections, sealing the metals away from the bacteria.

It has been known for many years that yersiniabactin defeats this defense by stealing away iron and delivering it into the bacterial cells. Price and Lawrenz have discovered that the molecule also is involved in securing zinc and perhaps even other metals to assist Y. pestis infection.

Yersiniabactin also is used by Escherichia coli, which causes a multitude of infections such as intestinal illness and kidney infections, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia and sepsis. These more common diseases can be life-threatening and multidrug-resistant infections. The new understanding may lead to additional strategies for controlling infection by all of these bacteria.

An article describing the research published Oct. 29 in PNAS provides details about how the researchers determined that yersiniabactin was responsible for the collection of not only iron, but zinc. Price is first author on the publication, "Yersiniabactin Contributes to Overcoming Zinc Restriction during Yersinia pestis Infection of Mammalian and Insect Hosts." Lawrenz, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, is senior author, and researchers from the University of Kentucky, Washington State University and the University of Illinois also contributed to these studies.

"With this understanding of the broader role of yersiniabactin in plague infection, we can explore further to understand its role in enabling other bacteria to infect a human or other host," Lawrenz said. "If this mechanism holds true across these bacteria, it may be possible to develop a drug or vaccine that could inhibit yersiniabactin's effectiveness, thus preventing all of these infections."

Bubonic plague most often is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected flea, usually carried by a rodent. By not handling animal carcasses, preventing flea bites and avoiding contact with bodily fluids of those infected, the spread of bubonic plague is largely controlled. However, since human-to-human transmission is possible, mortality from an infection ranges from 3090% and no vaccine is available to prevent the infection, it remains an important pathogen for research. In addition, Y. pestis, has the potential for weaponization and is considered a bioterrorism threat.

Lawrenz, Price and their colleagues conduct research within the UofL Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, which focuses on the development of prevention and treatment strategies for infectious diseases and other harmful pathogens. Its researchers utilize the UofL Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, a member of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases network of 12 regional and 2 national biocontainment laboratories for studying infectious agents. The lab includes Biosafety Level 3 facilities built to the most exacting federal safety and security standards to protect researchers and the public from exposure to the pathogens being investigated.

The center's researchers were called upon in early 2020 to develop tests and prevention and treatment strategies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This work continues.

Explore further Escherichia coli bacteria hijack copper, feed off it

More information: Sarah L. Price et al, Yersiniabactin contributes to overcoming zinc restriction during Yersinia pestis infection of mammalian and insect hosts, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Sarah L. Price et al, Yersiniabactin contributes to overcoming zinc restriction during Yersinia pestis infection of mammalian and insect hosts,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104073118
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages five to 11. Pfizer's clinical trial results indicate the vaccine is safe and effective in this age group.

This is an important development. COVID-19 infections are on the rise in children across Canada.

It is now up to Health Canada to consider the data and to decide whether to authorize this COVID-19 vaccine for children. Once it is authorized in Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) will have to decide whether to recommend vaccination for all children in this age group.

This raises the question of how this decision ought to be made.

Making an ethical decision

As a moral philosopher who has collaboratively researched ethical issues relating to the vaccination of children, I believe it is important to answer this question, for two reasons.

First, whatever the decision, the principles on which it is basedand should be basedmust be clear and transparent.

Second, surprisingly little attention has been paid to this issue in Canada, despite the decision to vaccinate children being a matter of science and ethics. Science can clarify some of the costs and benefits of vaccination, but it cannot tell us which costs and benefits matter and when a cost-benefit ratio is favorable.

Fortunately, there is no need to generate a decision-making procedure from scratch. The procedure used by the United Kingdom's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in deciding whether to vaccinate healthy children aged 1215 in the U.K. can provide important lessons about what not to do.

Risks and benefits

The most important factor is whether the benefits of vaccination outweigh its risks, and the degree to which the benefits outweigh the risks. In weighing these, the JCVI relied on what it called the "health perspective."

Reasoning from this perspective, the JCVI held (in a series of public statements) that the chief benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 were the prevention of death, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

The chief harms of vaccination were myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, and pericarditis, inflammation of the thin sack surrounding the heart, though it said these were rare and "typically self-limiting and resolved within a short time."

The JCVI argued that the benefits of vaccination in this age group are only "marginally greater" than the harms and that therefore vaccination would not be offered to all members of this group.

NACI disagreed, but did not outline the ethical principles it relied on in recommending vaccination for children ages 1217.

JCVI's decision not to offer all children vaccination against COVID-19 was flawed in numerous respects. (It was later overruled by the chief medical officers of the U.K."s four nations.) NACI will do well to avoid these mistakes in making its decision about vaccinating children ages five to 11.

The Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Independent SAGE, a group of British scientists offering independent scientific advice on the prevention of COVID-19) has raised a number of concerns about the JCVI's decision-making process.

One concern is the way in which the JCVI calculated the benefits of vaccination, basing these calculations on risk to the population of all children of death, hospitalization, ICU admission and so on from COVID-19 infection, rather than the risks of these to children with a confirmed infection of COVID-19.

Another concern Independent SAGE raised was that the JCVI did not state which vaccine it considered when it examined the risks, a relevant concern since heart inflammation rates appear to be higher after the Moderna vaccine than after the Pfizer vaccine.

Direct and indirect benefits

Some of JVCI's other mistakes related to value judgments, relying on the health perspective to make its decision. However, the JCVI was not consistent on what this included.

As noted, the JCVI mentioned the prevention of death, hospitalization, ICU admission and PIMS or MIS-C. These are not the only health benefits of vaccination against COVID-19. Some direct and indirect health benefits of vaccination were not clearly included.

The direct benefits include the prevention of long COVIDa condition affecting anywhere from two to 14 percent of children infected with COVID-19and potential neurological and cognitive deficits caused by COVID-19 infection.

Preventing the negative mental and physical health effects associated with school closures, limits on sporting and other such activities and physical distancing requirements are among the indirect benefits (though these were rightly noted by NACI in its recommendation to vaccinate adolescents). These health effects are important when deciding whether to vaccinate.

These are the known risks and benefits. However, the JCVI's refusal to recommend vaccination to all children aged 1215 was due to the uncertainties "regarding the magnitude of the potential harms" of vaccination, including myocarditis.

Although it gave considerable weight to unknown harms or uncertainties of vaccination, the JVCI did not consider potential unknown benefits of vaccination, or uncertainties about benefits. There was no reason to rule these out. Uncertainties about benefits seem to be of as much importance in thinking about the risk benefit profile of COVID-19 vaccination as uncertainties about risks. These, again, matter greatly to this decision.

The JCVI made another ethical error when it said the harms of vaccination should be given greater weight (relatively speaking) than the benefits.

There is no good reason to place a higher relative value on harms compared to benefits. Harms caused by vaccines are not worse than harms caused by COVID-19. It does not appear to be true that the rare and typically mild pericarditis or the myocarditis caused by vaccination is any worse than the pericarditis or the myocarditis caused (at greater frequency) by COVID-19 infection. This is not in line with other treatments considered for children, for which harms are not typically weighed more heavily than benefits.

The well-being perspective

It was a mistake for JCVI to make the decision about vaccination against COVID-19 in children purely on the basis of the health perspective. Health is important. But it is not the only value in the lives of children. Health is a priority because without it many other important benefitsenjoying friends, connecting with relatives, absorbing oneself in homework or music lessonsbecome much more difficult, if not impossible.

The JCVI mentioned the beneficial effects of vaccination on education. But it did not factor these benefits into the decision relating to vaccinating children against COVID-19.

Educational and other benefits afforded to children by vaccination matter greatly and must be factored into this decision. Moving beyond the health perspective into the well-being perspective encompasses a larger range of benefits and protections from vaccination, including safe and stable learning environments, time with extended family, sport, music performances and the many other things that make life happy and meaningful for children.

When making the decision whether to vaccinate children aged five to 11 against COVID-19, regulators in Canada must rely on both sound science and sound ethics. They must in particular consider all the health and well-being impacts of vaccination more generally; they must consider the uncertain harms and benefits of vaccination; and they must treat benefits and harms symmetrically.

Doing so will show that vaccinating children is, all things considered, beneficial.

Explore further UK's vaccine assessor opts against COVID jabs for children

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Caio Fonseca, who said his father died from complications related to COVID-19, cries and hugs his mother Roseli Fonsceca during a protest against the way the government handled the nation's response to the pandemic, organized by the "Widows of COVID" group on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

Brazil's seven-day total for deaths from COVID-19 has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the pandemic, according to online research website Our World in Data.

In the seven days through Nov. 1 the nation recorded 2,188 deathsa level unseen since April 2020amid increasingly widespread vaccination.

After a sluggish start, Latin America's largest nation has now fully vaccinated more than half its population. That share is even higher in some large cities, such as Sao Paulo, where virtually 100% of the adult population has had at least one shot and more than 90% are fully vaccinated. And a greater percentage of Brazilians have had at least one dose than Americans, according to the data site.

That has put the nation's number of virus deaths on a downward trend for the last four months. Experts' widely expressed concern that Brazil could see a renewed surge from the spread of the delta variant thus far hasn't materialized.

The nation's current daily toll is just one-tenth the gruesome peak witnessed in April 2021. That surge coupled with outrage over President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic triggered the formation of a Senate committee to investigate the government's actions.

A balloon reads in Portuguese "My father Jorge" during a protest by the "Widows of COVID" group against the way the government handled the nation's response to the new coronavirus pandemic, on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

People carry the Portuguese message "In mourning" during a protest against the way the government handled the nation's response to the new coronavirus pandemic, organized by the "Widows of COVID" group on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

Members of the "Widows of COVID" group protest against the way the government handled the nation's response to the new coronavirus pandemic, on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

A woman cries during a protest by the "Widows of COVID" group against the way the government handled the nation's response to the new coronavirus pandemic, on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

A woman during a protest by the "Widows of COVID" group against the way the government handled the nation's response to the new coronavirus pandemic, on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Her shirt features a portrait next to this Portuguese message: "Homage of the Fonseca Lopes family, to Heimar Geraldo Lopes Filho. Forever the love of our lives." Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

Caio Fonseca, who said his father died from complications related to COVID-19, cries and hugs his mother Roseli Fonsceca during a protest against the way the government handled the nation's response to the pandemic, organized by the "Widows of COVID" group on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

Elizabeth Gomes Pinto, who said her husband Edmar Pereira Pinto died from complications related to COVID-19, shows her necklace featuring photos of them and their daughter, during a protest against the way the government handled the nation's response to the pandemic, organized by the "Widows of COVID" group on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado

After six months of hearings, the committee last week recommended Bolsonaro and dozens of others face criminal charges.

Its nearly 1,300-page report drew attention to his government's delayed response to pharmaceutical companies' offers to sell millions of vaccines, as well as Bolsonaro's insistent touting of dubious, unproven treatments such as hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that scientists have long since determined is ineffective.

Bolsonaro has denied all wrongdoing, and cast himself as having courageously pushed back on political correctness and recommendations from global health experts that would thrash the economy and hurt the poor.

Brazil has recorded about 609,000 deaths, the world's second-highest total after that of the U.S.

In Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo on Tuesday, dozens of mourners in a group named "The COVID-19 Widows" gathered and criticized the government's management of the health crisis. In Rio, they held a banner that read: "They're not numbers, they're lives."

"My husband died and just two weeks later it would have been his turn to take the vaccine, due to a comorbidity," Katia Araujo, 41, told The Associated Press in Sao Paulo. "It disgusts us, because we think, if it had been more organized, planned, he and many other victims wouldn't have died. They would be here." ___ AP videojournalist Tatiana Pollastri contributed from Sao Paulo.

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Biological heart valve with metal scaffold. Credit: Fraunhofer IKTS

A defective heart valve is the second most common form of heart disease. Most cases involve a narrowed aortic valve, but often the mitral valve can also be affected. Prostheses significantly increase the life expectancy of those with the disease. While bioprosthetic heart valves have some advantages over mechanical ones, they can become calcified relatively quickly, limiting the length of their useful life. A team of researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS is attempting to prevent such calcification with a new chemical pretreatment of the bioprostheses.

If a heart valve stops opening and closing properly, it often needs to be replaced with an artificial one. We are currently seeing a trend towards biological valves because they do not require the patient to take blood-thinning medications, such as Marcumar. Mechanical valves, on the other hand, require life-long treatment with anticoagulants. The downside of bioprostheses, which are made either from pig aortic valves or from bovine pericardial tissue, is that they normally only last up to 15 years because of the effects of calcification and material fatigue on the proper functioning of the valve leaflets. Crystalline hydroxyapatite forms deposits on the leaflets and triggers the formation of calcium depositsthis process is what experts call calcification. Researchers at Fraunhofer IKTS are looking to stop these deposits from forming with new chemical pretreatments. They are working closely with the Institute of Applied Medical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and the Meshalkin National Medical Research Center in Novosibirsk, Russia.

"Although biological heart valves last for many years thanks to a special treatment process, signs of wear still appear and require these prostheses to be replaced after 10 to 15 years," says Dr. Natalia Beshchasna, scientist at Fraunhofer IKTS. Deposits of calcium phosphate compounds negatively affect the mechanical properties of the material. The artificial valve becomes narrower, which impairs blood flow.

The prostheses are normally pretreated with glutaraldehyde. One of the purposes of this commonly used fixative is to stabilize the collagen scaffold of the prosthetic valve. To prevent or delay the calcification and degeneration process, Dr. Beshchasna and her partners are using new chemical compounds. In the trials, they selected pericardial tissue as a base material and stabilized it with molecules of active substance. Instead of conventional fixation with glutaraldehyde, they used diepoxide and bisphosphonate. "Glutaraldehyde binds well to collagen, but not to elastin, which is also a component of pericardial tissue. That is why alternatives are being sought, and we have decided to use diepoxide," explains the engineer. The cross-linking was carried out with and without adding bisphosphonates, which are medications that affect bone metabolism and are used to treat osteoporosis, for example.

Calcification impairs heart valve function (right). This is the result of an in-vitro calcification test. Credit: Fraunhofer IKTS

Great potential for diepoxides and bisphosphonates

First of all, the tissue samples were prepared for three weeks with glutaraldehyde, diepoxide, diepoxide plus bisphosponate and diepoxide plus the mild preservative optiphen. This gave the tissue samples new properties. A four-week calcification test was then carried out to test the effects of the above-mentioned preparation under accelerated laboratory conditions. The pH of the solutions was buffered and matched that of human blood plasma. "We chemically pretreated a total of eight heart valves in different ways with four different solutions and analyzed them using conventional processes, such as scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and microcomputer tomography, to determine which tissue treatment process works best against the long-term complication of calcification," says the researcher. The results of the in-vitro test pointed to diepoxides and bisphosphonates as a highly promising alternative to glutaraldehyde thanks to their excellent tissue fixation properties. The researchers see great potential for this combined treatment. "Pericardial tissue tends to bind calcium ions, which in turn bind phosphate ions, thus encouraging calcification of the prosthetic heart valve. Diepoxides and bisphosphonates can counteract this long-term complication and prevent the reaction between calcium ions and phosphate ions," says Beshchasna.

The next step is to confirm these promising results in further in-vitro and in-vivo tests and in clinical experiments. "So far, the perfect prosthetic valve has not been constructed. We hope that our new chemical pretreatment will bring us one step closer to that holy grail."

Explore further Promising findings for treating damaged heart valves
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DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I just turned 65 and had my annual physical. This year, my doctor recommended that I receive a high-dose flu vaccine. Why do I need a high-dose vaccine?

ANSWER: Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system, including your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza, commonly called the flu, is not the same as stomach flu, which is an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever.

For most people, the flu resolves on its own. But sometimes the flu and its complications can be deadly.

People at higher risk of developing flu complications include:

Children under 5, especially those under 6 months.

Adults 65 and older.

Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Pregnant women and women up to two weeks postpartum.

People with weakened immune systems.

Native Americans.

People who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes.

People with a body mass index of 40 or higher.

Although the annual flu vaccine isn't 100% effective, it is the best defense against flu. Experts recommend that those 6 months and older get vaccinated for flu. Given your age, that is the likely reason why your health care provider recommended the high-dose vaccine.

High-dose flu vaccines are like other flu vaccines in that they are made up of the flu strains most likely to cause an infection during the upcoming season and they are given by injection. But they are only approved for people 65 and older.

High-dose vaccines include four times as much flu virus antigenthe part of the vaccine that stimulates the immune systemas standard flu vaccines. This can give older people a higher immune system response against flu.

Some older adults may have weaker immune systems, which can lead to them being less protected after a regular flu vaccine. In response to a regular flu shot, older people produce 50% to 75% fewer antibodies than younger adults. These antibodies protect against vaccine antigens.

Studies have found higher antibody levels in older adults who received high-dose flu vaccines than in those who received standard-dose flu vaccines.

In addition, one study found almost 25% fewer cases of influenza in adults 65 and older who took the high-dose vaccine, compared with those who took the standard-dose vaccine.

As with any vaccination, the high-dose flu vaccine has side effects. In a large study comparing standard and high-dose flu vaccines, those who received the high-dose vaccine were more likely to develop side effects the week after getting vaccinated. Side effects included a headache, soreness at the injection site, muscle aches and fatigue. Typically, side effects ease after a few days.

Studies continue to evaluate the outcomes of high-dose flu vaccines. If research finds outcomes to be better than standard flu vaccines, high-dose flu vaccines may eventually become the vaccine of choice for most adults, not just those 65 and older. But for now, it's most important to get vaccinated for flu annually, whether it's a standard or high-dose flu vaccine.

As COVID-19 also remains a threat, consider protecting yourself further by getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Talk with your health care provider about what is right for you. Also, be mindful of the different symptoms you may develop to accurately diagnose whether you may have side effects from a vaccination, flu, COVID-19, or another virus or coronavirus.

2021 Mayo Clinic News Network.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Despite high hopes, a new pan-Canadian study published today in The BMJ suggests that ciclesonidean inhaled and nasal steroid drug commonly used for asthma and rhinitiswon't be the treatment to change the course of the pandemic. The results of this first placebo controlled trial of inhaled steroids for COVID-19, led by a team of researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) in Montreal, in collaboration with scientists from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, show that inhaled corticosteroids are no better than placebo at helping young healthy people with COVID-19 and respiratory symptoms feel better sooner.

Early on in the pandemic, Dr. Nicole Ezer, the first and lead author of the study, read studies that showed that treatment with ciclesonidea safe, inexpensive and widely available drugcould decrease viral replication of SARS-Cov2 in mouse models of COVID-19. With the support of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) and the MUHC Foundation, she assembled a team of researchers that designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of inhaled ciclesonide to evaluate the resolution of symptoms in adults with COVID-19 presenting with respiratory symptoms.

"Based on my experience treating asthma, I thought it made sense to see if it would decrease the lung inflammation in patients with COVID-19 early in the disease, as lung disease has an important impact for patients and is a major effect of the virus," says Dr. Ezer, who is a lung specialist and a researcher in the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program at the RI-MUHC. "In addition, we felt it was important to study a drug for COVID-19 that has a very good safety profile and could be used in high, middle and low-income countries safely to reduce respiratory symptoms. Access to affordable medications is very important to decrease disparities in health outcomes across the world."

The importance of placebo control

A total of 215 symptomatic adults were recruited between September 15, 2020, and June 8, 2021, and randomly assigned either inhaled and intranasal ciclesonide or inhaled and intranasal placebo for 14 days. They were asked to complete a survey online on the day of enrollment and on six other occasions until day 14. A follow-up survey was sent on day 29 to capture longer term outcomes.

Based on the assumption that treatment would be most effective if given early in the disease process, participants were recruited within five days of a positive PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 and symptom onset and received the treatment at home by commercial courier. No vaccinated participants were included in the trial.

The study showed no significant difference between the intervention and control group. After seven days of treatment, 40 percent (42/105) of participants who took the study drug had no more fever and respiratory symptoms, vs. 35 percent (34/98) of those who took the placebo. At day 14, these figures amounted to 66 percent (69/105) in the ciclesonide group compared with 58 percent (57/98) in the placebo group.

Those results are disappointing, especially since two recent open label studies had raised hopes in the scientific community that inhaled steroids could alleviate respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19, and one study demonstrated efficacy of dexamethasone in admitted patients with COVID-19.

"The previously published studies had a major limitation: They were open label with no placebo. Other studies have shown that inhalers have a strong placebo effect," explains the senior author of the study, Dr. Emily McDonald, who is the Director of the MUHC Clinical Practice Assessment Unit and an associate professor of medicine at McGill University. "Here's a strong reminder that any study of a medication, in particular of inhalers, needs to be controlled with a placebo before we rush to recommend them."

In spite of the CONTAIN study's results, researchers still believe in the potential inhaled steroids to treat COVID-19.

"It's still possible that inhaled steroids might be beneficial for older at risk populations," says Dr. Ezer, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at McGill University. "We need more research focused on older adults and people who are high-risk, but those studies must have a placebo arm to make sure they aren't coming to a false conclusion of benefit."

A novel approach and fruitful collaboration to overcome pandemic challenges

Thanks to an innovative platform developed at the RI-MUHC, enrollment in the study was contactless. Everything was completed online, from the consent form and proof of identity to the follow-up surveys. The study was able to enroll participants in three provinces quickly during the second and third waves by leveraging this novel platform.

"It is very novel to recruit patients who are at home, ship medications to their house and follow up by phone for clinical trials," says Dr. McDonald, who helped create this electronic platform to enable the conduct of clinical trials during the pandemic. "We demonstrated we can do this safely and efficiently across Canada."

With the participation of researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of British Columbia, recruitment of participants was quickly extended to the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.

"The CONTAIN study shows why it is so important to conduct rigorous, placebo-controlled studies to determine whether a treatment truly confers benefit," says Dr. Nick Daneman, clinician-scientist and infectious diseases specialist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "We have followed nearly 10,000 patients in our COVIDEO outpatient program since early 2020 and have avoided use of unproven therapies. Ciclesonide is a safe medication which had theoretic reasons why it might speed recovery from COVID, so we were excited to offer this treatment to our patients within the structure of the trial. In the end, it turns out that this treatment most likely does not impact the course of COVID."

"More research is needed to focus on treatments for outpatients who are in the beginning stages of COVID-19," says Dr. Sara Belga, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of British Columbia and principal investigator of the CONTAIN study at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. "Our research team is committed to continue investigating medication that could speed up recovery of COVID-19 symptoms and to reduce additional strain on the health care system."

"Innovation comes from having the resources to support projects like CONTAIN," says Julie Quenneville, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation. "While this study may not have produced the results researchers were hoping for, it is imperative to give our top-talent the time and funding they need to find answers to COVID-19 and other life-threatening conditions."

More information: Nicole Ezer et al, Inhaled and intranasal ciclesonide for the treatment of covid-19 in adult outpatients: CONTAIN phase II randomised controlled trial, BMJ (2021). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Nicole Ezer et al, Inhaled and intranasal ciclesonide for the treatment of covid-19 in adult outpatients: CONTAIN phase II randomised controlled trial,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-068060
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More than two thirds (65.5 percent) of students are experiencing poor sleep quality and this is linked to mental health problems, new research published in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Human Biology suggests.

The findings, based on more than 1,000 (1,113) men and women attending university full-time, also show those reporting depressive symptoms were almost four times as likely to suffer from inadequate sleep habits.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was a problem among over half (55 percent) the studentsthey were almost twice as likely to have depression or experience moderate to high stress levels. In addition, the study highlights a gender divide, with poor quality sleep and EDS more prevalent among females.

The authors warn stressors, such as course demands, make college students vulnerable to sleep disorders which in turn affect academic performance and health. They're calling on universities to do more to promote positive sleep habits and good mental health.

"Sleep disorders are especially harmful for college students because they're associated with several negative effects on academic life," says lead author Dr. Paulo Rodrigues from the Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

"These include failures in attention and perception, high absenteeism rate, and sometimes dropping out of the course.

"The university environment offers greater exposure to factors that may compromise sleep habits such as academic stress and social life. It's crucial to evaluate and monitor sleep habits, mental health, and the quality of life of students to reduce the risk of developing other chronic diseases.

"University managers should plan the implementation of institutional actions and policies. This is to stimulate the development of activities that promote good sleep habits and benefit students' mental health."

Living away from home for the first time, using stimulants that impair sleep and keeping erratic bedtimes are all factors that make students vulnerable to a lack of quality rest at night. An average of seven hours sleep has been reported by those attending college when nine hours is considered the ideal for young adults.

Poor sleep and EDS in those attending university has already been identified by studies, but few have investigated any link with stress/depression. This new research is part of the Longitudinal Study on the Lifestyle and Health of University Students (ELESEU) and used data from 2016 and 2017.

The authors surveyed 1,113 undergraduates and post-graduates aged from 16 to 25 years who were enrolled in a range of studies at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Participants were asked about their sleep quality, EDS, socioeconomic status, and their body mass index (BMI) was also assessed.

The data was used to estimate the level of association between poor sleep quality/EDS, and depressive symptoms and perceived stress levels. Results showed a significant link between these factors, and depressive issues and moderate to high stress levels.

In addition to the findings on gender, a link was identified between poor sleep quality and the degree course discipline. Students studying biological and health sciences were more likely to be affected as were those enrolled in social and human sciences.

The mechanism behind sleep disturbance and depression is not unclear, as is whether mental health issues trigger poor quality sleep (or vice versa). Hence, the authors suggest that more research is needed to understand this interaction better.

Explore further More sleep leads to better grades and well-being, study shows

More information: Juliana Nunes Ramos et al, Poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness and association with mental health in college students, Annals of Human Biology (2021). Juliana Nunes Ramos et al, Poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness and association with mental health in college students,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1983019
Communities with medical research centers see a benefit in reduced mortality. Credit: Jo McCulty, The Ohio State University

A new study provides a novel way of showing that medical research does indeed save lives, starting in the local communities where it is produced.

Researchers analyzed whether publication of scientific studies related to specific diseases reduced mortality rates for each disease in regions in which the research took place.

These studies might describe new treatments or other ways of managing diseases that could benefit patients and add years to their lives.

The results showed that a 1 percent increase in publications on a specific disease produced by local researchers reduces the mortality rate for that disease in the area by 0.35 percent. That reduction occurred in the first five years following the publication of the research.

"The idea is that physicians who are in the same geographical area as the developers of a new medical idea are more likely to be early adopters of that idea," said study co-author Rebecca McKibbin, who is a lecturer at the University of Sydney in Australia.

"Our findings provide a way to measure how much biomedical research directly impacts life expectancy."

McKibbin, who began the work while visiting The Ohio State University, conducted the study with Bruce Weinberg, professor of economics at Ohio State. Their study appears as a working paper at the National Bureau of Economic Research and has not yet been peer reviewed.

Beyond finding a link between medical publications and lowered mortality, the researchers found that the link between health and research went further upstream to funding, with an increase in funding of medical research linked to fewer deaths in the region.

In that case, a 1 percent increase in local funding for research on a particular disease reduced local mortality from that disease by 0.22 percent.

Funding of scientific studies had significant links to lower mortality that appear to run through publications, Weinberg said.

"This is not a small rate of return," Weinberg said. "The results provide additional evidence that funding medical research is a good investment."

The study looked at mortality rates from 1999 to 2017 for 38 diseases, 19 of which were cancers. Researchers measured age-adjusted years of potential life lost, which places greater weight on deaths at younger ages relative to older ages.

Mortality rates were measured for each hospital referral region in the United Statesbasically, areas served by the same major hospitals.

The number of research publications came from the PubMed database, which is an index of more than 32 million biomedical research publications.

The question was whether more studies on a particular disease coming out of universities and other research centers in a particular area helped reduce deaths by that disease in the local communityand the answer was yes.

"Physicians and other health care providers hear about the idea first through local networks, which means they put the ideas into practice sooner. That gives a health advantage to people with that disease in locations where research is conducted," McKibbin said.

To establish a causal link between research and health, the researchers looked at changes in funding of biomedical research to measure the impact of new findings on mortality rates. Here they looked at grants from the National Institutes of Health to researchers investigating specific diseases. The NIH invests about $41.7 billion each year in medical research.

Here again, grants to researchers in a specific community helped reduce mortality in that area in the following years for diseases that they were studying.

Finally, the researchers looked at a single sharp "shock" to medical research funding that occurred with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law in 2009. The ARRA increased the NIH budget by $8 billion in 2009 and 2010.

The study examined what happened to life expectancies for people with specific diseases in communities that received additional funding from ARRA.

"This funding represents an unexpected windfall to the area to study a particular disease," Weinberg said. "We found that it also was linked to reduced mortality in the diseases it targeted."

For the study, the researchers took into account a variety of other factors that may also affect mortality. For example, they controlled for mortality trends for each area, in case deaths were increasing in one area more than others. They also controlled for mortality trends by disease, in case some diseases are becoming worse over time. And they controlled across areas for the diseases that are causing local deaths, in case some diseases are more prevalent in certain communities due to environmental or other factors.

Even after taking these factors into account, medical research helped patients live longer.

McKibbin said this study took a more direct way of measuring research impact than many other studies.

Most studies have focused on how medical research affects factors like patents or new medicines to treat diseases, McKibbin said.

"Here we identified the impact of biomedical research on health itself, as opposed to the intermediate steps such as the development of new pharmaceutical products," Weinberg said.

The findings also show the importance of sharing research findings, according to Weinberg.

"In addition to translating basic science into treatments, there should be a focus on disseminating valuable research findings to the health care professionals who can put them into practice. Our findings suggest that mortality may decline when that happens."

More information: Rebecca McKibbin et al, Does Research Save Lives? The Local Spillovers of Biomedical Research on Mortality (2021). Rebecca McKibbin et al, Does Research Save Lives? The Local Spillovers of Biomedical Research on Mortality (2021). DOI: 10.3386/w29420
US counties with a higher number of poor mental health days had higher rates of COVID-19 infections. Credit: STRETCH LAB

At the height of the pandemic, news and policy media focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic was contributing to poor mental health, a hypothesis confirmed by several studies. However, few studies examined whether the reverse might be true, that prior poor mental health may be associated with higher rates of COVID-19 infection. A novel study using nationwide population data at the county level found that areas with greater vulnerability in poor mental health prior to the pandemic have a greater burden of COVID-19. These results appear in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

"The inspiration to conduct this study came early on during the height of the pandemic," explained lead investigator Yusuf Ransome, DrPH, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. "Several studies showed that the pandemic was taking a devastating toll on people's mental health and impacting other psychiatric conditions, but we wanted to look at things from a different direction. Only a handful of studies examining small fragments of the population had considered the possibility that poor mental health could be contributing to a higher burden of infection rather than vice versa. We wanted to examine whether these relationships also existed in the general population, address the lack of studies with an ecological-level focus, and produce evidence to strengthen calls for interventions."

The investigators found that the pandemic itself was not causing 'new problems' but was in fact revealing gaps across multiple systems and social determinants of health that had been ignored or insufficiently addressed previously and were manifesting as high population burden of illness and mortality.

Using aggregated survey data from 2,839 US counties from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), researchers determined that between 2010 and 2019, a total of 2,172 counties (77%) experienced significant increases in the average number of poor mental health days including depression, stress, and problems with emotions. Further analysis revealed that higher days of poor mental health in 2019 had a robust association with the rate of COVID-19 infections in 2020.

Additional analysis to identify state variations showed that association between poorer mental health days and COVID-19 infection was not stronger across counties in the Southern states and was being driven by a few states, at least statisticallyArizona, Montana, and Nevada. These results held even after considering indicators of socioeconomic vulnerability such as income inequality and other stressors such as violence.

"Our study is important because it provides empirical evidence to support ongoing conversations about the urgent need for mental health care to be delivered at the community level," commented Dr. Ransome. "We call for policies that strengthen surveillance systems to better capture a range of mental health outcomes in the population, address social inequalities that give rise to poor mental health, and funding to create, sustain, and equitably distribute mental health resources, including wellness care centers across US communities."

More information: Yusuf Ransome et al, Association of Poor Mental Health Days With COVID-19 Infection Rates in the U.S., American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2021). Yusuf Ransome et al, Association of Poor Mental Health Days With COVID-19 Infection Rates in the U.S.,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.08.032
Highly integrated implant electronics with radiotelem-etry and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to record biosignals and for stimulation. Credit: Fraunhofer IBMT

Implants can actively support the body, as in the case of pacemakers, neuroprostheses or cochlear implants. In the future, active implants will be smaller, less energy-intensive and, above all, more patient-friendly. This is why the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT is working on miniaturization, external power supplies and wirelessly networked implants. The latest developments will be presented at COMPAMED/MEDICA in Dusseldorf from November 15 to 18 (Hall 13, Stand D60).

While dental implants only replace the tooth and help to chew food in the same way as the original, other implants actively support the body and are therefore called "active implants." One well known example is the pacemaker, which is implanted in the chest area under the patient's skin and emits pulses to stimulate the heart rhythm when it becomes too slow. The energy it needs is supplied by a battery. However, there are some innovative therapies in development that could use small implants to replace some drug-based therapiesthese will require tiny implants that use very little energy. The major goal is to provide maximum care and personalized therapy for the patient.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer IBMT are supporting manufacturers with their huge expertise gained over 20 years of work on active implants. The latest developments from the Fraunhofer IBMT can be seen at the COMPAMED/MEDICA trade show being held from November 15 to 18 in Dusseldorf (Hall 13, Stand D60). "We're not just a technology partner but a system provider for the design and development of active implants," says Andreas Schneider-Ickert, Project Manager and Innovation Manager at the Fraunhofer IBMT. "Ultimately, we work on the miniaturization of implants as well as on biocom-patibility and long-term stability, power supply, near-sensor signal processing, alternative stimulation methods and implant networks," adds Group Manager Roman Ruff.

Controlling neuroprostheses directly through muscle or nerve signals

One example is prosthetic hands, which can be used by people who have lost a hand or an arm to allow them to grasp objects and to rotate their hand. The future will see the addition of significantly greater levels of freedom and the electrodes that are currently needed on the skin for these prosthetic hands to work will become passe. "We have developed flexible, implantable microelectrodes, for example in the "Theranostic Implants' project," says Roman Ruff. "We can place these electrodes inside the body and record useful signals directly from muscles or nerves." These signals are then converted into movement of the prosthesis. "In the long term, patients with these prostheses will be able to feel a lot more like they have a naturally working hand, because they will be able to carry out much more complex movements. What's more, feedback can be transferred through the implanted electrodes back into the peripheral nervous system. These trigger perceptions that can represent changes in gripping strength, for example. It will be significantly more intuitive for the wearer to control a prosthesis," explains Ruff.

Energy transfer from outside: depth of penetration increased by a factor of two to three

Active implants require energy. With induction, this energy can be supplied from outside the body, but the depth of penetration into the body is limited. At greater implant depths, effectiveness is significantly reduced. "We have been able to increase the depth of penetration by a factor of two to three by transferring the energy into the body via ultrasound," says Schneider-Ickert. This method can be used to supply implants encased in titanium, for example, that cannot be supplied using induction. Another advantage of energy supply and communication via ultrasound is security. While inductive or radio-based interfaces can be hacked, this is more difficult to do with ultrasound.

The scientists at the Fraunhofer IBMT are also working on the recently launched "SOMA" European project with seven partners from five European countries to stimulate nerves via ultrasound as well. "If we could stimulate the peripheral nervous system via ultrasound from a greater distance to the nerve, using the implants would be even more patient-friendly," explains Schneider-Ickert.

Another trend for the future of active implants is the use of networked systems comprising multiple highly miniaturized implants that coordinate with each other, rather than one central implant. The team of scientists at the Fraunhofer IBMT is working on this together with 16 partners in the innovation cluster "INTAKT" (from the German for "interactive microimplants") funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF. The main advantage of these networked systems is greater biostability. "The sensors and actuators can be directly integrated into the casing, which removes the need for sensitive cable connections," explains Ruff.

If an implant fails, it is also much easier to replace. In the development of platform tech-nologies for networked active implants, the Fraunhofer researchers are pursuing three use cases. The first is a pacemaker for the gastrointestinal tract that uses distributed implants to facilitate or inhibit the intestine's motility, i.e., ability to move actively. The second is a tinnitus suppressor that uses electrical stimulation to mask the ringing sound and make it less intrusive. The third is a gripping neuroprosthesis that can be used by paraplegics who have residual muscle activity to support them in performing arm movements, for example lifting a glass.

Explore further Basic structure of ultrasound power supply and communication
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Melissa Lee had more to deal with than funeral planning when her husband, Dan Williams, died by suicide in January. She also was faced with continuing his 1,400-member Facebook group, "Athens, GA Mask Grades 2.0," designed to help residents of Athens protect themselves from COVID-19 by grading local businesses on their safety measures.

The group follows a strict template that Melissa Lee compares to a Yelp review. The review includes information about a company's physical distancing provisions, the availability of outdoor services, vaccination requirements, and the percentages of masked employees and customers.

"A mask is like a visible sign of whether or not you're listening to the same information," said Lee, who works in donor relations at the University of Georgia. "There is some beauty in supporting those that are aligned with you. But it's also just kind of sad that there's two sides to that."

Such COVID vigilantes have cropped up in multiple cities, appearing where safety guidelines are lax despite high numbers of positive cases.

Some states, such as Florida, go as far as preventing local safety mandates, though the Sunshine State has been sued by a group of parents for banning strict mask mandates in schools.

In Georgia, although Republican Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency due to COVID, no state mask mandate exists. An executive order allows businesses to disregard the COVID safety ordinances created by local governments requiring masks.

Similarly, in Tennessee, Republican Gov. Bill Lee issued an executive order that prevents local mask orders in 89 counties.

These states stand in sharp contrast to those with definitive policies, such as California, where masks are required in hospitals, schools and correctional facilities, regardless of vaccination status.

The lack of government action in some communities is forcing everyday people to fill the void, according to Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an international nonprofit organization designed to disrupt online misinformation.

"You can see here that people are taking action collectively, essentially replicating what governments should be doing, but in a private fashion out of sheer desperation," Ahmed said.

With about 6,800 members, Alabama-based "Mask Up Huntsville" says its mission is to track the mask compliance of local businesses. Alabama currently recommends wearing a mask indoors but has no mandate. In the public Facebook group, people can also ask for recommendations from others about which doctors and dentists follow responsible COVID guidelines, and they can share personal anecdotes about pandemic life. But what isn't allowed: political statements of any kind.

In Tennessee, a perceived lack of information from government authorities led to a private Facebook group called "Knoxville Parents Against Covid." Amanda Jamison Gillen created the group to allow parents to report if their child tests positive for COVID, as an alert to other parents amid a vacuum of information at the time from the schools.

Knox County Schools recommended the use of face masks in 2020 but did not require them when classes resumed in August. In late September, however, the school district updated its COVID policy following an injunction by a district judge. It now requires masks for all students, staffers and visitors, and students are required to isolate if they test positive for COVID.

Chyna Brackeen joined the Knoxville group the day it was created. She became one of the group's administrators about a week later to help handle its rapid growth and check for misinformation.

"One of the major reasons we decided to require moderator approval of posts was so that conspiracy theories wouldn't run rampant," Brackeen said.

Misinformation about COVID is persistent online, but Ahmed said it is not the impetus for creating such groups. The sheer amount of information online can make it hard to tell what's true. This overabundance of information has "trapped tens of millions of Americans in an alternative world in which horse dewormer shoved up your bum can fix COVID," he said.

Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, said community-based COVID-safety social media groups help provide balance.

"Social media has become a kind of cesspool for the crazy," Caplan said. "I like using it as a place where you could really protect yourself, your kids, try to form communities that are trying to do the right thing, rather than undermine public health efforts."

Dan Williams started the Athens page after being inspired by the efforts in Huntsville. His public page reached over 2,000 members before being reported by Facebook users who disagreed with the group's messaging. He created a private "2.0" version as a workaround.

Williams had a history of mental health issues, and the pandemic may have made matters worse, Melissa Lee said. "That year of boiling society could have very well affected his mental health," she said. "It clearly bothered him."

But members continued his work, stepping up as volunteer administrators for the site after his suicide, she said. While it's difficult to track, the Facebook group may be having a larger impact.

For example, in August, a group member posted about Earth Fare, a grocery store chain that did not support mask mandates. Two days after being called out on social media, Earth Fare Athens posted the following on Facebook: "We whole heartedly agree with the concerns mentioned. Effective immediately, we will be following all locally mandated guidelines." The company declined to comment for this story.

Facebook and other social media platforms may be valuable in amplifying and endorsing public health recommendations, said Glen Nowak, co-director of the Center for Health & Risk Communication at the University of Georgia. "The broad idea is to show people who are in favor of something that there are other people who are also in favor, that you're not alone."

Still, Nowak said, there is a need to proceed with caution, especially when it comes to specific scientific questions. "The value of these groups is in sharing experiences," he said. "It's hard to rely on non-expert sources for questions that really mostly involve science or medicine."

There's also concern that online groups are not widely accessible beyond communities that are white, educated and savvy with social media, Caplan noted.

"The usual obstacles are out there for poor people who might be sympathetic but don't have internet access," he said. Or those who "don't feel comfortable getting into a discussion group that's almost exclusively white."

Yet in the absence of COVID safety mandates, groups like these prove useful to consumers such as Travis Henry. It helps him make informed decisions.

"I don't want to know about aggregate trends about every grocery store in America," Henry said. "I want to know about the half-dozen that I can drive to, and which one has the largest percentage of people who are masked, or which one has put up plexiglass windows."

Explore further Iowa school districts with strong teachers unions more likely to adopt mask mandates

2021 Kaiser Health News.

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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday  part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

Britain hailed the commitment by more than 100 countries to end deforestation in the coming decade as the first big achievement of the conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow, known as COP26  but experts noted such promises have been made and broken before.

More than 120 world leaders were heading home after two days in which they received stark warnings about the state of the Earth from Johnson, naturalist David Attenborough, Queen Elizabeth II and  most powerfully  the people of countries and regions already facing climate upheaval.

Johnson said at a news conference that it was important to guard against false hope, but added that he was cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the talks. The conference aims to keep the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels  the goal set at the Paris climate conference six years ago.

Johnson had a message for negotiators from around the globe who will strain over the next 10 days to turn politicians' climate promises into reality: The eyes of the populations of the world are on you.

The U.K. said it has received pledges from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan.

Experts and observers said fulfilling the pledge will be critical to limiting climate change, but many noted that such grand promises have been made before  to little effect.

Signing the declaration is the easy part, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet.

Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at political think tank Chatham House, said world leaders promised in 2014 to end deforestation by 2030, but since then deforestation has accelerated across many countries.

Forests are important ecosystems and provide a critical way of absorbing carbon dioxide  the main greenhouse gas  from the atmosphere. But the value of wood as a commodity and the growing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, particularly in developing countries. Indigenous peoples are often among the hardest hit.

We are delighted to see Indigenous peoples mentioned in the forest deal announced today, said Joseph Itongwa Mukumo, an Indigenous Walikale and activist from Congo.

He called for governments and businesses to recognize the effective role Indigenous communities play in preventing deforestation.

These are billions in investment towards environmental preservation, but its very difficult for this money to reach Indigenous communities, reach traditional communities, said Chief Ninawa, a leader of the Huni Kui people from the Amazon attending the summit.

Some campaigners said the forests pledge was a step forward. Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher at Human Rights Watch, said there were quite a lot of really positive elements.

She said it was positive to see China and Brazil pledging to protect forests, but noted that Brazil's public statements don't yet line up with its domestic policies and warned that the deal could be used by some countries to greenwash their image.

Brazil's government has been eager to project itself as a responsible environmental steward in the wake of surging deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands that sparked global outrage in recent years. Critics caution that its promises should be viewed with skepticism, and the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an outspoken proponent of developing the Amazon.

On Tuesday, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden launched a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines  the focus of the Biden plan  is considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions. Reducing methane from agriculture, in particular by belching cows, is a trickier matter.

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally.

Separately, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan to provide $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.

South Africa gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

But campaigners say the worlds biggest carbon emitters need to do much more. Earth has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2F). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planets ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say.

I dont think that activists are being heard here," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist from the Philippines.

We have to make sure that we really rally together and make sure that were so loud that the world leaders cant keep ignoring us, she said. "Because every fraction of a degree, every step towards the right direction is what matters here.

At his end-of-summit news conference. Biden acknowledged the fierce skepticism from climate activists who say world leaders are not moving with enough haste.

He insisted that climate activists have been a vital voice, and expressed optimism that the world is waking up to understanding that the issue is not just a moral imperative but also an enormous opportunity to spur economies.

Even if the funding didnt come from some of the governments, you have the private sector now engaged where theyre talking about investing literally the need to invest over trillions of dollars off the sidelines, Biden said.

So things are changing., he added. We just have to have the right stewardship and enough sense as world leaders to get it right.

Some 25,000 people are expected to attend the vast COP26 gathering, from heads of state to activists and charity workers. Attendees on Tuesday included Leonardo DiCaprio, who drew a crowd of journalists and fans. The Hollywood star, who is a U.N. climate change representative, visited an exhibition highlighting the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change.

One not there was Chinas Xi Jinping. Biden said the leader of the worlds biggest greenhouse-gas-emitting country made a big mistake with his absence.

Theyve lost an ability to influence people around the world and all the people here at COP, Biden said

As countries announced major initiatives, those attendees appeared ready to do their small part: For a few minutes Tuesday, the vegetarian version of haggis  a Scottish delicacy typically made with sheep's lungs  was sold out. It was outselling the traditional version, servers said  perhaps unsurprising in a crowd well aware of the impact of meat-eating on the climate.



Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Madeline Smith came to the Missoula County Elections Office on Tuesday afternoon, assuming she would be able to vote.

She could not.

A recent change to state law prohibits same-day voter registration, which now ends at noon the day before the election. Smith hadnt registered to vote and was unable to do so on Election Day.

I mean partially its my fault, but its hard to (try to find time) midday to do this, Smith said. Im like ready to vote, we have people who we were really kind of excited to vote for. So yeah, it kinda sucks."

Same-day voter registration, prior to this year, had been in place since 2006. More than 8,000 people statewide registered to vote on Election Day in 2020  that number was around 1,000 in Missoula, according to elections staff. It allowed people to register and cast a vote all the way until the end of the day of the election.

Thats always one of the hardest spots, where somebody who would otherwise be eligible (to vote), just due to the deadline change not being able to cast on Election Day is something that can be really hard, said Bradley Seaman, Missoula County's elections administrator. Weve always said that we dont make the laws, but well always follow them as written."

To vote in Montana, a person needs to be 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen and have lived in Montana for at least 30 days.

Smith, who moved from Minneapolis to Missoula for a job two months ago, checked all the needed boxes to be able to vote, except that she didn't register in time, she said.

Same-day voter registration increases voter turnout, she said, adding that not having that option feels kind of like voter suppression.

Elections officials reported several other people had come in seeking to register to vote Tuesday, but had been turned away. Other local and statewide organizations reported the same.

Were seeing a lot of folks who were surprised and didnt know, said Erin Miller, the senior organizing manager for Forward Montana, a nonpartisan organization that engages in voter registration and education.

The organizations Get Out and Vote phone banking effort had been successful, but some voters were not able to get to a place to drop their ballot, Miller said. Forward Montana also registered voters, which ended on Oct. 1  the final day before the late registration period begins, where those wishing to register must do so at the Elections Office.

MontPIRG, another nonpartisan college organization that works to register voters, reported it registered 1,028 people to vote between Missoula and Bozeman.

The Missoula County Elections Office reported receiving 32,323 ballots prior to Tuesday morning.

Incumbent mayor John Engen, who is seeking his fifth term, is being challenged by Jacob Elder, a law student at the University of Montana and a former Marine.

Six city council seats are also contested in this election, as well as three municipal court judge positions and two ballot measures involving marijuana sales taxes.

Seaman expects voter turnout for this election to likely surpass the 2017 and 2019 elections, he said.

Every election matters, especially in your local, city council elections, those can be decided by a handful of votes, Seaman said. This is a chance for your voice to be kind of amplified in a local election."

Jordan Hansen covers news and local government for the Missoulian. Shout at him on Twitter @jordyhansen or send him an email at Jordan.Hansen@Missoulian.com

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The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $6.6 million in grants to five Montana Indian tribes and two state agencies for victim services.

The DOJ announced the grants Monday. They will fund victim services including compensation payments to eligible crime victims, Montana's acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson stated in a press release.

The Blackfeet, Northern Cheyenne, Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux and Chippewa Cree tribes were awarded a combined $2.2 million in grants for victim services projects.

More than half of the overall grant money will go to the state Department of Corrections, which was awarded $3.7 million. The state Department of Justice will receive $609,000. Both of those awards are through the federal Victim of Crime Act to provide victim compensation.

As we recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month, we need to support and highlight the work being done to help victims of violence, sexual assault and child abuse, Johnson stated.

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MEXICO CITY (AP)  Meta Platforms, the company that runs Facebook, said Monday it has canceled 937 accounts linked to the government of Nicaragua and the Sandinista party of President Daniel Ortega.

Meta said it also removed 140 deceptive pages, 24 groups and 363 Instagram accounts for violating the companys policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity.

Meta said it was a classic example of a troll farm," which it defined as attempts to corrupt or manipulate public discourse by using fake accounts to ... mislead people about whos behind them.

The firm said the network of accounts was launched after mass protests against the government in 2018. The accounts sought both to denigrate members of the opposition, and praise the government. Some of the accounts purported to be students from a Nicaraguan university that was an epicenter of the protests.

Nicaragua is set to hold elections on Nov. 7 in which Ortega is seeking a fourth consecutive term. But those elections have been rendered almost moot by the government's arrests of critics and seven potential challengers.

Starting in May, Ortega began arresting almost any public figure who publicly disagreed with him, including people who fought alongside him in the countrys 1979 revolution. Families of 155 political prisoners said in a statement that their loved ones have been subjected to mistreatment and torture in prison.

The countrys main opposition coalitions have said that Ortegas moves have ended any vestige of real electoral competition."

About 140,000 Nicaraguans have fled their homeland since the government cracked down on widespread protests starting in 2018.

Meta said the troll farm removed in October was operated from the offices of the postal service, noting additional smaller clusters of fake accounts were run from other government offices, including the Supreme Court and the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute.

This campaign was cross-platform as well as cross-government, the company said. It ran a complex network of media brands across Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Blogspot and Telegram, as well as websites tied to these news entities. They posted positive content about the government and negative commentary about the opposition, using hundreds of fake accounts to promote these posts.

Ortega claims the protests that erupted in April 2018 were an attempted coup with foreign backing. And he has feuded with Roman Catholic bishops who participated as mediators then in the short-lived first round of dialogue between the government and opposition, after which the government harshly put down the protests.

At least 325 people died during clashes that year between civilians and government forces in Nicaragua, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  World leaders turned up the heat and resorted to end-of-the-world rhetoric Monday in an attempt to bring new urgency to sputtering international climate negotiations.

The metaphors were dramatic and mixed at the start of the talks, known as COP26. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described global warming as a doomsday device strapped to humanity. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told his colleagues that humans are digging our own graves. And Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, speaking for vulnerable island nations, added moral thunder, warning leaders not to allow the path of greed and selfishness to sow the seeds of our common destruction.

Amid the speeches, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his coal-dependent country will aim to stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2070  two decades after the United States and at least 10 years later than China. Modi said the goal of reaching net zero by 2070 was one of five measures India planned to undertake to meet its commitments under the Paris climate accord.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel avoided soaring rhetoric and delved into policy.

"Theres no more time to sit back," Biden said in a more measured warning that also apologized for his predecessor's decision to temporarily pull the U.S. out of the historic 2015 Paris agreement, something he said put the country behind in its efforts. Every day we delay, the cost of inaction increases.

In a recorded welcome message, Queen Elizabeth II said she hoped the conference would be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment."

History has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope, she said in the video, which was recorded on Friday at Windsor Castle.

One of the United Nations biggest concerns is that some countries are more focused on amorphous long-term net-zero goals instead of seeking cuts this decade that could prevent temperature increases that would exceed the Paris goal.

Modi also outlined shorter-term goals for the worlds third-biggest carbon emitter: raising its goal for non-fossil energy production, meeting half of its energy needs with renewable sources, cutting carbon emissions by 1 billion tons compared with previous targets and reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by 45%  all by 2030.

While 2070 sounds far off for Indias pledge, four outside experts from think tanks and universities said India's new short- and long-term goals are significant, while not huge, because of that nation's development status. Ulka Kelkar, who directs India climate policy analysis for the World Resource Institute, said a lot depends on details, but the 2070 goal would be similar to the U.S. and Europe adopting net-zero goals 20 years ago.

Still, European officials privately expressed disappointment at Indias late target, but declined to comment publicly.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen touted already announced efforts to make Europe the first net-zero continent in the long-term and cut emissions 55% in this decade. She pushed for other rich countries to aid poorer nations as much as Europe does and put a price on carbon emissions because nature cannot pay that price anymore.

Bolivia President Luis Arce said the speeches from developed countries sought to portray them as climate change leaders but this is far from the truth. He said rich nations need to face their historic responsibilities for causing the warming problem and not fix it by forcing rules on poor countries. The real solution, he said, is an alternative to capitalism and unfettered consumerism.

Johnson pointed out that the 130-plus world leaders gathered for the leaders' summit portion of the conference had an average age of over 60, while the generations most harmed by climate change arent yet born.

Outside the negotiations, youth climate activist Greta Thunberg accused world leaders of pretending to take our future seriously.

Change is not going to come from inside there, Thunberg said, We say no more blah, blah, blah.

The conference aims to get governments to commit to curbing carbon emissions fast enough to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planets ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say. With every tenth of a degree of warming, the dangers soar faster, they say.

The other goals for the meeting are for rich nations to give poor nations $100 billion a year in climate aid and to reach an agreement to spend half of the money to adapt to worsening climate impacts.

But Mottley, of Barbados, warned that negotiators are falling short.

"This is immoral and it is unjust," Mottley said. "Are we so blinded and hardened that we can no longer appreciate the cries of humanity?"

We are already gasping for survival, chimed in President Wavel John Charles Ramkalawan of the Seychelles, another island nation. Tomorrow is not an option for it will be too late.

Guterres struck an equally gloomy note.

We are digging our own graves, said the U.N. secretary-general. Our planet is changing before our eyes  from the ocean depths to mountaintops, from melting glaciers to relentless extreme weather events.

The speeches will continue through Tuesday, then the leaders will leave.

The idea is that they will do the big political give-and-take, setting out broad outlines of agreement, and then have other government officials hammer out the details. Thats what worked to make the historic 2015 Paris climate deal a success, former U.N. Climate Secretary Christiana Figueres told The Associated Press.

For heads of state, it is actually a much better use of their strategic thinking, Figueres said.

Thousands lined up in a chilly wind in Glasgow on Monday to get through a bottleneck at the entrance to the venue. But what will be noticeable are a handful of major absences.

Xi Jinping, president of top carbon-polluting nation China, is not in Glasgow. Figueres said his absence is not that significant because he isn't leaving the country during the pandemic and his climate envoy is a veteran negotiator.

Biden has chided China and Russia for their less-than-ambitious efforts to curb emissions and blamed them for a disappointing statement on climate change at the end of the meeting of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies in Rome this weekend.

Perhaps more troublesome for the U.N. summit is the absence of several small nations from the Pacific islands that couldnt make it because of COVID-19 restrictions and logistics. Thats a big problem because their voices relay urgency, Figueres said.

In addition, the heads of several major emerging economies beyond China are also skipping Scotland, including those from Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. That leaves Modi the only leader present from the so-called BRICS nations, which account for more than 40% of global emissions.



Associated Press writers Jill Lawless, Frank Jordans and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears.



The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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More than 50 years ago, Johnny Sherrill was wondering if he would make it out of Vietnam alive.

Last month he and other veterans he served with had the chance to meet up for a long-overdue reunion of members of the 86th Transportation Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

It was great. Hadnt seen them in 52 years.  It was great to see them, but of course, were a whole lot older now, Sherrill said with a slight laugh.

More than anything, it was a time to sit down with fellow men who understood each other because of what they all had faced over a half-century ago.

It was great to sit down because as a Vietnam veteran, you can talk to any of them. We can talk to each other where we cant talk to civilian people because they dont understand what we went through, Sherrill said.

He said his son, who traveled with him to the reunion, ended up learning more than he ever had because he hadnt opened up to his family over the year.

He learned a lot because he never heard daddy talk about it. But to get to sit down and talk to guys who I served with and went through what we went through, it was an honor, it really was, Sherrill said.
Brad Boris, director of water resources, said the area of N.C. 181, Bost Road and North Green Street has potential for housing growth and the city already has seen 12-15% customer growth in that area in the last five years.

But the pump station and sewer lines are starting to experience capacity concerns and nearing the end of their useful life.

With the project approved by council, which is expected to cost a total of $3.5 million when all is said and done, Boris said the city is looking to add an additional 1,000 linear feet of sewer line, plus another 1,000 linear feet of replacement sewer line to better serve current and future customers.

He said the city also needs to start worrying about the safety of employees working on the pump station in the area because it currently is considered a confined space. Boris said the new pump station would allow not only for increased capacity, but would make it safer for employees working on the pumps.

The city is anticipating using American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding for the project, and said it also has submitted requests for some private funding to support up to half of the expenditures associated with the project.
There are more than 57,000 registered voters in Burke County, but so far fewer than 5,000 have rocked the vote in the 2021 municipal election.

Debbie Mace, director of elections for Burke County, said approximately 494 voters turned out for the last day of early voting Saturday.

That brought the total number of voters in this election so far up to approximately 4,369, Mace said. State elections records on Monday showed there were 57,615 registered voters in Burke County, so about 7.58% of registered voters in the county have cast their ballot.

Its not the slowest weve ever had, but its not the biggest either on that type of election, Mace said.

In the 2020 general election, 77% of Burke County voters turned up to vote, state elections records showed.

Tuesday will be the last chance residents get to vote in the municipal elections. Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., and voters must go to their assigned precinct. Voters can find their assigned precinct on the North Carolina Board of Elections website at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLKup/.
Meanwhile, the French trawler owners who were granted extended licenses said they still don't understand what will happen next.

Macrons office said Monday that talks would continue this week and no measures would be taken before a Thursday meeting.

An official with the French presidency said Tuesday that discussions are advancing and that France hopes to move forward from the fishing dispute to focus on bigger issues, such as climate change.

Neither us nor the British want this to go badly," said the official, who was not authorized to be publicly named.

The British government has said throughout the dispute that it isn't engaged in a negotiation and it is entirely up to France to end the conflict.

The government in London welcomed Macron's decision to extend the deadline and said a meeting in Paris on Thursday between Britains Brexit minister, David Frost, and French Europe Minister Clement Beaune would cover a range of issues  not just fishing.

Weve always said we want to deescalate this and always said we have an ever-open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on any additional vessels theyd like to have licensed," British environment minister George Eustice told Sky News.
Authorities have released the names of two teenagers who were killed in a crash in Powell County early Saturday morning that left two others injured.

Ethan Bossert, 19, of Deer Lodge, and Morgan Sanders, 17, of Anaconda, were killed, the Powell County Coroners Office said Tuesday.

Two others, a 19-year-old male from Deer Lodge and a 17-year-old female from Anaconda, were hospitalized at Powell County Memorial Hospital following the crash.

All four were in a 2011 Mazda that was southbound on the North Frontage Road near Deer Lodge when the driver failed to make a sharp curve, overcorrected, slid off the road and rolled multiple times, the Montana Highway Patrol said.

The Highway Patrol said it wasnt clear who was driving, but three occupants in the car were ejected, including the two teenagers who died.

Alcohol and speed were believed to have been factors in the crash, authorities said. Nobody was wearing a seat belt.

The North Frontage Road, which roughly parallels Interstate 90 and the Clark Fork River, is a long straightaway up until eastbound motorists approach North Main Street in Deer Lodge. At that point, the road curves suddenly and sharply to the left.

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Calling deaths from COVID-19 almost entirely preventable, the state health department said Monday the virus was the third-leading cause of death in Montana last year.

A new report from the state Department of Public Health and Human Services indicates 2021 will be the second year in a row COVID-19 is the third-ranked cause of death, following heart disease and cancer.

The report also notes the disproportionate effect the pandemic has had on Montanas Native population. The mortality rate for Natives was four times greater than white Montanans, and Natives also died younger than non-natives. The median age of death for Natives was 68, compared to 80 among whites, according to the report.

I cant stress enough that these COVID-19 related deaths are almost entirely preventable, said acting state medical officer Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek in a press release Monday. Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19 infection and at preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalization and death. We continue to urge eligible Montanans who have not gotten vaccinated to get vaccinated, and for those who are eligible, to get the booster shot to ensure they have adequate protection against the virus.

Though vaccines have been available in Montana since the start of the year, the state is still seeing high numbers of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations. While the highest number of deaths documented was between October and December 2020, the report said provisional data indicates this September may reach the highs of previous months.

There were 1,258 COVID-19 deaths in 2020, according to provisional data, and there have been 842 deaths reported over the first nine months of 2021, according to the report. Another 258 deaths were reported in October, bringing the years tally to 1,110. That means this year's death tally, a year when vaccines were available, has already reached 87% of 2020's toll, prior to vaccines.

Data from the state health department shows that vaccines have been effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. From April 1 to Oct. 22, those who weren't vaccinated made up 84% of COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide and 76% of deaths.

The report also notes that death counts, especially for more recent periods, may increase as more data is collected.

The state lags the national vaccination rate, with just over half of Montanans fully vaccinated compared to 58% of the nation.

As more data becomes available, DPHHS continues to produce reports such as this to demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 in Montana, state health department Director Adam Meier said in a press release. While Montanans may not be surprised by the report's findings, it serves as a reminder about the importance of getting the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. DPHHS strongly recommends that all eligible Montanans get vaccinated against COVID-19. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your health care provider or a pharmacist.

Vaccines are expected to be approved for those ages 5-11 this week, and the state health department has said it's pre-ordered youth-sized doses to be ready to meet demand.

As the state health department and governor have encouraged Montanans to get vaccinated, the state was also the first in the nation to pass a law banning private employers, including hospitals, from requiring employees to get vaccinated. Measures such as the use of face coverings have also largely disappeared, as Republican state lawmakers advocated for and passed laws that remove the ability to enforce public health rules meant to slow the spread of the virus.

There are two legal challenges to Montana's vaccine requirement ban working their way through the system.

According to the state report, the leading causes of death in Montana for the five years leading up to the pandemic were heart disease, which killed an average of 2,206 annually; cancer, which killed 2,088; chronic lower respiratory disease, which killed bout 720; cerebrovascular disease, which killed 433; and non-motor vehicle accidents, which killed 425.

The report also found that median age of a COVID-19 death in Montana was 78, with deaths ranging from those as young as 24 and up to 103 years old. It also found that more men have died than women, with the data collected through the end of September showing 1,191 male deaths and 909 female deaths.

Nearly 70% of deaths had one underlying health condition, with the most common being cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and respiratory diseases.

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U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to keep federal protections in place for the snow-loving Canada lynx, under a court settlement approved Monday by a judge in Montana.

The settlement by the U.S. Interior Department comes after wildlife advocates sued to retain protections for the rare and elusive wild cats, which have been listed as a threatened species since 2000.

Under the Trump administration, officials said lynx had recovered in some areas and protections were no longer needed.

Independent scientists and wildlife advocates warned climate change could undo that progress by reducing lynx habitat and the availability of a key food source  snowshoe hares.

Canada lynx are about the size of bobcats, but with huge paws to help them navigate deep snow. There is no reliable estimate of their population. That has left officials to rely on information about lynx habitat and hare populations to gauge the species status.

Their protected status has interrupted numerous logging and road-building projects on federal lands, frustrating industry groups and Western lawmakers.

The 2018 move to end protections came when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists shortened the government's time span for considering climate change threats, from 2100 to 2050, because of what officials said were uncertainties in long-term climate models.

A government assessment based on that shortened time span concluded lynx populations remained resilient and even have increased versus historical levels in parts of Colorado and Maine.

The animals also are found in Montana, Minnesota, Idaho, Washington state and occasionally Michigan.

A new recovery plan for lynx is due by 2024 under the terms of the deal approved Monday by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula, Montana.

This is the right decision, and the administration should be commended for it, said attorney Matthew Bishop, who represents Friends of the Wild Swan, WildEarth Guardians and other environmental groups in the case.

There's no uncertainty climate change is happening," Bishop added. "The only uncertainty is over the timing and magnitude of it. But that shouldn't keep a species from being listed."

Federal wildlife officials did not immediately respond to questions about the settlement.

Under an earlier assessment of lynx, published in December 2016, U.S. government biologists predicted some populations would disappear by 2100. That was based on models predicting widespread and substantial changes to the animals snowy habitat because of climate change.

A similar conclusion was reached by the agency in 2014 for another snow-loving creature  the North American wolverine. In that case, a federal judge rejected the governments decision not to give wolverines protections, saying the animal was squarely in the path of climate change.

After reevaluating the issue, the Fish and Wildlife Service said last year that it was no longer seeking protections for wolverines. Agency officials said some areas of the Rocky Mountains will retain enough snow in a warming world for wolverines to successfully den and breed.

A legal challenge to the wolverine decision is pending.

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MUSCATINE -- Next year First National Bank of Muscatine will become MidWestOne Bank. The organizations have signed a definitive agreement in which MidWestOne Financial Group Inc. the parent company of MidWestOne will acquire Iowa First Bancshares Corp., the parent company of First National Bank of Muscatine.

According to a news release, the agreement will broaden MidWestOnes footprint into the important and growing Muscatine market and provide key resources to support Muscatines future growth.

Its really a wonderful opportunity for the community and for our employees and our customers, First National Bank President and CEO Debra Lins said. When community banks look to merge they make sure its the right fit all the way across the board  in this case that is with our shareholders, our customers and our employees in the community  and we believe weve really found that with MidWestOne. Their roots are in Iowa, the same as ours. They have long lasting charters. You will get those efficiencies that come with those additional resources.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Republican Mike Carey, a Trump-backed coal lobbyist, bested a two-term state lawmaker to win an open U.S. House seat in central Ohio on Tuesday, while Democrat Shontel Brown coasted to victory in a second up-for-grabs congressional district in the Cleveland area.
Asian Americans will serve as mayor in Boston and Cincinnati for the first time in both cities histories, signaling political progress for a population that has struggled for almost two years with a rise in anti-Asian hate.
10:24 a.m.: "Life is more important than property," Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger argues in opening statement prosecuting Rittenhouse. "Like moths to a flame, tourists from outside our community were drawn to Kenosha ... and contributed to that chaos ... caused many (Kenoshans) to fear for their safety...

"The only person who killed anyone was (pointing to the defendant) Kyle Rittenhouse."

Binger notes that there's not much disagreement over the evidence: there's no question that Rittenhouse shot or killed anyone  such is accepted by all parties.

9:45 a.m.: The jury has entered the courtroom.

9:30 a.m.: The jury is not yet in the courtroom. Attorneys and the judge are arguing over how the jury will be instructed on specific counts, particularly regarding the laws around self-defense. It's a technical moment that appears in many if not all most or all jury trials that is rarely paid attention to by the public  except in major cases like this one.

8 a.m. The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse headed toward opening statements on Tuesday after a jury was seated in just a day despite the polarizing nature of the case.
Questions:

1. What are the Organizational Behaviour problems identified in this case study?

2. What should the CEO do to address these problems  use concepts and theories from the subject to describe a program of change that the CEO should implement?

The Regency Grand Hotel: Case Study

The Regency Grand Hotel is a five-star hotel in Bangkok, Thailand that was established 15 years ago by a local group of investors and has been operated by a local general manager throughout this period of time. The Regency happens to be one of Bangkoks most renowned hotels with over 700 employees who appreciate being associated with the hotel. The hotel has provided above industry standard employee benefits and salaries and it comes with a high level of job security.



Further, a large, year-end bonus is rewarded to employees regardless of the employees or the hotels overall annual performance. The Regency has always been very profitable since its inception just 15 years ago. Employees have always worked diligently to achieve the managers instructions. Under the local management, innovation and creativity were discouraged and employees were punished for their mistakes and discouraged from trying ideas that had not been approved by management. Because of this, employees were afraid to be innovative and take risks.

The Regency has always emphasized administrative control, which resulted in many bureaucratic procedures throughout the company. However, the Regency was recently sold to an American hotel chain and the current general manager decided to take an early retirement once the hotel changed ownership. Even after the change of ownership, the hotel chain kept all of the Regencys employees.

John Becker was selected as the new general manager due to his previous success with integrating newly acquired hotels within the United States. But, most of his management has been in poorly profiting organizations with low morale. Quickly after becoming general manager of the Regency, Becker introduced the practice of empowerment with hopes of duplicating the success that he has achieved in the United States.

He also substantially reduced the number of bureaucratic rules and allocated more decision making control to front-line employees. Although Becker believed that the introduction of empowerment would greatly benefit the overall performance of the hotel, the business and overall performance began to quickly deteriorate.

There are many organizational problems that the Regency is facing since the acquisition. These problems include: loss of valuable human capital, a false-consensus effect, a lack of a global mindset by the American hotel chain, errors in interaction and communication, and ignorance of the differences in cultural dimensions.

Human capital is defined as the knowledge that people possess and generate. It is valuable because employees help the organization discover opportunities and minimize threats in the external environment. Human capital is also non-substitutable because it cannot be easily replaced by technology. Because of these characteristics, human capital serves as a competitive advantage as well as a huge risk for almost all organizations.

When key people leave, they take with them the knowledge that makes the company effective. This is exactly what happened when the former general manager of the Regency took early retirement at the change of ownership. Having 15 years of experience operating a continually profitable hotel and being a native to the country, the former general manager knew what it took to be successful and motivate his employees.

He had the advantage of understanding the culture and the people that made up that culture, something that John Becker did not have. When the former general manager of the hotel left, he took with him all of the human capital needed to operate a successful hotel in Bangkok with him without sharing it with it John Becker.

The false consensus effect occurs when one overestimates the extent to which others have similar beliefs or behaviors to ones own. An explanation as to why this occurs is that one interacts more with people who have similar views and behaviors, which causes one to overestimate how common those views and/or behaviors are in the entire organization or society.

This problem arose early in the acquisition phase whenever John Becker decided to implement empowerment throughout the organization. The case states that, From his American experience, Becker has found that empowerment increases employee motivation, performance and job satisfaction, all of which contribute to the hotels profitability and customer service ratings.

John Becker has made a critical error in re-structuring the management style of this hotel. He assumed that since empowerment has proven to be continually successful in American organizations, then the same must hold true for organizations in other parts of the world. As has been demonstrated in other parts of the case, this is, indeed, incorrect.

A global mindset refers to an individual's ability to perceive, know about, and process information across cultures. In order to have an effective global mindset, one must have the ability to understand and respect other views and practices around the world. One must also be able to empathize and act effectively across cultures and be able to comprehend and appease intercultural matters with multiple levels of thinking.

Instead of immersing himself in the Thai culture and learning about the people and their preferred corporate structure, Becker quickly Americanized the current structure of the hotel by reducing the number of bureaucratic rules and placing more decision making authority in the hands of front-line employees and expected these front-line employees to make minor decisions without the guidance of management.

Becker placed these expectations on the lower-level employees without considering the fact that since the opening of the hotel over fifteen years ago, employees were discouraged from trying out ideas that had not been approved by management. In fact, they were afraid to be innovation decision makers.

Further, when employees frequently came to him with questions or concerns, he was quick to become frustrated and would avoid them altogether. Becker did not empathize for the differences between the American and Thai cultures, nor did he act effectively or reasonably across these cultural barriers.
Chances are you already know me, but having been appointed editor of the Star last week, Im taking the time to reintroduce myself and answer some frequently asked questions about how the paper works.

Q: Who are you anyway?

Im a native of Arbuckle, along I-5 in Colusa County. Some of you might have gone duck hunting or broken down there. Its an unincorporated town of about 3,000 people, and it was maybe half that size when I was a kid. Im a small-towner born and raised, so Ive always felt right at home in St. Helena.

I graduated from Pacific Union College in 2005, with a degree in PR/Journalism. The Star hired me in 2006 and has been stuck with me ever since.

Im married to a lovely woman named Rethel. We live on Grayson across from the high school. We have a 4-year-old son named William. He loves reading, stomping in puddles and especially raiding my record collection and discovering new music. Side 2 of Bob Dylans Nashville Skyline is a big favorite at the moment.

Im painfully shy although I sometimes manage to hide it. I think most people would call me easygoing. If youre mad about something that was or wasnt in the paper, come talk to me. Ill gladly hear you out and, if youd like, explain myself. If I messed up, Ill apologize and do whatever I can to make things right. I promise not to bite, yell, or throw newspapers at you.

Q: Who's Aunt Helena?

A columnist who values her anonymity.

Q: Who writes the police log?

Me, based on the police department's raw logs. It's complicated and deserves an entire column of its own, which I promise to write eventually.

Q: Can you plug my upcoming local event?

Certainly! Thats my job.

Preference goes to charitable events, fundraisers, performances and holiday celebrations that happen in St. Helena, involve St. Helena residents, or at least benefit organizations that serve St. Helena.

Ill sometimes write about business anniversaries  especially if its a nice round number  or notable retirements. If your business is having a sale, Ill direct you to one of our ad reps.

Q: How do I submit a letter to the editor?

Email it to Napa Valley Register Editor Sean Scully (sscully@napanews.com), who doubles as the Stars director of news content and manages the opinion page. Or email it to me (jduarte@sthelenastar.com) and Ill make sure it gets to him.

Q: Does the Star use anonymous sources?

Generally no. I relish off-the-record tips that point me in the direction of interesting stories, but I wont print anything I havent confirmed with on-the-record, named sources.

There are a few very rare exceptions when Ill quote or paraphrase an anonymous source, most notably crime victims, crime witnesses, or anyone who reasonably fears retaliation for speaking out.

For example, when the Grandview apartments were closing back in the 2000s, I granted anonymity to a few tenants who were in the midst of delicate negotiations with their landlord.

But if you want me to run an anonymous letter or quote you saying something nasty about somebody without attaching your name  no dice.

Q: Do ads influence the Stars news coverage or editorials?

Nope. The sheer thought of advertiser quid pro quos and native advertising makes me feel like I need a shower.

The same goes for the editorial boards editorials. In fact, I can think of one election where one candidate bought thousands of dollars worth of ads, and the board endorsed the other candidate who bought none.

Q: Why didnt you cover X?

Maybe because I didnt have enough time, but more likely because I didnt know it was happening.

This is St. Helenas paper, so I rely on all of you to send me news tips, press releases, and the occasional unhinged rant. If something important is happening, dont assume I know about it. Tell me.

Q: I have an idea about how to improve the paper. Will you hear me out?

With pleasure. Call 967-6803 or email jduarte@sthelenastar.com and well set up a time to get together. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee or tea. My treat.

In fact, I plan to steal an idea from the St. Helena Police Department and hold occasional Coffee with the Editor sessions at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company where we can go through the paper one page at a time and talk about what you like and dont like.

Your feedback can make a real difference, even if it only concerns a small detail.

For example, I used to report on Planning Commission decisions with headlines like Planners reject hotel proposal until a member of the citys Planning Department set me straight. Planners are educated professionals who operate at the staff level, she said, whereas planning commissioners are council-appointed laypeople who are rarely if ever planners by profession. Calling them planners, she said politely, is both technically wrong and unfair to actual planners.

She was right. From then on, planners became commissioners.

Q: You split an infinitive. Why is a total illiterate like you editing a newspaper?

Sue me. I LOVE split infinitives. To boldly go where no man has gone before  come on, how cool is that?

You can reach Jesse Duarte at 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com.

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A theft arrest Monday night at the American Canyon Walmart led to the discovery of ammunition inside their vehicle, police reported.

Officers were called to the store at 7011 Main St. at about 8 p.m. after Walmart employees stopped two men who were trying to leave with merchandise they had not paid for, American Canyon Police said in a news release.

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At the scene, police learned that one of the men, 28-year-old Christopher Joseph Melone of Sacramento, had a felony warrant in Colusa County for allegedly impersonating a peace officer, and also was on probation for a firearms violation, according to the statement. The other man, 34-year-old Richard Alexandr Garcia of Fairfield, has a misdemeanor warrant in Napa County for narcotics possession.

Officers searched Melones vehicle in the Walmart parking lot due to his probation terms, and found a loaded 30-round, 9mm drum-style handgun magazine, along with a suspected methamphetamine pipe, according to police. Melone and Garcia, who both denied owning the magazine, were barred from having ammunition as convicted felons, the department said.

Both men were arrested and booked into the Napa County jail on felony allegations of illegal ammunition possession and criminal conspiracy, as well as misdemeanor counts of petty theft and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Workers will work double shifts to try to reopen a storm-damaged Silverado Trail near St. Helena by Friday evening or next Monday and end Napa Valleys closure-related traffic tie-ups.

The Oct. 23-24 storm dumped 8.59 inches of rain in that area and washed out a section of Silverado Trail. The county initially stated the road might reopen by Nov. 12.

Double shifts could cut that schedule in half. A wild card is what affect two storms expected this week might have on the project.

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Much of the repair work can happen in the rain, unless the site gets too muddy, county Public Works Director Steven Lederer said. Paving cannot happen in the rain.

The Silverado Trail closure is between Meadowood Lane and Madrone Knoll Way. That moves more traffic to Highway 29, the only other major north-south Napa Valley wine country roadway.

County Supervisor Diane Dillon on her Facebook page noted the county installed a temporary traffic signal to help detouring traffic on Deer Park Road turn left onto Highway 29. But, while that eased Deer Park Road backups, it caused traffic problems on Highway 29, she wrote.

Theres no perfect solution; we just need Silverado Trail repaired as soon as we can do that, Dillon wrote.

Having a contractor work double shifts costs money, but is necessary, she wrote.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. William Bradshaw said Silverado Trail has become a major Napa Valley artery serving resort and winery traffic. The CHP sees a difference with the closure and the detours.

"Definitely it increases the traffic volume going through downtown St. Helena," Bradshaw said.

Highway 29 runs through St. Helena. City Manager Mark Prestwich said traffic backups there were fairly prolonged at first because of the Silverado Trail closure, but steps taking since then have helped.

One step is to have Highway 29 signals through town remain on green longer, to help move traffic through. The tradeoff is the cross streets get less green light time.

Its not too bad, Prestwich said. I was in downtown walking to a meeting today and had the opportunity to cross Main Street (Highway 29) twice and I didnt have to wait very long.

St. Helena also encouraged residents to limit driving until Silverado Trail repairs are made.

The county chose O. C. Jones & Sons to make emergency repairs. The estimated cost is $400,000, though Lederer said paying $33,000 for double-shifts could push this higher.

Water from the Oct. 23-24 downpours created what appeared to be a hole under Silverado Trail, leaving the pavement above in danger of collapse. Lederer said last week that high flows in the adjacent Napa River possibly combined with runoff from steep hillsides to cause the washout.

The repair project involves replacing soil materials that slid under a 50-foot length of lane on Silverado Trail. Workers will remove asphalt for a length of 150 feet to allow for inspection beyond the known slide, a county report said.

Up to two tons of rock, which is available from Syar will be needed for reconstruction. Compacted road base, asphalt concrete, striping and willow planting will complete the repairs, the report said.

Even if all goes as planned, it was uncertain on Monday whether Silverado Trail would reopen Friday evening or after the weekend.

"We may hold the road closed over the weekend to complete some of the post-repair work, such as a final top surface of asphalt paving and striping of the road," Lederer said. "Or we may reopen on Friday evening with a rough paved surface, temporary striping and guardrail. It depends on the pace of work and the weather."

You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.

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Attract the good bugs, and birds to eat the bad bugs.

When facing the elements, viticulturists are willing to do just about anything to safely and naturally solve their disease and biodiversity woes. So when one such solution  or rather part of the solution  takes the form of beautiful blooms and buzzing bees, it's not hard to imagine why so many California vineyards use insectaries as an asset.

One such vineyard is the Groth estate in Napa Valleys Oakville, where Suzanne Groth and vineyard manager Ben Forgeron are working to attract beneficial insects like butterflies, ladybugs, bees and aphid-killing parasitic wasps.

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We are operating on attracting, feeding and housing the pollinator and predator, said Groth. The trees, shrubs and grasses attract all of these, and diversify our insect, bird, and reptile population.

For example, Groth staff have chosen to plant yarrow  scientific name Achillea millefolium Paprika  to attract ladybugs, which will then (hopefully) eat disease-spreading leafhoppers before they can infect the vineyard.

Weve also planted California Lilac (Ceanothus) to encourage the lacewing population that combats the mealybugs that spread mold and virus in the vineyard, said Groth. All in all we are hoping to encourage the bugs to balance each other out to eliminate the need for any chemical intervention  This is just one tool in the belt of Ben Forgeron.

Groth says Forgeron can also use hormone therapy  or sexual confusion  to attract certain insects and make it difficult for them to find a mate.

Like the European Grapevine Moth, she said.

Over in Alexander Valley, Jordan Winery is also fostering a thriving insectary, and in this past year alone, planted more than 3,400 plants across 100 different species on their properties. As part of this project, Jordan went through a total of 200 pounds of seed and planted approximately 600 milkweed plugs to support the at-risk Western Monarch butterfly.

Native grasses, annual and perennial wildflowers, scrubs and trees were also integrated to provide year-round floral resources and nesting habitats, said Brent Young, Jordan's Director of Agriculture. The blooms from seed are expected to take approximately three years to emerge and begin attracting pollinators, and additional sites have been identified for pollinator sanctuaries and their plantings.

The winery expects around 10 acres to be dedicated to pollinator sanctuaries in total over three years.

According to Young, this 3-year project will result in the largest dedicated pollinator habitat of all Bee Friendly Farming-certified vineyards nationwide, attracting native bees, honey bees, hummingbirds and butterflies with specific plant species. These insects also will provide pollination for flowering and edible plants, which will then nourish the bird and bat populations that defend the vineyard from pests.

With the alarming disruption of pollinator habitats due to wildfires and climate-related challenges, Jordan saw an opportunity to do more for these beneficial insects beyond giving them plenty of wildland to forage, said Young. Pollinators are vital to maintaining a healthy and balanced vineyard ecosystem that requires less human intervention from a viticultural standpoint, [and] although they do not directly pollinate grapevines, bees, honeybees and other native insects act as the primary pollinators for cover crops grown between the vines, which naturally replenish important soil nutrients.

You can reach Sam Jones at 707-256-2221 and sjones@napanews.com.

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Armenian Foreign Minister and Otto Luchterhandt discuss Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

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Opposition MP: Armenia FM stated that Turkey has proposed new precondition: corridor

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Singapore is good example for Armenia, says President Sarkissian

Iran seizes foreign ship in Persian Gulf

2 Azerbaijanis injured in anti-tank mine explosion at Karabakh conflict zone

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Synopsys boss pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims

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Opposition With Honor parliament faction: Armenia authorities trying to push territorial losses issue to backburner

Legislature majority faction MP: Armenia authorities do not make any demands on Russia

Opposition Armenia Faction in parliament: Authorities are unable to distinguish between priority and secondary issues

3 more die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Bruno Retailleau: France must support Armenia more firmly against aggressions by Azerbaijan

Armenia parliament majority faction: Border delimitation preparation process will start from point zero

PM: Armenia exports to other EEU countries increased by 27.8%

Armenias Pashinyan: Azerbaijan provocations are aimed at disrupting arrangements reached by trilateral statements

California Armenian couple accused of fraud flee leaving their 3 children behind

799 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Katherine Clark: Azerbaijan must acknowledge and respect Armenian sovereignty

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council enlarged meeting underway in Yerevan

Russia peacekeepers patrol along Karabakh border delimitation line

MOD: According to current data Armenia has 6 military casualties as result of Tuesdays attack by Azerbaijan

Turkish Islamic preachers organization denies reports of his death

Newspaper: What happened to missing Armenia soldiers during recent hostilities?

Armenia MOD dismisses reports about not allowing officers with higher rank than major to go up to combat positions

US virtually completes development of new tactical nuclear gravity bomb B61-12

Newspaper: Officers with higher rank than major not allowed to combat positions during recent hostilities in Syunik

Opposition MP: Granting corridor to Azerbaijan through Syunik Province will be gravest crime against Armenia

US Department of State representative says why Azerbaijan is not invited to Summit for Democracy

Armenian human rights activists to submit letters to ECHR regarding soldiers captured and considered missing

Armenia FM stresses importance of addressable response to Azerbaijan's actions during talk with Greek counterpart

Ex-ruling party official: Armenia authorities found reason for MOD's resignation after his visit to Karabakh

Republican Party of Armenia spokesperson: Nikol Pashinyan gave a confessional testimony in parliament yesterday

Armenia President talks about states' collective responsibility at Bloomberg New Economy Forum

Turkish website reports poisoning of Fetullah Gulen

Armenia FM holds phone talks with Cypriot counterpart, presents situation created after Azerbaijani attack

Mirzoyan, Zas discuss CSTO's possible actions to stabilize situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border, if necessary

Mothers of deceased servicemen demand Armenia PM's resignation

Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire at tractor in Armenia's Verin Shorzha village

Putin: Events unfolding on Armenia-Azerbaijan border attest to fact that situation has not calmed down in the region

Lithuania supports Armenia's territorial integrity

NEWS.am daily digest: 18.11.21

Ex-ruling party official: Incumbent authorities created deliberately organized chaos in Armenia
Frances new Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot says her goal is to make the cooperation between the two countries in different areas more long-term. She hopes that the OSCE Minsk Group will help to achieve lasting stability in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. The Ambassador notes that France attaches importance to taking humanitarian measures and returning the Armenian captives from Azerbaijan. Louyot gave an interview to Armenpress about these topics. The interview runs as follows, in particular:

Mrs. Ambassador, you talked about the statement of the French President on donating vaccines to Armenia. What vaccines the statement is about and when will they be delivered to Armenia? In august 2021, President Macron announced that France will donate 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Armenia.

The talk is about either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. We will inform when we know the date of the delivery. 50,000 doses of other types of vaccines have already been sent to Armenia by France. And the second delivery is already at a preparation stage. Its still unknown how many doses it would be, but the talk is about quite a large quantity.

France is an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, and you are the representative of the Co-Chair country in Armenia. A year has passed since the war Azerbaijan launched against Nagorno Karabakh, but Baku still refuses to return all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives despite the commitments assumed by the November 9 trilateral statement. What role France can play on this matter as a Co-Chair country, for forcing Azerbaijan to return the captives? In your opinion, what actions must the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community take on this matter?

Of course, I am aware of this painful situation. And of course, France is among those countries who wish taking humanitarian measures, reducing tension and releasing the persons held. Not me or my colleagues, the French Ambassador in Azerbaijan, follow this topic, there is a separate Ambassador, who is Frances co-chair in the Minsk Group and who follows and deals with this issue. We are happy that the Armenian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister reaffirmed the importance of the role of the Minsk Group in solving this situation. We are also happy for the recent meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. And the Minsk Group is working with the sides in order to take new actions in this dialogue process. As the Ambassador of France to Armenia, I hope that the Minsk Group will help the sides to record progress for the long-term stabilization of the situation.

You mentioned earlier in one of your interviews that France is working with Russia and the United States on signing a lasting agreement over Karabakh. Can you please specify what kind of an agreement the talk is about?

Perhaps I didnt state my words very clearly that time. The talk, of course, was about the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Co-Chair countries so that they accompany the sides in the settlement process.

But is any concrete document being prepared?

I will cite the statements of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The role of the Minsk Group is to accompany the sides in the lasting settlement process. The Minsk Group doesnt write any document by itself, the talk is about accompanying and assisting the sides in order to find lasting stabilization solutions for the situation in the region.

Azerbaijan claims that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has been solved, whereas the status of Karabakh, the issue of the Artsakh peoples right to self-determination are still unresolved. Thus, Armenia claims that the conflict is not solved. What is Frances position on this matter?

I would like to state once again that I am not the representative, the co-chair of France in the Minsk Group. And therefore, these are not the topics over which I have a direct authority. The only thing I can say is that I am fully aware and understand what an impact this situation has on the people of Armenia. I hope that all the diplomatic efforts being made will soon give results.

As you said, you are not the representative of the Minsk Group and are not dealing with this issue directly, but I would like to address my last question on this topic. Till today the incidents provoked by Azerbaijan hinder to start the demarcation and delimitation works on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. What is your assessment to such behavior of the Azerbaijani side and how do you see the solution of the issue?

Of course, France thinks that its important to achieve the border demarcation and delimitation. And we, as well as the international community call for making these processes in a peaceful way. Its obvious that the establishment of a peaceful context will enable to more quickly conduct the demarcation and delimitation works. And of course, this is my wish on this matter.

Earlier reports were spreading that French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a visit to Armenia. What details can you provide? Is a presidential visit to Armenia planned in the future or not?

The President will be very happy to visit Armenia. As he has stated for several occasions, he has great connection with Armenia and Armenians. And he has a plan to visit Armenia, but at this moment the dates are not known.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday received visiting Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze.

Greeting the guest, the Prime Minister said: I have to record with satisfaction that there has been a very high dynamics in the relations between Armenia and Georgia over the past period and I am also happy that this dynamics is being strengthened with the visit of the Defense Minister. We are interested in deepening our cooperation with Georgia in all areas and developing our brotherly relations. Of course, visits like this and also the personal contacts between the Cabinet members are very important in this context. I would like to once again welcome you.

Thanking for the reception, the Georgian Defense Minister said: Its a great honor for me to meet a person with a biography like yours. Before being appointed as Minister of Defense, I served as the deputy of the minister who [i.e., Irakli Garibashvili] later became the Prime Minister, and I am happy that your relations with him are a base for continuing our cooperation. My visit is the continuation of that cooperation, and this progress, of course, will be constant. Once again thank you.

Nikol Pashinyan asked to convey warm greetings to his Georgian counterpart, Irakli Garibashvili, stating that the dialogue with the Georgian PM and the Government is based on full mutual trust, which is a good base for the development of strategic partnership. In the context of the development of bilateral ties and the realization of the existing potential, the Prime Minister of Armenia highlighted the partnership between the defense ministries of the two countries.

Juansher Burchuladze assessed the cooperation and the programs aimed at deepening the cooperation with the Armenian Defense Ministry as effective.

Also, the interlocutors exchanged views on strengthening the defense partnership and on issues of regional importance.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan Sergey Lavrov and Jeyhun Bayramov discussed current issues related to bilateral relations and items on the regional and global agendas.

The parties exchanged views on the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on November 9, 2020 and on January 11, 2021, taking into consideration the upcoming anniversary of the adoption of the trilateral statement on ceasefire and end of all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Hour hands were adjusted for weakening tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, unblocking all transport and economic links in the South Caucasus and creating a favorable atmosphere for regional cooperation. Lavrov highlighted the importance of continuity of the efforts for political and diplomatic settlement of the whole scope of issues related to the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. With satisfaction, the ministers recorded the ongoing development of the multifaceted strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan, the press release of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the ministers also discussed the activities of the working group in charge of restoration of transport and communication [in the region-ed.], adding that the ministers attached importance to development of the 3+3 platform for cooperation while exchanging views on the current situation in the region.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Armenia held personal talks yesterday.
Armenias Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan today received US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson.

Armenian News-NEWS.am learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia that Minister Mirzoyan congratulated Olson on assuming office and wished her success.

Mirzoyan and Olson discussed a broad range of issues related to Armenia-US relations, attached importance to the effective cooperation in the sectors of democratic development, strengthening of rule of law, human rights protection and anti-corruption and touched upon the joint steps to be taken within the scope of the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue and the programs that the USAID is implementing in Armenia.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on regional security and stability and underscored the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the scope of the mandate of the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, attaching importance to the five-party meeting held in September in New York.

The parties also discussed the humanitarian situation created as a result of Azerbaijans aggression against Artsakh. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the need for the unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and other persons being held, as well as the importance of preservation of the Armenian religious, historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh in the territories that are currently under Azerbaijani control.
The Constitutional Court of Armenia has declared part 3 of Article 40 of the Law on Military Service and Status of Servicemen constitutional. This is what Spokesperson of the Constitutional Court Yeva Tovmasyan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, adding that the decision will be posted on the official website of the Constitutional Court within a three-day period.

On February 25, 2021, after the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the latter declared that a military coup was being attempted, called on citizens to gather at Republic Square and protect the revolution. That same day, Pashinyan signed the petition addressed to the President of Armenia to relieve Chief of the General Staff, Colonel General Onik Gasparyan of his post, but President Armen Sarkissian didnt sign the petition and sent it back to the government two days later. On February 27, the Prime Minister sent the same proposal again, and on March 2, by failing to sign the proposal for the dismissal of Onik Gasparyan, Armen Sarkissian applied to the Constitutional Court to determine the constitutionality of part 3 of Article 40 of the Law on Military Service and Status of Servicemen that had served as a ground for Onik Gasparyans dismissal, not to challenge the constitutionality of the draft decree submitted by Nikol Pashinyan. For this reason, the decision entered into force  the government promulgated the statement of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan by which Onik Gasparyan was considered dismissed from the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia starting from March 10, 2021.
Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan today received the delegation led by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson, including Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at USAID Alexander Sokolowski and other officials, and among the attendees was US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Lynne Tracy, the press service of the Government of Armenia reported.

Greeting the guests, the Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the assistance that the US has provided to Armenia, presented the main issues facing Armenia in the post-war period and, in this context, underscored the fact that Armenia succeeded in maintaining macroeconomic stability, in spite of the existing challenges.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of the fight against corruption and highly appreciated the effective cooperation with the USAID.

Touching upon the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the role of the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group and attached importance to the intensification of negotiations within the scope of the Chairmanship. Grigoryan also considered the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages and their return to Armenia pivotal.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson expressed the US governments willingness to support the speedy settlement of the humanitarian issues in the region.
Delegates at the high-stakes COP26 climate summit who are devising new strategies to lower global levels of greenhouse gases would be wise to address a major source of CO emissions that made it possible for many of them to travel to the summit: planes.

In 2019 alone, CO emissions from all commercial operations totaled 918 million metric tons, with 85 percent of those emissions coming from passenger transport, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Now, a University of Miami researcher is helping to spearhead a project that could substantially reduce emissions of the man-made, heat-trapping gas from aircraft.

James Coakley, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering, is attempting to create the next generation of high-temperature alloysspecifically, refractory metals that are incredibly resistant to heat and wear.

Assistant professors Giacomo Po (seated, right) and James Coakley (standing) and graduate students William Hixson (seated, blue shirt) and Inam Lalani examine an image showing the microstructure of a precipitation-hardened alloy.

Think of them as a new class of alloys, said Coakley, who is collaborating with the U.S. Air Force and Cambridge University on the project.

In aviation, the higher the temperature at which you can operate an airplane engine, the more efficient the engine will be, he explained. Less efficient aircraft engines burn more fuel, and burning more fuel translates to more CO in the atmosphere. So, theres a big push in the industry to increase engine efficiency, and that means going to higher temperatures.

Excessive heat, however, can compromise the current generation of alloys used in engines, degrading their strength and durability to the point of failure.

Aerospace engineers have relied on nickel-based alloys for decades to make turbine blades, discs, and other critical aircraft engine components. But were at the point where weve advanced those alloys as far as we can, Coakley said.

And thats where the new class of refractory metals he is helping to develop comes in. While refractory metals like tungsten and tantalum are well known for their resistance to heat and corrosion, they tend to be heavy, placing unneeded stress on aircraft engine components. Were trying to strike a balance between high-temperature properties and lightweight characteristics, Coakley said.

So, combining different elementsfor example, lightweight titanium with durable tungstento create a new type of refractory metal with multiple characteristics could be the key.

Coakley recently helped test such an experimental alloy at the legendary Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Combining mechanical loading with a furnace to simulate conditions inside a jet engine, he and a team of other researchers subjected the alloy to high temperatures and other stresses for different lengths of time. Simultaneously, they also monitored the new alloy with a neutron beam to determine if it would deform. Achieving higher tolerance to stresses and temperatures was the goal. Results are still being analyzed.

While Coakley is examining the special alloys bulk, his colleague, assistant professor Giacomo Po, is investigating the relationship between its macroscopic and microstructure properties. He is doing so by combining computational modeling with high-temperature micro- and nano-scale mechanical testing carried out inside a scanning electron microscope.

This is an enormous challenge, Po said. We need to develop an alloy that is light, strong, and stable under unprecedented levels of stress and temperature. If the alloy fractures prematurely, then we need to figure out why. And micromechanical models and testing help us understand what features of the alloy microstructure result in premature failure, he added.

For the aviation industrys efforts in reducing its carbon footprint, this project has huge implications, said Oakley.
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered almost every aspect of peoples lives. Education is not an exception. The number of teacher vacancies nationwide has grown. Teacher shortages are not new, but the pandemic has exacerbated the demand for educators and other school personnel.

The shortage of qualified, well-trained teachers was already critical prior to the pandemic and COVID has only exacerbated the problem, said Laura Kohn-Wood, dean of the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development.

When will we collectively recognize that recruiting the best and the brightest, increasing compensation that is commensurate to the difficulty and importance of the job, and demonstrating the value of education through recognition and support of teachers will benefit the entire country? she asked.

There are people wanting to contribute and have a positive impact on our children, said Mary Avalos, a research professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the School of Education and Human Development.

Our system is pushing them away, she said.

Low salaries, a lack of respect as professionals, and limited autonomy in instructional decisions have played a major role in the teacher shortage, said Avalos. The pandemic has been an added punch that has thrown the educational system into a tailspin.

Getting people to come work in our schools has been even more difficult since COVID-19, Avalos added.

While the stress of teaching during the pandemic has triggered more retirements and resignations, a survey by the National Education Association (NEA) reported that 32 percent of their members planned to leave the profession earlier. The fact that teachers are paid as much as 20 percent less than other college-educated workers with similar experience is a huge obstacle to recruiting first-rate educators, the NEA stated in a report.

The Florida Education Association has said that there are 5,000 teacher positions open in the state. Added to that are shortages of bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, teachers assistants, and substitute teachers.

The impact of the shortage on working teachers has been enormous, said Avalos. Many teachers have said they are teaching classes that they are not certified to teach or taking students from other classes where there is no teacher because there are no substitutes available, according to Avalos.

The year of the lockdown because of the pandemicwhich forced students and teachers to work remotelymeant that many students learning outcomes suffered, Avalos noted. According to teachers Avalos spoke with, some students never logged in or adapted to remote learning.

Teachers also had to adjust to remote instruction on a new technological platform; and in many cases, this required extra hours of preparation to ready lessons to be taught via a computer.

Teachers figuring out how to engage students when they are little boxes on a screen is very different than when they are physically present in the room with them, said Jennifer Krawec, clinical assistant professor and associate chair in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

Teachers also had to be witness to the challenges that many students faced in getting internet access to join the classroom instruction.

In the classroom, the pandemic highlighted and exacerbated the inequities that already exist, said Krawec. Some students had no laptops, others had no access to Wi-Fi and others had no adult to supervise their work, since many parents were front-line workers who continued to work during the lockdown, she reported.

Though most students are back in the classroom, things are not completely back to normal.

In Florida, the debate about whether students should or should not wear masks in schools has added an extra layer of stress to educators and parents, Avalos indicated.

Across the board, people are experiencing a lot of stress, and it is played out in ways that are not good for public education, said Avalos. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an order that gave parents the choice of whether to send children to schools with masks. Many teachers, other workers, and students have been exposed to the virus, which has forced some of them to quarantine. This has added to the lack of teachers, Avalos pointed out.

We may be coming out of the pandemic but not so in schools because of learning lags.,  said Avalos. And also some people are being quarantined because they are exposed to COVID-19 in schools, resulting in more absences.

In Florida, she added, there have been teacher shortages in several areas for many years, including special education. The pandemic has aggravated the problem. It is an area that requires teachers with a particular set of skills and a big heart.

Wendy Morrison Cavendish, a professor at the School of Education and Human Development with experience in special education, said the teacher shortage is also affected by the deprofessionalization of the profession.

The shift to standardized approaches to teaching that limit teachers creativity through the use of pacing guides and standard curriculum modules plays a factor, said Morrison Cavendish.

The shortage in the special education area is also affected by the states accountability practices that tie back to school rankings and teacher evaluations, according to Morrison Cavendish.

For teachers of students served in special education, standardized testing is an area of challenge, she said. For many students with disabilities, alternative assessments are allowed for only 1 percent of the student population.

Krawec said that she believes the one major incentive to attract teachers to the classroom is better compensation. A starting salary for a new teacher in Miami Dade County is about $41,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many teachers in Miami have two or three jobs in order to live and work here, said Krawec. Teaching is a really challenging job and it is a commitment. If we value education and the role that teachers play, then we should compensate them accordingly.
Consumer Council halts awards it co-hosted with HKJA

The Consumer Rights Reporting Awards had been held since 2001. Image: Courtesy of the Consumer Council

The Consumer Council said on Tuesday that it has suspended the Consumer Rights Reporting Awards that it had co-organised with the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and Hong Kong Press Photographers Association for two decades.



In a statement, the council said the content and format of the awards need to change with the times, and the event will return following a review.



"The Consumer Council has decided to fully review the format of the relevant activities and redraw a long-term plan, so the events can be held in a more creative format," the council said.



In a statement, the HKJA said it was disappointed that the council had unilaterally made the decision without discussing the matter with co-organisers.



The HKJA said the awards had encouraged journalists to find news stories on consumer rights and helped citizens understand their rights.



I think it is rational to conclude that [there] may be some problems between the collaboration with us and the council, the association's chairman, Ronson Chan, told RTHK.



Chan said the suspension of the awards will have a negative impact on the industry, and he hopes other groups wont follow suit and end their collaboration with the HKJA.
WASHINGTON  Political professionals across the country are going to school this week, looking for guidance to the 2022 nationwide elections by studying the results of a single political race: the Virginia gubernatorial contest.

Voting patterns in the election between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin will provide clues on how to approach 2022 campaigns that will decide control of Congress and governor's offices in big states like Florida, Texas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

"There are things to be learned from this race, regardless of the outcome," said Nadia Brown, professor of government and chair of the Womens and Gender Studies Program at Georgetown University.

The latest news: Live: Election Day updates on Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, NYC mayor, more

The Virginia gubernatorial race is one of several races on the ballot Tuesday, including a governor's contest in New Jersey. The Virginia contest has drawn more attention in part because of its proximity to the Washington, D.C., media, and in part because of its history.

The 1993 win by Republican George Allen reflected voter backlash against President Bill Clinton and the Democrats. One year later, the GOP won control of the U.S. House and Senate.

Four years ago, Democrat Ralph Northam won the governor's race as voters expressed their displeasure with new President Trump. The Democrats won control of the U.S. House in the 2018 midterm elections and control of the Senate after the 2020 elections.

Here are five things people are looking at:

The Donald Trump card

Members of both parties are anxious to see how many votes Republicans might lose through association with Trump, who lost Virginia in both of his presidential elections. Last year, Biden defeated Trump in Virginia by ten percentage points.

Gallery: Virginia governor's race remains close ahead of election day

Watch: Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin have two different visions for Virginia's future

Story continues

McAuliffe has based much of his gubernatorial campaign on Trump's unpopularity. He has cast Youngkin as a "Trump wannabe" and said the former businessman will push Trump-like economic policies that favor the wealthy and social policies that discriminate against people of color.

No one yet knows if this will work. While Virginia has become a more Democratic state over the past decade  McAuliffe himself won the governor's race in 2013  the current contest is too close to call, according to a spate of recent polls. TheRealClear Politics website average of recent polls gives Youngkin a very slight lead, well within the margins of error.

Political analysts and Republicans have their own questions about how the Trump factor will play out in Virginia, the most important being: Will hard-core Trump voters show up to vote for a moderate figure like Youngkin?

The Republican candidate is using some Trump issues  tax cuts, de-regulation, parental rights in education  but has kept Trump himself at arms length. Youngkin has not held campaign events with Trump, as McAuliffe has with President Biden.

"Can you still get Trump voters out when Trump is not on the ballot," said Jessica Taylor, the Senate and governors' editor for The Cook Political Report.

For his part, Trump says he and his voters will decide Youngkin's fate. He also denies any friction with Youngkin, saying in a written statement Monday that "we get along very well together and strongly believe in many of the same policies."

What About Biden?

In years past, the unpopularity of the current president  whether it was Bill Clinton or Donald Trump  has hurt his party's gubernatorial nominee in Virginia.

This week, Democrats will be looking to see if, or how much, Biden's negative ratings hurt McAuliffe. In an NBC News poll released Sunday, only 42% of adults said they approved of Biden's job performance, down 7 percentage points from August.

More: Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump: The other Virginia governor's race

During a virtual rally with supporters last month, McAuliffe told backers that "we are facing a lot of headwinds from Washington, as you know. The President is unpopular today unfortunately here in Virginia, so we got to plow through."

McAuliffe later downplayed his comments about the president, telling CNN that "it's not dragging me down."

Still, McAuliffe has urged fellow Democrats in Washington to pass major infrastructure and economic legislationto prove to Virginia voters that Democrats can get things done.

As they seek to win control of Congress, Republicans next year are expected to use Biden to bash congressional Democrats  a strategy they will amp up if Youngkin defeats McAuliffe on Tuesday.

"If McAuliffe loses, people will attempt to pin it on Biden," pollster Frank Luntz said. "And they will have some justification."

Jatia Wrighten, an assistant professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, said mid-term elections like the ones next year are often "a check on the president's power. It is common for a president's party to lose seats."

Black voters

Strong support from Black voters is a major reason Virginia has trended Democratic in recent elections and will be a major factor in the current race.

"We have seen historically that the Black vote  especially in Virginia  makes the difference in who wins," Wrighten said. "The Democrats know that."

Campaign officials in 2022, and beyond, will study the effectiveness of McAuliffe's get-out-the-Black-vote project.

The strategy has included targeted television ads, radio spots, social media posts, voter registration drives at Black colleges and event featuring high-profile Black leaders like former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris.

More: Barack Obama stumps for Terry McAuliffe as tight Va. governor's race worries Democrats

Hala Ayala vs. Winsome Sears: Virginia's next lieutenant governor will make history

The Virginia election will also have something to say about the viability of Black candidates in a most white electorate: Democrat Hala Ayala and Republican Winsome Sears are trying to become the first woman of color to win election to the lieutenant governor post.

Suburban voters

The Youngkin campaign has spent much of its time appealing to a special kind of suburban voter: Moderate-to-conservative people who voted for Biden because they couldn't stomach Trump.

Many political analysts believe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in the suburbs. That's why Youngkin and McAuliffe have focused on the areas around the city of Richmond and in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., and why political professionals will be studying the success or failure of their suburban strategies.

Voting in the burbs: Can Republicans reclaim suburban voters turned off by Donald Trump?

"The ultimate goal for a candidate like Youngkin is to energize the Trump base while not alienating suburban soft Republicans and independents," said GOP strategist Tim Miller.

Culture wars: COVID, schools, abortion

Elections are often decided by issues of the moment. In the Virginia race, political analysts are looking to assess the impact of cultural disputes that are roiling the nation, including abortion, education policies and COVID vaccines.

McAuliffe has hit Youngkin repeatedly over his opposition to government mandates that people be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying the Republican's position puts lives at risk.

Youngkin has said individuals should be allowed to make their own decisions about COVID. That includes parents making choices for their children, one of the flashpoints of fervent disputes with school boards in Virginia.

More: How this suburban school board became the hottest issue in the Virginia governor's race

The Republican candidate has taken up a number pf parental protests against school boards over items ranging from mask mandates to trans students to the teaching of race in schools.

"Education is what Youngkin has been banking on the final weeks here," Taylor said, an issue aimed at "suburbs and exurbs where Republicans lost ground in the Trump years."

The Virginia race will also say something about abortion, an issue likely to be big in gubernatorial races in places like Florida, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

As the Supreme Court considers cases on the constitutionality of state laws that effectively ban most abortions, McAuliffe has said Youngkin plans to pursue a similar law in Virginia.

During the campaign, Youngkin was caught on tape telling a supporter that he and a Republican legislator could "go on offense" against abortion, but he didn't want to discuss the topic on the campaign trail because it "wont win my independent votes that I have to get.

McAuliffe has said Youngkin is using racist and sexist dog whistles to appeal to Trump voters. "I'm just tired of him running everything down," McAuliffe said on NBC's Meet The Press, adding: "I'm a unifier. He's a divider."

In an interview last week on Fox News, Youngkin said: "This race is about our kids' future, about Virginia's future, and Terry McAuliffe doesn't want to talk about it." He later added: "And the entire nation is watching this."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia election and 2022: Issues include Biden, Trump and more
While running toward a fire on his neighbors property Friday evening in Meridian, a man was hit and killed by an SUV, according to the Ada County Sheriffs Office.

Alex Byington, 48, of Meridian, was struck by the vehicle Friday on Ten Mile Road, according to the Ada County Coroners Office.

The crash happened just after 7:10 p.m., the Sheriffs Office said. Meridian Fire Department crews were called to what was reported as a house fire on the east side of the 2700 block of South Ten Mile Road. The house wasnt on fire, it turned out, but there was an active garbage fire on the property, according to the Sheriffs Office.

Byington ran across Ten Mile Road toward the fire when he was hit by an SUV that was heading south. A Meridian police officer arrived seconds later and began CPR on Byington, and after Ada County paramedics arrived, Byington was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, according to the Sheriffs Office. He died in the emergency room before 8 p.m. Friday.

The adult male driver of the SUV has cooperated with investigators, the Sheriffs Office reported. It still is investigating but no charges have been filed.
Kabul  Two explosions rocked Kabul on Tuesday in an attack targeting a large military hospital in the Afghan capital. A Taliban official confirmed that at least seven people were killed, but there were reports of a much higher death toll from the blasts and an ensuing gun battle..

It was the latest in a string of attacks in the weeks since the Taliban seized power in August following a two-decade insurgency against the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan.

A local official told AFP that 19 people were killed and about 50 others wounded in the attack on the hospital, but Bilal Karimi, the Taliban regime's deputy spokesman, told CBS News that at least seven people, including three women and a child and three members of the Taliban, were killed. He said those figures could change as more information became available on the attack against the Sardar Dawood Khan Military hospital.

Karimi said five fighters from the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan, ISIS-Khorasan or ISIS-K, carried out the attack. He said four of them were killed in a gun battle with Taliban forces and one was arrested with wounds. The spokesman said he could not confirm reports that the initial explosion was the result of a suicide bomber.

An ambulance is seen as Taliban members take security measures after a military hospital located in Wazir Akbar Khan region was hit by twin bombings in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, November 2, 2021. The first bomb exploded at the entrance of the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan Hospital, the largest military hospital in Kabul. / Credit: Bilal Guler/Anadolu Agency/Getty

The Taliban's struggle to bring stability to Afghanistan has been dogged by a series of bloody assaults by ISIS-K, but the group did not immediately confirm responsibility for Tuesday's bloodshed.

ISIS-K working to undermine, even infiltrate Taliban regime

"I am inside the hospital. I heard a big explosion coming from the first checkpoint. We were told to go to safe rooms. I also hear guns firing," a doctor at the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan Hospital in Kabul told AFP. "I can still hear gun firing inside the hospital building. I think the attackers are going from room to room... like the first time it was attacked."

The hospital was previously attacked in 2017, when gunmen disguised as medical personnel killed at least 30 people. AFP journalists heard a second blast in the city, as well as the sound of gunfire. A Taliban media spokesman confirmed both explosions. "One explosion has happened at the gate of the military hospital and a second somewhere near the hospital, this is our initial information, we will provide more details later," he told AFP.

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Qari Saeed Khosty, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said Taliban special forces had rushed to the scene to secure the area. "The blast has caused casualties, details will be shared later," he said.

An Italian NGO which runs a separate hospital in the capital tweeted that it had received nine patients with injuries from the blast site in the capital's 10th police district.

Pictures shared on social media showed black smoke billowing into the air after the explosions, the first of which went off at around 1:00 p.m. (0430 Eastern).

Smoke billows from the ground near the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan National Military Hospital after an explosion in central Kabul, Afghanistan, November 2, 2021. / Credit: Handout via REUTERS

Although both ISIS and the Taliban are hardline Sunni Islamist militant groups, they have differed over the minutiae of religion and strategy and fought for years. ISIS Khorasan, or ISIS-K, as the Afghan franchise is known, has claimed four mass-casualty attacks since the Taliban takeover. AFP journalists saw Taliban fighters racing to the scene in armored personnel carriers (APCs) and pick-up trucks. Roads close to the heavily fortified "Green Zone," where the buildings of several former Western embassies are located, were closed off to traffic as Taliban guards scaled up searches. Sirens could be heard in the streets and ambulances were seen speeding towards the blast site. The Taliban, which has yet to be recognized by any foreign power as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, is facing multiple challenges as it tries to transition from militant group to governing power, including a worsening humanitarian crisis and major economic disruption.

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Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers tweeted, "Let's go Old Virginia. Make General Lee proud" after urging Republican voters in Virginia to head to the polls on Election Day.

The Virginia gubernatorial race between Republican Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe has taken center stage on Election Day. Rogers and other Republican politicians are pulling for Youngkin's win.

Rogers has been a longtime supporter of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and protested the removal of Lee statues in Virginia cities like Charlottesville and Richmond. The Arizona conservative who became a member of the states 6th District this year argued it was "un-American to tear down, erase, and burn history."

"Robert E Lee was a great patriot and a great leader. They are not just tearing him down. They are coming after all of us. Get involved now. You could be next," Rogers tweeted on Dec. 21, 2020.

Largest Lee statue in the U.S. removed: Virginia removes Richmond's 131-year-old Robert E. Lee statue

Residents, protesters say goodbye: Virginia set to remove Richmond's Robert E. Lee statue, its largest Confederate monument

The Lee statue served as a symbol of Confederate heritage and became a focal point of the 2020 demonstrations in Richmond by people rallying for racial equity in justice following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police.

Rogers has used the statue's removal to hit back at American "traitors" and Democrats, who she claims don't stand for the country.

"I like Robert E Lee and I like Stonewall Jackson. I dont like traitors who hate America. Stand up for our culture!" Rogers tweeted on July 23 this year.

In another tweet, she claimed Lee "loved our country" more than U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, China and Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

Good morning. Today is election day in Virginia. Check in if you already voted Republican. Also, if you have family and friends who havent voted, please send them a reminder via text or call. Lets go Old Virginia! Make General Lee proud.  Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) November 2, 2021

Social media reactions to Rogers' tweets have been mixed. Some praised her conservative values while others said her support for Lee is racist.

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As Rogers condemned the statue's removal, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said the removal was overdue because Confederate history does not represent what Virginia is.

"The public monuments reflect the story we choose to tell about who we are as a people," the governor said. "It is time to display history as history and use the public memorials to honor the full and inclusive truth of who we are today and in the future.

Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona senator urges Virginia voters to 'Make General Lee proud'
This undated California Department of Motor Vehicles photo of Mark Steven Domingo was released by the U.S. Department of Justice. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP)

A U.S. Army veteran from Reseda was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for plotting to set off a bomb at a Long Beach political rally in a thwarted terrorist attack.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson rejected prosecutors' request for a penalty of life in prison for Mark Steven Domingo, 28, who was convicted at his trial in August for attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to terrorists.

Prosecutors told Wilson that Domingo wanted the aborted April 2019 bombing to avenge the killing of 51 people at mosques in New Zealand "and to stoke terror, chaos, and civil unrest that would weaken the United States and help ISIS and other Jihadist groups spread."

"His clear intent was to intimidate this nation and the world, and he sought to influence world events and the conduct of the United States government through that intimidation," Assistant U.S. Attys. Reema M. El-Amamy and David T. Ryan told the judge in a sentencing memo.

Domingo had repeatedly expressed his desire to kill Jews, Christians, police officers, military personnel and others, they said.

Starting around May 2017, they said, Domingo started sharing private Facebook messages "regarding his support for ISIS, hatred of Jews, and desire to commit mass-casualty attacks," the prosecutors alleged. In March 2019, he wrote in an invite-only online chatroom about conducting a mass attack similar to the October 2017 fatal shooting of 59 people at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, they said.

An FBI agent working undercover noticed Domingo's posts about the New Zealand attack and initiated a conversation with him that led to a sting operation in which Domingo expressed interest in gun attacks and ultimately agreed to detonate an improvised explosive device at the planned Long Beach rally, according to the government.

As part of the plot, Domingo bought several hundred nails to be used as shrapnel inside the IED, and he thought that a cohort  who was actually an FBI informant  was finding a bomb maker who could use them, authorities said.

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Domingo was arrested in April 2019 after he took delivery of what he believed to be the IED from an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the bomb maker, the government alleged.

The rally Domingo targeted had been organized by a group called the United Patriots National Front. It was going to take place in Bluff Park in Long Beach, according to police. The group did not show up, but about 200 counterprotesters did. No incident occurred.

Mr. Domingo represents the very real threat posed by homegrown violent extremists in the United States, said Kristi K. Johnson, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles field office.

Domingo's attorney, public defender David I. Wasserman, had urged Wilson to impose a prison sentence of no more than 15 years. Domingo endured a rough childhood in the San Fernando Valley, he argued. His father died of stomach cancer when Domingo was 5 years old, and the boy suffered chronic depression, had trouble making friends and was neglected by his mother, the lawyer said.

When Domingo graduated high school in 2011, he joined the Army and went on to serve as an infantryman in Afghanistan. In the military, Domingo "hoped to find a place where he could take out his anger," Wasserman wrote, but instead was "hazed in basic training" by platoon mates who saw him as "slower than everyone else."

Domingo was "shot at by Taliban fighters," the lawyer said, but within his own platoon he was "disciplined, criticized, and ostracized." He wrote the names of fellow soldiers, ex-girlfriends and others he felt aggrieved by on his rifle ammunition, which led to his discharge from the military, the lawyer said.

For a time, Domingo fell in with alt-right communities on Facebook and 4chan, platforms that extol and tolerate "offensive viewpoints and statements," Wasserman said. He later started studying Islamic history. He had been "virulently anti-Islam," but wound up identifying with Muslims' victimization, he said.

Domingo "espoused violent and offensive statements  consistent with his long simmering anger and self-hate. But he also made clear that he was sad, depressed, and felt like he lacked a reason to live," Wasserman wrote.

Wasserman also shared with the judge some comments from Domingo, who has been jailed since his April 2019 arrest.

"While in prison I have managed to improve my social skills," Domingo told his lawyer, according to the papers. "Ive learned how human friendships are built and how to maintain them, a skill I was never allowed to learn in my past. Ive learned how my conduct in the outside world was not the way a man is supposed to carry himself through life. Ive learned that innocent people dont need to die just because I am having a bad day.

Domingo's lawyer argued that the FBI entrapped him in a sting operation into committing a more serious crime  attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction  than he was predisposed to commit. Domingo repeatedly expressed an interest in shooting people, but the idea for an IED came from a government informant, Wasserman said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nov. 2A threat of a planned shooting involving Richland High School has been determined to be false following an investigation by authorities.

Administrators were alerted that the threat was circulating on social media late Monday evening through the Safe2Say Something emergency tip line.

"When you get that message, you have to react quickly," Superintendent Arnold Nadonley said.

The Richland police were immediately contacted and an investigation was started by the school resource officer and a detective with the department.

"They started investigating it and eventually found out it involved a school in North Carolina," Richland Police Chief Michael Burgan said.

The school in the southern state shares a similar name as the institution in Johnstown, which is why it was reported.

Burgan noted that there are several districts named "Richland" in the country, including at least three others in Pennsylvania.

Nadonley said receiving notices such as this "scares the daylights out of you" because "it's the last thing you think could happen, but it could happen anywhere."

He added that the administrator's thoughts and prayers go out to the district in North Carolina.

As a precaution, there will be an increased police presence with other heightened security measures in place at Richland buildings on Tuesday and throughout the following days.

"Out of an abundance of caution, because there were a lot of parents who were nervous and concerned today, we decided to keep our current posture with the amount of officers we have at the school," Burgan said. "(We're) trying to give them a little bit of reassurance."

Nadonley asked the community to refrain from sharing inaccurate information on social media that would result in further problems for the North Carolina school district.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Bahrain's foreign ministry on Tuesday urged citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately, the state news agency reported, amid a deepening row over comments by a Lebanese minister that were critical of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia expelled Lebanon's envoy and banned all Lebanese imports on Friday. Bahrain and Kuwait followed suit.

Yemen's Saudi-backed government also recalled its ambassador to Beirut on Tuesday for consultations, the state news agency SABA reported, over the comments made by George Kordahi before he became Lebanese information minister.

In an interview he said was recorded on Aug. 5, before the formation of a new Lebanese government, Kordahi called the Yemeni war futile, said Yemen was subjected to an aggression and that its Iran-aligned Houthis were defending themselves.

A coalition of forces led by Riyadh intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthis ousted the internationally-recognised government from the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression.

(Reporting by Moataz Abdelrahiem; Writing by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Gareth Jones)
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday attacked city firefighters for feigning illness to protest vaccination mandates  and promised consequences for those who dont report to their jobs.

De Blasio employed the threatening rhetoric on the first day that city employees whove refused to get the vaccination can be docked pay for doing so. As of Monday morning, he said a total of 9,000 city workers are on leave without pay, or about 6% of the entire city workforce, which is approximately 378,000 strong.

But on Monday, he seemed to single out firefighters who are now being accused of faking sick to take time off.

We have every reason to believe that theres a lot of people out there claiming to be sick who are not. Its not acceptable, he said at his Monday morning news briefing. The thing to do is to do the right thing. Come to work. Protect people  as you took an oath to do.

The mayor added that so-called sickouts arent something the city tolerates and that when people do this kind of thing, there are consequences.

He specifically said the city would be on careful lookout for possible violations of the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking under certain circumstances.

Whether these union leaders have now crossed a line, we are watching every single thing they say and do  every email, every tweet  we are watching everything, he said. If we see a violation of the Taylor Law, we will be in court immediately.

De Blasios condemnation came a day after the Daily News reported that about 2,000 FDNY members who took sick time are believed to be feigning illness  and almost two weeks after de Blasio announced that almost all city workers, with the exception of some Correction Department officers, would have to be vaccinated by Friday or be put on paid leave starting Monday.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro noted Monday that the number of firefighters taking medical leave spiked immediately after de Blasio announced the mandate, which he unveiled on Oct. 20.

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We know thats related to protests against the mandate. Its obvious, Nigro said. Generally, two hundred people come into our medical office every day. In this past week, its been seven hundred a day. Most, or the majority of them, are unvaccinated. This is completely unacceptable.

Nigro said that as of Monday morning, 2,300 firefighters have called in sick since the city issued its mandate.

Its continued day in, day out, he said. Well look into discipline for these members.

Nigro didnt appear to leave room for doubt over whats going on, saying that hundreds of firefighters most definitely are taking medical leave without a legitimate reason.

The commissioner can not claim that unvaccinated firefighters taking medical leave is causing the staffing shortage. By the commissioners own admission, the vast majority of them are unvaccinated, and would have been sent home this morning by the mayor anyway thanks to his dangerous mandate, said United Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro. It is common knowledge that firefighters work hurt. It would only be natural for these firefighters to seek treatment and document their injuries before they are let go by the mayor. This crisis is clearly on the mayor.

Despite the apparent sick-out, de Blasio said the FDNY has continued to deliver strong, good, normal response times to fires. When asked whether the lack of a discernible disruption in city services translated into an indication that some agencies are bloated with too many employees, de Blasio dodged the question, saying merely that workers who engage in sick outs get the public, in fact, angry, when people are paying taxes, but not getting the service they deserve.

Nigro noted that there are currently 18 FDNY units that arent operating  out of a total of 350 units citywide. He added that many active units are understaffed as well.

That understaffing could end immediately if members stopped going sick when they werent sick, he said.

While he and de Blasio took a hard line against firefighters, the mayor also touted increases in the overall vaccination rate among city workers as a sign his mandate is largely working according to plan.

The mayor and other top officials announced Monday that vaccination rates have climbed across the board since the last mandate was issued, with the NYPDs rate climbing to 85% of all workers with one dose compared with 70% before, firefighters up to 77% from 58% and sanitation workers up to 88% from 61%.

Along with firefighters calling in sick, the mandate has sparked protests across the city and has led to other types of backlash.

Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson confirmed Monday that garbage trucks in Queens were targets of vandalism a week ago  their coolant hoses cut and tires slashed  in what was apparently a response to the vaccine mandate.

The trucks were able to be repaired, and we were able to complete service, he said.

Grayson said the department filed a police report and the matter is now under investigation.

_______
By Tina Bellon and Eric M. Johnson

AUSTIN/SEATTLE (Reuters) - In Wichita, Kansas, nearly half of the roughly 10,000 employees at aircraft companies Textron Inc and Spirit AeroSystems remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, risking their jobs in defiance of a federal mandate, according to a union official.

"We're going to lose a lot of employees over this," said Cornell Beard, head of the local Machinists union district. Many workers did not object to the vaccines as such, he said, but were staunchly opposed to what they see as government meddling in personal health decisions.

The union district has hired a Texas-based lawyer to assist employees and prepare potential lawsuits against the companies should requests for medical or religious exemptions to vaccination be denied.

A life-long Democrat, Beard said he would no longer vote for the party. "They'll never get another vote from me and I'm telling the workers here the same thing."

The clock is ticking for companies that want to continue gaining federal contracts under an executive order by Democratic President Joe Biden, which requires all contractor employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8.

That means federal contract workers need to have received their last COVID-19 shot at least two weeks before the deadline to gain maximum protection, according to U.S. government guidance.

With a three-week gap between shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, workers must get the first jab by Wednesday. If the government holds fast to its deadline, it is already too late to choose Moderna's vaccine, which is given in two doses four weeks apart. Workers could opt to get Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine until Nov. 24 to meet the deadline.

Vaccines remain by far the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, particularly faced with the extremely contagious Delta variant of the virus that can cause infections even among those fully vaccinated.

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Despite vocal opposition from some, vaccine mandates have been effective at shrinking the rates of the unvaccinated and convincing the reluctant to roll up their sleeves.

Several big employers such as Procter & Gamble, 3M and airlines including American Airlines and JetBlue have imposed mandates. In some industries, including among food workers, unions have supported vaccine requirements.

But the mandate has stirred protests from workers in industries across the country, as well as from Republican state officials.

Opposition to the mandate could potentially lead to thousands of U.S. workers losing their jobs and imperil an already sluggish economic recovery, union leaders, workers and company executives said.

More legal clashes are likely over how companies decide requests for vaccination exemptions.

For the companies, time is getting tight, though the Biden administration has signaled federal contractors will not have to immediately lay off unvaccinated workers who miss the Dec. 8 deadline.

Under government guidance published on Monday, companies will have flexibility over how to implement the mandate, which may allow them to avoid mass firings.

"A covered contractor should determine the appropriate means of enforcement with respect to its employee," the guidance said.

For Boeing Co in the United States, more than 7,000 workers have applied for religious exemptions and around 1,000 are seeking medical exemptions, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. That amounts to some 6% of the planemaker's roughly 125,000 U.S employees.

'ILLEGAL, IMMORAL AND IMPRACTICAL'

At a rally last week outside Boeing property in Auburn, south of Seattle, many of the three dozen workers gathered in driving rain said they would rather be escorted off Boeing property on Dec. 8 than take a vaccine. Others said they would pursue early retirement.

"The mandate is illegal, immoral and impractical," said one veteran Boeing program analyst who attended the rally. "We are standing together against a company and government trampling on our rights."

Many legal experts have said vaccine mandates in the interest of public health are legal. The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected several challenges to mandates, with the high court last week turning away a healthcare worker who sought a religious exemption to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The rebellion has put Boeing executives in a bind. The company could lose skilled staff, but must comply with a presidential order.

A Boeing spokesperson said the company was committed to maintaining a safe working environment for its employees.

The order's provision for religious and medical exemptions is causing more tension.

Two Textron workers who requested religious exemptions told Reuters the company's human resources representatives quizzed them on the name of their church leaders and asked detailed questions about their faith.

Textron declined to respond to questions, but in a statement said it was obligated to comply with Biden's order and was taking steps to do so.

"Employees who are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief are being provided an opportunity to request an accommodation from this requirement," Textron said.

Spirit AeroSystems did not respond to a request for comment.

Raytheon Technologies' CEO Greg Hayes last week warned the U.S. defense firm will lose "several thousand" employees because of the mandate.

A group representing FedEx Corp, United Parcel Service Inc and other cargo carriers said it would be virtually impossible to have all their workforces vaccinated by the deadline.

Some companies have imposed vaccine mandates even absent immediate government regulation.

Mercedes-Benz USA, the U.S. unit of German carmaker Daimler AG which is not a U.S. government contractor, told employees in an October email seen by Reuters that proof of vaccination against COVID-19 would become a condition of employment beginning Jan. 4.

The carmaker said it implemented the move in anticipation of a separate U.S. government vaccine mandate that would apply to businesses with at least 100 employees, affecting some 80 million workers nationwide.

Less than half of the company's workers at U.S. import processing centers are vaccinated and many refuse to get a shot, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Mercedes USA in a statement said it had given employees 90-day notice to fulfill the requirement, adding that two thirds of its U.S. employees - not including factory workers in Alabama - have provided proof of vaccination to date.

"We expect that the vast majority of our employees will provide proof of vaccination before the deadline," the company said.

(Reporting by Tina Bellon in Austin, Texas and Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Washington; Editing by Joe White and Bill Berkrot)
A 10-year-old boy is being called a true superhero for returning to school after he was bullied for his Ironman Halloween costume on a bus ride to school.

His mother, Jill Struckman, detailed the journey from excitement to tears and back to a proud moment in a series of Facebook posts that have been shared hundreds of thousands of times.

On Oct. 22 around 9 a.m., Struckman posted photos of her son Evan dressed up as a mini Tony Stark for a Halloween party at a Missouri elementary school. She noted her little Mr. Stark wanted to ride to school in a Mercedes but had to ride the bus due to a shortage of time.

"I hope his school is ready for this guy. He only answers to 'Tony' or 'Mr. Stark,'" Struckman wrote.

Less than an hour later, Struckman shared she had received a call from his school that Evan was crying after being teased by other students for his costume. She said the kids told him he "looked stupid," and Evan went to the bathroom to wash the fake goatee off his face.

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He told Struckman he did not want to stay for the party, and she went to pick him up from school. She shared photos of what he looked like after being bullied in a post shared on Facebook over 270,000 times.

"We both have swollen eyes from crying and are on our way to try to find ice cream," she wrote. "Kids need to understand that WORDS hurt."

Struckman took Evan to Starbucks where they discussed his feelings, according to another Facebook post.

Evan decided he didn't want to miss the party, so the duo headed home to redo his makeup and he got that ride in the Mercedes after all.

"If youve seen my posts this morning you know what a roller coaster it has been," Struckman wrote. "Thanks for all the sweet words (and offers to beat up 10-year-olds) lol, I do appreciate you all."

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Struckman told USA TODAY that they have been blown away by the kind messages they have received since the incident from around the world. She said people have offered to send him money through Cash App and Venmo but would rather people send him a postcard.

As for Evan, she said he is happy his story is being used to get people to talk about bullying.

"I am so proud of him for going back because, honestly, I dont think I would have had the courage to do so myself," she said.

"Weve also come to the realization that there are far more good people out there than bad!"

Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boy bullied for his Tony Stark Halloween costume returns to school
PISTOIA, Italy (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was met by jeering protesters when he visted the Italian town of Pistoia on Tuesday to pay homage to a war memorial dedicated to Brazilian soldiers killed in World War Two.

The right-wing leader, who attended the Group of 20 summit in Rome last weekend, has been criticized for increased deforestation in the Amazon under his government and for his management of the COVID-19 pandemic. His opponents also accuse him of dictatorial behaviour.

A small group of supporters welcomed Bolsonaro at the monument while about 300 people gathered in the centre of Pistoia to rally against him.

Italian rightist leader Matteo Salvini said he was sorry for the actions of the demonstrators.

"Honouring those who died should fall outside of the political debate," Salvini said.

Groups linked to leftist parties plan to hold a separate commemoration ceremony to avoid having to share the moment with Salvini and Bolsonaro.

The Brazilian Expeditionary Force fought with Allied forces from 1944 to 1945, mostly in Italy, the only South American country to take part in World War Two. About 950 Brazilian servicemen were killed.

Clashes between police and protesters also took place on Monday in the northern city of Padua just before Bolsonaro visited the city's Basilica, with water cannon used to break up the demonstration.

Earlier, Bolsonaro had been awarded the honorary citizenship in nearby Anguillara Veneta, the birth town of some of his ancestors.

(Reporting by Silvia Ognibene, writing by Angelo Amante, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Associated Press

The developer of a $1 billion electric transmission line is suspending construction at the request of Maines governor after she certified election results Friday in which residents firmly opposed the project. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills had urged New England Clean Energy Connect Transmission LLC to stop construction on the 145-mile (233-kilometer) project until legal challenges are resolved. Thorn Dickinson, president and CEO of NECEC, said work will be temporarily halted until a judge rules on a request for a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit contending the referendum was unconstitutional.
BitMEX, the Seychelles-based derivatives exchange, is looking to mitigate its environmental footprint by purchasing $100,000 worth of carbon credits. Those credits represent 7,110 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the amount BitMEX figures its on the line for through its bitcoin-based business.

Its a fine effort especially because, to my knowledge, no one is criticizing BitMEX for its energy draw. The move, which would offset BitMEXs share of bitcoin transactions and its corporate servers, would make it one of the first carbon neutral crypto exchanges, it said in a blog post. (Rival derivatives platform FTX has made a similar pledge.)

This article is excerpted from The Node, CoinDesks daily roundup of the most pivotal stories in blockchain and crypto news. You can subscribe to get the full newsletter here.

There is a hitch: Carbon credits dont work as advertised, being frequently fraudulent and ineffective. While BitMEXs net zero pledge is laudable, its following a familiar corporate playbook of shuffling deckchairs on a sinking ship.

As I write, more than 130 heads of state and thousands of attendees are gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for a two-week-long conference dedicated to averting dangerous climate change.

As of February 2020, nearly a quarter of all Fortune 500 companies had signed pledges to go carbon neutral by 2030. And carbon offsets are a large part of this trend to go green. A generic term for a wide range of assets and activities, offsets are essentially promises to reduce environmental degradation in one area to compensate for environmental degradation elsewhere. A company can make a green-sounding pledge to go carbon neutral by buying credits from some other company that has polluted less that year.

In short: Offsets allow normal economic activity to continue apace. They operate on the understanding that X amount of emissions will be released no matter what, and that heavy polluters can be made better if other companies pollute less. A new survey from Ecosystem Marketplace found that the voluntary carbon offset market is on track to cross $1 billion for the first time, as all-time market value hits $6.7 billion. Guilt is distributed.

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Offsetting essentially means for every ton we remove, we emit a ton somewhere else, Kate Dooley, a research fellow at the University of Melbourne who studies the impact of carbon accounting, said in a recent interview. We have no space now for continued carbon dioxide emissions. Emissions need to go to zero within a few decades, and we need removals on top of that to reduce atmospheric concentrations.

Offsetting is financialization at its worst: reducing activism to arbitrary economic activity. While carbon credits can and do help fund renewable efforts  typically reforestation, but also solar fields and the like  those efforts may be less than advertised. Greenpeace notes that carbon sinks have a short shelf life: Once a forest burns, or is logged, or dies naturally the carbon it traps is re-released.

The only solution, real-hardcore climate activists admit, is to reduce consumption and the amount of carbon released into the environment.

Its funny, because BitMEX researchers would likely agree with all this. In their report, they note the limited applicability of carbon offsets. The crypto industry should confront its problems and avoid hollow promises and vague ESG pledges, the BitMEX researchers said.

Crypto solutions

Crypto has a target on its back precisely because of its energy use. Bitcoin has no choice but to burn vast amounts of energy to secure its network. It transforms a shared commodity  electricity  into a scarce digital asset, a money backed by its supporters, not a state, through proof-of-work. You can argue (and I would disagree) that this is literally wasted energy, but you cant really stop it because thats the point of being decentralized.

Read more: Bitcoin Mining After the China Ban: US Dominance Is Set to Continue

Theres also controversy around how to measure Bitcoins energy footprint. Although the network is publicly audible, no one can guarantee what is powering it. Its arguable that bitcoin is a greener money than others, because miners are incentivized to find cheap power sources (renewables are often subsidized or naturally cheaper) or make use of stranded energy (like from gas flares).

BitMEX took a somewhat heterodox approach to measuring bitcoins carbon footprint, deciding to put a kilowatt figure on transaction volume. (Many industry activists have said you cannot compare Bitcoin, a base layer monetary network, to Visa, a payments rail, when it comes to transactions and energy use; Visa, by transaction count, has a far less intensive energy draw.)

BitMEX estimated that every $1 spent on BTC transaction fees can incentivize up to 0.001 tons of carbon emissions. So assuming a $50 per ton cost of carbon, for every $1 spent on transaction fees, [an exchange] would need to spend 5 cents offsetting the carbon costs, 5%, BitMEX wrote. That money is better spent elsewhere.

BitMEX notes its consumption model is imperfect and controversial. Id argue its hardly a solution. But there is still hope. Bitcoin, and crypto generally, can incentivize investments in renewable energy. Weve already built network scaling solutions like SegWit, transaction batching and the Lightning Network that reduce Bitcoins footprint.

There are also crypto-based systems for tracking or trading carbon credits, with the idea that blockchain could make these markets less opaque and more liquid. These are notable efforts but are not true solutions. If crypto companies want to make a difference, they ought to put their outsized profits in building actual infrastructure: propagating scaling layers, building out solar and wind farms, funding carbon trapping research. Real solarpunk stuff, not more financialization.

Crypto can work quietly on solutions to fix the climate crisis. Were not responsible for the worst of whats to come. But this is an industry thats unafraid to experiment and built from the ground up. Its totally conceivable Bitcoin goes carbon neutral in the not-too-distant future (social pressure is good for that).

But for that to happen, we have to admit that carbon credits are little more than a distraction.

CORRECTION (NOV. 3 14:00 UTC): BitMEX is Seychelles-based, not Bahamas-based as originally reported.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

Former Kentucky Rep. Charles Booker does not like Sen. Rand Paul. Not just because Booker is vying for Pauls Senate seat in this weeks election, but also because he doesnt feel like Paul represents Kentucky.

My ancestors were lynched in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You cant hide anymore, Rand Paul, the Democrat tells host Molly Jong-Fast in the latest episode of The New Abnormal about why hes over the GOP senator.

His run, Booker says, is giving us the chance to take the fight to him directly and, and call him out.

That said, he makes clear that the race is bigger than just trying to get a crappy guy out of office.

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Were inspiring people to say, Look, its not just about how crappy this guy is. Hes a joke, but this is about us. You know, its about our future, and were going to get him out of the way so we can do the work, he adds.

Booker has said in the past hes using the Stacey Abrams model to turn Kentucky blue, as she did in Georgia, and explains his logic to Molly.

People didnt give Georgia a shot in hell. You know, they were laughing at the idea of seeing two Senate seats, let alone one. And so a lot of that work is because of what Stacey has done and, you know, Kentuckys different. Sure, were unique. But the thing that holds true is that we are a people that are desperate for change, he says.

So whats his plan of attack? To start, its by leveling up with the people, even Trump voters. It really requires the audacity to say, OK, Im a young Black guy from the hood, but Im going to go into the hills in Appalachia and say, Hey, our lives matter. Im rationing my insulin. Or Ive had to do that. Youve had to do that. Lets fight together.

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Plus! Serial TNA guest and The Nation columnist Jeet Heer kicks off the episode by comparing some Americans resistance to vaccines to people and governments in other countries and, well, its pretty divided here. Which also indicates that the climate change fight is going to get even uglier.

Tucker Carlson Is Doing It for the Fish Sticks

The way Republicans have acted towards the vaccine is likely how theyre going to act about climate, which is theyre willing to die to prove a point, says Molly.

Then, Sam Wang, who is part of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project team, breaks down the Virginia race and how likely it is for former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe to defeat Trump-backed Republican Glenn Youngkin.

Listen to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

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Jennifer and her children.

Jennifer and her children. Credit - Courtesy Jennifer Dickman

The pandemic has brought to light a harsh reality that many who have endured poverty, especially with children, already knew: our current systems fail those who find themselves in difficult economic circumstances. People fall through the cracks, and families with children are often hit the hardest.

On July 15 of this year, a miracle occurred for many families: the IRS disbursed the first payments of the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit. These payments, ranging from $250-$300 per child, lifted approximately 3.5 million children out of poverty in just the first two months. They also helped many middle-class families handle their own financial burdens. I know because my middle-class family is one of millions struggling to get by. The CTC has been a lifelinethe entirety of our first payment went to a doctors appointment for one of my special needs sons. Subsequent payments have covered a mix of expenses for my sons, including medical bills, tutoring for Dylans math learning disability, and Brendans autism social skills group. Dylan is about to have an MRI that will cost us $800we wouldnt be able to afford that without the CTC. When you have kids with special needs, the expenses are varied and ongoing. .

Currently, the new CTC is set to expire after a single year. Its extension, part of the Build Back Better spending bill being negotiated in Congress, is under threat. While President Bidens compromise bill just released last week calls for extending the expanded CTC into 2023, Republicans and obstructionist Democrats have taken an opposing stance. In particular, Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin have been expressing troubling opposition that strays from their supposed values of supporting American families. Senator Manchin is reportedly seeking a $60,000 income limit for families to receive the credit, less than half of the CTC expansions limit. According to an estimate by the Niskanen Center, Manchins means testing would cut off 37.4 million children from the CTC. Families who have been relying on this crucial new monthly support would be left bereft of its benefits.

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My own family is one of those that would lose the expanded CTC if Manchins proposed limit makes it into the bill. Just looking at my husbands current salary, one would think were a comfortably middle-class family. They would be wrong. Means testing always misses people who need help.

Ten years ago, my family moved into a seemingly lovely rental home that turned out to be teeming with toxic mold. Our son Dylan was just over a year old, and I was pregnant with our youngest, Brendan. Within days of moving in, I began experiencing severe respiratory symptoms, and my health declined sharply from there. Dylan, who had previously been a champion sleeper, began awakening up to ten times a night screaming, and experienced other severe symptoms. My husband had brain fog and fatigue, along with respiratory symptoms.

By the time we discovered the mold and fled, my husbands symptoms had affected his previously spotless performance at work. Two weeks after we left the mold house, two weeks before I would give birth to Brendan, he lost his job. The three years that followed were the stuff of nightmares.

We suddenly found ourselves with no income except my disability benefit, which was quite low due to becoming disabled at a relatively young age, and my husbands unemployment benefit. It was before the Medicaid expansion, so nearly his entire UI benefit was used up on our COBRA premiums. Brendan was born with a severe heart defect. I was the sickest I had ever been in my life. Dylan was suffering from a host of symptoms. And my husband, while battling symptoms of his own, had to navigate helping me with two very sick kids while trying to conduct a job search. At one point, when Brendan was hospitalized due to worsening congestive heart failure, he had to cancel an out-of-state job interview and rush back.

We ran through his retirement savings, maxed out our credit cards, and eventually became homeless. Were not alonethis happens to many families. My familys situation is like so many othersdue to our ongoing costly medical expenses, and the economic impact of our past hard times, we are just scraping by. But by Senator Manchins assessment, were riding high on the hog.

Dylan in the hospital in December 2020. Courtesy Jennifer Dickman

I wish that were true.

The reality is, we currently live in a 950 square foot apartment. We dont own a car. We have no retirement savings. We have no college savings for the boys. We have a tiny amount of savings were hoping will someday help us buy our very first home (Im 49 and my husband is 59). Its something I want to do for my kids so badly it hurts.

Moreover, the boys and I have ongoing and complex medical issues, resulting in high medical expenses. Dylan has immune deficiencies, a neurological disorder triggered by the mold and infections called PANS, continuing mold-related illness, and other health issues. Brendan is on the autism spectrum, still has his heart defect, and also suffers from mold-related illness and other health issues. Our monthly CTC payments have gone toward medical expensesI just paid a $316 medical bill for Dylan the other day, have a bill for over $500 sitting on the kitchen counter, and am about to schedule an MRI for Dylan that will cost us $800 out-of-pocket. I could go on.

The CTC is helping my family keep our heads above water, recover from previous extreme poverty and homelessness, and hopefully build a brighter future for our children that includes a home (with a back yard and a dog!), better health, college, and fulfilling their dreams. We are fortunate in that if we lose the CTC, were not going to plunge below the poverty line like the 3.5 million children who will if the program is ended. But, taking away our monthly benefit will hamper our ability to get our children the medical care they need, and dash our hopes of one day purchasing things others see as normal parts of life, like a car and a home. Are those things really too much to ask for?

Our economy hasnt worked for people like me in decades. Its long past time that our elected leaders act in the best interests of the people who elected them. We do not need means testing, work requirements and other antiquated restrictions based on an out of touch idea of how the economy works for most people. We need leaders who understand that Americans are exhausted by the stress of living paycheck to paycheck, and worrying about whether they can provide for their children. We need the expanded CTC to be made permanent.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's cabinet on Tuesday issued guidelines to develop consumer services, including increased financial support for small firms providing catering, accommodation, childcare, healthcare and services for the elderly.

In a notice on its website, the State Council, or cabinet, said the government will proactively use monetary policy tools such as relending and rediscounting facilities to help services companies and guide commercial banks to boost loans to small firms and individual businesses in the sector.

The statement comes as China steps up efforts to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of people in society under President Xi Jinping's banner of "common prosperity", with a focus on narrowing gaps in social well-being between rural and urban areas.

In its statement, the State Council said that on the fiscal side, local governments are also being urged to follow through on related tax incentives, and public services infrastructure projects, with decent yields, can be included in projects that are funded by local government special bonds.

Local authorities are also being asked to establish an emergency mechanism when there's a major disease outbreak, disaster or accident, and roll out necessary measures to help consumer services firms including rent reductions, subsidies and financing support.

To cope with a shortage of services, professionals in elderly care, nursing and housekeeping sectors, the government will allow qualified employees to get a higher education degree on a part-time basis, the State Council said.

By 2025, the number of college graduates in the nursing, rehabilitation, housekeeping and childcare majors would increase by 100,000 from 2020, it said.

(Reporting by Stella Qiu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
Visitors gather to watch the sunset April 19, 2021, in Playa Guiones, a surfing destination located near the town of Nosara, Costa Rica.

Travelers, aged 12 and over, to Costa Rica should be ready to present proof of vaccination in order to enter businesses including starting next year.

Businesses "may admit only persons who are verifiably fully-vaccinated (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca (and) Janssen)" starting Jan. 8, tourism organization Essential Costa Rica said in an announcement Tuesday.

Proof of vaccination should be shown via QR code or on a printed certificate to enter hotels, casinos, bars, adventure tourism facilities and museums, among others.

Travelers are not required to show proof of vaccination to enter the country, but unvaccinated travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy that covers costs for COVID-19 care and quarantine, if it becomes necessary.

All travelers under 18 can enter without purchasing travel insurance.

"However, unvaccinated tourists 12 years and older will not be allowed to enter commercial establishments as of January 8," Essential Costa Rica said.

Chile, Argentina update entry requirements: Here are the travel restrictions across Central and South America due to COVID-19

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All travelers are also required to fill out a Health Pass to be finished within 72 hours of arrival in Costa Rica. Vaccinated travelers can attach their vaccination proof to the Health Pass.

Children under 12 will not need to present proof of vaccination to enter commercial establishments and neither will tourists who have an accredited medical condition that renders it impossible to have any of the vaccines approved by Costa Rica's Ministry of Health.

Essential businesses, including pharmacies and grocery stores, will not have to require proof of vaccination for entrance.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Costa Rica to require proof of vaccine for entry to hotels, bars, more
Nov. 2University of Colorado Boulder and United Nations Human Rights will co-host the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit on campus next fall, bringing international leaders together in Boulder to address climate change as a human rights crisis.

While many details have yet to be announced, the four-day summit is set for late fall and will focus on measurable outcomes and accountability on issues of climate change, said Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance founder David Clark, "not just holding a summit for the sake of holding a summit."

While Clark has worked with the United Nations for more than 20 years, the alliance was launched this year to partner with UN Human Rights to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement through advocacy and events.

Clark was looking at host universities around the world when he saw Chancellor Phil DiStefano's Earth Day call to action. Clark, a CU Boulder alumnus, dived deeper into the campus' history with climate science, human rights and international law.

"Knowing the city, I had this instinct that Boulder could be the Davos of climate change," Clark said, referring to the Swiss town. "You've got an amazing citizenry here that's very concerned about climate change, very concerned about human rights, and with all of the national labs  Boulder has the heft to host a global summit every year on the scale of the Global Economic Forum."

Chancellor Phil DiStefano said the university's 50-year history of climate and energy research, along with environmental studies and human rights programs, make CU Boulder a natural fit to co-host the summit.

"This summit is going to really multiply the efforts happening on campus and around the world on climate change," DiStefano said. "I believe that what we're doing and what we can do in the future, especially in the area of research, will be enhanced by having the summit here on campus."

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The summit's emphasis will be on climate change's impact on humanity, Clark said.

"The unique nature of this is that the world is actually recognizing that real people get hurt when climate change happens, so it's important to view the climate crisis through the human rights lens," Clark said. "Yes, we need to focus on data and science, that tells us the what. The human element is the why, and it's usually the people contributing least to the problem who are going to get hurt the most."

The summit will bring people together from across disciplines, cultures and experiences to address climate change as a human rights crisis, said Benjamin Schachter, team leader for environment and climate change at the United Nations Human Rights Office.

"By working together to advance human rights, including the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, people from all walks of life can help develop innovative and ambitious climate solutions, put a human face on climate change related loss and damage, and build the political will and momentum needed to survive the climate crisis and emerge from the other side with more just, inclusive and sustainable societies," Schachter said in a statement.
First, the adults fought. Now the kids are at war.

The country voted Tuesday in thousands of highly politicized school board races, which wereamplified by anger over COVID-19 protocols and how schools deal with race and culture. Many of the contests ended in conservative victories, highlighting a powerful strategy for Republicans heading into the 2022 midterm election.

For students, much more is at stake than politics.

Restrictions on lessons about race or bans on inclusive signage  moves often overseen by school boards that are shifting more conservative  have made school harder for kids of color and LGBTQ students, teens said.

The negative tenor of adult disagreements has produced tensions for all students. School board meetings over the past year have seen assaults, uncivil language and threats of violence toward board members.

In government class, when were talking about things like political parties and their beliefs, theres a tension," said Malak Saad, a senior at a predominantly white school in Loudoun County, Virginia. The heated school board debates there became a focal point of the Virginia governor's race, where Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

'They're trying to take that support away'

The conditions under which students learn affect their academic and emotional development, and research underscores the importance of learning experiences that celebrate diversity, empathy, collaboration and intellectual curiosity.

Decreasing signs of safety and inclusion make it harder for kids on the margins to learn, said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, the interim executive director of GLSEN, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools.

"We know that all humans, but particularly young people, have to feel safe in their bodies and their hearts and their minds to be available to learning," Willingham-Jaggers said. "You can't learn if you feel like you're under threat."

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That's why schools have made more concerted efforts to recognize and validate students from diverse backgrounds. Many conservative voters say acknowledging differences in race, sexual orientation and sexual identity prompts unnecessary divisions, surveys show.

Students say signals of support and acceptance are important to them  and they worry about adults trying to take them away.

Outside Portland, Oregon, the Newberg School Board voted this fall to ban teachers from displaying inclusive signage such as Pride flags and Black Lives Matter posters. New conservative board members elected in the spring pushed for the changes.

"Its really scary because there are kids out there who cant go home to a loving family  the only place they have support is school," said Cooper Oakes, 15, a sophomore at Newberg High School who has been openly queer since seventh grade. "And now theyre trying to take that support away from us."

The Waukesha School District outside Milwaukee banned teachers from displaying inclusive signs in classrooms this fall on the grounds they're too political.

Afterward, a teen handed out small Pride flags as a show of support for LGBTQ students. Some classmates scribbled homophobic slurs on them before dropping them in hallways. Gay Straight Alliance members said club posters they put on their lockers have been repeatedly ripped off or similarly defaced.

"Kids feel empowered to do this stuff because they feel the school board is on their side," said Alex Bonell, 17, a junior at Waukesha West High School who identifies as queer.

In the same school district: Board member said families will 'become spoiled' with free lunch program. The school reversed course.

The Waukesha School District outside Milwaukee banned teachers from displaying inclusive signs in classrooms.

Hard to focus on schoolwork, students say

Waukesha's school board tilted more conservative after two members supported by Republicans won seats in April.

"The whole issue has become a big deal precisely because we're fighting back against a rule change, and then kids on the other side want to fight back against us," said Kailey Williams, 17, from Waukesha West who is multiracial and queer.

Pride flags and Black Lives Matter posters are not political signs, Williams said, and taking them down does not imply the school is inherently a safe space for everyone.

Pride flags in classes made Isabella Arndt, 16, a junior at Waukesha West, feel safe and accepted starting high school as a freshman.

Today, Arndt said, the situation makes her feel defeated. She sought out a counselor to talk about it.

Bonell said the signs helped normalize what LGBTQ students go through, especially when it comes to bullying.

"I guess I didn't realize how much they meant until they were gone," Bonell said.

Reed Mueller, 16, a sophomore class president at Waukesha South High School, is a straight ally who said the ban on inclusive signs is unjust. He's spoken twice about the issue at school board meetings.

"Diversity and inclusion efforts are integral to any school," he said.

When students have the courage to publicly tell adults how policies make them feel, he said, "it's up to the school board to listen to them, and it's up to parents to vote out school board members who do not."

Wisconsin's school board elections are normally held in spring, but tension around critical race theory and equity issues is so high that the Mequon-Thiensville school board in a Milwaukee suburb held a school board recall election Tuesday.

A slate of four conservative candidates hoped to oust sitting members they said are too leftist and lax at addressing the district's academic deficiencies. None of those recalls were successful.

How other candidates fared: Critical race theory, mask mandates dominate 2021 school board elections  is 2022 next?

Record school board candidates

In Loudoun County, Virginia, the school board's policy around transgender rights became a flashpoint in the governor's race. Conservatives accused the school board of covering up a sexual assault of a girl in a bathroom  by a boy in a skirt, according to the victim's father  to advance a political agenda of inclusivity.

Loudoun's transgender policy  which, in accordance with state requirements, lets students choose the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity  has been one of many hot button issues that resulted in threats and harassment to school board members.

The victim's father was arrested at a Loudoun County school board meeting in June after swearing at another person and clenching his fist at her. He was convicted of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to media reports.

'We did not sic the FBI on parents': Attorney General Merrick Garland defends school memo

The student accused of rape was found guilty of two charges on Oct. 25. The person's gender identity hasnt been confirmed by authorities, and the incident occurred before the gender-inclusive policy went into effect.

Despite conservative fervor over the situation, Loudoun County voted for McAuliffe, a former Democratic governor, by double-digits. Still, Youngkin's message  which included parental control of schools and attacking the progressive-led inclusivity initiatives  clearly resonated with voters across Virginia. Just a year ago, President Joe Biden won the state by 10 points.

Other normally low-energy school board races were catalyzed by newcomer candidates and support from national political groups, especially Republicans hoping to set the stage for the 2022 midterm elections.

In Pennsylvania, the Central York School District had 12 candidates campaigning for six open seats. Republicans won four of those seats in unofficial results. Central York had banned educational resources by and about people of color, a policy the board retracted this fall.

In Ohio, the number of candidates running for school board increased more than 50% over the figure from 2017. Many newcomers this fall had Republican Party support to push back against school mask mandates, critical race theory and policies that allow transgender students to compete on teams that match their gender identity. One candidate in the crowded GOP primary to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman even used $50,000 to help conservative school board candidates, and another Senate contender said he had personally donated to 73 school board races.

"Moms and dads outraged over unconstitutional mask and vaccine mandates and Critical Race Theory in our schools have led a political awakening in our country, and I am proud to stand with them in this fight, said Senate candidate Jane Timken, a former state GOP chairwoman, in a statement Wednesday. Taking back our country starts with taking back our classrooms."

There's common ground amid all the vitriol at school board meetings and the campaigns that led up to Tuesday's races, said Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington.

On the right, there's more support than it seems for teaching complex history and recommending diverse authors, he said.

"A lot of people are just talking past each other and mischaracterizing what the other side is trying to do," he said.

Corrections: A previous version of this story did not give updated information about the Loudoun County bathroom assault. The student accused of rape was found guilty of two charges on Oct. 25. Previous versions also incorrectly characterized the number of school board candidates in Ohio. The number of people running increased more than 50% over 2017 figures.

Contact Erin Richards at (414) 207-3145 or erin.richards@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @emrichards.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: School board elections put students' well-being at risk
PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech centrist and centre-right parties reached an agreement on forming a majority coalition government and its key agenda, the chairman of the strongest party in the new coalition said on Tuesday.

The five-party coalition faces elevated inflation, mounting debt, an economy curbed by a global shortage of semiconductors and surging energy prices, and a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic which has been gathering pace in recent weeks.

Petr Fiala, Civic Democrats (ODS) chairman and prospective prime minister, said the parties have agreed on distribution of government posts among them, although he did not name the individual candidates.

"We have gone through a long, whole day, but also successful negotiations," Fiala said at a televised briefing after talks which lasted more than 12 hours.

"We reached an agreement on our coalition treaty, we have also agreed on our coalition agenda," he said.

The parties, grouped in two coalitions, won 108 seats in the 200-seat lower chamber of parliament in the Oct. 8-9 election, beating the current Prime Minister Andrej Babis, whose key allies were ousted from the parliament.

One of the main tasks for the forming coalition is the state of public finances, hit by the pandemic and measures meant to tame it, as well as generous spending by the outgoing government which raised pensions and state employees wages, while it pushed through large tax cuts.

The Finance Ministry, which sees this year's fiscal gap at 7.7% of gross domestic product, has proposed a 2022 central budget with a deficit of 377 billion crowns ($17.09 billion), deeper than the final result in 2020 when the pandemic hit.

The incoming coalition has said that it wanted to change the budget, which may result in provisional financing at the beginning of the next year, because of the limited time left to approve any substantial changes before this year's end.

Despite their relatively fast agreement, it may yet take some time to actually form the government, as the key player, President Milos Zeman, has been hospitalised since Oct. 10, with next to no information on his condition.

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Fiala said that he was informed by the president's chief of staff that Zeman is ready to meet him once he is transferred from intensive care, but he did not give any further details.

($1 = 22.0600 Czech crowns)

(Reporting by Robert Muller; editing by Chris Reese and Richard Pullin)
Associated Press

A difficult political atmosphere for President Joe Biden may have become even more treacherous with the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse. Biden was already facing sliding poll numbers with an electorate worn down by the coronavirus pandemic and increasing inflation. Now, the president finds himself caught between outraged Democrats  some of whom were already stewing over Bidens inability to land police reform and voting rights legislation  and Republicans looking to use the Rittenhouse case to exploit the national divide over matters of grievance and race.
From oil production to food shortages, droughts to hurricanes, earth's warming climate is projected to affect all aspects of life. Experts' warnings about the economic costs associated with climate change are already hitting consumer wallets.

Weather-related disasters on U.S. coastlines and flood-prone regions have caused over $1 billion in damages, according to a 2020 report by the Environmental Defense Fund. Incidents of extreme weather events are also on the rise, according to the report, leading to costly disaster relief efforts.

The Government Accountability Office reported in 2019 that over $450 billion has been spent on federal disaster assistance for climate change-related incidents since 2005. And the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated rising demands for disaster assistance, said Elgie Holstein, EDF Senior Director for Strategic Planning.

COVID-19 and recent climate disasters have shown that we must step up investment in preparedness now, instead of waiting for the next crisis to hit, Holstein said in 2020.

Expenses trickle down to homeowners and renters, who will be forced to pay higher insurance premiums for living near floodplains or in the path of forest fires and higher electric bills to keep homes cooler when temperatures rise.

What are some of the expenses Americans can expect to see as a result of climate change?

Energy costs

The average surface temperature across the continental U.S. has risen an average 0.16F per decade since 1901, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but eight of the top 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1998.

"Because of the decisions that we have made as a society, and not having proper policy, we have to deal with a new normal," Shay Bahramirad, vice president of New Initiatives and Outreach at the global IEEE Power & Energy Society, told USA TODAY.

"Historically, planning the electric power grid was for events that might happen once in 100 years. But we see those events happening a lot more and way more frequent in the past 10 years," Bahramirad said.

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The average monthly electric bill for U.S. consumers rose from $104.52 in 2009 to $115 in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But average monthly electricity consumption per customer also fell by 2.3% during this same time period, partly due to consumer trends toward high efficiency appliances, more energy efficient lighting and other energy-saving devices, according to the agency.

Shocking electric bill? Free changes can help you cut costs, save money

A demand in fuel energy to heat homes is expected to decrease, the EPA reports, due to lower heating needs in the winter.

Despite consumer efforts, the U.S. energy grid scored a C- on the American Society of Civil Engineers' report card for America's Infrastructure. The expense of upgrading that outdated energy infrastructure, Bahramirad said, will fall to the consumer.

"That's something that needs to be thought through very carefully around the country. And the cost associated with that gets socialized to people. That means that residential people and commercial and industrial consumers, they get impacted by increasing the bill," Bahramirad said.

Grocery bills

A 2015 assessment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that production disruptions will limit local food supply worldwide, leading to price hikes, diminished food safety, interrupted transport conduits and other related difficulties as climate change progresses.

The effects will be felt in the U.S. as the price and availability of imported foods change. As demand for food increases, strained domestic producers will face supply challenges on the global market.

"Climate change is already affecting productivity. And of course, that matters for prices, because the more expensive production is, the more expensive food is going to be," Brandon R. McFadden, associate professor at the University of Delaware, told USA TODAY. "So we've already seen the flow and productivity that's going to get compounded."

One of the key causes for grocery cost increases is due to extreme weather induced by climate change.

Droughts in the West and Midwest have had a big impact on the availability of popular grocery store items, given that water conservation efforts hit farms first.

Goods like pecans and walnuts are extremely water-intensive, and farmers in the West are considering growing hay and alfalfa instead as the soil dries up.

The cost of sugar has also increased due to heavy frost in Brazil, while wheat prices reached an eight-year peak due to continued droughts, CNN reports.

Additionally, the cost of beef was affected by a drought in the upper Midwest that destroyed the grassy fields that cows feed on. This drought in tandem with supply chain issues and labor shortages have led beef prices to go up 17.6% in the past two years.

In July, the price index for food consumed at home increased 0.7% due to price hikes meat, poultry, fish and eggs, according to an August CNN Business report. And according to the USDA, food-at-home prices went up 2.5% in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Beef and veal had the largest relative price increase at 6.5% during this time. In just one month, from August to September, the price of wholesale beef increased 7.5%, according to the USDA.

Soaring food prices: Food prices are climbing amid worker shortages, supply-chain problems, extreme weather and more

"Two to three years ago, who would have ever imagined we'd have things like niche shortages and processing plants closing down and shelves bare?" McFadden said. "I have very little confidence in what all might affect food prices in the future and to think about how long term it would have to be for climate change to (have) dramatic effects on what we see today."

Home insurance

The 2021 LexisNexis Home Trends Report found that catastrophic weather events, such as wildfires, hurricanes and floods, were the largest driver of losses for the home insurance industry and caused 39% of claims in 2020  the highest percentage in the last 6 years.

This could translate to higher insurance premiums, according to experts.

"The weather's getting worse, getting more disruptive. But people are also living in these areas that are more dangerous from a climate perspective," George Hosfield, senior director of home insurance at LexisNexis, told USA TODAY. "But the result is that those areas that do have inherently more risk (are) getting worse."

After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Federal Emergency Management System offered subsidized flood insurance at a rate attractive enough to drive homeowners back to the coastal regions of the country. But the agency revamped the policy to incorporate climate risk into insurance costs for the first time this month, resulting in an 18% to 20% rise in premiums, according to The Washington Post.

"Some insurance companies are actively raising rates on their customers because they are more affected by these perils, and they're trying to reduce the risk," said Landy Liu, head of insurance products at homeownership company Better. "In the last 12 to 18 months, some of our consumers have seen that 10% to 20% insurance rate increase from their insurance premium payments, year over year."

Home insurance policies against extreme weather: Home insurance can protect against extreme weather, but about half of Americans don't understand it

Depending on household income and home value, policy holders will see their flood insurance costs increase between $10 and $1,000 per month, the Post reported.

About 3,200 property owners primarily in Florida, Texas, New Jersey and New York fall into the latter category. But homeowners who live near watersheds that tend to overflow during heavy rains will also feel the effects.

"If you live in Florida for example, the market there is hemorrhaging. They are gonna need to raise rates significantly to cover the losses that they're paying out," Hosfield said. Hosfield added Californians will see "pretty significant premium increases over the years due to wildfires. "It's going to become a bigger and bigger part of the cost of ownership."

Reach out to Chelsey Cox on Twitter at @therealco.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is climate change costing the average American per month?
ATLANTA (AP)  After a year of dealing with false claims and death threats, election officials on Tuesday delivered a relatively smooth Election Day.

There were just scattered reports of voting or equipment problems, typical for Election Day: a technical problem delaying a count of early ballots, a power outage, a polling place opening late. It was too soon to gauge the effects of new voting restrictions in place in a few states.

In Virginia, as a sign of how relatively low-key voting was in the state, one of the biggest issues was reminding poll workers that voters were not required to wear a mask when casting their ballot.

Today was overwhelmingly a good day for Virginia, said Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner Chris Piper. Overall, the election today was about as smooth as we could have asked for.

Piper said heavy turnout in the state prompted some polling locations to run out of ballots, but election officials were able to quickly pivot  either by printing more or directing voters to ballot-marking machines typically reserved for voters who need assistance. He said voting never stopped. In Fairfax County, the state's most populous, corrupted thumb drives used in four voting machines delayed the counting of ballots cast early, some of which were still being tallied hours after polls closed.

Once polls close across the country, election officials focused on counting ballots cast by every eligible voter and reporting the results, which are all unofficial until the election is certified. That will not happen for days or even weeks as election officials finish their counting and then conduct their post-election reviews to ensure the number of ballots cast equals the number of voters who voted. Any discrepancies are researched, and election officials provide detailed explanations prior to any election being certified.

In Georgia, Fulton County elections director Rick Barron said turnout had been light but steady. Two county polling locations did not have all the equipment they needed when polls opened, but poll managers allowed voters to use emergency paper ballots until the equipment issues were resolved, Barron said.

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Lines were short and Election Day was an easy experience for the vast majority of voters, said Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts.

Election officials said demonstrating secure, consistent and fair practices would help reassure those who still have doubts about last years presidential election as preparations begin for next years midterms.

It is a great dress rehearsal for 2022, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said.

Much of the attention was on Virginia and New Jersey, where voters were casting ballots for governor and other statewide offices. In the rest of the country, voters were making selections on a variety of local races, ranging from mayor and city council to school board and bond measures.

For some, the voting experience differed from last year, when officials implemented pandemic-related changes to make it easier for voters to avoid crowded polling places. Some states have made those changes permanent, while others have rolled some of them back.

In Virginia, lawmakers last year expanded absentee voting permanently by no longer requiring an excuse. But a requirement for a witness signature on absentee ballots that was waived last year is back, and officials were contacting voters who had been turning in ballots without them. Those voters have until Friday to fix the issue.

In a few states, voters encountered tighter voting rules because of laws enacted in states controlled politically by Republicans. Among them are Florida and Georgia, where voters faced new ID requirements for using mail ballots.

Georgia Republicans have been keeping a close eye on Fulton County, a heavily Democratic county that includes most of Atlanta, for any voting problems that could justify a state takeover using a sweeping new election law.

Barron said the panel appointed to review the countys election operations as part of that process was on site Tuesday, but he said he didnt want his staff to feel extra pressure because of that.

I told the staff to focus on us and not to worry about all these external things that happen, he said.

Republican lawmakers have said the changes were needed to improve security and public confidence after the 2020 presidential election. They acted as former President Donald Trump continued his false claims that the election was stolen despite no evidence of widespread fraud.

These claims were rejected by judges and election officials of both parties who certified the results and Trump's own attorney general, who said federal law enforcement had not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.

The claims have also decreased public trust and faith in election officials, who have been the target of threats and harassment. Last week, election officials of both parties testified before Congress about the threats they have received and called for more protections for election workers.

There were no reports of serious or widespread problems in the two states with the highest-profile races. In Virginia, after reports surfaced of voters complaining about being told to wear a mask, state election officials sent an email reminding local election officials that poll workers cannot refuse entry to voters who decline to wear a mask.

Various hotlines staffed by voting rights groups were available to assist voters who had questions or encountered problems. Damon Hewitt, whose group the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law leads the effort, said Tuesday's elections presented an important test.

Its a test of voters to run the gauntlet, to figure out these new rules and restrictions," Hewitt said. "And frankly, its also a test of our democracy: How strong can it be, and are we willing to tolerate these efforts to make it harder for people to vote?

___

Izaguirre reported from Tallahassee, Florida. Associated Press writers Bryan Anderson in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kate Brumback in Atlanta and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.
KENOSHA, Wis.  The Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial began in a way many predicted, with potential jurors offering up reasons why they shouldnt be picked to decide a case that has reverberated across the country.

Some had work commitments. Others had child care issues. And dozens had already formed opinions on the case.

So many held unshakable, politically entrenched opinions, in fact, the selection process went late into the evening. The two sides eventually settled on a predominantly white panel of 11 women and nine men. The judge did not indicate which jurors would serve as the eight alternates in the case.

In August 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse  a 17-year-old from north suburban Antioch, Illinois  crossed state lines and patrolled downtown Kenosha, amid turmoil surrounding the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer. Carrying an AR-15-style rifle that police say a friend illegally purchased for him, Rittenhouse fatally shot two people and wounded a third.

The Blake shooting and subsequent unrest still hangs heavily over this southeast Wisconsin town, where Blakes family now leads a social justice movement and the downtown still shows signs of the police shootings chaotic aftermath. The spots where Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz can be seen clearly from the courtroom windows.

Of the more than five dozen potential jurors questioned Monday, nearly all were white. They were not asked to identify their race in open court, but there appeared to be no Black men among the group and only one Black woman, according to a pool report. She was later dismissed.

About 7% of Kenosha County's population is Black, according to the latest census figures.

Potential jurors confessed fears about possibly deciding the case, including concerns about how the public would respond to the verdict. Some described fearing for their own safety, saying they borrowed cars or caught a ride to the courthouse so no one would know what their personal vehicles looked like.

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Whatever the verdict is, half the country is going to be up in arms about it, one woman said. And we saw what that did to the city of Kenosha last year.

And it wasnt just strangers opinions that concerned some. One woman said she planned to host Thanksgiving dinner this month and she worried about how her relatives would react to the verdict. Another said it would cause problems in her marriage if the verdict didnt reflect her husbands views of the case.

Hes very opinionated, and he already made up his mind, she said.

Though prospective jurors expressed concerns about sparking protests, demonstrations outside the courthouse were small and never grew beyond about a dozen people at any one time. A few protesters showed up to back Rittenhouse, though most  including members of Blakes family  came to show support for the families of the men he shot.

We are vehement about supporting the families and making sure they get justice, Justin Blake, the uncle of Jacob Blake, said as he stood with the group holding a unity flag. We know what it feels like to have an injustice done to your family and not get your day in court. These families have a tremendous burden to carry because their loved ones are not coming home ever.

Many potential jurors also spoke openly about the nights following Blakes shooting: One recounted a relative who went to the protests, while another helped board up businesses. A young mother described an anxiety-filled night at home alone with her children while parts of the downtown burned. They talked about seeing videos of Rittenhouse shooting the men, opining about it on social media and driving through the downtown to look at the damage in the days following the protests.

One woman said she bought a firearm after the Blake shooting because her neighbors warned that her house could become a target for protesters because she had an American flag hanging outside.

So I left it up and I got a gun, she said.

More than two dozen jurors were excused from service throughout the day, reflecting the difficulties of selecting a panel in a high-profile trial. Given the publicity surrounding the case and how deeply the shootings divided the community, both sides must be hypervigilant about identifying jurors with unmovable opinions, legal experts said.

Ideally you would want a juror that does not have any knowledge about the facts of the case, said attorney Dan Herbert, who represented then-Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke after he was charged with killing Laquan McDonald in an on-duty shooting. However, because of the history of this case, it is quite unlikely any potential juror would not have some understanding about this case through the media coverage. What is critical is that a juror has not formed any judgments concerning the guilt or innocence of Mr. Rittenhouse.

Like most judges in high-profile cases, Bruce Schroeder assured prospective jurors that knowing, talking or even having an opinion of the case wasnt grounds for automatic disqualification. The question was whether they could set aside their previous beliefs and look fairly at the evidence.

For many, the answer was no.

I dont feel like I can ignore different things Ive been reading over the past year, one man said.

Another man told the judge he was such a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment that he couldnt be an impartial juror. Schroeder pressed whether the man thought the other prospective jurors could give Rittenhouse a fairer trial than he could.

I would hope so, the man answered.

Another woman was dismissed after telling the defense she could not be impartial because Rittenhouse brought an assault-style rifle to the protests. She said she could not get past the issue, even if the teen hypothetically was legally allowed to carry the weapon.

I dont think a weapon like that belongs in the general public, she said.

Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty, arguing he shot the men in self-defense. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the most serious charges.

The teen arrived about an hour before the proceedings began, entering the building through a private garage that allowed him to avoid photographers and reporters waiting on the courthouse steps. His mother and two sisters entered through the public door.

Hubers father, John, has attended all the pretrial hearings via video conference, but he is not attending the trial. His attorney said the hateful rhetoric that has been directed toward the family since the shooting has made Hubers parents so wary, they have decided to watch the proceedings online rather than in person.

Its still too painful, and after the nasty comments and treatment they have had directed at them and Anthony, they are afraid to be there in person, their attorney Anand Swaminathan said.

John Huber and Karen Bloom maintain their son, who was among demonstrators protesting the police shooting, is a hero who sacrificed his life to protect others. Authorities say Huber, 26, toting his skateboard, was trying to disarm Rittenhouse shortly after the teen shot and killed Rosenbaum.

They have filed a civil suit against Kenosha law enforcement, alleging authorities incited the bloodshed by allowing Rittenhouse and other armed civilians who clashed with protesters to mete out punishment as they saw fit.


OAKLAND, Calif. --News Direct-- Clean Production Action

OAKLAND, Calif., November 2, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Today, nonprofit organizations Center for Environmental Health (CEH) and Clean Production Action (CPA) unveiled the GreenScreen Certified Standard for Food Service Ware. The groundbreaking certification program sets a new safety standard for everyday items like disposable plates and bowls that do not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) plus thousands of other chemicals of concern. PFAS are known as forever chemicals because they take thousands of years to break down in the environment and can cause cancer, thyroid disease, birth defects, hormone disruption, decreased fertility, and other serious health issues.

The certification draws from CEHs extensive work testing single-use food ware for PFAS and builds on CPAs GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals, the globally recognized tool for chemical hazard assessment used by governments, companies, and certification standards to encourage the design and use of inherently safer chemical ingredients.

For decades, PFAS have been added to microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, fast food wrappers, plates, bowls, food trays, take-out containers and other food packaging to make them water and grease resistant. This creates a problem in manufacturing, at the disposal stage and during consumer use. Products and packaging containing PFAS pose unnecessarily harmful threats to human health, especially as safer alternatives are already on the market and will become increasingly available. GreenScreen Certified for Food Service Ware empowers manufacturers to communicate their use of safer chemicals to buyers and position themselves as market leaders in safer chemistries and innovation.

Eco-Products is the first manufacturer to earn the GreenScreen Silver designation for a food service ware product line. NatureWorks is the first material company to achieve the GreenScreen Certified Standard Platinum level of certification.

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Quotes:

Its not worth risking our health over products that are meant to be used once and thrown away. PFAS are bad for our bodies and the environment but this new safety standard will empower consumers to make healthier decisions for themselves and their families. - Sue Chiang, Director of the Food Program at the Center for Environmental Health (CEH)

As awareness rises about the problems of PFAS in food contact materials, brands and retailers want assurance that alternative products are truly free of PFAS and other known chemicals of high concern. GreenScreen Certified Food Service Ware takes the guesswork out of choosing environmentally preferred products by assessing all chemicals in products as well as impurities to rigorous chemical safety benchmarks. - Shari Franjevic, GreenScreen Program Manager

San Francisco banned PFAS in single-use foodware starting in 2020, requiring city facilities and all San Francisco restaurants serving take-out to find PFAS-free alternatives. Tools for purchasers, like GreenScreen Certified, make finding safer alternatives much easier, and also help us avoid regrettable substitutes. - Jen Jackson, Toxics Reduction & Healthy Ecosystems Program Manager at San Francisco Department of the Environment

We are very excited to earn GreenScreen Silver Certification for our Vanguard line of compostable products. Finding an alternative formula to replace PFAS was our top priority. But we also wanted to ensure our products did not contain other chemicals of high concern or known regrettable substitutes. We are incredibly proud to be the first manufacturer to offer an innovative foodservice product with a preferred chemistry. - Ian Jacobson, President of Eco-Products

At NatureWorks, our purpose is to invent safe and environmentally sustainable materials for use in everyday products. The GreenScreen Platinum Certification earned by our Ingeo biomaterials demonstrates how we successfully use the principles of green chemistry to create safe, bio-based alternatives to fossil-based plastics. We are proud to be the first materials manufacturer to earn this certification and see Ingeo recognized not just as a material for high performance compostable food serviceware, but also as a preferred alternative to the materials that rely on PFAS chemicals for performance. - Steve Davies, Vice President, Performance Packaging, NatureWorks

CEH and CPA developed the GreenScreen Certified Standard for Food Service Ware in consultation with a diverse group of stakeholders, including manufacturers, purchasers, and external scientific experts from nonprofit and industry groups.

The new Standard provides a pathway of continuous improvement through Silver, Gold and Platinum levels of certification, with Platinum being the most stringent leadership criteria. Companies applying for certification must disclose their full ingredient information under confidentiality and comply with a comprehensive list of prohibited substances. Products are tested for chemicals of concern and the chemical inventory is assessed with GreenScreen tools. In addition all products must meet end of life recyclability and/or compostability requirements. The process ensures value, usability, and relevance for industry professionals wanting to excel in offering products made with safer alternatives.

Join us for a webinar on November 9, 2021.

About Center for Environmental Health

CEH has conducted extensive testing on single-use food service ware and maintains a publicly available database identifying products with high and low levels of fluorine, indicating likely use of PFAS. The database, alongside educational and training programs, provide guidance for consumers looking for safer alternatives and institutional purchasers at schools, government and corporate offices looking to create healthier environments.

About Clean Production Action and GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals

Clean Production Action is a mission driven non-profit organization that designs and delivers strategic solutions for green chemicals, sustainable materials, and environmentally preferable products. Clean Production Actions four programs are BizNGO, GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals, Chemical Footprint Project, and Investor Environmental Health Network.

###

CONTACTSEmily DiFrisco, emilyd [at] ceh.orgKayla Williams, kayla [at] cleanproduction.org

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Clean Production Action on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/first-of-its-kind-certification-eliminates-harmful-pfas-in-foodware-and-shifts-market-to-preferred-alternatives-441017098
French fishermen sort their catch in Boulogne - Michel Spingler/AP Photo

French fishermen have been caught apparently fibbing on applications to work in British waters after Brexit, The Telegraph has learned.

UK officials have used satellite data to directly contradict claims by a number of French fishermen that they had previously fished off the coast of Britain.

Under the terms of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, EU fishing vessels must show that they operated in British waters between 2012 and 2016 before they can be granted a licence.

France has argued that many of its small trawlers, mostly under 12 metres in length, were not equipped with GPS trackers and could not easily prove their whereabouts.

Paris has accused Britain and the Channel Islands of unfairly rejecting half the vessels applying to fish in UK and Jersey waters.

But the UK insists it is entitled to ask for the evidence it wants, with officials suspecting that some of the French boats never fished in British waters and are seeking to take advantage of post-Brexit disruption.

To support their applications, some of the vessels from France have provided UK officials with single data points as evidence that they were working in the right area on a specific date.

However, UK officials believe they have disproved a number of these claims after buying commercial satellite data called AIS, used by port authorities and keeps a record of where boats have been. A number of the claims made by French fishermen were immediately shown to be false, according to one Whitehall source.

Some of the fishing boats were caught fibbing, the source said. They said they were in a certain place at a certain time, but the data showed that wasnt the case. Some of the applications were then withdrawn.

So far, 16 small French vessels out of 47 applications have been licensed to fish in Britain's six to 12-mile zone since the negotiations began a month ago.

France and the European Commission jointly agreed to withdraw 17 applications because the evidence to establish whether the vessels had historical rights to access the UK's coastal waters was considered poor, according to an EU official.

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A number of the applications were withdrawn after UK officials were able to contradict the evidence using the AIS data, it is understood. Others are still under consideration, with European Commission and French officials thought to be using other methods, including mobile phone and sales records, to try to prove their case.

It may be that some of these applications were made in genuine error, rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead, another UK official said.

This is an ongoing process  for the vessels which did not have appropriate supporting evidence, we have made it clear that our door remains open. We are very happy to process any applications supported by the evidence.

Olivier Lepretre, the head of the Hauts-de-France fishing council, insisted the withdrawn applications were not a story of fibs.

It is certainly hard to prove, because in 2012 boats did not have electronic trackers, he told the Telegraph. That is the only concern  it is not a story of fibs. In 2012, it was not mandatory for the entire European fleet to be equipped with such trackers.

Urging the UK Government to bend the rules for vessels without GPS logs, Mr Lepretre said: You just have to be honest and look at the size of the boats and the geographical situation of Boulogne in relation to British waters  it speaks for itself.

On Monday night, France paused threats to spark a cross-Channel trade war to allow for UK and EU officials to continue their boat by boat investigation into whether more vessels can be licensed.

The European Commission, which negotiates on behalf of the bloc, believes last-gasp discussions helped the two sides chart a way forward on several aspects.

It is understood that Jersey agreed to accelerate its licences processes for a number of French vessels that had previously struggled to secure a permit.

The meeting allowed us to chart the way forward on several aspects  it was concluded to resume again on Tuesday, to keep the positive dynamics of the discussions, a commission spokesman said of Monday nights negotiations. Further meetings are planned for later in the week.

Downing Street insists the UKs position on the unlicensed vessels remains unchanged, and its officials are ready to grant permits if new evidence becomes available.

France has said it will hold off on threats to disrupt cross-Channel trade and block British fishermen from its ports until at least Thursday when Lord Frost, the Brexit minister, travels to Paris for talks with Clement Beaune, the French Europe minister.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece on Tuesday announced tougher restrictions on most activities for unvaccinated people, as the country registered a record high in new infections for the second day in a row.

Health Minister Thanos Pevris said the measures would take effect Saturday. Greece on Tuesday recorded 6,700 new COVID-19 infections  up from 5,449 Monday  and 59 deaths.

Some 61% of Greece's population has been fully inoculated. Health authorities are striving to boost vaccine uptake  as well as to encourage adult Greeks to register for booster shots. Infections are currently particularly high in northern Greece, where public hospitals are running out of intensive care unit beds and are sending patients to be treated in private facilities.

The measures will affect people who choose not to be vaccinated, Plevris said, adding that the center-right government has ruled out a return to a general lockdown.

Plevris said as of Saturday all unvaccinated people will be obliged to display a recent negative test to enter all indoor public areas, including banks, most shops, government buildings and hair salons. The same will apply to outdoor restaurant areas and cafes. Exceptions will be made for supermarkets, shops selling food, pharmacies and places of worship.

All public and private sector employees will also have to display negative tests twice a week to enter their workplaces, instead of once as is now the case.

Plevris said police inspections for breaches of the new restrictions would be stepped up, with business owners facing higher fines, starting from 5,000 euros ($5,800). The government will also launch a new public awareness campaign on vaccinations, sending text messages to people who haven't been inoculated.

As of Friday, all inoculated adults will be able to register for booster shots if six months have elapsed.

Overall, the European Union nation of 11 million has registered 750,000 COVID-19 infections and 16,000 deaths.

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Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hill House Home



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For Hill House Founder and CEO Nell Diamond, the holiday season begins in mid-October. Not only does her brand's highly anticipated holiday collection of Nap Dresses and more launch during this time, but all three of her children have birthdays within days of each other in the middle of the monthher oldest child's birthday was the same as this year's Hill House Holiday 2021 launch.

"It's just my thingI like to do everything all at once," says Diamond. "It's such a special way to kick off the holiday season for us and then Halloween is so amazing in New York City, especially where we live downtown in the West Village."

Then all of a sudden, as Diamond says, New York City is transformed seemingly over night into a holiday wonderland throughout all of November and December. She's bottled much of that classic holiday magic into Hill House's latest launch of not only the instantly iconic Nap Dresses but also loungewear, accessories, and what Diamond calls "closet companions," or pieces of clothing that pair with the dresses like cardigans, opaque tights, and body suits for layering through chilly weather.

Photo credit: Hill House Home

Photo credit: Hill House Home

"Holiday is a super-fun season for us and this year in particular, I wanted to take these dresses and offer pieces that bring them to the next level while updating them for our New York City winters," says Diamond. However, there's still an abundance of new Nap Dresses, plus a new fabrica silk-incorporated velvetand a long-sleeved silhouette that quickly became a favorite among customers. We're also smitten with the Winter Toile fabric that's featured across the collection.

Photo credit: Hill House Home

"It's the most surreal thing ever walking around New York City and someone came up to me and told me they love my nap dress; I dont think Ill ever get over that experience," Diamond says. "A lot of the growth of our brand came from when we were all stuck inside, so seeing people out there now is amazing."

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Diamond has dreamed of a way to finally connect with the nearly 150,000 Instagram followers and Nap Dress obsessives this holiday season with a chic and festive pop-up shop in SoHo that opens on Thursday, December 4. Inspired by Diamond's London upbringing and the Christmas magic that can be found across the city's best shops, the Hill House holiday pop-up will be a place to celebrate, shop for loved ones, and meet the woman behind the Nap Dress herself.

"It's been such an amazing few months, and I've been dreaming of doing something like this since March of 2020. We just can't wait for it to happen and spread some holiday cheer, and it just feels so iconic to shop in SoHo when you've visiting New York City."

Whether you're popping into the shop from around the block or stopping in while enjoying a holiday getaway in the Big Apple, Diamond says the holidays in New York should always includes trips to the theater or the ballet, and she can't wait to return to Broadway this seasondressed in the new velvet Jasmine or Akilah dress, of course. And a night out on Broadway isn't complete without a trip to a classic New York cocktail bar for a festive nightcap.

"There are so many iconic New York cocktail spots," says Diamond. "Going to Bemelmans feels like such a great holiday tradition. One of my good friends also opened Saint Theo's in the village where we shot the Hill House Holiday campaign because it has the most beautiful bar. I'm just excited to go there for a glass of champagne and have some cozy nights there with college friends and just enjoy getting to be back together with everyone again now that it's safer."

Photo credit: Hill House Home

At the end of the day, as a self-described homebody and someone whose business is all about elevating daily life at home, Diamond says there's nothing like celebrating the holidays with her family and slowing down to enjoy time together when they can. Whether it's bringing her children to their first live theater performance, working the Hill House holiday pop-up each day, or simply enjoying a Sunday night birthdy dinner with the family from their favorite neighborhood pizza joint on Hill House's botanical table linens on a rare quiet night, you'll be able to find Diamond dressed in a festive Nap Dress and offering us the holiday spirit that we all need right now.

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Nov. 2Prosecutors have charged 42-year-old man in connection with Friday's fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man in Nanakuli.

Amador G. Borce made his initial appearance before Judge Alvin Nishimura at Honolulu District Court via video conference from the courthouse cellblock this morning on charges of second-degree murder and two firearm-related offenses. His aggregate bail is set at $500, 000.

The shooting occurred on Kaukai Road near the intersection of Hakimo Road shortly after 2 :15 a.m.

According to court documents, Borce argued with the victim, who was identified as Andrew "Kaipo " Miller, over a woman.

Police said a witness heard the victim say, "I didn't sleep with her, " followed immediately by a gunshot.

The witness told police he saw a male suspect wearing a camouflage jacket flee north on Hakimo Road.

Police said the victim was shot in the upper body. He was taken in critical condition to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

Police said Borce and the victim knew each another.

Through an investigation, police identified Borce as the alleged gunman. Officers located him at a nearby residence shortly after 4 :30 a.m. and arrested him on suspicion of murder.
John Lee couldnt believe his luck. The $1,000 investment he made in Squid, a new cryptocurrency project inspired by the dystopian Netflix drama Squid Game, had skyrocketed in price.

But within five minutes Monday, his money disappeared.

I watched Squid fall down in a matter of minutes, Lee, 30, from Manila in the Philippines, told NBC News. There was no way to withdraw my funds intact.

He was one of many investors who were caught in what has become one of the most high-profile cryptocurrency collapses of the year  and one that some industry experts are warning is indicative of a market that is ripe with scams.

The digital currency, called Squid, was launched in late October and quickly skyrocketed in price. It reached more than $2,860 per token Monday morning before losing all its value after the projects unknown creators appeared to cash out Squid tokens worth more than $3 million, according to transaction details on a publicly accessible cryptocurrency digital wallet.

Since then, the projects website, SquidGame.cash has vanished and its social media profiles have gone dark. Many investors who spoke to NBC News have accepted theyll never see their money again. Some are calling it a scam.

It was shocking but I know that in crypto, there is a huge risk involved, including dealing with scammers, Lee said. It was a good lesson.

Archived versions of the cryptocurrencys website show that it had promised investors that they would be invited to join a virtual game which was inspired by the popular Netflix series, in which people could win rewards.

But a number of clues on Squids website suggested the project was not all that it appeared to be. The tokens white paper  a document that outlines the project to investors  was riddled with spelling errors, and the website made unfounded claims that it had partnered with Netflix and Microsoft.

Microsoft and Netflix declined to comment, though Netflix told CNBC it had no affiliation with the project.

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On Friday, the technology website Gizmodo warned that the tokens were a likely scam. That same day, the crypto price-tracking website CoinMarketCap warned potential investors to exercise caution after it had received reports that users were not able to sell their tokens.

CoinMarketCap then went on to warn that while the project was inspired by the Netflix series, it is unlikely to be affiliated with the official IP, in a reference to intellectual property.

After the crash, more than 40,000 people still held Squid tokens, according to data from BscScan, a blockchain search engine.

Craig Tinker, 49, of Philadelphia, invested $300 in Squid because he said he was falsely reassured by the publicity surrounding the project.

It paints a very bad picture of crypto, he said. Its sad for all the legitimate projects out there.

NBC News contacted the Squid token developers through contact information listed on its website, but emails were undeliverable and bounced back.

Molly Zuckerman, CoinMarketCaps head of content, said the token showed all the signs of a classic rug pull, which is a term in the cryptocurrency community for when creators abandon a project and steal investor money.

A dark website, silence across social media accounts, a public excuse to step back for some reason  all while the tokens liquidity and price is plummeting in the background, she said.

Zuckerman added that developers had also created an unusual anti-dump mechanism that prevented many investors from selling their tokens. Investors could only sell if the ratio of buyers to sellers was 2-1.

I think that many investors probably werent aware of this mechanism, and panicked when they were unable to sell their tokens over the past week, not realizing that was something written into SQUIDs white paper, she said. Moral of the story? Always do your own research and never put in more than you are willing to lose, especially with a memecoin vaguely related to a hit Netflix show.

Cryptocurrency garnered a new wave of younger mainstream investor interest in 2020 and early this year as more established cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with alternative coins like Dogecoin, soared in value.

However, more than $80 million has been lost in crypto-related scams since October 2020, according to a report this year by the Federal Trade Commission.

Steve H. Hanke, a professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University, believes the Squid token is yet another example that cryptocurrency is increasingly a hotbed for criminals and fraudsters.

You have these problems in the crypto space almost hourly, he said. The money just vanishes and nothing happens.

Theres a tremendous amount of systemic risk associated with the so-called crypto ecosystem, Hanke added, and the reason that the risks are so tremendous is that they are operating in a Wild West  no regulations at all.
By Simon Jessop and Carolyn Cohn

GLASGOW/LONDON (Reuters) - Major investors have warned the worlds top four audit firms they will vote to stop the firms working for the companies they invest in at AGMs from next year if audits do not integrate climate risk.

The challenge, laid out in letters from an investor group managing around $4.5 trillion that were seen by Reuters, marks an escalation in the group's efforts to ensure investors were armed with robust information.

The investors have been pushing auditors to improve for several years amid concern they were misrepresenting the true health of companies by not factoring in potential hits from the impact of climate change and associated policy changes.

Ahead of the COP26 climate talks in Scotland, the group had called for governments to force companies and auditors to file accounts in line with the world's goal of limiting global warming by mid-century.

The letters dated Nov. 1 and sent to Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC by the investor group pointed to recent research showing more than 70% of assessed 2020 audits had fallen short.

The group includes asset managers Sarasin & Partners, Pictet and Aviva Investors and pension schemes including RPMI Railpen. The investors said that after three years of discussions with the firms, they "cannot afford to wait another three years" for audits to improve.

At the next season for corporate annual general meetings, the auditors could "increasingly expect to see" investors vote against their reappointment if they failed to meet expectations, the letters said.

In the letter to Deloitte, for example, the group said the auditor was responsible for 19 of the companies assessed in the research, including oil major BP, miner Glencore and building materials company CRH.

"While we have identified some welcome signs of leadership, notably at BP, based on our analysis overall these audits have not met our expectations," the letter said.

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"Outside the UK, the picture is worse. Of the remaining 16 audits undertaken by Deloitte, only three mention climate risk. None provides the visibility we seek on the potential financial implications of a 1.5C pathway, which global leaders have committed to delivering."

Paul Stephenson, managing partner audit & assurance at Deloitte, said the auditor agreed that "climate-related risks should be accounted for and disclosed appropriately in annual reports and financial statements.

"We are clear that along with investors, professional bodies, regulators, standard setters and audited entities we have an important role to play in enhancing confidence in the information provided to markets, he said.

CHALLENGING

Cath Burnet, Head of Audit at KPMG UK, said the firm had trained all its auditors last year on the impact of climate change risk on companies, in addition to the accounting and reporting implications.

"Our role as auditors includes challenging the recognition and measurement that climate has on the financial statements, as well as challenging narrative where it is misleading or inconsistent," she said.

A PwC spokesperson said that "to increase transparency in this area, our future audit opinions on larger UK listed companies will further explain how material climate-related risks have been addressed.

We welcome investor engagement in this area which will help drive company disclosure and the setting of clear climate related goals."

EY said in an emailed statement that the firm's audit teams "continue to consider the risks that climate change brings to the companies we audit, where it relates to financial reporting.

"We are actively involved in developing standards and are supportive of ongoing work to establish a framework that companies and auditors can report against which would provide more consistent reporting for investors."

The world's leaders meet in Glasgow this week aiming to accelerate climate action in an effort to cap global warming at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial norms by mid-century.

After first writing to the Big Four audit firms in 2019, the investors said structural changes linked to climate change and associated policy action were accelerating, citing a recent United Nations report that issued "code red for humanity" over climate change.

"This is driving a more robust policy response globally," the latest letters said.

"Auditors that fail to test accounting assumptions taking these structural shifts into account are, in our view, failing in their duty to shareholders."

(Reporting by Simon Jessop; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli and Bahraini prime ministers met on Tuesday for the first time since normalisation of ties, on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, an official Israeli statement said.

No further details were immediately available about the meeting between Israel's Naftali Bennett and Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's crown prince and prime minister.

Bahrain and Gulf neighbour United Arab Emirates normalised relations with Israel last year in a U.S.-brokered deal known as the Abraham Accords that built on common commercial interests and concerns about Iran.

In September, Bahrain hosted Israel's foreign minister in the highest-level visit since the countries formalised ties.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos flew his private jet to Glasgow, Scotland, for a United Nations summit aimed at cutting global greenhouse gas emissions, photos obtained by Fox News reveal.

Scores of high-rollers from around the world took private planes into Glasgow over the weekend for the COP26 summit, including Bezos, who has repeatedly claimed climate change is the "biggest threat" to the planet.

JOHN KERRY FAMILY PRIVATE JET ALREADY EMITTED ESTIMATED 30 TIMES MORE CARBON IN 2021 THAN AVERAGE VEHICLE DOES IN YEAR

Bezos's jet has been valued in the neighborhood of $65 million.

The Amazon founder also met with Charles, Prince of Wales, on Sunday to discuss the importance of fighting climate change.

"The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world far longer than most," Bezos tweeted.

"We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26  looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help," he added.

Critics on social media assailed summit attendees for choosing to utilize private jets for traveling to a climate event.

Bezos is far from the only climate hawk to indulge in private airfare.

President Biden's climate czar, John Kerry, has a family jet despite the fact that such planes are notoriously bad for the environment.

Kerry even took a private jet to Iceland in 2019 to receive the Arctic Circle award for climate leadership.

Kerry defended his high-pollution ride at the time, calling it "the only choice for somebody like me who is traveling the world to win this battle" in an interview obtained by Fox News.

Fox News' Sam Dorman contributed reporting
Joanna is happy to embrace ageing. (REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)

Few people have genuinely earned the status of 'national treasure', but Joanna Lumley is surely up there. From her days as the icily glamorous sci fi agent in Sapphire and Steel to her unforgettable Ab Fab years as the iconic Patsy, and her campaign to allow the Gurkhas to settle in Britain, she's remained in the headlines and seemingly never ages.

She is now a venerable 75, an age where most are hanging up their dancing shoes and settling by the fire. But Lumley is not ready for retirement. She has opened up about her views on age in the December issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, saying, "I'd just got used to writing my age as 69 and I thought my goodness, that has gone fast.

Watch: Joanna Lumley vows never to retire

"The truth is, in your head, you haven't really changed at all. Of course, everything about you is changing - your arms are getting older, your hair is getting whiter and you have slightly less stamina.

"But I'm a big believer that you either use it or lose it, so I really just try to keep going."

She also notes that 'grandmothers' are not what they were - and can be just as glamorous as they always were. Her own teenaged grandchildren live in the North of Scotland, but she says, she loves to go to museums and take them on walks when they do meet up.

The much loved actor and TV presenter is married to Steven, a conductor, and they have just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. It's clear that ageing is not a problem she dwells on - in fact, she says she embraces it.

Joanna takes sensible precautions. (Getty Images)

" I have always loved getting older, so being 70 is fabulous," she said five years ago. "I have always just felt like me, the numbers are incidental. You never lose the little you who is within you.

"We are like trees, we grow more and more circles, more layers as we grow older but inside us is always the person you were when you were tiny. To be 70 and still working, I have been very lucky. Mind you, I have also worked jolly hard."

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Read more: Joanna Lumley says some Ab Fab jokes would never make it to screen now

On the secret of her youthful outlook, she added, "(on my 12th birthday) I remember thinking, I will remember being 12 because this is the best birthday ever. And I feel like I am 12 every day. It is quite wonderful."

Although Lumley is vaccinated and takes sensible COVID precautions, she recently said: By the pandemic, Im classified as technically vulnerable, but Im not a worrying kind of person. Im a little bit kismet  either it will come and get you, sadly, or it wont. Although Im 112 years old, Im quite fit and youthful, so I havent worried about it."

Joanna Lumley celebrates The Elephant Family's CoExistence campaign 2021 (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

She told another magazine last year, "I always loved getting older. I want to be 30 when Im 18, I want to be 50 when Im 30, I want to be 70 when Im 50, and now Im 74. Waiting for 90 years old! 

Her reason for enjoying the process, she explained, is the lack of fear age brings.

Older people are no longer afraid. (Younger people), they are worried that they may look wrong, sound wrong, do not do it right, he may drop you, she may not like you....

Only experience can teach that no one in the world is looking at you.

Read more: Joanna Lumley suggests wartime-like rationing to tackle climate change

Like the fear of dying, all other kinds of things begin to disappear. Im not afraid of it, and the closer I get to it, the more Im more interested in making a good death."

She's happy to keep working, she said, adding she'd love to star in another Ab Fab film.

When youre acting, acting will retire you. So when you havent been asked to do anything for five years, I think you can assume you are retired, but Im still working away.

Watch: Joanna Lumley urges government to meet 'brave and loyal' Gurkhas veterans
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A prominent South Carolina lawyer whose wife and son were killed five months ago and has since found himself part of a half-dozen state investigations and a number of lawsuits had his assets frozen Tuesday by a judge worried he and his son might be scheming to hide money.

Judge Daniel Hall sided with an attorney suing Alex Murdaugh on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old woman killed in a crash on Murdaugh's boat which prosecutors said his late son was driving.

The family's lawsuit says Murdaugh is trying to hide millions of dollars they could possibly collect in their lawsuit and he could shift money between unknown accounts and potentially sell off property and a boat after he turned all his affairs over to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh. He could also benefit from the estates of his slain wife and son and his father who died of natural causes a few days later, attorney Mark Tinsley said.

They have refused from day one to give me any information," Tinsley said.

Related video: Family of Murdaugh's deceased housekeeper break their silence

Murdaugh inherited part of a legal empire in tiny Hampton County, South Carolina. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors. The familys law firm, located in the most impressive building in town after the courthouse, has spent a century winning multimillion-dollar verdicts.

Remaining unsolved now for nearly five months are the deaths of Murdaughs wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22. Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death. Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out. Murdaugh has adamantly denied having anything to do with their killings.

The deaths lead to five more criminal investigations into Murdaugh, from whether he stole money from the familys century-old PMPED Law Firm to the events around his housekeepers death and insurance payout to whether he or his family tried to obstruct the investigation into the boat crash.

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A lawyer for Murdaugh argued at a hearing before the judge Friday that he has not been found responsible in any civil suits since his wife and son were killed and has insurance to cover if he is required to pay damages.

Attorney John Tiller also argued if Murdaugh loses control of his assets, that would open the door for similar things to happen in countless other cases if the person who sues thinks the defendant does not have enough insurance.

Murdaugh, 53, remains in the Richland County jail without bond after being charged with stealing nearly $3 million in insurance payments meant for the sons of his housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall in his home. His legal team did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Tuesdays ruling.

A judge handling the Murdaugh criminal cases last month asked for a report on his mental state before considering whether to set bond. A date for a hearing has not been set.

While the criminal investigations into Murdaugh continue  he also has been charged with trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son could get a $10 million life insurance policy  the civil lawsuits against him are also piling up.

Murdaugh faces at least six lawsuits seeking money as damages, from claims over the 2019 fatal boat crash to allegations he stole accidental death insurance settlements meant for his housekeeper's sons and money from his family's century-old law firm to his own brother saying Murdaugh owes him $46,500 on $90,000 loaned in September in part to get Murdaugh into drug rehab.

The judge's decision Tuesday only deals with the lawsuit from the family of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. She died after Murdaugh's boat hit a Beaufort County bridge in February 2019 and her body was found seven days later.

Prosecutors say Paul Murdaugh was driving the boat recklessly while intoxicated and charges against him were dropped after he and his mother were killed at the family's Colleton County home in June.

Lawyers in two other lawsuits against Alex Murdaugh filed similar motions asking to have the independent lawyers review and catalog all of Murdaughs assets and approve whether he can spend money. They will get part of any legal settlements or judgements against Murdaugh in the cases they are involved.

Those cases involve a man on the boat who said the Murdaugh family tried to falsely pin him as the boats driver along with the family of Murdaughs late housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. The Murdaughs said she died after a fall in the familys home in 2018.

Murdaugh has been charged with pocketing nearly $3 million worth of insurance settlements that was supposed to go to Satterfields estate.

Prosecutors have accused Murdaugh of illegally diverting the money to his accounts. They said he then paid off a $100,000 credit card bill, transferred more than $300,000 to his father and $735,000 to himself.

Hes living pretty well for someone with no assets. He has a crisis manager, Tinsley said at Friday's hearing.

Last week, at least two more lawsuits were filed against Murdaugh looking to collect debts. His old PMPED Law Firm sued, saying they loaned him $470,000 in 2021 and has not been paid back. The law firm has a separate suit against Murdaugh seeking money they said he stole from them. That suit didn't specify and amount, but legal papers have suggested it is in the millions.

Also Randolph Murdaugh IV sued his brother, saying $90,000 he loaned before his arrest to help his brother make payroll and after the arrest for rehab has not been paid back minus a $43,500 tractor and rotary cutter that court papers said were given to the brother after Alex Murdaugh first tried to sell it.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
Kansas City, Kansas, police are investigating the suspicious deaths of three residents at Wyandotte Towers after their bodies were discovered within the past two days.

Police said they are investigating the deaths of two men and a woman at the Wyandotte Towers Apartments, located in the 900 block of Washington Boulevard. The cause of the deaths has not been released, but all three are being investigated as homicides.

The names and ages of the victims have not been released. They each lived in separate apartments in the 15-story, 302-unit building, located near downtown.

On Monday, officers were summoned to the high-rise apartment building about 8:15 a.m. to check on the welfare of a resident. Arriving officers found the man dead inside his apartment, said police spokeswoman Nancy Chartrand.

Building management called police again on Tuesday, just after 11 a.m., after Wyandotte Towers personnel found a male and a female while performing some form of routine maintenance in the building, Chartrand said. Both were deceased.

Again suspicious circumstances being investigated as potential homicides, Chartrand said. We dont know whether these were related.

Homicide investigators remained at the scene Tuesday afternoon speaking with residents and gathering evidence. The building has security and video surveillance.

The inference would be homicide, but that cant be determined completely until the autopsies are done, Chartrand said.

No suspect information was immediately available. Police did not know whether anyone forced their way into the victims apartments. Police also do not know whether any of those found knew one another.

Its concerning, we receive calls periodically but nothing like this, Chartrand said. Anytime you have three deceased individuals in a 24-hour period, theres something to be concerned about.

Several residents of the building were gathered in the parking lot as police officers remained on scene Tuesday afternoon. One was Michelle Garrett, who said she knew one of the victims, saying she was a 24-year-old woman with two children.

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I took her on as my daughter, said Garrett, adding that she befriended the young woman two years ago. Garrett said she was approached by the building manager on Tuesday, who broke the news to her.

Zina Johnson, another resident of the building, said the same victim was her best friend. Johnson described her as wise, intelligent, fun and loving.

She will never be forgotten, Johnson said. We will always cherish her.

Police are asking anyone with information about the deaths to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
GLASGOW, Scotland  Speaking during and immediately after a meeting of the High Ambition Coalition, a group of roughly 60 countries that advocate for the strongest possible policies to address climate change at the U.N. Climate Change Conference, special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry hinted Tuesday that major announcements on climate finance are in the offing.

A hundred billion dollars doesnt do it, folks, Kerry said to a gaggle of press following the meeting at the conference, also known as COP26. He was referring to the promise of $100 billion per year in financing for adapting to and mitigating climate change for developing countries, made by developed countries at the last major round of climate negotiations, in Paris in 2015. Its trillions of dollars that are needed. And the only way that we will get this done is if trillions of dollars are forthcoming. And they are. Tomorrow there will be an announcement. Im not going to jump the announcement, but there are tens of trillions of dollars announced that are available to be invested in this transition.

By get this done, Kerry means reaching an agreement in Glasgow during the next two weeks that will commit all countries to steep enough cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to ensure the world doesnt tip over into catastrophic climate change. Until now, the lack of adequate financing to rapidly develop the economies of poor countries without resorting to using fossil fuels  the transition Kerry referred to  has been a major sticking point in negotiations. Large developing nations like India have shied away from making firm commitments to near-term emissions targets because of this.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday. (David Knowles/Yahoo News)

Its unclear who will provide the tens of trillions of dollars Kerry mentioned, but reading the tea leaves  especially his reference to investment  it sounds like the private sector will play a major role, providing loans as opposed to grants.

Let me give you an example, Kerry said when asked by Yahoo News who would be providing the funds. My office worked with the six largest banks in America  Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, State Street, Bank of America and JPMorgan  they publicly stood up a number of months ago, it wasnt much noticed, and they announced that they will, over the next 10 years, they will invest $4.1 trillion.

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During his prepared remarks at the meeting, Kerry began by lauding the progress that has already been made on reaching the $100 billion goal. That money was supposed to materialize by 2020, but it hasnt been fully funded so far.

People have stepped up significantly, he said. President Biden, as you know, announced at the U.N. that there would be an $11.4 billion additional commitment from the United States, a doubling of our doubling that he already did at the summit in April. And that has created further commitments. So according to the OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development], the 22 year, next year, is somewhere in the vicinity of $95 [billion] to $98 billion. When I was in school, a 98, if you got that on a test, its pretty good.

Kerry speaking at the U.N. climate summit on Tuesday. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

But, nevertheless, we want to close it out, he added. And I believe that in the next hours, the next days, there is still space where I believe announcements will be made that will take it over $100 billion.

The United States just rejoined the High Ambition Coalition after former President Donald Trump pulled out of the group, which at Tuesdays meeting Kerry said he regret[ted]. He praised the group for successfully pushing for more aggressive action to combat climate change in Paris and in the run-up to COP26.

How many of you would have thought six months ago or nine months ago that achieving 1.5 degrees from certain countries would be possible? Kerry said. Or that guaranteeing that we would have a ban on the funding of coal externally? That was achieved. Critical steps have been taken and will be taken in the next days and hours. And I think that means unprecedented ambition will be summoned here in Glasgow. Will it be sufficient from all countries to guarantee that we get there? No. Should it be? Yes.

Global temperatures are on the rise and have been for decades. Step inside the data and see the magnitude of climate change.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
Members of the clean-up crew dismantle tents located on the Veterans Row homeless encampment along San Vicente Boulevard. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A bulldozer roared outside GemBob Brookhysers tent Monday morning as he yanked on an extension cord caught in a tangle of his belongings. Half a dozen veterans in the Veterans Row homeless encampment along San Vicente Boulevard scrambled to get their possessions into bins and onto moving vans driven by volunteers.

Tensions were high on moving day at the encampment, which sits along the perimeter of the historic Veterans Affairs campus near Brentwood. Roughly 4,000 veterans in the county are homeless, and about 40 have been living at the Veterans Row encampment for the last several months.

The effort was the byproduct of several months of outreach to the homeless veterans community, said Robert Reynolds, an advocate with AMVETS, the veterans service organization. Advocates say they have been meeting with veterans on the street to prepare them to leave the encampment and move into a temporary tent village on the VA campus itself. The process could be jarring.

Robert Reynolds, center, a veteran advocate with Amvets, walks with Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Monday as they tour the Veterans Row encampment along San Vicente Boulevard. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

You get a veteran inside, another one shows up, Reynolds said. A lack of resources offered by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs has led to a steady increase in the homeless veterans population, he said, leading to the encampment outside the campus.

Volunteers say the next step is to hold the VA accountable for its promise to find housing for the veterans and to make sure that the tent village on the campus does not become another forgotten Veterans Row. The VA intends to move the veterans into a tiny-home village on the campus once it is completed. Several tiny homes are already occupied by veterans, but dozens more need to be set up.

"It's infuriating and heartbreaking, because for so long these veterans were forgotten," said Diego Garcia, an outreach volunteer and Army veteran working with AMVETS.

Last month, U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough promised to find housing for the veterans from the encampment by the beginning of this month, and for 500 other homeless veterans by the end of the year.

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"I think one of the things we're really trying to do is focus on concentrated outreach with individuals," said the VA Medical Center director, Dr. Steven Braverman, after the encampment was cleared. "We're trying to understand that sometimes folks have to be treated as comrades, as part of a community, and try to keep people comfortable as they're making the transition and working with them."

Some of the veterans living in the Veterans Row encampment along San Vicente Boulevard were upset as cleanup crews worked their way from tent to tent. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The number of veterans at the San Vicente encampment has fluctuated, but a count last month put it at about 40. By Monday morning, there were only six veterans remaining at the Veterans Row encampment.

Brookhyser, a U.S. Army veteran, scrambled to move his items before an L.A. County bulldozer could come and scrape away the tent he has lived in for the last year.

Its been surreal, Brookhyser, 52, said as he described his time at the site. All these people have these fancy [homes] and they dont want us here. Even though this property belongs to us. Thats why we have to put up what we always put up with. Ive had water, beer thrown at me. Those people honk their horns, they harass us. For no reason.

As the bulldozer crushed furniture and a metal shed, Rick Reeves Jr., another Army veteran, paced the tent where he has lived for the last two years.

Members of the cleanup crew dismantle tents at the Veterans Row homeless encampment along San Vicente Boulevard just outside the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus Monday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

It could have gone so much worse, he said. Most of my stuff is already getting ready for storage. Im ready to move on from here. Its been a real mess on the row.

Volunteers helped veterans load their belongings onto moving trucks and some will be able to use storage space at the VA campus, Reynolds said.

Douglas Bue, 65, made his way through the cleanup in a wheelchair. He scoffed at the scene around him, where he lived for the last month.

Army veteran Douglas Steven Bue, 65, who has moved onto the VA campus, helps other veterans move and transition onto the campus. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Look at this. No human being deserves to live like this, the Army veteran said. They have a good, clean property. They can give three meals a day. They deserve better. Its a lack of care for the war. People dont love veterans like they should. They dont love each other like they should.

More than 40 veterans lived on Veterans Row when L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced his plans to clear out the encampment earlier this year. Since then, volunteer groups and advocates have met with the veterans to ease their move onto the VA campus, which dates to 1888 and covers some 400 acres. More than 20 tents have been set up on the campus, along with the small village of tiny homes.

The goal is to find more permanent housing for the veterans who are now in the makeshift encampment on the campus, said Sheriff's Lt. Geff Deedrick. Most of the work has been centered on outreach and building a rapport with the veterans.

Its about compassion and understanding, said Deedrick, who leads the department's Homeless Outreach Services.

Surrounded by the drone of the bulldozer and sheriffs deputies, Villanueva said, Having people camp out in the street is not an option.

During the cleanup several veterans became emotional, calling the lack of support theyve received from the greater VA organization damning. One veteran, who said he would leave when he was ready, screamed that he was being left to die by his country. He grabbed at his head and arms, asking no one in particular to give him room.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies document the move as a variety of organizations with the support of sheriff's deputies helped homeless veterans pack up to leave their encampment. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Deputies and volunteers watched as the veteran stomped outside his tent, asking them what they were looking at. He stood outside his tent as the bulldozer made its way down the line and cleared the adjacent tents. Shortly after 2 p.m. he relented and walked out with his belongings. Volunteers helped him take several items onto the VA campus.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Las Vegas Raiders star Henry Ruggs III is facing a felony driving under the influence charge after a collision left another person dead early Tuesday morning, authorities said. The Raiders later released Ruggs from the team.

Local police said Ruggs was driving a Chevrolet Corvette at a "high rate of speed" when he struck the rear of a Toyota Rav4. When officers arrived at the scene, the Toyota was in flames. Fire officials pulled a deceased victim, a 23-year-old woman, from the Toyota, they said.

Ruggs, 22, remained on the scene and showed "signs of impairment," police said. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Ruggs would be charged with DUI resulting in death. If convicted, Ruggs could face two to 20 years in prison.

Henry Ruggs III in 2020. / Credit: Chris Unger / Getty

His attorneys, David Z. Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, said they would be conducting an investigation and asked the public to "reserve judgment until all the facts are gathered."

The Raiders selected Ruggs with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played three years at the University of Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide win a National Championship in 2017.

The Raiders offered condolences to the victim's family on Tuesday. "We are devastated by the loss of life and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family," the team said in a statement. "We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time."

"CBS Evening News" headlines for Wednesday, November 3, 2021

London Calling: German Chancellor Angela Merkel worries world forgot lessons of World War II

Leaders from low income countries call on larger nations to live up to climate change promises
Does the November share price for Lindsay Australia Limited (ASX:LAU) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Lindsay Australia

The model

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$11.5m AU$13.5m AU$11.9m AU$10.9m AU$10.4m AU$10.1m AU$9.94m AU$9.90m AU$9.92m AU$9.99m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -7.81% Est @ -4.91% Est @ -2.88% Est @ -1.46% Est @ -0.46% Est @ 0.24% Est @ 0.72% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 9.5% AU$10.5 AU$11.3 AU$9.0 AU$7.6 AU$6.6 AU$5.8 AU$5.3 AU$4.8 AU$4.4 AU$4.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$69m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$10.0m (1 + 1.9%)  (9.5% 1.9%) = AU$133m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$133m ( 1 + 9.5%)10= AU$54m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$123m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.4, the company appears about fair value at a 1.9% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Lindsay Australia as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.749. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Lindsay Australia, we've compiled three essential factors you should look at:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 4 warning signs for Lindsay Australia we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does LAU's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos Getty

Two MAGA world luminaries who have spent the better part of a year promoting some of the same election conspiracy theoriesRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and QAnon-aligned lawyer Lin Woodare now pitted against each other in a dispute that could put Greene on the wrong side of a campaign finance violation.

Wood, the Georgia defamation lawyer who has floated some of the fringiest of fringe theories about ex-President Donald Trumps 2020 election loss, posted a note on the Telegram messaging app over the weekend blasting Greene and claiming she still owed him for previous legal work.

But it turns out that Wood was not representing his former ally in her personal capacity. Instead, his services went to Greenes campaign committee as it fought two defamation disputes. Worse still for Greene is Woods claim that the Greene campaign has never paid him, raising a number of questions about the legality of their arrangement.

How Marjorie Taylor Greene Basically Bought Her House Seat

A spokesperson for Greene, who handles communications for her congressional office and her campaign, did not offer comment.

Four campaign finance experts consulted for this article said Greenes candidate committeeGreene for Congressappears at minimum to have violated federal financial reporting laws. They also raised concerns about illegal corporate and in-kind contributions, with some experts pointing to two possibilities in other legal realms: breach of contract, and, in a word, theft, if Wood were to take an austere line in state court.

Wood seems to have ruled out that option, but in a conversation with The Daily Beast, the veteran attorney claimed that Greene owes him $5,000 for legal services rendered in July and September 2020.

I have not been remunerated as of today, Wood said, noting he billed for last summers services in one $5,000 swoop, which he pegs at sometime in late September.

The cases, he confirmed, were two defamation disputes that, according to documents The Daily Beast reviewed, were specific to the Greene campaign.

Story continues

One was a retraction demand Greene for Congress issued on July 8, 2020, to a GOP primary challenger over an ad Greene claimed was false. The second was a lawsuit filed against the campaign last August in Fulton County, Georgia, alleging the Greene campaign had conspired to defame an Atlanta-area mortgage company after it fired an employee under a politically charged cloud.

While federal election law allows attorneys to volunteer their services in certain instances, defamation cases are not covered, explained Brett Kappel, campaign finance specialist at Harmon Curran.

If he sent an invoice for legal services, this wouldnt fit under the category of legal services lawyers can provide for free. So the Federal Election Commission would say that these costs must be reflected on her reports, Kappel said. It could be whats called a disputed debt, but you still have to report that, along with who did the work and what it was for.

A worse interpretation for Greene would be that the campaign accepted an illegal corporate contribution, he added. But at the end of the day, a campaign cant have someone do this kind of legal work without it being disclosed.

Stuart McPhail, senior litigation counsel at government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, agreed that the supposed unpaid debt should also be reported on the campaigns disclosures, and McPhail pointed out that unresolved sum could prevent the committee from terminating.

McPhail added that Wood himself would appear to have legal recourse under contract law.

Attorney fees are a matter of contract between the lawyer and the client, he said. So if the campaign failed to pay [Woods] fees, and his retainer specified he was to be paid fees, then he could sue the campaign for breach of contract.

Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert Invent Reasons to Vote Against Bone Marrow Bill

Paul Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at the campaign finance watchdog group Common Cause, agreed that the outstanding invoice could be considered an unreported debt. But he also offered a more pointed analysis.

Sounds as though Marjorie Taylor Greene has received and failed to report an illegal contribution, Ryan said.

In the campaign finance world, a contribution is not just moneyits anything of value for the purpose of influencing an election. Goods and services, such as legal work, are considered in-kind contributions, and campaigns must either report receiving them or pay for them outright.

In this case, Ryan observed, it appears neither of those things happened.

This could have gone a different way: A lawyer provides services, invoices the candidate for those services, and then the candidate pays for them, Ryan said. But it didnt go that way here, and what we see is unpaid legal services that amount to an illegal contribution.

Ryan added that the bottom line was that, if a candidate pays, its fine; if not, its an in-kind contribution.

Part of the problem in this case is that Wood had already donated the maximum allowable amount to Greene before he billed her, so she would not be allowed to accept his in-kind services for free. The in-kind contribution would therefore be illegal, the campaign finance experts said. And, as Ryan and Kappel both pointed out, because Woods law firm is not a partnership, such a contribution would appear to qualify as a corporate gift to the candidate, which is also impermissible.

Asked about his rates, Wood told The Daily Beast he thought the $5,000 bill was fair and reasonable and less than if I had charged hourly.

Like I said, it was not about money for me. I tried to help her. I thought she would help America, he said.

The financial dispute is just the latest in a series of recent off-screen clashes between the two icons of the MAGA right, whose once-tight friendship turned vicious a few months ago after Greene replaced him on a defamation case and Wood began criticizing the congresswoman for not doing enough to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

I was involved, but I then was replaced, Wood said, referencing the lawsuit filed last August in Fulton County. And I rememberI think it was at an event I was at with the Republican Womens Club of Myrtle Beach in Maybut she called during the event, and I held up the phone and they all applauded. But I think thats when she was going to tell me she was gonna replace me. Then someone else of hers eventually called and told me not long after that. She didnt call.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Fined for the Third Time After Again Refusing to Wear a Mask in Congress

After that, Wood quickly hit back. He accused Greene of selling out, claimed she was in league with communists and implied not so subtly that she no longer held his faith or trust.

It was all in response to me telling her to keep challenging the election, which she was not doing. She resorted to personal attacks and that disappointed me and thats how it goes. When people cant attack the message they attack the messenger, because the message is true, Wood told The Daily Beast. And I know that if Im doing gods work, the devil is gonna attack me.

Wood added that he didnt think Greene and he were ideologically on the same page anymore, once again lumping the far-right Trump loyalist in with communists.

There was a communist effort to steal our presidency, and if someone isn't fighting to investigate itnot that you have to believe it but just to investigate itthen that tells me that youre a communist sympathizer, he said.

Still, Wood said he does not intend to claw back his money, which may be a tall order if pursued through the FEC, according to Daniel Weiner, deputy director of election reform at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Lin Woods Ex-Partners Say Hes a Fraudster. His Emails May Prove It

This is actually a pretty common issue. Unfortunately for Mr. Wood, there isnt much recourse to federal law when it comes to unpaid campaign debts, Weiner said. In this respect, he added, Wood finds himself in the same boat as other service providers and even cities, who often have to wait years to be reimbursed for costs after presidential candidates visit. (The city of Albuquerque referred one unpaid Trump campaign bill to a collection agency.)

Any legal remedy would need to be found under state lawmaybe small claims court, Weiner added. Ill resist the temptation to deploy a Kraken metaphor.

Kappel concurred on that point.

If you look outside of campaign finance law, its possible that a state statute could be invoked here. If you dont pay your bills, thats theft, he said.

Wood said that, in his 45-year career, I have had very few clients who tried to stiff me, claiming that he has never sued a client over an unpaid bill.

I think publicly litigating with former clients over fees demeans the legal profession, Wood said.

Still, its not clear whether that $5,000 is even a full accounting of Greenes debt. After all, the defamation case carried on through the spring, months after Woods September invoice.

Asked if he had continued to act as counsel to the campaign in the matter, Wood demurred.

I do not believe I performed any additional work after September other than a few phone calls, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

SINGAPORE  Upset that his daughter had seemingly sold his house in Johor Bahru, a man rode on his motorcycle to Singapore for the sole purpose of killing her.

Shoo Ah San, a 65-year-old Malaysian, waited with a knife near her house in Marsiling, then stabbed 42-year-old Shoo Suet Lian some 17 times in the wee hours of the morning while she was at a bus stop making her way to work.

Even as the daughter sought help from a passer-by, Shoo - who was about to ride away - returned and stabbed her a few more times in her chest.

Shoo then decided to seek out his eldest son, who was working in Singapore as a mechanic, but was arrested before he could do so.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday (2 November) to one count of attempted murder, as his daughter survived the vicious attack. Another count of possessing the knife unlawfully was taken into consideration for his sentencing.

Did not have good relationships with his children

Shoo was a widower with five children - two sons and three daughters - with Suet Lian being his eldest child.

He did not have a good relationship with his children and was further estranged after a dispute over the ownership of a house in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru.

Shoo initially rented the house and resided there with three children, including elder son Shoo Chee Seng. In 2000, the house was bought in Suet Lians name, as Shoo was an undischarged bankrupt and Chee Seng was below 21. Chee Seng had given his father a sum of money for the purchase of the house and later serviced the monthly mortgage.

Shoo disputed this and claimed that he paid for the house, but it was mortgaged in Suet Lians name as he was not allowed to own a second property. He eventually moved out of the house in 2007 to work in Malacca.

In 2016, Chee Seng changed the locks of the house to keep Shoo out, as he had caused trouble in the house by removing the ancestral tablet.

Displeased, Shoo broke into the house in early 2019 and vandalised the walls with red paint, proclaiming that Suet Lian was unfilial and declaring his intention to kill his children. He did not show up to a meeting with Chee Seng to discuss the house.

Story continues

In March 2019, the children decided to renovate and sell the house to avoid any more trouble from Shoo. Shoo became upset when he thought that the house had already been sold, and blamed Suet Lian for the sale and his homeless state. He also begrudged her for not providing him money.

Harboured thoughts of killing daughter, then committing suicide

Sometime in mid-2019, he began harbouring thoughts of killing her. He had even planned to commit suicide thereafter by jumping off the flat where Suet Lian lived, but delayed his action due to lack of income.

On 16 January last year, Shoos girlfriend asked him to move out of her house and Shoo decided to carry out his plan to enter Singapore and kill Suet Lian.

He entered Singapore the next day and rode to Marsiling Lane in search of her. He did not know her exact address, but knew that she went to work between 5am and 6am.

At about 5.03am, he saw Suet Lian walking towards a bus stop and ran towards her while still wearing his helmet. He lifted his visor and uttered in Cantonese, You've all harmed me very miserably."

He aimed a stab at Suet Lians neck, but she evaded the attack. He then stabbed her left shoulder, shoulder blade, upper chest, and back with the knife, which had a 10cm serrated blade. Shoo then fled towards his motorcycle as he sensed other people around.

Suet Lian shouted for help and ran across the road. A passer-by called for an ambulance.

As Shoo started riding off on his motorcycle, he saw Suet Lian with a passer-by. He alighted, ran towards his bleeding daughter and shouted in Cantonese, you have not died? Then I will die."

He stabbed her again in her chest, left arm and abdomen, to the horror of the female passer-by, who shouted for him to stop. He fled after seeing blood flow from Suet Lians mouth.

Arrested while looking for eldest son in Singapore

Instead of returning to Malaysia, Shoo stayed in Singapore to look for Chee Seng. He rode to Kaki Bukit as he knew his eldest son worked there as a mechanic, but was unsuccessful in finding him.

Shoo spent the next few days sleeping at a public compound of a workers dormitory, washing up at public toilets with the toiletries he had. By then, an islandwide manhunt for him was underway.

On 22 January last year, Shoo approached an ex-colleague of Chee Seng to ask about his whereabouts. He was informed of Chee Sengs new workplace and was given the address.

Before he could find his son, Shoo was arrested by the police at a coffeeshop at Kaki Bukit Avenue 4. The police recovered the knife and notes by Shoo alleging his childrens lack of filial piety. Shoo had wanted commit suicide with the notes on him.

Suet Lian survived the attack, even as she sustained 17 stab wounds on her torso and limbs. She was given hospitalisation leave from 17 January to 2 April last year, and underwent physiotherapy until June this year.

While she does not have problem in her daily activities, she avoids carrying heavy items. According to her victim impact statement, she will not sit at the bus stop while awaiting her company bus, as she can run away from any trouble quicker. She also avoids the grass verge where she had been stabbed at.

Shoo was assessed by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), and was deemed to have no mental illness and was not intellectually disabled.

He will be sentenced on Friday. For attempting to murder, he may be jailed up to 20 years, and fined, or both. He cannot be caned as he is above 50.

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Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. responded defiantly Thursday to a scathing letter of reprimand calling his actions "narcissistic" for posting social media videos criticizing the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to documents exclusively obtained by Fox News.

"I am not narcissistic," wrote Scheller in the Oct. 28 letter. He pointed out that Maj. Gen. Julian D. Alford, who authored the letter of reprimand, had instructed him in his response to use "temperate language" and confine the contents to "pertinent facts."

"Yet in your letter, you felt compelled to use the word narcissistic, which is neither temperate, or confined to pertinent facts," Scheller shot back.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. and his lawyers walk to the courtroom on Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Oct. 14, 2021. John Althouse-USA TODAY NETWORK

The decorated Marine, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor-level violations of military law Oct. 15 during a special court-martial after spending nine days in the brig.

Military Judge Col. Glen Hines sentenced him to a letter of reprimand and a $5,000 fine  far less than prosecutors' recommendation of a $30,000 fine. The judge noted Schellers flawless 17-year record prior to posting the videos and said he "appeared to be someone in pain."

In the Oct. 26 letter, Alford wrote that Scheller had violated his solemn oath to support and defend the Constitution. "Your actions have harmed good order and discipline with the service as well as publicly discredited the U.S. Marine Corps," the general scolded. "Your narcissistic acts can serve only to erode the rule of law."

In Schellers two-page response, he blasted his superiors for putting him in jail "on the claim that I was a flight risk, which was unsupported by any facts"  and refusing to provide underwear, socks and other basic necessities during the first five days in solitary confinement.

REP. MCCAUL: SADLY IRONIC MARINE IN BRIG WHILE BIDEN WH LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY

He also demanded an investigation of his supervisors for allegedly leaking his medical records to a journalist, which he said was retaliation for speaking out.

Story continues

The Marine objected to Alford personally writing the letter of reprimand and overseeing the prosecution when he had named himself as a victim in the charging sheet. Scheller argued that this constituted a conflict of interest.

"I have accepted responsibility and accountability for my actions," he wrote in closing. "I hope you ensure the same degree of accountability is exacted from those who  failed in their duties to ensure that 13 service members did not have to die needlessly."

The firestorm began Aug. 26 when Scheller, dressed in uniform, posted a video on social media slamming military brass for an ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul airport that left 13 service members and at least 169 Afghan civilians dead.

"Im not saying weve got to be in Afghanistan forever, but I am saying: Did any of you throw your rank on the table and say, Hey, its a bad idea to evacuate Bagram Airfield, a strategic airbase, before we evacuate everyone?" said Scheller. "Did anyone do that? And when you didnt think to do that, did anyone raise their hand and say, We completely messed this up?'"

MARINE SUBMITS RESIGNATION LETTER CITES LACK OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE' IN LEADERSHIP

The next day Scheller was relieved of his command at one of Camp Lejuenes infantry training battalions, but he continued posting videos critical of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, leading to his stint in the brigs and his court-martial.

"This letter shows that Gen. Alford is allowing his ego to get in the way of his duties," said defense attorney Tim Parlatore when reached for comment. "This case represents more than Stu Scheller. Veterans are in pain after watching everything they fought for evaporate and knowing that it was avoidable."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corps didn't immediately return a request for comment.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has had at least $15,500 deducted from her congressional pay this year to cover her fines for refusing to wear a mask on the House floor, The Washington Post reports.

The mask rule was established in January at the recommendation of the Capitol attending physician; it was briefly lifted in June, but put back in place a month later because of the highly contagious Delta variant. There is a $500 fine for the first offense, and $2,500 for each one after, with the money taken out of the lawmaker's paycheck.

The House Ethics Committee on Monday said in a press release that Greene, who was fined in May, August, and September, has been disciplined four more times over the last month, resulting in $15,500 in fines. Her spokesman, Nick Dyer, told the Post she's actually been fined nearly two dozen times for not wearing a mask, and has been hit with $48,000 in fines.

Greene, who received backlash over the summer for comparing mask mandates to Nazis forcing Jewish people to wear Star of David badges, said in a statement she "will continue my stand on the House floor against authoritarian Democrat mandates, because I don't want the American people to stand alone."

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When we called up Justyn Lewis the other night, the young dad and Des Moines City Council candidate was taking care of his two girls, ages 4 and 2, at home.

"My kids understand that I'm busy  that daddy's working," Lewis said. (My daughter said) Daddy, youre just trying to make the world a better place for me, he continued.

Lewis, 31, is part of a growing electorate of millennials who are seeking office, striving to change the status quo.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

Justyn Lewis, Des Moines City Council candidate. Photo courtesy of Lewis

The big picture: A record number of millennials ran for office in 2020 and they're on track to become the largest eligible voting bloc in the U.S.

There's a new generation of political leaders that have been shaped by the Great Recession, heightened partisanship, the growing threat of climate change and the murder of George Floyd.

What he's saying: Lewis, of Des Moines, said he felt compelled to run following Floyd's death and the protests that followed. At times, he believed the council didn't understand why people were marching or calling for police reform.

"Progress changes during generations and younger generations are asking for more and pushing the envelope and pushing the meter forward," Lewis said.

Some of his priorities include creating more flexibility for small businesses and freezing property taxes for seniors.

Meanwhile, Bill Lu, who's also a 31-year-old father to two young children, is running for Ankeny City Council.

Lu, who was born in Shanghai and immigrated to Iowa, would be the first non-white person to serve on the council.

He's worked as a Des Moines police officer for the last decade, and his goal is to be "the most visible" council member by being involved in the community and available for conversations with the public.

And the ultimate millennial get? Lu got Andrew Yang to endorse his campaign.

Story continues

Bill Lu (right) gained the endorsement of Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate popular among younger voters. Screenshot via Bill Lu for Ankeny City Council Facebook page

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Associated Press

Lightning-sparked wildfires killed thousands of giant sequoias this year, leading to a staggering two-year death toll that accounts for up to nearly a fifth of Earth's largest trees, officials said Friday. Fires in Sequoia National Park and surrounding Sequoia National Forest tore through more than a third of groves in California and torched an estimated 2,261 to 3,637 sequoias, which are the largest trees by volume. Nearby wildfires last year killed an unprecedented 7,500 to 10,400 giant sequoias that are only native in about 70 groves scattered along the western side of the Sierra Nevada range.
By Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp on Tuesday announced a new round of technologies aimed at making its cloud computing services work in data centers it does not own - including the cloud data centers of its rivals.

The strategy, Microsoft executives and analysts say, has been key to the company's rise in the cloud computing infrastructure market, which research firm Gartner estimates hit $64.3 billion and where Microsoft is second only to market leader Amazon.com's Amazon Web Services. Microsoft last week said revenue from Azure, its flagship cloud offering, grew 48%, results that helped it overtake Apple Inc as the world's most valuable publicly traded company.

Microsoft's strategy has involved constructing its most lucrative cloud software services, such as database tools, so that they can run inside its own data centers, those owned by customers or even those of rivals like Amazon.

Microsoft's cloud and artificial intelligence chief Scott Guthrie told Reuters that the move has persuaded some customers to use its services when they cannot always use Microsoft's data centers. Royal Bank of Canada, Guthrie said, faces legal requirements to keep some of its computing work in its own data centers and uses a technology called Azure Arc to connect those facilities to Microsoft's cloud.

"The challenge with higher-level services historically has been the concern of 'lock in' - what happens if I can only use them in your data center?" Guthrie said. "That freedom of movement causes customers to feel much more comfortable using those services."

Ed Anderson, a vice president distinguished analyst with Gartner, said the approach does open doors for Microsoft with customers, but it also forces the company to compete on the quality of its software services rather than by packaging them with cheap computing power.

"To be honest, that's a better way to compete," Anderson said. "Customers are suspicious of rhetoric. They look for evidence of capabilities and are cautious of things where in principle technology is multi-cloud but maybe the software licensing doesn't support it."

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco)
A four-year-old Australian girl was found "alive and well" on Wednesday, police said, sparking elation Down Under more than two weeks after she disappeared from her family's tent during a camping trip.

Cleo Smith was found alone inside a locked house in the coastal town of Carnarvon, not far from where she was believed to have been abducted 18 days ago, Western Australia police said.

"One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?'," police deputy commissioner Col Blanch said in a statement posted on Facebook.

"She said 'My name is Cleo'."

Police detained a man from Carnarvon for questioning after breaking into the house at about 1:00 am local time, Blanch said.

The young girl was reunited with her parents a short time later, with her mother Ellie taking to social media to express her relief.

"Our family is whole again," she posted on Instagram under a photo of Cleo.

Ellie Smith had earlier described her distress at waking at 6.00 am to find the family's tent unzipped and her oldest daughter missing. Her pleas for help to bring Cleo home had prompted an outpouring of public support.

Video: Emotional reunions as Australia's borders reopens

Their reunion came after an extensive air, sea and ground search that drew national attention, prompting many Australians to share their joy on social media after more than two weeks of anguish.

Blanch told Perth radio station 6PR that he saw "seasoned detectives openly crying with relief" after Cleo was found, calling the rescue "just incredible".

"It's very rare. It's something we all hoped in our hearts, and it's come true," he said.

Western Australia police commissioner Chris Dawson said officers were questioning a 36-year-old man who had no connection to the girl's family.

No further details were released about the exact circumstances of her disappearance or how she was tracked down.

Story continues

- 'Australia is rejoicing' -

Investigators had been determined they "were not going to leave any stone unturned", even as the search dragged on, Dawson said.

"We had been following a lot of the forensic leads and it led us to a particular house," he told ABC radio. "We put everything we had at it."

"Hope was never lost and the fact she's been found alive, I think Australia is rejoicing. It is such a wonderful outcome."

Dawson said Cleo was "as well as we could expect in the circumstances", while Blanch added that she was being assessed by a medical team.

Police last month had offered Aus$1 million (US$750,000) for information leading to Cleo's recovery after she was feared abducted from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite  about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) north of Perth  on October 16.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said at the time that the investigation "leads us to believe that she was taken from the tent", and that authorities had reason to fear for her safety.

Police on Wednesday praised the family for their strength through the ordeal, while thanking the local community and volunteers for their help in the search.

hr/arb
A missing hikers body was found in the woods less than 24 hours after a warning that he might be in danger, police in Massachusetts said.

Akif Qutabs body was located after an extensive search by state police in Westminster, and his death is now being investigated by state police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorneys Office, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said on Twitter.

Police dogs and helicopters aided state authorities in the search for Qutab as they combed through the Leominster State Forest, police said.

State police declined a request for comment from McClatchy News, referring it to the District Attorneys Office.

A spokesperson for the office, Lindsay Corcoran, confirmed the investigation was ongoing.

She declined to comment further, including when asked if any foul play was suspected.

The 31-year-old missing hiker was described as potentially being in danger after his vehicle was located in Princeton, roughly 8 miles from where his body was found, without him in it, the Worcester Police Department said on Nov. 1.

The Princeton and Westminster police departments also assisted in the investigation, Early said.
Jared Leto plays the title role in 'Morbius'. (Credit: Sony)

Jared Leto is on fine form as he takes a leading role in the Sony/Marvel Spiderverse starring in new spin-off movie, Morbius.

The actor portrays Marvel's Living Vampire in the first trailer in two years dropping to tease whats coming up.

Read more: First 'House of Gucci' trailer features a transformed Jared Leto

In the film, Leto plays Dr. Michael Morbius, a brilliantly-minded biologist whose efforts to cure his own blood condition eventually comes at a cost.

WATCH: Morbius - Official Trailer

Soon, in exchange for his health and superpowers, Morbius discovers he also has an unquenchable thirst for bloody.

New clues in the film confirm the films attachment to the wider Spiderverse as a whole, with connections to the Tom Hardy Venom series, as well as upcoming Tom Holland Spiderman flick, No Way Home.

This is only cemented further with the arrival of The Vulture (Michael Keaton). The criminal mastermind was Hollands version of Peter Parkers first villain in standalone film, Homecoming.

However, it also seems to further spin the growing consensus that Marvel and Sony are about to breach a Multiverse plot with heroes and villains from different universes crossing paths.

Read more: Tom Holland promises Spider-Man: No Way Home 'only gets crazier' after trailer smashes record

This may also include Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfields versions of Peter Parker, with clues from their versions of the story also being dropped in as Easter Eggs in the trailer.

Morbius is known as the 'living vampire' in the Marvel comics (Sony)

In the two-minute long clip, a copy of the Daily Bugle Newspaper  spearheaded by J Jonah Jameson  was seen. The paper was prominent during Maguires stint in the Spider-suit.

The website of the newspaper also outed Holland's Peter Parker's real identity at the end of the second of his Spiderman trilogy, Far From Home.

On its front page is the discussion of an escaped rhino from the local zoo - with Rhino (played by Paul Giamatti) being a prominent enemy against Garfields Spiderman.

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Does this confirm the multiverse story is actually in full effect?

The film appears to be connected to the Tom Holland 'Spiderman' trilogy (Marvel/Sony)

Originally, Morbius was due for release in July 2020 - months ahead of Venom sequel, There Will Be Carnage.

However, due to coronavirus and industry shut down, it was pushed back to January next year - meaning its coming out later than not only Venom, but also Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Its not known yet if this will have a major effect on spoilers for the film - or if anything in the trailer is actually just a ruse to pique our interest.

It wouldnt be the first time Sony and Marvel would have done this for spoiler-hunting fans.

Morbius hits cinemas 28 January, 2022.
Data: Heartland Forward; Chart: Will Chase/Axios

If Ohio wants to boast about its business-friendly climate, it has a lot of work to do.

Driving the news: A new report from Heartland Forward finds that Ohio trails most other states in a study of "entrepreneurial capacity."

The Arkansas think tank study ranked us 40th.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

Why it matters: A healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem is key to creating jobs and elevating standards of living, with Columbus faring better on this front than the rest of Ohio.

Go deeper: Researchers focused on data involving new companies along with business access to investment capital and government grants.

Just 8% of Ohioans work at a "young firm," or a company founded within the past five years  a low figure indicating the state could do more to foster startup innovation.

The state is middle of the pack in terms of business research development spending when considering our large population.

Ohio also ranks among the lower third of states in higher education, with 29% of residents holding at least a bachelor's degree.

Yes, but: Columbus bucks the statewide trend, with hundreds of millions of dollars in startup funding invested here in just Q3 2021.

Nearly 37 % of local adults have at least a bachelor's degree, per the latest U.S. Census data.

Our area also boasts five companies on the latest Fortune 500 list.

The big picture: Heartland Forward focuses on improving economic performance in a 20-state "heartland" region in the center of America.

16 of the lowest 20 positions on the "entrepreneurial capacity" index are heartland states.

The intrigue: Ohio is trying to entice coastal residents and businesses to relocate here, with millions of dollars spent on billboards in cities like Boston, New York and San Francisco.

The billboards tout Ohio's lower cost of living and 0% state corporate income tax, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

What to watch: Researchers at Heartland Forward tell our Axios NW Arkansas colleagues they plan to publish a similar entrepreneurial index at a city-by-city level in early 2022.

We'll see how Columbus ranks then.

More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
When the Air Forces 23rd Wing prepared to deploy to Afghanistan as it fell to the Taliban over the summer, their biggest obstacle wasnt aircraft or training. It was a staffing shortage caused by unvaccinated airmen.

Faced with a choice to get vaccinated against the coronavirus or stay home, 33 combat search-and-rescue airmen opted to receive their first shot of the Moderna vaccine at home and the second overseas, the Air Force said. The Georgia-based airmen arrived in Afghanistan less than a week after their first dose.

The last-minute inoculation effort illustrates the challenge that anti-vaccination sentiment poses to the military going forward.

COVID vaccine mandate endangers military readiness, top Republican lawmaker claims

Readiness has become a go-to argument for military officials trying to convince troops to protect themselves and others against COVID-19  and for those who say reprimanding or kicking out service members who refuse a shot will harm military strength.

All eyes are now on the active-duty Air Force and Space Force, which set Nov. 2 as their deadline for airmen and guardians to be fully vaccinated, the first of the services multiple deadlines.

All of DoDs civilian employees must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 22, followed by the entire Navy and Marine Corps on Nov. 28. Times up for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel on Dec. 2; for active-duty soldiers on Dec. 15; and for Army reservists and guardsmen on June 30, 2022.

As of Oct. 27, 64 percent of the total force was fully vaccinated  more than 1.4 million troops  with another 13 percent  just under 300,000  who have received the first of a two-dose regimen.

That leaves more than half a million troops who are completely unvaccinated.

In comparison, 67 percent of Americans ages 12 and older were fully vaccinated as of Oct. 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

New military COVID-19 deaths come down slightly as cases drop nationwide

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As the first deadline passes, the Department of the Air Force will offer a blueprint for what to do with troops who refuse to get a coronavirus vaccine, said Kate Kuzminski, a military personnel expert at the Center for a New American Security.

Shell be watching how quickly the Air Force responds through the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and whether it consistently doles out punishments that could restrict veterans benefits.

The department must also handle airmen and guardians who have already received a first dose of either the two-shot Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but have not yet reached their second dose or finished the two-week waiting period after the final shot to be fully protected.

Theyre signaling good faith to follow through, Kuzminski said. There should be a grace period for those individuals.

Military readiness depends on troops willingness to comply with the mandate, because commanders need to know that everyone in their unit is deployable, she said. Compliance also indicates whether a service member will follow other lawful orders.

The widespread COVID-19 outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt in 2020 offered a live look at how infections can grind missions to a halt.

A few months after getting home, the Theodore Roosevelt is about to deploy again

The most immediate impact is on the ability to man watches in confined engineering spaces, but the cascading effect on training, maintenance and repair can affect numerous readiness areas, according to a recent Rand Corp. report on COVID-19 and naval ship readiness.

It could set off a domino effect for units who might see longer deployments while other infected crews recover. Systems maintenance, professional development, mental health and retention could also suffer as units take steps to keep the virus from spreading.

The effect of vaccines on readiness will depend on how spread out the refusers are. If they are the lone dissenter in a shop, the impact would be more limited than in a unit where most members are unvaccinated and unable to perform their mission.

Losing 10,000 unvaccinated people, or the equivalent of multiple Air Force wings, would affect overall force preparedness, Kuzminski said. Shes more concerned about Guard and Reserve units, where more part-time service members in low-vaccination areas may bring those convictions to the military. For example, 83 percent of active-duty Marines were fully vaccinated, while only 47 percent of reservists as of Oct. 20, the Marine Corps said.

Vaccination is vital to the Reserve and Guard, particularly for keeping troops healthy as they mobilize to help local health care staffs dealing with coronavirus patients and to administer shots, added William Razz Waff, a retired Army major general and executive director of the Military Chaplains Association.

Military deploying medical assistance teams to battle COVID-19 surges

Kuzminski anticipates judge advocate generals will be bogged down with an avalanche of paperwork related to vaccine refusers for the foreseeable future, pulling attention away from other duties like prosecuting sexual assault or domestic violence.

In the long run, vaccine opposition poses a hurdle to recruitment as the pool of eligible and interested Americans is already waning. The Air Force has already discharged about 40 people from basic military training and technical training because they wont get the jab, the service said Oct. 20. That includes 23 BMT trainees who were booted as of Oct. 26.

Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said recruits have been briefed on the vaccine requirement and the consequences of refusing it since Sept. 12. As of Oct. 10, trainees must also sign paperwork stating that they understand the requirement to receive all vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, upon entry into the service.

Turning prospects down is a clear indicator that the military is not messing around with the standards that they put out, Kuzminski said.

Marine Corps Times reporter Philip Athey contributed to this article.

Correction: This story has been updated with corrected vaccination figures. As of Oct. 27, 64 percent of the total force is vaccinated, while 87 percent of the active-duty force is fully vaccinated. In addition, 299,150 service members have been partially vaccinated.
Private jets and government aircraft in Glasgow, Scotland for the COP26 UN climate conference. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty

The COP26 UN climate conference kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland, with high-profile attendees.

President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Jeff Bezos all arrived on private jets.

Private jet travel remains a blind spot for world leaders and the wealthy when discussing climate change.

Private jets owned by the world's elite have descended on Glasgow, Scotland, for the United Nation's COP26 climate conference, filling up local airfields and angering environmentalists.

Private jets and government aircraft in Glasgow, Scotland for the COP26 UN climate conference. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty

Source: Insider

The annual summit has drawn world leaders and executives from the business world for 12 days of discussions on climate change. But it's also drawn roughly 400 private jets to the region, Scotland's Sunday Mail reported.

President Joe Biden arrives in Glasgow, Scotland. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty

Source: Sunday Mail

President Joe Biden arrived in Scotland on Air Force One from Rome, Italy after attending the G20 summit and meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City.

President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One in Glasgow, Scotland. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty

While Marine One brought Biden to Andrews Air Force Base ahead of the flight to Rome, a motorcade brought Biden into town.

President Joe Biden's motorcade in Glasgow, Scotland. Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty

A UK military helicopter flying overhead escorted the motorcade.

A UK military helicopter escorts President Joe Biden's motorcade in Glasgow, Scotland. Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived on "Can Force One," a Canadian Royal Air Force CC-150 Polaris aircraft that's the military variant of the Airbus A310-300.

The Canadian government's CC-150 Polaris aircraft arriving at the G20 summit in 2017. Carsten Rehder/picture alliance via Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chartered a commercial aircraft from El Al Israel Airlines for the journey to Scotland.

Private jets and government aircraft in Glasgow, Scotland for the COP26 UN climate conference. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty

Source: Twitter

The Boeing 737 series aircraft is among the more modest aircraft used by world leaders for COP26.

An El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 737-900ER. Paul Hanna/Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived on the country's new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives in Glasgow, Scotland. STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty

Japan recently retired its two Boeing 747-400 aircraft formerly used for state travel and they now sit in an aircraft storage facility in the Arizona desert.

The Japanese government's former Boeing 747-400 aircraft, Manabu Takahashi/Getty

See inside the Arizona aircraft storage facility where planes go to retire and possibly get a second life with companies like Amazon.

Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, a member of the Clinton Foundation's board of directions and chief executive officer of InterEngergy Holdings, is also attending the summit.

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Rolando Gonzlez-Bunster of the Clinton Foundation. David M. Benett/Getty

Source: Twitter

A Dassault Falcon 900 private jet tied to Gonzalez-Bunster arrived in Glasgow on Monday from the Dominican Republic via St. John's, Canada, FlightAware data shows.

A Dassault Falcon 900 similar to the one used by Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster. Ryan Fletcher / Shutterstock.com

Source: FlightAware and OpenCorporates

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson similarly arrived in Glasgow from Rome, according to The Guardian, but not on his usual plane.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the COP26 UN climate conference. STEVE REIGATE/Steve REIGATE/AFP via Getty

Source: The Guardian

An Airbus A321 was used instead of the normal Airbus A330, favored for UK government VIP journeys, as the aircraft is undergoing servicing.

An Airbus A321 used by the UK government. Alberto Pezzali-WPA Pool/Getty

Source: The Guardian

A spokesperson for the prime minister said that the plane was operated using a mix of standard jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel, the Guardian reported.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson disembarks from his plane in Rome, Italy. Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Images via Getty

Source: The Guardian

Johnson will also be flying back to London instead of taking the train.

Jeff Bezos and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the COP26 UN climate conference. PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty

Source: The Guardian

Prince Charles also flew in a private jet to Glasgow independently of Johnson, according to The Guardian, also using sustainable aviation fuels.

Prince Charles at the COP26 UN climate conference. JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty

Source: The Guardian

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is among the VIPs meeting with world leaders and climate experts at COP26.

Jeff Bezos speaking at the COP26 UN climate conference. Steve Reigate - Pool/Getty

Bezos, who stepped down from the helm of the e-commerce giant in July, likely arrived in Scotland aboard his $65 million Gulfstream G650ER, among the largest purpose-built private jets currently in service.

A Gulfstream G650ER similar to the one used by Jeff Bezos. REUTERS/Aly Song

Insider flew on a Gulfstream G650ER similar to Jeff Bezos'. Here's what it was like.

A Twitter account that tracks Bezos' two aircraft said the jet touched down in Glasgow on October 31. The G650ER is registered to Bezos' Poplar Glen LLC, Federal Aviation Administration records shows.

A Gulfstream G650ER similar to the one used by Jeff Bezos. VanderWolf Images / Shutterstock.com

Source: Twitter and Federal Aviation Administration

A spokesperson for Bezos Earth Fund, his philanthropic endeavor focused on climate change, told Insider in a statement that "Bezos uses sustainable aviation fuel, and offsets all carbon emissions from his flights."

The Washington Post/Getty Images

When Bezos announced the end of his tenure as Amazon CEO, he said he planned to spend more time on philanthropy, including the Earth Fund. Announced in February 2020, the $10 billion fund hands out grants to scientists, activists, and NGOs who are helping to "preserve and protect the natural world," Bezos said at the time.

Jeff Bezos speaking at the COP26 UN climate conference. Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty

Here's how Bezos transitioned out of his Amazon role and using part of his fortune to fight climate change.

Bezos has been posting photos and videos of his time at COP26, including a photo posted Tuesday of him and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, participating in a panel discussion about conservation.

Jeff Bezos speaking at the COP26 UN climate conference. Chris Jackson/Getty

Here's the timeline of Jeff Bezos' relationship with Lauren Sanchez.

"At #COP26, Lauren and I discussed conservation of land and sea with leaders from Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Bolivia. Together, they oversee one of the most diverse regions on earth," Bezos wrote on Instagram. "The @BezosEarthFund is working with them to help create the largest transnational marine protected area on the planet, covering an area larger than California."

Bezos and Sanchez meeting with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in New York in September. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Source: Instagram

On Monday, the Earth Fund announced a $2 billion pledge toward landscape restoration in the US and Africa, as well as finding ways to make agriculture more sustainable.

Jeff Bezos speaks at the COP26 UN climate conference. PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty

Source: Bezos Earth Fund

But private jet travel remains to be a blind spot of the world's wealthy and powerful when discussing climate change. The 2021 United Nations General Assembly in New York, where sustainability was a key topic, saw world leaders similarly fly in on their massive private jets.

The General Assembly hall is seen at the U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 17, 2017 REUTERS/Joe Penney

But due to local regulations, their aircraft weren't allowed to park at area airports. Some flew as far south as Washington, DC to park during the event.

A UK government Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport. Stefan Rousseau/PA Images/Getty

Here's why foreign aircraft can't stay in New York City during the UN General Assembly.

The wealthy also use private jets to attend events in remote areas of the US, including the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Private jets park alongside grazing cows at Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley, Idaho, ahead of the 2021 Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Here's how Sun Valley's Friedman Memorial Airport was overrun by private jets.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CHANTILLY, Va.  Republican Glenn Youngkin has won the race for governor in Virginia, riding a wave of late momentum to deliver a rebuke of Democratic control in Richmond and Washington.

Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe, according to three television networks, denying McAuliffes bid to become Virginias first repeat governor since the 1970s.

With 99 percent of the expected vote counted as of Wednesday morning, Youngkin has staked out a 2-point lead  a margin that reflects major gains for Youngkin and his party across Virginia and in other states as well. In New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is locked in an unexpectedly tight race with Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Together we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth, and friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one," Youngkin said in a victory speech early Wednesday morning.

In both states, the Republican candidates not only built further on blowout Republican margins in smaller, rural counties, they also cut into the edge Democrats built in diverse, heavily populated suburbs in recent years. As of Wednesday morning, Murphy led Ciattarelli by a tenth of a percentage point, roughly 1,400 votes, but with about 88 percent of the expected vote in and votes still outstanding in some heavily Democratic areas.

The results will set off a shockwave not only in Virginia  and possibly New Jersey  but across the countrys political landscape. The big swing that drove Youngkin's victory is a foreboding sign for Democrats as they prepare to try to hold slim majorities in both the House and the Senate in the midterms. Seven states President Joe Biden won by smaller margins than Virginia will also hold governor's races next year.

Youngkin's victory speech reflected the urgency Republicans feel to win back political power: "There is no time to waste," he said. "Our kids cant wait. We work in real people time, not government time. So on day one, we're going to work."

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McAuliffe conceded the race in a statement at around 9:45 on Wednesday morning. "While last night we came up short, I am proud that we spent this campaign fighting for the values we so deeply believe in," he said, congratulating Youngkin and thanking his family.

It was the first comment from the former governor since he took the stage at his election night party a little before 10:30 p.m., when he gave a roughly four-minute speech thanking supporters. The race was called by most major media outlets about two hours after McAuliffe's speech.

Republicans are also in the driver's seat for the other statewide races. Former state legislator Winsome Sears is the winner for lieutenant governor, three networks have projected. Sears will become the first Black woman to serve in statewide office in the commonwealth.

And state Del. Jason Miyares leads sitting Democratic state Attorney General Mark Herring by about a point on Wednesday morning, but that race could still slip into recount territory.

The Virginia Public Access Project also projected that Republicans flipped at least 6 state House seats, regaining control of the lower chamber after Democrats took it over in 2019. Democrats still have their narrow 21-19 majority in the state Senate, whose seats were not up this year.

The race also attracted record turnout across the state. Over 3.2 million Virginians cast a ballot this year, which would make it the highest turnout ever for a Virginia gubernatorial election and put it just shy of turnout in the 2018 midterms.

In the run-up to Tuesdays election in Virginia, which Biden won by 10 points a year ago, Youngkin has been steadily gaining ground on McAuliffe in public and private polling. Thats despite the states overall blue tint  but in line with decades of political history, in which the party that wins the White House in the preceding election almost always loses the next years gubernatorial race.

Though it is an election to state office, the race is seen as a key bellwether halfway between Bidens 2020 victory, and the crucial midterm elections next November. Polls in Virginia and nationally have shown a significant drop in public support for the president, whose party holds only slim majorities in Congress and is defending governorships in swing states in 2022.

Youngkin, a wealthy first-time candidate and former private equity executive, also became the first Republican to win statewide since 2009, when Bob McDonnell cruised to a commanding 17-point win.

Murphy, the New Jersey governor, has been considered a safer bet than Virginia for Democrats but ran into broader backlash than expected. Voters in two House districts in Ohio also chose new members of Congress to replace incumbents who resigned earlier this year, while Democrats competed in a congressional primary in South Florida as well. And a number of cities, including New York, are picking new mayors on Tuesday. Democrat Eric Adams won New York City's mayoral race, The Associated Press projected.

In Virginia, McAuliffe relentlessly tried to tie his Republican opponent to former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Youngkin.

I am running against, I like to say, Donald Trump in khakis or sweater vests, McAuliffe told a crowd at a Richmond brewery on Monday, his second-to-last stop of the campaign.

And while Trump endorsed Youngkin, he never physically appeared in the state on behalf of Youngkin, as the candidate tried to walk a delicate line of hanging on to and energizing the former presidents most ardent supporters  while not spooking the large swath of suburbanites who fled the party in great numbers during Trumps tenure in the White House.

The closest Trump came to appearing in the state was a brief tele-rally into which he dialed on Monday evening, which Youngkin did not attend  part of a heads I win, tails you lose strategy for the former president  after teasing a potential in-person visit last week.

Nevertheless, Trump declared victory in the state, both for himself and for Youngkin. I would like to thank my BASE for coming out in force and voting for Glenn Youngkin, the former president said in a statement hours before media outlets declared a winner. Without you, he would not have been close to winning.

Youngkin, meanwhile, has steered clear of Trump on the trail. At one of his final rallies on Monday at an airport on the border of the city of Richmond and the county of Chesterfield, an ancestrally Republican area that Biden carried in 2020, former President George W. Bush and his famous line on the soft bigotry of low expectations got a shoutout during an extended riff on education  but Trump went unmentioned.

That push on education, along with a focus on the economy and crime, has been the centerpiece of Youngkins campaign. He has cast himself as a bulwark against critical race theory  a legal theory that has become a catch-all for conservatives for how race is taught in school  pledged to raise academic standards and promised to support a push for more charter schools in the state.

Virginians [are] pushing back on this culture that wants us to shelve hope, that tells our children they have to accept low standards, Youngkin said in a campaign speech on Monday. This is a moment for Virginans to push back on this left liberal progressive agenda and take our commonwealth back.

Supporters were still waving Parents for Youngkin signs at the Youngkin election night event, which started as a chatty gathering of campaign staffers and volunteers from across the state and then became a celebration.

A bit under 1.2 million voters cast ballots early or by mail before the election, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project, a dramatic increase from the roughly 196,000 who did so in 2017, the last gubernatorial election under the old election rules. (It pales in comparison to the 2.8 million who voted early or via the mail during the 2020 election, the first election the options were available.)

Zach Montellaro reported from McLean, Va. Brittany Gibson reported from Chantilly, Va.
The Daily Beast

Chip SomodevillaA severe case of buyers remorse appears to have set in among some conservatives over electing Glenn Youngkin as the next Republican governor of Virginia.Over the past week, outrage has bubbled over among right-wingers and TrumpWorld allies alike, who are under the impression Youngkin has insufficient MAGA loyalty, citing his hiring of an LGBTQ staffer and his refusal to block COVID-related local mandates.The hits started pouring in against the fleece-clad governor-elect earlier
As violent crime continues to skyrocket in Chicago and other cities, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed an executive order declaring gun violence a public health crisis in Illinois and pledged to provide more resources to community organizations that focus on combating the problem.

The additional resources promised by Pritzker will draw from federal and state funding, including $50 million in the current budget. But the $100 million in appropriations in each of the next two years laid out by Pritzker is far from a sure thing, with the governor only saying his administration would work with state legislators to secure the funding.

We will do what it takes individually and collectively to address the immediate violence on our streets and invest in fighting the underlying causes that create too much despair, too much addiction, too little mental health treatment and too few opportunities, Pritzker said during a news conference on the West Side, flanked by several local and state officials.

The states initiative comes as cities across the nation look at alternatives to traditional law enforcement in the effort to stem violent crime. The General Assembly last week adjusted some of the parameters in a state law passed earlier this year that offer grants to support dozens of violence prevention, youth development and job training organizations in neighborhoods and cities most affected by gun violence.

As part of this years state budget, lawmakers created the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention under the Illinois Department of Human Services. The office is headed by a $152,983-per-year assistant secretary of firearm violence prevention.

In mid-October, Pritzker tapped veteran violence prevention worker Christopher Patterson for the position. Patterson was formerly the senior director of programs & policy for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, which does violence prevention work in the Austin and West Garfield Park communities on the West Side and the Back of the Yards and Brighton Park neighborhoods on the South Side.

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The executive order indicates that the state will enlist a college, university or other research institution to do work that may inform the firearm violence prevention office on how to use resources that address joblessness, post-traumatic stress syndrome, substance abuse and other societal ills that are tied to violence.

The office will be asked to identify the 10 most violent community areas in Chicago based on the number of gunshot victims per capita from 2016 through 2020 and seven others by considering the overall number of gunshot victims as well the per capita rate. Grants also will be available to the most violent communities outside Chicago.

The office will distribute grant funding for violence prevention, youth intervention and other services in those communities. It will also have the ability to identify additional eligible communities if funding is available.

We have been active in a way to within each department to effectuate a belief that this is a public health crisis, Pritzker said Monday. But now what were doing is saying grab hold of government, that there should be coordination on that idea.

Advocates say funding for these violence prevention groups is especially critical as the Chicago Police Department has lost more than 1,000 officers in the last three years and has lost credibility in some of the communities it serves.

Like other major cities across the U.S. in 2021, Chicago has experienced some of its worst violence in years as the country continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through October, 678 people were slain in Chicago, up about 57% since the same time 2019 when there 432 homicides, according to official Chicago police statistics, which dont include violence occurring on the state expressways. There were 3,766 total shooting victims through October in Chicago, a jump of about 70% from the comparable period in 2019 when 2,221 people were shot, the statistics show.

Funding for community-based violence prevention efforts over the years has been inconsistent.

In the 2000s and into the 2010s, CeaseFire Illinois, which later became part of CureViolence, gained notoriety for employing violence interrupters, outreach workers who mediated gang conflicts and other street beefs  a method that was the subject of a 2011 documentary.

But the group often had to lay off its workers when funding from the state and other sources was cut off. And CeaseFire also struggled to win over police and other government officials. Law enforcement was often reluctant to work with a group comprised of convicted felons whose success often depended on not sharing street intelligence with police.

Over the years, there has been more of an understanding between police and street outreach workers about the roles that each side plays in trying to combat violence.

Millions of dollars in private funding allowed a number of other violence prevention groups to spring up in Chicago over the last several years. Those groups have focused not just on conflict mediation but on connecting those most likely to be affected by violence  either as a victim or a perpetrator  to job training, therapy and other support services.

Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration pledged more than $30 million this year to violence prevention efforts, and President Joe Biden has proposed more than $5 billion in funding for groups like this across the country.

The changes the General Assembly approved last week received some Republican support in the Senate, though none in the House.

Sen. Chapin Rose, a Mahomet Republican, said during the Senate debate last week that he was supporting the proposal because its the right thing to do.

But to stick our head in the sand and pretend there isnt actually evil on the streets, walking the streets, thats a problem, Rose said.

Rose and other Republicans have introduced proposals, which have little chance for success in the Democratic-controlled legislature, that would direct more state funding to police departments and allow all counties except Cook County to opt out of the state law that will abolish cash bail in 2023, among other tough-on-crime measures.

Despite their support for the community based initiative Pritzker touted Monday, GOP senators drew parallels to a troubled anti-violence program then-Gov. Pat Quinn launched in the run-up to the 2010 election.

The $55 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative doled out money to groups on the South Side and in the south suburbs but eventually became mired in various investigations over mismanagement and poor oversight. During his successful 2014 campaign for governor, Republican Bruce Rauner attacked incumbent Quinn over his handling of the program.

In the past, we have handed out grants in neighborhoods and have seen that they were not used appropriately to go to what were intending them to do, Sen. Jil Tracy of Quincy said during the Senate debate last week.

Democratic Sen. Robert Peters of Chicago said the new violence prevention office will be charged with making sure the money is properly spent.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

dpetrella@chicagotribune.com
A University of Kentucky professor is suing the institutions president and other officials over alleged improprieties two years after he lost a separate lawsuit filed against UK.

Dr. Stephanos Kyrkanides, a tenured professor in UKs College of Dentistry, alleges in his new lawsuit that UK officials violated his First Amendment rights. He also alleges he was instructed to perform duties for which he wasnt licensed and could have broken the law if he had followed the orders.

Kyrkanides is a former dean in the College of Dentistry. He was removed from the position but returned to UK as a professor after a year of administrative leave. Kyrkanides sued the university in federal court over the demotion in March 2019, alleging UK retaliated against him. The federal judge ruled against him but suggested some of his claims should be handled in state court.

Kyrkanides subsequently filed another whistleblower lawsuit against UK in December 2019, alleging again that UK retaliated against him by removing him from the dean position. That lawsuit is still pending in Fayette Circuit Court, according to court records.

The defendants in Kyrkanides newest lawsuit include UK President Eli Capilouto, Dr. G. Thomas Kluemper, Dr. Jeffrey P. Okeson and William E. Thro. Kluemper is a professor and division chief of the College of Dentistry. Okeson is the dean of the College of Dentistry. Thro is general counsel for UK.

UK: Professors latest lawsuit is meritless

UK on Monday told the Herald-Leader that Kyrkanides lawsuit is filled with baseless claims.

Here are the facts: Dr. Kyrkanides was removed as Dean of Dentistry by the Provost in 2019, UK spokesman Jay Blanton said in a statement. Since then, he has filed three separate lawsuits in both state and federal courts and filed countless bad faith complaints with both internal and external agencies. We look forward to defending these individuals and the institution against this meritless lawsuit.

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Kyrkanides alleges his First Amendment rights were violated because Okeson muted him on a Zoom call while Kyrkanides was trying to talk about concerns he had with the College of Dentistry wasting public money.

Kyrkanides argued in his most recent lawsuit that the university meeting counted as a public meeting and he was speaking on a public issue since the university is partially funded by the government. Thus, he argued Okeson wasnt allowed to mute him.

Emails attached in the lawsuit indicate Kluemper ordered Kyrkanides to stop participating in orthodontic faculty and staff meetings in response to recent complaints from several staff and faculty members regarding Kyrkanides behavior.

Your angry, intimidating, and even threatening disruptive participation is now causing both faculty and staff members to refuse from speaking for fear of misinterpretation and retaliation from you, Kluemper wrote in an email to Kyrkanides sent in January.

Kluemper said he didnt decide to bar Kyrkanides from meetings on his own but did so after thoughtful consultation with others within the division, college and university, according to court records.

I regret that I have to take this action, but you leave me no choice, Kluemper wrote in the email.

UK professor worried his supervisors asked him to break law

Kyrkanides also alleged in his lawsuit that his supervisors told him to conduct clinical instruction that he wasnt properly licensed to do. Kyrkanides was also told not to enter treatment notes into electronic health records, he said in his lawsuit.

Kyrkanides was worried hed face significant legal liability and far-reaching implications if he followed the directions of his supervisor, according to the lawsuit. Kyrkanides raised those legal concerns with the state Medicaid office, Humana and the Kentucky State Board of Dentistry, according to the lawsuit.

State Medicaid officials notified Kyrkanides in August 2020 they had referred his concerns to the Fraud and Abuse Department, according to the lawsuit.

Humana also investigated Kyrkanides concerns, according to the lawsuit, and took appropriate action. Humana didnt reveal the details of the action, according to the lawsuit.

Kyrkanides has asked a federal court to order UK officials to let him participate in employee meetings again. Hes also asked for damages for embarrassment and humiliation and emotional distress. Kyrkanides alleged he lost income due to UK officials actions because he couldnt complete clinical work. He also wants a jury trial and additional compensation.

Judge ruled against Kyrkanides in past lawsuit

Kyrkanides was ousted from his position as dean after he was accused of illegally firing another professor, Raynor Mullins, who criticized former Gov. Matt Bevins proposed changes to Medicaid.

UK paid Mullins more than $620,000 and gave him a new position. A few weeks later, UK announced that Kyrkanides was out as dean but would return as a tenured faculty member after a one-year sabbatical.

UK did not give a reason for the demotion at the time. But Kyrkanides old lawsuit didnt claim that his removal from the deans position had anything to do with Mullins case.

Kyrkanides instead alleged he was retaliated against for reporting problems in the College of Dentistry. Kyrkanides said he called attention to a departmental deficit of almost $2 million. The deficit accrued because clinical faculty were being paid salary supplements based on gross revenue from clinical services, not net revenue.

The first lawsuit alleged that former Provost David Blackwell and other officials did nothing to address the deans concerns.

Kyrkanides forwarded to Blackwell allegations that College of Dentistry employees were stealing gold crowns and selling them or converting them to gold coins. An internal investigation confirmed the theft, the lawsuit said, but the provosts office did not address it.

Kyrkanides also argued he was retaliated against because he supported minority students who said some faculty members discriminated against them. Kyrkanides filed a complaint with the UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity against Blackwell for harassment, according to the lawsuit.

Kyrkanides alleged that UK breached his contract and asked to be reinstated as dean of the college. He also wanted millions of dollars in relief for humiliation and punitive damages.

A federal district judge ruled against Kyrkanides in his 2019 lawsuit, saying UK didnt breach his contract because Kyrkanides employment agreement indicated he served at the discretion of the provost. There werent any specific conditions that had to be met to dismiss him from the deans position. The Sixth Circuit appellate court upheld the district judges decision.

But Kyrkanides still has a lawsuit in state court against UK, which includes the same allegations: He alleged he was demoted for his efforts to call attention to pay issues, employees stealing and minority discrimination.

Kyrkanides state lawsuit, filed in Fayette Circuit Court, is still a pending case. H. Wayne Roberts, Kyrkanides attorney, said the case could go to trial next fall.
PUERTORICO-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINE

People stand in line as they wait to be inoculated with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at a Puerto Rico National Guard vaccination center in Vieques, Puerto Rico, on March 10, 2021. Credit - Ricardo ArduengoAFP/Getty Images

Puerto Ricans have good reason to be wary when the federal government gets involved in their personal health. In the mid 20th century, Washington led a massive, coercive sterilization campaign among Puerto Ricans, impacting as many as one third of all childbearing women in the territory over four decades. In 2017, after Puerto Ricos fragile health system nearly collapsed in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the federal governments response to the disaster was riddled with failures.

And yet late last year, when planeloads of the COVID-19 vaccine began to arrive on the tarmac of the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, the vast majority of Puerto Ricans welcomed the help. Unlike in the continental U.S., where states are still struggling to convince residents to take the vaccine, Puerto Rico has managed to keep both distrust of federal healthcare initiatives and the mainlands divisive partisan politics out of its vaccination drive.

The result? The archipelago now has the highest vaccination rate of any U.S. state or territory: 73% of residents are fully vaccinated, compared to just 58% of mainlanders. Ninety-two percent of eligible youth have received at least one dose of the vaccine, also surpassing rates anywhere else in the country.

It hasnt been politicized here, Governor Pedro Pierluisi told TIME in a phone interview. Puerto Ricos main political parties and their leaders have been broadly supportive of vaccines, as have leaders across the islands industries, Pierluisi says. This is not about reds and blues in Puerto Rico. Its simply about people realizing that this is a health threat and then listening to their medical providers and public officials.

That sense of cooperationcombined with Puerto Ricos not-so-distant memories of Hurricane Marias damagehas allowed Pierluisis administration to tackle the pandemic differently than the mainland. When Pierluisi assumed office in January, he kept a curfew in place across the territory that was only recently lifted after a consistent drop in hospitalizations and deaths. He has maintained a strict indoor mask mandate, which is still being enforced. And in July, he instituted vaccine mandates for teachers and students in both public and private schools, something only California has so far said it will try.

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The results have been striking. All of the initiatives have had broad public backing. Not only are nearly three-quarters of Puerto Ricans in the territory vaccinated, Puerto Rico is also leading globally in accumulated low positivity rates, with a less than 2% rate of positive cases, right behind New Zealand, according to a study conducted by Dr. Heriberto Marin of the Department of Health Services Administration.

Its a stunning achievement in a health care system that has for years been considered among the nations weakest. As a territory, Puerto Rico receives less federal funding for health insurance programs like Medicaid; Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories get the lowest amount of total federal dollars spent per capita than any U.S. state, according to Census Bureau data.

Before Hurricane Maria, the territory had an acute shortage of doctors, overcrowded hospitals, and low routine immunization rates, according to a 2017 assessment by the Department of Health and Human Services. After Maria in 2017, many hospitals and community health centers were without power and clean water for months. By 2018, 15% of its medical specialists had left the island, according to data provided to Vox by Puerto Ricos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The memory of that devastation is partly what drove Puerto Ricos efficient response to the pandemic, says Daniel Colon-Ramos, a neuroscience professor at Yale University and head of the Puerto Rico Scientific Coalition, a team made up of scientists, epidemiologists, doctors, public health administrators and more that advised the governor on his coronavirus policy decisions. Everyone felt a sense of urgency after having seen the healthcare system collapse, he says. Everyone was primed and ready to do something to not face yet another disaster.

One of the key targets of the scientific coalition was to head off misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine before it took hold in Puerto Rico, says Colon-Ramos. In the mainland U.S., vaccine misinformation targeting the Latino and Spanish-speaking communities has contributed to low vaccination rates.

The coalitions scientists ran workshops with local journalists to give them primers on the basic concepts about the disease and its vaccine. The Puerto Rico Public Health Trust (PRPHT), a program launched by the non-profit Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, helped create a rumor tracking program that identified false COVID-19 information across different social platforms and provided educational content in real time. They identified more than 1,000 rumors and reached more than 100,000 participants, according to Jose F. Rodriguez Orengo, the director of the group.

The science community got ahead of the misinformation, says Colon-Ramos. By the time the misinformation comes around to them, many of them say, Wait, I already heard how this works and this explanation doesnt make sense.

Now those same groups are trying to reach out to the nearly six million Puerto Ricans living in the continental U.S. This is not just a monologue from Puerto Rico. This is a bilateral conversation were having with others in our community, says Rodriguez Orengo. PRPHT is working on sending their vaccine pamphlets to nonprofits in Puerto Rican communities, like Marthas Table, a volunteer center that serves a largely Latino neighborhood in Washington D.C.

In Puerto Rico, the job is not done. The remaining 25% or so of the population that is not vaccinatedsome 800,000 people are hard to reach for a variety of reasons. Some live in remote areas, some are elderly and isolated, and some have hardened ideas against vaccines and Washingtons meddling in the past.

There were projects in history that were very detrimental to science, says Rodriguez Orengo, referencing the sterilization campaign that started in the late 1930s in a grossly misguided attempt to alleviate overpopulation and poverty in the archipelago. Most of them were done by outsiders. What were doing here is having Puerto Rican scientists providing information to the Puerto Rican people. Puerto Rican scientists are leading this effort and in turn millions of Puerto Ricans have chosen to trust them.

He points out that unlike other federally funded programs, Puerto Rico was given the same access to vaccines as other U.S. states and territories. And when it did, the island came out with the highest vaccination rates in the country.

When they give us the same opportunity, we are able to rise to the occasion, says Rodriguez Orengo.
(Bloomberg) -- Ralph Lauren Corp.s strong sales in its latest quarter didnt assuage investor concern the apparel company is recovering too slowly from Covids drag.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The shares fell as much as 6.7% in New York trading, the most intraday since May 20. The stock had advanced 25% this year through Mondays close, outpacing the advance of the S&P 500.

Earlier, the company reported quarterly revenue that outpaced analysts average estimate. However, GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders said that while sales surged, that was off the back of a 30% decline in the prior year.

As expected, the companys sale of its Club Monaco brand earlier this year and its intentional pullback from sales at some department stores and outlets has eroded revenue. But even when these are considered, Ralph Lauren is still underperforming the market on a two-year basis, Saunders said in a research note.

Ralph Laurens results highlight the progress the brand has made trying to recover from years of heavy discounting in the past decade, which dented revenue and eroded the brands appeal for higher-end shoppers. But the company has been slower than some of its peers to recover from the pandemic, which has squashed some of investors optimism going forward.

Chief Executive Officer Patrice Louvet, however, said the company outpaced its own expectations and succeeded in attracting new customers and increasing prices last quarter. That led it to boost its revenue outlook or the full year.

Ralph Lauren is focusing on younger customers who are more willing to pay full price for its products, Louvet said in an interview. We are going to double down on that, he said, adding the brand is seeing strong demand from shoppers for sophisticated casual items as well as robust growth in the sale of tuxedos and evening gowns.

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In its second fiscal quarter, Ralph Lauren reported a 14% increase in the average price of the items it sells, a closely watched metric. This represents a step forward in the companys yearslong mission of recovering from heavy discounting during the past decade.

Production in factories in Vietnam has been gathering momentum as plants work through a backlog following closures due to Covid-19. Louvet said he expects production there and in other countries where the company produces its apparel to be back to normal at the beginning of 2022. Logistical challenges tied to shipping and trucking, however, will probably last through the end of next year, he said.

We feel well-positioned going into the holiday, Louvet said.

(Adds comments from analyst and CEO.)

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The Conversation

If authorized, molnupiravir could be a key oral treatment to help keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital. Plyushkin/iStock via Getty Images PlusNearly two years into the pandemic, it has become starkly clear that we need better treatments for COVID-19 for people in the earlier stages of disease. Two new antiviral drugs could soon be the first effective oral treatments for COVID-19 to help keep people out of the hospital. An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration plans to revi
The New York Mets are parting with acting general manager Zack Scott, two months after he was arrested on a DUI charge, SNY's Andy Martino reports.

The Mets placed Scott on administrative leave after his arrest, and "he will no longer be a part of the organization" as of Monday, according to Martino's report.

According to police, Scott was found sleeping in his car at 4:17 a.m. on Aug. 31 near the White Plains, New York, courthouse. He failed a field sobriety test and refused breathalyzer and blood tests, according to police. He faces trial in December.

Zack Scott's time with the Mets is done. (Tim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Scott had attended a fundraiser at team owner Steve Cohen's nearby Connecticut home the night prior to his early morning arrest, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The Mets hired Scott in December as senior vice president and assistant general manager. They promoted him to acting general manager in January after firing then-general manager Jared Porter. Porter was fired amid allegations that he sexually harassed a reporter by repeatedly sending her unwanted explicit texts while he previously worked in the Chicago Cubs front office.

Prior to joining the Mets, Scott spent 17 seasons in the Boston Red Sox front office.

Team president Sandy Alderson has served as general manager since Scott was placed on leave and has been actively pursuing new candidates to run the team's front office in recent days, according to Martino.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Rights groups are urging Cambodian authorities to release an autistic teenager who was sentenced to eight months in prison for social media posts critical of the government, saying Tuesday his case was being misused to intimidate his opposition activist parents.

Kak Sovannchhay, 16, was convicted Monday of incitement to commit a felony and public insult by a Phnom Penh municipal court for comments he had made in a Telegram chat group defending his father, a senior political opposition member who is himself in custody facing charges, and for sharing Facebook posts criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen.

His mother, Prum Chantha, said her son has trouble communicating with others and could not follow the court proceedings, adding that he has gotten worse during his months in custody ahead of the verdict.

Is there any court in the world that would convict and sentence an autistic boy? she said. There is not.

Prum Chantha is a member of the group Friday Wives, which holds protests to demand the release of their husbands who have been jailed for expressing their views critical of Hun Sen's government. Her husband, Kak Komphear, has been in detention since May 2020.

This case is solely based on Sovannchhay being the son of a former opposition member, who himself is jailed and persecuted for his political affiliations, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, in a written statement.

Robertson said the conviction should be quashed and Kak Sovannchhay immediately released.

This whole trial proves once again just how broken Cambodias justice system is, he said.

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy said in a Twitter post after the verdict that he was saddened to hear the court had sentenced a child to prison time for what appears to be politically motivated charges.

How does jailing the teenage son of an opposition figure demonstrate respect for human rights?" Murphy wrote.

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Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power for 36 years and has often been accused of heading an authoritarian regime and using the judicial system to help stifle opposition.

During the trial, the court refused two requests to evaluate the boys disability and support needs, according to Human Rights Watch, and no accommodations were made for him during his time in police custody and questioning, nor while being held before trial.

Plang Sophal, spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said he was not medically qualified to assess the boy's autism, but that the trial was conducted according to the rule of law. He refused further comment.

Kak Sovannchhay's attorney, Sam Sokong, said the posts the teen made came in response to others calling his father a traitor, and that he had no idea his words could get him in trouble, and no memory of what he had even said.

I asked him to repeat, or try to remember any words but he can't, he told The Associated Press. He has completely forgotten.

Following the Telegram exchange on June 24, another member of the message group reported Kak Sovannchhay and within hours armed police showed up at his home and arrested him.

Kak Sovannchhay has been in custody since then, and even though his trial concluded Oct. 13, the judge postponed the verdict until Monday.

With his time already served, and under Cambodian sentencing guidelines, Kak Sovannchhay will be released Nov. 9, his mother said.

After he is home, she and his attorney will decide whether to file a formal appeal to try and reverse the conviction, she said.

United Nations human rights experts have followed the case from the start and urged Kak Sovannchhay's release already in early September before he went to trial.

On Tuesday, experts appointed by the U.N. human rights council accused the Cambodian government of weaponizing its court system to silence dissent, following the verdict.

The conviction of a minor with an autism spectrum disorder is a shameful nadir in the authorities continuing campaign of intimidation and violence against civil society and opposition activists and affiliates, they said in a statement from Geneva.
CIA Director William Burns met with Russian President Vladimir Putin's top national security adviser in Moscow on Tuesday, according to a brief statement from Russia's Security Council.

Why it matters: U.S.-Russia tensions remain high, with the State Department warning last week that it will be forced to maintain only a "caretaker presence" in Moscow after the Russian government banned the U.S. embassy from employing local staff.

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The big picture: President Biden quickly moved to impose several waves of sanctions against Russia upon taking office, retaliating for the attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny, interference in the 2020 election and SolarWinds' hack of U.S. federal agencies.

Since then, Biden has sought to prevent the relationship from spiraling out of control as the U.S. pivots to confront China, which his administration has deemed the top geopolitical challenge of the 21st century.

Biden held a summit with Putin in June, where the two leaders agreed to launch a set of "expert consultations" on preventing ransomware attacks against the U.S. from being launched from Russian soil.

The relationship has largely remained without major confrontation since then, but the discovery of new cyberattacks by Russia-backed hackers and a possible military buildup on the Ukrainian border threaten to renew tensions.

The visit by Burns, which a CIA spokesperson declined to comment on, comes after Russia lifted sanctions on top State Department official Victoria Nuland to allow her to meet with Kremlin officials last month.

Putin did not travel to the G20 Summit in Rome or the COP26 climate talks in Scotland due to coronavirus concerns, but a Kremlin spokesperson said a second meeting between Biden and the Russian leader before the end of this year is "quite realistic."

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This aerial photo shows a film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., where a cinematographer was killed by a lead bullet from a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

"Rust" assistant director Dave Halls on Monday called for the industry to "reevaluate its values and practices" after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Halls has been one of the people questioned by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in an investigation into how Hutchins died, after a lead bullet was discharged by a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin as he was rehearsing a scene. The gun was meant to contain dummy rounds, according to crew members on set that day.

The bullet hit Hutchins in the chest and then continued into the shoulder of director Joel Souza, according to the Sheriff's Office. Hutchins later died at a hospital.

Halls, in a statement to the New York Post, said he was "shocked and saddened" by Hutchins' death, calling her a friend and one of the most talented people he's worked with.

Its my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to reevaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again," Halls said in the statement, which did not address details of the incident.

Halls and his attorney Lisa Torraco did not return requests for comment from The Times.

How the bullet got into the revolver Baldwin was holding during rehearsal remains an open question.

In a recently released affidavit filed by the Sheriff's Office to obtain a search warrant, a detective said that Halls had grabbed a gun from a prop cart outside of the structure where the scene was to be filmed and handed it to Baldwin.

But Torraco disputed that account in an interview on Fox News on Monday.

"That absolutely did not happen," Torraco said. When asked who handed the gun to Baldwin, she did not say.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza encourages Halls and his attorneys to "reach out to investigators to conduct follow up interviews as requested by the detectives in order to clear up what he (Halls) believes to be inaccurate information," said Juan Rios, public information officer for the sheriff's office in an email on Tuesday.

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As investigators piece together what happened on the day of the fatal shooting, legal experts said it's possible that the "Rust" production company could be held liable or potentially Halls and the armorer who handled the revolver.

In general, armorers or prop masters are in charge of handling weapons on set. Before handing them to actors, they typically show the weapon to the first assistant director for a safety check.

"Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed told a detective that she had checked on the day of the rehearsal that the ammunition were dummy rounds and the firearms were locked in a safe during lunch, according to an affidavit.

Halls said typically Gutierrez Reed would show him the gun as part of a safety check but told the detective he did not recall checking all the rounds in the gun before Baldwin received it, according to the affidavit.

In her interview with Fox, Torraco shifted attention to Gutierrez Reed, saying that "the armorer is responsible to make sure the firearm is safe."

Industry experts have told The Times that it is customary for an assistant director to do a safety check of any weapon before it's given to an actor and that the first assistant director is in charge of safety on set.

"Rust" script supervisor Mamie Mitchell expressed frustration that an assistant director yelled at her at lunch on the day of the accident and asked about revisions, according to audio from a 911 call obtained by The Times.

Hes supposed to check the guns, Mitchell said on the 911 call. Hes responsible for what happens on the set.

Gutierrez Reed's attorneys Jason Bowles and Robert Gorence said in a statement that their client had fought for training, days to maintain weapons and proper time to prepare for gunfire, but ultimately was overruled by production and her department."

The whole production set became unsafe due to various factors, including lack of safety meetings, they said, adding they believed those conditions were not the fault of their client.

Rust Movie Productions said in a statement the day after Hutchins was shot that it was not made aware of official complaints about weapon safety on set.

The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company, the statement said.

There have been calls in Hollywood and in the greater community to change what types of weapons are used on sets. A California state senator said he plans to introduce legislation to ban live ammunition and firearms capable of shooting live ammunition from movies sets.

Halls has previously come under scrutiny.

The industry veteran with credits dating to the early 1990s was fired in 2019 from the film Freedoms Path after a crew member had a minor and temporary injury when a prop gun unexpectedly discharged, according to a producer from the film who declined to be named because he was not authorized to comment.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Beth Robinson, who previously served as an associate justice on the Vermont Supreme Court, is now a U.S. appeals court judge. (Photo: Associated Press)

President Joe Biden quietly chalked up another historic win on Monday night with the Senates confirmation of Beth Robinson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

Robinson, who has been an associate judge on the Vermont Supreme Court since 2011, is now the first openly LGBTQ woman to serve on any U.S. appeals court. Its a lifetime appointment. She is 56.

The Senate confirmed Robinson 51 to 45. Every Democrat present voted for her. Just two Republicans did: Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine). The full vote tally is here.

Robinson was a civil litigator in private practice from 1993 to 2010, during which time she focused on civil litigation including employment law, workers compensation, contract disputes and family law. She also represented LGBTQ clients in civil and civil rights cases, including leading the freedom-to-marry movement in Vermont.

Robinsons confirmation is particularly historic given the dearth of LGBTQ+ representation on our courts and her legacy of advocating for LGBTQ+ equality, said Rakim Brooks, president of Alliance for Justice, a national association of more than 120 progressive organizations focused on the courts.

Robinsons confirmation also shifts the balance of that court to a majority Democrat-appointed panel of judges, a detail that progressive judicial advocates hailed as a sign that Biden is already making real progress in reshaping the nations federal courts. The Senate has now confirmed a total of three of Bidens nominees to this court.

President Bidens laser-like focus on quickly nominating highly qualified, professionally diverse judges is paying off at the all-important courts of appeal level, said Chris Kang, chief counsel for the left-leaning Demand Justice advocacy group.

With Robinsons confirmation, along with another Monday vote to confirm Toby Heytens to a U.S. appeals court, Biden has now gotten a total of 28 appeals court and district court nominees confirmed since taking office. Thats more than any U.S. president in modern history has had confirmed by this point in their term.

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For comparisons sake, by this point in their presidencies, Donald Trump had confirmed a total of 12 appeals court and district court nominees, Barack Obama had confirmed five, George W. Bush had confirmed 12 and Bill Clinton had confirmed eight. Going back even further, George H.W. Bush had confirmed seven, Ronald Reagan had confirmed 19 and Jimmy Carter had confirmed 26.

Biden has also stuck to his vow to make his judicial nominees more diverse than those of his predecessors, both professionally and demographically. Though most of Trumps court picks were white male corporate lawyers, Bidens nominees so far have included public defenders, civil rights lawyers, voting rights lawyers and historic firsts with Native American and Muslim American picks.

Hes already appointed more Black women to lifetime seats on federal appeals courts than all but one previous president.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) noted that the Senate confirmed seven more judges last week, nearly all of whom were people of color and five of whom were women.

Among them were more federal defenders, civil rights lawyers, election experts. They will bring sorely needed diversity to the judiciary, he said during remarks on the Senate floor. Its no longer a bench ... that is simply prosecutors, partners in large law firms, but rather many, many others from walks of life with different and needed perspectives on the federal bench.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
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As a judge, you would think Fox News host Jeanine Pirro would know the difference between a kingmaker and a kingpin, but during an interview with former President Donald Trump over the weekend, she mixed them up. Neither she nor Trump seemed to notice.

But Seth Meyers did, sharing the clip with his viewers during Monday nights A Closer Look segment on Late Night. After Pirro asked Trump if he sees himself as a kingpin for elections going forward, he replied, If I endorse somebody, they win, inventing a false statistic that claims he is 148-and-2 on successful endorsements.

Jeanine, Im pretty sure you meant to say kingmaker, which is a good thing, not kingpin, which is usually reserved for criminals, Meyers responded. Thats a very revealing clip. Id say its Freudian, but with you its probably Franzian.

Then, in an apparent effort to prove Pirros inadvertent point, the host went on to break down Trumps efforts to obstruct the investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection and prevent the committee investigating the attack from obtaining relevant White House records.

Drunk Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro Chugs Bleach on SNL

And theres an obvious reason Trump wants to keep those records hidden, Meyers said. Trump and his cronies had a detailed plan for overturning election results and they tried to execute that plan. And they almost succeeded. It wasnt an impulse or a whim, it was a plot.

The GOP has embraced Trumpism fully and completely, whether they brag about it or try to play coy, he concluded, alluding to Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin. He sowed a violent insurrection to overthrow democracy, but Republicans are still on board. Which means hell almost certainly try to do it again, making him ain Pirros wordskingpin for elections going forward.

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MONUMENT, Colo. (AP)  Authorities believe a man killed his wife and two of his children last weekend before killing himself in an affluent community near Colorado Springs.

Yvette M. Siegert-Kreb, 50, Felicity Kreb, 13, Barrett Kreb, 9, and Christof Kreb, 55, were found dead Saturday in their home in the community of Gleneagle, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said in a statement Monday. Details about how they died will be made public by the county coroner, the statement said.

Alexa Gromko, a family friend since 2010, told The Gazette that Felicity and Barrett were among six children that the couple had adopted from China, most of them dwarfs, after their youngest biological son was born with dwarfism.

Felicity had learning and social problems because of dwarfism and Barrett, one of the newest adopted children, had recently underwent surgery, Gromko said.

She wanted her son to feel like he had people like him in his life, so they specifically adopted children with dwarfism, Gromko said of Siegert-Kreb. I was so in awe of her devotion and dedication.

Siegert-Kreb wrote online last year that she made masks during the pandemic and kept her children sheltered at home, noting that most of them were more susceptible to the virus because of their dwarfism, which can impair the immune system.
Paxson Woelber, the Alaska Landmine, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The unvaccinated mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, who defended anti-mask protesters donning the Star of David just a month ago, delivered remarks at a conference featuring fringe doctors who have spread misinformation about the safety and efficacy of coronavirus vaccines.

Im just here to tell you after a long dinner and meeting with these folks, this is the best science available, Dave Bronson proclaimed during a nine-minute speech on Saturday at Anchorages ChangePoint Church.

According to a video of the event, posted by organizers from the Alaska Covid Alliance, Richard Urso, a Houston ophthalmologist who helped launch Americas Frontline Doctors and has defended using hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the virus, told the crowd that Bronson had helped organize a lot of whats happening behind the scenes.

Alaskan Covid Summit

No kids

No recovered

Early

We will rise up 12k docs and scientists pic.twitter.com/tpVSFT66xY  Dr. Urso (@richardursomd) October 31, 2021

Roughly 1,200 attendees flocked to the Alaska Early Treatment Medical Summit on Saturday, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Organizers told the outlet that attendees paid $20 for tickets to hear from doctors who have been shunned from mainstream medical circles for pushing unproven drugs touted as miracle treatments to fight COVID-19 infection.

I dont want to say this because maybe he doesnt want me to say this, but hes probably the reason we were able to make this happen, Urso said of Bronson. Id say hes helped organize a lot of whats happening behind the scenes. And I want us to, if you can, give a warm welcome to your very own mayor, Mayor Bronson.

Americas Frontline Doctors is the subject of a House select subcommittee inquiry for its alleged role as one of the top purveyors of questionable treatments nationwide for COVID-19.

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Urso, who has also cast doubt on vaccines, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast on Tuesday but he is scheduled to appear in a similar lineup at a Florida summit in the coming days, and was recently quoted by a conservative news blog saying that he was among a group of medical professionals who are bigger and smarter than the FDA, CDC, and WHO.

Anti-Masker Alaska Pol Gets COVID, Boasts About Taking Unproven Meds

From the stage of one of the citys biggest churches, Bronson asserted that his own doctor had encouraged his administration to host an event for the team of doctors who have become outcasts to their medical peers for pushing misinformation during the pandemic. Bronson claimed that he had declined to publicize his own involvement due to politics.

For some, you know, political reasons, we didnt want my fingerprints all over it, he said. The data will get us to the truth. And thats what were trying to do is give you the people who understand the data.

Presenters included infectious disease researcher Dr. Robert Malone, who cautioned summit attendees against vaccinating kids who are increasingly being treated for more severe COVID infections. Malone has claimed in interviews that vaccines worsen the effects of COVID-19.

Dr. Ryan Cole, who previously referred to COVID-19 vaccines as needle rape and who is being investigated for promoting ideas around COVID-19 that are profoundly wrong and unsupported by medical research, also made an appearance at the event.

In an email to The Daily Beast, the mayors spokesman Corey Allen Young suggested Bronson had not played a hand in any planning of the event, insisting instead that the administration had been approached with the opportunity and that Bronson had agreed to make an appearance but had shied away from an organizing role due to his political office. City employees were not compensated, and no municipal funds were used for the event, he said.

Because some people disagree with the topics being discussed, they believe that Mayor Bronson should not be allowed to participate, and that should not be the case, Young wrote. If Mayor Dave Bronson is the mayor of all people, he should be allowed to attend all types of public forums.

This Doc Stoked the COVID Crisis. These Women Are Paying the Price

He has also since his first day in office increased COVID-19 vaccinations, tests, and monoclonal antibody treatments city-wide, Young insisted when asked about whether the mayors presence at the summit contributed to an ongoing COVID surge in Alaska.

Alaska continues to rank among the top states reeling from the Delta variant. On Saturday, the state reported 625 cases, according to the states Department of Health and Social Services.

Bronson, who is not vaccinated, has called COVID-19 vaccines experimental, while opposing vaccine and mask requirements to curb the spread of the virus.

The mayor appeared to offer a strong endorsement for the presenters, insisting that history would remember them in a rosy light when compared against other health care workers.

I think history is going to judge these doctors, these professionals very, very well, he said. And its going to judge other folks, to include health care professionals, quite poorly. I just decided I was going to be on the right side of history on this.

Gov. Mike Dunleavys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast on Tuesday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Ernie LaPointe, great-grandson of the legendary chief 'Sitting Bull,' stands in front of the war bonnet from chief 'Red Eagle' at the Uebersee Museum Bremen in Bremen, Germany, 03 November 2016. Ingo Wagner/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

A study published last week provided DNA confirmation that Ernie LaPointe is the great-grandson of Sitting Bull.

But LaPointe told Insider he has always known his ancestry, first through his people's oral history.

He hopes the DNA confirmation will help him move his great-grandfather's remains to a place they will be respected.

A study published last week confirmed what Ernie LaPointe, a 73-year-old Lakota man who lives in South Dakota, already knew: that he is the great-grandson of the legendary Lakota Sioux leader Sitting Bull, or Tatanka Iyotake.

Still, news headlines ran saying Sitting Bull's great-grandson had been "identified," giving the impression the descendant had been discovered for the first time.

But LaPointe told Insider the DNA analysis, conducted using a 130-year-old hair sample, was just one of the multiple ways his ancestry had already been confirmed for him.

"My mother knew it. That's how I knew it," LaPointe said, adding that there were always historians and anthropologists who doubted their claims.

His mother's oral history was even verified by researchers at the Smithsonian, but he said there were experts who would say: "You cannot trust the Natives' oral history."

But according to LaPointe: "The Lakota people do not fabricate any stories. We live in the realm of the spirits. They're all around us. So you don't want to go out and tell a fib about anything."

Sitting Bull, who lived from 1831 to 1890, led the Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux people during years of resistance against US government policies for Indigenous people, uniting many Great Plains tribes.

He is perhaps best known for his 1876 victory in the Battle of Little Bighorn, also referred to as Custer's Last Stand or the Battle of Greasy Grass by Natives. He and Crazy Horse led united tribes against General George Armstrong Custer's forces, who were sent to force the Indigenous people onto reservations.

Story continues

The battle is considered the most decisive Native American victory, and worst US army defeat, of the Plains Indian Wars.

In 1890, Sitting Bull was killed on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation by Indian Police while they tried to arrest him on behalf of the US government.

LaPointe, who was first approached by researchers in 2007, said he was interested in getting the DNA confirmation in hopes that it might help his efforts to relocate his great-grandfather's remains.

"His blood is in me, and his genes are in me, and his DNA. All I am is a person who's telling his story, as truthfully as I can," LaPointe said, adding that the next part of his journey is to ensure Sitting Bull's remains are treated with "honor and respect."

There are currently two official burial sites for Sitting Bull, both of which attract tourists. He was originally buried at Fort Yates in North Dakota, on what is now part of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

But in 1953, relatives of Sitting Bull took the remains under the cover of darkness and moved them to Mobridge, South Dakota, according to some accounts, including LaPointe's, who said his mother was one of the people involved.

Today, he says neither grave site is treated with the respect his great-grandfather deserves.

He hopes the DNA confirmation of his ancestry will help him make his case to government officials to get a permit to exhume the body and use DNA analysis to prove the remains in South Dakota are in fact Sitting Bull.

He is not yet sure where he would like to move the remains but hopes to find a final resting place worthy of his great-grandfather.

"There's so many Natives who have been wronged by the American people, the American government," LaPointe said. "I just want to have him treated with respect."

Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.

Read the original article on Insider
Oxygen

The brutal murder of a nine-year-old girl in 1959 has finally been solved, marking an end to one of Washington states oldest cold cases. Candice Candy Rogers disappeared while selling Camp Fire Mints  a fundraiser for the Camp Fire Girls, a Girl Scout-like organization  in her Spokane neighborhood on March 6, 1959, according to a press release issued by the Spokane City Police Department. Searchers found boxes of mints strewn along the street; it was the only indication of which direction s
With the second-quarter round of 13F filings behind us it is time to take a look at the stocks in which some of the best money managers in the world preferred to invest or sell heading into the third quarter of 2021. One of these stocks was Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F).

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) was in 55 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2021. The all time high for this statistic was previously 49. This means the bullish number of hedge fund positions in this stock currently sits at its new all time high. F investors should pay attention to an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds of late. There were 49 hedge funds in our database with F holdings at the end of March. Our calculations also showed that F isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (click for Q2 rankings).

In the eyes of most traders, hedge funds are viewed as worthless, outdated financial tools of the past. While there are greater than 8000 funds in operation at the moment, Our researchers choose to focus on the creme de la creme of this group, around 850 funds. It is estimated that this group of investors command bulk of all hedge funds' total asset base, and by monitoring their finest stock picks, Insider Monkey has found many investment strategies that have historically outperformed the market. Insider Monkey's flagship short hedge fund strategy beat the S&P 500 short ETFs by around 20 percentage points per year since its inception in March 2017. Also, our monthly newsletter's portfolio of long stock picks returned 185.4% since March 2017 (through August 2021) and beat the S&P 500 Index by more than 79 percentage points. You can download a sample issue of this newsletter on our website.

David E. Shaw of D.E. Shaw

David E. Shaw of D.E. Shaw

At Insider Monkey, we scour multiple sources to uncover the next great investment idea. For example, the demand for helium is soaring and there is a helium supply shortage, so we are checking out stock pitches like this emerging helium stock. We go through lists like the 10 best EV stocks to pick the next Tesla that will deliver a 10x return. Even though we recommend positions in only a tiny fraction of the companies we analyze, we check out as many stocks as we can. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. You can subscribe to our free daily newsletter on our homepage. With all of this in mind we're going to review the fresh hedge fund action surrounding Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F).

Story continues

Do Hedge Funds Think F Is A Good Stock To Buy Now?

At second quarter's end, a total of 55 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 12% from the first quarter of 2020. On the other hand, there were a total of 30 hedge funds with a bullish position in F a year ago. So, let's examine which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves.

More specifically, D E Shaw was the largest shareholder of Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), with a stake worth $674.2 million reported as of the end of June. Trailing D E Shaw was Pzena Investment Management, which amassed a stake valued at $410.3 million. Alkeon Capital Management, Citadel Investment Group, and Millennium Management were also very fond of the stock, becoming one of the largest hedge fund holders of the company. In terms of the portfolio weights assigned to each position Lodge Hill Capital allocated the biggest weight to Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), around 4.89% of its 13F portfolio. Harvey Partners is also relatively very bullish on the stock, setting aside 4.89 percent of its 13F equity portfolio to F.

With a general bullishness amongst the heavyweights, key hedge funds were leading the bulls' herd. Electron Capital Partners, managed by Jos Shaver, initiated the largest position in Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F). Electron Capital Partners had $50.1 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Leonard Green's Leonard Green & Partners also made a $22.3 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new F investors: Clint Murray's Lodge Hill Capital, Joe DiMenna's ZWEIG DIMENNA PARTNERS, and Michael Cowley's Sandbar Asset Management.

Let's go over hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) but similarly valued. We will take a look at ICICI Bank Limited (NYSE:IBN), Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM), Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN), Workday Inc (NASDAQ:WDAY), Itau Unibanco Holding SA (NYSE:ITUB), Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL), and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC). All of these stocks' market caps are similar to F's market cap.

[table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position IBN,28,2473600,-3 WM,39,3600334,7 ETN,40,1062179,-9 WDAY,72,5187481,3 ITUB,16,431689,4 ECL,48,2773469,6 NOC,42,1053366,2 Average,40.7,2368874,1.4 [/table]

View table here if you experience formatting issues.

As you can see these stocks had an average of 40.7 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $2369 million. That figure was $2106 million in F's case. Workday Inc (NASDAQ:WDAY) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Itau Unibanco Holding SA (NYSE:ITUB) is the least popular one with only 16 bullish hedge fund positions. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. Our overall hedge fund sentiment score for F is 74.8. Stocks with higher number of hedge fund positions relative to other stocks as well as relative to their historical range receive a higher sentiment score. Our calculations showed that top 5 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 95.8% in 2019 and 2020, and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 40 percentage points. These stocks gained 26.3% in 2021 through October 29th and still beat the market by 2.3 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on F as the stock returned 14.9% since the end of Q2 (through 10/29) and outperformed the market. Hedge funds were rewarded for their relative bullishness.

Get real-time email alerts: Follow Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F)

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Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.
Christian Lagahit, the actor behind Player #276 of Squid Game, shared his experience as a foreign worker in South Korea in an interview video posted to YouTube last week.



The racist incident: On Oct. 23, South Korea-based Asian Boss posted their interview video of Filipino actor Lagahit on their official YouTube channel.



In the interview, Lagahit recalls a Korean woman in her 50s throwing a cabbage at his face while on a small village bus ride home.









There was this woman who was just staring at me. At first, I didnt pay attention because I thought she was maybe looking at the boys, because there were boys in front of me. I thought that she was looking at the students. A few minutes passed by... I was just surprised when something hit my face. She threw a cabbage at my face  straight to my face, Lagahit shares.

His glasses fell off and were broken by the impact. Another woman on the bus explained to him that the cabbage thrower wanted him to get off the bus because he was not Korean. Lagahit says that there are no foreigner buses in Korea and the ride he was on was the last trip home.

The hardest part was that no one was paying attention to me. There were a lot of people inside the bus. It was filled, but no one was there to at least help me, Lagahit says in the video.

I was crying inside. For me, there was nothing I could do anymore. I couldnt complain, but what I didnt understand was there were other people inside that small bus. I just felt so bad that no one was ready to help, he adds.

The woman also went on to verbally attack him. Lagahit recalls her saying, All foreigners here in Korea are bad people!

When the host asks if discrimination in South Korea is common, Lagahit admits to hearing other foreigners stories of prejudice and poor treatment. He also recalls a time when Korean locals did not want to sit next to him on another bus.

































View this post on Instagram















































A post shared by CHRISTIAN LAGAHIT (@chrisyan8)











The foreign actor: Along with Anupam Tripathi, the actor behind Player #199 Ali Abdul, Lagahit also played the role of a migrant worker from Pakistan.



Story continues

He moved to Korea from the Philippines in 2015 as an English teacher. Lagahit also had part-time gigs acting in films such as "Space Sweepers" and "The Negotiation."

The actor originally auditioned for the character of Ali before landing Player 276. He believes that the story of Ali reflects the real lives of many migrant workers in Korea. Theres still a lot of foreign workers out there who get the same treatment the way Ali had on the drama Squid Game, Lagahit tells Asian Boss. I hope that this would be a wake-up call for the government to also check the welfare of foreign workers here in Korea because I believe that the foreign workers are contributing a lot for the growth of this country.

He also says he hopes that the success of Squid Game will open doors for foreign actors to play roles other than that of factory workers or background characters.

Ive seen some non-Koreans achieving success here in Korea, but most of those people are from the U.S. or Europe, Lagahit says. Its about time Asian people, non-Korean people, can also succeed and achieve those big dreams here. At the end of the day, everyone is allowed to dream big. If those white people can, we also can.



Featured Image via @chrisyan8 (left), Asian Boss (right)





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Tight District 8 race, historic mayoral win: St. Petersburg election updates

Find vote results in real time: St. Petersburg election results: Mayor, City Council and amendments

10 p.m.: Floyds lead in District 8 increases as more mail ballots counted

Candidates Richie Floyd and Jeff Danner are still separated by a thin margin, but Floyds advantage has grown slightly following the count of several more mail ballots Tuesday evening. With roughly 800 votes separating the two candidates, the race is currently outside the margin that would require a recount.

The unofficial tally is still not quite over. There are still a few more ballots that may need to be counted.

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections tweeted that the only remaining mail ballots have to go through the cure process (such as if, for instance, a voter needs to submit an affidavit to clear up a signature mismatch on a mail ballot).

9:38 p.m.: Gerdes wins District 1 City Council race

Financial adviser Copley Gerdes has won a close race against consultant Bobbie Shay Lee for the District 1 City Council seat.

The Tampa Bay Times called the race at 9:40 p.m. with Gerdes leading with roughly 53 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting.

Robert Blackmon resigned the District 1 council seat to run for mayor.

Reporter Natalie Weber has more on the District 1 race.

8:58 p.m.: Reports of relatively smooth elections across the country

St. Petersburg is not the only city that appears to have had a fairly smooth Election Day.

Across the country, there were few reports of disruptions or of voting or equipment problems, aside from the sporadic power outage or polling place opening late, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, back in St. Petersburg, remaining mail ballots are being processed and results uploaded to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website. Its unclear how much those ballots could move the needle in a couple tight City Council races.

8:49 p.m.: Voters opt against 5 of 7 charter amendments

Voters opted against most of the charter amendments on the general election ballot, including one that would have changed the way City Council is elected.

Story continues

Voters approved Amendments 5 and 6.

What were those amendments and how will they affect residents? Read Lauren Peaces story for more information.

8:45 p.m.: See photos from election night

Browse a gallery with some of our photographers photos during voting today and after polls closed.

8:08 p.m.: Will District 8 race go to a recount?

The vote margin between candidates Richie Floyd and Jeff Danner is still razor-thin.

With all precincts reported and just some outstanding mail or provisional ballots to be tallied, Floyd is ahead by only 116 votes. That is within range of a recount.

Recounts are ordered only if the winning margin in an unofficial vote tally is 0.5 percent or less of the total votes cast following the first set of unofficial results.

A machine recount is simply done by feeding ballots back into tabulation machines to see if the vote totals change, whether because of an improperly calibrated machine or due to some other issue. The machines must be tested before the recount begins.

If, after a machine recount, the winning margin is 0.25 percent or less of the total votes cast, then a manual recount is ordered.

Reporter Romy Ellenbogen has more.

7:58 p.m.: Voter turnout falls short of 2017

Unofficial voter turnout stands at 34.6 percent in the St. Petersburg general election, according to the number on the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website. That may change a bit as some more ballots are counted, but will fall short of 2017s turnout of 39.6 percent.

7:47 p.m.: Welch takes the stage after declaring victory

Welch talked about the historic nature of the election, and said that St. Petersburg residents voted with the firmly held belief that facts matter.

He told supporters that opponent Robert Blackmon had called a few minutes earlier and conceded the race.

More information here.

7:45 p.m.: Hanewicz wins in District 4, will be first Hispanic on City Council

Lisset Hanewicz will become the first Hispanic person to serve on the City Council after unofficial results show she defeated opponent Tom Mullins, a Raymond James investment banker, in the District 4 race.

Hanewicz led Mullins with about 54 percent of the vote, compared to Mullins 46 percent.

Hanewicz, 50, will replace Council member Darden Rice in District 4. Rice ran for mayor and lost in the August primary.

Reporter Romy Ellenbogen has more on this race and the results here.

7:37 p.m.: Welch wins mayoral race

The Tampa Bay Times has called St. Petersburgs mayoral race for Ken Welch.

Welch, 57, a former Pinellas County commissioner, cruised to a win over opponent Robert Blackmon.

He will be the citys first Black mayor and will succeed outgoing Mayor Rick Kriseman.

With 84 of 92 precincts reporting by about 7:35 p.m., Welch had about 60 percent of the vote.

Reporter Colleen Wright has more details on this historic election.

7:35 p.m.: Driscoll wins reelection for District 6 council seat

Incumbent Gina Driscoll won reelection Tuesday night over first-time candidate Mhariel Summers for the District 6 City Council seat.

The Tampa Bay Times called the race at 7:30 p.m. with Driscoll leading with 70 percent of the vote, with just three-quarters of precincts reporting.

Reporter Natalie Weber has more on Driscolls background and on the race for this seat.

7:34 p.m.: Tight race for District 8 City Council seat

First-time candidate and progressive activist Richie Floyd is in a close race with former council member Jeff Danner in the District 8 City Council race.

With 84 of 92 precincts reporting, each candidate had about 50 percent of the vote. There are still more precincts to be counted and more mail ballots to be processed.

Floyd had a strong showing in Augusts primary, where he won more than 50 percent of the vote among four candidates.

More background on this race here.

7:23 p.m.: Driscoll, Gerdes take early leads in their City Council races

With 56 of 92 precincts reporting, incumbent Gina Driscoll led early results Tuesday night over first-time candidate Mhariel Summers in a race for the District 6 City Council seat.

In District 1, financial adviser Copley Gerdes was leading consultant Bobbie Shay Lee in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Robert Blackmon.

Reporter Natalie Weber has more on both the District 6 and District 1 races.

7:16 p.m.: Welch declares victory in mayoral race

Even with many precincts still reporting results, former Pinellas County commissioner Ken Welch has declared victory over opponent Robert Blackmon.

The Tampa Bay Times has not yet called the mayoral race. Welch and Blackmon have been vying to succeed term-limited Mayor Rick Kriseman.

In a statement, Welchs campaign thanked supporters and talked about wanting to focus on things like housing affordability, climate change and reducing crime.

See more on this race here.

7:11 p.m.: First precinct results start rolling in

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office is tweeting updates on the process.

Meanwhile, several candidates are waiting to see more results at their watch parties:

7:07 p.m.: Welch leading in early mail ballot results

With only partial mail ballot results loaded  accounting for 43,947 voters  mayoral candidate Ken Welch has taken a lead over Robert Blackmon.

Reporter Colleen Wright will have more details and will be updating her story on the mayoral race throughout the evening.

Mail ballots have historically tended to skew more Democratic, while in-person voting has tended to skew more Republican. While the mayoral race is technically nonpartisan, voters have tended to vote along party lines. Welch is a Democrat; Blackmon is a Republican.

Click here to watch results roll in in real time.

7 p.m.: Polls have closed

The polls have now closed in St. Petersburg. If you werent in line before 7 p.m., you wont be allowed to vote.

Now its time for results to start rolling in. Keep following this blog and go to tampabay.com for updates on the mayors race, City Council elections and charter amendments, as well as whats going on in elections across the country. We also have photographers out with some of the candidates at their watch parties.

6:48 p.m.: Only minutes left before polls close

5 p.m.: Voting smooth so far

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office said voting has gone smoothly so far, with no reported major issues. More than 59,000 people have voted so far.

4 p.m.: Turnout over 30 percent as ballots still roll in

Turnout has surpassed 30 percent, with three more hours left for voters to cast ballots. Roughly 57,000 St. Petersburg residents have voted so far.

1:18 p.m.: From surgery straight to the polls

Brytt Mathas was still wearing her hospital visitor tags when she arrived at the First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg. Her husband, Brad, had just gotten out of surgery and been discharged. They drove straight to the polling station to cast their votes.

We didnt even go home first, Brytt Mathas said, thats how much we care about voting.

Both Brytt and Brad Mathas, along with their daughter, Alma Cirkic, said its the mayors race they care most about. Each threw their support behind Robert Blackmon.

Its about getting back to normal American politics, Brad Mathas said. Im tired of radical views and divisiveness. Its not what I was raised on.

Cirkic, 20, agreed. She said shes grown up in a world full of political animosity and tension. She wants peace, and said voting today was a small action she could take to work toward that.

A lot of people I know my age dont vote in local elections, Cirkic said. I just want to do my part.

12:46 p.m.: I dont see them anymore, says voter

When David Zachem, 79, moved to St. Petersburg in 1984, he said there were many inspiring, forward-thinking men who were known statewide.

I dont see them anymore, he said, standing outside his polling place, the Pinellas Community Church.

But he thinks Robert Blackmon could be part of a new wave of great leaders, and he cast his vote for Blackmon on Tuesday.

Zachem said hes known Welch for a long time. But Zachem, who formerly headed the Lakewood Civic Association, said he hasnt seen enough change in the area below Lake Maggiore.

Ken has not really done anything for this area, Zachem said.

Zachem said he also admired Blackmons response to the pandemic and support of restaurants and bars. The growth St. Petersburg has had on Central Avenue is vital to the city, he said.

I just dont want to see us lose that.

After retiring in 2014, Linda Morgan, 69, moved from Chicago to St. Petersburg, the city where she always vacationed.

She voted for Welch.

I like the things he says, Morgan said, but they always say the right things around election time.

Though Morgan can be skeptical of politicians motives, she believes with Welchs track record, hell come through on his promises. And if he doesnt, she said shell have no issue voting for someone else. Morgan, who is Black, said its not about race but rather the ideals someone upholds.

She said low-income housing is a top priority.

Im paying almost $1,000 for a one-bedroom, Morgan said. Its terrible, everything is so expensive.

John Pacheco, 70, of Gateway, said he cast his vote for Blackmon at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg. He said he likes the candidates energy. Pacheco was a supporter of Mayor Rick Kriseman and said hes sad to see the current mayor go.

Kerri Cohron, 62, said she also cast her vote this morning for Blackmon.

Hes young and hes got progressive thoughts and new ideas, Cohron said. I like that he seems bipartisan.

Additionally, she said she voted no on the charter amendment giving tax exemptions to some businesses.

 Lauren Peace and Romy Ellenbogen

12:19 p.m.: More than 48,000 ballots cast in St. Pete

11:33: Photos: Seen on Election Day

11:07 a.m.: Voters explain their mayoral picks

Henry Scantling, 65, voted for Ken Welch at Pinellas Community Church.

As someone who owns his home, Scantling said the rising rent prices in the city dont affect him, but hes still concerned for his kids and other family members making minimum wage.

Theres hardly no place for them thats affordable, Scantling said.

He also voted in favor of a proposed charter amendment that would change city council elections, letting only voters in the district boundaries weigh in, instead of those city-wide.

Change is the magic word, Scantling said. Im tired of things being the same.

Jodi, who is in her 50s from the Pasadena area, said shes voting for Blackmon, a business person. Welch, she said, is very qualified but has special interests that sway toward one area.

That area? Making everything equal for people. Theyre bucking the systems because we created it, she said. We have to change it so people want to get up and do better for themselves.

On high housing prices, she said, People work hard to buy property. They dont buy them and rent them to make everyone equal.

Dellra Croteau, 42, of Pinellas Point is also voting for Blackmon, because I feel other the candidates havent done anything in the time theyve had so far.

Lou Newkirk, 70, waved hello to Welch as the candidate walked around Lake Vista Recreation center before voting for himself. Welchs father taught Newkirk at Sixteenth Street Middle School.

Newkirk said he and his wife, celebrating their 50th anniversary on Saturday, dropped their mail ballots off  votes for Welch.

Hes a good man like his dad was, Newkirk said.

 Romy Ellenbogen and Colleen Wright

10:44 a.m.: Council candidate Shay Lee talks lawlessness

Bobbie Shay Lee, a candidate for District 1, stood outside the Pinellas Community Church with her ballot already cast. Lee voted early, but started the day by going with her daughter, who turned 18 on Thursday, while she cast her ballot.

A third-generation St. Petersburg resident, Lee said she and her opponent Copley Gerdes are similar on many issues except for public safety and sewage dumping. Since the primary, Lee said the topic of conversation with voters has largely been St. Petersburgs climbing number of homicides. She said the City Council is meant to ensure public safety, and it has failed.

The lawlessness, she said, is going to affect our ability to attract visitors and keep residents.

 Romy Ellenbogen

10:38 a.m. Driving across the state to volunteer

Lenisha Gibson, a 28-year-old volunteer with Dream Defenders, drove up from her home in Broward County to help volunteer for City Council candidate Richie Floyd. Gibson said she supports Floyds push for more social workers and counselors to respond to mental health and homelessness calls, instead of police. She also supports his environmental platform.

Floyd, who is running against former Council member Jeff Danner in District 8, was the only candidate to bring in more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary. If elected, hed be the youngest person elected to City Council and the first Black Council member elected in a district above Central Avenue.

Its something that electrifies and inspires a lot of individuals, even me from Broward County, Gibson said. It feels like a movement.

 Romy Ellenbogen

10:17 a.m.: Blackmon votes, says hes new blood

10:10 a.m.: What to watch for today in elections nationwide

Virginia is deciding a governors race that could rattle President Joe Biden. In Minneapolis, shaken by George Floyds murder, the future of the police department is on the line. School board races across the country have become the new battlegrounds for partisan debates over race.

It may be an odd-numbered year but Tuesdays elections arent sleepy, local contests. Heres what to watch as returns come in Tuesday.

 Associated Press

9:44 a.m.: An Election Day fixture on 54th Ave. S

Every weekday morning for the three weeks leading up to every Election Day for the past several years, in the rain or in the sticky morning dew, Tammye K. Moore stands on the corner of 31st Street S and 54th Avenue S with her sign.

On one side it reads, Pay attention. Vote. Every election. It matters. On the other, Dont just make noise. Make a difference. VOTE and NOISE are in bright green letters.

I want them to get engaged, said Moore, 59.

She recognizes the cars, from the vintage red hot rod to the family SUV to the work trucks. And they recognize her around town as the Lady on the Corner.

Moore, a St. Petersburg native, has been involved in politics since she was 14, when her mother worked on Jimmy Carters campaign. In 2000, she won a national essay contest about how she was driving the vote in her community and got to meet Earvin Magic Johnson. Shes also met Jada Pinkett Smith, Al Sharpton, Maxine Waters and Jesse Jackson.

Shes worked on campaigns too, for Rick Baker and Charlie Crist.

But after decades of door knocking, Moore can no longer do those long walks. So she picked this corner by her home near the Sunshine Skyway bridge, right next to the Interstate 275 on-ramp.

Many people walked so I can vote, she said. If I cant walk anymore, at least I can stand. This is the contribution I could make.

She gets honks and thumbs up. A woman once brought her flowers during the primary election. When her nieces and nephews lived in town, theyd stand on the corner too.

Moore usually leaves the corner open for the politicians on Election Day, but City Council District 1 candidate Copley Gerdes asked last week if he could share the corner with her and wave his signs.

Moore agreed, but only if he came on Election Day. On Tuesday, he did.

Shes worked harder than most candidates, Gerdes said.

Moore thinks Gerdes played his cards right and could be mayor one day. She says politicians have to pivot from campaigning in churches and getting lost in the clicks on social media. The key is talking to people early and often. Repeat. Repeat.

Its up to the politicians to win them over, she said I want them to vote.

But dont get it twisted, she continued. Im a Democrat.

 Colleen Wright

7:19 a.m.: Candidate Welch among early voters
Starbucks has called on employees in three Northeast locations to reject a measure to form a union, following a victory by a Buffalo-area location thats spearheading efforts to organize its workers.

The company, which just last week announced plans to hike wages for its U.S. employees , sent a letter on Monday encouraging those workers to vote down a measure to organize. If the effort is successful, three coffee shops in upstate New York would be the first of Starbucks 8,000 stores to unionize, part of a wave of pandemic-era support for organized labor.

We want you to vote no, wrote Allyson Peck, Starbucks Northeast regional Vice President, in a letter shared with Yahoo Finance.

Theres a lot going on. We want to talk about and connect on the union vote and what it means and doesnt mean for you, because it has a potentially big impact on your job and your store, the executive said in the letter.

Unless you are positive you want to pay a Union to represent you to us, you must vote no. There is no opt out if the majority of voters vote yes, regardless of how you voted, Peck wrote.

Last week, the National Labor Relations Board sided with workers, rejecting Starbucks attempt to hold a single vote with 20 stores in the region.

Mail-in voting is scheduled to start next week, and will run through December 8, with a final vote count on December 9. There are about 128 employees at the three stores that will vote, according to the NLRB decision.

In a statement on Thursday, the Seattle-based coffee giant said itll be reviewing the ruling and be evaluating its options.

We remain focused on supporting our partners as well as maintaining open, transparent and direct conversations throughout the process. We just received the ruling, and we are evaluating our options, the company said.

'Very significant' decision

A Starbucks Drive Thru logo is pictured on a building in Buffalo, New York April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Michelle Eisen, an 11-year Starbucks barista in Buffalo and a member of the union organizing group, Starbucks Workers United, is happy about the NLRBs ruling.

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It was very significant and it wasn't unexpected, Eisen told Yahoo! Finance Live on Monday.

With her decade-plus experience at Starbucks, Eisen has been at the forefront of the unionization effort , however, since the NLRBs decision that came out last week shes noticed drastic changes in her work environment.

They have upped their interference by at least a percentage, said Eisen, who accused Starbucks corporate officials of interfering in the effort. But according to her, thousands of partners from across the country have reached out to our organizing committee asking how we got started, what steps they could take in their area to follow suit.

That also included workers high up in the chain like regional directors and district managers, Eisen added.

The NLRBs decision came the same day Starbucks came under pressure, after the company told investors that its fiscal 2022 outlook would be weaker than expected. The global coffee chain blamed rising costs and the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

Nevertheless, Starbucks has been forced to bow to realities of a tight labor market , and announced plans to raise its average pay to nearly $17 an hour by summer 2022 in a bid to attract and keep baristas amid the labor crunch.

Linking it to the ongoing union fight, Eisen called the pay move great.

She added: They are adding seniority pay to the wages, which is something that has come up in our campaign, said Eisen. The timing on that was not great [but] we knew what it was in response to.

Meanwhile, the decision underscores U.S. workers intensifying push to improve stagnant pay and working conditions following years of decline for organized labor. This also follows a spate of strikes that have rocked the private sector , revealing the new power workers wield as the pandemic exposes the strains in a stressed-out labor force thats quitting jobs at historically high rates.

In response, hourly wages at some of the largest corporations  including Chipotle, Target and Amazon  have received pay raises.

In other words, were in a time where workers have a once-in-a-generation upper hand.

People are turning down jobs that they just see as not suitable and a lot of people are re-evaluating what they want to do with their lives, Todd Vachon, director of the Labor Education Action Research Network at Rutgers University, told Yahoo Finance in an interview.

While Starbucks was hoping to open voting to the entire Buffalo market in a single ballot, Vachon suggested that the move was strategic.

It's to their benefit, to include all of the other stores where workers haven't decided whether or not they want union yet, because it waters down the pool of voters, he said.

Even though the move didnt work, Vachon believes the workers have a chance to unionize once the votes are counted.

If the workers in those three stores said they want to have an election, they're pretty confident that they have a majority of support, Vachon said.

You wouldn't want to go to the NLRB and start an election, unless you're pretty sure you're going to win it, Vachon added.

Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @daniromerotv

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Whirlpool Corporation

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  After a years hiatus due to Covid-19, students, faculty and staff from Indiana University and the Kelley School of Business are building a new home with a Bloomington family through Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, with support from Whirlpool Corporation.

This years Habitat build is especially meaningful and distinctive in several ways. This will be the largest house built by IU and Kelley students since Whirlpool Corporation  a key corporate supporter and recruiter of students from the Kelley School  began a partnership with Habitat for Humanity International to construct homes in Monroe County in 2010.

The 11th Whirlpool-Kelley-Habitat Blitz Build also will kick off a world tour that will provide more than $6 million in funding and home appliances to Habitat organizations worldwide. This will be one of the first Whirlpool home builds since the start of the pandemic.

Continue reading here

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/students-and-faculty-at-iu-and-kelley-build-home-with-whirlpool-and-habitat-for-humanity-145103822
Tennessee vs Kentucky prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, November 6

Tennessee vs Kentucky How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 6

Game Time: 7:00 ET

Venue: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY

How To Watch: ESPN2

Record: Tennessee (4-4), Kentucky (6-2)

 Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

 All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Tennessee vs Kentucky Game Preview

Why Tennessee Will Win

The Vols might have lost to Ole Miss and Alabama over the last two weeks, but the offense continues to be a whole lot of fun.

Hendon Hooker continues to be terrific. Hes averaging close to ten yards per pass with two or more scoring throws in six of the last seven games. Hes been steady, hes not throwing picks, and hes a seasoned enough vet to handle the pressure  he came up with a strong day in the loss to Alabama.

Not turning the ball over is a big key to the Tennessee attack. It might go fast, and it doesnt care about the time of possession battle, but it only gave it up seven times so far.

Kentucky has a big turnover problem with four giveaways in last weeks loss to Mississippi State, and with multiple mistakes in five of the eight games.

The Tennessee offense doesnt need any help, and Kentucky doesnt force takeaways.

 College Football Expert Picks, CFN Week 10

Why Kentucky Will Win

Kentucky doesnt really slow things down or play stall ball, but it likes to play at its own pace and with a deliberate tempo  if it can.

The Tennessee offense might be great, but the defense is getting run over. It allowed close to 1,100 yards of total O to Ole Miss and Alabama over the last two games  holding up in key moments against the run was the biggest issue.

Ole Miss moved quickly  Matt Corral got beaten up, but he ran well  and Bama pounded away. Kentucky will do a little bit of both.

Its no coincidence that the losses came when the Wildcat ground game stalled against both Georgia and Mississippi State. Tennessee cant hold up like those two can.

Story continues

Whats Going To Happen

Kentucky will run well.

Tennessee might provide the flash and the fun, but the Wildcats win when they can get past 100 yards on the ground, and they win relatively easily when they get to 200.

Theyll get to 200, but this wont be anything easy.

Tennessee vs Kentucky Prediction, Lines

Kentucky 30, Tennessee 26

Line: Kentucky -2, o/u: 57

ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Belfast

1: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

 Fearless Predictions of Every Game

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Thousands of state police officers in Puerto Rico did not show up for work over the Halloween weekend, said island authorities, a show of force from cops who are demanding better labor conditions and higher retirement pensions.

Puerto Rico Police Commissioner Antonio Lopez Figueroa said there were at least about 5,000 absences in the islands police force, which has between 10,400 and 11,500 members. Authorities put in place a special operations plan, which drew from municipal police and other departments to strengthen security.

In my 34 years, the police I know have never put the safety of the people at risk, said Lopez Figueroa in a written statement after activating the alternate police plan. Our governors commitment is and will continue to be to attend to the demands of all the police.

The protest coincides with a violent weekend on the island, with over a dozen homicides reported all over Puerto Rico, including in the cities of San Juan, Ponce, Bayamon and Fajardo.

Battle for retirement benefits

Diego Figueroa, the president of the United Front of Organized Police (FUPO in Spanish)  a local police union made up of retired and active officers  told the Miami Herald that the islands police members work decades of public service and often receive little benefits and low pensions following retirement despite facing dangerous situations as part of their everyday job.

A 2013 law froze the police pension system, which did not allow active police officers to accrue further benefits. It also reduced the annual percentage of their salary they would be owed and eliminated a monthly medical insurance stipend for after retirement.

When a current policeman is about to retire, their pension is insufficient ... their pension is misery, Figueroa said.

While the union did not organize the protest, which has been characterized as a self-summoned action within police ranks, Figueroa said the organization was in solidarity with those who participated in the work stoppage.

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The fight is fair, the fight is reasonable, the fight is sincere, said Figueroa. The struggle is that they need to have the real guarantee that they will have a dignified retirement.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said on his Twitter account that his administration is an undisputed ally of the islands police force, paying for overtime in quicker turnarounds and extending sick and vacation times.

I have said and I maintain that our police officers deserve a fair retirement, since it is a problem that precedes my administration, wrote the islands top official, adding he was in negotiations with the Financial Oversight and Management Board, tasked with supervising the islands finances and helping it exit bankruptcy.

The board approved eligibility for Social Security and salary increases in the past two years for police officers. But the board did not support the implementation of a 2020 law  which would have restored some retirement benefits for emergency officials, including police officers  because it did not align with the governments fiscal plan. And Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who oversees Puerto Ricos bankruptcy proceedings in federal court, voided The Law for a Dignified Retirement in October, which aimed to protect government pensions from cuts.

The islands Department of Public Safety released a statement last week, saying it had met with the oversight boards leadership, along with other Pierluisi officials, to find alternatives that benefited the members of the Puerto Rico Police force.

Killings over the weekend

Despite assurances from top brass that a safety plan was kicked into gear, town mayors took special measures to address the lack of state public-safety personnel. On Friday morning, Maria Vega Pagan, mayor of Vega Alta, said on Facebook Live that there was only one state police officer in the towns station and activated 12-hour shifts for the 15-member municipal security force.

Meanwhile, several municipal governments, including Villalba and Guanica, set night curfews for businesses in their towns. The mayor of Ponce, the islands fourth largest city, decreed a state of emergency, and temporarily suspended vacation time for municipal police, a move also implemented in other places.

Lopez Figueroa announced police operations had returned to normal by Monday morning. On Tuesday, he said at a press conference that police had carried out a massive operation against criminal and drug-related enterprises over the course of 45 days. Police agents, in collaboration with federal agencies, arrested about 800 people, including suspected hit men.

However, the mass absenteeism over the weekend came as authorities reported that at least 13 people were killed between Friday and Sunday, raising fears that the strike had affected public safety.

At least seven of the weekends slayings took place in Rio Piedras, a university neighborhood in San Juan. The high-profile kidnapping of three people from a well-known restaurant in the area  including the owner  resulted in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy. The FBI took over the case, and has put out images and video of a group of suspects.

Local authorities on the island rejected that the recent string of crimes was a result of the lack of police on the streets. The police commissioner said in a written statement Sunday that multiple specialized units, including those in charge of homicides and sexual violence, had continued to respond to incidents without interruptions.

Roberto Rivera, assistant commissioner for criminal investigation of Puerto Ricos police, told the Miami Herald that there had been weekends with similar or higher murder rates in the past year, and nine alone in the weekend prior to Halloween.

There was an absenteeism of our staff, but we had another large number of people working and who were with us in 12-hour shifts, Rivera said. These are events that are linked to the drug trade, of people who are already being chased, and that concluded over the weekend.

Puerto Ricos police force has reported a total of 507 murders in 2021. While Rivera said there were 63 more violent deaths than this same time last year, he emphasized that strict lockdowns and other pandemic-related measures resulted in lower levels of crime in 2020.

When you measure it with a real year like 2019, we would have 11 fewer murders, Rivera said.
Carole Baskin is the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue

Carole Baskin and her husband Howard are suing Netflix for breach of contract after footage of the couple was included in the trailer for Tiger King 2.

Their lawsuit states they only signed appearance release forms for the first season of the Netflix docu-series.

"The Baskins believed that any sequel - though odious - would not include any of their footage," the spokesman said.

Netflix declined to comment when contacted by BBC News.

Tiger King, which was produced by Royal Goode Productions, followed the rivalry between eccentric Oklahoma zoo owner Joe Exotic and animal rights activist Baskin.

The show became a cultural phenomenon in March 2020, fuelled partly by the pandemic-enforced lockdowns.

Carole Baskin, the owner and CEO of the Big Cat Rescue in Florida, later said she was unhappy with how she had been presented and described the series as "a reality show dumpster fire".

The lawsuit states: "By utilising the film footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue secured by Royal Goode Productions under the Appearance Releases in 'sizzle reels' and promotional trailers for the sequel entitled Tiger King 2, the defendants are in breach of the terms of the Appearance Releases."

The Baskins want Royal Goode Productions and Netflix to drop all footage of them from Tiger King 2 and are seeking to take the case in front of a jury.

Joe Exotic is currently serving a 22-year jail sentence

The lawsuit also claims the first series gave a false impression of the work of Big Cat Rescue and unfairly accused the Baskins of animal abuse.

"The Tiger King 1 series wrongly attempted to suggest that Big Cat Rescue abused its animals by keeping them in very small cages while not making clear that the animals actually reside in expansive enclosures," the legal papers state.

"Perhaps most pernicious is the overarching implication in Tiger King 1 that Carole Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her first husband in 1997," the papers say.

Baskin has repeatedly denied that she had anything to do with the disappearance of her first husband Don Lewis.

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The new series, which begins on 17 November, will cover "newfound revelations... on the motivations, back stories, and secrets of America's most notorious big cat owners", Netflix said in a statement last week.

The trailer touches on the campaign to release Exotic from prison and the plot to kill Baskin.

Tiger King became a viral Netflix hit at the height of the pandemic

In 2018, Exotic, the owner of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was arrested and accused of hiring two men to murder Baskin.

The following year he was found guilty of multiple federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to a 22-year prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas.

Exotic is currently appealing the sentence and has sold his zoo.

In January the new owners of the zoo, Jeff and Lauren Lowe, were ordered by the federal court to relinquish all the lion and tiger cubs in their possession, along with the animals' mothers, to the federal government.

The animal park was accused of having violated the US's Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act.

The Baskins have since collaborated with film-maker Michael Webber on the 2021 documentary The Conservation Game.

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
TikTokers are making memes about accidentally picking up their razor instead of their toothbrush. Carol Yepes via Getty Images

A TikTok trend shows users pretending to brush their teeth with razors instead of toothbrushes.

It's drawn from the Webtoon "Horang's Nightmare" and set to the song "Suki Suki Daisuki."

Warning: The embedded videos include dramatizations of injuries using fake blood.

A gory trend has been circulating on TikTok over the past month, as creators use fake blood to show what would happen if they accidentally brushed their teeth, applied eyeliner, or combed their hair with a razor.

The trend is set to a pitched- and slowed-down version of the song "Suki Suki Daisuki," a Japanese-language track by the artist Jun Togawa that was released in 1985, according to Genius. The Genius English translation of the track is about a love that at times turns violent, with translated lyrics like, "say you love me or I'll kill you." The sound, which was uploaded to TikTok in July by the user @liqterary, has been used in over 198,000 videos.

Many of the videos show a creator reaching for an object like a tooth or eyeliner pen, only to look down and realize that they've accidentally brushed their teeth or attempted to apply makeup with a shaving razor. At least 50 videos associated with the trend have over 1 million likes and many have view counts in the millions as well.

The below videos include dramatizations of injuries.

The format appears to draw directly from the Webtoon series "Horang's Nightmare," penned by the Korean horror author Horang, who is known for other webcomics like "Bongcheon-dong Ghost." In the series' third chapter, a character who seems to be living in a haunted apartment picks up his razor instead of a toothbrush, cutting his mouth in the process.

It's unclear exactly how the format morphed into a trend on TikTok, but videos of the chapter seem to have circulated on TikTok in mid-September, eventually morphing into a full-fledged trend and continuing to evolve over the course of October. In that time, it's expanded past the specific toothbrush and razor combo to include other items like combs and eyeliner pencils.

Story continues

Other users also began to parody the trend, showing themselves trying to shave with their toothbrushes instead of razors and using the wrong objects for other tasks.

In one video, TikTok user @yeedasu put a mesh cover (like those used to package Asian pears) over a dog's snout instead of brushing the dog.

While the trend is pure fiction, users in the comment sections of popular videos are speaking about looking at everything a bit more carefully.

"This trend makes me double check everything I do," one comment with 16,000 likes on user @alicekingmakeup's take on the trend reads.

Read more stories from Insider's Digital Culture desk.

Read the original article on Insider
The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry, saying consolidation would hurt authors and, ultimately, readers.

German media giant Bertelsmann's Penguin Random House, already the largest American publisher, wants to buy New York-based Simon & Schuster, whose authors include Stephen King, Hillary Clinton and John Irving, from TV and film company ViacomCBS.

The Department of Justice filed an antitrust suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., Tuesday in the first major antitrust action by the Biden administration. The department said the deal would give Penguin Random House outsized influence" over which books are published in the U.S. and how much authors are paid.

If the worlds largest book publisher is permitted to acquire one of its biggest rivals, it will have unprecedented control over this important industry," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. American authors and consumers will pay the price of this anticompetitive merger  lower advances for authors and ultimately fewer books and less variety for consumers."

The purchase of Simon & Schuster would reduce the so-called Big Five, which dominate American publishing and include HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan, to four.

Because it targets the prices paid to authors as well as those paid by consumers, the suit shows a possible new direction for the antitrust regulators under the Biden administration, suggested Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on antirust.

Theres a desire to think very comprehensively about all the interests that could be harmed, he said. It raises lots of interesting questions about publishing and about competition in publishing.

The governments case addresses a conventional market of five mammoth old-line publishing houses. Overshadowing it is Amazon, which created an empire and ecosystem of digital books starting back in 1995, controlling not only the bookstore but also the dominant devices for reading e-books and listening to audiobooks, and eventually some of the content. The e-books undercut the prices of conventional books, providing ammunition to the publishing houses in asserting that they have to bulk up to survive the competition.

Story continues

The deal raised concern from writers and from rival publishers. The Authors Guild has said it opposes the acquisition because there would be less competition for authors manuscripts.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns HarperCollins and had reportedly also been interested in buying Simon & Schuster, also slammed the deal. Its CEO Robert Thomson said last fall that Bertelsmann was buying market dominance as a book behemoth.

In a statement, Penguin Random House and Simon & Simon & Schuster said they would fight the lawsuit. They say blocking the deal would harm authors.

DOJs lawsuit is wrong on the facts, the law, and public policy, said Daniel Petrocelli, Penguin Random House's lawyer. Importantly, DOJ has not found, nor does it allege, that the combination will reduce competition in the sale of books."

The new antitrust suit signals that the Justice Department is willing to use its full authority to combat the wave of consolidation swallowing the American economy, said Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an organization that advocates for government action against business concentration.

This case also reflects how Amazons dominance looms as a predatory presence for most firms in the economy, Miller said in a statement. The CEOs of the number one and number three publishers openly sought to use this merger to become an exceptional partner to Amazon.

___

AP National Writer Hillel Italie and Business Writer Marcy Gordon contributed to this report.
An expert panel unanimously recommended Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid vaccine for five- to 11-year-olds on Tuesday, the penultimate step in the process that will allow injections in young children to begin this week in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top US public health agency, was expected to endorse that recommendation later Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine for the age group last week, but since it is distributed through public services, the CDC is also required to recommend it.

The government was well ahead of the decision, procuring enough doses for the 28 million US children in the age group and beginning to ship them across the country.

Since the FDA approval, "there hasn't been a moment that teams have not been picking, packing and shipping vaccines," Jeff Zients, the White House pandemic coordinator, said Monday.

"We are planning on some vaccinations towards the end of this week," he said, adding that the program will be "really hitting full strength the week of November 8."

The CDC convened a panel of independent scientists on Tuesday to review the available data on the status of the outbreak in children, the effectiveness of Pfizer's vaccine, and its possible side effects during a day of live-streamed discussions.

The main concern was the risk of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, detected in adolescents and young adults (mostly males) after vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna shots.

Health authorities have confirmed nearly 880 cases in people under 30 years of age, of which approximately 830 required hospitalization.

Nine deaths are suspected to have been related to myocarditis after the vaccine.

But of six cases so far reviewed, vaccine-related myocarditis was ultimately not identified "as the cause of death," pediatric cardiologist Dr. Matthew Oster said in a presentation.

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"I'm much more worried about what would happen to their child if they get Covid, for patients who don't have heart disease, than I am if they were to get this vaccine," he added.

There have been more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19 among five- to 11-year-olds in the United States, and more than 8,300 hospitalizations, more than 2,300 cases of MIS-C (pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome), and about 100 deaths.

The expected benefits of vaccinating children also include fewer school closures, and a possible reduction in transmission of the epidemic into the general population.

"If I had a grandchild, I would certainly get that grandchild vaccinated as soon as possible," said Beth Bell, an infectious disease specialist and committee member.

"We have excellent evidence of efficacy and safety. We have a favourable risk benefit analysis."

la/cjc/st/dw
The USS Connecticut struck an "uncharted seamount" in early October, damaging the Washington state-based submarine and injuring 11 sailors, according to a U.S. Navy investigation.

The U.S. nuclear-powered vessel was operating in the disputed waters of the South China Sea at the time of the Oct. 2 incident, and China on Tuesday accused the U.S. of a lack of transparency and responsibility."

The Navy investigation is now in the hands of Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander of the Navy's Japan-based 7th Fleet, who will decide on any disciplinary action, Thomas' spokeswoman, Hayley Sims, told the Kitsap Sun of the USA TODAY Network on Monday.

A seamount is "an underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Two sailors among the Connecticut's crew of about 140 suffered "moderate" injuries but did not require hospitalization; the rest were mostly cuts and scrapes, the Navy said.

The Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Connecticut, seen here in a 2012 file photo, arrives at Naval Base Kitsap after completing a deployment.

The vessel sailed after the accident to Guam, where Navy officials are working to assess and repair damages.

China's government has criticized the Navy's response, calling the information released about the accident a "brief and vague statement issued by the U.S. military with procrastination."

The incident happened on Oct. 2 but was not reported by the Navy until five days later.

We once again urge the U.S. to give a detailed account of the accident, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said during a Tuesday briefing.

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Last month, deputy director of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said China and other Asian countries were "justified" to ask about the Connecticut's activities before the accident.

"As the party directly involved, the onus is on the US to give a detailed explanation in response to the concerns and doubts of regional countries and the international community," he said.

Story continues

The Pentagon has said that providing information about the incident shows the Navy isn't attempting to hide what occurred.

"It's an odd way of covering something up when you put a press release out about it," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Oct. 12.

The Connecticut is one of three submarines that are part of the Seawolf class, the most potent and secretive in the Navy. All three are homeported in Kitsap County, Washington.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Navy investigation into submarine accident brings criticism from China
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Verry Elleegant surged home to beat hot favorite Incentivise and win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, giving high-profile trainer Chris Waller his first victory in Australia's most famous horse race.

It was the New Zealand-bred mares 10th Group 1 win. Spanish Mission was third in the 3,200-meter (2-mile) classic.

Waller was renowned for training record-breaking Winx, which won 33 consecutive races and had 25 Group 1 wins before retiring. Waller now has another impressive credential.

Winning jockey James McDonald described Verry Elleegant as a super hero after beating Incentivise by four lengths, and said I love her to bits.

She is trained by a master  he gets them right," McDonald said in a post-race TV interview. "She was relaxed the whole way. When I looked up about the 600 (meters to go), I was blowing kisses to her.

Incentivise, trained by Peter Moody, was aiming for a 10th consecutive win, including the Caulfield Cup over 2,400 meters on Oct. 16.

Twilight Payment returned from Ireland to defend its title but ran in the middle for much of the race and finished 11th.

With Melbourne only recently coming out of a lengthy COVID-19 lockdown, the Flemington Racecourse was restricted to a crowd of 10,000 fully-vaccinated people. It can accommodate up to 120,000 spectators on major race days.

Still, it was an improvement on last year. There was no crowd allowed because of restrictions in place for the pandemic in 2020, when Twilight Payment beat Tiger Moth by a half length and Prince of Arran placed third for the third consecutive year.

The so-called race that stops a nation has been held since 1861 and regularly attracted crowds of more than 100,000.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
A Virginia lawmaker up for reelection was pulled over after his passenger was reportedly seen removing campaign signs on the night before election day, officials said.

Del. Chris Hurst, the Democratic incumbent running for reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates 12th District, was stopped by officers with the Radford Police Department around 10 p.m. on Nov. 1, Radford City Sheriff Mark Armentrout told local outlet WFXR News.

Prior to the traffic stop, a sheriffs deputy saw a woman tampering with and removing campaign signs within the precinct and notified the police department, Armentrout told McClatchy News.

Armentrout said the woman was a passenger in the car Hurst was driving.

Hurst was pulled over and given a notification that his license had been suspended, according to Armentrout. He was not given a ticket. McClatchy News reached out to the Radford Police Department for more information on the traffic stop but has not received a response.

Hurst told officials he was not aware his license was suspended, according to WSLS.

His campaign has not addressed the incident on social media or responded to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

Hurst, who has held his seat since 2018, is running against Republican Jason Ballard in the Nov. 2 general election.

Ballards campaign commented on the incident on Facebook.

This isnt how your representative should act, it said. Vote today for new leadership in the House of Delegates!

Virginias 12th district is in the western part of the state and includes Montgomery, Giles and Pulaski counties and Radford City. It has a population of roughly 80,492 as of the 2010 census count, according to Ballotpedia.
Native Americans saw their jobless rate soar during the pandemic, but a growing population, increasing entrepreneurship and more federal resources could give the community an economic boost, according to a new Wells Fargo report.

The jobless rate among Native Americans living outside metro areas rose to nearly 20% during the pandemic as many service jobs disappeared and casinos in tribal communities were shuttered to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to the Wells Fargo commentary, which provided a financial snapshot of Indigenous Americans at the start of Native American Heritage Month.

But the number of Americans identifying as indigenous increased by over 27% to 3.7 million during the last decade compared to a 7.4% uptick in the overall population, according to U.S. Census data. Another roughly 6 million Americans said they had some American Indian or Alaska native ancestry.

Native America: Seeing America through Indigenous travel

Native Hawaiian kids were already struggling: Then came COVID-19

U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland celebrate the announcement of the expansion of areas of three national monuments at the White House on October 8, 2021. The Biden administration restored the areas of two Utah parks with lands held sacred by several Native American tribes, Bears Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante, as well as the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts of the New England coast, after former President Donald Trump opened them to mining, drilling and development during his time in office.

With a median age of 32 compared to 38 for the broader population and rapidly rising numbers, the indigenous community may gain political clout that can lead to more funding for education and other areas, fostering improved financial stability, says Jay Bryson, chief economist for Wells Fargo and co-author of the commentary.

"More people appear to be embracing their Native American ancestry,'' Bryson says, "and over time that could translate into political power...and potentially direct more resources to the community.

Interior Sec. Deb Haaland made history this year by becoming the first Native American to serve as a presidential Cabinet secretary. Charles "Chuck" Sams III has been nominated as director of the National Park Service. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first Native American to serve in that role.

Lower household income

Native Americans have tended to experience higher unemployment than many other communities. Last year, the not seasonally adjusted average jobless rate for Native Americans and Alaska natives was 11.7%, as compared to 11.4% for Black Americans, 10.04% for Hispanics, and 7.3% for whites, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Additionally, the median household income among Native Americans was about $45,000 in 2019 compared to the overall median national income of roughly $66,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community survey.

The income gap may be due in part to Native Americans often living outside of metro areas, winnowing the number of available jobs, says Bryson. And roughly 28% of Native Americans who were employed in 2019 worked in management or professional jobs vs. the 40% of the overall workforce that filled those higher-paying positions, he said, citing census data.

Meanwhile about 24% of employed Native Americans worked in service jobs, as compared to roughly 18% of the overall labor force.

With only about 10% of Native American adults 25 years and older having a college degree as compared to a third of the overall population, more funding for education could help boost income, Bryson says.

Long drives and limited options: Indigenous women with breast cancer face harsh reality

"There's a correlation here between lower education attainment...and the relatively low median income among indigenous households,'' Bryson says.

The American Rescue Plan, passed in March to help jolt the economy in the wake of the pandemic, carved out $31.2 billion for indigenous communities. And the pending federal infrastructure bill also could direct about $11 billion to Native American tribes, according to the Wells Fargo report, citing the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

The number of tribal-owned businesses beyond casinos has also been rising, with 99 opening last year, according to a review of Small Business Administration data by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

"The gaming industry has been an important source of job creation for indigenous individuals over the past few decades,'' the Wells Fargo report said, "but there seems to be a recognition that the employment base of the Native American community needs to be broadened.''

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Native Americans could see political clout, financial boom on horizon
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Authorities planned to seal off the northern tip of New Zealand with police cordons on Tuesday, as they enforce a lockdown in the region over fears of an undetected community transmission of COVID-19 there.

Part of the Northland region, about 270 km (168 miles) from the biggest city of Auckland, is to begin a level 3 lockdown from midnight, said Chris Hipkins, the minister coordinating the response to coronavirus.

The move follows two cases in the region that lacked a link to any known cases.

"It's unclear how they could have possibly picked up the virus," Hipkins told a news conference. "There could be undetected community transmission in Northland right now."

The cabinet will review on Monday the decision to seal off the area, where vaccination rates are among the lowest in the country, with just 64% of North Island's eligible population fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was visiting Northland on Tuesday, had to abruptly halt a media conference after being continuously interrupted and heckled by at least two people, who appeared to be anti-vaxxers.

One could be heard singing during the event, while another asked Ardern to identify a person who died in August after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, and accused her of lying to the public.

New Zealand won global praise last year for its response that stamped out the coronavirus.

But it has been tougher to quash the current outbreak of the Delta variant around Auckland, forcing authorities to decide to live with the virus rather than an earlier strategy of elimination.

Virus curbs in Auckland were extended by a week on Monday.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Princess Mako of Japans husband has reportedly failed his bar exam in New York State, just days after the pair married, and Princess Mako lost her royal status.

The princess married Kei Komuro at a Tokyo registry office wedding on 26 October. She forfeited the usual customs of a royal wedding, and refused a 140million yen which she was entitled to as a royal female leaving leaving the imperial family, palace officials said.

Mako, 30, is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito. She met Mr Komuro at university and the pair married after an eight-year-long engagement.

Following the marriage, the couple are expected to move to the United States to live in New York City where Mr Komuro works as a lawyer at the New-Jersey based law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP. Ms Mako is also expected to find a job in New York.

Mr Komuro sat the New York State Bar Association exam earlier this year in a bid to become a licensed attorney in the United States. However, the results released just days after his marriage to Ms Mako revealed that he had failed his exams.

The results were reportedly posted on the website of the New York State Board of Law Examiners on Friday 29 October and Mr Komuros name was not featured in the list of successful candidates. The examination board has revealed that out of the 9,227 people who took the exam, only 5,791 in fact passed it.

According to the Japanese broadcasterNHK, Mr Komuro discussed the exam result with Okuno Yoshihiko, the head of a firm in Japan where he used to work, in a phone call the day after the results came out.

Mr Yoshihiko revealed that Mr Komuro plans to continue studying for the exam and suggested that he will retake it in February. If he is to take the exam in February, Mr Komuro must submit an application in November, The Japan Times reports.

Ms Mako has said that she will continue to support her husbands studies. ...continue reading
Japanese horse-racing fans celebrated and commentators cursed their luck after a filly named Sumomomomomomomomo claimed her maiden win.

The three-year-old made a dramatic late surge to claim victory at Tokyos Oi racecourse on Monday, winning in the 12th race of her career.

The horses unusual name has made her a social media phenomenon in Japan, with fans and TV personalities lining up to cheer her first victory.

She finally won  the horse with the name that makes race commentators cry! wrote one Twitter user.

Im finally able to say it properly, wrote another.

Japanese television showed the commentator coping admirably with the eight mo in Sumomomomomomomomos name as she sped down the final straight.

The name is based on a Japanese tongue-twister that means plums and peaches are both peaches.
The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.



BEIJING  China is the largest contributor to global warming and Chinas people are already suffering the brunt of climate change.

Historic floods that destroyed farms this summer in the countrys agricultural heartland are a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms.

Chinese government reports also predict rising sea levels will threaten major coastal cities while melting glaciers imperil western Chinas water supply. Those with the least resources to adapt are often on the frontlines of suffering in a common pattern around the world. As one farmer in Henan province said, Ordinary people suffer most.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Overall, personal income tax collections were relatively flat for the first four months of the current fiscal year due to a combination of tax cuts and anemic job growth that has held down employment and withholdings, Robinson said.

Year-to-date tax collections are running ahead of the annual growth projection set by the Revenue Estimating Conference, but Robinson said the past April, May and June receipts will be tough to exceed next spring.

On a fiscal year basis, October receipts were up 4.7%, but year-to-date comparisons are down 5.4%, or $161.4 million, when receipts after June 30 are charged back to the previous fiscal year, Robinson said.

STATE SETTLEMENTS APPROVED: The State Appeal Board voted 3-0 Monday to approve a $135,000 settlement to resolve a workplace injury and disability dispute.

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Michelle Brunk alleged retaliation against her by the Iowa Department of Public Safety after suffering a compensable workplace injury and pursuing workers compensation benefits. She also claimed the agency discriminated against her on the claimed disability and allegedly retaliated against her for engaging in a protected action under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse started Monday. What's going on trial isn't just the teenager accused of killing two men during a chaotic night in Kenosha, it's also the idea of the self-appointed authority to take up arms  essentially, vigilantism.

Rittenhouse wasn't law enforcement. He wasn't a member of the military. He didn't even live in Wisconsin, let alone the city where civil unrest and protests happened after the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Rittenhouse is charged with killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber on Aug. 25, 2020, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz. He has pleaded not guilty.

But before we hear the prosecution's case or Rittenhouse's claims of self-defense, let's be clear about one thing: Rittenhouse was carrying an assault rifle in a state that prohibits minors (Rittenhouse was 17 at the time) from carrying firearms in public, with exceptions for hunting. He has said he went to Kenosha armed to protect businesses from looters.

An acquittal wouldn't just set Rittenhouse free, it would set a legal precedent for other citizens to grab a gun and take the law into their own hands.

You start making that OK and good luck getting that genie back in the bottle in a country with more guns than people.
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Nebraskas coronavirus cases and hospitalizations were up again last week, indicating that the delta surge that began over the summer has not yet lost its sting.

The state reported 5,316 new cases for the week ending Friday, up from 3,100 the previous week, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

However, the data picture is less than crystal clear: Roughly 600 of the new cases appear to have occurred the previous week, but the reporting of them was delayed. Even adjusting for that reporting discrepancy, Nebraskas case growth appears to be among the top five among the states as new cases nationwide continue to fall.

If the increase holds, it will interrupt a slow, four-week-long decline in cases.

One clearer sign that cases are rising: Hospitalizations also ticked up last week, from an average of 369 a day to 375. New daily admissions were up more sharply, from 41 a day to 50.
We really need true servants with realistic goals for the people to make things better for this country, she said.

Turnout was about 16%. The district is more than 61% Democratic and about 13% Republican. In the 2020 election, Hastings earned 78.7% of the vote to defeat Republican Greg Musselwhite, whom Mariner defeated in this year's primary.

Cherfilus-McCormick loaned her campaign more than $3.7 million and has far outspent the other Democrats in the race. Sharief was the second-highest spender as of mid-October, with about $700,000 in expenditures.

Heading into Election Day, out of the more than 345,000 eligible primary voters, nearly 33,000 Democrats and more than 4,000 Republicans had already cast votes.

Republican Kevin Cerino, who voted for the GOP's Mariner, readily acknowledged that the seat will absolutely go to the Democratic winner.

It is what it is, said Cerino, who didn't sound enthusiastic about his choice. "Mariner seems to be slightly less of a clown than the other guy running. This kind of district that's so overwhelmingly Democratic, you're not going to get a quality candidate.

The district is nearly 54% Black. Every Democrat on the ballot is a person of color, while the two Republicans are white.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Another Biden-proposed tax change I have been working to defeat with the potential to harm farms and small businesses across Nebraska is requiring banks and credit unions to begin reporting on a large share of their account holders to the IRS. I have heard from thousands of Nebraskans opposing this specific proposal, and I have been working with my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee to defeat it.

While Democrats stepped away from their initial, alarmingly low reporting threshold of $600 per year, their latest proposal would create a new set of problems. Their plan is to require reporting on accounts with inflows and outflows of $10,000 or more per year with possible exemptions for payroll income and payments like mortgage payments. Although the combination of a higher reporting threshold and proposed exemptions would likely reduce the number of accounts reported, it would create more work for local banks and credit unions that were already alarmed by the $600 requirement. Right now, banks do not track the purpose of every payment, and this proposal could very well force them to do that. In addition, it could be used by the IRS to refocus their auditing effort on law-abiding taxpayers who own their own business  something the Biden administration has said it wants to do.
The NADC ruled in Groenes favor, relying on a legal opinion that a person might have multiple residences, none of which must be disclosed on the NADC financial statement. My issue was his failure to disclose an asset, but the senator is correct in that there is another, more important question: Which Lincoln does he reside in  the county of Lincoln or the city of Lincoln? The question gained even greater relevance after he sold his home in North Platte. As far as I can determine, Groene no longer owns any real estate in District 42, but does in Lancaster County.

This isnt just about some minor discrepancy on a report very few read or even know about. Consider this: If Groene no longer has a residence in North Platte, he cant represent District 42 in the Legislature. A different set of Nebraska laws determines the residence of elected officials.
It is important not to vilify those clearing tropical forests. In most cases, whether its oil-palm plantation workers in southeast Asia, or the owner of a family-run cocoa farm in Ghana, these are just ordinary people trying to make a living. Where those clearing forest are poor subsistence farmers with few alternatives, such as many in Madagascar for example, preventing forest clearance can mean some of the poorest people on the planet are bearing the cost of tackling climate change. Given that such people contribute relatively few emissions, this isnt very fair.

What we do know is that progress on slowing deforestation has been wildly inadequate. The good news is Brazil, Russia and China, which did not sign the 2014 declaration, have this time. However, words are cheap. Actually slowing deforestation is difficult to achieve.

Why is it so hard to slow deforestation?
haha

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i mean good luck i guess

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My first reaction lmao

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Neat, many can agree that both Bryan and Ryan Adams are horrible.



Truly, once it was a joke, but they're both awful.

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Screw both of of those men, Tina is a legend. Want to see a thing? Go to youtube and look up Pround Mary. Yep that n matters, as it's not deleted. It's so good.

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I'm so sad about Bryan Adams cos I love his music.

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They arent the same person...

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Thats the jokelol.

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Well well well, how the turntables

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Anti-vaxx, anti-mask Kristy Swanson is trending because shes in the hospital from COVID.



I would reply and wish her well, but she blocked me when I called her Rough Draft Buffy.



  Steve Hofstetter (@SteveHofstetter) November 1, 2021

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I cant remember the exact details but I loved when people clowned her for being like my son died five times or something lol



Shes the worst

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tom's house was broken into and he confronted the burgler and then had to go have eye surgery and then my son had to go over and help and then my son he rolled his car five times on the way home

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Is the Herman Cain Award the only award shes been nominated for in her career?

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She has always been buffy to me not SMG. Sorry. Downgrading her to rough draft buffy instead.

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These anti vax people...if you actively promote disinformation, make fun of the doctors who are trying to inform the public (like she did) and then get covid...you should be denied medical services. Have faith that you'll be okay.



Why should these people be allowed to benefit from the medical services that others can't afford or get in part because of their spreading of misinformation? There are people dying simply because being able to get an open bed at a hospital is difficult. There are people who are working tirelessly to save lives and they are being overworked because of misinformation about vaccines that is being spread by people like her and Scott Baio, who were BFFs on the anti vax train. Let the resources go to someone else.



And really, you'd think these people would try their best to hide it when they end up hospitalized with serious problems because of how stupid it then makes them look, but they always end up posting on social media about it. I'd be so embarrassed! You look like an idiot. Maybe not post on twitter about your 'brave journey'.

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i'm sure her not-nephew can give her tips on coming back to life

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I wonder what would be different if Covid was never a thing

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so many things, and lives could have been saved. but one of the biggest takeaways is learning who does not care.

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Off the top of my head, streaming wouldnt have become the growing titan and center of conversation its become in such a short amount of time. Experts had predicted something like this was going to happen but they were expecting this at least 7-10 years down the line. The pandemic rushed it. Which cause huge effects on the current state and future of cinema.



A few other business and stores wouldve still been open cause the pandemic caused a lot of places to go out of business.



Technology and social media def had a big boom because of this. I can only imagine a more growing need for it after this.



I cant wait to get an accurate list of things that happened as a direct result of the pandemic.



Edited at 2021-11-02 07:03 am (UTC)

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Well one of the worst things apart from people suffering was learning that some people are just straight up selfish assholes and will be given the solution to a problem for free and refuse just because they made up something in their mind.

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Yep. The levels of selfishness astound me still. For me, it's not just the anti-vaxxers. We're not out of the 4th wave in Michigan, and it is pretty fucking bad, yet there was a big ass college football game on Saturday.



I understand people miss things and they're not having experiences they would have had in a non-pandemic time. But people are dying from COVID, the hospitals are overwhelmed, and we don't know the long-term impacts of COVID. Burning some sofas and cheering on some football rivalry isn't worth the risk to the community.

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We wouldn't have possible/likely vaccines for HIV and malaria if you want some good news

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On a British note, the UK government wouldn't have been able to hide how badly the country is doing with Brexit in covid.

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We wouldnt have concrete evidence that our employers are living in the 80s and are useless at tech and ultimately care more about seeing your body in the office than the health and safety of their staff.

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Im surprised its taken this long for RRHF to recognize Tina!

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Bryan Adams is a racist pos. That's all that needs to be said here. Also lol

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Seriously? I had no idea. I've never really followed him but always listened to his music growing up. So he's racist and anti-admitting-to-covid? What a crying shame.

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this...everytine summer of 69 comes on, I still jam to it. what a shame :(

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haha he already look sickly, this wont be fun for him.

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die challenge

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They just let anyone who can play music into the R&R Hall of Fame, don't they?

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He's not in. He was just supposed to be there to pay tribute to Tina Turner since they once did a duet.

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Temporarily forgot how to read. Thanks for clarifying.

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 Please forgive him, he's in the ICU

Please forgive him, it's sure not "just the flu"

Don't deny it, this pain he's going through

Please forgive him, this wealthy, racist tool  ... Or not, idc. 

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Cheap batteries have been the key factor for the mass adoption of electric cars for a while now. Until recently, battery costs were on a steady downward curve as technology improved and efficiency increased. But then the pandemic came and wrought havoc on every single industry and supply chain. Lithium prices are running to record highs at the moment, with the London Metal Exchange reporting the price for a kilogram of lithium hydroxideone of three forms of lithium traded on global marketsat $27 last Friday. The other forms of battery-grade lithium are also soaring, as seen in these charts from Fastmarkets. And this trend is threatening the EV revolution.

That revolution was to be driven by the longer ranges carmakers offer for their electric cars but mostly by these cars becoming more affordable thanks to cheaper batteries, the result of economies of scale. Yet because of the global shortage of various raw materials, the economies of scale are being delayed for the foreseeable future.

China's EV giant BYD said last week it would raise the prices of its batteries by at least a fifth beginning in November, Caixin reported. The company cited not just lithium prices but also the price of cobalt as a reason for the price rise. The price of lithium cobalt oxidea compound used for battery cathodes, BYD said, had risen more than threefold since last December. The price of electrolytes, the company also said, had surged 150 percent in the period.

Related: First Large U.S. Shale Driller To Pledge Flat Output In 2022

The problem seems to be particularly acute in China, which has a lot of battery makers, but it is unlikely to remain limited to that country alone. BYD, for one, does not just use its batteries in its own vehicles. It also supplies batteries to Toyota and Ford.

"The market may have to reposition itself for a period of rising battery cell prices, a new phenomena for an industry conditioned to expect year-on-year falls," the chief executive of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence told Reuters last week. BMI has forecast the price for EV batteries using nickel, cobalt, and manganese could rise to $115 per kWh in 2022, from $105 per kWh this year if battery manufacturers in South Korea and Japan follow in China's footsteps.

In truth, the Chinese lithium price trends were also substantially affected by factory shutdowns amid the energy crunch. However, other factors affecting the prices of battery metals are global: supply is tight for many of them while demand is on the increase. It's not just lithium.

Last month, Rystad Energy warned that the carmaking industry's shift to an all-electric future could run into an obstacle in the form of a nickel supply shortage within five years. The Norwegian consultancy has forecast that as soon as 2024, demand for nickel could reach 3.4 million tons, which would be higher than supply. Currently, nickel demand stands at 2.5 million tons.

Related: Chronic Underinvestment Could Send Energy Prices Higher For Longer

The outlook for lithium's fundamentals is, if anything, even more worrying. Rio Tinto recently forecast that under net-zero commitments, lithium demand would come to substantially exceed supply in the coming years, creating a hard-to-fill gap. The reason it will be hard to fill is that existing lithium projects would only be able to contribute about a million tons of supply annually while demand is seen growing to 3 million tons, from just 300,000 tons today.

With such gaps between supply and demand for metals and minerals critical for EV battery production, Rystad expects EVs to add a few thousand dollars to their price tags, which will make selling them harder. Perhaps the problem could be solved by additional government subsidies, but subsidies are a tricky tool to use as they invariably get shouldered by the taxpayer who is the target of the EV push in any case.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In characteristically blunt fashion, Russian President Vladimir Putin had this to say when asked last month if Russia was again using its energy resources as a political weapon:

This is complete nonsense, ravings, and politically motivated blather, he told a Moscow energy conference on October 13.

Two weeks later, the European Unions foreign policy chief was uncharacteristically blunt as he described Russias threat to cut gas supplies to Moldova, a decision that prompted the cash-strapped, aspiring EU member to declare a state of emergency: the weaponization of gas supplies.

With natural-gas prices hitting record highs, Europes winter of discontent is only beginning, fueled by misgivings over the blocs energy policies and suspicions over the intentions of the continents single largest supplier of gas.

Those suspicions have been fueled by Russian officials themselves, and they have compounded doubts about the specific intentions of Gazprom, the state export monopoly that is beholden to Kremlin policy.

The 27-member EU gets more than 40 percent of its gas imports from Russia.

A $120 billion publicly-traded company in which the Russian government holds a controlling stake, Gazprom ostensibly seeks to maximize profits through exports. Yet with prices climbing higher since at least the summer, the company has opted not to meet increased demand from European consumers, something that some European lawmakers have asserted is market manipulation.

For Gazprom, more exports mean more pipelines -- for example, Power of Siberia, across southern Siberia into China; or TurkStream, under the Black Sea to Turkey and southern Europe.

It also means an additional pipeline directly into the heart of Europe: Nord Stream 2, under the Black Sea.

The nearly complete pipeline is awaiting final certification from German regulators, who say the process could be completed by the new year.

Russian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, have linked quick approval of the pipeline with stabilizing European markets. Those comments were perceived by some analysts and critics as a quid-pro-quo effort to prod German regulators to move faster.

Days before Putins speech in Moscow, Russias envoy to the EU suggested that the blocs own policies were to blame for Russias cold shoulder, something Putin himself later hammered on.

The crux of the matter is only a matter of phraseology, Vladimir Chizhov told the Financial Times. Change adversary to partner and things get resolved easier. When the EU finds enough political will to do this, they will know where to find us.

Moscow alone can hardly be blamed for high prices and shortages, Stephen Sestanovich, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for the former Soviet Union, wrote in an analysis last week. Yet, the turmoil reconfirms Russias willingness to exploit its customers vulnerabilities -- as seen in previous disputes with Ukraine and Estonia.

Prices Jump. Europe Frets.

Just five days after Putins speech, on October 18, market analysts and traders were watching an important trading deadline -- for when companies book shipping contracts for the upcoming month.

With available capacity in the primary pipeline route for Russian gas -- Ukraine -- and a secondary route via Poland, it would be easy to use the existing network, and for Moscow to meet the spiking demand and make a nice profit, experts said.

Related: China Releases Fuel From Reserve To Stop Price Spike

In what some saw as a poke directly at Russia, the International Energy Agency said Moscow could ship at least 15 percent more gas than it was already supplying. Gazprom didnt. Prices jumped higher. European customers fretted more.

Gazprom did not immediately respond to e-mails from RFE/RL seeking comment.

Low Storage

Over the summer, analysts had warned that Europes winter could be turbulent, with electricity prices spiking in line with spiking gas prices.

Among the compelling explanations for Gazproms lack of interest in increasing supplies was the need to top up Russias own storage units going into the cold weather months. Once that was completed, Gazprom could up its shipments to Europe, where stored gas volumes were also unusually low.

In an October 28 meeting with Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller, Putin directed him to supply storage units in Austria and Germany after November 8 -- when Russia's storage was expected to be filled.

By the following day, prices dropped nearly 29 percent on a key European trading hub, according to Independent Commodity Intelligence Services.

The United States has been largely hawkish on the question of Europes reliance on Russian gas, and in particular, the potential dangers of a second Baltic Sea pipeline.

However, President Joe Bidens administration earlier this year opted not to block the end-stage construction of the nearly complete pipeline, over the protests of Republican lawmakers in Congress. Those protests, and the accusations that Russia was weaponizing its energy resources, have grown even louder. Related: A Cold Winter Could Double Natural Gas Prices And Send Oil To $100

Using energy as a weapon is one of those things where you know it when you see it, Amos Hochstein, the U.S. State Departments top energy official, told reporters last month.

I think were getting close to that line. If Russia indeed has the gas to supply and it chooses not to and will only do so if Europe accedes to other demands that are completely unrelated, then its hard to make the argument that it is not, he said.

Ukraine, which nets hundreds of millions of dollars in fees from Europe-bound Russian gas transiting its pipeline networks, also opposed the U.S. decision.

We have always known that Gazproms decision not to ship gas through Ukraine was geopolitical at its core. And we now have overwhelming evidence, Serhiy Makogon, the head of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, the operator of the countrys pipeline network, said in a statement to RFE/RL.

Reverse Flow

For skeptics of Russias intentions, history is a guide. Moscow shut off gas supplies twice to Ukraine and its Western-leaning government in the 2000s. The shutoffs, which occurred in January, rippled into Europe, causing shortages and resulting in people shivering in unheated apartments in some countries.

One day after Putins meeting with Miller, another event caught analysts attention: Gas flowing westward to Germany via pipelines in Poland was reversed, flowing eastward instead. There was no official explanation for the reversal in the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which continued into November 1. Gazprom issued a statement saying it was still fulfilling its contractual obligations.

Tom Marzec-Manser, a gas analyst with Independent Commodity Intelligence Services, called the reversal unusual but not completely unheard of.

The lack of flow on the pipeline: You can make your own judgment, your readers can, whether there is some political element to that, he told RFE/RL.

Gazprom has been consistently sending signals in opposite directions to agitate gas markets rather than alleviate the crisis, said Leslie Palti-Guzman, president of the energy consultancy company Gas Vista LLC.

In addition to pressuring German regulators to speed up certification of Nord Stream 2, Palti-Guzman said, Russia may be seeking to undermine the allure of U.S. liquefied natural-gas shipments to Europe and also to pressure European customers to sign longer-term contracts.

Higher gas and electricity prices also fuel populist discontent, she said.

Moldova's Emergency

With a new government that supports closer ties with the EU, Moldova has been grappling with the end of a long-term contract with Gazprom. The company demanded drastically higher rates, and when Moldova balked, Gazprom cut deliveries by one-third.

That prompted Moldovan President Maia Sandu to declare a state of emergency.

On October 28, after a Brussels meeting with Moldovas prime minister, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused Gazprom of using political pressure" in return for lower gas prices.

The Russian company, meanwhile, denied that politics played any role in the talks, saying they were conducted exclusively on commercial terms.

A day later, the government agreed to a new, five-year contract with markedly higher prices.

Marzec-Manser, the gas analyst, said that while Moscow was clear in its disapproval of the Sandu governments EU aspirations, Moldovas old contract did not conform with EU standards.

You cant have your cake and eat it, too, he said.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
It should not be taken for granted that the OPEC+ alliance needs to raise its monthly oil production more than currently planned, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, commenting on the U.S. call this weekend for more oil supplies to the market.

The refusal of OPEC+ to increase crude oil production is affecting America's working class, U.S. President Joe Biden said at a news conference following the G20 meeting in Rome this past weekend.

"I do think that the idea that Russia and Saudi Arabia and other major producers are not going to pump more oil so people can have gasoline to get to and from work, for example, is  is  is not  is not right," President Biden said on Sunday.

Commenting on the U.S. pressure on the OPEC+ leaders, Kremlin's spokesman Peskov said, as carried by TASS:

"Russia is a party to the OPEC+ agreements. We adhere to our obligations under these agreements. However, it is a flexible mechanism, and taking into account the infrastructural and situational changes, every time at a given moment, the situation is subject to revision and subsequent decisions. What these decisions will be - let's wait for the planned or extraordinary consultations, if necessary."

OPEC+ ministers are meeting on November 4 to decide the production quotas for December.

Some of the other participants in the OPEC+ dealincluding top OPEC producer and the world's largest oil exporter Saudi Arabiahave already signaled they would rather keep the current pace of easing the cuts by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd).

OPEC+ needs to remain cautious with its approach to oil production adjustments despite rising prices, Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, told Bloomberg in an interview last week.

Two other major oil producers in the Middle East, Kuwait and Iraq, said earlier this week that they support plans for 400,000 bpd increase in production as an adequate and sufficient intervention to meet demand and balance the market.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
According to the design concepts, construction on Munger Hall is projected to begin in April after state environmental reviews are completed. The hall is expected to open in fall 2025.

The halls massive size and unconventional design prompted architect Dennis McFadden to resign his position as a university architectural consultant once it became apparent that the university intended to proceed with Mungers design.

In an Oct. 24 letter to the co-chairs of the UCSB Design Review Committee, McFadden criticized plans for not incorporating exterior windows in 94% of Munger Halls bedrooms. McFadden also criticized the halls projected population density, writing that at the equivalent of 221,000 students per square mile, the hall would qualify as the eighth-densest neighborhood in the world, just behind an area in the Bangladesh capital city of Dhaka.

McFadden also wrote that the hall wont fit in well with UCSBs coastal setting and identity.

The basic concept of Munger Hall as a place for students to live is unsupportable from my perspective as an architect, a parent and a human being, he wrote. I cannot give tacit approval to this project, something I believe I would be doing by continuing my role as a consulting architect to the DRC.
Local

Do Space could be demolished as part of potential plans for new central Omaha library

METRO COMMUNITY COLLEGE Do Space, a technology library that sits on the southwest corner of 72nd and Dodge, could be demolished as part of evolving plans to overhaul Omaha's public libraries. EILEEN T. MESLAR, THE WORLD-HERALD A patron walks through the lobby of the W. Dale Clark Library downtown. Plans for Omahas libraries include demolishing the library, building a new downtown branch and establishing a new central branch.

The first technology library in the United States could be demolished as part of evolving plans to reimagine Omahas public libraries.

The building that houses Do Space, at the southwest corner of 72nd and Dodge Streets, could potentially be razed, and a new central library built on the site, according to two library officials.

The possible incorporation of the private digital library, which was founded in a former Borders bookstore, is just one aspect of plans that are developing and far from settled.

As The World-Herald reported in September, those plans include demolishing the downtown W. Dale Clark Library, building a new downtown branch and establishing a new central library.

The overall project could cost upward of $100 million, according to the head of the Omaha Public Library.

Omaha Public Library and city officials have eyed the Dodge Street corridor from 72nd to 90th Streets as a possible location for a central library since a 2017 library facilities master plan pointed to the area.

Omaha fundraising organization Heritage Services, which has led a series of local civic philanthropic efforts, is planning a private campaign to pay for the project.

All options are on the table, Library Board President Mike Kennedy said of the potential central library location, and nothing has been decided.

Where Do Space is, theres been talk about adding to it, or drastically changing the property, Kennedy said. Were still looking between 72nd and 90th. Were willing to let Heritage come up with a final vision, and were willing to explore joining them in that project.

Find out what could be in store as Omaha reimagines its public libraries Omaha is drafting the next chapter of its public library system, a plan expected to lead to the demolition of the downtown central library and a new central library hub elsewhere in town.

Kennedy added that Heritage is committed to ensuring the library system has the resources and the tools needed for the future.

Just looking at technology, if we could combine the best of Do Space with what we do in the library  thats common sense, Kennedy said.

Do Space, which opened Nov. 7, 2015, is a digital library where members can use computers and other technology like 3-D printers. Heritage raised about $7 million to renovate the former store and equip it with computers and software. A private nonprofit corporation, Community Information Trust, was created to run the operation.

Laura Marlane, executive director of Omaha Public Library, said in a recent interview that early discussions about the central library explored the possibility of putting an addition on the Do Space building. But, she said, talks moved to constructing a new building when it was determined an addition wouldnt be large enough.

As far as I know, thats the plan, but I dont know what other conversations have been had, Marlane said.

Rebecca Stavick, the CEO of Community Information Trust, the nonprofit that oversees Do Space, referred questions on Do Spaces potential involvement to Heritage President Rachel Jacobson.

Jacobson said options are still being explored and stressed that the final plan wont be completed without input from stakeholders and the community.

Were looking at a lot of different options, and the project keeps evolving, Jacobson said. We have so many partners to bring to the table, and we want to make sure the stakeholders are all brought in, and were listening to their feedback.

EILEEN T. MESLAR, THE WORLD-HERALD The third floor of the W. Dale Clark Library. The overall project to reimagine Omahas libraries could cost upward of $100 million, according to the head of the Omaha Public Library.

Stakeholders could include the city, the Omaha Public Library, the Omaha Public Library Foundation, Heritage Services, Community Information Trust, Do Space and others.

Like many details of the potential project, the overall cost remains in flux, but Marlane said she has heard a projected number of about $100 million.

Jacobson said she could not confirm such details as the potential cost. But, she said, the cost would likely be comparable to recent Heritage projects and would represent a significant investment.

The nonprofits most recent project is the $101 million Kiewit Luminarium, a science museum under construction in Lewis & Clark Landing along the Missouri River. The science center, which is being fully paid for by Heritage donors, will complement the ongoing revitalization of Omahas downtown and riverfront parks.

Still, she emphasized that Heritage is in the process of exploring whats possible.

We want to make sure whatever we do, were doing it for the benefit of the city and (Omaha Public Library), she said.

Jacobson said she has appreciated feedback on social media and through community forums hosted by library leaders during October.

Theres been a lot of constructive and thoughtful stuff, she said. Omahans love their libraries, and they need and deserve more investment.

Some forum participants raised concerns that stemmed from an anonymous Twitter account that claimed Heritage and local officials were trying to privatize Omahas libraries. The account cited a September 2020 email from Heritage to the city. Project organizers say the plans discussed in that year-old email are no longer under consideration.

Amid backlash over library plans, Heritage exec says Omaha system will remain 'public entity' A Twitter account called SaveOmahaPublicLibrary raised alarm about the possibility that the city's library system would be merged with a private group. But officials said the concern is unfounded.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert criticized the posts, which she called a false and irresponsible social media campaign.

Social media posts suggesting the Omaha Public Library system will be privatized are completely false, she said in September. There is no such plan.

Kennedy stressed that the community will have a voice in the libraries future.

We have not been formally proposed anything yet from Heritage, Kennedy said. When that happens, there is going to be public discussion that will involve the community about the proposal. Heritage is looking at the public input, they want to do this right.

Marlane said many of the requests made during the forums and through more than 1,000 surveys echo requests that have been made in the past 20 years.

Requests for more staff, money for books in all formats, better faxing and printing options, and the continuation of curbside service, which began during COVID, were all common themes during the forums, Marlane said. Library officials are still working to analyze the online surveys.

Marlane said she expects a strategic plan to be ready to present to the Library Board of Trustees in March.

Stothert said Friday that library officials recognize the benefits of a strategic plan to provide the services that are important to our library patrons.

Community input is a critical part of the strategic planning process, Stothert said. I am confident the library administration will present a plan to the trustees that outlines a strong future.
The current status of the 287(g) program is under review given the change in administrations, according to an ICE spokesman. ICE has 146 agreements with local law enforcement, which includes contracts with 70 jails in 20 states, like the one with the Dakota County Jail.

An ICE official said recent statistics were not available, but in 2019, the agency reported that from October 2018 to September 2019, a total of 25 county jail inmates were screened by Dakota County personnel, with six leading to removal from the country.

Kleinberg said that during the past year, the jail had referred some undocumented inmates for ICE action but that the federal agency had not ordered detainers for any of them. The ICE spokesman said that he wasnt aware of the specific cases, but that the agency has been ordered to focus only on cases involving serious crimes and assaults.

Kleinberg said the program is worth keeping, even if no inmates in recent months have been picked up by ICE. There is a shortage of ICE agents, the sheriff said. He emphasized that screening is done only on people booked into the county jail, and is not used to racially profile people for traffic stops.
Boswell would become the first female in state history to be sentenced to death if that is the unanimous decision of the three-judge panel. All death sentences in Nebraska require an automatic appeal.

She and her boyfriend, Aubrey Trail, were convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and improper disposal of human remains in the slaying of Loofe.

The store clerk was lured to the couples apartment in Wilber on the pretense of a date with Boswell, whom shed met via an internet dating app, Tinder. Her remains were found, after extensive searches, scattered along gravel roads in Clay County, about an hours drive from Wilber.

Trail, a 55-year-old ex-con whos spent most of his adult life in prison for scams and fraud, told several stories about why Loofe was killed. The most recent was that he choked her to death to protect the lifestyle enjoyed by him and Boswell  a lifestyle that included profiting off scams involving antiques, frequent trips to casinos, and enlisting young women to engage in group sex and help with their scams.
It is illegal for foreigners  Chagoury lives in Paris  to donate to U.S. political campaigns, either directly or through third parties. Chagoury, Baaklini and another associate of Chagoury have all admitted to the illegal donations, paid hefty fines and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

The scheme involved four candidates for elected office in the U.S., including Fortenberry and former U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb. In a separate matter, Chagoury was implicated in providing a $50,000 loan to Ray LaHood, who served as U.S. secretary of transportation from 2009 to 2013.

Fortenberry was not charged with accepting the donations  and his attorneys say he was unaware that they came from Chagoury  but with lying to federal investigators who questioned him twice in 2019 about the fundraiser. One of those interviews was held in March 2019 at Fortenberrys Lincoln home; a second, follow-up interview was held in Washington, D.C., in July 2019.

Prosecutors allege that Fortenberry was informed in 2018, in a phone call with a federal informant, that the donations were illegal. Fortenberrys attorney has said he didnt recall all the details of that phone call when questioned by the FBI.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The island kingdom of Bahrain on Tuesday urged all its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately as a diplomatic crisis escalates between Gulf Arab states and cash-strapped Lebanon.

Bahrains foreign ministry ordered all Bahrainis to leave Lebanon due to the tense situation there, which requires caution, days after the United Arab Emirates did the same. The ministry also warned its citizens not to travel to Lebanon permanently  in order to prevent exposure to any risks.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait have all withdrawn their ambassadors from Beirut over televised remarks critical of the war in Yemen made by Lebanons game show host-turned-information minister. The internationally recognized government of Yemen followed suit on Tuesday, with its foreign ministry lambasting the comments as reprehensible" and a deviation from the Arab position in support of the just Yemeni cause. It said it would recall its ambassador for consultations.
BUCKEYE GUARD, Vol 39, No 5 (Sept./Oct. 2021)

Video by Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Vega, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Celebrating 15 years working with Serbia through the State Partnership Program

By Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio Adjutant General

The Ohio National Guard has partnered with the Republic of Serbia since 2006 as part of the Department of Defenses State Partnership Program (SPP).

The SPP links U.S. states with a partner country to promote regional stability and develop military relationships.

I was there when Maj. Gen. Gregory Wayt, the adjutant general at the time, visited Serbia for the first time in September 2006. What an honor to be greeted by the Serbian president and begin the process of forming a partnership.

Im pleased to report, as we celebrate our 15th anniversary, the Ohio-Serbia partnership is still going strong.

I believe the relationships weve built have been the most important part of the partnership between Serbia and Ohio. Those relationships start at the highest levels of our two organizations and include friendships throughout the ranks.
The Ghosts of Sutro Forest

A Legacy of Suicides

by Rex Bell

October 2011

Sutro Forest is one of the most beautiful places in the City. Its a lush, green woodland of thousands of densely-packed eucalyptus trees, with a floor blanketed by ferns, ivy, and wild berries. Originally planted in the 1880s on a bare mountain by Adolph Sutro, the forest is now a nature preserve owned and maintained by University of California - San Francisco (UCSF), which lies just below it to the north. But Ive come to learn that this beautiful majestic place has a dark and disturbing past. A little over 100 years ago, this forest was the site of numerous suicides. It seems that most, if not all of the suicides that took place there were men, and the most common means of self-inflicted death was by hanging  owing to the abundant choice of trees on which to end it all.

It was also a very secluded place, so the act of suicide could be carried out in privacy, helping to guarantee that it would be successful and without intervention. In fact, it was once so secluded that the bodies of many of those who died there often went undiscovered for days, weeks, or even months. The corpses were sometimes so badly decomposed that identity could only be ascertained by personal effects or documents found on them. The following is a series of articles, mostly from the San Francisco Call, all dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and all documenting death in Sutro Forest.

From the San Francisco Call  November 16, 1903:

FOREST YIELDS GRISLY SECRET

Suicide's Body Found in Shadows of the Sutro Wood.

Grim Evidence of Hanging Meets Eyes of Mushroom Gatherers. Spectrally swaying from the limb of a tree in Sutro forest, the dead body of an unidentified man hung until natural decomposition parted the head and trunk of the corpse. Then the trunk rolled off in one direction and the head in another. The looped rope, hanging from the limb, alone gave mute evidence of the cause of the tragedy. Whoever it was who gave himself up to death deliberately months ago in the dim shadows of the wood, he over looked not the smallest detail that would prevent his identity from becoming known. In the clothing of the dead man there was nothing by which it could be learned what man had tenanted the bundle of rags enwrapping the grisly skeleton. The grewsome find was made by John Landini of 1207 Stanyan street and George Prosek of 1215 Stanyan street. They had gone to the forest to pick mushrooms and midway between the Affiliated Colleges and the Almshouse they came across the headless trunk, lying at the base of a little knoll. Above dangled a light rope with a noose at the end. Further search disclosed the head, some twelve feet away from the body. They ran from the shadows of the forest and telephoned to the Coroner's office. Deputy Coroner Brown went at once to the scene and took charge of the body. Clothing Bears No Marks Alongside of the tree from which dangled the rope was found a heavy chinchilla overcoat. The body was dressed in a dark brown coat of cheap material, fustian jacket, dark striped trousers and gray waistcoat. As far as could be ascertained the underwear was of rough material. In the pockets of the coat were found an empty pocketbook, a memorandum book without any trace of writing, a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the Pacific Coast Marine Firemen's Union and a certificate of membership in the union. Apparently the name of the member and the date of his admission, which had originally been written in ink, had been erased with a knife. Instead was scrawled across the face of the certificate the pathetic message, unsigned. "If you want to bury me, I'm thankful to you." The handwriting gave evidences of extreme nervousness, as though the writer were appalled at the swift plunge into eternity he was about to make. A close examination of the erased certificate failed to reveal the slightest clew to the name. On the date line could be deciphered the letter "J" which may have been January before the erasure. Rain and wind had dealt harshly with the clothing and no mark could be deciphered on any of it. Nothing but the bare bones of the skeleton and the grinning face of the skull remained to tell of one who found the burden of life too heavy to bear and chose the shadows of a forest and a hangman's knot to solve the problem of the hereafter. The officers of the union are making every effort to ascertain the identity of the suicide and hope by a thorough search of the records of the organization to learn whose body it was that lay for so many months the prey of weather and decomposition until all traces of what he once was were wiped away.

San Francisco Call  March 26, 1904:

SUTRO FOREST SUICIDE REMOVED. The remains of a man that committed suicide in the Sutro forest were removed to the Morgue yesterday afternoon. They were found on top of the hill east of the Almshouse after a search of three hours and a half by Deputy Coroner Meehan and Messenger Carrick. The clothing worn by the suicide was a gray checked summer weight suit, well worn; a soft black hat and a pair of heavy black laced shoes. The body had been lying in the brush for more than a month and was unrecognizable.

San Francisco Call  April 18, 1904

THOMAS MURNANE HANGS HIMSELF FROM A TREE

Once Wealthy Resident of City, Later  Inmate of Almshouse, Kills Himself. The body of Thomas Murnane, once a wealthy business man of this city, later a physical wreck and inmate of the Almshouse, was found yesterday hanging to the top branch of a tall eucalyptus tree in the Sutro forest. The body was found by L. K. Pryer of 660 Broderick street and A.E. Pinching of 1104 Divisadero street. Murnane had evidently been dead for two months. The body was taken to the Morgue. Nothing of value was found on it. On February 27 last, Murnane, who formerly lived at 36 Sixth street, disappeared from the Almshouse. The day before his disappearance he told one of his friends, also an Inmate of the Almshouse, that he had tired of a life of poverty. "My last child died a few months ago," he said, "and since that time I have been dependant on the city for alms. What is life to me, now, where once I had the best of everything? The next day Murnane disappeared. He was last seen strolling toward the dense growth of trees near the Almshouse, known as the Sutro forest. Although 52 years of age, Murnane climbed the smooth trunk of the tree and, fastening the noose, swung himself into a better world.

San Francisco Call - November 24, 1904:

DESPAIR CAUSES SUICIDE

Baker Missing for Nearly Two Weeks Chooses Lonely Spot at Which to Die

Womans Search Ends in Park

Mrs. Daniel Pfeefer Finds Long Looked For Body of Her Husband in Forest Two weeks ago Daniel Pfeefer, a baker, who lived at 4057 Twenty-fifth street, was reported missing from his home and his faithful wife, had spent the weary fortnight trying to find trace of him. The woman's search was rewarded yesterday afternoon when she stumbled across his remains strung to the limb of a tree in Sutro Forest, near the Corbett road. Every day since Pfeefer had been missing his wife hunted over the hills and among the sand dunes for her husband's body. She was convinced that he had taken his own life and her surmise proved startlingly correct. Until about six months ago, Pfeefer conducted a small bakery on Church street, near Seventeenth. When he sold out he made no effort to acquire another business or secure employment. About a month ago it was noticed that he acted strangely. He was pensive and he seldom spoke to anyone. On the morning of November 14, he left his home saying that he would return in the evening, but when he did not do so his wife started a search for him. First she visited all of her husband's haunts, and when she found he had not been seen in any of these, she started about the city inquiring if anyone had seen "a man with a coat buttoned over an undershirt rambling about." Yesterday, in company with her brother-in-law, Conrad Dettling, she visited the Sutro forest. After several hours tramp she came upon the body, then she went to St. Boniface's Church for advice and the priests told her to notify the officials. A strange feature of the case is that while Pfeefer has been missing nearly two weeks, he hanged himself within twenty-four hours of the time he was found. This was determined by the condition of the body. Just where Pfeefer spent the intervening time is hard to tell, but the Morgue officials will endeavor to ascertain. His family say he was, without doubt, insane, and the deed is attributed to insanity.

San Francisco Call  September 6, 1908:

BODY FOUND IN SUTRO FOREST Acting upon information received from J. F. Elliot, proprietor of the Ingleside Inn at Ingleside, a squad of policemen were dispatched to the Sutro Forest late last night to search for the body of a man. Elliot telephoned to the Coroners office later that he had discovered a body in the densest part of the forest. Armed with lanterns, the Mission street squad left for the scene about midnight.

San Francisco Call - December 19, 1899:

FOUND DEAD IN THE WOODS

Sutro's Forest Again the Scene of a Suicide

Keeper McGinnes of the Sutro Forest notified the Morgue officials Yesterday afternoon that the body of a man was found in the woods back of the Affiliated Colleges. Deputy Coroner Lacombe who was detailed on the case, found the body a few feet from one of the many paths. The deceased wore a striped suit of worsted material, a black sweater and a pair of bicycle shoes. In the pockets were found a bicycle pump. a pair of pants protectors, and a packet white crystals marked poison" - the contents of which were afterward found to be cyanide of potassium. A postal card on which was the printed address of the Cascade Laundry and the name of Frank Parker written in pencil, was also found on the body. From appearances the man had been dead about two days and the case looked like a suicide. The body is that of a man about 35, years of age.

From the Sacramento Record-Union December 20, 1899:

BODY OF A SUICIDE IDENTIFIED - SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19. The body found in the Sutro forest yesterday has been identified as that of Frank Parker, who came to this city from San Jose some time ago. The deceased committed suicide by taking cyanide. He was a machinist by trade and was a victim of strong drink.

From the San Francisco Call - December 21, 1899

GRANT BELL, SUICIDE.

Frank Parker Was Not the Name of the Sutro Forest Suicide. Frank Parker was not the name of the suicide found in the Sutro forest back of the Affiliated Colleges last Monday, as already announced. Police Patrolman Fontana had identified the body as that of a man who had asked him to arrest him and put him in Jail, and who showed symptoms of delirium tremens. The man gave the officer his name as Frank Parker, and there was no mistake about the identification, no matter whether the name given by the stranger was his real name or not. Positive identification by a man who had been acquainted with the dead man for a long time was made yesterday, when J.J. Zimmer of 112 Golden Gate avenue identified the remains as those of Grant Bell of San Jose, who worked for a while as bicycle repairer for Olten & Co. in San Jose. Zimmer last saw him alive last Thursday, struggling with an attack of delirium tremens. He had been on a spree for a long time.

San Francisco Call  October 28, 1908:

BODY FOUND HANGING FROM LIMB OF TREE

Man Believed to Be Samuel Anderson Despondent From Ill Health. While walking through the Sutro forest yesterday Attorney C. S. Gardner discovered the body of a suicide suspended from the limb of a tree, by a steel wire about the neck. The Coroner's office and police were notified by the attorney, who guided them to the body. After working for several hours the deputy coroners and the policemen succeeded in carrying the body of the suicide, from the forest to the Sunset avenue road. The man is believed to be Samuel Anderson and the police think despondency due to ill health prompted him to end his life.

San Francisco Call  March 26, 1904:

FOREST YIELDS ANOTHER BODY

Ends Life With Pistol

Remains of Unidentified Man Discovered on Ledge of Rock in Sutro Woods The body of some unfortunate who had tired of life and killed himself perhaps more than a month ago, was discovered on the highest point of Sutro woods, back of the Affiliated Colleges building, yesterday. The body was first seen by a passerby, who informed a street car conductor, and he in turn told the police. Patrolmen C. B. Weekend and A.C. Williams of the Park police station repaired to the woods in search of the corpse. They hunted through the brush and undergrowth from 3 o'clock till 5:15 before their efforts were rewarded by the finding of the grewsome object. The officers came upon the body of the unfortunate man in the thickest part of the woods. The corpse was in a sitting posture, leaning against a large rock. The left hand and the left leg below the knee were entirely eaten raw by wild animals and the face was utterly decomposed. The body of the man had evidently been undisturbed for a month or more. A black soft hat was discovered about ten feet away from where the corpse lay. A large British bulldog pistol lay rusted at the feet of the dead man, showing only too plainly how he had rid himself of his troubles. The patrolmen made no attempt to remove the body, but at once notified the Central police station and the Morgue. This morning at 10 o'clock a detachment of police and Coroner's deputies will repair to the scene, make an investigation, and remove the body to the Morgue, where an effort will be made to ascertain the identity of the unfortunate.

A Midnight Walk in the Woods

There have been many articles written about haunted places in San Francisco but none, to my knowledge, have ever been written about the haunting of Sutro Forest. Is this place really haunted, as I suspect it would be? Perhaps the spirits of those who committed suicide here still walk these woods. After reading the accounts detailed above, I believe that certainly might be the case. I decided to find out for myself - first hand  at night.

On a damp, foggy night, I start my walk. I begin on Johnstone Street, just off of Clarendon Avenue. There is a path into Sutro Forest that starts here. As I walk down the path, the glow of the final streetlight fades to nothingness, and I now have only one companion - darkness.

This dense forest, mystical and enchanted by day, is incredibly eerie at night. My eyes have not yet acclimated to the absence of light. Light... I now realize that its something we take for granted. Light is as essential to our feeling of security and sense of well being as food is to sustenance, or air is to life. Put us in a strange environment, take away the light, and our confidence quickly erodes. I know. Im beginning to experience it now.

Now my pupils are beginning to dilate as my eyes acclimate to the dark. There is a slight luminescence as the glow of the city below refracts through the dense fog. Odd forms and shapes in the woods attract my attention. I imagine figures crouching and lurking behind trees in the darkness.

Millions of eucalyptus leaves rustling in the wind combine to make a powerful roar. Condensation is dripping from the trees, almost like rain. I can feel the large drops hitting my shoulders giving me the sensation that someones tapping me from behind.

My vision, diminished by the darkness, is replaced by a heightening of my mental senses and my sense of sound. I'm on alert. I stop. I listen. Am I being watched? Am I being followed?

I hear the snap of a twig and the crunch of gravel. A shot of adrenaline pumps through my system. WHAT WAS THAT???!!! A raccoon??? A possum??? A skunk??? A human??? SOMETHING ELSE??? Maybe its just the sound of moisture hitting the ground as it drips off the trees.

Im now just above UCSF - the former site of the Affiliated Colleges. Is this the place, where in 1899, I would have encountered the dead body of Grant Bell, the bicycle mechanic - lifeless, pale, and wide-eyed, clutching his envelope of cyanide?

Now it's my eyes that are sending me messages. I see something move laterally across the trail ahead of me about 100 feet away. It was white and wispy; unmistakable  there one second and gone the next. WHAT WAS THAT MANIFESTATION??? I KNOW I SAW SOMETHING!!! Again the chill, but I keep walking forward, my eyes fixed on that spot. It manifests itself a second time. Just the fog. . . a thick visible breath of moisture in the night air. WHEW!!! My heart is pounding fast, but I exhale a breath of relief.

These are the same paths that Ishi, the last native California Indian living in the wild, walked almost 100 years ago. After he wandered out of the woods near Oroville in 1911, he was brought to the City, to the Affiliated Colleges, located on the northern edge of the Sutro Forest, to be studied. That site is just below me.

Free to roam as he pleased, Ishi spent time here in Sutro Forest because it reminded him so much of his wild Northern California homeland. That was until his death from tuberculosis in 1916, a disease against which he had no defenses. When Ishi died, his protector and benefactor, anthropologist Alfred Kroeber, was away on the East Coast.

Ishi had left specific instructions that he was not to be autopsied or dissected upon his death. But against his will, they tampered with his body. In Professor Kroebers absence, physicians at the college couldn't resist cutting open Ishis skull and removing his brain for further study  to see if it differed in any way from the White Mans - all in the name of science. It was disrespectful sacrilege. Im certain that Ishi's spirit was angry. Does his angry spirit wander these woods, or is it a forgiving, benevolent one?

Somehow I know Ishi is here right now, not far from where I am. I can feel it. Out of respect, I don't want to disturb him. I stop and listen. Is that the echo of his chanting I hear? Or is it just the wind?

A little further on I stop at the most amazing chert rock formation I have ever seen. It is a huge elaborate twisted mass of sedimentary rock  almost 20 feet in height located in a dense part of the forest near the top of Mount Sutro. This, I think to myself, must be the place where the body of the unidentified man who ended his life with the pistol was found in 1904, lying lifeless against the rock, decomposed beyond recognition, pistol at his feet, self-inflicted bullet wound in the head. I stare at the rock. If I stared any longer, Id see blood running down its surface, as Im sure it once did.

These things happened here, and they were as real as this moment is right now. I can see them clearly in my minds eye and the images are disturbing.

Then I hear something - a groan. I stop; I listen. There it is again!!! U-U-U-U-H-H-H-H. WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT???!!! Probably just the trunk of a eucalyptus tree flexing in the wind. A sound I would have recognized by day becomes strange and unnerving at night. I keep walking. I'm bundled-up against the cold moist wind, but I feel a chill - not from the damp night air, but from deep within. I'm strong and fit, but that type of strength doesn't counter this type of fear. Its a primordial fear, synthesized by the senses and enhanced by the imagination.

As I continue my walk, I try to step silently to avoid attracting the attention of anyone, or anything, that might be lurking in the darkness. Then, I suddenly feel a presence behind me. I stop again. Its unmistakable. I turn around slowly. I fully expect to see Adolph Sutro himself, attired in a 19th century suit, standing on the path right behind me, wide eyed, staring at me in silence. Nothing there. But again, the deep chill. I keep walking. [Insert Picture 5] Adolph Sutro.

I stop at a small clearing. Im about midway between UCSF (once the Affiliated Colleges) and Laguna Honda Hospital (once the Almshouse). Is this the place where, a little over 100 years ago, I would have seen the body of the unidentified man dressed in the gray waistcoat and dark striped trousers, dangling by the neck from the limb of a tree, swaying back and forth in the wind? Is this the very place where I would have seen his headless corpse lying on the ground, just as those boys from Stanyan Street who made the gruesome discovery did in November 1903? I shudder, then try and steel myself against the fear.

I know these woods well by day, but by night, Im slightly disoriented. The path forks. Should I go to the left or to the right? I dont want to make the wrong decision because Im ready for this experience to be over. Im getting to the point where Ive had enough. The combination of fear and adrenaline is exhausting. I take the left fork. Good choice. Through the curtain of fog I soon see the light of Christopher Drive in Forest Knolls below. I make my way toward it. The narrow path is now steep and slippery. Im careful not to loose my balance and fall in the dark. I step out of the forest and onto the wet pavement. Again I exhale in relief. The fog of my breath reminds me of the ghost I saw a short while ago. I take my pulse to measure the combination of exertion and fear; 96 beats per minute. Then I calm down and wonder, Do the people sleeping in these houses on this quiet residential street realize what powerful spirits exist only a few feet away? I distinctly felt the presence of those spirits this night.

So you now ask, Is Sutro Forest REALLY haunted??? My answer  Yes, it is. Haunted in the sense that it clearly communicates with the mind, the imagination, and the senses about the disturbing things that happened here in the past. It echoes the melancholy chants of Ishi, homesick for the woods he once knew. It invokes incredible sensitivities and feelings like Ive never experienced. The events that occurred here, and the people they involved  as real as you or I - reach out and touch you as you walk the paths in the darkness of night. Something you just dont sense in daylight.

Whether you live in The City or come here occasionally to visit, you are likely to see majestic Sutro Forest, either up close or from a distance. Next time you glimpse this amazing place, keep this story in mind. You will see the forest as more than just a beautiful tree-covered mountain. Theres much more here than meets the eye. Believe me, I know. Ive experienced it first hand.

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BLOOMINGTON  Looking and feeling brand new, 14-year-old Kerris McTizics smile stretched ear to ear Monday afternoon when he stepped out of a Bloomington dressing room in a suit for the first time.

I feel presidential, he said, wearing a slim fit grey suit and adjusting a red paisley tie. I just feel electric  It feels great, thats all I can say,

Andre Hursey, Bloomington native and co-founder of the Jule Foundation, reached out to Rob Francisco last month looking to partner with his menswear boutique, Robert Redding Menswear, and give three Bloomington boys the chance to be fitted for their first custom tailored suit.

If its not about these kids and being impactful with the youth, then what good are you, Hursey said of his nonprofit organization. So any way I can continue to pour into these young men, and not just these three, but all of the ones that are in the program, I will do that.

Francisco said he was grateful for the opportunity to help the teenagers Hursey brought into 115 Krispy Kreme Drive, Monday afternoon.

I know (Hursey) well enough to know that whatever hes doing is usually impactful and powerful for the young guys that he brings into a program like this, so Im always looking for an opportunity to help in any way I can, he said.

McTizics mom, Candace DuBose said this was an experience that she didnt think they would ever get if he was not involved with Hurseys foundation that helps to mentor and uplift students in Bloomington-Normal.

I never could get him to dress up so this was a great opportunity for him to see that, hey I can dress up and still be sharp, she said. I think this will change his thinking, his perspective on always walking to wear T-shirts and jeans and things of that nature.

After about two months with the Jule Foundation, DuBose said shes seen the nonprofit have a tremendous positive change on her son.

He needed to see that our Black men can be successful and can do things outside of negativity, she said. The experience at Redding is new, but I think this is the beginning of a new start. I think this will change his whole perspective.  This was needed, it was well needed and I love it.

Francisco said his goal was to give them the experience any of his customers would have.

Try something on, see how great it looks, how great they feel in it and hopefully walk away going Man, I want that. I want to dress like that  make this part of who I am, he said.

LaPorsche McCray could not stop smiling as she watched her son, 16-year-old Jaylin Cousins, get ready to try on a suit.

I like seeing the smile on his face, Ive been trying to get him to dress up for so long  but he just never showed an interest, she said. The fact that hes excited to do this, its everything. Its good to see boys dress up.

Each boy stepped out smiling and suited, complete with shoes, tie and pocket square, and they were met with praise and excitement from everyone in the shop.

You look like a million dollars, Hursey told McTizic.

Sandra Dickerson said she felt blessed to be able to bring her son, 15-year-old Garrick Dickerson, in to be fitted.

Truly blessed for my son to be a part of the Jule Foundation and have the opportunity to come here with this partnership, to get a suit made, she said. Andre really pours back into the kids.

Garrick has worn a suit before  but tailor-made? No, Dickerson said laughing.

With this partnership, the boys each will have a custom suit made for them, but Hursey said he will purchase additional items for them to take home so he can give support back to Franciscos store.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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NORMAL  Campus and community members gathered on the Illinois State University quad on Monday to recognize the local and national impact immigrants have had and dedicate a special art installation for National Immigrants Day.

The piece features 1,000 handheld flags and was designed by ISUs Design Streak Studio. The flags feature texts, including I am Here. We are Here. We Belong." It is set up around the flag pole on the north end of the quad.

The dedication had originally been planned for Thursday, the official National Immigrants Day, but it was delayed due to bad weather. The display will be up for 24 hours.

Design Streak Studios Creative Director Archana Shekara and ISU's Director of Latin American and Latino/a Studies Maura Toro-Morn led the project.

The size of the flags is meant to be reminiscent of the flags immigrants receive when they become naturalized citizens. The project is meant to be an affirmation of immigrants place in the community and to counter negative narratives that can drive xenophobia, Toro-Morn said. She hopes it also give students a chance to think about their own experiences when they see the display.

I hope that they see themselves reflected in the flags, she said.

Toro-Morn is from Puerto Rico, so while not technically an immigrant, she said she went through many of the same experiences of the sense of exclusion and search for community.

Puerto Ricans experience the process of migration as if we were immigrants, Toro-Morn said.

The piece is meant to be reflective of not just the immigrant experience but the migrant and refugee experience as well, Toro-Morn said.

The program started with an acknowledgement of the Indigenous peoples who lived in what would become Bloomington-Normal for European colonization and of the labor of Black Americans, both free and enslaved.

The display plays into the university's mission as a chance to educate students and the wider community about the immigrant experience and impact of immigrants on American life, Toro-Morn said in her remarks.

Many speakers talked about the contributions immigrants have made to American society. Provost Aondover Tarhule, an immigrant himself, talked about the legacy of prominent immigrants which continues today.

The piece helps communicate that experience, Tarhule said.

In a way, it is a bit unfortunate that the immigrant experience needs to be communicated at all, he said.

However, he warned that in recent years that had been more trends which threatened the openness of the U.S. to immigrants, despite the vast majority of Americans being descended from immigrants and migrants.

Some immigrants, solely by virtual of arriving first, want to pull up the drawbridge and lock the others out, he said.

Immigration is an ongoing experience, ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy said, despite the perception phrases like nation of immigrants can create.

It makes it sound like its long ago in history, but its not she said.

Responses to anti-immigrant rhetoric can itself cause problems, said Charlotte Alvarez, executive director of The Immigration Project. Immigrants, migrants and refugees are full people, not just drivers of economic growth or workers to fill jobs that non-immigrants do not want to do. Responses about good or bad immigrants ignore their humanity and the systems that create barriers to success for them.

Immigrants arent the others, they are ourselves, Alvarez said.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood

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BLOOMINGTON  The Rev. Jesse Jackson will lead a march Friday from Bloomington police headquarters to the Illinois State University campus, it was announced Tuesday, as activists continue to call for a federal investigation into the death of grad student Jelani Day.

"We want to gain one thing, and that is justice for Jelani Day," said Cameron Barnes, national youth director with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the organization that Jackson founded. "We want justice and a federal investigation."

A Danville native, Day, 25, was last seen in Bloomington on Aug. 25. His body was recovered from the Illinois River in the Peru area Sept. 4. The La Salle County coroner last week said the cause of death was drowning, but family and friends have questioned whether foul play was involved. The case has received international attention.

Day's mother, Carmen Bolden Day, and his family have been adamant in their belief that he was murdered and did not go into the river by choice. They have repeatedly called on the FBI to take over as lead investigators in the case.

Jackson attended a march in Peru and a burial service for Day in Danville last month. On Monday, Jackson was hospitalized in Washington, D.C., after falling and hitting his head during a visit to Howard University. He was being kept for observation overnight.

Jackson is scheduled to have a press conference at the Bloomington Police Department at noon on Friday prior to the march.

Bloomington police Officer John Fermon said the department plans to help coordinate with organizers.

Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe told The Pantagraph that the city will assist in any way possible to provide safety and ease of traffic flow.

"Any time somebody loses their life, it is always a concern, but especially when it's a young person with so much promise," said Mwilambwe. "Our thoughts are with the family."

A multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of the Peru and Bloomington police, the LaSalle County sheriff's and coroner's offices, the Illinois State Police, and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit continue to lead the investigation.

On Friday, Peru police Chief Robert Pyszka told The Pantagraph the task force has given all files in the case to the FBI. He said the FBI will assist on the case but will not take the lead.

Some state representatives and activists groups have criticized the Peru and Bloomington police departments handling of the missing person and death investigation.

Mwilambwe said he "believes the Bloomington Police Department has handled this in the best way it could. it has provided assistance and continues to provide assistance as a member of the task force."

Barnes said the group hopes the march will continue to bring national attention to the investigation and to raise awareness regarding the disparity in how missing persons cases for Black and indigenous people are handled in the United States.

"We want the same thing this mother wants, and that is to know what happened to Jelani Day," Barnes said.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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PONTOON BEACH  Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered all state buildings to fly U.S. and state flags at half mast in honor and remembrance of slain Pontoon Beach Police Officer Tyler Timmins until sunset on Tuesday.

Timmins, 36, died after being shot Oct. 26 at the Speedway gas station in Pontoon Beach during the traffic stop of a suspected stolen vehicle.

A funeral is planned in Collinsville, with a burial in Wood River, on Tuesday.

Timmins began his law enforcement career 14 years ago as a Wood River Police cadet, then became a patrolman with the Roxana Police Department, a chief with the Worden department and a patrolman with the Hartford Police Department before joining the Pontoon Beach Police Department last year.

Timmins is survived by his wife, Linsey, of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department, and his daughter, Chloe. He was the son of Timothy Timmins, of East Alton, and the late Beverly Timmins, of Roxana.

Scott Hyden, 31, of Highland, has been charged in connection with Timmins' death. Hyden is being held without bond in the Madison County Jail facing two counts of first-degree murder, both Class M felonies; aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, a Class X felony; unlawful possession of a stolen firearm and offenses relating to motor vehicles, both Class 2 felonies; and, unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony.

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Vodafone Ghana has been declared Telecom Company of the Year for the second consecutive year at the Ghana Business Awards (GBA) held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Friday.



Vodafone was recognised for its leadership in innovation, customer experience, industry, community interventions and in deploying mobile technology for social and economic good. The brand also won the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Company of the Year, whilst the CEO of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, picked up the Woman of Excellence award.

These prestigious awards come as no surprise since the Telco has continuously established itself as the most innovative mobile operator that delivers revolutionary products and initiatives for all consumers.



Vodafones penchant for industry-first initiatives has led to innovations like zero money transfer charges on Vodafone Cash, which created a significant shift in financial inclusion; the Vodafone SuperCare service, which enables the speech and hearing-impaired to stay connected through a dedicated call centre and highly subsidised data bundles; and Too Moorch Data, one of the best mobile data products the industry has ever seen.



Vodafone Ghana is leading the way in digital customer experience, an approach that essentially blends digital and human interaction into a personal, instant, and convenient experience for customers. Its customer-engaging digital channels include My Vodafone App and TOBi, the artificial intelligence chatbot. These platforms are helping reduce customers risk of exposure to the virus during this pandemic.



Vodafone has always been passionate about contributing to sustainable social change, focusing strongly on digital empowerment, diversity and gender, and the environment. One other area that the brand made significant contributions to is health.







Through its Healthline programme, Vodafone has saved the lives of hundreds of Ghanaians across the country in dire need of surgery. The initiative has brought hope and relief to many financially burdened families. Vodafones Healthline Medical Call Centre, which offers expert medical advice to Ghanaians via the phone in various local and international languages, has also played a critical role in driving awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic and referring suspected cases to the task force.



Vodafone Business has won the Telecom Business Service Provider of the Year at the Ghana Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards for four consecutive years. Besides the bespoke products it offers, Vodafone Business has introduced initiatives that build the capacity of SMEs, future-proof their businesses and connect them to investment and partnership opportunities. The enterprise units timely introduction of Your Business Online enabled thousands of SMEs to digitalise their businesses at the height of the pandemic.



Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Patricia Obo-Nai, the Telco continues to receive an unprecedented number of local and international accolades for its unparalleled leadership, innovation, and commitment to transforming lives and businesses.



Commenting on the awards, Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Vodafone Ghana, said, We feel very honoured to receive these prestigious awards. We dedicate these awards to the team at Vodafone who made these achievements possible and to our loyal and cherished customers for choosing us. We will keep providing exceptional services to customers and continue to use technology to make a difference in society.



At the Ghana Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards (GITTA) held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Vodafone won the Most Innovative Product of the Year for its free mobile money transfer service, Telecom Business Service Provider of the Year, Unified Communications Provider, and the Digital Transformation Team of the Year. Vodafones prolific Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Obo-Nai, was crowned with the coveted Industry Personality Award, and Joseph Lamptey, with the IT team, won Most Promising Technology Professional of the Year.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Celebrated Ghanaian actress and founder of Mama Mariam Foundation Habiba Sinare as part of the foundations health outreach, screened more than a thousand (1000) Zongo women for breast cancer.



According to the founder of the foundation, Miss Sinare, the exercise which was dubbed Pink October Breast screening was to also mark "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" which is celebrated globally in October by the World Health Organization (WHO).



She disclosed that the rationale behind the health outreach aspect of the Foundation was to provide quality health assistance to women in the Zongo communities. The screening, which was a three-day exercise, took place in three Zongo communities namely; Nima, Mamobi, and New Town from Friday 22  Sunday 24 October 2021, with more than 1000 people screened, the majority being women.



She said, early detection saves lives, I am glad most of the women participated in this exercise, the feedback has been good. We targeted the Zongo communities because the campaign was to empower and create awareness of the dangers and risks associated with breast cancer



Before the exercise, she and her team went into the markets and on the streets of Nima, Mamobi and Newtown to share flyers and create breast cancer awareness and also announce the benefits of the screening exercise.



She said, I am overwhelmed that the Zongo people took advantage of this screening. It means we did our grounds work well and the awareness was far created well by us.



Speaking to the media, she revealed, there were 20 health personnel who assisted in the breast screening and also checking of high blood pressure. Nima recorded 780 people, both men and women screened, Mamobi had 584 people screened and Newtown recorded 230 people coming out to participate in the health screening.



Alhamdulillah we had less than 20 cases which included lumps in the breast, fluid from the breast and boils around the breast. Most of the men too came around especially, the old ones. Some people were put on monitoring whilst some were diagnosed with high and low blood pressure. 



Earlier this month, Habiba Sinare organized a breast cancer health walk which was tagged as the biggest breast cancer walk. It started from Kawokudi Park through to Kanda.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Attorney General has rejected a resolution by Parliament for the General Legal Council to admit some 499 law students who were denied admission into the Ghana School of Law despite making the 50 per cent pass mark.



He says Parliament is devoid of the power through the use of Parliamentary resolutions, to control the process of admission into the Ghana School of Law. The mode of exercising legislative power enshrined in article 106 of the Constitution does not admit resolutions.



Parliament on Friday passed a resolution for the General Legal Council to compel the Ghana Law School to admit the 499 students who sat for the 2021 entrance exams and passed in accordance with the marking scheme as advertised.



This follows a motion moved by deputy minority whip Ahmed Ibrahim, fine-tuned by the first deputy speaker who was presiding Joseph Osei-Owusu and repeated by Effutu MP and deputy majority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.



But in s a statement sent to parliament by the Attorney General (AG), he explained that In accordance with section 13(1)(e) and (f) of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32), the power to regulate the admission of students to pursue courses of instruction leading to qualification as lawyers and to hold examinations which may include preliminary, intermediate and final examinations has been vested in the General Legal Council. It is correct that section 1(5) of Act 32 stipulates thus:



The Council shall in the performance of their functions comply with any general directions given by the Minister. In my respectful opinion, this provision underscores the capacity of the Executive not the Legislature, through the Minister responsible for the General Legal Council, i.e. the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, to direct and advise the Council on major matters of national importance.



Read Statement Below

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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The extraordinary work of the father of Homeopathy in Ghana, Dr Adu Boateng, the CEO of Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic, has once again been recognised.



Dr Adu Boateng and Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic swept five awards at the just ended Global Business and Entrepreneurship Summit and Awards (GBESA 21).



Global Business and entrepreneurship summit and awards is designed to serve as a vehicle to uplifting and enhancing the development of African business space by exposing, appreciating and entrepreneurs and cooperations who have taken the bold step to invest in the African space, despite inheritance business and environmental challenges, it will thus provide the Benchmark, inspiration and example of all enterprise and also be a hallmark of excellence.



Dr Adu Boateng was personally adjudged the Male CEO of the Year and the Male Entrepreneur of theYear, whilst his multi award-winning clinic notched up three more honours.



Endpoint Homeopathy received awards for the categories 'Excellence in Customer Service, Excellence in Social Responsibility and Excellence in Innovation.



The 2021 Global Business and Entrepreneurship Summit and Awards (GBESA) came off Saturday, October 30th 2021 at the La Palm Royal Hotel.



These three awards are just the latest in a long litany of honours received by both Dr Boateng and his Endpoint Clinic.



Other honours include Most Outstanding Practitioner in Homeopathic Care of the Year 2017 award at the West Africa International Press Ltd Awards and the Pioneer in Homeopathic Treatment of the Year award at the 2018 West African Traditional and Alternative Medical Awards.



'Father of Modern Homeopathic'



About a week ago, Dr. Adu Boateng, was honoured with the coveted Father of Modern Homeopathic Personality of the Year award at the just-ended African Health CEOs and Legends Award.



The renowned healthcare practitioner who is widely known for his contribution to the homeopathic and health sector came out tops of his contemporaries at the 10th African Health CEOs and Legends Awards 2021 held at the MJ Grand Hotel, East Legon.



Dr. Adu Boatengs immense contribution and pivotal role played in bringing modern homeopathy to Ghana made him stand tall among his peers, hence the award.









About Endpoint Clinic

Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic is an award-winning provider of quality healthcare and unparalleled services in Ghana; promoting and advancing the science of homeopathy for the past 10 years.



As a forward-looking health delivery outlet, Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic provides the very latest research-based homeopathic treatments with a service that is second to none.



The clinic is committed to patient satisfaction as the primary driver of its healthcare delivery.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The Queen has urged world leaders to "rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship" at the COP26 summit. In a recorded video message, the 95-year-old asked politicians in attendance to create a safer, stabler future for the planet and paid tribute to her dear late husband, Prince Philip.



It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William.



I could not be more proud of them.



The 95-year-old said the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April aged 99 after more than 70 years married to the Queen.



Her Majesty had been scheduled to attend the United Nations conference in Glasgow, but had to pull out at the last minute due to a health scare.



She instead pre-recorded her address last week at Windsor Castle after being advised to rest by royal doctors. In the clip, the Queen said she drew great comfort and inspiration from the relentless enthusiasm of people of all ages - especially the young - in calling for everyone to play their part.



In the coming days, the world has the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer, stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend.



None of us underestimates the challenges ahead: but history has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope.



She added: It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit - written in history books yet to be printed - will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity; and that you answered the call of those future generations.



That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan, to address the impact of climate change; and to recognise that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.



Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today: none of us will live forever. But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our childrens children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Joseph Tettey, says his outfit is in talks with revelants stakeholders, including, the law enforcement agencies and the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly to deal with people who have adopted illegal mechanisms to sell lands earmarked for development at Appolonia Town.



He said it would be a dent on his reputation and office to watch people use illegal means to sell lands allocated for community development purpose.



" I will not sit down and watch with my hands folded in between my thigh while some selfish indigenes of Appolonia town go around to sell lands earmarked for schools, hospitals and other projects," he said.



The MP, popular referred to as "Joe T" made the statement with the media following the call on him by the Board Chairman of Appolonia City, Mr Daniel Tetteh for his outfit to intervene in the illegal sale of lands in Appolonia Town.



Over the past few years, Appolonia town has been faced with issue of land encroachments and sale of reserved lands meant for the construction and expansion of schools and hospitals.



Some lands which have been reserved for developmental projects at Appolonia town has been taken and sold to private developers.



Background



Those involved are syndicates who resort to the use of forgery of documents to convince interested buyers.



Last week at the 75th anniversary launch of Appolonia Methodist School, the Board Chairman of Appolonia City who is also the Executive Chairman of Ronidany Company Limited, appealed to the office of the MP, the Municipal Assembly and the leadership of the Ga Adangbe who are currently serving in the current administration to intervene in the issue.



MP's unhappiness



Mr Tettey said it was sad to witness an increase in illegal sale of community land to private developers at Appolonia Town.



Since he resumed office in 2020, he said his office had been busy looking for ways to address the developmental challenges within Appolonia Town and the Kpone-Katamanso.



Mr Tettey mentioned road networks, expansion of the Appolonia school, new police post and hospitals as some of the major areas his outfit was working on.



According to him, he had toured every part of the constituency and documented the developmental challenges confronting the Kpone-Katamanso, adding that effort were being made to address those issues.



Mr Tettey said the challenges confronting Kpone-Katamanso, especially Appolonia Town could not be solved if the people did not work as a team.



" We will need unity and selflessness among inhabitants of Kpone- Kantamanso to address the problem that confronts the people," he said.

Mr Tettey said he was excited and thankful of the management of Appolonia City for putting up one of the best residential hubs in the West Africa.



He described Appolonia City as a model project that have enhanced and opened up the Appolonia Town and brought great image to the Ghana in the eyes of the international community.



Mr Tettey said he would wish that more of such project could be done in the town and the Kpone-Katamanso since it would continue to open the place to huge business opportunities.



" This is why we cannot allow miscreants to use their own selfish interests to halt the growth of Kpone- Kantamanso and its surrounding communities," he said.



Social responsibility



He also urged companies who had benefited from Appolonia Town, especially Kpone where many companies were located to help contribute their quota to development in Kpone-Katamanso constituency.



According to him, he had already visited few companies who have vowed to contribute to the development of Kpone-Katamanso.



" I am calling on all those companies to come on board and help develop the constituency" Mr Tettey said.

He mentioned that his mandate had to serve his people and he would not let them down.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Defence Lawyers in the ongoing treason trial involving ten persons have prayed the Accra High Court to out rightly reject the recordings done by the star prosecution witness.



Some of their reasons were the fact that the over 70 videos dates, times, places and situations varied, stating that whilst the time on the recordings indicated 2013, the alleged offence occurred between 2018 and 2019.



Victor Kwajoga Adawudu, counsel for four of the accused persons, said the prosecution (investigators) breached the constitution, in that they did not secure a court warrant before doing the secret recordings.



Again, he said that the recordings violated the fundamental human rights of the accused persons because they were obtained in violation of their rights as they were secretly recorded.



Mr Adawudu noted that some of the contents were irrelevant to the matter before the Court, citing a portion of one of the videos where a third party was recorded as part of the video when he called one of the accused persons, though nobody gave the permission for the recording.



The various recordings, he said, which talked about different roles played by some of the accused persons must be separated and analysed differently and not to be put together on one hard drive as done by prosecution, saying that every bit and piece must meet the admissibility criteria.



Anthony Lartey, Counsel for Johannes Zikpi, who associated himself with the mentioned submissions, also said the recordings were not authentic (had been tampered, that is manipulated with through editing or alteration) and not original because they were not in their raw footage form, unedited of what was allegedly recorded by the prosecutions star witness- Staff Sergeant Sule Awarf.



He explained that to render the recordings admissible, Prosecution was under duty to produce the original, unmanipulated, unedited recordings whereas the Court was also entitled to examine the original recordings, stressing that those before the Court must be rejected in the interest of justice.



Bede Tuuku, Counsel for Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, also associated himself with the objections raised and added that the exhibits sought to be tendered in court were not from proper custody, saying that Staff Sergeant Awarf was not even privy to the content because he only sent the recordings to Colonel Amponsah, (in charge of the Military Academy Training School and first prosecution witness in the case) who in turn downloaded and accessed the contents without him (Sule) knowing the content.



The rest of the lawyers associated themselves with the submissions made by their colleagues.



In a rebuttal, Yvonne Attakorah Obuobisa, Director for Public Prosecution (DPP), prayed the Court to accept the recordings as evidence without which prosecutions case would be jeopardised.



She emphasised that the materials were relevant and must be admitted because they had witness and the witness had also talked about all the facts in them important to help determine the case.



The right to privacy is not absolute. It can be infringed upon in the interest of the state, she said.



The DPP argued that the information was original and was not recorded in 2013 but between 2018 and 2019, it was procured by the Ghana Armed Forces and the original date was the same registered when it was first used.



With the authenticity, she said the chain of custody had not been broken which made the recordings original, witnesses identified them as well as Staff Sergeant Awarf having knowledge of the contents.



Dr Frederick Yao Mac Palm, Donyo Kafui, alias Ezor, Bright Alan Debrah, alias BB, Johannes Zikpi, Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli, Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewe, Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo have been charged for varied offences such as conspiracy to commit crime, high treason, abetment of crime and possession of arms.



They have denied the charges and are being tried by a three-member-judge panel.







Source: GNA









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The High Court in Accra will today rule on whether to admit into evidence the videos and audios that supposedly capture the alleged activities of 10 persons accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

The three-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, is expected to deliver its ruling after both the defence counsel and the prosecution had closed their arguments on the admissibility of the exhibits.



The presiding judge said because precedents of treason trial were not many, the panel needed to make sure it was charting a good cause for the bench.



Other members of the panel are Justices Hafsa Amaliba and Stephen Oppong.



The videos and audios, which form part of the testimony of the third prosecution witness, have already been played in open court.



Objection



Counsels for the accused had opposed the admission of the exhibits, arguing that the recordings on the pen drive were dated 2013, although the prosecution had charged the accused persons for crimes supposedly committed in 2018 and 2019.



Mr E.A. Avordoagbor, for instance, prayed the court to reject the videos, saying they were not relevant to the case, while Mr Victor Kwadzoga Adawudu argued that the secret recordings violated the fundamental human rights of the accused persons.



Mr Anthony Lartey said the video was not authentic and must not be admitted to evidence.



These videos and audios are not original because they are not the unedited or raw footage of what was allegedly recorded at the meetings.



The prosecution is under a duty and the court is entitled to examine the unedited and unmanipulated videos and audios. I humbly pray that these videos and audios be rejected in the interest of justice, he said, while Mr Bede Tugu prayed the court to reject the videos, arguing that the video was not coming from the proper custody because the witness only recorded the video and handed it to his superiors.



He only recorded and sent it to the first prosecution witness, Colonel Isaac Amponsah, and he edited it. He would have been the proper person to tender this in and not the current witness, Mr Tugu said.



Prosecutions argument



The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Yvonne Attakora-Obuobisa, urged the court to admit the exhibits in evidence, arguing that the recordings were of extreme importance to the determination of the case.



Excluding this recording will jeopardise the understanding of all the issues raised in the case, she said.



Speaking to the time and date stamped on the videos, the DPP said 2013 was the original date of when the recording device was first used.



The fact that this date was not changed strengthens the case of the prosecution that the tape has not been doctored. We wish to say that just on the basis of relevance, it must be admitted, she argued.



Not guilty



The 10 are in court for allegedly taking part in the activities of Take Action Ghana (TAG), a non-governmental organisation, accused by the prosecution of planning to destabilise the country and take over the government.



The accused persons include Dr Frederick Mac-Palm, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu (a fleet manager), Johannes Zikpi (a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces) and Donya Kafui, aka Ezor (a blacksmith).



The rest  Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon and Warrant Officer II Esther Saan Dekuwine  are all soldiers.



ACP Dr Agordzo and Col Gameli have pleaded not guilty to abetment of high treason, while the rest have pleaded not guilty to high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason.



Per Section 180 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), the punishment for high treason is death.



The two senior security officers are on bail in the sum of GH1 million each, with two sureties, one to be justified, with the rest on bail in the sum of GH2 million each, with two sureties per accused, both to be justified.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Member of Parliament for Mpraeso constituency and a member of the Public Accounts Committee, Davies Opoku, has appealed to his colleague MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu to report himself to the police.



According to him, he is protected by the constitution and there is no way the police will do anything untoward to him. But to evade arrest and make it look as if he is untouchable is rather unfortunate.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that there are laws that protect and ensure that MPs do their work without any fear or harassment from any institution.



"But in a situation whereby you are wanted by the police, you should just report yourself to them and I don't think they will do anything against the law that protects you as a member of parliament."



"So Hon. Xavier Sosu should just report himself to the police to avoid any further confrontation and altercation with them. The police should also exercise their duties professionally without going against the law and infringing on his rights as a member of parliament," he stated.



The Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu, escaped another arrest today [Sunday], October 31, 2021, at the Believers House of Prayer Ministries in Madina.



According to party supporters who massed up at the church, the security personnel surrounded the church in an attempt to arrest the lawyer while he was worshipping at the church on Sunday.



The Madina Constituency Secretary for NDC, Abdul Razak Hussein, in an interview, said the MP was taken to an undisclosed location by the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.



It is believed that the basis for his arrest was the fact that some demonstrating youth blocked some roads, which were later removed following the MPs intervention.



The MP later filed a complaint against the police in parliament.



The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referred the complaint against two police personnel to the Privileges Committee of Parliament.



The officers cited in Mr Sosus complaint were ACP Isaac Kojo Asante, the Greater Accra Regional Operations Commander, and ACP Eric Winful, the Adenta Divisional Commander.





Watch Video Below





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Progresive People's Party Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu, has waded into discussions about Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu's refusal to submit himself for Police interrogation.



The MP has declined an invite by the Police after he was cited in a violent protest at Madina.



The Police request for the Speaker of Parliament to release the MP has also been turned down with the Speaker, in a letter signed by the Deputy Director of Legal Services of Parliament, arguing that MP cannot be released to the Police.



I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021, and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter.



The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament further directs that I refer you to the provisions of article 122 of the 1992 Constitution and to inform you that on Wednesday the 27th October, 2021 he referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament, allegations of breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command respectively, the letter read.



However, the Police has indicated it will use all legal means to summon the MP.



"As an honourable Member of Parliament, he (Francis-Xavier Sosu) should honourably avail himself to Police authority to question him on the issue because the Public Order law enjoins him to do that''.



" . . if he doesn't come, we have several options. Even what the Hon. Speaker wrote citing some clauses, the Police is likely to go to the Apex Court to seek interpretation to guide our future security operations of the kind. We can also go to court to present him with summons and if he refuses to come and the court issues bench warrant", then the Police will take him, Police Public Affairs Director, ACP Kwesi Ofori said in an interview on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Monday morning.



Nana Ofori Owusu has blamed the Police/Parliament replies on structural failures.



He expounded that the issue is beyond Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu because he not obeying the Police order is due to institutional problems and so suggested that, for the situation to simmer down, there has to be proper interpretation of the laws.



''It's not about the individuals. It's an institutional failure that we have to address, as a people, to be able to move on and for us to know that we are equal before the law...The issue is bigger than just the man. It's an institutional thing that's going on that we need to make sure that we seek the right interpretation of the law'', he stated.



The PPP National Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu made these comments on 'Kokrokoo'.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo, has condemned the Speaker of Parliament's refusal to release Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu to the Police.



The Police have made a request summoning the MP after the latter was cited in a riotous demonstration at Madina on Monday, October 25, 2021.



According to reports, the MP nearly run his vehicle over some Police officers and civilians during the protest while the protesters blocked roads in the community.



He has refused to present himself for interrogation.



The Speaker has also declined the Police request citing Parliamentary immunity.



A letter signed by the Deputy Director of Legal Services of Parliament said, I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021, and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter.



The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament further directs that I refer you to the provisions of article 122 of the 1992 Constitution and to inform you that on Wednesday the 27th October, 2021 he referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament, allegations of breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command respectively.



Professor Joseph Osafo, speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', finds this trend very unfortunate.



"I would have preferred a different posturing from Speaker," he slammed.



He dreads it might embolden the youth to replicate the MP's behaviour.



He cautioned Parliament to be "careful so we don't institutionalize official lawlessness".



"We must be careful that, internally, we don't create any condition for our security to become so volatile, so vulnerable," he added as he wished the MP would honour the Police invite for interrogation.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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American billionaire and founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, on Monday November 1, in Glasgow, Scotland, commended President Muhammadu Buhari's leadership role in restoring degraded lands in the country, describing the commitment to restore 4 million hectares as exemplary. A statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Bezos joined President Buhari, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Charles and the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at a COP 26 side event entitled Accelerating land restoration in Africa, the case of the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative.



Garba stated that Bezos while heaping praises on the Nigerian leader at the event co-hosted by the French President, his Mauritanian counterpart and the Prince of Wales, said.

We are fortunate to have President Buhari of Nigeria with us today. Nigeria plays a critical role in the restoration movement and has pledged to restore 4 million hectares of degraded lands.



This kind of ambition coming from Africas largest economy underscores just how vital this issue is. The Bezos Earth Fund has a 10 billion dollar fund to allocate money to projects fighting climate change.



Nigeria is due to assume the leadership of Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall. President Buhari had used the occasion of his address to appeal to fellow leaders to continue to make concerted efforts at land restoration.



I am optimistic that Africas ambition of restoring over 100million hectares of degraded landscape for productive agriculture is achievable, he said.



President Buhari also pledged Nigerias unalloyed commitment to expanding the achievements of the GGW programme in Africa from the enviable status attained under the leadership of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania.



Together we commit to the transformative process of restoring the African degraded landscape and ultimately the continents environment, he said.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Two Members of Parliament from the Minority side have commenced processes to have the law that sets up and define the role of the General Legal Council reviewed.



MP for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Defeamekpor and Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu (Madina) have presented a memo to Clerk of Parliament requesting for a bill to be drafted to amend the Legal Professions Act, 1960, Act 32.



Among other things, the MPs want the new bill to cause the exclusion of the Chief Justice and justices of the Supreme Court from the body responsible for the management and regulation of legal education in the country.



Sir, we write to request the legislating drafting office to draft for subsequent submission to the Speaker, a bill to amend the Legal Professions Act 1960 Act 32 to exclude the Chief Justice as well as other justices of the Supreme Court from the GLC to redefine the functions of the GLC and to provide for reforms in legal education such that accredited Faculties of law with the requisite facilities would be licensed to run professional law courses, provide for discipline of lawyers and related matters to give effect to Articles 37(1) of the 1992 constitution, the memo dated October 26, 2021, stated.



The Parliament of Ghana on Friday, October 29, arrived at a unanimous decision that all LLB students who obtained 50 percent mark in the 2021 Law School entrance examinations be admitted.



However, the Attorney General in response to the resolution passed by parliament has said that the decision of the house cannot be binding on the GLC.



According to Godfred Yeboah Dame, parliaments power to control the process of admission into the Ghana School of Law cannot be exercised through the use of a parliamentary resolution.



We do not want to get to contempt of Parliament issues. Whilst recognising the general legislative powers of Parliament in Ghana, except as have been circumscribed by the Constitution, I am constrained to advise that Parliament is devoid of a power through the use of Parliamentary resolutions, to control the process of admission into the Ghana School of Law.



The mode of exercising legislative power enshrined in article 106 of the Constitution does not admit of resolutions.



In accordance with section 13(1)(e) and (f) of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32), the power to regulate admission of students to pursue courses of instruction leading to qualification as lawyers and to hold examinations which may include preliminary, intermediate and final examinations has been vested in the General Legal Council, portions of the AGs response to Parliament stated.

















Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Mame Yaa Aboagye has appealed to Ghanaians to be vigilant during the 2024 elections.



According to her, there are people who will come in sheep clothing to deceive many only to amass wealth for themselves and not for the interest of the populace.



She also reminds Ghanaians not to forget the abysmal performance of former President John Mahama who is running around making promises.



Mahama has lost credibility due to his abysmal performance and incompetence. It will be a major mistake on our part as Ghanaians to forget his abysmal and incompetent performance and vote him back.



She wondered what new vision he (Mr. Mahama) was seeking to implement.



We have had enough from his regime starting from the Akomfem saga, Isofoton, Bus Branding to GYEEDASo what else is he coming back to correct?How can we trust someone whose only interest is to come back and correct his mistake?, she queried.



He has nothing new to offerIn fact we have seen it all from his days as polling station executive of the NDC to Assemblyman to MP, Vice President and President. What else is he coming back to do?We are done with him, she stressed.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has suggested that building back Africas economy after the devastating effect of the covid-19 pandemic requires closing the digital divide and expanding access to technology.



As economies recover, the world will become more digitalised and we have to be prepared for this. Businesses, people, financial institutions and governments have to rapidly adjust to this new normal. A robust digital infrastructure is necessary for a resilient build back. Digital education of the population is important for the youth, including the older born before computer generation, Mr Mahama said in a speech to open the 3rd African Economic Congress (2021), on Monday, 1 November 2021 at Abuja, Nigeria.



By all legitimate and cost-effective means, let us digitalise, Mr Mahama stressed.



Mr Mahama also said Africa must build back by focusing on the private sector, especially the small and medium sized enterprises who according to him are the lifelines of the economy and largest employers of labour.



This does not and must never mean government has no business in creating jobs. Government also has that responsibility, he clarified.



Also, he noted that Africa must build back by focusing sharply on food and nutritional security saying we must do all we can to make agriculture and agro-processing attractive to the youth.



He further stated that Africa must build back from the pandemic by ensuring women are at the decision-making table.



We must not just pay lip-service to this, he said, adding we must ensure that women are strongly supported, as the majority of them have lost incomes, due to their greater dependence on informal markets and sectors such as trade and tourism.



In addition, the former Ghanaian leader expressed that Africa must build back by paying greater attention to climate change and global warming.



He said treating the earth better for sustainable development will in itself prevent pandemics and improve the supply chain crisis that the world is experiencing now.



Below are details of Mr Mahama's full address:



African Economic Congress 2021 Opening Address by John Mahama



Hello and good morning from Accra, my brothers and sisters.



Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this programme.



Nigeria is my second home, and how I wish we were able to sit together, network and share ideas in close proximity to each other. But this is where COVID has left us. I must say that despite the challenges, it has also pushed us to be more innovative and also ensuring that we make better use of technology to manage our time.



I firmly believe this mutually beneficial friendship will benefit from opportunities created by the African Economic Congress platform: to share ideas, experiences, and solutions. I also strongly believe that progressive social interactions, such as this, are crucial to building consensus, developing and framing policies, and driving innovation, especially in the face of the monumental challenges posed by COVID-19.



So soon, COVID is in its 2nd year! This is why we must thank Nancy and her team for the initiative to put together the African Economic Congress (AEC).



I missed my first opportunity to join the deliberations because of other commitments. I am glad for yet another invitation, this year, on the theme Accelerate Africa: Building Back Better.



The theme for this years programme offers an opportunity to reflect on our collective response so that we can build resilience during future pandemics. Additionally, it provides options to reset our economic progress by leveraging the inclusiveness exhibited during the crisis.



I am happy to announce that an Independent Global Health Panel that I am honoured to be part of, is advocating the establishment of a Global Public Health Convention that will ensure adequate Pandemic Preparedness and Response.



Admittedly, COVID-19 is one of many challenges that has aggravated Africas vulnerabilities and exacerbated existing development challenges. COVID is impacting and impeding the previously steady progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose target date is only eight years away.



Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that these are very challenging and unprecedented times for Africa and the rest of the world. However, despite all the challenges and heartbreaks this pandemic has visited on us, there is one thing we can all agree on: and that is, when the pandemic is finally over, one sanitary practice that will remain with us for sure will be the washing of our hands more often or the use of hand sanitisers.



As of mid-October, this year, the number of confirmed or reported COVID-19 cases by African countries was eight million, five hundred and nine thousand (8,509,000), representing about 3.53% of total global infections.



This figure (of about 8.5 million) is deceptive. We know our testing capacity is far from optimum. The fact, as reported by the WHO, that 6 out of 7 infections go undetected in Africa is a very worrying one.



The World Health Organisation (WHO) as of the 10th of October 2021 estimated that the cumulative number of infections on the African continent will be in the region of 59 million. By the same date, coronavirus cases globally were over 241 million, and had led to over 4.9 million deaths. The overall deaths due to coronavirus in Africa surpasses 216,000. Approximately 219 million people recovered from the disease.



While the statistics remain favourable towards Africa, particularly regarding the deaths, we cannot discount the impact the pandemic has had on our continent. We mourn the lost souls and acknowledge the burden and sorrow of families and loved ones left behind.



Unfortunately, our mother continent is lagging in terms of vaccinations. This calls for a radical shift in strategy- a concerted effort by governments to secure and vaccinate their populations, while educating them to strictly observe all preventive protocols. The reality however is that the pandemic may be with us for a while.



My brothers and sisters, I have spent some time on the coronavirus pandemic because the negative impact on the socio-economic fortunes of our African people has been massive. So insidious has it been that it has literally relegated many of the challenges facing our people  challenges such as unemployment, bad governance, corruption, inadequate health facilities, poor roads, insecurity and many others.



Furthermore, revenues have been heavily affected as the demand for Africas commodities, such as oil, coffee, cocoa, and tourism, has sharply declined. The African Development Bank states that Africas GDP contracted to 2.1% in 2020; in what has been the worst recession suffered in half a century.



The AfDB is forecasting a positive outlook; projecting that Africas Real GDP will be around 3.4%. However, this outlook is not set in stone; it is subject to unknown internal and external factors and conditions.



The informal sector, which constitutes about 86% of the labour force and lacks social protection against economic shocks, faces devastating consequences. This is especially true for women workers who make up the majority of the sector.



According to Bloomberg, as a result of the pandemic, an estimated 30 million people were pushed into extreme poverty in 2020. The report ominously suggested that, in spite of the expected growth, another 39 million people could still be pushed into the extreme poverty bracket.



Indeed, the world has become more fragile as we all face common existential risks. Life as we have known it has changed in unimaginable ways. Ladies and Gentlemen, this suggests radical but practical solutions if we are to overcome these challenges.



There is hope! One of Africas greatest tasks is to build effective partnerships and reinforce leadership to navigate through the pandemic, save lives, and put our economies back on more resilient recovery pathways. The speed and quality of the economic recovery process from the pandemic will depend on our shared sense of collective responsibility.



Despite the devastating effects of the pandemic, Africa can accelerate and build back better, as the theme for this programme suggests. The development of vaccines by several countries on different continents should inspire Africa to look both outward and inward for solutions. Here are a few ways we can do that.



First, we must address the big divide in healthcare capacities. According to the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, before the pandemic, Africa reportedly had an average of only 135 beds per 10,000 people and 35 physicians per 10,000 people.



More economically developed countries by contrast, have ten times the number of physicians and nurses and spend sixty times per capita on health. Africa can and must rise to the challenge.



In addition, Africa must improve affordable access to medical supplies, by building quality and cost-effective healthcare infrastructure, and manufacturing capacity for pharmaceuticals, medicines and vaccine production.



This is why, as President of Ghana, I developed a programme and supported Ghanaian pharmaceutical industries with stimulus packages to improve their efficiencies and enhance productivity.



Second, the digital divide has worsened, and the pandemic laid this fact bare. Countries with poor energy and power access, low electricity coverage and limited broadband  internet access  could not stay open to transition some key businesses to the virtual-new-normal.



Building Back Africas economy requires closing the digital divide and expanding access to technology. As economies recover, the world will become more digitalised and we have to be prepared for this.



Businesses, people, financial institutions and governments have to rapidly adjust to this new normal. A robust digital infrastructure is necessary for a resilient build back. Digital education of the population is important for the youth, including the older born before computer generation. It will enable them to adapt to the internet age and protect them from internet and mobile money fraudsters. By all legitimate and cost-effective means, let us digitalise!



We must also use regulation and governments positive-policy and purchasing power to drive progressive deployment and use of ICTs. We must be thinking ahead. We must be directing technology companies to focus on neglected areas that will impact the lives of our people such as agribusiness and healthcare. The innovation must not become a bubble that will burst in future.



I like Fintech companies and during my time in Government, we laid a strong foundation and promoted their growth. I further think Fintechs must show more differentiation and diversify the seeming over concentration on creating payment platforms that are high yielding today.



I am excited by the development and growth of telemarketing and online internet shopping. It offers opportunities for young people to use motorbikes, scooters, bicycles, tricycles and vans to do deliveries to various households and workplaces.



By simply accessing an app, one can get anything from consumables to heavy equipment on platforms such as Jumia and Ali Baba, Kikuu, Bolt, Uber, and others. We must also ensure cyber resilience.



Third is the divide in the labour market. This has been further heightened by the pandemic. Those with skills are able to keep their jobs, while low-skilled workers, especially those employed in the informal sector including SMEs lost jobs. Many of these low-skilled personnel happen to be people who were already low-income earners. Imagine what many have had to endure as they struggle to survive.



In my country, Ghana, for instance, I recall proposing that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) agree to an arrangement with such persons, particularly those in the private sector such that they pay them a small part of their contributions to enable them to survive during such periods of hardship.



The COVID-19 lockdown periods demonstrated clearly that the success of a nation depends on businesses in addition to its SMEs, which employs millions and is a key driver of development. The quest for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is great, no doubt, but the mantra for development also demands that we improve our own SMEs.



SMEs have limited capacity to access funds so let Governments offer SMEs funds and tax waivers to stimulate them to expand and employ more of our youth and People with Disabilities.



Governments must also invest strategically in manufacturing to limit the heavy burden of imports on African economies. This will create more jobs.



I am confident that Africa can rise up to challenges arising from the pandemic. As Africa builds back, priority should be placed on the quality of growth, not just the quantum of growth.



No growth is worth harping if it does not improve or reflect in the livelihoods of our people. Growth must be more equitable and focused on sectors that are better able to create jobs. For me, growth is not inclusive if it is not shared equitably.



This is the reason we need to deepen democracy in Africa and empower citizens and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to advocate inclusive and shared growth. This is what our national discourse, and the intra-African discourse, must be about. We also need honesty and transparency from governments.



Ladies and Gentlemen, as I conclude, let me emphasise that:



Africa must build back by focusing on the private sector, especially the small and medium-sized enterprises who are the lifelines of the economy and largest employers of labour. This does not and must never mean government has no business in creating jobs. Government also has that responsibility;



Africa must build back by focusing sharply on food and nutritional security. We must do all we can to make agriculture and agro-processing attractive to the youth;



Africa must build back by ensuring women are at the decision-making table. We must not just pay lip-service to this. We must ensure that women are strongly supported, as the majority of them have lost incomes, due to their greater dependence on informal markets and sectors such as trade and tourism; and



Africa must build back by paying greater attention to climate change and global warming. Treating the earth better for sustainable development will in itself prevent pandemics and improve the supply chain crisis that the world is experiencing now;



To quote the Nigerian scholar and poet Osundare, the earth is ours to plough, not to plunder. We owe it a duty to get the buy-in of the community so that development is based on consensus.



In addition to these, we must fully implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create competitive industrial manufacturing capacity and wider trade and investment opportunities and fast-track Africas industrialisation. This will position our African economies to withstand future global shocks better.



We cannot wait until the next pandemic before we act. For the survival of our countries and our dear people, we must ensure that as the times change, our people are readied to face the unknown.



This is the time for the artificial boundaries that separate us to be erased. We cannot allow politics, religion, ethnicity, colonial heritage, language and culture to continue to separate us.



We must hold hands together and rebuild together.



I am confident that we will get through this crisis together. We are only as strong as the partnerships we build together. The moment calls for leadership that can navigate uncertainties and complexities and restore hope and confidence  selfless-audacious leadership is what we need.



COVID-19 can be defeated in Africa, and we can build back safer, better, healthier, and more resilient.



Thank you all very much for your time and attention.



Please enjoy the 2021 African Economic Congress.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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NPP youth in Madina has called on the area Member of Parliament (MP), Francis Xavier Sosu to humbly report himself to the police for interrogation.



A statement signed by their organizer; Michael Fordjour urged the lawmaker to stop his hide-and-seek games with the law enforcers.



According to him, his MP is giving the consistency a bad name  something he said will not be tolerated by the youth.



As a youth in Madina who always desire to promote a good image of the constituency, we are worried, disturbed, upset and ashamed of these developments involving our MP. We believe our MP should have known better when it comes to the law than what we are witnessing now. A portion of the statement read



Below is the full statement



We, the youth of the Madina Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, note with great concern the recent development in the country involving our Member of Parliament (MP), Hon Lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu.



If we recall, our MP has dominated the news headlines recently about a matter involving the law and our MP. In the said development, Hon Sosu is alleged to breach the law and has been invited by the police for investigations.



Ironically, the police have used all appropriate means including writing to the Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Ghana to release Hon Sosu to assist in investigations. According to our sources, all these means have been futile. Hon Sosu has refused to submit himself and assist the police in the investigations.



As a youth in Madina who always desire to promote a good image of the constituency, we are worried, disturbed, upset and ashamed of these developments involving our MP. We believe our MP should have known better when it comes to the law than what we are witnessing now.



Apart from the fact that he is a lawmaker and hence must be the first individual in the constituency to respect the laws he has sworn to craft, he is also a Lawyer which we believe should put him in a position to know better in respecting and abiding by the laws of the state.



Madina is one of the noble constituencies in the country with people of high repute who respect the law of the land. It is therefore disturbing to note that the person representing the people in Parliament is subjecting the laws of the country into disrepute.



We, the youth of Madina Constituency, retraite our point that we elected Hon Sosu to be part of the country's law making body for the interest of La-Nkwantanang Madina constituents and to serve as an agent of development for the good people of La-Nkwantanang Madina.



We don't expect our MP to dominate the headlines with issues that have no material benefits and developmental focus to his constituents. We don't expect him to dominate in issues that put the image of the constituency in a laughing stock.



We wish to state unequivocally that if our MP has no respect for the laws of this country, then he has no business to be in Parliament. He must give way for individuals who have respect for the country's laws to represent us in Parliament.



We, therefore, call on our MP to willingly submit himself to the police to allow the law take its course and also save the image of the good people of Madina Constituency.



Lastly, we want to send a word of caution to Hon Sosu to desist from flouting the laws of this country. Failure to do so will compel the youth of Madina Constituency to demonstrate against him to register our displeasure for the bad image he is creating for the constituency.



We hope our call to the MP will be headed to as soon as possible.



Singed

Michael Fordjour

Madina Constitue

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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He has seen both the good and bad sides of showbiz and veteran actor Jagger Pee is cautioning young entertainers to be wary of friends who lead them on the path of destruction.



Speaking with Graphic Showbiz recently, the actor, who shot to fame in the Jagger Pee TV series on Thursday Theatre in the 1990s, said his advice had become necessary following his experiences and recent happenings on the showbiz scene.



According to him, even though he had moved on from the unpleasant incident that saw his incarceration in 1996, he has been charged to publicly warn young entertainers of the friends they keep following a number of revelations and divine encounters.



The truth is that nobody can choose a friend for you and knowing someone for a long time doesnt necessarily mean he or she could be a good friend. And that is why it is more important for celebrities to commit everything to God in prayer since we are not seers to tell the future or know what is in a persons head.



Surprisingly, people who are marijuana or cigarette smokers, womanisers, alcoholics, or drug addicts are easily perceived to be bad influences but the truth is that such people are not necessarily bad friends.



However, there are those who are quick tempered and cannot contain certain things in life so celebrities need to be careful. Not everyone they see as friends has their interest at heart.



The fact that they are with you, hang around you or say they have got your back doesnt mean they are for you. There are many who will be with you because of what they gain from the relationship but will never be there for you in low moments, he stated.



Away from that, Jagger Pee also spoke on the spiritual implications of roles in an actors life, mentioning that the reality of the prison roles he played in some TV series dawned on him when he was imprisoned.



I remember very well that I played the role of a prisoner in Too Late and Ayalolo. Well, at that time, it was just another role I interpreted as an actor but later, I found myself at the Nsawam Prisons, he said.



Born Abeiku Nyame, Jagger Pee was one of the leading actors in Ghana in the 90s and made a tremendous contribution to the Ghanaian movie industry until an unfortunate situation took him to prison in 1996.



He was sentenced alongside then friend and music star, Gemann following a shooting incident at the CFC Flats, Dome in Accra, where a taxi driver was killed.



Gemann was sentenced to death, while Jagger Pee got a life sentence but former President John Agyekum Kufuors amnesty in commemoration of the countrys 48th independence anniversary pardoned Jagger Pee who immediately relocated to the UK after his release.



He has featured in a number of movies such as Landlord, Too Late and TV series such as Jagger Pee Series on Thursday Theatre and Chorkor Trotro.



With years of experience, the veteran actor has produced his own TV series but told Graphic Showbiz the lack of sponsorship had delayed its showing on television.



Most of the television stations that have seen it are willing to show it but without any payment. However, that doesnt work in my interest since Im working with a production team who needs to be paid.



So for now, Im holding on till I get sponsorship that can at least pay for the production cost and crew. I hope to get that by the close of the year so that the series can start showing on TV from next year, he stated.

Source: Graphic Showbiz









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
" " A woman with her face painted takes part in the Day Of The Dead celebrations on Nov. 02, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. Carlos Tischler/Getty Images

Death is different in Mexico. Credit the ancient Aztecs and other pre-Hispanic civilizations, where death wasn't mourned, but seen as a natural continuation of life. Thousands of years later, the beloved fall holiday known as Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead still captures this uniquely Mexican worldview, in which the dead come home once a year to visit, and the living dress up as high-class skeletons to wink in the face of death.

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1. Day of the Dead Isn't 'Mexican Halloween'

Although they're celebrated at the same time of year and share an affinity for skulls and sweets, the origins of Halloween and Day of the Dead are completely different.

Halloween started as a pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain. The Celts believed that the veil between the living and dead grew thin around the fall harvest  also the Celtic New Year  allowing ghosts and ghouls to slip in. The Celts dressed up as monsters and goblins to scare off evil spirits and have a little fun in the process.

When St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, the Church incorporated some of the pagan traditions of Samhain into All Hallows' Eve, observed Oct. 31. The modern holiday of Halloween was popularized in America by Irish immigrants.

Meanwhile, a version of Day of the Dead existed in pre-Hispanic Mexico as far back as 3,000 years ago (more on that in a minute). When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they brought priests who converted the indigenous people by the sword. The old traditions surrounding the Day of the Dead proved harder to erase, so the Catholic Church folded them into the existing observances of All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls' Day (Nov. 2).

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2. The Aztecs Celebrated Day of the Dead

When the Spanish arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, they found flourishing indigenous cultures, the largest at the time being the Aztecs. The Spanish reported that the Aztecs celebrated a massive festival every August dedicated to the dead.

In Aztec mythology, the underworld was watched over by Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. Her duty was to watch over the bones of past lives, which were also the source of new lives on Earth. Once a year, Mictecacihuatl would leave the underworld to check on her "living bones."

The Aztecs welcomed Mictecacihuatl and her husband Miclantecuhtl with a monthlong death festival in August filled with offerings and dance. Aztec sculptures of Mictecacihuatl and Miclantecuhtl portray them with skeleton faces and necklaces dangling with skulls and severed hands.

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3. Day of the Dead is a Pagan-Christian Mashup

It's called "religious syncretism," when existing religious customs and even deities are folded into a new belief system. When the Aztecs and other indigenous Mexican groups fell to the Spanish, they were forced to destroy their temples and pagan idols and replace them with cathedrals and the Saints.

But early Spanish missionaries knew that a conquered people would have an easier time accepting a new god and new traditions if they fit into an existing religious worldview and ritual calendar. And that's exactly what happened with the Day of the Dead.

Mexican indigenous religion venerated the dead, so the Catholic Church looked for existing Christian holidays that emphasized communion between the living and those beyond. All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) is a time for Christians to remember and honor fallen saints now in heaven. And All Souls' Day (Nov. 2) marks the time to pray for the souls of departed loved ones who may be trapped in Purgatory waiting for admission to heaven.

It turned out that purging millennia of religious tradition wasn't as easy as moving the Aztec death festival from August to November. The Mexican people obeyed their Catholic conquerors, but they held tight to pre-Hispanic symbols like Mictecacihuatl and her skull necklace, which endure today as the skeleton-chic Catrina and day-glo sugar skulls.

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4. It's Not a Sad or Spooky Holiday

It's hard for outsiders, particularly Americans, to wrap their heads around Day of the Dead. In Western culture, death is something to be feared and the spirits of the dead are more likely to return as creepy ghosts than friendly visitors. So, the idea of spending an entire night camped out at a loved one's grave can seem both sad and terrifying.

But Day of the Dead is neither of those things. While Mexicans absolutely mourn the loss of loved ones and miss them terribly, that's not the point of Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead is a celebration of life  both here and beyond  when the souls of the departed come home for feasting and fun.

" " Members of a band play in front of a tomb as part of the Day Of The Dead celebrations at Cemetery of Iztapalapa on Nov. 02, 2018 in Mexico City. This is a popular custom. Carlos Tischler/Getty Images

The colorful traditions surrounding Day of the Dead serve two purposes: 1) they help us remember, respect and celebrate loved ones who have passed, and 2) they let us laugh at death while poking fun at the living.

The Mexican poet and author Octavio Paz described this uniquely Mexican attitude toward death, writing that a Mexican person "is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it; it is one of his favorite toys and his steadfast love."

Even the cemetery, a place that Westerners associate with mourning and fear, is tinged with laughter, music and colorful decorations on the Day of the Dead. Death, after all, is part of the human experience. So why not make it a little more fun?

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5. Ofrendas Light the Way Home

We'll get back to the cemetery in a minute, but Day of the Dead really starts in the home with the building of an ofrenda, a type of festive altar dedicated to a deceased loved one. The ofrenda can be small or large, humble or ornate, but it's sure to include a picture of the person who has passed on, plus some of their favorite foods and drinks to help them refuel after the long journey from the spirit world.

The path home is marked by flower petals scattered on and around the altar, smoky incense, candles and colorful papel picado, artfully cut pieces of crepe paper. The dominant color of ofrendas is the rich yellow of the cempasuchil flower, a Mexican variety of marigold. In the days approaching Day of the Dead, flower markets sell mounds of fragrant cempasuchil for decorating ofrendas, along with white baby's breath and purple-red cockscomb.

" " Colorful altars containing photos of the deceased as well as offerings of their favorite foods and beverages are constructed to honor the lives of children on Nov. 1 every year. This altar also has papel picado draped over it and sugar skulls on top. Usually altars are set up in homes but this one is a group effort. Nina Raingold/Getty Images

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6. It's Less a Vigil Than a Graveside Picnic

In the parts of Mexico where Day of the Dead is still traditionally observed  those include the Lake Patzcuaro region of Michoacan and Oaxaca, among others  much of the celebration centers around the local cemetery.

In the days leading up to Nov. 1, families will clean up the gravesite of a loved one. They'll pull out weeds, put a fresh coat of paint on iron fences and wipe down headstones. In humbler cemeteries, where a grave might only be marked with a simple, wooden cross, families will bring shovels and mound up fresh soil over the grave.

Then it's time to adorn the tomb. Just like the altar at home, these graveside ofrendas include lots of cempasuchil flowers, candles, and offerings of food and drink for the famished souls of the departed.

On the night of Nov. 1, the families gather around the grave wrapped in shawls and blankets against the cold fall air. They bring food and drinks for themselves and their spirit guests. Village musicians and the occasional mariachi band take requests for the loved one's favorite tunes.

The family will stay in the cemetery all night, visiting with neighbors, telling stories and jokes, and keeping the candles lit and the plates of food full for the unseen guests of honor.

" " A man decorates a tomb as part of the Day Of The Dead celebrations at Cemetery of Iztapalapa on Nov. 02, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. Carlos Tischler/Getty Images

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7. There are Two Kinds of Calaveras

The Spanish word for skeleton is calavera and calaveras have become closely associated with Day of the Dead imagery, costumes and festive art.

The man credited with popularizing the calavera imagery was Mexican printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada, who gained fame drawing satirical cartoons of Mexico's wealthy elite and corrupt politicians, all portrayed as comical skeletons. His most enduring image is La Catrina, a stately female skeleton in a flowered hat and long dress who is at once a modern incarnation of Mictecacihuatl and a commentary on the folly of vanity.

Today you'll find ornate clay statues of colorfully painted Catrinas for sale at Day of the Dead markets alongside smaller figurines of calaveras at work and play: calavera dentists, calavera bartenders, calavera firemen, etc. And while costumes aren't a traditional part of Day of the Dead, it's pretty cool to dress up like a Catrina (or Catrin, her male equivalent) complete with artistic face paint.

But there's also a second type of Day of the Dead "calavera." When Posada was making his prints in turn-of-the-20th-century Mexico, many of his drawings adorned satirical poems called calaveras literarias ("literary" calaveras). These short, rhyming verses poked fun at all classes of Mexican society and writing original calaveras is still part of Day of the Dead festivities for children and adults.

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8. Those Sugar Skulls Aren't Snacks

Sugar skulls are everywhere on the Day of the Dead. In Mexico, craft markets are filled with sugar skulls of all sizes iced with intricate fluorescent designs. You might think that since they're made of sugar they're meant to be eaten, but you'd be wrong.

Sugar skulls are technically edible  they're made with a sugar paste called alfenique  but they're meant to be decorative, not a snack. Sugar skulls are supposed to be placed on home ofrendas or given to friends and family as gifts.

" " Sugar skulls are mainly meant for decoration rather than to be eaten. Marie Hickman/Getty Images

There are plenty of other edible skulls for sale at Day of the Dead markets, including chocolate skulls, lollipop candy skulls, marshmallow skulls, etc.

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9. Pan de Muertos Is the Real Treat

One of the great pleasures of Day of the Dead is dipping a hunk of sugar-coated pan de muertos or "dead bread" into a steaming mug of Mexican hot chocolate.

" " A woman makes a traditional Mexican bread of the dead (Pan de muerto) for Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). Larisa Blinova/Getty Images

Pan de muertos is a seasonal delicacy in Mexico only baked in late October. The bread is made with a rich, eggy dough flavored with a dash of orange blossom extract. It's shaped into a large round and topped with crossbones before being dusted with sugar and baked.

When eaten fresh, pan de muerto is moist and cakey, but even stale dead bread is good with Mexican hot chocolate, known for its tantalizing hints of cinnamon.

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10. Monarch Butterflies Have a Day of the Dead Connection

Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies arrive in the pine-covered mountains of the Mexican state of Michoacan. They have flown thousands of miles from Canada to spend the winter huddled in masses in the high-altitude Mexican forest.

Monarch butterflies were making this same miraculous migration centuries ago when indigenous groups like the native Purepecha were celebrating Day of the Dead. The monarchs were believed to be the souls of the departed journeying back to the land of the living.

Now That's Cool One of the most famous murals painted by Mexican artist Diego Rivera features a stately Catrina as a central character. In the mural, "Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park," the skeleton Catrina holds the hand of a 10-year-old Rivera.

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Originally Published: Nov 1, 2019
" " Archie Thompson, who died in 2013 at the age of 93, was a Yurok tribal elder and one of the last known active speakers raised in the native tribal language of Yurok. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

The U.S. Census Bureau published a compilation of four years worth of data in 2011 to paint a picture of the state of Native North American languages. While the report, titled "Native North American Languages Spoken at Home in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2006 to 2010," made headlines and drew attention to the diversity of languages spoken among Native North Americans, it didn't illustrate the often-overlooked nuances between indigenous speakers.

Here are 5 facts you may not know about some of the most common native North American languages today.

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1. "Navajo" Is the Most Common Native Language, but the Name Is Not Totally Accurate

The census stated that nearly 170,000 people speak Navajo, but that term isn't entirely accurate. "Navajo is a Southern Athabaskan language and a part of the larger Athabaskan or Dene language family (other members of the Southern Athabaskan branch include all the Apache languages)," Anthony K. Webster, professor in the University of Texas at Austin Department of Anthropology and Department of Linguistics and affiliate faculty in the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program, says via email. "Related languages can be found on the Pacific Coast (Tolowa, Hupa) and in Canada and Alaska."

Samantha Cornelius, adjunct professor in linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington, also points out that the term "Navajo" as it refers to language isn't quite correct. "Navajo is an exonym," she says via email. An exonym, in case you're not familiar, is a name given to a place, person or thing by an outsider. "Recent papers on the language and works produced by the community use the name 'Dine bizaad' [or Dineh bizad, in an alternate spelling]: 'people's language.' "Navajo people are Dine, which just means 'people.'"

" " "Dineh Bizad" is the Navajo language handbook, still used to teach the language to beginners. The Washington Post/Getty Images

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2. The Reported Number of "Native Speakers" Can Be Deceiving

While the census indicated a relatively high number of Navajo or Dine bizaad speakers, Webster says the stats should be taken with a grain of salt. "Such self-identified numbers should always be used with caution, since it begs several questions, including  and rather importantly  what it means to claim to be a speaker," he says. "Much research in linguistics and linguistic anthropology have asked questions about what it means to be a speaker  and it isn't so simple as 'knows the language'  because, as can be imagined, that begs questions as well."

According to Webster, we ought to be cautious about throwing the term "speaker" around since there are a lot of factors affecting if, how, and why someone identifies as one. "We should be careful with thinking of 'speaker' as a neutral term," he says. "Likewise, for a variety of reasons, people may or may not want to identify in such a manner (questions of speakers is not a linguistic question, it is a social question). Among the reasons, of course, is racism towards Navajos and the devaluing of Navajo language and culture over the decades. So to say that there are 169,000-plus speakers of Navajo, while seemingly precise, actually is rather ambiguous concerning what that actually means.

"With that caution in mind, the language is used primarily in the American Southwest and on and around the Navajo Nation (which covers parts of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico)," Webster says. "But Navajos live in all 50 states and they also live in a variety of countries around the world, so Navajo is not exclusively spoken or written on the Navajo Nation; Navajos use it when they call relatives, or Skype, or whatnot, or with friends and family. Likewise, you see Navajo on Twitter and Facebook (it is a written language); not all of these people live on the Navajo Nation."

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3. People Are Preserving Native Languages in Many Different Ways

"Like many Native American languages, many Navajos are concerned that young people are not learning the language at a rate that will insure its persistence," Webster says. "But there are efforts to teach the language in schools (from early education to courses in high school to courses in college, including at Dine College), and a number of language materials have been produced over the years. There is the very good technical grammar and dictionary by the late Robert Young and the late William Morgan  'The Navajo Language.' There is also some literature written in Navajo  the poetry of Rex Lee Jim, of Laura Tohe (currently Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation), and of others, is sometimes written in Navajo. Jim, the former Vice President of the Navajo Nation, recently published a book of poetry in Navajo and English."

"One can hear the language on the radio  on, for example, the Navajo Nation radio station, as well," Webster says. "One can also see public signs in Dine bizaad on the Navajo Nation."

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4. Overarching Labels on Native Languages Don't Represent the Variety Within Categories

According to the census, there are 13,063 native speakers of "Apache," but that category is much broader than the poll indicates. "Apache is also a wide umbrella  there are many 'Apachean' languages, which include Dine bizaad, but no single language called Apache," Cornelius says.

"Apache actually covers a number of different languages," Webster says. "The largest  that is the one with the most speakers  is Western Apache and that's spoken in San Carlos and White Mountain (in Arizona), for example. My understanding is that there are over 10,000 speakers."

But those aren't the only two categories of Apache, according to Webster. "There are other Apache languages  Jicarilla Apache, spoken in northern New Mexico, on the reservation there; Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache and Lipan Apache  spoken to varying degrees on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in south central New Mexico; and Plains Apache  spoken, again to varying degrees, in Oklahoma," he says. "All these languages are related historically (and related as well to Navajo)  think, for example, of English and German or Spanish and French. All of the Apache Tribes have language revitalization programs  that is, they are working to teach future generations of Apaches the language."

And while the census cited nearly 19,000 Yupik speakers, experts say that's an umbrella term as well that deserves a bit more clarification. "Yupik is the name of a language family, not a single language," Cornelius says. "Yupik refers to central Alaskan Yup'ik, which is the Yupik language (and indigenous language of Alaska) with the largest number of speakers. They are also the most populous Alaska native group."

Finally, while the term "Sioux" is the name for a confederacy of several native tribes, there are linguistic differences between these tribes. "Sioux, as far as I know, is a historic term that covers several languages/dialects that may or may not be mutually intelligible, including Lakota and Dakota," Cornelius says. "Lakota has several robust language revitalization efforts (Lakota Language Project, Lakota Language Consortium), which are separate from Dakota revitalization (Dakota Language Project) in coordination with Carleton College [in Minnesota]."

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5. In the Age of COVID-19, Native Languages Are Proving Their Longevity and Resilience

"Both the Navajo and various Sioux Tribal governments have been in the news recently concerning their responses to COVID-19," Webster says. "They have asserted their sovereignty and the responsibility of keeping their people safe in the face of this global pandemic; the value of elder speakers of the language, of those with knowledge, is often quite important  certainly for Navajos that I know  and protecting their elders, protecting their relatives, is for many a priority. That history of racism recurs here as well.

"So it is a testament to the resilience of generations of Navajos that there is still a Navajo language being spoken today," Webster continues. "One cannot understand the present status of Native American languages without understanding that history of the United States."

Now That's Interesting The linguistic nuances of native languages are unique as well. "Navajo has no regular verbs," John H. McWhorter, associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, says via email. "And Apache is the same way because it's very close to Navajo. In Yupik, what we think of as a sentence is often a single long word. In Sioux, how you make an assertion or ask a question is different depending on whether you are a man or a woman."
" " A Friends' Meeting House sign stands outside Quaker Cottage in Yorkshire, England, 2016. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The most recognizable Quaker in the world isn't even a real Quaker. In 1877, the owners of the German Mills American Cereal Company trademarked the image of "a man in Quaker garb" to make their rolled oats seem more wholesome and honest. But wait, isn't he supposed to be William Penn, the Quaker who founded Pennsylvania as a utopia of religious tolerance and brotherly love? No, the Quaker Oats guy is not an actual person, says the brand, but rather an image that reflects the Quaker values of "honesty, integrity, purity and strength."

So who are the real Quakers, formally known as the Religious Society of Friends? The first Quakers were a renegade Christian sect that broke with the Church of England in the 17th-century. Modern-day Quakers live all over the world, come from all walks of life and espouse a wide diversity of beliefs. The central conviction of Quakerism is that God (or "the Divine" or "the Light Within") dwells in every man and woman, and that each person can receive direct revelation or inspiration from that same spiritual source.

Today, Quakers are relatively few in number  380,000 members worldwide, according to Friends Journal in 2017  but strong in a faith that encourages real-world action. Quakers live out their core principles through "testimonies" that include pacifism, environmentalism and social justice. To learn more about Quakerism past and present, we spoke with Robynne Rogers Healey, a historian of Quaker Studies at Trinity Western University in Canada.

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1. The First Quakers Were Radicals

Quakerism was born in 17th-century England, "a time of immense social and political upheaval," says Healey, when the kingdom was rocked by bloody civil wars, the execution of a king and autocratic crackdowns on religious agitators. George Fox was one of those agitators, a radical Christian reformer who saw hypocrisy in the class-based hierarchy of the Church of England and taught that every person had equal access to God's light.

Fox and his supporters never set out to start a new religion, but rather to purify Christianity by ridding it of paid clergy, sacraments like communion and baptism, and even church buildings themselves. Since the Church of England was the official state religion of England, Parliament could pass laws punishing religious dissenters. One such law was the Conventicle Act of 1664, which prohibited unauthorized worship meetings (called "conventicles") of more than five people, a direct attack on the Quakers.

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2. 'Quaker' Was Originally an Insult

Many of the names we use today for Christian sects  Baptists, Methodists, Mormons  were originally used as insults, including "Quaker."

"'Quaker' was a derisive term that was thrown at George Fox one of the many times he was hauled into court for breaking the law," says Healey. "The magistrate made an insulting comment about the quaking, shaking and other emotional manifestations of the spirit that accompanied Fox's meetings, which were highly apocalyptic in nature."

According to one story, Fox didn't take kindly to the name and retorted that it was the magistrate who should be quaking and trembling for breaking the word the Lord.

The name that Fox and the other early Quakers preferred to call each other was simply "friend," taken from John 15:14, in which Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." As Quakers began to get more organized, they took on the name the Religious Society of Friends or just the Society of Friends. Today, the word Quaker has lost its derogatory connotation and is used interchangeably with the Society of Friends.

Speaking of terminology, Quakers adopted their own type of "plain speech" that distinguished them from other groups, as well as a plain manner of dress. Until the 20th century, Quakers exclusively used the pronouns "thee," "thou," "thy" and "thine" because "you" was reserved for the upper classes and Quakers wanted to erase such class distinctions. Quakers also ditched the standards months and days of the week because they were named after pagan gods. Instead, they said "First Month" and "Second Month" or "First Day" and "Second Day," with Sunday being the first day of the week. Even today, some Quaker meetings will list their worship service as "First Day at 10 a.m."

" " The marriage of Pennsylvania founder William Penn and Hannah Callowhill took place at the Friends' Meeting House, Bristol, England in 1696. Quaker weddings were known for the simple dress worn by the bride and groom and the absence of any officiant. All members present signed the marriage certificate as witnesses. Spencer Arnold Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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3. Modern Quakers Are Defined by Diversity of Belief

Centuries have passed since George Fox first broke with the Church of England and Quakers have endured their fair share of "painful separations" caused by theological and doctrinal disputes, says Healey. The result is that modern Quakers represent a broad spectrum of spiritual beliefs, from a Bible-centered, evangelical-style Christianity to a more spiritual and agnostic approach.

"A Quaker is not a Quaker is not a Quaker," says Healey. "Where a Quaker comes from actually matters. While a Quaker from London, England and another from Nairobi, Kenya would both consider themselves Quakers, they probably hold fairly different theological positions."

If Quakers can be said to have core beliefs, chief among them is the conviction that God or the Divine is both within us and outside of us; that every person is endowed with a measure of the Divine and has equal access to revelation and inspiration.

While there is no single international organization for all Quakers, there are two groups that represent the two major schools in modern Quakerism. The Friends United Meeting (FUM) is decidedly Christian in its focus and its style of worship looks more like an evangelical church. The Friends General Conference (FGC), on the other hand, is more focused on spirituality and social justice, and views Jesus not necessarily as the Son of God, but as "a good guy and a model for how to behave," says Healey.

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4. Quaker Worship Is Largely Silent

There are also two schools of worship in modern Quakerism. "Programmed" meetings have a pastor, hymns and sermons and more closely resemble a standard religious worship service. But in much of the Quaker world, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, Quakers hold "unprogrammed" meetings that forgo most of the trappings of church and are largely held in silence.

Attending an unprogrammed meeting might be confusing to a first-time visitor. Members enter in silence, take a seat and begin a process described as "waiting worship" or "expectant waiting." The expectation at an unprogrammed Quaker meeting is that by quieting the mind and body, you'll be able hear the spiritual promptings of God. Occasionally, someone at a Quaker meeting might be prompted to speak, at which point they stand, share the "light" they received while listening to the spirit, and then sit back down in silence.

Waiting worship sounds like meditation, but it's different in two important ways. For one, quieting the mind is not the end goal or waiting worship, but an entrance point for having a divine encounter or conversation with God. Secondly, waiting worship is not done in isolation on a mountain top, but within a community. Whether spoken or in silence, the understanding is that God is transmitting essential truths to the whole community, not exclusively to you.

A particularly spiritual meeting, in Quaker parlance, is called a "gathered meeting," even if it's silent the entire time. The meeting is over when people start to shake hands with their neighbors. Worship services are often followed by fellowship and socializing over coffee and snacks.

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5. Quakers Believe in 'Letting Your Life Speak'

Silent worship on Sunday (sorry, First Day) morning is only one small part of being a Quaker. There's an expectation to take the light and truth received from God and put it to work in the world. According to an old Quaker saying, you should "let your life speak" as a living testimony of God.

Pacifism, for example, is one type of Quaker testimony. Since way back in the 17th century, Quakers have called for an end to all war and violence, and modern Quakers have played influential roles as conscientious objectors and "ban the bomb" activists.

"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever, and this is our testimony to the whole world." Quaker statement to King Charles II, 1660

Other Quaker testimonies include equality (including, historically, the abolition of slavery), integrity, simplicity, community and care for the Earth and the environment. One prominent example of Quaker testimonies in action is the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), an organization that dates back to the original 1945 UN Charter and works to promote Quaker values of peacemaking and environmental stewardship across the world.

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6. Quaker 'Meetings' Have Multiple Meanings

Early on, George Fox realized that because Quakers don't believe in oaths, creeds or clergy, there needed to be an organizational structure that kept the faithful on the same spiritual page, more or less.

"Fox may not have been a great theologian, but in modern terms he was a fabulous bureaucrat," says Healey. "He really knew how to organize."

Quakers worldwide are organized into tiered groups called "meetings." There are local, regional and national meetings, but they don't go by those names. Instead, a local Quaker meeting  the people with whom you worship every Sunday  is called a "Monthly Meeting" or a "Preparative Meeting." Within a geographic region, there is also a "Quarterly Meeting" which meets, yes, quarterly, to discuss the needs of the several Monthly Meetings in the area. The "Yearly Meeting" is the largest of the umbrella organizations and can encompass an entire country or a large geographic area like the Southeastern Yearly Meeting in the U.S.

Quakers might identify themselves by any or all of these subgroups. For example, one might say, "I'm a member of the Harrisburg Monthly Meeting of the Caln Quarterly Meeting of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting." Healey contends that Fox's "meeting" structure is what has kept Quakerism relevant and alive over the centuries.

"[The meeting structure] isn't only for the purpose of trying to determine what's happening in different places, but to better be able to care for all of the members," says Healey.

Quaker meetings come to decisions by a consensus, but not by voting. The matter is discussed among the group until a suitable decision is made and recorded by a clerk.

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7. Quakers Made It Big in Chocolate, Not Oats

Some of the biggest names in the British confectionary business were founded by Quakers, including Cadbury, Fry's and Rowntree's.

" " The entrance to the Cadbury factory in Bournville on April 5, 2017 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The Cadbury family was famously Quakers and this influenced their business practices, such as constructing pleasant houses for their workers. They also helped create the old age pension and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

For centuries, only members of the Church of England could attend university, says Healey, so many Quakers pursued a "practical education" in the trades and became successful businessmen. In the early 19th century, Quakers were strong supporters of the temperance movement and some Quaker tradesmen began promoting drinking chocolate as a tasty yet tame beverage choice. Next came chocolate bars.

Quaker-owned chocolate companies earned a reputation for fair dealing and high-quality goods free of contamination. Firms like Cadbury went the extra mile for its workers, building them an entire village in Bournville with schools and parks and an employee swimming pool.

Some other hugely successful Quaker-owned businesses were the British banking giants Barclay's and Lloyd's of London.

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8. The Future of Quakerism Is ... Kenya

While the number of Quakers in Europe and the U.S. shrinks every year, there's been an explosion of Quaker converts in Africa, particularly Kenya. By some estimations, more than half of today's Quakers live in Africa, and as many as a third of all Quakers live in Kenya.

Christian Quaker missionaries arrived in Kenya in 1902 and found a receptive audience among peace-loving tribes in places like Kaimosi. Because of their evangelical roots, Kenyan Quakers are far more likely to identify as Christian than Quakers in the West. Kenyan Quakers also have programmed worship services with charismatic pastors, big choirs and worship bands, a far cry from the silence of unprogrammed meetinghouses in New England.

The growth of Quakerism in Kenya and Latin America hasn't been without controversy. There are stark ideological differences between the subdued old-school Quakers and the youthful, so-called "noisy Quakers" in Kenya. Divisions over same-sex marriage between liberal and conservative Quakers, for example, almost canceled a Quaker gathering in Kenya in 2012.

Now That's Cool William Penn and John Cadbury aren't the only famous Quakers. Two U.S. presidents grew up Quaker  Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon  and Quaker actors include James Dean and Judi Dench.
WASHINGTON  In preparation for final regulatory approval of coronavirus vaccinations for children between the ages of 5 and 11, the Biden administration has already begun shipping millions of coronavirus vaccine doses across the country.

Those vaccines will be administered to children in schools and pediatricians offices as soon as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers its sign-off, which it is expected to do on Tuesday.

As we await the CDC decision, we are not waiting on the operations and logistics. In fact, weve been preparing for weeks, White House pandemic response team coordinator Jeff Zients said during a Monday briefing. He said that a critical operation milestone came last Friday, after a childhood vaccine was approved for emergency use by a key Food and Drug Administration panel.

Because childrens immune systems differ from those of adults, they will be administered only 10 micrograms of vaccine, a weight that is one-third of what adults receive. Unlike adults, young children will not choose between three brands of vaccines; only Pfizer has gained approval to inoculate this youngest cohort. (When children below the age of 5 will be eligible for vaccination remains unclear.)

Bridgette Melo, 5, receives a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a trial at Duke University in Durham, N.C., in September. (Shawn Rocco/Duke University/Handout via Reuters)

With 28 million children set to become eligible later this week, parents who have been frustrated by school closures and other disruptions may finally see some relief after what has been a grueling stretch marked by social isolation, learning loss and emotional distress.

The Biden administration is clearly eager to see children roll up their sleeves, especially as cold weather arrives in much of the United States and activities from school lunch to recess move indoors. Zients said that within minutes of the FDAs approval on Friday, 15 million doses of Pfizers vaccine began their journey from the biomedical corporations freezers to regional distribution centers. From there, they will make their way to schools, pediatricians offices and community health clinics. In all, 20,000 sites are expected to participate in the push to vaccinate children.

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Since FDAs authorization last Friday, there hasnt been a moment that teams havent been picking, packing and shipping vaccines, Zients said. They have been working 24/7 and will continue to do so. He did caution, however, that the childhood immunization rollout would take some days and would not be fully up and running until the week of Nov. 8.

More and more sites will come online as we ramp up, he said.

A sign for a #VaxtoSchool pop-up site at Life of Hope Center in New York City on Oct. 21. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Logistics is only one challenge facing the Biden administration when it comes to childhood vaccination. A potentially bigger problem may come from misinformation that wildly exaggerates the harms of vaccination, which have so far been confined to rare reports of a heart condition known as myocarditis.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has at times spoken about her own struggles as a mother, in particular regarding remote learning  a practice that would presumably decrease in most cases with widespread childhood vaccination.

And she has also countered the notion that children never contract, become seriously ill or die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. While the severity of illness rises sharply with age, children can still get sick  and about 400 children under the age of 12 have died from COVID-19 in the United States, according to the CDC.

This is not necessarily just a benign disease in children, Walensky told PBS last week, leaving little ambiguity about how she would rule on the approval when the time came.

Explore how the Delta variant correlates with the national political landscape in this 3D experience from the Yahoo immersive team.

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John Cho as Spike Spiegel, Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black, Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine and the corgie Ein in Cowboy Bebop. (Photo: Geoffrey Short/Netflix)

Every month, well tell you about all the new shows on terrestrial and cable channels, as well as what's streaming on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Go, Viu, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video and iQiyi.

Highlights

There's no better month to stay home than November with all the shows that are coming up. Superhero fans will be thrilled to see Warner TV's The Flash, Disney+'s Hawkeye, and BBC First's Doctor Who returning to screens for new seasons this month. If you're up for a touch of nostalgia, Netflix's got you covered with the live-action Cowboy Bebop series and second part of Masters of the Universe: Revelation hitting their platform soon. Apple TV+ brings dark comedy The Shrink Next Door into its stable of shows this month, for what seems like more intellectual fan. K-drama fans, don't worry, you can get your fix with Secret Royal Inspector Joy and Melancholia on Viu and iQIYI. And if you want something uniquely Asian, HBO's horror series Folklore is back for another season.

Riverdale (Still: Netflix)

Secret Royal Inspector & Joy (9 Nov)

Viu & iQIYI

This romantic comedy revolves around a young man in the Joseon era, Ra Yi Eon (Taecyeon), who dreams of running a small dumpling restaurant. But when he passes the state examination, he becomes an undercover royal inspector who exposes corruption in local provinces. His life is turned upside-down when he meets Kim Jo Yi (Kim Hye Yoon), a spunky young woman who's trying to divorce her gambling addict of a husband. Together they solve cases and root out corruption.

There's nothing better than a romantic comedy which unabashedly embraces its genre, which is what Secret Royal Inspector & Joy (also known as Secret Royal Inspector Joy) does. While the show seems like it has a rather straightforward premise, its period setting promises to put a spin on the usual Korean romantic fare. Let's hope the rest of it is as funny as the trailer makes it out to be.

The Shrink Next Door (12 Nov)

Apple TV+

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This dark comedy is inspired by true events (and a podcast of the same name). It follows the decades-long manipulation and exploitation by psychiatrist Dr. Isaac Ike Herschkopf (Paul Rudd) as he inserts himself into the life of his longtime patient Martin Marty Markowitz (Will Ferrell). Dr. Ike is joined by his unsuspecting wife Bonnie Herschkopf (Casey Wilson), but he has to contend with Marty's hard-headed sister Phyllis (Kathryn Hahn).

If there's anything that catches your attention, it's the retro Apple font used for the titles, which firmly cements it as an Apple TV production. Rudd and Ferrell look a little strange with thick facial hair, but their signature mannerisms are recognisable. And in an age where mental health is more important than ever before, this show taps into our darkest fears  what happens when the ones who are supposed to protect our mental health end up abusing their knowledge of it?

Doctor Who (Season 13) (3 Nov)

BBC First (StarHub Ch 502)

This science fiction adventure drama returns for its thirteenth season, subtitled Flux. The Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) returns for more adventures as she's joined by new friends, terrifying adversaries and chilling old enemies. In the aftermath of the attempted Dalek incursion earlier this year, Dan Lewis (John Bishop) joins the Doctor as they face a deadly new evil this season.

This is most likely the final season with Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, as she's previously announced that she had agreed to do three seasons of the show before handing the baton on to another person. In addition, the six episodes will form a continuous, serialised story, which is a departure from the usual episodic nature of the series. It looks like Whittaker will end her run with a bang this season.

Folklore (Season 2) (14 Nov, Sundays 10pm)

HBO (StarHub Ch 601; Singtel Ch 420)

This horror anthology series returns for a second season as it covers horror stories from all over Asia. With directors from Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, it promises to show Asian audiences the true face of horror. After all, fear works best when it strikes close to home.

With our current Stabilisation Phase measures set to continue for quite a bit longer and the monsoon season setting in, there's no better way to scare yourself silly by watching ghost stories at night as a storm thunders around you. I'm most excited for the Singapore episode  and the most fearful of it, too.

Riverdale (Season 6) (17 Nov)

Netflix

This teen drama returns for a sixth season as it revolves around the adventures of a seemingly quiet small town with many skeletons in the closet. It opens with a five-parter that features Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) from the Riverdale spin-off The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Will our favourite teenagers (or rather, young adults at this point) be able to face whatever's coming their way this season?

It looks like the supernatural is coming to Riverdale, although it's not like they haven't dealt with similar threats before  remember Season 3's Gargoyle King (from Gryphons and Gargoyles, Riverdale's version of Dungeons & Dragons)? But now that they've (presumably) got Sabrina on their side, things are more likely to go their way. Then again, Sabrina does have some pretty powerful enemies, who may have followed her to this sleepy town...

The Flash (Season 8) (17 Nov, Wednesdays 9pm)

Warner TV (StarHub Ch 515; Singtel Ch 306)

This superhero action drama returns for an eighth season as it continues to follow the adventures of the fastest man alive. While the pandemic has wiped out any possibility of a crossover between the Arrowverse shows, it doesn't mean that we won't be seeing our heroes in action. This season opens with a five-parter that sees guest stars from all over the Arrowverse, which is the closest we can get to a crossover in this era.

Look at the heroes who'll be appearing! We've got the Atom (Brandon Routh), Batwoman (Javicia Leslie), Black Lightning (Cress Williams), and... the daughter of Green Arrow, Mia (Katherine McNamara). Of course, all these heroes need a suitably menacing villain, otherwise it'd be overkill. Fortunately, we have Despero (Tony Curran) looking like the threat that they have to face (Despero is a powerful Justice League villain in the comics), so it'll be fun to see them face off!

Cowboy Bebop (19 Nov)

Netflix

This space Western that's an adaptation of the anime of the same name revolves around three bounty hunters, all trying to outrun the past. Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form a scrappy, snarky crew ready to hunt down the solar systems most dangerous criminals  for the right price. But when their past catches up to them, how will they deal with it?

If you haven't already caught it, the original Cowboy Bebop anime is on Netflix! This adaptation looks rather faithful, with the trailer incorporating the iconic opening theme to the show. However, it is only 10 episodes long (compared to the anime's run of 26). Does that mean we'll see a Season 2, or will this be a truncated version of the original series?

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Part 2) (23 Nov)

Netflix

This action drama animation returns for its second part, after the cliffhanger ending of the first. A continuation of the original 1980s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, this series sees the villainous Skeletor (Mark Hamill) finally gaining the power of Grayskull. Will He-Man and his friends be able to defeat the Evil Warriors once and for all, or is Eternia doomed?

If the sight of Evil-Lyn (Lean Headey) as the Sorceress or Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finally taking up the mantle of being the Sorceress hasn't taken your breath away, then how about the appearance of Savage He-Man (at last!)? The end of Part 1 had our heroes in dire straits, with Skeletor having ascended to Skelegod and Prince Adam (Chris Wood) being mortally wounded. But it looks like time (and a mid-season break) heals all wounds, and this conclusion to the 1980s series looks like it'll go down in history for finally wrapping up the storylines of our favourite characters.

Hawkeye (24 Nov)

Disney+

This superhero action drama, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), focuses on the eponymous Avenger. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) races to return home for Christmas. He's joined by Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), an archer who dreams of becoming a superhero. But when Hawkeye's past catches up to him, he finds himself having to deal with far more than a race against time.

Framing Hawkeye as a Christmas show feels a little strange, since he's not the first Avenger you'd associate with Christmas. But it's an interesting twist on the hero... and you do wonder why he doesn't call his other Avengers pals to assist. Nevertheless, it'll be fun to see how this series connects to Black Widow, and the rest of the Phase Four shows.

The Flash (Still: Warner TV)

TERRESTRIAL

Channel 8

The Takedown (2 Nov, Tuesdays 8.30pm)

Why? Victor (7 Nov, Sunday 10.30pm)

Justice Boo (14 Nov, Sunday 10.30pm)

The Peculiar Pawnbroker (23 Nov, Mondays to Fridays 9pm)

Suria

Projek L.I.T. (Season 2) (5 Nov, Fridays 8.30pm)

Vasantham

Amarkala Deepavali (3 Nov, Wednesday 10pm)

The Shrink Next Door (Still: Apple TV+)

CABLE

AXN Asia (StarHub Ch 511; Singtel Ch 304)

Hudson & Rex (Season 2) (5 Nov, Mondays to Fridays 8.50pm)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Season 14) (10 Nov, Mondays to Thursdays 10.40pm)

BBC Earth (StarHub Ch 407)

Serengeti (Season 2) (8 Nov, Mondays 8.05pm)

Extreme Treks (Season 4) (23 Nov, Tuesdays 9pm)

BBC First (StarHub Ch 502)

Doctor Who (Season 13) (3 Nov)

Ragdoll (12 Nov)

Angela Black (19 Nov)

BBC Lifestyle (StarHub Ch 432)

Cook Clever, Waste Less with Prue and Rupy (4 Nov, Thursdays 7pm)

Your Home Made Perfect (Season 3) (23 Nov, Tuesdays 9.15pm)

Boomerang (StarHub Ch 317; Singtel Ch 228)

The Tom and Jerry Show (6 Nov, Saturdays and Sundays 6pm)

Cartoon Network (StarHub Ch 316; Singtel Ch 226)

Ekans (27 Nov, Saturdays and Sundays 1pm)

CBeebies (StarHub Ch 303)

Hey Duggee (Season 3) (19 Nov, Mondays to Fridays 7pm)

HBO (StarHub Ch 601; Singtel Ch 420)

Folklore (Season 2) (14 Nov, Sundays 10pm)

National Geographic (Singtel Ch 201; StarHub Ch 411)

Sharks vs Dolphins (5 Nov, Fridays 8.30pm)

To Catch A Smuggler (Season 3) (5 Nov, Fridays 11pm)

Great Inventions (10 Nov, Wednesdays 9pm)

Shark Attack Flies (19 Nov, Fridays 8.30pm)

Gorongosa: Paradise Reborn (23 Nov, Tuesdays 8.30pm)

Drain The Oceans (Season 4) (23 Nov, Tuesdays 9pm)

The Hot Zone: Anthrax (29 Nov, Monday 10am)

Predator Land: Lions And Leopards (30 Nov, Tuesdays 8.30pm)

Oh!K (StarHub Ch 816; Singtel Ch 525)

The Red Sleeve (13 Nov, Saturdays and Sundays 7.50pm)

Warner TV (StarHub Ch 515; Singtel Ch 306)

The Carbonaro Effect: Inside Carbonaro (15 Nov, Mondays 9pm)

The Flash (Season 8) (17 Nov, Wednesdays 9pm)

Secret Royal Inspector Joy (Photo: iQIYI)

STREAMING

Amazon Prime Video

Always Jane (12 Nov)

The Wheel of Time (19 Nov)

Hanna (Season 3) (24 Nov)

Apple TV+

Dr Brain (4 Nov)

Finch (5 Nov)

Hello, Jack! (5 Nov)

Dickinson(Season 3) (5 Nov)

The Shrink Next Door (12 Nov)

Snoopy In Space (Season 2) (12 Nov)

Harriet the Spy (19 Nov)

Twas the Fight Before Christmas (26 Nov)

Disney+

Station 19 (Season 5) (3 Nov)

Unknown Waters With Jeremy Wade (3 Nov)

Rise Again: Tulsa And The Red Summer (5 Nov)

Home Sweet Home Alone (12 Nov)

Dopesick (12 Nov)

The World According To Jeff Goldblum (12 Nov)

Club Mickey Mouse (Season 4) (12 Nov)

Outrun by Running Man (12 Nov)

Number 1 (16 Nov)

The Silent Forest (16 Nov)

One Second Champion (17 Nov)

Ocean's Breath (19 Nov)

Hawkeye (24 Nov)

The Beatles Get Back (25 Nov)

HBO GO

Dune (4 Nov)

The Many Saints of Newark (11 Nov)

The Sex Lives of College Girls (18 Nov)

Gossip Girl (Season 1, Part 2) (Release date TBA)

iQIYI

Happiness (6 Nov)

Let Me Be Your Knight (7 Nov)

IDOL: The Coup (8 Nov)

Secret Royal Inspector Joy (9 Nov)

A Camellia Romance (10 Nov)

Melancholia (11 Nov)

My Heart (15 Nov)

Special Lady (25 Nov)

Be My Princess (30 Nov)

meWATCH

Sepoy (21 Nov)

Amaran (30 Nov)

Netflix

The Claus Family (1 Nov)

Camp Confidential: America's Secret Nazis (2 Nov)

The Harder They Fall (3 Nov)

Catching Killers (4 Nov)

Meenakshi Sundareshwar (5 Nov)

Narcos: Mexico (Season 3) (5 Nov)

We Couldn't Become Adults (5 Nov)

Zero To Hero (5 Nov)

Arcane (6 Nov)

Your Life Is A Joke (9 Nov)

Passing (10 Nov)

7 Prisoners (11 Nov)

Red Notice (12 Nov)

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Still: Netflix)

Riverdale (Season 6) (17 Nov)

Tiger King 2 (17 Nov)

The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star (18 Nov)

Cowboy Bebop (19 Nov)

Dhamaka (19 Nov)

Hellbound (19 Nov)

The Mind, Explained (Season 2) (19 Nov)

Tick Tick... Boom! (19 Nov)

New World (20 Nov)

Jonas Brothers Family Roast (23 Nov)

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Part 2) (23 Nov)

Waffles + Mochi's Holiday Feast (23 Nov)

A Boy Called Christmas (24 Nov)

Robin Robin (24 Nov)

F Is For Family (Season 2) (25 Nov)

Super Crooks (25 Nov)

A Castle For Christmas (26 Nov)

Dig Deeper: The Disappearance Of Birgit Meier (26 Nov)

Light The Night (26 Nov)

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (29 Nov)

Decoupled (Release date TBA)

Viu

I Don't Fire Myself (5 Nov)

Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River (5 Nov)

The Outlaws (5 Nov)

Happiness (6 Nov)

Secret Royal Inspector Joy (9 Nov)

Melancholia (11 Nov)

Now We Are Breaking Up (12 Nov)

The Red Sleeve (13 Nov)

Write Me A Love Song (25 Nov)

One Ordinary Day (26 Nov)

To Fly With You (Release date TBA)

Get more TV and movie news from Yahoo Life on our Entertainment page.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Universities in western Canada began another school year under the cloud of two imminent threats: wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. These are not just local issues, but global issues, not only because they are happening all over the world, but also because some of their root causesincluding ecological destruction and dispossession of marginalized, especially Indigenous, peoplesare not concerned with borders.

We know many wildfires aren't just a result of drier conditions and rising temperatures from climate change, but also the forced removal of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands and disregard for traditions that support ecological integrity, such as prescribed burns. And deforestation, which displaces human and other-than-human communities alike, makes pandemics like COVID-19 more likely.

Many universities have committed to addressing global challenges. But society-wide, our universities are ill-prepared to help deepen our collective capacity to face today's interconnected "wicked problems"those that are hyper-complex and cannot be solved with simple individualistic solutions. These problems include biodiversity loss and our global mental health crisis.

Deeper changes needed

As scholars of Indigenous studies, global education and food systems, we often get asked what kind of education and research are needed to address such wicked problems. This question usually comes from a well-meaning place; it's also often motivated by a desire for ready-made alternatives.

But complex problems cannot be addressed with simplistic solutions. This is not due to educators' or researchers' lack of effort or ingenuity. Rather, our inability to address these problems with the depth of engagement required is a product of the educational models we have inherited and (mostly) reproduce.

We cannot solve wicked problems from within the same paradigms that created them. For example, many universities have embraced the UN Sustainable Development Goals for addressing climate change and sustainability. However, the goals have also been critiqued for presuming that we can continue to operate within an economic system premised on infinite growth.

Undoubtedly, proposals to shift away from dominant educational models and viewpoints prompts a follow-up question: If not this, then what?

Learning from mistakes

Our own research has led us to approach this question with caution. We have learned that if we jump too quickly to solutions, we rarely take adequate time to assess the mistakes that caused the problems. When this happens, we end up reproducing those mistakes and reproducing harm.

We first need to identify and learn from mistakes before we can move toward truly different educational futures.

This is a key insight from our community research collaborations with the Teia das 5 Curas network of Indigenous communities in Brazil. These communities offer a different diagnosis of the root causes of our current environmental and social crises, and propose different responses than those generally offered in mainstream academic debates. Yet Indigenous Peoples' analyses remain under-addressed in research and practical approaches to wicked problems.

Indifference as denial of interdependence

The communities that make up the Teia das 5 Curas network suggest that the primary cause of both ecological destruction and colonial violence is an individualistic and extractive mode of existence rooted in a false assumption of separation of humans from each other, and of humans from nature.

They argue that this denial of ourselves as interdependent beings, part of a living planetary metabolism, feeds indifference to the suffering of others that we also create. They also believe that what contributes to this problem is our intellectual and emotional incapacity to confront our complicity in a harmful, unsustainable system.

Indifference to violence against both Indigenous Peoples and the Earth is evident in events currently unfolding in Brazil, where the government has launched a co-ordinated attack against Indigenous rights and ecological protections.

Perceiving root causes

Despite centuries of genocidal efforts by governments around the world, many Indigenous communities have preserved their alternative social and educational systems. They have also preserved 80 percent of the world's biodiversity, despite being only four percent of the world's population.

Increasingly, non-Indigenous researchers recognize the wealth of knowledge and practices held by Indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, non-Indigenous scholars and policy-makers often selectively engage Indigenous knowledges and practices in order to bolster existing systems, or they romanticize Indigenous communities in unrealistic and unsustainable ways.

The challenge that stands before us is to unlearn colonial modes of engagement, so that we might learn how to ethically weave together the gifts of different traditions of human wisdom. Our collective survival depends on it.

The invitation

Indigenous communities, especially those in the Amazon, are putting their lives on the line to protect everyone's future. The Huni Kui people of Acre are part of the Teia das 5 Curas network. As part of their Last Warning campaign against deforestation and the attack on their rights, the Huni Kui caution, "if we lose the forest, we lose our future." This is true for all of us: further deforestation of the Amazon will accelerate global climate change.

Although the Last Warning campaign has many suggestions about how people can support this fight for our collective survival, its primary offering is an educational invitation and accompanying call to responsibility. This is an invitation for us to wake up from the fantasy of separation and to un-numb to the pain we inflict on one another and the planet in order to sustain modern consumerist lifestyles.

We are asked to expand our capacities to hold space for difficult, painful and uncomfortable things. These include the truth about our complicity in systemic violence and unsustainability, and how our socially sanctioned behaviors and desires contribute to the unfolding ecocide and genocide in Brazil and elsewhere.

Last Warning does not tell us how to shift away from our current paradigm and make space for a wiser one to emerge; it does not claim to have the answers. Instead, it offers a new educational compassa way of orienting ourselves away from reproducing harm and toward fostering more generative possibilities for co-existence, without glossing over the difficult elements of this work.

Reorienting ourselves

This is a compass oriented by maturity (the imperative to grow up in order to become good elders and ancestors); discernment (how we can most generatively intervene in any context to foster collective well-being) and responsibility.

Responsibility here is understood as an affirmation of our interdependence, including the debts we have to specific communities and to the Earth. It also involves facing humanity in all of its complexities and paradoxes: the good, the bad, the broken and the messed up within and around us.

For those seeking simple, universal solutions to wicked problems, this educational compass is unlikely to offer much guidance.

But for those seeing the raging wildfires and shape-shifting COVID-19 pandemic as indications of a deeper systemic illness in our institutions and ourselves, this work may offer some guidance for the divesting from harmful systems so we might learn to co-exist differently.

Explore further Scientists warn on the harmful implications of losing Indigenous and local knowledge systems

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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University of Leicester experts in the military uses of outer space have urged further international dialog and 'cool heads' following flight tests of a new Chinese hypersonic missile system.

Reports of China testing a new orbital launch vehicle, known as Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), have fuelled concerns about the nuclear weapon state's advancing military capabilities and possible consequences for the United States and its allies.

High-profile flight tests conducted in July and August saw a rocket launched into orbital flight, which later re-entered the atmosphere and released a maneuverable glide vehicle traveling at hypersonic speeds, in excess of five times the speed of sound.

Long-range missile systems like this can carry nuclear or non-nuclear warheads. With no official explanation from the Chinese government, some US commentators were quick to assume the worsta new Chinese ability to bombard the United States from outer space with nuclear weapons.

But now, in a new policy brief for the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network by Dr. Bleddyn Bowen and Dr. Cameron Hunter, the international relations experts have called for cooler heads in response to the tests.

Dr. Bowen, lecturer in International Relations within Leicester's School of History, Politics and International Relations, said:

"It's still unclear at this time what exactly was tested by the Chinese military, but if it was a FOBS-like capability, it is unlikely to be fielded on a large scale due to the expense of fielding the high numbers of the weapons required for a meaningful nuclear capability, the ineffectiveness of US missile defenses in defending against China's existing nuclear weapons, and the very limited gains FOBS provides above and beyond China's existing nuclear forces on Earth.

"Either way, this does not change the nuclear balance of terror between Beijing and Washington."

The policy brief highlights the possible risk of FOBS, or FOBS-like technologies, circumventing the established Outer Space Treaty (OST). Placing nuclear or other 'weapons of mass destruction' into orbit is banned under the OST.

However, FOBS would not breach the treaty if it never completed an orbit and is technically 'in transit' in space, which is practically permitted even if a vehicle carries nuclear weapons.

The authors highlight the possibility of US perception of an OST violation if China proceeds with testing of technologies like those launched earlier this year.

Dr. Hunter is a Research Associate at the Third Nuclear Age Project at the University of Leicester, funded by the European Research Council, and an expert on American-Chinese relations in outer space and the techno-politics of nuclear weapons. He added:

"This test hasn't come from nowhereUS missile defenses in the 1960s were explicitly intended to nullify a Chinese nuclear attack. Since then, the US has consistently dismissed Chinese officials' concerns that more modern technologies have the same purpose.

"The Chinese government, for its part, has repeatedly refused US invitations to talk about nuclear weapons. Today, there is little-to-no dialog, and this test will only make matters worse.

"In the absence of the US and China from the negotiating table, other governments in the Asia-Pacific have the opportunity to take the initiative and try to foster trust on these important strategic issues."

The full policy brief makes a series of recommendations for policymakers, including:

Sensationalist alarmism is not a useful, warranted, or justifiable response. The United States and other countries should not rush to react to the development with ill-thought-out weapons technologies in response. More dialog on outer space security in the Asia-Pacific is urgently needed. Other governments should not wait for the United States or China to lead on solutions to these space security concerns. States within the Asia-Pacific such as India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines can play an important role in promoting or even hosting multilateral dialogs on space security issues that are specific to the region. States should strengthen international agreements on outer space security, such as the United Nations Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space with the aim of eventually developing a transparent Space Traffic Management regime and encouraging more routine space situational awareness data between states and private companies.

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The dark dashed line shows New Zealands domestic climate goal  its carbon budget. The blue area shows a possible pathway under the old climate pledge, and the red area represents the newly announced pledge. Credit: Office of the Minister of Climate Change, CC BY-ND

As the Glasgow climate summits gets underway, New Zealand's government has announced a revised pledge, with a headline figure of a 50% reduction on gross 2005 emissions by the end of this decade.

This looks good on the surface, but the substance of this new commitment, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), is best assessed in emissions across decades.

New Zealand's actual emissions in the 2010s were 701 million tons (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent. The carbon budget for the 2020s is 675Mt. The old pledge for the 2020s was 623Mt.

The Climate Change Commission's advice was for "much less than" 593Mt, and the new NDC is 571Mt. So yes, the new pledge meets the commission's advice and is a step up on the old, but it does not meet our fair share under the Paris Agreement.

It is also a stretch to call the new NDC consistent with the goal of keeping global temperature rise under 1.5 degrees Celsius.

True 1.5 degrees Celsius compliance would require halving fossil fuel burning over the next decade, while the current plan is for cuts of a quarter.

Emissions need to halve this decade

Countries' climate pledges are at the heart of the Paris Agreement. The initial round of pledges in 2016 added up to global warming of 3.5 degrees Celsius, but it was always intended they would be ratcheted up over time. In the run-up to COP26, a flurry of new announcements brought that figure down to 2.7 degrees Celsiusbetter, but still a significant miss on 1.5 degrees Celsius.

As this graph from the UN's Emissions Gap Report 2021 shows, the world will need to halve emissions this decade to keep on track for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

New Zealand's first NDC, for net 2030 emissions to be 30% below gross 2005 emissions, was widely seen as inadequate. An update, reflecting the ambition of the 2019 Zero Carbon Act to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, has been awaited eagerly.

But several factors have combined to make a truly ambitious NDC particularly difficult.

First, New Zealand's old climate strategy was based on tree planting and the purchase of offshore carbon credits. The tree planting came to and end in the early 2010s and is only now resuming, while the Emissions Trading Scheme was closed to international markets in 2015. The Paris Agreement was intended to allow a restart of international carbon trading, but this has not yet been possible.

Second, New Zealand has a terrible record in cutting emissions so far. Burning of fossil fuels actually increased by 9% from 2016 to 2019. It's a challenge to turn around our high-emissions economy.

This graph shows that new and existing pledges under the Paris Agreement leave the world on track for 2.7C of warming. If recent net-zero pledges are realised, they will take us to 2.2 degrees Celsius. Credit: UNEP, CC BY-ND

Third, our new climate strategy, involving carbon budgets and pathways under advice from the Climate Change Commission, is only just kicking in. The government has made an in-principle agreement on carbon budgets out to 2030, and has begun consultation on how to meet them. The full emissions-reduction plan will not be ready until May 2022.

Regarding a revised NDC, the government passed the buck and asked the commission for advice. The commission declined to give specific recommendations, but advised: "We recommend that to make the NDC more likely to be compatible with contributing to global efforts under the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the contribution Aotearoa makes over the NDC period should reflect a reduction to net emissions of much more than 36% below 2005 gross levels by 2030, with the likelihood of compatibility increasing as the NDC is strengthened further."

The government then received advice on what would be a fair target for New Zealand. However, any consideration of historic or economic responsibility points to vastly increased cuts, essentially leading to net-zero emissions by 2030.

Announcing the new NDC, Climate Change Minister James Shaw admitted it wasn't enough, saying: "I think we should be doing a whole lot more. But, the alternative is committing to something that we can't deliver on."

What proper climate action could look like

Only about a third of New Zealand's pledged emissions cuts will come from within the country. The rest will have to be purchased as carbon credits from offshore mitigation.

That's the same amount (100Mt) that Japan, with an economy 25 times larger than New Zealand's, is planning to include in its NDC. There is no system for doing this yet, or for ensuring these cuts are genuine. And there's a price tag, possibly running into many billions of dollars.

New Zealand has an impressive climate framework in place. Unfortunately, just as its institutions are beginning to bite, they are starting to falter against the scale of the challenge.

The commission's advice to the minister was disappointing. It's being challenged in court by Lawyers For Climate Action New Zealand, whose judicial review in relation to both the NDC and the domestic emissions budgets will be heard in February 2022.

With only two months to go until 2022 and the official start of the carbon budgets, there is no plan how to meet them. The suggestions in the consultation document add up to only half the cuts needed for the first budget period.

Thinking in the transport area is the furthest advanced, with a solid approach to fuel efficiency already approved, and an acknowledgement total driving must decrease, active and public transport must increase, and new roads may not be compatible with climate targets.

But industry needs to step up massively. The proposed 2037 end date for coal burning is far too late, while the milk cooperative Fonterrapoised to announce a record payout to farmersintends to begin phasing out natural gas for milk drying only after that date.

The potentially most far-reaching suggestion is to set a renewable energy target. A clear path to 100% renewable energy would provide a significant counterweight to the endless debates about trees and agricultural emissions, but it is still barely on the radar.

Perhaps one outcome of the new NDC will be that, faced with the prospect of a NZ$5 billion bill for offshore mitigation, we might decide to spend the money on emissions cuts in Aotearoa instead.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Colorful trees stand near a road through the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2021. More than 100 countries are pledging to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change. Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst

World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesdaypart of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

Britain hailed the commitment by over 100 countries to end deforestation in the coming decade as the first big achievement of the conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow, known as COP26but experts noted such promises have been made and broken before.

The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the world's forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan.

"With today's unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanity's long history as nature's conqueror, and instead become its custodian," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. "Let's end this great chainsaw massacre by making conservation do what we know it can do, and that is deliver long-term sustainable jobs and growth as well."

Experts and observers said fulfilling the pledge will be critical to limiting climate change, but many noted that such grand promises have been made in the pastto little effect.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a session on Action on Forests and Land Use, during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP

"Signing the declaration is the easy part," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. "It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet."

Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at political think tank Chatham House, said world leaders promised in 2014 to end deforestation by 2030, "but since then deforestation has accelerated across many countries."

Forests are important ecosystems and provide a critical way of absorbing carbon dioxidethe main greenhouse gasfrom the atmosphere. But the value of wood as a commodity and the growing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, particularly in developing countries.

"We are delighted to see Indigenous Peoples mentioned in the forest deal announced today," said Joseph Itongwa Mukumo, an Indigenous Walikale and activist from Congo.

The sun begins to rise over the River Clyde outside the venue of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. Credit: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali

He called for governments and businesses to recognize the effective role Indigenous communities play in preventing deforestation.

Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher at Human Right Watch, said the agreement contains "quite a lot of really positive elements."

The EU, Britain and the U.S. are making progress on restricting imports of goods linked to deforestation and human rights abuses, "and it's really interesting to see China and Brazil signing up to a statement that suggests that's a goal," she said.

But she noted that Brazil's public statements don't yet line up with its domestic policies and warned that the deal could be used by some countries to "greenwash" their image.

The Brazilian government has been eager to project itself as a responsible environmental steward in the wake of surging deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands that sparked global outrage and threats of divestment in recent years. But critics caution that its promises should be viewed with skepticism, and the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an outspoken proponent of developing the Amazon.

President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan attends the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: Hannah McKay/Pool via AP

Brian Rohan, head of forests at environmental law charity ClientEarth, said that to succeed, the pledge "needs teeth." He said that "declaring 'legal' deforestation to be exempt is a false solution."

The founder of Amazonthe company, not the rainforestannounced separately that his philanthropic fund is devoting $2 billion to fight climate change through landscape restoration and the transformation of agricultural systems.

"We must conserve what we have, restore what we've lost, and grow what we need in harmony with nature," Jeff Bezos said.

About 130 world leaders are in Glasgow for what host Britain says is the last realistic chance to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levelsthe goal the world set in Paris six years ago.

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planet's ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth attends a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: Phil Noble/Pool via AP

On Monday, the leaders heard stark warnings from officials and activists alike about those dangers. A day later, the British government said commitments made by governments so far were "very encouraging."

But Johnson's spokesman, Max Blain, cautioned: "We are not complacent. This is not a done deal by any means."

On Tuesday, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden launched a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelinesthe focus of the Biden planis considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions. Reducing methane produced from agriculture, in particular by belching cows, is a trickier matter.

People gather gather at a table inside the venue of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. Credit: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali

A woman walks by a sign in the French pavilion inside the venue of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. Credit: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: Phil Noble/Pool via AP

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on the "Build Back Better World" initiative at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Fiji's Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama attends a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: Phil Noble/Pool via AP

Youth climate activist from the Marshall Islands, Selina Leem, speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: Hannah McKay/Pool via AP

Britain's Prince William makes an address during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists at the Glasgow Science Center on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. Credit: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement "sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally."

Separately, the United States, Britain, France and Germany announce a plan to provide funds and expertise to help South Africa phase out coal, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

South Africa, which gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants, will receive about $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to roll out more renewable energy.

The announcements were not part of the formal negotiations taking place in Glasgow, but rather a reflection of the efforts by many countries to meet previously agreed targets.

But campaigners say the world's biggest carbon emitters need to do much more. Earth has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg told a rally outside the high-security climate venue that the talk inside was just " blah blah blah" and would achieve little.

Explore further Brazil pledges higher greenhouse emissions cuts

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A map of the Ring of Fire region. Credit: Noront Resources Ltd.

Noront Resources Ltd.the company at the heart of Ontario's embattled Ring of Fire mining developmentis once again making headlines as the subject of competing corporate takeover bids by mining giant BHP Billiton and Australian private investment firm Wyloo Metals.

The bidding war has caused Noront's share price to jump 235 percent to its highest level since 2011.

Alongside share prices, Indigenous opposition has also ratcheted up, raising significant questions about the viability of the proposed mining operations and the value of Noront's assets.

The Neskantaga First Nation and the Mushkegowuk council, representing seven affected First Nations, are openly contesting the scale and pace of mine development in their territories. They are in the company of other First Nations throughout the region that have for years asserted their political and territorial authority in the face of Noront's proposed plans.

Asserting jurisdiction

Indigenous jurisdiction and its denial by authorities have had a huge impact on Noront's fortunes. Development of the company's flagship mine has been stalled since 2011, as has the 300-kilometer all-season industrial roaddubbed the "road to nowhere" due to its dubious economic prospectsthat's needed to access the remote mining region.

This is because the region's First Nations have consistently demanded Ontario recognize their jurisdiction over their lands and territories. The Matawa Nations, including Neskantaga, initially forced the province to negotiate a shared regional approach to decision-making.

That so-called Regional Framework Agreement stopped the province from unilaterally sanctioning development on Indigenous land, but was ultimately dissolved by the province in 2019.

Indigenous authorities have since continued to assert their jurisdiction in the region. Most recently, a coalition of three First Nations (Attawapiskat, Fort Albany and Neskantaga) are insisting that a newly established regional assessment of the cumulative impacts of proposed mine and road developments is Indigenous-led.

Throughout this period, Noront shares have plummeted from nearly $2 at the start of 2010 to less than 20 cents since 2019. The company's debt has increased by at least $100 million since 2013 to $299 million as of Dec. 31, 2020 and its outstanding loans stand at $51.4 million.

Despite mounting evidence that the value of the company and its assets require Indigenous consent, federal and provincial governments have continued to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into mining developments in the Ring of Fire in the form of exploration financing and infrastructure support.

A screenshot of internal documents obtained via a Freedom of Information request show the extent of provincial and federal investments in the proposed Ring of Fire development. (Author provided)

Millions for exploration

As approval processes have dragged on and then stalled, Norontbacked by federal and provincial treasurieshas attempted to create value by increasing its assets and expanding its exploration program.

Since December 2008, the company's regulatory filings show the federal and Ontario governments have subsidized Noront's Ring of Fire exploration programs to the tune of nearly $45 million through a tax-based mechanism known as flow-through financing.

That mechanism allows firms to raise exploration funds from investors and return tax credits to them.

Additional federal and provincial refundable tax credits are also available to flow-through investors, resulting in the transfer of millions of dollarsmoney that would have otherwise been tax revenueto Noront's exploration of the Ring of Fire. According to the company's aforementioned regulatory filings, Noront has raised more than $75 million of flow-through financing since 2008 for Ring of Fire properties.

This flow of government money reveals a system of economic relationships described by the Yellowhead Institute, a First Nations-led research center, as colonial and predatory.

Amid Indigenous demands to determine and control the pace of development in their territories and to create the institutions required to do so, this flow of money also raises serious concerns about the financial realities of the Ring of Fire project.

Circumventing Indigenous jurisdiction

While the province once estimated the cost of implementing the doomed framework agreement to be slightly over $20 million, the cost of circumventing Indigenous jurisdiction is much higher.

Since tearing up the agreement in 2019 in an attempt to speed up development, Ontario has entered into bilateral funding agreements worth $20 million with two First Nations currently serving as proponents of the all-season road.

According to documents obtained though an Access to Information request, it's also currently negotiating a planning agreement worth $38 million with another First Nation.

Internal documents obtained via a Freedom of Information request details Ontarios proposal of a cost-share arrangement with Ottawa on the all-season road in the Ring of Fire. (Author provided), Author provided

These same documents reveal the federal government spent approximately $11 million annually since 2016 to fund so-called community well-being projects in five Matawa communities. These are programs purportedly aimed at improving "community readiness" for mining operations in the Ring of Fire.

If Ontario has its way, this funding will be renewed at a total of $55 million over five years. Between 2010 and 2015, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada contributed nearly $16 million through the strategic partnership initiative to "support First Nations mining readiness activities" in the area, an investment topped up by a few million in 2016.

It also contributed $255 million over two years to a First Nations fund partially earmarked to support regional infrastructure in the Ring of Fire and intended to encourage compliance with mining projects.

A 2019 intergovernmental memoalso obtained via the Freedom of Information requestshows the federal government also offered to "explore options to advance Ring of Fire projects" using money that was designated for well-being projects in Indigenous communities.

There's also the matter of the $1.6 billion all-season road. Ontario has promised to fund the road through the homelands of multiple First Nations, most recently through a proposed cost-share arrangement with Ottawa.

Debt, debt and more debt

Noront has consistently under-represented to investors, and now to corporate suitors, the legal and financial liabilities associated with Indigenous jurisdictionand there are many.

Regardless of who successfully bids for the company, opposition to the Ring of Fire project is only likely to increase unless First Nations are empowered to exercise real control over the decisions that will impact them. This raises the specter of litigation, Indigenous land defense actionsand more debt.

According to the internal documents, the federal and provincial government are expecting to earn $4.4 billion in combined tax revenues during the first 10 years of the proposed mine's operation. But if they add up the amount of money they've already paid to defy and circumvent Indigenous jurisdiction, and the financial costs associated with continuing to do so, that $4.4 billion will soon be exhausted.

It is entirely likely that any profits related to this enterprise have already been spent. The question that remains is who will be left holding the debt?

Explore further Tip of the iceberg: The true state of drinking water advisories in First Nations

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A federal agency has yet again pushed back a final decision on whether to allow the construction of a launchpad for commercial rockets in coastal Georgia.

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to release its decision on Spaceport Camden by Dec. 15 rather than this Wednesday, agency spokesman Steve Kulm said. An agency statement cited a delay caused by "ongoing consultation efforts." The final determination was originally expected at the end of July but now has been delayed at least three times.

Camden County, in the southeast corner of Georgia, wants to build the nation's 13th licensed commercial spaceport and has spent nearly 10 years and $10 million pursuing that goal. The FAA in June issued an environmental impact study that concluded building the spaceport would be its "preferred alternative."

That drew pushback from the National Park Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior. In a July 22 letter to the FAA, the Interior Department said a chance of rockets exploding and raining fiery debris onto the federally protected wilderness on Cumberland Island creates an "unacceptable risk." Known for wild horses and nesting sea turtles, Cumberland Island draws about 60,000 visitors each year.

Local officials say the county of 55,000 people would get a soaring economic boost by joining the commercial space race, with a private launch pad luring both supporting industries and tourists.

It's not clear how much weight the objections will carry with the FAA, which is responsible for licensing U.S. commercial rocket launch sites. In 2014, the agency approved SpaceX's launch site in Texas over objections by the Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Explore further FAA again delays final decision on Georgia spaceport permit

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Africa has a disproportionately high burden of cholera. The World Health Organization reports that between 40 million and 80 million people in Africa live in cholera hotspots. Globally, disease outbreaks have more than tripled since 1980, with 1,307 epidemic events between 2011 and 2017. Cholera was the biggest contributor to this with 308 events.

This is particularly concerning, considering cholera is an under reported disease.

Cholera tracks with areas of high poverty and low access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. More than a third of people still don't have access to water in central and west Africa and less than 40% have adequate sanitation, according to UNICEF.

Children and women are facing particularly serious consequences to this inaction. This is because cholera is a major component to child mortality. In addition, young girls and women are primarily responsible for water collection, reducing the time available for work or education and exposing them to the risk of sexual violence.

In a recent paper I looked at drought-related cholera outbreaks in Africa and the implications of an increase in dry periods as a result of climate change. My research is focused on infectious diseases, including cholera, which have several links and relationships to droughts.

I focused on the subject because droughts are generally an understudied natural hazard. This is perhaps due to their complexity involving meteorological, hydrological, agricultural and societal changes. I sought to collate historically reported risk factors and understand which regions had reported these drought-related outbreaks. I found a lack of literature on the subject but there were several inequities that were repeated and that must be addressed to support drought affected communities better, including food and water assistance.

Climate change and cholera

One consequence of a warming world is prolonged dry spells and periods of drought. And a known consequence of droughts and their associated risk factors are infectious disease outbreaks, which are worsened by malnutrition, poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene and population displacement.

These are perfect conditions for a rise in outbreaks of cholera.

It's hard to predict where future droughts will happen. But available evidence suggests that some areas of Africa are likely to see more intense and longer droughts. How long and how intense, will likely rely on how countries adapt and respond, including the management of water.

Suggested mechanisms through which droughts may exacerbate the transmission of cholera include elevated concentrations of the pathogen, multi-use drinking water, reduced fuel for cooking and using alternative foods and water.

Cholera has known environmental and climatic links. But some research has suggested these may only be important up to a certain threshold, then socio-economic conditions are needed to make the human-environment link.

Evidence for this is clear in the areas which suffer from cholera outbreaks following climatological events. For example, Europe and North America have a long history of drought and dry spells but cholera outbreaks do not follow. This is because there is widespread access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Drought and cholera outbreaks can also result in displacement, a risk factor commonly cited as causing infectious disease outbreaks. Displacement can help to spread cholera to new areas. For example, during the Mozambican drought in 1991-1992, over one million people were forced to seek refuge elsewhere. This resulted in an influx of refugees to Zimbabwe, which subsequently suffered a fast-moving cholera outbreak.

Other population groups that suffer particularly badly in times of drought are nomadic communities and poorer rural communities. This is due to their reliance on agriculture, inability to afford alternative water sources and isolation from society.

Mitigation

I conclude in my paper that disasters don't cause outbreaks. Rather its societal response, or the lack thereof.

Arguably the most fundamental way to reduce the impacts of drought and resultant cholera outbreaks is to alleviate population vulnerabilities before the hazard occurs. Such steps include:

expanding access to water and sanitation,

alleviating poverty, and

reducing the marginalization of groups.

This would enable people to adapt better to a changing climate.

In addition multi-country drought response plans and water agreements are needed. How one country manages a water source can have a knock-on effect and drought rarely affects one country in isolation.

When cholera outbreaks do occur, the response needs to be rapid, due to its short incubation periodless than two hours to five days.

Oral cholera vaccines are an essential tool in controlling outbreaks, along with providing chlorinated water.

More awareness of the implications of drought on health are needed including enhanced research, technology, surveillance and forecasting to assess health under an interdisciplinary lens. Better drought diplomacy, which involves using drought-related activities to create fresh diplomatic opportunities and not conflicts, is needed at all levels to improve the capacity to cope and offer effective solutions.

Communities also need to be consulted and encouraged in climate adaptation talks and negotiations.

The current cholera pandemic shows no signs of waning and remain unlikely while so many people live in conditions that allow its transmission. These issues will only be worsened as climate change progresses. A greater call to action is needed to provide the basic human right of water and sanitation.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Plants overexpressing ABCG17 or ABCG18 under the guard cell-specific promoter show higher leaf temperature (Red colors indicate high temperature and stomata closure). Credit: Tel Aviv University

Researchers at Tel Aviv University, under the leadership of Dr. Yuqin Zhang and Prof. Eilon Shani of the School of Plant Sciences and Food Security at the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, discovered a central mechanism in plants that helps them deal with drought conditions and water shortages. The system is built on proteins that transport a small signal molecule that controls two vital processes: closing leaves' stomata to prevent water loss and regulating lateral roots growth and development to better respond to abiotic stresses such as high salinity or drought conditions.

Researchers from the Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute as well as from Switzerland, Germany, the US, and Denmark conducted the multi-stage study over six years. The article was published in the journal, Science Advances.

Prof. Shani explains that "understanding plant responses to their changing environment is very important during this age of rapid climate changes and has great significance for the crops that feed humanity. It has long been known that one way that plants respond to a shortage of water is by closing their stomatasmall openings surrounded by two guard cells on the leaves that enable exchanges with the environment. When these stomata are open, gas exchange increases, the photosynthesis process is accelerated, and the plant generates energy, grows, and bears fruit. But, when the plant seeks to retain the little water available to it, it closes its stomata and reduces transpiration. This is a particularly sensitive and rapid process through which the plant maintains the proper balance at any given moment. It opens or closes stomata within seconds to minutes in response to any small change in water availability, temperature, and the amount of light."

According to researchers, it was already discovered in the 1960s that a plant hormone called ABA (abscisic acid)  a small signal molecule  leads to stomatal closure. When a high level of ABA is present, the stomata tends to close, and, conversely, in its absence, they open. The prevailing belief for years was that ABA is produced in the roots in response to water deficit in the soil and then transported through the stem to the leaves in order to close the stomata. In the current study, researchers examined this hypothesis and found that the reality is far more complex.

Prof. Shani says that "during the course of the study, which took six years, we relied on the plant model Arabidopsis from the Brassicaceae family and used a broad variety of advanced molecular genetics techniques: creating mutations through genome editing, cell-type-specific gene activation, physiological characterizations using advanced equipment.. Similarly, we used a combination of advanced microscopes and different chemical and genetic methodologies for fluorescent probing in order to find the exact location of ABA molecules in plants as well as the proteins involved."

Overexpressing ABCG17 and ABCG18 transporter proteins leads to stronger ABA responses and with stomatal closure (green fluorescent signal indicates for ABA response). Credit: Tel Aviv University

The findings were surprising: Researchers discovered that the ABA signal molecule is stored in an inactive state in the leaves themselves, in cells called mesophylls, which have a central role in photosynthesis. The storage process is actively carried out by two transporter proteins that had been previously unknown, ABCG17 and ABCG18. They transfer the ABA through the cell's membrane into the mesophyll cells. There, the ABA becomes inactive by binding to a sugar molecule and is stored over time.

In order to examine the function of these two newly discovered proteins, researchers created various mutations in the respective genes that produce them and conducted a variety of additional experiments that characterized the proteins' ABA transport activities with different systems such as frog eggs and yeast cells. They found that changes in the production of these proteins and their activities cause fluctuations in the transport and storage of ABA molecules in the plant and that without these proteins, ABA remains free, reaches the stomata in high concentrations, and promotes their closure. According to the researchers, this mechanism allows plants to rapidly respond to changing environmental conditions. Specifically, when the plant senses drought, the quantity and activity of these two proteins decreases, ABA "awakens from its dormancy," and the stomata close within a short amount of time.

Researchers further found that the long-distance movement of the ABA hormone in a plant is the opposite of what they had believed up until now. Using the plant vasculature bundles, which is equivalent to the human blood system, ABA travels over great distancesin fact from the leaves to the roots. This movement is also controlled by the transport proteins, ABCG17 and ABCG18. A decrease in the activity of these two proteins in a leaf causes a reduction in the storage of dormant ABA in the mesophyll cells, and the free ABA travels in the direction of the root. Accumulation of ABA in the roots controls the development of lateral roots that helps the plant to better respond to abiotic stresses.

Prof. Shani concluded that "in this study, we have added an important stratum in our understanding of the mechanism through which the plant deals with changing conditions such as water shortfalls. For the first time, we discovered a control mechanism through which the plant collects signal molecules in a 'storeroom' and releases them under the desired conditions. This discovery will significantly contribute to agriculture during this era of rapid climate change and thus hopefully improve world food supply." In follow-up studies, we are now examining similar mechanisms in two important crops: tomatoes and rice."

Explore further Plants evolved ability to actively control water-loss earlier than previously thought

More information: Yuqin Zhang et al, ABA homeostasis and long-distance translocation are redundantly regulated by ABCG ABA importers, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Yuqin Zhang et al, ABA homeostasis and long-distance translocation are redundantly regulated by ABCG ABA importers,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf6069
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The novel use of genetic contact tracing to identify the source of a bovine tuberculosis outbreak could signal a new approach in managing the disease, a study suggests.

In response to a rise in TB rates among wildlife in an area of East Cumbria with no previous infections, experts examined the DNA of the bacteria that causes the disease taken from cows and badgers that had tested positive.

All bacteria were found to be closely related to each other, pointing to a single purchase of cattle as the most likely source of infection.

Scientists say routine monitoring of both cows and badgers could help to manage early outbreaks of the disease, for which control measures cost 100 million each year in England alone.

Virulent particles

Bovine TB is an infectious respiratory disease of cattle that is mainly spread through inhaling virulent particles in the air. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, which can also infect and cause disease in other mammals, including humans, deer, wild boar, goats, pigs, cats and dogs.

Experts from the Universities of Edinburgh and York, University College Dublin, and the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency developed a method of tracking the outbreak by integrating genetic data with spatial locations and contact tracing. This allowed them to compare small changes in the DNA as it spread from one animal to the next.

The outbreak began with an infected cow brought to a farm in the region from Northern Ireland, according to the research.

Disease passed among cattle, infecting an increasing number of cows, then spread throughout the local badger population, before being passed back to cows in a cycle of infection.

Unusual outbreak

Experts suggest that their approach is an effective way to model the spread of infectious disease, and might be applied to understand the complex spread patterns of other diseases.

"This was an unusual outbreak in that we were able to trace the infection to a single source  as close to a smoking gun as you can get. Badgers are becoming more populous, and farms are becoming bigger and more complex, so the risk of disease spreading from livestock to wild animals will probably persist and even increase as these trends are likely to continue into the future. Our findings are very useful for understanding transmission of TB, and infection spread in general," said Professor Rowland Kao, Chair of Veterinary Epidemiology and Data Science at the Roslin Institute.

The research was published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Explore further Clues of tuberculosis spread between cows and badgers

More information: Gianluigi Rossi et al, Phylodynamic analysis of an emergent Mycobacterium bovis outbreak in an area with no previously known wildlife infections, Journal of Applied Ecology (2021). Journal information: Journal of Applied Ecology Gianluigi Rossi et al, Phylodynamic analysis of an emergent Mycobacterium bovis outbreak in an area with no previously known wildlife infections,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14046
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba find that the genetic structure of a tree species in Southeast Asia shows a recent population expansion in Borneo, an important finding for conservation and sustainable use of tropical rainforest trees. Credit: University of Tsukuba

For most people who go for a walk in a forest, their surroundings seem unchanging. But researchers from Japan have discovered that, on a geological time scale, one rainforest tree species has been getting up to all sorts of antics.

In a study published this month in Tree Genetics & Genomes, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed that a tropical rainforest tree species underwent a recent and rapid population expansion in Borneo, showing that an understanding of a species' past is important for ensuring its future.

Biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing problems of our time. Ecosystems such as tropical rainforests, which have high biodiversity and species richness, face ongoing threats from changing land use and over-exploitation by humans. To conserve the tree species living in these environments, it is important to understand their genetics and how their current genetic structures were established.

"We investigated the genetics of Shorea parvifolia, a widely distributed tropical forest tree in Southeast Asia," says senior author of the study, Professor Yoshihiko Tsumura. "Its genetic structure has been affected by repeated glacial and interglacial fluctuations; these genetic changes provide key knowledge for sustainable use and conservation."

S. parvifolia is important for ecosystem function and forestry in Southeast Asia. To examine its genetics, the researchers took leaf samples from trees in natural populations that covered almost the entire geographical range of S. parvifolia. The team used nuclear DNA markers and the DNA sequencing data of chloroplasts (the plant cell structures that carry out photosynthesis) to examine the genetic structure of S. parvifolia and how it was established.

"The nuclear DNA analysis of the genetic structure showed a clear separation between the Borneo populations and the others," explains Professor Tsumura.

Although the genetic structure shown by the chloroplast DNA was less pronounced, further analysis showed important differences in the Borneo populations. The results indicated that S. parvifolia has had a recent population expansion in Borneo.

"The high genetic diversity at particular genetic markers in the Borneo samples suggest that during the most recent glacial period, populations of this species likely migrated from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo and then underwent a major population increase, amassing considerable genetic diversity," says Professor Tsumura.

On the basis of the results of their study, the researchers have suggested that conservation units in this area be divided into three regions: the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. The team's findings also highlight the benefit of using locally sourced seeds for plantings aimed at improving conservation and sustainability in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, because doing so could maintain species' genetic diversity.

Explore further Genome sequencing delivers hope and warning for the survival of the Sumatran rhinoceros

More information: Masato Ohtani et al, Genetic structure of an important widely distributed tropical forest tree, Shorea parvifolia, in Southeast Asia, Tree Genetics & Genomes (2021). Masato Ohtani et al, Genetic structure of an important widely distributed tropical forest tree, Shorea parvifolia, in Southeast Asia,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s11295-021-01525-8
Methane cuts could shave 0.3 degrees Celsius off projected global warming.

Dozens of countries on Tuesday joined a United States and European Union pledge to cut emissions of methanea potent greenhouse gasby at least 30 percent this decade, in a major commitment for climate action.

The initiative, which experts say could have a powerful short-term impact on global heating, followed an announcement earlier Tuesday at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in which more than 100 nations agreed to end deforestation by 2030.

"One of the most important things we can do between now and 2030, to keep 1.5C in reach, is reduce our methane emissions as soon as possible," said US President Joe Biden, referring to the central goal of the 2015 Paris agreement.

He called the pledge, which has so far been signed by nearly 100 nations, a "game-changing commitment" that covered countries responsible for around half of global methane emissions.

European Commission head Ursula Von der Leyen said that the methane cut would "immediately slow down climate change".

"We cannot wait until 2050. We have to cut emissions fast and methane is one of the gases we can cut the fastest," she said.

Heads of state and government are gathered in Glasgow for a two-day high-level summit that host Britain is hoping will kick start ambitious climate action during the two-week COP26.

Organisers say the outcome in Glasgow will be crucial for the continued viability of the 2015 Paris Agreement temperature goals.

While the summit's first day passed with much rhetoric but only lukewarm climate pledges, Tuesday's twin announcements were broadly welcomed by campaigners.

Methane accounts for a sizeable chunk of greenhouse emissions.

The laundry list for COP26 remains daunting, however, with pressure on leaders to commit to faster decarbonisation and provide billions to nations already dealing with the fallout of climate change.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters he was "cautiously optimistic" about the progress made so far.

But he warned that "there is still a very long way to go" before any meaningful deal.

Stronger than CO2

Decades of climate pledges have been rooted in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Yet methane (CH4) is more than 80 times more potent than CO2, and its sources, such as open pit coal mines, gas leaks and livestock, have received relatively little attention until now.

The International Energy Agency estimates that the fossil fuel industry emitted 120 tonnes of methane in 2020, and much of it can be easily avoided.

A UN report from earlier this year showed that "available targeted methane measures" could see CH4 levels reduced by 45 percent by 2030.

This would shave 0.3C off projected warming, save a quarter of a million air pollution deaths and increase global crop yields by 26 million tonnes, the UN's Environment Programme (UNEP) said.

UNEP also says all emissions must fall 45 percent by 2030 to keep 1.5C in reach.

Activists kept up rallies and performance art events outside the COP26 venue.

"Methane is a greenhouse gas strongly associated with the fossil fuel industry... evaporating from coal mines, from oil and gas extraction and from pipelines," said Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead.

"Methane is but another reason why the fossil fuel industry has to end."

However, major emitters China, India, Russia and Australia did not sign the pledge.

WWF climate expert Vanessa Perez-Cirera WWF said she would like to see "all signatories to the Paris Agreement sign up".

Access issues

Earlier Tuesday, countries made a multibillion-dollar pledge to end deforestation by 2030.

But the promise was met with scepticism from environmental groups, and although details were sparse, it appeared to largely resemble a similar pledge made by more than 200 countries and organisations in 2014.

The British government said that the plan to drum up around $20 billion in public and private funding had been endorsed by more than 100 leaders representing over 85 percent of Earth's forests, including the Amazon rainforest.

The summit pact to "halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030" encompasses promises to secure the rights of indigenous peoples, and recognise "their role as forest guardians".

The Amazon is the scene of some of Earth's most intense deforestation.

While Johnson described the pledge as "unprecedented", a UN climate gathering in New York in 2014 issued a similar declaration to end deforestation by 2030.

An assessment earlier this year found that seven years on from the pact, virtually no government was on course to fulfil their responsibilities.

"Signing the declaration is the easy part," UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Twitter.

"It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet."

Meanwhile, chaotic scenes continued on Tuesday around the COP26 venue, with attendees queueing around the block awaiting security checks.

By early afternoon, the UN organisers sent a text alert asking people to stay away from the venue "in order to ensure compliance with Covid-19 measures".

Accessibility issues in the locked down city centre were highlighted as Israel's energy minister, who uses a wheelchair, was unable to enter the venue on Monday.

 2021 AFP
The Graphene Space Station in low earth orbitthis image shows the top of the viewing deck with its protective petal-like shields fully open to allow observers to have a unique perspective of earth and our cosmos. Credit: The University of Manchester, SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Luxigon

Advanced manufacturing experts from Manchester have revealed what human life in space could look likewith a graphene-enhanced space habitat developed to meet anticipated demand for human settlements beyond Earth.

A community of specialists at The University of Manchester have teamed up with global architect firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to research the design and manufacturing of space habitats for the space industry.

With projections that the global space economy could grow to $1 trillion revenue by 2040, the innovation will raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of new lightweight composites using 2D materials for space applications.

In an international collaboration, Dr. Vivek Koncherry and his teamsupported by the Manchester-based Graphene Engineering Innovation Centreare creating a scaled prototype of a space habitat with pressurized vessels designed to function in a space environment.

SOM, the architects behind the world's tallest buildingBurj Khalifa in Dubaiare contributing design and engineering expertise to the space architecture. Daniel Inocente, SOM's senior designer in New York, said that "designing for habitation in space poses some of the greatest challengesit means creating an environment capable of maintaining life and integrating crew support systems.

The view from inside the viewing deck aboard the Graphene Space Habitatthe image shows a child passenger with the earth below. Credit: SOM, Luxigon, and the University of Manchester

"As architects, our role is to combine and integrate the most innovative technologies, materials, methods and above all the human experience to designing inhabited environments," added Inocente. "Conducting research using graphene allows us to test lightweight materials and design processes that could improve the efficacy of composite structures for potential applications on Earth and future use in space."

In the next five to 10 years most governments are expected to want a permanent presence in space to manage critical infrastructure, such as satellite networksas well as considering the potential opportunity of accessing space-based resources and further scientific exploration.

Dr. Koncherry said: "A major barrier to scaling up in time to meet this demand is the lack of advanced and automated manufacturing systems to make the specialist structures needed for living in space. One of the space industry's biggest challenges is overcoming a lack of robotic systems to manufacture the complex shapes using advanced materials."

The solution is incorporating graphene for advanced structural capabilities, such as radiation shielding, as well as developing and employing a new generation of robotic machines to make these graphene-enhanced structures. This technology has the potential to revolutionize high-performance lightweight structuresand could also be used for terrestrial applications in the aerospace, construction and automotive sectors.

The Graphene Space Station in low earth orbitthis image shows the profile of the vessel that is made up of a collection of capsules, each housing different activities and personnel. The top of the vessel features a viewing deck that offers a unique perspective of earth and our cosmos. An Orion space shuttle is also shown flying in the background as this type of space vehicle would transport people and supplies to the Graphene Space Station. Credit: SOM, Luxigon, and the University of Manchester"?

James Baker, CEO Graphene@Manchester, says that "the work being led by Dr. Koncherry and his colleagues is taking the development of new composites and lightweighting to another level, as well as the advanced manufacture needed to make structures from these new materials. By collaborating with SOM there are opportunities to identify applications on our own planet as we look to build habitats that are much smarter and more sustainable."

The space habitat launch coincides with a series of world firsts for graphene in the built environment currently happening here on Earthincluding the first external pour of graphene-enhanced Concretene and pioneering A1 road resurfacingall supported by experts in the city where the super strong material was first isolated.

Tim Newns, Chief Executive of MIDAS, Manchester's inward investment agency, said that "this exciting piece of research further underlines the breadth of applications where advanced materials and in particular graphene can revolutionize global industries such as the space industry. In addition to world-leading expertise in graphene, facilities such as the new Advanced Machinery & Productivity Institute (AMPI) in Rochdale, will also support the development of advanced machines and machinery required to bring these applications to reality."

Explore further 3D-printed lunar habitat floor
Methane cuts could shave 0.3 degrees Celsius off projected global warming.

Countries on Tuesday issued a landmark pledge to slash their methane emissions this decade, with US President Joe Biden chiding China's leader for skipping the make-or-break COP26 climate summit.

Nearly one hundred nations joined a United States and European Union initiative to cut emissions of methanea potent greenhouse gasby at least 30 percent this decade, with China among notable absentees.

The initiative, which experts say could have a powerful short-term impact on global heating, followed an announcement earlier on Tuesday at the summit in Glasgow in which more than 100 nations agreed to end deforestation by 2030.

"One of the most important things we can do between now and 2030, to keep 1.5C in reach, is reduce our methane emissions as soon as possible," said Biden, referring to the central goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

He called the pledge, covering half of global methane emissions, a "game-changing commitment".

However, he criticised the decision of China's President Xi Jinpingwhose economy is the largest overall emitternot to attend the summit kicking off the 13-day climate negotiations.

"It's been a big mistake, quite frankly, for China not showing up. The rest of the world looked at China and said, "what value are they providing?'," Biden told reporters.

"It's just is a gigantic issue and they walked away. How do you do that and claim to be able to have any leadership?" Biden said.

The same was true for Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added.

Heads of state and government are gathered in Glasgow for the two-day summit that host Britain is hoping will spur ambitious climate action during the negotiations that follow.

Organisers say the outcome in Glasgow will be crucial for the continued viability of the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he was "cautiously optimistic" about progress made in Glasgow so far.

Activists kept up rallies and performance art events outside the COP26 venue.

Stronger than CO2

Decades of climate pledges have been rooted in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Yet methane (CH4) is over 80 times more potent than CO2, and its sources, such as open-pit coal mines, gas leaks and livestock, have received relatively little attention until now.

The International Energy Agency estimates that the fossil fuel industry emitted 120 million tonnes of methane in 2020, and much of it can be easily avoided.

A UN report from earlier this year showed that "available targeted methane measures" could see CH4 levels reduced by 45 percent by 2030.

This would shave 0.3C off projected warming, save a quarter of a million air pollution deaths and increase global crop yields by 26 million tonnes, the UN's Environment Programme (UNEP) has calculated.

UNEP also says greenhouse gas emissions in general must fall 45 percent by 2030 to keep 1.5C in reach.

"Methane is a greenhouse gas strongly associated with the fossil fuel industry... evaporating from coal mines, from oil and gas extraction and from pipelines," said Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead.

"Methane is but another reason why the fossil fuel industry has to end."

However, major emitters China, India, Russia and Australia did not sign the pledge.

WWF climate expert Vanessa Perez-Cirera said she would like to see "all signatories to the Paris Agreement sign up".

Access issues

Earlier on Tuesday, countries made a multibillion-dollar pledge to end deforestation by 2030.

The Amazon is the scene of some of Earth's most intense deforestation.

But the promise was met with scepticism from environmental groups, and although details were sparse, it appeared to largely resemble an earlier pledge.

The British government said that the plan to drum up around $20 billion in public and private funding had been endorsed by more than 100 leaders representing over 85 percent of Earth's forests, including the Amazon rainforest.

The summit pact to "halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030" encompasses promises to secure the rights of indigenous peoples, and recognise "their role as forest guardians".

While Johnson described the pledge as "unprecedented", a UN climate gathering in New York in 2014 issued a similar declaration to end deforestation by 2030.

An assessment earlier this year found that virtually no government was on course to fulfil its responsibilities.

"Signing the declaration is the easy part," UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Twitter.

"It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet."

Meanwhile, chaotic scenes continued on Tuesday around the COP26 venue, with attendees queueing around the block awaiting security checks.

By early afternoon, the UN organisers sent a text alert asking people to stay away from the venue "in order to ensure compliance with Covid-19 measures".

Accessibility issues in the locked-down city centre were highlighted as Israel's energy minister, who uses a wheelchair, was unable to enter the venue on Monday.

The laundry list for COP26 remains daunting, with pressure on leaders to commit to faster decarbonisation and provide billions to nations already dealing with the fallout of climate change.

Explore further Leaders commit to 30% methane cut at climate summit

 2021 AFP
A dwarf mongoose. Credit: Shannon Wild

Management of within-group conflict is a key feature of human lives and those of many social animals, with contestants known to adopt various strategies in the immediate aftermath to minimize costs. The study, published today in the journal eLife by a team at University of Bristol, shows that individuals not involved in the altercations can both track the aggressive behavior of others and act on that information at a later time.

Lead author Dr. Amy Morris-Drake, from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, said: "Conflict management strategies have evolved to keep the peace in species as varied as chimpanzees, ravens and domestic dogs. Our work demonstrates that dwarf mongooses have sufficient cognitive ability to monitor vocal cues about aggressive interactions and to remember who the bullies are, refusing to groom with them later."

By working with wild groups of mongooses habituated to their close presence, the research team could collect detailed observations and test their ideas experimentally in natural conditions.

Co-author Dr. Julie Kern, now based at the University of New England, Australia said: "The crucial experiment entailed simulating the occurrence of food contests between two group members during the afternoon, through playback of the vocalizations given by aggressors and victims. The rest of the group therefore heard what sounded like repeated squabbles involving these individuals."

Senior author Prof. Andy Radford, also from Bristol, added: "On experimental days, we recorded all the grooming that individuals engaged in with their groupmates back at the sleeping burrow that evening. Being groomed helps with hygiene and reduces anxiety, and grooming underpins social relationships, so is core to social life."

Two mongooses grooming. Credit: Shannon Wild

On evenings that followed the simulation of increased within-group conflict, subordinate mongoose group members groomed with one another more than on control evenings. Most strikingly, the subordinates also ignored the perceived aggressors, who received substantially less grooming than on other occasions.

Dr. Morris-Drake said: "This shows that dwarf mongooses keep tabs on conflict occurring between their groupmates. They can identify bullies just from the vocalizations given during disputes, store this information and implement a delayed conflict-management strategy, in this case giving the bully the cold shoulder before bedtime."

The findings are important because it is often suggested that it is difficult for animals to remember past altercations between groupmates, only to act on them later, particularly when the individual was not involved in the interaction and with everyday life continuing in the interim.

A dwarf mongoose engaged in an aggressive interaction over food. Credit: Shannon Wild

Dwarf mongooses are Africa's smallest carnivore, living in cooperatively breeding groups of 530 individuals. The work was conducted as part of the Dwarf Mongoose Research Project which has studied habituated wild groups continuously since 2011. The study animals are individually marked with blonde hair dye, are trained to climb onto a balance scale to weigh themselves, and can be watched from a few feet away as they go about their natural behavior in ecologically valid conditions.

Explore further Mongooses remember and reward helpful friends

More information: Amy Morris-Drake et al, Experimental evidence for delayed post-conflict management behaviour in wild dwarf mongooses, eLife (2021). Journal information: eLife Amy Morris-Drake et al, Experimental evidence for delayed post-conflict management behaviour in wild dwarf mongooses,(2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.02.442338
Marine and coastal ecosystems support a large proportion of the worlds biodiversity. Credit:  Damsea, Shutterstock

A changing climate means changing habitats. This in turn further intensifies the effects of climate change that cause biodiversity loss. To stop this cycle, researchers are looking to nature-based solutions.

Biodiversity, the unique variety of life on our planet, is more than just flora and fauna. It's the lynchpin to the continued existence of our species. Remove the pin, and everything begins to come apartclimate, food chains, weather, the economy, our way of life and place in the natural world.

Yet the degradation of Earth's biodiversity is caused by human activities: urbanization, pollution, deforestation and commercial fishing. Due to such factors, the rate of species extinctions is accelerating. More species are now threatened with extinction than ever before in human history.

"With biodiversity loss, we not only lose nature, we lose some of our best defenses against climate change," said Myron Peck, who leads the Department of Coastal Systems at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). "Our oceans, forests, peat bogs and wetlands all act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing harmful carbon from the atmosphere."

It's clear that it's impossible to address biodiversity loss without tackling climate change, and equally impossible to tackle climate change without addressing biodiversity loss. This is acknowledged in the new EU Adaptation Strategy in February 2021.

"We are living in a world where everything is interconnected," said Elisa Furlan, an environmental scientist at Italy's Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici. "Climate-related and human-made hazards have become increasingly systemic, the result of the complex and dynamic interactions happening among human, economic, political, and natural systems."

Because of this interconnectedness, we're essentially left with a vicious circle where the increasing temperatures and extreme weather brought on by climate change causes biodiversity changes and loss of ecosystem services, which subsequently leads to more climate change, which causes more biodiversity loss, and so on.

How do we stop this downward spiral?

According to the World Wildlife Fund, nature-based solutions harness the power of nature to address climate change. Common examples include restoring and protecting forests and wetlands, bringing nature into urban settings, restoring coastal areas, and implementing best practices in sustainable agriculture. Not only do these solutions prevent biodiversity loss they also build resilience against a future of rising sea-levels, desertification, extreme flooding and wildfires.

A good example of nature-based solutions at work can be found right here in Europe, in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks established throughout the EU seas with nationally designated areas and the EU network called Natura 2000. However, while these areas have made headway in terms of protecting critical species today, according to Peck, they've stopped short of implementing the measures needed to ensure their resilience for a future defined by a changing climate. "There simply can't be long-term restoration without regulation," he said.

Furlan agrees, noting that coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. "Marine areas are subjected to the one-two punch of natural stressors, like waves and storms, and to the pressures created by changes in land use, the shipping industry, and mass tourism," she said.

Add to this a general lack of understanding about how these factors affect marine life, and the inadequate governance mentioned by Peck, and what you're left with is a critically important habitat that has been left to fend for itself.

"Marine and coastal ecosystems support a large proportion of the world's biodiversity and play an important role for society by, for example, regulating climate, providing food resources, and contributing to our well-being through cultural and recreational opportunities," added Furlan. "By taking this for granted, we've set the scene for a perfect storm."

Gathering blue intelligence

For Peck, Furlan, and others, priority must be given to providing policymakers with the nature-based solutions needed to protect our critical coastal ecosystems for the long-haul.

Leading the EU-funded Horizon 2020 FutureMARES, Peck and his team is researching the potential benefits of introducing habitat-forming species like reef-building corals and canopy-forming macroalgae into coastal areas.

"Our main concern is to restore biodiversity, and that process starts by making these damaged habitats healthier," he said. "After all, a healthy habitat has a better chance of withstanding climate change than a depleted one."

Similarly, the EU-funded Horizon 2020 MaCoBioS project is providing evidence-based guidance that policymakers can use to halt the loss of biodiversity in Europe's marine areas. "Delivering on the targets set out in the EU 2030 Biodiversity strategy and 7th Environment Action Programme starts with understanding the interrelationship between climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems," explained Furlan, who helps coordinate the project.

To address this knowledge gap, the project is studying several critical marine habitats, including the coral reefs of the Caribbean, the seagrass beds of the Mediterranean, and the kelp forests of the North Sea.

"Each of these unique areas are subjected not only to climate change, but also fishing, recreation, and pollution," said Furlan. "As such, they serve as a lens for examining how these pressures lead to a decline in biodiversity and how such a decline impacts connected ecosystems."

With this information, researchers will quantify the combined impact that human activities and climate change have on these ecosystems.

"Our goal is to create models that decision-makers can use to implement effective, nature-based mitigation actions that ultimately results in resilient marine habitats," added Furlan.

Learning today to prepare for tomorrow

Further north, researchers are working to understand and predict changes in Arctic marine biodiversity. They are studying its implications on fisheries (the economic lifeblood of many Arctic communities) and carbon sequestration, which has important implications on the global climate.

"We still don't have a good understanding about how marine biodiversity in the Arctic responds to climate-related pressures like temperature, salinity, and pH, as well as land- and ocean-based stressors such as invasive species, pollution, and fishing," said Marja Koski, a researcher at the National Institute of Aquatic Resources, part of the Technical University of Denmark, and coordinator of ECOTIP. "How organisms will respond to combinations of these stressors is largely unknown."

According to Koski, the current method of describing and modeling marine biodiversity has its limitations. In fact, despite a century of detailed taxonomic studies, over 90% of Arctic marine species are currently thought to be undiscovered. This means we can't predict the consequences that a change in, for instance, the composition of plankton communities will have on carbon sequestration and fisheries.

"Our knowledge is still fragmented in terms of how biological changes interact with human decisions and behavior, including how fisheries are managed in the Arctic," explained Koski. "This limits our ability to jointly develop adaptation options with local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic."

To fill this knowledge gap, the project is using new molecular methods on environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect invasive species, in the Arctic. eDNA refers to DNA that can be collected from the environment (for example water samples). "The use of eDNA for species monitoring is revolutionary as it saves time, costs, and workload without impairing the target organism or the ecosystem," noted Koski.

ECOTIP is also investigating the concept of ecosystem tipping points, irreversible changes of ecosystems, like the possible melting of the Greenland ice sheet. "Such changes have a cascading effect across the entire ecosystem, which ultimately impacts fisheries and the ocean's ability to act as a carbon sink," explained Koski.

According to Koski, having information like this is key to being able to predict and mitigate the effects climate change has on biodiversityand the effect biodiversity has on climate change. After all, if we don't understand the mechanisms of why things happen, we cannot even fathom predicting what might happen in future.

"We can observe the changing distributions of zooplankton in the North Sea, for example, but if we don't know what causes the distribution shifts, how can we implement effective regulations," asks Koski? "Being able to extrapolate what we do know to other areas and conditions is how we stop the cycle of biodiversity loss."

Deepening knowledge of the many factors spinning this cycle is the first step. And, as a result, we are better positioned to project the changes we see today to future scenarioshelping us prepare for the changes yet to come.

Explore further Study: Unite solutions to climate and biodiversity crises to save life on earth
Bald cypress trees act as natural infrastructure to provide shoreline protection along the San Marcos River. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Rusty Feagin

A newly published article hopes to stir discussion around adoption of construction designs and methods that utilize nature to cut costs, extend project lifecycles and improve ecological synergy, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.

The lead author is Rusty Feagin, Ph.D., AgriLife Research professor and ecologist in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Department of Ocean Engineering in the College of Engineering, both at Texas A&M University, Bryan-College Station. In addition to Feagin, 23 U.S. and European professionals in various fields including engineering, public policy, construction and biology contributed to the publication.

Feagin said the paper, "Infrastructure investment must incorporate Nature's lessons in a rapidly changing world," aims to initiate conversations about sustainable infrastructure and the need for incorporating natural elements into projects.

Publication of the commentary piece in One Earth is timely as U.S. Congressional members continue to haggle over pieces of a proposed infrastructure bill, Feagin said. Natural elements go by many names, including "nature-based solutions," "nature-based features" or "natural infrastructure." But regardless of the names used, everyone involved in national infrastructure construction needs to shift their mindset toward these ideas, he added.

Incorporating nature-based features, Feagin said, can reduce project costs and make infrastructure more resilient in dynamic natural settings, helping the structures last longer than traditional constructions.

"People tend to think of roads and bridges when we say 'infrastructure," but infrastructure is really anything that represents the foundation we build society on, including our waterways, coastlines and ports," he said. "Transitioning from concrete and steel to natural elements is not ideal for every project, but we need to begin looking at ways to implement these methods, especially where natural change is dynamic and projects need to be more flexible within the changing environment."

Opportunity ahead for natural infrastructure

Natural infrastructure is especially applicable in areas where climate change is impacting weather variability, such as coastlines where storm surges can occur and riverbanks where heavy rains can cause flooding.

For example, rather than managing floodwaters with walls of concrete and steel, which can degrade over time, incorporating natural infrastructure might mean utilizing natural levees and landscape features to steer water via ecosystems like wetlands and retaining ponds. Natural infrastructure implemented correctly improves with time as well, Feagin said.

Feagin said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Department of Transportation are already incorporating natural elements within projects. European countries such as the Netherlands are also adopting in increasing number of natural methodologies in construction.

For a specific example, Feagin said, the enormous proposed $26 billion infrastructure project in the Houston-Galveston area, nicknamed the "Ike Dike" and designed to reduce the impact of the flood events due to hurricanes and torrential rains, is an example of a project that could benefit from natural infrastructure elements.

"The goal for any project would be to take advantage of natural processes, such as water movement to deposit sediment, or the spread of trees and native vegetation to help capture that sediment and build natural levees, sand dunes, and water detention basins," he said. "By working with nature, you can minimize effort and cost and realize maximum efficiency in the overall system."

Challenges to adopting natural infrastructure

A shortage of existing expertise and time needed to train the next generation of engineers are constraints to natural infrastructure application in building projects, Feagin said. Traditional engineering follows established technical planning criteria, whereas natural infrastructure requires technical expertise from professionals outside the field, such as ecologists.

This disconnect in expertise is being bridged by project managers and planners who view natural infrastructure as a way to save money and extend a project's life. But Feagin said building those collaborations takes time and effort.

"Natural infrastructure is being used, but it's happening because project managers and collaborators see the cost savings or they see an opportunity to add value to the project," he said. "It could be something as simple as making a space that delivers the infrastructure benefit for the project but also makes it good for activities like bird watching or hunting."

Another constraint is bureaucracy that regulates and approves project plans, Feagin said. Construction codes and requirements are attuned to traditional construction methods and adding natural infrastructure can lengthen approval processes.

But Feagin said the constraints create an exciting opportunity to train the next generation of engineers and construction professionals.

"The transition will require cross-training and educating people about these new methods and concepts," he said. "That takes generational change. It would help if policy makers were emphasizing the benefits of natural infrastructure and providing incentives that spur on change."

Incentivizing adoption of natural infrastructure

Feagin said there is an opportunity to ride the wave of increased public interest in reducing the carbon footprint of projects during and after construction.

The broad acceptance of the burgeoning construction concepts can be accelerated by incentivizing their use through an executive order in a way that would expedite implementation in publicly funded projects, Feagin said.

Offering a discounted or incentivized rate would mean project planning would take a longer-term view of infrastructure projects, Feagin said, and that taxpayers would get more value from their investment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers already operates at the lower rate, which is why they are one of the leading users of natural infrastructure in projects.

"That would be an easy lever to pull, and decision-makers would start selecting projects that provide longer-term lifecycles," he said. "It's a small incentive to change, but it could pay huge dividends when it comes to adopting these concepts and speeding up the transition toward increased use of natural infrastructure within future construction."

Explore further Greening the gray: Fighting floods with restoration versus riprap

More information: Rusty A. Feagin et al, Infrastructure investment must incorporate Nature's lessons in a rapidly changing world, One Earth (2021). Journal information: One Earth Rusty A. Feagin et al, Infrastructure investment must incorporate Nature's lessons in a rapidly changing world,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.10.003
Liquid iron is tapped into a chute from the blast furnace at steelmaker SSAB in Lulea, northern Sweden.

In a gleaming new building in the northern Swedish town of Lulea, steelmaker SSAB is using a new manufacturing method that could revolutionise the highly-polluting industry by eliminating nearly all its CO 2 emissions.

But making the method work at scale poses major challenges and the technique may not be the 'silver bullet' everyone is hoping for. Critics argue it may just push emissions elsewhere.

Finding ways to decarbonise steel, an indispensable component of modern industry, is one of the keys to drastically reducing carbon emissions to meet climate goals.

Among heavy industries, iron and steel production is the number one contributor to CO 2 emissions, according to the International Energy Agency.

The World Steel Association estimates the industry accounts for about seven to nine percent of man-made emissions worldwide, with an estimated 2.6 billion tonnes of CO 2 emitted in 2020.

In Lulea, the sterile appearance of the new building stands in stark contrast to the nearby soot-covered blast furnace it's meant to replace.

Alight with the signature orange glow of melted metal as liquid iron spews out, the blast furnace is the main method for producing steel today.

"By switching technology from a normal blast furnace where we use coal and emit CO 2 , we end up with regular water instead," SSAB site manager Monica Quinteiro tells AFP during a visit to the HYBRIT pilot facility.

"We can reduce the CO 2 emissions from steelmaking by 90 percent," she adds.

HYBRIT is a collaboration between steelmaker SSAB, state-owned utility Vattenfall and mining company LKAB.

Finding ways to decarbonize steel, an indispensable component of modern industry, is one of the keys to drastically reducing carbon emissions to meet climate goals.

Removing oxygen

The iron ore that comes out of a mine is usually rich in oxides, chemical compounds made up of iron and oxygen, the most well-known form of which is rust.

To make steel, that oxygen needs to be removed.

Air heated to more than 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 F) is fed into the blast furnace, causing coke to react with the oxygen which is then released as CO 2 , resulting in nearly two tonnes of CO 2 for every tonne of steel produced.

In the HYBRIT facility, the oxygen is removed differently.

"Instead of using heated air, we are circulating hot hydrogen gas," Quintero explains.

The hydrogen, like the carbon in the coke, binds with the oxygen in the iron ore, instead creating water.

While so-called direct reduction of iron isn't totally new, HYBRIT distinguishes itself by using hydrogenproduced from electrolysisand ensuring that all of the electricity in the production process is from renewable sources.

While steel is made up of mostly iron, some carbon needs to be added.

SSAB site manager Monica Quinteiro holds hot-briquetted iron.

"But that's a very, very small amount that we need to add at the end of the manufacturing process," Martin Pei, SSAB chief technical officer and HYBRIT project initiator, tells AFP.

If the successful pilot scheme can be scaled up, "We can in principle solve the root cause of the CO 2 emissions," Pei explains.

Challenges remain

In August, SSAB shipped the first batch of steel plates25 tonnesmade with the new processwhich it labels fossil-freeto truckmaker Volvo.

It's a drop in the ocean compared to the 1.86 billion tonnes of steel shipped by steelmakers in 2020, according to the World Steel Association.

But SSAB aims to make 1.5 million tonnes of "fossil-free steel" a year as of 2026, compared to its current production of 7.5 million tonnes a year.

The biggest hurdle to full-scale production is access to electricity, especially that produced from renewable sources.

To operate at scale, SSAB would need an estimated 15 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity a year, and for their mining operations LKAB needs 55 TWh.

Together that represents roughly a third of Sweden's total electricity consumption.

Claims of producing fossil-free steel have been disputed by academics.

Hidden costs?

Not everyone is a fan of the approach.

"It takes such massive amounts of electricity, at a time when electricity production is already strained," Christian Sandstrom, an associate professor at the Jonkoping International Business School, told AFP.

Sandstrom and two colleagues wrote a paper criticising the project in October and questioning the "fossil-free" label.

"The net effect of this hydrogen-based steel is a higher consumption of electricity and from what we can see there are no signs that electricity is going fossil-free," Sandstrom said.

Scaling up SSAB's production would hardly make a dent in emissions from steel globally: in terms of tonnage, SSAB only ranked 52 among global steel producers in 2020, according to the World Steel Association.

But others are betting this may be the future.

In February, the newly formed Swedish company H2 Green Steel announced plans to build a facility that would be operational in 2024.

And China's HBIS, the world's third-largest steel producer, in May announced it had started production on a demonstration facility for its own direct reduction of iron using hydrogen.

Explore further Sweden starts construction on fossil fuel-free steel plant

 2021 AFP
Surface meltwater flowing towards the ocean through a channel in Greenland. Credit: Ian Joughin

Global warming has caused extreme ice melting events in Greenland to become more frequent and intense over the past 40 years, raising sea levels and flood risk worldwide, finds new research involving UCL academics.

Over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice has melted from Greenland's surface and flowed into the oceanenough to cover the UK with around 15m of meltwater, or all of New York City with around 4500m.

Published today in Nature Communications, the new study is the first to use satellite data to detect this phenomenonknown as ice sheet runofffrom space.

Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of its project "Polar+ Surface Mass Balance Feasibility," the study used measurements from the ESA's CryoSat-2 satellite mission, using estimates of surface elevation change over time.

One of the very few satellites orbiting with 2 degrees of the planet's poles, CryoSat-2 has provided scientists with a long history of data no other spacecraft could reach since its launch over 11 years ago, transforming scientist's capacity to study the polar regions. It remains key to research and knowledge critical to decision-making on the planet's health.

Study co-author Lin Gilbert (UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory) said: "Observations show that extreme melt events in Greenland have become more frequent and more intenseas well as more erraticwhich is a global problem. Monitoring from space enables us to cover the whole of Greenland (and nearly all Antarctica) repeatedly, which can't be done by teams on the ground. This is the first-time run-off has ever been measured directly from spaceallowing us to remotely observe hard-to-explore regions of the ice sheets and use these observations to form an enhanced understanding of why this is happening and what we can do about it in future."

The international team of researchers found that over the past four decades Greenland's meltwater runoff has risen by 21%and has become 60% more erratic from one summer to the next.

The findings revel that between 2011 and 2020 increased meltwater runoff from Greenland raised the global sea level by one centimeterheightening the risk of flooding worldwide and disrupting marine ecosystems in the Arctic Ocean. Raising sea levels can also alter patterns of ocean and atmospheric circulation that affect weather conditions across the globe.

One third of this rise was produced in just two summers2012 and 2019when extreme weather led to record-breaking levels of ice melting not seen in the past 40 years.

The study shows that during the past decade, runoff from Greenland has averaged 357 billion tons of ice melt per yearequating to almost 1 millimeter of global sea level risereaching a maximum of 527 billion tons in 2012, when changes in atmospheric patterns caused unusually warm air to sit over much the ice sheet.

These changes are related to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, which have become more frequent and are now a major cause of ice loss from Greenland.

Lead author Dr. Thomas Slater (University of Leeds) said: "As we've seen with other parts of the world, Greenland is also vulnerable to an increase in extreme weather events. As our climate warms, it's reasonable to expect that the instances of extreme melting in Greenland will happen more oftenobservations such as these are an important step in helping us to improve climate models and better predict what will happen this century."

"There are, however, reasons to be optimistic. We know that setting and meeting meaningful targets to cut emissions could reduce ice losses from Greenland by a factor of three, and there is still time to achieve this."

The study observations can also be used to verify how climate models simulate ice sheet melting, allowing improved predictions of how much Greenland will raise the global sea level in future as extreme weather events become more common.

Study co-author Dr. Amber Leeson (Lancaster University) said: "Model estimates suggest that the Greenland ice sheet will contribute between about 323cm to global sea level rise by 2100. This prediction has a wide range, in part because of uncertainties associated with simulating complex ice melt processes, including those associated with extreme weather.

"These new spaceborne estimates of runoff will help us to understand these complex ice melt processes better, improve our ability to model them, and thus enable us to refine our estimates of future sea level rise."

Explore further Extreme Greenland ice melt raised global flood risk: study

More information: Thomas Slater et al, Increased variability in Greenland Ice Sheet runoff from satellite observations, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Thomas Slater et al, Increased variability in Greenland Ice Sheet runoff from satellite observations,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26229-4
Automated data collection at an apple orchard in the Palatinate region. Credit: Robot Makers GmbH

Changing climatic conditions, the shortage of skilled workers, the use of pesticidesa wide range of factors have an impact on the quality and flow of agricultural processes. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI are aiming to make this more efficient and sustainable by means of cloud and AI technologies. As part of the "NaLamKI" project, they are working with partners to establish a software-as-a-service platform that collects device and machine data to form a data basis for forecasts and decision-making aids.

The agricultural sector is facing major challenges: German farmers are already feeling the far-reaching effects of climate change and will have to adapt to this to a greater extent in the future. Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation affect all agricultural variables, ranging from crop growth to crop rotations right through to tillage. Decentralized AI in the cloud as well as centralized AI on farms can help make this process of adapting to changing conditions more efficient, accelerate the process across all areas of agriculture and thus make the overall ecosystem more agile and future-proof.

This is where the NaLamKI project comes into play (see the facts-and-figures box for more on this). Activities will focus on building a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform with open interfaces for providers from agriculture and industry, as well as service providers of special-purpose applications for crop farming. By aggregating sensor and machine data collected using satellites and drones, soil sensors, robotics, manual data collection and inventory data, it is possible to create a data pool from which agricultural processes can be more sustainably optimized using advanced AI methods. AI applications deployed on the platform support farmers in analyzing crop and soil conditions across large areas of land and assist with the reorganization of nutrient and crop protection processes such as irrigation, fertilization and pest control in order to ensure sufficient crop yields both in terms of quality and quantity, to reduce emissions and to preserve biodiversity. The targeted use of crop protection products, for example, increases crop yields, lowers costs, conserves resources and actively protects the environment.

Farmers will interact with AI

"In addition to climate change, a shortage of skilled labor is also impacting the quality and flow of agricultural processes. Therefore, it is often the case that plant conditions can only be checked on a very selective basis. At present, it is not possible to detect and precisely determine soil water conditions or pest infestation, for example, in large agricultural areas," says Dr. Sebastian Bosse, Head of Interactive & Cognitive Systems Group at Fraunhofer HHI. To address this, AI methods to analyze remote sensing data for modeling of agricultural processes and for 5G networking on farmland are being developed as part of the institute's project. "Among other things, we are looking into image analysis of drone, satellite and robotic camera data and making the results meaningful to farmers," says the engineer. By merging all the data, they will gain an insight into the characteristics of cultivated areas that was virtually nonexistent before.

Drone-based detection of fungal infections. Credit: Fraunhofer HHI

Farmers will be able to interact with the AI and ask it questions. For example, based on the current soil moisture reading and crop diseases, the AI will be able provide instructions for action and show the effects of different scenarios. To be precise, a dashboard showing the area of farmland and current soil conditions will be displayed on a tablet. By clicking on specific areas, the farmer will be provided with information about problems such as low water levels, as well as recommendations on how best to deal with them.

SaaS platform based on GAIA-X

The (training) data and AI services will be provided in a decentralized manner using Gaia-Xa European cloud infrastructure with data sovereignty. What's more, a decentralized, distributed-learning AI system will be established, with data stored locally at the farms. Farmers will be able to share the AI models and transfer them to the NaLamKI platform in order to continuously improve the algorithms. The platform will be open to third-party providers. Start-ups, for example, could offer their innovative AI solutions on the platform.

Inspection of orchards

Initial data collection for the AI model development process has already been completed. For instance, images taken by a robot of an apple row crop on a fruit farm in the Palatinate region of Germany are now available. For this purpose, data from various sensors, such as position sensors, LIDAR, RGB and multi-spectral cameras, were collected, analyzed and merged (sensor fusion) while the (semi-)autonomous robot passed through the plantation. The aim is to create a meaningful representation of the trees in an orchard so that the fruit count and degree of ripeness, the stem diameter, the condition of the individual crops and the surrounding soil can be determined. This also includes detecting impediments, in particular living creatures in tall vegetation, alongthe route traveled. "We evaluate the data as we move through the plantation. The information we collect is merged with the map of the fruit tree population and depicted in a map of the property. Documentation is created for the farmer based on these data," says Dr. Bosse, explaining the specific application.

Explore further Digital crop protection from disease and pest plants
From left, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer of Germany, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron gather for a photo after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. A medical issue has sidelined one of four astronauts assigned to SpaceX's upcoming flight to the International Space Station and delayed the launch, officials said Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

A medical issue has sidelined one of four astronauts assigned to SpaceX's upcoming flight to the International Space Station and delayed the launch, officials said Monday.

NASA said the launch is now off until Saturday night at the earliest. Liftoff had been scheduled for this past Sunday, but bad weather offshore bumped it to Wednesday. It's the first time in decades that a U.S. flight has been delayed by a crew member's health.

Officials would not say which astronaut is affected. They described it as a "minor medical issue" and said it is unrelated to COVID-19. The one German and three U.S. astronautswho range in age from 34 to 61have been quarantined for two weeks as usual before a spaceflight.

Once on their way, Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron and the European Space Agency's Matthias Maurer will move into the space station for six months, replacing four astronauts who have been living up there since April. NASA prefers launching the new crew before bringing back the old one so they can have a face-to-face handover, but is considering "all options" in light of the latest delay.

In 1990, a shuttle launch was delayed when the flight's commander came down with a cold. And in 1970, an astronaut was yanked from Apollo 13 shortly before launch after being exposed to German measles. He never came down with measles, and later joined the herculean effort in Houston to save his colleagues from their aborted moon mission.

More recently, two Russian cosmonauts were replaced a couple months before their 2020 launch to the space station, after one of them suffered an eye injury.

Earlier Monday afternoon, Maurer tweeted a photo of himself on the beach at Kennedy Space Center, holding a large garbage bag.

"I've been relaxing during my quarantine by collecting rubbish on the beach," he wrote. "Sadly, this is not the only bag I filled. We really need to think about our environmental impact on Earth and in space. Clean oceans, clean space! It's up to all of us."

Explore further SpaceX needs to tame toilet trouble before weekend launch

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Deposits of dark silicate glass are strewn across a 75-kilometer corridor in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. New research shows that those glasses were likely formed by the heat of an ancient comet exploding above the surface. Credit: P.H. Schultz/Brown University

Around 12,000 years ago, something scorched a vast swath of the Atacama Desert in Chile with heat so intense that it turned the sandy soil into widespread slabs of silicate glass. Now, a research team studying the distribution and composition of those glasses has come to a conclusion about what caused the inferno.

In a study published in the journal Geology, researchers show that samples of the desert glass contain tiny fragments with minerals often found in rocks of extraterrestrial origin. Those minerals closely match the composition of material returned to Earth by NASA's Stardust mission, which sampled the particles from a comet called Wild 2. The team concludes that those mineral assemblages are likely the remains of an extraterrestrial objectmost likely a cometthat streamed down after the explosion that melted the sandy surface below.

"This is the first time we have clear evidence of glasses on Earth that were created by the thermal radiation and winds from a fireball exploding just above the surface," said Pete Schultz, a professor emeritus in Brown University's Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences. "To have such a dramatic effect on such a large area, this was a truly massive explosion. Lots of us have seen bolide fireballs streaking across the sky, but those are tiny blips compared to this."

The glasses are concentrated in patches across the Atacama Desert east of Pampa del Tamarugal, a plateau in northern Chile nestled between the Andes Mountains to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. Fields of dark green or black glass occur within a corridor stretching about 75 kilometers. There's no evidence that the glasses could have been created by volcanic activity, Schultz says, so their origin has been a mystery.

Some researchers have posited that the glass resulted from ancient grass fires, as the region wasn't always desert. During the Pleistocene epoch, there were oases with trees and grassy wetlands created by rivers extending from mountains to the east, and it's been suggested that widespread fires may have burned hot enough to melt the sandy soil into large glassy slabs.

Deposits of dark silicate glass are strewn across a 75-kilometer corridor in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. New research shows that those glasses were likely formed by the heat of an ancient comet exploding above the surface. Credit: P.H. Schultz/Brown University

But the amount of glass present along with several key physical characteristics make simple fires an impossible formation mechanism, the new research found. The glasses show evidence of having been twisted, folded, rolled and even thrown while still in molten form. That's consistent with a large incoming meteor and airburst explosion, which would have been accompanied by tornado-force winds. The mineralogy of the glass casts further serious doubt on the grassfire idea, Schultz says. Along with researchers from the Fernbank Science Center in Georgia, Chile's Universidad Santo Tomas and the Chilean Geology and Mining Service, Schultz and colleagues performed a detailed chemical analysis of dozens of samples taken from glass deposits across the region.

The analysis found minerals called zircons that had thermally decomposed to form baddeleyite. That mineral transition typically happens in temperatures in excess of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheitfar hotter than what could be generated by grass fires, Schultz says.

The analysis also turned up assemblages of exotic minerals only found in meteorites and other extraterrestrial rocks, the researchers say. Specific minerals like cubanite, troilite and calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions matched mineral signatures from comet samples retrieved from NASA's Stardust mission.

"Those minerals are what tell us that this object has all the markings of a comet," said Scott Harris, a planetary geologist at the Fernbank Science Center and study co-author. "To have the same mineralogy we saw in the Stardust samples entrained in these glasses is really powerful evidence that what we're seeing is the result of a cometary airburst."

More work needs to be done to establish the exact ages of the glass, which would determine exactly when the event took place, Schultz says. But the tentative dating puts the impact right around time that large mammals disappeared from the region.

Analysis of the glass samples revealed a mineralogy that was consistent with a cometary origin. Credit: P.H. Schultz/Brown University

"It's too soon to say if there was a causal connection or not, but what we can say is that this event did happen around the same time as when we think the megafauna disappeared, which is intriguing," Schultz said. "There's also a chance that this was actually witnessed by early inhabitants, who had just arrived in the region. It would have been quite a show."

Schultz and his team hope that further research may help to constrain the timing and shed light on the size of the impactor. For now, Schultz hopes this study may help researchers identify similar blast sites elsewhere and reveal the potential risk posed by such events.

"There may be lots of these blast scars out there, but until now we haven't had enough evidence to make us believe they were truly related to airburst events," Schultz said. "I think this site provides a template to help refine our impact models and will help to identify similar sites elsewhere."

Other authors of the study were Sebastian Perroud, Nicolas Blanco and Andrew Tomlinson.

Explore further Planetary scientists unravel mystery of Egyptian desert glass

More information: Peter H. Schultz et al, Widespread glasses generated by cometary fireballs during the late Pleistocene in the Atacama Desert, Chile, Geology (2021). Journal information: Geology Peter H. Schultz et al, Widespread glasses generated by cometary fireballs during the late Pleistocene in the Atacama Desert, Chile,(2021). DOI: 10.1130/G49426.1
Recirculating flow in a dead zone over the wash basin can trap infectious particles for a long time. Credit: Vivek Kumar, Ansys Inc.

As we approach two full years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we now know it spreads primarily through airborne transmission. The virus rides inside tiny microscopic droplets or aerosol ejected from our mouths when we speak, shout, sing, cough, or sneeze. It then floats within the air, where it can be inhaled by and transmitted.

This inspired researchers in India to explore how we can better understand and engineer airflow to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. To do this, they used their knowledge of airflow around aircraft and engines to tailor the airflow within indoor spaces.

In Physics of Fluids, they report computer simulations of airflow within a public washroom showing infectious aerosols in dead zones can linger up to 10 times longer than the rest of the room. These dead zones of trapped air are frequently found in corners of a room or around furniture.

Washrooms generate aerosols and are present within offices, restaurants, schools, planes, trains, and other public spaces. They have been identified as a potential source of infection transmission within densely populated areas in India.

"We explored a small, single-person facility used by many, one after another," said Krishnendu Sinha, a professor of aerospace engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. "I have a similar washroom in my house, which made it easier to study it. Mobility was restricted, and laboratories were closed, but this allowed us to continue our study during the lockdown."

The researchers discovered that chances of infection are significantly higher in a dead zone.

"Surprisingly, they can be near a door or window, or right next to where an air conditioner is blowing in air," he said. "You might expect these to be safe zones, but they are not."

Computer simulations show "air flows in circuitous routes, like a vortex," said Vivek Kumar, a co-author. "Ideally, air should be continuously removed from every part of the room and replaced by fresh air. This isn't easy to do when air is recirculating in a dead zone."

The biggest questions around airflow center around how to ventilate indoor spaces to minimize infection spread. Where should fans and ventilation ducts be placed? How many of them? How much air should flow through them?

"Currently, ventilation design is often based on air changes per hour (ACH)," said Sinha. "These design calculations assume fresh air reaches every corner of the room uniformly. From computer simulations and experiments within a real washroom, we know this does not occur.

"ACH can be 10 times lower for dead zones. To design ventilation systems to be more effective against the virus, we need to place ducts and fans based on the air circulation within the room. Blindly increasing the volume of air through existing ducts will not solve the problem."

Explore further 5 tips for ventilation to reduce COVID risk at home and work

More information: "Effect of recirculation zones on the ventilation of a public washroom," Physics of Fluids (2021). Journal information: Physics of Fluids "Effect of recirculation zones on the ventilation of a public washroom,"(2021). aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0064337
Richard Perkins has taken his childhood summers in Lake Luzerne and turned them into a book series for kids.

Its all about a young boy who meets a big salamander, who is much larger than any other salamander would be, Perkins said from his home in Maine. And he talks.

Perkins, who spent his summers visiting his grandparents in Lake Luzerne since 1953, had a collection of salamanders and newts when he, himself, was a young boy.

I had hundreds of them, Perkins said.

Now retired from his job as a safety director at a construction company, he has started his own publishing company  Brilliant Kids Book Publishing  and has already written and published two of the five books in the series called The Salamander King.

The books touch upon environmentalism, family values and bullying, while also using locations and names from places and people in Lake Luzerne.

Every summer his parents would vacation in Lake Luzerne. His father, Wayne Perkins, grew up in Lake Luzerne, and his grandparents, Lynn and Cecile Perkins were longtime residents.

After 10 days, his parents would go home and leave Perkins with his grandparents. His first books subtitle is Just Like Grandpa Taught Me.

I would go out and I would collect little critters, Perkins said, and I would come back and Grandpa helped me make an environment for them, and hed say, Richard, you can only watch them for two or three days, then youve got to take them right back to their home where you found them.

The scenes in the book are set at Stones Pond in Lake Luzerne, a place Perkins often visited as a child.

He took long walks with his grandfather as well. During one walk, they heard a really loud noise. His grandfather explained it was a beaver slapping its tail.

He said, beavers are slapping their tails on the pond to warn other beavers that we are in the area, Perkins recalled.

His first two books feature a beaver family. He has also named characters in the books after Fred Gardner, owner of the local IGA Market, and Edie, his wife. They purchased the soda fountain and opened Papas Ice Cream Parlor in 1977.

The first book is available on Amazon for $13.99, and the second for $14.99.

The books not only have a nice story and an interesting story, theres a massive amount of information in the books about animals, about the environment, about everything, Perkins said. And a big part of the book is a strong family and caring and loving for each other.

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WILTON  A Wilton attorney admitted on Monday to stealing money from an elderly client and her estate over a six-year period.

Ellen K. Zwijacz, 43, pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court to felony second-degree grand larceny.

Zwijacz was arrested in February after an investigation by the New York State Police SIU Financial Crimes Unit. Police determined that Zwijacz used her legal skills and knowledge to prepare trust documents to open accounts and transfer funds out of the clients control without her knowledge, according to a news release from the Saratoga County District Attorneys Office.

Zwijacz also submitted the fraudulent documents to an insurance company to change address and beneficiary information on life insurance policies and filed inaccurate documents as attorney for the victims estate with Surrogates Court.

Zwijacz will be required to pay over $860,000 in restitution to the victim before sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 5 at 2:30 p.m.

As a result of her felony conviction, she will be required to surrender her law license.

She could face local jail time and probation, or up to 1 to 3 years in state prison.

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People will head to the polls today to decide local races and the fate of constitutional ballot questions  unless they are among the handful of residents who have already voted early.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Information about polling places can be found at warrencountyny.gov/boe for Warren County; washingtoncountyny.gov/197/Board-of-Elections for Washington County; and www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/board-of-elections for Saratoga County. Visit poststar.com for more information about major races.

More people have taken advantage of early voting in Warren County than the last local election in 2019.

A total of 1,083 people voted early this year, compared with 862 two years ago, according to Warren County Democratic Elections Commissioner Beth McLaughlin.

The Washington County Board of Elections reported 314 voting early.

However, the two counties combined total of just under 1,400 is far below last years presidential election early voting total, which topped 24,000 for Warren and Washington counties.

Warren County features some high-profile races. Former Warren County Sheriff Bud York is seeking to unseat Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty, a Republican who is seeking his fifth four-year term. York is running on the independent Working for You line. Also in the race is Democrat Rich Larkin, who is a current member of the Town Board.

In Lake Luzerne, Supervisor Gene Merlino is running as a write-in candidate to win a ninth term, along with a whole slate of candidates  Pamela Petteys, Roger Nelligan and Rayl Zubal. Current Town Board member Dan Waterhouse is the Republican nominee for supervisor and running with incumbent David ONeal and newcomer James Niles on the Republican ticket. Incumbent Republican Mike Fazio is facing off against Margaret Paoloni, who has the People First ballot line, for a two-year seat.

McLaughlin said she and Republican Elections Commissioner Bill VanNess will start counting the Lake Luzerne write-in votes on Thursday at 9 a.m. and continue until completed.

Absentee votes will be counted at 10 a.m. on Nov. 15. The county had sent out 1,515 ballots and received 801 back as of Monday afternoon.

There are also contested supervisor races in Thurman with incumbent Susan Shepler seeking to win a second term on an independent line and being challenged by Republican Deb Runyon. In Johnsburg, Republican Thomas Zauner wants to unseat Democratic Supervisor Andrea Hogan.

Queensbury has the four incumbent at-large supervisors  Doug Beaty, Brad Magowan, Rachel Seeber and Mike Wild  being challenged by Democrat Brent McDevitt.

For the Queensbury Town Board, Democrat incumbent Harrison Freer is facing off against David Deeb in a rematch of the 2019 election for the Second Ward seat.

First Ward Councilman Tony Metivier, who won the Republican nomination in a primary, is being challenged by John Kassebaum, who has an independent line.

In Glens Falls, current Second Ward Councilman Bill Collins is running unopposed for mayor, and Fifth Ward Councilman Jim Clark is unopposed for councilman-at-large. There are contested races in two wards  Robin Barkenhagen and Robert Landry in Ward 2 and Ben Lapham and Hank Pelton in Ward 4.

At the county supervisor level, Democrat John Reilly is challenging Republican incumbent Dan Bruno in Ward 4, and Democratic incumbent Ben Driscoll is facing a challenge from Republican Phil Russell in Ward 5.

All incumbents in Lake George are running unopposed for reelection, but there is a special proposition. Voters will decide whether to approve creating of a special taxing district for emergency medical services

In Washington County, there are a handful of contested supervisor races. Greenwich Supervisor Don Ward, a Republican, is facing a challenge for a second term from Democrat James Nolan. White Creek Supervisor James Griffith, a Democrat, is seeking reelection to a second term and being challenged by Republican Sean Cossey.

In Fort Edward, board member Tim Fisher is running as a write-in candidate for supervisor. Lester Losaw is on the ballot as the Republican candidate for supervisor. However, Losaw abruptly resigned in July after the ballots had been printed.

In Saratoga County, Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz is running unopposed for reelection to a second term. The Town Board race features incumbent Kyle Noonan and Mark Stewart on the Republican lines and Democrat Erin Trombley seeking two seats.

There is a countywide race for sheriff, with incumbent Michael Zurlo, on the Republican and Conservative lines, being challenged by Norman Boyea on the Working Families line.

Statewide ballot questions

Voters will also decide the fate of five statewide ballot initiatives:

Proposition 1 would amend the constitution to cap the number of state Senate seats at 63, allow noncitizens and Native Americans to be counted for population totals and count incarcerated people as residents of where they were last at instead of the prison. It would also require seven of the 10 commissioners on the state Independent Redistricting Commission to approve of the new maps for Senate, Assembly and congressional seats. If the commission does not vote on any maps, then the Legislature can adopt them, with or without amendments.

Proposition 2 would amend the state constitution to establish peoples right to clean air, clean water and healthy environment.

Proposition 3 would eliminate the requirement that a citizen be registered to vote at least 10 days before an election.

Proposition 4 would allow people to request absentee ballots without having to give a specific reason.

Proposition 5 would increase the jurisdictional threshold for small claims court matters in New York City civil courts from $25,000 to $50,000.

Michael Goot covers politics, crime and courts, Warren County, education and business. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com.

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MAYS LANDING  An Egg Harbor City man was sentenced to 30 years in state prison for attempted murder along with a consecutive 20-year sentence on a robbery charge, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Monday.

The sentencing of Robert Harrell, 34, was in connection to multiple incidents that took place in 2019 in Atlantic City, acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill said. Harrell must serve 85% of his attempted murder sentence and 85% of his robbery charge, he said.

On Jan. 1, 2019, a suspect, already wanted for a shooting, was arrested after stabbing a man during a robbery attempt, Shill said. Harrell was arrested without incident by Atlantic City Police in the 3000 block of Pacific Avenue, he said. Harrell, who was in possession of a knife, was identified as the suspect in two violent incidents over two days, he said.

At 8:39 pm, patrol officers responded to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, in reference to a stabbing victim, Shill said.

The victim was driven to the medical center after being stabbed at Georgia and Pacific avenues, Shill said. Harrell attempted to steal a womans purse when the victim intervened, he said.
MCCA Executive Director Kevin Clinton said the board, comprised almost entirely of insurance companies, will consider the request but having no surplus would be too dangerous.

The governor's proposal is both higher in terms of dollars coming out and sooner than the law says it should be.  I don't think that we will probably go as high as she does, even if the board decided something, because that would leave us with no surplus at all, he said.

Under the 2019 law, the state insurance director must hire an independent actuary starting next year and every third year after to audit the MCCA. If the review  due by September  shows the MCCA's assets exceed 120% of its liabilities, the difference must be refunded.

If we did the formula in the statute and applied it to today's numbers, it would mean about $100 per car, Clinton said.

The insurance industry said it supports giving money back to drivers, but potentially speeding the time frame makes it even more important to stay the course with the law, which includes a reduction in what insurers can be billed to reimburse medical charges.
Students won't need to reapply for the scholarship each year, and the only requirement to keep receiving the funds is a minimum 2.0 GPA.

One of the goals Strunk said they had for the scholarship was to have it provide funds throughout the student's whole education, bridging the gap from start to end, unlike scholarships that only last through the first year or two. It will also follow them if they switch schools, like going from a community college to a university.

"We're hoping the scholarship can help support them all the way through until they get their degree," Strunk said.

Once the first recipient completes school and is no longer receiving funds, the scholarship will be awarded to another student.

Eisenband's father is a refugee whose family fled Adolf Hitler's regime and came to the U.S., and he was born in a displaced persons camp. As the daughter of a refugee, Eisenband said she thinks of the scholarship as helping others the way her father was helped when he was growing up in the U.S.
He said the bow of the Triton was always in the air, and it was hard to see over it. After the crash, he said, the minor asked, "Where did that boat come from?"

 A woman passenger on another vessel said she saw Thiel and Mahler's boats "racing around" and "speeding." She said there were a lot of waves on the river, and Verbeke appeared to be trying to maneuver his boat in the waves.

The boat in which she was riding rushed to the scene after the collision, and she saw Thiel on Verbeke's boat, appearing to be "in a daze or in shock." Children on the boat were "screaming and crying hysterically," she said.

When she asked what happened, she said, a woman on Thiel's boat replied, "Mind your own (expletive) business," which she said surprised her because they were there to help.

On shore, the witness said, she could smell alcohol on Thiel's breath from about 6 feet away. He said he'd been thrown from his boat, she said.

The woman also noted the bow of the Thiel boat was high in the air, and she said she believed the "little boy" driving the boat could not see Verbeke's vessel.
And midwives say those parents are some of the most likely to benefit from alternatives to hospital care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says racial disparities in maternal health outcomes result from a number of factors, such as quality of health care and underlying conditions. The agency also names structural racism and implicit bias as contributing factors for the disparity. Advocates hope that increased access to home births  particularly access to home births facilitated by culturally competent midwives  could be a boon to maternal health for women of color, and particularly for Black women.

Castro said she is committed to pushing for Medicaid coverage when the legislature is back in session in the spring.

Until that happens, advocates say, the lack of coverage is a big problem for parents who cant afford to pay out of pocket for a home birth.

We really need to make sure that this is something thats equitable and fair to everybody, and is not just going to continue to affect the status quo of those who can pay for it, said Star August, co-founder and CEO of the Holistic Birth Collective, a Chicago-based nonprofit.

August was the president of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives until Oct. 23, when she resigned.
Lets turn the question around: what would it mean for that same family to be stably housed? How would that benefit their kids ability to perform in school? What would that mean for the adults ability to be employed at a job they enjoy and can reliably get to? Now, zoom back out: what would it mean to the Quad Cities for 6,645 more households in our community to have that stability?

Access to safe, decent, and affordable housing is the foundation of every other opportunity a person can pursue and every other thing they can achieve. In the big picture, this means that an affordable housing crisis  with the stresses it puts on individuals and families and the strains it puts on our systems of law enforcement, our schools, and our hospitals  limits what we can accomplish as a community. As long as a significant number of people in the Quad Cities lack stable housing, we wont be able to make the advances wed like to see in everything from education to arts and culture to healthcare.
More than 100 plungers jumped into an outdoor pool on a 52-degree, windy day Saturday, all sharing a reason to freeze.

Multiple local groups and individuals made the leap as part of the fundraiser for Special Olympics South Dakota.

The organizations, along with Law Enforcement Torch Run, raised over $65,000 for more than 2,700 Special Olympics South Dakota athletes.

"We raise money so that athletes can be supported and can compete," said Dave Stratton, assistant director with Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Groups had to raise a minimum of $100 to participate and plunge into the icy waters. Organizations that raised money for the plunge ranged from Pioneer Bank, which raised the most money in the area, to the Rapid City Free Masons.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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The sheriff who responded to the scene of a fatal car crash caused by the South Dakota attorney general last year has died, the Hyde County Sheriffs office said Tuesday.

The office declined to release further details about the death of Sheriff Mike Volek, but said it planned to release a statement, KELO-TV reported. He was 69 and had served as sheriff for 22 years.

Volek responded to a 911 call from Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg late on Sept. 12, 2020. At the time, Ravnsborg said he thought he hit a deer or other animal along a rural stretch of highway near Highmore. Both men checked Ravnsborg's car and filled out paperwork documenting the damage. Volek then lent Ravnsborg his personal vehicle to drive to his home in Pierre.

When Ravnsborg drove back to Highmore the next day to return Volek's car, he stopped at the crash scene and discovered the body of 55-year-old Joseph Boever.

Ravnsborg then drove to Volek's house to report the body. They both returned to the crash scene, where Volek said he would handle the investigation and asked Ravnsborg to return to Pierre, according to Ravnsborgs statement.

Volek had not spoken publicly about the crash.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges in the crash in August. The Legislature will consider impeaching him next week.

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(It) is the tree above all others  that is fashioned to withstand successfully the rigorous climatic conditions prevailing on the high and bleak summit  With light and graceful foliage offering slight resistance to the winters blasts, a compact strong trunk, and a root system firmly anchored in the crevices of the underlying rocks, it can bid defiance to the winds of any violence.  John Leiberg

In the intermountain west, theres no tree quite as lovely in the fall as larch.

When the sun gleams off its golden needles, it can almost make a mountainside glow.

Back in 1965  just before he began his masters program at the University of Montana  a young researcher named Steve Arno made a strenuous trek into the Enchantment Lakes in Washington state to see the alpine larch described in the 1899 U.S. Geographic Survey authored by Leiberg.

He found a tree that wasnt afraid of cold, ice or snow. If it could find a crack in solid bedrock, the alpine larch could prosper.

When Arno returned to Missoula  the heart of larch country  he climbed Carlton Ridge near Florence to look for larch in his own backyard. On that September day, the ridge was covered with 18 inches of new powdery snow and the alpine larch was its full golden glory.

The alpine larch were turning gold amidst the snow, he said. It was an incredible sight. It was a place that drew me back year after year.

It was amazing how resilient these trees were, yet there was so little known about them, Arno writes. Standing on that ridge, I confirmed my decision to study the ecology of the alpine larch as the subject of my dissertation.

Arno, of Florence, devoted his career to forest research with the U.S. Forest Service. Now retired, hes long been considered an expert in forest ecology, fire ecology and the application of prescribing fire and managing fuels. Hes written more than 100 scientific papers and nearly a dozen books.

He never lost his fascination for larch.

Arnos newest book is titled Golden Trees of the Mountain West: A Natural History of the Northwestern Larch.

The book explores the ecology of larch trees and what makes them extraordinary.

For those who choose to take the time the time to give the book a read, theyll be able to explain the difference between larch and tamarack.

A tamarack can be a larch, but not all larches are tamaracks.

Thats a common mistake, said Arno.

In fact, none of the larch that are just now winding down their annual spectacular show on the mountainsides of the Bitterroot and up through the Flathead are tamarack. You would have to travel to the northeastern states or on up into Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon if you wanted to see tamarack turn gold in the fall.

In the Inland Northwest, that spectacular fall deciduous display is provided by either western or alpine larch.

While those two species appear from a distance to be one and the same, Arno points out that they are quite different trees.

The western larch lives down the mountain from its alpine cousin.

Its more abundant and evolved to out-compete the fir and spruce that would steal its sun and kill it with their shade. Western larch can establish and achieve rapid growth in places that have been cleared by fire or logging where competition for space and nutrients from shade-tolerant conifers is reduced.

Older western larch develops a deeply furrowed, dark purplish-brown bark that becomes very thick as the trees mature. Its thick bark and branches that start up high on the trunk and away from ladder fuels on the ground give it an edge for survival following a fire.

In contrast, the slow-growing alpine larch has evolved to make its living in the highest reaches of the mountains, where severe weather and rocky conditions abound. Alpine larch regenerate and mature in areas where competition from shade-tolerant subalpine fir, spruce and lodgepole pine has been eliminated.

Adapted to deal with huge amounts of snow and hurricane-force winds, the alpine larch is shorter and its branches are usually within reach of the ground. Canadian studies found that it takes alpine larch 25 to 30 years to grow a foot in height because the tree puts much of its early energy into planting its roots.

In his book, Arno unlocks larch secrets, discusses their distribution, offers examples of how both humans and nature make use of the species and talks about the future of this unique tree.

He also offers several hikes where people can go and see larch in the wilds.

Im hoping people will learn to appreciate western and alpine larch, Arno said. They are very interesting trees.

The book is available through Amazon for $20.

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More than 100 people stood in line at a voting precinct in Chesterfield County on Tuesday evening for more than an hour waiting to vote.

People were lined up on both sides of a hallway inside the building at 13801 Westfield Road, north of Midlothian Turnpike, before they got into the voting area, according to voter Aaron Finch, who waited in line for about 90 minutes. Others were standing outside to get into the building, he said.

The precinct ran out of ballots around 3:30, Finch said elections officials told him. He arrived around 5:15 p.m.

New ballots were sent to the precinct twice, but they had the wrong local candidates on those ballots, Finch said. The third set of ballots arrived around 6:10 p.m. and were correct.

But then the scanning machines werent working, Finch said. Voters slid their paper ballots into a locked voting cabinet.

Finch finally got to vote about 6:45 p.m.

Im very grateful to be able to vote  of the people, by the people, for the people, Finch said.
Keller told the AP in an interview Tuesday that he believed the campaign has been one about what kind of leadership citizens want in a time of crisis.

These are tough times for Albuquerque, whether its COVID or crime or homelessness, he said. I believe weve built a foundation to deal with those issues in a real way. And weve got to continue and follow through with those.

Affordable housing has been a leading issue in New Mexicos largest city, where Keller blamed the pandemic for a surge in homelessness.

At one Santa Fe polling site Tuesday, students from a high school history class arrived. Among those old enough to vote, Joshua Durr, 18, said he favored Webber because hes working on affordable housing and opioid addiction.

Separately, Fernando Rodriguez said he was drawn to Vigil Coppler's local roots and painted the current mayor as an outsider.

Shes for the people. Hes in it for himself, Rodriguez said.
In announcing how many workers had not been vaccinated, Mary Washington Healthcare stated it had about 4,200 employees. However, when the mandate was announced in July, Henry said there were about 5,000 workers.

She said on Monday that when we talk about the entire workforce, we say 5,000 because some are contracted workers, she said. They include traveling nurses who fill in on a temporary basis wherever they may be needed, as well as those who work in security, environmental services or food and nutrition.

While they all fall under the vaccine mandate, theyre technically not considered MWHC employees, she said.

However, as hospitals  and other businesses nationwide  deal with staff shortages, some of those whove participated in MWHCs regular town halls have asked why the health care system would fire people if the system is so overwhelmed.

At one such session in September, Dr. Mike McDermott, the chief executive officer of MWHC, said the vaccine policy is centered around safety and we will not sacrifice that safety for any reason. At that time, he estimated that those who might choose to leave represented about 1% of the staff.
Several of those defendants or their counsel were afforded the opportunity to question Willis, with most being concerned about whether the plaintiff had seen them or their clients at the rallies. Because it is a conspiracy case, the plaintiffs do not need to prove that they can identify the defendants in the rally crowds, something U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon has pointed out to the defendants at several points so far.

The plaintiffs need only convince a jury of the conspiracy allegation via the preponderance of the evidence standard, rather than the higher bar of beyond reasonable doubt used in criminal trials.

Bryan Jones, a Charlottesville-based attorney representing defendants Michael Hill, Michael Tubbs and the League of the South, spent much of his cross-examination time asking Willis about the UTR rally.

Specifically, Jones appeared to be trying to set up the foundation that Willis and other anti-racist demonstrators prevented protesters from entering Market Street Park on Aug. 12, 2017, a claim Willis denied.

Willis said he joined other demonstrators at the rally in blocking Market Street, but repeatedly told defense counsel throughout the day that there were alternative routes to get into the park where the UTR rally was set to happen.
Virginia Solicitor General Toby J. Heytens was confirmed by the U.S. Senate late Monday for a seat on the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The powerful, low-profile court hears cases from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina and is the last stop for all federal appeals from those states, except for the small handful that the U.S. Supreme Court accepts each year.

In a prepared statement Monday, U.S. senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine said, We are glad to know that Toby J. Heytens will serve as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. They said that, having recommended Mr. Heytens to the President for appointment, we trust that he will serve Virginia and the nation honorably.

Last May, the two senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden recommending Heytens for the vacancy on the court following Judge Barbara M. Keenans decision to take senior status effective in August 2021.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law and an expert on the court, said Heytens was confirmed in a 53-43 vote Monday.
Column negates valid

concerns on race theory

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

In his recent column "The right's goal: Make history white again," Michael Paul Williams argues that those who oppose critical race theory seek to prevent the teaching of accurate history in our schools. That is a facile smear designed to distract from the real issue.

There is absolutely no conflict between acknowledging the worst racial and social abuses in our nations past and prohibiting the teaching of the most recent effort at grotesque racism.

CRT is founded on the premise that power structures originate from and are perpetuated by racial differences. It judges by the color of the skin rather than the content of the character. That is the very definition of racism. CRT constructs are being used in schools even though they are not labeled as such.

By all means, teach the horrors of slavery, Jim Crow, the Trail of Tears, Japanese internment and other awful truths about our history. Those who oppose CRT merely oppose collecting us into some false, immutable victim-and-oppressor relationship that poisons the minds and character of our children.

Bob Gorrell.
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Its been a good thing, Clark said.

In Floyd County, 1,888 out of about 11,700 registered voters cast their ballots early in-person at the county elections office during the month of October. That was a few more voters at times than the office floorplan is capable of comfortably holding, said Amy Ingram, general registrar.

I wish I had a bigger office, Ingram said. Its too small to handle so many early voters.

Previously, Floyd County served no more than 1,000 early voters during any given election, she said. The 2020 presidential election saw more than 4,000 Floyd residents vote early.

Were having some growing pains, Ingram said. Well definitely have to reconfigure before the next presidential election.

Elsewhere in the Roanoke and New River valleys, early voter turnout was in the range of 16-20%.

Salem had the 25% early turnout among its 17,598 registered voters, according to Dana Oliver, the citys director of elections.

Montgomery County, the largest locality in the New River Valley, had 18% of its almost 61,000 voters participate early, according to data provided Monday by Connie Viar, director of elections.
A University of Richmond student has been charged with rape, according to Virginia court records. Kyle Kressler was arrested on Oct. 25 and has been charged with rape, strangulation and malicious wounding.

According to the UR crime log, the incident took place on the evening of Oct. 23 at Gray Court, a coed upper-class dormitory on campus, and was reported an hour later.

A University of Richmond police spokesperson declined to comment on Kresslers arrest, and a spokesperson for the city of Richmond police department referred a reporters request to the university.

University police notified faculty, staff and students Oct. 24, announcing that a sexual assault had taken place and that the people involved knew one another, reported URs student newspaper, The Collegian.

The university identified the victim as a female but did not say if she is a student.

After appearing in court on Oct. 26, Kressler received bail. His lawyer, William Dinkin, did not respond to a request for comment.
Any further discovery of cannonballs, since they are being found on islands without any historical context, will no longer require consultation from DHR, Holma said.

Where they come from is anyones guess, but Martha Gross, a VDOT engineer and deputy project director, said crews are finding the cannonballs on the section built in 1976.

When the HRBT was first constructed in 1957, it was a two-lane bridge-tunnel, one lane for each direction. In 1976, a parallel twin tunnel, island and lanes were built, which became the current eastbound lanes. The original tunnel became the current westbound lanes.

The sand for the area where the cannonballs were found came from the Willoughby Bank, a shallow underwater area just east of the south island, Gross said.

We have a bit of an engineering first here right in our backyard, Gross said. The artificial islands are made out of a rock ring with sand still on the inside. And that sand fill is dredged up from the nearby area.

Crews also encountered other artifacts: sunken vessels in the Chesapeake Bay near the south island and bridge. They were placed there decades ago to protect the Willoughby Spit area from the force of waves, VDOT spokeswoman Ha Koehler said.
Imagine that the roles in the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection were reversed.

Democrat Joe Biden had lost the election, and had been ranting that he really won, despite there being no evidence for this in every recount. His supporters had been staging violent rallies, calling election results "The Big Steal," with extremist groups like the Proud People, VowKeepers and DAnon plotting to overturn Trump's victory, Democrats in Congress vowing to decertify the vote count.

On Dec. 30, Biden calls for a rally at the White House Jan. 6 to mobilize for the battle to reverse the election results, promising "It will be wild", and thousands in a sea of blue caps assemble on that date. New York Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks before Biden, calling for a "trial by combat." Biden incites the mob to "fight like hell" and encourages them to storm the Capitol, where Congress is meeting in joint session to certify the election results.

The mob obeys, and attacks the citadel of democracy, scaling walls, breaking doors and windows to gain access, battling with Capitol police, while members of Congress scramble for safety.
10 casques blesses

Dix Casques bleus egyptiens de la Mission des nations unies en Centrafrique (Minusca) ont ete blesses lundi par des tirs de la garde presidentielle a Bangui, a annonce mardi l'Onu, condamnant "une attaque deliberee et inqualifiable".





"Les elements de l'Unite de Police Constituee egyptienne", qui circulaient dans un bus, "ont essuye des tirs nourris de la garde presidentielle sans sommation prealable ni riposte aucune, alors qu'ils n'etaient pas armes", a assure l'Onu dans un communique. Deux d'entre eux ont ete grievement blesses.





En quittant la zone apres les tirs, a 120 metres environ de la residence presidentielle, le bus "a heurte une femme qui a perdu la vie", a ajoute la Minusca qui "a presente ses condoleances a la famille de la victime lors d'une rencontre en fin de journee".





Ces elements de l'unite de police etaient arrives dans la journee de l'aeroport de Bangui dans le cadre de la rotation periodique et du deploiement des troupes en Centrafrique. Ils se dirigeaient vers leur base dans un bus clairement identifie "avec les initiales UN", selon Vladimir Monteiro, porte-parole de la Minusca.




 On Election Day, an encouraging report about moves away from prison gerrymandering | Main | "The Gladue Analysis: Shedding Light on Appropriate Procedures and Sanctions" 

This local article reports on a notable development in a high-profile case in Oklahoma involving the next death row inmate scheduled to be executed in the coming weeks. Here are the details:

The Oklahoma State Pardon and Parole Board on Monday recommended clemency for death row inmate Julius Jones. The board voted 3-1 in favor of granting clemency for Jones, who has been on death row for more than 20 years for the 1999 murder of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. One board member recused themselves from the vote.

Along with clemency, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended commuting Jones' death sentence to life with the possibility of parole.

"The Pardon and Parole Board has now twice voted in favor of commuting Julius Joness death sentence, acknowledging the grievous errors that led to his conviction and death sentence," Jones' lawyer, Amanda Bass, said in a news release. "We hope that Governor Stitt will exercise his authority to accept the Boards recommendation and ensure that Oklahoma does not execute an innocent man."

"My son Julius has been on death row for over twenty years for a murder he did not commit, and every day of that has been a waking nightmare for my family," Jones' mother, Madeline Davis-Jones, said in a news release....

Gov. Kevin Stitt will now decide Jones' fate. He has not said how he plans to decide in the case, only saying that he wouldn't decide until after the clemency hearing. His office released the following statement to KOCO 5: "Governor Stitt is aware of the Pardon and Parole Boards vote today. Our office will not offer further comment until the governor has made a final decision."

Jones spoke during Monday's clemency hearing, giving his account of the night Howell was killed, the days after and his trial.

The recommendation comes more than a month after the same Pardon and Parole Board recommended that Jones' sentence be commuted, which set up Monday's clemency hearing. It also came less than a week after Oklahoma resumed executions for the first time since 2015. The state put John Grant to death last week. Although a decision on Jones' fate is up in the air, his execution is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Jones has gained a lot of support over the past few years, especially from several high-profile celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Baker Mayfield. Howell's family said before the clemency hearing that they hoped the Pardon and Parole Board would vote based on facts instead of Hollywood fiction. His daughter spoke with KOCO 5 in October, saying a lot of misinformation had spread about Jones and the case.
 "Sentencing Guidelines Abstention" | Main | Oklahoma board recommends clemency for Julius Jones who claims innocence from death row 

NBC News has this new encouraging piece that seems fitting for Election Day 2021. The article is fully headlined "States rethink 'prison gerrymandering' in 2020 redistricting process: More than a dozen states are changing how they handle incarcerated Americans in redistricting maps, unwinding a practice critics call 'prison gerrymandering'." Here are excerpts:

More than a dozen states are changing how they factor incarcerated Americans in redistricting maps this year, unwinding a longstanding practice that critics call prison gerrymandering.

The changes were spurred by state and national advocacy over concerns on how mass incarceration and the increasingly partisan process of drawing political district lines for elections was affecting people of color in state and local elections, and research that helped indicate how much communities of color were losing because of these changes.

"When you have people sharing their stories about what it feels like to have your body counted to inflate the vote of prison staff who honestly might be abusing you on any given day, to hurt your family and community's representation back home is just so emotional and really moving," said Villanova University Professor Brianna Remster, who has studied the effects of this practice on states. "People sharing their stories is really what got lots of folks thinking about it."...

Counting incarcerated residents at the site of their prison puts large blocks of residents in districts where the vast majority cannot vote and likely have no ties. In practice, experts say, it allocates prisoners' political representation to often rural and white districts where prisons are located at the expense of urban, more diverse districts where incarcerated people lived before their convictions. Changing the maps so that prisoners are counted in their home districts would reverse that in many places.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonpartisan criminal justice-focused think tank, Washington, Virginia, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, Connecticut, Colorado, and California have all passed legislation in the last few years adding or expanding policies to count at least some prisoners in their home districts in some or all local, state, or federal district lines, instead of at the location of their prison. Those states join Maryland and New York, which started placing incarcerated residents at their last known address in the 2010 redistricting cycle; Maryland does so for both state, federal, and county districts, while New York made the change in state and local districts.

Other states are making the change during this cycle, including Delaware, where legislation from 2010 will be implemented this year. Pennsylvanias redistricting commission also recently decided to return prisoners whose sentences would expire by the end of the decade to their home districts, and more states are lining up to follow. Montanas redistricting commission is reportedly considering similar reforms while Rhode Islands commission has said it will address the issue soon. In New York, voters will weigh a ballot measure on Tuesday that would expand the reform to the states Congressional districts and codify the change into the state constitution....

Illinois legislation wont be implemented until the next redistricting cycle, but in total, at least 12 states will deploy legislative maps that put some incarcerated Americans back in their home districts this year. In total, approximately half the nation now lives in a state that's formally rejected the practice. The laws and policies vary on the mechanics  like how prisoners are returned to their home districts within the data, which legislative district lines are affected, whether the change applies to federal or state prisoners or both  but experts say the change will have a considerable effect on communities of color....

The numbers aren't big enough to influence Congressional districts, experts said, but significant numbers are seen in state and more local level districts. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 40 percent of one state House district in New Hampshire is incarcerated people. In Connecticut, state House District 59 is 14 percent incarcerated, the group said. Drill down into the smallest county-level district maps and the numbers get bigger. In Juneau County, Wisconsin, 80 percent of the county's District 15 are incarcerated, giving the handful of eligible voters there enormous political power.
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen at Web Summit (Sportsfile)

LISBON, PORTUGAL  Facebook whistleblower Francis Haugen has called for Mark Zuckerberg to step down as CEO of the $1 trillion company he founded.

In her first public address since leaking tens of thousands of pages of internal documents which have rocked the social media giant, Haugen said Zuckerbergs departure would benefit both the company and wider society.

Right now the reality is that Mark holds 54% of voting shares in Facebook, he is chairman and CEO. At a minimum the shareholders have the right to choose their CEO, she said during an event in Lisbon on Monday evening.

Its unlikely the company will change if he remains CEO. There is so much good he could do in the world, and maybe its a chance for someone else to take the reins.

Facebook would be stronger with someone whos willing to focus on safety.

Haugen said her actions were driven by a belief that Facebook needed to change in order to save lives.

I genuinely believe that there are a million, or maybe 10 million lives on the line in the next 20 years, and compared to that nothing really feels like a real consequence, she said.

Haugen is a former Facebook product manager who leaked huge amounts of documents to the Wall Street Journal. She alleges the documents show Facebook prioritizes profit over people. Haugen has given evidence to lawmakers in both the UK and US on the evidence. Damian Collins MP, chair of parliaments joint committee, said Haugens testimony strengthened the case for an independent regulator with the power to audit and inspect the big tech companies.

Her leaking has prompted crisis at Facebook, which recently rebranded as Meta. The company has strongly denied her suggestions and says it is focused on safety.

A spokesperson for Meta said: We are on track to spend more than $5bn on safety and security in 2021  more than any other tech company  and have 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on our apps.

Speaking on Monday, Haugen reserved a particular contempt for Facebooks recent rebrand as Meta and its focus on building the next-generation of the internet, the so-called Metaverse based around a virtual reality. The company recently announced plans to hire 10,000 new engineers across Europe to help build the metaverse.

Story continues

Instead of investing on making sure the platform is minimal level safe they are about to invest 10,000 engineers in video games, she said.

A Meta spokesperson said: This is a ludicrous comparison and a false choice. It is not as though a company can only build new technology or invest in keeping people safe. Obviously, we can and must do both of these things at the same time - and we are.

Haugen spoke to a packed arena at the opening session of Web Summit, which reconvened in Lisbon this week for the first in-person gathering since the pandemic struck. The event is the biggest technology conference in Europe.

Former deputy PM turned Facebooks global VP Nick Clegg will be pressed for a response to Haugens when he takes the stage today. He has previously said that social media was being held responsible for issues that run much deeper in society.

Read More

City comment: Facebook takes Meta approach to reputation management

Facebook defends social network to MPs following whistleblower claims

Frances Haugen: Who is the Facebook whistleblower speaking in front of Parliament?






We've done lots of reporting about how parts shortages, particularly semi-conductor chips, and the coronavirus pandemic have been reducing the number of new cars being built. As a result, there are fewer cars from which to choose on dealer lots, prices for those you can find are much higher, and as a major side effect, used car prices have skyrocketed. All of that has to do with the plight of car buyers, but the automotive industry's parts shortages and subsequent inability to build as many cars, will have ripple effects throughout the economy.

Those ripple effects were detailed today by The New York Times in "How Car Shortages Are Putting the World's Economy at Risk." It's an insightful, recommended read.

Here are some key excerpts:

"For every car or truck that does not roll off an assembly line in Detroit, Stuttgart or Shanghai, jobs are in jeopardy. They may be miners digging ore for steel in Finland, workers molding tires in Thailand, or Volkswagen employees in Slovakia installing instrument panels in sport utility vehicles ... The auto industry accounts for about 3 percent of global economic output, and in carmaking countries like Germany, Mexico, Japan or South Korea, or states like Michigan, the percentage is much higher."

"The pain is falling hardest on workers and anyone in need of an affordable car. Auto companies have been allocating scarce chips to high-end and other vehicles that generate the most profit, leading to long waits for less expensive vehicles. Used car prices are skyrocketing because of the lack of new cars."

"Its difficult to calculate just how much auto industry problems will spread to the rest of the economy, but there is little doubt that the impact is enormous because so many other industries depend on carmakers. Auto manufacturers are big consumers of steel and plastic, and they support vast supplier networks as well as restaurants and grocery stores that feed autoworkers."

"Semiconductors are not the only components in short supply. Carmakers are also scrounging for the type of plastic used to hold windshield wiper fluid and mold the dashboard as well as the foam used to construct seats, said Dan Hearsch, managing director in the Detroit office of global consulting firm AlixPartners. Because there is a shortage of a tiny bracket used in S.U.V.s, Mr. Hearsch said, the amount of time it takes to fix a vehicle damaged in a crash has shot up to nearly 20 days, from 12."

There are far more insights in The New York Times piece itself that are worth a read.

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Nebraskas coronavirus cases and hospitalizations were up again last week, indicating that the delta surge that began over the summer has not yet lost its sting.

The state reported 5,316 new cases for the week ending Friday, up from 3,100 the previous week, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

However, the data picture is less than crystal clear: Roughly 600 of the new cases appear to have occurred the previous week, but the reporting of them was delayed. Even adjusting for that reporting discrepancy, Nebraskas case growth appears to be among the top five among the states as new cases nationwide continue to fall.

If the increase holds, it will interrupt a slow, four-week-long decline in cases.

One clearer sign that cases are rising: Hospitalizations also ticked up last week, from an average of 369 a day to 375. New daily admissions were up more sharply, from 41 a day to 50.

CDC data indicated that 402 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday. That was up from the 379 coronavirus patients listed as hospitalized on the states hospital capacity dashboard Tuesday. The figure still was short of the recent peak of 448 hospitalized on Sept. 20.

The state now updates its dashboard weekly rather than daily. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the change Oct. 21, attributing it to the fact that hospitalizations due to the coronavirus had dropped below 10% of the states total staffed hospital beds, a threshold he had set in September.

In mid-August, the state listed 4,146 staffed adult and pediatric medical/surgical and intensive care beds, based on a 14-day average.

Dr. Bob Rauner, president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, said the big question is whether Nebraskas COVID cases will drop to a low level, as in Italy, or rebound again, as they have in the United Kingdom.

Our approach is more like that of the United Kingdom, so we need statewide data that most states other than Nebraska have on their state dashboards to know if this is happening, he said. Taking down the dashboard again right now is a big mistake and could put us at risk of overstretching our hospitals a third time.

The state also added 37 deaths during the week, bringing the total of confirmed and probable COVID deaths in the state since the pandemic began to 2,975. Total cases as of Friday stood at 284,766, according to the CDC.

Looking more broadly, the state now has seen roughly 4,000 to 5,000 cases every week since mid-August, with most of those cases continuing to occur among the unvaccinated.

The state administered 48,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine last week, the most in any week since the spring. It appears that almost three-quarters of those shots were boosters given to those who were previously vaccinated.

Nebraska continues to be below average in vaccinations. Some 56.2% of the population is fully vaccinated; the national rate is 58%.

The state still rates well in vaccinating those 65 and older. The 89% of that age group that is fully vaccinated is the 14th-highest among states. In addition, 28% of Nebraskans 65 and older have received a booster shot, the 11th-best rate in the nation. In all, Nebraska has administered more than 2 million shots, including 123,000 boosters.
DAKOTA CITY -- The future of a planned Dakota County Jail expansion is in limbo, but Sheriff Chris Kleinberg said he's not giving up on the project and renewed a call for three county board members who have concerns about it to resign.

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted 3-2 against hiring a construction manager for the proposed 112-bed expansion that would be funded with fees charged to the U.S. Marshals Service for housing an increased number of federal prisoners. The board also voted 3-2 against the hiring at its Oct. 4 meeting. Chairwoman Janet Gill, Larry Albenesius and Troy Launsby voted against the hiring both times. Board members Scott Love and Robert Giese voted for it.

Kleinberg said he doesn't understand the three board members' reservations.

"I have explained things to them several times, they don't get it. I am so beside myself with how we've worked so hard to get this to fruition, and these three have a hangup," he said. "Here we are getting it built for free, and you vote to turn it down."

At a recent board meeting, Kleinberg told Gill, Albenesius and Launsby they should resign. On Tuesday, he said he'd still like them to step down.

"They need to move on and do something they know something about because they obviously don't know anything about county government," Kleinberg said.

The board received a new construction estimate Tuesday, and costs rose from $10.5 million-$11.25 million to $12.4 million-$13.5 million. Gill said she was concerned that the Marshals Service contract might not provide funds to cover the higher costs, leaving the county to fund overruns.

The board unanimously approved the contract in August after it was reviewed by county attorney Kim Watson. Gill said that after the approval, she re-read the contract and became concerned with a termination clause. She worries the Marshals Service could exercise if it doesn't need all the jail beds agreed to.

"We need to have a contract that's rock-solid. The contract, in my mind, needs to be tightened up a little bit," Gill said.

She also cited rising construction costs and supply delays linked to the ongoing pandemic as reasons to put off the project until there's less uncertainty in the construction industry.

"I honestly don't think anything will happen for another year," she said. "I think time will tell us all a lot."

Gill said most county residents she's heard from are skeptical of the project and would prefer the county seek new businesses and industries to help lessen their tax burden "rather than banking on more people behind bars."

"Ultimately, I don't think our taxpayers want to benefit from more people in jail," Gill said.

As for Kleinberg's call for her to resign, Gill said she plans to remain in office.

"I feel like I'm a voice of reason and have something to contribute," Gill said. "I feel bad he put all this work into it, but I feel our concerns are legitimate."

Albenesius and Launsby did not immediately return messages Tuesday.

In addition to approving the Marshals Service housing agreement, the board signed an agreement with an architect to finalize plans for the addition. Under terms of the agreement, the Marshals Service will pay Dakota County $80 per day for each inmate -- 17-21 on average -- currently housed at the jail, an increase from the previous $65 per day. Once the jail addition is open, the county guarantees the Marshals Service 85 beds per day. In exchange, the Marshals Service will pay $150 a day per inmate for 30 months, enough to pay off the previous construction debt estimate.

After 30 months, the rate returns to $80. The county has agreed to house 85 inmates daily for 10 years.

Kleinberg said the per diem already has risen to $80 as called for under the contract.

"We're already receiving revenue," he said.

If the county were to back out of the agreement, he said, it likely would have to repay money received since the per diem was raised from $65.

Kleinberg said once the expanded jail is open, the Marshals Service is under contract to pay for 85 beds a day whether they're filled or not. He said the Marshals Service told him during negotiations that if construction costs exceed estimates, contract terms could be adjusted to ensure the feds cover building costs.

"We can adjust that. That's how desperate they are for beds," Kleinberg said.

The Marshals Service does not own or operate detention facilities and must contract with state and local governments to house its prisoners who are awaiting trial. Once sentenced, offenders are transferred to a federal prison.

The addition would raise the jail's capacity to 248 beds and require the addition of 16 or 17 jailers whose salaries would be offset by the federal payments, Kleinberg has said. The addition would be added to the west side of the current jail, which was built in 2006 for $7 million with funds from a voter-approved half-cent sales tax increase.

Kleinberg said if the deal with the Marshals Service falls through, the feds likely will make a similar offer to another county and, once that jail is completed, remove all federal inmates from Dakota County, costing his office $600,000-$800,000 in annual revenue.

Kleinberg said in September that he hoped the new jail could be finished by July. Soil samples were drilled last week, and the architect is finalizing designs.

"Unfortunately for me, I can't just give up," Kleinberg said. "I'm not halting anything, but we're at the point now where we need a construction manager."

Kleinberg said most county residents he's spoken with are in favor of the project, and those who had concerns changed their minds after he answered their questions. He urged residents to show up to future board meetings to voice their support.

"If I can get some citizens to say this is a big deal, that's my last hope," Kleinberg said.

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NORFOLK, Neb. -- A Randolph, Nebraska, man died Saturday as a result of a workplace accident in Norfolk.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at 5:46 p.m. Saturday to the Continental rubber hose manufacturing plant, 2701 W. Omaha Ave., where Keith Polenske, 50, fell from a lift and hit his head, according to a Madison County Sheriff's Office news release. Polenske died from his injuries at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk.

Witnesses told investigators that Polenske had been working on a scissor lift when an automated crane struck the lift, tipping it over and causing Polenske to fall to the ground.

The sheriff's office and the Madison County Attorney's Office continue to investigate the incident.

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CARIBBEAN SEA -- The crew of the USS Sioux City seized over $20 million in suspected cocaine in September, according to a statement released last week by the U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs Office.

On Sept. 19, a Dominican Republic search-and-rescue aircraft spotted a "target of interest." The statement said the USS Sioux City, a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, deployed an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 102 on a rigid-hull inflatable boat to intercept the go-fast vessel.

The statement said the vessel was searched; and three suspected drug traffickers were detained. The ship, working with the embarked detachment, seized an estimated 497 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth an estimated $20.7 million.

"Any time we can prevent this stuff from getting to our communities and affecting our families makes these experiences more rewarding. We want to be out here executing these missions," Cmdr. Brad Tonder, the ship's commanding officer, said in a statement issued Thursday.

The seizure is the second of its kind for the ship's crew in six months.

In late April, the ship, working with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 109, recovered an estimated 582 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth an estimated $24 million.

Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South's mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

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Today is Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Let's get caught up.

Here are today's top stories, celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history:

TOP STORIES

Biden climate plan aims to reduce methane emissions

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration is launching a wide-ranging plan to reduce methane emissions, targeting a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming and packs a stronger short-term punch than even carbon dioxide.

The plan was being announced Tuesday as President Joe Biden wraps up a two-day appearance at a United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Biden pledged during the summit to work with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

The centerpiece of U.S. actions is a long-awaited rule by the Environmental Protection Agency to tighten methane regulations for the oil and gas sector, as laid out in one of Biden's first executive orders.

Keep scrolling for links to full versions of these top stories and more.

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Rittenhouse trial goes to opening statements after jury set

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse headed toward opening statements on Tuesday after a jury was seated in just a day despite the polarizing nature of the case.

About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed Monday after they expressed strong opinions about the case or worried that they couldn't be fair. Others worried about their personal safety  No one wants to be sitting in this chair, one woman said  but the 20-member panel was finally set by early evening.

I figure either way this goes you're going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly, said another woman, a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about serving. She was chosen.

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Youngkin, McAuliffe in last-minute scramble to rally voters

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin raced to fire up their partys base voters in opposite ends of Virginia on Sunday as they worked to drive up turnout in a deadlocked and bitter contest for governor that will be scrutinized as a bellwether ahead of next years midterms elections.

McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, and Democrats are scrambling to stave off disaster after public polling has shifted in Youngkins direction in recent weeks. Republicans are optimistic about their chances in the commonwealth, where they haven't won a statewide race since 2009.

After campaigning across northern Virginia on Saturday, Youngkin departed for the far southwest tip of the state, a Republican stronghold. Stops along his bus tour included a prayer breakfast, a worship service, a barbecue at the home of a powerful state lawmaker, a meet-and-greet in the state's farthest-flung corner and an evening get-out-the-vote rally.

In the backyard of a home in a well-to-do pocket of Henrico County, McAuliffe told an energetic crowd of supporters that the stakes are huge" as he touted his record from his first term.

***

Click on the links below for full version of today's top stories. Keep scrolling for a look back at this day in history and today's celebrity birthdays:

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IMAGE OF THE DAY

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TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Nov. 2 In 2000, American astronaut Bill Shepherd and two Russian cosmonauts, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, became the first residents of the int

Today in sports history: Nov. 2 In 2016, the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series championship since 1908, beating the Cleveland Indians in a thrilling Game 7. See more 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ...

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ATLANTA (AP)  After a year of dealing with false claims and death threats, election officials on Tuesday delivered a relatively smooth Election Day.

There were just scattered reports of voting or equipment problems, typical for Election Day: a technical problem delaying a count of early ballots, a power outage, a polling place opening late. It was too soon to gauge the effects of new voting restrictions in place in a few states.

In Virginia, as a sign of how relatively low-key voting was in the state, one of the biggest issues was reminding poll workers that voters were not required to wear a mask when casting their ballot.

Today was overwhelmingly a good day for Virginia, said Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner Chris Piper. Overall, the election today was about as smooth as we could have asked for.

Piper said heavy turnout in the state prompted some polling locations to run out of ballots, but election officials were able to quickly pivot  either by printing more or directing voters to ballot-marking machines typically reserved for voters who need assistance. He said voting never stopped. In Fairfax County, the state's most populous, corrupted thumb drives used in four voting machines delayed the counting of ballots cast early, some of which were still being tallied hours after polls closed.

Once polls close across the country, election officials focused on counting ballots cast by every eligible voter and reporting the results, which are all unofficial until the election is certified. That will not happen for days or even weeks as election officials finish their counting and then conduct their post-election reviews to ensure the number of ballots cast equals the number of voters who voted. Any discrepancies are researched, and election officials provide detailed explanations prior to any election being certified.

In Georgia, Fulton County elections director Rick Barron said turnout had been light but steady. Two county polling locations did not have all the equipment they needed when polls opened, but poll managers allowed voters to use emergency paper ballots until the equipment issues were resolved, Barron said.

Lines were short and Election Day was an easy experience for the vast majority of voters, said Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts.

Election officials said demonstrating secure, consistent and fair practices would help reassure those who still have doubts about last years presidential election as preparations begin for next years midterms.

It is a great dress rehearsal for 2022, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said.

Much of the attention was on Virginia and New Jersey, where voters were casting ballots for governor and other statewide offices. In the rest of the country, voters were making selections on a variety of local races, ranging from mayor and city council to school board and bond measures.

For some, the voting experience differed from last year, when officials implemented pandemic-related changes to make it easier for voters to avoid crowded polling places. Some states have made those changes permanent, while others have rolled some of them back.

In Virginia, lawmakers last year expanded absentee voting permanently by no longer requiring an excuse. But a requirement for a witness signature on absentee ballots that was waived last year is back, and officials were contacting voters who had been turning in ballots without them. Those voters have until Friday to fix the issue.

In a few states, voters encountered tighter voting rules because of laws enacted in states controlled politically by Republicans. Among them are Florida and Georgia, where voters faced new ID requirements for using mail ballots.

Georgia Republicans have been keeping a close eye on Fulton County, a heavily Democratic county that includes most of Atlanta, for any voting problems that could justify a state takeover using a sweeping new election law.

Barron said the panel appointed to review the countys election operations as part of that process was on site Tuesday, but he said he didnt want his staff to feel extra pressure because of that.

I told the staff to focus on us and not to worry about all these external things that happen, he said.

Republican lawmakers have said the changes were needed to improve security and public confidence after the 2020 presidential election. They acted as former President Donald Trump continued his false claims that the election was stolen despite no evidence of widespread fraud.

These claims were rejected by judges and election officials of both parties who certified the results and Trump's own attorney general, who said federal law enforcement had not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.

The claims have also decreased public trust and faith in election officials, who have been the target of threats and harassment. Last week, election officials of both parties testified before Congress about the threats they have received and called for more protections for election workers.

There were no reports of serious or widespread problems in the two states with the highest-profile races. In Virginia, after reports surfaced of voters complaining about being told to wear a mask, state election officials sent an email reminding local election officials that poll workers cannot refuse entry to voters who decline to wear a mask.

Various hotlines staffed by voting rights groups were available to assist voters who had questions or encountered problems. Damon Hewitt, whose group the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law leads the effort, said Tuesday's elections presented an important test.

Its a test of voters to run the gauntlet, to figure out these new rules and restrictions," Hewitt said. "And frankly, its also a test of our democracy: How strong can it be, and are we willing to tolerate these efforts to make it harder for people to vote?



Izaguirre reported from Tallahassee, Florida. Associated Press writers Bryan Anderson in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kate Brumback in Atlanta and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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PHOENIX (AP)  An incarcerated woman who testified at a trial Monday over the quality of health care in Arizona prisons tearfully recalled her frustration about the length of time it took to be diagnosed and treated for multiple sclerosis.

Kendall Johnson detailed her repeated attempts to get help for what started as numbness in her feet and legs in 2017 and was diagnosed as multiple sclerosis in 2020.

In a series of medical assistance requests made on her behalf, Johnson complained about inaction in her medical care and requested new doctors as the growing weakness in her legs caused her to regularly fall to the ground, leading in one instance to her suffering a broken foot.

The 37-year-old Johnson, who is in a wheelchair and has a speech problem that makes it difficult at times to understand her, said she cant brush her teeth, must wear diapers, had to until recently pay fellow prisoners to feed her because of neglect from staff at the prison and typically spends her days laying in bed counting ceiling tiles.

I have feeling in my legs and can move them now, Johnson testified of her improvements since receiving effective medication.

Johnson was the first witness at the trial over health care for more than 27,000 people incarcerated in Arizonas state-run prisons. The trial was called after a judge threw out a 6-year-old settlement resolving the case, saying the state showed little interest in making many of the improvements it promised under the deal.

The judge had concluded $2.5 million in fines against the state for noncompliance with the settlement wasnt motivating Arizona to comply, faulted the state for making erroneous excuses and baseless legal arguments and said the failure to provide adequate care for prisoners led to suffering and preventable deaths.

Lawyers for the prisoners are asking the judge to take over health care operations in state-run prisons, appoint an official to run medical and mental health services there, ensure prisons have enough health care workers and reduce the use of isolation cells, including banning their use for prisoners under age 18 or those with serious mental illnesses.

They said Arizonas prison health care operations are understaffed and poorly supervised, routinely deny access to some necessary medications, fail to provide adequate pain management for end-stage cancer patients and others, and dont meet the minimum standards for mental health care.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry has denied allegations that it was providing inadequate care, delayed or issued outright denials of care and failed to give necessary medications. Its lawyers said the prisoners cant meet key elements in proving their case  that the state was deliberately indifferent to the risk of harm to prisoners and that the health care problems occur across the state-run prison system, not just a particular prison.

A court-appointed expert has previously concluded that understaffing, inadequate funding and privatization of health care services are significant barriers in improving health care in Arizonas prisons.

At first, Johnson said she told was told the numbness in her legs was neuropathy and given medications that didnt work.

A doctor ordered an MRI for her in 2018, but didnt provide a diagnosis. In a November 2019 request for help, she said she had been with a doctor for a year yet still didnt know what was going on with her body.

She got an MRI in early 2020 and was able to get seen by another physician specializing in neurology who concluded Johnson had MS and wanted two more MRIs. As she waited for an appointment, Johnson said she learned the doctor wasnt accepting new patients because of the pandemic.

Under questioning from a lawyer representing the state, Johnson acknowledged she has access to medical providers on a regular basis and wasnt told by a prison medical office that her neurologist was taking on new patients -- she instead got that information from her grandmother, who called the doctors office.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A San Francisco police officer was charged Tuesday with voluntary manslaughter after a man he shot in 2017 died from his injuries, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced.

San Francisco Police Officer Kenneth Cha was charged with voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, along with enhancements accusing him of inflicting great bodily injury, in the death of Sean Moore, an unarmed man he shot on Jan. 6, 2017. Moore died from his injuries last year.

We rely on officers to follow their training and to deescalate situations; instead, in just eight minutes, Officer Cha elevated a nonviolent encounter to one that took Sean Moores life," Boudin said in a statement. "Sean Moore was unarmed and at his own home when Officer Cha shot him twice."

Cha's attorney, Scott Burrell, did not immediately return an email message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Cha shot Moore, who had schizophrenia, on the doorstep of his home after a neighbor called police to report that Moore was violating a temporary restraining order that prohibited noise harassment.

Body-worn camera footage shows Moore denying harassing his neighbor and repeatedly cursing at Cha and his partner, Officer Colin Patino, and asking them to leave. The verbal confrontation escalates, according to the video, before Cha pepper-sprays Moore.

Both officers are seen running up the stairs to Moore's home with their batons raised and as Moore begins retreating up the steps, Patino hits him with his metal baton. Moore strikes back, and Patino falls down the stairs.

Cha then draws his gun and points it at Moore, who reacts by kicking in his direction. Cha then shoots Moore twice in the abdomen.

Moore was charged with various crimes including assault on a peace officer. But a judge later dismissed the case for lack of sufficient evidence.

The San Francisco Police Officers Association said in a statement it will support Cha during the legal process.

Officers responded to a call for service and encountered the very hostile Sean Moore who was accused of violating a restraining order," union president Tony Montoya said in a statement. We support Officer Chas constitutionally protected right to present his defense against these charges that stemmed from this extremely volatile incident.

Moore, 46, was serving a sentence at San Quentin State Prison on unrelated charges when he died last January. The coroners report indicated the cause of death was homicide and that he died from acute intestinal obstruction as a result of the bullet wounds.

In April, the city of San Francisco agreed to pay $3.25 million to Moore's mother, Cleo Moore, to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit.

The case is the second homicide prosecution against an on-duty law enforcement officer in San Francisco history.

Last year, Boudin charged Christopher Samayoa, a former rookie San Francisco police officer, with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault by an executive officer, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm in the 2017 killing of 42-year-old Keita ONeil.

Samayoa fatally shot O'neil, an unarmed carjacking suspect, on his fourth day on the job.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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A legal battle is brewing in York County between two unlikely parties: the county attorney and the Board of Commissioners.

Last week, the skirmish landed in Lincoln before the U.S. District Court, where John Lyons is asking a judge to block the board from taking any further action to remove him as the county's legal counsel and top law enforcement officer.

"This case is brought to stop a county government from improperly removing a county officer outside of the procedure set forth in Nebraska law," his attorney, Dave Lopez, said in the complaint against board members Daniel Grotz, Kurt Bulgrin, Bill Bamesberger, Randy Obermier and Jack Sikes.

On Dec. 31, 2019, the board appointed Lyons to fill the remaining term vacated by the previous York County attorney, Christopher Johnson. His term isn't set to end until Jan. 1, 2023.

But in late August, after Lyons signed a contract with Clay County to serve as its interim county attorney a day after the York County Board of Commissioners unanimously told him not to, the board gave him notice they intended to remove him.

The 12th item on the board's agenda Sept. 21 was "to discuss and act" on his potential termination.

The problem, according to the lawsuit, is that Lyons is a county officer and by state statute only may be removed from office for one of seven reasons: habitual or willful neglect of duty; extortion/corruption; willful maladministration in office; conviction of a felony; habitual drunkenness; or official misconduct.

And then only the district court has jurisdiction over removal proceedings. Not the county board, according to Lopez.

"The board seeks to remove Lyons from his position as York County Attorney through non-judicial means  a vote of the board only  which plainly violates Nebraskas statutes regarding the removal of county officer," the attorney wrote.

Lopez said ongoing law enforcement investigations and criminal prosecutions would suffer if the board is permitted to remove him outside of the court process.

The CITFW-Homeland Security Drug Interdiction Task Force and the York Sheriffs Department would face delays or interruption of law enforcement efforts and federal asset seizures because Lyons is the task force's legal adviser, he said.

And, Lopez said, the office itself would suffer "usurped statutory legitimacy and authority to enforce and prosecute crimes." There would be delays in criminal cases and obstructed prosecutions, as well as interruption and obstruction of other ministerial duties, such as the investigation of child abuse and neglect cases and death investigations.

Personally, Lyons would lose wages and insurance coverage and suffer harm to his reputation just three months before the 2022 election season, he said.

In an answer and counterclaim filed Wednesday, the board's lawyer, Erin Ebeler Rolf, said any damages suffered by Lyons are a result of his own conduct "and, therefore, barred."

She contends Lyons can be terminated by the board because he wasn't elected to the job. He was appointed. So he isn't a "county officer" under the state statute that outlines a county officer's removal.

"And he materially breached the agreement governing that appointment," Ebeler Rolf said.

She said prior to Lyons' appointment, the board made clear he would be required to devote his full time to the legal work of York County, and he acknowledged he understood and agreed.

In exchange, they agreed to pay him $87,619 in 2021 and $90,619 in 2022.

And they agreed to hire a deputy county attorney to support the office, based on Lyons' representation it was needed based on the workload.

Then, on July 19, he went to the board asking to be allowed to take a temporary contract for services as Clay County's county attorney and said he envisioned entering into similar contracts with multiple counties and acting as a "district attorney," she said.

"York County did not incur the costs associated with hiring an additional attorney to provide plaintiff time to work at a different Nebraska county in lieu of providing full-time service to York County, Nebraska," Ebeler Rolf said.

The board unanimously rejected Lyons' request, then gave Lyons notice he may be terminated for the reasons set forth in what's known as a Loudermill notice, which refers to a 1985 U.S. Supreme Court decision that established that public employees couldn't be terminated without a pre-termination hearing where they're given an opportunity to tell their side of the story.

Lyons didn't go, then sued to block the board from voting at its Sept. 21 meeting.

The same day, Hamilton County District Judge Rachel Daugherty granted his motion for a temporary injunction.

Last week, the case moved to federal court in Lincoln, where a hearing hasn't yet been set.

In a letter to the editor in the York News-Times, Lyons said he regretted finding his office at odds with the countys board.

He said he and his chief deputy have dedicated their lives to serving the people of Nebraska, and they have brought together community partners and multi-jurisdictional law enforcement agencies "to more effectively combat those issues facing this community and affecting our great state."

Lyons said their approach, while novel, has made York County and surrounding communities safer.

On Friday, Lopez, his attorney, said despite the injunction, "the board continues to risk significant taxpayer resources on this unlawful effort. We are confident that further court proceedings will again vindicate Mr. Lyons position and that the board can return its focus to serving the people of York County."

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  President Joe Biden argued Tuesday that historic progress on addressing global warming was achieved at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, and expressed optimism for a similar outcome in Washington, where his legislative agenda has been stalled by intra-party disagreements.

Speaking in a press conference before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden highlighted new efforts to stop methane leaks, protect forests, invest in new technologies and spend money on clean energy infrastructure. But his efforts to meet U.S. commitments on climate change with a major domestic spending bill remained held up by legislative maneuvering.

I cant think of any two days where more has been accomplished on climate than these two days," Biden said.

The president contrasted the U.S. posture of leading several major initiatives at the summit with those of Russia and China, who did not send their leaders to Glasgow. The single most important thing that's got the attention of the world is climate, everywhere, from Iceland to Australia, Biden said, and theyve walked away.

We showed up. We showed up," Biden said. "And by showing up weve had a profound impact, I think, on how the rest of the world is looking at the United States.

Biden has been determined to demonstrate to the world that the U.S. is back in the global effort against climate change, after his predecessor Donald Trump pulled the U.S.  the worlds largest economy and second-biggest climate polluter  out of the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord.

Putting the U.S. on the path to halve its own output of coal, oil and natural gas pollution by 2050, as his climate legislation seeks to do, demonstrates to the world the United States is not only back at the table, it hopefully can lead by the power of our example, Biden told delegates and observers on Monday.

I know that hasnt always been the case, he added, in a reference to Trump.

But Biden has yet to deliver on his own commitments as coal-state U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has again threatened Bidens domestic effort. For all the optimism Biden has been radiating at the summit in Scotland, persistent doubts lurk about whether he can deliver solely through executive actions as continued talks with Congress have steadily cut into his ambitions.

Manchin said Monday, at an unfortunate time for the president, that he remained undecided on Biden's $1.75 trillion domestic policy proposal, which includes $555 billion in provisions to combat climate change.

Manchin holds a key vote in the Senate, where Biden has the slimmest of Democratic majorities, and has successively killed off key parts of the administration's climate proposals. He said Monday he was uncertain about the legislation's impact on the economy and federal debt and was as open to voting against it as for it.

Biden minimized Manchin's objections on Tuesday, saying of the senator, He will vote for this and I believe that Joe will be there.

He insisted no world leaders were pressing him on the fate of the legislation in Washington and expressed confidence in its passage.

Biden has essentially bet that the right mix of policies on climate change and the economy are not only good for the country but will help Democrats politically. But questions remain about whether he has enough political capital at home to fully honor his promises to world leaders about shifting the U.S. toward renewable energy.

Gubernatorial elections Tuesday in Virginia and New Jersey  states Biden won in last years election  will provide the first ballot-box test of how Americans view his presidency.

Biden joined other leaders Tuesday for an initiative to promote safeguarding the world's forests, which pull vast amounts of carbon pollution from the air. As part of a broader international effort, the administration is attempting to halt natural forest loss by 2030 and intends to dedicate up to $9 billion of climate funding to the issue, pending congressional approval.

"Forests have the potential to reduce  reduce  carbon globally by more than one third," Biden said.

The president and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen co-hosted an event to promote an alternative to China's infrastructure financing programs. Biden compared his Build Back Better World policies to the Chinese programs, saying his would not expose countries seeking infrastructure funds to debt traps and corruption.

He then highlighted the commitments by roughly 100 countries to cut methane emissions by 30% over the next decade.

Biden also joined world leaders in promoting investments in new technology to fight climate change and build a carbon-neutral future. "Our current technology alone wont get us where we need to be, he said, We need to invest in breakthroughs.

The president also met behind closed doors with Prince Charles and commended the Royal Family for its dedication to climate issues, the White House said.

Crucial for his time in Scotland is that he's emphasizing several policies that can be achieved without congressional buy-in, such as the methane pledges and private partnerships.

Back home, his administration chose Tuesday to launch a wide-ranging plan to reduce methane emissions, targeting a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

Biden came to the summit saying he hoped to see his legislation pass this week, but Manchin's new objections threaten to close the narrow window Biden may have to win passage of his initiatives. The senator is eager to preserve his state's declining coal industry despite coal's falling competitiveness in U.S. energy markets.

If Biden's climate legislation falters, he could be limited to regulatory projects on climate that could easily be overturned by the next U.S. president, and turn his stirring cries for climate action abroad into wistful talk at home.

Manchins statements are a possible sign that one of two key Democratic votes in the Senate wants to delay votes on the presidents agenda until the bill is fully reviewed. But House Democrats are still taking steps this week to pass Bidens $1 trillion infrastructure package, which includes efforts to address climate change. The White House is seeking to turn both measures into law, linking them in hopes of appeasing a diverse and at times fractious Democratic caucus.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki pushed back, saying the administration is confident the spending package already meets the criteria set by Manchin.

It is fully paid for, will reduce the deficit, and brings down costs for health care, childcare, elder care, and housing, Psaki said. We remain confident that the plan will gain Senator Manchins support.



Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Whats in a name? That Shakespearean question is getting a lot of attention right now, following Facebooks announcement last week that it would change its corporate parent name to Meta. In fact, the name change is much ado about nothing, since Facebook users will still be on Facebook. Its widely speculated that the corporate rebranding is meant to change the subject from allegations that Facebook intentionally stokes rage and division in a country already too rife with it. That subject must still be addressed.

Previously, Facebook referred to both the goliath social-media site and the company that owns it. The name change that Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg announced Thursday makes Meta Platforms Inc. the new corporate name, reflecting a broadening corporate focus on virtual-reality technology (the so-called Metaverse).

Users of the Facebook site itself wont see a change. They will be able to go on connecting with old friends, trading recipes, posting pictures of their dogs  and often also spreading misinformation, hate and other societal poison without consequences.

Facebook has been exerting its gravitational pull in American politics since at least the 2016 presidential election, which many still believe might not have gone to Donald Trump had the platform not allowed itself to be used by the Russian government and other bad actors to spread misinformation. Zuckerberg acknowledged that criticism in Senate testimony in 2018, admitting that fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech infiltrated the platform. He vowed to address the problems.

But the recent trove of leaked internal Facebook documents and whistleblower testimony raises serious doubts about the veracity of that vow. The documents and testimony show that, while Facebook did take steps to clean up the site  including the creation of integrity teams to patrol for fake news and hate speech  the sites own algorithms were working against them.

Algorithms are the programs that determine which content gets elevated and promoted on users feeds over other content, based on whatever criteria the company decides to use. One especially telling example of the problem is that emotion-displaying emojis  including the angry-face kind  were given five times the weight of a simple like in the automatic scoring system that determines how much promotion a given post will get among other users. In other words, content that provoked anger was rewarded, as some Facebook employees themselves warned in the internal documents.

Such warnings were often ignored within the company, the documents show, raising justifiable suspicion that the company was trying to goose up profitable engagement by its users, even at the cost of fomenting anger online. As the revelations continue to unfold, Zuckerbergs company  whatever he chooses to call it  has more explaining to do.

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Clean energy could save American lives to tune of $700 billion per year

Posted on 2 November 2021 by dana1981

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections

The case for climate solutions has long been hindered because of the decades it will take for investments made today to yield benefits in the form of less extreme weather impacts. Carbon dioxide pollution remains in the atmosphere for upwards of a millennium, and so efforts to curb carbon emissions will only slowly bend the global warming curve. Clean technologies deployed today will yield significant changes in extreme weather only toward the middle of the century.

Compelling people to support climate solutions thus usually requires appealing to their better natures; to invest in protecting the future quality of life of todays children. People often have difficulty making decisions based on such long-term considerations.

But as a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) concludes, curbing climate change does yield immediate benefits in the form of cleaner air resulting in healthier and longer lives. The paper was authored by 11 scientists from Duke and Columbia Universities and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), including lead author Drew Shindell, who has published over 250 peer-reviewed climate studies over the past 25 years, and NASA GISS Director Gavin Schmidt.

The study estimates that Americans would value the benefits of longer lives associated with cleaner air at $700 billion per year over the next two decades  a number far higher than the costs of climate solutions.

Valuing longer and healthier lives from cleaner air

In addition to pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, burning fossil fuels also releases other air pollutants that create higher levels of ozone and easily respirable fine particulate matter like PM2.5. Ozone can aggravate lung diseases like asthma and emphysema, while PM2.5 can cause premature death in people with heart problems or lung disease and can also aggravate asthma. A 2018 study, also published in PNAS, has found that outdoor PM2.5 air pollution is considerably more harmful to human health than previously estimated.

Those results were incorporated into this new research, which estimates that in 2020, PM2.5 and ozone pollution caused 191,000 and 57,000 premature deaths in the U.S., respectively, compared to 17,000 heat-related deaths. Were the U.S. to follow a pathway to meet the 2015 Paris climate agreement target of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures, many of these premature deaths would be avoided (19% of PM2.5 and 57% of ozone deaths over the next two decades; 31% and 77% through 2070, respectively).

All told, close to 1.4 million premature American deaths would be avoided through 2040 and 4.5 million through 2070, compared to a business-as-usual pathway. And those longer lives would also be healthier as a result of peoples breathing cleaner air.

Proponents of the fossil fuel status quo might ask: Are those healthier, longer lives worth the cost of transitioning to a clean energy economy? Given that numerous studies, including a new working paper from Oxford, have concluded that faster transitions to clean energy will also be cheaper in the long run, its difficult to make a case to the contrary.

But how much do we value longer, healthier lives? This is a subjective moral question that scientists approach using a concept known as the value of a statistical life, which can be estimated, for example, by asking people how much they would be willing to pay to reduce their risk of death in a given year. Based on this approach, Americans would value their reduced health risks associated with decreasing air pollution at roughly $14 trillion over the next 20 years, or $700 billion per year. The new PNAS study thus concludes that for climate solutions, benefits greatly outweigh costs immediately with a benefit/cost ratio of 5-25 in 2030 under a 2C scenario.

The study authors have also created a website that provides the state-by-state health benefits. For example, meeting the U.S. share of the Paris targets would yield cleaner air that would prevent 8,000 premature deaths in West Virginia over the next 20 years, valued at over $80 billion.

Other health and climate benefits

In addition to a cumulative value of $54 trillion through 2070 to the U.S. from avoiding 4.5 million premature deaths, the study estimates that the cleaner air resulting from meeting the Paris targets would prevent about 1.4 million hospitalizations and emergency room visits, approximately 300 million lost workdays, about 1.7 million incidences of dementia, and about 440 million tons of crop losses. Those figures amount to savings of $111 billion for avoided dementia costs, $53 billion for avoided labor losses, $72 billion for avoided crop losses, and $10 billion for avoided hospitalizations and ER visits.

After 2060, once climate actions may have significantly bent the global warming curve and air pollution has largely been phased out, avoided heat-related deaths could become the biggest value associated with curbing climate change. The study does not directly incorporate the benefits from lessened extreme weather disasters other than heat deaths but uses the social cost of carbon to estimate that avoided climate damages amount to $300 billion per year in 2050 and $1.4 trillion per year in 2100.

The authors conclude:

We find that the climate benefits (i.e. associated with heat) alone are less than mitigation costs over the next two decades, reaching parity with mitigation costs around 20402055. In the longer term, those benefits clearly outweigh costs, in line with much documentation that the costs of inaction would eventually be higher than the costs of action.

In short, preserving a stable, livable climate for future generations should provide sufficient economic and moral justification for climate solutions today. But in the near-term, climate solutions will also result in immediate benefits from cleaner air, better health, and longer lives, valued by Americans at $700 billion dollars per year.

International ramifications

The case for phasing out fossil fuels is even more compelling in countries like China and India where air pollution is a more severe problem than in the U.S. Another new study published in Nature Scientific Reports found that meeting the Paris targets could prevent 4 million heat-related deaths globally over the rest of the century compared to a worst case global warming scenario, especially in hot (and often poorer) countries near the equator in Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Asia, including over 1 million saved lives in India alone.

But another new study published in Nature found that people in many developing countries will remain too poor for most of the century to take adaptive measures like buying air conditioning units or even having access to the electricity to power them. As study co-author Solomon Hsiang of UC Berkeley put it, richer populations can protect themselves from the impacts of warming, but the global poor dont have this luxury. Only 5% of homes in India currently have air conditioning, for example. The Nature Scientific Reports study found that mortality resulting from extreme heat could be considerably worse in high-warming scenarios if poorer countries are unable to implement such adaptive measures.

To summarize: Clean energy investments more than pay for themselves over time; they yield tremendous long-term benefits via lessened extreme weather disasters and heat-related deaths, especially in more vulnerable developing countries; and the resulting clean air also yields valuable immediate benefits in the form of longer, healthier lives valued by Americans at close to a trillion dollars per year. Considering these analyses, it seems the case for investing in the deployment of clean technologies could hardly be more compelling.
Firms build worlds. On this, historians and businesspeople agree. Corporations have always been among the greatest forces shaping American life. And the many corporations that hold private archives documenting their past activities have unique powers to discloseor hidetheir contributions to racial injustice in America. Thats why, if they truly want to advance the cause of social justice, companies should throw open their archives for researchers to use.

Let me make the case, using one example from my own experience as a historian. Harvey Firestone Jr., president of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, recognized the power of American industry in making history when he established the companys archives in 1943. The records not only of Firestone but of all American industry, the rubber magnate believed, represented vital source material as historically important as the records of Government and the military. By 1952, the company had amassed what it described in a pamphlet as 560,000 documents, 150,000 photo negatives, thousands of feet of microfilm and 400 recordings.

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For years, those archives, which grew over time, were housed at a public institution, the University of Akron. For yearsdespite Harvey Firestone Jr.s stated intentionsthey remained inaccessible to historians, including me. On multiple occasions, as I researched my book Empire of Rubber: Firestones Scramble for Land and Power in Liberia, I was denied access to the Firestone Archives at the University of Akrons Archives and Special Collections. I was told that it was the long-standing policy of what is now the Bridgestone-Firestone company that no one is to be allowed access to the materials. After a 2005 court case alleging labor abuses on Firestones rubber plantations in Liberia was dismissed in 2011, the archive was boxed, loaded onto a tractor-trailer, and removed from the university library in 2017. An archivist at the University of Akron library told me at the time that he believed the archive was taken to a company facility in Jacksonville, Florida, for review.

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Archives are the stuff of the historians trade. Gaining access to private corporate records is essential to understanding the role corporations have played in shaping our public history. What we now know about how Big Tobacco covered up the health effects of smoking, or how oil companies sowed seeds of doubt about climate change science, only came through court cases that made company records public in the process of discovery.

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For historians interested in understanding the role of business in shaping the history of the transportation industry, race relations, and American foreign policy, the Firestone Archives are a tantalizing treasure trove of information. For those interested in the history of Liberia in the 20th century, they are an essential resource, particularly since so many historical documents in Liberia were destroyed during 14 years of civil conflict. The papers are not Firestones alone. They are in a real sense owned by both Firestone and Liberia, professor Elwood Dunn, a distinguished Liberian historian and political scientist, recently told me. Dunn was denied access to the Firestone Archives in the early 1980s, when he attempted to learn more about how Firestone became an intimate part of Liberias history.

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Harvey Firestone Jr. established his companys archive at a transformational moment in both the firms and the nations history. The world was at war, and rubber was the single commodity most important to the success of Allied forces. Disruption of production would create huge problems for the Allies. To manufacture a single battleship required 75 tons of rubber. One ton of rubber went into each armored tank. The American military required six times the amount of rubber per person employed than it had needed in World War I. When the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 and began its sweep across the Malay Peninsula, seizing control of Singapore by February of 1942, the United States worst fears about the rubber supply chain were realized. In a matter of weeks, a region that supplied 90 percent of the worlds natural rubber had fallen to the Axis powers. Suddenly, the small West African nation of Liberia, where Firestone had secured a land concession to grow rubber, took on strategic importance to the United States during World War II.

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As a historian of science, medicine, and the environment, I wanted to understand how the Firestone plantations in Liberia became an experimental laboratory for American biomedical and scientific research. More broadly, I wanted to know how the Firestone plantations transformed land and lives. For more than a decade, I worked to piece together the history of Firestone in Liberia. State Department records, company operation manuals, and letters home from white plantation managers, available in American government and university archives, told part of the story. Interviews I conducted with chiefs, village elders, and retired Firestone workers in Liberia told another side. I searched for Liberian documents, many of which were burned or lost during Liberias civil wars, which erupted in 1989 and ended in 2003. Some were salvaged during the war years. Other archive remnants were scattered in various locations in the capital city of Monrovia. Together, these fragments shed light on the motivations, desires, and practices of an American corporation abroad and its impact on Liberia.

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For example, Firestone touted its Liberia plantations as an exemplar of modern industry and progress, buttressed by the transformative power and humanitarian benefits of American science and medicine. But within the fragmented remains of Firestones rubber empire that survive outside the still-hidden Firestone archive, I discovered a darker tale of corporate philanthropy and profiteering in the name of development. Empire of Rubber tells a story of how Firestone Tire & Rubber Company exported Jim Crow practices to build a racially segregated industrial plantation on distant shores.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Liberia, which was established as a free Black republic in 1847, operated in a world where racial capitalism structured the flow of global finance. Land and labor became the resources upon which the struggling Black republic, saddled with foreign debt, sought to maintain its sovereignty as European nations, in a scramble for Africa, carved up the continent. Liberia needed capital for development and sought American protection from Great Britain and France, which vied for its territory. Toward these ends, Liberia negotiated an agreement with the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in 1926 that granted the company access to up to 1 million acres of land to grow rubber. The deal secured Firestone and America a source of rubber free from British control.

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The arrangement seemed promising at first, and even W.E.B. Du Boisthe Harvard-trained historian, sociologist, and civil rights activistsupported the Firestone experiment in Liberia. In 1924, when Du Bois first traveled to Africa, sent by President Calvin Coolidge to honor the second inauguration of Liberian President Charles Dunbar Burgess King, Du Bois advised the head of state that his country must have capital for her development. Faced with a choice among England, France, and America, Liberia would be wise, Du Bois advised King, to choose white American investment, which he believed posed the least pressing threat to the countrys sovereignty and self-determination.

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Du Bois initially held out hope that white American capital working in partnership with black educated men, both African and American, might create an industrial plantation of mutual dependence and prosperity like none yet seen. It all depended, Du Bois wrote to Harvey Firestone Sr., who founded Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in 1900, on whether the rubber executive gave educated black men a chance to work up in your industrial system.

Almost a decade later, Du Bois, whose politics bent evermore to socialism over time, looked back with regret on his advice. I had not then lost faith in the capitalistic system, he admitted. Firestone sold itself on a promise of benevolence to Liberia, but life and work on the plantations was highly segregated by race and remained so throughout Du Bois lifetime, which prompted him to become one of Firestones most outspoken critics.

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At their peak in the late 1940s, the Firestone plantations employed approximately 30,000 Liberiansthe majority of whom were tappers earning 18 cents per daysupervised by roughly 125 white managers. Approximately 3 of every 4 dollars made in Liberia found its way to Firestones parent company in the United States, which amounted to nearly a half-billion dollars in profits between 1944 and 1971.

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The center of American rubber manufacturing, Akron, Ohio, was home to one of the largest centers of the Ku Klux Klan north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Very few Black laborers worked in Akron at Firestone, Goodyear, and Goodrich; those who did were restricted to the lowest-paid, dirtiest, and most dangerous jobs. (Not until 1955 would Black Americans gain the right to be trained and employed as tire builders, the highest-paid job on the factory floor in Akrons rubber industry.) On the Firestone plantations in Liberia, housing and health care for white management and Black laborers was segregated. Medical surveillance of and drug testing on workers was routine. Planters Punch, the newsletter of the white-only Firestone Overseas Club, was replete with racist caricatures and jokes, demeaning the Liberians upon whose land and labor company profits were made. Such conditions reinforced the impression of Black American diplomat Edward Dudley in 1951 that Firestone was transferring U.S. Jim Crow policies to Liberia.

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By the late 1950s, with the rise of the civil rights movement in the United States and liberation movements in Africa, Firestones segregationist policies on its Liberia rubber plantations had become an embarrassment to the U.S. State Department. In 1958, Eisenhowers special assistant for foreign economic policy warned the president of the Firestone Plantations Company in Liberia, Byron Larabee, that the company had a bad reputation as an employer of Africans, one that was damaging to the prestige of the United States. That same year, in response to Firestones segregationist practices and those of other American firms, like Republic Steel, which operated a large iron ore mining concession in the country, Liberian President William Tubman introduced an anti-segregation bill into the Liberian Legislature. That Liberia, a country where white people could neither own land nor be citizens, needed a law against racial discrimination suggests how entrenched Jim Crow was in the plantation and mining enclaves built by American firms on sovereign African soil.

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Without access to Firestones corporate documents, much remains clouded regarding how the practices of Firestone and other American firms affected the lives of Liberian workers. By the 1950s and early 1960s, strikes became commonplace on the Firestone plantations. But the number of lives lost as these strikes were suppressed by Liberian security forceswhich were armed, trained, and supported by U.S. military personnel and fundingremains murky. When did Firestone begin employing women on the plantations? What was discussed inside corporate headquarters as the civil rights movement and pressure from the U.S. State Department forced Firestone to address its racist policies toward Black employees in Akron and in Liberia? These questions, and others, I could not answer.

We cant know if Harvey Firestone Jr. ever imagined that the archives he established would come to haunt the legacy of a corporate family dynasty upon which the American rubber industry was built. Firestone intended his companys archives to be a testament to the expansion of American industry. If those archives are to truly serve American history, as Harvey Firestone Jr. expected, they should be opened to the public. Companies are not legally obligated to open their archives. But bringing these hidden documents to light would add to our understanding of the global reach of American racial injustice.
Back in the spring, Ross Barkan, a contributing writer for the Nation who reports on New York politics, was busy with the mayoral primary in New York City, when sources started coming to him and saying that there was this other race he should be paying attention to: the mayoral primary in Buffalo. Candidate India Walton, a democratic socialist and nurse, challenged Buffalos four-term incumbent mayorand won the primary. Suddenly, the self-professed socialist was the candidate on the Democratic Party line. And she doesnt sound like an old-school candidate by any means. Today is Election Day, but it remains to be seen whether India Walton can win over her party, or the general election. To zone in on what this race could mean for the future of municipal politics, I spoke with Barkan on Tuesdays episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Before we really get into the mayoral race, I really want to talk about Buffalo as a place. Whats its economy like right now?

Ross Barkan: The economy has changed a lot. On one hand, it has diversified from its steel days: Youve had a lot of real estate investment, development happening in the downtown area, on the waterfront area, office buildings, medical campuses, things like that. And you have a younger population that is infusing energy and money in tax dollars into the city. But the city is still brutally poor. It has a very high poverty rate, and the poorest residents of the city have remained quite poor. The renaissance in Buffalo has not really touched them.

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Buffalo is a city that is psychically and geographically divided. To the east is the poorer part of the city, the more Black and working-class part of the city, and the west is the more affluent part. You can move pretty easily among the sections, and you can quickly move from a place that looks like it has a lot of investment to one that looks quite weathered and poor.

Buffalos current mayor, Byron Brown, came up in politics in a traditional way: starting as a staffer for local legislators, becoming a state senator himself, eventually winning office as Buffalos first Black executive. Hes been mayor for more than 15 years and has argued he should stay in office because hes overseen the citys resurgence.

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Brown would point to the fact that Buffalo has added population and become a more dynamic city under his watch, and theres no doubt Buffalo has reversed its historic narrative of decline. And that does matter. But he is someone who is very close to the real estate industry, who has refused repeatedly to raise property taxes. That means the city has remained unequal. When you talk about the revitalization, its for certain parts of the cityit has not touched everyone and it has not meant something to everyone.

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Browns time in office has also been marked by several investigations focused on City Hall and the mayors inner circle. Brown himself has never been charged with any crime, but this led some voters to question Browns leadership.

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The issue simply was that he never had a viable challenger. Politicians can survive for a long time through scandal and even through a general wearying of the electorate if no one else emerges to carry the torch and offer an alternative vision.

Youre painting this picture where theres a guy whos been in office for a long time who seems vulnerable and then this candidate, India Walton, shows up. Where did she come from?

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Walton has been a very prominent activist in the city. She led a land trust organization in Buffalo, acquiring property to preserve affordable housingto ensure that rents arent hiked or that people who do live in these places can keep living there and also try to build housing. Thats been very central to her pitch, establishing more land trusts. And she often talks about how she represents the working class and poor Buffalo, because she was one of them. She has this inspiring backstory: She became a mother for the first time at 14 and struggled in high school. Her story has been very inspiring to people: someone who was able to come up from the bottom and become a prominent activist and leader in the community. In some ways, shes been primed to be in a campaign like this one.

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This story came out in the Buffalo News that she was still occasionally gagging for DoorDash while she campaigned.

One problem in politics is that not enough working-class people run for office. Races are expensive, you have to know donors, or you have to already have organizational ties. Waltons someone who is not wealthy at all. Do voters want to choose someone whos an activist, whos working-class or poor like themselves? Or do they want Byron Brown, who is very much the picture of a traditional executive?

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Is it worth talking about the primary election and who turned out for it, and how that tipped the scales for India Walton?

Brown barely campaigned. He took the election for granted. He didnt fundraise. He didnt even debate Walton. The primary turnout was low. If theres a knock on Waltons victory, its that not a lot of people voted. And you had a very low turnout in the working-class Black part of Buffalothat side went for Brown. But a lot of voters didnt come.

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Thats interesting because, a lot of the issues Waltons talking about would, youd think matter to the people in those communities.

Yes, and Walton comes from them. But this has been a long-standing issue for insurgent candidates, for leftist candidates in general: reaching poorer voters, reaching working-class Black voters in particular. A lot of these voters tend to be cautious. They tend either to be more moderate or simply more of the wait-and-see type. If you remember, Barack Obama himself had an issue with working-class Black voters until he proved he was a viable candidate.

By winning in Iowa.

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Yes. And then Obama was able to do better with the voters after winning. So for Walton, she very much has to prove herself, and her base in the primary did come from the more affluent parts of the city. Not the richest parts, not the old-line money, but a lot of the newer residents who have come in recent years, who have college degrees. Also, she did fairly well with the multiracial immigrant vote, a community that doesnt yet vote in big numbers. So she was able to build a coalition around those kinds of voters.

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Can you describe how Brown responded when it became clear he hadnt won the Democratic primary?

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Great rage, great indignation. And Brown did something deeply unusual, which was to say, Well, I lost the Democratic primary, but Im going to keep running.

Walton had only won the primary by 1,500 votes. But the incumbent mayor could no longer run on the Democratic line. So he tried running as an independent, which was barred by a state court. Then, Brown decided to run a write-in campaign. And he is using all of his muscle as a machine politician to make it work.

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Its a challenge that Walton has the Democratic line and Brown has nothing, but he is very well-known. Hes spending a lot of money. Republicans are helping him. Unions are helping him. The power elite of the city is helping him. He does have a working-class Black base, which hes going to try to turn out. So theres a lot working in his favor right now, even without the Democratic Party line.

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After ignoring India Walton in the primary, how did Brown pivot when it came to the general?

He pivoted in a very aggressive way. From a pure strategy standpoint. Brown did the right thing by going incredibly negative quickly: attacks that shes unfit, that shes had brushes with the law that shes never held elected office, that shes nothing like a politician and would screw up the city. Theyve attacked her very aggressively on being a socialist, and theyve come very hard on defund the police.

I wonder if you look at how we got here in Buffalo with a major party candidate being a declared socialist: Was it a kind of a stars-were-aligned moment where you had a mayor whod been in power for a really long time, was lazy in his primary election, and was maybe not paying attention to economic inequality in Buffalo? Or is there something larger here that might be a bit of a presaging of what might happen somewhere else?

Its always hard to extrapolate from local situations to national situations. What I would say is that its always worth running campaigns like these. The Buffalo DSA organizers decided to take on Byron Brown

Like, as a test?

As a test, as a way to try to win and build power. You dont get anywhere if you dont make the attempt. Bernie Sanders was not elected president, but he single-handedly revived the democratic socialist movement in America. DSA was a collection of baby boomers in little rooms, and now its an organization with almost a hundred thousand people. It will be a setback if Walton loses, in the sense that I think its going to be very dispiriting for activists and young people in Buffalo. At the same time, you can learn from your defeat and you can run candidates for other offices and you can regroup in another four years and try again.

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There is a new 63 supermajority at the Supreme Court, one that agrees on the answer to existential questions about the authority of the court itself. Its position is this: It is unified around the idea of preserving its own power. The existence of this new configuration became undeniable when, at oral arguments Monday morning about the future of Texas abortion bounty law, S.B. 8, Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts largely joined forces with the courts liberals to punch back at Texas fatuous claims that states can shield unconstitutional laws from federal court review.

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This groups concerns were not unitary. The chief justice, unsurprisingly, doesnt like it when state courts ignore the directives of the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh was worried about the implications for gun owners and gun dealers if blue states were to pass copycat laws of S.B. 8, allowing citizens to collect bounties by suing gun owners anywhere in the country. And Barrett evinced fear that those suffering constitutional harms could find themselves in state courts someday, unable to air and effectuate federal constitutional rights. In short, Roberts worries, as he always does, about Supreme Court supremacy, and Barrett and Kavanaugh are smart enough to see that the wisdom of nullifying fundamental constitutional rights at the state level will always turn on whose ox is being gored.

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Good enough, for the present moment, if it means that Texas is likely to lose its fight to evade judicial scrutiny for S.B. 8, a law that not only bans abortion at six weeks but also lets bounty hunters sue providers and their abettors for $10,000. But this alliance tells us nothing about how Roe v. Wade will fare when the court squarely takes on abortion rights in next months Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. What we know now is that there are certainly going to be reliably three votesJustices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuchfor the proposition that abortion rights are made up and unworthy of protection, and indeed that any mechanism that ends abortion, be it state nullification, fictitious heartbeat claims, or unsubstantiated racial eugenics claims, is a good thing. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch are not, in Thomas own words, evolving as jurists.

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The question remains, and its an important one, what happened to Barrett and Kavanaugh? Both justices were perfectly happy to sign off on the shabby one-paragraph shadow docket order that allowed S.B. 8 to go into effect in September. The issue before the court this weekstill raising complex and novel antecedent procedural questionsis jurisdictional and hypertechnical. And yet these concerns should have been evident to anyone looking at the issue all summer: S.B. 8 was explicitly designed to avoid federal scrutiny; it could be copied to violate other rights; it represented a direct threat to Supreme Court authority. Somehow, none of these features swayed Kavanaugh or Barrett back in August. What changed to put these two justices into play now?

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One answer is public condemnation: the outcry over the shadow docket throughout September and October, the backlash against the justices partisan speeches, and the tanking poll numbers for the Supreme Court. It is possible that the two newest justices worry about things like their own courts legitimacy. In large ways (theyd like to be employed in 20 years on a court that doesnt have 60 members) and small (they really want to be feted at D.C. cocktail parties and restaurants right now), neither of them is entirely willing to go Full Vader on America at this point. That means its possible that public outcry and organizing around the court affects them.

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Another data point to support this theory: On Friday, Kavanaugh and Barrett joined Roberts and the liberals in a 63 order rejecting a challenge to Maines vaccine mandate, which permits no religious exemptions. Barrett wrote a brief opinion, joined by Kavanaugh, explaining the perils of intervening on a short fuse without benefit of full briefing and oral argument. Clearly, these two junior justices are cognizant of the fury over their abuse of the shadow docket and, unlike Alito, eager to contain it.

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Kavanaughs primary reason for questioning S.B. 8s gambit was revealed in Mondays arguments as  a concern for gun owners. Well take it. Barrett, who is quickly establishing herself as one of the most able questioners on the bench, may genuinely care about the ongoing preservation of constitutional rights and the role of the judiciary. Well take it. But what does any of this signal headed into a term in which gun rights, religious freedom, (possibly) affirmative action, climate change, and voting rights may all be in the crosshairs?

Most obviously, the S.B. 8 litigation sends a warning to other conservative litigants before the court: Dont overplay your hand. The laws proponents were brash from the start, boasting that they designed the law to evade judicial review. And after the justices allowed it to take effect in September, S.B. 8s defenders took their arrogance to a new level. In one stunning brief, Jonathan Mitchellthe conservative lawyer and former Texas solicitor general who drafted S.B. 8, then teamed up with the state to defend itrejected the Supreme Courts power to say what the law is. States, he wrote, have every prerogative to adopt interpretations of the Constitution that differ from the Supreme Courts. (When Roberts quoted this very language during arguments, Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone declined to defend it.)

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Mitchell also took aim at the authority of the courts precedents. The Supreme Courts interpretations of the Constitution, he wrote, in the same brief, are not the Constitution itselfthey are, after all, called opinions. Mitchell also engaged in some wink-wink-nudge-nudge hedging about the future of Roe v. Wade, writing: Abortion is not a constitutional right; it is a court-invented right that may not even have majority support on the current Supreme Court. A state does not violate the Constitution by undermining a right that is nowhere to be found in the document, and that exists only as a concoction of judges who want to impose their ideology on the nation.

It is safe to assume that Kavanaugh and Barrett do not appreciate litigators smearing the many justices who have upheld Roe over five decades as rogue and lawless and ideologues. That list, after all, includes the current chief justice, as well as both of their predecessors. (Kavanaugh also clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who repeatedly voted to save Roe.) Nor do they necessarily appreciate litigators assuming that Kavanaugh and Barrett are already in the tank for overturning Roe. As a rule, justices do not like being treated as trivial pawns in a larger political game.

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Perhaps most critically, these justices do not seem to appreciate arguments that exude disdain for their institution. Its easy to see why Mitchell thought he could get away with this rhetoric; the majoritys shadow docket order raised the possibility that five justices agree with his position that Roe is absolute trash undeserving of any respect, effective immediately. But whatever his merits as a lawyer, Mitchell is an exceedingly bad politician: After Donald Trump nominated him as the chairman of the obscure Administrative Conference of the United States, he couldnt even win confirmation from a GOP-controlled Senate. The anti-abortion movements apparent faith in his ability to drag Roe to the curb before the court has signed off may be misplaced.

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Most litigators are not as insolent as Mitchell. But his attitude is evident among many of the parties asking the court to overrule Roe in Dobbs. His own brief, a misogynistic screed that impugns the integrity of every justice who supports Roe, declares that women can control their reproductive lives by simply refraining from sexual intercourse. This attitude and approach are the cornerstone of Mississippis litigation strategy too. The state first persuaded SCOTUS to take up Dobbs by asking the justices merely to weaken Roe. Then, once the court had taken up the case, Mississippi demanded that SCOTUS overturn Roe altogethera bait-and-switch for the ages. (Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also insisted that God chose her case as the vehicle for abolishing abortion rights. One might reasonably assume that Kavanaugh and Barrett prefer to think that their votes are not predetermined by a higher power who works through elected Mississippi officials.)

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Most conservative litigators dont swagger into the Supreme Court like they own the place. The lawyers asking SCOTUS to expand the Second Amendment may know theyre going to win; so do the lawyers asking SCOTUS to gut climate regulations, turbocharge religious freedom, eradicate affirmative action, and undermine voting rights. But for the most part, these attorneys still perform humility before the justices. By doing so, they take part in the grand pageantry that allows Kavanaugh and Barrett to view themselves as humble servants of the law rather than partisan actors in a zero-sum political game. Silly as this pageant may seem, it is especially important in momentous cases that implicate the courts legitimacy. S.B. 8s proponents thought they could forgo these formalities, assuming the fall of Roe is a foregone conclusion. It might still be. But on Monday, Kavanaugh and Barrett reminded them, in surprisingly blunt fashion, not to count the votes before theyre cast.
Raquel Ramirez is the host of the podcast CDMX Expats, on which she talks to international residents of Mexico City. When she asked a recent guest about his favorite memory of living in Mexicos capital, he was quick to answer. We went to one of the secret parties, as COVID was quite a bit worse at that point. I met some random people, and then I just followed them the entire night as we hop from club or party to party, maybe four to six, maybe seven different places, he said. (In the same interview, he also talked about taking some acid while touring the Teotihuacan pyramids.)

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It was just another example of one of Mexico Citys new international guests misbehaving during the pandemic. Others have ignored guidelines for indoor capacity restrictions, or even failed to wear masks where required. Dear guests, we are genuinely happy youre vaccinated. Please consider many of us are not, reads an English-language poster hanging near the park Parque Mexico in Condesa, a well-visited neighborhood in Mexico City. Another sign shows a lucha librestyle encounter between a face mask and a maskless person. These and other creative posters, some written in English and some in Spanish, are made by the Good Guest Collective, an organization composed of local and foreign residents of the city. The collective was a response to the uptick in international visitors, many of whom have been disrespectful of local normsa phenomenon the pandemic didnt cause but has certainly exacerbated.

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The Good Guest Collective was started over the summer by Ben K., a Phoenix native who moved full time to Mexico City with his Canadian partner in January 2019. Ben, a self-described guest of the city, and his partner are among a fortunate class of people who were able to work from (almost) anywhere in the world, even prior to the pandemic-driven remote worker boom. They started considering moving abroad because his partners U.S. visa was set to expire, and eventually opted for the Mexican capital.

Compared with other places, moving to Mexico City as a remote worker is fairly easy. Mexico allows citizens of more than 70 countries (including the U.S.) to stay up to six months without a visa. If they wish to extend their stay, visitors just need to exit the country and re enter, even if just for a few hours. These types of visa runs are perfectly legal, according to Elan Gonzalez, an immigration lawyer with specialized knowledge of these kinds of travelers. As long as travelers do not earn income from sources in Mexico, they are allowed to re enter the country. (However, Gonzalez told me that each entry is subject to the discretion of an immigration officer and that its common for citizens of certain countries, particularly Central and South American nations, to be granted a shorter stay or have their entry refused entirely.)

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Raquel Ramirez, a U.S.-Mexico dual citizen who came to Mexico City from California in November 2020 for a visit and never left, started CDMX Expats after realizing that the city has become more international during the pandemic. Two key factors are responsible for this growth: the countrys travel policy and the emergence of COVID-19 expats.

While many countries introduced travel bans and restrictions due to COVID-19, Mexico kept those to a minimum. It partially shut down its land borders with the U.S., Guatemala, and Belize, but otherwise, the country kept its airports open to all travelers and opted against requesting proof of negative tests or vaccination. This paid off for the tourism industry: In 2020, Mexico became the third-most-visited country in the world, just after Italy and France; in 2019, it was seventh. As the pandemic spread, traditional corporate workers gained the freedom to work from remote locationsand Mexico was one of the few viable options.

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Because of COVID, because of technology, so many people have this opportunity for the first time, Ramirez said. Now, in addition to those who worked jobs that were remote even before the pandemic, like doing web design or teaching English, the city hosts workers in finance, HR, tech, and other fields. And because these new guests dont intend to travel the world like digital nomads do, they might opt to stay for a longer period of time in one placeparticularly because its so much more affordable for many. As an example, Ramirez told me about her roommate, a systems engineer originally from San Francisco. She can travel back for work when necessary, while living at half or even one-third of the cost in Mexico City.

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But the allure of Mexico City for long-term temporary residents starts to raise questions about the implications of their arrival and stay.

Ramirez tells me that when she arrived to Mexico in late 2020, prior to the start of the second coronavirus wave, she and her friends saw a big void of events and community and created a WhatsApp group offering recommendations for foreigners. She now manages more than 10 groups on different topics, hosts the podcast, and organizes four gatherings each weekincluding business lunches that, in the absence of offices and co-workers, serve as a way for remote workers to meet up. While Mexico City is a metropolis larger than New York City, most remote workers concentrate in a few neighborhoods, namely Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, making it easy to connect with one another.

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What about their relationship with the local community? Its complicated.

One upside that both locals and foreign temporary residents brought up in our interviews was diversityan influx of people from different countries and backgrounds would seem beneficial to the city. Ramirez said that as Mexico City becomes more attractive to individuals in the tech and cryptocurrency scene, local businesses could benefit from further investments. In just over a year, Mexico has seen the birth of its first five unicorns, privately held startup companies valued at more than $1 billion, thanks in part to international funding.

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Yet a key issue that came up in all my conversations was the salary disparity between remote workers and their local counterparts. Mexico Citys lower cost of living compared with cities in the U.S. and Western Europe makes it an attractive destination for foreignersyou can find a 1,000-square-foot apartment in the hipster Roma neighborhood for less than $900 a month. On the one hand, having an influx of dollars can certainly be beneficial in a pandemic, particularly for Mexico, the country that invested the least in its economic recovery among all OECD members.

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On the other hand, this disparity is already affecting the local population, particularly through the housing market. As is common in popular tourist destinations around the world, the demand for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals has spurred the construction of new apartment buildings that cater to tourists and short-term residents. Despite costing more, long-term Airbnbs are particularly attractive to remote workers because they can pay with foreign bank accounts, dont have to jump through bureaucratic hoops and paperwork, and arrive to furnished apartments with the utilities taken care of.

Real estate companies that buy historic buildings, refurbish them, and sell them for a profit act like an executive arm of Airbnb, said Sergio Gonzalez, leader of the activist group and neighborhood association 06600 Plataforma Vecinal. He pointed out that an increase in the demand for short-term rentalspushed largely by those groupshas prompted real estate companies to sell their properties by advertising rental management services to future owners.

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06600 Plataforma Vecinalwhich Sergio Gonzalez said welcomes tourists and international guests but is concerned about the lack of a government policy to manage this influxhas collected data that suggests about 3,000 people were displaced between 2014 and 2020 from the centric Juarez neighborhood to more affordable but distant locations, including the neighboring state of Mexico.

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When I asked Carlos Mackinlay, Mexico Citys now-former tourism minister, about the surge in Airbnbs, he told me in late August that while the then occupancy rate for hotels in the city was less than 40 percent, the rate for Airbnbs was more than 80 percenta clear benefit for landlords.

When it comes to potential regulation of short-term rentals like Airbnbs, Mackinlay told me new regulations would soon be proposed and would mostly focus on promoting safety measures, such as requiring water heaters with safe manual ignitions, in existing and future Airbnbs. We probably shouldnt expect any larger regulation of corporations like Airbnb, a company he called a strategic ally of the city. Although a new minister has taken office since we spoke, Mackinlay will soon head the citys new Institute for Democratic and Prospective Planning, a position that includes overseeing the execution of Mexico Citys General Development Plan, which will serve as a guideline for new housing constructions.

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While Mexico Citys foreign guests cant totally be blamed for the citys increasing housing problems, too many of them seem to be oblivious to the fact that they are guests in another country. [T]here definitely seems to be a type of foreigner that seems very thoughtful [and] that is really trying to be respectful, Ben told me when asked about his fellow expats. He and others I interviewed admitted that there are expats who are condescending and dont care about engaging with the local community or respecting their rules. At a gathering, I heard a remote worker from New York bragging about taking a ride in his neighborhood inside of a police car after he befriended the officervery different to my last encounter with the police when I was stopped while walking in Condesa without an explanation and patted down. What personally strikes me the most about these stories is that they probably wouldnt have done those things in the U.S. or bragged about them so publicly.

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When faced with these situations, which are not exclusive to Mexico, we tend to focus on the foreigners and their careless attitudes. Yet, what about the locals who enable a system where some foreigners receive a preferential treatment?

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Inevitably, this discussion would include Mexicos malinchismoshowing preference to what is foreign while holding contempt for ones own country. Valeria Ballesteros, a social anthropologist who studied the effects the rehabilitation of the citys historic center had on its neighbors, pointed out that for some Mexicans, its important to live in a neighborhood recognized by foreigners.

Unfortunately, this preference for what is foreign is also mixed with racism. In 2017, a survey on social mobility found a correlation between the respondents skin color and their income. It was one of the first studies conducted by the government with such finding; still, some ignored the results and criticized the research for actually daring to ask people for their skin color.

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Many locals still argue that Mexico doesnt face a racism problem, just one of classism. But you dont need to explore much of the city to see it unfold, from geographic segregation to internalized racism in our everyday Spanish.

Im afraid that this dangerous combination, mixed with the arrival of international guests of different backgrounds, might add to the citys already significant inequality problems. We might start seeing more preferential treatments given to some foreigners or even a weaker rule of law applied to them. At the same time, non-Hispanic and nonwhite international guests might themselves face racism in their new home.

Mexico Citys popularity among international remote workers provides a unique economic opportunity. But in order to truly benefit the local community, the city needs its new guests to be allies on our path to a more equal future.

Update, Nov. 3, 2021: This article has been updated since publication.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
ARCHIVED - Bitcoin scam in Spain used famous celebrities to lure victims



The cryptocurrency scam fraudulently used images of Rafael Nadal and Pedro Sanchez

The National Police in Spain have dismantled a criminal Bitcoin organisation with international reach that reportedly scammed more than 2.82 million euros from unsuspecting investors. The organised gang is said to have been highly structured and specialised and members posed convincingly as brokers of a large, professional company.

According to the official report, the scammers fraudulently used celebrities such as Rafael Nadal, Pedro Sanchez and journalist Pablo Motos to promote their business, and set up fake bank accounts where their victims could see their monthly profits going up and up.

Of course, this wasnt actually the case, and the fraudsters used the supposed profits as leverage to convince their prey to invest more and more money into their cryptocurrency scam. In addition, each victim had a devoted broker who would contact them regularly, sometimes on a daily basis, and a dedicated online help system, all creating an image of legitimacy.

The scammers were able to remotely access the computers of their investors to transfer even more cash to their coffers, while the fake website showed profits soaring by 18% per month. That is until the victims ran out of money or requested some of their investment back, at which point they received only radio silence.

Police sources have revealed that some clients invested as much as 100,000 euros in some of the 60 fake companies established in Spain alone.

Image: Archive
ARCHIVED - Man gored to death during bull run in Spain



The victim died from massive blood loss in Onda, Spain

A 55-year-old man died on Saturday October 30 after he was gored in the leg during the celebration of the bous al carrer bull run in Onda in Castellon. According to local sources, the bulls horn severed the mans femoral artery during the festivities and although he was immediately transferred to La Plana Hospital, he died a short time later from massive blood loss.

Although bull running events have now resumed throughout the country following the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, this is the first fatality of its kind in recent months. Onda council representatives reported that the victim was repeatedly attacked by the animal and also suffered a serious head wound.

Festivals of this kind have long been controversial in Spain, with serious injuries common and animal activists campaigning against the cruelty of the events. During the celebrations, bulls are released onto sections of the street and participants race in front of them. In many cases, the animals are then involved in local bull fights following the street run.

Image: Archive
While one group stresses the social aspect of the proposal submitted by a group around Anna Zaborska, the other points to its risks.

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Wooden spoons as a symbol of protest against restricting access to abortions. (Source: SITA)

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Two very different open letters have been recently addressed to the parliament in connection with the draft law submitted by a group of MPs around ultraconservative deputy Anna Zaborska.

While the pro-life organisations call on the MPs to support the draft, stressing its social aspect of helping pregnant women and families, organisations advocating for womens reproductive rights point to several risks the legislation might pose for those seeking legal abortions.

The draft is set to be discussed at the ongoing parliamentary session. It had to be suspended for one week after one MP tested positive for Covid. The deputies returned to the parliament on November 2.

Abortion is legal but comes with many obstacles. MPs now debate adding more Read more

Prevent rash decisions

The pro-life organisations and activists stress in their open letter, sent in late October, that the decision-making of pregnant women in need is often not easy. It is important for them to receive quality and comprehensive information about the risks of abortions, the possibilities of social state assistance, housing, or the treatment of a disabled child.

It will help them a lot if they have enough time to carefully think about it and avoid rash decisions or decisions made under pressure which is, unfortunately, very frequent, the letter reads, with its authors expressing support for the prolongation of the waiting period before an abortion from the current 48 hours.
But no need to get rid of one and two cent coins.

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Transactions in Slovak shops will be rounded to significantly hinder the circulation of one and two cent coins when paying by cash.

This change will take place after the MPs passed a new law regarding prices as proposed by the Finance Ministry. One and two cent coins will remain legal tender, the ministry stressed. Recipients of payments will still have to accept cash payments with one and two cent coins even after this law becomes effective in July of next year, the TASR newswire reported.

The presented rounding method is neutral and fair for both parties, vendors and customers, the ministry stated as quoted by TASR.

How the rounding will be done

The monthly margin for rounding will be from 0 to 2 cents. It has been recommended to round up to five cents in prices going up to 5 cents.

The sum price of the purchase will also be rounded up if the transaction is carried out in cash. If the purchase is paid for by card, the sum price will not be rounded.

In combined payments, only the sum of the transaction paid in cash will be rounded. Cash payments will be solely rounded because the overall aim of the new law is to hinder the circulation of certain coins used in cash payments.

With this amendment, costs will go down for entrepreneurs when it comes to bank fees for the deposit and processing of one and two cent coins. It will be easier to return change in cash payments, along with a positive effect on the environment of a reduced usage for the wrapping material used for the transport of these coins, the finance ministry stated.

Rounding will begin only in July 2022

Slovakia is following in the footsteps of other countries in the Eurozone, which took this course of action at the national level. One and two cent coins remain legal tender unless their status is changed in the entire Eurozone by the Council of the European Union, with approval of the European Parliament and the European Central Bank (ECB).

The effectiveness of the law was moved from January 1 to July 1, 2022 in response to an amending proposal to make sufficient room for setting up cash register software.
https://sputniknews.com/20211101/is-donald-trump-right-that-israel-literally-owned-congress-before-progressive-democrats-1090401815.html

Is Donald Trump Right That Israel Literally Owned Congress Before Progressive Democrats?

Is Donald Trump Right That Israel Literally Owned Congress Before Progressive Democrats?

US President Donald Trump, on the Ari Hoffman Show, recently mused that Israel literally owned congress a decade ago, but that progressive Democrats have... 01.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-01T23:26+0000

2021-11-01T23:26+0000

2021-11-02T00:53+0000

donald trump

congress

israel

palestine

aoc

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Trumps opinion of the changing dynamics between Israel and the United States is representative of changing partisan feelings towards Israel, with the primary driver the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. Is the former president correct that Israels influence in Congress has diminished?Over the past decade, Republicans have dramatically increased their support for Israel, while Democrats have displayed a near equal drop in support.According to a 2018 Pew Research poll, 79% of Republicans participating in the survey were more sympathetic toward Israel than Palestine, compared to 27% of Democrats. While a gulf has always existed, it has never been this pronounced. In 2001, 50% of Republicans were reportedly more sympathetic towards Israel than Palestine, compared to 38% of Democrats.Trumps highlighting of the US representatives both of who are progressive Democrats, is considered by some to be rooted in truth. The pair have been more critical of Tel Aviv, compared to more moderate Democrats.In September, a group of eight Democrats, including Ocasio-Cortez and Omar, as well as one Republican in the House, voted against $1 billion in funding for Israels Iron Dome defense system. While progressives pushed back against the cash gift, the bill still passed by a vote of 420-9, indicating that Trumps claim - that Ocasio-Cortez and Omar control Congress with regard to Israel - is overstated.The United States and Israel remain close allies, but claiming that Congress is less supportive of Israel than it has been in the past is only half of the point. The real change is that, as Republicans have become more supportive of Israel, Democrats have become more supportive of Palestinians.Support for Israel in the US Congress appears to have not so much diminished as changed, going from an issue Democrats and Republicans could find middle ground on, to a national issue said to be as divisive as gun control. Net support for Israel in Congress has changed little, but there is more resistance to supporting the government in Tel Aviv on all matters. The resistance tends to center on Tel Avivs handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

https://sputniknews.com/20171206/1059769523.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211031/israels-bennett-wants-to-defeat-irans-rotten-regime-by-doing-what-reagan-did-to-the-soviets-1090367859.html

Hess Israel literally owned Trump. As President for 4 years, Trump was serving Israel, not the US. 6

vot tak What trump means is likudite israelis. These are the only israelis that matter in his quisling mind. In realty, u.s. congress critters have been overwhelmingly israeli colonial assets for decades. 5

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https://sputniknews.com/20211102/as-israel-slaps-tax-on-plastic-disposables-why-is-ultra-orthodox-community-fuming-over-the-move-1090406919.html

As Israel Slaps Tax on Plastic Disposables, Why is Ultra-Orthodox Community Fuming Over the Move?

As Israel Slaps Tax on Plastic Disposables, Why is Ultra-Orthodox Community Fuming Over the Move?

Haredi families, which on average have seven children, have been reliant on plastic utensils, especially during Shabbat and religious holidays, when chores... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T06:38+0000

2021-11-02T06:38+0000

2021-11-02T08:39+0000

middle east

israel

ashkenazi ultra-orthodox jews

ultra-orthodox

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On 1 November, Israel levied a tax on all plastic disposables almost doubling their price, with Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who initiated the measure, saying the move would dramatically improve the country's environment.Ultra-Orthodox are FumingBut Yanki Farber, a Haredi journalist from Bnei Brak, one of the strongholds of the Ultra-Orthodox community, says people are fuming.Ultra-Orthodox families, which on average produce seven children, have been relying on disposables for years. This is especially true during Shabbat and religious holidays when practicing Jews refrain from washing dishes or performing any other chores around the house. And it is then when they opt for plastic utensils that can simply be thrown away.The introduction of the tax is expected to damage the ability of Ultra-Orthodox families, who are traditionally in the low-income range, to purchase disposables. And Farber says the initiative was likely introduced to harm the Haredi parties that are currently at odds with Lieberman over what's perceived as his actions against the religious community.Out to Score Political Points?Yet, a personal vendetta is far from being Lieberman's only motive, and the journalist believes that the finance minister is also out to score some political points.Taxation on plastic is not the only measure currently being promoted by Lieberman and the government he is in. In September, he promised to cut off the subsidies yeshiva students receive for childcare and a month later he signed a decree that increased prices on high-sugar drinks.Attempts have also been made to revoke the monopoly of the rabbinical court on issues pertaining to kosher food and marriage.Yet, core issues angering the secular Israeli public, such as Haredis' exemption from the IDF or the benefits they have been getting, were left untouched, and so was the budget for yeshivas, their religious schools and institutions.Farber is certain that it was done intentionally, so as not to further aggravate the situation with the Haredis. But he also believes that that trick will not work with the Ultra-Orthodox public.The catch is that so far the coalition of eight parties with different ideologies and agendas has been rather stable, and the chances that it will remain in power for four years are high.If that is the case, the Ultra-Orthodox community can expect even more laws and policies directed against them, and to avoid them they could potentially be pushed into the arms of the current coalition. But Farber says he doubts that will ever happen.

Holger H. How did the Ultra-Orthodox community managed there dishes during Shabbat and religious holidays in pre- Plastic Times? 2

Lodi44 they could try utensils made of cardboard and bamboo, or simply wash the dishes on sunday... 1

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https://sputniknews.com/20211102/bahrain-urges-its-citizens-to-leave-lebanon-immediately-1090417650.html

Bahrain Urges Its Citizens to Leave Lebanon Immediately

Bahrain Urges Its Citizens to Leave Lebanon Immediately

Previously, several Gulf States, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia withdrew their ambassadors from Lebanon following the Lebanese... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T13:20+0000

2021-11-02T13:20+0000

2021-11-02T14:31+0000

lebanon

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Bahrain's Foreign Ministry has called on all of its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.The warning comes soon after Bahrain expelled Lebanese envoy from the country and banned all imports from Lebanon. Manama also recalled its own ambassador to Lebanon.Bahrain thus mirrored the response by the allies of the Saudi-led coalition, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, who also expelled Lebanese diplomats and recalled their ambassadors.The Gulf States' decision follows criticism by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi, who blasted the coalition's military campaign in Yemen. Kordahi accused the coalition of bombing "homes, villages, funerals, and weddings" in Yemen, while stressing that the Houthi militants were defending themselves against "external aggression".Kordahi made these statements in an interview a month before he was appointed to his high post, though the recording of it resurfaced only recently. The Lebanese government has already denounced his claims and made clear they are personal views and have nothing to do with Beirut's official position. Pro-Saudi voices called for Kordahi's resignation, but the minister said he was not planning to leave his post voluntarily.Since 2015, the Saudi-led coalition has been waging a campaign against the Houthi movement, which seized power in the country's capital Aden in 2014 triggering a civil war. The constant bombings and the blockade of Yemen led to a massive humanitarian disaster in the country, with the UN and several foreign countries calling on the coalition to cease the intervention that has so far failed to throw the Houthis out and put the former government back in power.

https://sputniknews.com/20211030/arab-league-urges-against-further-escalation-of-lebanese-gulf-row-1090342625.html

mandrake Cia head in moscow in discussions with his russian counterpart, the fucked up goatshaggers from the gulf-statelets are taking home their ambassadors from lebanon and so on . And childkilling jew bennets been in russia and in washington so, it seems the jews together with the moronsare about to attack iran and lebanon/hezbollah andcso on. So sit tight andhold on to your hat! The jews might actually pull out their nukes! 1

Lin Wren It will be the last thing they'll do lol 1

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lebanon
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/biden-under-fire-over-clip-showing-him-battling-sleep-at-cop26-1090417032.html

Biden Under Fire Over Clip Showing Him Battling Sleep at COP26

Biden Under Fire Over Clip Showing Him Battling Sleep at COP26

Former US President Donald Trump would frequently refer to Joe Biden as "Sleepy Joe", mocking the incumbent president's tendency to close his eyes for long... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T13:13+0000

2021-11-02T13:13+0000

2021-11-04T05:27+0000

joe biden

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US President Joe Biden has yet again discovered himself in the spotlight after a clip of him apparently snoozing during the COP26 summit went viral.The 46th president, who is set to turn 79 in a couple of weeks, was recorded with his eyes closed for more than 15 seconds before an aide approached him and whispered something into his ear. Given his administration's climate action aspirations, many immediately blasted Biden for "falling asleep" during a major climate summit.Biden's predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump, was predictably quick to join in the criticism.One user sarcastically suggested that the aide only approached Biden in order to wake him up, not tell him something actually important.Many Trump supporters, including former employees of his administration like ex-White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and former legal adviser Jenna Ellis, also took to Twitter to mock yet another "Sleepy Joe" moment.The incident swifly inspired memes and edits, fuelling another round of the "Let's Go Brandon" euphemism - a line that is now synonymous with "F**k Joe Biden".However, many people defended the US president, arguing that his sudden weariness could have been caused by long hours of work or jet lag. Particularly, NBC News senior White House reporter Kelly ODonnell referred to Biden's busy schedule when commenting on the incident, admitting nevertheless that moments like this "are seen and scrutinised regardless of all of the circumstances".

Nonyank No matter, Biden has been asleep at the wheel for decades. 3

Nonyank Where is the Red Bull when you need it? 2

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https://sputniknews.com/20211102/cnn-analyst-compares-lets-go-brandon-jibe-to-nazi-and-daesh-slogans-1090426887.html

CNN Analyst Compares 'Let's Go Brandon' Jibe to Nazi and Daesh Slogans

CNN Analyst Compares 'Let's Go Brandon' Jibe to Nazi and Daesh Slogans

Social media users pointed out the hypocrisy of liberal hand-wringing over the sanitised version of an insult aimed at US President Joe Biden, recalling the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T22:36+0000

2021-11-02T22:36+0000

2021-11-11T20:51+0000

joe biden

donald trump

us

cnn

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/02/1090428238_0:234:2955:1896_1920x0_80_0_0_614dcf255a586064c239cefea82ad0b3.jpg

A senior analyst at pro-Democrat news network CNN has compared the notorious 'Let's Go Brandon' chant to Nazi, Ku Klux Klan and Islamic State* slogans.Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary during Bill Clinton's second term, tweeted the inflammatory comment on Monday., The slogan has its origins in an attempt by news network NBC to cover up the vocal disapproval of Biden from a crowd at a NASCAR race at Alabama's Talladega Speedway, as they loudly chanted "F*ck Joe Biden" on air after a race. Reporter Kelli Stavast coined the phrase "Let's Go Brandon" as she interviewed winning driver Brandon Brown over the chants, which have become common at some sporting events and protest rallies.NBC's attempt to conceal Biden's unpopularity naturally turned the phrase into a not-so-secret code-word, spawning not one, but two hit hip-hop diss tracks against the president.Lockhart has a history of comparing his mainstream political opponents to Adolf Hitler's genocidal movement.He is not the only media personality driven to hysterics by people being rude to a president. Some claim that a pilot on Southwest Airlines  which recently backed down from imposing Biden's vaccine mandates on its staff  was "mentally unstable" and a "terrorist" after he signed off a message to passengers with the phrase.One Associated Press journalist who was on the flight claimed she almost got thrown off after she tried to question the pilot  who made the comment after it had already landed.The Twittersphere was crammed with users pointing out the double standard of those objections after four years of liberal activists yelling obscenities at former US President Donald Trump. Even some left-wingers were disgusted by the hypocrisy.Islamic State (Isis or Daesh) is a terrorist organisation banned in many countries including Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/20211031/southwest-pilot-signs-off-with-lets-go-brandon-sparking-heated-online-debate-1090363116.html

TruePatriot The illiberals coming out of the woodwork because they cannot handle a sanitized version of what they were spouting at full note for 4 years - just at their guy versus the "other guy". They truly are a disturbed and pathetic lot. 1

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joe biden, donald trump, us, cnn
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/cop26-over-100-world-leaders-pledge-to-end-deforestation-by-2030-reports-say-1090408992.html

COP26: Over 100 World Leaders Pledge to End Deforestation by 2030

COP26: Over 100 World Leaders Pledge to End Deforestation by 2030

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference is widely seen as one of the last attempts by the international community to deal with climate change. Ahead of the event... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T10:20+0000

2021-11-02T10:20+0000

2021-11-02T10:35+0000

world

environment

climate change

co2 emissions

carbon dioxide

uk

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Over 100 world leaders will promise to end deforestation by 2030 during the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, UK media outlets have reported. According to The Guardian, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the event, will unveil the agreement on 2 November.Among the signatories are key nations - Brazil, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Russia, and the United States. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil, while Brazil is home to the biggest rainforest. Russia's huge natural forests capture 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually (numbers provided by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis).Combined together the said nations possess over 85 percent of the world's forests.Other Pledges and Reaction From Environmental OrganisationsThe countries also pledged to donate $19.2 billion to developing countries in order to restore land damaged by wildfires and agricultural activity as well as to protect forests. At least $1.7 billion of the funding will be given to indigenous peoples and local communities, who are involved in tackling deforestation. A $1.5 billion fund will be established to protect the world's second largest tropical rainforest in the Congo Basin.According to the BBC, 28 countries will commit to removing deforestation from the global trade of food and other agricultural products, while over 30 companies will pledge to end investments in deforestation-linked activities.Forests are part of the planet's defence against global warming. Trees absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), which traps heat radiated from the Sun and consequently leads to climate change. Studies have shown that one third of CO2 emitted each year is absorbed by forests.The news of the agreement on deforestation has prompted a mixed response from scientists and environmental organisations like.Ana Yang, executive director at Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator, described the deal as "a really important step". Professor Simon Lewis, an expert on climate and forests at University College London, recalled that in 2014 nations made a similar declaration, which "failed" to slow deforestation.Carlos Rittl, who works in Brazil for the Rainforest Foundation Norway, said the funding needs to be given "into the right hands", with an emphasis on indigenous people, who are committed to protecting the forest.The 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow will be held until 13 November. The event is being attended by the leaders of almost 200 nations and is widely seen as an attempt to deal with the effects of climate change.The past decade was the warmest on record, with major organisations warning that if the international community fails to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions the world will face catastrophic consequences  extreme weather events that may lay lead to the collapse of natural ecosystems as well as the inability to farm.During the conference world leaders are expected to agree on the following issues:

GasMonkey Trudeau promised to have 2 million trees planted five years ago. Hasn't planted on. These politicians are a joke. 2

Zina Ciceklic This is total psychotic madness, Bolsonaro the president of Brazil destroyed 1/3 of the Amazon rainforest  the lungs of planet Earth, and all these participants took part in it, and now they are saying what they are saying, really complete lunatics. 2

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https://sputniknews.com/20211102/dreamin-joe-1090426091.html

Dreamin' Joe

Dreamin' Joe

No stranger to taking a little shut-eye on the global stage, US President Joe Biden recently snatched headlines again after he appeared to nod off while... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T22:51+0000

2021-11-02T22:51+0000

2021-11-02T22:48+0000

joe biden

sleeping

cop26

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/02/1090426045_0:0:1201:676_1920x0_80_0_0_4fd4b5523ed30b8b2e3cd44f429a3424.jpg

Footage of the latest incident captured Biden dozing off for less than 30 seconds before an aide approached him, effectively prompting the American commander-in-chief to become more alert during the conference.The not-to-surprising development unfolded just moments before the president had previously nodded off for less than 10 seconds during the summit's opening speeches. The cat naps took place amid human rights activist Eddie Ndopu's address.Biden closed out his participation at the climate summit on Tuesday, momentarily blasting China for not taking part in the conference. He further detailed that he would be holding virtual talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at an undisclosed date and time.

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joe biden, sleeping, cop26
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/ex-dea-agent-claims-fbi-informant-urged-him-to-break-into-capitol-says-refused-to-do-it-1090424626.html

Ex-DEA Agent Claims FBI Informant Urged Him to Break Into Capitol, Says Refused to Do It

Ex-DEA Agent Claims FBI Informant Urged Him to Break Into Capitol, Says Refused to Do It

The deadly US Capitol riot took place on 6 January, as a violent mob of those opposing the certification of the results for the 2020 US presidential election... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T20:41+0000

2021-11-02T20:41+0000

2021-11-02T20:41+0000

donald trump

us

tucker carlson

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A former Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) employee, Mark Ibrahim, who is charged in the Capitol riot and faces 15 years behind bars, told Fox News' Tucker Carlson that he never entered the building.In a Carlson-hosted Fox News show called 'Patriot Purge', Ibharim asserted that he was invited to former US President Donald Trump's 'Stop the Steal' rally by an FBI informant with whom he was acquainted during his military service. It was the informant, Ibrahim claimed, who urged him to join the mob and break into the building - something that Ibrahim says he refused to do.Carlson echoed the sentiment, saying that he had confirmed Ibrahim's words by speaking to the unnamed informant.Ibrahim, accused by federal prosecutors of bringing his official gun and badge on to Capitol grounds and illegally climbing on a monument to deliver "a monologue", was fired from his job with the DEA.Carlson's television show has received strong backlash, online and off. Among the critics are Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. CNN anchor Jim Acosta blasted Carlson's series as "Proud Boy porn", referring to the notorious white nationalist group the 'Proud Boys.'Carlson responded to Cheney's comment on Thursday during his show.The Capitol riot occurred on 6 January, with a crowd of Trump supporters angry about the results of the 2020 presidential election storming and ransacking various parts of the Capitol and threatening many politicians inside with violence. The riot killed 5, including a Capitol police officer. Over 600 people have been charged following the riot, and Trump was impeached a second time by the US House for "incitement to insurrection". The Senate subsequently refused to remove Trump from office as the latter denied the claim, stating that he never wanted violence on US streets.

TruePatriot The whole break-in scenario was an FBI driven entrapment designed exclusively to defame Trump and possibly get him impeached by Nasty Nancy and crew. Why does anyone think her son-in-law was photographed with the QAnon Shaman that day? 3

wtfud If you want to know who rules over you, look at who you're not allowed to criticise. 1

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Daria Bedenko

donald trump, us, tucker carlson
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/explosion-and-gunfire-reported-near-military-hospital-in-kabul-1090409821.html

At Least 23 Killed, 50 Wounded in Kabul Hospital Blasts 'Claimed by Daesh'

At Least 23 Killed, 50 Wounded in Kabul Hospital Blasts 'Claimed by Daesh'

There were two blasts in the city: reports suggest that the first one near the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital occurred at around 13:00 local time (8:30... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T08:48+0000

2021-11-02T08:48+0000

2021-11-02T11:47+0000

kabul

afghanistan

asia-pacific

bomb attacks

explosion

blast

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The Afghan capital of Kabul was hit by a bomb attack on Tuesday, an eyewitness told Sputnik.Later, witnesses told Sputnik that another blast had been heard in the area. According to reports citing the Afghan Health Ministry, the explosion killed at least 19 and injured 50. At the same time, a source told Sputnik that the death toll reached 23.A source later told Sputnik that the attackers on the military hospital had been eliminated. Meanwhile, the Bakhtar news agency reported that the blast was staged by Daesh* terrorists.Later, the Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a trauma hospital in the area, said nine wounded had been brought in so far.Several photos, allegedly taken near the hospital, were uploaded online.The situation in the country remains uneasy after the Taliban takeover in August. In the meantime, recent reports suggest that ex-security personnel has been joining the Daesh terror group since the collapse of the US-backed government of Ashraf Ghani.In early August, the Taliban mounted an offensive against Afghan government troops, amid the US withdrawal from the country. The Taliban entered Kabul on 15 August and later declared an end to the two-decade war in the nation.*The Taliban and Daesh (also known as Islamic State/ISIS/IS) are terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other nations.

TEP Funny how ISIS et al step up wherever and whenever US is kicked out. 1

1

kabul

afghanistan

asia-pacific

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kabul, afghanistan, asia-pacific, bomb attacks, explosion, blast
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/facebook-allowed-covid-19-misinformation-to-flourish-on-its-platforms-research-says-1090420899.html

Facebook Allowed COVID-19 Misinformation to Flourish on Its Platforms, Research Says

Facebook Allowed COVID-19 Misinformation to Flourish on Its Platforms, Research Says

Meta, the company previously known as Facebook, has recently weathered a storm of bad press stemming from a bunch of internal documents leaked by former... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T17:29+0000

2021-11-02T17:29+0000

2021-11-02T17:33+0000

facebook

social media

covid-19

meta

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/12/1090012022_0:129:3187:1921_1920x0_80_0_0_3fa7a475683123c5c46d691fd1423480.jpg

Facebook and Instagram allowed scepticism about vaccines for the coronavirus and misinformation about the disease to spread across its platforms, with misleading content being spread over accounts that collectively have gained 370,000 followers over the past year, according to new research by credibility assessment website Newsguard, cited by the Guardian.Among such content are posts in Facebook groups that claimed that children are being murdered by the experimental jab theyre being pressured to take and Instagram accounts that promoted a documentary by Andrew Wakefield, an embattled doctor who was struck off the UK medical register after he suggested that the MMR vaccine was linked to autism.In total, Newsguard said it monitored some 20 sites since September last year, which had gained a total of 372,670 followers over this period of time. The monitor's report also included references to prominent anti-vaxxers and advocates of alternative medicine such as Robert F Kennedy Jr and Joseph Mercola.Kennedy was banned from Instagram, but his Facebook page, along with Mercola's Instagram account, is said to have gained more than 140,000 followers since February. The full report, according to The Guardian, has been sent to the World Health Organization.Alex Cadier, UK managing director for NewsGuard, damned Facebook and Instagram for failing to protect their users from harmful and misleading content.A spokesman for Meta (previously known as Facebook) said that the company was taking action against misinformation while promoting vaccination. Meta said it has "removed more than 20m pieces of harmful misinformation" and "banned more than 3,000 accounts, pages and groups for repeatedly breaking our rules.""Were also labelling all posts about the vaccines with accurate information and worked with independent fact-checkers to mark 190m posts as false", the spokesperson said.Fending off accusations that it had failed to tackle fake news and harmful content on its platform, Facebook announced its rebranding in late October, changing the company's name to Meta. According to Mark Zuckerberg, the company's chief executive, the rebrand reflects the company's focus on the "metaverse", not just the social media platform.Many observers, however, saw the rebrand as an attempt to clear the social media platform's reputation after it was undermined by 'The Facebook Papers', a bunch of stories by major news agencies based on the internal documents leaked by a former employee, whistleblower Frances Haugen who used to work for Facebook as a data analyst. 'The Facebook Papers' shed light on how the social media platform would foster misinformation and harmful content. Zuckerberg, however, dismissed the stories as a coordinated attempt by news agencies and whistleblowers to create "a false image" of his company.On 29 October, Meta announced it will increase its support for COVID-19 vaccination efforts for children on its apps.

https://sputniknews.com/20211029/will-zuckerberg-rue-the-day-facebook-became-meta-how-historical-rebrands-only-sometimes-worked--1090311122.html

Barros Facebook is a CIA company. 3

Syria Forever They all are. All the 'famous' universities research are sponsored by the global intelligence services. It is all fake. Illusion. Nothing on that planet is 'real'. But it doesn't matter. The cabal running so called planet earth, and does it since many, many centuries, millennia, are here to stay at least a couple of new timelines to come. The cattle? Who cares about them? Nobody. And when you look around in that zombificated world they don't deserve better. Not at all!! Have a good day Sir. 1

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Daria Bedenko

Daria Bedenko

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Daria Bedenko

facebook, social media, covid-19, meta
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/former-afghan-vice-president-urges-ghani-to-release-records-of-talks-with-khalilzad-1090410883.html

Former Afghan Vice President Urges Ghani to Release Records of Talks With Khalilzad

Former Afghan Vice President Urges Ghani to Release Records of Talks With Khalilzad

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - First Vice President of the previous Afghan administration, Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself acting president after the Taliban*... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T09:39+0000

2021-11-02T09:39+0000

2021-11-02T09:41+0000

zalmay khalilzad

ashraf ghani

asia & pacific

afghanistan

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107678/78/1076787875_0:0:3056:1719_1920x0_80_0_0_e2bfe84a2a459d4e748603ee189f8ace.jpg

Saleh wrote on Twitter that Khalilzad allegedly "smilingly lobbying" for the Taliban movement* and the Haqqani Network*. The former vice president also accused Khalilzad of concealing "secret annexes" to the Doha agreement, which the US signed with the Taliban in 2020.In July and August, Khalilzad participated in negotiations in various formats on the situation in Afghanistan. In particular, he called on the Taliban to stop their offensive in the country.The Taliban intensified its offensive against Afghan government forces a month ago and entered Kabul on 15 August. On 31 August, the US military left the Kabul airport, bringing an end to the nearly twenty-year American military presence in Afghanistan.On 7 September, the Taliban announced the composition of the interim government of Afghanistan. It is headed by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who served as a foreign minister during the first Taliban rule. Akhund has been under UN sanctions since 2001.* The Taliban movement and the Haqqani Network are terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other countries

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zalmay khalilzad, ashraf ghani, asia & pacific, afghanistan
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/government-of-ethiopia-declares-nationwide-emergency--1090421876.html

Ethiopia Declares Nationwide Emergency as Tigray Forces Not Ruling Out Marching on Capital

Ethiopia Declares Nationwide Emergency as Tigray Forces Not Ruling Out Marching on Capital

A domestic conflict erupted in Ethiopia after a shift in the country's political landscape that left the regional Tigray People's Liberation Front out of... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T15:33+0000

2021-11-02T15:33+0000

2021-11-02T16:47+0000

ethiopia

africa

emergency

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The government of Ethiopia has declared a nationwide emergency following the forces of northern Tigray province making territorial gains, moving closer to the capital. The Ethiopian parliament, however, must approve the order within 48 hours for the nationwide emergency to go into effect.Earlier, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on citizens to take up arms in order to defend their homeland against the TPLF's forces. The latter reported seizing two towns to the south of Tigray province and noted that they were mulling marching further towards the capital of Addis Ababa, located 380 kilometres away. The claims of two towns being captured have not yet been officially confirmed.The conflict between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF erupted in November 2020, after Tigray held regional elections in defiance of Addis Ababa, which had ordered the vote to be postponed due to the pandemic. The TPLF, which governed the country for almost two decades, was at a disadvantage, losing the last election to a newly created bloc of opposition parties called the Prosperity Party. The TPLF claimed that the government's authority expired in 2020, COVID-19 or not, and therefore the government was rendered illegitimate due to failing to hold the elections.The government in Addis Ababa declared the Tigray election illegal and launched a "police" operation against the "rebellious" region on 3 November 2020, which, however, was aided by the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF). The government forces seized the region's capital Mekelle and declared the operation "over". However, the TPLF continued fighting with the aid of defecting Ethiopian National Defence Force soldiers, as well as local civilian volunteers, retaking Mekelle in June 2021.

https://sputniknews.com/20211020/tigray-forces-accuse-ethiopian-govt-of-new-airstrikes-in-mekelle-1090070139.html

Charlie McD They have to negotiate another cease fire with Tigray and their allies or its all over. 1

Kuzu Luku All of this for a dam egypt doesn't want. Tigre militants perpetuted the madness money can create. 0

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ethiopia, africa, emergency
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/gt-investigates-behind-us-espionage-campaign-how-does-cia-recruit-spies-targeting-china-1090417240.html

GT Investigates: Behind US' Espionage Campaign: How Does CIA Recruit Spies Targeting China?

GT Investigates: Behind US' Espionage Campaign: How Does CIA Recruit Spies Targeting China?

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)'s new China mission center and its purportedly recruitment of Chinese-speaking agents, have caught the attention of the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T13:12+0000

2021-11-02T13:12+0000

2021-11-02T13:12+0000

us

asia & pacific

china

cia

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Regarding China as one of its largest rivals and threats, the US seemingly makes no secret of its attempts to infiltrate and subvert China in the intelligence battlefield, although its ability has been frequently questioned.Starting from 2010, CIA sources in China "began disappearing", The New York Times said in an article in March 2018, referring to the network of CIA spies in China as "a devastating intelligence failure." The setting up of the "China mission centre" also reflects the CIA's previous defeat in China-related operations, observers said.Observers noted that the establishment by the CIA of a China mission centre to conduct various types of intelligence work and covert operations indicates that the US has consistently identified China as a primary strategic target.However, Li also pointed out that the current attempt by the US to conduct espionage activities in China will not succeed, especially with the continuous improvement of the law and policies on counterespionage and the increasing security awareness of the Chinese people. China has the confidence and ability to resist subversion and infiltration attempts by the US and other foreign forces.Recruiting Spies Among ChineseThe CIA caught the attention of Chinese netizens this week for the reported recruitment of Chinese-speaking agents who understand Putonghua and some dialects like Cantonese, Shanghainese and Hakka.On Twitter-like Weibo, users flooded the account of the US Embassy in China. They criticised the US as "brazen", and made jokes saying that the CIA should also include the dialects of their hometowns in their recruitment.The recruitment of the US intelligence community is not as complicated or mysterious as the public might think. The CIA's website is available for candidates to submit their job applications and those who scan the site will not miss the agency's tempting words on its recruitment page.The Chinese community in the US is the main target of CIA recruitment. In February 2003 it launched an advertisement campaign to recruit Chinese-Americans as spies and analysts, publishing ads on "some Asian-oriented publications and newspapers in cities with large Chinese-American communities", the Washington Times reported.The CIA also actively seeks potential agents online and in person, said Chinese government officials and national security experts reached by the Global Times. It mainly targets Chinese students in the US who are likely to go to governmental departments or participate in the core business of the enterprises that hire them after returning to China, said Qing Ting (pseudonym), a former government staff in East China's Zhejiang Province who was engaged in counterintelligence work.A 2017 article by US journalist and writer Daniel Golden titled How Spy Agencies Use American Universities to Secretly Recruit Students revealed that the US intelligence agencies develop sources among international students faculty and send them home as American agents. In a 2012 poll of staff at US universities who work with international students, "31 percent reported the FBI had visited students within the past year," wrote Golden.During the anti-extradition bill unrest in Hong Kong, the CIA or its sponsored organisations also got close to some Hong Kong students, instigating them into secessionist and violent acts, Qing added. "It attempted to incite a 'color revolution' in Hong Kong," he said.Li pointed out that intelligence agencies like the CIA often use the lure of profit and the threat of family safety to recruit Chinese officials and technicians as spies.For example, in April 2016, CCTV's show Focus Interview disclosed a case in which Huang Yu, a computer professional who worked in China in a classified research unit responsible for cryptographic research and development, was tempted with a $10,000 bonus and a $5,000 monthly salary to provide more than 150,000 pieces of information to other countries' intelligence organisations, including 90 top state secrets and expressed his willingness to work for the agency for at least five years. He was eventually sentenced to death for espionage, deprived of political rights for life, and confiscated funds for espionage.A staff member surnamed Geng, who worked in a representative office of a state-owned enterprise abroad was threatened by local security officials with the lives of his family members outside the country.They turned Geng into a spy while he was working abroad in 2007, manipulating him to gather information about China's defence and military research and his company's local presence abroad and asked him to continue spying when he returned to China. Geng was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2016.Li noted that the notorious US intelligence agency has brought great political unrest and social instability to many countries by recruiting spies and infiltrating many non-governmental organisations and individuals. For example, behind the outbreak of "colour revolutions" in many countries, there are traces of CIA's interference.'People's War' Against EspionageResponding to the CIA's recruitment of Chinese-speaking agents, Jun Zhengping Studio, a commentary session run by the PLA Daily, said on Weibo earlier this month that the Chinese people must never slacken efforts in safeguarding national security.Chaoyang Qunzhong, or the masses of Beijing's Chaoyang district, was dubbed by Chinese netizens as "the fifth information organisation" together with the CIA and the UK's MI6. It consists of more than 140,000 volunteers who help maintain street order or give a hand to those in need, reported Hubei-based news outlet Jimu News on October 23.China is constantly improving the country's anti-espionage system from legal and policy perspectives. It passed a law on counterespionage in 2014 and a law on national security in 2015 emphasising the need for and importance of fighting foreign espionage. In 2017, the Beijing government encouraged the public to report on spies by publishing a new reward scheme. Any successful tip-offs will give tipsters cash payments of up to 500,000 yuan ($78,150), according to the Beijing State Security Bureau.This year, China rolled out a new anti-espionage regulation in April, which allows the national security authority to draw up lists of companies and organisations that are susceptible to foreign infiltration, and require listed institutes to adopt security measures to prevent foreign infiltration.The increased awareness of the Chinese public to safeguard national security, the deterrence and punishment against espionage through legislation, the increase in China's national strength and the efficient operation of counterintelligence agencies have made a series of US intelligence activities against China fail in the past, including its use of spies from other countries to conduct intelligence activities in our country, Li said.This article was originally published by the Global Times

wtfud These CIA folks must be dead proud of themselves, gun running, drug, child trafficking and murder. 2

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us, asia & pacific, china, cia
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/indian-army-conducts-high-altitude-airborne-exercise-in-eastern-ladakh-1090408919.html

Indian Army Conducts High-Altitude Airborne Exercise in Eastern Ladakh

Indian Army Conducts High-Altitude Airborne Exercise in Eastern Ladakh

The Indian Army is also conducting ombat rea jumps and integrated battle drills as part of this three-day exercise. Meanwhile, over 50,000 Chinese troops are... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T11:03+0000

2021-11-02T11:03+0000

2021-11-02T11:03+0000

ladakh region

india

indian army

military drill

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India is conducting high-altitude airborne drills in the eastern part of Ladakh, demonstrating the ability to land soldiers and validate its rapid response capabilities. The drills, launched on Monday, are being carried out by the 50 Para Brigade also known as "Shatrujeet", the Indian Army's finest paratroopers.The exercise includes the inter-theatre movement of troops and equipment, stand-off drops on precise locations, rapid grouping, and the ability to capture designated targets with a high velocity, as per media reports. According to ANI, on the opening day, soldiers were inserted into a drop zone at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet. The drop was reportedly challenging as it was carried out in minus 20 degree temperatures. The drills are being held three weeks after the 13th round of military talks between India and China, to ease tensions in Ladakh, reached an impasse as China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) did not agree to suggestions made by the Indian Army. Former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General B.S. Jaswal (Retd.) said that the Indian Army is demonstrating its combat capabilities to China with the high-altitude exercise. Such large-scale exercises come at a time of alleged Chinese advances on the border and a rise in the incidents of transgression along all sectors of the loosely demarcated Line of Actual Control (LAC).

https://sputniknews.com/20211021/india-deploys-modern-howitzers-in-ladakh-region-bordering-china-1090089259.html

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ladakh region, india, indian army, military drill
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/julian-assange-and-the-battle-for-press-freedom-europes-fuel-crisis-1090402302.html

Julian Assange and the Battle for Press Freedom; Europe's Fuel Crisis

Julian Assange and the Battle for Press Freedom; Europe's Fuel Crisis

The European fuel crisis worsens as the misadventures of simultaneously blaming Russia and begging them for salvation slams head-on into a cold and unforgiving... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T10:18+0000

2021-11-02T10:18+0000

2021-11-02T10:18+0000

g20 summit

julian assange

guantanamo

lebanon

gas

eu

the critical hour

radio

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Julian Assange and the Battle for Press Freedom; Europe's Fuel Crisis The European fuel crisis worsens as the misadventures of simultaneously blaming Russia and begging them for salvation slams head-on into a cold and unforgiving winter.

Chris Hedges, investigative journalist, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. World-renowned speaker and philosopher Chris Hedges has penned an article in which he argues that the Julian Assange trial is the most important battle for press freedom in our time. He says that the US' quest to convict and sentence the publisher would effectively put an end to national security reporting.National Director for Code Pink Ariel Gold joins us to discuss the G20 summit. International analysts and observers for covid measures and climate change are unhappy with the outcome of the meeting. The leaders of the nations that produce the most vaccines and greenhouse gases ended with a few hollow comuniques that acknowledge the problems, but show little promise of concrete action.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Europe's fuel crisis. The European fuel crisis worsens as the misadventures of simultaneously blaming Russia and begging them for salvation slams head-on into a cold and unforgiving winter. Russia has signed a gas deal with Moldova, demonstrating a willingness to deal with individual European nations that are willing to commit to a long-term contractual agreement.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Tensions between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have increased. Also, the US continues its duplicitous actions during negotiations with Iran as it plans for more sanctions, but blames Iran for the failure of progress.John Kiriakou, journalist, author, and host of The Backstory, joins us to discuss torture. Several military officials wrote a letter calling the torture of a Guantanamo detainee a stain on America's moral fiber. The defendant had spent several hours detailing brutal torture that he received at the hands of his US captors. The prisoner told onlookers that the more he cooperated, the more torture and abuse he received.KJ Noh, peace activist, writer and teacher, joins us to discuss China. KJ Noh joins us to review the absurdity of the US charge of "genocide" in the Xinjiang region of China. He discusses the origin of the charge from a single anti-China zealot and how the US accepted the absurd claims despite the total lack of evidence. Also, the Taiwanese military leadership has some significant fissures in its ranks regarding animosity toward the mainland.Steve Ellner, an American scholar, retired professor at the Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela, and author of 12 books including his latest, entitled "Latin American Extractivism," joins us to discuss the Global South. In a change of direction, the US empire is now pushing its puppet opposition to participate in the elections. However, few analysts believe that the empire has abandoned its hegemonic desires to overthrow the Bolivarian Republic and steal its natural resources. Also, Cuba's leadership is well aware of the US regime-change operations planned for mid-November.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

Truth 101 Most Americans believe that Julian Assange runs "a hostile foreign intelligence service" and belongs in prison. Also, most Americans hoard more wealth than they need for a comfortable life, while they do nothing for the 23% of children who suffer hunger. And so, most Americans are ingrates without a conscience. 0

Truth 101 Hezbollah has Saudi Arabia on the run. 0

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Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg

g20 summit , julian assange, guantanamo, lebanon, gas, eu, the critical hour, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/knife-wielding-man-shouting-allahu-akbar-shot-after-attacking-paris-train-station-1090412080.html

Knife-Wielding Man Shouting 'Allahu Akbar' Shot After Attacking Train Station Security in Mask Row

Knife-Wielding Man Shouting 'Allahu Akbar' Shot After Attacking Train Station Security in Mask Row

France saw a series of terrorist-related attacks last year that began following the beheading of a school teacher in a Paris-suburb by a Muslim immigrant. The... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T09:59+0000

2021-11-02T09:59+0000

2021-11-02T11:25+0000

france

europe

paris

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A knife-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" and "France is ruled by the Islamic State"* has been shot by police in the French capital Paris. Reports say the incident occurred after he was stopped by staff at the Saint-Lazare train station for not wearing a mask. The individual, who refused to comply with requests to wear the protective gear, then took out the knife and attempted to assault the transport employees. He reportedly shouted pro-Daesh slogans during the attack.The perpetrator has been rushed to hospital, with local media saying he is in a life-threatening condition. Documents found on him revealed that he was known to police for making previous threats. A police spokesperson said that an investigation has been opened into attempted murder and terrorism.The knife attack is the latest in a series of terror-related incidents that have taken place in France in recent years. In May, a 40-year-old Islamist stabbed a policewoman multiple times and injured a gendarme in the city of Nantes. In April, a female officer was stabbed to death outside a police station in Rambouillet.The latest attack comes amid the trial of key suspects in the November 2015 terrorist attacks, the deadliest in France since World War II. 130 people were killed and over 400 injured when terrorists detonated suicide vests and shot people in the French capital Paris.*Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State), a terrorist group banned in Russia and a number of other countries.

Ahson Let me guess this was a hendu-pak Pakistani dalit. 1

Gone He was rushed to the hospital so that he can live to kill another day? 1

5

france

paris

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Max Gorbachev

france, europe, paris
McAuliffe: 'We're Going to Keep Counting Votes Because Every Vote Counts'

Steering away from a concession speech, Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe addressed his supporters late Tuesday amid a tight race against rival Glenn Youngkin, telling attendees that the fight isn't over yet.

"Every single Virginia deserves to have their vote counted," he told the crowd. "We're going to keep counting votes because every vote counts."
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/maharashtra-cabinet-minister-malik-calls-ex-home-minister-deshmukhs-arrest-politically-motivated-1090405306.html

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Malik Calls Ex-Home Minister Deshmukh's Arrest 'Politically Motivated'

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Malik Calls Ex-Home Minister Deshmukh's Arrest 'Politically Motivated'

Early Tuesday, India's economic intelligence agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested ex-Maharashtra State Minister Anil Deshmukh after he was charged... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T07:40+0000

2021-11-02T07:40+0000

2021-11-02T07:40+0000

mumbai

maharashtra

bharatiya janata party (bjp)

india

congress

india

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Hours after the arrest of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, his colleague and State Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik said it was politically motivated. Deshmukh and Malik both belong to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Currently, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprised of Shiv Sena, Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) governs the state.Malik also blamed the federally-governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to scare off opposition parties with its power. The BJP is the main opposition party in Maharashtra. "The entire action of arresting Deshmukh is politically motivated. It is aimed at scaring the leaders of the state's ruling MVA alliance", Malik told reporters on Tuesday morning.Deshmukh resigned from his post as the state's home affairs minister on 5 April. He was arrested after being questioned by the central agency for over 12 hours.In March, Deshmukh was accused by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh of coercing police officers to extort money on his behalf from the owners of bars and restaurants in the city, following which Deshmukh had resignedHowever, Deshmukh denied all the allegations levied against him, adding that when the Enforcement Directorate raided his house, his family members and staff had cooperated with officials.

mumbai

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Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg

Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg

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mumbai, maharashtra, bharatiya janata party (bjp), india, congress, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/male-rats-exposed-to-everyday-chemicals-develop-female-traits-1090404851.html

Male Rats Exposed to Everyday Chemicals Developed Female Traits in Scientific Experiment

Male Rats Exposed to Everyday Chemicals Developed Female Traits in Scientific Experiment

In the course of experiments run by the Danish University of Technology, pregnant rats were exposed to a mixture of thirteen common chemical substances... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T05:26+0000

2021-11-02T05:26+0000

2021-11-02T05:47+0000

denmark

environment

rats

scandinavia

plastic

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Rats' sexual development changed when they were exposed to chemicals that humans are surrounded by in their everyday lives during experiments run by an international research group at the Danish University of Technology, which has been investigating the effects of endocrine disruptors.In the course of the experiments, pregnant rats were exposed to a cocktail of thirteen common chemical substances, including bisphenols (BPA) and phthalates found in plastic products. BPA is a xenoestrogen, exhibiting oestrogen-mimicking, hormone-like properties. Phthalates are sometimes called plasticisers and are used to help dissolve other materials. They are included in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and personal-care products (such as soaps, shampoos, and hair sprays).Ultimately, male rats developed female characteristics, somewhat blurring the gender line."In the experiments, you can clearly see nipples which normally only females have", Sofie Christiansen explained.Aside from nipples, the distance between the anus and the genitals, which is considered a tell-tale sexual characteristic not only for rats but other creatures as well, decreased. Normally, this distance is greater in male rats than in females, those individuals exposed to chemicals became more similar to females.The Danish research only focused on how rats can be affected by everyday chemicals included in plastic. At present, there is a lack of sufficient research to be able to draw any definite conclusions about whether and how people are affected by endocrine disruptors, SVT underscored.

https://sputniknews.com/20200831/lost-cause-norwegian-research-sees-little-merit-in-cleaning-seas-of-floating-plastic-1080324455.html

Gone That's because all male form of every sexually reproduced creature is basically a female. 0

Francesco Slossel Per la verita e un problema noto da tempo e questi studi specifici confermano.... 0

2

denmark

scandinavia

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2021

Igor Kuznetsov

Igor Kuznetsov

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Igor Kuznetsov

denmark, environment, rats, scandinavia, plastic
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/meta-deletes-over-1000-nicaraguan-accounts-it-claims-were-fsln-troll-farm-days-before-election-1090402662.html

Meta Deletes Over 1,000 Nicaraguan Accounts It Claims Were FSLN Troll Farm Days Before Election

Meta Deletes Over 1,000 Nicaraguan Accounts It Claims Were FSLN Troll Farm Days Before Election

Just days before nationwide elections in Nicaragua, Meta has deleted more than a thousand accounts on Facebook and Instagram it claims were part of a... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T01:17+0000

2021-11-02T01:17+0000

2021-11-02T01:15+0000

nicaragua

sanctions

facebook

journalists

us national endowment for democracy

social media accounts

sandinistas

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On Monday, Ben Nimmo, the head of Facebook-turned-Metas global threat intelligence strategy, announced that the social media giant had taken down what he claimed was a a troll farm run by the government of Nicaragua and the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party.The takedown included 937 Facebook accounts, 140 Pages, 24 Groups and 363 Instagram accounts in Nicaragua.Additional smaller clusters of fake accounts were run from other government institutions, including the Supreme Court and the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute, the report said.They posted positive content about the government and negative commentary about the opposition, using hundreds of fake accounts to promote these posts, it added. The campaign appeared to aim at flooding the cross-internet environment in Nicaragua with pro-government messages.As Sputnik reported at the time, those protests, which followed the passage of a reform law, quickly revoked, that increased social security contributions by employers and employees while lowering the program's benefits, were both driven and amplified by US meddling, which portrayed them as a bloodbath at the hands of Nicaraguan police. Independent Nicaraguan researcher Enrique Hendrix demonstrated that the death toll uncritically repeated across the Western press had been vastly inflated using duplicated names, unconfirmed deaths, and deaths wholly unrelated to the protests.In fact, armed gangs backed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), a US State Department agency, and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a CIA front group, were targeting Sandinistas for violence even as police attempted to deescalate the situation by temporarily disarming, Grayzone journalist Max Blumenthal told Sputnik from Nicaragua at the time.Loyal Arm of WashingtonThat Meta, which recently pivoted its corporate structure to focus on the metaverse virtual reality project it pioneered in conjunction with the Pentagons Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), would repeat such a line should be unsurprising. The social media giant has buttressed its senior ranks in recent years with right-wing think tank academics who are closely aligned with the US National Security State.Nimmos colleague, security chief Nathaniel Gleicher, is also a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), another think tank with major influence on US foreign policy thats funded by many of the same donors as the Atlantic Council, and a former senior counsel at the US Department of Justice.Similarly, Facebook's director of "threat disruption, David Agranovich, was formerly director of intelligence for the White House National Security Council in 2017 and 2018 under then-US President Donald Trump, covering the period in which the US offensive to undermine Nicaraguan democracy began.Im Not a Bot!: Victim of US Attack Speaks OutHowever, shortly after the takedown, those whose accounts had been deleted began speaking out.Another person whose account was deleted, Darling Huete, a journalist for Canal 4 Nicaragua, replied to Nimmos tweet announcing the takedown by saying: I am not a troll! I had my personal account for more than 10 years, and your company deleted my profile and all of my years of photos with my friends, simply because I do not write what you want. This is what you call democracy?I want to show you Im not a troll. Thats why Im asking Facebook: why did you suspend me? Tyler Moreno Diaz, another Sandinista activist from the Caribbean coast, said in a statement on Twitter.Just days earlier, Twitter also disabled the accounts of numerous popular Sandinista users, for which it has still given no explanation.Meta, Twitter, Google, and other US-based tech giants have taken similar positions toward other US official enemies in recent years, accusing accounts that post from countries like Venezuela, Iran, Russia, Cuba, and China of being bots or paid trolls and defined their opposition to the US State Departments official narrative as being coordinated inauthentic content.When the US government uses their platforms to undermine those nations, however, as happened in Cuba in July, they look the other way.Undermining Nicaraguas ElectionsMetas actions come amid a larger offensive by the Biden administration aimed at undermining support for the democratic socialist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and Nicaraguas elections this coming weekend.According to the report, the Biden administration is reviewing Nicaraguas membership in the CAFTA-DR regional trade agreement, looking for legal barriers to removing it if Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega rigs the elections in his favor, Reuters says. Roughly 60% of Nicaraguas exports go to the United States, most of which are apparel, rolled tobacco, and produce such as raw sugar and coffee, according to data collected by the OEC.The administration has been preparing a Venezuela-like blockade against Nicaragua for months. The Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act, introduced into Congress in March, would impose crippling limitations on Nicaraguas ability to access financial resources by accusing Ortega and other Nicaraguan government officials and functionaries of complicity in human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and sexual violence as a form of intimidation and suppression of the press.RENACER would also provide for increased US espionage efforts inside Nicaragua on top of already-existing efforts, continuing a trend lasting 40 years.In September, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on what it called Ortegas Destruction of Democracy after more than two dozen Nicaraguan opposition figures were arrested, including some who were election candidates.Also arrested was Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, whose Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation for Reconciliation and Democracy has long served as a third-party pass-through for CIA money to cultivate an anti-Sandinista opposition movement in Nicaragua.Four Decades of US Counter-RevolutionOrtega, who heads the FLSN, originally seized power in 1979 when it threw out the corrupt Somoza family's dictatorship, an entity that enjoyed close US support for its anti-communist and anti-populist credentials. However, right-wing guerrillas known as the Contras, who enjoyed extensive US backing, waged a guerrilla campaign in the countryside against institutions of the Sandinista government, including clinics and schools, the centerpieces of the government's social welfare program. By the time of elections in 1990, Nicaraguans voted the FLSN out of power in order to escape the US economic blockade and murderous proxy war.When neighboring Honduras attempted to join the bloc in 2009, the US helped orchestrate the removal from power of President Manuel Zelaya, who was replaced by a neoliberal police state that has produced a huge exodus of poor, indigenous, and LGBTQ people.

Terranian The 1st The rotten corrupt criminal Zuckbot POS AKA FB/Meta entity and also US Deep-State + Regime-Change Establisment State-Terrorism Lackey + Accomplices + Tool....as usually doing the dirty work in assisting a Regime-Change/Color-Revolution + Coup Deta attempt as they do around the globe 24/7 on their behest. 1

vot tak Delete meta and all the rest of israel's war criminals from this planet. 1

2

nicaragua

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Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg

Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg

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nicaragua, sanctions, facebook, journalists, us national endowment for democracy, social media accounts, sandinistas
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/minneapolis-to-vote-on-whether-to-replace-police-force-with-public-safety-department-1090405917.html

Minneapolis to Vote on Whether to Replace Police Force With Public Safety Department

Minneapolis to Vote on Whether to Replace Police Force With Public Safety Department

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US city of Minneapolis on Tuesday will vote on whether to replace their police department with a Department of Public Safety in the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T05:47+0000

2021-11-02T05:47+0000

2021-11-02T07:52+0000

us

police

minneapolis

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The measure will need support from 51% of Minneapolis residents in order to pass. If passed, the Minneapolis Police Department would be replaced with the Department of Public Safety, which would combine social and medical workers with peace officers to take a comprehensive public health approach to safety.The city has been the epicentre of worldwide racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd, a 47-year old black man, by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, and sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the death of Floyd.

vot tak Yes. I hope people have enough sense to vote for this very necessary change. Current cops don't work for us, they repress us and levy thinly disquised taxes on us. They are not answerable to us. They are a private security force to the oligarchy. 1

1

minneapolis

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us, police, minneapolis
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/new-jersey-aclu-suing-to-extend-voting-hours-over-technical-issues-and-delays-1090428452.html

New Jersey ACLU Suing to Extend Voting Hours Over 'Technical Issues' and 'Delays'

New Jersey ACLU Suing to Extend Voting Hours Over 'Technical Issues' and 'Delays'

Following reports of technical issues blocking people from voting at some New Jersey polling locations on Tuesday, the state's branch of the American Civil... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T22:40+0000

2021-11-02T22:40+0000

2021-11-02T23:24+0000

new jersey

us

voting

american civil liberties union (aclu)

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"No eligible voter should be disenfranchised due to a technical error. Racial justice - and the law - demand it," the constitutional rights group wrote on Twitter, noting their motion was filed in conjunction with the League of Women Voters.According to the New York Times, electronic polling books, or e-poll books, have been struggling to remain connected to the internet all day. It is the first time the mid-Atlantic state has used the tablet-like devices in an election.I woke up to a phone call about it, Jason Cilento, mayor of the small northern town of Dunellen, told the paper. He said the town's sole polling station had a line of 30 to 40 voters at times.Alicia DAlessandro, a spokesperson for the state government, said the problems were isolated and that most of the state's polling stations had been operating without incident.New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, came into Election Day with a comfortable 11-point lead in the polls, suggesting it's likely he will be re-elected - a first for a Democratic governor in the largely Democratic state in more than 40 years. His rival, Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, owns a medical publishing company and is a former state lawmaker. He supported former US President Donald Trump's reelection campaign in 2020 and headlined a "Stop the Steal" rally in support of Trump's claims to have been cheated by Democrats in the election.In that election, which took place before the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines and thus limited the safety of traditional voting methods, widespread computer problems plagued voters' efforts to cast ballots. The incidents helped fuel claims of malpractice against election workers and manufacturers of the voting machines. However, no evidence of widespread or systematic tampering with results has been found.

new jersey

us

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Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg

Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg

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new jersey, us, voting, american civil liberties union (aclu)
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/norway-strikes-169-million-naval-strike-missile-deal-1090426627.html

Norway Strikes $169 Million Naval Strike Missile Deal

Norway Strikes $169 Million Naval Strike Missile Deal

The Royal Norwegian Navy signed two deals with Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace worth $169 million to purchase new naval strike missiles and to extend the life of... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T20:45+0000

2021-11-02T20:45+0000

2021-11-02T20:46+0000

military

kongsberg & aerospace company

royal norwegian navy

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A Kongsberg news release details the capabilities of the naval strike missile and its purported importance to Norways defense. The missiles are claimed to be the primary weapon used by the Royal Norwegian Navys fleet of frigates and corvettes, which comprise the bulk of their surface combatant vessels.The fifth-generation missiles reportedly have a range of up to 115 miles, can elude enemy defense systems through evasive maneuvers and sea-skimming, and, according to the release, offer precision targeting against land or sea-based targets. The missiles also have a built-in self-destruct mechanism which would come into play if it cannot locate its target - a safety designed to prevent collateral damage.Norway has the second-longest coastline in the world, after Canada. The Scandinavian countrys economy and state revenue are tied to oil and natural gas exploitation. The industry is entirely comprised of offshore drilling in large maritime regions of the North Sea, as well as northward into the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.

Notta Snowflake Kongsberg makes top-drawer war toys. All the Stryker Dragoon autofeed "never jam" Gatling gun variants up to 40 mm are made by them. They even provide full turret assemblies on a custom basis. Greeny green Norway and Sweden: they talk peace and love like Richie Havens yet make their money selling toys to bad boys out to destroy anyone who seeks to breathe without their permission. 4

TruePatriot Very well said. Cheers. 4

5

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Nevin Brown

military, kongsberg & aerospace company, royal norwegian navy
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/pakistan-calls-india-spoiler-while-refusing-to-participate-in-afghanistan-conference-1090413651.html

Pakistan Calls India 'Spoiler' While Refusing to Participate in Afghanistan Conference

Pakistan Calls India 'Spoiler' While Refusing to Participate in Afghanistan Conference

Indian officials participated in the Moscow talks on Afghanistan and held bilateral talks with the Taliban* government's Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T11:51+0000

2021-11-02T11:51+0000

2021-11-02T11:51+0000

pakistan

doha

nuclear

nsa

afghanistan

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terrorist

afghan peace talks

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On Tuesday, Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed W. Yusuf said that he would not attend the regional National Security Advisers (NSA) conference on Afghanistan in New Delhi. Islamabad received an invitation a few days ago for the proposed meeting to be held later this month. India reportedly sent invitations for the planned in-person NSA-level meeting not only to Pakistan, but also to Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The Indian Foreign Ministry is yet to announce the date of the conference, and it is yet to be confirmed whether any country accepted the invitation.India has softened its stance against the Taliban in recent weeks. It held the first bilateral talks with Taliban leaders in Moscow on 20 October, emphasising the need to expand diplomatic and economic ties.The refusal by Yusuf comes weeks after a three-member Indian delegation participated in a Regional Anti-Terror Mechanism meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO-RATS) in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.Pakistan's NSA has criticised India on numerous occasions, saying, "unfortunately, not everyone in the region who professes to prefer peace in Afghanistan does so in reality".Bilateral ties between the two South Asian rivals have remained stalled since February 2019 when a bombing in the Pulwama District of Indian-administered Kashmir killed more than 40 security personnel. India blamed a Pakistan-based terrorist group for carrying out the attack. Later in August 2019, Pakistan suspended India's envoy to Islamabad and recalled its ambassador from New Delhi following Delhi's removal of a constitutional provision that had allowed Kashmir to enjoy semi-autonomous status since 1948.*The Taliban is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia and many other nations.

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pakistan, doha, nuclear, nsa, afghanistan, india, terrorist, afghan peace talks
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/pakistan-releases-hundreds-of-members-of-the-banned-tlp-group-1090416863.html

Pakistan Releases Hundreds of Members of the Banned TLP Group

Pakistan Releases Hundreds of Members of the Banned TLP Group

Alongside demands for the expulsion of the French envoy from Islamabad, the radical Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), has been pressing for the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T20:18+0000

2021-11-02T20:18+0000

2021-11-02T20:18+0000

pakistan

france

imran khan

emmanuel macron

radical islamist

tehreek-e-labbaik party (tlp)

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Implementing a secretive agreement that was reached with protestors on Sunday to end their march to Islamabad, Pakistan's Punjab Province has released at least 860 workers of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Tuesday. Details of the agreement have not been made public by the government.Dawn News reported on Tuesday that government officials had released workers who had been earlier arrested who are not facing formal criminal charges.The Punjab government has also agreed to withdraw its appeal filed against the release of TLP leader Saad Rizvi in the Lahore High Court. Since April, Rizvi has been detained by the Punjab government after the TLP was declared a proscribed group under an anti-terror law.Last week, Pakistan's National Security Advisor Moeed W. Yusuf vowed that government would not "allow armed militias" in the country. Warning the workers of the banned Islamist outfit, Yusuf said that the group "has crossed the red line and exhausted the state's patience." The TLP has been holding protests at regular intervals over Emmanuel Macron's refusal last year to outlaw caricatures of Islam's key religious figure, Mohammed.The TLP has demanded the closure of the French Embassy in Islamabad since November 2020 after French President Emmanuel Macron defended the publication of caricatures of the religious figure by a satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, and pledged to fight Islamist separatism. Responding to fundamentalist violence that followed after publication of the caricature, Macron said: We know what we have to do...Our fellow citizens are looking for action, and the action is there and well intensify it.

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pakistan, france, imran khan, emmanuel macron, radical islamist, tehreek-e-labbaik party (tlp)
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/paris-canberra-submarine-deal-row-prime-minister-morrison-says-he-wont-sop-sledging-of-australia-1090414902.html

Paris-Canberra Submarine Deal Row: Prime Minister Morrison Says He Won't 'op Sledging of Australia'

Paris-Canberra Submarine Deal Row: Prime Minister Morrison Says He Won't 'op Sledging of Australia'

In September, the US, the UK, and Australia declared the formation of AUKUS as a platform for defence and security cooperation. The pact entailed Australia's... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T11:52+0000

2021-11-02T11:52+0000

2021-11-02T11:52+0000

aukus

france

emmanuel macron

us

australia

scott morrison

news

submarine

world

pact

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has retaliated against French President Emmanuel Macron by making it clear that he will not accept Paris' bashing of Australia over the two sides' hefty submarine deal, which was scrapped following the creation of a new pact between Canberra, London, and Washington.He also said that Canberra was in the process of repairing its relationship with France, adding, "we've spoken several times over the last couple of days. I'm sure we'll speak a bit more before I head back to Australia", in an apparent nod to French President Emmanuel Macron."We have much to do and we're always keen and would welcome the involvement of our ongoing partnership with France", the Australian prime minister noted.He spoke after Macron accused Morrison of lying to him about about his intentions to renege on the Paris-Canberra submarine deal in favour of US and UK nuclear-propulsion technology, part of the new trilateral AUKUS pact. Morrison insists that he didn't lie.At the same time, he stressed that he had "a lot of respect and a lot of friendship" for Australian people, adding: "I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistently with this value".Morrison, for his part, claimed that he told Macron in June that the French-supplied submarines wouldn't meet Australias needs."I was very clear that the conventional submarines were not going to be able to meet our strategic interests and we were going to have to make a decision in our national interest", the Australian prime minister asserted.AUKUS Pact In mid-September, the US, the UK, and Australia announced the creation of the AUKUS alliance as a platform to develop mutual defence and security cooperation.The announcement came as Canberra unilaterally withdrew from a $66 billion agreement with France's Naval Group on the delivery of 12 diesel submarines to Australia in favour of the supply of nuclear-powered vessels to the country within the framework of the AUKUS alliance.French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Drian was quick to call the cancellation of the Australian-French submarine contract a "stab in the back" and a "unilateral, brutal, unpredictable" action.Paris withdrew its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra following the AUKUS announcement, in a move that was, however, followed by France agreeing to return its US Ambassador Philippe Etienne to Washington in early October.

https://sputniknews.com/20211022/aukus-will-australias-fault-lines-with-asean-limit-us-ambitions-to-contain-china-in-indo-pacific-1090028248.html

Hess Morrison created and increased the sledging of Australia for the last weeks. Just to please the US regime at the expense of Australia. 0

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france, emmanuel macron, us, australia, scott morrison, news, submarine, world, pact, uk, aukus
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/prince-andrews-attack-on-accuser-virginia-giuffre-may-backfire-in-court-lawyers-say-1090406465.html

Prince Andrew's Attack on Accuser Virginia Giuffre May Backfire in Court, Lawyers Say

Prince Andrew's Attack on Accuser Virginia Giuffre May Backfire in Court, Lawyers Say

The Duke of York has been accused by American Virginia Giuffre of having sex with her when she was an underage girl. Prince Andrew has categorically denied the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T07:31+0000

2021-11-02T07:31+0000

2021-11-02T07:31+0000

prince andrew

rape

sex abuse

uk royal family

virginia roberts giuffre

uk

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Prince Andrew's attack on his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, may backfire in court, lawyers have said. This comes several days after the royal's legal team harshly criticised the woman in a court filing in which they asked a US judge to dismiss a civil lawsuit against the Duke of York. Lawyers, who spoke with The Guardian, described criticism of Mrs Giuffre as a highly risky strategy that may further damage Prince Andrew's reputation. Mark Stephens, a partner at Howard Kennedy and a UK media law expert, said Prince Andrew has potentially opened himself up to further embarrassment due to the contradictory nature of his statements.A senior partner at a leading London law firm, who did want to be named, described the attack on Giuffre as a "smokescreen" that has "no legal relevance whatsoever".Accusations Against Prince Andrew and Recent FilingVirginia Giuffre, is one of the alleged sex slaves of Jeffrey Epstein, a US financier and millionaire, who had many acquaintances in high circles, including politicians, actors, billionaires, entrepreneurs, and royals, including Prince Andrew. Giuffre claims that when she was a minor she was trafficked to London by Epstein and his alleged accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, a well-known UK socialite, and was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew. The 38-year-old alleges that the royal slept with her at least two more times without her consent. She first came forward with accusations in the early 2010s, but the case only received widespread attention in 2019 when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on charges of running a sex trafficking network of minors, prompting dozens of women to accuse the financier of wrongdoing. On 9 August, Mrs Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit in New York seeking "accountability" from Prince Andrew and demanding an unspecified amount in damages from the royal.The Duke of York has denied the accusations against him, saying he has an alibi for the day the alleged sexual intercourse occurred in London and said he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre. However, his remarks were questioned as there is at least one photo showing the royal with a young Giuffre, reportedly at Ghislaine Maxwell's mansion, with Prince Andrews hand on the girl's waist. A London resident claims to have seen him dancing with Giuffre at a nightclub on the day the alleged sexual intercourse occurred.Last week, the royal's legal team filed a motion, asking the judge to dismiss the case against him. The court documents state that Virginia Giuffre seeks a "payday" at Andrew's expense. In the motion, Mrs Giuffre is described as a "money-hungry sex kitten", with the Duke of York's legal team claiming that she was part of Jeffrey Epstein's paedophile ring and recruited girls for the financier. Thomas Garner, a partner at Fladgate, said the attack on Mrs Giuffre shows that the gloves are off and that Prince Andrew intends to fight his accuser to the bitter end even if this strategy might do "irreparable" damage to his reputation.

Holger H. It would be a pleasure to see this low-life being fully dismantled in US courts... 1

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prince andrew, rape, sex abuse, uk royal family, virginia roberts giuffre, uk
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/queen-praises-charles-and-william-omits-harry-in-address-to-cop26-as-she-urges-leaders-to-act-1090418429.html

Queen Praises Charles and William, Omits Harry in Address to COP26 as She Urges Leaders to Act

Queen Praises Charles and William, Omits Harry in Address to COP26 as She Urges Leaders to Act

The monarch was supposed to attend the event herself, but was forced to skip it due to doctors' medical advice. The 95-year-old was told to rest for a few... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T14:21+0000

2021-11-02T14:21+0000

2021-11-04T05:27+0000

prince william

prince charles

un climate change conference

uk royal family

uk

cop26

cop26 climate summit

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Queen Elizabeth II has praised Prince Charles and Prince William in an address to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, which is being held in Glasgow, Scotland. Speaking to over 200 world leaders in a pre-recorded message, the monarch paid tribute to her late husband Philips campaign to preserve the environment which she said has been continued by her eldest son and grandson.The monarch then urged world leaders to "rise above politics of the moment" and "achieve true statesmanship" by agreeing on how to deal with the issue of climate change.Royal pundits quickly noticed that she omitted her other grandson, Prince Harry, who, together with his wife Meghan Markle, has been vocal about the need to protect the environment. In 2019, the Duke of Sussex said climate change is the most pressing problem the world faces alongside mental health.Recently, however, the Sussexes were accused of hypocrisy after it became known that they backed a Wall Street fund that invests in oil and gas.Few members of the royal family can brag about being eco-friendly, including those mentioned by the Queen. A survey compiled by the company SaveOnEnergy revealed that Prince Charles, heir to the throne, tops the chart of the most "toxic" royals. The future king produced an estimated nine tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2019 while travelling in order to conduct royal engagements. Ironically, among his visits were events, aimed at improving the environment.Prince William, who established a global prize "designed to incentivize change and help repair our planet", is the second-worst royal polluter, with the Duke of Cambridge producing an estimated five tonnes of CO2.Prince William was followed by his brother Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle, while the most eco-friendly royals were the Queen and her late husband Prince Philip.

horseguards Sputnik, who gives a flying fuck about the UK royals? Stop treating your readers like morons. 2

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https://sputniknews.com/20211102/russia-develops-suicide-drone-technology-for-maritime-border-protection---source-1090403824.html

Russia Develops Suicide Drone Technology for Maritime Border Protection - Source

Russia Develops Suicide Drone Technology for Maritime Border Protection - Source

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is developing a kamikaze drone-based system for protection of its maritime borders, with some of its elements having already passed... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T03:22+0000

2021-11-02T03:22+0000

2021-11-02T04:30+0000

russia

drone

kamikaze

military tech

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"A technology for protecting Russia's maritime borders from intruding vessels, including military ones. The system will include reconnaissance drones as well as several types of loitering munition", the source said, adding that the suicide drones are supposed to be launched from both shore or ships.According to the source, separate elements of the systems, including kamikaze drone launchers for small-sized vessels, have already passed their tests.The source noted that the system is low-cost as loitering munition is several times cheaper than anti-ship missiles. At the same time, mass deployment of kamikaze drones can put frigates or destroyers out of commission by damaging their surveillance, control, and weapons systems.In October, Moscow said that the US destroyer Chafee had approached Russia's territorial waters and "attempted to cross the state border" in the Sea of Japan. Meanwhile, the UK destroyer Defender is said to have crossed into Russian waters in the Black Sea in June.

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russia, drone, kamikaze, military tech
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/russia-may-export-new-s-500-missile-systems-to-india-and-china-1090405400.html

Russia May Export New S-500 Missile Systems to India and China

Russia May Export New S-500 Missile Systems to India and China

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia may supply its cutting-edge S-500 anti-aircraft missile systems to India and China in the future, Dmitry Shugaev, the director of the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T05:36+0000

2021-11-02T05:36+0000

2021-11-02T07:51+0000

fsmtc

russia

china

india

russian federal service for military-technical cooperation (fsmtc)

s-500 prometey

dmitry shugaev

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The S-500 Prometey is a next-generation surface-to-air missile system with a range of around 600 kilometres (370 miles), designed for intercepting and destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as hypersonic cruise missiles and aircraft.Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the country's military will soon receive the first batch of S-500 missiles system. According to Shugaev, once enough of those systems are supplied to the nation's armed forces, Russia may export them to other countries.

mandrake And to Iran goes without saying and maybe to venezuela. Will be fun to watch the morons suddenly not so quick on thevtrigger. Most of all would Syria need a couple of sets to down the jews airforce in no time before driving the criminals into the mediterranean, never to surface again! 3

LINDADREW death sentence from a distance for satanic paedophile and sadism forces to stop THEM ASSASSINATING EVERYBODY THEY WANT TO WITHOUT RECOURSE TO JUSTICE WHICH IS THE POSITION NOW. HOW TO CLIMATE CHANGE THE WORLD death sentence for satanic paedophile and sadism operatives who assassinate anybody against them 2

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fsmtc, russia, china, india, russian federal service for military-technical cooperation (fsmtc), s-500 prometey, dmitry shugaev
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/taliban-bans-use-of-foreign-currency-amid-economic-woes-in-afghanistan-1090423481.html

Taliban Bans Use of Foreign Currency Amid Economic Woes in Afghanistan

Taliban Bans Use of Foreign Currency Amid Economic Woes in Afghanistan

Afghanistan, which had long relied on foreign aid, was cut off from it soon after the Taliban* seized power in the middle of August, due to the movement being... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T17:20+0000

2021-11-02T17:20+0000

2021-11-02T18:55+0000

asia & pacific

afghanistan

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The use of foreign currencies in Afghanistan will be banned as a response to the country's current economic troubles, a Taliban* spokesman has announced.As the country faces economic crisis and the Taliban-controlled central bank struggles to change the situation, the population has widely resorted to the use of US dollars as a means of trade and payment, as well as the currencies of neighbouring countries, such as the Pakistani rupee.Economic woes struck the country soon after the Taliban seized the capital and the rest of the nation in the middle of August 2021. People had trouble getting their hands on cash or withdrawing it from bank accounts as the central bank had imposed restrictions, while companies often could not receive wires from abroad and fulfil their international obligations.Over the 20 years that NATO forces were deployed in the country, the latter largely relied on foreign economic aid to maintain economic stability. However, this aid was suspended as soon as the Taliban came to power, due to it being regarded a terrorist organisation. In addition, the US cut the Afghan central bank off from its reserves stored in US banks for the same reason.In addition, foreign companies are facing trouble wiring funds to their counterparts in Afghanistan amid banks' concerns over their potential ties to the country's new authorities, the Taliban. Such transactions might be regarded as terrorist financing and thus prompt sanctions from the respective countries' authorities.*The Taliban is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia and many other countries

https://sputniknews.com/20210917/un-chief-says-he-cannot-deny-unvaccinated-world-leaders-from-entering-general-assembly-1089149446.html

LINDADREW americans took all the poppy money for 20 years AND DRUGS DESTROY PEOPLE. Thus they are known as bestial forces supporting EVERY kind of ill on ppl. I thought the americans had won the war because very poor came into it they needed money , russia went silent they then went to china an a person came back and said ''america should pay'' -they should not have stolen all their money but they are bestial so they would. I thought china and russia should have helped? otherwise taliban sent straight back into enemy hands 2

LINDADREW america seemed to pay but then reported that price of drugs going up because america had paid up. in other words THEY SAID CARRY ON GROWING AND YOU WILL GET PAID TO DESTROY THE WORLD WITH DRUGS 1

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asia & pacific, afghanistan
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/taliban-deny-reports-of-former-government-security-personnel-joining-daesh-1090408769.html

Taliban Deny Reports of Former Government Security Personnel Joining Daesh

Taliban Deny Reports of Former Government Security Personnel Joining Daesh

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taliban* movement has denied reports that former Afghan security forces joined the ranks of the Daesh* terrorist group after the... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T08:14+0000

2021-11-02T08:14+0000

2021-11-02T08:23+0000

asia & pacific

afghanistan

daesh

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The statement comes as a response after The Wall Street Journal on Sunday reported that a small number of former Afghan intelligence officers trained in the United States and ex-employees of elite military units joined local Daesh militants after the Taliban captured Kabul in mid-August.In early August, the Taliban mounted an offensive against Afghan government forces. The Taliban entered Kabul on 15 August and the next day declared the end of the war. During the latter half of August, there was a mass evacuation of citizens from western countries and Afghans cooperating with them from the Kabul Airport.On the night of 31 August, the US military left the Kabul Airport, putting an end to a nearly 20-year US military presence in Afghanistan. In early September, the interim government of Afghanistan was announced, chaired by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who headed the Foreign Ministry during the first rule of the Taliban and has been under UN sanctions since 2001.*The Taliban and Daesh (also known as Islamic State/ISIS/IS) are terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other nations.

afghanistan

daesh

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asia & pacific, afghanistan, daesh
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/us-navys-zumwalt-stealth-destroyers-will-replace-rapid-fire-guns-with-hypersonic-missiles---report-1090427369.html

US Navys Zumwalt Stealth Destroyers Will Replace Rapid-Fire Guns With Hypersonic Missiles - Report

US Navys Zumwalt Stealth Destroyers Will Replace Rapid-Fire Guns With Hypersonic Missiles - Report

The US Navy is reportedly planning on refitting its three stealthy Zumwalt-class destroyers once again, this time by replacing its deck guns with launch tubes... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T21:30+0000

2021-11-02T21:30+0000

2021-11-02T21:28+0000

military & intelligence

us navy

hypersonic missiles

zumwalt-class destroyer

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Its a strange and ironic return to form: when the Navy was dreaming up a future heavy warship in the 1990s, it originally envisioned a massive arsenal ship with 500 vertical launch tubes that could relentlessly pummel coastal installations. That project, SC-21, eventually led to the Zumwalt program, a scaled-down version that replaced many of the VLS with two massive rapid-fire 155-millimeter Advanced Gun Systems.The AGS, too, suffered a cruel blow after the Navy decided to slash the number of Zumwalts it wanted, sending the cost of the guns unique ammunition sky-high. The Navy later decided to use it as a generic missile destroyer, making its bread-and-butter weapon the SM-2 and SM-6 missiles and giving it launchers for smaller missiles like the Evolved Sea Sparrow.The Navy said it has begun engineering planning efforts for replacing the AGS mounts, but noted that the space will only be used for hypersonic VLS tubes. The service did not answer a question about how many hypersonic VLS tubes it would carry. However, budget estimates released in June suggested that each destroyer would get 12 such tubes, termed Advanced Payload Modules.The US Army and Navy conducted a joint test of the IRCPS in Hawaii in March 2020, although the Pentagon released few details about the test, including the speed and distance attained. Both services will make use of the same Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) for their surface-launched hypersonic missiles. The Armys, a TEL-fired missile simply named the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), is expected to have a 1,700-mile range.Hypersonic weapons travel faster than Mach 5, or 3,800 miles per hour, making them much faster than standard missiles. While some are continuously powered cruise missiles, others use unpowered glide bodies that soar toward their targets after being given an initial burst of tremendous speed. Their speed and unpredictable flight paths makes them almost impossible to intercept, although some more advanced air defense systems, like Russias S-500 Triumf, are claimed to be capable of tracking and downing them.In September, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea also claimed it had tested a hypersonic missile named Hwasong-8, although few details about the weapon are known.

Nonyank Yeah....in 20 years. 7

md101 which hypersonic missiles ?? 6

12

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military & intelligence, us navy, hypersonic missiles, zumwalt-class destroyer
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/us-polarisation-conundrum-why-politicians-press-arent-rushing-to-unite-divided-americans-1090416083.html

US Polarisation Conundrum: Why Politicians, Press Aren't Rushing to Unite Divided Americans

US Polarisation Conundrum: Why Politicians, Press Aren't Rushing to Unite Divided Americans

Political polarisation in the US is unlikely to end anytime soon, say American academics and political strategists, explaining who benefits from such growing... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T13:09+0000

2021-11-02T13:09+0000

2021-11-02T13:09+0000

joe biden

donald trump

world

us

opinion

democracy

republicans

democrats

us midterm elections

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The Hill expressed concerns on 1 November over the growing partisanship and deep ideological divide engulfing US society, citing the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)'s latest survey. According to the newspaper, a growing share of Republican voters and "arch-conservatives" are "increasingly embracing anti-democratic opinions" and "even contemplating political violence".'Cherry-Picking' by US Surveys & MediaThe PRRI research has found that 31% of respondents believe the 2020 election "was stolen from Trump", including 68% of Republicans. Fifty-six percent of Republicans agree with the idea that things have changed so much that they often feel like strangers in their own country, compared to 39% of independents and 31% of Democrats. Moreover, 80% of Republicans said America is in danger of losing its culture and identity, with 62% of GOP voters saying that to be truly American one should be born in the US and be Christian (63%).Eighteen percent of Americans agree with the statement "Because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country". Republicans (30%) are more likely to agree with this than independents (17%) and Democrats (11%), the study reads, claiming that in the wake of the Capitol riots the "prospect of political violence threatening a peaceful transfer of power has become more than an abstract question".The US mainstream media's approach is symptomatic of growing partisan division in the country, according to the academic: they are trying to depict Republicans and conservatives as badly as possible. At the same time, they are turning a blind eye to extreme views of certain segments on the political left, he notes. "The political right has tried to do the same to some extent, but is much less successful because it doesn't have mainstream media supporting their efforts", Hagle remarks.In particular, these divisions manifest themselves in MSM's describing the Capitol riots as an "insurrection", while referring to the 2020 summer Black Lives Matter campaign, which was often accompanied by looting, arson, attacks against law enforcement agents, and damage to federal property, as "mostly peaceful protests".While the poll portrays American conservatives as quite a reactionary group it does not address the cultural and religious concerns of this considerable social group, according to Melik Abdul, a conservative political commentator and GOP strategist."What has happened over the years is that a long-time religion, particularly Christianity, is typically mocked in ways that other religions, like the Muslim religion, aren't", Abdul claims. "So if you say something that offends Muslims, then that's considered xenophobic or something like that. But Christians have been under attack. It's become an ugly thing in America to even espouse religious views because it's seen as something negative and that's only because conservatives are more religious than the left".Polarisation as a Convenient Political ToolWhat's worse, these cultural and political divisions are unlikely to go away anytime soon, according to the observers.For his part, Melik Abdul notes that "it's very profitable to be polarising" when it comes to a political struggle: "Elections are launched and elections are won based on how much you're able to actually polarise the country", he says, adding that MSM and social media are amplifying the divide.Bajalan believes that the problem and the divisions in American society stem from the political economy. The US government has not taken any strong measures to deal with the economic and political crises that have shaped the United States since the 2008 economic crash. As a result modern American society is mired in economic crisis and suffers from several fundamental problems like healthcare. Yet, neither Democrats nor Republicans are tackling these acute dilemmas opting to divert the public's attention to their political strife, notes the professor, adding that both parties seem to be captured by special interests."Politics both on the liberal left and the conservative right is entirely centered around the culture war, entirely centered around symbols and things that are of second-order importance to people's daily lives", Bajalan says.Biden Has Never Been Able to Unite USDespite Joe Biden repeatedly pledging to heal the wounds of division and partisanship, he was almost destined to fail, the observers believe.Furthermore, Biden doesn't even seem to have the ability to keep his own party together on some important issues, remarks Timothy Hagle, referring to internal strife between moderates and progressives within the Democratic Party which cost the president his landmark $3.5 trillion social spending bill. Eventually, after protracted negotiations with congressional Democrats Biden downsized the bill's price tag to $1.75 trillion over a decade."[Biden] doesn't have the congressional power, and he's not expanding the political capital that is necessary to force the Senate and the House to push through the political agenda", says Bajalan, explaining that being unable to score political points through passing a transforming socio-political bill, the Biden administration "defaults back to the cultural war".However, it's impossible to win a "cultural war" because "it's a war about how people's emotions are oriented, how they feel about things and not about appealing to that concrete material interests", the professor believes.

https://sputniknews.com/20210722/unequal-justice-non-violent-capitol-protester-jailed-while-blm--antifa-rioters-let-off-the-hook-1083438578.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211028/capitol-riots-why-dems-effort-to-expel-maga-lawmakers-from-congress-wont-succeed-at-this-point-1090284291.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211007/progressives-vs-centrists-why-biden-cant-unite-even-his-own-party--why-it-may-end-badly-for-dems-1089747795.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211017/just-stop--do-no-harm-why-bidens-35-trillion-bill-will-hurt-us-economy-for-generations-1089991316.html

TruePatriot Melik Abdul has the right of it when he notes that "it's very profitable to be polarising". Spot on and bravo sir. 2

1

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Ekaterina Blinova

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Ekaterina Blinova

joe biden, donald trump, world, us, opinion, democracy, republicans, democrats, us midterm elections
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/us-senators-table-amendment-to-provide-caatsa-waiver-ahead-of-s-400-delivery-to-india-1090408559.html

US Senators Table Amendment to Provide CAATSA Waiver Ahead of S-400 Delivery to India

US Senators Table Amendment to Provide CAATSA Waiver Ahead of S-400 Delivery to India

Despite discussions with US officials about the purchase of S-400 Triumf missile defence systems from Russia, Washington has yet to assure New Delhi of a... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T12:08+0000

2021-11-02T12:08+0000

2021-11-02T12:08+0000

joe biden

surface-to-air missile (sam)

russia

s-400

us sanctions

republicans

us senators

caatsa

india

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US senators have taken steps to relieve India from the looming threat of sanctions under CAATSA - a law introduced by the Trump administration in 2017 authorising Washington to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from Russia.The three Republicans, led by Texas senator Ted Cruz, sought special rules for participants of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) under CAATSA, allowing member nations to execute defence deals with Russia for the next 10 years without any threat of sanctions. The Quad is comprised of the US, Japan, Australia, and India.Under the legislation, called the Circumspectly Reducing Unintended Consequences 15 Impairing Alliances and Leadership (CRUCIAL) Act of 2021, the US president needs to certify before the appropriate congressional committees that any Quad partner country is not cooperating on "security matters critical to the United States' strategic interests", before applying CAATSA sanctions on entities from that country.The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).The US senators underscored that President Joe Biden should not take steps to undo all the progress made in bilateral relations in recent years.Outgoing Indian Ambassador to Moscow Bala Venkatesh Varma said that major defence contracts with Russia such as the S-400s and the manufacture of 1135.6 frigates have already been implemented.While speaking with the Russian media, Venkatesh also expressed his thought on the annual summit with Russia in December of this year. Several defence agreements, including military-technical cooperation for the next decade (2021-2031) and reciprocal logistical support agreements, will be announced.India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for the delivery of five columns of S-400 missiles by 2023. Despite being warned by successive US administrations about the looming CAATSA sanctions after the delivery of the S-400s, India has remained committed to the transaction.

https://sputniknews.com/20211102/russia-may-export-new-s-500-missile-systems-to-india-and-china-1090405400.html

horseguards Russia-India, China-Pakistan. I think the word the US is looking for is 'out-manoeuvred.' 4

Ladyshadow Why does any sovereign country need US approval to trade with Russia? It's still a semi-free world if you obey the US dictators. 3

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joe biden, surface-to-air missile (sam), russia, s-400, us sanctions, republicans, us senators, caatsa, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211102/world-desperately-needs-whistleblowers-as-big-media-big-tech-curbing-free-speech-ex-un-expert-says-1090422280.html

World Desperately Needs Whistleblowers as Big Media, Big Tech Curbing Free Speech, Ex-UN Expert Says

World Desperately Needs Whistleblowers as Big Media, Big Tech Curbing Free Speech, Ex-UN Expert Says

Julian Assange's potential extradition to the US would set a dangerous precedent, observers warn. Retired UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a... 02.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-02T16:48+0000

2021-11-02T16:48+0000

2021-11-02T16:48+0000

opinion

assange

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Last week, Julian Assange's legal team resisted American lawyers' renewed attempt to pave the way for the WikiLeaks founder's extradition to the US. Britains High Court said it would issue a ruling at a later date.Earlier this year, a British judge blocked Assange's extradition, citing his poor mental health.Julian Assange, a 50-year old Australian citizen, is accused by Washington of espionage over publishing a massive trove of US government documents and war logs describing US troops' conduct and alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq.Sputnik: Whats your take on the situation when a UK judge is up to decide whether or not to extradite an Australian citizen to the US? Why does the Australian government remain silent? What does this situation tell one about the rule of international law?Alfred de Zayas: The Australian government is complicit in the massive violation of the human rights of an Australian citizen. Australia's failure to exercise "diplomatic protection" on behalf of one of its citizens reflects how little ethics means in the international arena. The Latin phrase "qui tacet consentire videtur" - he who remains silent is deemed to consent - applies in the Assange case not only with regard to Australia, but also with regard to the "human rights industry", the major non-governmental organisations, even the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Assange case should have been a priority item of the UN Human Rights Council, but it has been swept under the carpet and distorted by sensationalist fake news in the US, UK, Sweden and most of Europe.One could have expected that every non-governmental organisation devoted to human rights would protest every day until Assange is released, as was demanded in 2015 by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, by myself 2016 in my capacity as UN Independent Expert on International Order, and 2020 by my Swiss colleague Professor Nils Melzer, the UN Rapporteur on Torture. Melzer's new book "Der Fall Julian Assange" (Piper, Munich ) came out in March 2021 and describes chapter by chapter the corruption of the rule of law in the US, UK, Sweden and Ecuador, their complicity in the physical and psychological torture to which Assange has been subjected.It is a disgrace that countries that are states parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights can violate its articles 7, 9, 10, 14, 19 with impunity. It is a further disgrace how the mainstream media contributed to "manufacturing consent" by defaming the person of Julian Assange, so as to make it more palatable to "punish" him by violating his most fundamental human rights.The abuse of extradition procedures in the cases of Julian Assange and Alex Saab reflect the corruption of the rule of international law. Melzer's book has only been published in the original German, but an English version is being published in New York early 2022. In an essay in Counterpunch I called Melzer the Emile Zola of our times - because his revelations are far, far worse than what Zola made public in the 1898 Dreyfus Affair. Melzer demonstrates not only a miscarriage of justice by French military courts against Dreyfus - but a consistent pattern of "lawfare", the deliberate use of the administration of justice to do injustice, to destroy a human being who had the courage to reveal the crimes committed by our governments.Many voices have been raised to demand the Nobel Peace Prize for Julian Assange. But we know that this award has lost its lustre and its credibility. Indeed, this year's laureates are thoroughly undeserving. The award was a mockery of true believers in peace  and in disarmament for development.Sputnik: What do you think about the British judge's focus on Assange's mental and physical health rather than on his conduct? Does the British justice system have no laws protecting journalists, publishers, whistleblowers?Alfred de Zayas: Admittedly, Assange is in a very bad state of health and deserves the best medical attention, which he is not getting. This has been documented for years by many medical doctors and psychiatrists who have examined him. But the whole argument around Assange's physical health is a "red herring"  a distraction, or worse, an attempt to circumvent the real issues at stake  the right to freedom of expression, freedom of the media, the right of all citizens to know what our governments are doing in our name.Indeed, we desperately need whistleblowers who reveal the war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by our governments. We have a right to call George W. Bush, Tony Blair and many others to account for the barbarism perpetrated by NATO forces against the peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq. Whistleblowers are genuine human rights defenders and deserve our solidarity, and the support of the Human Rights Council.Since 2012, there has been a UN Rapporteur on the Right to Truth, Justice and Reparation. We all need the truth about Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen. In my new book "Building a Just World Order" (Clarity Press, Atlanta, September 2021) I specifically call for a Charter of Rights of Whistleblowers, something that I did repeatedly in my reports 2012-18 to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly. I formulate 25 Principles of International Order which also address the crucial role of whistleblowers in democratic societies.Sputnik: Some observers argue that if the British justice system rules to extradite Assange, it would create a very dangerous precedent allowing foreign jurisdictions to accuse and detain journalists and whistleblowers. Do you agree with that?Alfred de Zayas: I do not believe that the British justice system can extradite Assange. They want to wear him down (which they have succeeded in doing). They want him dead and buried (which may yet happen). Of course, international law is on Assange's side and the principle of non-refoulement is absolute. If anyone is entitled to asylum from persecution  it is Julian Assange, and he would receive refugee status anywhere under the Geneva Refugee Convention. An opinion should be obtained from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in this regard.If the UK judge were to rule in favour of extradition, this would certainly be appealed to the High Court  and the counter-appeal would roll out all the REAL issues under the ICCPR and the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the right to information, freedom of expression, protection of whistleblowers. An appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg would follow  or an appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee. Human rights law fully supports Assange, but governments are known to break the law with impunity  as we recently saw in the Alex Saab case and in the countless targeted assassination cases for which my country, the United States, is responsible.Sputnik: What is unique about WikiLeaks? Why haven't we seen anything comparable to the Podesta Papers or Vault 7 over the past three-four years? Does this mean that the Western political establishment managed to intimidate independent journalists? Could we call the ICIJ that leaked Pandora Papers earlier this year really independent?Alfred de Zayas: Independent journalists have of course been intimidated. It is dangerous to be a whistleblower, and our comfortable societies seem to allow this Orwellian attack on journalism. True enough, ICIJ has done some good work in the past. But it is peculiar that the Pandora Papers do not reveal much about Western political leaders and seem to embarrass enemies of the United States  [Vladimir] Putin as well as some African and Latin American leaders. I have grave doubts as to the completeness of the Pandora Papers and suspect that the leak has been heavily edited to protect some very big fish. That is why we need more whistleblowers.Sputnik: Would you agree that Big Media and Big Tech have become excessively politicised? If so, what risks is this trend fraught with?Alfred de Zayas: Big Brother seems to be winning, and we poor citizens of Oceania must endure continuing manipulation by Big Media and Big Tech. It is not just "fake news", but the suppression of crucial information that we are observing. When we only get partial news and essential facts are taken out of the narrative, we are being lied to. Censorship is bad when it is conducted by the government. It is actually worse when it is done by the private sector that has no democratic legitimacy whatsoever.At least many governments are democratically elected and we can call our parliamentarians and presidents to account. But how are we going to push back against the indoctrination and brainwashing practised by CNN, Fox, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Amazon, etc.? As a UN Rapporteur, I always demanded transparency and accountability, and denounced the manipulations by Big Media and Big Tech  and it is precisely these powerful players who have buried the reports of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, of Nils Melzer and my own. Let us hope that Melzer's new book "The Case Julian Assange" will sensitise at least part of civil society to the threats against our democratic order and mobilise us to demand the immediate liberation of Julian Assange, who should be allowed to rejoin with wife and two children.

https://sputniknews.com/20211029/major-loophole-means-us-unlikely-to-honor-promise-to-treat-assange-humanely-journalist-says-1090330419.html

ema.ruv LIBERO JULIAN.... 3

Thomas Turk Don't fret ex UN.. we know how to open Sputtie, a rare site that allow the trooph in the comments, even if their journos are a little shy to really investigate.. especially now the warming hoax and the injekshun. 1

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Ekaterina Blinova

opinion, assange
Monticello Raceway is gearing up to host this year's Veterans Driving Challenge, which is set for Wednesday, Nov. 10. These races will be a competition of former servicemen/women who are also licensed harness drivers.

According to Director and Program Administrator Kathy Kreiter, monies raised from the events will be once again be donated to the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless Veterans Food Pantry

Efforts by the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) and the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club (CADC) are once again coming to fruition according to NAADA vice president Alan Schwartz.

The Veterans Driving Challenge is open to former US servicemen/women who are also harness drivers licensed by the USTA and/or the Canadian Trotting Association.

"If you have served in the armed forces and possess either an "A" or "P" harness license you are qualified to compete in this worthy cause," Schwartz noted.

Any eligible armed forces veteran interested in competing is urged to contact Schwartz at 845-791-7747 or Eric Warner, Monticello Raceway's Director of Racing, at 845-794-4100 x557.

For more information regarding the Federation Veterans pantry, or any of their other critical services, please all Kathy Kreiter at 845-794-2604, or email [email protected].

(Monticello Raceway)
In announcing how many workers had not been vaccinated, Mary Washington Healthcare stated it had about 4,200 employees. However, when the mandate was announced in July, Henry said there were about 5,000 workers.

She said on Monday that when we talk about the entire workforce, we say 5,000 because some are contracted workers, she said. They include traveling nurses who fill in on a temporary basis wherever they may be needed, as well as those who work in security, environmental services or food and nutrition.

While they all fall under the vaccine mandate, theyre technically not considered MWHC employees, she said.

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However, as hospitalsand other businesses nationwidedeal with staff shortages, some of those whove participated in MWHCs regular townhalls have asked why the health care system would fire people if the system is so overwhelmed.

At one such session in September, Dr. Mike McDermott, the chief executive officer of MWHC, said the vaccine policy is centered around safety and we will not sacrifice that safety for any reason. At that time, he estimated that those who might choose to leave represented about 1 percent of the staff.
And, Lopez said, the office itself would suffer "usurped statutory legitimacy and authority to enforce and prosecute crimes." There would be delays in criminal cases and obstructed prosecutions, as well as interruption and obstruction of other ministerial duties, such as the investigation of child abuse and neglect cases and death investigations.

Personally, Lyons would lose wages and insurance coverage and suffer harm to his reputation just three months before the 2022 election season, he said.

In an answer and counterclaim filed Wednesday, the board's lawyer, Erin Ebeler Rolf, said any damages suffered by Lyons are a result of his own conduct "and, therefore, barred."

She contends Lyons can be terminated by the board because he wasn't elected to the job. He was appointed. So he isn't a "county officer" under the state statute that outlines a county officer's removal.

"And he materially breached the agreement governing that appointment," Ebeler Rolf said.
DHHS has been paying what they were expected to pay since their 20-year lease for the site expired on July 31. Rien said the county would be asking for true up payments of around $7,000 to $8,000 per month. If DHHS doesn't pay those amounts, theyll have to vacate within 30 days.

The commissioners said DHHS is currently in the process of relocating all its equipment and materials to the new location at the State Office Building in Scottsbluff.

Though Rein estimated the site would be worth around $180,000, the commission decided not to have it appraised for its value.

Honestly, I dont think the appraisal is really worth anything because whoever buys it is not going to use it for exactly what the building is set up for right now, Knapper said.

He expressed that a market study for potential uses would be cheaper.

I think youll find that a market study can put a higher value on it.

He said the new owners would most likely pay for an appraisal anyway. The other commissioners agreed and advanced a market study instead.
Make no mistake, these types of things happen across the country quite often in many communities with leaders rarely stopping to think of the local ramifications of their actions. However, as I shared with a reader who wrote in, these types of situations, while hurtful to the community in the short-term, can be used to make lemonade out of the lemons they have been given.

Thus, the title of this weeks column, never, never give up. Leaders, media, business owners and others need to take these examples and use them as educational opportunities for the entire community. It is a great opportunity for the media, the chamber, and others to discuss and write about the situation educating all the taxpayers. It is a great opportunity for citizens to question their leaders at council meetings constantly. It is a great time to educate the community to the value of every tax dollar being spent. This is a great opportunity for true leaders to lead. Not lead by accusation and negative words, but by educational and positive actions.

Bear in mind, government will usually take the easiest and safest route, after all, in years past, that has proven to bring about the least amount of consternation. It is up to We The People to force new direction and alternative paths, and then support and encourage them when they venture down that path.
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Students and staff and at Lewisville ISDs Memorial Elementary celebrated the opening of their new science, technology, engineering and mathematics academy on Thursday.
What are some of these newer cannabinoids, and what is the evidence they may help us?

Unfortunately, much of the data for these newly discovered compounds comes from animal studies, so it is going to take some time  and high-quality research  to determine if the benefits that have been found in animals will apply to humans.

CBG

CBG, or cannabigerol, is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid that is being marketed for the alleviation of anxiety, pain, infection, inflammation, nausea, and even the treatment of cancer. It has a wide variety of potential medical uses, but virtually all of the studies that have been done on it have been done in animals, so it is difficult to fully extrapolate to humans. Experiments in mice have shown that it can decrease inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease, and that it can slow the growth of colorectal cancer. In cells, it inhibits glioblastoma multiforme cells (the type of brain cancer that Sen. John McCain suffered from).
Caribbean

B RUSSELS  The European Union removed Anguilla, Dominica and Seychelles from its tax haven blacklist Tuesday amid criticism that the trade bloc is letting countries off the hook, particularly in light of the recent Pandora Papers revelations.



Anguilla, Dominica and Seychelles were placed on the list because they did not meet tax transparency criteria. EU finance ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, endorsed a decision to move them to a grey list after the three agreed to a review of their tax systems.



The EU blacklist was set up in 2017 to tackle rampant tax evasion and is regularly updated. Nine jurisdictions remain listed as non-cooperative: American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Vanuatu.



Anguilla, Dominica and Seychelles are now listed as places that do not yet comply with all international tax standards but have committed to the principles of good tax governance. Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar and Uruguay were also added to this grey list. Australia, Eswantini and Maldives were removed from it after reforming their tax systems.



The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and its media partners recently published a massive leak of offshore data dubbed the Pandora Papers. The cache of almost 12 million files sheds light on the financial activities of many members of the global elite.



French EU lawmaker Aurore Lalucq, who authored a report on harmful tax practices, said she hopes the disclosures will finally be a loud enough wake-up call for EU leaders and the European Commission to urgently reform the blocs code of conduct for business taxation.



Some of the worlds most notorious tax havens are not even listed by the EU, Lalucq said in a statement. Sadly, the countries that remain black-listed do not represent the most important financial flows, she said.



Chiara Putaturo, the tax expert at charity group Oxfam, described the EU blacklist as a joke and said it should should penalize tax havens. Instead, it lets them off the hook. She alleged that Anguilla and Seychelles are at the heart of the latest tax scandal.



While the Pandora Papers investigation blew the lid on how the super-rich continue to use tax havens to avoid paying their taxes, ordinary people are asked to foot the COVID-19 recovery bill, Putaturo said.






Tuesday is Election Day and voters across Cowlitz County will have a say on a variety of local issues.

Ballots need to be delivered or postmarked by 8 p.m. Tuesday in order to be counted. New or unregistered voters can still register to vote on Election Day by visiting the County Administration Building, 207 N. Fourth Ave., Kelso.

Around half of the city council seats will be on the ballot in Longview, Kelso, Kalama, Castle Rock and Woodland, as well as the mayoral race for Kalama. Further down the ballot are competitive races for school district directors, fire district commissioners, and Port of Longview commissioner.

Three ballot measures will appear on some ballots in the countys smaller cities. In Castle Rock, voters will get another say on the proposal to fund the Castle Rock Library by creating a special excess levy. Woodland voters will decide on whether to change the city governments structure to have a city manager help lead the city council, as well as increasing the local sales tax to fund a Transportation Benefit District.

The Daily News will post election results online Tuesday night soon after they are reported by the state and county elections offices. Full stories on the election results will appear in the Thursday print edition.

There were 12,235 ballots cast in Cowlitz County by the afternoon of Oct. 29, which is a 17% turnout rate for registered voters. Cowlitz Countys early turnout rate is virtually identical to the early voter rate across all of Washington as of Friday.

The current turnout rate is slightly higher than the countys turnout rate at the same point in the 2017 general election, which ended up having a 37% turnout rate when all votes were counted.

More than half of all early votes cast in Cowlitz County so far have been delivered to the drop boxes, significantly above the statewide average of 36% of votes coming through drop boxes.

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Washingtons COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are flattening at a concerningly high level, state hospital officials said Monday.

We dont know if cases are going to go up or down, said Taya Briley, Washington State Hospital Association executive vice president, during a press briefing Monday.

The state recorded 10.4 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people from Oct. 17 to Oct. 23, about the same as the prior week. The rate is slightly lower than winter 2020 levels.

Briley said the rate of hospitalizations is concerning going into the fall and winter this year as the flu and other respiratory viruses are circulating. Last year, stricter regulations and precautions kept the state from having much of a flu season, she said.

Cowlitz County recorded a similar trend, with COVID-19 hospitalizations hovering at 14.5 per 100,000 people through mid- to late-October.

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center had 14 COVID-19 patients as of Monday morning, down from the high-teens late last week.

Cowlitz County recorded 71 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the weekend, bringing the total to 12,125 confirmed and 1,464 probable cases. The county recorded two new deaths, with 243 total.

Hospital officials said they are anticipating approval of COVID-19 vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds likely later this week.

Dr. Mary Fairchok with Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma said while children are less likely to get severely ill or die from COVID-19, they are still at risk and can spread it to those around them.

Its vitally important, she said of vaccinating children. Although it may be tempting to dismiss that group because they are at the lowest risk, we shouldnt be minimizing the effect on this age group.

Vaccination also will make it easier to keep children in school because fully vaccinated people without symptoms do not have to quarantine after an exposure, said Dr. John Hawes, a pediatrician with Swedish Pediatrics in West Seattle.

The state Department of Health last week updated quarantine requirements in schools, shortening the length of time kids are out of class.

Students and staff can quarantine for seven days after the last close contact if they have no symptoms and test negative after five days. However, they need to continue monitoring for symptoms until day 14.

Students who are close contracts in districts with a test-to-stay system could also choose a modified quarantine of seven days during which the student attends school, but cannot do any other activities and should stay isolated when not at school. Under this option, they have to be tested multiple times during the seven-day period.

Those who do not want to get tested must do a 10-day quarantine.

Schools will be required to offer families the shortest option so students can return quickly, said Lacy Fehrenbach, state deputy secretary for COVID-19 response.

The kindergarten through 12th-grade school outbreak definition also has been updated. Instead of two cases in a classroom, the new threshold is three cases or 10% of a core group.

According to the states Oct. 29 school outbreak report, there were a total of 189 COVID19 outbreaks in K12 schools between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, which included 1,284 cases. Forty-two cases occurred in August, and 147 cases occurred in September.

Among the 189 outbreaks, 12% were in private schools and 88% were in public schools. About 63% percent of outbreaks were in elementary schools.

Cowlitz County had five COVID-19 outbreaks that included 25 cases in that time frame, according to the report.

Longview, Castle Rock and Kelso schools all use COVID-19 dashboards to report cases in schools. Other local districts do not publicly report cases in schools. Kelso only reports student-to-student cases confirmed to be transmitted in schools.

Since Oct. 21, the Longview School District reported 13 new cases, two among staff. Of those new cases, one was transmitted in school at Mint Valley Elementary. From the start of school, the district has reported 241 cases among students and staff.

Kelso has not reported any new cases since Oct. 21. The district has reported 22 in-school transmissions this year and five classroom closures.

In Castle Rock, there have been eight new cases reported since Oct. 21. One of those cases was among staff and none were caused by school exposure, according to the district. Of the new cases, three were at the primary school, one at the intermediate school, one at the middle school and three at the high school.

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Samsung did what now? That's right, the company actually collaborated with Dr Denim and released a Z Flip Pocket Denim. It is a limited edition pair of jeans designed just to fit the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and is only available in Australia.

From Samsung Australia's newsroom, the Z Flip Pocket Denim is "declared" as the "next big trend" for small square pockets pants. Hayley Walton, Head of Brand Marketing, Samsung Mobile said smartphones aren't really pocket friendly (she has a point there since phones are getting huge) so hence the idea of the Z Flip Pocket Denim.

The jeans also have no back pocket and it seems that it has been relocated to the front right thigh area, as well as redesigned to fit the exact size of the Galaxy Z Flip3. Two letters "Z" can also be seen near the pockets as a fashion statement. Mattias Friberg from Dr Denim also said there is only one classic, blue jean variant but revamped into a more modern look.

There are only 450 pairs of the Z Flip Pocket Denim for both men and women. It doesn't come as a standalone product, though, as each cost a hefty $1499 (~RM6218) with the Galaxy Z Flip3 included. What do you think of these limited edition jeans? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
Clegg told the Web Summit in Lisbon that 'legitimate questions' had been raised about Facebook's work in 'fragile' countries.

Facebook's vice president Nick Clegg hit back Monday at criticism that the tech giant's efforts to combat misinformation are woefully inadequate outside the West, though he acknowledged: "We need to do more."

The "Facebook Papers", a massive trove of leaked internal documents, have cast a light on the company's struggles to stop false information and hate speech from spreading in emerging economies, notably India.

Some 87 percent of Facebook's anti-misinformation budget is focused on the United States even though the vast majority of its users are elsewhere, the papers revealed.

Addressing the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon via video-link, CleggBritain's former deputy prime ministersaid "legitimate questions" had been raised about Facebook's work in "fragile" countries.

But he insisted the company has poured "significant resources" into improving the situation.

"We now have content moderation in over 70 countries, and we're adding them all the time," he said, adding that moderators in 12 new languages including Haitian Creole had been hired this year.

"We obviously learned some pretty searing lessons from what happened in Myanmar," he added, referring to widespread use of Facebook to whip up ethnic violence in the country.

'Break glass' options

Clegg insisted "big changes" had been made to Facebook's policies since 2014, with more resources allocated to countries judged "at risk" in terms of the human rights situation.

So-called "break glass" options, allowing Facebook to "very dramatically" reduce the distribution of information, have been used recently in Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he added.

Whistleblower Frances Haugen has accused Facebook of inflicting huge damage in countries that feel remote from its Silicon Valley headquarters.

Frances Haugen, the former Facebook engineer who leaked the documents, has accused the company of inflicting huge damage in countries that feel remote from its Silicon Valley headquarters.

For years the social network's algorithms made "polarising and divisive content" more visible in people's timelines, she told the Web Summit on Monday.

"In places like the United States that might cause ruined Thanksgiving dinners," she said, but she added that "in more fragile places around the world" the consequences can be deadly.

She cited Ethiopia as an example of a country where violence had been "amplified by social media".

Facebook has long struggled to tamp down hate speech there due to the dozens of different dialects spoken among Ethiopians, she pointed out.

Clegg insisted Facebook's moderation efforts in Ethiopia are "far better" today than they were a couple of years ago.

"We have the capacity to review content in a number of the most widely-used languages," he added, including Amharic, Tigrinya and Somali.

Clegg also defended the timing of Facebook's "Meta" rebrand, after critics derided it as an attempted distraction from recent negative headlines.

The renaming of Facebook's parent company last week is intended to signal a shift in focus towards developing the "metaverse", a virtual reality internet that would make online experiences feel face-to-face.

Clegg said Facebook had been planning the rebrand for months and has spent billions of dollars over "a very long period of time" on developing technology that could one day be used for the metaverse.

"We thought it was the right time to come clean about what the focus is at the company," he said.

Explore further Whistleblower blasts Facebook's Meta rebrand

 2021 AFP
In real-world applications, AI models do not stop at one training stage. As data collection progresses over time, there is a continuous cycle of inference, annotation, and model updating. When there are novel and difficult samples, human annotation is inevitable. Credit: Miao et al.

Over the past few decades, computer scientists have developed numerous machine learning tools that can recognize specific objects or animals in images and videos. While some of these techniques have achieved remarkable results on simple animals or items (e.g., cats, dogs, houses), they are typically unable to recognize wildlife and less renowned plants or animals.

Researchers at University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) have recently developed a new wildlife identification approach that performs far better than techniques developed in the past. The approach, presented in a paper published in Nature Machine Intelligence, was conceived by Zhongqi Miao, who initially started exploring the idea that artificial intelligence (AI) tools could classify wildlife images collected by movement-triggered camera traps. These are cameras that wildlife ecologists and researchers often set up to monitor species inhabiting specific geographic locations and estimate their numbers.

The effective use of AI for identifying species in wildlife images captured by camera traps could significantly simplify the work of ecologists and reduce their workload, preventing them from having to look through hundreds of thousands of images to generate maps of the distribution of species in specific locations. The framework developed by Miao and his colleagues is different from other methods proposed in the past, as it merges machine learning with an approach dubbed 'humans in the loop' to generalize better on real-world tasks.

"An important aspect of our 'humans in the loop innovation' is that it addresses the 'long-tailed distribution problem," Wayne M. Getz, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told TechXplore. "More specifically, in a set of hundreds of thousands of images generated using camera traps deployed in an area over a season, images of common species may appear hundreds or even thousands of times, while those of rare species may appear just a few times. This produces a long-tailed distribution of the frequency of images of different species."

If all species were captured by camera traps with equal frequency, their distribution would be what is known as 'rectangular." On the other hand, if these frequencies are highly imbalanced, the most common frequencies (plotted first down the y-axis) would be far larger than least common frequencies (plotted at the bottom of the graph), resulting in a long-tailed distribution.

"If standard AI image recognition software were applied to long-tailed distributional data, then the method would fail miserably when it comes to identifying rare species," Getz explained. "The primary purpose of our study was to find a way to improve the identification of rare species by incorporating humans into the process in an iterative manner."

When trying to apply conventional AI tools in real-world settings, computer scientists can encounter several challenges. As mentioned by Getz, the first is that data collected in the real world often follows a long-tail distribution and current state-of-the-art AI models do not perform as well on this data, compared to data with a rectangular or normal distribution.

"In other words, when applied to data with a long-tailed distribution, large or more frequent categories always lead to much better performance than smaller and rare categories," Miao, lead author of the paper, told TechXplore. "Furthermore, instances of rare categories (especially images of rare animals) are not easy to collect, making it even harder to get around this long-tail distribution issue through data collection."

Another challenge of applying AI in real-world settings is that the problems they are meant to solve are typically open-ended. For instance, wildlife monitoring projects can continue indefinitely and span across long periods of time, during which new camera traps will be set up and a variety of new data will be collected.

In addition, new animal species might suddenly appear in the sites monitored by the cameras due to several possible factors, including unexpected invasions, animal reintroduction projects or recolonizations. All of these changes will be reflected in the data, ultimately impairing the performance of pre-trained machine learning techniques.

"So far, the human contribution to the training of AI has been inevitable," Miao said. "As real-world applications are open-ended, ensuring that AI models learn and adapt to new content requires additional human annotations, especially when we want the models to identify new animal species. Thus, we think there is a loop of AI recognition system of new data collection, human annotation on new data and model update to the novel categories."

In their previous research, the researchers tried to address the factors impairing the performance of AI in real-world settings in several different ways. While the approaches they devised were in some ways promising, their performance was not as good as they had hoped, achieving a classification accuracy below 70 percent when tested on standardized long-tailed datasets.

"It's hard for people to trust an AI model that could only produce ~70 percent accuracy," Miao said. "Overall, we think a deployable AI model should: achieve a balanced performance across imbalanced distribution (long-tailed recognition), be able to adapt to different environments (multi-domain adaptation), be able to recognize novel samples (out-of-distribution detection), and be able to learn from novel samples as fast as possible (few-shot learning, life-long learning, etc.). However, each one these characteristics have proved difficult to realize, and none of them have been fully solved yet, let alone combining them together and coming up with a perfect AI solution."

Instead of using renowned and existing AI tools or trying to develop an 'ideal' method, therefore, Miao and his colleagues decided to create a highly performing tool that relies on a certain amount of input from humans. As so far human annotations on data have proved to be particularly valuable for enhancing the performance of deep learning-based models, they focused their efforts on maximizing their efficiency.

"The goal of our project was to minimize the need for human intervention as much as possible, by applying human annotation solely on difficult images or novel species, while maximizing the recognition performance/accuracy of each model update procedure (i.e., update efficiency)," Miao said.

By combining machine learning techniques with human efforts in an efficient way, the researchers hoped to achieve a system that was better at recognizing animals in real-world wildlife images, overcoming some of the issues they encountered in their past studies. Remarkably, they found that their method could achieve 90 percent accuracy on wildlife image classification tasks, using 1/5 of the annotations that standard AI approaches would require to achieve this accuracy.

"Putting AI techniques into practice has always been significantly challenging, no matter how promising theoretical results are in previous studies on standard datasets," Miao said. "We thus tried to propose an AI recognition framework that can be deployed in the field even when the AI models are not perfect. And our solution is to introduce efficient human efforts back into the recognition system. And in this project, we use wildlife recognition as a practical use case of our framework."

Instead of evaluating AI models using a single dataset, the framework devised by Miao and his colleagues focuses on how efficiently a previously trained model can analyze newly collected datasets containing images of previously unobserved species. Their approach incorporates an active learning technique, which uses a prediction confidence metric to select low-confidence predictions, so that they can be annotated further by humans. When a model identifies animals with high levels of confidence, on the other hand, their framework stores these predictions as pseudo labels.

"Models are then updated according to both human annotations and pseudo labels," Miao explained. "The model is evaluated based on: the overall validation accuracy of each category after the update (i.e., update performance); percentage of high-confidence predictions on validation (i.e., saved human effort for annotation); accuracy of high-confidence predictions; and percentage of novel categories that are detected as low-confidence predictions (i.e., sensitivity to novelty)."

The overall aim of the optimization algorithm used by Miao and his colleagues is to minimize human efforts (i.e., to maximize a model's high-confidence percentage), while maximizing performance and accuracy. Technically speaking, the researchers' framework is a combination of active learning and semi-supervised learning with humans in the loop. All of the codes and data used by Miao and his colleagues are publicly available and can be accessed online.

"We proposed a deployable human-machine recognition framework that is also applicable when the models are not perfectly performing by themselves," Miao said. "With the iterative human-machine updating procedure, the framework can keep updated be deployed when new data are continuously collected. Furthermore, each technical component in this framework can be replaced with more advanced methods in the future to achieve better results."

The experimental setting outlined by Miao and his colleagues is arguably more realistic than those considered in previous works. In fact, instead of focusing on a single cycle of model training, validation and testing, it focuses on numerous cycles or stages, which allows models to better adapt to changes in the data.

"Another unique aspect of our work is that we proposed a synergistic relationship between humans and machines," Miao said." Machines help relieve the burden of humans (e.g., ~80 percent annotation requirements), and humans help annotate novel and challenging samples, which are then used to update the machines, such that the machines are more powerful and more generalized in the future. This is a continuous and long-term relationship."

In the future, the framework introduced by this team of researchers could allow ecologists to monitor animal species in different places more efficiently, reducing the time they spend examining images collected by trap cameras. In addition, their framework could be adapted to tackle other real-world problems that involve the analysis of data with a long-tailed distribution or that continuously changes over time.

"Miao is now working on the problem of trying to identify species from satellite or aerial images which present two challenges compared with camera trap images: the resolution is much lower because cameras are much more distant from the subjects that are capturing and the individual being imaged may be one of many in the overall frame; images generally show only a 1-d projection (i.e., from the top) rather than the 2-d projections (front/back and leftside/rightside) of camera trap data," Getz said.

Miao, Getz ad their colleagues now also plan to deploy and test the framework they created in real-world settings, such as camera trap wildlife monitoring projects in Africa organized by some of their collaborators. Meanwhile, Miao is working on other deep learning tools for the analysis of aerial images and audio recordings, as these could be particularly useful for identifying birds or marine animals. His overall goal is to make deep learning more accessible for ecologists and researchers analyzing wildlife images.

"On a broader scale, we think that the synergistic relationship between humans and machines is an exciting topic and that the goal of AI research should be to develop tools that augment people's abilities (or intelligence), rather than to eliminate the existence of humans (e.g., looking for perfect machines that can handle everything without the need for humans)," Miao added. "It is more like a loop where machines make humans better, and humans make machines more powerful in return, just like in the iterative framework we proposed in the paper. We call this Artificial Augmented Intelligence (A2I or A-square I), where ultimately, people's intelligence is augmented with artificial intelligence and vice versa. In the future, we want to keep exploring the possibilities of A2I."

Explore further Researchers successfully train computers to identify animals in photos

More information: Zhongqi Miao et al, Iterative human and automated identification of wildlife images, Nature Machine Intelligence (2021). Zhongqi Miao et al, Iterative human and automated identification of wildlife images,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-021-00393-0 Ziwei Liu et al, Large-scale long-tailed recognition in an open world. arXiv:1904.05160v2 [cs.CV], arxiv.org/abs/1904.05160 Ziwei Liu et al, Open compound domain adaptation. arXiv:1909.03403v2 [cs.CV], arxiv.org/abs/1909.03403 Journal information: Nature Machine Intelligence

 2021 Science X Network
As camels munch on the fringes of Thar desert, an oasis of blue solar panels stretches further than the eye can see at Bhadla Parka cornerstone of India's bid to become a clean energy powerhouse.

As camels munch on the fringes of Thar desert, an oasis of blue solar panels stretches further than the eye can see at Bhadla Parka cornerstone of India's bid to become a clean energy powerhouse.

Currently, coal powers 70 percent of the nation's electricity generation, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged that by 2030, India will produce more energy through solar and other renewables than its entire grid now.

"First, India will increase its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts... Second, by 2030, 50 percent of our energy requirements will come from renewable resources," Modi told the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The arid state of Rajasthan, where Bhadla Park takes up an area almost the size of San Marino, sees 325 sunny days each year, making it perfectly placed for the solar power revolution, officials say.

Once an expanse of desert, authorities have capitalised on the sparsely populated area, claiming minimal displacement of local communities. Today robots clean dust and sand off an estimated 10 million solar panels, while a few hundred humans monitor.

This pursuit of a greener future is fuelled by necessity.

India, home to 1.3 billion people and poised to overtake China as the most populous country, has a growing and voracious appetite for energybut it is also on the frontline of climate change.

In the next two decades, it has to add a power system the size of Europe's to meet demand for its swelling population, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), but it also has to tackle toxic air quality in its big cities.

Graphic on solar energy production in India.

"India is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world for climate change and that is why it has this big push on renewables to decarbonise the power sector, but also reduce air pollution," Arunabha Ghosh, climate policy expert from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, told AFP.

But experts say the countrythe world's third-biggest carbon emitteris some way from reaching its green targets, with coal set to remain a key part of the energy mix in the coming years.

'Huge transformation'

Although India's green energy has increased five-fold in just over a decade to 100GW this year, the sector now needs to grow by the same proportion again to meet its 2030 goals.

"I believe this is more of an aspirational target... to show to the world that we are moving in the right direction," Vinay Rustagi from renewable energy consultancy Bridge to India, told AFP.

"But it would be a big stretch and seems highly unrealistic, in view of various demand and supply challenges," Rustagi said.

Proponents point to Bhadla Solar Park, one of the largest in the world, as an example of how innovation, technology, and public and private finance can drive swift change.

"We've huge chunks of land where there's not a blade of grass. Now you don't see the ground anymore. You just see solar panels. It's such a huge transformation," Subodh Agarwal, Rajasthan's additional chief secretary for energy, told AFP.

Currently, coal powers 70 percent of India's electricity generation, but it has ambitious plans to produce 450 gigawattsmore than its entire grid nowthrough solar and other renewables by 2030.

Authorities are incentivising renewables firms to set up in the region, known as the "desert state". Agarwal says demand has "accelerated" since 2019.

"It will be a different Rajasthan. It will be the solar state," he said of the next decade.

If this surge is sustained then coal-fired power for electricity generation could peak by 2024, according to Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) projections.

Currently, solar power accounts for four percent of electricity generation. Before Modi's announcement the IEA estimated solar and coal will converge at around 30 percent each by 2040 based on current policies.

India's billionaires, including Asia's two richest men Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, are pledging huge investments, while Modi is setting up a renewables park the size of Singapore in his home state of Gujarat.

Show me the money

But reshaping an entire power network takes time and money, analysts warn.

Around 80 percent of India's solar panels are still imported from China, the world's biggest producer.

Currently, solar power accounts for four percent of electricity generation, but the International Energy Agency estimates that solar and coal will converge at around 30 percent each by 2040.

Gyanesh Chaudhary, chief executive of Indian panel manufacturer Vikram Solar, insisted there should be "more than 30" local firms like his already.

"That's the kind of demand (and) ecosystem that India would essentially need... It should have happened sooner."

Experts say domestic growth has been stymied by insufficient policies, funding shortages, cheaper panels from China, and infrastructure and energy storage issues.

"A lot of these plants are located at very long distances from power stations, so you have to think of linking them," explained Apurba Mitra, World Resources Institute India's climate policy chief.

Modi, who announced at COP26 that India would be carbon neutral by 2070, made it clear that such emissions-cutting pledges would require finance from rich, historic emitters.

"India expects developed countries to provide climate finance of $1 trillion at the earliest. Today it is necessary that as we track the progress made in climate mitigation, we should also track climate finance," he told more than 120 leaders at the critical talks.

Empowering lives

Farmer and doctor Amit Singh's three-acre family farmland in Rajasthan's Bhaloji village was running out of water and hit by frequent power outages.

Home to 1.3 billion, India is poised to overtake China as the most populous country and has a growing appetite for energy.

"I always saw the sun and its rays and wondered... why not harness it to generate electricity?," he said.

Singh first installed rooftop panels at his small hospital which generated half of its energy needs.

He then invested family savings into a government-linked project on his land.

The mini-solar farm cost 35 million rupees ($450,000) and Singh sells electricity to the grid for 400,000 rupees a month.

"It's the ultimate source of energy, which is otherwise going to waste... I feel I'm contributing to the developmental needs of my village," he added.

Ghosh said it was vital to bring down costs.

"When a farmer is able to generate power from their solar plant near their farm and pump out waterwe are then able to bring the energy transition closer to the people," he added.

Pratibha Pai, the founder-director of Chirag Rural Development Foundation which has brought solar to more than 100,000 villagers, believes in clean energy's transformative role.

She said: "We start with solar power... we end with safe drinking water, power for dark village roads, power for little rural schools which will hopefully script the story of a 'big' India."

 2021 AFP
A food delivery robot crosses a street in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots -- knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas -- are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. But you may not see it in your neighborhood anytime soon.

Hundreds of little robotsknee-high and able to hold around four large pizzasare now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment.

"We saw demand for robot usage just go through the ceiling," said Alastair Westgarth, the CEO of Starship Technologies, which recently completed its 2 millionth delivery. "I think demand was always there, but it was brought forward by the pandemic effect."

Starship has more than 1,000 robots in its fleet, up from just 250 in 2019. Hundreds more will be deployed soon. They're delivering food on 20 U.S. campuses; 25 more will be added soon. They're also operating on sidewalks in Milton Keynes, England; Modesto, California; and the company's hometown of Tallin, Estonia.

Robot designs vary; some have four wheels and some have six, for example. But generally, they use cameras, sensors, GPS and sometimes laser scanners to navigate sidewalks and even cross streets autonomously. They move around 5 mph.

A food delivery robot stops outside a building in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots -- knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas -- are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

Remote operators keep tabs on multiple robots at a time but they say they rarely need to hit the brakes or steer around an obstacle. When a robot arrives at its destination, customers type a code into their phones to open the lid and retrieve their food.

The robots have drawbacks that limit their usefulness for now. They're electric, so they must recharge regularly. They're slow, and they generally stay within a small, pre-mapped radius.

They're also inflexible. A customer can't tell a robot to leave the food outside the door, for example. And some big cities with crowded sidewalks, like New York, Beijing and San Francisco, aren't welcoming them.

But Bill Ray, an analyst with the consulting firm Gartner, says the robots make a lot of sense on corporate or college campuses, or in newer communities with wide sidewalks.

"In the places where you can deploy it, robot delivery will grow very quickly," Ray said.

A food delivery robot crosses a street in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots -- knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas -- are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

Ray said there have been few reports of problems with the robots, other than an occasional gaggle of kids who surround one and try to confuse it. Starship briefly halted service at the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 after a wheelchair user said a robot blocked her access to a ramp. But the university said deliveries resumed once Starship addressed the issue.

Patrick Sheck, a junior at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, gets deliveries from a Starship robot three or four times a week as he's leaving class.

"The robot pulls up just in time for me to get some lunch," Sheck said. Bowling Green and Starship charge $1.99 plus a service fee for each robot delivery.

Rival Kiwibot, with headquarters in Los Angeles and Medellin, Columbia, says it now has 400 robots making deliveries on college campuses and in downtown Miami.

Delivery companies are also jumping into the market. Grubhub recently partnered with Russian robot maker Yandex to deploy 50 robots on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Grubhub plans to add more campuses soon, although the company stresses that the service won't go beyond colleges for now.

Food is loaded into a robot at the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots --knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas -- are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

U.S. delivery orders jumped 66% in the year ending in June, according to NPD, a data and consulting firm. And delivery demand could remain elevated even after the pandemic eases because customers have gotten used to the convenience.

Ji Hye Kim, chef and managing partner of the Ann Arbor, Michigan, restaurant Miss Kim, relied heavily on robot delivery when her dining room was closed last year. Kim had partnered with a local robot company, Refraction AI, shortly before the pandemic began.

Kim prefers robots to third-party delivery companies like DoorDash, which charge significantly more and sometimes cancel orders if they didn't have enough drivers. Delivery companies also bundle multiple orders per trip, she said, so food sometimes arrives cold. Robots take just one order at a time.

Kim said the robots also excite customers, who often post videos of their interactions.

"It's very cute and novel, and it didn't have to come face to face with people. It was a comfort," Kim said. Delivery demand has dropped off since her dining room reopened, but robots still deliver around 10 orders per day.

Robots navigate the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots -- knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas -- are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

While Kim managed to hang on to her staff throughout the pandemic, other restaurants are struggling to find workers. In a recent survey, 75% of U.S. restaurant owners told the National Restaurant Association that recruiting and retaining employees is their biggest challenge.

That has many restaurants looking to fill the void with robot delivery.

"There is no store in the country right now with enough delivery drivers," said Dennis Maloney, senior vice president and chief digital officer at Domino's Pizza.

Domino's is partnering with Nuro, a California startup whose 6-foot-tall self-driving pods go at a maximum speed of 25 mph on streets, not sidewalks. Nuro is testing grocery and food delivery in Houston, Phoenix and Mountain View, California.

Maloney said it's not a question of if, but of when, robots will start doing more deliveries. He thinks companies like Domino's will eventually use a mix of robots and drivers depending on location. Sidewalk robots could work on a military base, for example, while Nuro is ideal for suburbs. Highway driving would be left to human workers.

Robots navigate the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots -- knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas -- are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

Maloney said Nuro delivery is more expensive than using human drivers for now, but as the technology scales up and gets more refined, the costs will go down.

For cheaper sidewalk robotswhich cost an estimated $5,000 or lessit's even easier to undercut human delivery costs. The average Grubhub driver in Ohio makes $47,650 per year, according to the job site Indeed.com.

But robots don't always cost delivery jobs. In some cases, they help create them. Before Starship's robots arrived, Bowling Green didn't offer delivery from campus dining spots. Since then, it has hired more than 30 people to serve as runners between kitchens and robots, Bowling Green dining spokesman Jon Zachrich said.

Brendan Witcher, a technology analyst with the consulting firm Forrester, says it's easy to get excited about the Jetsons-like possibility of robot delivery. But ultimately, robots will have to prove they create an advantage in some way.

"It's possible that we see this emerge into something else," he said. "But it's the right time and place for companies considering robots to test them and learn from them and do their own evaluation."

Explore further Grubhub testing delivery robots

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A patient moves past a display showing the real-time electrocardiograms of patients at the department of cardiovascular medicine of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

China's Huawei Technologies Co. is providing smart services and 5G technology to industries such as healthcare, creating new revenue streams that might offset the damage to its smartphone business from U.S. sanctions.

In the southern city of Guangzhou, the company teamed up with the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital to equip it with 5G technology and more than 10,000 smart devices that can collect and transmit real-time health data from patients to doctors and nurses to improve patient care.

5G is an ultra-fast wireless technology that has little lag time and can support a massive number of smart devices connected to the internet simultaneously. The current mainstream technology, 4G, is slower at transmitting data and can support fewer devices.

Huawei is the world's largest supplier of 5G technology equipment, even though it is shut out from the U.S. and some other major markets. Last year, it briefly also was the world's largest smartphone maker, surpassing South Korean handset maker Samsung.

But sanctions imposed by Washington have restricted Huawei from obtaining the computer chips necessary for its smartphones. Last month, the company forecasted its smartphone revenue could drop as much as $40 billionor about 80%this year.

Liu Xingtao, director of the emergency department at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, briefs visitors near a screen displaying the live feed from a 5G equipped ambulance at the hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Providing 5G technology and services for the healthcare, finance and even education industries is one way to increase its revenue.

"We all know that 5G, compared to the previous generations of communication technologies, has the three characteristics of large bandwidth, low latency, and massive connections," said said Guo Zizhong, director of Huawei's Smart Hospital Business Division in China.

"In fact, when it comes to the adaptation of the three characteristics, the medical field is a very good match with them among industries in all walks of life."

The hospital in Guangzhou, a city of 15 million, uses various smart technologies, including a 5G ambulance fitted with medical devices and cameras to transmit data and footage in real time, allowing doctors to make better diagnoses while patients are on their way to the hospital so they can be treated as soon as they arrive.

A nurse walks near a robot at the lobby of Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Previously, for example, heart monitors would have to be removed to upload data from patients, and then checked by doctors.

"With real-time (monitoring), we are able to learn about what's going on with a patient's heart rate and can immediately give instructions on what to do," said He Yongcong, a doctor in the hospital's department of cardiovascular medicine.

The 5G technology can also be used in monitors that measure the progress and speed of intravenous infusions in real time and in smart wristbands that can be used as emergency alert devices. So nurses can monitor patients remotely and prepare infusions and medications ahead of time instead of constantly checking patients at their bedsides.

"With the application of the 5G network, we're now able to save a lot of time in routine work," said Chen Xiaofang, a nurse at the hospital.

Tian Junzhang, president of Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, gestures in front of the monitoring screen of the hospital's cloud data center "smart brain" in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Staffers work at the department of cardiovascular medicine nursing station of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Staffers work at the department of cardiovascular medicine nursing station of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

A worker walks by a chart showing the functions of the smart hospital at the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Chen Xiaofang, a nurse at the department of cardiovascular medicine the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, stands next to a robot that delivers medicine in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

A technician stands at the entrance to a Huawei 5G data center at the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Liu Xingtao, director of the emergency department at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, briefs visitors inside a 5G equipped ambulance outside the hospital in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The hospital in southern China's Guangdong Province is using 5G and IoT technologies to collect, transmit and monitor more data in real time, allowing healthcare workers to provide better medical service for patients. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Experts say that although 5G could be used to collect data and make many industries technologically smarter, the technology needs to be more cost-effective.

Construction costs and expensive devices and accessories are preventing widespread adoption, said Cui Kai, associate research director at research firm International Data Corporation (IDC).

"Some policy guidance and support may be needed to help 5G develop rapidly. In the mid-term, we believe that (the development of) 5G still depends on the cost," Cui said.

For 5G technology to become popular, there must be a range of technology services offered for different industries, Cui said.

"Only (then) . . . can we drive the development of digital transformation of the entire society."

Explore further Huawei reports 32% revenue plunge in first three quarters

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Solar panels cover the roof of a house in the village of Kalavasos, in front of a mosque minaret, but Cyprus is still struggling to increase its use of renewable power.

"We have 340 sunny days per year," Georgia Mouskou said, as sunlight streamed through her windows. "But we're still not betting on renewable energies in Cyprus."

Faced with her skyrocketing electricity bill, Mouskou says she wants to "rent a plot" to install solar panels.

Like Mouskou, rising energy costs and environmental concerns have caused residents of the east Mediterranean island to see solar power as an obvious option.

In the past year, the number of solar panels increased by 16 percent, according to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).

But Cyprus is still struggling to increase its use of renewable power.

In 2019, just 13.8 percent of its energy came from solar and wind energy, well below the 19.7 percent European average, according to Eurostat figures.

Cyprus hopes to boost its share of renewable energy to 23 percent by 2030 as part of its National Energy and Climate Plan.

Heavy polluter

But a shift to green power faces many hurdles.

"The problem is renewable energies are unpredictable," said Markos Asprou, an electricity specialist at the University of Cyprus' KIOS research centre. "In case of shortfall, you need to be able to act."

Cyprus, which lies some 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Greek mainland, its nearest EU neighbour, does not have a nearby national power network that can at present bail them out in an emergency.

The 1,478 megawatt Vasilikos power station runs on imported diesel and heavy fuel, placing Cyprus among the worst EU nations for its use of fossil fuels in producing energy.

In 2011, the island's main Vasilikos power plant on the island's southern coast was damaged by a massive explosion on a nearby naval base.

For weeks, Cyprus suffered frequent power cuts.

Vasilikos, a 1,478 megawatt oil-powered station using imported diesel and heavy fuel, covers nearly two-thirds of Cyprus' needs, placing it among the worst EU nations for its use of fossil fuels in producing energy.

In the control room of the plant, co-director George Moniatis points to an empty column on his screen indicating the absence of wind energy.

"What do we do if there's no wind?" he said. "It's very difficult. We can only rely on ourselves."

To overcome its isolation, Cyprus has struck the costly EuroAsia Interconnector deal to link the electricity grid of Cyprus with Israel and Greece.

In October Cyprus also signed a deal with Greece and Egypt to transfer electricity through lines connecting the three countries.

COVID-19 times aside, the island of 800,000 inhabitants must also grapple with, on average, some four million tourists annually, concentrated in the hotter summer months.

Energy needs on the island surge from 300 megawatts in the spring to 1,200 megawatts in the sweltering summer heat, Moniatis said.

In 2019 just 13.8 percent of Cyprus's power came from solar and wind energy, including the Alexigros wind farm, pictured, near the southern coastal city of Larnaca.

'Switching lifestyles'

But renewable energy doesn't offer the adaptability to meet these needs, he added. Methods for storing renewable energy do exist but they are complicated and costly.

"People want to sleep with their AC (air conditioner) on, but you don't have solar energy during the night," Moniatis continued.

But relying on fossil fuels has hit the pockets of consumers.

A kilowatt-hour cost 16.97 cents at the end of 2020, but soared to 21.78 cents in August, according to the EAC.

"With this bill, I got completely caught off guard," Mouskou complained. "It affected our budget for the next few months."

Despite her support for green energy, Mouskou says she cannot at present afford the cost of switching to solar panels.

"Even with state aid, it is impractical for us," she said.

But some in Cyprus have found green energy is possible, seeing it as the future.

Melissa Ahearn sits at the entrance of the A-frame dwelling which she lives in and built with her partner to run exclusively on solar energy.

At Chirokitia, close to the giant power station, Melissa Ahearn has been living off the grid with her partner for almost a year using solar panels.

"When it comes down to switching to this new lifestyle, you realise you don't need anything," the former forex broker said. "Four light bulbs, a phone charger and the computer battery, that's all."

Explore further Sparkling beaches: Cyprus has cleanest waters in EU

 2021 AFP
A woman walks past a Yahoo billboard in a Beijing subway in this March 17, 2006. Yahoo Inc. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 said it plans to pull out of China, citing an "increasingly challenging business and legal environment." Credit: AP Photo, File

Yahoo Inc. said Tuesday it has pulled out of China, citing an increasingly challenging operating environment.

The withdrawal was largely symbolic, as many of the company's services were already blocked by China's digital censorship. But recent government moves to expand its control over tech companies generally, including its domestic giants, may have tipped the scales for Yahoo.

"In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoo's suite of services will no longer be accessible from mainland China as of November 1," the company said in a statement. It said it "remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet."

The company's move comes as the American and Chinese governments feud over technology and trade. The U.S. has put restrictions on telecom giant Huawei and other Chinese tech companies, alleging that they have ties with China's government, military or both. China says the U.S. is unfairly suppressing competition and trying to block China's technological rise.

Yahoo is the latest foreign tech company to exit China. Google gave up several years ago, and Microsoft's professional networking platform LinkedIn said last month it would shutter its Chinese site, replacing it with a jobs board instead. The departures illustrate the choices internet companies face in a huge potential market, but one where the government requires them to censor content and keywords deemed politically sensitive or inappropriate.

A man walks past a screen displaying the Yahoo and Alibaba.com logos before a joint news conference by the companies at the China World Hotel in Beijing, Aug. 11, 2005. Yahoo Inc. said on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, that it plans to pull out of China, citing an "increasingly challenging business and legal environment." Credit: AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel, File

In their place, Chinese companies have filled the void, creating an alternative internet with its own digital giants. The Baidu search engine has largely replaced Yahoo and Google in China, and WeChat and Weibo are the leading social media platforms.

Yahoo's departure coincided with the implementation of China's Personal Information Protection Law, which limits what information companies can gather and sets standards for how it must be stored.

Chinese laws also stipulate that companies operating in the country must hand over data if requested by authorities, making it difficult for Western firms to operate in China as they may also face pressure back home over giving in to China's demands.

Yahoo was harshly criticized by lawmakers in the U.S. in 2007 after it handed over data on two Chinese dissidents to Beijing, eventually leading to their imprisonment.

A smart phone shows the home page of Yahoo when accessed inside China in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Yahoo Inc. on Tuesday said it plans to pull out of China, citing an "increasingly challenging business and legal environment." Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Yahoo had previously downsized its operations in China, dropping a music and email service in the early 2010s and shuttering its Beijing office in 2015. Anyone who tried to access Engadget China, a tech news site that it had continued to operate, was greeted Tuesday with a popup saying the site would no longer publish content.

China has also blocked most international social media sites and search engines, such as Facebook and Google. Some users in China circumvent the block by using a virtual private network (VPN) that masks who you are and where you are logging in from.

Verizon Communications Inc. acquired Yahoo in 2017 and merged it with AOL, but later sold the entity off to private equity firm Apollo Global Management in a $5 billion deal. Apollo announced in September that its acquisition of Yahoo was complete.

Explore further Faded internet pioneer Yahoo gets new boss

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Cardi B has won five American Music Awards and performed on the telecast during her career so far. Next step: hosting the show.

The rapper behind such hits as Bodak Yellow and Money has been tapped to host the fan-voted awards show airing from Los Angeles on ABC on Nov. 21.

We are immensely excited to have the dynamic Cardi B bring her infectious energy to the American Music Awards as a first-time host, said executive producer Jesse Collins in a statement Tuesday.

Cardi B performed I Like It at the AMAs in 2018 with J Balvin and Bad Bunny and also made history during her last AMAs appearance, becoming the first female rapper to win Favorite Hip-Hop Song twice.

Olivia Rodrigo, in the first year shes eligible, is the leading nominee this time with seven, including artist of the year and new artist of the year.

Five-time winner The Weeknd has six nominations, going up against Rodrigo in the artist of the year category along with BTS, Ariana Grande, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Reggaeton star Bad Bunny, R&B newcomer Giveon and Doja Cat each have five nominations each. In the new artist of the year category, Rodrigo joins Giveon, 24KGoldn, Masked Wolf and The Kid LAROI.
High property tax assessments are a problem in Hall County, one that District 34 Sen. Curt Friesen is tackling in the Nebraska Legislature.

Friesen, who now represents part of Hall County, met with property owners and county commissioners last year to hear their concerns about the sudden and sharp increase in valuations.

At that time the complaint was that there were some commercial apartment buildings, things like that, that had gone up 150%, some of them 200%, in value with the new assessments, Friesen told The Independent.

The increase affected property owners and tenants alike.

One of the property owners explained he had a $45-per-month increase in rent in order just to make up for the increase, and he didnt think that was fair to his tenants, he said. Maybe he was getting a good deal years back, but thats not his fault. I guess the properties just werent looked at enough.

It also affects how the state distributes equalization funds to schools via its Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act formula.
YORK  Vanisha Jemison, 32, of Minneapolis, Minn., has pleaded not guilty to four felonies related to possession of controlled substances with the intent to deliver in York County.

She appeared for arraignment in York County District Court, before Judge James Stecker.

She is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver, both Class 2A felonies, and two counts of having no drug tax stamps, both Class 4 felonies.

The case began when an officer with the York Police Department was on regular duty, at night, on South Lincoln Avenue when he saw a van traveling south without any headlights turned on. A traffic stop was initiated.

Jemison was the driver and while the police officer was talking with her, he said he could smell burned marijuana coming from the van.

When she was asked about the smell, the officer said she admitted to smoking marijuana right before the stop.
Theres been increasing confusing over the legality of delta-8, a cannabis derivative that can be found in vape cartridges, tinctures and candy at smoke shops and CBD stores in Texas. While the Texas health department maintains that delta-8 is a controlled substance and is on the states list of unlawful drugs, the 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp, which naturally contains delta-8 and has less than 0.3% THC. In 2019, Texas also legalized hemp growing. Delta-8 retailers believed the substance was as legal to sell as hemp. Delta-8 is legal in Texas for now after a Travis County judge blocked the state from criminalizing it. Should delta-8 continue to be legal in Texas?

You voted:
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. J.B. Pritzker and an entourage of top state officials planned to depart for the United Kingdom Tuesday on a weeklong hunt for climate-friendly investment and to tout Illinois' new clean-energy law at the global climate change summit in Scotland.

Pritzker's group will start in London, spending three days meeting with government and industry leaders to encourage expansion in Illinois' green-energy economy, particularly a burgeoning electric-vehicle industry, spokeswoman Emily Bittner said. She did not identify any of the British participants.

The group will continue on to the Scottish city of Glasgow on Friday for the COP26 climate summit, where Bittner said the Democratic governor will deliver a speech at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions on Nov. 7.

Illinois is leading the Midwest on climate action and building a green energy economy and I am eager to tout our success abroad, Pritzker said in a statement last week announcing the trip. Our historic clean energy legislation, talented workforce, and role as a transportation hub for the nation makes our state a top destination for international companies looking to do business in the U.S."

The Clean Energy Jobs Act, which Pritzker signed into law Sept. 15, pledges to make Illinois carbon free by 2045. It provides a $700 million subsidy to two unprofitable nuclear plants to keep them operating, closes coal-fired power plants by 2045, provides rebates for purchases of electric cars and more.

Accompanying the governor will be his chief of staff Anne Caprara, deputy governors Andy Manar and Christian Mitchell, first assistant deputy governor Christy George and deputy policy director Jessica Himes.

Five other governors  all Democrats  have announced plans to attend: Jay Inslee of Washington, New Mexico's Michelle Lujan Grisham, Hawaii's David Ige, Louisiana's John Bel Edwards and Oregon's Kate Brown. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that family obligations will keep him home, but his lieutenant governor will attend.

Maryland and Massachusetts, states led by Republican governors, will also send representatives.

Bittner said Pritzker is paying his own expenses. Airfare for staff members will be paid by Intersect Illinois, a business ambassador group financed by Illinois corporations to spur new development. Staff members' lodging will come from the state budget. Bittner did not estimate total budget costs.

Democratic House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch will join the group in London on Wednesday and pay his own expenses, spokeswoman Jaclyn Driscoll said. He will not go to Glasgow, returning to the U.S. on Saturday.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Anticipating a green light from vaccine advisers, the Biden administration is assembling and shipping millions of COVID-19 shots for children ages 5-11, the White House said Monday. The first could go into kids' arms by midweek.

"We are not waiting on the operations and logistics," said coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients.

By vaccinating children, the U.S. hopes to head off another coronavirus wave during the cold-weather months when people spend more time indoors and respiratory illnesses can spread more easily. Cases have been declining for weeks, but the virus has repeatedly shown its ability to stage a comeback and more easily transmissible mutations are a persistent threat.

On Tuesday, a special advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet to consider detailed recommendations for administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to younger children. The Food and Drug Administration already cleared the shots, which deliver about one-third of the vaccine given to adults. After CDC advisers make their recommendations, agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky will give the final order.

Zients said the government has enough of the Pfizer vaccine for all 28 million children in the 5-11 age group. "We're in great shape on supply," Zients said during the White House coronavirus briefing.

The children's vaccination drive is expected to start later this week and go into full swing by next week. Parents will be able to go to vaccines.gov and filter on vaccines for children 5-11 to find a location near them that is offering the shot.

Pfizer's vaccine already has been authorized for use in older children.

After the FDA gave its authorization for younger children, the Biden administration asked states, territories and other jurisdictions to place their initial orders. Workers at the drug company and at distribution centers began the process of preparing and packing 15 million doses, said Zients.

"More doses will be packed and shipped and delivered," he added. "More and more vaccine will come on line as we ramp up."

The goal is for parents to have a range of options for getting children vaccinated, from pediatricians' offices to clinics and pharmacies.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer says he hopes the tragedy prompts the film industry to reevaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed again.

David Halls released a statement to the New York Post, breaking his silence following the Oct. 21 fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins and the wounding of director Joel Souza during production of the Western Rust in New Mexico.

Halls said Hutchins was a friend and one of the most talented people he has worked with.

Im shocked and saddened by her death, he said in the statement. Its my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to reevaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again.

Halls didnt provide any details of what he thinks might be reformed or how changes might have helped avoid what happened on the set of Rust.

Concerns have been raised about Halls safety record by colleagues on two previous productions. Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment, and his attorney did not immediately return messages left Monday by The Associated Press.

Court records have provided details about the death of Hutchins on the set of Rust near Santa Fe. Authorities have said that Halls handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced cold gun, indicating that the weapon was safe to use.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said last week there was some complacency in how weapons were handled on the set. Investigators found around 500 rounds of ammunition  a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and suspected live rounds  even though the sets firearms specialist, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, said real ammo should never have been present.

Gutierrez Reed said through her attorneys that she didnt know where the live rounds came from and blamed producers for unsafe working conditions.

Souza told detectives that Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in which he drew a revolver from his holster and pointed it toward the camera, which Hutchins and Souza were behind. Souza said the scene did not call for the use of live rounds.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have said much work needs to be done before getting to a point where charges could be considered.

Hollywood professionals have been baffled by the circumstances of the movie-set shooting. It already has led to other production crews stepping up safety measures.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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(TBTCO) - Nhan manh trong nhung ngay toi tinh hinh dich benh se dien bien phuc tap, Pho Bi thu Thanh uy Ha Noi Nguyen Van Phong yeu cau cac ia phuong can tang cuong nhan thuc trong tinh hinh moi, thuc hien nghiem tuc Nghi quyet so 128/NQ-CP cua Chinh phu phu hop voi thuc tien cua thanh pho va tung ia phuong.
BEIRUT  Lebanons foreign minister said Saudi Arabia was dictating impossible terms by asking the government to reduce the role of Iran-backed Hezbollah, adding that Beirut's row with Riyadh could be resolved if the kingdom agreed to a dialogue with the new Lebanese cabinet.

If they just want Hezbollahs head on a plate, we can't give them that, the minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

Lebanon is facing its worst rift yet with Gulf Arab states, spurred by a ministers critical comments about the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen that described the war there as futile.

Saudi Arabia and some Gulf Arab allies have reacted angrily to the remarks made by the information minister in an interview last week, which he'd filmed before taking up his position in cabinet. Riyadh expelled Lebanons ambassador, banned all imports from Lebanon and recalled its envoy for consultations.

Kuwait and Bahrain followed suit by expelling the top envoys in their own capitals, while the United Arab Emirates withdrew all its diplomats from Beirut.

Saudi Arabia has said its actions were driven not just by George Kurdahis comments but rather were rooted in its objection to the increasing dominance of the Hezbollah armed group over Lebanese politics.

The row is part of a longstanding feud between Saudi Arabia and Iran that has played out in proxy conflicts across the region, from Yemen to Syria to Iraq.

Gulf states are traditional aid donors to Lebanon but for several years have been increasingly dismayed by Hezbollahs expanding power, and have so far been loathe to help rescue Lebanon from a devastating economic crisis.

On Tuesday, Bou Habib told Reuters he believed mutual dialogue between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia was the only way forward to solving the dispute. But he added that there had been no meetings on any level between both parties since Prime Minister Najib Mikatis cabinet was formed on Sept. 10.

There has been no dialogue [with Saudi Arabia] even before the problem with minister Kurdahi ... the Saudi ambassador here never communicated with us, Bou Habib said.

He [the Saudi ambassador] was here and was communicating with a lot of Lebanese politicians, but he wasnt communicating with us.

Kurdahi has refused to resign over the incident, but Bou Habib said it was unclear whether his resignation would solve the rift with Saudi at this point, although it could be enough for others in the Gulf.

The only offer on the table towards a resolution so far has come from Qatar, whose emir met Mikati in Glasgow on the sidelines of the COP26 meeting on Monday, Bou Habib said.

There is the possibility of a Qatari mediation, Bou Habib said, but added that it was in the initial stages and that the Qataris had not spoken with the Saudis yet over the matter.

There is no other initiative.

Qatar has denounced the Kurdahi comments but has not announced any diplomatic initiative over the incident.

Bou Habib said any Qatari effort to mediate could be helped by the resolution earlier this year of a separate row pitting Qatar against Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states that had resulted in an improved rapport between Doha and Riyadh.

Mikatis government, formed after over a year of political deadlock that has added to Lebanon's financial decline, is trying to revive talks with the International Monetary Fund to unlock much needed foreign funds.

But aside from political paralysis over an internal row to do with the Beirut port blast investigation, this latest diplomatic crisis has hampered the cabinet, Bou Habib said.

Of course we have been affected, we have been affected a great deal, not a little, he said.
Of the 459 Wyoming parcels being considered for the upcoming federal oil and gas lease sale, just 195 are eligible to be sold, officials said Monday.

The lease sale is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. It will be held more than a year after President Joe Bidens Jan. 27 executive order suspended new oil and gas leasing on federal lands, and more than six months after a U.S. district judge ordered the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to resume quarterly lease sales.

All of the 459 potential leases were originally proposed for the canceled March and June sales. The agency published the full list on Aug. 31, and took public comment from Sept. 1Oct. 1.

After reviewing public comment and completing an environmental assessment for the states nominated lands, the agency deferred 264 Wyoming parcels from the sale, largely due to concerns about disturbing priority sage grouse habitat.

In a separate announcement Friday, the BLM also cited insufficient environmental analysis as a reason for deferring some parcels.

The BLM already conducts environmental assessments for proposed leases to determine impacts that drilling could have on air and water quality, wildlife habitat and surrounding communities. But federal courts have blocked several recent oil and gas lease sales, citing inadequate review of their impacts on climate change.

On Friday, the agency said that it would begin evaluating greenhouse gas emissions as part of its oil and gas leasing program, starting with the upcoming sale. In addition to considering the social cost of carbon as part of its environmental analysis, it created a lease sale emissions tool and issued its first annual report on the greenhouse gas emissions of the federal mineral leasing programs.

The announcement precedes a comprehensive review of the oil and gas leasing program by the Department of the Interior, which was expected to come out in early summer, but has yet to be released.

A win for environmental groups like WildEarth Guardians, which have repeatedly, and successfully, challenged the leasing review process, the modification comes as world leaders gather at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP-26, to update their climate commitments in response to increasingly dire projections.

In the greenhouse gas reports state-by-state emissions breakdown, Wyoming sits at the top. The state contributes more than half of total federal emissions from fossil fuel production.

Sitting here in Wyoming, its an important step for us to understand the consequences of what goes on here, and how we can better account and address the impacts that we contribute to climate change, said Shannon Anderson, staff attorney for the Powder River Basin Resource Council.

But the changes to the review process frustrate the states embattled oil and gas industry. Shaken by pandemic-driven price swings, unsettled by the shifting regulatory landscape and angered by Bidens efforts to expand international oil production while restricting federal leasing, many in the industry see reviewing greenhouse gas emissions as yet another attempt to hamstring domestic oil and gas production.

It is clear that the BLM is continuing its efforts to make public lands energy development as expensive and difficult as possible, Pete Obermueller, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, wrote in an email to the Star-Tribune.

The Biden administration is required to hold lease sales by the June preliminary injunction. The judge didnt specify how many parcels needed to be sold, enabling the agency to exercise discretion over the total number of lease offerings.

Steve Degenfelder, land manager for Kirkwood Oil and Gas, described the additional climate analysis as an unfairly restrictive practice that singles out the oil and gas industry.

Its just another effort to bring everything to a screeching halt, he said. Maybe youre not going to stop a lease sale, but youre going to certainly decrease the number of tracts offered, and increase the time that theyre evaluated.

So far, nothing is finalized. The BLM opened another 30-day public comment period on its environmental assessment, noting that it may defer additional parcels after public comment closes.

Its not yet clear how, or how significantly, the agencys analysis of greenhouse gas emissions will affect lease sales.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires good analysis, Anderson said. It doesnt necessarily drive decisions one way or the other. That will be left to the BLM decision-makers.

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A Gillette lawmaker no longer plans to seek the censure of Rep. Steve Harshman, who was caught on camera last week cursing a colleague.

Rep. John Bear told his fellow lawmakers last week that he planned a censure motion for Harshman after the Casper Republican got caught cursing a fellow lawmaker in a hot mic incident during Thursdays special session proceedings.

Harshman apologized Friday for cursing Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, in comments that were unintentionally picked up on a Zoom recording. In response, Bear, a Republican from Campbell County, signaled that he would ask his colleagues to censure Harshman sometime this week.

But after contemplating and thinking it over over the weekend, Bear decided censure was not the best course of action, he told the Star-Tribune.

Theres another route we can go thats a little less public, Bear said.

It didnt appear as though many people caught Harshmans words when he said them, but since the sessions are recorded, a clip of his remarks began circulating soon after.

Chuck Gray, f**** [inaudible], Harshman was caught saying. Little f****** [inaudible].

Fridays special session began with Harshman publicly apologizing to the entire body and Gray specifically. Harshman said he had driven to Cheyenne specifically to apologize.

I apologize for that distraction because we have real work to do for our people, Harshman told his colleagues. It wasnt right and it wont happen again, he later added.

Speaker of the House Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, revoked Harshmans privileges to participate remotely.

Barlow identified three breaches: Addressing the body without permission from the chair, using a name of another member and inappropriate language.

Bear is still concerned that the consequences Harshman received do not fit the breach of decorum, and he is going to take it up with Barlow, Bear said Tuesday. He hopes his colleagues do the same.

Harshman served as Speaker of the House from 2017 to 2020. He has served with Gray since Gray took office in 2017.

Speaking to the Star-Tribune later, Harshman wouldnt confirm what he said on the hot mic, indicating that he didnt remember. He said he spoke privately with Gray and apologized to him. Gray, Harshman said Friday, accepted the apology.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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Lawmakers have several times over the course of the special legislative session cited medical research while advocating for particular policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

While those sources may have merit, one expert said their use might have pitfalls if lawmakers dont know how to read them.

Kem Krueger, dean of University of Wyomings school of pharmacy, spoke to the Star-Tribune about what he looks for when vetting medical research and what might indicate incomplete or inaccurate results.

The first thing you should know is that there are myriad ways research can be conducted and presented. Understanding the different styles can be challenging even for non lay-people, Krueger said.

Each one of those provides information, but the confidence in your ability to draw a cause-and-effect relationship varies tremendously, he said. You can really only do that with a well-designed randomized controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial is the gold standard for medical research. Its not based on observations, but rather experimentation.

These include the clinical trials the Food and Drug Administration requires of any new treatment, drug or vaccine before its approved for human consumption. They are incredibly regulated. The FDA even dictates how those studies are designed so that outside influences  like equipment failures, for example  cant skew the results.

But while that might be the gold standard, its not the most common form of research. In fact, those studies are relatively rare compared to other formats because of the resources needed to conduct them.

Other research has merits, but Krueger said its important to recognize their limitations at the outset.

A common type of published research is observational, meaning the findings are based on someone noticing some connection between one thing and another, but that connection hasnt been formally tested.

If you see terms like case study, cohort study, or retrospective, in the methodology for a new study, it would fall into the observational category.

This form of research can often be foundational for more rigorous follow-up, but it is not irrefutable evidence that one thing is happening because of another thing.

If I give a patient a drug and I notice a strange side effect, then I can write that up. Or if a person is taking a drug for some other reason and it seems to be helping this other condition, I might write that up, Krueger explained of observational research. That provides the initial evidence that there could be some relationship between that drug and that side effect ... but its not strong evidence for that because there could be many other factors that were going into play.

That doesnt make it a bad study, to be clear. Observational research is often thorough and carefully crafted. The findings can be crucial for getting support for more rigorous study down the line. But for those who dont understand the limits of different forms of medical research, those published findings could be easily misrepresented.

The public, as well as lawmakers, have stumbled on this problem over the course of the pandemic.

Lawmakers during the special session have focused on research declaring that natural immunity to COVID-19 is better than immunity gained from vaccination.

Rep. Tim Hallinan, R-Gillette, cited an Israeli study concluding just that. The heavily quoted finding from the research is that individuals who had already been infected and recovered from COVID-19 were 27 times less likely to again develop symptomatic illness than vaccinated individuals who had never contracted the illness.

The findings are based on a retrospective observational study using medical records of thousands of people. But the headline-grabbing statistic doesnt indicate that the data is based off of fewer than 250 COVID-19 infections among roughly 16,000 vaccinated residents  fewer than 1.5% of the vaccinated group.

Because of the format of the research, the study authors also were not able to ensure outside factors  such as who received virus tests and how often  were controlled.

Krueger acknowledged that findings such as those touted by Hallinan arent baseless, but that creating legislation using those findings is premature  mostly because COVID-19 hasnt been around long enough for long-term studies to prove one way or another which immunity is stronger.

He used chicken pox as an example. The chicken pox virus is the same one that causes shingles later in life, but its still unclear why some people develop severe cases of shingles while others deal with mild cases and others still dont develop the illness at all.

Some people got (Chicken Pox) really badly and some people had a mild case of the disease. And that appears to have impacted their immune response, he said. So thats kind of a good example of the immune reaction varying from individual to individual. Were not sure if thats based on the severity of the initial exposure, or the quantity of the initial exposure, or what those factors are that dictate your natural immunity and your natural immune response.

There have not been randomized controlled trials on COVID-19 natural immunity versus vaccination, so right now the findings are all still inconclusive.

So, from a regulatory perspective, if youre looking at a vaccine mandate, then is proof of a positive test of COVID sufficient to vaccination? Well, I think thats a legitimate question, but we dont know the answer, Krueger said. We dont have enough time or experience with this pandemic or with this infection.

Follow health and education reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @m0rgan_hughes

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As the Wyoming Legislatures special session resumed Monday, lawmakers focused on revising the two remaining bills designed to push back on vaccine mandates. But regardless of where they sat on the issue, many lawmakers seemed frustrated with the legislative product.

House Bill 1001 enacts rules for certain Wyoming businesses that may choose to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their workers. House Bill 1002 declares that all public entities will not enforce federal mandates.

But the fast-paced session had some questioning whether there was adequate time to address complicated issues.

This really is not a bill that should be done in a special session in just a few days, Sen. Dave Kinskey, R-Sheridan, said of House Bill 1002.

Both bills began the day making it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. By the close of Mondays session, theyd also survived first reading in the full Senate.

While HB 1002 keeps public entities from enforcing federal COVID mandates, it contains a number of caveats.

If it wasnt so darn complicated, thats all wed have to do in the bill, said chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Sen. Drew Perkins, R-Casper. But how do we not put everyone in the crosshairs of the federal government? Perkins asked. Thats the rest of the bill.

The Senate Appropriations Committee tried to make HB 1002 clearer by fixing language and enacting a couple more substantive policy changes.

The committee deleted text about vaccine passports from the bill as a whole. Lawmakers also added an amendment that allocates $10 million, up from $250,000, for Gov. Mark Gordon to litigate against vaccine mandates. Both Perkins and the governors office confirmed that they did not discuss the raise, but the committee felt it was necessary to enact a higher amount if the litigation warrants it.

Last week, the House Appropriations Committee had lowered the allocation from $1 million to $250,000 after a discussion with the governors office.

If the litigation money is not used, it will be rerouted back. The governor cant use it for other purposes.

All members of the Senate Appropriations Committee voted for House Bill 1002. Meanwhile, Sens. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, Dave Kinskey, R-Sheridan, and Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs voted in favor of HB 1001, while Perkins and Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, voted against it.

House Bill 1001 establishes rules for a select group of Wyoming employers if they choose to require COVID-19 vaccination of their workers. The measure underwent some amendments during committee, which mostly narrowed the focus so that an employer can live with this bill and live with the federal mandate, Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, said.

Lawmakers did that, Case explained, by invoking some existing federal law in portions of the bill where employers may have gotten caught between federal and state law.

Now, unlike before, House Bill 1001 is far less likely to conflict with the states provisions, which was the major concern before Monday.

This is the biggest and most complicated bill, Perkins said.

As Mondays session began, lawmakers entered the Senate still pointing out that the two remaining bills were not perfect, a sentiment that members of the House also continually pointed out.

Theres no perfect solution to the problem in which we find ourselves, and the state finds itself and the citizens of the states find themselves, Perkins said.

Monday brought a notable amount of public input  Perkins estimated that between 40 and 50 people testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Of those speakers, a majority of those who were in favor of the bills were vehemently anti-vaccine. Some shared misinformation with the committee.

Meanwhile, Cindy DeLancy, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance, argued that both of the bills are anti-business and put an undue burden on businesses.

I think this is chaos and confusion with severe consequences for employers, DeLancey said when testifying on House Bill 1002.

It pits employees versus employers and invites litigation, she said. Its just not something the business community can support.

Lawmakers did seek to address some business concerns. One clause in the legislation says the state will back up companies that do not have the means to fight the mandates themselves.

Go ahead and defy the federal government, and were right behind you if a fight breaks out. Is that adequate? questioned Bill Landen, R-Casper.

Even with the changes, some lawmakers were concerned about how the legislation might affect private business.

I dont see us pushing against the feds, I just see us pushing down on Wyoming businesses, said Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie.

Nonetheless, the Senate is scheduled for second readings of both bills at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The House, meanwhile, remains adjourned until Wednesday morning.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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THE Confederation of Regional Business Chambers (CRBC) is calling on the Government to consider an extension on the submission of the property tax forms beyond November 30, 2021.

The CRBC, in a statement yesterday, said there can be criminal liabilities or a penalty if these forms are not filed by November 30, hence, Government is urged to consider the request to extend the deadline as an urgent matter.
Deborah De Labastide pours her genuine love for the Yuletide season into her popular ponche-de-creme blends, pastelles and black cake.

De Labastides self-branded Debs Exquisite Island Drinks line is a must-get for visitors at the annual Christmas upmarket at Lions Cultural Centre in Port of Spain.
THE murder toll continues to rise following the shooting deaths of three men in separate incidents between Thursday evening and yesterday morning.

The killings took place in Laventille, San Juan and Freeport.

Two of the victims have been identified as Aaron Thomas and Nathaniel Phillip, while the victim in the Freeport incident remained unidentified up to yesterday evening.
Trinidad and Tobago has experienced its deadliest day of the Covid-19 pandemic to date, with a record 28 new deaths being recorded yesterday.

Among the deceased is a child.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
Just when the country should be putting up its toughest battle against Covid-19, the mood seems to be one of surrender and exhaustion with a willingness to throw caution to the wind.

With records being broken for hospitalisations and deaths, the

national will to fight seems to be evaporating.
The pre-election splurge by the PNM-led Tobago House of Assembly (THA) draws attention to constitutional loopholes that should be addressed.

Here is an administration which went in with a comfortable majority for the election which was held in January this year and came out in a dead heat with the challenger party.
This is so overwhelming for us, said Andrew Bergthold. We were making music in a basement and then suddenly ... when the first song connected with people, it was more like a stamp of approval and became our full-time job from there.

We the Kingdom is a family affair: brothers Scott and Ed Cash, who is an award-winning producer and songwriter; Eds kids Franni Rae and Martin Cash; and Bergthold, a longtime family friend.

The Nashville, Tennessee-based band formed in 2018 when they were pitching in on a Christian youth camp run by Scott Cash. The members were coming off a traumatic year that didnt necessarily test their faith so much as their trust. Franni Rae Cash, in a phone interview last month from Nashville, described it as a case of spiritual abuse that left them all pretty shaken.

We kind of almost had to relearn who God was, who Jesus was, she said of the situation, which she said is sadly too common today. It took a toll on our mental health, our families. The five of us had had that shared experience together and we were able to process it together.

And it was in that processing stage that We the Kingdom was born.
PHOENIX  Senate President Karen Fann, who spearheaded the unprecedented and controversial audit of the 2020 election returns, says shes getting out of politics at the end of this term.

Fann said Monday she has decided not to seek a fourth two-year term in the Legislature in 2022, even though she does not have to leave the Senate due to term limits until the end of 2024. The Prescott Republican will serve out her current term, which ends in January 2023.

But Fann, who has been at the center of the political whirlwind about her decision to audit the election returns in Maricopa County, said the criticism she has taken from some over how it was conducted has nothing to do with ending her political career.

Nor is she having any second thoughts, she said.

In the big picture, if you asked me would I do this audit all over again? she told Capitol Media Services. I would. Absolutely.

If nothing else, Fann said, she has learned a lot about what it takes to do this kind of review. She said she remains confident that, when all is said and done, the examination will lead to changes in election laws, including new requirements for more extensive hand counts, especially on a close race.
I compare myself, with great respect, to my Mexican countrymen who come to this country to work in agriculture. You are in the field, you work hard, maybe you will never enjoy the fruit of your harvest, but the satisfaction of seeing the land grow and produce is what motivates you to do your work, she said.

Forming alliances

Alvarez Mexia is the daughter of Mexican teachers  her mother was born in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, and her father in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Following the example of her parents, since she was a child, she was drawn to academic life and social service.

She grew up in a working-class neighborhood in the city of Mazatlan, on the Mexican Pacific, and finished her engineering studies at Tec de Monterrey.

After working for more than a decade as a teacher in her home country, Alvarez Mexia came to the United States with her husband and her eldest son, who was very young at the time. Both aspired to pursue doctoral studies. Hers took place in education and was focused on teaching with a specialization in language, reading and culture at the University of Arizona.
Photojournalist

Rebecca Sasnett has been a photojournalist with Star since 2019. Previously she worked as a freelance photographer for Arizona Athletics and USA Today Sports. She loves hanging out with her three cats and four dogs.
Kirkpatrick says the EtO levels at the Covington plant are actually below what they found in background levels in other parts of Georgia.

An Atlanta-based law firm filed more than 150 lawsuits against BD in June 2021 claiming EtO emissions from its Covington facility since the late 1960s have caused a cancer cluster among those living or working within a five-mile radius of the plant, a press release from the firm, Penn Law, said.

Darren Penn, the founder of the law firm, said the claims are still coming in and he expects more than 200 total cases to be filed against BD as existing cases pend in state court.

You have exposure to the community since 1968, and then in the testing that gets done, clearly, its in violation of whats allowed by law, Penn said. There are a number of folks who have been diagnosed with cancer in the community, and its a much higher rate of cancer in that community that you will see in any other average or normal population.
Tanque Verde had been the lowest-funded district by ESSER in Pima County, with less than $800 per pupil by the end of the third allocation, according to information provided by the district.

Big picture, it means that were going to get language arts curriculum that we havent had in over 20 years; were going to have 1:1 computers that are new enough that we can run everything we need for kids; and then were looking at some updates for classrooms, like ventilation, Hagerman said about how the district would invest the Plus-Up money.

Marana Unified, a district that initially imposed a mask mandate and then let it expire in late September, was not included in the list provided by the state. However, the districts director of public relations said it was in line to receive an allocation.

We were informed that we will be awarded it and are waiting for final contacts, spokeswoman Alli Benjamin said in an email. Our amount is right around $1 million.

A Maricopa Superior Court Judge ruled in late September that Duceys state law barring schools from imposing mask mandates was unconstitutional. Still, that law seemed to affect at least one school district in Pima County.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse headed toward opening statements on Tuesday after a jury was seated in just a day despite the polarizing nature of the case.

About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed Monday after they expressed strong opinions about the case or worried that they couldn't be fair. Others worried about their personal safety  No one wants to be sitting in this chair, one woman said  but the 20-member panel was finally set by early evening.

I figure either way this goes you're going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly, said another woman, a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about serving. She was chosen.

***

Youngkin, McAuliffe in last-minute scramble to rally voters

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin raced to fire up their partys base voters in opposite ends of Virginia on Sunday as they worked to drive up turnout in a deadlocked and bitter contest for governor that will be scrutinized as a bellwether ahead of next years midterms elections.
The fact that the undercount wasnt larger is surprising and certainly a good news story, said Diana Elliott, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. This undercount suggests the 2020 census may not be as close in accuracy as 2010, but it may not be as dire as some had feared."

The official undercount or overcount of the census wont be known until next year when the Census Bureau releases a report card on its accuracy. The bureau's post-enumeration survey measures the accuracy of the census by independently surveying a sample of the population and estimating how many people and housing units were missed or counted erroneously

The Urban Institute created computer simulations that modeled the count by demographic characteristics and geography. Despite the smaller-than-expected national undercount, it showed wide ranges based on race, ethnic background, age and among U.S. states and metro areas.

In 2020, Black and Hispanic people had net undercounts of more than 2.45% and 2.17%, respectively, according to the Urban Institute estimates, while they were respectively 2.07% and 1.54% in 2010.

There was an overcount of white residents by 0.39%, according to the Urban Institute, and undercounts of Asians, Native Americans and Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders by 0.6%, 0.36% and 1.5%, respectively.
Judge Bruce Schroeder in September rejected both sides' request to send questionnaires to potential jurors to probe biases as they prepared for the trial. Schroeder told the attorneys that he was afraid people would not fill them out and would wind up discussing the case even more with family and friends ahead of jury selection.

That may trigger even more conversations about the case, with consequent opinion formation, Schroeder said.

Ray DallOsto, a former public defender and attorney in Milwaukee, said he would anticipate jury selection taking a day or two in a murder or homicide case. He was still surprised by the speedy selection in Rittenhouses case, due to the publicity it has received.

Having tried cases and appeared before this judge, I can tell you he doesn't do a casual 4- or 5-hour work day, Dall'Osto said. You put in a real long, hard day and you get the work done.

But the streamlined procedure Schroeder used to seat a jury could generate skepticism among people watching, particularly in Kenosha, said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
Mosquera's police unit was one of many vetted by the DEA under a program meant to help conduct drug investigations in foreign countries where U.S. agents face more restrictions than local officers.

The program has led to the arrests of hundreds of drug capos in more than 20 countries.

But a scathing U.S. Inspector General report this summer blasted the DEAs leadership in Washington for failing to properly oversee its foreign law enforcement partners even in the aftermath of a string of well-publicized scandals.

The case against Mosquera arose from a tip that he was trying to sell information through his representative, Davila-Bonilla, a previously convicted Colombian drug trafficker, to targets of U.S. law enforcement investigations.

When the DEA found out, it organized a sting in which it shared false information with Mosquera about an indictment out of Miami against an American fugitive identified in court papers as P.L.

Less than a week later, Davila-Bonilla was recorded on a phone call with someone he thought was a drug-trafficking associate of P.L. but in reality was a DEA confidential source. Davila-Bonilla told him that the Miami extradition request was imminent and that the American should leave Colombia
All that left Roysden to argue that this is none of the courts business.

This would be uncharted territory, he told them. That is a terrible idea for the court to start down this path.

But Montgomery said legal precedents going back more than two centuries spell out that it is precisely the role of the judiciary to judge  and strike down  actions by other branches of government that run afoul of the constitution. And he said there certainly are questions about whether lawmakers were in compliance.

Consider, he said, the measure labeled K-12 budget reconciliation. Among the provisions in that bill is that ban on schools mandating masks.

So how does that relate to appropriation? Montgomery asked.

The Legislature could say if were going to fund schools, we want kids to go to the schools, and we think (a) mask mandate is going to deter attendance, Roysden responded. We dont want the schools that we fund to impose these types of mandates. That is within the power of the Legislature.

That line of thinking clearly did not convince the justices.
There really was like this feeling of magic in the room. And what we were really surprised about was that a lot of brands were really interested to come and meet our community, Ferguson said.

Over the years, mommy bloggers have evolved into Instagram influencers. Carefully curated images accompany posts with tips on how to get a baby to sleep or teach them to feed themselves. Often, influencers advertise products they say moms might find helpful.

The trend was started mostly by white women and the brands that sought them out. Ferguson says the landscape is much more diverse now, and brands are more intentional about reaching a diverse range of parents.

But a problem persists. Marketing budgets are much more limited for multicultural targets than for general advertising, Ferguson said. Traditionally, white women have been paid to market to general audiences. That means a white mom could earn much more money marketing to an audience of all ethnicities and races than a woman who markets specifically to, say, Latina moms.

Its still that archaic way of looking at marketing, Ferguson said. The brands and the agencies that understand (the need to diversify) are making progress. The issue is that theres still so many that are behind.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  African leaders and campaigners are pressing the international community to do more to help poorer and vulnerable nations adapt to climate change, seizing on evidence showing the continent to be the most endangered by the effects of global warming.

The head of the African Union, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, said other parts of the world must contribute half of the $25 billion the continent needs to run an adaptation program over the next five years. The balance will come from the African Development Bank.

Tshisekedi spoke Tuesday before an Africa-focused summit at the U.N. climate conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow. He was one of several leaders who highlighted Africa's plight in the face of climate change despite being the populated continent least responsible for global emissions.

Tshisekedi noted that the global effort on climate change cant be won unless it is won in Africa," which is home to 1.3 billion people. Africas 54 nations contribute only about 3% of global emissions, a fact that surprises some ordinary Africans when they find out.
The banana growers association for the Canary Islands, ASPROCAN, estimates that around 1,500 of the islands 5,000 owners of banana plantations have been hurt. Most owners have small patches of a few acres. Many, like Alvarez, have seen their land burnt and crushed. Others have lost harvests because they can't get to their trees. And many more have seen their product become unmarketable due to the volcanic ash that has ruined the banana peels.

It's been an shock wave for an industry that provides 30% of the economic life of the island, according to regional government statistics. There are entire businesses dedicated to packing and transporting the fruit, which, along with tourism, keeps La Palma going.

They say it has wiped out 10% of the islands economy. I think it is more. It wasnt just the bananas, or the apartments, or the bed and breakfasts, it has taken everything, Alvarez said. What has happened to us has happened to 90% of the people here.
During a mock parliament streamed online last week, Kordahi fielded questions from an audience of young people from the region. In one answer, he called the war in Yemen absurd and said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked no one and have the right to defend themselves.

The online program was recorded about a month before Kordahi was named information minister in the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, formed in September. Kordahi was named by a mainly Christian party allied to Hezbollah.

Saudi officials blasted his remarks as offensive and biased toward the Houthis. Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis, who a year earlier took control of the capital, Sanaa, and northern parts of Yemen.

Most commentators have said they believe Kordahis comments were a pretext for the Saudis to vent their frustration at Irans influence in Lebanon.

WHAT DO THE SAUDIS WANT?

The Saudis know what they dont want  growing Iranian influence in Lebanon  but they dont know what to do about it, said Joseph Bahout, research director at the American University of Beirut.
Putting the U.S. on the path to halve its own output of coal, oil and natural gas pollution by 2050, as his climate legislation seeks to do, demonstrates to the world the United States is not only back at the table, it hopefully can lead by the power of our example, Biden told delegates and observers on Monday.

I know that hasnt always been the case, he added, in a reference to Trump.

But Biden has yet to deliver on his own commitments as coal-state U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has again threatened Bidens domestic effort. For all the optimism Biden has been radiating at the summit in Scotland, persistent doubts lurk about whether he can deliver solely through executive actions as continued talks with Congress have steadily cut into his ambitions.

Manchin said Monday, at an unfortunate time for the president, that he remained undecided on Biden's $1.75 trillion domestic policy proposal, which includes $555 billion in provisions to combat climate change.

Manchin holds a key vote in the Senate, where Biden has the slimmest of Democratic majorities, and has successively killed off key parts of the administration's climate proposals. He said Monday he was uncertain about the legislation's impact on the economy and federal debt and was as open to voting against it as for it.
Ill take the name and then just kind of whatever strikes my fancy, as far as the visual identity of that product, said Colin Healey. We try to do things that are whimsical and fun and invite the consumer to interact with the product, whether its just looking at the label and turning it over, passing it among friends and family, like, oh, look at this! I like to include interactive elements to the beer, whether its a word search or some sort of puzzle. I kinda think back to cereal boxes creating some interaction with our consumers and just having fun with it.

Lisa McIlroy is Cabin Boys Brewerys art director. She is the wife of brewmaster Austin McIlroy. She starts making their labels as hand-painted watercolor illustrations, then scans them and adds other elements digitally.

Its a really fun gig for me because the cool thing about craft beer art is there really arent a whole lot of rules, Lisa McIlroy said. I wanted it to be my own flavor as an artist, which I think is a little bit of a whimsical illustrative style but also incorporate the themes of the great outdoors and things that were passionate about through our beer-making at the brewery. Part of the process is drinking the style of beer and thinking about it. Its also an open conversation with the brewers about what the purpose is behind that style.
A Broken Arrow woman who is accused of a hit-and-run involving a police officers vehicle has been arrested by Tulsa police on felony complaints that include eluding, child endangerment and DUI.

About 1:40 a.m. Saturday, a police officer said she was outside her car checking on a large gathering of people when she saw a vehicle strike her parked cruiser.

The officer returned to the cruiser to pursue the fleeing motorist, later identified as Stephanie Ann Manning, 31. When Manning stopped the vehicle, police said, she refused to follow commands to get out and had to be extracted physically.

A child inside the vehicle was taken into protective custody while state officials helped identify family to care for the child, according to a Tulsa Police Department news release.

In addition to the felony complaints, Manning faces a charge of driving without a license. She remains in the Tulsa County jail with bail totaling $60,800.

Manning is facing a federal court sentencing later this month after a May 2020 arrest stemming from a road rage incident in which she allegedly shot at a vehicle after a collision in Broken Arrow.
Police are seeking help to identify a third suspect involved in the assault of a restaurant owner as charges have been filed against two men already arrested in connection with the mans death.

Ramon DeJesus Garcia-Ibarra, 23, of Muskogee is charged with first-degree manslaughter in the Oct. 24 death of Francisco Frank Valdes, who tried to stop a fight in the early morning hours between Garcia-Ibarra and an unknown person outside Valdes Miami Nights Restaurant and Lounge.

When Valdes tried to stop the fight, the men redirected their aggression toward Valdes, according to an affidavit, and began to assault him.

Valdes then fell to the ground, and the two men began kicking him, authorities said. He then had a heart attack.

Security guards were attempting to render aid to Valdes when the driver of a white Chevrolet Malibu drove toward one of the guards and tried to strike him, according to the affidavit.

The guard jumped on the hood of the car to avoid being hit, and the car drove away, the report says.

Officers were able to stop the car down the road, where they found Jose Ledesma-Hernandez, also 23 of Muskogee, to be the driver. Garcia-Ibarra reportedly was in the car with Ledesma-Hernandez.
The human remains found by hunters in north Tulsa on Sunday morning have been identified as those of Jack Grimes, one of three people who have been reported missing for more than a week, the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office announced.

A Silver Alert was issued for Grimes, 76, last Tuesday when he and Dwayne Selby, 59, failed to surface after telling family they were going to a horse show in Fort Worth, Texas, the previous weekend.

Selbys mother, 80-year-old Glenda Cookie Parton of Pryor, became the subject of another Silver Alert the next day after she disappeared while looking for her son, deputies have said.

The state Medical Examiners Office notified investigators Tuesday that the remains, which were found largely unrecognizable, had been positively identified, Sheriff Vic Regalado said, officially connecting the missing persons case to the homicide investigation.

Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Jack Grimes, Regalado said during a news conference. We currently are searching the area where Jacks remains were found for additional victims, for we cannot rule out the possibility that Glenda and Dwayne have also met with foul play.
It is not going to replace the Indian Affairs Commission, McKee said. We are hoping that we will be able to learn from the work of the Indian Affairs Commission what we as councilors can do to better those relationships with the tribes.

McKee said honoring the McGirt ruling is the right thing for the state to do after spending more than 100 years acting like the Indian reservations were gone.

Of course, living up to our promises after so much time ignoring them brings challenges, but I believe Tulsa and the tribal nations are up to the challenge, McKee said. I am disappointed that the city joined Gov. Stitts frivolous lawsuit, because it only delays us figuring out how to work together better with the tribal governments that share this land.

Councilors Jeannie Cue, Jayme Fowler and Phil Lakin said they did not know enough about the citys decision to file the amicus brief to comment on it. Councilor Connie Dodson also declined to comment, noting that councilors are typically advised by the City Attorneys Office not to comment on ongoing litigation involving the city.

Councilor MyKey Arthrell said he wants to discuss the matter with Bynum before offering his thoughts on withdrawing the amicus brief. But he did not hold back from expressing his dismay and confusion over the action.
Bells Amusement Park closed in 2006. It was on this day that year that the parks lease at the fairgrounds was not renewed by the Tulsa Count
I am grateful to the Pardon and Parole Board for again showing they are willing to listen to facts and reason, show compassion, and do what is in their power to right this terrible wrong. Now, I am asking Gov. Stitt to do the same by accepting their recommendation.

I also continue to pray for the Howell family, who have suffered greatly. I know what it is like to have a loved one ripped away from you and to constantly relive that loss. I hope and pray they find healing and peace.

The clemency hearing lasted more than three hours.

Attorneys for the state, Jones and Howells survivors spoke, as did Jones.

The truth is I didnt shoot that man, Jones told the board. I didnt kill Mr. Paul Howell. I wasnt involved in it in any way.

Jones said that although he has broken some laws, he has never been violent.

He said he did make bad decisions in his youth and hopes others can learn from them if he is spared.

He said he wanted the Howell family to know he recognizes their loss and hopes they can heal and keep cherishing their loved one.
More important, these reforms werent just bipartisan  they advanced nonpartisan interests of the people.

How is it that, today, Senate Republicans view protecting our government from special-interest influence as a partisan issue?

Gerrymandering  the scheme of designing legislative districts to give some voters more power and other voters less  has been scorned by leaders in both parties. Gerrymandering has become a national scandal, Reagan said in 1987.

How is it that, today, allowing voters to choose their elected officials  rather than enabling politicians to pick their voters  has become a partisan issue?

Large majorities of voters  Democrats, Republicans and independents  support reforms contained in the Freedom to Vote Act. In fact, when Americans get to vote directly on these reforms, theyve largely approved them the last several years. Bold reforms to protect our voices and our freedom to vote like the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and D.C. statehood are supported by Republican voters, just not elected Republicans.
Factories across Ho Chi Minh City are now in operation around the clock to produce Christmas products and prepare for the biggest export season of the year.

The products, which range from Christmas toys and decorations to clothes and shoes, are bound to be exported to U.S. and European markets.

Inside a Christmas toy workshop

Inside a workshop at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park in Cu Chi District, Nguyen Van Su and his co-workers were busy manufacturing wooden animals.

Su was in charge of operating four computer numerical control (CNC) machines, which are capable of creating dozens of identical toy bears in just a few minutes.

The wooden toys are among the premium products of Nam Hoa Production and Trading JSC that are scheduled to be shipped to Europe and the U.S. over the next few days.

They will later be displayed at local shopping malls and souvenir shops ahead of this years Christmas Day.

Thanks to the machines, the firm is able to improve both product quantity and quality and meet the requirements of demanding markets, Su said.

The four machines that he operates are able to replace up to 32 people, he added.

After the machines complete their tasks, the products would be taken to the decoration area, where artisans, who are mostly women, bring them to life by adding vivid colors.

Some of these skilled workers have up to two decades of experience.

The factory began exporting its first Christmas shipments in early September, Luu Vu Son  the manager  stated, adding that they were finishing up Christmas orders before preparing for the New Year contracts.

We no longer receive new orders for this years Christmas as we have gained enough contracts for full operation until next April, said Nguyen Tien Tho, general director of Nam Hoa Company.

The firm often ships its products to partners by plane, Tho continued, adding that each merchandise sells for up to tens of millions of dong. (VND10 million = US$436)

A woman works at the factory of Viet Thang Jean Company in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Hien / Tuoi Tre

Busy jean factory

Based in Thu Duc City, Viet Thang Jean Company has been working at full throttle for their Christmas orders.

Inside a 300-square-meter room considered the heart of the entire production chain at its factory, about eight workers were controlling eight laser engraving machines to make brand new pairs of jeans.

The machines cost a total of VND64 billion ($2.8 million), according to Nguyen Van Hien, the factory manager.

They have been put into operation 24/7, while workers have had to take turns working in both day and night shifts due to the large number of orders at this peak time of the year, Hien elaborated.

Each machine can turn out up to 3,600 products a day, he added.

Pham Van Viet, general director of Viet Thang Jean, said that the company had spent $20 million on modern European machinery to replace human power.

Along with the machines, nearly 600 workers have been working around the clock to finish 1.2 million products during this high season, Viet continued.

The goods will be exported to eight European nations by air instead of by sea because of urgent demands.

They need to be put on shelves on time for the upcoming holiday season, the general director stressed.

A worker is pictured at a factory in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Hien / Tuoi Tre

Abundant orders

The workshop of Thien Loc Shoes JSC in District 12 has become busy with approximately 2,300 workers rushing to finish the remaining Christmas orders.

The facility began making products for the holiday season in April, but the production was later stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As soon as the city reopened economic activities early this month, the company quickly mobilized 90 percent of its human resources to resume operations.

It also had to raise the capacity and number of working shifts to keep up with the schedule.

The firms partners were very cooperative as they were willing to make advance payments so that their shipments could be delivered on time, according to Vu Thanh Binh, Thien Loc Shoes general director.

Our employees were happy to return to work when the pandemic subsided as we provided them with a lot of assistance during the hard times, Binh said.

The company has obtained orders for production until the end of the second quarter of next year, he added.

Vice-president of the Ho Chi Minh City Textile and Garment - Embroidery Association Pham Van Viet told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that many companies in the textile industry have received enough orders until mid-2022.

Local businesses have been allowed to actively implement pandemic prevention measures, thus their operations will not be heavily affected like in the past, Viet added.

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Linacre College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the UK, is seeking permission to change its name to Thao College, after Vietnamese businesswoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao committed a 155 million (US$211 million) donation to the school.

We are very pleased to be able to announce that we have signed a memorandum of understanding with Sovico Group, represented by their chairwoman Madam Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, to receive a philanthropy donation of a total of 155 million," Linacre College announced on its website on Monday.

This gift will have a transformative impact on Linacre College and we are immensely grateful for their generosity."

On Sunday, Sovico Groups chairwoman Thao and principal of Linacre College Nick Brown signed the MoU on mutual cooperation and investment in education research and development in Edinburgh, Scotland, the group said in a statement.

The MoU also mentioned the development of a college under the University of Oxford system and the establishment of a scholarship fund worth 7.5 million ($10.2 million) for students from Vietnam and other countries, the Vietnamese company added.

Linacre Colleges website additionally stated that they are asking the Privy Council for permission to change the school name from Linacre College to Thao College in recognition of this landmark gift after receiving the first donation of 50 million.

Thao is known as the founder and chairwoman of Sovico Group, a shareholder of the first private airline in Vietnam, Vietjet Air, and vice-chairwoman of HDBank, a large commercial lender.

The businesswoman has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion, according Forbes magazine.

She ranked 1,111th on the Forbes 2021 World's Richest List.

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Certain fully-vaccinated students in their final junior college and university year were back on campus to attend in-person classes in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday after more than five months studying online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their schools are the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education in Thu Duc City and Cao Thang Technical College in District 1.

The senior students, all of whom received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and registered for face-to-face lectures, were requested to perform health declarations and use hand sanitizer upon their arrival at campuses.

Their return to schools was meant for attending practical classes and graduation projects, which are seen as inefficient given the online mode.

A number of them had already graduated but had yet to take practical classes.

Face-to-face learning is a much easier way to absorb knowledge and interact with teachers than online learning, said Nguyen Quoc Huu Truong, a mechatronics senior at Cao Thang Technical College.

Fully-vaccinated students like Truong will defend their graduation projects on November 18 while those pending a second jab will present their projects in December, according to Nguyen Thanh Phuoc, head of the mechatronics faculty at Cao Thang Technical College.

Fully-vaccinated senior students return to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Nhu Hung / Tuoi Tre

Other students returning to the college also included those who are preparing for the national vocational exam scheduled for December, Phuoc added.

Ho Chi Minh City has been the biggest epicenter in the country since the fourth outbreak began on April 27, with over 433,000 local cases and around 16,500 deaths.

Since May, universities and junior colleges across the metropolis have closed their campuses for pandemic prevention.

The national government has relaxed pandemic control curbs over the past few weeks as transmissions have slowed down, due in part to larger vaccine coverage.

The city of about nine million people had administered over 13.3 million vaccine doses as of Monday afternoon, with more than 5.7 million people fully inoculated.

A student attends an in-person practical class at Cao Thang Technical College in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Minh Giang / Tuoi Tre

Students attend an in-person practical class at Cao Thang Technical College in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Minh Giang / Tuoi Tre

Students attend an in-person practical class at Cao Thang Technical College in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Minh Giang / Tuoi Tre

Students attend an in-person practical class at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Nhu Hung / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Ngoc Truong gives a practical lesson to his senior students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Nhu Hung / Tuoi Tre

Students return to Cao Thang Technical College in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Minh Giang / Tuoi Tre

Students attend an in-person practical class at Cao Thang Technical College in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, November 1, 2021. Photo: Minh Giang / Tuoi Tre

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LAGOS -- Up to 100 people were missing after a luxury residential highrise under construction in Nigerias commercial capital Lagos collapsed on Monday, trapping construction workers under a pile of concrete rubble, witnesses said.

A body was retrieved and at least three survivors were pulled out on Monday night as rescue workers raced against the clock to dig up victims at the site in the affluent neighbourhood of Ikoyi, where many blocks of flats are under construction.

Workers told Reuters that possibly 100 people were at work when the building came crashing down.

An excavator operates at the site of a collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, November 1, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Rescue workers used excavators to dig through rubble using generator-powered flood lights. The retrieved body was put in a waiting van while at least three people who were rescued were taken to nearby ambulances.

Building collapses are frequent in Nigeria, Africas most populous country, where regulations are poorly enforced and construction materials often substandard.

People react as they gather at the site of a collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, November 1, 2021. Photo: Reuters

There were heaps of rubble and twisted metal where the building once stood, as several workers looked on. One man wailed, saying his relative was among those trapped.

The Lagos state government said the building had 22 floors and authorities were assessing whether there had been any damage to nearby buildings.

Men carry a worker who was rescued at the site of a collapsed 21-story building in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, November 1, 2021. Photo: Reuters

The collapsed building was part of three towers being built by private developer Fourscore Homes. In a brochure for potential clients, the company promises to offer a stress-free lifestyle, complete with a hotel flair. The cheapest unit was selling for $1.2 million.

Calls to the numbers listed for Fourscore Homes and the main building contractor did not ring through.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on countries to make strong commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions in his speech at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

PM Chinh delivered a keynote speech on the first working day of the Climate Summit, held within the framework of the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday (local time), according to a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter who accompanied his entourage.

The activity is part of the premiers busy agenda on his working trip to Europe from October 31 to November 5, which includes his attendance at the COP26 and visits to the UK and France.

In his speech in front of 120 global leaders, the Vietnamese head of government stated that climate change has become the biggest challenge facing humanity.

Extreme weather conditions and rising sea level are seriously affecting food and water security and sustainable development, as well as threatening the survival of many countries and communities.

This requires the international community to take stronger and more responsible actions without delay on a global scale, PM Chinh underscored.

He affirmed that response to climate change and natural recovery must become the top priorities in every development policy.

Science and technology must take the lead while financial resources must be used as a lever to promote the transformation of development models toward a green, sustainable, inclusive, and humane economy.

Every action must be nature-based and people-centric, he continued, adding that no one should be left behind.

All countries need to make strong commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions on the basis of common responsibility that suits their conditions and capacity.

Despite being a developing country that has just carried out its industrialization drive over the past three decades, Vietnam tries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging its own resources, coupled with the support of the international community in terms of finance and technology transfer.

Such measures are aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Chinh emphasized.

Vietnam is making great efforts to respond to climate change, develop its economy, and ensure a better life for all people.

The Southeast Asian country hopes to strengthen cooperation with the international community in sustainable investment and development programs in the coming time.

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The journey from a cook to an app-based ridesharing partner is not easy for a woman in Vietnam, especially when she is in her fifties, just ask Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hong.

Hong took her parents and many of her relatives by surprise when she decided to stop working as a cook to work as a driver for GoViet, now Gojek.

Despite working around the clock since taking the new job, she always sees the bright side and inspires everyone who knows her.

One day, Hong, 49, gave Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper a brief interview after she had just completed a delivery order around noon and stopped to take a roadside rest.

A decisive moment

Hong was working as a cook at a small restaurant three years ago when she read a job announcement looking for bike partners from GoViet, an app for food ordering, commuting, digital payments, shopping, hyper-local delivery, and some other services.

The job advertisement seemed to make her work as a cook for so many years boring.

Considering this a life-changing opportunity, Hong decided to quit her cooking job to become a rideshare driver for Gojek.

Her mother originally disagreed with her decision as she did not want to see the daughter traveling so hard all day, but Hong gradually persuaded her mother.

She moved from her house in the outskirt district of Cu Chi to Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City to hire an apartment to do the new job more conveniently.

I explained to my mother that being a tech-based rideshare partner is very different from being a traditional motorbike taxi driver, said Hong.

I do not have to wander about the streets with my motorbike to find customers as my mother imagined, all I need to do is open the Gojek app to browse and choose suitable bookings for commuting or delivery."

After having a short break for lunch, Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hong browses the Gojek app to look for a booking in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

The transport app has a GPS system, with the information of destinations and clients displayed clearly in the app. When coming back home for the weekend, I told my mother how I did my job and some interesting stories I had while driving the customers, Hong recalled how she persuaded her family in her first days into her new career.

Thanks to her efforts, Hongs mother changed her mind and supported her daughters decision.

She took a fresh look at technology drivers. In addition to that, Hongs earnings from the new job not only help her take care of herself but also allow her to provide for her parents.

She starts work at 7:00 am every day and finishes late at night. She once received a booking from a client at midnight.

Hong drives all day, with only a short break for lunch at a roadside restaurant where she and some of her fellow drivers sit together, have a coffee, and chat.

Sometimes there are so many bookings that she forgets to have lunch altogether.

Hong was worried to accept delivery orders with a long distance when she was a newbie in the job for fear of dangers.

She now sets a specific goal each day for herself and then tries her best to meet the target.

Getting used to the rideshare job, she feels uncomfortable when she misses a day for any reason.

I have met various kinds of people while doing my job as a tech-based motorbike taxi driver," said Hong.

"I always try to serve best while reminding myself to stay alert against risks.

One time I received a ride booking from two customers in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City.

"I found them suspicious so I decided not to pick them up.

"I canceled the booking and told some of my friends nearby to avoid them as well."

Hong feels she has a special connection with being a tech-based driver for the last three years.

She can now travel to several places in the city instead of being confined to a small kitchen as before.

The new job has transformed her into a more positive person with the motivation of earning money and moving forward.

The job has become my passion now, and I live with both happiness and sadness because of it, said Hong.

Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hong (R) chats with a colleague during their short break at noon in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Having her second family

Working as a rideshare driver, Hong spends much more time working outside than at home.

She has found out about her second family beside other peers.

Despite their different situations and conditions, sharing a job makes them sympathize with one another.

When someone runs into any problem, the others are willing to give a hand right away.

One time one male coworker had a traffic accident, Hong just grabbed a jacket and drove to the scene, rushing him to Thu Duc General Hospital in the middle of the night.

At the hospital, doctors asked me to change his clothes to prepare for an operation, and I felt extremely embarrassed as I am not married, she recounted.

Because of his life, I did what I was asked to.

"Fortunately, my friend survived eventually."

Hong laughs at the question of what she plans for the future, saying she does not intend to get married for the time being.

She sees a family in her parents and colleagues.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge negative impact on tech-based drivers like Hong for the last months.

I just hope that the pandemic would phase out soon so everything can become normal again," the middle-aged woman said.

"Then we can continue to do our job, we can meet and support one another every day.

"I would like to remind my coworkers to protect themselves and their families carefully."

Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hong delivers food to a customer in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hong receives food for delivery to a customer in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech on the first working day of the Climate Summit, held within the framework of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday.

Society

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has proposed that arrivals from other localities who are not fully inoculated against COVID-19 be provided with necessary doses.

-- Northern Vietnam is expected to enter the coldest period of the year on November 7 and 8 due to the effect of a very strong cold spell, with average temperatures dropping to below 20 degrees Celsius.

-- Police in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City have summoned three groups of people who have been running an illegal car parking service along local streets following reports from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

-- Hanois Nam Son landfill will have to stop receiving garbage for at least three days as recent rains could cause an environmental problem that needs to be handled at the facility, according to authorities in Soc Son District.

-- Police in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang are investigating a case where a 51-year-old man locked his wife and grandchild inside their house before setting it on fire due to jealousy, causing the victims to suffer severe burns.

-- Fog enveloped Ho Chi Minh City early on Tuesday morning due to relatively low temperature and high humidity, according to Le Dinh Quyet from the southern hydro-meteorological station.

Business

-- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has officially confirmed that Vietnam Airlines meets all security requirements to operate regular direct flights to the U.S., the Vietnam News Agency quoted the national flag carrier as saying on Monday.

Education

-- Senior students of several universities and junior colleges in Ho Chi Minh City returned to school for offline learning on Monday following a five-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Traffic police from Binh Chanh District in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday chased and arrested Nguyen Thanh Huy, one of two local men who had allegedly electrocuted dogs to steal them.

The incident happened at around 10:00 pm when traffic police officers on a night shift were conducting alcohol breath testing on commuters along Nguyen Van Linh and Binh Thuan-Cho Dem Highways.

A motorbike driven by two men who were carrying a black bag along with dog electrocuting equipment at Nguyen Van Linh Roundabout caught the patrol team's attention.

Noticing the nearby presence of the officers, the suspected dog thieves ran away.

Police apprehended Huy, while his accomplice fled the scene.

Shortly after that, the team reported the case and handed over Huy along with evidence, including electrocuted dogs, to local police for further investigation.

Officers revealed that Huy had previously been convicted of property theft and could not present his driver's license, vehicle registration or ID card during a preliminary inspection.

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Vietnams Ministry of Health announced 5,637 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, while recording 2,741 recoveries and 74 fatalities.

The latest cases, including 24 imported and 5,613 local transmissions, were documented in 53 provinces and cities, the health ministry said, noting that 2,258 patients were detected in the community.

Dong Nai Province reported 858 of the domestically-infected cases, Binh Duong Province 780, Ho Chi Minh City 682, Kien Giang Province 421, Bac Lieu Province 316, An Giang Province 314, Tien Giang Province 202, Soc Trang Province 165, Binh Thuan Province 164, Can Tho City 146, Tay Ninh Province 131, Long An Province 116, Bac Ninh Province 115, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 67, Hanoi 56, Khanh Hoa Province 26, and Da Nang seven.

Vietnam had confirmed 5,595 locally-acquired infections on Monday.

The country has logged 927,494 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave emerged on April 27, 821,989 of them having recovered from the respiratory disease.

Ho Chi Minh City tops the caseload with 433,751 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 234,520, Dong Nai Province with 67,294, Long An Province with 34,990, Tien Giang Province with 17,009, Dong Thap Province with 9,941, Khanh Hoa Province with 9,041, Da Nang with 4,978, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 4,868, and Hanoi with 4,748.

Vietnam found only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves.

The health ministry confirmed 2,741 recoveries on Tuesday, taking the total to 824,806.

The toll has mounted to 22,205 deaths after the ministry registered 74 fatalities on the same day, including 31 in Ho Chi Minh City and 19 in Binh Duong Province.

Vietnam has detected 932,357 infections since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year.

Health workers have administered over 83 million vaccine doses, including 1,277,565 shots on Monday, since vaccination was rolled out on March 8.

More than 25 million people have been fully inoculated.

Health authorities target to inoculate at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year.

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Vietnam is targeting carbon emission neutrality by 2050, the country's industry and trade minister said on Monday, joining scores of countries that have pledged to halt emissions by mid-century or thereabouts in order to stop global warming.

Nguyen Hong Dien, speaking at a roundtable on the sidelines of a UN climate conference in Glasgow, said Vietnam will embark on a roadmap to reduce coal-fired power generation.

Instead the country aimed to double the installed wind and solar power generation capacity to 31-38 gigawatts by 2030, he said.

World leaders are gathering in Glasgow to take steps to cap global warming at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels - a level scientists say would avoid its most destructive consequences.

Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, also speaking at the round table, called for "fairness and equality" from developed countries in tackling climate change.

Vietnam has said it needs funds, technologies and expertise from global investors to achieve the ambitious clean energy targets.
NBN Newcastle is set to vacate its home of 59 years in Mosbri Crescent to a new site at 28 Honeysuckle Drive.

A special Goodbye Mosbri documentary will screen locally at 5:30pm on Sunday, November 7, the work of staffers Stewart Macdonald, Kerry Bear Regan, and hosts Natasha Beyersdorf and Paul Lobb.

In a note to staff, Jenny Webber General Manager, NBN said, NBN Newcastle was born in 1962 and was Australias first regional station, It was a brand new place of employment and a growing business to stimulate the local economy. Multiple studios were built for locally produced shows with the very latest production and editing facilities for their time.

Mosbri Crescent was the nerve centre for producing a vast variety of programs from our own backyard and beyond beamed out of our studios  Swallows Juniors, Saturday Date, Jackpot Quiz, Travlin Out West, Star Quest, Beating Around the Bush, Ask The Leyland Brothers, Poppa Ryan Breakfast Club, Romper Room and Big Dog and Friends to name a few.

From its inception in 1962 NBN News has focused on covering all the stories that matter  the triumphs and the tough times. In 1972 the station was the first in Australia to produce and telecast an hour long News service each weeknight. Colour television was introduced in 1975. Some of the big stories that NBN News covered over the decades include the Sygna Wreck, Star Hotel Riots, Newcastle Earthquake, Newcastle Knights Grand Finals and when the Pasha Bulka found itself stuck on our Nobbys Beach. Many of these moments are currently being remembered during our Sunday night News  part of our NBN News Rewind series partnered by Port Waratah Coal Services and Newcastle Permanent Building Society. Community partnerships were such a large part of the past. Kellie Hampton and I are working hard to ensure they are an important part of our future.

NBN has been operating for almost 60 years  and on the 4th of March, 2022 we will celebrate this marvelous milestone from the new Nine NBN.

Delivering the News each and every day has always been and continues to be the core component of what we do. Monday 8 November NBN News will broadcast Live in HD from our amazing new home at Nine Newcastle on Honeysuckle Drive. An exciting new chapter has commenced that sees us more aligned with Nine than ever before with new ways of working to ensure we remain the No.1 local News service to our loyal viewers. Nines investment in everything we do has positioned us as market leaders when it comes to breaking local news. Under Darius Winterfields leadership and direction, you will see and be part of more live crosses than ever before as we take our audiences Live to the heart of stories that matter hosted from our stunning new News set.

Our state of the art facilities and the latest in editing, communicating and broadcast technology also improves the great work we are doing for our clients from a production and digital perspective too, enabling the team to deliver the highest quality product more efficiently. We cannot give enough thanks to the incredible efforts of Steve Brown, Geoff Williams, Steve Bates and the entire engineering team, Graeme Armstrong, Leo Flynn, Craig Larson, Nine Sydney broadcast operations engineers and our new control room family members at Nine Brisbane, a place I loved and was part of for 32 years.

We have not said Goodbye to Mosbri Crescent without paying respect to our history. The legacy wall on honeysuckle drive as you enter the building is a gorgeous reminder of those before us and we have some beautiful memorabilia proudly on display at our new television station.
Famed floor manager Rob Belvedere Mascara spoke to Today Extra this morning, remembering his 14 years with Bert Newton on Good Morning Australia.

Mascara was just 19 years old when he started working on the show.

Youd never know what he was going to do. You never knew what he was going to say. Nothing was scripted. We basically had a rundown we knew he was coming on. And that was it, he said.

Belvedere has also coined a final limerick tribute for the Master
One of the leading challenges that is faced in this era is global warming. The rapid increase in production of automobile significantly increased the average carbon dioxide emission. Similarly, the aviation industry is much more advanced, since the giant leap into modernization came into being, hundreds of international and regional airlines started their operations.

It is said that, on average there are 8,000 aircraft in the air at the same time which may spike to double of it during peak hours. So what does this mean? Yes, it means loads and loads of carbon emission.

The aircraft engine work on the principle of combustion, which emits carbon dioxide every second. Imagine 8,000 aircraft continuously emitting carbon dioxide, which is the main constituent of greenhouse gases. Yes, tons of these gases produced. Is it not a matter of deep concern? Yes, this is indeed a matter of great concern.

IATA (International Air Transport Association) knew about this issue and numerous meetings on international and national level were held to suggest the best possible solution to this uprising environmental issue. The carbon dioxide traps the sun rays from reflecting back from earths surface, which causes increase in temperature. The combustion engine of an aeroplane produces carbon dioxide along with sulphates, soot and water vapours.

These all elements are harmful to the environment and causes global warming.

Modernizing the aviation fuel

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is being promoted by IATA as a better option for airlines, as this fuel is not refined from petroleum as normal jet fuel was, but rather is composed of constituents like used cooking oil, agriculture residues and non-fossil carbon dioxide (e.g.: from industrial plants).

Therefore, this eco-friendly fuel was suggested by IATA to be implemented by the airlines. It also requested the governments to cooperate with airlines to commence operations using this fuel.

Since 2016, there have been nearly 370,000 flights using sustainable aviation fuel. IATA estimates that a 100 million tonnes of SAF will be produced in 2021 and that more than 45 airlines now have experience with SAF.

The Etihad's 787-10 'Greenliner'

Etihad Airways took the eco-friendly air travel to the next level by its Greenliner, a modified version of Boeing 787-10 in terms of fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness. Registered as A6-BMH, this aircraft took off to the skies on flight to London Heathrow on 23 October 2021. The route of flight was carefully planned to avoid ice super-saturated areas to avoid the formation of harmful contrails. The water bottles provided during the flight were plant-based, which could easily be recycled.
UNC System President Peter Hans Charges Chancellor Search Committee

University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans met for the first time today with the newly appointed UNCW chancellor search committee to kick off the selection process for Chancellor Jose V. Sartarellis successor. Sartarelli plans to retire on June 30, 2022.

Hans opened the in-person meeting in Burney Hall with remarks of appreciation for the chancellors accomplishments during his tenure.

Thank you to my dear friend for a truly extraordinary job leading this institution, said Hans. Since Zito has been on the job, UNCW has grown stronger and weathered some of the toughest crises that Mother Nature has ever thrown at a public university. From hurricanes to pandemics, you name it, this leader has seen it all. He has stayed focused on a vision of UNC Wilmington as a highly competitive powerhouse institution for the region and the state and increasing national recognition for UNCW.

Hans then delivered his charge to the committee, reminding them of the gravity of their role.

The chancellor search is an important moment in the life of any institution, said Hans. Done right, this is a moment to solidify UNCWs standing in the community, in the state and in the wider world of higher education. People are paying attention right now, and that's an opportunity to showcase the very best of UNCW. I know each of you is up to the task, and Im in your corner. We will be in this together.

The 18-member committee discussed a proposed timeline, suggested by members of Hanss UNC System Office, which guides the process for developing a strategy, selecting and interviewing candidates and ultimately making a minimum of three candidate recommendations to the UNCW Board of Trustees. Upon approval, the board will submit three candidate finalists to Hans, and he will conduct the finalists interviews. The final decision to elect and appoint a chancellor rests with the UNC Board of Governors based on Hans recommendation.

Immediate next steps for the search committee include creating a leadership statement that will be used to advertise the position and convey points of pride and priorities for UNCW, as well as job description details and candidate qualifications.

A series of listening forums for students, staff, faculty and community members will also be planned in the next few weeks. Feedback from these sessions will be used to help craft the leadership statement and vet applicants. Forums will be in-person and virtual to allow for as much input as possible.

Committee chair Gidget Kidd 91, also UNCW Board of Trustees chair, said the committee would like to have a new chancellor named before Chancellor Sartarelli leaves. She expressed the importance of shared Seahawk values and urged the committee to be a united front to move UNCW forward.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community can follow the progress of the selection process and submit feedback by completing a survey at the UNCW Chancellor Search website.

We are going to find a worthy successor to our great chancellor and move UNCW onward and upward, said Hans.

-- Krissy Vick
Over the past 30 years Caspian nations such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have built thriving economies on oil and gas wealth led by global energy companies and a handful of megaprojects. As times change, that model may need to be reassessed. Nearly 30 years ago as the Soviet Union lay in tatters, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan signed off on the Caspians first oil and gas megaprojects, hoping to guarantee their independence by transforming the regions energy landscape and their role in it, Journal of Petroleum Technology reports.

Nursultan Nazarbayev, then president of Kazakhstan, took the first step in April 1993 by creating Tengizchevroil (TCO), a joint venture between Chevron and Kazakh state oil company KazMunaiGaz, to develop the super-giant Tengiz oil field and nearby Korolev field. Today, Chevron still holds 50% of the venture, ExxonMobil controls 25%, KazMunaiGaz, 20%, and LukArco, a subsidiary of Russias Lukoil, 5%.

A year and a half later, in September 1994, Azerbaijans president, the late Heydar Aliyev, signed a production-sharing agreement (PSA) to develop the deepwater reserves of the Azeri, Chirag, and Gunashli (ACG) fields, attracting the participation of a whos who of the worlds oil and gas elit 13 global companies representing eight countries. These and other signings had a knock-on effect as more upstream megaprojects popped up across the region in the late 1990s and throughout the early 2000s, attracting more international participation and the need to develop midstream infrastructure such as Azerbaijans BakuTbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC) export line to Turkey and Kazakhstans Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to Russias oil export terminal at Novorossiysk, as landlocked Central Asia devised ways to get its crude oil to market.

For a generation, the Caspians top-heavy bigger is better way of doing things, led by global majors, did a good job of attracting upstream investment. But what about the next generation as those same supermajors rebrand and shift their portfolios to produce more energy with less carbon?

Ashley Sherman, research director at Wood Mackenzie for upstream oil and gas, predicted in June that Caspian oil and gas production will continue to grow in this decade as already-committed oil and gas investments percolate through the system. These investments, however, target expansion and optimization of existing operations. Thus, by 2030, upstream capital expenditures are likely to be at only half of their 2019 levels, Sherman wrote.

BP and Socars (the state oil company of the Azerbaijan Republic) deepwater Shafag Asiman discovery in Azerbaijan may be an exception, but while a first exploration well drilled and completed in March detected gas condensate, the well was suspended pending further evaluation and possible drilling of a sidetrack appraisal well, BP said in a news release. The block lies 125 km (78 miles) southeast of Baku in an unexplored area in 650-to-800 m water depths.

It is likely that tomorrows Caspian upstream will look a lot like todays Caspian upstream, which is dominated by five projects: the onshore Tengizchevroil and Karachaganak projects in Kazakhstan; shallow-water offshore Kashagan, also in Kazakhstan; and Azerbaijans offshore deepwater ACG and the Shah Deniz gas field. While each of these projects elicits a definite wow factor in terms of sheer size, it is worth noting that the PSAs on which most of the projects are based will expire in the 2030s, though some remain in effect into the 2040s.

New Math: Paris4=1 Tengiz

Tengiz boasts an oil column that measures 1 mile (1.6 km) across and has a surface area more than four times the size of Paris. It is the deepest producing supergiant oil field and the largest single-trap producing reservoir in existence, according to TCOs website. In 2020, Chevron reported its share of net daily production averaged 281,000 bbl of crude oil, 405 Mcf of natural gas, and 24,000 bbl of natural gas liquids.

Current expansion plans focus on investing in an integrated Future Growth Project-Wellhead Pressure Management Project scheduled to start up in late 2022, with all facilities coming on line by the middle of 2023. The project aims to raise production at Tengiz by about 260,000 B/D, thus extending TCOs production plateau and keeping existing plants producing at full capacity. The project uses sour-gas-injection technology already proven during TCOs 2008 expansion, according to the operator.

According to Lukoil, the wellhead-management system maintains plant capacity by lowering the flow pressure at the wellhead and then boosting the pressure to the inlet requirements of the six existing processing trains.

Karachaganak Steppes on the Gas

Kazakhstans second onshore producer is Karachaganakone of the worlds largest gas-and-condensate fields. Italys Eni and Anglo-Dutch Shell (through its 100% affiliated company BG Karachaganak Ltd.) are joint operators with a 29.25% interest each in the KPO (Karachaganak Petroleum Operating) consortium. Other KPO partners include Chevron with an 18% interest, Russias Lukoil at 13.5%, and KazMunaiGas with 10%. Kazakhstan signed the initial PSA in 1995 with BG Group and Eni. The concession extends to 2037, according to Enis website.

The field covers 280 km2, and according to KPO, holds estimated hydrocarbons initially in place of 9 billion bbl of condensate and 48 Tcf of gas, with estimated gross reserves of more than 2.4 billion bbl of condensate and 16 Tcf of gas. In 2021, KPO completed a gas debottlenecking project; in 2019 the partners sanctioned a fourth injection-compressor project and launched a fifth trunkline project.

Kazkhstans only offshore project, Kashagan, was discovered in July 2000 in shallow water in the North Caspian. Like its onshore cousins, Kashagan is big. It is considered one of the largest fields discovered in the past 40 years, the largest field found outside of the Middle East, and has a projected output close to that of the Ghawar field in Saudi Arabia, according to the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC).

NCOC operates the field under a PSA signed in 1997, with Eni taking responsibility for phase 1 of the fields development and Shell assuming responsibility for production operations. The PSA runs through 2041. Eni subsidiary Agip KCO holds 16.81% in the consortium with Shell also at 16.81%. Other partners include ExxonMobil (16.81%), Total (16.81%), China National Petroleum Corp (8.33%, which was acquired from ConocoPhillips for $5 billion in 2013), KazMunaiGaz (16.87%), and Japans INPEX North Caspian Sea (7.56%), according to partner company websites.

Kashagans development activities in 2020 included a phased plan to expand production capacity from its initial target of 370,000 B/D. Phase 1 would upgrade existing associated gas compression-handling to raise production capacity up to 450,000 B/D, NCOC reported. Other upgrades relate to raising gas-reinjection capacity and delivering gas to a new onshore treatment unit.

BP and Partners Spend Another $6 Billion in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan offers a slightly more optimistic picture with the ACG oil project and Shah Deniz gas and gas condensate development as centerpieces of the countrys hydro-carbon production. ACG produced 3.6 billion B/D of oil at the deepwater ACG and West Chirag locations from the start of production in November 1997 to Q2 2019. Of that, 3.3 billion bbl were exported via the BTC pipeline to global markets, according to BP.

Over the projects 3 decades of life so far, the partners invested more than $36 billion and are now committing a further $6 billion to bring a new 100,000 B/D platform onstream in 2023 at the Azeri Central East field, a project that represents a new stage in ACGs development. In September 2017, the partners agreed to extend ACGs PSA by 25 years, to 31 December 2049. The revised PSA came into force in January 2018, and in 2019, a final investment decision was taken to invest in a new platform.

BP holds a 30.37% stake in the project; Socar holds a 25% interest. Other international partners include ExxonMobil, 6.79%; Japans IMPEX Southwest Caspian Sea, 9.31%; Hungarys MOL, 9.57%; Norways Equinor, 7.27%; Turkeys TPAO, 5.73%; Japans Itochu, 3.65%; and Indias ONGC, 2.31%. https://jpt.spe.org/chevron-sells-azerbaijan-assets-mol-hungarian-oil-and-gas

While ACG is largely an oil export play, Azerbaijans Shah Deniz, also operated by BP, is gas and herein lies a clue to the role that Caspians megaprojects may indeed have to play in the future energy transition: What oil was to the last generation, gas will be to the next. On its website, BP hails Shah Deniz, which it operates, as its largest discovery since Prudhoe Bay in Alaska (North Americas largest oil field, which was discovered in the 1960s).

In the first half of 2021, the Shah Deniz Alpha and Shah Deniz Bravo platforms produced 10 Bcm of gas and around 1.9 million tonnes (15.1 million bbl) of condensate. The gas is delivered to markets in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, but the big news this year has been that as of 31 December 2020, connections through relevant pipeline systems had been made to finally deliver Azeri gas molecules to Europe.

In early October of this year, Lukoil announced it had agreed to acquire a 15.5% interest in the Shah Deniz natural gas project from Petronas for $2.25 billion pending various approvals. Lukoil President Vagit Alekperov said in a statement that the purchase is related to an agreement signed by the Russian and Azerbaijani governments in 2018 to promote stronger business ties. Completion of the transaction will raise Lukoils stake in the Shah Deniz project to 25.5% from its current 10% share. BPs operator interest is 28.8%; Turkeys TPAO has 19%; Socar, 10%, Irans Naftiran Intertrade Company, 10%, and the Southern Gas Corridor, 6.7%.

Small Trumps Big in a Sea of Megaprojects

While SGC (the Southern Gas Corridor project) may be the smallest shareholder in Shah Deniz, it could be the projects most important partner and the guarantor of Azerbaijans future as a gas supplier to Europe. The SGC project aims to supply Europe with Caspian gas from the Shah Deniz natural gas condensate field through a network of three pipelines: the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

SGC holds and manages participating interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the various upstream and midstream projects, which will require an estimated $40 billion in investment to complete, according to SGC. In the upstream, Shah Deniz phase 2 will, upon completion, add a further 16 Bcm of natural gas per year to the 10.9 Bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under the first phase. The total length of three newly constructed pipelines in the system spans more than 3200 km, SGC reported.

The US Energy Information Administration noted in a recent country analysis that between the first half of 2018 and the first half of 2021, Shah Deniz production doubled. In September, TAP confirmed that 5 Bcm of natural gas from Azerbaijan had crossed the border into Europe via the interconnection point of Kipoi, at the Greek-Turkish border, where TAP connects to TANAP, and that more would be on the way.

TAPs confirmation that Caspian Sea gas has reached Europe is not only good news for Azerbaijan and its international partners, it sends a signal to producers in the Eastern Mediterranean who want to supply gas to Greece and Italy but whose export pipelines exist only on paper. https://jpt.spe.org/israeli-gas-to-italy-is-new-flavor-of-the-month-to-supply-europe-from-offshore-gas-deposits-in-the-east-med

In many ways, todays East Med is much like the Caspian of the 1990sa frontier region replete with exploration and development opportunities for its first production projects.
An international team of researchers wants to find people who are genetically resistant to SARS-CoV-2, in the hope of developing new drugs and treatments. Imagine being born naturally resistant to SARS-CoV-2, and never having to worry about contracting COVID-19 or spreading the virus. If you have this superpower, researchers want to meet you, to enrol you in their study, Nature reports.

An international team of scientists has launched a global hunt for people who are genetically resistant to infection with the pandemic virus. The team hopes that identifying the genes protecting these individuals could lead to the development of virus-blocking drugs that not only protect people from COVID-19, but also prevent them from passing on the infection. Its a terrific idea, says Mary Carrington, an immunogeneticist at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in Bethesda, Maryland. Really, a wise thing to do.

But success isnt guaranteed. If genetic resistance to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 exists, there may be only a handful of people with this trait, says Isabelle Meyts, a paediatric immunologist and physician at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, who is part of the consortium behind the effort. The question is how to find those people, says Sunil Ahuja, an infectious-diseases specialist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Its very challenging. This is not for the faint of heart.

Discordant couples

Nevertheless, the study authors, including Evangelos Andreakos, an immunologist at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, say they are confident of tracking down their quarry. Even if we identify one, it will be really major, he says.

The first step is to narrow the search to people who have been exposed, without protection, to a sick person over an extended period, and have not tested positive or mounted an immune response against the virus. Of particular interest are people who shared a home and bed with an infected partner  pairs known as discordant couples.

The team of co-authors from 10 research centres across the world, from Brazil to Greece, have already recruited some 500 potential candidates, who might fit these criteria. And since the publication of their paper less than 2 weeks ago, another 600 people, including some from Russia and India, have contacted them, nominating themselves as possible candidates.

The response was a real surprise, says Jean-Laurent Casanova, a geneticist and study co-author at the Rockefeller University in New York City. I did not think for one second that people themselves, exposed and apparently not infected, would contact us.

The goal is to have at least 1,000 recruits; Andreakos says theyve already started analysing data.

A huge challenge ahead

But the researchers might have an almost impossible task, given the difficulties of proving that candidates were highly exposed to the virus, argues Ahuja. They will have to confirm that the sick partner was shedding high doses of live virus when the couple were interacting closely with one another.

Discordant couples are not uncommon, but it is rare to find those that meet these criteria and have been regularly tested, he says. The fact that many people have now been vaccinated, potentially masking any genetic resistance to the virus, further limits the pool of people to study, Ahuja adds.

Once they have identified possible candidates, the researchers will compare the individuals genomes with those of people who have been infected, in search of genes associated with resistance. Any contender genes will be studied in cell and animal models to confirm a causal link to resistance and establish the mechanism of action.

Casanovas team has previously identified rare mutations that make people more susceptible to severe COVID-19, but the researchers are now shifting gears from susceptibility to resistance.

In genetic surveys called genome-wide association studies (GWAS), other groups have scoured the DNA of tens of thousands of people in search of single-nucleotide changes  which typically only have a weak biological effect  and identified some possible candidates associated with reduced susceptibility to infection.

One of these is found in the gene responsible for the type O blood group, but its protective effect is small, says Carrington, and its not clear how it is conferred.

Mechanisms of resistance

The researchers behind the new project have hypothesized the kind of resistance mechanisms they might find. The most obvious could be that some people dont have a functioning ACE2 receptor, which SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter cells. In one GWAS, posted as a preprint2, and therefore not peer reviewed, researchers identified a possible link between a rare mutation that probably reduces expression of the ACE2 gene and a diminished risk of infection.

This type of mechanism has previously been observed with HIV, the virus behind AIDS. Beginning in the 1990s, Ahuja and Carrington were involved in work that helped to identify a rare mutation that disables the CCR5 receptor on white blood cells, preventing HIV from entering them.

That knowledge has been really useful, says Carrington. It led to a class of HIV-blocking drugs and two people were also apparently cleared of HIV after receiving bone-marrow transplants from donors with two copies of the resistant genes.

Other people resistant to SARS-CoV-2 might have very powerful immune responses, especially in the cells lining the insides of their noses. Andreakos says some people might have mutations that ramp up genes that stop the virus from replicating and repackaging into new viral particles, or that break down viral RNA in the cell.

Despite the challenges ahead, he is optimistic about discovering people who are naturally resistant. We are confident that we will find them, he says.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is threatening with a new military operation against Kurdish militants in Syria. Why is Ankara dissatisfied with the situation in the region beyond the Euphrates, and how will Russia and the United States behave?

Two years ago, in October-November 2019, Turkey conducted its third military operation in Syria - "Peace Spring". Then the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) managed to dislodge Kurdish militants from the People's Self-Defense Forces (YPG) group from an almost 100-kilometer zone between Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad. The fighting ended after the intervention of Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin invited his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet in Sochi, where they signed a memorandum. According to it, the Kurdish units were supposed to be withdrawn at least 32 km to the south from the territories not taken by Turkey and the pro-Turkish opposition ("Syrian National Army"). Russian-Turkish patrols were planned to be introduce into the liberated territories. This has been achieved in a number of zones, but not everywhere.

Kurdish militants refuse to leave their positions, ignoring the agreement between Putin and Erdogan. Moreover, YPG periodically attacks TAF. So, on October 10, unknown people using ATGM fired at a Turkish convoy near the village of Mari in the Azaz region of Aleppo province, as a result, the "Kirpi" armored car was hit. Ankara accused the YPG of the attack, the latter denied any involvement.

It is possible that during a meeting with Putin in Moscow on September 29, Erdogan expressed dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the region beyond the Euphrates. Anyway, two weeks later, on October 13, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "Russia and the United States are also responsible for the attacks of the People's Self-Defense Forces / Kurdistan Workers' Party against Turkey." The claim against Russia is connected with the Sochi deal of 2019, against the United States - with the fact that the Syrian Kurds are supervised by the Americans and there are American bases in the Kurdish territories.

Thus, Turkey has been threatening to conduct a military operation in Syria against the YGP since about mid-October. After the attacks on the TAF by the Kurds, Erdogan declared Turkey's "overflowing cup of patience" and that Ankara would soon eliminate the threat of "terrorists" on its own. On November 1, Erdogan repeated his threat. "Of course, the operation is carried out when it is needed. There is no way back from this ... If the PKK / PYD / YPG terrorist organizations oppose us, we will do everything what is necessary. We will not compromise on this issue," he said. On the same day, a source of RIA Novosti in the opposition said that the TAF was ready to launch a military operation on November 2 against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the backbone of which is YPG.

There are three main questions on the topic of the Turkish operation. Will it take place? How will Russia react? How will the US react?

Recalling the previous experience of Turkish operations in Syria, it should be noted that threats from Erdogan's office and the Turkish Foreign Ministry were constantly before operations, and the threats found their practical implementation. In 2018, the Turks cleared Afrin ("Olive Branch") from the YPG, and in 2019 - part of the border zone beyond the Euphrates ("Peace Spring"). Now Erdogan can also keep his word.

During the TAF attack in Afrin, Russia showed neutrality, having received a "free hand" for attacks against Damascus and the Russian Aerospace Forces in operations against the armed Syrian opposition. During the "Peace Spring" operation, Moscow offered its mediation. On the one hand, the Russian Federation knows how to make a profitable exchange, on the other hand, it can find a common language with Turkey in order to save the Kurds from complete defeat. What will Putin choose this time? If the Kurds of northern Syria agree to go under the flag of Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad, then the Turkish operation will lose its meaning. If the Kurds, again believing in the support of the United States, refuse the assistance of the Russian Foreign Ministry, they will face a third defeat from the TAF. In exchange for a Turkish operation in the region beyond the Euphrates, Moscow can gain control over areas in Idlib province up to the M4 highway for itself and its ally Assad.

The United States is formally responsible for its ally YPG, with whom it fought against ISIS* (*banned in Russia) in 2015-2016. In 2019, the Donald Trump administration reacted harshly and threatened to "bring down the Turkish economy" if the latter launched an attack against the YPG. However, the United States was never able to stop Turkey, in fact, betraying its ally in the person of the Syrian Kurds. It is possible that this time the White House will behave in the same way. Erdogan had the opportunity to discuss the operation with Joseph Biden at a meeting on the G20 margins in Rome. It is known from open sources that Syria was among the topics they discussed. It is unclear whether Erdogan managed to get the green light from the American president or not. We will be able to find it out only by the reaction of Washington in case of a real military actions' start of in the region beyond the Euphrates.
On October 16, German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid her farewell visit to Turkey. During the Merkel period, which lasted for 16 years, both Ankara and Berlin worked hard to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship, writes Turkish Daily Sabah.

The opportunities for cooperation between Ankara and Berlin have expanded over the past 16 years, especially in the field of economics. On the other hand, the two countries have faced various challenges due to the activities of the PKK and the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) in Germany as well as Turkeys European Union membership process.

Economic relations

Despite the tensions in bilateral political relations, Turkey and Germany established a strong economic relationship during Merkels term. Merkel gave importance to increasing commercial relations with Turkey as well as with other countries. The Turkish-German trade volume stood at approximately $23 billion, when Merkel took office in 2005. Thanks to the steps taken in line within the framework of mutual interests, this trade volume has nearly doubled and approached the level of $40 billion today.

German investors have turned their attention toward Turkey because of Turkeys population of over 80 million, its stable political structure compared to other countries in the region, its growing purchasing power and wide market opportunities. As a result of this, the number of companies with a German capital partnership in Turkey has increased from around 1,300 in 2005 to around 7,250 today. Therefore, the economic pillar of Turkish-German relations has strengthened quantitatively during the Merkel period. Despite this, since the customs union between Turkey and the EU could not be updated, the Turkish-German trade volume remained below the long-targeted $50 billion level.

During the Merkel period, there was also a partial change in the scope of trade between Turkey and Germany. Until 2005, Turkey mostly exported low value-added products to Germany, but today it also exports high value-added motor vehicles, machinery and chemical products. The investment portfolio of German companies in Turkey has expanded. German companies, which invested mostly in the manufacturing and service sectors in Turkey until 2005, are now making pioneering investments in the renewable energy sector. So, Turkish-German economic relations have both expanded in terms of quantity and deepened in terms of quality in the past 16 years.

Activities of PKK and FETO

The PKK issue, a chronic problem in Turkish-German relations, has been a part of the political agenda during Merkels 16-year tenure.Turkey has always reacted to the fact that the terrorist organization has been residing in Germany for many years and leads its anti-Turkey actions across Europe from there. Although European countries and the EU institutionally recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization, the nongovernmental organizations established by the PKK in Germany have been thorns in Turkey's side. In addition, the violent attacks carried out by the organization against the Turkish diaspora in Germany were among the developments that escalated tensions in Turkish-German relations. For this, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the PKK's activities in Germany during almost all of his meetings with his German counterpart.

After the treacherous coup attempt on July 15, Germany drew a profile that supported the organization by granting FETO militants asylum, another negative development that coincided with the Merkel period. FETOs presence in Germany and the condoning FETO activities there led to a basic question: Why does Germany support anti-Turkish terrorism? This was actually the most important development that brought Turkish-German relations to a breaking point during the Merkel period.

EU membership process

Turkeys accession process to the EU was one issue that never came off the agenda during the Merkel era. Merkels predecessor, Social Democrat Gerhard Schroder, strongly supported Turkeys EU membership. Actually it was Schroder who convinced the leaders of other EU member states in 2004 that full membership negotiations with Turkey should be opened on the condition that they comply with the Copenhagen criteria. However, unlike Schroder, Merkel openly opposed to Turkeys EU membership in line with her conservative political identity. As a matter of fact, after Merkel took office, she brought the so-called privileged partnership model for Turkey to the agenda. As a reflection of this policy, Merkel did not take constructive steps on issues such as opening new negotiation chapters, updating the EU Customs Union and removing visas for Turkish citizens.

Although Merkel did not give the expected support for Turkeys EU membership, she did not hesitate to take the initiative on behalf of the EU when required. In fact, in times of crisis, Turkey often called on Berlin to maintain its relations with the EU. At such times, Brussels received help from Berlin to get relations with Ankara back on track. For instance, Merkels Germany played an important role in mediating the provision of financial aid to Turkey in the fight against irregular migration and in the signing of the famous March 18 agreement.

Similarly, the demands of France, the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece to suspend Turkeys membership and impose heavy sanctions on it due to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea were also suppressed by Merkel. Thus, when Turkey-EU relations came to a breaking point, the Merkel government acted rationally and prioritized dialogue with Turkey. As a result, she prevented potential major crises that would create serious depressions in Turkey-EU relations.

All in all, Merkels last 16 years in office will be recorded in history as one of the most active periods in Turkish-German relations. Erdogan and Merkels efforts to act as two rational actors on the axis of mutual interests became the main driving forces of this 16-year dynamism.
Exactly a year ago, on September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan's Patriotic War began. On that day, Armenia's occupying forces subjected the positions of the armed forces of Azerbaijan along the front line and the adjacent populated areas in Azerbaijan to intensive fire with the use of large-calibre weapons, artillery and mortars. Baku decided to launch a counter-offensive operation to ensure the safety of the civilian population. Vestnik Kavkaza offers its readers to follow the events of the 44 days of Azerbaijan's Patriotic War as they were covered a year ago.

On the night of the war's thirty-seventh day, November 2, the Gazakh, Dashkesan and Tovuz regions of Azerbaijan were hit from the Armenian territory, in the morning the Armenian occupation forces resumed shelling of settlements in Aghdam and Agjabedi regions. It became known that the Armenian military tried to invade Azerbaijan from the Syunik region late in the evening.

Armenian nationalists in the United States tried to put pressure on The New York Times for covering the Patriotic War of Azerbaijan. The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted to Washington's proposal to introduce Scandinavian peacekeepers into the combat zone. A rally in support of the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan was held in Calgary.



Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev drew attention to the fact that Baku agreed to a truce three times, but every time Armenia violated it.

After 15:00, the liberation of eight settlements of the Zangilan, Gubadli and Jabrayil regions was announced. Footage of the liquidation of four MLRS "Grad" invaders was published. In response, the invaders resumed attacks on the Terter and Goranboy regions of Azerbaijan.



In the afternoon, one of the commanders of the occupation forces in Karabakh was liquidated, it turned out that another colonel had been killed a week earlier. The first casualty of the minefields left by the occupiers in the liberated lands appeared - an ANAMA employee was blown up in the Jebrail region.



The fake news about the downed Azerbaijani plane was denied, as well as the fake news about the shelling of civilians in the occupation zone.

In the evening, shelling of the liberated settlements in the Gubadli region continued from the territory of Armenia. Footage of the destruction of the invaders' manpower in the direction of Kyrmyzy Bazar, as well as the "Kub" air defense system in the captured village of Chardagly of Terter region, was published.



In Armenia, fathers and children were sent to the front under the threat of execution under the guise of volunteers. Yerevan recognized the death of 1177 occupiers.

Late in the evening, the Kremlin briefly reported on the telephone conversations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Thus, on the thirty-seventh day of the war, the Azerbaijani liberation army continued to squeeze out the occupation troops of Armenia from the territories of the Zangilan, Gubadli and Jebrail regions, preventing them from concentrating significant forces on the defense of Shusha. Yerevan responded by shelling the settlements of Azerbaijan.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised to Israeli minister Karine Elharrar for her not gaining access to COP26 in her wheelchair on Monday.

Karine Elharrar was forced to return to her hotel 50 miles away on Monday after waiting outside for two hours.

The UK prime minister told her he was sorry for the "confusion" when the energy minister joined a meeting with him and Israel's PM, Naftali Bennett.

Bennett thanked his British counterpart for his "quick intervention on this unfortunate incident". And he called it a "learning opportunity for all of us in the importance of accessibility for all", a statement backed by Johnson.

Elharrar - who has muscular dystrophy - told BBC News she had gone into the climate summit on Tuesday "very easily" and it was "quite a different experience".

But she said Monday's incident had been "a good experience to make sure the next UN conference will be accessible".

The minister added: "We can talk about accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities, but in life we need to implement all the conventions and all the regulations and that was an experience that showed that we need to pay attention to all the details everywhere. "I am sure it will be different in the future."

Earlier, the UK's Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said the incident involving Elharrar was "deeply regrettable" and that the UK government had apologised.

But disability charity Scope said it was "inexcusable" and the organisers "should have seen this coming".
More members of opposition are renouncing their MP mandates following the municipal run-offs of October 30 in which the ruling party candidates won the mayoral race in 19 of 20 contested municipalities, including in Tbilisi.

Opposition United National Movement member Levan Varshalomidze wrote on Facebook that he is refusing to have an MP mandate because he wants a decisive fight for replacing the illegitimate government to start.

Another UNM member Ani Tsitlidze has also announced that she can see no reasons to be in parliament after ex-president Mikheil Saakashvilis appeal from the prison ad that she can continue the fight without a mandate.

"The Georgian Dream should remain alone with itself. I will talk more at the rallies, Tsitlidze wrote on Facebook.

UNM member Nona Mamulashvili and leader of Lelo for Georgia Mamuka Khazaradze have also left the parliament, while leader of Girchi-More Freedom Zura Japaridze will also address the parliament to terminate his MP mandate.

Former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, has from prison urged opposition MPs to leave their mandates in protest, stating that the Georgian Dream (GD) government fabricated the results of recent municipal elections, Agenda.ge reported.

Claiming that the results of the run-offs are falsified, the Georgian opposition leaders have announced rallies in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, and Zugdidi, and a large-scale demonstration in Tbilisi on November 6.

Ruling party MP Mamuka Mdinaradze said it is the oppositions right to terminate their mandates. However, another ruling party MP Shalva Papuashvili considers that if the UNM members will leave the parliament, they will distance them from the democracy.

Based on the final results of the local self-government election run-offs held on October 30, the opposition has won the majority in six out of 64 municipalities  Batumi, Zugdidi, Martvili, Chkhorotsku, Tsalenjikha and Rustavi. However, the ruling party mayoral candidates have won in all self-governing cities and municipalities except for Tsalenjikha, where the UNM party candidate, Giorgi Kharchilava, won with 51.11%.
Irans naval troops repulsed an attack by pirates on one of the countrys oil tankers en route to the Gulf of Aden on November 1.

An escort squad of the Iranian Navy aboard an oil tanker had an armed encounter with the pirates on Monday morning as the ship, sailing for the Gulf of Aden, was going to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Four boats, each carrying some 6 armed pirates, had plans to attack and hijack the Iranian oil tanker, but were forced to flee after the naval forces fired warning shots, Tasnim reported.

In recent years, Irans Navy has increased its presence in high seas to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.
Russia delivered military equipment to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this year, including combat aircraft and missile systems, Director of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev said in an interview with the RBC media group on Tuesday.

"For example, we delivered Su-30SM aircraft, Mi-35M helicopters, Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile systems, BTR-80 and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2021. We also supplied Orlan-10E multi-purpose drone systems, Taifun-K light armored vehicles and small arms to these countries," TASS cited the defense official as saying.

Russia continues developing military and technical cooperation amid the pandemic, he said.

"We have taken certain efforts to fulfil those contracts this year that were scheduled for the beginning of 2022. Therefore, we have managed to keep the balance," Shugayev said.
A number of countries are already implementing a policy of deploying weapons in outer space and making plans for combat operations there, Russia's deputy permanent representative to the UN office in Geneva, Andrei Belousov said in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.

"Lately, the threat of outer space being turned into an armed standoff has grown, and this standoff is fraught with conflicts that may entail catastrophic consequences for the whole of humanity," Belousov said. "A number of countries are already implementing a policy of putting weapons in space and building up their capabilities of causing a power impact on space objects and life support infrastructures on the ground, as well as conducting combat operations in space," Belousov said.

In a situation like this, he stressed, the relevance of the task of preventing an arms race in space and preserving space exclusively for peaceful uses soars immeasurably, TASS reported.

"This task is enshrined as a priority in the final document of the first special session of the 1978 UN General Assembly on disarmament," he recalled.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will meet in Moscow with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin on Tuesday.

According to the press service of the Russian government, the prime ministers plan to discuss key issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, as well as large joint projects in the energy, industrial, transport, and other areas. Mishustin and Mamin will also talk about topical issues of interaction in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Mishustin and Mamin held their previous working meeting in August in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan. Following the talks, the Russian prime minister proposed to work on new joint projects of the two countries.

The most recent telephone conversation between Mishustin and Mamin was held on October 20, when the parties noted the importance of strengthening the fight against coronavirus, and also discussed trade and economic cooperation, the promotion of joint projects in industry, energy, transport, infrastructure, and other areas.
The Ministry of Construction (MOC) is seeking approval from the Prime Minister for a VND65 trillion credit package as a part of socio-economic recovery in the post-Covid period.

The money would be used for social housing projects.

The credit package includes two component packages, worth VND15 trillion and VND50 trillion.

The first package involves the 2021-2025 medium-term public investment plan which includes VND14 trillion to be allocated to the Bank for Social Policies, which would disburse the capital to individual clients under the Housing Law to fund their house purchases, leasing and repair.

The other VND1 trillion would be allocated to commercial banks designated by the State to disburse capital to housing project developers and individual clients eligible for support in social housing.

The second package, worth VND50 trillion (25 percent of the total VND220 trillion worth of capital needed in 2021-2025) would be provided to commercial banks under the State Banks refinancing, which would disburse money to people belonging to the preferential lending program.

The credit component package would target workers in industrial zones who want to buy or lease houses; and to investors of the projects developing accommodations for sale to IZ workers.

According to MOC, housing for a high number of workers, especially in the south, including HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An, faces problems.

The ministry emphasized that social housing products, especially housing for workers that ensures safety and healthy conditions is a necessary solution to help the economy recover. It will also help implement the Program on Sustainable Economy Recovery by 2023 mentioned in the Governments Resolution dated July 14, 2021.

Experts, applauding the proposal, said this would serve as bait capital necessary for the development of social housing projects in the time to come.



The deployment of the VND30 trillion credit package in previous years showed the important role of so-called bait capital from the State budget in the development of low-cost housing projects.

As of December 31, 2016, when the disbursement of the program ended, VND29.679 trillion had been provided, or 98.93 percent of the estimated capital, which benefited both investors and hundreds of thousands of buyers.

The VND30 trillion package also helped restructure the products of the real estate market, prioritizing the development of affordable housing projects that satisfy real accommodation demand. This also helped defrost the real estate market, facilitating peoples purchases and transactions, and accelerating the consumption of inventory products.

About 294,600 houses are in demand from low-income earners in urban areas and Industrial Zone workers in 2021-2025 with total investment capital of VND220 trillion.

Thuan Phong

VND30-trillion credit package proposed to build homes for workers The Ministry of Construction has proposed a VND30 trillion credit package for projects to build low-cost homes for workers.
Only when Vietnam can bring its farm produce to official distribution systems in countries will Vietnams national brand be well known by consumers around the world, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said.

Litchis are sold in Japan

More information about the sale of Vietnams farm produce in foreign markets at high prices has been reported recently.

Longan, a specialty of Vietnam, for example, is selling at supermarkets in Germany and the Netherlands at VND430,000-490,000 per kilogram, or 15-20 times higher than the domestic price.

In July 2021, a 1 kilogram box of Vietnams fresh litchis was bought at 3,000 AUD, or VND52 million at a litchi auction in Australia. In Japan and France, litchis were sold at VND350,000-500,000 per kilogram. In Australia, mango was sold at VND300,000 per kilogram and frozen ginger VND850,000.

Most recently, local newspapers reported that the consignment of 45 tons of durian to Australia sold out though the consignment was still on the way. The lowest price is 20-25 AUD, or VND340,000-425,000 per kilogram for ready peeled products.

Hoan said when he was the leader of DongThap, the province exported the first container of mango to the US at high prices.

Overseas Vietnamese take pictures of DongThaps mango available at foreign supermarkets. We see other fruits such as longan, litchis and dragon fruit sell at very high prices. This is good news, but Im still feel unhappy, Hoan said.

During the online meeting with 27 Vietnamese ambassadors to the EU on October 27, he realized only several deals from time to time occur abroad and most products sell at Asian (Vietnamese, Thai) shops.

Hoang said during his official visit to Europe with NA Chair Vuong Dinh Hue he heard from Vietnamese ambassadors that Vietnams dragon fruit is mostly sold at Thai owned shops, or sold among the Vietnamese community.

He said Vietnam needs to bring its farm produce to official distribution networks in the countries.

We are excited (about the high prices) and we forget there are problems and risks. We need to implement reasonable strategies which will take many more years to conquer international markets, not just several export consignments of some businesses, he said.

One ambassador said that Vietnams farm produce just accounted for 1 percent of the markets farm imports and the produce mostly sells at Asian owned shops.

Vu Tien Loc, Chair of the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC), noted that Vietnam is doing well with communication campaigns, but there should be no illusions about conquering the world market as the country has only exported some products to the world market.

Tam An

Vietnam has thousands of cooperatives but many are small scale and weak The number of cooperatives in Vietnam is 30 times higher than in Japan and 18 times than in Germany, but most of them are small scale and weak.
The wind power industry has been heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and many countries have been taking measures to help the industry overcome difficulties.

However, wind power projects in Vietnam have nearly reached a dead end.

The supply chain of the UK wind power industry has faced huge challenges from lockdown measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A "titan" of the wind power industry, Siemens Gamesa, had to temporarily stop turbine manufacturing. To solve problems of businesses in this industry, on March 30, 2020, the British Government issued a directive on the revised FIT (feed-in tariff), thereby allowing small-scale renewable energy projects with a capacity of less than 5MW to have an additional six months to apply for the FIT pricing mechanism.

In September 2020, the directive on the revised FIT pricing was issued. Accordingly, the British Government extended the time to apply the FIT pricing mechanism from six months to 12 months for all projects under construction with an initial COD (Commercial Operation Date) term from March 1 to September 30, 2020. Large-scale wind power projects that are under installation will enjoy an extension of 24 months to complete this process, if the deadline for these projects falls on March 31, 2021 or earlier.

In Germany, in mid-May 2020, the Government issued legal measures to support the renewable energy industry. On May 15, 2020, the German Parliament passed the Planning Protection Act, under which renewable energy projects with COD deadlines by June 30, 2020 are entitled to a grace period of six months.

In the US, the Government has promptly adjusted tax incentives to remove obstacles from the wind power industry. In early May 2020, the US Department of Finance issued guidelines to extend the tax credit period for onshore wind and solar power projects. Onshore wind power projects that kicked off in 2016 and 2017 will have 5 years instead of 4 years as before to complete the project and enjoy incentives from the production tax credit (PTC).

Meanwhile, in India, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued a directive to apply COD extension for all renewable projects. In mid-August 2020, MNRE issued another directive, stipulating that all projects that are under construction at the time of lockdown, ie March 25, 2020, would be entitled to an additional 5 months to complete and put into commercial operation.

According to experts from the Global Wind Energy Council, timely adjustments by the governments of some countries on the deadline for submitting applications for the FIT price not only reduces pressure on the progress of wind power projects but also brings certainty to the planning and decision-making process of enterprises.

Vietnam projects

Vietnamese wind power investors have not received any support from the Government. According to the Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN), from October 1-15, 2021, only five more wind power plants with a total capacity of 170MW were recognized for commercial operation (COD).

Thus, out of 106 wind power plants with a total capacity of more than 5,655 MW registered for COD testing, by October 15, only 11 wind power plants with a total capacity of 443 MW were recognized for COD.

This is a very low number compared to the number of registered projects, while there are only several days left until the expiration of the preferential price for wind power projects (before November 1, 2021) according to Decision 39 of the Prime Minister.

The pandemic has hit the implementation of wind power projects across Vietnam. Some projects cannot import sufficient equipment while others lack foreign experts who have not been able to enter the country.

Wind power investors asked the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade for a delay in applying FIT prices from three months to one year.

Dr. Mai Duy Thien, Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Energy Association, said that it is necessary to delay the application of the wind power FIT price for a while.

If the deadline is not delayed, many projects will face difficulties in terms of capital as well as the selling price of electricity after the expiration of the FIT price mechanism, Dr. Thien said.

Wind power investors are still waiting for the Governments decision on this issue to help them overcome the impact of the pandemic.

Forty-two wind power plants put into commercial operation



Forty-two out of 106 wind power plants registering for commercial operation received Commercial Operation Date (COD) acceptance as of October 29, according to Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The 42 plants have a total capacity of 2,131.3 MW. Under the Prime Ministers Decision dated September 10, 2018 amending and supplementing several regulations on incentives for wind power projects in Vietnam, fixed preferential price of offshore wind power is 2,223 VND (9.8 US cents) while that of inland wind power is around 1.927 VND (8.5 US cents), excluding VAT. The above prices are applied to wind power projects with a part or the whole plant having commercial operation date before November 1, 2021 and applied for 20 years from the date of commercial operation. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trades Circular dated January 15, 2019 on the development of wind power projects and sample contracts for wind power purchase, sellers must send the draft document on trial operation process to buyers, thus setting the date of commercial operation and calculating power output during trial run. With the regulation, tens of wind power projects are at the risk of failing to start operations as schedule./. VNA

Le Anh

Money flows to wind power projects but coal-fired power lacks capital Coal-fired power developers find it increasingly difficult to find capital amid the growing support of renewable energy globally.
Hanoi is considering setting up 87 toll collection stations in an effort to restrict the number of cars entering the inner city.

The plan is a part of a project on toll collection in some areas of the city that have traffic congestion and pollution. The project draft is from the Hanoi Transport Department and a consultancy firm.

The area subject to toll collection would be bordered by Belt Road No 3  Thanh Tri Bridge  Phap Van  Mai Dich  Pham Van Dong  West West Lake  Vo Chi Cong  Nhat Tan Bridge  Hoang Sa  Truong Sa  Ly Son  Nguyen Van Linh  Best Road No3. The perimeter of the area is 51 kilometers, and the area covers 150 square kilometers.

To collect fees, 87 stations on 68 positions would be set up. At first, 15 stations would be set up on a trial basis in the first phase. Another 59 stations would be established in the second phase and the remaining 13 stations would be ready in the third phase.

The collection would use ETC (electronic toll collection) technology under the supervision of cameras set up at the stations. Tolls would be collected from 5am to 9pm every day, with differences in fee levels between peak and off-peak hours.

Duong Trung Dung from Cau Giay district said it was unreasonable to choose Belt Road No 3 as the boundary that splits the two areas, because it is not the line between the areas with and without traffic jams. In fact, traffic jams are even worse in the outer area of the Belt Road than in the inner city area.

My home is just 500 meters from Belt Road No3. I travel every day I my private car and I have to go back and forth 10 times a day to go to the office and pick up my children. Will I have to pay fees for every time I go through the stations? Dung said.

Tran Van Hieu in Linh Dam residential quarter said: We have to go to the area because schools, hospitals, offices and multi-story buildings all are gathered there. In fact, we dont want to enter this noisy and crowded area.

He said that in order to ease traffic jams, the municipal authorities need to spend money to enlarge roads, rather than collect fees from people. Also, Hanoi should also encourage the use of public means of transport, including urban railways, smart buses and subways.

There are 6.4 million registered vehicles in Hanoi, including 0.6 million cars and 5.6 million motorbikes, according to the Hanoi Department of Transport.

Feasibility in doubt

Dr Tu Sy Sua, a lecturer at the University of Transport, said the fee collection in certain areas to restrict entries is applied in some countries, including the UK and Singapore.

However, the expert was concerned about the feasibility of the project if it is applied in Hanoi.

Sua thinks its unreasonable to choose Belt Road No 3 as the boundary because the toll collection area will be too large.

He said consultancy firms should have reasonable assessments and that the toll collection should be piloted first in one or two districts before the collection is applied to other areas.

He said that the feasibility of the project would depend on the equipment and technology to be utilized, i.e. the collection must be non-stop. There should also be sanctions on the cars which evade the fee payment.

If the system cannot operate well, cars will have to queue up to pay the fee, which will create 87 traffic jam points in the city, Sua warned.

Dr Phan Le Binh said Hanoi authorities need to explain how it will use the collections.

The fee collection aims at easing traffic jams and pollution. So how it will be used to develop the infrastructure of the city? Binh said.

When Hanoi begins collecting fees for entries to the inner city area, slated for 2025, people will have to change their habits of using private vehicles and many of them will shift to use public means of transport. From now to 2025, Hanoi needs to upgrade the public passenger transport system, including the elevated rail lines.

Hoang Hiep

Ministry of Transport proposes toll on State-invested expressway The Ministry of Transport is consulting ministries and Government agencies on collecting tolls at sections of the North-South Expressway built from State capital.
Dubai is such a cosmopolitan city. Everywhere in the world, you know, everybody knows about Dubai, Dedovanovic told The Associated Press. He said makeup artists in Dubai are "doing everything at the same pace that ... it is being done in Paris and Milan and London.

The makeup industry was worth $4 billion in the Middle East even during the pandemic, according to market research group Euromonitor International. But the pandemic hit it hard with the surge in working from home and cancellations of many social events such as weddings. Pandemic-related job losses also meant less disposable income, and spending focused more on necessities.

Globally, the makeup industry declined by 16% in 2020, Euromonitor said, with the slump slightly less drastic at 10% in the Middle East.

Amna Abbas, a consultant for beauty and fashion at Euromonitor, said some areas of the Middle East, including the UAE, had shorter lockdown periods. Once markets reopened, we saw signs of recovery happening immediately, she said.

As people began to go back to offices, socialize more and attend events, makeup sales began improving. Euromonitor said makeup sales growth should hit 6% to 8% in the Mideast this year.
At Abbey Glenn, Renold said two volunteers were dispatched to the scene, and an additional four volunteers worked remotely to enter residents information to try to get them assistance.

Their goal was to provide immediate assistance to help residents for the next 72 hours, said Renold.

After the initial 72 hours, Renold said the Red Cross continues to work with the families to help them connect with local resources in the community should they need help past the first three days.

Johnson said the Red Cross provided her and her family with $515, which she used to get a room at a local Motel 6.

The guy who helped us was really, really nice, Johnson said. I told him exactly what I had from the Red Cross and that I didnt know how long Ill be able to pay. He gave us every discount he could think of.

Johnson lost five cats in the fire on Saturday, two of which had belonged to her mother, who died in September.

Johnson said one of her cats was able to escape the fire through the roof but was badly burned. Barkley Animal Clinic provided care for the animal, including oxygen, and charged only $85, she said.
She is working on a masters degree in digital forensics at Sam Houston State University, but testified Monday that the effects of her brain injuries might force her to drop out of school.

I am very thankful that this chapter of my life is finally getting some closure and I hope that it will show that drunk driving has real consequences and can really hurt people, OHeeron said after Estradas sentencing hearing. I want to thank everyone who helped me and supported me throughout this. If it wasnt for the hard work of the DA and police I wouldnt be here and none of this would have ever happened. Huge thanks to them and the judge for helping keep the community safe.

West sent Estrada back to jail for 30 days in April after she was arrested on a new DWI charge and tested positive for cocaine while free on bond. Estrada was arrested April 10 on suspicion of drunken driving after she crashed her 2017 Nissan Rogue into a utility pole near the La Salle Avenue traffic circle, not far from where OHeeron was hit.

In November 2020, former Judge Ralph Strother revoked Estradas $75,000 bond and increased it to $100,000 after she was seen on Facebook videos smoking marijuana and drinking from a brown paper sack while driving. She was released the same day after posting the higher bond.
The Carver school closed after a fire July 27 and merged at least for the school year with Indian Spring. After the new middle school is complete, Indian Spring Middle School would close and students would attend the new G.W Carver instead starting as early as fall 2023.

Waco ISD officials have not announced official plans for the Indian Spring campus in that case. During Waco ISD school board meetings, Superintendent Susan Kincannon has discussed relocating the administration building there, and board members have discussed selling the property, which overlooks the Brazos River.

Reed said the idea for pedestrian improvements in the area dates back to 2018, when Councilwoman Alice Rodriguez and a group of supporters from District 2 asked the Waco Public Works Department for pedestrian improvements in the area leading to the Indian Spring Park Fountain. The fountain is a few blocks from the middle school at 203 N. University Parks Drive.

The program awarded $24.5 million to pedestrian and bike projects in 15 cities with populations between 5,001 and 200,000, including Waco. Another $30 million went to projects in 26 non-urban areas with populations of 5,000 or fewer. The Texas Transportation Commission awarded a total of $55 million in federal funds and $6.6 million in transportation development credits.
Simons investigative techniques, including allegations that he gave special favors to his jailhouse snitches who testified against Spence, were attacked on all fronts during both of Spences trials. National media outlets sought to prove that former President George Bush, while governor, and the state of Texas carried out executions of innocent defendants and some chose the Spence case as the poster child for wrongful convictions.

Despite repeated efforts to discredit Simons and the investigation by multiple parties, including a prominent local businessman, appellate attorneys, journalists and some of his former colleagues at the Waco Police Department, there was no definitive proof that the wrong men were convicted.

Anytime you go out and solve some big case that somebody else has had and they take it away from them and give it to you and you clear it up, they are going to have something to say about it, Simons said when he retired from the sheriffs office in 2000.
But House Democratic Leader Rep. Emily Virgin said the new maps, particularly the proposed new 5th Congressional District, doesn't make sense unless the committee's goal was to keep Democrats from winning back the seat.

You have folks on the south side and in the core of Oklahoma City now sharing a congressional representative with folks in the Oklahoma Panhandle," she said. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever unless your goal is to make sure a Democrat doesn't get elected from Oklahoma."

Andy Moore, the executive director of People Not Politicians, a group that tried unsuccessfully to get a state question on the ballot to give responsibility for drawing new maps to a bipartisan commission, said a quick look at the new map suggests it was gerrymandered to help Republicans.

The congressional map is pretty clearly drawn to protect incumbent politicians," Moore said. And it very clearly cuts up Oklahoma City."

Moore said minority voters currently make up 43% of the 5th District, which drops to 34% under the new district, something that could lead to a legal challenge of the new maps.

But Martinez said 87% of Oklahomans remain in their current congressional district and expressed confidence that the new maps will withstand any legal challenge.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  A medical issue has sidelined one of four astronauts assigned to SpaceXs upcoming flight to the International Space Station and delayed the launch, officials said Monday.

NASA said the launch is now off until Saturday night at the earliest. Liftoff had been scheduled for this past Sunday, but bad weather offshore bumped it to Wednesday. It's the first time in decades that a U.S. flight has been delayed by a crew member's health.

Officials would not say which astronaut is affected. They described it as a minor medical issue and said it is unrelated to COVID-19. The one German and three U.S. astronauts  who range in age from 34 to 61  have been quarantined for two weeks.

Once on their way, Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron and the European Space Agency's Matthias Maurer will move into the space station for six months, replacing four astronauts who have been living up there since April. NASA prefers launching the new crew before bringing back the old one so they can have a face-to-face handover, but is considering all options in light of the latest delay.
Previous studies have found the atmosphere in the western U.S. has grown thirstier over the last 40 years. Experts have theorized that is due to both natural fluctuations in the weather and because carbon dioxide emissions have caused the planet to warm, and warmer air can hold more moisture.

This team of researchers, which included scientists from UCLA and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, sought to explain exactly how much of each of those factors has driven the increase. They used a machine learning approach to compare recent vapor pressure deficit values with those observed in the past during similar weather patterns.

"Prior to 2000, we can explain this fire weather pretty well just using the weather patterns," Fu said. "But now we can only explain like 30% of what we see with the fire weather."

After ruling out other influences like changes in vegetation and cloud cover, the researchers concluded the other 70% is due to greenhouse gases warming the planet, she said, a figure that some climate modeling suggested could be as high as 88%.
Auto manufacturing provides a large number of employees. Thus any production issues have repercussions across the global economy.

Crisis in the auto industry, a powerful engine of the global economy, is threatening development and sending tremors through businesses and communities that rely on carmakers for money and employment.

Jobs are at risk with every vehicle or truck that does not roll off a production line in Detroit, Stuttgart, or Shanghai.

They may be miners excavating ore for steel in Finland, tire molders in Thailand, or Volkswagen employees in Slovakia right instrument panels in sport utility vehicles.

Those who rely on them for a living are threatened by supply shortages and transportation bottlenecks pushing enterprises to restrict operations.

The auto sector contributes for around 3 percent of worldwide economic production, with the amount being substantially greater in car-producing nations such as Germany, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and states such as Michigan.

A slump in the auto industry may create wounds that take years to heal.

The ripple effects of the semiconductor crisis, which is causing practically all automobile manufacturers to decrease shifts or temporarily shut down assembly lines, might be powerful enough to send certain nations into recession.

Parts shortages led exports in Japan, the home of Toyota and Nissan, to decline by 46 percent in September compared to the same month the previous year - powerful evidence of the automobile industry's significance to the economy.

According to Ian Shepherdson, chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics, "it has a significant negative impact on GDP and employment."

Some of the pain has been alleviated by automobile manufacturers boosting prices and passing some of the burdens on to car customers.

Despite reporting significant declines in sales and profitability for the summer quarter, Ford and General Motors boosted their profit predictions for the whole year.

Daimler, the producer of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, said Friday that its net profit increased by 20% in the third quarter, even though it sold 25% fewer vehicles.

Increased sticker prices more than made up for it.

The brunt of the pain is being felt by employees and anybody who needs a reasonably priced automobile.

Automakers have been assigning limited chips to high-end and other automobiles that earn the greatest profit, resulting in extended wait times for less-priced vehicles.

Because there aren't enough new automobiles on the market, the costs of used cars are soaring.

Automakers are continuing to turn out vehicles with solid profit margins, such as the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado trucks, according to Ram Kidambi, a partner at the consulting company Kearney headquartered in Detroit.

"However, cars with smaller margins are being hit, and as a result, the labor force is being impacted."

Agricultural tractors for the United States market are manufactured by Mahindra Ag North America, an arm of the giant Indian vehicle manufacturer that began producing tractors for the market last year when the prices of critical raw materials such as steel and copper began to rise, according to Viren Popli, the chief executive of Mahindra Ag North America.

Because of the world's unequal recovery from the coronavirus epidemic, the far-flung nodes of the global supply chain were out of sync and unable to communicate with one another.

By late summer, the United States had begun delivering booster doses. In contrast, a severe epidemic in Malaysia had forced the closure of facilities there.

Mahindra soon depleted its current inventory of components, forcing the company to wait for new supplies.

Meanwhile, they were held up in ports by hundreds of ships, with container fees rising to $20,000 from $3,000 per container.

Stellantis' factory in Ontario, for example, is typically the largest private-sector employer in the surrounding area, making its closure all the more heartbreaking.

Because automobile factories tend to dominate the local economy, it is difficult for them to be replaced.

According to research published in 2019 by the International Monetary Fund, unemployment caused by auto production shutdowns might last for years.

In Eisenach, Germany, a city with 42,000 people, Opel manufactures a small SUV named the Grandland.

However, according to the company, Stellantis, which also owns Opel, shut down the facility in October and does not expect to resume manufacturing until the following year.

Because Stellantis also manufacture the Grandland at a facility in France, workers are concerned that the closure will be permanent.

Around 2,000 individuals who work at the Eisenach plant or its suppliers are on paid leave at this time.

However, Katja Wolf, the mayor of Eisenach, who spoke at a worker protest in front of the facility on Friday, said people were hesitant to spend since they didn't know when the plant would reopen.

Local businesses suffer as a result of this.

"The most difficult issue is the uncertainty about the future, especially at a time when the car sector is already in turmoil," Ms. Wolf said in an interview.

There are no new automobiles or costly trips purchased by the public.

"They are very concerned."

There are a number of other components in low supply besides semiconductors.

Carmakers are also scrambling to find the sort of plastic used to contain windshield wiper fluid and form the dashboard, as well as the foam used to manufacture seats.

According to AlixPartners, shortages would result in 7.7 million fewer cars being manufactured this year, resulting in a $210 billion loss in income for the automotive sector.

The majority of the world's vehicle and auto component manufacturing is concentrated in a limited number of nations.

They include major players like the United States and China and minor nations such as Thailand.

The longer that component and materials shortages continue, the greater the economic effect. Vehicles are required for modern economies to operate correctly.

Trucks, which are necessary for transferring products, are difficult to come by these days, posing a barrier to economic development.

Even if semiconductor manufacturers have vowed to expand supply, establishing new plants may take years, and automobile manufacturers are not often the most important clients behind technological giants.
As any competent physician will testify, the earlier most cancers are detected, the better the chances they can be treated and put in remission. Now a revolutionary breakthrough blood test can quickly determine over 50 different types of cancers.

CBS Minnesota is reporting the Mayo Clinic has participated in exciting new research proving a newly developed cutting-edge blood test is very bit a game-changer according to oncologists and physicians that have been following the new testing.

According to Dr. Julia Feygin, she lost her 40-year-old father to pancreatic cancer when she was 13. His cancer, unfortunately, was diagnosed after it had advanced to stage three. The late detection and limited treatments at the time meant that he lived for only nine more months. Dr. Feygin says.

"My dad, he was a healthy guy. He didn't have any known risk factors for cancer."

"I strongly believe that purpose can be found in everything that happens."

Dr. Feygin is now part of a team at a Menlo Park, California-based company called GRAIL that's introducing the blood test, called Galleri which she insists can diagnose hard-to-detect and often the most aggressive and deadly cancers like ovarian, esophageal, and the pancreatic that killed her father. Feygin says the new breakthrough blood test for cancer she has been working on is designed to revolutionize the treatment of all sorts of cancers

"If cancers can be detected early, we can dramatically improve patient outcomes,"

Feygin points out that blood contains a DNA signature, and the new test developed by GRAIL tracks the DNA of more than 50 cancers sheded by human cells.

She explains that only two tubes of blood are needed to send to GRAIL's lab for analysis.

"We can find and sequence these tiny bits of tumor-derived DNA in the blood and, based on the patterns we see; we can reveal if there is a signal for cancer present. We can predict with very high accuracy wherein the body this cancer signal is coming from."

The results take just ten business days. An interventional study that included Mayo Clinic with 6,600 participants returned 29 signals followed by a cancer diagnosis. Even more impressive is another preceding study found a less than 1% false-positive rate.

Despite her enthusiasm, Dr. Feygin cautions that there are some caveats on who can get the test.

"It's intended to be used for people at an elevated risk for cancer. This can be something as simple as age."

Another drawback is this new blood test is still in the experimental and testing phase. As a result, they cannot be used without a valid prescription, and health insurance will not cover the $949 cost of the test.

Dr. Greg Plotnikoff, an oncologist involved in testing this breakthrough technology, is wildly enthusiastic about the new blood test

"In the year 2021, this is so far beyond anything else we've been able to do. This is a game-changer."

He has prescribed the test for patients and family members with risk factors, saying cancers caught early are in more treatable stages. Plotnikoff also stresses

"If we can catch things earlier, we have a chance then to make a significant difference,"

Dr. Greg Plotnikoff has also chosen to screen himself since he is over 60...

"If there was any signal, I wanted to know it and be able to do something about it."

According to the American Cancer Society, 71% of cancer deaths come from types of cancer that have no recommended screening. Dr. Feygin expresses the sincere hope the new to change outcomes for families like hers in the future.

"It presents an unprecedented opportunity to bend the cancer mortality curve and save so many lives."

GRAIL says there blood test Galleri

"is intended to be complementary to, and not a replacement of, U.S. guideline-recommended cancer screening."

GRAIL is still working on full FDA approval. However, you can ask your doctor to prescribe the test as long as you cover the expense out of pocket.

Galleri hopes the FDA will approve the test and be available at Mayo Clinic locations in Rochester, Minnesota, Jacksonville, Florida, and Phoenix before the end of the year. It will also be available at Mayo Clinic Health System sites in southern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

What is the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test?
PEOPLE

A shortlist of key executive hires this week (so far)

Several companies in the government market have announced their latest executive hires within the past two days that span C-level appointments and the operational level.

Here is a roundup of five people moves that came to our attention.

Serco Inc.

Trey Theimer, a two-decade market veteran and former Peraton executive, will join Serco Groups subsidiary for the U.S. and Canada on Monday as chief growth officer and senior vice president.

She will report to Serco Inc. CEO Dave Dacquino and be responsible for what the company calls big deal pursuit strategic planning, business development operations and acquisitions.

Theimer was most recently vice president of growth at Peraton. Her career also includes roles at Accenture, Deloitte and the former Computer Sciences Corp.

Maxar Technologies

Thomas Whayne, formerly chief financial officer at OneWeb, has joined space infrastructure and Earth intelligence company Maxar as chief strategy officer.

Whayne's areas of responsibility and contribution will span corporate development functions including acquisitions and strategic investments.

At OneWeb, he led efforts to raise at least $3 billion in capital for furthering the development of a satellite constellation for global broadband communications.

BlackSky

A publicly-traded space company as of Sept. 10, this provider of geospatial intelligence has brought in nearly two-decade sector veteran Amy Minnick as chief commercial officer.

She will oversee BlackSkys push to grow its presence among commercial markets and be part of efforts to complement that with expansion in the government arena.

Herndon, Virginia-headquartered BlackSkys stock now trades on the New York Stock Exchange after its merger with special purpose acquisition company Osprey Technology Acquisition Corp.

Minnick most recently was chief business officer at Cape Analytics, a provider of geospatial imagery to property insurance companies. Prior to that, she led the commercial and civil government business of Maxars imagery division.

Mercury Systems

Roger Wells, formerly vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIRs unmanned and integrated solutions business, now heads the microelectronics division of Mercury as its president.

Wells started his new role at Mercury on Monday and will focus on making that technology more widely available across the aerospace and defense markets. The 25-year sector veteran is a former Defense Department civilian who also worked in stints at ICX Technologies and Northrop Grumman.

Mercury unveiled the hire of Wells less than a week after the company announced its board of directors had elected member William OBrien as chairman to succeed the now-retired Vincent Vitto. The board also elected a new member in Deborah Plunkett, former director of information assurance at the National Security Agency.

Teledyne FLIR

In the wake of Wells move to Mercury, Teledyne FLIR has elevated Anne Bulik to vice president of its unmanned aerial systems business that includes the vehicles themselves and augmenting technologies such as sensors.

She will report to Dr. David Cullin, general manager of the unmanned and integrated solutions business. Teledyne FLIR touts its vehicles as in use for the U.S. military and at least 50 other countries.

Bulik joined the former FLIR Systems in 2020 to lead its Waterloo, Ontario UAS business and that company was acquired earlier this year by Teledyne Technologies. Her career also includes roles at Raytheon and Andritz Hydro.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man arrested after he allegedly brought a handgun to a strip club in October is facing new charges in connection with drug searches in 2020.

On Monday, Waterloo police arrested Charles Edward Jones Jr., 36, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and violation of the drug tax stamp.

According to court records, officers with the Waterloo Police Departments Violent Crime Apprehension Team searched a vehicle parked at a Niles Street home Jan. 24, 2020, and found a .38-calibert Rossi revolver, a 9 mm Ruger E9 pistol and large bags of marijuana.

Officers returned to the home with a second search warrant Feb. 3, 2020, and seized multiple bags of pills that tested positive for meth and the designer drug eutylone, according to court records.

Jones wasnt arrested at the time of the searches.

On Oct. 25, officers were called to Flirts Gentlemans Club on Jefferson Street for a report of a patron with a gun. Jones allegedly ran from police, who found a .40-caliber Glock handgun when they caught up with him.

He was arrested for prohibited person in possession of a firearm, interference while armed and carrying weapons and was released pending trial.

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WATERLOO  Fewer students are attending Waterloo Community Schools this fall after a legislative change made it easier for families to open enroll their children into other districts.

The certified enrollment count released by Waterloo Schools shows it had a total of 10,114 students in kindergarten through 12th grade at its 18 schools and specialty programs as of Oct. 1.

The 81-student decrease from last year is smaller than the 151 students officials have previously said left for other districts since a bill banning the use of voluntary diversity plans was signed into law in May. District administrators had projected in September that the count, which determines per-pupil state funding for the next year, would be about 100 students fewer because of the impact of the new law.

In written comments, Superintendent Jane Lindaman focused on how the district was coming back after enrollment declined by an even bigger amount last year before COVID-19 vaccines were available for anybody.

Overall, our current enrollment reflects the trends weve experienced in previous years and our numbers are generally what we would expect after a year of significant disruption due to the pandemic, with our virtual offering proving to be a valuable alternative to families who need this option due to medical reasons, she said in the statement.

Without the opportunity to open enroll out of the district after the diversity plan ban was signed into law, though, presumably many of the students who left would be attending its schools.

Typically, open enrollment requests for the coming year need to be submitted by March 1. But after state law changed families could continue to request open enrollment for five districts that had voluntary diversity plans. Under Waterloo Schools diversity plan, students could leave the district if someone of the same socio-economic status was open enrolling into it.

We understand that several factors are at play this year in the context of our enrollment numbers, said Lindaman. She noted that families are eager for familiarity and predictability after the disruptions of the pandemic while students want to be in-person, develop relationships with their teachers and participate in activities.

Virtual enrollment is an important aspect of the districts count this fall, although not nearly as significant as last year. Waterloo Schools reported 424 students learning remotely online as of Oct 1  with 103 at the elementary, 79 at the middle school and 242 at the high school levels. The district had 2,200 students learning remotely in August 2020, but the exact number was never released as of the count date.

Previously, Lindaman said that the district saw an increase in kindergartners starting this fall. Officials saw the phenomenon in 2020 of parents not sending their children to kindergarten, which falls outside of the mandatory school attendance requirements. This year, that hasnt occurred at a large scale  and there are more of those youngest students in the district than all but one other grade.

With 829 students enrolled in kindergarten across the district, that grade level consists of more students than any other except for high school freshmen. There were 1,195 ninth-graders, a number that is often larger than the grade levels before or after it because students who dont earn enough credits may be classified as freshmen for more than one year.

Lindaman previously said that half of the 151 students who open enrolled after the diversity plan was banned would have been kindergartners and first-graders this fall. In her statement, she asserted that students who start with the district in those grades typically stick with it.

Ultimately, our enrollment indicates that once families choose to join the Waterloo Schools family and begin to matriculate through our district, they stay, she said. Theyre confident in our approach to providing a high quality academic experience in an environment thats empathetic, enriching, and safe for our students.

In comparison with last years certified count, nearly every school showed a decline in enrollment. But those individual school enrollments may be skewed since virtual students are grouped separately, unlike in 2020.

The district saw its biggest drop among its 11 elementary schools. Including those learning virtually, there were 110 fewer students. There was a smaller drop at the four middle schools and an increase at the three high schools, although both middle and high school virtual students were classified with the high schools.

If virtual learning is counted with the middle schools, the overall drop is six students to 2,331. Counting only high school virtual students with grades nine to 12, the increase is 35 pupils to 3,199.

Budget enrollment  or the number used to determine state funding  increased to 10,681.17 for Waterloo Schools. That is about 49 pupils more than last year. The decimal point accounts for students who are not full time, such as home schooled children taking a class through the district.

Numerous adjustments are made to the actual number of students attending classes in the district to arrive at the budget number, including open enrollment in and out. Along with the 151 students who open enrolled out in since May, officials have said another 306 left the district this way. No exact number was released with the certified count.

Students may also go to school elsewhere because of special needs or other designations. Home-schooled or private school students who live within the district and take a class through its schools are added to Waterloos count. Resident students educated in another public school system are also counted, but the state per-pupil funds they generate are passed on to those districts.

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A tentative deal struck between Deere & Co. and the United Auto Workers union offers substantial improvements over one that workers rejected before going on strike, including larger wage increases, no new tiers to retirement benefits and a signing bonus of $8,500.

The deal, which is subject to approval by union membership, suggests that John Deere backed down rather than get drawn into a protracted work stoppage with farm equipment demand at the strongest in a decade and earnings at a record.

The contract includes wage hikes of 10% in the first year of the contract and 5% in the third and fifth years, according to a published document of the deal on the union website Sunday. No one was available at John Deere to comment on the latest accord.

Deere shares jumped as much as 1.8% to $348.40 at 7:22 a.m. in pre-market trading in New York. The shares have climbed 27% this year to Fridays close.

Details of the agreement come more than two weeks after some 10,000 John Deere employees went on strike for the first time since 1986, having rejected a prior deal that called for a 5% to 6% wage increase for the first year. Shares of Deere rose each of the last two weeks, indicating shareholders continued to expect a speedy resolution to the strike.

The workers rejection of the initial deal combined with the enormous gains made between the first and second deals, and the very real improvements that the contract will bring, all of it points to the significant consolidation and exercise of worker power, said Benjamin Sachs, a labor law professor at Harvard University.

The Deere agreement adds to evidence that U.S. workers are successfully pushing for higher compensation as the U.S. economy emerges from its pandemic-blighted slump. Businesses are increasingly on the back foot when it comes to wage negotiation because theyre struggling to hire workers and retain enough people to cope with swelling demand.

Were living in a kind of extraordinary moment of worker mobilization and militancy, Sachs said. At this particular moment in history, when workers are willing to fight theyre going to win.

There are no new tiers in the Deere deal, with everyone hired after 1997 having the same retirement options, according to the document. Deere would also contribute 5% of employees annual wages to their 401(k), and a 3% lump sum bonus would be paid in the even years of the contract based on prior-year earnings.

The post-retirement health care fund includes cash balance savings at 2.5% for the first through fourth years, 3% in years five through 14, and 4% for 15 years and above, and it includes $2,000 of seed money per year of service. There were no changes to the cost of health insurance, with employees paying no premiums or deductibles, and still having co-pays.

Class victory

Michigan Democratic Congressman Andy Levin, a former union organizer and assistant AFL-CIO organizing director, said the Deere workers victory should fuel support for pro-labor legislative reforms as well as for other workers contract struggles.

These Deere workers have added a huge boost to the momentum of the broader American working class in saying that were done with this kind of ever-increasing income and wealth inequality, Levin said. Theyve won for the whole American working class.

Events surrounding the negotiation have been intense at times. Senator Bernie Sanders, a vocal proponent of labor unions, tweeted shortly after the strike started that workers who spent years with the company are now being forced off their insurance.

The company later issued a statement that it will continue providing health care for all striking union-represented production and maintenance employees.

Unity

The union reported last week that a 56-year-old employee at the Milan John Deere Parts Distribution Plant in Moline, Illinois, was fatally struck in a traffic accident while walking the picket line. Deere also won its bid for a temporary restraining order blocking thousands of union members from picketing at a plant in Davenport, with a state trial judge saying workers conduct was unwarranted.

Deere workers succeeded not only because of their unity but also because, unlike some striking workers elsewhere, they were able to halt production at their company, said former Communications Workers of America president Larry Cohen. I dont think its all the same, but I think that this will help encourage people to organize as well as to fight for a fair share of what they produce.

Copyright 2021 Tribune Content Agency.

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Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad endorsed fellow Republican and longtime U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. In an op-ed written for the Ames Tribune, Branstad referred to Grassleys efforts during the 1980s farm crisis.

All these years later, Chuck Grassley is still the best advocate Iowa could ask for when it comes to creating opportunity and opening markets for Iowa farmers, producers and job creators, Branstad wrote.

The 88-year-old Grassley is running for his eighth six-year term in the U.S. Senate. He faces a primary challenge from attorney and state legislator Jim Carlin of Sioux City, and the Democratic primary includes four candidates.

Union endorses FinkenauerThe Northwest Iowa Building Trades endorsed Abby Finkenauer in the Democratic primary for Iowas U.S. Senate race.

Abby is the daughter of a union pipefitter-welder who knows working families and the policies that have our backs, Northwest Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council president Craig Levine said in a news release from the Finkenauer campaign. From the statehouse to Congress, shes never backed down from fighting for our members and their families and we know she will continue to do the same in the U.S. Senate.

Finkenauer is a former Congresswoman and state legislator from Cedar Rapids. The other Democrats in the primary are Sioux City veteran Michael Franken, Manning farmer Dave Muhlbauer, and Minden physician Glenn Hurst.

Union endorses Mathis SMART Workers Local 263 endorsed Liz Mathis in Iowas 1st Congressional District.

Over her last decade in the (Iowa) Senate, Liz Mathis has time and again demonstrated her commitment to working Iowans, SMART Local 263 business manager Russ Jaeger said in a news release from the Mathis campaign. Not only does she have a 100% voting record from the Iowa Federation of Labor, she shows up for organized labor when our rights are under attack. We look forward to working with her when shes elected to serve Iowans in Washington.

Mathis is a state legislator and former TV journalist from Hiawatha. The 1st District incumbent is Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, also a former state legislator and TV journalist, from Marion.

Hart endorses BohannanFormer state senator and Wheatland Democrat Rita Hart on Tuesday endorsed Iowa City Democrat and state Rep. Christina Bohannans campaign for Iowas newly-drawn 1st Congressional District. The new district includes much of southeastern Iowa, including Clinton, Muscatine, Scott and Johnson counties.

Hart last year unsuccessfully ran for Iowas open 2nd district U.S. House seat. She was narrowly defeated by only six votes, losing to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the closest U.S. House race in more than three decades.

Hart, in a statement, called Bohannan a brilliant public servant whose Iowa common-sense is desperately needed in Washington.

Democrat Dave Loebsack, who previously represented southeast Iowa in Congress for 14 years, has also endorsed Bohannan, as did Democratic U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne of West Des Moines.

Miller-Meeks

evaluating optionsU.S. Rep. Miller-Meeks, in a statement last week, said she will be evaluating Iowas newly-drawn congressional districts to determine my next steps, which I will be announcing shortly.

Miller-Meeks home in Ottumwa was drawn in to Iowas 3rd Congressional District, represented by Axne.

Miller-Meeks has raised speculation that she intends to run for Axnes seat. She spent part of the day Monday introducing herself to Republican voters in Madison County, which is located in Axnes district. Miller-Meeks over the weekend also attended an event in Des Moines for the Christian conservative group The Family Leader, and tweeted from the gala I look forward to being in Des Moines soon!

Axne has not officially declared whether she will seek re-election or run for Iowa governor.

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Lee Enterprises will be carrying a live blog of events in the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. Opening statements started Tuesday after a jury was seated Monday evening.

This video is live only when court is in session and the judge allows video/audio to go out.

Lee Enterprises/Kenosha News reporter Deneen Smith is reporting from inside the Kenosha County Courthouse, with reporting on this page augmented by remote staff.

More coverage:

5 p.m.: Breaking for the day. Elijah is expected then to be the first witness on the stand Wednesday.

4:20 p.m.: Kenosha livestreamer Koerri Elijah takes the stand.

"Most of the people ... were passionate about what happened, but not organized at all," Elijah said of the first days of protests.

Elijah testifies that he didn't see anyone get hurt before the first shooting.

When asked what it appeared the armed men were doing there that night, Elijah indicates he has not an idea.

Elijah says he didn't see any fights starting despite heated moments between armed people and unarmed people.

3:37 p.m.: No video or audio of current person testifying per judge.

Per a TV reporter: No video or audio was allowed to be broadcast during the testimony of FBI witness Brandon Cramin, who provided aerial surveillance. Prosecutors were seeking to "Prosecutors trying to establish Rittenhouse may have chased/followed Rosenbaum."

3:06 p.m.: Recess after Black's testimony.

2:40 p.m.: Richards says Rittenhouse's mom who was the one who said maybe they should flee the state, to which Black replies in the affirmative. Black convinces Rittenhouse and his mom to go to the police, to not go out of state.

Richards asks, "You wanted Kyle to have the gun, correct?" Black doesn't agree. "It wasn't really a thought in my mind."

Richards affirms that Black didn't tell Rittenhouse he shouldn't have the gun. Richards affirms that Black "wanted the gun for protection."

Black testifies that Rittenhouse was the only person he saw render aid to anyone else.

Black testifies he saw Rittenhouse go running to put out a fire with a fire extinguisher, not long after Black tried telling another man who was with them who was antagonizing protesters with a laser pointer.

Black's the stepfather talked about possibly boarding up windows if rioters came by. Black said he felt safe at the house; didn't think any rioters would come by.

Even though people threw rocks and water bottles and some sort of "gas bomb" at armed groups, Black said he never feared for his life or felt like needing to fire a gun.

On redirect, Black says that if someone were to try to take the AR-15 strapped to his body  Black and Rittenhouse had purchased identical straps  there was no way it could be pulled off or turned to be pointed at the person the gun was strapped too.

2:29 p.m.: Black says he was at the Antioch Police Department when Rittenhouse turned himself in, and was questioned that day.

Black testifies he rendered aid to someone who suffered a gash to someone's hand and helped put out fires.

Black says it would have been "impossible" to turn Rittenhouse into Kenosha Police that night. Before driving down to Antioch, Rittenhouse was "hysterical."

2:23 p.m.: Defense begins cross examination.

Black says that he and Rittenhouse considered themselves "brothers" and were "good friends."

Black says "it never really clicked" that Rittenhouse should not have had access to the gun that night.

Defense Attorney Mark Richards is trying to argue that Black's story has changed, noting that Black and Rittenhouse bought slings for their firearms together but then later says Rittenhouse unplanned and without permission got the gun for himself from Black's stepfather's safe.

2:16 p.m.: Black says he didn't know Rittenhouse was the one who fired the shots until he got the phone call of Rittenhouse saying "I shot someone, I shot someone" then immediately hanging up.

They ran into each other nearby. Black says Rittenhouse looked scared, was pale and "sweating a lot." Black says that Rittenhouse didn't say anything about himself being attacked.

Black took Rittenhouse home to Antioch, advising him to turn himself in.

After getting to their place in Antioch, there was nobody there, but Rittenhouse's mom and sisters showed up 15 minutes later.

At first there was a discussion that Rittenhouse flee the state, but Black advised Rittenhouse to turn himself in.

Prosecutor asks Black if Rittenhouse had ever worked as an EMT or paramedic, and Black replies "no" to the questions.

Prosecutor confirms with Black that Black is not getting anything in exchange for testifying, since Black is facing criminal charges for providing gun to Rittenhouse, who was then 17 years old.

Black says he saw some injuries to Rittenhouse's head, and that Rittenhouse said "his head hurt" after the shootings.

Later on in the night, protesters began throwing rocks at the armed individuals at the Car Source. Black says he wasn't at risk of "great bodily harm" and didn't think about firing his gun at them.

2:03 p.m.: Black says that he and Rittenhouse didn't know any of the people who came from out of town to "help" defend Car Source locations.

Black says he would be "safer" on top of one of the buildings. He didn't want to be "caught up" in potential violence down below.

Prosecutor asks if Black would have felt less safe on the ground and Black replies in the affirmative. Of being on the ground, Black says "it was not a safe place to be at all." He says the crowd was "saying a lot of threats, throwing a lot of things." He says threats were directed at "us" as well as the police and others in the crowd.

1:44 p.m.: Black says Rittenhouse got the gun himself from Black's stepfather's home; he did not have permission to take it since he was still 17, but Black didn't stop him. They went out together while armed in Kenosha.

Rittenhouse then started going through the house looking for medical supplies.

Black says that he and Rittenhouse met the owner of Car Source  identified as "Sam"  on the morning of the shootings, then met him again later in the day.

Black says that one of the Car Source locations they were defending did not have all of its cars burned up; just some damage.

1:27 p.m.: Dominick Black, 20, takes the stand.

He talks about becoming friends with Kyle Rittenhouse  "going to the lake, hunting"  when Black was dating Rittenhouse's sister.

Black says he bought the AR-15 for Rittenhouse under the agreement that Rittenhouse couldn't use have it until he was 18. "It was more under the lines that he would be 18 soon ... It wouldn't be his until he was 18 ... From then on, it (the AR-15) stayed at my house."

Black says that Rittenhouse used the AR-15 several times to shoot clay pigeons on Black's family's property "in a big open field" in Ladysmith.

12:26 p.m.: Lunch break. From pool reports:

As defense attorney Mark Richards displayed photos and brief video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of shots the fired was played for jurors. Rittenhouse occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

Jurors watched on a 4-by-3 foot TV screen set up just outside the jury box, some panelists straining their necks to get a better views.

Tensions seemed to fray at times between lawyers and prosecutors.

Earlier, during a morning recess and with the judge out of the courtroom, Binger and Richards quarreled briefly about the admissibility of evidence, including personal records of Rosenbaum.

"You opened the door" to new evidence, Richards said. "No I didn't," Binger shot back.

As the judge readjourned and with jurors still out of the room, Richards shook his head as Binger told the judge that the defense was seeking to enter evidence about Rosenbaum seeking mental health.

12:19 p.m.: Lead Defense Attorney Mark Richards breaks down shooting of Huber and Grosskreutz using frames from videos showing Rittenhouse being knocked to his back and other people's hands on Rittenhouse's gun on Sheridan Road.

Richards argues Rittenhouse only pointed his gun at people who were chasing him to get them away from him, except for those who threatened harm.

Richards notes that Rittenhouse "wanted" to turn himself into Kenosha Police that night but was turned away; Richards says that the KPD tried to pepper spray Rittenhouse, but missed him and told him to go home.

"He didn't endanger those other individuals," Richards argues.

"Kyle Rittenhouse protected himself, protected his firearm so it couldn't be taken and used against him or other people," Richards tells jury, saying people who "attacked him (Rittenhouse) in the street like an animal."

12:07 p.m.: "He's trying to get away from the individual," Richards says of Rittenhouse running away from Rosenbaum prior to the shots being fired.

Richards says Rosenbaum "dove for Kyle Rittenhouse's gun" after yelling "F*** you!"

Richards notes that Rittenhouse was not under any "obligation" to render aid to Rosenbaum, defending Rittenhouse's actions for running away. "Discretion is the better part of valor," Richards adds.

"All he wanted to do was get to the police," Richards says of Rittenhouse, "but the mob was closing in."

11:53 a.m.: Richards says the n-word out loud to quote Rosenbaum, who allegedly yelled "Shoot me (n-word), shoot me (n-word)" at Black Lives Matter demonstrators.

When Rittenhouse is being chased after the shooting of Rosenbaum, Richards uses the word "attack" several times to describe the actions of Huber, Grosskreutz and others; says their behavior was "marauding."

"Trying to separate the head from the body," Richards says of Huber's actions, swinging a weighty skateboard at Rittenhouse. "You'll see ... what Mr. Huber was trying to do."

Richards says that Huber's girlfriend repeatedly refused to turn over the skateboard.

Rosenbaum "was the one who lit the fuse that night," Richards states.

Richards continues arguing that Rittenhouse "doesn't want trouble" after Rittenhouse walked away from a confrontation prior to shootings.

11:50 a.m.: Responding to assertion that Rittenhouse was only person who shot anyone in Kenosha that night, Richards says "Kyle Rittenhouse is the only person who was chased by Joseph Rosenbaum."

Richards notes that Rosenbaum set a dumpster on fire, the fire (which was "very close" to a gas station) was put out, Rosenbaum "became enraged."

Richards says that Rosenbaum "arms himself with a chain ... a rather heavy chain."

11:48 a.m.: Richards says Rittenhouse has "strong ties" to Kenosha, saying that Rittenhouse's father lives here in addition to having worked as lifeguard at the RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie.

11:46 a.m.: Jury is back in the room. Defense Attorney Mark Richards of Racine begins his opening statement.

"We have two very different outlooks on the events of Aug. 25, 2020," Richards said.

11:35 a.m.: Now the prosecution and defense are arguing about how much of Rosenbaum's history can be brought up before the jury. Rosenbaum had been in a hospital for mental help and had a no-contact order with a woman, which defense wants to bring up but prosecution wants to keep out.

"A backdoor way of attacking his character," prosecution says of defense's desire to bring up the background of the dead man.

11:29 a.m.: Prosecution calls defense's plan to bring up approximately 40 pieces of evidence in opening statements "highly unusual," and raises concern that defense is presenting too much evidence in opening statements before the primary trial itself  with witnesses et. al.

"Witnesses should be presenting evidence," prosecution says in objection.

Judge sides with defense. "This is an acceptable way ... to make an opening statement." Judge notes "this is a record number" of things to be presented in opening statement, but will not disallow it.

Judge calls on defense for opening statement to be "brief and informative." When defense attorney says his opening statement shouldn't be any longer than the prosecution's, judge replies "Bless you," with a chuckle.

11:20 a.m.: After a short break, with the jury out of the room, defense lays out videos and photos it plans to show, including a video of Rosenbaum allegedly having picked up a chain, referred to as a "weapon" by a defense attorney.

Other evidence allegedly includes someone kicking Rittenhouse "in the head," and of Huber "holding back" Rosenbaum during an altercation.

Pool report: Several jurors listened with grim expressions, some sporting frowns and keeping their arms folded firmly across their chests. Others leaned forward, furrowing their brows as they listened to the state's account of the shootings. Facemasks aren't required in the courthouse, though a few jurors wore them.

Rittenhouse looked on in apparent calm in a dark pinstripe suit and tie. He occasionally fidgeted with a water bottle or glanced toward the jury box. His mom, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him on a nearby spectators' bench.

10:49 a.m.: Binger asserts that members of the crowd  among them Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz  who ran after Rittenhouse following the killing of Rosenbaum believed that the teenager "was an active shooter." He asks jury to "keep that in mind" as proceedings go forward.

10:48 a.m.: Binger notes that Rittenhouse claimed to be a medic throughout the night, but after Rosenbaum was shot "he offers no aid."

10:45 a.m.: Rosenbaum suffered five wounds from four bullets, all allegedly from Rittenhouse's gun, Binger says based on expected testimony from medical examiner. Two shots were fired as Rosenbaum was falling to the ground, including the fatal shot, Binger says.

10:43 a.m.: Binger says that FBI infrared aerial video will show Rittenhouse following Rosenbaum.

10:41 a.m.: Koerri Elijah, a well-loved Kenosha man and livestreamer, is due to testify, Binger says.

In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, Elijah wrote "Well todays the day I have to testify at the Rittenhouse trial. Ill be live later to finally unpack my thoughts."

10:40 a.m.: Binger says that "nobody seems to take (Joseph Rosenbaum) as a serious threat" as he was agitating other armed men in Kenosha. Binger notes that none of the other armed people hurt him, pushing away the 5-foot-3 man and ignoring him.

Rosenbaum would later be killed by Rittenhouse.

10:33 a.m.: Binger says that Black and Rittenhouse talked to an owner of Car Source about defending the property, even though its used cars had been already burned, as had its building.

Binger argues that after the crowd had moved on from Car Source, but Rittenhouse and another man "cross the police line" on Sheridan Road, ending up among crowd of protesters who, as Binger put it, did not see the armed people as an "ally."

10:30 a.m.: Dominick Black, the person who bought Rittenhouse's AR-15 even though Rittenhouse was 17, was dating Rittenhouse's sister, Binger said.

Black is due to testify first in the trial.

10:27 a.m.: Binger lays out that, for self-defense to be proven, it must be "reasonable" for the defendant to believe that his life, or someone else's, were in danger, and/or that great bodily harm was likely without taking action. Binger plans to argue that Rittenhouse's actions were not reasonable.

10:24 a.m.: "Life is more important than property," Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger argues in opening statement prosecuting Rittenhouse. "Like moths to a flame, tourists from outside our community were drawn to Kenosha ... and contributed to that chaos ... caused many (Kenoshans) to fear for their safety...

"The only person who killed anyone was (pointing to the defendant) Kyle Rittenhouse."

Binger notes that there's not much disagreement over the evidence: there's no question that Rittenhouse shot or killed anyone  such is accepted by all parties.

9:45 a.m.: The jury has entered the courtroom.

9:30 a.m.: The jury is not yet in the courtroom. Attorneys and the judge are arguing over how the jury will be instructed on specific counts, particularly regarding the laws around self-defense. It's a technical moment that appears in many if not all most or all jury trials that is rarely paid attention to by the public  except in major cases like this one.

8 a.m. The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse headed toward opening statements on Tuesday after a jury was seated in just a day despite the polarizing nature of the case.

About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed Monday after they expressed strong opinions about the case or worried that they couldn't be fair. Others worried about their personal safety  "No one wants to be sitting in this chair," one woman said  but the 20-member panel was finally set by early evening.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

The jury includes 12 jurors and eight alternates; 11 are women and nine are men. Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

Rittenhouse traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

The now-18-year-old Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.  Associated Press

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Five years ago, demagogues waging a culture war against metropolitan elites and minorities broke into mainstream politics in Britain and the United States. The result was Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Eric Zemmours meteoric rise as a challenger to French President Emmanuel Macron confirms that vicious culture wars have become central to the Wests major political democracies. More disturbingly, liberals and progressives invested in economic and social progress are too disunited and distracted by factional struggles to effectively combat these prophets of decline and vendors of ethnic-racial regeneration. The heartlands of Western democracy are thus becoming increasingly dysfunctional and the language of majoritarianism is taking over public discourse. Convicted twice by French courts for inciting racial hatred, Zemmour believes that France is being swamped by Muslims and that an unpatriotic media constantly spits on French history and culture. Solicited by Macron himself for his views on immigration during the shift of French political culture to the right, Zemmour has been lately buoyed by his appearances on Frances version of Fox News. Even if he doesnt become president, he has already played the crucial role British firebrand Nigel Farage performed in U.K. politics: consolidating voters behind white nationalism and forcing established parties to cater to them.

What does this convergence of governing styles with demagoguery across France, the U.K. and the U.S. reveal? For one, the traditional political categories and constituencies of left and right have dissolved. In recent months, for instance, while old-style Tories have looked on aghast, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has radically remade the Conservative Party for a more desperate and ideologically promiscuous era. Proposing to raise corporate taxes, hes offering voters a quasi-socialist program of lavish public spending in what he calls one of the most imbalanced societies and lopsided economies. Much like Trump, Johnson works with the intuition that today the most crucial political division exists between those who benefited from three decades of hectic globalization  largely well-educated, urban classes  and those who didnt. Elections, it seems, will be won by those who can secure sufficient votes among the left-behind. The mainstream political parties that once advanced economic and social liberalism  Democrats and Republicans in the U.S., socialists and center-rightists in France, and the Conservative and Labour parties in Britain  have been struggling since the financial crisis of 2008 to heal disaffection in their societies. Amid widespread perplexity, mercurial and often fringe figures such as Trump, Johnson and Zemmour have short-circuited party-political processes to rally older voters in suburbs, towns and rural areas. None of these impresarios have any coherent plan to make their nations great again. But then, thoughtful economic policy does not seem adequate to voters gripped by existential fears. Unabashed supremacists have found in culture wars  essentially, baiting of racial and ethnic minorities and their allegedly woke patrons among metropolitan elites, as well as chest-thumping about national, racial and civilizational glory  a dependable political resource. Entrenched through false promises and rousing slogans (Take back control! Build the wall!), this radicalized political culture is hard to uproot, as can be seen in the current struggles of President Joe Biden with the toxic legacy of Trumpism. The most flexible and ingenious forces shaping politics today seem to be on the right, while the traditional liberal-left opposition is in disarray. Some of the ideas of the progressive left discarded during three decades of triumphant neo-liberalism have reappeared in the policy prescriptions of the Biden administration. But the left, confined to academia and small sectors of the political, media and think tank establishment, cannot begin to match the institutional bulk and ideological reach of the right. There is no left version of Fox News, or indeed left media platforms that approximate the vast echo chambers of the right. Nor do liberals and leftists have any rousing ripostes to the rights emotional invocation of region and country, any galvanizing symbols to match the freshly potent myths of national and racial glory. Liberals, upholders of an international order, cannot persuasively lip-sync white-nationalist bromides against immigrants, refugees and Muslims. Self-declared centrists have taken to blaming the woke left for their own political failures. But raucous blame-games that credit leftists with more influence than they have distract from the real forces polluting public and private spheres with conspiracy theories and vile prejudices. The implications are grim: The right in the U.S., U.K. and France is ruthlessly defining the parameters of political cultures, while liberals and leftists squabble among themselves. Zemmour probably wont be the last demagogue to push Western democracy further down the road to majoritarianism.

Five years ago, demagogues waging a culture war against metropolitan elites and minorities broke into mainstream politics in Britain and the United States. The result was Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Eric Zemmours meteoric rise as a challenger to French President Emmanuel Macron confirms that vicious culture wars have become central to the Wests major political democracies.

More disturbingly, liberals and progressives invested in economic and social progress are too disunited and distracted by factional struggles to effectively combat these prophets of decline and vendors of ethnic-racial regeneration. The heartlands of Western democracy are thus becoming increasingly dysfunctional and the language of majoritarianism is taking over public discourse.

Convicted twice by French courts for inciting racial hatred, Zemmour believes that France is being swamped by Muslims and that an unpatriotic media constantly spits on French history and culture. Solicited by Macron himself for his views on immigration during the shift of French political culture to the right, Zemmour has been lately buoyed by his appearances on Frances version of Fox News. Even if he doesnt become president, he has already played the crucial role British firebrand Nigel Farage performed in U.K. politics: consolidating voters behind white nationalism and forcing established parties to cater to them.

What does this convergence of governing styles with demagoguery across France, the U.K. and the U.S. reveal? For one, the traditional political categories and constituencies of left and right have dissolved.

In recent months, for instance, while old-style Tories have looked on aghast, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has radically remade the Conservative Party for a more desperate and ideologically promiscuous era. Proposing to raise corporate taxes, hes offering voters a quasi-socialist program of lavish public spending in what he calls one of the most imbalanced societies and lopsided economies.

Much like Trump, Johnson works with the intuition that today the most crucial political division exists between those who benefited from three decades of hectic globalization  largely well-educated, urban classes  and those who didnt. Elections, it seems, will be won by those who can secure sufficient votes among the left-behind.

The mainstream political parties that once advanced economic and social liberalism  Democrats and Republicans in the U.S., socialists and center-rightists in France, and the Conservative and Labour parties in Britain  have been struggling since the financial crisis of 2008 to heal disaffection in their societies. Amid widespread perplexity, mercurial and often fringe figures such as Trump, Johnson and Zemmour have short-circuited party-political processes to rally older voters in suburbs, towns and rural areas.

None of these impresarios have any coherent plan to make their nations great again. But then, thoughtful economic policy does not seem adequate to voters gripped by existential fears. Unabashed supremacists have found in culture wars  essentially, baiting of racial and ethnic minorities and their allegedly woke patrons among metropolitan elites, as well as chest-thumping about national, racial and civilizational glory  a dependable political resource.

Entrenched through false promises and rousing slogans (Take back control! Build the wall!), this radicalized political culture is hard to uproot, as can be seen in the current struggles of President Joe Biden with the toxic legacy of Trumpism.

The most flexible and ingenious forces shaping politics today seem to be on the right, while the traditional liberal-left opposition is in disarray. Some of the ideas of the progressive left discarded during three decades of triumphant neo-liberalism have reappeared in the policy prescriptions of the Biden administration. But the left, confined to academia and small sectors of the political, media and think tank establishment, cannot begin to match the institutional bulk and ideological reach of the right.

There is no left version of Fox News, or indeed left media platforms that approximate the vast echo chambers of the right. Nor do liberals and leftists have any rousing ripostes to the rights emotional invocation of region and country, any galvanizing symbols to match the freshly potent myths of national and racial glory.

Liberals, upholders of an international order, cannot persuasively lip-sync white-nationalist bromides against immigrants, refugees and Muslims. Self-declared centrists have taken to blaming the woke left for their own political failures. But raucous blame-games that credit leftists with more influence than they have distract from the real forces polluting public and private spheres with conspiracy theories and vile prejudices.

The implications are grim: The right in the U.S., U.K. and France is ruthlessly defining the parameters of political cultures, while liberals and leftists squabble among themselves. Zemmour probably wont be the last demagogue to push Western democracy further down the road to majoritarianism.

Pankaj Mishra is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. His books include Age of Anger: A History of the Present, From the Ruins of Empire: The Intellectuals Who Remade Asia, and Temptations of the West: How to Be Modern in India, Pakistan, Tibet and Beyond.

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Premiere date: Wednesday, November 24 at 8:00 pm on WFSU

Deep in the wilds of Florida, writer and naturalist Joe Hutto was given the rare opportunity to raise wild turkeys from chicks. Eventually, he had to let his children grow up and go off on their own, but this was harder than he ever imagined.
In his 14 years as a volunteer, Shugarts has swapped emotional stories with fellow veterans, taken filmmaker Ken Burns for a tour, and even met two former Viet Cong soldiers, which has led to an enduring and surprising friendship. The wall represents not glory, but pain, and its healing power also attracts veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, who find comfort among its 58,395 names.

Volunteers such as Shugarts are part of the walls magic. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971 and was awarded three Bronze Stars. Hes one of 125 Vietnam veterans who work at the memorial, easily identified by their yellow hats as they answer questions and help visitors find names. If you want to meet these dedicated men and women, now is the time to go. Most Vietnam veterans are in their 70s, and more than 300 vets die each day.

Controversial beginnings

When a panel of eight architects, landscape architects and sculptors announced the winning design for the memorial in 1981, the public reacted with more wall fury than wall magic. The unconventional concept and lack of patriotic symbols outraged many veterans and conservative politicians.

War memorials up to that time in American history were a bronze general on horseback waving a sword, says Thomas Schultz, a Navy veteran and president of DC Military Tours. But this was different. It didnt look like what people were used to.

The design criteria, developed by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), included multiple requirements: The memorial should be reflective, contemplative and apolitical; it should harmonize with its environment; and it should contain the names of the dead and missing. The VVMFs competition generated 1,421 anonymous entries, and the winner was number 1,026, created by Maya Lin, an unknown 21-year-old student at Yale University.

Lins concept was simple, stark and ingenious. By carving the wall into the earth, the memorial symbolizes the nations wound. The reflective panels show trees, grass and nearby monuments, which connects it to the surrounding Mall, and allows visitors to see themselves, linking them to the names. But opponents hated the black granite, the lack of heroic emblems and the way the wall sunk rather than rose. Then-Secretary of the Interior James Watt called the design an act of treason (before he had even seen it), while financial supporter H. Ross Perot angrily declared it a trench. Over the objections of Lin and her architect, the design was modified to incorporate a flagpole and two sets of statues. The animosity, however, continued. At the memorials dedication in 1982, an angry vet accosted Lin, and some veterans discussed plans to detonate the memorial, as U.S. Army veteran James Reston Jr. notes in his book, A Rift in the Earth.

And yet almost immediately, visitors grasped Lins idea that you must confront pain in order to heal. Families and veterans cried as they located names on the wall. They began leaving artifacts, from combat boots to medals. Between 4 and 5 million people visit the memorial each year, making it one of the most visited sites on the National Mall.


Annual Report

Perth, Nov 1, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In September 2020, Altech Chemicals Ltd ( ASX:ATC ) ( FRA:A3Y ) announced the successful laboratory based application of an innovative method for the coating of graphite particles with a nano-layer of alumina, and shortly thereafter the technology was also successfully applied to the coating of silicon particles. Both the silicon and graphite particles are typical of those used in the anode of lithium-ion batteries, where there is an evolving consideration for the use of alumina because of the positive impacts that alumina coated graphite and silicon particles may have on battery life and performance.Following the announcement of its coating technology, Altech succeeded in entering into a collaboration agreement with a leading European silicon producer, Ferrosolar SLU, and recently a collaboration agreement was executed with SGL Carbon of Germany, a world leader in the development and production of carbon based solutions.The Company believes that its nano technology, which has been used to coat battery materials anode particles such as silicon and graphite with a fine layer of alumina, has the potential to present an opportunity to resolve the first-cycle-capacity-loss and silicon particle swelling problems that are present in lithium-ion batteries.To support the further development and testing of its technology, in July 2021, Altech announced the opening of a dedicated research and development laboratory in Perth, Western Australia. With its own laboratory, we are now able to conduct a range of materials testing and development work, including battery testing to both demonstrate and refine our technology with the ultimate goal being commercialisation.Complementing its work in Australia, Altech's 75% owned German subsidiary, Altech Industries Germany GmbH has commenced a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the construction of a battery materials high purity alumina coating plant, in Saxony Germany. The PFS will contemplate a plant with annual production capacity of 10,000tpa (35tpd), use 100% green energy and would be constructed at the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park, Saxony, Germany.Work on finalising project financing for the Company's proposed Malaysian high purity alumina (HPA) plant continued through the year. Details for a US$144m green bond offering as a secondary debt layer behind the US$190m of senior debt from German government owned KfW-IPEX Bank, are currently being finalised and initial soundings have been positive. The HPA plant site at Johor, Malaysia remains on care and maintenance following the successful completion of stage-1 and stage-2 early works construction in June 2020, this work was completed on time and on budget.Finally, the continued support of all shareholders during the year was demonstrated by the successful $14.5 million rights issue that completed in January 2021.To view the Annual Report, please visit:About Altech Chemicals Ltd

Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (Al2O3) through the construction and operation of a 4,500tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company's 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia and shipped to Malaysia.



HPA is a high-value, high margin and highly demanded product as it is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire. Synthetic sapphire is used in the manufacture of substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire glass used for wristwatch faces, optical windows and smartphone components. Increasingly HPA is used by lithium-ion battery manufacturers as the coating on the battery's separator, which improves performance, longevity and safety of the battery. With global HPA demand approximately 19,000t (2018), it is estimated that this demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% (2018-2028); by 2028 HPA market demand will be approximately 272,000t, driven by the increasing adoption of LEDs worldwide as well as the demand for HPA by lithium-ion battery manufacturers to serve the surging electric vehicle market.


Droneshield Factbook

Sydney, Nov 2, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - DroneShield Ltd ( ASX:DRO ) ( OTCMKTS:DRSHF ), the pioneer and global leader in C-UAS/counterdrone sector, is pleased to share the 6th edition of its C-UAS Factbook.DroneShield C-UAS Counterdrone Factbook covers key trends in the C-UAS market. This includes the review of the emerging UAS threat and its key categories, UAS types and capabilities.Key threat categories include:- Nuisance Activity- Intelligence, Surveillance and Recognisance (ISR)- Payload DeliveryThe UAS types include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs).UAS types range from group 1 (consumer and commercial UAS), all the way to group 5 (Reaper, Global Hawk, and other large sovereign UAS).The Factbook considers various types of UAS detection sensors, including radiofrequency (RF) sensors, radars, acoustics, optics, and multi-sensor systems. It also reviews and compares various UAS effectors, including jammers (control link and GNSS jamming), spoofing, directed energy, counterdrone drones, other kinetic solutions, and layered C-UAS defeat options.The Factbook finally reviews types of counter-UAS providers, ranging from start-ups and project companies, across to prime contractors, to established small businesses.The Factbook can be viewed here:About DroneShield Ltd

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (OTCMKTS:DRSHF) is an Australian publicly listed company with its head office in Sydney and teams in the US and UK. We specialise in RF sensing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Sensor Fusion, Electronic Warfare, Rapid Prototyping and MIL-SPEC manufacturing.

Our capabilities are used to protect Military, Government, Law Enforcement, Critical Infrastructure, Commercial and VIPs throughout the world.

Through our team of primarily Australian based engineers - we offer customers bespoke solutions and off-the-shelf products designed to suit a variety of terrestrial, maritime or airborne platforms.

DroneShield is proudly exporting Australian capability to customers throughout the world and supporting Australia's defence, national security and other organisations protect people, critical infrastructure and vital assets.

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PHOENIX  Former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said Monday he was questioned by investigators from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovichs office about the 2020 election.

The questioning of Fontes, a Democrat who oversaw mail-in balloting last year but lost his own re-election bid, suggests Brnovich is pressing ahead with his pledge to review the findings of the state Senate Republicans partisan review of the 2020 election. That review, led and almost entirely funded by supporters of former President Donald Trump, confirmed President Joe Bidens victory in Maricopa County but spread falsehoods about alleged malfeasance.

Brnovich is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate but could be weighed down by sharp criticism from Trump, who retains considerable sway with the GOP base. Trump repeatedly attacked Brnovich earlier this year as lackluster, claiming the attorney general wasnt doing enough to advance the false claim that Trumps loss in Arizona was the result of fraud.

Fontes, who is running in a contested Democratic primary for secretary of state, said he spoke for about an hour Monday morning with two special agents from Brnovichs office. He said the discussion was professional and collegial, but he said the agents did not seem to know much about election systems.

If they were trying to build an actual case, they wouldve been prepared before they asked me any questions, Fontes told The Associated Press. This is nothing more than political box-checking and an abuse of power by a desperate Republican Senate nominee.

Fontes said the agents asked about the archiving of data to the server but did not disclose other specific lines of inquiry.

Brnovichs office declined to comment.

While Biden and Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly won at the top of the ticket in Maricopa County, Democrats did not fare well in down-ticket races, including Fontes bid for re-election. The Republican who beat him, Stephen Richer, has repeatedly defended the 2020 election.

Brnovich said last month that he would look into the findings of Cyber Ninjas, which led the Senate Republicans review of the 2020 election. While it confirmed that Biden won in Maricopa County, it also spun falsehoods about deleted data, double voting and other malfeasance in a report that ignored basic facts about how elections are run

I will take all necessary actions that are supported by the evidence and where I have legal authority, Brnovich said at the time. Arizonans deserve to have their votes accurately counted and protected.
Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Monday that he filed a petition asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to review a lower courts opinion which reversed a second-degree murder conviction.

Matthew Chavez was convicted in 2018 of second-degree murder and lesser charges and sentenced to 23 years in prison in the slaying of Tyler Lackey.

Last month, the New Mexico Court of Appeals reversed the conviction because the jury was instructed on self-defense and defense of another but not on voluntary manslaughter. The appeals court ruled that District Judge Cristina Jaramillo was wrong to reject Chavezs request for an instruction allowing the jury to consider a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, which could carry a lesser sentence.

We are asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to grant certiorari to address for the first time whether a claim of imperfect self-defense is available to an initial aggressor, Balderas said in a news release. Violent murderers should not benefit from a loophole in the law.

Lackey, a 24-year-old Army veteran, was killed in 2016 after taking money out of an ATM on Gibson Boulevard.

Chavez, who had a bandanna tied over his face, tried to rob Lackey, who had a concealed-carry permit and drew a handgun.

Chavez retreated to his vehicle.

The defense argued that Chavez, who was with his girlfriend, then shot Lackey in self-defense.

A jury rejected the self defense argument, but the Court of Appeals ruled that jurors should have had an option beyond finding Chavez not guilty because he acted in self defense or finding him guilty of first- or second-degree murder.
SANTA FE  A spokesman for the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI and other charges after a Santa Fe Police Department officer encountered him in a vehicle that had crashed into a legally parked car, court documents state.

Matthew Baca was arrested Oct. 23, just after 10 p.m. Authorities said his breath smelled of alcohol and he performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He was charged with aggravated DWI because he refused a breathalyzer test, court documents state.

Our office is aware that Matt Baca was recently accused of driving under the influence and so he has been placed on administrative leave to be with his family and handle this matter, Attorney General Hector Balderas said through a spokesperson. He is not serving as chief counsel and his duties have been reassigned.

This was Bacas first DWI offense. He was also charged with careless driving.

The officer who stopped him had been attempting to locate a vehicle he had seen driving recklessly, but lost contact with it. He then came upon Baca in a silver Honda sedan on Garcia Street. Baca was not the person seen driving recklessly.

But observations of the collision strongly indicated that Mr. Baca was not traveling properly within the correct lane of traffic prior to the crash, the documents state.

During a search, the Santa Fe officer found a vape pen labeled THC in Bacas pocket. Baca told police he did not know what that vape pen was although it was in his pocket, the documents state.

When Baca got out of the car, there were small superficial lacerations on his face, and the officer called for an ambulance to assess Baca and give medical aid, a criminal complaint filed in Santa Fe Municipal Court states.

The officer observed slurred speech, dilated pupils and watery eyes and a very dry tongue with heat bumps and a green distinct film, which are consistent with the use of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), officer Fernando Cruz wrote in the criminal complaint. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.
AUSTIN, Texas  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has joined a conservative Republican lawmakers campaign to investigate books that cover race, gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools.

State Rep. Matt Krause, who chairs the House General Investigating Committee, has sent state and local school officials a list of more than 800 books dealing with those subjects and related issues, asking them to search for the books on their campuses. Krause wants the schools to advise which of the books and how many they possess, where they are kept and how they were paid for.

Many of the books on the list were written by women, people of color and LGBTQ writers and cover topics including teen pregnancy and abortion. Krauses inquiry comes after Abbott signed a law similar to those approved by legislatures in other GOP-controlled states limiting how race and racism can be taught in schools. In Texas, that includes the idea that the advent of slavery in what is now the United States marks the true founding of the nation.

Critical race theory  an academic way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism  became a lightning rod for the Republican-dominated Legislature this year.

In a letterfirst reported by The Texas Tribune, the Fort Worth Republican also demanded that school districts report any other books that could cause students guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex or convey that a student, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Krauses list included such celebrated works as The Confessions of Nat Turner, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Styron, The Cider House Rules by John Irving, the graphic novel version of The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

Krause is challenging incumbent Ken Paxton for the Republican attorney general nomination in next years primaries. He gave the districts until Nov. 12 to respond, but he did not specify why he wanted the information or the consequences for failing to comply.

Krause did not respond to a telephone message from The Associated Press, but The Tribune reported that he declined to comment.

In a letter dated Monday, Abbott warned the head of the Texas Association of School Boards that parents are worried that schools are exposing students to pornography or other inappropriate content, even though the group has no role in approving what students read or study.

A growing number of parents of Texas students are increasingly alarmed about some of the books and other content found in public school libraries that are extremely inappropriate in the public education system. The most flagrant examples include clearly pornographic images and substance that have no place in the Texas education system, the Republican governor wrote to association Executive Director Dan Troxell.

Abbott, who is running for reelection, did not specify what images he regarded as pornographic or what content he believed was inappropriate.

The school board association said in a statement that most districts leave the supervision of library materials up to individual district administrations and staff.

The role of a school board primarily includes establishing a strategic plan for the district, adopting policies in public meetings, approving the districts budget, and selecting and evaluating a superintendent, the association said.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Authorities have identified five people who were killed in and outside the city limits over the past several days.

On Thursday afternoon, Travis Lewis John, 42, was shot to death on the 6700 block of Cochiti, near Florida SE. No other details have been released on his case.

Early Saturday morning around 1 a.m., police say ShotSpotter alerted officers that 12 shots had been fired in the area of Sixth and Copper NW. When they arrived they found 37-year-old Geoffrey Scott Edgar had been shot multiple times. He died at the scene.

Early Sunday morning two parties  one in the city and one in the unincorporated area of the county  erupted in gunfire, leaving three dead and several others injured.

Lorenzo Romero, 18, was shot at a party at the View apartments on Transport near Interstate 25 and Sunport SE. Police say his friends took him to the hospital, where he died.

Another person who had been shot was also taken to the hospital and was in critical condition on Sunday. And a third went to the hospital with a leg injury saying he was struck by a vehicle as he and others were trying to escape the scene.

At a party across the county six people were shot  two of whom died.

Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies were called to a house on Pajarito near Isleta and Don Felipe SW for reports of a shooting around 2 a.m. When they arrived they found John Michael Casados, 22, and Alejandro Villarreal, 18, dead. Four other people, including a juvenile, were taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital and are in stable condition.

No arrests have been made in any of the cases.
PHOENIX  An incarcerated woman who testified at a trial Monday over the quality of health care in Arizona prisons tearfully recalled her frustration about the length of time it took to be diagnosed and treated for multiple sclerosis.

Kendall Johnson detailed her repeated attempts to get help for what started as numbness in her feet and legs in 2017 and was diagnosed as multiple sclerosis in 2020.

In a series of medical assistance requests made on her behalf, Johnson complained about inaction in her medical care and requested new doctors as the growing weakness in her legs caused her to regularly fall to the ground, leading in one instance to her suffering a broken foot.

The 37-year-old Johnson, who is in a wheelchair and has a speech problem that makes it difficult at times to understand her, said she cant brush her teeth, must wear diapers, had to until recently pay fellow prisoners to feed her because of neglect from staff at the prison and typically spends her days laying in bed counting ceiling tiles.

I have feeling in my legs and can move them now, Johnson testified of her improvements since receiving effective medication.

Johnson was the first witness at the trial over health care for more than 27,000 people incarcerated in Arizonas state-run prisons. The trial was called after a judge threw out a 6-year-old settlement resolving the case, saying the state showed little interest in making many of the improvements it promised under the deal.

The judge had concluded $2.5 million in fines against the state for noncompliance with the settlement wasnt motivating Arizona to comply, faulted the state for making erroneous excuses and baseless legal arguments and said the failure to provide adequate care for prisoners led to suffering and preventable deaths.

Lawyers for the prisoners are asking the judge to take over health care operations in state-run prisons, appoint an official to run medical and mental health services there, ensure prisons have enough health care workers and reduce the use of isolation cells, including banning their use for prisoners under age 18 or those with serious mental illnesses.

They said Arizonas prison health care operations are understaffed and poorly supervised, routinely deny access to some necessary medications, fail to provide adequate pain management for end-stage cancer patients and others, and dont meet the minimum standards for mental health care.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry has denied allegations that it was providing inadequate care, delayed or issued outright denials of care and failed to give necessary medications. Its lawyers said the prisoners cant meet key elements in proving their case  that the state was deliberately indifferent to the risk of harm to prisoners and that the health care problems occur across the state-run prison system, not just a particular prison.

A court-appointed expert has previously concluded that understaffing, inadequate funding and privatization of health care services are significant barriers in improving health care in Arizonas prisons.

At first, Johnson said she told was told the numbness in her legs was neuropathy and given medications that didnt work.

A doctor ordered an MRI for her in 2018, but didnt provide a diagnosis. In a November 2019 request for help, she said she had been with a doctor for a year yet still didnt know what was going on with her body.

She got an MRI in early 2020 and was able to get seen by another physician specializing in neurology who concluded Johnson had MS and wanted two more MRIs. As she waited for an appointment, Johnson said she learned the doctor wasnt accepting new patients because of the pandemic.

Under questioning from a lawyer representing the state, Johnson acknowledged she has access to medical providers on a regular basis and wasnt told by a prison medical office that her neurologist was taking on new patients  she instead got that information from her grandmother, who called the doctors office.
KENOSHA, Wis.  Jurors heard starkly different portrayals of Kyle Rittenhouse  instigator or victim  in opening statements at his trial Tuesday on charges of shooting three people on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice.

A prosecutor said Rittenhouse set the bloodshed in motion when he triggered a confrontation with a man that night and then killed him with a bullet to the back.

But Rittenhouses attorney told the jury that his client acted in self-defense after the man tried to grab Rittenhouses gun and others kicked the teen in the face and clubbed him in the head with a skateboard.

You as jurors will end up looking at it from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances as they existed, defense attorney Mark Richards said.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during the summer of 2020 with an assault-style rifle. The one-time aspiring police officer could get life in prison if convicted.

The teenager traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, after protests broke out over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two nights in which rioters set fires and ransacked businesses.

The first witness was Dominick Black, who was dating Rittenhouses sister at the time. Black faces charges he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse months before the shootings because the teen was not old enough to own one at the time.

Black testified that he and Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha to help protect a car dealership after vehicles were burned the night before. Black said he thought nobody would start trouble if they saw him with his assault-style rifle. He also said Rittenhouse helped give medical aid and put out fires.

Black said he was on the roof as protesters hurled gasoline bombs and rocks at the business. He said he heard gunshots but didnt know Rittenhouse was involved until the teenager called and said, I shot somebody, I shot somebody.

Afterward, Black said, Rittenhouse was freaking out. He was really scared. He was pale, shaking a lot. Black said Rittenhouse told him that he acted in self-defense because people were trying to hurt him.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest in Kenosha as two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen and said outsiders were drawn to the city like moths to a flame.

Yet Binger repeatedly stressed that amid the hundreds of people in Kenosha and the anger and chaos in the streets, the only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse.

When we consider the reasonableness of the defendants actions, I ask you to keep this in mind, Binger said, after explaining to the jury that a claim of self-defense can be valid only if Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was using deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

The prosecutor said that it is not known exactly what words were said, but it is clear that Rittenhouse started a confrontation that led Joseph Rosenbaum to begin chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot.

Binger emphasized that Rosenbaum, 36, was killed by a shot to the back after he threw a plastic bag. The first two bullets hit Rosenbaum in the lower extremities, causing him to fall forward, the prosecutor noted.

Richards, the defense attorney, argued that it was Rosenbaum who lit the fuse that night. Rosenbaum yelled an expletive at Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before Rittenhouse fired at him, according to the defense.

Rittenhouse fired four shots in less than a second because Rosenbaum was trying to take Kyles weapon from him to use against him, Richards said.

Binger, the prosecutor, said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fled the scene instead of rendering aid, despite portraying himself as a medic earlier in the night. But Richards said Rittenhouse didnt stop to help because the crowd wanted to kill him, and instead ran toward police.

The crowd at that point clearly believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter, according to the prosecutor.

Moments after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, who was seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. The defense attorney portrayed Rittenhouse as the victim, saying Huber was trying to separate the head from the body with the skateboard.

Rittenhouse then wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Prosecutors called FBI agent Brandon Cramin to testify about infrared surveillance video of the protest on the night of the shooting. Prosecutors have said previously that the video would show that it was Rittenhouse following or chasing Rosenbaum at one point. They played a grainy video from 8,500 feet in which figures on the ground werent immediately identifiable. After a dispute between the two sides over whether additional surveillance videos exist that the defense hadnt seen, Cramin, who testified off-camera by the courts order, was asked by the judge if he could return and testify another day.

The defense pushed back against the notion that Rittenhouse was an outsider drawn to Kenosha by a call to arms on right-wing social media. Richards said Rittenhouse had strong ties to Kenosha  his father lived there and Rittenhouse worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard  and had seen livestreams of what was happening.

As his attorney displayed photos and video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse, wearing a dark pinstriped suit and tie, leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of gunfire was played, and occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

His mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him.

The most serious count against Rittenhouse, first-degree intentional homicide, is Wisconsins top murder charge.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see race as an underlying issue in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin, Forliti from Minneapolis. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.

___

Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
A man was found shot to death in a parking lot on the 4200 block of Central Southwest on Tuesday morning, Albuquerque police say.

Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said the homicide unit is investigating the death.

He said a cleanup employee was cleaning the parking lot at 4208 Central SW when he noticed the body on the ground.

He attempted to wake the individual with no result, Gallegos said, adding that he called 911 shortly before 6 a.m.

Gallegos said police and Albuquerque Fire Rescue responded and confirmed that the man was dead and that the individual had sustained a gunshot wound.
HOBBS, N.M.  Todd Bailey, editor of the Hobbs News-Sun, died Sunday of cancer. He was 49.

Bailey, who grew up in Hobbs, began his newspaper career there and returned to the News-Sun in 2012 after stints with the Santa Fe New Mexican and other newspapers.

Bailey was diagnosed with cancer in his left leg in 2020, leading to an amputation that fall. Just recently, he learned cancer had spread to his lungs.

News-Sun Publisher Daniel Russell wrote in a front-page column that Bailey was surrounded by family when he died in the community that he loved and that loved him.

If kindness and generosity and love from a community could heal, Todd would have been a healed man, Russell wrote. Never was there a day that someone didnt reach out to him to offer encouragement or help. Never. Over the course of a year and a half. Never.

Russell highlighted the qualities that made Bailey a perfect fit for leading the News-Sun.

He knew the issues. He knew the history, he wrote. We could always bounce ideas off him. He wanted what was best for this area, the people, its institutions.

Bailey wrote Saturday on Facebook that he looked forward to the imminent arrival of his mother and other family members. Unfortunately, I think God may be calling me home tonight.

Danielle Bailey McCrary wrote Sunday on her brothers Facebook page that their mother arrived in time to speak with Bailey before he died.

Plans for services are pending, McCrary wrote on Facebook.

___

This version corrects the name of Hobbs News-Suns publisher to Daniel Russell, not David Russell.
Homicide detectives are investigating after a person was fatally shot at an apartment complex on Grove, near Pennsylvania and Southern SE.

Rebecca Atkins, an Albuquerque Police Department spokeswoman, said the detectives were called to investigate a shooting death on the 600 block of Grove SE.

One individual was located deceased upon arrival, Atkins wrote in an email.

She didnt provide any other details on the person who was shot or the circumstances around the shooting.

It was the second homicide investigation APD initiated on Tuesday. Earlier in the day a person was found dead in a parking lot off West Central.
Instagram/Amanda Petrone Movie

Details of the moment when the cinematographer was hit with bullet by Alec Baldwin and fellow crew members were scrambling to help her are revealed in a transcript.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - Tragic cinematographer Halyna Hutchins complained of not being able to feel her legs minutes before she died on the set of "Rust" last month (Oct21).

In a new report featuring a transcript from those who were filming with her as Alec Baldwin accidentally shot her with a loaded weapon he was told was a prop gun, it appears that Halyna knew something had gone very wrong as she bled out from a bullet wound.

Los Angeles Times reporters have pieced together the moments following the shooting incident on the set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, based on interviews with the cast and crew.

Baldwin had reportedly been preparing for a scene, in which he drew and fired a gun, and told director Joel Souza, "So I guess I'm gonna take this out, pull it, and go, 'Bang!' "

As the gun fired, Alec reportedly responded, "What the f**k just happened?"

Halyna fell into electrician Serge Svetnoy's arms as she was hit and Souza apparently cried out, "What the f**k was that? That burns!"

He was hit in the shoulder.

Amid the panic, someone screamed for a medic and Halyna told those near her, "I can't feel my legs."

When one crew member said, "Oh, that was no good," she apparently responded, "No. That was no good. That was no good at all."

The cinematographer was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The film has been shut down with no word on whether the project will ever be completed as Sheriff's Deputies in Santa Fe continue to investigate the shooting incident.

Meanwhile, "Rust" assistant director David Halls has broken his silence after it was revealed he was the last person to touch the gun before handing it to Baldwin.

In a statement he says, "Halyna Hutchins was not just one of the most talented people I've worked with, but also a friend."

"I'm shocked and saddened by her death. It's my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to re-evaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again... My thoughts are with all who knew and loved Halyna."

Director Souza previously told police officials that safety protocols call for the set armorer to hand the weapon to the assistant director, who is supposed to check to ensure there are no live rounds in the weapon before handing it to the actor.

One eye witnesses has denied reports Halls called the gun "cold" before giving it to Baldwin.
WENN Celebrity

While taking a break from the filming of DC superhero movie, the 'Aquaman' actor reveals he contracted the virus after attending 'Dune' premiere in London.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa has confirmed he is battling COVID-19, and is isolating after the U.K. premiere of "Dune".

The actor took to his Instagram Stories over the weekend (29-31Oct21) to confirm reports he had contracted the virus after the sci-fi epic's London launch on 18 October.

"Hi, everybody. Yeah, I got hit with COVID right after the premiere. There's a lot of people I met in England. Got a lot of aloha from people, and who knows," he said in a video. "Either way, I'm doing fine. Thank you for all your concerns and love."

Sources told The Sun last week the actor picked up the virus while filming the "Aquaman" sequel, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom".

The actor was been photographed at numerous red carpet events in London this month with "Dune" co-stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya Coleman.

In a second video, Jason shared that "COVID is going pretty good," and that he's "camped out in his house."

The actor joked that he and professional skateboarder Erik Ellington, his friend and current roommate, are "having a ball," and showed off footage of Ellington racing down a hallway on his skateboard.

Jason reprises his role as the water-loving hero in the second film in the franchise. He admitted recently that managing on the stunt-heavy movie has been a lot harder than when he was making the first film back in 2017.

"I'm getting old," he said. "I messed up my eyes. I just got something in it that kind of cut it up, and then I've got to get surgery, I have a hernia, I've got ribs out. I'm just getting beat up."

"I just kind of give it. I love my job and I get a little too excited, then the age thing, you know, I'm an ageing superhero right now."
WENN Celebrity

The star of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movie receives mixed reactions as she asks for prayers amid her battle with Covid-related pneumonia after criticizing the vaccine.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - Former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Kristy Swanson is asking fans to pray for her as she battles COVID-related pneumonia in hospital.

On Monday (01Nov21), the actress, who has previously shared anti-vaccine videos, asked her followers for help.

"Prayers for me please. Yesterday I took an ambulance ride to the hospital. I'm still here with pneumonia, I'm on oxygen etc, all covid related of course. I'm in good spirits and in great hands," she wrote on Twitter.

Swanson played the title character in the 1992 film "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" before Sarah Michelle Gellar was cast as Buffy on TV.

Later on Monday, Kristy tweeted her thanks to hospital staff at Virtua Memorial hospital in Mount Holly, New Jersey, calling them "incredible" and describing the paramedics who transported her there as "super pro, friggin amazing and hot AF! (as f**k) (sic)."

She added, "Thank you all for the prayers it truly means a lot to me (sic). I can feel it. Just little more clarification & update, I was just at the tail end of my Covid diagnosis when it jumped into my lungs. So they are treating me with Baricitinib & blood thinners so I don't clot. I'm ok."

And while Kristy has received plenty of well wishes online, she has also been slammed by Twitter users for previously criticising COVID-related science, including vaccines.

One Twitter user, @leesawalker, spoke on behalf of several when she asked if Swanson had done her "research" into the medications she is now being treated with.

"But what's IN Baricitinib?!?! And all the others things they are pumping you full of?!? If only there was something you could have taken to prevent this from happening...," she tweeted.

Another follower added, "I'm sure you are in the great hands of doctors and nurses who are stretched to the max because of people like you - who not only won't get vaccinated but encourage others not to. Signed, A tired nurse. GET VACCINATED."
Celebrity

The star of docu-series 'The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst' has been indicted for murdering his wife, a couple of weeks after he got a life sentence for killing a friend.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - The subject of hit docu-series "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" has been indicted for killing his wife, Kathleen, just two weeks after he was handed a life sentence for fatally shooting a friend.

Robert Durst, 78, was hit with the second-degree murder charge by a grand jury in the case of 29-year-old Kathleen Durst, who vanished from the couple's Westchester County, New York home in 1982, according to the New York Post. Her body was never found and Robert divorced her in 1990, claiming abandonment. In 2017, she was declared legally dead.

The District Attorney re-opened the unsolved case surrounding her disappearance in May (21), and announced recently she would present it to a grand jury.

Durst was sentenced to life behind bars in Los Angeles last month (Oct21) for the 2000 murder of Susan Berman, who prosecutors claimed was about to go public about Kathleen Durst's murder.

Durst claimed he drove her to a train station and later spoke to her on the phone on the day she vanished, but in 2015's "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst", the property millionaire admitted he made those details up.

He was convicted of first-degree murder following a trial where over 100 people testified. Robert also testified from a wheelchair and spent 15 days on the stand.

Susan's body was found in the bedroom of her Beverly Hills home in December 2000 after a neighbor reported her dogs were loose. She had been fatally shot in the back of the head. Officers determined there was no forced entry or sign of ransacking or a struggle. Her purse, with her ID and her cash inside, was sitting on the kitchen counter.
Instagram/WENN/FayesVision Celebrity

It's said that the reality TV star and the comedian spent a night together in a Los Angeles hotel room before they were pictured getting cozy at Knott's Berry Farm together.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson's relationship may not be platonic, despite reports stating otherwise. After their gesture of holding hands at a recent public outing was deemed as nothing more than an act between friends, another report claims that there may be something romantic going on between the two as they had a secret rendezvous the night before the fun night out.

According to Gawker, the SKIMS founder and the "Saturday Night Live" cast member spent the night together at a hotel in Los Angeles on October 28. A so-called insider hints that it wasn't an innocent sleepover as they were doing something more than watching TV.

Kim and Pete were photographed holding hands while enjoying a thrilling ride at Knott's Scary Farm in California on October 29. They had their hands intertwined while riding a rollercoaster with friends, closing their eyes and screaming on the thrilling ride.

PEOPLE, which published the pictures of the two stars during the night out, quickly offered a clarification though. "They hang in the same circles so they will be together from time to time," a source told the site about Kim and Pete. "It's just friends hanging out."

Kim's sister Kourtney Kardashian and her fiance Travis Barker were also spotted joining the group during the fun night out. Pete and Travis reportedly know each other through their mutual friend Machine Gun Kelly.

A few days later, Kim has been spotted visiting Pete's hometown of New York City. On Monday, November 1, she arrived in the Big Apple to attend WSJ. Magazine's 11th annual Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art later in the night, Page Six reports.

The 41-year-old mother of four will likely stay in the city for several days as she is set to attend other events later this week. Pete himself is believed to have returned to NYC as his show "SNL" usually begins production on Mondays, so it remains to be seen whether the reality TV star and the comedian will spare some time between their busy schedules to hang out together again.
Celebrity

The political activist was rushed to the hospital after he suffered a fall and hit his head while helping student protesters at Howard University, a spokesman says.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - Rev. Jesse Jackson has just had another trip to the hospital, more than two months after he was hospitalized with COVID-19. The civil rights leader was rushed to the hospital on Monday, November 1 after suffering a fall at Howard University.

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition said in a statement released on Monday night that Jackson was attending a town hall meeting with Howard University President A.I. Frederick and Howard students. The 80-year-old civil rights icon was returning to the university's Blackburn Center to update the student protesters on the progress made when he fell and cut his head.

He reportedly tried to carry on but both his team and the leaders pushed Jesse to seek medical attention. He was taken to Howard University Hospital where they ran tests, including a CT scan, which came back with normal results. The cut was also treated. Though the tests returned normal, hospital officials decided to keep him overnight for observation, a spokesperson for Rainbow PUSH said.

Jackson's daughter Santita Jackson has also taken to Twitter to give an update of her father's condition. "Family, he's resting comfortably & doing well," she assured her followers. "we thank u 4 ur prayers!"

She added that her father would go on fighting for people. "Fighting 4 u is what he'll always do. His goal is 2 ensure the well-being of @HowardU students," she stressed, before declaring with the hashtag "#MissionAccomplished."

Rev. Jesse Jackson's daughter gave an update on his condition after he fell at Howard University.

The protest was reportedly regarding the students' complaints about rodents, flooding and mold in their resident halls. According to The Grio, Jackson helped secure a verbal agreement from Howard University's administration to allow students to end their protest without facing expulsion. The agreement also guarantees an investigation of every dorm room on campus containing hazardous mold.

Jackson and his wife Jacqueline were hospitalized with COVID in August. In late that month, the political activist was moved to a rehab facility where he received intensive occupational and physical therapy for his Parkinson's diagnosis. He was discharged from rehab on September 24.

Speaking to reporters, the former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, who had been vaccinated against COVID, thanked the jabs for saving his life. "The shot took me from death," he said about his bout of the deadly virus. "I never had a breathing issue, respiration. It couldn't take over me."

His wife, who was not vaccinated, was discharged from the hospital in early September.
WENN/Instagram/Ivan Nikolov Celebrity

While she has been putting on a supportive display to her husband, the yoga instructor is accused of making the 'Rust' shooting about herself as she has been publicly addressing the situation.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - As Alec Baldwin is battling public's judgment in the wake of the "Rust" shooting, his wife Hilaria Baldwin has been scrutinized for her eagerness to publicly address the situation. While she has been putting on a supportive display to her husband, many have accused the yoga instructor of making the tragedy about herself.

Recently, Hilaria couldn't help interrupting Alec while he spoke to the reporters for the first time since the death of Halyna Hutchins. In a video of the interview, the mother of six was seen entering the frame several times as she angrily defended her husband in front of the camera.

A visibly annoyed Alec told his wife, "Excuse me." At another point, Hilaria was upset when a reporter forgot to mention Halyna's name. "Her name is Halyna," she barked to the reporters. "You guys, you guys, you know what? No details." Alec once again kept his wife in check as saying, "Do me a favor. I'm going to answer the questions."

In response to the interview, many slammed Hilaria for jumping in the interview. "#AlecBaldwin speaks out about #HalynaHutchins. Btw what's up with his weird wife hoping for her 10 min of fame? She should have stayed in the car with the crying kids," one person tweeted.

Another similarly described the scene, "This scene with Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin (aka 100% not-Spanish Hillary from Boston who is still using a fake accent) is nuts. He's trying to deal with the paps and his wife keeps jumping in, trying to butt in and FILMING because she's that desperate for attention."

"They were waiting for your husband, not you #hilariabaldwin," someone blasted the yoga teacher. "There is no 'we' to them. What happened was a tragedy. Stop making it about you." Another added, "He's trying to deal with the paps and his wife keeps jumping in, trying to butt in and FILMING because she's that desperate for attention."

Another instance was when Hilaria posted a Halloween post which featured pictures of her family, including Alec, dressing in various costumes. Many deemed her post "inappropriate and tasteless."

Another explained, "The Baldwin kids should absolutely enjoy Halloween. This year, though, #hilariabaldwin should have kept their festivities (and herself) off social media. Halyna's son didn't get to enjoy this holiday. Celebrate without posting, Hillary. It's literally the least you could do."
Instagram TV

The Big Cat Rescue founder and husband Howard Baskin sue the streaming giant for unauthorized footage of them that the company uses for the upcoming follow-up documentary series to the show.

Nov 2, 2021

AceShowbiz - Carole Baskin and her husband Howard Baskin have filed a lawsuit against Netflix. The couple sued the streaming giant for unauthorized footage of them that the company uses for the upcoming follow-up documentary series to "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness".

According to court documents, Carole sued Netflix and Royal Goode Productions in Tampa, Florida on Monday, November 1. The Big Cat Rescue founder claimed that the new season is in breach of the Appearances Releases by using imagery from the Big Cat Rescue in trailers and sizzle reels.

"The Appearance Releases limited Royal Goode Productions' right to use film footage of the Baskins to 'a documentary motion picture.' Throughout the Appearance Releases there is only reference to and mention of 'the Picture,' " the docs said. "No mention is made of granting Royal Goode Production sequel rights, rights to create derivative works from the Picture or additional seasons or episodes."

The lawsuit continued, "By utilizing the film footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue secured by Royal Goode Productions under the Appearance Releases in 'sizzle reels' and promotional trailers for the sequel entitled Tiger King 2, the Defendants are in breach of the terms of the Appearance Releases."

The Baskins demanded that Netflix removes all footage and imagery of her from the forthcoming season.

Additionally, Carole blasted the first season of "Tiger King" in the court documents. "Tiger King 1 was particularly harsh and unfair in its depiction of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue," the docs noted. "The Tiger King 1 series wrongly attempted to suggest that Big Cat Rescue abused its animals by keeping them in very small cages while not making clear that the animals actually reside in expansive enclosures."

This wasn't the first time for Carole to criticize "Tiger King 2". After Netflix released a teaser for the new season back in September, Carole blasted "Tiger King" directors Rebecca Chaiklin and Eric Goode for putting out season 2 too soon. "I know some people who have been involved in it and they were doing more filming, so I assumed at some point they would come out with a 'Tiger King 2'," the animal rights activist said. "It took them five years to put together the first one, so I thought it would be a lot longer."

Carole claimed that after the original "Tiger King" debuted in March 2020, the directors tried to "clear the air" with her, but she told them to "lose my number because that was not at all what we had agreed we were working on." She added, "I wouldn't call Eric Goode or Rebecca Chaiklin true documentarians. I mean that was just a reality show dumpster fire."
CHICO, Calif. - Free health care services will be in Chico from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds.

The California CareForce will be providing free services like dental, vision and medical care.

We had a clinic in 2019 in Chico and we helped over 1,000 patients, 1,200 patients, and its a clinic where we provide free medical, dental and vision to the non and underinsured people, people that need that little extra help, said Pam Congdon, executive director for California CareForce.

There will also be flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines.

People who attend the event will not need to show proof of insurance, employment, income, residency, immigration status or an ID to receive the medical care.

Services will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Clinic will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

People should bring prescription medication, appropriate clothing, food and water. People who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 should bring proof of vaccination.
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - A man was arrested after a K-9 alerted deputies that narcotics were inside a vehicle during a traffic stop, according to the Shasta County Sheriffs Office.

On Tuesday morning at about 12:05 a.m., a Shasta County Sheriffs Deputy was patrolling the area of Oasis Rd. and Twin View Blvd. when he saw a loud vehicle pass him.

The deputy conducted a traffic stop to investigate the California Vehicle Code violation and contact the driver.

The driver was identified as 42-year-old Keith James Stumbaugh of Shasta Lake. The passenger was identified as 51-year-old Kevin Delong of Redding.

During the investigation, K-9 Ace walked around the vehicle and alerted the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a bag of methamphetamine hidden in the center console. They also located a loaded Glock type 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the trunk.

After a records check of Stumbaugh, deputies learned he was a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Delong was in possession of methamphetamine and was cited and released.

Stumbaugh was arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail and is facing five felony charges.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - A 35-year-old Oroville man was arraigned on multiple child molestation charges on Monday afternoon, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

Ramsey said Jason Pearl of Oroville was arrested on Thursday after a months-long investigation of Pearl molesting two girls who were 6 and 5 years old when he began to molest them.

The investigation began in July when one of the girls came forth and disclosed multiple instances of molesting after Pearl was no longer in her life.

Ramsey said an investigation backtracked where the girls were living and for how long in order to prepare the charges for an arrest.

Once the investigation was complete, Pearl was arrested and interviewed.

He is facing multiple counts of felony child molest and faces up to life in state prison, according to Ramsey. He is being held in the Butte County Jail on an $8.2 million bail.

Pearls arraignment was continued to Thursday morning for entry of a plea.
Diwali is a festival filled with love and lights. Its that time of the year when families get together and have a gala time feasting on delicious food, watching movies and playing games. This Diwali spend your holidays watching some Oscar winner, Hollywood A lister starring shows and movies along with cult classics from Bollywood from the comfort of your homes with your loved ones. Lionsgate Play has lined up an array of stellar content collections especially for Diwali. No matter how many family members are there, Lionsgate Play has got everyones preference covered. From action movies to romcoms, from drama to thrillers, from Documentaries to heartwarming comedy, there is something for everyone!

Below is a list of titles you can hook on to while sharing togetherness and warmth with the ones that matter.

Bombshell: Starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and directed by Jay Roach, the real life inspired biographical drama is based upon the accounts of the women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO of Fox News Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. Bombshell received multiple Oscar nominations and won Oscar for Best makeup and hairstyling for transforming Charlize Theron into journalist and former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, who was instrumental in starting the #MeToo movement.

Knives Out: Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in Knives Out, a fresh, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. Knives Out is an American whodunnit mystery film with 7.9 IMDB rating. Described as a modern take on the murder mystery genre, the film follows a family gathering gone horribly awry, after the family patriarchs death leads a master detective to investigate. The film stars an ensemble cast, including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, and Christopher Plummer.

Vigil : This thriller police procedural series revolves around a mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board the submarine HMS Vigil brings the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DS Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) lead an investigation on land and at sea into a conspiracy that goes to the very heart of Britains national security. The series received a 7.6 IMDb rating.

WeWork Or the making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn: WeWork is an American documentary film written and directed by Jed Rothstein. It explores the rise and fall of one of the biggest corporate flameouts and venture capitalist bubbles in recent years. The story follows a million-dollar real estate company run by Adam Neuman who was forced out of the company after a failed IPO. Streaming on 27 August 2021. This is a must watch documentary for millennials and gen z!

Love Life S 1 & S 2: Love Life is a romantic anthology series. The successful season 1 followed Darby Carter played by Anna Kendrick on a journey from her first love to the one that stayed. The series received commercial and critical success which lead to season two starring William Jackson as Marcus Watkins, who enters his 30s freshly divorced, he's as lost as ever. Forced to rediscover his identity as a single Black man in New York, Marcus must learn to find love again. Watch this show if you are looking for a heartwarming series!

John Wick 1, 2 and 3: This popular American neo-noir action thriller starring Keanu Reeves who plays John Wick, a retired hitman who becomes active again in his quest for vengeance. The franchise began with the release of John Wick followed by two sequels, John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3  Parabellum. All three films were considered critical and commercial successes, with a collective gross of more than $587 million worldwide.

La La Land: La La Land is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist and Emma Stone as an aspiring actress, who meet and fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. The film won 6 Oscars and was critically and commercially loved across the globe with 8.0 IMDB rating.

Now You See Me 1&2: Now You See Me series is an American heist thriller movie series. The second installment stars an ensemble cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman. The plot has the Four Horsemen and their leader Dylan Rhodes recruited by Walter Mabry, a criminal mastermind, to steal a data chip.

Nayak : Nayak - The Real Hero is a cult classic political action film. It stars Anil Kapoor as the lead along with Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, and Johnny Lever playing key supporting roles. It film focuses on Shivaji Rao Gaekwad (Kapoor) a television cameraman and, later, television presenter, who accidentally hears and records the conversation between the police with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Balraj Chauhan (Puri) to take an indifferent stand during riots triggered by a fight between college students and a bus driver. While interviewing Chauhan about the issues, Shivaji is challenged to take over his job for a day.

Sarkar: Ram Gopal Verma directed Sarkar starring Big B of Bollywood Mr. Amitabh Bachhan is a political-thriller intense action drama. The film centers around Subhash Nagare aka Sarkar, an influential man, is falsely charged with the murder of an upright politician. When he is imprisoned, his son Shankar steps into his shoes as a leader to protect his father and their legacy. The film was a super hit with a 7.6 IMDB rating.

Yuddham Sharanam: This action thriller starring south Indian heartthrob Naga Chaitanya revolves around a young man who finds his parents' corpses in a river under mysterious circumstances, Arjun sets out to investigate their deaths. On finding certain disturbing truths, he vows revenge on their killers.

Action Replayy : Starring Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar is a science fiction rom-com. Akshay and Aishwaryas son played by Aditya Roy Kapoor, tries to revive his parents' lifeless marriage by travelling back in time to the '70s when their romance was budding. But to his surprise, it turns out to be more complex than he had expected. Watch this film to go on a roller coaster of emotions
Colors Tamil, the fastest-growing GEC of Tamil Nadu, is all set to celebrate the festival of lights with an exciting line-up of shows, supported by special partners Gold Winner Eldia Pure Coconut, Thangamayil Jewellery-Ramraj Pattu Vettigal, Pattu Shirtugal, and Iswarya Fertility Centre, and associate sponsor Bharath Electronics & Appliances.

Embarking on this auspicious Diwali journey, Colors Tamils popular fiction shows are all decked up with intriguing plotlines for audiences to enjoy. The action begins with a thrilling marriage sequence in Amman 2. Who will Eswar marry? Shakti or Durga? Dont miss it on November 4, 2021 at 6 PM.

Adding to the suspense, the shocking truth about Abhi and Ashok will be revealed in Abhi Tailor at 9 p.m. Deepa Shankar will make a speciacameo appearance to usher in the Diwali season. Similarly, at 10 p.m., Sillunu Oru Kaadhal will keep you on the edge of your seat with an action-packed episode featuring Karuthuamma Rajashree's delightful cameo.

That isn't all. The channel's acclaimed shows, Enga Veetu Meenakshi at 7 PM and Idhayathai Thirudathey 2 at 8 PM, will take viewers on an emotional roller coaster with their storylines.

On the non-fiction front, Colors Tamil's flagship dance reality show Vim Presents Dance vs Dance Season 2, Powered by Nippon Paint with Oreo as Special Partners, will put on engrossing performances based on Kollywood stars this weekend at 7:30 PM. Starting November 1st at 1:30 PM, the channel will also show Uththaravu Maharaja, Meendum Oru Mariyadhai, Chasing, Magamuni, and Devadas Brothers. They will be screened on each of the Diwali days.

Furthermore, the channel will also fill your day with harmony, kickstarting with Voice of Legends featuring SP S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Yesudas at 6:30 AM, followed by Ilayaraaja 75; paying a tribute to Isaignani Ilayaraja at 9:30 AM and Nenje Ezhu featuring the Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman at 12:30 PM on November 4th.

Commenting on the occasion, Rajaraman S, Business Head, Colors Tamil, said, This ColorKattum Diwali, we are elated to be presenting an exciting line-up of shows with unlimited entertainment and refreshing content. We are also bringing in some of the most cherished household names on our channel. We are certain that this Diwali is going to be a memorable watching experience for viewers in Tamil Nadu and other parts of the world.

During this festival of lights, take a seat with your family and fill your homes with happiness by tuning in to Colors Tamil. The channel is available on all leading cable networks and on all DTH platforms - Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO 1555), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808), and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553).
National Geographic in India is presenting the ever popular investigative genre in an all-new and exclusively curated destination called Case Files with actor and presenter Sharad Kelkar. This block premieres on November 8th and brings together the best-in-class and intriguing narratives of real investigations from around the world.

With a robust line-up of fan favourites such as Air Crash Investigations, Banged Up Abroad, Airport Security, To Catch A Smuggler along with new series such as Undercover Asia & Crime Science, host Sharad Kelkar will set up the tone and conclude every episode; bringing in his flair and explosive style of storytelling to each narrative. The stories, tailored especially for the destination, will give viewers in depth understanding of the efforts and science that go behind solving a case - the brilliant minds behind the investigations and the state of the art techniques and technology that help solve the mysteries. With each show offering a different and unique perspective into the world of crime and investigation, Case Files is weaving together the excitement of a mystery with the satisfaction of reaching a conclusion with every case.

At National Geographic, we bring compelling and engaging narratives; drawing audiences in with our authentic and factual storytelling. The series in this genre have been enjoying a loyal fan-base on our channel and with this destination, we thought of introducing a new generation of fans to this genre while bringing in a fresh perspective for the already engaged viewers. We are really happy to have Sharad Kelkar, who with his powerful voice and presence, will take the viewers on an all immersive journey of fascinating and gripping stories, said a National Geographic spokesperson

I am a huge fan of National Geographic and the manner in which they have been presenting these stories. With Case Files, there was an opportunity for me to take the viewers through true and real crime mysteries in my own style. Through the choicest of series featured in this band, Ill be bringing to light the hidden facts with in-depth investigation and exploring the crime and criminals mind; just the way I like to consume such narratives, said Sharad Kelkar.

Show details mentioned below:

Air Crash Investigation  A fan favorite, this show is an iconic series with many more episodes still under production. The show recounts air crashes, near crashes, fires, hijackings, bombings, and other mainly flight related disasters and crises. It also reveals the events that led to each crisis or disaster, their causes as determined by the official investigating body or bodies, and the measures they recommended to prevent a similar incident from happening again

A fan favorite, this show is an iconic series with many more episodes still under production. The show recounts air crashes, near crashes, fires, hijackings, bombings, and other mainly flight related disasters and crises. It also reveals the events that led to each crisis or disaster, their causes as determined by the official investigating body or bodies, and the measures they recommended to prevent a similar incident from happening again Undercover Asia - This award-winning investigative series exposes the secret criminal underbelly of Asia. Within depth, undercover reporting, National Geographic explores gripping stories of crime, violence and injustice across the worlds largest continent. From cybercrime masterminded in North Korea to document forgers in Thailand; from fake degree scams in Pakistan to private detectives in China the cases are intriguing also because they uncover aspects of society usually kept undercover.

Crime Science - Can facial recognition stop human trafficking? Can forensic geneticists accurately pinpoint a suspects looks? This award-winning series explores how cutting-edge technology can help prevent, solve and reduce crime. From digital detectives and VR police training to hi tech forensic murder investigations, the episode reveals the future of law enforcement

Banged Up Abroad - This series features the real story bof people who have been arrested while travelling abroad. Through a dramatic reconstruction, the convicted or captured are shown talking about their experiences, combined with dramatic reenactments of their respective experiences.

To Catch a Smuggler & Airport Security  The show follows a day in the life of airport security teams in some of the busiest International Airport s in the world across in Bogota, Colombia, Lima, Peru, Rome, Italy, Madrid, Spain, and New York, USA. Viewers will get to see the biggest busts, the most ingenious ploys, and sometimes the stupidest attempts at smuggling. The episode goes beyond the busts because the story of trafficking is not just one of law enforcement; it's also about human drama.

National Geographics Case Files will premiere compelling crime investigation shows every Monday to Friday at 10pm, starting 8th November 2021
In the last 10 years, PR has taken a different dimension, especially after the entry of social media and the rapid shift to digital, especially in the pandemic period. However, at the same time the industry has been facing stiff challenges, moreover client expectations has also increased, with more emphasis being given to digital and online reputation management. The industry has undergone a radical shift and the current times have pushed the industry to change gears.

In conversation with Adgully, Rachna Baruah, Founder, Madchatter, speaks about the changing face of PR, working with start-ups, thought leadership in the new normal, and more.

You started as a young entrepreneur in the PR business. How has been your journey and what are some of the trends you have noticed that have changed in PR in the few years?

Starting early comes with its pros and cons. While I started at the age of 23, without the typical decades of experience and network under my belt, I could bring in fresh perspectives and ways of solving clients pain points that helped Madchatter grow so exponentially. Today, our growth can be attributed to novel ways of solving problems and from our ability to understand the new-age PR and media landscape. Our campaigns have enabled early start-ups in etching a niche in their domains while building a cerebral rapport with the landscape.

The business of communication dynamically changed with the onslaught of COVID-19. The pandemic fast-forwarded Indias pace of digital transformation and that impacted every industry alike, PR being no exception. COVID made the industry leapfrog towards digital transformation. Consumption of news became predominantly digital because of the lockdown, as print copies of newspapers were not available. Take, for instance, the emergence of News in Twitter.

There was a time not very long ago, when a typical cycle of news stories used to be in newspapers followed by a copy on the website, but the supply cycle of that has drastically evolved. Today news first breaks on the publications own app, then hitting news alerts digitally, followed by the social handles of the outlet and the journalists. This also has put a focus on how journalists build their personal brands in the ever evolving landscape. This naturally changes how PR professionals and the PR industry at large are able to complement and support these changes. The ubiquitousness of social media and digital transformation has changed the entire landscape of communication, be it the media, or advertising, or Public Relations.

The focus of your company has been with many start-ups. So, how do you go about building their brand leveraging PR? Do you follow any structured process so that your messaging is sharp and focussed?

Over the years, we have serviced start-ups and businesses that have had little to no brand presence or have had a dip in perception that needed a breath of fresh air. The crux of every successful delivery lies in creative storytelling and good old ability to deep dive and understand their industries and pain points. We start by prioritising the type of landscape and niche are clients are present in, followed by engaging several positioning and market credibility building tools. Our focus is towards enabling and facilitating the business objectives and help secure for them high profile, cost-effective exposure that benefits the bottomline objectives.

It cannot be discounted that in this day and age effective communication is absolutely mission critical for every business, be it to create or consolidate brand visibility or reputation, to manage crises or to promote a product or a service. All communication has at its core four key dimensions  the message, the creator of the message, the messenger and the recipient. The post COVID-19 era is seeing brand marketers, advertisers and consultants rethink their ways, revisit strategies and innovate integrated content approaches to reach out to where their consumer is, effectively!

The economic impact of the pandemic has already led many businesses to slash down their operational and marketing spends. Many brands are now increasingly trying out newer content formats, integrated mediums/ channels of content distribution to reach out to their relevant audience persuasively and more effectively, thereby bringing both democratisation of information and strategic placement of content to the forefront.

With the advent of multiple screens, be it the smartphone, the tablet and the laptop and multiple digital platforms and social media channels, consumers content consumption behaviour have been undergoing seismic shifts. Todays young, urban, acutely time-crunched netizens prefer to consume short and precise, bite-sized, high impact streamed content on the device of their choice, whenever and from wherever. Consumers today absorb, interact and consume content at their terms, at their convenience and in their method. Therefore, content needs to be crisp, relevant and customised to the medium  be it rich media, multimedia, blog, social media, print etc while also ensuring that the essence and the messaging remains sacrosanct.

CSR has become very important for every CEO and corporate. What, according to you, is the role of PR in CSR campaigns? How do corporates leverage CSR activities through PR?

There is no doubt, given the current circumstances, CSR and philanthropic activities are increasingly gaining heightened prominence. In these testing times, serving the community will go a long way in riveting brand salience and its equity in peoples minds. Not only will it help a brand gain customers love, trust and support, but will also add to its credibility in the long run.

Several research papers have time and again reiterated how Corporate Social Responsibility can improve long-term business performance and that consumers prefer to patronise brands with strong legacy of social responsibility and are more likely to associate with companies with strong ethical values. People want to buy from businesses they respect. Here, PR can play a definitive role in ensuring that customers, other stakeholders and the local community know about the good work that the organisation is doing. PR should give companies a voice to inform and inspire people about their CSR efforts. However, companies should be cautious that they dont make CSR a purely marketing tool.

Dynamics of PR have changed with the digital transition. How much technology does your organisation embrace to bring in efficiency and productivity in your workings to deliver that extra value to your clients?

Its fascinating to see how Public Relations is enabling agility and assisting players in moving up the value chain and across the sustainable well-being spectrum faster than ever before.

Over the years, I have learnt that the management of communication and reputation is the most essential aspect of an organisation. The term public relations has evolved over time. At Madchatter Brand Solutions, we provide our clients ideas to combine all the aspects in the communication space like PR, Social Media, Content Creation, Digital Marketing, Events, etc. I personally crave the new need to optimise steps. This increased requirement to optimise communication processes has resulted in deep minimalism  a term strongly connected with a systems capacity to reduce steps while ensuring quality.

As a small agency you must be agile and nimble footed. What are some of the processes you follow to tackle new business and what has been your strike rate when it comes to new business?

Madchatter has had a remote, flexible working format since its launch in 2017, because I identified that the future of working will remain hybrid and flexible. This is a reason why business was as usual when the lockdowns were implemented worldwide. Our processes and working style has always been centred towards smart reporting practices and agility rather than having traditional means of work.

This is a reason why our reporting mechanism to our clients is equally agile and catered to what their business needs, rather than clogging efficiency with a long line of processes. The team at Madchatter is open to recommending and implementing systems that make us agile and smarter, while staying more connected with each other than ever. This helps foster intrapreneurial tendencies in our teams. Today, our work is 100% digital with the help of SaaS and cloud.

Many brands and clients want to achieve a thought leadership position overnight. We all know that attaining a thought leadership position as a spokesperson and brand takes time. Whats your view on thought leadership?

Thought leadership is not something one can build overnight. It takes a lot more than one blog, social post or networking event to cement yourself as a trusted leader in any domain. Experience, expertise, visibility, credibility, insight and valuable perspectives are some elements that can establish one as a thought leader.

If you are not a known brand, for example, in the early stages of your business or conducting business in a highly saturated market, one of the best ways to stand out and build visibility is to just be real with people. Whether it is providing some advice, inspiring and educating others, or sharing an expert point of view, at its essence, thought leadership is about having something meaningful to say that resonates with customers needs, demands, wants and aspirations. This method not only has the capacity to drive credibility and equity for a brand, but it's likely to foster a more involved and connected audience.
As the excitement and enthusiasm around the festive season have begun in India, everyone eagerly awaits the festival of lights. Intending to bring true joy to people this Diwali, vivo, the innovative global smartphone brand, today announced the launch of its new campaign, "Joy of Homecoming ", across mainline and digital platforms.

Conceptualized by Dentsu Impact, the leading creative agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network India, the campaign encapsulates the role of smartphone photography in rekindling the joy of connection. Backed by a strong narrative and starring Kanwaljit Singh, vivo released a Diwali special digital film communicating vivo's endeavor to strengthen bonds and bring families together with its smartphone photography capabilities.

The commercial starts with an elderly man who made his family capable of settling down abroad and lives alone with his caretaker in a big house. However, the distance between him and his grown-up children haunts him. Hence, he draws solace through the company of travellers who rent his house. The film then transitions to Diwali time when a youngster decides to escape the polluted city life and bonds with the old man during his stay. An emotional roller-coaster, the film ends on a happy note uniting the old man and his family, giving the message that Diwali is the festival of homecoming and is best celebrated with loved ones.

Photographs stimulate an emotional story in this film. We notice how family pictures trigger longing for his three kids and a granddaughter. The young traveler perfectly capturing the true emotions of the elderly man. The film aims to remind everyone that the festival of lights is fondly celebrated when the entire family gets together. As a consumer-centric brand, vivo aims to rekindle the family bond through emotions and connect them through pictures Kyunki Tasveeron ka Connection Seedha Dil se Hota Hai (You connect with pictures straight from the heart)

Nipun Marya, Director Brand Strategy, vivo India, said, As the world continuous to fight the novel coronavirus, the festival of Diwali holds special significance in these testing times. Through the Joy of Homecoming campaign, we aim to bridge the emotional and physical distances between the families and spread happiness through smartphone photography. The festival of Diwali marks a new beginning in our lives and with our campaign, we urge everyone to celebrate and make it special. On behalf of vivo India family, I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous Diwali!

Anupama Ramaswamy, NCD Dentsu Impact, who created the film, had this to say about the concept, We live in a world where the distance between elderly parents and their grown-up children is rapidly increasing. A big reason is that these children, who often live somewhere else, are busy with their own families, work and other commitments. To find the time to come home for a visit is unfortunately becoming a rare luxury for them.

As a result, regular touch is lost over time, leaving parents to wonder sadly when that long awaited homecoming is finally going to happen. We saw this film as an opportunity to remind everyone that it takes very little to stop drifting away and to keep the bond strong with our near and dear ones. And Diwali is a very apt occasion to send out this message, since it is all about celebrating the coming home of children after a long period of time.

Of course, the story has been thought of and written to really touch people and get them thinking about their own relationship with their parents or children. But what really tugs at heartstrings is the song that accompanies each moment. It has been carefully composed to highlight every emotion  happiness, sadness, laughter and tears. The lyrics have also been written from the heart, each word flowing seamlessly into the next to tell us that memories have the ability to bridge any distance and pull anyone back home.

And vivo, with its high-quality camera, is the perfect tool to stir these memories via the power of pictures. That is truly the joy of homecoming."
Federal Office for Gender Equality

Bern, 02.11.2021 - New legislation makes it possible to provide better protection for victims of vio-lence. More than 340 experts are meeting today in Bern at the National Confer-ence on Violence to share views on the changes to criminal and civil law. The conference, which will be attended by Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, will focus on children who are affected by violence, as well as electronic monitoring and learning programmes for perpetrators of violence.

A number of new legal provisions provide improved protection against domestic violence and stalking. The changes in practice will be presented at the conference, and several of the cantons will address their implications with regard to suspending criminal proceedings and ordering learning programmes for perpetrators of violence. The changes result from a revision of Article 55a of the Criminal Code, which came into force on 1 July 2020, increasing the discretionary powers of the prosecution authorities.

A new guideline for dealing with children affected by domestic violence will also be presented at the conference. It provides judges and other professionals with information on how decisions can be made in the best interests of the child.

The possibilities and limitations of electronic monitoring will also be a point of discussion at the conference. Victims of domestic violence and stalking are to be better protected by a new provision on electronically monitored civil exclusion orders and contact bans. This comes into force on 1 January 2022 and provides for the possibility of electronic monitoring using wrist and ankle tags.

The police recorded more than 46,000 violent crimes in Switzerland in 2020, with the number of domestic offences exceeding 20,000 for the first time. On average, one person dies every two weeks as a result of such an assault; an average of 25 people per year, four of them children. A total of 27,000 children and young people are affected by domestic violence every year.

The national conference has been organised by the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) in cooperation with the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) and the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (CCJPD). Over 340 professionals from all over Switzerland are taking part, including from the police, public prosecution services, courts, child and adult protection authorities, victim support services, women's shelters, as well as learning programmes and counselling centres for perpetrators of violence.

Address for enquiries

Sina Liechti

FOGE Communication Officer

sina.liechti@ebg.admin.ch

+41 58 467 42 04

Publisher

Federal Office for Gender Equality

https://www.ebg.admin.ch/ebg/en/home.html



General Secretariat FDJP

http://www.ejpd.admin.ch



Federal Department of Home Affairs

http://www.edi.admin.ch



Federal Office of Justice

http://www.bj.admin.ch




Alton, IL (62002)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Worldwide Walkouts will demand a return to freedom and democratic principles. Citizens around the globe are protesting loss of liberty, illegal mandates and tyrannical government overreach. Every man, woman and child is important to this movement!

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., CHD Board Chair and Lead Counsel:



No government in history has ever surrendered power in the absence of a demand. We need to tell these governments and their friends in the technocracy, the Silicon Valley billionaire boys club, the mainstream media, and the pharmaceutical industry that we will no longer tolerate their trampling of citizens rights.



Overview

Why?

People have been battered during the epidemic for the last 1.5 years. And now their jobs, livelihoods, education for their children and way of life is being threatened because they refuse to take a government and employer mandated injection.

Religious and medical exemptions are being rejected but that is a false choice anyway. Since when does anyone need an exemption to exercise their personal right to reject a foreign substance being injected into their body by the government?

Americans and the world need to stand up, walk out and just say NO. CHD will encourage recurring walkouts where citizens target specific industries and solidify our grassroots movement as a powerful voting block in elections to apply political pressure.

Who?

Childrens Health Defense and our State and International Chapters are joining citizens and organizations from all over the world as they come together for WORLDWIDE WALKOUTS!



Read more at Children's Health Defense.


Michael Littlefield of Littlefield Family Farms in Surprise, Nebraska, shows how to shear sheep at the 2021 Mid-Plains Fiber Fair held in York, Nebraska.
Every farm kid remembers the first tractor they drove, and every retired farmer has stories to tell about the earliest tractors on their farm.

Stories flow easily around a small, gray Ford Ferguson thats found its home in the courtyard of a nursing home in Aberdeen, South Dakota. A group gathered recently at the Bethesda Home to dedicate the donated tractor that is the centerpiece of whats known as the rural courtyard project.

We hope it will be something for residents and families to enjoy and help people remember their rural roots and the legacy of being rural, said Peggy Jo Larson, whose family played a major role in donating the tractor.

She recounted learning to drive a John Deere 60 as a 6-year-old on their Langford, South Dakota farm.

I was blessed to grow up rural, she said.

Her relative, Arlen Hanson, bought the Ford Ferguson two years ago. He grew up with one like it, he said, and he learned some lessons behind the wheel. Sharing with the crowd at the dedication, he said he had heard that the Ford Ferguson was able to plow in standing water. He tried it, and when his dad saw him he made sure it was the last time he plowed in water.

It was a popular tractor, Hanson said.

As soon as they put it in place at the Bethesda, a resident came out to share his tractor stories, excited to see a machine from his youth.

Hanson didnt have to look far to find the tractor. It was sitting at Big Fellas Bar and Grill on the east side of town. The owner had intended to use it for mowing, but he was willing to sell it at the price he bought it for: $1,800.
Have you ever wondered how American schools went from bastions of academic learning to centers where pornography is daily fare and boys wearing nail polish and skirts can legally roam through girls' restrooms and showers, raping and groping as they go?

Origins of Radical Sex Education

The origins of radical sex education date back nearly a century to a Marxist program implemented in Hungarian public schools in their quest to destroy Christianity in Western Europe. The curriculum included sex lectures and graphic instructional materials about free love and sexual intercourse. Students were encouraged to ridicule and reject Christian moral ethics, monogamy, and parental and church authority. Hate was turned toward parents, clergy, and all dissenters.

The program was a huge success. Continued exposure to atheism, radical sex education, and rebellion against authority turned Hungarian students into bullies, thieves, murderers, sex predators, and sociopaths who disrespected authority.

In his 1958 book, The Naked Communist, Cleon Skousen identified 45 communist goals. Because education is always a key vehicle for totalitarians to instill left-wing ideology early, the goals included getting control of schools; dumbing down the curriculum; discrediting the founding fathers; and presenting homosexuality as "normal, natural, and healthy."

In 2011, the National Sexuality Education Standards were adopted by more than 40 percent of school districts. In 2020, these were replaced by the far more radical National Sex Education Standards developed by a coalition of left-wing non-profits. Once parents learn how radical these standards are, there will be another public tsunami, just as with Critical Race Theory.

The standards require students in K2 to learn about transgenderism, including "gender" and "gender identity."

Third-graders are taught about "the role of hormone blockers" for transgender minors, an often irreversible procedure many consider tantamount to child abuse. By the end of the fifth grade, students are to be familiar with "romantic and sexual feelings" and masturbation.

From sixth grade through eighth grade, students learn how to " define oral, anal and vaginal sex" and how to don a condom. This age group must define the benefits of using dental dams for oral sexual behavior and the method of withdrawal as a form of contraception. Sixth-graders also learn about abortion, not as the murder of a tiny human, but as an option when faced with pregnancy. Seventh-graders are taught that oral and anal sexual behavior are abstinence and view graphically how to don a condom.

The standards specifically defy parental authority.

In addition to radical sex, these standards devote entire sections to Critical Race Theory under "Social, Racial, and Reproductive Justice and Equity"; "Intersectionality"; and "Language Inclusivity."

Impact on American Society

A few weeks ago, people were reeling as they listened to an irate mom lambast an arrogant school board over her five-year-old daughter being taught about anal "sex" and masturbation. The board tried to silence her by claiming that her language was not appropriate.

In Loudoun County in Virginia, Scott Smith was dragged out of a school board meeting and arrested because he claimed that his daughter had been sodomized in the girls' restroom by a male wearing a skirt. He was angry because the school had tried to conceal it, despite there being medical tests as proof. Nearly two months after Smith's arrest, the school board voted to approve its transgender rights policy, which requires that teachers use students' preferred pronouns.

From six states in 2019, today, only four have laws that forbid instruction of LGBT propaganda in public schools: Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Alabama repealed its law, and South Carolina's was overturned.

Despite Texas law, schools actively promote transgenderism. The library at the elementary Blackshear Fine Arts Academy in Austin hosted a drag queen convicted of prostitution charges. A few weeks later, the Austin ISD School Board of Trustees adopted a radical sex curriculum. Despite heavy parent opposition, the Austin school district continues to promote a radical sex curriculum.

A Cash Cow

The primary purpose of public education is no longer academic learning, but social and emotional learning (SEL) that allows the government to conduct psychological profiling of students.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), transgender people and other gender minorities constitute roughly 0.30.5% (25 million) of the global population of nearly eight billion. Yet the education bureaucracy would have us believe that a high percentage of students are transgenders.

Research shows that transgender individuals are almost four times as likely as people with a proper understanding of their sex to experience a mental health condition. By setting up an environment where LGBT is promoted, public education is contributing to the mental health problems of our youths.

CASEL and other SEL providers, along with companies such as Panorama Education and Rhithm that work in tandem with them for data-mining and assessments, are making billions from the "mental health crisis."

CASEL is also profiting handsomely from its Critical Race Theory programs packaged under SEL.

The medical profession profits from "sex change" surgeries, while Big Pharma profits from puberty-blockers and numerous psychiatric medications.

Politicians also benefit from the mental health "crisis." In the 2019 legislative session, Texas governor Greg Abbott declared that having mental health services on school campuses would make Texas schools safe from gun violence. Then he announced that this would be his "emergency item."

Abbott ignored the fact that a "disturbing number of perpetrators of school shootings and similar mass violence were either on  or just recently coming off of  psychiatric medications."

Why were Texas political leaders so eager to set up mental health services on school campuses and partner Texas schools with private psychiatric hospitals for student inpatient care and medication? It's a known fact that pharmaceutical companies spend far more than any other industry to influence politicians.

This obsession with student mental health has a long history. Since the early 1990s, the psychiatry profession has pushed for "mental health screenings" to find new patients. Children are diagnosed with "mental disorders" and then treated with Big Pharma's drugs.

The 1990s was an era of major psychiatric hospital fraud, so rampant that entire chains of hospitals were shut down. In 1992, Texas state senator Mike Moncrief testified before the U.S. Congress about the agreements between psychiatric hospitals and Texas schools to provide counseling services with students then being referred for inpatient treatment. Patients were "cured miraculously" once their insurance benefits ran out.

In 2019, an Arlington, Texas-based psychiatric hospital chain was under criminal indictment for a variety of abuses, including illegally admitting and holding patients against their will.

Conclusion

Already American public schools are churning out students who exhibit the same characteristics found in Hungarian youths after the implementation of a radical sex curriculum  violent, murderers, sociopaths, sex predators, and God-haters. The communist goal of creating student hatred for America, our founding fathers, and American capitalism has been achieved.

For those still naive enough to think public education can be reformed, this is a wake-up call. The system will not ever be reformed! It's doing exactly what it was intended to do!

The solution? Get 'em out. There are excellent free-market education choices that provide a sound academic foundation and instill a love for our American founding principles.

Carole Hornsby Haynes, education policy analyst, www.drcarolehhaynes.com, chaynes@drcarolehhaynes.com.

Image: Wokandapix via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

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Before World War I, the area of Palestine was a region of the Ottoman Empire with a small Jewish population. After the start of World War I, the British government began considering changes in the Ottoman Empire, the sick man of Europe, which had entered the war on the side of Germany and the Central Powers in October 1914. Among other proposals, Prime Minister David Lloyd George favored the partition of the empire. In the Middle East, the last generally recognized sovereign power was the empire, and the area of Palestine was a district, not a political entity.

The Balfour Declaration was not a declaration but a letter of November 2, 1917, written by Scottish-born Arthur Balfour, former prime minister and foreign secretary, to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community. Balfour, who was raised as a Protestant in the evangelical tradition, had been a friend of Chaim Weizmann, the most important Jewish personality of his day, since 1906 when they opposed the Russian pogroms. The Balfour letter was the result of prolonged discussion in the British cabinet and with Zionist leaders, and the subject of several drafts of the letter. Various individuals have been suggested as the primary author, including Lord Milner and Leopold Amery, but there is no definitely acknowledged single writer.

The declaration stated that His Majestys Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object. In the statement, two factors are clearly understood: nothing should be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

The declaration gave rise to conflicting emotions: Jewish hopes and Arab disappointments. Lord Rothschild remarked that for the first time since the dispersion, the Jewish people have received their proper status by the declaration of one of the great powers.

The declaration was the first public support for Zionism by a major political power since Cyrus, the Persian king who liberated the Jews from their Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC.

It was the first time that a major world power publicly declared its support for Jews to return to their homeland.

The letter gave rise to conflicting emotions, expression of Jewish hopes, and hostile Arab disappointment. But what was its purpose? There were personal, political, and geopolitical factors. First, it can be understood as genuine sympathy felt by some, if not all, leading evangelical British Christian politicians, and some Catholics such as Mark Sykes. The influential editor of the Manchester Guardian, C.P. Scott, who had introduced Chaim Weizmann to Lloyd George, alluding to the massacres of Christian Armenians by the Turks, wrote that Jews needed a national home for their security. Some gratitude was expressed for Weizmann.

Britain was concerned to safeguard the Suez Canal and thus the route to India by a British presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Britain and the U.S. were concerned about the revolution in Russia in February and March 1917 and were anxious that Russia stay in the war as an ally, rather than be neutral or even support Germany. Leaders in the two countries believed that Jews in Russia or of Jewish origin in the U.S. would influence the Leninist regime to support the Allies and that in general Jewish public opinion would be mobilized to support the war effort. Leaflets containing the Balfour Declaration were dropped over Jewish communities in Germany and Austria and over the Pale of Settlement which had been given to the Central Powers after the Russian withdrawal in 1917.

The Arabs saw the declaration as a dark day, as British colonial policy, disregarding the presence of the then national majority in the area. They argued that the declaration was only one of three conflicting wartime promises made by the British. The other two were the highly disputed Hussein-McMahon correspondence and the treaty with France known as the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement. The first is an exchange in July 1915 of correspondence between the Sheriff of Mecca, Hussein Ibn Ali, and Sir Henry McMahon, Britains High Commissioner in Egypt. The UK agreed to recognize Arab independence after the war in exchange for the Sheriff launching the Arab revolt against the Ottomans.

The secret 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement between Britain and France, and Russian knowledge, leaked by the Russians, defined their mutually agreed spheres of influence and control in the Middle East when the defeated Ottoman Empire was partitioned. One understanding was that much of Palestine would be under international administration.

The new League of Nations confirmed the pledge in Balfour of a national home and awarded the Mandate for Palestine to Great Britain.

The declaration spoke of a national home, for the Jewish people, an ambiguous term deliberately kept vague, when compared to a term such as state. There were differences of interpretation, from a full sovereign state to merely a spiritual center for Jews. The letter did not define national home nor did it promise to create a Jewish state. The boundaries of Palestine were not defined, and the words of the home in Palestine did not necessarily mean all of Palestine.

Nevertheless, the Balfour Declaration was a central factor in the events leading to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, leading directly to decisions favorable to Zionism at the April 1920 San Remo conference by the victorious Allied powers which decided on territories of the Ottomans. It created two mandates of the old province of Syria; the north part was mandated to France, the south (Palestine) to Britain. The territories would be subject to mandatory power until they reached political maturity.

Balfour stirred the aspirations of Zionists after the horrors of the pogroms in Russia and the anti-Semitism witnessed in the Dreyfus affair in France. It was the central factor of the British Mandate for Palestine, the key to mandatory Palestine, which became the State of Israel and the disputed territories under Palestinian control.

The much-discussed declaration is a genuine cause to be celebrated on this anniversary more than a century later. It is fitting that the modest residence of the prime minister of Israel is on Balfour Street.

Image: Picryl

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Not only does Islam claim Abraham, Moses, and Jesus; it apparently claims post-biblical figures, such as Saint George, as well. So states a recent article on My London, the real point of which is apparently to assert Christian and Muslim commonalities. Thus, on St Georges Day, which in Eastern Christianity is marked on May 6, Muslims in the area [of Nazareth] join Christians in their venerations of the saint.

Judaism also finds its way into this article on religious syncretism. Thus, according to some Sufi traditions, the [Hebrew] Prophet Elias, Al-Khidr [a character in the Koran], and Saint George are all the same person. They believe Elias reappears at different times in human history under different names to help stricken believers in times of crisis.

The entire article is a testimony to the widely entrenched conviction that, because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share many of the same characters, creating rapprochement between the three faiths is not just easy; its the most natural thing to do.

Left out of this calculus is the all-important fact that Islam does not treat biblical characters the way Christianity does. Christians accept the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, as it is. They do not add, take away, or distort the accounts of the patriarchs that Jews also rely on.

Conversely, while also relying on the figures of the Old and New Testaments -- for the weight of antiquity and authority attached to their names -- Islam completely recasts them in a manner that validates itself and invalidates Judaism and Christianity.

Consider, for example, Islams treatment of Jesus (Isa in the Koran). Not only does Islam vehemently deny Christs sonship to God, a new book on Islamic sources inadvertently underscores the fact that Isa is in fact the antithesis of Jesus -- his doppelganger.

Although Muslim Sources of the Crusader Period by professors James E. Lindsay and Suleiman Mourad is full of important historical documents from that era, including first-time translations, the writings of Ibn Asakir (1105-1175) -- an influential Islamic scholar who also authored the popular Forty Hadiths for Inciting Jihad -- on Jesus, based on established hadiths, are germane to our topic. From beginning to end, Ibn Asakir, like all other Muslim scholars before and after him, uses Jesus to validate Islam and invalidate the actual faith founded by Christ.

According to these Muslim accounts, Jesus will indeed return -- Christian bridge-builders to Islam can be happy about that -- but only to break the crosses, slaughter the pigs, end the jizya tax on non-Muslims, making warfare against the People of the Book (e.g. Jews, Christians, Zorastrians, etc.) and others licit (p. 158) In short, Islams Jesus is a jihadist on a par with ISIS.

Here are a few selections from Ibn Asakirs biography of Jesus/Isa (from Muslim Sources of the Crusader Period):

He quotes Muhammad, asserting that whoever is willing to make him, Muhammad, Christs equal, as well as contradict the oldest Christian Creed (1 Cor. 15: 3-7), will go to heaven:

Whoever testifies that there is no god but God, alone with no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, and that Jesus is His servant and messenger, the son of His servant, His word which he gave to Mary, and a spirit from Him, Allah will admit him to paradise for saying that (p.159).

When a woman says to Jesus, Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breast that suckled you, a shocked Jesus replies: No, but blessed is he who reads the Quran and follows what is in it (p.159).

In several of these hadiths, Muhammad appears intent on making himself Jesuss equal. Thus, when his child-bride, Aisha, asks the prophet: If I outlive you, would you permit me to be buried beside you? No, responds Muhammad: in that place there is only room for my grave, for Abu Bakrs grave [Muhammads companion and successor, or first caliph], for Umars grave [Muhammads companion and second caliph], and for the grave of Jesus son of Mary (p.160).

In another account, Muhammad says, The biblical prophets are siblings of the same lineage. I and Jesus too are siblings because he prophesied me and there are no prophets between me and him (p.161).

In yet another account, Ibn Asakir presents Jesus as praying behind yet another caliph (Muawiya I): then, after Jesus finishes his prayer, he will take his lance, go toward the Antichrist and kill him. Then Jesus will die and the Muslims will wash him and bury him (p.161).

Such is the transformation -- or mutilation -- that Jesus has undergone in the Muslim tradition. And Christians are supposed to see this as a possible bridge to Islam, a source of commonalities?

Its the same, incidentally, with other biblical characters. Consider Abraham (Ibrahim), whom this entire Abrahamic movement is named after. While Jews and Christians focus on different aspects of Abraham -- the former see him as their patriarch in the flesh, the latter as their patriarch in faith or in spirit (e.g., Gal 3:6) -- they both rely on the same verbatim account of Abraham found in Genesis.

The Muslim account, however, introduces and exemplifies the hate Muslims are obligated to have for non-Muslims: You have a good example in Abraham and those who followed him, Allah informs Muslims in Koran 60:4; for they said to their people, We disown you and the idols that you worship besides Allah. We renounce you: enmity and hate shall reign between us until you believe in Allah alone.

In fact, this verse is the cornerstone verse that all radical Muslims, especially of the Islamic State, cite as proof that Muslims must hate all non-Muslims. In other words, rather than serve as a bridge between Islam and Judaism and Christianity, Islam and the Koran use Abraham to teach Muslims to hate Jews and Christians.

One can go on and on: according to Islamic traditions, Mary, the mother of Christ, is Muhammads wife in heaven -- yet another characterization that would seem to sever hardly build bridges.

Surely its a curious thing: when certain people -- namely, whites -- appropriate, say, the superficial dress or costume of another people: woe, all is woe. But when Islam appropriates and completely perverts the central figures of two faiths, Judaism and Christianity, Jews and Christians are supposed to feel good about it and see it as an opportunity for reconciliation with Islam. Interesting how that works.

To be clear, the Muslim appropriation and subsequent mutilation of biblical figures are a source of problems, not solutions. It is only the secular mindset, which cannot rise beyond the surface fact that three religions claim the same figures -- and so they must all eventually get along -- that does not and never will get it. The Saint George article on My London -- which spends an inordinate amount of time cracking jokes about drinking in pubs -- is a perfect example.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image: Piqsels

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I must admit it. I must come clean. I try turning myself over to the better angels of my nature, but I dont know if they will have any luck, because I am 100%, prime time, on board the Lets Go Brandon! bandwagon.

Stop and thinkridicule is a potent weapon against ones adversaries. Everyone hates to be laughed at; humiliation is one of the more common and universally effective ways to isolate someone or, alternatively, to persuade them to change their behavior.

For some, the simple act of wearing a t-shirt with Lets Go Brandon! emblazoned on it is a non-verbal act of rebellion. For the Left, Brandon is now a Paul Bunyan-sized mountain of a man who is taking a devastating ax to their agenda and their narrative, with every t-shirt and meme ridiculing them in disastrously funny and effective ways.

Like many other commentators have observed, Lets Go Brandon! has its roots in Saul Alinksys Rules for Radicals:

Ridicule is mans most potent weapon. There is no defense. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also, it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.

Among some friends and acquaintances, I have noticed a reflexive, vigorous pushback against this phrase mocking Joe Biden. They call it immature and say mocking the president should have no place in our politics.

Really? After cleaning up the mess from spitting out my coffee, I respectfully, but firmly, remind them of what the country went through for the entirety of the Trump campaign and presidency. Their response has been we need to do better or just because both sides do it doesnt mean its right.

In some cases thats true but sometimes ones opponents must receive an ample portion and get a taste of what they have been dishing out. Also, please pull the log out of your own eye before trying to remove the twig from mine.

If we were talking to a very good friend or to our loved ones, we might want to refrain from going full Brandon. Their emotional response to the ridicule could be counter-productive to a courteous, rational, and reasoned discussion. I certainly would never advocate for ruining family dinners or Thanksgiving. However, for the run-of-the-mill, hate-America radicals who have based their entire worldview on blind faith, feelings, and emotions, the punch of the justifiable ridicule might be effective.

Lets Go Brandon! is a brand of ridicule we havent seen in America for some time because it is based on objective reality; namely, the utter failures of the installed regime and their one-party control of government. It is different from what we witnessed during the Trump presidency because their ridicule was based on concocted lies and their wholly biased and thus inaccurate perception, completely detached from reality (e.g., Adam Schiff). We saw their ridicule for what it waspoison that destroyed everything it touched.

Recall Alec Baldwin and nearly every Saturday Night Live opening skit ridiculing Donald Trump, and all the late-night show comics or hosts whose Trump Derangement saw them incapable of restraining themselves from poking fun and ridiculing all things Trump, every single day, from the President, his wife and our First Lady, to his sons, daughters, and extended family. The nightly anti-Trump litany, diatribe of falsehoods, and gleeful Russia! Russia! Russia! schadenfreude was the hallmark of nearly every cable news network.

I have been reading an increasing amount of commentary about the Lets Go Brandon cultural phenomenon. I think phenomenon is an accurate definition and description because, for many, it was difficult to explain or understand how the original, R-rated chant arose on its own, surprisingly, as if from nowhere (or from the ethereal network from which like-minded people discover there are many others like me). It is remarkable that the chant was not just a single event and passing fancy. Instead, it grew legs and quickly spread to other events across the nation. Most remarkably, those on the left and in state-controlled media took notice, so that, in either an honest attempt to cover for NASCAR fans behavior or to cover up the truth, Lets Go Brandon! was born.

Lets Go Brandon! is now a universally understood taunt against the lying, corrupt, state-controlled, establishment media, their lack of reporting the truth and what matters to most Americans, their misreporting and blatant bias, or the flat-out, bold-face falsehoods they report as truth. Most Americans have had enough of the medias malpractice and that is why we dont listen to them anymore...about anything.

Lets Go Brandon! is a proud, out-stretched digital hand gesture to the over-reach of an inept, unintelligent, inexperienced, but inexplicably cocky and arrogant, mentally-diminished senior citizen who is playing house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and is playing disastrous games with Americas most trusted institutions and her citizens. Most Americans cannot believe the rapid, nine-month decline in their country, their quality of life, their countrys international reputation and standing and, consequently, their diminished security in a frightfully dangerous world.

Lets Go Brandon! is a hearty, throaty roar of defiance to the cabal that holds the levers of power that installed the current occupant of the Oval Office. Remember, they have an irresistible and nearly-silent influence in every arena: the government and its alphabet soup of omnipotent bureaucracies, those who are the political activists and lobbyists who hold an inescapable grip on the dismal Potomac Swamp, the big corporations who long ago decided to go-along and get-along to get ahead of the competition (having friends in high places), and the media/social media complex that not only controls the information we receive but will also fact-check into oblivion all who dare counter their carefully crafted and war-gamed narrative.

I recently read a commentary in American Greatness that described Lets Go Brandon as analogous to the Biblical Old Testament prophet Elijah mocking the priests of Baal. In Old Testament Israel, Baal was a Canaanite and Phoenician deity to which the ancient Israelites turned throughout their history instead of worshiping Yahweh/Jehovah. It is a brilliant analogy, and could not more clearly describe our current situation or the disastrous effects of turning away from what we know actually works for a just and prosperous society, to the Baal and false god of a cradle-to-grave Socialist utopia that has never, does not now, nor will ever exist.

Lets Go Brandon! succinctly describes how wrong things are with the Joe Biden presidency (*). To paraphrase the Declaration, in the short nine-month history of the present administration (*) there is a long list of injuries, injustices, abuses, and usurpations, all for its goal of establishing absolute tyranny over the citizens and the states.

Lets Go Brandon! is our modern-day Tea Party.

Best yet, Lets Go Brandon is an intervention with our more moderate Democrat-voting relatives, friends, and neighbors, so that they may come to grips with what they have wrought on the country. They must all be carefully, gently, but truthfully, led to repentance for having given our birthrights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness to those who seek our destruction.

So then, Lets Go, Brandon!

Jeff M. Lewis is a Christian, a husband and father, a Veteran, and a small business owner who resides with his family in South Texas

Image: Lets Go, Brandon! Internet meme; creator unknown.

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The Pentagon has issued a vaccine mandate for the military, and members of the Air Force have responded. Up to 12,000 service members have flatly stated they will refuse to be vaccinated against COVID. Air Force brass is threatening the service members with punishment up to and including dismissal from the service. The sheer number refusing the mandate brings up the problem of how to maintain readiness.

More than 90% of Air Force personnel are already partially vaccinated. Those who are not and who are refusing vaccination include pilots and aircraft maintainers. If enough of these vital positions are lost, the Air Force may find itself unable to respond in a crisis.

The Air Force does not seem to care that its draconian vaccine measure might lead to a loss of readiness. Instead, it's already presenting penalties that may be applied to service members who refuse vaccination, up to and including court-martial. Apparently, the Air Force, which is supposed to protect freedom, is willing to deny freedom to any service member who does not want to be subjected to experimental gene therapy masquerading as a vaccine.

It's not the first time the armed forces of the United States have run into trouble trying to force untested vaccines upon the troops. During the Gulf War, troops were forced to submit to anthrax vaccination until a federal judge ordered the vaccinations to stop. In 2004, U.S. district judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled that the mandatory vaccination program was illegal, on the ground that the FDA had violated its own rules in granting emergency approval to the experimental anthrax vaccine.

More than a million troops were inoculated despite complaints that the vaccines were making them sick. Veterans are currently seeking redress for Gulf War Syndrome, which includes the possibility of long-term side effects from anthrax vaccines.

Now the military is facing the same challenge it did in the Gulf War. This time, the disease being vaccinated against is very mild and cannot be eradicated. The level of refusal is such that national security might be affected. Under such circumstances, it would appear that discretion would indeed be the better part of valor and that mandating experimental procedures on our troops for the sniffles is unwise, as well as a betrayal of the men and women who sacrifice so much to keep our country free.

Pandra Selivanov is the author of The Pardon, a story of forgiveness based on the thief on the cross in the Bible.

Image: USAF Thunderbirds by David Armer. Public domain.

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My late mother must be enjoying the governor's race in Virginia. I think she would tell me something like "don't mess with the lioness's cubs" or "attack my kids at your peril." One of my favorite memories is watching her tell a Cuban Communist Party block leader that he'd indoctrinate her kids over her dead body. The communist walked away because he saw that my mom was dead serious.

Do you want to understand Virginia? Don't mess with mothers, especially when the household is paying property taxes to fund public education. It's a beautiful uprising of mothers defending their kids and not taking any crap from anybody.

The Democrats are in full panic mode. It does not matter who wins anymore because these mothers are alive and well from coast to coast.

This is from the AP:

McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, and Democrats are scrambling to stave off disaster after public polling has shifted in Youngkins direction in recent weeks. Republicans are optimistic about their chances in the commonwealth, where they havent won a statewide race since 2009.

Yes, disaster like low black turnout. This is from Politico:

More than a dozen top Democrats involved in the Virginia gubernatorial race expressed concern about Democrats' standing with Black voters.

According to the article, many black voters are just frustrated with Washington politics, whatever that means. My guess is that they are more frustrated with their party aligning around "defund the police" and how crime is destroying their neighborhoods. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of black parents are also fed up with having their kids treated like poor victims.

Last, but not least, there is Joe Biden, who has lived up to what former President Obama allegedly said: "Don't underestimate Joe's ability to [expletive] things up"!

Youngkin will win. He should bring one of those moms to the podium and give the credit to the ladies who drove this campaign. It's like Audie Murphy thanking the ladies in The Guns of Fort Petticoat.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: PxFuel.

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Chicago's police unions won a big, but still only partial victory yesterday as Judge Raymond W. Mitchell issued an order suspending enforcement of the city's mandate that police officers be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year. The city's police unions, led by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7's head John Catanzara, had been involved in a bitter public dispute with Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Judge Mitchell's ruling to suspend the mandate made a key point about the vaccine mandate: that once carried out, it cannot be undone. It also affirmed that the mandate is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the unions and that the contractual arbitration process must move forward to provide resolution to the dispute.

The ruling does not affect other city employees covered by the mandate.

Patrick Smith and Mariah Woelfel of WBEZ report that despite the victory, the city can still enforce its requirement that officers report their vaccination status, which had been a key point of union resistance.

About 58% of the city's police force has reported being vaccinated against COVID-19, according to city data. However, about 27% of officers still have not reported their vaccination status at all. Up until now, much of the public fight over Chicago's vaccination policy has been over the reporting requirement. John Catanzara, the head of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, has vocally opposed the requirement that all workers share whether or not they are vaccinated against COVID-19, calling it an invasion of privacy and a violation of the police contract. Catanzara repeatedly called for officers to "hold the line" and refuse to share their vaccination status with the city. However, the majority of FOP members went against his wishes and updated their status. Catanzara said that did not mean officers had largely rejected his strident messaging. Instead, he said he believes most of the union members who did comply had already done so before he started his near-daily calls for disobedience near the end of October. "There's still over 3,000 members not in the [vaccine] portal," Catanzara said at a press conference outside of police headquarters last week. "No one's stopping them from [sharing their status] voluntarily. They're intentionally not complying with the portal request and demand period. I think that's unity." Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said on Monday that 35 officers had been stripped of their police powers for refusing a direct order to provide their vaccination status. Mitchell's ruling Monday moves the conversation forward toward the much bigger vaccination deadline of Dec. 31. His order brushed aside the union's complaints about reporting, calling the requirement "a minimal intrusion" that could be remedied later if an arbiter found the requirement violated the city's contracts with its police officers.

While Chicago can continue to suspend cops for failing to report their vaccine status, if it wishes to, the city may be able to avoid a catastrophic reduction in the number of cops on the street, opening the door to lawless anarchy in a city now notorious worldwide for its violent crime.

In New York City, where a vaccine mandate went into effect Monday, the number of firefighters on duty has shrunk to critically low levels. NBC News reports:

More than 2,000 New York City firefighters have taken medical leave in the past week as unvaccinated municipal workers face the start of sanctions Monday. Frank Dwyer, deputy commissioner of the New York City Fire Department, said by email that the number of firefighters on medical leave was "very unusual." The department employs roughly 11,000 firefighters. A senior city official briefed on the vaccination data says that over half of the firefighters who have called out sick have never received a single dose of the vaccine.

Unfortunately, the practical merits of vaccine mandates don't seem to be the subject of any judicial review at the moment. The theory that unvaccinated people present a danger to the public or to their vaccinated colleagues does not seem to hold water.

People who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are able to spread the delta variant within their household despite their vaccination status just as easily as unvaccinated individuals, a new study published on Friday shows. According to the study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, people who contracted COVID-19 had a similar viral load regardless of whether they had been vaccinated. The study further found that 25 percent of vaccinated household contacts contracted COVID-19. while 38 percent of unvaccinated individuals were diagnosed with the disease. Researchers examined 621 symptomatic participants in the United Kingdom over a year.

In fact, at best, vaccines operate as therapeutics, lessening the symptoms and therefore potential lethality of a COVID infection. This places them in the same category as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and quercetin, drugs that have been around much longer and whose side-effects are known to be minimal, whereas the mRNA gene therapies mislabeled as vaccines have undergone no long-term testing and are sparking large numbers of adverse events posted to the VAERS database.

I confess that I am feeling a bit of whiplash, in that I fully support the union side in this despite decades of opposition to unions  ever since I was forced to cough up large sums of money to corrupt unions in order to be able to work summer jobs in a unionized factory during college. That said, I have also always been on the side of basic human rights and have sympathized with the early days of unionism, when truly awful working conditions and low pay were often imposed by large companies. It has mainly been postwar unions that became wealthy and corrupt, in some cases driving entire industries  steel and auto manufacturing come to mind  into decline and loss of share to overseas competitors. And especially public employee unions, where both sides of the bargaining table tend to be influenced by the unions.

But it is clear to me that the unions protecting the bodily sovereignty of their members are fighting the righteous battle, and I am with them 100%.

Photo credit: screen grab of PDF document.

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In the race among blue cities toward dystopia, Chicago is a contender for the lead. Its streets are dangerous, and when accused street crime perps are arrested, they often get out of jail on recognizance, with no cash bail. CWBChicago, the invaluable chronicler of Chicago's descent, profiles a new bail court judge who goes beyond freeing very sketchy accused perps on recognizance.



Judge Kelly McCarthy (Facebook via CWB Chicago).

McCarthy set bail for 27 defendants during the session. She gave 22 of them recognizance bonds  including two charged with felony robbery. She refused to grant prosecutors' requests to have several defendants held without bail, including one charged with attempted murder for allegedly beating, stomping, and choking his pregnant girlfriend for 20 minutes.

But that's not all. In one case, even though nobody asked for it, McCarthy took the unprecedented step of ordering a robbery victim to show up in court to be served with an order to protect the man who allegedly robbed her at gunpoint.

In another case, prosecutors said a convicted felon admitted that a gun police found inside a purse in a car he was driving was his. Despite the alleged admission, McCarthy ruled there was no probable cause for the man to be detained because "obviously it's not his purse."
I have a request for my Virginia neighbors. Please, please vote for conservatives, and do it in ways that cannot be stolen.

There are three races in Virginia, and all are important. Yes, there is the governor's race, and that one is the hardest. Virginia is a blue state by the slimmest of margins. A few counties counting questionable ballots can push McAuliffe over the top in a close race. This is what the Democrats did nationally in 2020 and appears to be the fall-back plan in Virginia.

There are three ways to defeat this  and it's too late to clean the voter rolls. All that is left is vigilance at the polls and overwhelming turnout. In strongly Democrat areas, it will be a battle to get inside the process and keep things honest. That's why the best bet is overwhelming turnout.

It is the same as always. Vote. This is particularly important in the western hills and rural counties. These areas need to vote in much greater numbers than are needed for local races. Otherwise, if you're in one of those regions, the blue counties surrounding Washington will choose your governor for you.

The lt. governor race is also important. The Republican candidate is Winsome Sears. She is a Black female military veteran with a strong conservative platform and has a good chance of winning. While not as big as the top of the ticket, if she wins, even as the Democrats manage to get McAuliffe in office by any means, she becomes an impediment and the instant frontrunner for 2025, when McAuliffe cannot run again.

Maybe bigger than both of these is the Virginia Legislature. Just as the United States Congress has, the Virginia Legislature has pushed through radical legislation on thin majorities. If the Legislature is flipped  a good possibility  even if McAuliffe wins, he gets political handcuffs. It is an order of magnitude more difficult to cheat in multiple legislative districts than it is to cheat statewide.

Flipping the Legislature would be great. Adding the lieutenant governor would be better. The Trifecta is hard but also doable. I put the margin of fraud for this one near 10% and maybe more. Those rural counties that had their legislative seats stolen while they were not looking need to step up. While there, mark the right boxes at the top of the ticket.

Over here in Kentucky, on the other side of your western mountains, we made the mistake of letting a Democrat win governor while every other state office is held by Republicans and the Legislature is strongly Republican. Since then, we have been handcuffed by the decisions from the governor's office.

Our Legislature finally stopped his executive mandates that were making us like California, but it took too long. We are now behind most of the states that border us in coming back from the lockdowns, but we are coming back. Just this week, my county rejected the mask mandates in schools. This is just one of many former gubernatorial mandates inflicted during COVID that the Legislature has given to local boards to decide.

I am betting on the sweep. If it happens, both our states win.

Image: Terry McAuliffe (edited in befunky). YouTube screen grab.

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An overwhelming majority of plants depend upon birds and insects for seed dispersal. Plants attract pollinators by releasing aromatic compounds into the air, or by producing sweet nectar that birds and insects feed upon. Species of the Pisonia plant are no different. They entice small birds to build nests on its branches, and when the birds brush against these seed-laden branches, the Pisonias sticky seeds get stuck to the birds feathers. After some time the seeds fall off, ideally when the birds had travelled to another island. But somewhere along the Pisonias evolutionary history, something went horribly wrong. Instead of using the birds as vectors of pollination, the Pisonia ends up killing a large number of birds by ladening them with so much seeds that the poor birds are unable to fly away. They fall to the ground and starve to death, or get eaten by predators.

Black noddies nest on Pisonia trees in Heron Island, Queensland. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com

Pisonia trees, also nicknamed bird-catchers, are found in tropical habitats, mainly islands in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The trees produce long seeds, covered with a thick mucous and tiny hooks that stick to almost anything that brushes against them. The seeds grow in large tangled bunches, and each bunch can bear anything from a dozen to over two hundred seeds.

The Pisonia tree flowers twice a year, and the timing of these events coincidenaturally through years of evolutionwith peak seabird traffic to the islands. These seabirds use the Pisonia for nesting, and when the young ones hatch and fledge, the result is often tragic. The young birds get entangled and entrapped in the sticky bunches. Even a handful of seeds can weigh a bird down, making them unable to fly. They fall down and eventually die of starvation, or become food for scavengers. At other times, the birds die in the trees; their mummified corpses hanging from the branches like macabre Christmas tree ornaments.

Seeds of Pisonia trees. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com

Seeds of the Pisonia tree are covered by a sticky resin. Photo: Scott Zona/Flickr

The Pisonia trees grisly behavior has a devastating effect on the bird population. A study conducted on seabird population on Cousin Island in Seychelles revealed that the Pisonia tree killed a quarter of White Terns and nearly a tenth of Tropical Shearwaters via fatal seed entanglement.

Scientists have wondered if there is any evolutionary benefit derived by the Pisonia tree by killing birds. One hypothesis stated that the trees get increased nutrients from the decomposition of bird corpses that fall at the foot of the trees. But when Alan Burger, an ecologist at the University of Victoria, analyzed seedlings sprouting near bird carcasses on Cousin Island, he did not find any evidence that seemed to indicate that the seeds were sprouting any better. In addition, the tree received far more fertilizer from the bird's droppings and fallen eggs, indicating they were worth far more to the tree alive than dead.

A wedge-tailed shearwater covered in sticky Pisonia grandis seeds in Tiam'Bouene islet, New-Caledonia. Photo: Tristan Berr/Twitter

A white capped noddy tangled in Pisonia seeds at Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com

Next Burger tried immersing Pisonia seeds in seawater to test another hypothesis that the carcasses of dead birds might wash ashore on another islands, helping seed dispersal. To test the theory, Burger dunked the seeds in salt water and found that they died after just five days, ruling out the possibility that the Pisonia might be using dead birds as rafst to disperse seeds to faraway island.

The results from my experiments showed quite convincingly that the Pisonia derived no obvious benefit from fatally entangling birds, Burger concluded in a paper than appeared on the Journal of Tropical Ecology in 2005.

The entanglement and mortality of some of the potential vectors can be viewed as a negative side-effect of selection for seeds with sufficient adhesion to slick to a bird's plumage for several weeks and resist the efforts of preening birds to remove the seeds, Burger wrote.

A fledgling brown noddy entangled with seeds across its chest and tail. Photo: BBC

Photo: BBC

In other words, the seeds absolutely need to be sticky so that they do not fall off the birds. And because the resin gradually loses its adhesion, especially when immersed in sea water, the seeds have to start out extremely sticky. Inadvertently, this results in the death of hundreds of thousands of seabirds every year.

Conservationist on Cousin Island are now working to replace Pisonia trees with other native tree species to help the sea bird population to recover. They also actively seek out entangled birds and carefully clean them, before putting them back in a tree.

Surprisingly, many seabirds seems to love Pisonia trees. Its rare to see a Pisonia tree that doesnt have seabirds in it, says Beth Flint, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Flint and her colleagues actually work to encourage Pisonia groves, because they are prime nesting habitats for red-footed boobies, frigatebirds and black noddies.

References:

# Alan E. Burger, Dispersal and Germination of Seeds of Pisonia grandis, an Indo-Pacific Tropical Tree Associated with Insular Seabird Colonies, Journal of Tropical Ecology

# Pisonia grandisA grand problem?, Seychelles Seabird Group

# Jason Bittel, This tree lures birds with a free lunch and then kills them, Washington Post

# The island paradise with a dark heart, BBC
Before the invention of matches, making fire was a tedious business, so people often shared fires from already existing flames. Whenever a new fire had to be lit, a variety of different techniques were used, all of which involved rubbing one material with another to create sparks by friction. Flint and steel was a common combination.

Later on, chemicals were used to induce fire and the first self-igniting match was born. Invented by Jean Chancel in 1805, it consisted of a match head made of a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, gum arabic and sugar. When the match tip was dipped into a vial of sulfuric acid, the match ignited. However, this kind of match was expensive and was also relatively dangerous, so Chancel's matches never really became widely adopted or in commonplace use.

Phosphorus bottle pocket matches, circa 1828. Joseph Allen Skinner Museum. Photo: Daderot/Wikimedia Commons

In 1828, Samuel Jones of London invented the Promethean match, named after Prometheus who, according to Greek legend, stole fire from the gods. His match consisted of a glass bead containing sulfuric acid, the outside of which was wrapped with paper impregnated with an igniting compound. When the glass was broken by means of a small pair of pliers, or even with the users teeth, the paper in which it was wrapped was set on fire. Many users of the match used to crush the vial with their teeth. I carried with me some promethean matches, which I ignited by biting, wrote Charles Darwin in The Voyage of the Beagle. It was thought so wonderful that a man should strike fire with his teeth, that it was usual to collect the whole family to see it.

These first matches were extremely difficult to ignite, and they frequently erupted in a shower of sparks. In addition, the smell was particularly offensive.

In 1826, John Walker, an English chemist and druggist, created the first successful friction match. It consisted of wooden splints or sticks of cardboard coated with sulfur and tipped with a mixture of sulfide of antimony, chlorate of potash, and gum. When scraped against a rough surface, the matchhead ignited. The sulphur in the paste helped the splints to catch fire, and the odor of the burn was subdued by the addition of camphor. Walker began selling them in boxes of 50 priced at one shilling. With each box was supplied a piece of sandpaper, folded double, through which the match had to be drawn to ignite it.

In 1830, Frenchman Charles Sauria substituted white phosphorus for the antimony sulfide, creating new phosphorus matches that produced a more volatile flame and had to be kept in airtight metal boxes. They became very popular, especially in the United States, where they went by the name of loco foco and gave rise to a new political party of the same name. Encouraged by ease of use and increased demand, the new matches became highly sought commodities, and manufacturing changed from small entrepreneurial shops to large factories in London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin.

Women working in a match factory in London in 1871.

To produce these matches, workers called dippers stood in front of shallow trays filled with water, steam-heated from below, in which was dissolved sticks of white phosphorus mixed with a few other chemicals. Racks of sticks twice the length of a matchstick were then dipped either side and allowed to dry before the sticks were chopped in half. The resulting matches were then boxed up ready to be sold.

Working 14 hours a day in poorly-ventilated factories these dippers breathed in copious amounts of phosphorus fumes. Others who mixed the chemicals as well as those who boxed up the matches were also exposed to high levels of phosphorus. Soon thousands of workers began to show symptoms of phosphorous toxicity. It began with tooth ache, swelling of the gums, and then the teeth fell out. The face swelled up and abscesses along the jaw oozed foul-smelling pus. Holes opened up in the face along the jaw line, through which could be seen the dead bone underneath. Sometimes the bone glowed in the dark from the accumulated phosphorus. The only remedy was to remove the jawbone. This condition was known as phossy jaw, and it left many match factory workers permanently disfigured.

A phossy jaw sufferer.

A lithograph from the 1870s showing a skull with jaw affected by phosphorus poisoning. Photo: Wellcome Library, London.

Beyond the oral effects of this condition, these workers also experienced respiratory symptoms such as coughing, drainage and bloody discharge from the lungs. In chronic cases, the toxic phosphorus reached the brain provoking seizures.

The earliest report of phosphorus necrosis was made in 1845, but it took another half a century before the matchmakers of the Bryant & May factory of London went on strike. Many of the protesters were women. They lived in abject poverty, in filthy housing unfit for human habitation and were often subject to prolonged hours of backbreaking work making matches. In addition to the low pay, excessive fines were issued for simple infraction such as keeping an untidy workbench, talking, having dirty feet, and being late. Dropping trays of matches attracted steeper fines.

Photo: mybestdentists.com

In 1888, well-known social activist Annie Besant published a scathing article in her halfpenny weekly paper The Link. This angered the Bryant & May management who tried to get their workforce to sign a paper contradicting it, which they refused to do. The management dismissed a worker on some other pretext, which set off the strike, with approximately 1,400 women and girls refusing to work by the end of the first day. The management quickly offered to reinstate the sacked employee but the women then demanded other concessions, particularly in relation to the unfair fines which were deducted from their wages. Within two weeks, the whole factory had stopped work.

Meanwhile, two French chemists, Henri Savene and Emile David Cahen, discovered that phosphorus could be replaced with phosphorous sesquisulfide resulting in similar strike-anywhere matches, with the benefit that the new compound was not toxic. The first company to produce phosphorus sesquisulfide matches commercially was the British company Albright and Wilson in 1899. However, white phosphorus continued to be used until the early 20th century. Finland was one of the first to prohibit the use of white phosphorus in 1872, followed by Denmark in 1874, France in 1897, Switzerland in 1898, and the Netherlands in 1901. The United Kingdom passed a law in 1908 prohibiting its use in matches after 31 December 1910. The United States did not pass a law, but instead placed a punitive tax in 1913 on white phosphorusbased matches, one so high as to render their manufacture financially impractical, and Canada banned them in 1914. India and Japan banned them in 1919. China followed, banning them in 1925.

The discontinuation of white phosphorous and introduction of modern manufacturing processes had almost eliminated phossy jaw, when by a twist of fate, contemporary medicine resurrected this disease. A group of drugs known as Bisphosphonates, commonly used in treating osteoporosis and cancer has the potential to cause deterioration of the jaw. The condition, bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BON), is similar to phossy jaw and is sometimes known as bis-phossy jaw.
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KCR Receives A Huge Shock In Huzurabad:- The bypoll of Huzurabad took place on October 30th and the counting is happening today. BJP candidate Etala Rajendar is leading the polls after four rounds. He is leading with 2900 votes and is racing towards victory. TRS is left in deep shock with the results. Etala got sacked from the position of Telangana's Health Minister after which he submitted his resignation for the MLA of Huzurabad. Telangana Chief Minister KCR announced Dalit Bandhu and initiated the program from Huzurabad constituency. The Election Commission wanted the program of offering Rs 10 lakh per Dalit family in the state to be kept on hold. There are 18 rounds left for the counting and it is going on now.

KCR initiated Dalit Bandhu from the village of Salapalli and TRS was confident of winning the polls with a huge majority. Etala Rajendar is leading the list in Salapalli village too which made it clear that the people of the constituency are against TRS and the government. The scheme of Dalit Bandhu had no impact on the Huzurabad polls. KCR is left in deep shock with the numbers. TRS failed to report a majority till now in the 4 rounds. BJP Telangana Chief Bandi Sanjay reached the Party Office and initiated the celebrations. He said that Etala Rajendar will continue the lead in the rest of the rounds.
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(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 2 - A group of gay teenagers suffered an allegedly homophobic attack in Ferrara on Sunday afternoon, local media reported Tuesday.

A group of boys and men aged 17-25 allegedly threw firecrakers at the LGBT youths, aged 12-19, as well as a dead pigeon while insulting them, the media said.

Among the slurs hurled at them, dailies said, were the words "Do you know Benito Mussolini? Do you know that he would burn you all?" One of the victims posted a video of the attack which went viral.

One of the victims' mothers said her daughter had been carrying a rainbow bag with her when the attack happened.

She said the victims knew some of the homophobic group, who in the past had made allusions, but "nothing compared to what happened on Sunday". (ANSA).


TEL AVIV - Tzolman's Auctions, an auction house in Jerusalem, plans next week to sell eight small metal molds used to tattoo numbers on Jewish prisoners' skin at the Auschwitz concentration camp.



The auction house's owner, Meir Tzolman, told Army Radio that each of the eight bars measures 1x1 cm and displays the outline of a number.



"They were branded on the prisoner's skin with the same technique used at that time to brand livestock," Tzolman said.



The grandson of a Jew who survived the concentration camps, Tzolman said he received the metal brands from a Polish citizen and is putting them up for public auction "so they don't disappear forever".



The Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem issued an immediate response in protest.



"The sale of objects of this kind is unacceptable from a moral point of view and contributes only to the proliferation of counterfeits," said Yad Vashem president Dany Dayan.



He said the appropriate place for these historical artifacts is in the museum, "where they can be thoroughly researched, expertly preserved and ultimately utilised as historical testimony".


Gaza: aid from Palermo to orphans used for books, clothes Funds raised last summer with a theatre performance

(ANSAmed) - PALERMO, NOV 2 - A total of 5,000 euros raised during the summer by the Teatro della Verdura theatre in Palermo for orphans at an elementary school in Khan Younis, Palermo's sister city, arrived at their destination.



The funds, raised through a play titled "Come Pesci in un Barile" (Like Fish in a Barrel), were used to buy books, notebooks, winter jackets and other school clothing, and will also be used to start support projects.



The orphans at the school are assisted by the Whatan association, and the children sent a short video expressing their thanks for the city of Palermo's generosity.



The fundraising initiative was sponsored by the association "Voci nel Silenzio" (Voices in the Silence) and supported by the city administration and Teatro Massimo theatre.



Labour unions CGIL Palermo and CGIL Sicily also participated in the project, as well as ARCI cultural centre.



"With the collaboration between the association Voci nel Silenzio and the other associations, we managed to give value and a purpose to the artistic evening organised on 29 August at the Teatro della Verdura, and give concrete aid to the orphaned children at the elementary school in Khan Younis, who were traumatised by bombings in the Gaza Strip, during which they lost their families," said Zaher Darwish, the association's director.



"The school was also able to announce a civil service exam to hire a support teacher," Darwish said.(ANSAmed).




NAPLES - The Neapolitan stop of the 4th edition of the NAZRA Palestine Short Film Festival begins Wednesday in Naples, running through 6 November at San Domenico Maggiore.



The festival is organised by Ecole Cinema with artistic director Sabrian Innocenti and coordinator Monica Macchi.



Entrance is free, and more information is available at the festival website: www.nazrashortfilmfestival.com.



The goal of the festival is to give the public a look at Palestine through the work of young directors who use short films as the language for transmitting topics such as freedom, justice and human rights within the delicate Israeli-Palestinian context.



Morning screenings start at 10 am for two high schools involved in the festival, Elsa Morante high school in Naples and Adriano Tilgher institute in Ercolano, which will award the Young Jury prize.



Public screenings start at 4:30 pm, after which talks will be held with the directors present.



Musical moments will take place 3 and 4 November with Giuseppe Taranto of the band La Bestia Carenne.



Fourteen short films are in competition in three categories: fiction, documentary and experimental film.



Among the films in competition is "The Present," by Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi, winner of the 2021 BAFTA award, nominated for an Oscar in the Best Short Film category, and purchased by Netflix for its Palestinian Stories series.



The only Italian film in competition is "Omar" by Luca Taiuti and Marco Mario De Notaris.



On 5 November the festival will hold screenings at the Pozzuoli women's prison, where detainees will award the Oltre le Mura (Beyond the Walls) prize.



The festival awards ceremony will take place on 6 November at 10 am at San Domenico Maggiore, with screenings of the five winning films after a speech by Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International Italy.



The NAZRA Palestine Short Film Festival is an international project coordinated by the Restiamo Umani (Stay Human) Association with VIK Italian Centre for Cultural Exchange of Venezia, where the festival opens each year.



In Venezia, the annual Vittorio Arrigoni award is given to the film that showcases the best solidarity project.



The festival's Neapolitan stop is sponsored by the City of Naples and Amnesty International, and supported by the Region of Campania and the Campania Film Commission, in partnership with the Umberto High School Alumni Foundation.
ISTANBUL - Turkish security forces captured 164 migrants, mainly Afghans, who had illegally entered Turkey from Iran, said Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.



The Afghan migrants were captured in the provinces of Ardahan, Bitlis and Van and then taken to detention centres.



Eleven people were arrested on charges of human trafficking.



During the summer, the number of Afghan migrants heading to Turkey by way of Iran went up following the Taliban takeover.



During the G20 in Rome at the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country "won't open its doors" to a new migrant flow into Turkey, speaking of the approximately 300,000 Afghan refugees already in the country.



Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu recently said that two million Afghans in Iran are "ready to move", while every day about 2,000 Afghan migrants are already entering Turkey illegally through the Iranian border.



Daily Sabah said 258 asylum seekers were rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard in the past 24 hours, following alleged pushbacks by the Greek Coast Guard in the Aegean.



The migrants are mainly Syrian and were taken to reception centres on the Turkish coast in the provinces of Izmir and Mugla.



Recently the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said she was concerned over reports of alleged migrant pushbacks to Turkey by Greek authorities.
Greece says it will return Pakistan and Bangladesh migrants Most of 382 from damaged ship were Pakistani and Bangladeshi

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, 02 NOV - Greece will seek to send migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh that reached the country aboard a Turkish-flagged cargo ship back to their native countries, Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis stated on Monday.



Mitarakis said the migrants embarked on a "needless dangerous journey" after the completion of a rescue operation off Crete by the Hellenic Coast Guard which saw 382 people taken to the island of Kos after the damaged vessel got into trouble and sent a distress signal.



All of the migrants on board the ship were transferred to the reception and identification center on the Dodecanese island of Kos. A total of 250 people are Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, while according to local media reports, 112 people are from Afghanistan.



"A double effort is now underway; we need to reach an agreement with the countries of origin so that the majority of those aboard the ship that started their journey from Turkey and arrived in Kos due to the damage to the ship return to Pakistan and Bangladesh," said Mitarakis via his personal Twitter account.



He added: "Those who are not entitled to international protection will be returned, that is why I will ask to meet with the ambassadors of these two countries next week. At the same time, we must coordinate our actions with the EU and the International Organizations that must assist Greece." "Yet again this was a needless dangerous journey facilitated by criminal gangs. Unlike Turkey and others that ignored the problem, Greece stepped up, providing immediate humanitarian support to people in need, as we always do. But Greece cannot solve the migration crisis alone. We have notified the EU that Turkey has refused to take their vessel back. Greece has rescued hundreds of thousands of people in the last seven years - it is time for the EU to act and provide impactful solidarity and ensure the EU/Turkey statement is upheld." This latest incident comes just a week after four migrant children died when a ship capsized just off the coast of Chios in the North East Aegean.



Two coast guard vessels, two helicopters, a German NATO-mission military ship, and three fishing vessels had taken part in that rescue operation which successfully saved 22 people on October 26.



Mitarakis had also then lashed out at Turkey as four migrant children lost their lives in another tragedy in the Aegean.



"This is the reality of the exploitation of migrants by criminal gangs in the Aegean - unscrupulous smugglers putting lives at risk in heavily laden unseaworthy dinghies off Chios," he said via a statement published on the Greek Migration Ministry website. He added: "The Turkish authorities must do more to prevent exploitation by criminal gangs at source. These journeys should never be allowed to happen." (ANSAmed).




Migrants: France promises housing to Calais evacuees After protests, government commits to finding solutions

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, 02 NOV - The French government promised to "systematically" offer accommodation to migrants who will be evacuated from the makeshift camps of Calais, the French port overlooking the Channel, from which many homeless foreigners try to reach Great Britain.



The government's proposal, which will be presented officially to local representatives today by Didier Leschi, the government mediator sent to Calais, comes on the 23rd day of a hunger strike initiated by three activists of migrant support associations, including 72-year-old Jesuit priest Philippe Demeestere.



"We intend to systematically propose accommodation, which will essentially be in Pas-de-Calais and Hauts-de-France, but not in Calais," said Leschi, who is expected today in Calais as mediator.



The head of the French Office for Immigration and Integration acknowledged that the evacuation of migrant camps did not always result in the safe reception of evacuated migrants, which should be the rule.



Leschi said that in order to meet its commitment, the government "will have to increase its housing stock" by "several hundred places".



The last hunger strike in Calais dates back to 2016, when several Iranians literally sewed their mouths shut and stopped eating to denounce living conditions in the so-called 'Calais Jungle', which was cleared and demolished in October 2016.



(ANSAmed).




Allies of a Tory MP found to have breached Commons lobbying rules will seek to have his recommended suspension reviewed or dropped, in a move the Commons leader suggested has not been taken for more than 70 years.

Two amendments are understood to have been tabled after North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson was found to have committed an egregious breach of standards rules as he lobbied ministers and officials for two companies paying him more than 100,000 per year.

It was recommended he be banned from the Commons for six weeks  or 30 sitting days  as punishment, but Mr Paterson has angrily disputed the findings by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone.

The Houses of Parliament in Westminster (Tim Ireland/PA)

MPs are due to vote on whether to approve his suspension on Wednesday, but an amendment tabled by former Cabinet minister and South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom suggests the Commons should instead set up a committee which would examine  among other issues  whether the case against Mr Paterson should be reviewed.

A separate amendment proposed by New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis said no further action should be taken on compassionate grounds and this has been supported by fellow Conservatives William Wragg and Peter Bone, with a total of 13 MPs backing it so far.

Mr Paterson has said the manner in which the investigation was carried out had undoubtedly played a major role in the decision of his wife Rose to take her own life last year.

But Labour warned against turning the clock back to the era of Neil Hamilton, cash for questions and no independent standards process.

Thangam Debbonaire, shadow Commons leader, said: Lets not forget that the cross-party standards committee, including three Tory MPs, endorsed the commissioners 30-day sanction for a breach of the rule around paid advocacy.

She said that the Tories want to jettison the system that has served us well and which has been a vital part of rebuilding public trust after the dark days of Tory sleaze this government seems determined to return to.

On Tuesday, Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg expressed sympathy for the MPs claim that the commissioner did not speak to 17 witnesses who came forward to support him, describing that decision as interesting.

Mr Rees-Mogg told his ConservativeHome podcast: It is always very important that systems appear to be fair, and therefore if somebody has witnesses, it would normally appear to be fair that those witnesses should be heard.

The commissioner in her report that was adopted said the witnesses werent needed because their evidence they gave wasnt relevant to the inquiry.

Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg (PA).

And that is an interesting view to come to, because other people might say: How do you know whether it was relevant to the inquiry until youve taken their evidence and have found out the precise context of how things were done?

Mr Rees-Mogg said there was precedence for amending a motion to suspend an MP, saying it was last done in 1947.

But the decision whether to accept an amendment lies with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Ms Leadsoms amendment would see a new select committee chaired by former culture minister John Whittingdale look into the standards system.

It would also look into whether Mr Patersons case specifically should be reviewed.

Sir Lindsays spokeswoman did not deny a report in the Times that suggested he believes overturning the suspension would bring the House into disrepute.

Ms Stones investigation found Mr Paterson repeatedly lobbied on behalf of two companies for which he was acting as a paid consultant  Randox, and Lynns Country Foods.

But the MP struck back, saying the investigation finding he breached rules on paid advocacy by MPs was a biased process and not fair.

Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether Boris Johnson viewed the report as flawed, as Mr Paterson and his allies have claimed.

The Prime Ministers press secretary said: The standards regime is a matter for the House of Commons.

It was unclear whether Conservative MPs will be whipped to vote a certain way over the suspension, or whether they will be given a free vote.

Committee on Standards chairman Chris Bryant urged MPs to read the report in full, with a fair and open mind and warned against voting it down in what would be an unprecedented move in the committees roughly 36-year history.

Labour MP Chris Bryant outside the Houses of Parliament in London (Yui Mok/PA)

We reviewed and published all the witness statements in detail and gave Mr Paterson every opportunity to make his case. The facts however speak for themselves, he added.

This was a unanimous and cross-party report. No standards committee report in our history has been voted down.

Voting or watering down the sanction would do serious reputational damage to Parliament and would open politics up to a new scandal of paid lobbying by MPs.
The Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain said the responsibility of representing her community on TV does weigh heavy on me.

The British-Bangladeshi chef and cookery book author, who won the baking show in 2015, said she considered her career to be much more than just working in publishing and television.

Hussain, 36, told the Radio Times: I have a responsibility to people who relate to me. People of colour. Muslims. Women. Stay-at-home mums. You name it. All of those.

Nadiya Hussain graced the cover of the Radio Times and discussed diversity in the TV industry (Radio Times/PA)

There are lots of layers that make me who I am. It does weigh heavy on me sometimes. Those moments where I feel, I dont know if I can do this  I realise the responsibility and I say, Right. Shake it off because you have a responsibility to girls like you who didnt have representation. It is important  heavy, it may be, but you know, its something that I happily carry.

Hussain, who fronts the BBC cookery show Nadiyas British Food Adventure, also said while there had been an improvement in diversity across the media, there was still work to be done.

She told the magazine: I think a lot of people are surprised by that answer, and they think that something has changed drastically within publishing and television. But really, no, Ill still go to a meeting, and theres pretty much always just one of me.

And while Im used to it, its still not OK. I get asked all the time, Are we doing better? And the truth is, yes, we are seeing much more diversity in terms of publishing and television and media. But we mustnt stop talking about it.

Read the full interview in the Radio Times.
Fishermen in Jersey could demand a total ban on fishing in huge swathes of the islands waters amid the ongoing row with France and red tape following Brexit, it is claimed.

One boat skipper said the islands government should shut large areas off the coast to all fishing boats  including Jerseys  if the situation does not improve.

Jerseys fishing community is facing uncertainty despite French president Emmanuel Macron stepping back from threats to block British boats from landing their catches in French ports.

Fisherman Phil Channing unloads his catch of scallops at the harbour in St Helier (Ben Birchall/PA)

Despite the reprieve, the islands fishermen have been warned not to try to bring their shellfish over to France for the next few days, the PA news agency understands.

Further talks between France and the UK are expected on Thursday as the post-Brexit dispute continues.

It comes as Jerseys minister for external relations called on France to remove its threats of retaliation altogether.

Skipper Phil Channing, who has fished out of Jersey for 48 years, said the current situation following Brexit was absolutely disgusting and is driving fishermen out of the industry.

He told the PA news agency: The whole situations so unfair.

The UK will not roll over in the face of unreasonable threats from French president Emmanuel Macron over the post-Brexit fishing row, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said (Ben Birchall/PA)

One of my mates, hes been doing it 40 years  hes thrown in the towel.

Mr Channing, who owns the 20ft Vanden Plas fishing boat, spoke after bringing in about 300kg of scallops on Tuesday afternoon with his son.

The shellfish were hoisted up to the quayside and handed over to local exporters ready for sale.

Mr Channing spoke of the difficulties faced by the islands fishermen who can no longer take catch straight into Frances ports like their French counterparts, instead having to go via Jersey for checks.

He told PA that the Jersey government has the power to ban fishing in its waters between three and 12 miles offshore.

Director of Aqua Mar fisheries in Jersey, Nathalie Porritt, prints a closed sign to let any fishermen know she is winding down trading ahead of political talks (Ben Birchall/PA)

He added: We have all got together and said if they dont start being fair we are going to call on the Government to do it  close the whole fishery down.

We cant land them there (in France) anyway.

He said the additional hassle following Brexit is a total nightmare and has roughly halved his output.

Mr Channing added that he would like to see England take us over to be honest, in reference to the fishing fleet.

Fishing boats remain in the harbour at St Helier, Jersey, as fishermen and fisheries on the island wind down trading ahead of political talks and slowly ease off fishing (Ben Birchall/PA)

The last four generations of Mr Channings family have been fishermen, including his son, father and grandfather.

But he added: I dont think there will be a fifth.

Its pretty sad, the whole affair.

Earlier on Tuesday, Jerseys minister for external relations welcomed the continued talks but called on France to remove threats of retaliation altogether.

Red tape following Brexit has also been blamed (Ben Birchall/PA)

He told PA: We agree that we should sit down and continue to look at the evidence, but it would be far better, and we call upon the French, to remove those threats altogether and so that they wouldnt implementing counter-measures.

Because at the end of the day its in the interests of the Jersey fishing community, its in the interests of the Norman fishing community, and its in the interests of the Breton fishing community that Jerseys waters are managed in a sustainable fashion for the future.

Its in their best long-term economic interests not that we just issue licences because theres a political will, and somebody would like a licence, but that they meet the terms of the trade deal.

Over in Granville in France, trawler owner Samuel Deshayes told The Associated Press: We dont know what to expect. We learn new things every day.

Asked about the row over fishing licences, he added: Jersey  I dont know why they are causing problems. Even the English dont quite understand why Jersey is resisting.
A 14-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to murdering a father during a confrontation with youths.

James Markham, 45, was allegedly attacked outside his home in Chingford, east London, as he spoke to youths causing a disturbance.

Police had been called to Churchill Terrace at 6.20pm on August 9 and found Mr Markham fatally injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police at the scene in Churchill Terrace (Laura Parnaby/PA)

On Tuesday, the 14-year-old defendant appeared at the Old Bailey and denied murder and having a knife.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC set a provisional trial for June 27 next year.

Mr Markhams wife and daughter wept as they sat in court during the hearing.

The defendants parents sat separately in the public gallery.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was remanded into custody.

He is next due to appear in court for a hearing in the case by video link on February 7.
A scientist who was one of the Governments leading advisers on coronavirus has quit as he warned levels of coronavirus transmission across the country were concerning.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, left the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) at the end of October, he confirmed in a statement.

He said that Sage had provided scientific advice to the Government often under huge pressure.

But Labour said the move was a serious blow that reveals the level of concern about the Governments mishandling of the pandemic.

Sky News reported that Sir Jeremy was pushing for a vaccine plus system whereby mask-wearing, ventilation and continued coronavirus testing would help to get the country through the winter as coronavirus cases remain high.

However, the Government has so far rejected calls to take further steps  its so-called Plan B.

A Government spokesperson said the data does not yet show that Plan B is necessary and that ministers are continuing to be guided by scientific and medical experts.

While a Government Office for Science spokesperson added: We can confirm that Sir Jeremy has stood down from the Covid Sage activation, and thank him for his contribution from the very start of the activation.

Sage continues to provide Government with independent expert scientific and technical advice.

People wearing protective face masks walking in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire (Jacob King/PA)

In a statement, Sir Jeremy stressed that he was stepping down to focus on his work at health research foundation the Wellcome Trust.

But he said: The Covid-19 crisis is a long way from over, with the global situation deeply troubling.

The high levels of transmission seen in the UK remain concerning, but I stepped down as a participant of Sage knowing ministers had been provided with most of the key science advice needed over the winter months.

Throughout this crisis Sage has provided vital evidence, and independent, expert, transparent advice to support the UK response, often under huge pressure.

It has been an honour to have joined the hundreds of scientists who have contributed, and I thank Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty for outstanding leadership. I remain, as always, available where I may offer help as a clinical scientist or as director of Wellcome.

Labours shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said his resignation was a serious blow.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He said: To lose a heavyweight figure like Sir Jeremy from Sage is a serious blow that reveals the level of concern about the Governments mishandling of the pandemic.

While complacent ministers bury their heads in the sand, the vaccination programme continues to stutter and stall, and their failure to fix sick pay or provide ventilation support is allowing the virus to spread.

It comes as the Government said a further 293 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, although the total includes data from NHS England which was not provided in time for Mondays figures.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 166,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

As of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 33,865 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, the Government said.

Official figures showed the proportion of children out of school for Covid 19-related reasons in England rose in the week before half-term.

Pupils wear protective face masks at Outwood Academy Adwick in Doncaster (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Department for Education estimates 3.2% of all pupils  around 248,000 children  did not attend class for Covid-related reasons on October 21, up from 2.6% (approximately 209,000 children) on October 14.

Among pupils absent for Covid-19 reasons, the main reason for absence was a confirmed case of coronavirus, with around 127,000 pupils off for this reason, compared to around 111,000 a week before.

Overall some 88.2% of students were in class on October 21, which is down from 90% on October 14.
Kabul (Reuters) - The Taliban announced a complete ban on the use of foreign currency in Afghanistan on Tuesday, a move sure to cause further disruption to an economy pushed to the brink of collapse by the abrupt withdrawal of international support.

The surprise move came hours after at least 25 people were killed and more than 50 wounded when gunmen attacked Afghanistan's biggest military hospital after two heavy explosions at the site in central Kabul.

"The economic situation and national interests in the country require that all Afghans use Afghan currency in their every trade," the Taliban said in a statement shared with journalists by one of their spokesmen.

The use of U.S. dollars is widespread in Afghanistan's markets, while border areas use the currency of neighbouring countries such as Pakistan for trade.

The Taliban government is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of central bank reserves as the drought-stricken nation faces a cash crunch, mass starvation and a new migration crisis.

Afghanistan parked billions of dollars in assets overseas with the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks in Europe, but that money has been frozen since the Islamist Taliban ousted the Western-backed government in August.

The departure of U.S.-led forces and many international donors left the country without grants that financed three quarters of public spending.

The finance ministry said it had a daily tax take of roughly 400 million Afghanis ($4.4 million).

Although Western powers want to avert a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, they have refused to officially recognise the Taliban government.

(Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Peter Graff and Gareth Jones)
GLASGOW, Scotland  The security perimeter around the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, known as COP26, is ironclad. Its surrounded by metal gates, with each point of entry guarded by armed police in yellow vests, and registered attendees must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken that day and a government-issued ID card, in addition to their credentials to share space with dignitaries and world leaders. On Sunday, the discovery of an unaccompanied bag led to an hourlong lockdown in which no one could enter.

Across the street, however, or in this case right across the River Clyde, is a world apart. And thats where a hundred activists from Greta Thunbergs Fridays for Future youth movement and the loosely aligned group Extinction Rebellion gathered in a park to mock the dignitaries and leaders assembled inside for what they consider to be empty rhetoric and inadequate action to combat climate change.

Greta Thunberg and other climate activists during a demonstration at Festival Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday, the first day of the COP26 summit. (Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)

This COP26 is just like the previous COPs, said Thunberg, an 18-year-old from Sweden, to the mostly young crowd in the park. Inside COP, they are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our future seriously, pretending to take the present seriously of the people who are being affected already today by the climate crisis. Change is not going to come from in there.

That is not leadership. This is leadership! Thunberg proclaimed, referring to the scruffy activists waving placards with slogans like Planet over profit and This is a climate emergency.

Many also held signs that were intended as a warning to the government representatives in Glasgow for the conference, with phrases such as We are watching you and What will be your wake up call?

We say, No more blah blah blah, Thunberg said. No more exploitation of people and the planet. She led the crowd in a chant of What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!

Thunbergs previous denunciation of world leaders such as President Biden for making lofty commitments but failing to translate them into concrete action inspired many of those in attendance on Monday, some of whom held a wide banner reading, No more blah blah, your greed our death.

British activists at a rally for more aggressive action to combat climate change on Monday, during the Glasgow conference. (Ben Adler/Yahoo News)

A group came dressed as faceless empty suits holding signs saying Blah blah blah. Each of them wore a black suit, a plain white masquerade mask and a name card for one of the top government officials attending COP26, including Biden, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Greta explained that all the world leaders are doing at the moment is talking about climate action, but theyre not delivering on it, one of the masked protesters, who declined to give her name but said she came from Bath, England, told Yahoo News.

What we need is we need action now. We dont need it in 2060, we dont need it in 2050, she continued. We need it before 2030, and that has to happen now. Were at the point where the climate is tipping into catastrophe.

Laura Amherst, from Brighton, England, wore a mesh bodysuit that left little to the imagination. It was dappled in skull-and-crossbones images, intended to signify the threat of potentially deadly toxic pollution. Amherst is a well-known activist in the U.K. with a dual mission: to urge action against climate change and to oppose sexism and combat body shaming. Its about raising the visibility of this message and making it more accessible to different groups that wouldnt necessarily pay attention to the climate crisis, she told Yahoo News.

Some demonstrators came from much farther away. Kevin Mtay, 26, traveled from Nairobi, Kenya, to fight for my rights, to fight for climate justice. Mtay came with a climate activist called MAPA, which stands for Most Affected People and Areas.

Activists from Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future march for climate justice in Glasgow on Monday. (Ben Adler/Yahoo News)

After an energetic rally and a brief march accompanied by drummers to the riverfront, from where the Scottish Event Campus, at which COP26 is being held, was visible, young activists from developing nations held a press conference.

Every speaker appeared to be under the age of 30, with one in particular  a cherubic 12-year-old from Colombia named Francisco Vero  who is too young to vote in his home country. Vero spoke in Spanish, but the others all addressed the crowd in English as they emphasized their as-yet-unmet demands for climate justice. That is the term they use to mean aggressive action by rich countries not only to curb their own greenhouse gas emissions, but also to provide funding for developing countries to develop their economies sustainably and adapt to climate changes effects, and even to give reparations for the harm that climate change is causing.

To illustrate their point, many spoke of the devastating impact climate change is already having on their home countries.

Africa is suffering some of the worst effects of climate change, said Evelyn Acheman of Uganda. To us, the present is already catastrophic. We wake up to floods every day. We walk in the hot sun every day, and we are not responsible for this.

Sub-Saharan Africa, she pointed out, produces only 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and has contributed just 0.5 percent of the historical emissions total. Acheman called for compensation for the victims of climate-related extreme weather events and led a chant of Keep it in the ground, meaning ending all fossil fuel extraction.

Alleged illegal miners run from private security personnel during a raid to take down an alleged illegal mining operation near Springs, South Africa, on April 28. (Michele Spatari/AFP via Getty Images)

Many of the reporters assembled were apparently distracted by the arrival of Thunberg on the sidelines. She did not speak at the press conference, but the cameras and attention that turned to her while Nicki Becker from Argentina spoke enraged the events emcee, who shouted, Nicki is here! Were saying dont ignore marginalized people.

When we talk about climate change, were talking about basic human rights, like the right to clean water, to sanitation and even the right to life, Becker said in her prepared remarks. Since we dont have a vote in there, were saying what we want out here. Our eyes are on COP26: Do not let us down.

Global temperatures are on the rise and have been for decades. Step inside the data and see the magnitude of climate change.

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FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol Building is stormed by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday ordered continued pretrial detention for a former U.S. Marine facing multiple felony charges related to his allegedly violent conduct, including throwing a pole at police, during the Jan. 6. U.S. Capitol riot.

Beryl Howell, chief U.S. District judge in Washington, told Arizona resident James McGrew, 39, that the "weight of evidence is strong and merits pretrial detention."

Howell said McGrew had violated probation he was serving for an earlier offense by travelling to Washington on Jan. 6 and had an extensive criminal record.

The judge said McGrew, whose abdomen features a large gothic-lettered tattoo labelling him "King James," participated "enthusiastically ... in a violent assault on the Capitol," assuming a leadership position among rioters.

"I do find the defendant poses a danger to the community" beyond Jan. 6, Howell said.

According to a case summary filed by prosecutors, evidence showed that early in the riot, McGrew cheered as a mob of demonstrators first drove back police defending the Capitol's West Plaza, where he apparently was pepper-sprayed.

Prosecutors said he subsequently entered the U.S. Capitol, encouraging other rioters to enter with him, and then became aggressive when police asked him to leave the Rotunda, where he was pepper-sprayed again. Prosecutors said that some time after exiting the Capitol building, McGrew threw a pole at police.

Defense lawyer William Shipley acknowledged that riot video did show that McGrew "took a hold of" a pole and threw it "like a javelin." Shipley complained that his client had already spent six months in pretrial detention.

More than 660 people have been charged with taking part in the attack, an unsuccessful attempt to stop Congress from certifying Democratic President Joe Biden's election victory, which former president Donald Trump falsely claimed was the result of widespread fraud.

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Minneapolis residents on Tuesday will vote on a hotly contested ballot question to decide the future of policing in their city  whether they want to replace the police department altogether with a department of public safety or keep things as they are. The choice comes just six months after former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd in May 2020.

The proposal, petitioned by the advocacy group Yes 4 Minneapolis, would alter the citys charter to no longer require a police department with a minimum level of funding and instead use a comprehensive public health approach to nonviolent crime, which may include peace officers.

Our movement demands our city leaders move toward a comprehensive, higher standard in public safety, where qualified professionals, like mental health responders and social workers, as well as police, can work to make all our communities safer, the group notes on its website.

Minneapolis police did not return multiple requests for comment from Yahoo News.

An officer charges forward on May 31, 2020, in front of the White House as people protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. (Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images)

The new department would not be led solely by the mayors office, but instead in a partnership of the mayors office and the 13-member City Council.

For proponents of the move, such as Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, urgent change is needed in a city that has made national headlines due to police killings of residents several times before, including Jamar Clark in 2015 and Justine Ruszczyk in 2017.

We have an opportunity, once and for all, to listen to those most impacted by police brutality and the communities who have been demanding change for decades, Omar, who represents Minneapolis in Congress, wrote in a Star Tribune opinion piece two months ago. We have a mandate, in the wake of George Floyd's murder, to deliver a public safety system rooted in compassion, humanity and love, and to deliver true justice. I hope we fulfill it.

Ellison called the proposal a first step of action.

Rep. Ilhan Omar kicked off her 2020 reelection campaign by meeting with supporters including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

However, many residents opposed to the reform question its efficacy, saying it lacks direction and clarity. What does a community on pace this year to surpass a record year of violence in 2020 look like without a traditional police department? They believe it sets a dangerous precedent that could be duplicated nationwide.

This wouldnt have saved George Floyds life, Nekima Armstrong, a prominent local civil rights lawyer, activist and longtime Minneapolis resident, told Yahoo News. Theyre doing this in his name, but in that situation the store owner would have still called the cops.

Armstrong says she wants change in her city as much as anyone, but feels this proposal lacks the accountability needed and gives the impression that no one will be in charge.

There hasnt been enough research and no engagement with the Black community for this, she said. Then claiming this is for BIPOC communities? This raises a lot of red flags. We want to ensure high-quality services and end police being able to kill people with impunity.  The folks on the ground did not ask for this.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at a demonstration on June 6, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who leads a crowded 17-person mayoral ticket ahead of Tuesdays election, has opposed any changes to the police department since mere days after Floyds murder. Hes also against this latest proposal.

"If you look at what this does do, and what this does not do, there are no police reforms built into this charter amendment," Frey told the USA Today Network. "There are no items of reform, police reform, policy change or accountability built into this."

A poll by local media outlets in September found that 49 percent of residents favored the ballot measure, with about 41 percent opposed in the majority Democratic city, setting the stage for a showdown at the ballot box.

Some activists say that other than Chauvins conviction, little has changed in the city since Floyds murder nearly 18 months ago. And this proposal, to them, is not where to start.

Neither the state nor the city has made any real changes that would prevent another George Floyd-type killing from occurring again, Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, told Yahoo News. We brought forward nine bills in the last legislative session, and only one was passed. Elected officials are just not willing to address policing issues in any meaningful way.

Members of the Minneapolis Police Department seen through a chain link gate on June 13, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Minneapolis has implemented some changes since Floyds murder, including the allocation of more funding toward mental health services and adjustments to some of its police training. But critics say its not enough.

Crime continues to be a growing issue. Through September of this year, homicides were up 16 percent in comparison to the same time a year earlier, robberies were up 5 percent, and aggravated assaults had increased nearly 3 percent, according to city data.

But now the citys police department, once guilty of endangering the safety of the community, is facing a reckoning of its own on Tuesday. Voters will decide if the future of Minnesota's largest city includes a police department or needs a different approach.

After all we went through, we deserve the best option for the city, Armstrong said. Not boxed into a false dichotomy of voting between no and yes.

Cover thumbnail photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images, Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via Getty Images

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FILE - The White House is shown in Washington on March 18, 2021. The Biden administration is rolling out a new initiative aimed at reducing suicides by gun and combating the significant increases in suicides by members of the military and veterans. The White House is announcing the new plan Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, file)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration is rolling out a new initiative aimed at reducing suicides by gun and combating the significant increases in suicides by members of the military and veterans.

The White House is announcing the new plan on Tuesday, which officials say is an unprecedented focus by the federal government on reducing the risk of suicide through awareness and training campaigns and new regulations to increase the availability of gun storage products.

The plan calls for federal agencies, including the Defense Department, Homeland Security, the Justice Department, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Transportations emergency medical services office to create public awareness campaigns to encourage safer storage of guns and training for counselors, crisis responders and others.

The effort also includes the Justice Department finalizing a rule that was first proposed in 2016 and would require stores that sell firearms to also offer secure gun storage and safety devices, the White House said.

In 2019, firearms were the most common method used in suicide deaths in the United States, accounting for nearly 24,000 deaths, or a little over half of all suicide deaths, according to federal health statistics. Experts say many people who take their lives using guns typically have quick access to firearms and have tended to be gun owners or their family members.

As part of the plan, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will distribute a guide for firearms dealers that spells out both safety steps that are required under the law and additional steps the federal government recommends. The guide will also detail the Justice Departments focus on prosecuting gun crimes and violations of federal firearms laws.

The administration said ATF would also seek to revoke the licenses of dealers the first time that they violate federal law, with limited exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. Those violations would include selling guns to someone who cant legally own them, failing to run a background check, falsifying federal records or refusing to cooperate in required ATF inspections.

The federal government will also create maps to help people find places to safely store guns outside of their homes, officials said. Officials will also expand efforts within the Department of Veterans Affairs focused on suicide prevention and safety planning, along with training for family members of people who could be at higher risk for suicide, administration officials said.

The Department of Defenses annual calendar year suicide report released in September showed that 580 military personnel, including 384 active duty service members, died by suicide in 2020. The suicide rate among active duty service members has statistically increased since 2015, the report said. Theres been no statistical change for reservists and National Guard members during the same timeframe, according to the report.

Many firearms dealers have already been stepping up suicide prevention efforts as the number of gun sales in the U.S. rose to a historic high in January, continuing a surge that began as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020. Some firearms dealers have also started handing out or offering cards with the phone number of suicide prevention hotlines and tips to identify signs of depression or other mental health issues.
FILE PHOTO: A syringe and vial are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration

By Manas Mishra and Michael Erman

(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc on Tuesday said it expected 2021 sales of the COVID-19 vaccine it developed with German partner BioNTech to reach $36 billion and forecast another $29 billion from the shot in 2022, topping analyst estimates for both years.

The U.S. drugmaker said it is seeking to sign more vaccine deals with countries, which could drive sales even higher next year. It has the capacity to produce 4 billion doses in 2022 and has based its projections on sales of 1.7 billion doses.

The vaccine brought in sales of $13 billion in the third quarter. The company splits gross profit from sales of the shot in most of the world with BioNTech.

Pfizer's shares were up more than 4% at $45.44.

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was the first to receive U.S. authorization last year, and U.S. regulators are likely to give the green light to begin administering it to children ages 5 to 11 as soon as Wednesday.

Pfizer's updated vaccine sales forecast suggests the shot will account for as much as 44% of its total revenue for the year.

Wall Street on average expected COVID-19 vaccine sales of $35.44 billion this year and $22.15 billion for 2022, according to Refinitiv data.

Analysts have said that Pfizer and other COVID-19 vaccine makers stand to reap billions of dollars from annual vaccine boosters over the next few years.

Company executives said Pfizer plans to monitor participants in its clinical study for a fourth dose, to document the impact of possible annual, repeat vaccinations.

"We already now are preparing for revaccination when the third boost immunity may start to fade, possibly after year, which we think would be the type of data to generate to support more of an annual vaccination similar to flu," said Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten.

The United States, Israel and a handful of other countries have started rolling out booster doses to some people. Officials in those countries say the protection from the original round of shots declines over time.

A majority of booster doses are expected to be sold to high income countries, which pay more for the shots as part of Pfizer's plan to link the price of its vaccine to a countrys ability to pay.

Pfizer said it expects to deliver at least one billion doses of its vaccine to low- and middle- income countries next year.

Sales of the vaccine, called Comirnaty, have vastly outpaced those from rivals Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson. J&J has been dealing with production snags and safety concerns and Moderna was told by the FDA that review of its shot for adolescents - a group already eligible for the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine - has been delayed.

Pfizer is on track to deliver 2.3 billion doses of the vaccine, out of the roughly 3 billion it plans to produce this year.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru and Michael Emran in New Jersey; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Bill Berkrot)
Within days, the White House is expected to publish an eagerly anticipated directive requiring employers with at least 100 workers to ensure their employees are either vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly.

The White House's regulatory office has completed its last steps before publishing the directive that will be issued by the Labor Department, according to Bloomberg Law. Many private and public employers have issued their own vaccine and testing mandates, which will likely overlap with the federal directive.

Workers have already sued over these existing mandates, and state officials have even filed preemptive challenges to the upcoming White House directive. Once that federal mandate comes down, constitutional law experts say, the Supreme Court will likely decide at some point the legality of it, and potentially, the legality of other mandates that require workers to submit to COVID vaccines, or weekly testing  or else risk losing their jobs.

'The right kind of case'

Around the U.S., some workers' suits claim the mandates lack appropriate exemptions for workers who say a disability or religious belief precludes them from getting vaccinated; others claim the mandates violate union contracts. With so many challenges, courts may issue rulings that conflict with one another that can be settled by the Supreme Court.

For a lot of us, its a question of when rather than whether the Supreme Court will get involved with what they think is the right kind of case, Northwestern University Law School professor Daniel Rodriguez told Yahoo Finance.

The "right kind of case," as Rodriguez called it, would likely be one that asserts that a vaccine mandate conflicts with workers' religious beliefs. The high court has in recent years issued rulings in favor of those who say their religious rights were violated, including when it unanimously ruled for a Catholic social services agency that refused to work with same-sex couples who wanted to foster children.

Workers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and their supporters protest November 1, 2021 outside JPL in Pasadena, California against a US government mandate requiring all federal employees to received the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

"I think its likely that before this pandemic is over the court will hear a highly momentous case on public health powers and religion," said Georgetown University Law professor Lawrence Gostin, while stressing that it's too soon for the high court to take up the matter right now. "The Supreme Court is highly partial to religious claims and tends to bend over backwards to protect the freedom of religion."

Religious-based objections to COVID-19 mandates are no slam dunk for workers who sue over them, though. For more than a century, federal courts have followed the 1905 Supreme Court precedent in Jacobson v. Massachusetts holding that states and other entities, like private businesses, could legally mandate vaccination. The court did not carve out a requirement for religious exemptions.

However, Rodriguez notes that while most state and local mandates appear to stand on solid legal footing, protections for religious liberty have expanded significantly since the Supreme Court handed down the seminal decision about 116 years ago.

That was well before the kind of scrutiny given to individual rights, Constitutional rights, that we see commonly today, Rodriguez said. In 1905, most of the Bill of Rights  the first 10 Amendments of the Constitution  were not extended to apply to the states. For that reason, Rodriguez says, It's really hard to draw these massive conclusions from a case decided at such a different point in time.

'You're going to see all kinds of lawsuits getting filed'

On Friday, 10 states led by Republican governors filed a lawsuit in Missouri federal district court claiming the White House overstepped its constitutional authority by requiring vaccination for all federal contract workers. On Thursday, Texas and Florida filed separate lawsuits with similar claims. Meanwhile, Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia joined in a suit with parallel arguments in Georgia federal district court.

State governors and attorneys general have also preemptively filed legal challenges and adopted executive orders in anticipation of the Biden administration Shot-or-Test Rule expected to be issued within days by the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Workers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and their supporters protest November 1, 2021 outside JPL in Pasadena, California against a US government mandate requiring all federal employees to received the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine. - (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Michael Schmidt, a labor & employment attorney with Cozen OConnor, expects immediate challenges to the new federal mandate. Moreover, cases claiming the federal government is interfering with states' rights can be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, he said.

Youre going to see, I think, challenges from all different walks of life, from governors, from business and trade associations, within hours of this...[ETS] being issued. I think youre going to see all kinds of lawsuits getting filed, Schmidt said.

So far, the Supreme Court has weighed in twice on COVID 19 vaccine mandate challenges, first in August declining to take up an appeal from students of Indiana University who lost a lower court bid to carve out exceptions to the schools mandate. Then on Friday, it declined to take up an appeal from health care workers challenging Maine's requirement that they get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Though the Supreme Court declined to hear the cases, three conservative justices wrote dissents, disagreeing with the courts refusal to hear the health care workers case. In a dissent issued Thursday, Justice Neil Gorsuch expressed cynicism about what he views as the governments protracted suspension of liberties due to the pandemic.

"...I accept that what we said 11 months ago remains true today  that [s]temming the spread of COVID19 qualifies as 'a compelling interest.' At the same time, I would acknowledge that this interest cannot qualify as such forever," he wrote.

Still, there's no way to know if the court will ultimately intervene in the fight over vaccine mandates. As Gostin, the Georgetown professor, said Nobody has a crystal ball to say what the Supreme Court will do."

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on Twitter @alexiskweed.

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Frances new Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot says her goal is to make the cooperation between the two countries in different areas more long-term. She hopes that the OSCE Minsk Group will help to achieve lasting stability in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Ambassador notes that France attaches importance to taking humanitarian measures and returning the Armenian captives from Azerbaijan.

Anne Louyot gave an interview to ARMENPRESS about these topics.

-Mrs. Louyot, you have recently assumed office in Armenia. What are your impressions from our country and what actions do you see that must be taken during your mission?

-Thank you ARMENPRESS for the opportunity to give an interview. Of course, this appointment in Armenia is a great happiness and honor for me, as Armenia is Frances great friend in general and in the region in particular. From the first moments since I came here, I noticed the high level of the bilateral relations from the warm welcome I received here. And I am committed to further deepening the Armenian-French relations.

-Armenia and France cooperate in different areas. What successful programs would you mention and what kind of new projects are expected in the future? As an Ambassador, how do you imagine your activity for further deepening the bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields?

-Following the difficult period Armenia faced last year, France is more engaged here in humanitarian programs. There have been 8 important projects which provided urgent aid to the population mostly affected by the military operations. As you know, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his solidarity to the Armenian people. And France, the French people, have been mobilized for assisting Armenia. Programs were implemented with both different associations, organizations, local self-government bodies, as well as at a state level. Now my goal is to make this more long-term, carry out more long-term cooperation programs with the Armenian authorities. During my talk with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan , he said that the economic development is a priority for Armenia in order to consolidate the country and ensure future for the Armenian youth. This is also the desire of France, and our governments work together in order to introduce ambitious cooperation programs in economic sector both at bilateral and within the EU framework. You know that many important French companies, such as Veolia, Carfour, Amundi and Perno-Ricard, operate in Armenia. The purpose is to develop the economic cooperation, investments, have cooperation programs in the fields of sustainable development, green and high technologies. For instance, water, waste processing are areas where France can share its experience. Another important field is the healthcare. It becomes further important given that the coronavirus cases are growing in Armenia. And the French President has assumed a commitment to provide vaccines to Armenia. But there are also other healthcare programs around which we want to deepen our cooperation. There is already a very active cooperation between hospitals, the talk concerns the hospitals of Paris and Lyon which are cooperating with Armenian hospitals.

I would like to mention also two other sectors which are very important for cooperation. The education sector which is a priority for the Armenian government. There are already successful programs in this sector, such as the French university, the French-Armenian professional education center, the Lycee Francais Anatole France and the Alliance Francaise. We want to have new cooperation programs in education sector. Cooperating with our Armenian partners with these projects we want to further contribute to the spread of French in Armenia. We must not forget that Armenia is a member of the International Organization of La Francophonie. Of course, there are many other fields which we want and can develop the cooperation. But now I would like to mention the cooperation in the heritage field. Here the partnership can be reflected in two forms  educational programs for specialists dealing with heritage preservation, and the restoration of the Armenian heritage. Those are the main areas where I would like to further strengthen the Armenian-French cooperation.

-Mrs. Ambassador, you talked about the statement of the French President on donating vaccines to Armenia. What vaccines the statement is about and when will they be delivered to Armenia? In august 2021, President Macron announced that France will donate 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Armenia.

-The talk is about either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. We will inform when we know the date of the delivery. 50,000 doses of other types of vaccines have already been sent to Armenia by France. And the second delivery is already at a preparation stage. Its still unknown how many doses it would be, but the talk is about quite a large quantity.

-France is an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, and you are the representative of the Co-Chair country in Armenia. A year has passed since the war Azerbaijan launched against Nagorno Karabakh, but Baku still refuses to return all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives despite the commitments assumed by the November 9 trilateral statement. What role France can play on this matter as a Co-Chair country, for forcing Azerbaijan to return the captives? In your opinion, what actions must the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community take on this matter?

-Of course, I am aware of this painful situation. And of course, France is among those countries who wish taking humanitarian measures, reducing tension and releasing the persons held. Not me or my colleagues, the French Ambassador in Azerbaijan, follow this topic, there is a separate Ambassador, who is Frances co-chair in the Minsk Group and who follows and deals with this issue. We are happy that the Armenian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister reaffirmed the importance of the role of the Minsk Group in solving this situation. We are also happy for the recent meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. And the Minsk Group is working with the sides in order to take new actions in this dialogue process. As the Ambassador of France to Armenia, I hope that the Minsk Group will help the sides to record progress for the long-term stabilization of the situation.

-You mentioned earlier in one of your interviews that France is working with Russia and the United States on signing a lasting agreement over Karabakh. Can you please specify what kind of an agreement the talk is about?

-Perhaps I didnt state my words very clearly that time. The talk, of course, was about the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Co-Chair countries so that they accompany the sides in the settlement process.

-But is any concrete document being prepared?

-I will cite the statements of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The role of the Minsk Group is to accompany the sides in the lasting settlement process. The Minsk Group doesnt write any document by itself, the talk is about accompanying and assisting the sides in order to find lasting stabilization solutions for the situation in the region.

-Azerbaijan claims that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has been solved, whereas the status of Karabakh, the issue of the Artsakh peoples right to self-determination are still unresolved. Thus, Armenia claims that the conflict is not solved. What is Frances position on this matter?

-I would like to state once again that I am not the representative, the co-chair of France in the Minsk Group. And therefore, these are not the topics over which I have a direct authority. The only thing I can say is that I am fully aware and understand what an impact this situation has on the people of Armenia. I hope that all the diplomatic efforts being made will soon give results.

-As you said, you are not the representative of the Minsk Group and are not dealing with this issue directly, but I would like to address my last question on this topic. Till today the incidents provoked by Azerbaijan hinder to start the demarcation and delimitation works on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. What is your assessment to such behavior of the Azerbaijani side and how do you see the solution of the issue?

-Of course, France thinks that its important to achieve the border demarcation and delimitation. And we, as well as the international community call for making these processes in a peaceful way. Its obvious that the establishment of a peaceful context will enable to more quickly conduct the demarcation and delimitation works. And of course, this is my wish on this matter.

-Earlier reports were spreading that French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a visit to Armenia. What details can you provide? Is a presidential visit to Armenia planned in the future or not?

-The President will be very happy to visit Armenia. As he has stated for several occasions, he has great connection with Armenia and Armenians. And he has a plan to visit Armenia, but at this moment the dates are not known.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The government budget for 2022 envisages a 89,4% increase of funding for the ministry of high-tech industry, the minister of finance Tigran Khachatryan said at a parliamentary committee discussion.

The 2022 draft state budget envisages 17 billion 278 million drams for the ministry of high technological industry, which is 8 billion 155 million drams more compared to 2021, he said. In 2021, the high tech industry ministry had a 9 billion 123 million dram budget. The funding will thus increase by 89,4%.

Meanwhile, the ministry of economy and the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures will receive 26,9% and 31,6% more funding respectively.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan says it is unclear what maps will be used to determine the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but underscores that for example all pre-1920 maps include the Al Lakes as territories of Armenia, thus if these maps were to be used the changes in this section would be in favor of Armenia.

There are different discussions, different maps, Sanosyan told reporters. Regarding what maps will be used as a basis, what matters is what legal status these maps will have. That is, even if these maps are Soviet-era maps, they must be legally clarified and accepted by all sides for it to be the basis.

Speaking about the maps from the 1920s, he said that in this case significant changes could happen. When asked about which side would benefit in case of these changes, he said: In terms of the Al Lakes, in our favor, because as far as I know the Al Lakes are mentioned as territories of Armenia in all maps prior to the late 1920s. The lakes are on this side of a certain line on these maps."

Al Lakes are presently not under Armenian control.

Nevertheless, the minister again stressed that it is unclear at this moment which maps will be used.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, 2 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 2 November, USD exchange rate down by 0.24 drams to 477.21 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.25 drams to 553.42 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.10 drams to 6.64 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.19 drams to 650.91 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 364.55 drams to 27521.66 drams. Silver price down by 2.41 drams to 366.15 drams. Platinum price up by 790.03 drams to 16278.56 drams.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by Minister of Defense of Georgia Juansher Burchuladze arrived in Armenia on a two-day official visit on November 2, the Armenian defense ministry said in a statement.

Defense Minister of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan and his Georgian counterpart firstly held a private meeting which was followed by an extended-format meeting attended by delegations.

Minister Arshak Karapetyan introduced the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border to his Georgian counterpart.

During the meeting both sides emphasized the necessity of establishment of peace and sustainable development in the region.

The meeting participants discussed international and regional security-related issues, as well as the cooperation of Armenia and Georgia in the field of defense.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
According to information released by the Belgian Ministry of Defense on October 29, 2021, Belgian armed forces will acquire 9 CAESAR NG (New Generation) from the French company Nexter, 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers to increase their artillery capabilities.

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French army Nexter CAESAR 155mm 6x6 wheeled self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source Army Recognition)

According to the Strategic Vision published in 2016, Belgium has approved an investment of 48 million  (Euro) to acquire new artillery systems.

On 7 November 2018, the defense ministers of Belgium and France signed the Capacites Motorisee (Motorized Capacities) (CaMo) partnership which will allow the Belgian land forces to completely reequip the combat fleet of its motorized brigade. This included the acquisition of 382 GRIFFON multi-role armored vehicles and 60 armored JAGUAR reconnaissance and combat vehicles.

One of the main goals of the CaMo program is to reach a level of interoperability between the land forces of the two countries where a Belgian army unit can be seamlessly integrated into a French military operation, and vice versa.

Currently, the Belgian army has only 32 RT-61 120mm mortar and 14 LG1 Mk II 105mm towed howitzer. With the new CAESAR, Belgian armed forces will have new artillery long-range capabilities.

The CAESAR is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer available in 6x6 and 8x8 configurations. In 2008, the CAESAR 6x6 equipped massively the French Army. The CAESAR 155mm howitzer on 6x6 chassis benefits from exceptional strategic and tactical mobility with unrivaled firepower. Both variants of the CAESAR are armed with one with a 155 mm/52 caliber cannon mounted at the rear of the truck chassis.

The 155mm/52 caliber of the CAESAR can fire a wide range of ammunition: among others, LU family (HE, Illuminating, Smoke and Practice) filled with insensitive or conventional explosives, the BONUS (Anti-Tank, smart), ERFB NR (Explosive Extended-Range Full-Bore), as well as the new KATANA 155mm, guided artillery ammunition. It has a firing range from 4.5 to 40 km and a high level of accuracy with the LU family.
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Want proof? Look no further than the King-Bugatti U-16 aircraft engine. A motor that was just as bonkers in its day as the quad-turbocharged W16 in the Veyron and Chiron are today.Being one of the very first automotive savants, Ettore Bugatti was still cutting his teeth in the race car and high-performance engine business in the early to mid-1910s. With war looming across Europe and looking to sell his creations to anyone who would buy them, he set about making modifications to a previous straight-eight engine he'd built for road use.Bugatti ultimately decided to merge two engines to create a gargantuan powerplant suitable for use on military aircraft. The result was a 16-cylinder water-cooled double-eight vertical in-line "U-16 engine." This new engine was given the "U" designation because both banks of cylinders stuck straight up out of the engine block instead of at an angle like most traditional "V" engines.Both banks of cylinders were controlled via a common cast aluminum crankcase. Each eight-cylinder bank was made up of two cast-iron four-cylinder blocks merged to form a robust and sturdy powerplant.This being an engine intended to fit into primitive warbirds, Bugatti's U-16 was designed with the ability to mount a 37mm gun barrel inside the crankshaft of the engine.This metal shaft was specially bored to accept the gun inside it. As the gun would fire through the engine's crankshaft rather than through the blades of the propeller, it eliminated the need for a complex interrupter gear system to keep the aircraft from shooting off its own prop.The engine also utilized advancements like a single overhead camshaft with three valves per cylinder, a technology that had only been invented less than a decade prior. The U-16 also used a primitive dry-sump oil system. Bugatti still uses such oil systems in more technologically advanced forms in the Chiron hypercar.At 1,484.3 cubic inches (24.3 liters), the U-16 engine was three times the size of the eight-liter W16 found in the modern Chiron. When you learn that the U-16 cranked out only between 410 and 500 horsepower at 2,000 rpm compared to the 1,500 or so in the current Chiron, it shows just how far internal combustion engineering has come in 100 years' time.With his engine complete, Ettore Bugatti invited members of the US Armed Forces, fresh off their entrance into the First World War, to come and see the new engine undergo testing. An official military contingent led by Colonel R.C Bolling visited Europe to look at the shiny new engine Mr.Bugatti had created.While undergoing a 50-hour stress test, a U.S Army officer strayed too close to the propeller and was killed, becoming the first U.S. service member to die in the First World War. Once the war had concluded, the Army contracted the American businessman Charles Brady King to make enhancements to Bugatti's design.It was a partnership Ettore Bugatti protested initially, but one he eventually accepted. This collaboration resulted in the King-Bugatti U-16, ostensibly the ultimate version of Bugatti's design. A "Bugatti Mission" traveled from Bordeaux for the US to supervise the production of the engine at the Duesenberg Motor Corporation of Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the engines were planned to be built.As international automotive collaborations go, pairing Bugatti with Duesenberg would be like Bentley and Maybach collaborating today. Unfortunately, not every bonkers military project makes it past the development phase, and the King-Bugatti engine never saw combat service. Very few aircraft were ever fitted with the engine, and even fewer ever flew.It was an experience that, while not successful in itself, gave Mr.Bugatti the business experience he needed to build better and more successful race cars. This kickstarted a series of events that would go on to yield the two fastest production cars on the planet in the Veyron and Chiron. Whether its owners are aware of these two cars' spiritual connection to the U-16 or not, each and every hypercar that rolls off their production room floor shares its DNA.Today, you can see one of the 40 or so King-Bugatti U-16s on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton-Ohio . There's also an example in the possesion of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. The engine gets more use as a museum piece today than it ever did as an weapon of war over a century ago. If that means we get to live in a timeline where the Chiron exists, that's one hell of a worthy sacrifice.
Pricing starts at $27,300, excluding the $1,015 destination and handling charge, which means that it is $3,695 cheaper than the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI . Choosing the optional summer tires, which are said to improve grip and handling, will bump the price by an additional $200.Boasting a youthful design, the 2022 Civic Si builds on the all-new eleventh-generation Civic and features glossy black exterior trim on the side mirror casings and window surrounds. The Si-exclusive Blazing Orange Pearl paint finish is available as an option, and the car rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, with a 10-spoke design, finished in Si-specific matte black.Front seats with extra side bolstering and integrated headrests are part of the standard gear, together with the racy red accents, contrast stitching on various parts of the interior, leather-wrapped aluminum shift knob, and sport pedals. Furthermore, it gets a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch LCD display behind the steering wheel, and 12-speaker sound system from Bose, said to be the best ever fitted to a Civic Si.Drivers are assisted by the Honda Sensing suite of safety gear, and power is supplied by an updated version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter VTEC engine. It develops 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet (260 Nm) of torque and is matched to a short-throw six-speed manual transmission with the same rev-matching technology as the one in the previous-gen Type R . Honda is keeping the performance specs of the car close to its chest, but the acceleration and top speed are probably similar to the older model.
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That said, take a look at the 2022 model year Hyundai Santa Cruz N Line rendering in the featured video. Penned by pixel artist SRK Designs in Photoshop, the makeover is purely aesthetic. From the neat paintwork to the blacked-out roof, large alloy wheels, and red trim pieces on the skirts and up front, this fellow certainly looks sporty though its anything but sporty.Hyundai offers two engine choices in their U.S.-made sport adventure vehicle, namely the Smartstream G2.5 GDi with natural aspiration as standard or an optional turbocharger for extra oomph. The free-breathing mill relies on the A8 series automatic transmission for cog swapping while the force-fed motor levels up to the double clutcher from the D8 series. Both flex eight forward gears, and neither is tuned for straight-line performance.In terms of output figures, 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet (245 Nm) of torque arent shabby for the base version. The spinny lad improves those numbers to 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet (422 Nm), which is more like it even though some customers may not be fond of a dual-clutch box in this application. As a brief refresher, the force-fed lump can tow up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) when optioned withPreviously the fastest-selling new car in the United States of America in August, the Santa Cruz has a single rival in the compact unibody truck segment. Of course, Im referring to the more value-oriented Maverick that Ford manufactures in Mexico alongside the Bronco Sport compactAs opposed to $23,990 before taxes and options for the Santa Cruz , the Blue Oval is charging $19,995 for the Maverick XL with the front-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain. If you dont have to haul too many things and most of your driving takes place in the urban jungle, Fords trucklet may be the right choice because it can return up to 42 miles per gallon (5.6 l/100 km) city.
Believed to premiere sometime next year, it has now gained the final production headlights, which look similar to those of the facelifted X7 , it too in the testing and fine-tuning phase.The split lighting signature up front, which flanks what appears to be an even bigger grille yet not as big as the one on the new M3 and M4 , among others, makes it look like a Hyundai Kona on steroids. The ones mounted closer to the hood are actually the daytime running lights, whereas those that sit further down illuminate the road ahead.Taking a closer look at the back reveals that the taillights have become slimmer. In order to tie it down to its predecessor, designers might link them together with a chrome strip and light bar. Another novelty is the positioning of the rear license plate holder, which was moved from the trunk lid to the bumper. Two small reflectors are positioned on each side, though by the looks of it, they might be provisional.Details surrounding the underpinnings are rather scarce at the moment. Nonetheless, the all-new 7er, which will take on the likes of the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class and facelifted Audi A8 , will supposedly be built around a brand new and very versatile platform, which, in turn, is understood to become the foundation stone of every vehicle made by BMW in the future.Besides the usual internal combustion engines that might vary from inline-six units to V8s, the architecture supports plug-in hybrids too, and even battery-electric powertrains. That is hardly a surprise, considering that the automaker plans to launch the zero-emission i7 , which will bring the fight to the Mercedes-Benz EQS and other such rides.
Earlier this year, Bosch opened a chip manufacturing facility in Dresden , Germany, which was the result of a $1.2 billion (EUR 1 billion) investment. The same factory will get a sizeable chunk of the investment to enable a boost in production capacity. Back in June, that facility was the biggest single investment in company history.The Bosch facility in Dresden makes 300-millimeter wafers, which yields more individual chips per wafer once they are processed. The German supplier has committed to this investment as a response to the global chip shortage, which affects the company both as a supplier and as a manufacturer of consumer electronics and power tools.Another part of the massive investment announced by the German giant will be spent in Penang, Malaysia, where Bosch will build a new semiconductor test center. The latter will be ready for operation in 2023, where it will function on a 14,000 square meter (ca. 150,696 square feet) space. Bosch is future-proof in the area, as it owns a 100,000 square-meter (ca. 1,076,391 sq ft) lot, which it plans to expand on later. Bosch will also invest 50 million euros (ca. $57 million) in Reutlingen, Germany , in the next two years. Reutlingen has been the home of a semiconductor production facility since 1970, and the company will expand its clean room area. The latter refers to a specialized environment meant to be dust free, as well as free from other contaminants.As Bosch explains, the clean room is the place where the silicon wafers are turned into semiconductor chips . The planned expansion, which is estimated at 4,000 square meters (ca. ca. 43,056 sq ft), will take the designated space to a total of 14,500 square meters (ca. 156,077 sq ft).
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Built by E-One, a subsidiary of the REV Fire Group, the Vector truck will serve the Mesa Fire and Medical Department in Mesa, Arizona . The electric vehicle is part of Mesas Climate Action Plan, whose goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It will also help the city study the efficiency and potential cost-saving of using such electric vehicles.Vector is a customizable electric truck that uses 316 kilowatts of battery power. According to E-One, this enables it to pump at 750 GPM (gallons per minute or 2,839 liters per minute) through four hose lines for up to four hours on a single charge, which is the longest duration in the industry. In addition, its battery is placed in a low position, offering Vector a safer, lower center of gravity.The truck will be equipped with a 400(536) electric drive motor with regenerative braking. The tank capacity can hold up to 1030 gallons (3,899 liters) of water and foam, depending on what the fire department opts for.As the Vector is a customizable vehicle, the Mesa Fire opted for a 100-inch-wide cab with a raised roof, an extruded aluminum body with full height/depth compartments on each side, an upgraded air conditioning system with an additional evaporator in the rear of the cab, a thermal battery management system, 500 Amps of available 12V power, and a range extender for emergency back-up power, to name just a few of the features of the vehicle.The fire truck delivery is scheduled forthe next year, making Vector the first full-electric one to arrive in North America. There is another electrified one in operation in Los Angeles, but it is just a plug-in hybrid electric fire truck. It was bought by the L.A. Fire Department last year from Rosenbauer, and it was delivered this year.
The thing with high-tech weaponry is that the more sophisticated they are, the easier to counteract. For each development in offensive capability, theres an equal response for defensive means, and this is why going back to simpler tools is sometimes the best way to go.In the world of precision-guided munition , there is such a thing as systems capable of operating in GPS-denied environments. That means weapons that can navigate toward the target by some other means than by using GPS.The Israeli-made SPICE is one of these weapons. Made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, it stands for Smart, Precise Impact, and Cost-Effective and it will soon become available, for the first time, to the American military thanks to a deal signed with Lockheed Martin.SPICE comprises three weapons systems, namely the 1000 and 2000 guidance kits, and the 250 complete solution. Its the production and sale of the last one the deal between the two companies is targeting.According to Lockheed Martin, the 250 enables maximum loadout on F-16 's and F-15s, reduces pilot workload, and provides multiple strike capability against multiple target types.The air-to-surface weapon can weigh up to 113 kg (249 pounds) and can be fitted with a variety of warheads. It can glide over to a target located 100 km away (62 miles). It finds the place it needs to strike either by means of satellite guidance or, where it lacks, electro-optical systems.The SPICE weapons have been in service since 2003, being deployed on the fighter jets used by Israel, India, or Greece.
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We may think like we know much about it, but the truth is that we dont. In fact, no one outside the Maranello company really does, because starting with its alleged name, the Purosangue , which has yet to be confirmed, and ending with the powertrain lineup, these are all well-preserved secrets.The Prancing Horse has used modified bodies of the Maserati Levante , strapped to their very own underpinnings, to test the super. Various testers have been seen numerous times, even with headlights inspired by the Roma, yet the thick camouflage, combined with Ferraris unique way of making their prototypes and mules look like beat-up vehicles, have done a great job at keeping the design a secret.Unlike Lamborghini, which officially bid farewell to the naturally aspirated V12, the Purosangue is understood to launch with such a sonorous mill. If correct, then it would give Ferrari some very exclusive bragging rights, and yet another advantage over one of its biggest rivals, the Lamborghini Urus , which can trace its roots back to the Bentley Bentayga and Porsche Cayenne, and even to the Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg.The twelve-cylinder unit might develop around 800 hp and should be joined by a hybridized V8 later on, perhaps with tech shared with the SF90 Stradale. The V6 hybrid powertrain of the 296 GTB might also make its way into the Ferrari SUV , and it is this one thats believed to have been put to the test in the latest scooped mule, based on the premises that it lacks the typical burble.We might argue that it didnt give bystanders tinnitus for the simple fact that it was driven at low speeds, but everything is possible. So, do you think that Ferrari has actually started testing the electrified V6 in the Purosangue?
Things you don't expect to see on Calder Rd in Edinburgh - #POTUS stopping for petrol pic.twitter.com/xgJNa4Qsrq  Gareth Mackie ???????? (@garethmackie) November 1, 2021

World leaders gathered up in Glasgow, Scotland, for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is also known as COP26.Although Queen Elizabeth II excused herself for the occasion due to doctors orders , she was there in spirit, and with a pre-recorded speech on Monday night.But President of the United States Joe Biden was physically present at the conference, and, before getting viral for almost falling asleep at the conference (video below), he was caught stopping for gas in Edinburgh, where he stays during the summit.A local man named Gareth Mackie took it to Twitter to share Things you don't expect to see on Calder Rd in Edinburgh - #POTUS stopping for petrol, with two pictures of the presential car, a Cadillac Beast , and part of his convoy. The President was not visible in the car, though.The man also joked about gas prices in the UK, and wrote: Zoom in and you can just about see a White House aide's jaw dropping at UK petrol prices. In the UK, petrol recently hit a new record high of 142.94 p ($1.959 at todays exchange) a liter. When it comes to diesel, believed to be the Beasts fuel, which reportedly runs on at "just" eight miles per gallon  also reached 147.94 p a liter ($2.027).The limousine made its first public appearance in 2018 with former POTUS Donald Trump, and its fitting for a head of state, becoming Joe Bidens high-security ride as he was sworn in early this year.Theres little information on the specs that come under the hood of the Beast, but its a heavily armored limousine, just like its predecessor used by Barack Obama. Its built on a heavy-duty GMC TopKick truck platform, and word is it weighs around 20,000 lbs (9,172 kg). So, whatever comes under the hood must be a hell of a power unit to get this massive vehicle up and running.Joe Bidens decision to stay in Edinburgh has been heavily criticized, considering hes flying a helicopter every day to a conference about climate change. The irony.
The UK Royal Navys Type 45 destroyer demonstrated that it can defend an entire task group against enemy attacks , during a series of intense exercises that included fast boats and air threats. The Sky Sharks drills were conducted off the coast of Britanny, where HMS Dragon first had to escape from a fast boat designed for in-shore attacks. Next, it had to work even harder, facing a series of threats, including helicopters, drones, Rafale fighter jets, and Hawkeye tactical airborne early warning aircraft.The British destroyer worked together with the French frigate Aquitaine, the offshore patrol vessel Jacoubet, and an anti-submarine destroyer called Latouche-Treville. This powerful task group was meant to showcase the participants advanced combat tactics and cutting-edge technologies.This is not the first time this year when HMS Dragon collaborated with its counterparts from the French Navy and other NATO partners. A few months ago, this majestic destroyer, with a distinctive egg-shaped radar on top of its main mast, fired its Sea Viper missile system, during Formidable Shield 2021.Apart from its lethal capabilities, this warship can literally be considered a star, because it made an appearance in the newly-released No Time to Die. The 500-foot (152 meters) long vessel, with a unique Welsh red dragon on her bow, can be spotted even in the movies trailer. The production team had access to a series of the Royal Navys ships, as well as the Royal Air Forces Brize Norton base, in Oxfordshire, used as a backdrop.The powerful warship transitioned seamlessly from the movie set to the challenging environment of its next joint exercise. With each of these demonstrations, the British and French frigates increase their operational efficiency and improve their interoperability.
The Boston-based beer company justly calls its new beer out-of-this-world, as the hops in it got to partake in a unique multiday journey that most of us only dream of. They were passengers of the Inspiration4 all-civilian space mission commanded by Jared Isaacman, the Shift4 Payments founder and CEO.After the 66 pounds (30 kg) of Citra and Mosaic orbited hops returned from their epic voyage, they landed straight into Samuel Adams new piney and tropical West Coast style IPA (India pale ale). As for the taste of the Space Craft, the brewery describes it as a beer with a firm bitterness, with generous tropical notes like grapefruit, guava, and passionfruit co-pilot with piney and resiny hop aromas.If your mouth is watering already, you should know that the beer can be pre-ordered right now and will launch nationwide on November 16. Youll be able to order it online as well, as home delivery is available for it.A four-pack is priced at approximately $22.According to Samuel Adams, the name of the beer was chosen with the help of thousands of fans who had the opportunity to brainstorm and come up with a name of cosmic proportions for the brew. After analyzing more than 5,000 ideas, the company finally went with Space Craft.The Inspiration4 space mission was operated by SpaceX , which launched the Dragon Capsule that traveled at over 17,000 mph (27,360 kph), with the first non-professional crew on board. The flight propelled humankind in a new era of space exploration, while also raising awareness and funds for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, for pediatric-cancer research.
The small Danish company hosted a tour of its factory located in Praesto, during which the famous Youtuber got to see how the hypercar, which is apparently his first one according to Zenvo, is built and to buy and specify his own. Each one is estimated to take around 12 to 18 months from placing the order to delivery, so Shmee will get the keys to his in 2022.After seeing the Zenvo TSR-S on a number of different occasions, it was a fantastic opportunity to have it in the Shmuseum for one of my videos , Burton said. The figures for this car are nothing short of spectacular, with 1,177 bhp, this car is close to supersonic. To say Im excited about adding by bespoke TSR-S to the Shmuseum is an understatement, I cannot wait to share all the details of this magnificent hypercar as it goes through each build process with everyone on my YouTube channels.Weighing 3,295 pounds (1,495 kg) dry, the Zenvo TSR-S is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.8-liter V8 engine that develops 1,177 hp at 8,500 rpm and 811 lb-ft (1,100 Nm) of torque. The automaker claims that the 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) sprint is dealt with in 2.8 seconds and that it needs 6.8 seconds to hit the 124 mph (200 kph) mark from a standstill. Top speed, on the other hand, is electronically limited to 202 mph (325 kph).Besides using this new car purchase as a marketing stunt, Zenvo is currently looking to further expand its dealer network. Thus, after becoming available to more potential clients in Europe, they are planning to officially arrive in North America too, and since this is a very big step for the otherwise small brand, we should hear more about it in due course.
CHINO VALLEY, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- The National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis is something a group of Chino Valley High School students look forward to every year.

"Our kids love it," said advisor Miles Holder. "It gets them out of Arizona. A lot of them have never left the state. So it gets them out to see what else the U.S. has to offer.

But the much-anticipated trip took an unexpected detour over the weekend. "We flew out Saturday into Charlotte, North Carolina. And we were supposed to have a flight from Charlotte to Phoenix. And thats the flight that got grounded," said Holder.

Holder spoke to Arizona's Family from Earle, Arkansas. The group had to scramble to make plans after American Airlines canceled flights over the weekend.

American Airlines cancels hundreds of flights during Halloween weekend American Airlines canceled hundreds of flights during the weekend, citing bad weather and staffing shortages.

Travel experts say if you're flying for the holidays, buy trip insurance.

"Because even though the airlines say that they will assist in getting you overnight accommodations, getting you on the next flight out, a lot of times you dont know when the next flight out is," said Jeremy Simmons, owner of TWK Tours.

COVID-19 upended everything, and the effects of the pandemic are still being felt at the nation's airports, experts say.

"Even indirectly because airlines did let a lot of people go or furlough them initially when flights had to be cut back," said Nancy Melton, manager of Preferred Travel Services. "But now theyre finding they're not necessarily getting those people back."

While travel experts don't have a crystal ball, they say now more than ever it's important to get to the airport early. Bring snacks if you have kids because not all restaurants are fully-staffed. Simmons also suggests having a backup plan in mind in case your flight is canceled, and Melton also says having a travel agent will help too.

Meanwhile, Holder says the kids are making the best out of the situation and really enjoying the drive, getting to see fall colors along the way and visiting new states.

The FFA programs are huge when it comes to their development.

"It gives them leadership abilities," Holder said. "Just how to interact with people that come from different walks of life, and they get to meet a lot of different people from around the nation. And the FFA is just huge. It's all about building the next generation of leaders."
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - At ValleyWise Health, employees have known since mid-August that they had until Nov. 1 to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. And out of their more than 4,000 employees, volunteers and affiliated physicians, 98% went along with this requirement.

"It gives me reassurance that we're providing all of the tools that are available today to protect our team and our patients that we're caring for," ValleyWise Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Michael White said.

Nov. 1 might be the deadline for health care employees to be vaccinated, but at ValleyWise Health, most workers were proactive once the vaccine became available. "Our team was actually very positive around this," White said. "The vast majority of our employees understood and were eager to get vaccinated, even back in January when the vaccine was offered."

For those at ValleyWise that aren't vaccinated and don't have a religious or medical exemption, they'll have to look for work elsewhere. And employment attorney Joshua Black says in his experience dealing with clients who have refused the vaccine without an acceptable accommodation, there's not much they can do to fight back.

Dignity Health: All health care workers need to be fully vaccinated by November The requirement also applies to all physicians, volunteers and other caretakers who may not be directly employed with the company.

"There's just not really a requirement there legally for the company to accommodate you," Black said. "This is the policy they've made, and if we can't show that it's violating any of your specific inalienable rights, then it's a policy that's allowed."

That being said, Black says the deadline could be slightly flexible if a health care worker isn't vaccinated but still going through the religious or medical exemption process. "There's still time to work on it," Black said. "I would say that you want to reach out to your work and then potentially your attorney to try and work on that."

As for other health care systems, Banner Health, Dignity Health and HonorHealth are all waiting on last-minute vaccine cards to be turned in before releasing their full vaccination results.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office accidentally sent a draft copy of a staffing request to Arizona National Guard members last Wednesday, but later took back the request, according to officials.

The Sheriff's office sent a request for 135 National Guard members, but later rescinded the request on Thursday. Sgt. Calbert Gillett said the request was a draft copy that was accidentally sent to County officials before being checked by staff. Officials say the draft will be reviewed by MCSO staff and, if need be, will be sent to the County and State as a staffing request. MSCO officials say at this time, they have not made any additional requests for National Guard staffing.

Multiple Arizona sheriffs refuse National Guard help from Ducey for border crisis "We do not have a migrant crisis here in Santa Cruz County," said Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway.

Previously in April, Gov. Ducey offered Arizona National Guard members to several law enforcement agencies, including Maricopa County. MCSO requested staffing one Arizona National Guard Member per shift in the aviation division to help with public safety calls in the southwest area of Maricopa County. Staffing for this request began in May and is currently ongoing.
A decision by the Kern County Board of Supervisors to try to sell two buildings at the edge of Martin Luther King Jr. Park has some in the eas
Bakersfield's Valley Republic Bank is expected to be acquired by the end of this year by a much larger institution based in Chico under a prop
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Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 47F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 32F. Winds light and variable.
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Fresh off the reveal of its new name, Meta tweeted at Texas grocery giant H-E-B hinting at its possible inclusion in the metaverse. And let's just say H-E-B stans weren't enthused at the possible collaboration.

The tweet from Meta, formerly known as Facebook, reads: "Wonder what ordering groceries in the metaverse will look like

@HEB."

Facebook changed its name to Meta the same day as its H-E-B tweet, and revealed ambitious plans for a virtual reality social space called the "metaverse" where friends and family can meet.

Twitter went off.

Oh, we're still doing Mean Girls memes?

Anyway. Meta hasn't reached out to any other grocers on social media about what shopping would be like in the metaverse, but it has responded to other brands like Shopify, Snickers, and DiGiorno.

A collab with Mark Zuckerberg and co. could make sense for the San Antonio-based grocer; H-E-B has been laying the groundwork for its own digital expansion with a second tech hub in downtown.

But H-E-B is not just a grocery store in San Antonio, it's become a cultural icon.

You don't just shop at H-E-B, you have an experience at H-E-B. Rappers like Maxo Kream don't just name drop H-E-B because it's a grocery store (although that was a line about stealing a car from H-E-B... but still).

Whether H-E-B will collaborate with Meta on a virtual shopping project remains to be seen. MySA reached out for comment.
When Barbara Brown Gathers first learned about the Access Delayed quilting project it was February 2020 and she felt she simply didnt have enough time to participate.

Then the pandemic hit.

The Access Delayed: African-American Suffragists Courageous Influence on the 19th Amendment, exhibition, curated by Tomasita Louviere-Ligons and Sharon Mooney, came to Houston as part of the International Quilt Festival at the George R. Brown Convention Center from Oct. 25 through Oct. 31. The quilts in the exhibition featured African American women who played important roles in winning the right to vote  from Sojourner Truth to Stacy Abrams.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

The quilts in the exhibit were created by African American quilters from across Texas, Ohio and Florida.

Mooney said that around the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment she and Louviere-Ligons kept seeing exhibits about suffragettes, but none of them focused on African Americans. Working with history professors, they put together a list of African-American suffragettes and looked for quilters who could quickly produce the quality of quilts they wanted.

It got its first virtual showing in February, sponsored by Texas Folk Life in Austin. The Houston Festival was be the first time the quilts were shown live.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

When Gathers was first invited to contribute, she was interested, but declined, saying she didnt have time. Once she got home and the pandemic hit, she started having Zoom conversations with the organizers.

I listened to the other ladies who are really proficient quilters talk about their projects, Gathers said.

Gathers quilt, Fearless, tells the story of Maggie Lena Walker and Gathers great-grandmother, Eliza Cowen.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

Gathers now lives in Palm Bay, Florida, but she spent more than 30 years teaching quilting to inner city middle schoolers in New York where they made quilts for the homeless. She now creates pictorial or abstract quilts that are based on stories from American history. She is also a genealogist, author and audiobook narrator, all of which inspired her Access Delayed quilt.

Gathers recently published a novel, The Secrets of Hattie Brown, about her grandmother who died in 1931 in North Carolina. Shed spent more than 30 years researching Hatties life and the life of Hatties mother, Eliza Cowen.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

Cowen was a midwife and a member of Maggie Lena Walkers Secret Order of Saint Luke. It sparked Gathers to learn more about Walker. She first learned that the Secret Order of Saint Luke was an African American benevolent organization that helped the sick and elderly in Richmond. Walker joined when she was 14.

Walker, who was born to enslaved parents, became one of the foremost female business leaders in the United States. In 1903, she became the first woman to charter a bank. She encouraged African Americans to found their own institutions and take control of their economic power. Walker was a civil rights activist who organized the first Richmond branch of the NAACP, led a city-wide boycott against segregated streetcars and promoted womens suffrage and voter registration drives.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

The bottom half of Gathers quilt features photos of Walker and Cowen with a winding road between them. The Wizard of Oz with its Yellow Brick Road was published contemporaneously with the lives of Cowen and Walker.

I created a yellow brick road showing the footprints of Maggie Walker leading the way for my great grandmother, Gathers said. I put Maggies steps first and then showed my great grandmother joining the walk so that their footsteps are in sync.

She used fabric paint for the road and then at the end of the road she put the Adinkra symbol from Ghana, which symbolizes fearlessness.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

Both of these ladies bravely faced many challenges and setbacks in order to achieve greatness, Gathers wrote in her artist statement about the quilt.

Gathers, who has traveled to Africa many times, cut up clothing and textiles from Africa that she has worn and used them to create the patterns of the quilt.

I named my quilt Fearless, Gathers said. Both of these women had to have fear because they lived in a climate that was very fearful for people of color. They had to confront their fears to become fearless and fight for the things they cared about, the things they believed in and the things they were willing to die for.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

Selected other quilts included:

The Laws by Sharon Mooney that reproduce not only voting laws from 1864 forward, but a copy of one of the literacy tests that African Americans were made to pass before they could vote.

Aint I a Woman by Mooney features Sojourner Truth and the famous speech she made at the 1851 Womens Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, considered by many to be the most famous abolitionist and womens rights speeches in American history.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

Mary Ann Shadd Cary by Deborah A. Moore Harris features the anti-slavery activist and journalist who wrote It is better to wear out than to rust out.

Texas Queens by Laura Cashmore pays homage to the African American women from Texas who fought for the right to vote and the social and civic clubs to which they belonged.

Good Trouble by Rhonda Masters which features Stacy Abrams of Georgia who fought against voter suppression in her state and helped to elect Joe Biden.

Courtesy of International Quilt Show

Access Delayed was one of 26 special exhibits from around the world at the International Quilt Show. This years show debuted a judged show in which a total of $52,750 in cash prizes were given. The Best of Show award went to Sachiko Chiba of Japan for her 80 by 80-inch quilt Rondo. One of the six Master awards went to a quilt focusing on African American women earning the right to voteSharing the Moment by Hollis Chatelain.
DALLAS (AP)  American Airlines struggled to fix its operation Monday but still canceled more than 400 flights as disruptions caused by staffing shortages at the big carrier continued for a fourth straight day.

American accounted for more than half of all canceled flights in the U.S., and by mid-afternoon another 500 of its flights were running late, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Monday's performance was an improvement over Sunday, when American scrubbed more than 1,000 flights  more than one-third of its schedule.

Like other airlines, American encouraged thousands of workers to quit last year when air travel collapsed during the pandemic, only to be caught short-staffed this year when travel recovered faster than expected.

Flight attendant staffing at American remains strained and reflects what is happening across the industry as we continue to deal with pandemic-related issues," said Paul Hartshorn Jr., a spokesman for the union representing American's flight attendants.

Flight attendants said many reached their maximum allowable hours for October during the final days of the month, leaving many flights without cabin crews. About two-thirds of Americans cancellations Sunday were due to a lack of flight attendants, with most of the rest due to pilot shortages, according to internal airline figures.

Americans troubles started Thursday and Friday, when high winds reduced flights at its busiest hub, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. American was unable to get pilots and flight attendants in position for upcoming flights, leading to about 1,900 cancellations nationwide from Friday through Sunday, according to FlightAware.

David Seymour, the airlines chief operating officer, said over the weekend that help was on the way. He said about 1,800 flight attendants are coming back from leave starting Monday, and more are being hired by year-end. The airline is also hiring pilots and reservations agents, he said.

American continued to blame cancellations on last week's weather long after the howling winds subsided in Texas, and that didn't sit well with some longtime customers.

The whole weather thing irritates me because that's how they get out of financial responsibility. I feel sorry for the folks who are stuck some place and (American) won't give them a hotel voucher," said Craig Beam, who works in real estate for health care companies. It's clear to me they have got staffing issues.

Beam's first flight Sunday from his home in Southern California to a business conference in Dallas was canceled. His rebooked flight finally arrived at DFW Airport at midnight Sunday night.

___

David Koenig can be reached at www.twitter.com/airlinewriter
BOSTON (AP)  The two candidates hoping to make history in Boston's mayoral contest  Democrats Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George  spent the final hours of the campaign racing from neighborhood to neighborhood urging their voters to turn up at the polls Tuesday.

Whoever wins will mark a major milestone in the citys political culture, becoming the first woman and first person of color elected mayor of Boston. In the citys long history, voters have only elected white men to the top political post.

Wu spent much of the weekend campaigning with high-profile Democratic supporters, including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey.

Its clear that Boston residents want city government to be bold and act with urgency to meet this moment, Wu said. Were ready to fight for the change we need.

On Sunday evening, Essaibi George launched a 24-hour campaign swing through the entire city beginning with a Halloween parade in the Charlestown neighborhood and ending with a scheduled get out the vote rally in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Still at it! Here at Twin Donuts for breakfast after some radio interviews, as I continue my 24 straight hours on the campaign trail, Essaibi George tweeted Monday morning from the citys Allston neighborhood.

Nearly 40,000 votes have already been cast in early voting. Democratic Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin told reporters Monday he estimates about 135,000 ballots will be cast in Boston  about 30 percent of the city's 442,000 registered voters.

The race has been closely watched with outside groups pouring millions into the contest.

While the candidates largely agree on which are the biggest issues facing the city  from soaring housing costs, to public education, public transportation, policing and climate change  they have offered very different solutions.

Essaibi has portrayed herself as a political pragmatist, criticizing Wu for proposing policies that she as mayor couldnt make happen alone. Wu has said those bigger picture policies reflect the needs of Boston residents and said she would work to make them a reality.

One the of biggest issues where the two split is on housing.

Wu has suggested bringing back a form of rent control or rent stabilization. Massachusetts voters backed a 1994 ballot question banning rent control statewide. Wu acknowledged she would need the help of state lawmakers to create a rent stabilization plan.

Essaibi George said rent control is a failed policy and the city should focus on other programs like helping first-time homeowners come up with a down payment and bolstering public housing and affordable housing programs.

Essaibi George has also criticized Wus push for a fare free public transit system.

Wu said the proposal would strengthen the citys economy, address climate change and help those who take the bus or subway to school or work. Essaibi George said the cost of the proposal is staggering and would fall on the backs of Boston residents. The decision to eliminate fares is also beyond the scope of the mayor alone.

The 36-year-old Wu, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, grew up in Chicago and moved to Boston to attend Harvard University and Harvard Law School.

Essaibi George, 47, a lifelong Boston resident, describes herself as a first-generation Arab-Polish American. Her father was a Muslim immigrant from Tunisia. Her mother, a Catholic, immigrated from Poland.

The citys previous elected mayor  Democrat Marty Walsh  stepped down to become U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Joe Biden. Walsh was replaced on an acting basis by Kim Janey, sworn in March 24 as Bostons first female and first Black mayor.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A 33-year-old man sentenced to death in the 2012 fatal shooting of an Austin police officer at a Wal-Mart has been found dead in his cell, officials said.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said authorities are investigating the death of Brandon Daniel, who was found dead Saturday. Officials say foul play doesn't appear to be the cause.
Colin Anderson Productions pty l/Getty Images

On Monday, the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M published findings highlighting 2020 Texas relocation data as well as the sources of these new residents. Turns out, a lot of Californians made the move to Texas last year.

The movement of Californians to Texas is not new," said Research Economist Luis Torres, in a press release about the research. In 19 of the last 20 years, California ranked as the top move-to-Texas state. The only exception was Louisiana in 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The share of Californians relocating to Texas has increased every year since 2011.
If it will cost $10 million to bring the Battleship Texas to Beaumont, thats too much. Way too much, especially because its not clear that the ship will ever generate the kind of revenue it needs to sustain and justify its presence on the riverfront.

Thats the estimate provided to the council by City Manager Kyle Hayes in a recent workshop meeting. And as Hayes pointed out, that doesnt even include other potential costs, such as putting in a gift shop as requested by the Battleship Texas Foundation as well as a parking lot and possibly a museum.

The state will provide $35 million to refurbish the ship below the water, as the hull has been leaking for years. Thats encouraging, but that money does not cover parts of the ship above the water line. And what about future damage below the water line, a chronic problem with older ships?

The City Council has been rightly skeptical of this proposal by member Mike Getz. It sounds exciting at first glance, and we commend Getz for thinking big. But any venture of this scale must be based on cold, hard realities, and this one has too many red flags.

Mayor Robin Mouton pointed out the main problem with the ship, which had been drawing about 80,000 visitors annually in its current location near the San Jacinto monument and battlefield in La Porte. The Battleship Texas Foundation said the vessel needs about three times that number to pay for its annual costs.

If the Houston area could not sustain 250,000 visitors a year, Mouton said, I dont see us having 250,000 visitors a year. Is it worth us as a council risking the entire city and taxpayers dollars to see if one project will work in our city when Houston and Harris County couldnt do it?

If the battleship cant attract enough visitors, the city could be stuck with a white elephant  one that takes up a lot of space on a riverfront. By then, finding another city to take it off our hands would be very difficult. Yet you cant just scrap the battleship because it is one of the Navys most iconic vessels. Some future City Council could find itself with a real headache with this ship.

The council should focus on more realistic options for the riverfront, such as a restaurant like the Wheelhouse in Port Neches just a few miles downstream. That restaurant is successful, so its reasonable to believe that something like it could succeed in Beaumont  attracting tourists and residents, possibly leading other businesses to open up nearby, all of this creating a few jobs and breathing life into the downtown. Thats not guaranteed, because nothing is, but its a reasonable projection.

The future demolition of the AT&T building will open up the downtown riverfront to landscaping that can dramatically improve its appearance and potential. The council should be commended for taking the bold step of buying that building and planning to remove it so that it has a clean slate to work with. Unfortunately, it doesnt appear that the Battleship Texas should be part of that future.
Early voting ends today for balloting on eight proposed amendments to the state constitution as well as several local issues. You can wait until Election Day on Tuesday to cast make your choices, but it might be more convenient to do that today.

In most counties, Texans can vote at any early voting site instead of their assigned location. On election day, you can vote only at the assigned site closest to your home. If its more convenient to vote near your job site or some other location in your county, you need to vote today.

In Groves and Port Neches, residents will be deciding whether their city firefighters should have collective bargaining rights. In Bevil Oaks, residents will be choosing their mayor and several City Council members. Groves will also have City Council elections. Most area cities hold those kinds of local elections in May, but a few home rule cities such as these do that in November.

These issues are important to these cities, and turnout for this election is probably not going to be very high. Wed love to see that belief proved wrong, and that can happen if enough residents of Groves, Port Neches and Bevil Oaks cast their votes today or on Tuesday. If turnout is low, each vote that is cast becomes that much more important. If you live in those cities, please do your part.

The eight proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution are mostly routine, and only one of them deserves a vote against. That is Proposition 3, which would prohibit state or local officials from limiting the services of religious organizations.

A change like that might sound OK on the surface, but its too broad and open to potential abuse. In theory, cities and counties could be forbidden from enforcing various laws and safety practices because that could be construed as limiting their services. This amendment is on the ballot because churches were subject to stay-at-home orders during the peak of the pandemic, but that was a public health crisis that required this kind of response.

Most Texas officials have great respect for religious services and almost never do anything that would inhibit them. And if they would do something improper in that regard, they can be voted out by residents in the next election. Thats a better way to handle rare issues like this, not a constitutional amendment that is very difficult to reverse.
MEGA/GC Images

When Sen. Ted Cruz flew to Cancun during Texas' devastating winter storm earlier this year, he probably didn't predict the viral moment would become a Halloween costume come fall.

The Republican leader was heavily criticized in February after he was seen catching a flight to Mexico as his home state suffered days of large-scale power outages. Blackouts left more then 4.5 million homes and businesses without power, and caused hundreds of deaths in the Lone Star state. Cruz was mocked for leaving the state in the middle of an emergency, and months later, many of the junior senator's critics continued to play off the incident by donning an assortment of "Fled Cruz" outfits in honor of the Halloween weekend.
Jess Elizarraras, MySA

A Republican-led effort to end election audits in Texas and the U.S. have is turning heads in San Antonio.

If you've driven down anyone of Central San Antonio's main highways, you're bound to see one of three billboards sponsored by Republicans for Voting Rights. The group operating under Defending Democracy Together is calling on state lawmakers to "reject frivolous audits of the 2020 election results", according to its website.
United States President Joe Biden speaks with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo before a bilateral meeting at the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, Nov. 1, 2021.

Washington will enhance its strategic partnership with Jakarta, President Joe Biden said Monday as he met for the first time in person with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Jokowi Widodo, amid heightened tensions with China and other challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

The American and Indonesian presidents also talked about freedom of navigation, economic cooperation, the political crisis in Myanmar and the coronavirus pandemic during their meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland, according to statements and transcripts.

Indonesia is a vital strategic partner to the U.S., and as a strong proponent of the international rules-based order, your leadership in the Indo-Pacific is essential, Biden told Jokowi.

Im looking forward to building more on our bilateral relationship because we have so much that we can work together on and so much in common, Biden said, according to a statement from the White House.

From addressing the climate crisis to ending the COVID-19 pandemic to upholding freedom of the seas, theres no global challenge today that doesnt benefit from Indonesia and the United States working together.

For his part, Jokowi said Indonesia would become a reliable partner to Washington, as he invited the U.S. to invest in environmentally sustainable sectors in his country.

Im looking forward to U.S. support by investing in our energy transition, especially in low-carbon technology, Jokowi said, according to a statement from his office.

Biden met with Jokowi in Glasgow after the U.S. president interacted with him and other leaders of member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in late October, and after senior American officials had visited the region.

Since coming to power in January, the Biden administration has made a concerted effort to engage more and more with Southeast Asian nations, as Beijing competes with Washington for economic influence in the region.

Indonesia has become Chinas largest trading partner. Chinese investments in the archiepelago nation have grown consistently, doubling to almost $4.8 billion in 2020 from $2.4 billion in 2017.

American engagement with Southeast Asias largest and most populous country should come as no surprise, said Dinna Prapto Raharja, an international relations analyst at Synergy Policies, a think-tank.

The U.S. is never going anywhere, she told BenarNews when asked if the meeting signaled an American comeback to Southeast Asia after a perceived lack of interest in the region under the Trump administration.

The U.S. has always been involved in the Indo-Pacific because it has an interest in countering China, to appear tough on China.

Indonesia has always had an independent and active foreign policy  which means that Jakarta does not side with any other powers but participates in the settlement of international issues.

Lately, though, some analysts have questioned Jakartas silence on repeated Chinese incursions into Indonesian waters in the South China Sea.

Washington, meanwhile, has been stepping up its freedom of navigation operations in the Indo-Pacific and looking at more intense engagement in the region, according to Ahmad Rizky M. Umar, a political scientist expert and doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland in Australia.

[Vice President] Kamala Harris and [Minister of Defense] Lloyd Austin have already toured Southeast Asia, Rizky told BenarNews.

From what I gather, Biden is directing diplomatic and defense resources to the Indo-Pacific region, which of course also includes Southeast Asia, he said.

True strategic partnership

The U.S. is not the only foreign power courting Indonesia  France is, too, especially after Paris lost a major contract to sell submarines to Australia, following the announcement of the AUKUS pact. Under AUKUS, the United States and the United Kingdom will share technology for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

France appears to now be turning to other Indo-Pacific powers  including Indonesia  for true relationships.

On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Jokowi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome.

Jokowi welcomed progress in defense cooperation between the two countries and expressed hope for stronger strategic ties and investment in the sector.

Macron called Indonesia more than just a partner in a social media post in French.

Together with our partners, we will continue to work so that the Indo-Pacific remains a region of peace and cooperation. In this regard, Indonesia is the main actor, more than just a partner, but a friend, Macron wrote on Twitter.

The two leaders decided to work on a true strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported, citing the French presidential palace.

On AUKUS, Indonesia has expressed concern the trilateral deal would spur an arms race in Southeast Asia.

According to an Indonesian defense ministry official, talks between Jokowi and Macron touched on defense technology transfers and joint production of armaments.

France is committed to technology transfer and production being carried out in Indonesia, Dahnil Ahzar Simanjuntak, a spokesman for Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto told BenarNews, without revealing details.

In June in Paris, Prabowo signed a defense cooperation agreement with his French counterpart, Florence Parly.

The deal covers military education and training, science and technology, peacekeeping cooperation, the fight against terrorism and joint production of armaments.

In July, Prabowo said his ministry hoped to acquire advanced fighter-jets including U.S.-made F-15s, Rafales from France, and Sukhoi Su-35s and Su-57s from Russia.

AUKUS may influence Indonesias defense procurement in favor of France, according to a recent article published by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think-tank.

Indonesia will likely settle on those fighter jets least likely to incense either China or the US, giving Frances Rafale bid an advantage over the others, unless a new contender appears on the horizon, said the article by Johannes Nugroho, an Indonesian political analyst.

For France, its interest in the Indo-Pacific is about securing its maritime position in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it possesses territories, including Mayotte, La Reunion, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, according to Rizky, the analyst at the University of Queensland.

France has its own Indo-Pacific outlook, which in many ways is also concerned with China, especially in the South China Sea, Rizky said.

US-Indonesia concern on Myanmar

During their meeting on Monday, Jokowi and Biden also discussed the post-coup crisis in Myanmar. They called on the junta to immediately release political prisoners who have been jailed since the military ousted the civilian government on Feb 1.

They expressed concern about the coup in Burma and agreed the Burmese military must cease violence, release all political prisoners, and provide for a swift return to democracy, the White House said in a statement.

At least 1,229 people have been killed in a military crackdown on anti-coup protesters, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
A nuclear-powered American submarine struck an uncharted seamount during a dive in the South China Sea last month, the U.S. Navy concluded after an investigation of the accident that injured 11 sailors and drew criticism from Beijing as a stupid mistake.

The investigations report into the accident involving the USS Connecticut has been submitted to the commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, for review and endorsement, as well as to decide whether further actions including accountability will be needed, the fleet said in a brief statement issued late Monday.

The investigation determined that Connecticut grounded on an uncharted seamount while operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the 7th Fleet, which is based in Yokosuka, Japan.

A seamount is a mountain under the sea.

Five days after the Oct. 2 incident, the U.S. military initially reported that the submarine struck an unknown object while operating in the South China Sea. Eleven sailors were reportedly hurt, but none with life-threatening injuries. The sub is undergoing repairs at the Guam Naval Base.

China, which had accused the U.S. Navy of covering up the incident, on Tuesday called for the U.S. to explain in detail what happened.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said the U.S. side had not clarified the intended navigation of the submarine, whether the incident happened in the waters of another country, or whether it caused nuclear leakage or damage to the marine environment.

This fully exposes the opacity and irresponsibility of the U.S. side, the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Wang as saying.

The U.S. has denied any cover-up.

The explanation from the American side seemed genuine, Alexander Neill, a defense and security consultant based in Singapore, told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a BenarNews sister entity.

I dont think the U.S. Navy would attempt to cover up or distort the truth about the nature of the accident. They know that eventually it would leak over time, Neill said.

Experts say a large area of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are listed on nautical charts as so-called dangerous ground  a poorly surveyed and extremely challenging area to navigate. The deep waters are studded with seamounts.

The USS Connecticut is one of the fastest subs in the fleet. It has the most sophisticated sonar and tracking technologies to scan what is all around the sub, but sea conditions under the surface are a bit like flying at altitude  undersea weather if you like  with turbulence, currents, changes in salinity and temperature, Neill said.

This might mean the sub travelling at speed might suddenly descend while the seabed is not fixed and the topography can change, he added.

Accountability action

In 2005, another submarine  the USS San Francisco  struck a seamount near Guam at full speed, leaving one sailor dead and 24 others injured.

Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who has criticized U.S. foreign policy in Asia, said: Questions naturally arise about the U.S. Navys professionalism and whether they should continue operating nuclear-powered submarines in foreign waters lest they risk another collision that might lead to an ecological catastrophe in the worst-case scenario.

This is very embarrassing because it was avoidable, Korybko added.

In its initial statement on Oct. 7, five days after the accident, the U.S. Pacific Fleet reported that the submarine was in a safe and stable condition and its nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remained fully operational.

According to Neill, the incident has been under investigation to establish whether it was a true accident or avoidable.

In most cases of avoidable incidents the commander of the vessel is relieved of duty and mostly this is the end of their naval career, he said.

The best narrative for China is to accuse the U.S. of irresponsible and unprofessional behavior, also throw in the nuclear threat  which is also their narrative on AUKUS, Neill added, referring to an Australia-U.K.-U.S. security pact announced in September.

China has been strongly critical of AUKUS, which would help Australia develop nuclear submarines and is seen as a pushback against Beijings growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific.

The South China Sea has become a flashpoint of tensions between the U.S. and China and a potential conflict zone between the two superpowers. Observers say Beijing has been expanding its underwater warfare capabilities, including a submarine fleet that at present is inferior to the U.S. but developing rapidly.

The U.S. Defense Departments latest report on Chinese military power, published in September 2020, said that China was putting high priority on submarine development.

The Chinese Navy will likely maintain between 65 and 70 submarines through the 2020s, replacing older units with more capable units on a near one-to-one basis, the report said.

China currently operates four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 50 diesel-powered attack submarines, according to the report.

The U.S. Navy reportedly has around 70 submarines, all nuclear-powered.
Thitisan Utthanaphon, a former Thai district police chief, leaves the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok after surrendering to authorities investigating allegations that he and six others had suffocated a drug suspect to death, Aug. 26, 2021.

Thai police plan to press four charges, including death by torture  a capital crime  against a former district police chief nicknamed Jo Ferrari and six other officers in connection with a drug suspects suffocation during an interrogation, officials said Tuesday.

The police investigations report and case file will be handed to the prosecution on Wednesday, according to Gen. Suchart Teerasawat, the deputy national police chief.

Thitisan Utthanaphon, a former police colonel who led the Muang district police station in Nakhon Sawan province, and six of his fellow officers were arrested or turned themselves in after a video posted online showed them allegedly putting plastic bags over the suspects head on Aug. 6, beating him and demanding a bribe of 2 million baht (U.S. $60,700).

Re Jos case, we have a conclusion today  seven suspects being seven policemen, have been charged with malfeasance, misconduct, joint murder by means of torture and group coercion, Suchart told reporters, referring to Thitisan by his nickname.

On Aug. 30, a hospital in Nakhon Sawan changed its original autopsy report to note that the suspect, Jirapong Tanapat, 24, had died of suffocation and not a drug overdose. The second autopsys findings were confirmed last month.

The capital-crime charge could carry the death penalty if the seven are convicted, according to Thailands penal code. All seven suspects have been remanded to a Bangkok prison.

Thitisan surrendered to senior officers on Aug. 26, after a two-day manhunt. During a news conference following his arrest, national Police Chief Suwat Changyodsuk allowed him to talk to reporters via speaker phone.

The former district chief used the opportunity to present what he described as the enhanced interrogation of the drug suspect, saying it was undertaken as a public duty to prevent Thai youths from becoming addicts.

On Tuesday, Suchart said authorities were investigating Thitisans 131 million baht ($3.9 million) in assets believed to be linked to the seizure and sale at auction of hundreds of cars allegedly imported illegally.

Thitisan, who earned nicknamed Jo Ferrari because of his fondness for luxury cars, possessed at least 29 including a Lamborghini, along with a luxury home in Bangkok on a two-acre lot.

During his 2011-2017 stint in Narathiwat, a border province in Thailands Deep South, he led efforts to arrest suspects and confiscate as many as 400 cars smuggled in from nearby Malaysia, which had a lower tax rate, police said.

We are dealing with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate him, but we had a problem because he is in a jail cell and he has not cooperated with us, Suchart said. We found he allegedly wrongly reported hundreds of arrests involving smuggled cars even though we cannot verify where hundreds of them were coming from. We are looking into it with 80 percent progress.

The AMLO could freeze Thitisans assets if it finds that they were obtained illegally, Suchart said.

BenarNews could not immediately reach Thitisans lawyer for comment on Tuesday.
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PITTSFIELD  One of two men arrested in connection with an investigation into ghost guns in Pittsfield is being held without bail before trial, and the second defendant will face a judge to determine whether his bail will be revoked later this week.

Emmanuel Kodjo, 23, of 205 Lenox Ave. Apt. 3 in Pittsfield, was held based on the seriousness of the offenses, the potential penalty upon conviction and the potential for danger he poses on the public, court files show. He faces charges including possession of a large capacity firearm and possessing a weapon without a required firearms identification card.

Co-defendant Taylor Bartlett, who court documents show is 20 and Kodjos roommate on Lenox Avenue, is being held in custody pending a bail revocation hearing in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday, when a judge will decide whether or not he will be released.

Pittsfield police Thursday announced the department arrested the duo after executing simultaneous no knock search warrants at their apartment and at a second address, 122 Dewey Ave., Apt. 4, in Pittsfield early that same morning.

The only person inside the Dewey Avenue apartment when members of the Berkshire County Special Response Team as well as the Pittsfield Police Departments anti-crime, drug and detective units searched the unit about 6:30 a.m. was Kodjos mother, who cooperated with police, according to a probable cause report.

Court documents show that from Kodjos bedroom at his mothers house officers recovered 18 items, including two rifle scopes, a plastic bayonet, Dremel tool accessories and a gun sling.

In another bedroom police said belonged to Kodjo in apartment 3 of 205 Lenox Ave., authorities found two loaded firearms  a .40 caliber handgun and a .22 rifle  along with several firearm parts including two scopes, a Glock brand magazine and over 400 rounds of ammunition. A .40 caliber handgun and loaded magazine, as well as extra ammo, were allegedly recovered from Bartletts bedroom.

Police said last week that the investigation, led by Thomas Bowler and John Virgilio of the Pittsfield Police Department, centered on the issue of privately manufactured firearms that lack serial numbers, or so-called ghost guns.

The Berkshire County Special Response Team, Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force, Berkshire County Sherriffs Department, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the United States Postal Inspection Service assisted Pittsfield police.
WILLIAMSTOWN  The bias complaint a police sergeant filed last month against Williamstown will be withdrawn, his attorney said Tuesday, in light of his resignation this week.

Scott E. McGowan plans to drop the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination complaint, attorney David A. Russcol said.

Quote "Sgt. McGowan understood law enforcement was more than stopping a car for speeding, and real police work was truly helping individuals who were victimized get justice.  David A. Russcol, attorney for Scott E. McGowan

McGowan agreed to leave his job, cutting short a disciplinary action that was expected to result in his termination. McGowan, 46, had been on paid administrative leave since March 1, as the town investigated alleged misconduct reported last winter to officials by all rank-and-file members of the department.

Officers in the department were told Monday that McGowan would not be returning to the force.

Sources say embattled Williamstown police sergeant is off the force as of midnight Two sources tell The Eagle that Sgt. Scott E. McGowan's 19-year full-time career with the Williamstown Police Department was to end as of midnight Monday.

Russcol said McGowan opted to retire to halt a protracted legal fight. The statement called McGowan a dedicated law enforcement officer and civil servant.

Sgt. McGowan came to believe that continuing the legal disputes with the Town of Williamstown would not be in anyones best interests, the statement said.

McGowan began those disputes with a 2019 filing with the anti-bias commission, alleging racial and sexual harassment within the small Police Department  conduct that fellow officers, in their joint letter to town officials, said the sergeant had joined and encouraged.

In August 2020, Russcol represented McGowan in a federal civil lawsuit filed against the town and its officials, an action that echoed grievances in the first MCAD complaint. McGowan dropped the lawsuit last December, then filed a second MCAD complaint Oct. 18, claiming that the towns move to terminate his employment was a form of retaliation.

Interim Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard has not yet commented on McGowans departure, which follows two disciplinary hearings that were scheduled and postponed last month. Blanchard said in September that he planned to act on the towns investigation into McGowan before his appointment expired this fall.

Looking forward, Russcols statement said McGowan is delighted to move ahead with his many future career opportunities.

The statement portrayed McGowan as a selfless investigator who helped bring justice to crime victims over a two-decade career.

Sgt. McGowan does have one foremost sadness leaving law enforcement, the statement said. And that is the permanent bond he formed with the many survivors of serious crimes that remains unbroken today. Sgt. McGowan understood law enforcement was more than stopping a car for speeding, and real police work was truly helping individuals who were victimized get justice.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service.
State Rep. William Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox, has promoted legislation concerning acupuncture and other nonopioid treatments for pain. But, he said those efforts should be coupled with his push to require all first responders to carry naloxone, an opioid antagonist often credited with saving lives.
The late Phyllis McGuire, columnist for The Eagle, takes a ride along Spring Street during a parade in February, escorted by a police car and a firetruck, on her 90th birthday.
In 1744, a woman arrived in the Berkshires as a piece of property in the eyes of the law. She died a free woman after a struggle against the i
Senate leaders this week will propose investing $250 million in federal relief money to begin to restructure public health infrastructure in a way top lawmakers and advocates hope will ensure cities and towns are better prepared for the next health crisis.
Giordanos work has won consistent praise for using both qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain more complete portraits of criminal behavior, an approach that appeals not only to criminologists, but to sociologists and those within other disciplines.

The Stockholm Prize also will go to another Ohio scholar, Dr. Francis T. Cullen of the University of Cincinnati. In addition to an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden, the pair will split the prize of 1 million Swedish Krona, which amounts to about $117,000.



BGSU is so proud of Dr. Peggy Giordano for receiving such a prestigious honor as the 2022 co-recipient of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. As one of the most respected researchers in her field, Dr. Giordano has been an innovative leader whose academic work gives us a deeper understanding of crime. Her contribution to the field of criminology is such a strong example of how our faculty lead the Universitys mission of being a public university for the public good.

Receiving the Stockholm Prize in Criminology is a well-deserved honor for Dr. Giordano, said Dr. Joe B. Whitehead, provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. To win this prestigious award, an international independent jury of practitioners and academics recognized Dr. Giordano's work. This speaks volumes about her scholarship and her success highlights the outstanding research conducted by BGSU faculty.

In a heavily cited 2002 paper co-authored with Stephen Cernkovich and Jennifer Rudolph, Giordano's findings suggested that desistance from crime was not only related to frequently cited life events such as job stability and marriage, but rather cognitive shifts that spurred change away from criminal behavior.

Even when the shift seemed to be completely individual, her work emphasized that social experiences often played an influential role in an individual's motivation. Similarly, she and colleagues found that involvement with more conforming peers and romantic partners greatly enhanced someone's ability to desist from crime on a long-term basis.

Though a significant body of scholarship on crime tends to focus on individual deficits, she said she wanted her work to show how life circumstances and close relationships work together to deter or create risk for criminal involvement.

Both ways are important, but I look more at the intimate network side of things, she said. Of course these intimate networks are frequently located within broader structures of disadvantage, a lack of resources and often substandard school systems that do not provide opportunities for traditional avenues for success."

Giordano has been so thorough and complete in mixed-method research that she has become an example for many others in sociology.

She not only does some pretty high-level quantitative work, but she almost always then finds a space where the individuals who are part of the study are given voice, said Dr. Monica Longmore, a BGSU professor of sociology who also has co-authored research with Giordano.

She just thinks outside the box, and she's also enormously fun. She has the best sense of humor and probably could have been a novelist.

Dr. Wendy Manning, the Dr. Howard E. and Penny Aldrich Distinguished Professor at BGSU, said what makes Giordanos work special is that it appeals to so many different disciplines.

Manning observed that by being theoretically driven but also widely read, Giordanos research connects with broader audiences.

Her focus on social relationships is really strong, but she also recognizes the structural constraints that exist, so I would say what she's able to do is integrate them all together, Manning said. A lot of people can study neighborhood effects, or a lot of people could study dating relationships, but she puts it all together. I think that's what makes her work interesting and innovative.
IDAHO COUNTY - On Saturday, October 30, 2021, an Idaho County Deputy conducted a routine traffic stop that resulted in the discovery of 2.4 grams of methamphetamine and the arrest of a California woman.

At approximately 10:30 pm Saturday night, Idaho County Deputies stopped a vehicle for travelling 85 mph in a marked 65 mph zone. Upon contact with the driver, deputies smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Idaho Countys narcotics K9 was in the area. He and his handler responded and did an exterior sniff of the vehicle which gave a positive alert. A subsequent search of the vehicle was then conducted, resulting in the discovery of 2.4 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana.

The driver, 38-year-old Brandi Damon, of Riggins, ID, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and possession of inhalants.

The passenger, 50-year-old Charity Chambers, of Angels Camp, CA, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Michigan is one of the last Midwest states to get a Jollibee, a popular Philippines-based fast-food chain.

With 1,400 Jollibee stores worldwide, it's one of the largest and fastest-growing Asian restaurant companies in the world and it's coming to Michigan soon, according to the company.

Jollibee is slated to open its first Michigan location inside a former Denny's near Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, Crain's Detroit Business reported.

The plans, first announced at a city council meeting in August reported by the Sterling Heights Sentry, call for tearing down the Denny's at 44945 Woodridge Dr. and building a 2,500-square-foot building. The new Jollibee is expected to have a drive-thru and outdoor patio seating.

In the meeting, Sterling Heights Senior Economic Development Adviser Luke Bonner predicted that Jollibee fans from all over the region will be flocking to it.

Im guessing that the lines will be significantly long when it finally opens, similar to Portillos, Bonner said in the meeting, reported by Sterling Heights Sentry.

The chain's eclectic menu selections include fried chicken, spaghetti and peach mango pies. You can view the full menu here.

Getty Images

Founded in 1978, the chain is known for putting a Filipino twist on American dishes, like fried chicken, burgers and spaghetti (topped with a sweet sauce, ham and hot dog). The company has been rapidly expanding in recent months, including at least 20 new stores in North America, according to reporting by Detroit Metro Times.

Additionally, Jollibee plans to reach 300 locations across North America by 2024, far beyond the 12 states and four Canadian provinces in which it currently resides.

"We have remained nimble and optimistic, which has led Jollibee to defy expectations amidst an extremely difficult year and experience double-digit sales growth across North America," Maribeth Dela Cruz, president of Jollibee Group North America, said in a release last year. "We're  thrilled to deliver a small spark of joy as we enter the holiday season."
Historian, professor, and Virginia resident Ed Lynch joined Bill on Monday's No Spin News to analyze Tuesday's Virginia gubernatorial election and why it is so important to the rest of America.

Sign up for our Premium Membership and get Killing the Mob free.
Most Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction, the President meets the Pope in Rome, the White House considers cash payments to illegal migrants, Press Secretary Jen Psaki tests positive for COVID.

Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the economics of Climate Change.
In conversation with Daiki Kumamoto, Global Fund Leader and Growth Manager, Real Tech Holdings, Japan

Venture capitals play a major role in providing financial support to startup companies through strategic investments/mentoring to enhance growth potential. Asia Pacific government agencies have also formed large funds to create new industries, with the increasing number of accelerators in the region. Japan is among the biggest investors in R&D and innovation globally, with a booming venture capital industry. One such Tokyo based Venture capital firm, Real Tech Holdings, boosts collaboration and investments in deep tech startups in Southeast Asia. Leading investments in the deep-tech sectors for healthcare, medical, food, AI and more, Real Tech is accelerating growth at global and APAC startup firms and also supporting entry into the Japanese market. Daiki Kumamoto, Global Fund Leader and Growth Manager at Real Tech Holdings, shares insights into Japans Venture Capital scenario and role of Real Tech in strengthening and bridging startup ecosystems in Japan and Southeast Asia.



How do you describe Real Techs fostering venture capital model and investment principles for the Asia Pacific startup arena?

Real Tech Holding is a joint venture between Euglena Co. Ltd. and Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., which are Japans leading deep-tech and knowledge platform companies. Real Tech Holding manages Real Tech Fund as Japans leading deep-tech focused venture capital funding firm. Euglena, is Japans top deep-tech unicorn, with a market cap nearing to $1 billion. Euglena is focused on biofuel, health supplements and healthy food products. Leave a Nest manages Japans largest academia-based knowledge platform that supports education, research and entrepreneurship. Facilitating collaborations between researchers and society to advance science and technology, Leave a Nest also manages a global deep-tech specialised seed acceleration programme named Tech Planter, including 6 countries in ASEAN, with more than 600 applications annually and also supports startups with their R&D, prototyping and manufacturing.



How do you map investment opportunities in APAC as per RealTech expertise?

Real Tech Fund started funding R&D-based technology in 2015 with the expertise of Euglena and the platform of Leave a Nest. Our investment areas vary from Life science, aerospace, robotics, agriculture, medical devices, marine technology, electronics, energy and new material. We have more than 50 well-known corporate collaborations under limited partnership (LP) with a total $200 million (22.8 billion JPY) investment.



With the initial investment of $82 million (9.4 billion JPY) into Japanese seed/early stage startups, we decided to expand our activities into the ASEAN region. Southeast Asia, with a total population being over 650 million, battles persisting unsolved issues such as plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity, waste in agriculture, poor medical environment and more. These concerns need immediate attention with appropriate investment policies and support.



The IT startup market has emerged over the past 10 years, yet there are no deep-tech startups in the Southeast Asia region that are valued more than $100 million. This could be primarily due to; Lack of investors with deep-tech investment knowledge and Lack of prototyping / manufacturing capability to support the growth of deep-tech startups despite the unique research themes that are emerging in universities and research institutes across Southeast Asia.

Can you elaborate the role of Real Tech Global fund support system in creating a platform to penetrate the Japanese market and to collaborate with regional companies?

The Real Tech Global Fund initiated with $30 million (2.9 billion JPY) investment into deep-tech startups mainly in South East Asia, to interlink Japan and the SEA ecosystem. We seek to connect the startups to Japans ecosystem for significant R&D / business collaboration with corporates, factory groups and researchers. Real Tech facilitates various domain experts to provide hands-on support to startup portfolios to accelerate their business potential in the booming deep-tech sector.



As for incubation, our group company runs an incubation space called Center of Garage (CoG) in Tokyo, which stands as a unique incubation place where deeptech startups, Japanese Super Factories, and big corporations come together. Real Tech assists in accelerating innovations at global deep-tech startups space. Interactions among various stakeholders allows participants to experience the Re-Renaissance of Japanese Monozukuri. This activity solves manufacturing challenges across the globe by providing innovative solutions. Many of our current global portfolios are also seeking to use CoG as their main office for entering into the Japanese market.

How does Real Tech strengthen deep-tech healthcare sector investments in Southeast Asia?

Real Tech has formed strong partnerships with governmental institutes in various countries. In 2021, we were appointed as one of the 13 co-investment partners in the Deep-Tech field for Singapores government backed VC arm SEEDs capital (Southeast Asias most active venture capital investors). As an enabler of Singapores deep-tech ecosystem, SEEDS Capital partners with institutional co-investors from around the world to support Singapore-based innovative startups that possess break-through intellectual content and global market potential. In the latest appointment of co-investors, SEEDS Capital has broadened, diversified and refreshed its current pool of partners in the three deep tech sectors, (i) Manufacturing, Trade & Connectivity; (ii) Human Health & Potential; and (iii) Urban Solutions & Sustainability. Real Tech is the first Japan-based VC to be appointed in the Deep Tech field. With this, we are seeking to make our first co-investment to bridge Singapore and Japanese startup ecosystems.



Alongside with Singapore, we have also formed a partnership with the Malaysian government through Malaysian Technology Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (MTDC), who joined as a new limited investment partner into the Global Fund. MTDC is an affiliate of the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Its mission is to support commercial implementation of technology in Malaysia through funding and investment, incubation and mentorship, entrepreneurship building and relevant advisory services. Currently, MTDC has actively invested in more than 700 companies, mainly startups through different specialised funds and has been recently focusing on the deep-tech sectors by partnering with various strategic partners with experience. Real Tech is the first Japan-based VC to partner with MTDC as a LP investor for co-investments and co-acceleration in Malaysia.

How do you summarise Real Techs visions in strengthening competitiveness at Japans Deep-tech market to accelerate domestic and overseas business expansion?

Investing into deep-tech must be sustainable. As of today, we have invested in 54 startups in Japan and 5 startups in ASEAN in which more than 30 per cent are to be categorised in the bio-tech, med-tech and healthcare sector. We see a huge potential in the region but have been able to invest mainly in Singapore.

Recent VC assistance from Real Tech involves various biotechnology and food science ventures across South-East Asia. One among them is, Singapore and Thailand based Austrianova, (a proprietary technology platform encapsulating living mammalian and bacterial cells) with which we have partnered through our Enter to Japan Market Programme. Leave a Nest Singapore, organises jointly with Enterprise Singapore (ES). Through our investment, we accelerate collaboration with Japanese business companies to support the expansion of applications and social implementation of Austrianovas encapsulation technology mostly to our LPs.

Similarly, NDR Medical Technology Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based medical device company is also assisted by Real Tech to penetrate the Japanese market. This strategic partnership will accelerate collaboration with corporates, factories and research institutes in Japan. Real Tech has extended financial support to other technology portfolios like QD Laser (deep-tech vision care), Amelieff (bioinformatics analysis systems for medical / biotechnology research, clinical testing and drug discovery), Shiok Meats (cell-based seafood) and more to add on.

We have also built a strategic alliance with Japans leading law firm with significant deep-tech expertise to offer the best deep-tech specialised legal support in Japan which aligns IP strategy with the business and finance plan. Real Techs legal advisor and partners in Southeast Asia covers the whole region and provides a framework for filing/obtaining IP globally to our portfolio. Further, Real Tech looks forward to partnering and to extend collaborations in the global arena beyond Asia Pacific to find great bio-tech, med-tech and healthcare teams to change the world together.

Hithaishi C Bhaskar

hithaishi.cb@mmactiv.com
Consolidation of the Acros Organics, Alfa Aesar and Maybridge brands to one single brand, Thermo Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the consolidation of its product portfolio brands Acros Organics, Alfa Aesar and Maybridge transitioning to one unified brand, Thermo Scientific. The transition is a response to the customers feedback to simplify the buying journey experience.

The transition effective from mid-October 2021 and all products of Alfa Aesar, Acros, Organics and Maybridge packed and labelled from mid-October 2021 onwards will be branded as Thermo Scientific. There will be no change in the product codes, specifications, quality, or performance of the products.

Consolidation of our chemicals business brands is a strategic move to bring our wide range of innovative products under one brand. These changes are being made to simplify the purchasing journey as well as provide customers with one complete portfolio, said Amit Chopra, MD, India, and South Asia, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Thermo Fisher will not re-label existing products on the shelves. Until the existing stock of Acros Organics, Alfa Aesar and Maybridge labelled products are depleted, customers will continue to see a mix of Acros Organics, Alfa Aesar, Maybridge and Thermo Scientific branded products.

Manish Sanghai, Senior Director, Laboratory Solutions India, Thermo Fisher Scientific, said, "We have already started the process of rationalising our existing product portfolios. Subsequently, to address product overlaps, some products from Acros Organics, Alfa Aesar and Maybridge brands might be realigned within the portfolio and alternative products will be identified and offered as replacements to serve our customers better."

For more information, please visit thermofisher.in/chemicals.
South African payment service provider, DPO South Africa, is expecting similar or greater growth for Black Friday 2021, due in part to local shoppers' increasing comfort with e-commerce. Retailers are also expected to adopt a more aggressive approach this year as they fight to make the most of the retail event which has quickly gained favour with local shoppers.

Source: Pexels

Buy-now-pay-later payment options may help boost spend

Domestic travel a likely winner

Supply chain and logistics could pose a challenge

We were all expecting a dip in sales last year, but it didnt materialise. Rather, we measured a 40% year-on-year increase for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend last year, and we are expecting it to be similar this year, or even a little up. This is largely due to how comfortable South African shoppers have become with the mega shopping event.Consumers have also become more savvy, doing their research online and knowing exactly what is and isnt a good deal. This is going to force retailers to work a little harder to attract our hard-earned disposable income, says Peter Harvey, MD of DPO South Africa.Harvey says he is concerned that the drawn-out effects of Covid will impact disposable income this year and, for this reason, he says retailers will have to draw up their battle plans early.I believe we can achieve the same type of growth we saw last year, but retailers must put together their plans well ahead of time. Meaningful savings will catch the eye of the consumer who will begin their research early and have a plan in place to ensure they can optimise their spend. Dont think a 10% discount qualifies as a Black Friday special.Once you have your product and discount strategy in place, then you can start looking at ensuring you have all your digital marketing and logistics in place. These will also play a large part in ensuring you capture your piece of the profit pie this year, Harvey advises.Harvey says the growing popularity and trust in the buy-now-pay-later payment options could entice customers to spend a little more than they otherwise would. This is especially true of those consumers who may be cash strapped, or who simply want to take advantage of the split payments.Other payment methods that are likely to see good growth this year include Apple Pay and Samsung Pay as well as other mobile options. Harvey also expects to see a good showing from transactions supported by 3D Secure as South Africans become more security conscious.As the number of vaccinated adults increases, Harvey says local consumers will be shopping around for travel deals.We are expecting to see the travel bug bite again as locals look to shake off their cabin fever. This is great news for the local hospitality industry which has really taken a knock. Again, merchants must make sure that they present really compelling offers. These big-ticket purchases will need to be extremely competitive if venues and airlines hope to secure bookings, he says.Based on his interactions with some of the DPO Groups 60,000+ active merchants, Harvey believes merchants should plan their inventories as soon as possible to overcome any potential supply chain challenges, saying some merchants have already faced issues securing stock.E-commerce consumers have come to expect fast delivery times. If merchants have concerns about fulfilling their orders timeously because of increased volumes or challenges in getting stock from their suppliers, they should manage shopper expectations so as not to ruin the overall customer experience, he warns.Staying with the challenges of handling higher volumes, Harvey says his company has already begun its preparations.South Africa's steadily increasing support of Black Friday has allowed us the ability to learn and grow with the demand. Last year we saw a spike in smaller-value transactions which resulted in volumes on the day reaching four times higher than a normal days trade. We are preparing our infrastructure to handle more than that this year.That said, many retailers are stretching the event out over a week, or even the full month, which will smooth out the traffic curves to some extent. But, as we advise our merchants, solid planning well ahead of the time will always deliver better results, he shares.
RecoMed, a growing online healthcare marketplace and booking platform in South Africa recently concluded a highly successful funding round of R21m with a strong and diversified group of leading local and international investors.

RecoMed CEO, Sheraan Amod

The round was led by Vunani Fintech Fund, an investment vehicle focused on digital and tech-based solutions, which made an investment of $1m, the equivalent of R15M. The round also included existing RecoMed investors AAIC (a Japanese private equity and venture capital fund focused on African investments), Growth Grid Venture Capital Partners, and Push Ventures based in Kenya.RecoMed, a fully South African-founded and driven company, developed the countrys most rapidly evolving health tech platform that enables digital patient bookings into healthcare facilities around South Africa, driving new business for healthcare providers. RecoMeds unique combination of industry-wide integrations and experience working with various healthcare provider groups has positioned it as the leader in the healthcare booking market, gaining it enterprise customers including Discovery, Mediclinic, Dis-Chem and Medicross.RecoMed recently collaborated with healthcare industry giants Discovery Health and Mediclinic, assisting them in powering their separate Covid-19 vaccine booking platforms, where over 550, 000 bookings have collectively been made.This successful round of funding has powered our continued growth to over 150 000 bookings per month, and significantly boosts our ability to launch the new products. We are facilitating over R250m of healthcare spend annually. Our key partners have bought into our innovative methodology of connecting practitioners and patients, not only because of our integrations with most Practice Management Applications, but due to our aggregation of the largest selection of healthcare industry providers into a single platform with instant booking capability. Whether a patient is looking for a convenient doctor appointment or the Covid-19 vaccine jab, we make it simple and easy to do, comments RecoMed CEO, Sheraan Amod.The healthcare industry both locally and globally has responded enthusiastically to RecoMed efforts to lead the healthcare ecosystem in this digital age. Patients embraced the simplified and increased access to healthcare through digital platforms, which provides a 24/7 search facility to identify the health provider they require. This round-the-clock ability to operate has become crucial for a modern way of life, especially since access is available through many different devices, including phone, tablet or PC.Vunani Fintech Fund is positive about RecoMeds proposed drive to increase market share and design tailored new products to meet identified market needs. Globally we have witnessed a significant uptake in the roll-out of these digital health-tech platforms, and RecoMeds innovation has kept South Africa well up to date with these developments. We are still in the early days of leveraging technology as a utility in healthcare, so the potential here is massive. We are confident that this latest round of fundraising will make a major contribution towards promoting greater efficiencies in the health ecosystem that will benefit all stakeholders. comments Mark Anderson, Director at Vunani.Susumu Tsubaki, CEO of existing shareholder AAIC said, The progress that the company has made is excellent, with RecoMed powering up to 10 times as many bookings per month now versus when we originally invested in 2019. We are very pleased to follow on with additional funding.As RecoMeds successful offerings become more widely recognised and adopted, increasing numbers of healthcare professionals and practitioners are signing up to benefit from what is undoubtedly the most mature product available in the healthcare booking industry in South Africa. Our close relationships with stakeholders in the healthcare industry are facilitating our ability to identify needs and devise solutions to guide patients and consumers into the specific practice best suited for their healthcare requirements, explains Amod. After becoming the leader in South Africa, RecoMed plans to launch its platform in Kenya in January 2022.Weve made great strides in uniting the fragmented healthcare marketplace into a more effective platform to benefit both patients and health practitioners. We look forward to announcing new initiatives and product launches that will advance our healthcare industry. Our vision is a society where access to and delivery of healthcare is easy for all.
On October 27 the US Food and Drug Administration Advisory Panel on Vaccines recommended the agency allow Pfizer to amend its Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID vaccine to include children 5 through 11 years old. Two days later the FDA officially approved the rollout. Major media are treating this as a positive development to protect young children. On closer inspection it is anything but that. The FDA is today shockingly corrupt under the Acting Director and is little more than a rubber stamp for Big Pharma, and especially Pfizer, where the former FDA head sits on the board.

The FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 17 to 0, with one abstention, to give a green light allowing Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech experimental mRNA to children between 5 and 12 years. The expert who abstained later explained he did so because of limited safety and efficacy data provided. Previously the FDA had approved the vaccine for 12 and older. Adding to the stench of corruption around the latest vote, the Biden Administration a week earlier announced it had already purchased enough Pfizer vaccine to inoculate all 28 million 5- to 11-year-olds in the US. Did they know the fix was in?

Just the Way it Goes

The record of the FDA, the major drug oversight agency in the US Government, regarding safety and risks of the experimental gene-altered mRNA vaccines of Pfizer, is one of criminal malfeasance, defined as willful violation of a public trust or obligation that causes harm or death. Their latest ruling is even more egregious for blatant conflicts of interest and scientific fraud. Both Pfizer, who conducted the tests on the efficacy of their own vaccine on the 5-11 year age group, and the FDA experts, admitted that they had no idea if the vaccine was safe for such a young population.

Dr. Eric Rubin, professor of immunology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health voted to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, noting, The data show that the vaccine works and is pretty safe  and yet were worried about a side effect that we cant measure yet, but its probably real. That is hardly confidence-building. He then stated, were never going to learn about how safe this vaccine is unless we start giving it. Thats just the way it goes.

This cold-blooded nonchalance is even more astonishing in light of the fact that the incidence of serious side effects in the 5-11 age group who allegedly have tested positive for the corona virus is essentially zero. According to data of the US Government Centers for Disease Control, the Infection Fatality Rate for children from 0-17 years is 0.0002 per 100,000 and far lower for the 5-11 years. A research study by Johns Hopkins University found that risk of severe illness or death from covid19 in a study of 48,000 children is essentially zero if no other morbidity risk such as leukemia, diabetes or asthma is present. Moreover, risk of infecting other children is also very low.

In their submission to FDA for approval, Pfizer stated the vaccination was needed for the 5-11 age group to prevent covid disease transmission. Yet in their FDA hearing on questioning, Dr. William Gruber, senior vice president of Pfizer Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, said they did not even assess whether the vaccine prevents transmission. We might ask why is this at all needed then if the risk to children is zero and there is no evidence of children transmission?

Even more shocking is the statement by Pfizer about its tests. First there were no animal tests on rats or such first. They admitted that the tested human group was so small that they could not test for myocarditis or pericarditis. Yet those are among the most reported negative effects for all others that have had the Pfizer jab. In its FDA application Pfizer noted that the number of participants in the current clinical development program was too small to detect any potential risks of myocarditis associated with vaccination, and that to evaluate long-term sequelae of post-vaccination myocarditis/pericarditis in participants 5 to less than 12 years of age will not be studied until after the vaccine is authorized for children.

Flawed Pfizer Tests

The tests Pfizer made were also fatally flawed. According to Dr. Josh Guetzkow, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Pfizer study was not double-blind. Further, Pfizer cherry-picked subjects to evidently better their results. Three thousand children age 5-11 received Pfizers COVID vaccine, but only 750 of those children were selectively included in the companys safety analysis. And Pfizer dismissed cases with adverse vaccine effects in their FDA filing: Few serious Adverse Events, none of which were related to vaccine, and no AEs leading to withdrawal were reported. They give no explanation how that was determined. Just trust Pfizer.

And post-vaccination follow up was less than 2 months for one test cohort and only 2.4 weeks for a second. The Pfizer report to FDA read, Supplemental safety expansion group data were analyzed from approximately 1500 vaccine recipients with a median follow-up time of 2.4 weeks after Dose 2. These supplemental data demonstrate an acceptable safety profile It can take months or longer for side effects to manifest. Vaccine experts recommend at least 18-24 month post-vaccine follow up, not 3 months or 2.4 weeks. This is not serious science.

As well, it seems the FDA and or Pfizer wrongly name the vaccine in the title as BNT162B2 [COMIRNATY (COVID-19 VACCINE, MRNA)] .Yet the actual FDA text calls it Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2).

The separate company, BioNTech of Mainz, Germany, has a similar but legally different vaccine, trade-named Comirnaty, that is not available in the USA. The distinction is essential as it was the basis in August for the corrupt FDA to give Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine an extension of Emergency Use Authorization but to misleadingly declare its full approval for Comirnaty vaccine of BioNTech. This is deliberate fraud and allowed the Biden Administration to mandate vaccination of US government workers (curiously except for White House and Congress), military, and any company with more than 100 employees.

Conflicts of Interest?

The corruption of the FDA extends to the members of the Vaccine Advisory Committee. Many of the members of the current 18 person committee have direct ties to Pfizer or to the pro-Pfizer Gates Foundation.

Prof. Holly Janes of the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center in Seattle designed the flawed Pfizer tests. Her institute is funded by Gates Foundation money. FDA committee member Dr. Steven Pergam is also with the Gates-funded Fred Hutch center. Acting committee chair, Arnold S. Monto was a paid consultant to Pfizer. Committee member Archana Chatterjee worked on a Pfizer research project related to vaccines for infants between 2018-2020. Geeta K. Swamy is chair of the Independent Data Monitoring Committee for the Pfizer Group B Streptococcus Vaccine Program, a committee sponsored by Pfizer. Duke University states that Dr. Swamy serves as a co-investigator for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial. FDA Committee member Gregg Sylvester was a vice president for Pfizer Vaccines. Ofer Levy, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School is on record vigorously supporting Pfizer covid vaccines for children 12 and older. And FDA committee member Paul Offit professor of pediatrics at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia called openly last June for covid vaccine permission for children.

When we compare the actions of corrupt FDA Acting Director Janet Woodcock during the August FDA extension of emergency use authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, she refused then to even allow the vaccine committee to meet to debate the issue. Several months before in June 2021 three members of the FDA Vaccine Committee resigned in protest over Woodcocks refusal to heed the near unanimous vote of the advisory committee to approve an Alzheimers drug called Aduhelm against the wishes of nearly every member on the panel.

Clearly Woodcock has been busy in the meantime stacking the advisory committee with pro-Pfizer members. Not to be forgotten is the fact that after he left as head of the FDA under Trump, Scott Gottlieb immediately joined the board of directors ofPfizer Inc. Woodcock served under him at FDA.

Woodcock has been at FDA since 1986, almost as long as Fauci at NIAID. Woodcock was Bidens choice to head FDA, but a massive opposition from 28 groups including state attorneys general and citizen groups forced him to name her acting, which does not need Congressional scrutiny. Woodcock was directly responsible for the original FDA approval of deadly opioids over the objections of her own scientists and other advisors.

Already California has moved to make public school admission contingent on covid vaccination, anticipating Pfizer approval. This spread of the deadly Pfizer vaccine to children who have near zero risk of serious disease makes no public health sense. It is simply prima facie evidence of medical malfeasance at the highest levels of the US Government including FDA, with plausible criminal intent. The FDA decision will now be used to argue for similar inclusion of essentially no risk children for the vaccine jab.

F. William Engdahl is strategic risk consultant and lecturer, he holds a degree in politics from Princeton University and is a best-selling author on oil and geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine New Eastern Outlook
ABOVE: You don't see many guys that big on a tennis court, yet here we are .

The author died in 2004. (Image via Soho Syndicate)

AMAZON: The late Joseph Hansen's trailblazing gay Dave Brandstetter mysteries are about to be republished for the first time in decades.

EXTRATV: Kristen Stewart & Dylan Meyer are engaged. One of the front-runners for an Oscar this year is an out queer woman ready to take a wife. The lambs are silent no more.

USA TODAY: Uh, there is no luciferase  no satanic anything  in the coronavirus vaccines. Plus: 99.9% of NYC coppers have complied with the mandate.

There is currently a large crowd of what appears to be QAnon believers at the AT&T Discovery Plaza in downtown Dallas. A popular QAnon theory recently is that JFK Jr. of the Kennedy family will be making a big announcement at Dealey Plaza by the grassy knoll sometime tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/8L0Lw09wH7  steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) November 2, 2021

TWITTER: QAnon fools are gathering in Dallas because they expect JFK Jr. to appear to make a statement.

THE SIGNORILE REPORT: Is New York City the Future of a Post-Pandemic World?

AXIOS: Over 100 world leaders agree that their countries will cut methane emissions by 30%.

WAPO: On January 6, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  now a full-on apologist for the coup attempt  reportedly shouted at Capitol cops:

What are you doing? Take back the Senate. You've got guns. Use them!

US WEEKLY: The Real Housewives of Dubai (a country where homosexuality is illegal) is coming to Bravo in 2022, courtesy of homosexual Andy Cohen.

INSTAGRAM (FOLLOWS APPRECIATED): Happy birthday, Stefanie Powers! I think The Boatniks was one of my first in-the-theater movies I saw.

L.A. TIMES: Jennifer Tilly returns to acting, all thanks to Chucky.

They ready! (Image by Easton Schirra for Out)

OUT: Sara Ramirez is another of Out's Out100 cover-star honorees. In her interview, she says:

I also want to make it clear that the only reason I'm here is because of all the people that my life has touched and whose lives have touched mine. And as empowered as I have grown to be in my life, it's not by being alone. It's by working with others.

(GIF via V Magazine)

YOUTUBE: Madonna and Steven Klein's short Private Affair  essentially just ultra-glam BTS footage from her new V Magazine shoot  is exponentially more flattering and interesting than the still images they produced for the final covers.

What was wrong with this? It's Madonna, it's glam, it isn't ridiculously altered. (Image via video still)
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International air traffic will be returning to more regional airports soon, after flights were restricted for most of the year as part of the government's efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A passenger checks in at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

International air traffic will be returning to more regional airports soon, after flights were restricted for most of the year as part of the government's efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a news conference Tuesday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said airports at eight mid-sized cities can reopen their runways to planes from across the border as of Nov. 30.

The airports range from Victoria to St. John's, N.L. The other six are in Waterloo and Hamilton in Ontario, Abbotsford and Kelowna in British Columbia, and Saskatoon and Regina.

"I'm pleased that increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely reopen these additional Canadian airports to international passenger flights," Alghabra said on the tarmac at Waterloo International Airport.

"This move will help ensure travellers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels this winter, while continuing to support our government's measured approach to reopening our borders."

The air sector had been pushing the government to allow more airports to take on international flights, with an eye to trips to and from U.S. and Caribbean destinations as the holidays approach.

Ten airports currently enjoy that status, expanded from four when Ottawa first introduced the restriction in February as part of a move to discourage non-essential trips, slow the spread of COVID-19 variants and concentrate the location of quarantine hotels.

Air service across the country last quarter reached just 37 per cent of its 2019 levels, and just 20 per cent for international traffic, Canadian Airports Council president Daniel-Robert Gooch said.

"We can see no reason why these communities have to wait any longer," he said in a statement, citing vaccination numbers and health protocols.

About 84 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older were fully vaccinated as of last Friday, according to the federal government.

As of Nov. 30, all air travellers in Canada must be fully vaccinated in order to board.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. spokeswoman Morgan Bell said the industry's recovery hinges on allowing all airports to clear their runways for international arrivals.

WestJet will run limited international flights from the airports in December, ramping up the volume on Jan. 7, she said.

"Network planning commences months in advance to accommodate scheduling and staffing and we are disappointed that we were forced to delay previously planned international service from these regions due to limited notice," Bell said in a statement.

Both Air Canada and WestJet have criticized Ottawa's COVID-19 PCR test requirement that remains in place for passengers arriving from abroad. Bell called the pre-departure test rule "inconsistent with land border requirements."

Garth Lund, chief commercial officer for budget carrier Flair Airlines, said the Edmonton-based company was grateful for the government's decision.

"Were eager to offer low fares to snowbirds young and old wanting to enjoy some sun this fall and winter," he said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021.

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After a fatal traffic collision at a provincially controlled intersection last month, the City of Brandon has developed a list of changes it wants the province to make to prevent further casualties.

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DREW MAY/THE BRANDON SUN One person died in a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 110 and Richmond Avenue on Oct. 18. On Monday, city council developed a list of changes it wants the province to make to prevent further casualties.

After a fatal traffic collision at a provincially controlled intersection last month, the City of Brandon has developed a list of changes it wants the province to make to prevent further casualties.

During Mondays city council meeting, Coun. Jan Chaboyer (Green Acres) asked what city administration is planning to do to make the intersection of Highway 110 and Richmond Avenue in the east end safer.

On Oct. 18, a person was killed in a collision between a semi-truck, a pickup truck and a car. After the tragedy, Chaboyer told the Sun she wants traffic lights to be installed at the intersection.

City manager Ron Bowles, delivering a response on behalf of director of engineering services Mark Allard, said residents and businesses in the area had expressed concern about "regular close calls" at the intersection even before the fatality.

Going over the history of the intersection, Bowles said it was a three-way stop when first installed in 1995 and became a four-way intersection in 1999 when Highway 110 was extended southward. Because it is a highway, it is under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

"The city continues to work with Manitoba Infrastructure on a timely resolution and to be actively involved in their safety audit," Bowles read from Allards response. "The city recommends that action of the safety audit be taken immediately by Manitoba Infrastructure."

He also said the city wants the province to dedicate infrastructure improvement funds to make the intersection safer and to carry out the following actions: install improved rumble strips along Highway 110, improve the advance warning of stop conditions on Highway 110 and post speed reductions approaching the intersection that would reduce the speed on the highway from 100 km/h to 80 km/h and from 90 km/h to 70 km/h.

"Its nice to see the city is taking this concern extremely [seriously]," Chaboyer said in response to Bowles report. "Its important not only for the citizens of Brandon but also for the workers ... from the Maple Leaf plant who have called me with concerns.

"I think what youre recommending is something that could be implemented sooner rather than later and is a good solution, but I still hear from a lot of folks that the preference would be to totally stop traffic and put lights there. Im hoping once this audit is done, that will be looked at in the utmost serious way."

Bowles also delivered an update on the ongoing work to replace water mains and rebuild roads at and around the intersection of 26th Street and Willowdale Crescent. He said paving has started and the intention is to fully reopen the intersection by the end of day today. New traffic signals will be installed before work pauses for the winter.

However, there will be periodic lane closures going forward as needed.

Providing an update from the Keystone Centre board, Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre) said an audit of the 2020-21 fiscal year is being completed this month.

The federal Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy is close to expiring, which is a financial concern to the venue. Luebke said he believes the Keystone will qualify for an extension, but the rate at which it will cover wages is still unknown.

Another financial concern for the centre is the recent increase in the price of natural gas, which recently saw an almost doubling in price, because of the extra costs it will incur to heat such a large building. However, Luebke said natural gas currently represents only one-third of the venues monthly bill from Manitoba Hydro.

In preparation for the Keystone Centres annual general meeting, happening Jan. 13, 2022, the board of directors is looking to appoint two new at-large directors.

Those interested should reach out either to Luebke or venue general manager Jeff Schumacher.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
A man who stole from Superstore and contaminated thousands of pounds of grain by sleeping on it told a court he has reached rock bottom on Monday.

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A man who stole from Superstore and contaminated thousands of pounds of grain by sleeping on it told a court he has reached rock bottom on Monday.

Dwayne Moar, 42, pleaded guilty on Monday to break-and-enter and two counts of theft in incidents from earlier in the summer.

Crown attorney Andrew Sieklicki said the incidents started on March 30, when a loss prevention officer at Brandons Superstore saw Moar take some items and leave.

Later in the day, police found Moar standing outside the store in question and arrested him, Sieklicki said. At the time, he had approximately $75 worth of items on him, including shoes and a hat. All the items were returned to the store.

A few months later, on June 30, Sieklicki said police received another call from Superstore, saying Moar again stole from the store.

Police discovered him later in the 600 block of Sixth Street, where they found him with shoes and sunglasses from the store.

Then, on July 4, Portage la Prairie RCMP received a call from a local agricultural co-op. The operations manager at the business said Moar snuck in the night before and slept on a grain bin, Sieklicki said.

He also took approximately $1,500 worth of items, the Crown said.

"As a result of him having slept on grain, approximately a $2,000 tote of grain had [been contaminated] and had to be reprocessed, costing the facility approximately $2,355," Sieklicki said, describing it as an "unfortunate decision."

Sieklicki recommended a total sentence of four months in jail for the crimes, along with a restitution order for the stolen goods and grain reprocessing cost.

Defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn said Moar had issues with transiency and struggles to explain his actions over the last few months.

Moar had been released from jail before the July 4 incident and decided to walk back to Dauphin from Winnipeg rather than wait for a ride. He couldnt make it back in one day, so he decided to sleep in Portage la Prairie.

"Obviously, there were other options for him in terms of where he could have slept  Hes still to some extent confused why he had this behaviour going," he said.

Despite the charges, Synyshyn said Moar is able to get some stability in his life and needs to reorient his life.

Speaking to the court, Moar apologized for the charges and said he has previously struggled with addiction to methamphetamine.

"Id like to apologize for all the crap that Ive done here. It was a short period of time, but I got really lost, and I just want to stay away from that drug. I want to get my life back," he said.

"I hit rock bottom."

Judge Donovan Dvorak said he hopes "rock bottom" will be a new start and Moar can stay sober.

He sentenced him to a total of four months in jail, minus time served, and a year of supervised probation.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Making good on their promise from last week, custodians and cleaners working for the Rolling River School Division officially went on strike Monday morning.

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TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN Rolling River School Division custodians and cleaners, who are also members of CUPE 1630, hit the picket lines Monday to strike for wage parity.

Making good on their promise from last week, custodians and cleaners working for the Rolling River School Division officially went on strike Monday morning.

Twenty-one members of CUPE 1630 gathered outside Rolling River headquarters in Minnedosa to make their grievances known to the public, highlighting a wage discrepancy that exists between them and other school support workers throughout the province.

The crowd was joined by CUPE Manitoba regional director Lee McLeod, who told the Sun Monday afternoon that their strike has been well-received by members of the community so far.

"Theres lots of public support, lots of people honking and people coming out to watch. And theres other staff in the building who are going in the back door just out of respect," McLeod said over the phone. "So its really nice."

CUPE 1630 members declared their intention to strike on Oct. 25, stipulating that all 21 custodians and cleaners currently employed by Rolling River would walk out on the job if their demands for wage parity are not met.

This would involve the division signing off on annual wage increases of 1.6 per cent, 1.4 per cent, 0.5 per cent, and a cost-of-living adjustment over a four-year period between 2018-19 and 2021-22.

TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN Rolling River School Division custodians and cleaners, who are also members of CUPE 1630, hit the picket lines Monday to strike for wage parity.

This is the same deal Manitoba teachers secured earlier this year.

CUPE 1630 president Kevin Jay told the Sun Monday morning the Rolling River administration has repeatedly refused to meet this demand, even though most other school divisions in the province have already secured this wage increase for their support workers.

While the Rolling River administration had an opportunity to address the issue at last Wednesdays board of trustees meeting, Jay said the offer they came up with fell short of the unions expectations.

"Like Ive stated before, there [are] 22 school divisions in the province of Manitoba that have signed off on parity," he said. "So when you think of 22 divisions that didnt even squabble over this, and ours just said no, this isnt happening."

The CUPE 1630 president believes the offer is particularly insulting given all the extra work the 21 custodians and cleaners have put into making Rolling Rivers 12 schools safe for staff and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We stepped up, and it would be nice if they stepped up, too," Jay said. "We did our part. We came together. We didnt ask. We didnt hesitate. When this pandemic hit  we didnt even question it. We just said  were here for you."

Rolling River interim Supt. Jason Cline wrote in an email to the Sun that the school division "respects the work of all employees and is committed to reaching a resolution with all employee groups."

"The division believes in and respects the collective bargaining process, and that bargaining is best done between the parties at the bargaining table," Cline wrote.

Cline didnt answer the Suns follow-up inquiry by press time, including clarification on the unions claim that the division is bringing in temporary workers to replace the custodians and cleaners on strike.

If this claim is true, McLeod said using sanitation workers who arent as familiar with the unique needs and layout of each Rolling River school could put students and staff at risk.

"The concern is theyre not as familiar with the protocols to make sure the schools are clean and are up to the kind of standards that are normally there when you have people who are trained and who do the job day in and day out," he said.

According to a Monday news release from the union, CUPE 1630 members say the best way to end the strike is for parents and community members to contact their Rolling River school trustee directly and ask them to pass the wage increases that are in line with other school divisions.

"Were willing to sit down and talk with them at any time," McLeod said. "These are very reasonable people on the picket line, and its simply a matter of fairness. Theyre just simply asking for what everyone else has been given in their contract negotiations."

Three hundred employees of the Lord Selkirk School Division said they are preparing to take similar action, but a strike date hadnt been declared as of Monday evening.

The Rolling River School Division includes 12 different institutions and five Hutterite colony schools that are located in Westman communities, such as Minnedosa, Rivers, Forrest, Erickson, Rapid City and Douglas.

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter:@KyleDarbyson
Brandon University students and staff looking to attend in-person activities on campus are officially out of luck if they arent fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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Brandon University students and staff looking to attend in-person activities on campus are officially out of luck if they arent fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The policy came into effect Monday, said BU marketing and communications director Grant Hamilton, who told the Sun the school is breaking from K-12 institutions that give employees the choice to either get fully immunized or submit to rapid testing three times a week.

"Were not offering rapid testing as a choice," Hamilton said over the phone Monday. "The default expectation is that youre fully vaccinated to keep everybody safe."

However, Hamilton said, BU is providing an alternative pathway for students and staff with medical or religious exemptions, alongside people who are partially vaccinated and weeks away from receiving full immunity.

"So were accommodating those people with testing on campus, but were talking about a handful of people, all told. Like three dozen people," he said. "And that includes all the people who are partially vaccinated."

BU first unveiled its vaccine mandate in late August, telling the public in a news release that all staff and students must be fully immunized by no later than Oct. 31 if they wish to attend on-campus activities.

The university then hosted a series of pop-up vaccine clinics in September and October. Within five clinics, 97 doses of vaccine were administered  many of which were first doses, according to Hamilton. Once students and staff prove theyve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they can access BUs facilities on campus by scanning their ID cards or employee key fobs, respectively.

"And all those [passes] are individually verified before the approval is granted," Hamilton said. "After it is granted it works seamlessly, but the turnaround time has been a little longer due to the demand over the last couple of days."

Hamilton admits that enforcing the vaccine restrictions will be a challenge, especially since so many BU students and employees are accustomed to holding doors open for other members of the school community.

"Were Canadian. Were all very polite. Its very nice to hold the door open for somebody," he said. "But at this point, thats not something we can do right now."

Not everyone is happy with BUs vaccine mandate  at least one student claims the policy has already interrupted their schooling.

An anonymous person created a petition on change.org this weekend. The person, who identifies themselves as a "concerned Brandon University student," claims that their Monday class, Tuesday lab and an upcoming assignment have all been cancelled since their professor decided not to get vaccinated.

As a result, the student is requesting that BU amend its vaccine policy to accommodate people who do not wish to receive the vaccine.

"Employees are not being given the option of rapid testing, or to work from home," the student wrote. "Im asking you all to help me stand up for whats right, which is individuals being able to make this health decision without the threat of their employment or education being put at risk."

The petition, "Request to Brandon University to Amend their Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate," had collected more than 660 digital signatures as of Monday afternoon.

While Hamilton admits the BU administration did have to deal with these disruptions on Monday, he said they are extremely small in number and will mostly be resolved by Wednesday.

"I think there are two classes  that werent able to be conducted today," he said. "But well have replacement instructors for the rest of the term in place and ready to go."

Moving forward, Hamilton encourages the remaining holdouts to get the jab, since the vaccine will be one of the key factors that will help BU return to pre-pandemic operations in the future.

After all, on top of requiring students and staff to be fully vaccinated as of Monday, BU has already implemented a variety of other safety measures for all on-campus activity.

"Were continuing the 25-person class limit, were continuing to enforce masks on campus, were continuing to require physical distancing, [and] weve enhanced ventilation," Hamilton said. "So were really hopeful that vaccines are one of the things that can help us get back to something a little bit more normal in the near future."

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter:@KyleDarbyson
VICTORIA - British Columbia will consult First Nations about deferring the logging of big, ancient and rare old-growth trees across 26,000 square kilometres of forests.

Fresh sawdust is seen from a tree cut near near Port Renfrew, B.C. Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

VICTORIA - British Columbia will consult First Nations about deferring the logging of big, ancient and rare old-growth trees across 26,000 square kilometres of forests.

The provincial government announced Tuesday that an independent panel of scientific experts has mapped priority areas and it's asking First Nations to decide within 30 days whether they support the deferrals or require further discussion.

B.C. is following the recommendations of an independent review released last fall, which found inaction could result in permanent loss for the most at-risk old-growth ecosystems, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy told a news conference.

The government will immediately stop selling BC Timber Sales licences in the priority areas identified by the panel, Conroy said, and further deferrals will be determined through agreements with Indigenous nations.

Forest licence holders may then volunteer to stop harvesting in the specified areas, or the deferrals would be implemented under the Forest Act, which allows for a pause of up to 10 years, with compensation required after four years.

The initial deferrals would last two years, Conroy said, allowing for consultation with First Nations about old-growth management in their territories.

After that, old-growth forests identified as being at risk would either remain off limits for logging or be included in new, more sustainable management plans.

An analysis by the government found that up to 4,500 jobs could be affected if logging is permanently deferred across all 26,000 square kilometres, Conroy said.

The province is working on programs to help affected forestry workers and communities, she said, including skills training opportunities, bridge funding for workers near retirement and supports for local job creation.

Details on support programs are coming in the weeks ahead, Conroy said.

Susan Yurkovich, president of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said in a statement the plan would have a "profound and devastating impact" on the industry, which provided more than $4 billion in revenues to the province over the last year.

The council's initial analysis suggested the deferrals would result in the closure of between 14 and 20 sawmills, two pulp mills as well as manufacturing facilities, representing about 18,000 jobs and $400 million in annual revenue, Yurkovich said.

MLA Mike de Jong, who held the forestry and finance portfolios under previous Liberal governments, rose in the legislature Tuesday to ask Conroy whether her government would release a detailed analysis of the deferral plan so the public can understand how many mills and jobs could be affected.

Conroy responded that the government has a new vision, where the oldest forests are protected, where Indigenous Peoples are full partners in their management, and where innovation in the forestry industry will sustain jobs for generations to come.

A series of environmental organizations also weighed Tuesday. Statements from the Wilderness Committee, Ancient Forest Alliance, Stand.earth and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance said they were encouraged over the government's use of scientific analysis to identify at-risk old-growth forests, but emphasized that thousands of square kilometres remain available for logging.

While B.C.'s deferral plan includes more than $12 million over three years to support First Nations through the process, the statements also say more funding is needed to ensure nations and other communities have the economic support they need.

Adam Olsen, a Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip First Nation, said in a statement B.C. didn't properly consult with First Nations prior to releasing details on the deferral plan and now it's giving them just 30 days to decide if they support it.

"I'm relieved to see funding tied to this tight timeline, but so far, First Nations have been very clear that they do not feel adequately heard on forest management."

B.C.'s announcement comes as world leaders pledged to end deforestation at the United Nations climate conference in Scotland. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told media there that Canada has a responsibility to protect forests as global temperatures rise.

Also Tuesday, B.C. updated its calculation of how much old-growth remains in the province based on data gathered in 2020-21.

The scientific advisory panel found 111,000 square kilometres remained, down from 137,000, and it broke the remaining old-growth down into three categories to guide the deferrals: big, rare and ancient old-growth trees.

It calculated 62,000 square kilometres of forests with big trees, of which 21,000 were already protected, and recommended the deferral of an additional 17,000 square kilometres.

It recommended the deferral of all remaining ancient old-growth for a total of 6,000 square kilometres, and all remaining 8,000 square kilometres of rare old-growth.

The logging of old-growth forests has created friction over the last year, with a court injunction against logging protests in the Fairy Creek area on southern Vancouver Island resulting in more than 1,150 arrests by the RCMP since May.

Earlier this year, B.C. had announced the temporary deferral of harvesting across 196,000 hectares of old-growth forests in nine different areas next fall.

Conroy introduced a bill last month to amend B.C.'s Forest and Range Practices Act, which she said would reshape forest management. A new system of forest landscape plans developed in partnership with First Nations, local communities and others would prioritize forest health, replacing the current system of stewardship developed largely by industry, she said.

The province has been working with the forestry industry on those changes, which are expected to come into effect over the next year, Conroy said.

 by Brenna Owen in Vancouver

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021.
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Its too easy to miss brilliant streaming shows, movies and documentaries. Here are the ones to hit play on or skip.

My Name 

Netflix

Korean TV is really having a moment in Australia. Squid Game has been hogging all the headlines but other South Korean series have been tearing up Netflixs Australian top 10. My Name, a stylish and spectacular crime-and-revenge drama, is perhaps the most epic of the lot.

Consumed by rage, Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee) vows to avenge the death of her father in the gripping Korean crime thriller My Name. Credit:Netflix

The central figure is Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee), who has just turned 17 when she sees her gangster father murdered by a hooded man in the hallway outside their apartment. Consumed by rage and grief, she seeks out her fathers best friend and partner in crime, drug boss Choi Mu-jin (Park Hee-son), and demands that he find and kill the killer. That he cant immediately do. But he can give her a place in the filthy, brutal martial-arts gym in which his aspiring thugs live and serve an apprenticeship, learning the violence that they will eventually be doing on Chois behalf.
The atmosphere at the Glasgow climate talks shifted from one of crashing doubt to faint hope as the second day of talks and speeches by world leaders drew to a close with a string of announcements of emission reduction initiatives.

The most significant work was done in the afternoon, when President Joe Biden alongside EU President Ursula von der Leyen officially launched a Global Methane Pledge, with over 80 nations declaring they would cut methane emission by 30 per cent by 2030.

The days big wins

If the goals are met, it would see the world avoid 0.2 degrees of warming by 2050.

Cutting back on methane emissions is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce near-term global warming and keep 1.5 degrees, said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. It is the lowest hanging fruit.
What does it take to launch a new school?

Ideally, for starters, the principal should have access to the school grounds.

Greenvale Residents Association spokesman Mark Busuttil; Yola and Charbel Hadchity and their four children Jason, 11, Sally-Rose, 9, Joseph, 7 and Mikayla, 7; and principal Mark Natoli. Credit:Joe Armao

But the front gates of Greenvale Secondary College remain locked for foundation principal Mark Natoli, as he prepares for its grand opening in 2022.

A principal being unable to access the construction site of the school he will run next year is among a long list of issues nobody saw coming before the pandemic hit, but its not one that fazes Mr Natoli.
The Perth Childrens Court has heard an alleged plot to kill a Willetton Senior High School teacher and set fire to the school by two female year 8 students was two weeks in the making.

The 14-year-old girl allegedly at the centre of the plot texted her 13-year-old friend about her research into where best to stab the 55-year-old female teacher in order to sever an artery, and how many gas valves there were and how much kindling would be needed to set fire to the school room, the court heard.

Police at Willetton Senior High School after the stabbing. Credit:Nine News Perth

The younger student accused of being an accomplice by smuggling a 25-centimetre kitchen knife in her school bag in the lead up to the stabbing had texted back that sounds fun and thats so cool over the plot, according to a state prosecutor.

The 13-year-old, still dressed in her school uniform, had earlier been cleared of any mental health or self-harm concerns by a court-appointed counsellor, who described her as polite, quiet and reserved.
Mr Turnbull, who has fallen out with Mr Morrison since losing power in a leadership spill three years ago, said the French leader had been misled because the Australian government had tried to keep its options open while it explored a deal with the United States and the United Kingdom. When a prime minister behaves disingenuously or dissembles or is dishonest, it will reflect on his or her credibility, it will reflect on the credibility of their party and the government, he said. Scott Morrison and French President Emmanuel Macron, who called the Australian Prime Minister a liar. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But when you do that as leader of the nation, internationally, it reflects on us all. Deceiving people is bad wherever you do it but when you do it at an international level it has much graver ramifications.

Australia struck a landmark deal with French company Naval Group in 2016 for a fleet of submarines to be built in Adelaide but dropped the deal on September 16 (AEST) this year and announced a nuclear submarine alliance with the US and UK. Loading Mr Morrison has confirmed he received a text from Mr Macron on about September 13 asking whether there would be good or bad news about the contract, but this did not lead to a conversation. The new alliance, called AUKUS, was announced two days later as a plan to build nuclear-powered submarines, in a statement that also meant the French contract was cancelled from that point. The AUKUS announcement came only two weeks after Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton issued a statement with their French counterparts on August 30 emphasising the importance of the future submarine program and agreeing to strengthen military research between the two countries.

Morrison created the impression to the French that everything was going ahead at the same time he was planning to pull the plug if he got a better deal, Mr Turnbull said. That would be regarded as sharp practice in the property development sector, let alone between nations. Turnbull, pictured, said Scott Morrison had lied to him on many occasions. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Morrison has denied lying to Mr Macron and argued that he chose to have a private dinner with the French leader in Paris in June to give him a clear warning that Naval Group might lose the contract because Australia was looking at alternatives. The dinner was held a few days after Mr Morrison agreed on the AUKUS plan with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but the Australian leader did not tell the French President that the US and UK were the alternative options for Australia.

Only at that point had it then escalated to the possibility and likelihood of us potentially going down another track, said Mr Morrison of the June talks. Now, at that point I made it very clear that a conventional diesel-powered submarine was not going to meet Australias strategic requirements. We discussed that candidly. I did not discuss what other alternatives we were looking at. They were in confidence and they were subject to the security arrangements we had about those other discussions. Mr Turnbull said it was wrong for Mr Morrison to claim that Australia had gained access to UK and US nuclear submarine technology it had been denied in the past. He said Australia could have sought this technology in the past but did not do so because it chose conventional submarines.

Mr Turnbull also argued the submarine deal with France, which was decided when he and Mr Morrison were in federal cabinet as prime minister and treasurer respectively, could have been converted into a nuclear submarine program over time because Naval Group built nuclear submarines. Loading And he rejected the governments argument that the US and UK submarines were better than French options because they used a single nuclear reactor fitted to a submarine for life with no need to be refuelled. Mr Turnbull said it was wrong to say this would not require a civil nuclear industry of some kind in Australia unless the submarines were maintained in the US or UK. He also warned that the Australian plan could trigger problems with nuclear proliferation because it required access to highly enriched uranium and could lead to countries like Iran demanding they could do the same. Mr Turnbull, who said he had spoken to Mr Macron about the matter, said the events had revealed shocking conduct by the Prime Minister.
Malnourished, neglected and distressed aged care residents were left to fend for themselves during coronavirus outbreaks last year, with a new report revealing some residents were not able to be identified in their own homes due to a lack of records.

Families of elderly residents who died in last years St Basils outbreak blasted the federal government for releasing the report on Melbourne Cup Day and its failure to acknowledge federal responsibility for the sector, as the number of COVID-19 aged care deaths hit 806.

Christine Golding and her mother, Efraxia, at St Basil's.

The Independent Review COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities, subtitled no time for complacency, was conducted by Professor Lyn Gilbert and Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly, who handed their report to the federal government on April 30.

The report said during last years COVID-19 aged care outbreaks, residents care plans and medical records were often missing, inaccessible or out of date, there were language barriers, and some residents could not be identified.
Kabul: At least 25 people were killed and more than 50 wounded when gunmen attacked Afghanistans biggest military hospital after two heavy explosions at the site in central Kabul, officials said.

The explosions hit the entrance of the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital and were followed with an assault by a group of Islamic State gunmen, all of whom were killed within 15 minutes, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

A Taliban soldier sends people away after an explosion at the entrance of a military hospital in Kabul. Credit:AP

He said Taliban special forces dropped by helicopter had prevented the attackers from entering the hospital itself, with all killed at the entrance or in the courtyard. Earlier another spokesman said one of the attackers was captured.

The blasts add to a growing list of attacks and killings since the Taliban completed their victory over the Western-backed government in August, undermining their claim to have restored security to Afghanistan after decades of war.
New York: Facebook says it has removed a troll farm with more than 1000 Facebook and Instagram accounts which it was said was run by the Nicaraguan government and the countrys ruling party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

The social media company said the troll farm - a coordinated effort to manipulate public discourse using fake accounts - was intended to amplify pro-government and anti-opposition content. It said it had been active on its platforms for five years and was primarily operated by staff of TELCOR, Nicaraguas telecoms watchdog, working from the postal service headquarters in capital Managua.

Nicaraguas President Daniel Ortega. Credit:AP

The Supreme Court, which has been an Ortega ally, and the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute also ran smaller clusters of fake accounts, Facebook said.

The Supreme Court and the office of Vice-President Rosario Murillo, the spokeswoman for President Daniel Ortega and his government, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment about the report.
Glasgow: At the heart of the collapse of Emmanuel Macron and Scott Morrisons relationship are two questions: did the Australian Prime Minister lie to the French President; and are both leaders now telling the whole story in their high-stakes slanging match?

Macrons charge is that the federal government systematically duped France while plotting to torpedo a $90 billion submarine contract. The French Presidents simmering anger burst into the open in Rome on Sunday night when he took the extraordinary step of branding Morrison a liar.

A visibly agitated Morrison denied the allegation and then sharpened his attack the next morning in Glasgow. Macron had more than enough information to know the contract was in jeopardy, Morrison insisted. And for the first time, he also cited problems with the mammoth contract as a factor behind the decision to ditch it in favour of a nuclear submarine pact with the United States and United Kingdom.

Having been labelled a liar on the world stage, Morrison was more than entitled to fire back and many colleagues believe the Prime Ministers candid tone should have been deployed in September when the AUKUS pact first went public and the French went ballistic.
Moscow: A top Russian security official met the visiting chief of the Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday AEDT, a rare encounter amid tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council, met CIA Director William Burns in Moscow to discuss US-Russian relations, Patrushevs office said in a statement without providing any details.

CIA Director William Burns. Credit:AP

Ties between the two countries have badly frayed over Russias interference with US elections and 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, its support for a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, hacking attacks and other irritants.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a June summit in Geneva in an attempt to make relations between their nations more stable and predictable.
Alchemist Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) will move Jaisalmer district court on November 8 against rejection of bail to its director Pratip Chaudhuri, who is a former chairman of the

The Rajasthan Police had on Sunday arrested Chaudhuri in Delhi in connection with an alleged loan scam. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days for an alleged sale of a non-performing asset (NPA) Hotel Gaudavan  to Alchemist at a low value. The arrest was made on the basis of a protest petition filed by former directors of Hotel Gaudavan before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Jaisalmer.

The court issued arrest warrants against eight people, including Chaudhuri. Seven others are yet to be arrested. Alchemist will also file a review petition with the court, challenging the arrest warrants against other directors of the

Sachin Gupta, advocate for Alchemist ARC, said the due process of law was not followed in the case. "Courts are closed this week on account of Diwali and we will move court next week (Monday)... If the plea, including the stay on arrests, is not granted, we will consider approaching a higher legal forum (high court), Gupta said.
By Simon Jessop and Ross Kerber

GLASGOW/BOSTON (Reuters) - Inc told Reuters it has raised a target-beating $673 million for an fund with backing from the French, German and Japanese governments to invest in climate-focused projects such as renewable energy in emerging markets.

The world's largest money manager hopes the fund, announced on Tuesday and dubbed the Climate Finance Partnership, will show how to mobilize private capital in developing countries to tackle climate change, a sticking point at United Nations climate talks under way in Glasgow. Investors have been wary of investing in risky projects without more certainty they will get a return.

State-owned development banks from France, Germany and Japan and philanthropic institutions such as the Grantham Environmental Trust and the Quadrivium Foundation are providing 20% of the fund's capital and have agreed to take losses before other investors.

While a number of multibillion-dollar renewable energy funds have been raised over the last year to help build out solar, wind and other projects, the vast bulk has been spent in richer countries offering investors lower risk.

Emerging economies, including countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, will need around $1 trillion a year out to 2050 to help them transition to a low-carbon economy, said. In 2020, just $150 billion was invested, excluding China.

and the fund's other backers are trying to muster more support for such emerging markets-focused initiatives at the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The new fund could help developed nations meet a target of mobilizing $100 billion a year to help poorer countries tackle climate change.

Among the fund's 22 backers were French energy company TotalEnergies and institutional investors including AXA and Dai-ichi Life Insurance. The fund comfortably beat its fundraising target of $500 million, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said on Tuesday, speaking at the Green Horizon Summit, held alongside the COP26 climate talks in Scotland.

"We could have raised a lot more and this is a great example of leveraging what public capital can do," Fink said. He also backed the concept of energy spinning off a portion of their assets and said world leaders should rethink how institutions like the World Bank could be reformed to harness more private-sector lending.

"We're going to have to change finance," he said.

The fund has a typical 10-year lock-up with a five-year investment period, with the average equity investment likely to be in the $25 million-$75 million range, David Giordano, global head of renewable power at BlackRock Alternative Investors, told Reuters.

"One of the key things that we talked about with our partners back in 2018, when we started down this path, was really coming up with something that was simple but did provide that sense of de-risking the emerging markets," Giordano said.

Kenya, Morocco and Egypt were all attractive for investment, as were Peru and Vietnam, where the government was "really committed" to the energy transition, Giordano said.

Renewable energy in non-OECD countries is expected to represent 49% of global energy capacity by 2050, Edwin Conway, global head of BlackRock Alternative Investors, said.

"Now, that's huge ... I think we're talking about decades, with regard to the opportunities that are ahead," Conway said.

(Reporting by Simon Jessop in Glasgow and Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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owner Meta Platforms on Tuesday denied a claim by the Kazakh government that it had been granted exclusive access to the social network's content reporting system.

In what it called a joint statement with Facebook, the Kazakh government had touted the move as a compromise solution on Monday, after the Central Asian nation threatened to block for millions of local users.

The Nur-Sultan cabinet had said an agreement, which would have been the first of its kind in the post-Soviet region of Central Asia, would streamline the process of removing content deemed illegal by

But in an email to Reuters, Ben McConaghy, Meta Platforms director for policy communications in Asia-Pacific, said, "Firstly, we did not issue a joint statement with the Kazakh government - instead, the Kazakh government released their own statement based on discussions we've had with them about our global process for requests from governments to restrict content that violates local law."

He added that the process "is not an exclusive to and is the same process that governments have around the world".

The oil-rich nation's parliament in September started working on a bill that would let the government block social network and messaging apps unless their developers open offices in the country and appoint executives personally responsible for reviewing the authorities' complaints.

Deputy Aidos Sarym, one of the bill's developers, said on his page on Monday that the bill had paved way for talks with tech giants and the authorities were now ready to soften its provisions.

Critics of the bill have accused the authorities of the autocratic nation of 19 million of seeking to gain new censorship tools, while the bill's authors say it aims to prevent cyber-bullying and the spread of other dangerous content.

The government has said there were at least 3.2 million Facebook users in Other Meta Platforms applications such as Instagram and WhatsApp are even more popular.

Facebook has long faced criticism from rights group for being too compliant with government censorship requests.

The service has mostly avoided shutdowns outside of countries such as China, where it has long been blocked, but has faced pressure this year in a number of countries including India, Vietnam and Myanmar.

(Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by William Maclean and Kenneth Maxwell)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The of Fino garnered lukewarm response with the issue getting subscribed just two times on Tuesday, the concluding day of the issue. The institutional portion was subscribed 1.65 times, the wealthy investor portion by 21 per cent, the retail investor portion was subscribed close to six times, and the portion reserved for employees by 93 per cent.

Fino had priced its IPO between Rs 560-577 per share.

The IPO consisted of Rs 300 crore of fresh fund raise and Rs 900 crore of secondary share sale by promoter Fino Paytech. The bank will use the fresh proceeds to augment its tier-1 capital base to meet its future capital requirements.

Fino Payments Banks parent Fino Paytech counts BPCL (22.9 per cent stake), Blackstone (15.1 per cent), ICICI Prudential Life (9.1 per cent), Intel Capital (5.7 per cent) as its shareholders.

Fino Paytech currently holds 100 per cent stake in Fino Following the IPO, its stake will decline to 75 per cent. At the top-end of the price band, will have a market cap of Rs 4,800 crore.

This will be the first IPO of a payments bank. PayTM, which too has a payments bank license, will launch next week.

The company exists in a stiff competitive environment where like PayTM Payments Bank and India Post Payments bank exist and outperform in many aspects. We thus believe that the current growth momentum is difficult to sustain in the long term. Hence we give an AVOID rating to this IPO, BP Wealth said in a note.

Bulk of revenues come from fee income and it follows an asset-lite model. It offers services like remittances, micro-ATM, business correspondent (BC) banking, Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and third party products distribution.

In FY21, reported gross revenues of Rs 780 crore and net profit of Rs 20.5 crore.
An Indian antitrust investigation into suspected price collusion by some prominent global agricultural firms was triggered by farmers who complained about excessive pricing of imported carrot seeds, documents seen by Reuters showed.

A group representing about 1,500 farmers in the mountainous Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, a top carrot-growing state in southern India, petitioned the watchdog in 2019 alleging that an "unfair profit margin" was being charged on the carrot seeds, the regulatory documents showed.

This is the first time the complaint is coming into public view. It has touched off an investigation that has the potential to affect pricing practices in an Indian vegetable seed market expected to be worth $1.2 billion in five years.

In some instances, the agricultural firms' seeds were allegedly being sold at four times the imported price, according to the documents. The farmers were also denied sale of such seeds in the northern parts of India where they were available at prices up to 50% cheaper, they alleged, according to the documents.

As part of the investigation, the (CCI) conducted a multi-city search and seizure operation on Sept. 8 at the local units of Germany's BASF (BASFn.DE), France's Vilmorin & Cie (VILM.PA) and other firms. The watchdog as a policy does not disclose any ongoing cartel investigations.

"There appears to be an understanding/arrangement between the seed importing to control the supply of imported variety of carrot seeds and determine their prices," the CCI said in May last year in a confidential order, in which it asked its investigation unit to look into the matter.

There "appears to be a restriction on dealers not to sell to farmers other than those belonging to a particular region," and the CCI believed "seed companies/distributors/dealers are apparently using their market power" to control demand and supply in the Nilgiris, added the eight-page order.

The subsequent September 2021 raids were conducted at the local units of BASF, Vilmorin's HM Clause, a former distributor entity of Dutch-based Bejo Zaden and some other Indian entities, two people familiar with the operation said.

The investigation could take several months to complete and opens up seed firms and their executives to fines if they are found guilty of violating India's antitrust laws, the sources added.

The CCI did not respond to a request for comment.

BASF spokesperson Ulia de Domenech said in a statement Nunhems India - its vegetable seeds unit which was raided - was committed to complying with Indian laws and was cooperating with all regulators, including the CCI.

A Bejo India official, who declined to be named, said the company sells seeds at same prices to all distributors and in different geographical regions.

Franck Berger, Vilmorin's head of vegetable seeds, told reporters in France last month five were raided in India in the case, adding that HM Clause assisted the authorities.

Spokespersons for Bejo and HM Clause did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

CCI's RAID OPERATION

India's vegetable seed market is set to be worth $1.2 billion by 2026, growing 10% a year since 2020, according to research firm Mordor Intelligence. The country is among the top 15 carrot producers in the world, industry estimates show.

The farmers' 2019 complaint cited an example in which an HM Clause's carrot seed variant was allegedly imported at 7,000 rupees ($93.63) per kilogram and sold at four times the price. A similar margin was charged allegedly on a variant of Bejo's seeds.

The farmers also alleged that when they provided positive feedback on the seeds, company dealers jacked up their prices, which were also different across south and north India.

Ahead of ordering the broader investigation, two CCI officials visited the region last year and interviewed farmers and government officials and collected some seed samples from a laboratory, according to a separate internal CCI report. One farmer during that visit showed the CCI a message on his phone to claim prices of same seeds were different in north and south India, the document stated.

The CCI's confidential order noted that as the same type of carrot seed can be used across India, there was "no apparent reason" for selling them at different prices.

During the September raids, data from laptops and smartphones was copied by CCI officials, and some executives were questioned about their practices, the two sources said.

Carrot is a key crop grown in the Nilgiri mountains and R. Rangasamy, president of the complainant farmer group, the Nilgiri Potato & Vegetables Growers Association, told Reuters farmers were suffering due to the high pricing and sale curbs.

"The methodology to fix rates is not transparent ... We are incurring heavy losses because of this randomness," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Domestic steel maker JSPL on Tuesday reported a nearly three-fold rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,584 crore during the September quarter, mainly on account of increased income.

Its net profit was Rs 897 crore in the year-ago period, Limited (JSPL) said in a regulatory filing.

The company's total income during the July-September quarter rose to Rs 13,615 crore from Rs 8,295 crore a year ago.

Its expenses increased to Rs 10,109 crore against Rs 7,066 crore in the year-ago period.

On a standalone basis, JSPL posted a net profit of Rs 2,711 crore, higher than Rs 998 crore in the year-ago period.

Its income increased to Rs 13,280 crore from Rs 7,871 crore.

The company's standalone expenses during the period under review were Rs 9,655 crore against Rs 6,546 crore in the year-ago quarter.

In a separate statement, the company said it produced 1.93 million tonnes (MT) steel during the quarter and sold 2.13 MT steel.

Its pellet output was 1.80 MT and sold 0.20 MT.

"Consolidated net debt has declined further to Rs 11,164 crore in 2QFY22 from Rs 15,227 crore in June quarter. Conclusion of Jindal Power divestment (accounted as an asset held for sale) will result in net debt declining further by Rs 3,015 crore, taking JSPL closer to its vision of becoming a debt-free company by FY23," it said.

Sharing details of its global business, the company said its Chirodzi mine in Mozambique produced 954 KT ROM (kilo tonne run of mine). Mozambique operations reported an EBITDA of USD 17.2 million during the second quarter.

In South Africa, the Kiepersol mine produced 181 KT ROM. The mine reported an EBITDA of USD 1.8 million for the quarter on the back of improved coal prices.

The company's Russell Vale mine in Australia has started production after receiving the final go-ahead from the regulatory authorities. JSPL is expected to get the first shipment in the current month.

However, Wongawilli colliery continues to remain under care and maintenance as WCL (Wollongong Coal Limited) continues to work towards securing additional approval for restarting the mine.

In India, the company is also working towards setting up a slurry pipeline between Barbil and Angul in Odisha, which will not only help reduce logistics costs but also lower carbon and dust emissions associated with raw material transport through road.

"JSPL remains committed to continually improve its energy performance with a clear goal of bringing down our carbon emissions below 2tCO2/TCS by 2030 (2 tonnes of carbon dioxide/tonne of crude steel)," the statement said.

On the outlook for the steel sector, the company said after remaining subdued in 1H FY22, construction and infrastructure activities are expected to recover strongly in 2H FY22 or the second half of the financial year 2021-22, as a seasonally strong demand period sets in.

Taking a cue from falling seaborne iron ore prices, the domestic iron ore prices have also been declining for the past three months.

The domestic steel industry, however, continues to grapple with the sharp rise in the coking coal prices, it said.

Iron ore and coking coal are two main raw materials used to produce steel blast furnace route.

According to the statement, premium hard coking coal price has risen by 180 per cent so far in FY22 and currently trading close to USD 400/tonne.

With investments worth Rs 90,000 crore across the globe, JSPL has a significant presence in the steel, power and mining sectors.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ride-hailing firm has reported its first operating profit of Rs 89.82 crore for 2020-21, even as its revenue declined 65 per cent to Rs 689.61 crore amid Covid-19 induced lockdowns.

ANI Technologies, the parent company of Ola, had reported standalone operating profit (profit before finance cost, depreciation, amortisation and tax or EBITDA) of Rs 89.82 crore in FY21 on a standalone basis, while it had registered a loss of Rs 610.18 crore in the previous fiscal year, according to the regulatory documents sourced from business intelligence platform Tofler.

Ride hailing accounted for a majority share of the consolidated revenue for the firm which is planning to go for an initial public offering (IPO). is reportedly looking at raising over $1 billion via an IPO in the next few months.

ANI Technologies, also has food delivery and financial services offerings. It saw its operational loss narrowing to Rs 429.20 crore in FY21, while revenue declined 63 per cent to Rs 983.15 crore on a consolidated basis.

The gross merchandise value (GMV) of SoftBank-backed crossed the pre-pandemic levels in the week to August 31, Ola chief executive officer (CEO) Bhavish Aggarwal said in September this year. He said the recovery from the second wave of Covid-19 infections has been three times faster as compared with the first wave last year.

India is moving again. Our Ola cabs GMV crossed pre-covid levels last week. Recovery from the second wave is 3 times faster. Clearly, India is up and about, Aggarwal, the founder of the IPO-bound firm, had tweeted. Aggarwal had said that 10 ion people used Ola for the first in FY21. He said as people move, they want to feel safe so theyre switching to personal or shared mobility instead of public transport. Many are moving to autos taking our auto business to almost 150 per cent of pre-covid levels, Aggarwal had said.

Ola had said that the company is ensuring Ola rides are safe. It had said that it will have 100 per cent of its drivers vaccinated. The firm was onboarding more driver-partners, entering new cities and building new products to better serve all your mobility needs post covid.

Last year in May, Ola announced laying off 1,400 employees, or over 33 per cent of its workforce, as Covid-19 continued to pound the transportation industry. The firm had said it had to take this step because the situation was not expected to improve anytime soon. That time, the rival company Uber had also said it was slashing 3,000 jobs and closing dozens of offices globally.
Walmart-owned firm has launched SafeCard, a tokenisation solution for online debit and credit card transactions. This solution will enable both users and merchant partners to continue experiencing the convenience of saved card transactions with increased security, and in compliance with the new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. This solution supports all major card networks such as Mastercard, Rupay and Visa.

Tokenisation provides users an added layer of security by converting sensitive cardholder data to a string of randomly generated numbers known as a token. All a customer has to do is to provide a one time consent via OTP (one-time password) and undertake a transaction to tokenize their debit and/or credit card for the first time. This feature will enable users to utilise saved card details for seamless transactions across the PhonePe ecosystem.

RBIs new guideline mandating tokenization is timely and progressive for the Indian ecosystem. This will allow for the continued growth of digital payments, with the additional security that tokenization provides, said Ankit Gaur, Director of Online Business at PhonePe. Crucially, PhonePe SafeCard ensures that the added security doesnt impact the customer experience at all. We are also closely working with our large merchant base to take them live on this platform.

SafeCard will also enable PhonePe merchant partners to offer and use tokenisation on their own platforms via a simple Application programming interface (API) integration. With this solution, merchant partners can create, process, delete and modify tokens for online card payments with customers consent. This will save the merchant partners significant time and effort by removing the need to integrate with multiple card networks, while also ensuring full compliance with the guidelines.

PayU, a leading online payments solutions provider, announced the launch of its unique tokenisation solution PayU Token Hub, which will enable businesses to comply with Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI's) latest guidelines on online card data storage, while allowing issuing banks to also generate their own tokens. To help millions of Indian businesses comply with the new guidelines, fintech unicorn Razorpay had also announced the launch of Razorpay TokenHQ a multi-network Card-on-File (CoF) Tokenisation solution.
Civil Minister on Tuesday virtually flagged off IndiGo's flights on Bhopal-Raipur and Bhubaneswar-Jaipur routes, a statement said.

Both the flights will operate three times a week, IndiGo's statement said.

chief strategy and revenue officer Sanjay Kumar said, "Direct connections between Raipur and Bhopal will cater to the regional travel demand between the two states, while augmenting inter and intra-regional accessibility."



On Bhubaneswar-Jaipur flights, he said the introduction of these direct connections will not only bolster the airline's domestic network, but also cut down the travel time between the two states by more than 50 per cent.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To further push its digital platfrom Yono, the nation's largest lender State Bank of India has launched a pre-approved two-wheeler loan scheme provided it is applied online and the ticket size is under Rs 3 lakh.

Already, the bank gives a 5 basis points discount on home loans if it is applied online/Yono.

All eligible customers can avail of the digital two-wheeler loans through the Yono app without visiting a branch, the bank said in a statement.

Customers can apply for the 'easy ride' loan for up to Rs 3 lakh and a minimum loan of Rs 20,000, at 10.5 per cent per annum onwards for a maximum tenure of four years, said.

A pre-approved customer can also seek up to 85 per cent of the on-road price provided the tenor is only 48 months and the average EMI will be Rs 2,560 per lakh, it added.

The loan will be disbursed directly into the dealer's account.

It's our consistent effort to offer customised products and services and a hassle-free banking experience to our customers, chairman Dinesh Khara said.

Through Yono, SBI offers a gamut of banking and lifestyle services at the customer's doorsteps. Since its launch in November 2017, the app has seen 89 million downloads and over 42 million registered users. SBI has partnered with over 110 ecommerce players in over 20 plus categories on the platform.

As much as 91 million of its customers are using the Internet banking while the same for mobile banking is 20 million. The Yono app has more than 42 million registered users, and around 11 million of them login every day.

Accelerating the digital agenda, around 1.5 lakh accounts were opened through the app in the June quarter and disbursed Rs 2,430 crore of personal loans through the app in the same quarter.

SBI is not only the largest lender in terms of customers, deposits and advances and branches but also the largest mortgage lender with over 35 lakh home loan customers and the loan book of over Rs 5 lakh crore, which is 34.77 per cent of the home loan market. Its auto loan market share is 31.11 per cent as of June 2021.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In line with ongoing 5G trials in India, and have teamed up to showcase the power of 5G to transform the sector in India.

The 5G trial network set up by VIL on government allocated 3.5 GHz mid-band and 26 GHz mm Wave-band in Pune, deploys Radios and Dual Mode Core based on cloud-native technology.

"As part of the ongoing 5G trials in India, VIL and Ericsson have partnered to showcase the power of 5G to revolutionise the sector in India by showing how 5G connectivity can enable access to in remote parts of the country," a statement said.

Backed by ultra-high data speed, low latency and reliability of 5G, a doctor located in an urban centre can actually carry out an ultrasound scan on a patient in a remote rural location, it added.

This is being trialled by VIL using Ericsson's 5G infrastructure to showcase the power of the next-generation technology in taking healthcare to remote locations of the country, it added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India launched the ambitious One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) programme on the second day of the negotiations at the global climate conference COP26 on Tuesday.

The project was launched along with the Green Grids Initiative (GGI) of the UK. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Indian PM Narendra Modi jointly presented a One Sun Declaration. It was also decided to set up a Ministerial Steering Group, which includes France, India, the UK and the US, and will also have representatives from Africa, the Gulf, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Launching the OSOWOG, Modi said, I am hopeful that a common and strong global grid can be developed through cooperation between One Sun, One World & One Grid and Green Grid initiatives. He added that Isro will provide a solar calculator application to the world, which will be useful in deciding the location of solar projects and will strengthen OSOWOG initiative.

From India, the OSOWOG is led by the International (ISA). At the fourth assembly of ISA, held last month in India, 80 member countries endorsed a political One Sun Declaration, for the launch of GGI-OSOWOG at COP26 at Glasgow.

Ajay Mathur, director general, ISA, told Business Standard that the project would entail that networked cross-border grid systems will need to be put in place. While technicalities of the project are being worked out, there definitely will be an ecosystem of interconnected green grids required to meet the needs of 140 countries, he said.

The OSOWOG initiative was presented at the fourth assembly of ISA and as a key enabler of energy transition, the UK and India joined hands and merge the Green Grids Initiative (GGI) and OSOWOG into GGI-OSOWOG as part of bilateral cooperation, formalised during the UK-India Virtual Summit earlier this year.

Mathur said the GGI-OSOWOG will bring together a global coalition of governments, international financial and technical organisations, legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy.

PM Modi on the second day of his visit to COP26 also addressed the launch of the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative, which aims to provide technical support on the issues posed by infrastructure systems and promote disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure assets in Small Island developing states.

Modi said India will fully support this new project, and work closely with CDRI, other partner countries and the UN for its success. Through IRIS, it will be easier and faster for small islands to mobilize technology, finance, and necessary information, he said.
on Tuesday reported 1,078 fresh COVID-19 cases, a rise of 269 from a day ago, and 48 new fatalities, up from 10 the previous day, the health department said.

With these additions, the statewide tally rose to 66,12,965, while the death toll increased to 1,40,274, a department official said. More than a dozen districts/municipal corporations did not record any fresh COVID-19 case. On Monday, the state had reported 809 COVID-19 cases, the lowest additions in a day after May 2, 2020, and ten fatalities.

A total of 1,095 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recoveries in to 64,53,581 and leaving the state with 15,552 active cases. Maharashtra's case recovery rate now stands at 97.59 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.12 per cent. The cumulative number of tests conducted so far in rose to 6,28,43,792 on Tuesday with 91,105 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the department said. Seventeen civic bodies in the state did not report any new death in their jurisdiction. Fourteen districts/municipal corporations did not record any fresh COVID-19 case. Of the 48 deaths, Pune district recorded 11, followed by eight fatalities in Ahmednagar and seven in Palghar, it said. Mumbai district reported the highest 225 new infections, followed by 128 in Ahmednagar and 123 in Pune. Among the eight regions in Maharashtra (each consisting of a set of districts), the Mumbai region reported the highest 434 fresh cases, followed by 326 in the Pune region. At 17, the Thane region reported the highest number of fatalities, followed by Pune (16), the department said. The Aurangabad region did not record any death, it added. Among the 15,552 active patients in Maharashtra, Mumbai district has the highest at 4,250, the health department said.

Among the 64,53,581 recovered patients in Maharashtra, the highest number - 11,31,992 - was from the Pune district.

figures for Maharashtra are as follows: Total cases 66,12,956, new cases 1,078, total deaths 1,40,274, fresh deaths: 48, total recoveries 64,52,486, active cases 15,552, total tests conducted 6,28,43,792.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The people of deeply value the friendship with Israel, Prime Minister said on Tuesday, as he recalled his meeting with his Israeli counterpart on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow and reaffirmed to work together to enhance the strong bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Modi, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, interacted with Bennett on Monday in a visibly cordial brief meeting.

In a video tweeted by Prime Minister Modi, the two leaders were seen exchanging pleasantries during their animated discussion.

"Indeed! We shall continue working together for stronger bilateral ties and for a better planet," Modi said in a tweet on Tuesday.

"The people of deeply value the friendship with Israel," he said.

Prime Minister Bennett, in a tweet, said, "it was truly great to finally meet you, @NarendraModi."



The meeting between Modi and Bennett comes after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to last month, extended an invitation to the Israeli premier on behalf of Modi to visit

According to Israeli media reports, Bennett, who became prime minister in June this year, is likely to visit India next year.

India and elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to in July 2017.

Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the 'Make in India' initiative.

Prime Minister Modi also met Suriname President and "friend" Chan Santokhi on the sidelines of the climate summit.

"Delighted to get the opportunity to meet my friend, President Chan Santokhi of Suriname, a nation with which India has deep-rooted cultural linkages," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Tuesday met with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba for the first time after he became the premier of the Himalayan nation in July and had a "productive discussion" on ways to further strengthen the close bilateral ties and combat climate change, COVID-19 and facilitate post-pandemic recovery.

The meeting between Modi and Deuba, on the sidelines of the UN conference on climate change in Glasgow, took place after the former launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations.

"Had a productive discussion with PM@SherBDeuba on multiple aspects of the India- friendship. Subjects relating to fighting the global pandemic and furthering sustainable development are key parts of our bilateral friendship," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Both leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including in the context of ongoing efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The two leaders noted the excellent cooperation between and during the pandemic, particularly through the supply of vaccines, medicines and medical equipment from to as well as by ensuring the free flow of goods across the borders, it said.

Both leaders also agreed to work closely towards post-pandemic recovery, the MEA added.

It was their first engagement since Deuba, President of the Nepali Congress, became the Prime Minister of Nepal in July for the fifth time.

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi interacted with several world leaders, including Deuba, on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit.

Met PM @SherBDeuba in Glasgow. It is important we keep working together for sustainable development. He rightly highlighted the threat of climate change to the Himalayan region, Modi tweeted along with a photo with Deuba.

Deuba then tagged Modi's tweet about their meeting and said he was glad.

Glad to have met PM @Narendramodiji at @COP26. Sustainable development is vital especially for the future of our shared Himalayan region, which is particularly vulnerable. I thank him for highlighting this and stressing the importance of working together!, the Nepal Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Modi had immediately congratulated Deuba after the veteran Nepalese leader won a vote of confidence in the reinstated House of Representatives in July.

Deuba had thanked his Indian counterpart for the congratulatory message and said he shared views with him on further strengthening ties between the two neighbouring countries during a cordial telephone conversation.

The bilateral ties came under strain under former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli after opened an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8, 2020.

India, the world's largest producer of vaccines overall, suspended exports of COVID-19 vaccines in April to focus on inoculating its own population following a sudden spike in infections.

In September, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that India will resume the supplies abroad.

The Indian government last month permitted the Serum Institute of India (SII) to export 10 lakh Covishield doses to Nepal.

The COVID-19 vaccine Covishied has been developed by SII in collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca under technology transfer.

Nepal had in January launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive with the one million doses of vaccine provided by India under the grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

In a separate bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi also met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and exchanged views on bilateral and regional developments.

"Had a wonderful meeting with President @ZelenskyyUa. Our talks will give new vigour to the friendship between India and Ukraine," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The leaders took stock of the state of bilateral relations and exchanged views on developments in the region, the MEA said.

They expressed satisfaction on the cooperation during the pandemic times including mutual recognition of COVID vaccination certificates by both countries, it said.

Prime Minister Modi thanked President Zelenskyy for his humanitarian gesture of supplying oxygen concentrators to India during the second phase of COVID pandemic earlier this year, the MEA said.

The two leaders positively assessed the strong people to people connect between the two countries, especially the large number of Indian students studying in various Universities of Ukraine, it said, adding that they reaffirmed their readiness to work together for further strengthening of bilateral relations.

On the sidelines of #COP26 today, PM @narendramodi met President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa. Exchanged views on bilateral & regional developments. Also appreciated the cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, including mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates, Bagchi said on Twitter.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Tuesday met Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist on the sidelines of the here and discussed ways to further sustainable development, steps to mitigate climate change and vaccine research.

The meeting between Modi and the American business magnate, whose foundation is focusing on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, took place after the former launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations.

Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the work being done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The Microsoft co-founder briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of Mission Innovation, it said.

They discussed ways to step up activities in India under Mission Innovation, the MEA said.

Promising opportunities in areas like green hydrogen, aviation fuels, battery storage and vaccine research were also discussed, it added.

Mission Innovation is a global initiative to catalyse action and investment in research, development and demonstration to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible to all this decade. This will accelerate progress towards the Paris Agreement goals and pathways to net zero, according to Mission Innovation's website.

Prime Minister @narendramodi met @BillGates on the sidelines of the @COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Both discussed ways to further sustainable development and steps to mitigate climate change, Office of the Prime Minister of India said on Twitter.

Launched alongside the Paris Agreement in 2015, Mission Innovation, a global initiative of 22 countries and the European Commission, brings together governments, public authorities, corporates, investors and academia to enable widely affordable clean energy globally and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Gates in the past has reinforced his foundation's commitment to supporting the Government of India in its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a particular focus on health, nutrition, sanitation and agriculture.

On Monday, Gates said that at this year's UN Climate Conference, innovation will take center stage and he was optimistic about the road ahead.

By bringing the world together at #COP26, we can find more ways to accelerate the development and adoption of the clean technologies we need to reach net-zero emissions, he said on Twitter.

In May last year, Gates and Prime Minister Modi interacted via video conferencing and discussed the coronavirus pandemic.

Thank you for the conversation and partnership, @narendramodi. Combating the pandemic requires global collaboration. India's role is key as the world works to minimize social and economic impact, and pave the way to vaccine, testing, and treatment access for all, the billionaire philanthropist had said on Twitter.

In November 2019, Gates had called on Modi in New Delhi during which the Prime Minister said that the co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is contributing towards making the planet a better place.

Always a delight to interact with him on various subjects. Through his innovative zeal and grassroots level work, Modi had said on Twitter.

Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a commitment of up to USD 120 million to accelerate access to the investigational antiviral drug molnupiravir for lower-income countries as part of its COVID-19 response effort.

The funding will be allocated based on consultations with partners, and will support the range of activities required to develop and manufacture generic versions of the drug, which is being developed by Merck & Co in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the foundation said in a statement.

This commitment builds on the foundation's ongoing efforts, including USD 1.9 billion in funding, since the start of the pandemic to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests by supporting research and development, regulatory work, at-risk manufacturing, and product delivery.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Led by influential Senator Ted Cruz, a trio of Republicans have introduced legislation to exempt and other members of the Quad from sanctions warning that taking action against for buying Russian defence equipment would undermine efforts to combat Chinese aggression.

Along with Senators Todd Young and Roger Marshall, he introduced last week the legislation titled, "Circumspectly Reducing Unintended Consequences Impairing Alliances and Leadership Act of 2021" (CRUCIAL Act), to create a ten-year exemption for members of the Quad, India, Australia and Japan, from US sanctions "that would undermine unity against China".

"Countering China's aggressive behaviour requires viable partners in Asia and beyond, and the US-Indian relationship has become a cornerstone of our multilateral efforts," Cruz said about the rationale for the proposed legislation.

Although Japan and Australia do not buy Russian defence equipment, Cruz made the bill a broad measure that does not on the face of it make the centrepiece and turns the focus to China's aggressiveness, especially in the Indo-Pacific where the US has vital interests.

India is facing the prospect of sanctions under the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for buying the Russian missile air defence system, S-400 Triumf, which it is to begin receiving in November.

Republican and former President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on NATO ally Turkey for buying the S-400 and refused to sell it F-35 multi-role jets.

China has also been sanctioned for buying the same missile defence system equipment and SU-35 jet fighters from Russia, but with limited effect.

The ten-year window in the CRUCIAL Act would protect India from future sanctions for Russian defence contracts in the pipeline for the purchase of frigates and the lease of a nuclear-powered submarine.

There is both opposition and support from the Democratic side for giving India a waiver.

Democrat Senator Mark Warner, who heads the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, sent President Joe Biden a letter against sanctions. In a show of bipartisan support, it was also signed by Republican John Cornyn, another committee member who is the co-chair with Warner of the Senate India Caucus that works to promote relations with India.

But Bob Menendez, the Democrat who heads the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had written to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this year that "if India chooses to go forward with its purchase of the S-400, that act will clearly constitute a significant, and, therefore, sanctionable, transaction with the Russian defence sector under Section 231 of CAATSA."

He added, "It will also limit India's ability to work with the US on development and procurement of sensitive military technology."

Politico said that a Senate Armed Services Committee staffer "hinted" that the waiver issue would be resolved in the latest defence budget known as the Defence Appropriation Act when it is passed.

If that happens, there would be no need for the bill at this time but maybe needed for India's pending purchases.

Cruz is a hawk when it comes to and his support for waiving sanctions that primarily target by trying to cut off its defence market gives his legislative proposal credibility as he cannot be accused of ultimately doing Moscow a favour by retaining a multi-billion dollar customer.

In the case of India, he is going against his position on another sanction targeting that Biden has waived.

He has held up several of Biden's ambassadorial appointments by blocking the required Senate approval for them because of his staunch opposition to the President dropping sanctions against the gas pipeline known as Nord Stream 2 to pump gas directly from Russia to Germany.

Announcing his legislative proposal, said, "India is a critical part of the security architecture that coalesced" against China during Republican and former President Donald Trump's presidency and "now would be exactly the wrong time for President Biden to undo all of that progress through the imposition of these sanctions, which were meant to deter Russia."

Justifying India buying the S-400 valued between $4 billion and $5.5 billion, Cruz said, "As China has sought to expand its global dominance, India has resisted their exploitation and looked elsewhere to bolster its defence capabilities and economy."

"Now would be exactly the wrong time for President Biden to undo all of that progress through the imposition of these sanctions, which were meant to deter Russia. Doing so would accomplish nothing except undermining our shared security goals of combatting China's aggression and forcing India to become dependent on Russia," he added.

Co-sponsor Young said when Trump signed the CAATSA in 2017, no one predicted the emergence of the strategic partnership between the US and India and the Quad.

"If the Biden administration were to impose sanctions on India as its attempts to deter Chinese aggression, we would undermine the good work that has been done. Now is the time to strengthen the Quad instead of pushing our partners away," he said.

"As China continues to threaten its neighbours and attempt to overturn the rules-based international order our relationships with key Democracies such as India, Japan, and Australia will only become more important -- serving as a multiplier in our efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific," Marshall said.

Some of the opposition to a waiver that could emerge from the Democratic side could be aimed at Cruz because he has held up Biden's diplomatic nomination and because he is invoking Trump's role in the Quad.

Politico quoted an anonymous Democratic Senate staffer as saying, "For a guy who is willing to rob the entire State Department of having any senior staff in place over his faux-Russia hawkishness, this waiver advocacy is as offensive as it is hypocritical."

According to Politico, the staffer said the CAATSA waivers remain "incredibly contentious" among lawmakers and asked, "How many exceptions are we going to make before other countries simply assume the US is not serious about preventing (Russian President Vladimir Putin from suckering others into buying Russian over American?"

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

arul/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ruling Trinamool Congress on Tuesday steam-rolled the opposition to score a 4-0 clean sweep in by-elections held on October 30, leaving the opposition in tatters.

In a major setback to BJP, the saffron camp's candidates lost their deposits in three constituencies Dinhata, Gosaba and Khardaha as they failed to win the one-sixth of valid votes polled.

The BJP candidate from Santipur was the only one who managed not to lose his deposit by polling over a fifth of the votes cast. The Left Front's candidates managed to secure third spots in all constituencies.

The TMC wrested the Dinhata and Santipur seats in Coochbehar and Nadia districts respectively from the BJP by huge margins, to raise its tally to 215 in the 294-member assembly.

The BJP, whose predecessor Jan Sangh was founded by Bengal's Hindu Mahasabha leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee, saw its tally came down to 75 from an earlier 77.

The ruling TMC also retained the Khardah and Gosaba assembly seats in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts respectively by impressive margins.

The TMC, in total, bagged 75.02 per cent of the votes cast, whereas the BJP got some 14.48 per cent votes, in the four assembly segments.

Hours before the EC announced its official results, Chief Minister took to twitter to congratulate her party candidates on their victory.

"My heartiest congratulations to all four winning candidates! This victory is people's victory, as it shows how Bengal will always choose development and unity over propaganda and hate politics," she said in her tweet.

In Dinhata which had returned BJP's Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik in elections held earlier this year by a slender margin, the margin of victory for TMC crossed the record landmark of 1.64 lakh votes.

Dinhata, this time round, witnessed a one-sided fight where TMC's Udayan Guha won over his nearest rival, BJP's Ashok Mandal, by a massive margin of 1,64,089 votes.

The TMC's victory in Dinhata in North Bengal is significant in view of the controversial demand for creating a Union Territory comprising all districts of the region, by BJP's Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla.

Barla had sparked a political debate in the state when he called for bifurcation of Bengal, drawing a sharp retort from the TMC and other parties.

The by-election to this North Bengal constituency was necessitated by Paramanik's decision to continue as a Lok Sabha MP for the district of Coochbehar in which Dinhata, a picturesque constituency, nestles.

The Trinamool Congress candidate Subrata Mondal Tuesday too won the Gosaba assembly by-poll by a massive margin of 1,43,051 votes.

TMC's Subrata Mondal secured 1,61,474 votes, whereas BJP's Palash Rana, his nearest rival, garnered a mere 18,423 votes.

The by-poll for the Gosaba assembly segment in the Sunderbans deltaic region, was necessitated by the death of the sitting TMC MLA few months back.

In Santipur assembly constituency, famous for its handloom industry which had turned into a BJP citadel in the assembly elections held earlier this year, TMC's Braja Kishore Goswami led over his nearest rival - BJP's Niranjan Biswas by a record 64,675 votes.

The Santipur by-election too was necessitated by the resignation of the BJP's Jagganath Sarkar who had won the seat in elections held earlier this year as he too wished to retain his Member of Parliament seat.

In the Khardah assembly segment, state minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay defeated his nearest rival - BJP's Joy Saha - by a margin of 93,832 votes.

Chattopadhyay secured 1,14,086 votes, whereas Saha managed to bag 20,254 votes. The bypoll to Khardah too was necessitated by the death of a sitting TMC MLA.

Taking a dig at BJP's defeat in the polls, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee tweeted, "A cracker free Diwali in true sense. Wishing folks at @BJP4India a very Happy Diwali!"



Party MP and spokesperson Derek O'Brien also took to twitter : One point I left out BJP candidates lost their security deposit in 3 of the 4 seats today.

BJP president Sukanta Majumdar blamed the defeat on the "reign of terror unleashed by the TMC".

"Margin of more than one lakh in by-polls is unimaginable. We can very well understand the kind of terror that was unleashed by the ruling party to stop people from voting freely and fairly," he said.

TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee denied the allegations, terming them as baseless.

"This is the beginning of the end for BJP. The more it will speak on communal lines, the more it will be rejected by the people of West Bengal," he said.

The BJP had won 77 of the 292 seats of the West Bengal assembly that went to the polls earlier this year in April-May. The Trinamool Congress had then won 213 seats, while ISF and GJM bagged one seat each.

Following the resignation of Pramanik and Sarkar, the saffron camp's official tally in the assembly came down to 75.

The TMC's tally too came down to 211 after two of its MLAs from Gosaba and Khardah died. With the victory in Samserganj and Jangipur last month, the ruling party's tally went up to 213 seats.

With the ruling party snatching Dinhata and Santipur from the saffron camp, its tally has now gone up to 215 seats.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Elon Musk-led SpaceX's satellite broadband arm Starlink aims to start broadband service in India from December 2022, with 2 lakh active terminals subject to permission from the government, a top company official said on Friday. More on the story in our top headlines this morning.



COP26: India will reach net zero emissions by 2070, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gave a five-pronged target for India and finally committed to a Net Zero emission target by 2070, joining the likes of the US, the UK and China. Read more.

Bankers in a state of shock after former chairman Chaudhuri's arrest

Bankers expressed dismay and alarm at the arrest of former State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Pratip Chaudhuri just days after the government moved to absolve bankers from business decisions gone wrong, even as the bank put out a statement saying the deal in which Chaudhuri was arrested had concluded after he retired. Read more.

ex-chief Pratip Chaudhuri arrested, sent to 14-day judicial custody

The Rajasthan Police on Sunday arrested Pratip Chaudhuri, former State Bank of India chairman, in Delhi in connection with an alleged loan scam. Read more.

Chaudhuri arrest case: Alchemist ARC accuses loan defaulters of complicity

Defaulting borrowers are trying to frustrate the recovery process initiated by the lenders and Alchemist Asset Reconstruction Company, the ARC has alleged. Read more.

plans 200K broadband terminals in India by December 2022

Elon Musk-led SpaceX's satellite broadband arm Starlink aims to start broadband service in India from December 2022, with 2 lakh active terminals subject to permission from the government, a top company official said on Friday. Read more.

No tie-up with airlines for govt staff after Air India-Tata deal

Post handing over of to the Tatas, government officials will be free to book their travel with any airline that offers them the best price. Read more.
The Centre is looking to expand its flagship scheme for PM Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), and come up with its second version in a move to push during the festive season amid ongoing economic recovery.

The government is looking to increase the limit of working capital loan up to Rs 25,000 under the PM SVANidhi scheme from Rs 10,000 currently, an official said.

The Centre is also looking to raise the maximum guarantee it provides on loans to 25 per cent on such loans, the official said. Currently, the government provides maximum guarantee coverage of 15 per cent of the year portfolio. Although this would increase the budgetary allocation under the scheme, the impact would not be significant, the official said.

The PM SVANidhi was launched as a relief measure in June 2020 to provide for working capital to to resume their business impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and vendors, availing loans under the scheme, are eligible to get an interest subsidy of 7 per cent.

All street vendors engaged in vending as on or before March 24, 2020, can avail working capital loan up to Rs 10,000 with tenure of 1 year that needs to be repaid in monthly instalments. On timely or early repayment, the vendors are eligible for the next cycle of working capital loan with an enhanced limit. About 28.66 million first term loans have been sanctioned by banks, out of which loans to 25.78 million borrowers have been disbursed. About 2,07,781 first term loans have already been repaid. For the second term loan, 32,630 total applications have been received, out of which 20,011 loans have been sanctioned and loans to 13,422 borrowers have been disbursed.

The discussions regarding the changes have taken place, and would help such borrowers avail more credit as most of these vendors are due for the second term loan. This would help in providing credit to such vendors during the festive season, the official quoted above said. The higher amount would make the scheme attractive for vendors, and at the same time bring them under the formal credit channel, he added.

The proposed expansion of the scheme would soon be place before the Cabinet for approval by the Cabinet Secretariat, the official said.
India is unlikely to see demand for oil peaking before 2040 and other forms of energy will slowly and gradually find a place in the country's energy mix, the head of the nation's third-largest state fuel retailer said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister on Monday made a bold pledge to cutting emissions at the world's third-biggest emitter to net-zero by 2070.

Ltd (HPCL) chairman and managing director M K Surana said oil companies had been consciously making investments in alternate and cleaner energy sources such as setting up EV charging stations, biofuels and hydrogen plants.

These investments are in the direction of achieving the net-zero target, he said.

But the world's third-largest oil-importing and consuming nation will continue to rely on oil for the next two decades.

"For net-zero target by 2070, we need to move to different forms of energy," he said. But "based on current assessment, peak oil may not be before 2040. Other forms of energy will slowly and gradually find their place and meet incremental demand."



The country's reliance on oil for meeting its energy needs will stay as almost all of its road, rail, air and sea transport happens on fuel produced from oil. And their requirement is only growing as the economy expands, generating more economic activity and increasing people's mobility.

Surana said oil companies are switching to using green energy such as one generated from solar, for meeting electricity needs at refineries and other installations.

This clean energy will be used to produce petrol and diesel and it does not take away the demand for auto fuel, he said.

Similarly, hydrogen will be used to produce petrol and diesel.

"We have to find newer ways of producing oil energy," he said. "We need to provide the energy as required by the country keeping the costs and economics in mind. We can't afford any disruption that was witnessed in recent weeks which led to shooting up of global energy prices."



While nations like the UK witnessed petrol pumps running out of fuel, India saw retail rates going up in step with global prices but there was no supply constraint anywhere in the country.

Surana said crude oil prices may hover around USD 80-85 per barrel in the October-December quarter.

On Monday, Modi raised the 2030 target for renewable energy capacity to 500 GW from 450 GW and pledged to produce half the country's electricity using renewable energy. India will also cut carbon-dioxide emissions by 1 billion tons from business as usual by the end of the decade.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A committee formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to recommend ways to revive (ARCs) has suggested an early sale of to them, directly acquiring non-performing assets from the market, and letting bid in the insolvency and bankruptcy process.

Once an ARC acquires assets, it should be allowed to lend to the stressed assets so that they can be nursed back to health and dues recovered later on.

The committee, headed by former executive director Sudarshan Sen, has suggested in its report that if 66 per cent of the lenders (by value) agree to sell an asset to ARCs, the same may be binding on the remaining lenders and it must be implemented within 60 days of approval by majority lenders.

If a lender fails to comply with this requirement, it should be penalised with 100 per cent provisioning on the loan outstanding. The committee said banks more often than not sold vintage loans to and this made recovery and reviving business difficult.

Banks and other investors could recover only about 14.29 per cent of the amount they lent in respect of stressed assets sold to between 2003-04 and 2012-13.

About 80 per cent of the recovery ARCs made came through the deployment of measures of reconstruction that do not necessarily lead to revival of businesses.

Therefore, banks must aim to sell stressed assets at an early stage while the regulator must clarify on sales of all categories of loans at the special mentioned account (SMA) stage (less than 91 days overdue).

Banks resolution plans for accounts worth Rs 100 crore in default must include a sale to ARCs as an option. If the NPA is more than two years old, and it is not part of the list identified for sale, banks should document the reason, it said.

Sales of assets to ARCs must be done through an online platform to bring transparency and uniformity in the process, the committee said, suggesting the use of the infrastructure created by the Secondary Loan Market Association (SLMA) for this purpose.

There should be a reserve price for accounts above Rs 500 crore and for all such accounts, two bank-approved external valuers should determine the liquidation value and fair-market value. For accounts between Rs 100 crore and Rs 500 crore, one external valuer will suffice.

The final approval of the reserve price should be given by a high-level committee that has the power to approve the corresponding write-off of the loan, the report suggested.

The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Income Act and other related provisions should be amended to allow ARCs to acquire assets directly from banks and financial institutions, and also from other entities allowed by the

In cases where ARCs have acquired 66 per cent of the debt of a borrower, the borrower should have two years immunity to being proceeded against by other authorities. Government dues, including taxes, cess, etc must be deferred in such cases, the report said.

The Committee recommends that ARCs may be allowed to participate in the (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) process, it said. Acquisition should be for reconstruction only.

Importantly, the report suggested ARCs, through alternative investment funds floated by them, should be allowed to sponsor SEBI-registered AIFs (alternative investment firms) with the objective of using these entities as an additional vehicle for facilitating restructuring/recovery of the debt acquired by them.
The (MoD) on Tuesday cleared the purchase of 12 Light Utility (LUH) from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) under the Make in India category.

The eponymous LUH has comprehensively proved its ability to operate at the worlds highest helipads  such as along the Saltoro Ridge, where the Indian Army is deployed in super-high-altitude picquets to defend the Siachen Glacier.

In recent testing, HALs veteran test pilot, Group Captain Unni Nair flew the Army Aviation Corps chief, Lt Gen A K Suri, in a LUH in Ladakh. Nair, who has test-flown a range of HAL in the high altitudes of the Siachen Glacier, had flown the Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) in 2010 to the 21,000-feet-high Sonam Post  the worlds highest military helipad. In 2018, he tested the LUH to above 20,000 feet. The new Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), like its forebears, will also be tested in the most brutal of operating conditions and at the highest altitudes.

Powering that world-beating performance is a helicopter engine, the Shakti, which HAL commissioned French engine-maker Turbomeca (now renamed Safran Helicopter Engines) to design for operations along Indias high-altitude borders. It is the Shakti engine that makes the Dhruv ALH, the LCH, and now the LUH, superior to most other that are powered by less versatile engines. The Shakti, which is built under licence at HAL, will power an entire family of HAL-built helicopters.

The Shakti-powered Dhruv ALH has already changed the operating dynamics along Indias high-altitude Himalayan defences. The capability to airlift soldiers in an emergency allows far-flung posts to be manned with fewer soldiers. In a crisis, soldiers can be airlifted quickly from lower altitudes to crisis points, and casualties can be evacuated. When they see a Dhruv (and soon, a LUH) flying in, the soldiers on isolated piquets like Sonam know that there is space on board for essential stores, letters and even occasional goodies from families and comrades.

While only a dozen LUH were cleared for purchase today, there will eventually be over 200 of these helicopters in service in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the army. The need is for almost 400 light helicopters to replace the three services obsolescent Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. New Delhi and Moscow signed an inter-government agreement in 2015 to jointly build about 200 Kamov-226T light helicopters, but that proposal has run into heavy weather over workshare issues.

Given the disagreement, HAL could well end up building 400 LUHs for the military. There is also optimism that the LUH could capture sizeable export orders.

The LUH clearance was one of four Make in India capital procurements that were accepted on Tuesday by the MoDs apex procurement body, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The others, which totalled up to Rs 7,965 crore, included the Lynx U2 Naval Fire Control System from Bharat Electronics Limited and the mid-life upgradation of Dornier-228 aircraft from HAL.

Adding further impetus to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) project, the MoD foreclosed the planned overseas procurement of 125 millimetre naval guns from BAE Systems Inc for four frigates being built for the navy. Instead, the warships will be armed with upgraded 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mounts that Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd is manufacturing in Haridwar under licence from Italian firm, OTO Melara.
Inc told Reuters it has raised a target-beating $673 million for an infrastructure fund with backing from the French, German and Japanese governments to invest in climate-focused projects such as renewable energy in emerging markets.

The world's largest money manager hopes the fund, to be announced on Tuesday and dubbed the Partnership, will show how to mobilize private capital in developing countries to tackle climate change, a sticking point at United Nations climate talks cop under way in Glasgow. Investors have been wary of investing in risky projects without more certainty they will get a return.

State-owned development banks from France, Germany and Japan and philanthropic institutions such as the Grantham Environmental Trust and the Quadrivium Foundation are providing 20% of the fund's capital and have agreed to take losses before other investors.

While a number of multibillion-dollar renewable energy funds have been raised over the last year to help build out solar, wind and other projects, the vast bulk has been spent in richer countries offering investors lower risk.

In emerging economies, excluding Countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America will need around $1 trillion a year out to 2050 to help them transition to a low-carbon economy, said. In 2020, just $150 million was invested China.

and the fund's other backers are trying to muster more support for such emerging markets-focused initiatives at the COP26 United Nations Conference in Glasgow. The new fund could help developed nations meet a target of mobilizing $100 billion a year to help poorer countries tackle

Among the fund's 22 backers were French energy company TotalEnergies and institutional investors including AXA and Dai-ichi Life Insurance. The fund comfortably beat its fundraising target of $500 million, BlackRock said.

"This partnership is proof that governments, philanthropic organizations, and institutional investors can come together to mobilize capital at scale into emerging markets, which are most exposed to the impact of climate change," BlackRock Chairman and Chief Executive Larry Fink said in a statement. Fink has previously called for linking public and private finance to address

The fund has a typical 10-year lock-up with a five-year investment period, with the average equity investment likely to be in the $25 million-$75 million range, David Giordano, global head of renewable power at BlackRock Alternative Investors, told Reuters.

"One of the key things that we talked about with our partners back in 2018, when we started down this path, was really coming up with something that was simple but did provide that sense of de-risking the emerging markets," Giordano said.

Kenya, Morocco and Egypt were all attractive for investment, as were Peru and Vietnam, where the government was "really committed" to the energy transition, Giordano said.

Renewable energy in non-OECD countries is expected to represent 49% of global energy capacity by 2050, Edwin Conway, global head of BlackRock Alternative Investors, said.

"Now, that's huge ... I think we're talking about decades, with regard to the opportunities that are ahead," Conway said.

(Reporting by Simon Jessop in Glasgow and Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will step down as its parent ByteDance's chief financial officer (CFO) to focus on running the short video platform full time, according to an internal memo the company shared with Reuters.

The memo, which was sent by co-founder Liang Rubo to staff on Tuesday, also outlined a major reshuffle at the Beijing-based company to create six business units (BUs).

This is the biggest organizational change since co-founder Zhang Yiming said in May he would step down as CEO. Zhang remains chairman and has more than 50% of voting rights. Liang will officially take over from Zhang as CEO in December.

Chew's shift comes after said in April that it did not have any imminent plans for an IPO. It had been looking at a Hong Kong or New York listing, sources previously told Reuters.

One of the world's largest private companies, ByteDance had a valuation of about $300 billion in recent trades.

Chew joined ByteDance as CFO in March and was appointed as TikTok CEO in May. Liang did not elaborate on replacement plans for the CFO role, but a person familiar with the matter said the company was not rushing to seek candidates to fill the position.

ByteDance will also be reorganised into six units - TikTok and its Chinese version Douyin, work collaboration unit Lark, business services unit BytePlus, gaming unit Nuverse, and education tech unit Dali Education, Liang said in the memo.

This will help ensure "business lines and teams that work closely together are grouped as BUs", he added.

The TikTok unit will support operations of the short video app and its expansion into areas such as global e-commerce.

ByteDance's Chinese products, including Douyin, news aggregator Toutiao, video-streaming platform Xigua, will be folded into the Douyin unit, which will take over all "information and service" operations in the Chinese market.

The bulk of ByteDance revenue, totalling $34.3 billion in 2020, was generated in China, sources have said.

Liang also said that Dali, which has undergone layoffs and product closures after issued rules barring curriculum-based tutoring for profit plunging, would provide services for education stakeholders such as artificial intelligence-powered learning, education for adults and smart hardware.

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By Eduardo Baptista

HONG KONG (Reuters) -More commonly known for sparking debate on Twitter, was the centre of speculation on Weibo on Tuesday after the Tesla CEO posted a poem on the Chinese site that some took to be an extension of his clash with the U.N's World Food Program.

Musk and World Food Program (WFP) head David Beasley have been engaging in a heated debate since Beasley last week challenged billionaires to give more of their wealth to end hunger. Musk countered by saying he'd sell $6 billion in Tesla stock and donate it to the WFP, provided the organization disclosed more information about how it spent its money.

On his official and Weibo accounts on Tuesday, Musk wrote in English "Humankind" before posting an abbreviated version of the 'Seven Steps Verse' in Chinese.

The highly allegorical poem describes the relationship between two brothers from a royal family during China's warring Three Kingdoms period that is taught in all of China's primary schools about the importance of getting along.

Musk followed the poem with a Weibo post about the WFP, restating his earlier tweets that if the organization can "accurately explain how more than $6 billion will solve the global famine problem, I will immediately sell Tesla's stock and then donate."

Discussions about how to interpret Musk's posts trended heavily on Weibo on Tuesday, receiving over 100 million views. is blocked in mainland

Reference News, linked to the state-run Xinhua news agency, said Musk's post could be a nod to his debate with the WFP.

Other interpretations suggested Musk was alluding to rival dog-themed cryptocurrencies, shiba inu and dogecoin, which he has also been tweeting about this week. His tweets are known for moving cryptocurrency markets, although cryptocurrency trading is banned within China's borders.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meaning of Musk's posts.

The Wiebo updates mark a departure from Musk's typical messages on the platform, where he has 1.9 million followers and frequently praises for its space programme and its economic growth over the past three decades.

Musk, who is also behind rocket maker SpaceX, has remained a popular figure in even amid deteriorating U.S.-China relations and regulatory criticism of Tesla, which operates a factory in Shanghai.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista Additional reporting by Yilei SunEditing by Brenda Goh, Lincoln Feast and Mark Potter)

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Leaders at the COP26 global climate conference in Glasgow have pledged to stop by the end of the decade, underpinned by $19 billion in public and private funds, and slash emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane.

More than 100 national leaders on Monday pledged to halt and reverse and land degradation by the end of the decade, to invest in protecting and restoring forests.



Under the agreement, 12 countries pledged to provide $12 billion of public funding between 2021 and 2025 for developing countries to restore degraded land and tackle wildfires. At least $7.2 billion will come from private sector investors representing $8.7 trillion in assets under management, who also pledged to stop investing in activities linked to such as cattle, palm oil and soybean farming and pulp production.



India is among the countries that has chosen not to sign up to a Leaders Declaration on ending deforestation by 2030.

The methane pledge

Nearly 90 countries have joined a US- and EU-led effort to slash emissions of methane by 2030 from 2020 levels, a senior Biden administration official said ahead of a formal announcement on Tuesday.

Methane is more short-lived in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but 80 times more potent in warming the earth. As a result, cutting emissions of the gas, which is estimated to have accounted for 30 per cent of global warming since pre-industrial times, is one of the most effective ways of slowing

The Global Methane Pledge, which was first announced in September, now includes half of the top 30 methane emitters, accounting for two-thirds of the global economy, according to the U.S. official.

Among the new signatories to be announced on Tuesday is Brazil  one of the worlds five biggest emitters of methane. Three of the others  China, Russia and India  have not signed up, while Australia has said it will not back the pledge.

US President Joe Biden announced measures seeking to deploy at least five cabinet-level agencies. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency released a long-awaited proposal stiffening requirements to plug leaks in oil and gas wells.



The Agriculture Department is announcing a program encouraging farmers to harness and sell methane. Pipeline regulators will expand their oversight of natural gas lines.

Alternatives to Chinas infra plan

Biden said he would work with European leaders to offer infrastructure financing that prioritises environmental concerns, and he proposed an alternative to debt traps and corruption as the US looks to construct a rival to Chinas Belt and Road initiative.

Projects should be designed in close partnership with the countries where they will happen, Biden said at a breakout session on the sidelines of the UN climate conference in Glasgow.

We have to show and I think we will show that democracy is still the best way for delivering results.
Major investors have warned the worlds top four audit firms they will vote to stop the firms working for the companies they invest in at AGMs from next year if audits do not integrate climate risk.



The challenge, laid out in letters from an investor group managing around $4.5 trillion that were seen by Reuters, marks an escalation in the groups efforts to ensure investors were armed with robust information. Ahead of the COP26 climate talks in Scotland, the group had called for governments to force companies and auditors to file accounts in line with the worlds goal of limiting global warming by mid-century.



The letters dated November 1 and sent to Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC by the investor group pointed to recent research showing more than 70 per cent of assessed 2020 audits had fallen short.



The group includes asset managers Sarasin & Partners, Pictet and Aviva Investors and pension schemes including RPMI Railpen. The investors said that after three years of discussions with the firms, they cannot afford to wait another three years for audits to improve.



At the next season for corporate annual general meetings, the auditors could increasingly expect to see investors vote against their reappointment if they failed to meet expectations, the letters said.





Denmark, UK plan to invest $130 bn by 30

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday Nordic and British pension funds would invest $130 billion by 2030 to fight climate change. Denmark said $75 billion of the funds were new commitments. The Rockefeller and Ikea foundations announced plans for an alliance that will start with $10 billion. The Bezos Earth Fund will give it $500 million.

It is time for action, Queen tells leaders

Britains Queen Elizabeth told the United Nations climate change summit that the time for words has now moved to the time for action, as she urged world leaders to think of future generations when negotiating a deal. She asked them to rise above the politics of the moment saying the legacy of a successful summit would help our childrens children.



Xi did not get video address option: China

China said on Tuesday that President Xi Jinping was not given an opportunity to deliver a video address to the COP26 climate talks and had to send a written response instead. Xi, who is not attending the UN meeting in person, gave a written statement to the opening high-level segment for heads of state and government on Monday in which he offered no additional pledges.
Prime Minister on Tuesday underlined the need to ensure transparent as part of important aspects in infrastructure creation during a roundtable event initiated by US President on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit here.

Prime Minister Modi participated in a Build Back Better for the World (B3W) roundtable, which included addresses by Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"The PM underlined the need to ensure 4 aspects in infrastructure creation: Climate resilience, incorporating traditional knowledge; prioritising poor & vulnerable; and sustainable & transparent finance that respects the sovereignty & territorial integrity of all countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said with reference to the event.

India has been objecting to Chinese infrastructure building in its neighbourhood under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Under the BRI, China and Pakistan are building many infrastructure projects, including in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Biden opened the roundtable with a message that the Glasgow summit should be a decade of ambition and innovation.

"My Build Back Better framework will make historic investments in clean energy, the most significant investment to deal with the climate crisis that any advanced nation has made ever, Biden said.

"It will incentivise clean energy manufacturing, building the solar panels and wind turbines that are growing energy markets of the future, which will create good-paying union jobs for American workers and something that none of us should lose sight of, he said.

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Prime Minister on Tuesday met Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist on the sidelines of the climate summit here and discussed ways to further sustainable development and steps to mitigate

The meeting between Modi and the American business magnate, whose foundation is focusing on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, took place after the former launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations.

Prime Minister @narendramodi met @BillGates on the sidelines of the @COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Both discussed ways to further sustainable development and steps to mitigate climate change, Office of the Prime Minister of India said on Twitter.

Gates in the past has reinforced his foundation's commitment to supporting the Government of India in its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a particular focus on health, nutrition, sanitation and agriculture.

On Monday, Gates said that at this year's UN Climate Conference, innovation will take center stage and he was optimistic about the road ahead.

By bringing the world together at #COP26, we can find more ways to accelerate the development and adoption of the clean technologies we need to reach net-zero emissions, he said on Twitter.

In May last year, Gates and Prime Minister Modi interacted via video conferencing and discussed the coronavirus pandemic.

Thank you for the conversation and partnership, @narendramodi. Combating the pandemic requires global collaboration. India's role is key as the world works to minimize social and economic impact, and pave the way to vaccine, testing, and treatment access for all, the billionaire philanthropist had said on Twitter.

In November 2019, Gates had called on Modi in New Delhi during which the Prime Minister said that the co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is contributing towards making the planet a better place.

Always a delight to interact with him on various subjects. Through his innovative zeal and grassroots level work, Modi had said on Twitter.

Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a commitment of up to USD 120 million to accelerate access to the investigational antiviral drug molnupiravir for lower-income countries as part of its COVID-19 response effort.

The funding will be allocated based on consultations with partners, and will support the range of activities required to develop and manufacture generic versions of the drug, which is being developed by Merck & Co in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the foundation said in a statement.

This commitment builds on the foundation's ongoing efforts, including USD 1.9 billion in funding, since the start of the pandemic to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests by supporting research and development, regulatory work, at-risk manufacturing, and product delivery.

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has completed ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said Monday.

The country has ratified the trade pact upon depositing its instrument of ratification with the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on October 28, the official said.

Apart from Thailand, other ASEAN members including Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos have already ratified the agreement, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, and have also completed ratifications of the pact.

Signed in November last year, the is a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Ratifications from at least six ASEAN member countries and three of the other five member countries are needed for the trade deal to take effect.

Once in effect, the deal will eliminate tariffs on as much as 90 per cent of goods traded between its signatories over the next 20 years.

--IANS

ksk/

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Prime Minister and his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on Tuesday shared a light moment during their maiden formal meeting here when the latter informed the Indian leader about his popularity in and invited him to join his party.

Prime Minister Modi met Bennett on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit here on Tuesday during which they reviewed the bilateral ties besides exchanging views about expanding cooperation in areas of high-technology and innovation.

Modi and Bennett's maiden formal meeting came after their brief interaction on Monday during the climate conference.

According to a video shared on social media, Bennett told Prime Minister Modi, "you are the most popular person in "



Replying to the comment, Modi said, "thank you, thank you."



Bennett further asked Modi to join his Yamina Party.

"Come and join my party," Bennett said, as the two leaders laughed and shook hands.

Earlier, recalling their brief meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Modi said that the people of India deeply value the friendship with

"Enhancing friendship with Israel. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @naftalibennett had a fruitful meeting in Glasgow. Both leaders discussed deepening various avenues of cooperation for the benefit of our citizens, the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.

The meeting between Modi and Bennett comes after Jaishankar, during his visit to Israel last month, extended an invitation to the Israeli premier on behalf of Modi to visit India.

According to Israeli media reports, Bennett, who became prime minister in June this year, is likely to visit India next year.

India and Israel elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to Israel in July 2017.

Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the 'Make in India' initiative.

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has cheered up jewellers as it has turned out to be the best in three years, thanks to the lower price of the yellow metal and pent-up demand.

In Mumbais Zaveri bazaar, buyers came in out force and jewellers did not have to depend on freebies to induce sales, even though all of them had announced some offers. In fact, more discounts were announced for diamond and studded jewellery. This Dhanteras, which is the biggest gold buying occasion in India, has been the best for jewellers in the last three years, said Somasundaram PR, managing director of the World Gold Council.

According to market veterans, on average are estimated around 20-30 tonnes on the day of Dhanteras, and this year appears to be in line with that trend. This comes on the back of disappointing years in 2019 and 2020.

Jewellers were optimistic going into the festive season, especially since data pointed to a rebound in demand. Indias gold imports were estimated at 90 tonnes in October, taking the tally for the first 10 months of the year to 762 tonnes, which already exceeds the full-year figures of the previous three years.

Surendra Mehta, national secretary of the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association, said: As expected, this Diwali investors are buying gold to increase its share in their portfolios and jewellery ahead of the marriage season, which begins from the third week of this month. As fears of Covid-19 fade, more people are coming to the market, which has also helped increase demand.

After the very good Samvats of 2075 and 2076, gold prices remained static in India in Samvat 2077, while returns from assets like equities and mutual funds were very good. However, as uncertainty looms over the horizon, investors have flocked to gold again.





One additional factor that has spurred demand is mandatory hallmarking in many parts of the country, which has ensured that purchasing jewellery is safer. Besides, small and big jewellers are now on par in terms of purity. There are 80,000 jewellers registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Aditya Pethe, director of WHP Jewellers, said: There has been a build-up in sales since last month. Compared to the past, this year we are seeing more footfall as well as sales due to low gold prices and pent-up demand and exceeded our target by 35 per cent by afternoon.

He said people were also shopping across categories including gold jewellery, diamond jewellery, and bullion in the firms stores in Maharashtra, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh. We have also done promotions related to our diamond jewellery, but I must say, considering the enthusiasm among consumers, this time we didnt need much promotion.

Digital gold too is seeing brisk demand. An official of a digital gold platform said despite the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias warnings to registered investment advisors not to promote digital gold that is not regulated by it, small-ticket purchases have gone digital.
Shares of were up 5 per cent at Rs 509.95 on the BSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade after the companys wholly owned subsidiary - Jaguar Land Rover UK reported good operational performance in July-September quarter (Q2FY22). The management said JLR expects to see gradual recovery starting in the second half (October-March) of FY22.

JLR expects the earnings before interest tax (EBIT) margin and free cash flow (before restructuring costs) to turn positive in the second half of Fiscal 2022. While supply remains constrained, JLR will continue to take mitigating actions, including prioritising the production of higher margin vehicles for the available supply of semiconductors and closely managing costs to bring down the break-even point for the business, the company said.

At 09:39 am; was trading 2 per cent higher at Rs 493 on the BSE, as compared to 0.10 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 532 on October 14, 2021.

In Q2FY22, auto major reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 4,416 crore owing to the dual impact of semiconductor shortage and high input prices. The company had posted a net loss of Rs 314 crore in the year-ago period (Q2FY21) and Rs 4,451 crore in the June quarter, respectively.

The companys revenue from operations rose 14 per cent to Rs 61,378 crore in the reporting period against Rs 53,530 crore last year. It said demand remains strong for JLR and India passenger vehicles, while that for commercial vehicles is improving gradually.

Tata Motors revenue beat primarily tracked higher than expected JLR volumes, with margin resilience arriving on the back of operating leverage gains. Improvement in India passenger vehicles (PV) margins (up 360 bps YoY to 5.2 per cent) was encouraging. The company has maintained medium and long term margin and FCF guidance for JLR, ICICI Securities said in a note.

In the near term, sequential improvement is expected across businesses amid some easing of chip shortages, with H2FY22E seen delivering positive EBIT and FCF in India and JLR, the brokerage firm said.

Tata Motors Q2FY22 performance was heavily impacted by the semiconductor shortage in JLR and India. Operating performance beat in JLR was driven by a favorable mix and lower fixed cost. India commercial vehicle (CV) business missed our estimates due to commodity cost pressures. We expect a strong recovery/ traction in JLR/India businesses from Q3FY22E onwards, Motilal Oswal Securities said in result update.

Tata Motors should witness a gradual recovery from 2QFY22 lows as supply-side issues ease and commodity headwinds stabilize (for the India business). It would gain from the triple benefits of a macro recovery, company-specific volume/margin drivers, and sharp improvement in FCF and leverage in both JLR as well as the India business, the brokerage firm said. It maintains buy rating on the stock with target price of Rs 565 per share.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set a target of winning more than 60 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls, said state party president Madan Kaushik on Tuesday.

A meeting regarding the upcoming Assembly was held at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the national capital late on Monday night. Senior leaders, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, Chief Minister Puskar Singh Dhami were also present in the meeting.

"Today we discussed the upcoming and decided on all programmes. We reviewed the preparations and formed the roadmap. Right now we have a goal of 60 plus seats. We got the guidance of the Union Home Minister to achieve the goal. There will be programmes of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister in Uttarakhand," Kaushik told reporters after the meeting.

Notably, Shah visited the poll-bound state last week and attended several meetings and programmes.

for the 70-member Assembly are scheduled to take place in early 2022.

In the 2017 elections, secured 57 Assembly seats, Congress won 11 seats and the rest of the seats were won by others.

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Vice President on Monday emphasised the need to address the problem of manpower shortage in the medical profession.

He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for expansion of India's health infrastructure at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

While interacting with medical students and faculty at Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, the Vice President expressed happiness that India is on the path to achieving the WHO-recommended ratio of one doctor per 1,000 people by 2024.

He also appreciated the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission which seeks to strengthen the critical healthcare network from the village to the level in the next four to five years.

Ruing that the medical profession has become increasingly commercialised over the years, he advised the budding medical graduates to lend a human touch while treating their patients.

"Medical profession is one of the noblest professions and all of you should always remain committed to the Hippocrates Oath. Never deviate from the righteous path and maintain the highest ethical and moral standards," he said.

Stressing the need to fully leverage India's strength in the IT sector, Naidu called for promoting public-private partnership (PPP) in different areas, including establishing telemedicine connectivity to remote rural areas.

Telemedicine will help in reducing costs and improving access in rural India, he opined and expressed confidence that the recently launched Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission would help in creating the necessary ecosystem for delivering an efficient and inclusive universal health coverage.

In view of the shortage of manpower in the rural areas, the Vice President suggested making rural service mandatory before giving the first promotion to government doctors.

He also recognised the need to attract more doctors to the rural areas by providing incentives and improving housing and other infrastructure.

Expressing concern over the high levels of out-of-pocket expenditure on health, Naidu emphasised the need to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all.

In this regard, he underlined the need to increase public spending on the health sector.

"At the same time, I would urge the private players in the health sector to join hands with the government in providing affordable state-of-the-art treatment modalities to the people," he added.

Referring to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Naidu asked the medical fraternity to be ready to tackle any such disease/epidemic in future by increasing their focus on research on emerging diseases.

He also commended the doctors, scientists and all the frontline workers for their dedication and selfless service to save lives and prevent the spread of COVID-19 transmission.

Expressing happiness over the rise in economic activity post COVID, he cautioned everyone to remain on guard and continue to adhere to COVID-related protocols till the situation returns to complete normalcy.

"We cannot act recklessly and invite another wave. I am sure that as those associated with the medical profession, all of you will create greater awareness on this issue among the people," he said.

Drawing attention to the worrisome trend of the rapid increase in Non-Communicable Diseases, Naidu called for concerted effort by all stakeholders to arrest the trend of growing NCDs.

He advised the young medical professionals to not only adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle, but motivate others too.

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Bajaj Consumer Care fell 4.40% to Rs 225 after the company's consolidated net profit fell 18.29% to Rs 46.51 crore on 4.54% decrease in net sales to Rs 213.23 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020.

On a consolidated basis, profit before tax (PBT) fell 18.15% to Rs 56.49 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020. During the quarter, employee expense rose 12.43% YoY to Rs 23.07 crore.

On a standalone basis, net profit fell 17.47% to Rs 47.25 crore on 4.31% decrease in net sales to Rs 212.20 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020. EBITDA fell 21.8% to YoY Rs 50 crore. EBITDA margin stood at 23.6% in Q2 September 2021, lower than 28.9% in Q2 September 2020.

Revenue from hair oils segment fell 2.1% YoY to Rs 209.40 crore in Q2 September 2021. Volume growth for hair oils is (0.7%) and 10.2% for Q2 FY22 and H1 FY22 respectively.

The company said that wholesale declined sharply with reduced footfalls in key HSM markets. Retail performance has been good with near double-digit growth, backed by focused drives and top retailer loyalty program. In spite of demand slowdown, rural remained flat due to expansion of rural network in select states.

Modern trade registered high teen growth with resumption of modern retail outlets across the country. Lower than expected footfalls in the August Big Day events across modern trade chains. Improvements seen towards end of September and October. Hyper competitiveness by challenger brands seen in the events.

E-commerce continues to scale up Q-o-Q with doubling of business over last year currently contributing to 4% of turnover. Closer partnerships with top e-retailers, Amazon and Flipkart resulting in high growth.

In International business, UAE and Africa had a sharp decline due to travel restrictions. Nepal and Bangladesh came out of lockdown and performed well with double digit growths.

Bajaj Consumer Care, part of the Bajaj Group of Companies, is one of India's well-established companies in the beauty care category. Its flagship brand, Bajaj Almond Drops Hair Oil, is a leading name in the hair oil market. The company also owns the Nomarks Brand in India.

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The benchmark indices were trading lower in afternoon trade. At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 78.16 points or 0.13% at 60,060.30. The Nifty 50 index lost 27.30 points or 0.15% at 17,902.35.

Reliance Industries (RIL) (down 1.28%), Infosys (down 0.54%) and Tata Steel (down 1.83%) were major drags.

The broader indices outperformed the benchmarks. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.40%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.10%.

Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 1,944 shares rose and 1,217 shares fell. A total of 145 shares were unchanged.

Economy:

India's merchandise exports in October rose 42.3% on a year-over-year (Y-o-Y) basis to touch $35.47 billion, as per preliminary trade data revealed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday. Total merchandise imports in October, however, rose 62.5% to $55.37 billion. The trade deficit in the month of October widened to $19.9 billion compared to $9.15 billion, recorded in October 2020.

Gainers & Losers:

Maruti Suzuki India (up 1.87%), Titan Company (up 1.65%), NTPC (up 1.38%) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) (up 1.28%) were major gainers in Nifty 50 index.

Grasim Industries (down 1.84%), JSW Steel (down 1.82%) and Hindalco Industries (down 1.04%) were major losers in Nifty 50 index.

Nifty Results Today:

Bharti Airtel (up 0.69%) and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 0.80%) will announce their quarterly results today.

Earning Impact:

Tata Motors rose 0.99%. The company's consolidated net loss was Rs 4,441.57 crore in Q2 FY22 as against a net loss of Rs 314 crore posted in Q2 FY21. Consolidated revenue from operations grew 14.7% to Rs 61,379 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 53,530 crore posted in Q2 FY21.

Global Markets:

Most shares in Europe and Asia declined on Tuesday, 2 November 2021. Investors are monitoring the US Federal Reserve's two-day meeting Tuesday and Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to announce that it will begin to unwind its $120 billion in monthly bond purchases and end the program entirely by the middle of next year.

US manufacturing activity slowed in October, with all industries reporting record-long lead times for raw materials. The ISM's index of national factory activity slipped to a reading of 60.8 last month from 61.1 in September.

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Intellect Design Arena rose 2.12% to Rs 709.55 after the company said that the Kuwait-headquartered Boubyan Bank has signed a major transformative deal with Intellect Global Transaction Banking (iGTB).

iGTB is Intellect Design's complete Global Transaction Banking platform. iGTB's software products help corporate banks prepare for a new era of customer-centric services.

Boubyan Bank will be one of the first banks in Kuwait to undertake a comprehensive digital transaction banking implementation to digitize and streamline Islamic transaction banking. This strategic investment meeting the diverse and advanced needs of corporate & SME customers, will re-affirm Boubyan Bank's superior position as a leading digital Islamic bank in the region

For iGTB, this deal marks the third key digital transformation customer in Kuwait.

iGTB CEO Manish Maakan said: Islamic financial institutions in Kuwait are exploring ways to drive innovation, reach new customers and expand their positive impact on society with sustainability. iGTB is Intellect Design's complete Global Transaction Banking platform. iGTB's software products help Corporate Banks prepare for a new era of customer-centric services.

This partnership with Boubyan Bank signals the urgent need banks to scale up corporate banking operations that emphasizes market-readiness and speed-to-market as 'hallmarks' of the next-gen Transaction Banking transformation, stepping away from long-haul bespoke programs. iGTB is Intellect Design's complete Global Transaction Banking platform. iGTB's software products help Corporate Banks prepare for a new era of customer-centric services.

Intellect Design Arena, a specialist in applying true digital technologies, is the a full spectrum banking and insurance technology products company, across global consumer banking, central banking, global transaction banking (iGTB), risk, treasury and markets, and insurance.

The company reported 39% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 59.2 crore on a 6.8% increase in income from software product license and related services to Rs 373 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q1 FY22. It had recorded a loss of Rs 17 crore on an income of Rs 327.5 crore in Q2 FY21.

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On a consolidated basis, Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL)'s net profit (from continued operations) jumped 188.08% to Rs 2,583.90 crore on a 67.04% surge in total revenue from operations to Rs 13,611.71 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020.

Despite sluggish domestic demand due to ongoing monsoons in the country, Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) reported robust growth in sales and production in Q2 FY22. JSPL's sales volume surged 32% Q-o-Q (quarter-on-quarter) and 10% Y-o-Y (year-on-year) to hit a record of 2.13 million tonnes (MT) during the quarter. The second quarter also marked the first time JSPL steel sales crossed 2 million tonnes quarterly volumes. The company continued to benefit from buoyant export markets as share of exports in overall volumes increased to more than 40% in Q2 FY22 compared to 34% in Q1 FY22 and 38% in Q2 FY21. Exports have become key channel of sales for the company, especially in times of subdued domestic demand.

Meanwhile, JSPL was declared as the preferred bidder for Kasia Iron Ore Mine in Odisha. Kasia Mine has a large geological resource of 278 million tonnes of iron ore and it consists of an average Fe grade of approx. 62.5%. Kasia is an operational mine having an Environmental Clearance (EC) of 7.5 MTPA (million tonnes per annum). The mine is 17 km away from JSPL's Barbil pellet plant. Iron ore from Kasia is stated to significantly boost JSPL's raw material security; especially as the company makes steady progress on its plans to raise its pellet capacity to 21 MTPA from 9 MTPA now by FY24 and steel capacity to 16 MTPA from 9.6 MTPA by FY25. The company is also working towards setting up a slurry pipeline between Barbil and Angul (c. 200 km), which will not only help reduce logistics costs but also lower carbon and dust emissions associated with raw material transport through road, the firm stated in its press release.

Higher volumes coupled with continued upward momentum in steel prices in Q2 FY22 resulted in standalone net revenues rising to Rs 13,261 crore. This was, however, partially offset by lower pellet sales (due to rising internal consumption) and declining pellet realizations. Better steel volumes and realizations resulted in standalone EBITDA at Rs 4,519 crore for the reported quarter.

However, the strong performance by all businesses including overseas mines, contributed in JSPL reporting a record consolidated gross revenues of Rs 14,902 crore and consolidated EBITDA of Rs 4,594 crore. Higher operating profit and lower finance cost has led to consolidated PAT rising to Rs 2,584 crore, rising 3% Q-o-Q.

The Q2 FY22 phase continued to witness sharp rise in input costs, impact of which was compounded by exhaustion of low cost iron ore inventory in Q1 FY22. While coking coal prices had risen sharply during the quarter, the impact was significantly lower given the company had already booked material at lower prices for the quarter. The upward trend in coking coal (Premium hard coking coal) prices have continued in October 2021, rising beyond $400 /t for the first time ever. Higher coking coal prices is likely to impact margins going forward. However, incremental supply from WCL's Russel Vale mine in Australia and declining iron ore prices is expected to help contain margin compression from rising coking coal prices.

On the financial front, strong operational cash flows, improving working capital, declining finance cost and lower capex have all contributed towards continuous deleveraging in Q2 FY22. Consolidated net debt has declined further to Rs 11,164 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 15,227 crore in June 2021. For the reported quarter, finance costs have declined by 31% Y-o-Y in Q2 FY22. JSPL's focus on strengthening its balance sheet has resulted in its net debt declining by c. Rs 35,350 crore from a peak of c. Rs 46,500 crore in FY16. Conclusion of Jindal Power (JPL) divestment (accounted as asset held for sale) will result in net debt to decline further by Rs 3,015 crore, taking JSPL a step closer to its vision of becoming a net debt free company by FY23. The divestment received strong backing from the shareholders' approving the transaction in the EGM held on 3 September 2021. The company is currently in the process of getting relevant approvals from JSPL as well as JPL lenders and expect the divestment to conclude in FY22 itself.

For its outlook, Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL), highlighted: "India has recently hit the 100-crore vaccination milestone with more than 75% of the eligible population having taken the first dose. Steady vaccination ramp-up and easing of COVID-19 related restrictions are likely to help in broadening the recovery, and external demand conditions remain supportive. After remaining subdued in H1 FY22, construction and infrastructure activities are expected to recover strongly in H2 FY22 as seasonally strong demand period sets in. This bodes well for JSPL with two thirds of its product portfolio catering largely to India's Construction & Infrastructure sector. Taking a cue from falling seaborne iron ore prices, the domestic iron ore prices have also been declining for the past three months. This could aid margins for the company going forward with three fourth of this key raw material sourced from third parties at this juncture. Start of operations from Kasia mine by end of Q3 FY22 along with the operating Tensa mine is expected to provide more than 70% iron ore security for the company's steel operations. The domestic steel industry however continues to grapple with the sharp rise in the coking coal prices. Premium Hard Coking coal has risen by 180% so far in FY22 and currently trading close to USD400/t levels. However, resumption of our Russel Vale mine in Australia will provide some relief from rising coking coal costs, with first shipment expected in November 21."

Shares of Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) skid 2.91% to Rs 418.50 on BSE. JSPL is an industrial powerhouse with a dominant presence in steel, power, mining and infrastructure sectors.

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RattanIndia Enterprises - backed Revolt, a manufacturer of electric motorcycles, will expand its pan India footprint by opening up dealerships in five new cities i.e. Kolkata, Coimbatore, Madurai, Vizag and Vijayawada in the month of November 2021.

With opening of experience centres in these five new cities, RattanIndia Enterprises - backed Revolt will have 19 dealerships in 14 major cities spread across 9 states in the country. These experience centres cater to customers for sales and after sales services and spare. Revolt had opened up dealerships in 3 cities in the month of October 2021 ahead of the festive season.

Yesterday, on 1 November 2021, Revolt welcomed the Odisha Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 announced by the state. As per the policy, Odisha State Government will pay Rs 5,000 per bike as direct incentive to the Electric Vehicle (EV) bike customers in Odisha. Also, the registration charges and road tax have been waived for electric bikes registered in the state. These incentives are over and above the FAME II incentives of Rs 15,000 per KWh for EV manufacturers recently announced by the Central Government which amounts to Rs 48,000 per bike for Revolt. Combining the two incentives it would mean incentives of atleast Rs 53,000 per bike sold by Revolt in Odisha.

These incentives in Odisha come in addition to the incentives given by the Central Government. Odisha follows suit on incentives by various state governments to encourage EV adoption in their states. These incentives by the Central Government and various State Governments will encourage manufacturing and EV adoption in country. With falling battery prices, EV bikes prices are comparable to their petrol counterparts. With EV running cost of approximately Rs 9 per 100 km, these bikes have very low running cost as compared to petrol bikes.

Revolts flagship model, the RV400 comes with a 3KW (Mid Drive) motor, powered by a 72V, 3.24KWh Lithium-Ion battery can churn out a top speed of 85km/h. The bike can be operated through the MyRevolt App, which offers connectivity features such as bike locator/Geo fencing, customised sounds that you can change with just a tap on the screen, complete bike diagnostics, battery status, historical data on your rides and KMs done, and also the option of locating the nearest Revolt Switch Station to swap Revolt's battery.

The bike features three riding modes - Eco, Normal and Sport - each suiting to the riding style and needs of the driver. RV400 comes with Upside Down (USD) forks up-front and a fully- adjustable monoshock at the rear to give an unparalleled riding experience.

On a consolidated basis, RattanIndia Enterprises reported a net loss of Rs 0.83 crore in Q1 June 2021 as compared to a net profit of Rs 0.08 crore in Q1 June 2020. Net sales stood at Rs 1 crore in Q1 FY22.

Shares of RattanIndia Enterprises advanced 2.61% to close at Rs 41.25 on BSE. RattanIndia Enterprises is the flagship company of Rattanindia Group for its new age growth businesses. The company has forayed into electric mobility space through Revolt Motors to democratize clean commute using next-gen mobility solutions. The company is completely focused on providing world class electric mobility products which are affordable and accessible to every Indian.

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The offer received bids for 12.45 crore shares as against 53.86 lakh shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sigachi Industries received bids for 12,45,28,680 shares as against 53,86,500 shares on offer on Tuesday (2 November 2021), according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST. The issue was subscribed 23.12 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Monday (1 November 2021) and it will close on Wednesday (3 November 2021). The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 161-163 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 90 equity shares and in multiples thereof.

The offer comprises fresh issue of 76,95,000 equity shares aggregating up to Rs 125.43 crore at upper price band of Rs 163 and Rs 123.89 crore at lower price band of Rs 161.

Ahead of the IPO, Sigachi Industries on 29 October 2021 finalized allocation of 23,08,500 equity shares to anchor investors at an allocation price of Rs 163 per share, aggregating to Rs 37,62,85,500.

The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds from the issue towards funding capital expenditure for expansion of production capacity for microcrystalline cellulose at Dahej (Gujarat) amounting to Rs 28.16 crore, for the expansion of production capacity for microcrystalline cellulose at Jhagadia (Gujarat) worth Rs 29.24 crore, to manufacture Croscarmellose Sodium, a modified cellulose used as excipient at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh amounting Rs 32.30 crore and balance for general corporate purposes.

Sigachi Industries, incorporated in 1989, started its journey manufacturing chlorinated paraffin and hydrochloric acid in its manufacturing unit situated at Hyderabad. The company diversified its product portfolio in 1990 to manufacture microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). MCC is widely used as an excipient for finished dosages in the pharmaceutical industry. The inert non-reactive, free flowing and versatile nature of MCC has varied applications in the pharmaceutical, food, nutraceuticals, and the cosmetic industries.

The company manufactures MCC of various grades ranging from 15 microns to 250 microns. The major grades of MCC manufactured and marketed by the company are branded as HiCel and AceCel. These products are distinguished with the help of different drying techniques employed by the company during the manufacturing process. HiCel is a spray dried product and is considered premium in quality due to the physical properties of the product such as particle size, density, flow, tableting properties, etc. AceCel on the other hand is manufactured through bulk drying process. It also manufactures various grades of this product in combination with various chemicals like colloidal silicon dioxide, carboxy cellulose sodium, mannitol etc. to cater to the growing market of the co-processed excipients.

The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 8.99 crore and total income of Rs 54.95 crore as on 30 June 2021.

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The key equity indices were trading with minor gains in mid morning trade. The Nifty was trading a tad below the 17,950 mark. Auto stocks rose for the third day in a row.

At 11:26 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 22.09 points or 0.04% to 60,160.55. The Nifty 50 index added 15.55 points or 0.09% to 17,945.20.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index gained 0.38% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 1.13%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 1992 shares rose and 1024 shares fell. A total of 151 shares were unchanged.

Primary Market:

The initial public offer (IPO) of PB Fintech (Policybazaar) received bids for over 2.03 crore shares as against 3.45 crore shares on offer on Tuesday (2 November 2021), according to stock exchange data at 11:18 IST. The issue was subscribed 0.59 times.

PB Fintech, owner of Policybazaar and Paisabazaar platforms, is India's largest online platform for insurance and lending products leveraging the power of technology, data, and innovation.

The initial public offer (IPO) of SJS Enterprises received bids for 40.16 lakh shares as against 1.05 crore shares on offer on Tuesday (2 November 2021), according to stock exchange data at 11:18 IST. The issue was subscribed 0.22 times.

SJS enterprises is a "design-to-delivery" aesthetics solutions provider with the ability to design, develop and manufacture a diverse product portfolio for a wide range of customers primarily in the automotive and consumer appliance industries.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sigachi Industries received bids for over 7.21 crore shares as against 53.86 lakh shares on offer on Tuesday (2 November 2021), according to stock exchange data at 11:18 IST. The issue was subscribed 13.40 times.

Sigachi Industries is engaged in the manufacturing of Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), which is widely used as an excipient in the pharmaceutical, food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetic industries.

All the three IPOs opened for subscription Monday (1 November 2021) and will close on Wednesday (3 November 2021).

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Auto index rose 1.52% to 11,594.45. The index declined 3% in the past three sessions.

Maruti Suzuki (up 3.47%), TVS Motor Company (up 2.79%), Tata Motors (up 1.34%), Bajaj Auto (up 1.04%), Ashok Leyland (up 0.94%) and Hero MotoCorp (up 0.40 %) advanced while Bharat Forge (down 0.65%) and Eicher Motors (down 0.43%) declined.

Stocks in Spotlight:

VRL Logistics jumped 7.89% to Rs 409.40. The company's net profit rose 60.23% to Rs 49.48 crore on 44.87% increase in net sales to Rs 636.37 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020.

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) gained 1.66% to Rs 134.60. The PSU company posted a 71.3% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 243 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 141.89 crore registered in Q2 FY21. Revenue from operations grew 44.8% YoY to Rs 1,221.31 crore in Q2 FY22.

Bayer Cropscience declined 5.43% to Rs 4,747.55. The company's standalone net profit dropped 31.4% to Rs 154.10 crore on a 1.2% decline in net sales to Rs 1,365.10 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020.

Global Markets:

Most Asian stocks were trading lower on Tuesday. Investors are monitoring the US Federal Reserve's two-day meeting Tuesday and Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to announce that it will begin to unwind its $120 billion in monthly bond purchases and end the program entirely by the middle of next year.

US manufacturing activity slowed in October, with all industries reporting record-long lead times for raw materials. The ISM's index of national factory activity slipped to a reading of 60.8 last month from 61.1 in September.

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Among key corporate results, Bharti Airtel, HPCL, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Bank of India, Godrej Properties, Union Bank of India, Dabur India among others will release their September 2021 quarter earnings today, 2 November 2021.

Tata Motors' consolidated net loss stood at Rs 4,441.57 crore in Q2 FY22 as against a net loss of Rs 314 crore posted in Q2 FY21. Consolidated revenue from operations grew 14.7% to Rs 61,379 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 53,530 crore posted in Q2 FY21. The company posted a pre tax loss of Rs 3,467 crore in Q2 FY22 as compared to a net loss of Rs 819.55 crore posted in Q2 FY21.

Hero MotoCorp sold 547,970 units of two-wheelers in October 2021. Sales stood at 8.07 lakh units in October 2020.

Eicher Motors said motorcycles sales fell 34% to 44,133 units in October 2021 from 66,891 units in October 2020.

Grasim Industries said the company has successfully commissioned a new line of 300 Ton Per Day (TPD) capacity of VSF and has commenced the commercial production from 1st November 2021. The company has also successfully commissioned first phase of expansion project at Rehla, Jharkhand with a capacity of 170 TPD Caustic Soda Lye.

Yes Bank said the bank has on 1 November 2021 completed the transaction for sale of stake in YES Asset Management and YES Trustee to GPL Finance & Investments.

MOIL announced that it will be making the arrear payment of wage revision for company's worker in one go, which will have a financial impact of Rs 218 crore approximately for the period it is due i.e. from 1st August 2017 to 30th September 2021. The total financial impact of the proposed wage revision will be about Rs.87 crore per annum.

The board of directors of I G Petrochemical approved the expansion of Phthalic Anhydride with a capacity of 53,000 MTPA at existing plant location, Taloja (brownfield expansion).

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The ruling Trinamool Congress on Tuesday worsted its rivals by record margins, to romp home to a 4-0 clean sweep in by- held on October 30.

The TMC wrested the Dinhata and Santipur seats in Coochbehar and Nadia districts respectively from the by huge margins, to raise its tally to 215 in the 294-member West Bengal assembly.

The BJP, whose predecessor Jan Sangh was founded by Bengal's Hindu Mahasabha leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee, saw its tally came down to 75 from an earlier 77.

The ruling TMC also retained the Khardah and Gosaba assembly seats in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts respectively by impressive margins. The TMC, in total, bagged 75.02 per cent of the votes cast, whereas the got some 14.48 per cent votes, in the four assembly segments.

In Dinhata which had returned BJP's Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik in held earlier this year by a slender margin, the margin of victory for TMC crossed the record landmark of 1.64 lakh votes.

Dinhata, this time round, witnessed a one-sided fight where TMC's Udayan Guha won over his nearest rival, BJP's Ashok Mandal, by a massive margin of 1,64,089 votes.

The TMC's victory in Dinhata in North Bengal is significant in view of the controversial demand for creating a Union Territory comprising all districts of the region, by BJP's Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla.

Barla had sparked a political debate in the state when he called for bifurcation of Bengal, drawing a sharp retort from the TMC and other parties.

The by-election to this North Bengal constituency was necessitated by Paramanik's decision to continue as a Lok Sabha MP for the district of Coochbehar in which Dinhata, a picturesque constituency, nestles.

The Trinamool Congress candidate Subrata Mondal Tuesday too won the Gosaba assembly by-poll by a massive margin of 1,43,051 votes.

TMC's Subrata Mondal secured 1,61,474 votes, whereas BJP's Palash Rana, his nearest rival, garnered a mere 18,423 votes.

The by-poll for the Gosaba assembly segment in the Sunderbans deltaic region, was necessitated by the death of the sitting TMC MLA few months back.

In Santipur assembly constituency, famous for its handloom industry which had turned into a citadel in the assembly held earlier this year, TMC's Braja Kishore Goswami led over his nearest rival - BJP's Niranjan Biswas by a record 64,675 votes.

The Santipur by-election too was necessitated by the resignation of the BJP's Jagganath Sarkar who had won the seat in elections held earlier this year as he too wished to retain his Member of Parliament seat.

In the Khardah assembly segment, state minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay defeated his nearest rival - BJP's Joy Saha - by a margin of 93,832 votes.

Chattopadhyay secured 1,14,086 votes, whereas Saha managed to bag 20,254 votes. The bypoll to Khardah too was necessitated following the death of a sitting TMC MLA.

Hours before the EC announced its final results, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee congratulated her party candidates for the "victory".

"My heartiest congratulations to all the four winning candidates! This victory is people's victory, as it shows how Bengal will always choose development and unity over propaganda and hate politics. With people's blessings, we promise to continue taking Bengal to greater heights!" she said in a twitter post.

Taking a dig at BJP's defeat in the polls, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee tweeted, "A cracker free Diwali in true sense. Wishing folks at @BJP4India a very Happy Diwali!"



West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar blamed the defeat on the "reign of terror unleashed by the TMC".

"Margin of more than one lakh in by-polls is unimaginable. We can very well understand the kind of terror that was unleashed by the ruling party to stop people from voting freely and fairly," he said.

TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee denied the allegations, terming them as baseless.

"This is the beginning of the end for BJP. The more it will speak on communal lines, the more it will be rejected by the people of West Bengal," he said.

The BJP had won 77 of the 292 seats of the West Bengal assembly that went to the polls earlier this year in April-May. The Trinamool Congress had then won 213 seats, while ISF and GJM bagged one seat each.

Following the resignation of Pramanik and Sarkar, the saffron camp's official tally in the assembly came down to 75.

The TMC's tally too came down to 211 after two of its MLAs from Gosaba and Khardah died. With the victory in Samserganj and Jangipur last month, the ruling party's tally went up to 213 seats.

With the ruling party snatching Dinhata and Santipur from the saffron camp, its tally has now gone up to 215 seats.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India will always strengthen any effort for sustainable development, Prime Minister said on Tuesday after Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission described India as a key partner in combating

Prime Minister Modi again met Leyen during the COP26 Climate Summit here on Monday. President of the European Council Charles Michel and Leyen had met Modi in Rome on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

"Good to continue close collaboration with PM @narendramodi #COP26 as well. India is a key partner on fighting the global climate. I greatly appreciate PM Modi leadership," European Commission President Leyen tweeted on Monday.

To this Modi tweeted that, "Happy to have met you in Glasgow after the very fruitful interaction in Rome. As I highlighted during my speech yesterday, India will always strengthen any effort for "



On Monday, Prime Minister Modi announced a bold pledge that India will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and asserted that it is the only country that is delivering in "letter and spirit" the commitments on tackling under the Paris Agreement.

He said India is working hard in fighting and it will show results.

Modi also said that India is putting climate change at the centre of its policies and stressed the need to include climate adaptation policies in the school syllabus to make the next generation aware of the issues.

During his meeting with the top EU leaders on October 29, Modi held extensive discussion covering trade and investment ties, climate change, COVID-19, global and regional developments.

European Commission President Leyen had termed her meeting in Rome with Modi "good".

Good to meet @narendramodi. Our strategic agenda is on the right track. We agreed that our trade negotiators will start to work. Well deepen our cooperation on climate including on innovation & technology Looking forward to cooperating in the Indo-Pacific, she had said in a tweet.

India-EU bilateral relations date back to the early 1960s with India being amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community in 1962.

The first India-EU Summit took place on June 28, 2000 in Lisbon and marked a watershed in the evolution of the relationship. The relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership' during the 5th India-EU Summit held in 2004 in The Hague.

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India has not only exceeded the Paris commitments but has now also set an ambitious agenda for the next 50 years, Prime Minister said on Tuesday after he took part in two days of intense discussions with world leaders at the climate summit on the future of the planet.

Prime Minister Modi said this in a tweet while leaving for home after concluding his five-day official visit to Rome and Glasgow where he attended the G-20 Summit and the COP26 UN Conference respectively.

"Departing from Glasgow after two days of intense discussions about the future of our planet. India has not only exceeded the Paris commitments but has now also set an ambitious agenda for the next 50 years," Modi tweeted.

"It was wonderful to see many old friends in person after a long time, and meet some new ones. I am thankful to our host PM @BorisJohnson and also to the Scottish people for their warm hospitality in the beautiful Glasgow, he said in another tweet.

A large contingent of Indian community members dressed in colourful Indian outfits had gathered to bid him farewell. Modi played drums along with members of the Indian community before his departure for India.

Modi attended the World Leaders' summit of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP-26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on (UNFCCC) at the invitation of his British counterpart Boris Johnson.

The COP26 is being held from October 31 to November 12 under the presidency of the UK which is partnering with Italy for the event.

The prime minister last attended the COP-21 in Paris in 2015, when the Paris Agreement was concluded, and whose implementation commences this year.

Modi held numerous bilateral meetings on the sidelines of COP-26, billed as one of the biggest ever congregations of world leaders and experts in combating

He arrived here from Rome where he participated in the 16th G-20 Summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi from October 30-31. Italy has been holding the presidency of the G-20 since December last year.

The G-20 is a leading global forum that brings together the world's major economies. Its members account for more than 80 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 60 per cent of the population of the planet.

Modi also held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India is scheduled to host the G-20 summit in 2023 for the first time.

It was the eighth G-20 summit Modi attended. The G-20 has emerged as the premier global forum for international economic cooperation.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi also called on Pope Francis at the Vatican in their first-ever one-to-one meeting. Modi invited the head of the Catholic Church to visit India.

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Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami on Monday met senior leader and Union Home Minister and party general secretary B L Santhosh, ahead of the state assembly polls early next year.

BJP's unit head Madan Kaushik, party's general secretary and state in-charge Dushyant Gautam, co-incharge Rekha Verma were also present in the meeting held at Shah's residence.

Union minister Pralhad Joshi, who is also the party's election in-charge for the state, also participated in the meeting which is expected to last till late midnight.

The meeting is being held just two days after Shah's visit to

Earlier this year, the saffron party had changed the Uttarakhand chief minister twice in three months.

Dhami, a two-time MLA from Khatima assembly in Udhamsingh Nagar, is believed to be the BJP's face in the upcoming assembly elections.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], November 2 (ANI/ATK): Dr. Yusuf Merchant, Founder President, Drug Abuse Information Rehabilitation & Research Centre, has been awarded The Indian Excellence Award for Best Anti-Drug Campaigner of India for his exemplary contribution towards Drug prevention and drug rehabilitation in the country.

Drug Abuse Information Rehabilitation & Research Centre is one of India's premiere NGOs committed to substance abuse prevention strategies, including rehabilitation of drug addicts, implementation of drug demand reduction strategies and research in the causes and effects of drug abuse.

The award seems to have come with much thought as Dr. Yusuf Merchant has selflessly dedicated his life to the anti-drug movement for over three decades. He has conducted seminars/workshops for Substance Abuse (3500) and HIV (537), the nation over for Police personnel (Jr. and Senior Management), Customs and Excise officials, students from graduate and post graduate institutions, Non-Governmental organizations, labor union personnel, taxi and truck drivers, commercial sex workers among others. His awareness programmes have reached out to more than one million people thus far.

As the Head of the Drugfree India Movement, Dr. Merchant has devised a Specific Intervention Strategy for school children that has been implemented in over 1600 schools in Mumbai - called Drug Resistance Education.

Dr. Merchant initiated the School-based Teenage Education Program in 2002-2003. The above pilot STEP project was then adapted and finalized to be conducted as a Life skills Training Programme for Social Awareness, including Alcohol and HIV Prevention, amongst 8th / 9th standard students.

Dr. Merchant has authored several books on narcotics, including a 515 pages anthology on Narcotics, published by the Commission of European Communities, and the recent best seller on Life management, 'Happyness: Life Lessons From A Creative Addict'.

This award is just another feather in the overcrowded cap of Dr Merchant, and goads him to do more good. May his tribe increase!

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Kochi (Kerala) [India], November 2 (ANI/NewsVoir): The word cryo-ablation is formed by the combination of two words 'Cryo' meaning cold and 'Ablation' meaning removal.

Cryoablation is the most innovative and successful way to restore a normal heartbeat after interrupting abnormal electrical pathways that leads to stroke and other heart failures.

The catheter is passed through a blood vessel through the patient's leg and is routed to the heart using advanced imaging technology. Nitrous oxide gas is infused into a cryo balloon which cools the tissue and produces intracardiac ablation lesions. The advantage of the treatment is that the process is completed with the help of a balloon at a low temperature so that other cells are undamaged. Patients can return home the day after the procedure is performed.

The first Cryo-ablation technique was performed on a 53-year-old woman from Valanchari, Malappuram, at Aster Medcity, Kochi who was placed in an extremely critical condition with water in her chest due to an abnormal heartbeat. The doctors decided to perform Cryo-ablation, based on the patient's safety, critical condition and risk of developing the condition.

Dr. Praveen Sreekumar, Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, Aster Medicity, Kochi, said, "This minimally invasive procedure is painless and completely safe compared to other heart surgeries. Once this innovative treatment process is completed, most patients can avoid medication. Patients who undergo this procedure with an accurate diagnosis at an early stage are less likely to have a recurrence of the disease."

Cryo-ablation is used in patients with arrhythmia who present an abnormal heartbeat. Irregular heartbeat occurs when the nerves in the heart malfunction. Over time, this can lead to blood clots in the heart, leading to life-threatening strokes and other related heart problems and physical conditions. These patients are usually given blood thinners; in severe cases, treatments, including pacemakers, may be advised, however, this is not a permanent solution. This innovative and new treatment stands apart from all the treatment options.

Dr. Anil Kumar, Head, Department of Cardiology, Aster Medicity, Kochi, explains, "Aster Medicty is one of the few centers in the country and the only hospital in South Kerala to successfully introduce Cryoablation therapy. We provide this treatment at a lower cost than neighboring states and currently five patients with heart disease are scheduled to undergo the cryoablation surgery."

Atrial fibrillation (AF) problems usually occur in about 10% of patients over the age of 80. But such conditions are now seen in young people too. Other symptoms of arrhythmia include high or slow heart rate, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, feeling dizzy, fainting, and dizziness. This condition can start at a young age and worsen with age.

Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in GCC and in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary healthcare through our 27 hospitals, 115 clinics and over 223 pharmacies in seven countries, including India. We have over 22,400 plus dedicated staff including 2970 doctors and 6437 nurses across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders: "We'll treat you well". We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the "Aster", "Medcare" and "Access" brands.

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New Delhi [India], November 2 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Prior to the festival of prosperity - Diwali, (https://codinginvaders.com) Coding Invaders by MentorsPro, an IT online Academy has conducted a study on the most searched investments that Indians did during the period of October 2020 to September 2021.

The 'Invest In' data that consists of Google queries made by Indians show that Indians are willing to do smart investing and looking out for investment options within the country. The study reveals Smart Investment and Investment banking to be the top keywords searched during the time period with an average of 73,817 and 50,842 monthly values. 'Investing chart' with an average of 36,417, 'how to invest in share market' with 43,633, and "In Investing" with an average monthly value of 34,950 lies under the highly searched keywords as per the data provided by Semrush.

The study also reveals that people are considering Jobs as an investment option with keywords like jobs, money, bank, and mutual being mostly searched by people with an average sum volume of 43099 searches monthly. The study shows that people are willing to upscale their investments and careers and a lot of people in India are looking to make a shift in their careers by opting for online courses for adults and top courses in terms of sales that Coding Invaders have.

Commenting on the study Roman Vyas, VP of Marketing and co-founder at Coding Invaders highlighted the importance of investing in yourself and said, "Receiving new skills to boost the career and utilising online education can change the lives of people in India. The best investments are investments in job-ready skills that help you to build your future career. Mastering new skills in front of the comfort of home extensifies professional and social growth and this study will further help people in identifying reliable platforms and ways to boost their profiles."

The study also reveals the most frequently searched questions related to investing where "How to invest in mutual funds" and share market remains on top with the search volume of 40,500 searches followed by "How to earn money online without investment" and "How to invest in the stock market".

The study concludes that Indians are more interested in investing within the country as a lot of people have searched about how to invest in cryptocurrency in India.

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 2 (ANI/NewsVoir): India's leading food FMCG company, Empire Spices and Foods Ltd. (ESFL) popular for its flagship brand Ram Bandhu has released a Marathi short film titled 'A soulful diwali - Khare Prakashparva'.

The heart-touching campaign was created with the aim of supporting and honouring selfless community workers like local Kirana store owners, the milkman, the vegetable vendors, the sweepers and other such silent warriors who worked tirelessly during the pandemic.

The film captures the story of a Kirana store owner played by award-winning Marathi actor Kishor Kadam at Gokuldham Society and his apprehensions through the journey of the poignant film.

"At Ram Bandhu we feel indebted to the countless COVID warriors who are helping us fight this pandemic. We wanted to express our gratitude through this film. This Diwali let us light a lamp in the honour of the COVID warriors of our neighbourhood; the local Kirana store owner, the milkman, the vegetable vendors, the sweepers and other such silent warriors," shared Hemant Rathi, Chairman, ESFL.

Commenting on the film, Umesh Rathi, Managing Director, ESFL said, "Small businesses have taken a hit during the pandemic and are still recovering from the impact of it. The local retail stores have played a pivotal role in providing the households with essential goods while risking their own health and safety. This film is a salute to all such selfless Samaritans."

Renowned Actor, Shivaji Satam who features in the film shared, "The script was so heart touching that I couldn't say no to it despite having several other engagements. I appreciate the fact that an established brand like Ram Bandhu has chosen to put forth this kind of a message during Diwali. I am really happy to be a part of such a noble endeavour."

The film has been produced by Whiteline Studios. Hemant Bele, Creative Head, Whiteline Studios shared, "This Diwali short film 'A soulful diwali - Khare Prakashparva' by Ram Bandhu is a small effort to give our unsung COVID warriors the recognition they deserve and to make this Diwali one filled with love, light & gratitude."

Lead Actor Kishor Kadam said, "It is a privilege to be part of such a film with a social message and to enact the role of one of our unsung COVID warriors."

ESFL recently announced Madhuri Dixit-Nene as the brand ambassador for Ram Bandhu's papad and pickle products.

ESFL's brand portfolio includes the brands Ram Bandhu, RBM, Temptin' and Zaiqa. These are loved by the masses for the taste, variants and convenience that they bring. The company has its presence in the markets across 12 states in India with more than half a million retail shops, a large team of field force and 1000+ distributors dedicated to supplying the best products and culinary delicacies to the consumers.

The company also has been exporting its products to countries like US, UK, Qatar, Dubai, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Bahrain.

Video Link: A Soulful Diwali - Khare Prakashparva | Ram Bandhu | (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAYWf4dhAPU)

For more information, please visit (https://www.rambandhu.com)

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 2 (ANI/Mediawire): Founded by Varuna D. Jani, RUANI is out of her urge to create an empowering community that brings together the best jewellery.

Varuna, who comes from a powerful and trusted lineage of jewellers- The Popley Family, holds a vision that is bigger than herself.

Being a daughter of Ramchand Popley, Varuna's vision as an entrepreneur and an adornologist, is to portray fine jewellery as an enhancer in an individual's life. As a designer, she aims to continue to create modest designs that are transformative when worn and bold enough to make a statement. For Varuna, Ruani is like bringing her dream to life.

RUANI is India's first ecosystem where established and upcoming designers can innovate, create and experiment in a stress free, sustainable environment, all under one roof. Ruani's refreshing styles, designer discoveries, adornment and multi designer approach is creating a marvellous thing in the modern retail jewellery market.

"Our credo is to safeguard against things becoming static and boring. As 'A place for marvellous things', Ruani creates a magical place that constantly reinvents itself through refreshed styles, designer discoveries and adornment as a ritual. The name Ruani means the soul. And we are here to bring back the soulful connection we have with design and adornment. It brings together experience, excitement and energy, with the highest design aesthetics in jewellery from all over the world, for a refreshingly new take on adornment." Varuna passionately defined motive behind Ruani.

The philosophy of Ruani is also focused on the greater good of extending the 'Joy of Adorning' to enhance lives and leverage the power of the sisterhood. The brand aligns itself with the VOW (Very Own Wish) Initiative towards micro-financing and skill development to empower the lesser fortunate women. With an uncompromising philosophy of sisterhood, Ruani creates a supportive environment where creativity can thrive unfettered and becomes the experiential destination to celebrate individuality.

With a three-pronged approach of multi-brand retail, incubation, and mentoring, Ruani empowers passionate designers to find a new audience and simultaneously broadens the horizons for the jewellery lover. Varuna's insight to move from an individual to an institution gives the jewellery connoisseur what she needs.

Offering flavours of the world through its collective, Ruani is a place for marvelous things as it brings together homegrown as well as globally renowned names in jewellery under one roof.

Varuna has always believed that a woman's individuality must shine through, and there is nothing better than jewels to do that job. By distilling the learnings from decades of styling and adorning, she has crafted four unique personalities rooted in a woman's individuality: The Trendsetter, The Contemporary, The Vin-tempory & The Naturalist. To cater to these sharply defined personalities, Ruani harnesses the power of the collective design consciousness. Her passion for bringing back the soul into designs has translated into this exciting venture that aims to create for the joy of adorning and expressing oneself.

"Jewellery doesn't just adorn the body but ignites our soul. We are here to enhance the inner radiance that every woman carries. We call this the Joy of Adorning. We create a tailor-made experience where designer adornists and leading stylists are there to help one create a complete look", further defined Varuna on the concept.

Varuna, a jewellery designer & adornologist along with Divyesh Shah, are bringing together experience, excitement and energy, with the highest design aesthetics in jewellery from all over the world, for a refreshingly new take on adornment.

Divyesh, an expert in luxury jewellery segment, has a keen understanding of the new-age jewellery connoisseur. The partnership is fuelled by Varuna's vision to adorn every woman based on her style essence. Through his business expertise and growth-hacking capabilities, and her creative lineage, they are here to make RUANI the definitive destination for the luxury jewellery enthusiast.

Offering flavours of the world through Jewellery Collective, Ruani is a place for marvellous things as it brings together homegrown as well as globally renowned names in jewellery under one roof. As an entrepreneur and an adornologist, Varuna's vision is to portray fine jewellery as an enhancer in an individual's life. where jewellery is designed and sold for the sheer joy of adorning.

To know more, pls visit- (https://www.ruani.in)

Instagram page- (https://www.instagram.com/ruanijewellerycollective)

Facebook - (https://www.facebook.com/RuaniJewelleryCollective)

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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 2 (ANI/PRNewswire): Cost is the biggest worry for medical aspirants in India even if they are prepared to take on the attendant challenges of securing a Medical admission. (https://apply.tauedu.org/study/gy-md-india/?utm_source=Online-PR & utm_medium=Cision-Press-Release & utm_campaign=Online-PR) TAU aims to provide a range of options to enable students to achieve their dreams of pursuing MBBS.

However, what keeps the hopes of these aspirants alive are foreign medical universities with many travelling abroad to pursue their goal for the Medicine Program. Data says that in 2018, Medical Council of India (MCI) issued 3,386 eligibility certificates to students wishing to study medicine abroad.

Some of the most attractive reasons for students opting to study in foreign medical universities are affordable fee structure and a simple admission process.

While Germany, China and Russia have traditionally been the most popular destination to take up medicine, South America and the Caribbean is emerging as one of the most sought-after centres to pursue this coveted degree - one of the strongest reasons is English, which is the official language of the region, unlike other countries which are dominated by their native language.

One of the leading institutions that offer quality medical education in a world class campus is (https://apply.tauedu.org/ns/gy-md-india/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Texila American University (TAU) in Guyana and delivered by a body of multi-cultural faculty. The MCI-recognized medical university has state-of-the-art simulation labs and laboratories that enable learning of advanced diagnosis. One of the biggest advantages of studying at TAU will be gaining international exposure with the university hosting students from 54 countries across the world including those of India, USA, Canada, UK, Jamaica, Nigeria, and many others.

Affordable Fee Structure

A student can complete the five-year MBBS program for a fee of $46,000 (Rs 36 lakhs). In one of the biggest initiatives to encourage academic excellence and establish equity in education, TAU provides scholarships of up to 30 lakhs to meritorious students.

Training for USMLE and FMGE

Extensive training with 96 per cent pass rate for the three-step USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination), an examination that a student has to clear to practice in US hospitals, is an integral part of TAU's medical curriculum. If the student clears step one on first attempt, TAU will offer a free review program worth up to $5,000.

Besides this, Indian students who wish to return to India to practice, have a golden opportunity to train for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) at the university.

Opportunities in USA for Clinical Training

Studying at TAU increases a student's chances of taking up clinical rotations at top hospitals in the USA, which in turn increases their exposure to advanced healthcare environment.

This prepares a student to take up residency programs (Medical Speciality- PG) in USA. The university offers placement assistance for post-graduate programs in the US. Students who do their PG in USA are usually awarded with stipends of Minimum $42,000 by the teaching hospitals.

Admission Process

Start your application by clicking Register Now, after which the university's Admission officer will take your application through the admission process. Applicants passed class 12 with at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognised board are eligible to apply for the Program.

Key Advantages at TAU

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America which is also part of the Caribbean Community. It enjoys a reputation for personal safety and good climate. (https://apply.tauedu.org/study/gy-md-india/?utm_source=Online-PR & utm_medium=Cision-Press-Release & utm_campaign=Online-PR) Texila American University offers high-standard accommodation for its students along with multi-cuisine food. The hostel facilities for boys and girls are at a walkable distance from the campus. TAU is definitely some of the best schools to Study MBBS In Caribbean.

Students can now stop worrying about high capitation fees to be paid towards Medical Course and complete their medical education with Texila American University, Guyana debt free

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New Delhi [India], November 2 (ANI/NewsVoir): In a massive boost to the fight against stroke, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Indian Stroke Association (ISA) released a Position Statement on Stroke on World Stroke Day on October 29.

The two associations also vowed to enhance cooperation for raising awareness about stroke.

Indian Medical Association President Dr. JA Jayalal and Honorary Secretary Dr. Jayesh Lele, ISA President, Dr. Jeyaraj Pandian and Secretary Dr. Arvind Sharma released the Position Statement on Stroke or Brain Attack during a joint webinar for the medical fraternity to mark World Stroke Day. The event also brought down the curtains on ISA's celebration of October as Stroke Awareness Month 2021.

The Position Statement has been authored by Dr. Jibil Triza of Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Dr. MV Padma Srivastava, Professor and Head, Chief Neurosciences Centre, AIIMS, and Dr. Jeyaraj Pandian, who is also Principal and Professor of Neurology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana.

The Position Statement covers the types and causes of stroke, risk factors, symptoms, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, myths associated with stroke, and other aspects of stroke.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pandian said, "It is great to see IMA and ISA coming together. We were thinking of having a joint programme with IMA, and it is good to have done something together. It is fitting that we are releasing the Position Statement on Stroke on the occasion of World Stroke Day. The two organisations are committed to working together and creating awareness about stroke recognition and treatment protocols."

Dr. JA Jayalal, President, IMA, said, "We are happy to release the position statement on stroke. Stroke cases put a huge burden at the personal and community levels, and it is important to address the growing challenge. The IMA has taken up many projects to build awareness about stroke. We will work with the medical fraternity at large, the government, and other stakeholders for building stroke awareness and reducing the burden of stroke."

IMA honorary secretary Dr. Jayesh Lele commented, "Awareness is the key to mitigating the burden of stroke. Immediate hospitalisation and early diagnosis are the keys to total recovery from stroke. We are working on the guidelines for stroke protocols and treatment."

Stroke prevalence is on the rise in India, with more than 18 lakh cases every year. Around 25% of the patients are less than 50 years old. It is the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death. A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, consuming alcohol, obesity, and lack of physical activity are the key risk factors for stroke.

"Stroke can happen to anyone, but around 80% of the cases can be prevented with lifestyle changes. The risk can be lowered by regular checks for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, etc. Exercising regularly, maintaining the right weight, quitting smoking, and giving up alcohol can also help reduce the risk," said Dr. Arvind Sharma, Secretary, ISA.

Dr. A Murugunathan, Chairman, IMA Hypertension Standing Committee, said, "Physicians should be allowed/empowered to give thrombolytic treatment. The IMA should work with the decision-makers and get legal clearances to enable physicians to start stroke centres."

Dr. VG Pradeep Kumar, President-Elect, ISA, said, "Stroke awareness initiatives must be taken to the grassroots levels, and only then we can succeed in saving lives by ensuring people get treatment at the right time. I am confident both IMA and ISA will take forward not just public awareness campaigns, but also awareness campaigns among medical professionals."

Dr. MV Padma Srivastava, Past President, ISA, and one of the authors of the Position Statement, said, "Time is of the essence in stroke cases. A stroke unit is the most critical intervention to improve stroke outcomes."

In her remarks, Dr. P Vijaya - Executive Committee member, ISA, said, "Recognising stroke symptoms and reaching the hospital in time is critical. There are many effective therapies for stroke if administered within the golden period of 4.5 hours of getting the stroke. Timely treatment also allows for maximum recovery."

The ISA celebrated October as Stroke Awareness Month 2021 and organised dozens of events to spread awareness. The events included risk screening camps, audio-visual presentations, community engagement through social media and other platforms, collaborations with the Indian Red Cross Society, Rotary Club, and other NGOs, etc.

ISA also collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai and Indian Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) to conduct webinars to educate doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and other frontline healthcare workers at the primary level in 100 districts. The activities focused on highlighting various aspects related to stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery.

The theme of World Stroke Day 2021 was focused on Saving Precious time by raising awareness about signs of stroke, treating stroke as a medical emergency and the need for timely access to quality treatment. The ISA ran various social media campaigns for Know your numbers, Know your risks, recognise stroke symptoms, Act in time, among others, as a part of Stroke Awareness Month. It has lined up several more awareness initiatives that will continue well beyond Stroke Awareness Month.

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Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 2 (ANI/NewsVoir): The Bajaj Finserv EMI Store is offering special discounts on furniture across top-selling brands. From sleek and stylish beds to modern sofa sets, customers can purchase furnishings for their homes on EMIs as low as Rs 1,084. The EMI-only platform is also offering a flat 25% discount as cashback voucher on all furniture items.

Products from popular brands like HomeTown, Duroflex, Danube Home, Royaloak, Furnitech and others are available at the lowest EMIs. Customers can also avail of the zero down payment facility on select products.

Some of the best-selling (https://www.bajajfinservmarkets.in/emi-store/furniture.html) furniture on EMI Store of Bajaj Finserv available on the EMI Store include:

* HomeTown Allen Engineered Wood Queen Size Box Storage Bed in Grey Color on No Cost EMI starting from Rs 2,834 and flat 25% cashback voucher worth up to Rs. 5,000

* Furnitech Mexico 2 Seater Sofa In Light Brown on No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 2,433 and flat 25% cashback voucher worth up to Rs 5,000

* Good Furniture Works Ruben 5 Seater Chaise Sectional Sofa on No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 6,250 and flat 25% cashback voucher worth up to Rs 5,000

* HomeTown Prime 3 Door Engineered Wood Wardrobe in Wenge Color on No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 1,325 and flat 25% cashback voucher worth up to Rs 5,000

* Danube Home Vanessa 2 Seater Fabric Sofa (Rust and Beige) on No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 2,437 and flat 25% cashback voucher worth up to Rs 5,000

Shoppers can buy furniture items from over 1,000 cities on the EMI Store. These include metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

The Bajaj Finserv EMI Store makes the purchase of home decor items easier and more convenient than ever. Customers can choose from a wide range of options available and get the item delivered to their preferred address free of cost. Additionally, shoppers can benefit from myriad offers such as No Cost EMI plans, zero down payment facility and cashback vouchers on the EMI Store.

Shopping on the EMI Store is a hassle-free, 5-step process:

1. Login to the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store using the registered mobile number.

2. Choose the desired furniture item, add it to the cart, select the repayment tenor and proceed to checkout.

3. Enter the required information, including name and delivery address.

4. Click on the "Generate OTP" option and enter the OTP sent to the registered mobile number to complete the purchase.

5. Confirmation SMS will be sent to the registered mobile number with the date and time of delivery.

Finserv MARKETS is an online digital marketplace by Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv. Finserv MARKETS is a one-stop digital marketplace that assists consumers to compare and choose from a wide range of financial products. Its core proposition is driven by a strong intent to deliver tailor made financial products to the consumers.

It offers customers an abundance of choices in offering the required financial products to achieve all their financial and personal goals. Finserv MARKETS has partnered with leading financial providers in the Lending, Insurance, Investments and Payments space to provide 500+ financial and lifestyle products, all in one place.

For further information, please visit (https://www.bajajfinservmarkets.in) or download Finserv MARKETS App on Google Play Store or App Store.

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The Rajasthan Police on Sunday arrested former SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhury in a case of alleged loan fraud involving a private hotel in Jaisalmer. The case relates to properties owned by Godawan Group, which failed to repay the bank Rs 24 crore loan taken for the construction of a hotel in 2008, when Chaudhury was the chairman. The bank had then seized the borrowers hotels, worth Rs 200 crore, and sold them for Rs 24 crore. The hotels were then sold to Alchemist Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) for Rs 25 crore in 2016. This was legally challenged by the Godawan Group. Later, after retirement, Choudhury joined Alchemist ARC as a director. While this is a case of alleged fraud, the government has also come up with new guidelines that aim to protect the legitimate commercial decisions of bankers. Public-sector have been asked to implement common staff accountability policies for loan accounts of up to Rs 50 crore that turn into non-performing assets (NPAs) from April 1, 2022. These new rules do not apply to fraud accounts. Further, depending on the business size of the banks, threshold limits have been advised for scrutiny of accountability by the Chief Vigilance Officer. At present, different state-run follow different procedures for conducting staff accountability exercises. Under the new framework, public-sector must complete the staff accountability exercise within six months from the date of classification of an account as bad loan. The past record of the employees will also be considered during the scrutiny. The Indian Banks Association (IBA) has welcomed the move, calling it a morale booster for employees. IBA has added that slow credit delivery to industries due to the fear of implication is a cause for concern, at a time when the country is in need of an economic boost. The credit growth of banks in India moderated to 5% in the FY21 from 6.8% in FY20 due to adverse effects of severe economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. While punitive action needed to be taken against the ocers having malade intent, it was essential to ensure that bonade mistakes were dealt with compassion, the association said. Two years ago, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the fear of 3Cs  CBI, CVC and CAG  was affecting the decision-making of banks.

Though all of these may seem well and good, a structural change in regulation is required for better supervision of banks. All commercial banks in India are regulated by the RBI under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949. Additionally, all are regulated by the government under various legislation. The RBIs legal powers to supervise and regulate state-run banks are constrained by Section 51 of the Banking Regulation Act. It cannot remove PSB directors or management, who are appointed by the government, nor can it force a merger or trigger the liquidation of a PSB. It has no powers to either supersede the boards of state-run banks or revoke their banking licence. It has also limited legal authority to hold PSB boards accountable over strategic direction, risk profiles, assessment of management, and compensation. The government should take steps to remove this dual regulation for commercial banks as this problem may lead to banking system frauds. The RBI must be empowered to fully supervise all aspects of public-sector banks, including their corporate governance. For now, let us hope the new rules on staff accountability boost the confidence of bankers.
Nov.02.2021

Plus, steel output shrinks as China works to cut carbon emissions; Beijing urges the U.S. to stop playing the Taiwan card; and major power producers see huge losses on rising coal prices
Welcome to Caixins Tech Insider, your twice-weekly wrap on the movers, shakers and deal-makers in Chinas tech scene.

Xiaomi expands presence in Pakistan with Air Link deal

In a move to boost its global presence, Xiaomi Corp. has teamed up with a subsidiary of Air Link Communication Ltd., one of Pakistans largest smartphone companies, to produce its mobile phones in the South Asian country, according to an exchange filing on Monday.

The two companies aim to make up to 3 million handsets per year at a manufacturing facility in the city of Lahore, which is slated to begin operating in January, the filing said.

China applies to join digital economy pact

China has applied to join (link in Chinese) the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), its commerce ministry said Monday, as the countrys government agencies, enterprises and organizations try to embrace digitalization to improve efficiency.

Joining DEPA will help China strengthen cooperation on the digital economy with other members of the pact and provide a boost to innovation and sustainable development, the ministry said.

DEPA, signed by Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in June 2020, is designed to facilitate digital trade, enable trusted data flows and build trust in the digital systems.

Tencent to buy stake in Japanese publisher Kadokawa

Tencent Holdings Ltd. has agreed to pay 30 billion yen ($264 million) for a 6.86% stake in Kadokawa Corp., a Japanese publisher whose intellectual property hoard extends into books, movies, anime and video games, including the rights to the critically acclaimed game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Tencent will buy 4.86 million Kadokawa shares for 6,170 yen each via its subsidiary Sixjoy Hong Kong Ltd., the Japanese company said in a stock filing Friday.

Kadokawa said that it has decided to enter into a business alliance agreement with Tencent Group for the anime business, according to the filing.

Logistics firm Best to sell China courier business to Indonesian rival

Chinese logistics services provider Best Inc. said Friday that it has agreed to sell its express delivery business in China to Indonesian rival J&T Express Co. Ltd. for 6.8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion).

In a statement, Best Chairman and CEO Johnny Chou said that the deal will allow his company to free up resources to focus on providing supply chain-based logistics solutions and global logistics services. He added that it will also help improve the companys bottom line.

The deal, which is subject to certain closing conditions and regulatory approval, is expected to get wrapped up in the first quarter of next year, according to Best.

Battery-maker ProLogium raises $326 million

Taiwans solid-state battery-maker ProLogium Technology Co. Ltd. said last week that it has completed a $326 million funding round joined by a group of investors including New Epoch Capital and Carna Investments.

In a statement, the Taipei-based firm said that it plans to use the money to boost production capacity in Asia, Europe and the U.S. from 2023 to 2025.

Founded in 2006, ProLogium started as a battery supplier for consumer electronics manufacturers before expanding into electric-vehicle batteries. The company is considering going public, holding talks with potential advisers about possibly listing in the U.S. through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, Bloomberg reported earlier this year.

Xiaomis global smartphone shipments shrink in third quarter

Xiaomi Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. were the only two of the worlds top five smartphone sellers whose global sales shrank in the third quarter of 2021, a period when total smartphone shipments fell 6.7% year-on-year to 331.2 million devices amid a global microchip shortage.

In the three months through September, Xiaomis global shipments dropped 4.6% year-on-year to 44.3 million units, dropping it in the ranking to the worlds No. 3 smartphone vendor, with a market share of 13.4%, according to research firm IDC.

Samsung managed to claim the top spot with a market share of 20.8% in the third quarter, even as its shipments nosedived 14.2% year-on-year to 69 million devices.

Apple, Vivo and Oppo came in second, fourth and fifth with respective market shares of 15.2%, 10.1% and 10%, according to IDC. Their shipments rose 20.8%, 5.8% and 8.6% year-on-year, respectively.

This Caixin Tech Insider was compiled by Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com) and edited by Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com). Send us your tips and feedback.

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Painter Zhang Ben opened his new exhibition on Nov. 6 at Shanghai's M50 Art Zone. Zhang, born in Huangshan, East Chinas Anhui province, in 1984, is now working at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Known for his Symbolist oil paintings, Zhang presents a surrealistic space that reflects his inner self, including religious elements. Xiangwai Artha, an art-sharing platform, contributed to todays gallery

Nov 19, 2021 06:03 PM
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The Carteret County Board of Education will discuss its decision to make masks optional during its meeting Wednesday in the school systems central office in Beaufort. (Cheryl Burke photo)
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Windy. Light snow this evening will give way to partly cloudy skies late. Low near 25F. Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 90%..

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Windy. Light snow this evening will give way to partly cloudy skies late. Low near 25F. Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 90%.
Photo: Contributed

Hunger is cruelly invisible in our society. Even though it may surround us, we hardly see it. But its always there.

With the latest Hunger Count published by Food Banks Canada, we have a better idea of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Canadas food insecurity landscape. The news isnt great.

According to an internal survey of food bank operators, the number of visits has gone up by more than 20 per cent in the last two years. The highest observed increases were in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta. In Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the rate of food bank visits decreased, but not by much. Visits to food banks in rural communities have gone down by 3.8 per cent.

More Canadians are going hungry while our cost of living skyrockets. Its not likely to get easier any time soon.

According to the report, food banks in larger urban centres were more likely to see very high increases in visits, likely driven by pandemic-related unemployment and layoffs. They were also more likely to see racialized groups. Food banks in smaller urban centres were more likely to see seniors and people with disabilities.

As a result, the report states, the pandemic has magnified systemic inequities in our society, despite all the programs put in place during the pandemic, worth well over $400 billion worth.

During the pandemic, $200 million was added to the Emergency Food Security Fund so food banks, related agencies and Indigenous organizations can keep helping struggling Canadians put food on the table. That funding was understandably beneficial for the food bank network during these unprecedented times.

The pandemic really showed why food banks need to exist and how they play an essential role in our economy. No government programs can deploy aid and respond as quickly or efficiently to market failures or systemic crises such as a pandemic.

Programs created during the pandemic, such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), were quickly operationalized and delivered much-needed help to millions. That was an exceptional situation since the crisis hit the entire world almost at once.

But in normal times, theres always a community out there or a family suddenly hit by food insecurity. Food banks are there to help right away. Food banks are anyones CERB, outside a pandemic. Its as simple as that.

Food banks are communities helping communities. They often represent a network of people who want to help, working with those who need it.

And food banks are no longer warehouses in some obscure part of town. Most of them are no longer in the business of simply supplying calories to people needing food. The focus is mainly wellness and helping individuals and families get back on their feet. And theyre about pride, not shame, about joy, not chronic sorrow.

Miracles happen almost daily at food banks, but few people outside the network will notice. Food banks provide help without prejudice. They need to be celebrated, as they are truly wonders of the human spirit.

If you can, you should take a minute to support your local food bank with a monetary donation. They know how to work with cash and multiply dollars into thousands of meals. Its impressive.

Food banks obviously also need donated food to operate. They rely on generous farmers, processors, grocers, events, and individual private donors to replenish their warehouses and networks.

But as we rescue more food across supply chains, food banks will be challenged by having less access to food surplus. Food costs are going up, which will likely make us all more frugal and careful with the food we buy and consume every day. Food banks will have to get more creative to procure food by working with new partners.

With the pandemic almost behind us, it will finally be easier for them to run campaigns safely again and rely on volunteers.

And finally, another noteworthy statistic from the report: 46 per cent of food bank visitors live alone.

Many Canadians face a perfect storm of having to deal with higher housing and food costs while not benefiting from higher wages. And with our ageing population, the number of people in Canada living alone will increase. Close to 32 per cent of households will have only one person by 2025.

We need to think about this as we try to help those who will experience acute food insecurity.

Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
Photo: RCR Kicking Horse Ski Resort

A group of ski resorts on the B.C. side of the Rocky Mountains will be requiring proof of vaccination to access chair lifts and indoor facilities.

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, parent company for Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, Fernie Alpine Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort, made the announcement online Monday.

This decision has been made with the goal of providing you, our guests, our staff, and our resort communities with the safest environment possible, the company said.

The majority of B.C. ski hills have so far opted to not make vaccination mandatory to access lifts, with the exception of Grouse Mountain, which requires a closed and crowded gondola to access the hill.

Season pass holders at the RCR resorts will have to upload their vaccination status QR code via email.

Medical or religious exemptions will be considered; however, requests must be submitted four weeks before the date of your resort visit, the company said. Exemptions will only be approved if RCR believes that we can ensure the safety of other guests and staff.

Season pass holders who do not want to comply with the vaccination requirements have until Dec. 15 to request a refund.
Photo: The Canadian Press Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi questions potential jurors during jury selection in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, in Kenosha, Wis., Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse, an aspiring police officer, shot two people to death and wounded a third during a night of anti-racism protests in Kenosha last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP)

A jury was selected in a single day for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the young, aspiring police officer who shot three people while they were out on the streets of Kenosha during a protest against racial injustice last year.

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

In an all-day session that ran well past dark, 20 people  12 jurors and eight alternates  were selected. The judge said he would decide at the end of the trial which ones are alternates and which ones will deliberate. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

Jury selection moved along rapidly, given the sharp polarization caused by the case. About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair.

Rittenhouse had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

The now-18-year-old Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see an undercurrent of race in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

As jury selection got underway, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: This is not a political trial.

It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently, he said.

The judge said Rittenhouses constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and I dont want it to get sidetracked into other issues.

One of the jurors is a gun-owning woman with a high school education who said she was so afraid during the protests that she pulled her cars to the back of her house and made sure her doors were locked. She said she went downtown in the aftermath and cried.

Another woman chosen is a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about being on the jury: "I figure either way this goes youre going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly.

Another juror, a man, said he owns a gun and has it for home defense.

One juror is a pharmacist who said that she was robbed at gunpoint in 2012 but that it would have no effect on her ability to weigh the evidence in this case.

Among those dropped from the case were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when all that happened and a woman who said she watched a livestream video of the events and wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw.

One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction Thou shall not kill even in cases of self-defense.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon. I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public, the woman said.

The start of jury selection was briefly delayed in the morning for unexplained reasons. During the delay, the judge played a mock game of Jeopardy! with prospective jurors in the courtroom, something he sometimes does as attorneys get organized.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Thousands of British Columbians who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 are likely returning to the emergency room or even requiring readmission within a month after being released.

But the province doesnt track the additional strain on B.C.s beleaguered health-care system.

As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue at an all-time high, mainly with unvaccinated patients, two experts say tracking this data is essential to supporting recovered patients through the long-term impacts of COVID-19.

We absolutely do want to have that data, and I dont think systematically it would be that hard to obtain, said Dr. Chris Carlsten, a respiratory specialist with the post-COVID recovery clinics offered as part of the provincial response to the pandemic.

The four clinics, all in the Lower Mainland, bring together specialists from all areas to provide co-ordinated, individualized care to at least 2,700 people experiencing Long COVID symptoms in B.C.

The Globe and Mail reported that Alberta statistics from July showed almost 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients who had required hospitalization sought additional treatment at the emergency department within a month.

Seventeen per cent of previously hospitalized patients were readmitted to hospital within a month, Alberta Health Services told the Globe.

If those numbers held for the more than 1,300 people hospitalized in B.C. in September, that would mean about 1,064 of those patients have sought hospital care since being discharged and 226 of those were readmitted to hospital.

Its bad news if anything like what is happening in Alberta is happening here, said Carlsten. If people are coming to the ER rather than a clinic, thats not the best way to provide care to these patients.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed in September that the people who are no longer infectious arent counted as COVID patients even though they remain in hospital.

The number is about 200 patients  including those who have been readmitted.

The information was only publicly reported in late September, after CTV pushed for the numbers to be released.

At least a third of the people that were talking about are people who were in hospital, discharged more than a month earlier, and have come back into hospital sometimes for complications, from other illnesses, or for other reasons that may not have anything to do with COVID, said Henry on Oct. 19. So were trying to sort that out.

We dont have a simple single IT system that we can look at this in an easy way.

In an emailed statement to The Tyee, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry said that while information about previous COVID-19 illness is collected by hospitals, it is not tracked in a reportable way.

The difficulty in reporting these cases, the spokesperson said, is compounded by the fact its difficult to determine if admission is due to pre-existing conditions or other health issues unrelated to COVID-19.

Daily data captured on patients who are hospitalized or rehospitalized after they are no longer infectious with COVID-19 does not contain sufficient clinical information to be able to distinguish between hospitalizations due to other co-morbidities and admission to hospital that may be related to COVID-19 consequences, read the statement.

Carlsten said rehospitalization numbers are yet another example of an important metric the province says it cant track even though other regions are producing the same data.

Without that data, tracking the impact of Long COVID and planning to address it will be almost impossible, he said.

Symptoms of COVID-19 that persist for months after recovery from an infection are estimated to affect between 10 to 30 per cent of those who recover from the disease.

In B.C., that could mean as many as 60,000 people are struggling with COVID-induced shortness of breath, fatigue, brain fog, loss of taste and smell or dozens of other symptoms linked to Long COVID.

But the 2,700 referrals received by the four post-COVID-19 recovery clinics in B.C., which only recently received provincial funding and support, represent just 1.4 per cent of recovered people.

About a quarter of patients who receive ICU care for any condition requiring rehospitalization in a year.

Last year, two University of British Columbia researchers called on the province to develop a long-term strategy to prevent patients with post-intensive care syndrome or Long COVID from ending up back in hospital.

If we have patients who develop PICS, including COVID-19 survivors, and who arent getting care they need in their community, and theyre being sent back to hospital, its a greater burden on them and on the system, said Dr. Fuchsia Howard, an assistant professor at the UBC School of Nursing. Were vulnerable to that.

Carlsten said hes concerned post-COVID patients arent getting the care they need because of the lack of information. Im worried in the sense we want to see everyone and take care of everyone.

Knowing how often and where people with post-COVID symptoms are presenting could let health authorities provide resources where they are most needed and build the case for more recovery clinics throughout the province.

Henry has said management of PICS and Long COVID is also not tracked by the province and care is led by a patients family physician. About 17 per cent of British Columbians dont have a family doctor.

That means the emergency department is where many seek care, Carlsten said, which is not the best way to manage their symptoms or support a fuller recovery or better quality of life.

Working in the clinics, Carlsten has been surprised at just how individualized each patients recovery plan has to be. Teams of specialists work together to tailor plans to patients presenting with breathing, heart, nervous system and mental health issues, to name a few, but everyone presents differently.

The degree to which this has moved beyond a respiratory disease is not totally unexpected, but we didnt know until weve had this amount of time to study survivors, said Carlsten.

And as the recovery clinics look to expand to other parts of the province and work directly with family doctors to support patient care, Carlsten says the more information they have about what recovery for each patient means, the better.

With more information and with the resources we have, wed be in a better position to give individualized health care given the massive scale of the problem, he said.
Photo: Glacier Media

A crash involving a school bus and SUV in Richmond has left at least one person seriously injured, according to a witness at the scene.

The collision occurred at Alderbridge Way and No. 3 Road about 4 p.m. Monday.

It's unclear if any children were on board the bus, the witness said.

Photos from the scene show a silver SUV, which appears to have been hit on the drivers side of the vehicle and badly damaged. The front of the school bus is also damaged.

Glacier Media has reached out to Richmond RCMP and BC Emergency Health Services for more information.

The witness said both Richmond RCMP and the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service were called out to investigate, with the roads closed for hours while police were on scene.
Photo: The Canadian Press Kyle Rittenhouse defense attorneys Mark Richards and Corey Chirafisi talk before the start of Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg /Pool Photo via AP)

Kyle Rittenhouse instigated the confrontation that led him to shoot three men on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice, and he killed one of the victims with a bullet to the back, a prosecutor said in opening statements Tuesday at Rittenhouse's murder trial.

But Rittenhouse's attorney told the jury that his client acted in self-defense after one of the men dove for his gun and others kicked him in the face and clubbed him in the head with a skateboard.

You as jurors will end up looking at it from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances as they existed, defense attorney Mark Richards said.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third with an assault-style rifle during the summer of 2020. He could get life in prison if convicted.

The one-time aspiring police officer traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, after protests broke out over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two nights in which rioters set fires and ransacked businesses.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest as two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen," and said outsiders were drawn to Kenosha like moths to a flame.

Yet Binger repeatedly stressed that amid the hundreds of people in Kenosha and the anger and chaos in the streets, the only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse.

Binger told the jury that self-defense can be a valid claim only if Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was using deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

The prosecutor said that it is not known exactly what words were said, but it is clear that Rittenhouse started a confrontation that caused the first person shot that night, Joseph Rosenbaum, to begin chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot.

Binger emphasized, too, that Rosenbaum, 36, was killed by a shot to the back after he threw a plastic bag. The prosecutor noted that the first two bullets hit Rosenbaum in the lower extremities, causing him to fall forward.

Richards, the defense attorney, said Rosenbaum yelled an expletive at Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before Rittenhouse fired at him. It was Rosenbaum who lit the fuse that night," he said.

Richards said Rittenhouse fired four shots at Rosenbaum in less than a second as hes trying to take Kyles weapon from him to use against him.

Binger, the prosecutor, said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fled the scene instead of rendering aid, despite portraying himself as a medic earlier in the night. But Richards said Rittenhouse didnt stop to help because the crowd wanted to kill him," and instead ran toward police.

The crowd at that point clearly believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter, according to the prosecutor.

Moments after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, who was seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. He wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

The defense also apparently pushed back against the notion that Rittenhouse was an outsider drawn to Kenosha by a call to arms on right-wing social media. Richards said Rittenhouse had strong ties to Kenosha -- his father lived there and Rittenhouse worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard -- and had seen livestreams of what was happening.

The prosecutor said there was nothing wrong with Rittenhouse offering to protect Car Source, the used car dealership where the first shooting occurred. But he repeated that amid all the chaos, only one person killed anyone.

When we consider the reasonableness of the defendants actions, I ask you to keep this in mind, Binger said.

As his attorney displayed photos and video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse, wearing a dark pinstriped suit and tie, leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of gunfire was played, and occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

His mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him.

The jury was selected with remarkable speed in just one day Monday, considering how politically polarizing the case has proved. The most serious count against Rittenhouse, first-degree intentional homicide, is Wisconsins top murder charge.

Twenty people in all were selected to hear the case: 12 jurors and eight alternates. Eleven are women and nine are men. The court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group, but it appeared to be overwhelmingly white.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see an undercurrent of race in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.
Photo: Glacier Media

In the early hours of Feb. 16, 1989, a teenage girl was pulled into a car and sexually assaulted near East 16th Avenue and Main Street. More than thirty years later the Vancouver police believe they may have solved the case.

When the assault was committed VPD detectives investigated and obtained evidence from the crime scene but couldnt identify a suspect. Twenty-eight years later in 2017 new evidence came to light and the VPD assigned a team of investigators to re-examine the case. Then, just earlier this year, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges of sexual assault, assault, uttering threats, theft under $5,000, and forcible confinement against 55-year-old Joseph Richardson.



Crimes against children can cause life-long trauma and stress that may never fully go away, says Cnst. Tania Visintin, VPD Even when a case goes cold, we never give up hope that we will one day find the missing clue that helps bring closure and accountability.

Richardson was arrested last month in Ottawa and remains in custody.
Photo: The Canadian Press Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Air Canada has suspended more than 800 employees for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in line with federal rules.

The vast majority of Air Canada's 27,000 cabin crew, customer service agents and others have received both shots, chief executive Michael Rousseau said Tuesday.

"Our employees have done their part, with now over 96 per cent fully vaccinated. The employees who are not vaccinated or do not have a medical or other permitted exemption have been put on unpaid leave," he said on a conference call with investors.

The layoffs are "across the company" rather than concentrated in any particular job, spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.

The proportions align with those at WestJet Airlines Ltd., where fewer than four per cent of workers  less than 300 out of 7,300  are unvaccinated, the company said in an email.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last month that as of Oct. 30, Ottawa would require federally regulated air, rail and shipping companies to establish mandatory vaccination policies for employees.

Air Canada sees hope on the horizon as revenues soared over 2020 levels last quarter amid stronger sales for winter, despite continuing to operate far below pre-pandemic capacity and at a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Domestic leisure bookings have bounced back, prompting a recall of more than 10,000 laid-off employees since the start of the year  6,500 of them since July. But business travel remains down across the board due in part to the persistence of remote work, executives said Tuesday.

"We're witnessing a strong rebound in VFR (visiting friends and relatives), and leisure traffic remains strong, specifically within North America, across the Atlantic and to sun destinations," chief commercial officer Lucie Guillemette said on the conference call.

"We were pretty confident that come 2022 corporate Canada returns to their offices and business travel should return. But no doubt that for us, business has lagged a little bit."

Revenue nearly tripled year over year to $2.10 billion in the quarter ended Sept. 30, beating expectations by more than 15 per cent, according to according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv. Capacity also increased by 87 per cent.

But revenue fell more than 60 per cent short of Air Canada's third-quarter figures in 2019 while capacity remained two-thirds below, as COVID-19 fallout continues to dent carriers' bottom lines.

"There's no textbook on this type of recovery, or any in the history. There's no doubt we're very encouraged by what we see. And there's no doubt that the length of the recovery has moved in from the consensus of 2025 to at least 2024 and maybe 2023," said Rousseau, who took over as CEO in February.

In its outlook, the Montreal-based airline said it plans to expand its fourth-quarter capacity by about 135 per cent compared with the same period in 2020. However, that capacity  calculated using an industry metric called available seat miles  will barely reach half the amount of its pre-pandemic level.

Net cash flow of $153 million was well above analyst expectations of cash burn of up to $460 million. It marked the first quarter Air Canada has enjoyed cash flow in the black since the onset of the pandemic.

Rousseau also stressed a record cargo performance of more than $1 billion so far this year. The carrier began to shift toward air freight last spring, converting several of its retired Boeing 767 jetliners to cargo aircraft.

With fewer flights and less freight being transported in the luggage compartments of passenger planes, the price of shipping cargo by air has increased. Other airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines also began operating cargo-only last year, hoping to use the opportunity to stem their losses.

Air Canada reported a loss of $640 million in its third quarter compared. The loss amounted to $1.79 per diluted share last quarter compared with a loss of $685 million or $2.31 per diluted share a year earlier.

Analysts had expected a loss of $554.7 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, according to Refinitiv.
City Cement sees 26% fall in profit

02 November 2021

Saudi Arabia's City Cement has posted a 25.6 per cent YoY decline in net profit to SAR38m (US$10.13m) in the quarter ending 30 September 2021, compared with SAR51.1m in the year-ago period.



Sales also fell 20.6 per cent to SAR111.6m from SAR140.6m in the 3Q20.

Published under
Lee University has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities as part of the National Inclusion Campaign of the American Immigration Council. Lee is one of six schools that make up the second cohort of the Inclusion Immigration Collaborative.

As our current social climate is siloed in different political and ideological contentions, it is our responsibility as a faith-based institution to seek ways on how we can lessen them by creating a welcoming, listening, and missional community, said Dr. Arlie Tagayuna, associate professor of sociology at Lee. We must be open for dialogue and finding common ground and partnership to address issues that we all see as important.

The grants are used to develop inclusive projects with the goal of engaging students with other groups. The projects will focus on building inclusive and welcoming environments for immigrant communities and those on the margin.

Lees project, Project Mosaic, will help to develop spaces for student involvement in fostering relationships and seeking sustainable partnerships with marginalized communities, including refugees and immigrants. It focuses on belonging and inclusion, with the goal of creating a more hospitable and accessible community with deliberate action and benevolence.

Project Mosaic is a collaborative work of faculty members and students from different areas of Lee. As part of the project, Lee plans to hold multiple events, panels, and activities over the next two semesters, such as a food truck event, a collaborative mural, and a welcome party for refugees and immigrants. A portion of the grant will also be used to extend the Center for English Language and Literacys class offerings to the Blythe Oldfield Community Association, and to support the Backyard Ministry to help students create long-lasting relationships and mentoring opportunities with youths in the immigrant community.

This grant provides us some seed money to improve our students social contact and work with immigrant and refugee communities in our area, said Dr. Tagayuna. It is a privilege for Lee University to acquire this grant.

The CCCU is an international association of over 185 Christian higher education institutions. They emphasize public advocacy, professional development and scholarship, and experiential education while maintaining a Christ-centered outlook.

For more information about the CCCU, visit https://www.cccu.org/.

For more information about the AIC, visit https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/.
I am not in favor of the State of Tennessee spending $276 million to basically rebuild Moccasin Bend Hospital. For many years the thought was to relocate the hospital and expand the Moccasin Park to include this tract of land. Does the hospital really need 105 acres of land to operate? Could the state find another smaller site for the hospital, build a new hospital while continuing ... (click for more)
As a part of the mission to serve the local community, Cleveland State Community College is providing a workshop on Elder Care open to the public on Nov. 6 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Humanities Building on campus. In addition to several of its own faculty, the college has invited local eldercare professionals, such as nurses, social workers, care center coordinators and a lawyer to provide guidance and advice on a variety of themes, with plenty of time for attendees to ask questions following the presentations.Topics will include the basics of planning for financial challenges, preventing elder abuse, avoiding scams, caring for parents with dementia, helpful tools for caregivers and a round table discussion on various care options.Our goal is to provide as many resources as possible to help members of our community better understand how to assist elders, provide protective measures for elders, share helpful caregiver support tips and prepare ourselves for the next life stage as we age, stated Melodee Alexander, assistant professor of psychology at CSCC.Ms. Alexander continued, I first began attending Elder Care educational programs because my heart has always been drawn to the stages of life from the midpoint onward. When we were young, we couldn't wait to be older. When we became adults, we looked forward to the next stage of life. When we realized we were middle-aged, we chose to stop looking ahead and planning because our attention was drawn toward being part of the lives around us. Then, we began to realize that we age, whether we planned or not, we age. This is not a bad thing, but we do need to prepare in every way: psychologically, emotionally, physically, and financially. Let's embrace this later stage with joy and preparedness. If we learn now, we can better prepare younger generations for successful aging.Organizers said, "Middle-age is an ideal time to prepare for elder care. If you are beyond "middle-age," there's no better time than today to prepare for the future. This workshop is also for those who have a passion for helping elders."Below is a brief outline of the presenters and their topics for Saturday's event:8:30 a.m. - Doors open for on-site registration9 a.m. - Keynote:Elder Planning ABCs by Dana Perry, chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Planning groups at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. A Certified Elder Law Attorney with more than 30 years of experience, she advises individuals and families on all of their options for multi-generational estate and tax planning, long-term care and end of life planning, benefits including Medicaid and Medicare, various trusts, and beyond.10:20 a.m. - Sessions:Elder Abuse and Prevention by Jana Pankey, MSSW, associate professor, Social Work Program coordinator, Social Science Department chair.This breakout session will discuss types of elder abuse (physical, sexual, psychological/emotional/verbal, neglect (self-neglect, passive and active), and financial exploitation. How to recognize signs of abuse in later life will be discussed and ways we as caregivers and community members can be proactive in preventing abuse and neglect will also be addressed.Caring for Mom and Dad: Understanding Dementia by Julie Fulbright, English professor at Cleveland State Community CollegeIn this session, the presenter will cover personal experiences caring for parents with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Other topics will include the importance of attaining Powers of Attorney, communication challenges, physical challenges, family participation, sitters, Hospice services, and the difference between assisted living/nursing home memory care versus living at home.Elder Scams & How to Avoid Them by Marcus Easley, Criminal Justice instructor, and Criminal Justice Program director. Based on his 27-year career in law enforcement, Mr. Easley will provide valuable information on safety issues related to scams perpetrated against the elder population. Participants will learn detailed information about the reporting process, warning signs, and more.Noon - Lunch & Learn:Light Lunch and Round-Table Discussion with Elder Care ProfessionalsNena Mitchell, DON Avail Senior Living Cleveland TennesseeNurse: Home health, assisted living, and memory care; Home health administrator; Assisted living and memory care director of nursing; Wellness director for independent senior living; Launched "Memory Fair"Christin McWhorter, BSCommunity Outreach manager with the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability; Medicare counseling, health promotion programs and programming/development for senior centers.Amy Boulware, LAP MSWEldercare and special needs care manager at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.; Tennessee Licensed Advanced Practice social worker (LAP MSW). Serving elders, people with disabilities, and their families through advocacy and geriatric and special needs care coordination.1 p.m. - Keynote:Caregiver Tools: Thriving in the Unexpected by Terri Ruff, LMSWMedical social worker with Hospice of Chattanooga, NHC Home Health, director of Social Services/Caregiver Support Group facilitator with Alexian Brothers Community Services PACE Program, professor/director of Field Education in the Social Work and Family Studies Department at Southern Adventist University and educational trainer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and has taught as an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College and Tennessee Wesleyan University. Current social worker for the Senior Care Behavioral Health Program/Geri-Psych Unit at Starr Regional Medical Center in Etowah, Tn.In this session, each participant will be given practical tools for thriving in the caregiving role. Utilization of poetry, personal experiences and the importance of self-care will be emphasized. This presentation will be informal, informative and fun. Come prepared to experience a toolbox full of help for your caregiver journey.CSCC Nursing students plan to attend and offer biometric and preventative services.On behalf of Cleveland State, we are very excited to offer what we think will be some very useful information for members of our community, stated Dr. Ryan Thompson, dean of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at CSCC. As my father-in-law's health continued to deteriorate earlier this year, watching my wife's family work together to meet his needs was inspiring. But it also gave me plenty to reflect on as I thought about what my parents and grandparents might need as well. I think this workshop will help provide me with a lot of answers to those questions.For more information or to RSVP for the event, go to https://mycs.cc/eldercareworkshop
The states 31 elected District Attorneys General have recognized Assistant District Attorney Chris Post of the 11th Judicial District as DUI Prosecutor of the Year.

ADA Post has completely changed the process by which these agencies investigate serious injury and fatal crashes caused by impaired drivers, said 11th Judicial District Attorney General Neal Pinkston. Part of his job includes responding to event scenes and working closely with law enforcement officers to successfully prosecute these fatal crashes. Im continually impressed by Chris dedication to helping keep our community safe and bringing justice to victims and their families.

Mr. Post has served as an assistant district attorney for the 11th Judicial District for the last six years. Prior to that, he worked in the 26th Judicial District as the DUI coordinator.

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference gathered in Chattanooga for its annual fall conference. Among the proceedings of the three-day conference is an opportunity for the states District Attorneys and their staff to be recognized by the TNDAGC Executive Committee and their peers for accomplishments and service.






Morning Pointe Senior Living co-founders Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow announce that Heather Tussing has been promoted to chief operating officer, capping off a year of company growth under her leadership.

Founded in 1996 by entrepreneurs Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow, the Chattanooga-based senior healthcare services organization owns and manages 35 Morning Pointe assisted living, personal care and Alzheimers memory care communities across five southeastern states.

Morning Pointe Senior Living will celebrate 25

years of business in 2022.



Following a year in which two Chattanooga-area Morning Pointe buildings were devastated by an EF3 tornado and rebuilt in just under 14 months, Ms. Tussing was at the center of the continuity of care.

Heathers business knowledge, capacity for leadership and compassion for seniors are unparalleled, said Morning Pointe President Mr. Vital. Her keen business ingenuity has helped lead our company recovery during the pandemic and tornado, and will only continue to assist us as we focus on excellent care and quality of life for our seniors and their families.



It is truly an honor to be a part of this organization as we respond to the ever-changing needs of a

growing senior population, said Ms. Tussing. In this new role, I look forward to serving alongside our amazing campus leaders even closer as we focus on excellent care and exceptional service. Im passionate about improving the daily lives of residents and associates and grateful to have the

opportunity to make a positive impact.



Prior to being named chief operating officer, Ms. Tussing was executive vice president of operations for Morning Pointe. She had been at the helm of various sales, operations and compliance positions in the senior living industry for the past 20 years. Ms. Tussing holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of Kentucky and is a certified dementia practitioner, as well as a licensed assisted living facility administrator and preceptor. Ms. Tussing and her family reside in Chattanooga.



Heather has approached every goal that was given to her with a passion, exceeding expectations and bringing our vision for the future of Morning Pointe into focus, said Morning Pointe Co-Founder and CEO Mr. Farrow. There are no limits to what Heather can accomplish, and given her ability to foster and lead a team of individuals, I am confident that the future of Morning Pointe operations will be extremely bright.



Morning Pointe will open two new senior living communities in the next six months, continuing its

growth into the Knoxville area. Morning Pointe of Hardin Valley, a 77-unit assisted living and Alzheimers memory care campus in northwest Knoxville, is scheduled to open in

January 2022. In addition, The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimers Center of Excellence, Powell - adjacent to Morning Pointe of Powell assisted living on the Tennova Healthcare campus - will open in late spring 2022 as a dedicated Alzheimers community, with 44 suites designed specifically to meet the needs of residents with memory disorders. Morning Pointe also operates senior campuses in the East Tennessee communities of Athens, Lenoir City, Clinton and Greeneville.
Hamilton County Schools is increasing the number of school choice options for the 2022-'23 school year, officials said.

For the 22-23 school year, HCS is offering choice seats at 90+ school options to students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade across Hamilton County. Choices include Early College/Career Programs, Future Ready Institutes, Magnet Schools, and Open Enrollment Schools.

Officials said, "Note that every school with open seats will be an Open Enrollment Choice School for the 2022-2023 school year. Increasing the number of choice schools and programs will provide students with a diverse range of options outside of their neighborhood zoned school. Please click here to review 2022-'23 school choice options and see available seats at each school and grade level.

"Every student has different interests, hopes, and dreams and deserves access to opportunities that open doors to exciting pathways for their future. Hamilton County Schools is excited to provide educational opportunities in local communities and beyond neighborhood zoned schools to ignite the passion for learning in each child."

Choose Hamilton: Choice Lottery applications will be open from Nov. 15, 2021-Jan. 31, 2022. The application and admissions timeline is uniform for all choice options to make the process easy for families, it was stated. Schools with more applicants than space available will participate in a lottery to select students for available seats.

Families are asked to complete a single application for all choice options, which is available in both English and Spanish. Applicants may apply to up to five schools or programs in the application and are not required to apply for more than one choice option.

Applications to Battle Academy (Kindergarten), CSAS (Kindergarten), CSLA (Kindergarten), Normal Park (Kindergarten and 6th grade), and STEM School (9th grade) will use a balanced lottery model based on the applicant's school board district. These schools will fill available seats based on the projected student percentage per school board district in Hamilton County. For these schools, your lottery results will reflect a seated or waitlist number for your school board list; you will be seated in the first available seat for your school board district.

Over the next few months, Hamilton County Schools will provide several opportunities for families to learn more about school options. HCS will hold a Choose Hamilton: School Choice Fair at the Convention Center on January 12, 2022, to provide families with the chance to interact with and ask questions of representatives from every HCS school.
The Collegedale Municipal Airport is currently operating on a conditional license from the state of Tennessee due to obstructions on both ends of the runway. Chris Swain, director of airport operations, asked the commissioners on Monday night to approve an $88,200 state grant that will put the airport in compliance. The grant will provide 95 percent, or $83,790 with the city of Collegedale required to put in five percent, or $4,410, to get an unrestricted license. Mr. Swain said that amount has been budgeted for the work.

Trees on both the north and south ends of the runway that are not on city property need to be cleared, which will require obtaining easements through four properties. The grant will pay for the preliminary part of the design and easement acquisition but not the actual purchase of it. Help from another grant will be available for the next step, which will be the purchase. The work is expected to be done by the end of the fiscal year 2021.

On Monday night, the commissioners also approved a change of insurance for city employees. Quotes from Cigna, the current insurer, came in with a 16-1/2 percent increase for 2022. A quote from Blue Cross Blue Shield gave the best rates for the same coverage. When the employees were provided information about the change, they were pleased to return to BCBS, said Commissioner Ethan White. The rate increase will be about $5 per employee per pay period and about $13 per pay period for family coverage.

The Collegedale Police Department has been conducting compliance checks of businesses in the city that sell beer. In the recent sting operations, two restaurants sold beer to underage, undercover buyers who were both younger than 18.

On Sept. 27, Los Potros Mexican Restaurant, 9408 Apison Pike, served a beer to two underage customers. The sale was made without asking for an ID. The officers in charge of the compliance check issued the server a citation to court and the license holder was cited to the Collegedale Beer Board which is composed of the commissioners. A motion passed to fine the business $500 for their first violation, and to send the server to professional training in sales by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission within 15 days. If proof of training is provided to the city manager, the fine will be reduced to $400.

The Ooltewah Whistle Stop Cafe made an underage sale to two minors on Oct. 12, commissioners were told. Again, the server was cited to court as well as terminated on the spot. She told the owner of the business that she looked at the licenses but did the math wrong. The penalty given to the restaurant is a $500 fine.

Vice Mayor Tim Johnson warned that for a second violation, he would always ask for a suspension of the beer license to be scheduled on a weekend.
It is believed Chattanoogas CHI Memorial Hospital fired approximately 100 employees Monday who defied a mandate to take the COVID vaccine. In New York City, some 9,000 workers that included many health-related professionals, were scrubbed from the employment rolls in a move that most assuredly will roil The Big Apple. Stay tuned to this one 

And now it appears a federal judge in Illinois blocked a hospital from placing unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave.

Here is a story that appeared in the Epoch Times this afternoon that  how to say  may be of interest to workers at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Memorial Hospital who have placed employees on leave without pay:

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FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS HOSPITAL FROM PUTTING UNVACCINATED WORKERS ON UNPAID LEAVE

BY JACK PHILLIPS November 1, 2021 (Updated: November 1, 2021 in The Epoch Times)

A federal judge temporarily blocked an Illinois hospital system from allegedly putting workers with religious exemptions on unpaid leave.

In late October, several employees at the Chicago-area NorthShore filed a legal complaint against the company, arguing that the firms vaccine mandate discriminated against them by forcing them to decide between a vaccine and their jobs.

Liberty Counsel, which is representing the 14 health care workers, said in an emailed statement last week that the plaintiffs have shared these religious beliefs, and others, with NorthShore, and have asked NorthShore for exemption and reasonable accommodation for these beliefs, but NorthShore has unlawfully and callously refused.

U.S.

District Judge John Kness on Friday issued a temporary restraining order against the hospital system.

They cant be fired and they cant be placed on what is effectively, in my mind, unpaid leave, Kness said during a hearing on the lawsuit, reported the Chicago Tribune.

NorthShore is going to have to keep paying them. If you wish to require them to show up to work and use [personal protective equipment] and go through testing because you need the help and you dont want to pay them to be off site, thats up to the hospital, he added.

Liberty Counsel said that more than a week ago, NorthShore had already started purging those employees with sincere religious objections to its Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy' and removed many employees with religious exemptions from its November work schedule. That included staff members with appeals that were pending, Liberty Counsel said.

Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines say that employees may ask to be exempted from vaccine requirements due to religious or medical reasons. However, workplaces do not necessarily have to grant the exemptions under certain circumstances, the agencys guidance adds.

Horatio Mihet, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told the Chicago Tribune that unvaccinated workers can still work there while wearing personal protective equipment and getting weekly testing.

NorthShore previously told The Epoch Times that it understands that getting vaccinated may be a difficult decision for some of our team members and values their committed service and respect their beliefs. On Monday, NorthShore didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

We must prioritize the safety of our patients and team members in support of our broader mission, the hospital system said.

NorthShore, in a statement to local media last week, disputed several claims in the lawsuit and had considered each request based on multiple criteria on exemptions.

* * *

80% OF U.S. ADULTS HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE

BY JACK PHILLIPS November 1, 2021 in The Epoch Times

White House officials on Monday said that about 80 percent of U.S. adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and about 70 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.

Jeff Zients, the Biden administrations COVID-19 response coordinator, said during a briefing that the statistical benchmark suggests the United States is making progress on the pandemic. Previously, Zients and other Biden administration officials have suggested that mandates and vaccine passport systems are the reason why vaccination numbers have increased.

These are important milestones, Zients said. We know vaccines are the very best tool we have to accelerating our path out of the pandemic.

It comes as the White House released more guidance on how federal contractors should handle mandates, appearing to give them expanded flexibility. Some trade associations, in recent weeks, have warned that COVID-19 mandates could trigger chaos across shipping and supply lines, while some have asked the White House to delay them.

A covered contractor should determine the appropriate means of enforcement with respect to its employee at a covered contractor workplace who refuses to be vaccinated and has not been provided, or does not have a pending request for, an accommodation, according to the guidelines, published on the Safer Federal Workforce website.

The guidelines also stipulate that government contractors, which include large companies such as Boeing and IBM, are expected to comply with all requirements set forth in their contract. Failure to do so, it added, significant actions, such as termination of the contract, should be taken.

In the same announcement, Zients added that the federal government has also obtained significant amounts of Pfizers smaller-dose vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved giving the vaccine to the age group. The governments program for the youngest age group will go operational on Nov. 8, he said during a news conference.

On Friday, within minutes of FDAs authorization, we began the process of moving 15 million doses from Pfizers freezers and facilities to distribution centers, Zients said, suggesting that the vaccines will be distributed soon. The bottom line is weve been planning and preparing for this moment.

Before that happens, though, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Tuesday to give the final approval before the shots are distributed.

Federal officials, Zients said, are planning to ship the vaccine doses to pediatricians, drug stores, and other health centers after the CDC approves it.

royexum@aol.com
One thing the past year has taught us its that our education system is less about educating children and more about satisfying radical political constituencies. For example, a growing issue state and local governments need to come to terms with are reports of illegal and unaccompanied minor aliens (not legal immigrants) flooding into Tennessee public schools.

Let me stress here and now that the issue isnt the illegals themselves, but those in our own local, state and national governments who are using them as political pawns to directly undermine the rights of citizens.

must

And the issue isnt the legal immigration of those of all races coming into this country, following the laws, and taking the time to study and follow the process of becoming American citizens. God bless them! This is about the deliberate undermining of local control of schools through federal meddling, and the refusal of this administration to enforce our immigration laws. This is nothing less than a direct attack on American citizens and Tennessee taxpayers, and therebe a public accounting for it.

A 2016 report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR, "The Elephant in the Classroom" - 2016) says that the requirement to educate millions of illegal aliens, the school age children of illegal aliens, refugees and legal immigrant students entails a massive unfunded mandate imposed by the federal government on states. At the time of this report, the federal government provided eight percent of funding for public schools; the rest is divided between state and local governments.

FAIR most recently reported in 2014 the per-pupil costs of educating unaccompanied (illegal) alien minors in Tennessee was more than $16,000  thats 67 percent more than the 2020 per pupil cost for all students in Tennessee of $9,544. Part of the reason for these greater costs is that school systems struggle to find teachers to serve the ever-growing population of students with limited English proficiency and those with English as a second language. This further strains a system like Hamilton Countys, in which barely more than one-third of students read at grade level by the third grade. Since that report seven years ago, the situation has only gotten worse.

A recent email by Laura Grier of the Hamilton County Schools tells principals to ignore state requirements and immediately register illegals in Hamilton County Schools. In other words, principals in our public school system are told not to apply state ID and legal status rules to illegal aliens while Tennessee citizens are required to provide two forms of identification for their child(ren) to attend state taxpayer-funded schools. While this may follow federal guidance (since schools receive some funding from the federal government), it is a slap in the face to legal immigrants, American citizens and the idea of equal application of the law without fear or favor in our county.

The email reads, in part: The Chattanooga area may experience an increase of unattended migrant youth If any of the students show up to register at your school, please register them immediately. They do not need 2 proofs of residency (or be in zone), a birth certificate, immunization record, or proof of guardianship as they will be covered under the [federal] McKinney-Vento Homeless Act.

So, YOUR kids still need to go through all these hoops  including immunization records. And we havent yet gotten to the point where COVID vaccination is mandated for children in public schools, but all the signs point to the feds pushing exactly that now. This reflects pure disdain for the safety and security of the taxpaying citizens children as they flood illegals from Third World counties with confirmed cases of measles, malaria, COVID, tuberculosis and more into our public schools. This is literally stealing limited school resources to benefit those who have no allegiance to our nation, our state and our community. Parents whose children contract an otherwise rare disease from one of these unaccompanied minors might consider suing the public school system, further straining taxpayer-funded budgets.

The problem is compounded with the BEP formula to determine the school district budgets based on the number of students attending our public schools. However, school districts are not being forthright, as it appears they are supplanting children of lawful Tennessee resident citizens (who are increasingly choosing to homeschool or send to private schools) with illegal non-citizens who on average pay less in taxes than they receive in taxpayer-funded benefits. This treatment of citizens fosters resentments, public cynicism and growing disrespect of our laws.

At the very least, Tennessee school districts have a transparency obligation to track and report illegals attending Tennessee state-funded public schools, as this creates an undue burden on the American citizen/Tennessee taxpayer. Tennessee citizens have a right to more clearly know and understand the scope of this problem. Moreover, growing use of public resources to favor illegal aliens unfairly limits the opportunities of American minorities for open slots in various programs.

Many will argue the Supreme Court allows Illegals to attend public schools. However, the court doesnt fund our schools and there are a number of Constitutional separation of powers and 10th Amendment issues here. Simply tracking the numbers of illegal aliens in public schools does not violate the Courts decision and simply shines the light of transparency on a federally-created problem. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) gives states the right to deny certain types of education to illegals and or make them pay for it.

The recent flood of illegal aliens into our country is not sustainable on the backs of Tennessee taxpayers. Its time for states to flex their muscles against the lawlessness of the Federal Government. If the Federal Government is going to pick and choose which laws to enforce, states have to the right to pick up the mantle with their own, creating new agencies to enforce non-citizen trespassing and public-funding abuse laws, and providing primary schools only for illegals with limited schooling and services beyond which they must pay themselves. Tennessee should not be a dumping ground with a bottomless bank account for educating non-citizens from around the world. The problem is not confined to Hamilton County, but includes Davidson, Williamson, Shelby, Knox and others whose citizens have reported similar issues.

There are additional avenues the state can exercise, like disconnecting from the US Department of Education and managing education locally (as states did up to the 1978 formation of U.S. Department of Education  and, one can convincingly argue, the quality of education in this nation has declined ever since ). This breaks all relationships/oversight/ regulations with the U.S. Department of Education. This allows states to take back control and run their education as they see fit. It is time for our state legislators to choose which we will be: central government serfs or free citizens with local oversight and control of schools.

Brendan Jennings

Birchwood


Mad Priest Coffee Roasters is thrilled to announce that they have been named one of the 2022 Good Food Awards 25 Coffee Finalists alongside the best coffee roasters in the county. Their Yemenia Bait Alal Special Reserve Coffee met all of the GFA responsible production criteria, in addition to being a top scorer in the August Blind Tasting amongst a pool of almost 2,000 entries in the coffee category.

As a Finalist, they are also taking part in the first-ever Good Food Awards Finalists Pop Up Shop, a two-week long e-commerce shop, showcasing all the Finalists, which went live on Monday.

From the Good Food Awards website, Each January the Good Food Awards presents the nearly 200 Winners: the exceptional food crafters who top the charts in a Blind Tasting and meet the environmental and social responsibility standards of the Good Food Awards. Over 2,000 entries from all 50 states are submitted each year.

Mad Priests coffee submission to GFA from Yemen has a story behind it as well. Last fall, Mad Priest made a bold move and bid on a lot of the newly discovered coffee mother species Yemenia in the Best of Yemen 2020 Auction. The auction was in partnership with Qima Coffee in Yemen and Alliance for Coffee Excellence and drew some of the biggest names in coffee from around the world to pay upwards of $140 per pound for this new coffee species. They took this risk by purchasing some of the worlds most expensive coffee, because they wanted to take a stand to help Yemeni farmers in the midst of the ongoing humanitarian crisis there, and as well as raise awareness for Yemenia, called the coffee discovery of the century.

And they did just that.

Not only did they quickly sell all of their Yemenia coffee around the holiday season, they began a relationship with Qima Coffee which extended further to help Qima Foundation with their big Amal Yemen event-turned-movement in 2020. And Mad Priest was invited to join the prestigious international jury of coffee professionals to judge the coffees from Yemen to be in the 2021 Best of Yemen Auction.

So their Yemenia Bait Alal coffee, a new Yemenia from this years harvest, isnt just a revolutionary coffee that placed in the finalists of the Good Food Awards. It is also a symbol of the relationship Mad Priest has built with Qima Coffee and the incredible work they are doing in Yemen investing in coffee farmers, the future of coffee, and the future of the country. This achievement is a massive win for Mad Priest, but even more, its a win for Yemen.

* * *



This achievement from GFA comes right on the heels of Mad Priests recent branding launch, The confirmation of Mad Priest. In a culture of rich memoirs and coming-of-age stories, Mad Priest is doing the very same thing as a brand -- learning self-acceptance and confidence as they have sought to find their place in the world of specialty coffee. As part of the lean-in to the brand, they have launched a new website with new coffees, merch, and a new customer experience in their retail locations.

As they stated in their announcement on social media: Its the confirmation of Mad Priest, friends. Were growing up and finding ourselves as a brand. Its true, weve been through that dark night of the soul and now were ready to shine. Join us on our journey as we go all in on the Mad Priest brand! Just be warned, there will be lots of good coffee, and lots of fun. Because, life is too short for bad coffeeand taking ourselves too seriously.

Their website further explains their mission: To curious people who are sick of the bland, corporate, heretical coffee experience, Mad Priest Coffee Roasters is the unconventional, creative, sacred coffee choice. While we may be irreverent, we always take our coffee and our mission seriously. Because we are mad about injustice, especially societal inequality...and bad coffee.






Theresa Thomas, age 67, passed away Sunday in the presence of loved ones, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Theresa was born March 16, 1954, in Sioux City, Iowa to James Nelson Lusk and Betty Jo Ferguson. She grew up traveling the country and Europe with her Air Force service father, mother and younger brother, James Lusk Jr.

After her family settled in Chattanooga, she graduated from Central High School in 1972 and went on to attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She retired as a business manager for Tennessee Oncology in October of 2017, after having held several business management roles previously. Theresa and her husband Roger were partners in crime, having celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on June 7, 2021.



Theresa was a loving wife, mother, Nana, sister, aunt and friend to all who knew her. Early in their marriage, Theresa and Roger worked very hard to ensure that their family would have a great future. A caregiver by nature, she helped care for both her mother and father as the time arose, and then continued that caregiving by watching Abigail and Charlie while their parents were at work. Best friends, Abigail and Nana would go on imaginative adventures which they were happy to invite Charlie to once he came along. She lived a life that exuded the love exemplary of Christ and pointed people to God by her thoughts, actions and prayers.



She was preceded in death by her parents, James Nelson and Betty Jo Lusk.



She is survived by her loving husband, Roger Thomas; son, Seth (Jennifer) Thomas; grandkids, Abigail and Charlie; brother, James (Melody) Lusk Jr.; nephews, James Lusk, and Brian (Victoria) Lusk; in laws, Kenneth and Nancy Thomas, Pete and Sharon Pedigo; nieces and nephews; Will (Amanda) Thomas, Brenda and Chris Triplett, Amy Pedigo; and great nieces, Rose Lusk, Caroline and Vannie Thomas.



The family would like to give a special thank you to Gail and Will Moore and Hearth Hospice who helped provide such comfort and care through Theresa's final moments of life in addition to the amazing doctors, nurses and staff at Tennessee Oncology who were with Theresa during her entire battle.



A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 5, in the funeral home chapel with Fred Smith Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery.



Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.



The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 4, from 5-7 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.


U.S. Repr. Chuck Fleischmann issued the following statement upon his bill H.R. 2088, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, being passed out of the United States House of Representatives.

Today, for the third Congress in a row, the House in a wide bipartisan vote, passed my bill to return 76 acres of sacred land in Monroe County to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; righting a terrible wrong when their land was forcibly taken from them by the federal government, said Rep. Fleischmann. The Cherokee People have a long, rich history on these lands, and it is the place where Cherokees have honored the birth and life of Sequoyah, one of the most influential and important Native Americans in history.

"I am humbled and thankful to play a part in ensuring the story of the Eastern Band is preserved and taught to future generations. I thank Principal Chief Sneed for his support and advocacy in getting this legislation to where it is today. I hope my colleagues in the Senate recognize the importance of Cherokee tribal land preservation and act quickly to move H.R. 2088 through their chamber and on to President Bidens desk."

Sequoyah was a statesman, diplomat, and seminal leader who contributed so much to help the Cherokee people," said Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard G. Sneed. "We look forward to protecting and preserving this monument to his legacy for generations to come."

In detail, H.R. 453, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, will:

Impact 76 acres of specified lands along the Little Tennessee River and Tellico Reservoir in Monroe County;

Include lands from the Tanasi Memorial, Chota Memorial, Sequoyah Museum, and land to administer support for these cultural programs and properties;

Place these lands into trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act was introduced into the 117th Congress by Rep. Fleischmann on March 19, 2021, and it passed the House by a 407-16 vote. Previously, the bill was introduced as H.R. 146 in the 115th Congress and passed the House by a 383-2 vote. The bill was introduced in the 116th Congress as H.R. 453 and passed the House unanimously by voice vote.
90 Day Fiance: The Other Way star Steven has decided to propose marriage to Alina. While theyve been dealing with some major issues in their relationship, Steven has decided to propose with the help of an original song hes written to her. After all of the lying, was the song enough to swoon Alina?

Steven on 90 Day Fiance_ The Other Way Season 3

Steven performs Alina an original song he wrote for her

During the Oct 31 episode of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Steven follows through on his promise to delete his social media accounts and he makes it up to Alina by gifting her the Book of Mormon with a sentimental letter inside. As the relationship is looking up, Steven decides its time to propose.

Steven says, Earlier today, I prepared an elaborate, super romantic proposal and now its actually happening. He explains, Were going to sail to this waterfall, Im going to play my song, and its going to be the biggest moment of my life. He says, Im going to propose to the love of my life.

Alina says yes to Stevens marriage proposal

When they arrive at the waterfalls, Steven reveals the keyboard he had hidden under a cloth. He says, I feel so lucky to be here in Turkey with you. And I know that Ive done a lot of things that have hurt you and made you sad. So I wanted to say Im sorry, so I wrote you a little song that I want to play for you now.

Steven then performs his song, with the lyrics: I want to see you shine. I want to fill your life. I want you in my life. Before the time runs out and we lose our chance. So I got to ask, ask you on one knee. Ask you eternally. Ask you to marry me. He gets down on one knee asks her to marry him. Alina begins to cry and immediately says yes to his proposal.

Is Steven really ready to marry Alina?

Alina thought that the proposal was very unexpected and fans thought the same thing. Many 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way fans were concerned with how seriously Steven is about marrying Alina. He had revealed that he had some doubts about Alina when they were driving back from the immigration lawyers office when they found out how little time they had to get married.

Not only was Alina disappointed by Stevens hesitancy, she was also upset to find out how much he had lied to her while they were in a long-distance relationship. Alina is worried that Steven can actually commit to one woman and leave his bachelors lifestyle behind.

In the preview for the upcoming episode, Alina asks Steven, Are you ready to get married now? Steven says, The truth is, Alina and I still have a lot of things to talk about. While Alina is doubting Stevens commitment level to her, Steven is doubting Alinas commitment level to the LDS church.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Season 3 Episode 10 Recap: Stop the Excuses
More information about the Dexter: New Blood villain has surfaced. The show is set to premiere on Showtime on Nov. 7, picking up in the years after Dexter Morgan disappeared to find him in the remote fictional town of Iron Lake, New York. Hes living under a fake name, working a new job, and avoiding killing. But complications will seemingly arise when he comes across villain Kurt Caldwell.

[Warning: This post contains spoilers for the Dexter revival, Dexter: New Blood.]

Michael C. Hall | Kurt Iswarienko/Showtime

Dexters dark passenger to return

Dexter (Michael C. Hall) spent much of his adult life killing, claiming more than 100 lives. He stopped after Debra Morgans death in Dexter Season 8, before fleeing Miami and moving into the Oregon wilderness. Roughly a decade later, hes still in hiding, using the alias Jim Lindsay.

When we meet him [in the revival], he is living a very calm and abstinent monastic life in upstate New York in a fictional town called Iron Lake, showrunner Clyde Phillips told Drama Quarterly of the new Dexter.

He works at the fish and game store, surrounded by weapons of minor destruction and by the trophies of what other people have killed  deer heads and stuffed trout on the wall, he added. We also learn hes got a new girlfriend who is the chief of police. He can use that accessibility to the police station to his advantage, because even though hes had a monastic, abstinent life, this is Dexter and Dexter is going to kill people.

RELATED: Dexter Showrunner Explains How Revival Came Together After Michael C. Halls Past Refusals

The villain of the Dexter revival

The villain of Dexter New: Blood is Kurt Caldwell, a native of Iron Lake who will be played by Clancy Brown. Deadline reports that many residents consider him the unofficial mayor of their small town.

Hes realized the American dream by going from driving big rigs, just like his father did, to now owning several trucks and the local truck stop, his character description reads, per Deadline. Powerful, generous, loved by everyone  hes a true man of the people. If hes got your back, consider yourself blessed. But should you cross Kurt, or hurt anyone that he cares for God help you.

Variety shared more details about Kurt in a recent report, writing that hes a very privileged man with a lot of pull in the small fictional town of Iron Lake, N.Y., who uses technology to spy on women before more fully victimizing them. The trailer actually shows a woman frantically running from someone who could indeed be Kurt now that we know more about him. But viewers will have to wait and see exactly.

RELATED: Dexter Star Hints the Revival Is Inspired by Alternate Ending Idea

Who else is in the cast?

In addition to Hall and Brown, the Dexter: New Blood cast includes Jennifer Carpenter, John Lithgow, Julia Jones, Alano Miller, Jamie Chung, Jack Alcott, and others. Phillips has also teased the return of a character from Dexters days working for the Miami Metro Police Department, leaving fans to speculate on their identity.

Until then, keep your eyes out for Dexter: New Blood. Itll premiere at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 7 on Showtime.
George Harrison cared less about awards, even if the queen herself was awarding them. He used to tell his wife Olivia to let some other monkey get them. George couldnt wrap his mind around people wanting to give him awards for making music. He never saw what he did as a career, and he didnt need justification. So its understandable that George felt a little awkward being awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth with his fellow Beatles.

The Beatles | Fox Photos/Getty Images

The Beatles found out they were getting MBEs after looking through their fan mail

In June 1965, Brian Epstein requested Paul McCartney and his then-girlfriend, Jane Asher, return from their holiday a day early. He wanted all of The Beatles would be present when it was announced that the queen would be awarding them with MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

The press embargo restricting publication of the Queens Birthday Honours list was lifted during the evening, to allow the next days newspapers to carry the news, Beatles Bible writes. Harold Wilson, the prime minister at the time, nominated The Beatles for the award himself. Many believed Wilson only did this to get on the good side of the younger generations.

Shortly after, The Beatles held a press conference about the award at Twickenham Film Studios, where they were watching a rough cut of Help!.

When asked how they found out they were to receive the award, George said, Paul was looking through the pile of fan mail in our dressing room a few weeks back and he came across this envelope that had From the Prime Minister written on it. It must have been there at least a couple of days. He opened it and the letter said that he was being considered for an award and would he sign the enclosed form. We all said, We wish we had one, then dived through the rest of the mail and found that we did have one  one each!

We thought that MBE stood for Mr Brian Epstein, because we always sign his contracts, because hes our manager, Paul joked.

The Beatles | Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

RELATED: Why George Harrisons 1974 Dark Horse Tour Was Doomed to Fail From the Start

George Harrison couldnt understand why The Beatles received the MBEs

The press asked why they thought they were getting the awards. They said they paid tons of taxes to the British government. Replying to whether or not they thought they deserved the MBEs, George said, Its not up to us to say that. The Queen must have thought so, or she wouldnt have given them to us, would she?

At the same time, he couldnt really understand why The Beatles were receiving the awards either. According to the Liverpool Echo, George told the press that he didnt think you got that sort of thing, just for playing rock n roll music.

When asked what hed do with his award, George said, Hang it on the wall. In response to a question about what they thought of Wilson after hed nominated the band, George replied, We think of him what we always thought of him. Hes a good lad.

RELATED: George Harrison Was Extremely Upset When This Rare Guitar Sold Out

Previous recipients returned their awards in protest

Once the press announced the news, past recipients, including Hector Dupuis, a Canadian MP, returned their MBEs in protest. Beatles Bible writes that they didnt want to be on the same level as vulgar nincompoops.

Regardless of the backlash, The Beatles arrived at Buckingham Palace to hundreds of screaming fans. One fan actually climbed the palaces gates, an offense that could get you killed today. John Lennon said stepping into the palace was like a dream and that The Beatles were so nervous. He later claimed they smoked marijuana in the bathrooms before going in to calm their nerves. However, George said they only smoked a quick cigarette.

Later, John sent back his MBE with a note that read: I am returning this MBE in protest against Britains involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts.

In 1997, the queen knighted Paul, and in 2018, Ringo also joined the club. Unfortunately, George wasnt honored with a knighthood before he died in 2001. However, something tells us he wouldnt have really cared about being awarded that distinction.
Celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich was already an accomplished chef and successful restaurant owner before she became a beloved PBS star. The Italian-American chef opened up about how it was that the legendary woman who made food something to watch on TV  Julia Child that is  had a part in Bastianich herself becoming a standard-setter in culinary television.

Chefs Julia Child, left, and Lidia Bastianich | John Bohn/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Bastianichs flagship restaurant, Felidia, recently closed

The chefs restaurant, Felidia, which opened in 1981 just closed after 40 years in business in New York City. Eater reported that it wasnt clear whether the popular restaurant would re-open elsewhere.

Bastianich wrote in her 2019 cookbook Felidia: Recipes from My Flagship Restaurant: A Cookbook, of her resolve to open the restaurant back in the 1980s despite all circumstances seemingly being against her.

I knew the odds, but I had a vision, and I was determined to make it work, she recalled. In 1981, with two young children and two successful restaurants under our belts, my husband Felix and I took on what would prove to be the most daunting and risky project of our lives, the building of Felidia on East 58th Street in New York City.

While the couples other restaurants were successful to be sure, Bastianich had in mind a different kind of more elegant establishment in Manhattan, where we could showcase the regional Italian food we had both grown up on.

The risks were all worth it, as Felidia became one of the citys most popular eateries.

Julia Child helped kick off Bastianichs television career

Felidia, it can be said, launched Bastianichs fame, leading to her PBS programs, cookbooks, and line of supermarket items such as prepared pastas and sauces, because it was the restaurant that brought renowned French chef Julia Child to her door.

Bastianich was visited at the establishment by Child and illustrious American chef and author James Beard. Eventually, she and Child became good friends. The Lidias Italy host recalled the slightly intimidating moment Child and Beard first walked into Felidia.

One day, in come Julia and James Beard, the chef recalled in a conversation with public televisions GBH. These two towering figures, you know, big. And they wanted to taste, what was this Italian woman cooking? [Julia] came for the risotto, specifically. I cooked the risotto, I was nervous, of course, but I dont think I really realized the magnitude. You know, sometimes ignorance is bliss? So it was very comfortable, I felt like she was my friend.

Child ultimately invited her to be on her Cooking with Master Chefs public television series in 1993. Her appearance on her friends program, Bastianich said, was where it sort of all beganShe was such a grand lady.

And the Italian chef has made her own programs, well, her own, with thoughtful and intelligent instruction that empowers viewers to prepare their own Italian meals at home.

Bastianich is still going strong with another bestseller

The Queens, New York resident just published her latest cookbook, Lidias a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl. And its all about making the cooking process simpler for cooks at every level using just one pot, one pan, or one bowl.

In the chefs conversation with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she explained that the cookbook is for everybody, even the beginners and features recipes for the dishes many cooks lean on day in and day out with eggs, soups, salads, pastas, risottos, pizzas, seafood, meat, poultry, and of course, desserts.

It was fun, she told the outlet, to be able to use my years of experience in a commercial kitchen and traveling and synthesize it down to a simple baking pan that everyone can relate to.

RELATED: Lidia Bastianichs New Cookbook A Pot, A Pan, and A Bowl Pays Touching Tribute to Her Mother, Grandma
Its not time for Prince Charles to become king. A royal author says Queen Elizabeth II isnt planning to step down for her son to lead the royal family. At least, not in the near future. Why? Because she supposedly feels the world isnt quite ready to see Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles take the throne.

Queen Elizabeths making more time to rest following a hospitalization in October 2021

The queen is prioritizing rest after she was taken to the hospital in mid-October 2021. Multiple engagements were canceled including a trip to Northern Ireland because doctors advised her to rest. Per Buckingham Palace, the 95-year-old begrudgingly followed her doctors orders.

Her Majesty is in good spirits and is disappointed that she will no longer be able to visit Northern Ireland, where she had been due to undertake a series of engagements today and tomorrow, the palace said in a statement.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Montecito, Calif., her grandson Prince Harry felt helpless. Now he and his wife, Meghan Markle, are supposedly planning on spending Christmas with the queen.

Queen Elizabeth doesnt think the worlds ready for Charles and Camilla to lead the royal family

Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Queen Elizabeth II | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

According to Ingrid Seward, author of Prince Philip Revealed and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, the queens not ready for Charles to take over.

She will stick to her guns as long as shes fit. She will continue to do her duty. Because I think she also feels the world isnt quite ready for Charles and Camilla, Seward told Newsweek in October 2021.

The royal author continued. Seward shared the queen shouldnt overwork herself, however, having too little on her schedule could also be problematic.

If she stops she will literally drop. Her entire life from the moment she was born has been one of rigid routine, Seward explained. I think she found it very, very difficult during COVID without routine. My God, she would age overnight.

The biggest event on the queens calendar is her Platinum Jubilee, which marks 70 years of her reign. The festivities begin in February 2021 and end with a four-day celebration in June 2021.

Queen Elizabeth may decide to stay in the background while Charles performs head of state duties

Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II | Andrew Milligan-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Just because the queens continuing with her duties as the head of the monarchy doesnt mean she could step aside for Charles in the future. According to Robert Jobson, author of Prince Philips Century, the queen may opt for a regency. What that means is that Charles, acting as Prince Regent, would fulfill duties as the head of state. Meanwhile, the queen would still technically be the head of the royal family.

If she feels that she cannot continue to do the job to the best of her ability, Jobson told Newsweek. If she feels in any way that her position will be detrimental to the monarchy as an institution, Ive no doubt whatsoever that she would step aside and institute the Regency Act for Prince Charles to come in, he added, saying that She wouldnt want the institution to be suffering in any way.

So when will a regency potentially happen? Not for some time. Im absolutely sure were not at that situation yet and Im sure well get through to the 70th anniversary of her reign, without any doubt, he said. I dont think the regency act is going to be implemented at this point in time but we cannot rule it out over the next four or five years.

RELATED: Prince William and Prince Harry Are Absolutely Sick Prince Charles Wants Camilla Parker Bowles to Have Queen Title Destined for Princess Diana, Royal Author Says
Netflixs Elite has taken the world by storm. The Spanish teen drama follows a group of upper-class students attending a prestigious secondary school called Las Encinas. The teen drama features a talented cast. However, viewers may not know three co-stars from Elite also appeared on the popular drama series Money Heist aka La Casa de Papel.

Which Elite actors starred in Money Heist?

Actors Jaime Lorente, Maria Pedraza, and Miguel Herran played central roles in the Spanish series Elite. Herran played Christian Varela Exposito in the first two seasons of the series. Christian is a working-class student that receives a full scholarship to attend Las Encinas. After getting in a motorcycle accident, Christian moves to Switzerland. To clarify, he was given money to stay quiet about Marinas murder. So, hes been living outside of Spain ever since.

Itzan Escamilla, Mina El Hammani, Miguel Herran | Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/Netflix

In season 1, Lorente played Fernando Garcia Dominguez, aka Nano. He was released from prison after Samuel started attending the prestigious institution. Nano forms a romantic relationship with Pedrazas character, Marina Nunier Osuna.

Jaime Lorente from Elite Season 1 | Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/Netflix

In Elite Season 1, Marina is a wealthy student that attends Las Encinas. She attends the institution alongside her brother Guzman (played by Miguel Bernardeau). After the murder, Nano is framed for the crime. To escape imprisonment, Nano flees and never returns to Spain again. Shortly after Polo is found guilty, Nano is cleared of all charges.

Maria Pedraza, Mina El Hammani | Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/Netflix

All three actors play lead roles in the crime drama

Aside from Netflixs Elite, all three actors starred in the popular crime show Money Heist. In the five-part series, Jaime Lorente portrays Denver, one of the robbers participating in the Royal Mint of Spain heist. In addition, he was convinced to join the heist by his father, Agustin Ramos (Moscow).

Maria Pedrazas character is first introduced in Money Heist Season 1. The actor plays Alison Parker, the daughter of Sir Benjamin Parker, the British Ambassador in Spain. Throughout the series, Miguel Herran portrays Anibal Cortes, aka Rio. He joins the Royal Mint of Spain heist. During the preparation process, he forms a secret relationship with Tokyo (Ursula Corbero).

When is Money Heist Season 5 Part 2 premiering on Netflix?

La Casa de Papel / Money Heist is finally coming back!



Part 5: Volume 1 premieres September 3

Part 5: Volume 2 premieres December 3 pic.twitter.com/kHQfVhw84F  Netflix (@netflix) May 24, 2021

Netflix announced Money Heist Season 5 Part 2 would premiere in Dec. 2021. According to Radio Times, film production wrapped in May 2020. Additionally, the cast members expected to return is The Professor (Alvaro Morte), Rio (Miguel Herran), Manila (Belen Cuesta), Denver (Jaime Lorente), Stockholm (Esther Acebo), Helsinki (Darko Peric), Rodrigo de la Serna (Palermo), Bogota (Hovik Keuchkerian) and Alicia Sierra (Najwa Nimri).

At the moment, its unclear if Miguel Angel Silvestre will return as Rene, Tokyos first love. Since the characters storyline appears to be over, its hard to tell if he would be involved in Money Heist Part 2. Initially, Money Heist creator Alex Pina had no intention of writing the character out of the story. But, he decided to write him out after endless suggestions. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he said, I had no intention of taking him out of the series. Someone said to me, This character doesnt fit with the times. You should take him out of the series.

Money Heist Season 5 Part 2 will premiere on Dec. 3rd, 2021

RELATED: Money Heist Season 5 Ending Rewritten 33 Times, Says Creator Alex Pina
Sunday began COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The event is widely considered one of the most important and urgent opportunities to date to curb the climate crisis most deadly effects. It is being watched closely, including by Christians, for its life-and-death implications.

The two-week-long COP (Conference of the Parties), which runs through November 12 in Glasgow, Scotland, was postponed from 2020. It brings together the nations of the 2015 Paris Agreement to update their national commitments to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and follow through on the financial support pledged to countries most harmed.

Christian climate scientist and past contributor Katharine Hayhoe likens the conference to a global potluck. Each country is expected to bring a dish (their national pledge) proportional to what they have contributed to the problem. Based on historic pollution, it is clear which countries ought to bring one of the mains and which will be doing their part with a bag of chips.

The proceedings face numerous hurdles. Beyond skepticism that it will achieve real success are concerns of exclusion, given that women, youth, and Indigenous leadership are underrepresented. And travel restrictions (and other factors) mean COP26 is shaping up to be perhaps the whitest and most exclusionary summit to date at a summit where leadership from the global south, Indigenous tribes, and island nations is needed most. Small island states and least developed countries are in the most immediate peril from climate change and hence, often drive more ambitious goal-setting.

And ambitious goal-setting is sorely needed. Almost all countries are behind on their pledges made in Paris. Even if these current pledges are met, the world would still be on track for a devastating level of warming (indeed, conditions under the current 1.1C of warming above pre-industrial levels is already devastating millions of people). In order to limit warming as much as possible to the 1.5C (2.7F) limit dictated by science, countries (especially high-polluting countries like the U.S.) need to make much stronger commitments at COP26 and then actually keep them.

The potluck effort of COP26 will focus on keeping that 1.5C goal within reach by drastically reducing emissions by 2030 and then virtually eliminating them by 2050. Its other priorities are to: adapt to protect communities and natural habitats, make sure countries pay what theyve pledged to aid the hardest-hit countries, and of course, keep everyone at the table.

COP26 follows extreme weather events rocking the world this year, including wealthy countries that did not expect to see climate impacts so severe, so soon, and so close to home; the U.S., for example, has experienced 18 billion-dollar disasters so far this year. And the gathering falls just months after the latest scientific report confirmed that human influence is unequivocally responsible for the overheating planet, no place on earth is untouched, and the current trajectory is dire. Yet this same report also lays out real possibilities for keeping close to 1.5C, thereby protecting millions upon millions of lives.

And this is about human lives.

Sure, the event will be conducted with all the pomp of international diplomacy and in the technical language of science and policy, but from a Christian humanitarian perspective, the real impact of COP26 will be on people. Limiting warming to 1.5C (and by every fraction of a degree possible) is a matter of life and death for millions of people. In a real way, the commitments set at COP26 reveal what individual nations are willing to do with the power they hold to protect human life.

This includes all of us and our families. None of us alive today is or will be left untouched by an overheating planet. But many of our neighbors are bearing the consequences of political inaction today. When the climate is destabilized and extreme weather events strike more frequently and severely, the people hurt first and worst are the poor, the oppressed, women, and childrengroups that scripture shows to be of special concern to God. For too long, the worlds powerful have passed them by and left them in the ditch.

Part 2 of this post continues here. The pilgrimage pictured above was conducted by Young Christian Climate Network and was recently featured by CT.

Subscribe to email digests from the Better Samaritan.

Nate Rauh-Bieri will attend COP26 as part of the Christian Climate Observers Program. He attended Wheaton College (B.A.) and Duke Divinity School (M.Div.) and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
When Michigans governor required churches to stop meeting in person on March 16 last year, Kenton Sanders, director of operations at Mars Hill Bible Church, quickly did some worrying math.

About 40 percent of donations to the megachurch in Grandville, Michigan, came during in-person services that drew some 1,750 adults, students and children weekly. With in-person services shutting down, donations would surely tumble. If that happened, the church would have to lay off some of its staff.

It was at the beginning of the pandemic, we had just gone online, and had no idea what was going to happen, he said.

So, like more than 120,000 churches and other religious organizations nationwide, Mars Hill applied for help through the Paycheck Protection Program, the emergency loan program created by the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion relief and stimulus package passed by Congress in March 2020. Under the PPP, the Small Business Administration would funnel funds to local banks, which would make loans to employers in their communities.

Mars Hills $295,000 loan, approved on April 14, 2020, would protect two dozen jobs at the church, at least for a few months.

But within a month after the loan was approved, Sanders noticed that giving had actually gone up. In addition to regular offerings that came in online, church members also contributed to a benevolence fund, known as the white bucket project, to help neighbors in need during the pandemic.

After talking with other Mars Hill leaders, Sanders called up the bank and returned the entire amount of the loan.

Mars Hill is one of a small number of religious organizations that took out large PPP loans only to return the funds without ever withdrawing a penny or to pay back the loan back in full.

According to an analysis by Religion News Service of data from the SBA, 13,408 religious groups, mainly churches, were approved for loans of $150,000 or more. Of those, 100 paid the loans back without asking for the loans to be forgiven. Fewer than 50 other groups were approved for the loans but did not withdraw the funds.

The repaid loans range from $4.37 million to $150,500 and totaled just over $66 million. Those repaying the loans include 99 Christian groups and one Muslim organization.

At least one well-known congregation, Lakewood Church in Houston, pastored by televangelist Joel Osteen, recently announced that it will pay back a $4.43 million dollar PPP loan. A church spokesman said the loan will be paid back with interest over 60 months.

More than 8,800 religious groups have asked for their loans to be forgivenas the program was designed to allow, and a relatively common practice for all PPP borrowers. The status of another approximately 4,500 remaining loans has not yet been reported to the SBA by local banks.

All told, 11,823,594 PPP loans were approved, for a total of $799.8 billion.

For Philadelphia Baptist Church, based in Deville, Louisiana, getting approved for a PPP loan provided peace of mind when such peace was in short supply. Pastor Philip Robertson called the early days of the pandemic the most stressful time of his more than quarter-century as a pastor.

While the church had some reservations about the loan and whether it would come with government strings attached, Robertson said, We wanted to make sure that we were able to continue to pay our staff and not have to endure catastrophic financial implications.

From the beginning, church leaders decided to pay the $181,170 loan back if they could. The funds were set aside, said Robertson, and to be spent only if they were needed.

When giving remained steady, the church repaid the loan in July of 2020. Paying the loan back cost the church about $400 in interest, said Robertson, a small price to pay for the peace of mind that came with the loan.

Robertson said hes thankful that the church was eligible for the loaneven though it was funded by the federal governmentgrateful that the loan turned out not to be needed and grateful for the continued giving of church members.

The people of God give because they give out of obedience to the Lord and wanted to support the ministry and work of their church, he said. And that was a priority for them. Even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Paul Spilker, lead executive pastor at College Park Church in Indianapolis, which paid back a $1,157,100 loan, was also surprised by the generosity of church people during the pandemic. The loan, he said, allowed the congregation to pay its staff during a time of great uncertainty. When giving to the church turned out to be higher than expected, he said, church leaders decided to pay it back.

We thought, heres a testimony to the generosity of our people, Spilker said.

Spilker and other leaders of churches that repaid the loans said it was the right thing for their church. But they understand why other groups made different decisions.

To qualify for loan forgiveness, churches and other organizations had to certify that there was significant economic uncertainty when they applied for the loanwhich was the case for nearly every for-profit and nonprofit organization in the United States.

There are some indications that congregations avoided major fiscal decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of the congregations in a fall 2020 study from Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis said that giving had either stayed the same or gone up. Few (14%) said they had to lay off staff, while two-thirds applied for a PPP loan.

In their loan application, Mars Hill asked for enough money to pay the salaries of 24 staffers. All told, the PPP loans to religious groups were meant to pay salaries of 1.5 million staffers, with half of them at groups that borrowed more than $150,000.

Allison Gill, vice president of American Atheists, said she appreciates religious groups that paid back their PPP loans rather than asking for forgiveness.

It shows an appreciation for the separation of church and state, she said.

Still, American Atheists and other secular groups expressed concern over the programespecially if religious groups applied for forgiveness. That essentially turned loans into grants to pay the salaries of religious leaders, said Nick Little, vice president and general counsel of the Center for Inquiry, another atheist group.

Little said that having government funds paying the salaries of pastors, rabbis, priests and other leaders was constitutionally troubling.

The 2012 National Congregations Study found that about 25 percent of congregations had mortgages or other debt. Congregations that described themselves as more conservative (22.3%) were less likely to say they had debt than those that were more liberal (43.9%).

Uncertainty for many religious organizations, meanwhile, is far from over. At Mars Hill, Sanders said that the staff remains intact, and as the pandemic has eased, about 300 people now show up for weekend services. But others continue to attend only online. That makes long-term planning difficult.

The hard part is that we dont know how many people we have in our church anymore, he said.

Still, he is thankful the PPP loan was repaid. I am really proud to be part of a church that said, No, we dont need itwe are going to give it back.'
17 missionaries remain captive in Haiti as families of American hostages worldwide plead with Biden

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The Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries urged continued prayers for their 17 missionaries being held captive by the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti as families of 26 Americans being held hostage around the world recently pressed the Biden administration to push more aggressively to free their loved ones.

Seventeen days after 17 missionaries working with Christian Aid Ministries were kidnapped by the Haitian gangsters who have threatened to kill them if their $17 million ransom is not paid, the international Christian charity said they are also praying for wisdom as negotiations continue between American and Haitian authorities to secure their release.

This is now the 17th day since the kidnapping in Haiti took place. Our workers and loved ones are still being held. Voices from around the world continue to cry out to God to sustain the hostages. We desire wisdom from God as we work through this difficult situation, Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement to The Christian Post on Monday.

The group of missionaries kidnapped Oct. 16, while they were working with Christian Aid Ministries includes six men, six women and five children, of which 16 are Americans and one is Canadian. They range in age from an 8-month-old baby to a 48 year old.

Last week, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden continues to be briefed daily about the kidnapping of the missionaries and noted that he was particularly concerned about the five children in the group.

I personally give an update on this issue every single day to the president, who is taking a deep interest in making sure we get every single one of those people home safely, Sullivan said.

Shortly after the kidnapping of the missionaries on Oct. 16, he said, three FBI agents were deployed to Haiti. Since then, Sullivan said the U.S. has sent a significant number of law enforcement specialists and hostage recovery specialists to work closely with the ministry, the families and the Haitian government to try to coordinate and organize a recovery.

We are looking at every possible option for how to go about doing that, he explained. I will be sensitive to what obviously is a delicate situation, not say more here, other than we have put the assets and resources in place that we believe can help bring this to a successful conclusion.

In an open letter to Biden published by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, the hostage advocacy group, the families of 26 American hostages being held in other countries, including Syria, China, Venezuela, Rwanda, Iran, Russia and Egypt explained how they have been waiting for much longer than the missionaries in Haiti to see their loved ones freed.

We are grateful for the times you have personally referred to some of our family members by name in public statements vowing to fight for their release. Many of us were present on a February call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his first week in office. That call provided hope to so many families who heard this administration promise that their loved ones freedom was a national priority, the families wrote.

Yet as of this letter, so many of us remain in the same situation, or worse, more than eight months later. In fact, some of us have endured this burden across multiple administrations, they continued. We have not been able to meet with you or even with your national security advisor to discuss our loved ones captivity, which leads us to believe that your administration is not prioritizing negotiations and other methods to secure their release. When we do meet with other officials we feel we are being kept in the dark about what the U.S. government intends to do to free our loved ones.

Jean Pierre Ferrer Michel, a 79-year-old American pastor who was kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti two weeks before the missionaries in Haiti were abducted, was recently freed after $550,000 was reportedly paid for his release.

Since the kidnapping of the missionaries, Haitians have taken to the streets to demand their release. Schools and most businesses were closed for several days in Port-au-Prince last week, according to The Haitian Times, following a call for a general strike to protest kidnappings and widespread insecurity, which followed the assassination of the countrys late President Jovenel Moise in July. A civil society group in that country reports that 600 kidnappings were recorded from January to September 2021, compared with 231 over the same period last year.

Despite the challenges to the freedom of their missionaries, Christian Aid Ministries said people are now praying day and night for their release.

Throughout the long days of waiting, a special network of global prayer support has gathered around the hostages and their families, the group said. Every 15 minutes of the day and night, the torch of prayer is passed on. Some time periods have over 20 individuals or groups praying at once.
Justin Welby apologizes for likening 'climate crisis' to Nazi genocide

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The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologized after suggesting failure to act on climate change could be worse than the inaction of world leaders in the face of Nazi atrocities against the Jews.

Archbishop Justin Welby apologized "unequivocally" for the comparison, made in comments to the BBC as world leaders gather in Glasgow to discuss climate change.

The Archbishop suggested that a failure to commit to action at the COP26 summit could lead to "a genocide on an infinitely greater scale" than that perpetrated against the Jews by the Nazis.

He said it was possible that people in the future would speak of today's leaders "in far stronger terms than we speak today of the politicians of the 30s, of the politicians who ignored what was happening in Nazi Germany because this will kill people all around the world for generations, and we will have no means of averting it."

Failing to act, he continued, "will allow a genocide on an infinitely greater scale."

"I'm not sure there's grades of genocide, but there's width of genocide, and this will be genocide indirectly, by negligence, recklessness, that will, in the end, come back to us or to our children and grandchildren," he said.

In other remarks, he suggested that world leaders attending the summit would be "cursed" if they failed to reach an agreement on addressing climate change.

After his words sparked a backlash, the archbishop issued an apology on Twitter.

"I unequivocally apologize for the words I used when trying to emphasize the gravity of the situation facing us at COP26," he said.

"It's never right to make comparisons with the atrocities brought by the Nazis, and I'm sorry for the offense caused to Jews by these words."

Originally published at Christian Today
Supreme Court justices question Texas heartbeat abortion law's use of legal 'loophole'

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The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday regarding a Texas law that prohibits most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, weighing whether to allow abortion rights advocates to sue the state in federal court.

For around three hours, lawyers who argued for and against Texas Senate Bill 8 were questioned before the nations high court, with discussions focusing primarily on the unique way in which the legislation is enforced.

Also known as Texas Heartbeat Act, the ban is not enforced through state officials like most laws. Instead, private citizens are given financial incentives to sue abortion providers and anyone who helps a pregnant woman procure an abortion. Successful plaintiffs are awarded at least $10,000.

Both Justice Elena Kagan and Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed concern, with Kagan wondering if the law would resist the even broader principle that states are not to nullify federal constitutional rights.

Kavanaugh questioned if the state was exploiting a "loophole" in legal precedent that should be closed to allow those who oppose the law to appeal to federal courts.

Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone defended the legislation. He argued that the legal challenges should remain in state courts for the time and that third parties had a right to sue abortion providers on the basis of being harmed by the procedure.

Justice Clarence Thomas questioned Stone about what injury third parties would face that could compel them to seek enforcement of the law.

One example could be akin to the injury suffered in the tort of outrage, where an individual becomes aware of a noncompliant abortion and they suffer the sort of same extreme emotional harm, said Stone.

[That is] where a person witnesses something they essentially find to be so extreme and outrageous it causes them extreme moral or psychological harm.

Thomas pushed back.

Forgive me, but I dont recall an outrage injury, he asked. What would that be?

Stone offered an example:

An individual discovers that ... a close friend of theirs who theyd spoken with about pro-life issues and about abortion has chosen instead to have a late-term abortion in violation of S.B. 8, and they were very invested in ... that childs upbringing and the childs coming into being, he said. To the extent to which theres going to have to be a tighter nexus or whats a sufficient injury, in fact, is going to be something that the Texas courts have to develop in the first instance.

Marc Hearron, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, argued that the Texas law makes it so that the ministerial act of the clerks docketing makes clerks an essential part of the machinery that [the state has] created to nullify constitutional rights that have been recognized by this Court.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett stated that the way the law is written does not abortion providers the ability to seek a broader form of relief from the bill in federal court.

[Y]ou cannot get kind of global relief in the same way that a pre-enforcement challenge ... in federal court gives you relief from the prospect that the statute would be enforced against you, she said.

Texas Alliance for Life Executive Director Joe Pojman said in a statement that he is grateful for every day the Texas Heartbeat Act remains in effect.

Regardless of what the courts decide in these cases, the Texas Heartbeat law has saved hundreds or even thousands of unborn babies from the tragedy of abortion, stated Pojman.

At the same time, hundreds of pro-life pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies continue to help more than 100,000 women in Texas with unplanned pregnancies every year.

Jamie L. Manson, president of Catholics for Choice, said in a statement that her organization rallied outside of the Supreme Court building during the arguments. She claimed that the Texas law violated Catholic values, even though the Catholic Church has a longstanding opposition to abortion.

These values  of social justice, human dignity, and liberation  call us to recognize that Texans are harmed every day this anti-abortion law remains in place, especially those who are already suffering from the oppressions of racial and economic injustice, stated Manson.

It also undermines the fundamental notion of religious freedom that our nation was founded upon. Catholics for Choice is here to proclaim we are pro-choice because of our faith, not in spite of it.

In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas Heartbeat Act into law. Despite pre-enforcement legal challenges, the Supreme Court allowed the legislation to take effect on Sept. 1. It continues to be challenged in the courts by both pro-choice groups and the Biden administration.

The law is viewed as a challenge to the Supreme Court precedent set in the 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, which bans laws restricting abortion before fetal viability, or the ability of an unborn baby to survive outside the womb, is attained.

Last month U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ban from being enforced. But a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision and granted a per curiam order allowing the law to remain in effect amid legal proceedings.

On Dec. 1, The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which centers on Mississippis ban on most abortions after 15 weeks. As with the Texas law, the Mississippi law goes against the current precedent set by Roe v. Wade.
Faith-based education and the Sewanee syndrome

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One day last spring on the stunning Sewanee campus of the University of the South in Tennessee, I watched with interest as workers deftly chiseled away the words, Otey Parish and carved in their place the words St. Mark & St. Paul. It was a sign of the times, removing the name of the universitys first Chancellora devout churchman, but, alas, a slave owner. The renaming was also a well-intentioned act of reconciliation in the wake of the parishs segregated history in which African-Americans worshiped as St. Marks an

d whites as St. Pauls-on-the-Mountain.

Given the laudable goal of rectifying past racial inequities, one couldnt help being struck by the irony of replacing Otey with St. Paul, who, critics have argued, was an apologist for slavery, instructing slaves to obey their masters, and making no explicit call for liberation when declaring that we are one in Christ, whether slave or free. Although contextually more nuanced (see 1 Timothy 1:10), these Pauline teachings were historically used as biblical support for justifying slavery, likely by Bishop Otey himself.

Its not only Pauls slavery-related passages that grate these days. Considering other Pauline teachings, one might wonder why any Christian university with current sensitivities would continue offering a theological curriculum based upon an ancient text that condemns same-sex unions and mandates male spiritual leadershipboth now deemed to be on the wrong side of historyand is out of step with prevailing scientific consensus regarding human origins and increasing rejection of binary, biological gender (see Genesis 1:27).

Raising the conundrum for faith-based universities: Jettison the unfashionable parts of Scripture, and inexorably the credibility of the text is so undermined that faith itself becomes problematic, and even the moral foundation for racial and social justice is eroded.

Far from spinning in his grave at his name being expunged, Bishop Otey likely would welcome disassociating his name from trendy theological and moral stances being embraced by many in Christian education, undoubtedly considering those departures spiritually repugnant, and perhaps thinking theres more than one way to deftly chisel away whats written in stone.

As the evil of slavery practiced by people of faith highlights the problem, might the culturally-driven, conveniently-rationalized moral lapses of previous generations be mirrored in those of todays generation? Even yesterdays oppressed slaves, whether God-fearing or otherwise, would be appalled and mystified at what the church proudly blesses today, dressed up in the sanctimonious robes of diversity and inclusivism.

Sewanee, of course, is not alone in being seduced by the spirit of the age insidiously beguiling faith-based universitiesfrom moral relativism, to political correctness, to a smug, holier-than-back-then cancel culture. The Wheatons, Baylors, Pepperdines, and Notre Dames of the academic worldindeed, all Christian schools large and smallare equally at risk of falling prey to the Sewanee syndrome of simplistic generational hubris passing as social justice, and a bewildering ideological mishmash of theological and moral incoherence.

Historically religious universities championing manifestly unbiblical practices alongside just social causes will, in the end, become spiritually irrelevant. Given the historical devolution from faith-based to secular at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale, todays guardians of Christian education should count it their duty and honor to be on the wrong side of history.
University grants Christian group official status amid lawsuit alleging discrimination

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The University of Houston-Clear Lake has granted a Christian student organization full recognition as a campus student group after a legal challenge was filed claiming that the school discriminated by excluding the group as a registered student organization.

The conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom has claimed victory after the Christian student group Ratio Christi sued the university over claims that its official status as a student group was denied for unlawful reasons. However, the school rejects the claim that it ever denied the student group official status.

In a statement, ADF reported that the university quickly gave Ratio Christi the recognized status after the legal complaint was filed against school officials last Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Ratio Christi received the good news they deserveas a result of our lawsuit, the University of Houston-Clear Lake has now fully recognized the Christian student organization as a registered club on campus, granting them equal treatment among their peer groups, said ADF Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton.

We commend the university and its general counsel for taking quick action to correct this injustice. Now, the university must do the next right thing and rescind the unconstitutional policies that are still in place that were used to exclude Ratio Christi because it requires its leaders to agree with its values and mission.

The university denies it ever discriminated against Ratio Christi and argues that the lawsuit was filed while the school was still processing the groups paperwork.

The University of Houston-Clear Lake has approved Ratio Christi as a registered student organization, said University spokesperson Shawn Lindsey in a statement to The Washington Times.

This is not the reversal of a prior decision. The application was never denied and was still in process when the lawsuit was filed.

When a student group lacks registered student organization status, it cannot reserve on-campus spaces, invite speakers for events or use funds reserved by the university for student groups.

UHCLs refusal to grant Ratio Christi RSO status violates Plaintiffs free exercise, expressive association, free speech, and equal protection rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the complaint states.

The First Amendment protects the right of all student organizations to associate around shared beliefs. The fact that UHCL disregards that right when it comes to Ratio Christi is particularly egregious because UHCL has treated Ratio Christi differently because of its religious beliefs.

The complaint further claimed that the university was using its anti-discrimination policy to bar Ratio Christi from receiving RSO status, namely Ratio Christis rules that restrict its leadership to Christians.

The legal filing alleged that the universitys anti-discrimination policies allowed non-religious student organizations to limit their leadership positions and membership to students who agree with their mission but would not let religious student groups do the same.

Under the RSO Policies, RSOs cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity and gender expression  that is, unless the organization is the Vietnamese Student Association, International Student Advisory Board, Student Veterans Association, a sorority, or sport club team, the complaint reads.

In 2019, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs settled with its Ratio Christi chapter after initially barring the group from becoming an official student club.

The settlement included the University of Colorado granting Ratio Christi registered status upon resubmitting paperwork, paying $20,574 in damages and revising the schools Club & Organization Handbook to include a provision explaining that all student clubs can require leaders to adhere to a particular set of beliefs.

In July, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the University of Iowa discriminated against InterVarsity Christian Fellowship by deregistering the club as an official student group.
Christian group launches prayer campaign to protect churches from UK conversion therapy ban

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A major Christian advocacy group in the U.K. has launched a prayer campaign in response to looming government legislation aimed at banning what is derisively referred to as conversion therapy. If such as ban goes into effect, it might also prohibit clergy from praying for people struggling with same-sex attraction and gender confusion.

The Christian Institutes Let Us Pray campaign was launched on Oct. 15 and comes as the British government continues to say that it intends to ban so-called conversion therapy, but has yet to define what types of therapy or counseling fall under this label. Some churches fear the ban will include outlawing prayer.



Conversion therapy is a wide umbrella term chosen by LGBT campaigners. It covers grotesque illegal assaults such as 'corrective rape' and abusive quack medical practices like electric shock 'therapy.' But the campaigners want to go much further, the Christian Institute's prayer initiative website states.

The larger goal of the proposed government legislation, the group says, is for churches and ministries to stop advocating the historic sexual ethics of the Christian faith. Preaching, pastoral care, and even parenting might get entangled in this new policy. It shouldnt be illegal for Christians to teach their faith, or for people to pray for their friends, the website declares.

No-one denies that some people who identify as LGBT have been mistreated in the past and are sometimes mistreated today. As Christians, we condemn abuse of every kind. And we welcome LGBT people into our churches, just like we welcome everyone else, an Oct. 15 post reads.

Should the government criminalize the expression of biblical sexual ethics, it would violate the obligations outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights, the group notes. The ongoing lack of clarity as to what is being considered under the proposed ban comes on the heels of whether prayer would be included in the legislation.

In June, David Walker, the Anglican Bishop of Manchester, told the Guardian that those who breach the ban on conversion therapy ought to face prosecution, but stressed that he did not mean those engaging in gentle, non-coercive prayer, but the kind where there is a level of power imbalance and a level of force.

At the root of the divide between theologically orthodox Christians and LGBT activists arguing for such a ban is an anthropological issue about what fundamentally defines a human being. While traditional churches have historically held that ones sexual inclinations and actions are not the sum total or defining features of a persons identity and that a long-standing scriptural standard must be followed regarding sexuality, LGBT activist groups often assert that any effort to challenge particular behaviors, especially if someone is dealing with unwanted sexual attractions or gender confusion, is tantamount to an assault on who you are.

Responding to Bishop Walkers exception for gentle prayer in June, Anglican LGBT activist Jayne Ozanne told the Guardian that all prayer that seeks to change or suppress someone's innate sexuality or gender identity is deeply damaging and causes immeasurable harm, as it comes from a place  no matter how well meaning  that says who you are is unacceptable and wrong."

In late March, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a letter to the Evangelical Alliance that he did not want to see pastors face criminal penalties.



As the Government made clear in 2018, when we first made our commitment to end conversion therapy, we will continue to allow adults to receive appropriate pastoral support (including prayer), in churches and other religious settings, in the exploration of their sexual orientation or gender identity, Johnson said. He added: "Like you, I do not want to see clergy and church members criminalized for normal non-coercive activity."

The Christian Institute's director Colin Hart said in a statement that the goals of those pushing for the ban are sweeping.

"Private prayer, evangelism, parenting, pastoral advice, preaching and teaching, church membership, baptism, confirmation and communion would all be put at risk by an overly broad ban, Hart said, adding that these are among the ordinary things churches do and must not be criminalized.



"We want to protect Gospel freedom. Politicians must not allow activists to exploit concerns about genuine abuse to further their own agendas against Christians," he said.






Florida school district defends elementary school field trip to gay bar

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A Florida school district is defending an elementary school field trip to a notorious gay bar after a school board members social media post of the outing generated outrage.

Sarah Leonardi, who serves on the Board of Education for Broward County Schools in South Florida, announced on her Twitter page last Wednesday that she chaperoned a group of students at Wilton Manors Elementary School in Wilton Manors, Florida, to Rosies Bar and Grill.

I was SO honored to be invited to chaperone @WiltonManorsESs field trip to the incredible Rosies! she wrote.

The students and I had a fun walk over and learned a lot about our community! A huge thank you to @RosiesBNG for hosting this special field trip every year! Leonardi added.

I was SO honored to be invited to chaperone @WiltonManorsESs field trip to the incredible Rosies! The students and I had a fun walk over and learned a lot about our community! A huge thank you to @RosiesBnG for hosting this special field trip every year! pic.twitter.com/A3rpMbyUJP  School Board Member Sarah Leonardi (@bcpsleonardi) October 27, 2021

Rosies has menu items with sexually provocative names, including burgers named Ivana Hooker, "Rhoda Cowboy" and Anita Mojito, which is described as a sexy Cuban temptress. Another burger named Helena Bun is touted as being tossed in Rosies own Smack My Cheeks and Make em Rosy sauce. According to the menu, the Plain Jane burger contains our signature burger blend from the sexiest Angus beef cows.

The field trip received criticism from conservatives, who pointed to the excursion as the latest example of schools trying to force leftist ideology onto children. Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, sent out a tweet lamenting that a Broward School Board member takes little kids to a gay bar on a field trip, forcing them to wear masks to keep them safe.

Broward School Board member takes little kids to a gay bar on a field trip, forcing them to wear masks to keep them safe. https://t.co/mhGAt6WY7h  Christina Pushaw ???? (@ChristinaPushaw) October 28, 2021

In a follow-up tweet, Pushaw suggested that Leonardi took little kids to this bar EXPECTING that some parents would protest, so she could call the FBI and go on MSNBC to discuss all the threatening messages shes received from insurrectionist parents.

Pushaws tweet is in reference to the Department of Justice memo urging federal law enforcement officials to meet with local leaders to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.

What if the Broward school board member took little kids to this bar EXPECTING that some parents would protest, so she could call the FBI and go on MSNBC to discuss all the threatening messages shes received from insurrectionist parents? pic.twitter.com/bkEFg9YIkC  Christina Pushaw ???? (@ChristinaPushaw) October 28, 2021

The DOJ memo followed a letter from the National School Boards Association requesting federal assistance to stop threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren, public school board members, and other public school district officials and educators, which it likened to domestic terrorism. The NSBA letter and the DOJ memo were condemned for suggesting that parents expressing concerns about sexually explicit material available in schools at school board meetings were akin to domestic terrorists.

According to Leonardi, some of the rhetoric surrounding the controversy over the field trip to Rosies has gone beyond the boundaries of acceptable discourse. Leonardi told the Miami Herald that since posting about the field trip on social media, she has been attacked with bigoted comments and death threats, along with her family and friends. Rosies owner John Zieba reported that the restaurant has received death threats via phone originating from area codes based outside the Fort Lauderdale area, where the establishment is located.

Zieba also rejected the characterization of his business as a gay bar, telling the publication, We welcome everybody. Every race, color, creed or ethnicity.

Broward County Public Schools issued a statement in response to the criticism, asserting that the bar and restaurant was not open to the general public when students were present inside. The district also stressed that When the business opened, students transitioned to a separate, outside location to order and eat their meals and that the students order their meals from a student-friendly paper menu that has three child-friendly choices.

The district defended the field trip as part of the schools curriculum: Wilton Manors Elementary School offers a Unit of Inquiry called, How we organize ourselves. In the unit, students learn about neighborhood safety, community helpers, the importance of being a community member, what it takes for a community to be successful, different jobs in a community, and social skills.

As part of the unit, the district said students visit Rosies, which is within walking distance from the school, to learn about the types of jobs involved in operating a restaurant, how to pay for their meal, and how to leave a tip for the service they receive.
Va. megachurch pastor arrested, charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor

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A Virginia pastor was arrested during a sting operation to capture individuals seeking sexual relations with minors online and is facing a felony charge of soliciting prostitution.

John Blanchard, a 51-year-old pastor at the Rock Church of Virginia Beach, was one of 17 individuals arrested in the operation, according to an announcement from Chesterfield County Police on Monday.

During the two-day operation, detectives intercepted suspects who believed they were soliciting sex from minors through online and social media platforms, explained authorities.

The suspects communicated with people they believed to be underage members of our community and arranged to meet them at a location to have sexual relations. When the suspects came to the location, they were met by police and arrested.

Blanchard has been charged with felony solicitation of prostitution and the use of a vehicle to promote prostitution, according to Chesterfield Police.

Jim Booker, Blanchards neighbor, told the Norfolk-based WTKR News 3 that he was surprised by the news of the pastors arrest.

This is a shock to me because I know him fairly well. Hes never given me any indication over the years that Ive known him that he would be mixed up in anything like this, said Booker to WTKR.

I know evil is always present and always trying to take down those who claim Jesus Christ. Im going to pray for him and be there for him. If he needs someone to talk to, Im going to be there to talk to him.

According to the Rock Churchs website, Blanchard has served as senior pastor of the congregation alongside his wife, Robin, since October 2013.

Coming from a background in atheism and a dysfunctional childhood, Johns heart is to reach a generation with a message of hope through the healing and delivering power of Jesus Christ, noted the church.

This message has taken his ministry to dozens of countries all over the world and the USA and to procure a Masters of Divinity Degree from Oral Roberts University.
Supreme Court rejects Catholic hospital sued for refusing to perform hysterectomy on trans patient

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The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a case involving a Catholic hospital in California that is being sued for refusing to perform a hysterectomy on a trans-identified patient.

In a list of orders published Monday, the Supreme Court denied the petition for a writ of certiorari in the case of Dignity Health v. Minton, Evan. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neal Gorsuch would have granted the appeal.

The case goes back to state court for further proceedings as the high court's decision lets stand an appellate court ruling allowing the plaintiff to proceed with a lawsuit against the hospital.

The lawsuit was filed in April 2017, one year after Mercy San Juan Medical Center in the Sacramento suburb of Carmichael, California, refused to perform a hysterectomy on Evan Minton, a trans-identified female.

The hospital, one of six medical centers operated by its parent company, Dignity Health, concluded that performing the procedure would violate the ethical and religious directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

The directives document was published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and features guidance for institutionally based Catholic health care services.

The directives assert that direct sterilization of either men or women, whether permanent or temporary, is not permitted in a Catholic health care institution. However, the directives permit Catholic hospitals and healthcare providers to perform procedures that induce sterility if their direct effect is the cure or alleviation of a present and serious pathology and a simpler treatment is not available.

The original lawsuit filed argued that the refusal to perform Mintons hysterectomy "constitutes discrimination" based on gender identity. Although the Catholic hospital refused to perform the procedure, Minton secured a hysterectomy at another Dignity Health-affiliated hospital 30 miles away four days after the scheduled hysterectomy was canceled.

The Mercy San Juan initially agreed to perform the hysterectomy, a procedure commonly done for medical reasons, until finding out that the hysterectomy was part of a gender transition process, not an effort to alleviate a present and serious pathology.

The hospital then informed the doctor scheduled to perform the hysterectomy that she could not do so. Minton learned that the hysterectomy was canceled the day before the procedure was set to take place, a development that resulted in great anxiety and grief.

While a judge at the federal district court level sided with Mercy San Juan Medical Center, an appellate court ruled in September 2019 that Dignity Health discriminated against Minton in violation of California civil rights law. The appellate courts decision sent the case back to the California Supreme Court for San Francisco County to enter a new and different order.

In a petition for a writ of certiorari filed in March 2020, the hospital asked the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court decision. The petition warns that this case poses a profound threat to faith-based health care institutions ability to advance their healing ministries consistent with the teachings of their faith.

Minton took to Twitter to cheer the Supreme Courts refusal to hear the appeal.

For the first time in a year, I can feel my heart start to relax, Minton stressed. At times today, I danced. I notoriously never celebrate the moments, so this was huge.

In closing, the fight for justice can be long, it can be arduous, the future will always be (and is) uncertain, but the fight so far has been worth every tear and drop of sweat.

Hi folks,

It's been a busy day and things are still sinking in. I'm really trying to summarize how I feel, but it's hard. How to summarize a year of intense stress and nights where time seemed to stand still? Impossible.



First, I just want to say thathttps://t.co/waAcErPiQj  Evan Minton t(he)y (@EvanMMinton) November 2, 2021

While the nations high court declined to hear the case, the justices issued a decision in another case Monday that is favorable to Catholic nuns and other Christian employers seeking exemption from a New York state law requiring employer-sponsored healthcare plans to cover the cost of abortions.

The court vacated a lower court decision against religious groups and remanded the case back to the New York State Supreme Courts Appellate Division in light of its ruling in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. The June ruling found that the city of Philadelphia could not exclude a Catholic charity from its foster program because the organization upholds policies that don't allow children to be placed with same-sex couples.

The debate about whether or not faith-based organizations should be forced to take actions that violate their religious convictions has intensified in recent years as Congress has debated the Equality Act, which would codify nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community into federal law.

Critics of the legislation warn of its implications for religious liberty, specifically that it could force religious organizations to fund abortion healthcare coverage and violate their beliefs about gender, marriage and sexuality.

The bill has passed the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives but stalled in the evenly divided Senate because of opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.
Biden admin. faces criticism over 'intrusive' questions on COVID-19 vaccine religious exemption form

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The Biden administration is facing criticism over a questionnaire included in their form for federal employees seeking a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The Safer Federal Workforce task force website posted an updated template on Friday for the federal government to use when assessing whether an employee can qualify for a religious exemption.

Questions asked on the form include a request to describe the nature of your objection to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement and an explanation for how being vaccinated would substantially burden your religious exercise or conflict with your sincerely held religious beliefs.

The form also requests any possible additional information, including: How long you have held the religious belief underlying your objection, Whether your religious objection is to the use of all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, a specific type of COVID-19 vaccine, or some other subset of vaccines, and Whether you have received vaccines as an adult against any other diseases (such as a flu vaccine or a tetanus vaccine).

Before the updated version was added to the website on Friday, the religious exemption form template received criticism from some who believe the questionnaire is problematic.

Andrea R. Lucas, a Republican commissioner at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, told The Federalist her concerns about the form.

The law does not provide a pandemic-related exception for disregarding the rights of religious employees, Lucas said. No matter the context, intrusive questions presuming insincerity from the start, seeking to catch an employee in an inconsistency, and looking for any reason to deny a religious accommodation request, are inappropriate.

Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent a letter to the leadership of the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce arguing that the questions showcased a contempt for religious liberty.

The complete list [of questions] evinces a skepticism and indeed a hostility to applicants who harbor sincerely held religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine, stated Hawley. I fear this will chill applications by civil servants to apply for religious exemptions.

In September, President Joe Biden issued an executive order requiring federal employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination unless they have a valid medical or religious exemption.

It is essential that federal employees take all available steps to protect themselves and avoid spreading COVID-19 to their co-workers and members of the public. The CDC has found that the best way to do so is to be vaccinated, stated Biden in the order.

The Biden administration has been dealing with much backlash regarding their overall effort to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on various entities, including major businesses, federal contractors, the military, and some healthcare providers, among others. The mandate on businesses would require companies with 100 employees or more to fire employees who are not vaccinated or pay a fine of $14,000 for each employee who is not vaccinated.

Earlier this week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed an executive order telling state agencies to resist the implementation of federal vaccine mandates.

The federal governments outrageous overreach has simply given us no other option, but to begin taking action, which is why I am issuing this executive order to fight these egregious COVID--19 vaccine mandates, said Ivey in a statement.

Alabamians  and Americans alike  should and must have the choice to roll up their sleeves to get this shot and certainly not forced by government. While President Biden laughs at the idea of protecting your freedoms, I will continue fighting for Alabama businesses and their employees.
Biden declares that Pope Francis said he should keep receiving communion'

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President Joe Biden said Pope Francis told him he should keep receiving communion during their 75-minute private meeting on Friday.

Biden chatted with reporters following his meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican as part of his second overseas trip since taking office in January. Biden, the first Roman Catholic to serve as president of the United States since John F. Kennedy, has clashed with Catholic Church leadership in the U.S. over his steadfast support of abortion.

One reporter asked if the issue of abortion came up during the conversation. While Biden insisted that the topic did not come up, he reported that We just talked about the fact that he was happy I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving communion.

The debate over whether pro-abortion Catholic politicians should receive communion has caused much contention within the Catholic Church in the U.S. over the past year. Concerns about Biden receiving communion date back to his 2020 presidential campaign when a priest in South Carolina denied him communion because of his support for a policy that directly contradicts Catholic Church teaching.

Supporters of denying communion to Biden and other pro-abortion Catholic politicians point to the Catholic Churchs Code of Canon Law, which states that those obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion as the justification for their position. They also cite a 2004 letter from then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI, to two high-ranking officials in the U.S. Catholic Church noting that the Church teaches that abortion or euthanasia is a grave sin.

Quoting from the encyclical Evangelium vitae, Ratzinger wrote that In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law or vote for it.' The letter called on priests to instruct Catholic politicians consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws on the Churchs teaching and encourage them to refrain from communion until they end the objective situation of sin.

Additionally, Ratzinger told priests to refuse to distribute communion to the politician if they continue to support such abortion laws. On the campaign trail, Biden vowed to codify Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion nationwide, into federal law. More recently, the Department of Justice under the Biden administration has taken legal action against the state of Texas over its law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, usually at around six weeks gestation.

At its General Assembly meeting earlier this year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to move ahead with the drafting of a document clarifying the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. Initially characterized as a rebuke to pro-abortion Catholic politicians, the USCCB emphasized that the question of whether or not to deny any individual or groups Holy Communion was not on the ballot.

According to a question-and-answer document about the vote published by the USCCB, The document being drafted is not meant to be disciplinary in nature, nor is it targeted at any one individual or class of persons. It will include a section on the Churchs teaching on the responsibility of every Catholic, including bishops, to live in accordance with the truth, goodness and beauty of the Eucharist we celebrate.

Ahead of the USCCB General Assembly, a high-ranking Vatican official authored a letter to USCCB President Archbishop Jose Gomez warning that a national policy on withholding communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians could make it difficult to maintain unity in the American Catholic Church.

Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Catholic Church, expressed concern that such a policy could become a source of discord rather than unity within the episcopate and the larger church of the United States.

Limited video of Bidens meeting with Pope Francis released by the Vatican reveals the two engaging in friendly conversation and the president referring to the pontiff as the most significant warrior for peace he has ever met. During the meeting, Biden gave the pope a liturgical vestment made in 1930 by a notable papal tailor.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki first announced that the president would meet with Pope Francis in a statement published Oct. 14. Psaki indicated that the two men would discuss working together on efforts grounded in respect for fundamental human dignity, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the climate crisis, and caring for the poor.
Republicans slam Biden admin. plan to pay over $1B to illegal immigrant families separated at border

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Republicans in Congress are demanding answers to a report that the Biden administration is planning to give nearly half a million dollars to each person who was separated from a family member after they entered the U.S. illegally and were detained by Border Patrol.

Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., along with 43 of his Republican colleagues in the United States House of Representatives authored a letter to President Joe Biden Friday expressing severe concerns regarding recent reports that [the administration is] in discussions to offer illegal immigrants that unlawfully crossed the U.S. border in 2018 roughly $450,000 per person in compensation.

Promising tens of thousands of dollars to those who unlawfully entered the United States would not only reward criminal behavior, but it would surely send a message to the world that our borders are open, and our rule of law will not be enforced, they added. Compare this hefty compensation sum [$450,000] to the 2019 average median American household income of $68,703. Furthermore, compare it to the maximum payout from a SGLI life insurance policy for military members, which is $400,000.

The letter was in response to Thursdays Wall Street Journal report documenting the Biden administrations plans to give approximately $450,000 to each person who was separated from a family member under a temporary Trump administration policy pertaining to people who entered the U.S. illegally.

The payments are designed to resolve lawsuits seeking monetary compensation for about 5,500 children of illegal immigrants who claim to have suffered complications such as heat exhaustion, malnutrition, and a lack of medical attention as a result of federal immigration policy.

People familiar with the development predict that fewer illegal immigrants will receive payments from the government because only around 940 claims have been filed so far. While most families will likely receive about $1 million, some of the lawsuits are seeking payments as high as $3.4 million. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services will administer the payments, which could exceed $1 billion altogether.

The family separations the lawsuits intended to resolve stem from a temporary zero-tolerance policy implemented by the Trump administration in the spring of 2018 to combat the problem of illegal immigration. Under the zero-tolerance policy, all illegal border crossers, including those seeking asylum, were subject to detention and criminal charges.

Former President Donald Trump later reversed the policy, which critics derided for detaining illegal immigrant children and their parents in separate detention facilities, in an executive order after weeks of pushback. Adult illegal immigrants prosecuted by the Department of Justice are required to be detained in federal criminal detention centers that do not permit children. Therefore, if an adult illegal immigrant brought a child with him or her, the child would have to be placed elsewhere.

The Trump administration also cited the family separation policy as necessary to ensure that the adults claiming to be the childrens guardians were not human smugglers and to comply with a 2016 court ruling that requires the release of illegal immigrant children to family members living in the U.S. or a sponsor after 20 days. The decision did not require the release of the adults accompanying the children.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing families in one of the lawsuits, reacted favorably to the proposals to compensate members of separated families. Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs immigrant-rights project, cited the proposed payouts as evidence that President Biden has agreed that the family separation policy is a historic moral stain on our nation that must be fully remedied.

Gelernt further maintained that remedy must include not only meaningful monetary compensation but a pathway to remain in the country. He and other lawyers involved in the litigation hope to have a deal reached regarding the settlements by the end of November.

On the other hand, critics of the Biden administration see the proposed payouts as unfair. Fox News opinion host Tucker Carlson classified them as reparations to illegal [immigrants].

He slammed the administration for considering paying illegal immigrants payments significantly higher than the $100,000 received by the families of American citizens who die in service to the country: That is less than a quarter of what Joe Biden intends to give illegal [immigrants] for the inconvenience of being deported.

Theyre, once again, getting $450,000 a piece from your tax receipts. Thats more than some of the 9/11 victims got. Its more than any ordinary American ever gets for anything from the U.S. government, he added.

The Journal report comes as data collected by Customs and Border Protection show that the number of encounters between illegal border crossers and law enforcement officials exceeded 1.7 million in fiscal year 2021, which concluded last month. Those figures represent a dramatic increase from the approximately 450,000 encounters in fiscal year 2020.

The statistics reflect a monthslong border surge that critics of the Biden administration attribute to its rollback of two Trump-era immigration policies: the Migrant Protection Protocols, which required those seeking asylum in the U.S. to wait in Mexico while their cases were adjudicated, and Title 42, which allowed immigration officials to immediately turn back illegal immigrants because of public health concerns arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

As an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics shows President Joe Bidens approval rating on the issue of immigration remains underwater with a net disapproval rating of more than 25 points, Reuters reported that the Biden administration is expected to restart the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico policy, next month.
Is Gen Z the greatest generation? This new book gives surprising insight on the next generation of world leaders.

From the halls of middle schools to boardrooms of the most innovative companies in the world, Generation Z is coming of age at one of the most unique times in human history.

Gen Z, consisting of those born from 1995-2012, has officially become the largest generation in the world today. They are some of the most creative, driven, entrepreneurial, and technologically advanced young people the globe has ever seen. And their future impact on the world is inestimable.

In Generation Z: Born for the Storm, Dr. William M. Billy Wilson, president of Oral Roberts University, draws from extensive research, Biblical examples, and rich experiences in his work with thousands of Gen Z-ers to prove why this generation is destined for greatness by being born for the storm. Gen Zborn in a time of unprecedented societal upheaval and with a strong desire to make their lives countis distinguishing itself as the purpose generation. Because of this, Gen Z must be equipped to discover and fulfill their God-given purpose in a new way for the opportunities they will discover and the storms in their path.

God has called Gen Z to fulfill their destiny in these tumultuous times," says Wilson. "Gen Z will not only survive the storms but will thrive in the midst of them. In fact, the storms will help shape them into leaders during these greatest days in the history of the world.

As president of Oral Roberts University, Dr. Billy Wilson has come to know this generation well  their passions, potential, frustrations, and distinct needs. In Generation Z: Born for the Storm, Wilson gives us hopeful insight into this extraordinary group, revealing just how they are poised to become the greatest generation in history. Wilson examines the forces that are forming this generation and the storms that will make them strong. He reveals that all people look for a cause, a reason, and a place where they can bury their hearts and that Gen Z will find in Jesus a cause so compelling that they will commit everything.

"Generation Z has seen all kinds of difficulty and adversity," says Wilson. "But in the middle of all of this, Generation Z has developed an innate passion to change the world. They want their lives to count. They want to have purpose. They want to have direction. And they want to make a difference."

Generation Z: Born for the Storm will challenge Gen Z-ers to rise up and pursue their remarkable purpose, while those from previous generations will be encouraged to both understand and stand with these new world changers. Generation Z is called and equipped to rise above the global storm we are experiencing and initiate the greatest awakening our world has ever seen.

Many times, Gods greatest victories are seen in the midst of a storm. Gen Z will see the glory of God as they achieve success because they are ready. They are willing. They are born for the storm.

You can order Generation Z: Born for the Storm now at drbillywilsonbooks.com or clicking in the book title.
Portland first in nation to offer bereavement leave for employees who get an abortion City employees to get 3-day leave after suffering loss of baby due to abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth

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Pro-choice activists are celebrating an amendment to Portlands bereavement leave policy that has made it the first local government in the United States to give paid time off to public employees after an abortion. One pro-life group is calling it an unwitting acknowledgment of the loss of life.

The new policy allows public employees to take up to three days of bereavement leave for an abortion or a miscarriage, stillbirth or any other type of pregnancy loss, irrespective of whether deemed medically necessary, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

The city council approved the changes unanimously.

Laura Narefsky, an attorney on the education and workplace justice team at the National Womens Law Center, told CNBC that Portland is among the first local governments around the world to allow paid leave following pregnancy loss.

Its incredibly exciting to see cities see this as an important way to support their workers, she was quoted as saying. As employers think about loss in whatever form it appears, theyre signaling that it isnt the kind of thing we should be second-guessing or requiring people to prove the types of loss we think are deserving or undeserving of time off, she added.

Its important to recognize that employees need time to address their reproductive health needs ... and they may need time to process what they're experiencing, Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health, an abortion advocacy group, was quoted as saying.

A policy like this is a really important step forward in providing that kind of support to employees and in recognition of the fact that we aren't just robots.

But it implicitly acknowledges the loss of life, commented Gabriel Vance, director of external affairs for the group Created Equal.

What they are acknowledging is that abortion is a tragic loss  that somebody dies in an abortion, she said on social media. So if you're getting bereavement leave for an abortion, they are acknowledging that there is a loss of someone  that someone died  And who is that? Thats the baby, who is a human being, who is a person. ... Theyre trying to normalize abortion, but in that, theyre acknowledging that, like miscarriage, like stillbirth  that its tragic.

Three Boston city councilors have also proposed including a loss of pregnancy in the citys paid parental leave policy.

In March, Councilors Lydia Edwards, Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George filed an amendment to a city ordinance that allows up to 12 weeks paid leave for parents of newborns, recently adopted children, and those who have experienced a stillbirth, Boston.com reported at the time.

The loss of pregnancy would include miscarriages, terminations, instances involving dilation and extraction.

Similarly, the City Council of Waterloo, Iowa, passed a resolution earlier this month calling for the establishment of a paid leave policy for pregnancy and infant loss.
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Its hard to overstate how fundamental the idea of the image of God in man is for Christian ethics. The fact that men and women are made in Gods image, that we are indelibly stamped with the Imago Dei, should be a constraining factor on all we do  and on all we say  in Gods world.

While taking a life is the ultimate means by which an image bearer is destroyed, there are lesser, yet still serious, ways to deface and tear down the image of God in our fellow brothers and sisters. And that is primarily through our speech. This is why God, in the Ninth Commandment, commands us that, You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16). To slander someone, to lie about them, to degrade them, is to say, You arent worth the image you bear.

All of this is a necessary theological preamble to what I am about to address next, which was a recent instance of image-destroying slander directed against Condoleezza Rice.

First, its important to note that Rice is a living legend. She is a testament  a flesh and blood statue, one might say  to the tensions contained in the wonders and terrors of the American experiment. Born into the segregated South in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1954, Rice knows first-hand what it is like to face real racial prejudice. But she didnt just encounter racism, she overcame it. Despite the sad reality that she had to fight against those who disliked her simply because of her skin color, Rice proved that the American dream truly is available to all, regardless of color or creed.

After completing her PhD, she joined the State Department, eventually rising through the ranks to become the first woman to ever serve as National Security Advisor and then the first African-American female Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. In fact, until the inauguration of Kamala Harris as vice president in 2021, Rice held the honor of being the highest-ranking African American woman in the history of the United States.

Yet, despite her amazing life and career, she was just recently slandered as a foot soldier for white supremacy.

Toure, a former MSNBC show host and commentator and opinion writer for The Grio, wrote an article lambasting Rice for her recent comments on The View in which she addressed critical race theory and education.

Toure, seeking to symbolically tear down the statue that is Rices life and legacy, wrote that Condoleezza Rices recent appearance on The View was offensive and disgusting for many reasons but she was who we thought she was: a soldier for white supremacy. Her thoughts on critical race theory are completely white centric, as in, they revolve around the thoughts and needs of white people.

Its such an insane statement that its hard to wrap a reasonable mind around it. Rice  the first African American woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, the woman who fought against real racial animus in the segregated south  is now a foot soldier for white supremacy.

And what was her crime? It was an Orwellian thought-crime. It was the fact that she wont toe the line on the new cultural orthodoxy regarding race in America. She refuses to join the ranks of the Elect  a term coined by Columbia University linguist and race commentator John McWhorter  to describe those who pursue a proselytizing brand of antiracism that has had a particularly harmful effect on academic inquiry. The sacred texts and high priest and priestess of this new woke religion are represented, he explains, by bestselling books like Robin DiAngelos White Fragility  which flagellates white people for their incurable racism  and Ibram X. Kendis How to Be an Antiracist. These are the gospels of the antiracist left.

Toure, however, is clearly a card-carrying member of this new cult. He is Elect. Rice is not. How do we know? Because when addressing the topic of CRT in K-12 education, Rice centered on individual agency and personal responsibility, and not race essentialism, telling the hosts that:

My parents never thought I was going to grow up in a world without prejudice, but they also told me, Thats somebody elses problem, not yours'  One of the worries that I have about the way that were talking about race is that it either seems so big that somehow white people now have to feel guilty for everything that happened in the past  I dont think thats very productive  or black people have to feel disempowered by race.

Then, Rice made the point that apparently triggered Toure and lit the fuse for his false-witness bearing, saying:

I would like black kids to be completely empowered, to know that they are beautiful in their blackness, but in order to do that I dont have to make white kids feel bad for being white.

This is a wonderful admonition. Historical wrongs will never be righted by present-day discrimination.

Apparently, for Toure this is unacceptable. He twists her words, her commendable desire to not make white kids feel bad for being white into something more sinister. Instead, he wants white kids to squirm, claiming that white children and adults should absolutely feel bad about the past atrocities committed by white Americans. They should feel guilty."

To be fair to Toure, his article raises some valid points, if Rice had said what he claims she said. But she didnt. She never said, Dont teach the ugly truth about our racist history. She merely claimed there is no value in making a fourth-grader in 2021 feel bad about being white.

But here is the heart of the issue at hand:

Even if that is what Rice had claimed, Toure has no right to call her a foot soldier for white supremacy.

Sadly, this is just another example of black-on-black verbal violence, an increasingly regular spectacle that occurs when woke black personalities engage in character assassination against other black voices who dissent from the progressive worldview. This happened to Larry Elder, when he was running for governor in California; for speaking his own mind and deigning to try to take the job of the very white but very woke Gavin Newsom, Elder was unbelievably called the Black Face of White Supremacy by a writer for the L.A. Times.

Whats the goal in such slanderous attacks like these? It seems clear that the intention is to silence or denigrate the stories and voices of black Americans, who, despite all the hardships they may have faced, still excelled on their own merit and through their own hard work. Black voices like Rice, Elder, McWhorter, Glenn Loury, Ben Carson, Colin Powell, Clarence Thomas, Candace Owens, Tim Scott, and even Booker T. Washington, who chose to run hard after that opportunity and are now willing to tell others that they can do the same.

In June 2020, the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Memorial, which honors the service of African American soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War, was defaced. In Rochester, New York, a statue of Frederick Douglass, installed in 2018 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolitionists birth, was ripped from its pedestal in 2020 on what was the 168th anniversary of one of Douglass most famous speeches, and then knocked down once again this past September.

When Toure slanders Rice, he is undertaking a verbal form of defacement. His words are like the ugly expletives spray-painted over the 54th Massachusetts Memorial, except he is attempting to paint over the living legacy of Rices amazing accomplishments. Not content to wait for the statue to pull down, he seeks to malign her memory in real-time.

Bringing this interchange back under the lens of our Christian worldview, we must remember that when we attack other people with our words, we are tearing down an image bearer, desecrating that which is holy  their shared image-bearing status. Another passage, James 3:9-10, poignantly reminds us of this twisted reality: With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in Gods likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

While Its shameful and misguided to deface and destroy monuments, it is far, far worse to deface a living person, who is made in the image of God.

So no, Condoleezza Rice isnt a foot soldier for white supremacy. To levy such a claim is a clear violation of the Ninth Commandment. But here is where the Gospel brings hope to all statue destroyers and human slanderers. The Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, came in the flesh. He lived a sinless life and yet died a death for sinners. He was mocked, beaten, slandered, and destroyed. He was crucified for the Condoleezza Rices and the Toures of this world. For you. For me. Wicked men tried to destroy His witness to God the Father for good, but on the third day Jesus got up from the grave, vindicating His life and ministry, and put an exclamation mark on the end of his exhortation to Repent and believe for the Kingdom of God is at hand (Mark 1:15).

This is what our country needs more than ever. We need repentance. After that, the rest will follow. Perhaps then, Rice can get the apology she deserves.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
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Where are men today? It seems like we're not around. The Abominable Snowman made footprints everywhere but was nowhere to be found. Most men seem like Abominable Snowmen. Leaving an imprint, but nowhere to be found.

Today, Abominable Snowmen are raising a generation of boys to become disappearing men, too. In the African American community, 70% of boys don't even have fathers. In the Anglo community, 40% of boys dont have fathers. Our wives and girlfriends are being forced to be mothers, fathers, leaders, protectors, nurturers, providerspretty much doing it all.

Jesus spent his whole life submitting to the will of His Father. If we're Christian men who follow Jesus, we need to submit as Jesus did. Our kids need to see us submitting to the Father.

Christ submitted even to the point of suffering on a cross. Like Jesus, suffering is part of our job description from the Boss. Suffering doesnt mean staying at work, chasing after shiny things. Christs suffering produced a legacy you and I live in today. When we suffer as Christ suffered, it produces our legacy.

My granddad lived in Baltimore. The Evans family legacy he received was a legacy of high school dropouts, drugs, and poverty. But, my granddad had a run-in with Christ. His wife took him to task for his new faith, but he held close and never fumbled.

After his salvation, Granddad suffered from an angry wife for 365 days. The way she would tell the story is that on Day 367, she came downstairs to see her husband with tears in her eyes, because the Spirit of the Lord had supernaturally reached her.

Today, my granddads one year of suffering has become a 50-year legacy that I can call mine. My wife, my children, and I all hold that legacy to this day.

What about you? What is your legacy? If you werent given a good legacy, or if you havent started your own yet, then be the first one. Heres how:

God has called us all for the purposes of greatness. When I was six years old, my mom and dad taught me to memorize a passage from Psalm 128. The chapter starts by describing how blessed is everyone who fears the Lord and walks in His ways. The problem we have in our culture is that we do not fear God.

To fear God means to take Him seriously, rather than taking Him casually. We live in a culture that simply treats God casually but still wants God's blessing. We want God to bless our families. We want God to bless our jobs. We want God to bless our churches. We want God to bless our country.

And yet, we turn our backs on Him while asking Him to bless us. The scripture says everyone who fears God is blessed. That means, your blessing is directly connected to taking God seriously.

Many people think a blessing is the favor of God. But that's only a half definition. A full definition of a blessing is the favor of God coming to me so that it may flow through me. What happens when it flows through me? It becomes my legacy.

God is looking for men who want to be conduits. He's looking for men who will fear Him. Hes looking for men who will leave a legacy of faith.

This passage states that every man who fears the Lord and who walks in hisways is blessed. It's not about your talk. It's about your walk. We get a whole lot of people who talk a good game but don't live a good game.

If you want to know if you fear God, youll always know by how you walk. That takes faith. When we walk by faith, God gives us a blessing. That blessing becomes our legacy.

When I was 18 years old, I asked my dad how he made it from the inner city of Baltimore, raised by high school dropouts, to being the first African American graduate with a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, pastoring a large church, and having a global media influence.

He told me to read Hebrews 11. I read the heroes of the Bible and how they did it all by faith. I looked at him and said, I guess I know how you did itby faith.

Then my dad taught me what faith is. He said, Faith is acting like it is so, even when it's not so, so that it might be so, simply because God said so.

The rest of this Psalm is a result of walking by faith. It includes having our wives be a fruitful vine in our homes and our children like olive plants around our table. It results in our city being able to see our legacy in our children and our childrens children.

Your legacy is not your house or your career or what material goods you left behind. No, the legacy that God wants to give you is a blessing that flows through you.

God doesn't want you just to pass on money to your children. He wants you to pass on faith.

We don't want to create a generation that grows up without knowing the Lord, because men are not walking in the fear of God. We want to create a better world, illuminated by better nations and neighborhoods, and inhabited by better churches and better families.

The Abominable Snowman is making his family suffer. Men are missing the blessing and their legacy because they dont follow Jesus in suffering, or in the fear of the Lord. Our whole culture is suffering because of mens unwillingness to suffer. Where are the men? It starts with you sticking it out, including suffering, for the sake of your family, city, community, and for all the rest of us.

This feature is an excerpt of Jonathan Evans keynote address from Promise Keepers 2021 Mens Conference at AT&T Stadium. To hear his full address, and from other uplifting leaders like Samuel Rodriguez, AR Bernard, Nick Vujicic, and more, access the conference here, anytime.
COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns led to spike in calls for exorcisms: priest

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An Italian Catholic priest who is a trained exorcist said the demand for exorcism has risen as the pandemic and ongoing lockdowns have made people more vulnerable to the idea that Satan or some evil entity has taken over their lives.

We have seen an increase in the request for exorcisms because the pandemic has made people more vulnerable to the idea that Satan or some evil entity has taken over their lives, Fr. Gian Matter Roggio said at an international conference of exorcist priests in Rome, The Telegraph reported.

People have fallen into poverty, they found themselves suffering from anxiety and depression. They feel that their lives are no longer in their own hands but in the hands of a malign force. It's a big crisis, he added.

Describing the effects of possession, the priest was quoted as saying: People speak languages they have never spoken before, even ancient tongues like Aramaic, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Theyre able to levitate off the ground or they vomit objects like nails and pieces of glass. There are people whose voices change completely  a woman might start speaking like a man. Some develop superhuman strength and it takes four or five people to restrain them.

Professor Giuseppe Ferrari, one of the organizers of the conference, cited additional reasons for the increase in the demand for exorcisms.

Young people are being attracted to exploring witchcraft, vampirism, black magic and the occult by the mass media. Its a phenomenon that is growing and it is really worrying, he was quoted as saying.

Commenting on Rogglos statement, Catholic Online said his explanation makes sense.

Satan and his demons prey upon people when they are most vulnerable, the publication said.

Those facing crisis, people who are desperate, are more likely to engage in behaviors that facilitate demonic possession. Those behaviors include sinful activities, including engaging in vices and dabbling in the occult. While many people turn to their faith in times of need, some turn away, blaming God for their difficulties. When some people realize their mistake, it can already be too late. The family and Church must intervene to investigate and when appropriate, to perform an exorcism.

Catholic Online clarified that not all suspected cases of demonic possession are genuine, saying mental illness could be confused with possession. This is why many exorcists work with doctors and mental health professionals to provide people with the help they need. However, demonic possession is real, and in such cases an exorcism is warranted.

Catholic law allows priests who've received permission from their bishops to carry out an exorcism, but only after proper training.

Two of the United States' most active exorcists said in 2016 that there was a growing demand for their services as a result of more unchurched Americans seeking help with demonic oppression, possession and other dark spiritual activity.

Were gaining all sorts of knowledge, but there's still that emptiness within us that is being filled with addictive behavior such as drugs and pornography, Fr. Vincent Lampert of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis said at the time.

The first official English-language translation of a ritual book on exorcisms was released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2017, detailing practices that get rid of demons and prayers against the "powers of darkness.

Given that there's less facility in Latin than there used to be, even among priests, it opens the door to more priests to do this. Until now, not only did the priest have to be wise and holy, but he also had to have strong facility in Latin, Fr. Andrew Menke, executive director of the USCCB's Secretariat of Divine Worship, told Catholic News Service at the time.

It makes it easier for a priest who might otherwise be a good exorcist but who would be intimidated by a requirement to use a Latin text. Having it available in the vernacular means he can concentrate on prayer and on the ritual, without needing to worry about working in another language, he added.

The ritual book, titled Exorcisms and Related Supplications, was made available online on the USCCB website.

"This small pocket-sized book will assist the Christian faithful in their struggle against the infernal enemy. It is a powerful treasury of prayers of praise and supplication to Almighty God and prayers invoking the intercession of the saints," a description on the site read.

The book includes prayers to God for protections, invocations to the Holy Trinity and to Jesus Christ, as well as to the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Michael.

"Prayers Against the Powers of Darkness contains the complete text of 'Supplications Which May Be Used by the Faithful Privately in Their Struggle Against the Powers of Darkness,' which is Appendix II of Exorcisms and Related Supplications, the ritual book used by exorcists," it adds.

The original Latin version of the book stems from the rite revised following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.
Chuck Blount /Staff file photo

Black Rifle Coffee Company in jumping on the latest investment trend and going public by way of a merger with another company. The Utah-based coffee company, which has a store in San Antonio (and a square on the Alamo City Monopoly board), announced that it was going public via a special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, called SilverBox Engaged Merger Corp, according to a November 2 news release.

A SPAC is a company created to raise capital though an initial public offering and then acquires a private company, which in this case will be Black Rifle. Once the acquisition is complete Black Rifle will be known as BRC Inc.
Danaos Corporation DAC is scheduled to release third-quarter 2021 results on Nov 8, after market close.

The shipping company has an impressive surprise record as its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters (missing the mark in the remaining one), the average beat being 1.2%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings was stable at $3.26 over the past 60 days.

Against this backdrop, lets examine the factors that are likely to have impacted the companys September-quarter performance.

We expect Danaos third-quarter bottom-line performance to have been hurt by higher vessel operating expenses, mainly due to the increase in the average number of vessels in its fleet. With oil price moving north, escalated fuel costs are also likely to have flared up total expenses.

However, with the gradual resumption of economic activities, the world trade gathered pace, which should aid the third-quarter results of shipping stocks like Danaos. This is because the shipping industry is responsible for transporting a high proportion of goods involved in world trade.

Bullishness surrounding the containership market is a huge positive for Danaos and is likely to have boosted its top line in the soon-to-be-reported quarter. The containership market is being aided by increased manufacturing activities in Asia besides other factors.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Danaos this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of a positive surprise. However, that is not the case here. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Earnings ESP: Danaos has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as the Most Accurate Estimate is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.26. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Danaos carries a Zacks Rank #3, currently.

Highlights of Q2 Earnings

Danaos second-quarter earnings (excluding $14.76 from non-recurring items) of $3.34 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8 cents. Total revenues of $146.4 million increased 25.4% year over year and also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $142 million.

Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in the broader Transportation sector may consider stocks like Copa Holdings CPA, Azul AZUL and Genko Shipping & Trading GNK, which possess the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

Copa Holdings has an Earnings ESP of +25.74% and is Zacks #3 Ranked, presently. The company will release third-quarter 2021 results on Nov 17.

Azul has an Earnings ESP of +3.70% and is Zacks #3 Ranked, presently. The company will release third-quarter 2021 results on Nov 11.

Genko Shipping & Trading has an Earnings ESP of +3.59% and is Zacks #2 Ranked, presently. The company will release third-quarter 2021 results on Nov 3.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  A conservative Christian university withdrew an invitation for historian Jon Meacham to speak during inaugural activities for its new president this week after critics complained the Pulitzer Prize-winning author has appeared at Planned Parenthood events.

Samford University, located in suburban Birmingham, announced the cancellation of Meacham's appearance, which had been set for Wednesday, after an online petition cited his speeches to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion and other medical care for women.

The petition, which had about 1,030 signatures Tuesday morning, said Meacham's beliefs and core values do not align with those of Samford University, as it is a Southern Baptist institution. It called Meacham's planned speech alarming for the future of Samford.

Samford's new president, Beck A. Taylor, wrote in a letter posted on the university's website last Wednesday that Meacham's speech was intended to highlight his work in analyzing the current state of civility and discourse in our country, not abortion.

But the Samford Student Government Association and others recommended postponing Meacham's talk, Taylor said, so his appearance during inaugural activities was canceled and the school will try to schedule another time for him to speak.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Meachams planned lecture has become a divisive issue, one that takes attention away from our opportunity to celebrate Samford. I regret that this has happened, Taylor said.

A representative for Meacham did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Meacham spoke at a luncheon held for Planned Parenthood of South Texas on Oct. 6, according to the organization's website.

In the letter announcing the cancellation, Taylor said he found Meacham's insights to be both challenging and inspiring.

Our mission as a Christ-centered institution of higher learning is to stand boldly at the intersection of society and the church and to convene important conversations about how to live faithfully in the world. That mission calls us to invite speakers and artists to campus who challenge our perspectives and who share wisdom and insights, Taylor said.

Samford, which was established by the Alabama State Baptist Convention, has an enrollment of about 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students and includes a divinity school. Students are required to attend campus worship or faith-related events to graduate.

Meacham won the Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for his political biography of President Andrew Jackson, American Lion. His New York Times best-selling books include The Hope of Glory, which examines the final sayings of Jesus.
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Donald Trump phoned in his support for Glenn Youngkin on Monday night.

Literally.

After teasing a rally appearance on the eve of the Virginia gubernatorial election, the former president instead made a brief, bizarre call into a closed-press tele-rally for Youngkin, who did not appear at the rally himself.

Hes a great man, hes a wonderful guy, he will do a job like nobody can do, Trump reportedly said on the call. I have no doubt about it.

Trump added that Youngkin has a big, giant, beautiful base, that hes a fantastic guy, and that it wont even be hard for a guy like that to make Virginia the envy of the world. Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post tweeted that the call only lasted about five minutes.

Youngkin has appeared to distance himself from Trump as Election Day has drawn near. He didnt attend a rally Trump called into last month, and a day later disavowed attendees who pledged allegiance to a flag carried on Jan. 6. Youngkin has also said that he would have certified the results of the 2020 election. Nevertheless, the Associated Press reported in late September that even as Youngkin avoided comparisons to Trump, his campaign and the former presidents team remained in close contact.

The planning of the event that became Monday nights tele-rally has appeared to be a mess from the beginning. Trump originally hinted he would be coming to the state last Wednesday, releasing a statement thanking his supporters in Arlington, Va., for interrupting President Bidens speech at a rally for Youngkins opponent, Democrat and former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Thank you, Arlington, see you soon! Trump said in the statement. A Trump later spokesperson said that the former president was looking forward to being back in Virginia! Details will be released when appropriate, according to the Associated Press.

But the very next day, Youngkin told reporters that Trump would not be visiting the state. Hes not coming, Youngkin said. In fact, were campaigning as Virginians in Virginia with Virginians.

The event turned into a closed-press tele-rally instead. As recently as Sunday night, the organizer said that they had not even scheduled the exact time of Trumps speech. Event details change by the minute, Fredericks told WUSA 9.

On Monday morning, Trump released a bizarre statement, claiming that the Fake News media was collaborating with perverts doing ads ad nauseam to paint a picture that he and Youngkin dont like each other.

Importantly, this is not true, Trump said. We get along very well together and strongly believe in many of the same policies.
To spotlight the groups 50th anniversary, the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force has saved the best for last.

The unit has three historic aircraft and they tour across the south, the southeast and the Midwest from April to October each year. On Veterans Day weekend the volunteers always regard their Veterans Day exhibition as a big homecoming for the aircraft as this is the last stop on the tour before the planes go in for annual maintenance and upgrades during the winter season.

We like to think of this as our hometown weekend, said Nancy Kwiecien, executive officer of the Gulf Coast Wing. We always save Veterans Day weekend for Conroe. Were closing out the flying season and this is our last event of the year.

On Saturday, theyll celebrate a very successful 2021 season with tours and flights at the units home base at Conroe-North Houston Airport.

Four historic planes will be on display and available for flights on Saturday. They include the units B-17G Texas Raiders, the JRB-6 Little Raider, the SNJ-5 and the Curtis SB2C Helldiver dive bomber that is coming from another Commemorative Air Force unit.

She said the Helldiver the only flying example of this aircraft in the world and its unique because it was based on a carrier and its wings fold up.

Its a crowd pleaser because when it taxis on the runway it will unfold its wings before it flies, she said.

All four planes will be open for cockpit tours and available to the public for flights.

The action takes place at General Aviation Services at 5260 Central Parkway in Conroe. Admission to the event is $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12, and $20 for a family of up to five and includes access to all the aircraft for cockpit tours. Warbird flights start at $100 on the Navy transport, and $380 for the advanced trainer. Seats on the B-17 start at $495. Cockpit tours will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding flying times. Those who wish to fly can call 855-FLY-A-B17 (1-855-359-2217) or reserve online at B17TexasRaiders.org or see more on Facebook.com/B17TexasRaiders.

These events absolutely support the mission of the Commemorative Air Force, which is to educate the public about US military aviation history. World War II particularly is fading from living memory. Its important we remember our history and learn from it, she said.

They also hope to inspire new aviators and honor the veterans who flew these aircraft. World War II veteran, George Waters, who is 100, will also be on hand at General Aviation Services with copies of his book No Thought for Tomorrow, which details his experiences in the war, including when he had to bail from the B-17 as it fell apart and crashed during combat.

On YourConroeNews.com: 100 year old celebrates birthday with fly by

The event will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the unit, which was launched in September 1971.

In research done by Col. Kevin K5 Michels, The Gulf Coast Wing (GCW) was chartered on Sept. 19, 1971 with the original document displaying the signatures of Lloyd Nolan, the founder of the Commemorative Air Force and Deputy Commander Van Skiles. Van Skiles was also the first Wing Leader of the GCW with Eddie Burke serving as his Executive Officer.

In the early years, the unit with affiliated with six Tora!, Tora!, Tora! replica planes up until 2011 when the Tora!, Tora! Tora! group formed its own chapter. In 1974, after years of the B-17 being assigned to CAF headquarters but spending most of her time with Gulf Coast Wing crews, the aircraft was officially assigned to the Gulf Coast Wing, according to Michels research.

The unit started out based in Galveston, but the oceans corrosive effects on the B-17 made more northern headquarters more attractive. First the B-17 was moved to David Wayne Hooks Airfield in Spring and finally in 2017, the Gulf Coast Wing found its permanent home in Conroe at the Conroe-North Houston Airport with support from General Aviation Services.

We needed more space on the ground and more hangar space, not just for parking but for workshops and storage. We were also were very attracted by the improved runway at Conroe. The B-17 Flying Force is a very large airplane and more runway space is better, she said.

They were not only welcomed by General Aviation Services, but by the whole Conroe community.

We love Conroe because Conroe loves us and Conroe is helping us grow too she said. She said they are a growing unit since coming to Conroe. Since their move here, theyve added two new airplanes.

Exhibitions are held about three times a year in Conroe.

She called 2021 a very successful season as people were eager to get out during the pandemic and their outdoor events made it easy for visitors to attend an event safely. In 2021, the planes traveled as far east as Atlanta, as far west as Denver and as far north as Indiana.

Theyre currently planning the 2022 flying season and she said theyre always looking for volunteers  not just pilots.

Theres always lots of opportunities to engage with us. We have a worthy mission and we always have fun doing it, she said. You dont have to be a pilot. We have needs for all different skills and capabilities. Come see us on Nov. 6 and find out more.

Visit B17TexasRaiders.org or see more on Facebook.com/B17TexasRaiders for more on the unit.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
Catherine McQueen, Getty Images

BOSTON (AP)  A Massachusetts man who pleaded guilty to defrauding Texas chicken products companies out of $630,000 through a fake invoice scheme has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

Yannick Minang, 27, of Hingham was sentenced last week, The Patriot Ledger reported Monday.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)  Four men have pleaded guilty to attacking the owner of a South Carolina convenience store chain and his wife as part of a long-planned robbery.

Warren Willis was beaten and kidnapped as he left his W.E. Willis store in Landrum in September 2018 and the kidnappers went to his home, tied up his wife and shot her twice in the stomach before ransacking the house, Solicitor Walt Wilkins told media outlets.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Police smashed their way into a suburban house on Wednesday and rescued a 4-year-old girl whose disappearance from her family's camping tent on Australia's remote west coast more than two weeks ago both horrified and captivated the nation.

Officials wept with relief after seeing body camera video of a police officer scooping up the girl, Cleo Smith, and hearing her say, My name is Cleo. A 36-year-old local man was arrested after the late-night raid at the house in the coastal town of Carnarvon, which followed a tip to police on Tuesday.

The girl was reunited with her mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon soon after her rescue. Our family is whole again, the mother said on social media.

Western Australia state Police Commissioner Chris Dawson would not detail what the girl had gone through. She is as well as you can expect, Dawson said. This has been an ordeal. I wont go into any more details, other than to say were so thankful shes alive.

Dawson said dogged, methodical police work led to her being found.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison reacted from the United Arab Emirates on his way home from Scotland, thanking police for finding Cleo and supporting her family.

It's every parents worst nightmare. The fact that that nightmare has come to an end and our worst fears were not realized is just a huge relief, a moment for great joy, Morrison told reporters.

This particular case, obviously, has captured the hearts of Australians as we felt such terrible sorrow for the family, he added.

Cleos family lives in Carnarvon, a community of 5,000 people, and the girl had disappeared with her sleeping bag on the second day of a family camping trip at Blowholes Campground, 75 kilometers (47 miles) north of Carnarvon, on Oct. 16.

A massive land and sea search was initially mounted in the sparsely populated region on the assumption that she had wandered from the tent. But more evidence began to support an abduction.

A vehicle was reported speeding away from the area in the dark hours of the morning. A zipper on a flap of the tent compartment where Cleo and her sister were sleeping was too high for the girl to have reached.

Forensic scientists examined the exterior of the family's home to see if a predator had stalked Cleo and attempted to break in.

And a distraught Ellie Smith made emotional public appeals for information on her daughter's whereabouts that were broadcast across Australia.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said Dawson told him he had broken down in tears when she was found.

Fuller had called across the country from Sydney on the east coast, to Perth in the west, to congratulate Dawson on the outcome.

He broke down and cried, which for a veteran in policing, you rarely see that, Fuller told Sydney Radio 2GB. It speaks volumes in terms of the amount of effort they put into finding her.

Whilst we were all hoping and praying as the days went on, I think the chances of finding her alive were so slim, he added.

Dawson said body camera video of four police officers breaking into the house with a search warrant and finding the girl made him emotional.

Its a really joyous occasion. We dont always get these sort of outcomes, and while we were very, very concerned, we didnt lose hope, Dawson said.

Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch described seeing seasoned detectives openly crying with relief.

We were ... looking for a needle in a haystack and we found it, Blanch told Perth Radio 6PR.

When she said, My name is Cleo,' I dont think there was a dry eye in the house," Blanch said, quoting the girl's words to the police officer who picked her up in his arms.

"To see Cleo rescued this morning, Im speechless, Blanch added.

The state government had offered a 1 million Australian dollar ($743,000) reward for information five days after her disappearance, but Blanch said the money was not expected to be claimed.

Police had received intelligence on Tuesday guiding them to the house, but the breakthrough was the result of investigators piecing evidence together, Blanch said.

There were lots of things. There were car movements, there were phone movements, there were antecedents of people, he said.

Carnarvon Shire President Eddie Jones said the local community would be elated, thankful when they heard the good news.

Im beyond relieved. The nightmare is now finally over for Cleo and her family, Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan posted on social media.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday that he would travel to Israel on his first international economic development trip since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Hutchinson said he would leave Saturday for Israel, where he would speak at the Prime Minister's Smart Mobility Conference. Hutchinson's office said he would return Thursday.
Jonathon Gruenke/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has nominated Navy Adm. Christopher Grady to be the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

If confirmed, Grady, who currently heads the U.S. Navys Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., would become the nations number two military officer, replacing Air Force Gen. John Hyten. Hyten is retiring later this month.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP)  A charity that funds programs to expand access to emergency medical care for people in remote areas announced Tuesday it will make grants to upgrade technology at several rural Nevada hospitals.

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust said it will provide grants totaling $11.3 million to hospitals in towns including Caliente, Ely, Incline Village, Lovelock and Yerington to buy diagnostic and radiology equipment like CT scanners and X-ray devices.
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)  Authorities in Nigeria have arrested the owner of a high-rise apartment building in the country's largest city that suddenly collapsed, killing at least 14 people and leaving dozens still missing Tuesday beneath the rubble.

Nine people have been pulled out alive, an official said, but relatives were angry at what they called the slow pace of the rescue effort that began hours after the collapse on Monday.

Meanwhile, officials said the property's developers had added six more floors than what was originally approved under their building permit in the city of Lagos, fueling speculation that the additional weight could have contributed to the collapse. The government-run News Agency of Nigeria reported that the building's owner had been arrested on undisclosed charges.

I am on the ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible, Gbolahan Oki, general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria. "He got approval for 15 floors but built 21."

Hours later, the Lagos state governor announced Tuesday that Oki had been suspended from his position indefinitely.

Co-workers say they believe dozens of people remain trapped in the debris, and only nine people have been pulled out alive over the last 24 hours, Lagos commissioner for information Gbenga Omotoso said.

More equipment and personnel have been deployed in the site to save more lives, he said.

On Tuesday, distressed relatives whose loved ones were missing sat together by the road consoling one another. Afolabi Sunny said his 25-year-old sister, Oyindamola, had only recently started to work at the construction site as a participant of the National Youth Service Corps just months after she graduated from school.

They are trying. Everybody is just trying, he said of the rescue operation. But as far as my sister is not one of those brought out, they are not trying."

Others at the scene shouted in anger, saying the rescue operation was too slow and that they should be allowed to join the effort. It took about three hours before the first excavator arrived at the scene Monday afternoon.

Some of us have our brothers there," one man shouted. "They are not doing much inside there, so why cant they allow us?

Mama Segun said her son had only been making a brief visit to see a friend at the construction site when the building came down.

He wanted to go back yesterday to the United States, so he said he should come and see the landlord" before heading to the airport, she said. He never made the flight and has not been heard from since.
DETROIT (AP)  Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan easily defeated attorney Anthony Adams in Tuesdays election to win a third four-year term leading the Motor City.

Duggan was the clear favorite after first winning in 2013, taking over in January 2014, just after the city emerged from the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. He easily won a second term in 2017.

The incumbent won more than 72% of the votes in the August primary in which the top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary moved on to the general election.

The people of the city have just been tremendously supportive of me for the last eight years. It meant a lot, Duggan said ahead of the vote.

Duggan is a former county prosecutor and medical center chief executive and the citys first white mayor since the early 1970s. The majority-Black city has posted balanced budgets and improved services to residents following the bankruptcy and during Duggans tenure.

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic Duggan pushed for mass COVID-19 testing for Detroit residents and began mass vaccinations when vaccines became available last winter.

His administration has tackled blight, demolishing about 19,000 vacant and abandoned houses since 2014, but most of that work was paid with federal funds.

Adams was an executive assistant under Coleman A. Young, Detroits first Black mayor, and was deputy mayor under Kwame Kilpatrick. In more recent years, Adams has been interim director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, general counsel for Detroit Public Schools and an elected school board member and board president.

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey had said a turnout of about 15% to 20% of the citys 500,000 registered voters was expected Tuesday. That percentage is on par for a mayoral election, Winfrey said.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Ethiopias government declared a national state of emergency Tuesday as rival Tigray forces threaten to move on the capital and the countrys yearlong war escalates quickly. The United States said security has deteriorated significantly, and it strongly warned its citizens to consider leaving.

The emergency declaration by Ethiopia's Council of Ministers was the clearest sign of alarm yet from the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who a year ago this week allowed soldiers from a neighboring country to invade the Tigray region and pursue the Tigray forces alongside Ethiopian troops. Thousands of people have been killed since then.

The Tigray forces and their allies pose a grave and imminent danger" to the country's existence, the council's declaration said. Everyone will be tested, the prime minister tweeted, saying the declaration was made to shorten the period of tribulation and provide a time of solution.

The U.S. has warned the Tigray forces, who long dominated the national government before Abiy took office, against any attempt to besiege the capital, Addis Ababa, after seizing control in recent days of the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha. That positions them to move down a major highway toward the capital.

The state of emergency takes effect immediately and will last for six months. The government can impose a curfew, order citizens into military training, disrupt transport services and travel, suspend licenses of media outlets and detain indefinitely anyone suspected of having links with a terrorist group.

Local administrations in some areas could be disbanded and a military leadership could be installed. Unauthorized public gatherings and any expression of opposition to the state of emergency are banned.

Such actions would be implemented by law. Ethiopian lawmakers are expected to convene within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the Addis Ababa security bureau told residents that anyone with a firearm should register it now, and it warned that searches of homes and businesses would be carried out to ensure the city's peace.

The United Nations expressed extreme concern at the latest events, warning that the stability of Ethiopia and the wider region is at stake" and again calling for an immediate cease-fire.

Ethiopia's prime minister this week called upon all citizens to combat the approaching Tigray forces, adding that we should closely follow those who work for the enemy and live amongst us. A new roundup of ethnic Tigrayans was seen in the capital Monday.

The Tigray forces say they are pressuring Ethiopias government to lift a deadly months-long blockade on their region of around 6 million people, where basic services have been cut off and humanitarian food and medical aid are denied.

This is perhaps the most egregious humanitarian obstruction in the world, a senior official with the U.S. Agency for International Development told The Associated Press on Tuesday. We're seeing a campaign of systematic, bureaucratic obstruction blocking assistance into areas occupied by (the Tigray forces) affecting not just Tigray but areas in the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions now held by the Tigray fighters, the official said.

The fighters moved into those regions after retaking much of Tigray in June, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents and widening the crisis.

We certainly had difficulty getting the prime minister's attention to the problem and any calls to address it, the senior USAID official said after a recent visit to Ethiopia. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized otherwise.

The Tigray forces say they are now linking up with another armed group, the Oromo Liberation Army, with which an alliance was struck earlier this year.

The fighting soon could reach the Oromo region that neighbors Addis Ababa. Ethnic Oromo once hailed Abiy as the countrys first Oromo prime minister, but discontent has since emerged with the jailing of outspoken Oromo leaders.

The U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, told a public event Tuesday that the linkup of Tigray forces with other armed groups is dangerous.

The envoy also said he understands why Ethiopia's prime minister doesn't want to sit at a negotiating table across from leaders of the Tigray forces, but there are many, many ways to initiate discreet talks.

In the end, Feltman said, there will be talks because neither side is going to win.
POINTE-AUX-CHENES, Louisiana (AP)  On a boat ride along a bayou that shares the name of his Native American tribe, Donald Dardar points to a cross marking his ancestors south Louisiana burial ground  a place he fears will disappear.

He points to the partly submerged stumps of oak trees killed by salt water on land where he rode horses as a kid, and to his mothers home, gutted by Hurricane Ida. He and his wife have a mission: protecting Pointe-aux-Chenes and other communities at risk in a state that loses about a football field's worth of wetlands every 100 minutes.

For years, Donald and Theresa Dardar have joined forces with the Rev. Kristina Peterson. Working with scientists and members of Pointe-au-Chien and two other tribes, theyve set out thousands of oyster shells to protect sacred mounds, obtained financing to refill abandoned oil field canals and built an elevated greenhouse to save their plants and medicinal herbs from flooding.

Its saving what we know thats going to be destroyed from both the change of the heat and the rising of the water, said Peterson, the pastor of Bayou Blue Presbyterian Church in Gray, Louisiana, and a former professor of environmental planning at the University of New Orleans.

Their vital work to save their bayou home and heritage is part of a broader trend around the world of faith leaders and environmental activists increasingly joining the fight against climate change. From Hindu groups joining river cleanups and Sikh temples growing pesticide-free food, to Muslim imams and Buddhist monks organizing tree-planting campaigns, the movement knows no denominational boundaries but shares as a driving force a moral imperative to preserve what they see as a divinely given environment for future generations.

But some of them believe systemic change to protect those most vulnerable to the climate crisis must also come from world leaders meeting at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Its up to them to step up to the plate and do what theyre supposed to do, Theresa Dardar said at the tribal center where she handed out supplies to members of her tribe and others who lost their homes after Hurricane Ida hit the small fishing community 80 miles (about 130 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans.

Its up to you not to just give lip service, but to take action against climate change and sea level rise, said Dardar, a longtime religion teacher at a local Catholic church and head of the environmental nonprofit Lowlander Center.

Pope Francis and dozens of religious leaders recently signed a joint appeal to governments to commit to targets at the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 summit in Glasgow. The summit aims to secure more ambitious commitments to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius with a goal of keeping it to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The event also is focused on mobilizing financing and protecting threatened communities and natural habitats.

Louisiana holds 40% of U.S. wetlands, but theyre disappearing fast  about 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) of the state have been lost since the 1930s. Thats about 80% of the nations wetland losses, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Peterson arrived in Pointe-aux-Chenes in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew, following a call to link scientists with communities hit by storms, sinking land and sea rise from climate change. Through the Lowlander Center that she co-founded, she worked to protect sacred sites from coastal erosion, refill canals dug by oil companies that allow for saltwater intrusion and build the greenhouse set to open in October. Instead, it was repurposed as a food pantry supply room after Ida.

Theres been so much that has been interrupted ... and these are all critical, critical things, Peterson said.

Were not going to wait on world leaders to take action. Were doing it now, she said. With Theresa Dardar, theyre part of the Greater New Orleans Interfaith Climate Change Coalition, which includes Buddhist, Bahai, Christian, Jewish and other faith leaders.

Theyve also worked closely with Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar of the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians. She's the first woman to lead her tribe and the only Indigenous woman on the Louisiana governors climate change task force. Last year, her tribe and Pointe-au-Chien were among those that filed a formal complaint to the U.N. in Geneva, saying the U.S. government violated their human rights by failing to act on climate change.

We should be caring for Mother Earth, not abusing her. This is a result of all of the abuse that weve done to her, she said, tearing up and pointing to her home, destroyed by Ida. If we dont listen to the science, if we dont listen to the wisdom of the elders, were going to ... keep seeing these massive amounts of destruction.

Religious communities are crucial in the fight against climate change, said Nathan Jessee, a researcher at Princetons High Meadows Environmental Institute who has worked with the areas Indigenous communities.

Theres a long history of faith-based leaders and Indigenous peoples being at the forefront of these struggles for environmental justice, Jessee said. Together, he said, theyve demonstrated the fight for clean air and water is a moral and spiritual struggle.

For many faith leaders, preserving the environment is part of their mandate to care for communities most vulnerable to climate change. Its a call that Pope Francis has made often, most broadly in a 2015 encyclical, Praised Be. It has been echoed by imams, rabbis, patriarchs and pastors who share how their faith traditions interpreted the call.

People of color, the poor, women, children and the elderly suffer the worst climate change impacts, said the Rev. Fletcher Harper, an Episcopal priest, and executive director of GreenFaith, a global multi-faith environmental organization based in New York. For religious people, that is utterly unacceptable, he said.

On the invitation of Indigenous communities, more than 150 faith leaders gathered in Washington last month to pressure President Joe Biden to stop new fossil fuel projects.

GreenFaith organized other actions across the globe: In Fiji, the leader of the Pacific Council of Churches was photographed on an island which goes underwater at high tide because of rising sea levels. In Jakarta, Indonesia, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia unfurled a banner that read: Destroying the planet is haram"  forbidden. In Australia, religious groups protested against coal production and urged the prime minister to undertake bold climate action.

The biggest plus in terms of where we are now is that there is an impatient, feisty, unstoppable grassroots movement, Harper said.

Religious groups including the World Council of Churches also have joined the fossil fuel divestment movement. This isnt just a stunt, said Harper, whose organization has backed such faith-based efforts since 2013. He said it evolved from a symbolic gesture to a key road map into the future.

Not all religious decision makers are on board with divestment nor is every member of a faith tradition of like mind. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the general assembly voted in 2018 to continue engaging with fossil fuel companies it holds stock in.

The issue is expected to be raised again in the 2022 general assembly. The concern with divestment was that there wasnt anything in there for the transition of workers  to go into alternative energies, Peterson said.

Not all the faithful believe in renewable energy or even accept the science behind global warming.

White evangelical Christians are some of the most suspicious of climate science and the least accepting of solutions to address it, said the Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network. His ministry navigates that suspicion by connecting climate science to faith rather than politics, emphasizing authority of scripture and sanctity of human life.

We dont do this because were Democrats or Republicans. We dont even do this some of us because were environmentalists, Meyaard-Schapp said. Were doing this because were Christians and we think that this is just part of what it means to follow Jesus in the 21st century."

That same belief guided volunteers from Churches of Christ who recently brought boxes of food to the tribal center in Pointe-aux-Chenes. A month after Ida, piles of debris, wrecked boats and destroyed homes lined the bayou that runs through the town. Many were living in cars and tents.

The scripture tells us that were supposed to be good stewards of what God gave us, said Jaime Green, a volunteer from New Orleans who often speaks about climate change at the Elysian Fields Church of Christ led by her husband.

As a faith community, we have to be teaching our congregations and our children, generations to come that they need to take care of what we have, and preserve it as much as we can  and even work to undo some of the damage.

___

AP journalists Holly Meyer in Nashville, Tennessee, Nicole Winfield in Rome, and Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans, contributed to this report. Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Jose Luis Magana/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  A Florida firefighter who was photographed inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot by loyalists of former President Donald Trump pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge on Tuesday.

Andrew Williams changed his plea in Washington federal court, according to court documents. He faces up to six months in prison at a Jan. 27 hearing.
Josh Hawley is coming to the defense of the American male.

The Republican senator from Missouri spoke Sunday night at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida. According to a text of his speech provided by his office, Hawley accused liberals in government, the media and entertainment of defining the traditional masculine virtues  things like courage, and independence, and assertiveness  as a danger to society.

Hawley said the same masculine qualities being vilified have long been regarded as vital to self-government. Liberty, he said, requires virtue. And in particular, it requires the manly virtues.

We need men who will shoulder responsibility, men who will start and provide for families, men who will enter the covenant of marriage and then honor it, Hawley said.

The first-term senator has often been a polarizing figure. His fist pump toward protesters descending on the Capitol on Jan. 6 drew strong consternation from many in his home state, including calls for his resignation. But he remains popular in conservative circles and is often seen as a potential future presidential contender.

Hawley said the backlash against masculinity can be seen in elementary schools, where rambunctious boys are diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder and medicated into submission.

For decades, he said, government policy has worked against male-dominated industries such as manufacturing. Today, he said, men are more apt to be jobless, less likely to be married, less likely to be fathers. Conversely, he said, they're more likely to suffer from depression and turn to substance abuse.

Hawley said men must take responsibility for their own actions.

Still, he said, can we be surprised that after years of being told they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem, more and more men are withdrawing into the enclave of idleness, and pornography, and video games?

The question is, how are we going to raise up good men today? Hawley asked. We can start by repudiating the lie that America is a systemically oppressive nation and that men are systemically responsible.

Hawley said his message to men is simple. You can be a tremendous force for good. Your nation needs you. The world needs you."
HOUSTON (AP)  A judge recommended no new trial for Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, whose supporters point to evidence they say raises serious doubts about his guilt.

Reed was condemned for the 1996 killing of 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Prosecutors say Reed raped and strangled Stites as she made her way to work at a supermarket in Bastrop, a rural community about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Austin.

Reed, 53, has long maintained that her fiance, former police officer Jimmy Fennell, was the real killer. Reed says Fennell was angry because Stites, who was white, was having an affair with Reed, who is black. Fennell, who served time for sexual assault and was released from prison in 2018, has denied killing Stites.

State District Judge J.D. Langley was appointed to review the case after the Texas Court of Criminal appeals put his November 2019 execution on hold.

In a 50-page ruling, Langley wrote that the three claims Reed is making  prosecutors suppressed evidence, Fennell falsely testified he didnt kill Stites and Reed is actually innocent  should be denied.

Reed has not proven by clear and convincing evidence that he is actually innocent, Langley wrote in his ruling, issued Sunday.

Langleys findings come after a two-week evidentiary hearing in July in which witnesses and experts testified on behalf of Reed, whose supporters include lawmakers and celebrities. Some witnesses testified that Reed and Stites had a consensual affair and that they had seen the two together. Several forensic experts testified Stites died hours earlier than the timeline presented by prosecutors.

Prosecutors say his claims of an affair with Stites were not proven at trial, Fennell was cleared as a suspect and Reed had a history of committing other sexual assaults.

Langleys recommendation now goes to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which will make the final decision on whether Reed gets a new trial. It was not immediately known when the appeals court would rule.

If a new jury heard the overwhelming evidence of Rodney Reeds innocence, it would have reasonable doubts," Jane Pucher, an attorney with the Innocence Project, which is representing Reed, said. "Convicted by an all-white jury, Mr. Reed has spent 23 years on death row for a crime he did not commit.

The Texas Attorney General's Office, which argued the case on behalf of the state at the July hearing, didn't immediately return an email seeking comment Monday.

In his ruling, Langley was critical of the 17 witnesses who testified on behalf of Reed at that hearing that they either saw Reed and Stites interact with each other or that they saw Fennell act suspiciously after Stites death, saying that many had waited decades to bring forth their recollections.

Langley also sided with prosecution experts who supported claims from Reeds trial that Stites died within a two-hour window, which would not have made it possible for Fennell to have committed the killing. Defense experts in July suggested Stites could have died during times that Fennell testified he was with her.

Reeds attorneys have also argued that sperm from Reed that was found on Stites body was not proof of sexual assault as prosecutors had argued at trial but was from consensual sex between the two a day earlier. In his ruling, Langley said he gave more credibility to prosecution experts from Julys hearing who supported the conclusion that Stites could have been sexually assaulted.

Langley also said he found Fennell, who testified at the July hearing, to be a credible witness. Fennell denied killing Stites and said he never yelled at her or referred to her in any derogatory way.

Reeds efforts to stop his execution in 2019 received support from such celebrities as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey. Lawmakers from both parties also asked that officials take another look at the case.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
As communities close in on the reopening of the border to non-essential travel, Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino emphasized the importance of providing vaccines to Mexican nationals planning on crossing the bridge.

As the federal government announced that only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter, Trevino has organized a vaccine drive on Tuesday at Bridge 2 in the U.S Customs area. During last weeks media briefing, he said this is part of vaccine preparations for the Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas populations that have seen multiple drives on the border throughout 2021.

From a public health standpoint, using every drop of highly efficacious vaccines instead of discarding them due to expiration; this is vital to creating a regional herd immunity which protects both our communities, Trevino said. This is especially important since we have a large amount of cross border traffic and an international port of entry, which is also dependent on the workforce of our sister city community of Nuevo Laredo.

According to Victor Trevino Jr., General Counsel for Tesoro Medical Care, the vaccine drive will start at 9 a.m. and have Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson doses they consider highly effective but near expiration. He estimates that approximately 2,000 doses can be administered. Trevino will be on-site himself to supervise cases where mixing FDA vaccines is required.

As Mexican residents may have opted to receive one of the four World Health Organization vaccines, it may not be possible to administer the FDA approved doses to the WHO doses. There are four World Health Organization approved vaccines including Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sinovac, BBIBP and CoviShield, Trevino said.

Trevino Jr. said that as there is still a risk involving the mixing of WHO vaccines and the FDA approved doses, the clinic would prefer not take that risk and will work to keep the mixing to a minimum. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined the two situations in which mixing is viable; when the first dose cannot be determined and/or the same vaccine is unavailable. Compounding the issue is the fact the clinic will not have Mexican citizen immunization records detailing which vaccine individuals received prior to the clinic.

In the case of children, Trevino Jr. said they are expecting family units, but the recently approved Pfizer vaccines for children aged 5-11 will be primarily used to vaccinate local children. At the Tuesday vaccine clinic, Pfizer doses for children 12 and up will be provided for Mexican nationals.

Overall, Trevino painted an optimistic view of the state of the pandemic, saying the vaccine process has reduced the infection rate due to the high immunization rate in the community. He added that as breakthrough cases represent less than 1% of the total number of cases, he continued to encourage vaccines for the unvaccinated population and booster shots for the immunocompromised and at-risk individuals to reinforce their already highly effective vaccine doses.

Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz echoed Trevinos sentiments and praised the ongoing vaccine efforts on the Mexican side of the border. As Trevino mentioned that the efforts are binational, Saenz added the cooperation between the cities and the CBP allows for buses of Mexican nationals to arrive at the clinic for their vaccine doses.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP)  A Massachusetts man who prosecutors say threw a punch during a fight outside an American Legion that led to the death of another man post nearly three years ago was convicted Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter.

The Norfolk Superior Court jury deliberated for more than a day after a weeklong trial before finding Matthew Potter guilty in the death in January 2019 of Chris McCallum, The Patriot Ledger reported.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP)  A Springfield man has been sentenced to life in prison in a fatal shooting that prosecutors said began over a missing cell phone.

Keeton Waring, 33, was sentenced last week for second-degree murder in the Feb. 21, 2019, death of Jamie Carroll at a Springfield home, the Greene County prosecutor's office announced Monday.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Elaine Howard Ecklund, Rice University and David R. Johnson, Georgia State University

(THE CONVERSATION) Distrust of atheists is strong in the United States. The General Social Survey consistently demonstrates that as a group, Americans dislike atheists more than any other religious group. According to various studies, nearly half of the country would disapprove of their child marrying an atheist, some 40% of the public does not believe atheists share their view of American society, and only 60% of Americans would be willing to vote for an atheist in a presidential election.

There is one field, however, where atheism is often assumed: science.

People often view scientists as Godless. Some of these views may be a result of people hearing more from vocal atheist scientists such as evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, neuroscientist Sam Harris and others who are at the vanguard of a movement known as new atheism. New atheists are not simply scientists who are convinced there is no God or gods. They couple their irreligion with an aggressive critique of religious belief as a threat to societal well-being.

These scientists espouse a frequently derisive rhetoric on religion and the religious public. Dawkins, for example, has argued that religion is a form of mental illness and one of the worlds great evils comparable to smallpox.

But such strident attitudes may not be representative of scientists in general.

A recent research study we conducted reveals that most atheist scientists in the U.S. and U.K. are not anti-religious.

The real story of atheism in science

Drawing on quantitative surveys with 1,293 scientists who identified as atheists, 81 in-depth qualitative interviews conducted from 2013 through 2016 and context material collected since then, we found that scientists views of religion are much more diverse than the image conveyed by new atheists.

Each of the scientists in our study selected the statement I do not believe in God when asked about their views of God  and selected this choice over options including agnosticism, the view that the existence of God or the divine is unknowable.

As sociologists, we view religion as multidimensional  consisting of beliefs, practices, traditions and identities  and seek to understand such dimensions in the lives of atheist scientists and their views of religion.

One of our main findings is that most atheist scientists do not want to be aligned with rhetoric that condemns religious people. Although we did not specifically ask about Dawkins in interviews, scientists often brought him up.

As one biologist that we interviewed in the U.K. said of him, Well, he has gone on a crusade, basically  I think that [religion] is an easy target, and I think that hes rather insensitive and hectoring.

Even atheist scientists who harbored occasional negative views of religion expressed concerns that such rhetoric is bad for science.

Not only are many atheist scientists not hostile to religion, but some think religion can also be beneficial to society; in the words of one of our respondents, you can see the benefits of going to church. Many, for example, discussed the sense of community one finds in churches. Others emphasized religious attendance as a force of good, encouraging people to act more charitably.

Indeed in the U.S., 29% of atheist scientists also say they are culturally religious. That is, despite their lack of belief in God, they routinely interact with religious individuals or organizations, such as having a religious spouse, sending their children to a religious school, or attending services themselves.

As one atheist biologist told us: I enjoy going to church for the suspension of disbelief, for the theatrical experience, for reading, for the liturgy, for the magnificent stories and the mythic quality of those stories, which is intensely spiritual. Thats a real experience.

Atheist scientists and the religious

We also found that atheist scientists and persons of faith have more in common than most people may think, such as the experience of awe and wonder. Whereas many religious individuals experience spirituality through their faith, some atheist scientists speak of their work with similar notions of awe and wonder.

These scientists talk about intangible realities that imbue wonder, motivate their work and are beyond observation  realities that they call spirituality.

[This Week in Religion, a global roundup each Thursday. Sign up.]

As sociologists Penny Edgell, Joseph Gerteis and Douglas Hartmannexplain, when asked about atheists on surveys, Americans are most likely imagining a theoretical person who rejects the idea of God, rather than thinking about an actual atheist they may have encountered.

Indeed, in an ideologically segregated society such as the U.S, religious and nonreligious individuals may not interact in ways that would actually inform their perspectives of one another. As a result, religious and nonreligious individuals views of one another are heavily reliant on stereotypes of each group.

Consequently, when people think about atheist scientists, it is all too easy to imagine the picture painted based on those presented in the public sphere, such as Dawkins and others, in the absence of one who inhabits their community.

What is more, it is difficult to know an atheist when you see one, especially if they are sitting down the pew from you in church, as our research indicates they might.

In an era where our lives literally depend on trust in the scientific community, telling the truth about who atheist scientists are through research on them, rather than allowing them to be represented by the loudest atheist scientist voices, is consequential.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/many-scientists-are-atheists-but-that-doesnt-mean-they-are-anti-religious-167677.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minneapolis voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal to replace the citys police department with a new Department of Public Safety, an idea that supporters had hoped would bring radical change to policing in the city where George Floyds death under an officers knee brought calls for racial justice.

The initiative would have changed the city charter to remove a requirement that the city have a police department with a minimum number of officers. Supporters said a complete overhaul of policing was necessary to stop police violence. Opponents said the proposal had no concrete plan for how to move forward and warned it would leave some communities already affected by violence more vulnerable as crime is on the rise.

Those opponents welcomed the amendment's defeat but stressed the urgency of transforming policing in the city even without it.

Tonight Minneapolis voters have made clear that we want a planful approach to transforming policing and public safety in our city that needs to include meaningful consultation with the communities that are most impacted by both violent crime and by over-policing, said Leili Fatehi, manager of the All of Mpls campaign.

The ballot proposal had roots in the abolish-the-police movement that erupted after Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer last year. The debate over racial justice in policing brought national attention to Tuesdays vote, as well as a river of out-of-state money seeking to influence the outcome that could have shaped change elsewhere, too.

The ballot question called for a new Department of Public Safety to take a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions that would be determined by the mayor and City Council. Supporters argued it was a chance to reimagine what public safety can be and how money gets spent. Among other things, supporters said, funding would go toward programs that dont send armed officers to call on people in crisis.

Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey was also in a tough fight for a second term, facing a bevy of opponents who have attacked him for his leadership in the wake of Floyds death. Frey opposed the policing amendment. Two of his leading challengers in the field of 17 candidates, Sheila Nezhad and Kate Knuth, strongly supported the proposal.

With nearly complete returns, Frey had about 43% of the first-choice vote. He needed more than 50% to win outright under the citys ranked-choice voting system, with the city to begin sorting second- and potentially third-choice votes Wednesday morning. Nezhad and Knuth were both near 20%.

A jubilant Frey didn't claim victory when he spoke to supporters late Tuesday but called it a really good night and said the city had sent a message to the entire country that true change requires hard work, not slogans.

There will be many that will try to argue that this is a blow to reform. That is dead wrong," Frey said. "Reform has begun, but it must continue.

The vote was a defeat for Yes 4 Minneapolis, which spearheaded the amendment drive and vowed to keep fighting for change.

We changed the conversation about what public safety should look like, the group tweeted. "We showed the country and the world the power of democracy and of the people. Now, we will work to hold the system accountable. We will work to heal our city and create safer streets for all our communities."

The police union didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

A separate ballot question, on whether to replace the city's weak mayor, strong council system with a more conventional distribution of executive and legislative powers that would give the mayor clearer authority over day-to-day government operations, passed with about 53% of the vote.

The future of policing in the city where Floyd's death in May 2020 launched a nationwide reckoning on racial justice overshadowed everything on the municipal ballot.

Rishi Khanna, 31, a tech worker, voted yes on replacing the police department, saying he didn't believe police officers are qualified to deal with many situations, such as mental health crises. He said he thought having professionals equipped to deal with a range of public safety issues in the same department as law enforcement would benefit both residents and police officers.

I understand that law enforcement will have to have a seat at the table, but I think both in our community and in communities around the country, too often law enforcement is the only seat at the table, he said. I dont think thats the right solution.

Askari Lyons, 61, voted against the ballot initiative. A resident of the city's largely Black north side, where violent crime runs higher than in the rest of the city, he said he believed Minneapolis police officers may have learned a lesson after George Floyds death and what happened to the cop that killed him."

Lyons called it unwise to replace the department and said he believed change within the department is imminent.

People are so frustrated, so angry, so disappointed with the violence occurring citywide as much as they are with the citys law enforcement, he said.

The proposed amendment to the city charter would have removed language that mandates that Minneapolis have a police department with a minimum number of officers based on population. It would have been replaced by a new Department of Public Safety that would take a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions that could include police officers if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety.

Supporters of the change argued that a complete overhaul of policing is necessary to stop police violence. They framed it as a chance to re-imagine what public safety can be and to devote more funding toward new approaches that dont rely on sending armed officers to deal with people in crisis.

But opponents said the ballot proposal contained no concrete plan for how the new department would operate and expressed fear that it might make communities already affected by gun violence even more vulnerable to rising crime. The details, and who would lead the new agency, would be determined by the mayor and the City Council.

Two nationally prominent progressive Democratic leaders  U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents the Minneapolis area, and state Attorney General Keith Ellison  both supported the policing amendment. But some leading mainstream liberals, including Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, opposed it and feared the backlash could lead to Democratic losses across the country in 2022.

Support didn't cleanly follow racial lines. Opponents included several prominent Black leaders, including some who have been top voices in the police accountability movement.

Minister JaNae Bates, a spokeswoman for the pro-amendment campaign, told reporters Monday that even if the proposal failed, the activists behind it changed the conversation around public safety.

No matter what happens, the city of Minneapolis is going to have to move forward and really wrestle with what we cannot unknow: that the Minneapolis Police Department has been able to operate with impunity and has done quite a bit of harm and the city has to take some serious steps to rectify that, Bates said.

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Mohamed Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Missouri Supreme Court judges on Tuesday heard arguments over whether a ban on publicly funded advocacy is constitutional.

Missouri law prohibits any public funds from being spent to advocate for or against ballot measures, such as spending such money to print flyers in favor of a bonding proposal.

Several Missouri cities sued to try to overturn the law two years ago, arguing that it is too vague and limits freedom of speech.

Judge Mary Russell asked Paul Martin, a lawyer for the cities, whether a mayor could still advocate for a ballot issue with an email blast. Martin said it's not clear whether that would be allowed under the law or if public officials are banned from doing that on work-issued computers.

Martin also criticized the law for targeting public officials who speak out on issues instead of penalizing the expenditure of public funding.

Lawmakers amended the law this year to specify that violations can be prosecuted as election offenses punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Martin said expanding what's called the government speech doctrine to allow a government official to be prosecuted under the law would be a very, very dangerous thing to do.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office is defending the law. Deputy Solicitor General Michael Talent told the state Supreme Court judges that government speech isnt protected by the First Amendment, so the law is valid.

Public officials taking public stances on public issues using public funds, that is quintessential government speech, Talent said.

The judges didn't indicate when they might rule.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday vetoed the latest Republican bill seeking to rein in his powers, this time legislation that would have required other elected leaders to sign off on long-term emergency declarations like those for COVID-19.

The governor vetoed a measure that is somewhat similar to a 2020 bill that he also formally blocked. This year's bill would have required enforcement of a gubernatorial statewide emergency order for only seven days unless a majority of the Council of State agreed to extend it for up to 45 days. For the emergency order to go longer, the legislature would have to pass a law doing so.

Many GOP officials and their allies have complained about Cooper's directives restricting commerce and requiring masks that ensued after his first coronavirus emergency declaration issued in March 2020. That declaration remains in place.

Cooper said that the legislation, which would have applied immediately to him and future governors, would discourage the decisive, quick and comprehensive action" that an emergency needs, "not bureaucracy and politics.

North Carolina is emerging from a global pandemic with lives saved and a strong economy because of effective statewide measures to protect public health under" the current emergency management law, Cooper said in his veto message. Critical decisions about stopping deadly diseases, or responding to any other emergency, should stay with experts in public health and safety, not a committee of partisan politicians.

As with the 2020 vetoed bill, Republican lawmakers are unlikely to locate the votes needed to override the veto on this bill. Only one Democrat joined Republicans in voting for the final measure. GOP leaders said the measure is not about maligning the governors past actions, but rather restoring some checks and balances to emergency management by taking decision-making out of the hands of one leader.

The governors veto undermines our constitution, the balance of powers and the rule of law, said Rep. Keith Kidwell, a Beaufort County Republican and bill sponsor. "It also further shows the dangers of when power is centralized in the hands of one person.

Often the governor has issued orders during the pandemic without the concurrence of the Council of State. and in many cases state law doesn't require that, or courts have upheld his actions. The council is defined in the measure as the nine other statewide elected executive branch leaders, such as the lieutenant governor and attorney general. Republicans currently hold majorities on both the council and at the legislature.

The bill also would have demanded that a governor obtain formal Council of State support when the state health director wants to issue quarantine and isolation orders for groups of people that last longer than seven days.

Cooper had until midnight Monday to sign the bill or veto it. Otherwise, it would have become law without his signature.

Cooper vetoed several additional measures last year that reined in his power or overturned his COVID-19 decisions.

Monday's veto marks Cooper's 12th overall this year. None of the previous 11 have been overridden, due largely to the fact that Republicans majorities in the House and Senate aren't veto-proof.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Republican Mike Carey, a Trump-backed coal lobbyist, bested a two-term state lawmaker to win an open U.S. House seat in central Ohio on Tuesday, while Democrat Shontel Brown coasted to victory in a second up-for-grabs congressional district in the Cleveland area.

The election results will leave Democrats with a 221-213 advantage over Republicans in Congress, with Brown and Carey each retaining a seat for their respective party. A third open congressional seat in Florida, where primaries were being held Tuesday, also is very likely to remain status quo and in Democratic hands.

Carey, 50, defeated Democratic state Rep. Allison Russo, a public health policy consultant, in the 15th Congressional District, after the most competitive race there in years. The previous officeholder, Republican Steve Stivers, resigned in April to become CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce after a decade in Congress.

Carey told celebrants at a victory party Tuesday: We have too many career politicians in Washington. That's the last thing that I will ever be.

Brown, 46, a Cuyahoga County Council member who also chairs the county Democratic Party, won the Cleveland-area House seat formerly held by Marcia Fudge, who stepped down to become housing and urban development secretary in the Biden administration.

Brown defeated Republican Laverne Gore, a business owner and activist, in the heavily Democratic district that stretches from Cleveland to Akron. She said she is ready to get to work.

I am committed to going to Washington as a unifier, and will work with President Biden and Democratic leaders in Congress to lead a swift health and economic recovery from the pandemic for Ohioans, Brown said in a statement.

Both winners will fill the remainder of their predecessors' terms, which run until January 2023. They must face reelection again next year under a congressional map that's being redrawn to hold onto the seat.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Carey, calling him a courageous fighter and visiting the state to campaign for him, as did former Vice President Mike Pence. Trump congratulated Carey in a statement Tuesday, saying he was proud to have endorsed him early and strongly and saying he would be a great congressman! President Joe Biden endorsed Russo, who raised more money in the district than any Democrat in history.

Browns election marks a win for establishment Democrats, who sought to defend the district against a takeover by progressives. Her backers included Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and several labor unions.

But victory may be short-lived.

Already, Browns defeated primary opponent, progressive Nina Turner, has begun campaigning for the full congressional term up for grabs in 2022. A former state senator, she was a national mouthpiece for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential bids and remains one of the progressive movements hardest-working congressional hopefuls.

In Florida, 11 Democrats were on the ballot in Tuesday's primary special election for the seat of Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings, who died in April after suffering from pancreatic cancer. One of the candidates is state Rep. Omari Hardy, who was 3 years old when Hastings was elected in 1992. Hastings was the longest-serving member of Floridas congressional delegation.

Republican Jason Mariner won the Republican nomination to run for the 20th Congressional District seat, but the district is heavily Democratic. The winner of the Democratic primary is considered a lock for January's general election, but results were too close to call Tuesday night after most of the votes had been counted in the South Florida district.

With nearly 99% of the vote counted, fewer than 100 votes separated the two leaders in a field of 11 Democrats. Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness and health care company CEO Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick led the crowded primary, each with nearly 24% of the vote.

The district is a majority Black and covers parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.

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Associated Press writer Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Fla., contributed to this report.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  Oklahoma is ready to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to children aged 5-11 when final approval comes, a state health official said Tuesday.

About 130,000 vaccine doses for children are being shipped to Oklahoma in anticipation of its approval, Deputy Health Commissioner Buffy Heater said.

The Biden administration has said millions of vaccine doses are being assembled and shipped, pending its approval. A federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel was meeting to consider recommendations for administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to younger children.

The million-dollar question, Heater said, is when the state can administer the shots.

Our hope is that by the end of this week we would have all those things in place to be able to begin giving shots, Heater said.

Heater said about 375,000 Oklahoma children would be eligible for the vaccine.

Also Tuesday, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt said he had asked U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to suspend a requirement that Oklahoma National Guard members receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

We estimate that over 800 Oklahoma guardsmen have not and do not plan on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, Stitt said. That would be 10% of the state's overall Guard force and would limit his ability to deploy troops during an emergency, he said.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  A Texas radio host was sentenced to three life prison sentences Monday for a Ponzi scheme in which he bilked elderly listeners out of millions of dollars.

William Neil Doc Gallagher also got a 30-year prison sentence from state District Judge Elizabeth Beach for his August guilty pleas. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The sentencing came after more than a dozen senior victims testified during a three-hour court hearing about losing anywhere from $50,000 to $600,000 invested in the Gallagher Financial Group. Some said they had to sell their homes, borrow money from their children or take part-time jobs to supplement their Social Security benefits.

Doc Gallagher is one of the worst offenders I have seen, said Lori Varnell, chief of the Tarrant County District Attorneys Elder Financial Fraud team.

Gallagher, 80, and his Gallagher Financial Group advertised on Christian radio with the tagline, See you in church on Sunday. He promoted his investment business in books, such as Jesus Christ, Money Master, and on Christian radio broadcasts.

Gallagher has been behind bars since his March 2019 arrest on similar charges filed in Dallas County. In 2020, he pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was indicted in Tarrant County in August 2019.

He ruthlessly stole from his clients who trusted him for almost a decade. He amassed $32 million in loss to all of his clients and exploited many elder individuals. He worked his way around churches preying on people who believed he was a Christian, Varnell said in a statement.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Rights groups are urging Cambodian authorities to release an autistic teenager who was sentenced to eight months in prison for social media posts critical of the government, saying Tuesday his case was being misused to intimidate his opposition activist parents.

Kak Sovannchhay, 16, was convicted Monday of incitement to commit a felony and public insult by a Phnom Penh municipal court for comments he had made in a Telegram chat group defending his father, a senior political opposition member who is himself in custody facing charges, and for sharing Facebook posts criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen.

His mother, Prum Chantha, said her son has trouble communicating with others and could not follow the court proceedings, adding that he has gotten worse during his months in custody ahead of the verdict.

Is there any court in the world that would convict and sentence an autistic boy? she said. There is not.

Prum Chantha is a member of the group Friday Wives, which holds protests to demand the release of their husbands who have been jailed for expressing their views critical of Hun Sen's government. Her husband, Kak Komphear, has been in detention since May 2020.

This case is solely based on Sovannchhay being the son of a former opposition member, who himself is jailed and persecuted for his political affiliations, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, in a written statement.

Robertson said the conviction should be quashed and Kak Sovannchhay immediately released.

This whole trial proves once again just how broken Cambodias justice system is, he said.

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy said in a Twitter post after the verdict that he was saddened to hear the court had sentenced a child to prison time for what appears to be politically motivated charges.

How does jailing the teenage son of an opposition figure demonstrate respect for human rights?" Murphy wrote.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power for 36 years and has often been accused of heading an authoritarian regime and using the judicial system to help stifle opposition.

During the trial, the court refused two requests to evaluate the boys disability and support needs, according to Human Rights Watch, and no accommodations were made for him during his time in police custody and questioning, nor while being held before trial.

Plang Sophal, spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said he was not medically qualified to assess the boy's autism, but that the trial was conducted according to the rule of law. He refused further comment.

Kak Sovannchhay's attorney, Sam Sokong, said the posts the teen made came in response to others calling his father a traitor, and that he had no idea his words could get him in trouble, and no memory of what he had even said.

I asked him to repeat, or try to remember any words but he can't, he told The Associated Press. He has completely forgotten.

Following the Telegram exchange on June 24, another member of the message group reported Kak Sovannchhay and within hours armed police showed up at his home and arrested him.

Kak Sovannchhay has been in custody since then, and even though his trial concluded Oct. 13, the judge postponed the verdict until Monday.

With his time already served, and under Cambodian sentencing guidelines, Kak Sovannchhay will be released Nov. 9, his mother said.

After he is home, she and his attorney will decide whether to file a formal appeal to try and reverse the conviction, she said.

United Nations human rights experts have followed the case from the start and urged Kak Sovannchhay's release already in early September before he went to trial.

On Tuesday, experts appointed by the U.N. human rights council accused the Cambodian government of weaponizing its court system to silence dissent, following the verdict.

The conviction of a minor with an autism spectrum disorder is a shameful nadir in the authorities continuing campaign of intimidation and violence against civil society and opposition activists and affiliates, they said in a statement from Geneva.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A San Francisco police officer was charged Tuesday with voluntary manslaughter after a man he shot in 2017 died from his injuries, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced.

San Francisco Police Officer Kenneth Cha was charged with voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, along with enhancements accusing him of inflicting great bodily injury, in the death of Sean Moore, an unarmed man he shot on Jan. 6, 2017. Moore died from his injuries last year.

We rely on officers to follow their training and to deescalate situations; instead, in just eight minutes, Officer Cha elevated a nonviolent encounter to one that took Sean Moores life," Boudin said in a statement. "Sean Moore was unarmed and at his own home when Officer Cha shot him twice."

Cha's attorney, Scott Burrell, called the decision to file charges surprising and disappointing. He noted that Boudin is likely to face a recall election soon.

The facts of this case have never changed," Burrell said in a statement. Officer Cha lawfully shot his firearm while defending himself and his partner against a dangerous and violent assault. Only naked politics at best are at play here."

Cha shot Moore, who had schizophrenia, on the doorstep of his home after a neighbor called police to report that Moore was violating a temporary restraining order that prohibited noise harassment.

Body-worn camera footage shows Moore denying harassing his neighbor and repeatedly cursing at Cha and his partner, Officer Colin Patino, and asking them to leave. The verbal confrontation escalates, according to the video, before Cha pepper-sprays Moore.

Both officers are seen running up the stairs to Moore's home with their batons raised and as Moore begins retreating up the steps, Patino hits him with his metal baton. Moore strikes back, and Patino falls down the stairs.

Cha then draws his gun and points it at Moore, who reacts by kicking in his direction. Cha then shoots Moore twice in the abdomen.

Moore was charged with various crimes including assault on a peace officer. But a judge later dismissed the case for lack of sufficient evidence.

The San Francisco Police Officers Association said in a statement it will support Cha during the legal process.

Officers responded to a call for service and encountered the very hostile Sean Moore who was accused of violating a restraining order," union president Tony Montoya said in a statement. We support Officer Chas constitutionally protected right to present his defense against these charges that stemmed from this extremely volatile incident.

Moore, 46, was serving a sentence at San Quentin State Prison on unrelated charges when he died last January. The coroners report indicated the cause of death was homicide and that he died from acute intestinal obstruction as a result of the bullet wounds.

In April, the city of San Francisco agreed to pay $3.25 million to Moore's mother, Cleo Moore, to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit.

The case is the second homicide prosecution against an on-duty law enforcement officer in San Francisco history.

Last year, Boudin charged Christopher Samayoa, a former rookie San Francisco police officer, with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault by an executive officer, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm in the 2017 killing of 42-year-old Keita ONeil.

Samayoa fatally shot O'Neil, an unarmed carjacking suspect, on his fourth day on the job.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Oregon-based youth climate activists say settlement talks with the U.S. Department of Justice have failed six years after they first filed a landmark federal lawsuit that attempted to hold the nation's leadership accountable for its role in global warming.

The development, announced by the plaintiffs' attorney on Monday, comes as world leaders, including President Joe Biden, meet in Scotland to grapple with climate change.

The plaintiffs now want a judge to allow an amended version of the case, known as Juliana v. the United States, to go to trial.

These 21 young people have been stonewalled, delayed, and obstructed by their own government for six years now," the plaintiffs' attorney, Julia Olson, said in a statement. "These young people have been waiting six years to have their evidence heard and the issues determined by a court of law. When will our government act like the global leaders they claim to be and let these youth be heard?

The youth plaintiffs alleged in the original 2015 lawsuit that they have a constitutional right to a climate that sustains life and that the U.S. governments actions have encouraged a fossil fuel economy despite scientific warnings about global warming.

In a major victory, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled the following year that the plaintiffs had a case and that it could proceed to trial, but the lawsuit has been challenged repeatedly in federal court by the Obama and Trump administrations, which sought to get it dismissed.

A three-member panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2020 dismissed the case after finding that Aiken lacked the power to order or design a climate recovery plan in the high-profile climate change lawsuit.

They noted that such a remedy should be made by the nations politicians or voters.

The plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint in March and asked the judge to change their lawsuit to seek a different ruling: that the nations fossil fuel-based energy system is unconstitutional.

In May, Aiken ordered a settlement conference with U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin, who came out of retirement to oversee the process.

The youth plaintiffs are now between the ages of 13 and 25.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP)  A suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of a North Carolina woman, a police department said Tuesday.

Fayetteville police said in a news release that Dashawn Dominique McCullum, 22, of Fayetteville was charged with first-degree murder. McCullum was arrested on Monday at his home without incident by U.S. marshals and a police apprehension team.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP)  Three women were arrested after thefts from two North Carolina stores in which more than $1,600 in merchandise was taken, police said.

Asheville police said in a news release on Monday that officers were notified of the theft at a Walmart late Sunday in which suspects left the store with the merchandise and fled in a vehicle.
SEQUOIA CREST, Calif. (AP)  Ashtyn Perry was barely as tall as the shovel she stomped into barren ground where a wildfire last year ravaged the California mountain community of Sequoia Crest and destroyed dozens of its signature behemoth trees.

The 13-year-old with a broad smile and a braid running to her waist had a higher purpose that  if successful  she'll never live to see: to plant a baby sequoia that could grow into a giant and live for millennia.

Its really cool knowing it could be a big tree in like a thousand years, she said.

The bright green seedling that barely reached Perry's knees is part of an unusual project to plant offspring from some of the largest and oldest trees on the planet to see if genes that allowed the parent to survive so long will protect new growth from the perils of climate change.

The effort led by the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, a Michigan nonprofit that preserves the genetics of old-growth trees, is one of many extraordinary measures being taken to save giant sequoias that were once considered nearly fire-proof but are at risk of being wiped out by more intense wildfires.

The giant sequoia is the worlds largest tree by volume and closely related to the redwood, the world's tallest. Sequoias grow naturally only in a 260-mile (420 kilometers) belt of forest on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. They have a massive trunk and can grow over 300 feet (90 meters) tall. The coast redwood is more slender and is native near the Pacific Ocean in Northern California.

Giant sequoias  and redwoods  are some of the best fire-adapted plants. Thick bark protects their trunks, and their canopies can be so high they are out of reach of flames. Sequoias even rely on fire to help open their cones to disperse seeds, and flames clear undergrowth so seedlings can take root and get sunlight.

In recorded history, large sequoias had never incinerated before 2015. Destruction of the majestic trees hit unprecedented levels last year when 10% to 14% of the estimated 75,000 trees larger than 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter burned. Thousands more potentially were lost this year during fires that burned into 27 groves  about a third of all groves.

An initial assessment released Tuesday by Sequoia National Forest said the Windy Fire killed hundreds of giant sequoias and many more burned trees may not survive. Scientists are still tallying the damage in neighboring Sequoia National Park from a different lightning-sparked fire.

Climate change and a century of policies emphasizing extinguishing wildland blazes rather than letting some burn to prevent bigger future fires are to blame, said Christy Brigham, chief of resource management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Hotter droughts have led to more intense fires that have burned through fuels accumulated through fire suppression.

Last year's destruction to the sequoias brought Brigham to tears.

Theyre so big and so old and so individual and iconic and quirky that even people who dont love trees, love them. They speak for all the trees, Brigham said. The fact that weve now created fires that they cant survive is very heartbreaking.

To save the trees this year, extreme measures were taken, including wrapping trunks of the largest trees in a fire-resistant foil, setting up sprinklers, raking the flammable matter from around the trees and even using gel in the canopies to repel flames.

But those labor-intensive measures are not practical, Brigham said. More needs to be done before fire approaches, including thinning vegetation and using prescribed burns to reduce the buildup of vegetation. They are also thinking about replanting.

One of the areas that burned intensely last year was the Alder Creek grove, where the Sequoia Crest community has stood since the middle of last century. Half the 100 homes and cabins were destroyed, leaving empty concrete foundations next to charred tree stumps. Some blackened giants still stand sentry on steep hillsides in the area, 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.

It was in that grove, one of the few privately owned, that Archangel had gathered cones and taken clippings over the past decade to clone and preserve the genes of two of the oldest and largest trees. One of those trees, named Stagg, the world's fifth-largest, survived while the fire killed one named Waterfall.

Talk about divine providence, said David Milarch, co-founder of Archangel. Little did we know that Waterfall would burn down two years ago and wed have the only seedlings of that tree.

Milarchs mission is to archive the genetics of ancient trees, breed them and replant them. He believes the oldest trees have superior genes that enabled them to live through drought, disease and fire and will give their offspring a better chance of survival.

Two years ago, the undeveloped part of the grove was bought by Save the Redwoods League.

The league is already replanting on its land to study if seedlings can survive where high-severity fire destroyed any ability for trees to naturally reproduce, said Joanna Nelson, science director for the organization.

While Nelson wouldn't rule out using seedlings from Stagg, estimated to be 3,000 years old, the project is designed to find the best genetic diversity to increase their survival.

That genetic makeup served that tree very well for the past 3,000 years, Nelson said. However, we know that the next 3,000 years are going to be more difficult - in terms of warming and drying land and air and bigger wildfires that are more frequent. We have conditions coming that these trees havent experienced.

Nelson applauded the effort by Sequoia Crest to replant.

Residents who lost homes and those who were spared banded together to excavate water pipes to provide irrigation for the seedlings and, along with Archangel workers and volunteers, dug holes under a thin coat of snow last week and planted small green flags to mark planting locations.

Uta Kogelsberger, whose cabin was destroyed, said she doesnt plan to rebuild but wants to leave a legacy she will probably never see.

We are all in some ways responsible for these fires  the way weve been treating our planet, Kogelsberger said. The loss of the cabin was absolutely devastating, but the loss of the amazing ecosystem that surrounds it is just beyond compare. You know, you can replace a house, but you cannot replace a 2,000 to 3,000-year-old sequoia tree.

Residents were joined last week by a science class of seventh and eighth graders from Springville, which sits at the bottom of the mountain, to help plant 150 of the 7-year-old seedlings.

Teacher Vicki Matthews drove the school bus up the cliff-hanging road above the Tule River canyon and into an evergreen forest that first turned a rusty shade from drought or fire damage and then gave way to entire stands of black trees silhouetted against the snow.

The 35 students fanned out across an area once known as downtown Sequoia Crest, where the original homes were built and now a sad scene of destruction with stumps poking from the snow like tombstones.

Ashtyn and two friends carefully removed the little tree from its pot, untangled the roots and planted it near a charred rock, packing the soil around it. They named it Timmy the Tree.

Ashtyn said she'd like to return once a year to see how it's growing. She hopes it becomes a giant.
HOUMA, La. (AP)  Louisiana State Police say Houma police have shot and killed a man who was charging at one of them with a screwdriver.

The man's mother, Lorraine Magee, told WDSU-TV that Johnny Magee, 36, of Houma was unarmed and was shot at least seven times.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Tupac Shakurs handwritten lyrics from classic songs such as California Love and Dear Mama along with galleries that pay homage to his upbringing and late mother are among the features in a massive touring museum exhibit.

The Shakur Estate announced Tuesday that the  Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When Im Free  will open Jan. 21 in Los Angeles. The exhibit is described as a fully immersive, thought-provoking museum experience that explores the life and legacy of the late rapper.

Shakur, one of the most prolific figures in hip-hop, died in 1996 from gunshot wounds. He was 25.

The exhibit is expected to spend six months in Los Angeles with the hopes of touring other cities.

There are thousands of pieces of paper, handwritten pieces of paper  which is everything from his lyrics to all of the songs and poetry that you know down to a grocery list for a birthday party, said Arron Saxe, president of Kinfolk Management + Media, who is working with Shakurs estate. Saxe has worked with estates for other iconic music artists including Otis Redding and Donny Hathaway.

The whole point of this exhibit was to not only show the kaleidoscopic nature of Tupac, but also show how he is relatable, Saxe continued. There are incredible pieces of clothing. This exhibit is also a mix of contemporary art and technology too. Many of the artifacts have never been seen before.

The 20,000-square foot exhibit will showcase Shakurs music, poetry, wardrobe, activism journey and other items in galleries.

One of the galleries will be dedicated to the rappers late mother, Afeni Shakur, the former Black Panther who inspired the work of her son. She died in 2016.

Saxe said Shakurs mother is the guiding light of the exhibition.

Afeni was the baddest Black woman to walk the planet, said Jamal Joseph, the rappers godfather and special advisor to the estate, in a statement. She raised awareness and shifted the atmosphere wherever she went. Tupacs brilliance shined brighter than the sun. He lived and moved with creative - revolutionary - fearless-passion fueled speed of a comet. Afeni and Pac challenged, re-imagined, and transformed history.

Shakurs estate-sanctioned museum experience is produced in partnership with Universal Music Group, CAA, Round Room Live and Kinfolk Management + Media.

Tupac Shakur was my Malcolm; he was my Martin, and to build an experience that honors such a prolific man, cannot be summed up in words, said Jeremy Hodges, whose firm, Project Art Collective, is working with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the creative portion of the exhibit. We wanted to create a memorable experience that will inspire you to be better than when you walked in, all while leaving you with the knowledge that he was a true revolutionary spirit.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

George Justice, Arizona State University

(THE CONVERSATION) The University of Florida barred three of its professors from serving as paid experts in a Florida voting rights case - sparking outrage within academia and in the news media. The university said allowing its professors to testify against the state was at odds with its interests. Critics say the move puts politics ahead of academic freedom. Here, George Justice, an English professor and former college dean, offers insight into the dynamics at play in the controversy.

Why do professors need permission to be paid experts?

Many universities, including the University of Florida, have policies that ask faculty to seek approval for outside activities. This is true for both paid and unpaid activities.

Those who work at research universities like the University of Florida have job responsibilities outside of teaching. Tenured and tenure-track faculty spend less than half their time on direct instruction; they often teach two courses per semester. More than half their time, therefore, is allocated to research and service to the profession.

Since professors have a lot of discretion in when they work, they have a lot of opportunities to moonlight  whether in jobs related to their expertise or not. In doing so, in theory they might neglect their official duties. Unapproved activities would be considered a conflict of their commitment to the job.

Universities therefore develop policies for faculty to avoid both conflicts of commitment and conflicts of interest. At the University of Florida, a conflict of interest takes place when a University Employees financial, professional, commercial or personal interests or activities outside of the University affects, or appears to affect, their professional judgment or obligations to the University.

Can a public university order faculty not to speak out publicly or in court?

Academic freedom provides college and university faculty members the right to conduct research and teach students in a manner consistent with their professional knowledge. But the principles of academic freedom do not protect everything a tenured faculty member might say. This is true whether inside or outside of the university.

The landmark 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure  made by the American Association of University Professors and still in use today  states that: Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties. However, the statement says research done for pecuniary return  that is, in exchange for money  should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution. In other words, universities cant tell professors how to do their research as long as they fulfill their other duties, such as teaching. But when it comes to getting paid for their research, they need to get permission from the university where they work.

The University of Florida now claims that this is an issue of pecuniary return for faculty research. University spokesperson Hessy Fernandez stated that the university is merely restraining these three experts from taking paid work outside their university duties.

If the professors wish to do so pro bono on their own time, without using university resources, they would be free to do so, Fernandez has said.

Fernandezs statement contradicts the universitys previous justifications for preventing the faculty to testify as experts. The university initially asserted that there was a conflict of interest rather than commitment: As UF is a state actor, litigation against the state is adverse to UFs interests.

Now, they seem to be claiming a conflict of commitment, defined in their standard policies as when a University Employee engages in an Outside Activity, either paid or unpaid, that could interfere with their professional obligations to the University. The university has not explained in what way testifying as expert witnesses would violate the professors professional obligations.

Have other scholars faced this kind of university restraint on their speech before?

Not that I am aware of. Experts quoted in news reports call Floridas denial of the faculty members request to testify on the basis of their scholarly expertise unprecedented. They say this is especially so since its a prior restraint on a professors ability to speak.

Prior restraint refers to censorship even before someone has spoken or published their words. It implies the requirement of a formal license in order to speak. By focusing its latest comments on the prospect of the faculty members being paid for their work as expert witnesses, I believe the university is trying to avoid accusations of exercising prior restraint.

Does tenure protect professors who defy their university?

Tenure does not protect faculty members who defy basic rules of employment that require them to fulfill their specified job duties.

Tenure does protect faculty members right to speak up on matters of their expertise. This includes speaking as expert witnesses. Many universities have specific language for this. For instance, Oregon State University has a policy that states faculty can serve as expert witnesses in administrative or judicial proceedings in which the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and Oregon State University are not parties, as long as they do so in a manner consistent with the OSU Policy on Outside Professional Activities, and consistent with any college, unit, or department restrictions on outside consulting or conflict of interest policies.

It would be a high bar for the University of Florida to jump over to claim that these faculty members would be violating their commitment to their research and their students by offering their expert testimony for this particular case, which challenges a recent law on voting rights in Florida, a subject for which all three are experts.

Identifying the universitys interest with the interests of the current governor - referred to as the executive branch in the universitys communications with the scholars  runs counter to the history and practice of public higher education. It also contradicts the more specific protections of academic freedom.

Is this action a threat to academic freedom?

It is a big threat. This is one of two recent challenges to tenure and academic freedom in Southern states. The other is a change to tenure rules in state universities in Georgia. The changes there allow administrators to fire tenured faculty  who have a university guarantee of a job for life  without a hearing before a faculty committee. Some ask: If administrators by themselves can decide to revoke tenure, does tenure really exist?. In the cases of both Florida and Georgia, university administrations are taking on responsibility for managing what faculty do and say outside of established principles of faculty self-governance.

The University of Florida financially supports The Conversation.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/university-of-florida-bans-professors-from-giving-expert-testimony-against-state-a-scholar-explains-the-academic-freedom-issues-170986.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he's decided to cut out Ethiopia from a U.S. trade program, setting the path for further sanctions against the African nation over its failure to end a nearly yearlong war in the Tigray region that has led to gross violations of human rights.

Biden in a letter to Congress said Ethiopia has not met eligibility requirements to remain a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The program provides sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the United States on the condition they meet certain requirements, including eliminating barriers to U.S. trade and investment and making progress toward political pluralism.

The president said Ethiopia was in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Biden also cited Guinea and Mali, which have experienced coups this year, in the letter for being out of compliance.

The sanction goes into effect on Jan. 1. The U.S. trade representative, Katherine Tai, said in a statement her office would "provide each country with clear benchmarks for a pathway toward reinstatement and our administration will work with them to achieve that objective.

Ethiopia's government had lobbied openly against the move. We are extremely disappointed by the threat of AGOA withdrawal currently under consideration by the U.S. government," the ministry of trade said in a statement, warning that it will "reverse significant economic gains in our country and unfairly impact and harm women and children. Ethiopia will continue to make every effort to correct any unintended or perceived wrongs.

Bidens announcement came as the war's anniversary approaches on Thursday, and as U.S. Horn of Africa envoy Jeffrey Feltman told reporters that the parties to the conflict dont seem anywhere near a cease-fire or talks and called the humanitarian conditions in Tigray unacceptable." Thousands have been killed in the war that began in November 2020.

Ethiopias government on Tuesday also declared a state of emergency as rival Tigray forces threatened to move on the capital. The United States has warned the Tigray forces, who long dominated the national government before Abiy took office, against any attempt to besiege the capital, Addis Ababa, after seizing control in recent days of the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha.

The U.S. and United Nations say Ethiopian authorities have prevented passage of trucks carrying food and other aid into Tigray. Scores of people have starved to death, The Associated Press has reported.

Biden signed an executive order in September threatening to levy sanctions against Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other leaders involved in the conflict now spreading into other regions of the country if steps arent taken soon to wind down the war.

Without question, the situation is getting worse and worse, and frankly we are getting alarmed by the situation, Feltman said, referring not only to the Ethiopian government blockade on Tigray but the Tigray forces push into the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions, widening the humanitarian crisis.

Just 13% of the needed humanitarian aid has entered Tigray in recent months because of intentional government restrictions, some food distribution partners have been forced to suspend their work, and bodies are already consuming themselves because of famine, Feltman said. No government can tolerate an armed insurgency. We get that, he added, but said no government should engage in mass starvation against citizens.

Feltman also warned that the U.S. opposes any attempt by the Tigray forces to besiege Ethiopias capital after the fighters took control of the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha in the past few days, putting them in a position to move down a major highway toward the capital.

Ethiopia in recent years had one of Africas fastest-growing economies, but the war has brought that momentum to a halt.

In a commentary last month in Foreign Policy magazine, Ethiopias chief trade negotiator Mamo Mihretu wrote that Ethiopias fledgling manufacturing sector could face an existential threat and removal of AGOA eligibility would only worsen the condition of ordinary Ethiopians who have no connection to the Tigray conflict.

He said that under AGOA in 2000, Ethiopia exported goods worth "a minuscule $28 million to the United States; in 2020, that figure rose roughly tenfold and stood at close to $300 million, nearly half of it under the AGOA.

He asserted that Ethiopias removal from AGOA would deal a serious blow to the welfare of millions of low-income workers.

Mesfin Tegenu, chairman of the American-Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee, estimated an immediate impact of some 200,000 jobs lost, most among low-income female workers.

On behalf of the one million members of the Ethiopian-American community, we call on the administration to think again, Mesfin said in a statement.

Feltman, the special envoy, said Ethiopian officials at a retreat in Washington in June were warned that Ethiopias relations with the U.S. were at a crossroads. That crossroads, he said, are behind us.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP)  Work has started on a new 49-unit apartment project in downtown Burlington that Mayor Miro Weinberger says will help ease an affordable housing crunch.

Ten units in the nine-story complex at Pine and Bank streets called The Nest will be affordable housing, within the budgets of low- and middle-income residents.
As questions about Delta 8 THC's legality wade their way through Texas courts, all eyes are on massive stockpiles of the now-illicit products that could spell legal trouble for retailers and manufacturers after a ruling by an Austin judge Friday.

That issue is at the center of a new legal argument pushing back against the Delta 8 ban brought by Houston-based smoke shop Vape City. Michelle Donovan, an attorney representing the Texas chain of more than 75 retail stores  which sells smoke and vape items including Delta 8 THC products  filed a request for a temporary restraining order this week asking a Travis County judge to remove Delta 8 THC from the Texas Department of State Health Services' list of schedule I controlled substances.

The substance's moniker is derived from its chemical makeup, Delta 8 tetrahydrocannabinols (or Delta 8 THC). It's considered an isomer of Delta 9 THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Manufacturers, retailers and consumers all believed that Delta 8 was made legal under the 2018 federal Farm Bill and subsequent state legislation that effectively legalized all hemp products containing less than 0.3 percent Delta 9 THC. Texas state attorneys, however, argue that Delta 8 THC is and always has been illegal.

The new filing is similar to a request filed last week from Austin-based hemp retailer Hometown Hero, which claimed State Health Services failed to give proper notice to an October 2020 public hearing regarding the fate of Delta 8 THC as a controlled substance. Not one person filed a comment or showed up to the hearing, which attorneys argue is indicative that no one was given proper notice. Then, when the State Health Services department published its ruling determining that Delta 8 THC was to remain on the controlled substances list, it was published in an image format rather than text format  making it difficult for industry leaders to find.

JustCBD

State district judge Gary Harger on Friday ruled against the request for a restraining order, meaning products containing Delta 8 THC will continue to be considered an illegal controlled substance. Vape City CEO Ali Sheikhani said Friday's ruling meant he's now sitting on millions of dollars worth of products he can't sell, despite having no trouble doing so as recently as two weeks ago.

"Right now, Vape City is all panic," Sheikhani said. "People don't know if we sell it. We took all the Delta 8 products out. They're confused. What are we going to tell customers?"

Sheikhani said he's having to cut hours for his more than 500 employees across the state to prepare for the loss of revenue he planned to make off of Delta 8 THC products. Outside the economic ramifications, he and his attorneys are worried about any crackdowns from law enforcement now that the substance is understood to be illegal.

"Businesses and consumers are going to be arrested onsite because they have these products on hand," Sheikhani's lawyer Donovan said of a worst-case scenario. "There's an immediate and abrupt harm. Basically, they're criminals overnight for having these products."

Donovan is still awaiting a hearing date for her request. She hopes her arguments detailing the potential harm to otherwise well-to-do business owners capitalizing on Delta 8's popularity will make the difference needed to nail a key, early victory in the drawn out legal fight ahead.

The earlier case filed by Hometown Hero has a full hearing Nov. 5 to determine if the Department of State Health Services violated Texas law regarding public notices. Friday's ruling was only a rejection of the immediate request for a restraining order and not a ruling on the full breadth of the case. During the upcoming hearing, advocates with the Texas Hemp Federation will provide testing experts who will testify to the rigorous examination that Delta 8 products undergo.

Andrea Steel, an attorney specializing in compliance issues with Hometown Hero, said manufacturers and retailers are now "in a very precarious situation" after Friday's ruling.

"Law enforcement in some areas may feel emboldened to take action where they previously did not, especially in smaller localities," Steel said. "Hopefully the Temporary Injunction hearing next week will provide additional clarity. There could likely be ramping up of regulatory or enforcement action in the interim."

For now, Sheikhani of Vape City is in a holding pattern regarding his stockpile of Delta 8 products. His stores continue to sell CBD and other products and accessories, but the Delta 8 ban struck a major blow to his expected revenue. "We took everything out," Sheikhani said. "I don't know what we're going to do with this millions and millions worth of inventory. I have no idea."
Gov. Greg Abbott named Austin lawyer Evan Young to the Texas Supreme Court on Monday.

Young is a former clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and was counsel to attorneys general under former President George W. Bush. Currently, he works as a partner at Baker Botts in Austin, where he chairs its Supreme Court and Constitutional Law Practice.

Young replaces former Justice Eva Guzman, who resigned in June ahead of a campaign for attorney general.

"Evan Young is a proven legal scholar and public servant, making him an ideal pick for the Supreme Court of Texas," Abbott said in a statement. "Evan's extensive background in private practice and public service will be a fantastic addition to the bench, and I am confident that he will faithfully defend the Constitution and uphold the rule of law for the people of Texas."

Young is set to finish Guzman's term in Place 9 on the court, which goes through the end of next year. Place 9 is on the ballot next year.

After clerking for Scalia, Young went to work for the U.S. Department of Justice, serving as counsel to two former attorneys general, Alberto Gonzales and Michael Mukasey. During that period, he spent time in Iraq, helping with U.S. efforts to rebuild the government there.

Young joined Baker Botts' Austin office in 2009. More recently, Abbott appointed Young to the Texas Judicial Council, which oversees the court system in Texas, and he serves on the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee.

Abbott's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Young would run in the election next year for a full term in Place 9. If he does, he already has Republican primary opposition in David Schenck, a justice on the Dallas-based 5th Court of Appeals. Schenck previously announced he was running for the state Supreme Court seat, and he told The Texas Tribune after the announcement of Young's appointment that it does not change his plans.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced that a portion of the $3 billion in funding he approved in September for border security will be used to install miles of physical barriers and anti-personnel wire at crossings along the Texas border to discourage migrants from entering the state.

In a series of television appearances  which included a visit to Fox News host Tucker Carlson's show Wednesday  the Republican leader said the state is "throwing everything it possibly can" to deter migrants from crossing the border. These efforts include laying razor wire and finishing sections of the border wall started by former President Donald Trump. Abbott added a segment has already begun construction and will be completed within the next two months.

In addition, Abbott said border patrol officers are currently placing large, metal shipping containers at low-water areas in the Rio Grande to block migrants from crossing.

"Texas is investing $3 billion of Texas taxpayer money doing the federal government's job," Abbott told Fox News reporter Maria Bartiromo Monday. "What we're doing with that money is we have now more 6,500 troopers and officers down on the border especially focused right now on trying to prevent these caravans from coming across the border."

Appearing on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," Abbott again blamed the Biden Administration for the escalating situation at the border and said he is doing the federal government's job by implementing these measures. He also told the conservative commentator that any migrants who bypass the blockades will be jailed for criminal trespassinga controversial tactic that has led to the unlawful imprisonment of hundreds of migrants without charges in recent months.

"The Biden Administration is actively encouraging this which is in contrast to what the Trump Administration did," Abbott told Carlson. "If they [migrants] do come across the border, The National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety are authorized to arrest any of these people who make it through our blockade efforts and put them in jail for violating a crime of criminal trespassing in the state of Texas."

Abbott's latest border efforts are part of "Operation Lone Star," a program launched in March by the governor to enhance border security that has led to the seizure of illegal drugs and arrests of thousands of people, according to NBC News. Some Democratic members of Congress, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, are demanding an investigation of the operation, calling it "unconstitutional" and an "effort to establish a separate state immigration policy."

In September, Abbott signed a series of bills increasing funding for border defense. Roughly $750 million of the bill be spent on construction of a "border barrier," according to James Barragan with the Texas Tribune. That plan could include temporary chain fences as well as concrete barriers. The cost of these measures comes in addition to $250 million the state used as "down payment" for the wall over the summer.

Trump's border wall was a major promise during his campaign for presidency in 2016, though it was never completed. Trump had also promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, but so far it has been paid for by U.S. taxpayers.

Last month, Abbott and nine other Republican governors also unveiled a 10-point plan they said will end the border security crisis. Part of plan involves "properly resourcing" the border by deploying more National Guard troops and ending the Biden Administration's "catch and release" program.
A Southwest pilot faces assault and battery charges following an alleged altercation with a company flight attendant in a Bay Area hotel.

The alleged attack, reported Tuesday by USA Today, took place on Oct. 18 at an unidentified hotel bar in San Jose, where pilots and flight attendants were staying between flights. Following what one San Jose police spokesman told the newspaper was a disagreement over mask-wearing or masks, the pilot was cited for assault and battery. A police spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.

The pilot is currently on leave and the company is conducting an investigation, an airline spokesperson told USA Today, but did not provide further details on the alleged attack. A call to Southwest for comment was not returned.

In recent weeks, Southwest pilots have been the center of a political firestorm. One pilot during a recent flight allegedly used the phrase "Let's Go, Brandon" over the cabin PA system, a slogan critical of President Joe Biden popular in right-wing circles. And in October, hundreds of flights were delayed, prompting many conservative commentators to blame the airlines recent COVID-19 vaccine mandate for staff shortages.

The Southwest flight attendants union, TWU Local 556, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.
Marion, IN (46952)

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Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

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Florida, FL (34429)

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Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

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More airports set to welcome international flights as laws require passengers and crews leaving Canadian airports to be fully vaccinated.

Canada opening 8 more airports to international travel More airports set to welcome international flights as laws require passengers and crews leaving Canadian airports to be fully vaccinated.

Canada opening 8 more airports to international travel More airports set to welcome international flights as laws require passengers and crews leaving Canadian airports to be fully vaccinated.

Canada opening 8 more airports to international travel More airports set to welcome international flights as laws require passengers and crews leaving Canadian airports to be fully vaccinated. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canada will be reopening more airports to international fights starting on November 30, the same day that passengers and crews will have to prove that they are fully vaccinated if they want to depart from a Canadian airport.



Increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely re-open these additional Canadian airports to international passenger flights, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a media release. This measure will help ensure that travellers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels this winter, while continuing to support the Government of Canadas measured approach to re-opening our border.

The eight airports that are reopening include:

St. Johns International

John C. Munro Hamilton International

Region of Waterloo International

Regina International

Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International

Kelowna International

Abbotsford International

Victoria International

Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

These airports join the list of 10 Canadian destinations that are already accepting international flights:

Halifax Stanfield International

Quebec City Jean Lesage International

Montreal-Trudeau International

Ottawa/MacdonaldCartier International

Toronto Pearson International

Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre

Winnipeg James/Armstrong Richardson International

Edmonton International

Calgary International

Vancouver International

More airports could start welcoming international travel, on the recommendations from Health Canada. The coronavirus pandemic, demand, and operational capacity of the airports will continue to play a role in how the government determines which locations can expand to international flights.

Also on November 30, all passengers and airline staff leaving a Canadian airport must be fully vaccinated. Canada started phasing in the measure on October 30, and has given travellers and crews until the end of the month to get fully vaccinated. The rule applies to travellers age 12 and older who use federally regulated modes of transportation, including all domestic and international flights from Canadian airports, VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer train passengers, and cruise ship passengers on voyages of 24 hours or more.

There will be some flexibility allowed for visiting foreign travellers who entered Canada before October 30. They will be allowed to leave the country without being fully vaccinated until February 28, if they provide a negative COVID-19 test before they travel.

The strict vaccine travel requirements that will be fully phased in by November 30, and the pan-Canadian proof of vaccination credential now available for travel, are creating opportunities for safe travel for vaccinated Canadians, Transport Canadas media release says.

Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
ANALYSIS: Canada is back on pace to achieving its target of 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. It needs to continue to welcome at least 45,000 immigrants per month for the rest of the year to achieve the target.

Canada welcomed historic 45,000 new immigrants in September ANALYSIS: Canada is back on pace to achieving its target of 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. It needs to continue to welcome at least 45,000 immigrants per month for the rest of the year to achieve the target.

Canada welcomed historic 45,000 new immigrants in September ANALYSIS: Canada is back on pace to achieving its target of 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. It needs to continue to welcome at least 45,000 immigrants per month for the rest of the year to achieve the target.

Canada welcomed historic 45,000 new immigrants in September ANALYSIS: Canada is back on pace to achieving its target of 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. It needs to continue to welcome at least 45,000 immigrants per month for the rest of the year to achieve the target. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has confirmed to CIC News that Canada landed a stunning 45,000 new immigrants in September.

This figure is easily the highest in modern Canadian history and is among the highest monthly totals in Canadian history. Unfortunately, the lack of historical records leaves us unable to confirm where the September 2021 figure ranks among all-time records.

According to independent historian Robert Vineberg, it is unlikely that September was the all-time record since in the first century of Canadas existence, the overwhelming majority of newcomers arrived in the warmer spring and summer months. For instance, he estimates as many as 80 per cent of the 401,000 immigrants welcomed by Canada in 1913 arrived between May and September (an estimated average of 64,000 immigrants per month).

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Nevertheless, the new September figure represents a remarkable turn of fortunes for a Canadian immigration system that has been struggling to process applications during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, Canada welcomed an average of 25,000 to 35,000 new immigrants a month. At the start of the pandemic, monthly permanent resident landings plummeted to just 4,000 in April 2020, which was the lowest in the modern era.

Landing figures slowly began to recover the rest of last year but not at the pace needed to achieve Canadas goal of welcoming 341,000 new immigrants in 2020. Instead, Canada welcomed just 184,000 new immigrants last year.

To compensate, the federal government decided to double down on immigration by seeking the arrival of 401,000 new immigrants this year, which would tie the annual record set in 1913. Canada got off to a strong start to the year before losing momentum. Beginning in June, however, Canada started to pickup the pace with the landing of 35,000 immigrants.

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It is important to note that a landing occurs when a foreign national sees their legal status in Canada converted to permanent residence. This can take place for an individual entering Canada from overseas or for a temporary resident living in Canada transitioning to permanent residence.

This distinction is important since Canada is currently focusing on transitioning its existing residents to permanent residence.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is guided by the rationale that those in Canada are less likely to be impacted by COVID interruptions such as travel restrictions and other delays that may impede Canadas ability to welcome 401,000 immigrants this year if the country otherwise chose to focus most of its attention of landing permanent residents coming from abroad.

The focus on transitioning those within Canada explains why the countrys population growth remains historically low, amid a period of historically high immigration. In September, Statistics Canada reported the countrys population grew by just 0.5 per cent over the last year, which is the weakest growth since the First World War. Prior to the pandemic, Canadas population grew by over one per cent annually for the better part of two decades with much of the growth being fueled by new permanent residents arriving from overseas.

Canada has now landed 267,000 immigrants this year. It will need to land 134,000 more immigrants between October and December to achieve its 401,000 newcomer target. This works out to about 45,000 new permanent residents per month.

IRCC has set itself up to achieve this target.

On February 13, it held the largest Express Entry draw ever by inviting 27,332 Canadian Experience Class candidates to apply for permanent residents. Given the length of time it takes an invitee to submit their permanent residence application and length of time IRCC needs to process it, we should expect many of these individuals to receive their permanent residence by the end of this year.

In addition, IRCC launched six temporary streams in May that allow up to 90,000 existing residents to apply for permanent residence. The department says it aims to process some 40,000 of the applications in 2021.

In June, Canada lifted its travel restrictions on all confirmed permanent residence holders, thereby allowing them to enter Canada and complete their immigration process. Canada also recently lifted its ban on flights from India, which is Canadas leading source of immigrants.

The combination of these major factors and other IRCC efforts put Canada in strong position to at least come close to achieving the 401,000 immigration target by the end of 2021.

Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Data holds great value, but only if you can find it and access it. That may sound simple, yet in the real world, its not.

Some people think theyve solved the problem if theyve asked permission to use someone elses data and have gotten a yes in response. But getting permission is just scratching the surface of the challenges that arise in data sharing, whether it is between departments within an organization or between organizations. How do you find the right data? How do you even know it exists? Can you trust it? Is it stored in a form your applications can access?

The challenges for getting the data you need can form a significant barrier to data getting used, and as a result, a lot of data lies dormant. Finding, accessing, and using data effectively is one of the biggest challenges companies will face, says Janice Zdankus, VP of Innovation for Social Impact in Hewlett Packard Enterprises Office of the CTO.

Read Getting value from your data shouldnt be this hard.

Data has value for cross-cutting purposes

One reason just getting permission isnt enough is that often data wasnt collected specifically for the data consumers project. Data science  from analytics to AI  frequently makes use of data in different ways than its original purpose. Customer transaction data, for instance, may have been collected for billing purposes, but it also provides a rich source of training data for online recommendation systems, fraud detection, and supply chain predictive analytics. Thats one reason its useful to run AI and analytics applications together, on the same system.

These examples illustrate the fact that context gives data value, as pointed out by Joanna McKenzie, Principal Data Scientist at The Data Lab - Innovation Centre in Scotland, in a recent AI and data panel Data Sharing for Data Science. Weather data, for instance, is obviously useful in making predictions about agricultural conditions. But one might produce better results by combining weather data with socio-economic or other human behavioral data in use cases such as predictive analytics for retail marketing or healthcare and disease prevention.

Watch the video Data Saves Lives

But to take advantage of the added value of combining diverse data sets, you may have to deal with mismatches in data type, in granularity, or many other parameters. Lets look a bit deeper at some of the common challenges encountered in data sharing.

What gets in the way?

The gap between data producers and data consumers underlies a major challenge in getting the data you need: data discovery. To find and use the data you need, you first have to know it exists. Thats not a trivial issue, as data generated by data producers often is siloed, whether within an organization or even from open-source data sets. Data discovery is even harder given the huge proliferation of different types and different sources of data.

Data trustworthiness is another fundamental challenge, particularly when there is a gap between the data consumer and the data producer. Even assuming all parties are responsible and have good intentions, it still may be difficult to find out exactly what a particular data set really is, how and when it was collected, who else is using it, and whether you can trust that it is a reliable source with an assured lifetime that fits your requirements. Suppose you need to revisit a data set for retraining AI models or to respond to regulatory audit requirements? Has the data been changed or cleaned up by someone using it for other reasons? Proper data curation and governance is challenging, especially when data is collected without knowing how it will be needed by multiple data users.

Data accessibility by multiple users and a variety of applications is a fundamental requirement for practical data sharing. Does the data infrastructure your data producers and data consumers are using support broad accessibility by different types of applications or tools? And dont forget the issue of when and where you will use data: must large data sets be moved to you? Or can they either be accessed remotely or by moving applications and models to them?

The need to connect data producers and data consumers isnt entirely new, but demand is growing. Response to these pressures is the rapid expansion of a new frontier: better data sharing for large, distributed data sets. New data initiatives are being launched, some as international partnerships, and new ways are being developed to deal more effectively with the challenges.

New approaches to make getting data easier

One new approach is called Dataspaces, a data system being developed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to facilitate data exchange between producers and consumers in multicloud, hybrid cloud, or on-premises settings. This platform-agnostic approach lets you find data across multiple technology stacks from multiple distributed owners. The goal is to enhance data sharing and collaboration, steer away from inaccessible siloed data, and provide improved governance for data you can trust.

Technology innovation in the form of a unifying data infrastructure for large-scale, highly distributed systems is also helpful in making exchanges between data producers and multiple data consumers feasible. An example is HPE Ezmeral Data Fabric, a software-defined, hardware-agnostic data infrastructure that stores, manages, and moves data across edge, cloud, and hybrid cloud architectures, with flexible multi-API access to support unified analytics by diverse applications. Data fabric not only makes automated data motion easy to do, but it also makes it possible to access data remotely, in many cases removing the need for data motion.

Another approach to making data easier to find and use involves inserting appropriate metadata into large data sets. Suparna Bhattacharya, Principal Technologist with HPE AI Research, is developing new techniques for automating metadata insertion. Along with Ted Dunning, CTO for Data Fabric at HPE, Suparna recently described how metadata can help deal with mismatches between diverse data sets used to improve agriculture even for individual small farms.

Watch the video Data Feeds People.

One new open data-sharing initiative is the AgStack Foundation, tasked with building a global data infrastructure to modernize data usage for improved agriculture. The need is urgent, as about a third of the worlds food goes to waste while 800 million people go hungry. New approaches are required because legacy technology is not a good fit to the increasingly complex agriculture supply chain.

New data initiatives are not limited to agriculture: they are appearing across a variety of sectors as countries seek to help organizations unlock the value of data by making effective connections between data producers and data consumers.

A good example is GAIA-X, an interoperable data exchange project that started as a government-driven collaboration between Germany and France and is now a global effort supported by over 300 organizations. In the HPE Tech Talk, Will GAIA-Xs federated data model benefit business?, Robert Christiansen, VP for Strategy in the Office of the CTO, and Johannes Koch, HPEs Managing Director in Germany, described the need to share data for a unified view, including widely distributed data in edge situations such as the global supply chain for automobile manufacturers or insights shared between researchers in healthcare. To help organizations prepare to participate in GAIA-X, HPE launched the HPE Solution Framework for GAIA-X in May 2021.

All of these approaches are works-in-progress, so watch for new developments as the trend toward better data sharing moves forward.

Additional resources

To find out more about the challenges of connecting data consumers with data producers and how they are being addressed, try these resources:

Watch the video Data Spaces: Connecting to Data You Can Trust

Read Getting the most from your data-driven transformation: 10 key principles

Find out more about HPE Ezmeral File and Object Store software.

____________________________________

About Ellen Friedman


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Due to deployment complexity, significant time-to-value, and the necessity for dedicated privacy teams, current data privacy rights management solutions developed for large firms are not fit for mid-market organizations.

FREMONT, CA: According to a recent survey, 86 percent of respondents care about their data privacy and want more control over their personal information, with 79 percent prepared to take action to achieve that control. This, combined with the rising trend of data breaches, in which billions of personal data records are exposed each year, has prompted the emergence of modern data privacy regulations, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), the California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act of 2020 (CPRA), the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) of 2021, and the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) of 2021.

To solve the issues that mid-sized businesses face in complying with ever-increasing data privacy rules, CYTRIO, a data privacy compliance firm, has acquired 3.5 million billion in seed funding. Angel investors and institutional seed investors have backed CYTRIO, including Dreamit Ventures, Food Retail Ventures, and Rockwood Group. Vijay Basani, Chief Executive Officer; Pankaj Parekh, Chief Privacy Officer; and Darshan Joshi, Chief Technology Officer, were among the CYTRIO founding team, who collectively have 50 years of data, privacy, and security experience.

Due to deployment complexity, significant time-to-value, and the necessity for dedicated privacy teams, current data privacy rights management solutions developed for large firms are not fit for mid-market organizations. SMEs are being forced to identify and solve privacy and security holes across their expanding infrastructures due to increased competitiveness and accelerated digital transformation. Due to consumer trust erosion and privacy regulation fines, SMEs cannot withstand customer boycotts or brand reputation damage.

The experience of the CYTRIO founding team is well-suited to respond to the urgent need for a mid-market solution that enables automated data discovery, built-in response work-flows, ease of deployment, and short time-to-value for CISOs and CPOs. Vijay Basani has 30 years of expertise in the IT industry, having founded companies such as WebManage Technologies (bought by NetApp), AppIQ (purchased by HP), and Cygilant. Pankaj Parekh has worked at Zscaler, Microsoft, Security First, iPolicy Networks, and other companies as a CPO, CTO, and VP of engineering. Darshan Joshi has worked with Informatica, Symantec, and Veritas as an SVP and VP of technology and engineering.
When Luzerne County judges meet next year, there likely will be an equal number of men and women at the table and on the bench for the first time. 
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FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground east of New Town, N.D., on May 19, 2021. The Biden administration said Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, petroleum industry regulators for the first time will analyze greenhouse gas emissions from federal oil and gas lease sales on a national scale. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
Oklahoma City, OK (73106)

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Sun and clouds mixed. High 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Mainly cloudy. Low 48F. SSE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph.
Unfortunately, charities are not excluded from Brexit-related complications when it comes to deciding whether or not to charge VAT, and where those possible VAT liabilities arise. The starting point for deciding how to treat the VAT is to understand whether the recipient of your services is a private person (B2C) or a business (B2B).

Conferences and training

Conferences and training taking place at a physical location where delegates attend in person are liable to VAT in the country where the event takes place. This is regardless of the location of the delegates, or whether they are attending on behalf of their employer or in their private capacity. Where the event takes place outside the UK, it may mean registering for VAT in another country even if the conference provider has no place of belonging there. Of course, it is possible that the event could fall within the VAT exemption rules, but this would depend on the specific facts.
On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists published the latest edition of its Global Impunity Indexan annual list ranking the worst countries in the world when it comes to convicting the killers of journalists. The five top offendersSomalia, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, in that orderremained unchanged from the 2020 list, though CPJ cautioned that this years data does not fully reflect the current situation in the latter country; the data covers the year to August 31, the date on which US forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan amid a rapidly worsening situation for Afghan journalists under the new Taliban regime. In all, CPJ calculated that the perpetrators of 226 of the 278 murders of journalists worldwide in the past decadeor eighty-one percentstill have not been convicted. This marked an improvement on the decade from 2010 to 2020, but not by much.

Starting today, CPJ is taking part in a novel effort to do something about this impunity ratewithin the limits imposed by the international legal system, at any rate. The group recently joined with Reporters Without Borders and Free Press Unlimited, an organization based in the Netherlands, to found A Safer World for the Truth, a collaborative press-freedom project that, in turn, established a Peoples Tribunal to hear the cases of murdered reporters. Peoples Tribunals, as the project explains, lack substantive legal authority; instead, they seek to administer grassroots justice at the level of civil society by generating attention, and an evidentiary record, around crimes that governments and the international community wont tackle. The concept has its roots in the sixties, when the International War Crimes Tribunalwhich was also known as the Russell Tribunal after its founder, the philosopher Bertrand Russellfound the United States guilty of genocide and other atrocities in Southeast Asia. (Another philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, presided.) Since then, Peoples Tribunals have taken on the military dictatorship in Chile, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and the US occupation of Iraq, among other matters. In some cases, such tribunals aim to leverage popular pressure toward formal legal action; in others, they perform more of a truth-and-reconciliation function.

ICYMI: A tale of two Facebook leaks

The Peoples Tribunal for murdered journalists was convened by the Permanent Peoples Tribunal, an organization that was founded in Italy, in 1979, in a bid to institutionalize the practice. The organization independently selected a panel of expert judges. (They include Marcela Turati, a Mexican journalist and press advocate whom Stephania Taladrid has profiled for CJR.) A team of prosecutors was also tapped for the tribunal, led by Almudena Bernabeu, an international human-rights lawyer. This morning, at 10am local time, Bernabeu began to lay out her case at an opening hearing in an elegant, wood-paneled church in The Hague, the Dutch city that is a hub for international justice. Impunity around the murders of journalists reflects something bigger, and is tied up in the fate of democracy worldwide, she said. I had the disgraceful experience of having to live in the United States during the Trump administration. It was particularly scary to see how media was [used] as a baton for political manipulation, for confusion, and for eventually advancing an agenda around election fraud.

The prosecution will seek to indict the governments of Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Syria in the murders of three journalists in particular: Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was killed in 2009 and had reported critically on leaders during Sri Lankas civil war; Miguel Angel Lopez Velasco, who was killed in Mexico in 2011, alongside his wife and son, having received repeated threats; and Nabil Al-Sharbaji, who died in a Syrian jail in 2015 following years of detention and torture. Each of these cases will get a dedicated, two-day hearing early next year (two of them in The Hague; Lopezs in Mexico City), ahead of a closing hearing on World Press Freedom Day, in May. (The indicted states will have an opportunity to defend themselves then; if they choose not to, the Permanent Peoples Tribunal will appoint someone to represent them ex officio.) Todays opening hearing was intended to lay out the broader pattern of impunity around the world, with the aid of some prominent witnesses. The first to be called by Bernabeu was Pavla Holcova, a Czech reporter whose colleague Jan Kuciak was murdered in Slovakia in 2018. The threatened Philippines journalist Maria Ressa spoke by video about an hour ago, followed by the fiancee of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The son of the murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia is scheduled to testify this afternoon.

The Peoples Tribunal is one of a number of high-profile initiatives to have raised awareness of crimes against journalists beyond traditional journalistic circles. Today also marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly. (The date was picked in 2013, to commemorate the deaths of two French journalists in Mali that year.) Recently, meanwhile, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, the editor in chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, on behalf of threatened journalists everywhere. The award was symbolically important and captured global attention. And yet, of course, impunity continues; as I noted at the time, some of the congratulatory rhetoric around the Nobel came from leadersnot least in the Philippines and Russiawho are responsible for, or have failed to strongly push back on, anti-media crimes, including US President Joe Biden, whose administration ultimately punted on punishing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Khashoggis murder.

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Last night, at a press conference that I attended virtually, I asked representatives from the Peoples Tribunal how increased awareness might translate into concrete accountability. Gypsy Guillen Kaiser, of CPJ, said its no coincidence that the Nobel went to journalists from countries with high rates of impunity, then detailed recent abuses in both. Theres no way the world hears of this, she said, and that courtrooms remain deaf. Very few things, Bernabeu added, can shine a light like a Nobel. The light from the Peoples Tribunal, in terms of global attention, is not likely to shine quite as brightly. But putting evidence on the record is importantand the tribunal mechanism, given its history, puts crimes against journalists in the same bracket as other crimes against humanity. Thats a welcome step, even if it isnt legal justice in an actual court.

Meanwhile, journalists around the world continue to lose their lives. On Thursday, the day CPJ published its 2021 Impunity Index, Fredy Lopez, a reporter in Mexico (sixth on the index), was shot dead at his home, in the presence of his wife and children. Two days later, Orlando Dinoy, a journalist in the Philippines (seventh on the index), was shot dead after an unidentified gunman broke into his apartment. The day after that, in Mexico again, Alfredo Cardoso, a photojournalist, died of his injuries after being abducted from his home and shot. Their cases might one day be resolved, and their killers convicted. But the odds arent in their favor.

Below, more on press freedom around the world:

Afghanistan: On Friday, gunmen in Kabul opened fire on the car of Ali Reza Sharifi, a journalist with an Iranian state broadcaster. He escaped with only light injuries. Last week, the Afghanistan National Journalists Union said that it had recorded more than thirty instances of violence and threats against reporters since the US withdrawal at the end of August, with the Taliban responsible for the vast majority of those. Sayed Maroof Sadat, an Afghan journalist, was killed by gunmen in Nangarhar province in early October. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack; Al Jazeera has more.

On Friday, gunmen in Kabul opened fire on the car of Ali Reza Sharifi, a journalist with an Iranian state broadcaster. He escaped with only light injuries. Last week, the Afghanistan National Journalists Union said that it had recorded more than thirty instances of violence and threats against reporters since the US withdrawal at the end of August, with the Taliban responsible for the vast majority of those. Sayed Maroof Sadat, an Afghan journalist, was killed by gunmen in Nangarhar province in early October. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack; Al Jazeera has more. Vietnam: Last week, a court in Vietnam convicted five journalistsTruong Chau Huu Danh, Doan Kien Giang, Le The Thang, Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao, and Nguyen Thanh Nhaof abusing democratic rights and freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state; they will serve sentences ranging from two to nearly five years in prison. According to CPJ, all five journalists worked for Bao Sach, a Facebook-based independent outlet that upset officials with its reporting on alleged corruption.

Last week, a court in Vietnam convicted five journalistsTruong Chau Huu Danh, Doan Kien Giang, Le The Thang, Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao, and Nguyen Thanh Nhaof abusing democratic rights and freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state; they will serve sentences ranging from two to nearly five years in prison. According to CPJ, all five journalists worked for Bao Sach, a Facebook-based independent outlet that upset officials with its reporting on alleged corruption. India: For the Indian journalist Rana Ayyubs new Substack newsletter, Aakash Hassan lays out the nonexistent state of press freedom in Kashmir, which was stripped of its autonomous regional statusand had its internet shut offby the Indian government in 2019. Journalism in Kashmir was never easy, but for our profession, the repression, enforced silence, and outright persecution have reached unprecedented levels, Hassan writes. Since 2019, no Western journalist has been allowed to visit Kashmir, save for a single state-guided tour of three journalists in December 2020.

For the Indian journalist Rana Ayyubs new Substack newsletter, Aakash Hassan lays out the nonexistent state of press freedom in Kashmir, which was stripped of its autonomous regional statusand had its internet shut offby the Indian government in 2019. Journalism in Kashmir was never easy, but for our profession, the repression, enforced silence, and outright persecution have reached unprecedented levels, Hassan writes. Since 2019, no Western journalist has been allowed to visit Kashmir, save for a single state-guided tour of three journalists in December 2020. Brazil/Italy: Brazilian journalists have alleged that security personnel working for President Jair Bolsonaro assaulted them at the G20 meeting in Italy over the weekend. The Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported allegations that broadcast journalist Leonardo Monteiro of TV Globo was punched in the stomach and pushed by Bolsonaros security after asking the president why he didnt attend any G20 events on Sunday, according to The Guardian. Its not clear if the personnel were Brazilian or Italian.



A programming note, and an invitation: Next week, Ill be writing this newsletter from inside COP26, reporting and commenting on the media stories surrounding both the conference and the climate crisis itself. If you or your news organization is at COP, Id love to hear about your coverage, or to just say hi; Im especially interested in hearing from journalists who are covering the conference in an innovative way, and from those representing outlets outside the US. If you arent at COP, Id love to hear your thoughts on the coverage of the conference as it unfolds. You can reach me at [email protected]



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: When bullish finance stories are not exactly what they appear

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Hiscox has set aside $150 million to cover losses linked to Hurricane Ida and floods in Europe, the insurer said, above analysts expectations, while it reported strong premiums written this year thanks to rising rates.

The Lloyds of London insurer said on Tuesday it saw rate increases of 13% across its portfolio, with cyber growing at a significant double digit rate. Gross written premiums grew 6.1% to $3.46 billion for the nine months to September.

Rising ransomware attacks have contributed to a jump in cyber premiums, according to insurance broker Marsh.

Cyber can change overnight when somebody finds a weakness within a system and can then exploit that, outgoing Hiscox boss Bronek Masojada told Reuters.

So that is the challenge how do you respond to something where the risks change so rapidly? We are happy to provide (cyber) on a controlled basis.

Rival Beazley, which has been ramping up investment in cyber insurance, has also said the business was a major contributor to a 20% overall increase in its premium rates when it reported half-year results in July.

Beazley reports third-quarter results this week.

Hiscox said it had reserved $110 million for Hurricane Ida based on an insured market loss of $35 billion, and $40 million net for European floods based on an insured market loss of $9 billion, which Jefferies analysts called worse than their expectations.

Hiscox, which underwrites a range of risks, including for events, fine art, classic cars, kidnap and ransom, is coming off a turbulent period in which it lost a high-profile court case brought on by Britains financial regulator over business interruption policies last year.

We have been working closely with customers and brokers in the UK to pay business interruption claims as quickly as possible, said Hiscox, adding it had made final or interim payments to 5,153 insured claimants as at the end of September, a 60% jump on July 30.

Masojada said the insurer was about half-way through paying business interruption claims.

On Tuesday, Hiscox stood by its previous net loss estimate from the pandemic of $475 million for 2020 and $17 million for lockdowns this year.

About the photo: Water stands in the town centre in Bad Muenstereifel, western Germany, Sunday, July 18, 2021. Heavy rains caused mudslides and flooding in the western part of Germany. Multiple have died and are missing as severe flooding in Germany and Belgium turned streams and streets into raging, debris-filled torrents that swept away cars and toppled houses. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP)
Avis "Darlene" Searan, age 75, formerly of California, passed away at Restwell Home Plus in Oskaloosa, KS, on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. She was born the daughter of Leo Abraham and Avis Amelia (Gabbert) Searan in Claremore, OK, on June 25, 1946. Darlene loved watching baseball, especially,
At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of workers stayed home, rendering physical office spaces useless, at least temporarily. Now that employees are returning to in-person work, what does the current commercial real estate market look like? And what does the future of office space
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In this March 2021 photo, Waltraud Mangelsen, of Charlotte, sits still as Genesis VNA nurse Stacy VanderHeiden administers her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Clinton County Community Health Manager Michele Cullen credits vaccinating the elderly with the decrease in COVID deaths in Clinton County. Most COVID deaths in the county were people over the age of 65, according to county death records.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The company behind the digital payments service GCash is now valued at more than $2 billion after securing fresh funding, it announced Tuesday.

In a statement, Mynt said it raised $300 million from global investment giant Warburg Pincus, along with New York-based private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners and investment company Bow Wave Capital.

Bow Wave Capital is an existing investor of the company, it noted.

The development further cements Mynt's unicorn status, which pertains to privately-owned startups valued at over $1 billion, with their rarity likened to finding the mythical creature.

The investment round also includes participation from Itai Tsiddon and Amplo Ventures as well as capital from Globe and Ayala, noted Mynt.

With the entry of Mynts new international investors, the company is joining an eminent league of world-class companies that are redefining the global technology and innovation landscape, the statement read.

To date, GCash has more than 48 million users, according to Mynt. Its also on track to hit 3 trillion in gross transactional value, thrice last years record.

The app now has 3 million merchants and social sellers, it further added.

Mynt board chairman and Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu welcomed the fresh infusion from Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners, and Bow Wave Capital.

Their investment in Mynt and GCash further validates the strides the company has made in providing access to innovative financial services to more Filipinos and highlighting the Philippines to the global investor audience, he said.

Warbug Pincus managing director Saurabh Agarwal, meanwhile, said their investment marks their continued commitment and strong belief in the countrys long-term prospects as one of the regions fasted growing digital economies.

Meanwhile, managing director Deven Parekh said GCash has created the most compelling product to reach the massively underserved market in the Philippines, adding their investment in Mynt falls within their global thesis of boosting financial inclusion with digital tools.

GCash is among the digital platforms that have gained prominence amid the pandemic, as authorities encourage the use of cashless transactions in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 while helping firms and sellers make ends meet.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31)  The Saudi Arabia government is expected to settle the 4.6 billion unpaid wages and end of contract payments of around 9,000 Filipino migrant workers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Sunday.

Bello said the payment of the unsettled salaries and benefits will be made during the visit of the Middle East nation's labor minister Ahmed al-Rajhi in December.

"The unpaid salaries of our OFWs can be settled just in time for Christmas," said Bello.

The Labor secretary also said al-Rajhi has appealed to the Philippines to reconsider a possible deployment ban in the Gulf nation, at the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Dialog last week.

Bello warned of a deployment ban in the kingdom due to the unpaid salaries of the OFWs, who were forced to return to the country after they stopped receiving remuneration.

Several weeks ago, he had ordered DOLE line agencies to look into the possibility of the ban, after the Saudi government failed to facilitate the release of the amount despite their courts ruling in favor of the OFWs in 2016.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  Sen. Bato dela Rosa admitted Tuesday that he is a bit bothered about the ongoing investigation of the International Criminal Court on the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa, who was the chief of the Philippine National Police when the government operationalized the drug war through Command Memorandum Circular 16-2016, admits that he sees the ongoing probe as a problem.

"Kaunti, nag-aalala. Problema naman talaga yan kung tutuusin, alangan namang sabihin kong hindi problema yan. Problema talaga yan," he said, when asked what he feels about the result of the ongoing ICC probe.

[Translation: I am a little bothered. It is really a problem if you look at it. And I could not say that I don't see it as one. It is really a problem.]

"Pero (but) I am ready. I am ready. No doubt about it," he added.

The ICC earlier found evidence of crimes against humanity since the Duterte administration started the bloody war on drugs in July 2016.

The administration has maintained that it will not cooperate with the international court. President Rodrigo Duterte also publicly told Dela Rosa to just keep quiet if he ever gets pressed for answers and he will take the blame.

READ: Duterte to Dela Rosa: I'll take the blame on drug war

Although the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute of the ICC in 2019, the court said it retains jurisdiction over crimes that allegedly happened when the Philippines was still a state party to the treaty.

Dela Rosa, who is running for president, recently said that he will not allow the ICC to conduct its probe on alleged human rights violations committed during the administrations anti-illegal drug campaign.

The prosecutor estimated that 12,000 to 30,000 civilians were killed in the drug war between 2016 and 2019. However, government data showed that 6,191 suspects have died in over 200,000 anti-illegal drug operations as of Aug. 31 this year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  President Rodrigo Duterte will participate in the virtual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next week, Malacanang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during his virtual briefing that Duterte will be attending on Nov. 12 via videoconferencing the event's opening ceremonies, the Global Economic Outlook presentation by the International Monetary Fund and another session called Recovery from COVID-19 Build Prosperity for All Our People and Future Generation.

Duterte is likewise expected to attended the handover of APEC's chairmanship to Thailand and the closing ceremonies, said Roque.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern currently chairs the 21-member organization. It is the first economy to host an entire year of APEC meetings virtually.

Under the theme, Join, Work, Grow. Together, New Zealand said the focus of the APEC Economic Leaders Week will be on concrete measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through trade outcomes that support the movement of vaccines and related medical supplies, APECs long-term work on macroeconomic policy and structural reform, as well as efforts to progress on sustainability, inclusivity and digital connectivity.

Leaders are expected to issue a joint declaration on the years policy priorities and endorse an implementation plan for the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, which will guide the forums work for the next 20 years.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  Land Transportation Office (LTO) branches in Metro Manila will issue driver's license valid for a decade to motorists with a clean record, agency chief Edgar Galvante said Tuesday.

The rollout began on Oct. 28 but limited to the central office licensing center in Quezon City.

The expanded issuance covering all LTO offices in the capital region will begin Nov. 3.

"Simula bukas, ang lahat ng LTO offices sa NCR makakapag-issue na ng 10-year license validity," Galvante said in a government briefing.

[Translation: Beginning tomorrow, all LTO offices in NCR will issue driver's licenses with 10-year valid.]

Motorists seeking to renew licenses must first pass a refresher course called comprehensive driver's education or CDE before submitting an application, Galvante said. The examination consists of 25 questions covering traffic rules and regulations, traffic signs and symbols, and road courtesy, he added.

Drop refresher course requirement

Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged LTO to scrap this requirement, as it is unnecessary and has no legal basis.

While the LTO invoked Republic Act 10930, there is no provision in the law which explicitly states that a certification for a CDE is required for renewing a driver's license," he said in a statement.

To avoid confusion on the law, Rodriguez also filed a bill seeking to repeal relevant sections of RA 10930, which the LTO cited as basis for this requirement.

He also called on his colleagues at the House of Representatives to look into the CDE requirement.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is expected to soon release P1 billion of the P4.2 billion supplemental budget requested by the Department of Labor for the quarantine expenses of returning overseas Filipino workers until the end of the year.

"Ang alam namin ay at least P1 billion ang maiuukol ng DBM ngayong linggo," Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Cacdac told a government briefing.

[Translation: What we know is the DBM is allocating at least P1 billion this week.]

"We are hoping na iyong (the) next few tranches will be given to us in the remainder of the year," Cacdac added.

Under the latest rules of the Inter-Agency Task Force, fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreign nationals traveling from "green" countries tagged as low risk for COVID-19 no longer need to be quarantined upon entry to the Philippines.

They just need to present a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival.

But for fully vaccinated Filipinos, they can choose to take an RT-PCR test in a quarantine facility upon arrival and stay there until the release of a negative result.

Other inbound travelers shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day.

Meanwhile, fully vaccinated individuals from "yellow" countries considered as moderate risk for COVID-19 should also go through facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. Afterward, they shall be under home quarantine until the 10th day.

Other travelers need to be in a quarantine facility until a negative result of a test taken on the seventh day is out. Then, they must complete their 14-day quarantine at home.

Those from "red" countries tagged as high risk for COVID-19, except for Filipino repatriates, are not allowed to enter the country.

Evacuees need to go through facility-based quarantine for 10 days and home quarantine for four days.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The government is launching a thorough investigation into the fire that damaged 148,678 COVID-19 vaccine doses stored at the Zamboanga del Sur provincial health office, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 said on Tuesday.

It confirmed that 88,938 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, 36,164 doses of Sinovac, 14,400 doses of Moderna, and 9,176 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines were destroyed during the fire on Oct. 31. Other routine immunization vaccines were also ruined.

The AstraZeneca vaccines were supposed to be administered as second doses while the Moderna shots were scheduled to be used for pediatric vaccination, both slated on Nov. 3.

Vaccines for other areas were also damaged in the blaze, as the health office also served as the provincial cold chain storage facility for COVID-19 vaccines allocated for 26 municipalities and one component city.

The NTF said around 22,2000 Pfizer doses bound for Pagadian City were temporarily stored at the facility, while roughly the same amount were set to be deployed to other local government units, including 44,400 Pfizer shots meant for Zamboanga del Sur's vaccination rollout.

It added the Sinovac doses were not delivered immediately because they were not the preferred brand of some LGUs, which refused to accept the shots.

The Health and Interior departments were tasked to thoroughly investigate the incident.

"Let us keep in mind that vaccines are gold, and one dose equals one life saved. May this unfortunate incident be a reminder to all local government units to ensure the safety and security of these life-saving vaccines," the statement said. It was signed by DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, DILG chief Eduardo Ano, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr., and testing czar Vince Dizon.

The DILG will also issue a show cause order to the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur to explain its failure to deliver the vaccines three days after receipt - as indicated in a memorandum order.

"We will have to look bakit napakarami ng bakuna nila bakit hindi na-move [why they have a lot of vaccines that weren't transferred] so we will look into that and see who are accountable," National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said.

Authorities are now trying to retrieve vaccines, refrigerators, vaccine carriers, and transport boxes that were not damaged and can still be used.

The government also assured the public that the stocks in the affected areas will be replenished, especially for those who are set to receive their second dose.

"The regional office is now doing its plan. Mayroon silang mga buffer stocks sa region, ibibigay nila iyan sa mga areas. Diretso na iyan sa mga bakuna center para mabakuna iyong second dose," Cabotaje said.

[Translation: There are buffer stocks in the region, it will be distributed there. It will go straight to the vaccination centers so the second doses can be administered immediately.]

Cause still unclear

Local authorities have yet determine the possible cause of the "devastating" blaze, but said it started from the basement of the building.

Meanwhile, the provincial health office said vaccinations for those scheduled to get Sinovac and AstraZeneca may still continue this week given the fresh deliveries of doses.

"Para 'yung mga naka-schedule (For those scheduled) tomorrow for Astra and Sinovac, we can give also the vaccination tomorrow. But for the Pfizer and Moderna, we will wait," Dr. Anatalio Cagampang Jr., chief of Zamboanga del Sur's provincial health office, told CNN Philippines' News Night.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  There is no respite for the Philippine General Hospital despite the decline in COVID-19 cases as the health facility now has more non-COVID-19 patients but still lacks manpower, a hospital official said on Tuesday.

We are having a problem now. Our emergency rooms now are really having so many non-COVID patients by a ratio of probably 4:1. We do not have anymore a long waiting list for COVID, PGH spokesman Jonas del Rosario told CNN Philippines New Day.

This comes after the PGH reopened its non-COVID-19 wards. In August, the hospital stopped accepting non-COVID-19 patients because of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Del Rosario said PGHs usual patients include those with cancer, heart diseases, and other infections.

He noted that 35% of PGHs 300 beds for COVID-19 patients are occupied, while 75% of the beds in intensive care units are utilized  the lowest figure since the start of the surge of cases a few months ago, he added.

"People are feeling much better now that we can handle the volume. It is always a relief that we are not getting overwhelmed," he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  Filipinos are advised to send their mail and holiday packages to post offices as early as this month, as the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) warned about delivery delays due to pandemic restrictions.

PHLPost Business Lines department manager Chat Adriano said it may take from three to four weeks for a parcel to reach the recipient, considering the health and safety protocols currently being implemented in the destinations.

Kung maaari lang po sana, ngayong buwan na to ng November ay magsimula na po ang pagpapadala para naman po dumating sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay bago dumating ang kapaskuhan, she told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon on Tuesday.

[Translation: If possible, they should start sending the packages this month of November so that they will be delivered to their loved ones before Christmas.]

The agency has released its mail schedule for the holiday season, where it indicated the recommended latest dates of mailing.

Adriano noted that parcel recipients no longer need to go to the post office as PHLPost already has door-to-door delivery service.

She said those who have concerns regarding shipping delays, or damaged or missing items may contact the agency via landline or email.

Mailers are also reminded to make sure the items are appropriately packaged, the addresses of the sender and recipient are complete, and no prohibited objects, including liquids, cash, drugs, batteries, flammable and valuable items, are inside the parcels.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2) A fresh shipment of 2.7 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the country on Tuesday.

The plane carrying the government-purchased shots landed at 3 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

The new delivery is composed of 1,350,000 doses each for the components 1 and 2 of the Russia-made vaccine, state media reported.

The National Task Force Against COVID-19 thanked the Russian government for helping facilitate the procurement of the additional Sputnik doses.

The Philippines reached a new milestone in its COVID-19 immunization program last week, after the number of vaccines delivered hit the 100 million mark. To date, over 108 million shots have already reached the country.

With the increasing vaccine supply and stockpile, authorities are planning to conduct a "national vaccination day" for COVID-19.

"Pina-plano namin ni Sec Galvez na mag-hold ng tinatawag na National Immunization Day for COVID-19, para magamit 'yung mga napakaraming bakunang dumating," said task force adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa  one of the officials who welcomed the new shipment.

[Translation: Sec. Galvez and I are planning to hold what we call the National Immunization Day for COVID-19, so we can use the many vaccines that have arrived.]

Herbosa said officials are eyeing to roll out the event within the month. No further details were provided.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)  The Taguig City local government on Tuesday began vaccinating adolescents 12 to 17 years old with no medical condition, ahead of the nationwide vaccination of minors on Wednesday.

The local government also welcomed non-residents to register for vaccination, provided they are attending a school in the city.

Yung sa school yun ang ipre-present ng mother. Basta mag-register lang sila. Pag nandito na basta dalhin nila yung record na don sila sa school ng Taguig nag-aaral, said Taguig City Assistant Health Officer Joselito Heyres.

[Translation: Parents will have to present validation that their children are enrolled in schools in the city in order for registration to push through.]

According to the city health office, it has in stock 80,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for the age group.

They said walk-ins are not allowed, and parents need to register their children through the city's Trace App or with the barangay health center.

The city can vaccinate more than 500 people per day from 7 a.m to 4 p.m.

The Health department said it intends to inoculate 80% of the pediatric population by the end of the year.

Dr. Fatima Gimenez from the immunization committee of the Philippine Pediatric Society told CNN Philippines that they support this move, which is actually what they had been recommending even prior to the inoculation of children with underlying illnesses.

So far, only minor side effects have been recorded following the vaccination of adolescents with existing medical conditions, according to Gimenez.

"We were seeing a clamor, people were coming in and that was just phase 1," Gimenez said about the initial rollout last month.

She also urged parents to involve their children when it comes to deciding whether they get the vaccine or not.

"It should be a joint decision, that's why you have the parent giving the permission to have it, and you also have to have the assent of the child that he or she agrees," she explained.
(CNN) -- Only a couple of weeks ago, Francis de la Nuez and his wife were elated about expecting a baby girl. But Covid-19 put a tragic end to their hopes, cutting short a 34-week pregnancy.

Walking outside the Dr. Marcelino Velez Santana Regional Hospital in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital, de la Nuez told CNN he's still in shock.

"My wife contracted Covid-19 10 days ago. She had a high fever. She also had very severe muscle pains which caused her to have contractions. Our baby girl died. When we went to get a sonogram, it was already too late," he said.

His wife is still recovering in the hospital's intensive care unit. The de la Nuez family is one of many dealing with yet another wave of infections in this Caribbean nation of nearly 11 million. Last week at the same hospital, 17 of 18 beds in the ICU were occupied and there was only one ventilator left.

Until recently, the Dominican Republican seemed to be heading toward normality. September saw a record number of tourists visit the Caribbean nation, and more than 2 million students in the public education system returned to in-person classes for the first time in more than a year. On October 11, the country's nationwide state of emergency was lifted.

But was it too soon?

Just as students returned to classes, Covid-19 cases began trending upward, data published by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) shows.

Less than two weeks later, Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), announced that while the Covid-19 trend in most of Latin America and the Caribbean was downward, new cases had increased by over 40% in the Dominican Republic.

New variants, schools and vaccination rates

Dr. Jorge Marte, director of the Center for Diagnosis, Advanced Medicine and Telemedicine (CEDIMAT), one of the main hospitals in Santo Domingo, points to the spread of new variants and the reopening of schools as significant factors in the country's surging case numbers.

The country's public health ministry quickly sought to wrest control of the new spread, announcing on Oct 8 new precautionary measures requiring people aged 13 and older to show a vaccination card or negative PCR test in order to access public places, like schools and workplaces. Proof of vaccination would also be required for entrance to restaurants, gyms and public transportation.

But those measures could only go so far, according to Marte, who says that despite the introduction of booster shots, the country's overall vaccination campaign has been insufficient.

Less than 50% of the total Dominican population has been fully vaccinated, according to JHU. The government had aimed to vaccinate 70% of the country's eligible population with at least two doses.

"We have yet to vaccinate the population target we set for ourselves," says Marte, who also serves as a presidential health adviser.

Dominican Health Minister Daniel Rivera has described the virus' resurgence as a crisis of the unvaccinated, who are taxing health resources and occupying ICU beds.

"Out of the last 31 people who died, 29 of them were not vaccinated at all. And the only person who was vaccinated and died was a 68-year-old patient," Rivera said during a press conference last week.

Dr. Indira Jimenez, who's in charge of the Covid-19 unit at Francisco Moscoso Cuello Hospital, told CNN that 90% of the infected patients arriving at her hospital were unvaccinated or had only received one shot.

"There has been a very noticeable increase in the number of infected patients. Those who are being admitted in the intensive care unit are coming to us already in critical condition," Jimenez said. On Friday, there were no available ventilators in her hospital at all.

Death rates are still far lower than in the earlier days of the pandemic, however. Eighteen people died of Covid-19 the last week, compared to 165 deaths in the first week of February -- the peak for Covid-19 fatalities in the Dominican Republic so far.

Recently Marte says he has also noticed a new factor in Covid-19 hospitalizations.

He says Sinovac alone, one of the vaccines the Dominican Republic relied upon heavily, did not deliver the results health authorities were expecting, though conclusive studies are still pending. The country has introduced booster shots to amp up protection, but those have not yet become widespread, with only 1.2 million recipients so far.

In fact, the Dominican Republic was the first country in Latin America to approve booster shots, starting with its health care workers in July. It was not the only country in the region to start supplementing its Sinovac campaign however.

After yet another devastating wave of infections, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced in early August that those who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine were eligible to get a booster shot from either AstraZeneca or Pfizer, starting with the elderly. And Uruguay's health ministry made a similar decision, opting to give Pfizer booster shots to residents who had received two doses of the Chinese-made vaccine.

"What I can tell you with very objective data is that there's an enormous difference between those who have received two Sinovac doses versus the ones who have added a Pfizer booster shot to those two Sinovac shots," Marte said.

"In the whole country there's not a single individual who has received a Pfizer booster shot and ended up hospitalized."

Marte also said that out of 17,000 Covid-19 patients seen at his hospital, only five contracted the virus after getting the Pfizer booster shot. One was an 86-year-old patient, and another was a 78-year-old suffering from diabetes and cancer. None of those five ultimately required admittance, he said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "What's behind the Dominican Republic's new surge in Covid-19 cases?"
Cebu (CNN Philippines, November 2)  Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella was hospitalized again over the weekend due to complications from pneumonia and minor sepsis.

At a press briefing Tuesday, the Labella family confirmed he was admitted "due to another episode of pneumonia" and was "briefly taken to an intensive care unit."

It's the fourth time this year that the mayor was hospitalized. He was previously admitted in January, May, and July.

Eugene Labella, one of the mayor's sons, said his father was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago.

"But he was duly operated and treated on time. He was already cleared and his cancer was under control," said the younger Labella.

"In January 2021, he was admitted. He was admitted for an ear infection unya nisamot siya [and it got worse] and eventually we found out that he had sepsis or blood infection. He almost died at that point but thankfully, true to the survivor that he is, he was able to recover. After that incident, the mayor has been experiencing a recurring pneumonia and had to be brought to the hospital a number of times including last July where he had stayed in the hospital for a few weeks. He was also taken to the ICU again because his pneumonia had taken a downturn. But even then, he was able to overcome and he was cleared by the doctors to go home (last July)," the mayor's son said.

No other details on Labella's health were given, but his family said he would not be relinquishing his post.

In a separate briefing, acting Cebu City mayor Michael Rama said he would perform his responsibilities while Labella is on medical leave.

"I will be very clear that I will not rock the boat. Currently, until June 30 is the term of the elected Mayor Labella," Rama said.

Rama pointed out he would continue with the current programs and projects of Labella.
Penn State announced Thursday an extended break from Dec. 20-31  two work weeks of paid time off  for full-time employees who work a typical Monday through Friday schedule in "appreciation" of the university community.

According to a release, university offices and operations, with the exception of essential services and operations, will be closed from the end of business on Friday, Dec. 17 until the beginning of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.

The December break would have been Dec. 23-29 had the change not been made.

Penn State President Eric Barron approved the extension on Oct. 25 to recognize efforts of employees throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Lorraine Groff, vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer at Penn State, said in the release employees have adapted to "new tasks and continuing to manage heavy workloads since the start of the pandemic."

We appreciate the tremendous dedication we have seen from staff members, and we hope an extended break this holiday season will support the wellbeing of our employees after an especially busy year," Groff said in the release.

The paid two weeks off is in lieu of the December and January holidays in Policy HR34, and employees will not receive holiday compensation for Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, 2022, Penn State said in the release.

This extension only applies to the 2021 December break, Penn State said. In upcoming years, the university will revert to following HR34, and the December break will be determined based on when Dec. 25 falls.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE
Controversial political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos will speak on Nov. 3 at 101 Thomas Building for the Pray the Gay Away event hosted by Uncensored America, a student-run organization.

Yiannopoulos is often associated with the alt-right movement, which according to the Anti-Defamation League, is a repackaging of white supremacy by extremists seeking to mainstream their ideology. The ADL also describes Yiannopoulos as misogynistic, racist, xenophobic [and] transphobic.

Yiannopoulos identifies as an ex-gay, who strongly supports conversion therapy, which attempts to change the sexual orientation of people. Conversion therapy for minors is banned in 14 states.

The event has been condemned by numerous Penn State officials and organizations. Even those not affiliated with the university such as the State College Borough Council and U.S. Senator Bob Casey have also opposed the event.

Penn State said it will not cancel the event, as Uncensored America has the undeniable Constitutional right to sponsor this presentation on our campus. The University Park Allocation Committee said in a statement that funding for this event wasnt intended to dehumanize marginalized groups but all viewpoints, including those that are controversial, must have an equal chance of receiving funding.

In response to Uncensored Americas event, Penn States Jeffrey A. Conrad Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity announced it will host Love is Louder in an effort to inspire love and community. Penn States University Park Undergraduate Association President Erin Boas and Vice President Najee Rodriguez encourage those to attend this event rather than possible counter protests.

The viewpoints of those like Yiannopoulos and Uncensored America are that of the contrarian mindset to simply standout from the majority of society. The alt-right pipeline typically affects misguided teenagers influenced by owning social justice warrior compilations and facts dont care about your opinion videos from YouTube.

Most people grow out of this phase at a certain point as they mature. The likes of this student organization are the exception, however.

The premise of this event is a lose-lose situation regardless of the outcome. Yiannopoulos is receiving the attention he desperately desires since this event is something that cannot be ignored.

Yiannopoulos isnt just a speaker coming to Penn State to discuss politics. This is a man who intends to criticize and harm marginalized groups.

What Yiannopoulos stands for doesnt represent the progress made by Penn State to support the LGBTQ community. The university ranked in the top 40 LGBTQ-friendly colleges/universites in regard to support and commitment to LGBTQ related issues in 2020.

Hate speech as constituted by the First Amendment has no legal definition and is a protected form of speech, according to the American Library Association. However, if the hate speech directly incites imminent criminal activity or consists of specific threats of violence targeted against a person or group, then it is no longer protected.

Whether it be directly or indirectly, the presence of Yiannopoulos has put the safety of other universities at risk. The University of California Berkeley suffered $100,000 worth of damages ahead of a speech conducted by Yiannopoulos after a peaceful protest was disturbed by an outside party in 2017. Administration inevitably canceled the speech two hours before Yiannopoulos was about to speak.

Because Penn State has its hands tied in regard to handling this situation, the best thing it can do is make sure nothing goes wrong.

According to Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers, events that may be deemed as controversial are subject to certain policies. This event will have an increased police presence on campus, and University Police and Public Safety will work with other law enforcement agencies.

Penn State may not be able to hold Yiannopoulos legally accountable for his past actions, but it can say he is a danger to the well-being of students.

Ultimately, Uncensored America is a club simply seeking attention with its only interest being to cause chaos. And when it faces backlash for something like this event, it claims its being a victim of cancel culture.

The club is not being canceled by the university nor the student body as its still being allowed to bring Yiannopoulos to campus. The response from the Penn State community is a prime example of what the organization stands for  free speech.

While the event serves as a lose-lose for Penn State, the outcome doesnt matter for Uncensored America as it will spin the narrative to fit as it pleases. If the event simply happens, it wins and the club will deem it a success. Yet, if it gets canceled for safety reasons, the organization can play the cancel culture card and victimize itself. Either way, itll find a way to come out on top.

This isnt the first time Penn State has played host to controversial figures. In 2019, Turning Point USA at Penn State brought YouTubers Hunter Avallone and Carl Benjamin to campus to discuss censorship. Both Avallone and Benjamin were banned from Twitter for violating the apps speech policies.

But rather than fixate on this specific event, the Penn State community must continue banding together to shift the narrative toward unity, not hate.

Events like these attempt to capitalize on the five seconds of notoriety for the hosting organizations. At a certain point, itll all blow over and the community will pay it no mind  and its already beginning to do so. Amid a time of hate, Penn State has managed to stand together in solidarity for the LGBTQ community and ignore a sad attempt to be edgy from a relatively unknown organization.

Daily Collegian Opinion Editor Joe Eckstein can be reached at jce5179@psu.edu.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Janet May True, 82, from Covington, IN, a former Danville resident went to be with the Lord at 9:45 P. M. Thursday November 18, 2021 at the home of her daughter in Champaign. She was born December 17, 1938 at Los Angles, CA the daughter of Jack and Vera Mary (Branch) Guyer. She was a homemak
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As for my personal safety, following my decision to collaborate [with the government], among the Bonavotas, I fear above all Domenico Bonavota because hes got a criminal mind and when he gets into his head that he has to kill someone, he goes to great lengths to accomplish his intent."

--Andrea Mantella, government witness and former boss of the Ndrangheta rooted in Vibo Valentia, reported to the prosecutors about Domenico Bonavota (pictured below), boss of the Locale of SantOnofrio (village in Province of Vibo Valentia).









A very important update is required regarding the structure of the 'Ndrangheta in Southern Ontario, which is described in the fourth article of this series Once again, this important knowledge comes from Italy.More precisely from the courthouse of Lamezia Terme (Calabria) where the trial resulting from the maxi police operation called Rinascita Scott is taking place. This was an extraordinary police operation for the number of arrest warrants issued (334), hitting very hard the component of the 'Ndrangheta rooted in the Province of Vibo Valentia, on the North West border of the Province of Reggio Calabria.Moreover, it was particularly celebrated because it led to indictments of not only a large number of men of Ndrangheta, but also several entrepreneurs, professionals and politicians. Those external supporters of the organization who, with their complicity, allow it to pursue its multiple illegal interests.Nonetheless the 'Ndrangheta itself was hit at its highest level.We refer in particular to Luigi Mancuso (cl. 1954), boss of the very powerful Locale of Limbadi, but also undisputed supreme boss of the entire area of Vibo Valentia, arrested on Dec. 18, 2019, around 7 pm, on board a train while he was returning to Calabria from Milan.The timing chosen for this arrest and the others tells us a lot about the context within which prosecutors and law enforcement agencies are forced to work in those territories.Initially, the date chosen for the operation was set for Dec. 20. However, on Dec. 18, it had become increasingly evident that the Ndrangheta, due to leaks of news, had found out about the date.Consequently, many bosses were now ready to flee. Hence, the sudden decision by prosecutors to anticipate to the day before (Dec. 19).In Luigi Mancusos specific case, so as to take even fewer risks, his arrest took place a day earlier by the special force of the Carabinieri. For several days, they monitored him who, at that time, was formally free. Indeed, the fear was that, as it had already happened, he would leave at large shortly before the arrest.Eventually, one operational unit shadowed Mancuso on board a train where his arrest took place on arrival near the Lamezia Terme railway station (See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vngC87qyhc . The video is very short and almost completely blurred. However, it is valuable because it captures exactly the moment when specialized agents arrest Mancuso among the other passengers. During the vision, the very high level of tension, considering the great importance of the target, is perhaps perceptible. Probably no other type of police operation produces superior ones).

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Project Rinascita Scott is largely based on the statements of some former Ndrangheta full members who became government witnesses.Two of the most important of them are Andrea Mantella (cl. 1971, former boss of Vibo Valentia, having the high rank of Trequartino, transl. Three-Quarter; see picture below, the secret ritual formula of conferral of this rank written on a piece of paper discovered by the Carabinieri) and Bartolomeo Arena (cl. 1976, from Vibo Valentia and rank of Trequartino too). The two subjects who were called to answer about the Locale of Sant'Onofrio (village of about 3,000 people) dominated by the Bonavota blood family, provided crucial information for our field of study: the presence of a Locale of Ndrangheta in or in a town near Toronto, dependent on the mother-Locale of SantOnofrio of which, until now, there was no news.





o-o-o-o-o-o-o







But also the other mentioned witness, Bartolomeo Arena, spoke of Vincenzo Bonavota, expressing deep admiration for him: Vincenzo Bonavota was respected everywhere, by the Bellocco, the Alvaro, the Piromalli [the main Ndrangheta blood families of the Tyrrhenian side; see Figure 1.], everywhere. And again: The Bonavotas are an old-fashioned family. If they had enemies, they faced them head-on. They never let lupare bianche [transl. white lupara: the mafia practice of killing a person and making his body disappear], betrayals and tragedies and they were not afraid of anyone. "[Vincenzo Bonavota] faced things head-on".  There was a big difference between him and the other men in the Ndrangheta. I think he was the last real Ndrangheta man of the old guard. Once, he told me that he confronted Rosario Petrolo [belonging to a blood family with which the Bonavotas entered into a feud that caused a long trail of murdered deaths] in the street and took his gun. Then, with that gun, he went to Stefanaconi [village near SantOnofrio], to Petrolos men and said: "Do you see it? This is your bosss gun". So he proved not to be afraid of anyone. I respected him and admired him very much.



And to make matters worse, curiously, it was even he himself who confirmed his reputation with words as clear as day, during a conversation in prison with his son Pasquale recorded by investigators: If a man wants to live as a criminal, as well as you have to be, you have to have the mindset too.



 His sons (the actual top of the Locale) who, with great criminal skills, continued the work of their father, demonstrating, in the first place, ability to deploy a considerable military power which is essential to survive in such violent criminal circles.



We refer in particular to Pasquale, cl. 1974, and Domenico, cl. 1979 (see picture below), already sentenced in the first instance to life imprisonment for a murder in the context of a feud within their same Clan.















Prosecutors consider Pasquale, actually still at large, the supreme boss (Capo Societa); Domenico, the head of the armed wing, the military boss (he was arrested in the heart of his territory, in the center of the village of Sant'Onofrio, on Aug. 6, 2020). More below the other two brothers Nicola (cl. 1976) and Salvatore (cl. 1988).



Mantella highlighted Domenico's particular danger, but also of the whole Clan as evidenced by the fact that, as soon as the news of his collaboration with the prosecutors spread (in 2016), it immediately moved to try to locate and kill him before the police protection system was completely put to point.



Prosecutors consider Pasquale, actually still at large, the supreme boss (Capo Societa); Domenico, the head of the armed wing, the military boss (he was arrested in the heart of his territory, in the center of the village of Sant'Onofrio, on Aug. 6, 2020). More below the other two brothers Nicola (cl. 1976) and Salvatore (cl. 1988).Mantella highlighted Domenico's particular danger, but also of the whole Clan as evidenced by the fact that, as soon as the news of his collaboration with the prosecutors spread (in 2016), it immediately moved to try to locate and kill him before the police protection system was completely put to point. o-o-o-o-o-o-o



During Rinascita Scott trial, but also in other trials, the two dwelt on the dynamics of 'Ndrangheta within which the Bonavotas were involved. And, speaking of their ramifications outside Calabria, here is how they expressed themselves in front of the court of Lamezia Terme:



[The Bonavota Clan] starts from Vincenzo Bonavota, protege of Antonio Pelle, called Gambazza, who also had other friendships in Locride [area under the Polsis authority] and he was loved by all the men of 'Ndrangheta.



He did a double Locale, one in SantOnofrio and one in Toronto, Canada. After his death, the command passed to his sons and the Locale became triple: in addition to Sant'Onofrio and Toronto, a Locale of 'Ndrangheta was also recognized in Carmagnola [in the Turin area, Italy]. I left them active as Clan, active to 101%.

(Andrea Mantella, Apr. 2021).



I know that the Bonavotas have influence in Carmagnola, in the Turin area, where the boss who commands is their uncle Salvatore Arone. I know that the Bonavotas are present in Genoa, Rome and in a town near Toronto, Canada. I learned this in the 2000s from Fortunato Mantino, who told me that there was a Locale of 'Ndrangheta in Canada, where the Bonavotas had cousins. (Bartolomeo Arena, Jul. 2021).



These almost coincident testimonies would configure an articulation composed as follows:



 a mother-Locale in SantOnofrio;



 two dependent Locali: one in Carmagnola (in the Turin area) and one in, or near, Toronto.





The Clan could then benefit from structured support in Genoa (where there is a very large commercial port, useful for international cocaine trafficking) and in Rome where Pasquale Bonavota, currently still at large, seemed to have moved (right from this city, during the Rinascita Scott trial, a registered letter arrived at the Lamezia Terme courthouse appointing his personal trusted lawyer).



(Bartolomeo Arena, Jul. 2021).These almost coincident testimonies would configure an articulation composed as follows: a mother-Locale in SantOnofrio; two dependent Locali: one in Carmagnola (in the Turin area) and one in, or near, Toronto.The Clan could then benefit from structured support in Genoa (where there is a very large commercial port, useful for international cocaine trafficking) and in Rome where Pasquale Bonavota, currently still at large, seemed to have moved (right from this city, during the Rinascita Scott trial, a registered letter arrived at the Lamezia Terme courthouse appointing his personal trusted lawyer). o-o-o-o-o-o-o Therefore, this new information requires an update to the previously proposed description of the 'Ndrangheta structure in Calabria and Southern Ontario.



Below, the update of the three Figures. Therefore, this new information requires an update to the previously proposed description of the 'Ndrangheta structure in Calabria and Southern Ontario.Below, the update of the three Figures.













o-oo-o-o-o-o



In particular, we invite you to pay attention to Figure 2. and Figure 3.



As can be seen, the alleged Locale dependent on the mother-Locale of SantOnofrio is placed in the GTA (one in Toronto; in a town near Toronto; hence it would be one of the seven Locali rooted in this Area), but outside the Crimine of Toronto.



Indeed, although it had been promoted directly by Vincenzo Bonavota (therefore certainly before his death in 1997), the Locale in Toronto could not have been recognized at least until 2012, given that only in that year his mother-Locale would have obtained formal recognition in Calabria.



However, even later, the dependent Locale in Toronto could hardly have been admitted as its mother-Locale of SantOnofrio is located outside the territory of competence of the Crimine of Polsi within which instead the neighboring mother-Locali of Siderno, Gioiosa Ionica and Marina di Gioiosa Ionica are, as part of the Ionian Side (see Figure 1.).



Furthermore, the historical period itself may have played its part.



Indeed, following the Verducis murder (Apr. 24, 2014), we think that a split has arisen within the Crimine of Toronto. It would then be followed by the creation of a Crimine of Siderno (the existence of which, thanks to some interceptions by Italian police forces, is certain), reserved only and exclusively, as its very name suggests, for the Locali dependent on the mother-Locale of this town excluding all the others (



In any case, the links between Locali are the most varied, often and willingly outside the superordinate bodies, and obviously motivated generally by business reasons.



For example, in Calabria, one of them linked the mother-Locale of SantOnofrio and that of Gioiosa Ionica, both of which have, as we now know, a dependent Locale in the GTA.



Indeed, according to Bartolomeo Arena, by answering questions from defense lawyers during the Rinascita Scott trial in Oct. 2021, Pasquale Bonavota was dedicated to the business of video poker machines to be distributed in bars and cafes together with the Ursini blood family from Gioiosa Ionica (this surname, Ursini or Ursino, reminds us of the Canadian Project Ophenix which led to the convicted sentence for drug trafficking charges of Giuseppe Ursino, resident in Canada but belonging to the same blood family from Gioiosa Ionica; the revelation itself then confirms, in general, the primary interest of the 'Ndrangheta in the business of gaming machines in Calabria as in Canada and wherever may be rooted). In particular, we invite you to pay attention to Figure 2. and Figure 3.As can be seen, the alleged Locale dependent on the mother-Locale of SantOnofrio is placed in the GTA (one in Toronto; in a town near Toronto; hence it would be one of the seven Locali rooted in this Area), but outside the Crimine of Toronto.Indeed, although it had been promoted directly by Vincenzo Bonavota (therefore certainly before his death in 1997), the Locale in Toronto could not have been recognized at least until 2012, given that only in that year his mother-Locale would have obtained formal recognition in Calabria.However, even later, the dependent Locale in Toronto could hardly have been admitted as its mother-Locale of SantOnofrio is located outside the territory of competence of the Crimine of Polsi within which instead the neighboring mother-Locali of Siderno, Gioiosa Ionica and Marina di Gioiosa Ionica are, as part of the Ionian Side (see Figure 1.).Furthermore, the historical period itself may have played its part.Indeed, following the Verducis murder (Apr. 24, 2014), we think that a split has arisen within the Crimine of Toronto. It would then be followed by the creation of a Crimine of Siderno (the existence of which, thanks to some interceptions by Italian police forces, is certain), reserved only and exclusively, as its very name suggests, for the Locali dependent on the mother-Locale of this town excluding all the others ( see the second article of this series ).In any case, the links between Locali are the most varied, often and willingly outside the superordinate bodies, and obviously motivated generally by business reasons.For example, in Calabria, one of them linked the mother-Locale of SantOnofrio and that of Gioiosa Ionica, both of which have, as we now know, a dependent Locale in the GTA.Indeed, according to Bartolomeo Arena, by answering questions from defense lawyers during the Rinascita Scott trial in Oct. 2021, Pasquale Bonavota was dedicated to the business of video poker machines to be distributed in bars and cafes together with the Ursini blood family from Gioiosa Ionica (this surname, Ursini or Ursino, reminds us of the Canadian Project Ophenix which led to the convicted sentence for drug trafficking charges of Giuseppe Ursino, resident in Canada but belonging to the same blood family from Gioiosa Ionica; the revelation itself then confirms, in general, the primary interest of the 'Ndrangheta in the business of gaming machines in Calabria as in Canada and wherever may be rooted). o-o-o-o-o-o-o We suppose that the Canadian police forces have already spotted the cousins of the Bonavotas who moved to Southern Ontario.



Also because, in addition, another important clue was always revealed by Andrea Mantella, in Apr. 2021, this time in a courtroom of Turin during the trial against the Bonavotas cell settled in that area:

 wherever the members of this crime family settle, they do not fail to organize a Calabrian religious festivity during the Easter period.



But lets leave the word to Mantella himself: [In the Municipality of Carmagnola, in the Turin Area] the Arone blood family and the Bonavota Clan are the same thing: the same faction, the same strength. And, coincidentally, in this village there are Calabrian traditions. Including the affruntata [not translatable], that is a typical Calabrian religious festivity. The Bonavotas are in Carmagnola and this religious festivity takes place there; the Bonavotas are in Toronto and it takes place there. Coincidentally. We remember that religious events, outside own land of origin, have the purpose of preserving cultural identity and maintaining relative group cohesion; a very small part of which, strengthened by this cohesion and a code of conduct deriving from that culture, in communities of Calabrian origin, will engage in organized criminal activities.



Furthermore, for these criminal articulations religious festivities take on an additional value: that of making explicit their dominant strength to the whole of the respective communities, which come together on such occasions, as per tradition. For example, Bartolomeo Arena, always during Rinascita Scott trial in regards to the Bonavotas said: "The Bonavotas were also interested in bringing the statues of the saints during religious events because for criminals carrying a statue meant manifesting power over the territory in the eyes of the other villagers".



All this active religious devotion then helps explain why it is generally not impossible for an indicted Calabrian mobster to find a Catholic Roman priest ready to attest, in front of any Canadian court, the high moral qualities of the accused and the great commitment he gives in favor of his community. We remember that religious events, outside own land of origin, have the purpose of preserving cultural identity and maintaining relative group cohesion; a very small part of which, strengthened by this cohesion and a code of conduct deriving from that culture, in communities of Calabrian origin, will engage in organized criminal activities.Furthermore, for these criminal articulations religious festivities take on an additional value: that of making explicit their dominant strength to the whole of the respective communities, which come together on such occasions, as per tradition. For example, Bartolomeo Arena, always during Rinascita Scott trial in regards to the Bonavotas said: "The Bonavotas were also interested in bringing the statues of the saints during religious events because for criminals carrying a statue meant manifesting power over the territory in the eyes of the other villagers".All this active religious devotion then helps explain why it is generally not impossible for an indicted Calabrian mobster to find a Catholic Roman priest ready to attest, in front of any Canadian court, the high moral qualities of the accused and the great commitment he gives in favor of his community.





According to Mantellas testimonies, the Bonavotas group formally became a Locale of Ndrangheta in 2012.However, it was an overpowering force for a few years already. So much to associate itself in a sort of confederation together with other groups and clans of the same area to counter the power of the Mancusos who, directly or indirectly, using satellite clans, have always exerted a heavy influence on the entire Province of Vibo Valentia.In any case, this situation of more or less open hostility, coinciding with the release from prison, on Jul. 21, 2012, after 19 years of imprisonment, of Luigi Mancuso, gradually subsided in the following years allowing the latter to restore an order centered on his undisputed authority within a recently established Crimine of Vibo Valentia (of which, due to the hostilities towards the Mancusos in the recent past, the Locale of SantOnofrio would not be part).The rise of the Bonavotas had been made possible over time thanks to the combination of two factors: A patriarch, Vincenzo Bonavota (see picture below), who died in 1997, extremely respected within the 'Ndrangheta, not only in that of Vibo Valentia, but also and above all in the superordinate one, belonging to the Crimine of Polsi, rooted in the Province of Reggio Calabria, at its highest level.Andrea Mantella, for example, says that Vincenzo was a protege of Antonio Pelle from San Luca, a mythical figure who is believed to have been for several years the Capo Crimine, the supreme boss of Polsi ( in the sixth article ot this series , we dealt with the Pelle blood family and in particular with the great August 2009 marriage of the niece of the same Antonio Pelle during which the top bosses of the Ndrangheta decided who to confer the position of new Capo Crimine).
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Not that even meth was strong enough for what Hitler wanted his soldiers to achieve. In 1944, Nazi scientists developed a one-man submarine designed to launch surprise attacks on Allied ports. But getting there would require the single crewman to stay awake for days. So they also developed an extremely powerful cocaine chewing gum capable of keeping a sailor twitching with energy the whole way. Unsurprisingly, spending days doing cocaine in a tiny suicide submarine caused many of them to have massive mental breakdowns, veering wildly off course as they clawed at the metal walls. Even they had it better than the concentration camp prisoners who were ordered to test the gum by walking around a circular track until they collapsed near death from exhaustion.

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The really surprising thing is that there were any drugs left for the army after the Nazi top brass got through with them. Hermann Goering, in particular, was captured at the end of the war desperately dragging around a suitcase of 20,000 codeine pills, of which he popped 20 a day. Meanwhile, Hitler, who prided himself on his healthy lifestyle, was secretly completely dependent on a shady doctor named Theo Morell. Despite being named like a mushroom, Dr. Morell preferred a cocktail of steroids and opiates, as well as large doses of oxycodone. After an assassination attempt in 1944, doctors also started giving Hitler regular cocaine injections. Because this was a time when good medical advice was just going "losing a world war? Have you tried doing speedballs about it?" It's even been suggested that Hitler's erratic behavior in the final months of the war was down to withdrawals after the Allies bombed German drug factories.

Brazilian National Archives Curiously, when the Allies reached the bunker they found all the copper stripped out of the walls.

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As good friends, the Germans naturally shared their drugs with their allies, meaning that Finnish troops were also issued Pervitin at this time, although they were reportedly somewhat less enthusiastic about using it. Which brings us back to Aimo Koivunen, who found himself stranded in Lappland, out of food, out of options, and worst of all, out of meth.
Crossville, TN (38555)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 40F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 40F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
After the polls closed on Tuesday, nearly all of the hundreds of contested local races have been decided.

Turnout varied by town for the election, which was focused on local offices from top municipal executives, such as mayors or first selectmen, to boards of education, zoning boards and town clerks.

There were a number of closely watched races across the state, including the mayoral elections in Stamford and Danbury.

Here is a look at the results and what happened throughout the day on Tuesday:

Key races

Guilford Board of Education

After a hotly contested Board of Education race primarily focused on Guilford Public Schools social justice and equity work, the Democratic and Independent Party candidates won big.

Stamford Mayor

Caroline Simmons claimed victory as Election Day ticked over into Wednesday, with a concession from Bobby Valentine in Stamfords mayoral election. Unofficial numbers reported to the state show Simmons got 15,565 votes to Valentines 14,060.

Danbury Mayor

Republican Dean Esposito will be the citys next mayor after his Democratic opponent Roberto Alves conceded Tuesday night in what was a tight race. This will mark 11 straight terms for the GOP in the citys top elected office. Unofficial numbers show Esposito received 7,194 votes and Alves received 7,023.

West Haven Mayor

West Havens mayoral election is headed to a recount, with Democratic Mayor Nancy Rossi claiming a 24-vote victory over Republican challenger Barry Lee Cohen shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday. Democratic officials said preliminary and unofficial numbers showed Rossi with 4,258 votes and Cohen with 4,234 votes.

12:00 p.m.  Voter turnout

The latest figures from the secretary of the states office show that voter turnout was nearly 30 percent during this local election.

Those figures show that 428,772 voters cast ballots.

The statistics do not account for a small number of towns as the state continues to update its database.

11:38 a.m.  Statewide results

Results from municipal elections around the state can now be viewed on the secretary of the states website.

Secretary of the state Denise Merrill tweeted earlier Wednesday morning that a technical issue had been causing people to not be able to review the election results on demand through the states website.

By 11:45 a.m., the secretary of the states voter database had tallies from 151 of Connecticuts 167 towns.

10:44 a.m.  GOP fairs well

Despite registration disadvantages in Danbury and Westport, Republican candidates won seats in open races. Republican Erin Stewart also held onto her seat as mayor in New Britian in a closely watched race.

What this means is that the Democrats are just completely out of the mainstream where the people of Connecticut are, said Ben Proto, the Republican state chairman. Theyve completely misunderstood the electorate.

As of late Tuesday, Republicans had flipped 19 towns, according to Proto, while Democrats had only taken four.

Read more here.

7:33 a.m.  New Britain

Republican Mayor Erin Stewart will once again lead New Britain. The incumbent mayor beat back a challenge by Democratic Nominee Robert Bobby Sanchez on Tuesday.

Stewart celebrated the win on social media. We did it again. THANK YOU NEW BRITAIN! a post on her Facebook page read Wednesday morning.

Unofficial results show Stewart received 5,837 votes and Sanchez received 3,276.

7:12 a.m.

Twenty-four hours after polls opened Tuesday morning, unofficial results have not yet been posted to the Secretary of the States website. The site provides an overview of the races, but no data from ballots has been posted as of early Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Secretary of the State Denise Merrills office said results are tallied locally at each municipality and then entered into the reporting system.

All of the results that have been entered thus far are safely and securely stored on the system, but are not currently being displayed, said Gabe Rosenberg, the spokesman. The third-party vendor that manages the reporting system is working right now to display the results as soon as possible.

Wednesday

11:55 p.m.  Stamford

Democrat mayoral candidate Caroline Simmons claimed victory as Election Day ticked over into Wednesday, with a concession from unaffiliated candidate Bobby Valentine in Stamfords mayoral election.

Valentine conceded around midnight, congratulating Simmons on her victory.

As Stamford candidates were waiting for the results Tuesday night, Valentine alleged voting irregularities, claiming there were 400 contested ballots and some voted with both absentee ballots and in person.

I cant believe that here in Stamford, Connecticut, were dealing with those problems, he said around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. Later in the speech, Valentine again referenced such alleged activity, saying it makes my stomach turn.

The margin between Valentine and Simmons was razor thin Tuesday night. Arthur Augustyn, Simmons deputy campaign manager, said earlier in the night Simmons won on the machines by 125 votes.

Read more here.

11:50 p.m. - Greenwich

Fred Camillo, who successfully faced the challenges of COVID-19 in his first term as first selectman, was reelected in a landslide Tuesday as part of a Republican sweep in the local election.

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin was also reelected to the Board of Selectmen as the GOP made a strong showing down the entire ticket as results came in Tuesday night.

Read more here.

11:40 p.m. - Branford

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove was elected to a fifth term Tuesday, defeating a challenge from Democrat Tom Brockett by an overwhelming margin.

Unofficial results showed Cosgrove leading Brockett 4,451 votes to 2,573.

Read more here.

11:40 p.m. - New Milford

To chants of Re-Pete, Re-Pete, Pete Bass was declared the projected winner for a third term in the New Milford mayoral election by 8:40 p.m. Tuesday. By that time, he had an overwhelming majority in five voting districts.

He defeated New Milford native Ted Hine, a Democrat.

In unofficial votes at 10 p.m Tuesday, Bass had defeated Hine by more than 70 percent of the votes: Bass received 5,453 votes while Hine received 1,969. This number includes absentee ballots and same-day voter registration.

Read more here.

11:40 p.m. - Winsted

Republican Glenn Albanesius defeated Democrat Melissa Bird Tuesday in a race to be the new town clerk of Winsted, unofficial results show.

Longtime Town Clerk Shelia Sedlak is retiring after more than 20 years in office, resulting in the pair challenging each other for the position. Albanesius received 1,194 votes, while Bird received 794 votes.

Read more here.

11:30 p.m. - Westport

Republican Jennifer Tooker will be Westports new first selectman.

She and her running mate Andrea Moore defeated Democrats Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin, as well as Libertarian candidates TJ Elgin and Louis DOnofrio.

Read more here.

11:30 p.m. - Easton

In what he claimed was a victory of transparency over misinformation, First Selectman David Bindelglass won the race for the towns top seat.

An incumbent, First Selectman David Bindelglass is projected to have beaten Board of Education member Jeff Parker with a vote count of 1613 to Parkers 1491, according to town Democrats. Parker confirmed those numbers, admitting he lost.

Read more here.

11:30 p.m. - Hamden

After a year of twists and turns leading up to a landmark election for Hamden, residents finally know who their next mayor will be.

Democrat Lauren Garrett won Tuesday, beating Republican Ron Gambardella and Independent Albert Al Lotto, who ran as a write-in candidate. Meanwhile, several Legislative Council races remained too close to call based on preliminary results, though Democrats were ahead.

Read more here.

11:10 p.m.  Redding

Julia Pemberton soon will begin her fifth term as Reddings first selectman after defeating Republican challenger John Shaban, a former state legislator, in Tuesdays municipal election.

Shaban garnered 952 votes to Pembertons 1,808, according to an unofficial count from town officials.

Read more here.

11 p.m.  Danbury

Republican Dean Esposito will be the citys next mayor after his Democratic opponent Roberto Alves conceded Tuesday night.

Esposito held just a 60-vote lead over Alves as of 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, with all voter precincts and absentee ballots accounted for. With those unofficial results, Esposito claimed victory, even giving a speech in front of his supporters. Within a half hour, Alves called Esposito to concede.

Read more here.

10:50 p.m.  Guilford

After a hotly contested Board of Education race primarily focused on Guilford Public Schools social justice and equity work, the Democratic and Independent Party candidates won big.

The five open seats were awarded to the Protect Guilford Schools slate, composed of Democrats Arnold Skretta (6,566 votes) and incumbent Moira Rader (6,602) and Independents Kristy Faulkner (6,274), Noel Petra (6,295) and Jennifer Baldwin (6,295).

Read more here.

10:40 p.m.  Brookfield

After six years of Democratic leadership, the town will soon have a Republican first selectman.

Tara Carr is expected to be sworn in for her first term as first selectman after defeating incumbent Democrat Stephen Dunn and petitioning candidate Austin Monteiro in Brookfields 2021 municipal election.

Read more here.

10:30 p.m.  Stamford

The mayoral race was too close to call as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday as absentee ballots continued to be counted.

Caroline Simmons appeared to be pulling ahead, but the race between Simmons and Bobby Valentine was neck-and-neck as both campaigns anxiously awaited election results to see who would be the citys next mayor.

Voters had the choice between Valentine, a former Major League Baseball manager, local icon and unaffiliated candidate, and Simmons, a Democrat who served as 144th Districts representative since 2015.

Read more here.

10:30 p.m.  Norwalk

Mayor Harry Rilling declared victory in his reelection bid for a fifth term shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, though a final vote tally was not available.

Rilling, a Democrat, was first elected mayor in 2013. On Tuesday, he faced off against Republican challenger Jonathan Riddle, who ran for Connecticuts 4th congressional district seat last year.

Read more here.

10:30 p.m.  Wallingford

Mayor William Dickinson Jr. fought off a strong challenge from Democrat newcomer Riley OConnell Tuesday and appeared to have won a 20th consecutive term, according to unofficial results.

With only about 1,500 absentee ballots left to be counted, Dickinson led OConnell by 855 votes. But the incumbent never trailed as the vote totals came rolling in all evening.

Republicans maintained a 6-3 majority on the Town Council, which will have two new members when the new governing body is sworn in. Democrat Sam Carmody and Republican Autumn Allinson, who has served on the Board of Education for the past two years, are filling vacancies created when incumbent Republican Chris Shortell chose not to seek reelection and Democrat Jason Zandri was forced to drop out of the race because of health problems.

Read more here.

10:20 p.m.  Stratford

Mayor Laura Hoydick won reelection decisively Tuesday over Democratic challenger Immacula Cann.

The vote was 8,007 for Hoydick to 4,708 for Cann.

Republicans appeared to have maintained a 6-4 majority on the Town Council, though there will be a recount in one race.

Read more here.

10:20 p.m.  Shelton

Mayor Mark Lauretti earned his 16th consecutive term Tuesday night, but two aldermen seats remain up in the air with approximately 400 absentee ballots still needing to be verified and counted, according to unofficial totals Tuesday.

Lauretti easily outdistanced Democratic challenger David Eldridge nearly 57 percent to 43 percent. Lauretti finished the night with 6,950 votes, compared to Eldridges 5,311.

Read more here.

10:15 p.m.  Derby

Incumbent Republican Rich Dziekan appeared to defeat Ward 2 Alderman Joseph DiMartino to retain the mayors office Tuesday night. DiMartino conceded defeat shortly after 9 p.m.

Official results were not immediately available.

I can breathe, Dziekan said, minutes after DiMartino walked into the room to congratulate him on his win. Its a tight race, just ready to start moving on again.

DiMartino said he thought his team ran a good campaign. We gave everything we had, he said. And the voters have spoken tonight and they want him for another two years.

Read more here.

10:15 p.m.  Trumbull

Incumbent First Selectman Vicki Tesoro has claimed victory over Republican challenger Mark Block, with unofficial in-person votes showing her with 5,147 votes to Blocks 3,995.

Block conceded defeat shortly before 9:30 p.m. According to election officials, there are about 1,200 absentee ballots still to be counted.

This will be Tesoros third term in office. The Democrat campaigned on on a similar platform to the one that won her reelection in 2019, focused on efficient government spending, increased development, increased walkability and more housing for seniors.

Block, a former town councilman, ran on a fiscally conservative platform, focused on lowering town spending, encouraging civility in the town discourse, and making government more accountable and transparent for residents.

The Republican said he originally was inspired to run due to his criticisms of the town councils Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, but later learned that the task force was of secondary concern to residents, who were more concerned about where their tax dollars are going.

Read more here.

10 p.m. - New Canaan

Election officials said hundreds of ballots were counted but set aside at the request of the state over questions about instructions given by a poll worker at the high school involving the school board race Tuesday.

Officials said it was not immediately clear what would happen with the ballots.

The situation stemmed from reports of residents claiming they had been misinformed by a poll worker about the number of school board candidates a resident could vote for, according to moderator Jim Walsh.

This years school board race is a contentious one, with 10 candidates vying for six seats on the nine-person board.

Read more here.

10 p.m. - Danbury

Dean Esposito expects to be the citys next mayor, which would bring the local Republicans an 11th term in the seat.

Esposito held just a 60-vote lead over Demcorat Roberto Alves as of 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, with all voter precincts and absentee ballots accounted for. If those unofficial results hold true, they will prompt an automated recount. That, however, did not stop Esposito from claiming victory, Tuesday.

Were going to win this race and Danbury is going to move forward Esposito said Tuesday at Amerigo Vespucci Lodge in front of supporters.

Esposito, who served as chief of staff under former Mayor Mark Boughton and Joe Cavo, would win the first open election in the Hat City in 20 years if the results hold up.

Read more here.

10 p.m. - Kent

In a close race for first selectman, Democrat Jean Speck was reelected for a second term over her three opponents.

Speck, who was at Town Hall when she heard the news, has been first selectman in Kent since 2019 when she beat Republican Ed Matson, a Selectmen who ran against her again in this municipal election.

Also running for first selectman in this years election were petitioning candidates Rufus de Rham and James E. Rundall.

In unofficial results as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Speck received 466 votes, de Rham received 401 votes, Matson received 202, and Rundall received 47.

Read more here.

10 p.m.  East Haven

Democratic Mayor Joseph Carfora appeared to have won a second term Tuesday over Republican Sal Maltese, with five of seven districts reporting.

Carfora said that in unofficial results he had won 4,208 votes to Malteses 1,866. He said Democrats won all their races except in the 4th District, where Republican Samantha Parlato kept her seat on the Town Council.

Read more here.

9:55 p.m.  Milford

Incumbent Mayor Ben Blake appeared to have won, earning a sixth term as Democrats appeared to retain control over the citys boards and commissions, according to unofficial results.

Blake  the Democratic leader who has authored six consecutive tax rate decreases  topped Republican challenger Peter Berube. Official results were not immediately available.

Read more here.

9:50 p.m. - Middletown

Middletowns Board of Education race, where nine candidates were vying for a seat, saw Republicans Charles Wiltsie (2,158 votes) and incumbent Jon Pulino (2,155 votes), winning their contests, while Democrats Emily Jackson (3,167 votes), and Debra Guss, (3,074 votes) prevailed in their bids.

All the returns, supplied by the Democratic Town Committee, are unofficial. Tallies do not include absentee ballots.

The GOP is guaranteed two seats on the Board of Education because of minority representation rules.

Read more here.

9:40 p.m.  West Haven

West Havens mayoral election will head for a recount after Democratic Mayor Nancy Rossi claimed a 24-vote victory over Republican challenger Barry Lee Cohen shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Twenty-four is going to be my lucky number if it stands, said Rossi in a confident display for whooping supporters, despite acknowledging the race was a nail-biter. I believe the margin will stand. I welcome the recount.

Democratic officials said preliminary and unofficial numbers showed Rossi with 4,258 votes and Cohen with 4,234 votes.

Rossi attributed the extremely tight race to misinformation about city hall.

Last month, former Democratic State Rep. Michael DiMassa, who was also an employee in West Haven City Hall, was arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud after allegedly diverting federal pandemic relief funds to a business bank account that he could access.

Were going to build back trust, Rossi said.

Cohen could not be reached shortly after 9 p.m., but Republican Town Committee chairman Dave Riccio said his party was still waiting on some returns. Regardless, he said that he too understood that the returns reflected an extremely close race.

Read more here.

9:40 p.m.  North Haven

Republican First Selectman Michael Freda easily won a seventh term Tuesday over Democratic challenger Carl Kordek.

The Board of Selectmen will remain the same, with Republican William Pieper and Democrat Sally Buemi coming in second and third.

Unofficial results, without absentee ballots counted, were Freda, 4,856; Pieper, 3,843; Buemi, 1,686; and Kordek, 816.

Read more here.

9:30 p.m.  Orange

Incumbent Republican Jim Zeoli sailed to victory Tuesday for a ninth term, defeating Democratic newcomer Connor Deane 3,039 to 2,093, in unofficial numbers.

Orange also elected Mary Shaw as town clerk, although numbers were not available for that race on deadline. It was the first time in more than 20 years that Orange has elected a new town clerk.

Read more here.

9:20 p.m.  Southbury

Unofficial numbers according to results tabulated by Republican Jeffrey Manvilles campaign show he received 3,232 votes from the towns three poling sites and Democratic challenger John Diehl received 1,999. This is not including 700-plus absentee ballots that still needed to be counted Tuesday night.

Read more here.

9:10 p.m.  Guilford

Unofficial results show that a group of Democrats and unaffiliated candidates defeated Republican newcomers for control of the Guilford Board of Education.

The Republican candidates campaigned on dismantling anti-racist school curriculum. School officials, however, have said the academic theory is not being taught.

The five Republican candidates, all newcomers, faced a unified slate of Democratic and unaffiliated candidates. Trump. Democrats hold a majority on the board, with guaranteed minority party representation of four of the nine seats.

Read more here.

9 p.m.  New Haven

Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker rolled to a second term Tuesday, defeating Republican Town Chairman John Carlson by a vote of 9,867 to 1,582 in an unofficial count in an election in a relatively quiet election marked by light turnout.

The unofficial results do not include absentee ballots. Also in the race were an independent candidate, Hill resident Mayce V. Torres, who received 139 votes, and at least one write-in candidate, Morris Cove resident Gabriela Campos.

Read more here.

9 p.m.  Darien

The town will see its new first selectman in a decade, with Republican Monica McNally appearing to win election to the seat Tuesday night, according to unofficial results from the Darien Republican Town Committee.

Though absentee totals are not yet counted, McNally out-performed Tara Ochman, the Democratic candidate, for the towns top position in what has been a relatively high-profile race. McNally had 64 percent of the votes on Tuesday night compared with Ochmans 36.8 percent.

Christian Noe, who appeared on the ballot as a petitioning candidate for first selectman, received 16 votes, about 0.3 percent of the tally. Voters were asked to select one first selectman candidate.

After five terms, Republican incumbent Jayme Stevenson announced she was not seeking re-election last summer. Stevenson was first elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2009 and was elected to the towns head office in 2011.

Read more here.

9 p.m.  Roxbury

The town has a new First Selectman for the first time in more than 20 years  Patrick Roy.

Roy, previously a member of the Board of Finance, came away with almost 700 votes, according to unofficial results. His Republican challenger, Bruce Tuomala, Danburys former economic development director, earned 364 votes.

Read more here.

8:00 p.m.  Polls have closed

Polls have closed across the state and local election officials have started to tabulate results. Unofficial results will be reported to the state. The secretary of the states office maintains an online database that is updated when they received results.

7:30 p.m.  Early turnout

With less than an hour away from the polls closing, Secretary of State Denise Merrill has reported a 24.2 percent turnout rate for Colchester, Coventry, Danbury, Guilford, Hamden, New Britain, Prospect, Stamford and West Haven.

As of 7 p.m., 6,923 of 28,562 of these towns registered voters have cast their ballots, according to Merrill.

The full list of each towns voter turnout is below:

- Colchester: 5,086 (45.3 percent of registered voters)

- Coventry: 3,292 (36.5 percent of registered voters)

- Danbury: 10,875 (25.3 percent of registered voters)

- Guilford: 8,255 (50.6 percent of registered voters)

- Hamden: 10,000 (27.3 percent of registered voters)

- New Britain: 7,661 (22.6 percent of registered voters)

- Prospect: 13,024 (44.4 percent of registered voters)

- Stamford: 18,395 (24.8 percent of registered voters)

- West Haven: 6,923 (24.2 percent of registered voters)

7:10 p.m.  Easton

With approximately two hours left before polls close, a steady stream of people walked into Samuel Staples Elementary School on Tuesday.

Registrar of Voters David Smith said he did not have an official turnout percentage but noted, We are running around like heads with our chickens cut off.

Democrats and Republicans at tents outside the school said it had been steady all day, with Republican first selectman candidate Jeff Parker saying he was happy with the turnout.

Patty Wonder said she wants to keep the town moving forward by providing services, equality and acceptance for everyone. She said she voted primarily for Democrats, including incumbent First Selectman David Bindelglass.

Wonder said she used to split her ticket, but no longer likes the direction Republicans in the local and national level are headed.

I feel that the Republican Party has lost its way, and I cant support it, she said.

Colin Hope Murray, an Easton resident, said education was at the top of his mind as he went to vote.

Im looking for things that open up peoples minds, that encourage critical thinking and move away from dogma and sort of establishes a fair view of history, he said.

While Murray pointed out that critical race theory is not being taught in K-12 schools, he said he wants education to get people into a position where they can debate it.

You have to start at the grass roots, he said, adding he voted for Bundelglass.

Stephanie Flagg-Duque said critical race theory being taught in schools was a primary reason she came to vote Tuesday. She said it is something she is against.

Absolutely not, she said.

Flagg-Duque said she also wants to see more drug education, adding schools could be doing a lot more.

One issue Flagg-Duque and other voters who cast their ballots for Republicans brought up was land conservancy.

I am also particularly concerned with how money is spent in town, how decisions are made in town, how land sales are approved here in town, she said. That should be approved by the people who live here. Land use and zoning is something people should have a say in.

Robert Auer said he also was driven to vote because of land use issues. He said he did not like the way First Selectman Bindelglass went about selling property.

He was going to go to contract the next day in surprise to everyone else who was on his board, he said. I just thought that was a little underhanded.

Auer, who does not have children, also said he did not like the school district following state mandates enforcing mask mandates.

7 p.m.  Darien

Dariens four polling locations saw a steady stream of voters Tuesday, with many voters noting it was an especially high-energy election day.

The town will see its new first selectman in a decade, after Republican incumbent Jayme Stevenson announced she was not seeking re-election. Stevenson was first elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2009.

The two candidates for first selectman are Democrat Tara Ochman and Republican Monica McNally. The race has been relatively high-profile and has largely centered around issues of local control, infrastructure and flooding damage and recovery.

With 27.7 percent of the town voting, turnout as of 4 p.m. had already eclipsed total turnout from the 2019 municipal election, according to a tally from the Town Clerks office. In 2019, total turnout was 27.4 percent.

Ochman and McNally were both outside the Darien Town Hall Tuesday with their respective supporters.

The polls feel busy, Ochman said. Darien has a choice to make  stay entrenched in the same or move forward. So I feel like everyone's voices will be heard and will make a real decision.

McNally said residents have shown the town is happy with the direction of current leadership.

People in town are really very happy, and they're very comfortable, McNally said. That's something that people are concerned about, change just for changes sake. People don't think that's a good idea.

Several voters at the polls said they were motivated to vote because of another high-profile Board of Education race. Four candidates  Republicans David Brown and Tara Wurm, and Democrats Stacy Tie and Julie Best  are running for two open seats.

Its all about the schools, one voter said as he exited the Town Hall Mather Center with a child in tow.

Paula Reiches, an educator in Darien Public Schools and 20-year resident of Darien, said she was looking for progressive candidates who would support the superintendents approach to recent issues like anti-Semitism and curriculum controversy in the schools.

Whats important is their attitude towards how they want to fund, do they believe in mandates that are progressive because, you know, in education you can't sit still, Reiches said. I want the board to be meeting the times.

6:50 p.m.  Greenwich

On Election Day, its not just poll workers who were having a busy day. Volunteers were manning stations at all 12 of Greenwichs polling places to make the last minute cases for their preferred candidates.

In some stations the candidates themselves showed up, like First Selectman Fred Camillo who came by with a coffee cup in hand to brave the cool temperatures at New Lebanon School at 5:30 p.m. But in most cases, it was just dedicated supporters of the parties out there for hours.

Beth MacGillivray was manning both the Republican table at New Lebanon as well as the table for Independent Board of Education candidate Kara Philbin. And she was there after spending all day at other locations around town.

Ive been out there all day, moving around Greenwich, MacGillivray said.

The tables for the Republicans and Democrats were often put across from each other, but even with frayed tempers in modern politics, MacGillivray said she saw nothing but good spirits from everyone on Election Day.

Its been fine, she said. Everyone has been very receptive when we talk to the voters and were certainly talking to the Democrats too. Its all fine. I was at Greenwich High this morning and the Democrats brought us coffee. It was early and cold and it was very nice of them to do that.

The positions have put them in contact with voters throughout the day.

Voters arent asking a lot of questions but I think theres a lot of interest in the Board of Education race, MacGillivray said. And you can always tell when someone walks in if theyre going to be receptive to your message. If they come to the side were on they want to hear about Fred and the Republican ticket and if they veer off to the other side you know theyre more curious about the Democrats.

At New Lebanon, Democrats Ann Blumensaadt and her husband Robert Genna manned the table and promoted the Bill Kelly/Janet McGuigan led-ticket.

We havent had many conversations, Blumensaadt said. People generally say hello and move on.

They did speak with Greenwich resident Martha Romero about the ballot. Romero said she was inspired to vote because of issues like funding for schools and town services.

A native of Colombia who became an American citizen in 2017, Romero said she was always eager to vote.

If we are citizens we need to vote, its part of being a good citizen, Romero said.

6:30 p.m.  Stamford

Longtime Stamford residents Gina and Giuseppe Leale stood in a short line coming out of the polling place at the Recreation Star Center a little past 5:30 p.m.

Basically, we came out to support Bobby (Valentine), Gina Leale said. Weve known him for a while. Hes done great things for the city.

Valentine stood outside with a group of supporters during the afternoon, shaking hands and taking photos.

As long as Ive been alive, Ive known him and who he is, said Jimmy Moavero, 27, adding that his uncle went to school with Valentine. And when he was running, I was like, Hey, nothing better.

Teresa Ginsberg, a Democrat and supporter of Simmons, said that she has heard Valentine speak at fundraisers  and he does a great job at fundraisers  but she was disappointed with his performance at a debate hosted by the Stamford Chamber of Commerce.

I went with an open mind because I really like him, said Ginsberg, who noted that she moved to Stamford about a year ago after living in Old Greenwich. But (Simmons) spoke circles around him, and Im just worried that people are just going to vote for him because theyve heard the name.

Bethany Hill McCarthy also voted for Simmons earlier in the afternoon.

I looked at both candidates and felt like her platform most carefully aligned with what my own ideals were, she said.

About 1,200 people had voted at the location as of 4 p.m.

6:20 p.m.  Ansonia

Less than a third of Ansonias registered voters have cast a ballot so far this election, according to David Papcin, the vice chair of the New Haven County Young Republicans.

Some 3,258 people have voted in Ansonia, accoutning for 30.4 percent of the towns? 10,698 registered voters.

Papcin called the turnout very disappointed and prompted citizens to Go vote!

6 p.m.  New Haven

Things were generally pretty quiet at New Haven's 6th Ward polling place at Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy for Global Awareness Magnet School in the Hill section Tuesday afternoon. Just a trickle of voters were coming in and no candidates or candidates' representatives sitting outside.

Democratic Alder Carmen Rodriguez, who represents the city's City Point section and the southern end of the Hill, ran unopposed  her original opponent, John Carlson, ended up being the Republican candidate for mayor.

City Point resident Steve Richard Wilcox took advantage of his trip to the polls to give his 5-year-old daughter, Lily, a chance to hang around on the monkey bars afterward.

"I'm pretty much happy with the direction that the city is going in, with the exception of crime," Wilcox said, who voted for Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker. "I think Elicker is doing a good job with the coronavirus."

Crime and violence in the city was what was on the minds of Felisha and Ron McGiver, who live on Hallock Avenue just north of Sargent Drive as they came out from voting.

"We need to do something about that," said Ron McGiver. "As one point in time, (police) used to search" vehicles while doing safety spot-checks, he said. "They need to go back to doing something like that."

There are too many shootings, said the McGivers, who are dyed-in-the-wool Democrats that both voted for Elicker. "We need to find something for these kids to do," Ron McGiver added.

5:30 p.m.  Branford

Voters were trickling into the polls every few minutes at polling locations in Branford, where the contentious debate surrounding the teaching of race in public schools in nearby Guilford was on the minds of several voters one town over.

While school officials in Connecticut repeatedly asserted that critical race theory is not being taught in public schools, Tom McGovern said he had heard otherwise from nieces and nephews who are school teachers.

I think it could be in Branford because its in Guilford, McGovern after voting straight Republican at the Mary T. Murphy Elementary School with his wife, Jody. Im assuming its in Branford.

At the top of the ticket, Branfords Republican First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove is seeking a fifth term in office, facing off against Democrat Tom Brockett.

Gritli and Daniel Rabin, two traditionally-Democratic voters who said they crossed party lines to vote for Cosgrove Tuesday afternoon at the Orchard House polling location, said they did so because of the Republicans past support for solar initiatives and a town Clean Energy Committee.

After Hurricane Sandy impacted the region, Daniel Rabin said their concern over climate change led the couple to raise their home overlooking a salt marsh with the support of the town engineer.

Hes very good for energy and the environment, Gritli Rabin said of Cosgrove.

5:25 p.m.  Guilford

Republican candidate Danielle Scarpellino and five volunteers were gathered outside of Calvin Leete Elementary School around 3 p.m., thanking people who voted.

Scarpellino said her time at the polls Tuesday has been an ugly process and that she was yelled at. While a reporter was at the polling site, a voter asked to take a photo of Scarpellino. She said yes and after the photo was taken, she was called a traitor.

In the past, she has been called a beast, racist, bigot and more.

Never in a million years did I think running for school board Id be called these names, Scarpellino said, adding it didnt bother her until today because its coming to an end.

I want justice. I want the good guys. I want a year of my life to pay off, she said.

Scarpellino added that if she wins, she will focus on proving herself moving forward, not based on her past. If she loses, she will get back to focusing on her family.

If I lose, its not an immediate reward, She said. Ill never give up as long as my kids are in their care.

5:20 p.m.  Early turnout

As of 3:40 p.m., about 43,635 registered voters in Colchester, Coventry, Danbury, Guilford, Hamden, New Britain, Prospect, Stamford and West Haven have cast their ballot, according to Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill on Twitter.

This accounts for about 16.8 percent of the 259,579 registered voters in those towns, according to data from Merrill.

More than a third of Guilfords registered voters, or 5,525 voters, have cast their ballots Tuesday, setting Guilford as the town with the largest voter turnout in that lineup.

The most votes have come from Stamford as 11,140 people have voted, accounting for 15 percent of the towns registered voters.

Use your voice, your vote, to make a difference, Merrill said on Twitter.

The full list of voter turnout is below:

- Colchester: 2,996 votes cast (26.7 percent of registered voters)

- Coventry: 1,866 (20.7 percent of registered voters)

- Danbury: 5,879 (13.7 percent of registered voters)

- Guilford: 5,525 (33.9 percent of registered voters)

- Hamden: 6,247 (17 percent of registered voters)

- New Britain: 4,412 (13 percent of registered voters)

- Prospect: 1,942 (28.5 percent of registered voters)

- Stamford: 11,140 (15 percent of registered voters)

- West Haven: 3,628 (12.7 percent of registered voters)

5:15 p.m.  Wallingford

The Wallingford Town Clerks office is reporting a dramatic surge in absentee ballots in this election. There were 1,777 issued and 1,560 returned. During the last municipal election, 627 were issued and 598 were returned.

5 p.m.  Greenwich

In a Greenwich election, District 8 in Cos Cob is expected to be a hotbed of activity and that was again the case on Tuesday with voters turning out and candidates looking to make the case.

Late Tuesday afternoon with the clock close to 5 p.m., Republican town clerk candidate Jackie Budkins was on hand with her brother and mother, outgoing Town Clerk Carmella Budkins, to spread the word and place some campaign signs at the entrance of Central Middle Schools parking lot. Republican Board of Education candidate Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony handed out campaign literature and a table was set up for independent write in candidate Kara Philbin, complete with free pens to remind people to write in her name.

And while trends have so far shown a lower turnout election than the last municipal race in 2019, District 8 polling place assistant moderator Ron Wilson said that they have seen activity on par with previous races.

We had a very small number of people starting out in the morning and we anticipated having a slow day because of all the absentee ballots and the fact that its a local election, Wilson said. But weve had a very steady flow since then and I think were going to end up with some good numbers. We always have a good turnout here. Its the nature of the folks that live in this neighborhood. They always participate.

As of 5 p.m. District 8 had more than 1,400 votes and with it being a district that has traditionally come out big for First Selectman Fred Camillo, both in his 2019 victory and in his previous elections for state representative, it could be seen as a good sign for his political future.

Overall, Republican Registrar of Voters Fred DeCaro III said that turnout in Greenwich was at 32% as of 5 p.m., including absentee ballots. In 2019, the final turnout was 47 percent.

4:40 p.m.  Trumbull

Voter turnout was steady in Trumbull and, according to Jean Rabinow, the Democratic registrar of voters, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 6,161 of the town's 26,729 active registrar of voters had voted in person. Rabinow said "a little over a thousand" absentee ballots had also been received.

Rabinow said she had heard reports that some of the districts had been running low on ballots, but, upon reviewing the turnout in those districts and how many ballots they had received, they weren't close to reaching their limits.

In the event that a district does run out of ballots, Rabinow said they can be photocopied onto a blank sheet of paper. However, those ballots would have to be hand-counted as they couldn't be read into a machine.

Otherwise, Rabinow said there was "nothing particularly outstanding" in the way of voting issues late Tuesday afternoon. The biggest problem she saw was that the town recently redistricted and many town residents are vting in a new location as a result.

"Some people still don't know where they're voting," she said.

Several candidates were standing outside polling places, including Jeannine Stauder, the Republican candidate for constable. "It's been pretty steady every place I've gone," she said of the turnout, while at Daniels Farm Elementary school.

Mary Isaac, a Democratic candidate for Town Council in District 1, echoed those thoughts. "It's been about the same as it is usually," she said. "It's been very steady."

4:30 p.m.  Branford

Voters in Branfords 4th District, who were casting their ballots at the Fire Headquarters on North Main Street, said they were most interested in education and spending.

Im personally most interested in our school district, said Nancy Zhang, a Westport teacher. I just think having a good school district is important for our town. She said, Im OK paying more taxes if the money is going toward education.

Aaron Wiggins was also interested in education, wanting schools to return to the basics.

The schools need to get back a little bit more to teaching the students, he said. Were focusing a lot on the social, emotional aspects right now and thats OK right now for the pandemic, but its getting away from what the students are there for.

Lisa Gerosa said she was happy with the way Branford is being governed. Im an animal lover, she said, and she is happy with the expansion and renovation of the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, as well as the different walkways in town.

Gerosa said she is less pleased with plans for housing on the site of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church on Burban Drive.

We have too much housing  in Branford and right now I live on Jefferson Road and there are too many animals, including coyotes, deer and turkeys who have lost habitat and are more visible during the day.

4:25 p.m.  Wolcott mask memorandum

The town of Wolcott was asking voters who did not want to wear a mask to sign a mask memorandum, the secretary of the states office confirmed.

The memorandum asked voters who refused to wear a mask to sign a form indicating that they refused a mask, refused to be brought a ballot to a vehicle and that the moderator has allowed the voter to cast a ballot without a mask.

The form asks for the voters name and address.

Weve received one complaint on that score, and it appears that that is true, said Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. One town, Wolcott, was using that memorandum.

Rosenberg said Wolcott was told that such forms do not comply with state law.

We contacted them and said You can't do that, Rosenberg said. You cant create a barrier to casting a ballot that doesnt exist in the statute.

Wolcott has reportedly stopped using the mask memorandum.

When we found out about Wolcott, we let them know that theyre not allowed to do that and they stopped, Rosenberg said.

Ben Proto, chairman of the state GOP, said the form presented a barrier to voting and was unconstitutional. You cant deny someone their constitutional right to vote.

4:20 p.m.  Ansonia

In Ansonia, voters started making their way to the polls relatively early  all ward polling stations reported multiple ballots cast by 7 a.m.

Ward 7 has seen the most in-person ballots cast so far at 510 votes, while 2,588 votes  including absentee ballots  have been cast in total as of 4 p.m. Voter turnout is currently a little over 24 percent.

4:15 p.m.  Old Greenwich

At District 6 in Old Greenwich, things have been calm but steady with voters coming to Old Greenwich School to cast their ballots.

In fact, the most excitement may be in the parking lot outside the school where kids were skateboarding among the parked cars. Republican Board of Estimate and Taxation candidate Dan Ozizmir said some even tried to play football on top of a large shipping container.

Inside, district polling place moderator Paul Curtis said that there have been no issues with mask compliance or with anyone breaking campaigning distance laws. And as of 4 p.m. turnout in the district was a little above 30 percent, putting it ahead of many other districts in town, with some voters asking questions about how to vote for Board of Education write-in candidate Kara Philbin.

You have a very politically active district here, Curtis said.

4:15 p.m.  Danbury

Scott Parkis, a supporter of Republican mayoral candidate Dean Esposito, said it was weird not voting for Mayor Mark Boughton.

Parkis said Esposito won his support because he felt the candidate would continue Boughtons agenda, and could continue to bring both sides of the aisle together.

But he admitted he doesnt think Esposito has a good chance of winning.

City Councilman Bob Taborsak, who was outside Danbury High School with a sign promoting Roberto Alves, the Democratic contender, noted Alves stance on education.

The fact that he has kids in the school and that he realizes eventually were going to have to start an elementary school, you cant keep kicking the can down the road, said Taborsak, a former schoolteacher.

Tom Giegler, husband of town clerk Jan Giegler, stood outside with a sign promoting his wife and Esposito.

He cited fears Alves plans could result in higher taxes.

So far weve kept our taxes lower, we took care of a lot of people in town that need it, Giegler said.

We need people with experience, he added. Roberto has been on the council for two years but he voted against the last budget to keep our taxes down.

3:45 p.m.  Monroe

Voter turnout is down slightly this year as compared to the last municipal election in 2019, according to unofficial tallies from the Registrar of Voters office.

Through noon, 1,524 residents (11.11 percent) have voted, down from 1,576 (11.52 percent) at the same time on Election Day two years ago, officials said. The majority of voters have been at Fawn Hollow (460) and Masuk High School (537).

First Selectman Ken Kellogg is running unopposed, so there is no top of the ticket battle to heighten interest. But there are challenges on the Town Council and Board of Education.

3:45 p.m.  Bridgeport

Nearly 1,300 absentee ballots were returned in Bridgeport as of Nov. 2 at 3 p.m., according to a report released by the Bridgeport town clerk.

Of those, 1,179 were Democrats, 43 Republicans and 58 Unaffiliated. Three were identified as other.

3:30 p.m.  Derby

As of 3 p.m., the city of Derby has seen 1,371 voters come to the polls and vote, as well as 619 returned absentee ballots. Of the almost 7,000 registered voters, about 29 percent have cast a ballot, according to Marc Garofalo, the city clerk.

This is almost 900 fewer votes than the city saw in the 2019 election, which brought in 2,882 total votes, officials said. Most of those, about 2,705, were in-person while 158 were absentee ballots.

1:30 p.m.  Shelton

As of noon, 4,373 voters  a slight increase from the same time two years ago  have hit the polls in Shelton. The local registrats of voters said that turnout stood at 16 percent through noon, compared to 14 percent at the same time in the last municipal election.

Candidates from both parties are at all four polling places in what has been a contentious race, highlighted by the mayoral contest. Mayor Mark Lauretti, a Republican, is seeking his 16th consecutive term against Democratic challenger David Eldridge.

Eldridge was out early greeting voters, stopping off at Mohegan School before making it to Elizabeth Shelton School about 8:30 a.m.

1:20 p.m.  Greenwich

John Vecchiolla, a longtime moderator at the Greenwich Town Hall polling location, said turnout was about average for a municipal election.

As of 10 a.m., 117 of the nearly 2,400 registered voters had cast their ballot at Town Hall, according to Vecchiolla.

An addition 180 absentee ballots were sent in, he said.

I expect turnout will reach about 40 percent by the end of the day, Vecchiolla said.

Mike Scotti, a 42-year Greenwich resident, was one of a handful of voters at Town Hall Tuesday morning.

This year, he said, he was voting straight down Democratic Party lines in response to local misinformation campaign centered on critical race theory.

Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones has repeatedly denied that critical race theory, a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America, is taught in Greenwich Schools.

Critical race theory is not being taught in Greenwich schools. From a nationwide perspective, (Republicans) are making this into something and that lie is being perpetrated here in Greenwich as well, he said.

Mary Ellen Markowitz, a Greenwich resident of 27 years, said the Board of Estimation and Taxation races are what drew her out to vote on Tuesday.

With six Republicans and six Democrats running for the 12-member board, all the candidates will win seats. But the party that will control and run the board is up for grabs. The majority on the BET is decided by which party gets the most total votes among its six candidates.

Like Scotti, Markowitz said she voted for Democrats across the ballot. Her main motivation, she said, was securing more funding for local schools.

We have a failing infrastructure, and its an embarrassment, she said.

1:15 p.m.  Guilford

At A.W. Cox Elementary School around 12:30 p.m. were Republican candidate for the Board of Education Tim Chamberlain with supporters and Independent candidate Kristy Faulkner with supporters, including current Board Of Education chair Kathleen Balestracci across the road.

Chamberlain has been at the school since 6 a.m. and said he's seen excellent turn out.

Critical race theory is what's going to turn out the votes, Chamberlain said.

"If we win, obviously there will be some balance on the board," Chamberlain said. "If we don't, it's 8 to 1 liberals but then they're actively ignoring a large voice."

While a reporter was talking with Chamberlain, he said to passerbys to "vote row b" which the voter said "never". A supporter engaged and said "We don't want to blame kids for slavery!"

Over with the Democrat and Independent slate, Faulkner said she had been making rounds to voting sites.

"We're hoping for a decisive turnout," she said.

If elected, her first goal is healing the community.

"It's been a damaging year," Faulkner said. "This doesn't go away."

12:55 p.m.  Stamford

Jim Aulenti, who set up a camping chair outside the Yerwood Center polling place, described himself as an enthusiastic Bobby Valentine supporter.

Well Ive known about Bobby Valentine since I was 11-years-old, said Aulenti. He spoke of how his father had been a school custodian at Rippowam Middle School in the 1960s while Valentine was a student athlete, saying he was the nicest, kindest, most popular kid he ever met.

Im a great supporter of education reform and universal public education, Aulenti said, when asked what issues led him to support Valentine. He also cited Valentines support of law enforcement.

Bonnie Kim Campbell, who is running for a seat on the Board of Representatives as a Democrat, stood nearby greeting voters as they arrived.

Campbell described herself as a Simmons supporter for her fresh outlook on what Stamford needs, which is for the municipality to listen to the people who live here. She also said affordable housing was a concern, noting residents on the west side are being squeezed outby high-priced apartment developments.

Nobody should be priced out here in Stamford, Campbell added.

11:45 a.m.  Stamford

Democratic Mayoral candidate Caroline Simmons and her supporters were set up outside a polling place at Stamford High School shortly before noon.

Im a huge supporter of the Democratic Party and Caroline  I want whats best for Stamford, said Carla Innerfield, standing a few feet from Simmons.

She cited issues, including the growth of the city, roads and education as reasons for her support.

Id like to see the schools repaired  making a healthy environment for our children, she added.

Simmons is running against former Major League Baseball manager Bobby Valentine in a closely watched race.

I hope he loses, said Marion Drexler, another Simmons supporter.

As of a little before 11:20 a.m., 245 ballots had been cast at the high school polling place, according to a moderator. The district typically sees around 20 percent turnout.

Asked what she thought Simmons chances are against Valentine, Innerfield said she believes her chances are good.

I think this is a Democratic town and I dont think that were going to be swayed by celebrity, she said. Fingers crossed.

11:25 a.m.  Klarides may have COVID

Possible Connecticut Republican gubernatorial candidate and former state representative Themis Klarides has announced that she will not be on the campaign trail today because of a possible COVID diagnosis.

I am devastated that I will not be able to join my friends and fellow Republicans on the trail today and celebrate with them tonight, she said in a tweeted statement.

Klarides said she performed an at-home COVID test which came back positive, after waking up with COVID-like symptoms. She said shes awaiting confirmation of those results.

Klarides said she is fully vaccinated. She resigned from the state House of Representatives earlier this year to explore a possible run for governor.

11:20  Commemorative stickers

This year, some I Voted stickers handed out at Connecticut polls will feature Connecticut women who fought for suffrage.

The stickers were designed Wilton designer Pamela Hovland.

I hope this project inspires others to research  and make visual  the many diverse and often unknown stories of the brave women who fought for suffrage, Hovland said in a release. Their sustained and compelling activism has certainly inspired me.

11 a.m.  Statewide turnout increases

In the hour after Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced 18,498 total votes statewide, an additional 866 voters had cast ballots.

As of 11 a.m., a total of 19,364 people had voted in Connecticut, according to Merrill, 7.46 percent of the total.

10:30 a.m.  Norwalk

Its nice voting in person, said John Miller, standing on the steps outside the polling place at Tracey Magnet School in Norwalk wearing a Vietnam veterans baseball cap. Last year, he voted by absentee ballot. The only time I voted absentee before last year was when I was in the military, he added.

Poll workers 166 votes cast at the school polling place, set up in the gym, as of a little after 10 a.m.

Miller said he was concerned about adding a little more balance to the city council. With 14 out of 15 members on the same ticket inhibits debate, he said.

He also advocated for adding early voting in Connecticut, as well as no-fault absentee ballots. Also  I think voting day should be a holiday, he added.

10:25 a.m.  West Haven

Around 10:25 a.m., parking at West Havens Mackrille School, where voters in the 8th District submitted their ballots, was overflowing. School security officer Elijah Humes directed traffic, pointing out vacant parking spots to voters driving into the parking lot as they opened.

Voter Molly Gianfredi declined to share how she voted, but said she was motivated to get city residents back together as a team following a number of scandals in the city.

I want us to get back on track, she said. I want us to be in the news for happy things.

10 a.m.  Stamford

Helene Devin, moderator at the Springdale Elementary School polling location, said the turnout was going strong and steady as of 9 a.m. In just three hours, 242 voters had cast their ballots at Springdale, Devin said.

People were here at 6 a.m. waiting in line to vote. People seem to have a lot of passion about this election, she said.

There seemed to be wide support for unaffiliated mayoral candidate Bobby Valentine at the Springdale location.

While many voters balked at sharing their names, Brandon Miller, a registered Republican, was not shy about his support for Valentine.

The 20-year Stamford resident was optimistic that Valentine would offer a new take on things for the growing city.

Hes not beholden to either party, so I think thats a good thing, Miller said.

Anthony Scaturchio, 31, also said he was voting for Valentine on Tuesday.

I know hes going to do right by the people, he said.

10 a.m.  Statewide turnout

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said that 18,498 votes had been cast statewide as of 10 a.m., 7.13 percent of the total electorate.

In Stamford, 1,759 votes had been cast 7.69 percent of total voters. Less than 7 percent of eligible Danbury voters had made it to the polls by 10 a.m. The town with the largest percentage of possible voters so far was Prospect, where 14.25 percent of possible voters had gone to the polls by 10 a.m.

9:40 a.m.  Norwalk

Cheryl Kemeny, whose sister is running for the Board of Education, said she votes in every election.

Me personally, I dont want one-party rule in Norwalk, said Kemeny, standing outside of Kendall Elementary School on Tuesday morning. She said shes most concerned about races for zoning and the Board of Education.

On education, Kemeny said shes concerned about Spanish-speaking students receiving enough support in schools. My thing is rather than just dunking them into a classroom  kids need to be brought up to speed, she said.

But she also raised concern about curriculum.

Ive a seen a lot of the books theyve slipped under the wire, Kemeny said.

7:30 a.m.  Milford

Last year we all went and put our ballots in a mailbox in front of the police station, said Eugene Smith, who voted in person this year.

The Milford resident said hed like to see a total shift in government when asked what brought him out to vote early Tuesday.

He noted his mother, who lives out west, pays less in taxes for double the land he has here, along with what he described as a nicer home.

What are we getting here? he asked.

7:20 a.m.

The states Election Day hotline will be taking calls until 8 p.m. for anyone who needs help voting or has issues at the polls. The hotline can be reached at 866-733-2463.

6:55 a.m.  Milford

Phil Vetro, chairman of the Milford Board of Aldermen for the fourth district, said turnout had been light in the first hour of voting, something he attributed to people voting by absentee ballot. Early Tuesday, Vetro was greeting voters near the parking lot at Foran High School.

I think that the voters should know we havent raised taxes for six straight years, Vetro said, when asked about any last-minute messages to voters.

He also pointed to improvements around the city, including bike paths, a splash pad, roadwork and two new pickle ball courts.

No services have been cut, he added.

6:30 a.m.  Milford

A few voters have trickled in at Foran High School in Milford. A few minutes after polls opened, the polling place set up in the high school gym showed 14 completed ballots.

Howard Siegel said he was able to walk right in and vote this year, a change from the long line he faced voting in person last year. He arrived and left before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Less people this early, he said.
The spiritual leader of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians gave his formal blessing Tuesday to an ornate shrine that will replace a small parish church destroyed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, nearing the completion of a 12-day U.S. visit from his home base in Turkey, evoked somber memories of that day two decades ago as he presided at a ceremonial door opening at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine near the World Trade Center.

We stand here today on this hallowed ground at the World Trade Center, where the world changed in a cruel and terrible moment 20 years ago, he said. This sacred ground of the American experience is where the Orthodox Christian faith will take the lead in manifesting to the world that good is mightier than evil, that there is life beyond death and that love will always triumph over hate.

The domed shrine, designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, replaces a small parish church that was destroyed by the falling south tower on 9/11. Located in a small, elevated park overlooking the World Trade Center memorial plaza, it remains under construction with completion projected for next year.

The original church was the only house of worship destroyed on 9/11. No one was killed in the building, although numerous Orthodox Christians were among those who died in the attacks.

Tuesday's ceremony was largely held outdoors beneath an overcast sky, to the backdrop of choral chants. It began with the patriarch's blessing of a large cross, adorned with a wreath, which was then hoisted by crane atop the dome.

Bartholomew and others joined in a quiet procession with youths bearing crosses and candles before stopping to bless various items from the original church that were damaged on 9/11 but not destroyed. They included a contorted bell and a torn icon honoring the Virgin Mary.

The white-bearded patriarch, wearing black and ornately decorated white vestments, then blessed the shrine's glass doors with holy water and tapped them with his staff before entering. He signed an ornamented book of Gospels to be used in worship at the church, as did other dignitaries including Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Bartholomew also presented as a gift a relic of St. Nicholas  a hand of the ancient saint, he said: We bring his physical and spiritual presence, in the sacred relic of his holy hand, which will find an eternal resting place within this National Shrine.

The shrine, in addition to its sanctuary, will include a separate space for meditation and reflection for people of all faiths to remember those lost on 9/11. In September, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, church officials held a ceremonial inaugural lighting of the building to set aglow one of its signature features, its translucent marble cladding.

Tuesdays ceremony also marked the 30th anniversary of Bartholomews enthronement as patriarch, the longest reign of any patriarch on record, according to Elpidophoros.

As patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, which gives him prominence but not the power of a Catholic pope. He does oversee Greek Orthodox and some other jurisdictions, although large portions of the Eastern Orthodox world are self-governing under their own patriarchs.

Bartholomew arrived in the United States on Oct. 23 and spent the following night in a Washington hospital after feeling unwell, church officials said. He resumed a busy itinerary the next day, including a White House visit with President Joe Biden. On Tuesday he spoke with a firm voice and showed no obvious signs of fatigue while standing throughout the hourlong ceremony.

During the visit the patriarch has called for a strong response to climate change and for religious freedom and cooperation, and he drew attention to the plight of Turkeys small minority Orthodox community, renewing calls for the reopening of an Orthodox seminary that has been closed by the that country's government. He received an honorary doctorate at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, a recognition of his efforts at improving Catholic-Orthodox ties, and the American Jewish Committees Human Dignity Award.

He is scheduled to depart for home on Wednesday.

A 2017 Pew Research Center report found that there were about 200 million Eastern Orthodox worldwide. It said there are Orthodox in the United States, with nearly half of those Greek Orthodox.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that one of the items blessed Tuesday was a torn icon honoring the Virgin Mary. Earlier a church official who participated in the ceremony had told The Associated Press it was an icon of St. Dionysius of Zakynthos.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Officials on Monday released the name of the Norwich officer involved in a shootout last week with a man allegedly armed with an assault-style rifle.

They also released footage of the incident from a body and dash camera, and audio recordings of radio dispatches.

Neither the officer, Scott Dupointe, nor the alleged gunman, 28-year-old Andrew OLone, were hit during the exchange, despite police later finding numerous rounds from both weapons at the scene, according to a Norwich police report obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media last week.

OLone has been charged with attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault and assault on a police officer, according to authorities. He was also charged with offenses related to the possession of an assault weapon and high capacity magazine, as well as first-degree and second-degree criminal mischief.

Dash footage from Officer Dupointes police vehicle shows the car traveling down a rainy road illuminated by street lamps. As the car comes to an intersection, a figure emerges from the dark on the right hand side. The video has no sound, but sparks and debris fly through the air.

Footage from Dupointes body-worn camera also released alongside the dash footage shows the officer struggle to put the vehicle in park. Dupointe then rolls out the drivers door and falls to the ground with his handgun in his hand. He appears to train the weapon on the figure running away behind the car before lowering his gun and running back to the vehicle. This video also does not feature sound.

Ive been shot at, Dupointe can be heard calling into the radio in audio released alongside the footage.

A passerby appear to come up to Dupointe after he returns to his car. The footage ends as more police arrive at the scene.

The incident began around 9:55 p.m. on Oct. 26. Callers reported to emergency dispatch that they heard gunshots around Westwood Road, according to a preliminary report from Inspector General Robert Devlin, who is investigating Dupointes use of force.

Dupointe was the first responding officer to arrive in the area and reported observing a subject, later identified as Andrew OLone, carrying a rifle, Devlin wrote in the report.

OLone began firing at the front windshield of Dupointes windshield, according to the report.

Officer Dupointe further reported that, after being shot at multiple times he returned gunfire at the subject, the report read.

OLone was later taken into custody by police at his apartment without incident after his mother called police and told authorities he wished to turn himself in, according to the Norwich police report. The report said police located the rifle, allegedly described by OLone as an AR-15-style weapon, with a 30-round magazine inserted.

OLone remains in custody on $1 million bond and was scheduled to appear in court next week.
The blindfolds were removed, and the newsmen found themselves at the edge of a clearing on top of a high hill, the only light coming from the moon. Ghostly, white-gowned figures flitted about them.

Before the pair, who had been led to the secret location after swearing not to identify anyone they recognized or reveal certain rituals, stood at an altar on which sat a large cross festooned with mini American flags. Behind and around the altar stood hooded men garbed in the robes of the Ku Klux Klan. Looming overhead was an approximately 15-foot-high cross wrapped in cotton batting.

As the newsmen watched, more white-robed figures arrived. By 10 p.m., more than 2,000 were arrayed around the field, and the ceremony began. For the next hour-plus, the journalists witnessed the elaborate initiation of about 250 men into The Invisible Empire of the Ku Klux Klan. They pledged in the name of Jesus Christ to defend the United States and the principles on which it was founded, keep secret the organizations activities, rituals and membership, and be klannish in their loyalty to each other and the group.

The ceremony complete, the leader shouted Attention! upon which the Klansmen dropped their masks, and the cross was set alight. Fanned by a strong wind, the cross quickly burst into flames, silhouetting it against the night sky. As it burned, a newspaper photographer snapped a photo of a sea of white-clad, hooded figures extending their arms in salute.

That scene played out not in Georgia or Alabama or North Carolina, nor anywhere else in the South, but outside New Haven on May 20, 1922. It was a coming-out party for the Klan in Connecticut, the first time the virulently racist organization then sweeping the nation and the state allowed the local press a glimpse of its rituals and growing power. Numerous cross burnings and public events followed in the coming years as membership in the Nutmeg Klan exploded into the tens of thousands, sowing consternation, controversy and division.

At first glance, the Klan and Connecticut dont appear to go together. The state prides itself on a long tradition of racial, ethnic and religious tolerance. But the Klan was here off and on for nearly a century, reaching the height of its power and influence in the 1920s followed by a much smaller, but high-profile revival in the 1980s and the early 1990s. For a time in the mid-80s, Connecticut became an unlikely epicenter of Klandom when a Shelton man assumed leadership of the nations largest Klan organization. After his departure from the state, another Klan group arose only to be taken down by law enforcement in the mid-90s.

Today, local and national civil rights groups say the Klan appears to have disappeared from Connecticut, even as newer groups that share its racist and nativist ideas remain active.

The Klans long history in Connecticut  especially its popularity in the 1920s  likely comes as a surprise to most Nutmeggers. But while the states record on racism and hate is better than most, its residents have not been immune from the dark undercurrents of American history that gave rise to the Klan.

The Klan reborn

The original Ku Klux Klan was strictly a Southern phenomenon, a terrorist organization that used murder and violence to re-establish white supremacy in the South after the Civil War. Targeted by the federal government, the Klan was all but wiped out by the early 1870s.

Library of Congress

Around 1900, a North Carolina lawyer, minister, public speaker and wannabe actor named Thomas Dixon Jr. saw a stage production of the anti-slavery classic Uncle Toms Cabin, authored by Connecticuts own Harriet Beecher Stowe. Unhappy with its depiction of the South, he set to work on a trilogy of novels to  in his view  right the record. His racist books proved hugely popular, especially 1905s The Clansman, which lionized the original Ku Klux Klan and helped cement the Lost Cause myth that the Confederacys motivation was righteous and not based on preserving slavery. In 1915, director D.W. Griffith brought The Clansman to the big screen as The Birth of a Nation, painting the Klan as rescuing the South from newly freed Blacks, who are stereotyped as simple, violent and fixated on raping white women.

In spite of harsh criticism from the NAACP and others, the film was a huge hit, Hollywoods first blockbuster, and it inspired fraternal organization recruiter William J. Simmons to found a new Ku Klux Klan. A few days before the films Atlanta premiere, Simmons led a small group to the top of nearby Stone Mountain, Georgia, lit a cross and proclaimed the rebirth of the Klan.

But this Klan would not be a loose regional organization of nightriders, although its members would at times act that way, but instead a national quasi-secret fraternal organization modeled on the Masons and the Elks (this was the heyday of such groups). The new Klan espoused 100 percent Americanism, by which it meant white supremacy, immigration restrictions, anti-Catholicism, antisemitism and support for Prohibition. Ironically, it took much of its sinister iconography, including cross burnings and white robes, not from the historical Klan but from Griffiths movie.

The new Klan started out slowly but exploded in popularity amid the social, political and economic upheaval that followed World War I. This Klans appeal wasnt confined to the South. White, Protestant, native-born men nationwide  you had to be all four to be a member  flocked to join the Klan during the early to mid-1920s, especially in the Midwest and West. Mimicking other fraternal organizations, the Klan developed elaborate rituals and bizarre names for its leaders, like Grand Wizard and Exalted Cyclops. It even had its own days of the week and months of the year  Monday was Dreadful, June was Alarming  as well as coded language. AYAK meant Are you a Klansman? to which a member replied, AKIA, A Klansman I am. Estimates are that as many as 3 million to 5 million Americans joined what is called the second Klan. In the process, the organization briefly became both a national and local political powerhouse, able in many states to pick and choose governors and senators and control state legislatures.

The new Klans racist, nativist and especially its anti-Catholic ideology would find fertile ground in the deeply divided Connecticut of the 1920s.

Contributed by the Connecticut Historical Society

Coming north

A New Haven man named Arthur J. Mann, who worked for a folding-box company in the city, had followed the Klans explosive growth, approved of its ideas and was determined to bring it to Connecticut. So great was his admiration for the organization that he wrote a letter to President Warren G. Harding defending it. I cannot see how it is un-American if a large group of our citizens who are native born and of the Protestant faith want a society of their own, just as those of other creeds and nationalities, Mann wrote the president. I am an American of the 10th generation and rather resent the inference that I am un-American because I see no harm in it.

In an interview with the New Haven Register years later, Mann claimed he became New Englands first Klansman after meeting with a Klan recruiter in April 1921 at the Taft Hotel in downtown New Haven and paying the $10 initiation fee  about $150 today. He quickly founded the states first Klavern  the name for Klan chapters  in the Elm City. Recruitment was slow at first, but gradually took off, and by Sept. 1 the Klavern needed a bigger meeting venue, Mann told the paper.

Later that September, a Kleagle  Klanese for recruiter  walked unannounced into the New Haven Registers newsroom and gave reporters the first interview by a Klan official to a state newspaper. The New Haven and Hartford Klaverns, the recruiter claimed, each had 1,000 members, with smaller chapters in Bridgeport, New London, Meriden, New Britain, the Naugatuck Valley, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk and Greenwich for a total of about 4,500 Klansmen statewide. Pressed to back up the numbers  the Klan even then had a reputation for exaggerating its membership  the recruiter cited the organizations secrecy policy. It is impossible to find out who is a member, he told the paper. You know I am a member, but you will never find out another unless you join the organization. Probably some of the men you daily come in contact with are Klansmen.

Contributed by newspapers.com

News of the Klans arrival provoked strong pushback from state and local officials, who condemned its bigotry and secrecy, threatened to fire any government employees who joined andoften refused permits for Klan events, according to press reports. The press set out to probe the organization, while state police announced an investigation. Religious leaders, especially Catholic and Jewish, spoke out fiercely against the group. Incidents abounded, such as in New Britain where police officers, most of them Irish Catholics, refused to attend a training session after reports that the officer running it had joined the Klan.

In spite of the condemnation, the Klans exponential growth in Connecticut and nationwide continued unabated through the winter of 192122 and into the spring. Emboldened by its successful May 1922 rally, the Klan followed up with another big rally and cross burning on a Middletown farm two months later. This time, anti-Klan residents got wind of the event and tried to force their way in, only to be stopped by truncheon-wielding guards. Violence was narrowly averted. At least one of the guards was wearing what appeared to be an Army uniform, enraging anti-Klan critics and sparking weeks of controversy.

Contributed by newspapers.com

The anti-Klan forces redoubled their efforts, but the Klan was now firmly entrenched in the state. Klan rallies, cross burnings and field days  picnics with fun and games open to nonmembers  became commonplace, at times attracting thousands. Each Christmas, in an act of celebration and intimidation, Klansmen lit crosses on hilltops across the state, according to newspaper accounts.

It wasnt just the lower reaches of society who joined the Connecticut Klan. The very best element in the city belong to it, a New Haven Klan recruiter bragged. Reporters allowed into Klan events often noted, without identifying them, the numerous prominent citizens in its ranks. The assemblage last night included many well-known men from all walks of life, wrote a journalist about one cross burning.

Why were so many residents of the Land of Steady Habits traditionally among the nations most tolerant and level-headed states  drawn to the Klan of the 1920s? The answer, according to Natalie Belanger, adult education coordinator of the Connecticut Historical Society, who has studied that eras state Klan and made a 2019 podcast on it, is bigoted fear ofCatholicism and immigration. Over the previous 30 years, immigrants from Italy, Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe had come to the state in great numbers. Most were Catholic or Jewish. By 1920, more than 27 percent of Connecticuts population was foreign born compared to 14 percent today, and the state was 40 percent Catholic, Belanger says. These big demographic changes deeply unsettled the Protestant descendants of the states Puritan founders, making them ripe for recruitment into the anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant Klan, shesays.

Connecticut, all of New England, had been founded by Puritans fleeing the Catholic Church, Belanger says. There was a lot of ingrained prejudice against Catholicism. Then suddenly within the lifetimes of people, they were seeing the religious makeup of their state shift. Demographic changes make people nervous. They make them upset. They often look for a solution, and for many in Connecticut, the Klan was that solution.

The Klans case against Catholicism was based on the widespread conspiracy theory that priests and the pope ordered Catholics how to vote, rendering them unfit for democracy and public office. Another common Klan lie was that church basements contained arsenals for an eventual insurrection and that fathers added a rifle for each new baby. With echoes of todays QAnon movement, another bizarre conspiracy theory was spread by a Klan official from Meriden who, according to a newspaper report, solemnly warned an audience that mac, analogous to bro or buddy today, was code for make America Catholic.

How many Nutmeggers joined the Klan is hard to know, as membership was secret and leaders routinely exaggerated the numbers. A Washington Post article from the 1930s claimed 75,000, but C. Gregory Zywocinsky, who wrote an unpublished dissertation on the Nutmeg Klan called White-Robed Yankees: The Ku Klux Klan in Connecticut and Massachusetts, 19211926 for his masters degree at Trinity College, puts the number at about 20,000. No one would think there were Klansmen in Connecticut, but there were, says Zywocinsky, a New Haven native who now lives in North Carolina.

While the Connecticut Klan caused much turmoil and was responsible for numerous ugly incidents ranging from physical confrontations to threats of arson to acts of intimidation in the form of letters and the KKK painted on roads and buildings, it never sparked outright violence as in many other states, including neighboring Massachusetts where Irish Americans repeatedly brawled with Klansmen. One of the closest calls came in early 1923 when a young African American man was arrested in Middletown for killing two white men during a confrontation. After taking the man into custody, police received an ominous phone call from a Klan leader in nearby Meriden offering to send members of his organization to help guard the suspect from a mob.

The phone call deeply unnerved the authorities. Fearing the Klan was coming to lynch the young man, police massively increased the guards around the jail. No mob ever materialized, and the man was eventually acquitted of both murders on grounds of self-defense.

Height of an empire

By 1924, the Klan was at its peak both nationally and locally, and sought to influence both the presidential and state elections that year. That summer it held a large rally in Stamford as part of its effort to elect Republicans. (Klansmen tended to be Republicans in the North and Democrats in the South.) The event deeply unsettled the city and led to dueling pro- and anti-Klan newspaper ads, one of which condemned un-American names among the signatories of an anti-Klan ad. On the national level, the Klan ripped the Democratic Party to pieces that summer when members and their sympathizers staged an epic, ultimately successful battle to block the partys nomination of Catholic Al Smith for president.

Back in Connecticut, a woman named Florence Waldron got a job that summer working for the Klans Connecticut and Rhode Island leader Harry Lutterman, who ran his bustling operation out of his Darien home. She quit shortly thereafter. A few months later the Stamford Sentinel newspaper, edited by Florences husband, Malcolm Waldron, began publishing a sensational, multipart series that promised to make visible the Invisible Empire.

The articles, which Waldron sold to other papers in the state, revealed the Connecticut Klan to be a huge money-making operation that appeared to be making Lutterman and his wife, who ran the Klans state womens auxiliary, rich. The couple owned expensive cars and had recently done major renovation work to their home. As much as $250 a day  equivalent to about $3,500 today  flowed into an account controlled by Lutterman, a former cook who had been fired from his job at the state veterans home. The paper exposed dozens of Klan leaders statewide, and, in an act of early-20th-century doxing, published their addresses and even phone numbers. It alleged the head of the state police was a member, which he denied in a dramatic confrontation with the governor witnessed by one of the papers reporters. Klaverns statewide were meeting under innocuous assumed names to maintain secrecy and enable them to rent halls, the paper revealed. When the papers reporters showed up, beefy men blocked them from entering. The paper also printed verbatim the Klans secret rituals as well as internal documents containing nakedly bigoted language  the state Klan often downplayed its bigotry in public, claiming instead to be pro-American.

There were also amusing anecdotes. Luttermans expensive robes had gone from the original white to black from the dirt, dust and smoke of hundreds of Klan events, but he feared having them professionally cleaned because most dry cleaners were Jewish. Then there was the woman who turned Klan robes left by accident on her porch into bedsheets, and the Irish American traffic cop in Manchester who, after being tipped off that Klansmen coming to a meeting in town would display crosses on their cars, purposely misdirected them to Willimantic.

Lutterman managed to have Waldrons wife arrested on a charge of stealing documents from the Klan, but she was acquitted shortly after the series ran.

Luttermans later fate epitomized what helped bring down the 1920s Klan both locally and nationally: hypocrisy, corruption and criminal behavior. In 1929, the now former Klansman, who as a Klan leader had strongly backed Prohibition, was sent to prison for operating a large illegal still on a Woodbridge chicken farm. The nativist, anti-Catholic Luttermans partner? Domenick Perrotti, long known as king of the bootleggers.

Luttermans crimes were small potatoes compared to the scandals that consumed the Klan in the mid-1920s. The most outrageous was the conviction and imprisonment of the head of the Indiana Klan  the biggest and most powerful in the nation  for abducting and brutally raping a young woman, leading her to commit suicide. Additional stories of malfeasance, misappropriation of funds and Klan violence as well as an uptick in prosperity and a new federal law severely limiting immigration were all factors in the Klans sudden and precipitous collapse.

That rapid collapse was mirrored in Connecticut. In early 1926, Anthony Mann of New Haven, who had brought the Invisible Empire to the state and claimed to be the first member in New England, announced to the press that the 600 members of the New Haven Klavern, the first in the state, were disbanding after years of infighting with the national organization. In a scathing letter to Klan headquarters that Mann made public, he condemned the group he had once been so eager to join as nothing less than an organization of greed and corruption, adding, It has become a travesty of patriotism and a blasphemous caricature professing protestantism.

By the late 1920s, the Klan was fast disappearing in the state, even as a few diehard Klaverns hung on. A minister in rural Sterling on the Rhode Island border founded a pro-Klan church that held rallies in the late 1920s and early 1930s, one of which featured Alabama Sen. James Thomas Cotton Tom Heflin, whose bigotry was so extreme that his states voters couldnt stomach it and shortly afterward voted him out of office.

The national Klan organization based in Atlanta stumbled along until 1944, when it disbanded in the face of a huge back tax bill from the IRS. By then the Klan was long dead in the Nutmeg State.

Revival

While isolated cross burnings occurred every few years, there was no organized Klan activity in the state for decades, save for a small group in Durham in 1968 that fizzled out quickly. It wasnt until 1979 that the Klan truly stirred again in Connecticut. That year, recruiting flyers for David Dukes Louisiana-based Klan  there were now multiple Klan organizations  began appearing at schools, colleges and other locations. At the same time, there was a rash of cross burnings aimed mostly at Blacks who had moved to the suburbs.

Dick Lehr, a veteran journalist, author of numerous books and a Boston University journalism professor, was at the time a cub reporter for the Hartford Courant. In the fall of 1979, Lehr snagged an interview with the up-and-coming Duke, who would become the nations most famous Klansman, in which he claimed his Klan had 200 members in Connecticut and was expanding rapidly. Lehr published his article, but was skeptical of Dukes claims. I had this cockamamie idea, Lehr recalls in a recent interview. I had the fliers. I said, why dont I join? Well test his claims. Well find out who the Connecticut leaders are. Well find out who is really joining.

With the papers approval, Lehr went ahead, filling out an application with a fake name and sending it in with the $25 initiation fee. In due time, he received a membership card. A few months later, Lehr attended his first and only Klan meeting when Duke visited Connecticut as part of a publicity tour. He found himself in a Danbury Grange Hall with about two dozen somewhat bewilderedbiker types watching The Birth of a Nation  the same outlandishly racist movie that had revived the Klan 60-plus years before  as Duke provided narration and analysis. It was immediately obvious that Dukes claims of hundreds of committed Connecticut Klansmen were bogus, Lehr says.

It was pretty spooky and creepy, Lehr says of the meeting. Most of these guys were in over their heads. But David Duke, he was in his glory narrating this crazy movie.

But even as the Klan was exposed as a tiny fringe group in the state, a small hard core became determined to make its presence known. In 1980, they staged the first organized Klan rally in decades in rural Scotland in eastern Connecticut, resulting in fistfights and arrests when counter demonstrators showed up. The next year, a group of Klansmen held a rally in support of a white Meriden police officer who shot and killed a Blackshoplifting suspect. The event ended in violence when counterprotesters pelted robed Klansmen fleeing to their cars with rocks and bottles, injuring many.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Around this time, perhaps the most effective leader the Connecticut Klan has ever had emerged. James W. Farrands was a tool and die maker and former Boy Scouts leader from Shelton with a talent for publicity and provocation. He was what we would today call a master troll who delighted in flippant comments intended to amuse and inflame, such as telling reporters with a half-smile, half-sneer that he used Sterno on crosses to make them burn longer and that he sent his sheets to a Jewish laundry for cleaning.

Farrands Klan was tiny  state authorities told newspapers he had little following outside of his extended family  but energetic, in your face and masterful at publicity. A 54-page report issued by the state in 1982 documented at least 15 Klan events and public appearances in the previous three years, virtually all tied to Farrands group, ranging from rallies and cross burnings to recruitment drives in which robed Klansmen would descend on downtowns to distribute literature. The group went so far as to crash anti-racism events sponsored by the states largest teachers union and an anti-racist coalition in the Naugatuck Valley.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Farrands success in putting the Klan back on the map in Connecticut led to his elevation in 1986 to head of what was then the nations largest Klan organization, the first Roman Catholic and Northerner to do so. He gained a national profile, granting interviews to national publications during which his son-in-law stood in the background cradling a shotgun.

The Farrands era in Connecticut ended abruptly in 1990 when he decamped for North Carolina, where, he said, the people were more genteel, according to The Associated Press. A few years later, successful litigation over his supporters unprovoked attack on peaceful demonstrators in Georgia in 1987 drove his Klan out of business.

Through his daughter, Connecticut Magazine reached out to Farrands, who is in his late 80s and still lives in North Carolina. She requested payment for an interview. Connecticut Magazine does not pay for interviews and declined.

Fading away

With Farrands gone, a new Klan group appeared in the Wallingford and Bristol area. In 1992, they held what turned out to be the states last public Klan rally in Putnam. In 1994, a joint federal and state investigation took down key members of the small group on weapons and explosives charges, sending them to prison.

Those convictions appear to have finally snuffed out the Klan in the state. While isolated incidents have occurred ever since  three robed men walked through Wallingford around 2000 during the controversy over that towns failure to close on Martin Luther King Day, Klan leaflets have appeared in some areas as recently as 2013, and a video surfaced online in 2016 of a man celebrating Donald Trumps victory in East Windsor by riding an ATV in a Klan costume organized Klan activity appears to have ceased as of the mid-90s. Both the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors Klan and extremist activity nationwide, and Steve Ginsberg, director of the Anti-Defamation Leagues Connecticut region, say they are unaware of any active Klan in the state.

Brian A. Pounds

Ginsberg says hes never going to count the Klan out, but added that the reshaping of political activism by the internet may have rendered its structure and approach obsolete. Political organizing today, especially among extremists, occurs online and tends to be leaderless and anonymous, he says. The Klans in-person, fraternal, rigidly hierarchical model may no longer work. He also speculates that the decline of Christianity  always a big part of the Klan  may have further undercut its appeal.

Eric-Paul-Pierre PASQUIER/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

[The Klans] relatively local activity was its M.O., and many of its actions were done in groups, Ginsberg says. Thats very different from the way ideology spreads and violent action is inspired and manifesting itself now.

The Klan may be all but dead in Connecticut, but the ideas that animated it are not, Ginsberg says. Far-right groups with beliefs similar to the Klan, such as the Proud Boys, the Patriotic Front and Sovereign Citizen movement, remain active in the state.

The KKKs been very weak in Connecticut for about 15 to 20 years, Ginsberg says. Theres always those who long for days past, so you could envision a comeback of sorts as a nostalgic nod, but I do think theyd need to change their communications modes and know how to tap into and manipulate the psyche of the recruits they want."
HAMDEN  A resident who refused to show ID Monday morning when he went to get his absentee ballot from the town clerks office was making a point: voters do not need identification to cast ballots in Connecticut municipal elections.

Teran Loeppke arrived at government center around 10 a.m., he said, ready to apply for an absentee ballot and avoid lines at the polls on Election Day amid COVID-19 concerns.

Because the clerks office initially insisted he present identification, Loeppke said, obtaining the ballot took him two hours. He only received it after the state informed the town identification was not required for absentee voting, according to footage Loeppke took of interactions with office staff.

If the clerks office were to repeat that error, Loeppke said he worries it could hinder voting access for Hamden residents, calling the requirement an obstacle.

Under state law, voters do not need to show identification to receive their own absentee ballots, said Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for the Connecticut Secretary of the States Office.

But other Connecticut towns share Hamdens policy of asking in-person absentee ballot applicants for identification, according to Town Clerk Vera Morrison, who said she surveyed several other municipalities Monday about their practices.

Because were physically handing the ballot over to an individual ... you would like the voter to verify their identity, Morrison said.

She also said Connecticut lacks statutory guidance on identification requirements for in-person absentee ballot applicants. Because of that, Hamden has been using a procedure similar to those towns follow at the polls on Election Day, Morrison said.

Many in-person polling places ask for identification, and voters must either show identification, present a Social Security card or sign a statement testifying to their identity, according to guidance from the Secretary of the States Office, which indicates the identification does not need to include a photo but can show an address or signature.

Loeppke, however, contended the signature required on an absentee ballot envelope, which is made under penalty of false statement, is equivalent to in-person voters signing to verify their identity. He also said voters applying for an absentee ballot by mail do not need to show identification.

Asked about that point, Morrison said mail-in applications at least include return addresses.

She does not believe the offices practice regarding in-person applicants has prevented people from voting absentee, she said, adding that most applicants have something with them to verify who they are.

The town has allowed in-person absentee ballot applicants to confirm their identities using items including credit cards or utility bills, Morrison said.

As for Monday mornings events, she said Loeppkes decision to film interactions made the staff feel uncomfortable in their normal duties.

I was in a public building within my first amendment rights, Loeppke said, adding that he did not intend to make anyone uncomfortable. We absolutely have to take seriously the notion of voter suppression and remove obstacles to voting, and I will not back away from that.

Loeppke said he is affiliated with Common Cause in Connecticut, an organization that lobbies for legislation to protect voting rights.

Voters need to know that they can vote easily and accessibly via absentee ballot, he said. Someone ought to be able to come and (get an absentee ballot) without these obstacles.

But according to Morrison, some voters have expressed appreciation for the offices ID-checking policy. The town clerk described the policy as a safeguard that prevents voter impersonation.

Loeppke challenged the idea that voter impersonation is a legitimate threat.

meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com
SEABROOK, N.H. (AP)  One man was killed in New Hampshire and another was in critical condition Monday in a morning shooting that led some stores to briefly close down.

The man who was dead was found shot in a driveway in Seabrook. Another man was found suffering from a gunshot wound, the New Hampshire Attorney General's office said.
BOSTON (AP)  Boston voters, marking a key milestone in the city's long political history, for the first time elected a woman and an Asian American as mayor on Tuesday, tapping City Councilor Michelle Wu to serve in the citys top political office.

Wus victory marks a turning point for the city. Boston had only elected white men as mayor before her.

One of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor of Boston," Wu told supporters. They have been, and they will again someday, but not tonight.

The choice of Wu over fellow Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George is just the latest marker of how much the Boston of not-so-long-ago  known for its ethnic neighborhoods, glad-handing politicians and mayors with Irish surnames  is giving way to a new Boston.

Wu wont have much time to revel in her win. She will be sworn in on Nov. 16.

We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone. Were ready to be a Boston that doesnt push people out, but welcomes all who call our city home, Wu said.

Just before Wu spoke, Essaibi George conceded the race.

I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu. She is the first woman, the first person of color and, as an Asian American, the first elected to be mayor of Boston, Essaibi George told her supporters. I know this is no small feat.

Wu had racked up a series of high-profile endorsements, including support from acting Mayor Kim Janey, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a former Boston city councilor and member of the Squad in Congress.

The election marks a pivotal moment for Boston, which has wrestled with racial strife throughout its history. Tensions spilled over into violence in the 1970s, when court-ordered desegregation of the citys public schools led to the busing of Black students to predominantly white schools and white students to mostly Black schools.

Each of the five main mayoral candidates  all Democrats  had identified as a person of color.

The 36-year-old Wu, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, grew up in Chicago and moved to Boston to attend Harvard University and Harvard Law School.

Essaibi George, 47, a lifelong Boston resident and former public school teacher, describes herself as a first-generation Arab-Polish American. Her father was a Muslim immigrant from Tunisia. Her mother, a Catholic, immigrated from Poland.

With her victory in hand, its now up to Wu to try to make good on some of her sweeping proposals.

Two of Wus most ambitious pledges focus on housing and public transportation, familiar themes for the citys 675,000 residents.

To help push back against soaring housing costs that have forced some former residents out of the city, Wu has promised to pursue rent stabilization or rent control. The biggest hurdle to that proposal is the fact that Massachusetts voters narrowly approved a 1994 ballot question banning rent control statewide.

Another of Wus top campaign promises is to create a fare free public transit system. Wu has said the proposal would strengthen the citys economy, address climate change and help those who take the bus or subway to school or work.

Like the rent control pledge, Wu cant as mayor unilaterally do away with fares on the public transit system, which is under the control of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Wu said she would try to work with partners in state government to make each proposal a reality.

We dont have to choose between generational change and keeping the streetlights on, between tackling big problems with bold solutions and filling our potholes," she said.

Other challenges that Wu will have to grapple with as mayor include public education, policing, the citys ongoing struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the long-term effects of climate change on the coastal metropolis.

The election was also a test of whether voters in a city long dominated by parochial neighborhood politics was ready to tap someone like Wu not born and raised in the city.

Wu was first elected in 2013 at age 28, becoming the first Asian American woman to serve on the council. In 2016, she became the first woman of color to serve as president. Essaibi George was first elected to the council in 2015.

The election reflects an increasingly diverse Boston.

The latest U.S. Census statistics show Boston residents who identify as white make up 44.6% of the population compared to Black residents (19.1%), Latino residents (18.7%) and residents of Asian descent (11.2%).

The citys previous elected mayor  Democrat Marty Walsh  stepped down earlier this year to become U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Joe Biden. Walsh was replaced on an acting basis by Janey, sworn in March 24 as Bostons first female and first Black mayor.
During the summer of 2020, Hartford school officials spent months sorting out what they imagined would be their biggest headache of the fall: how to hold classes in-person while simultaneously preventing the COVID-19 virus from spreading. Their hands were full.

Then, suddenly, an entirely different kind of infection entered the picture.

An unknown attacker had broken into the City of Hartfords computers, and the most significant disruption hit the school bus system, which lost access to route information, leaving 4,000 students without a way to get to class. The school district had no choice but to delay reopening.

IT staff discovered the hack quickly and students were brought back to class within two days.

But it took much longer to restore a wider range of systems, Charisse Snipes, IT director for the City of Hartford, said in a statement. Ultimately, it took months to recover from the attack, which Snipes said was severe. Both the National Guard and the Federal Bureau of Investigation became involved in an investigation.

It would be far from the only time an organization faced similar threats that year.

Reports of hacks and other forms of data breaches have skyrocketed in Connecticut in recent years, jeopardizing the personal information of an increasing number of residents. Experts believe more of that data is being lost to cybercriminals with the worst of intentions.

Data released to Hearst Connecticut Media Group by the state Attorney Generals office shows 1,062 breaches affected roughly 546,000 Connecticut residents in 2020. Companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and others who conduct business in Connecticut are required by state law to disclose known electronic breaches of Connecticut residents personal information to the AGs office.

The definitions of personal information range from Social Security numbers to confidential financial or health data.

The records show the number of breaches reported climbed by nearly 20% each of the last three years.

Already in 2021, breaches have affected more than twice as many residents as in 2018.

Over the past nine years, organizations have collectively reported that the data of about 6 million residents was potentially compromised in data breaches. That strongly suggests many residents have been affected by multiple breaches, given the state is home to about 3.6 million people.

The AGs information doesnt include what type of attack the organization experienced. But Michele Lucan, the states deputy associate Attorney General and chief of the offices privacy section, said in a statement malicious attacks from criminals are on the rise, in Connecticut and elsewhere.

Criminals often try to directly enrich themselves by demanding ransoms. Though a growing number of hacks have sought valuable personal data that can later be resold or used against individuals in other ways.

In the past, these attacks were perceived to be purely financially motivated, but it has become clear that stealing data is another key goal, Lucan said.

The uptick in breach reports is also due to more organizations collecting and storing peoples personal data, Lucan said, and awareness of the requirement to report is improving. The law requiring disclosure is close to a decade old, and state lawmakers updated it this year.

Many of those making reports  businesses large and small, hospitals, credit bureaus and more  are based outside of Connecticut. The counts are an approximation, because more than one organization might report the same breach.

Large, headline-dominating breaches are still affecting the greatest portions of state residents. For instance, 2.8 million residents saw their data lost in just two breaches, one at Target in 2013 and the Equifax incident in 2017.

But experts said the cyber threats to smaller organizations, and even schools and local governments, is increasing. Ransomware attacks  where criminals lock up a system and demand a ransom in order to restore service or delete stolen data  are especially prevalent.

The reason ransomware attacks have become so popular is because theyre relatively easy to pull off, said Stephen Fitzgerald, a professor of IT Security at the University of Connecticut. Since one of the final steps of these attacks involves a malicious actor simply demanding money, the payoff is quick.

You don't have to then sell the data, Fitzgerald said. You basically lock up someone and then say Hey, pay us money to unlock.

Using ransomware is also effective because of its versatility. Depending on the time, resources and skill levels available to malicious actors, ransomware can be applied at different levels of risk and reward.

Of course, there are large-scale and high-profile ransomware attacks, like the breach on the Colonial Pipeline Company, which owns the largest fuel pipeline in the country. In that attack, the company ultimately paid a cybercrime group a $4.4 million ransom in order to restore service after hackers shut down the pipeline for six days in May 2021.

But smaller attacks can be just as profitable, because theyre easy to execute, according to Fitzgerald. Big companies like the Colonial Pipeline Company have robust cybersecurity protections that can be difficult to intrude. Typically, smaller institutions like doctors offices and schools lack the same level of security, making it easier for criminals to strike  and fast.

This is someone walking through the parking lot and jiggling the handles to the cars, Fitzgerald continued. With these smaller institutions, they're just jiggling the handle. If the car is locked, they move on.

Certain foreign governments turn a blind eye or even enable attackers, he said, multiplying threats worldwide and trickling down even to small organizations in Connecticut.

There's always information worth a ransom, on any computer, said Vahid Behzadan, a professor of computer and data science and a cybersecurity expert at the University of New Haven.

Hacking has become relatively easy in recent years, experts said. Cybercriminals now operate in an online economy where tools enabling almost anyone to make an attack are for sale at affordable prices, said Behzadan.

If anybody wants to get into cyber criminal activities, the bar is not so high, Behzadan said. They can actually get into it quite easily. The problem is whether they can get away with it.

Beyond hacks, employees frequently disclose sensitive data accidentally.

The state-run health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, has reported 111 breaches since 2013, more than any other organization, inside or outside Connecticut, Attorney General office data shows.

Kathleen Tallarita, a spokeswoman for Access Health, said nearly all of the breaches reported by (Access Health CT) involve only one consumer.

But some were larger. Its biggest reported breach involved the data of 1,100 people. Kathleen Tallarita, a spokeswoman for Access Health, said the incident was the result of a phishing attack sent via email to an employee. In another case, a call center employee misplaced their notes, which contained the personal information of about 400 consumers.

Tallarita said Access Health is committed to protecting the security of consumer information.

On a much larger scale, a breach at the financial services firm Morgan Stanley affected more Connecticut residents in 2020 than any other. The company reported to the Attorney General that 220,000 state residents were affected in the breach, which happened when computer hardware was not properly disposed of and unencrypted data was left exposed to a vendor.

A spokeswoman for Morgan Stanley did not answer a question about how many people the breach affected nationwide. The firm said it has strengthened its security policies.

We have continuously monitored the situation and we do not believe that any of our clients information has been accessed or misused, the spokeswoman said. Safeguarding our clients information is of paramount importance.

The incident resulted in class action lawsuits against the company, a consequence large corporations often encounter after a breach.

A new Connecticut law could protect organizations from that possibility, however. Passed in 2021, the law protects companies from having to pay damages in breaches if they have instituted certain cybersecurity controls.

Ashley Zane, government affairs associate for the Connecticut Business & Industry Alliance, which lobbied in support of the bill, said the relief the law provides offers an incentive for businesses  particularly small ones  to beef up their protections.

Investing in cybersecurity can be costly, Zane said. A lot of times you don't see a benefit until you have a breach.

Especially for smaller entities, Fitzgerald from UConn said that upfront cost can be extremely burdensome, especially since it cannot be ignored. Companies that dont have the in-house expertise to combat cyber attacks often have to rely on third-party service providers for protection.

While theres a financial barrier involved in hiring a third-party to handle cybersecurity for many entities, theres also a security risk inherent in that information exchange.

A lot of these mom-and-pop places, they know that they don't have the resources or the know-how to deal with cyber threats, so they outsource  that service to a provider, he said. Those providers then become big fish [for cyber criminals to target], because those providers are giving services to a lot of small businesses.

The surge in breaches in Connecticut fits with the trend seen globally.

In the first half of 2021 alone, criminals attempted roughly 304.7 million attacks worldwide, according to a report from the cybersecurity firm SonicWall. That figure is more than the entire number for 2020, the experts wrote, and 2021 will assuredly go down as the worst year for ransomware SonicWall has ever recorded.

The monetary worth of your personal data on the dark web depends on the type of information, according to the credit monitoring firm Experian. Diplomas can sell for between $100 and $400, medical records can go for up to $1,000 and passports for $2,000, Experian reported.

By itself, it doesn't have any value to the criminal, Fred Scholl, cybersecurity program director at Quinnipiac University, said. But they can sell it to someone else.

Further complicating matters, Scholl said, is the fact that it can be difficult for the victim of a cyberattack to tell what information was lost, if any.

In the case of Hartford Schools, Snipes, the IT director, said a forensic analysis only recently concluded, more than a year after the attack. While Mayor Luke Bronin said at the time officials did not believe any personal information had been stolen, the City is now notifying some individuals their data could have been compromised out of an abundance of caution, Snipes said.

The state Attorney Generals office has only pursued legal action against a company for failure to report under the notification law on one occasion, when Uber Technologies waited a year to report a breach, eventually notifying states in 2017. A group of the states top lawyers ultimately won a $148 million settlement, $4.5 million of which went to Connecticut.

John Neumon, assistant Attorney General, said in a statement instances of failing to report a breach to the office are usually handled informally.

The goal is to get notice out timely to consumers with understandable and relevant information so that consumers understand what happened and what they can do, Neumon said.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  The attorney for a Missouri man accused of killing his Chinese wife in 2019 said Tuesday that the woman's death was a tragic accident that was caused when she fell and hit her head during an argument with her husband.

During opening statements in Joseph Elledge's first-degree murder trial, defense attorney Scott Rosenblum said Elledge and his 28-year-old wife, Mengqi Ji, were arguing on Oct. 9, 2019, at their home in Columbia because he believed she was having an affair.

He said Ji pushed Elledge first and he then shoved her, causing her to fall and hit her head. Ji was able to get up and go to bed, where Elledge found her dead early the next day. Rosenblum attributed her death to a subdural hematoma, which is a build up of blood on the brain, KOMU reported.

Rosenblum acknowledged that Elledge made a series of bad decisions when he decided not to call for help, instead putting his wife's body in the trunk of his car. But he said the evidence will show Elledge did not intend to kill his wife.

Elledge plans to testify in his own defense during the trial, Rosenblum said.

Elledge reported Ji missing on Oct. 10, 2019, prompting numerous searches before her remains were found March 25 this year in a remote area of Rock Bridge State Park about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Columbia.

Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight said in his opening statement that Elledge mistreated his wife throughout their marriage and on the night she died. He said Elledge and his mother worked together to ensure that Ji did what Elledge wanted, KRCG-TV reported.

Knight told the jury they would hear more than nine hours of recordings of the couple arguing, some that were made by Elledge and others by Ji.

The first recording was played Tuesday afternoon. The nearly hour-long recording of a phone conversation included Elledge chastising Ji for eating like a pig" and repeatedly swearing at her and criticizing her mother. Ji is heard sobbing.

Elledge also asked: Do you want me to leave? Ill leave and never come back. Im not happy here. Do you want me leave here? Tell me.

Ji responded, No.

In his opening statement, Knight said Elledge recorded reasons why he hated his wife in a journal titled "Grievances." And he said Elledge had a notebook that outlined how he should behave toward the media concerning his wife's disappearance.

The prosecutor also said Elledge spent 30 minutes digging a grave in Rock Bridge State Park, where Ji's body was found. The grave was a half a mile from where he had proposed to her, Knight said.

Ji came to the U.S. from China and earned a masters degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri in December 2014. She previously attended the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai.

She stayed in Columbia and married Elledge, who was a student at the University of Missouri, in 2017.
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP)  The president of Kentucky's Georgetown College has been fired after reports emerged accusing him of sexual assault and sexual misconduct against employees, the small Christian liberal arts school announced Tuesday.

William Jones was fired by the board of trustees after the college learned of "allegations of a sexual assault of a female College employee, inappropriate behavior with another female College employee, and other conduct in violation of Joness employment agreement with the College, according to a news release.

The Associated Press was not able to reach Jones for comment on Tuesday evening.

The college received the allegations on Oct. 31 and Board of Trustees chairman Robert Mills called a meeting of the board's executive committee the next day. The full board voted to fire him on Monday. The college has hired outside counsel to continue the investigation, the release said. Officials

Georgetown College does not tolerate violence or misuse of authority. We hold our administrators, students and faculty to the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct, Mills said in a statement, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. We are surprised and deeply disappointed by what we have learned. We will support the members of our Georgetown College family who are directly impacted, and we will work cooperatively with ongoing or any future investigations."

Officials did not release further details about the allegations.

Rosemary Allen, the school provost, was named acting president of the college by the board of trustees. The school, which is not connected to Georgetown University in Washington, is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Lexington.

According to the college's website, Jones was named president in 2019 and previously worked as the president of Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.
Republican Glenn Youngkin mobilized voters concerned about education and race, while making small gains with suburban voters and other key groups to help his party rebound from Donald Trumps poor showing in Virginia last year and win the governors race.

The former private equity executives victory came even as Trump remains broadly unpopular in the commonwealth.

Youngkin managed to keep Trump at arms length without angering Trumps base. A year after Democrat Joe Biden dispatched Trump in Virginia by 10 percentage points, it was Youngkins supporters, not Democrat Terry McAuliffes, who were more fired up  74% of them said they were extremely interested in the election, compared with 63% who voted for McAuliffe. Thats according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters.

Both Democrats and Republicans pulled together familiar coalitions. Men, rural and small town voters and white evangelicals were squarely in Youngkins corner, while McAuliffe was the choice for Black voters, moderates, and voters under 45. Women were only slightly more likely to back the Democrat than the Republican, 53% to 46%.

But small shifts added up to make a difference. In 2020, voters ages 45 and older split about evenly between Biden and Trump. This year they were more likely to back Youngkin over McAuliffe, 55% to 45%.

Youngkin also performed better with suburban voters, a group that helped Democrats win elections across the country during the Trump era.

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MORE ON ELECTION 2021:

 The Virginia governor's race emerges as a test of how voters feel about Joe Bidens presidency

 Key takeaways from the elections in Virginia and New Jersey

 Republican Glenn Youngkin makes slight gains with some key voter groups when compared with former President Donald Trump in his 2020 loss

 School board races become the new front in a culture war as resentments over coronavirus restrictions and anti-racism curriculum reach a boiling point

 Elections are held for three open congressional seats in Ohio and Florida

 Voters in Minneapolis reject a proposal to replace the police department after the death of George Floyd

 Mayoral races are huge milestones for Asian Americans

 Election officials deliver a relatively smooth Election Day after a year of dealing with false claims and death threats

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

NEW YORK  Republican former U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella has been elected Staten Island borough president.

Fossella left Congress over a decade ago after a scandal. It involved a drunken driving arrest and revelations he had a secret second family.

He defeated Democrat Mark S. Murphy in the election Tuesday and is making his first return to elected office since he left in 2009. He was once seen as a potential candidate for New York City mayor, but his political career cratered after the revelations about his personal life. Fossella was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in the primary.

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STAMFORD, Conn.  Democratic state Rep. Caroline Simmons has been elected mayor of Stamford, Connecticut.

She defeated former Major League Baseball manager and player Bobby Valentine, who conceded defeat in a speech to his supporters.

Simmons will be the first woman to serve as mayor of Stamford, the states second-largest city. The 35-year-old legislator had defeated the two-term incumbent Democratic mayor in a September primary.

She touted her experience in both state and federal government and argued she was better suited for the job than her celebrity opponent. The election Tuesday was the first political campaign for Valentine, a 71-year-old former Republican who ran as an unaffiliated candidate.

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RICHMOND, Va.  Republican former business executive Glenn Youngkin has won Virginias governors race, a major political turnabout in a state that had been trending increasingly blue.

The win is sure to alarm national Democrats already nervous about holding their partys narrow control of Congress in next years midterm elections.

The 54-year-old Youngkin is a political newcomer and was a virtual unknown at the start of the race. He beat Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018.

President Joe Biden won Virginia by a comfortable 10 percentage points last year, but that disappeared as Youngkin beat back the Democrats efforts to portray him as a clone of former President Donald Trump.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Maine voters passed the nations first right to food constitutional amendment.

A statewide referendum asked voters on Tuesday if they favored an amendment to the Maine Constitution to declare that all individuals have an inherent right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing.

Supporters said the amendment would ensure the right to grow vegetables and raise livestock in an era when corporatization threatens local ownership of the food supply.

Mainers on Tuesday also voted against building a 145-mile conduit for Canadian hydropower. The project was billed as either a bold step in battling climate change or unnecessary destruction of woodlands. But Tuesday's vote wont be the final word as litigation over the project continues.

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DEARBORN, Mich.  A state lawmaker has won the mayoral race in Dearborn, Michigan, making him the citys first Arab American mayor.

A final unofficial vote count on the citys website shows Abdullah Hammoud defeated Gary Woronchak, a former state representative and former Wayne County commissioner, by a 55% to 45% margin in Tuesdays election.

Hammoud, who is Muslim, is serving his third term in the Michigan House. His parents immigrated to the United States from Lebanon.

Dearborn is a city of over 100,000 people and has one of the largest Arab American populations in the nation. But the citys past includes efforts by longtime segregationist Mayor Orville Hubbard to keep Black families from moving into the then-mostly white community.

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BUFFALO, N.Y.  The mayor of New Yorks second-largest city has declared victory in his write-in campaign as early results showed him with a possible lead over the democratic socialist who beat him in the Democratic primary.

Tuesdays election between Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and challenger India Walton remained too early to call, and in fact it was unknown how many people had voted for Brown because his name didnt appear on the ballot.

Early returns showed Walton trailing the number of write-in votes cast. But a full tabulation of those write-in votes wont begin for days. Thousands of absentee ballots also have yet to be counted. Walton says she is proud of the race she has run and is waiting for a full count.

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BOSTON  Boston voters for the first time elected a woman and an Asian American as mayor, tapping City Councilor Michelle Wu to serve in the citys top political office.

Throughout its long history, Boston had previously only elected white men as mayor.

Wu defeated fellow Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George on Tuesday. The two Democrats faced off against each other after defeating several other mayoral hopefuls in a September preliminary election.

The election of Wu, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, marks another break from tradition in Boston. Wu grew up in Chicago, only moving to Boston to attend Harvard University and Harvard Law School. Boston typically elects mayors with lifelong Boston roots.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio  Longtime coal lobbyist Mike Carey held an open U.S. House seat in central Ohio for Republicans in Tuesdays special congressional election.

Carey defeated two-term Democratic state Rep. Allison Russo, a public health policy consultant, in Ohios 15th Congressional District. Russo had raised more money in the district than any Democrat in history.

Former President Donald Trump had endorsed Carey to succeed veteran U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, a centrist Republican who resigned in April to become CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Trump called Carey a courageous fighter and visited the state to campaign for him, as did former Vice President Mike Pence.

Carey has been vice president of government affairs for American Consolidated Natural Resources, formerly Murray Energy, since 2012. He also chairs the board of the Ohio Coal Association.

Murray was among corporate contributors involved in an elaborate $60 million bribery-for-legislation scheme alleged by federal prosecutors. The coal giant has not been charged with a crime. The investigation is ongoing.

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MINNEAPOLIS  Minneapolis voters have rejected a proposal to replace the citys police department with a new Department of Public Safety  an idea that arose from the May 2020 death of George Floyd under an officers knee.

The initiative would have changed the city charter to remove a requirement that the city have a police department with a minimum number of officers.

Supporters of the proposal said a complete overhaul of policing was necessary to stop police violence.

Opponents said the proposal had no concrete plan for how to move forward and could make communities already affected by violence more vulnerable as crime is on the rise.

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DETROIT  Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has easily defeated attorney Anthony Adams to win a third four-year term leading the Motor City.

Duggan was the clear favorite to win Tuesdays election after first winning in 2013 and taking over in January 2014. That was just after the city emerged from the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Duggan had won more than 72% of the votes in the August primary, in which the top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary moved on to the general election.

Adams was a former deputy mayor in the early to mid-2000s under Kwame Kilpatrick.

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A year after Donald Trump lost Virginia by 10 percentage points, Republican Glenn Youngkin is in a tight race for governor against Democrat Terry McAuliffe thanks to shifting support from some key voter groups.

Youngkin has made slight gains with suburbanites, voters 45 and older and voters in households earning $50,000 or less when compared with Trump in his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Thats according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters.

Both Democrats and Republicans pulled together familiar coalitions. McAuliffe is the clear choice of voters under 45, women, Black voters, moderates and college graduates, while men, rural and small town voters and white evangelicals are squarely in Youngkins corner.

But small shifts with other groups could make a big difference. Tuesdays race is tighter than originally expected, sparking concern among Democrats and potentially giving Republicans a playbook for competitive battlegrounds as they look to the 2022 midterm elections.

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NEW YORK  Alvin Bragg has been elected Manhattans first Black district attorney.

The 48-year-old Democrat easily defeated Republican Thomas Kenniff on Tuesday to join a wave of progressive, reform-minded prosecutors in several big U.S cities.

When Bragg takes office in January, hell inherit an ongoing investigation of former President Donald Trump. Manhattan prosecutors this year charged Trumps company and its longtime finance chief with tax fraud.

Bragg campaigned partly on a promise to change the culture of the district attorneys office. He said he wants to shrink the system and look for alternatives to prosecuting small crimes of poverty.

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NEW YORK  Democrat Eric Adams has been elected New York City mayor after handily defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Adams is the Brooklyn borough president and a former New York City police captain. He will become the citys second Black mayor and must steer the damaged metropolis through its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Adams victory Tuesday seemed all but assured after he emerged as the winner from a crowded Democratic primary this summer in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7 to 1.

Sliwa is the founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol. He ran a campaign punctuated by stunts and his signature red beret.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio  Democrat Shontel Brown won the Cleveland-area U.S. House seat formerly held by Biden Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge in Tuesdays special election.

Brown is a Cuyahoga County Council member who also chairs the county Democratic Party. She defeated Republican Laverne Gore, a business owner and activist, in the 11th Congressional District. The district is a heavily Democratic area that stretches from Cleveland to Akron.

Brown will fill the remainder of Fudges term, which runs until January 2023, facing reelection again next year to hold the seat.

Her election marks a win for establishment Democrats, who sought to defend the district against a takeover by progressives. Her backers included Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and several labor unions.

But victory may be short-lived. Already, Browns defeated primary opponent, progressive Nina Turner, has begun campaigning for the full congressional term up for grabs in 2022.

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Republican Glenn Youngkin did his best to keep former President Donald Trump at arms length in his competitive race for Virginia governor against Democrat Terry McAuliffe. The strategy appears to have had the intended effect.

A majority of Virginia voters say they have an unfavorable view of the former president, but Youngkin fares better, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters. About half have a favorable opinion of the former private equity executive.

The economy ranked as the top issue facing the commonwealth, with the coronavirus pandemic and education trailing, and voters were split in their opinion of President Joe Bidens performance.

Tuesdays election is the most closely watched contest since Biden defeated Trump last year. It is widely seen as a gauge of how voters are feeling ahead of next years midterm elections, and for both parties it could provide a blueprint for campaigning in competitive states.

Biden won Virginia by 10 percentage points last year. Now, 48% of Virginias voters approve of Bidens job performance, while 52% disapprove.

Voters who ranked the economy and education as the top issues were more likely to back Youngkin over McAuliffe. Voters who identified COVID-19 as the top issue supported McAuliffe over Youngkin. McAuliffe also earned the majority backing of the roughly 2 in 10 who ranked health care, climate change or racism as the top issue.

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Voters casting ballots in the tight race for Virginia governor rank the economy as the top issue facing the commonwealth, with the coronavirus pandemic and education trailing.

In the contest between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin, 34% of Virginia voters say the economy and jobs was the most important issue facing the state. Seventeen percent name COVID-19 and 14% choose education. Thats according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters.

Health care (7%), climate change (7%), racism (5%), immigration (5%), abortion (5%) and law enforcement (4%) were all lower-tier issues.

The race is the most closely watched and competitive contest since Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump last year, and is seen as a gauge of voters feelings ahead of next years midterms.

Youngkin, a former private equity executive, often asserted Virginias economy was in the ditch, but a majority of voters disagreed. Fifty-six percent said the states economy is in good shape, compared with 44% saying economic conditions are poor.

Schools became a focus of the race in its final weeks. A quarter of Virginia voters say the debate over teaching critical race theory in schools was the single most important factor in their vote for governor, but a similar percentage identified the debate over handling COVID-19 in schools as most important.

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AROCUTIN, Mexico (AP)  The famed Day of the Dead ceremonies around Mexico's Lake Patzcuaro were once again thronged with visitors on Monday, economic relief for a tourist-dependent region that suffered from last year's pandemic shutdown of the observance.

In the lakeside city of Patzcuaro itself, tourists were treated to a parade, theater and music performances.

Come and visit us, Patzcuaro welcomes you with open arms, said Julio Arreola, mayor of the city in the western state of Michoacan that is famed for its colonial-era plazas and architecture.

But in some smaller villages around the lakeshore, residents tried to preserve the authentic, non-tourist flavor of traditions passed down for hundreds of years.

While kids in Mexico City donned Halloween-style costumes based on the Netflix series Squid Game, people in the village of Arocutin were more concerned with the flower arrangements and candles meant to guide the spirits of the dead home.

Residents of Arocutin started hanging up traditional garlands of marigold flowers early morning Sunday to adorn the entrance of the small local cemetery.

Arocutin remains a holdout: It is the only town in the region where the cemetery lies in the churchyard, and where all the tombs are dug directly into the earth, surrounded by a simple ring of stones, rather than the more elaborate cement and brick vaults used elsewhere.

Its all about preserving tradition as much as we can, said Alma Ascencio, the representative for local artisans. Tourism has distorted everything. This is a celebration, sure, but a religious one, so there is no music or much alcohol. It is very private, a completely different thing.

While the island of Janitzio in Lake Patzcuaro is the site best known for colorful Day of the Dead celebrations, the tiny island remains remains closed to visitors to avoid crowding.

That raised concerns that tourists might flock to smaller villages nearby.

Those concerns may be overstated. The only American in Arocutin Monday was Georgia Conti. A retired healthcare manager, she decided to move to Arocutin precisely because of its beauty and traditions, and she now lives here with her dog.

When she was building her house with her late husband, they found bones that were believed to be those of a soldier killed in 1915 during the Mexican Revolution.

Some tourists do come around here, but here is a different world. I really respect their traditions, said Conti. Villagers are really welcoming and told me I could lay my mothers ashes here, next to the unknown soldier. I will probably be buried here when I die.

The Day of the Dead originated in Indigenous cultures and has been celebrated for thousands of years, but tourists started arriving in Arocutin only in 2002. Residents are open to sharing their costumes, but resistant to changing them in any way.

We dont celebrate Halloween here. We are not American, we celebrate our dead. Our culture is rich enough here in Michoacan and Mexico, Ascencio said while preparing marigold garlands.

Preparations for the Day of the Dead start on the 31st with residents adorning the tombs with marigold arches and candles.

That is the night Mexicans celebrate their deceased children, while the night from the 1st to the 2nd is dedicated to the adult dead.

Arocutin is one of the few communities where a church bell rings to call the souls and guide them back to the land of the living, to prevent them from getting lost. Each community has a different sound. This is also one of the few communities where people stay up all night, offering food and presents to the deceased.

We coexist with our dead. We bring them all the things they liked when they were alive. Sometimes it is a beer, or a tequila with a cigarette, said Alma Ascencio.

Elizabeth Ascencio lost her newborn 20 years ago and every year comes to adorn the small stone tomb with marigold petals to guarantee his return for the night.

This is a special day, a beautiful day, said Elizabeth Ascencio. We try very hard to welcome our dead.

Every year,the town erects a big decorated arch at the entrance to the cemetery. To many, this is the door through which the dead enter.

According to tradition, the only force that allows residents to lift the tree trunks that form the arch are the souls of the children who respond to the sound of the bells and come to help.

Bunches of Mexican marigolds adorn another monumental wooden arch that lies on the floor of another small cemetery not far from Arocutin. A group of residents patiently tie the flowers to the tree trunks, while others rest or enjoy a taco under the sun. The villagers decorate the arches, then lift them into place.

Cecilio Sanchez, a construction worker and a resident of the neighboring town of San Francisco Uricho, learned how to make the flower arch from his elders.

But for all of us, our arch is much more beautiful than the one in Arocutin, Sanchez said.

Maria Ermenegildo, 69, is a traditional embroidery artisan who has lived in Arocutin her entire life.

Weve always done it this way, said Ermenegildo, while finishing the last marigold garlands ahead of the big night. No other village can decorate and celebrate the way we do. We feel very proud every time tourists tell us how beautiful everything is.
JACKSON, N.H. (AP)  A Massachusetts hiker is safe after getting lost on a trail and spending the night outside while hiking on Mount Isolation in Jackson, the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game said.

The 31-year-old hiker from Boston had been hiking Saturday with friends on the Rocky Branch Trail when he stopped short of the summit while his friends continued.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli were virtually deadlocked early Wednesday after a campaign centered on the incumbents progressive policies and handling of the pandemic.

The Associated Press has not declared a winner in the race as votes from Tuesday's election were still being tallied on a night that imparted some bad omens for Democrats. Incomplete returns showed Ciattarelli and the first-term governor were separated by about 1,200 votes out of more than 2.3 million cast.

Murphy had been leading in the polls, has a 1 million-voter registration advantage and had more cash in his campaign coffers than Ciattarelli in the final days of the race. But the Republican has far surpassed the Republican nominee from four years ago in fundraising and has seen the gap in public polls move in his favor  if only by a few points.

At Murphy's election night party in Asbury Park's convention hall, the crowd went from cheering early results reported on TV to milling around the cavernous venue and checking their phones. At Ciattarelli's camp in Bridgewater, the crowd was breaking out into periodic cheers.

At 12:30 a.m., Ciattarelli said he couldn't yet declare a victory because votes remained to be counted, but said he fully expected to make a victory declaration once that happens.

Weve sent a message to the entire nation. This is what I love about this state: Every single time it's gone too far off track, the people of this state have pushed, pulled and prodded it right back to where it needs to be," he told the crowd.

While a Ciattarelli win would send a jolt through state and national politics, a win by Murphy would also break some historical trends.

No Democrat has won reelection as governor in New Jersey since Brendan Byrne in 1977, and the party opposite the president's has won the New Jersey governorship going back to 1985.

An enthusiastic Murphy also appeared onstage, hopeful for a win.

When every vote is counted, and every vote will be counted, we hope to have a celebration, he said.

New Jersey does not have an automatic recount law, but the candidates are permitted to request one. The party that wants a recount has to file a suit in State Superior Court in the counties where they want to contest tallies. That has to be done within 17 days of Election Day.

Murphy has campaigned as a solid progressive, with a record to show for it. He signed bills into law that expanded voting access, provided for taxpayer-funded pre-K and community college, hiked the minimum wage to $15 an hour over time along with opening up the state to renewable energy like wind power.

Ciattarelli's campaign seized on comments Murphy made that New Jersey probably isnt for voters whose top issue is taxes, casting the governor as out of touch with a concern many prioritize.

He also sought support from those who disagreed with Murphy's handling of COVID-19. At a recent campaign rally in Hazlet when someone in the audience asked about mandates, Ciattarelli said there'd be none under his administration  an allusion to mask and vaccination mandates.

He also implicitly criticized critical race theory in schools, saying that we are not going to teach our children to feel guilty. Critical race theory is a method of thinking of Americas history through the lens of racism that has become a political lightning rod of the Republican Party.

Polls showed Murphy got solid support for his handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, which hit New Jersey hard in early 2020 and resulted in the deaths of more than 25,000 people. About a third of those deaths occurred in nursing and veterans homes. But the state also excelled at getting people vaccinated and was quick to become one of the states with the highest percentages of eligible people to be fully vaccinated.

A lawsuit filed Tuesday evening by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, based on social media posts and local news reports, alleged that dozens of voters were turned away from polls. In some places, that was because electronic tablets used to check in voters struggled to connect to the internet.

The suit, which had sought to extend voting until 9:30 p.m., was denied by the court, the civil rights organization said. A message seeking comment was left with the secretary of states office, which oversees elections in the state.

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AP writers Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill and Wayne Parry in Bridgewater contributed to this report.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  Jurors heard starkly different portrayals of Kyle Rittenhouse  instigator or victim  in opening statements at his trial Tuesday on charges of shooting three people on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice.

A prosecutor said Rittenhouse set the bloodshed in motion when he triggered a confrontation with a man that night and then killed him with a bullet to the back.

But Rittenhouse's attorney told the jury that his client acted in self-defense after the man tried to grab Rittenhouse's gun and others kicked the teen in the face and clubbed him in the head with a skateboard.

You as jurors will end up looking at it from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances as they existed, defense attorney Mark Richards said.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during the summer of 2020 with an assault-style rifle. The one-time aspiring police officer could get life in prison if convicted.

The teenager traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, after protests broke out over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two nights in which rioters set fires and ransacked businesses.

The first witness was Dominick Black, who was dating Rittenhouse's sister at the time. Black faces charges he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse months before the shootings because the teen was not old enough to own one at the time.

Black testified that he and Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha to help protect a car dealership after vehicles were burned the night before. Black said he thought nobody would start trouble if they saw him with his assault-style rifle. He also said Rittenhouse helped give medical aid and put out fires.

Black said he was on the roof as protesters hurled gasoline bombs and rocks at the business. He said he heard gunshots but didn't know Rittenhouse was involved until the teenager called and said, "I shot somebody, I shot somebody.

Afterward, Black said, Rittenhouse was freaking out. He was really scared. He was pale, shaking a lot. Black said Rittenhouse told him that he acted in self-defense because people were trying to hurt him.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest in Kenosha as two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen" and said outsiders were drawn to the city like moths to a flame.

Yet Binger repeatedly stressed that amid the hundreds of people in Kenosha and the anger and chaos in the streets, the only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse.

When we consider the reasonableness of the defendants actions, I ask you to keep this in mind, Binger said, after explaining to the jury that a claim of self-defense can be valid only if Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was using deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

The prosecutor said that it is not known exactly what words were said, but it is clear that Rittenhouse started a confrontation that led Joseph Rosenbaum to begin chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot.

Binger emphasized that Rosenbaum, 36, was killed by a shot to the back after he threw a plastic bag. The first two bullets hit Rosenbaum in the lower extremities, causing him to fall forward, the prosecutor noted.

Richards, the defense attorney, argued that it was Rosenbaum who lit the fuse that night." Rosenbaum yelled an expletive at Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before Rittenhouse fired at him, according to the defense.

Rittenhouse fired four shots in less than a second because Rosenbaum was "trying to take Kyles weapon from him to use against him, Richards said.

Binger, the prosecutor, said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fled the scene instead of rendering aid, despite portraying himself as a medic earlier in the night. But Richards said Rittenhouse didnt stop to help because the crowd wanted to kill him," and instead ran toward police.

The crowd at that point clearly believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter, according to the prosecutor.

Moments after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, who was seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. The defense attorney portrayed Rittenhouse as the victim, saying Huber was trying to separate the head from the body with the skateboard.

Rittenhouse then wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Prosecutors called FBI agent Brandon Cramin to testify about infrared surveillance video of the protest on the night of the shooting. Prosecutors have said previously that the video would show that it was Rittenhouse following or chasing Rosenbaum at one point. They played a grainy video from 8,500 feet in which figures on the ground werent immediately identifiable. After a dispute between the two sides over whether additional surveillance videos exist that the defense hadnt seen, Cramin, who testified off-camera by the court's order, was asked by the judge if he could return and testify another day.

The defense pushed back against the notion that Rittenhouse was an outsider drawn to Kenosha by a call to arms on right-wing social media. Richards said Rittenhouse had strong ties to Kenosha -- his father lived there and Rittenhouse worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard -- and had seen livestreams of what was happening.

As his attorney displayed photos and video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse, wearing a dark pinstriped suit and tie, leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of gunfire was played, and occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

His mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him.

The most serious count against Rittenhouse, first-degree intentional homicide, is Wisconsins top murder charge.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see race as an underlying issue in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin, Forliti from Minneapolis. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.

___

Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Vel Phillips, Wisconsins first Black secretary of state, will be honored with a statue on the state's Capitol grounds, a state board decided Monday.

The Capitol and Executive Residence Board voted unanimously to erect the statue of Phillips, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Phillips, who died in 2018, broke a number of gender and race barriers throughout her career: The first Black woman to graduate from the UW-Madison School of Law and the first woman, as well as Black person, to serve on the Milwaukee City Council and to become a Wisconsin judge.
The latest on U.N. climate summit COP26 in Glasgow:

GLASGOW, Scotland  The British government plans to make the U.K. the worlds first net-zero aligned financial center as companies and investors seek to profit from the drive to build a low-carbon economy.

U.K. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak will lay out the governments plans during a speech Wednesday as top financial officials from around the world meet at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

As part of the initiative, U.K. financial institutions and publicly traded companies will be required to publish plans detailing how they will reduce their contribution to global warming as Britain seeks to cut net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. A panel composed of industry and academic leaders, regulator and community organizations will develop standards for the plans to ensure companies make progress toward meaningful goals.

According to a statement, Sunak will say the U.K. is home to one of the worlds leading financial centers, and so has a responsibility to lead the way in financing efforts to fight global warming.

The comments come after Britain and other wealthy countries failed to meet their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to finance climate-related projects in the developing world by 2020.

Sunak will urge wealthy nations to boost their support for climate projects in the developing world, saying that the $100 billion target will be met by 2020, according to the advance statement.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  President Joe Biden praised fellow global leaders for their work at the UN climate summit, saying that they demonstrated great example of the kind of ambition you need to confront the scourge of global warming.

I cant think of any two days where more has been accomplished on climate than these two days, Biden said at the start of his summit ending news conference.

Biden on Tuesday announced that the U.S. was launching a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

The president added that China, the worlds biggest greenhouse emitter, made a big mistake with Chinese President Xi Jinping not attending in person. He added the Chinese lost the ability to influence people around the world, and all the people here at COP with its absence at the summit.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  The United Nations apologized Tuesday for leaving participants at this years global climate conference struggling to enter the venue  or log onto virtual meetings.

The U.N. climate office thats in charge of organizing much of the meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, said the event was taking place under exceptional and unprecedented logistical circumstances. This included pandemic restrictions for the more than 30,000 people registered for the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 conference, resulting in limitations on the number of people allowed into rooms.

Civil society groups have accused the U.N. of failing to be inclusive on an issue of great importance to communities around the world.

The U.N. said the opening days had been a learning process.

We are doing our utmost to continuously learn and adapt, it said, but urged participants to prepare for continued queues and in the case of inclement weather, please come prepared with appropriate gear.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Chinese President Xi Jinpings absence from the COP26 leaders summit in Glasgow doesnt mean the Chinese are not engaging with the fight against climate change.

But Johnson said Tuesday that he wants the giant country to do more to slash carbon emissions. He said China had sent a very high level delegation to the U.N. climate conference talks in Glasgow even though Xi stayed home, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

China has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, 10 years later than many nations, and for carbon emissions to peak by 2030 or before.

The question is, how much before? Thats what were discussing with China, Johnson said.

The prime minister, whose country is hosting the conference in Scotland, said China had already made a substantial commitment. He praised Beijings decision to end financing for coal plants overseas, though not yet at home.

Johnson said at a news conference that youre starting to see the impact of that Chinese decisionin the whole Asia-Pacific region already.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Nearly three dozen countries and dozens of organizations launched an effort Tuesday to reduce agricultures contribution to global warming and making food supplies and farming more resilient against mounting climate damage.

The United States and United Arab Emirates led the effort, announced at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Thirty-one nations and other non-government organizations have joined the initiative.

The initiative is called Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate. The U.S. Agriculture Department said in a statement the program had already drawn $4 billion for investment in climate-friendly improvements in food systems and agriculture over the next five years.

Agriculture is responsible for a significant amount of climate-damaging emissions globally, and farming and food networks are vulnerable to drought and a range of other worsening disasters as the Earths temperature rises.

The program is meant to coordinate the work of government regulators, researchers, scientists and others on the problems.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Leonardo DiCaprio has brought a touch of Hollywood star power to the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, drawing a big crowd of journalists and fans as he arrived for Day 3 of the conference.

The actor, who is a U.N. climate change representative, was pictured at the conference on Tuesday sporting a blue suit and a dark face mask. An entourage and a crowd of people hoping to get photos of DiCaprio on their mobile phones surrounded him.

DiCaprio, 46, visited Kew Sciences Carbon Garden Space, an exhibition in the main conference center aiming to highlight the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change.

A spokesperson said the actor seemed to enjoy seeing the wonderful display of plants and messages about nature-based solutions to climate change that the Kews display has on show.

___

GLASGOW, Scotland  The head of the U.N. nuclear agency touted atomic power as one key way to balance climate concerns and the worlds energy needs.

Many environmentalists have long been skeptical of nuclear energy, because of the potential for disastrous accidents and the lingering issue of what to do with the waste.

But the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday that he is seeing fresh interest in nuclear among younger people who dont have the same associations with it as some in the old ecology movement."

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told The Associated Press that nuclear energys big advantage lies in the steady supply it provides compared to the fluctuations from wind or solar.

___

GLASGOW, Scotland  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cautioned against getting caught up in a mood of exaggerated enthusiasm, but he hailed the progress made as world leaders gathered at the U.N. climate summit.

Johnson and scores of other leaders were preparing to head home from the COP26 conference Tuesday after two days of talks in Glasgow, Scotland. The summit will last another 10 days, as negotiators strain to turn the politicians climate pledges into reality.

Johnson said his message to negotiators is: The eyes of the populations of the world are on you.

Johnson said at a news conference that it was important to guard against false hope, but he added that he was cautiously optimistic about the outcome of talks aimed at keeping the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

He cited Indias pledge to make a deep dent in carbon emissions by 2030 and a pledge by more than 100 world leaders to stop deforestation.

Johnson repeated his comparison of climate change to a ticking doomsday device, but said, Weve got a bomb disposal team on site, and theyre starting to snip the wires.

___

VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis says this year's U.N. climate conference will show whether there really exists a political will to do what it takes to mitigate climate change and to assist the poorer and more vulnerable nations most affected by it.

Francis sent his regrets for not attending the conference, saying in a message read by the Vaticans No. 2 official, Cardinal Pietro Parolin: I had hoped to be with you in person in Glasgow, Scotland, but that was not possible.

He added in the message, I accompany you, however, with my prayers as you take these important decisions.

Francis has made caring for the planets environmental health a key plank of his papacy since it began in 2013. Sadly, we must acknowledge how far we remain from achieving the goals set for tackling climate change, he wrote in his message for the COP26 conference.

The pontiff urged the international community to use honesty, responsibility and courage in addressing global warming.

___

GLASGOW, Scotland -- China is at a special development stage that warrants its status as the worlds biggest current emitter of climate-damaging fossil fuel pollution, the nations senior climate negotiator said Tuesday.

Xie Zhenhua, a U.N. climate negotiator and special climate envoy for China, spoke to reporters Tuesday at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. China has been much talked about as a major polluter but has been little seen at the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not joined the more than 100 other world leaders at the event, addressing observers and delegates in a written message on Monday instead.

Xie, who played a pivotal role in talks leading to the 2015 Paris climate accord, underscored Chinas stance that the United States and other developed nations should be the ones doing more to cut climate-damaging emissions faster, not China.

We have already been making our biggest possible effort to address climate change, Xie said, saying China was unable to start reining in its reliance on coal-fired power plants any quicker than it was doing.

So regarding the fact that China is the current largest emitter, its because China is at a special development stage, Xie said.

___

KAMPALA, Uganda  The managing director of the International Monetary Fund says Africas women must be empowered as part of broader efforts to build the continents resilience amid climate change.

Kristalina Georgieva spoke Tuesday before an Africa-focused summit at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

When women are empowered, communities are so much better, she said.

She said pre-existing obstacles to adaptation must be removed, including by widening access to credit for farmers as well as investing in resilient infrastructure. Georgieva said the world has to do more to support Africas appeal for help to adapt to climate change.

African leaders are pressing their demand for the international community to do more to support the continent of 1.3 billion people, which contributes least to global emissions but is the most vulnerable to climate change.

The African Union seeks $12.5 billion to implement a $25 billion climate change adaptation program over five years. Half of that money is coming from the African Development Bank.

___

KAMPALA, Uganda  The head of the African Union says the international community must support the continents efforts to adapt to climate change, including a program that requires $25 billion over five years.

Speaking Tuesday at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the continent needs the world to raise $12.5 billion, with the balance coming from the African Development Bank.

In his remarks before a meeting of world leaders, Tshisekedi noted that the global effort on climate change cant be won unless it is won in Africa. He said he hopes the money will be raised before the next climate conference.

It is a starting point rather than a ceiling, and it will contribute to building trust and confidence, he said.

The continent of 1.3 billion people contributes least to climate change but will suffer most from its effects, according to experts. African leaders and climate campaigners have long called for technology transfers and substantial cash donations to help the continent build resilience.

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GLASGOW  World leaders looked at a Formula 1 car made from recycled plastic and a microwave-sized device that can generate hydrogen fuel Tuesday as they looked to promote innovation to slow climate change at the U.N. summit in Glasgow.

Speaking at the summit, President Joe Biden said our current technology alone wont get us where we need to be. He added we need to invest in breakthroughs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted his countrys One Sun, One World, One Grid initiative to develop an interconnected solar grid across time zones.

The session was attended by Prince William, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah and moderated by Sky Group CEO Dana Strong.

___

GLASGOW, Scotland  The United States and several European countries plan to provide funds and expertise to help South Africa ditch coal and roll out more renewable energy.

German officials said South Africa will receive about $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to manage the country's transition away from coal-fired power plants, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

South Africa gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants.

German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze said the partnership announced Tuesday. which is also backed by Britain, France and the European Union, has the potential to become a blueprint for other regions.

One focus of the initiative will be helping to create new jobs for tens of thousands of people in South Africas coal mining industry.

____

GLASGOW, Scotland  Countries responsible for almost half the worlds methane emissions are signing a pledge Tuesday to cut by at least 30% the amount of the potent greenhouse gas they release into the atmosphere over the next decade.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines is considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions.

Cutting methane produced from agriculture  in particular by belching cows  is a trickier matter.

Dozens of countries, including the United States, European Union members and Britain, are signing up to the pledge. It is part of a series of methane-reduction efforts announced by the Biden administration Tuesday.

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally.

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MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says Russia relies on its vast forests and their significant capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen in achieving the goal of building a carbon-neutral economy by 2060.

Putin said Tuesday that after all, our country accounts for around 20% of the worlds forestland.

Experts have questioned Russias calculations on just how much carbon its forests absorb, particularly in light of the devastating forest fires the country has seen in recent years.

Putin made the comments in a video statement at the launch of a new initiative aimed at preventing deforestation, which was announced at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday. Putin isnt attending COP26 in person, and no reason has been given for him not going.

The Russian leader said Moscow expects the new declaration on forests and land use backed by 100 countries to facilitate closer partnerships between countries in forest conservation and to help to fulfill the objectives of reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere set out in the Paris Agreement.

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KAMPALA, Uganda  The International Rescue Committee is urging world leaders attending the U.N. climate summit to urgently invest in climate resilience and famine prevention among the worlds most vulnerable countries.

In some African countries where the group operates, including Somalia, people face the sharp end of the climate crisis, including emergency conditions with current levels of global warming, it said.

Were extremely worried about the impact of continuing drought and conflict on vulnerable populations throughout the horn of Africa, where a large proportion of the population relies heavily on crops to eat and sell for their livelihoods, Kurt Tjossem, the groups vice president for East Africa, said in a statement.

In Somalia, 3.5 million people face hunger after a failed harvest, with farmers who depend on livestock seeing their animals die from thirst daily, he said.

Although Africa contributes least to global warming, experts say the continent of 1.3 billion people will suffer most from its effects.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says about 1,000 cities and local governments have backed a campaign for a net zero future, promising to purse ambitious climate actions to limit the rise of global temperatures.

Garcetti, the outgoing chair of the C40 group of big city mayors, told a panel discussion at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow on Tuesday that the communities promised to pursue actions in line with meeting the goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

Scientists say time is running out to meet that goal and the wish to keep that goal alive has been a centerpiece of the conference.

The 1,049 communities signed up for one or more actions, such as divesting from fossil fuels, creating sustainable food systems and committing to reduce air pollution. The actions have the potential to reduce global emissions by at least 1.4 gigatons annually by 2030.

Garcetti said that this needs to be the decade of exponential action.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Environmentalists have launched their traditional Fossil of the Day awards at the U.N. climate conference, with Britain and Australia the first to receive the questionable honor.

Climate Action Network, an umbrella group of hundreds of non-governmental organizations, said many observers who had traveled long distances to attend the summit were prevented from reaching meetings because of lengthy lines. When they tried to log on from elsewhere, technical problems prevented them from connecting, CAN said.

It urged the host country to improve organization so civil society groups can participate in the talks.

Australia received the second fossil for recently approving three new coal projects even as it claimed to be stepping up its efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, CAN said.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Ecuadors president has announced that his country is expanding the marine reserve around the Galapagos Islands by almost half.

President Guillermo Lasso told the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow on Tuesday that the government has agreed with the fishery, tourism and conservation sectors to establish a new marine reserve in the Galapagos Islands of 60,000 square kilometers (more than 23,000 square miles).

Lasso said this would be added to an existing marine reserve of about 130,000 square kilometers (50,000 square miles).

Experts says oceans are particularly vulnerable to climate change and the Galapagos Islands are considered one of the worlds biodiversity jewels.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  More than 100 countries are pledging to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change.

Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow.

But campaigners say they need to see the detail -- such promises have been made, and broken, before.

The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

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BEIJING  China is the largest contributor to global warming and Chinas people are already suffering the brunt of climate change.

Historic floods that destroyed farms this summer in the countrys agricultural heartland are a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms.

Chinese government reports also predict rising sea levels will threaten major coastal cities while melting glaciers imperil western Chinas water supply. Those with the least resources to adapt are often on the frontlines of suffering in a common pattern around the world. As one farmer in Henan province said, Ordinary people suffer most.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  Thousands of Vermont state employees returned to their state offices on Monday for the first time since the start of the pandemic but some will continue working from home in some form.

On Monday, the telework policies for state employees went from informal to formal, WCAX-TV reported. As of Friday, 2,800 state employees, or about 30%, has been approved for telework, with many opting for a hybrid model, averaging about three days a week remotely.

On Monday, Sheila Sayha was back at her office after working from home for the last year and a half.

It definitely had its ups and downs, she said. I didnt have my standing workstation, and that was kind of tough.

Nearby, Harold Schwartz said he had mixed feelings about returning, balancing his 30-minute commute with the benefits of in-person interactions, the news station reported.

I like seeing the people in the office, so thats nice, too, he said.

The Vermont State Employees Association wanted to push back the deadline for people to return to their offices until Jan. 1 to let the delta wave of the coronavirus run its course and to allow time for kids to get vaccinated.

I think a lot of people are concerned about what happens when kids are quarantined and they dont have child care. I dont know how thats going to work under the governors policy, Howard said.

More than 88% of state employees are vaccinated and unvaccinated people have to wear masks and get tested.

If there is an incident where an employee has to stay home where their child may have to quarantine, a supervisor has the flexibility to say if you can telework, telework," said Vermont Human Resources Commissioner Beth Fastiggi. Otherwise, you would take a sick day.
This week, President Biden visited the pope. That may sound like the opening of a joke, but it definitely is not  the president was thrilled to meet the pontiff, and they enjoyed their time together, during which, Biden says, Pope Francis called him a good Catholic who should continue to receive communion. That was a thinly veiled reaction to a noisy minority among some U.S. Catholic leaders who argue that Biden should be denied the sacrament for his stance on abortion rights. And it reflects criticism the pope has been receiving from conservative Catholic media as well, in support of those who would weaponize the Eucharist.

Polarization and vitriolic, personal attacks have become so commonplace that we barely raise an eyebrow when someone launches a moralistic, questionably ethical or politically biased tirade against another, and it is amplified by mainstream, digital, social or conservative media. But every innuendo, attack or distorted truth has consequences and causes collateral damage. And when the pope himself is the target  and fellow Catholics wield the hammer  it is time to take stock and consider how this self-inflicted discord is harming the Church.

Divisions within the Church, as in partisan politics, have given rise to noisy minority voices with large bullhorns and small scruples. Conservative Catholic media and leaders attack the pope, defy his leadership and openly protest his efforts to preach the importance of being merciful, less judgmental and more open to dialogue.

That is not to say the Vatican is beyond reproach or that differing opinions do not matter. Pope Francis has signaled his willingness to listen and encourages discussion, questions and opportunities for discourse and disagreement. But, he also reminds us that established policy and doctrine must be respected and supported.

Yet many in the Catholic conservative movement prefer their own spin and platform, with axes to grind and self-righteous, biased agendas to share. One example is the U.S.-based Eternal Word Television Network, which has taken aim at Pope Francis for many of his views, including his belief that the Church should be making efforts to understand and welcome LGBTQ Catholics looking for spiritual guidance and support.

EWTN has been openly antagonistic of Pope Francis and church policy, inviting partisan Catholic leaders who differ with the popes charge of inclusion to participate in broadcasts that often are hostile and insulting.

Contrary to that view, Sacred Heart University has joined a growing chorus of Catholic institutions in taking a stand against high-ranking church leaders attempting to marginalize and limit the civil and religious rights of LGBTQ people. We support the popes view that discrimination of this nature disregards the Churchs commitment to social justice and more than a century of doctrine that encourages the human rights and dignity of all people, without exception.

The impudence demonstrated by these conservative critics is feeding a steady exodus from the Church. It is easy to understand why: having barely survived heinous revelations of long-term sexual improprieties and cover-ups, many believe Catholic leaders fail to listen to the needs of young parishioners and appropriately demonstrate concerns for those dealing with gender-identity challenges, divorce, birth control and abortion, womens changing roles, diminishing spiritual values, the digital divide and many other relevant issues.

A Gallup poll completed this past spring of 6,100 respondents revealed church membership in 2020 dropping to 47 percent of those surveyed. It is the first time since 1937 that a minority of adults said they were members of a formal religious institution. Catholics belonging to a parish dropped from 76 percent in 2000 to 58 percent in 2020. Most alarming was the rapid decline among younger adults, particularly those born from 1981 to 1996 (Generation Y). The poll found that only 36 percent of that age group belong to a church.

These trends parallel similar drop-offs in clubs, organizations and professional associations. Change may be attributed to less trust in institutions, politics and business, but pointing fingers elsewhere disregards the truth that the Church is facing a fundamental crisis of image and doctrine, and internal political divisions are exacerbating flight.

The pope has made clear his commitment to discussion and dialogue, to environmental stewardship and to being more empathetic and embracing toward all of Gods children. Here at Sacred Heart University, we welcome every voice, and believe strongly in the value of discussion, candor and inclusion. We will continue to host forums with speakers broaching controversial topics, and we want our students, faculty and the communities we serve to see our campus as a safe haven for learning, growing and exploring our differences.

As a proud institution steeped in the Catholic intellectual tradition, we stand in support of Pope Francis and against those who, through their actions and words, choose to bring dishonor and injury to the Church, its teachings and its devoted followers. We would hope that more American bishops would demonstrate their fidelity and leadership in support of Pope Francis. Hopefully, they would start remembering their episcopal promise of obedience and loyalty to the Pope. As Martin Luther King said, In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Their silence is deafening.

John J. Petillo is president of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
Jamaica Observer

October 31, 2021





The Jamaica Association of Certified Embalmers and Funeral Directors wants the home that is storing deceased cult leader Kevin Smith's body to watch out.





The move by the organisation comes after word began circulating days ago that loyal and unswerving followers of Smith were planning to find, and snatch his body.





When it comes to the rumour about these so-called followers and disciples of this man, who want to identify the funeral home where his body is being stored to do whatever, I can only say that we don't believe in what they believe in. And I will say that any member who is storing the remains of Kevin O Smith, 'Just protect your property from physical harm,'  Calvin Lyn, president of the organisation told the Jamaica Observer in an interview days ago.





Lyn was adamant that Smith's obsequious flock who played church at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries would be disappointed by unsuccessful attempts if they try to retrieve his body using unorthodox practices that they may believe in.





We don't believe in voodooism, so anything that they want to try won't affect us because we are protected by God Almighty who has been seeing us through rough times and smooth times. So, anything demonic won't affect us. There is a saying: 'Belief kills and belief cures.' We don't believe in demons, so if that is being planned by these insane people, it is not going to affect any one of us who is storing the remains of this cult leader, he stated categorically.





Meanwhile, Valerie Neita-Robertson, the attorney-at-law representing Smith, had said that his family has not been told where his body is being kept.





On Monday, Smith, who was at the centre of controversy and public outrage for over a week, died in a motor vehicle crash while in transit from Montego Bay to Kingston to face charges connected to suspected ritual killings. The crash also claimed the life of police officer Constable Orlando Irons and left two other lawmen injured.





Smith was under investigation in connection with the slaughter, two Sundays ago, of two of his followers in a bizarre night that some have said involved human sacrifice.





A day later, the self-proclaimed 'His Excellency' was charged posthumously with two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, wounding with intent and shooting with intent.





Two ex-congregants of Pathways International told the Sunday Observer that they believe there are current members who are so brainwashed that they would still do anything for Smith.





Mi wouldn't put it past them fi do anything in the name of that man some a dem a diehard fans. Not matter what happened, yuh just can't turn them mind from him. If yuh shame the man, yuh shame them. If yuh hurt him, yuh hurt dem, one woman said.





Another man said: They worship the man. Dem still love him. Many of them even believed that he was going to resurrect on Thursday three days after him dead. Them think highly of him so they will do anything. People a call dem idiot but it bigger. Dis reach mind control.





A victim of the ritual said he was advised by investigators to no longer speak to the media.





Further, Lyn suggested to the Sunday Observer that those people who are still unfaltering in their support of Smith need help.





As it is, I would call those followers of this man lunatics. How could one in their sober mind and in charge of their faculties follow somebody of that calibre?, Lyn questioned.





To his knowledge, he said, no one has ever broken into a funeral home. He, however, shared one instance years ago when the organisation collaborated with the police to prevent such an incident.





Over 15 years ago we had an experience where a notorious gangster was shot and killed by the police after he fled to another parish, and we were asked to quietly and privately store the remains until the time of autopsy. They took the remains out of the parish to have it protected in a private capacity to avoid the excitement, Lyn recalled.





Lyn also assured that no certified embalmer or funeral director should be fazed by any unconventional or spiritual activity that could happen while storing Smith's body.




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Kankakee, IL (60901)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Reva Mae Love, age 75, of Dalton, Georgia passed away on Thursday, November 18, 2021. She was born on September 10, 1946. She is preceded in death by parents, Herbert and Lela "Grant" Lawson; brother, Charles Lawson. She is survived by her husband, Bubba (Harold) Love of Dalton; son, Brian F
Memphis, TN (38152)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Jason Martin Moore, 40, of Ashland Ky, died Saturday November 13th, 2021 at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland Ky. Jason was born September 4th, 1981 in Ashland KY. A son of the late Jarome "Marty" and Donna Roe Moore. He is preceded in death in addition to his parents by his grandmot
Justin Strawser/The Daily Item

Levi Kipp, of Point Township, signs his name at the polling station at the Point Township Municipal Building as pollworkers Martha Leitzel and Grace Herrold look on.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low around 30F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low around 30F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%.
Until his shocking departure yesterday, 4million-a-year Barclays boss Jes Staley had seemed like the banker with nine lives.

The 64-year-old American Master of the Universe had shown an almost preternatural ability to survive blows that would have felled any other chief executive.

His unparalleled skills as a money-maker meant Barclays was willing to overlook a string of very serious black marks against him.

Even Staley, however, could not get out of this one.

And however much the bank and its shareholders may have wanted to overlook his ties with the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein because of his financial acumen, the situation had become untenable.

Barclays Group CEO Jes Staley has departed after his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cameunder intense scrutiny

The finding by City watchdogs that the Barclays boss had underplayed the closeness of his relationship with a convicted sex offender meant it was impossible for Staley to continue at the helm of one of Britain's foremost financial institutions.

As Barclays reluctantly recognised, if he had remained in his post, it would have cast an unacceptable shadow over the bank's corporate ethics.

And there can be no doubt many of its 24million UK customers would be horrified that the CEO they trusted with their savings and home loans had been rubbing shoulders with such a vile individual.

For the banking industry, still struggling to regain public trust after the excesses of the Fred Goodwin era, this is a disaster that will reverberate beyond Barclays.

And while Staley's departure has no bearing on the sexual assault lawsuit against Prince Andrew brought by Virginia Roberts under her married name Giuffre, the fact that Barclays has felt it necessary to part company with its star chief executive demonstrates its concern about its reputation.

If a high street bank feels unable to tolerate a senior figure tainted by Epstein, it raises uncomfortable questions for Buckingham Palace.

Even Staley himself acknowledges that his continued presence would be a distraction from the bank's work.

The cost of his ill-judged association with Epstein is clear. This is a shockingly ignominious end to a career at Barclays that started with such high hopes.

Only a decade ago, he was tipped to be the next King of Wall Street as successor to Jamie Dimon, the legendary JP Morgan boss.

Staley came to Barclays in 2015 after the bank had been dragged through a series of debacles during the financial crisis  one of which resulted in another former CEO facing fraud charges, although he was later acquitted.

The bank began to regain its swagger with the arrival of Staley, a beefy Bostonian investment banker who had made a big name for himself on Wall Street over 34 years at JP Morgan.

The father of two landed in London with all the accoutrements of a New York Mr Big: an apartment on Park Avenue, Manhattan, a property in the Hamptons and a sleek blonde Brazilian wife, Debora, an heiress in her own right.

A keen sailor, he also had his own 90ft yacht, the Bequia, named after the Caribbean island where he and his bride spent their honeymoon 25 years earlier.

At Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan mansion in 2011, from left: James E. Staley, at the time a senior JPMorgan executive; former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers; Mr. Epstein; Bill Gates, Microsoft's co-founder; and Boris Nikolic, who was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's science adviser

The couple met in the 1980s, after JP Morgan sent him to work in Brazil, where her wealthy family had founded data firm Aceco. Commenting on their different backgrounds, he said "I was Unitarian Boston American and she was Jewish Brazilian Sao Paulo ... I was her parents' worst nightmare."

The yacht's name was a romantic gesture from a man still married to his first love  rare in a world where beautiful blonde wives are traded for younger versions as soullessly as shares.

Rather less romantic was the role the vessel would play in Staley's friendship with Epstein. In April 2015, after he had left JP Morgan and taken a post at the Blue Mountain hedge fund, the couple visited Epstein on Little Saint James, one of his two private Caribbean islands.

Staley claimed he and Debora were on holiday and happened to be sailing past Epstein's hideaway  nicknamed 'paedophile island'  so they popped in for lunch.

Barclays customers may well scratch their heads over why on earth the man with stewardship of their current accounts would have paid a social call on such a man.

He says he severed all dealings with Epstein before taking charge in December 2015. But there was certainly plenty of contact before that and Staley has admitted the links between the pair were forged over 15 years.

'As Barclays reluctantly recognised, if [Staley] had remained in his post, it would have cast an unacceptable shadow over the bank's corporate ethics'

He says a purely professional relationship started when he took over JP Morgan's private bank in 2000.

In private banking circles, being chums with wealthy individuals is a valuable currency so the ultra well-connected Epstein must have seemed like a good man to know.

Towards the end of that decade, however, his disgusting proclivities were well aired and one might have expected Staley to keep a distance.

Yet in 2009, still working at JP Morgan, he saw fit to pay a visit to the sex trafficker while he was serving a prison sentence. Staley dropped in at Epstein's office in Palm Beach, where the latter was on work release during the 13 months he served of an 18- month sentence for procuring a child for prostitution.

A couple of years later, in 2011, the banker was pictured in a photograph at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, with other grandees including former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

This willingness to rub shoulders with a known sex offender who preyed on vulnerable individuals is at odds with Staley's political correctness in the workplace. He was a key figure in making JP Morgan an LGBT-friendly company.

Big City shareholders and the Barclays board have until now been willing to support Staley through a number of scandals, including hefty fines for trying to hunt down a whistleblower and a controversy with private equity giant KKR over a failed deal involving his brother-in-law.

One can see why. Staley was held in high esteem in the City, as was apparent from the near 3 three per cent fall in the share price after his departure was announced.

His big financial gamble, to keep Barclays' full-scale 'casino' investment bank in the teeth of some powerful opposition, is paying off.

The bank's share price has risen nearly 90 per cent this year and has done better than its rivals.

What a tragic irony it is that a man so smart he could have done great things for UK banking has been humbled by his catastrophic misjudgment over Epstein.
'Since 2012, when I first joined the Transport Select Committee, the safety of smart motorways has been a constant worry,' Transport Select Committee member Karl McCartney (pictured) writes

As motorists, it is our greatest fear.

A blowout, electrical malfunction or mechanical failure suddenly leaves you stranded in a motorway lane... and there is no hard shoulder or emergency lay-by within reach.

You can only pray that the smart motorway technology  that is supposed to notify the control rooms monitoring traffic flow of a problem within an average of one minute  is operational.

That traffic officers will be alerted, that other drivers will be warned via overhead signs, and that the lane will be closed until you can be rescued.

But, as a hard-hitting, undercover Daily Mail investigation revealed earlier this year, what is known as stopped vehicle detection (SVD) technology, which relies on CCTV and warning signs, is prone to failure and a swathe of the vital cameras it relies on are faulty.

As a result, such a breakdown with no route out, with other traffic hurtling past you  and, even more terrifyingly, coming up fast behind  can result in a catastrophic pile-up, with serious injuries or fatalities.

Tragically, this has been the reality for too many people.

It is believed that between 2015 and 2019, 53 people lost their lives on the smart motorways that have been rolled out on a trial basis across the country.

For 2018, the fatality rate was one third higher than on comparable motorways with hard shoulders.

Demonstrators protesting against smart motorways this Monday as many marched with coffins across Westminster Bridge to Parliament Square in London

Warnings

Since 2012, when I first joined the Transport Select Committee, the safety of smart motorways has been a constant worry.

There are two types of system  all lanes running, where the hard shoulder is scrapped permanently, and the dynamic form in which the hard shoulder becomes a live lane at busy times.

In 2016, following an inquiry, we challenged the safety and roll-out of such motorways. All sorts of reassurances were made by the then Highways England [now National Highways] about safety measures such as SVD.

Today, after five years in which our warnings went unheeded, we are urging ministers to stop building smart motorways with immediate effect. A failed and dangerous experiment must come to an end now.

Lives cannot continue to be put at risk by this ill-conceived attempt to save money while expanding the capacity of our motorways.

Smart motorways were introduced by the Labour government in 2006, with the first trial on the M42 around Birmingham.

Since then, this type of traffic management  intended as a means of increasing motorway capacity when traffic is heavy  has become increasingly popular.

Popular, that is, only in the minds of the bean-counters in the civil service and the highly paid top brass at National Highways.

They have consistently given bad advice to successive government ministers of all parties and, as the committee concludes, failed to resolve safety concerns.

Green activists like smart motorways, too, because they never want to see any expansion of the road network under any circumstances  even if it would give them more places to glue themselves to.

It is believed that between 2015 and 2019, 53 people lost their lives on the smart motorways that have been rolled out on a trial basis across the country

But this scheme has always been viewed with high suspicion by most motorway users and motoring organisations.

And rightly so. It defies common sense to take away the one lane  the hard shoulder  that has long been a (relatively) safe haven for those suffering breakdowns or accidents.

It is no wonder, as an RAC poll found recently, that six in ten motorists want the scheme scrapped. The chairman of the Police Federation, John Apter, has condemned it as inherently dangerous.

And that is before we consider the fact that much of the technology is not 100 per cent operational, or even in working order, along much of the 360 miles of motorway (north and south bound) from which the hard shoulder has been removed so far.

As the Mail has reported, failures are numerous and persistent and I make no apology for repeating some of them here.

This newspaper found that one in ten cameras are not fully working  either broken, facing the wrong way or misted up.

Flawed

Software crashes in the six regional control rooms are frequent. One control room logged an average of nearly two CCTV and technical faults every day throughout 2020.

Some of the hardware dates to 2004  described by a staff member at National Highways as a lot of faulty c***.

A frustrated camera operator told the Mail that his team had been unable to control signs and signals for several hours at a time.

Drivers were told that lanes were open when they were closed, while speed limits signage could not be changed.

An undercover Daily Mail investigation revealed earlier this year that what is known as stopped vehicle detection (SVD) technology, which relies on CCTV and warning signs, is prone to failure and a swathe of the vital cameras it relies on are faulty

On one day, September 17 this year, the Mail discovered that almost half the cameras along one of the busiest sections of the M25 were out of action.

Emails between senior managers acknowledged the existence of blindspots on this motorway, which sees perhaps the heaviest traffic in Britain.

On the same day, one in four cameras at junction 34 of the M1 near Sheffield were out of order or facing the wrong way  a particular concern, since this section of road is a notorious accident blackspot.

A comment from a control operative overheard by the Mails reporter best sums it up.

After an HGV struck a bridge on the M1, a lorry fire on the A14, and vital signals needed on smart motorway sections of the M25 and M4 were not operational, he joked: Weve got no signals, youre all going to die whichever god you believe in, start praying now. Black humour, one assumes, but not so very far from the truth.

Two weeks ago, whistleblowers at National Highways told the Mail that on one section of the M62, outside Manchester, two-thirds of the roadside message screens were out of action.

Indeed, there are many members of National Highways staff who believe the organisation has been rolling out flawed technology and knowingly putting lives at risk.

Vehicle excise duty and fuel duty combined raised nearly 35 billion in 2019/20, of which only 11 billion was reinvested into our roads

Certainly, the catalogue of system failures and glitches is horrendous and data about wider problems is often difficult to obtain.

In 2019, we were assured that all new smart motorways would have SVD technology fitted as standard, and existing stretches would be retrofitted. This has not happened.

Earlier this year, amid plans to increase the total of smart motorways to 500 miles, the same commitments were again made to the committee. Nothing has changed. This is unacceptable.

Coffers

Smart motorways are a failed policy and it is time to pull the plug. Drivers know that and now ministers should accept it, too.

We need to invest in expanding the motorway network so it can cope with increased traffic. And we have the money to do so.

Vehicle excise duty and fuel duty combined raised nearly 35 billion in 2019/20, of which only 11 billion was reinvested into our roads.

Given current petrol prices, the Treasurys coffers are also brimful of money from drivers with all the extra VAT income.

And I would go further: we need a full public inquiry to ensure those who brought in this lamentable policy are held to account for the failings  and the deaths  their decisions have caused.
Chatting about his old songs in his new book The Lyrics, Paul McCartney says that he and John Lennon liked to incorporate everyday phrases into their lyrics, rather than anything more obviously poetic or highfalutin.

Beatles songs are so easy to remember, and so accessible, because they are full of phrases we employ in our daily lives: Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head . . . Found my coat and grabbed my hat, made the bus in seconds flat . . . 

In one of Pauls solo songs, Shes Given Up Talking, he rhymes the phrase, Dont say a word with Not a dickie bird.

In his book, he explains  perhaps for his American readers  that this is Cockney rhyming slang.

n his new book The Lyrics, Paul McCartney says that he and John Lennon liked to incorporate everyday phrases into their lyrics

I love the way ordinary people wont go for fancy words, so they adapt them to their own satisfaction, he continues.

They refuse to say it in the way it should be said, so they just say it another way.

Theres an old monument on the South Coast of England, near where I live, which is French [in name], from Ypres.

Its a tower, like a little castle, and its called The Ypres Tower. The locals, who are not about to use the French pronunciation, call it The Wipers.

Paul clearly approves of this local defiance, but in fact, the city of Ypres in Belgium was pronounced Wipers by many, perhaps even most, of the soldiers who fought on the Western Front in World War I.

Certainly, all the Australian soldiers called it Wipers, while some of the British preferred to call it Eepers, taking care to sound that final s.

Two British soldiers  Captain Fred Roberts and Lieutenant Jack Pearson  even managed to publish 23 issues of a satirical magazine called The Wipers Times on a printing press salvaged from the ruins of Ypres.

They produced their first editions under fire, and subsequent editions were often held up by bombardments.

The Wipers Times was distributed in the trenches and full of the blackest humour.

In the midst of death, the editors joked about everything, including their own magazine.

In a spoof titled Answers to Correspondents, they proclaimed, No, Ypres is not pronounced Wipers because it was once the centre of the handkerchief industry.

In many ways, The Wipers Times was a precursor to Private Eye, thriving on parody, including spoof ads for made-up shows such as Over The Top  A Screaming Farce.

The editors rejoiced in subverting wartime cliches, such as the idea that it would be all over by Christmas.

It all helps to pass the time till Christmas, when the war is going to end, reads one item, from 1917, only we dont know which Christmas.

Like Paul McCartney, the editors of The Wipers Times favoured everyday speech in their comic verse, as you can see in this dark but jaunty little rhyme:

Take the case of poor Bill Arris

Deep in love with Rosy Greet,

So forgot to grease his tootsies,

Stayed outside and got trench feet . . .

Dont dream when youre near machine guns,

Is a thing to bear in mind.

Think of love when not between Huns,

A snipers quick, and love is blind.

By chance, the oddball British pronunciation of Ypres is also mentioned in a splendid new biography of King George V by Jane Ridley.

ing Georges formidable wife, Queen Mary, always corrected anyone who mispronounced a French word

In a footnote, Ridley points out that King Georges formidable wife, Queen Mary, always corrected anyone who mispronounced a French word.

Just as her husband, the King, bristled with irritation at those who dressed too casually, berating them as cads, so Queen Mary refused to overlook any mispronunciation.

Clearly, Ypres was always going to be  for want of a better word  a minefield.

Apparently, on one visit to a hospital during the Great War, the Queen asked a wounded soldier: And where were you wounded, my poor man?

Wipers came the soldiers reply, whereupon the Queen immediately corrected him: Ypres!

The soldier continued: We were just advancing on Wipers . . .

Ypres! repeated the Queen.

And so it went on, with the Queen saying Ypres! every time the soldier said Wipers.

Once the Queen had left the hospital, the matron asked the soldier how the meeting had gone.

Its a pity the poor dear had the hiccups, replied the soldier.
There is something about the scenes emerging from Cop26 that seems to encapsulate the insanity, vanity and general vacuousness of the modern world perfectly.

It's a carousel of self-obsessed, bombastic, virtue-signalling hypocrites, from Sleepy Joe Biden snoozing on the job while his fleet of gas-guzzling limousines sit with engines idling out the back, to Nicola Sturgeon ambushing Sir David Attenborough for a selfie.

Then there's Greta Thunberg throwing her toys out of her pram (by the way, Greta, your dismissal of world leaders' 'blah blah blah' on green issues was only quite funny the first time; now it's just annoying) to Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, spouting unutterable nonsense about Nazis.

Add to these the billionaires, most notably Jeff Bezos, fresh from his mate Bill Gates's 66th birthday party in Turkey, where guests were shuttled from superyacht to beach club by helicopter.

With one exception. One small, white-haired, beady-eyed nonagenarian with a mind like a steel trap and a sense of decorum combined with quiet humility that, frankly, knocks all these preening popinjays into a cocked hat. I'm talking about the Queen, of course

Then there's Greta Thunberg throwing her toys out of her pram (by the way, Greta, your dismissal of world leaders' 'blah blah blah' on green issues was only quite funny the first time; now it's just annoying) to Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, spouting unutterable nonsense about Nazis

I don't know about you, but the sight of a man who has made an obscene fortune from selling mass-produced rubbish made in China (responsible for 27 per cent of global carbon emissions) lecturing us all about doing our bit to stop global warming is, to put it mildly, a bit rich.

For an event designed to draw attention to the plight of the planet and those already suffering the effects of climate change, all Cop26 seems to have done so far is remind us how spectacularly out of touch so many of the so-called great and good really are.

With one exception. One small, white-haired, beady-eyed nonagenarian with a mind like a steel trap and a sense of decorum combined with quiet humility that, frankly, knocks all these preening popinjays into a cocked hat.

I'm talking about the Queen, of course. A woman whose decades of experience have taught her that wealth and power don't always go hand-in-hand with wisdom. A monarch whose greatness comes not from the material trappings of royalty but from a long life dedicated to duty.

When she speaks, the world listens. And not because she speaks loudly or forcefully, or because she surrounds herself with symbols of power. We listen because she is calm, wise and a little magical.

Add to these the billionaires, most notably Jeff Bezos, fresh from his mate Bill Gates's 66th birthday party in Turkey, where guests were shuttled from superyacht to beach club by helicopter

Yet she remains so very human. Her speech, delivered via a video message from the White Drawing Room in Windsor, saw her dressed in green with a butterfly brooch on her shoulder, echoing the photograph on the nearby table of her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh in a cloud of butterflies in Mexico in 1988.

As she acknowledged, with great fondness, his role in highlighting the issue of the environment as far back as 1969, I was reminded of the sheer scope and magnitude of their 73-year partnership. And her praise for her son Charles and grandson William were as touching as any proud mother's.

But at no point did she indulge in self-pity or ask for our sympathy. She was there, despite her poor health, to fulfil her duty. And that is what she did, with quiet grace.

If she realised she was staging a bit of a PR coup, it didn't show. But that's what it was.

Against the backdrop of all those motorcades and private jets and hot air-emitting climate protesters, the simplicity of her no-frills message was as refreshing as a bright spring morning.

It's a carousel of self-obsessed, bombastic, virtue-signalling hypocrites, from Sleepy Joe Biden snoozing on the job while his fleet of gas-guzzling limousines sit with engines idling out the back, to Nicola Sturgeon ambushing Sir David Attenborough for a selfie

Do Prince Andrew's lawyers know something we don't? Or is their assertion that Virginia Giuffre is not only a gold-digger but complicit in the abuse of other girls by Jeffrey Epstein the most daring legal defence ever? Either way, expect fireworks soon.

Epidurals aren't so evil after all, then

Good news: a study published last week of more than 435,000 women has concluded that epidurals pose no risk to babies. When I was having my first child more than 18 years ago, it was made very clear in my NCT classes that having an epidural was not only a cop-out but incredibly selfish, as it might pose a risk to 'baby' (it drove me mad how midwives would refer to 'baby' instead of 'the baby').

In truth, the only risk to my baby was that a midwife didn't spot that my daughter was the wrong way up, and almost killed both of us.

I hope women can now get the pain relief they deserve without being made to feel guilty.

Is it just me, or does Mark Zuckerberg look more and more like a creepy AI version of his human self? Not someone you would really want to run into anywhere, let alone in a darkened metaverse.

Is it just me, or does Mark Zuckerberg look more and more like a creepy AI version of his human self?

Nicola Sturgeon urges the world's leaders to 'put egos aside over the next few days' as Scotland plays host to Cop26. Hmm.

As far as I know, she is the only politician there who is in this month's edition of Vogue magazine, the ultimate bible of vanity.

The Education Secretary has suggested extending the school day. Brilliant idea  not only would it help pupils catch up post-Covid, it would also mean that year groups could be staggered to reduce virus transmission. While he's at it, though, could he also look at bringing in a later start, particularly in secondary schools? Last term my son's school moved from 8.30am to 9.30am to make it easier for pupils to travel outside rush hour  and it was absolute bliss, the difference between a civilised start to the day and waking up to Kevin the Teenager.

Asked about the prospect of a meat tax, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, right, said she was more in favour of a 'carrot' than a 'stick' to encourage people to change their eating habits. I hope that's an organic, locally sourced carrot, Liz. Otherwise you'll be in for no end of stick.

Asked about the prospect of a meat tax, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, right, said she was more in favour of a 'carrot' than a 'stick' to encourage people to change their eating habits

So the Government is thinking of prescribing e-cigarettes as a way to compensate tobacco companies for rising duty on cigarettes. For years, giants like Philip Morris and British American Tobacco have been quietly investing in vapes. Do we really want them getting their hands on NHS budgets?

Ofqual has suggested that exam papers should use simpler language and put harder questions last to boost equality and avoid 'demotivating' pupils from more diverse backgrounds. But the whole point of an exam is that it's a test. It's meant to be hard. It may also help to ensure that when you go to hospital  or use any other service that requires knowledge and training  the person with your health or life in their hands actually knows what they are doing.

Glad to see the powers-that-be have finally woken up to just how spectacularly stupid smart motorways are. Stupid and dangerous, like so many modern inventions that begin with the prefix 'smart'. An oxymoron, with the emphasis on the moron.

Billie's pearl of green wisdom

Incredibly irritating side-effect of Cop26: celebrities pointing out the b******g obvious. Exhibit No 1: Billie Eilish. 'We must stand together and speak up to save our planet, not just for us, but for our future generations, and we need urgent, urgent action now and to work together as one.'

Really, Billie? Now why didn't I think of that.

Incredibly irritating side-effect of Cop26: celebrities pointing out the b******g obvious. Exhibit No 1: Billie Eilish

Trees are awesome

One thing I can really get on board with at this climate summit is the pledge to reverse deforestation by 2030. Not only are trees key to soaking up carbon emissions (a recent report found that increasing the Earth's forests by an area the size of the U.S. would cut atmospheric carbon dioxide by 25 per cent), but they are some of the most impressive organisms on the planet.

I recently went to see a yew in a modest churchyard near a friend's house in Wales that is reputed to be over 5,000 years old and still thriving.

How can you not be in awe of something that was alive while our ancestors were still living in caves  and may yet outlive us all?
A woman who asked for men's 'most controversial opinion' as a dating app prompt has revealed her shock by the responses including 'intelligence depends on race'.

Amanda Neill, 23, from Fort Worth, Texas, posed the question to prospective partners on dating apps, in a bid to 'save time' by figuring out which guys held bigoted views.

Amanda shared the responses in a TikTok video, which has gained more than nine million views and had commenters labelling the men 'unhinged'.

One respondent claimed that 'bullying is good for the country', while others admitted they were anti-vaxxers, and that they were 'against chivalry'.

While the speech and language pathology student insisted she tries to be open-minded about the political beliefs of her dates, she said she was 'shocked' by some of the 'racist and sexist responses'.

A spokesperson for Hinge said the dating app had a strict zero-tolerance policy on racism, sexism and bigotry, while a spokesperson for Bumble said the company was working with the Anti Defamation League to ban hate speech of all type on the platform.

Amanda Neill, 23, from Fort Worth, Texas, pictured, asked her matches on dating app for their most controversial opinions and was shocked when she was showered with racist, sexist and bigoted views

Amanda's video featured a slideshow of conversations she had with different dating app users.

The first interaction saw her first match write: 'Intelligence is genetic,' to which Amanda replied: 'From both parents or one.'

He then responded: 'Race based I mean.'

The second respondent said: 'Eventually socialism will ruin this country', while the third match said: 'Men and women are never going to be equal. It's simply biology.

One of Amanda's matches told her he believes intelligence is based on race and genetics, pictured

'Socially, yes, we can be equal. But physically no.'

One man simply wrote 'Chivalry' as his most controversial opinion, before clarifying he was against it.

Another admitted: 'I don't care at all about the vaccine. I guess don't care to get it. But I guess I don't think it's a huge deal in general.'

Another bloke proclaimed: 'Bullying is good for the country.' In the second part, more opinions were stated including: 'Women aren't good at driving', 'All forms of government are evil and bad' and 'Kanye 2020.'

Other TikTok users were divided in their responses to the messages Amanda received.

One commenter said: 'I thought this was going to be funny and quirky but instead I am just sad and disappointed.'

Another commenter said: 'I would've said 'Coke Zero is better than actual Coke', but okay, sexism and racism works too.'

One user wrote: 'This isn't Hinge, this is unhinged.'

Amanda, pictured, shared screenshots of the answers on TikTok, saying she is 'saving time' by eliminating the men that way

Other commenters showed sympathy towards the views expressed in the video.

A TikTok user commented: 'Honestly besides the first dude [who said race was linked to intelligence] they all make good points.'

Another commenter said: 'The guy talking about how women and men won't be equal is right. We will never be the same biologically, and we will never be treated equally.'

A follow-up video saw more controversial opinions, with Amanda adding an additional question of 'What's your least favorite thing about women?'.

Some of the men offered up 'insecurity', 'fake long nails' and 'don't get me started' as answers.

Amanda received a slew of controversial responses to her question, including that 'bullying is good for the country'

Amanda said the opinions she heard from some of the men were 'a little bit concerning', explaining: 'The racist one was probably the most shocking to me.

'I didn't really find any of the opinions too offensive, except for the one about intelligence being race-based. That was pretty shocking.

'At first, he worded it like he was talking about whether intelligence was inherited, so I thought it was going to be a thought-provoking conversation.

'I thought "maybe he's done some research about familial intelligence", but that's not where he was going at all. I called him out for it and he unmatched with me.

Amanda, pictured, said she was hesitant to date men on apps, and wanted to cut to the chase so that her matches would show their true colors

'I don't know why he thought that was acceptable to say. I was wondering whether I looked like someone who would agree with that sort of opinion, and I hope not. There's nothing on my profile that would indicate that.

'I don't know why anybody would hold that viewpoint, and I definitely don't understand why they'd say it to me.'

Amanda was more understanding to some of the other responses, including the man who said men and women could never have equality.

Amanda said: 'Once the guy who said men and women would never be equal explained that he was talking about physicality, I understood that he was right in a sense, as men are typically bigger and stronger than women.'

Later, she went on to ask some of the men what their least favourite thing about women was - with some shocking results

'But I don't understand why that would be his go-to when he was talking to a person that he's trying to date. Why would he want that to be the first interaction?

'Most of the controversial opinions were somewhat political. I guess these guys just really wanted to put it all out there.'

She continued: 'Once I started sending that question out, I realized that guys were going straight to their most controversial opinion, without realizing that it didn't have to be offensive.

'There were a few opinions that were quite basic - probably less than half. There were opinions like "Pineapple shouldn't be on pizza".

'I carried on conversation with those guys. I am hesitant to date guys off dating apps as it's very scary, and some guys might not be the greatest and know not to put it all out there on their first message.

'I try to be open minded about other people's political beliefs on dating apps. I live in Texas, so it is a majority conservative place, especially where I live. I try not to make it too big of a factor.

Other TikTok users were shocked by the replies Amanda received, with some saying it was 'not Hinge, but unhinged' and others saying they thought it would a light-hearted video

'I'm not conservative, so it would make it hard to meet other people on dating apps if I made it an issue.'

Since sharing the video on October 7th, Amanda has been inundated with more than 39,000 comments.

Amanda said: 'I don't know where I got the idea to ask guys about their most controversial opinions, but I realised I got more matches on dating apps if I sent questions.

'Before this video, I only had like 10 followers on TikTok and they were all people that I knew. So, I thought sharing this would be funny for my friends.

'If I had known it would get this much attention, I would have cropped out their pictures and names.

'I even had one girl messaging me, telling me that one of the accounts in the video was a fake one somebody had made of her boyfriend. I sent her the screenshots and it was him.

Amanda, pictured, said the experiment made the dating app more entertaining to her, but also has made her less inclined to put effort into meeting somebody on there to date

'I was surprised by how shocked people on TikTok were. A lot of the comments were very negative towards men in general.

'This experience has made dating apps more entertaining to me, and it's made me want to ask more questions. But it has made me less inclined to put effort into meeting somebody on there to date.'

Contacted by FEMAIL, dating app Hinge have condemned the messages Amanda has received.

'We have a strict zero-tolerance policy for sexism, racism, and bigotry on or off of the app. The responses in this video are hateful and disturbing,' a spokesperson for app said.

'We encourage any user who encounters hate speech on Hinge to report it using our specific hate speech reporting option in the app. This allows us to act swiftly in removing anyone accused of this behavior from our community,' they added.

A spokesperson for Bumble said: 'Harassment, violence and hate speech are not tolerated on Bumble. In 2017, the company partnered with the Anti-Defamation League to ban all forms of hate speech, hate symbols and harassment.

'This was followed by a ban on photos with guns for people who are not law enforcement or veterans in uniform'
A beautiful abstract piece of artwork hung above a bed has caught the attention of hundreds on social media after its very surprising back story was revealed.

Gold Coast grandma Helen Watson shared an image of the painting titled 'Fire On The Mountain' and said it was created by her seven-month-old granddaughter Billie.

Mum Georgia Watson, 29, told Daily Mail Australia she set up a canvas smeared with dollops of paint and covered in a plastic sheet for young Billie to wriggle on and create the magnificent artwork.

In a video the creative baby artist can be seen enjoyed herself rolling around and looking at all the colours beneath her, without touching a single drop of paint.

The stunning piece was made for Helen's birthday and is now a precious keepsake.

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Gold Coast grandma Helen Watson shared an image of beautiful abstract piece of artwork hung above her bed (pictured)

She revealed the painting titled 'Fire On The Mountain' was created by her seven-month-old granddaughter Billie (pictured)

And this isn't the first painting Billie has made. Georgia said she and young Billie wanted to make a memorable Father's Day gift for Billie's dad Brett, 32, so they started making the paintings

Mum Georgia Watson, 29, (right) told Daily Mail Australia she set up a canvas smeared with dollops of paint and covered in a plastic sheet for young Billie to wriggle on

And this isn't the first painting Billie has made.

Georgia said she and young Billie wanted to make a memorable Father's Day gift for Billie's dad Brett, 32.

'We tried to do the typical hand print on a card which was extremely difficult with a wriggly baby. So we decided something on a larger scale might be easier with a little less mess,' Georgia said.

'By using a canvas and letting Billie reach out for the colours she liked we set up outside on the grass and tipped paints all over the canvas then placed a plastic sheet over allowing Billie to move around the canvas.'

The painting turned into an incredible blue and white piece of art with shades of gold and black.

The The incredible red, black and orange artwork (pictured) looks like it was made by a professional artist

The stunning piece was made for Helen's (left) birthday and is now a precious keepsake

The idea is also a great DIY sensory play experience for young Billie who 'loved it so much'

'We are so proud of Billie's little creations. Every piece she does is original and different! She always loves the big reveal when we pull off the plastic sheet and see what work has been created,' she said.

The paintings take between 30 minutes to one hour to make depending on how long Billie likes to play on the canvas.

The idea is also a great DIY sensory play experience for young Billie who 'loved it so much'.

The paintings take between 30 minutes to one hour to make depending on how long Billie likes to play on the canvas

Georgia has created an Instagram page that she plans to use to showcase all of Billie's artworks.

After the images and video was shared online hundreds commented with words of praise in awe of the outcome.

'Beautiful that it has such sentimental value. She has a big future I think!!' one woman wrote.

'That's absolutely beautiful, well done bubba,' another said, a third added: 'What a beautiful idea and amazing outcome.'
A city cafe known for its outrageous menu items has shocked yet again with a meal described as an 'Italian-Mexican fusion' and a 'beautiful monstrosity' by fans.

Dubbed Fettuccine Carbonara Chicken Tacos by the team at Bondi's Milky Lane the huge feast has definitely left foodies divided.

Tortilla-and-taco-shell-free the $20, 1181 calorie, feast features a deep-fried piece of chicken wrapped around creamy lengths of pasta.

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A city cafe known for its outrageous menu items has shocked yet again with a meal described as both 'Italian-Mexican fusion' and a 'beautiful monstrosity' by fans

It is finished off with a dusting of cheese and chives and has been declared 'the best edition' of the 'devilish' dish to date.

'We have been saving some of the best new specials for the tail end of the year when all of our stores were open again and its time for lift off,' the Milky Lane team declared on Instagram alongside a video of the tacos.

'We've tweaked this carbonara recipe so many tomes to make sure it is super cream and cheesy,' they said.

'Youve tried them before as a special but never like this,' they warned.

Fans quickly declared the dish 'mind blowing' as well as 'disturbing' with one recommending fellow diners 'have a bucket ready' at dinner time.

'I've never been so excited and disgusted at the same time,' one man said, tagging a friend.

'I have no idea what this is but I feel like I need it,' admitted another.

Dubbed Fettuccine Carbonara Chicken Tacos by the team at Bondi's Milky Lane the huge feast has definitely left foodies divided

While one woman said she felt a heart-attack coming on after looking at the photo despite being excited.

One fitness fanatic said they would willingly sacrifice a month's worth of cheat meals to sample the taco.

Another noted the dish was 'the carb load they have been searching for' and the meal looked like 'all their dreams' come true.

Thousands of people left comments on the cafe's social media, weighing in on the newest limited-edition menu item.

The tacos are available throughout November at all ten of the popular cafe's stores.
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The Queen paid tribute to her 'dear late husband' Prince Philip by wearing a rarely-seen diamond and ruby brooch she received as a wedding gift alongside a photograph of the Duke surrounded by Monarch butterflies in 1988, as she made an intensely personal speech at the Cop26 summit.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship' as Government representatives attended the reception for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

In her most personal speech to date, she said 'none of us will live forever' and 'we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children, and those who will follow in their footsteps' as she urged leaders to reach decisive COP climate change deals.

During the speech, the monarch also paid tribute to Prince Philip and described how 'the impact of the environment on human progress' was a subject close to the heart of her 'dear late husband' - who in 1969 told a gathering: 'If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.'

The monarch donned the glittering butterfly brooch, which was a gift from the Dowager Countess of Onslow at her wedding to the late Prince Philip, in 1947 and is rarely worn by the royal.

It tied in perfectly with a photograph placed behind her on a table of Prince Philip surrounded by Monarch butterflies, which was taken in Mexico in 1988.

The Queen, 95, wore a rarely-seen diamond and ruby brooch she received as a wedding gift as she made an intensely personal speech at the Cop26 summit

The monarch has worn the piece less than a handful of times in the last couple of years (pictured)

The monarch has worn the piece less than a handful of times in the last couple of years, last opting for the brooch for a virtual engagement days before Prince Philip's 100th birthday.

She also wore the brooch for a church service in Sandringham in 2019.

Before that, the Queen hadn't worn the glittering brooch since 2012, when she wore the first to visit the Sandringham Women's Institute.

Meanwhile an image was propped behind her on a table of Prince Philip visiting Mexico in February 1988.

The Duke was the first President of the World Wildlife Fund UK, from its formation in 1961 to 1982, and International President of WWF (now World Wide Fund for Nature) from 1981 to 1996.

On behalf of the WWF in February 1988, he visited the threatened winter habitat of the Monarch butterfly in Sierra Chincua, Michoacan State, Mexico, where the image captured the moment he was surrounded by a cloud of the monarch butterflies.

The heirloom was a gift from the Dowager Countess of Onslow at her wedding to the late Prince Philip, in 1947 and is rarely worn by the royal

It tied in perfectly with a photograph placed behind her on a table of Prince Philip surrounded by Monarch butterflies, which was taken in Mexico in 1988

The photograph, which has rarely been seen in public, was first displayed at the Prince Philip: Celebrating Ninety Years exhibition in 2011 at Windsor Castle.

Prince Philip would have been 'embarrassed' by Queen's 'wonderful' but 'deeply personal' speech at COP26 highlighting her late husband's dedication to the environment as a 'great source of pride', Duke's biographer claims Prince Philip would have been 'embarrassed' by the Queen's 'deeply personal' speech praising his dedication to the environment representatives at the COP26 summit tonight, the late Duke's biographer has claimed. Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, royal biographer Robert Jobson, who penned Prince Philip's Century, called the speech 'wonderful', but says Philip, who died aged 99 in April, would have been left red-faced by the public show of affection.' 'I thought it was a wonderful, deeply personal touch. A tribute to a man of vision, that Prince Philip was. He would have been embarrassed. But it shows how rightly proud she was of him,' he explained. 'He was a great champion for nature and the environment. A farsighted man who did so much to help preserve endangered species on this planet through his creation of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature of which he was a driving force in creating.' Advertisement

The Queen's stern intervention, which was displayed on screens during a VVIP reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum, came hours after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that India will target net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 - two decades later than the targets for the conference - disappointing many delegates.

It also comes after Boris Johnson kicked off the climate change summit by exhorting world leaders to back up their talk on climate change with action - warning it was 'one minute to midnight'.

The PM used his speech at the opening of the summit as a rallying cry to try to build momentum as he welcomed foreign leaders to Glasgow after securing only lukewarm climate commitments at the G20 summit in Rome over the weekend.

Meanwhile Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, today accused countries of 'treating nature like a toilet' as he warned of a looming 'climate catastrophe'.

During her speech tonight Her Majesty said: 'I am delighted to welcome you all to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference; and it is perhaps fitting that you have come together in Glasgow, once a heartland of the industrial revolution, but now a place to address climate change.

'This is a duty I am especially happy to discharge, as the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

'I remember well that in 1969, he told an academic gathering: ''If the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment, it is as certain as anything can be, that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time  If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.''

Her Majesty went on to describe how it gave her 'great pride' that the efforts of her late husband to protect 'our fragile planet' now lived on through the work of her eldest son Charles and her grandson William.

She continued: 'It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William.

'I could not be more proud of them. Indeed, I have drawn great comfort and inspiration from the relentless enthusiasm of people of all ages  especially the young  in calling for everyone to play their part.'

The monarch called on leaders to create a 'safer, stabler future' for the generations ahead and said it was the hope of many that the legacy of this summit 'will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity'.

She continued: 'In the coming days, the world has the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer, stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend.

'None of us underestimates the challenges ahead: but history has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope. Working side by side, we have the ability to solve the most insurmountable problems and to triumph over the greatest of adversities.

The monarch, who was speaking via video, also paid tribute to Prince Philip and described how ' the impact of the environment on human progress' was a subject close to the heart of her 'dear late husband'

'For more than seventy years, I have been lucky to meet and to know many of the world's great leaders. And I have perhaps come to understand a little about what made them special.

'It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics. But what they do for the people of tomorrow  that is statesmanship. I, for one, hope that this conference will be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship.

'It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit  written in history books yet to be printed  will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity; and that you answered the call of those future generations.

'That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan, to address the impact of climate change; and to recognise that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.'
The Prince of Wales enjoyed a drink when attending the Earthshot reception at COP26, admitting he 'needed it after today'.

Prince Charles, 72, who had spent the day welcoming dignitaries, was offered the beverage when attending last night's event in Glasgow, with the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The reception at the Clydeside Distillery was also attended by key members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative and the winners and finalists of the first Earthshot Prize Awards.

Taking the glass of whisky, the heir to the throne joked: 'I think I need it, I promise you, after today,' as he continued speaking with several guests at the reception.

Earlier in the day, Charles used his COP26 address at the climate summit to demand a 'military-style campaign' to mobilise trillions of dollars of private sector cash to 'save our precious planet'.

The Prince of Wales (pictured) enjoyed a drink when attending the COP26 reception, admitting he 'needed it after today'

Prince Charles, 72, was offered the beverage when attending last night's event in Glasgow, with the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured together), and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as world leaders attending the global climate conference

Prince Charles, left, greets President of France Emmanuel Macron ahead of a meeting during the COP26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland

The prince said the pandemic had taught the world 'timelines can be sped up dramatically' when everyone 'agrees on the urgency and the direction'.

Addressing world leaders, he suggested top CEOs and businesses he had spoken to confirmed they were ready to do their part to protect the globe from climate change.

Charles said the strength of the 'global private sector' was greater than governments and represented the only 'real prospect' of fundamental change.

The Queens eldest son, who has spent more than 50 years highlighting environmental issues, had a jam-packed day yesterday, speaking with world leaders.

He met with President of France Emmanuel Macron, President of Columbia Ivan Duque Marquez, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The day before, the prince was pictured speaking to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez about climate change at Dumfries House.

With Camilla seated in the crowd for Charles' COP26 address, the royal took to the stage after an emotive video showed the devastation humans had done to the planet.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greets Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as they arrive to attend an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26

Prince Charles demanded a 'military-style campaign' to mobilise trillions of dollars of private sector cash to 'save our precious planet'

Prince Charles's passionate plea for action came as he addressed world leaders at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow today

On his way up the steps Charles stumbled but managed to regain his stride before delivering his speech.

He said: 'So ladies and gentlemen, my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required.

'We know this will take trillions, not billions of dollars. We also know that countries, many which are burdened by heavy levels of debt, simply cannot afford to go green.

'Here we need a vast, military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector.

'With trillions at its disposal, far beyond global GDP and with the greatest respects beyond even the government's of the world's leaders it offers the only real prospect of achieving a fundamental economic transition.

'So how do we do it? First how do we get the private sector all pulling in the same direction?

The Prince of Wales speaks with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they attend the UN Climate Change Conference

The Prince of Wales greets the President of Columbia Ivan Duque Marquez (right) on Monday

Prince Charles meets Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley ahead of their bilateral meeting during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC)

The Prince of Wales (right) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet each other ahead of their bilateral meeting on day two of the COP26

'After nearly two years now of consultation, CEOs have told me we need to bring together global industries to map out in very practical terms what it will take to make the transition.

Prince Charles's speech to world leaders at the COP26 summit in full: The pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be. Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different. in fact they pose an even greater existential threat. To the extent we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing. Having the opportunity of consulting many of you myself over these past few months I know you all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act decisively because time has literally run out. The recent IPCC report gave us a clear diagnosis of a scale of the problem. We know what we must do. With a growing global population creating ever increasing demand on a planet's finite resources, we have to reduce the emissions urgently and take action to tackle the carbon already in the atmosphere including from coal fired power stations. Putting a value on carbon, thus making carbon capture solutions more economical is therefore absolutely critical. Similarly after billions of years of evolution, nature is our best teacher. In this regard restoring natural capital.. and levelling the circular bioeconomy will be vital to our efforts. As we tackle this crisis our efforts cannot be a series of independent initiatives running in parallel. The scale and scope of the threat we face call for a global systems level solution based on radically transforming our current fossil fuel based economy to one that is genuinely renewable and sustainable. So ladies and gentlemen, my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required. We know this will take trillions, not billions of dollars. We also know that countries, many which are burdened by heavy levels of debt, simply cannot afford to go green. here we need a vast, military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector. With trillions at its disposal, far beyond global GDP and with the greatest respects beyond even the government's of the world's leaders it offers the only real prospect of achieving a fundamental economic transition. So how do we do it? First how do we get the private sector all pulling in the same direction? After nearly two years now of consultation, CEOs have told me we need to bring together global industries to map out in very practical terms what it will take to make the transition. We know from the pandemic the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction. So each sector needs a clear strategy of getting innovations to mark it. Second, who pays and how? We need to align private investment behind these industry strategies to help finance the transition effort, which means building the confidence of investors so the financial risk is reduced. Investment is needed to transfer from coal to clean energy. If we can develop a pipeline of more sustainable and bankable projects at a sufficient scale it will attract sufficient investment. Third which switches do we flick to enable these objectives? More than 300 of the world's leading CEOs and and investors have told me that along side the promises countries have made... they need clear market signals, agreed globally so they have the confidence to invest without the goalposts suddenly moving. This is the framework I've offered on a Terracarter roadmap created by my stable markets initiative with nearly 100 specific actions for acceleration. Together we're working to drive trillions of dollars into support transition across ten of the most emitting and polluting industries. They include energy, agriculture, transportation, health systems and fashion. The reality of today's global supply chains means industry transition will effect every country and every producer in the world. There is absolutely not doubt in my mind that the private sector is ready to play its part and to work with governments to find a way forward. Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, many of your countries are already feeling the devastating impact of climate change, through ever-increasing droughts, mudslides, floods, hurricanes, cyclones and wildfires. Any leader who has had to confront such life-threatening challenges knows that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention. So, I can only urge you, as the world's decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people. Advertisement

'We know from the pandemic the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction.

'So each sector needs a clear strategy of getting innovations to mark it. Second, who pays and how?

'We need to align private investment behind these industry strategies to help finance the transition effort, which means building the confidence of investors so the financial risk is reduced.

'Investment is needed to transfer from coal to clean energy. If we can develop a pipeline of more sustainable and bankable projects at a sufficient scale it will attract sufficient investment.

'Third which switches do we flick to enable these objectives? More than 300 of the world's leading CEOs and and investors have told me that along side the promises countries have made... they need clear market signals, agreed globally so they have the confidence to invest without the goalposts suddenly moving.

'This is the framework I've offered on a Terracarter roadmap created by my stable markets initiative with nearly 100 specific actions for acceleration.

'Together we're working to drive trillions of dollars into support transition across ten of the most emitting and polluting industries.

'They include energy, agriculture, transportation, health systems and fashion. The reality of today's global supply chains means industry transition will effect every country and every producer in the world.

'There is absolutely not doubt in my mind that the private sector is ready to play its part and to work with governments to find a way forward.'

The prince also said the world has been put on 'war footing' due to the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity.

He continued: 'The pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be.

'Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different. in fact they pose an even greater existential threat.'

He went on: 'To the extent we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing.

'Having the opportunity of consulting many of you myself over these past few months I know you all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act decisively because time has literally run out.'

Prince Charles, who spent the day meeting with world leaders, was followed by another video before Sir David Attenborough took to the stage.

The royal's comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned: 'Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change. Its one minute to midnight and we need to act now.

'If we dont get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow.'

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said it was an 'illusion' to think the fight against climate change is being won.

Charles arrived at the summit with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and posed for pictures for the press.

He carried a huge folder containing his notes as he prepared for the start of the UN climate conference.

The heir to the throne was among those who travelled by non-commercial plane from the G20 in Rome, MailOnline revealed.

But a source insisted he would have 'only agreed to travel' after checking the aircraft was using sustainable fuel.

A Clarence House spokesman said: 'His Royal Highness has personally campaigned for a shift towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel and would only undertake travel to Rome when it was agreed that sustainable fuel would be used in the plane.'

The spokesman said sustainable fuel would be used 'wherever possible... from now on'.

On Sunday, the Prince of Wales sat down with billionaire Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez.

The trio were seen in a photograph shared on Bezos's social media enjoying a cup of tea at Dumfries House, a Scottish country mansion 40 minutes from Glasgow.

Mr Bezos and Ms Sanchez were seated on blue Chippendale armchairs surrounded by ornate portraits hanging in the Resplendent Blue Drawing room.

Bezos wrote: 'The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world for five decades  far longer than most.

'We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26  looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help.'

Meanwhile, the Queen used her powerful plea to world leaders over the climate crisis to praise Prince Philip and gush over Prince Charles and Prince William for carrying on her late husband's work to protect 'our fragile planet'.

In a pre-recorded message addressing delegates in COP26 in Glasgow last night, Her Majesty spoke with unusual candour of her pride in her family and their stance on the environment  from 'my dear late husband', the Duke of Edinburgh, to her son the Prince of Wales and grandson the Duke of Cambridge.

The Queen said: 'It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them.'

She included a poignant nod to her advancing years, saying many involved in the Glasgow summit  including herself  would not see the fruits of their actions, adding: 'None of us will live for ever.' But she stressed: 'We are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.'

Her praise for her son and grandson came just days after Prince Charles spoke affectionately in public about William as he said: 'I am very proud of my son, William, for his growing commitment to the environment and the bold ambition of The Earthshot Prize'.
A mother has revealed how she was left 'looking like Quasimodo' after a horror allergic reaction to eyebrow tint that was so severe doctors said it could have killed her.

Clare McGuire, 34, from Stretford, Greater Manchester, got her eyebrows waxed and tinted at a salon for the first time on October 13, and claims the beauty technician incorrectly applied her patch test to her hand.

She claims she was advised to leave it on for only an hour, meaning her reaction didn't show up before the treatment.

She later had to rush herself to the A&E twice after the reaction left her with a swollen face and a swollen tongue, which emergency care staff warned could have been a choking hazard.

Clare said: 'It's been three weeks and I'm still not back to normal - I've still got redness and scabs and I'm worried they're not going to grow back properly.

'Doctors said if I had a reaction like that again it would kill me so I'll never do it again, I'll stick to threading.'

Clare McGuire, 34, from Stretford, Greater Manchester got her eyebrows waxed and tinted at a salon for the first time on Wednesday and says she's still suffering from 'scabby' eyebrows after suffering an allergic reaction (left and right)

The mother decided to get her eyebrows waxed and tinted and have eyelash extensions done for the first time for a confidence boost.

Clare said: 'I'd never had any waxing or tinting done before, I always just got my eyebrows threaded.

She booked in at a salon and went for a patch test the day before her appointment, however Clare claims the beauty technician applied the test on her hand and only told her to leave it on for an hour.

She said: 'The day before I went for a patch test and she tested the tint for the eyebrows and the glue for the eyelashes and told me to leave it on for an hour.

It was the first time that the mother-of-two treated herself to eyebrow tint. She claims the beautician didn't do a proper allergic test

'I was out for the rest of the day so I left it on for longer and there was no reaction.'

It was only after carrying out research of her own after the horror reaction that Clare realised that patch tests need to be left for a minimum of 24 hours to allow time for delayed reactions.

She revealed: 'But I found out after that she should've done the patch test behind my ear and it should've stayed on for at least 24 hours and she should've known that because of her training.'

Just hours after getting her eyebrows done Clare's face became red and itchy and she called 111 where an operator advised she go to hospital.

She explained her eyebrows became red, itchy and scabby due to the allergic reaction, pictured

Clare had to rush herself to the hospital and was treated with an IV treatment, pictured, after the reaction

That evening at Trafford General Hospital in Trafford, Greater Manchester, Clare was given an EpiPen shot and steroid tablets and was then allowed home.

Clare said: 'Red spots started appearing around my eyebrows so I messaged the girl that did them and she said to take some antihistamines so I did.

'But then a couple of hours later I started swelling up and my eyes started closing so I rang 111 and they told me to go to the hospital.

'In hospital they gave me an EpiPen shot and steroid tablets and sent me home but it got worse overnight, so the next morning I went back and they put me on an intravenous drip.'

The following morning the mother-of-two was stunned to discover her face had ballooned overnight - including her tongue - and returned to hospital where horrified doctors claimed the swelling was so severe she could have choked in her sleep

The following morning the mother-of-two was stunned to discover her face had ballooned overnight - including her tongue - and returned to hospital where horrified doctors claimed the swelling was so severe she could have choked in her sleep.

She said: 'Urgent care said because my tongue had swollen I could have choked. I got told I could have died, it was really scary.

'Over the next few days it just got worse - my eyebrows went really red and were swelling, scabbing and seeping.

'I thought I looked like Quasimodo and my sons told me I looked like the Elephant Man.

After three weeks she is still healing but thankful that her face isn't as swollen anymore (pictured)

'I wear glasses but my face was too swollen to put them on for three days.'

The traumatised care worker has now vowed never to get her eyebrows tinted again and has shared photos of her dramatic reaction to warn others to get a proper patch test.

Doctors prescribed steroid tablets, antihistamines and antibiotics to help reduce the swelling from Claire's allergic reaction and to fight off infection from her 'scabby' eyebrows.

After three weeks she is still healing but thankful that her face isn't as swollen anymore after her sons Matthew Fryers, 15, and Mark Fryers, 13, joked that it made her look like 'the Elephant Man'.

She is now warning others to make sure they have a proper patch test to avoid a potentially life-threatening reaction like she had.

Clare said: 'People need to know this can happen and make sure they get a patch test behind their ear and leave it on for 24 hours.'
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A quilted gilet is the perfect lightweight jacket for the change of seasons, keeping you comfortable and warm for just about any occasion. Not to mention, it's a great way to add some Duchess of Cambridge style to your autumnal wardrobe.

Kate Middleton often wears a trendy gilet when the weather takes a turn and more recently wore a khaki gilet by Danish brand Ganni during her first UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) appearance in Glasgow.

Giving the nod to the Climate Change Conference, the 255 Ganni Quilted Tech Fabric Vest Quilted Tech Fabric Vest is made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. Kate paired the sustainable jacket with Chloe Mozart boots, which she has worn many times and black skinny jeans.

Kate Middleton wore a 100 per cent recycled-polyester khaki gilet by Danish brand Ganni during her first UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) appearance in Glasgow

Exclusive to Selfridges and GANNI.com, the sustainable fashion pick features a quilted fabric, relaxed silhouette, as well as two pockets.

It's padded to keep you warm, yet lightweight enough to layer over running tops, shirts, long-sleeved tops and jumpers. It can also be worn in place of a jacket and, in winter, sits nicely underneath a coat without adding unnecessary bulk.

The padded vest is still available in sizes six, eight and ten, but if you want to steal Kate's style, we suggest adding to your basket ASAP, as we expect a sell out.

During her visit to Glasgow, the Cambridge royal also wore a coat dress from London-based brand Eponine and coordinated navy accessories from LK Bennett as she joined Prince William, also 39, at the Clydeside Distillery.

The Duchess of Cambridge proved she scrubbed up well as she swapped her muddy outdoor outfit for a dazzling evening gown to attend the Earthshot reception at COP26 in Glasgow

Kate opted for a custom dress from British brand Eponine, believed to cost around 2,4000 teamed with her favourite 425 heels from Rupert Sanderson

Despite the dress being from the brand's SS20 collection and Kate frequently wearing Eponine, it is believed to be the first time that she has been photographed wearing the coat.

Paired with the coat dress, Kate slipped on her go-to 'Malory' pumps from British designer Rupert Sanderson, which she's been pictured in more than a dozen times, including at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey a dinner with the Obamas at Kensington Palace in 2016.

To complete the look she wore her 3,500 KiKi Mcdonough blue topaz and diamond drop earrings, which are a favourite pair from her jewellery box.
Kate Middleton and Prince William appear to be following in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by releasing photographs in their trademark style walking away from the camera.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 39, shared a behind-the-scenes shot as they arrived at the Clydeside Distillery to attend the Earthshot reception at Cop26 in Glasgow last night.

In the snap, the couple could be seen with their backs to the camera as they greeted guests while entering the event together.

The snap bears striking similarities to a style of shots which were often released by the Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, which saw them walking away from the camera.

It comes after Prince William and Kate last week drew comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan by releasing photographs in black and white - and choosing to share their rare moments of public affection.

Brand expert Nick Ede predicted the public could expect to see 'many more' of these type of images from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, adding: 'This behind the scenes almost candid image is one that we have associated with Meghan and Harrys most famous images.

Kate Middleton and Prince William appear to be following in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by releasing photographs in their trademark style walking away from the camera

Pictured, a photo shared by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their Megxit tour in March 2020

'The rawness of the image gives the viewer an intimate insight into the Cambridges and I think that as they are stepping up their brand and visibility. This is just a progression that will engage fans around the world.

'We have seen behind-the-scenes shots from popstars coming off stage to actors taking a bow etc.

'These are always candid moments that have an enduring appeal and bring a human touch to the image, which is something Meghan and Harry have done on numerous occasions.

'This image creates a very strong narrative and I think we can expect many more of these types of images to be realeased in the future.'

The couple made the style their signature at Christmas 2018 when they released their festive card, which featured a previously unseen snap from their wedding (pictured)

Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared photographs on Instagram as they walked into the evening reception in Glasgow.

In one of the snaps, the couple can be seen with their backs to the camera as they greet Earthshot prize winners at the distillery.

It bears striking similarity to a series of photographs shared by Harry and Meghan during their time as working royals.

The couple made the style their signature at Christmas 2018 when they released their festive card.

It featured a previously unseen wedding snap as they stood with their backs to the camera and watched fireworks erupt over the grounds of Frogmore House, Windsor, where their evening reception was held.

Throughout their time as working royals, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex often released photographs as they walked away from the camera on their social media (pictured, at Archie's photocall)

The photograph was captured by Chris Allerton hours after the couple tied the knot at St George's Chapel.

They went on to share further snaps in a similar pose on their @SussexRoyal Instagram page, including one image from their son Archie's photocall.

Meanwhile they also posted another snap in a near-identical pose as they attended the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2020 during their Megxit tour.

Last week, royal photographer Chris Jackson, who is married to The Duchess of Cambridge's stylist and close friend Natasha Archer, 34, took to Instagram and explained how he captured a series of behind-the-scene pictures from the Earthshot Prize Awards on Sunday at Alexandra Palace in London.

Among the black and white images, which were shared to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's social media account, include the moment Kate put a loving hand on Prince William's lower back in a rare display of public affection - as they are captured looking intensely in each other's eyes and smiling at one another.

The couple have always acknowledged the Queen's wishes for royal family members to avoid loved-up displays in public.

However, photographer previously Glenn Gratton told FEMAIL the Duchess of Sussex is putting her own stamp on royal photos by releasing them in black and white.

It comes after Meghan, 40, and Harry, 37, have plumped for black and white pictures on a number of important occasions, including their official engagement shoot and their first Christmas card.

It comes after Prince William and Kate last week drew comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan by releasing photographs in black and white - and choosing to share their rare moments of public affection

In another adorable photograph from last week's engagement, a dapper dressed Prince William pulls back the curtain as he and Kate are seen smiling and laughing together.

Elsewhere, two poignant individual shots of the pair show them both reflecting before they're about to go on stage on give their speeches on the importance of looking after the environment for several generations to come.

Alongside the series of snaps, Chris penned: 'Some of you may have noticed I was a little quiet after the Earthshot awards

'This was because I had a fantastic opportunity to shoot "behind the scenes" with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the groundbreaking environmental initiative that will do a huge amount to change the narrative over the next few years.'

Prince William and Kate appear to have followed in the footsteps of Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan Markle, 40, with the latest snaps shared behind-the-scenes at the Earthshot Prize. Pictured, posing in the grounds of their $14 million Californian mansion in front of a 'tree of life'

Another poignant shot of Prince William shows him reflecting before heading on stage at the end of the event

In another powerful snap, Prince William, can be seen stepping on stage after ditching his usual black tuxedo for a trendy polo neck and green velvet jacket

'It was special to witness the passion and energy that went into this event from close quarters and performances from talented artists such as @teddysphotos @ksi and @coldplay.

'I think these pictures illustrate some the depth of feeling throughout the event.'

However, the choice of the monochrome snaps comes after Prince Harry and Meghan chose two black and white family photos to announce Meghan's pregnancy with Lilibet, where the royal couple can be seen posing in the grounds of their $14 million Californian mansion in front of a 'tree of life.'

They also opted for the same style to announce their son's name on Instagram in May 2019, and released a further two from the photocall at Windsor Castle earlier the same day.

The snaps, taken by Alexi Lubomirski, captured the couple looking loved-up in the grounds near their now-home Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor. Pictured, one of the engagement photos

Speaking to Femail, photographer Glenn Gratton said Meghan is 'image conscious' and would have carefully thought through which photos to release of her son to make the best impression.

He added black and white is 'in vogue' and is a way for the royal mother to distance her photos from the high contrast, filtered photos that flood social media feeds.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a statement when they released two of the three official engagement photos in black and white.

The snaps, taken by Alexi Lubomirski, captured the couple looking loved-up in the grounds near their now-home Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor.

Harry and Meghan also opted to have some black and white photos on their wedding day, later choosing one of them standing with their backs to the camera as their first Christmas card.

Royal expert Duncan Larcombe previously said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are competing in a 'petty transatlantic popularity contest' with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Speaking to The Sun, Duncan said: 'William and Kate are quite clear they need to do more to sell themselves as a couple, family and personalities.
Prince William urged world leaders to 'think differently' and make the 'impossible, possible' in an impassioned speech at the COP26 summit on Tuesday afternoon.

The Duke of Cambridge, 39, who cut a stylish figure in a smart black suit adorned with a poppy, noted the urgency for people to 'think differently' if the battle against global warming is to be on its way to success within a decade.

The royal's speech took place during the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session of the summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

It comes just a day after the Queen's powerful video message which highlighted the need for world leaders to put aside division and act now for the sake of 'our children'.

Taking to the stage, Prince William challenged world leaders to push even harder in a bid to stop devastating floods, fires and heatwaves and said: 'If we are to achieve our goal to repair our planet in what is now less than a decade, it is our shared responsibility to continue thinking differently, acting boldly, and making the impossible, possible.'

Prince William cut a dapper figure as he attended a meeting between The Earthshot Prize Winners and finalists and several members of the Earthshot Global Alliance in Glasgow on Tuesday morning

US politician Michael Bloomberg, one of the world's wealthiest men with a net worth estimated at more than 60 billion US dollars (46.3 billion), who joined the royal's ambitious environmental initiative as a global adviser to the Earthshot Prize winners, is hosting today's event. Pictured, with Prince William

William meets with John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and heads of state on the sidelines of the COP26

Prince William and U.S. businessman Michael Bloomberg, second right, stand with Earthshot prize winners and finalists from left, Vidyut Mohan for Clean Air, Vaitea Cowan for Fix our Environment and Sam Teicher for Revive our Oceans

Earlier, Prince William spoke during a meeting with The Earthshot Prize winners, finalists and several members of the Earthshot Global Alliance at the Glasgow Science Centre.

The meeting provided an opportunity for Prize Winners and finalists to meet industry leaders and experts with a view towards supercharging and scaling their innovative solutions to the world's greatest environmental challenges.

There, William also reunited with former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, 79, who he previously joined forces with to warn against 'environmental devastation' and urge 'decisive action' to tackle climate change in a piece co-authored for USA Today.

The US politician, one of the world's wealthiest men with a net worth estimated at more than 60 billion US dollars (46.3 billion), who joined the royal's ambitious environmental initiative as a global adviser to the Earthshot Prize winners, hosted this morning's event.

The royal's speech took place during the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session of the summit in Glasgow, Scotland. He is pictured meeting earthshot prize winners

The Duke of Cambridge during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners, finalists and heads of state, on the sidelines of the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow

Prince William urged world leaders to 'think differently' and make the 'impossible, possible' as they engaged in last-ditch attempts to agree a historical COP26 deal this afternoon

Prince William (pictured) spoke just a day after the Queen's impassioned video message with highlighted the need for world leaders to put aside division and act now for the sake of 'our children'

Prince William (pictured, left and right) took to the stage and challenged world leaders to push even harder in a bid to stop devastating floods, fires and heatwaves

The Duke of Cambridge speaking during the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session

The royal (pictured) put on a very animated display during his impassioned speech at the COP26 summit

During the speech, the father-of-three said: 'If we are to achieve our goal to repair our planet in what is now less than a decade, it is our shared responsibility to continue thinking differently, acting boldly, and making the impossible, possible'

Prince William (pictured) highlighted the urgency for people to 'think differently' if the battle against global warming is to be on its way to success within a decade

The Duke of Cambridge watched a demonstration as he attends the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session

Prince William took a keen interest as he watched a demonstration during the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session

The Global Alliance are an unprecedented network of philanthropists, NGOs and some of the world's biggest companies and brands representing 3.6 million employees globally that together, will help support and scale the innovative and ground-breaking solutions developed by the Earthshot Prize winners and finalists.

It was later than Prince William and The Earthshot Prize winners and finalists featured at the key meeting of World Leaders which took place at COP26.

During the 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session in one of the plenary rooms, Prince William addressed the assembled world leaders and introduced the winners and finalists of the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards, which took place on 17th October.

The royal was joined on stage by 15-year-old India-based Vinisha Umashankar, the youngest Earthshot Prize Finalist.

Prince William spoke with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission at the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session

2021 sees the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference will run from 31 October for two weeks, finishing on 12 November. It was meant to take place in 2020 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pictured left sand right, Prince William

The royal, donning headphones and a protective face mask, could be seen preparing before he took to the stage

Prince William arrived (left and right) arrived for the Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment event at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit

A general view as Prince William took to the stage at the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session

Prince William was seen speaking with President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta during this afternoon's summit

Vinisha's solar-powered ironing cart is a clean alternative to the charcoal-powered street irons that press clothes for millions of Indians each day.

Concerned by the burning of charcoal on the health of her local ironing vendors and the impact on air quality across India, her solar-powered invention means five hours of sunshine can power the iron for six hours.

Extra mobility means vendors can sell on doorsteps as well as the roadside and built-in phone top up and charging points bring extra income too.

Vinisha's example shows that by innovating today, the next generation can create a cleaner tomorrow.

The Duke of Cambridge donned a smart black suit adorned with a poppy as he started a busy day of engagements on the second day of COP26. Pictured, speaking with a group prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists

The royal was also seen donning a protective face mask as he spoke with a group prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists

Prince William takes to the stage as he makes an address during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists

The Duke of Cambridge speaks with US businessman Michael Bloomberg prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists at the Glasgow Science Centre on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit

The meeting will provide an opportunity for Prize Winners and finalists to meet industry leaders and experts with a view towards supercharging and scaling their innovative solutions to the world's greatest environmental challenges. Pictured, Prince William spoke with a group prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists

The Duke of Cambridge spoke with prize winner for Fix our Climate, Vaitea Cowan (pictured)

William also reunited with former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, 79, who he previously joined forces with to warn against 'environmental devastation' and urge 'decisive action' to tackle climate change in a piece co-authored for USA Today. Pictured, together

US politician (pictured) Michael R. Bloomberg is one of the world's wealthiest men with a net worth estimated at more than 60 billion US dollars (46.3 billion)

Ahead of the session, the winner and finalists of the Fix our Climate Earthshot displayed their pioneering solutions on stage in the Plenary Hall.

This included Thailand, Italy and Germany-based AEM Electrolyser from Enapter, who won The Earthshot Prize to Fix Our Climate and 1 million in last month's ceremony for their ingenious green hydrogen technology that has the power to transform how we power our homes and buildings and fuel our transport.

Bangladesh-based finalist SOLbazaar showcased the technology behind the world's first peer-to-peer energy exchange network and Reeddi Capsules for their solar-powered energy capsule which is transforming clean energy across Nigeria.

Following this, Prince William will then join The Earthshot Prize winners and finalists to meet with senior Government representatives from some of the countries of the winners and finalists.

This informal gathering will be an opportunity for them all to engage directly with their Governments on their ambitious plans to scale their solutions.
Prince Charles continued his joy-filled meetings with world leaders today as he met with Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden.

The beaming royal couldn't hold back smiles as he met with world leaders including Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minster Scott Morrison at the COP26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow.

The Prince of Wales, 72, is at the summit with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as well as his son and daughter-in-law the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince Charles continued his joy-filled meetings with world leaders today as he met with Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau

The Prince of Wales greets the President of the United States Joe Biden ahead of their bilateral meeting during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow.

Charles is seen chatting with Bill Gates and Justin Trudeau at the UN Climate Change Conference

After a night of rubbing shoulders with world leaders at a reception last night, the future king continued today as he met with the Australian, American and Canadian leaders.

Today he told delegates the world has had enough of talking and 'we need to put our words and commitments into practice'.

In a speech about steps needed to safeguard the world's forests and land, he said nations needed to 'honour' the rights of indigenous people who were 'experienced custodians' of their habitats.

Charles said: 'I cannot believe how many times I've ended speeches like this all over the world during the past 40 years - and to no avail.

'But I can only pray that this time, this session will provide us with a real sense of the seriously urgent systemic shifts that need to happen to deliver on our vision. And urge you all to take all the work we've discussed today with implacable resolve and determination to make things happen on the ground.'

He added: 'Frankly, we have all had enough talking so we need to put our words and commitments into practice.'

The beaming royal couldn't hold back smiles as he met with world leaders including Trudeau

Charles looked besotted as he met with Justin Trudeau in Glasgow today

The Prince of Wales greets the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau ahead of their bilateral meeting during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus

Prince Charles looked delighted today as he met with Australian Prime Minster Scott Morrison at the bilateral meeting during the COP26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow.

Charles also met with fellow environmental campaigner and former US VP Al Gore

Prince of Wales, listens to a speech during the UN Climate Change Conference

Charles joined the session after speeches by US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had earlier hailed a pledge by more than 100 international leaders to end the 'great chainsaw massacre' of the world's forests.

Today, 110 nations - covering 85 per cent of the world's forests - signed a declaration to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030.

The prince walked into the auditorium with a delegation of indigenous people from the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, representing 24 countries with tropical rainforests, and wore a colourful necklace presented by an Ecuadorian member of the group.

He can't stop smiling! Charles looked delighted as he meets Boris Johnson to host a Commonwealth Leaders' Reception in Glasgow

Today Charles (pictured with Boris Johnson) told delegates the world has had enough of talking and 'we need to put our words and commitments into practice'.

In a speech about steps needed to safeguard the world's forests and land, Charles (pictured today) said nations needed to 'honour' the rights of indigenous people who were 'experienced custodians' of their habitats.

Charles also met with Zac Goldsmith and Britain's Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng during COP tonight

He met them all briefly before his speech and told Juan Carlos Jintiach and Tuntiak Katan from Ecuador, who gave him the gift made by local women: "We've got to work harder to save your forests, for all our sakes."

It comes just hours after he was presented with a necklace as he spoke to indigenous leaders from around the world.

Prince William, 39, joined his father at the event and could be seen chatting with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission at the World Leaders' Summit.

The royal has spent more than 50 years highlighting environmental issues, appeared in good spirits as he arrived at the Action on Forests and Land Use event.

Prince of Wales was given a necklace by Tuntiak Katan, General Coordinator of the Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) and the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) ahead of an Action on Forests

The royal could be seen bowing his head as he was given the necklace by Tuntiak Katan, coordinator of international economic cooperation and autonomous indigenous development of the Amazon Basin.

He later appeared on stage where he wore the jewellery to address a group attending the conference.

Charles appeared in high spirits during the engagement and could be seen laughing as he arrived on stage to deliver his speech.

Prince William was later seen chatting with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission at the World Leaders' Summit

The father-of-three watched a demonstration as he attended the World Leaders' Summit in Glasgow today

The Prince of Wales, 72, is at the meeting with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as well as his son and daughter-in-law the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. He is pictured with Scott Morrison

After a night of rubbing shoulders with world leaders at a reception last night, the future king continued today as he chatted to the Australian leader.

The Prince of Wales was presented with a necklace as he met with indigenous leaders from around the world at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow today

Yesterday, Charles addressed delegates and demanded a 'military-style campaign' to mobilise trillions of dollars of private sector cash to 'save our precious planet'.

The prince said the pandemic had taught the world 'timelines can be sped up dramatically' when everyone 'agrees on the urgency and the direction'.

Addressing world leaders, he suggested top CEOs and businesses he had spoken to confirmed they were ready to do their part to protect the globe from climate change.

Charles said the strength of the 'global private sector' was greater than governments and represented the only 'real prospect' of fundamental change.

The royal, who has spent more than 50 years highlighting environmental issues, donned a turquoise face mask as he arrived a the event

He appeared in good spirits as he arrived at the Action on Forests and Land Use event on the third day of COP26 at the SECC (pictured)

It was while speaking with General Coordinator of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities Tuntiak Katan and Coordinator of international economic cooperation and autonomous indigenous development of the Amazon Basin Tuntiak Katan that Charles was presented with the necklace

The Queen's eldest son had a jam-packed day yesterday, speaking with world leaders.

He met with President of France Emmanuel Macron, President of Columbia Ivan Duque Marquez, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The day before, the prince was pictured speaking to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez about climate change at Dumfries House.

The Queen's eldest son could be seen bowing his head as he was presented with the necklace by Jintiach

With Camilla seated in the crowd for Charles' COP26 address, the royal took to the stage after an emotive video showed the devastation humans had done to the planet.

On his way up the steps Charles stumbled but managed to regain his stride before delivering his speech.

He said: 'So ladies and gentlemen, my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required.

'We know this will take trillions, not billions of dollars. We also know that countries, many which are burdened by heavy levels of debt, simply cannot afford to go green.

Apparently touched by the gift, the royal continued to wear the piece of jewellery, which featured a scorpion, for the event

He later appeared on stage where he wore the jewellery to address a group attending the conference

'Here we need a vast, military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector.

'With trillions at its disposal, far beyond global GDP and with the greatest respects beyond even the government's of the world's leaders it offers the only real prospect of achieving a fundamental economic transition.

'So how do we do it? First how do we get the private sector all pulling in the same direction?

'After nearly two years now of consultation, CEOs have told me we need to bring together global industries to map out in very practical terms what it will take to make the transition.

The royal gave his second address during an Action on Forests and Land Use event on day three of COP26 (pictured)

He continued to wear the jewel as he spoke with delegates during the event's third day (pictured left and right)

Prince Charles spoke passionately to world leaders from the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth reception at COP26

During his speech, Prince Charles said the pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be

Prince Charles's speech to world leaders at the COP26 summit in full: The pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be. Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different. in fact they pose an even greater existential threat. To the extent we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing. Having the opportunity of consulting many of you myself over these past few months I know you all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act decisively because time has literally run out. The recent IPCC report gave us a clear diagnosis of a scale of the problem. We know what we must do. With a growing global population creating ever increasing demand on a planet's finite resources, we have to reduce the emissions urgently and take action to tackle the carbon already in the atmosphere including from coal fired power stations. Putting a value on carbon, thus making carbon capture solutions more economical is therefore absolutely critical. Similarly after billions of years of evolution, nature is our best teacher. In this regard restoring natural capital.. and levelling the circular bioeconomy will be vital to our efforts. As we tackle this crisis our efforts cannot be a series of independent initiatives running in parallel. The scale and scope of the threat we face call for a global systems level solution based on radically transforming our current fossil fuel based economy to one that is genuinely renewable and sustainable. So ladies and gentlemen, my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required. We know this will take trillions, not billions of dollars. We also know that countries, many which are burdened by heavy levels of debt, simply cannot afford to go green. here we need a vast, military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector. With trillions at its disposal, far beyond global GDP and with the greatest respects beyond even the government's of the world's leaders it offers the only real prospect of achieving a fundamental economic transition. So how do we do it? First how do we get the private sector all pulling in the same direction? After nearly two years now of consultation, CEOs have told me we need to bring together global industries to map out in very practical terms what it will take to make the transition. We know from the pandemic the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction. So each sector needs a clear strategy of getting innovations to mark it. Second, who pays and how? We need to align private investment behind these industry strategies to help finance the transition effort, which means building the confidence of investors so the financial risk is reduced. Investment is needed to transfer from coal to clean energy. If we can develop a pipeline of more sustainable and bankable projects at a sufficient scale it will attract sufficient investment. Third which switches do we flick to enable these objectives? More than 300 of the world's leading CEOs and and investors have told me that along side the promises countries have made... they need clear market signals, agreed globally so they have the confidence to invest without the goalposts suddenly moving. This is the framework I've offered on a Terracarter roadmap created by my stable markets initiative with nearly 100 specific actions for acceleration. Together we're working to drive trillions of dollars into support transition across ten of the most emitting and polluting industries. They include energy, agriculture, transportation, health systems and fashion. The reality of today's global supply chains means industry transition will effect every country and every producer in the world. There is absolutely not doubt in my mind that the private sector is ready to play its part and to work with governments to find a way forward. Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, many of your countries are already feeling the devastating impact of climate change, through ever-increasing droughts, mudslides, floods, hurricanes, cyclones and wildfires. Any leader who has had to confront such life-threatening challenges knows that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention. So, I can only urge you, as the world's decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people. Advertisement

'We know from the pandemic the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction.

'So each sector needs a clear strategy of getting innovations to mark it. Second, who pays and how?

'We need to align private investment behind these industry strategies to help finance the transition effort, which means building the confidence of investors so the financial risk is reduced.

'Investment is needed to transfer from coal to clean energy. If we can develop a pipeline of more sustainable and bankable projects at a sufficient scale it will attract sufficient investment.

'Third which switches do we flick to enable these objectives? More than 300 of the world's leading CEOs and and investors have told me that along side the promises countries have made... they need clear market signals, agreed globally so they have the confidence to invest without the goalposts suddenly moving.

'This is the framework I've offered on a Terracarter roadmap created by my stable markets initiative with nearly 100 specific actions for acceleration.

'Together we're working to drive trillions of dollars into support transition across ten of the most emitting and polluting industries.

'They include energy, agriculture, transportation, health systems and fashion. The reality of today's global supply chains means industry transition will effect every country and every producer in the world.

'There is absolutely not doubt in my mind that the private sector is ready to play its part and to work with governments to find a way forward.'

The prince also said the world has been put on 'war footing' due to the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity.

He continued: 'The pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be.

'Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different. in fact they pose an even greater existential threat.'

He went on: 'To the extent we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing.

'Having the opportunity of consulting many of you myself over these past few months I know you all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act decisively because time has literally run out.'

Prince Charles, who spent the day meeting with world leaders, was followed by another video before Sir David Attenborough took to the stage.

The royal's comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned: 'Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change. It's one minute to midnight and we need to act now.

'If we don't get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow.'

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said it was an 'illusion' to think the fight against climate change is being won.

Charles arrived at the summit with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and posed for pictures for the press.

He carried a huge folder containing his notes as he prepared for the start of the UN climate conference.

The heir to the throne was among those who travelled by non-commercial plane from the G20 in Rome, MailOnline revealed.

But a source insisted he would have 'only agreed to travel' after checking the aircraft was using sustainable fuel.

A Clarence House spokesman said: 'His Royal Highness has personally campaigned for a shift towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel and would only undertake travel to Rome when it was agreed that sustainable fuel would be used in the plane.'

The spokesman said sustainable fuel would be used 'wherever possible... from now on'.

On Sunday, the Prince of Wales sat down with billionaire Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez.

The trio were seen in a photograph shared on Bezos's social media enjoying a cup of tea at Dumfries House, a Scottish country mansion 40 minutes from Glasgow.

Mr Bezos and Ms Sanchez were seated on blue Chippendale armchairs surrounded by ornate portraits hanging in the Resplendent Blue Drawing room.

Bezos wrote: 'The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world for five decades  far longer than most.

'We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26  looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help.'

Meanwhile, the Queen used her powerful plea to world leaders over the climate crisis to praise Prince Philip and gush over Prince Charles and Prince William for carrying on her late husband's work to protect 'our fragile planet'.

In a pre-recorded message addressing delegates in COP26 in Glasgow last night, Her Majesty spoke with unusual candour of her pride in her family and their stance on the environment  from 'my dear late husband', the Duke of Edinburgh, to her son the Prince of Wales and grandson the Duke of Cambridge.

The Queen said: 'It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them.'

She included a poignant nod to her advancing years, saying many involved in the Glasgow summit  including herself  would not see the fruits of their actions, adding: 'None of us will live for ever.' But she stressed: 'We are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.'

Her praise for her son and grandson came just days after Prince Charles spoke affectionately in public about William as he said: 'I am very proud of my son, William, for his growing commitment to the environment and the bold ambition of The Earthshot Prize'.
Joanna Lumley has been criticised by social media users for hypocrisy overload after urging everyone to do their part in her new climate change documentary on ITV - despite fronting a number of travel programmes.

The 75-year-old actress, who has created documentaries which saw her explore Japan, India and the Caribbean in recent years, featured in Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan last night.

The programme involved Joanna travelling around the UK as she followed adventurer Sacha Dench, who took to the skies in an electric paramotor to attempt an epic journey around the British coast whilst raising awareness about climate change.

Speaking to Sacha, who was injured during the 3,000-mile journey, while a member of her support crew sadly died, Joanna said on climate change: 'I think the message from this is that we can do it, if you buckle down now, if every single person makes an effort.'

However, viewers were quick to label Joanna a 'hypocrite', with one claiming on Twitter: 'She has in the last six years made no less than eight travel documentaries that have taken to every corner of the Earth... by trains, planes and automobiles.'

Joanna Lumley (pictured centre) has been criticised by social media users for hypocrisy overload after urging everyone to do their part in her new climate change documentary on ITV - despite fronting a number of travel programmes

The 75-year-old actress, who has created documentaries which saw her explore Japan (pictured), India and the Caribbean in recent years, featured in Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan last night

Another said: 'Are you kidding me! How many travel programmes has this woman done flying round the world! Ridiculous!!Totally jumping on the bandwagon!'

A third outraged viewer added: '@JoannaLumleyUK can f*** right off. Hypocrisy overload.'

Another questioned: 'In the interest of fighting global warming, are you going vegan and cutting your air miles? You have immense potential influence.'

Yet other viewers were pleased to see Joanna using her platform to showcase Sachas journey.

Reaction: Viewers were quick to label Joanna a 'hypocrite', with one claiming on Twitter: 'She has in the last six years made no less than eight travel documentaries that have taken to every corner of the Earth... by trains, planes and automobiles.'

One viewer wrote on Twitter: @sachadench just watched you with Joanna Lumley. I agree with you. We can all do our part. Respect.

Another impressed fan added: Wow, wow, wow. Plenty food for thought,' while a third said: 'Just watched [Sacha] with Joanna Lumley. I agree with you. We can all do our part.'

MailOnline has contacted Joanna Lumley's representatives for comment.

After filming wrapped, biologist Sacha plummeted from the sky during her 3,000-mile journey after colliding with a member of her support crew.

Dan Burton, 54, who was in a separate paramotor, died in September, while Sacha, 43, who is a relative of Dame Judy Dench, remains in hospital after suffering serious injuries.

The programme involved Joanna travelling around the UK as she followed adventurer Sacha Dench, who took to the skies in an electric paramotor to attempt a journey around the British coast whilst raising awareness about climate change. Other viewers were pleased to see Joanna using her platform to showcase Sachas journey

Joanna had met with the scientist to film her ITV documentary, Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan, ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this week.

In an interview with The Times, Joanna said that while she initially wanted to 'back away' from the project, both Sacha and Dan's relatives urged her to broadcast the documentary as planned.

'But Dan's brave, brave family said, "Please! This is what it's for" and Sacha sent a message through her team from her hospital bed, saying, "For goodness sake show this film, this is why we were doing it"', said Joanna.

The paragliders were in the final stages of a circumnavigation of the country as part of the Round Britain Climate Challenge when disaster struck near Unapool in the Scottish Highlands.

Speaking to Sacha (right), who was injured during the 3,000-mile journey, while a member of her support crew sadly died, Joanna said on climate change: 'I think the message from this is that we can do it, if you buckle down now, if every single person makes an effort.'

Originally from Australia and now living in Bristol, Sacha is known for global expeditions with migratory species but has turned her focus to climate change after losing her family home in Sydney to bushfires last year.

Dame Judi and Sir Ranulph Fiennes have backed previous missions, including a flight over the Atlas mountains. For her latest challenge, Sacha was flying a specially adapted machine which enabled her to take off and land anywhere to recharge.

Joanna, who lives in Stockwell, south London, said that the news was all the more difficult to hear knowing how skilled both Sacha and Dan were, adding that they always 'put safety first' while flying.

'It was hard to take the news on board, knowing how skilful they are', she said. 'Like mountaineers, they always put safety first. They went through the checklist before every single flight.'

Pictured left, Sacha with her adapted electric paramotor at Glasgow Science Centre. Right, Dan Burton preparing for a flight from Stevenson beach, on the west coast of Scotland

Elsewhere in the interview, Joanna also shared her thoughts on Insulate Britain, the environmentalist group which has become notorious for its 'campaign of civil resistance'.

Joanna said that while she herself would not join in on that type of demonstration, she can sympathise with the anger of those involved in the group.

'You can understand why people get so infuriated they're driven to do these difficult and horrible things to draw attention to themselves.'

Joanna is a keen advocate of the environment and animal welfare, having been a vegetarian since the 1970s, and last week made headlines after claiming rationing could be the answer to climate change.

Biologist Sacha plummeted from the sky during her 3,000-mile journey around Britain in a motorised paraglider after colliding with a member of her support crew

The Absolutely Fabulous star suggested legislation is needed 'for the sake of this beautiful Earth'.

'These are tough times,' she said. 'We might even have to go back to some kind of rationing, where you're given a certain number of points and it's up to you how to spend them  whether it's buying a bottle of whisky or flying in an aeroplane.'

Joanna, who has previously campaigned against single-use plastic, also said people should cut back on weekend breaks abroad and stop eating meat.

Speaking to Radio Times, she added: 'We've got to think that everything we do will make the place better  every plastic bottle you don't buy, every piece of litter you pick up, every piece of meat you don't eat. Every small thing counts.'
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands cut a patriotic figure today as she donned a Dutch orange gown to arrive in Dubai.

The mother-of-three, 50, and her husband King Willem-Alexander, 54, landed at the Abu Dhabi International airport ahead of a whirlwind two day visit to the country.

The couple are visiting the Expo 2020 Dubai tomorrow where they will attend the official opening of the Netherlands Pavilion taking place at Al Wasl Plaza.

As the couple landed ta the airport, Queen Maxima opted for a brown dress with white polka dots by Zimmerman that cinched her in at the waist with a matching fabric belt.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 50, cut a patriotic figure today as she donned a Dutch orange gown to arrive in Dubai earlier today

Adding a touch of sophisticated glamour, Queen Maxima opted for a diamond encrusted brooch in the shape of a bow that featured a large hanging pearl below.

The royal, who is fond of coordinating her show-stopping outfits, teamed the glittering brooch with a matching pair of large teardrop pearl earrings.

She also wore a sparkling diamond bracelet on her wrist and a simple, sophisticated gold link bracelet on the other while clutching a suede brown purse that matched with her heels.

Her husband, Willem-Alexander, looked equally as stylish in a tailored blue suit that he paired with a classic white shirt, matching pocket square and yellow tie.

The royal looked glamorous in the mid-length gown which she paired with a selection of tan coloured accessories and a face mask

The pavilion, which aims to 'unite water, energy and food solutions for a happier and greener planet', is being backed by 50 Dutch companies who will also be in attendance.

The Netherland's Pavilion was created to be a circular climate system that features an ability to create water from the desert air using solar energy.

The pavilion also showcases a step in the right direction for sustainable construction.

While visiting, the Dutch royals will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Tom de Bruijn.

Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander were greeted by Abu Dhabi officials as they exited their plane earlier today at Abu Dhabi International airport

The royal couple's visit to Abu Dhabi comes as they prepare for Expo 2020 Dubai tomorrow (pictured left and right, arriving)

It comes after a busy period for the Queen Maxima, who last week donned a vibrant outfit to visit the museum of modern art in Amsterdam.

The Dutch royal headed to the Stedelijk Musuem, which displays modern and contemporary art, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fonds Kwadraat, an art foundation which provides funding for art projects around the Netherlands.

For the occasion, Maxima opted for creative ensemble of a blue sweater tucked in a midi skirt layers in white, red and yellow, with floral detailing.

The mother-of-three looked in great spirits as she defied the Amsterdam drizzle and headed to the event, which aims to connect artists with professionals from the art world and art lovers.

And days earlier, Maxima sported another colourful outfit as she travelled to Rotterdam's City Hall to mark the 40th anniversary of the Foundation Halt, a non-profit organisation tackling youth offences.

The organisation puts together short-term interventions to prevent and combat petty crimes such as vandalism, shop-lifting and more, and is responsible for administering sentences.
Huma Abedin has revealed she is in the 'final stages' of divorcing her husband Anthony Weiner, who still lives 'very nearby' in her building, while opening up the 'extreme trauma' she suffered following his scandals and affairs.

Hillary Clinton's top aide, 45, spoke about the dissolution of her marriage in a candid interview with The Cut, saying she and Weiner, 57, sought therapy after he was released from prison as they adjusted to co-parenting their son Jordan, nine.

The couple separated in 2016 and filed for divorce but later withdrew that filing. When asked if they were getting divorced, she confirmed they were.

'We are in the final stages of our divorce,' she told the outlet. 'Lawyers are doing their lawyer thing.'

Looking back: Huma Abedin, 45, has opened up about the dissolution of her marriage with Weiner 57, in a candid interview with The Cut

Moving on: 'We are in the final stages of our divorce,' Abedin said of her relationship with Weiner (pictured in October). 'Lawyers are doing their lawyer thing'

Abedin is back in the spotlight while promoting her new memoir Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, which was released on Tuesday.

The book chronicles her life growing up as an American raised in a Muslim society in Saudi Arabia, her time working with the Clintons, and her marriage and eventual separation to disgraced Congressman Weiner.

Abedin said she penned the autobiography largely for her son because she wanted him to hear her side of the story.

Connected: Abedin, who has been promoting her new memoir Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, said Weiner still lives 'very nearby' in her same building

'I liked being an invisible person, but I felt like if I didnt write my story, somebody else is telling my history,' she explained.

Abedin wrote in her memoir that while she knew her marriage to Weiner was over, 'my relationship with my childs father is not, and never will be.'

Weiner had been a congressman from New York when he and Abedin first met in 2007. The politician, 12 years her senior, pursued her for years, The Cut reported.

She was 32 when he proposed at the Gramercy Park Hotel, but she was admittedly inexperienced with men.

'As was expected of any girl with my background, I would lose my virginity to the man I would marry,' she said.

In an interview with the Associated Press, she explained: 'He was my first love. The first man I had ever been with.

'And once I had become a mother, it really did become about my child,' added Abedin, whose late father died before she started college.

'I didn't have a choice about not having my father in my life, and I wasn't going to do that to my kid.'

Just one year after they were married, Weiner was forced to resign in disgrace after a photo of him in his boxer briefs was posted on his personal Twitter account.

Happier times: Weiner had been a congressman from New York when he and Abedin first met in 2007. They wed in an elaborate ceremony in 2010

Dedicated: Abedin has served as a top aide for Hillary Clinton for 25 years

Abedin was newly pregnant with their son at the time and was traveling frequently with Clinton, then secretary of state.

Weiner accidentally posted the photograph on his feed instead of sending it as a direct message to a woman he'd been flirting with on Twitter.

He first told Abedin that it was 'the work of a hacker,' which she believed, then after a week told her what had really happened.

'"What's wrong?" I asked. And then, just like that, life as I knew it was officially over,' she wrote. "'It's true," he said. "I sent the picture."'

Weiner was ashamed of his actions and insisted it didn't mean anything.

'I was simultaneously filled with rage and stunned to my core,' Abedin recalled in her book. 'It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me and run straight through my body.'

First scandal: In 2011, Weiner accidentally tweeted a crotch-shot of himself in his underwear to the public, on his official page

Coming clean: Weiner first told Abedin that it was 'the work of a hacker,' which she believed, then after a week told her what had really happened

Disgraced: Shortly after the Twitter photo scandal, Weiner announced that he was resigning from Congress

Journalists began to search for other illicit photos and messages Weiner sent, and by June 6, he held a press conference, confessing that he had sent sexual photos and messages to women online over the course of a few years.

He said at the time he 'deeply' regretted his actions, noting: 'I'm going to try to be a better husband.'

He resigned within a few weeks of the Twitter scandal, then ran unsuccessfully for New York City mayor in 2013.

As he was leading in the polls, a young woman from Indiana named Sydney Leathers shared explicit photos and messages he sent her using the alias 'Carlos Danger.'

Still, Abedin stood by his side, making a public appearance in a rare press conference on July 23, 2013, telling reporters: 'I have forgiven him, I believe in him... I made that decision. That was a decision I made for me, for our son, and for my family.'

Hard times: Three years later, Abedin stood by his side as he faced renewed sexting claims, saying in a now-infamous press conference that she forgives him

Friend: Abedin credited Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour for giving her a 'safe space' by introducing her to 'writers, people in the fashion world' who 'werent really into politics'

By 2016, DailyMail.com revealed that Weiner had been sending lewd text messages to a 15-year-old girl that included more explicit photographs. A year later, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending obscene material to a minor.

The former congressman served 15 months in federal prison in Massachusetts and three more in a Bronx halfway house.

'In hindsight, I was in extreme trauma,' Abedin told The Cut, explaining that after the Carlos Danger scandal, 'we were kind of in it alone. We didnt really have anyone to talk to, aside from whichever therapist we were seeing.'

She shared more about the heartache and 'shame' that she suffered during the end of their marriage in her interview with the Associated Press, saying: 'You know, he broke my heart.

'He ripped it out and stomped on it, over and over again. And I lived in so much shame for so long, so confused, so alone, not really knowing the way out, just trying to do what was best for my child.'

People can make whatever judgments they want, she said, "But when youre IN it, youre not thinking in terms of the grand plan. Youre just trying to get through the day.'

The political staffer credited her friend, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, for giving her a 'safe space' by introducing her to 'writers, people in the fashion world. Mostly people who just werent really into politics.'

'Its hard to have this conversation with a lot of girlfriends, because their experience is not similar to mine,' she told The Cut.

In addition to the shame surrounding Weiner's scandals, she also faced the threat of her son being removed from their home amid a child services investigation.

Abedin noted that despite Weiner's lies and affairs, he was  and still is  a good partner. She said that throughout their marriage, 'he made my life so much easier. He did everything. He did our shopping. He cleaned our house. He made sure the laundry was done.'

Caught: In 2016, DailyMail.com revealed that the disgraced congressman had an online sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl for months and sent her lewd messages and pictures

Breaking the law: In 2017, Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending obscene material to a minor. He served 15 months in federal prison and three more in a halfway house

Co-parents: Abedin and Weiner (pictured in 2020) are now on good terms. In her book she wrote her marriage is over, but 'my relationship with my childs father is not, and never will be'

After separating in 2016, they are now moving forward with their divorce, although they remain on good terms. They were seen shopping together in New York's East Village last week.

'I had my heart broken, dragged out, stomped on, humiliated. I lived with shame, in shame, for so long,' she told The Cut.

'On the one hand, you have this person whos making your life so easy. On the other hand, you have this person whos doing these deeply irresponsible things, and what felt to me like very, very selfish things, and taking us down.'

Abedin's long-time boss Hillary Clinton also weathered a sex scandal in the public eye after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had an affair with a 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The former president denied having intercourse with Lewinsky, saying in a televised speech in January 1998 that he 'did not have sexual relations with that woman.'

But further investigation led to charges of perjury against him, and in 1998 he was impeached by the House of Representatives. He was subsequently acquitted on all impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in a 21-day trial.

Throughout that time, Hillary stood by his side.

Parallels: Abedin's boss Hillary Clinton also weathered a public sex scandal after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had an affair with 22-year-old intern Monica Lewinsky

Private: However, when asked during her interview if Hillary had ever talked about the analogies in their personal stories, Abedin replied: 'Zero'

She revealed in a documentary last year: 'I defended and stood by him because I thought the impeachment process was wrong, but that wasn't the necessary answer to what I would do with my marriage.

'It was not  to me  the same. I still had to decide whether I wanted to stay in the marriage, whether I thought it was worth saving.'

When asked during her interview with The Cut if Hillary had ever talked about the analogies in their personal stories, Abedin replied: 'Zero.'

Abedin also promoted her memoir while speaking to journalist Norah O'Donnell in a segment that aired on CBS Evening News earlier this week.

During the conversation, they touched upon the revelation that she had contemplated suicide at the height of the sexting scandal that engulfed her and Weiner.

'You write that, for a brief second, you contemplated walking off the subway platform?' O'Donnell asked Abedin.

She said it was her Muslim faith that got her through the difficult ordeal after Weiner finished in fifth place in the New York City Democratic Partys mayoral primary in September 2013.

Struggle: In an interview with Norah O'Donnell that aired on CBS Evening News, Abedin opened up about briefly contemplating suicide at the height of Weiner's sexting scandal

'Well, one of the best things I've had in my life is my faith, and the belief that there is always a way through,' Abedin replied.

She also revealed that Weiner was having in-person affairs in the apartment that they shared.

'I know its hard for you to say it, but you found that he was having physical relationships in your apartment?' ODonnell asked.

Abedin responded: 'Yes.'

She added: 'It was that moment that I realized the way I had been handling my response to him was not working.'

At the end of the interview, ODonnell questioned whether Abedin was still 'angry' with her estranged husband.

'I cant live in that space anymore,' she said. 'I tried that. It almost killed me.'

When asked to comment on Abedin's memoir, Weiner praised his estranged wife, but he didn't answer any questions about his alleged cheating.

'Huma is a remarkable woman who has written a truly amazing book,' he told the New York Post. This is a time for her to tell her story. It is both riveting and ultimately uplifting.'

After everything they had been through, Abedin included a thank-you to Weiner in her book's acknowledgments, according to the Associated Press.

She explained that through joint therapy she came to believe that he suffered from an illness and that his behavior was 'not controllable, but compulsive.'

Abedin noted that Weiner gave her a son  'my reason for living now.'

She added that it was also about love, saying: ' I know what its like to be loved. I've had it. It was short, it was very fleeting, but its a pretty extraordinary experience...

'And he is the only man who ever gave that to me.'

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 1-800-273-8255.

It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
The Princess Royal has unveiled a stone to mark Northern Ireland's centenary during a solo trip to the region after the Queen 'reluctantly' cancelled her trip on doctor's advice.

During her one-day trip, the royal visited several venues across Londonderry including the Siege Museum - dedicated to the 1688 bombardment and the development of the Apprentice Boys organisation.

Anne, 71, was greeted by local schoolchildren before enjoying a performance by highland dancers and unveiling a Centenary Stone, marking the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Northern Ireland.

The 95-year-old monarch was due to make a two-day trip to Northern Ireland last month but 'accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days' and is currently recuperating at Windsor Castle.

The Princess Royal has unveiled a stone to mark Northern Ireland's centenary during a visit to the Siege Museum in Londonderry as part of a one-day visit to the region

Anne, 71, was greeted by local schoolchildren before enjoying a performance by highland dancers during the event to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Northern Ireland

Events have been taking place across the region to mark the date, including a cross-community church service in Armagh last month attended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Following the museum, the royal visited Limavady where she met people involved in the family-run Seating Matters business, which exports therapeutic seating around the world.

She also met staff and volunteers involved with Limavady Community Development Initiative, a charity which recently played a key role in refurbishing the former Roe Valley Hospital.

The building was turned into a multifunctional community facility and efforts to support vulnerable adults through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Princess Royal is pictured signing a visitors book after unveiling the stone to mark Northern Ireland's centenary during a visit to The Siege Museum

The Princess Royal watches dancers performing during a visit to The Siege Museum before heading to Limavady where she met people involved in the family-run Seating Matters business

The Queen, who was forced to stay in hospital overnight for tests last month, had been due to visit in October but was forced to pull out due to her health.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a statement:' The Queen has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days.

'Her Majesty is in good spirits and is disappointed that she will no longer be able to visit Northern Ireland , where she had been due to undertake a series of engagements today and tomorrow.

The Queen sends her warmest good wishes to the people of Northern Ireland, and looks forward to visiting in the future.'

A royal source said there was 'no cause for caution' about the Queen's health - and her decision is understood not to be related to coronavirus. Her condition has not been revealed.

The Queen, who was forced to stay in hospital overnight for tests last month, had been due to visit in October but was forced to pull out due to her health. She is pictured using a walking stick in Cardiff last month

The Queen is double-vaccinated, having been given her first jab by a household doctor at Windsor Castle on January 9 and her second at the end of March ahead of what was her first public appearance in five months.

Buckingham Palace would not comment on whether the head of state had received her booster Covid-19 jab, but given her age it is likely she has already had it.

Her Majesty was still able to deliver her speech yesterday evening to Government representatives at the reception for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow via video.

In her most personal speech to date, the monarch praised her late husband for his dedication to the environment while urging leaders to create a 'stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend.'
Boris Johnson took a leaf out of his wife Carrie's book by renting a suit to wear to the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow yesterday.

The Prime Minister, 57, addressed fellow world leaders wearing a 495 Oliver Brown suit, which can be hired from My Wardrobe HQ for 34 per day.

His eco-conscious wife, 33, is famously a fan of renting her outfits - and even used a rental service on her wedding day earlier this year.

The Prime Minister stepped out at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow wearing a 495 Oliver Brown suit, which can be hired from My Wardrobe HQ for 34 per day

It is thought Boris would use his 'secret weapon' Carrie, who has been championing sustainable fashion, in his bid to charm world leaders into taking action to stop climate change at the summit. She is pictured in a rented dress at the G2O summit in Rome on Saturday

For the trip to Glasgow, Mr Johnson opted for a grey single-breasted suit with a classic-fitted cut, is made of cloth is sourced from British mills, and features a canvassed chest-piece and four button working cuffs.

Carrie, who is pregnant with her second child with the Prime Minster, reportedly pays 9.99 a month membership to the website My Wardrobe HQ, which allows her to supplement her day-to-day high-street outfits with designer pieces.

The service has been described as a private members club for the fashion world.

A source close to My Wardrobe HQ said in 2019: Carrie loves eco fashion so borrowing clothes for special occasions means they arent just left hanging in her wardrobe and rarely worn. One dress can go a long way.

In May, the mother-of-one tied the knot in a stunning boho-chic gown by Greek designer Christos Costarellos, which costs 2,870 new - but just 45 a day from My Wardrobe HQ.

The grey single-breasted suit has a classic-fitted cut, is made of cloth is sourced from British mills, and features a canvassed chest-piece and four button working cuffs

Carrie hired another three decoy gowns from the eco fashion business to allegedly throw snoops off the scent ahead of her and Boris Johnson's big day, with the company only finding out they supplied the UK first lady's dress when they saw the photos.

My Wardrobe HQ founder and CEO Sacha Newall told The Telegraph shortly after the wedding they'd had around 250 enquiries about bridal rentals.

'We've had a massive surge in rental enquiries, especially relating to bridalwear,' she said.

'Now that Carrie has championed it as a sustainable option, it's just going to grow and grow. This could be transformative.'

Eco-conscious Carrie then hired multiple pieces for the G7 summit in June in Cornwall - two collections from dress hire companies My Wardrobe HQ and Hurr Collective were delivered before the summit.

Earlier this year, the mother-of-one tied the knot in a stunning boho-chic gown by Greek designer Christos Costarellos, which costs 2,870 new - but just 45 a day from My Wardrobe HQ

Eco-conscious Carrie then hired multiple pieces for the G7 summit in June in Cornwall - two collections from dress hire companies My Wardrobe HQ and Hurr Collective were delivered before the summit

Last month, Carrie opted for a 360 red dress from sustainable British brand Cabbages & Roses as she supported husband Boris at his keynote speech at the Tory Party conference

It is thought Boris would use his 'secret weapon' Carrie, who has been championing sustainable fashion, in his bid to charm world leaders into taking action to stop climate change at the summit.

On Saturday at the G20 summit in Rome, Carrie wore a red rose patterned dress by Spanish designer De La Vali, hired for 53 from clothing rental company Hurr paired with a 59 blazer from Zara.

She also donned a 210 gold necklace featuring her son Wilfreds fingerprint London-based jeweller Philippa Herbert and was a Christmas present from husband Boris last year.

She completed her look with a pair of red slingback kitten heels, which she bought a few years back, also from Zara.

Last month, Carrie opted for a 360 red dress from sustainable British brand Cabbages & Roses as she supported husband Boris at his keynote speech at the Tory Party conference.

This is the second time Carrie has worn the red Zara blazer, after attending the Manchester Central Convention Complex in the blazer and a 27.99 white collared shirt with a bow, both from Zara
Princess Diana's twin nieces Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer were the picture of elegance today in matching silver dresses as they attended an award show in aid of The Princes Trust.

The 29-year-old twins, who are daughters of Diana's younger brother Earl Spencer and first cousins of Princes William and Harry, donned sparkles as they walked the red carpet ahead of the Leopard Awards at London's Goldsmith Hall.

Amelia, who recently moved to London from South Africa with her fiance Greg Mallett, donned a floor-length garment while Eliza opted for a shorter dress paired with a structured white blazer.

Sponsored by The Natural Diamond Council, the event was held by The Leopards, group of British designers and jewellery professionals who work with Charles' charity to mentor young people into the industry.

Princess Diana's nieces Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer were the picture of elegance today in matching silver dresses as they attended an award show in aid of The Princes Trust

Amelia, who recently moved from South Africa with her fiance Greg Mallett, donned a floor-length garment while Eliza opted for a shorter dress paired with a structured white blazer

The Leopard and Prince's trust design competition 2021 were announced at the recaption this evening, followed by winners of The Leopard Award ceremony in the fields of fashion, film, arts and culture and sport.

The gala reception began with a message relayed on screen from The Prince of Wales, 72, who has led the charity for 45 years after founding the organisation in 1976.

The on-screen speech was delivered in front of diverse group of guests including jewellery designers, students, and those who work in the fashion, film and music industry.

Amelia was stunning in a long-sleeved gown rendered entirely in shimmering sequins which she teamed with a pair of chunky teardrop earrings and matching diamond rings.

Amelia was stunning in a long-sleeved gown rendered entirely in shimmering sequins which she teamed with a pair of chunky teardrop earrings and matching diamond rings

She opted for a winged black eyeliner and pale pink lip teamed with a touch of peach-toned blush, light bronze and silver highlighter to create a soft and dewy complexion

She opted for a winged black eyeliner and pale pink lip teamed with a touch of peach-toned blush, light bronze and silver highlighter to create a soft and dewy complexion.

Both sisters wore their blonde locks in a sleek straight style, loose around their shoulders and Eliza's make up look was similarly fresh, with a slightly smokier eyeshadow.

Lady Eliza chose a more relaxed look, donning a knee-high dress and a longline white blazer worn draped over her shoulders.

She accessorised with two diamond chains teamed with a pair of killer stilettos and chunky button earrings emblazoned with stilettos.

Amelia and Eliza, who are both signed to Storm Model Management, grew up with their father and mother Victoria Aitken in Constantia but spent significant time in the UK after their parents split and Charles moved back to the family's seat, Althorp.

Lady Eliza chose a more relaxed look, donning a knee-high dress and a longline white blazer worn draped over her shoulders

She accessorised with two diamond chains teamed with a pair of killer stilettos and chunky button earrings emblazoned with stilettos and Eliza's make up look was similarly fresh, with a slightly smokier eyeshadow.

They have two half-sisters and half-brother from their father's second and third marriages, and half-brother from their mother's second marriage.

Earlier this year, the pair were hailed by society bible Tatler as among the hottest and most elegant socialite siblings from across the world who are used to moving in the same circles as supermodels, aristocrats and royals.

They were ranked among others as one of the most glamorous sets of twins on the elite social scene.

The sisters have an unbreakable bond as twins, with Lady Amelia telling Tatler she and Lady Eliza have always been close and are 'very similar'.

'We love doing the same things and share the same friends,' she said. 'You're guaranteed to have a best friend there always  you can't really compare it to anything else.'

Elsewhere on the society scene this evening, Lady Amelia Windsor (left) hosted a swanky afternoon tea at Holy Carrot, a luxury vegan restaurant in Knightsbridge

The granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, who is 41st in line to the throne, was joined by Romeo Beckham's girlfriend Mia Regan (right) as she presented her plant-based treats this evening

Amelia, 26, donned a casual, oversized orange jumper paired with a multicoloured checked skirt and a pair of brown suede boots while wearing her dirty blonde hair loose around her shoulders

Mia, 18, opted for a pair of low-rise baggy jeans paired with a knitted vest with minimal make up and wore her blonde hair down

Elsewhere on the society scene this evening, Lady Amelia Windsor hosted a swanky afternoon tea at Holy Carrot, a luxury vegan restaurant in Knightsbridge.

The granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, who is 41st in line to the throne, was joined by Romeo Beckham's girlfriend Mia Regan as she presented her plant-based treats this evening.

Guests were treated to decadent pastries such as Lemon Tart with Vegan Italian Meringue and Purple Potato Croquettes.

Amelia, 26, donned a casual, oversized orange jumper paired with a multicoloured checked skirt and a pair of brown suede boots while wearing her dirty blonde hair loose around her shoulders.

Mia, 18, opted for a pair of low-rise baggy jeans paired with a knitted vest with minimal make up and wore her blonde hair down.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a booze duty cut last week and said the price of English sparkling wine, prosecco and champagne will potentially be slashed by 89p a bottle.

With bargain bubbles no longer reserved just for special celebrations, FEMAIL has revealed the best champagne, prosecco and sparkling wines to pair with a variety of different meals - from fried chicken to roasted pork belly.

London-based restauranteur and sommelier Brodie Meah, who co-founded online wine store Shop Cuvee, has revealed his top picks of bubbly, with prices ranging from 8.49 to 60.

From a 8.49 sparkling chardonnay paired with a French cheese to a refreshing offering of a 37 Burgundy from wine maker Fred Cossard, which is best teamed with oysters, there's a bottle to suit ever budget.

Aldi's Organic Champagne, 26.99

Aldi's Organic Champagne, 26.99, should be paired with specially selected mussels in cream sauce

Hailing from the Marne Valley, Aldi's own-brand organic champagne was produced by Philizot & Fils in the village of Reuil.

The champagne, which has notes of blossom and redcurrant, was created without the use of pesticides or chemicals, resulting in a unique pink colour.

'Very interesting to see this budget friendly champagne from Aldi is certified organic, said Brodie.

'It's difficult to grow organically in the region for many reasons, one being the bad weather means there's a lot of risk of disease. But also because there's such a long history of industrial agriculture in the region much of the soil is pretty much dead.

Pairing: Specially selected mussels in cream sauce

Available from: Aldi

SC20, Pinot Noir, 25.00

SC20, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, 25.00, should be paired with a baked camembert or other soft cheese

Produced in Tillingham, a small village in Sussex, this sparkling wine is made from both grapes and organic apples picked from an orchard a few miles away from the winery.

Brodie commented: 'A very interesting blend of the classic champagne grape variety trio, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, but interestingly with the addition of apples from an orchid local to the Sussex winery.'

Pairing: A baked camembert or other soft cheese works really well with the little bright apple cider notes.

Available from: Shop Cuvee



Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, 36.99

Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, 36.99, should be teamed with roasted pork belly with extra crispy skin

Situated in the rural heart of the south, Nyetimber Manor Vineyard - a world-renowned wine makers - have produced a light and elegant English wine.

The fizz is produced by the traditional method from the classic varieties of chardonnay, pinot Noir and pinot Meunier and has notes of honey, almond and apple.

'A very special English sparkling wine rivaling any champagne, this wine was fermented in old oak barrels before being aged for 2-3 years in a bottle,' explained Brodie.

'All Nyetimber vineyards are located in the lee of the South Downs which affords them shelter from the coastal winds and have been purposefully planted south facing to make the most of the sun'

Pairing: Roasted pork belly with extra crispy skin

Available from: Waitrose and M&S

Casa Belfi, Rosso Bio Frizzant, 18

Casa Belfi, Rosso Bio Frizzant, 18, should be teamed with Grilled lamb, especially a lean cut with some wine in your marinade

Hailing from the Veneto region in northeastern Italian, this sparkling red is light, refreshing and full of cherry and raspberry flavours.

'Refreshing and grippy, Lambrusco style sparkling red, full of depth and flavour,' noted Brodie. 'Perfect in the summer months as it is in winter. A popular aperitif in it's native Veneto, this light sparkling read is a great introduction to natural wine for the curious.'

Pairing: A lean cut of grilled lamb pairs well with this, maybe even add some wine to your marinade.

Available from: Shop Cuvee

La Chassornade, Aligote, 37

La Chassornade, Aligote, 37, has notes of lemons and sea salt which the sommelier says makes it the perfect accompaniment to oysters

Produced by famous winemaker Fred Cossard, this sparkling wine has notes of lemons and sea salt which the sommelier says makes it the perfect accompaniment to oysters.

'The perfect Pet Nat. 100 per cent Aligote from Burgundian legend Fred Cossard - the name being a mix of his Domaine de Chassorney and Lemonade!' explained Brodie. 'A not so subtle nod to the extremely refreshing character of this wine!'

Pairing: Oysters and plenty of them!

Available from: Online wine stores

Specially Selected Cremant du Jura, 8.49

Specially Selected Cremant du Jura, 8.49, should be teamed with the iconic cheese of the region, Comte

Carefully aged to give the wine a subtle complexity, this sparkling chardonnay from eastern France offers a fresh and elegant finish with notes of of apple and citrus fruits.

'The Jura is a wine region that's been making big waves in the Natural Wine world over the years for the esoteric still reds and oxidative white wines but there's a long history of Cremant production in the region,' said Brodie. '100 per cent chardonnay, always clean and crisp and great alternative to prosecco.'

Pairing: The iconic cheese of the region, Comte is a no brainer

Available from: Aldi

Agrapart, Les 7 Crus, 60

Agrapart, Les 7 Crus, 60, which has been aged for between two and three years - is the perfect drink to team with fried chicken

Produced exclusively in the villages Avize, Oger, Oiry and Cramant, this champagne is a blend of 90 per cent Chardonnay and 10 per cent Pinot Noir.

Despite it's slightly higher price tag, the fizz - which has been aged for between two and three years - is the perfect drink to team with fried chicken.

Brodie said: 'No sparkling wine list would be complete without an indulgent Champagne, this one I always find myself reaching for on special occasions.

'A blend of the 2018 and 2019 vintages, this is a great example of just how good non-vintage champagne can be. A lovely balance of fruit flavour and minerality.'

Pairing: Fried Chicken, the perfect meeting of two very different worlds!

Available from: Online wine stores

And if you're looking to splash out...

Bollinger R.D. ,190

The long lees ageing results in unique flavour profile in Bollinger R.D. ,190, meaning it should be paired with truffle

'Usually the reserve of high end restaurants Bollinger "RD" holds a special place in the heart of many fancy sommeliers,' said Brodie.

'RD stands for recently disgorged which means they release the wine months after the yeast cells and other sediment have been removed from the bottle.

'Giving us the rare opportunity to taste Champagne aged on lees for an exceptionally long time.'

Pairing: The long lees ageing results in unique flavour profile that plays very well to truffle if you can get your hands on some!

Available from: Waitrose
With threats of turkey shortages worrying families across the country, many people will be searching for an alternative Christmas dinner meat ahead of December 25.

While many will opt for classic alternatives like chicken or beef, some of those hoping to cut back on time and money on Christmas Day will be opting for a 1.50 tin of soup said to have all the flavour and trimmings of a Christmas meal inside.

The soup - which sold out in minutes - boasts 'big chunks' of turkey as well as sprouts and stuffing and Big Soup Christmas Dinner also has roasties, pigs in blankets and a gravy and cranberry sauce.

Only 500 tins will be released this year, but Heinz has promised to sell more next year if it proves a success.

FEMAIL put it to the test but was left disappointed - with the dish looking far less appetising at home than it does in promotional shots.

Femail reporter Claire Toureille gave the tinned Christmas soup a go to see how it stacks up against the real deal - but she was not impressed

The tinned soup boasts roasties including Brussels sprouts, and large chunks of Turkey as well as pigs in blanket and cranberry sauce

Not quite photo ready! The Heinz Christmas dinner in a tin doesn't look nearly as appetising in real life (right) as it does in promotional shots shared by the company (left)

Anke von Hanstein, brand manager for Heinz Soups, told FEMAIL: 'We are so excited for the lucky 500 people to try this sensational seasonal addition to Heinz's Big Soup family. It is made for those with a big love for hearty festive flavours and tastes just perfect with a slice of warm crusty bread.

'Any soup that includes pigs in blankets and roasties is a winner in our eyes. and if these lucky few who managed to get their hands on it love it as much as we do, Heinz Christmas Dinner Big Soup might be back next year, bigger and better. Watch this space.'

The cans sold out in just 3h when they were released yesterday, but Heinz have announced that more tins will be available through a competition starting on 11 November and closing on 25 November, on the Heinz' website.

So does is it worth ditching the traditional turkey and trimmings for a blended bowl? Or is it more of a dog's dinner? FEMAIL's Claire Tourielle puts it to the test, with VERY surprising results...
Prisons across the U.S. are facing staffing shortages as correctional officers quit either due to unsafe working conditions, fears of contracting COVID-19 and vaccine mandates.

Staff shortages have long been a challenge for prison agencies, given the low pay and grueling nature of the work.

But the coronavirus pandemic - and its impact on the labor market - has pushed many corrections systems into crisis.

Officers are retiring and quitting in droves, while officials struggle to recruit new employees.

And some prisons whose prisoner populations dropped during the pandemic have seen their numbers rise again, exacerbating the problem.

Prisons across the U.S. are reporting staffing shortages as correctional officers retire and quit in droves. Pictured: Sheriffs take a deputy's temperature at the San Diego County Jail in California, April 2020

Some officers, such as Lance Lowry (pictured), of Hunstville, Texas, have quit due to the increased risk of COVID-19 for prison employees

There is no one thing pushing prison employees out in high numbers now. Some are leaving for new opportunities as more places are hiring.

University of Michigan economist Betsey Stevenson pointed to the increased risk of COVID-19 for people working in prisons.

'When jobs become riskier, it becomes harder to attract workers,' she wrote in an email.

'By failing to protect prisoners from COVID, the criminal justice system not only created an unfair risk of severe illness and death for the incarcerated, but the increased COVID risk to employees has undoubtedly contributed to staffing shortages.'

In Texas, Lance Lowry, 48, quit after 20 years as a corrections officer to become a long-haul trucker because he couldn't bear the job any longer.

Watching friends and coworkers die from COVID-19, along with dwindling support from his superiors, wore on him.

'I would have liked to stay till I was 50, but the pandemic changed that,' he said.

Unions representing prison officers in states including Massachusetts and California and at the federal level also claim vaccine mandates will drive out unvaccinated employees and exacerbate understaffing, though it's unclear how big of an impact those rules will have.

According to a survey last month from the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, 63 percent of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff report they are vaccinated or are planning to be as soon as possible.

Meanwhile 20 percent are unsure if they will get vaccinated and another 18 percent said have no plans at all to grt vaccinated.

'There are dozens of reasons to leave and very few to stay,' said Brian Dawe, national director of One Voice United, a nonprofit supporting corrections officers.

'Understaffing, poor pay, poor benefits, horrendous working conditions...Officers and their families in many jurisdictions have had enough.'

Employers from construction companies to restaurants are having difficulty hiring and keeping people.

Nearly three percent of American workers, 4.3 million, quit their jobs in August, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But the stakes are higher in prisons, where having fewer guards means significantly more dangerous conditions for incarcerated people.

And for the officers left behind, worsening shortages have made an already difficult job unbearable, many say.

Lowry (pictured), an officer for 20 years, became disheartened watching friends and coworkers die from COVID-19, along with dwindling support from his superiors

Unions warn that correctional officers will leave over vaccine mandates with just 63% vaccinated or planning to be as of early October. Pictured: A Sheriff's deputy overlooks an inmate sweeping at the San Diego County Jail, April 2020

At a Georgia state House of Representatives hearing on prison conditions in September, a corrections officer called in to testify, interrupting his shift to tell lawmakers how dire conditions had become.

On a 'good day,' he told lawmakers, he had maybe six or seven officers to supervise roughly 1,200 people.

He said he had recently been assigned to look after 400 prisoners by himself. There weren't enough nurses to provide medical care.

'All the officers...absolutely despise working there,' said the officer, who didnt give his name for fear of retaliation.

In Georgia, some prisons report up to 70 percent vacancy rates.

In Nebraska, overtime hours have quadrupled since 2010 because fewer officers are forced to work longer hours.

Florida has temporarily closed three prisons out of more than 140 facilities because of understaffing, and vacancy rates have nearly doubled there in the last year.

And at federal prisons across the country, guards are picketing in front of their facilities over understaffing, while everyone from prison teachers to dentists is pulled in to cover security shifts.

The federal Bureau of Prisons says about 93 percent of its front-line guard positions are filled, with little more than 1,000 vacancies, though workers in many prisons say they're feeling the pinch as others are conscripted to fill in for missing officers.

Asked last week in a U.S. Senate hearing about federal prison staffing, Attorney General Merrick Garland said: 'I agree this is a serious problem at the Bureau of Prisons.'

Garland told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco was working with the bureau to address staffing issues.

In Kansas, state Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda testified before the legislature that the problems now are unlike any he's seen in his career.

Kansas has more than 400 unfilled jobs for uniformed officers, a number he expects to grow in the coming months as workers are lured by other employers that pay better.

Quitting can have a snowball effect, said Doug Koebernick, inspector general of the Nebraska correctional system.

'People leave, then that creates more overtime and stress and more vacancies,' he said. 'It's like this spiral.'

Many corrections officers said they were forced to work more overtime as fewer people showed up for shifts. In Texas, guards have worked as much as 16-hour days.

Inside prisons, growing shortages mean a rise in lockdowns.

Restrictions that might have begun as a way to stop the spread of COVID-19 have continued because there arent enough guards to supervise activities.

Some incarcerated people say they can't take classes, participate in group therapy sessions or even work out in the recreation yard or take a shower.

That can force those in general population into de facto solitary confinement, and those already in segregation into near-total lockdown.

Other workers report bad working conditions including 'understaffing, poor pay and poor benefits.' Pictured: Prisoners at the Bolivar County Correctional Facility receive COVID-19 vaccines in Cleveland, Mississippi, April 2021

States are trying to offers incentives including hiring bonuses, better pay at critical units and extra time off for staff who refer new hires. Pictured: A Sheriff's deputy takes an employee's temperature as at Las Colinas women's Detention Facility in Santee, California, April 2020

'If we get rec once a week, that's a good week,' said Anthony Haynes, who is on Texas' death row in a unit that is barely half-staffed.

'We don't always get showers.'

A spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not respond to Haynes claims but acknowledged that staffing is a challenge in Texas's prisons.

'Before COVID-19, staffing was frequently impacted by economic surges and competing employment opportunities,' said spokesman Robert Hurst in an email.

'The pandemic has exacerbated these issues. We also recognize that the job of the correctional officer is one of the most difficult in all of state government.'

He added that Texas has closed six of its more than 100 facilities in the last year due to staffing problems.

Meanwhile, corrections departments say they are trying harder than ever to recruit new staff.

They've boosted social media posts and in-person job fairs.

In Indiana, they raised the starting pay for corrections officers a dollar to to $19 an hour.

Others are giving perks like hiring bonuses, better pay at critical units, earlier pay raises or, in Kansas, extra time off for current employees who refer new hires.

But some hurriedly hired cadets might not last long.

Brandon Robert Graham started training at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary in Washington in August 2020 and within two weeks was on the tier.

'They were in such a hiring crisis that I was a "rapid hire,"' he said.

At first, he was excited about the salary and 'great benefits' compared with other jobs in the area. But as more entry-level jobs opened up, he started looking elsewhere.

'I was on night shift. I never got to see my fiancee,' he said. 'I did so much overtime that I thought I was getting sick from the stress.'

He left in July to look for a new job.
The 42-year-old fitness instructor had been shopping alone when she experienced what she knew were the tell-tale signs of an allergic reaction

After dutifully using the supplied hand sanitiser in a shop last summer, Emma Bennetts hands started swelling, becoming noticeably bigger as well as incredibly itchy within minutes.

The 42-year-old fitness instructor had been shopping alone when she experienced what she knew were the tell-tale signs of an allergic reaction. But when she asked the shop manager to see the sanitiser ingredients, she found none of her known allergens listed.

This was not the first time Emma had suffered an unexpected reaction. In fact, for years it had happened every few months with unknown triggers.

Yet endless visits to doctors failed to provide a conclusive answer to what Emma was allergic to  a condition known as idiopathic (i.e. no known cause) allergy. In Emmas case, this results in life-threatening reactions that affect the respiratory system within minutes.

From the age of seven, Emma  who lives in Bolton with her husband Stephen, 49, a software engineer, and their son Seon, 11  has experienced allergic reactions with no obvious cause, which sometimes become life-threatening.

Her first memories of the condition include waking up with red, itchy rashes across her chest.

At times the rash would come on three or four times a week, but back then it was not really anything you talked about, she says.

In another attack, when she was about 15, she went into full anaphylactic shock, again without any obvious cause (known as idiopathic anaphylaxis).

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction, where the immune system goes into overdrive.

Following this, the body releases powerful chemicals called histamines, initially causing hives, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and swelling of the mouth and tongue. These also rapidly lower blood pressure by widening blood vessels, which can cause loss of consciousness.

Alarmingly, however, in some cases anaphylaxis can occur without an allergic cause.

Over the years, doctors advised Emma that her reactions could be triggered by a variety of factors  even the sun  but nothing was ever proven.

It is not that there is no cause, explains Dr Shuaib Nasser, a consultant in asthma and allergic disease at Cambridge University Hospitals, its just we havent been able to find it yet.

From the age of seven, Emma  who lives in Bolton with her husband Stephen, 49, a software engineer, and their son Seon, 11  has experienced allergic reactions with no obvious cause, which sometimes become life-threatening

Idiopathic simply means that you havent defined the cause  all anaphylaxis has a cause whether we are able to recognise it or not, he says.

It might be that its an allergic cause that hasnt been identified  or that it is a non-allergic cause, such as specific hormone interactions in the body.

Although many people experience minor symptoms of an allergic reaction without a clear cause, such as a rash, a lot fewer have severe idiopathic anaphylaxis.

Its not clear exactly how many are affected by the condition, but we know it accounts for about a quarter of anaphylaxis in adults, says Dr Pamela Ewan, a consultant allergist at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.

(Although if patients were to undergo the extensive testing for triggers in the future, Dr Nasser suggests that it is likely the number with genuine idiopathic anaphylaxis would be much lower.)

Emma had a diagnosis breakthrough when she was on a first-aid course in her 20s. After doing CPR on the mannequin, I went into full-blown anaphylaxis and became unconscious within a few minutes, she recalls. Luckily, doctors had given me an adrenaline auto-injector, an EpiPen, a couple of years earlier.

Someone injected me and then I was taken to hospital. This led to my first specific allergy diagnosis  to latex.

A few years later, Emma was also found to be allergic to kiwi, after eating the fruit and quickly having an anaphylactic reaction, and has since been told she also has an allergy to some opioid painkillers such as morphine and codeine.

However, many of her reactions since, both mild and severe, are still without an identified cause.

Throughout her 20s and early 30s, she had numerous reactions including one unnerving experience when in the supermarket with Stephen.

I just felt really, really unwell all of a sudden, she says. I said to Stephen, Something is not right, my hands are itchy and swollen. I could feel it in my chest and I was clearing my throat a lot. We went straight to the hospital.

Stephen, her parents and even her young son are EpiPen-trained. (The injections have instructions on the side so anyone can use it when needed, but family members are often trained.)

The adrenaline injection helps to reverse the symptoms of anaphylaxis  tightening the dilated blood vessels and increasing blood pressure.

Similarly, the hormone helps relax tightened muscles in the airway that make it hard to breathe (this should alleviate the symptoms, but patients are advised to go to hospital immediately after use for monitoring).

It is very unusual for patients to experience anaphylaxis that is both idiopathic at times, yet also has an identified allergic trigger  as in Emmas case.

Concerns about idiopathic anaphylaxis were raised after two such reactions to Pfizers Covid vaccine in December 2020.

These concerns have led to recent guidance from the Government for caution before using the jab, for anyone with a known allergy to any of its ingredients  notably polyethylene glycol (PEG), a plastic-based compound used in many drugs and healthcare products.

The advice adds that special precautions should be taken with patients due to receive the vaccine who have a history of idiopathic anaphylaxis, including discussing the inoculation with an allergy specialist first and considering the possibility of a PEG allergy.

However, Dr Nasser says allergies to PEG are very rare, and not there in the vast majority of idiopathic anaphylaxis patients.

Many with the condition will be taking a daily antihistamine to manage symptoms. Emma has been on different antihistamines over the years because the body gets used to them.

I am very cautious  playing it safe all the time, says Emma. Its very scary but one of those things you get used to.

anaphylaxis.org.uk

Revolting remedies

Medical treatments that might make your stomach turn. This week: Blood to prevent dry eyes

About one in seven people over 40 suffers from dry eyes, which can cause pain, discomfort and  in extreme cases  even loss of vision.

Standard treatment is with drops to lubricate the eye, but these cant completely mimic the protein-rich composition of natural tears.

In fact, a much closer match is blood serum  a yellowish liquid that makes up more than half of our blood.

And in a 2017 trial at Moorfields Private Eye Hospital in Bedford, applying a drop of blood (taken from the patients finger) to the eyes was found to improve clarity of sight and reduce inflammation in patients with dry eyes.

Consultant ophthalmologist Anant Sharma, who led the research, says: Serum is expensive but your own blood can be provided cheaply, and immediately.

Try this

Premax anti-friction balm (19.99, 50g, premax.co) contains natural antibacterial ingredients, including aloe vera extract, to prevent chafing, blisters and infection.

Food for mood

How foods can affect your state of mind. This week: Curry

Curry contains high levels of turmeric  the active ingredient of which, curcumin, has been shown to improve mood.

A study by Murdoch University in Australia showed taking 500 mg of the spice twice daily reduced symptoms of depression in four to eight weeks.

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and inflammation is associated with depression, says Dr Alexander Sumich, a biological psychologist at Nottingham Trent University.

Inflammation affects the brains conversion of tryptophan into the mood-boosting serotonin  instead, turning it into picolinic acid, associated with depression.

As little as a half teaspoon of turmeric a day can reduce inflammation, but for a true anti-depressive effect youll need far higher levels via a supplement.
British health chiefs have been reprimanded for publishing 'potentially misleading' data which anti-vaxxers have jumped on to peddle claims that jabs don't work.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) now publishes weekly surveillance reports, after taking over the reigns from the now-defunct Public Health England.

Over the past few weeks, the agency's data shows infection rates are higher in fully-vaccinated adults compared to the unjabbed.

Anti-vaxx commentators and campaigners have seized the data as proof that Covid vaccines don't work.

But the UK's statistics watchdog has now waded into the issue, calling on the UKHSA to better explain some of the issues with the data.

The Office of Statistics Regulation (OSR) ruled the UKHSA needs to more effectively highlight how behavioural differences could have skewed the figures.

The UK's statistics watchdog says the UK Health Security Agency needs to do better at explaining its data after anti-vaxxers claimed a report by the body showing there were more Covid cases among vaccinated people than the unvaccinated was proof that Covid vaccines don't work. The data, replicated above, does show there were more cases among the vaccinated over 30s than their un-jabbed counterparts, but behavioural reasons, like the vaccinated socialising more freely could partly explain the difference

The UKHSA has already made a series of amendments to its weekly report following controversy over its presentation of the data.

It now caveats its findings by saying the data is 'unadjusted' and shouldn't be used to compare unjabbed and jabbed populations because there are likely to be 'systematic differences' between the groups.

This includes the vaccinated being more likely to get tested because they are more 'health conscious'.

Ministers to get crash courses in statistics to address 'data illiteracy' Ministers will be given a 'data masterclass' to address the issue of 'statistical illiteracy' within Government. The crash courses have already been running in the civil service but will now be given to senior ministers in the run up to Christmas. It is a direct response to criticisms by Britain's statistics watchdog over the way Covid data has been presented during the pandemic. The Office for Statistics Regulation argued that Covid statistics were 'not always supported by transparent information provided in a timely manner.' Testing data and Covid death numbers used to justify the second lockdown were two areas where the Government was scolded in the past. It is not known who in Cabinet will be attending the masterclasses and if Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be among them. The country's top statistician said the workshops have proven successful, but also acknowledged the problem won't be fixed like 'flicking a switch'. Advertisement

It also suggests jabbed people may be socialising more freely, and thus are more likely to catch the virus.

OSR director general Ed Humpherson yesterday wrote to the UKHSA's boss Dr Jenny Harries stating the changes were welcome.

But he added the data could still be used by anti-vaxxers to cast doubt on vaccine effectiveness.

'It remains the case that the surveillance report includes rates per 100,000 which can be used to argue that vaccines are not effective,' Mr Humpherson said.

'I know that this is not the intention of the surveillance report, but the potential for misuse remains.

'In publishing these data, you need to address more comprehensively the risk that it misleads people into thinking that it says something about vaccine effectiveness.'

He added the UKHSA report needed to explain the behavioural differences between the vaccinated and unvaccinated that could account for the differences.

Mr Humpherson added: 'I do not think your surveillance report goes far enough in explaining this crucial point.'

The latest data, published October 28, shows there were more cases of Covid per 100,000 people in all vaccinated groups over the age of 30 than their un-jabbed counterparts.

For example, there were 1,936 cases among every 100,000 fully vaccinated adults aged 40-49, compared to 835 in the unvaccinated.

It should also be noted that while anti-vaxxers claim the data shows Covid vaccines don't work, the same data set clearly demonstrates the jabs reduce the chance of hospitalisation and death from the virus.

Hospitalisation and death rates from Covid were between three to five times higher among the unvaccinated than those who received at least two doses of the vaccine.

Another aspect of the OSR's stinging letter to UKHSA was the organisation's choice of denominator for its Covid data.

The UKHSA's report uses the National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS), a weekly updated dataset based on people registering for NHS services.

However, NIMS likely overcounts the population eligible for vaccines, partly due to people not changing their NHS registration details when they move. Therefore, it may be underestimating vaccine uptake.

Mr Humpherson has suggested UKHSA also use ONS population estimates, like the Government's Covid dashboard does.

'Given these multiple uncertainties, it is good that you are working with colleagues in the ONS on the best denominator to use in these calculations,' he said.

'In the meantime, you should consider setting out these uncertainties more clearly, including by publishing the rates per 100,000 using both denominators, and making clear in the table, perhaps through formatting, that the column showing case rates in unvaccinated people is of particular concern.'

Responding to the the letter UKHSA head of immunisation Dr Mary Ramsay said they were grateful to the statistics watchdog on helping make their report less vulnerable to anti-vaxxers.

'There has been some misunderstanding and, at times, deliberate manipulation of the data presented in the UKHSA Vaccine Surveillance Report by those who want to undermine the vaccine programme, and we are grateful to the UK Statistics Authority for working with us to help make the report less open to manipulation.'

'We regularly review our data outputs to ensure they are as clear as possible and reflect the current situation and will make any appropriate updates to this report in the future if we feel they are required.'

'It is absolutely clear in our report that Covid vaccines provide a high level of protection against severe outcomes, and the data shows that rates of hospitalisation and death are substantially lower in fully vaccinated people across all age groups.'

But she added the report would continue to use NIMS to ensure data could be compared in real time.

'We continue to use the NIMS denominator - the NHS national register - to ensure the data is comparable week-on-week,' she said.

The Government's handling of Covid statistics has come under fire over the course of the pandemic with ministers being scolded for how they use data.

Last November Number 10 was criticised by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) for not being transparent enough with the data used to justify England's second lockdown.

And in June 2020, the UKSA chairman Sir David Norgrove wrote to the Health Secretary at the time, Matt Hancock, stating that the information he was using on Covid testing is 'far from complete' and 'misleading'.

It was recently revealed that Government Ministers will be given a 'data masterclass' to address the issue of 'statistical illiteracy'.

The crash courses have already been running in the civil service but will now be given to senior ministers in the run up to Christmas.

It is not known who in Cabinet will be attending the masterclasses and if Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be among them.
A pensioner who collapsed was left lying on the floor waiting for an ambulance for five hours because local call handlers were too busy.

Leon Moody, 72, fell over in his home in Kingham, Oxfordshire, at around 9am on October 5.

His carer immediately called for an ambulance and Mr Moody's son Mark, 35, from nearby Chipping Norton, rushed over. They were too scared to move him in case his injuries got worse.

After about an hour they had heard no word from South Central Ambulance Service, so Mark rang 999 again to check where the vehicle was.

It took five minutes for his call to be answered and the call handler said he had been put through to the Yorkshire branch  located more than 200 miles away  because local services were too busy to answer.

The ambulance eventually arrived after 2pm, Mr Moody said.

It comes amid an ambulance crisis across Britain, which has seen severely ill patients left waiting in the back of ambulances outside A&E units for 12 hours.

Ambulances are supposed to hand patients over to the hospital within 15 minutes of arriving so they can get back on the road but 35,000 patients waited for more than an hour in September. It has led to concerns that patients are coming to harm, with the queues linked to two deaths last week.

Leon Moody, 72, said he has 'lost faith in the health service' after he fell in his home in Kingham, Oxfordshire, and had to wait more than five hours for an ambulance

His son Mark (right) says he was put through to Yorkshire call handlers because the local health service was so busy

Ambulance service facing extreme pressures and overwhelming volume of calls An ambulance service has declared a critical incident in the face of 'extreme pressures' and an 'overwhelming' volume of calls. South Central Ambulance Service pleaded with the public to be wise when considering whether to call, reminding people they are to be contacted in the event of life-threatening illnesses and injuries. The declaration of a critical incident comes not long after hospitals in England were ordered to 'eliminate' ambulance queues outside their sites after two deaths were linked to handover delays. NHS bosses highlighted the 'risk to patient safety' in the letter which told trusts to end all handover delays and stop using ambulances as emergency department 'cubicles'. South Central Ambulance Service covers the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, Sussex and Surrey. On Saturday evening, the service tweeted: 'South Central Ambulance Service has declared a Critical Incident due to extreme pressures across our services. 'Our staff and volunteers are working extremely hard to respond to calls but the volume is overwhelming. 'Please, please support us by using our services wisely, we're here for life threatening illnesses and injuries. Thank you so much #HelpUsHelpYou.' Earlier this week, ambulance leaders have described the 'highest level of emergency activity in history' and reports from around the country paint a bleak picture of ambulances queuing for hours outside busy hospitals. Martin Flaherty, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, said: 'The ambulance sector is experiencing some of the highest levels of emergency activity in its history and this is regrettably leading to delays in the sector's ability to respond to some patients.' According to the NHS, a critical incident is any localised incident where the level of disruption results in an organisation temporarily or permanently losing its ability to deliver critical services, patients may have been harmed or the environment is not safe, requiring special measures and support from other agencies to restore normal operating functions. Advertisement

Mr Moody's son told the Oxfordshire Mail he was 'gobsmacked' by the wait.

He said: 'An hour went by (after the original call) and we had not heard anything and nobody had arrived.

'Obviously, my dad was in a lot of pain and was distressed because of having to lie on the floor like that, so I rang 999 and it was just ringing and ringing.

'It was going on like this for about three minutes.

'I got through to someone and explained to them that my dad has had a fall. The call handler was getting the details up and he said: "You are in the south-east aren't you?".'

He claimed the call handler told him Yorkshire was the closest call centre available to answer because all the local services were too busy.

Mark said he 'could not believe' how poor the service was.

He was put through to another 'really apologetic' call operator after waiting more than an hour again with no sign of the ambulance.

When the ambulance finally arrived hours later still, Mr Moody said the paramedics were 'brilliant'.

But he said during the wait he kept thinking what would have happened had his father's fall been more serious and he was left there stranded.

He said: 'I was just sat there thinking, what if my dad was having a heart attack or something really serious?

'Those minutes they took to answer would have made all the difference between life or death. I have never seen anything like it.'

He said his father is doing 'okay' but wants 'people to take notice of what is going on' and for his 'voice to be heard'.

South Central Ambulance Service said: 'While we always want to respond to all our patients as soon as we can, calls are prioritised based on clinical need to ensure those who are sickest receive the care and treatment they require as quickly as possible.

'Unfortunately there will be occasions when this prioritisation means some patients will wait longer, particularly at times of extreme pressure on the service as we are seeing currently, but we would be happy to talk the patient and their family to explain more about this process if they would like to get in touch with us directly via our patient experience team.'

The service covers the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, has been approached for comment.

On Saturday it said it was 'overwhelmed' with calls, blaming GP waiting-list backlogs, ambulance queues at hospitals for its slow services.

It declared a 'critical incident', asking people to only call 999 in a 'life threatening or serious emergency'.

Earlier this week, ambulance leaders described the 'highest level of emergency activity in history' and reports from around the country paint a bleak picture of ambulances queuing for hours outside busy hospitals.

Martin Flaherty, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, said: 'The ambulance sector is experiencing some of the highest levels of emergency activity in its history and this is regrettably leading to delays in the sector's ability to respond to some patients.'

And the College of Paramedics warned the UK faces a 'bleak' few months as the NHS prepares to fight its standard winter pressures on top of Covid.

Richard Webber, a paramedic and spokesman for the college, said: 'This issue has been bad for a while, hospitals have been so much busier.

'Patients are being admitted and what's happening is they cannot move them straight into A&E, so ambulances have become cabs waiting to unload outside hospitals.

'Our members are reporting delays of four to six hours in getting to people, which means there can be up to 15 ambulances waiting outside hospitals with patients inside.

'This also creates a backlog of 999 calls. I'm talking (about) up to 300 calls for a service to deal with, leaving people to wait at home potentially in need of serious medical attention.

'Everything is therefore taking longer; staff are dealing with three or four incidents every shift, when they would usually do as many as eight.'
Drinking one glass of wine with dinner every night probably won't stave off an early death, scientists now say.

For years a plethora of studies have suggested light alcohol consumption has health benefits.

But German academics tasked with reviewing the evidence on the topic believe the claims are wrong.

They say previous studies showing teetotallers have a higher risk of dying compared to moderate drinkers may have failed to consider other damaging factors like past alcohol abuse.

Downing a glass of red with dinner for health benefits? You may want to hold off. New research suggests that previous studies showing touting the health benefits of booze may not provide the full picture (stock image)

Academics at University Medicine Greifswald examined data from more than 4,000 adults.

The participants were interviewed about their drinking habits in the late 1990s and then followed up 20 years later.

Of the volunteers, 447 reported not drinking in the past 12 months at the time they were originally interviewed.

But almost three-quarters reported having a risk factor known to contribute to early death such as smoking or being in poor health.

And 35 per cent had a former alcohol disorder, according to the findings published in the journal PLoS Medicine.

Once all these people were excluded in the re-analysis, there were 125 persons who did not drink.

In the 20 years that followed, scientists found no significant difference in the risk of dying compared to low and moderate drinkers.

The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units each week  that's 14 single shots of spirit or six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine

Lead author of the study Professor Ulrich John said the findings suggested there was no health benefit to drinking alcohol.

'It has long been assumed low to moderate alcohol consumption might have positive effects on health, based on the finding that alcohol abstainers seemed to die earlier than low to moderate drinkers,' he said.

'We found the majority of the abstainers had alcohol or drug problems, risky alcohol consumption, daily tobacco smoking or fair to poor health in their history, i.e., factors that predict early death.'

Professor John added: 'The findings speak against recommendations to drink alcohol for health reasons.'

The research is the latest in an ongoing debate about if small amounts of alcohol are good for us or not.

In 2019 a landmark paper published in the Lancet stoked fears that consuming even small amounts of alcohol was likely to cause changes in blood pressure and increase the risk of a stroke.

This study overturned a mainstream theory that a regular glass of wine may actually be beneficial for heart health because of the protective antioxidants contained in the drink.

But researchers from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have since claimed the Lancet analysis was flawed after failing to replicate the results.

The NHS advises that men and women should not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine is more than 70 percent effective at preventing infection, a new study finds.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, gathered data from nearly 100,000 people to determine the efficacy of the one-shot vaccine.

The vaccine is the only one-dose Covid immunization available to Americans, and the only that does not use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, unlike Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.

The J&J jab does not have the same reputation as others in the U.S., partly due to early hiccups in distribution and concerns about side-effects of the shot, it has been deemed safe and effective by regulators.

However, despite the effectiveness, the team still recommend people to get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines if possible

Researchers found that 0.7% of people vaccinated with the J&J vaccine contracted Covid during the study period, compared to 2.5% of unvaccinated people

After removing the first two weeks of data - because that is how long it takes for the J&J vaccine to activate in a person's body - the researchers determined the shot is 74% effective at preventing infection

Researchers, who published their findings on Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, identified nearly 9,000 people who had received the J&J vaccine at Mayo Clinic locations in Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Florida or Wisconsin.

Each of the participants were paired with ten unvaccinated people within the states with similar age, race and gender.

The study was conducted from February to July, meaning that the period during which the Delta variant - a high contagious strain of the virus that caused a surge of cases over summer - was also included in the data.

Researchers found that during the study period, 60 of the 8,889 total vaccinated people contracted Covid - or 0.7 percent.

Nearly four times as may unvaccinated people, 2,236 out of 88,898, or 2.5 percent, contracted the virus as well.

Because a person who receives the J&J vaccine is not deemed 'fully vaccinated' until two weeks after receiving the shot, researchers then removed the first two weeks from the data set.

After the two week mark, 41 of 8,698 vaccinated participants who had followed up had tested positive - or 0.5 percent.

For the unvaccinated, the first 15 days after they enrolled in the study were removed as well, and 1,561 out of 86,495 were infected with Covid.

Researchers say this means that the J&J vaccine is 74 percent effective at preventing infection from the virus.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine (pictured) has been the source of some controversy in the U.S., and was even paused for ten days in April over concerns that it could cause deadly blood clotting

The J&J vaccine is the least-used of the three jabs available in the U.S. and that has made it harder for researchers to gather this type of real world data, they note.

'In terms of [vaccine effectiveness], two studies have shown that the effectiveness of the [J&J] vaccine is stable over time (before and after the emergence of the Delta variant), with a moderate decrease in effectiveness for individuals older than 75 years,' researchers wrote.

They do note the study only covered the first half of the Delta surge, though, so data is incomplete.

While the J&J vaccine is effective, the researchers still show preference to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA jabs.

'What is becoming more clear with time is that the single-dose regimen of the [J&J] vaccine seems to be inferior to the mRNA-based vaccines in terms of [vaccine effectiveness],' they wrote.

The one-shot vaccine has had its reputation tarnished, fairly or not, since it first became available in the U.S. at the end of February.

Detroit Mayo Mike Duggan turned down his city's first allocation of the shot, instead wanting residents to get vaccinated with the mRNA jabs.

CVS, one of the nation's largest private vaccine distributors, has stopped offering the vaccine at many of its locations.

In April, use of the J&J vaccine was paused for ten days in the United States due to concerns over the shot causing rare blood clotting.

A study published Monday found that the shot increased a person's chance at developing potentially deadly blood clots in the brain 3.5-fold - though the risk is still extremely rare.

In Baltimore, a plant manufacturing the J&J vaccine had to be shut down, and millions of doses had to be discarded after they were found to be contaminated with ingredients from the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The shot is still deemed safe and effective by regulators, and booster shots of the vaccine were recently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the J&J vaccine has been adminsitered around 15 million times.
The Biden administration says the COVID-19 vaccination program for children in the U.S. 'will be running at full strength' by next week.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized pediatric doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid shot for kids aged five to 11 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to do the same on Tuesday.

In anticipation of the green light, millions of doses are already being assembled and shipped with the first children expected to get their shots on Wednesday.

'While vaccinations may start later this week, the program will still be ramping up to its full strength, with millions more doses packed, shipped and delivered and thousands of additional sites coming online each day,' White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said during a press briefing on Monday.

'Bottom line, we've been planning and preparing for this moment. We are ready to execute pending CDC's decision.

'And starting the week of November 8, the kids' vaccination program for kids ages five to 11 will be running at full strength.'

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White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said on Monday during a press briefing (above) that the administration has begun assembling and shipping pediatric doses

Vaccinations are expected to start mid-week, but Zients said the federal program 'will be running at full strength' starting the week of November 8. Pictured: Marisol Gerardo, 9, is held by her mother as she gets a dose in Pfizer's Covid vaccine trial at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina, April 2021

During the briefing, Zients said that the federal government had purchased enough doses of the Pfizer pediatric shot to cover all 28 million eligible kids.

Of the roughly 110 million doses, 15 million are being sent out over the next few days.

Youngsters will be able to get the shot at their pediatrician's offices or local pharmacies, and potentially even their schools rather than mass immunization sites.

And children's hospitals will set up clinics on nights and weekends so mothers and fathers can vaccinate their kids after they get off of work.

Child-size vials that can be kept in refrigerators along with smaller needles necessary for injecting young kids will be sent to providers across the country.

Zients said parents can also visit vaccines.gov and filter for locations that offer vaccinations for kids to schedule an appointment.

it comes as the CDC's advisory committee prepares to meet to discuss whether or not to approve Pfizer's vaccine in children.

For the clinical trial, Pfizer recruited 2,268 kids between ages five and 11.

About half of the youngsters were given two doses 21 days apart and the other half were given placebo shots.

The team then tested the safety, tolerability and immune response generated by the vaccine by measuring antibody levels in the young subjects.

Pfizer said it had selected lower doses for COVID-19 vaccine trials in children than are given to teenagers and adults.

Those aged 12 and older receive two 30 microgram (g) doses of the vaccine.

However, children between ages five and 11 were given 10 g doses - one-third of the size given to adolescents and adults.

Sixteen children who received the placebo contracted COVID-19 compared with three in the vaccinated group, which Pfizer said equates to 90.7 percent efficacy.

In the vaccination group, one participant each had two, three and four Covid symptoms.

Comparatively, in the placebo group, half of the pediatric patients had five or more symptoms.

No life-threatening adverse events were reported with the most common side effect being pain at the injection site, reported in more than 70 percent of kids.

This is about equal with the up to 83 percent of 16-to-25-year-olds in the adult clinical trial who reported the same thing.

No deaths occurred in either the vaccine group or the placebo group.

Because of the low risk of severe illness, more than one-third of parents with children in the 5-11 age range are not planning to get their kids vaccinated against Covid, an October survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found

Children are very unlikely to fall severely ill from the virus and and make up fewer than 0.1 percent of all Covid deaths in the U.S.

Because of this, polls have shown that many American parents are not inclined to vaccinate their children.

One poll from Axios/Ipsos in September found that 44 percent of parents of children aged five to 11 said their kids were likely to get a vaccine and 42 percent said it was unlikely their children would be immunized.

And a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found 27 percent of parents with kids aged five to 11 say that their children will get vaccinated as soon as it's available.

Meanwhile, 33 percent say they will 'wait and see' how the vaccine is working before deciding whether or not to immunize their kids.

Another five percent of parents say they will only get their children vaccinated if it is required by their schools and 30 percent say they will not get their kids vaccinated at all.
Buddy Crabtree (pictured), 65, died of Covid on Saturday. He was the police chief of Ider, Alabama, a small town of around 700 people

An Alabama police chief died of COVID-19 on Saturday and expressed his regrets over not getting vaccinated in his final days.

Buddy Crabtree, 65, was the police chief of Ider, a small town of around 700 people around 100 miles southeast of Nashville.

He was hospitalized on October 9 in nearby Scottsboro, before being flown to Chattanooga, Tennessee for treatment 10 days later as his condition deteriorated.

Crabtree's wife, Kristie, reports that before he passed away, he said he would get all three available Covid vaccines to avoid suffering from the virus again.

'He actually said: "f I get better, I'll take all three, I don't ever want to go through this again,"' she told WAAY.

Crabtree had wanted to work in law enforcement since he was 18 years old, his wife says, and had previously served as the police chief of Bridgeport, Alabama, 20 miles north of Ider.

'He loved his job and Ider,' Kristie told WAAY.

'He loved the community of Ider, his officers, the school kids...he meant a lot more to people than I realized.'

While Crabtree left policing for 10 years at one point in his life, he later would return as it was 'where his heart was'.

He was well-known in the small town.

Crabtree was unvaccinated and, before he died, his wife, Kristie (right), reported that he said he would 'take all three' vaccines if he could to avoid dealing with Covid again

Wendy Lassetter (right), the mayor of Ider, told WAAY that Crabtree was well known among school children in the town

'One thing that I absolutely loved was he cared so much about our kids in school,' Ider Mayor Wendy Lassetter told WAAY.

'He walked the halls. He gave them high fives and called them by name.'

He contracted Covid early in October, though his family did not fear that he would die.

Even after he was admitted to the hospital, they thought he would quickly be able to return home, Kristie told WAAY.

Crabtree would eventually succumb to the illness, shocking his family and his community.

Before his death, he told his wife that he planned to get vaccinated if he recovered.

His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.

Crabtree (pictured) wanted to be a police officer for much of his life, and previously served as police chief of Bridgeport, Alabama, 20 miles north of Ider

The funeral for Crabtree is scheduled for Wednesday

Mayor Lassetter encouraged her constituents to get vaccinated.

'Take it seriously. It doesn't matter to me if it's your choice to be vaccinated or not, take it seriously,' she told WAFF.

'I know finding out early as possible if you have it is important, and it is good to seek treatment, and I know it's a lot we don't know about it, but we should still take it seriously.'

Covid has quietly become the one of the leading killers of police officers nationwide since the pandemic began last year.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), an organization that tracks deaths of police officers nationwide, 245 police officers died of the virus last year.

That is five times as many officers that died of gun violence.

The organization also reports Covid as the leading killer of police in 2021 as well.

'Getting vaccinated is just as important as wearing your vest and your seatbelt,' a popup on the ODMP website reads.

'Don't wait any longer, please consult your doctor to see if vaccination is right for you.'
Americans who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are not opting to get the shot again for their boosters, new federal figures reveal .

The data, made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week, show that more than 80 percent of people who received the J&J vaccine opted for either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech booster.

Those who received either the Pfizer or Moderna shots for their initial vaccine series are choosing to stick with their original shot, however.

The J&J vaccine has been deemed safe and effective by regulators, though the shot is not considered to be as effective as the other two jabs.

Last month, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) presented data showing that J&J recipients had higher antibody levels after a Pfizer or Moderna booster

More than 80% of people who have received a COVID-19 booster, and got the J&J jab first, opted for a different company's vaccine. Barely any people who received the Pfizer or Moderna jab opted for the J&J booster

More than 19 million Americans have received COVID-19 vaccine boosters as the shots begin to become widely available in the U.S. Pictured: A woman at Chicago O'Hare Airport in Illinois received a COVID-19 vaccine shot in March, 2021

Last month, all adults who received a J&J vaccine were eligible to receive a booster at least two months after their dose.

Meanwhile, Pfizer and Moderna recipients were authorized to receive boosters if they are aged 65 or older, have underlying conditions or worked at a job that put them at risk of exposure to Covid.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also allowed fully vaccinated Americans to 'mix and match' COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.

This means people can get a booster made by a company that is different than the one that made the vaccine they initially received, according to

More than 15.3 million Americans received the J&J vaccine for their first shot, and 480,000 have received a booster so far, according to the CDC.

Of that 480,000 group, 220,000 - or 46 percent - have opted for the Pfizer vaccine and 170,000 have gotten the Moderna shot - 35 percent.

Only 19 percent of J&J recipients opted to get that shot again for their booster dose.

By comparison, 99 percent of Americans who received the Pfizer jab for their first two shots elected to get the Pfizer booster.

It is the same case for the Moderna shot with 95 percent of recipients getting the same company's shot for their booster.

An insignificant portion of people who got either the Pfizer or Moderna shots first opted for the J&J booster.

The J&J Covid vaccine has had its reputation eroded in recent months and some researchers even recommend people to receive the Pfizer or Moderna shots instead of it if possible

Over 19 million Americans have gotten their booster shots so far, according to the CDC, with less than one percent of them getting the J&J vaccine for their booster.

Pfizer has the most popular booster, accounting for 73 percent of shots, and the Moderna booster accounts for 27 percent of third-shots.

Covid booster shots have begun to rollout in recent weeks after receiving authorization from regulators.

Americans who received a two-dose series of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are eligible to get an additional shot six months after receiving their second.

The NIH presented data last week showing the J&J booster raised antibody levels in J&J recipients four-fold (left) over two weeks while Pfizer's booster raised levels 45-fold (right) and the Moderna booster spiked levels 76-fold (center)

Those who received the J&J one-shot vaccine can get their booster after two months.

The shorter timeline for the J&J vaccine is due to the lower efficacy of the jab when compared to its peers.

Last month, the NIH presented data at an FDA advisory committee meeting on Friday showing people who got Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine had higher antibody levels if they get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster shot.

The report found that when recipients of the one-shot J&J vaccine received a second dose, their antibody levels increased four-fold over two weeks.

Comparatively, when they received a Moderna booster, their antibody levels spiked 76-fold over the same time period.

A booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine also raised antibody levels 45-fold over the course of two weeks - higher than the J&J shot, but not as high as the Moderna shot.

The J&J vaccine has seen its reputations tarnished as well, whether fairly or not.

Detroit Mayo Mike Duggan turned down his city's first allocation of the shot, instead wanting residents to get vaccinated with the mRNA jabs.

CVS, one of the nation's largest private vaccine distributors, has stopped offering the vaccine at many of its locations.

In April, use of the J&J vaccine was paused for ten days in the United States due to concerns over the shot causing rare blood clotting.

A study published Monday found that the shot increased a person's chance at developing potentially deadly blood clots in the brain 3.5-fold - though the risk is still extremely rare.

In Baltimore, a plant manufacturing the J&J vaccine had to be shut down, and millions of doses had to be discarded after they were found to be contaminated with ingredients from the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Health care workers who contracted COVID-19 and then got the vaccine had higher antibody levels than those who only got their shots, a new study suggests.

Researchers compared medical employees who caught the virus before getting their first dose to those who had no history of previous infection.

They found that antibody levels generated in patients with a past case of Covid were up to 56 percent higher than those who had never contracted the virus.

What's more, the team, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, found that antibody levels were boosted even further if the worker had tested positive for COVID-19 more than 90 days before being vaccinated.

A new study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine compared vaccinated health care workers with and without a past case of COVID-19. Pictured: Dentist Monique Iskarous (left) receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from registered nurse Darlene Dickens-Jeffers, r in Anaheim, California, January 2021

Employees who had previously been infected had antibody levels 14% higher than those with a past confirmed infection one month after the second dose. After three months, levels were 19% higher and levels were 56% higher after six months

'This finding adds to our understanding of how immunity against SARS-CoV-2 works, and builds upon an earlier study by our team that showed the mRNA vaccines yielded a robust antibody response, even if a person did not develop significant symptoms following vaccination or did not have a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection,' said senior author Dr Aaron Milstone, a professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins, in a statement.

For the study, published in JAMA, the team looked at 1,960 Johns Hopkins Medicine health care workers.

All of them had received two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Of the health care employees, 73 tested positive for COVID-19 before receiving their first vaccine dose.

After adjusting for factor such as age and sex, the team compared antibody levels between the two groups.

Researchers found that antibody levels were higher among health care workers who were exposed to Covid more than 90 days before their first vaccine dose compared to those exposed 90 days or less before their first dose (above)

Antibody levels were looked at one, three and six months following the second vaccine dose.

Researchers found that, overall, vaccinated health care employees who had previously been infected had antibody levels 14 percent higher than those who had not been previously infected.

After three months, levels were 19 percent higher and levels were 56 percent higher after six months.

'We found that health care workers with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection followed by two doses of mRNA vaccine...developed higher antibody levels than those with vaccination alone,' said lead author Dr Diana Zhong, an infectious diseases fellow at Johns Hopkins, in a statement.

The team found that being exposed to the virus more than 90 days before the first dose also boosted antibody levels.

One month after the second dose, participants had antibody levels nine percent higher than participants who had been infected less than 90 days before the first dose.

After three months, antibody levels were 13 percent higher.

'This suggests that a longer interval between infection and first vaccine dose may enhance the antibody response,' Milstone said.

For future research, the team says it wants to determine if antibody levels are higher in vaccinated people with a previous Covid infection due to factors such as the number of exposures to the virus or biological 'interplay' between natural immunity and immunity from vaccines.
Often described as the Fairtrade of business, B Corp status is the latest certification socially-minded businesses in Britain are scrambling to achieve.

Since it first launched in the US in 2007, more than 4,000 companies have achieved B Corp status from Patagonia to Ben & Jerry's.

Non-profit B Lab, which is behind the B Corp certification, built up a strong profile in the US and subsequently launched its UK arm in 2015.

Royalty: The Queen's bank Coutts is the latest high profile company to gain B Corp status

Since then, it has quietly certified over 500 British businesses, including the Queen's bank Coutts earlier in the year.

With more big names becoming B Corps and businesses becoming increasingly aware of their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) practices, this figure is likely to rise in the coming years.

But does this rapid rise in B Corps risk diluting the integrity of the certification?

B Corp UK boss Chris Turner tells This Is Money about why more and more companies want B Corp status and whether it's now merely a PR exercise.

What does the B Corp process look like?

Despite there now being hundreds of B Corps in the UK the certification process seems a rigorous one.

The companies we've spoken to as part of our B Corp Beat series spoke of the long timeline from application to eventually being certified.

What is a B Corp? In our new B Corp Beat series, we interview British businesses which meet these strict standards. They are described as businesses that are said to meet the 'highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.' One the website, it says: 'B Corp Certification doesn't just evaluate a product or service; it assesses the overall positive impact of the company that stands behind it. And increasingly that's what people care most about.' B Corp was started in 2007 and gives scores to companies in order for them to be verified. These five areas are: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

Businesses have to achieve a score of at least 80 out of 200 against five areas of impact: Governance, Community, Workers, Environment and Customers.

Beyond that, the process is opaque and Turner admits the website is 'a bit impenetrable'.

'We shouldn't call it an assessment because it makes it sound as if you're sitting your A Levels and you sit there, fill it out, off it goes and you get your result at some point. That's not how it works.'

'It's much more of a tool. Any business can create an account, start filling out an assessment, see their score it's their own assessment to update and change, see their score, for as long as they like.'

Once a business is over the 80 point threshold they can send their application off to be independently verified.

Businesses then have to recertify through the review process every three years to ensure they still meet the standard.

Not one UK company has lost their B Corp status during the review according to Turner.

'It's hard to become a B Corp so businesses need to really believe in what we're trying to achieve.

'It's very unusual for a business to go through all of that and the work and then to stop because they get a lot of value from it,' says Turner.

What kind of companies become B Corps?

When Turner joined B Lab in 2019, after years of working in international development and policy, there were just 150 B Corps in the UK. Now there are more than 500.

Last year, 149 companies became B Corps, up from 68 in 2019, and Turner thinks the UK could see a total of 150 companies being certified by the end of the year.

The sharp rise in the number of companies seeking B Corp certification is partly due to the pandemic, Turner says.

But it is also reflective of a broader sea change in society and a focus not just on climate change but on social good.

'This is just the way we're going, the direction in which we're heading as a society and an economy.

'You look across the board and you've got consumers demanding a kind of purpose-led business, employees demanding the business they work is really clear about their values and they are as driven by that as much as they are by anything else.'

'B Corp offers a way for them to do it in their own way.'

While consumer demand may play an important role in companies seeking B Corp status, just 33 per cent of B Corps sell products directly to consumers.

The vast majority are business-to-business services businesses.

'In the early years of B Corp in the UK you'd get a lot of impact investors, but then as time has gone on you've got many more mainstream investors [and companies].

'That shift is something you can chart and it means we're now getting far greater numbers interested in certifying.'

Certainly as heavyweights like the Queen's bank Coutts and City law firm Mishcon de Reya take to social media to boast of their B Corp status, more professional services companies are likely to follow suit.

Defiant: B Corp UK boss Chris Turner says it takes much time and effort for a company to be certified

Does the B Corp badge risk becoming diluted?

It is testament to Turner and his team that there are now over 500 B Corps in Britain, but a cynic may argue that having too many companies with the badge could devalue it.

Turner says: 'We definitely want this to be the new normal. Our overarching mission is that we want to see an economic system that is equitable, just and regenerative Business plays a hugely important role [in that].

'We're not saying that in order to achieve that, every single company needs to become a B Corp, that's not what this is about. It's about proving doing business in a purposeful and impactful way is good business.'

However, if the number of B Corps in the UK continues to grow at this rapid pace, could it undermine its progress so far?

As more companies wise up to consumer demand for green and good companies, they may come to see the B Corp badge as a useful PR move.

'When you get big names like Coutts in specific sectors certifying then you create a bit of a race to the top and you'll see a wave of interest.'

And Turner maintains the recertifying process ensures there is a robust set of standards.

'If it was only a PR exercise you wouldn't make it through because of the amount of time and effort it takes to certify.

'If you thought 'I'm going to get some great headlines and response, then you'd quite quickly become quite discouraged by how much work you have to do.'

'However, I don't think you can argue with the fact that it's a great PR tool for businesses to say they're a B Corp. B Corp carries a lot of weight and credibility.

'There's nothing wrong with it being a PR exercise if it's got the backing of being really robust and credible as a certification.'
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Making Covid vaccines compulsory for care home workers had little effect on boosting uptake, industry insiders say amid fears forcing the jabs on NHS workers will also be futile.

Ministers have made it a legal requirement for all care home staff to get their second jab by November 11 or face losing their job, with the hope of boosting uptake and protecting vulnerable residents.

But care bosses told MailOnline today the policy failed in its main objective of boosting uptake and was enforced 'without considering' the consequences. Critics warn it will exacerbate staffing shortages.

Latest figures suggest just 30,000 elderly care home workers have come forward for their first vaccine since parliament voted to make vaccination compulsory in July.

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group  which represents providers in Yorkshire, said making jabs compulsory only had 'a little bit of an effect' on the 1.5million-strong sector.

Health chiefs are also on the verge of introducing the 'no jab, no job' policy in the NHS ahead of what is expected to be a challenging winter, despite calls to postpone the move until April to avoid a staff exodus. More than nine in 10 NHS staff are already jabbed.

Care home employees will be required to be double-jabbed to keep working in the sector from next week, but a loophole could see unvaccinated employees continue working in the sector until two days before Christmas. Care bosses fear this could spark a 'mass exodus' just ahead of Christmas Day  derailing family plans.

The above graph shows the proportion of staff working in care homes for the over-65s who have received their first and second doses of the vaccine. It reveals that there was no sharp surge in uptake when the jabs were made compulsory

Some 100,000 NHS workers are yet to get at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, figures show. The above graph shows the percentage that have got their first dose (blue line) and the percentage that have got both doses (orange line)

A care source representing homes in England who asked not to be named told MailOnline: 'You ask whether making jabs mandatory has boosted uptake. It hasn't done.

'We were initially aiming to get about 80 per cent uptake, and the figures show the numbers getting vaccinated have risen since they were made a requirement.

'But we have found that calm persuasion was a lot more important for getting people vaccinated than making it mandatory.'

Delay making Covid vaccines compulsory for NHS workers until April, health chief says Making Covid vaccines compulsory for NHS staff should be delayed until the spring because of the 'very, very' difficult winter ahead, a health chief said yesterday. Ministers have just finished a consultation on whether doctors and nurses should be forced to get their jabs, with staff refuse potentially facing the sack. Last week Health Secretary Sajid Javid admitted he was 'leaning towards' the 'no jab, no job' policy in England, where 100,000 staff are still yet to get their first dose. But yesterday Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said any deadline should be delayed until April next year so that there are enough workers for winter. Unions fear hospitals could be left even shorter staffed between January and March  their most difficult time of year  if the plans are brought in. Mr Hopson also said NHS staff deserved the same 'five-month' run up to jabs being made compulsory as those working in the social care sector. Ministers announced in June care home workers would need to be fully vaccinated or potentially lose their jobs, but gave them until November 11 to get jabbed. Care worker Louise Akester, 36, from Hull, has said she is resigned to losing her job this week because she was not prepared to get the vaccine. And Mr Hopson said in Cornwall some homes are already having to draft in nurses from nearby hospitals because of the staffing shortages. Advertisement

The insider said the 'no jab, no job' policy was already 'crippling' for some care homes because thousands of staff had quit since the jabs became compulsory in July. It's unclear exactly how many have already left on the back of the new rule.

Some homes in Cornwall are also having to draft in nurses from nearby hospitals to make up for shortfalls.

Although the rule requiring care home staff to be double-vaccinated will come into force for November 11, staff will still be able to apply for an exemption.

This could see un-jabbed employees continuing to work in the sector until December 23, while they wait for their application for an exemption to be reviewed and approved.

'The Christmas period is quite dodgy,' the source told MailOnline. 'This is when we expect people to leave in droves.'

Care sector stakeholders have already called for the December 23 deadline to be extended to avoid any chaos over the Christmas period.

Asked whether making jabs compulsory boosted uptake, Mr Padgham said: 'My gut feeling is it has probably changed a few minds, but not completely.

'I've been in Government meetings where they said they expect to lose up to 40,000 staff from the sector come the middle of this month. That's a big hole.

'When something is made compulsory it does put people off even more.'

Mr Padgham was also against mirroring the move in the NHS, saying that quietly convincing people to get the jab had a more positive effect.

Pressed on whether vaccines should be compulsory for the NHS, he said: ' Well my own opinion is I think everyone should be vaccinated. But I think it has to be a matter of personal choice in a democracy, it should be your choice.'

Gavin Edwards, the care spokesperson for UNISON which represents employees in the sector, said: 'Jab rates were steadily rising and although the threat of being sacked will have persuaded some staff, it's also prompted many others to leave.

'If the Government had spent the past four months persuading and tackling the concerns of care workers in areas of low take-up, there would now be an even higher level of staff vaccinated.

'That's precisely what happened in the care sector in Scotland and Wales, and throughout the NHS.

'Instead, this policy has caused alarm and worsened the staffing crisis. Losing one in twenty workers will damage care quality and leave many of those dependent on support with nowhere to turn.'

Care homes were already facing a staffing crisis before the compulsory vaccine requirement was introduced, with more than 170,000 vacancies across England.

Some 411,000 of 462,000 staff working in care homes for the over-65s (88.9 per cent) have already received two doses of the vaccine. And nearly 437,000 (or 94.5 per cent) have already received their first jab.

But figures show no dramatic spike in uptake when MPs approved the plans, despite more than one in ten care home workers still being un-vaccinated at the time. There are still 25,000 employees who are yet to get their first dose.

Covid vaccines are set to be compulsory for social care workers from next week. Pictured above is care home worker Louise Akester, 36, from Hull, who has said she is prepared to lose her job instead of getting the vaccine

Care home worker, 36, would rather lose job than get Covid vaccine A care home worker has said she would rather lose her job than get the Covid vaccine. Louise Akester, 36, from Hull, has worked in the sector for almost a decade and a half. She currently gets tested for the virus three times a week and wears PPE in the home. But from next week she will be unable to work in the sector, when vaccines become compulsory for staff. She told HullLive: 'I genuinely love my job with all my heart, I only earn minimum wage so believe me it isnt the money keeping me there. 'But November 5 will be one of the hardest days of my life when I have to say my goodbyes to all my lovely residents. 'When I have to leave that building at the end of my final shift knowing that I can no longer return as an employee, all because apparently now Im not good enough to protect them due to refusing the vaccines. 'This choice should be my basic human right. I do not deserve to be punished for saying "no".' Ms Akester said she didn't want to get the Covid vaccine until more was known about the 'potential long-term side effects'. Rigorous scientific studies have found the three jabs in use in the UK  Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca  are safe and slash someone's risk of hospitalisation and death if they catch the virus. They were first rolled out in clinical trials more than a year ago. More than nine in ten adults  or over 45million people  have got at least one dose. Advertisement

The Department of Health announced it would seek to make Covid vaccines compulsory for care home staff in June, following a consultation.

Then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock said at the time it would 'keep reducing the risk' for residents in care homes.

Parliament voted in favour of the plans on July 13, but many MPs slammed the move because ministers had failed to publish an impact assessment.

A second consultation has now been concluded to consider whether all NHS staff should also be told to get the Covid and flu vaccines or lose their jobs.

Current Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said he is 'leaning towards' the 'no jab, no job' policy for hospital staff.

But yesterday Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, argued any move should be delayed until April because of the difficult winter ahead.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'We know  and the chief medical officer has said this really clearly  that weve got a very, very difficult winter coming up and we know the NHS is going to be absolutely at full stretch.

'So, it makes sense to set the deadline once that winter period has passed.

'We know that January, February, often early March is very busy, so thats why were saying today that we think an April 2022 deadline is a sensible time.'

Mr Hopson added: 'If we lose very large numbers of staff over the winter period, then our ability to provide care is also compromised.'

There were almost 100,000 vacancies in England's NHS between April and June last year, official figures show.

And care homes were also short of almost 112,000 workers, with bosses warning the 'no jab, no job' policy would exacerbate the crisis.

In the NHS there are some 105,000 employees  more than the entire vacancy list  that are yet to get their first dose of the vaccine.

Some 89 per cent of staff (1.3 out of 1.45million employees) have already got two doses, and 1.34million have got their first dose.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the chair of the British Medical Association has warned that with 'severe workforce shortages' in the NHS 'any reduction in healthcare workers could be devastating for patient services as we face a record backlog of care and winter pressures'.

He said: 'The Government should explore options for those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or may refuse, including, for example, remote working, possible redeployment, greater PPE protection and more regular testing.'

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: 'Our message is clear: vaccines save lives and while staff and residents in care homes have been prioritised and the majority are now vaccinated, it is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect vulnerable people.

'Over 90 per cent of care home staff have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine and we are working closely with local authorities and care home providers to ensure there will always be enough staff with the right skills to deliver high quality care.'
And 93 per cent of doctors said virtual appointments are worse for diagnosing

Only three per cent of doctors think remote consultations are better for patients

Only three per cent of doctors think remote consultations are better for patients than face-to-face appointments, a major study has found.

Researchers at Cambridge University concluded the shift towards phone and video appointments is proving 'disastrous' for many patients.

They said online consultations 'increased the risk of misdiagnosis and barriers to care', and were particularly damaging for the elderly, poor and disabled.

Some 93 per cent of doctors agreed that remote appointments are worse than face-to-face for accurately assessing and diagnosing illnesses.

In the first study of its kind, experts evaluated the NHS's 'rapid move towards telemedicine'  video or phone appointments  during the pandemic.

Researchers surveyed 1,340 rheumatology patients and more than 100 hospital consultations and GPs between April and July this year.

About one third of the patients had inflammatory arthritis and another third had the immune disease lupus, with many needed regular appointments for flare-ups.

Some 93 per cent of doctors said telemedicine was worse than face-to-face consultations for accuracy.

The study said that a lack of in-person examinations and tests meant 'misdiagnosis and inaccuracies were frequently reported'.

Nine in ten doctors also said phone and video consultations are 'worse than face-to-face for building a trusting relationship' and only three per cent said they were better overall.

Researchers surveyed 1,340 rheumatology patients and more than 100 hospital consultations and GPs between April and July this year. The graph shows their views on how virtual appointments compare to in-person on relationship building and appointment anxiety. Nine in 10 clinicians and 69 per cent of patients felt telemedicine was worse than face-to-face for building a trusting relationship

The researchers also asked patients and doctors about how virtual appointments impacted the accuracy of diagnoses and symptom-reporting. Some 93 per cent of doctors said telemedicine was worse than face-to-face consultations for accuracy

Over 60 per cent of patients and clinicians considered telemedicine more convenient than face-to-face

The number of GP appointments taking place face-to-face tumbled at the start of the pandemic when surgeries were told to see patients remotely where possible. But despite the country largely returning to normal, in-person visits are yet to climb back to pre-pandemic levels. The above graph shows the number of face-to-face GP appointments (red line) by month since the end of 2019

The patients who face ONE HOUR on phone to reach their GP Patients calling their GP surgeries to book an appointment face waiting in a queue for up to an hour, according to a snapshot survey by the Daily Mail. Some have been cut off on more than one occasion after waiting for more than ten minutes. But in a stark illustration of the postcode lottery facing patients across the country, six out of ten practices surveyed answered in five minutes or less. With demand for appointments returning to pre-pandemic levels, patients have struggled to get hold of their surgery by phone. And when they do get through, frequently they will only be offered a telephone appointment rather than a face-to-face consultation. A survey of 60 randomly-selected urban and rural surgeries across England conducted by the Daily Mail has found that almost one in five left callers waiting for 15 minutes or more. Across England the average wait time was 8 minutes and 36 seconds, but 19 per cent of surgeries left callers waiting for 15 minutes or more. The longest wait time was an hour and 19 minutes at a surgery in Kent. It took 45 minutes to get through to a medical centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, while the third longest wait was 39 minutes at a practice in Lancaster. On a more positive note, six out of ten practices answered in five minutes or less. All calls were made after 9am  after the rush of patients seeking urgent appointments  and before 3pm. Many practices play recorded messages to callers queuing, urging them to hang up and visit their website or call 111 for urgent medical advice. But campaigners say elderly or disabled patients are more likely to struggle to access technology. Advertisement

Meanwhile many patients said they felt like online appointments were like a 'rushed tick-list' and 'perfunctory', although 60 per cent said they were more convenient.

The study found that the shift towards so-called 'zoom medicine' risks 'worsening existing health inequalities'.

The damning report found it was particularly damaging and 'unfair' on the elderly, disabled and those who do not speak English.

The Daily Mail is campaigning for a return to face-to-face appointments as default.

Currently just 61 per cent of GP consultations are in-person, down from 80 per cent before the pandemic.

Today's report highlights the stark concerns of many doctors about the pressures to shift to remote appointments, after NHS chiefs said one in four appointments should be over phone or video.

It said doctors 'raised concerns that telemedicine may be over-used by the NHS and hospital management as a cost and time-saving measure, rather being than in patients' best interests'.

They said one senior doctor 'summed up the overall feelings of many' stating that telemedicine 'is perfect for some but disastrous for others'.

Lead author Melanie Sloan, from the Primary Care Unit at the University of Cambridge, said: 'The pandemic has had a major impact on the ability of healthcare professionals to see their patients face-to-face, and this has led to a significant increase in the number of telemedicine consultations.

'As the NHS develops a telemedicine strategy, we hope there will be a thorough assessment of the clinical and psychological risks and steps taken to mitigate those risks, as well as action to address the possibility of worsening existing health inequalities for those less likely to be able to benefit from remote consultations.'

Co-author Professor Caroline Gordon, from the University of Birmingham, added: 'Some stable rheumatic disease patients can benefit from telemedicine but new patients, those with worsening symptoms or more complex conditions such as lupus, need quickly accessible, face-to face appointments to manage their conditions.'

Senior author, Dr Felix Naughton from the University of East Anglia, added: 'Of greatest concern was the great variability in accessibility to care.

'Approximately half of all patients felt they would not receive a prompt response when very unwell.'

The study, published in the journal Rheumatology, found many patients had 'great difficulties in accessing support' including struggling to get through to their GP.

Overall, both patients and doctors preferred in-person appointments, but most participants supported a mixture of face-to-face and telemedicine. And significantly higher proportion of clinicians (70 per cent) than patients (46 per cent) wanted all emergency appointments to be face-to-face

When asked about their preferred method of virtual appointment, both patients and doctors said they would rather have a telephone appointment than a video call, while around a 20 per cent of patients and doctors did not have a preference. Some 10 per cent of medics did not want any virtual appointments, while a quarter of patients wanted all consultations to be in-person

One patient said: 'Waiting for a call back after four voicemails...feel sad and scared knowing that when I really needmedical help I have no-one.'

Another said: 'My rheumatologist cannot see or hear how I move, look at my skin, eyes, hair, hands, bones, how I amI was diagnosed with something over the phone, which I know isn't right, and it's getting worse.'

The Daily Mail has highlighted how the shift away from face-to-face GP appointments is having devastating consequences for patients.

Last month the Government and NHS chiefs unveiled a nine-point package of measures to tackle the problem.

The 250 million plan would mean doctors cannot deny a face-to-face appointment unless there is a good clinical reason, and name and shame surgeries which don't deliver them.

But the British Medical Association has urged GPs to refuse to comply with the plan and is balloting members over industrial action to reduce their 'unmanageable' workload.
A judge suspended a December 31 deadline for Chicago cops to get vaccinated against coronavirus but they must still be tested twice a week.

Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell said disputes over vaccines should be handled as a labor grievance with an arbitrator.

The administration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the vaccine policy in August which drew sharp objections from leaders in the police union.

Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara spoke out against the policy in August, saying that police unions did not want to be forced to do anything.

President Biden introduced the vaccine mandate in a September announcement to crack down on coronavirus.

He asked that all employers with more than 100 workers required them to get vaccinated.

If they are not vaccinated he said they are required to have tests for the virus weekly which affects about 80 million Americans.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot (pictured left) announced the vaccine policy weeks ago, which drew sharp objections from leaders in the police union. Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell (pictured right) said disputes over vaccines should be handled as a labor grievance with an arbitrator

Chicago's deadline suspension for cops to be vaccinated comes as the mandate has been brought in for some states and caused emergency worker shortages across America.

Thousands of emergency workers have refused to get vaccinated and protested against the policy.

Workers have alleged the vaccine mandate violates their rights and disregards the antibodies many have from previous Covid infection.

President Biden (pictured) introduced the mandate in a September announcement to crack down on coronavirus. He asked that all employers with more than 100 workers required them to be vaccinated or have tests for the virus weekly, which affects about 80 million Americans. Thousands of Americans have protested against the mandate and in Chicago (pictured right) protesters from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 stood outside the City Hall on October 25

Yesterday in New York City, thousands of unvaccinated New York City firefighters opted to take sick leave to keep their paychecks before they were forced onto unpaid leave with police and EMTS.

This weekend in New York, 26 fire stations were down, which is around 10 per cent of the city's total.

Fire stations across the city experienced staff shortages and in Los Angeles, County Sherriff Alex Villaneuva claimed he would lose 30 per cent of his police force over the mandate.

Fire stations across the city experienced staff shortages and in Los Angeles, County Sherriff Alex Villaneuva (pictured) claimed he would lose 30 per cent of his police force over the mandate

Many unvaccinated firefighters in New York were sent home after the mandate came in there yesterday.

However in Illinois, Judge Mitchell said of the vaccine deadline suspension: 'The effect of this order is to send these parties back to the bargaining table and to promote labor peace by allowing them to pursue' remedies under Illinois law.'

The grievance process could last months, the city of Chicago said last week.

Chicago police officers (pictured) along with other city workers and their supporters protest at city hall the mayor's vaccination policy for city employees on October 25, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois

Under policy in Chicago, officers who have not been vaccinated must still be tested twice a week for coronavirus.

They may lose work and pay if they do not disclose their vaccine status.

Previously, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver blasted cops who refused to get vaccines and accused them of 'hypocrisy.'

Many unvaccinated New York City firefighters were sent home yesterday (pictured left and right). Hundreds protested outside Carnegie Hall

He said that in Chicago, officers were 'merely asked to fill out a form listing their vaccination status on a portal and for now can still work if they are unvaccinated so long as they are regularly tested.'

Oliver said officers were refusing to get vaccinated as a 'matter of individual liberty.'

But, as the Chicago Sun Times reported, 26 officers are on a no-pay status for refusing to report their vaccination status and face possible termination, after Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara urged officers not to comply.

Twenty-six Chicago officers are on a no-pay status for refusing to report their vaccination status and face possible termination, after Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara (pictured) urged officers not to comply

Pictured: Some of the firefighters forced to go home in New York yesterday for not being vaccinated

Before the deadline suspension, Indiana tried to poach disgruntled Chicago police officers who refused to get vaccinated.

They promised to get them into their Indiana State Police, where there is no vaccine mandate.

Last week, Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Glen Fifield said in a tweet: ' 'Hey Chicago police officers, we're hiring!

'No vaccine mandate  lower taxes, great schools, welcoming communities.'

U.S. Senator Mike Braun also tried to lure officers across the state border.

Previously, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver (pictured) blasted cops who refused to get vaccines and accused them of 'hypocrisy'

Illinois Judge Mitchell said after the deadline suspension in the city: 'The principal risk to those who are unvaccinated is to themselves and to others who choose to be unvaccinated.'

Numbers of vaccines in the police have lagged behind other departments in Chicago but have begun to slowly increase.

Chicago city data released yesterday showed 73 per cent of Police Department employees had reported their vaccine status and about 80 per cent of employees reported being fully jabbed.

Mitchell noted that COVID-19 has killed many officers worldwide.

He said: 'In light of that terrible sacrifice, the police unions' request just to have their grievances heard seems a pretty modest task,' Mitchell said.

Senator Mike Braun tweeted (pictured) in support of poaching Chicago police officers to work in Illinois, where there is no vaccine mandate

Alderman Anthony Napolitano, council member and union ally, said taking the dispute to arbitration is 'a lot more American.'

He said: 'Instead of forcing people to do something you bring it to a conversation and arbitration. This has become too much of a control situation.'

Another alderman, Chris Taliaferro, said the mayor should not need to negotiate his policies with unions.

Taliaferro said: 'But in the meantime, I hope those that are not vaccinated really take a deep look and see the good and science behind this vaccination.'

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) (pictured centre) gets a round of applause as she walks through Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 members and their supporters as they protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates outside City Hall before a Chicago City Council meeting
President Biden announced a bid to lower emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, by 30% by 2030 with tighter regulations on the oil and gas industries during his second day at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

It came soon after he pledged American support for a new global push to end deforestation.

Biden's key weapon in tackling methane is with new Environmental Protection rules tackling leaks from old oil wells and national gas pipelines across the U.S..

But his promise of U.S. leadership comes as his domestic policy agenda stalls, snarling some of his key climate promises, including capping oil wells and abandoning coal mines.

He spelled out the benefits of tackling methane leaks to an audience of world leaders, climate officials and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Biden announced that about 100 nations had pledged to tackle methane emissions.

'It's gonna improve health, reduce asthma, respiratory rate emergencies,' said Biden. It's going to improve the food supply as well by cutting crop losses and related ground level pollution.

'That's going to boost our economies, saving companies money reducing methane leaks, catching methane turning it into new revenue streams, as well as creating good paying union jobs for our workers.'

But Republicans slammed Biden for jetting to Europe when inflation was soaring and gas prices were rising at home.

Sen. John Barrasso, ranking member on the Senate Energy Committee, said the president wanted kill off affordable energy sources that Americans need.

'The White Houses plan is a recipe for disaster,' he said.

'It will result in skyrocketing power bills, less reliable energy, and fewer jobs for the American people.

'Shutting down the United States economy wont fix climate change. It will only enrich China.'

Small gas and oil producers are also concerned the new rules will put burdens on them that can put them out of business.

Leonardo Di Caprio (c) was among the audience as President Biden spelled out his support for global efforts to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas

Di Caprio attended a fringe event in Glasgow on Monday evening and was seen arriving at the main COP26 summit site on Tuesday to hear Biden speak

The main plank of the policy is tighter EPA regulations on leaks and emissions

Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers told the Wall Street Journal her staff are reviewing the new E.P.A rules to make sure they are cost-effective while gas prices surge.

'These costs on families hit home and they are not sustainable. It should be a top concern of President Biden who is instead in Europe promoting his agenda to shut down American energy,' she said.

The American Petroleum Institute told said it supports the regulation of methane but avoided comment on the new rules.

Senior Vice President for Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola released a statement saying: 'We support the direct regulation of methane from new and existing sources and are committed to building on the progress we have achieved in reducing methane emissions.

'EPA has released a sweeping proposal, and we look forward to reviewing it in its entirety. We will continue working with the agency to help shape a final rule that is effective, feasible and designed to encourage further innovation.'

Steve Scalise, the number two Republican in the House, accused Biden of hypocrisy.

'When you look at inflation, when you look at gas prices now over 50% higher than they were a year ago and what is Joe Biden's answer?

'It's to shut off production in America, jet off to Europe, in planes that are fueled by jet fuel, which is fossil fuels, to try to try to tell other people around the world that we shouldn't use fossil fuels.'

Earlier Biden signed up to a plan to end deforestation by 2030.

'Today Im announcing a new plan to conserve global forest, which will bring together a full range of US government tools, diplomatic, financial and policy to halt forests loss, restore critical carbon sinks, and improve land management,' he said.

The British government said leaders from countries representing more than 85 percent of the world's forests - including Brazil, China and the U.S. - had signed up with new commitments.

'Forests have the potential to reduce carbon globally by more than one third. By more than one third,' said Biden.

'So we need to approach this issue with the same seriousness of purpose as decarbonizing our economies. That's what we're doing in the United States.'

He appeared alongside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who delivered a stirring call to action.

'Let's end this great global chainsaw massacre,' he said.

Climate activists said they needed to see more detail in the plans before they could judge the impact of the agreement.

A day earlier, Biden told the gathering of world leaders, activists and climate officials that they could rely on American leadership to help limit global warming.

Leo wore sunglasses and was flanked by security as fans top pictures of him entering the United Nations Climate Change Conference today

Sen. Joe Manchin announced on Monday that he remained uncertain about the cost of the Biden's Build Back Better, which includes measures to stop methane leaking from old mines

On Tuesday, Biden also joined British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a Build Back Better World event, part of an effort to help the developing world tackle climate change

On Tuesday he announced a push to crack down on emissions of methane.

Methane has a bigger impact on the greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide and reducing leaks is seen as a major step to meeting climate targets.

Biden promised during the COP26 summit to work with the European Union and other nations to reduce global emissions by almost a third by 2030.

But some of his efforts, such as capping old gas wells and sealing abandoned coal mines are in the Build Back Better plan which is help up by centrist Democrats

Comments by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, one of the holdouts against the plan, that he still has doubts about the president's $1.75 trillion domestic policy agenda, loomed over Biden's appearance in Glasgow, Scotland.

But administration officials shrug off any suggestion that domestic politics is weakening the president's ability to get things done on the global stage.

'Just as he has been today with leaders around the world, the president has been robustly engaging with folks all around Washington, bringing them together and driving forward action at a pace and a scale that meets the moment on climate,' said a senior administration official.

He pointed to progress on methane as an example, and said it would have a catalytic effect on other nations.

But Manchin holds a deciding vote in the Senate, and has managed to crop key part of Biden's environmental proposals from the 'Build Back Better' plan.

Biden's climate envoy John Kerry is part of the team pushing the president's agenda at COP26. On Tuesday, he was spotted giving an interview to CNN

Even so, he announced on Monday that he remained uncertain about the cost of the proposals.

The tension at home comes as Biden and his big team of officials tries to use COP26 to demonstrate American leadership.

In his Monday speech to delegates, Biden said the U.S. 'is not only back at the table, it can hopefully lead by the power of our example,' even as he admitted, 'I know that hasn't always been the case.'

The methane plan is part of that push.

It includes new safety regulations by the Transportation Department to eradicate leaks in the country's three million miles of pipelines.

The Interior Department is tasked with clamping down on methane burned on public lands.

But it also depends on Biden getting his bills through Congress.

'Build Back Better would scale up the current Abandoned Mine Land program, funding historic remediation efforts that would result in dramatic methane emissions reductions from thousands of currently leaking, abandoned coal mines,' said a White House fact sheet.
A 'gutted' Lauren Phillips has made a tearful apology to the mother of a murdered Melbourne teenager after cracking a sick on-air joke about the brutal slaying.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Phillips called Elizabeth Barber on Tuesday morning - rather than taking to the air-waves as usual, due to the Victorian public holiday.

During the emotional call, Phillips revealed she came close to quitting her job of just six weeks after drawing outrage with a flippant comment about how she listened to a podcast about 15-year-old Rachel Barber's murder in 1999 to cheer herself up.

Rachel was strangled to death with a telephone cord by her family's babysitter Caroline Reed Robertson as part of a plot to steal the teenager's identity.

Angry listeners on Monday night bombarded Phillips with criticism after the presenter said she listened to the podcast to 'try and fix (her) mood' and cackled with laughter.

Elizabeth Barber told Daily Mail Australia the radio star had apologised in an emotional call this morning and was 'genuinely remorseful'.

Lauren Phillips offended the family of slain Melbourne teen Rachel Barber by revealing she used a podcast about her murder to cheer herself up

Phillips told Ms Barber the show's producers were 'gutted' after not realising the murder case she was referring to was real.

Daily Mail Australia understands Phillips was tearful during the call and said she thought about resigning.

'She was genuinely remorseful. She said the whole team was gutted,' Ms Barber said.

'I've asked her if she could apologise on air for all of Rachel's friends.'

Ms Barber said the KIIS FM co-host told her she had only been in the job for six weeks and that she wants her to 'learn from the experience' - but stay on air.



The apology can be revealed after Phillips and her co-host Jason 'Jase' Hawkins vanished from the airwaves during their normal KIIS FM 101.1 breakfast slot on Tuesday.

However, KIIS executives said there was a simple explanation for the no-show with both her and Jason 'Jase' Hawkins taking the day off for the Melbourne Cup public holiday, in line with several shows.

Rachel Barber was a beloved daughter and just starting out in life when she was murdered

The 34-year old explained to listeners last week she had just had an argument with her boyfriend when she decided to listen to the true crime podcast.

The trolls were swift in their condemnation.

'Meet with the mother of this poor child - see her face to face and apologise,' one critic said.

'Really? No apology yet,' one wrote on Monday underneath a post she shared last month marketing her partnership with a soap company.

The show's executive producer has claimed bosses gave the discussion the go-ahead believing the podcast's contents were entirely fictional.

But commenters questioned how Phillips and station bosses could have had no clue the podcast was about a real murder case.

'If you were listening to a true crime podcast - how on earth could you not know it was a real case? Or any of the details of it? This statement is quite confusing.'

An Instagram post by radio star Lauren Phillips about soap cleanser was hijacked by furious listeners

Phillips copped furious criticism on social media, with listeners calling for her to apologise personally for the offence she caused to the Barber family

The podcast, which was not named but is part of the CASEFILE series, clearly states the episode is about a murdered teenager from Melbourne's inner-city suburb of Richmond.

Phillips was seen laughing as a section of the podcast was played describing how Reed Robertson cruelly slaughtered Rachel before placing her body in a bag.

Her co-host Jase could be seen smiling uncomfortably as Phillips continued in hysterics.

Lauren Phillips used the horrific murder of a Melbourne child as part of an on-air skit

Rachel Barber, a 15-year-old dance student, was murdered by strangulation in Melbourne in 1999

Caroline Reed Robertson was 19 years old when she murdered Rachel Barber, pictured here after her arrest

'Am I a psychopath?' Phillips chuckled to Hawkins, who suggested she needed a welfare check.

In response, Channel 9 newsman Clint Stanaway - who walked the beat as a crime reporter for years before moving onto sport - told the show Phillips was indeed in need of help.

Rachel's mother told Daily Mail Australia she had been alerted to the vile discussion by her daughter's then boyfriend, who was left distraught after hearing it.

'For Rachel's peers and family nothing less than an explanation and an apology on air will be sufficient so they can learn from their mistakes,' Ms Barber said.

Lauren Phillips upset the friends and family of murder victim Rachel Barber with an insensitive segment on Melbourne radio

Clint Stanaway (left) was once a Melbourne crime reporter before moving onto the news desk to read the sport. He is pictured with Channel 9's Alicia Loxley

The murder of Rachel Barber will never be forgotten in Melbourne.

The long suffering mum had called-up the radio station on Monday, but was not able to go to air.

'They said they were not aware Rachel was a real person or her murder was a local case. And she explained how dreadful they feel about it and have taken it off TikTok and any other live footage,' Ms Barber said.

She described Phillips' behaviour as 'reprehensible'.

'I said Lauren should apologise on air out of respect, so that maybe another occurrence of a similar situation does not arise again,' Ms Barber said.

A spokeswoman for KIIS 101.1 told Daily Mail Australia on Monday night it had been in contact with the Barber family and 'have apologised profusely'.

'Neither Lauren or Jase were aware that the audio they were discussing related to a real murder,' the spokeswoman said.

'It was never KIIS 101.1's intention to be disrespectful or cause any distress and as soon as we were made aware that the audio wasn't a fictional story, we deleted any audio references on our social media platforms.

'We take full responsibility for the podcast audio going to air and our background checks on the source of the audio should have been a lot more thorough.

'We would never have put it to air had we known it was linked to a true crime and it was our responsibility for this to happen.

'We apologise again to the family for the additional trauma we have caused.'

Caroline Reed Robertson (middle) walked from jail 16 years after strangling a 15-year-old girl to death in a plot to steal her identity

Daily Mail Australia has confirmed the station did pull the offensive video of the discussion from social media, which was aptly titled 'Am I a psychopath'.

Rachel's boyfriend at the time she was murdered, Manni Carella, took to social media to express his disgust at Phillips.

'I am actually really shocked and FKN ANGRY by what I heard this morning on the radio (which I must add driving on the freeway, almost lost control of my car by the shock) by Jase and Lauren on 101.1 KIIS FM!!!,' he wrote.

'THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!!!!! HOW ON EARTH WOULD YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY????????? THINK BEFORE YOU DO STUPID JOKES LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!'

Rachel's disappearance was big news in Melbourne as detectives hoped to find her alive

Manni Carella is pictured behind Rachel in one of her last photographs before she was murdered

Rachel Barber was a talented dancer when her life was snuffed out by a crazed wanna-be

Ms Barber told Daily Mail Australia the cruel discussion could not have come at a worse time, with the disappearance of Cleo Smith making national news.

'I have found the last two weeks difficult with Cleo Smith missing. It is so sad and brings back memories. I hope their ending is a better story,' she said.

It is understood the radio station was bombarded with complaints, but the social media posts were only pulled down on Monday after being contacted directly by Ms Barber.

'This was so reprehensible not to have done their research. Tardy and inconsiderate. Rachel's friends who have contacted me and her sisters were disgusted by the appearance of hilarity on her face,' she said.

'Accountability is important. Compassion is too. The executive producer apologised on the phone this morning but that is not the same. Rachel's peers and family need to hear an apology online.'

In 2000, Reed Robertson, then 19, was jailed for 20 years after pleading guilty to the murder of Rachel, with a non-parole period of 14 and a half years.

She would be released from jail in 2015 with the forgiveness of Ms Barber's parents.

Rachel Barber had been a talented dancer and was adored by all who knew her

The murder of Rachel Barber will forever present a stain on Melbourne

It was a case so twisted that it inspired a star-studded 2009 Australian film, 'I Am You' (also known as 'In Her Skin'), starring Guy Pearce, Miranda Otto, Sam Neill and Rebecca Gibney.

Robertson was the victim's former babysitter, a trusted family friend and neighbour, who lured the teen to her death by manipulating her trust.

No one realised that she was plotting to kill her beautiful neighbour and assume her identity for a new start.

Robertson's diary entries were used by police as evidence in the trial.

'How to change in nine weeks' was written by Robertson on the front of her journal; the pages inside detail her sick plans.

Caroline Reed Robertson, aged 19, is pictured speaking with police after her arrest for the premeditated murder of Rachel Barber. Robertson confessed to the crime before Barber's body was found

They revealed the disturbed woman's terrifying obsession with the beautiful dancer as she plotted to kill and 'disfigure' the teen.

The journal and emotional letters to her father also exposed the intense self-loathing Robertson felt, which fed her to assume the identity of Rachel, a pretty, talented, well-liked dance student.

The Supreme Court heard that Reed Robertson had convinced herself that after killing Rachel she could in some way assume her identity.

As Rachel's devastated family desperately searched for their daughter, Reed Robertson wrapped the body in two rugs and took a taxi to her father's Kilmore farm, telling the driver she was moving a statue.

Rachel's body was buried in a shallow hole, bizarrely positioned next to the grave of the murderer's pet.
More than one million people have already cast ballots in the Virginia governor's race being watched as an early indicator for 2022 and beyond  in a race certain to be viewed as a barometer for President Biden's political strength.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican investor Glenn Youngkin have been hammering each other for months in the contest, with the bitter 2020 election and former President Donald Trump serving as the backdrop.

Polls close at 7 pm in the state. But in a twist from 2020, the state will first start announcing the results of absentee ballots. That comes after the state General Assembly passed a new law requiring election officials to start processing those votes a week before election day.

That could have a pronounced effect on public perception of the count, even if all the ballots would get counted anyway. Former President Donald Trump, who continues to make claims of election fraud, has repeatedly remarked about how his Election Night lead in some states 'disappeared.' In many states, officials began or were required to count Election Day votes first, then started running through their mail-in ballots.

With control of a 'purple' state and a potential bellwether on the line, 1.1 million Virginia voters turned in ballots by the deadline last weekend.

Democrat Joe Biden won that race by 10 percentage points, but this year analysts are watching the state to see what how Democrats fare in a lower-turnout off-year election, with Biden's overall popularity substantially lower than it was a year ago.

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin has been climbing in the polls. A win would have implications for President Joe Biden and the political prospects of former President Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton won the state by 5 percentage points in 2016.

The state experienced a record for early voting, and accounts for a fifth of the state's electorate, which totals 5.9 million, CNBC reported. That compares to fewer than 200,000 early voters in 2017 for the last governor's race.

It comes amid a push by candidates to bank early votes  and follows a change in state law in favor of 'no excuse' early voting, which also took effect during the 2020 presidential election.

Trump's apparent 'lead' in Virginia vanished at around midnight on Nov. 3, 2020, the Washington Post reported as these mail ballots were scanned and counted.

Election observers have again been predicting Democrat McAuliffe would have an edge in the early vote, with Youngkin likely to hold the advantage on Election Day itself.

Youngkin told Fox News last week his camp expected a '"surprisingly good" turnout among early voters. 'Historically early voting has been 75 to 80% Democrats, so for us to be so strong in the early voting just reflects the fact that theres not any enthusiasm on my opponent's side,' he said.

Youngkin pulled ahead of his Democratic challenger and former Virginia governor on Saturday in a FiveThirtyEight polling average. On October 28, the two were tied at 47 per cent.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, raises a glass of hard cider as he speaks to supporters during a rally in Richmond, Va., Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. A loss by McAuliffe would rattle Democrats hoping to preserve control of Congress

With a cold rain falling, voters stand in line to cast their ballots at the McClean Government Center during early voting on October 29, 2021 in McLean, Virginia

Cars line up along Balls Hill Road waiting to enter the McClean Government Center during early voting on October 29, 2021 in McLean, Virginia

President Joe Biden campaigned for McAuliffe before Biden's trip to Europe

A polling average by Fivethirty Eight shows Republican contender Youngkin up .6% from Democrat McAuliffe in a 47.647% split

Donald Trump reiterated his support for Youngkin in a statement Monday ahed of the former president's tele-rally for the candidate. He urged supporters to get out and vote despite not being a 'believer in the integrity of Virginia's elections'

A loss by McAuliffe could cause a panic in his party and set a tone that could impact fundraising and retirements as Democrats seek to hold control of Congress in 2022.

The race will also be seen as a referendum on Trump, who didn't campaing in person for Youngkin but gave his endorsement and issued a statement Monday calling his opponents 'perverts.'

Youngkin's tactic of appealing to Trump's base without overtly embracing the former president at all times could offer a pathway for other Republicans seeking to gain or hold power without being forced to cross Trump or reject his claims of election fraud.

Youngkin and McAuliffe were in a virtual dead heat in a Monday in the Five thirty-eight polling average.
Today show hosts have slammed the global climate summit as 'a complete and utter joke' after two key players - China and Russia - were a noticeable no-show.

Karl and Ally hit out at the COP26 Climate summit meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, where more than 100 leaders gathered to discuss efforts to curb climate change.

But key players China and Russia were two major figureheads missing from the UN-led negotiations to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon blast Glasgow Climate Conference as China and Russia are labelled no-show's

'I am sorry but Glasgow is just a complete and utter joke,' said a frustrated Stefanovic on Tuesday. 'China is not even there.'

'Russia is not there. India is not part of it,' added Langdon.

'It's just a love fest for...' continued Stefnovic.

'People with private jets,' finished Langdon.

The Today Show hosts took a jab at reports Amazon founder Jeff Bezsos' $65m Gulf Stream led a 400-strong parade of private jets into Glasgow ahead of COP26.

An extraordinary traffic jam then forced empty planes to fly about 50km to find space to park.

The fleet of private jets flying in for the conference is estimated to blast out 13,000tonnes of carbon dioxide in total.

China's Xi Jinping was not in attendance but offered a written statement to be read at COP26 negotiations this week

The Conference of the Parties, also known as COP26 kicked off on Tuesday where world leaders from the world's wealthiest economies outline their policies to address climate change.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi did attend the summit but pledged to cut its emissions to net zero by 2070, a date two decades after the set target.

China, the world's larger emitter of carbon dioxide, failed to appear at negotiations nor provide a 'virtual speech', with leader Xi Jinping instead delivering a written statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't supply a reason for his absence and will instead supply a pre-recorded message

Xi's statement said China would 'vigorously' develop renewable energy by building wind and solar power stations however it will continue to roll-out coal fired projects.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also absent from the event, providing no reason for his decision to not attend the talks.

Putin, leader of the world's fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter, will instead deliver a pre-recorded message at the conference.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan also announced he will not be coming, despite attending the G20.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has already introduced an additional $500m for international climate finance funding on the first day of the summit.

The money would be funnelled to Pacific and south-east Asian countries to develop 'climate resilience' for future infrastructure investments.

This comes as the prime minister doubled down on reducing 2030 emissions by half after copping international criticism for his governments lack of climate ambition.
Emmanuel Macron publicly called Scott Morrison a liar because he was so angry at being 'left out' in the Pacific region, according to an expert on France.

Asked by journalists at the G20 summit in Rome if Mr Morrison lied to him before tearing up a $90billion submarine contract, President Macron replied: 'I don't think, I know.'

Mr Morrison has denied lying to Mr Macron and insisted the French knew Australia's deal to buy 12 submarines was on the rocks before it was torn up in September in favour of a nuclear submarine partnership with the US and UK.

President Macron's public display of anger was highly unusual and reflects the fury in Paris at the cancellation of what the French press called 'the contract of the century' which would have provided enormous economic benefit.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton claimed President Macron's anger was a bid to win French voters with an election in April, but French affairs expert Professor Peter McPhee of Melbourne University said he's furious because France's strategic interests have been set back.

In May 2018, President Macron announced an Indo-Pacific strategy for the first time, outlining France's priorities for the region - where it has territories New Caledonia and French Polynesia - such as boosting defence and security, increasing economic growth and upholding the rule of law amid China's growing assertiveness.

Promoting co-operation between 'like-minded partners' was a key plank of the strategy and the submarine contract with Australia was part of this wider aim.

'Back in May 2018, Macron announced a French Indo-pacific strategy while standing next to then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Sydney,' Professor McPhee told Daily Mail Australia.

In May 2018, President Macron announced an Indo-Pacific strategy for the first time. Pictured: Allied ships conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific last month

In May 2018, President Macron (second left) announced a French Indo-pacific strategy while standing next to then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (second right) in Sydney

'And in an update as recently as August this year, the submarine contract with our ''great ally'' Australia was seen to be quite pivotal to that.

'France has been developing this major strategy for the region and this [cancellation] strikes at the heart of that,' he added.

'It's led to the French Government feeling left out of key strategic decisions about the Indo-Pacific.

'It's not just a submarine contract, it's France's place in the region.'

Mr Turnbull also made this point on Tuesday morning, telling ABC radio: 'It was a partnership between two nations, it was a cornerstone of France's Indo-Pacific strategy and to be double-dealing them the way Morrison did was shameful.'

Professor McPhee said it was extremely rare for a leader to publicly accuse an ally of lying.

'I really can't think of a previous occasion. Macron has seen Australia as the key partner for France in the Pacific and for an ally to say the leader of an allied country has lied - that's normally something that's done over a drink rather than on the side-lines of a conference,' he said.

'It was done very deliberately. There was a white heat behind what he said. Macron was furious, and not just because of the submarines.'

When Mr Dutton claimed President Macron is showing his anger to appeal to French voters ahead of a challenge from far-right leader Marine Le Pen, he said: 'Politicians and elections always make for an interesting mix.'

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has claimed that President Macron (pictured with wife Bridgette last month) is showing his anger to appeal to French voters ahead of a presidential election in April

President Macron is facing a challenge from far right candidate Marine Le Pen (pictured) with the election in April 2022

Professor McPhee said domestic politics was a factor but all parties in France had a similar reaction to the submarine cancellation.

'For Macron, yes, this is humiliating with an election coming up, but every political party in France was indignant about what happened,' he said.

'Dutton's remark is an easy remark to minimise the significance of this just to say ''the French are playing politics'' but there's a lot more to it than that.

'It needs to be said that the indignation in France has been right across the political spectrum.

'The main newspaper on the Left in France, Liberation, had an eight pages about the contract being cancelled.

'The main conservative newspaper Le Figaro, has had much the same reaction,' he said.

More than 1.6million people live in New Caledonia and French Polynesia and three-quarters of the French exclusive economic zone is in the IndoPacific.

New Caledonia is facing a third independence referendum on December 12.

An awkward handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) at the G20 summit in Rome this week

Mr Morrison announced his decision to cancel the French submarine contract in a joint press conference with the Boris Johnson and Joe Biden in September.

Mr Morrison wants US or UK-style nuclear-powered submarines, which are faster, stealthier and can stay at sea longer than conventional submarines, by 2040.

France was blindsided by the move and said it was 'stabbed in the back'.

After Mr Macron accused Mr Morrison of lying to him on Monday, the Prime Minister hit back saying he would not cop 'sledging.'

The French president had claimed he was not informed about Australia's plans to tear up the defence contract until moments before the AUKUS security pact was revealed to the world on September 15.

But in a message believed to have been leaked by Mr Morrison's office to show President Macron knew the agreement was on shaky ground, the French leader wrote: 'Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarines ambitions?'

While Mr Morrison had conceded Mr Macron was not aware of negotiations with the US and the UK, due to their confidential nature, he says the French leader was told as early as June that Australia was consulting on other options for submarines.

A secret leaked text message (pictured) appears to show that Emmanuel Macron was given warning that Australia would torpedo its $90billion submarine deal with France
Republican Virginia candidate Glenn Youngkin slammed Terry McAuliffe for 'using racism as a political ploy' after he says his Democratic rival lied about him trying to ban books by black authors.

Youngkin's campaign released a statement, listing '15 lies McAuliffe told' in his recent interview on Meet the Press on Sunday.

McAuliffe had told with Chuck Todd that his GOP gubernatorial rival was 'closing his campaign on banning books'.

'He wants to ban Toni Morrison's book Beloved,' he claimed. 'He's going after one of the most preeminent African American, female writers in American history, won the Nobel prize, has the presidential medial of freedom and he wants her books banned.

'Out of all the hundreds of books you could look at, why did you take the one, black female author? He's ending his campaign on a racist dog whistle just like he started the campaign when he talks about election integrity.'

On Monday, Youngkin hit back, claiming that the Democrat 'spewed more than a dozen lies in less than 6 minutes' in a 'disgusting strategy to use racism as a political ploy.'

His campaign team said that Youngkin's legislation, House Bill 516, on books focused on literature with sexually explicit content only, and said that it did not 'ban' books, but asked that parents be alerted if their children were exposed to the books and given the opportunity to review them for themselves. If the parent so chose, they could ask for an alternative.

'The legislation would not have stopped a single student from having the opportunity to read any book,' the statement added.

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (pictured) is under fire after he accused his opponent, Republican Glenn Youngkin, of wanting to ban books written by black authors during a Sunday interview on NBC's Meet the Press

Youngkin's campaign, responding to the allegations Monday, issued a press release outlining fifteen things McAuliffe reportedly lied about during his interview

'McAuliffe vetoed bills that would have notified parents when their child was assigned sexually explicit material. Why is McAuliffe so dead set against parents simply being notified of what their child is being assigned?'

Youngkin has previously argued on behalf of concerned parents who believed they should have been notified about the novel's graphic content before their children are exposed to it, Fox News reported.

McAuliffe accused Youngkin of wanting to 'take books out of the curriculum,' including Beloved. The Morrison novel has been used as reading materials in some schools. It aims to paint of picture of salary and features graphic depictions of sex, violence and bestiality

McAuliffe accused Youngkin of wanting to 'take books out of the curriculum,' including Beloved. The Morrison novel has been used as reading materials in some schools. It aims to paint of picture of salary and features graphic depictions of sex, violence and bestiality.

During his Meet the Press interview, Todd said that supporters of House Bill 516 were not interested in banning books but instead alerting parents about content 'that not all of them would be crazy about.'

But McAullife doubled down, saying that the result would be the same.

'If you look at what the bill would be, they ultimately would have led to books being removed from our classrooms.'

The Youngkin campaign argues that the 'bipartisan legislation would not have allowed a parent to influence what the rest of the class read or did.'

'Parents would have been given an opportunity to review the materials upon request. If a parent objected, a student would be given 'nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities.'

The campaign added: 'At the time of the vetoes, some critics said the law could have led to book banning, but McAuliffe did not raise that objection in his veto messages.'

The Youngkin (right) campaign said McAuliffe's (left) allegations were 'nonsense.' The campaign argued that Youngkin is campaigning on the principle that parents matter and that parents have a right to have a say in their own child's education

Youngkin shared his campaign's press release on Twitter Monday. The release claims that McAuliffe lied about 15 things during his Meet the Press interview

Youngkin's campaign added that his legislation had broad support - including 'by many members of the Black Caucus.'

'McAuliffe is essentially calling those Black Democrats racists,' he added.

According to the latest Fox News poll, conducted by Democratic pollster Chris Anderson and Republican Daron Shaw, McAuliffe's approval ratings have decreased in the last two weeks.

Between October 10 and 13, 51 percent of Virginians favored McAullife. Now only 45 percent do.

In that same time Youngkin's approval ratings rose from 46 percent to 53 percent.

According to the latest Fox News poll, McAuliffe's approval ratings have decreased in the last two weeks.

The majority of Virginians polled also indicated that they trusted Youngkin over McAuliffe when it comes to addressing educational issues

'With the race essentially tied among the full registered voter universe, McAuliffe could still pull this off,' argued Anderson.

'But it would take something big to ignite enthusiasm for McAuliffe's candidacy and a massively effective get out the vote effort.'

The majority of Virginians polled also indicated that they trusted Youngkin over McAuliffe when it comes to addressing educational issues.

'Education is a top issue, which is usually good news for the Democrats since they are typically seen as more capable in that domain,' Shaw said.

'But Youngkin has turned the issue on its head so it's about curriculum and parent involvement rather than spending. The result is the GOP is currently preferred on perhaps the critical issue for this election.'
The U.S. has reached the goal of having 70 percent of the adult population vaccinated and more than 80 percent have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Jeff Zients, chief of the White House coronavirus task force noted the statistical benchmark showed how the the country was making strides in fighting the pandemic.

The 70 percent goal comes a month later than President Biden had hoped.

70 percent of Americans now fully vaccinated with 80 percent having one shot

New guidelines issues last week suggest masks be worn indoors to reduce transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant (file photo)

Yet despite reaching the figure, restrictions are still being suggested for those in public places indoors and on public transport.

Federal health authorities issued new guidelines last week that urged even fully vaccinated people to wear masks insides because breakthrough cases of the Delta variant might be able to transmit the virus onward.

The announcement was tweeted by Cyrus Shahpar, COVID-19 data director for the Biden administration. 'Let's continue working to get more eligible vaccinated!', Shahpar wrote.

Shahpar detailed how more than 935,000 vaccine doses were administered in the past day, including 240,000 initial shots and 571,000 additional doses and boosters.

He announced by the end of Monday, about 20 million Americans will have received a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

It comes just as shots are preparing to be given to children aged between 5 and 11 is imminent with final approval set for Wednesday or Thursday.

Dr. Jeff Zients, White House Covid-19 coordinator noted the statistical benchmark showed how the the country was making strides in fighting the pandemic.

White House announced on Monday that 70 percent of adults in the U.S. are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and that 80 percent of adults have received at least their first shot

'These are important milestones,' Zients said. 'We know vaccines are the very best tool we have to accelerating our path out of the pandemic.'

The Food and Drug Administration has approved children-sized doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11. The Centers for Disease Control is expected to give the final approval later this week.

Millions of doses of the vaccine will be farmed out across a network of 20,000 pediatricians, drug stores and community health centers within hours of being approved.

The administration has purchased enough of the Pfizer vaccine to inoculate all 28 million children who are eligible.

The FDA is reviewing the Moderna vaccine designed for children. There has been a delay with the company examining a possible rare heart risk.

'Bottom line: we've been planning and preparing for this moment,' Zients said. 'We are ready to execute pending CDC's decision.'

Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, disclosed the statistics during a press briefing Monday morning, saying that the U.S. has 'hit two important milestones.'

COVID-19 cases and deaths are trending downward in the U.S. most likely, in part, due to the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Zients explained that reduced numbers of those being infected and dying from coronavirus reflect the success of the vaccines themselves and mandates which have pushed Americans to get their shots.

Biden had initially used Independence Day for the country to return to a life of normality, but the goalposts suddenly shifted as the highly contagious Delta variant began to spread.

Pressure was once again placed on hospitals and areas that had low vaccination rates with areas in the south including Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas hit hard.

But as cases increased, so too have vaccination rates in areas where infections were high including Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Florida.

The Delta variant is know to be far more contagious than previous forms of the virus.

Although infections in those who have been vaccinated people is still relatively uncommon, those who do get infected are better protected against the most severe symptoms of the illness and from dying.
China's growing military muscle and its drive to end American predominance in the Asia-Pacific is rattling the U.S. defense establishment. American officials see trouble quickly accumulating on multiple fronts  Beijing's expanding nuclear arsenal, its advances in space, cyber and missile technologies, and threats to Taiwan.

'The pace at which China is moving is stunning,' said General John Hyten, the No. 2-ranking U.S. military officer, who previously commanded U.S. nuclear forces and oversaw Air Force space operations.

At stake is a potential shift in the global balance of power that has favored the United States for decades. A realignment more favorable to China does not pose a direct threat to the United States but could complicate U.S. alliances in Asia.

New signs of how the Pentagon intends to deal with the China challenge may emerge in coming weeks from Biden administration policy reviews on nuclear weapons, global troop basing and overall defense strategy.

China's growing military and its focus to end America's presence in the Asia-Pacific region are concerns worrying the U.S. defense establishment. Pictured: DF-17 Dongfeng medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with a DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, are being shown at a military parade in Beijing, China

Joint Chiefs of Staff General vice chairman John Hyten said the public should be worried that China has completed hundreds of hypersonic missile tests while the US lags behind

General Milley called China's hypersonic missile 'very concerning' for the United States but added that problems posed by China's military modernization run far deeper

For now, officials marvel at how Beijing is marshaling the resources, technology and political will to make rapid gains  so rapid that the Biden administration is attempting to reorient all aspects of U.S. foreign and defense policy.

The latest example of surprising speed was China's test of a hypersonic weapon capable of partially orbiting Earth before reentering the atmosphere and gliding on a maneuverable path to its target. The weapon system's design is meant to evade U.S. missile defenses, and although Beijing insisted it was testing a reusable space vehicle, not a missile, the test appeared to have startled U.S. officials.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the test was 'very close' to being a Sputnik moment, akin to the 1957 launching by the Soviet Union of the world's first space satellite, which caught the world by surprise and fed fears the United States had fallen behind technologically. What followed was a nuclear arms and space race that ultimately bankrupted the Soviet Union.

Milley and other U.S. officials have declined to discuss details of the Chinese test, saying they are secret. He called it 'very concerning' for the United States but added that problems posed by China's military modernization run far deeper.

'That's just one weapon system,' he said in a Bloomberg Television interview. 'The Chinese military capabilities are much greater than that. They're expanding rapidly in space, in cyber and then in the traditional domains of land, sea and air.'

A hypersonic air-breathing weapons concept missile is seen in an artist's conception

China is thought to have carried out two tests of a hypersonic orbital nuke - the first on July 27 and the second on August 13 this year. Observers believe the 'weapon' is an updated version of a Soviet concept called a 'Fractional Orbital Bombardment System', or FOBS. It is designed to evade powerful US radar systems and anti-missile defences designed to shoot down traditional ICBMs by flying in low-Earth orbit, making it harder to spot, track and destroy

On the nuclear front, private satellite imagery in recent months has revealed large additions of launch silos that suggest the possibility that China plans to increase its fleet of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs.

Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons expert at the Federation of American Scientists, says China appears to have about 250 ICBM silos under construction, which he says is more than 10 times the number in operation today. The U.S. military, by comparison, has 400 active ICBM silos and 50 in reserve.

Pentagon officials and defense hawks on Capitol Hill point to China's modernization as a key justification for rebuilding the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a project expected to cost more than $1 billion over 30 years, including sustainment costs.

Fiona Cunningham, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and a specialist in Chinese military strategy, says a key driver of Beijing's nuclear push is its concerns about U.S. intentions.

'I don't think China's nuclear modernization is giving it a capability to pre-emptively strike the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and that was a really important generator of competition during the Cold War,' Cunningham said in an online forum sponsored by Georgetown University. 'But what it does do is to limit the effectiveness of U.S. attempts to pre-emptively strike the Chinese arsenal.'

China, the US and Russia are engaged in a global arms race that now includes the development of hypersonic missile technology. Here, the MailOnline has compared (from left) each country's main nuclear weapon, the latest hypersonic technology they have tested, their most up-to-date aircraft carriers, main battle tanks, and cutting-edge jets

The US has also growing concerns over China's ongoing assertiveness in air and maritime activity in the regional seas, and raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the country's military buildup with its budget making triple increase over the past decade

Some analysts fear Washington will worry its way into an arms race with Beijing, frustrated at being unable to draw the Chinese into security talks. Congress also is increasingly focused on China and supports a spending boost for space and cyber operations and hypersonic technologies. There is a push, for example, to put money in the next defense budget to arm guided-missile submarines with hypersonic weapons, a plan initiated by the Trump administration.

For decades, the United States tracked China's increased defense investment and worried that Beijing was aiming to become a global power. But for at least the last 20 years, Washington was focused more on countering al-Qaida and other terrorist threats in Iraq and Afghanistan. That began to change during the Trump administration, which in 2018 formally elevated China to the top of the list of defense priorities, along with Russia, replacing terrorism as the No. 1 threat.

For now, Russia remains a bigger strategic threat to the United States because its nuclear arsenal far outnumbers China's. But Milley and others say Beijing is a bigger long-term worry because its economic strength far exceeds that of Russia, and it is rapidly pouring resources into military modernization.

At the current pace of China's military investment and achievement, Beijing 'will surpass Russia and the United States' in overall military power in coming years 'if we don't do something to change it,' said Hyten, who is retiring in November after two years as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 'It will happen.'

The Biden administration says it is determined to compete effectively with China, banking on a network of allies in Asia and beyond that are a potential source of strength that Beijing cannot match. That was central to the reasoning behind a Biden decision to share highly sensitive nuclear propulsion technologies with Australia, enabling it to acquire a fleet of conventionally armed submarines to counter China.

Although this was a boost for Australia, it was a devastating blow to Washington's oldest ally, France, which saw its $66 billion submarine sale to Australia scuttled in the process.

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan is inevitable within the next five or six years, with the US and its allies such as Australia forced to come to its defence, some military experts warn

The pact does not make the design of Australia's new submarines clear, but they will be based on previous US and UK designs. Pictured above is a cross-section of Britain's Astute-class nuclear attack subs, which is likely to mirror the new vessels

China's recent claims on control over the whole of the South China sea, which other nations dispute, has raised concerns from Western allies, including Australia, which previously said that war with China over the issue would be possible in the future

Taiwan is another big worry. Senior U.S. military officers have been warning this year that China is probably accelerating its timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the island democracy widely seen as the most likely trigger for a potentially catastrophic U.S.-China war.

The United States has long pledged to help Taiwan defend itself, but it has deliberately left unclear how far it would go in response to a Chinese attack.

President Joe Biden appeared to abandon that ambiguity when he said October 21 that America would come to Taiwan's defense if it were attacked by China.

'We have a commitment to do that,' Biden said. The White House later said he was not changing U.S. policy, which does not support Taiwanese independence but is committed to providing defensive arms.
Disturbing footage has emerged of the moment a reveller was knocked unconscious and left lying on tram tracks in a sickening attack.

Police have launched an investigation into the violent assault in Melbourne's bustling Chapel Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incident unfolded shortly after officers intervened in a scuffle involving a Glen Iris man, 26, and a group of up to six males shortly before 2.30am, police said.

They separated the man from the group before tensions between the two parties escalated again a short time later.

The wild brawl spilled onto Chapel Street in Prahran, where the man copped several punches and an attempted kick to the head.

The street was packed with late night revellers at the time.

One bystander can be heard cheering in the sickening footage as the man is knocked to the ground.

His attacker can be seen still punching the victim as he laid unconscious on the tram tracks before fleeing the scene.

Shocked passer-by rushed to the injured man's aid and stayed with him for an hour as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

'It was a very hard punch, like when you hit a stone with a bat or something,' witness Husnian Shafique told Seven News.

The alleged attacker continued to punch the victim has he laid unconscious on the tram tracks

The man was rushed to the Alfred Hospital with serious injuries.

He was released from hospital before police were able to get a statement from him.

The alleged attacker was wearing a distinctive hooded black jacket and fled the scene on foot heading towards Malvern Road.

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia inquiries are continuing.

Any witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Glammed-up punters have begun spilling into Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse for 'the race that stops the nation' - with the sartorial bar set early on by a woman bursting through the gates in a pastel power suit.

She is one of many who have forgone the traditional fascinator and frock combination in favour of a wide-brimmed hat and an edgier two-piece this racing season, hinting at what is to come today.

The fashionista led a host of attendees donned head-to-toe in pastel mini dresses, whimsical white lace numbers and bold patterned pieces keen to ensure all eyes were on them as they fought it out for prime position ahead of the iconic race at 3pm.

The main event will be fought out by 23 runners at Flemington Racecourse in front of 10,000 fully-vaccinated racegoers after Matt Cumani-trained outsider Future Score showed signs of lameness.

Around 70 per cent of attendees at the 161st Melbourne Cup will be Victoria Racing Club members with only five per cent of tickets offered to members of the public. The rest of the crowd will be made up of horse owners, corporate sponsors and trainers.

Those who didn't snag a ticket for the race can watch from home with 10 people including dependents allowed in private residences and 30 in public spaces outdoors.

Hospitality venues will also be packed to the brim with fully vaccinated punters who may struggle to stay seated as rules request when the major race kicks off at 3pm.

A woman in a baby pink power suit has set the bar for fashionable arrivals at the 2021 Melbourne Cup

The glamorous punter wore a matching pink pantsuit with a blue tie and striking white hat

Another glamorous arrival opted for a peach mini-dress and accessorised with a large pink bow and white bag

Flemington Racecourse will welcome back 10,000 vaccinated punters after the race ran crowd-less last year due to Covid-19

Punters will be separated into three zones they cannot stray from and will need to be fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors and be seated to eat and drink.

Earlier on Tuesday, Melbourne Cup outsider Future Score was ruled out of the $8 million race after failing a veterinary test.

One of two runners inspected on race morning, Future Score was withdrawn because of lameness.

Future Score's defection leaves a field of 23 to face the starter in the famous race after Delphi was passed fit.

Delphi, who has met with betting support at longer odds, was lame on Cup eve but satisfied Racing Victoria veterinarians of his soundness before Tuesday's scratching deadline.

The import will be trying to rebound after a Caulfield Cup disappointment and will be ridden by champion jockey Damien Oliver.

Oliver is chasing his fourth Melbourne Cup win.

Twenty-two Cup horses were cleared to race on Monday, including the UK stayer Spanish Mission.

Spanish Mission attracted additional veterinary scrutiny last week before given the all-clear to race ahead of an acceptance deadline on Saturday.

Attendees opted for bright colours and patterns for the springtime race - which is the 161st to run since the first in 1861

Spectators will soon start filling the Flemington lawns but will be required to stay within one of three designated zones

Victorians who weren't lucky enough to snag a ticket can watch the race from home with up to 10 people including dependents allowed in private houses and 30 in public spaces

Another arrival opted for a simple hot pink dress with statement earrings and a pink broad-brimmed hat to keep off the sun

The Melbourne Cup is all about style

Trainer Matthew Cumani has slammed Racing Victoria for the 'ultra-conservative' rules that meant his horse Future Score was pulled from the race after showing signs of lameness in his right foreleg.

He claimed the seven-year-old gelding presented the same way going into the Cranbourne Cup, which he won.

The last-minute decision comes after safety measures for Cup Runners were ramped-up following the deaths of six horses in the last seven years.

'Just very sad for the owners of the horse, we thought he was a better chance than 200-1, he was really peaking for this week,' Cumani told SEN on Tuesday morning.

'I think there's a lot of pressure on Racing Victoria to be ultra, ultra conservative. And for them it was a real margin call, it went down to 7.29am to make the decision.

Spectators enjoy freedom at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

Only 5 per cent of the 10,000 tickets have been extended to the general public with the majority of spectators either corporate sponsors, horse owners or trainers

While one woman decided on a blue dress and white her friend wore a festive dress printed with pineapples and a headband

This couple decided to colour coordinate with a respective yellow headpiece and tie as they walked into the grounds

Punters celebrated their return to the Racecourse by wearing colourful two-pieces and edgy pantsuits

Punters celebrated as they walked in the gates in anticipation of watching the 'race that stops a nation'

'They decided to be ultra-cautious. I can understand their point of view when they don't know a horse inside out.

'But for me and my vet, who know him inside out, and know he presented in the same way going into the Cranbourne Cup, which he won convincingly, it's a bit frustrating.'

Future Score had passed all of his pre-requisite exams and was cleared following a round of vet examinations late last week.

The final call to withdraw the horse was made at 7:29am, just one minute before the scratching deadline.

A disappointed Cumani said the horse had been racing with consistent action for over 12 months and would return towards the end of the spring carnival.

'Look, he was a 200-1 shot, but he was absolutely flying, he was peaking for this performance,' the trainer said.

'I'm confident he will be racing again (this prep),' he said.

Matthew Cumani is the brother of Francessca Cumani, a glamorous horse racing presenter for ITV Racing and Channel Ten.

Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained horse Delphi also underwent a vet check on raceday after presenting with signs of lameness in his left foreleg on Monday.

Delphi was later given the green light to run and will compete at 3pm.

Excited punters continue to spill through the gates in anticipation of the major race held at 3pm

This woman wore a bright blue dress with gold detailing, a matching gold purse and blue headpiece

These women decided to attend the event matching in white collared shirts, ties, long black coats and bowler hats

Another punter wearing a grey suit with a yellow flower pinned to his lapel waited for his friends to arrive

Another punter wore a floral dress and a matching pink hat for the festivities

The fashionable arrivals came as screaming animal rights protesters were arrested after storming the gates of Flemington Racecourse around 10am - just hours before the major horse race kicks off at 3pm

The fashionable arrivals come as dramatic scenes erupted at the Melbourne Cup as screaming animal rights protesters are arrested after storming the gates of Flemington Racecourse.

A group of animal rights activists marched up to the venue around 10am on Tuesday - just hours before the major horse race kicks off at 3pm.

A video posted online shows a woman chanting 'say nup to the cup!' as one of her fellow demonstrators is escorted out of a car park by police.

Another photo shows at least five protesters dressed in black sitting in a patch of grass as officers place them in handcuffs.

The incident comes after members from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) staged a Squid Game -themed protest outside the racecourse on Monday.

PETA's Mimi Bekhech said the demonstrators dressed as characters from hit Netflix series to draw comparisons between the plot of the show and the cruel treatment of horses in the racing industry.

Punters will flood the lawns before enjoying a glass of champagne and placing their bets with horse Incentivise is the favourite  the shortest priced horse since Phar Lap

Punters were seen racing from the gates to score a spot along the racecourse with the major race to kick off at 3pm

Other spectators opted to wear colourful floral designs in honour of the Springtime race

Four spectators enjoy a glass of champagne underneath an umbrella on the Flemington Racecourse lawns

In Squid Game, the participants' lives are gambled on, but at least they get to choose whether they want to play or not,' she said.

'Horses used in the Melbourne Cup are forced to race, whipped to the finish line, and discarded when no longer profitable.'

Eight horses have died following the Melbourne Cup in the past nine years. Last year Anthony Van Dyck was putdown after fracturing his fetlock during the race.

According to CPR's Death Watch, 149 horses have died on Australian tracks between August 2020 and July 2021 - which is around 1 every 2.5 days.
Prince Charles played a key role in getting Jeff Bezos to pledge 732million for land restoration in Africa, it has emerged.

At a Cop26 event alongside the Prince of Wales and French president Emmanuel Macron, the Amazon founder said he would match a previous contribution made through his Bezos Earth Fund.

The event highlighted the Great Green Wall initiative, which will plant 20million trees across the width of Africa to counter desertification on the continent.

Prince Charles played a key role in getting Jeff Bezos (both pictured having tea together in Rome on Sunday) to pledge 732million for land restoration in Africa, it has emerged

Mr Bezos said: 'We all know that this is the decisive decade, but without action, it will become the indecisive decade.

'We can't let that happen. Please consider us an ally for this important cause.'

It came after Prince Charles hosted the businessman and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, for tea and an informal chat after the G20 summit in Rome on Sunday.

Sources said the prince was 'instrumental' in bringing Mr Bezos and Mr Macron together on the issue.

At a Cop26 event alongside the Prince of Wales and French president Emmanuel Macron, the Amazon founder said he would match a past contribution made through his Bezos Earth Fund

The tycoon was criticised for flying to the summit on a private jet, two days after celebrating the 66th birthday of fellow billionaire Bill Gates aboard a superyacht.

He also drew criticism from climate activists earlier this year - and tacit disapproval from Prince William - after using a project he funded to go to space.

Yesterday, Ms Sanchez posted several pictures of the 'private' meeting on her Instagram account.

The meeting was apparently to discuss Bezos' commitment ahead of the meeting.

Bezos later tweeted: 'The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world far longer than most.

'We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26 - looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help.'
A homelessness activist and father-of-12 known as the 'Mayor of Martin Place' for setting up a tent city and soup kitchen in the Sydney CBD has died at the age of 76.

Lanz Priestley - who set up the 24-7 Street Kitchen and Safe Place - died after suffering a brain bleed last month, his family announced on Tuesday.

He famously left his job working for a major cosmetics brand to dedicate his life to the homeless and started living on the street so he could better understand the challenges they face.

In 2017, Mr Priestley said he had spent at least six months a year living rough in Sydney since 1991.

Lanz Priestley (pictured right ) lived on the streets of Martin Place for six months a year since 1991. He has died at the age of 76

His family announced his death on Tuesday morning as they paid tribute to a 'selfless being'.

'His work has helped, inspired, and united so many people throughout the world,' the family said in a statement on Facebook.

'Nothing defined how hard he worked. Although it is time for Lanz to finally rest, his contributions will continue to live on.'

His friend Freya Strom said Mr Priestley was rushed to hospital last month after suffering a brain bleed.

She said at the time the plan was 'to keep him stable' before then transferring him to another hospital for surgery.

Mr Priestley told Daily Mail Australia in 2017 he gave up his comfortable corporate life because he 'wanted to know what was going on on the streets'.

His family announced his death on Tuesday morning as they paid tribute to a 'selfless being'

'I want to know what's working from the point of view of the guys on the streets - because they've had absolutely no say in the programs that are run to help them.

'The programs run today by NGOs and the Government are very much about maintaining self interest.'

Priestley began working with the homeless alongside his brother in 1964, aiding a group of men who were drinking methylated spirits in the park they crossed on their way to work.

Mr Priestley left his job working for a major cosmetics brand to dedicate his life to the homeless

'We got them soup, and then we got them blankets, and then we got them a house, then we got their friends houses, and later on we organised squats and business collectives that took homeless people off the street,' he said.

'We've done a lot of things in New Zealand, in London, in Brazil, here.

'I worked for a major cosmetics company for 10 years. I'd be going to a launch, with people from the modelling industry there, and afterwards I'd go down and sort out the homeless guys.'

Mr Priestley began setting up resources for the homeless in Sydney's Martin Place in 1991.

Mr Priestley set up resources for the homeless in Sydney's Martin Place in 1991 and used crowd sourcing to build his collective

His operation became built primarily on crowd sourcing, with the occasional one-off donation from a company.

He revealed his chief aim was ending homelessness.

He said while the awning previously available in Martin Place was a big draw card, so was its proximity to the department of housing.

'I wasn't about to tuck their dirty little secret out of sight. I'm not going to expedite their convenience,' he said.
A Southern California man was sentenced to two years in prison Monday for torturing his Chihuahua puppy and posting footage of the unconscious dog on social media.

Riverside man Angel Ramos-Corrales, 19, assaulted the dog February 13 at his apartment on the 3500 block of Lou Ella Lane.

Footage revealed Ramos-Corrales breaking the puppy's skull and slitting its throat.

He was later taken into custody by police who received complaints about footage of the abuse.

Officers found Ramos-Corrales with fresh blood stains on his clothes and fresh wounds on his hands. There were blood spatters in a bathroom and bedroom, according to the criminal complaint.

The small dog was found in the house barely alive, and rushed to an emergency pet clinic by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. His injuries were deemed too severe, however, and the animal had to be euthanized.

He pleaded guilty in June to one count of animal crushing, which involves causing serious injury to an animal causing extreme physical pain, long-term damage or risk of death.

Riverside man Angel Ramos-Corrales was sentenced to two years in prison on one count of animal crushing

Video footage from February 13 revealed Ramos-Corrales torturing his four-month-old Chihuahua puppy Canelo

Canelo was later euthanized due to the severity of his injuries including a broken skull, ribs and a slit throat

The video showed Ramos-Corrales' four-month-old puppy Canelo lying on the bathroom floor after his throat was slit.

'I'm cold hearted,' Ramos-Corrales said, as he kicked the unconscious puppy.

Ramos-Corrales had filmed the attack at his apartment in the 3500 block of Lou Ella Lane in Riverside, California

He said the dog had become 'moody' and nipped him, 'which caused him to lose control,' the complaint said.

'Ramos-Corrales called himself a 'cold blooded killer' and said he could not stop himself from hurting the dog,' according to the complaint. He told police that he had smoked marijuana all day, which indicated he also may have used alcohol and methamphetamine.

The document says Ramos-Corrales brutalized the dog for two hours, 'reveled heartlessly in exacting mortal wounds to Canelo, gave no aid to Canelo in his suffering, and cursed Canelo as he lay dying.'

Ramos-Corrales was initially taken into custody at Robert Presley Jail on suspicion of animal cruelty following the release of the disturbing video.

He was later released the same day, however, on his own recognizance to reduce the jail population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramos-Corrales later was arrested again April 26, but was released the next day after posting a $15,000 bail.

Ramos-Corrales does not have a previous record of animal abuse or any other felony convictions in Riverside County.
A Coles customer was stunned to see the local supermarket advertising a popular knives range as part of a 'Manager's Choice' promotion just two weeks after Woolworths banned knife sales following a violent stabbing outside one of its stores.

Taking to Reddit, the astonished shopper shared an image online of the MasterChef Knives giveaway following the stabbing in Brunswick, in Melbourne's north, a fortnight ago.

Witnesses in Melbourne on October 18 said a man verbally abused shoppers before allegedly attacking another man, aged in his 60s, with a knife while he waited in a queue.

He also attacked a security guard at the scene.

The perpetrator, 20, was taken to hospital where he was treated for self-inflicted injuries and underwent a mental health assessment before he was charged.

How Coles is displaying 'Manager's Choice' knives for customers as part of a joint promotion with MasterChef

Customers can take home the in demand knives after collecting a certain amount of store credits

Luke Mangan is a prominent Australian chef who is also known for appearing on MasterChef

Following the incident, Woolworths elected to temporarily ban the sale of knives and scissors from their 1000 plus stores nationwide.

However rival chain Coles included the knives in a promotion which allows customers the chance to earn store credits each time they shop and eventually take home the knives for free.

'If this is Coles' equivalent to Woolies not selling knives due to the recent Melbourne stabbing, then OMG' the Reddit user wrote.

The post soon had plenty of people talking online, with many defending Coles.

'I am #TeamColes. I think they have just started another MasterChef knives promotion. I got three knives last time and they have actually proven to be quite useful,' one wrote.

Another said removing knives from sale to prevent such extremely rare stabbing events was evidence of a 'nanny state.'

A Coles spokesperson said the promotion with MasterChef has been a resounding success.

'The MasterChef knives range continues to be Coles' most popular loyalty program to date with the highest participation rate across Australian households,' they told 7 News.

'Our customers loved the program, and we've brought it back by very popular demand. This year's range features new stainless-steel MasterChef knives, scissors and an electric mini chopper, as well as a return of the four most popular knives from last year's collection.'

On October 18, police subdued the alleged stabber at a Woolworths in Barkly Square shopping centre on Sydney Road, Brunswick.

It is understood the man attempted to slice off his own fingers after the random attack.

A sign advising shoppers of the temporary withdrawal of knives and scissors from sale at Woolworths at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast. 'We're undertaking a risk assessment on our store safety controls before determining our next step,' Woolworths said

A policeman stands guard at Barkly Square shopping centre at Brunswick, Melbourne after the alleged attacks on a shopper and security guard on Monday

The incident occurred shortly after 8am on Monday morning, when police used non-lethal force to subdue a man after he allegedly attacked a shopper and a security guard at a Woolworths in Barkly Square shopping centre (above) on Sydney Road, Brunswick in Melbourne

Woolworths confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that it had 'temporarily' withdrawn the items from all its stores across Australia after the incident at the Melbourne supermarket.

'The safety and well-being of our team and customers is our top priority,' a spokesperson said.

'We're undertaking a risk assessment on our store safety controls before determining our next step.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate the understanding of our customers at this time.'

Woolworths confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that it had withdrawn the items from sale in its 995 stores across Australia until it had reviewed store safety. Pictured: A Woolworths supermarket in Brisbane

Kitchen knives available from Woolworths, pictured on the supermarket giant's website

Police at the scene on Monday. A 20-year-old man was taken to hospital where he was treated for self-inflicted injuries and underwent a mental health assessment

Shopper Suzanne Stewart (pictured) told media outlets she'd seen a man 'covered in blood' emerge from the store. 'I was scared, I was petrified,' Ms Stewart said

Police talk to witnesses at Barkly Square shopping centre in Melbourne after the incident on Monday

Woolworths had sold a range of kitchen knives and scissors in stores, including the Wiltshire Trinity knife.

Shopper Suzanne Stewart told media outlets she had seen a man 'covered in blood' emerge from the store.

'I was scared, I was petrified,' Ms Stewart said.

'I just wanted to get away from there. I don't know what would have happened if that security guard  didn't step in.'
Kyle Rittenhouse will begin an expected two-week long homicide trial Tuesday after jury selection was finalized Monday night.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for killing two people after opening fire on Black Lives Matter protesters with a semi-automatic rifle at a demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the then-17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

On Monday, at Kenosha County Courthouse, Rittenhouse was seen yawning and looking distracted during the all-day session that ran well past dark.

Eventually, 20 people  12 jurors and eight alternates  were selected from a pool of 179 potentials. The judge said he would decide at the end of the trial which ones are alternates and which ones will deliberate. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

Rittenhouse had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

If convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious of the charges against him, Rittenhouse could face life in prison.

Kyle Rittenhouse (pictured in court Monday) will begin an expected two-week long homicide trial Tuesday after jury selection was finalized Monday night

Photographs show the teen in the Kenosha County Courthouse Monday yawning and looking distracted as jury selection was underway

The seating of a jury moved along rapidly, given the sharp polarization caused by the shootings. About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair.

The jury pool was questioned about their involvement in the racial injustice protests, ability to be impartial, opinions on guns and if they had donated to Rittenhouse's defense fund.

'How many of you would consider yourselves to be familiar with firearms?' Prosecutor Thomas Binger questioned.

'How many of you were personally affected by looting, arson, where your business was personally affected?'

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum (pictured), 36, with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on August 25, 2020

Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber (pictured), 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin

One prospective juror was dropped from the case after alleging she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon.

'I don't think a weapon like that should belong to the general public,' the woman said.

Two prospective jurors expressed concern about serving due to the political nature of the case, however Judge Schroeder assured them precautions would be taken to keep them safe.

'My fear is walking out of any of the days of court and just wondering what we're walking out to,' one potential juror shared.

'What are our cars going to look like when we're going out to them? Are they going to be slashed? Are they going to be damaged? Am I going to be able to get home safe?'

The jury, which was narrowed down from a pool of 179 potential jurors, will be tasked with determining if Rittenhouse (pictured) acted in self-defense or was engaged in vigilantism when he fired shots at the victims, as his lawyers allege

Kyle Rittenhouse (left) and his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse (right), were both pictured in court Monday

Judge Bruce Schroeder, who presided over jury selection, stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: 'This is not a political trial'

Overall, officials argued that the biggest challenge was finding jurors who said they could set their personal feelings aside and hear the case objectively.

'I want this case to reflect the greatness and fairness of Kenosha,' Judge Schroeder said.

The judge stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: 'This is not a political trial.'

'It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently,' he said.

And he said there has been inaccurate information written by people who 'don't know what you're going to know. Those of you who are selected for this jury, who are going to hear for yourselves the real evidence in this case.'

The judge said Rittenhouse's constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and 'I don't want it to get sidetracked into other issues.'

Rittenhouse (pictured left) traveled to Kenosha during a protest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a black man, in the back last summer

He faces two homicide counts, one of attempted homicide and two of recklessly endangering safety for firing his weapon near others. He is also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18

Rittenhouse, formerly of Antioch, Illinois, traveled to Kenosha during a protest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a black man, in the back last summer.

The teen, who reportedly aspired to be a police officer, claims he went to the protest area in an effort to protect the property after two previous nights had been marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

While he Kenosha, Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on August 25.

Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin.

He faces two homicide counts, one of attempted homicide and two of recklessly endangering safety for firing his weapon near others. He is also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

He also wounded Gaige Grosskreutz (pictured on right), 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisc.

Rittenhouse's case has been polarizing, according to the Associated Press. The teen has been painted by his conservative supporters as a patriot exercising his self-defense and Second Amendment gun rights. While others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe who never should have been armed in Kenosha in the first place.

Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot, but many are watching his trial as the latest referendum on race and the American legal system.

'This case has become very political,' Judge Schroeder told the jurors Monday. 'It was involved in the politics of the last election year. ... You could go out now and read things from all across the political spectrum about this case, most of which is written by people who know nothing.

'I don't mean that that they are know-nothings. I mean that they don't know what you're going to know: those of you who are selected for this jury, who are going to hear for yourselves the real evidence in this case.'
A woman has died after a collision with a truck in Sydney's west this morning.

A truck driver involved in the accident was injured and taken to Westmead Hospital, where he will undergo mandatory testing.

The incident occurred about 7.30am on The Northern Road, near Spinks Road, at Llandilo, near Penrith, after emergency services were informed a car had collided with a truck.

The female driver of the car died at the scene.

A female driver was killed after emergency services were informed a car had collided with a truck

The incident occurred about 7.30am on The Northern Road at Llandilo, near Penrith (pictured) on Tuesday morning

Police had established as they began investigations into how the crash occurred, as they asked anyone with information or dashcam vision at the time of the incident to come forward.

The Northern Rd was closed in both directions between Londonderry Rd and Whitegates Rd as a result of the accident.

The incident followed two other fatal accidents involving trucks in the Greater Sydney area this week.

A 76-year-old man died after a car and truck collided on the Bells Line of Road at Mount Tomah on Monday.

Three other people were transported to Liverpool, Nepean and Westmead hospitals in stable conditions.

It is understood the man who died in the horror smash was travelling from Metropolitan Sydney to visit his daughter in Orange in the Central Tablelands for the first time since the city's regional travel ban was eased on Monday.

Also on Monday, a 21-year-old woman walking on a footpath at Blaxland, in the Blue Mountains, died after being struck by a truck.

The woman had reportedly been walking on the footpath at the time of the crash, police said.

The 54-year-old truck driver involved in the Blaxland incident was subsequently charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, driving while disqualified period and negligent driving (occasioning death).
In 2020, John Cleese attacked the 'stifling' effect of PC culture on creativity

Old Vic previously hit by sex abuse claims over ex artistic director Kevin Spacey

Comedian Terry Gilliam has reportedly been 'cancelled' by The Old Vic after some of its staff expressed concerns over his views.

The former Monty Python star, 80, was set to co-direct Stephen Sondheim's musical Into The Woods next year, but last week the iconic theatre unexpectedly announced the show had been called off.

Old Vic employees were upset and one even resigned because of Gilliam's stance on issues including Harvey Weinstein, #MeToo and transgender rights, according to The Stage.

Last month Gilliam publicly backed US comedian Dave Chappelle, who has been accused of attacking the trans 'community'. The comments led to a walkout by staff at Netflix, but Gilliam called his comedy 'socially aware, dangerously provocative and gut-wrenchingly funny'.

In 2018, Gilliam responded to the BBC diversity debate by saying: 'I tell the world now I'm a black lesbian.'

And last year, he sparked a renewed backlash after describing the #MeToo movement as a 'witch hunt' that he claimed allowed 'decent people' to get 'hammered'.

The Old Vic was seriously affected by the #MeToo movement in 2017 when numerous allegations of sexual assault were brought against actor Kevin Spacey during his tenure as the theatre's artistic director.

Addressing those who have made allegations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, he added: 'These were ambitious adults There are many victims in Harvey's life, and I feel sympathy for them, but then, Hollywood is full of very ambitious people who are adults and they make choices.'

Comedian Terry Gilliam has reportedly been 'cancelled' by The Old Vic because of his controversial views around trans rights and the #MeToo movement

The former Monty Python star, 80, was set to co-direct Stephen Sondheim's musical Into The Woods next year, but The Old Vic unexpectedly cancelled it last week.

Gilliam's Facebook post in which he endorsed Chapelle's show on Netflix

The Old Vic's decision to cancel Gilliam's show comes two weeks after Gilliam urged his 495,000 Facebook followers to Chappelle's controversial new Netflix show, The Closer.

'I'm encouraging all of you to watch Dave Chappelle's new show, The Closer, on Netflix,' he wrote. 'To me, he's the greatest standup comedian alive today: incredibly intelligent, socially aware, dangerously provocative, and gut-wrenchingly funny.

Chappelle has provoked fury among trans activists for making jokes in which he asserts 'gender is a fact'. His performances are meant to be a satire of the oversensitivity of trans activists.

The jokes were based upon earlier observations made by Harry Potter author J K Rowling's who in 2019 stated that transgender women were not actually women and were a threat to her identity.

He has joked that women today view trans women the same way black people might view white women wearing blackface. He also remarked that women are entitled to feel anger toward transwomen, since Caitlyn Jenner won Glamour magazine's 2015 Woman of the Year award.

Concerns were said to have been raised in May over Gilliam's work with the Old Vic, but bosses had proceeded with the production.

No one from the central London theatre was available to comment last night, but The Old Vic has told The Stage in a statement executive director Kate Varah (pictured with artistic director Matthew Warchus) had met with staff following the show's announcement in May

No one from the central London theatre was available to comment last night, but The Old Vic has told The Stage in a statement executive director Kate Varah had met with staff following the show's announcement in May.

Members of the Old Vic 12 - the organisation's artistic development scheme - were among those voicing concerns, The Stage reported.

It was reported that senior management later met Gilliam and his co-director Leah Hausman 'as a matter of course to discuss our culture and values'.

A spokesman said: 'The Old Vic and co-producers Scenario Two mutually agreed that the production of Into the Woods will not take place at The Old Vic. We wont be commenting further.'

It was reported that senior management later met Gilliam and his co-director Leah Hausman 'as a matter of course to discuss our culture and values'

An investigation found 19 people had made allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour' against the star. He had worked at the theatre between 2004 and 2015.

Addressing those who have made allegations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, Mr Gilliam added: 'These were ambitious adults  There are many victims in Harvey's life, and I feel sympathy for them, but then, Hollywood is full of very ambitious people who are adults and they make choices.'

Into the Woods hit Broadway in 1987 before making its West End debut at the Phoenix Theatre in 1990. It was later revived in 2010 at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

It was adapted for the big scream by Disney in 2015 with Meryl Streep, James Corden and Johnny Depp among the A-list cast.

The Old Vic was seriously affected by the #MeToo movement in 2017 when numerous allegations of sexual assault were brought against actor Kevin Spacey (pictured) during his tenure as the theatre's artistic director

This is not the first anti-woke criticism from a former Python.

In 2020, John Cleese attacked the 'stifling' effect of political correctness on creativity - saying there is no such thing as a 'woke joke'.

Several Pythons have come forward with anti-woke criticisms in recent years. In 2020, John Cleese attacked the 'stifling' effect of political correctness on creativity - saying there is no such thing as a 'woke joke'

He said Britain should not organise its society around 'the sensibilities of the most easily upset people', because that would lead to a 'very neurotic society'.

Mr Cleese said that 'affectionate teasing' is a bonding mechanism, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'PC stuff started out as a good idea which is, ''Let's not be mean to people'', and I'm in favour of that... despite my age.

'I think Jesus Christ would have agreed... The main thing is to try to be kind.

'But that then becomes a sort of indulgence of the most over-sensitive people in your culture, the people who are most easily upset.'

After Mr Cleese made the comments on Radio 4 Today show, people took to social media to post their funniest 'woke' jokes.

Twitter user Paul Dempsey wrote: 'An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walk into a bar.

'What a fantastic display of the Union's centuries-long multiculturalism.'
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Drone photos lay bare the damage inflicted to rural England by the costly HS2 project as contractors begin tunnelling underneath ancient woodland in the West Midlands.

A tunnel boring machine nicknamed Dorothy after Dorothy Hodgkin, the first British woman win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964, will be used to dig the Long Itchington Wood Tunnel in Warwickshire - part of Phase 1 of the controversial 100billion high-speed rail line.

A mile-long twin bore tunnel is set to be dug underneath the ancient woodland, which is more than four centuries old and is a Site of Special Scientific interest.

Campaigners have argued that HS2, which will run between London and Birmingham, poses 'a grave threat to the UK's ancient woods, with 108 at risk of loss or damage'. HS2 insists juust 0.29 square kilometres (0.11 square miles) of ancient woodland will be lost during the first phase.

But new images now demonstrate the devastation of the English countryside as tunnelling work gets underway to create the 9.6 metre-wide structure.

And with the rail industry bracing for a downsizing of a major section of HS2, together with the project's ballooning price tag - especially after the economic harm of the pandemic - the drone photos are likely to raise further questions about the rail-line.

It comes after Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen told the Commons the project will be 'loss-making' and won't be completed before 2041 - around 10 years later than planned.

Tunnelling work is due to begin in Long Itchington Wood (pictured), Warwickshire, as part of phase one of the HS2 high-speed rail line, which will run between Birmingham and London

Drone images show the progress that has been made on the site near the village over the summer as tunnelling work is about to get underway to create the 9.6 metre-wide structure

The high-speed rail line has recently come under fire from critics who have questioned whether the project is worth its ballooning price tag

HS2 costs soared another 1.7BILLION in past year due to Covid with total budget swelling to 106bn The cost of the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project has increased by a further 1.7billion over the past year due to social distancing measures and work suspensions caused by the pandemic. Coronavirus and lockdown restrictions first imposed in March last year disrupted work at most HS2 sites, causing further delays which have put even more strain on the UK's biggest infrastructure project. Similar pressures have been reported by industry experts in projects ranging from Crossrail and the A303 Stonehenge tunnel to the Tideway tunnel and the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset. As a result of work suspensions, social distancing measures, and reduced productivity over this year, costs have soared by around 1.7billion - another increase on the project's estimated 106billion budget. Opposition to the project is mounting, with local anger contributing to the Tory by-election defeat in Chesham and Amersham. The new line is due to run through the Buckinghamshire constituency. The costs associated with Phase 1 of the line between London and Birmingham have increased by as much as 800million, people close to the project told the FT. That increase follows an 800million rise announced by HS2 in October, including money spent on remediating the terminus site at Euston in London. The price of the Birmingham Interchange station also rose by 100million to 370million even before contractors have been appointed. One contractor close to the project said that HS2 Ltd, the state-funded body responsible for delivering the line, 'doesn't really know how much Covid has added'. HS2 Ltd declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Construction started on Phase 1 of the London to Birmingham line in August last year after more than a decade of planning. But the ballooning costs could add to Treasury fears that HS2 will be a black hole for taxpayers. The Department for Transport conceded to MailOnline that there had been 'unavoidable costs' arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement

Long Itchington Wood and the neighbouring Ufton Wood date from at least 1600AD and have complex eco-systems which have formed across hundreds of years.

Ten 170 metre-long tunnel boring machines, which weigh up to 2,200 tonnes, will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to bore and line the tunnels, covering around 15 metres per day. The tunnel boring machine will head south towards London to begin digging the tunnel, while a second tunnel will also be dug to create the twin bore tunnel. Each of the two tunnels will take around five months to dig.

The final stage will see a 'green tunnel' built, where a soil 'roof' is constructed around the tunnel entrance to integrate it within the natural landscape, according to HS2's website.

In September, Mr Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said he had received information from a whistleblower within HS2 Ltd, which claims the first phase of the line will not open until 2041.

He told MPs: 'Experts in the field estimate that the energy requirements of HS2 trains will be five time that of conventional rail. Can we have an extended debate on the impact of HS2 on Government's energy policy and the level of subsidy this loss-making project will have to be supported with annually if it is ever built?

'Could we have this debate before 2041, which is the date that my whistleblower at the very top of HS2 tells me the project for phase one will actually be able to carry passengers between London and Birmingham?'

Work suspensions, social distancing and reduced productivity over the past 12 months saw HS2's costs soar by another 1.7bn in September - with the project's estimated overall budget now swelling over 106billion.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg dismissed Mr Bridgen's claims, saying: 'I thought whistleblowing was more steam engine than fast high-speed trains but never mind. Obviously, the energy to run a train that is 440 yards long, that is two furlongs long, extraordinary length of train, at 225 miles an hour is more than running Ivor the Engine.

'And that is of course something that has to be built into the overall energy plans of this country.

'But the cost of energy to operate the HS2 network has been accounted for within the overall business case of the project and this energy will be procured in the open market at the right time to start operations and achieve value for money for the taxpayer.'

He insisted Mr Bridgen's figures were wrong, adding: 'The delivery and service of HS2 phase one remains 2029-2033, so I am interested in his whistle blower and I will of course pass the whistle on to the Secretary of State for Transport.'

Meanwhile, Northern leaders and the rail industry are braced for a downsizing of the a major section of the HS2 in a report expected to be published during or after the Cop26 summit.

The high-speed rail linking Birmingham and Leeds, also known as the 'eastern leg', is no longer expected to be laid in full. It means HS2 trains will run at slower speeds on existing track for as much as 60 miles of the distance between the two cities.

Journey times could take about an hour rather than 40 minutes, according to sources familiar with plans being considered by ministers. However, a compromise is said to have been struck following pressure from pro-HS2 northern leaders which could still see around 80 miles of high-speed track laid.

A mile-long twin bore tunnel is set to be dug underneath the ancient woodland, which is more than 400 years old and is a Site of Special Scientific interest

Ten 170 metre-long tunnel boring machines, which weigh up to 2,200 tonnes, will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to bore and line the tunnels, covering around 15 metres per day

Why is the HS2 high-speed rail line project SO controversial? The Woodland Trust, a conservation charity, calls HS2 'a grave threat to the UK's ancient woods, with 108 at risk of loss or damage'. But HS2 says only 0.29 square kilometres (0.11 square miles) of ancient woodland will be lost during the first phase. HS2 says it will reduce journey times between London and northern England and add capacity to Britain's crowded rail network. Critics question whether HS2 is worth its ballooning price tag especially after a pandemic that might permanently change people's travel habits. The first phase linking London and Birmingham is due to open between 2029 and 2033, according to HS2 Ltd. In September Boris Johnson joined the front line to see work begin on HS2, as shovels hit the ground in Solihull. He said the 'incredible' scheme, launched in 2009, would deliver not just '22,000 jobs now, but tens of thousands more high-skilled jobs in the decades ahead'. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told MPs last year the first trains may not be up and running until 2031. Advertisement

A purpose-built hub in the village of Toton, in Nottinghamshire, would be scrapped. Instead, about 50 miles of high-speed rail would link Birmingham and East Midlands Parkway station. At this point, HS2 trains would join the existing Midland main line, which would be upgraded.

This would take trains at a slower speed than envisaged up to the village of Clayton, in West Yorkshire, where around 30 miles of new high-speed rail would connect to Leeds.

Sources said that the planned changes would represent a 'significant scaling back' of the project.

The proposals could save between 10billion and 20billion and comes after Treasury officials raised concerns about HS2's spiralling costs, which have tripled to more than 100billion over the past decade.

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: 'It calls the promise to level up into serious question.'

Jim McMahon, Labour's transport spokesman, said: 'If [Government] fail to deliver, people in the Midlands and North will rightly feel betrayed after years of empty words and meaningless slogans.'

HS2 will link London to Birmingham in phase one before forking into two sections. The western leg connecting Birmingham with Manchester is expected to go ahead.

The Integrated Rail Plan is set to be published around mid-November after being delayed since January.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport (DfT) said: 'We are making significant progress delivering HS2, a key part of our promise to build back better from Covid-19.

'The project is already supporting more than 20,000 jobs, construction on Phase 1 has begun, and MPs have given their backing to the Phase 2a route.

'We will continue to rigorously control pressures, and as our latest update to Parliament confirmed, Phase 1 remains within budget and schedule.

'The Integrated Rail Plan will soon outline exactly how major rail projects, including HS2 phase 2b, will work together to deliver the reliable train services that passengers across the North and Midlands need and deserve.'

Phase 1 of HS2 was due to open in 2026, but in an update to Parliament in 2019, Transport Sinister Grant Shapps said the opening date would be pushed back to between 2028 and 2031.

The rail industry is braced for a downsizing of the a major section of the HS2 in a report to be published after the Cop26 summit. Pictured: Boris Johnson visits the Solihull Interchange construction site for the HS2 high-speed railway project near Birmingham in September 2020

HS2 trains will run at slower speeds on existing track for as much as 60 miles. Pictured: Boris Johnson visits the Solihull Interchange construction site in September 2020

In the HS2 six-monthly report to Parliament in March 2021, the DfT said the projected 'delivery into service' date range is between 2029 and 2033.

One contractor close to the project said that HS2 Ltd, the state-funded body responsible for delivering the line, 'doesn't really know how much Covid has added'. HS2 Ltd declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Construction started on Phase 1 of the London to Birmingham line in August last year after more than a decade of planning. But the ballooning costs could add to Treasury fears that HS2 will be a black hole for taxpayers.

The Department for Transport previously conceded to MailOnline that there had been 'unavoidable costs' arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

A DfT spokesman told MailOnline: 'Our focus remains on controlling costs, to ensure this ambitious new railway delivers its wealth of benefits at value for money for the taxpayer.

'The response to Covid-19 remains ongoing and final assessments of its effect have not been made.'

HS2 said it the high-speed line will reduce journey times between London and northern England and add capacity to Britain's crowded rail network.

But critics have questioned whether the rail line is worth its ballooning price tag, especially after a pandemic that might permanently change people's travel habits.

The first phase linking London and Birmingham is due to open between 2029 and 2033, according to HS2 Ltd.

In September, Boris Johnson joined the front line to see work begin on HS2, as shovels hit the ground in Solihull.

He said the 'incredible' scheme, launched in 2009, would deliver not just '22,000 jobs now, but tens of thousands more high-skilled jobs in the decades ahead'.
There was nearly a sixfold increase in the number of migrants crossing the Channel compared to October last year, latest Home Office figures have revealed.

A mere 475 made the crossing in October 2020, compared to 2,669 that made the journey despite poor weather conditions last month.

The massive increase means that a total of 19,741 migrants have made the crossing so far this year, double the 8,420 that arrived in the whole of 2020.

There was a sixfold increase in the number of migrants crossing the Channel compared to October last year, latest Home Office figures have revealed

A mere 475 made the crossing in October 2020, compared to 2,669 that made the journey despite poor weather conditions last month

The massive increase means that a total of 19,741 migrants have made the crossing so far this year, double the 8,420 that arrived in the whole of 2020

The Home Office revealed the French authorities intercepted 15,000 crossings with an interception rate of 43 per cent.

September saw the highest monthly total with 3,879 migrants making the dangerous crossing.

It is estimated that the annual total could reach 22,000, triple that of last year, it was reported in the Times.

There are allegedly around 2,000 migrants near Calais waiting for people smugglers.

Many are living in 'desperate' conditions as the cold winter months approach and are risking their lives daily trying to board dinghies and lorries.

The UKs clandestine Channel threat commander, Dan OMahoney, said: 'These dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings are facilitated by violent criminal gangs profiting from misery, and more people will die as long as they continue.

'We are working with the French to stop boats leaving their beaches and crack down on the criminals driving these crossings.

'Our broken asylum system acts as a magnet for illegal migrants. The governments new plan for immigration will fix the system, making it firm on those who abuse it and fair on those in genuine need.'

It comes after dozens of migrants landed in Kent in mid-October after crossing the Channel in dinghies.

Three dinghies made their way to British shores, two of which were escorted by the RNLI and border patrol to Dungeness and the third was returned to Dover.

Upon their arrival, the group of around 60 migrants were immediately detained by police stationed on the beach.

September saw the highest monthly total with 3,879 migrants making the dangerous crossing

Priti Patel wants to grant Border Force officers immunity from prosecution if migrants die during her new operation to 'turn back' small boats crossing the Channel.

The Home Secretary has previously approved the plan which would see migrants boats intercepted and turned back to France by officers on jet skis.

Currently, sailors are obliged to rescue 'a person in distress at sea' under international maritime laws and failure to do so could result in up to two years in prison.

But the government is trying to pass the Nationality and Borders Bill through Parliament, which would give Border Force officials immunity from prosecution during the 'turnback' operations.

The plans have been criticised by opposition MPs, and charities, while France has branded the tactics 'illegal'.

Border Force currently has existing powers to intercept migrant boats attempting to cross the Channel once they reach UK waters.
Two teenage girls are accused of conspiring to stab their teacher to death by knifing her in the chest at school.

The girls, aged 13 and 14, were charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing the woman in her 50s at Willetton High School in Perth.

The teacher was allegedly stabbed by the elder student about 11.10am on Monday and the 13-year-old is accused of bringing the knife to school.

The two teens allegedly discussed plans to kill the teacher over online messages since October 14.

Willetton Senior High School students (pictured afterwards) were ordered to remain in their classrooms following an alleged stabbing at the school on Monday

The teacher was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.

The 13-year-old was arrested at the school but the other teen fled before being taken into custody later on Monday evening at about 6.50pm.

The year group advisor suffered a 1cm wound to her left armpit and was allegedly stabbed by the Year 8 student in small room.

Students recalled seeing blood on the floor and being ordered to 'get inside and lock the doors' following the alleged murder attempt.

'No one knew what was going on, they didn't tell us anything,' one told Seven News.

Forensic officers were seen leaving the Perth school carrying bags of evidence

Another student described the injured woman as one of the nicest teachers at the school.

'I can't really understand what's happened,' she told Nine News.

'I messaged my sister and she was like 'yeah, someone got stabbed'. I'm scared. The teacher said to lock the door and everything.'

Police left the school with bags of evidence that will be forensically examined.

The teenagers will face Perth Children's Court later on Tuesday.

Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch said police were speaking to witnesses and had evidence of planning by the pair.

'We think those two students have been speaking about their action and we'll allege they've planned to do this, and a knife was provided from one student to another,' he told ABC radio.

Police (pictured at the scene) were called to the school in Perth's south after a teacher was allegedly stabbed

'We'll be speaking to all witnesses, but certainly I think the distress amongst the students and teachers is at its maximum at the moment.

'We'll make sure we have got all of the necessary welfare and support, and we'll make sure we work closely with the Department of Education in doing that.

'Thankfully the injuries were not that bad, but certainly it was a very, very dangerous situation.'

Principal Trevor Hunter addressed the stabbing in a note sent home to parents.

'The incident occurred at recess and as a precaution all students were kept in their classrooms for a brief period,' he wrote.

'The school and administration staff acted immediately to ensure students were kept away from the situation. At no time were any students in danger.'

Emergency services were called to Willetton Senior High School (pictured) just after 11am on Monday after reports the teacher, aged in her 50s, had sustained stab wounds

The education department reiterated assurances no students were in danger.

'We send our best wishes to the teacher involved and will be offering her support and to any others affected by this incident,' WA Education Department director General Lisa Rodgers added.

State School Teachers' Union of WA president Pat Byrne described the alleged murder attempt as 'deeply disturbing.'

Willetton Senior High School is regarded as one of Perth's top public schools and regularly keeps pace with some private colleges in Year 12 exam results.
A man has been arrested after police stormed a Sydney unit following reports of a domestic violence incident - as an officer was rushed to hospital with stab wounds.

Police allege a 38-year-old man armed with two knives attacked a probationary constable, 26, after officers were called to Punt Road, Gladesville in the city's north-west about 11.20am on Tuesday morning.

The injured officer suffered lacerations to the back of his head and a dislocated shoulder.

A police siege is underway after an officer was stabbed in the back of the head as he responded to reports of a domestic violence incident at a unit in Gladesville, Sydney. The officer is pictured being treated on the street

Police are pictured at the scene of the police siege in Gladesville on Tuesday after an officer was allegedly stabbed by a 38-year-old man, prompting a police siege

There was a heavy police presence in the north-west Sydney street during the siege, including a dog squad and armed tactical officers

Police negotiators were then called in and took a man into custody about 12.30pm.

He has been taken to Ryde Police Station where he is assisting police with inquiries.

The officer was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries.

Channel Seven footage showed the injured officer being lifted into an ambulance by paramedics while clutching the back of his head.

A man was then filmed being led out of a unit with his shirt torn and into a waiting police van.

Police at the scene. The arrested man been taken to Ryde Police Station where he is assisting police with inquiries

A police siege is underway at an unit on Punt Road, Gladesville (pictured) on Tuesday morning

There was a heavy police presence in the north-west Sydney street during the siege, including a dog squad and armed tactical officers.

Traffic diversions were in place on Punt Road and motorists were urged to avoid the area.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Greta Thunberg has been upstaged by a new kid on the block who stole her thunder with an impassioned speech outside COP26.

The teenager campaigner listened in awe and then saw the 12-year-old climate change kid who has faced death threats in his home country in South America given a heros reception.

But unlike Greta who had launched a four-letter outburst, Francisco Vera Manzanares, 12, from Colombia, kept his pontifications clean.

Through an interpreter Francisco Vera Manzanares, 12, from Colombia said: Im an activist from Colombia. Im 12 years old and Ive created a movement with my friends and I defend the environment in Colombia'

He stood out from the crowd as he gave an impassioned speech about his reason for travelling to Glasgow during a fringe event at the climate change conference.

Thunberg, 18, looked on as he made his speech on the banks of the River Clyde at a Fridays For Future rally to raise awareness for the plight of black and indigenous people affected by global warming.

With the citys iconic Finnieston crane, a reminder of Glasgows industrial past, in the background, little Francisco, whose voice has yet to break, spoke of his reason for coming to Scotland.

Greta Thunberg has been upstaged by new kid on the block Francisco who stole her thunder with an impassioned speech outside COP26

Through an interpreter, the new kid on the block said: Im an activist from Colombia. Im 12 years old and Ive created a movement with my friends and I defend the environment in Colombia.

This is really important for us and were here because we are from the global south and the voices of the children need to be heard.

'We also need to be part of the decision-making process because it is our present and our futures.

We are also demanding that the decision-making leaders from the world should take real action.

'No more empty promises because we are tired of listening to empty promises.

Thunberg had looked on as Francisco Vera made his speech on the banks of the River Clyde at a Fridays For Future rally

In our country we are seeing the devastation of the climate crisis.

We are here because we need to be united. We dont have barriers. The frontiers are just an imaginary line.

In January, Francisco was sent anonymous death threats on Twitter after the young environmentalist called for better access to education for children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The news caused outrage in Colombia and made headlines around the world.

President Ivan Duque pledged to find the bandits that sent the message but nobody has been arrested.

Thunberg had been expected to take the stage after Francisco but after he received loud cheers and applause she decided not to.

She later stood beside Francisco close to a banner which read: No More Blah Blah Blah, Your Greed Our Fears.'

Earlier, she had claimed Glasgows COP26 is a charade.

She insisted leaders taking part in the official conference are pretending to take the future of the planet seriously.

With US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving in the city for talks, the Swedish activist spoke out at an earlier Fridays for Future fringe event at which she claimed politicians have no interest in creating real change.

Thunberg earlier insisted leaders taking part in the official conference are pretending to take the future of the planet seriously

She said: This COP26 is so far just like the previous COPs and that has led us nowhere. They have led us nowhere.

Inside COP there are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our future seriously, pretending to take the present seriously of the people who are being affected already today by the climate crisis.

Change is not going to come from inside there. That is not leadership - this is leadership. This is what leadership looks like.

Thunberg, who was not officially invited to take part in COP26, also took part in a march through the city before joining activists from around the world as they spoke on the banks of the River Clyde of their hopes for change.

She was then upstaged by Francisco who drew applause and cheers as he told of his reason for coming to Scotland.

The heads of 120 countries arrived for the talks, including French President Emmanuel Macron but Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping snubbed the conference.

About 25,000 delegates are attending the two-week climate conference in the UN-controlled blue zone on the north side of the River Clyde.
While she's known for being cool, calm and collected, Jacinda Ardern has a limit when it comes to disorderly behaviour.

And the New Zealand Prime Minister made her tolerance of anti-vax hecklers clear on Tuesday when she abruptly ended an outdoor press conference.

Ms Ardern and Maori-Crown relations Minister Kelvin Davis were in Northland giving an update about the nation's Covid vaccine rollout when she was interrupted by American Shane Chafin, from far-right talk show Counterspin Media.

The New Zealand-based alternative news program streams on the GTV network, which was founded by Steve Bannon, the political adviser to former US President Donald Trump, Stuff reports.

'We are all completely on the same page when it comes to driving vaccinations, and this is an issue,' Ms Ardern said before Chafin cut in, yelling: 'Why are the vaccines not working in Israel?'

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has abruptly ended a press conference after being heckled by an anti-vaxxer

The Prime Minister tried to continue her speech as Chafin shouted over the top of her several more times, repeating the same question.

Eventually she paused, responding: 'Sir, I will shut down the press conference if this continues'.

As Chafin continued to grill her, Ms Ardern tactfully advised she would only answer questions by 'accredited members of the media' - before pulling the plug on the event when he failed to desist.

'We have someone who is disrupting your press conference today, so we will reconvene,' she told reporters.

Ms Ardern then walked off the podium as camera crews packed up to move the public briefing inside a nearby building.

Chafin, who claims to be a pharmacist and features on Counterspin media as the show's 'chief medical officer', referred to Ms Ardern as 'prime sinister' as she left the press conference.

Ms Ardern walked off the podium and moved the press conference inside a nearby building

Earlier during the stand up, Chafin also asked Ms Ardern how many Kiwis had died from Covid-19.

So far, 6.8 million vaccine doses have been administered across New Zealand, with 76 per cent of the population fully-vaccinated.

There has only been one death linked to rare Pfizer side effect Myocardistis, but the cause has not yet been determined by the coroner.

The incident comes as New Zealand recorded 126 new locally-acquired Covid cases on Tuesday.

There are currently 49 Covid patients in hospital across the country, with three in ICU.
Philadelphia will now become the first major city in the country that bans police officers from making traffic stops for minor, low-level violations like for a broken taillight, or a missing registration sticker.

Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat, signed multiple bills into law that work to stop racial profiling and increase equality by lessening negative interactions with law enforcement officers according to a statement released by Philadelphia's city council.

The new law creates an open searchable database recording traffic stops and prohibits police officers from stopping drivers for minor offenses by reclassifying several offenses as secondary violations.

People of color are 3.4 times as likely to be pulled over as white people in Philadelphia

Native American Philadelphians are the most likely minority group to be stopped

Philadelphia is the first major city to ban low-level traffic stops; the Driving Equity bills became law after being signed by Mayor James Kenney

It will include driver and officer information, demographic and geographic information, and the reason for each stop.

Secondary violations citations are issued to drivers by mail, eliminating the need for a low-level traffic stop, which is a tactic commonly used as a pretext to stop and search drivers.

'Data and lived experiences showed us the problem and data will be key to making sure this is done right,' said Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who drafted the Driving Equality bills.

Daunte Wright, 20, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Minnesota for driving with an expired license and having something hanging from his rearview mirror

'Data will tell us if we should end more traffic stops or amend how this is enforced. Data will also tell other cities that Philadelphia is leading on this civil rights issue and it can be replicated.'

The bill aimed at ending traffic stops for secondary violations passed in mid-October, 14-2 in Philadelphia's City Council after data showed that officers in the city were 3.4 times more likely to pull over black drivers than white ones.

Thomas cited data that was said to show that 72% of drivers pulled over in Philadelphia are black. U.S. Census data shows that black residents, though, make up 42% of the city's population.

Thomas said he drafted the bills to address the racial inequities and profiling that he has seen and experienced in his city and noted that 'Philadelphia is leading the nation when it comes to this particular issue.'

Thomas, who is black, says that he has been pulled over more times than he count.

'Being pulled over by law enforcement is a rite of passage for black men. It's something we all know that we're gonna have to go through,' Thomas said.

'The way black men are often searched, specifically here in the City of Philadelphia, when pulled over by law enforcement, puts you in a position where you're very, very uncomfortable often.'

Thomas recounted a time when an officer told him he'd been pulled over for a broken taillight but was told by a mechanic that nothing what wrong with it when he took it to the mechanic the next day.

A broken taillight is the number one reason given for minor traffic stops, according to Michael Mellon, head of the Philadelphia Public Defenders' Police Accountability Unit.

But while Thomas has lost count of how many times he's been pulled over, Mellon, who is white, has never been stopped by police- despite the fact that he frequently drives through heavily policed areas for his job.

'The only real answer we have here is that there's a racial bias in policing itself,' Mellon said.

City councilman Isaiah Thomas authored the two bills which he introduced on June 24 and which will be signed into law this week

The Philadelphia City Council passed two Driving Equity Bills which now await Mayor James Kenney's signature, which is expected to come within the next few days

94 per cent of all traffic stops in Philadelphia this year happened to people of color

Latino drivers are 3.1 times more likely than white drivers to be searched during a traffic stop in Philadelphia

Although Philadelphia Police have searched fewer of the vehicles they've stopped this year compared to recent years, data shows the racial disparities of these stops have widened

The data analyzed shows that black people have made up 76.7 per cent of traffic stops so far this year. That equates to more than double their portion of the city population.

WPVI found that 94 percent of all Philadelphia traffic stops this year were of driver who were people of color.

Black Philadelphians have a 5.2 times higher chance as white Philadelphians to be pulled over while Native American Philadelphians were 5.7 times as likely as white Philadelphians to be stopped. Latino Philadelphians were recorded to be 1.6 times as likely as white Philadelphians to be pulled over.

Head of the Philadelphia Public Defenders' Police Accountability Unit Michael Mellon worked with Thomas to draft the bill analyzing police and city data

Mellon cited the fact that these pretextual stops are difficult to challenge in court because they were ruled legal by the Supreme Court. But the stops are clearly impacting people of color at alarming rates.

'The U.S. Supreme Court has given police officers the green light to racially profile people,' he said.

Officers often take advantage of these unnecessary stops to search people for guns and drugs, critics charged. Black Philadelphians were 2.4 times as likely as white Philadelphians to have their vehicles searched by police while Latino Philadelphians were 3.1 times as likely as white Philadelphians to be searched.

While Philadelphia Police have not searched as many vehicles that they've stopped this year compared to recent years, data shows the racial disparities of these stops have widened.

Thomas and Mellon noted that while people of color are more often stopped and searched, searches of white drivers are more likely to return illegal goods - likely due to the more evidence cited when pulling over white drivers.

The city councilmember and the head of the Philadelphia Public Defenders' Police Accountability Unit worked on the Driving Equity bills together to guarantee that they will not create an increase a crime.

Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat, signed multiple bills into law that work to stop racial profiling and increase equality by lessening negative interactions with law enforcement officers according to a statement released by Philadelphia's city council

Mellon analyzed Philadelphia Motor Vehicle Code stops and gun violence data which showed no evidence minor traffic stops reduce shootings or traffic fatalities.

But Thomas mentioned that: 'We see far too often that people of color are involved in these traffic stops with law enforcement, often unarmed, that lead to some type of situation.'

Philadelphia's Driving Equity bills could lead to as many as 300,000 fewer police encounters each year, the Defender Association told The Inquirer.

The Philadelphia Police Department will be given 120 days for training and education before its implementation.

Police will still be able to make traffic stops for higher-level violations like speeding.

Bland, 28, was found hanging in her cell in a Texas jail in July 2015 three days after her controversial arrest. Her death was ruled a suicide

Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed in his car after being pulled over for a broken taillight with his girlfriend and and 4-year-old daughter riding with him in Minnesota

Philadelphia City Council said in a statement, 'these bills end the traffic stops that promote discrimination while keeping the traffic stops that promote public safety.

The new law comes as cases of motorists being shot 'while driving black' have made headlines.

On April 11, a 20-year-old biracial man was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Minnesota. Daunte Wright was pulled over for driving with expired plates and having an item hanging from the rearview window.

Once he was stopped, officers discovered that a 'gross misdemeanor warrant' had been issued for his arrest related to a 2019 aggravated robbery charge. Officer Kimberly Potter claims that she grabbed her gun mistaking it for her taser and accidentally killed Wright during the traffic stop when Wright tried get back into his car.

In 2016, Philando Castile, a 32-year-old black man, was fatally shot in his car next to his girlfriend and 4-year-old daughter after he was pulled over for a broken taillight, also in Minnesota.

Video of his death went viral when his girlfriend livestreamed the deadly interaction on Facebook.

A year before Castile's death, Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old black woman, was found hanged in a Texas jail cell three days after being taken into police custody during a traffic stop for failing to signal a lane change.
The COP26 climate summit is about keeping the planet within the 1.5 degree warming target, but for Scott Morrison it has been more like six degrees of separation.

At a meeting chaired by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Mr Morrison was seated on the outer edge of a panel of world leaders, made worse by the fact his neighbour - the Argentine delegate - was a no-show.

A forlorn looking Mr Morrison was so far from Mr Johnson that he may have been thinking more about getting the cold shoulder than addressing global warming.

Scott Morrison (pictured right) seemingly gets the cold shoulder at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow

As the UK leader had an elbow bump with Nisreen Elsaim, the Chair of UN Secretary General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, Mr Morrison could only look on from the distance and take some notes.

The Argentine delegate seemed not to have shown up, leaving an even bigger gap between Mr Morrison and the centre of action, but he didn't move to the empty seat, possibly not wanting to annoy any more world leaders after a diplomatic dispute with French President Emmanuel Macron over who said what and when.

He was also left hanging by world leaders while trying to mingle at the G20 Summit in Rome last weekend.

The warm conversation between US president Joe Biden and French President Emanuel Macron was far from the icy and awkward handshake Mr Morrison shared with Mr Macron

The prime minister appeared to receive more cold shoulders than handshakes during the seemingly awkward encounters at the summit.

Mr Morrison and other leaders had gathered on a podium as they waited for a group photo to be taken.

While other leaders chatted with each other, Mr Morrison was seen bouncing between the groups and struggling to grab their attention.

He patted Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the back but failed to get his attention as Mr Kagame continued to shake hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-In.

Scott Morrison was left hanging by world leaders after he struggled to shake their hands at the G20 Summit (pictured, Scott Morrison with Rwandan president Paul Kagame and South Korean president Moon Jae-In)

Mr Morrison stood on his own and awkwardly folded his face mask in his hands as he looked around the room.

Across the podium, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to be all smiles as they chatted with each other.

The leaders met briefly on the sidelines of the G20 summit, just two days after a first phone call since Australia opted for nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with the US and Britain in the AUKUS pact.

Mr Morrison told reporters he only briefly bumped into the French leader and 'said G'day' and that he hoped they could speak more later.

Diplomatic tensions between France and Australia have escalated since Australia pulled out of a $90billion deal with France to manufacture its next generation of submarines.

Hours after the pair shared the awkward exchange at the Summit, the French President made his feelings known about Mr Morrison during a fiery exchange with Australian journalists.

'We will see what he will deliver,' Mr Macron told reporters on Sunday.

'I have a lot of respect for your country, a lot of respect and friendship for your people. I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistent with this value.

The French president was asked if the Australian prime minister had lied.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at the G20 summit of world leaders to discuss climate change, Covid-19 and the post-pandemic global recovery at the La Nuvola center G20 Summit, Rome, Italy

'I don't think, I know,' Mr Macron replied before cutting off further questions.

Mr Morrison has since shut down the claims at a press conference.

'No,' he replied when asked if he had lied to President Macron.

He added decisions he makes are in Australia's best interests.

'I will always stand up for Australia's interests,' Mr Morrison reiterated.

'These decisions are difficult. Of course it has caused disappointment and it has caused an impact on the relationship with France.'

He added he had previously explained to Mr Macron 'very clearly' a few months ago the submarines ordered from France were 'not going to meet Australia's interests'.

It is not the first time Mr Morrison has been left on his own with the prime minister cutting a lonely figure at the G7 Summit in France in 2019.

Invited by French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Morrison was left to stare at his phone as then-US president Donald Trump mingled with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Footage showed the leaders socialising while a glum-looking Mr Morrison stood alone in the background, despite his wife Jenny being present.
Where is Emmanuel Macron?

The French President, who is currently attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow this week, was nowhere to be seen at yesterday's evening reception.

World leaders including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau capped off the first day of the conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall all in attendance.

But Macron, who was pictured earlier in the day speaking with Boris Johnson at the conference, had seemingly disappeared and could not be seen in any pictures of the event.

His apparent absence comes amid high tensions between France and the triumvirate of Australia, the UK and the US over the submarine contract row, while Britain and France are locked in a bitter dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights.

World leaders posed for a group photo during a lavish evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, but Emmanuel Macron was nowhere to be seen

The first day of the conference concluded with the glitzy reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall all in attendance

Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron had a frosty standoff in Glasgow on Monday morning as the PM welcomed the French President to the COP26 climate change summit amid a furious Anglo-French row over fishing rights

Macron was even pictured sharing a joke with Prince Charles just hours earlier on Monday, but has seemingly disappeared and did not show his face at the royal reception

Several world leaders were in attendance, including US President Joe Biden (left with Prince William) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right with the Duchess of Cornwall)

Macron confirmed yesterday just hours before the evening reception that France would not go ahead with retaliatory measures against Britain amid the two nations' bitter dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights.

He declared discussions between France, the UK and the European Commission would 'continue tomorrow' and ruled out any retaliation against Britain because 'it's not while we're negotiating that we're going to impose sanctions'.

Macron's backing down from retaliatory measures followed shortly after he came face to face with Australian PM Scott Morrison at the COP26 event, whom he publicly called a liar for his role in the submarine row.

When asked by reporters at the climate summit whether Morrison lied to him before tearing up a $90billion submarine contract - a move labelled 'clumsy' by Joe Biden - President Macron replied: 'I don't think, I know.'

Though the reason for Macron's disappearance is as yet unknown, his highly-publicised quarrels with several world leaders at the event may well have caused the French President to make an early exit.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison as they arrive to attend the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow yesterday. When asked by reporters at the climate summit whether Morrison lied to him before tearing up a $90billion submarine contract, President Macron replied: 'I don't think, I know.'

An awkward handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) took place when the pair met in Rome last week

At the start of the evening the Queen urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech to representatives.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship'

After the monarch's powerful speech, the Prime Minister said: 'What we've got today, as Her Majesty alluded to, is the biggest gathering of world leaders in this country since the foundation of the UN at the end of the Second World War, and it's quite an extraordinary historic event.

'But in a way, what we are doing today, is even more important, because we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation, to our way of life.'
Disgraced Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith has been told to resign at the next state election after he drunkenly crashed his car into a house.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said on Tuesday said he told the 38-year-old he would never return to the front bench and urged him not to contest the 2022 state election.

Mr Smith collided with a parked car before crashing into a Hawthorn house on Saturday night after a dinner with friends, narrowly avoiding a child's bedroom.

He returned a breath test reading of 0.131, prompting the immediate suspension of his licence for 12 months. He is also expected to be fined by police.

Disgraced Victorian Liberal Tim Smith has been told to resign at the next state election after he was caught drink-driving at more than twice the legal limit and crashed into a house

He tendered his resignation from shadow cabinet to Mr Guy on Sunday, marking a major setback in his party's fight to seize power from the Andrews Government.

Announcing his resignation, the Liberal MP said he made a 'serious error in judgement'.

'After dinner with friends I believed I was under the legal limit to drive home,' the member for Kew said in a statement.

'This was not the case. I was breath-tested and returned a positive reading.

'I apologise to my constituents, my colleagues, my family and the people of Victoria who expect their elected representatives to uphold the highest standards of behaviour.'

Pressure is now mounting on Mr Smith to quit politics altogether. Several Liberal MPs told AAP his position is untenable.

Photos have emerged of Shadow Attorney-General Tim Smith's car embedded in a metal fence after he crashed in Melbourne's inner east on Saturday night while drink driving

The Liberal MP's white Jaguar was left crumpled after it collided with a fence and another car on Power Street in Hawthorn

Mr Smith is one of Mr Guy's closest political allies and was instrumental in his return to the leadership of the party following a successful spill against Michael O'Brien in September.

'I made it very clear to Tim that he wouldn't find his way onto the front bench of any parliamentary Liberal Party that I lead,' Mr Guy told reporters.

'And I made it clear that I didn't want him to nominate at the next election, and that I didn't believe he should nominate for the seat of Kew.

'Tim has and will reflect on my advice to him, he will then make a statement in his own time, I hope sooner rather than later.'

Mr Guy, who is friends with Mr Smith, said he was very remorseful for his actions.

'I think he's exceedingly remorseful, you know, this has potentially cost him his career and you would expect anyone in that position to be not just remorseful but certainly very sorry for what has occurred,' he said.

MP Tim Smith (pictured left) was taken to the police station where he blew a 0.131 alcohol reading - two times higher than the legal limit. He has now been told by the Liberal leader Matthew Guy not to bother contesting the next state election

Mr Smith is expected to remain in politics for the next 12 months to avoid a by-election, Mr Guy added.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who is also close with Mr Smith, said he should 'take some time to consider his future'.

'That's a matter for the Liberal Party to sort out, they've got to make a decision about what sort of standards that they think are acceptable,' Labor MP and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula told reporters on Tuesday.

Tim Smith (pictured) announced on Sunday that he left his senior post with the Victorian state opposition because he made a 'serious error in judgement'

'Between him (Tim Smith) and Bernie Finn's idiotic commentary and idiotic postings, which I found personally really quite offensive, the leader of the opposition has a chance to show what kind of stuff he's made of.'

Mr Guy on Monday said he also planned to speak to upper house MP Bernie Finn, who in a now-deleted Facebook post likened Premier Daniel Andrews to Adolf Hitler and the government to the Nazi regime.

Meanwhile, former Liberal premier Ted Baillieu said Mr Smith had become a 'liability'.

'It's been a fairly spectacular implosion for somebody who, let's say, has been a controversial figure on the Coalition side of politics,' he told the ABC radio.

'But he has imploded. Fortunately, hasn't hurt anybody, but I think his reputation is very much shattered. He now has to reflect on his own position.

'The question he has to ask himself is whether he's now a liability to the coalition team, whether he's a liability to the parliamentary party, whether he's a liability to the Liberal Party.'

Mr Smith has helped lead the charge against Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' proposed state of emergency law, accusing the labor leader of being a 'dictator'

In the moments after Saturday night's crash, witnesses say Mr Smith was 'acting erratically' as he desperately tried to reverse out of the fence.

'He kept getting in and out of the car to try and reverse and the wheels were spinning,' one man, who lived across the road, told Daily Mail Australia.

'He did that four or five times, and there was smoke filling the air. He was acting quite erratically.

'It was really loud. The car seemed to go into the house at speed, so we are happy no one got hurt.'

Mr Smith has helped lead the charge against Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' proposed state of emergency law, accusing the labor leader of being a 'dictator'.

In a heated debated about the state's controversial vaccine mandates in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Smith said: 'This is nonsensical, it's an abuse of power.

'It's a disgraceful mistreatment of our democratic traditions giving the dictator dictatorial powers and you think that's great.

'You think it's absolutely fantastic giving the dictator the ability to rule by decree,' he said in reference to Daniel Andrews.

The Victorian Labor Government introduced the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 in the state Parliament on Tuesday in the hope of passing it into law next month.

The new law, which the premier hopes to pass soon despite fierce opposition, states a person can be fined up to $21,909 for breaching a pandemic order.

Mr Smith tendered his resignation from shadow cabinet to Mr Guy on Sunday, marking a major setback in his party's fight to seize power from the Andrews Government

This could include not wearing a mask, breaking a movement limit, attending an illegal protest or a gathering, refusing to get tested or failing to show ID.

Businesses can be fined up to $109,044 for breaking rules which may include failing to make sure customers check-in or show proof of vaccine status.

In June, Mr Smith accused Mr Andrews' government of trying to scare people to avoid criticism for not getting on top of the latest Covid outbreak and lifting the state's fourth lockdown.

'The acting premier's deliberately provocative and hysterical language is attempting to terrify the public,' he said.

'He should be trying to reassure the public. Victorians will now be locked down for 173 days in our 4th lockdown. Why does this only happen in Victoria?

'The language from the state government in the last 24 hours should have attempted to reassure the public. Unfortunately the state govt has deliberately done the opposite.'

Mr Smith was promoted to the position of shadow attorney-general in September after Matthew Guy took over the leadership of the opposition party in a spill.

Before that, he was shadow planning minister.
Former President Donald Trump slammed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe as an 'apologist' during Monday's tele-rally where he threw his support behind Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin.

'Glenn's running against, as you know, very shady Terry McAuliffe. I know him very well,' Trump told Virginians. 'He's an apologist, and that's all you can say on Critical Race Theory. It just entered his vocabulary a while ago, and now it's there, and now he's trying to get out of it because he sees what it's doing to his numbers.

'He actually said, 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should be teaching.'

The former president's phone rally lasted approximately six minutes, the Washington Examiner reported.

During that time he addressed several hot button topics including taxes, jobs and issues surrounding children's education, such as critical race theory.

The role of critical race theory in Virginia's education system has remained a major topic of debate throughout the gubernatorial race with McAuliffe arguing the teaching does not exist in the state and Youngkin vowing to ban it once and for all.

Former President Donald Trump slammed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe as an 'apologist for critical race theory' during a tele-rally urging voters to support Republican Glenn Youngkin in Tuesday's election

During his Monday night tele-rally, Trump encouraged his 'great, giant, beautiful base' to vote for Youngkin, alleging that Tuesday's election is Virginia's chance to 'break the grip on the radical left that they have on the commonwealth.'

He warned his followers that McAuliffe would negatively impact the state's education system, quoting the Democrat's infamous statement from debate in September: 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.'

'That means all of those school boards are listening to a lot of angry parents,' the former president said.

'We don't want that. We want there to be harmony and peace.'

He urged Virginians to 'send a very strong message to Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, AOC plus three' and the 'really corrupt media' by keeping the Democrat out of office.

'If you vote to keep the radical Democrat machine in power, they'll totally ruin that very special place where you live,' Trump said. 'You're going to be totally powerless to stop them.'

He called McAuliffe corrupt and alleged that the former Virginia governor was aligned with the 'radical left.'

'He was not a successful governor, he was not a good governor, but he's gotten worse. He's made a corrupt bargain with the radical left, the extremists who control the Democratic Party,' Trump argued.

Trump called Terry McAuliffe (pictured with his wife Dorothy at a campaign rally Sunday) an 'apologist for critical race theory' and alleged that the Democratic candidate was aligned with the 'radical left'

Trump encouraged his 'great, giant, beautiful base' to vote instead for Glenn Youngkin (pictured at his campaign rally Monday), alleging that Tuesday's election is Virginia's chance to 'break the grip on the radical left that they have on the commonwealth'

CRITICAL RACE THEORY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The fight over critical race theory in schools has escalated in the United States over the last year. The theory has sparked a fierce nationwide debate in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country over the last year and the introduction of the 1619 Project. The 1619 Project, which was published by the New York Times in 2019 to mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived on American shores, reframes American history by 'placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of the US narrative'. The debate surrounding critical race theory regards concerns that some children are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist or sexist. Those against critical race theory have argued it reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color. Supporters, however, say the theory is vital to eliminating racism because it examines the ways in which race influence American politics, culture and the law. Advertisement

Youngkin - who has kept Trump at arm's length during his campaign, trying not to align himself with him or alienate his supporters - did not attend the call, nor was he involved in the planning.

In fact, the gubernatorial candidate held his own campaign rally Monday night in Virginia Beach and did not mention Trump once.

Despite Youngkin's apparent distance from the former president Trump told his supporters that the Republican was a 'fantastic guy.'

'Tomorrow, I'd like to ask everyone to get out and vote for Glenn Youngkin,' he urged.

'I've gotten to know him so well and our relationship is great.'

The former president touted Youngkin's businesses successes and told his supporters that the Republican was 'great on jobs and taxes, keeping them low.'

He argued that Youngkin would 'make Virginia really the envy of the world.'

'Glenn Youngkin has had an enormously successful career in business as most of you know, running a very incredible company that employed hundreds of people,' Trump touted.

'He'll be on your taxes and keeping them low. They're going to raise them through the sky. And he'll make Virginia really the envy of the world. You'll watch, and he'll be able to do it and won't even be that hard.'

Trump also warned that McAuliffe would 'massively raise your taxes,' be 'weak on crime,' and that 'he'll shred your Second Amendment.'

He also encouraged voters to select Republicans 'up and down the ballot.'

Throughout the gubernatorial race, Trump has remained vocal about issues impacting Virginians.

On Saturday he shared that he supported the parents protesting at the Loudoun County school against administrators who seek to teach critical race theory.

'I've been watching the school board hearings more closely than I ever have, to be honest, and it's so interesting,' the former president told Fox News on Saturday.

Critical race theory teachings have been met with backlash in Virginia, specifically in Loudoun County (Pictured: Chaos at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in June 2021)

Trump previously predicted that the controversy surrounding the schools would boost Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin's (left) chances of winning Tuesday's election. Democrat Terry McAuliffe (right) has repeatedly denied the existence of critical race theory in the state's education system

'The parents are incensed. They're not terrorists. They're people that are just so upset.'

The former president said parents are also mobilized to prevent schools from teaching racial content.

'They're angry. They're hurt. They're crying because their children are being taught things that - in our opinion, in my opinion, in the vast majority of the people in this country's opinion - they don't want their children to hear about this stuff,' Trump continued.

'They want to go back to reading, writing, and arithmetic, and they want to hear that black people are good, and they want to hear that white people are good.

'This is the division that is being caused by these programs.'

Critical race theory teachings have been met with backlash in Virginia, specifically in Loudoun County.

McAuliffe has repeatedly denied the existence of critical race theory in the state's education system.

Youngkin - who has kept Trump at arm's length during his campaign, trying not to align himself with him or alienate his supporters - did not attend the tele-rally. He instead held his own campaign event in Virginia Beach on Monday night (pictured)

'It's a dog whistle,' McAuliffe said during an interview last month. 'It's racial. It's division. And it's used by Glenn Youngkin and others  to divide people. It's not taught here in Virginia.'

Youngkin, however, has vowed to ban critical race theory from being taught in schools if he is elected.

'[I]n the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we're called to judge one another based on the content of our character and not the color of our skin,' Youngkin said at a rally on Sunday. 'And that's why there's no place for critical race theory in our school system, and why, on day one, I'm going to ban it.'

'[Critical race theory] teaches children to see everything through a lens of race and then to divide them into buckets and and have children [who] are called privileged and others [who] are victims. It is just wrong.'
A seven-metre long swimming pool has been stolen in a brazen late-night heist with the cunning thieves using a large truck to transport the goods.

The fibre glass pool was stolen from a construction site at on Moncrieff Cres in Wandana Heights, Geelong, sometime between 10.30pm-11pm on October 20.

Victoria Police released CCTV footage on Tuesday of a white truck with a crane attached to its tray approaching the construction site.

The heavy road vehicle is then seen driving off with the $14,000 pool loaded into its tray 26-minutes later.

Police said the truck has grey/silver tape or plastic covering what may be a company name on both sides.

Two yellow 'oversize' signs are also located on the front and rear of the truck.

The stolen swimming pool is described as a slate colour and the brand is 'modern pool'.

Anyone who recognises the truck or with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.
A suburban neighbourhood is on the hunt for a red-haired man accused of following a woman down the street while performing a vile sexual act.

The Melbourne woman noticed someone behind her as she walked along Glengarriff Crescent in the leafy suburb of Montmorency around 6pm on Monday, October 4.

Police allege the man continued to perform the explicit sexual act as he followed the 49-year-old woman down the street prompting her to run away and seek help.

After seeking assistance from another woman nearby the pair walked down nearby Wattle Avenue, while the man allegedly remained close behind.

Police allege the man followed a 49-year-old woman down a Montmorency street while performing an explicit sexual act, prompting her to run away and seek help

Police have released CCTV footage of a man they believe can assist in their enquiries

Police allege he continued to pursue the women and occasionally duck behind bushes, all while continuing to perform the sickening sexual act.

The man eventually left the scene and was last seen on Baldwin Avenue, according to police.

Victoria Police have released CCTV footage from a nearby home which depicts a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.

The man appears to be Caucasian in appearance, aged between 25 and 30 years, with a slim build and light-coloured hair.

He was wearing a grey t-shirt, blue shorts and black shoes and has a tattoo on his right forearm depicting three stripes.

Police have urged anyone who recognises the man or has information regarding the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
Hundreds of protesters have rallied against Dan Andrews' new pandemic laws at the Melbourne Cup near the gates of Flemington racecourse.

Victorians would face huge fines of $90,870 by breaking the rules by taking off their masks or leaving homes for a non-authorised reason under the proposal, with heftier fines for more serious instances.

The laws are expected to pass the state Parliament later this month.

The protest comes as animal rights groups also protested outside the 'race that stops the nation'.

Protesters holding signs saying 'Kill The Bill' chant slogans near Flemington Racecourse

The group of a few hundred people also carried signs and banners read, 'Sack Dan' and 'Kill the Bill', while chanting 'Save our future, save our children' outside Flemington Racecourse



Racing enthusiast Andrew Hawkins captured the protest next to Hill Gate at Flemington as a large crowd marched behind banners and poster chanting, 'No vaccine passport, no vaccine passport.'

'Got caught up in an anti-Covid and anti-Dan Andrews protest outside the Hill Gate at Flemington,' Hawkins Tweeted.

The group of a few hundred people also carried signs and banners read, 'Sack Dan' and 'Kill the Bill', while chanting 'Save our future, save our children'.

The crowd waved Australian and Southern Cross flags as they stopped outside the course after marching from Footscray Park.

Protestors object to Victoria's planned rollout of a vaccine 'passport', which will soon be required to demonstrate a person is fully vaccinated if they want to have a beer at the pub, get their hair cut or eat out with friends.

The passport will link a person's vaccination certificate to the Service Victoria phone app for scanning by a QR code at venues.

It's expected to be operational at Victorian venues by November 5, when the state is expected to reach 80 per cent of residents over the age of 16 with two doses of a Covid vaccine..

On Tuesday morning police made nine arrests after animal rights protesters chained themselves to a truck that had delivered a load of manure opposite the Flemington Racecourse entrance

Online the protestors described the event as a 'Melbourne Cup Day Picnic Takeover' organised by the Victoria Freedom Movement.

Organisers indicated they would join with others at Victoria's parliament at 5pm today to 'kill the bill'.

Earlier, police made nine arrests after animal rights protesters chained themselves to a truck that had delivered a load of manure opposite the racecourse entrance.

Protesting the spate of horse deaths in the Cup in recent years, protestors chanted 'Nup to the Cup'.

'Officers spoke with two occupants in a tip truck loaded with manure that pulled up at the Flemington Road entry about 10.10am,' Victoria Police said in a statement.

'Eight protesters appeared and tried to chain themselves to the truck however police quickly responded and took all into custody.

'The driver of the truck was also arrested.'

All of the protesters have been taken into custody and are assisting police with their enquiries.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson was hospitalized on Monday in Washington, D.C. after falling and hitting his head while helping Howard University students who are protesting living conditions on campus.

The 80-year-old Chicago civil rights leader was entering a campus building at the historically black college when he tripped and fell, cutting his head, according to his spokesman Frank Watkins.

He was rushed to Howard University Hospital for various tests including a CT scan which came back normal. Watkins said Jackson would be kept at the hospital overnight for observation.

It's the third time Jackson, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, has been hospitalized this year after he caught Covid-19 in August despite being vaccinated and underwent gallbladder surgery in January.

His daughter Santita Jackson said 'he's resting comfortably and doing well.'

'Fighting for you is what he'll always do. His goal is to ensure the well-being of HowardU students,' she added on Twitter.

Jackson, who has been meeting with students (pictured) and staff amid an accommodation dispute at Howard University, tripped and fell when entering a building on campus on Monday

Jackson posing with students on Monday before he had his fall. The Baptist minister suffers from Parkinson's disease and was admitted to hospital in August after catching Covid - despite receiving his vaccines in January

Jackson speaking with student activists on Monday before his fall

Jackson linking arms with students during a meeting on campus

The Reverend Jackson is pictured at a meeting with student protesters on Saturday

His daughter Santita Jackson said 'he's resting comfortably and doing well.' 'Fighting for you is what he'll always do. His goal is to ensure the well-being of HowardU students,' she added on Twitter.

Jackson was attending a meeting with Howard President Wayne A.I. Frederick and the students, who were discussing their complaints about living conditions, according to Watkins.

Jackson was hospitalized in August after testing positive for Covid-19, despite receiving his jabs in January when he put out a statement urging black Americans, among whom there is a higher rate of vaccine hesitancy, to get the shot.

On January 29, he was admitted to hospital after suffering from 'abdominal discomfort' and later underwent gallbladder surgery.

He was released to a rehabilitation center for a short period of exercise and therapy, because of his Parkinsons disease following the procedure.

Jackson has been seeking outpatient care for more than five years for Parkinsons, a chronic neurological disorder that causes movement difficulties.

Since being released from the hospital for Covid treatment and physical therapy, Jackson has resumed an active travel and public speaking schedule.

The Baptist minister has been a civil rights leader since the 1960s, when he marched with Martin Luther King and helped fundraise for the cause.

He was the most prominent African American to run for the US presidency - with two unsuccessful attempts to capture the Democratic Party nomination in the 1980s - until Barack Obama took the office in 2009.

Students at Howard have been protesting since last month over their living conditions, accusing college administrators of dismissing reports about mold, roaches and mice.

Members of the historically black university have organized in tents outside of campus and in sleeping bags inside the social hub and the university center.

On social media, students have said the issues at Howard University have been persistent for years and are long overdue. They've shared videos of the unsafe living condition in the dorms, showing cockroaches in the showers, walls with mold, mice making their way inside dorm rooms, and floodings from burst pipes

Members of the historically black university have organized in tents outside of campus and in sleeping bags inside the social hub and the university center

As of Saturday, October 23, the university had made attempts to stop students from entering the buildings where they had been protesting by placing campus officers outside

On social media, students have said the issues have been persistent for years and improvements are long overdue.

They've shared videos of the unsafe living condition in the dorms, showing cockroaches in the showers, walls covered with mold, mice skittering across dorm rooms, and flooding from burst pipes.

Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and NAACP President Derrick Johnson are among those to have praised the students for taking the action, along with the Rev. Jackson.

Protesters said the university has largely ignored their pleas.

Jackson had been helping students in their protest about housing conditions (pictured: tents set up on October 25 as part of demonstrations)

Tents are set up near the Blackburn University Center as students protest poor housing condition on the campus of at Howard University October 25, 2021 in Washington, DC

They are demanding a town hall meeting with the university's president before October ends, the release of a housing plan that addresses their concerns, and the appointment of students to the board of trustees.

In an email, the university said: 'The university along with its campus housing are actively addressing the concerns our students have raised.

'While there have only been a small number of documented facilities reports, we are actively inquiring about reported issues that may be in the residence halls going door to door to interview each resident.'

'Additionally, members of the administration have also toured and inspected every residence hall on campus and are addressing any documented facility issues directly with our third-party housing managers,' the email read.
Ten purebred German Shepherd puppies have been stolen from a pet owner just a week before they were due to be microchipped.

The five-week-old puppies were snatched between 4.30pm and 8pm on Sunday from Amanda Johnston's home on Dundee Road in North MacLean, Queensland.

The thieves also allegedly tied ropes around the puppies' parents, named Sunny and Opal, so they couldn't raise the alarm.

Ten five-week-old purebred German Shepherd puppies were taken from a North MacLean property in Queensland on Sunday night between 4.30pm and 8pm

Ms Johnston told Daily Mail Australia she was away from her property for a few hours and arrived home at 8pm to discover ropes around the two adult dogs.

'My dogs normally greet me at the gate and I didn't get greeted like I normally do,' she said.

'I came in the gate, and my black female dog was there with a rope around her waist.'

Ms Johnston thought at first that her energetic Opal was up to mischief and wrapped the rope around herself.

But then her male dog Sunny appeared from around the corner and also had a rope around his waist.

Their owner Amanda Johnston (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia that she had been away from for a few hours and arrived home to find the two adult dogs with rope tied around them

That's when Ms Johnston knew the explanation for her dog's predicament was something more sinister.

'My brain took a minute to comprehend what was going on and then I went through the back glass door I looked in and the puppy cage was open and the puppies were gone,' she said.

Ms Johnston said she had three German Shepherds on guard when the puppies were stolen but the thieves got away regardless.

Ms Johnston said Sunny and Opal have been on edge since the first night without their puppies and were barking non-stop and making distressing sounds.

'My female mum, she just keeps looking out the back she's still looking out there now. She just gets depressed,' she said.

Opal has been engorged with milk since the puppies vanished, and Ms Johnston had to give her pain relief and try to get rid of excess milk to alleviate her pain.

Parents Sunny and Opal have been on edge since the first night without their puppies and have been barking non-stop and making distressing sounds (Pictured: a distressed Opal engorged with milk)

'I woke up this morning balling my eyes out,' Ms Johnston said.

'I didn't cry much yesterday. I only had a short couple of cries - it was like I was in an absolute daze and in shock and today I just woke up balling my eyes out.

'It's just devastating that somebody could be so cruel.'

Ms Johnston said she hoped nothing terrible had happened to the puppies since they were stolen.

'I just don't know if they're ok, I don't know if they're not ok. I just like to hope to think they're ok,' she said.

A $3000 reward has been offered for information leading to the return of the puppies to Ms Johnston (pictured: Opal, the mother of the missing puppies)

She also believes the dognapping was a targeted attack because none of her expensive animal equipment or tools were taken from the property.

A $3,000 reward was offered for information leading to the return of the puppies to Ms Johnston.

'I'm not going to press charges or anything. I just want my babies back,' she said.

'People have just been amazing through this and I just hope and pray that this comes with a good end.'

The stolen puppies are described as a mixture of black, and black and tan dogs with a variety of long and short coats.

Anyone who has any information on the whereabouts of these puppies was urged to contact Queensland police.
A bug exterminator who says a fellow Iranian expatriate accused him of sexual assault due to their political views has been granted bail in the NSW Supreme Court.

Hassan Nekouei, 43, has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent which allegedly occurred at a Kirribilli home on April 17, 2020.

On Monday the court was told Nekouei had been placed on an intensive corrections order just three days prior to the alleged offending, following sexual touching offences against three other women.

Hassan Nekouei, 43, has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent which allegedly occurred at a Kirribilli home on April 17, 2020 (stock image)

The Crown said these were all of a similar predatory nature and related to potential employees brought in under the pretext of becoming waitstaff at a restaurant.

Following his arrest in July Nekouei denied being at the Sydney north shore home at the time of the alleged offending.

But roadway toll receipts and mobile phone records showed his version of events as 'inconsistent' and placed him there at the time, the court was told.

A description of clothing including his 'pest exterminator boots' was given to detectives who later found such items at his home.

Justice Stephen Campbell said the pair got to know each other through sharing a common interest in expatriate Iranian politics.

On Monday the court was told Nekouei had been placed on an intensive corrections order just three days prior to the alleged offending, following sexual touching offences against three other women (stock image)

'The applicant says that the complainant has a reason to wish him ill because they are from opposite sides of the political divide,' Justice Campbell said.

While there was a delay in the woman's complaint, with Nekouei arrested more than a year later, there is evidence she told a friend straight away, the court was told.

But given the lengthy time it will take to commence his trial, expected at the end of 2022, Justice Campbell said Nekouei's risk to the community could be adequately managed.

Nekouei's wife promised $3000 in security to have him released on conditional bail, which includes regular reporting to Parramatta Police Station.

A geographical order was also implemented preventing him from entering Kirribilli while working as a pest controller.
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The head of a New York City firefighters' union has attacked Bill de Blasio for not giving his members enough time to decide whether to get vaccinated or not, accusing the mayor of turning his back on the city's essential workers.

Around 2,300 firefighters were off work on Monday, as a rule enforcing COVID vaccination. Monday's deadline applied to all municipal workers, ranging from police officers to parks employees.

It was the latest vaccine mandate to be imposed by the city or state that does not allow virus testing as an alternative.

The city did not report any major problem on Monday due to the staffing shortages, but angry essential workers protested in Manhattan against the rule.

'When we go to calls, we don't judge and say are you worth saving?' said one protester, speaking to Fox News on Monday. 'But now our livelihoods and our families well being is a question, are we worth it? We never asked that question during the pandemic.

'Now we are being thrown to the trash like garbage. It's not right.'

Tensions are running high in the city and when Kamala Harris, who was in New York City on Monday evening for a gala at Carnegie Hall, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, ran into a group of angry anti-mandate protesters, she was heckled.

In Staten Island on Monday, five demonstrators were reportedly arrested for blocking sanitation trucks from leaving the station, in protest against the mandate.

Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY-Firefighters Association, told Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham on Monday night that they were not anti-vaccine, but they did not support a vaccine mandate.

He criticized the de Blasio administration for their timeframe, describing it as unworkable.

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Around 2,300 firefighters were off work on Monday, as a rule enforcing COVID vaccination. Monday's deadline applied to all municipal workers, ranging from police officers to parks employees. Twelve firefighters from Ladder 29 in Mott Haven, in the Bronx, were sent home on Monday after reporting for duty unvaccinated

Daniel Nigro, the fire commissioner, said 18 of the departments' 350 companies, or five per cent, were out of service on Monday. The Uniformed Firefighter's Association tweeted a photo of a protest sign and unused uniform on Monday

An NYPD firefighter is seen on Monday walking off the job, for refusing to obey a vaccine mandate

An estimated 2,300 firefighters disobeyed the vaccine mandate in New York

The firefighters union said their members wanted to work, but would not be rushed into vaccination

The firefighters' union president said many of their members had already caught COVID so did not want to be vaccinated

Firefighters were joined by other emergency service workers in walking off the job on Monday

It is unclear how many of the firefighters who walked out on Monday (pictured) will lose their jobs, and how many will find a way around the rules

'When you tell someone they have nine days to make a decision for a vaccination or lose their job, they don't want to work with you,' he said.

'Teachers were given over a month, and corrections does not have to make the decision until December 1st.

'So once again, the mayor is showing that people that care for criminals have more rights than people who care for the average New Yorker.'

Ansbro said that he was unable to confirm the figure of 2,300 firefighters calling in sick over the mandate, because the fire department did not share their data with the union.

Andrew Ansbro, head of the Uniformed Firefighter's Association, on Monday night said that Bill de Blasio was rushing the process

People protesting New York City's new mandate for all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 gather across the street from Carnegie Hall on Monday night, where many city leaders plus Kamala Harris were gathered for a 30th anniversary event for Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network

Protesters yelled their criticism of de Blasio, Joe Biden and vaccine mandates on Monday night

Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, has sparked anger by ordering that all all municipal workers, ranging from police officers to parks employees, be vaccinated by November 1

Daniel Nigro, the fire commissioner, said 18 of the departments' 350 companies, or five per cent, were out of service on Monday.

Dozens of other companies remained open but understaffed, he said.

The city said no firehouses - which house more than one company - were entirely closed.

Ansbro told Ingraham: 'You can't claim that the unvaccinated firefighters are causing a staffing shortage because this morning you were sending them home.'

He pointed out that the fire department has many people out on sick leave due to firefighting injuries, and some were off sick because they had just had their first jab.

And he insisted they were not against the vaccine itself.

'You know, there are people that claim that we are anti-vaccine,' he told Ingraham.

'I was vaccinated the first day and I educate my members to the best of my ability about the vaccine.

'But from the beginning, a lot of members didn't feel they need it because they were already infected previously.

'We are not anti-vaccine but anti-mandate. We just want our day in court.

'We want to have the ability to be heard.'

In the 12 days from when the mandate was first announced and Monday's deadline, the vaccination rate increased dramatically at many city agencies.

Protesters in Staten Island against the vaccine mandate were arrested for blocking the exit of a sanitation truck

A large police presence was seen on Staten Island to protect the sanitation workers

Protesters in Staten Island on Monday blocked a sanitation truck from leaving the depot, in anger at vaccine mandates

At the city's Emergency Medical Service, which operates ambulances, the vaccination rate jumped to 87 per cent from 61 per cent, The New York Times reported.

FDNY VACCINE MANDATE SHORTAGES ON MONDAY OUT OF SERVICE COMPANIES Engine 243, Bath Beach, Brooklyn Engine 211, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn Engine 226, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Engine 228, Sunset Park, Brooklyn Engine 231, Brownsville, Brooklyn Engine 279, Red Hook, Brooklyn Engine 283, Brownsville, Brooklyn Ladder 174, East Flatbush, Brooklyn Ladder 109, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Ladder 104, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Ladder 103, New Lots, Brooklyn UNVACCINATED STAFF SENT HOME Engine 15, Lower East Side, Manhattan Engine 38, the Bronx Ladder 29, Mott Haven, Bronx Engine 219, Barclay's Center, Brooklyn Advertisement

The Sanitation Department's vaccination rate jumped 20 percentage points, to 82 per cent from 62 per cent.

The adult vaccination rate across New York City is at 86 per cent.

Since Monday's deadline for about 160,000 city workers was first announced on October 20, more than 22,400 city employees have received their first dose.

As of Monday morning 91 per cent of the city's 325,000 employees were vaccinated, leaving around 29,000 unvaccinated.

Many have filed for exemptions, according to de Blasio and fire and police chiefs.

But those who are refusing out of choice say they feel like they're being treated coldly by the city they have worked for decades to protect.

'Heroes last year, fired this year,' was how one union referred to the mandate on Monday.

Among them are 5,500 NYPD officers, 3,560 firefighters and EMTs, and 1,620 workers from the Department of Sanitation, whose absence on the city's increasingly violent streets will be felt most sorely.

The police department, which employs about 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilian employees, reported an 84 per cent vaccination rate as of Monday morning.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said only 34 uniformed officers and 40 civilian members are on unpaid leave for refusing to get the shot, though thousands of others with the department remain on the job as they wait for their exemption requests to be reviewed.

'We expect as those cases are reviewed and people are either granted or denied, certainly in the case of denied, people will choose to get the vaccine,' Shea said.

There are growing fears over how those shortages will play out in 911 response times, officer man-power, EMT and ambulance capabilities, and street cleaning.

Meanwhile, nationwide COVID-related infections and fatalities in the US have dropped to the lowest levels recorded since April 2021.

About 191 million Americans have been fully vaccinated - nearly 58 per cent of the population

On September 1, America was averaging 49.9 cases per 100,000 but as of Wednesday, this figure has dropped to 21.2 cases per 100,000.

Firefighter equipment lies discarded at the Ladder Company 11 on the Lower East Side on Monday as staffing shortages left the FDNY scrambling

Nine firefighters from Engine 243 in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, showed up to work on Monday but all were sent home because they are unvaccinated. Now, the firehouse is closed, according to the union

Five firefighters from Engine 219 next to the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn were sent home on Monday because they showed up to work unvaccinated. A fully vaccinated firefighter who was there told DailyMail.com the situation is 'wearing on the guys'
Robert Durst was indicted Monday for murder in the death of his first wife, Kathie Durst, whose disappearance nearly four decades ago has long shadowed the incarcerated millionaire, contributing to his increasingly bizarre and violent behavior and leading to an infamous on-camera confession.

A grand jury in the New York City suburbs returned the second-degree murder indictment on Monday.

Durst, 78, is serving a life sentence in California for killing a confidante who helped him cover up Kathie Durst's slaying.

The real estate heir was hospitalized on a ventilator with COVID-19 after his October 14 sentencing in the Los Angeles case and was transferred last week to a state prison hospital. His medical condition was not released but a mug shot showed no sign of a ventilator.

'When Kathleen Durst disappeared on January 31, 1982, her family and friends were left with pain, anguish and questions that have contributed to their unfaltering pursuit of justice for the last 39 years,' Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah said.

Rocah said her office 'reinvigorated its investigation' into Robert Durst when she took office in January, launching a cold case unit and dedicating necessary skill and resources. She decided to take the case to a grand jury in early October.

Robert Durst was indicted Monday for murder in the death of his first wife, Kathie Durst. He is pictured at his sentencing on October 14

The real estate heir was hospitalized on a ventilator with COVID-19 after his October 14 sentencing in the Los Angeles case and was transferred last week to a state prison hospital. His medical condition was not released but a mug shot showed no sign of a ventilator

Rocah said Durst's indictment is a 'huge step forward in the pursuit of justice for Kathie Durst, her family and victims of domestic violence everywhere.'

Asked by a reporter if he had any reaction to the indictment, Durst lawyer Chip Lewis replied in an email: 'Fake news!' Asked in a subsequent email if he'll be representing Durst in the New York case and whether there are concerns about moving him to New York, given his health issues, Lewis responded, 'Not sure he will make it. But if he does, I'll let you know.'

A lawyer for Kathie Durst's family said they were still processing the news of the indictment and would speak more about the matter in the coming days.

Kathie Durst's 1982 disappearance garnered renewed public interest after HBO aired a documentary in 2015 in which the eccentric Durst appeared to admit killing people, stepping off camera and muttering to himself on a live microphone: 'Killed them all, of course.'

The grand jury that indicted Durst kept meeting and hearing witnesses even after State Police Investigator Joseph Becerra filed a criminal complaint in a town court in Lewisboro, New York, on October 19 charging Durst with second-degree murder. He had never previously been charged in her disappearance.

Kathleen McCormack Durst (left), was 29 years old when she vanished on January 29, 1982. Her body was never found

Durst was sentenced to life in prison for the 2000 murder of his friend Susan Berman (left); a day later, he was hospitalized for COVID

Such filings are often seen as a first step in the criminal process because, in New York, all felony cases require a grand jury indictment to proceed to trial unless a defendant waives that requirement.

Kathie Durst was 29 and in her final months of medical school when she was last seen. She and Robert Durst, who was 38 at the time, had been married nearly nine years and were living in South Salem, a community in Lewisboro. Her body was never found. Robert Durst divorced her in 1990 citing abandonment. At the request of her family, she was declared legally dead in 2017.

Robert Durst's behavior became increasingly erratic as investigators made several attempts over the years to close the case. In 1999, authorities searched a lake and the couple's home but turned up little evidence, with Becerra equating the search to a 'a needle in a haystack.'

In December 2000, Durst shot and killed his best friend, Susan Berman, as she was preparing to tell police about her involvement in Kathie Durst's death. She had told friends she provided a phony alibi for him after his wife vanished, prosecutors said.

Durst was convicted in September of killing Berman. Afterward, Los Angeles prosecutor John Lewin described him as a 'narcissistic psychopath,' saying Durst 'killed his wife and then he had to keep killing to cover it up.'

After Berman's death, Durst went into hiding, disguising himself as a mute woman living in a cheap apartment in Galveston, Texas. There, he killed a neighbor, chopped up his body and tossed it out to sea. Durst claimed self-defense  that he and Black were struggling for control of a gun  and was acquitted. He was convicted of destroying evidence for discarding the body parts.

Durst was also sentenced in 2016 to over seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge stemming from a 2015 arrest in New Orleans.

Robert Durst's family owns more than 16 million square feet of real estate in New York and Philadelphia, including a 10% stake in One World Trade Center, the Manhattan skyscraper formerly known as the Freedom Tower. Family members bought out Robert Durst's stake in the business for $65 million in 2006.

The Northern California hospital facility in Stockton is for inmates with long-term and acute medical needs

Durst, who has numerous medical issues, sat in a wheelchair for much of the California trial and sentencing hearing. He read his lawyer's questions from a tablet giving live transcriptions because he struggles with hearing.

Durst, testifying in the Los Angeles trial in August, denied killing Kathie Durst. After her medical school called to report that she hadn't been going to class, he said he figured she was 'out someplace having fun' and suggested that perhaps drug use was to blame.

'It hadn't occurred to me that anything had happened to her,' Durst said, speaking slowly in a strained, raspy voice. 'It was more like: What had Kathie done to Kathie?'

The multimillionaire whose grandfather founded one of New York City's premier real estate companies was considered a suspect in Kathie's disappearance, but evaded justice for 39 years.

The killing had been a mystery that haunted the women's' families for years before Durst participated in the 2015 HBO documentary 'The Jinx: The Life and Crime of Robert Durst' that unearthed new evidence and caught him in a stunning confession:

'What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course,' Durst mumbled on a hot mic as he went to the bathroom, unaware that he was being recorded, during an interview with filmmaker Andrew Jarecki - the real estate scion was arrested the day before the documentary aired after the recording was shared with police.



Berman is thought to have helped Durst cover his tracks after his wife's disappearance, posing as Kathie to phone her medical school to say she was sick on the morning after she was last seen alive.

Durst was convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court last month of first-degree murder for shooting Berman point-blank in the back of the head.

Kathie Durst was last seen on Christmas of 1982, according to interviews conducted with her family by News 12.

Robert Durst in his wheelchair looks at people in the courtroom as he appears during his murder trial in September

Her brother, Jim McCormack, told the outlet that Durst had wanted to leave the holiday gathering, but Kathie was lingering. What happened next has haunted the McCormack family since:

'[Durst] walked over to her, grabbed her by the top of her hair and yanked her. And she went with that pull. My grandmother's eyes were as big as pizza pies. She grabbed her coat and she turns to me and says "It's OK, Jimmy,"' he said.

Eight years after his wife's disappearance, Durst quietly divorced her, citing 'spousal abandonment. She was not declared legally dead until 2019.

In an affidavit, Durst wrote that 'he received no communication from his wife' after she left their home in South Salem on January 31, 1982.

Sources close to the reopened case investigation told News 12 that Durst originally told police that he had dropped Kathie off at a train station in Westchester, then spoke to her on a payphone after she took a train to Manhattan.

Durst was also charged - and acquitted at a 2005 trial - of the 2001 murder of his neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas, despite admitting to chopping his body up into multiple pieces with an ax and a bow saw.

Durst had claimed he accidentally shot Black in the head when they were both wrestling over Durst's firearm which Black had gotten hold of.

He dismembered his body and dumped it in the sea in plastic bags which were discovered by authorities.

The only body part never found was Black's head - making Durst's version of events difficult to disprove.

The real estate scion had wound up being neighbors with Black when he was reportedly hiding from New York authorities in the small town in Texas.

Prosecutors during his trial for Berman's murder argued Durst murdered Black when he discovered his true identity as the man suspected of killing his wife in New York.

DA Rocah reopened the investigation back in May into Kathie's disappearance - a case that has plagued the DA's office for decades.

The original investigation was only ever launched as a missing persons case and no search of the Durst's home was carried out.

In 2000, then-DA Jeanine Pirro reopened the case into Kathie's disappearance at a time when Berman's death was being investigated in LA and Durst was facing charges over Black's death in Texas.

Authorities searched a lake and the Durst couples home, but, once again, no charges were brought.
Voters in Minneapolis will have the option on Tuesday to approve a proposal that aims to eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety.

The question was added to the ballot after a petition garnered more than 20,000 signatures from residents outraged over the May 2020 police-involved death of George Floyd.

Should voters opt in favor of the proposal, the Minneapolis Police Department would be removed from the city charter and replaced with the Department of Public Safety.

The mayor of Minneapolis would then nominate a commissioner of the new department, which would introduce a 'comprehensive public health approach', but with no mandatory minimum of police and law enforcement staffing.

A volunteer urges community members to vote yes on ballot Question Two outside of a polling place on Tuesday in Minneapolis

Volunteers with the 'Yes on 2' movement for passing the policing amendment, hand out snacks to voters near Cityview Community School in Minneapolis on Tuesday

Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey (left) was also in a tough fight for a second term, facing a bevy of opponents who have attacked him for his leadership in the wake of Floyds death. Frey opposed the policing amendment, as has fellow Democrat Tim Walz (right), the Minnesota governor

House Rep. Ilhan Omar (left) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (right) have come out in support of Question 2

Question 2 asks: 'Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?'

Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey was also in a tough fight for a second term, facing a bevy of opponents who have attacked him for his leadership in the wake of Floyds death.

Minneapolis' 'abolish the police' ballot vote suggests 'public health approach' to crime Question 2 asks: 'Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?' Advertisement

Frey opposed the policing amendment, as has fellow Democrat Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor.

US Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, opposed it and feared the backlash could lead to Democratic losses across the country in 2022.

Two of Frey's leading challengers in the field of 17 candidates, Sheila Nezhad and Kate Knuth, strongly supported the proposal, as has House Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Support didn't cleanly follow racial lines.

Opponents included several prominent black leaders, including some who have been top voices in the police accountability movement.

Minister JaNae Bates, a spokeswoman for the pro-amendment campaign, told reporters Monday that even if the proposal fails, the activists behind it have changed the conversation around public safety.

'No matter what happens, the city of Minneapolis is going to have to move forward and really wrestle with what we cannot unknow: that the Minneapolis Police Department has been able to operate with impunity and has done quite a bit of harm and the city has to take some serious steps to rectify that,' Bates said.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said last week that the measure would do nothing to address the issues laid bare with the death last year of George Floyd.

In December last year, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to slash around $8million in direct police department funding in the wake of the 'defund the police' movement following Floyd's death.

Floyd, 46, was killed in May 2020 when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed him down into the pavement for nine minutes with a shin on his neck.

The former police officer was found guilty of Floyd's murder earlier this year and was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison - the longest sentence ever handed out to a police officer for use of excessive force.

In December last year, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to slash around $8million in direct police department funding in the wake of the 'defund the police' movement following Floyd's death. Floyd (right), 46, was killed in May 2020 when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin (left) pressed him down into the pavement for nine minutes with a shin on his neck

House Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, blamed Minneapolis police officers for rising crime rates in the city because they are not 'providing the public safety they owe to the citizens they serve.'

Omar accused the department of 'not fulfilling their oath of office' during a town hall event last month, and said that there is 'no accountability' for what the police are doing.

'What we must also recognize is that the reduction in policing currently in our city and the lawlessness that is happening is due to two things,' Omar said.

'One, the police have chosen to not fulfil their oath of office and to provide the public safety they are owed to the citizens they serve.

'The Minneapolis police department is the most dysfunctional police department in our state and probably in the country.'

Ellison, a left-wing Democrat who supported Senator Bernie Sanders in his recent presidential bids, announced his support for the measure in a tweet.

'As a resident of [Minneapolis] where George Floyd's murder sparked a national call for real reform, I will vote Yes for greater public safety & more human rights for all,' wrote Ellison, Minnesota's top law enforcement official.

As proposed, the new department would no longer be under the sole command of the mayors office, which is significant given that incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey opposes abolishing the police department while a majority of City Council members supports the idea.

More than 30 local groups are pushing to support the change under the 'Yes 4 Minneapolis' banner.

They gathered 20,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot - almost twice the number necessary - and have raised about $1 million, including $500,000 from Open Society Policy Center, which has ties to billionaire George Soros.

The new proposal would remove a reference to the police chiefs job from the city charter. Current Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is seen above

'What we knew as public safety - which is only the police right now, the only option that we have - was unacceptable,' said Brian Fullman, lead organizer with one of the groups, Barbershop and Black Congregation Cooperative.

'The murder of George Floyd ignited a lot of historical pain and disrespect that we have been going through, and we made the decision that we no longer wanted to have what we have now as the only option for public safety.'

A majority of City Council members first began pushing to eliminate the police department soon after Floyds death, but they failed to meet deadlines to get it on the ballot last November. The Rev. JaNae Bates, a leader of the Yes 4 Minneapolis campaign, said the ease with which the campaign gathered signatures shows the momentum for change is still there more than a year after Floyds death.

'The residents of Minneapolis really were the ones who made the call for this, who were like, we cant just let this lesson that took place in the summer to be something that fizzles out, and then what? We just wait for the next person to be killed by the police?' she said.

Minneapolis, like most other major US cities, has been on edge due to rising violence and property crime in almost every neighborhood in the past year.

Minneapolis candidate for mayor Kate Knuth (center) speaks with Minneapolis residents during a get out the vote event on Saturday

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Sheila Nezhad campaigns in the city on Saturday. Both Knuth and Nezhad are strong supporters of Question 2

And the police department is more than 200 officers, or about 25 percent, below its authorized strength due mostly to a wave of retirements and disability leaves following Floyd's death.

Both factors have energized opponents of the initiative.

All of Mpls - a new group that has raised more than $109,000 - will begin campaigning against the proposal in the coming weeks with door knocking, community events, mailers and digital ads through the fall.

All of Mpls campaign manager Leili Fatehi called the proposal to eliminate the department 'a gimmick.'

She said plenty of residents want police to be held accountable and changes in the department, but they also worry about rising crime.

'It's not getting us to the real solutions that balance those two concerns,' she said.

Opponents also say the ballot question doesnt guarantee that a new public safety department would have police officers at all.

Instead, it says officers would be included 'if necessary to fulfill the departments duties.' Bill Rodriguez, co-founder of Operation Safety Now, called the proposed amendment a 'trojan horse' and warned that the campaign's end goal is to abolish police.

'The amendment doesn't say there will be a police force - it says there could be, maybe, if necessary,' he said. 'That's the most important thing that needs to be understood about this amendment.'

The ballot proposal has sparked heated controversy and debate in Minneapolis, and three city residents are suing the city over its inclusion and wording.
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In his final pitch ahead of Election Day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin promised Virginians in Loudoun County that he would ban critical race theory teachings in schools and give parents back the power over their children's educations.

Youngkin, who holds less than a one percent lead over Democrat Terry McAuliffe, took the stage Monday night in the battleground county, which has been the state's epicenter of anger regarding school curricula and policies - in particular, the teaching of critical race theory and rules regarding transgender students.

'We decide that we're going to take the power of our children's education,' he told the crowd of rally goers.

'This is a defining moment to the future of our commonwealth. A defining moment where we can stand up and say no to this progressive liberal agenda taking over.'

Meanwhile, McAuliffe held his own rally Monday, criticizing Youngkin for his unsolicited endorsement from former president Donald Trump.

'Guess how Glenn Youngkin is finishing his campaign? He is doing an event with Donald Trump here in Virginia. I'm here with you and they've got Trump over there,' he said.

'Donald Trump wants to win here tomorrow night so he can next day announce for president of the United States of America. Well, we're going to put an end to Donald Trump's future plans right here in Virginia. I've beaten Trump twice in Virginia, tomorrow we go 3 and 0.'

Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin (pictured at a Monday night rally in Loudoun County) promised Virginians that he would ban critical race theory teachings in schools and that parents would have power over their children's educations

His opponent, Terry McAuliffe (pictured at his own campaign rally Monday night) has denied the existence of critical race theory in the state's education system and argued that he doesn't 'think parents should be telling schools what they should teach'

Youngkin held his rally in the battleground area of Loudoun County where residents have protested against the teaching of critical race theory and rules regarding transgender students

Youngkin, who did not mention the former president during his Monday night rally, remained focused on the issues that polls show to be of high importance amongst Virginia's voters.

'We have to have a moment where the power shifts away from the marble halls of Richmond to the kitchen tables,' Youngkin told his supporters.

'What can happen tomorrow can be a statement, a statement that can be heard across this country because America needs us to vote tomorrow as well.'

He continued: 'America's watching. Why? Because all across this country families are having the same discussions that you all have.

'I get notes all day long, 'Glenn stand up for our kids too. Stand up for the rights of our children because we can't vote this year.'

Youngkin took the stage Monday night in Loudoun County, which has been the state's epicenter of anger regarding school curricula and policies

'We decide that we're going to take the power of our children's education,' he told the crowd of rally goers. 'This is a defining moment to the future of our commonwealth'

Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, left, is pictured with his family: son Grant, wife Suzanne, and daughter Anna, at a campaign rally in Loudoun County

Youngkin promised his supporters that Virginia's schools would not be faucets for political agendas and that he would ban critical race theory

He promised that the state's schools would not be faucets for political agendas.

'What we won't do is teach our children to view everything through a lens of race where we divide them into buckets and one group is an oppressor and the other is a victim and we pit them against each other and we steal their dreams,' Youngkin said.

Youngkin also argued that Tuesday's election was the 'moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda,' citing alleged McAuliffe agenda items that would put increase taxes and put the government between schools and families.

McAuliffe - who has repeatedly accused his opponent of using Virginia's children 'as pawns' in his campaign - has denied the existence of critical race theory in the state's education system and argued that he doesn't 'think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.'

McAuliffe and Youngkin have less than a 1 percent polling gap from each other as Tuesday's Virginia gubernatorial race comes down to the wire

McAuliffe, pictured at his campaign rally in Fairfax on Monday, criticized Youngkin for his unsolicited endorsement from former president Donald Trump

'Guess how Glenn Youngkin is finishing his campaign? He is doing an event with Donald Trump here in Virginia. I'm here with you and they've got Trump over there,' McAuliffe told the crowd

McAuliffe's rally came one day after he alleged that the state needed more minority educators and promised to start a program to pay for their college tuition and housing

Democratic governor candidate Terry McAuliffe argues Virginia has too many white teachers Terry McAuliffe, during a campaign in Manassas, Virginia on Sunday called for the Old Dominion State to 'diversify' its teacher base as the race comes down to some issues  including education and critical race theory. The Democratic candidate promised to create a program to attract more minority teachers while lamenting that Virginia has too many white teachers. 'We got to work hard to diversify our teacher base,' McAuliffe said at the event. 'Fifty per cent of our students are students of color, 80 per cent of the teachers are White, so what I'm going to do for you  we'll be the first state in America,' he continued. 'If you go teach in Virginia for five years in a high-demand area  that could be geographic, it could be course work  we will pay room, board, tuition, any college, any university, or any HBCU here in Virginia.' The reference to Historically Black Colleges and Universities insinuated that the free college program would be aimed at prioritizing attracting prospective non-white teachers to the state. Advertisement

However, at a campaign rally Sunday, the Democrat did address the hotbed topic of education, alleging that there were too many white educators in the state.

'We've got to diversify our teacher base here in Virginia. Fifty percent of students at Virginia schools  K-12  50 percent are students of color, and yet 80 percent of the teachers are white,' he said.

McAuliffe promised to diversify the state's teacher base and become the first state to pay college tuition and housing for minority educators.

'We all know what we have to do in a school to make everybody feel comfortable in school,' he argued.

'So, here's what I'm going to do. We'll be the first state in America  if you'll teach for five years here in Virginia in a high-demand area, whether that be geographic or course work, we will pay room, board, tuition, at any college, any university, any HBCU [historically black colleges and universities] here in the commonwealth of Virginia.'

McAuliffe and Youngkin have less than a 1 percent polling gap from each other as Tuesday's Virginia gubernatorial race comes down to the wire.

Youngkin pulled ahead of his Democratic challenger and former Virginia governor on Saturday in a FiveThirtyEight polling average.

On October 28, the two were tied at 47 percent, then on October 29, Youngkin pulled ahead of McAuliffe in a 47.5 to 46.9 percent split.

On Sunday, Youngkin raised to 47.6 percent to McAuliffe's 47 percent.

According to the latest Fox News poll, conducted by Democratic pollster Chris Anderson and Republican Daron Shaw, the majority of Virginians polled also indicated that they trusted Youngkin over McAuliffe when it comes to addressing educational issues.

'It's scary to see things so close,' Brooke Hall-Ewell, a 50-year-old nurse who attended McAuliffe's Monday event, told the Associated Press. 'We've got to keep Virginia blue.'

According to the latest Fox News poll, the majority of Virginians polled also indicated that they trusted Youngkin over McAuliffe when it comes to addressing educational issues

Youngkin pulled ahead of his Democratic challenger and former Virginia governor on Saturday in a FiveThirtyEight polling average

On October 28, the two were tied at 47 percent, then on October 29, Youngkin pulled ahead of McAuliffe in a 47.5 to 46.9 percent split. On Sunday, Youngkin raised to 47.6 percent to McAuliffe's 47 percent

However, Youngkin supporters argued that it was time for change.

'He's a straight shooter,' Dan Maloy, a 53-year-old small business owner, said Monday.

'He cares about the issues that we care about. You know, it's food on the table. What's the cost of groceries? What's the cost of gas? What do we need to do to move Virginia forward?'

If Youngkin win's election, he would be the first Republican to be elected as Virginia's governor in more than a decade.

Meanwhile, Democrats are fearful of losing their stronghold in Virginia.

A loss in the Virginia governor's race, long considered a bellwether for midterm elections, would trigger all-out panic among Democrats far beyond Virginia.

The party is already wary about their chances in elections that will decide control of the House and Senate and statehouses next year.

'This is your chance to break the grip on the radical Left': Trump rallies Virginia voters for Glenn Youngkin and slams 'shady' Democrat Terry McAuliffe as an 'apologist' for CRT

Former President Donald Trump slammed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe as an 'apologist' during Monday's tele-rally where he threw his support behind Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin.

'Glenn's running against, as you know, very shady Terry McAuliffe. I know him very well,' Trump told Virginians. 'He's an apologist, and that's all you can say on critical race theory. It just entered his vocabulary a while ago, and now it's there, and now he's trying to get out of it because he sees what it's doing to his numbers.

'He actually said, 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should be teaching.'

The former president's phone rally lasted approximately six minutes, the Washington Examiner reported.

During that time he addressed several hot button topics including taxes, jobs and issues surrounding children's education, such as critical race theory.

The role of critical race theory in Virginia's education system has remained a major topic of debate throughout the gubernatorial race with McAuliffe arguing the teaching does not exist in the state and Youngkin vowing to ban it once and for all.

Former President Donald Trump slammed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe as an 'apologist for critical race theory' during a tele-rally urging voters to support Republican Glenn Youngkin in Tuesday's election

During his Monday night tele-rally, Trump encouraged his 'great, giant, beautiful base' to vote for Youngkin, alleging that Tuesday's election is Virginia's chance to 'break the grip on the radical left that they have on the commonwealth.'

He warned his followers that McAuliffe would negatively impact the state's education system, quoting the Democrat's infamous statement from debate in September: 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.'

'That means all of those school boards are listening to a lot of angry parents,' the former president said.

'We don't want that. We want there to be harmony and peace.'

He urged Virginians to 'send a very strong message to Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, AOC plus three' and the 'really corrupt media' by keeping the Democrat out of office.

'If you vote to keep the radical Democrat machine in power, they'll totally ruin that very special place where you live,' Trump said. 'You're going to be totally powerless to stop them.'

He called McAuliffe corrupt and alleged that the former Virginia governor was aligned with the 'radical left.'

'He was not a successful governor, he was not a good governor, but he's gotten worse. He's made a corrupt bargain with the radical left, the extremists who control the Democratic Party,' Trump argued.

Trump called Terry McAuliffe (pictured with his wife Dorothy at a campaign rally Sunday) an 'apologist for critical race theory' and alleged that the Democratic candidate was aligned with the 'radical left'

Trump encouraged his 'great, giant, beautiful base' to vote instead for Glenn Youngkin (pictured at his campaign rally Monday), alleging that Tuesday's election is Virginia's chance to 'break the grip on the radical left that they have on the commonwealth'

CRITICAL RACE THEORY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The fight over critical race theory in schools has escalated in the United States over the last year. The theory has sparked a fierce nationwide debate in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country over the last year and the introduction of the 1619 Project. The 1619 Project, which was published by the New York Times in 2019 to mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived on American shores, reframes American history by 'placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of the US narrative'. The debate surrounding critical race theory regards concerns that some children are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist or sexist. Those against critical race theory have argued it reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color. Supporters, however, say the theory is vital to eliminating racism because it examines the ways in which race influence American politics, culture and the law. Advertisement

Youngkin - who has kept Trump at arm's length during his campaign, trying not to align himself with him or alienate his supporters - did not attend the call, nor was he involved in the planning.

In fact, the gubernatorial candidate held his own campaign rally Monday night in Virginia Beach and did not mention Trump once.

Despite Youngkin's apparent distance from the former president Trump told his supporters that the Republican was a 'fantastic guy.'

'Tomorrow, I'd like to ask everyone to get out and vote for Glenn Youngkin,' he urged.

'I've gotten to know him so well and our relationship is great.'

The former president touted Youngkin's businesses successes and told his supporters that the Republican was 'great on jobs and taxes, keeping them low.'

He argued that Youngkin would 'make Virginia really the envy of the world.'

'Glenn Youngkin has had an enormously successful career in business as most of you know, running a very incredible company that employed hundreds of people,' Trump touted.

'He'll be on your taxes and keeping them low. They're going to raise them through the sky. And he'll make Virginia really the envy of the world. You'll watch, and he'll be able to do it and won't even be that hard.'

Trump also warned that McAuliffe would 'massively raise your taxes,' be 'weak on crime,' and that 'he'll shred your Second Amendment.'

He also encouraged voters to select Republicans 'up and down the ballot.'

Throughout the gubernatorial race, Trump has remained vocal about issues impacting Virginians.

On Saturday he shared that he supported the parents protesting at the Loudoun County school against administrators who seek to teach critical race theory.

'I've been watching the school board hearings more closely than I ever have, to be honest, and it's so interesting,' the former president told Fox News on Saturday.

Critical race theory teachings have been met with backlash in Virginia, specifically in Loudoun County (Pictured: Chaos at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in June 2021)

Trump previously predicted that the controversy surrounding the schools would boost Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin's (left) chances of winning Tuesday's election. Democrat Terry McAuliffe (right) has repeatedly denied the existstence of critical race theory in the state's education system

'The parents are incensed. They're not terrorists. They're people that are just so upset.'

The former president said parents are also mobilized to prevent schools from teaching racial content.

'They're angry. They're hurt. They're crying because their children are being taught things that - in our opinion, in my opinion, in the vast majority of the people in this country's opinion - they don't want their children to hear about this stuff,' Trump continued.

'They want to go back to reading, writing, and arithmetic, and they want to hear that black people are good, and they want to hear that white people are good.

'This is the division that is being caused by these programs.'

Critical race theory teachings have been met with backlash in Virginia, specifically in Loudoun County.

McAuliffe has repeatedly denied the existstence of critical race theory in the state's education system.

Youngkin - who has kept Trump at arm's length during his campaign, trying not to align himself with him or alienate his supporters - did not attend the tele-rally. He instead held his own campaign event in Virginia Beach on Monday night (pictured)

'It's a dog whistle,' McAuliffe said during an interview last month. 'It's racial. It's division. And it's used by Glenn Youngkin and others  to divide people. It's not taught here in Virginia.'

Youngkin, however, has vowed to ban critical race theory from being taught in schools if he is elected.

'[I]n the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we're called to judge one another based on the content of our character and not the color of our skin,' Youngkin said at a rally on Sunday. 'And that's why there's no place for critical race theory in our school system, and why, on day one, I'm going to ban it.'

'[Critical race theory] teaches children to see everything through a lens of race and then to divide them into buckets and and have children [who] are called privileged and others [who] are victims. It is just wrong.'
Field Day - one of the most iconic music festivals in NSW - will be staged on January 1 next year.

The annual event, which showcases world and local hip-hop, indie, house and electronic music acts, is set to go ahead at the Domain in Sydney's CBD.

Much to the disappointment of countless music fans, Field Day was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic - but now the latest instalment is just a couple of months away.

Many view the festival, which started in 2002, as the perfect way to toast the New Year.

A teasing Facebook post on Tuesday, with the date 1/1/22 accompanied by an image of a previous Field Day in the Harbour City, left scores of revellers excited.

Music fans rejoice - Field Day is back, set to be staged in Sydney's Domain on January 1 next year

Organisers took to Facebook on Tuesday to confirm the festival will be staged in 2022 after the 2021 version was cancelled due to the pandemic

The 2022 line-up is yet to be confirmed, and tickets are not yet available - but scores of punters were elated at the announcement on social media on Tuesday

While the lineup is yet to be announced, Field Day tends to attract a number of top shelf global acts.

Over the years, standouts to grace the stage include house music favourites Bob Sinclar and Groove Armada, electronic 'kings' Kaskade and Roger Sanchez as well as Australian indie rock band The Jezabels.

Field Day is a drug-free festival with those nabbed with illegal narcotics by police issued court attendance notices.

In 2020, NSW police arrested 169 punters who attended Field Day on drug-related charges.

Police at the time confirmed a a high-visibility operation, led by the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad, was in use for the duration of the festival.

Out of the 27,000 punters that attended Field Day, 167 were arrested for drug possession and two for supply.

Field Day was also was one of the first festivals to introduce drug amnesty bins on site.

Police were ordered to run their drug detection operation away from the bins, in an attempt to encourage attendees to abandon their drugs without legal ramifications.

'Officers will be directed not to ordinarily patrol or interact with the bins,' Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Willing told Daily Mail Australia in the lead up to the festival.

'We don't want to see police standing around where the bins are and stopping people from disposing of personal-use drugs.'

Tickets for the 2022 Field Day are expected to be available online over the next few days.
After six horses died in the Melbourne Cup since 2013, racing authorities finally had to question what was going wrong and to do something about it.

To not do so would have risked its status as being 'the race that stops the nation'.

The Australian public was tiring of seeing a horse die almost every year, right in front of them on their high definition TV screens.

The last straw came when a horse called Anthony Van Dyck died in last year's Melbourne Cup, leading to an inquiry.

He was an Irish-bred stallion, trained by Aidan O'Brien, one of horse racing's most successful ever trainers.

Jockey Hugh Bowman rides Anthony Van Dyck during trackwork at Werribee Racecourse. The horse was euthanised after an injury at the 2020 Melbourne Cup

Another Aidan O'Brien-trained horse, The CliffsofMoher, was euthanised after getting injured in the 2018 Melbourne Cup

All six of the horses that had to be euthanised in recent years had flown in from Europe or Japan.

The last time an Australian or New Zealand horse died in the Cup was 1979 when Dulcify broke its pelvis and had to be put down.

The high fatality rate since 2014 made the two-mile handicap Melbourne Cup one of the world's deadliest races, which led Racing Victoria to look very closely at how international horses are cared for during the Spring Carnival.

A report by Racing Victoria into the death of Anthony Van Dyck found it was lame a month before breaking down in the Melbourne Cup.

But a CT scan was not carried out to determine the extent of the horse's injuries.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained CliffsofMoher was euthanised after the 2018 Melbourne Cup

Mr O'Brien was not at the Melbourne Cup last year due to Covid-19 restrictions. The report made no criticism of Mr O'Brien, the management of the Anthony Van Dyck or the treating vet.

The report made 44 recommendations, of which Racing Victoria adopted 41.

The new measures focus on greater screening of international horses who travel to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Carnival, and of all horses - local or from overseas - competing in the Cup itself.

The use of bone scans called scintigraphy and CT/MRI scans of the horses' lower limbs is now mandated for all horses within two to six weeks of travel, while a Racing Victoria-appointed veterinarian must conduct an inspection in pre-travel quarantine.

Pre-race veterinary inspections are also carried out to spot lameness in horses that make them unfit to run.

Racing Victoria bought a standing CT scanner in 2019 and, following the report, its use is now mandatory for Cup entrants.

'Racing Victoria has a statewide team of 60 veterinarians who work on-course to support the health, welfare and safety of every horse competing in the 550 race meetings conducted in Victoria each year,' a Racing Victoria spokesman said in a statement.

'The pre-race veterinary inspection is to ensure, as far as possible, that all horses participating in the above-mentioned races are in a suitable condition to do so, and that their performance will not be compromised by a pre-existing injury, illness or degenerative condition.'

Other available tests include cortisol testing, where blood serum, saliva or urine is used to test the concentration of cortisol to gauge a horse's stress levels after training.

All of this has led to a safer Melbourne Cup, with no horse having died today.

It won't satisfy everyone, but it will help most people feel better about the race that continues to stop a nation.

RACEHORSE TRAGEDIES: THE GRIM MODERN HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE CUP A healthy Rostropovich (left) during a trackwork session at Flemington racecourse a week ago Animal rights activists have repeatedly pointed out that six horses have died at the Melbourne Cup since 2013. 2013: French mare Verema is put down after snapping a bone in her leg and failing to finish the race 2014: Admire Ratki collapses and dies in his stall after the race. Meanwhile, Araldo breaks his leg and is euthanised 2015: Red Cadeaux suffers a bone fracture The horse was euthanised a fortnight later 2017: Regal Monarch is euthanised after breaking down in race four of the Cup 2018: Cliffsofmoher is euthanised in front of the crowds at Flemington after breaking its shoulder 2020: Pre-race favourite Anthony Van Dyck broke down during the race and was euthanised, sparking an inquiry that led to tighter measures for this year's Cup Advertisement
Dual Adelaide AFLW premiership defender Deni Varnhagen is not backing down on her refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

A registered nurse who works in intensive care units, Varnhagen joined other healthcare workers in Adelaide in protesting about mandatory vaccination.

Wearing a white singlet that says 'freedom to choose', the 29-year-old explained her stance to reporters on Tuesday.

'I love being a nurse and coercion is not consent so it's pretty self-explanatory,' Varnhagen said.

Adelaide AFLW player and nurse Deni Varnhagen (pictured) joined other healthcare workers in Adelaide to protest against mandatory Covid vaccination

'I'm scared for all of us nurses, we're all terrified, we love working and want to be back working.'

Varnhagen claimed she did not want to be 'at threat' of losing her job because of what she labelled as a 'medical experiment'.

'There's a lot that's in the news that isn't speaking the truth,' she claimed.

South Australia's healthcare workers were stood down on Monday if they were yet to receive their jab before the November 1 deadline.

More than 80 per cent of the population aged over 16 in NSW and Victoria have received both doses, while South Australia is approaching 70 per cent fully vaccinated.

Varnhagen, who is an ICU nurse, claimed she did not want to be 'at threat' of losing her job because of what she labelled as a 'medical experiment'

Varnhagen could be giving up her nursing and AFLW career due to her anti-vaccination stance.

All AFL and AFLW players will need to be fully vaccinated by mid-February or they will be barred from playing and training.

The league released its long-awaited vaccination policy last month, with clubs to ultimately determine action on staff who refuse vaccinations.

If players do not have a medical exemption for not receiving the jab, clubs will have options to transfer them to the inactive list, pay them no less than 25 per cent of their contracted salary, or agree to part ways.

Varnhagen could be giving up her nursing and AFLW career due to her anti-vaccination stance as all AFL and AFLW players will need to be fully vaccinated by mid-February

Sydney Swans and GWS players will need to be fully vaccinated by December 17, while clubs in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia will need to have both doses by February 18.

Victorian clubs already need to be vaccinated to comply with the state government's protocols.

It is not the first time Varnhagen has attended an anti-vaccination rally, after posting a video to her Instagram last month showing people marching for 'freedom of choice'.

She then followed it up with another clip holding a sign that read 'health care hero's (sic) in 2020... unvaxed unwanted in 2021'.

Varnhagen has played 31 games for the Crows across the first five seasons of AFLW.
Former Vice President Mike Pence was asked directly on Monday night, who it was that convinced him not to go along with Donald Trump's plan of refusing to certify the Presidential election results.

Vice President Pence declared Joe Biden the winner of the election at the end of a violent and deadly day at the Capitol on January 6.

But during a question and answer session at a Young America's Foundation event at the University of Iowa, a student demanded to know what, in his mind, had caused Pence to suddenly back down and refuse to block the certification of the election.

Former Vice President Mike Pence was asked by a student in Iowa why he didn't overturn the 2020 election on January 6 at Trump's request

'What is the name of the person who convinced you to buck President Trump's plan and certify the votes?' a student named Jared, pictured, asked Pence

'James Madison,' was Pence's response referring to one of the Founding Fathers. His answer drew applause from the gathered crowd

'On January 5th, you were convinced that the election was correctly stolen,' a student named Jared said. 'You, Trump, Peter Navarro, John Eastman, and others had a plan on the morning of the 6th to send the certification back to the states. What is the name of the person who convinced you to buck President Trump's plan and certify the votes?'

Pence responded forthrightly: 'James Madison.'

Madison, one of the Founding Fathers and the fourth president of the United States is often considered the 'father of the Constitution.'

Pence then followed up once more as he spoke to the student directly rubbishing his questions: 'Everything you've recited relative to me is false,' he began.

'The Constitution is very clear that elections are to be governed at the state level. The Founders actually made that decision at the Constitutional Convention. And the only role of the federal government was to open and count the electoral votes that were sent by the states.

A mob of supporters of then-U.S. President Donald Trump climb through a window they broke as they storm the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on January 6

'I understand the disappointment in the election,' Pence responded. 'You might remember I was on the ballot. But you've got to be willing to do your duty. And the time may come that some of you are in that position, or one like it. And I just have a feeling based on the shining faces I'm seeing around here you're going to be men and women who do your duty in that time as well.'

Pence also quoted the Bible as guiding his actions on that day recalling: 'Psalm 15 says he who keeps his oath even when it hurts.'

Pence explained that he had written a letter to Congress to express his concern over various voting in some states, despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud in any state during the 2020 election.

As vice president, Pence presided over the joint session where lawmakers certified the results of the 2020 election

Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resume presiding over a Joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after the Capitol attack

Trump's tweet was false. Pence does not have the power to reject slates of electors

Donald Trump went after his own VP in a tweetstorm on the morning of January 6 in the hope that Pence would refuse to certify the results of the election

'I continue to share those concerns and I support efforts in states to improve voter integrity as has been done in places like Georgia and Arizona and elsewhere.' Pence said.

'You've got to be willing to do your duty,' Pence explained calmly to the listening students.

When Pence refused to intervene on January 6, Trump then turned on the vice president and attacked him on Twitter while the siege on the Capitol was underway.

Earlier this year, Pence said that he and Trump have spoken 'many times' since leaving office but that 'I don't know if we'll ever see eye to eye' about January 6.

The siege saw Pence rushed out of the Senate chamber by secret service agents and rioters stormed the halls of Congress.

Pence served Trump with loyalty for four years with the election certification being the only clear break between the pair.

U.S. Capitol Police officers with guns drawn watch as insurrectionist loyal to President Donald Trump try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol
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Punters have let loose after a huge day of racing with thousands turning out in both Sydney and Melbourne to cheer on the horses for the race that stops the nation.

Flemington Racecourse welcomed 10,000 revellers to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday with long-suffering Victorians ready to let their hair down after enduring the world's longest lockdown.

In Sydney, the champagne was also flowing at the Royal Randwick Racecourse where 17,000 screaming Aussies packed in to get a taste of the action.

There were similar crowds at Brisbane's Eagle Farm racecourse which delivered its own day of spectacular races as Australians across the country ditched their work-from-home tracksuits and dressing gowns in favour of designer dressers and three-piece suits.

Covid-19 lockdowns forced many to stay inside for several months of the year, and most were very keen to kick up their heels amid their newfound freedoms.

But while Verry Elleegant stormed to victory, in the stands it was slightly less elegant with glamorous race-goers pictured chugging champagne straight out of the bottle.

While some were drinking in celebration, others were drowning their sorrows after red-hot favourite Incentivise came up short in the coveted $8million race.

Cheers! Punters have let loose after a huge day of racing with thousands turning out in both Sydney and Melbourne to cheer on the horses for the Melbourne Cup (pictured at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse)

Tongue and cheek! A Melbourne Cup reveller holding her high heel shoes poses for a photo at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Pictured: A glamorous barefoot punter dances on the grass at Flemington Racecourse celebrating her big win

Man Down! Luckily none of the horses fell this year but the same can't be said for revellers watching the race trackside

Party time! Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse goes wild as punters leap out of their seats

Bottoms up! The drinks were flowing at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday with 17,000 turning out for a huge day of racing

Time for a rest: A race-goer lays down on the grass to take a break from all the action on the tract at Flemington

Spirits were high at Flemington Racecourse, but outside of the gates told another story with animal rights activists chaining themselves to a truck that had delivered a load of manure opposite the entrance.

Protesting the spate of horse deaths in the Cup in recent years, protestors chanted 'Nup to the Cup' with police taking nine away in handcuffs.

'Would you wear that suit to the slaughterhouse, sir?' one protester armed with a megaphone asked racegoers on arrival.

But that did not deter Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula declaring the event a roaring success and a much needed shot in the arm for the city of Melbourne.

Tongues are wagging: A man and a women strike a pose at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Give'm the whip!: Shenanigans play out trackside at Flemington Racecourse ahead of the Melbourne Cup

All smiles: Two women cheer on the horses in style at Randwick Racecourse ahead of the highly anticipated Melbourne Cup

Ladies rejoice after a big win at the track, leaping out of their seats at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney

One happy race-goers strolls around the grounds at the Flemington Racecourse celebrating the day of action

Sore hooves? Melbourne Cup race-goers had to take her high heels off after a long day at Flemington Racecourse

A groups of mates burst out laughing at the Melbourne Cup as one of their pals hits the deck after a long day of celebrating

'Victorians worked so hard for so long to get the vaccination numbers up,' Mr Pakula told reporters.

'Victorians have earned this. It's a majestic, glorious Melbourne Cup day and it means more to the city than it has for a long, long time.'

Short-priced favourite - and Mr Pakula's pick for the race - Incentivise came second as it was run down by Verry Elleegant in a dramatic finish that had thousands tearing up their betting slips in disgust.

The six-year-old mare was ridden by James McDonald, with Spanish Mission coming in third.

And the crowd goes wild! The scenes in Brisbane were no different with thousands of punters celebrating a day of racing at the Eagle Farm racetrack

Victory! A group of men dressed to impress celebrated in style at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday for a day of races featuring the Melbourne Cup

Sydneysiders soaked up the Spring sun as they watched the Melbourne Cup from Royal Randwick Racecourse

Two punters got very lucky at the Melbourne Cup as they hugged and kissed trackside at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Wardrobe malfunction: A group of stylish ladies band together to fix their high heels shoes after a blowout

One race-goer who ditched her lockdown tracksuit and dressing gown for a stunning dress and high heels told Sydney Morning Herald it's a strange feeling to be out and about after being trapped indoors for months during lockdown.

Bianca Hickey, 19, from Sydney's Neutral Bay who attend the action at Royal Randwick said being at an event with so many people was 'a bit weird, I'm not going to lie'.

'We went from no socialising to this. I think a lot of my friends and I have found it really hard,' she said.

'There's the social anxiety of being locked away for three months, and everyone is so socially awkward.'

Pictured: Punters were dancing for joy at the Melbourne Cup after the city only recently emerged from the world's longest lockdown

The force was with this punter at Sydney's Royal Randwick who dressed up as Darth Vader from Star Wars

And they're off! Punters are seen cheering on the horses and congratulating each other after the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

A trackside kiss for luck? Two race-goers are pictured in a loving embrace ahead of the big race at Flemington Racecourse

Wink Wink!: Women dressed to the nines for the big day on Tuesday with Randwick seeing a crowd of 17,000 roll up

This year's Melbourne Cup marked the culmination of six months of preparation, Victoria Racing Club president Neil Wilson said.

Up until last month there was no guarantee the race would even go ahead as coronavirus cases soared.

'We're really enjoying the spirit that's on course right - people walking round the course with joy on their faces,' he said.

'It's a big day for Australia - every second adult watches or listens to the race.'

Glamorous race-goers clutching cans at Flemington Racecourse cheer home the horse at the Melbourne Cup

Time for celebrations! One Brisbane punter is seen shouting for joy as the Eagle Farm Racecourse

Four friends throw their hands up in the air as they pose for a photo at the Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse

Place your bets! One man celebrates his win at the Eagle Farm race track in Brisbane on Tuesday

Peace out: Some punters took a well deserved break from an exhausting day out at the races in high heels

Melbourne woman Sharni Taylor said she felt safe attending the Melbourne Cup with her partner Hayden due to the high vaccination coverage in Victoria.

'I feel confident they've got safe practices here,' the 27-year-old told AAP.

'We're vaccinated and everyone else here is too.

'I'm getting used to being around people again. It's still a bit weird but we snap back into things pretty quickly.'

Winner! One punter jumps for joy after celebrating a win at the races in Sydney on Tuesday

Might be time for a water? After a long day of celebrating this glamorous pair stop for a drink of water at Flemington Racecourse

Reaching new highs! One woman stood on a chair to get a better glimpse of the $8million race that stops the nation

A pair of mates embrace as they celebrate the race that stops the nation at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Jumping for joy: The spirits were high as thousands turned out at both Sydney and Melbourne for the main event

Time for refreshments! A group of girls enjoyed a break from the action at Randwick

Another Melbourne local, 49-year-old Richard McGann, had similar feelings.

'Finally opening up is fantastic,' Mr McGann said.

'This is beautiful ... a bit weird, but it feels safe.'

Meanwhile, a collection of anti-lockdown protesters holding signs that read 'Sack Dan Andrews' and yelling 'freedom' marched through Footscray Park in Melbourne's west towards the racecourse and then back again.

Superstar mare Verry Elleegant storms to victory in the Melbourne Cup as red-hot favourite Incentivise battles on to finish second

By Charlie Coe

Verry Elleegant has beaten red-hot favourite Incentivise to win the Melbourne Cup in emphatic style, overcoming a big weight and a wide barrier to take out the race that stops the nation.

The $16.50 chance charged past Incentivise with 200 metres remaining and won by 3.5 lengths to deliver an overdue first Melbourne Cup win for both Sydney's leading jockey James McDonald and top trainer Chris Waller.

English stallion Spanish Mission - one of only three visiting international horses - finished third and Floating Artist was next as the top four put a big break on the rest of the field in the $8million race at Flemington on Tuesday.

'Thoughts (of winning) went through my mind at the 500m when I saw Incentivise getting shoved along but I knew he would fight,' McDonald said.

'There wasnt a horse that was going to come from behind me, it was just a matter of catching him.'

First win: Verry Elleegant has beaten red-hot favourite Incentivise to win the Melbourne Cup in the race that stops the nation. Jockey James McDonald is pictured riding the champion mare to victory

The $4.4million first prize took the mare's career winnings beyond the $14million mark - a remarkable achievement that belies the horse's humble breeding.

It was an expert ride by ace jockey McDonald, who had a difficult task from barrier 18 trying to get the mare relaxed enough to enable her to run out the two miles - a distance at which she was unproven despite her phenomenal record of 10 Group One wins.

He had the mare around midfield through most of the running, getting a nice trail behind the pace, while up front it was Persan who led and Incentivise nicely positioned in second.

James McDonald puts his hand to his face as he celebrates his historic win on the back of Verry Elleegant

WHERE YOUR HORSE FINISHED 1. Verry Elleegant 2. Incentivise 3. Spanish Mission 4. Floating Artist 5. The Chosen One 6. Grand Promenade 7. Delphi 8. Selino 9.Tralee Rose 10: She's Ideel 11. Twilight Payment 12: Miami Bound 13. Great House 14. Sir Lucan 15. Explosive Jack 16. Master Of Wine 17. Pondus 18. Carif 19. Knights Order 20. Persan 21. Port Guillaume 22. Johnny Get Angry 23. Ocean Billy 24. Future Score (scratched before the race) Advertisement

Entering the straight, Incentivise - going for an extraordinary tenth straight win - tried to kick clear of the field but Verry Elleegant quickly gathered up the leader and charged past with a furlong to run and won comfortably.

Waller, who is most famous for training the record-breaking Winx and whose huge stable of horses has established him as Australia's most successful trainer, ended his frustrating wait for a Melbourne Cup win.

He had 21 entries in the big race prior to today for a meagre return of one placing.

An emotional McDonald, who had two previous placings in the Cup, called Verry Elleegant a 'superstar' after guiding the mare to victory.

'I love her to bits,' he said. 'Shes been so good to me. They can safely say shes a champion now.

'She was relaxed the whole way. When I looked at the 600 (metres to go), I still just, just... I was blowing kisses to her the whole way.

'I dont know. I just cant believe whats just happened.'

There were some doubts about Verry Elleegant's chances due to the weight, the wide barrier and the questions about her running out the long distance.

But the sceptics would have done well to heed McDonald's words prior to the race.

'I galloped her on Saturday and she is absolutely humdinging,' McDonald declared in column for Racenet on Tuesday morning.

'Dead set, whether shes a Melbourne Cup winner or not, shes going to run so well its not funny.

'Seriously, I havent felt her work as good. Im telling you, she is going great.'

Thankfully all runners finished without incident, after the race was blighted in recent years by fatal injuries.

Outsider Future Score was ruled out of the race after failing a veterinary test on Tuesday morning.

Delphi was lame on Cup eve but satisfied Racing Victoria veterinarians of his soundness and ran pretty strongly to finish seventh in the 23-horse field.

At $3 odds, Incentivise was shorter than any Cup runner since the great Phar Lap.

Punters enjoy their Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington on Tuesday as Australia prepared for 'the race that stops the nation'

Jockey Brett Prebble had him nicely positioned just behind the leader but was not able to accelerate away from the field as he did in winning the Caulfield Cup.

However he stuck on strongly to finish second and would have lost no admirers.

In an age when super-rich breeding operations dominate the bloodstock industry, Verry Elleegant's win was a victory for the little guys.

Her New Zealand hobby breeder Don Goodwin owned a horse called Zed which was retired prematurely due to a leg injury and became a modest sire, charging a cut-rate $600 at stud despite himself being sired by the great Zabeel.

Zed serviced Goodwin's only mare Opulence - which he bought for $10,000 - and the resultant foal was Verry Elleegant.

Glammed-up punters earlier in the day began spilling into Melbourne 's Flemington Racecourse for 'the race that stops the nation'

The unusual spelling of her name is a nod to Goodwin's granddaughter Ellee, while the two Rs in Verry was chosen to make it stand out.

Glammed-up punters earlier began spilling into Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse ahead of the world-renowned race - with the sartorial bar set early on by a woman bursting through the gates in a pastel power suit.

The fashionista led a host of attendees donned head-to-toe in pastel mini dresses, whimsical white lace numbers and bold patterned pieces keen to ensure all eyes were on them as they fought it out for prime position ahead of the iconic race at 3pm.

About 70 per cent of attendees at the 161st Melbourne Cup are Victoria Racing Club members with only five per cent of tickets offered to members of the public.
A former children's writer has died at an assisted death clinic in Switzerland after enjoying a final glass of champagne and listening to her favourite song.

Mother-of-one Dawn Voice-Cooper, 76, released a fatal dose of barbiturates into her bloodstream while surrounded by her friends at the Lifecircle clinic in Basel.

Ms Voice-Cooper, who suffered from health conditions including severe arthritis, repeated brain bleeds and epilepsy, has spent years campaigning for assisted dying to be legalised in the UK.

She told the Mirror her life was an 'endless, often difficult, and usually painful, daily management of several, incurable issues'.

Before she slipped into a deep sleep and died Ms Voice-Cooper told tearful friends and medical staff at her bedside 'thankyou'.

The former mental health worker, who lived alone in Sevenoaks, Kent, said those who say she 'looked fine' didn't understand the 'difficulties' of her daily life.

Mother-of-one Dawn Voice-Cooper (pictured), 76, released a fatal dose of barbiturates into her bloodstream while surrounded by her friends at the Lifecircle clinic in Basel

Ms Voice-Cooper's death comes as campaigners marked World Right to Die Day.

Assisting suicide is currently punishable by up to 14 years in prison in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ms Voice-Cooper said she had to die early because she was still fit to travel instead of continuing to live while her quality of life allowed her.

Her friend Alex Pandolfo, who has early onset Alzheimer's and also intends to die at Lifecircle before he deteriorates, will now continue her battle to ask for an 'evidenced based parliamentary inquiry into humane voluntary assisted dying in the UK'.

A proposal for an assisted dying law brought by Baroness Meacher will only be available for those with less than six months to live.

Last week it passed its second reading in the Lords, meaning it has progressed to the Committee stage for the first time in seven years.

But Ms Voice-Cooper said she thought the proposals were too restrictive. She wanted an evidence-based Parliamentary inquiry into assisted dying, with the hope of ultimately building a Canadian-style model - where those suffering with an irremediable and grievous condition can apply to die.

Ms Voice-Cooper (pictured), who suffered from health conditions including severe arthritis, repeated brain bleeds and epilepsy, has spent years campaigning for assisted dying to be legalised in the UK

Critics of assisted dying fear legalisation could push disabled and elderly people into ending their lives rather than becoming a care burden.

Final questions: What Dawn Voice-Cooper was asked before she died... Lifecircles president, Dr Erika Preisig, asked Dawn Voice-Cooper four final questions on camera. Q: What is your name? A: Dawn Voice-Cooper. Q: What is your date of birth? A: 26th June 1945. Q: Can you tell me why you came here to Lifecircle? A: I want an assisted death because the quality of my life is not good and it will get worse. Q: We have set an intravenous needle. Dawn do you know what is going to happen if you open this profusion? A: Yes the drug will go into my body and I will go into a deep sleep and then I will die. Dr Preisig then said: 'If this is your last wish you can open the profusion.' Advertisement

Ms Voice-Cooper hoped she could show the safeguards in place to stop any abuse of the system, including requirements she submit her medical history, explain her reasons for wanting to die, and prove her mental competence.

Once in Switzerland she was assessed by two separate doctors and then taken to the Lifecircle clinic, where two people end their lives weekly.

Ms Voice-Cooper applied for an assisted death two years ago, after first considering her options in 2017 when her quality of life started to deteriorate.

At the more publicised Dignitas clinic, patients drink a lethal cocktail of medication, but at Lifecircle staff set up an IV drip which recipients operate themselves.

Ms Voice-Cooper spent her last moments with her friends and fellow campaigners Mr Pandolfo and Miranda Tuckett, where her bed was positioned in front of a window to look out at the trees.

Lifecircle's president, Dr Erika Preisig, then asked Ms Voice-Cooper four final questions on camera: What is your name, what is your date of birth, can you tell me why you came here and do you know what's going to happen if you open this profusion?

As she allowed the IV drugs into her bloodstream Ms Voice-Cooper listened to Nick Drake's Day is Done.

After a police report, which is carried out after every assisted death in the clinic, her body will be cremated and ashes scattered.

Up to one Briton a week is believed to travel to Switzerland to end their life, with the journey usually costing around 10,000. Any family members that help are then at risk of prosecution in the UK.
China has increased its daily coal production by over one million tonnes per day, easing its energy shortage as world leaders gather in Britain for climate talks billed as one of the last chances to avert catastrophic global warming.

But in a blow to the Cop26 summit, China's president Xi Jinping will not even give a 'virtual' speech in Glasgow, instead only submitting a written statement.

The world's biggest coal importer has battled widespread power cuts in recent months - particularly in its industrialised northeast - that have disrupted supply chains, due to strict emissions targets and record prices for the fossil fuel.

But the crisis is now winding down thanks to a boost in domestic coal output, according to a statement from China's top economic planning body late Monday.

China said it has increased daily coal production by over one million tonnes, easing its energy shortage as world leaders gather in Britain for climate talks in Glasgow for Cop26. Pictured: An excavator loads coal into a truck at an open-pit coal mine on October 19, in Inner Mongolia, October 19 (file photo)

China's National Development and Reform Commission said average daily coal production has risen to above 11.5 million tonnes since the middle of October, up by 1.1 million tonnes compared with the end of September.

The production surge comes as world leaders - but not Jinping - convene in Glasgow for Cop26 talks to secure more ambitious global greenhouse gas emissions.

Xi, whose country is the world's largest emitter of planet-heating gases, has instead submitted a written statement to the summit.

The energy shortage also pushed China to take other drastic measures, with Radio Free Asia (RFA) reporting that the country is defying UN sanctions by purchasing coal from neighbouring North Korea.

Citing Chinese sources, RFA said that North Korean companies are smuggling the fuel in small ships and offloading it at sea, despite a 2017 UN ban on North Korean coal exports to limit its source of funds for its nuclear weapons programme.

The coal-smuggling trading companies are run by powerful North Korean government organisations, RFA reported, citing a trade official from North Pyongan.

In recent months, several Chinese factories were forced to halt operations due to power outages, raising concern about global supply chains.

The squeeze had also been exacerbated by Beijing's zero-tolerance Covid-19 policy that saw it all but close its borders to the outside world, hindering shipments of raw materials from overseas.

A trade tiff with Australia also heightened the drop in coal imports.

But at one point in late October daily output hit 11.72 million tonnes, a record in recent years.

One large coal mining company in northern Shanxi province told state broadcaster CCTV it was operating at full capacity in an effort to ensure supplies.

'We structured our original production plan so that it could be organised to manage a 30,000-tonne per month increase,' said Wang Yonggang, the Communist Party secretary at one of the firm's mines.

Spot prices for the fuel are also 'falling fast', the NDRC said.

Pictured: World Leaders - minus China's president Xi Jinping - pose for a group photo during an evening reception for the attending Heads of State and Government, to mark the opening day of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow

A sales director from another mining firm told the broadcaster that it had reduced the factory price.

Spot prices for the fuel are also 'falling fast' with the main contract for thermal coal halving to 970 yuan per tonne over the previous eight days.

'Levels of coal storage ... have also risen rapidly with the gradual improvement of the supply-demand situation,' the agency said.

China generates about 60 percent of its energy from burning coal.

Beijing submitted a renewed climate plan to the United Nations days before the COP26 climate summit, confirming its goal to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 and slash its emissions intensity - the amount of emissions per unit of economic output - by more than 65 percent.

In China's absence, world leaders - including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau - met on Monday night for the biggest gathering of Government representatives since the birth of the United Nations - ahead of the last 'full' day of the COP26 summit.

The congregation of leaders appeared in high spirits as they put disagreements on hold and capped off the first day at the COP26 climate conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

During the night, Britain's Prime Minister, who hosted the evening at the recently renovated gallery, told leaders the summit was 'quite an extraordinary historic event' and it was even more important because 'we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation'.

Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 16th G20 Leaders' Summit via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2021. The leader will not be attending Cop26

He also hailed Prince Charles as 'the man to defuse the bomb at the world's moment of danger' and described him as a 'prophet without honour'.

His comments came as world leaders prepared for a day make-or-break day negotiations during what will be the final day of the climate change conference for many of them  with leaders leaving delegates behind to negotiate on their behalf.

The lavish reception was opened by the Queen who urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech.

Mr Johnson's comments came after President Biden apologised for his predecessor Donald Trump taking the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord and pledged the U.S would up its financial stake in fighting climate change, arguing the biggest producers of it should be its biggest investors in fixing it.

World leaders will on Tuesday issue a multibillion-dollar pledge to end deforestation by 2030 - but that date is too distant for campaigners who want action sooner to save the planet's lungs.

According to summit hosts the British government, the pledge is backed by almost $20 billion in public and private funding and is endorsed by more than 100 leaders representing over 85 percent of the world's forests, including the Amazon rainforest, Canada's northern boreal forest and the Congo Basin rainforest.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends an evening reception to mark the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (Cop26), in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain November 1, 2021

Mr Johnson said the agreement on deforestation was pivotal to the overarching ambition of limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

'These great teeming ecosystems - these cathedrals of nature - are the lungs of our planet,' he was expected to say in Glasgow, according to Downing Street.

'Forests support communities, livelihoods and food supply, and absorb the carbon we pump into the atmosphere. They are essential to our very survival,' said Johnson, who is chairing the summit.

'With today's (Tuesday's) unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanity's long history as nature's conqueror, and instead become its custodian.'

The signatories include Brazil and Russia, which have been singled out for accelerating deforestation in their territories, as well as the United States, China, Australia and France.

The government of Brazil, much criticised for its environmental policies, announced Monday at the summit that it would cut 2005-level greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 - up from a previous pledge of 43 percent.

'We are presenting a new, more ambitious climate goal,' Environment Minister Joaquim Leite announced in a message transmitted from Brasilia to Glasgow.

Picturd: The Wujing Coal-Electricity Power Station in Shanghai, September 28. China has battled widespread power cuts in recent months that have disrupted supply chains, due to strict emissions targets and record prices for the fossil fuel

Leite also said Brazil would aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a target of net-zero emissions by 2070.

India's commitment was eagerly awaited, as the South Asian giant is the fourth biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China, the United States and the European Union.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg urged the leaders gathered for COP26 to act and stop their 'blah blah blah' during a demonstration in Glasgow.

Almost a quarter of all man-made emissions of carbon dioxide can be attributed to land use activity such as logging, deforestation and farming.

President Joko Widodo of resource-rich Indonesia said his own archipelago's rainforests, mangroves, seas and peatlands were key to restricting climate change.

'We are committed to protecting these critical carbon sinks and our natural capital for future generations,' he said in a UK government statement.

The summit pledge to 'halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030' encompasses promises to secure the rights of indigenous peoples, and recognise 'their role as forest guardians'.

Aerial view of coal mining machines working at an open-pit coal mine on October 19, 2021 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China

While Johnson described the pledge as 'unprecedented', a UN climate gathering in New York in 2014 issued a similar declaration to halve the rate of deforestation by 2020, and end it by 2030.

However, trees continue to be cut down on an industrial scale, not least in the Amazon under the far-right government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Humans have already cut down half of Earth's forests, a practice doubly harmful for the climate when CO2-sucking trees are replaced with livestock or monoculture crops.

Greenpeace criticised the Glasgow initiative for effectively giving the green light to 'another decade of deforestation'.

'Indigenous peoples are calling for 80 percent of the Amazon to be protected by 2025, and they're right, that's what's needed,' said Greenpeace Brazil executive director Carolina Pasquali.

'The climate and the natural world can't afford this deal,' she said.

Many studies have shown that the best way of protecting forests worldwide is to keep them under the management of locals with generations of preservation knowledge.

The commitment comes a day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres harangued the gathered leaders to act to save humanity.

'It's time to say: enough,' he said.

'Enough of brutalising biodiversity. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper. We are digging our own graves.'

Summit host Johnson warned of the 'uncontainable' anger of the younger generations if the leaders failed to act decisively on climate change.

The UN COP26 conference will continue for another two weeks to try to craft national plans to forestall the most devastating impacts of global warming.
France today denied a seized British trawler has been freed as ministers hailed Emmanuel Macron 'stepping back' from his retaliation threats in the bitter fishing row.

Environment Secretary George Eustice claimed the scallop vessel Cornelis Gert Jan 'has now been released' after being accused of fishing without a licence and detained at Le Havre.

But the vessel is still at the Normandy port and French prosecutors insist the situation remains subject to legal negotiations - with a deposit of around 125,000 due before she can return home.

The confusion came after Mr Macron said he would go back to the negotiating table with Britain rather than follow through on his extraordinary sabre-rattling.

He has shelved threats to block British trawlers from landing their catches in French ports, reduce electricity to Jersey and tighten customs checks until at least Thursday.

But despite the lull in hostilities, French fishing chiefs have warned trawlermen to stay away from British waters in case the spat blows up again.

Mr Eustice told Sky News this morning: 'We welcome the fact France has stepped back from the threats it was making last Wednesday.

'We've always said we want to de-escalate this and always said we have an ever-open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on any additional vessels they'd like to have licensed.

'France has clearly taken a decision not to implement some of the decisions they threatened last Wednesday, we very much welcome that but I think there's going to be a very important meeting on Thursday between Lord frost and his opposite number, not just on fisheries but a wider range of issues as well.'

At the Cop26 summit yesterday, Boris Johnson and Mr Macron shared a frosty greeting on stage in front of other world leaders

Jondy Ward, skipper of the Cornelis Gert Jan, is pictured aboard the vessel in the port of Le Havre today

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the scallop vessel 'has now been released' after being accused of fishing without a licence and detained at Le Havre

On the situation with the Cornelis, Mr Eustice said: 'I understand that vessel has now been released and I think there's going to need to be some further discussions, clearly there was an administrative error at some point.

'We haven't quite got to the bottom of that but that vessel I understand has been released.'

On the surface the UK had refused to budge in the dispute over fishing rights, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss adamant Britain would 'not roll over'.

However, there have been gradually more being granted, with UK authorities insisting more evidence has been supplied that they used waters before Brexit.

Mr Macron told reporters at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow last night: 'It is not while we are negotiating that we are going to impose sanctions.

'Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister Johnson.

'The talks need to continue. We'll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed. The next few hours are important hours.' He added: 'I understood that the British were going to come back to us tomorrow with other proposals.'

France's Europe minister, Clement Beaune, tweeted late last night that he would hold talks with Brexit minister Lord Frost on Thursday in Paris.

The close ally of Macron said any planned retaliatory measures would 'not be applied before this meeting'.

France is furious at the UK and Jersey's decision to turn down applications from a number of French vessels to fish in their waters.

The Elysee Palace had originally stood firm, saying that if Britain refused to give ground on the number of licences it issued to French fishermen, it would implement its threats to British trawlers, to Jersey and on customs checks.

Ms Truss said, should France act, the UK would take legal action under the UK-EU Brexit trade deal, while Downing Street said it had 'robust' contingency plans in place.

At the Cop26 summit yesterday, Boris Johnson and Mr Macron shared a frosty greeting on stage in front of other world leaders.

The day before, at a G20 meeting in Rome, Mr Johnson had told the French leader it was up to Paris to step back.

Despite a seeming lull in hostilities, a French fishing chief last night warned trawlermen to stay away from British waters in case the row blows up again.

Olivier Lepretre, chairman of the powerful northern French fisheries committee, said: 'I fear there might be some tit-for-tat measures. We need an agreement that works for both French and British fishermen.'

Mr Eustice told Sky News this morning: 'We welcome the fact France has stepped back from the threats it was making last Wednesday.'

Britain says it has granted licences to 98 per cent of EU vessels that have asked to operate in British waters.

But the dispute centres on access for boats of under 12 metres wishing to fish in the UK's six-to-12-nautical-mile zone.

Paris was angry that the UK originally granted only 12 licences out of 47 bids for smaller vessels, a figure which has now risen.

Ms Truss told the BBC yesterday: 'We allocated the fishing licences completely in line with what is in the trade agreement and the French need to withdraw those threats.

'Otherwise we will use the dispute resolution mechanism in the EU deal to take action.'

A senior UK Government source said last night: 'Our position on fishing licences remains unchanged.

'We are in solutions mode and we want to resolve these issues consensually.'
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Greta Thunberg was filmed leading protesters in a chant of 'you can shove your climate crisis up your a***' at COP26 in newly emerged video from her rally yesterday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau gathered in Glasgow last night for the biggest diplomatic meeting in Britain in 75 years, intended to foster global cooperation on green issues.

Mr Johnson pledged to put another billion pounds into green finance - provided the UK economy performs as expected - and stressed that he wants global leaders to unveil steps on 'coal, cars, cash and trees' - the things he believes will make the most different in limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees.

Outside in Festival Park yesterday, Miss Thunberg gave a passionate and foul-mouthed speech, telling demonstrators: 'Inside Cop, there are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our future seriously... No more blah blah blah, no more whatever the f*** they are doing inside there!'

As heads of Government from around the world discussed what could be done to save the planet from ruin, the Swedish eco activist appeared to lay the blame for looming natural disasters squarely on them as she riled up her fellow activists with a chant of: 'You can shove your climate crisis up your a***'.

A Scottish attendee had appeared to suggest singing 'you can shove your rules up your a***' before Miss Thunberg put her own spin on the popular melody of 'She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain When She Comes'.

Greta Thunberg gave a passionate and foul-mouthed speech, telling demonstrators: 'Inside Cop, there are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our future seriously... No more blah blah blah, no more whatever the f*** they are doing inside there!'

World leaders pose for a group photo during an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow

Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (L), US President Joe Biden (C) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) chat at a reception to mark the opening day of COP26 on the sidelines of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland on November 1

Joe Biden speaks with Prince William as the pair join hundreds of world leaders for the climate change conference in Glasgow

As heads of Government from around the world discussed what could be done to save the planet from ruin, the Swedish eco activist was also filmed riling up her fellow activists with a chant of: 'You can shove your climate crisis up your a***'

What are the key aims at COP26? Secure commitments on cutting emissions by 2030 and reaching Net Zero as close to 2050 as possible.

Keep alive hopes of limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees.

Phase out unabated coal power stations, drum up investment in renewable energy.

Strike deals on reducing deforestation.

Rack up $100billion in climate finance pledges.

Finalise rules to implement the Paris Agreement. Advertisement

Boris Johnson was keen to stress that time was ticking to tackle the climate emergency as he opened Cop26, and the irony will not have been lost on those waiting for him to deliver his speech, which started half an hour late.

Due to start at midday, the Prime Minister did not start his remarks until 12.30pm, with suggestions it was because US President Joe Biden - having landed at Edinburgh Airport in Air Force One at around 11am - had not reached his seat on time.

Once he did deliver his stark warning, Mr Johnson said: 'It's one minute to midnight and we need to act now.'

Mr Johnson was not the only one running late, as those in the vast queues to just get into the summit itself were also watching the clock.

Reports suggested it was taking those attending the conference hours to get through security checks at points on Monday morning.

Photos of the long lines appeared on social media, with journalists reporting they were being told by security not to tweet pictures and videos of the crowds.

Although maybe not on time, at least Mr Biden was in the right city, unlike veteran US news anchor Wolf Blitzer.

The CNN stalwart was roundly mocked on Twitter for broadcasting from Edinburgh, around 40 miles away, with the city's famous castle in the background.

He tweeted: 'I'm now reporting from Edinburgh in Scotland where 20,000 world leaders and delegates have gathered for the COP26 Climate Summit.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greets French President Emmanuel Macron as he arrives at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the Duchess of Cornwall as they attend an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit

The Queen urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'to rise above the politics of the moment in her address to leaders at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow

Back in Glasgow, the Archbishop of Canterbury was quick to apologise after suggesting in an interview with the BBC that failure to act at Cop26 could be graver than leaders who ignored warnings about the Nazis in the 1930s.

Justin Welby had told the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg at the Glasgow summit on Monday that world leaders 'will be cursed if they don't get this right'.

But teenage activist Greta Thunberg was not convinced anything would be achieved at the summit.

She criticised the 'blah blah blah' of world leaders at the global gathering, which she had 'not officially' been invited to despite being one of the most recognisable faces of the youth movement to prevent climate change.

Also not on the list and therefore not coming in - at least at first - was the Greenpeace vessel the Rainbow Warrior.

The ship was originally forbidden from sailing along the River Clyde, but port authorities changed their mind later in the day and allowed the boat to continue.

Activist Maria Reyes, 19 and from Mexico, was one of those who arrived aboard the famous Greenpeace ship. She warned the summit could not just be a 'rich people's conversation'.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales was painted as a James Bond-type character who could help fix the climate crisis by the PM.

Prince William speaks with leaders and Government representatives at the reception for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference

Earlier, Mr Johnson had likened the plight of the planet to the fictional British spy being strapped to a doomsday device and hurtling towards destruction.

And after listening to a message from the Queen, Mr Johnson is reported to have paid tribute to her son, who earlier delivered a speech to the summit.

The Prime Minister is reported to have said: 'We have somebody luckily who drives an electric Aston Martin, as far as I know, and who has a plan that you will have heard earlier on to defuse the ticking time bomb and to get the private sector involved in greening the world, which I think was very very well set out today.'

A video appeared to show US President Joe Biden closing his eyes for around 20 seconds during the opening speeches in Glasgow.

While Mr Johnson was snapped at an unfortunate time with his eyes closed, but a No 10 source told The Mirror it was 'total nonsense' to suggest he was asleep and other photos showed him with his eyes open.

That did not stop shadow justice secretary David Lammy taking the opportunity to mock the PM however, as he tweeted: 'Time to wake up @borisjohnson the world is burning. Sir David Attenborough is paying attention to the climate crisis, it's time your Government did too #cop26.'

One Israeli minister was unable to attend the opening day of the conference because the summit was not wheelchair accessible.

Karine Elharrar wrote on Twitter: 'To COP26 I came to meet with my counterparts around the world and promote a joint fight against the climate crisis. It is sad that the UN, which promotes accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021, does not take care of accessibility at its events.

'I hope that the lessons required to be learned tomorrow to promote green energies, remove barriers and energy efficiency will be the things I deal with.'

Her plight attracted a quick response from senior UK officials, with Foreign Office minister James Cleverly responding in a tweet: 'I am deeply disappointed and frustrated that Minister @KElharrar could not access COP today.

'The COP venue is designed to be accessible for all. I have spoken to the Minister about this and I look forward to meeting her tomorrow.'
North Korean farmers have been sent to labour camps for withholding corn meant for state supplies and are being strip-searched by officials looking for hidden food amid a major shortage.

The Communist country's harvest yields are expected to be around 20 per cent lower than usual this year after the Covid pandemic cut it off from Chinese imports of fertiliser, fuel and machinery.

Farmers are ordered to give 60 per cent of their crop to the government, keeping just 40 per cent, barely enough to live on.

North Korean farmers have been sent to labour camps for withholding corn meant for state supplies (file image)

The Communist country's harvest yields are expected to be around 20 per cent lower than usual this year

Amid the looming crisis, many farmers have been trying to cheat the system and hide their grain from government inspectors.

Other citizens have been ordered to carry out free labour every morning in an effort to stave off the crisis which authorities fear could result in the deaths of millions.

A source told RFA: 'A few days ago, five farmers were caught hiding corn during an unexpected inspection. Each of them was sentenced to five months in a disciplinary labour centre.

'Since each farm receives distribution based on yield, the amount of distribution for farmers will inevitably be reduced.'

Some North Koreans have been drafted in to carry out free labour in what the government has labelled the 'rice sheaf transportation battle'.

After working in the fields all morning, they are then being body searched before they are allowed to head home.

Amid the looming crisis, many farmers have been trying to cheat the system and hide their grain from government inspectors

Authorities are concerned they are taking grains of rice in their clothes meant for state redistribution.

One resident in Songchon county told RFA: 'Residents have been helping the rice sheaf transportation battle at farms that have finished harvesting.

'They must move the rice sheaves from the paddies to the thresher, hundreds of meters away.

'The central committee has ordered that the harvest be completed in time so that not even a single grain is lost. This non-paid farmwork is being carried out from early morning until just before lunchtime.'

The mass mobilisation has led to family businesses facing a shortage of staff as people are being drafted in to stave off the food shortage.

In North Pyongan's Unsan county, every single resident has been ordered to help with the transportation of grain.

After finishing the backbreaking work, their clothes and bags are inspected by bosses.

Authorities have warned that shortages could continue until 2025 and ordered residents to start growing their own food

While North Korea has battled food crises for decades, the current shortage has been worsened by the decision to shut down borders and suspend trade due to Covid.

Food prices have since skyrocketed and the UN predicted recently the country would be 860,000 tons short of food this year, equivalent to two months' consumption.

The UN World Food Programme also estimates around 40 per cent of the population is underfed.

Authorities have warned that shortages could continue until 2025 and ordered residents to start growing their own food.

They said the situation could be worse than the 'Arduous March', the 1994-1998 famine which killed millions.

It is expected that farmers will receive only five to six months' worth of food next year, while soldiers and other recipients will receive their full normal share.

Most North Koreans have second jobs to top up their low government salaries, but farmers do not have the time, leaving them poor and now hungry.
Were you on either of the trains involved? Email tips@dailymail.com or jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk

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A passenger who was injured in the Salisbury train crash has described the 'extremely scary' moment a 'huge whoosh of fire' exploded behind him during the horror smash.

Cameron Thrower was one of dozens of people hurt when two passenger trains crashed in the Fisherton tunnel near Salisbury, Wiltshire at around 6.45pm on Sunday.

Passengers on a Great Western Railways service were thrown around their pitch-black carriages after their train derailed when it 'jolted' to a halt in the tunnel. Fifty people were stranded on the derailed train for seven minutes before a South Western Railway service from London to Honiton then ploughed into the stationary train.

Around 30 passengers attended a casualty centre set up in a nearby church, with 13 taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. Miraculously, no one was killed. However, one of the train drivers was left with 'life-changing injuries', the British Transport Police said.

Investigators are currently probing whether a signal failure caused the catastrophic collision.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast from his home in Dorset, Mr Thrower described how he was 'waiting to pull into Salisbury' when he was suddenly 'thrown' onto the floor after the locomotives crashed, and called the incident 'extremely scary'.

'The next thing I know there's just an almighty noise, I'm being thrown about the joiner carriage,' he said. 'Worst of all, I turn around behind me and there's this huge whoosh of fire and sparks on the door outside. And the next thing I know I'm just in the dark on the floor wondering what's happened and realising that everything is definitely not quite as it should be and it was extremely scary in that moment.'

He added that there was a spirit of 'coming together' in the crash, telling host Dan Walker: 'Even in this horrible moment, the first thing everyone was doing was making sure their fellow man was OK and making sure that everyone else was fine, that no one was injured, and if they were that they were getting the help we could provide them in that moment.'

It is understood the SWR train should have stopped, but instead ploughed into the other train. Possibilities being examined include a red signal malfunction, human error, brake failure or the wet weather causing the train to skid. There is a 20mph speed limit at that section of the line.

DCI Paul Langley, from British Transport Police, said: 'This will no doubt have been an incredibly frightening experience for all those involved and our thoughts are with them and their families. Specialist officers and detectives remain on scene in Salisbury and we are working closely alongside the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road to establish exactly how these two trains came to collide.'

Initial reports suggested fallen masonry or earth could have triggered one train to stop in the tunnel, with the second crashing into it, but Mr Langley said: 'At this early stage there has been nothing to suggest the train struck an object or that there was any significant delay between the trains colliding and then one derailing.'

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister's thoughts remain with those who were affected by the incident.'

Travellers at Salisbury station yesterday were met with arrivals and departures screens showing that almost all trains were cancelled. A joint Network Rail, GWR and SWR statement last night said passengers should expect chaos for the next few days.

An RAIB spokesman said: 'We have a team of five inspectors on site as well as support staff who have already begun examining the train, tracks, infrastructure, as well as gathering electronic evidence.'

Investigators at the scene of a crash involving two trains near the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire

Emergency services personnel gather near the site where two trains collided near Salisbury

Cameron Thrower was one of 17 people hurt when two passenger trains crashed in the Fisherton tunnel near Salisbury at 6.45pm on Sunday

Passengers on a Great Western Railways service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads were thrown around their pitch-black carriages after their train 'jolted' to a halt in the tunnel, sending it off the rails as it entered the 430-yard underpass. Around 50 people were stranded on the derailed train for seven minutes before a South Western Railway service from London to Honiton with around 50 more people on board then ploughed into the stationary train at around 6.45pm

The scene this morning as two trains collided in Fisherton Tunnel as more than a dozen people were sent to hospital but none were critically injured

In the aftermath of the crash, the South West Railway train (left) is seen with its cab mangled after hitting the back of the stationary GWR service, which had previously partially derailed in a tunnel close to Salisbury station

The SWR service, being referred to as 'Train 2', appears to be the most badly damaged of the two trains with carriages leaning at 45 degrees

Salisbury train crash: What we know so far TRAIN 1 STOPS IN TUNNEL AT 18.38pm The 17.08pm Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads run by Great Western Railway comes to a halt as it enters the Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at around 18.38pm on Sunday. Dozens of people are trapped inside for seven minutes before the second crash. Passengers described feeling a 'jolt' as the train stopped in the tunnel and early reports based on survivors said the train struck something like a rock or a branch and derailed. But British Transport Police has said it is yet to find evidence of this amid suggestions it was only derailed when struck seven minutes later. TRAIN 2 HITS TRAIN 1 AT 18.45pm The 17.20pm London Waterloo to Honiton in Devon run by South West Rail is due at Salisbury Station at 18.47pm. At 18.45pm it hits the sider back and of GWR service that had derailed at speed, forcing it off the track as well. Investigators are looking into why the signalling in the area failed to stop it after the first train derailed. Were you on either of the trains involved? Email tips@dailymail.com or jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

Passengers on the first train described feeling a 'jolt' and 'bump' before the train stopped and early reports in the aftermath of the incident said that the first train was derailed after striking debris on the track after heavy rain and strong winds swept across the country yesterday. One woman on the train said a rumour amongst passengers was that the first train could have been thrown from the track after hitting part of a fallen tree or a piece of stone from the tunnel.

A three-week-old baby was among those rescued. Corinna Anderson, 51, from Derby, who was on the SWR train, told The Times: 'As I climbed off my train, I saw a fireman cradling the baby in his arms.'

Callum Stedman, 16, said passengers feared it was a terror attack and thought they would die as smoked filled the carriages of the train he was in. He told The Sun: 'We felt a jolt and everything went black. We all landed on each other and the train was at 45 degrees on its side. Lights started coming on from people's phones and we started looking around - you see people with broken noses and black eyes and blood dripping.

'It was just really scary. The smoke was the worst part because you thought it was going to catch fire and you would die.'

He added: 'Outside the door there was a big fireball. Everyone started panicking. There were a lot of people crying and some people were kicking in the windows.'

Lucy Gregory told the BBC: 'We were just pulling into Salisbury station and the train felt a bit juddery. I'd just stood up and put my coat on and my phone in my pocket when there was this massive impact and I fell across the table. The table came off the wall and I ended up underneath another table. They smashed the windows and we got out of the window. It was really scary.'

But BTP said that they have not yet found evidence of this, raising serious questions about how and why the GWR train was stationary at the time of the crash.

A senior railway engineer also told MailOnline that a 'major flaw' with signals meant they failed to automatically turn red and allowed the second high-speed inter-city SWR service to smash into the derailed train leaving at least 17 people injured.

The driver of one of the trains, containing many teenagers and families returning home after half term, was trapped in his cab while others on board broke noses and feet as well as suffering severe cuts and bruises. But remarkably no one was killed.

One teenager on the second train travelling from London to Devon grabbed his phone and filmed inside one carriage that was tipping over and said: 'F*** me. We are literally on our side' before zooming in on an injured man and saying: 'That guy's face is mashed'.

Another survivor declared: 'It was really scary, lots of people started taking videos saying 'mum and dad, I love you', scared they were going to die'.

Those on board the trains described a huge bang like a 'bomb going off' when the collision happened, followed by flying glass, sparks from the grinding metal and even tables flying across the carriages. Firefighters and paramedics rescued around 120 people, including a three-week-old baby.

Abigail Taylor was on the first train and said that it was in the tunnel for around five minutes before it was struck by the second train.

She added: 'We stopped in the tunnel and then the train just jolted several times and it was clear something wasn't right, it was almost like turbulence on a plane but worse. People were saying there was a tree that had fallen, which was why we had derailed, and something happened to the signals, which was why we got hit by another train. But I don't know if that was accurate or not. It was a miracle no one was killed'.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister's thoughts were with those injured in the Salisbury train crash but the Government was investing to ensure the railway network remained 'one of the safest in the world'.

A No 10 spokesman said: 'The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have been deployed to the site and are conducting forensic investigations, obviously the Prime Minister's thoughts remain with those who were affected by the incident.

'It would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time while the RAIB are working to investigate what happened.'

The spokesman added: 'I think it's important that we let the RAIB investigate this thoroughly, but more generally in terms of safety standards on the network it's obviously a top priority for this Government, which is why we have allocated 40 billion worth of spending to ensure that the railways continue to be one of the safest in the world.'

Royal Navy sailor Morgan Harris, who was travelling from London Waterloo back to his base in Yeovil, said he was thrown from his seat due to the impact of the huge crash. The 20-year-old Able Seaman said: 'It was all going along normally then, all of a sudden, there was this massive bang and all of the lights went out. There was sparks and flames from where we had come off the track, and there was a load of ash coming from outside. Our train was on its side... I was thrown out of my seat and banged against the table.'

'It sounded like a bomb going off' Witnesses described hearing a massive bang 'like a bomb going off' as two trains collided in the tunnel near Salisbury last night. A local resident living near the tunnels said she was out with her children celebrating hallowe'en when they heard the noise of the train crash which she liked to thunder or a bomb going off.. Tamar Vellacott told reporters that she was out with her children and mother celebrating hallowe'en at the time of the crash. 'It was a noise we've never heard before, my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,' said the 25-year-old. 'There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder. It did spook us though, so we decided to get in our car and drive home. Three police cars passed us at speed.' Peter Golden, 52, from Laverstock, Wiltshire, said the collision 'sounded like something big collapsing - the sound of things falling into each other'. 'With the windy day we've had I first thought it was a big gust of wind that has knocked something heavy over. 'It wasn't till the helicopter arrived on station over the tunnel that I realised what I had heard. 'The first helicopter arrived on station and started hovering about 30 to 40 mins after the collision. 'There were lots of sirens and emergency vehicles on London Road. 'Emergency vehicles were coming from the west and east - presumably Andover - as well as Salisbury.' Advertisement

Passenger Dimitri Popa, from Romania, was travelling on the train from London to Sherborne when the terrifying crash occurred.

The 17 year old said: 'It all happened so fast... I was just sitting in the first carriage and there was a huge crash. Then I saw the flames and got pretty scared, and all the lights went out. The carriage was 45 degrees to the right. We didn't know where we were or anything... we were all just so shocked.'

A young woman living in one of the houses closest to Fisherton Tunnel, where the crash occurred and the two trains remain, has told of her horror as she watched girls as young as 15 suffered from broken bones. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'There were two girls I saw sitting just across the bridge. I saw them from one of the bedroom windows in my house.

'They were wrapped in silver blankets and everything. They were sat on the bank across from our house and one of the girls looked like she had broken her foot. 'The other girl was breathing into a bag because she was so terrified and shocked.

'They were only teenagers... I would guess they were around 15 years old. There were a lot of young people on the train. 'We also saw people bringing big equipment to cut open the metal of the train, because there were so many people trapped in there.'

Speaking to MailOnline on condition of anonymity, a senior Network Rail engineer claimed that when the GWR train collided with an object and derailed, there should be an 'automatic obstruction warning' to stop any train entering that same mile-long stretch.

'There has been a major flaw within the signalling system within Network Rail. The system says that the line is not safe for the passage of another train because there is an obstruction on the line,' they said, adding: 'According to my system, the signalling system was aware seven minutes before impact. It should've automatically stopped the train. It should've automatically set all signals to red. If the driver didn't see the signal, the system should've made the train stop.'

The whistleblower added: 'I've realised for a number of years there has been numerous failures within [Network Rail]' and said they had feared an incident like this would happen 'for the past two years'.

17 people were injured including one of the drivers, who was cut free having suffered a suspected broken ankle. A 'small number' of people were taken to hospital, while the 'walking wounded' were cared for at a nearby church where local people offered support in the form of blankets, food, drinks and first aid.

Officials declared it a 'critical' incident as observers claimed it was a miracle nobody was killed.

A major rail accident investigation is underway and experts will look at why signals that should have turned red to stop the approaching train well in advance seemingly suffered a 'major' flaw and let the second train through, MailOnline has been told. It is also possible that the derailed train my have knocked out the signalling in the area when it derailed.

Witnesses told of hearing a sound 'like a bomb going off' as the crash, one of the most serious in recent years on the UK rail network, unfolded. One woman who was on board told of her terror as she was thrown around the crashing train.

Angela Mattingly, who was on the SWR train, said: 'Everything went black and there were red flashes and everything.

'There was suddenly a lot of jostling, possessions being thrown around and I think a few people went forward and hit their heads. You just don't know for a couple of seconds what's happening. People started to panic but nobody was seriously injured'.

Lucy Gregory told the BBC: 'We were just pulling into Salisbury station and the train felt a bit juddery. I'd just stood up and put my coat on and my phone in my pocket when there was this massive impact and I fell across the table. The table came off the wall and I ended up underneath another table. They smashed the windows and we got out of the window. It was really scary.'

Last night a British Transport Police officer said the driver and a small number of people had been taken to hospital.

Speaking to Sky News, Inspector Mullah Hoque said they would remain on scene throughout the night to establish what happened.

He said: 'Most of these people are walking wounded, however a small number, including the driver, have been taken to a hospital where their injuries are being assessed.'

Andy Cole, assistant chief fire officer for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue service, said they had rescued approximately 100 people from the train carriages and confirmed there had been no fatalities.

Tamar Vellacott said she was walking outside with her young children, mother and partner on Jewell Close, Bishopdown, around a kilometre from the scene.

'It was a noise we've never heard before... my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,' the 25-year-old said.

'There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder hitting the railway line.'

An injured man on one of the trains caught up in the horror smash in Salisbury last night (left). People were laying on the floor of one of the carriages (right) with cuts, suspected fractures and broken noses with some calling loved ones fearing they would die

Images taken from on board the derailed SWR train showed it at a 45-degree angle in the tunnel after the collision

Emergency crews rushed to the scene at Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury following the collision at around 6.45pm yesterday evening. The SWR train from London to Devon is seen on an angle after colliding with a stopped GWR service

The entrance to Fisherton Tunnel near Salisbury. The rear carriage of a GWR train from Portsmouth to Bristol derailed after most of the train had entered the tunnel on the track that emerges from the left of this image. The SWR train then collided with it having approached the tunnel from the track that runs under the road this image is taken from. The rear of the GWR train was shunted into the tunnel wall at the left of the entrance, while the SWR train derailed more fully and crossed on to the right-side of the tunnel on a 45-degree angle

The drama unfolded in Fisherton Tunnel, a major junction joining two lines as they approach Salisbury from the south and from the east.

Firstly the 17:08 Great Western Rail service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads, which entered the junction from the south, hit an object the tunnel  possibly material that fell from the tunnel roof, sources said  and the rear carriage derailed. The train had been due into Salisbury at 6:28pm but bad weather was causing delays across the rail network.

Seven minutes later at around 6.45pm, the 17:20 South West Rail train from London Waterloo to Honiton in Devon, which was due into Salisbury at 6.47pm, sped into the junction from the east. For some reason signals had not alerted the driver of the obstruction  or had failed to stop his train if he missed the red lights.

The SWR train smashed into the stationary GWR service in the tunnel, derailed itself and skidded along the inside of the tunnel at 45-degrees, apparently being held up by the tunnel wall. Its driver was trapped in his mangled cab and needed to be cut free by emergency workers. Only the last carriage remained upright.

Tamar Vellacott told reporters that she was walking with her young children around half a mile from the scene when they heard the crash.

'It was a noise we've never heard before, my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,' said the 25-year-old.

'There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder. It did spook us though, so we decided to get in our car and drive home. Three police cars passed us at speed.'

The engineer added that the incident would not have been avoidable if the oncoming train was too close to the derailed GWR, but given the seven-minute warning this could not have been the case.

'There has been a major flaw within the signalling system within Network Rail.'

Emergency services said they would remain at the scene of the collision through the night and it would be days before services could resume

A fleet of ambulances waiting at the scene of the collision. Most of those injured were described as 'walking wounded' however a 'small number' including one driver were take to hospital for checks

Police set up road blocks around the site of the crash. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said investigations into the crash would be undertaken in order to help prevent similar 'serious' incidents in future

Locals who live around a mile away described hearing a massive bang 'like a bomb going off' as the trains collided

Peter Golden, 52, from Laverstock, Wiltshire, said: 'There is a deep cutting leading to a tunnel on the approach to Salisbury Station from the east and it looks like the collision is there.

'It sounded like something big collapsing - the sound of things falling into each other. With the windy day we've had I first thought it was a big gust of wind that has knocked something heavy over. It wasn't till the helicopter arrived on station over the tunnel that I realised what I had heard. The first helicopter arrived on station and started hovering about 30 to 40 mins after the collision.

'On station means it arrives and hovers or circles - so to assist with eyes and lightning. There were lots of sirens and emergency vehicles on London Road.

'Emergency vehicles were coming from the west and east - presumably Andover - as well as Salisbury. Friends nearer have mentioned passengers being guided up to the ambulances on London Road, so walking which is good.'

The incident is being investigated by the Office for Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigations Branch.

Martin Frobisher, group safety and engineering director, technical authority, at Network Rail, said he does not know exactly what happened in the Salisbury train collision on Sunday evening.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'We're hugely relieved that nobody was seriously injured, but the passengers must have had a really scary experience, and we're very sorry for that.

'We're obviously starting now a very detailed and forensic investigation into what happened. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch are on site and they're incredibly thorough in the work that they do. And that'll help us learn from this, and that's why these events are very rare, because we follow it up very, very carefully, and make sure that we do everything possible to prevent it for the future.'

Mr Frobisher said it is 'far too early to speculate', adding that there is 'a lot of contradictory information' in the early stages of an investigation.

Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, said it is 'too early to speculate' about a collision between two trains in a tunnel near Salisbury.

She told Good Morning Britain: 'Our focus at the moment is with the customers and colleagues that have been affected by this and obviously working with the emergency services to understand exactly what happened.

'Speculation is really not appropriate at this time. We really need to wait for the investigation to take its course and then we'll know exactly what happened.

'But I would like to say a big thank you to the emergency services who were really swift in response last night, and we moved people from the train quite quickly.'

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch tonight said it had deployed inspectors to the site of a collision for a preliminary examination of the scene
Polices conducting the painstaking search for clues to the disappearance of little Cleo Smith now fear it was a calculated but 'opportunistic' abduction, with investigators scouring the dark web for any images of the four-year-old.

Detectives now believe the predator who took Cleo from her family tent at the Blow Holes campsite in Western Australia between 1.30am and 6.30am on October 16 must have targeted her in a short period.

The heartbreaking investigations continued into their third week as police confirmed they still believe Cleo is 'likely' still in WA somewhere.

There was also speculation that specific police comments suggest they may be closing in on whoever took her, as they run pictures of the toddler through the dark web - which is used for child exploitation content - but found no results, according to The West Australian.

Chances for anyone to see Cleo would have been limited as she arrived with her family in fading light, police say.

It was around 6pm the night before when Cleo arrived with mum Ellie Smith and stepdad Jake Gliddon, neither of whom are police suspects.

Polices conducting the painstaking search for clues to the disappearance of little Cleo Smith now fear it was a calculated but 'opportunistic' abduction

Visibility of Cleo would have been limited as she arrived at the Blow Holes campsite around 6pm the night before she was taken - as it was getting dark - with Mum Ellie Smith and stepdad Jake Gliddon (pictured). Neither of them are police suspects

Lead investigator Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde told 6PR radio it seems certain her abduction was an 'opportunistic event'.

'We know they got there ... on the Friday night. It was getting dark and so there would have been limited opportunity for people to observe Cleo at that time.'

Mr Wilde said police investigations have confirmed that Cleo was at the camp site from checking video footage on a parent's phone that had a 'geolocation tag'.

There was also audio of her voice on CCTV from a nearby shack that makes it clear she was there.

The tiny girl woke for water at 1.30am and when her mum checked for her at 6am the four year old was gone

Detectives found the zip on the tent Cleo was sleeping in had been opened and was too high for the little girl to reach

Detectives spent Sunday door-knocking homes in the North Plantations, five kilometres from Cleo's hometown of Carnarvon

Mr Wilde said police are 'trying to understand' how she could have been taken from the family tent without attracting attention.

He repeated the time frames that police are working from: that Cleo woke up at 1.30am, was given water and went back to sleep, and that her mum realised she was missing around 6am.

The 'painstaking' process has involved going through '1000 calls to Crime Stoppers' and speaking to 110 people who were at the Blow Holes campsite.

He confirmed there were 'a handful' more people yet to come forward that police want to speak to.

Mr Wilde said police are 'trying to understand' how she could have been taken from the family tent without attracting attention

Police have scoured a huge area of WA in the heart-breaking search for little Cleo

The campsite at the Blow Holes, near Carnarvon, WA, where Cleo Smith was abducted

Some of those may have been camping away 'further away' but may still have 'witnessed something' important.

Acting Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed to ABC that investigations are proceeding on the basis that Cleo is 'likely still in WA'.

Earlier on Tuesday it was revealed police have sorted through mounds of rubbish from roadside bins located hundreds of kilometres away from the campsite.

WA Police released pictures last night showing forensics officers examining 50 cubic metres of garbage collected from receptacles as far south as Geraldton, about 500km from the Blowholes Campground, and Mirilya, about 165km to its north.

Lead investigator, Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said police now believe Cleo's disappearance was an opportunistic abduction

Pictured: Police are seen examining rubbish left near the Blowholes campsite in remote WA

It comes as officers issued an extraordinary plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 1000km radius of where the pre-schooler vanished more than a fortnight ago.

Detectives said they are particularly interested in video recordings between 6pm on Friday October 15 and 6pm on Sunday October 17 at a list of specific locations, suggesting they may be closing in on the brazen child predator.

Investigators are seeking footage from motel check in, service stations, fast food outlets, truck stops, free camping areas, children's clothing stores, pharmacies and camping stores.

The selective list appears to indicate that police may be narrowing in on the suspect who is believed to have snatched the four-year-old from the Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon , in the northwest of the state on October 16.



Police investigating the disappearance of Cleo Smith (pictured) have pleaded for dash cam and CCTV footage within a 1000km radius of where the pre-schooler vanished at a remote campsite in Western Australia

'Detectives continue to seek dashcam, CCTV or any other footage within a 1000KM radius of the campsite near Carnarvon but only as far south as Lancelin,' WA police said in a social media alert.

'It doesn't matter how insignificant you think it might be.'

Investigators last week undertook the mammoth task of scouring nearby roads and highways in areas surrounding the Blowholes campsite, trawling through rubbish bins in search of degraded clues.

They also door-knocked homes near the child's family house in Carnarvon, to determine if neighbours had seen anything suspicious in the prior days and weeks.

Investigators last week undertook the mammoth task of scouring the roads and highways in areas surrounding the Blowholes campsite, trawling through rubbish bins for clues. Pictured: A forensic police officer

The development comes as a family-of-seven who were camping less than 100 metres from where Cleo was abducted, have broken their silence about their 'scarred' and heartbreaking stay at the site.

It has been 16 days since the little girl was kidnapped while she was sleeping beside her parents and younger sister in their family tent during the early hours of the morning.

Detectives attached to the massive police operation dedicated to Cleo's disappearance spent Sunday door-knocking homes 5km from the youngster's hometown of Carnarvon as the search enters its third week.

Queensland couple Rob and Kira Prince were camping at the Blowholes at the time and have described their stay which they'll never forget 'for all the wrong reasons.'

The desperate search for missing youngster Cleo Smith (pictured) has entered its third week

The couple are travelling around the country in a campervan with their five children, which they're documenting on the Our Aussie Adventure Facebook page.

The family uploaded photos of their time at Quobba Blow Holes and shared a police flyer regarding Cleo's disappearance.

'This camp was beautiful with both rugged cliff faces with powerful waves and lagoon like beaches and the blowholes were absolutely incredible,' the family posted on Sunday.

'Unfortunately our stay here was scarred by the disappearance of Cleo Smith from a tent less than 100m from our site.'

'With four-year-olds of our own this was truly terrifying and heartbreaking. It is a day we will never forget - for all the wrong reasons.

'While we physically moved on from here once the campground closed, emotionally we are very much still there longing for a positive outcome for Cleo and her family.'

The Prince family were camping less than 100m metres away from where little Cleo disappeared at the Blowholes campsite on October 16. Pictured are the family during their stay at the site

Halloween plea: 'She loved dressing up as a princess or a doctor' Cleo Smith's mum has made another gut-wrenching plea for her four-year-old daughter to be returned home safely as she told of the heartbreak of spending Halloween without her daughter. Ellie Smith on Sunday night called for help finding her 'shining bright light' - 16 days after the little girl vanished from her family's tent near Carnarvon during a camping trip on October 16. As children across Australia dressed up to go trick or treating, Ms Smith told how her daughter 'loves dressing up - whether it be a princess or doctor'. Cleo's disappearance has sparked a national police operation - with detectives on Sunday door-knocking houses near her hometown as they search for clues. 'Every day is getting harder without my shining bright light,' Ms Smith wrote on Instagram. 'Today she has missed Halloween with her family - her cousins, aunties, uncles, nannas and pop but most of all her parents and baby sister. 'She needs us and we need her.' Ellie Smith on Sunday called for help finding her 'shining bright light' and urged anyone who had any information to call police Advertisement

The family told The West Australian they've spoken to police 'a number of times.'

Detectives door-knocked a number of homes along the North West Coastal Highway in the North Plantations, 5km from Cleo's hometown on Sunday.

The reason for the visits hasn't been made public, Nine News reported.

It comes as Cleo's frantic mum issued yet another public appeal on social media for her daughter to come home.

'My kind hearted baby girl mummy wants you home,' Ellie Smith wrote in an Instagram story on Sunday.

Ms Smith also posted a missing persons image of Cleo urging anyone with information to contact police.

The Prince family said their time camping at The Blowholes was 'scarred' by the disappearance of Cleo Smith from a tent less than 100 metres away

Earlier on Sunday, the owner of a shack which captured the voice of Cleo on its CCTV system has opened up about the 'panicked' moments after the little girl vanished.

Dave Sadecky, handed over the crucial CCTV of little Cleo to police which placed her at the campsite on the night before she vanished.

The motion sensitive camera is installed inside their beach shack which was just 20 metres away from the family tent and takes a wide-angled photo of everyone who enters or leaves it.

The camera captures audio and images from inside a painted wooden box with a glass front and would not appear obvious to those passing by.

Dave Sadecky, who owns a nearby shack at the campsite, captured the voice of Cleo on his shack's CCTV system, and handed it over to police

When Mr Sadecky and his wife learnt of the news surrounding the four-year-old, they immediately jumped on their quad bikes to join the search.

'I didn't know the ins and outs of what was going on but everyone was panicked,' Mr Sadecky told The West Australian.

'People dropped everything and came to help  they were everywhere on Saturday like ants  it's not a normal sight.'

The couple ended up scouring the area for 10 hours on the day Cleo was last seen.

She had woken up at 1.30am on the Saturday to ask her mother Ellie for a sip of water but when her parents woke again at about 6am, Cleo was gone.

The four-year-old had woken up at 1.30am on the Saturday to ask her mother Ellie for a sip of water but when her parents woke again at about 6am, Cleo was gone

'Everyone was emotional, people were clearly stressed and anxious but wanted to help. We've never had anything like this happen before. We're there every other weekend, we're kicking ourselves we weren't there that night,' Mr Sadecky said.

He said the campsite would now be 'tainted' from what happened, a local at Blowholes himself.

He added there was a tight-knit community in the area and that often people would leave their doors unlocked.

Cleo is seen with her mother Ellie Smith. A $1million reward is on offer to anybody with information into her disappearance

It comes after it was revealed detectives in the 100-strong taskforce had responded to 200 potential sightings of Cleo in the two weeks since she disappeared.
The jockey who rode Verry Elleegant to a sensation victory at the Melbourne Cup revealed he received an unfortunate omen of good luck prior to the 'race that stops a nation'.

James McDonald and the thoroughbred mare - which he has nicknamed Elly - stormed home to win Australia's most famous race on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Incentivise - the shortest price favourite since Phar Lap.

McDonald told The Project on Tuesday night he had a 'sneaky feeling' about beating the scorching hot favourite, saying he fell victim to a famous superstition.

'I had a sneaky feeling it was going to happen, a bird shit on my shoulder yesterday,' he said through laughter.

'I thought: "that's got to be lucky, doesn't it?".'

James McDonald and the thoroughbred mare (pictured) stormed home to win Australia's most famous race on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Incentivise - the shortest price favourite since Phar Lap

McDonald told The Project he had a 'sneaky feeling' about beating the scorching hot favourite, saying fell victim to a famous superstition - a bird pooing on his shoulder

Trainer Brae Sokolksi celebrates as Verry Elleegant passed the post to win the Melbourne Cup

Verry Elleegant was a $16 outsider to win the race at Flemington, behind second-place Incentivise and third-place Spanish Mission.

The mare produced a stunning run down the final straight to streak away from the pack, earning a first Cup for trainer Chris Waller, who famously trained the legendary Winx.

'It hasn't sink in, I can't believe I've won a Melbourne Cup,' McDonald said.

'It felt like a Forrest Gump moment on the straight, she was just off and gone.'

The 29-year-old Kiwi said he knew he was really in for a chance when he saw favourite Incentivise being bumped into the inside rail.

'I was very confident in the mare today. Thoughts (of winning) went through my mind at the 500m when I saw Incentivise getting shoved along but I knew he would fight,' the jockey said.

'There wasnt a horse that was going to come from behind me, it was just a matter of catching him.'

'I had a sneaky feeling it was going to happen, a bird shit on my shoulder yesterday,' he said through laughter. 'I thought: "that's got to be lucky, doesn't it?",' McDonald (pictured) said

Verry Elleegant was a $16 outsider to win the race at Flemington, behind second-place Incentivise and third-place Spanish Mission

The 29-year-old Kiwi said he knew he was really in for a chance when he saw favourite Incentivise being bumped into the inside rail

He said the champion mare will have some well-earned time off and a big feast on Tuesday night following her stunning triumph.

'She'll get a lot of carrots tonight,' McDonald told The Program.

McDonald also revealed his sweet nickname he holds for the horse, which had Carrie Bickmore smiling.

'I just call her Elly,' he said.
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Police let Insulate Britain eco zealots leave freely today following yet another blockade protest, with one officer offering them 'another ten minutes' on the road and declining to make arrests - before they returned three hours later to cause more chaos.

More than 50 demonstrators tried to blockade main routes in Manchester, Birmingham and Hertfordshire during rush hour this morning by sitting on the road as their hugely disruptive protests entered an eighth week.

In Birmingham, West Midlands Police decided against arresting any of the protesters on the A4400 and said they had 'dispersed peacefully' after an hour by 10am. But by 1pm they then returned and began blocking traffic again. However, again, the protesters were 'spoken to' and 'directed to stop their activity' before leaving the area.

Elsewhere, 11 demonstrators stopped traffic off the M56 near Manchester Airport, which took police three-and-a-half hours to clear after the activists glued themselves to the road and each other. Insulate Britain are now trying to widen the chaos caused, with today the first time they have targeted either Manchester or Birmingham.

A further 20 of the activists also hoped to blockade the M25 at junction 23 for the South Mimms service station in Hertfordshire, but well-versed police swooped on them before they could get onto the road and cause mayhem.

Within an hour of the Birmingham protest beginning, one West Midlands Police officer was filmed negotiating with the group, telling them: 'I'm stopping people that I need to put in a cell, ie criminals, which are spaces that you're taking up, alright? You've done what you needed to do today, I'm happy for it to go on for like another ten minutes.

'But after that we don't want it to go on for another half hour, because you're not going to prove anything more than you've already proven. I don't want to put good people in a cell - I've seen that on the news, it's not good for anybody. So I'm asking you just to - if you're willing - just to work with me, because like I said you've got the children's hospital, you've got people that are dying, kids that are dying, people going for cancer therapies - surely you don't want them to be hurt by your actions when you're trying to raise awareness to a legitimate cause?

'So I'm asking you, if you go back in the road again, then it's the last time - because if it isn't we're going to have to take action and it's not going to benefit anybody other than getting them off the road and getting Birmingham moving. I don't want to put anyone in a cell. I'm asking you, alright? So I'm going to give them [another group on the same road] a couple of minutes, I'm going to do you the same, if you're happy to have a chat about it fine, but ultimately it'll be in your hands, alright?'

Later, the force said the activists had 'now left the scene and dispersed', and that 20 had 'briefly and intermittently blocked traffic at Great Charles Street for around an hour at around 9am and caused minimal disruption'. It also explained that the protesters had 'dispersed peacefully' and confirmed: 'No arrests have been made.'

Elsewhere, van drivers were seen angrily remonstrating with the activists in Manchester, who had to be released from the road by police using a solvent after they glued their hands to the surface and each other. And in South Mimms a motorist went through a red light and narrowly missed two officers escorting a protester out of the road.

While the protesters were quickly cleared in Hertfordshire, they still caused tailbacks and average speeds on the M25 nearby of 7mph according to sat nav app Waze. The activists appeared to be having more of an impact on traffic in Manchester where some remained in place more than three hours after the protest began. It came as:

Insulate Britain said it was going UK-wide so 'everyone (will) know that our government is killing our children';

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the protests were 'alienating people from the climate cause';

Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79, a retired family therapist from Bristol, was arrested for the 11th time in seven weeks;

Nine demonstrators have received committal papers in relation to an injunction to curb activist roadblocks;

Politicians and royalty continue to gather in Glasgow for the landmark Cop26 climate change conference.

Insulate Britain's activists - who have not yet targeted Glasgow - were on their 17th day of road demonstrations. The protesters activists have brought chaos to motorways and A roads across the capital since September 13 with 161 people taking part in the campaign and 770 arrests made before today - but no one has yet been charged.

The activists were effectively banned from all major roads in England on Monday last week after a major High Court ruling, and a hearing was told just three days of their protests had an 'economic cost' of almost 900,000.

But their protests have continued regardless - and over the weekend Swedish activist Greta Thunberg voiced support for their tactics, saying sometimes you have to 'p*** people off' to protect the environment.

BIRMINGHAM - Insulate Britain activists block Great Charles Queensway as they take their demonstrations to Birmingham

MANCHESTER - Protesters from Insulate Britain block a road near Manchester Airport this morning as they cause chaos

HERTFORDSHIRE - Police stop Insulate Britain blocking traffic on the M25 near junction 23 for South Mimms this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Motorists argue with protesters from Insulate Britain who are blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham today

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Police officers at the scene where Insulate Britain are blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Motorists argue with protesters from Insulate Britain who are blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham today

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Police officers at the scene where protesters from Insulate Britain are blocking the road in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham this morning

A man confronts the protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham today

A West Midlands Police spokesman said at 10.15am: 'We're currently responding to activists on Great Charles Street in Birmingham city centre. We are working to deal with this as quickly as possible. Delays are expected and we ask people travelling to avoid the area if possible.'

They later added at 11.34am: 'Following our earlier update, the activists have now left the scene and dispersed. Around 20 people briefly and intermittently blocked traffic at Great Charles Street for around an hour at around 9am and caused minimal disruption.

Insulate Britain: How activists have made a mockery of the law September 13 - 78 Insulate Britain protesters arrested after blocking junctions 3, 6, 14, 20 and 31 of the M25 September 15 - More than 50 protesters arrested after targeting junctions 1, 8, 9 and 23 of the M25 September 17 - 48 protesters arrested after targeting junctions 3, 9 and 28 of the M25, as well as the M3 September 20 - 29 protesters are arrested after blocking the M25 at junctions 4 and 18, as well as the A1 September 21 - Protesters risk death by running into moving traffic to block the carriageway near Junction 10. Some 38 arrests are made. National Highways obtains an injunction against further protests on the M25 September 22 - Protesters burn copies of the injunction outside the Home Office, blocking the road outside the ministry. No arrests are made September 24 - 39 protesters arrested after blocking roads at three locations in Dover. They are all released under investigation. National Highways obtains a second injunction covering Dover. September 27 - 53 protesters are arrested for blocking a slip road at Junction 14 of the M25. They are all released under investigation. September 28 - National Highways says it is taking 'legal advice' over how to enforce its injunction September 29 - 27 protesters are arrested for blocking a roundabout at Junction 3 of the M25 on two occasions September 30 - Protesters return to junction 30 at Thurrock in Essex, and nine are arrested October 1: The group block the M4 at junction 3, the M1 at junction 1 and M25 at junction 25. Some 39 arrests October 2: Third injunction bans them from obstructing traffic and access to motorways and major A roads in and around London October 4: 38 arrests after protesters block three major roads in London - the Blackwall Tunnel, Wandsworth Bridge and A40 and North Circular at Hanger Lane. October 8: 19 arrested over protest at Old Street roundabout and a further 16 on the M25 at junction 24. Transport for London gets a High Court injunction to ban them from obstructing traffic in 14 locations in London. October 13: Protesters return to the M25 at junction 31 and a nearby industrial estate, with 35 people arrested. October 25: Activists target areas around Southwark Bridge, Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street station. Some 53 are arrested. October 27: Protesters blockade the A40 in North Acton, West London, and a major roundabout next to the Dartford Crossing in Kent. Kent Police arrested 32 protesters, while the Metropolitan Police detained 17. October 29: 10 activists are arrested after walking onto the M25 between junctions 28 and 29 in Essex November 2: Police arrest activists before they can even get onto the M25 at junction 23 for South Mimms, but other demonstrations take place on the M56 in Manchester and the A4400 in Birmingham Advertisement

'They have now dispersed peacefully, but our officers are continuing to monitor the situation and will remain in the city centre. No arrests have been made. We'd like to thank people for their patience.'

Then at 1.07pm, the force said: 'A number of activists have returned to Great Charles Queensway and are intermittently blocking traffic. Officers are at the scene.'

At 2.20pm they added: 'We have spoken to the second group of activists who demonstrated on Great Charles Street Queensway and have directed them to stop their activity in the roadway. They have now left the area and traffic is flowing freely.'

In response to police not arresting anyone in the Birmingham protests, an Insulate Britain spokesman told MailOnline: 'Maybe the police have finally realised that arresting peaceful, ordinary people who are doing the right thing in trying to protect this country from destruction is to be complicit with genocide.

'Maybe they have woken up to fact that we have all been betrayed. Maybe they no longer wish to take orders from the traitors that are in charge.'

Elsewhere, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: 'I can't see how this type of protest does anything other than alienate people from the climate cause. Have been reassured Greater Manchester Police are working to get things moving as soon as possible.'

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said at 9.13am: 'We're currently responding to a protest on Wilmslow Road (A538), close to Manchester Airport. We're working at the scene to minimise disruption and we'll provide updates in due course. Delays are expected and we ask people travelling to avoid the area if possible.'

The force later added at 10.36am: 'Delays are still likely in the area due to protestors sat on Wilmslow Rd (A538). Traffic's still moving and we've ensured access to the M56 and Manchester Airport isn't blocked. Officers are there to minimise disruption and bring the incident to a swift and orderly conclusion.'

Then at 1.01pm, the force said: 'A total of 11 people have now been arrested. The majority of protesters had glued themselves to the road before being later removed by officers and detained on suspicion of causing danger to road-users (section 22a of Road Traffic Act).

'Disruption was kept to a minimum as officers ensured routes to the nearby motorway and airport weren't blocked, and all roads in the area have now returned to normal. We thank the public for their co-operation despite their understandable frustration.'

A Manchester Airport spokesman added: 'We are aware of protestors gathered on land close to Manchester Airport, which is being handled by Greater Manchester Police. There is no impact on our operations but those planning to travel to the airport should take account of this ahead of their journey.'

Further south, a Hertfordshire Police spokesman said today: 'Police were called at 7.45am today to reports of protestors near junction 23 (Bignells Corner) of the M25. Most of the protestors were intercepted before reaching the carriageway.

'Several protestors were also at the A1081 St Albans Road slip road, and had glued themselves to the carriageway and the pavement. Partial road closures were put in place in order to allow specially trained officers to safely de-bond them and make arrests. All 20 people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Four people were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Chief Superintendent Nick Caveney said: 'Officers were at the scene within minutes, working quickly to make arrests and putting partial road closures in place in order to keep traffic flowing, meaning that disruption was kept to a minimum. Some 20 people were arrested in connection with the protest activity in Hertfordshire today, and will be taken to custody.

'Not only is purposely blocking a highway incredibly dangerous, it also affects countless members of the public who are inconvenienced as a result. We would like to thank motorists for their patience while officers dealt with the matter this morning.

'We understand how frustrating incidents of this nature are to the public, and want to reassure you that we have robust plans in place in order to minimise any disruption and to allow us to make arrests as quickly as we possibly can.

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Motorists argue with protesters from Insulate Britain who are blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham today

Traffic builds as protesters from Insulate Britain block Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

A police officer speaks to protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham today

Motorists argue with protesters from Insulate Britain who are blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham today

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain are seen walking onto the Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain wait at traffic lights before walking onto the Great Charles Queensway in Birmingham today

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

Insulate Britain holding up traffic in Birmingham this morning as they bring chaos to the A4400 road in the city

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham this morning

'We continue to work closely with our partners and other affected forces to ensure that any further activity is dealt with effectively and efficiently.'

Retired vicar, 79, returns with Insulate Britain and is arrested for ELEVENTH time in just seven weeks A retired Anglican vicar was once again back at the Insulate Britain protests today - marking the 11th time she has been arrested in just over seven weeks. Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79, from Bristol, who is also involved with Extinction Rebellion, was taken away from the M25 near South Mimms in Hertfordshire today. It was the fourth time she has been arrested in the past nine days - having also been detained on the M25 near Brentwood last Friday, Dartford in Kent last Wednesday, and on Bishopsgate in London last Monday. She has also already been arrested at other protests on the M25 on September 13, 21 and 29, and October 13. Parfitt was fined more than 1,500 in July after she took part in two XR road blockades in Parliament Square and outside a Ministry of Defence site near Bristol. Reverend Sue Parfitt is arrested near South Mimms today Parfitt is arrested on the M25 near Brentwood last Friday Sue Parfitt is arrested on Wednesday (left) and Monday (right) Parfitt arrested on September 13 (left) and September 21 (right) Parfitt arrested on September 29 (left) and October 13 (right) Advertisement

It comes after 18-year-old Miss Thunberg was asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday whether 'blocking roads' was justified, and replied: 'To make clear, as long as no one gets hurt... then I think sometimes you need to anger some people.

'Like, for instance, the school strike movement would never have become so big if there wasn't friction, if some people didn't get p***** off.'

She said she speaks to activists in countries like China where they do not have the same rights, and added: 'It makes you just feel so grateful that we are actually able to protest and that just puts more responsibility on us who actually have the right to protest, to use that right.'

This morning in Herfordshire, around 20 demonstrators arrived at the M25 but were stopped by police from getting into the road at about 8am.

Six sat on the pavement with a banner, and some glued themselves to the ground. Another two managed to glue themselves to one lane of the carriageway on a quiet part of the roundabout.

A group of officers have been lifting activists from the pavement and putting them in the back of a van.

Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79, a retired family therapist from Bristol, was among those detained. More than a dozen officers and seven police vehicles were at the scene.

Some passers-by shouted expletives at the protesters while other beeped their horns.

Jess, 25, who had glued her hand to the road, said: 'Before we started doing this no-one was talking about insulation, nobody cared about it, nobody knew it was an issue now, and it's been in the newspapers and it's been all over people's dinner table conversations for the last six weeks.

'They say 'we agree with your cause but not the tactics', but at the end of the day they only know about our cause because of our tactics.'

Nine demonstrators have received committal papers in relation to an injunction granted to National Highways to curb activist roadblocks, Insulate Britain confirmed.

Those who break the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Diana Warner, 62, a retired GP, said: 'One of the important reasons for coming out today was to say we're all together. It's not just nine.'

In a press release issued today, Insulate Britain quoted two protesters explaining why the demonstrations were now going nationwide.

One of them was Gabby, 27, a graphic designer from Norwich, who said: 'We are taking our message to people outside of London because we want everyone to know that our government is killing our children.

'Britain should be leading the world with radical plans to decarbonise our society, instead our government is actively setting policies that will drive emissions higher.

'The public can close their eyes but this isn't going away, no one is coming to save you. We are being betrayed. This government is colluding in genocide.'

The group said nine of its supporters have received summons for breaking the injunction and are due to attend court on November 16, with a further 23 people expected to follow. It said they face unlimited fines and prison sentences for contempt of court.

The group also quoted Biff, 54, a retail worker from Canterbury, who said: 'I am honoured and privileged to stand in solidarity with my brave friends who have been the first to receive their committal dates; facing unlimited fines and prison sentences for conducting proportionate nonviolent civil resistance to stop our government destroying this country with their cowardice and greed.

'I too have broken the High Court Injunctions several times and I will continue to do so until this treasonous government, supported by heartless and scared journalists, starts to take credible action to safeguard its citizens' lives.'

Last Friday, Insulate Britain caused yet more traffic chaos and diced with death by walking onto the M25 in morning rush hour. They later boasted about causing 'major disruption in several locations' on the motorway.

A group of 14 walked up and down the painted white lines between lanes in live traffic, causing tailbacks. At one point, three sat and laid down in the middle of the carriageway, bringing traffic grinding to a halt.

In a press release the group said activists had gone 'walking on the motorway' and were 'demanding that the Government gets on with the job of insulating Britain's homes'. Ten arrests were made after the stunt, between junctions 28 and 29 near Brentwood in Essex.

The group acknowledged it is knowingly breaching a High Court injunction that aims to prevent its disruptive activities. The activists were effectively banned from all major roads in England last week after a court ruling approved an injunction against protests on 4,300 miles of motorways and A-roads, also known as the Strategic Road Network.

This was extended until November 11 at another hearing on Thursday. Breaking the injunction can lead to unlimited fines or even jail for contempt of court.

The High Court was told on Thursday how just three days of protests had cost taxpayers almost 900,000.

Protesters from Insulate Britain are removed by police after they blocked a road near Manchester Airport this morning

Insulate Britain activists are arrested after gluing themselves to junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near to the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport in Manchester today

Insulate Britain activists are arrested after gluing themselves to junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Protesters from Insulate Britain block a road near Manchester Airport today by glueing their hands to the road

Insulate Britain activists block junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today as they take their protest UK-wide

Police arrest protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near Manchester Airport this morning

Insulate Britain activists are arrested after gluing themselves to junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Protesters from Insulate Britain are removed by police after they blocked a road near Manchester Airport this morning

Insulate Britain activists are removed from junction six of the M56 in Manchester today after gluing themselves to it

Insulate Britain block a road near Manchester Airport this morning as they take their demonstrations nationwide

Insulate Britain activists sit on the road after gluing themselves to it at junction 6 of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Insulate Britain activists are arrested after gluing themselves to junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Insulate Britain activists are arrested after gluing themselves to junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Insulate Britain activists are arrested after gluing themselves to junction six of the M56 near Manchester Airport today

Protesters from Insulate Britain are spoken to by police as they block a road near Manchester Airport today

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near to the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport in Manchester today

Protesters from Insulate Britain are removed by police after they blocked a road near Manchester Airport this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain sit on the road near the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport hotel in Manchester today

Protesters from Insulate Britain are removed by police after they blocked a road near Manchester Airport this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near to the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport in Manchester today

Protesters from Insulate Britain block the road near Manchester Airport today as they carry out a UK-wide demonstration

A protester with their hand glued to the road near Manchester Airport this morning in a photograph taken from the Tarmac

Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near to the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport this morning

A protester with their hand glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock near Manchester Airport this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain block a road near the Manchester Airport this morning as their demonstrations continue

A protester with their hand glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock near Manchester Airport this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain block a road near to the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport hotel today

The group, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, has demanded that Prime Minister Boris Johnson fast-tracks plans to insulate Britain's homes to cut carbon emissions.

Squid Game activists demand leaders 'stop playing climate games' World leaders are playing a deadly game with the planet, protesters have said, urging world leaders gathered at Cop26 to do more to stop climate change. Protesters dressed as Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron, along with eight other world leaders, and played a series of four children's games in a Squid Game-themed demonstration today in Glasgow. Climate activists from the Glasgow Actions Team wear Squid Game costumes and masks during a protest at the Clyde Arc Bridge as the Cop26 summit takes place in Glasgow today Andrew Nazdin, the director of the Glasgow Actions Team, who organised the event, demanded that more be done to stop climate change, and added that the 'time for climate games is over'. 'World leaders need to agree a plan to keep warming well below 1.5 degrees Celsius and put up money to fund a just transition across the global south,' he said. The hit Netflix programme follows a heavily indebted gambler who is competing against hundreds of others in a series of children's games in an attempt to win a huge payout. Malcolm White of the Glasgow Actions Team was dressed as Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Clyde Arc Bridge today Malcolm White of the Glasgow Actions Team, dressed as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was taking part in the games opposite the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), where global leaders are trying to thrash out a new climate deal. 'We're here playing the Squid Game in order to highlight that the climate leaders are playing games with the planet,' said the 34-year-old. 'They're here, they're using lots of rhetoric, but they're not actually, so far, engaging with the discussion process at the level which we think is in keeping with the climate crisis we are all facing.' The 'leaders' played climate hopscotch, tug-of-war, kicked around an inflatable world, and rolled dice. At one point Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden could be seen tussling with the inflatable Earth as boilersuit-clad protesters watched on in front of a sign that urged them to 'stop playing climate games'. Advertisement

It wants this done by the end of the decade, with a 'legally binding' national plan published within four months. They claim it would avoid 8,500 deaths due to fuel poverty and help struggling families pay their energy bills.

Insulate Britain also hit out at criticism of the group by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, with a spokesman saying: 'Insulating Britain's leaky homes is an essential part of acting on the climate emergency.

'In fact the UK Climate Change Committee has said that there is no route to Net Zero that does not involve the near complete elimination of carbon emissions from our housing stock which is some of the most energy inefficient in Europe.

'Insulate Britain has a well thought out plan for a government funded nationwide retrofit programme. Kwasi Kwarteng is rejecting a plan that would cut 15 per cent from our carbon emissions, avoid 8,500 fuel poverty deaths a year, and stop millions of British families being cold and hungry every year, while dealing with the cost of living crisis.

'Mr Kwarteng, is it 'ludicrous' to demand an end to deaths from fuel poverty in the sixth richest country in the world? Is giving government grants for home insulation an 'excessive state intervention'? Is protecting our children from future misery, starvation and death an 'eye watering intrusion'? If so, we are guilty as charged.

'Mr Kwarteng, you have a responsibility to serve the interests of all the people of this country, not just the few who are profiting from your careless disregard for the fate of our children and future generations. We will not forgive your betrayal and cowardice.'

Cabinet minister George Eustice has condemned the eco mob's actions as 'highly irresponsible' and 'a safety risk on our roads'.

He also said Home Secretary Priti Patel was looking at beefing-up the law to give police more powers to tackle the protesters.

Last week the Daily Mail revealed that eco warriors are plotting to exploit gaps in Scottish law to wreak havoc at the Cop26 summit.

Around 400 climate activists sized up potential loopholes during a meeting promoted by Extinction Rebellion (XR) last week.

Conspirators noted a recent High Court injunction banning road blockades does not apply in Scotland  and that officers will be 'overwhelmed' by the scale of the protests.

It was also hinted protesters with charges against their name in England may get a blank canvas across the border as forces 'don't always communicate to each other'.

It comes amid growing alarm among rank-and-file officers about the potential for chaos as police brace for the 'most complex and complicated policing operation ever seen in Britain'.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters from around the world are expected to descend on the two-week summit.

XR's Scottish spokesman Myke Hall has said ministers should be 'very worried' about their plans to disrupt the event.

Top brass in Scotland have warned Cop26 could prove a magnet for anarchists and believe some extremists could use children as human shields during violent standoffs, a tactic seen during the storming of the Capitol in the US in January.

At the start of the two-hour protest meeting last Tuesday, attendees were asked 'not to say anything specific about actions that you have been involved with, or are planning', due to fears of infiltration within the group.

But during an extensive Q&A session, rebels probed potential weaknesses in the police and criminal justice system that hinted at plots to blockade roads and outwit officers.

Know Your Rights Training was provided by the Scottish Community and Activist Legal Project, which is providing legal support to XR during Cop26.

A protester from Insulate Britain is removed by police after they glued their hands to the road near to South Mimms today

A protester from Insulate Britain is removed by police after they glued their hands to the road near South Mimms this morning

Police officers speak to protesters at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

Police officers detain a protester at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

Police officers detain a protester at an Insulate Britain roadblock near the roundabout at the junction of the M25 and A1 today

Protesters from Insulate Britain with their hands glued to the road near the South Mimms roundabout this morning

Police officers detain a protester at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

Police officers remove a protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock near the South Mimms roundabout today

Police officers detain a protester at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

Protesters from Insulate Britain with their hands glued to the road near the South Mimms roundabout today

Protesters from Insulate Britain with their hands glued to the road near the South Mimms roundabout today

Police officers take away a protester at an Insulate Britain roadblock attempt near the South Mimms services today

Reverend Sue Parfitt is arrested by a police officer at an Insulate Britain roadblock near the South Mimms roundabout today

Traffic builds up at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout at the junction of the M25 and A1 today

A protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock on St Albans Road near to the South Mimms roundabout today

A police officer holds the jackets of two Insulate Britain protesters trying to carry out a roadblock at South Mimms today

Protesters from Insulate Britain with their hands glued to the road near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

A protester from Insulate Britain is led away by police after they glued their hands to the road near South Mimms today

Police officers speak to protesters at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

Police officers speak to protesters at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout this morning

An Insulate Britain protester is led away by police as they attempt to block traffic on the M25 near junction 23 today

A protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock on St Albans Road near the South Mimms roundabout today

A protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock on St Albans Road near the South Mimms roundabout today

Police officers remove a protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock near the South Mimms roundabout today

A protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock on St Albans Road near the South Mimms roundabout today

Police officers remove a protester glued to the road at an Insulate Britain roadblock near the South Mimms roundabout today

Representatives fielded a series of searching questions including whether an injunction against road blockades aimed at curbing Insulate Britain protests in England applied in Scotland and if protest-related charges in England would be passed on to Police Scotland.

A spokesman said the injunction did not apply in Scotland, while it was also suggested police will only make arrests 'if they need to' for fear of being 'overwhelmed'.

John Scott QC, an adviser to Police Scotland on Cop26, told the Mail 'there is a very different tone and style' to policing in Scotland, 'with an emphasis on encouraging peaceful protest'.

But there are fears protesters who break the law could go free as a shortage of cells could force police to let some off with warnings.

One demonstration on November 6 is expected to attract more than 150,000 protesters and smaller groups such as Insulate Britain are expected to take part in acts of disorder, which could result in a significant number of arrests.

** Do you know who the West Midlands Police officer in Birmingham is? Please email: tips@dailymail.com **
Dr Richard Vautrey will step down as chair of the BMA's GP committee later this month

The GP leading plans for industrial action over face-to-face appointments last night quit his post at the doctors' union.

Dr Richard Vautrey will step down as chair of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee later this month.

His resignation came on the day ballots were sent to GP practices across England asking if they would be willing to take industrial action.

Dr Vautrey, a GP from Leeds, has led the left-wing union's rebellion against Government plans to force family doctors to see more patients in person.

But his stance on face-to-face appointments has been condemned by moderate doctors, MPs and patient groups for being 'tone deaf'.

On Friday Dr Vautrey insisted the BMA would not back down over plans for industrial action aimed at 'reversing the unsustainable workload' of GPs.

He accused the Government of 'adding fuel to the fire' by telling doctors to increase the number of appointments they hold face-to-face.

Latest figures showed four in ten GP appointments were still not being carried out face-to-face in England this September. For comparison, over the same period two years ago more than nine in ten were in person.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid last month unveiled a 250million package of measures to get patients more face-to-face appointments, including a controversial proposal to name and shame underperforming surgeries.

Latest figures showed four in ten GP appointments were still not being carried out face-to-face in September. For comparison, over the same period two years ago more than nine in ten were in person

Only 3% of doctors think remote consultations are better for patients, study finds Only three per cent of doctors think remote consultations are better for patients than face-to-face appointments, a major study has found. Researchers at Cambridge University concluded the shift towards phone and video appointments is proving 'disastrous' for many patients. They said online consultations 'increased the risk of misdiagnosis and barriers to care', and were particularly damaging for the elderly, poor and disabled. Some 93 per cent of doctors agreed that remote appointments are worse than face-to-face for accurately assessing and diagnosing illnesses. In the first study of its kind, experts evaluated the NHS's 'rapid move towards telemedicine'  video or phone appointments  during the pandemic. Researchers surveyed 1,340 rheumatology patients and more than 100 hospital consultations and GPs between April and July this year. About one third of the patients had inflammatory arthritis and another third had the immune disease lupus, with many needed regular appointments for flare-ups. Some 93 per cent of doctors said telemedicine was worse than face-to-face consultations for accuracy. The study said that a lack of in-person examinations and tests meant 'misdiagnosis and inaccuracies were frequently reported'. Nine in ten doctors also said phone and video consultations are 'worse than face-to-face for building a trusting relationship' and only three per cent said they were better overall. Advertisement

Despite his militant rhetoric in recent weeks, Dr Vautrey's surprise resignation announcement last night did not mention the recent row over patient access.

He said: 'I've decided that the forthcoming first meeting of our delayed annual session is the right time for a new chair to take on this role. With the need to begin planning for a new contract as we approach the fourth year of our current five-year agreement, a new chair and team need to be given the opportunity to do this.'

Yesterday the BMA launched an indicative ballot of GP practices in England, asking if they support taking industrial action in four key areas.

These include refusing to go along with the 'naming and shaming' of practices which fail to improve face-to-face access.

They will also be asked if they will refuse to comply with rules on 'pay transparency', which would mean GPs earning over 150,000 are named.

And they will be balloted on whether they should refuse to oversee medical exemptions for people who cannot get vaccinated, which they complain has added to their workload and opens them up to more abuse.

The ballot closes on November 14 and could pave the way for the first industrial action by doctors since the junior doctors strike five years ago.

Patient groups, MPs and moderate doctors had all urged the BMA to back down and reach a compromise with ministers for the sake of millions of patients.

It comes as a major study today revealed only three per cent of doctors think remote consultations are better for patients than face-to-face appointments.

Researchers at Cambridge University concluded the shift towards phone and video appointments is proving 'disastrous' for many patients.

They said online consultations 'increased the risk of misdiagnosis and barriers to care', and were particularly damaging for the elderly, poor and disabled.

Some 93 per cent of doctors agreed that remote appointments are worse than face-to-face for accurately assessing and diagnosing illnesses.

In the first study of its kind, experts evaluated the NHS's 'rapid move towards telemedicine'  video or phone appointments  during the pandemic.

Researchers surveyed 1,340 rheumatology patients and more than 100 hospital consultations and GPs between April and July this year.

About one third of the patients had inflammatory arthritis and another third had the immune disease lupus, with many needed regular appointments for flare-ups.

Some 93 per cent of doctors said telemedicine was worse than face-to-face consultations for accuracy.

The study said that a lack of in-person examinations and tests meant 'misdiagnosis and inaccuracies were frequently reported'.

Nine in ten doctors also said phone and video consultations are 'worse than face-to-face for building a trusting relationship' and only three per cent said they were better overall.
It comes as president Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa arrived for the Cop26

It showed two men wheeling out trolley loads of alcohol and crisps from Costco

Zimbabweans have been spotted stocking up on booze and snacks to celebrate the arrival of their president at the Cop26 climate summit.

In pictures shared by the country's information minister, two men are seen pushing trollies filled to the brim with bottles of whisky, wine, beer and crisps at a Costco store in Glasgow.

Video shows the men, sporting scarfs with the Zimbabwean colours, wheeling the packed trollies out of the store while saying 'Cop26 we are ready'.

Another of the men is heard saying: 'We are welcoming the president Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa in Scotland, UK'.

The video was shared by Zimbabwe's Information Minister, Nick Mangwana, who also Tweeted a video of men and women dancing on a beach as music plays.

But while the video shows a joyful celebration, Zimbabweans have questioned the pictures, with some suggesting it to be a propaganda push by Government officials.

Others say the video is 'sending the wrong message' about the Cop26 conference, which is bringing together leaders from around the world to try and come up with solutions to tackle climate change.

But Mr Mangwana insists no delegates were involved and that the celebrations were organised by Zimbabweans living in the UK who wanted to welcome their president to Scotland.

It is the first time a Zimbabwean state leader has visited the UK in 25 years.

Sharing the video, Mr Mangwana said: 'Tonight (Monday) there is a massive welcome party held in honour of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

In pictures shared by the country's information minister, two men are seen pushing trollies filled to the brim with bottles of whisky, wine, beer and crisps at a Costco in Glasgow. Video shows the men, sporting scarfs with the Zimbabwean colours, wheeling the packed trollies, containing at least six bottles of Glenfiddich whisky, out of the store while saying 'Cop 26 we are ready'.

Yesterday, Mr Mnangagwa met with other world leaders including Boris Johnson and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Cop 26 climate summit

'Glasgow is the place to be as Zimbabweans from all corners of the UK attend this shindig and welcome their President. The party will spill over to the streets tomorrow. In the UK? Join the party.'

Key facts about Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa - He is known as 'the crocodile' because of his political shrewdness. - He is also commonly referred to as 'ED Mnangagwa' due to his initials - His faction is called 'Lacoste' as a nod to the French sportswear brand, whose logo is a crocodile - He received military training in China and Egypt in the 1960s - He helped direct Zimbabwe's war of independence in the 1960s and 1970s - He became the country's spymaster during the 1980s civil conflict - He has been accused of masterminding attacks on opposition supporters after the 2008 election - He has survived several alleged assassination attempts, blamed on supporters of predecessor Robert Mugabe - He has vowed to move away from Mr Mugabe's policies, including promising to 'reengage with the world' - In his inauguration speech he also promised to serve all citizens, reduce corruption, and revitalize the country's economy - But while vowing to move away from his policies, Mr Mnangagwa praised his predecessor as 'a father, mentor, comrade in arms, and my leader' Advertisement

It is the first time Mr Mnangagwa, known as 'the crocodile' because of his political cunning, and often shortened to 'ED' Mnangagwa due to his initials, has visited the UK on state business.

He was installed as president in November 2017 after his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, resigned following a military takeover and mass demonstrations.

The protests themselves were sparked by the sacking of Mr Mnangagwa as deputy president.

Like his predecessor, Mr Mnangagwa is a member of the political group the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

His faction in the party is known as 'Lacoste' - after the French sportswear brand which has a crocodile for a logo.

Yesterday, Mr Mnangagwa met with other world leaders including Boris Johnson and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Cop 26 climate summit.

It is the first face-to-face meeting between a UK and Zimbabwean state leader on British soil since then Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair met Mr Mugabe in Edinburgh in 1997.

Relations between the two countries soured quickly after, with Mr Blair pulling out of talks that year to fund Mr Mugabe's controversial land reforms.

Mr Mugabe, who died in 2019 two years after his resignation, railed against Britain and its political leaders as they opposed the policy and his management of Zimbabwe's economy.

Britain, the European Union and the United States placed targeted sanctions on the country to punish Zimbabwe over its human rights record, including persecution of journalists and failure to punish the security forces for abuses under Mr Mugabe.

They west have maintained the targeted sanctions, despite Mr Mugabe's resigning as president.

Last week, UN rapporteur Alena Douhan urged the west to lift the sanctions, saying that they restrict public access to healthcare, food and sanitation.

Yesterday, Mr Mnangagwa met with other world leaders including Boris Johnson and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Cop 26 climate summit. It is the first meeting between a UK and Zimbabwean president on British soil since Tony Blair met Mr Mugabe in 1997 (pictured)

It is the first time Mr Mnangagwa (pictured), known as 'the crocodile' because of his political cunning, has visited the UK

Supporters of Zimbabwe's Zanu PF party gather to support Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Glasgow yesterday

However there remains concern over human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, with Human Rights Watch warning of a 'decline' in the situation in 2020 under Mr Mnangagwa's presidency.

The New York based charity warns suspected state security agents abducted and tortured more than 70 critics of the government last year.

Separately, Amnesty warned that the Zimbabwean government had used the Covid-19 to place 'severe restrictions' on freedoms in the country.

'Women were denied access to essential maternal health care, and violence against women and girls was widespread,' Amnesty said.

In June last year a UN human rights experts called on Zimbabwe to immediately end a reported pattern of disappearances and torture that appear aimed at suppressing protests and dissent.

Mr Mnangagwa later vowed to 'flush out a few rogue Zimbabweans' who he accused of trying to destabilise the country in 'league with foreign detractors'.

The comments came at the same time as the country's government faced a wave of social media criticism over video showing security officials beating civilians.

It started the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter trend on Twitter. Celebrities including South African rapper Kiernan Forbes supported the campaign.

Mr Mnangagwa has vowed to move away from the policies of his predecessor, including promising to 'reengage with the world'.

In his 2017 inauguration speech he also promised to serve all citizens, reduce corruption, and revitalize the country's economy.

Information minister Mr Mangwana's decision to post pictures of the celebrations prompted a backlash from some on social media.

One Twitter user wrote: 'Rest of the world: 'The world is dying let's come together and talk about it...'

'ED Supporters: 'Let's go to Costco and buy alcohol'.

'Nick (the official government spokesperson): 'Let me promote this on social media.'

Another wrote: 'Optics are very important, this does not look good.'

One twitter user asked what Zimbabwe was going to do about climate change, promoting a response from Mr Mangwana. He said: 'We will cover that.

'We covered bits this morning. For now Zimbabweans are welcoming their president to Glasgow.'

He also replied to those suggesting the men were part of the Zimbabwean delegation to say: 'No delegate is there.'
Jacob Rees-Mogg today waded into a row over the suspension handed to ex-Tory minister Owen Paterson for breaking lobbying rules on behalf of firms paying him more than 100,000 a year.

Commons leader Mr Rees-Mogg today questioned whether the probe into Mr Paterson's conduct was 'fair', in an astonishing attack on the integrity of the independent standards commissioner, Kathryn Stone.

Mr Rees-Mogg also suggested the Commons Speaker should consider giving time to attempts by the former Environment Secretary's supporters to water down or quash the 30-day Parliamentary suspension he was given last week.

MPs will vote tomorrow on whether to approve the findings and recommended sanctions from the Commons Standards Committee, which is normally a formality.

But Senior Tory MPs are planning to try to water down his suspension to nine days to avoid him being subject to a recall petition. They argue he did not get a fair hearing - despite the committee saying it was one of the worst cases of illicit paid lobbying they had seen.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle fears MPs will bring the House of Commons into disrepute if they block the suspension.

But Mr Rees-Mogg told his Moggcast podcast for the website ConHome that 'people have been raising with me recently questions about the process'.

'It is always very important that systems appear to be fair, and therefore if someone has witnesses, it would normally appear to be fair that those witnesses should be heard,' he said.

Commons leader Mr Rees-Mogg today questioned whether the probe into Mr Paterson's conduct was 'fair', in an astonishing attack on the integrity of the independent standards commissioner, Kathryn Stone.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle fears MPs will bring the House of Commons into disrepute if they block a 30-day suspension from Parliament for an ex-minister found to have breached lobbying rules.

'The Commissioner  said that the witnesses weren't needed because the evidence they gave wasn't relevant to the inquiry.

'And that is an interesting view to come to, because other people might say ''how do you know whether it was relevant to the inquiry until you've taken their evidence and how found out the precise context of how things were done?''

'Particularly in terms of the debate, the disagreement, between the Commissioner and Owen Paterson.'

An investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Ms Stone found Mr Paterson repeatedly lobbied ministers and officials on behalf of two companies for which he was acting as a paid consultant  Randox and Lynn's Country Foods.

The Commons Standards Committee said his actions were an 'egregious' breach of the rules on paid advocacy by MPs and recommended that he should be suspended for 30 sitting days.

But Mr Paterson, who has denied any wrongdoing, rejected the commissioner's findings, accusing her of making up her mind before she had even spoken to him.

He said he had been the victim of a 'biased process' which 'offends against the basic standard of procedural fairness that no-one should be found guilty until they have had a chance to be heard and to present their evidence including their witnesses'.

Mr Paterson said the manner in which the investigation was carried out had 'undoubtedly' played a 'major role' in the decision of his wife Rose to take her own life last year.

If the 30-day suspension from Parliament is approved then Mr Paterson's North Shropshire constituents would be able to petition for a by-election.

The Times said Sir Lindsay has told friends that a failure to approve the suspension would damage the standards system.

A source told the newspaper: 'Lindsay is concerned that voting this down would do the House real reputational damage.'

Meanwhile, Chris Bryant, the Labour MP who chairs the standards committee, said: 'Voting or watering down this sanction would do serious reputational damage to parliament and would open politics up to a new scandal of paid lobbying by MPs.'

In her report, Ms Stone found that between November 2016 and November 2017 Mr Paterson made three approaches to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) relating to Randox  a clinical diagnostics company  and antibiotics in milk in breach of the ban on paid advocacy.

He was also found to have made four approaches to ministers at the Department for International Development relating to the company and blood testing technology between October 2016 and January 2017.

And Mr Paterson was found to have made seven approaches to the FSA between November 2017 and July 2018 relating to Lynn's Country Foods.

MPs will vote tomorrow on whether to approve the findings and recommended sanctions of a standards probe into Owen Paterson

The commissioner further found that he failed to declare his interest as a paid consultant to Lynn's Country Foods in four emails to FSA officials and that he used his parliamentary office for business meetings with his clients on 16 occasions between October 2016 and February 2020.

He also sent two letters relating to his business interests, on House of Commons headed notepaper  the only breach of the rules which he accepted.

In its report, the committee recommended that a motion to suspend Mr Paterson should be tabled for MPs to debate and vote on within five sitting days.

'The committee found that Mr Paterson's actions were an egregious case of paid advocacy, that he repeatedly used his privileged position to benefit two companies for whom he was a paid consultant, and that this has brought the House into disrepute,' it said.

However, in a defiant statement the MP said the process to which he had been subjected did not comply with natural justice.

He said he had been pronounced guilty without being spoken to by the commissioner and that 17 witnesses who came forward to support him were ignored.
Supplies of crisps including Wotsits, Quavers and ready-salted Walkers are set to be disrupted for several more weeks following an IT glitch, raising the prospect of the festive favourites being in short supply this Christmas.

The Leicester-based manufacturer said products had been affected by the glitch, adding it was ramping up production of its most popular crisp flavours including cheese and onion and salt and vinegar.

A number of products are unavailable on the Tesco website and empty shelves have been seen in some supermarkets, amid a wider crisis across the food supply chain caused by a chronic lack of workers and HGV drivers and congestion at global trading ports.

A Walkers spokesman told MailOnline: 'A recent IT system upgrade has disrupted the supply of some of our products. Our sites are still making crisps and snacks but at a reduced scale.

'We're doing everything we can to increase production and get people's favourites back on shelves. We're very sorry for the inconvenience caused.'

The global supply chain crisis has caused chaos and hampered the UK's economic recovery, with shortages on supermarket shelves across the country as well as delayed deliveries and increased prices.

Supplies of Walkers crisps are set to be disrupted for several more weeks following a 'recent IT upgrade', raising the prospect of the festive favourite being in short supply this Christmas

A number of Walkers products are currently unavailable on the Tesco website

Products unavailable on Tesco's website include Walkers multipacks

MailOnline also found Wotsits (pictured) and Quavers were unavailable on Tesco's website

A solution to our festive feast fears? Heinz launches Christmas dinner in a TIN after warnings of a possible turkey shortage this year Heinz say if the soup is a success they will make more of the fast festive feast for Christmas in 2022 If the warnings of a turkey shortage this Christmas have got you in a flap, fear not - Heinz has a backup plan. It has come up with a Christmas dinner soup with 'big chunks' of turkey as well as sprouts and stuffing. The 1.50 Big Soup Christmas Dinner also has roasties, pigs in blankets and a gravy and cranberry sauce. If you're going to rely on it to feed the family, however, you'll have to be quick - just 500 cans will be available this year. Heinz might make more next year if it is a success. Heinz isn't the only one to try to can Christmas - in 2013, retailer GAME launched a 'Christmas tinner' for gamers too hooked to their consoles to bother cooking. Advertisement

It is partially caused by supply being unable to keep up with the rapidly increasing demand as the UK economy reopens. Staff shortages, Brexit, Covid and wider economic conditions are also contributing factors.

Across the UK food supply chain there are currently about half a million job vacancies, which represents 12.5 per cent of the total workforce required.

The haulage sector has also been badly affected by the crisis, with the Government pledging to recruit thousands more lorry drivers for the Christmas period.

A shortage of drivers previously delayed fuel deliveries, which sparked panic-buying and a weeks-long fuel crisis.

Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame, warned of 'terrific supply chain squeezes' on the food and drink industry that are expected to last for the next six to nine months.

Industry leaders have insisted a combination of Brexit and strict immigration controls, plus coronavirus, where many foreign workers chose to go home, have triggered the crisis.

Experts said the HGV driver shortage is due to a combination of factors including EU employees returning home after Brexit and lockdown restrictions causing the cancellation of 40,000 HGV tests. They also cited poor wages and the closure of a tax loophole for some drivers.

Just last week, McDonald's left customers fuming after removing the popular Chicken Legend burger from its menu due to ongoing supply chain issues.

The fast food giant was branded 'psycho' and 'out of order' by customers online, while one vowed to riot after they were unable to order the fried chicken burger, which is typically served in a ciabatta bun with lettuce and mayonnaise.

McDonald's initially insisted supply chain woes were 'impacting the availability' of the Chicken Legend and that it was working hard to return the item as soon as possible. It later said the item should still be available inside restaurant chains, just not for delivery orders.

Wetherspoon bosses were forced to apologise after revealing that venues across the country had run out of salt, blaming 'supplier disruption', with new food providers being sought to alleviate the pressure on existing stock shortages.

Also last week, MPs were warned that UK supermarkets will be short of home-produced fresh turkeys this Christmas with stores turning to imports from France and Poland.

The haulage sector has also been badly affected by the crisis, with the government pledging to recruit thousands more lorry drivers for the Christmas period (stock image)

Angry fast food fans have hit out at McDonald's after it removed Chicken Legends (pictured) from its menu due to 'supply chain' issues

Pub lovers across the UK bemoaned the lack of available sachets at JD Wetherspoon pubs in the latest supply chain crisis to strike at the popular chain. Pictured: A Wetherspoon venue in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Turkeys could be imported from France and Poland for Christmas if crippling shortage of workers threaten supermarket stocks Supermarkets will be short of home-produced fresh turkeys this Christmas with stores turning to imports from France and Poland, MPs have been told. Industry leaders say it is evidence of a wider crisis across the food supply chain caused by a chronic lack of workers. UK farmers decided to raise fewer chicks this year because they could see there would not be enough staff in processing plants to handle them. In evidence to an inquiry by MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, chairman of the British Poultry Council, Graeme Dear, said there was a 'likelihood' there will be a shortage of UK turkeys for Christmas. Around 20 per cent fewer birds have been reared this year on British farms. Advertisement

Industry leaders say it is evidence of a wider crisis across the food supply chain crisis. UK farmers decided to raise fewer chicks this year because they could see there would not be enough staff in processing plants to handle them.

In evidence to an inquiry by MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, chairman of the British Poultry Council, Graeme Dear, said there was a 'likelihood' there will be a shortage of UK turkeys for Christmas.

Around 20 per cent fewer birds have been reared this year on British farms.

The Government recently announced it would allow in 5,500 poultry plant workers on short-term visas, however this came too late to boost the number of turkeys being raised.

Mr Dear said: 'The irony is we may find ourselves having to import turkey from France and Poland for a British Christmas, probably with some of the very workers we trained and left to go back to their homelands.'

Tom Bradshaw, of the National Farmers' Union, said the organisation has been involved in constant battles with the Home Office over the need to allow in more foreign workers.

A seasonal workers scheme allows in some 30,000 foreign workers to help bring in the UK harvest, however the NFU says this needs to be raised to 50,000-60,000.

Mr Bradshaw said: 'The food waste we are seeing at a farm level is completely inexcusable.'

It comes as a closely watched report found that UK manufacturers raised their prices by the largest amount in at least two decades after a 'severe' increase in raw materials and energy costs, as output growth was held back by rising supply chain disruption, staff shortages and declining intakes of new export work.

According to the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers survey, though the PMI was boosted by improved growth of new orders and employment, alongside a steeper rise in stocks of purchases and lengthier vendor lead times, a further slowdown in output growth held back growth.

The index posted 57.8 in October, up from 57.1 in September, rising for the first time in five months. Manufacturing production rose only marginally and at the slowest pace for eight months.
A knifeman has been shot by Paris transport police after shouting, 'Allahu Akbar, France is ruled by Islamic State' at a train station.

The man is said to be severely injured after he wielding the weapon while threatening security at Saint-Lazare station, one of the busiest stations in the French capital.

The incident started after he was stopped for not wearing a mask and he refused to comply with officials on Monday evening.

A knifeman has been shot by Paris transport police after shouting, 'Allahu Akbar' at Saint-Lazare station in Paris (pictured)

He then took out his knife and charged towards them shouting 'rushing towards the four agents, shouting 'Allahu Akbar. France is ruled by the Islamic State' before he was shot twice in the chest.

The knifeman fell on to the tracks, according to Le Parisien, and was rushed to hospital where he remains in a life-threatening condition.

France's state-owned railway company SNCF said in a statement: 'The two agents used their service weapon to defend and neutralise him.

'The injured individual was taken care of by the emergency services.'

According to identity documents found on his body, the man was born in 1974 and had been known to police for previous threats and violence but was not known to intelligence services.

The incident started after he was stopped for not wearing a mask and he refused to comply with officials on Monday evening

An investigation has already been opened for attempted homicide of someone in a public office, terrorism and violence with weapons.

The incident comes a year after a Tunisian attacker with a knife killed three people and wounded several others at a church in Nice.

That terror attack took place less than two weeks after the beheading of middle school teacher Samuel Paty by a man of Chechen origin. Paty's attacker said he wanted to punish him for showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a civics lesson.

It followed a wave of attacks that have rocked France in recent years.

In January 2015, two Islamist militants broke into an editorial meeting of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo killing 12 people. Another militant killed a policewoman the next day and took hostages at a supermarket killing four before police shot him dead.

In November of that year, an ISIS cell slaughtered 130 in attacks on bars and the Bataclan music hall.

Then in 2016 a man drove a heavy truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 people and injuring scores more in an attack claimed by Islamic State.
UK supermarket chain Morrisons has caved to a Remainer Twitter mob and changed its packaging of 4 roast-in-the-bag British chicken it advertised as made with 'non-EU salt and pepper'.

Scores of anti-Brexit commentators accused Morrisons of using 'anti-EU' messaging on their labels which was 'so awful and downright scary' that some even threatened to boycott the company.

Responding to the outcry, the supermarket chain issued a grovelling apology and vowed it would be 'changing the packaging immediately', calling the original wording of the label 'an error'.

It is understood that the wording was caused by a misinterpretation of food packaging and labelling regulations.

A Morrisons spokesman told MailOnline: 'Our chicken label is adhering to British packaging regulations, however we will be redesigning it to make it clear this is not a political commentary.'

One Remainer posted a photo of the chicken and tweeted in disbelief: 'Tell me Morrisons that this is not real. Your response will dictate whether or not I ever shop at your stores again.'

Scores of anti-Brexit commentators accused Morrisons of using 'anti-EU' messaging on their labels which said the chicken was seasoned with non-EU salt

UK supermarket chain Morrisons has caved to a Remainer Twitter mob and changed its packaging of 4 roast-in-the-bag British chicken it advertised as made with 'non-EU salt and pepper'

Responding to the outcry, the supermarket chain issued a grovelling apology and vowed it would be 'changing the packaging immediately', calling the original wording of the label 'an error'

Another social media user thundered: 'I'm done with shopping @Morrisons. I can live with union flags on bananas, but the gratuitous slight on the EU is too much'.

A third piped up: 'This surely is photoshopped! If not then this is so awful and downright scary. Please clarify what on earth where you thinking when you decided on that label?'

'Could you imagine a French supermarket selling salt & vinegar crisps with 'Non-British salt' emblazoned across it? No, I can't either, because they're not as obsessed with non-existent threats from abroad as we seem to be,' another Brexit-hater wrote on social media.

In a statement matching its Twitter apology, a Morrisons spokesman told MailOnline: 'The wording on the packaging is an error for which we apologise. We are changing the packaging immediately.'

In January, an advert for the British supermarket chain's unsalted butter was branded a 'UKIP advert' by social media users earlier this year because it was branded with the Union Jack.

One Remainer posted a photo of the chicken and tweeted in disbelief: 'Tell me Morrisons that this is not real. Your response will dictate whether or not I ever shop at your stores again'

Morrisons, which recently agreed to a 7billion takeover by American financial firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), is not the first supermarket to come under fire over Brexit-related packaging disputes.

In January last year, Co-op's decision to brand its bags of ice as 'British' came under similar fire on social media.

A picture of an ice cube bag from the supermarket with the words 'made with British water' above a British flag sparked a Twitter meltdown.

However, Co-op were less concerned by the reaction and issued a tongue-in-cheek response to the criticism online.

A Co-op spokeswoman explained: 'Sorry if our ice cubes have caused a bit of chill on Twitter. But our labelling policy means that we always aim to provide the country origin of the main ingredients in any product, and that includes the water in our ice cubes.

'We hope our customers are cool with that.'
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US officials have expressed 'concern' over satellite images showing Russian troops on the country's border with Ukraine - but the Kremlin has dismissed 'low quality' claims of a new build-up of its forces.

Ukraine today also said it had not seen evidence of additional Russian troops assembling near its eastern border.

Satellite images appeared to show a build-up of tanks, armoured units and self-propelled artillery as well as ground troops near the Russian town of Yelnya - raising fears of a new escalation in fighting with pro-Moscow separatists.

Videos posted on social media in recent days also showed Russian military trains and truck convoys moving tanks and missiles in the country's southwest near the Ukrainian border.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that Washington was monitoring the situation and US officials told the Washington Post they were concerned.

But Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement late Monday that 'no additional deployment' of Russian forces had been observed near the border.

The ministry said the published videos could be an 'element of special informational and psychological actions' and showed a planned movement of troops after a Russian military exercise.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday also dismissed the reports of a potential build-up, saying there was no need to 'waste time' on 'low-quality' claims.

'The movement of our military equipment and army units... is exclusively our business,' he told reporters. 'Russia has never threatened anyone.'

It comes after a US official, speaking on the basis of anonymity, told the Washington Post that there had been some movement, though not as large as the surge in Moscow's forces earlier this year.

Satellite images appeared to show a build-up of tanks, armoured units and self-propelled artillery as well as ground troops, near the Russian town of Yelnya, which is close to the border of Belarus and Ukraine

Satellite images appear to show troop tents and an administrative area amid the presence of a large ground forces deployment

Satellite image appear to show the presence of a large ground forces deployment on the northern edge of the town of Yelnya, near the Ukrainian border

US officials are concerned by satellite images appearing to show a fresh build-up of Russian troops on the country's border with Ukraine - but the Kremlin has dismissed the 'low-quality' claims. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin

The satellite images appeared to show the buildup of Russian units, including the elite 1st Guards Tank Army, at the border since late September after a joint military exercise with Belarus finished.

The images, taken by Maxar Technologies, also show troop tents and an administrative area, as well as armoured units and support equipment.





'The point is: It is not a drill. It doesn't appear to be a training exercise. Something is happening. What is it?' Michael Kofman, director of the Russia studies program at the U.S.-based nonprofit analysis group CNA, told Washington Post.

Kofman said that the satellite images show that forces from Russia's 41st Combined Arms Army did not return to their base in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk after the joint exercise - and instead joined other Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.

'We're aware of public reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

'We're going to continue to consult with allies and partners on this issue... As we've said before, any escalatory or aggressive actions would be of great concern to the United States.'

But the Kremlin rejected reports of a Russian military buildup near Ukraine as 'low-quality fake', although it said it was up to Moscow where it moved troops around on its territory.

Ukraine said it had not observed any increase in Russian troops or equipment near the border.

This satellite image taken on Monday shows tanks, armoured personnel carriers and support equipment amid the presence of a large ground forces deployment on the northern edge of the town of Yelnya

Satellite image shows self propelled artillery and other equipment amid the presence of a large ground forces deployment

Satellite image shows an overview of the presence of a large ground forces deployment on the northern edge of the town of Yelnya

It comes just after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin toured the Black Sea region, stopping in NATO partner states Ukraine and Georgia and alliance full member Romania, to express solidarity and build more support for confronting Russia in the area.

Russia-aligned separatists in eastern Ukraine have been battling Ukrainian government forces since 2014.

Also in 2014, Russian troops seized the Crimea region of Ukraine, sparking stiff Western sanctions on the country.

It also comes just a day after Putin emphasised the need to strengthen Russia's air defences amid NATO's military activities near Russia's borders.

Russian snipers have also been seen taking part in a shooting contest in the Krasnodar region bordering Ukraine.

Russian snipers have also been seen taking part in a shooting contest in the Krasnodar region bordering Ukraine

A Russian sniper took part in a shooting contest in the Krasnodar region bordering Ukraine

In March, just weeks after President Joe Biden's inauguration, Russia massed thousands of troops, heavy military equipment, naval vessels and aircraft on the Ukraine border and in Crimea, holding them there for weeks and sparking fears of an invasion.

Moscow called the movements an exercise, but many of the military assets remained for weeks, and analysts saw it as a warning to Biden.

Washington has refused to accept Russia's claim on Crimea and has delivered lethal military aid to Kyiv for use in fighting the separatists.

Moscow has made clear its rejection of any effort to bring Ukraine, a former part of the Soviet Union, into the NATO alliance.

Kirby said that Washington would consult allies and partners on the Russian buildup.

'We continue to support deescalation in the region and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine,' he said.

It comes a day after Putin said he will strengthen the country's air defences.

Speaking during a meeting with military officials and arms makers in the southern Russian city of Sochi, Putin specificially noted the deployment of NATO's U.S.-led missile defense components in Eastern Europe and increasingly frequent missions by NATO ships near Russian waters in the Baltic and Black Seas.

'Even now, a U.S. warship has entered the Black Sea, and we can see it in binoculars or crosshairs of our defense systems,' he said in an apparent reference to the deployment of the U.S. destroyer USS Porter, which sailed into the Black Sea over the weekend and is to be joined this week by USS Mount Whitney, the flagship of the U.S. 6th Fleet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks during a meeting with hight level officers and heads of defense industry enterprises in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on Monday

U.S. Sixth Fleet said in a statement that their mission will help 'further enhance collaboration between U.S. and NATO forces at sea,' adding that 'NATO allies and partners stand together to ensure a safe, stable and secure Black Sea region, building partner capacity to improve effectiveness and interoperability.'

Russia has bristled at the deployment of U.S. and other NATO ships near waters it claims as its own as tensions between Moscow and the West have sunk to post-Cold War lows after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, its support for a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine and other irritants.

Last month, Russia suspended its mission at NATO and ordered the closure of the alliance's office in Moscow after NATO had withdrawn the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its Brussels headquarters, saying it believed they had been secretly working for Russian intelligence.

Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns over the deployment of NATO forces near Russian borders, describing it as a threat to its security. Russia and the alliance also have continuously accused each other of dangerous and provocative maneuvers at sea and in the air.

In June, Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of British destroyer Defender to drive it away from Black Sea waters near the Crimean city of Sevastopol. Britain denied that account, insisted its ship wasnt fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

Like most of the world, Britain recognizes Crimea as part of Ukraine despite the peninsulas 2014 annexation by Russia.

In the aftermath of the incident, Moscow warned that it is prepared to target intruding warships if they fail to heed warnings.

'We must further improve our air and space defense system as leading powers have been developing prospective high-speed strike weapons,' Putin said. 'It's also warranted by the military-political situation, including increasingly intensive flights by NATO aircraft near Russia and the appearance of the alliance's warships armed with guided missiles in the Baltic and Black Seas.'
The mother of two murdered sisters whose dead bodies were photographed by serving Met police officers and shared on WhatsApp said the force needed to 'get the rot out'.

PC Deniz Jaffer and Pc Jamie Lewis were supposed to protect the scene after sisters Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, were found stabbed to death in Fryent Country Park in Wembley, north-west London.

But instead, they breached the cordon to take 'inappropriate' and 'unauthorised' photographs of the bodies, which were then sent 'to a dentist and doctor', and a WhatsApp group.

Jaffer took four photographs and Lewis took two - one of which was sent to a female colleague with Lewis's face superimposed onto it.

Police watchdog the IOPC later revealed Lewis also used 'degrading and sexist language' to describe the victims in the WhatsApp team group of 42 colleagues.

As Dame Cressida Dick apologised for the second time, Ms Henry and Ms Smallman's bereft mother Mina slammed the Met Commissioner for the botched investigation into her daughters deaths.

She criticised, 'Her shoddy way of behaving and her response since all of this has come out' adding: 'She has not contacted us to say I am really sorry. She has not spoken into this story at all.

Ms Smallman said the Met was 'beyond hope', adding: 'You go to London to start to prepare the funeral of your dead children and are told that police officers that should have been protecting the area had actually taken selfies and sent them out to a dentist and a doctor and a WhatsApp group.'

Following their guilty pleas, the Met said it was taking 'immediate steps' to put former PC Jaffer, who has resigned from the force, and PC Lewis before accelerated misconduct hearings.

Met Commissioner Dick said today: 'I deeply regret that at a time when they were grieving the loss of their loved ones who were taken in such awful circumstances, they faced additional distress caused by the actions of two police officers.

'What former PC Jaffer and PC Lewis chose to do that day was utterly unprofessional, disrespectful and deeply insensitive. I know that is the view of colleagues across the Met who utterly condemn this behaviour.

Unmasked: PC Jaffer, 47, was charged with misconduct in a public office over the pictures

Pc Jamie Lewis leaves the Old Bailey, after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office

PC Deniz Jaffer arrives at the Old Bailey in London, charged with misconduct in a public office

Mina Smallman, mother of Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, at court this morning

Met Police chief's dossier of shame In July 2005, Dame Cressida Dick was in charge of the operation which saw innocent electrician Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead on a Tube train after he was mistaken for a terrorist who was under surveillance

In 2014, she sanctioned the creation of Operation Midland, the disastrous investigation into spurious VIP child sex abuse allegations that saw innocent men pursued by the force

In 2019, Dame Cressida's force was widely criticised for its 'light-touch' policing of Extinction Rebellion protests, which blocked several key areas of London l

In March this year, the Met was criticised over its 'heavy-handed' policing of a vigil for murdered Sarah Everard at Clapham Common. But its tactics were later cleared by a watchdog.

In June, she was accused of 'obfuscation' for thwarting the Daniel Morgan inquiry team's attempts to access sensitive documents, leading to delays that cost the taxpayer millions. The report found that her force was 'institutionally corrupt'

Dame Cressida also faced criticism over July's security shambles which saw ticketless fans storm Wembley Stadium before the England-Italy Euros final

Today she was told she could carry the can for officers who took pictures of the dead bodies of murder victims of Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, by their grieving mother Advertisement

'They have pleaded guilty today to a serious criminal offence and sentencing will follow in due course.

'I apologised to Bibaa and Nicole's family in June last year and, on behalf of the Met, I apologise again today.

'Now that the judicial process has got to this stage, we are able to take the officers through an accelerated misconduct process.'

Jaffer, 47, of Hornchurch, east London, and Lewis, 33, from Colchester, Essex, had been arrested as part of a criminal investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog.

The charge against each of them stated that 'without authorisation he entered a crime scene he had been assigned to protect, sending information about his attendance at the scene to members of the public via WhatsApp and taking photographs of the crime scene'.

The sisters' mother Mina Smallman, who has described the officers as 'despicable', sat in court for the hearing.

Paul Goddard, from the CPS, said outside court: 'Pc Jamie Lewis and Pc Deniz Jaffer's senseless conduct fell way below that to be expected from police officers.

'These officers were tasked with protecting a tragic crime scene.

'But instead they violated it for their own purposes, with no regard to the dignity of the victims, or the harm they might do to a murder investigation.

'Their thoughtless and insensitive actions have no doubt caused immeasurable further distress and pain to the heartbroken family and friends of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry who were already left reeling from the loss of their loved ones. Our thoughts are very much with them at this time.'

The pair, attached to the Met's North East command unit, were both suspended from duty following their arrests on June 22 last year.

Jaffer, of Hornchurch, east London, and Lewis, from Colchester, Essex, are on unconditional bail.

Artists impression of PC Jamie Lewis and PC Deniz Jaffer appearing at the Old Bailey today

Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, who were stabbed to death in Wembley last year

Murderer: Danyal Hussein, 19, who killed sisters Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, seen here in his police mugshot

The sisters (above), who had been celebrating Ms Henry's birthday with friends, were found the following day by Ms Smallman's boyfriend

Mina Smallman, mother of the two victims looking on as Danyal Hussein appears in the dock at the Old Bailey, where he would try to intimidate and provoke her. She refused and would smile and wink back

Victims' mother said PCs' photo outrage was 'last straw' in her grief Speaking outside the Old Bailey in London, Mina Smallman described how learning about the two officers; behaviour after her daughters' murders was the 'last straw'. She said: 'You go to London to start to prepare for the funeral of your two children and you are forced to have a meeting with the IOPC's (Independent Office for Police Conduct) then-commander to tell you that police officers that should have been protecting the area had actually taken selfies and sent them out to a dentist and doctor and a WhatsApp group.' She said that officers should understand that they are 'not above the law' and are 'not going to be protected'. She said: 'You need to drill down and get the rot out once and for all.' Asked if the Met Commissioner should resign, she said: 'Kicking people out does not fix the problem. Keep her in the position and get her to do the job.' But she criticised Dame Cressida for her 'shoddy way of behaving and her response since all of this has come out'. Mrs Smallman told reporters: 'She has not contacted us to say I am really sorry. She has not spoken into this story at all. 'And it's shameful that the IOPC had to tell the Met they should apologise to us in their failings for the missing persons (investigation). 'Too little too late. Too little too late. 'When I was in a senior position, if my organisation or department failed, it was on me. 'I had to take the can for it. Well it's now time for them to take the can for it. They are beyond hope.' Advertisement

On Thursday the mother of Ms Henry and Ms Smallman vowed to stop him ever being released from prison.

Mina Smallman said justice had been done for her 'beautiful girls' as their 'deluded' killer was locked up for at least 35 years.

Mrs Smallman had looked on while Danyal Hussein sat with his back to the court as he was jailed for life via video link from Belmarsh prison.

Speaking outside the Old Bailey, in central London, Mrs Smallman condemned the 19-year-old, who had stabbed her daughters to death after making a pact with a devil.

On his behaviour in court, she said: 'It's all a performance. There is nothing wrong with him. He's just an obnoxious human being.'

She went on: 'He is a broken human being who, if he had not been caught, four other families may have been suffering what we have.

'Well he ain't out there now and I think he is so deluded, come 35 years' time they will not let him out.

'I will not let them.'

Mrs Smallman went on: 'There will be no celebrations here but justice has been done.'

She called for a review of the law, after the court heard that Hussein could not be handed a whole life order because of his youth.

She praised the Metropolitan Police for bringing Hussein to justice, saying she did not 'cast a whole organisation by one particular sort of incident'.

But in the wake of a critical police watchdog report on the handling of the sisters' missing persons report, she said there was an 'underground that has infiltrated and is growing in our Metropolitan Police'.

She also thanked the media who had followed the case, saying: 'Everybody is worth knowing about.'

On her daughters, she said: 'They were beautiful, beautiful girls.

'Bibaa left behind a daughter who has given birth to a son in the last year and I am a great grandmother.'

She said Ms Henry had been an 'amazing' social worker but she grieved for her younger daughter Ms Smallman more because 'she had 20 years less than Bibaa'.

She added: 'Good girls - I'm really proud of them.'
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Britain's Covid booster jab drive is still going too slowly, top experts warned today despite NHS England boasting that the roll-out had hit a record high last week.

Official figures show 1.6million people in England were given their third dose last week, a slight improvement for the sluggish drive that was only reaching 1.1million every seven days at the start of October.

But critics said uptake was still too low, with 7.2million vulnerable people still waiting for their booster. They warned it could take until mid-January to give the entire eligible cohort of 32million their vital immunity boost.

Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali said the lagging rate was what 'concerned him most' heading into winter, adding: 'The seven-day average is too low and not rising as expected.'

UK-wide Department of Health data shows the average number of boosters being dished out each day has fallen by a tenth from around 300,000 a day in the week to October 24, to 270,000 last week.

Ministers said a quick and successful booster campaign is paramount to the country avoiding reverting to 'Plan B' restrictions this winter, with face masks, vaccine passports and work from home guidance to be reimposed if the NHS comes under unsustainable pressure.

Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, told a gloomy press conference last month that 'if not enough people get their booster jabs' then 'it would of course make it more likely we're going to have more restrictions'.

The booster campaign was originally beset by delays, which NHS bosses blamed on the lack of demand in the public. But their were reports of elderly people being turned away despite having their second jab six months ago. Now people can walk-in, which is expected to boost uptake and speed up the drive.

However, Dr Ali said: 'I fear the debate around Plan B has distracted us from the message that boosters are the key intervention to save lives.'

The above graph shows the number of booster doses administered each day across the country (orange bars). It also shows the number of people who got their second doses six months ago (blue line), from which point they would be eligible for a top up jab, and the number of who have got their boosters to date (green line)

The above graph shows the total number of Covid booster jabs dished out in England each week (red line). It reveals that the drive has reached a record high

Top-up jabs will be offered to roughly 32million over-50s, care home workers, NHS staff and vulnerable people with severe underlying conditions.

But the majority of people are only being invited if they had second dose six months ago, which means it was always bound to be more complex than initial rollout of jabs.

The 1.6million boosters administered in England last week was still above the speed that Government advisers modelled when predicting how the outbreak would progress, when they thought 1.3million boosters would be dished out every week.

Over-50s won't get boosters until after Christmas, actuary warns Covid actuaries response group member John Roberts said millions of over-50s could be left without their booster dose before Christmas Millions of over-50s could be left without their booster Covid vaccines before Christmas, experts warned today. Covid actuaries response group member John Roberts said some 14million second doses were being injected into people's arms every day at the peak of the initial drive. But less than half the number of boosters are now being dished out. Mr Robert's told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'My worry is that, at the current rate, we're still not going to complete the first priority groups one to nine until mid-January. 'That's going to mean that there's going to be a lot of mixing over Christmas with festive behaviour before and then on the day people who haven't got that extra protection from booster, which really does make a huge difference.' No10's top scientists say over-50s must wait until six months after they got their second dose in order to receive a booster dose. Everyone aged 80 and over  or 2.8million people  is currently eligible for a Covid top up jab because they were invited for second doses from April, more than six months ago. The over-70s and over-60s  some 8million-strong  are expected to be invited this month for their next dose. But among the 7.3million over-50s they are only likely to be offered the jab from December, barely days before Christmas celebrations begin. Mr Roberts also said the impacts of the roll out should soon be obvious in hospitalisations and deaths, as well as infections. He said: 'We have now vaccinated around about two-thirds of the over 80s and three quarters of those who are eligible, and I think were going to start to see over the next few days that that will start to come through, first in cases and then in hospitalisations and deaths. 'And so we are going to see that benefit coming through but we could have done it a lot quicker than were doing it at the moment.' He added: 'The analysis that were getting from Israel is that it will probably reduce deaths by 80 or 90 per cent even. 'So its important that we get on with it as quickly as possible.' Advertisement

SAGE said in most scenarios, as long as there is 90 per cent uptake in eligible groups, the country should avoid a severe winter wave  even if the current speed of the NHS drive slows down slightly.

Their scenarios suggest there is likely to be a wave of cases, hospitalisations and deaths in the spring when immunity from boosters wanes, although this is likely to be below the levels seen when the pandemic began.

Scientists warned any delay to the booster roll out could result in a much larger epidemic, although they did not say what could happen if the drive proceeded at a faster pace than imagined.

But John Roberts, a member of the Covid actuaries response group which advises on how to respond to the crisis, today warned against complacency.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'My worry is that, at the current rate, we're still not going to complete the first priority groups one to nine until mid-January.

'That's going to mean there's going to be a lot of mixing over Christmas with festive behaviour before and then on the day people who haven't got that extra protection from booster, which really does make a huge difference.'

Some 8.1million booster doses have already been dished out in the UK.

But this is just half of the number who got their second jab six months ago, meaning millions of eligible adults are due their top-up dose.

Mr Roberts added: 'In England now weve given booster vaccinations to just under 7million people, but if you look back six months to how many had had their second jab at that point, its actually about 13million, so 12 or 13million.

'So were actually about 6million short. People who are currently eligible but havent yet had the jab, and that gap has doubled in October, so weve gradually been falling behind.'

He added: 'But having said that, the rate at which weve been jabbing people has increased over the last couple of weeks. Its gone up from about 1.3million to 1.6million. So thats a positive step.

'But we have seen that increase has stalled in recent days.

'So thats not so great, because we really need to keep on increasing the number of people that were getting to, and to put that in context, during November more than 2million people a month will actually become newly eligible for the jab.

'And so, we need to get it up to that rate just to do them, let alone catch up with the backlog weve got.'

England's figures suggest just six in ten over-80s (65 per cent) and over-75s (61 per cent) have got their top up jab.

Many people in younger age groups are yet to become eligible because of the dosing gap.

SAGE modelling on the spread of the virus predicts a spring wave should 1.3million booster doses be dished out every week, and if 'Plan B' restrictions  including face masks and work from home guidance  are not imposed.

Last week the gap between doses was cut to as little as four months for immunocompromised people and care home residents.

Mr Roberts added: 'We have now vaccinated around about two-thirds of the over 80s and three quarters of those who are eligible, and I think were going to start to see over the next few days that that will start to come through, first in cases and then in hospitalisations and deaths.

'And so we are going to see that benefit coming through but we could have done it a lot quicker than were doing it at the moment.'

He added: 'The analysis that were getting from Israel is that it will probably reduce deaths by 80 or 90 per cent even.

'So its important that we get on with it as quickly as possible.'

Modelling by SAGE predicted that the combination of vaccine-acquired immunity and natural protection would be enough to keep hospital rates below levels seen in the second wave. Even in the most pessimistic scenarios, the group estimated that daily Covid hospital admissions would not rise above 1,500. More optimistic models had them peaking at below 1,000 in winter. The above charts are based on modelling by Warwick University and look at how quickly people go back to pre-pandemic social contacts. It was based on the booster doses given 'sustained' immunity

Many elderly pensioners complained last month they were struggling to find out where to get their third jab, and had been turned away by GPs.

Ministers have since dropped requirements for eligible people to receive an invitation from the NHS before booking their third dose appointment online.

There are early signs that the roll out is beginning to have an effect, driving down cases in the older population.

Britain's Covid cases had fallen for eight days in a row during the half-term break, when millions of schoolchildren were not required to test themselves for the virus.

But yesterday they rose on the same time last week after 40,077 were recorded. But at that time seven days ago the figures did not include Wales, which may have skewed the statistics.

When the figures are broken down by age groups, they show over-85s were seeing their Covid cases fall by about seven per cent in a week on October 27, the latest available. Latest data for 80 to 84-year-olds showed infections dipped by 9.5 per cent in seven days.

Dr Ali said on Twitter: 'We must urgently get the message out to all high-risk groups that the best way to protect themselves is to get the booster.

'The walk-in-clinics starting today are a good step but we need to do more to reach 500,000 a day and we need to bring the gap down to five months (as in Israel).

'The evidence is clear from clinical trials and real-world data from Israel [that boosters are needed].'

Dr Ali cited figures from Israel showing a 93 per cent fall in hospitalisations, 92 per cent drop in severe disease and 81 per cent drop in deaths among those who got boosters compared to groups that only had two doses.
A millionaire financier who was caught in bed with another woman is fighting his ex-girlfriend in court for more compensation after a judge ruled they must sell their 2.5million weekend mansion and split the money.

Former financial analyst Dr Chris Rowland, 65, bought the nine-bedroom 'Italianate villa' Tadmarton House, near Banbury, Oxfordshire, in 2009, planning to use it as a weekend country retreat with his partner Sharon Blades, 60.

But in November that year, their relationship hit the rocks after eco-business executive Ms Blades discovered Dr Rowland in bed with another woman.

Dr Rowland, who once raked in an annual income of over 1million, carried on seeing both girlfriends for more than a year until Ms Blades caught him and the other women together at his London penthouse in 2011.

Ms Blades then issued a 'veto' banning Dr Rowlands from visiting Tadmarton House with her love rival, and later accepted a police caution for 'assaulting' his other lover by 'ripping off the bedclothes'.

Dr Rowland, who has a PhD in Economics, was given a restraining order preventing contact with either woman for weeks, the High Court in London was told.

Ms Blades' ban on Dr Rowland weekending at Tadmarton House with his new partner had lasted until October 2015, when he split with her also.

In 2020 Ms Blades and Dr Rowland fought a court case over ownership of the mansion, with a judge ruling that they were equal owners and it must be split between them - despite Dr Rowland having paid the full price out of his own pocket.

A judge had awarded Dr Rowland 59,958 to compensate him for his exclusion from the house between 2009 and 2015, but Dr Rowland is now appealing that sum, asking for the figure to be increased to 216,199.

In court this week, his barrister Paul Dipre argued that Dr Rowland was 'effectively thrown out for the weekends' and that Judge William Hansen had wrongly assessed the loss he suffered.

Dr Chris Rowland, 65, (pictured left) and business executive Sharon Blades, 60, (pictured right) battled in court over the ownership of their 2.5m Cotswolds mansion at London's High Court after he cheated on her with another woman

Dr Chris Rowland and Sharon Blades had a row which resulted in complaints being made to the police. It was a humiliating end to Sharon's relationship with the man she hoped to grow old with in the 1.6 million Oxfordshire mansion (pictured) which was bought with a view to them retiring there together

The court heard that Dr Rowlands and Ms Blades were charmed by the 'large and elegant' Grade-II listed country pile set among 24 acres.

According to Ms Blades, they intended to' grow old together' there, and Dr Rowland planned to grow elephant grass in the adjoining fields as a sideline.

Judge Hansen, ruling on the ownership dispute in the High Court last year, said Dr Rowland had carried on seeing both women after Ms Blades discovered his dalliance.

He added: 'He then continued to see both for more than a year, but in the early part of 2011, Ms Blades dropped in unexpectedly at his flat and found him in bed with his new partner.

In 2020 Ms Blades (pictured) and Dr Rowland fought a court case over ownership of the mansion

'There was an altercation that resulted in Ms Blades accepting a police caution for assaulting the new partner and Dr Rowland accepting a restraining order preventing contact with either woman for weeks.'

In court, Dr Rowland had admitted carrying on seeing both women for several months and acknowledged he was 'not proud of that fact'.

'But I was emotionally attached to both women and each of them wanted me to choose between them, and I had real trouble making that choice,' he told the court.

Dr Rowland said that Ms Blades 'vetoed' him and his new partner from visiting the country mansion and had even written to him stating: 'I'd rather you sell it and have nothing than have the risk of her going up there.

'It was ''our'' place and if nothing else I'd like to keep that memory even if I don't physically have it or am able to be there anymore.'

In February last year, Judge Hansen ruled against Dr Rowland, who had insisted that he exclusively owned Tadmarton House since he paid the full price out of his own pocket.

The judge said he and Ms Blades had taken on the property jointly, although acknowledging: 'In one sense the outcome is a harsh one for Dr Rowland who contributed the whole of the purchase price in acquiring a country house to be used as a weekend and holiday retreat by a couple who each had their own properties and who never saw fit to pool their resources.'

He ruled that the property was owned in equal shares by the couple and ordered that it be sold with the profits split down the middle.

Jude Hansen also awarded Dr Rowland 59,958 to compensate him for his exclusion 'from the use of a jointly-owned weekend holiday home from November 2009 to October 2015'.

Ms Blades' veto on Dr Rowland weekending at Tadmarton House with his new partner had lasted until October 2015, when he split with her also.

But Dr Rowland is now appealing the 59,958 award, asking Judge Milwyn Jarman QC to hike his compensation to what he says is a fairer figure of 216,199.

In court this week, his barrister Paul Dipre argued that Dr Rowland was 'effectively thrown out for the weekends' and that Judge Hansen wrongly assessed the loss he suffered.

But Ms Blades' lawyers say her ex's compensation should be calculated on the basis of his 'loss of enjoyment' of the weekend bolthole - rather then on its holiday rental value.

She wants the 59,958 awarded to Dr Rowland slashed to 36,000.

'Dr Rowland's loss was non-pecuniary,' said Ms Blades' QC, Thomas Roe.

'Essentially, it was the loss of the opportunity to enjoy the amenity of using the house at weekends.

'That amenity did not lie in the basic elements of the property such as the roof over the occupants' heads, the kitchen to cook in and the bedrooms to sleep in, and so on.

'Dr Rowland already had those things in his own home. What he lost was the special amenity, the special pleasure, afforded by spending time at Tadmarton House. Properly analysed, it was and is submitted, Dr Rowland's claim was a claim for loss of enjoyment.'

After hearing the appeal case for half a day, Judge Jarman said he would give his decision at a later date.
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An Australian racecourse welcomed thousands revellers to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday with long-suffering Victorians ready to let their hair down after enduring the world's longest Covid lockdown.

The so-called 'race that stops a nation' has been held since 1861 and regularly attracts crowds of more than 100,000, but this year was restricted 10,000 fully-vaccinated people.

But that didn't stop the race-goers from partying hard after coming out of their sixth Covid lockdown on October 21, which began in August to suppress the highly infectious Delta variant from spreading.

By October 21, the city of five million had spent a cumulative 262 days - or nearly nine months - under stay-home orders covering six different periods since March 2020 - the world's longest cumulative lockdown, exceeding a 234-day lockdown in Buenos Aires.

Officials had promised to lift lockdowns once double-dose vaccinations for people aged above 16 exceeded 70 percent in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital - abandoning its zero-Covid approach in-favour of one that relies on vaccines to keep the number of severe Covid-19 infections low.

The Flemington Racecourse can accommodate up to 120,000 spectators on major race days, but the 10,000 spectators on Tuesday was a marked improvement on last year when no crowd was allowed because of restrictions in place for the pandemic in 2020.

Cheers! Punters have let loose after a huge day of racing with thousands turning out in both Sydney and Melbourne to cheer on the horses for the Melbourne Cup (pictured at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse)

Pictured: A woman celebrates while watching the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, held after the world's longest lockdown in Victoria was finally lifted on October 21

Tongue and cheek! A Melbourne Cup reveller holding her high heel shoes poses for a photo at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Sore hooves? Melbourne Cup race-goers had to take her high heels off after a long day at Flemington Racecourse

Tuesday's crowd included Keith Foletti, who has been trackside for 85 out of 87 Melbourne Cups.

'I was christened at the Melbourne Cup in 1934 when the heavens opened up and I got drenched,' he told broadcaster ABC. 'The only two years I've missed were the year I was on my honeymoon and last year when we were with the Covid.'

First staged in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has been run on the first Tuesday of November since 1876, and the winning horse instantly becomes a household name in Australia.

While the horse Verry Elleegant stormed to victory, in the stands it was slightly less elegant with glamorous race-goers pictured chugging champagne straight out of the bottle as the revellers were keen to kick up their heels amid their newfound freedoms.

While some were drinking in celebration, others were drowning their sorrows after red-hot favourite Incentivise came up short in the coveted $8million race. Cheers to the sound of popping champagne corks once more accompanying the thundering of hooves across the turf.

Stricter veterinary checks have been introduced after the deaths of six horses associated with the Cup since 2013, including Anthony Van Dyck, one of the pre-race favourites last year who broke down with 500 metres to go.

Pictured: A glamorous barefoot punter dances on the grass at Flemington Racecourse celebrating her big win

Pictured: Two women hug at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday as punters enjoy a post-pandemic party

Man Down! Luckily none of the horses fell this year but the same can't be said for revellers watching the race trackside

Racegoers look on as the horses parade around the mounting yard ahead of race 5, the Lexus Melbourne Cup during 2021 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 02, 2021 in Melbourne

Australia had stayed largely virus-free for most of this year until a third wave in late June, spurred by the Delta variant, triggering further extended lockdowns. The country has recorded about 173,000 cases and 1,756 deaths, with about 82 percent of infections attributed to the Delta wave

In Sydney, the champagne was also flowing at the Royal Randwick Racecourse where 17,000 screaming Aussies packed in to get a taste of the action.

There were similar crowds at Brisbane's Eagle Farm racecourse which delivered its own day of spectacular races as Australians across the country ditched their work-from-home tracksuits and dressing gowns in favour of designer dressers and three-piece suits.

Australia had stayed largely virus-free for most of this year until a third wave in late June, spurred by the Delta variant, triggering further extended lockdowns.

The country has recorded about 173,000 cases and 1,756 deaths, with about 82 percent of infections attributed to the Delta wave.

New South Wales reported 173 cases on Tuesday, up from 135 a day earlier, while Victoria logged 989 cases, the lowest rise in more than a month. The Australian Capital Territory logged eight new cases. Other states and territories are COVID-free or have very few cases.

Bottoms up! The drinks were flowing at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday with 17,000 turning out for a huge day of racing

Time for a rest: A race-goer lays down on the grass to take a break from all the action on the tract at Flemington

Spirits were high at Flemington Racecourse, but outside of the gates told another story with animal rights activists chaining themselves to a truck that had delivered a load of manure opposite the entrance.

Protesting the spate of horse deaths in the Cup in recent years, protestors chanted 'Nup to the Cup' with police taking nine away in handcuffs.

'Would you wear that suit to the slaughterhouse, sir?' one protester armed with a megaphone asked racegoers on arrival.

But that did not deter Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula declaring the event a roaring success and a much needed shot in the arm for the city of Melbourne.

'Victorians worked so hard for so long to get the vaccination numbers up,' Mr Pakula told reporters. 'Victorians have earned this. It's a majestic, glorious Melbourne Cup day and it means more to the city than it has for a long, long time.'

Tongues are wagging: A man and a women strike a pose at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Give'm the whip!: Shenanigans play out trackside at Flemington Racecourse ahead of the Melbourne Cup

All smiles: Two women cheer on the horses in style at Randwick Racecourse ahead of the highly anticipated Melbourne Cup

Ladies rejoice after a big win at the track, leaping out of their seats at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney

One happy race-goers strolls around the grounds at the Flemington Racecourse celebrating the day of action

A groups of mates burst out laughing at the Melbourne Cup as one of their pals hits the deck after a long day of celebrating

And the crowd goes wild! The scenes in Brisbane were no different with thousands of punters celebrating a day of racing at the Eagle Farm racetrack

Victory! A group of men dressed to impress celebrated in style at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday for a day of races featuring the Melbourne Cup

Sydneysiders soaked up the Spring sun as they watched the Melbourne Cup from Royal Randwick Racecourse

Two punters got very lucky at the Melbourne Cup as they hugged and kissed trackside at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Wardrobe malfunction: A group of stylish ladies band together to fix their high heels shoes after a blowout

Verry Elleegant owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir celebrate with the Lexus Melbourne Cup after James Mcdonald rode #4 Verry Elleegant to victory in race 7, the Lexus Melbourne Cup during 2021 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse

Protesting the spate of horse deaths in the Cup in recent years, protestors chanted 'Nup to the Cup' with police taking nine away in handcuffs. 'Would you wear that suit to the slaughterhouse, sir?' one protester armed with a megaphone asked racegoers on arrival. Others, dressed as characters from Netflix's 'Squid Game' - held signs that read 'we gamble on your lives' and 'you are the horses'

One race-goer who ditched her lockdown tracksuit and dressing gown for a stunning dress and high heels told Sydney Morning Herald it's a strange feeling to be out and about after being trapped indoors for months during lockdown.

Bianca Hickey, 19, from Sydney's Neutral Bay who attend the action at Royal Randwick said being at an event with so many people was 'a bit weird, I'm not going to lie'.

'We went from no socialising to this. I think a lot of my friends and I have found it really hard,' she said.

'There's the social anxiety of being locked away for three months, and everyone is so socially awkward.'

Pictured: Punters were dancing for joy at the Melbourne Cup after the city only recently emerged from the world's longest lockdown

The force was with this punter at Sydney's Royal Randwick who dressed up as Darth Vader from Star Wars

And they're off! Punters are seen cheering on the horses and congratulating each other after the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

A trackside kiss for luck? Two race-goers are pictured in a loving embrace ahead of the big race at Flemington Racecourse

Wink Wink!: Women dressed to the nines for the big day on Tuesday with Randwick seeing a crowd of 17,000 roll up

This year's Melbourne Cup marked the culmination of six months of preparation, Victoria Racing Club president Neil Wilson said.

Up until last month there was no guarantee the race would even go ahead as coronavirus cases soared.

'We're really enjoying the spirit that's on course right - people walking round the course with joy on their faces,' he said. 'It's a big day for Australia - every second adult watches or listens to the race.'

Glamorous race-goers clutching cans at Flemington Racecourse cheer home the horse at the Melbourne Cup

Time for celebrations! One Brisbane punter is seen shouting for joy as the Eagle Farm Racecourse

Four friends throw their hands up in the air as they pose for a photo at the Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse

Place your bets! One man celebrates his win at the Eagle Farm race track in Brisbane on Tuesday

Cheers! A man holds up a can to the camera at the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on Tuesday

Peace out: Some punters took a well deserved break from an exhausting day out at the races in high heels

Melbourne woman Sharni Taylor said she felt safe attending the Melbourne Cup with her partner Hayden due to the high vaccination coverage in Victoria.

'I feel confident they've got safe practices here,' the 27-year-old told AAP.

'We're vaccinated and everyone else here is too.

'I'm getting used to being around people again. It's still a bit weird but we snap back into things pretty quickly.'

Winner! One punter jumps for joy after celebrating a win at the races in Sydney on Tuesday

Might be time for a water? After a long day of celebrating this glamorous pair stop for a drink of water at Flemington Racecourse

Reaching new highs! One woman stood on a chair to get a better glimpse of the $8million race that stops the nation

A pair of mates embrace as they celebrate the race that stops the nation at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Jumping for joy: The spirits were high as thousands turned out at both Sydney and Melbourne for the main event

Time for refreshments! A group of girls enjoyed a break from the action at Randwick

Pictured: Two women walk through the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, November 2

Another Melbourne local, 49-year-old Richard McGann, had similar feelings.

'Finally opening up is fantastic,' Mr McGann said.

'This is beautiful ... a bit weird, but it feels safe.'

Meanwhile, a collection of anti-lockdown protesters holding signs that read 'Sack Dan Andrews' and yelling 'freedom' marched through Footscray Park in Melbourne's west towards the racecourse and then back again.

It was announced today that Sydney will lift more COVID-19 curbs for vaccinated residents ahead of schedule next week, while delaying freedoms it has promised for unvaccinated Sydneysiders as officials aim to boost inoculations.

Vaccinated people in the harbour city of around 5 million will be allowed unlimited numbers of guests in their homes from Nov. 8.

Pubs and clubs will also be able to accommodate more guests and reopen dance floors, in changes that were initially planned to come into force on December 1.

In contrast, unvaccinated people, who are currently barred from restaurants, non-critical retail stores, bars, gyms and other recreational facilities, will remain under the tougher restrictions until Dec. 15, or when New South Wales state's double vaccination rate reaches 95%.

'We have always wanted to open up in a measured way and incentivise vaccination rates,' State Premier Dominic Perrottet told reporters in Sydney.

Around 88% of the state's population aged 16 and over has been fully vaccinated, but the first dose vaccination rate has been slowing as it nears 94%.

Australia on Monday lifted a ban on its residents flying overseas after more than 18 months and allowed quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated international travellers.

However, the changes initially affect only Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, with other states and territories targeting differing timelines for reopening.
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Boris Johnson today apologised to Israel's disabled energy minister after she was unable to attend the first day of COP26 because of a lack of wheelchair access.

Crowds of delegates today joined queues that were more than an hour long to get inside the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, where thousands of security officers are in place and a ring of steel has been erected.

Karine Elharrar yesterday spent two hours in the cold waiting outside the venue before giving up and heading back to her hotel 50 miles away in Edinburgh - despite being Israel's energy minister - because the only options to get to the conference were to walk or board a shuttle bus that did not take her wheelchair.

During a meeting with Ms Elharrar this afternoon, the PM said he was 'so sorry', adding that he 'gathered there was some confusion with the arrangements yesterday and I was very sorry about that'.

Ms Elharrar described missing the first day of the summit as 'terrible and very frustrating'. In an interview with Sky News she said instead of doing her job and promoting green energy at Cop26 she was forced to speak about accessibility.

Environment Secretary George Eustice also apologised to Ms Elharrar for the 'deeply regrettable incident', and added that 'something went wrong' in communicating that wheelchair access was needed.

A spokesman from the Israeli Embassy in London said the country's delegation to the summit had 'communicated over the past several weeks all the details about the minister's requirements'.

Yesterday Ms Elharrar - who has muscular dystrophy - wrote on Twitter: 'It is sad that the UN, which promotes accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021, does not provide accessibility to its events.'

On Tuesday she told BBC News she entered 'very easily' today after a belatedly-arranged wheelchair accessible taxi transported her to the venue. She said: 'It was quite a different experience from yesterday.'

Karine Elharrar (pictured) spent two hours in the cold waiting for wheelchair access to be provided before giving up and heading back to her hotel room - despite being Israel's energy minister. Pictured, Ms Elharrar arrives for a meeting between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett

During a meeting with Ms Elharrar this afternoon, the PM said he was 'so sorry', adding that he 'gathered there was some confusion with the arrangements yesterday and I was very sorry about that'

Mr Johnson leant down to touch elbows with Ms Elharrar during a meeting in Glasgow on Tuesday

Cop26 delegates wait in a long queue for entrance to the summit at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow on Tuesday

Crowds of delegates today joined queues in front of the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, where thousands of officers are in place and have erected a ring of steel

Ms Elharrar told Sky News 'it was terrible and very frustrating' when she could not get to the summit on Monday. 'I was coming to Cop26 to promote green energies and collaborations between Israel and other countries and what I was promoting was accessibility.

'It was a bad example on how the UN is preaching all the years for accessibility and then couldn't implement it at its own conference.'

She said Mr Johnson and other UK ministers admitted the mistake and apologised, but said 'they think the primary responsibility was the UN because it is the host of the whole event'.

Mr Eustice told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We deeply regret that incident. What would normally happen in this situation is that Israel would have communicated that they had that particular need for their minister.

'There was obviously something that went wrong in this instance and they weren't aware of that and so they hadn't made the right provisions at the particular entrance she was coming to. It's deeply regrettable and we've apologised and I know James Cleverly, my colleague in Government, is going to be meeting her later.'

Neil Wigan, the UK ambassador to Israel, said he was 'disturbed' and apologised for Ms Elharrar's experience.

The Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said he was 'deeply disappointed and frustrated' because the 'COP venue is designed to be accessible for all'. He wrote on Twitter: 'I have spoken to the Minister about this and I look forward to meeting her tomorrow.'

This morning Mr Cleverly shared a photograph of himself with Ms Elharrar at the summit. He wrote: 'Great to talk to @KElharrar Israel's Energy Minister at @COP26 this morning about green energy generation and using technology to wean the world off hydrocarbons.'

Scottish Labour MSP, Pam Duncan-Glancy, who is the first permanent wheelchair user elected to Holyrood, called the mistake 'outrageous'.

She added: 'From travel to the conference in an inaccessible shuttle (like, seriously) to no one being able to direct to the accessible route, this is an epic planning failure.

'We cannot have climate justice without social justice. They need to sort this ASAP.'

A COP26 spokesperson said: 'This was a genuine mistake and we have apologised to Minister Elharrar-we look forward to her attendance at COP26 today.

'We remain committed to an inclusive event accessible to all and the venue was designed to facilitate that.'

Ms Elharrar today said yesterday's incident had been 'a good experience to make sure the next UN conference will be accessible'.

She added: 'We can talk about accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities, but in life we need to implement all the conventions and all the regulations and that was an experience that showed that we need to pay attention to all the details everywhere. I am sure it will be different in the future.'

She wrote on Twitter: 'I came to COP26 to meet with my counterparts around the world and promote a common struggle in the climate crisis. Hopefully the lessons learned will be learned so that tomorrow green energy promotion, removal of barriers and energy efficiency will be the things I will deal with.'

Ms Elharrar wrote on Twitter: 'I came to COP26 to meet with my counterparts around the world and promote a common struggle in the climate crisis. It is sad that the UN, which promotes accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021, does not provide accessibility to its events'

Ms Elharrar tweeted she wanted to focus on the future of future generations at the COP26 summit, but when she arrived there was no accessible transport to the conference centre

The Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said he was 'deeply disappointed and frustrated' because the 'COP venue is designed to be accessible for all'. He wrote on Twitter: 'I have spoken to the Minister about this and I look forward to meeting her tomorrow'

Twitter users were furious after learning the energy minister was unable to attend the first day of COP26

Neil Wigan, the UK ambassador to Israel, said he was 'disturbed' and apologised for Ms Elharrar's experience

It comes after organisers of the Cop26 climate change conference came under fire for urging delegates to tune into an online feed because of a 'high level of attendance' at the venue.

Those arriving at the SEC yesterday were confronted with enormous queues at various layers of security  starting with the gates checking letters, then security screening, and then to pick up accreditation passes in person.

There was a particular bottleneck at security, as delegates who had picked up accreditation on Sunday were forced to wait in huge lines along with new arrivals.

Those attending  many of whom flew in from around the world on planes - have already been through a detailed accreditation process, including getting an official letter stating they are registered and using an app to verify their visual ID. They must also present evidence of a negative Covid lateral flow test.

Critics slammed the event's infrastructure, with thousands of attendees forced to wait more than 90 minutes outside in a 9C (48F) chill and windy conditions.

Amid mounting anger at the delays, a COP26 spokesman tweeted shortly before 2pm: 'There is currently a high level of attendance at the COP26 venue. In order to comply with COVID-19 measures, we encourage you to only visit the Blue Zone for as long as necessary and consider making use of the COP Platform where possible.'

One Twitter user replied: 'You could've done this over a Zoom call.' A second said: 'People fly thousands of miles, then you ask them to attend online?' And a third added: 'How could you have foreseen high levels of attendance?'

The 'Blue Zone', where the majority of discussions are taking place, is an area of the venue managed by the United Nations were 30,000 delegates, journalists and heads of state are holding talks, exhibits and events.

The queues meant social distancing was almost impossible as the crowd shuffled towards the entrance turnstiles, with Tereze Koubkova of the Czech Republic delegation saying: 'We are lucky - at least it's not raining.'

One negotiator said the queues reminded them of similar issues at the 2009 Copenhagen conference, telling Politico: 'This has an effect on the mood. Some are starting to talk about the conference that shall not be named.'

The news website also reported that a helpline set up for disabled delegates was not responding to messages.

One adviser to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who is commuting from Edinburgh each day after affordable hotel accommodation in Glasgow ran out, told Politico: 'Why on earth was this venue selected if they knew it could not handle the crowd?'

It comes after rail chaos forced COP26 delegates off trains and onto planes when strong winds caused trees to fall on tracks leading up to Glasgow. Thousands of passengers were left stranded at London's Euston station for most of Sunday afternoon after dozens of services were cancelled.

People wait outside the venue in queues this morning ahead of the third day of the climate summit

Thousands of people were again forced to queue in the cold in Glasgow on Tuesday morning

Delegates and journalists waited in queues to get through security and into the COp26 conference centre on Tuesday

The chaos started at midday when tree branches fell on the West Coast Main Line, the main route to Glasgow from London Euston, between Milton Keynes and Rugby in Buckinghamshire. Branches then fell across the tracks on the East Coast Main Line in three places near Tallington, just north of Peterborough, at around 1pm.

The city has also suffered from overflowing bins in recent weeks  with bin collectors and street cleaners walking out on strike in Glasgow amid a row between the GMB union and city council. It comes as climate activists plotted chaos and Greta Thunberg said sometimes you have to 'p*** people off' to protect the environment.

On Sunday, Swedish activist Miss Thunberg voiced support for the tactics of road-blocking group Insulate Britain as demonstrators from various organisations headed to Scotland amid a 100million policing operation.

The Queen has recorded a video message on Friday that was played to world leaders on Monday. She was previously due to attend the conference where she had hoped to deliver an in-person speech and to host a reception.

But the 95-year-old was forced to drop out last week after royal doctors said that she should only take part in 'light, desk-based' duties for at least a fortnight due to concerns about her health following an overnight hospital stay.

Among the first protests in Glasgow was a group of Oxfam activists wearing 'big heads' of world leaders dressed in kilts and holding bagpipes at Royal Exchange Square.

Hundreds of delegates and media queuing to get in to the conference area at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow Monday

A message on a screen at the Cop26 climate change conference urging delegates who have travelled to Glasgow to tune into the online feed because of a 'high level of attendance' at the venue

Masses of people queue as they arrive for the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow on Monday

The queue to get into the COP26 site in Glasgow on Monday as large numbers of people wait to get through security

Huge numbers of people queue to get into the climate change summit in Glasgow on Monday

Delegates queue for the UN climate summit in Glasgow which is gathering leaders from around the world

Those represented were Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping.

An average of 10,000 officers from Police Scotland and forces around Britain will be on duty every day for three weeks during the conference, with the UK Government picking up the bill.

'Who's going to tell him?': Twitter users poke fun at CNN news veteran Wolf Blitzer for tweeting he's reporting on COP26 from Edinburgh... by pointing out the summit is in GLASGOW CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer was lampooned for 'going to the wrong city' after he said he was reporting from Edinburgh on the COP26 Glasgow conference. The 73-year-old veteran broadcaster tweeted a photograph of himself in a studio in front of Edinburgh Castle, 50 miles away from where the event is taking place. But Twitter users told the American journalist that he was 'in the wrong city', with one saying: 'If you're in Edinburgh you're in the wrong place fella.' Another said: 'Yeah, that's just down the road from Glasgow. Why not pop over to Loch Ness at lunchtime for a spot of monster hunting?' Advertisement

Among those queuing up outside on Monday was i political commentator Paul Waugh who said it was 'an international embarrassment', adding: 'Utter chaos at security for COP26. It's not as if they couldn't plan for this is it?'

LBC Westminster correspondent Ben Kentish added: 'Security now trying to stop people taking photos of the massive, barely moving queues. Total chaos.' He added that the ban was apparently on 'United Nations orders'.

And ITV royal editor Chris Ship tweeted: 'It's entirely possibly that the accreditation queue for COP26 will take longer than the train journey to Scotland.'

Sun political editor Harry Cole added: 'Security heavies trying to stop domestic and international journalists photographing or filming COP26 queues. Really bad look.'

Downing Street refused to apologise for the lengthy queues faced by some delegates and visitors. Officials said the Government was working with the UN and operational staff.

Asked if the chaotic scenes were embarrassing for the UK, a No 10 spokesman said: 'The security arrangements and accreditation for Cop are mandated by the UN and managed in partnership between the UN and Cop26 operational staff.

'You will be aware that there are thousands of delegates arriving on site each day and we are working closely with our partners like the UN FCC to minimise wait times as much as possible during busy times whilst we ensure we keep safe entry for those who wish to access the site.'

Asked if the UK would apologise, the spokesman said: 'We are working closely with the UN and Cop operational staff.'

It comes after Miss Thunberg, 18, who began the school strike climate change protests, was asked on the Andrew Marr Show whether 'blocking roads' was justified.

She said: 'As long as no-one gets hurt... then I think sometimes you need to anger some people. Like, for instance, the school strike movement would never have become so big if there wasn't friction, if some people didn't get p***** off.'

In Glasgow, a ring of steel is being erected around the conference site on the north bank of the River Clyde as security forces brace for threats to the heads of state in attendance and potential disruption from climate change protesters.

And police will even deploy specially trained officers equipped with high-tech devices that can bring down rogue drones using electromagnetic pulses.

Police expect to make 300 arrests a day but sources warned if the number gets much higher, custody suites will be overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, a report found last month almost half of Scotland's police officers have experienced high levels of fatigue in the previous fortnight, which does not bode well for a three-week conference during which many will have to work 12-hour shifts.

Delegates queue as they arrived for the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Monday

People arrive for the COP26 summit in Glasgow today after police formed a ring of steel

Scotland's lawyers have also vowed to boycott weekend custody courts amid an ongoing row over legal aid cuts. This means the justice system could be plunged into chaos by the sheer number of people arrested at the event.

US President Joe Biden is among more than 100 world leaders expected to attend the event.

The summit will also feature a climate rally in Glasgow that could be attended by more than 150,000 people.

Tens of thousands of delegates from 193 member states and four observer states will attend the summit, with the SEC conference venue designated a 'blue zone'  meaning it will be policed by the UN, with Scottish police only allowed to enter if there is a threat to life.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is interviewed on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday
Police claim the two teenagers accused of brutally stabbing their teacher had been sharing messages 'planning to kill' the educator and burn down the school for weeks.

The two female students, aged 13 and 14, allegedly stabbed their 55-year-old teacher Colleen Hayes in the armpit in her office at Willetton Senior High School in Perth.

They allegedly plotted to kill her prior to the horror stabbing, including discussing where best to stab here to sever an artery.

'It will be alleged the conversations related to talking about and planning to kill a teacher,' Western Australia Police said in a statement on Tuesday.

The two female students aged 13 and 14 allegedly stabbed their 55-year-old teacher Colleen Hayes in the armpit in her office at Willetton Senior High School in Perth (pictured)

The school was evacuated on Monday morning after the young girls allegedly stabbed their teacher after plotting the attack for weeks

The two teenagers had allegedly been plotting to 'kill' the teacher after sharing 'numerous' online messages between October 14 and November 1 in the lead up to Monday's incident.

Using the app Discord the pair would share gruesome plans for setting the school on fire then injuring their teacher, police allege.

The older girl allegedly made plans to 'kill a teacher' with her younger friend replying 'this sounds fun' and 'that's cool'.

'The things you do in your spare time scare me sometimes,' the 13-year-old is alleged to have later messaged the 14-year-old.

Prosecutor Madeleine Plester told court the details of their crimes was extensive, with the two discussing how much gas was needed to fill classrooms, what sort of kindling they'd need to start a fire and if the gas pipes had safety switches.

The two teenagers had allegedly been plotting to 'kill' the teacher after sharing 'numerous' online messages between October 14 and November 1 in the lead up to Monday's incident

The older girl allegedly made plans to 'kill a teacher' with her younger friend replying 'this sounds fun' and 'that's cool'

The pair allegedly met up in the morning before riding to school together on bikes.

The older girl brought the knife, but handed it to the younger because she was regularly having her bag searched on campus, police say.

The younger girl wrapped the knife in toilet paper and hid it in her bag for her two morning classes, it is claimed.

At around 11am the two marched into a small office with the teacher where the 14-year-old allegedly stabbed her in the left armpit, police say.

The attack left a 1centimetre deep wound in Ms Hayes.

She was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital but has since been released.

Willetton Senior High Principal Trevor Hunter sent a letter to parents after the incident informing them of the circumstances and assured no other children were in danger

The 14-year-old girl has been ordered to hospital by the magistrate where she will remain for seven days.

She has a history of health issues and 'past incidents of serious concern'.

The 13-year-old was granted 'extremely strict' bail which dictates she cannot contact her alleged co-conspirator, cannot contact the teacher and can't go within 100m of the school.

She also cannot leave her home unless accompanied and is banned from using social media.

The children will return to court next week.
A Bill aimed at banning wet wipes which contain plastic has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons today after a Labour MP proposed the new law.

Fleur Anderson, who is MP for Putney, wants to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. Her proposed Bill had its first reading on November 2, and comes as world leaders are meeting in Glasgow for the COP26 climate change summit.

Ms Anderson, who is a mother of four children, says that 90% of the 11 billion wet wipes that are used in the UK contain some form of plastic which, when broken down, turn into microplastics.

These plastic particles, approximately 5mm in size, are found in a range of personal care products, including make-up removal wipes, face creams and deodorants.

Many microplastics are too small to be filtered by water treatment, causing them to enter our drains, polluting seas and rivers.

Putney MP Fleur Anderson (pictured) wants to ban all wet wipes that contain plastic. The mother of four children says 90% of the 11 billion wet wipes used in the UK contain some form of plastic

Ms Anderson said: 'As a mother of four children, I completely understand the pressures that parents are under and the difficulties that can bring when trying to cut down on plastic and make the right choices for the environment.

'Everyone should bin and not flush wet wipes, but either way they contain plastic which gets in the environment and kills wildlife.

'My Bill comes in the same week as world leaders are meeting for Cop26 and will show that the UK can take serious action and ban plastic from wet wipes made and sold in the UK.'

The Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill which was introduced in the Commons by Ms Anderson will be read again on Friday November 19 and debated by MP's in the House of Commons.

In January 2018, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published its 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment, which sets out goals for improving the environment and protecting plants, trees and wildlife species.

One of its targets is to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042.

Thousands of throwaway wet wipes are flushed every year, bunging up sewers and polluting water ways.

Approximately 93% of blockages in UK sewers are caused by wet wipes.

The Shadow Cabinet Office Minister added: 'Just one sewage station in East London removes 30 tonnes of wet wipes every day.

'In 2019, 23,000 wet wipes were counted and removed from a single stretch of the Thames foreshore in just two hours. That is even more terrifying when you consider that our reliance on wet wipes is growing day by day.

Approximately 93% of blockages in UK sewers are caused by wet wipes (stock image)

In 2019, 23,000 wet wipes were counted and removed from a single stretch of the Thames foreshore in just two hours, according to Ms Anderson

'It isn't just causing environmental damage and polluting our marine environments, it is also costing water companies around 100 million per year to clear 300,000 blockages. That is money that then ends up on our water bills each month.'

Ms Anderson is calling on manufacturers to switch to non-plastic alternatives and for UK retailers to be held to account for incorrectly labelling their products as 'Fine to Flush'.

'There are so many different types of wet wipes for sale but the labelling is really confusing,' she continued.

'It really isn't easy to determine which wet wipes contain plastic and which are 'fine to flush'.

'There will be thousands of people out there right now using wet wipes every day with no idea that they are using a single-use plastic and with no idea of the harm that it is doing to our water systems and our marine environments.

'It has been years since Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) announced it would target plastic-containing wet wipes in its bid to eliminate all avoidable single use plastic within 25 years.

'Well, it's Cop26 this week and the Environment Bill is going through Parliament. This is the perfect opportunity to make good on that promise. Let's ban plastic in wet wipes once and for all.'

In a statement to the BBC, a Defra spokesperson said: 'Through our 25 year environment plan, we have a clear commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.

'We are working with manufacturers and water companies to ensure labelling is clear on wet wipes and also raising awareness about how to dispose of them properly.'
At least 25 people have been killed with dozens more wounded after explosions and gunfire rocked Afghanistan's biggest military hospital in an ISIS-K suicide bomb attack.

Militants entered the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital where they went room to room opening fire and clashed with Taliban security forces, witnesses said.

Photos from inside the hospital showed the blood-spattered floor of the children's ward after the attack which has left at least 50 people wounded.

A Taliban official said all assailants had now been killed.

They added: 'The attack was initiated by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who blew himself up at the entrance of the hospital.'

The Taliban's rivals, the Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for the gun and bomb assault in the centre of the capital.

Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) said in a statement on its Telegram channels that 'five Islamic State group fighters carried out simultaneous coordinated attacks' on the sprawling site.

Blood is spattered on the floor of the children's ward inside the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan National Military Hospital after an ISIS attack in Kabul today

ISIS fighters entered the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital and opened fire after clashing with Taliban security forces, witnesses said

A man holding a young girl flees the scene after bombs targeted the military hospital in Kabul

Staff at an emergency hospital prepare to receive dozens of victims after the explosions and gunfire

The previous death toll was set at nineteen, but the latest reports suggest at least 25 people have been killed.

'Nineteen dead bodies and about 50 wounded people have been taken to hospitals in Kabul,' a health ministry official who asked not to be named told AFP earlier today.

Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a trauma hospital said nine wounded had been brought in so far.

Photographs shared by residents showed a plume of smoke over the area of the blasts near the former diplomatic zone in the Wazir Akbar Khan area in central Kabul.

The official Bakhtar news agency quoted witnesses saying a number of Islamic State fighters entered the hospital.

'I am inside the hospital. I heard a big explosion coming from the first checkpoint. We were told to go to safe rooms. I also hear guns firing,' a doctor at the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital in Kabul told AFP.

'I can still hear gun firing inside the hospital building. I think the attackers are going from room to room... like the first time it was attacked,' the doctor added.

ISIS fighters entered the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital and opened fire after clashing with Taliban security forces, witnesses said

Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a trauma hospital said nine wounded had been brought in so far

The blasts add to a growing list of attacks and killings since the Taliban completed their victory over the previous Western-backed government in August

The hospital, which treats wounded soldiers from both the Taliban and former Afghan security forces, was previously attacked in 2017, when gunmen disguised as medical personnel killed at least 30 people in an hours-long siege.

A Taliban media spokesman confirmed two explosions hit the hospital area on Tuesday.

'One explosion has happened at the gate of the military hospital and a second somewhere near the hospital, this is our initial information, we will provide more details later,' he told AFP.

Qari Saeed Khosty, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said Taliban special forces had rushed to the scene to secure the area after 'a bomb' exploded.

AFP journalists heard a second blast followed by gunfire.

Footage taken from the hospital appeared to show a body on the ground as armed fighters patrolled the grounds

Photographs shared by residents showed a plume of smoke over the area of the blasts near the former diplomatic zone

Although both ISIS and the Taliban are hardline Sunni Islamist militants, they have differed on the minutiae of religion and strategy.

ISIS have claimed four mass casualty attacks since the Taliban takeover on August 15, including suicide bomb blasts targeting Shiite Muslim mosques. It regards Shiite Muslims as heretics.

In the 2017 attack on the military hospital, militants went room to room killing people, switching to knives when they ran out of ammunition.

That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, and the Taliban denied responsibility.

However, survivors told AFP that the attackers chanted 'Long live Taliban' in Pashto and attacked all but two wards on the hospital's first floor where Taliban patients were admitted.

A helicopter circles ahead over the skies of Kabul after the Afghan capital was struck by two bomb blasts

Roads close to the heavily fortified 'Green Zone' where the buildings of several former Western embassies are located were closed off to traffic and Taliban guards scaled up searches.

Sirens could be heard in the streets and ambulances were seen speeding towards the blast site, and two helicopters circled above the city throughout the afternoon.

A health worker at the hospital, who managed to escape, said he heard a large explosion followed by a couple of minutes of gunfire. About ten minutes later, there was a second, larger explosion, he said.

He said it was unclear whether the blasts and the gunfire were inside the sprawling hospital complex.

The blasts add to a growing list of attacks and killings since the Taliban completed their victory over the previous Western-backed government in August, undermining their claim to have restored security to Afghanistan after decades of war.
A knifeman dressed as the Joker from Batman who injured 17 people in a Halloween rampage onboard a Tokyo commuter train looked starkly different as he was escorted to the prosecutor's office in a grey prison-issue top today.

It was revealed Kyota Hattori, 24, who dressed in multi-coloured clothing as the Joker for the attack, had bought a knife online to use in the attack, planned his movements for months and 'wanted to kill lots of people'.

The stabbing and arson attack, which briefly sent fire flaring in a train carriage, was carried out on Sunday night as many party-goers headed into Tokyo for Halloween celebrations. Passengers ran screaming down the aisles of train carriages and scrambled out of windows to escape.

He was escorted to the prosecutor's office from the Chofu police station in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Kyota Hattori, 24 dressed in multi-coloured clothing as the Joker and allegedly went on a frenzy with a knife and lighter fluid. He was escorted to the prosecutor's office from the Chofu police station in Tokyo on Tuesday. He planned the attack for months and later told police he regretted not killing anyone

Hattori was arrested on suspicion of a knife, arson and acid attack incident on the Keio Line train on Halloween. He was seen smoking a cigarette and reportedly holding a knife in his right hand after the attack on the train

Police arrested him at the scene of the carnage on suspicion of attempted murder, while Hattori later told Japanese police investigators: 'I wanted to kill lots of people, I wanted the death penalty.'

After the attack he was videoed sitting on a seat in the train carriage smoking a cigarette.

Hattori purchased the knife he used over the Internet and was carrying around four litres of lighter fluid in plastic bottles when he headed into Tokyo, which was filling with costumed partiers for Halloween.

The 24-year-old told police he regretted not having been able to kill people as he had planned and said he 'adores' the Batman villain.



























### pic.twitter.com/fdlLN9nj1Z   (@takahashi9811) October 31, 2021

Footage emerged on social media of the attacker dressed as the joker being arrested in the train

Many passengers escaped through train windows after the doors failed to open immediately when it stopped

Rescue workers at the scene in Japan after a man dressed as the joker stabbed passengers

Hattori, who told investigators 'things weren't going well with work and friends,' may have started planning the attack as early as June when he quit his job in the southwestern city of Fukuoka and began moving east, staying for periods in major cities along the way until he reached Tokyo a month ago.

Apparently choosing Halloween because he knew Tokyo would be crowded, Hattori left his hotel in the afternoon and took a train to the Shibuya district, popular with young people and famous for its Halloween street party, where costumed revellers gather to walk around and drink.

After that he took a train away from the city but then changed to another heading back in and filled with people, where he carried out the attack, said the reports, which police declined to confirm.

Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito told a news conference on Tuesday the government had told train companies to increase vigilance to prevent further attacks.

'Trains are essential to the life of society, and it's extremely important to be able to feel safe as you ride them,' he added.

Hattori stabbed 10 people and poured what is believed to have been oil around the train carriage before setting it on fire, causing panic among passengers who had initially thought it was a Halloween stunt.

It was also reported hydrochloric acid was thrown during the attack, which occurred on the Keio express line bound for Shinjuku, the world's busiest rail station.

Hattori told police that he had chosen the crowded train for the knife and arson attack where 'people couldn't run away', Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

Hattori, who was seen sitting on the train after the attack in a Joker outfit smoking a cigarette and holding a knife, told detectives he was failing at work and he had troubled relationships with friends.

The Tokyo Fire Department said in all 17 passengers were injured, including three seriously, in the Halloween attack.

A 72-year-old man from Tokyo was unconscious and in critical condition after being stabbed in the chest with an 11-inch-long knife.

Police said 16 others were treated for minor injuries, mostly smoke inhalation.

Not all of them were stabbed and most of the injuries were not serious, officials added.

Nippon Television reported that the suspect told police he used an earlier train stabbing case as an example.

Police escort rescue staff through the station after the knife, acid and arson rampage

Firefighters leave the station after the attack on Halloween night in Tokyo, Japan

Smoke could be seen billowing from one of the carriages where it a fire was started

NHK said witnesses told police that the attacker was wearing a bright outfit - a green shirt, a blue suit and a purple coat which resembled that of the Joker from the Batman comics.

Tokyo police officials said the attack happened inside the Keio train near the Kokuryo station.

The attacker carried out the act without showing any emotion, a female passenger said.

'He held a knife and started spreading liquid,' she said.

'He was committing this act without showing any emotion, just mechanically. I think that brought fear to everyone.'

Television footage showed a number of firefighters, police officials and paramedics rescuing the passengers, many of whom escaped through train windows.

In one video, passengers were running from another car, where flames were gushing.

Japanese firefighters and police gathered outside the station as they responded to the attack

A police official claimed Hattori sprayed acid into the eyes of a 72-year-old male passenger before stabbing him in the chest with a knife, reports Japan News. The knife reportedly pierced the man's lung and he is currently in critical condition.

Afterwards, Hattori allegedly moved to another carriage where he spread the lighter fluid and seats alight, causing many to suffer minor injuries - mainly from smoke inhalation.

NHK also said the suspect, after stabbing passengers, poured a liquid resembling oil and set fire, which partially burned seats.

Shunsuke Kimura, who filmed the video, told NHK that he saw passengers desperately running and while he was trying to figure out what happened, he heard an explosive noise and saw smoke wafting.

He also jumped from a window but fell on the platform and hurt his shoulder.

'Train doors were closed and we had no idea what was happening, and we jumped from the windows,' Kimura said. 'It was horrifying.'

Hattori told police that he had chosen an express train to carry out the attack as it runs for a longer amount of times between stops, reports Japan Times.

'I messed up at work around June and wasn't getting along with friends,' Hattori told the police. 'I wanted to die. I thought that if I killed two or more people, I would get the death penalty. It didn't matter who they were.'

The suspect also said he had been inspired by a recent knife attack where a 36-year-old man stabbed 10 passengers on a Odakyu Electric Railway commuter train on the day before the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony in August.

Hattori reportedly told police he used lighter fluid in his attack because the cooking oil used in the Odakyu attack did not ignite.

'Looking at the Odakyu Line train case in August, I targeted an express train which would have more passengers and used cigarette lighter fluid,' Hattori told police, reports Japan News.

'I noticed that cooking oil doesn't burn well, so I used lighter fluid that I put in a 2-liter plastic bottle,' he said, adding that after the fire started, he tried to make it more fierce by spraying the flame with an aerosol can.

Firefighters explained the situation at Kokuryo Station on the Keio Line in the city of Chofu to reporters after the attack

An injured person is carried from the scene by rescuers. Most suffered from smoke inhalation

The scene at the Tokyo train station from above. Hattori may have planned the attack since this summer

One video uploaded on Twitter showed a steady stream of people running away from a train car where, seconds later, a blaze lit up.

Another video showed passengers rushing to squeeze out of the train's windows and onto the platform where the train had made an emergency stop at Kokuryo Station, western Tokyo.

Passengers were seen climbing out of the windows because the doors had failed to immediately open when the train stopped, as they could be heard screaming with one person shouting 'Run away!'

Firefighters were able to put out the fire after 30 minutes and police officers were seen entering the train car where the suspect was seated smoking a cigarette. He reportedly did not resist arrest.

'I thought it was a Halloween stunt,' one witness told the Yomiuri newspaper, recalling the moment he saw other passengers running in a panic towards his train car.

'Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife.'

The witness, who had been yards away from Hattori said he initially thought the knife was covered with fake blood as a 'Halloween prank', before realising it was real.

Firefighters were seen with gas canisters on their backs at the train station to put out the fire that spread through the carriage

Emergency services gathered outside the station to help injured people from the train attack

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene of Hattori's alleged knife and arson rampage on Halloween

Firefighters and emergency workers responded to the attack and used makeshift screens in the station

One passenger, a 72-year-old man, lost consciousness after being stabbed, according to Kyodo News.

A male passenger said: 'I heard a loud bang and saw flames and smoke in the back. Everyone was panicking,'

The incident was posted on social media by witnesses and footage on the television showed firefighters, police officials and paramedics rescuing passengers.

Police later found a knife, several plastic bottles which may have contained the lighter fluid and an aerosol can in a train carriage.

An aerial shot showed four fire engines and three ambulances outside the station as a crowd of people stood at the entrance

Pictured: Employees walked from the station after the incident and a police officer was seen standing nearby

The attack saw passengers escape from train windows in a bid to save themselves from the rampage

Officers directed people from behind a cordon in the station following the arrest of the attacker

Many passengers escaped through train windows after the doors failed to open immediately when it stopped.

Officers were seen entering the train where the suspect sat and did not resist arrest.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known but it happened on a train bound for Shinjuku in central Tokyo, made up of 10 carriages.

The attacker was dressed as the Joker (pictured in the 2019 film), a villain from the Batman films

It is the second attack involving a knife on a Tokyo train in two months.

In August, the day before the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony, a 36-year-old man stabbed 10 passengers on a commuter train in Tokyo in a random burst of violence.

The suspect later told police that he wanted to attack women who looked happy.

While shooting deaths are rare in Japan, the country has had a series of high-profile knife killings in recent years.

In 2019, a man carrying two knives attacked a group of schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop just outside Tokyo, killing two people and injuring 17 before killing himself.

In 2018, a man killed a passenger and injuring two others in a knife attack on a bullet train.

And in 2016, a former employee at a home for the disabled killed 19 people and injured more than 20.
A confronting TV experiment has seen brave parents put their children in a frightening test to see whether they would wander off with a total stranger.

Parental Guidance, hosted by mother-of-two Allison Langdon and parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson - a father-of-six, debuted this week with opinionated and very different parents competing in challenges.

On Tuesday's episode children were sent to a playground with a distracted nanny, as a charismatic hired actor attempted to lure the youngsters away with the promise of puppies.

The outcome of the shocking experiment left Langdon in tears as parents gradually realised just how easily their children could be snatched away, while one of the traumatised mothers walked off set after being left feeling 'sick'.

The shocking experiment left Alison Langdon (pictured) in tears as parents gradually realised just how easily their children could be snatched away

Poll WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR KIDS NOT TO WALK OFF WITH A STRANGER? Yes No Not sure WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR KIDS NOT TO WALK OFF WITH A STRANGER? Yes 74 votes

No 139 votes

Not sure 105 votes Now share your opinion





Parents Andrew and Miriam, who raise their children Luke aged 12, Grace aged 10, and Tim aged five with strict rules and boundaries - including smacking - were horrified by the result.

It took just seconds for the children to wander off with a strange man who charmed them with a dog and the promise of seeing some puppies.

Andrew broke down in tears after seeing the footage.

'I know it's an actor but it makes me so angry to think anyone would ever do that to a child,' he said.

Langdon also found the clip extremely difficult to watch.

'We knew this was going to be a confronting challenge but that's why we are here to talk about it,' she told the group.

'Every family watching around the country at home is going to rethink the conversation they are having with their children around stranger danger because we are all questioning what our kids would to in a situation like that.'

Parents Andrew and Miriam (pictured) who raise their children Luke aged 12, Grace aged 10, and Tim aged five with strict rules and boundaries - including smacking - were horrified by the result

It took just seconds for Andrew and Miriam's children to wander off with a strange man who charmed them with a dog (pictured)

Brett, who raises four kids Ajay, Gyan, Taz and Jagan - all aged nine - with partner Tony in a 'routine' parenting style said: 'I think having this overly authoritarian parenting style, they might think all adults are in charge.'

But when the same-sex couple's kids were approached it was an almost identical scenario.

Social worker Tony and primary school teacher Brett fought back tears and said it was especially hard to watch the footage as they regularly hear of these types of stories in their work.

But one child passed the test with flying colours.

Harper, seven, who is being raised in the 'French' style of parenting and largely treated like an adult, refused to go away with a stranger who approached her with a cute dog.

High drama: The sets of parents participate in challenges with the results aired in front of all the other parents who then critique their parenting style

Same-sex couple Brett and Tony are seen with their kids (pictured together) who are two sets of twins born on the exact same day from two surrogate mothers from India. They also wandered off with the man in the controversial experiment

When asked if she wanted to leave the playground she told the man that she would need to ask her nanny first, and when pushed by him repeatedly said no.

Her parents Yann and Donna said they've brought her up to be independent and self aware of surroundings.

'Part of our parenting is definitely to ensure that Harper has the ability to read situations, has a level of independence and decision making ability and to trust that ability,' Donna said.

'We're really lucky that we could get into a situation where we could test it.

'I've said [to Harper], there are people who are really unwell, they could take you away, they could blackmail us. We've had those conversations, but you don't think it's going to happen to you.'

Yann explained the couple had spoke to her in the past about 'stranger danger'.

Parental Guidance sees Allison Langdon (right, with co-host Dr Justin Coulson) moderate as parents confront each other over their different parenting styles

The eye-opening series is exploring all aspects of parenting from letting kids learn to read at their own pace to whether it's ever acceptable to smack children.

The first challenge - which involved the children being given a map and told to direct their parents through the Adelaide CBD - went smoothly with confident son Luke informing strict Christian minister Andrew that 'he's got this'.

But a second challenge in which the kids and parents swapped roles for an 'opposite day' quickly showed some cracks appearing in the NSW parent's tightly regimented style.

The children were given carte blanche to green light activities for their parents with Luke and Grace very quickly reverting to a disciplinary approach that included threatening punishments and brandishing a wooden spoon.

Their parents admitted to occasionally using smacking as a 'correction' tool to teach their children discipline.

Drama is high as parents then confront each other on why their parenting technique is superior (pictured: 'natural' parents Liadhan and Richard)

'Strict' parent Andrew is slapped by his oldest son during a challenge in which they swapped roles for the day (pictured)

'All right, guys, just to make sure you understand there are some forms of discipline. All right?' Luke says, spoon in hand before gleefully ordering his dad to go to his room.

Grace also takes the spoon to her mother in a semi-serious fashion, leaving Miriam to tell her: 'Please stop smacking me. I don't like it.'

While the exchanges were playful, the other sets of parents, brought in to sit in a Survivor-like tribal council of judgement, raised concerns about how the children were being taught to deal with problems and forcing Andrew and Miriam to defend themselves.

'With corporal punishment. We see a smack as one tool in a parenting toolbox of and it's by no means the first,' Andrew explains.

'Just be careful what you're internalising there,' one of the group pipes up.

Donna and Yann, the proponents of the French style of parenting which involves treating children as an equal, went one step further.

'French-style' parent Donna (pictured) has an intense reaction to corporal punishment towards children

'We would never smack our child. We feel very strongly about this. It's a form of abuse.'

'My parents smacked me and I don't harbour any resentment towards them,' Andrew said.

'Stockholm syndrome,' Donna replied.

Andrew does eventually admit - in perhaps the show's most emotional moment on Monday's episode - the exercise caused him to revaluate some of his principles.

'After that challenge, yeah, we were a bit confronted by, you know, is that really how they see us?' he reveals.

The group is unanimous in rejecting corporal punishment but in a revealing moment Langdon then asks the group how many have smacked their children.

Half the hands in the room go up.

The other issues which seemed to divide the parents was unconventional couple Liadhan, 45, and Richard, 67, from South Australia who live in a tent with their five children.

'The kids can't bounce off the walls if we take the walls away,' Laidhan jokes.

Liadhan and Richard are home-schooling their children (pictured together) from their tent and are letting them learn to read 'when they're ready'

Alternative: One couple is particularly singled out for criticism after revealing they raise their children in a tent

They have opted to home-school their kids and revealed their three youngest Esther aged 9, Eva aged 7 and Danny aged 5 have not been taught how to read.

'The eldest two (Mariam, 12, and Hannah, 11) are proficient readers,' Richard explains.

'The younger three, they can recognise words.

'Some people might panic and say, 'why aren't they reading?' They will read when they're ready.'

'By accident?' Yann fires back.

'Now that it's the opportunity to learn as much as possible when their brain is a sponge.'

The last two families are Lara, 42, and Andrew, 39, who follow the 'attachment' style of parenting with their children Raphael, 7, and Chaya, 5.

This involves raising their children using a 'circle of security'. They play with their kids constantly and indulge their creativity wherever possible - loving to perform with them.
Boris Johnson's Environment Secretary revealed he will take the train to Glasgow for the Cop 26 climate conference - after the PM confirmed he will fly back to London via private jet.

George Eustice confirmed today that he would use rail to make the 400-mile journey from the capital to the UN event in Scotland.

He spoke as he was grilled on his own green footprint, admitting he has yet to switch to an electric car or green home heating.

It came after Downing Street last night confirmed the PM would travel back to London by air, using a private charter powered by a special mix of 'sustainable' aviation fuel. He flew in direct from the G20 in Rome at the weekend.

A spokesman cited 'time constraints' as a reason for the PM choosing not to use the direct rail route between London and Glasgow.

Asked by Sky News what changes personally he has made to protect the environment, Cornish MP Mr Eustice said he tries to 'pay attention to the dividing of waste and making sure we recycle as much as possible'.

'I'm going to be going to Cop by train and whenever I travel to the constituency I generally do so by train,' he added.

George Eustice confirmed today that he would use rail to make the 400-mile journey from the capital to the UN event in Scotland.

It came after Downing Street last night confirmed the PM (pictured today) would travel back to London by air, using a private charter powered by a special mix of 'sustainable' aviation fuel.

Mr Johnson is due to return to the capital when the leaders' conference section of the summit ends this week.

He today told world leaders at the start of the COP26 summit that they can no longer afford to delay taking major action to address climate change as he warned 'the longer we fail to act, the worse it gets'.

He said the world has 'long since run the clock down on climate change' and there is now just 'one minute to midnight', with action required immediately to prevent a global disaster.

But after his speech, his spokesman told reporters he would fly back to London on an aircraft that is one of the most carbon-efficient aircraft of its size, while the emissions will also be offset.

Pressed on why the Prime Minister could not go by train for a journey within the UK, the spokesman said it was important he was able to travel round the country while facing 'significant time constraints'.

It came after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' 48million Gulf Stream led a 400-strong parade of private jets into COP26 including Prince Albert of Monaco, scores of royals and dozens of 'green' CEOs - as an extraordinary traffic jam forced empty planes to fly 30 miles to find space to park.

Mr Eustice today admitted he does not have an electric car or a heat pump at home, as the Government advocates switching to green technologies.

He told Sky News: 'I have got a small Mini that has a green mode on it but I don't yet have an electric vehicle.'

Asked if he has a heat pump, he said: 'No, I don't have a heat pump at the moment but it's certainly something that I would look at.

'I'm the same as many other people, we all want to do the right thing and make these changes, we need the technology to come forward, we need to set a trajectory, everybody wants to make these changes, sometimes the technology is not quite there yet but we are making progress in the right direction.'

World leaders including Joe Biden, Mr Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau engaged in a spot of dinner-time diplomacy last night as they joined hundreds for the biggest gathering of Government representatives since the birth of the United Nations - ahead of the last 'full' day of the COP26 summit today.

Amazon airways: Jeff Bezos' Gulfstream private jet - which reportedly cost him 48million - arrives at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow on Sunday

World leaders pose for a group photo during an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow

The congregation of leaders appeared in high spirits as they put disagreements on hold and capped off the first day at the COP26 climate conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall.

During the night the Prime Minister, who hosted the evening at the recently renovated gallery, told leaders the summit was 'quite an extraordinary historic event' and it was even more important because 'we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation'.

He also hailed Prince Charles as 'the man to defuse the bomb at the world's moment of danger' and described him as a 'prophet without honour'.

His comments came as world leaders prepare for a day make-or-break day negotiations during what will be the final day of the climate change conference for many of them  with leaders leaving delegates behind to negotiate on their behalf.

The lavish reception was opened by the Queen who urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech.

Mr Johnson's comments came after President Biden apologised for his predecessor Donald Trump taking the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord and pledged the U.S would up its financial stake in fighting climate change, arguing the biggest producers of it should be its biggest investors in fixing it.
A US nuclear submarine struck an 'uncharted sea mount' in the South China Sea, injuring 11 of its crew last month, a Navy investigation has revealed.

On the day the USS Connecticut struck the underwater mountain there were soaring tensions with China after 39 warplanes breached Taiwanese airspace.

A record 56 aircraft flew into the zone two days later in a 24-hour period.

But the 7th Fleet, which operates in the western Pacific, determined after an investigation that there had been no foul play in the incident, concluding that the Connecticut smashed into a mountain rising from the sea bed on October 2.

'The investigation determined USS Connecticut grounded on an uncharted seamount while operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region,' a spokesman said.

The Navy remains on high alert in the South China Sea where Beijing continues to make threats to Taiwan and lays claim to other smaller disputed islands, valued for their strategic and historic significance.

Taiwan's president confirmed for the first time last week that American troops were stationed on the island - just days after President Joe Biden publicly confirmed he would defend the nation from China should it come under attack.

The 7th Fleet, which operates in the western Pacific, said an investigation had concluded that the Connecticut (pictured in Puget Sound, Washington, in 2016) smashed into a geological formation and not another vessel on October 2.

On the day the USS Connecticut struck the underwater mountain there were soaring tensions with China after 39 warplanes breached Taiwanese airspace. A record 56 aircraft flew into the zone two days later in a 24-hour period

This map shows China's territorial claim in the South China Sea (in red), which the US rejects. Marked in blue are US bases in Okinawa off Japan and in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, and Sembawang wharf in Singapore where Britain's Royal Navy maintains a small presence. Marked in red are three naval bases in South China belonging to the People's Liberation Army

USS Connecticut The Connecticut is a Seawolf-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine. It is the the fifth active United States Ship to be named for the U.S. state of Connecticut, going back to 1776. It was constructed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut, and launched on September 1, 1997. Class and type: Seawolf-class submarine Displacement: 7,568 tons light, 9,137 tons full, 1,569 tons dead Length: 353 ft Beam: 40 ft Draft: 36 ft Propulsion: 1 S6W pressurized water reactor (PWR) 57,000 shp (43 MW) 1 secondary propulsion submerged motor 1 shaft 1 pump-jet propeller Complement: 15 officers, 101 men Armament: Eight 26-inch torpedo tubes, 40 torpedoes and missiles, or 100 mines Advertisement

President Tsai Ing-wen explained how US soldiers were stationed on the self-governing island, explaining that Taiwan had a 'wide range of cooperation with the US aiming at increasing our defense capability'.

The training mission which consists of a special-operations unit and contingent of Marines is believed to have been in operation for at least a year.

For decades, the Pentagon maintained a large troop presence in Taiwan but the American Taiwan Defense Command was ended in 1979 as the United States began a formal diplomatic relationship with China. Washington continued to maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan.

Although there are said to be less than three dozen troops currently stationed on the island, the token gesture is significant and symbolic as it signals American presidential administrations will defend a democratic Taiwan and stand up to Chinese aggression.

Last month's submarine accident was confirmed by the Navy a week after it took place. At the time they only confirmed that the Connecticut had 'struck an object while submerged.'

Beijing today accused Washington of failing to provide timely and detailed information on the incident, complaining of a 'lack of transparency and lack of responsibility from the US.'

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China urges the US to provide an explanation of the vessel's 'navigational intentions, the specific location of the accident, whether it was in the exclusive economic zone or territorial waters of any country, and whether it caused any nuclear leak or damage to the ocean environment.'

Washington should 'stop sending warships and military aircraft to provoke trouble and make shows of force,' Wang said, warning that 'this type of accident will only become more frequent' without any change in US actions.

The 7th Fleet said there would be further deliberation on 'whether follow-on actions, including accountability, are appropriate.'

USNI News, published by the US Naval Institute, a thinktank close to the Navy, reported that there were some moderate and minor injuries in the accident.

It said the crash damaged the sub's forward ballast tanks and forced it to sail on the surface for a week back to Guam for repairs.

The ship's nuclear plant was not damaged, the publication said.

The 353-foot vessel was commissioned in 1998 and sails with a crew of 116, including 15 officers.

It can carry 40 torpedoes or missiles.

The South China Sea remains a central sphere of influence for America and its allies as China seeks to dominate its smaller neighbors and wrest control of the strategic islands and reefs which dot the region.

And last month, as tensions escalated over the flying of warplanes into Taiwan, it emerged that China had tested a new hypersonic nuclear-capable missile, taking world powers by surprise with a fearsome technology capable of striking virtually anywhere on the planet.

Weapons race: A comparison of the most advanced (columns from left) missiles, aircraft carriers, tanks and aircraft possessed by China, the US and Russia

Counterbalancing the threat posed by China is the new Aukus alliance forged by the US, UK and Australia last month.

That new security pact has further heightened tensions in the South China Sea where many of the smaller countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, look to the US for military support.

China's President Xi Jinping has previously stated that Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, will inevitably become subsumed as part of China.

Taiwan's government has made frequent, recent appeals to Washington and the West not to dismiss Beijing's threats as pure bombast.

As part of the West's show of strength, a fleet of US, UK and Australian vessels have been charting the world, travelling to the Far East and back.

Led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier, the fleet has since returned from the South China Sea and travelled to the Gulf via the Bay of Bengal.

The Gulf is the UK Carrier Strike Group's final destination before it returns to Portsmouth on the south coast of England.
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Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos has been accused of hypocrisy after telling world leaders that going to space made him realise 'how thin the globe's atmosphere is' and 'the private sector must also play its part to reduce carbon emissions'.

The billionaire has been criticised by Prince William among others for the amount of fossil fuel that space exploration consumes - and arrived at the UN climate change summit in his 48m private jet, fresh from celebrating Microsoft founder Bill Gates' 66th birthday on a 2million-a-week superyacht off the coast of Turkey.

Speaking today, billionaire Mr Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, pledged $2billion (1.47 billion) for land restoration in Africa, paid as part of the Bezos Earth Fund.

He told delegates: 'I was told that seeing the Earth from space changes the lens through which you see the world. But I was not prepared for how much that would be true. Looking back at earth from up there, the atmosphere seems so thin. The world so finite and so fragile. Now in this critical year, and what we all know is the decisive decade, we must all stand together to protect our world.'

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, was among Mr Bezos's critics today, calling him a 'hypocrite' and writing: 'Amazon has a carbon footprint larger than most countries.'

US Republican Congress candidate Lavern Spicer said: 'While you're busy at home turning off lights and keeping your thermostat down, Jeff Bezos's $65m Gulf Stream just lead a parade of 400 private jets into COP26. WE are the joke they're LAUGHING at!'

Other commenters told the tycoon to 'just pay your taxes' and said the fact that he was giving a lecture on green issues after going into space was 'an example of how the one per cent live differently to the rest of us'.

Mr Bezos, who has not yet been since with the Duke of Cambridge at the gathering, had previously indicated the investment would be $1billion (732million) at an event with William's father the Prince of Wales on Monday.

Speaking today, billionaire Mr Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, said he had gained new perspective

epa09558982 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) greets Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon, for the Action on Forests and Land Use session at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow

He told delegates: 'I was told that seeing the Earth from space changes the lens through which you see the world. But I was not prepared for how much that would be true'

Mr Bezos' Gulf Stream has led a 400-strong parade of private jets into COP26, including scores of royals and dozens of 'green' CEOs - amid an extraordinary traffic jam which forced empty planes to fly 30 miles to find space to park

Boris Johnson and Jeff Bezos were pictured greeting each other by touching elbows following his speech at COP26

Pictured: Billionaire Jeff Bezos (centre) and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez (right) meet with Britain's Prince Charles (left) last night in Dumfries House's Blue Drawing Room on the eve of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow. 'The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world far longer than most. We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26  looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help'

Pictured: A map showing Mr Bezos' journeys on Friday in Turkey (bottom-left) and from Turkey to Glasgow on Sunday (main). The Blue Origin founder is said to have made the 120-mile round trip journey by chopper from Gokova to the resort town of Fethiye on Friday. The jet fuel used to power helicopters emits 21.095 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon burned. Since helicopters use up approximately 10.75 miles per gallon, Bezos' helicopter emitted some 215 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. On Sunday, he then flew the roughly 2,000 miles from Gokova

Founder and executive chairman of Amazon Jeff Bezos' superyacht 'Flying Fox' with a length of 136 meters is seen anchored offshore of Yali neighborhood of Mugla, Turkey today

Jeff Bezos sparked a backlash online after flying to Glasgow in a private jet to deliver a speech about climate change

Mail on Sunday columnist Dan Hodges wrote after the speech: 'Man who jetted off into space latest to lecture us about need for sustainability. COP26 is trolling us now'

Mr Bezos today said in his Cop26 speech: 'We must conserve what we still have, we must restore what we've lost and we must grow what we need to live without degrading the planet for future generations to come.

Outrage as billionaire eco warrior Bill Gates flies Jeff Bezos and FIFTY guests to Turkish beach resort from his $2M-a-week yacht for his 66th birthday Microsoft founder Bill Gates transported his guests by helicopter from his 1.8million-a-week rental yacht 'Lana' to the Sea Me Beach club in Fethiye Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos were slammed as hypocrites for lecturing the world on the need to combat climate change by reducing carbon footprint while at the same time reportedly vacationing on superyachts off the coast of Turkey. Multi-billionaire and Microsoft founder Gates celebrated his 66th birthday in Turkey in the company of fellow tycoon and Amazon founder Bezos on Friday. Bezos was among the 50 guests invited to Gates' private party beside the Mediterranean. It's not clear whether any of Gates' family helped him celebrate at his exclusive bash. Gates - once the richest man on earth who has dropped to fourth on the Forbes Rich List ranking with $124 billion - transported his guests by helicopter from his $2million-a-week rental yacht 'Lana' to the Sea Me Beach club in Fethiye. The jet fuel used to power helicopters emits 21.095 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon burned, and helicopters travel approximately 10.75 miles per gallon. According to reports, Bezos also traveled to Gates' superyacht by helicopter. The Blue Origin founder is said to have made the 120-mile round trip journey by chopper from Govoka to the resort town of Fethiye. Based on the same estimations, Bezos' helicopter emitted some 215 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Both Bezos and Gates are reportedly staying on superyachts - each of which emits 7,020 tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 19 tons per day. Advertisement

'Two thirds of the land in Africa is degraded, but this can be reversed.

'Restoration can improve soil fertility, raise yields and improve food security, make water more reliable, create jobs and boost economic growth, while also sequestering carbon.'

Mr Bezos added: 'Each year forests and landscapes absorb 11billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to slow climate change.

'As we destroy nature, we reverse this process. Cut down a forest, destroy the mangroves, pave over the prairies, and instead of sequestering carbon, we emit it.

'In too many parts of the world nature is already flipping from a carbon sink to a carbon source. This is a profound and urgent danger to us all.'

He said that he was 'honoured' to pledge $2billion to restore nature as part of the Bezos Earth Fund's '$10billion commitment to fight climate change, enhance nature, advance environmental justice and economic opportunity'.

On Sunday, MailOnline observed at least 52 private jets landing at Glasgow - while estimates put the total number flying in for the conference at 400.

Conservative predictions suggest the fleet of private jets arriving for COP26 will blast out 13,000tonnes of carbon dioxide in total - equivalent to the amount consumed by more than 1,600 Britons in a year.

Mr Bezos - who regularly lectures the world on climate change - arrived in Glasgow fresh from celebrating Microsoft founder Bill Gates' 66th birthday on a 2million-a-week superyacht off the coast of Turkey in an event that generated fresh claims of green hypocrisy.

He reached the boat by helicopter, according to reports.

Last night world leaders including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau joined hundreds for the biggest gathering of Government representatives since the birth of the United Nations - ahead of the last 'full' day of the COP26 summit today.

The congregation of leaders appeared in high spirits as they put disagreements on hold and capped off the first day at the COP26 climate conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall.

During the night the Prime Minister, who hosted the evening at the recently renovated gallery, told leaders the summit was 'quite an extraordinary historic event' and it was even more important because 'we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation'.

He also hailed Prince Charles as 'the man to defuse the bomb at the world's moment of danger' and described him as a 'prophet without honour'.

His comments came as world leaders prepare for a day make-or-break day negotiations during what will be the final day of the climate change conference for many of them  with leaders leaving delegates behind to negotiate on their behalf.

The lavish reception was opened by the Queen who urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech.

Mr Johnson's comments came after President Biden apologised for his predecessor Donald Trump taking the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord and pledged the US would up its financial stake in fighting climate change, arguing the biggest producers of it should be its biggest investors in fixing it.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship' as Government representatives attended the reception for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Prince William speaks to a group prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists at the Glasgow Science Center during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow today. Jeff Bezos has been criticised by Prince William among others for the amount of fossil fuel that space exploration consumes - and arrived at the UN climate change summit in his 48m private jet. The pair have not been spotted together

World leaders pose for a group photo during an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow

Boris Johnson, who hosted the event at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, hailed Prince Charles for his efforts in tackling climate change

She went on to say that 'none of us will live forever' and 'we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children, and those who will follow in their footsteps' as she urged leaders to reach decisive COP climate change deals.

In her most personal speech to date, the monarch also paid tribute to Prince Philip and described how 'the impact of the environment on human progress' was a subject close to the heart of her 'dear late husband' - who in 1969 told a gathering: 'If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.'

After the monarch's powerful speech, the Prime Minister said: 'What we've got today, as Her Majesty alluded to, is the biggest gathering of world leaders in this country since the foundation of the UN at the end of the Second World War, and it's quite an extraordinary historic event.

'But in a way, what we are doing today, is even more important, because we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation, to our way of life.'

'A PROFOUND AND URGENT DANGER': JEFF BEZOS'S CLIMATE CHANGE SPEECH TO COP26 IN FULL Amazon founder Jeff Bezos speaking at the Leaders' Action on Forests and Land-use event during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow Nature provides all the food we eat, the water we drink, and the oxygen we breathe. It gives us life. It is beautiful, but it is also fragile. I was reminded of this in July when I went into space with Blue Origin. I was told that seeing the earth from space changes the lens through which you view the world. But I was not prepared for how much that would be true. Looking back at earth from up there, the atmosphere seems so thin. The world so finite and so fragile. Now in this critical year, in what we all know is the decisive decade, we must all stand together to protect our world. Climate change gives us a powerful reason to invest in nature. Each year forests and landscapes absorb 11billion ton of CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to slow climate change. As we destroy nature, we reverse this process. Cut down a forest, destroy the mangroves, pave over the prairies, and instead of sequestering carbon, we emit it. In too many parts of the world nature is already flipping from a carbon sink to a carbon source. This is a profound and urgent danger to us all. That's why last month in New York, nine philanthropic organisations announced an additional $5billion to support the goal of 30 by 30 - to protect 30% of all land and sea by 2030. I was honoured to be a part of this with a $1billion pledge from the Bezos Earth Fund. Today I'm pleased to announce a $2billion pledge allocated directly to restoring nature and transforming food systems. This is part of the Bezos Earth Fund's $10billion commitment to fight climate change, enhance nature, and advance environmental justice and economic opportunity. Together this $3billion in pledges will drive a new three-fold nature agenda for the Bezos Earth Fund, focused simultaneously on conservation, restoration, and food transformation. We must conserve what we still have. We must restore what we've lost. And we must grow what we need to live without degrading the planet for future generations to come. In the atmosphere molecules of carbon dioxide cause climate change and risk destroying life as we know it, but bring that carbon back down to earth through the magic of photosynthesis into trees, plants, crops and soil, and this brings life and vitality. Today two thirds of the land in Africa is degraded but this can be reversed. Restoration can improve soil fertility, raise yields, and improve food security, make water more reliable, create jobs and boost economic growth while also sequestering carbon. CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos, left, and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, leave the stage following a session on Action on Forests and Land Use, during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday Continent-wide initiatives like Africa 100 and the Great Green Wall offer significant hope. They must now be scaled up. Ahead of Cop27 next year the Bezos Earth Fund would be eager to participate in a concerted strategy led by African nations to seriously and effectively ramp up support for restoration on the continent. However, we cannot rely only on governments, NGOs and philanthropies to solve the climate crisis. The private sector must also play its part to reduce carbon emissions. Companies need to take leadership positions. Amazon has cofounded the Climate Pledge with Christiana Figueres and set a goal to reach net zero carbon by 2040 - 10 years ahead of the Paris agreement goals. As part of this pledge, Amazon aims to power all its operations with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, and is working to convert its delivery fleet to electric vehicles. Amazon is inviting other companies to join the Climate Pledge - and more than 200 have to date. Companies can also lead the way on nature-based solutions. Over the past six months, Amazon partnered with leading companies, countries committed to protecting the tropical forests, and the governments of Norway, the UK and the US, to mobilise an unprecedented level of funding to fight tropical deforestation through an initiative called The Leaf Coalition. Amazon has committed significant financial support for Leaf, and the coalition will be signing letters of intent with governments that are ready to receive support. More details will be shared in the next session. Let me be clear, when people hanker for the good ol' days and glamourise the past, they are almost always wrong. By almost all metrics, life is much better today than it was in the past. Global poverty rates are lower, infant mortality and life expectancy are better, and education rates are higher. But there is a notable exception: The natural world is not better today than it was 500 years ago when we enjoyed unspoiled forests, clean rivers and the pristine air of the pre-industrial world. This is an unacceptable anomaly, and it's one we can reverse. The question is simple: Will we in this room work together, do the hard work together, to gift our children and grandchildren an improving natural world? I know the answer is yes. And I look forward to working with all of you on this important and rewarding journey. Thank you. Advertisement
Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson has quietly stepped down as trustee of children and families charity Humanitas  a year after forming a trust under her own name.

The Royal, 62, had been in the key role at the good cause since August 2018 and championed many of their campaigns.

But a year after setting up her own Sarahs Trust, she has stepped down from her unpaid role as Humanitas trustee. She still remains as patron at the cause.

Details on her leaving the position has not been publicised and MailOnline only learned of the personnel change through obscure publicly available papers.

She has previously said of the organisation: 'Having witnessed first hand the horrors of institutional care, I needed to find a solution to the problems these childrens face.

'Then I met the charity Humanitas, seeing the difference between their set up and others I had witnessed is so vast.

'Seeing the improvement in the children under their care is enough to bring hope and joy to anyone. I truly think that Humanitas is a model charity through which lives can be improved beyond measure.

Her ex-husband Prince Andrew is currently mired in a civil lawsuit filed in the US by Virginia Giuffre accusing him of rape.

She claims she was sex trafficked to Andrew on three occasions by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the first time when she was 17. The Prince denies any wrongdoing.

Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson , 62, has stepped down as trustee of charity Humanitas

The Royal is still a patron and has supported them at a number of events and good work

The Humanitas charity says it 'believes that everyone is entitled to health care, an education and a family. They strive to provide these three key rights across the globe.'

Sarah's Trust is currently registered at the same address as Humanitas in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

And the trust has also had a change of role for one of its own trustees Sarah Wade.

Ms Wade - who is the founder and CEO of Humanitas - stepped down from the position at Sarah's Trust back in April 21 this year.

But accounts show the Duchess's charity has put its money where its mouth is with still supporting Ms Wades' cause going forward.

It made made a grant to Humanitas Charity of 150,000 leading up to May 31 this year.

The Duchess was first appointed as a trustee back on August 19. 2018, charity papers reveal

Sarah's Trust quietly announced she had stepped down as Humanitas Trustee on March 1

Since setting up her own charity, the Duchess of York has carried out a number of varied activities.

They included her launch of the Duchess's own YouTube channel 'Storytime with Fergie and Friends' where she reads a childrens story every day.

In December last year she donated 250 sleeping bags and essential supplies to homeless people living in London through the charity Under One Sky.

MailOnline approached both Humanitas and Sarah's Trust on why the Duchess had changed roles.

A spokeswoman for Humanitas said: The Duchess has wanted for some time to bring the bulk of her charitable activity under one roof, and has now done so at her new charity Sarah's Trust. For this reason, she is no longer a trustee of Humanitas.

However, the two charities remain very closely linked, working jointly on a number of projects.

The Duchess is also proud to be a patron of Humanitas and we are proud to have her.

Sarah's Trust did not respond to a request for comment.
A councillor who represents one of the most deprived areas of the UK has resigned after he was slammed for moving 600 miles away to France to renovate an 18th century chateau.

Ashley Waters, 37, who ran for election as an independent and took his seat from Labour, spent much of the last year in rural Normandy rather than his home town of Middlesbrough.

Mr Waters will no longer represent North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, after he said he was faced with a slew of 'horrific abuse'.

The former councillor previously justified continuing to represent those who voted for him in the impoverished north eastern city by attending most council meetings online - while occasionally commuting back to Teesside.

Mr Waters and his partner Terry Short are renovating Chateau De Lalacelle, near Le Mans, together with Terry's parents Tony and Tracy Briggs. They plan to turn it into a high end bed and breakfast for paying guests.

Ashley Waters, 37, who ran for election as an independent and took his seat from Labour, spent much of the last year in rural Normandy rather than his more gritty home town of Middlesbrough. Pictured, Waters (left) with his partner Terry Short

In a statement released on his Facebook page, Mr Waters said: 'I'm sorry to say that I have decided to resign my post as councillor of North Ormesby.

'The support from my friends, family and residents of the actual ward itself has been superb, however the constant abuse and harassment I have endured from other councillors has been horrific.

'The posts about myself and the time I have spent in France have been complete fabrication, and any of you that met me, saw me, and interacted with me during the last eight months know that this is nonsense. Filming was done in advance for most of our videos so that I was free to return to the UK.

'The councillors that have wanted to cause trouble and will continue to cause trouble will make Middlesbrough a worse place and that is not fair for the fantastic residents of the town.

'Now that I have resigned, I feel for whoever is the next target for these councillors' abuse, as it appears with one in particular, that this has been going on for a long long time.'

Mr Waters and his partner Terry Short are renovating Chateau De Lalacelle, near Le Mans, together with Terry's parents Tony and Tracy Briggs. They plan to turn it into a high end bed and breakfast for paying guests

Last week Mayor Andy Preston called for the councillor to clarify how much time he had spent outside of Middlesbrough in the past six months.

Mr Waters and his partner Mr Short have been documenting their renovation's progress with a series of self-made videos posted on YouTube with their style and content based on the long running Channel 4 series 'Escape to the Chateau.'

Their channel, named Escape to the Dream, Restoring the Chateau, currently features 22 videos.

Mr Waters added: 'The plan for me was to continue to live and work in the UK for the next couple of years until my term was up, and then move out to France. Now that I have resigned, I will be moving there permanently.

Mr Waters will no longer represent North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, after he said he was faced with a slew of 'horrific abuse'

'I was at least wanting to stay on to announce the new post office for North Ormesby, which Big Local have played a massive part in securing for the area.

'Thank you to everyone that has supported me and contacting me during what has been an extremely difficult time.

'Your support has been amazing. Thank you also to the residents of my ward, my political group, and Antony High Middlesbrough for all the support I've received over the past couple of years.'

Mr Waters, who was elected as an independent for the North Ormesby ward in 2019, was paid 20,000 a year in allowances for attending council meetings and related meetings of Cleveland Fire Authority.

He sat on four council committees and was formerly on the executive committee for the regeneration of Middlesbrough, recognised as one of the most deprived areas in the UK.

But Mr Waters was accused of neglecting his council duties by another independent councillor, Joan McTigue, who made repeated complaints about her colleague's domestic arrangements, insisting he was neglecting the people he was elected to represent by being so far away.

Cllr McTigue told Mail Online: 'He is the only councillor for North Ormesby, one of the most deprived in the country, and there is nobody looking after that area.

'If you watch the videos it is perfectly clear that he is there for good. They refer to the chateau as "our new home, new way of life".'

Graham Wilson, an independent councillor in a neighbouring ward, told the paper he had dozens of complaints from residents who were not able to contact Mr Waters.

One of Mr Waters' most recent videos show him explaining how he will be repairing one of the outbuildings in the grounds of the chateau. The 30-minute video was uploaded a week ago.

Other videos feature aerial views of the chateau charting the progress from September 2020.

Another video features the renovation of an antique fireplace, while the first episode offers a tour of the property which was uninhabitable following 50 years of neglect.

The quartet, all from Middlesbrough, have been living in caravans on the site while the renovation work progresses.

Meanwhile, Middlesborough has the highest child poverty rates out of the 12 local authorities in the North East of England, according to the NE Child Poverty Commission.

Figures supplied by Middlesbrough Council show that Mr Waters has a 60 per cent attendance record for meetings and has the full approval of the council to commute from the chateau.

Mr Waters has previously defended his decision to spend much of his time at the chateau.

Mr Waters said in an interview in January this year he was able to attend online meetings and help with any problems from his constituents.

He also insisted he still owns a home in Middlesbrough and pays council tax there.

Mr Waters revealed he suffers from Crohn's disease which affects the immune system and makes him more susceptible to contracting Covid-19 - so felt safer in the sparsely populated area around the chateau.

Mr Waters, who was elected as an independent for the North Ormesby ward in 2019, was paid 20,000 a year in allowances for attending council meetings and related meetings of Cleveland Fire Authority Pictured, the Middlesborough Transporter Bridge

He said then: 'I have not had a face-to-face meeting since March 23 last year so why is it relevant where I attend meetings from?

'Whether it be Timbuktu, France, North Ormesby or Tokyo - it's completely irrelevant.

'We've been working remotely - why does it matter right now when I can still do my job?

'My residents still contact me, and when there are issues they get dealt with immediately like they always have done.

'I strive to help my ward and make sure my ward is as good as it can be - I don't know what else I'm meant to do.'

He added: 'If the residents asked me to step down, I'd step down - she's not a resident of mine.

'There is no complaint from my residents - the only complaint which has been made is from Cllr McTigue. I'm doing my job.'

The YouTube videos have been viewed by more than 17,000 times with many positive comments and suggestions about the renovation work.

The TV series 'Escape to the Chateau' is credited with persuading many people to relocate to France and undertake renovation projects of disused homes.

The reality show features former army officer Dick Sawbridge and his partner Angel Adoree as they renovate a 45 room dilapidated 19th century chateau in Martigne sur Mayenne.
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Thousands of unvaccinated workers from America's biggest companies are at risk of losing their jobs unless they get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by tomorrow in order to meet President Biden's December 8 deadline for all federal contract employees to be fully vaccinated by December 8.

Biden has signed an Executive Order that forces any federal government partner to ensure all of their staff are fully vaccinated by December 8. For a worker who has not yet received a single dose, it means they will have to get their first shot of Pfizer tomorrow in order to meet the deadline, or a single-dose, J&J vaccine by November 24. It is already too late for them to start a course of the Moderna vaccine, which requires 28 days between shots.

As of Tuesday, 67million adults across America had yet to receive one dose and among them are tens of thousands of workers at companies including FedEx, UPS, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Mercedes, Textron and AeroSpace, all of whom could lose their jobs if they don't get the vaccine or an exemption from the mandate.

Boeing - which has Air Force contracts worth more than $168billion - has 125,000 employees in the US and more than 8,000 have filed paperwork for religious or medical exemptions to get vaccinated. It's unclear how many are unvaccinated and have not filed for exemptions.

Boeing staff protest the vaccine mandate outside the facility in Everett, Washington State. The company has 125,000 US-based employees. 8,000 have already filed religious or medical exemptions

The Cargo Airline Association, which represents UPS and FedEx, wrote to the government on October 18 asking for an extension, calling the deadline 'virtually impossible'

Boeing workers in Auburn, near Seattle, said they'd rather be thrown off the premises on December 8 than forced by the government to take a vaccine they don't want.

UNVACCINATED WORKERS WHOSE JOBS ARE AT RISK Boeing 8,000 unvaccinated out of 125,000 (the 8,000 have filed for a religious or medical exemption but they have not all been granted) Raytheon Technologies 3,250 who have filed for exemption, 3,000 who have not and who are, out of 125,000 total Textron Inc and AeroSpace 5,000 out of 10,000 workers at HQ in Wichita, KS Mercedes Benz USA 400 out of 1,400 Advertisement

'The mandate is illegal, immoral and impractical. We are standing together against a company and government trampling on our rights,' said one veteran Boeing program analyst at a recent rally.

The Cargo Airline Association - which represents FedEx, UPS and DHL - wrote to the government on October 18 to call the mandate 'virtually impossible' and particularly arbitrary given the ongoing supply chain crisis.

'As a practical matter, we are extremely concerned that it will be virtually impossible to have 100% of our respective work forces vaccinated by December 8.

'This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that we are already experiencing a worker shortage, both in the air and on the ground, and any loss of employees who refuse to be vaccinated will adversely impact needed operations.

'Association members are now entering their peak seasons with operations ramping up to support our customer base and the national economy as the annual Holiday Season approaches.

'This is in addition to our continued role in transporting medical supplies, vaccines, and essential goods in response to the ongoing pandemic,' Stephen A. Alterman, President of the Association, said.

He asked that they be allowed until the first quarter of 2022 to comply.

Mercedes has more than 1,400 employees in the USA.

Two thirds are vaccinated which leaves some 500 who are unvaccinated, plus a factory in Alabama whose vaccine rates weren't included in information given by a spokesman to Reuters.

Raytheon Technologies, which was awarded a $960million contract with the Air Force in August to supply software tech, will lose at least 3,000 staff or as many as 7,500.

Three percent of its 125,000 total workers have filed for religious or medical exemptions, and three percent are refusing entirely to get vaccinated.

Boeing - which has Air Force contracts worth more than $168billion - has 125,000 employees in the US and more than 8,000 have filed paperwork for religious or medical exemptions to get vaccinated. It's unclear how many are unvaccinated and have not filed for exemptions

CEO Gregory Hayes said last week: 'We understand who's going to get vaccinated and who's not, but frankly its the right thing to do. We need to have people vaccinated to get this pandemic under control.'

But others call the mandate 'immoral' and 'impractical'.

A small aircraft flies above a protester's sign as Boeing employees and others rally against the company's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandate, outside the Boeing facility in Everett, Washington, October 15, 2021

'We're going to lose a lot of employees over this,' Cornell Beard, head of the local Machinists union district in Wichita, Kansas, said.

The union district has hired a Texas-based lawyer to assist employees and prepare potential lawsuits against the companies should requests for medical or religious exemptions to vaccination be denied.

A life-long Democrat, Beard said he would no longer vote for the party.

'They'll never get another vote from me and I'm telling the workers here the same thing.'

Many workers did not object to the vaccines as such, he said, but were staunchly opposed to what they see as government meddling in personal health decisions.

Some workers from Textron said the religious exemption application involved them being interrogated by HR execs on church leaders and asked intimate questions about their faith.

Textron declined to respond to questions, but in a statement said it was obligated to comply with Biden's order and was taking steps to do so.
More than a dozen swans from a flock popular with tourists in Shakespeare's home town have been killed by bird flu as one expert warned that the virus there is 'beyond control'.

Government scientists are currently conducting tests on the birds which died following an outbreak of avian flu in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Tens of thousands of tourists visit the Warwickshire town and birthplace of playwright William Shakespeare each year to marvel at the scores of swans living on the River Avon.

But in recent weeks, several of the swans - as well as ducks and geese - have been struck down with avian flu leaving wildlife experts fearing Stratford-upon-Avon's swan population could be wiped out.

An outbreak was first confirmed at a rescue centre in Wychbold, a 40-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, but now the town's rescue group says their swan population is at risk after several birds also contracted the deadly disease.

Cyril Bennis, who runs Stratford-Upon-Avon Swan Rescue group and is a former mayor of the town, warned the current outbreak - one of two currently active in the UK - was 'beyond control'.

More than a dozen swans from a flock popular with tourists in Stratford-upon-Avon (pictured) have been killed after an outbreak of avian flu occurred in a Worcestershire rescue centre

Cyril Bennis from Stratford-upon-Avon Swan Rescue (pictured) says the community is 'very concerned' about the outbreak which has led to the death of several swans in the region

Mr Bennis, 72, who has been caring for swans in the Worcestershire town for 40 years, said: 'Three weeks ago one of the sanctuaries that we take our swans to was shut down because of suspected avian flu.

'The swans that were on the mend there had to be put to sleep.

'The other rescue centre also had to be shut down because two swans there also had suspected avian flu.'

Mr Bennis said that officials from the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) came and collected swans that had already died two weeks ago but that more animals were 'dying left, right and centre'.

He added: 'I am having to pile them up in order to get some clarity on what I am supposed to do with them.

'At the moment, I have over a dozen dead birds - not only swans but ducks and geese too.

Map showing where the outbreak of avian flu was first confirmed at Wychbold rescue centre (yellow), near Stratford-upon-Avon. A second outbreak is currently being monitored in Wrexham (green)

Stratford is also the birthplace of William Shakespeare (pictured), known as the Swan of Avon

'I have had to put two swans to sleep today, one last night, seven others have died of suspected avian flu in the last few days - it's a daily occurrence.

'I really fear that the entire population, which is more than 70 swans, could be seriously under threat.

'It is frustrating and heart-breaking to see any animal suffer in front of you. These animals are perfectly healthy one day, and then dead the next.

'I watched one last night as died in my arms and I could not do anything about it.

'Our community is very concerned about what is happening.'

Avian flu, more commonly known as bird flu, is not an airbourne virus but spreads bird-to-bird through direct contact or through contaminated body fluids and faeces according to Defra.

The virus can also be spread by contaminated feed and water or by dirty vehicles, clothing and footwear.

Cases can spike during winter months if birds migrating from mainland Europe to the UK are carrying the disease.

The virus can, in certain cases, also affect humans although Defra says the risk to the public is low.

Large flock of swans in Stratford-upon-Avon are popular with tourists, especially in summer

There are two strains of the virus with one being more severe. Defra is currently running tests to determine whether the birds in Stratford died of avian flu. A second wave of bird flu has been confirmed at a premises in Wrexham in Wales.

Meanwhile, the rescue centre where the disease was first confirmed has been closed while the outbreak is active.

Wychbold Swan Rescue said it was 'devastated' by the outbreak and is currently the subject of a Defra control zone.

The outbreak meant all birds at the site had to be culled while officers also put in place a 3km and 10km control zone measure around the premises.

In a statement, Wychbold Swan Rescue told its supporters: 'As you can imagine, we are devastated by recent events.

'You may of heard on the news, it has been confirmed that our beloved birds have had to be euthanised after testing positive for avian influenza.

'We can't believe this has happened again. This means until further notice, we are unable to attend to any birds.

'It's an extremely unfortunate situation that everyone at Swan Rescue is thoroughly broken-hearted about.'

An outbreak late last year resulted in the death of around 25 swans in Stratford, as well as others in Worcester and Evesham.

An Animal and Plant Health Agency spokesperson said: 'We are aware of a number of swan deaths near Stratford-upon-Avon. These deaths are currently under investigation.'
A Royal Navy engineer 'attacked his colleagues in a Chinese takeaway after fellow sailors mocked his choice of noodles' during a night out in Somerset.

Petty Officer Kris Cullerton, 33, had consumed up to eight pints of beer when he allegedly 'whacked' colleague Zeek Bowen inside the takeaway, before again confronting him outside the premises in Ilchester on October 2 last year, a court has heard.

Mr Bowen, an air engineering technician (AET), suffered a bloody nose, swollen lip and his face covering was left 'drenched' in blood following the incident.

He said PO Cullerton, a married father from Sunderland, became 'aggressive' after he commented that his choice of a 7 vermicelli was 'a bit heavy after a night out'.

Petty Officer Kris Cullerton pictured outside Bulford Military Court on Tuesday, where he faces four counts of battery

The married father from Sunderland is alleged to have 'whacked' two young colleagues at a Chinese takeaway in a Somerset village

A hearing at Bulford Military Court on Tuesday was told that the sailors, who were not known to each other, had gone to the Dolphin Inn and the Bull pub for an evening out drinking while based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton - commonly known as HMS Heron.

The court heard PO Cullerton, a senior air engineering technician, admitted he was 'drunk' when he visited nearby popular Chinese takeaway the Peking Chef.

AET Bowen and his friend AET Shaun Bush were already in the takeaway waiting for their order when PO Cullerton arrived.

After AET Bowen made the comment about his superior's choice of food, AET Bush told the court that their superior began 'screaming in his face', calling him a 'smart arse' before he 'whacked' him in the face.

PO Cullerton then accosted the pair in the street outside, leaving AET Bowen with the minor injuries.

AET Bush told the hearing: 'He was mumbling to himself and uneasy on his feet.

'He started screaming in my face but I could not work out what he was saying. I was just in shock.

'It looked like an open hand whack to the face.'

Giving evidence, AET Bowen told the panel that PO Cullerton had a 'glazed look' in his eye and punched AET Bush 'in the back of the head'

The Peking Chef in the village of Ilchester, Somerset, where the incident is alleged to have taken place close to the Royal Naval base of HMS Heron

The Military Court Centre at Bulford Barracks in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where the hearing is taking place

AET Bush then 'grappled' with PO Cullerton, who was 'brought to the ground' before the fight ended, the panel was told.

PO Cullerton was subsequently locked outside the takeaway and eventually wandered off from the scene with noodles in hand, the court heard.

After deciding it was safe to leave, the sailors headed back to the base with their colleagues.

The court heard that the men did not know each other before the incident and had not realised they were all colleagues in the navy.

Upon returning to the base at around 11pm, the young engineers, who had qualified only a year earlier, made a formal complaint to the Royal Navy's police force.

PO Cullerton was later interviewed, but in a statement denied any physical contact took place.

He did, though, say a verbal disagreement had taken place in the takeaway as his 'pride had got in the way'.

PO Cullerton, whose career spans more than 14 years, denies four counts of battery.

The case continues.
Police are searching for a man who beat a 60-year-old to death with a shop mannequin. The suspect is on the run with the mannequin in tow as police are urging anyone who knows the man or his victim to contact them (File image)

Police are hunting a man who beat a 60-year-old to death with a shop mannequin.

The suspect is on the run with the human doll in tow after the murder in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Gqeberha, which was formerly known as Port Elizabeth, in South Africa.

Col Priscilla Naidu of Eastern Cape police said while it was unknown who the suspect was he had used the mannequin to repeatedly assaulted his victim.

She said: 'It is alleged that at about 2.30am a sleeping vagrant was awoken by the suspect.

'When the suspect realised that he was not the person he was looking for, he then approached a male (about 60 years old) who was sitting on stairs and started to assault him with the mannequin. The suspect then ran off with the mannequin.'

Gqeberha is a South African city known for its sea links and is the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province (File image)

The brutal killing took place in Gqeberha, which was formerly known as Port Elizabeth, in South Africa

The victim was severely beaten and died at the scene. The incident took place on Durban Road in Korsten, Gqeberha.

It is unclear whether the mannequin was clothed or bare when it was used in the brutal killing.

He has not yet been formally identified and police urged anyone who may know him or the murder suspect to contact them.
An attorney representing the assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin a loaded gun on the set of the film Rust says it was not her client's responsibility to confirm whether the weapon was safe to use or not - contradicting his previous admission that he should have checked the gun beforehand.

'He's not responsible for checking it,' declared Lisa Torraco, lawyer for Rust assistant director David Halls, in a televised interview with Fox News Monday night.

'That's not the assistant director's job.'

Torraco then further clarified to interviewer Martha MacCallum: 'If he chooses to check the firearm because he wants to make sure that everyone's safe, he can do that, but that's not his responsibility.'

Lawyer Lisa Torraco, representing Rust assistant director David Halls, declared in a televised interview with Fox News Monday night that her client was not responsible for checking' whether the gun he allegedly handed to Alec Baldwin that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was safe to use or not. She also would not concede her client gave the actor the gun

According to search warrant executed by the Santa Fe County sheriffs last week, Halls acknowledged to police that he should have checked all the rounds loaded in the prop gun before it was given to lead actor Baldwin, who accidentally shot two crew members on the Santa Fe set.

Halls told investigator that he 'couldn't recall if he spun the drum' before the fatal shooting October 21, which injured director Joel Souza and left the film's 42-year-old cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, dead.

'David advised the incident was not a deliberate act,' one detective wrote in the report.

Souza also told Santa Fe police that his assistant director was supposed to check the gun before handing it to Baldwin, but could not recall if he had actually done it.

'He advised he should have checked all of them, but didn't,' the warrant read.

Torraco, however, says that Halls' job description as an assistant director did not require him to check the gun.

'Expecting an assistant director to check a firearm is like telling the assistant director to check the camera angle or telling the assistant director to check sound or lighting,' Torraco told MacCallum Monday night.

Torraco also insisted that Halls did not handle the gun the day of the incident - contradicting investigator's accounts detailed in the affidavit.

Assistant director David Halls is reportedly one of three people, aside from Baldwin, to handle the loaded gun before the tragic accident. The other crew members to handle the weapon were armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and prop master Sarah Zachry

'This idea my client grabbed the gun and handed it to Baldwin absolutely did not happen,' the attorney attested in Monday's interview, before backtracking and deflecting questions concerning whether or not Halls physically passed the gun to the actor.

MacCallum then pressed the attorney, asking her point-blank if Halls 'doesn't know if he handed the gun to Alec Baldwin.'

'The armorer brought the weapon in,' Torraco replied, referring to the film's rookie gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, while dodging MacCallum's question concerning who handed the gun to Baldwin.

'The armorer opens the firearm,' Torraco continued. '[Halls] didn't load it.'

Torraco's televised spot came hours after her client spoke out about the incident for the first time.

In a statement Monday addressing the October 21 shooting, Halls called Hutchins his 'friend' and asked the industry to 'reevaluate' its values.

'I'm shocked and saddened by her death,' Halls said. 'It's my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to reevaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again.'

Despite breaking his silence, the assistant director failed to address reports that he was one of the three people to handle the loaded gun before the tragic accident that killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza

Rust assistant director Halls issued his first statement since the October 21 shooting in the Santa Fe filming set that killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza

'Halyna Hutchins was not just one of the most talented people I've worked with, but also a friend,' he added.

Despite breaking his silence, the assistant director failed to address reports that he was one of the three people, aside from Baldwin, to handle the loaded gun before the tragic accident.

The other two were armorer Gutierrez-Reed and prop master Sarah Zachry.

During Monday's interview, however, Torraco stated that she and her team have interviewed another crew member - who she referred to as a 'he,' - who the lawyer says a'checked' the firearm before it was handed off to Baldwin.

Torraco did not provide any further details as to the mystery crew member's identity.

The revelation contradicts reports given by investigators, who have previously stated that only Halls, Baldwin, armorer Gutierrez-Reed and Zachry handled the gun in the hours before the shooting.

Torraco also stated that she has spoken to some crew members who were working on the film's Santa Fe set the day of the incident, who recall Gutierrez-Reed, not Halls, handing the weapon to Baldwin.

She then added that others recall seeing Halls pass it to the actor directly after being passed the weapon by Gutierrez-Reed himself.

According to several other reports and witness accounts, Baldwin received the gun from Halls.

Torraco, however, told MacCallum that that 'doesn't matter' - because it's 'not the assistant director's job' to check the gun.

Halls had reportedly declared it a 'cold' weapon, meaning it was loaded only with blanks, without having checked all the rounds in the gun barrel. Above, Alec Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in Santa Fe

Search warrants reveal that Halls, and everyone else on the set, was unaware the gun he handed Baldwin contained live ammunition.

Halls had reportedly declared it a 'cold' weapon, meaning it was loaded only with blanks, without having checked all the rounds in the gun barrel.

Halls spoke out just hours after the haunting final words of Hutchins as she lay dying on the Rust Santa Fe film set were revealed.

'That was no good. That was no good at all,' Hutchins, 42, said seconds after she was fatally shot by Baldwin.

Hutchins' last words came after lead actor Baldwin discharged a prop Colt .45 revolver that was supposed to be loaded with blanks but contained live ammunition, and were reported Sunday by the Los Angeles Times after a slew of interviews with cast and crew.

DailyMail.com exclusively obtained photos from the late mother-of-one's wedding day 16 years ago, which show the Ukraine-born woman adorned in a long, white gown, accompanied by her parents Olga and Anatoly Androsovych, and her husband, Matt Hutchins.

DailyMail.com has obtained exclusive photos of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured in the white wedding gown) on her wedding day 16 years ago, with husband Matt Hutchins (second from left) and parents Olga Androsovych (at far left) and Anatoly Androsovych

'That was no good. That was no good at all,' the 42-year-old mother-of-two said seconds after she was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of indie Western Rust on October 21 before succumbing to her injuries

Hutchins' last words came after lead actor Baldwin discharged a prop Colt .45 revolver that was supposed to be loaded with blanks but contained live ammunition, and were reported Sunday by the Los Angeles Times after a slew of interviews with cast and crew.

'What the f**k just happened?' Baldwin reportedly asked cast and crew members after the shot went off, and Hutchins suddenly stumbled back into head electrician Serge Svetnoy's arms. Director Joel Souza also hit the deck after being grazed.

DailyMail exclusively reported that Halls had reputation for being laxed with safety and was 'flippant' toward firearms on previous movie sets.

As police investigate what exactly happened in the moments leading up to the tragic accident, pyrotechnicians and prop masters who worked with Halls on other projects told DailyMail.com about their concerns about him.

One crew member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being blacklisted, told DailyMail.com that he'd worked with Halls on two similarly low-budget sets in Los Angeles in spring 2019, one where a revolver and Glock were used, and another involving shotguns.

Each morning they'd have a meeting to discuss the weapons and other safety issues, an industry standard. But he said Halls didn't think they were needed.

'He was very flippant about my insistence on having a safety meeting about the weapons, on both of the sets,' said the crew member, who asked to use the pseudonym 'Jay' and has worked on films for 10 years.

'He would rush through it and say, alright guys, be safe, let's get to work.'

'Even though the guns were not loaded, you have to treat it as if it always is,' he said. 'And for me that means doing a safety meeting that may be seen as unnecessary but should absolutely be done so that everyone is on the same page.'

'He would rush through it and say, alright guys, be safe, let's get to work'

'Systemically, so much pressure is put on the first assistant directors to meet a schedule, to 'make the day,' meaning to get all the work done that you already have scheduled for the day,' he continued.

'When it comes to safety on set, or having to wait for anything, because safety takes time, I have seen 1st ADs get annoyed for having to wait.

'But they ultimately understand it needs to be done. But when I worked with him, it was the only time I've had any AD ask me, 'Do we really need to have a safety meeting?''

On both sets, no live bullets were used, and no guns were pointed at another person. Camera angles made it appear as if the guns were on target. And before anyone placed their finger on a trigger, an 'armorer' or person on set responsible for weapons, would shine a flashlight down the barrel to show no blockage or potential projectile.

'When you fire, no projectile is supposed to come out, though it still could be dangerous,' Jay said. 'That's where there are rules. You don't aim it at anybody at any time.'

Sources on the set of Rust said the incident that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins could be tied to the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

And in no instance would an assistant director ever touch the gun, he said.

'His job is to check the guns, visually, check them with the actor and with the steward on set who is the property person or the armorer,' Jay said.

'The chain of custody for the gun should only be between the armorer, the property person and the actor directly handling it.'

On the set of Rust, Jay said, first of all there shouldn't have been any live ammunition on the set.

But he believes Hall is primarily responsible for the tragedy because he reportedly shouted 'cold gun' without having visually inspected the weapon to 'clear the gun.'

'That's what makes me feel he is in every way responsible,' Jay told DailyMail.com.

'First of all, he was never supposed to handle that prop. Then he declared it a cold gun. It literally takes just a few seconds to check the gun to make sure it's safe.

'He had no idea if it was a cold gun, so why make that announcement?

The crew were filming a scene inside this church when the shooting happened on Thursday. Production has now been halted

'If it weren't for the actions he took in those few seconds, I believe Halyna would still be alive,' he concluded.

Maggie Goll, a pyrotechnician who worked with Halls in 2019 for a Hulu series Into The Dark, told DailyMail.com that she complained to the Directors Guild of America about him after he tried to push on with filming despite a crew member having a diabetic fit.

The crewmember was also a pyrotechnician who was needed on set to supervise a scene involving a fireplace filled with 100 candles. When he collapsed, Goll said she extinguished everything and called for an ambulance but Halls wanted to keep shooting.

On that same shoot, she says he 'neglected to hold safety meetings'.

'Dave neglected to hold safety meetings or make announcements prior to the appearance of a firearm on set on a daily basis.

'The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon's presence was because the Assistant Prop Master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day.

A girl pays her respects at a vigil held for Halyna in Burbank, California, on October 23

'This Asst Prop Master would announce each day when a gun would be required on camera, the disposition of that weapon - whether it was a rubber/plastic replica, a non-firing option, or a 'cold' functional but unloaded option, allowing anyone to inspect said weapon prior to bringing it to set and presenting it to the talent.

'The Prop Master also was extremely vigilant in reclaiming any distributed weapons prior to the talent leaving set.

'The Prop Master frequently admonished Dave for dismissing the talent without returning props, weapon included, or failing to make safety announcements.'

After the shoot, she says she filed multiple complaints with a safety line and tried to contact the Directors Guild of America but 'nothing was done'.

'That was the last I saw of Dave and that AP. That is, until I saw Dave's name pop up in relation to the accident on the set of 'Rust.'

'I am gutted at not pushing harder for greater accountability and safety.

'Many of us have messaged each other wondering the same thing: is there something we could have done then that would have prevented the tragedy in New Mexico yesterday?

'It is a horrible feeling,' she said.
Dozens of migrants have been pictured arriving into the UK today as the number of those making the perilous journey across the Channel this year nears 20,000.

The large group, which included a young girl of primary school age, were intercepted and brought ashore in Dover, Kent on Border Force's cutter Hunter on Tuesday morning.

Pictures showed the desperate migrants' would-be vessel, a floral and flimsy-looking inflatable raft that would likely be used by holidaymakers.

Around 12 men were sat in a white and blue rigid hulled inflatable boat being towed into harbour by Border Force shortly after 8am. They were followed by another 10 people draped in blue blankets for warmth around 45 minutes later.

A third group consisting of around eight migrants wearing orange lifejackets were brought in on a Border Force boat shortly afterwards.

At around midday, a girl of primary school age was pictured aboard the RNLI Dover Lifeboat when it returned to harbour with close to 30 migrants.

It comes as there new figures showed a near sixfold increase in the number of migrants crossing the Channel compared to October last year.

Dozens more migrants have risked their lives undertaking the perilous crossing in the English Channel aboard flimsy inflatable rafts (pictured left). Right: The group in Dover, Kent

The group, who are pictured above largely wearing masks, saw their vessel intercepted by Border Force on Tuesday morning

The migrants chat and smile as they are pictured aboard Border Force's cutter Hunter on Tuesday morning

A mere 475 made the crossing in October 2020, compared to 2,669 that made the journey despite poor weather conditions last month. Above: Migrants in Dover, Kent on Tuesday

So far in 2021, 19,742 migrants have successfully made the dangerous journey, dwarfing the 8,410 who arrived the previous year.

The Home Office has been contacted to confirm how many migrants have arrived today.

Should more than 258 arrive today, the total figure for this year would exceed the landmark of 20,000.

More are expected to make the perilous 21-mile journey across the Dover Strait throughout the day due to good visibility - but conditions at sea remain choppy.

The RNLI's Dover Lifeboat went out around 9.30am and is believed to be rescuing around 40 more migrants.

They are among the first arrivals in a week since 145 arrived in five boats last Tuesday (October 26).

Stormy weather has made the treacherous trip even more life-threatening - as tragically shown when at least one migrant was presumed dead in an emergency incident off Harwich, Essex.

Their very tiny boat is believed to have drifted off course in the high winds and could have been at sea for as long as 72 hours before two migrants were rescued.

It comes as new Home Office stats showed a mere 475 migrants crossed the Channel in October 2020, compared to 2,669 that made the perilous journey despite poor weather conditions last month.

The massive increase means that a total of 19,741 migrants have made the crossing so far this year, double the 8,420 that arrived in the whole of 2020.

The Home Office also revealed the French authorities intercepted 15,000 crossings with an interception rate of 43 per cent.

September saw the highest monthly total with 3,879 migrants making the dangerous crossing.

It is estimated that the annual total could reach 22,000, triple that of last year, according to the Times.

Masked migrants are brought to shore by Border Force officials aboard their cutter Hunter

The large group are taken ashore in Dover, Kent for processing by Border Force officials on Tuesday, November 2

More are expected to make the perilous 21-mile journey across the Dover Strait throughout the day due to good visibility - but conditions at sea remain choppy

There are allegedly around 2,000 migrants near Calais waiting for people smugglers.

Many are living in 'desperate' conditions as the cold winter months approach and are risking their lives daily trying to board dinghies and lorries.

The UKs clandestine Channel threat commander, Dan OMahoney, said: 'These dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings are facilitated by violent criminal gangs profiting from misery, and more people will die as long as they continue.

'We are working with the French to stop boats leaving their beaches and crack down on the criminals driving these crossings.

'Our broken asylum system acts as a magnet for illegal migrants. The governments new plan for immigration will fix the system, making it firm on those who abuse it and fair on those in genuine need.'

Priti Patel wants to grant Border Force officers immunity from prosecution if migrants die during her new operation to 'turn back' small boats crossing the Channel.

The Home Secretary has previously approved the plan which would see migrants boats intercepted and turned back to France by officers on jet skis.

A mere 475 made the crossing in October 2020, compared to 2,669 that made the journey despite poor weather conditions last month

September saw the highest monthly total with 3,879 migrants making the dangerous crossing

Currently, sailors are obliged to rescue 'a person in distress at sea' under international maritime laws and failure to do so could result in up to two years in prison.

But the government is trying to pass the Nationality and Borders Bill through Parliament, which would give Border Force officials immunity from prosecution during their 'turnback' operations.

The plans have been criticised by opposition MPs, and charities, while France has branded the tactics 'illegal'.

Border Force currently has existing powers to intercept migrant boats attempting to cross the Channel once they reach UK waters.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has fired back at Andrew Cuomo's claim that her report on the sexual harassment allegations against him was a politically motivated ploy to launch her candidacy for governor.

Speaking to reporters on Monday in Manhattan days after announcing her own candidacy, James defended her August report that led directly to Cuomo's resignation as governor, according to the New York Post.

'Listen, we completed our investigation. Our investigation included thousands and thousands of pieces of evidence and substantiated and corroborated all of the allegations,' she said.

'The Sheriff of Albany County has engaged in an independent investigation and my work is done. But I believe the women,' added James, an elected Democrat.

The fierce war of words comes as the 2022 New York governor's race heats up, with James openly challenging Cuomo's replacement, Democrat Kathy Hochul, and Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly mulling his own bid for the Executive Mansion.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has fired back at Andrew Cuomo's claim that her report on the sexual harassment allegations against him was politically motivated

James was responding to a series of blistering statements from the Cuomo camp, accusing her and Sheriff Craig Apple of a pursuing a politically motivated 'sham'

James was responding to a series of blistering statements from the Cuomo camp, accusing her and Sheriff Craig Apple of a pursuing a politically motivated 'sham' after Apple filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo without consulting prosecutors or informing the accuser, who says the Democrat groped her late last year.

The one-page complaint filed in Albany City Court accuses Cuomo of forcible touching by putting his hand under a woman's shirt on December 7.

The complaint did not name the woman, but she has identified herself as Brittany Commisso, who worked as one of Cuomo's executive assistants before he resigned amid sexual harassment allegations in August.

On Sunday, the Cuomo camp had issued a lengthy statement saying that 'Sheriff Apple and Tish James have epitomized the worst combination of politics, incompetence and abuse of the law.'

'Despite Apples claim that there is "overwhelming evidence", he has offered zero evidence corroborating the claim. Likewise the James report did not offer any corroborating evidence of the claim,' the Cuomo statement added.

James on Monday responded saying: 'This is nothing more than an attempt by the former governor to undermine and politicize this report.'

'I believe the women. They obviously told their truth. And we are going to stand by our report,' she added, according to NY1.

Cuomo is pictured with Brittany Commisso, the former aide who claims he groped her breast in the Executive Mansion in November 2020. The picture was taken in 2019 and she says he'd touched her behind shortly before it was taken

Cuomo's loyal spokesman Rich Azzopardi fired back at James in a statement on Twitter, calling her a 'Gubernatorial-wannabe'.

James 'has refused to answer for the countless mistruths, mistakes and outright deceptions' in her 168-page report detailing sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, said Azzopardi.

'Every time James is asked about it, it's the same platitudes and deflections. It's clear she thinks New Yorkers are stupid but they know she won't discuss it because she can't defend it,' he added.

In a letter to Sheriff Apple on Saturday, Cuomo lawyer Rita Glavin demanded that the sheriff's office preserve all records related to the case, including any notes of conversations it had with the woman who accused the ex-governor of groping her, Brittany Commisso.

It also asked for records of any communications with two legal teams that investigated Cuomo's conduct, one that worked for the state Assembly and another for Attorney General Letitia James.

A preservation letter is a standard legal tactic. Criminal defendants are entitled to a broad scope of evidence and other material related to an investigation, which is typically turned over before trial.

Cuomo resigned from office in August after investigators working for James authored a report concluding he had sexually harassed 11 women, including Commisso.

At a news conference Friday, Apple said he was confident in the strength of the case and insisted politics played no role. He also called the governor's operatives 'bullies.'

At a news conference Friday, Sheriff Apple said he was confident in the strength of the case and insisted politics played no role. He also called the governor's operatives 'bullies'

The complaint, which was signed by an investigator from the Albany County Sheriff's Office, alleges that the former governor 'intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly place his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim and onto her intimate body part'

Sheriff Apple insisted on Friday that the sexual assault charge is not a political ploy by James, despite it being released on the same day as she announced her own run for governor.

Cuomo's team has accused her of purposely ignoring evidence in his favor because she wanted him out of office.

Sheriff Apple called it 'ridiculous' to insinuate that the police department was doing a 'political hit job' and ensured the public they had 'overwhelming evidence,' as he announced Cuomo will have to get a mug shot.

'How is the Albany County Sheriff doing a political hit job? That is ridiculous,' he said.

'We have an overwhelming amount of evidence, we have a victim who has been cooperating fully every day, every step of the way. As far as conviction, that's going to be down to the jury, the judge I feel very confident that the DA is going to prosecute this. We met our burden as far as probable cause and we have filed.'

Commisso claimed that she felt violated and that Cuomo wouldn't 'touch his mother' the way he did her. He has always denied her claims

Announcing her run for governor in 2022 on Friday James said: 'New Yorkers need a governor who isn't afraid to stand up to powerful interests on behalf of the vulnerable.

'Throughout my career, I've taken on big forces and New Yorkers know I will never back down when it comes to fighting for them. Today, I am proud to announce my candidacy for governor of New York so we can bring transformational change that uplifts all New Yorkers.'

Apple defended his decision to file a criminal complaint against Cuomo, 63, without consulting prosecutors or informing the accuser, a woman who says she was groped by the Democrat last year.

'We didn't want everybody to know exactly what we were doing because we didn't want all this, the circus,' Craig said in an interview with radio host Paul Vandenburgh on Albany's Talk 1300.

Apple also said he did not intend for the criminal charges to become public so soon, but he said the case should go forward.
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American Heather Mack, who was convicted of helping murder her mother and stuff the body in a suitcase, was seen holding hands with her prison-born daughter Stella Schaefer, 6, as they were deported from Indonesia to America on Tuesday.

The mother and daughter were escorted by a heavy security presence through Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali as they got set to fly to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, on Tuesday before heading to Mack's hometown Chicago.

Mack, 26, and her ex-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer were convicted of killing Mack's mother, wealthy socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, and stuffing the body in a suitcase at a luxury Bali hotel in 2014.

Mack was released from prison on Friday for good behavior after serving seven years and two months - 34 months earlier than her initial 10-year sentence. Tommy Schaefer, who was also convicted in the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and remains in prison.

Heather Mack, 26, left, was seen holding hands with her prison-born daughter Stella Schaefer as they were escorted through an airport in Indonesian to be deported to America on Tuesday

Mack and Stella headed through Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali as they got set to fly to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, on Tuesday before heading to Chicago, where Mack lived before the murder

Mack was sentenced to 10 years in 2015 for aiding in the murder of her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, and then stuffing her body in a suitcase

Mack was escorted by security to the airport in Indonesia before she and her daughter Stella were deported

Mack gave birth to her daughter Stella during the trial and raised her in prison until she turned two when she was put into the foster care system in Indonesia

Stella arrived at the airport Tuesday with Mack's lawyer and was taken to a departure area to meet her mother. She had been staying with a friend for most of the time Mack was incarcerated

Stella arrived at the airport Tuesday with Mack's lawyer and was taken to a departure area to meet her mother. She had been staying with a friend for most of the time Mack was incarcerated.

According to Jamaruli Manihuruk, head of Bali's Law and Human Rights Ministry, Mack had requested that her daughter remain in Bali, but that request was denied.



'She can't leave her daughter,' Manihuruk told DailyMail.com.

The badly beaten body of Mack's mother, wealthy Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was found in a suitcase inside the trunk of a taxi parked at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.

The killing generated national and international attention for years, in part because of photographs of the suitcase that appeared far too small to hold an adult womans body.

Heather Mack, 26, was driven away Tuesday as she prepared to begin her journey from Jakarta to Chicago on Delta Airlines. She has previously expressed her concerns over returning to her hometown

Mack is returning to Chicago with her six-year-old daughter Stella, seen here Tuesday, with whom she was pregnant at the time of von Wiese-Mack's murder

Stella was born during Mack's trial and raised in prison with her mother until she was 2-years-old then handed over to an Australian woman, Oshar Suartama, who befriended Mack during the murder trial in 2014

Mack, who was almost 19-years-old and a few weeks pregnant, and her then-21-year-old boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were arrested a day later after they were found at a budget hotel about six miles from the St. Regis.

Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly before her parents were convicted in 2015. Under Indonesian law, she was allowed to live with her mother in her cell in Kerobokan female prison until she turned two, when Mack gave custody of her young daughter to an Australian woman, Oshar Suartama, who befriended Mack during the murder trial in 2014, until her release from prison.

Until she was freed on Friday, Mack had not seen her daughter for about 20 months because authorities halted prison visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her attorney, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said earlier that Mack had asked for the girl, who is now six-years-old, to remain with her foster family to avoid media attention in the U.S. However, Indonesian regulations refused.

'Minors must be accompanied by their mothers when their mothers are deported. There is no policy that allows a mother to leave her underage child here,' said Amrizal, chief of the Bali immigration office.

She expressed her fears of returning to Chicago with Stella to The New York Post: 'I am fearful and nervous of returning to Chicago. I'm not worried about the idea that people cannot understand the tragedy for my sake. But I'm nervous for [my daughter] Stella.'

'I'm scared that if she comes back to the States with me, she will be exposed to what happened.'

'I do not want anyone shoving a camera into Stella's face. I know that it will happen to me but I will do my best to protect Stella from that trauma.'

Mack is seen inside an immigration car, after being released from Kerobokan Prison in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on Friday. She was released 34 months early for good behavior

Mack was escorted by immigration officers to Immigration detention center in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia on Friday

Heather Mack and Tommy Schaefer were in a Bali when they murdered Heather's mother Sheila von Wiese-Mack in a hotel room

Mack (left) and von Wiese-Mack (right) had a very strained relationship with Chicago police being called multiple times over the years

Police inspect a bloodied suitcase containing von Wiese-Mack's broken corpse in August 2014

Macks sentence was shortened by President Joko Widodo by a total of 34 months due to reductions often granted to prisoners on major holidays because of good conduct.

After being released, Mack stayed at an immigration detention center for four days while waiting for her flight tickets and travel documents to be ready.

She was closely escorted by immigration officers to Balis airport for a flight to Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon.

Jamaruli Manihuruk, chief of the Bali regional office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said she would fly from Jakarta to Chicago on Delta Airlines. He said his office has asked the central government to ban Mack from Indonesia for life.

Mack previously said that she does not plan to stay in Chicago, where she will be living with a friend, for long.

'I might get deported (back to America) on release but if that happens I hope it will only be for a maximum of six months. I'll return as quickly as I can,' she told DailyMailTV.

Mack was taken aback by the media crowded outside the prison awaiting her release on Friday: 'Oh my God, you are crazy,' she said as she left.

Lili, the prison chief warden, who goes by a single name, said that Mack was overjoyed at being released and also frightened, crying and almost fainting.

'All prisoners must be happy once they can leave the prison, including Heather,' Lili said.

'She felt happy, a little bit shocked, doubt, and a little bit worried when she found out she would leave the prison. But we tried to calm her down. She cried when she said goodbye to her friends inside.'

Wearing jeans and a t-shirt, with an orange safety vest on top, Mack was greeted by friends outside the prison, including the woman who raised her daughter.

Mack talks to prison officials as she prepares to step outside the prison gates on Friday

Mack was shocked and surprised, delighted and frightened when she found out she was being released, the warden said

Mack previously told the press that she was nervous about returning to Chicago and did not plan to stay longer than six months

Sheila von Wiese-Mack, 62, was murdered by her daughter's boyfriend in Bali in 2014

She reportedly had a troubled relationship with her mother, with officials in the U.S. confirming that police had been called to the familys Oak Park, Illinois, home dozens of times.

Von Wiese-Mack repeatedly filed and eventually dropped charges against her daughter throughout her teenage years. At one point, Mack spent a week in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in 2010 and placed on psychiatric holds due to her violent outbursts.

Mack dropped out of high school in 2014 and became pregnant while dating Schaefer, an unemployed aspiring rapper. Von Wiese-Mack reportedly booked the Bali vacation in an attempt to convince her daughter to terminate her pregnancy.

Bali police said the hotels surveillance camera showed that Mack and Schaefer had argued with the girls mother in the lobby of the hotel shortly before the killing, which allegedly took place inside a room in the hotel.

The young couple allegedly plotted to murder von Wiese-Mack and split her $1.6 million estate. Mack has since settled a legal battle with her mother's estate and will not receive 'any property, benefit, or other interest.'

The sole beneficiary on von Wiese-Mack's estate will be Mack's daughter.

Schaefer testified in court that von Wiese-Mack was angry at him when she learned about her daughters pregnancy. He said she insulted him and Mack, wanted her to get an abortion and strangled him in a heated argument before he beat her to death with a fruit bowl.

Prosecutors said Mack hid in the bathroom during the attack but later helped stuff her mothers body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

Later video from the corridor showed Mack bringing a cart to move the suitcase and Schaefer carrying the suitcase to the cart. Video also showed the couple talking to a taxi driver. The two allegedly abandoned the suitcase in a taxi and left through the hotels back door.
White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said Tuesday morning that President Joe Biden was 'wide awake' after he was seemingly caught snoozing during a session at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow Monday afternoon.

'When I saw the president yesterday, he wasn't just wide awake, but he was really on fire,' she told Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski without prompting. 'He's really excited to have the United States in action here in Glasgow.'

Brzezinski didn't ask McCarthy directly about the video of Biden that went viral, where he looked to be dozing off as one speaker underscored the importance of taking action on climate change.

He opened his eyes and appeared to liven up when his body man walked up to him to chat.

The 78-year-old Biden then sat forward and rubbed his eyes as Italy's prime minister took the stage.

The apparent cat nap, caught the attention of conservative critics online, as former President Donald Trump had nicknamed Biden 'Sleepy Joe' during the 2020 campaign.

White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said Tuesday morning that President Joe Biden was 'wide awake' after he was seemingly caught snoozing during a session at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow Monday afternoon

'When I saw the president yesterday, he wasn't just wide awake, but he was really on fire,' Gina McCarthy (right) told Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski (left) without prompting. 'He's really excited to have the United States in action here in Glasgow'

President Biden's whirlwind European tour appears to be catching up with him, as the 78-year-old was caught resting his eyes during the opening remarks of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow

The president looked to be dozing off as one speaker underscored the importance of taking action to save the climate

Biden opened his eyes and appeared to liven up when an aide, his so-called 'body man,' walked up to him to chat

'Even Biden couldn't stand hearing so much about the Global Warming Hoax, the 7th biggest Hoax in America,' Trump said in an email, after seeing pictures of the snoozing Biden.

'...followed closely behind by the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2 and, of course, the "No Collusion" finding of the Mueller Report,' Trump added.

'Biden went to Europe saying Global Warming is his highest priority, and then promptly fell asleep, for all the world to see, at the Conference itself. Nobody that has true enthusiasm and belief in a subject will ever fall asleep!'

Later Monday, Biden took the stage to deliver his own warning on the impending doom of climate change.

'Climate change is already ravaging the world,' he told a crowd at the United Nations climate summit. 'It's not hypothetical.'

The president called climate change 'the existential threat to human existence as we know it.'

'This is a decisive decade in which we have an opportunity to prove ourselves,' Biden continued. 'We can keep the goal of limiting global warming to just 1.5 C if we come together.'

'We're still falling short. There's no more time to hang back or sit on the fence or argue amongst ourselves. This is a challenge of our collective lifetimes,' he continued. 'Glasgow must be the kick-off of a decade of ambition & innovation to preserve our shared future.'

The president took a swing at Donald Trump in a separate speech at the conference. 'I shouldn't apologize but I do apologize,' Biden said of Trump taking the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Biden concluded his speech: 'God bless you all and may God save the planet.'

Speakers were only allowed three minutes, but Biden's remarks went far beyond the allotment, coming in at over 11 minutes.

A digital countdown from three minutes began at the start of the speech, and after each minute a speaker went beyond the time a chime sounded. The chime went off eight times during Biden's remarks.

Biden wipes his nose during his speech at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow

MOUNTING QUESTIONS OVER BIDEN'S HEALTH WITH NO MEDICAL SINCE 2019 President Joe Biden's health and fitness for the job has come under scrutiny since he took office. His performance in interviews, especially a car crash appearance with ABC on Afghanistan in August, and his coughing during speeches has come into question. Last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki called out NBC News Kelly ODonnell for always asking about Joe Biden's health, as she deflected questions from another reporter about when the president will undergo a physical. Brian Karem, Playboy's White House correspondent and CNN's political analyst, asked Psaki about the long sought-after results of Biden's next check up at the close of Tuesday's press briefing. He said: 'Hey Jen, will he take a physical anytime soon and report it to the American public?' Psaki answered merely 'He will'. When pushed about whether it will be this year, she added: 'Kelly asks about this all the time. Shes keeping us on our toes.' The president has not released a medical report since the last update in December 2019. Since his inauguration this year, questions have been raised about Biden's physical and cognitive wellbeing. Psaki repeated her previous promise that once the president gets a physical - which she said in May would be before the end of 2021 - the administration would be 'transparent' about its findings. Previously, Biden has suffered two brain aneurysms and a heart condition which makes the muscle beat too fast, causing dizziness and confusion. A top cardiologist told MailOnline back in August that both conditions are linked to memory difficulties and confusion, as well as dementia. Advertisement

Boris Johnson has warned Cop26 delegates that the longer it takes to tackle climate change, the higher the cost will be when a 'catastrophe' forces world leaders to act.

Johnson said the world was in the same position as James Bond as he tries to deactivate a doomsday device in his films. But he said: 'The tragedy is this is not a movie and the doomsday device is real.'

Coining a phrase from activist Greta Thunberg, he warned that the promises to limit global temperature rises under the Paris Agreement would be 'nothing but blah blah blah' and the world's anger would be uncontainable unless Cop26 was the moment they got real about climate change.

Thunberg recently chastised Britain and other nations for 'empty words and promises', accusing them of delivering too much 'blah blah blah' instead of offering any real action.

Thunberg spoke at a climate demonstration nearby as the summit was taking place.

'No more blah blah blah, no more whatever the f*** they are doing inside there,' she said at Festival Park, Glasgow on Monday.

'Inside Cop, there are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our future seriously, pretending to take the present seriously. Change is not going to come from inside there, that is not leadership - this is leadership... We say no more blah blah blah, no more exploitation of people and the planet.'

Biden touched down in Scotland on Monday morning before promptly climbing into his huge motorcade to travel to a climate summit where he plans to tout American leadership on tackling carbon emissions, after spending the weekend in Rome meeting with Pope Francis and Italian leaders and attending the G2-.

After making the short hop from Rome in Air Force One - a modified 747 - his gas-guzzling convoy of more than 20 vehicles will raise fresh criticisms of hypocrisy.

At the G20 in Rome he used an 85-vehicle convoy, including vans for officials, secret service and journalists, as well as ambulances and communications systems.

He was greeted warmly by Johnson, British prime minister, and U.S. Secretary General Antonio Guterres when he arrived at the conference center. The leaders swapped elbow bumps and warm smiles.

The presidents of key polluters Russia and China are not attending the talks and India has said it will not be changing its reliance on coal any time soon.

Biden will today release a detailed plan to half carbon emissions by the end of the decade, compared with 2005 levels.

And he plans to launch a scheme to raise $3 billion a year to help developing countries adapt to climate change.

His national security adviser used the proposals to throw down a challenge to other nations.

'So the US is stepping up to do its part key,' said Jake Sullivan aboard Air Force One en route to Edinburgh.

'US allies Japan, Korea, the European Union, Canada, others are stepping up to do their part.

'And now the question is: Will some of the remaining countries step up to do theirs?'

Biden arrived from a G20 summit in Rome where he touted the power of America 'showing up.'

'What we've seen again here in Rome is what I think is the power of America showing up and working with our allies and partners to make progress in issues that matter to all of us,' he said, adding that allies wanted 'American leadership' to get things done.

Biden again relied on a cheat sheet of 'pre-approved' reporters as he held a press conference at the conclusion of the G20 summit in Rome on Sunday.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) listens to President Biden as they attend the climate conference

Biden meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during COP26

Climate envoy John Kerry leans in to speak to Biden during the opening stages of the COP26 summit in Glasgow

President Biden's motorcade burned through the Central Belt of Scotland from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow on Monday

It comprised more than 20 vehicles - plus police outriders - but was modest compared with the 85 vehicles he used in Rome

Biden's six-day trip to Europe will release an estimated two million pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

President Biden touched down at Edinburgh Airport on Monday morning ahead of arriving at the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, after making the short hop from Rome, Italy

Air Force landed in Scotland on Monday morning. Biden has been criticized for the amount of carbon emitted by his fleet of aircraft and cars during his Europe trip

Environmental campaigners with 'big heads' of key world leaders, including Biden, dressed in kilts gathered in Glasgow, marking the start of the Cop26 summit in the city on Monday

44% of Democrats want to REPLACE Joe Biden on the ticket in 2024 , shocking new poll finds Of left-leaning voters, 44 per cent want a different candidate on the Democratic presidential ballot in 2024 because they think another person would have a better chance of winning than current President Joe Biden. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National poll released Monday shows that 36 per cent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents think their party has a better chance putting Biden at the top of the ticket for a second term. Twenty per cent say they are unsure. Half of Republicans, however, said former President Donald Trump has a better chance of winning in 2024 than any other GOP candidate on the ticket. Another 35 per cent said they think someone else would have a better shot at winning the White House in 2024 than Trump and 14 per cent of Republicans and right-leaning voters said they are unsure. Trump has not said whether he is running again in 2024, but has given strong indications that he will announce after the 2022 midterms. Either way, more Democrats and left-leaning voters think a different candidate has a better shot of edging out a Republican competitor than Biden. Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he wasn't running just to serve for one term. The president's approval rating is dropping as Democrats prepare for the 2022 midterms, where they will try to retain their slim margins of control of the House and Senate  and possibly increase their majorities. Advertisement

As he opened up the floor to questions, at the start of the the press conference, the president seemed to be using a pre-ordained list of correspondents to call on.

'And now I'm happy to take some questions. And I'm told I should start with AP, Zeke Miller,' Biden said.

The preferred pecking order for the administration seems to be The Associated Press, The Washington Post, NBC News, Reuters and Bloomberg News.

Biden claimed other leaders sought him out as he fended off a

question about whether he could provide leadership amid falling poll numbers at home.

'The United States of America is the most critical part of this entire agenda, and we did it,' Biden said.

However, skeptics say few concrete measures were agreed on how to keep the world to temperature rises of less than 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels - a target set at the Paris climate summit in 2015.

And Biden lost key clean energy pledges from his Build Back Better agenda in recent weeks as the price for winning over opponents in his own party to its huge $3.5 trillion cost.

The Supreme Court could yet strip his administration of more powers to limit emissions.

Then there is the awkward matter of his travel arrangements.

His trip to Europe is estimated to release 2.2 million pounds of carbon.

The gigantic carbon footprint is comprised of 2.16 million pounds of carbon dioxide generated by the four large planes that comprise his airborne entourage on the trip to Italy and Scotland, where the president will speak at the COP26 summit on change in Glasgow, with the remainder emitted by Biden's cars.

His fleet is comprised of the heavily modified Boeing 747 he travels on, known as Air Force One when the president is on board, an identical decoy, and two huge C-17 Globemaster planes to carry his battalion of cars and helicopters.

But expect to hear more about American leadership, Biden's climate adviser Gina McCarthy told reporters.

'This is a message you're going to see from the president over the next two days and from dozens of cabinet officials who will be in Glasgow over the next two weeks: the United States is back at the table, we're back, hoping to rally the world to tackle the climate crisis,' he said.

She said the U.S. would release a plan to show it can half U.S. carbon emissions by 2023 from 2005 levels en route to its net-zero target by 2050.

'It illustrates how, within three decades, the U.S. can meet our global climate commitments by decarbonizing the power sector, electrifying transportation and buildings, transforming industry, reducing non-CO2 emissions, and reinvigorating our natural lands,' she said.

Special climate envoy John Kerry also pushed back on criticism that COP 26 was getting off to a lackluster start, with only modest action on the 1.5C target in Rome.

He said nations representing 65 percent of the world's GDP were committed to the effort.

'Obviously, if you have 65% in, you got 35% out, and that's the challenge coming out of Glasgow,' he said.

'Can those countries step up? How fast will they step up? What will they pledge to do over the course of the next years?'

Summit host Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, lambasted G20 leaders on Sunday, saying only 12 of 20 had promised concrete action on hitting net zero emissions by 2050.

'Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change,' he is expected to say during Monday's opening session, according to speech excerpts released by his office.

'It's one minute to midnight and we need to act now.'
A team of treasure hunters think they are 'on the brink' of unearthing a hoard worth up to 15 billion that has been hidden in a cave temple in Finland for centuries.

The group dubbed the 'Temple Twelve' began searching in 1987 with a famous 'mystic' who shared its location before his death, and have dedicated their summers to finding the treasure ever since in the labyrinthine cave complex near Helsinki.

After 34 years of work, the Temple Twelve now believe they are a matter of months from making a breakthrough, but will have to endure a long winter before they can once again access the caves that fill with freezing rainwater each year.

The group hopes that if it is found, the 'Lemminkainen Hoard' (as it is known) could represent the largest and most valuable trove ever to be discovered.

While there has been no evidence of its existence, the hoard is storied to contain over 50,000 gemstones including rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds, and at least 1,000 artefacts dating back thousands of years.

Several 18-carat gold life-size statues in human form are also supposedly all lying within the massive Sibbosberg cave system, found 20 miles east of Finland's capital.

Pictured: A team of treasure hunters work to excavate a cave system in Finland. The group believe they are now 'on the brink' of unearthing a hoard worth up to 15 billion

The treasure trove, believed to be worth up to 15 billion, is supposedly all lying untouched within the massive Sibbosberg cave system, found 20 miles east of Finland's capital, Helsinki. Pictured: One of the excavators inside the cave system

The hoard, said to be entombed in an underground temple in Sipoo, has remained elusive for three decades despite countless official explorations and the efforts of more than 100 professional prospectors from across the world.

Within the temple it is said there will be a spiralling hallway with smaller rooms jetting off it, which should store the treasure collected over generations during the heathen culture of ancient Finland.

It is believed that the last time the hoard was added to was as long ago as 987AD when the hall was filled and the entrance sealed and hidden away.

Since learning of the treasure's supposed location, The 'Temple Twelve' have spent six hours a day, seven days a week digging through the caves.

Who is Lemminkainen? Ior Block claimed that his family were direct descendants of Lemminkainen, a prominent figure in Finnish pagan mythology. The original Lemminkainen in mythology is a shamanistic figure which involves a person who is believed to interact with a spirit world through altered states of consciousness. The hero features prominently in the traditional mythology of Finland. The tales of Lemminkainen are featured in the Finnish national epic of Kalevala and there are many versions of the tales. But in most of the tales, Lemminkainen begins a journey to an otherworldly place where he has to overcome various obstacles. In the myths, the hero is tragically killed and his body is retrieved by his mother who tries to bring him back to life. In some versions of the myth, she succeeds. Advertisement

But now, after 34 years of searching and more than 100,000 hours of painstaking excavation, the group of 12 'penniless' friends and amateur excavators believe they are only metres away from the treasure, and expect to get into the cave next summer when they can access the cave system again.

The treasure's alleged existence first emerged in 1984, when local landowner and 'mystic' Ior Bock claimed that his family were direct descendants of Lemminkainen, a prominent figure in Finnish pagan mythology.

The cave system itself is known by some as the Temple of Lemminkainen.

According to Bock, who was stabbed to death murdered by a personal assistant in 2010, the chamber on his large estate was sealed up with huge stone slabs in the 10th-Century to protect the treasures within from invading armies.

His family had been keepers of the secret and 'guardians of the cave' since then, Bock claimed, prompting him to reveal the temple's existence to ensure its untold story would not die with him, beginning the 'Bock Saga'.

Bock was stabbed to death in his apartment in Helsinki in October 2010 and police arrested two Indian men aged 19 and 29 who had lived at the same property and worked as Bock's personal assistants.

The 19-year-old suspect was released by police and the 28-year-old was found not culpable by reason of insanity and in 2011 he was deported back to India, local media reported at the time. The motive remains unclear but police said there was a dispute before the stabbing.

The two men had been caring for Bock at the time after he was left quadriplegic and in a wheelchair following another attack in 1999 where he was stabbed multiple times by an acquaintance, reported local media.

Historian and author Carl Borgen, 60, the world's leading authority on the Lemminkainen Hoard, has chronicled the lives of the Temple Twelve and their bounty in his book 'Temporarily Insane'.

Pictured: A photograph showing the cave system, empty of water, with the 'Temple Twelve' digging at the far end of the passageway in the hope of finding the treasure

The treasure's alleged existence first emerged in 1984, when local landowner and famous mystic' Ior Bock (pictured in historical photographs) claimed that his family were direct descendants of Lemminkainen, a prominent figure in Finnish pagan mythology

Pictured: A map showing the cave system hidden in Finland's Sibbo region, near Helsinki. The map also details the cave system itself, its entrance and the water

The original team of 24 'like-minded strangers' - 12 men and 12 women - joined forces with Bock in 1987 to become the site's first and only permanent, self-funded excavation team.

Made up of members from Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, America and Germany, the team is a truly international group with zero archaeological experience.

Remarkably, 34 years after excavations first commenced, two of the original 24 remain despite at least half of the group having died or retired.

No hard evidence of the hoard has yet been found, but the Temple Twelve believe they have the tenacity to locate and remove the giant granite slabs from the temple door, and to finally get their hands on what's hidden inside.

Using rudimentary tools including spades and buckets, the group has so far removed several four-tonne blocks from the cave's entrance and have excavated around 400 tonnes of sediment below it.

Pictured left: The cave as seen when it is filled with water. Pictured right: The cave as seen with the 'Temple Twelve' having pumped out much of the water from the system

Pictured: A photograph of the Temple Twelve taking a break on a road near the cave. The original team of 24 'like-minded strangers' - 12 men and 12 women - joined forces with Bock in 1987. Of the original 24, just two remain after 34 years

The massive treasure hoard is supposedly all lying within the massive Sibbosberg cave system, found 20 miles east of Finland's capital, Helsinki. Pictured: A map showing the cave's location

The remaining sediment, and the granite slabs covering the temple door, could be removed within a matter of months thanks to a recent 'donation' of dynamite, according to Borgen. But they will have to wait.

Finnish weather means the digging season is confined to the summer months before the cave starts filling with freezing rainwater.

The group has to pump out more than 1.5million litres of water annually at the start of every season.

When digging resumes next year, the team is confident they will get into the cave entrance between May and September next year.

'I understand that significant progress at the temple has been made and that the crew are feeling especially excited about the months ahead,' Mr Boren said speaking from his home in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Pictured: A barefoot man digs inside the Lemminkainen Temple in Finland

Pictured: A painting of Lemminkainen, a prominent figure in Finnish pagan mythology, at the River of Tuonela, 1920. Lemminkainen is one of the heroes of the Kalevala - a collection of epic poetry - where his character is made up of several separate heroes of oral poetry

'There is now talk in the camp of being on the brink of a major breakthrough, which in real terms could be the discovery of the world's largest and most valuable treasure trove.

'So far, the Temple Twelve, as they have become known, have been able to remove several huge square granite rocks blocking the entrance to the cave, and have cleared the cave of hundreds of tonnes of smaller rocks and sediment.

'I spoke to them only last week and it is now their strong belief that, after more than 34 years of digging, they are now within metres of the temple entrance.'
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Leonardo DiCaprio is the latest A-lister to arrive at COP26 as it was claimed he took a commercial flight to Scotland after criticism about his own heavy carbon footprint as hundreds of rich eco-activists including billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates flew to Britain on private jets.

The megastar, 46, who describes himself as an 'actor and environmentalist', was mobbed as he arrived at the Glasgow SEC Centre with his entourage at around Midday.

His decision to shun a private jet came after he was called an eco-hypocrite for his use of VIP planes. In 2016 it emerged the Oscar-winner flew 8,000 miles from France to New York and back on one just to accept an award on climate change.

Today he was swept into the Scottish conference centre by police and bodyguards just as US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared together at an event where they shared their vision for a 'Build Back Better World' and the need to invest trillions in fighting climate change and creating millions of green jobs.

Wearing sunglasses and a smart suit with matching mask, Leo, a good friend of Greta Thunberg, was ushered by security through big crowds having reportedly flown into Edinburgh via London on commercial planes before heading to Scotland's largest city yesterday.

This afternoon he headed to the Kew Carbon Garden at the UN climate change conference, backing The Royal Botanic Gardens' campaign to protect the Ebo Forest in Cameroon from logging, which is threatening endangered species, including its population of rare chimpanzees.

The Wolf of Wall Street actor, who is expected to speak at various COP26 fringe events, first popped up last night at a book launch hosted by environmentalists at The Engine Works venue in Glasgow's Maryhill district, in the north of the city.

Leo posed with Emmy nominated writer and producer Paul Goodenough and held a copy of his new climate change book: 'The Most Important Comic Book on Earth: Stories to Save the World'. Mr Goodenough shared a picture of them together with the caption: 'What a hero', and told his Instagram followers: 'He was wonderful and we chatted for ages despite everyone wanting a piece of him'.

Mr DiCaprio flew into the UK after he was spotted celebrating Halloween in LA and then holidaying in Hawaii for the week before that. Yesterday Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates arrived for the UN-run event by private jet, after parting in Turkey for Mr Gates' 66th birthday.

Leonardo DiCaprio arrives for day three of COP26 after jetting to Scotland using commercial planes rather than private jets

Leo wore sunglasses and was flanked by security as fans top pictures of him entering the United Nations Climate Change Conference today

Leonardo DiCaprio in Glasgow at a COP26 fringe event with Emmy nominated writer and producer Paul Goodenough, holding his new environmental comic book

Leonardo has worked on a number of documentaries about animal poaching and the environment, and was appointed a United Nations representative on climate change in 2014.

Kew Science, the research arm of Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, said he had visited its Carbon Garden space, where scientists will be highlighting the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change across Cop26.

A spokeswoman said the actor 'seemed to enjoy seeing the wonderful display of plants and messages about nature-based solutions to climate change that the Kew's display has on show'.

Mr DiCaprio attended COP25 in Madrid in 2019 where he met Greta Thunberg, calling the Swedish teenager the 'leader of our time' and revealing they had 'made a commitment to support one another'.

The friends are expected to meet in Glasgow this week, if they haven't already.

At COP25 he gave a speech on the plight of indigenous people in the Brazilian rain forest, upsetting the country's president Jair Bolsonaro in the process.

Mr Bolsonaro reacted furiously, and accused the actor of 'giving money to set the Amazon on fire'. He refused to expand on the allegations but it was understood to be a nod to the case of four volunteer firefighters arrested on allegations of starting fires to generate NGO donations. Mr DiCaprio has long supported NGOs financially.

Dozens of world leaders, business chiefs and eco-activists faced allegations of hypocrisy yesterday for taking private jets or domestic flights to Glasgow while telling the rest of the world to cut their carbon footprint.

Culprits included billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, US President Joe Biden and the Prime Minister.

Hours after telling delegates at Cop26 that the conference 'can and must mark the beginning of the end' of the climate change catastrophe, Boris Johnson admitted he would fly home to London from Glasgow rather than travel by rail.

His revelation came after Mr Bezos's 48million Gulf Stream private jet was pictured landing in Glasgow  flying in from Rome where he had discussed the climate crisis with Prince Charles. Private jets are the world's highest carbon-emitting form of transport.

Prince Charles himself was among those who travelled by non-commercial plane after attending the G20 summit in Rome. However, a spokesman for Clarence House said the flight made use of 'sustainable aviation fuel'.

As well as taking hundreds of carbon-polluting private flights since Sunday, VIPs will take advantage of electric vehicles  many of which will be charged by large generators which belch out nitrogen oxides because of a lack of charging provisions.

Critics said the move showed a 'complete lack of preparedness for the wholesale switch away from fossil fuel cars that we require'.

Mr DiCaprio looked dapper in sunglasses, a blue mask, a matching suit and a white suit as he arrived for the two week conference. He is yet to speak publicly in Scotland but is expected to give a speech

The actor, who also describes himself as an environmentalist, removed his sunglasses as he was surrounded by security

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio attends the UN Climate Change Conference. He has been a regular attendee at the events over the years

The actor flew to Scotland (left today) after enjoying a Hawaiian holiday at the end of October (right)

Mr DiCaprio hinted that he was going to attend in a series of tweets at the weekend but it was not known when he would show up

President Biden addressed the summit claiming the US 'would lead by the power of example' in the fight against climate change - after driving from Edinburgh to Glasgow in a 20-car motorcade.

Mr Biden arrived in Edinburgh yesterday on Air Force One, and was accompanied by three other planes and the Marine One helicopter.

On landing, an enormous motorcade including 'the Beast' presidential vehicle, a number of Range Rovers and Chevrolet SUVs carried the presidential party to Glasgow's Scottish Event Campus.

If all the vehicles are petrol-run, estimates show they will have pumped out 360kg of carbon over the 40-mile journey. It is estimated the entire journey for the President could generate up to 2.2million pounds of carbon.

Prince Albert of Monaco and representatives from the Bank of America also used private jets to fly to the conference, while the likes of German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron made use of official government aircraft.

It was estimated that as many as 400 private jets arrived for the conference. Conservative predictions suggest the fleet would emit 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in total  equivalent to the amount emitted by more than 1,600 Britons in a year. Many arrived from cities such as London, Stockholm, Rome and Brussels, which are served by commercial routes.

Pictured: A map showing Mr Bezos' journeys on Friday in Turkey (bottom-left) and from Turkey to Glasgow on Sunday (main). The Blue Origin founder is said to have made the 120-mile round trip journey by chopper from Gokova to the resort town of Fethiye on Friday. The jet fuel used to power helicopters emits 21.095 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon burned. Since helicopters use up approximately 10.75 miles per gallon, Bezos' helicopter emitted some 215 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. On Sunday, he then flew the roughly 2,000 miles from Gokova

Speaking today, billionaire Mr Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, said he had gained new perspective

Mr Bezos' Gulf Stream has led a 400-strong parade of private jets into COP26, including scores of royals and dozens of 'green' CEOs - amid an extraordinary traffic jam which forced empty planes to fly 30 miles to find space to park

Last night Labour's environment spokesman Luke Pollard said world leaders should be 'leading by example.'

'People have sympathy for world leaders flying in from the other side of the world but those coming domestically should be coming by train,' he said. 'The idea the Prime Minister will fly home from Cop26 after flying from London to Cornwall for the G7 smacks of being out-of-touch.

'In terms of Mr Bezos, if you want to have credibility in the debate, you have to not only be decarbonising your company, you should be demonstrating your commitment with your own actions, especially when you are one of the richest people on the planet.'

Greg Archer, UK director of the Transport and Environment campaign group, said: 'Business leaders and heads of state flying into the climate talks on private jets illustrates how totally out of touch they are with public opinion to urgently tackle the climate emergency.

'These jets cause as much heating of the planet during a three-hour return flight than the average Brit does in a year.'

Asked why Mr Johnson was not taking the train, the PM's official spokesman said he faced 'significant time constraints'.

The spokesman said the jet used by the PM this week produces half the emissions of his normal official plane, partly because of the use of 'sustainable' jet fuel. Carbon emissions relating to the flight will be 'offset' through schemes such as tree planting.

The spokesman defended the sight of hundreds of private jets flying in, saying it was important for leaders to meet face to face for such important talks.

Jeff Bezos tells COP26 how going to space made him realise 'how thin the globe's atmosphere' and says 'the private sector must also play its part to reduce carbon emissions'... after flying in on his 48million private jet

Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos said going to space made him realise 'how thin the globe's atmosphere is' and 'the private sector must also play its part to reduce carbon emissions' during a lecture to the world's leaders at COP26 today.

The billionaire has been criticised by Prince William among others for the amount of fossil fuel that space exploration consumes - and arrived at the UN climate change summit in his 48m private jet.

Speaking today, billionaire Mr Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, pledged $2billion (1.47 billion) for land restoration in Africa, paid as part of the Bezos Earth Fund.

He told delegates: 'I was told that seeing the Earth from space changes the lens through which you see the world. But I was not prepared for how much that would be true.

'Looking back at earth from up there, the atmosphere seems so thin. The world so finite and so fragile. Now in this critical year, and what we all know is the decisive decade, we must all stand together to protect our world.'

Mr Bezos, who has not yet been since with the Duke of Cambridge at the gathering, had previously indicated the investment would be $1billion (732million) at an event with William's father the Prince of Wales on Monday.

In an apparent rebuke the space race between billionaires, William had previously said we need the world's greatest brains and minds 'fixed on trying to repair this planet' - hours after Mr Bezos sent Star Trek's William Shatner into space last month.

In his interview about climate change, ahead of his inaugural Earthshot Prize awards, the royal also warned the Cop26 summit against 'clever speak, clever words but not enough action'.

Speaking today, billionaire Mr Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, said he had gained new perspective

epa09558982 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) greets Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon, for the Action on Forests and Land Use session at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow

He told delegates: 'I was told that seeing the Earth from space changes the lens through which you see the world. But I was not prepared for how much that would be true'

Pictured: Billionaire Jeff Bezos (centre) and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez (right) meet with Britain's Prince Charles (left) last night in Dumfries House's Blue Drawing Room on the eve of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow. 'The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world far longer than most. We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26  looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help'

Jeff Bezos sparked a backlash online after flying to Glasgow in a private jet to deliver a speech about climate change

Mail on Sunday columnist Dan Hodges wrote after the speech: 'Man who jetted off into space latest to lecture us about need for sustainability. COP26 is trolling us now'

Mr Bezos today said in his Cop26 speech: 'We must conserve what we still have, we must restore what we've lost and we must grow what we need to live without degrading the planet for future generations to come.

Outrage as billionaire eco warrior Bill Gates flies Jeff Bezos and FIFTY guests to Turkish beach resort from his $2M-a-week yacht for his 66th birthday Microsoft founder Bill Gates transported his guests by helicopter from his 1.8million-a-week rental yacht 'Lana' to the Sea Me Beach club in Fethiye Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos were slammed as hypocrites for lecturing the world on the need to combat climate change by reducing carbon footprint while at the same time reportedly vacationing on superyachts off the coast of Turkey. Multi-billionaire and Microsoft founder Gates celebrated his 66th birthday in Turkey in the company of fellow tycoon and Amazon founder Bezos on Friday. Bezos was among the 50 guests invited to Gates' private party beside the Mediterranean. It's not clear whether any of Gates' family helped him celebrate at his exclusive bash. Gates - once the richest man on earth who has dropped to fourth on the Forbes Rich List ranking with $124 billion - transported his guests by helicopter from his $2million-a-week rental yacht 'Lana' to the Sea Me Beach club in Fethiye. The jet fuel used to power helicopters emits 21.095 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon burned, and helicopters travel approximately 10.75 miles per gallon. According to reports, Bezos also traveled to Gates' superyacht by helicopter. The Blue Origin founder is said to have made the 120-mile round trip journey by chopper from Govoka to the resort town of Fethiye. Based on the same estimations, Bezos' helicopter emitted some 215 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Both Bezos and Gates are reportedly staying on superyachts - each of which emits 7,020 tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 19 tons per day. Advertisement

'Two thirds of the land in Africa is degraded, but this can be reversed.

'Restoration can improve soil fertility, raise yields and improve food security, make water more reliable, create jobs and boost economic growth, while also sequestering carbon.'

Mr Bezos added: 'Each year forests and landscapes absorb 11billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to slow climate change.

'As we destroy nature, we reverse this process. Cut down a forest, destroy the mangroves, pave over the prairies, and instead of sequestering carbon, we emit it.

'In too many parts of the world nature is already flipping from a carbon sink to a carbon source. This is a profound and urgent danger to us all.'

He said that he was 'honoured' to pledge $2billion to restore nature as part of the Bezos Earth Fund's '$10billion commitment to fight climate change, enhance nature, advance environmental justice and economic opportunity'.

On Sunday, MailOnline observed at least 52 private jets landing at Glasgow - while estimates put the total number flying in for the conference at 400.

Conservative predictions suggest the fleet of private jets arriving for COP26 will blast out 13,000tonnes of carbon dioxide in total - equivalent to the amount consumed by more than 1,600 Britons in a year.

Mr Bezos - who regularly lectures the world on climate change - arrived in Glasgow fresh from celebrating Microsoft founder Bill Gates' 66th birthday on a 2million-a-week superyacht off the coast of Turkey in an event that generated fresh claims of green hypocrisy.

He reached the boat by helicopter, according to reports.

Last night world leaders including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau joined hundreds for the biggest gathering of Government representatives since the birth of the United Nations - ahead of the last 'full' day of the COP26 summit today.

The congregation of leaders appeared in high spirits as they put disagreements on hold and capped off the first day at the COP26 climate conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall.

During the night the Prime Minister, who hosted the evening at the recently renovated gallery, told leaders the summit was 'quite an extraordinary historic event' and it was even more important because 'we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation'.

He also hailed Prince Charles as 'the man to defuse the bomb at the world's moment of danger' and described him as a 'prophet without honour'.

His comments came as world leaders prepare for a day make-or-break day negotiations during what will be the final day of the climate change conference for many of them  with leaders leaving delegates behind to negotiate on their behalf.

The lavish reception was opened by the Queen who urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech.

Mr Johnson's comments came after President Biden apologised for his predecessor Donald Trump taking the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord and pledged the US would up its financial stake in fighting climate change, arguing the biggest producers of it should be its biggest investors in fixing it.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship' as Government representatives attended the reception for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Prince William speaks to a group prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists at the Glasgow Science Center during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow today. Jeff Bezos has been criticised by Prince William among others for the amount of fossil fuel that space exploration consumes - and arrived at the UN climate change summit in his 48m private jet. The pair have not been spotted together

World leaders pose for a group photo during an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow

Boris Johnson, who hosted the event at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, hailed Prince Charles for his efforts in tackling climate change

She went on to say that 'none of us will live forever' and 'we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children, and those who will follow in their footsteps' as she urged leaders to reach decisive COP climate change deals.

In her most personal speech to date, the monarch also paid tribute to Prince Philip and described how 'the impact of the environment on human progress' was a subject close to the heart of her 'dear late husband' - who in 1969 told a gathering: 'If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.'

After the monarch's powerful speech, the Prime Minister said: 'What we've got today, as Her Majesty alluded to, is the biggest gathering of world leaders in this country since the foundation of the UN at the end of the Second World War, and it's quite an extraordinary historic event.

'But in a way, what we are doing today, is even more important, because we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation, to our way of life.'
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Kyle Rittenhouse's defense attorney said the N-word twice as he repeated the words of one the men his client shot dead who taunted the teenager at a Black Lives Matter protest last year.

Attorney Mark Richards echoed the words said by Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, who was filmed saying 'Shoot me n***a, shoot me n***a.' Rosenbaum, who is white, had allegedly threatened to kill Rittenhouse and a friend moments before he was shot.

The jury was also shown the rifle used in the killing, as well as a photo of the teenager shooting and killing a skateboarder in the chest following the confrontation with Rosenbaum

However, the defense argued Rittenhouse acted in self-defense after the man began beating him with the skateboard in order to 'decapitate' him.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the then-17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle purchase by his sister's boyfriend in August 2020, killing Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, during a Black Lives Matter protest in Wisconsin.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger said that when mayhem broke out in Kenosha in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, Rittenhouse was the sole individual who acted with reckless and malicious intent by shooting Rosenbaum in the back, shooting Huber in the chest and shooting Grosskreutz in the arm.

'Like moths to a flame, tourist were drawn to the chaos. There were hundreds of confrontation's that night, yet the only person who killed anyone was Kyle Rittenhouse,' Binger said.

The defense followed up with a 'record-number' of videos and photographs, according to Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, including the moment Rittenhouse shot Huber, to argue that the teen acted in self-defense and even tried to turn himself in before protestors began chasing him.

'Testimony will show that Rosenbaum said 'If I get either of you two alone, I'll kill you,'' said defense attorney Mark Richards, describing the moment Rosenbaum confronted Rittenhouse and a friend.

Kyle Rittenhouse, pictured yawning then smiling, began an expected two-week long homicide trial on Tuesday

Defense Mark Richards, center described a chaotic scene on the night of the protests that scared Rittenhouse and hindered his decision making that led to the two deaths that night. He showed photos of the moment Huber was shot

Black admitted that while he was armed for self-defense on the riot, Rittenhouse probably shouldn't have been

He added that Huber had beaten Rittenhouse with his skateboard, hitting his neck and head with the possible intent to 'decapitate him.'

Rittenhouse, now 18, had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a black man, in the back seven times after he said he feared Blake had a knife.

The officer was not charged and is now back on duty.

Dominick Black, who was there with Rittenhouse and faces charges for supplying the weapon to Rittenhouse, was the first witness to testify in the trial as he described the chaos of the night as he, Nick Smith and Rittenhouse tried to protect Car Source's property.

Black, who was dating Rittenhouse's sister and referred to him as a brother, described the night as chaotic and said he heard gunshots from the direction Rittenhouse ran towards to protect the property when he got a call from a frightening Rittenhouse.

'He said, 'I shot somebody! I shot somebody,' Black recalled.

He said the teen was pale, scared and 'sweating like a pig', and added that he helped convinced the Rittenhouse to turn himself into police following the riot. He said in hindsight, Rittenhouse should not have been armed that night.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts, one of attempted homicide and two of recklessly endangering safety for firing his weapon near others. He is also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

If convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious of the charges against him, Rittenhouse could face life in prison.

'I figure either way this goes you're going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly,' said one juror, a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about serving, who was chosen to serve.

Rittenhouse will testify that one of the men he shot threatened to kill him and a friend

Dominick Black, 19, was the first to testify in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse

Black, who was at the scene of the incident with Rittenhouse, purchased the rifle Rittenhouse used to kill two men. He said he was on the roof of a store when he got a call from the teen that he had killed someone

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder is overseeing Rittenhouse's trial. He told the jury to focus on the facts of the case alone to make their judgment

Faith, left, and Wendy Rittenhouse came out to the Kenosha County Courthouse for their brother's homicide trial

The defense claims Rittenhouse tried to turn himself in for shooting Rosenbaum, but was seized by a mob, including Huber, who they claimed tried to 'decapitate' Rittenhouse

The teen, who reportedly aspired to be a police officer, claims he went to the protest area in an effort to protect a Car Source property after two previous nights had been marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

He was armed with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle purchased by his sister's boyfriend, Dominick Black, who purchased the weapon for Rittenhouse because the teen was too young to legally buy it.

Black, who was there with Rittenhouse and faces charges for supplying the weapon, was the first witness to testify in the trial as he described the chaos of the night as he, Nick Smith and Rittenhouse tried to protect Car Source's property.

He said they were armed for protection given the violence that had taken place in Kenosha on previous nights. They were there earlier in the morning to clean up graffiti at the Car Source.

Black said that because Rittenhouse had a medical kit and medical-know-how, so he was on the ground during the riots while Black was station on the roof of the Car Source.

He described the crowd outside of Car Source as 'very violent, very upset,' and that they were threatening him and 'throwing stuff' at him.

While in Kenosha, Rittenhouse fatally shot Rosenbaum after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on August 25, 2020.

The two had been arguing after Rittenhouse put out a dumpster fire Rosenbaum had helped start near the Car Source. Black said Rittenhouse was asked to check out the fire just before the shooting.

Thomas Binger painted a narrative that Rittenhouse was the only person to act with malicious the night of the protests

Defense attorney Mark Richards, right, argued that Rittenhouse acted solely in self-defense during the chaotic night in Kenosha. He presented 41 photos and videos during his opening statement

Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi argued alongside Richards during the pre-trail book keeping

Rittenhouse received a message from another one of his attorneys, Natalie Wisco, left

Rittenhouse looks up at the ceiling during his double homicide trial

Rittenhouse took a seat as the trial got underway over his alleged double homicide

Dominick Black left the court room after finishing his testimony

The prosecution claimed Rosenbaum had confronted other armed men that night but suffered no ramifications because he appeared nonthreatening.

'No one takes him as a serious threat,' Binger told the jury.

Binger said prosecutors will present evidence that shows Rosenbaum was chasing Rittenhouse, but stopped when Rittenhouse pointed the rifle at him.

The prosecutors say that while Rittenhouse fired at Rosenbaum four times, it was a shot to the back that proved to be the killing blow, demonstrating that Rittenhouse had fired at the man while he was fleeing.

But the defense presented photographs of Rosenbaum's interactions with Rittenhouse and described Rosenbaum as an unhinged individual looking for trouble at the protest.

Richards claims Rosenbaum threatened to kill Rittenhouse and a friend as he chased them, and that the then-17-year-old was afraid that Rosenbaum would try to take him weapon from him and kill him.

Richards also claims that reporter Richard McGinnis, who Rittenhouse is charged with endangering, would testify to Rosenbaum's instability, saying that he let out a beast-like yell that was 'One of the scariest screams I have ever heard.'

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder has yet to decide whether or not the jury will hear testimony that Rosenbaum had admitted himself to a hospital before the riot or his previous legal history as he was seeing his girlfriend on the day of the riot who had a restraining order against him.

After Rittenhouse shot and killed Rosenbaum, Richards claims that he tried to turn himself into police custody but was turned away.

The defense described Rosenbaum as an unhinged individual through photos of him during the riots

The defense claims Rosenbaum, far left in the blue mask, help start a fire during the protest

The defense added that Rittenhouse had tried to turn himself in after shooting Rosenbaum

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum (pictured), 36, with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on August 25, 2020

Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber (pictured), 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin

He also wounded Gaige Grosskreutz (pictured on right), 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisc.

The Jacob Blake shooting that sparked the deadly Kenosha riots In August 2020, Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Jacob Blake, 29, in the back seven times in front of his children and left him paralyzed from the waist down while officers responded to a 911 call about an alleged 'domestic incident.' Sheskey, who joined the department in 2013, had been placed on administrative leave after the incident but returned to work on March 31 after the shooting was investigated 'by an outside agency.' A viral cellphone video showed Blake walking around the front of his car with Sheskey following and opening fire after Blake opened the door. Sheskey told investigators he opened fire because Blake 'held a knife in his hand and twisted his body toward' the officer, and that he didn't stop shooting until he determined Blake 'no longer posed an imminent threat'. The shooting of Jacob Blake rekindled massive protests at the end of last summer, just months after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were shot by police officers. Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times on August 23 in front of his children But investigators said the video was incomplete and failed to show that Blake was armed with a knife and had resisted arrest, arguing that it would have been hard to prove Sheskey was not acting in self defense. '[It] has been reviewed by an independent expert as well as the Kenosha County District Attorney. Officer Sheskey was not charged with any wrong doing. He acted within the law and was consistent with training,' Police Chief Daniel Miskinis wrote in the release. 'This incident was also reviewed internally. Officer Sheskey was found to have been acting within policy and will not be subjected to discipline.' Miskinis added: 'Although this incident has been reviewed at multiple levels, I know that some will not be pleased with the outcome; however, given the facts, the only lawful and appropriate decision was made.' The US Department of Justice launched its own investigation days after the shooting and determined that there was not enough evidence to prove Sheskey willfully used excessive force or violated Blake's federal rights. Advertisement

Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin.

The defense claims a mob descended on Rittenhouse when it was discovered that he shot and killed someone, with Huber being among those who attacked Rittenhouse.

A man the court has recognized as 'jump-kick man' landed a blow to Rittenhouse's face when Huber approached the teen with a skateboard and began beating him.

Richards argued that with the heft of the skateboard Huber was using and by hitting him in the head and neck, Huber could have been aiming to 'decapitate' Rittenhouse.

Huber then allegedly tried to make a grab for Rittenhouse's gun and as they wrestled, Rittenhouse fired the weapon as it was aimed at Huber's chest, killing the man.

Grosskreutz had been filming the scene when he also tried to disarm Rittenhouse. Grosskreutz himself was armed with a handgun when he approached Rittenhouse, who shot his arm.

The defense said Rittenhouse was kicked in the face by a man when he was being chased by a crowd

The defense presented a photo moments before Rittenhouse shot Huber

Rittenhouse (pictured left) traveled to Kenosha during a protest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a black man, in the back last summer

He faces two homicide counts, one of attempted homicide and two of recklessly endangering safety for firing his weapon near others. He is also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18

Rittenhouse's case has been polarizing, according to the Associated Press. The teen has been painted by his conservative supporters as a patriot exercising his self-defense and Second Amendment gun rights.

While others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe who never should have been armed in Kenosha in the first place.

About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed Monday after they expressed strong opinions about the case or worried that they couldn't be fair.

Others worried about their personal safety - 'No one wants to be sitting in this chair,' one woman said - but the 20-member panel was finally set by early evening.

Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot, but many are watching his trial as the latest referendum on race and the American legal system.

One of the jurors is a gun-owning woman with a high school education who said she was so afraid during the protests that she pulled her cars to the back of her house and made sure her doors were locked.

She said she went downtown in the aftermath and cried.

Another juror, a man, said he owns a gun and has it for 'home defense.' Another is a pharmacist who said that she was robbed at gunpoint in 2012 but that it would have no effect on her ability to weigh the evidence in this case.

Among those dropped from the case were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when 'all that happened' and a woman who said she watched a livestream video of the events and wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw.

One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction 'Thou shall not kill,' even in cases of self-defense.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon.

'I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public,' the woman said.
Police investigating the needle and drink spiking incidents in Sussex said today they had arrested a third man in connection with the attacks.

The 18-year-old from Brighton is one of three men who have now been arrested on suspicion of spiking by injection and in drinks during nights out amid a nationwide spiking 'epidemic' that has prompted backlash from students and nightclubs.

A 28-year-old man from Hove was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of administering poison with intent to injure, and a 19-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of the same offence.

Today a spokesman for Sussex Police said: 'An 18-year-old man from Brighton was taken into custody this afternoon as part of the investigation into drink spiking in the city.

Venues normally packed with students were almost empty as the boycott took place in Manchester on Saturday, October 23

A crowd of people gathered in Manchester to protest in a bid to urge venues to do more to protect customers from having their drink spiked as part of a nationwide movement known as Girls Night In which has seen thousands boycott bars and clubs

'He was arrested on suspicion of administering poison or noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy and remains in custody at this time.

'It follows the arrests of two men - a 28-year-old from Hove and a 19-year-old from Brighton - for the same offence. Both of them have been released on bail while inquiries continue.'

The arrests in Sussex follow hundreds of reports of women being spiked by needle at late night venues, prompting boycotts of venues around the country dubbed 'The Girls Night In'.

Both men and women spurned bars and clubs in Manchester, Nottingham, London and Bristol last Wednesday as they demanded better safety measures for customers.

Dozens of local Instagram pages have been created to spread the news of the Girls Night In campaign, where women from various university cities will stay in, 'spreading awareness and challenging clubs' to keep people safe.

Previously a police spokesman said: 'Police have received a number of recent reports of people becoming unwell during or after nights out, with some finding puncture marks on their body or believing their drink had been tampered with.

'Officers have increased patrols as part of their continued work policing the night-time economy and have been working closely with partners and licensed premises on initiatives to help keep people safe.

'These include unannounced licence checks at venues, briefings with security staff prior to opening and targeted, visible patrols around bars, clubs and restaurants every night of the week.'

Student Ilana El-baz, 20, (pictured above) was recently spiked while in a Bristol nightclub

It comes as Ilana El-baz, 20, recently recalled how she was 'left semi-paralysed' on a staircase after returning home from a Bristol nightclub last month.

In the full recording, filmed by her boyfriend, the University of Bristol undergraduate can be seen struggling to get up the stairs, her eyes rolling as her head falls into the railings.

Miss El-baz, from Richmond in Surrey, gave the BBC permission to broadcast the clip of her to highlight the dangers of spiking in nightclubs  when victims are drugged without their knowledge either physically with needles or by doctoring with their drinks.

The third-year student said she believes she was spiked by a fellow clubber who approached her and asked her to dance.

'The moment I told him I was with my boyfriend he left me completely.

'An hour later I went back home and it hit and I was completely paralysed,' she added.

Petra Mirosevic-Sorgo, who runs the @girlsnightinloughborough Instagram account with two other students at Loughborough University, said her own experiences of spiking made her want to 'make sure that (others) feel safe'.

'I woke up and I was so distraught... I just remember running out to the hospital lobby crying,' the 21-year-old recalled.

Ilana El-baz (above) said she was left semi-paralysed after returning home from a Bristol nightclub and shared a recording showing her struggling to get up the stairs with her eyes rolling as her head falls into the railings

The National Police Chiefs' Council confirmed there had been 198 reports of spiking in September and October across various parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with 24 reports of some form of injection.

Chief Superintendent Justin Burtenshaw, divisional commander for Brighton and Hove, said: 'We continue to work around the clock to investigate these troubling reports and will do everything in our power to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

'Please be assured that we take all reports incredibly seriously and ask anybody who believes they may have been a victim to let police or bar staff know as soon as possible so they can be tested before potential drugs leave their system and evidence can be gathered.'

Detective Sergeant Joanne Benton, of Brighton and Hove CID, said: 'Our officers are following up all lines of enquiry in relation to these disturbing crimes and our message to perpetrators is simple - this will absolutely not be tolerated and our officers are working 24 hours a day to identify those involved and bring them to justice.

'These are fast moving investigations and, having already brought three suspects into custody, we will continue to proactively track down anybody believed to be involved in these incidents.

'If you believe you have been a victim, please report it to us online, through 101 or by dialling 999 in an emergency.'
An infamous vegan activist unleashed at racegoers at a Melbourne Cup event in Perth accusing them of 'paying for murder' before being hauled out by police in front of heckling punters.

Tash Peterson, well known for her attention-grabbing displays and known as 'Vegan Booty' online, attended the Ascot Races on Tuesday disguised as a reveller in a lacy black dress before pulling on a white t-shirt that read: 'You bet, they die'.

She was eventually led away by police, but not before hurling abuse and slogans at attendees as she was escorted out of the venue - copping a spray from irritated racegoers.

The controversial herbivore was filmed hysterically yelling at racegoers as police led her away on Tuesday, to the amusement of many in attendance.

'All of these gentle beings are going to be brutally murdered,' she screamed.

'These beautiful, innocent beings. You bet, they die.

'You have paid for their murder, their blood in on your hands.'

Tash Peterson (pictured) has a history of outrageous displays in the name of veganism - earning her a legion of fans, and critics, online

Tash Peterson (pictured, left and right) attended the Ascot Races on Tuesday disguised as a reveller in a lacy black dress before pulling on a white t-shirt that read: 'You bet, they die'

Ms Peterson was filmed hysterically yelling at racegoers as police led her away on Tuesday, to the amusement of many in attendance

Ms Peterson attended the event in disguise, wearing a lacy black dress before putting on the white t-shirt protesting horse racing

Ms Peterson, 27, was joined by other vegan activists at the Melbourne Cup event in Perth as they protested the continuation of the race despite six horse deaths in recent years.

The notorious demonstrator and her friends were chanting a series of figures, claiming '149 horses were killed on track last year' and referring to the anti-horse racing website 'HorseRacingKills.com'.

But revellers didn't seem fazed by her presence with many laughing as she screamed at them while being led away.

'Take her away, take her away,' one man can be heard shouting.

The activist had been banned from entering licensed venues in Western Australia after similar protests, with that coming to an end on Tuesday.

'Melbourne Cup Day celebrates and glamourises animal abuse, slavery and murder. It is an abhorrent, outdated and barbaric event,' she wrote.

'On average, the racing career of a horse will end when they are between 2-3 years old. However, a horse's natural life span is 25-30 years.

'Today my liquor license ban ended, so we went into the Ascot Races and protested against the horse racing industry,' she posted on Instagram

Ms Peterson, 27, was joined by other vegan activists at the Melbourne Cup event in Perth as they protested the continuation of the race despite six horse deaths in recent years

Poll IS HORSE RACING CRUEL? Yes No IS HORSE RACING CRUEL? Yes 108 votes

No 206 votes Now share your opinion





'Once they are considered no longer profitable, they are murdered.'

'Today my liquor license ban ended, so we went into the Ascot Races and protested against the horse racing industry,' she posted on Instagram, before being met by a barrage of criticism - but also a flurry of support from animal-lovers.

She also has posted a number of pictures of bloody horse skulls on her social media accounts.

Her post received hundreds of comments, with most supporting her in demonstrating against horse racing.

'I think a lot of non-vegans would agree with you that horse racing and greyhound racing is barbaric!,' one person commented.

'Amazing work standing up for the victims of such a selfish and exploitative industry,' another wrote.

Some objected to her behaviour however, with one person labelling her 'embarrassing' while others suggested many horses 'love to race'.

She and a friend held up a sign reading: 'You bet, they die' while also wearing shirts featuring the same slogan at Ascot Races

Ms Peterson was eventually led away and talked to be police before they allowed her to leave

The notorious demonstrator and her friends were chanting a series of figures, claiming '149 horses were killed on track last year' and referring to the anti-horse racing website 'HorseRacingKills.com'

Ms Peterson put on a similar display in September at the Perth Royal Show, storming the event and disrupting a cattle judging event by leaping over the barrier and screaming 'these beautiful and innocent beings are going to be brutally murdered and shot in the head'.

As horrified onlookers including children watched on, an irate farmer with a beef against vegans manhandled the activist and ejected her from the exhibit.

The glamorous Instagram and OnlyFans star told Daily Mail Australia she was then subjected to a torrent of abuse by unimpressed farmers who became violent.

Footage of the chaotic scene was posted to Ms Peterson's social media pages, as she interrupted the family event to preach about an 'animal holocaust'.

A furious farmer has tackled vegan activist Tash Peterson (pictured) during a wild animal rights protest, grabbing her by the scruff of her shorts

The week-long Perth Royal Show dates all the way back to 1834, showcasing the very best of Western Australia agriculture and livestock with rides, events and other entertainment making it a mainstay on the city's calendar.

But Ms Peterson, who made headlines last month after covering herself in her own menstrual blood and protesting at a Louis Vuitton store, said the annual event is a load of bull.

'The Royal Show is a brainwashing and propaganda event run by animal agriculture Western Australia; it celebrates and glamorises animal abuse, slavery and murder... in the meat, dairy, egg, leather, wool, animal entertainment and racing industries,' she said.

'Today animal rights activists targeted the judging ring for "beef" cattle where they are judged based on how good their muscle and flesh looks for human consumption.

'They are viewed as nothing but objects and commodities; but are in fact sentient individuals who are victims of this holocaust.'

Notorious herbivore Tash Peterson (pictured) stormed Perth's Royal Show on Monday disrupting a cattle judging event by leaping over the barrier and screaming 'these beautiful and innocent beings are going to be brutally murdered and shot in the head'

When asked about whether it was appropriate to shout animal abuse slogans in the presence of young children, Ms Peterson said she has no regrets.

'Children have the right to know what is happening to their beloved animal friends,' she said.

'No child would want to see animals being hurt and would be horrified if they found out they were eating an animal.'

In the comments sections some heaped praise on the angry farmer for not putting up with any 'woke' vegan nonsense.

'Can't believe how easily they removed you vegan clowns, clearly they eat meat, makes them strong,' one person wrote.

Another said: 'I wanna buy that man a beer. Or a carton!'

But many of Ms Peterson's devoted fans condemned the man's aggressiveness and heavy-handed actions declaring the animal rights activist an 'inspiration'.

Some heaped praise on the farmer for hurling her out of the exhibit while others argued he was far too heavy-handed

In the past the serial protester has dressed up as a cow and demonstrated in the meat section of a busy supermarket, invaded the pitch at an AFLW match and donned a blood-soaked apron while screaming at patrons in a KFC.

Her controversial antics have led police and policymakers in her home state of WA to describe her as 'Australia's biggest pest'.

She has been arrested numerous times for her in-your-face-style of protesting but insists she will continue to 'speak up for animals who can't speak up for themselves.'
An Afghan father who has been forced to sell his nine-year-old daughter to a 55-year-old man as a child bride so he can buy food has pleaded for his child's new husband not to beat her.

Parwana Malik, nine, is being sold by her parents to a stranger who the youngster describes as an 'old man' due to his white beard and eyebrows.

On the day Parwana was taken away by her 55-year-old buyer, Qorban, her weeping father, Abdul Malik, pleaded for him to not hurt his child, reports CNN.

Abdul, who is 'broken' with guilt, broke down in tears as he told Qorban: 'This is your bride. Please take care of her. You are responsible now, please don't beat her.'

Parwana's family said they had no choice, and are among scores of destitute families who being forced to sell their young daughters into marriage to survive, as Afghanistan plunges further into a humanitarian crisis.

One girl, aged 10, spends her days crying as she waits for the day she is sold to a 70-year-old man to help her family pay off their debts.

Another nine-member family is preparing to sell their four-year-old and nine-year-old daughters to have enough money for food.

Parwana Malik, nine, (pictured) is being sold by her parents to a stranger who the youngster describes an 'old man' due to his white beard and eyebrows

Parwana and her family have been living in an Afghan displacement camp in northwestern Badghis province for the past four years. They have survived on humanitarian aid and work which earns them around 2 a day.

But since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August, the country's economy is on the brink of collapse and international humanitarian aid has been put on hold - and the effects are deeply felt by families such as Parwana's who cannot buy basic goods such as food.

Abdul was forced to sell Parwana's 12-year-old sister months ago to help his family survive.

Parwana, her small face peeping out from her pale pink hijab, told CNN: 'My father has sold me because we don't have bread, rice or flour. He has sold me to an old man.'

Her father Abdul said he is 'broken' with guilt at the sale of his daughter and is unable to sleep at night.

He told the news outlet he had searched for unsuccessfully for work and borrowed money from relatives - with his wife even begging other camp residents for food - but nothing worked.

Abdul, who felt he had no choice but to sell Parwana to help his family survive, said: 'We are eight family members. I have to sell to keep other family members alive.'

Parwana's buyer Qorban (right), who only has one name, arrived at the family's home with the payment last week to give her father Abdul (left) the payment

He said that while Parwana is being sold for 200,000 Afghanis (1,600) in the form of cash, sheep and land, it will only sustain his family for a few months before they must find another way to raise funds to survive.

Parwana hoped she would be able to change her parents' minds as she didn't want to leave her family or her education as she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.

But, her buyer Qorban, who only has one name, arrived at the family's home with the payment last week.

Parwana, her small frame covered in a black head covering and a floral garland around her neck, hid her face from her family and new husband, who she fears will beat her and force her to work.

A weeping Abdul told Qorban: 'This is your bride. Please take care of her. You are responsible for her now, please don't beat her.'

Qorban agreed before grabbing Parwana's arm and led the small child towards the door, with her father watching on.

As they reached the door, Parwana struggled and dug her feet into the ground - but her efforts were futile as she was led away to a car and to her new home.

Parwana, her small frame covered in a black head covering and a floral garland around her neck, hid her face from her family and new husband, who she fears will beat her and force her to work

Qorban insisted he would look after Parwana as his child and said he had a wife already.

'[Parwana] was cheap, and her father was very poor and he needs money,' he told CNN. 'She will be working in my home. I won't beat her. I will treat her like a family member. I will be kind.'

But Abdul said he has no power over what happens to his daughter now and recalled: 'The old man told me, 'I'm paying for the girl. It's none of your business what I'm doing with her, that's my business'.'

He added: 'As I can see, we don't have a future - our future is destroyed. I will have to sell another daughter if my financial situation doesn't improve - probably the two-year-old.'

Another child being forced into marriage is Magul, a 10-year-old girl, who is being sold to a 70-year-old man to help pay off her family's debts of 200,000 Afghanis (1,600).

'I really don't want him,' Magul said as she wiped tears away. 'If they make me go, I will kill myself. I don't want to leave my parents.'

The buyer, who has not been named by CNN, has taken Magul's father, Ibrahim, to Taliban-run prison and threatened to send him to jail for not repaying the money.

Ibrahim, who said he would pay the money within a month, has run out of time.

He said: 'I don't know what to do. Even if I don't give him my daughters, he will take them.'

Gul Afroz, Magul's mother, said: 'I'm praying to God these bad days pass.'

Magul, aged 10, spends her days crying as she waits for the day she is sold to a 70-year-old man to help her family pay off their debts.

Another nine-member family in Ghor province are selling their four-year-old and nine-year-old daughters as their disabled father is unable to work.

He told CNN he will sell the girls for 10,000 Afghanis (800) each.

Zaiton, the four-year-old daughter, said she understands why she must be sold.

'Because we are a poor family and we don't have food to eat.'

The girls' grandmother Rokshana is distraught and said: 'If we have food and there is someone to help us, we would never do this. We don't have any choice.'

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August, the country's economy is on the brink of collapse.

Families in Afghanistan are being forced to sell their children to pay off debts, as the country's economy teeters on the brink of near-total collapse. Pictured: Women and their children wait for healthcare in Helmand province

That has seen the value of its currency collapse even though hard notes are in short supply, while prices for basic goods have soared due to shortages, with the UN warning that food could run dangerously low soon.

It has led to the chief of the UN this week to warn that Afghanistan is facing a 'make-or-break moment' as he urgently appealed to countries to inject cash back into the Afghan economy, which before the Taliban takeover in August was dependent on international aid that accounted for 75% of state spending.

Afghanistan is grappling with a liquidity crisis as assets remain frozen in the U.S. and other countries, and disbursements from international organizations have been put on hold.

The effects of the economic collapse could prove lethal for the country where a third of the population survives on less than $2 per day.

It has meant an increasing number of families are turning to the illegal practice of selling their children under the age of 15.

A girl collects food and recyclable materials through garbage near the airport in Kabul on September 21, 2021

'Day by day, the numbers are increasing of families selling their children,' said Mohammad Naiem Nazem, a human rights activist in Badghis told CNN. 'Lack of food, lack of work, the families feel they have to do this.'

'It's absolutely cataclysmic,' said Heather Barr, associate director of the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch. 'We don't have months or weeks to stem this emergency. We are in the emergency already.'

Many girls in Afghanistan are out of school - and the Taliban have not said when they might be allowed back.

'As long as a girl is in school, her family is invested in her future,' said Barr. 'As soon as a girl falls out of education, then suddenly it becomes much more likely that she's going to be married off.'

Once a girl is sold as a child bride, she is extremely unlikely to continue her education and many are forced to have unconsensual sex with their buyers.

Local Taliban leaders in Badghis said they are planning to distribute food to families. 'Once we implement this plan, if they continue to sell their kids we will put them in jail,' said Mawlawai Jalaludin, a spokesperson from the Taliban's Justice Department.

But the humanitarian crisis stretches across Afghanistan and affects at least 18 million people, or half the country's population. Many are now left to collect plastic bottles to recycle or sell to earn enough money for food.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to countries to inject cash back into the Afghan economy after humanitarian aid has dried up.

There is mounting frustration among experts who argue that holding back international aid is not affecting the Taliban - but the poor.

Isabelle Moussard Carlsen, head of office at UNOCHA, told CNN: 'By not releasing the (development) funds that they are holding from the Taliban government, it's the vulnerable, it's the poor, it's these young girls who are suffering.
The Washington Post has refused to publish former President Donald Trump's full response to its three-part investigation finding that warning signs were ignored ahead of the January 6 insurrection.

In its decision not to publish the former president's entire response, The Post noted that Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich 'provided a lengthy written response' to its investigation 'that included [a] series of unrelated inflammatory claims that The Post is not publishing in full.'

The decision comes just a few days after the Wall Street Journal faced backlash for publishing an op-ed by the former president without fact-checking it.

The Post wrote that Budowich said Trump 'greatly objected' to all of the 37 findings reported as part of its investigation, and dismissed the stories as 'fake news,' which 'falsely cast people who entered the Capitol on January 6 as "agitators not associated with President Trump".'

'The media's obsession with the January 6th protest is a blatant attempt to overshadow a simple fact: there is no greater threat to America than leftist journalists and the Fake News, which has avoided a careful examination of the fraudulent 2020 election.

'The media, just like the Democrats, do not want to see secure and honest elections,' read the one part of the statement the Post published on Sunday.

'Instead of reporting the facts, outlets like the Washington Post sow division, hate and lies, like it is doing with this story.

'The media has failed to do its job, including truly exposing Silicon Valley for its role in illegally rigging the election with hundreds of millions of dollars in dark money - which is probably a gross underestimate.

'America is furious at the results of November 3rd and deserve answers,' the statement continues. 'They deserve to protest and demand the truth from their representatives. However, since the media isn't asking the questions, it's being left up to the people to seek the truth.'

The Washington Post has refused to publish former President Donald Trump's response to its three-part investigation, which found that law enforcement agencies ignored warning signs about potential violence at the Capitol ahead of the January 6 insurrection

The editorial board said that Trump's response included a number 'of unrelated inflammatory claims' and repeated his unfounded claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged

Trump's statement comes in response to the Washington Post's three-part investigation, which examined law enforcement's failure to heed warnings of violence ahead of the Capitol insurrection on January 6.

As part of the investigation, the Post notes, it interviewed 230 people and reviewed thousands of pages of court documents and internal law enforcement reports, along with hundreds of videos, photographs and audio recording.

It found that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies failed to act on tips and other information it received about potential violence at the Capitol ahead of the January 6 riots, when a group of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol in an effort to force Congress to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

On December 20, for example, the FBI received a tip that Trump supporters were discussing in online forums how to sneak guns into Washington to 'overrun' police and arrest members of Congress, according to internal bureau documents obtained by the Post.

The tip reportedly included details showing that those who were planning violence believed they had orders to infiltrate the Capitol from then-President Trump and used code words like 'pickaxe' to describe guns.

They also reportedly posted the times and locations of four places around the country for caravans to meet up the day before the joint session to certify the results of the 2020 election.

And on one site, a poster reportedly mentioned Senator Mitt Romney, of Utah, as a potential target.

An FBI official who assessed the tip noted also noted that its criminal division had received a 'significant number' of alerts about threats to Congress and government officials in the days leading up to the insurrection, and passed the information onto law enforcement agencies in D.C.

But the FBI reportedly did not follow up on these threats, writing, 'the individual or group identified during the assessment does not warrant further FBI investigation at the time.'

The January 6 insurrection occurred when a group of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol in an effort to force Congress to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election

They scaled the walls to break into the building as proceedings were going on

The Washington Post found that pro-Trump supporters were discussing in online forums how to sneak guns into Washington to 'overrun' police and arrest members of Congress

They also reportedly posted four locations across the country where supporters could meet up the day before Congress was set to certify the election results

The Post's investigation also exposed an extensive, coordinated plot by Trump's allies to overturn the election while they were holed up in a 'war rom' at the Willard Hotel in downtown DC.

There, the former president and his top associates reportedly set up a command center made up of multiple rooms and suites at DC's Willard hotel where they mapped out strategies to try and reinstate Trump for a second term despite losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

The team was led by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and included Trump's former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon as an adviser and former NYPD police commissioner Bernard Kerik, who attended as an investigator.

Also involved in the strategizing was scholar John Eastman, who in an Oval Office meeting on January 4 with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, pressured the VP to try to use his powers to delay or potentially block the certification of the election on January 6 to help Trump's efforts.

He reportedly sent an email to Pence's aides as the two men were hiding from the rioters at the Capitol - some of whom were calling for Pence to be hanged.

From the command center, Trump allies went to work, calling lawmakers in swing states including Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, to encourage them to convene special sessions to investigate fraud and to reassign electoral college votes from Biden to Trump, the Post reported.

On January 2 alone Trump, Giuliani and Eastman spoke to 300 state legislators in a conference call that provided them with so-called evidence of fraud and called on them to take action to 'decertify' their election results, the Washington Examiner reported.

'You are the real power,' Trump told the state lawmakers. 'You're the ones that are going to make the decision.'

This call appeared to persuade some and on January 5 dozens of lawmakers from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin wrote to Pence, asking that he delay certification of Biden's victory for 10 days to allow 'our respective bodies to meet, investigate, and as a body vote on certification or decertification of the election.'

These efforts were confirmed by several of the Trump loyalist present at those meetings.

A special House committee is now investigating the January 6th MAGA riot on the Capitol.

They have subpoenaed Steve Bannon, who has been held in criminal contempt for failing to appear before the committee last week, as well as organizers of the Stop the Steal rally, former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, communications director Dan Scavino and Pentagon chief of staff Kashyap Patel.

Trump is now asking a federal court in Washington, D.C. to enjoin the National Archivist from handing over troves of information about the inner workings of the White House as part of its probe into the riot.

The Post also exposed an extensive, coordinated plot by Trump's allies to overturn the election while they were holed up in a 'war rom' at the Willard Hotel in downtown DC (pictured)

Meanwhile, the president is repeating his claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.

He wrote in a letter to the editor to the Wall Street Journal last week laying out a number of conspiracy theories that are part of the so-called 'big lie' including that the Keystone State processed '10,515 mail-in votes from people who do not exist on the Pennsylvania voter rolls at all.'

Trump also accused his Attorney General Bill Barr of pressuring U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain not to investigate election irregularities.

'And so much more! This is why Democrats and the Fake News Media do not want a full forensic audit in Pennsylvania. In reality, 80,555 ballots are nothing when there is this much corruption or voter irregularities,' Trump concluded.

Overall, Trump listed 20 bullet points to make his argument.

The letter was signed by a 'Donald J. Trump' of Palm Beach, Florida - where the ex-president relocated after leaving Washington.

The Wall Street Journal was soon criticized for failing to fact check the president's letter, and on Thursday, just one day after the letter was published, the paper's editorial board defended the decision to print Trump's letter in its entirely.

They wrote that they trusted their readers 'to make up their own minds about his statement, and added, 'We think it's news when an ex-President who may run in 2024 wrote what he did, even if (or perhaps especially if) his claims are bananas.'

The editorial board also justified their actions by claiming that 'Mr. Trump is making these claims elsewhere, so we hardly did him a special favor by letting him respond to our editorial' backing Pennsylvania Republican state Supreme Court nominee Judge Kevin Brobson.

Editors also noted the paper offers 'the same courtesy to others we criticize, even when they make allegations we think are false,' and derided attempts by the media to censor the former president by saying journalists should 'examine their own standards after they fell so easily for false Russian collusion claims.'
Shocking video captured the moment a California man found a bear inside his home - eating his bucket of KFC.

Sierra Madre resident John Holden recently returned home to discover that his front door was wide open. He went inside to find the bear scarfing down a bucket of fried chicken on his kitchen counter.

Holden also noticed another bear outside the house and said at least one more was inside.

Video footage captured a bear on the kitchen counter of a Southern California home

The bear was seen scarfing down a bucket of KFC chicken

Sierra Madre homeowner John Holden said he also saw another bear outside his home and at least one more inside

He finally got the uninvited guests to leave by making loud noises.

'I've had a lot of other encounters with them,' Holden told ABC7. 'I've actually had them bump into me a couple times in the backyard, but definitely never in the house like that.

'That was something else and they sure made a mess of the place.'

Holden added that the bears hung out in his backyard after stealing his food.

Sierra Madre is a city in Los Angeles County in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest.

Bear sightings in southern California are not uncommon recently as other residents spotted them in residential areas.

Last Wednesday, a bear wandered around the grounds of an elementary school in San Dimas, a suburb of Los Angeles, before making itself at home in a tree at a nearby house.

Another sighting was reported in a Los Angeles neighborhood last Wednesday as a mama bear was seen roaming around in search of her missing cub

The animal was later removed from the tree and tranquilized, then returned to the wilderness. Wildlife officials believed that it was a female in search of her missing cub.

Bears have been known to stalk more residential areas near their habitats to look for food not be available in the wilderness. They will dig through trash cans for anything edible.

Black bears also roamed neighborhoods in South Lake Tahoe in Northern California during forest fires in early September. The evacuated neighborhood and homes gave bears the opportunity to scavenge for food.
A notorious New York City drug kingpin, who was killed in a Harlem drive-by shooting on Sunday, was throwing baggies of heroin out of his truck's window moments before he was shot dead.

In his final frantic moments, Alberto 'Alpo' Martinez, 55, was thought to have thrown the drugs out the window as he knew police would be arriving after a dozen baggies were found near the scene.

In a video of the crime scene, baggies containing a brown substance, that appeared to be heroin, were seen strewn on the street, a source told the New York Post.

The drug dealer was found dead with at least five gunshot wounds to his torso in his 2017 Dodge Ram on the corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and West 147 Street in Harlem, police said.

Notorious NYC drug kingpin Alberto 'Alpo' Martinez, 55, was thought to have thrown baggies of heroin out the window moments before he was killed in a drive-by shooting on Sunday

Alpo was immortalized in film and in songs by the likes of Jay Z and 50 Cent after going into witness protection for testifying against fellow drug dealers.

Martinez was identified under the name he used in witness protection - Abraham Rodriguez. Authorities said he had been living in Lewiston, Maine.

He was found at 3:24 am with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, authorities told DailyMail.com. Photos of his truck showed at least five bullet holes in the window. EMS took him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made in the shooting and police are still investigating.

Martinez was found dead in his 2017 Dodge Ram (pictured above) in a drive-by shooting in Harlem on Sunday morning with at least five gunshot wounds to his torso

Martinez was found with ID using the name Abraham Rodriguez. He'd been out of prison since 2015 and living under witness protection. Pictured: His truck following the shooting

The shooting took place on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and West 147 Street in Harlem (crime scene, pictured)

No arrests have been made in the drive-by shooting and police are still investigating

A police source, who told the New York Post Martinez's license plates were from Texas, said Martinez was asking for trouble the second he returned to his old Harlem Haunts.

'You were in the witness protection program because you testified against other drug dealers,' he said. 'You'd make a lot of enemies who have a score to settle. When you return to the same area, word will get out very fast. He's back in the zone.'

Martinez ran a drug ring that spanned from New York to Washington dealing cocaine and crack in the 1980s.

After his 1991 arrest, he would eventually confess to 14 murders before becoming a government witness.

Martinez had been living under witness protection after being released from prison in 2015. He was serving a 35-year sentence at ADX Florence, a federal supermax prison in Colorado.

Martinez had been living under witness protection after being released from prison in 2015

A Jay-Z produced film called Paid in Full was made in which rapper/actor Cam'Ron portrayed Martinez

Martinez was also immortalized in songs by Jay Z, as well as fellow New York-based rappers Nas and 50 Cent

Martinez has had a minor influence on pop culture, immortalized by rapper and actor Cam'ron's portrayal of him in the 2002 Jay Z-produced movie Paid in Full.

Jay Z, Nas and 50 Cent have all written songs referencing Martinez.

The family of Rich Porter celebrated the news Sunday. Porter was Martinez's business partner who the kingpin gunned down in 1990.

'We waited for a long time for this day to come and we are happy. That's why we're out here celebrating, drinking champagne,' a 37-year-old niece of Porter's who gave her name only as Lorell told the New York Daily News as she poured herself more bubbly into a fancy glass.

'Everybody's reaction right now is celebrating. It's a celebration for Harlem, period.'
Yahoo has pulled out of China amid Beijing's crackdown on the tech industry, just weeks after LinkedIn became the final major US social media platform to leave the Communist nation.

Yahoo said its site would 'no longer be accessible from mainland China' starting November 1, after it gradually shut down its services offered in the country in recent years.

Visitors to Yahoo's website in China are now redirected to a brief statement announcing the closure.

Yahoo has pulled out of China amid Beijing's crackdown on the tech industry, saying it remains 'committed to a free and open internet'

'In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoo's suite of services will no longer be accessible from mainland China as of November 1,' the company said.

'Yahoo remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet. We thank our users for their support.'

The firm is the latest foreign company to pull a major product from the Chinese market in recent weeks, after Microsoft announced in October that it would close LinkedIn

Foreign tech companies have long walked a tightrope in China, forced to comply with strict local laws and government censorship of content.

But a regulatory crackdown in recent months targeting the country's tech sector has tightened requirements for everything from data protection to content moderation.

Yahoo China was launched in 1999, when the company was among the world's most important internet firms.

LinkedIn will no longer offer its networking platform to users in China due to increased censorship demands from the government in Beijing

Its presence in the country has shrunk in recent years, with Yahoo shutting down its Chinese mail service in 2013.

Yahoo's latest statement echoes Microsoft's complaint in October that it faced an increasingly 'challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements'.

LinkedIn joins other popular Western social media apps like Facebook, Google, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Zoom, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitch, and many more that are blocked in mainland China.

Those companies have been banned in China for years after they refused government demands to censor user content.

'While we are going to sunset the localized version of LinkedIn in China later this year, we will continue to have a strong presence in China to drive our new strategy and are excited to launch the new InJobs app later this year,' a LinkedIn spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

LinkedIn's parent company Microsoft acquired the service in 2016 for $26.2billion. The image above shows a Microsoft research facility in Beijing

In 2014, LinkedIn agreed to Chinas demand that it offer a filtered version of the service - enabling it to be one of the few US tech firms to operate in the country.

By 2019, LinkedIn reported some 44 million users in China - making it the networking platforms third-largest customer base in the world. LinkedIn has some 111 million users in the US and 29 million in India.

In March, Chinese government regulators punished LinkedIn after it accused the service of failing to censor content that it found objectionable. New signups to the site were suspended for a month and LinkedIn had to submit a self-review to authorities.

'While we've found success in helping Chinese members find jobs and economic opportunity, we have not found that same level of success in the more social aspects of sharing and staying informed,' Microsoft, the computer giant which bought LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2billion, said in a statement.

'We're also facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China.'

LinkedIn will transition to a site called InJobs, a job-seeking site for China-based professionals that will not include a social feed or the ability to share posts or articles.

Recently several China-based American journalists and academics reported that their LinkedIn accounts were being blocked

J Michael Cole, a consultant based in China, posted a tweet which included a screenshot of a message he received from LinkedIn.

'Thank you @LinkedIn for informing me that due to the presence of prohibited content located in the Publication section of your LinkedIn profile, your profile and your public activity, such as your comments and items you share with your network, will not be made viewable in China.'

Jojje Olsson, a Swedish writer based in Asia, posted a similar message on Twitter.

'This is absolutely unbelievable - under "Education" on my LinkedIn profile, I mention in one line that my degree easy in modern Chinese history was written about the Tiananmen square massacre,' Olsson tweeted.

Last month, several China-based American journalists and academics reported that their LinkedIn accounts were being blocked J Michael Cole, a consultant based in China, posted a tweet which included a screenshot of a message he received from LinkedIn

Melissa Chan, a reporter for several US-based outlets, tweeted: 'Got the @LinkedIn alert like many others  my "prohibited content" will not be shown in China. I have a case number'

Jojje Olsson, a Swedish writer based in Asia, posted a similar message on Twitter

Mark Anning, a Paris-based photographer, tweeted: 'LinkedIn just banned my profile in China..."due to the presence of prohibited content located in the Experience section of your LinkedIn profile, your profile & your public activity, such as your comments and items you share with your network, will not be made viewable in China".'

Greg C. Bruno, an author who has written books on China, also received a message that his profile would not be viewable in the country

B. Allen-Ebrahimian, an Axios reporter based in China, tweeted: 'I woke up this morning to discover that LinkedIn had blocked my profile in China'

'LinkedIn's response is to censor my entire profile for Chinese users.'

B. Allen-Ebrahimian, an Axios reporter based in China, tweeted: 'I woke up this morning to discover that LinkedIn had blocked my profile in China.

'I used to have to wait for Chinese govt censors, or censors employed by Chinese companies in China, to do this kind of thing.

'Now a US company is paying its own employees to censor Americans.'

Mark Anning, a Paris-based photographer, tweeted: 'LinkedIn just banned my profile in China..."due to the presence of prohibited content located in the Experience section of your LinkedIn profile, your profile & your public activity, such as your comments and items you share with your network, will not be made viewable in China".'

Greg C. Bruno, an author who has written books on China, also received a message that his profile would not be viewable in the country.

'It took #Chinese censors three years, but my book, #BlessingsFromBeijing, has just now been labelled "prohibited content" by @LinkedIn in China,' Bruno tweeted.

Melissa Chan, a reporter for several US-based outlets, tweeted: 'Got the @LinkedIn alert like many others  my "prohibited content" will not be shown in China. I have a case number.

'Could be many things - from this years piece about Uyghurs in exile, to my essay on democracy.'

In response to the bans, LinkedIn told Axios: 'We're a global platform that respects the laws that apply to us, including adhering to Chinese government regulations for our localized version of LinkedIn in China.

'For members whose profile visibility is limited within China, their profiles are still visible across the rest of the globe where LinkedIn is available.'

LinkedIns ties with the Chinese government drew scrutiny from US lawmakers who demanded to know if the site handed over Americans user data to authorities in Beijing.

Chinese digital services that operate in the United States have also drawn the attention of American regulators over fears they pose a security risk. The logo for TikTok is seen above

Last year, Zoom said it would suspend business in mainland China after government regulators pressured the videoconferencing app to ban meetings that commemorated the massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Chinese digital services that operate in the United States have also drawn the attention of American regulators over fears they pose a security risk.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration dropped Trump-era executive orders intended to ban the popular apps TikTok and WeChat and will conduct its own review aimed at identifying national security risks with software applications tied to China.

A new executive order directs the Commerce Department to undertake what officials describe as an 'evidence-based' analysis of transactions involving apps that are manufactured or supplied or controlled by China.

Officials are particularly concerned about apps that collect users' personal data or have connections to Chinese military or intelligence activities.
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Party-starved punters went wild on Melbourne Cup day throwing off the shackles of lockdown which have plagued Australia for more than a year, with elated Aussies partying the night away.

Revellers ditched their tracksuits and work-from-home dressing gowns for designer dresses and three-piece suits, celebrating into the evening long after the 3pm race was run.

Thousands of rowdy racegoers turned out in both Sydney and Melbourne to cheer on the horses while droves more piled into pubs and clubs across Australia for the race that stops the nation.

On the track Verry Elleegant stormed to victory over short-priced favourite Incentivise snatching the win in the final 300m straight.

But after Covid-19 lockdowns saw millions of Australians living under harsh restrictions for months cooped-up inside their homes cut off from their friends and family, for most it didn't really matter which horse got up - it was all about the euphoric atmosphere and the return to normality.

Both Sydney and Melbourne have only just escaped months of gruelling lockdown, with the Victorian capital enduring 262 days shut down - the longest stint of any city in the world.

The Flemington Racecourse can accommodate up to 120,000 spectators on major race days, but the 10,000 spectators on Tuesday was a marked improvement on last year when no crowd was allowed because of tough restrictions.

With millions now enjoying their new-found freedom, some party animals however may have overdone the celebrating just a touch, as hordes of racegoers were captured making their way out after a long day of celebrating.

A long day of celebrations come to an end at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane (pictured) as thousands turn out to watch the Melbourne Cup and the local races

A race-goers at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne is captured having a problem with her shoes but luckily an experienced strapper is on hand to fix the issue

Sun's out guns out! A racegoer does away with his shirt as the Melbourne Cup wrapped up for the day at Flemington Racecourse

Pretty in Pink: Women in matching dresses strut their stuff as the make their way out of Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne after a day of celebrations

Woman Down! Luckily none of the horses fell this year but the same can't be said for revellers watching the race trackside

Party time! Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse goes wild as punters leap out of their seats to party in the 26C sunshine

Dressed to impress! Two glamorous punters are pictured trackside on Melbourne Cup Day during a day of celebration after months of lockdown

Last drinks! A racegoer says cheers one more time at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane before the day's action came to a close

In a mood to celebrate! Punters in Sydney who soaked in their own day of racing watched the Melbourne Cup on a big screen at Royal Randwick racecourse

Getting the party started: A man drinks from a bottle as the crowd at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney soaked in the race that stops the nation

The crowd react as they watch the Melbourne Cup on the big screen during Sydney Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse

A stylish racegoer at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne is captured with a drink in one hand and her shoes in the other, keen for some comfort after a day in heels

Glamorous punters exit Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne with their high heeled shoes in hand after a much-needed day off work

One happy reveller stops to strike a pose for the cameras at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane as thousands gathered across Australia to watch the Melbourne Cup

A stylish blonde makes her way out of Randwick Racecourse in Sydney after taking in the action trackside alongside 17,000 revellers

A girl gang of fashionistas pose for a photograph on their way out of Randwick Racecourse in Sydney after capacity limits saw thousands descend to watch the races

Two punters got very lucky at the Melbourne Cup as they hugged and kissed trackside at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

In Sydney, the champagne was also flowing at the Royal Randwick Racecourse where 17,000 screaming Australians packed in to get a taste of the action.

There were similar crowds at Brisbane's Eagle Farm racecourse which delivered its own day of spectacular races.

Although Verry Elleegant was the name on everybody's lips after the coveted $8million race, it wasn't so elegant trackside as glamorous race-goers in high heels and fascinators were pictured chugging champagne straight out of the bottle.

Some were drinking in celebration, while others were drowning their sorrows after the red-hot favourite Incentivise came up short.

Cheers! Punters have let loose after a huge day of racing with thousands turning out in both Sydney and Melbourne to cheer on the horses for the Melbourne Cup (pictured at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse)

Tongue and cheek! A Melbourne Cup reveller holding her high heel shoes poses for a photo at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Pictured: A glamorous barefoot punter dances on the grass at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne celebrating her big win

Bottoms up! The drinks were flowing at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday with 17,000 turning out for a huge day of racing

Time for a rest: A racegoer lays down on the grass to take a break from all the action on the tract at Flemington in Melbourne

Spirits were high at Flemington Racecourse, but scenes outside of the gates told another story with animal rights activists chaining themselves to a truck that had delivered a load of manure opposite the entrance.

Protesting the spate of horse deaths in the Cup in recent years, protestors chanted 'Nup to the Cup' with police taking nine away in handcuffs.

'Would you wear that suit to the slaughterhouse, sir?' one protester armed with a megaphone asked racegoers on arrival.

But that did not deter Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula declaring the event a roaring success and a much needed shot in the arm for the city of Melbourne, with not a single horse dying this year.

Stricter veterinary checks have been introduced after the deaths of six horses associated with the Cup since 2013, including Anthony Van Dyck, one of the pre-race favourites last year who broke down with 500 metres to go.

Tongues are wagging: A man and a women strike a pose at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse during wild celebrations

Give'm the whip! Shenanigans play out trackside at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday as thousands descended to watch the race which stops the nation

All smiles: Two women cheer on the horses in style at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney during the highly anticipated Melbourne Cup

Ladies rejoice after a big win at the track, leaping out of their seats at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney

One happy racegoer strolls around the grounds at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne celebrating the day of action

Sore hooves? Melbourne Cup race-goers had to take her high heels off after a long day at Flemington Racecourse

A groups of mates burst out laughing at the Melbourne Cup as one of their pals hits the deck after a long day of celebrating

'Victorians worked so hard for so long to get the vaccination numbers up,' Mr Pakula said.

'Victorians have earned this. It's a majestic, glorious Melbourne Cup day and it means more to the city than it has for a long, long time.'

Short-priced favourite - and Mr Pakula's pick for the race - Incentivise came second as it was run down by Verry Elleegant in a dramatic finish that had thousands tearing up their betting slips in disgust.

The six-year-old mare was ridden by James McDonald, with Spanish Mission coming in third.

And the crowd goes wild! The scenes in Brisbane were no different with thousands of punters celebrating a day of racing at the Eagle Farm racetrack

Victory! A group of men dressed to impress celebrated in style at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday for a day of races featuring the Melbourne Cup

Sydneysiders soaked up the spring sun as they watched the Melbourne Cup from Royal Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday

Wardrobe malfunction: A group of stylish ladies band together to fix their high heels shoes after a blowout in Melbourne

One racegoer who ditched her lockdown tracksuit and dressing gown for a stunning dress and high heels told Sydney Morning Herald it's a strange feeling to be out and about after being trapped indoors for months during lockdown.

Bianca Hickey, 19, from Sydney's Neutral Bay who attend the action at Royal Randwick said being at an event with so many people was 'a bit weird, I'm not going to lie'.

'We went from no socialising to this. I think a lot of my friends and I have found it really hard,' she said.

'There's the social anxiety of being locked away for three months, and everyone is so socially awkward.'

Pictured: Punters were dancing for joy at the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse after the city only recently emerged from the world's longest lockdown

The force was with this punter at Sydney's Royal Randwick who dressed up as Darth Vader from Star Wars for the celebration - a novel approach to a Covid-safe facemask

And they're off! Punters are seen cheering on the horses and congratulating each other after the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

A trackside kiss for luck? Two racegoers are pictured in a loving embrace ahead of the big race at Flemington Racecourse

Wink Wink! Women dressed to the nines for the big day on Tuesday with Randwick seeing a crowd of 17,000 roll up

This year's Melbourne Cup marked the culmination of six months of preparation, Victoria Racing Club president Neil Wilson said.

Up until last month there was no guarantee the race would even go ahead as coronavirus cases soared.

'We're really enjoying the spirit that's on course right - people walking round the course with joy on their faces,' he said.

'It's a big day for Australia - every second adult watches or listens to the race.'

Glamorous race-goers clutching cans at Flemington Racecourse cheer home the horse at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday after enduring the world's longest lockdown

Time for celebrations! One Brisbane punter is seen shouting for joy as the Eagle Farm Racecourse after scooping $3,000

Four friends throw their hands up in the air as they pose for a photo at the Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne woman Sharni Taylor said she felt safe attending the Melbourne Cup with her partner Hayden due to the high vaccination coverage in Victoria.

'I feel confident they've got safe practices here,' the 27-year-old said.

'We're vaccinated and everyone else here is too.

'I'm getting used to being around people again. It's still a bit weird but we snap back into things pretty quickly.'

Another Melbourne local, 49-year-old Richard McGann, had similar feelings.

'Finally opening up is fantastic,' Mr McGann said.

Might be time for a water? After a long day of celebrating this glamorous pair stop for a drink of water at Flemington Racecourse

Peace out: Some punters took a well deserved break from an exhausting day out at the races in high heels in Sydney

Place your bets! One man celebrates his win at the Eagle Farm race track in Brisbane on Tuesday as thousands of glamorous punters enjoyed the day

'This is beautiful ... a bit weird, but it feels safe.'

Meanwhile, a collection of anti-lockdown protesters holding signs that read 'Sack Dan Andrews' and yelling 'freedom' marched through Footscray Park in Melbourne's west towards the racecourse and then back again.

But punters in Sydney had another reason to celebrate after it was announced the city would lift more Covid-19 curbs for vaccinated residents ahead of schedule next week, while delaying freedoms it has promised for unvaccinated Sydneysiders as officials aim to boost inoculations.

Vaccinated people in the harbour city of will be allowed unlimited numbers of guests in their homes from November 8.

Winner! One punter jumps for joy after celebrating a win at the races in Sydney on Tuesday as thousands took the day off work

A pair of mates embrace as they celebrate the race that stops the nation at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse

Pubs and clubs will also be able to accommodate more guests and reopen dance floors, in changes that were initially planned to come into force on December 1.

In contrast, unvaccinated people, who are currently barred from restaurants, non-critical retail stores, bars, gyms and other recreational facilities, will remain under the tougher restrictions until December 15, or when New South Wales state's double vaccination rate reaches 95 per cent.

'We have always wanted to open up in a measured way and incentivise vaccination rates,' State Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

Around 88 per cent of the state's population aged 16 and over has been fully-vaccinated, but the first dose vaccination rate has been slowing as it nears 94 per cent.

Australia on Monday lifted a ban on its residents flying overseas after more than 18 months and allowed quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated international travellers.

However, the changes initially affect only Sydney, Melbourne and the ACT, with other states and territories targeting differing timelines for reopening.

Reaching new highs! One woman stood on a chair in Sydney to get a better glimpse of the $8million race that stops the nation

Jumping for joy: The spirits were high as thousands turned out at both Sydney and Melbourne for the main event

Time for refreshments! A group of girls enjoyed a break from the action at Randwick in Sydney on a sunny 26C day

Superstar mare Verry Elleegant storms to victory in the Melbourne Cup as red-hot favourite Incentivise battles on to finish second

By Charlie Coe

Verry Elleegant has beaten red-hot favourite Incentivise to win the Melbourne Cup in emphatic style, overcoming a big weight and a wide barrier to take out the race that stops the nation.

The $16.50 chance charged past Incentivise with 200 metres remaining and won by 3.5 lengths to deliver an overdue first Melbourne Cup win for both Sydney's leading jockey James McDonald and top trainer Chris Waller.

English stallion Spanish Mission - one of only three visiting international horses - finished third and Floating Artist was next as the top four put a big break on the rest of the field in the $8million race at Flemington on Tuesday.

'Thoughts (of winning) went through my mind at the 500m when I saw Incentivise getting shoved along but I knew he would fight,' McDonald said.

'There wasnt a horse that was going to come from behind me, it was just a matter of catching him.'

First win: Verry Elleegant has beaten red-hot favourite Incentivise to win the Melbourne Cup in the race that stops the nation. Jockey James McDonald is pictured riding the champion mare to victory

The $4.4million first prize took the mare's career winnings beyond the $14million mark - a remarkable achievement that belies the horse's humble breeding.

It was an expert ride by ace jockey McDonald, who had a difficult task from barrier 18 trying to get the mare relaxed enough to enable her to run out the two miles - a distance at which she was unproven despite her phenomenal record of 10 Group One wins.

He had the mare around midfield through most of the running, getting a nice trail behind the pace, while up front it was Persan who led and Incentivise nicely positioned in second.

James McDonald puts his hand to his face as he celebrates his historic win on the back of Verry Elleegant

WHERE YOUR HORSE FINISHED 1. Verry Elleegant 2. Incentivise 3. Spanish Mission 4. Floating Artist 5. The Chosen One 6. Grand Promenade 7. Delphi 8. Selino 9.Tralee Rose 10: She's Ideel 11. Twilight Payment 12: Miami Bound 13. Great House 14. Sir Lucan 15. Explosive Jack 16. Master Of Wine 17. Pondus 18. Carif 19. Knights Order 20. Persan 21. Port Guillaume 22. Johnny Get Angry 23. Ocean Billy 24. Future Score (scratched before the race) Advertisement

Entering the straight, Incentivise - going for an extraordinary tenth straight win - tried to kick clear of the field but Verry Elleegant quickly gathered up the leader and charged past with a furlong to run and won comfortably.

Waller, who is most famous for training the record-breaking Winx and whose huge stable of horses has established him as Australia's most successful trainer, ended his frustrating wait for a Melbourne Cup win.

He had 21 entries in the big race prior to today for a meagre return of one placing.

An emotional McDonald, who had two previous placings in the Cup, called Verry Elleegant a 'superstar' after guiding the mare to victory.

'I love her to bits,' he said. 'Shes been so good to me. They can safely say shes a champion now.

'She was relaxed the whole way. When I looked at the 600 (metres to go), I still just, just... I was blowing kisses to her the whole way.

'I dont know. I just cant believe whats just happened.'

There were some doubts about Verry Elleegant's chances due to the weight, the wide barrier and the questions about her running out the long distance.

But the sceptics would have done well to heed McDonald's words prior to the race.

'I galloped her on Saturday and she is absolutely humdinging,' McDonald declared in column for Racenet on Tuesday morning.

'Dead set, whether shes a Melbourne Cup winner or not, shes going to run so well its not funny.

'Seriously, I havent felt her work as good. Im telling you, she is going great.'

Thankfully all runners finished without incident, after the race was blighted in recent years by fatal injuries.

Outsider Future Score was ruled out of the race after failing a veterinary test on Tuesday morning.

Delphi was lame on Cup eve but satisfied Racing Victoria veterinarians of his soundness and ran pretty strongly to finish seventh in the 23-horse field.

At $3 odds, Incentivise was shorter than any Cup runner since the great Phar Lap.

Punters enjoy their Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington on Tuesday as Australia prepared for 'the race that stops the nation'

Jockey Brett Prebble had him nicely positioned just behind the leader but was not able to accelerate away from the field as he did in winning the Caulfield Cup.

However he stuck on strongly to finish second and would have lost no admirers.

In an age when super-rich breeding operations dominate the bloodstock industry, Verry Elleegant's win was a victory for the little guys.

Her New Zealand hobby breeder Don Goodwin owned a horse called Zed which was retired prematurely due to a leg injury and became a modest sire, charging a cut-rate $600 at stud despite himself being sired by the great Zabeel.

Zed serviced Goodwin's only mare Opulence - which he bought for $10,000 - and the resultant foal was Verry Elleegant.

Glammed-up punters earlier in the day began spilling into Melbourne 's Flemington Racecourse for 'the race that stops the nation'

The unusual spelling of her name is a nod to Goodwin's granddaughter Ellee, while the two Rs in Verry was chosen to make it stand out.

Glammed-up punters earlier began spilling into Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse ahead of the world-renowned race - with the sartorial bar set early on by a woman bursting through the gates in a pastel power suit.

The fashionista led a host of attendees donned head-to-toe in pastel mini dresses, whimsical white lace numbers and bold patterned pieces keen to ensure all eyes were on them as they fought it out for prime position ahead of the iconic race at 3pm.

About 70 per cent of attendees at the 161st Melbourne Cup are Victoria Racing Club members with only five per cent of tickets offered to members of the public.
A white Virginia town councilman came under fire after posting a picture of himself wearing blackface to resemble Eddie Murphy in 'Coming to America' for Halloween.

Warsaw town council member Faron Hamblin said later that he dressed up as fictional black musician Randy Watson from the 1988 romantic film out of 'respect' and 'love,' and that he only wore blackface to 'dress the part.'

Hamblin added that Murphy portrayed a Jewish character in the same movie and nobody seemed to take issue with that, but that he knew Murphy meant no harm.

'Like Eddie, or Dave Chappelle I don't go around walking on eggshells,' he said.

Hamblin, one of seven councilmembers of the northern Virginia town, has since deleted both the original post and the following explanation.

Warsaw town council member Faron Hamblin said that he dressed up as fictional musician Randy Watson from the 1988 romantic film out of 'respect' and 'love,' and that he only wore blackface to 'dress the part'

'Like Eddie, or Dave Chappelle I don't go around walking on eggshells,' Hablin said

Hamblin added that Murphy portrayed a Jewish character in the same movie and nobody seemed to take issue with that, but that he knew Murphy meant no harm. Above, Murphy dressed up as a white Jewish man

'I went out as the legendary Randy Watson tonight. Give it up for my band Sexual Chocolate,' Hamblin captioned the picture of him wearing a curly wig and a blue suit, news station WWBT reported.

He received almost instant criticism, with people calling him racist and ignorant.

Hamlin then wrote a Facebook post to defend his costume choice.

'Many saw it degrading, which I did not. I did it to show my love for the character and the movie,' he said.

'But since I'm white it's considered by some as offensive to dress as a black person. It's off limits if you're a white person. I think that's ridiculous! Especially when it's done to be a tribute to the character...

'You know I've been called many names. A lot I deserve. None of those names really cut. But today I was called a racist. Yeah that cuts pretty deep,' Hamblin wrote

Hamblin dressed up as Eddie Murphy's Randy Watson from the 1988 romantic film 'Coming to America'

Hamblin is one of seven councilmembers in the town of Warsaw, Virginia

Another Facebook post read: 'You know I've been called many names. A lot I deserve. None of those names really cut. But today I was called a racist. Yeah that cuts pretty deep. I made a post that hurt a lot of folks, and that was not my intention. I try to be a good person and help others regardless of how they are.

The politician then sent an apologetic statement to the Richmond County NAACP, Insider reported.

In the letter, Hamblin said that 'it was in [his] personal best interest and the community's best interest to remove the [Facebook] post in order for all parties involved to move forward and to learn from this incident.'

It also read: 'In both my personal and professional life, I have always been a friend and ally to the black community and will use this as a learning opportunity to move forward a better and more knowledgeable person.'

In a statement ot the Richmond County NAACP, Hamblin said that 'it was in [his] personal best interest and the community's best interest to remove the [Facebook] post in order for all parties involved to move forward and to learn from this incident.'

Blackface became popular in the 19th century. White performers used dark face makeup and shoe shining to portray stereotypical black characters that were disparagingly lazy and ignorant

In the recent decade, the practice has been recognized as highly offensive, and many celebrities and politicians have received criticism for their use of blackface in the past

Hamblin said in his apology that he wore blackface to 'dress the part' and resemble Murphy's charachter Randy Watson

Blackface became popular in the 19th century. White performers used dark face makeup and shoe shining to portray stereotypical black characters that were disparagingly lazy and ignorant.

In the recent decade, the practice has been recognized as highly offensive, and many celebrities and politicians have received criticism for their use of blackface in the past.

Another Virginia politician came under fire in 2019 for wearing blackface. Governor Ralph Northam faced calls for resignation after a 1984 picture of him next to a person wearing blackface resurfaced.

Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman, Ted Danson, Robert Downey Jr, and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among others who have been called out for wearing blackface or dark makeup to resemble other ethnicities.
The family of a grandmother in her 50s left brain-damaged and paralysed from the neck down after contracting Covid are mounting an appeal after a judge ruled she should be allowed to die.

Specialists treating the woman - who doctors say was the most complicated Covid patient in the world - at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge said life-support treatment should end.

The woman's relatives disagreed and said she should be given more time. They say she can 'feel and show degrees of emotion' and enjoys watching EastEnders and likes Mr Bean.

Mr Justice Hayden considered evidence at a recent hearing in the Court of Protection in London, where judges oversee cases centred on adults who lack the mental capacity to make decisions, and concluded that life-support treatment should stop by the end of October.

Members of her family today asked three appeal judges to overturn Mr Justice Hayden's decision, at a Court of Appeal hearing in London.

Specialists treating the woman - who doctors say was the most complicated Covid patient in the world - at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge said life-support treatment should end

A barrister representing relatives told Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior Court of Protection judge in England and Wales, Lord Justice Moylan, and Sir Nicholas Patten that Mr Justice Hayden had 'erred'.

Edward Devereux QC argued, in a written case outline, that Mr Justice Hayden had given 'insufficient consideration' to the woman's 'earlier capacitous decision' that she wanted 'full escalation' of treatment; failed to appreciate the 'overwhelming importance' of her religious and cultural beliefs; and failed to 'consider adequately' her past and present wishes and feelings.

He said the woman could feel and show degrees of emotion and could communicate.

'(She) can communicate and respond to questions,' Mr Devereux told the appeal hearing. She moves her head.'

He added: 'When she finds something funny, she can pull a face. She likes being tickled.'

Mr Devereux said she enjoyed watching EastEnders on her iPad. 'She watches Netflix,' he added. 'She likes Mr Bean.'

He said she squinted if in pain and could remember things 'to an extent'.

Mr Justice Hayden considered evidence at a recent hearing in the Court of Protection in London, where judges oversee cases centred on adults who lack the mental capacity to make decisions, and concluded that life-support treatment should stop by the end of October

Lawyers say life-support treatment will continue until the three appeal judges have made a decision.

Doctors had told Mr Justice Hayden, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, that the woman had been the 'most complicated' Covid-19 patient in the world.

Specialists at Addenbrooke's said there was nothing they could do to make 'any aspect of her condition better' and that life-support treatment was causing her distress and adding to her 'burden'.

They thought that her life expectancy could be measured in months and said moving her to a palliative care regime would enable her to die peacefully and without distress.

Mr Justice Hayden said it was the first time a judge had considered an end-of-life case as a result of Covid.

He heard how the woman, who was overweight and had underlying health problems, went into hospital with symptoms of Covid late in 2020.

Barrister Katie Gollop QC, who represents hospital bosses, had told Mr Justice Hayden that the woman's case appeared to be 'unique'.

She said the woman was 'almost entirely paralysed' and had 'severe' cognitive impairment.

One specialist said the woman had complications not 'described' in the UK before.

Mr Justice Hayden had ruled that the woman could not be identified in media reports.
A hard-hitting letter by Sir Winston Churchill explaining why France had to fend for itself in World War Two has emerged for sale for 4,000.

French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud pleaded with his British counterpart to provide more air support as the German Blitzkrieg rolled on during the Battle of France in early June 1940.

But Churchill, who had only just taken over as Prime Minister after the resignation of Neville Chamberlain, felt he could not spare any more aircraft because they would be needed to fight the mighty Luftwaffe in the impending Battle of Britain.

The RAF had already provided more than 20 squadrons of planes to help defend France.

In the correspondence, which is being sold by a private collector with Chiswick Auctions, in West London, he tells Mr Reynaud that further depleting Britain's Fighter squadrons would be 'short-sighted' and leave Britain 'inadequately defended'.

He adds that the enemy could attack Britain at 'a few hours notice' and 'strike a blow which might irretrievably damage the Allied cause'.

Paris then fell to Adolf Hitler's forces on June 14. The German victory led to Britain's rescue of more than 300,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Whilst the retreat, which was codenamed Operation Dynamo, was an embarrassing defeat that could have ended the war, it remains the largest military evacuation in history and was hailed by Churchill as a 'miracle of deliverance'.

The same seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, is also selling a hand-edited draft of the PM's heartfelt letter to his predecessor Neville Chamberlain after he was forced to leave the Government following a cancer diagnosis.

Chamberlain had resigned as PM in May 1940 but then served as Lord President of the Council in Churchill's war cabinet before his illness became apparent and he stepped down in October.

A hard-hitting letter by Sir Winston Churchill explaining why France had to fend for itself in World War Two has emerged for sale for 4,000

French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud (pictured above with Churchill in 1950) pleaded with his British counterpart to provide more air support as the German Blitzkrieg rolled on during the Battle of France in early June 1940

Squadrons of British planes and pilots had been based in France to assist the French air force since January 1940.

An initial request from the French government for more planes - ten squadrons in total - came on May 10 1940 and was agreed to by Churchill and the War Cabinet.

However, whilst more planes were sent after that, Churchill then refused a final request for further aircraft in early June.

In the letter to Reynaud, Churchill writes: 'I have examined today with the War Cabinet and all the experts the request which you made to me last night and this morning for further fighter squadrons.

'We are all agreed that it is better to draw the enemy on to this island by striking at his vitals, and thus to aid the common cause.

Churchill, who had only just taken over as Prime Minister after the resignation of Neville Chamberlain, felt he could not spare any more aircraft because they would be needed to fight the mighty Luftwaffe in the impending Battle of Britain. Above: The second page of the letter

The RAF had already provided more than 20 squadrons of planes to help defend France

A separate piece of paper has a handwritten note by Churchill which reads 'a state of supreme emergency'

'I have seen several of the great offensives in the last war from high positions and I cannot feel that the German difficulties will be ended by their making a breach or a bulge in the Front.

'All experience shows that these difficulties increase with every kilometre of advance.

'It would be a short-sighted policy to squander bit by bit and day by day, the fighter squadrons.'

He adds: 'The enemy can switch his bomber force on to these Islands as a few hours' notice; and if he should find them inadequately defended, he would be able to strike a blow at our war industry which might irretrievably damage the Allied cause.

'We have recently sent additional fighter squadrons to France over and above the numbers agreed before the war, and our fighter strength in this country has now been reduced to a minimum.

'So long as it is not further reduced we do not shrink - indeed we welcome as a diversion - the attack which we expect.'

The three-page typed draft letter has been amended in pen by Churchill who has crossed out and re-written sections of it.

A final approved version was then typed out by his secretary and sent to Mr Reynaud.

Valentina Borghi, specialist at Chiswick Auctions, said: 'Churchill would have his drafts typed out and then go through them in pen making corrections.

'He would then ask his secretary to type up an amended version following his instructions.

'Churchill had to make very tough decisions during World War Two and this was one of them, telling the French Prime Minister they could not spare more aircraft as they were needed to defend Britain.

'Churchill is a hugely popular figure among collectors and we expect a lot of interest in this letter, which could go for a lot more than its estimate.'

Paris fell to Nazi Germany on June 14, 1940 and France was occupied until the Allies landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

A total of 1,542 Allied aircrew were killed during the Battle of Britain which spanned from July to October 1940.

Churchill said of their wartime contribution: 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few.'

As a result, Adolf Hitler had to shelve plans for Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of Britain.

The same seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, is also selling a hand-edited draft of the PM's heartfelt letter to his predecessor Neville Chamberlain after he was forced to leave the Government following a cancer diagnosis. Above: The pair pictured together in 1939

Another Churchill letter being sold for up to 3,000 by the same seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, reveals the PM's heartfelt letter to Neville Chamberlain after he was forced to leave the Government following a cancer diagnosis

A second page in the sale shows a note written in pencil by General Archibald Percival Wavell to his military colleague General Henry Maitland Wilson

Churchill's letter to Chamberlain was written shortly after his resignation from the Government on October 9, 1940.

Exactly a month after he stepped down, the politician died from cancer aged 71.

Addressing him as 'My dear Neville', Churchill writes: 'I have for some time past feared that would you would be forced to relinquish the struggle you have made to carry on in spite of physical stresses under the hard conditions of the times.

'I and all your colleagues have admired your unshaken nerve and persevering will.

'The help you have given me since you ceased to be my chief tided us through what may well prove to be the turning point of the war, You did all you could for peace; you did all you could for victory.

'If you now tell me you must fall out of the line, I cannot resist your claim.

'The loss of your services makes it necessary for us to reform our ranks, and fill the gap as best as we can.'

The next edited paragraph reads: 'We have been associated, as our fathers were before us, in the ups and downs of politics, now together, now apart, but I look back upon this stern year of comradeship with feelings of the deepest respect and regard for you.'

The word 'deepest' is Churchill's handwritten change from the original typed 'highest', whilst 'regard' had said 'personal gratitude'.

The passage also references how both Churchill and Chamberlain had followed their fathers into politics.

Specialist Ms Borghi added: 'It is a nice lot because even though they had their differences and couldnt agree on war strategy, from a human point of view they respected each other.

'The letter reflects that. It also shows how he used to work. Normally a secretary would type the letter and then at the last minute he would have included some amendments. It shows his methods when he was at work.

'I think it is a very touching and moving letter, it shows respect for his predecessor.'

Churchill's father, Lord Randolph Churchill, saw his promising political career cut short by his early death aged 45. He had risen to become Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Chamberlain's father, Joseph, who was a Liberal, served as Secretary of State for the Colonies when the British Empire was at its height.

A second page in the sale shows a note written in pencil by General Archibald Percival Wavell to his military colleague General Henry Maitland Wilson.

The sale of both the Churchill letters takes place on November 9.
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What's going on? THREE key issues causing containers to stack up The huge pile of containers in Suffolk is being caused by three key problems, according to industry figures. 1 - GLOBAL SHIPPING CRISIS The system for shipping goods around the world stopped working properly when economies shut down and reopened at different times as they dealt with Covid. This led to shipping firms falling behind when it came to retrieving empty containers from European ports and taking them back to factories in Asia. The container shortage is being exacerbated by a lack of staff across the global supply chain - including sailors, hauliers and warehouse workers - due to people falling ill or having to quarantine. In recent weeks pictures have emerged showing dozens of ships waiting to enter ports on America's west coast because they have not been able to unload their containers. 2 - LORRY DRIVER SHORTAGE The issue is being exacerbated because there are not enough truck drivers to pick up and deliver fully loaded containers and return the empty ones. Today, Maersk - the world's largest freight transporter - said this was a particular problem in the UK and US. In Britain, the shortfall has been blamed largely on Covid and Brexit, which has seen many drivers move into more comfortable occupations or return home to Europe. Since last year, the industry has also seen large numbers of drivers retiring, while lockdown has hit the training of new drivers with 40,000 HGV driver tests cancelled. 3 - CHRISTMAS RUSH There is always a spike in demand for goods around Christmas, which is making congestion at ports worse. Advertisement

A 60-foot-high shipping container mountain has been spotted in a field in Suffolk as the nearby port of Felixstowe struggles with congestion caused by a lack of lorry drivers and the global sea freight crisis.

Hundreds of empty steel containers stretching for 350 feet are being stored on a former airfield off the A140 near Eye, Suffolk, just 26 miles from Britain's biggest container port.

The site is being used by Maersk - the world's biggest shipping company - to store empty containers to clear space at Felixstowe so more imports can arrive.

Gary Jeffreys, Managing Director for UK & Ireland told MailOnline: 'As we continue to see strong demand of import cargo in the run up to Christmas, we are prioritising these containers for delivery.

'This in turn means we are using off-dock storage for empty containers, they will be moved back to the port and sent to their destination in the usual manner.'

Explaining the set-up, an industry source told MailOnline: 'Essentially it's overflow from Felixstowe.

'There are insufficient drivers to move empty containers and lots of congestion around the world because of Covid - some ports in China and further afield have been blocked and are just getting back up to speed.

'So it's like a game of Jenga with lots of moving pieces. What's happened here is that these containers have got snarled up at Felixstowe.

'Rather than leaving empty containers at the port and letting them clog it up further, what seems to have happened is a deal has been done with the landowner to temporarily store them there.'

Piles of containers have been cropping up elsewhere across the world, including in Los Angeles, where California Governor Gavin Newson has ordered hauliers to find additional storage after stacks began appearing down streets and near homes.

Felixstowe has been suffering from heavy congestion in recent months.

In October, it emerged container ships had been forced to divert from the port due to lack of drivers and labour shortages which hampered efforts to unload and reload ships.

The problems have been worsened by increased demand over Christmas.

Hundreds of the empty steel containers stretching for 350 feet are being stored on a former airfield off the A140 near Eye, Suffolk, just 26 miles from Britain's biggest freight port

An aerial image of the container stack, which is being used by Maersk - the world's biggest shipping company

Felixstowe Port said it did not know anything about the metal mountain, as shipping companies and hauliers aren't under any obligation to tell the port about their container arrangements

An industry source told MailOnline: 'Essentially it's overflow from Felixstowe. There are insufficient drivers to move empty containers and lots of congestion around the world because of Covid'

Gary Jeffreys, Managing Director for UK & Ireland told MailOnline: 'As we continue to see strong demand of import cargo in the run up to Christmas, we are prioritising these containers for delivery'

This aerial image shows another storage container area just down the road from the one shown in the other photos. Maersk said storing facilities away from ports was 'quite common'

Pictures from the port on the Suffolk coast showed containers piled up over the gigantic dockside, as the British International Freight Association said it understood average 'dwell times' for cargo at the port have nearly doubled in the last two weeks, from five to 9.7 days.

The backlog has been affecting major retailers including IKEA and major food companies including Nestle, the world's largest food producer of coffee, baby food and chocolate, as well as tens of thousands of smaller UK businesses waiting for orders from all over the world.

Some cargo ships were being sent to European ports with containers moved into the UK via Dover or on smaller ships to less busy ports such as Hull and Liverpool because it was quicker to avoid Felixstowe.

Today, unveiling its financial results, the world's biggest freight company Maersk said logistics problems across the global shipping industry would last well into next year.

Last month, Maersk boss Lars Mikael Jensen has warned retailers may need to prioritise what they ship to Britain in the coming months due to delays, adding: 'Felixstowe is among the top two or three worst-hit terminals [globally]. We are having to deviate some of the bigger ships away from Felixstowe and relay some of the smaller ships for the cargo'.

Britain's labour crisis is also being blamed for the logjam, with one logistics company whistleblower telling ITV News anonymously: 'I'm fed up with this. Year on year this port never has enough staff to cope with high demand.

'Now we're hitting another peak period and all that people are talking about again is shutdowns and gridlock. These volumes were forecast, there have been many meetings about the run up to Christmas. Why are we on this position?'

Over recent weeks empty shelves have been seen at every major supermarket in the country due to shortages.

Store managers and staff have told MailOnline that deliveries are regularly now 'just not turning up' due to a lack of drivers.

One logistics industry source told MailOnline that there had been much discussion that the peak season is going to be tough and some suspect that the shipping lines will be making plans to spread the load between Felixstowe, Liverpool, Southampton and London Gateway.

The source added: 'So it's like a game of Jenga with lots of moving pieces. What's happened here is that these containers have got snarled up at Felixstowe'

'Rather than leaving empty containers at the port and letting them clog it up further, what seems to have happened is a deal has been done with the landowner to temporarily store them there,' the source said

Yesterday, car and commercial vehicle dealer Roy Humphreys confirmed the shipping containers were on its land and not owned by them, but they did not want to comment further

They added that decision to 'drop a port call is nothing new', and that there was anecdotal evidence that the dwell times at other major container ports is increasing.

The source said: 'The increased pressure on inland depots and UK terminals in general is down to a number of factors including the ongoing HGV driver issue, equipment shortage, post Brexit stockpiling and an increase in domestic spending due to a lack of foreign travel, as well as other matters.'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted he could not guarantee families would not face shortages as they shop for Christmas favourites.

He told Sky News: 'We'll all be able to be together, we'll be able to buy things, there will be food on the table.'

But he added: 'I can't guarantee that every line of every product will be available. It's at that level, rather than thinking Christmas will have to be cancelled and upsetting children everywhere across the country.'

Toys are one of the items expected to be hit by price rises due to cost pressures from rising transport costs, higher energy prices and ongoing labour shortages.

The differently coloured shipping containers and the surrounding countryside have combined to create a strangely beautiful scene at the former airfield

Felixstowe has been suffering heavily from congestion in recent months. In October, it emerged container ships had been forced to divert from the port due to lack of drivers and labour shortages which hampered efforts to unload and reload ships.' Pictured are lorries at the airfield

Some cargo ships were being sent to European ports with containers moved into the UK via Dover or on smaller ships to less busy ports such as Hull and Liverpool because it was quicker to avoid Felixstowe

The Toy Retailers Association warns price increases in the coming months were 'inevitable' with shipping costs having risen a whopping 900 per cent in a year, with a 15 toy truck now costing 7 to ship from the Far East, up from 70p a year ago.

The shipping crisis has seen air freight bookings soar by up to 70 per cent, according to cargo group Air Charter Service.

There have been reports union chiefs are preparing strike action for British HGV drivers after ministers backed plans to make it more attractive for foreign hauliers to work in the UK.

British businesses are said to be 'appalled' by Government-backed plans to allow overseas drivers make 'unlimited journeys at low rates' to combat shortages and save Christmas.

They say the move risks British labour being 'undercut' by cheaper foreign companies as national union Unite prepares to discuss potential strike action with hauliers, reports The Times.

An aerial photo taken on October 30 showing huge piles of shipping containers that have gathered at the Suffolk port

Maersk, the world's largest shipping firm, says it is diverting bigger ships away from the UK due to the delays at the dockside because it is quicker to avoid Felixstowe and move goods via France to Dover or to smaller UK ports such as Hull

In desperate efforts to plug the gaps amid a national driver shortage, the government have agreed to a relaxation in 'cabotage' rules - which currently limit EU-based companies to making a maximum of two trips in the UK within a week.

But Rod McKenzie, managing director at the Road Haulage Association, warned ministers would be allowing firms from abroad 'do unlimited work at low rates, undercutting UK hauliers who are facing an acute driver shortage, rising costs and staff wages'.

Sharon Graham, Unite's new leader whose trade body was accused of 'holding Christmas hostage', added that the treatment of British drivers was 'nothing short of a disgrace'.

The news comes just days after thousands of supermarket and delivery drivers were to be consulted over a mass walkout - the largest strike threat of its kind since the notorious Winter of Discontent more than 40 years ago.

Ikea and Nestle are among the huge businesses that say their products are being snarled up due to a lack of HGV drivers that is hitting all parts of British life
A father shook his son so violently he was left with 50 rib fractures, broken legs and bleeds on his brain which eventually killed him, a court heard today.

James Lawton, 28, and Chantelle Stroud, 25, sat apart in the dock at Reading Crown Court as the jury was told that their son, Colby Lawton, had died after suffering a string of injuries, including skull fractures, leg breaks and bruising.

In the early hours of May 9 last year, paramedics were called to 25-year-old Stroud's flat in Newbury, Berks., after the couple had dialled 999 when baby Colby stopped breathing.

However, prosecutor Eloise Marshall told the jury that a post-mortem examination had found that the tiny tot had suffered hideous injuries, allegedly due to Lawton brutally shaking him.

She said: 'The cause of Colby's death was a traumatic head injury. Essentially, a brain injury caused his death.

'The injuries Colby suffered are the sort of injuries that if an observer saw them, they would know it was not the way they should handle a child.

'There is no doubt that at some stage Colby was alive and in Lawton's custody. It is no coincidence that Lawton was the last person to handle Colby when he collapsed because we say that Lawton attacked him and caused his death.'

Reading Crown Court (pictured) heard how James Lawton, 28, allegedly shook his son, Colby, so violently he was left with broken legs, brain bleeds and 50 rib fractures

The post-mortem examination, conducted by Dr Brett Lockyer, found more than 14 bruises on Colby's right leg alone, as well as a severe brain injury and 50 rib fractures, a number of which indicated his chest and been forcefully squeezed.

The child also had fractures in all of the long bones in his legs. The post-mortem exam revealed these had been caused by the legs being pulled and twisted, as would happen when a baby was shaken.

The jury at Reading Crown Court heard that Colby had been born on April 20 last year, only weeks after the start of the UK's coronavirus lockdown.

However, the jury was told that in the days before his son's death, 28-year-old Lawton had become increasingly dissatisfied with Colby and was not willing to care for him.

High Court Judge Mrs Justice Stacey heard that only two days before the child's death, Colby developed a lump on his head, which turned out to be a skull fracture.

The prosecution allege this was caused by Lawton violently shaking his son or hitting his head with a hard object.

Prosecutor Ms Marshall also described a separate incident in which Stroud and her neighbours heard a 'loud piercing scream' from the flat.

She explained: 'Stroud was on the way back from shopping with a neighbour and they was coming up to her flat when they heard a loud piercing scream.

'It was not the sort of scream that you would expect to hear from a newborn baby. Stroud said that it was Colby and said that he had been doing that a lot lately.

Medical specialists believed screams like the one heard could be a symptom of a brain injury or could have been caused by another attack on the child.

Earlier, the prosecutor revealed that during a number of visits from midwives after his birth, Stroud lied to them and claimed that Lawton had only just moved in for the lockdown, rather than living in the house for a number of months.

She had told a midwife that there were 'no domestic concerns and no incidents with James', but neighbours refuted this series of accounts.

'She was lying about her relationship with Lawton because they knew that Lawton presented a risk to her and her child but they were aware that if social services knew, it would have affected their circumstances,' Ms Marshall added.

In the days before Colby's death, the court heard that Lawton had displayed a shocking disrespect for his son's welfare.

One-month-old baby Colby Lawton died at an address in Newbury, Berkshire (pictured above) in May last year

On one occasion he threatened to throw Colby off the roof while on another he simply tried to mask his cries by drowning him out with loud music.

Ms Marshall said: 'Neighbours heard the sound of Colby crying upstairs and Lawton was blasting music to drown out the crying.'

The jury heard how in the build-up to Colby's death, Lawton had been aggressive towards Colby and Stroud to such an extent that Stroud, not for the first time, kicked him out of the house.

Ms Marshall explained: 'She was well aware that Lawton was capable of violence towards their child in the run-up to Colby's death. About two weeks before the death Stroud kicked Lawton out of the house.

'He told Stroud that he did not love her or have any feeling for her or their boy. They resolved the argument and Lawton returned, despite the advice of their friends and neighbours.'

The court heard that Lawton had repeatedly neglected Colby and the day before the child's death, Stroud told a neighbour that the couple had an argument that they were 'unlikely to ever get over' after Lawton claimed Colby was not his child.

The jury was told that even after Colby's death, Lawton was still demanding a paternity test be performed.

Lawton, of Boreham Field, Warminster, Wiltshire, denies murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and committing cruelty to a person under the age of 16 years.

Stroud, of Newtown Road, Newbury, Berks, also denies causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under the age of 16 years.

The pair claim that Lawton had been watching TV in the living-room when he heard Colby 'grizzle' and after he giving him some milk the child became floppy and lifeless, all injuries medics said could have been caused by the child being violently shaken.

The trial continues.
The creators of the Superman comic that has The Man of Steel coming out as bisexual have been given police protection after receiving death threats from irate fans, law enforcement sources have revealed.

According to TMZ, Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched to the private residences of illustrators and production staffers tasked with producing the contentious comic, titled Superman: Son of Kal-El, to protect them after they received several threats from fans peeved over the latest Superman iteration's sexual orientation.

What's more, officers were also deployed to the studio itself, in Los Angeles, to protect staffers from potential attacks, the outlet reported Tuesday morning.

The latest iteration of Superman, who has already appeared in the ongoing comic book series Superman: Son of Kal-El, is slated to come out as bisexual and begin dating his male best friend in the fifth issue of the serial slated for release on November 16

The revelation comes mere weeks after comic-book giant DC confirmed that their poster-boy protagonist would reveal himself as bisexual in an issue slated to release on November 16, sparking backlash.

Amid the outpour of criticism, the comic's writer, Tom Taylor, defended the choice to write the character as a member of the LGBTQ community, arguing the beloved hero's sexuality is but a small detail - one that will allow LGBTQ people 'to see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics.'

But not everyone shares the same welcoming sentiment, with many slamming DC for the company's creative liberties - which included the decision to scrap the old Superman slogan 'truth, justice, and the American way' in a favor of 'truth, justice and a better tomorrow' for the current comic.

Earlier this month, Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo angrily asked why DC Comics was allowing staffers to sexualize superheroes on Laura Ingraham's late-night program The Ingraham Angle.

Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched to the private residences of illustrators and production staffers tasked with producing the contentious comic, and to their LA offices as well, to protect team members after they received several threats from fans peeved over the new Superman's sexual orientation (file image)

'Why are they sexualizing superheroes?' the conservative journalist asked Ingraham.

'Call me when they have a gender-stable aisle with superheroes whose sexualities we know nothing about.

'I was a Batman and Superman and Spider-Man kid. I loved those heroes. We just wanted them to get the bad guys, not a venereal disease. Leave our comic book heroes alone.'

Former Superman actor Dean Cain, 55 who portrayed the superhero for four seasons on the 1993 TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, also spoke out on the controversy, suggesting to Fox News that the staffers producing the comic were 'bandwagoning.'

'They said its a bold new direction. I say theyre bandwagoning,' the former Man of Steel said in a televised interview earlier this month.

'I dont think its bold or brave or some crazy new direction,' the actor continued.

'If they had done this 20 years ago, perhaps that would be bold or brave. But brave would be having him fight for the rights of gay people in Iran where they'll throw you off a building for the offence of being gay.'

Cain added that he would prefer to see Superman fighting the 'real evil in the world today,' like 'corruption and government overreach.'

In the series' fifth issue, Superman's successor will start dating his male best friend, who, like Lois Lane, is a reporter

The comic's writer, Tom Taylor, has defended the choice to write the character as a member of the LGBTQ community, arguing the beloved hero's sexuality is but a small detail - one that will allow LGBTQ people 'to see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics'

One social media user seemed to eerily predict the threats Taylor's team is currently facing

A host of readers also took to social media to voice their concerns over the comic book publisher's announcement, which came on October 11, National Coming Out Day.

'Congratulations,' one user wrote on Twitter in response to a tweet from Taylor detailing DC's announcement. 'You just wrecked one of the oldest comic heroes.'

'This wont translate to sale,' another user wrote, labeling the change as 'fake.' The cross fan also suggested that the team behind the comic 'only do this for headlines.'

Another griped: 'Way to ruin a character, lets just do whatever it takes to please the 0.01% of the population.'

Meanwhile, one commentator said: 'I applaud this in EVERY way. I just hope youre prepared for the backlash from parents and conservatives all over the map.'

'Congratulations, you just wrecked one of the oldest comic heroes,' one peeved fan wrote on Twitter in response to a tweet from Taylor on October 11 detailing DC's announcement

'This wont translate to sale,' another user wrote, labeling the change as 'fake.' The cross fan also suggested that the team behind the comic 'only do this for headlines'

Another griped: 'Way to ruin a character, lets just do whatever it takes to please the 0.01% of the population'

Now, with two weeks left before the November 16 release of the comic's fifth issue in which Clark Kent's successor announces himself as bisexual and kisses another man, Los Angeles police have stepped in to ensure that the situation does not escalate.

According to TMZ, sources close to or within the Los Angeles Police Department revealed to the outlet that the team producing Superman: Son of Kal-El received an array of angry calls from fans vexed over the hero's newly announced sexuality - with some of them containing threats of actual violence to staffers.

Concerned for their safety, staffers from the Los Angeles studios working on the comic book then proceeded to call the police department to report the threats, who responded by sending patrol cars to surveil the studios and several employees' private residences, the news outlet reported Tuesday.

Sources close to or within the Los Angeles Police Department revealed to the outlet that the team producing Superman: Son of Kal-El received an array of angry calls from fans vexed over the hero's newly announced sexuality - with some of them containing threats of actual violence to staffers (file image)

So far nothing has come from the reported threats, the outlet further revealed, but the source added that even after the situation somewhat 'settled down' in recent weeks, cops still patrolled the aforementioned areas out of an abundance of caution.

The Los Angeles Police Department has yet to address DailyMail.com's request for comment regarding the details of the case.
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Nearly a third of New York City's firefighters are off-duty and 20 percent of fire companies were out of service on Monday as a result of de Blasio's vaccine mandate, with 800 EMTs also refusing to take the shot along with 5,400 cops.

As of Tuesday morning, 3,300 of the FDNY's 11,000 firefighters were not working, including 1,000 who have taken unpaid leave as a result of the mandate and 2,300 who are on sick leave. In total, 2,530 are unvaccinated but it's unclear how many among them have been given exemptions and are still allowed to work.

Fire chiefs say the majority of those who are on sick leave are unvaccinated - a claim that was denied by the unions on Tuesday at a meeting where more than 40 firefighters showed up to protest the mandate and seek support.

Sixty fire companies were out of service, according to the Uniformed Firefighters Association on Tuesday.

It slices a considerable chunk out of those who are responding to calls, forcing those who are working to pull up the slack in understaffed fire companies now riding four per engine in some parts of Manhattan, instead of the usual six.

Overnight, there were two major fires in the city - one in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx. Four people were taken to the hospital but no one was killed. Firefighters say it's only a matter of time before staffing becomes so bad that some calls will not be responded to in time.

There are still 5,400 unvaccinated NYPD cops and 794 unvaccinated EMTs - the staff equivalent to 400 ambulances. The majority of the unvaccinated cops are still on the streets because they have filed exemptions, with only 34 opting to take unpaid leave on Monday.

Now, the emergency workers are in a stand-off with City Hall. Both sides blame the other for the worrying staff shortages that could threaten public safety.

'I feel betrayed. I worked the busiest year in EMS history in the pandemic last year - we had 7,000 calls on one day....this should be about choice. People's livelihoods shouldn't be put on the line. It's freedom... this is America.

'It's supposed to be, "you do what's best for you,"' Shem Lafleur, an EMT who worked for the FDNY for 15 years before his final shift on Sunday night, told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.

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Shem Lafleur, an EMT who has worked for the FDNY for 15 years, told DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning that he has taken unpaid leave because he feels he's been pushed 'against a wall' to take a vaccine he does not trust. He wanted to wait until the vaccines had been around for a few years before he made a decision on which to take. Now, he has no job

'I'm not anti-vax, eventually I'll get one once I am comfortable with it but I am not going to be forced, pushed against the wall,' he added.

Around 40 unvaccinated firefighters showed up to an emergency resource department meeting set up by their union on Tuesday at a hotel in Manhattan. Some had been sent home from their fire stations the previous day after reporting for duty.

Nico Galetovic, a firefighter out of Engine 70, told DailyMail.com at the meeting that he refused the vaccine because of his religious beliefs.

'It has to do with my religious beliefs. I don't identify with any specific church... it's written in the scriptures.

'Some bible verses reference it,' he said.

These were the total number of vaccinated cops, firefighters and EMTs on Tuesday morning

Lafleur, the EMT who is now out of work, said he will in all likelihood get vaccinated eventually but he does not yet feel comfortable because of how new the shots are.

'When I read up on the J&J shot, it scared me.

'There were a lot of issues pertaining to my medical history. I wanted to wait until the right time- when a new video game system comes up, people rush to buy it you have glitches, bugs, updates.... usually after about a year and a half, sometimes a bit more, they start to resolve these things. I gave myself about a 2.5 year span to get it.

'I am not against the vaccine - I never have been - I'm never going to ridicule anyone who took it or didn't take it,' he said.

He said that even if one ambulance goes down (two EMTs) - wait times could increase by up to three or four minutes.

'Even if one ambulance was to go out of service everybody feels it... it is affecting the city. If a station has about 50 people, and three people call out, you feel the impact because somebody is going to have to work an extra 4,6,8 hours and if you need two people to man an ambulance.

'If just one unit in a station of eight goes down, everybody feels it.'

Right now, there are 794 unvaccinated EMTs which is the equivalent to 400 ambulances. The average response time for an ambulance in NYC is around 7 minutes for the most life threatening cases.

Of the dozens of firefighters who attended the union meeting on Tuesday, the majority did not want to speak publicly for fear of being chastised once they get back to work.

'It has to do with my religious beliefs. I don't identify with any specific church... it's written in the scriptures. Some bible verses reference it Unvaccinated firefighter Nico Galetovic who is now on unpaid leave

Andrew Ansbro, the President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said the fire department is 'falling apart behind the scenes' while bosses claim service is unaffected.

NYC firefighters are being worked to their limits... saying we held it together yesterday is irrelevant. It's inhumane. It's falling apart behind the scenes and they refuse to admit it.

'I pray it doesn't cost the life of NYC citizens of firefighters. 60 companies were closed yesterday.

'There's well over 1,000 firefighters that are placed on leave. Bring them back.'

One firefighter at Engine 65 on West 43rd Street in Manhattan disclosed that they were riding with only four firefighters in an engine - the legal minimum - when normally they would have up to double that number.

'It's been a rough week,' one firefighter at the station said on Tuesday morning.

City Hall and the FDNY won't confirm exactly how many people the force is down but the union said on Monday they expected it 1,700 firefighters going on unpaid leave.

Another firefighter out of Engine 79 in the Bronx said staffing had been reduced 'dramatically'.

Around 40 firefighters gathered at the meeting in Manhattan on Tuesday. Some had been sent home from firehouses the previous day because they were unvaccinated

A firefighter takes a form for request for a reasonable accommodation for disability' after being forbidden from working because is unvaccinated at a union meeting for firefighters on Tuesday

The firefighters say they are not being allowed to work by the City which has no right to tell them which vaccines to take

(L-R seated) Lt. James McCarthy, President of the FDNY-Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Edward Kelly, IAFF President, Andy Ansbro, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association on Tuesday morning

A four alarm fire in the Bronx last night required 163 firefighters. Engine 81, the nearest firehouse, was closed earlier in the day due to staffing shortages but was back in service by the time the fire hit. The firefighters who are working say they are overstretched to dangerous limits

Two firefighters out of Engine 58 in Harlem who were sent home on Tuesday after showing up for duty without being vaccinated

It is unclear how many of the firefighters who walked out on Monday (pictured) will lose their jobs, and how many will find a way around the rules

'We were already understaffed. One month ago we had record highs in OT that the FDNY increased the maximum hours you can work.

'Now, being forced to work even more than contractually required to work.

Daniel Nigro, the fire commissioner, said 18 of the departments' 350 companies, or five per cent, were out of service on Monday. The Uniformed Firefighter's Association tweeted a photo of a protest sign and unused uniform on Monday

'Even 24 hour restrictions went by the wayside,' one firefighter in the Bronx told DailyMail.com.

'I can't fathom how the City could gamble with lives so carelessly when vaccination levels are now at levels initially promoted by prominent healthcare officials to achieve herd immunity (and that isn't even accounting for the prior exposure and antibody levels in unvaccinated firefighters),' he said.

Edward Kelly, President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said: 'Firefighters are beat up.

'They're working non-stop. They're not being allowed to go home. People are going to break down.

'We're worried about tragedy happening in New York City.

'It could be a citizen, it could be one of our own. But we want everyone to know it's not us creating this.'

They want to bring back the option for firefighters to either be vaccinated or have to test weekly for COVID.

A four-alarm fire tore through a Chinese restaurant in the Bronx overnight, requiring 163 firefighters to respond from nearby companies including one that was so understaffed as a result of the vaccine mandate that it had to close.

A two-alarm fire in Brooklyn required 100 firefighters' attention at 6pm last night. Four people were taken to the hospital with injuries.

An FDNY spokesman told DailyMail.com that no one died and no one was seriously injured.

The unions on Tuesday slammed the claim that 2,300 firefighters were lying to claim sick pay when they were unvaccinated, calling it offensive to 9/11 survivors and others who suffer real injuries in the line of fire.

'We have firefighters that put their lives on the line that are battling cancers, some WTC-related.

'We also have some operating at a fourth alarm fire in the Bronx.

'We have a very dangerous job, firefighters get hurt in the line of duty... the assertion that thousands are faking medical leave, we reject,' Ansbro, President of the UFA, said.
A fully vaccinated air passenger infected with coronavirus was found dead in his seat after a flight.

The Pegasus Airlines crew found the 51-year-old man lifeless in his seat after Flight 1043 from Istanbul, Turkey, to Hamburg, Germany, on October 25.

The man, who was born in Russia and lived in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, was travelling on an Airbus 320 when he passed away during the flight, which took off from Istanbul at around 7am GMT (10am local time).

He was found lifeless in his seat by a member of staff after all other passengers had disembarked the aircraft in Hamburg at around 12pm GMT, (1pm German time), according to local media reports.

The official cause of the man's death is not clear although local reports have suggested he had suffered from a number of serious prior illnesses, which were not specified.

A fully vaccinated aeroplane passenger infected with coronavirus died during his Pegasus Airlines flight (File image)

The Airbus A320 operated by Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus Airlines had taken off from Istanbul and landed at its destination at around 1 pm on Monday, October 25.

Forensic pathologists performed a postmortem on the body and concluded that the man had probably died mid-flight.

They noted he tested positive for Covid but it is unclear if he had presented any symptoms during his final days. It is not known if Covid was the cause of death.

He was allowed to take the flight because he had proved he was fully vaccinated against coronavirus. German Covid-19 rules require passengers to reveal their Covid status before they fly.

Potential air passengers need to be vaccinated, recovered or tested. Passengers who have been fully vaccinated do not also need to provide a negative Covid test result when travelling to Germany from 'high-risk' Turkey.

A spokesman for the Hamburg health authority told Focus Online: 'In general, the provisions of the entry regulations apply, according to which either a test or proof of vaccination must be presented when entering from Turkey.'

The airline said: 'We extend our condolences to the family and neighbours of the passenger.'

Local media did not report whether other passengers noticed the man was dead during the 3 hours and 25 minutes flight.

The51-year-old man was discovered dead after the plane had landed at Hamburg airport in Germany

A police spokesperson said the passenger had his head ajar and his eyes closed so he may have been mistaken as being asleep, Spiegel reported.

The police spokesperson added that the man was travelling alone and had a window seat on the airplane.

According to the local newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt, the man had suffered from several serious prior illnesses, which were not specified.

The man had flown to Istanbul a week earlier, Focus Online reported. It is unclear whether his visit was for business or leisure purposes.

The passengers sitting near him and the cabin crew were ordered to report to the health department.

Tourism in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul has gradually restarted as Covid-19 vaccination rates have been on the rise.

The Health Ministry revealed that 72.4 per cent of citizens aged 18 and above have received both vaccination doses against Covid in Istanbul, Tempo reported.

Meanwhile, the city has brought in 5.8million tourists during the first nine months of 2021, with local news reports confirming that the number of tourists has steadily increased since March when compared to the same period last year.

'The high vaccination rate in Istanbul gives confidence to tourists,' Nalan Yesilyurt, board member of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, told Xinhua.

On Monday, Turkey recorded 28,678 new cases of Covid, bringing the country's total number of cases from October 19 until November 1 up to 378,149.

Turkey also recorded 217 new deaths on Monday, according to official figures.
A senior Met police officer faces prison after 'using his anti-terror' skills to secretly film nude models with spy cameras hidden in tissue boxes, phone charges, glasses and keys.

Detective Inspector Neil Corbel, 40, covertly recorded up to 51 victims at hotels and Airbnbs across London, Manchester and Brighton between January 2017 and February 2020.

The police officer contacted the women through dating sites under the guise of being an airline pilot named Harrison before using a variety of high-end spyware devices to video them during bogus photoshoots.

He left the women feeling 'embarrassed and humiliated', with one victim citing the murder of Sarah Everard as she described the traumatic impact of one photoshoot.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: Following the murder of Sarah Everard this feels like a very frightening time to be a woman.'

'If we cant turn to the police to protect us, what are we supposed to do?'

DI Corbel, once a lead investigator on an 'extremely lethal' case in which he saved 'countless lives', appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for 19 counts of voyeurism.

Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Neil Corbel, 40, used devices hidden in items including tissue boxes, phone chargers, an air freshener, and glasses to video his unsuspecting victims

Corbel pictured outside Westminster Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to 19 voyeurism offences

However, the case was sent to crown court where Corbel could face a harsher penalty.

The court heard that police found 51 women had been recorded, 31 of whom were identified and 19 agreed to make statements.

Corbel, part of the team involved in the London Bridge terror attack in June 2017, used a variety of everyday items including tissue boxes, phone chargers, air fresheners, glasses, keys and headphones, to record his unsuspecting victims.

The officer was caught when a model who had agreed to pose naked for a photo shoot became suspicious of a digital clock.

An internet search of the brand name revealed the device was a high-end spyware video recording device which could be controlled from a smartphone.

Opening the case, prosecutor Babatunde Alabi said Corbel, from Hertfordshire, was a police officer when the offences were committed.

He added: 'He contacted victims online using the name Harrison. He claimed to be an airline pilot who had an interest in photography.

'He recorded the victims using cameras disguised as everyday items, including phone chargers, tissue boxes, digital clocks, air fresheners and headphones, in addition to using a mobile phone and DSLR camera with which he was taking still photographs.'

Four of the women faced Corbel in court, three of whom took to the witness box to read their victim impact statements.

One model, who was secretly recorded twice by Corbel, said: 'I feel I was betrayed.

'It is particularly upsetting knowing he is a high-ranking police officer. I would expect far better from someone in his position.'

Another said: 'The fact the defendant is a police officer has scared me and shocked me.

The senior Metropolitan Police officer who used spy cameras to secretly film naked women may have used his background in counter-terrorism to obtain the devices

'Hes supposed to enforce the law.

'I expect he knows how to deal with people and hes used his knowledge, experience and training to manipulate me. He was so charming and believable in his role.

'I just ask myself what else was he capable of?'

Other victims, who were not in court, mentioned the case of 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard, who was snatched off the street before being raped and murdered by Met Pc Wayne Couzens.

Couzens, 48, was handed a whole life prison term last month.

The victim said: 'The fact that he is policeman is a huge deal.

'These people are meant to protect us. Following the murder of Sarah Everard this feels like a very fragile time to be a woman.

'Sex work can be dangerous, though Im lucky in this is the first form of violence I have experienced at work.

'If you cant trust police officers, then what are we supposed to do?'

Edward Henry QC, defending Corbel, said in mitigation that the case was 'light years away' and disputed the 'idea he was using his skill as a police officer'.

He added that Corbel suffers from 'sex addiction'.

Mr Henry QC also referenced his 'single-handed determination' in 'leading and investigating a case which was extremely lethal and he thwarted, he foiled it, saving countless lives'.

Corbel, who has been suspended from his role within the Met's Continuous Policing Improvement Command, pleaded guilty to 19 voyeurism offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September and appeared to be sentenced on Tuesday.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, though, sent the case to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing at a later date after deeming his powers to jail Corbel for a maximum of one year were insufficient.

He said: 'I agree with the submission that addiction is an illness. I cant agree with him in the end that my powers are sufficient. First of all, the offending had substantial planning.

'There is a suggestion that he used his knowledge in his formal work to secure surveillance equipment. All of the women were vulnerable in some way.

'On any view, the offending involved considerable deceit, not just using the different identity but essentially a different personality.

'He went to extraordinary lengths to hide the filming, and of particular concern to me is there is at least a suggestion he used his knowledge in his former work to secure recording equipment of an undercover nature.'
Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon came face-to-face at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow today, just days after the First Minister accused the Prime Minister of having a 'fragile male ego'.

Mr Johnson and Ms Sturgeon greeted each other with an awkward elbow bump at a breakfast reception hosted by the PM and the leaders of the UK's devolved administrations.

It is the first time the two have met in person since 2019, when the PM made an uncomfortable visit to Ms Sturgeon's Bute House residence in Edinburgh that attracted protests outside.

The two have been at loggerheads throughout the course of Boris Johnson's premiership as Ms Sturgeon attempts to take Scotland out of the United Kingdom and he refuses to grant a rerun of the 2014 referendum.

Last night she faced fury for exploiting COP26 in her Scottish independence battle after taking out full-page ads boasting about a 'nation-in-waiting'.

They have also clashed over Brexit and Covid in recent years and months, with the First Minister keen to diverge from the UK Government line and heap pressure on the PM.

They posed today for a rather chilly photograph with Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford, plus Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan and his Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill.

Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon met at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow today just days after she accused him of having a 'fragile male ego'

Mr Johnson hosted a breakfast reception alongside Ms Sturgeon, Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan, Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill

The SNP leader's adverts in newspapers as world leaders descend on Glasgow have been condemned as 'disappointing but predictable'

It is the first time the two have met in person since 2019, when the PM made an uncomfortable visit to Ms Sturgeon's Bute House residence in Edinburgh (pictured).

Crowds outside Bute House waiting for the arrival of Boris Johnson for his meeting with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2019, soon after he became PM

Ms Sturgeon used the event today to urge world leaders to take action to tackle climate change to 'make sure that the eyes of history judge us fairly'.

She had risked further souring relations with Mr Johnson last week after she told Vogue magazine that the PM seemed to have a 'disinclination' to meeting with her.

Asked about her working relationship with Mr Johnson, the First Minister told the fashion bible: 'He tends to delegate most of his interactions with the devolved governments to Michael Gove.

'That's fine, Michael Gove and I work together well, but it's a different approach to his predecessors.'

Asked why she thought this was the case, she said: 'Maybe it's just a bit of a fragile male ego. He seems to have a disinclination to be, metaphorically speaking, in the same room as me. It's odd.'

Mr Johnson brushed off the criticism, insisting that he is 'always delighted to work with Nicola'.

The PM said the SNP leader had been 'very helpful in the run-up to COP and I'm sure she will play a very useful role as part of the pan-UK effort'.

Asked why he thought she said he has a 'fragile male ego', the Prime Minister replied: 'Search me, I don't know.'

Today's breakfast reception in Glasgow was attended by approximately 40 leaders, including Barbadian prime minister Mia Mottley and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti.

Following the meeting, Ms Sturgeon said: 'Glasgow has the opportunity to be a city which helps propel the world into the net zero age.

'Given our industrial past  an industrial past shared by not all but many of the countries represented here today  we also have a particular responsibility to help lead the world into the net zero age.

'As leaders here, you have that weight of responsibility on your shoulders.'

She added: 'Thank you very much for making the effort to be with us here in Glasgow over this very important period  a period I'm sure history will look back on and judge as to whether we faced up to these challenges or not, so let's make sure that the eyes of history judge us fairly.'
Paula Sims, 62, who admitted to killing both her infant daughters three years apart, was released from prison on Friday, after serving nearly 32 years behind bars

Paula Sims, the southern Illinois mother who served more than three decades behind bars for killing her two infant daughters three years apart, was released from prison on Friday after being granted parole.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted on Thursday 12-1 to grant release to Sims, now 62, after more than three hours of testimony and discussion, during which her attorney argued that she committed the offenses while in the throes of postpartum psychosis, and that she no longer poses a threat to the community.

'This was a great victory for women, a great relief for me and a great gift to Paula,' her attorney, Jed Stone, told the Belleville News-Democrat. 'It is a recognition that postpartum psychosis is real and the women who suffer from that mental illness need to be treated and understood and not brushed aside with having the "baby blues."'

Sims on Friday walked out of the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, where she had been incarcerated for nearly 32 years for killing her two-week-old daughter, Loralei, in 1986, and her six-week-old daughter, Heather, in 1989.

Sims walked out of the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois, on Friday, a day after the Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted 12-1 to grant her release

Loralei Sims (left) was 13 days old when her mother told police she had been kidnapped. She was found dead in Brighton, Illinois, June 17, 1986. Three years later, Heather Sims, six weeks old, was discovered dead in a trash bin after having been reported abducted by her mother

She was greeted outside the prison gates by her friend Deb Helregel, who said she was present when Sims learned that she would be released on parole.

'She was very grateful,' Helregel told Fox 2 Now. 'She said that several times. She is just so grateful and God is good.'

Sims was welcomed outside prison by her friend Deborah Helregel (pictured), whom she met in prison

Helregel met Sims in prison, where she was serving a 45-year sentence in connection with a murder-for-hire plot targeting her husband, who allegedly abused her during their 12-year marriage.

Helregel was released on parole in 2017 after spending 22 years behind bars.

Her attorney said Sims will be living in Decatur, Illinois, where she has a job with Words Matter Publishing, reported St Louis Post-Dispatch. She eventually hopes to relocate to Alabama and start a dog grooming business.

A jury in 1990 convicted Sims of first-degree murder, concealing a homicide and obstructing justice in the suffocation death of her 6-week-old daughter, Heather Sims.

Paula Sims confessed to the 1989 killing of Heather and the 1986 killing of her other daughter, 13-day-old Loralei Sims, the News-Democrat reported.

In 1990, Sims was found guilty of fitdt-degree murder in connection with Heather's death, and pleaded guilty to concealment of a homicidal death in Loralei's death

Stone argued Sims committed the crimes while suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness that causes some new mothers to experience delusions, hallucinations and paranoia.

Recent changes in Illinois law allow postpartum psychosis and depression to be considered as mitigating factors in sentencing.

About 25 people attended the hearing in support of Sims. No one attended in opposition.

Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine sent a five-page letter to the review board 'strenuously' opposing Sims release. He argued that Sims lied about her crimes for years to police, doctors and family members to avoid punishment, and confessed only after she was found guilty of murder and wanted to avoid the death penalty.

In 2015, Sim's ex-husband, Robert Sims, 63, and their only surviving child, 27-year-old Randall Sims, were killed in a suspected DUI crash in Mississippi.

Robert divorced Paula shortly after the conclusion of her high-profile 1990 trial. He was never charged in connection with his daughters slayings and argued against his ex-wife's release in 2006.

Sims initially claimed that both her girls had been abducted by the same masked kidnapper nearly three years apart.

Loralei Sims was 13 days old when her mother told police a gunmen snatched her from their home in Brighton, Illinois, June 17, 1986. She was later found dead in the woods behind the house, reported the Belleville News Democrat.

Heather Lee Sims was reported missing by her parents April 29, 1989, when she was only six weeks old. Her body was discovered in a trash bin in West Alton, Missouri, just days later.

Randall, Paula and Robert's son, was born in 1988, two years before his mother was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter Heather.

Three months after the conviction, Paula pleaded guilty to concealment of a homicidal death. In return, prosecutors agreed not to pursue murder charges against her in relation to Loralei's killing.

Years later, Sims confessed to an author that she had drowned both her daughters.

Paula was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but in March of this year, Illinois Gov J B Pritzker, a Democrat, granted her parole eligibility.
A teacher jailed for 20 years for sexually abusing her 13-year-old male student has been tutoring fellow prisoners behind bars, prison records show.

Cops arrested Brittany Zamora, 30, from Goodyear, in March 2018 for sexually abusing the male sixth-grade student.

She was arrested after her victim's parents contacted authorities when they saw text messages between the pair.

The student of Las Brisas Academy, Goodyear, told investigators that he and Zamora, who was 27 at the time, had sex in her car and class several times.

Zamora was sentenced to 20 years in jail in July 2019 after pleading guilty to sexual conduct with a minor and reduced charges of public sexual indecency and molestation of a child.

Cops arrested Brittany Zamora, 30, (pictured left at her sentencing) from Goodyear, in March 2018 for sexually abusing a male sixth-grade student. According to the Arizona Department of Corrections database, Zamora was assigned as a tutor/educator between September 17 and October 14 at Arizona State Prison Complex (pictured right)

She said at a hearing at Maricopa Superior Court, Phoenix in 2019: 'I am a good and genuine person who made a mistake and regret it deeply.

'I lived my life respecting and trying to obey every law. I'm not a threat to society by any means.'

After apologizing to the victims and her family, she told Judge Sherry Stephens that she planned to earn a new degree in prison so she could start a new life when she got out, reported the Arizona Republic.

Zamora (pictured in her mugshot) cannot be released on good behavior and will not be out until she is 48 or 49

The student of Las Brisas Academy, Goodyear (pictured) told investigators that he and Zamora, who was 27 at the time, had sex in her car and class several times

She cannot be released on good behavior and will be released from prison when she is 48 or 49 years old.

When she is out of prison, Zamora will have to register as a sex offender and then serve two lifetime terms of probation.

The 30-year-old filed for divorce from her husband of four years from behind bars in May 2020 and said their relationship was broken beyond repair.

The ex-elementary teacher, jailed at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Perryville, assisted education staff in group settings, the DOC said in a statement to Law & Crime, which first reported her being assigned to the role.

According to the Arizona Department of Corrections database, Zamora was assigned as a tutor/educator between September 17 and October 14.

Zamora (pictured left at her sentencing and right in her mugshot) was sentenced to 20 years in jail in July 2019 at Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, after pleading guilty to sexual conduct with a minor and reduced charges of public sexual indecency and molestation of a child

A DOC spokesperson said: 'Inmate Zamora assisted the education staff in teaching the inmate students, in a group setting.

'She was directly supervised while working at all times by educational instructors, and the classrooms are routinely checked and monitored by Security staff, COII's and/or supervisors.

'The education classrooms are also under video surveillance at all times and monitored by security staff.'

Zamora requested to do the work, according to the DOC, and was approved following a screening process.

The agency said she met the requirements for the role because she had not faced any disciplinary issues while she was imprisoned.

She switched jobs on October 14 after being asked and is now working as the porter for the programs area of the prison, according to the DOC.

On four other occasions she previously worked as a kitchen helper, according to records.
Kim Jong-un has removed portraits of his father and grandfather and is ordering officials to promote the ideology of 'Kimjongunism' as he bids to escape from the shadow of his ancestors.

The North Korean dictator, 37, has removed pictures of Kim Il-sung, the country's revered founder, and his predecessor as supreme leader, Kim Jong-il, from official buildings in Pyongyang.

South Korea's spy agency say the term 'Kimjongunism' is being promoted in government circles and Kim is being referred to in state media as 'Great Leader', a term normally reserved for his grandfather Kim Il-sung.

Kim Jong-un has removed portraits of his father and grandfather and is ordering officials to promote the ideology of 'Kimjongunism'

Humility for predecessors has been a staple of the Kim family dynasty and the move is unprecedented, experts said.

But Kim Il-sung did ban works by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin in his own bid to sideline his ideological forebears and create his own legacy.

The new change suggests Kim is very confident of his grip on power just a month before the tenth anniversary of his promotion to ruler, The Times reported.

Fyodor Tertitskiy, a North Korea specialist at Kookmin University in Seoul, told NK News: 'The signal cannot be clearer.

Kim Il-sung (pictured in 1984) banned works by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin in his own bid to sideline his ideological forebears and create his own legacy

'Kim Jong-un does not like certain aspects of the system that his father and grandfather have forged  specifically the one tying the successor's legitimacy to his deference to his predecessors. The current leader wants to be his own autocrat.'

'Kimjongunism' has not been cited by official North Korean media but it has been detected by South Korean spies.

The National Intelligence Service briefed MPs in Seoul about the developments last week.

'Kimilsungism' was previously used to describe the ideology of Kim's grandfather in the 1970s.

The North Korean dictator, 37, has removed pictures of Kim Il-sung, the country's revered founder, and his predecessor as supreme leader, Kim Jong-il (pictured in 2005)

During the following decade, the term 'Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism' was used to describe the partnership between the country's founder and his heir apparent.

The country's state ideology is 'juche' meaning self-reliance and describes: 'Kim Il-sung's original, brilliant and revolutionary contribution to national and international thought.'

Kim's two predecessors' belief systems also lend their names to flowers, leading to questions over what Kimjongunism will choose.

The Kimilsungia is a purple orchie while Kimjongilia is a begonia.
A former Drug Enforcement Agency official faces up to 15 years in prison over the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, despite his insistence that he never entered the building.

Mark Ibrahim, an Army veteran who was fired from the DEA over his participation in the events of January 6, spoke out in Tuesday's episode of Fox News host Tucker Carlson's series on the fallout from the riot.

Ibrahim made the explosive claim that he was invited to attend Donald Trump's 'Stop The Steal' rally by an FBI informant he knew from his military service, who subsequently urged him to join the mob breaking into the Capitol, which he refused.

Carlson claimed to have confirmed this by speaking to the alleged informant, whom he did not name. His controversial series 'Patriot Purge' on the streaming service Fox Nation has drawn strong reactions for depicting the law enforcement response to the riot as a political purge.

Mark Ibrahim, an Army veteran who was fired from the DEA over his participation in the events of January 6, spoke out in Tuesday's episode of 'Patriot Purge'

Federal prosecutors accuse Ibrahim of bringing his duty weapon and badge to the Capitol grounds and brazenly displaying them. He is seen above on January 6

Photos appear to show Ibrahim displaying his badge and weapon outside the Capitol, but the FBI alleged that he told investigators that the weapon and credentials were 'never exposed' during the riot 'that I know of'

'The photographs are of such high resolution that the serrations on the slide of Ibrahims DEA firearm are visible,' a criminal complaint states

Federal prosecutors accuse Ibrahim of bringing his duty weapon and badge to the Capitol grounds and brazenly displaying them, and of illegally climbing on a monument to deliver a 'monologue,' according to charging documents.

Photos appear to show Ibrahim displaying his badge and weapon outside the Capitol, but the FBI alleged that he told investigators that the weapon and credentials were 'never exposed' during the riot 'that I know of'.

'They labeled me a domestic terrorist, I just want to see peace and unity,' Ibrahim said in the new interview.

'Because I've seen it in foreign countries, between Sunni and Shia, open violence in the streets. It's a sad and scary thing,' he said, referring to opposing religious factions in the Muslim world.

'I'm afraid that if this division and dehumanizing continues, that's where America is headed, and I pray that never happens,' Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim is charged with making false statements to federal agents, entering restricted grounds with a firearm, injuring or climbing on a statue, and carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds.

Ibrahim is charged with illegally climbing on a monument to deliver a 'monologue'

'They labeled me a domestic terrorist, I just want to see peace and unity,' Ibrahim said in the new interview

The episode also features interviews with two women whose actions on January 6 generated public controversy, though neither has been criminally charged.

Emily Grace Rainey was serving as an Army captain assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg when she led a group of 100 members of Moore County Citizens for Freedom, which describes itself online as a nonpartisan network promoting conservative values, to the Washington rally to "stand against election fraud" and support Trump.

Rainey says the group consisted mostly of 'grandmothers,' but that she was accused of leading an armed 'militia' to the Capitol, which she insists she never entered.

The Pentagon launched an investigation into Rainey's actions and she submitted her resignation in September, saying she was pressured out after her clearance was revoked.

'I went and I saw my commander in chief at my nation's capital, took a hundred of my friends, and they ostensibly ruined my career had I wanted to stay,' she said.

Rainey claimed in the interview with Carlson that the events of January 6 could have been a 'false flag', or a conspiracy on the left to make Trump's supporters look bad.

'It is my opinion that false flags have happened in this country, one of which may have been January 6,' said Rainey. 'If that was an insurrection, it was the most poorly conducted insurrection ever'

Emily Grace Rainey was serving as an Army captain assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg when she led a group of 100 to Trump's rally

The Pentagon launched an investigation into Rainey's actions and she submitted her resignation in September. She now claims the riot was a possible 'false flag'

'The term extremism is being kept nebulous for a reason,' she said in the interview. 'It's so that there is grey area and they can use the term as they like against the people that they like to use it against. Me, for example.'

Referring to her training as a psychological warfare officer, Rainey painted a dark picture of the crackdown on domestic extremism following the deadly riot.

'Fear is one of the biggest tactics used in psychological operations. So what we're seeing is fear being used to manipulate the military, to see millions of Americans as domestic terrorists, and to try to just silence people,' she said.

'There is a fear that if you are conservative, and you are in the military, that you will be singled out, that you'll be looked at in suspicion, that your clearance will be revoked.'

'It cannot be overstated how dangerous it is, targeting your political opponents and purging them out of the one place were you are legally allowed to have a gun and use it, government ordered use of weapons,' added Rainey.

A third interview segment in the episode featured Alaska couple Paul and Marilyn Hueper, whose home was raided by the FBI in a bizarre apparent case of mistaken identity.

In late April, the FBI raided their home in Homer seeking 'Nancy Pelosi's laptop,' which they didn't find, based on a photo they believed depicted Marilyn in the Capitol.

Marilyn Hueper's (above) home was raided by the FBI in a bizarre apparent case of mistaken identity based on a photo that depicted someone else

Heuper (left) said it was clear the photo of the Capitol suspect (right) showed someone else. Another woman was eventually identified and charged as the suspect

'They cuffed me, put my hands behind my back, put me in a chair,' recalled Marylin. 'It never occurred to me that they would actually think we had anything to do with anything inside the Capitol, because we never made it inside the Capitol.

The Hueper's say that they attended Trump's rally on January 6, but subsequently got lost in DC and never entered the Capitol. 'Didn't feel right, we chose not to,' explained Paul.

Another woman in New York, apparently the one seen in the image from the Capitol, was later arrested and charged in connection with the stolen laptop. The Huepers have never been charged following the FBI search of their home.

So far nearly 700 people have been charged in connection with the January 6 riot.

Carlson's documentary generated strong reaction even before its first episode was streamed in full on Monday.

Critics of Carlson demanded that the show not be aired, accusing the Fox News host of 'incitement.'

Alexander Vindman, the former Army officer who testified during the impeachment hearings against Trump, said of Carlson: 'He is an anarchist; an arsonist of American democracy.

'How is this different than yelling fire in a crowded theater? Carlson is attempting to incite a riotous mob.

'He should be [censored]. Id like to hear the arguments for/against this being protected speech.'

Lindsey Simmons, a candidate for the US Congress, tweeted: 'The freedom of speech is not absolute. it can be restricted where it incites imminent lawless action.

'Tucker Carlson and Fox News are creating propaganda to incite a Civil War.

'At some point we must use the legal tools available to us before it is too late.'

CNN host Anderson Cooper blasted Fox News and the chairman of its parent company Fox Corporation, Rupert Murdoch.

'This isn't about Tucker Carlson,' Cooper said.

'It's about a media empire that pumps poison into the ecosystem that has violent and deadly consequences.'

A pro-Democratic Party account on Twitter compared Carlson to Infowars' Alex Jones, who has spread conspiracy theories about mass shootings.

'Three years ago, this is the kind of dangerous junk that got Alex Jones deplatformed from every major social platform,' tweeted the account known as Sleeping Giants.

'Today, it's the norm on Fox News, which STILL has major advertisers and is carried by every major cable company into the homes of millions.'

Jared Holt also made the comparison to Jones, tweeting: 'Alex Jones doesn't need to exist any more because the Murdoch family has filled that spot and tossed god knows how much money behind it.'

Oliver Darcy, a media reporter for CNN, added: 'It is seriously difficult at this point to see much daylight between Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones.'

Darcy tweeted: 'Make no mistake, Tucker is the face of Fox News. It's not just him engaging in this dishonest lunacy.

'It's the network, led by Suzanne Scott & Rupert/Lachlan Murdoch, that is responsible for green lighting and mainlining this 1/6 trutherism.

'They know exactly what they're doing.'

Charlie Warzel also tweeted that that the country's 'most popular cable news personality' is 'putting out...basically...infowars.'

Congresswoman Liz Cheney, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump and blamed the former president for inciting the rioters on January 6, tweeted: 'It appears that @FoxNews is giving @TuckerCarlson a platform to spread the same type of lies that provoked violence on January 6. As @FoxNews knows, the election wasnt stolen and January 6 was not a "false flag" operation.'

In her tweet, Cheney tagged Fox executives including Murdoch, Jay Wallace, and Suzanne Scott. She also tagged former House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Another anti-Trump Republican, outgoing Congressman Adam Kinzinger, tweeted: 'Anyone working for @FoxNews must speak out.

'This is disgusting. It appears @foxnews isnt even pretending anymore.'

Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, posted a letter he wrote to Fox News about Carlson's documentary, which he referred to in quotes.

Greenblatt wrote that Carlson's series is 'nothing short of absurd and it will continue to fan the flames of extremists and conspiracy theorists.'

'This is dangerous, and it's no surprise that Tucker Carlson is leading the charge bringing fringe ideas to the masses.'
Emmanuel Macron departed the COP26 summit in Glasgow after just a day - leaving fellow leaders to fight on for climate change commitments.

The French President is believed to have flown back to Paris last night after a handful of engagements - missing the 'family photo' with dozens of other premiers including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau.

The quick departure came after awkward encounters with Mr Johnson over the bitter fishing rights row, with the French seemingly backing down amid claims the EU had refused to support their tough line.

There was also a distinctly uncomfortable atmosphere with Australian PM Scott Morrison, whom the president publicly called a liar for his role in the AUKUS submarine alliance.

It is thought that Mr Macron's plan was always to head back to Paris after the first day of the summit. He was also at the G20 gathering in Rome over the weekend.

However, it could raise eyebrows as Mr Johnson, Mr Biden and others were still in full deal-making mode today.

After the two-day leaders' element of the summit, COP26 will continue until the end of next week in the hope of securing progress against climate change.

Mr Macron's early departure came as Mr Johnson insisted the row over fishing rights is 'vanishingly unimportant' when compared to other issues like climate change.

The Prime Minister also insisted that the UK had not given any ground during negotiations about the dispute.

He told a press conference this evening: On our relations with France, I really renew what I have said before, we are working very, very closely with our French friends and partners on the things that matter most to the people of the world, that is tackling climate change, reducing CO2 and by comparison with that hugely important issue, the ones you mention are really vanishingly unimportant.

But since you ask about whether the UK has changed its position, let me put it that way, on the fishing issue, the answer is no.

World leaders posed for a group photo during a lavish evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, but Emmanuel Macron was nowhere to be seen

Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron had a frosty standoff in Glasgow on Monday morning as the PM welcomed the French President to the COP26 climate change summit amid a furious Anglo-French row over fishing rights

The world leaders capped off the first day of the conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall all in attendance.

But Macron was not in any pictures of the event.

Mr Macron confirmed just hours before the evening reception that France would not go ahead with retaliatory measures against Britain amid the two nations' bitter dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights.

He declared discussions between France, the UK and the European Commission would 'continue tomorrow' and ruled out any retaliation against Britain 'while we're negotiating'.

The dropping of the deadline came shortly after Mr Macron came face to face with Australian PM Scott Morrison at the COP26 event, whom he publicly called a liar for his role in the submarine row.

When asked by reporters at the climate summit whether Mr Morrison lied to him before tearing up a $90billion submarine contract and doing a deal with the US and UK, Mr Macron replied: 'I don't think, I know.'

Boris Johnson greets Australia's Scott Morrison at COP26 UN Climate Change yesterday

An awkward handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) took place when the pair met in Rome last week

Macron was even pictured sharing a joke with Prince Charles just hours earlier on Monday, but has seemingly disappeared and did not show his face at the royal reception

At the start of the evening the Queen urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech to representatives.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship'

After the monarch's powerful speech, the Prime Minister said: 'What we've got today, as Her Majesty alluded to, is the biggest gathering of world leaders in this country since the foundation of the UN at the end of the Second World War, and it's quite an extraordinary historic event.

'But in a way, what we are doing today, is even more important, because we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation, to our way of life.'

France today denied a seized British trawler has been freed as ministers hailed Emmanuel Macron 'stepping back' from his retaliation threats in the bitter fishing row.

Environment Secretary George Eustice claimed the scallop vessel Cornelis Gert Jan 'has now been released' after being accused of fishing without a licence and detained at Le Havre.

But the vessel is still at the Normandy port and French prosecutors insist the situation remains subject to legal negotiations - with a deposit of around 125,000 due before she can return home.

The confusion came after Mr Macron said he would go back to the negotiating table with Britain rather than follow through on his extraordinary sabre-rattling.

He has shelved threats to block British trawlers from landing their catches in French ports, reduce electricity to Jersey and tighten customs checks until at least Thursday.

But despite the lull in hostilities, French fishing chiefs have warned trawlermen to stay away from British waters in case the spat blows up again.

Mr Eustice told Sky News this morning: 'We welcome the fact France has stepped back from the threats it was making last Wednesday.

'We've always said we want to de-escalate this and always said we have an ever-open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on any additional vessels they'd like to have licensed.

'France has clearly taken a decision not to implement some of the decisions they threatened last Wednesday, we very much welcome that but I think there's going to be a very important meeting on Thursday between Lord frost and his opposite number, not just on fisheries but a wider range of issues as well.'

Jondy Ward, skipper of the Cornelis Gert Jan, is pictured aboard the vessel in the port of Le Havre today

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the scallop vessel 'has now been released' after being accused of fishing without a licence and detained at Le Havre

On the situation with the Cornelis, Mr Eustice said: 'I understand that vessel has now been released and I think there's going to need to be some further discussions, clearly there was an administrative error at some point.

'We haven't quite got to the bottom of that but that vessel I understand has been released.'

On the surface the UK had refused to budge in the dispute over fishing rights, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss adamant Britain would 'not roll over'.

However, there have been gradually more being granted, with UK authorities insisting more evidence has been supplied that they used waters before Brexit.

Mr Macron told reporters at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow last night: 'It is not while we are negotiating that we are going to impose sanctions.

'Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister Johnson.

'The talks need to continue. We'll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed. The next few hours are important hours.' He added: 'I understood that the British were going to come back to us tomorrow with other proposals.'

France's Europe minister, Clement Beaune, tweeted late last night that he would hold talks with Brexit minister Lord Frost on Thursday in Paris.

The close ally of Macron said any planned retaliatory measures would 'not be applied before this meeting'.

France is furious at the UK and Jersey's decision to turn down applications from a number of French vessels to fish in their waters.

The Elysee Palace had originally stood firm, saying that if Britain refused to give ground on the number of licences it issued to French fishermen, it would implement its threats to British trawlers, to Jersey and on customs checks.
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Another offshoot of the Delta variant is spreading in Britain, Covid-tracking experts revealed today  as the virus' other concerning subvariant continues to spread.

The new sub-strain, called AY.43, has already been spotted 8,138 times in England, according to the latest data from one of the country's largest surveillance centres.

It makes up around one in 24 cases in the country after first being detected in mid-July and has grown consistently ever since.

Scientists today insisted there was 'no need' to be concerned about the strain, saying there was no evidence yet that it was more transmissible or better able to evade vaccines.

But it comes after a rapid uptick in cases of AY.4.2  another descendant of the original Delta strain  which is being kept under close review by British and international scientists.

Latest figures show the AY.4.2 subvariant makes up around 11 per cent of all new cases in England and has been spotted in all but five boroughs: Craven, Burnley, Hyndburn, Melton, and Oadby and Wigston.

Neither of the sub-strains have been named yet but AY.4.2 could be branded 'Nu' if it is considered a threat by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is keeping tabs on its spread.

The above graph shows the proportion of cases that were down to AY.43 (yellow) and AY.4.2 (dark red). It also shows Delta (light green), Alpha (purple) and the old virus (dark green and pink). It reveals that the proportion of cases down to AY.4.2 and AY.43 has risen slightly over recent weeks

The above maps show the spread of AY.4.2 (left) and AY.43 (right). AY.4.2 has spread to every local authority in England except five, data from the country's largest Covid surveillance centre reveals. AY.43 is only in some areas of the country, and appears to be focused around London and the South East. Both maps show prevalence for the fortnight ending October 23

The above graph shows the number of cases identified every week of Delta (green), Alpha (purple) the old virus (light pink and dark green), as well as Delta offshoots AY.4.2 (dark red) and AY.43 (yellow). It shows a drop in Delta but a slight rise among the subvariants

AY.43 was first detected around July when Delta was taking off, and there is no evidence to suggest it is more infectious or better able to evade vaccines than other variants. It is behind more cases in Europe, especially France where it made up half of cases since September. In Germany it makes up a third, while in Denmark it makes up a fifth.

There are more than a hundred different AY lineages which are offshoots of the Delta variant, and the vast majority are not concerning.

AY.43 was first spotted in July after Delta had spread around the world, and there have now been 84,000 cases spotted in 108 countries.

It is most common in Europe and has made up around half of cases in France alone since September, but did not trigger a spike in infections with cases in the country only starting to rise at the end of last month.

In Belgium it makes up 40 per cent of infections, while in Germany it makes up 30 per cent and in Denmark just 15 per cent.

The subvariant has also been spotted in the US, where it is behind less than three per cent of cases. The country has recorded some 7,000 infections.

AY.43: Everything you need to know Where did AY.43 come from? This subtype was first spotted in the UK in mid-July. Most of its 84,000 cases have been in Europe, but scientists are unsure which country it first spawned in. It currently makes up around half of infections in France, two fifths in Belgium, a third in Germany and around a fifth in Denmark. Experts said today it had likely been imported into the UK from abroad. What mutations does it have? Because AY.43 is a subvariant of Delta, it has all the mutations that its ancestor has - making it ultra infectious and better at escaping vaccines than other strains. What separates AY.43 from Delta is its N:Q9L mutation on the spike protein. Scientists do not know what change this has on the biology or behaviour of the virus yet. Why has it been highlighted now? Experts have drawn attention to the mutant strain now because it is slowly increasing in frequency. Latest data from England's largest Covid surveillance centre showed it had been spotted 8,138 times. There were 982 cases in the fortnight up to October 23, which was up slightly on the 916 in the fortnight before last month. It was designated a subtype of Delta last week, because so many infections have been detected. Should I be concerned about AY.43? Scientists said today that Britons did not need to be concerned about the spinoff AY.43 - yet. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick Medical School, told MailOnline there was 'no reason' to be concerned. He added: 'It seems to have been around for quite a long time and not taken off'. Experts would expect a variant with a significant evolutionary advantage to replace other variants and become dominant. Advertisement

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick Medical School, said today there was 'no need for concern' over AY.43 and experts should 'just keep an eye on it'.

He told MailOnline: 'It seems to have been around for quite a long time and not taken off'.

The subtype was first detected on British shores in July, when the more transmissible Delta variant was sparking a wave of infections across the country.

Genomic surveillance statistics showed it remained at low levels, however, but has consistently accounted for slightly more cases every week since it first arrived.

AY.43 carries the unique mutation N:Q9L which scientists say is 'unusual', but they are yet to find evidence that this makes it more transmissible or better able to evade vaccines.

They said that the offshoot was likely imported into the UK from Europe, unlike the other Delta subvariant AY.4.2, which is believed to have emerged here.

Dr Jeffrey Barrett, who heads up Covid surveillance at the Sanger Institute, tweeted: 'AY.43 is not as widespread as AY.4.2 yet, and is enriched in a somewhat odd set of patches just outside Greater London.

'This lineage is much more common outside the UK, so these could be a variety of introductions from abroad that have coincidentally grown a bit.

'It has been growing in Denmark, France, Belgium and Germany, which could be a biological advantage, or just the fact that those countries are just being hit with Delta case growth, and that's what's there?

'[It] doesn't have any spike mutations beyond Delta, and just N:Q9L that looks at all unusual.'

Professor Young told MailOnline: 'There is no need for concern, just keep an eye on it. We were always likely to get sublineages, the question is why are we seeing any increases?

'Delta seems to outcompete everyone and still dominate. Its overwhelming transmissibility means it wipes out any other [strains], and just seems to dominate.'

He added: 'The more the virus spreads the more it is likely to change. It is running the risk of generating variants.

'We are facing problems over the last few months because of Delta. It is possible that it will throw up other variants and that would be a disaster.'

AY.43 was only designated a subtype of Delta last week, with the decision made because it had accounted for more than 80,000 cases globally so far.

There has been more concern about the separate but similar offshoot AY.4.2, which last week had its threat level bumped up by health chiefs amid fears it may have already infected 150,000 Britons.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which took over from the now-defunct Public Health England, labelled the subtype a 'variant under investigation'.

Data from outbreak.info showed it was now behind about four per cent of cases in England, after rising from virtually none at the start of September

In France it is now behind 60 per cent of cases after arriving in the country in August. But the country has seen its cases fall over the same period, suggesting the subtype is not much more transmissible than other strains

In the United States, AY.43 is thought to be behind about two to three per cent of Covid infections

And in Germany it is behind around 30 per cent of infections, although this proportion is now falling

This category is reserved for variants which are spreading in the UK that may be more transmissible or better able to evade vaccines and other mutant strains. Other variants include Mu, which was spotted in Colombia.

It is just one step off a 'variant of concern', a label already given to Alpha and Delta.

Some scientists have suggested AY.4.2 is 10 to 15 per cent more transmissible than its ancestor, and will gradually replace the virus in the population over several months.

But others from Northumbria University have insisted its spread may be down to the 'founder effect', when a variant spreads because it is the only one in a particular area.

AY.4.2 was first spotted in the UK in late June in London and the South East before spreading to the rest of the country.
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President Joe Biden met with Prince Charles and Bill Gates on the sidelines of GOP26 on Tuesday as America's billionaires jetted into Glasgow for the UN climate summit to mix with world leaders and royals.

'He commended the Royal Family for its dedication to climate issues, particularly Prince Charles environmental activism over the last half century,' the White House said of the meeting between Biden and Charles.

Biden also thanked the United Kingdom for hosting COP26.

Jeff Bezos - who flew to Glasgow on his $65million Gulf Stream private jet - elbow bumped with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while Mike Bloomberg met with Prince William at the A-list climate event.

The two-week long gathering in Glasgow has brought in world leaders, celebrity CEOs, A-list actors and climate activists to discuss ways reduce the planet's temperature by 1.5 degrees.

A number of bold-faced named jetted in from Rome, where they were attending the G20 summit, to talk climate change.

Many have their pet projects, which they are there to promote, and to chat with fellow stars on the sidelines of the climate sessions.

Biden is pushing The First Movers Coalition - a clean energy technology program to combat climate change, a project Gates is supporting. The two men teamed up to promote the project.

'We need all of us working together. I know you're tired of hearing that said,' Biden said at the event. 'I want to thank all the private sector for their work.'

Gates mingled and posed for photos in front of a race car that appeared to be papier-mache'd with recycled plastic before the event.

Just days before, he was celebrating his birthday on Bezos' $2million-a-week rental superyacht Luna.

Prince William joined Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, at a reception for his Earthshot Prize winners and finalists. He also met with John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

President Joe Biden (right) shakes hands with Prince Charles (left) at a Tuesday afternoon meeting on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit

Biden (right) thanked Prince Charles (left) and the royal family for their dedication to climate and environmentalism

Prince Charles laughs and President Biden looks on during their meeting on the sidelines of the COP26 summit where the Royals mingled with world leaders and billionaires

Prince William arrives for the Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment event at the COP26 summit, stopping to check out a papier-mache'd car

Bill Gates met with President Joe Biden at the climate event

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio sat quietly in the back of one Biden speech

Britain's Prince William, right, speaks with John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners at COP26

President Biden (center) and Bill Gates (second from right) helped promote clean technology

William also joined Biden and Johnson at the clean technology event and stopped to check out the papier-mache'd car.

On Monday night, Biden met with William, laughing with him and putting a hand on his shoulder, during a welcome reception at the popular Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, a short distance from where the climate summit was being held. The Duchess of Cambridge was also seen arriving at the event along with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Bezos joined Johnson and Biden at an event on Tuesday to combat deforestation. He chatted with the PM and waved to Biden.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio sat quietly in the back of one Biden speech, listening to the president outline his vision for a 'Build Back Better World.'

DiCaprio, unlike his fellow celebrities, appears to have shunned a private jet to get to the climate summit after previous criticism about his heavy carbon footprint.

Bezos, meanwhile, addressed the climate summit about how going to space made him realise 'how thin the globe's atmosphere is' and said 'the private sector must also play its part to reduce carbon emissions.'

The Amazon.com founder arrived at the UN climate change summit in his $65 million private jet.

Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, pledged $2 billion for land restoration in Africa, paid as part of the Bezos Earth Fund.

He told delegates: 'I was told that seeing the Earth from space changes the lens through which you see the world. But I was not prepared for how much that would be true.

'Looking back at earth from up there, the atmosphere seems so thin. The world so finite and so fragile. Now in this critical year, and what we all know is the decisive decade, we must all stand together to protect our world.'

US politician Michael Bloomberg, one of the world's wealthiest men with a net worth estimated at more than 60 billion US dollars (46.3 billion), who joined the royal's ambitious environmental initiative as a global adviser to the Earthshot Prize winners, is hosting today's event. Pictured, with Prince William

epa09558982 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) greets Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon, for the Action on Forests and Land Use session at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow

Jeff Bezos waves to President Biden (not pictured) who was seated further down the stage

President Joe Biden capped off his first day at the COP26 climate conference on Monday with a royal reception, chatting with Prince William

He said that he was 'honoured' to pledge $2 billion to restore nature as part of the Bezos Earth Fund's '$10billion commitment to fight climate change, enhance nature, advance environmental justice and economic opportunity'.

On Sunday, MailOnline observed at least 52 private jets landing at Glasgow - while estimates put the total number flying in for the conference at 400.

Conservative predictions suggest the fleet of private jets arriving for COP26 will blast out 13,000tonnes of carbon dioxide in total - equivalent to the amount consumed by more than 1,600 Britons in a year.

Bezos - who regularly lectures the world on climate change - arrived in Glasgow fresh from celebrating Microsoft founder Bill Gates' 66th birthday on a 2million-a-week superyacht off the coast of Turkey in an event that generated fresh claims of green hypocrisy.

He reached the boat by helicopter, according to reports.
An unemployed Oxford graduate has had a landmark legal bid to force his 'enormously wealthy' parents to pay him 'maintenance' for life thrown out by top judges.

Faiz Siddiqui, 41, who trained as a lawyer with a top legal firm, says he is completely dependent on his elderly mother and father.

For years they have given him handouts and put him up rent free in a 1million flat they own near Hyde Park.

But after a family falling-out, his 'long-suffering' parents, who live in Dubai, cut their support.

Mr Siddiqui - backed by top human rights lawyers - sued his parents in a first-of-its-kind test case in the UK.

But now judges in the Court of Appeal have thrown out his claim, saying that married parents have 'no legal duty to support their adult children'.

Faiz Siddiqui (pictured in 2017) , 41, who trained as a lawyer with a top legal firm, says he is completely dependent on his elderly mother and father

The Court of Appeal heard Mr Siddiqui has a degree in history from Oxford's Brasenose College and a masters in taxation, and is qualified as a solicitor.

What is a test case? A test case is a legal challenge used to test a definition of law with disputed meaning and or intent. Tests cases are full legal challenges and the word 'test' is used in relation to the fact the cases tests an element of law. They are important cases, because the outcomes of test hearings have significance not only for the person bringing the case but for many others. That is because the outcomes set precedents which can be used in future hearings. Therefore test cases have a significant wider public interest beyond those directly involved in the hearings. Test cases seek to challenge the lawfulness of legislation or how the legislation is being applied, obtain a ruling on an untested point of law, or overturn or confirm a prevailing judicial interpretation. Advertisement

He obtained a 2:1 in his degree, though previously tried to sue Oxford University over his failure to get first-class honours - a case he also lost.

After obtaining his degree, he practised at top law firms including Burgess Salmon and Field Fisher Waterhouse.

Mr Siddiqui also worked at Ernst & Young as a tax advisor. But he has been unemployed since 2011.

For 20 years, he has been put up by his rich parents in their apartment near Hyde Park. They have also given handouts to cover his bills and other outgoings.

But the court heard how his relationship, particularly with his father, 'deteriorated' in recent years.

The financial support they are willing to provide Mr Siddiqui has 'significantly reduced,' the court heard.

Mr Siddiqui, who went to a Berkshire grammar school, claimed that his parents' handouts 'nurtured his dependency' on them for 20 years.

He claimed that, in cutting their financial support, they left the state to deal with the consequences.

He last year launched a case against his parents, claiming maintenance.

But he saw it kicked out by the country's senior family court judge, Sir James Munby.

The test case then went to the Court of Appeal for the country's top judges to decide.

His barrister Hugh Southey QC argued that Mr Siddiqui is entitled to apply for maintenance under the 1989 Children's Act because he is a 'vulnerable' adult due to health issues.

In 2018, Mr Siddiqui, who studied at Brasenose College (pictured), Oxford, tried to sue his former university

And although the act says an adult child cannot make a claim if their parents are still living together, Mr Southey said that would discriminate against the children of still married parents like Mr Siddiqui and so is a human rights violation.

However, Mr Siddiqui's rich mother and father Rakshanda, 69, and Javed Siddiqui, 71, fought his claim.

Test case defeat for Mr Siddiqui comes after his loss of 2018 challenge against his 2:1 degree mark at Oxford University Faiz Siddiqui's test case defeat is his second high profile court loss. In 2018 he tried to sue his former university, Oxford, for 'appallingly bad' teaching that cost him a top degree and a lucrative legal career. The graduate had claimed 'boring' tuition and staff being on extended sabbatical leave had meant he only received a 2:1 instead of the first-class degree he had wanted. He maintained this cost him a place on a law course at a top US Ivy League university, such as Yale or Harvard, and denied him the high-flying legal career he had coveted. Mr Siddiqui and his barrister Roger Mallalieu had valued his loss of earnings claim against the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford, at 1million. However in 2018 Mr Siddiqui's claim was thrown out of court and he was told by a High Court judge the tuition he received at Brasenose College was of a 'perfectly adequate standard'. Mr Justice Foskett ruled Mr Siddiqui's 'inadequate preparation' and 'lack of academic discipline' towards his degree were the reasons he under performed in his June 2000 exams. He added a 'severe episode of hay fever' may also have contributed to Mr Siddiqui's failure to get the grade he wanted. Advertisement

They said they did not want to give him any more than the 400-a-week they were currently providing.

Their barrister Justin Warshaw QC argued that allowing the claim to proceed would result in the floodgates being opened to thousands of adult children who are either vulnerable or planning further education and want cash from their parents.

'What Mr Siddiqui seeks is to foist a relationship of financial dependency on parents who do not wish that relationship to continue,' he said.

'These long-suffering parents have reached their own view of what is suitable provision for their difficult, demanding and pertinacious 41-year-old son.

'Their highly qualified son lives rent free in their 1m two-bedroom London apartment, a stone's throw from Hyde Park.

'They pay for his utilities and give him 1,500 or so each month. That is their choice. The state cannot and should not be interfering in that decision.

'It would fundamentally alter the relationship between the state and cohabiting/married parents, enabling all adults to litigate against their parents, whether their parents are cohabiting or not, where an adult asserts that they are contemplating higher education or where there are special circumstances.'

'Parliament - and Mr Siddiqui's parents - do not consider that a child, particularly an adult child, should be able to litigate against their parents where there is a dispute between child and parent as to the level of support offered by the parents.

'Mr Siddiqui, wrongly, assumes that he is entitled to provision from his parents as of right. This is wrong.'

He added: 'His skeleton argument is littered with emotive references to "child and "children".

'To be clear, this is a man in his 40s, seeking financial support from his elderly parents - 69 and 71 years old, respectively.

'It goes without saying that the parents are devastated that they are being put through this ordeal by their son and that they are being put to such enormous expense, particularly when set against their historic and ongoing generosity towards him.'

Backing that argument and throwing out the son's case, Lord Justice Underhill said: 'It is the considered policy of Parliament that parents may only be ordered to provide support to their adult children in the context of relationship breakdown and that there should be no general discretionary power to require the provision of such support outside that context.'

The Court of Appeal (pictured: The Royal Courts of Justice in London) heard Mr Siddiqui has a degree in history from Oxford's Brasenose College and a masters in taxation, and is qualified as a solicitor

He said it was 'plainly Parliament's view, reflecting understood social norms, that - whatever the moral position might be - parents should be under no legal duty to support their adult children, however grave their need. Judgements of that kind are peculiarly a matter for Parliament.'

He said Mr Southey, for the son, had submitted that society had 'moved on' in its understanding of the relationship between parents and their adult children, but had offered 'no evidence' to support the claim.

He continued: 'Even if there were some basis for it - which I doubt - I do not consider it remotely arguable that attitudes have changed in a way that would require us to hold that it was manifestly without reasonable foundation that adult children should be unable to claim financial support from their parents outside the parameters of that legislation.'

Agreeing and dismissing the son's appeal, Lord Justice Moylan said the son's case, if successful, would constitute a 'very considerable invasion of his parents' right to respect for their private and family life', under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

'The creation of a right for all children to bring claims against their parents, if there are 'special circumstances', would be a very novel use of Article 8 and a use which is unsupported by any authority or principle,' he said.

'The appellant is not treated differently because of his health status or disability. They are not relevant features in the context of this case.'

Lord Justice Dingemans agreed with the judgments of the other two judges and Mr Siddiqui's appeal was rejected.

The latest court defeat comes after Mr Siddiqui tried to sue his former university for 'appallingly bad' teaching that cost him a top degree and a lucrative legal career.

The Oxford graduate had claimed 'boring' tuition and staff being on extended sabbatical leave had meant he only received a 2:1 instead of the first-class degree he had wanted.

The latest court defeat comes after Mr Siddiqui (pictured in 2015) tried to sue his former university for 'appallingly bad' teaching that cost him a top degree and a lucrative legal career

He maintained this cost him a place on a law course at a top US Ivy League university, such as Yale or Harvard, and denied him the high-flying legal career he had coveted.

Mr Siddiqui and his barrister Roger Mallalieu had valued his loss of earnings claim against the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford, at 1million.

However in 2018 Mr Siddiqui's claim was thrown out of court and he was told by a High Court judge the tuition he received at Brasenose College was of a 'perfectly adequate standard'.

Mr Justice Foskett ruled Mr Siddiqui's 'inadequate preparation' and 'lack of academic discipline' towards his degree were the reasons he under performed in his June 2000 exams.

He added a 'severe episode of hay fever' may also have contributed to Mr Siddiqui's failure to get the grade he wanted.
A Warwickshire hairdresser is desperate to track down the father she has never met as she hopes for a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

Sarah Langdale, 32, lives with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) - a condition where bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells.

Her condition had been manageable with medication, but severely worsened in 2019 and her condition has been deteriorating since.

Ms Langdale, who lives in Rugby, is now in need of blood and platelet transfusions every 28 days, with doctors saying she urgently requires a bone marrow transplant before it gets worse.

Sarah Langdale is in a race against time to find her estranged father in the hope there are family members who can donate marrow

Sarah pictured with her mother, Lorraine, who says she met the man near the family home in Northampton in 1988

However, none of her family are a match and she is now trying to track down her estranged father in the hope she has half-siblings who could donate marrow.

All she knows, though, is that he lived near her childhood home in Northampton when she was born three decades ago.

Her mother, Lorraine, met the man near the family home in 1988, but she is now unsure of his name.

Sarah, a barber, said: 'Its quite something searching for your dad, and very emotional when doing so could save your life.

'Its very difficult and overwhelming.

'Ill die without the transplant, but I know virtually nothing about my dad, and Im relying on someone seeing my story and coming forward with information.

'I can only live in hope.'

Sarah was diagnosed with SAA aged two, but her symptoms worsened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

She was rushed to hospital because a period would not stop in March 2019.

Sarah pictured as a young girl. She was diagnosed with severe plastic anaemia aged two, but her symptoms worsened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic

Sarah's mother, Lorraine, pictured in the 1980s when she met the hairdresser's father in the Northampton area

Bruises turn black if Sarah takes the smallest knock and bleeding does not stop when she has a cut or period, she explained.

She receives three units of blood every 28 days and takes medicines to stop her period.

What is aplastic anaemia? Aplastic anaemia is a serious condition that affects the blood, where bone marrow and stem cells fail to produce a sufficient number of blood cells. The condition is also known as bone marrow failure and can happen suddenly or slowly develop over a period of time. The condition is very rare, with only around 30 to 40 children diagnosed with the disease each year. It is not believed to affect a particular race and affects males and females equally. Aplastic anaemia can be inherited, but it can also develop for unknown reasons. The most common symptoms is bruising. A child may bruise easily without having fallen. This is caused by the low number of platelets in their blood stream, which reduce the blood's ability to clot. A child with plastic anaemia may also bleed after brushing their teeth or have nosebleeds.

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Sarah also suffers from extreme fatigue and heart palpitations, and explained that her medications give her headaches, sickness, depress her immune system and affect her liver and kidneys.

Sarah's mum and one of her siblings have each provided her with a 50 per cent bone marrow match, but she hopes for better chances with her father.

If he does not come forward, though, Sarah will require new medication which could damage her liver.

If the medication does not work, either, then her last resort will be to use mother Lorraine or a sibling as a donor - carrying a smaller chance of survival.

Sarah says doctors at King's College Hospital in London and Coventry and Warwick Hospital have explained the transplant would give her a 'new normal'.

They say it would allow her to live with without all her previous treatments.

Sarah, who described herself as having 'tanned skin', does not share a biological father with any of her brothers and sisters John Langdale, 37, Sophie Lovatt, 35, Ben Bodek, 24, and Page Wright, 20.

She added that her mother does not know anything about her biological father.

There is a small chance, around one per cent, that a parent may be a close match with their child and can be used in the same manner as a matched sibling.

However, a brother or sister is most likely to be a match - equivalent to a 25 per cent chance.

Sarah said: 'The transplant wouldnt just save my life, it would give me normal energy levels.

'I dont know what that feels like. Im young and I just want to go out and live my life, but I cant.

'Its really tough.'
Sir Andrew Pollard said: 'We are threatened by pathogens that might kill a third of people or half of people and there is no way that Governments are going to share doses in that scenario'

Rich governments will be even more greedy with vaccine supply if there is a deadlier pandemic than Covid, one of Britain's top scientists warned today.

Sir Andrew Pollard, an infection and immunity expert at Oxford University who helped develop the AstraZeneca jab, said there has been 'considerable vaccine nationalism' in wealthy countries.

The virus kills less than one per cent of people, so there is 'no way' governments will share supplies if the pathogen behind the next pandemic kills more than a third of people, he warned.

He said more vaccine manufacturing sites should be set up around the world to ensure developing countries have better access to vaccines as they are produced.

Sir Andrew, a prominent member of one of the UK Government's scientific advisory panels the JCVI, has been one of the loudest critics of the so-called vaccine apartheid that has transpired during the Covid outbreak.

He even lobbied against booster Covid vaccines, arguing that even though they were highly effective as third doses, they would be better used in poor countries where the vulnerable haven't had a single jab.

Richer countries have pledged to donate more than a billion doses of Covid vaccines to help with the rollout in poorer countries. But so far just 400million have been donated.

And there are massive disparities in coverage  with more than 80 per cent of people double-jabbed in rich countries such as United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Portugal, compared to just one per cent in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Chad.

There are disparities between countries on vaccine coverage, with over 80 per cent of people double-jabbed in the richest countries, but less than one per cent in the poorest. The UK has double-jabbed 67 per cent of the entire population, but the figure is as high as 86.6 per cent in United Arab Emirates, according to Our World in Data. But just 5.95 per cent of people in Africa have been jabbed overall, but less than one per cent are fully immunised in Ethiopia and Nigeria  some of the lowest uptake in the world

Britain has today said it will donate its entire supply of Janssen vaccines, which are made by Johnson and Johnson, to poorer countries. The one-shot jab had been heralded as possibly helping encourage vaccine-sceptics to take the plunge and get inoculated

Over 100million Covid jabs have been dished out across the UK, with ministers focusing on the rollout to 12 to 15-year-olds and boosters to over-50s and healthcare workers in a bid to reduce transmission this winter.

The UK has committed to donate 100million Covid jabs to Covax  a scheme for wealthier nations to share jabs with poorer countries  by next year, while the US said it will hand over 500million injections.

Mistake not to be wearing face coverings, expert says It is a mistake for people to not be wearing face masks in enclosed spaces, an expert has suggested. Professor Dame Angela McLean, chief scientific adviser for the Ministry of Defence, said she had observed people not even wearing face coverings in England. Speaking at the Jameel Institute's annual symposium, Data analytics in a pandemic: policy, politics and partnerships, Dame Angela also said the damage done to children by the closure of schools is regrettable. She said: 'There is not a lot of mask wearing. Even in the Tube, where it is obligatory, there are lots of people not wearing masks. 'My personal opinion is that's a mistake.' However, Dame Angela also said the way the public had followed guidance and rules in lockdown had been impressive. She said: 'The thing I would take away from this is being hugely impressed at how pro social the great majority of the population has been and for how long.' Commenting on lockdowns and schools closing, Dame Angela said that until this autumn she would have suggested at least trying to keep schools open during hard lockdowns. Advertisement

Speaking at an Imperial College London event on data analytics in the pandemic, Sir Andrew said: 'The necessity of national Governments to protect their population does to some extent get in the way of the ability to equitably distribute vaccine.

'So you do need to have production locally.'

He added: 'We can't anticipate a future where governments aren't going to want to focus on their own population, who have elected them.

'We've been in a relatively mild pandemic with less than one per cent mortality.

'And even in that context we have seen very considerable vaccine nationalism.

'But we are threatened by pathogens that might kill a third of people or half of people and there is no way that Governments are going to share doses in that scenario.

'So I think we really do have to think very differently about how we have sufficient production and also that ability to work out internationally how better to have public health policy that focuses on those at risk of dying.'

He said more effort was needed to make sure vaccines are more equally dished out in future pandemics and warned of the need to understand future biological threats and what would be needed to defend against an 'even more lethal pandemic'.

The UK has double-jabbed 67 per cent of the entire population, but the figure is as high as 86.6 per cent in United Arab Emirates, according to Our World in Data.

But just 5.95 per cent of people in Africa have been jabbed overall, but less than one per cent are fully immunised in Ethiopia and Nigeria  some of the lowest uptake in the world.

Sir Andrew said it is 'distressing' that there were enough doses of Covid vaccines by May to give jabs to all healthcare workers, older adults and those with underlying health conditions, but they were not distributed to these groups internationally.

Earlier at the event, Professor Dame Angela McLean, chief scientific adviser for the Ministry of Defence said it it is a mistake for people not to be wearing face masks in enclosed spaces.

Speaking about the lack of face coverings being worn in England, she said: 'Even in the Tube, where it is obligatory, there are lots of people not wearing masks.

'My personal opinion is thats a mistake.'
The boyfriend of a woman killed by a hospital electrician - who is also accused of defiling corpses in a morgue  had revealed his agony at not being there to save her, a court heard today

David Fuller, 67, is on trial over the murders of Wendy Knell, 25, and waitress Caroline Pierce, 20, in two separate attacks in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987.

Yesterday the jury heard how police investigating Fuller - who accepts he killed them but says he is not guilty of murder - had found a cache of hard drives and pictures showing he carried out 'acts of sexual penetration of female corpses' .

Today Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard the agony of now-deceased bus driver Ian Plass who had discovered his intended fiancee Ms Knell dead in her bloodstained bed.

The harrowing written testimony came as it was heard a prowling voyeur had been operating in the Grosvenor Park area in the weeks leading up to her death.

Mr Plass had been alerted by Ms Knell's mother when she failed to arrive for work on June 23, 1987.

Having received no answer from banging on her door and shouting her name, Mr Plass went to the rear of the ground-floor bedsit in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and climbed through an insecure window.

Mr Plass then made a discovery described by the prosecution as 'the stuff of nightmares'.

David Fuller is accused of murdering both Wendy Knell, 25, and 20-year-old Caroline Pierce

Bus driver Ian Plass who had discovered his intended fiancee Ms Knell dead in her bed

In a statement read out at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, Mr Plass told police he had shouted at his girlfriend to 'wake up' when he first spotted her in bed.

"There was no movement from inside the flat. I then climbed in through one of the fan light windows....I was driven by adrenalin and concern for Wendy," he said.

"Once in, I just stood there. I recall there was blood somewhere, I can't say where. I could see Wendy's head sticking out from the top of the duvet. The rest of her body was covered by the duvet.

"I moved closer and stroked her head first. I pulled the duvet just back to her shoulders. She was laying on her left side and facing the wall.

"I lifted her right arm up and pulled one of her eyelids. She didn't move. I couldn't believe she had gone."

Mr Plass, who has since died, had to climb back out of the window as Miss Knell's flat keys were missing to raise the alarm at a nearby fire station.

"I rushed in, I sat down, I cried my eyes out," he added.

Fuller, of Heathfield, East Sussex, is alleged to have beaten Miss Knell with a heavy object, asphyxiated and then sexually assaulted her in her home after she had been dropped off by Mr Plass at about 11pm the previous evening.

Ms Pierce (pictured was killed five months later outside her home in Grosvenor Park on November 24 of the same year

Miss Knell, a manager at SupaSnaps, and Mr Plass, who lived with his mother in nearby Rusthall, had been dating since 1985.

The court heard she had previously been married but she and Mr Plass planned to get engaged during a forthcoming trip to Paris.

He told police after dropping off his girlfriend outside her flat in the cul-de-sac of Guildford Road, and kissing goodnight, that he tooted his horn as Miss Knell waved from the porch, with the front door open.

"Not a day goes by when I don't feel guilty about her death," he added. "Had I stayed with her that night she would be alive today."

The court heard a colleague of Miss Knell's had first been sent to her flat at about 11.15am when she failed to arrive for work at SupaSnaps in the town.

She rang the bell two or three times but there was no answer.

Another colleague then contacted Miss Knell's mother, Pamela, who raised the alarm with Mr Plass and her husband Bill Knell, both employed by the Maidstone and District Bus Company.

In a statement from Miss Knell's mother Pamela, who has been in court, she told how she last saw her daughter two days before she was discovered dead.

They had been celebrating Mrs Knell's granddaughter's birthday at a family birthday party.

Mother of three Mrs Knell said her daughter was 'happy in herself' and they had 'a very enjoyable day'.

"She seemed in good spirits and was laughing and joking," she added.

Miss Knell's father died in 2017 but in his police statement read out in court he described his daughter as 'very affectionate and extremely happy'.

Fuller is also accused of beating, asphyxiating and sexually assaulting Miss Pierce in November that same year.

Miss Knell and Miss Pierce's deaths - dubbed the 'Bedsit Murders' at the time - became one of the UK's longest unsolved double homicide cases.

The two women lived just a mile apart and worked on Camden Road but did not know each other.

Miss Pierce, manager at the popular Buster Browns restaurant in the town, was killed on November 24 1987, although it was not until three weeks later that her body - naked apart from a pair of tights - was found in a water-filled dyke of a remote field on Romney Marsh in Kent.

The grim discovery was made by a farm worker near St Mary in the Marsh - some 38 miles away from her home - on December 15.

It is believed she was attacked at the door of her bedsit in Grosvenor Park after being dropped off by a taxi after a night-out.

Neighbours later recalled hearing two high-pitched 'screams of terror' from a female.

At the time of their killings, there had been numerous reports of prowlers and peeping toms targeting women, including previous occupants of Miss Pierce's flat, the court heard.

Fuller denies two charges of murder, claiming that at the time he was suffering from an abnormality of mind and his responsibility was 'substantially diminished'.

At the start of his trial yesterday, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC said as well as being beaten to the head and killed with pressure applied to their necks, such as by an armlock, they were sexually abused at the time of death or afterwards.

It was following the hospital electrician's arrest in December last year that officers found in a loft at his home what was described in court as 'a library of unimaginable sexual depravity'.

His collection of 'carefully concealed and stored' hard drives and hard copy images revealed he had, over an extended period of time, carried out 'acts of sexual penetration of female corpses', said Mr Atkinson, in mortuaries at the Kent and Sussex Hospital and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital where he worked.

"The defendant's clear sexual interest in such bizarre and grossly repellant activity provides a unique and terrible link between him and the treatment of the bodies of those who were killed, and thus with Wendy and Caroline's deaths," he told the court.

"The prosecution case is that when all the relevant evidence, including all the relevant history, is taken into account, there is a clear explanation for the defendant's behaviour, given his personality characteristics and the circumstances at the time, namely that his desire for sexual gratification through the observation and identification of vulnerable women, gaining control of them, and then indulging his depraved sexual predilections in relation to them, all provides the explanation in relation to each of his victims for their murder.

"It follows that he is entirely responsible for his actions in killing these two women and in sexually abusing their bodies after their deaths. His assertion otherwise, we say, is a continuation of his attempts to avoid the consequence of his actions, by any and all means."

At the time of their killings, there had been numerous reports of prowlers and Peeping toms targeting women in the area, the court heard.

Just hours before Miss Knell's body was found, a neighbour had seen a man standing on a windowsill of a nearby property and peering through the window.

The court heard the prowler had been seen at least three times a week over the previous three weeks.

Miss Pierce herself reported similar activity shortly after she moved in to her bedsit in Grosvenor Park on October 18 1987 and had window locks fitted.

The previous occupants had been burgled four times in the late summer of 1987, resulting in police installing a pressure-activated alarm mat.

The two female residents were also aware of objects being moved and drawers left open when they were not at home. The mat, placed by a bedside cabinet, was also activated while they were at work.

The court heard on one occasion they had been disturbed by a prowler looking through the slats of a Venetian blind as they watched a video.

The prosecutor previously told the trial that the man seen on the night Miss Knell was allegedly murdered, was of a 'similar appearance' to Fuller.

The jury also heard he has previous convictions for burglary dating back to the 1970s, and a history of voyeurism.

Mr Atkinson said the circumstances surrounding the alleged murders showed that neither woman was killed by chance but 'as a result of being identified as a lone and vulnerable female' living in premises with ease of access.

The jury is expected to hear the circumstances of Miss Pierce's disappearance and killing later.

The trial continues.
The parents of a British schoolboy who died from an allergic reaction after eating pasta during a half term holiday in Italy battled to save their son's life, an inquest heard.

Seven-year-old Cameron Wahid suffered a severe anaphylactic shock after eating a pasta dish made with milk at a restaurant in Ravello on the Amalfi Coast.

His parents, Cassandra and Rizwan Wahid, both 43, warned staff that Cameron could not have any cheese or dairy products but restaurant staff reassured the family that the dish did not contain any dairy.

After finishing their meal, the family got back on their tour bus.

It was there that Cameron collapsed and went into shock in front of his parents and younger brother Aidan - before suffering a cardiac arrest in the main square.

Cameron Wahid (pictured), seven, suffered a severe anaphylactic shock from eating spaghetti made with milk at a restaurant in the town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, where he was spending half-term with his family in 2015

Mrs Wahid, who works as a nurse, managed to give her son an EpiPen, but it was too late.

Mr Wahid gave his son CPR before a passing doctor stepped in to help.

The schoolboy, from Grinstead, Sussex, died three days later on October 30, 2015, in a hospital around 35 miles away in Naples.

At an inquest in Horsham, Assistant Coroner Lisa Milner ruled Cameron died as a result of eating milk or a milk product.

She said: 'I'm satisfied that Cameron died on October 30 from hypoxic brain injury and cardiac arrest after consuming milk or a milk derivative.

'Prior to ordering, the family had made the restaurant aware of his severe allergy but the meal contained milk or derivative which caused the brain injury and anaphylactic shock resulting in his death,' the coroner said.

His parents Cassandra and Rizwan Wahid, both 43, warned staff at the Ravello (file image, pictured) restaurant that Cameron could not have any cheese or dairy products

Coroner's Officer Mel Doyle told the inquest Cassandra and Rizwan were aware of the severity of their son's allergies and had informed staff at the restaurant.

'His parents told staff about Cameron's dairy allergy and were reassured there was nothing in their food that would affect him,' Ms Doyle said.

'The staff spoke English and understood what the family were telling them.

'Cameron ate about four mouthfuls of homemade pasta with tomato sauce, then said he didn't like the taste. Within ten minutes he started complaining of feeling unwell.'

The family had been on a two week holiday in Sorrento when they took a trip and stopped at the restaurant in Scala on the Amalfi Coast.

Italian authorities charged the restaurant manager, chef and waiter following Cameron's death.

The manager died before the case could be brought, the chef was cleared and the a two year suspended sentence for the waiter was reduced to 12 months on appeal.

Mr Wahid said earlier this year: 'To see him going into anaphylactic shock and suffering like that was undoubtedly the worst experience of our lives.

'He was such a lovely little boy, and always brightened up our days.'
This is the hero train guard who led 92 terrified rail passengers to safety after Sunday night's catastrophic collision in Salisbury, MailOnline can reveal.

In the aftermath of the collision Martin Miller, 52, went from carriage to carriage to calm down those on board including a mother and her baby after the crash between two passenger trains.

Miraculously, no one was killed when the trains collided as they entered the Fisherton tunnel near Salisbury at 6.45pm on Sunday.

A Great Western (GWR) service and a South Western Railway (SWR) service from London Waterloo to Honiton were travelling in the same direction and collided as their tracks merged at the tunnel entrance.

The SWR service from London Waterloo was heading for Honiton in Devon when it struck the GWR service.

Mr Miller, a veteran conductor with 16 years' experience, was in one of the rear carriages during the crash.

Martin Miller (pictured) has been identified as the heroic train guard who led 92 terrified rail passengers to safety after Sunday night's catastrophic collision in Salisbury on Sunday night

In the aftermath of the crash, the South West Railway train (left) is seen with its cab mangled after hitting the back of the stationary GWR service, which had previously partially derailed

He immediately contacted the control centre and went through the train reassuring passengers that they would be ok and would be able to leave when the tracks were made safe.

Speaking from his home near Andover, Hampshire, today, he modestly played down his role and said: 'It's not been very pleasant these last couple of days, obviously I have a lot of questions but all we can do is wait for the investigation to come up with the answers.

'The company have been brilliant in fully supporting me. Aside from that I can't say anything else.'

A total of 92 passengers were on both trains when they collided in the Fisherton tunnel just outside Salisbury city centre.

Thirty of them attended a casualty centre set up outside a nearby church while 13 more seriously injured were taken to hospital.

The driver of the SWR train - understood to be one of the company's most experienced members of staff - suffered 'life changing injuries' according to British Transport Police and is being treated at University Hospital Southampton.

Emergency services personnel gather near the site where two trains collided near Salisbury

Investigators at the scene of a crash involving two trains near the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire

William Mills, a 29-year-old artist who was travelling from London back home to Exeter via Honiton was on board the SWR service.

Hailing Mr Miller he said: 'There had been a lot of delays on the service prior to the crash and he handled the situation brilliantly.

'He was really cheerful and confidently assisted passengers personally and gave them advice on the various connections, delays and rail replacements.

'When the crash happened he was in one of the carriages at the back of the train.

'I spoke to someone in that carriage who said Martin really helped to keep passengers calm and stop them from panicking.

'He was in contact with his control centre and emergency services and reassured people that they had a means of escape and would be ok.

The SWR service, being referred to as 'Train 2', appears to be the most badly damaged of the two trains with carriages leaning at 45 degrees

'I later passed him on the way up to the rendezvous point by the church and he was very visibly shaken and concerned about his colleague, the driver, as he spoke to police. He was a really nice guy and it stung to see him so broken up.'

In November 2017, Mr Miller helped Noemi Mercurelli when she unexpectedly went into labour on the SWR service between Waterloo and Farnham in Surrey.

He immediately informed SWR's control centre and requested that an ambulance meet Noemi at the nearest station at the time, Surbiton.

Mr Miller then arranged for station staff to meet Noemi at the platform and wait with her until the ambulance arrived.
An Oregon trans woman who reportedly was living in a motel with her teenage son over the summer to escape homelessness was found dead in the woods near Portland two weeks ago, with police calling her death 'suspicious.'

Jessica Elizabeth Hart, 42, had been dead for at least two weeks when someone stumbled upon her body October 17, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives say the death is suspicious, but they've yet to say why or release her autopsy results as they investigate.

Hart was the subject of a June cover story for the alternative newspaper Willamette Week, which chronicled her and her 13-year-old son's stay at a Portland motel, paid for by her insurance, as she struggled with housing instability after her transition.

'I'm hopeful that Caleb will make it through this. I don't have much hope for myself,' she said at the time.

Jessica Elizabeth Hart, 42, was found dead last month. She is survived by a son and daughter

Detectives say she was found in a wooded area about 25 miles northwest of Portland and that evidence led them to believe her death was 'suspicious'

Hart said she lost her job and her family's support after transitioning. She said in June: 'I don't have much hope for myself'

Deputies said they responded to a wooded area about 25 miles northwest of Portland shortly after 6pm on Sunday, October 17 after someone reported a body.

The violent crimes unit found 'evidence' that the death had occurred at least two weeks earlier under 'suspicious' circumstances.

Hart was not identified until Wednesday, October 20. The results of an autopsy are not being released at this stage of the investigation, deputies say.

Detectives were able to recover her car - a black 2006 Saab 93 soft-top convertible that was spray painted white - but they haven't said where they found it. She had lived in it at one point after couch-hopping and staying in hotels with her son.

Hart was described as being 5 ft 8 in and 210 pounds.

On June 16, the Willamette Week published a story about people scraping by and living in cheap motels.

Hart and her son Caleb, 13, were living at a Ramada Inn in Portland when she was interviewed for a cover story in the Willamette Week paper about people scraping by and living in hotels

Authorities recovered her 2006 Saab 93 convertible, which she had lived in for a time

At the time, Hart was nearing the end of her 15-day stay at a Ramada Inn in Southeast Portland with her son Caleb after losing her job, home and family support during her transition.

She had been referred there by the Cascadia Behavioral Center after spending time at a women's shelter, a friend's house and other motels. The stay was paid by her health insurance.

The article painted a cramped image of Hart and her son amid strewn backpacks and the smell of their cat Loki's litter in a double bedroom.

Hart said she had been housing unstable since at least 2016. She said she lost her construction business, but the paper could only confirm that she was a registered agent at a construction firm until it was dissolved in 2018.

'I never cross-dressed or anything; for all intents and purposes I was the man's man. But I led two lives. I knew since I was 8,' Hart said.

'Being in the wrong body is sickening. It's like you're caught in a diseased coat that you just can't get out of.'

The mother gave a chilling quote about her prospects for survival, just four months before her death.

'I'm hopeful that Caleb will make it through this. I don't have much hope for myself,' Hart said.

'It's been four years and I'm exhausted. I went from not having anything to worry about, taking him to Disneyland every year for his birthday, to nothing.'

Hart said she wondered if transitioning had been the right choice given how difficult it had made things for her and her son Caleb

In a report after her death, the Willamette Week gave more background into its encounter with Hart - detailing how her voice went 'up an octave' when speaking about her son Caleb.

'Caleb clearly adored her. When WW visited Caleb and Hart at their room at the Ramada Inn, mother and son sat across from each other on separate beds, building on one anothers remarks, adding supporting detail as the other told a story,' a reporter wrote.

Hart told reporter Sophie Peel that her transition had 'soured' her family to her and Caleb and that she sometimes wondered if transitioning had been the right decision considering the difficulties it brought her son.

Hart said of Caleb: 'He's a super-smart kid. He's into physics. You walk up to him and talk about regularities, it's quantum mechanics. He taught me about it: the top layer of a black hole.'

Hart also has an adult daughter in Dalles, about 84 miles east of Portland, the alt-weekly reported.

The mother-of-two has become the 43rd trans or non-confirming person killed in the US in 2021, according to the Human Rights Campaign

No suspects or persons of interest in Hart's death have been named as of Tuesday afternoon

Before losing touch, Peel said Hart told her she was living in her car and taking odd jobs fixing cars while Caleb stayed with a friend from school.

The last thing Peel heard was that Hart and Caleb had moved into another hotel in early July.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com. No suspects or persons of interest in Hart's death have been named.

Last week, the Human Rights Campaign said that Hart's death was the 43rd reported violent killing of a trans or gender non-confirming person in 2021. (Authorities have not yet confirmed her cause or manner of death.)

Tori Cooper, of the group's Transgender Justice Initiative, said: 'Housing insecurity often places so many from our community in dangerous and concerning situations. Had Jessi Hart had access to secure housing, it is possible that she would still be with us today.

'As transgender people, we often face so many challenges and uncertainties, including housing and employment security, and, sadly, these situations can lead to greatly unfortunate outcomes.

'My heart and that of the community goes out to her son, Caleb.'

Hart's girlfriend Audrey Savage told the Willamette Week that she'll miss 'everything' about Hart.

'She was intelligent and thoughtful and caring, and I loved her quirks.

'The whole shorts with the knee-high socks added to the stretch pants thing. She also took almost all my hats. When they found her, they found her in my camouflage hat.'
Richard Alexander Murdaugh has been charged with stealing insurance settlements meant for the sons of his late housekeeper. A judge Tuesday froze his accounts amid fears he will collect more insurance money and shift it ot his son's account

A judge froze the assets of disgraced South Carolina former lawyer Alex Murdaugh and ordered court-appointed representatives to take over his finances amid concerns he could sell off property, collect insurance money and shift it to his son's account.

Judge Daniel Hall sided with an attorney suing Murdaugh on behalf of the family of Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old woman killed in a crash on Murdaugh's boat which prosecutors said his late son, Paul, was driving.

Paul, 22, was shot dead along with his mother, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, at the Hampton family home in June.

The double unsolved murder was the first to become highly covered by the media in a series of scandals that have prompted half-dozen state investigations and lawsuits against Murdaugh, 53.

'They have refused from day one to give me any information,' the attorney for Beach's family, Mark Tinsley, said.

The family's lawsuit says Murdaugh is trying to hide millions of dollars they could possibly collect in their lawsuit and he could shift money between unknown accounts and potentially sell off property and a boat after he turned all his affairs over to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh.

Paul was charged after the boat incident in 2019 because he'd been drinking and was behaving 'belligerently' that night. He was released on bond.

Beach died after Murdaugh's boat hit a Beaufort County bridge and her body was found seven days later

Witnesses who were in the boat the night that Beach died have said they were scared to speak about the Murdaugh family because they knew how to 'cover things up'.

A lawyer for Murdaugh argued at a hearing before the judge Friday that he has not been found responsible in any civil suits since his wife and son were killed and has insurance to cover if he is required to pay damages.

Circuit Judge Daniel Hall hears arguments from attorney Mark Tinsley during a hearing over prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's assets on Friday

Tinsley is suing Murdaugh on behalf of the family of Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old woman killed in a crash on Murdaugh's boat which prosecutors said his late son, Paul, was driving

Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh. Murdaugh's wife Maggie and son Paul were found shot dead at the family's hunting lodge in a horrific double murder in June

Alex Murdaugh awaits the beginning of his bond hearing in the Richland Judicial Center in Columbia, S.C., Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

Attorney John Tiller also argued if Murdaugh loses control of his assets, that would open the door for similar things to happen in countless other cases if the person who sues thinks the defendant does not have enough insurance.

Three years after Beach died in a boat that was driven from one of the family's private islands before crashing into a Beaufort County Bridge at more than 30 miles per hour, her family has yet to receive a payout.

The family of Beach is suing the Murdaugh estate, as is the family of Gloria Satterfield, the family's maid of 22 years who 'tripped over the family dogs,' sustaining a head injury that killed her 21 days later, in the same home where Paul and Margaret would be found dead three years later.

Mallory's mother, surviving boat passenger Connor Cook and Satterfield's family fear that money and justice may continue to evade them, even with Alex Murdaugh behind bars.

'If the lawsuit would be settled... we can get on with our lives,' Beach's mother, Lynn Reavis, told 48 Hours. 'Because Mallory died almost three years ago. And every time these stories come out, it's like it happens all over again.'

Pictured is the boat that crashed into a Beaumont County bridge, leading to the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. 'If the lawsuit would be settled... we can get on with our lives,' Beach's mother, Lynn Reavis, told 48 Hours. 'Because Mallory died almost three years ago. And every time these stories come out, it's like it happens all over again'

There have also been reports that Murdaugh is being investigated by the FBI for alleged financial crimes.

Murdaugh, who resigned from the firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick (PMPED) about two months ago after allegedly stealing from them, is said to have used the firm's stationary in a plan to steal $4.3 million that was owed to the family of Satterfield, who died in his home in 2018.

The suggestion of a possible FBI investigation was made by Eric Bland, one of the attorneys representing the sons of the housekeeper.

The FBI's Columbia Field Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina have not confirmed or denied the existence of an investigation.

Griffin, also told The Post & Courier how he took part in a conference call involving federal prosecutors who were looking to see if he would cooperate with any investigation.

Murdaugh remains in the Richland County jail without bond after being charged with stealing nearly $3 million in insurance payments meant for the sons of his housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall in his home.

His legal team did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Tuesdays ruling.

In court, Murdaugh said he set up the elaborate ruse so that his surviving son, Buster, would receive his $10M insurance policy.

A judge handling the Murdaugh criminal cases last month asked for a report on his mental state before considering whether to set bond. A date for a hearing has not been set.

Murdaugh inherited part of a legal empire in tiny Hampton County, South Carolina. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors.

The familys law firm, located in the most impressive building in town after the courthouse, has spent a century winning multimillion-dollar verdicts.

In October, a judge in South Carolina denied bond for attorney Alex Murdaugh on the second set of charges he has faced since finding his wife and son dead last June

Murdaugh remains in the Richland County jail without bond after being charged with stealing nearly $3 million in insurance payments meant for the sons of his housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall in his home

The family's lawsuit says Murdaugh could potentially sell off property and a boat after he turned all his affairs over to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, 25 (pictured)

Remaining unsolved now for nearly five months are the deaths of Murdaugh's wife, Maggie and their son Paul.

Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death.

Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out. Murdaugh has adamantly denied having anything to do with their killings.

The deaths lead to five more criminal investigations into Murdaugh, from whether he stole money from the family's century-old PMPED Law Firm to the events around his housekeeper's death and insurance payout to whether he or his family tried to obstruct the investigation into the boat crash.

While the criminal investigations into Murdaugh continue - he also has been charged with trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son could get a $10 million life insurance policy - the civil lawsuits against him are also piling up.

Murdaugh faces at least six lawsuits seeking money as damages, from claims over the 2019 fatal boat crash to allegations he stole accidental death insurance settlements meant for his housekeeper's sons and money from his family's century-old law firm to his own brother saying Murdaugh owes him $46,500 on $90,000 loaned in September in part to get Murdaugh into drug rehab.

The judge's decision Tuesday only deals with the lawsuit from the family of 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

Prosecutors say Paul Murdaugh was driving the boat recklessly while intoxicated and charges against him were dropped after he and his mother were killed at the family's Colleton County home in June.

Lawyers in two other lawsuits against Alex Murdaugh filed similar motions asking to have the independent lawyers review and catalog all of Murdaughs assets and approve whether he can spend money.

They will get part of any legal settlements or judgements against Murdaugh in the cases they are involved.

Those cases involve a man on the boat who said the Murdaugh family tried to falsely pin him as the boats driver along with the family of Murdaughs late housekeeper Gloria Satterfield.

Alex Murdaugh's (left) brother Randolph 'Randy' Murdaugh IV (right) filed a suit against him Thursday for tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid loans

The complaint, obtained by DailyMail.com, reveals that days before Alex attempted to stage his own murder he asked Randy for a loan of $75,000

Murdaugh is currently in prison after Richland County Judge Clif

The Murdaughs said she died after a fall in the familys home in 2018.

Murdaugh has been charged with pocketing nearly $3 million worth of insurance settlements that was supposed to go to Satterfields estate.

Prosecutors have accused Murdaugh of illegally diverting the money to his accounts. They said he then paid off a $100,000 credit card bill, transferred more than $300,000 to his father and $735,000 to himself.

'Hes living pretty well for someone with no assets. He has a crisis manager,' Tinsley said at Friday's hearing.

Last week, at least two more lawsuits were filed against Murdaugh looking to collect debts.

Crime scene tape is visible on the stretch of Old Salkehatchie Road where Alex Murdaugh reported having been the victim of a drive by shooting. Within days of that loan being made Alex attempted to have himself shot so that his surviving son, Buster, could claim his $10million life insurance policy

Murdaugh is suspected of embezzling millions from Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick, the family law firm of which he was a partner

His old PMPED Law Firm sued, saying they loaned him $470,000 in 2021 and has not been paid back.

The law firm has a separate suit against Murdaugh seeking money they said he stole from them.

That suit didn't specify and amount, but legal papers have suggested it is in the millions.

Also Randolph Murdaugh IV sued his brother, saying $90,000 he loaned before his arrest to help his brother make payroll and after the arrest for rehab has not been paid back minus a $43,500 tractor and rotary cutter that court papers said were given to the brother after Alex Murdaugh first tried to sell it.

A judge handling the Murdaugh criminal cases last month asked for a report on his mental state before considering whether to set bond.

A date for a hearing has not been set.
A Canadian Indigenous public health expert has been placed on leave from two public institutions where she led research after investigations found no evidence of her Indigenous heritage.

Carrie Bourassa, or Morning Star Bear's, colleagues and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation investigated and failed to find any Indigenous relatives.

The University of Saskatchewan professor and the scientific director of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced her suspension on Monday.

Her employers initially stood by Bourassa when her Indigenous ancestry was questioned, but both institutions have since confirmed that she was placed on leave, with the university opening an investigation into her Indigenous ancestry claims.

Bourassa claims to be Metis, Anishinaabe and Tlingit, but a statement released by her sister, Jody Burnett, on behalf of her family says the Indigenous public health expert's: 'description of our family is inaccurate, not rooted in fact and moreover is irrelevant to the issue of whether or not Carrie Bourassa is Metis.'

For nearly 20 years Bourassa, now in her late 40s, said that she was born into a family with Metis, Anishnaabe and Tlingit roots but has never shown any documentation proving her ancestry.

Carrie Bourassa or Morning Star Bear, her spirit name, has been suspended from her positions at the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as of Monday

She has recently come under fire as her family, colleagues, and an investigation by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation claim she has no Indigenous hertiage

Bourassa, one of Canada's leading experts on Indigenous public health, claims to be Metis, Anishinaabe and Tlingit but has never proven her touted Indigenous genealogy

Metis is an Indigenous community from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, parts of Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Northern United States. The Anishinaabe is an ethnic group of Indigenous people, that includes the Metis community.

The Tlingit tribe is a small Indigenous group from the Yukon and British Columbia.

'My name is Morning Star Bear,' she said, tearing up at the beginning of her 2019 Ted Talk during which she wore a bright blue shawl and Metis sash, and carried a feather.

'I'm just going to say it  I'm emotional,' she said, telling the crowd that she could feel her ancestors, and in particularly, her Metis grandfather, in the room.

'I'm Bear Clan. I'm Anishinaabe Metis from Treaty Four Territory,' Bourassa said, explaining that she grew up in a dysfunctional family plagued by addiction, violence and racism due to 'intergenerational trauma' stemming from her family's 'half-breed' status.

She repeatedly claimed that her grandfather was Metis and shared heartbreaking stories of the racism they experienced. She described the ways her grandfather tried to pass down Metis traditions.

She has since changed her story explaining that she became Metis in her 20s after being adopted into the community by her grandfather's friend, Clifford Laroque, following her grandfather's death.

Laroque, who was the president of a Metis local organization, has since died.

'Even though Clifford passed, those bonds are even deeper than death because the family has taken me as if I was their blood family. In turn, I serve the Metis community to the best of my ability,' she wrote.

'In our Metis ways, in the event of a loss, community members would adopt the individual who had no family and they would then automatically be seen as family,' she continued. 'We see this as custom adoption. Those adoptions were more meaningful and have stronger bonds than colonial adoptions.'

Bourassa has not explained why she claimed for the majority of her career that she was born into a Metis family.

Bourassa shared this slide of family photos during her 2019 Ted Talk when she discussed her difficult upbringing during which her Metis grandfather, Ladislav 'Laddie' Knezacek, (pictured right) inspired her to work hard to break the cycle of 'intergenerational trauma'

Bourassa's parents Ron (left) and Diane Weibel (right), have not directly commented on their daughter's claims

Jody Burnett, Bourassa's sister, released a statement on the family's behalf which stated the 'description of our family is inaccurate, not rooted in fact and moreover is irrelevant to the issue of whether or not Carrie Bourassa is Metis'

In 2012, she admitted that she knew she didn't qualify for the Metis citizenship registry, which Wendy Gervais, the elected representative for the Metis NationSaskatchewan (MN-S), said is 'relatively simple,' according to CBC.

The MN-S governs the Regina region, where Bourassa claims her Metis membership with First Indigenous Riel Metis Local #33 (FIRM 33). Gervais confirmed that is not a part of the Metis Nation.

She also claims Tlingit ancestry, which she said was first revealed to her 16 years ago when she received her spirit name Ts'iotaat Kutx Ayanaha s'eek- Morning Star Bear- in the Tlingit language and then confirmed to her by a Tlingit relative in October 2017.

But some of Bourassa's colleagues became increasingly skeptical of her Indigenous ancestry and decided to look into her ancestral lines.

Caroline Tait, a Metis professor and medical anthropologist at the U of S who has worked with Bourassa for over 10 years, said she began to question her colleague's ancestral claims as Bourassa began noting ties to the Anishinaabe and Tlingit communities and dressing in more stereotypically Indigenous styles.

'Everybody cheers and claps, and it's beautiful,' said Tait. 'It is the performance that we all want from Indigenous people  this performance of being the stoic, spiritual, culturally attached person [with] which we can identify because we've seen them in Disney movies.'

Tait said she and other colleagues' doubts peaked when they learned that Bourassa's sister had stopped claiming Metis ancestry after looking further into her genealogy.

Tait confronted Bourassa about what she initially suspected were rumors. Bourassa replied in an email: 'I have twice done my genealogy and received Metis local memberships and I am accepted in the community.' She has never shared her genealogies.

Winona Wheeler, an associate professor of Indigenous studies at the University of Saskatchewan, and Janet Smylie, a Metis family medicine professor from the University of Toronto who worked with Bourassa, joined Tait in her suspicions.

'It makes you feel a bit sick,' said Smylie. 'To have an impostor who is speaking on behalf of Metis and Indigenous people to the country about literally what it means to be Metis  that's very disturbing and upsetting and harmful.'

'When I saw that TEDx, to be quite honest, I was repulsed by how hard she was working to pass herself off as Indigenous,' Wheeler said. 'You've got no right to tell people that's who you are in order to gain legitimacy, to get positions and to get funding. That's abuse.'

The colleague's investigation into Bourassa's ancestry found that: 'There was nowhere in that family tree where there was any Indigenous person,' Wheeler told CBC.

Colleagues of the Indigenous public health expert grew skeptical of her Indigenous ancestry as she began to claim connections to more Indigenous communities and dress in more stereotypical Indigenous garb (Pictured: University of Saskatchewan professor Caroline Tait, left, Bourassa, center, and Marg Friesen, minister of health for the Metis Nation Saskatchewan, right)

The CIHR and the U of S have suspended Bourassa amid the allegations of her false Indigenous ancestry. The U of S has opened an investigation into her alleged Indigenous lineage (Pictured: University of Saskatchewan president Dr. Peter Stoicheff, left, Bourassa, center, and vice president research Karen Chad, right)

Instead, they claim to have found that Bourassa's roots come from Eastern Europe, namely Russian, Polish and Czechoslovakia.

CBC reported that it also: 'traced all of her ancestry lines back to Europe' and were 'unable to locate any Indigenous ancestor.'

Bourassa claims that her great-grandmother, Johanna Salaba, was Tlingit and that: 'She married an immigrant. They moved from the far northern B.C. into Saskatchewan and they had a family.'

But CBC claims that the passenger manifest and Census records they examined show Salaba left Russia with her mother and sister in 1911 and was listed as a Czech-speaking Russian, unable to speak English.

Marie Salaba, a 99-year-old relative, confirmed that Bourassa's great-grandmother only spoke Czech.

Salaba married a Russian-born farmer with whom she shared 10 children, one of which was Ladislav 'Laddie' Knezacek- Bourassa's grandfather who she has repeatedly claimed was Metis.

'This grandfather that [Bourassa] was always talking about was not Indigenous,' Wheeler said.

Burnett, Bourassa's sister, told CBC: 'growing up as a child, I didn't identify as Metis.'

She explained that she was first told of her alleged Metis ancestry in 2002 when her sister invited her to a meeting with Larocque when he 'provided confirmation that our family had [Metis] lineage in B.C.' and insisted she 'should be confident in representing myself as such.'

'I was not shown any documentation  rather, it was shared with me verbally.' Laroque then provided Burnett with a certificate of membership in a Metis local in 2006. For years Burnett claimed Metis roots even accepting scholarships due to her supposed Indigenous genealogy and writing her PhD dissertation on gambling issues in Indigenous communities.

Carrie Bourassa's LinkedIn Resume EXPERIENCE: University of Saskatchewan Professor, Indigenous Health September 2018-Present Canadian Institutes of Health Research Scientific Director, Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health - Canadian Institutes of Health Research September 2018-Present Scientific Director, Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health February 2017-Present Infinity Consulting Owner/ President (Indigenous health consulting and research, education and development) August 2003-Present Health Sciences North Research Institute Chair in Northern & Indigenous Health, Senior Scientist October 2016-September 2018 First Nations University of Canada Indigenous Health Studies August 2001-September 2016 EDUCATION: University of Regina Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Social Studies 2001-2008 Advertisement

But in 2014, Burnett stopped claiming Metis roots after her 'husband completed a family tree through a genealogical software program. From that point on, I did not feel certain of my heritage and as such, have stopped identifying as Metis.'

'She is not Metis. She is the modern-day Grey Owl,' Tait said referencing a famous British conservationist who convinced people in the early 1900s of his false Native American heritage.

Bourassa's colleagues, many who do belong to Indigenous communities, are highly offended by her claims and sent a letter with the information that they gathered to the U of S in an official misconduct complaint, which Bourassa said was dismissed.

A statement released by the university read: 'USask has placed Dr. Bourassa on leave and she is relieved of all her duties as professor in the USask College of Medicine in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology.

'Dr. Bourassa will not return to any faculty duties during this investigation.

'The University of Saskatchewan has carefully reviewed the information in interviews and responses from Dr. Carrie Bourassa to recent articles challenging her Indigenous identity,

'The university has serious concerns with the additional information revealed in Dr. Bourassa's responses to the media and with the harm that this information may be causing Indigenous individuals and communities.'

CIHR president Michael Strong also released a statement: 'Today I spoke with Dr. Carrie Bourassa, scientific director of the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (CIHR-IIPH), and we agreed that she will step away from all of her duties as scientific director of the Institute,

'As such, Dr. Bourassa will be on an indefinite leave without pay effective immediately.

'I acknowledge the pain experienced by Indigenous Peoples as a result of this matter, and would like to underscore CIHR's absolute commitment to reconciliation and continuing to accelerate the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in health research,' the statement read.

In a statement released on October 27, following the publication of the CBC investigation, she accused the outlet of running a 'smear campaign' which she said left her 'shocked and dismayed at the recent attack on my identity.'

Bourassa has not commented on the news of her suspension and the investigation into her ancestry.
A Texas woman was arrested and charged, accused of pointing a gun at a 7-year-old trick-or-treater in front of her home on Halloween.

Monica Ann Bradford, 35, pulled the weapon after noticing the child around 7pm on the driveway of her Buda home on the 100 block of Quarter Avenue.

Bradford was taken into custody and brought to the Hays County Jail.

Texas woman Monica Ann Bradford, 35, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly pointing a gun at a seven-year-old child

Deputies from the Hays County Sheriff's Office arrived to the scene and found the child unharmed

Neighbors told Fox 7 Austin that Bradford's front porch light was on, giving the impression that her house was open to trick-or-treaters.

Bradford, however, kept yelling at trick-or-treaters for coming onto her property. She came out of her home with a loaded gun after she saw the child and their family at the end of her driveway.

Neighbor Connie Medina told the network that Bradford asked about them.

'She just asked me, who's in my driveway?', Medina recalled. 'And I was like, I don't know.'

'She said, fine since you can't tell me, I'm going to go get my shotgun.'

Bradford had pulled the weapon at the end of the driveway of her Buda home on the 100 block of Quarter Avenue

Bradford's neighbors reported that her front light was on and that she was yelling at trick-or-treaters for coming onto her property

Medina and her neighbors said they were in stunned after she confronted the young child with the deadly weapon.

'I was in shock,' Medina added. 'Its Halloween, there are kids everywhere, how can somebody just come out with a weapon and scare these kids?'

Deputies from the Hays County Sheriff's Office rushed to the scene around 7.20pm where the child was found unharmed.

'There were cops at the end of our street,' one of the neighbors said. 'They stopped us and said nobodys allowed to go down this street, theres an incident with a gun involved.'

Bradford was booked into Hays County Jail where she received second-degree felony assault charges with a bond set for $10,000

She was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and her bond was set at $10,000.

Despite this, Bradford's neighbors are still concerned for the safety of their children with some claiming they might not let them trick-or-treat next year.

This incident comes after a violent Halloween weekend in Texas.

A shooting at an event center on the Texas-Arkansas border left one dead and nine hurt Saturday night.

The suspected gunman Keuntae McElroy, 21, surrendered to police the following day.

Another shooting was reported the same night at a Halloween party in Houston on Schindler Drive. Aleksis Cantu, 18 was killed and three others injured.
The stalker accused of murdering a 22-year-old Dallas exotic dancer was a customer at her strip club who complained - before shooting her dead - that he had paid her $3,000, police said.

Fort Worth Police arrested 54-year-old Stanley Szeliga, of Irving, last week for the fatal shooting of Abigail Saldana, who said before her death that someone was following her.

On October 26, Saldana was found fatally shot behind the wheel of her car at an exit near the strip club where she worked.

Stanley Szeliga, 54, has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting and killing Abigail Saldana, 22

On October 26, Abigail Saldana (pictured) was found fatally shot behind the wheel of her car at an exit near the strip club where she worked

Fort Worth Police confirmed that Szeliga, a customer at Rick's Cabaret, had been stalking and harassing Saldana, and according to an arrest affidavit, he was angry at the 22-year-old after claiming to have paid her thousands.

Just three hours before the murder, Szeliga posted on Instagram that he had been lied to by Saldana and that he had paid her $3,000 via multiple Zelle payments.

'I never thought I'd be one of those guys taken advantage of,' the 54-year-old wrote. 'Sharing for awareness. Abigail S. and I, since July 2021, we have been enjoying each other's company. She's so beautiful and personable that I envisioned a future with her. But dealing with all the lies is overwhelming, I realize that's part of your primary job as an adult entertainer.'

Szeliga's post went on to claim that Saldana had a second job as a prostitute.

'If you only leave your second job, being in a high-end prostitution ring we could move forward. Yes, this pays $2000 per session, but it's illegal. And having a boyfriend whilst having sex with other men?!'

When police went to nearby Rick's Cabaret (pictured) a manager confirmed Saldana had been recently harassed by a customer known as 'Stan'

Saldana says in the video: 'this is so crazy, you guys. So crazy. Like who would do this?'

Saldana 'was frightened of Stan because he was stalking and harassing her,' according to he manager at Rick's Cabaret

According to the affidavit, when police arrived to the scene, they found three shell casings inside the car as well as a passport identifying Saldana and clothing 'consistent with those worn by exotic dancers.'

When police went to nearby Rick's Cabaret, a manager confirmed Saldana worked there but had not come in that day, and that she had been recently harassed by a customer known as 'Stan.'

Szeliga's angry Instagram post before the alleged murder 'I never thought I'd be one of those guys taken advantage of,' he posted. 'Sharing for awareness. Abigail S. and I, since July 2021, we have been enjoying each other's company. She's so beautiful and personable that I envisioned a future with her. But dealing with all the lies is overwhelming, I realize that's part of your primary job as an adult entertainer.' Szeliga's post went on to claim that Saldana had a second job as a prostitute. 'If you only leave your second job, being in a high-end prostitution ring we could move forward. Yes, this pays $2000 per session, but it's illegal. And having a boyfriend whilst having sex with other men?!' Advertisement

The manager told police Saldana 'was frightened of Stan because he was stalking and harassing her,' and provided them video Saldana posted two weeks earlier to her Instagram about finding a tracking device under her car.

'This was literally on my car like this,' Saldana says in the video. 'This is why you have to be careful. I don't know what to do moving forward with this, but this is definitely looks like a tracker to me.'

She then goes on to say: 'this is so crazy, you guys. So crazy. Like who would do this?'

Police later confirmed that it was a tracker.

According to the affidavit, a license plate reader spotted Szeliga's 2015 Ford F150 pickup truck near Saldana's home at least five times over a 12-day span and only 17 minutes before the shooting was reported, his truck was spotted near her vehicle.

On October 28, police tracked Szeliga down to his home in Irving and ordered him to come out, but he refused, prompting a standoff.

SWAT team members eventually went into an apartment and found Szeliga on a balcony, suffering from several self-inflicted cuts all over his body.

Szeliga was taken to a hospital to be treated for mostly superficial wounds and then booked into jail on $250,000 bond.

Saldana's mother said when she heard of Szeliga's arrest last week, she felt a sense of peace amid the pain of her loss.

'He can't hurt anyone and he's going to have to answer to me why he took my daughter,' Contreras said. 'And I'm not going to stop. I will fight and I will fight. He took my pride. He took my joy.'

Szeliga reportedly has a prior criminal record in California, which includes charges related to domestic violence.

The 54-year-old faces a murder charge and as of Monday he remained in the Tarrant County Jail.
Were you on either of the trains involved? Email tips@dailymail.com or jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk

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One of the trains involved in the Salisbury rail crash was 'almost certainly' affected by 'low adhesion between the wheels and the track', which meant it was unable to stop at a red signal, accident investigators have said.

Low adhesion can be caused by 'contaminants' on the line such as leaves, moisture, oil and grease, is particularly common in autumn and can impact a train's ability to stop, according to the Rail Safety Standards Board.

The deputy chief inspector of the the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), Andrew Hall, said in a statement they were working with partners and that the investigation was 'progressing well'.

Passengers on a Great Western Railways service were thrown around their pitch-black carriages after their train derailed when it 'jolted' to a halt in the tunnel.

Mr Hall said so far, their enquiries had revealed that a second train had applied its brakes but had been unable to stop and crashed into the stationary GWR train.

He said: 'From the initial evidence we have collected, we know that that the passage of the Great Western train travelling from Eastleigh across Salisbury tunnel junction was being protected by a red signal.

'At this junction, trains coming from Eastleigh merge with those from Basingstoke, so the South Western service coming from Basingstoke was required to stop at that signal.

'Unfortunately, it did not stop and struck the side of the Great Western train at an angle such that both trains derailed and ran alongside each other into the tunnel just beyond the junction.

'Initial evidence indicates that the South Western train driver applied the brakes as it approached the junction and the red signal, but the train was unable to stop before passing the signal.

Investigators at the scene of a crash involving trains near the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire

In the aftermath of the crash, the South West Railway train (left) is seen with its cab mangled after hitting the back of the stationary GWR service, which had previously partially derailed in a tunnel close to Salisbury station

'This evidence suggests that the most likely cause of this was wheelslide, almost certainly a result of low adhesion between the wheels and the track. We are continuing to pursue this as a line of investigation amongst others.

'In consultation with other parties, we continue to work with the railway recovery engineers to ensure that the site is handed back in the shortest time possible. We intend to begin releasing parts of the site back to Network Rail later today.'

Fifty people were stranded on the derailed GWR train for seven minutes before a South Western Railway service from London to Honiton then ploughed into the back of it on Sunday evening.

Around 30 passengers attended a casualty centre set up in a nearby church, with 13 taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. Miraculously, no one was killed. However, one of the train drivers was left with 'life-changing injuries', the British Transport Police said.

Investigators are currently probing whether a signal failure caused the catastrophic collision.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast from his home in Dorset, Mr Thrower described how he was 'waiting to pull into Salisbury' when he was suddenly 'thrown' onto the floor after the locomotives crashed, and called the incident 'extremely scary'.

'The next thing I know there's just an almighty noise, I'm being thrown about the joiner carriage,' he said. 'Worst of all, I turn around behind me and there's this huge whoosh of fire and sparks on the door outside. And the next thing I know I'm just in the dark on the floor wondering what's happened and realising that everything is definitely not quite as it should be and it was extremely scary in that moment.'

He added that there was a spirit of 'coming together' in the crash, telling host Dan Walker: 'Even in this horrible moment, the first thing everyone was doing was making sure their fellow man was OK and making sure that everyone else was fine, that no one was injured, and if they were that they were getting the help we could provide them in that moment.'

It is understood the SWR train should have stopped, but instead ploughed into the other train. Possibilities being examined include a red signal malfunction, human error, brake failure or the wet weather causing the train to skid. There is a 20mph speed limit at that section of the line.

Emergency services personnel gather near the site where two trains collided near Salisbury

Cameron Thrower was one of 17 people hurt when two trains crashed in the tunnel near Salisbury at 6.45pm on Sunday

DCI Paul Langley, from British Transport Police, said: 'This will no doubt have been an incredibly frightening experience for all those involved and our thoughts are with them and their families. Specialist officers and detectives remain on scene in Salisbury and we are working closely alongside the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road to establish exactly how these two trains came to collide.'

Initial reports suggested fallen masonry or earth could have triggered one train to stop in the tunnel, with the second crashing into it, but Mr Langley said: 'At this early stage there has been nothing to suggest the train struck an object or that there was any significant delay between the trains colliding and then one derailing.'

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister's thoughts remain with those who were affected by the incident.'

Travellers at Salisbury station yesterday were met with arrivals and departures screens showing that almost all trains were cancelled. A joint Network Rail, GWR and SWR statement last night said passengers should expect chaos for the next few days.

An RAIB spokesman said: 'We have a team of five inspectors on site as well as support staff who have already begun examining the train, tracks, infrastructure, as well as gathering electronic evidence.'

Passengers on a Great Western Railways service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads were thrown around their pitch-black carriages after their train 'jolted' to a halt in the tunnel, sending it off the rails as it entered the 430-yard underpass. Around 50 people were stranded on the derailed train for seven minutes before a South Western Railway service from London to Honiton with around 50 more people on board then ploughed into the stationary train at around 6.45pm

The scene this morning as two trains collided in Fisherton Tunnel as more than a dozen people were sent to hospital but none were critically injured

The SWR service, being referred to as 'Train 2', appears to be the most badly damaged of the two trains with carriages leaning at 45 degrees

Salisbury train crash: What we know so far TRAIN 1 STOPS IN TUNNEL AT 18.38pm The 17.08pm Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads run by Great Western Railway comes to a halt as it enters the Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at around 18.38pm on Sunday. Dozens of people are trapped inside for seven minutes before the second crash. Passengers described feeling a 'jolt' as the train stopped in the tunnel and early reports based on survivors said the train struck something like a rock or a branch and derailed. But British Transport Police has said it is yet to find evidence of this amid suggestions it was only derailed when struck seven minutes later. TRAIN 2 HITS TRAIN 1 AT 18.45pm The 17.20pm London Waterloo to Honiton in Devon run by South West Rail is due at Salisbury Station at 18.47pm. At 18.45pm it hits the sider back and of GWR service that had derailed at speed, forcing it off the track as well. Investigators are looking into why the signalling in the area failed to stop it after the first train derailed. Were you on either of the trains involved? Email tips@dailymail.com or jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

Passengers on the first train described feeling a 'jolt' and 'bump' before the train stopped and early reports in the aftermath of the incident said that the first train was derailed after striking debris on the track after heavy rain and strong winds swept across the country yesterday. One woman on the train said a rumour amongst passengers was that the first train could have been thrown from the track after hitting part of a fallen tree or a piece of stone from the tunnel.

A three-week-old baby was among those rescued. Corinna Anderson, 51, from Derby, who was on the SWR train, told The Times: 'As I climbed off my train, I saw a fireman cradling the baby in his arms.'

Callum Stedman, 16, said passengers feared it was a terror attack and thought they would die as smoked filled the carriages of the train he was in. He told The Sun: 'We felt a jolt and everything went black. We all landed on each other and the train was at 45 degrees on its side. Lights started coming on from people's phones and we started looking around - you see people with broken noses and black eyes and blood dripping.

'It was just really scary. The smoke was the worst part because you thought it was going to catch fire and you would die.'

He added: 'Outside the door there was a big fireball. Everyone started panicking. There were a lot of people crying and some people were kicking in the windows.'

Lucy Gregory told the BBC: 'We were just pulling into Salisbury station and the train felt a bit juddery. I'd just stood up and put my coat on and my phone in my pocket when there was this massive impact and I fell across the table. The table came off the wall and I ended up underneath another table. They smashed the windows and we got out of the window. It was really scary.'

But BTP said that they have not yet found evidence of this, raising serious questions about how and why the GWR train was stationary at the time of the crash.

A senior railway engineer also told MailOnline that a 'major flaw' with signals meant they failed to automatically turn red and allowed the second high-speed inter-city SWR service to smash into the derailed train leaving at least 17 people injured.

The driver of one of the trains, containing many teenagers and families returning home after half term, was trapped in his cab while others on board broke noses and feet as well as suffering severe cuts and bruises. But remarkably no one was killed.

One teenager on the second train travelling from London to Devon grabbed his phone and filmed inside one carriage that was tipping over and said: 'F*** me. We are literally on our side' before zooming in on an injured man and saying: 'That guy's face is mashed'.

Another survivor declared: 'It was really scary, lots of people started taking videos saying 'mum and dad, I love you', scared they were going to die'.

Those on board the trains described a huge bang like a 'bomb going off' when the collision happened, followed by flying glass, sparks from the grinding metal and even tables flying across the carriages. Firefighters and paramedics rescued around 120 people, including a three-week-old baby.

Abigail Taylor was on the first train and said that it was in the tunnel for around five minutes before it was struck by the second train.

She added: 'We stopped in the tunnel and then the train just jolted several times and it was clear something wasn't right, it was almost like turbulence on a plane but worse. People were saying there was a tree that had fallen, which was why we had derailed, and something happened to the signals, which was why we got hit by another train. But I don't know if that was accurate or not. It was a miracle no one was killed'.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister's thoughts were with those injured in the Salisbury train crash but the Government was investing to ensure the railway network remained 'one of the safest in the world'.

A No 10 spokesman said: 'The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have been deployed to the site and are conducting forensic investigations, obviously the Prime Minister's thoughts remain with those who were affected by the incident.

'It would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time while the RAIB are working to investigate what happened.'

The spokesman added: 'I think it's important that we let the RAIB investigate this thoroughly, but more generally in terms of safety standards on the network it's obviously a top priority for this Government, which is why we have allocated 40 billion worth of spending to ensure that the railways continue to be one of the safest in the world.'

Royal Navy sailor Morgan Harris, who was travelling from London Waterloo back to his base in Yeovil, said he was thrown from his seat due to the impact of the huge crash. The 20-year-old Able Seaman said: 'It was all going along normally then, all of a sudden, there was this massive bang and all of the lights went out. There was sparks and flames from where we had come off the track, and there was a load of ash coming from outside. Our train was on its side... I was thrown out of my seat and banged against the table.'

'It sounded like a bomb going off' Witnesses described hearing a massive bang 'like a bomb going off' as two trains collided in the tunnel near Salisbury last night. A local resident living near the tunnels said she was out with her children celebrating hallowe'en when they heard the noise of the train crash which she liked to thunder or a bomb going off.. Tamar Vellacott told reporters that she was out with her children and mother celebrating hallowe'en at the time of the crash. 'It was a noise we've never heard before, my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,' said the 25-year-old. 'There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder. It did spook us though, so we decided to get in our car and drive home. Three police cars passed us at speed.' Peter Golden, 52, from Laverstock, Wiltshire, said the collision 'sounded like something big collapsing - the sound of things falling into each other'. 'With the windy day we've had I first thought it was a big gust of wind that has knocked something heavy over. 'It wasn't till the helicopter arrived on station over the tunnel that I realised what I had heard. 'The first helicopter arrived on station and started hovering about 30 to 40 mins after the collision. 'There were lots of sirens and emergency vehicles on London Road. 'Emergency vehicles were coming from the west and east - presumably Andover - as well as Salisbury.' Advertisement

Passenger Dimitri Popa, from Romania, was travelling on the train from London to Sherborne when the terrifying crash occurred.

The 17 year old said: 'It all happened so fast... I was just sitting in the first carriage and there was a huge crash. Then I saw the flames and got pretty scared, and all the lights went out. The carriage was 45 degrees to the right. We didn't know where we were or anything... we were all just so shocked.'

A young woman living in one of the houses closest to Fisherton Tunnel, where the crash occurred and the two trains remain, has told of her horror as she watched girls as young as 15 suffered from broken bones. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'There were two girls I saw sitting just across the bridge. I saw them from one of the bedroom windows in my house.

'They were wrapped in silver blankets and everything. They were sat on the bank across from our house and one of the girls looked like she had broken her foot. 'The other girl was breathing into a bag because she was so terrified and shocked.

'They were only teenagers... I would guess they were around 15 years old. There were a lot of young people on the train. 'We also saw people bringing big equipment to cut open the metal of the train, because there were so many people trapped in there.'

Speaking to MailOnline on condition of anonymity, a senior Network Rail engineer claimed that when the GWR train collided with an object and derailed, there should be an 'automatic obstruction warning' to stop any train entering that same mile-long stretch.

'There has been a major flaw within the signalling system within Network Rail. The system says that the line is not safe for the passage of another train because there is an obstruction on the line,' they said, adding: 'According to my system, the signalling system was aware seven minutes before impact. It should've automatically stopped the train. It should've automatically set all signals to red. If the driver didn't see the signal, the system should've made the train stop.'

The whistleblower added: 'I've realised for a number of years there has been numerous failures within [Network Rail]' and said they had feared an incident like this would happen 'for the past two years'.

17 people were injured including one of the drivers, who was cut free having suffered a suspected broken ankle. A 'small number' of people were taken to hospital, while the 'walking wounded' were cared for at a nearby church where local people offered support in the form of blankets, food, drinks and first aid.

Officials declared it a 'critical' incident as observers claimed it was a miracle nobody was killed.

A major rail accident investigation is underway and experts will look at why signals that should have turned red to stop the approaching train well in advance seemingly suffered a 'major' flaw and let the second train through, MailOnline has been told. It is also possible that the derailed train my have knocked out the signalling in the area when it derailed.

Witnesses told of hearing a sound 'like a bomb going off' as the crash, one of the most serious in recent years on the UK rail network, unfolded. One woman who was on board told of her terror as she was thrown around the crashing train.

Angela Mattingly, who was on the SWR train, said: 'Everything went black and there were red flashes and everything.

'There was suddenly a lot of jostling, possessions being thrown around and I think a few people went forward and hit their heads. You just don't know for a couple of seconds what's happening. People started to panic but nobody was seriously injured'.

Lucy Gregory told the BBC: 'We were just pulling into Salisbury station and the train felt a bit juddery. I'd just stood up and put my coat on and my phone in my pocket when there was this massive impact and I fell across the table. The table came off the wall and I ended up underneath another table. They smashed the windows and we got out of the window. It was really scary.'

Last night a British Transport Police officer said the driver and a small number of people had been taken to hospital.

Speaking to Sky News, Inspector Mullah Hoque said they would remain on scene throughout the night to establish what happened.

He said: 'Most of these people are walking wounded, however a small number, including the driver, have been taken to a hospital where their injuries are being assessed.'

Andy Cole, assistant chief fire officer for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue service, said they had rescued approximately 100 people from the train carriages and confirmed there had been no fatalities.

Tamar Vellacott said she was walking outside with her young children, mother and partner on Jewell Close, Bishopdown, around a kilometre from the scene.

'It was a noise we've never heard before... my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,' the 25-year-old said.

'There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder hitting the railway line.'

An injured man on one of the trains caught up in the horror smash in Salisbury last night (left). People were laying on the floor of one of the carriages (right) with cuts, suspected fractures and broken noses with some calling loved ones fearing they would die

Images taken from on board the derailed SWR train showed it at a 45-degree angle in the tunnel after the collision

Emergency crews rushed to the scene at Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury following the collision at around 6.45pm yesterday evening. The SWR train from London to Devon is seen on an angle after colliding with a stopped GWR service

The entrance to Fisherton Tunnel near Salisbury. The rear carriage of a GWR train from Portsmouth to Bristol derailed after most of the train had entered the tunnel on the track that emerges from the left of this image. The SWR train then collided with it having approached the tunnel from the track that runs under the road this image is taken from. The rear of the GWR train was shunted into the tunnel wall at the left of the entrance, while the SWR train derailed more fully and crossed on to the right-side of the tunnel on a 45-degree angle

The drama unfolded in Fisherton Tunnel, a major junction joining two lines as they approach Salisbury from the south and from the east.

Firstly the 17:08 Great Western Rail service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads, which entered the junction from the south, hit an object the tunnel  possibly material that fell from the tunnel roof, sources said  and the rear carriage derailed. The train had been due into Salisbury at 6:28pm but bad weather was causing delays across the rail network.

Seven minutes later at around 6.45pm, the 17:20 South West Rail train from London Waterloo to Honiton in Devon, which was due into Salisbury at 6.47pm, sped into the junction from the east. For some reason signals had not alerted the driver of the obstruction  or had failed to stop his train if he missed the red lights.

The SWR train smashed into the stationary GWR service in the tunnel, derailed itself and skidded along the inside of the tunnel at 45-degrees, apparently being held up by the tunnel wall. Its driver was trapped in his mangled cab and needed to be cut free by emergency workers. Only the last carriage remained upright.

Tamar Vellacott told reporters that she was walking with her young children around half a mile from the scene when they heard the crash.

'It was a noise we've never heard before, my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,' said the 25-year-old.

'There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder. It did spook us though, so we decided to get in our car and drive home. Three police cars passed us at speed.'

The engineer added that the incident would not have been avoidable if the oncoming train was too close to the derailed GWR, but given the seven-minute warning this could not have been the case.

'There has been a major flaw within the signalling system within Network Rail.'

Emergency services said they would remain at the scene of the collision through the night and it would be days before services could resume

A fleet of ambulances waiting at the scene of the collision. Most of those injured were described as 'walking wounded' however a 'small number' including one driver were take to hospital for checks

Police set up road blocks around the site of the crash. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said investigations into the crash would be undertaken in order to help prevent similar 'serious' incidents in future

Locals who live around a mile away described hearing a massive bang 'like a bomb going off' as the trains collided

Peter Golden, 52, from Laverstock, Wiltshire, said: 'There is a deep cutting leading to a tunnel on the approach to Salisbury Station from the east and it looks like the collision is there.

'It sounded like something big collapsing - the sound of things falling into each other. With the windy day we've had I first thought it was a big gust of wind that has knocked something heavy over. It wasn't till the helicopter arrived on station over the tunnel that I realised what I had heard. The first helicopter arrived on station and started hovering about 30 to 40 mins after the collision.

'On station means it arrives and hovers or circles - so to assist with eyes and lightning. There were lots of sirens and emergency vehicles on London Road.

'Emergency vehicles were coming from the west and east - presumably Andover - as well as Salisbury. Friends nearer have mentioned passengers being guided up to the ambulances on London Road, so walking which is good.'

The incident is being investigated by the Office for Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigations Branch.

Martin Frobisher, group safety and engineering director, technical authority, at Network Rail, said he does not know exactly what happened in the Salisbury train collision on Sunday evening.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'We're hugely relieved that nobody was seriously injured, but the passengers must have had a really scary experience, and we're very sorry for that.

'We're obviously starting now a very detailed and forensic investigation into what happened. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch are on site and they're incredibly thorough in the work that they do. And that'll help us learn from this, and that's why these events are very rare, because we follow it up very, very carefully, and make sure that we do everything possible to prevent it for the future.'

Mr Frobisher said it is 'far too early to speculate', adding that there is 'a lot of contradictory information' in the early stages of an investigation.

Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, said it is 'too early to speculate' about a collision between two trains in a tunnel near Salisbury.

She told Good Morning Britain: 'Our focus at the moment is with the customers and colleagues that have been affected by this and obviously working with the emergency services to understand exactly what happened.

'Speculation is really not appropriate at this time. We really need to wait for the investigation to take its course and then we'll know exactly what happened.

'But I would like to say a big thank you to the emergency services who were really swift in response last night, and we moved people from the train quite quickly.'

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch tonight said it had deployed inspectors to the site of a collision for a preliminary examination of the scene
A father killed his daughter's 19-year-old boyfriend by repeatedly stabbing him and then stuffing him inside a car trunk after finding he'd sold her into a sex trafficking ring, detectives have revealed.

John Eisenman, 60, was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million bond at Spokane County Jail in Washington.

Andrew Sorensen's rotting corpse was found in the trunk of an abandoned car on East Everett Avenue in Spokane last month, police said on Monday. Detectives believe he was killed in November last year.

Eisenman discovered in October of that year that his juvenile daughter had been sex trafficked into Seattle by Sorensen for $1,000, according to a police press release.

He was able to rescue the girl from the city and bring her back to Spokane that month.

John Eisenman, 60, (appearing in court) was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million bond at Spokane County Jail in Washington

Andrew Sorensen's rotting corpse was found in the trunk of an abandoned car on East Everett Avenue in Spokane last month, police said on Monday. Detectives believe he was killed in November last year

He then learned that Sorensen was going to be at an address in Airway Heights so he drove there and waited for the 19-year-old to arrive.

'During that encounter Eisenman abducted the victim, tying him up and placing him in the trunk of a vehicle. Eisenman subsequently assaulted the victim by hitting him in the head with a cinder block and then stabbed him repeatedly, causing his death,' police said.

'After the homicide, Eisenman drove the vehicle to a remote area in North Spokane County and abandoned the car with the body still inside.'

The car was left in the countryside until last month when someone drove it to Spokane and left it on East Everett Avenue. Officials said they do not believe that person knew there was a corpse in the back.

The body was found when people began searching through the vehicle.

Amber Hellmann said her boyfriend and another friend said they noticed the car had been there for a while.

'They were just looking around and for some reason, they decided to look in the trunk and all I hear is, 'there's a body,'' she told KHQ-TV.

Police said Eisenman was arrested and surrendered to officers without incident. Prior to his detention he had no recent violent criminal history.
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The UK's daily coronavirus cases have started to fall again after a brief blip yesterday  but hospital admissions and deaths continue to rise.

There were 33,865 new infections across the country in the past 24 hours, according to the Department of Health's daily update, marking a 17.3 per cent fall on last Tuesday.

Covid cases were slightly inflated last week because of a recording issue in Wales, which means the true week-on-week decline will be less sharp. Daily infections in England dipped below 30,000 for the first time in four weeks today.

Infections had fallen for eight days in a row until yesterday, which was believed to be due to less testing during half-term. But there is growing optimism that rising immunity levels in children will keep infections at bay even as schools go back.

Meanwhile, latest hospital data shows there were 1,002 UK hospitalisations on October 29, which marked the fifth day in a row of four-digit admissions.

The DOH said there were also 293 deaths registered across Britain today, the highest number since March 3, when there were 315.

But today's tally 'potentially' includes two days' worth of data from England, the department said, which will have skewed the toll. Hospital admissions and deaths are both lagging indicators.

The Government's Covid dashboard shows that more than 50million Britons have now had their first Covid vaccine. Around 45.7m have had two and 8.4m have had their booster third dose.

But top experts warned today that Britain's Covid booster jab drive is still going too slowly, despite NHS England boasting that the roll-out had hit a record high last week.

Official figures show 1.6million people in England were given their third dose last week, a slight improvement for the sluggish drive that was only reaching 1.1million every seven days at the start of October.

But critics said uptake was still too low, with 7.2million vulnerable people still waiting for their booster. They warned it could take until mid-January to give the entire eligible cohort of 32million their vital immunity boost.

Making Covid vaccines compulsory for care home workers had 'LITTLE' effect on boosting uptake Making Covid vaccines compulsory for care home workers had little effect on boosting uptake, industry insiders say amid fears forcing the jabs on NHS workers will also be futile. Ministers have made it a legal requirement for all care home staff to get their second jab by November 11 or face losing their job, with the hope of boosting uptake and protecting vulnerable residents. But care bosses told MailOnline today the policy failed in its main objective of boosting uptake and was enforced 'without considering' the consequences. Critics warn it will exacerbate staffing shortages. Latest figures suggest just 30,000 elderly care home workers have come forward for their first vaccine since parliament voted to make vaccination compulsory in July. Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group  which represents providers in Yorkshire, said making jabs compulsory only had 'a little bit of an effect' on the 1.5million-strong sector. Health chiefs are also on the verge of introducing the 'no jab, no job' policy in the NHS ahead of what is expected to be a challenging winter, despite calls to postpone the move until April to avoid a staff exodus. More than nine in 10 NHS staff are already jabbed. Care home employees will be required to be double-jabbed to keep working in the sector from next week, but a loophole could see unvaccinated employees continue working in the sector until two days before Christmas. Care bosses fear this could spark a 'mass exodus' just ahead of Christmas Day  derailing family plans. Advertisement

Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali said the lagging rate was what 'concerned him most' heading into winter, adding: 'The seven-day average is too low and not rising as expected.'

UK-wide Department of Health data shows the average number of boosters being dished out each day has fallen by a tenth from around 300,000 a day in the week to October 24, to 270,000 last week.

Ministers said a quick and successful booster campaign is paramount to the country avoiding reverting to 'Plan B' restrictions this winter, with face masks, vaccine passports and work from home guidance to be reimposed if the NHS comes under unsustainable pressure.

Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, told a gloomy press conference last month that 'if not enough people get their booster jabs' then 'it would of course make it more likely we're going to have more restrictions'.

The booster campaign was originally beset by delays, which NHS bosses blamed on the lack of demand in the public. But their were reports of elderly people being turned away despite having their second jab six months ago. Now people can walk-in, which is expected to boost uptake and speed up the drive.

However, Dr Ali said: 'I fear the debate around Plan B has distracted us from the message that boosters are the key intervention to save lives.'

Meanwhile, British health chiefs were reprimanded for publishing 'potentially misleading' data which anti-vaxxers have jumped on to peddle claims that jabs don't work.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) now publishes weekly surveillance reports, after taking over the reigns from the now-defunct Public Health England.

Over the past few weeks, the agency's data shows infection rates are higher in fully-vaccinated adults compared to the unjabbed.

Anti-vaxx commentators and campaigners have seized the data as proof that Covid vaccines don't work.

But the UK's statistics watchdog has now waded into the issue, calling on the UKHSA to better explain some of the issues with the data.

The Office of Statistics Regulation (OSR) ruled the UKHSA needs to more effectively highlight how behavioural differences could have skewed the figures.

The UKHSA has already made a series of amendments to its weekly report following controversy over its presentation of the data.

It now caveats its findings by saying the data is 'unadjusted' and shouldn't be used to compare unjabbed and jabbed populations because there are likely to be 'systematic differences' between the groups.

This includes the vaccinated being more likely to get tested because they are more 'health conscious'.

It also suggests jabbed people may be socialising more freely, and thus are more likely to catch the virus.

OSR director general Ed Humpherson yesterday wrote to the UKHSA's boss Dr Jenny Harries stating the changes were welcome.

The UK's statistics watchdog says the UK Health Security Agency needs to do better at explaining its data after anti-vaxxers claimed a report by the body showing there were more Covid cases among vaccinated people than the unvaccinated was proof that Covid vaccines don't work. The data, replicated above, does show there were more cases among the vaccinated over 30s than their un-jabbed counterparts, but behavioural reasons, like the vaccinated socialising more freely could partly explain the difference

But he added the data could still be used by anti-vaxxers to cast doubt on vaccine effectiveness.

'It remains the case that the surveillance report includes rates per 100,000 which can be used to argue that vaccines are not effective,' Mr Humpherson said.

'I know that this is not the intention of the surveillance report, but the potential for misuse remains.

'In publishing these data, you need to address more comprehensively the risk that it misleads people into thinking that it says something about vaccine effectiveness.'

He added the UKHSA report needed to explain the behavioural differences between the vaccinated and unvaccinated that could account for the differences.

Fifth of Britons deemed 'extremely vulnerable' to Covid are STILL shielding despite guidance being dropped in April, official data shows A fifth of extremely vulnerable Britons were still shielding last month, despite official guidance dropping in April. Around 3.7million people in England deemed most at risk of dying from Covid were encouraged to stay at home during the darkest days of the pandemic. But despite the advice being lifted when the devastating second wave was flattened in the spring, official figures suggest hundreds of thousands of people are still going out of the way to protect themselves. Polling data today showed 22 per cent of the group continued to stay indoors and avoided social interactions last month. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) report also showed 68 per cent were taking extra precautions, such as avoiding crowded places. Shielding guidance was issued during the initial lockdown last spring and applied to 2.2million people in England because they had a pre-existing condition such as kidney disease or cancer, while the Government advised an additional 1.5million to shield after conducting a Covid population risk assessment. Advertisement

Mr Humpherson added: 'I do not think your surveillance report goes far enough in explaining this crucial point.'

The latest data, published October 28, shows there were more cases of Covid per 100,000 people in all vaccinated groups over the age of 30 than their un-jabbed counterparts.

For example, there were 1,936 cases among every 100,000 fully vaccinated adults aged 40-49, compared to 835 in the unvaccinated.

It should also be noted that while anti-vaxxers claim the data shows Covid vaccines don't work, the same data set clearly demonstrates the jabs reduce the chance of hospitalisation and death from the virus.

Hospitalisation and death rates from Covid were between three to five times higher among the unvaccinated than those who received at least two doses of the vaccine.

Another aspect of the OSR's stinging letter to UKHSA was the organisation's choice of denominator for its Covid data.

The UKHSA's report uses the National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS), a weekly updated dataset based on people registering for NHS services.

However, NIMS likely overcounts the population eligible for vaccines, partly due to people not changing their NHS registration details when they move. Therefore, it may be underestimating vaccine uptake.

Mr Humpherson has suggested UKHSA also use ONS population estimates, like the Government's Covid dashboard does.

'Given these multiple uncertainties, it is good that you are working with colleagues in the ONS on the best denominator to use in these calculations,' he said.

'In the meantime, you should consider setting out these uncertainties more clearly, including by publishing the rates per 100,000 using both denominators, and making clear in the table, perhaps through formatting, that the column showing case rates in unvaccinated people is of particular concern.'

Responding to the the letter UKHSA head of immunisation Dr Mary Ramsay said they were grateful to the statistics watchdog on helping make their report less vulnerable to anti-vaxxers.

'There has been some misunderstanding and, at times, deliberate manipulation of the data presented in the UKHSA Vaccine Surveillance Report by those who want to undermine the vaccine programme, and we are grateful to the UK Statistics Authority for working with us to help make the report less open to manipulation.'

'We regularly review our data outputs to ensure they are as clear as possible and reflect the current situation and will make any appropriate updates to this report in the future if we feel they are required.'

'It is absolutely clear in our report that Covid vaccines provide a high level of protection against severe outcomes, and the data shows that rates of hospitalisation and death are substantially lower in fully vaccinated people across all age groups.'

But she added the report would continue to use NIMS to ensure data could be compared in real time.

'We continue to use the NIMS denominator - the NHS national register - to ensure the data is comparable week-on-week,' she said.

The Government's handling of Covid statistics has come under fire over the course of the pandemic with ministers being scolded for how they use data.

Last November Number 10 was criticised by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) for not being transparent enough with the data used to justify England's second lockdown.

And in June 2020, the UKSA chairman Sir David Norgrove wrote to the Health Secretary at the time, Matt Hancock, stating that the information he was using on Covid testing is 'far from complete' and 'misleading'.

It was recently revealed that Government Ministers will be given a 'data masterclass' to address the issue of 'statistical illiteracy'.

The crash courses have already been running in the civil service but will now be given to senior ministers in the run up to Christmas.

It is not known who in Cabinet will be attending the masterclasses and if Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be among them.
'Forgotten' indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest have finally been made aware of the global Covid pandemic more than 18 months after the world was plunged into lockdown.

Mariano Quisto, a remote community leader deep in the dense forests of Peru, first learned of the global pandemic in October when health workers arrived by boat at his isolated village with vaccines.

'We didn't know about COVID-19. This is the first we are hearing about it,' Quisto said through a translator from the village of Mangual, in Peru's vast but sparsely populated Loreto region in the country's north.

Government health workers and International Red Cross members arrived in Quisto's Urarina indigenous community last month after a three-day boat ride along rivers starting from the Amazonian city of Iquitos, the world's largest metropolis that is unreachable by road.

In Mangual, the village highest up the river, residents hunt and fish for food and live in wooden stilt houses with no electricity, and many common ailments

Connection with the outside world is minimal and the local language developed in isolation over centuries.

Personnel from the Peruvian Red Cross speak to schoolchildren during an outreach by healthcare workers to the indigenous Urarina community about Covid-19 on October 12, 2021

Community leader Mariano Quisto is administered a Covid vaccine by healthcare workers. The outreach programme in the Amazon rainforest was the first time the indigenous Urarina community had heard about the virus (October 11, 2021)

Healthcare workers had to travel for three days by boats to reach the communities who live deep in the dense Amazon rainforest in Peru (pictured: remote indigenous community village near Santa Hermosa, Peru, October 12, 2021)

A woman is administered a vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during an outreach by healthcare workers in Saint Hermosa, Peru (October 13, 2021)

'Brigades haven't come here in many years. These communities are really forgotten,' said Gilberto Inuma, president of Fepiurcha, an organization advocating for Urarina rights.

The broader Urarina indigenous group, one of Peru's most insular, has just 5,800 people, official data show.

But not all communities have been spared from the knowledge, or impact, of the pandemic with at least five Urarina people having died from the virus.

The trip upriver underscores the challenges of vaccinating remote indigenous communities in Peru and beyond, as well as gaps in wider healthcare access for remote groups.

Many community members complained that what they really needed was better continuous healthcare services.

Doctor Neuson Juran Apaza examines a child during an outreach mission to the indigenous Urarina community about the coronavirus. At least five Urarina people have died from the virus, but the community's lack of healthcare means simple ailments are rife

Many community members complained to the Covid healthcare workers that they are in desperate need of better healthcare, as the community has no doctors and people suffer from simple ailments (pictured: An ill woman in Copal, Peru, is examined by healthcare workers, October 10, 2021)

Connection with the outside world is minimal in these communities, and the local language developed in isolation over centuries. (Pictured: a healthcare worker examines a young girl from the Urarina community, October 13, 2021)

In the village with no doctors, ailments include headaches, diarrhea, malaria and conjunctivitis, Quisto said.

'We don't know how to take care of our patients. That's our worry.'

Indigenous communities, especially in the Amazon, have some of Peru's lowest vaccination rates, said Julio Mendigure, who heads health policy for the groups at the country's health ministry.

Less than 20% of them have been fully vaccinated, compared to around half for the country as a whole, he said.

'When you look at that number, you have to remember that to administer both doses, teams have to travel 4-5 hours. That's in the best case scenario,' Mendigure explained.

People on a small boat near San Marcos, Peru, ask for petrol from a group of healthcare workers travelling to administer vaccines (October 12, 2021)

Indigenous communities, especially in the Amazon, have some of Peru's lowest vaccination rates, said Julio Mendigure, who heads health policy for the groups at the country's health ministry (pictured: a nurse prepares to give vaccines to members of the indigenous community in San Marcos, Peru, October 11, 2021)

A man is administered a vaccine by healthcare workers in San Marcos, Peru October 11, 2021

Reaching Mangual required 26 hours of travel over three days along rivers that at times dry up or are blocked with fallen trees.

The boat included a blue cooler box carrying 800 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine, refrigerated with dry ice.

A team will return in November to give second doses after administering over 600 inoculations.

'I decided to get the vaccine so that I don't get sick,' said one Urarina woman who was inoculated and asked not to be named because the community so infrequently speaks to outsiders.

'Because it's possible if traders come to visit they will bring the disease and pass it on.'
A shipment of 920 kilos of cocaine was seized from three alleged drug traffickers in New Jersey, making it the largest bust in the Northeast region in a decade, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Tuesday.

The DEA revealed details of the September operation after a New York federal grand jury indicted Jorge Aponte-Guzman, 33; Nelson Agramonte-Minaya, 37; and Carlos Maisonet-Lopez, 32, on Monday.

Each of the three men are being accused of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine between August and September 2021.

"A multi-million dollar storm of cocaine was seized before it could wreak havoc in the Northeast,' DEA special agent in charge Ray Donovan said in a statement. 'Over one ton of cocaine was seized, making it the largest cocaine seizure destined for the streets of New York in over a decade.'

On Tuesday, the DEA revealed that agents and local authorities in New Jersey and New York participated in an operation that helped the federal agency seize 20 lawn rollers containing 960 kilos of cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico to New Jersey in late September making it the largest bust in the Northeast region in 10 years. Details were revealed after a New York federal court grand jury indicted Jorge Aponte-Guzman, 33; Nelson Agramonte-Minaya, 37; and Carlos Maisonet-Lopez, 32, on Monday

The confiscated cocaine that was shipped from Puerto Rico to a loading dock in New Jersey holds an estimated street value of $368 million

The federal narcotics agency said the drugs were sent from Puerto Rico and held at a loading dock in New Jersey where the suspects planned to pick it up.

The DEA indicated that approximately on September 29, Aponte-Guzman drove a rental van to the dock and then headed to an abandoned lot next to residential property. Maisonet-Lopez approached the vehicle before authorities swarmed in and arrested him and Aponte-Guzman. Agramonte-Minaya was spotted neat the basement entry level and was taken into custody, too.

Officers inspecting the van found pallets holding 10 lawn rollers that were imported from Puerto Rico and that included a consignee address in the Bronx. Agents cut the lawn rollers and found 460 kilos of cocaine.

Authorities showed up at the loading dock on September 30 and discovered 10 additional lawn rollers with 460 kilos of cocaine that had arrived from the Caribbean Island a day earlier. It had the same Bronx address that was financially responsible for accepting the shipments.

Dock workers told investigators that delivery had arrived the day before.

According to the DEA, cocaine confiscations have increased by more than 150% in the last 12 months.

'DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to guard against drug trafficking organizations tactics and techniques to smuggle drugs into our country,' Donovan said.

The DEA's 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment identified Puerto Rico, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, as a key hub from drug trafficking organizations that ship cocaine to the United States because the cargo shipments between these U.S. territories and the continental United States are considered domestic and not subject to inspection.

'Cocaine is the principal drug threat in the Caribbean region, with Puerto Rico and the USVI serving as major transshipment points between cocaine-producing countries in South America and the continental United States,' the agency said it its annual report.

'It is estimated that a third of the cocaine and heroin trafficked into Puerto Rico and the USVI remains for local consumption, but most is smuggled onwards to the continental United States,' the DEA said. 'Traffickers conceal cocaine in parcels mailed from Puerto Rico and the USVI to Florida and the northeastern United States, primarily Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.'
A Southwest Airlines pilot is facing possible criminal charges after allegedly getting into a physical fight with a flight attendant at a California hotel.

Pilot Nick Barelli was cited for assault and battery and placed on leave by the airline after the altercation with the unnamed flight attendant, which took place on October 18 in San Jose and was reportedly about face masks.

'The event involved a disagreement over mask-wearing or masks on October 18, 2021, at a local hotel bar,' Sergeant Christian Camarillo of the San Jose Police Department detailed to DailyMail.com.

Southwest Airlines pilot Nick Barelli was cited for assault and battery and placed on leave by the airline after an altercation between him and an unnamed flight attendant on October 18

'Mr. Barelli was cited for assault and battery,' Camarillo continued, adding that the pilot is currently being investigated for assault and battery by the Santa Clara County District Attorneys office, and that charges against him have yet to be filed.

The San Jose sergeant went on to add that whether or not the case moves forward depends on the flight attendant.

'In cases like this is, it is up to the victim to follow through and cooperate with the investigation for any possible charges to be filed,' Camarillo stated.

The department would not release the name of the attendant, but made it clear that Barelli was the aggressor in the incident.

Meanwhile, the district attorney's office is still reviewing the case, spokesperson Sean Webby told DailyMail.com.

Southwest placed the pilot on leave while the matter is investigated, Southwest Airlines media spokesperson Brad Hawkins told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.

Hawkins went on to confirm that the airline had a 'disagreement between crew members during an overnight trip,' and that an investigation was already underway - but revealed that a disciplinary ruling from the airline would depend on whether or not charges are filed against Barelli, and whether the pilot is found guilty of a crime.

'The event involved a disagreement over mask-wearing or masks on October 18, 2021, at a local hotel bar,' San Jose Police Department Sgt. Christian Camarillo told DailyMail.com

'Our internal investigation, now ongoing, would regard the outcome of charges filed with local authorities,' Hawkins revealed.

Hawkins confirmed that Barelli is currently on leave, as the airline's internal investigation regarding the San Jose incident continues to unfold.

What is known, though, is that the altercation between Barelli and the unnamed flight attendant occurred on October 18, a Monday night, while the Southwest crew were staying at an unnamed hotel in San Jose during an overnight layover.

Moreover, Barelli and the flight attendant were part of the same crew, and had worked together on flights earlier that day.

That Friday, though, on October 22, Southwest sent a stern, company-wide memo to pilots and flight attendants concerning proper workplace conduct.

The bulletin then warned staffers that 'crossing the line in a heated conversation can be a violation of our guidelines for employees and can even end in loss of job.'

'We realize there has been a steady drumbeat over the last 19 months about civility and respectful discourse  and that is for good reason.

Masks are mandatory for all Southwest employees - a sentiment that was reiterated by the airline in a company-wide memo sent to staff days after the incident between Barelli and another staffer

'Many of our people have been faced with an uncomfortable situation where their beliefs are not shared by someone else, resulting in a confrontation of some kind,' the internal communication, began.

'And for every situation we hear about, there are dozens more for which we don't.

'It is vital that we treat everyone with respect and honor our differences without pushing our ideals on someone else.'

The memo further recommends that flight crews have an employee meeting before a plane embarks to 'set the right tone' for what is expected out of Southwest employees.

It also reminds staffers that masks are required for all employees.

The memo was signed by Southwest Vice President of Flight Operations Bob Waltz and Vice President of Inflight Operations Sonya Lacore, who manages Southwest pilots and oversees flight attendant management, respectively.

The Southwest flight attendants union, TWU Local 556, released a statement regarding the incident, on Tuesday, throwing their support behind the victim.

'We are aware of this matter and the fact that the investigation continues,' the bulletin begins.

'As with all flight attendants we represent, we will support our member in accordance with the law and our collective bargaining agreement.'

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, which represents the airline's pilots, declined to comment on the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.
Shocking police footage captured the moment a man jumped off a Florida bridge after he led police on a chase in a stolen van.

Bryan Gray, 34, was pursued by deputies from the Lee County Sheriff's Office on the Edison Bridge Saturday just before midnight.

Gray started the chase after he allegedly stole a van in Fort Myers in southwest Florida.

He jumped into the Caloosahatchee River below to escape the police before being caught by officers on a boat.

Police chopper footage captured the moment suspect Bryan Gray, 34, jumped off the Edison Bridge in Fort Myers, Florida during a police chase

Gray had led deputies from Lee County Sheriff's Office on the chase after he had allegedly stolen a van

The video footage captured the officer's pursuit of Gray from a chopper as the van continued driving down the bridge towards North Fort Meyers.

He then crashed between the right and left barriers after the vehicle swerved out of control. It made a full stop in the middle of the bridge as police waited for Gray's next move.

Gray then jumped out and ran toward the right side of the bridge. He is seen climbing over the railing and holding on as he hangs over the edge.

In the middle of the chase, the van was seen swerving between lanes and crashing into the left and right side barriers

The van made a full stop in the middle of the bridge as police waited for Gray's next move

After a brief pause, Gray drops off the 55-foot bridge into the river below.

Drivers behind Gray are seen leaving their cars and running toward the side of the bridge where he had just jumped.

The deputies later saw him still bobbing in the water under the bridge and called the Fort Myers Police Department for a boat.

Gray jumped 55 feet from the right side of the bridge and into the Caloosahatchee River below

Officers from the Fort Myers Police Department arrived on the scene to arrest Gray after the chopper spotted him hiding underneath the bridge

He was found, pulled out of the water, and police arrested him and took him into custody.

Gray also was taken to the hospital for treatment following his arrest. His condition currently is unknown.

He was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding.
William Neil 'Doc' Gallagher, 80, was sentenced Monday to three life terms in Tarrant County, Texas, for bilking elderly listeners of his 'Money Doctor' radio show out of $32million

A Texas radio host known as the 'Money Doctor' was sentenced to three life terms on Monday for running a Ponzi scheme in which he bilked more than 60 elderly Christian investors out of more than $30million.

William Neil 'Doc' Gallagher, 80, also got an additional 30-year prison sentence from state District Judge Elizabeth Beach for his August guilty pleas. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The sentencing came after more than a dozen senior victims testified during a three-hour court hearing about losing anywhere from $50,000 to $600,000 invested in the Gallagher Financial Group.

Some said they had to sell their homes, borrow money from their children or take part-time jobs to supplement their Social Security benefits.

'Doc Gallagher is one of the worst offenders I have seen,' said Lori Varnell, chief of the Tarrant County District Attorneys Elder Financial Fraud team.

Gallagher and his Gallagher Financial Group advertised on Christian radio with the tagline, 'See you in church on Sunday.' He promoted his investment business in books, such as 'Jesus Christ, Money Master,' and on Christian radio broadcasts.

Gallagher has been behind bars since his March 2019 arrest on similar charges filed in Dallas County.

In 2020, he pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Gallagher and his Gallagher Financial Group advertised on Christian radio with the tagline, 'See you in church on Sunday'

Dallas County prosecutors said Gallagher targeted older, Christian listeners of his show, and met with them to discuss what he said was risk-free income.

He guaranteed annual returns of 5 per cent to nearly 9 per cent if they invested in securities with him, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities said he described it as a 'retirement income you'll never outlive'.

Gallagher dished out roughly $5.9million to early investors by using newer investors capital, ultimately bilking more than 60 investors with the scheme.

Some of Gallagher's elderly victims said in court they had to sell their homes, borrow money from their children or take part-time jobs

He also used several million dollars for payroll, radio and website costs and legal fees.

He was indicted in Tarrant County in August 2019.

'He ruthlessly stole from his clients who trusted him for almost a decade. He amassed $32million in loss to all of his clients and exploited many elder individuals. He worked his way around churches preying on people who believed he was a Christian,' Varnell said in a statement.

On Monday, Judge Elizabeth Beach sentenced Gallagher to life terms on charges of securing the execution of a document by deception for an amount greater than $200,000; theft of property more than $300,000 and misapplication of fiduciary property or property of financial institution of more than $300,000.

He was sentenced to another 30 years on counts of forgery against the elderly and exploitation of the elderly.

Some of Gallagher's victims spoke in court about their struggles with depression and lack of trust.

'I dont trust anybody anymore, except for God and my family,' said Susan Pippi.

Another victim, Judy Dewitt, said she was afraid her money would run out.

'Its a very scary thing.' she added.
The Dutch government announced today it will re-impose measures aimed at slowing the latest spike in COVID-19 infections, including the wearing of face masks and proof of vaccination requirements.

The use of a 'corona pass', showing proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or recent negative coronavirus test, will be broadened as of November 6 to public places including museums, gyms and outdoor terraces said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in his briefing at The Hague.

'Our own behaviour is crucial, a very large part of our coronavirus policy depends on it,' the prime minister said.

It comes on the same day the Dutch health council advised the government to begin giving COVID-19 booster shots to everybody aged 60 and over, along with residents of nursing homes.

'To get ahead of an increase in serious illness, the council advises the health minister to start offering boosters now,' the council said.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said today that the government will re-introduce measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 amid a recent spike in infections, including face-masks and covid passes for entry into some public venues

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (L) and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge (R) of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, explain the coronavirus pandemic measures in the Hague, the Netherlands, 02 November 2021

New infections in the Netherlands were up nearly 40% week-on-week to more than 300 infections per 100,000 people as of Tuesday

Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have been rising for a month after most social distancing measures were scrapped in late September, and reached their highest level since July in the past week.

New infections were up nearly 40% week-on-week to more than 300 infections per 100,000 people as of Tuesday.

This has forced many hospitals to cut back on regular care again, to make room for urgent COVID-19 cases.

In a televised news conference from The Hague today, Rutte called on all Dutch, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to stick to basic hygiene rules and to stay at home if they had symptoms of a possible infection.

Face masks will be reintroduced in stores and other public places, while people are advised to work at home for at least half of the time.

Rutte also said the government could decide next week to broaden the use of the corona pass to the workplace.

The Netherlands' National Institute for Health today said that hospital admissions are up 31% in the past week, with unvaccinated patients accounting for most hospitalisations.

Among people testing positive in the past month, about 52% say they were unvaccinated, while 45% say they were fully vaccinated, according to RIVM data.

'We can't escape having to take new measures', Health Minister Hugo De Jonge said on Monday. 'The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals is rising fast.'

Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said on Monday that the Netherlands would impose new coronavirus restrictions this week in a bid to curb infections, but declined to specify the parameters.

'We can't escape having to take new measures', De Jonge said. 'The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals is rising fast.'

But the Prime Minister today confirmed the return of widespread mask-wearing in Holland along with Covid passes for most public venues at the recommendation of the nation's health council.

The Netherlands is also set to press ahead with the administration of booster shots for the elderly and care home residents, after the health council informed the government on Monday it was seeing indications that COVID-19 protection was waning among older people.

Around 84% of the Dutch adult population has been vaccinated, with just under 80% fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the government has already begun giving booster shots to people with severely compromised immune systems.

Other European countries already have begun giving booster shots. France started giving boosters to people over 65 two months ago.
QAnon supporters changed their minds when JFK Jr. failed to appear on the mound where his father was killed, claiming he would come back from the dead at a Rolling Stones concert in Dallas later that day.

Hundreds of conspiracy theorists gathered on the infamous grassy knoll on Tuesday believing that JFK Jr. - who died in a plane crash in 1999 - was going to come back to life and run as Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate in 2024.

But when he failed to appear at the ordained time - 12.29pm, the time that his father was shot dead - a troop of them dashed off to the Stones concert at the Cotton Bowl instead.

JFK Jr., who was an actor and magazine publisher, is a popular figure within the QAnon conspiracy movement, with some believing that he is in fact Q, the group's anonymous leader.

Asked when their messiah was going to arrive, the Q believers told reporters that JFK Jr. was going to appear at 12.29pm. When that time rolled around the people started reciting the pledge of allegiance but there was no sign of the former president's son.

They stuck around, clinging to the hope that their wildest dreams would come true and the Qs remained at the hallowed site even as a torrential downpour drenched their signs and banners which said: 'Trump / JFK JR 2020.'

Some envisioned that he would arrive triumphantly. 'We're expecting a parade,' said a woman named Ginny who had travelled 700 miles from Nebraska.

'JFK is going to be here,' she told Rolling Stone magazine.

Ginny described how many dead celebrities, such as the comedian Richard Pryor, are actually still alive and are part of a secret plan which would be revealed at the Rolling Stones concert at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas that night.

'Robin Williams was here the other day  Michael Jackson is high in the movement,' she told the magazine.

The Rolling Stones were indeed in fine voice at the Cotton Bowl that night, with Mick Jagger gyrating on stage in front of legions of fans. But there was no sign of JFK Jr.

Some of the supporters were seen chanting 'Let's Go Brandon,' a euphemism for 'F*** Joe Biden' as they held a Trump/Kennedy flag

The Rolling Stones were indeed in fine voice at the Cotton Bowl that night, with Mick Jagger gyrating on stage in front of legions of fans. But there was no sign of JFK Jr.

A crowd began to form on the infamous grassy knoll in Dallas, Texas as they waited for JFK Jr. to make his big announcement

The crowds lined up as they waited for JFK Jr to appear at 12.30pm - he did not

JFK Jr. is the son of former President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy Onassis

He died in a plane crash off the coast of Massachusetts with his wife Carolyn in 1999

A popular QAnon theory, though, holds that he faked his death

JFK Jr. died in a plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts in 1999, along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette and her sister, Lauren.

Navy divers found their bodies still strapped into their seats in the wreckage 18 hours after his plane, which he was piloting, disappeared.

Pictures posted to social media by Steven Monacelli, the publisher of Protean magazine, showed scores of people gathered outside the AT&T Discovery Plaza in Dallas at around 8pm on Monday, demonstrating the staggering lure of QAnon.

Most were wearing shirts proudly displaying their support for Trump, with one women seen wearing a campaign-style T-shirt emblazoned with the words: 'Trump/JFK Jr.'

The next day, crowds could be seen on the grassy knoll where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, as they eagerly awaited the return of his long-dead son JFK Jr.

The QAnon crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance at 12.29pm, expecting JFK Jr. to make his announcement at 12.30pm, and chanted, 'Let's Go Brandon,' a euphemism for ''F*** Joe Biden,' as they held a Trump/Kennedy flag.

As Monacelli writes, they were there due to a 'popular QAnon theory recently' that 'JFK Jr., of the Kennedy family, will be making a big announcement at Dealey Plaza by the grassy knoll.'

The event shows the power the QAnon movement still wields among its diehard supporters.

In 2019, Forbes reports, some believers expected JFK Jr. to return on July 4, again as Trump's running mate.

Mick Jagger posted a picture outside the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Tuesday ahead of the concert

The conspiracy theorists now reportedly believe JFK Jr., the son of former President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, will reveal he switched political affiliations and faked his own death to avoid retribution, according to Gizmodo.

According to the theory, he would announce that he was running with former President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential election, but Trump would step down and let JFK Jr. step in as president and appoint former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn as his vice president.

Trump would then 'most likely' become the king of kings, a popular QAnon Telegram account with more than 100,000 subscribers wrote about the conspiracy in a post on Monday. It did not specify what becoming the 'king of kings' would entail.

They also believed that after JFK Jr. would appear, the clocks would go back an hour, people would adopt the Julian calendar, and the date would go back to October 20, according to Newsweek.

JFK Jr., the theory posits, will then help usher in a new age American prosperity, as his father did in the 1960s.

Another user on Telegram, under the name Negative48, also offered the theory that JFK, JFK Jr. and Jackie Kennedy would all reappear, after which JFL would tour the world for seven days, transfer the presidency back to Trump and die, Gizmodo reports, even though that is not how presidential power works.

It is unclear why the QAnon followers thought JFK Jr. would appear at the location where his father was famously murdered in 1963.

But despite the fervor, 12.30pm came and went, Monacelli writes, and JFK Jr. did not appear.

One person on Telegram wrote afterwards: 'I'm sad for everybody. We now look like a bunch of liars, but let's keep the faith,' BBC Journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh said.

Pictures posted to social media by Steven Monacelli showed scores of people gathered outside the AT&T Discovery Plaza in Dallas at around 8pm on Monday, many of whom were wearing pro-Trump shirts

One of the shirts appeared to be a campaign-style T-shirt reading 'Trump/JFK Jr. 2024'

John F. Kennedy Jr: The lawyer and journalist who died in a 1999 plane crash JFK's son, John F. Kennedy Jr, was killed in 1999 when his plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. He died alongside his wife, Carolyn and his sister-in-law Lauren just off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. JFK Jr was on his way to the wedding of his cousin Rory. He had almost been alone that night after Carolyn threatened to skip the nuptials. JFK's son, John F. Kennedy Jr, was killed in 1999 when his plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. He died alongside his wife, Carolyn and his sister-in-law Lauren just off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. JFK Jr was on his way to the wedding of his cousin Rory He had almost been alone that night after Carolyn threatened to skip the nuptials. Carolyn had a change of heart at the last second however, and the two set off with her sister Lauren. An image from 1999 shows Carolyn (top right) leaving a building with her sister Lauren (left, front) JFK Jr had taken off from Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey, at 8.39pm that night, bound for the airfield in Martha's Vineyard. Beachgoers watch as the US Coast Guard searches the waters following the crash Carolyn had a change of heart at the last second however, and the two set off with her sister Lauren. JFK Jr had taken off from Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey, at 8.39pm that night, bound for the airfield in Martha's Vineyard. The air traffic controller at the island airport alerted the regional Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) office in Connecticut just after 10pm when the plane had failed to arrive. In the end, it was the conditions that evening most likely caused the tragedy. The air traffic controller at the island airport alerted the regional Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) office in Connecticut just after 10pm when the plane had failed to arrive. Members of the Kennedy and Bessette families gather for JFK Jr's burial at sea Tuesday marks the 20th anniversary of the fatal plane crash that killed John F Kennedy Jr, his wife Carolyn and his sister-n-law Lauren just off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. A file image shows Massachusetts State Police searching for wreckage in July 1999 Three days later, parts of the plane were detected on the ocean floor. On July 21, 1999, five days after the plane went missing, the three bodies were found and removed from the underwater wreckage. The ashes of John, 38, his wife Carolyn, 33, and Lauren, 34, were scattered at sea on July 22 just off of Martha's Vineyard by friends and family. Advertisement

But not every member of the QAnon movement believes that JFK Jr. will come back, Newsweek reports.

John Sabal, who organized the QAnon for God and Country: Patriot Double Down convention in October said the belief would make the movement 'look absolutely insane.'

He shared the prophetic post on his own Telegram page, writing: 'Here's another example of new-age blasphemous hot garbage propaganda that's currently in circulation.

'None of this is of our true movement or was ever mentioned in a single drop. Not ever,' he wrote about the belief. 'There is only one king of kings and that is our Lord and Savior Yeshua/Jesus Christ.

'This couldn't be more wrong.'

In another post shared on Tuesday as the crowds descended on the grassy knoll, Sabal implored his followers to spread their message at public meetings and added 'JFK J dead or alive won't help us.

'Get involved in your community, go to every meeting, let your voice be heard,' he wrote, according to Newsweek. 'Help people wake up. Be nice about it.'

Q, the group's leader, has also explicitly spoken out against the JFK Jr. conspiracy, according to Travis View, a conspiracy theory researcher and co-host of the QAnon Anonymous podcast.

'Q has repeatedly denied that JFK Jr. is alive, but some of the QAnon community insist that he will return despite that,' he told Gizmodo.

The QAnon conspiracy theory movement is a wide-ranging conspiracy theory that Trump is waging a secret war against a global cabal of elite Satan worshipping pedophiles in government, business and the media.

Its followers believe Trump will expose the pedophiles, order its members be arrested and sentenced to death.

It is believed that the conspiracy began in October 2017 with a post on an obscure, rightwing 4Chan chatroom titled Calm Before the Storm and written by someone using the name Q Clearance Patriot.

Since then, it has grown with thousands of followers, some of whom were involved in the Capitol riots on January 6.

The QAnon conspiracy movement has grown in recent years. Here a man wearing a QAnon t-shirt was seen waiting in line for a rally featuring former President Donald Trump on September 25, 2021 in Georgia
The alleged co-founder of a neo-Nazi terror group dedicated to starting a race war in Britain has been likened to the Third Reich's propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels, a court has heard.

Ben Raymond, 32, is accused of setting up the 'unapologetically racist' National Action group to wage a 'white jihad' and race war in Britain.

Mr Raymond, of Swindon, Wiltshire, faces seven charges including one of membership of a proscribed organisation and six of possessing a document likely to be of use to a terrorist.

Bristol Crown Court heard that National Action was set up in 2013 and it was later banned under terror legislation in 2016 - joining the likes of the IRA, Isis and al Qaida.

Ben Raymond, 32, from Swindon, is accused of membership of a proscribed organisation and six counts of possessing material likely to be of use to terrorism

It was the first far-right group proscribed since the British Union of Fascists in 1940.

Barnaby Jameson QC, prosecuting, said: 'Terrorists have many faces. Some are obvious. Some are not. Some are harmless-looking, educated and articulate.

'Some you could pass in the street without ever suspecting they were the founder of an organisation so extreme it was banned under the terrorism legislation.

'For the defendant and his cohorts, the work of Adolf Hitler was, and remains, unfinished. The Final Solution to the Jewish question - to use Hitler's words - remains to be answered by complete eradication.

'The ultimate aim of this secretive group of white jihadists was all-out race war or "Rassenkrieg". Members of National Action were heavily armed and aggressive. The group was small, secretive and paranoid.'

The court heard National Action was equipped with more than just 'knives and attitude' and had access to rifles, a pump action shotgun, a machete, a crossbow and CS gas.

Mr Raymond himself is said to have coined the term 'white jihad' - borrowed from Islamic terrorism.

Mr Jameson told the jury that Mr Raymond was the 'public face' of National Action and was careful not to stockpile weapons or carry out attacks himself.

The prosecutor went on: 'His jihad was fought with words and images. He was, like Joseph Goebbels of the original cabal of Nazis, the natural head of propaganda.'

Mr Raymond denies all of the seven counts against him and he appeared at Bristol Crown Court earlier today for the first day of his trial

'He gave media interviews, setting out the group's virulent ethnic cleansing agenda to the media with sometimes transcendental calm. Other times his message was more direct.

'The defendant had a role - pre-ban and post - in the leadership and direction of the group, in its ideology, its activism, its recruitment and its operations security also known as "OpSec".

'While others dealt with the day-to-day running of the group, the defendant became its propagandist and roving ambassador, acting as a point of contact with other neo-Nazi groups in Eastern Europe, Norway and the US.'

Mr Jameson said that after it was outlawed in December 2016, it morphed into a new group called NS131 - National Socialist Anti-Capitalist Action - which Mr Raymond was also allegedly involved with.

He was also accused of creating images for a Midlands-based group called KKK Mafia.

Mr Jameson explained to the jury of seven men and five women that the ideology of National Action was rooted in Hitler and based upon the Sturmabteilung, a Nazi paramilitary group active in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s.

He said National Action was against Jews, Muslims, people of colour, Asians, anyone gay, as well as liberals.

Mr Jameson added that Raymond had links to other people convicted of being members of National Action, such as soldier Mikko Vehvilainen, Alice Cutter and Mark Jones.

He said he was also linked to Jack Renshaw - who plotted the murder of MP Rosie Cooper - and Zack Davies, who attacked an Asian dentist in a supermarket with a machete.

The trial continues.
The hero train driver who averted tragedy in Sunday night's rail collision at Salisbury is a 74-year-old veteran with years of rail driving experience, MailOnline can reveal.

Robin Tandy had just six seconds to react and apply the emergency brakes before flinging himself away from the driver's side of his cab as his train collided with another in a tunnel.

A Great Western (GWR) service and a South Western Railway (SWR) service from London Waterloo to Honiton were travelling in the same direction and collided as their tracks merged at the tunnel entrance.

The SWR service from London Waterloo was heading for Honiton in Devon when it struck the GWR service at 6.45pm in the Fisherton Tunnel on Sunday.

Miraculously, no one was killed and Mr Tandy's quick-thinking actions have been hailed by colleagues for preventing a high number of casualties and deaths following the accident.

But it came at a cost to him personally as he was airlifted to University Hospital Southampton with what police described as 'life-changing' injuries.

Hero train driver Robin Tandy (pictured), who averted tragedy in Sunday night's rail collision at Salisbury, is a 74-year-old veteran with years of rail driving experience, MailOnline can reveal

Robin Tandy had just six seconds to react and apply the emergency brakes before flinging himself away from the driver's side of his cab (pictured) as his train collided with another

Great Western service and a South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton were travelling in the same direction and collided as their tracks merged in the tunnel

His family tonight said they had 'no further news' on his condition.

Mr Tandy has worked on the railway for nearly 60-years, since he was 15-years-old, and has been a driver since the 1970s.

He had been partially retired and was on a job-share for SWR with a 66-year-old driver.

Friend and colleague for nearly 30-years, Kevin Regan, told MailOnline: 'He's probably the most experienced driver on the network if not the country.

'How no passengers were killed or more seriously injured is beyond me.

'He must have only had about six seconds to react and fling the brakes into emergency. The train was probably doing about 45-50mph as it was due to stop at Salisbury station nearby. Bear in mind the tracks were wet as well due to the heavy rainfall on Sunday.

'His experience and knowledge - having been a driver for so long - must have been a factor.

'He's the hero of the hour, that's for sure, and at a personal cost to himself because he's suffered serious injuries. Quite how bad, we don't yet know.

Mr Tandy (pictured) was airlifted to University Hospital Southampton following the shocking collision with what police described as 'life-changing' injuries. Nobody was killed in the crash

SWR service from London Waterloo was heading for Honiton in Devon when it struck the GWR service at 6.45pm in the Fisherton Tunnel on Sunday. Pictured: Emergency services at scene

A total of 92 passengers were on both trains when they collided in the Fisherton tunnel just outside Salisbury city centre. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene of the crash

'The driver's side of his cab looks completely mangled from the photographs I've seen so he must have flung himself onto the floor onto the other side just in the nick of time.

'He was a great colleague to work with because he's a really nice man. He's very interested in ballroom dancing and always kept extremely active for his age.

'That's why I just hope that his injuries won't restrict his mobility too much.'

Mr Regan, who retired in 2016, added: 'Robin has worked on the railways since he was 15 and in those days you started off as a cleaner and worked your way up to fireman - or stoker-and second man before becoming a driver.

'He progressed to become a driver in the 1970s and carried on working. He never fully retired and was kept on by SWR in a job share with another 66-year-old driver.'

During the ordeal, a hero train guard led 92 terrified rail passengers to safety after Sunday night's catastrophic collision.

In the aftermath of the collision, Martin Miller, 52, went from carriage to carriage to calm down those on board including a mother and her baby after the crash between two passenger trains.

No one was killed when the trains collided as they entered the Fisherton tunnel near Salisbury at 6.45pm on Sunday.

Mr Miller, a veteran conductor with 16 years' experience, was in one of the rear carriages during the crash.

Andy Cole (left) from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue speaks near the scene of a crash involving two trains near the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire

During the ordeal, hero train guard Martin Miller (pictured) led 92 terrified rail passengers to safety after Sunday night's catastrophic collision

Thirty of the passengers attended a casualty centre set up outside a nearby church while 13 more seriously injured were taken to hospital

Nobody was killed in the shocking collision, which saw fifty firefighters and other emergency services at the scene on Sunday night

He immediately contacted the control centre and went through the train reassuring passengers that they would be ok and would be able to leave when the tracks were made safe.

Speaking from his home near Andover, Hampshire, today, he modestly played down his role and said: 'It's not been very pleasant these last couple of days, obviously I have a lot of questions but all we can do is wait for the investigation to come up with the answers.

'The company have been brilliant in fully supporting me. Aside from that I can't say anything else.'

A total of 92 passengers were on both trains when they collided in the Fisherton tunnel just outside Salisbury city centre.

Thirty of them attended a casualty centre set up outside a nearby church while 13 more seriously injured were taken to hospital.

The driver of the SWR train - understood to be one of the company's most experienced members of staff - suffered 'life changing injuries' according to British Transport Police and is being treated at University Hospital Southampton.

William Mills, a 29-year-old artist who was travelling from London back home to Exeter via Honiton was on board the SWR service.

Investigators at the scene of a crash involving two trains near the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire

The SWR service, being referred to as 'Train 2', appears to be the most badly damaged of the two trains with carriages leaning at 45 degrees

Emergency services at the scene of a crash involving two trains near the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire on Sunday night

Hailing Mr Miller, he said: 'There had been a lot of delays on the service prior to the crash and he handled the situation brilliantly.

'He was really cheerful and confidently assisted passengers personally and gave them advice on the various connections, delays and rail replacements.

'When the crash happened he was in one of the carriages at the back of the train.

'I spoke to someone in that carriage who said Martin really helped to keep passengers calm and stop them from panicking.

'He was in contact with his control centre and emergency services and reassured people that they had a means of escape and would be ok.

'I later passed him on the way up to the rendezvous point by the church and he was very visibly shaken and concerned about his colleague, the driver, as he spoke to police. He was a really nice guy and it stung to see him so broken up.'

In November 2017, Mr Miller helped Noemi Mercurelli when she unexpectedly went into labour on the SWR service between Waterloo and Farnham in Surrey.

He immediately informed SWR's control centre and requested that an ambulance meet Noemi at the nearest station at the time, Surbiton.

Mr Miller then arranged for station staff to meet Noemi at the platform and wait with her until the ambulance arrived.
Police Scotland have issued an apology after scores of women were forced to walk home through a 'pitch black' park after the COP26 road closures last night.

Residents in Glasgow described how they had been told by officers to use alternative routes, including Kelvingrove Park and the sidestreets, after cordons were put in place on the main roads to allow COP delegates to drive around in safety.

The road closures came as hundreds of world leaders attended the biggest gathering of Government representatives since the birth of the United Nations at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum on Monday night.

Taking to Twitter one woman wrote: 'Hey @GlasgowCC, we understand shutting down Kelvin Way for COP16 but being made to walk through Kelvingrove Park in darkness is not safe.

Women in Glasgow described how they had been told by officers to use alternative routes, including Kelvingrove Park, last night. Pictured: Police on horseback in Kelvingrove Park

Cordons were put in place on the main roads for the COP26 welcoming reception on Monday

'So many generator lights are being used for the police, can you not light the main path for us at least?'

While another person said: 'Wow, Finnieston residents currently on the north side of the street who live on the south side of the street being told to walk through Kelvingrove, down to Byres road to Partick and then back to Finnieston to get to their flats 100 yards away. It's dark.'

Meanwhile another person wrote: 'I know that COP26 is a big logistical challenge but I've heard first hand that women on foot on their own are being diverted and directed to walk through Kelvingrove Park alone in the pitch black because Argyle St/Dumbarton Rd is close? Not safe.'

And another added: 'Walking through Kelvingrove Park in the dark on my own last night.

'All the police they'd got in from England having no clue about the area so responding to lone women asking them for directions with ''I don't know sorry just walk around and find out''.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: 'Residents were diverted on their way home, including on foot through Kelvingrove Park, following real-time changes to operational plans on Monday night.

'While late changes and some level of disruption is inevitable when policing an event the size and scale of COP26, we understand and apologise for the concern these changes caused and for the inconvenience to those diverted.

'We do, in particular, recognise and acknowledge the commentary from some women who had to walk through the park on their own last night, we want to keep everyone safe and we know that the onus is on us to recognise when we could provide some more support and visibility to reassure people in our communities.

'The diversion is no longer in place and there are no plans to reintroduce it. Should further diversions be required at short notice for operational purposes, we will look to establish additional patrols in the area to provide reassurance.

Women took to social media to share their experiences as residents were diverted through the park last night

'We will work with Glasgow City Council to consider whether lighting in Kelvingrove Park can be improved.'

Last night world leaders including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau, engaged in a spot of dinner-time diplomacy as they joined hundreds for a lavish reception at Kelvingrove Museum.

During the night the Prime Minister, who hosted the evening at the recently renovated gallery, told leaders the summit was 'quite an extraordinary historic event' and it was even more important because 'we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation'.

He also hailed Prince Charles as 'the man to defuse the bomb at the world's moment of danger' and described him as a 'prophet without honour'.

Mr Johnson's comments came after President Biden apologised for his predecessor Donald Trump taking the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord and pledged the U.S would up its financial stake in fighting climate change, arguing the biggest producers of it should be its biggest investors in fixing it.
By Jonathan Sumption for the Mail on Sunday

Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar is a distinguished epidemiologist, a member of the Sage scientific committee, the director of the Wellcome Trust health research charity and an influential government adviser.

He is also the most hawkish of lockdown hawks, and he has written a book with journalist Anjana Ahuja, called Spike. It is a revealing read.

Spike is basically about Farrar himself: how he saw it all coming, how he personally forced the Chinese government to release the genetic sequence of the Covid-19 virus that allowed scientists to develop a vaccine, how he warned the world of imminent doom, how the Government could have saved lives by treasuring his words more, and how he risked assassination by the Chinese ('If anything happens to me, this is what you need to know', he told friends).

The talk is all of wars, battle plans, and people heading for precipices. All this is a bit melodramatic and self-obsessed for my taste.

But Farrar is a distinguished scientist who means well. He is terrifyingly sincere and really does have the interest of mankind at heart. Therein lies the problem.

There are few more obsessive fanatics than the technocrat who is convinced that he is reordering an imperfect world for its own good.

If Spike is largely about its author, it also tells us much about those who have been in charge of our lives through Covid-19.

Farrar represents most of what has gone wrong. His main target is the British Government. But he actually agrees with nearly everything they have done.

Farrar's complaint is that they did not do it quickly or brutally enough when he suggested it, and stopped doing it before he gave them the all-clear.

His views about how governments should deal with public health crises are broadly the same as those of Dominic Cummings. Both men are frustrated autocrats who believed that from Day One we needed 'a command-and-control structure'. He speaks well of Chinese methods of disease control.

'Panic was called for,' in March 2020, he says at one point. At another, he tells us that at a time when governments were panicking all over Europe, there was not enough panic in Britain.

This is all very odd. It does not seem to have occurred to Farrar that the jerky, ill-considered and inconsistent improvisations that passed for policy-making in the Johnson Government, and which he rightly criticises, were the direct result of the panic that he recommends.

The great object is of course to ensure that 'the science' is applied. No ifs, no buts and no delay. In Farrar's world, this is easy as there is only one science, namely his own.

He is convinced he's right and the Government should listen to no one else. Challenge from other scientists is normally regarded as fundamental to scientific advance. But for Farrar disagreement is a 'hurdle'. It just gets in his way.

So, serious scientists such as Professors Carl Heneghan, Karol Sikora and Sunetra Gupta, who have had the temerity to offer opinions differing from his own, are dismissed as being 'responsible for a number of unnecessary deaths', although Farrar has had a great deal of influence on Government policy and they have had almost none.

This kind of attitude to colleagues is, frankly, unworthy of a scientist of Sir Jeremy's eminence.

Anders Tegnell, the Swedish state epidemiologist, is dismissed in a brief footnote, although Sweden is a standing repudiation of much that Farrar stands for. Sweden has avoided a lockdown, yet has done much better than the UK.

Like many technocrats, Farrar believes in coercion. Otherwise, people might not do what he wants. 'You cannot tell people to stay at home only if they feel like it,' he says.

This is an obtuse misunderstanding of the argument against coercion. The point is that people differ widely in their vulnerability to Covid-19. It causes serious illness among the old and those with severe underlying conditions, but the symptoms are mild for nearly everyone else.

We therefore have to be able to make our own risk assessments. It is simply untrue that the vulnerable would ignore advice 'if they felt like it'. People have a basic sense of self-preservation.

This was Sage's consistent advice right up to the first lockdown. Farrar denies it, but the record speaks for itself.

On March 10 and 13, the minutes record that Sage advised guidance on isolation, selectively directed to the old and vulnerable.

On March 13, they said that the public should be treated as 'rational actors, capable of taking decisions for themselves and managing personal risk.' Farrar participated in both meetings.

Of course, selective coercion would be impractical, as he points out. But universal coercion is pointless, inefficient and wasteful.

It treats people as if all were vulnerable, when only some are. Instead of spending several times the cost of the NHS on paying young, healthy people who were at negligible risk not to work, we should have been pouring resources into protecting the vulnerable.

Interestingly, Farrar accepts that lockdowns only push infections and associated deaths into a future period after they are lifted.

He also appears to accept it would have been intolerable to lock down the whole population until a vaccine was developed and everyone had received it, which would have taken at least 18 months and possibly never happen.

His preferred course seems to be a series of lockdowns starting each time that we look like approaching the intensive care capacity of the NHS. In other words, very much what we have had. However, Farrar has wagged his finger every time that restriction has been lifted.

In theory, we can switch lockdown on and off like a malfunctioning internet router, but in practice it seems that the time is never ripe. We only have to look around us to see that lockdowns have failed to halt the virus, either here or anywhere else in the world. The problem is in the concept, not the application.

This brings me to the most remarkable feature of this book, which is Farrar's brushing aside of the appalling collateral consequences of lockdowns: other illnesses which go untreated such as cancer or accelerate like dementia, impacts on education, equality and public debt, not to speak of the worst recession in 300 years.

Farrar regards all this as a regrettable but unavoidable result of desirable measures, and not as reasons for questioning whether they were ever desirable in the first place.

In keeping with this blinkered approach, he refers to the collateral disasters as consequences of Covid-19. They are not. They are man-made consequences of the policy responses he has been advocating.

I shall resist the temptation to apply to him the criticism he gratuitously and unfairly applied to Messrs Sikora, Heneghan and Gupta.

Entirely missing from Farrar's worldview is any conception of the complexity of the moral judgments involved. Of course public health matters, but it is not all that matters.

Interaction with other human beings is a fundamental human need. Criminalising it is a sustained assault on our humanity. Doing so without assessing the wider consequences is irresponsible folly.

Sir Jeremy Farrar adopts the current habit of using 'libertarian' as a word of abuse.

But I am proud to be a libertarian. Personal autonomy is a basic condition of human happiness and creativity. I am a libertarian because the opposite of liberty is despotism.
The Left has been working 'for years now' to drive American men from working and raising families to 'an enclave of idleness, pornography and video games' with 'alarming success,' according to Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley.

The Republican spoke Sunday night at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida. According to his speech on the 'future of the American man' provided by his office, Hawley, 41, said liberals in government and the media characterize 'traditional masculine virtues' as 'toxic.'

'While the Left may celebrate this decline of men, I for one cannot join them - no one should,' he said. 'They want to define the traditional masculine virtuesthings like courage, and independence, and assertivenessas a danger to society.'

'Can we be surprised that after years of being told they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem, [that] more and more men are withdrawing?'

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'While the Left may celebrate this decline of men, I for one cannot join them - no one should,' Missouri Senator Josh Hawley (pictured) said. 'They want to define the traditional masculine virtuesthings like courage, and independence, and assertivenessas a danger to society'

'Can we be surprised that after years of being told they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem, more and more men are withdrawing into the enclave of idleness and pornography and video games?' Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley (pictured last week during a Senate judiciary hearing) remarked in a speech at Sunday's National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida

Hawley said these masculine qualities have been vilified, although they 'have long been regarded as vital to self-government.' Liberty, he said, 'requires virtue. And in particular, it requires the manly virtues.'

'We need men who will shoulder responsibility, men who will start and provide for families, men who will enter the covenant of marriage and then honor it,' Hawley said.

'American men are working less, getting married in fewer numbers; theyre fathering fewer children. They are suffering more anxiety and depression. They are engaging in more substance abuse,' he claimed.

'Many men in this country are in crisis, and their ranks are swelling.'

Hawley said this campaign against masculinity, along with critical race theory, economic socialism and the push to do away with the concept of gender, is part of a larger effort to 'deconstruct America.'

The first-term senator has often been a polarizing figure. His fist pump toward protesters descending on the Capitol on January 6 drew strong consternation from many in his home state, including calls for his resignation. But he remains popular in conservative circles and is often seen as a potential future presidential contender.

The first-term senator has often been a polarizing figure. His fist pump toward protesters descending on the Capitol on January 6 drew strong consternation from many in his home state, including calls for his resignation. But he remains popular in conservative circles and is often seen as a potential future presidential contender

The married father of three said today's American men are more apt to be jobless, less likely to be married and less likely to have children

Hawley said the backlash against masculinity can be seen in elementary schools, where rambunctious boys are 'diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder and medicated into submission.'

He called on Conservatives in attendance to fight the 'attack on men' and champion 'a revival of strong and healthy manhood in America' that 'make[s] republics possible.'

'We need men to raise up sons and daughters after them, to pass on the great truths of our culture and history, to defend liberty, to share in the work of self-government,' he said.

'And it's not too much to say that our ability to get that kind of men will determine the success of our long experiment in liberty.'

For decades, he said, government policy has worked against male-dominated industries such as manufacturing.

The married father of three said today's American men are more apt to be jobless, less likely to be married and less likely to have children. Conversely, he said, they're more likely to suffer from depression and turn to substance abuse.

'The question is, how are we going to raise up good men today?' Hawley asked. 'We can start by repudiating the lie that America is a systemically oppressive nation and that men are systemically responsible.'

Hawley said his message to men is simple. 'You can be a tremendous force for good. Your nation needs you. The world needs you.'
An acrobat performing Mesoamerican dance ritual survived after the harness that he was tied to snapped and sent him crashing to the ground at a park in central Mexico.

Jose Hernandez, 23, and six other participants were hired to take part in ancient ceremony that was held in Huaquechula, Puebla, to commemorate the Day of the Dead on Sunday.

An attendee at the event held on the grounds of a local church recorded the spectacle as Hernandez and the acrobatic team spun around about 80 feet above ground.

According to local media reported, the strap that was tied to Hernandezs feet suddenly snapped before he plummeted to a grass field below as spectators rushed to his aid immediately.

Jose Hernandez was performing a Mesoamerican ritual and survived after the strapped that he was tied to snapped, sending crashing to the ground at a park near a church in Puebla, Mexico, on Sunday. The 23-year-old suffered a head injury and several fractures, but remains hospitalized and in stable condition

Jose Hernandez (circled) suffered a 80-foot fall after the harness that he was strapped to suddenly broke while he and a group of acrobats were performing a Mesoamerican dance ritual to commemorate the Day of the Dead in Puebla, Mexico, on Sunday

Hernandez was rushed to Gonzalo Rio Arronte General Hospital in Atlixco where he remains hospitalized and in stable condition.

Huaquechula mayor Raul Marin told a local network that Hernandez suffered several fractures and a head injury.

Hernandezs near fatal fall took place a year after 25-year-old Anselmo Gomez survived a 65-foot fall while performing the same stunt in the state of Hidalgo on October 17, 2020.

Attendees at a Day of the Dead event in central Mexico rush to the side of Jose Hernandez after he survived a scary fall moments after the harness that helped him spin around a pole as he performed a Mesoamerican dance broke

Gomez, who suffered fractures to his legs, arms, hips and spinal column, also had a strap hooked to his legs before it broke unexpectedly and sent him diving to the ground.

Like Gomez, Hernandez belongs to a collective of acrobats known as the 'Voladores de Papantla,' or the Papantla Flyers, who perform the ritual dance at festivals while another person sits on the platform about 98 feet below playing a trumpet or a set of drums.

Four of the acrobats tie themselves to rope and climb up the pole before they launch themselves, spinning around the platform before descending to the ground.

The tradition holds that the dance originated with the Nahua, Huastec and Otomi indigenous peoples in Mexico before it spread throughout most of Mesoamerica.

The ritual was reportedly initiated about 450 years ago to ask rain god Xope Totec to end a drought and end hunger.

Similar rituals are performed by other acrobats from indigenous communities throughout Central America and Mexico, according to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The ceremony was recognized as Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2008.
The 'strictest headteacher' in Britain said parents are to blame for schoolkids' bad behaviour and that adults are 'afraid' of pupils.

Barry Smith has in the past come under fire for hardline tactics such as branding children in detention detainees and issuing out 80 detentions a day.

But the controversial disciplinarian, who was the Regional Director at Community Schools Trust in London until July, urged that it's up to parents to teach children 'common courtesy' so teachers aren't confronted with their bad behaviour.

Barry Smith, pictured, said he believes we need to be more 'active' in instilling manners in children, who he thinks will often act out in order to fit in

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I don't think that all parents are doing what they should be.

'Some parents are. When you don't support the school, you don't support your child in many cases.'

Last year in February Hackney New School in inner-city east London hired the controversial disciplinarian, who had issued more than 7,500 detentions since the start of the last school year.

On one day last year, more than 150 pupils were given detentions  half the school.

Mr Smith was labelled the countrys toughest headteacher in 2017 for his methods of teaching at a school in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Teachers at the secondary had complained that discipline became excessive, and that they were encouraged to keep children behind for minor infringements such as not smiling or shuffling as they walk.

Mr Smith added: 'I think we bend over backwards to accommodate children and I think instead of accommodating this behaviour we need to promote good behaviour.

'We live in a society that thinks stricter is negative. Teachers are abused on a daily basis. Often adults are afraid of children.'

He also said he believes we need to be more 'active' in instilling manners in children, who he thinks will often act out in order to fit in.

Last month Mr Smith tweeted that he believes there needs to be greater acknowledgement that children 'frequently try to avoid work'

The headteacher explained that pupils hardly reply to him when he greets them with 'good morning' and will argue with educators 'over very reasonable requests'.

Adolescent psychologist and parenting teenagers expert Angela Karanja also told The Sun that there is a way to discipline children which empowers them.

She said: 'There is discipline that seeks to connect. In earlier generations we were so strict.

'So many of us talk about the trauma that we went through. And in doing that, we let it a little bit loose for our kids.'

She added that tactics like detentions need to come from a productive place and be 'linked directly to the problem'.

Mr Smith was labelled the countrys toughest headteacher in 2017 for his methods of teaching at a school in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

In February last year, the trust hired the controversial Mr Smith in a consultancy role to help tackle poor behaviour

The Dalston secondary was taken over by the Community Schools Trust in November 2019 after a damning Ofsted report which raised concerns about behaviour and safety

Mr Smith had previously come under fire for hardline tactics such as branding children in detention detainees and issuing out 80 detentions a day

Parents there criticised his army-like policies, which included pupils being warned they would be given buckets in class if they needed to be sick.

Last month he tweeted: 'I became a teacher at 29. I was shocked how surveys were in vogue. Find out what kids like doing.

'Find out how they like to learn. That was 24 years ago. As a kid myself, I was often lazy. My teachers werent always great. But my lack of effort was really down to me.'

He added: 'Whether its swinging on chairs/doodling/tapping pens/toilet requests/claims of feeling ill/tantrums, invariably attempts at work avoidance.

'We used to recognise that as a matter of course. Today there seems to be less recognition that children frequently try to avoid work.'
Three people have been arrested in California, among them an active-duty US Air Force member, in connection with the murder of a 19-year-old woman who went missing after leaving a Halloween party over the weekend.

Police discovered the remains of Leilani Beauchamp on Sunday in Monterey County, leading to the arrests of Jessica Quintanilla, 21; Marco Quintanilla, 27, and Travis Air Force Base Airman Juan Parra-Peralta, 20.

Jessica Quintanilla was booked into the Solano County Jail on a count of murder, while the two men, including her older brother, face charges of accessory to a murder.

Active-duty Air Force member Juan Parra-Peralta, 20 (left), has been charged with accessory to a murder in the death of 19-year-old Leilani Beauchamp (right)

Police said Beauchamp was murdered inside Parra-Peralta's home on Cascade Lane in Fairfield, California

Police received a missing persons report after Beauchamp failed to return from a Halloween part in Sacramento on Saturday; she was seen leaving with two Airmen

Marco Quintanilla also faces an additional count of violation of parole stemming from a previous attempted murder conviction.

According to a statement from the Fairfield Police Department, the incident began unfolding on Saturday evening, when the agency took a missing persons report concerning Beauchamp.

The 19-year-old resident of Carmel was last seen leaving a Halloween party in Sacramento with two active-duty Air Force members, who were living at a home on Cascade Lane in Fairfield.

A multi-agency investigation ultimately revealed that Beauchamp had been killed inside the Airmen's home, and her body was later dumped more than 150 miles away, in the 300 block of Corral De Tierra Road in Salinas, where it was recovered on Sunday evening, according to the police.

Police found Beauchamp's body 150 miles away from the scene of the crime, in Monterey County, on Sunday

Jessica Quintanilla, who is said to be Parra-Peralta's girlfriend, has been charged with murdering Beauchamp (pictured)

'We are deeply saddened by the events that have transpired,' police stated. 'Our thoughts, and condolences go out to Leilanis loved ones.'

Police have not revealed a possible motive behind the killing, nor commented on the nature of Beauchamp's relationship with the three suspects.

Parra-Peralta's roommate told KCRA that he works nights and had not seen him in about a week. Jesse Borbe revealed that Jessica, who is accused of murdering Beauchamp, is the Airman's current girlfriend, and that he had seen the victim at the residence in the past.

The Quintanilla siblings remained jailed as of Tuesday afternoon. Parra-Peralta was released after posting $25,000 bail.

Parra-Peralta is an airman 1st class assigned to the 60th aerial port squadron at Travis Air Force Base, a base spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.

Police did not say if Parra-Peralta was one of the Airmen who were seen leaving the party with Beauchamp on Saturday.

Beauchamp was a college student who lived in Carmel. She is survived by her mother and two siblings

Beauchamp's family have released a statement to ABC10, mourning her death.

'Leilani was truly a blessing to us and her beloved friends. Leilani shared a very close relationship with her younger brother and sister who, after she ventured out to college, maintained daily communication with them,' the statement read. 'We will miss her smile, her laugh, her caring demeanor, her strong will, her passion for life and the love she brought to our family. We love you Leilani.'

Beauchamp's mother, Violet Giovanni, has launched a GoFundMe campaign, writing in the description: 'no parent should have to bury their child...'
President Joe Biden expressed confidence on Tuesday he would get Joe Manchin's vote for his $1.75 trillion package of social programs despite the senator claiming it is filled with 'shell games' and 'budget gimmicks.'

'He will vote for this,' Biden said as he wrapped up his trip to the COP26 climate summit. 'I believe that Joe will be there.'

Manchin has refused to endorse the framework that the White House announced last week and said Tuesday there is 'no rush' on getting the legislation completed.

'It's going to be a while,' he said of talks.

But Biden predicted the package of education, healthcare and climate proposals would pass.

'I understand that Joe is looking for the precise detail to make sure nothing got slipped in in terms of the way in which the legislation got written that is different than he acknowledged he would agree to,' the president said. 'But I think we'll get this done.'

President Joe Biden expressed confidence he would get Joe Manchin's vote for his $1.75 trillion package of social programs

Manchin, in a shocking move, announced on Monday that he wouldn't support Biden's plan without ample time to consider its economic and fiscal ramifications. In the 50-50 Senate, the president needs every Democratic vote to pass his agenda.

In his remarks, Manchin also slammed House Democrats for not passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill already approved by the Senate and makes up the second prong of Biden's congressional agenda.

Progressives in the House have refused to support that legislation until they have assurances from Manchin and fellow moderate Senator Kyrsten Sinema that they will support the package of social programs.

Biden refused to answer questions about Senator Joe Manchin torpedoing his domestic agenda

'Holding that bill hostage is not going to work to get my support of what you want,' Manchin said of the infrastructure bill.

And the West Virginia senator said of the social package: 'I'm open to supporting a final bill that helps move our country forward, but I'm equally open to voting against a bill that hurts our country.'

Manchin spoke four days after Biden visited Capitol Hill to announce he had a framework plan he thought Democrats could agree to, which included two years of free pre-K, some expanded Medicaid benefits and some climate change programs.

Biden's pronouncement came before his trip to Europe, where he attended the G20 Summit in Rome and then headed to Glasglow for COP26.

But the president's original vision of his social safety net legislation was cut nearly in half to secure Manchin and Sinema's support while keeping the liberal wing of the party on board.

Democrats are rushing to overcome their intra-party battle between the moderate and liberal wings and finish a final draft of Biden's big plan.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said privately she expects to wrap up legislation on Tuesday and put it on track for a vote as soon as Thursday.

And the leader of the House's Congressional Progressive Caucus indicted the liberals were ready to vote for both pieces of Biden's legislative agenda without reassurances from Manchin and Sinema.

'The President said he thinks he can get 51 votes for this bill. We are going to trust him. We are going to do our work in the House and let the Senate do its work,' Rep. Pramila Jayapal told CNN. 'But we're tired of, you know, just continuing to wait for one or two people.'

She conceded her voting bloc had backed down. With only a four-seat margin in the House, Pelosi cannot afford to lose many of her Democrats in a vote.

'We had called for a Senate vote some time ago, but we backed off of that position in deference to the President and with trust in the two senators and the rest of the Senate,' she noted.

'And we now have said that we will vote for both bills in the House together. And that's what we're going to do. That's what we are ready to do,' she said.

One big item was wrapped up Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a deal to lower prescription drug costs for older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin.

Schumer acknowledged it's not as sweeping as Democrats had hoped for, but it earned the support of Sinema.

'Its not everything we all want. Many of us would have wanted to go much further, but its a big step in helping the American people deal with the price of drugs,' Schumer said.

Sinema's office issued a statement saying the senator 'welcomes a new agreement on a historic, transformative Medicare drug negotiation plan that will reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors.'

Biden unveiled a framework for the package last week, a sizable investment in social service programs and climate change strategies, but Democrats are trying to negotiate the drug prices for seniors, immigration law changes and other final updates.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal said House progressives were ready to vote for both of Biden's bills

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a deal to lower prescription drug costs for older people, wrapping up one key item

The $1.75 trillion package is sweeping in its reach, and would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, education, raising children and caring for elderly people in their homes. It also would provide some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electrified vehicles, the nation's largest commitment to tackling climate change.

Much of its costs would be covered with higher taxes on people earning over $10 million annually and large corporations, which would now face a 15% minimum tax in efforts to stop big business from claiming so many deductions they end up paying zero in taxes.
A man wearing a 'Purge' mask attacked a stranger with an ax on the Upper West Side Monday night in New York, police said.

The attacker was wearing a grinning Halloween mask from the dystopian horror movie The Purge, about a fictional national holiday when all crime is legal for a 12-hour period.

The 51-year-old victim and his wife were walking on Broadway between West 60th and 61st streets Monday when the masked man ran up to them around 10pm.

'I don't like you! I'm going to kill you!' the attacker shouted before swinging the small ax and hitting the man in the arm.

The masked man then ran off toward the Columbus Circle subway station.

The couple snapped photos of the attacker with and without his mask. They have been circulated by the New York City Police Department.

NYPD released this photo of a man who randomly attacked a stranger with an ax while wearing a Purge Halloween mask on Monday night

A 51-year-old man was left with a deep gash on his left arm after being attacked between W 60th and 61st Street in the Upper West Side on Monday night

The 51-year-old man was sent to Mt. Sinai Morningside with a deep cut in his left arm, police reported. He has since been treated and released.

The NYPD is asking for the public's help identifying the ax-wielding man who is described as: 'a dark-skinned male who wore a blue mask, a dark-colored coat, blue jeans and black boots.'

Violent crime has continued to spike in New York City with assaults climbing 18.5 percent and robberies up 6 percent in September. The NYPD reported that it has made more than 3,400 gun arrests so far this year.

Stark data released by the NYPD shows crime rose 2.6 percent overall in September 2021 compared to the same month in 2020, with an extra 243 incidents reported.

It comes as Mayor Bill de Blasio tries to lure tourists and office workers back to the COVID-ravaged Big Apple, with the data likely to deter many over personal safety concerns.

The biggest increase was for felonious assault - or assault with a dangerous weapon - which surged by a shocking 18.5 percent from 1,802 in September 2020 to 2,135 in September 2021, as New Yorkers have been plagued by random attacks in the streets of the city.

The latest crime data shows 17,153 reported from January through October 2018, 17,652 in the same timeline in 2019, 17,492 in the same months in 2020, and 18,433 so far in 2021.

The September data also reveals a concerning trend in other criminal activity, with robberies up 6 percent, car theft up 4.1 percent and grand larceny up .7 percent within the same timeframe.

Violent crime has continued to escalate in New York City, with total crime up 2.6% in September 2021 compared to September 2020

The most recent NYPD data shows felony assaults rising 8 percent since last October

Over the last year, New York has been rocked by a wave of violent crime, fueling fears it is returning to the dark days of the '70s and '80s when murders were rife and the Big Apple earned the nickname Fear City.

This prompted former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take the unprecedented step of launching the nation's first ever state of emergency over gun violence in July.

But now, the situation appears to be getting worse with a staggering 393 gun arrests made last month alone, bringing the total number of gun arrests to 3,425 between January and the end of September.

This is a dramatic increase of 20.9 percent from the same period in 2020 when 2,832 gun arrests were made.

Last year, the city and the nation was reeling from COVID-19, civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd and political turmoil in the run-up to the presidential election.

Now, COVID-19 restrictions have almost all lifted, the US borders are poised to reopen to major tourist destinations and Mayor Bill de Blasio is trying to lure back office workers to the city.

Historic crime data shows how crime fell from the 1990s and has inched up in recent years

Yet, violent and horrific subway attacks and gang-related gun battles are still a common occurrence in the streets of the city.

Some boroughs have been ravaged by the crime wave more than others, with Manhattan South recording the biggest spike in crime (20.1 percent) in September compared to the September 2020.

Manhattan North, where Monday's attack occurred, also saw a rise in crime, up by 3.2 percent in the same timeframe.

Brooklyn South saw crime spike by 5.3 percent, Staten Island by 9 percent and the Bronx - where a terrifying gun fight broke out between gangs last month - by 4.9 percent.

Crime has, however, fallen in some boroughs of the city, down by 4.2 percent in Brooklyn North, 5.8 percent in Queens North.

In Queens South, crime fell 3.7 percent between the two months - even though there were six murders recorded there last month.
President Biden ended his Europe trip by blasting China and Russia's decision not to attend the COP26 climate summit, saying they handed the U.S. a golden opportunity to lead the world out of crisis.

He said China had 'walked away' from the biggest crisis facing the planet.

'We showed up,' he said during a press conference as he prepared to leave the summit in Glasgow.

'We showed up and by showing up we've had a profound impact on the way I think the rest of the world is looking at the United States and its leadership role.'

Biden and his officials have hammered the message that the U.S. is back, after four years of Trump and America First.

Both Russia and China have sought to extend their regional influence and take on the U.S. around the globe.

As he prepared to fly back to the U.S. on Tuesday night, he said they had both weakened their hand.

'They have the lost the ability to influence people around the world here in COP,' he said. 'The same way I would argue with Russia.'

President Biden blasted Russia and China for failing to attend the COP26 climate summit

Biden delivered his remarks at the end of a six-day trip to Europe, which included two major international summits in Rome, Italy, and Glasgow, Scotland

'They have the lost the ability to influence people around the world here in COP,' said Biden of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin for failing to attend the major climate summit

China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

The British hosts played down Xi's absence, noting he has not left the country since the start of the pandemic, but his absence is a blow to building consensus on taking urgent action on climate change.

Biden, who is expected to have a virtual summit with Xi before the end of the year, laid out his position on Beijing.

'I've made it clear, this is competition. It does not have to be conflict,' he said.

'There is no reason there need be conflict. But I've also indicated to him  that we expect him to play by the rules of the road.'

Tensions have increased around the island of Taiwan in recent weeks. China has stepped up military flights around the self-governed island and used increasingly bellicose language.

At the same time, the U.S. has made clear that will continue to help Taiwan defend itself.

Biden said the US was 'not going to change our attitude' on matters like sea lanes, international air space and cybersecurity.

'I'm not looking for, I don't anticipate there to be a need for armed conflict.'

Xi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin skipped out on both the G20 summit in Rome last week and the COP26 in Glasgow.

Both cited the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic for not showing up to the conferences. Cases have spiked in Russia and Xi has not left China in almost two years since coronavirus took the world by storm.

Taiwan is only 81 mi off the coast of mainland China at the narrowest point of the Taiwan Strait

President Zelensky shared an image of his conversation with Biden and said the leaders discussed the conflict in eastern Ukraine and domestic reforms

While they stayed home, Biden made clear he relished the chance to shake hands with world leaders and look them in the eye as they sought agreement on reducing carbon emissions.

It meant Ukrainian President President Zelensky was able to quietly corner Biden at a royal reception on Monday night, for example, at a time when U.S. officials are monitoring a buildup of Russian troops near his border.

Biden and his officials have in briefings have repeatedly signalled that American leadership was crucial to tackling world crises.

In his Monday speech to delegates, Biden said the U.S. 'is not only back at the table, it can hopefully lead by the power of our example,' even as he admitted, 'I know that hasn't always been the case.'

Skeptics wonder whether he can deliver. His vast domestic agenda is stalled on Capitol Hill as Democrats squabble about its price tag, and he has had to watch as negotiators jettisoned billions of dollars in green measures to win over coal-country Sen. Joe Manchin.

Even so he cut a busy figure at the climate summit, delivering speeches and remarks at different forums, announcing a crackdown on methane emissions and deforestation among other things.

During the G20 he was also able to trumpet a new trade agreement with the European Union over steel and aluminum which brought the removal of tit-for-tat tariffs. Some observers saw it as a move to end divisions between the U.S. and the E.U. as they sought to focus on China.

Biden sought to tamp down rumors of conflict after he gave a robust defense of Taiwan in a CNN town hall last month.

The US has hinted it is prepared to take a more muscular approach on Taiwan.

Its long-held position has been one of 'strategic ambiguity,' where Washington helps build Taiwan's defenses but does not explicitly promise to come to the island's help in the event of an attack.

Biden has demonstrated good chemistry with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who hosted the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland

Asked on Oct. 21 whether 'the U.S. would come to Taiwans defense if China attacked,' Biden gave a resounding 'Yes, we have a commitment to do that.'

But the White House quickly walked back the president's words, and press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden was not announcing a change in policy.

'Our defense relationship with Taiwan is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act  some of the principles of the Taiwan Relations Act that the United States will continue to abide by...is assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self defense capability.'

The press secretary added that under the Taiwan Relations Act, the US 'would regard any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means as a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific and a grave concern to the United States.

Beijing has already largely swallowed Hong Kong, and is fast encroaching on the island democracy of Taiwan in the South China Sea, where US sanctions did little to slow their momentum.

Taiwan is a technological powerhouse that plays a key role in the international semiconductor business. If Xi were to take over there too, China would become an even bigger economic opponent to the US.

China's Xi has previously stated that Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, will inevitably become subsumed as part of China.

Taiwan's government has made frequent, recent appeals to Washington and the West not to dismiss Beijing's threats as pure bombast.

Taiwan's president revealed last week that American troops are on the island of Taiwan training the Taiwanese military.

President Tsai Ing-wen explained how US soldiers were stationed on the self-governing island, explaining that Taiwan had a 'wide range of cooperation with the US aiming at increasing our defense capability'.

The training mission which consists of a special-operations unit and contingent of Marines is believed to have been in operation for at least a year.

For decades, the Pentagon maintained a large troop presence in Taiwan but the American Taiwan Defense Command was ended in 1979 as the United States began a formal diplomatic relationship with China. Washington continued to maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has blasted his successor Scott Morrison's 'shameful' and 'duplicitous' behaviour towards France in scrapping a $90 billion submarine deal.

Mr Turnbull's comments came after Mr Morrison said he wouldn't cop any 'sledging of Australia' after French President Emmanuel Macron labelled him a liar.

'Oh, he's lied to me on many occasions,' Mr Turnbull said when asked about the spat between Mr Morrison and French President Emmanuel Macron at the COP26 summit in Glasgow overnight.

'There's quite a few examples in my book, but he's  Scott has always had a reputation for telling lies.

An awkward handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left)

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan hit back at the former PM Turnbull, who has repeatedly undermined those involved in his ousting as Liberal Party leader and thus Prime Minister.

'I thought Malcolm Turnbull went halfway around the world to save the planet, but apparently he's gone to just grind more axes',' the Senator told the Today show on Wednesday.

'Three years on from losing his job it still hurts. He's trying to take it out here.

'He's just become a bit of a tosser, hasn't he?' He just constantly seems to gripe about these things.

'He's gone all this way over to Glasgow, you'd think he would focus on those issues that are obviously very personally passionate to him.'

Today co-host Allison Langdon asked if he'd just called Mr Turnbull a 'tosser' and would the Senator keen to elaborate further.

'Is there any other word to describe it,' Senator Canavan replied.

'Get over it. It happened years ago. It was a decision of the party room that you yourself benefitted from years before in getting rid of Tony Abbott.

'To take this new stance 'I'm the only one that's ever been deceived in politics', there's only one other word for it and it's good Australian word, 'Mate you're a bit of tosser. Get over it!'

Malcolm Turnbull has labelled Scott Morrison a 'habitual liar' over his handling of the Australia-France submarine deal

Mr Morrison maintained Mr Macron was not blindsided by the cancellation of the contract and texts prove he knew there were problems with the Naval Group project before Australia announced it was withdrawing from the deal.

But Mr Turnbull, under whom the 2016 contract for the Attack Class vessels was signed, thinks Mr Morrison owes the French an apology.

'He did very elaborately and duplicitously deceive France,' Mr Turnbull told ABC radio on Tuesday.

'When you're dealing with people, honestly - and Scott Morrison did not do that - you don't drop hints. You actually tell the truth.

'It was a partnership between two nations, it was a cornerstone of France's Indo-Pacific strategy and to be double-dealing them the way Morrison did was shameful.'

Mr Macron told Australian journalists at the G20 summit on Sunday, 'I don't think, I know' the prime minister lied to him about the submarines.

Mr Morrison retaliated on Monday, detailing problems with the program during a news conference at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

'I can deal with that. But those slurs, I'm not going to cop sledging at Australia. I'm not going to cop that on behalf of Australians,' he told reporters.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese took aim at Mr Morrison for conflating criticism of his handling of the deal's cancellation with criticism of Australia.

'(Scott Morrison) is not the state of Australia. (He is) using our nation as a human shield,' he said.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan called Mr Turnbull a 'tosser' over the comments and said he was still bitter about being replaced as Prime Minister by Mr Morrison in 2018

Australia in September announced it was cancelling the 2016 contract to acquire conventional Attack Class submarines from France's Naval Group.

Mr Morrison said he made it 'very clear' to Mr Macron in June the conventional diesel-powered submarines were not going to meet Australia's strategic requirements.

'We discussed that candidly. I did not discuss what other alternatives we were looking at,' he said.

'It's no secret, I'm sure in Australia, that this was a project that had few friends, and that is a point that we had made to Naval and particularly to the French government.

'It's clear from President Macron's statements yesterday that the level of offence is still very great and we will wait for that to subside.'

Emmanuel Macron (pictured at Cop26 in Glasgow on Monday) has repeatedly claimed Scott Morrison gave him no warning the French submarine deal was to be scrapped

The government will now spend the next 18 months looking at the feasibility of acquiring technology for nuclear-powered vessels from the United States and United Kingdom under the AUKUS partnership.

Communications between the two leaders were also leaked to the media, with the French president reportedly telling Mr Morrison, 'I don't like losing'.

Days before the announcement, Mr Macron reportedly messaged Mr Morrison asking, 'Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarine ambitions?'

Mr Albanese said the leaking of the text messages highlighted how the prime minister was treating international partners as political opponents.

'Gaslighting and backgrounding is no way to build relations with our important democratic neighbours,' he said.

'Diplomacy requires trust and sombre engagements between leaders'.

The latest comments come after a leaked text message appears to show that Emmanuel Macron was given warning that Australia could torpedo its $90billion submarine deal with France, as his extraordinary row with Mr Morrisonreaches fever pitch.

A secret leaked text message (pictured) appears to show that Emmanuel Macron was given warning that Australia would torpedo its $90billion submarine deal with France

The French president had claimed he was not informed about Australia's plans to tear up the defence contract until moments before the AUKUS security pact was revealed to the world on September 15.

In a stinging rebuke at the G20 Summit in Rome, he called Scott Morrison a 'liar' for suggesting he was given prior knowledge that the defence deal would be scrapped.

But in a message believed to have been leaked by Mr Morrison's office to show Mr Macron knew the agreement was on shaky ground, the French leader wrote: 'Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarines ambitions?'

The leak comes off the back of Mr Morrison issuing a stunning reproach to the French leader, lambasting him for 'sledging Australia' in a war of words which threatens to overshadow diplomatic negotiations in Europe.

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden's claims that he believed France had been made aware of the plans have been brought into doubt thanks to the release of a confidential 15-page document.

While Mr Morrison had conceded Mr Macron was not aware of negotiations with the US and Britain, due to their confidential nature, he says the French leader was told as early as June that Australia was consulting on other options for submarines.

Now the leaked text message from September 13 appears to confirm this, suggesting Mr Macron knew the deal was not secure.

Mr Morrison responded to the message by trying to organise a phone call, The Sydney Morning Herald reported, but it never materialised.

The claims are in stark contrast to the version of events put forward by the French, with Mr Macron stunning reporters in Rome by calling the Australian leader a 'liar'.

A fired up Mr Morrison hit back at the flurry of criticism on Monday, telling reporters at the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow ahead of the Cop26 meeting he 'wouldn't cop any sledging of Australia'.

Mr Macron made clear during his criticism of Mr Morrison that his comments were aimed at Australia's leaders and not its people, for whom he has 'a lot of respect and friendship'.

'This was a highly secure decision, a highly secure announcement, over which we had held these things incredibly tightly, not just for many months but in Australia's case for more than a year,' Mr Morrison said.

'It was my obligation to advise him of that directly. He was clearly aware over some months that there were concerns, and they were responding to those concerns.

'We had correspondence and other messaging during that period. And we decided, in Australia's interest, not to go ahead.'

The prime minister made no apologies for cancelling the deal with the French Naval Group, saying it was in the nation's interest.

'We made the right calls for Australia. I don't wish to personalise this,' he said.

'I must say the statements that have been made questioning Australia's integrity, not me, I've got broad shoulders and I can take that, but those slurs, I'm not going to cop sledging of Australia.'

Scott Morrison is seen greeting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday as they arrived at the Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow

An Australian Collins class submarine (front) and the UK nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Astute (rear) are seen at HMAS Stirling Royal Australian Navy base in Perth in October

Joe Biden had also claimed he had no idea the French were not told their deal to build Australia a conventionally-powered fleet of subs would be blown up in favour of nuclear-powered vessels in a deal with the US and Britain.

The US President expressed great concern about the handling of the secret plan, telling Mr Macron it was 'clumsy' and 'not done with a lot of grace'.

'I was under the impression that France had been informed long before that the deal was not going through,' Mr Biden said at the G20 with cameras rolling.

'I honest to God did not know you had not been.'

Mr Morrison would not be drawn on whether Mr Biden had dropped him in deeper trouble with the French.

But a 15-page document drafted by the White House National Security Council raises serious doubts about Mr Biden's account of events.

Joe Biden (pictured at the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow on Monday) has claimed he thought France had been told their deal was dead - despite internal memos explicitly saying that Australia would not unveil their plans to France until September 16

The detailed plan negotiated by top officials from the US, Australian and Britain describes a timeline of how the world would be told of the new AUKUS security pact, The Australian reported.

The National Security Council document signed off on by Mr Biden's closest advisers explicitly says that Australia would not unveil their plans to France until September 16 - the same day the AUKUS would be announced at a tri-lateral press conference.

It was clear the revelation would send shockwaves through the European powerhouse but the US had drastically underestimated just how furious the decision would make the French.

In response, Mr Macron recalled his ambassadors from the US and Australia kickstarting a bitter war of words and threatening Australia's upcoming free trade deal with the European Union.

The US and the UK will help Australia build nuclear-powered submarines (pictured, the UK's Astute class submarine HMS Ambush)

The G20 Summit in Rome (pictured, leaders on Sunday) descended into a war of words between the Australian prime minister and French president

Mr Morrison said one of the main reasons which contributed to the move away from the French Naval Group was their overblown budgets and failure to meet deadlines.

'We were supposed to have gone through the Scope Two projects gate the previous December and those marks were missed,' he said. 'Ironically, had that been achieved, then quite likely all of this would have been moot.

'That opened up a further opportunity for us to pursue our alternative, which I did, in Australia's interest, and I make no apology for it.'

The prime minister and Mr Macron met for the first since the sub deal collapsed at the G20 Summit in Italy, awkwardly shaking hands before the French president went on a tirade moments after.

'I have a lot of respect for your country. I have a lot of respect and a lot of friendship for your people,' Mr Macron told a group of Australian reporters at the G20.

'I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistently with this value.'

When reporters asked if Mr Morrison had lied, Mr Macron replied: 'I don't think, I know.'

French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured with wife Brigitte earlier this month) has accused Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying

Mr Morrison claims he raised the subject at a private dinner following the G7 meeting in June.

'At our dinner I gave the opportunity for the French to respond to the matters I had raised and that took place over the next few months,' he said.

'Now, we eventually formed the view that we would agree to disagree and the Attack-class submarine would not meet our requirements and we decided, finally, only in the days before the announcement of the AUKUS arrangement and going forward with that decision on nuclear submarines, was that decision finally made.'

After Mr Macron sent the text message on September 13 asking if he should expect good news or bad about the sub deal, Mr Morrison attempted to speak with the French leader via a phone call.

But no such call ever took place and AUKUS was deal was announced 48 hours later.

Scott Morrison (pictured arriving at Cop26 on Monday) has defended his actions over the French submarine deal

Barnaby Joyce, Australia's acting prime minister in Mr Morrison's absence, also entered the fray on Monday.

Weighing in on the diplomatic row, he accused the French leader of overreacting.

'We didn't steal an island; we didn't deface the Eiffel Tower,' Mr Joyce said.

While he conceded he understood why Mr Macron was unhappy, he said he was 'certain that with time, like all things, we can get over this and move on'.
Tesla CEO billionaire Elon Musk tweeted an 1,800-year-old Chinese poem on Monday night asking for 'peace' - and leaving users confused about what he meant.

Musk, 50, posted the poem, The Quatrain of Seven Steps, in Mandarin with the word 'Humankind' above it on both Twitter and the Chinese social media site Weibo.

The ancient poem describes conflict in close relationships and is used in Chinese primary schools to teach children to get along.

But Chinese social media users were bewildered by the poem, unsure of Musk's reasoning behind the post.

Tesla CEO billionaire Elon Musk, 50, tweeted an ancient Chinese poem on Monday calling for 'peace'

The tweet pulled from the The Quatrain of Seven Steps poem in original Mandarin with the word 'Humankind' written above it

The fifth century poem, translated from the original Mandarin, tells the story of two brothers during China's Three Kingdom period between 192 and 232AD.

Moss Roberts, a Chinese professor at NYU, translated the ancient poem into English: 'Beans a simmer on a beanstalk flame. From inside the pot expressed their ire. Alive we sprouted on a single root. What's your rush to cook us on the fire?'

He later liked another translation of the tweet posted in response on Twitter: 'Humans are from the same ancestor, why are we so eager to destroy each other?'

The ancient Chinese poem details a story about rivalry between two brothers which is used in the country's primary schools to teach children about getting along

The story of the poem was related to the rivalry between brothers Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, sons of the warlord Cao Cao.

The older Cao Pi, who succeeded his father, wanted to kill the younger Cao Zhi because he was jealous of his brother's literary talent.

Cao Pi forced his younger brother to create a poem about their brotherhood using seven steps verse, a type of allegorical poem that now is usually attributed to the poet Cao Zhi.

If Cao Zhi failed, he would be executed by his jealous brother.

The younger brother succeeded in his task and produced the poem Musk quoted. His life spared as Cao Pi was touched by his brother's words.

Social media users were left confused by the tweet as some attributed it to the rivalry between Musk and World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley who had asked the Tesla CEO to donate $6 billion to help world hunger

Others attributed the post to the rivalry between two dog-themed cryptocurrency groups Dogecoin and Shiba Inu

The reason behind why Musk tweeted the poem is still unclear as Chinese and Western social media users were left to speculate.

Some speculated that it was related to a recent argument Musk had with program director David Beasley of the United Nations World Food Programme.

Beasley asked a group of billionaires, including Musk, to donate $6 billion to help feed 42 million people. Musk agreed to donate to the program, only if the group agreed to share how the money would help fight world hunger.

After an online back-and-forth, Beasley said Monday he wanted to show Musk in person how his money would help. It is unclear if Musk agreed.

Another theory suggested that Musk was referring to the rivalry between two dog-themed cryptocurrency groups Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.

Shiba Inu, which was created in rivalry with Dogecoin, recently surpassed it in market value, according to Vice.

Social media users on both Twitter and Weibo communicated their thoughts on Musk's tweet, with some even offering online translations of the tweet.
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Cleo Smith was just seven minutes drive away from her family home when she was found alone in a locked house 18 days after she was snatched from her tent on a family camping trip.

Four-year-old Cleo disappeared on October 16 and was found alive at 12.46am on Wednesday when police stormed a public housing home after a sudden tip off with a 'needle in haystack' clue.

Police feared the missing girl could have been spirited away anywhere in the country - but instead she was under their noses all along in a rundown house just 3km from her home and 75km from the campsite.

'What's your name?' officers asked as they scooped her up into their arms. 'My name is Cleo,' she replied.

That rundown house on Tonkin Crescent in Brockman, in the northern suburbs of Carnarvon in northwest Western Australia, just kilometres from where she lived in South Carnarvon.

Right in the middle is the town's main shopping centre where the 36-year-old resident of the house was seen by neighbours buying Kimbies nappies at Woolworths.

Cleo was likely already locked up in the house when her mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon awoke at 6am to find she was no longer lying next to them and her baby sister Isla in their tent at Blowholes camping grounds.

Police received a sudden tip-off on Tuesday night containing 'really important information about a car', which they confirmed with phone data and 'a lot of forensic leads' - and just hours later raided the house.

Cleo Smith, four, has been found alive and well, 18 days after she vanished from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia

'We've collected phone data, witness statements, DNA, fingerprints, rubbish along the highways, CCTV - we've collected everything,' Deputy WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said.

'The million dollar reward helped us with collecting even more from the members of the public. Everyone came forward to helping us.

'There were car movements, there were phone movements, there were antecedents of people, the jigsaw fit the puzzle.

'We had to find that needle. Last night the needle in the haystack came out and they acted in a heartbeat.'

The vital tip-off was the last piece of the puzzle in a case that until then frustrated and eluded detectives and had Australians fearing Cleo would never be found, let alone alive.

There were other signs too, from the sound of a little girl crying heard by neighbours to the suspected kidnapper pacing around the street and buying nappies for a child he didn't have.

However, neighbours on Tonkin Crescent, entirely populated by public housing, didn't join the dots until after Cleo was rescued and failed to report the suspicious behaviour to police.

One of them told Seven News she became suspicious after seeing the suspect buying Kimbies nappies from a supermarket.

'The other day, I think it was Monday, we saw him in Woolworths buying nappies but we didn't click on who it was or what he was buying them for,' she said. 'Until now.'

Cleo was found alone in this suburban home in Carnarvon, in the north-west of Western Australia, shortly before 1am on Wednesday morning

Latest on Cleo Smith found alive after 18 days A 36-year-old man with no connection to the familyis in police custody

Neighbours said the 'quiet man' was seen buying nappies at Woolworths

Cleo found alone inside the house when police broke down the door at 1am

Police were acting on a tip-off that led them to the housing commission home

The home is just seven minutes' drive from Cleo's family home

Cleo was smiling when she was rescued, the police commissioner confirmed

She is now in hospital for an assessment after being reunited with her family Advertisement

Sahntayah McKenzie recalled how she heard a little girl crying one night, but did not think anything of it at the time.

'Not last night, the night before it I heard a little girl crying but I wouldn't expect it to be Cleo,' she told the West Australian.

'I didn't expect it would happen in this little neighbourhood, a lot of people know each other.'

Henry Dodd said police spent several hours driving up and down the street before breaking into the home.

Neighbours described the man as 'quiet' and said they wouldn't expect him to be involved.

'Everyone that knows the person that stays in that house, wouldn't think that it would be him,' he said.

'We got a shock ourselves that it was him.'

Another neighbour told the Today show: 'S**t, she's been that close.'

Another local described the man in custody as an 'oddball'.

'He is a very quiet guy, bit of an oddball definitely wouldn't have picked him it has completely derailed me,' Rennee Turner said.

'I'd heard whispers I kind of figured the police might have had an idea of what was going on, because I have never seen such a massive amount of cops here for so long.'

Cleo's mum Ellie Smith broke her silence on Wednesday morning, sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram after her daughter was found alive and well

Others said he in recent weeks bought food he didn't usually buy, and that he moved his dog that usually stayed in the backyard to the front yarn.

Neighbours who witnessed the dramatic police raid, after which officers were seen carrying a crow bar and a battering ram out of the house, described how Cleo was carried to safety.

'We stood back and waited but after that, we saw someone, on the detective shoulder. We thought it might be the little girl, which it was,' Henry Dodd told Seven News.

'I went closer to the detectives car and I saw her in the back of the car with the detective, he was holding her. They put her in the back and I came over, rushed over here and seen her there. She looked at me, a bit scared.'

Mr Dodd said he was shocked he had been just metres away from her while the nationwide hunt was going on for her.

'I just can't believe it and get over the fact that she is just the house down from us and locked up here for a couple of weeks,' he added.

'Going on three weeks, she is straight across from us. I've got little sisters there...'

The property where Cleo was found alone is just a 49 minute drive away from the campsite where she was abducted from

Police said Cleo was smiling when she was rescued at the house, with the moment captured on police bodycam footage that brought a tear to his eye.

'Ive seen it. It's burned into my memory for life. You cannot look at that and not feel it in your heart. Unbelievable moment,' he said.

'I saw detectives that have worked for 18 days straight, 24/7 see little Cleo in a room, and just the look on their faces. The care that was expressed immediately, the cuddling, the asking of her name, her little voice.'

She's alive, well, smiling, so it is a wonderful, wonderful result

Daily Mail Australia understands a local police officer rang Cleo's mother to break the incredible news. She is now in hospital for assessment.

Ms Smith wrote on Instagram hours later: 'Our family is whole again.'

A close family friend also revealed the emotional message Ms Smith earlier wrote to her loved ones to let them know her 'beautiful girl is home'.

'To be woken at 4.50am with my phone going crazy and see the words Cleo is home alive and safe,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Seeing Ellie saying her 'beautiful girl is home' is nothing short of a miracle.'

What happened to Cleo in the house where she was held captive for more than two weeks, without her family, but psychologists said she would have a long road to recovery.

Cleo was found in her hometown of Carnarvon in Western Australia, 75km from where she went missing on October 16

Police search through rubbish collected during their search for four-year-old Cleo Smith

Police Air Wing PC12 picked up the suspect, who has no relation to Cleo's family, from Carnarvon and landed at Perth's Jandakot Airport late on Wednesday morning.

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson was on board the plane and will spend the day meeting with police involved in the rescue and checking in with Cleo's family.

The police chief broke down in tears upon learning the heartwarming news. He said Cleo was as good as can be expected.

'I saw the vision, Cleo is a beautiful little four-year-old girl,' he said.

'She's as well as we could expect in the circumstances. She's alive, well, smiling, so it is a wonderful, wonderful result.'

He said Cleo's parents were emotional but doing well.

'They're strong people, they are really strong people. They have good support around them,' Commissioner Dawson said.

'It's a wonderful result today but it'll be a tough journey for them.'

A man from Carnarvon has been taken into police custody with the house cordoned off with tape, just a seven minutes from Cleo's family home (pictured, the home Cleo was found)

Commissioner Dawson said forensic officers were pouring over every inch of the house where Cleo was held, looking for evidence of what happened to her there.

'We mounted our general duties police who did a tremendous job within minutes of arriving, the first officers in the scene declared it a forensic scene and sealed it off which was just really, really good policing,' he said.

'From that moment on, it's just been a really dedicated team of well over 100 on the scene itself and we are prepared for a long haul but we're so, so pleased.'

In a video statement earlier, Deputy Commissioner Blanch said: 'This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.

'It's the outcome we've achieved because of some incredible police work.'

Deputy Commissioner Blanch thanked Cleo's parents, the thousands of volunteers who have searched the remote section of Australia for the little girl and the wider community for their support, as well as the hundreds of police who knocked on doors and sorted through tips.

Police will provide more details on the rescue of Cleo later on Wednesday.

'For now - welcome home Cleo,' Deputy Commissioner Blanch concluded.

Commissioner Dawson reportedly broke down in tears upon learning the heartwarming news. He said the youngster (pictured) was good as can be expected

Cleo has been reunited with her relieved parents

Prime Minister Scott Morrison - who is flying home from Glasgow - tweeted: 'What wonderful, relieving news.'

'Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound. Our prayers answered. Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family.'

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan added: 'I'm beyond relieved. The nightmare is now finally over for Cleo and her family.

'I'd like to thank the Western Australian community for all their assistance over the past few weeks, and acknowledge the WA Police who did incredible police work to bring Cleo home to her parents.'

Police interviewed more than 110 people who were at the Blowholes campsite on the night Cleo arrived with her family on October 16.

The little girl was last seen in her family's tent, at the vast campsite on WA's northwest coast, at about 1.30am before her mother and stepfather realised she was missing five hours later.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said the family had stayed near their tent all evening and hadn't socialised with other campers.

'I think it's more than likely an opportunistic-type event,' he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday hours before Cleo was found.

'We know they got there on the Friday night, it was getting dark, and there would have been limited opportunity for people to observe Cleo at that time.'

Cleo Smith (pictured) has miraculously been found alive after vanishing from a remote campsite in Western Australia

Police had stressed many times that Cleo's mother and her partner were not suspects, nor was Cleo's biological father.

Ms Smith had been posting daily public appeals on social media, pleading for Cleo to come home.

Police this week collected more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins stretching from Minilya to Geraldton.

It was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may have helped them find Cleo.

The state government offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the little girl's location.

Police said the Cleo's disappearance was immediately treated with the highest priority, although it took two hours to establish a roadblock at the site.

Detectives made several visits to Cleo's family home in Carnarvon, sought CCTV footage from a range of businesses in the area and collected samples from a campfire at the Blowholes site.

Officers issued an extraordinary plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 1000km radius of where the preschooler vanished.

They also sought footage from motel check in, service stations, fast food outlets, truck stops, free camping areas, children's clothing stores, pharmacies and camping stores.

The selective list appeared to indicate that police were narrowing in on a suspect.

Cleo is now back in the arms of her mum Ellie and stepfather Jake (pictured together)
Boris Johnson insists the UK will make no concessions to France in the post-Brexit fishing war.

The Prime Minister was adamant his position had not changed in the dispute, which surrounds the number of fishing licences granted to small French vessels since the UK left the EU.

He said the UK would continue to work to resolve the disagreement, which led to France threatening action against British boats before Paris backed down on Monday night.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to reopen negotiations but fled the Cop26 summit earlier this week after just one day.

Mr Johnson said: 'Since you ask about whether the UK has changed its position on the fishing issue, the answer is no.

'We are working very, very closely with our French friends and partners on the things that matter most to the people of the world and that is tackling climate change and reducing CO2.

'And by comparison with that hugely important issue the ones you mention [fishing] are really vanishingly unimportant.'

The comments follow Mr Macron's eleventh hour U-turn, in which he called off retaliatory measures against Britain, which were previously threatened over, among other issues, British trawlers docking in French ports.

He declared discussions between France, the UK and the European Commission would 'continue tomorrow' and ruled out any retaliation against Britain 'while we're negotiating'.

Fisherman Phil Channing unloads his catch of scallops at the harbour in St Helier, Jersey, from his boat amid the ongoing fishing row between the UK and France

The French president had warned that Paris could block British boats from landing their catches in French ports and tighten customs checks from midnight in protest at what they claim is a refusal by the UK authorities to grant licences to French boats.

France alleges Britain is not honouring a post-Brexit deal on access to British fishing grounds, and said that from midnight on Monday it would retaliate by stepping up checks on trucks coming from Britain and barring British trawlers from docking in French ports.

But the UK insisted it would only grant licences to boats which meet the criteria set out in the Brexit deal.

Earlier, Britain welcomed France having 'stepped back' from threats to impose punitive action in the row.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said a meeting between Brexit minister Lord Frost and France's Europe minister Clement Beaune in Paris on Thursday would be 'very important', as further talks with the EU are also scheduled.

But ahead of that meeting, the skipper of a Scottish-registered scallop dredger, the Cornelis Gert Jan, which had been held in Le Havre, is due to appear in a French court on Wednesday.

Earlier, Downing Street was forced to clarify a suggestion by Mr Eustice that the British vessel had been released, after it emerged that it remains in Le Havre.

Mr Macron previously warned that Paris could block British boats from landing their catches in French ports and tighten customs checks in protest at what they claim is a refusal by the UK authorities to grant licences to French boats.

But France suspended the threats at the 11th hour as negotiations continued.

The Associated Press reported that the deadline for action had now been extended to Thursday.

An official with the French presidency told the news agency on Tuesday that discussions 'are advancing' and that France hopes to 'move forward' from the fishing dispute to focus on bigger issues such as climate change.

'Neither us nor the British want this to go badly,' said the official, who AP was not authorised to name publicly.

Boris Johnson insists he will offer no concessions to France as the row over post-Brexit fishing rights rumbles on

The comments follow French President Emmanuel Macron's eleventh hour U-turn, in which he called off retaliatory measures against Britain, which were previously threatened over, among other issues, British trawlers docking in French ports

Earlier, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We welcome the fact France has stepped back from the threats it was making last Wednesday.

'We've always said we want to de-escalate this and always said we have an ever-open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on any additional vessels they'd like to have licensed.

'France has clearly taken a decision not to implement some of the decisions they threatened last Wednesday, we very much welcome that, but I think there's going to be a very important meeting on Thursday between Lord Frost and his opposite number, not just on fisheries but a wider range of issues as well.'

Mr Eustice told broadcasters he understood the Cornelis Gert Jan 'has now been released' following 'administrative confusion' related to a change in the vessel's engine.

However, officials later acknowledged it remained subject to detention by French authorities.

Macduff Shellfish, the owner of the boat, was under the impression it would remain at Le Havre until at least after the hearing scheduled in Rouen on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The vessel concerned remains in port, having been detained by the French authorities.'

The European Union said that talks convened with officials from France, the UK, Jersey and Guernsey would continue on Tuesday.

On Monday night, just hours ahead of the deadline set by Paris, the French president was reported to have told journalists at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow: 'Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister (Boris) Johnson.

'The talks need to continue. My understanding is that the British were going to come back to us tomorrow with other proposals. All that will be worked on.

'We'll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed.

'My wish is that we can find a way out on all these issues.'

The UK has granted licences to 98% of EU vessels that have requested permission to operate in British waters.

But the dispute centres on access for small boats of under 12 metres wishing to fish in the UK six-to-12 nautical mile zone.

The government in Paris was angry that the UK originally granted only 12 licences out of 47 applications for smaller vessels, a figure that has now risen to 18.

Only boats that can demonstrate they have fished in UK waters for one day in each of the years between 2012 and 2016 qualify for a licence.

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson said the UK Government's position over the fishing row had not changed, when asked whether he had offered more generous terms to President Macron in order to keep talks alive.

Le Big Sulk? Emmanuel Macron departs COP26 summit in Glasgow a day before other leaders - after bitter spats with Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison over AUKUS sub deal

Emmanuel Macron departed the COP26 summit in Glasgow after just a day - leaving fellow leaders to fight on for climate change commitments.

The French President is believed to have flown back to Paris last night after a handful of engagements - missing the 'family photo' with dozens of other premiers including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau.

The quick departure came after awkward encounters with Mr Johnson over the bitter fishing rights row, with the French seemingly backing down amid claims the EU had refused to support their tough line.

There was also a distinctly uncomfortable atmosphere with Australian PM Scott Morrison, whom the president publicly called a liar for his role in the AUKUS submarine alliance.

It is thought that Mr Macron's plan was always to head back to Paris after the first day of the summit. He was also at the G20 gathering in Rome over the weekend.

However, it could raise eyebrows as Mr Johnson, Mr Biden and others were still in full deal-making mode today.

After the two-day leaders' element of the summit, COP26 will continue until the end of next week in the hope of securing progress against climate change.

Mr Macron's early departure came as Mr Johnson insisted the row over fishing rights is 'vanishingly unimportant' when compared to other issues like climate change.

The Prime Minister also insisted that the UK had not given any ground during negotiations about the dispute.

He told a press conference this evening: On our relations with France, I really renew what I have said before, we are working very, very closely with our French friends and partners on the things that matter most to the people of the world, that is tackling climate change, reducing CO2 and by comparison with that hugely important issue, the ones you mention are really vanishingly unimportant.

But since you ask about whether the UK has changed its position, let me put it that way, on the fishing issue, the answer is no.

World leaders posed for a group photo during a lavish evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, but Emmanuel Macron was nowhere to be seen

Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron had a frosty standoff in Glasgow on Monday morning as the PM welcomed the French President to the COP26 climate change summit amid a furious Anglo-French row over fishing rights

The world leaders capped off the first day of the conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall all in attendance.

But Macron was not in any pictures of the event.

Mr Macron confirmed just hours before the evening reception that France would not go ahead with retaliatory measures against Britain amid the two nations' bitter dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights.

He declared discussions between France, the UK and the European Commission would 'continue tomorrow' and ruled out any retaliation against Britain 'while we're negotiating'.

The dropping of the deadline came shortly after Mr Macron came face to face with Australian PM Scott Morrison at the COP26 event, whom he publicly called a liar for his role in the submarine row.

When asked by reporters at the climate summit whether Mr Morrison lied to him before tearing up a $90billion submarine contract and doing a deal with the US and UK, Mr Macron replied: 'I don't think, I know.'

Boris Johnson greets Australia's Scott Morrison at COP26 UN Climate Change yesterday

An awkward handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) took place when the pair met in Rome last week

Macron was even pictured sharing a joke with Prince Charles just hours earlier on Monday, but has seemingly disappeared and did not show his face at the royal reception

At the start of the evening the Queen urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech to representatives.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship'

After the monarch's powerful speech, the Prime Minister said: 'What we've got today, as Her Majesty alluded to, is the biggest gathering of world leaders in this country since the foundation of the UN at the end of the Second World War, and it's quite an extraordinary historic event.

'But in a way, what we are doing today, is even more important, because we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation, to our way of life.'

France today denied a seized British trawler has been freed as ministers hailed Emmanuel Macron 'stepping back' from his retaliation threats in the bitter fishing row.

Environment Secretary George Eustice claimed the scallop vessel Cornelis Gert Jan 'has now been released' after being accused of fishing without a licence and detained at Le Havre.

But the vessel is still at the Normandy port and French prosecutors insist the situation remains subject to legal negotiations - with a deposit of around 125,000 due before she can return home.

The confusion came after Mr Macron said he would go back to the negotiating table with Britain rather than follow through on his extraordinary sabre-rattling.

He has shelved threats to block British trawlers from landing their catches in French ports, reduce electricity to Jersey and tighten customs checks until at least Thursday.

But despite the lull in hostilities, French fishing chiefs have warned trawlermen to stay away from British waters in case the spat blows up again.

Mr Eustice told Sky News this morning: 'We welcome the fact France has stepped back from the threats it was making last Wednesday.

'We've always said we want to de-escalate this and always said we have an ever-open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on any additional vessels they'd like to have licensed.

'France has clearly taken a decision not to implement some of the decisions they threatened last Wednesday, we very much welcome that but I think there's going to be a very important meeting on Thursday between Lord frost and his opposite number, not just on fisheries but a wider range of issues as well.'

Jondy Ward, skipper of the Cornelis Gert Jan, is pictured aboard the vessel in the port of Le Havre today

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the scallop vessel 'has now been released' after being accused of fishing without a licence and detained at Le Havre

On the situation with the Cornelis, Mr Eustice said: 'I understand that vessel has now been released and I think there's going to need to be some further discussions, clearly there was an administrative error at some point.

'We haven't quite got to the bottom of that but that vessel I understand has been released.'

On the surface the UK had refused to budge in the dispute over fishing rights, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss adamant Britain would 'not roll over'.

However, there have been gradually more being granted, with UK authorities insisting more evidence has been supplied that they used waters before Brexit.

Mr Macron told reporters at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow last night: 'It is not while we are negotiating that we are going to impose sanctions.

'Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister Johnson.

'The talks need to continue. We'll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed. The next few hours are important hours.' He added: 'I understood that the British were going to come back to us tomorrow with other proposals.'

France's Europe minister, Clement Beaune, tweeted late last night that he would hold talks with Brexit minister Lord Frost on Thursday in Paris.

The close ally of Macron said any planned retaliatory measures would 'not be applied before this meeting'.

France is furious at the UK and Jersey's decision to turn down applications from a number of French vessels to fish in their waters.

The Elysee Palace had originally stood firm, saying that if Britain refused to give ground on the number of licences it issued to French fishermen, it would implement its threats to British trawlers, to Jersey and on customs checks.
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Prince Charles joined US businessman Bill Gates and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a reception for world leaders on day three of the COP26 summit tonight.

The Prince of Wales, 72, appeared in high spirits as he spoke with the congregation of delegates and leaders at an evening gathering inside Glasgow's Scottish Event Campus (SEC).

Also joining the future king for the reception was former US Vice President Al Gore, Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

The evening reception comes after the royal used his COP26 address to demand a 'military-style campaign' to mobilise trillions of dollars of private sector cash to 'save our precious planet'.

The Duke of Cornwall said the pandemic had taught the world 'timelines can be sped up dramatically' when everyone 'agrees on the urgency and the direction'.

He said top CEOs and businesses he had spoken to confirmed they were ready to do their part to protect the globe from climate change.

Prince Charles, 72, speaks with US businessman Bill Gates and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a reception for world leaders inside Glasgow's Scottish Event Campus (SEC)

The Prince of Wales was joined by Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng for the evening

During the evening the congregation of representatives and leaders listened to a speech by Environment minister Zac Goldsmith

During the evening reception tonight leaders were listened to a speech by Environment minister Zac Goldsmith who this week described how saving the world's forests would be one of the cornerstone achievements of the Cop26 climate summit.

The scenes come after Prince Charles, who joined Prince William and Kate Middleton for a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum last night, issued a rallying call to nations in the fight against climate change.

In his speech on Monday the royal said: 'So ladies and gentlemen, my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required.

'We know this will take trillions, not billions of dollars. We also know that countries, many which are burdened by heavy levels of debt, simply cannot afford to go green.

'Here we need a vast, military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector.

'With trillions at its disposal, far beyond global GDP and with the greatest respects beyond even the government's of the world's leaders it offers the only real prospect of achieving a fundamental economic transition.

'So how do we do it? First how do we get the private sector all pulling in the same direction?

'After nearly two years now of consultation, CEOs have told me we need to bring together global industries to map out in very practical terms what it will take to make the transition.

'We know from the pandemic the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction.

'So each sector needs a clear strategy of getting innovations to mark it. Second, who pays and how?

'We need to align private investment behind these industry strategies to help finance the transition effort, which means building the confidence of investors so the financial risk is reduced.

'Investment is needed to transfer from coal to clean energy. If we can develop a pipeline of more sustainable and bankable projects at a sufficient scale it will attract sufficient investment.

'Third which switches do we flick to enable these objectives? More than 300 of the world's leading CEOs and and investors have told me that along side the promises countries have made... they need clear market signals, agreed globally so they have the confidence to invest without the goalposts suddenly moving.

'This is the framework I've offered on a Terracarter roadmap created by my stable markets initiative with nearly 100 specific actions for acceleration.

'Together we're working to drive trillions of dollars into support transition across ten of the most emitting and polluting industries.

'They include energy, agriculture, transportation, health systems and fashion. The reality of today's global supply chains means industry transition will effect every country and every producer in the world.

'There is absolutely not doubt in my mind that the private sector is ready to play its part and to work with governments to find a way forward.'

The future king, who used his COP26 address to demand a 'military-style campaign' to mobilise trillions of dollars of private sector cash to 'save our precious planet', spoke with former US Vice President Al Gore during the night

The royal appeared in high spirits as he spoke with world leaders and delegates at the reception on day three of the COP26 summit

Today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he and the Microsoft founder Bill Gates had agreed to spend 400million to try and solve problems of low carbon aviation

The Prince also said the world has been put on 'war footing' due to the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity.

He continued: 'The pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be.

'Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different. in fact they pose an even greater existential threat.'

He went on: 'To the extent we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing.

'Having the opportunity of consulting many of you myself over these past few months I know you all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act decisively because time has literally run out.'

Earlier today, Microsoft founder Bill Gates was seen mingling with world leaders including the Prime Minister of India at a 'clean technology' event at the Cop26 climate summit.

The US businessman-turned-philanthropist met with Narendra Modi, Israeli premier Naftali Bennett, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today and yesterday, during the UN-run conference in Glasgow.

He also met President Joe Biden on the sidelines, and could be seen grinning as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that the pair had agreed to spend 400million in a bid to solve the 'problems of low-carbon aviation' during the Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment event this afternoon.

It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he and the Microsoft founder had agreed to spend 400million to try and solve problems of low carbon aviation.

He said: 'Bill Gates and I agreed jointly to spend 400 million trying to solve problems of low carbon aviation, zero guilt free aviation and we've got to fix it.

'I'm going to be flying in a plane quite soon I think that has 35 per cent sustainable aviation fuel, the target at the moment is to get to 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuel for the whole world by 2030, how pathetic is that?

'We can do better than that folks. It was 100 years ago that Alcock and Brown flew the Atlantic for the first time with about 865 imperial gallons of petrol.

'We've made virtually no progress technologically since then in our approach since sending a plane up over the Atlantic.

'I want to see Alok, never mind Alcock, I want to see Alok as the skipper of the next net zero plane that will not rely on fossil fuels at all and I think we should be far far more ambitious.'

Last night world leaders including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau engaged in a spot of dinner-time diplomacy as they joined hundreds for the biggest gathering of Government representatives since the birth of the United Nations.

World leaders pose for a group photo during an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow on Monday

Boris Johnson, who hosted the event at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, hailed Prince Charles for his efforts in tackling climate change

Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as they arrive for an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 on Monday

The congregation of leaders appeared in high spirits as they put disagreements on hold and capped off the first day at the COP26 climate conference with a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall.

During the night the Prime Minister, who hosted the evening at the recently renovated gallery, told leaders the summit was 'quite an extraordinary historic event' and it was even more important because 'we face nothing less than a mortal threat to our planet and to our civilisation'.

He also hailed Prince Charles as 'the man to defuse the bomb at the world's moment of danger' and described him as a 'prophet without honour'.

The lavish reception was opened by the Queen who urged world leaders to 'earn a place in history' and 'answer the call of those future generations' in an impassioned speech.

Her Majesty, 95, who was forced to miss the conference after her overnight stay in hospital last month, told leaders via video 'to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship' as Government representatives attended the reception for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

She went on to say that 'none of us will live forever' and 'we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children, and those who will follow in their footsteps' as she urged leaders to reach decisive COP climate change deals.

In her most personal speech to date, the monarch also paid tribute to Prince Philip and described how 'the impact of the environment on human progress' was a subject close to the heart of her 'dear late husband' - who in 1969 told a gathering: 'If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.'

Earthshot Prize finalist, 15, who received praise for her solar-powered ironing cart calls on COP26 leaders to 'stop talking and start doing'

A schoolgirl inventor, who the Duke of Cambridge said 'puts us all to shame', has called on COP26 to 'stop talking and start doing'.

Vinisha Umashankar was a finalist in Prince William's Earthshot Prize and received praise for her solar-powered ironing cart, which aims to replace air-polluting charcoal clothes presses used by street vendors in her homeland India.

At a gathering of world leaders including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, the 15-year-old entrepreneur said: 'Please don't back an economy built on fossil fuels, smoke and pollution.

'Please stop debating the old debates! We need a new vision for a new future.'

Vinisha Umashankar, 15, was a finalist in Prince William's Earthshot Prize and received praise for her solar-powered ironing cart

Later at a reception where the Earthshot Prize finalists and winners were introduced to the world leaders, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry offered the rising green inventor support.

The duke introduced Ms Umashankar and her follow finalists and winners to the delegates just a few weeks after prizes of 1 million were awarded to the winners to develop their innovative solutions to help repair the planet.

He called on the leaders 'to create the conditions in which they can thrive, and their ideas can scale'.

During the day, Prince William sat down for talks with billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and discussed the Earthshot Prize and scaling up the solutions of the winners and finalists.

The schoolgirl received a standing ovation after her speech which emphasised how she represented the generation which had much to lose.

She said: 'The point is that me and my generation will live to see the consequences of your actions today. Yet none of what we discuss today is practical for me.

Prince William praised the 15-year-old saying her innovation was 'just one of her many inventions', adding her hard work 'puts us all to shame'

'You are deciding whether or not we've a chance to live in a habitable world. You are deciding whether or not we are worth fighting for; worth supporting and worth caring.'

Hammering home her message for the global heads of government to take action before it is too late, she added: 'Many of my generation are angry at leaders who've made empty promises and failed to deliver.

'We've every reason to be angry. But I've no time for anger. I want to act. I'm not just a girl from India. I'm a girl from Earth. I'm very proud to be so. I'm a student, innovator, environmentalist and entrepreneur but most importantly, an optimist.'

The teenager's solar-powered invention can power an iron for six hours from five hours of sunshine and it eliminates the 11 pounds of charcoal used daily by vendors, cutting pollution.

Prince William praised the 15-year-old saying her innovation was 'just one of her many inventions', adding her hard work 'puts us all to shame'.

Praising their 'amazing ingenuity', the Duke warned the audience, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates: 'Our finalists are bursting with energy, ideas and ambition, so please expect many of them to come knocking on your doors!'

Before finishing, the schoolgirl said: 'I invite you to stand with us. We hope that you would give up the old thinking, old ways and old habits. We extend our hands to you.

'But let me be clear! We won't wait for you to act. We will lead even if you don't. We will act even if you delay.'

The Duke of Cambridge ended his day by tweeting praise for the teenager as he travelled by scheduled train back home, and signed the post with his initial: 'Feeling optimistic as I head home from COP26 having met our Earthshot Prize Winners & Finalists and discussed their solutions to repair our planet.

'Especially proud to see Vinisha speaking in front of the world, demanding change so that her generation can have a better future. W'
Scott Morrison has joined the outpouring of relief that Cleo Smith has been found alive after 18 days.

The Prime Minister tweeted: 'What wonderful, relieving news. Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound.

'Our prayers answered. Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family.'

Cleo Smith has been found alive after 18 days. She went missing from her family's tent on October 16

A map shows how Cleo smith was found 73.7km south of the campsite she vanished from more than two weeks ago

Scott Morrison - who is in the UK for a climate conference - has joined the outpouring of relief that Cleo Smith has been found alive after 18 days

This is the crime scene that police cordoned off on Wednesday morning after Cleo was found

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also posted a message on his social media and thanked police for their search.

'Such happy news. Cleo Smith has been found alive and well. To all those who tirelessly searched for this little girl, you deserve our thanks,' he said.

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek joined the tributes, writing: 'Cleo Smith is safely back in the arms of her parents. Wonderful news. What this family has been through is every parents' worst nightmare. To the WA Police, and the community who joined the search, thanks. Welcome home Cleo.'

Meanwhile, Carnarvon Shire President Eddie Smith told Ben Fordham on radio 2GB: 'For 18 days we've been filled with anxiety and concern. I'm a bit emotional at the moment. I might have to do a Bob Hawke and demand we have a day off work today'.

A police team broke into a locked house in Carnarvon, WA - 74km south of the campsite Cleo vanished from - at 1am on Wednesday and found the four-year-old girl in one of the rooms.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also posted a message on his social media and thanked police for their search

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek joined the tributes on Wednesday morning

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also tweeted about the news on Wednesday

Police are seen during the search for Cleo Smith in Carnarvon over the past few days

Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed the great news just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well.

'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said.

'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.'

Cleo was reunited with her relieved parents a short time later.

A man from Carnarvon was arrested at the home and taken into custody to be questioned by detectives.

Cleo Smith's parents (pictured) got a call to say their daughter has been found at about 1am

'This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for,' Deputy Commissioner Blanch said.

'It's the outcome we've achieved because of some incredible police work.

'I want to thank Cleo's parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.

'And of course, I want to thank my colleagues in the Western Australia Police Force.'

The news has sparked an outpouring of relief worldwide.

Cleo Smith was found by police on Wednesday morning

Police interviewed more than 110 people who were at the Blowholes campsite on the night Cleo arrived with her family on October 16.

The little girl was last seen in her family's tent, at the vast campsite on WA's northwest coast, around 1.30am before her mother and stepfather realised she was missing five hours later.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde says the family had stayed near their tent all evening and had not socialised with other campers.

'I think it's more than likely an opportunistic-type event,' he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday hours before Cleo was found.

'We know they got there on the Friday night, it was getting dark, and there would have been limited opportunity for people to observe Cleo at that time.'

Police had stressed the girl's mother, Ellie Smith, and her partner, Jake Gliddon, were not suspects, nor was Cleo's biological father.

'We've had over 1000 calls to Crime Stoppers from the public,' Supt Wilde said.

Police this week collected more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins stretching from Minilya to Geraldton.

It was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may help them find Cleo.

The state government offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo's location.

Police say the girl's disappearance was immediately treated with the highest priority, although it took two hours to establish a roadblock at the site.

Detectives have made several visits to Cleo's family home in Carnarvon, sought CCTV footage from a range of businesses in the area and collected samples from a campfire at the Blowholes site.
The search for Cleo Smith started with a moment of panic as the four-year-old's mother Ellie and step-dad Jake realised she was missing from the family's tent.

And it ended on Wednesday with a moment of elation as police found the missing little girl after 18 days inside a locked house about an hour's drive away.

The Western Australian toddler was found alive about 12.56am on Wednesday some two-and-a-half weeks after being taken from a tent at a remote campground in the state's north-west.

WA Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed the great news just before 7am AEDT that the little girl was alive, well, smiling and reunited with her mum.

Her miraculous recovery comes after the extensive land, sea and air search for the little girl captured international attention and comparisons with missing British girl Madeleine McCann.

Here is Daily Mail Australia's blow-by-blow guide to how the search for Cleo unfolded.

Missing four-year-old Cleo Smith (pictured) has been miraculously been found alive 18 days after being taken from a tent in a remote campsite

Friday, October 15

Cleo along with her mother Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon and her little sister Isla Mae arrive at the Blowholes campsite around 6:30pm.

They had a 'quiet' night and arrived at sunset.

Saturday, October 16

1:30am: Parents' last sighting of Cleo in the tent she shared with her parents and baby sister when the four-year-old asks for some water.

6.23am: Ellie calls 000 to report her eldest daughter missing as she continues to search the camp ground.

6.30am: The first two officers are dispatched from Carnarvon police station. They travel to Blowholes as a matter of priority, with sirens and lights.

6.41am: A second police car with another two officers is sent to Blowholes, also with lights and sirens.

7.10am: The first police car arrives. The second is only minutes behind.

7.26am: Police on the scene establish a protected forensic area which is taped off to the public, surrounding the family tent where Cleo was last seen.

7.33am: A drone operator is called upon to search from the skies.

7.44am: A third police car is dispatched to the Blowholes.

8am: Family and friends of Cleo's parents begin to arrive to help with the ground search.

A police team broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon about 1am on Wednesday and found the four-year-old girl (pictured) in one of the rooms

Her elated mother, Ellie, broke her silence on Wednesday morning, sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram (pictured)

Another group of detectives briefly searches Cleo's home to make sure she's not there.

They then head to Blowholes and begin stopping cars coming into and leaving the area.

8.09am: A helicopter from a local company arrived at the scene and started searching as police request an SES team attend the Blowholes search.

8.24am: Police air-wing and volunteer marine searchers are called in to assist with the search.

8.34am: Roadblocks are set up at the entrance of Blowholes as detectives gather the names, registration details and addresses of people coming and going. Police search cars.

9.25am: Nine SES personel arrive at the Blowholes to assist with the search.

9.30am: Detectives sit down with a distressed Ellie and remain by her side for the rest of the day while other search crews hunt for Cleo.

11am: Homicide detectives from the Major Crime Division are called and begin travelling from Perth to assist with the search.

1pm: More homicide detectives and search experts are flown in from Perth.

3pm: Officers and search experts arrive in Carnarvon to offer their expertise.

The nightmare began shortly after Cleo's mum Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon and her little sister Isla Mae arrive at the Blowholes campsite around 6:30pm on Friday, October 15

Sunday, October 17

Ms Smith takes to social media to plead for help finding her missing daughter.

A Facebook post uploaded at 1:45am on Sunday which said: 'It's been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl's eyes.

'Please help me find her!

'If you hear or see anything at all please call the police!'

Police suggest Cleo may have been abducted.

Monday, October 18

Police release an image of the red and grey sleeping bag missing from Cleo's tent.

Cleo's biological father is interviewed by police in Mandurah and is asked to provide a statement, which he does so willingly.

WA Police with the help of SES members, volunteers and aircraft continue the land hunt for Cleo, with officers searching nearby shacks and vehicles in the area.

Her elated mother, Ellie, (pictured, with Cleo, her partner and younger daughter) broke her silence the morning Cleo was found, sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram

Tuesday, October 19

Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and her partner Jake Gliddon front the media for the first time and describe the terrifying moment they realised the little girl was missing.

Ms Smith says her four-year-old would never have left the tent by herself.

Police release new images of Cleo and the pink and blue one-piece she was wearing the night she went missing to aid the investigation.

Investigators urge anyone who was at the campsite or in the vicinity on October 15 to get in contact with police.

On October 19, Ellie Smith (pictured) and her partner Jake Gliddon fronted the media for the first time and begged the public to report any information 'big or small'

Wednesday, October 20

Police reveal the zip of the family tent, which was found hanging wide open by her mother at 6am on Saturday morning, was too high for Cleo to reach.

Officers say they 'haven't ruled out' reports from campers who heard the sound of screeching tyres in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Deputy Police Commissioner Daryl Gaunt confirms officers are investigating the whereabouts of 20 registered sex offenders in the Carnarvon area.

Investigators, bounty hunters and officers from the Australian Federal Police have spent two-and-a-half weeks searching for missing four-year-old Cleo (pictured)

Thursday, October 21

The WA Government offers a $1million reward for information that leads to Cleo's location announced by WA Premier Mark McGowan.

'All Western Australians' thoughts are with Cleo's family during what is an unimaginably difficult time,' Mr McGowan said.

'We're all praying for a positive outcome.'

The speed of the reward being issued - within days of her disappearance - was unprecedented.

Monday, October 25

WA Police confirm Cleo was definitely at the camp site - on CCTV footage on a camera installed inside a beach shack just 20 metres from the family tent she disappeared from.

Tuesday, October 26

Forensic officers and detectives spent much of the day at her home in Carnarvon, 900km north of Perth, on Tuesday and left with two bags of evidence.

Although investigators had been to the home before, this was the first time they thoroughly searched inside with a forensics team.

Acting WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the search of the family home was 'standard practice' and did not indicate they were suspects in Cleo's disappearance.

Cleo's relieved mother Ellie Smith posted on November 3: 'Our family is whole again'

Wednesday, October 27

WA Police forensics officers return to the Blowholes campground and are seen collecting soil samples from a number of campfires near shacks in the area.

The federal government announce Australian Federal Police officers had been drafted in to support forensic and intelligence efforts.

Friday, October 29

Police return to the Blowholes camp to analyse the area with drones.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde returns to the Blowholes campsite to join the search for Cleo as the search hit the two-week mark.

He confirms national and international agencies are engaged in the search for Cleo.

Sunday, October 31

Detectives go door-knocking at a number of homes along the North West Coastal Highway in the North Plantations, 5km from Cleo's hometown on Sunday.

Pictured: Police are seen examining rubbish left near the Blowholes campsite in remote WA

Monday, November 1

Detectives sort through mounds of rubbish from roadside bins located hundreds of kilometres away from the campsite she vanished from.

The material was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may have helped them find Cleo.

Officers issue a plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 1000km radius of where the four-year-old disappeared.

Police renew an appeal for more businesses in Carnarvon to provide footage and go door to door in an industrial area on the outskirts of the town.

A man from Carnarvon has been taken into police custody with the house cordoned off with tape, just a seven minutes from Cleo's family home (pictured, the home Cleo was found)

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents

Wednesday, November 3

After two-and-a-half weeks of searching Cleo Smith is found alive and well in the early hours of November 3.

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents.

'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said. 'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.'

Ellie Smith posted to social media: 'Our family is whole again'.

A Carnarvon man is currently in custody and being questioned by detectives.
Western Australia's police chief broke down and cried after learning his officers had found Cleo Smith alive and well 18 days after she vanished from a remote campsite.

Detectives discovered the four-year-old in a locked house in Carnarvon, 73km from where she went missing, about 1am on Wednesday.

A 36-year-old man from the suburb is now in custody and being questioned by detectives.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told Radio 2GB his Western Australian counterpart Chris Dawson was in tears after hearing of the miraculous discovery.

Detectives discovered Cleo Smith in a locked house in Carnarvon, 73km from where she went missing, about 1am on Wednesday

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson (pictured) was in tears after hearing of the miraculous discovery, his NSW counterpart Mick Fuller revealed

'When he got the call this morning he broke down and cried. That speaks volumes - he's a veteran in police so you rarely see that,' Mr Fuller told 2GB's Ben Fordham.

'I thought the chances of finding her alive were so slim.

'He said to me, "West Australian Police never gave up on Cleo". It was good old fashion police work that resulted in her being found alive.'

Fordham minutes earlier was clearly emotional as he relayed the news detectives had found Cleo.

'As the father of little girls, I'm just so happy for their family,' Fordham said.

'I don't know why it hits so hard, it just does - when it's a little person.

'We'll have more to say on the rescue as the day unfolds. For now, welcome home Cleo.'

WA Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch moments earlier confirmed the discovery just before 7am AEDT.

Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time after being discovered by police in a locked Carnarvon home. Cleo is pictured above with her mother Ellie

2GB radio host Ben Fordham's voice clearly trembled as he confirmed the miraculous discovery. 'As the father of little girls, I'm just so happy for their family,' he said

'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her "what's your name?" he said.

'She said: "My name is Cleo".'

Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later.

'This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for,' Deputy Commissioner Blanch said.

Police broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon about 1am on Wednesday and found the four-year-old in one of the rooms

'It's the outcome we've achieved because of some incredible police work.

'I want to thank Cleo's parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.'

Police interviewed more than 110 people who were at the Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon on the night Cleo arrived with her family on October 16.

The little girl was last seen in her family's tent, at the vast campsite on WA's northwest coast, at about 1.30am that night.
A man dressed in a dark tracksuit is wanted by police for questioning after a body was found in the fire exit of a Sydney apartment block.

Emergency services were called to Dalmeny Avenue in Rosebery at about 9pm on October 8 after the body of a 33-year-old man was found in a fire exit.

CCTV footage released by NSW Police on Wednesday shows a man wearing a dark tracksuit, cap and white sneakers leave the scene shortly after.

NSW Police release CCTV footage (pictured) of a man who may be able to assist with inquiries after the body of a 33-year-old man was found at a Rosebery apartment block in South Sydney last month

Officers have established Strike Force Bernacchi to investigate the suspicious death and are wishing to speak with the man as part of inquiries.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm  180cm tall, and of large build.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.
Cleo Smith's mother has celebrated her daughter's discovery with a simple message shared with her family and friends.

Ellie Smith posted a screenshot to her Instagram page early on Wednesday morning confirming her daughter was found 'alive and well'.

'Our family is whole again,' she wrote.

A close family friend also revealed the emotional message Ellie wrote to her loved ones to let them know her 'beautiful girl is home'.

'To be woken at 4.50am with my phone going crazy at 4.50am and see the words Cleo is home alive and safe,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Seeing Ellie saying her "beautiful girl is home" is nothing short of a miracle. We are so happy for her to be home.'

The Instagram post is the first the relieved mother-of-two has uploaded since she was reunited with Cleo after the youngster was found inside a home in Carnarvon, Western Australia, following an extensive 18-day search.

Police broke into a locked house at about 1am on Wednesday in the one of the rooms of the suburban property which is just seven minutes' drive away from her mother Ellie and step-father Jake's house.

Ellie Smith posted a screenshot to her Instagram stories early on Wednesday morning (pictured)

Cleo is now back in the arms of her mum Ellie and stepfather Jake (pictured together)

Other close friends and family members shared the happy news on social media.

Cleo's grandmother Kathy Smith said: 'Thank to all for bringing my beautiful granddaughter home.'

Another said she was 'literally balling my eyes out. Cleo is finally home'.

'We have the BEST police force in the world,' another family member wrote on Facebook. 'Thank you all soooo much.'

'The best news this morning, thank god,' someone else shared.

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEDT that Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents.

One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said.

'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.'

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed he watched the footage of her rescue, and said the little girl was smiling and 'as well as we could expect in the circumstances'.

'I saw the vision, Cleo is a beautiful little four-year-old girl,' he said. 'She's alive, well, smiling, so it is a wonderful, wonderful result.'

He also said Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and step-father Jake Gliddon were feeling emotional, but are 'strong people'.

'They have good support around them.'

'It's a wonderful result today but it'll be a tough journey for them.'

Cleo has been reunited with her relieved parents

The home where Cleo was found is just a seven minute drive away from Cleo Smith's parents home in Carnarvon

A 36-year-old man is currently in custody and being questioned by detectives. Commissioner Dawson told ABC radio the man has no connection to Cleo or her family.

The house has been cordoned off with tape and a neighbour told Nine's Today Show: 'S**t, she's been that close.'

A second neighbour claimed to have seen the arrested man buying nappies from the local Woolworths supermarket.

'The other day, like, I think it was Monday, we saw him in the Woolworths buying nappies but we didn't click on who it was or what he was buying them for, who was buying for,' they told Sunrise. 'Until now.'

They described the man who lived at the house as 'quiet' and said they wouldn't expect him to be involved.

Another neighbour told the Today show: 'S***, she's been that close.'

Cleo's mum Ellie Smith (pictured during her daughter's disappearance) has been regular public appeals for her daughter to be found

Thousands of overjoyed Australians flocked to Ellie's Instagram to say they are 'crying tears of joy'.

'Cried as soon as I turned the TV on and saw this on the news. So happy she is safe and well!' one woman wrote.

'I think a lot of people are crying with relief for you this morning! I can't imagine how you must be feeling. So happy for you,' another shared.

Someone else commented: 'Mums all over Australia are crying tears of relief for your family.'

A woman who followed the story from the UK said: 'Have been watching from UK and I'm so happy for you all. What an amazing job the police have done. Have an amazing reunion. You never gave up hope. Enjoy being whole again.'

Deputy Commissioner Blanch said: 'This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.'

'It's the outcome we've achieved because of some incredible police work.

'I want to thank Cleo's parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.

'And of course, I want to thank my colleagues in the Western Australia Police Force.'

The news has sparked an outpouring of relief worldwide.

'What wonderful, relieving news,' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted from Glasgow.

'Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound.

'Our prayers answered.

'Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family.

Cleo was found in her hometown of Carnarvon in Western Australia, 75km from where she went missing on October 16

Cleo Smith has been found alive and well, 18 days after she vanished from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said Wednesday was one of the most memorable in his 45-year career.

'To find a little girl, a vulnerable little girl, after 18 days .... people think the worst, but importantly hope was never lost and she's been found alive,' he said.

'Australia is rejoicing - it is such a wonderful outcome.'

Police interviewed more than 110 people who were at the Blowholes campsite on the night Cleo arrived with her family on October 16.

The little girl was last seen in her family's tent, at the vast campsite on WA's northwest coast, around 1.30am before his mother and stepfather realised she was missing five hours later.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde says the family had stayed near their tent all evening and had not socialised with other campers.

'It's more than likely an opportunistic-type event,' he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday, just hours before Cleo was found.

'We know they got there on the Friday night, it was getting dark, and there would have been limited opportunity for people to observe Cleo at that time.'

Police stressed the girl's mother and her partner Jake Gliddon were not suspects, nor was Cleo's biological father.

Investigators have spoken to the vast majority of people who were at the campsite, but had not heard from the driver of a car seen leaving in the middle of the night.

Cleo Smith (pictured) has miraculously been found alive after vanishing from a remote campsite in Western Australia

Police this week collected more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins stretching from Minilya to Geraldton.

It was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may help them find Cleo.

The state government offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo's location.

Police say the girl's disappearance was immediately treated with the highest priority, although it took two hours to establish a roadblock at the site.

Detectives have made several visits to Cleo's family home in Carnarvon, sought CCTV footage from a range of businesses in the area and collected samples from a campfire at the Blowholes site as the investigation continued.
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Smiling and waving while clutching an orange ice pop, this is the extraordinary moment Australia's 'Maddie McCann' Cleo Smith arrived in hospital 'safe and well' 18 days after being snatched in her sleeping bag while on a family camping trip on the country's Coral Coast by a childless suspect caught after he was spotting buying nappies in Woolworths.

Yesterday, police smashed their way into a locked suburban house in Carnarvon, which lies around 47 miles away from where Cleo went missing after receiving 'really important information about a car', and officers were reduced to tears after they found the little girl by herself in one of the rooms at around 1am.

One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' and she said: 'My name is Cleo' after being asked the question three times, police have revealed.

They have also released extraordinary bodycam footage of the moment she was rescued and smiles as a detective called Cameron then tells her: 'Cleo we're going to take you to see your mummy and daddy' as a colleague carries her away from the house where she has been held captive for almost three weeks.

At around the same time a 36-year-old man from Carnarvon was arrested at a nearby property, which is just a seven minutes drive away from the girl's family home, and was taken into custody for questioning. He was filmed with a bandaged head after apparently being beaten by a fellow prisoner who learned what he'd been arrested for.

Neighbours described how they became suspicious of the 'loner' suspect, who has no connection to Cleo or her family, after seeing him shopping for diapers in a Woolworths store despite not having children. One resident told Seven News: 'The other day, I think it was Monday, we saw him in Woolworths buying nappies but we didn't click on who it was or what he was buying them for until now.'

Cleo is already back home at Carnarvon in Western Australia after a rollercoaster day that saw officers discover her in a locked house in the town after a tip-off and reunited her with her ecstatic parents on the way to get her checked in hospital.

Following the rescue operation, Cleo's mother Ellie Smith broke her silence by posting picture of her daughter to her Instagram page alongside the message: 'Our family is whole again.'

Cleo, who was dubbed 'Australia's Madeleine McCann', disappeared with her sleeping bag from her family's tent at the Blowholes campsite in Macleod, near Carnarvon, which lies north of Perth, at around 1.30am on October 16.

The child's disappearance triggered an extensive air, sea and ground search throughout the region and saw police officers interview more than 110 people who were at the campsite on the night Cleo arrived with her family.

Cleo Smith in her hospital bed, in an image released by police this morning. Emotional officers recalled how she told them 'My name is Cleo' when they found her locked in the bedroom of a run-down house around 50 miles from where she vanished

The 36-year-old suspect was reportedly beaten by another inmate when he arrived at the Carnarvon holding cells in the middle of the night after the other prisoner learned what he'd been arrested for

Incredible bodycam footage shows the moment Cleo Smith was rescued by Western Australian Police (pictured)

Her mother Ellie Smith broke her silence and said 'our family is whole again' after her four-year-old Cleo Smith was found 'alive and well'

A map shows how Cleo smith was found 73.7km south of the campsite she vanished from more than two weeks ago

Cleo Smith was found alive 18 days after she vanished from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia

The girl's mother broke her silence by sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram after her daughter was found alive

A 36-year-old man from Carnarvon was arrested at the property (pictured) which is just a seven minutes drive away from the girl's family home

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson (pictured) was in tears after hearing of the miraculous discovery

Veteran police chiefs told how the shock development had reduced seasoned detectives to tears of joy.

West Australian police boss broke down and cried after learning his officers had RESCUED Cleo Smith Western Australia's police chief broke down and cried after learning his officers had found Cleo Smith alive and well 18 days after she vanished from a remote campsite. Detectives discovered the four-year-old in a locked house in Carnarvon, 73km from where she went missing, about 1am on Wednesday. A 36-year-old man from the suburb is now in custody and being questioned by detectives. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told Radio 2GB his Western Australian counterpart Chris Dawson was in tears after hearing of the miraculous discovery. 'When he got the call this morning he broke down and cried. That speaks volumes - he's a veteran in police so you rarely see that,' Mr Fuller told 2GB's Ben Fordham. 'I thought the chances of finding her alive were so slim. 'He said to me, 'West Australian Police never gave up on Cleo'. It was good old fashion police work that resulted in her being found alive.' Fordham minutes earlier was clearly emotional as he relayed the news detectives had found Cleo. 'As the father of little girls, I'm just so happy for their family,' Fordham said. 'I don't know why it hits so hard, it just does - when it's a little person. 'We'll have more to say on the rescue as the day unfolds. For now, welcome home Cleo.' Advertisement

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said: 'I can't release it yet but I've seen the video of it. They broke into the house, she was in there and to see that vision and to watch and listen. [Police ask] 'What's your name?', they picked her up and she said 'my name's Cleo'.

'It unashamedly brought a tear to the eye. It's just so remarkable and I'm just so proud of the way that they worked their way through this. It's just so wonderful that we've returned her to her parents.'

Mr Dawson said his officers had 'followed every lead we could. 'We had some important information, I can say that the information about a car was really important,' he told local radio.

'Yes we had a number of people we were very very interested in, but late yesterday and in the early hours of this morning we got a breakthrough. We got a strong lead and [detectives] briefed me on it and said we're going to have to get into this house.'

He added: 'Having been around the block a bit, we obviously were very, very concerned so many days [had] passed. That does not mean you give up.

'You can't for the family, can't for the child. I'm so pleased the team kept going, they were not going to leave any stone unturned. They didn't and it's just a wonderful outcome as a consequence.'

After the rescue, Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed that Cleo was 'alive and well' and had now been reunited with her relieved parents.

Commissioner Dawson said investigators had been determined they 'were not going to leave any stone unturned', even as the search dragged on.

'We had been following a lot of the forensic leads and it led us to a particular house,' he told ABC radio. 'We put everything we had at it.'

'Hope was never lost and the fact she's been found alive, I think Australia is rejoicing. It is such a wonderful outcome.'

The police officer also revealed it was a tip-off to police that led top the raid on the house where Cleo was found.

'There was some information we followed up on. We had been following, you know a lot of the forensic leads and it led us to a particular house,' he said.

'We mounted our general duties police who did a tremendous job within minutes of arriving, the first officers in the scene, within minutes, declared it a forensic scene and sealed it off which was just really, really good policing.

'From that moment on, it's just been a really dedicated team of well over 100 on the scene itself and we were prepared for a long haul but we're so, so pleased.'

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller later told radio host Ben Fordham that Chris Dawson was in tears after hearing of the miraculous discovery.

Speaking on Australia's Radio 2GB he said: 'When he got the call this morning he broke down and cried. That speaks volumes - he's a veteran in police so you rarely see that.

'I thought the chances of finding her alive were so slim.

'He said to me, 'West Australian Police never gave up on Cleo'. It was good old fashion police work that resulted in her being found alive.'

Fordham minutes earlier shared his emotions as he relayed the news detectives had found Cleo.

'As the father of little girls, I'm just so happy for their family. I don't know why it hits so hard, it just does - when it's a little person. We'll have more to say on the rescue as the day unfolds. For now, welcome home Cleo.'

Earlier today Deputy Commissioner Blanch told Perth radio station 6PR that he saw 'seasoned detectives openly crying with relief' after Cleo was found, calling the rescue 'just incredible'.

'It's very rare. It's something we all hoped in our hearts, and it's come true,' he said.

He also praised officers for their 'incredible' work and thanked the Western Australian community.

He said: 'This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for. It's the outcome we've achieved because of some incredible police work. I want to thank Cleo's parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.

[Seeing footage of her rescue] is burned into my mind, I saw detectives who've worked for 18 days straight, 24/7, see little Cleo in the room, and just the care that was expressed immediately, the cuddling, the sound of her voice. She looks straight into camera to say, 'My name is Cleo.' Your heart warms just to hear it. Acting Western Australia police commissioner, Col Blanch

'And of course, I want to thank my colleagues in the Western Australia Police Force.'

Yesterday a close family friend to Ms Smith revealed the emotional message the mother wrote to her loved ones to let them know her 'beautiful girl is home'.

'To be woken at 4.50am with my phone going crazy at 4.50am and see the words Cleo is home alive and safe,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Seeing Ellie saying her 'beautiful girl is home' is nothing short of a miracle. We are so happy for her to be home.'

Following Cleo's rescue shocked residents on the street where she was found described seeing the 'quiet' suspect buying nappies at Woolworths just two days before the little girl was found alive inside his locked home.

One resident said: 'Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him. We were shocked.'

Another neighbour told the Today show: 'S***, she's been that close.'

Sahntayah McKenzie recalled how she heard a little girl crying one night, but did not think anything of it at the time.

'Not last night, the night before it I heard a little girl crying but I wouldn't expect it to be Cleo,' she told the West Australian.

'I didn't expect it would happen in this little neighbourhood, a lot of people know each other.'

Henry Dodd said police spent several hours driving up and down the street before breaking into the home.

Another local described the man in custody as an 'oddball'.

'He is a very quiet guy, bit of an oddball definitely wouldn't have picked him it has completely derailed me,' Rennee Turner told the publication.

'I'd heard whispers I kind of figured the police might have had an idea of what was going on, because I have never seen such a massive amount of cops here for so long.

A group of men who watched the rescue operation told Nine News: 'One of the boys shouted and said, ''oh they've got a little girl there, it might be Cleo''. I ran there, stood up toward the detective's window and I saw Cleo in the back. Yeah, that's her there!'

Eighteen days looking at Cleo's face. I haven't slept, the commissioner hasn't slept, I don't think anyone in this police force has slept. We have held on to this hope from day one. This is why we become police. Acting Western Australia police commissioner, Col Blanch

Neighbours awoke to frantic scenes as police cars and detectives packed into their street, piling into and out of the home where Cleo was recovered.

One resident said: 'We stood back and waited but after that, we saw someone, on the detective's shoulder. We thought it might be the little girl, which it was. I went closer to the detectives car and I saw her in the back of the car with the detective, he was holding her.'

Another neighbour said she received a call from her nephew at 4.30am who broke the news the little girl had been located.

'I was very pleased, I jumped out of bed and I have been awake since,' she told 9News.

The woman said she was shocked to walk outside to a sea of police and realise just how close the little girl was to her home.

'The main thing is that she has been found well and alive,' she said.

'Well done to the Western Australia Police.'

Police said phone data was critical in cracking the case and officers acted 'in a heartbeat' after piecing the information together.

Officers were seen carrying a crow bar and a battering ram out of the house after breaking in and finding Cleo.

'It will become apparent when we put the puzzle together ... It all led us to one place,' Deputy Commissioner Blanch told Channel Nine.

Four-year-old Cleo has been reunited with her relieved parents after she went missing 18 days ago in Western Australia

Cleo's mum Ellie Smith (pictured during her daughter's disappearance) has been regular public appeals for her daughter to be found

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison - who is in the UK for a climate conference - has joined the outpouring of relief that Cleo Smith has been found alive after 18 days

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also posted a message on his social media and thanked police for their search

Australian MP Tanya Plibersek also joined the tributes for the missing four-year-old after she was found 'alive and well'

Cleo vanished with her sleeping bag from her family's campsite (pictured) between 1.30am and 6.30am on October 16

A police air wing plane has landed in Carnarvon to pick up the man currently in custody.

Commissioner Dawson was on board the plane and will spend the day meeting with police involved in the rescue and checking in with Cleo's family.

Police Air Wing PC12 is expected to return to Perth's Jandakot Airport later on Wednesday with the accused on board.

Today, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is currently in Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit, said it was 'relieving news' that Cleo had been found well.

He tweeted: 'What wonderful, relieving news. Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound. Our prayers answered.

'Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family.'

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also posted a message on his social media and thanked police for their search.

'Such happy news. Cleo Smith has been found alive and well. To all those who tirelessly searched for this little girl, you deserve our thanks,' he said.

And Australian MP Tanya Plibersek also joined the tributes, writing: 'Cleo Smith is safely back in the arms of her parents. Wonderful news.

'What this family has been through is every parents' worst nightmare. To the WA Police, and the community who joined the search, thanks. Welcome home Cleo.'

During their search for the missing four-year-old police interviewed more than 110 people who were at the Blowholes campsite on the night Cleo arrived with her family on October 16.

The little girl disappeared between 1.30am and 6am on the second day of a camping trip with her parents and younger sister Isla. The children had been in a compartment of the tent separate from the parents.

Police suspected she had been abducted because a zipper on a tent flap had been raised to a height that she could not have reached.

Forensic scientists had examined the exterior of the family home for evidence that a predator had stalked Cleo and attempted to break in.

Mother Ellie Smith had earlier described her distress at waking at 6am to find the family's tent unzipped and her oldest daughter missing.

Cleo Smith (pictured) has miraculously been found alive after vanishing from a remote campsite in Western Australia

Cleo's disappearance triggered a massive search throughout the region and saw police officers interview more than 110 people

The home where Cleo was found is just a seven minute drive away from the little girl's parents home in Carnarvon

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said the family had stayed near their tent all evening and hadn't socialised with other campers.

'I think it's more than likely an opportunistic-type event,' he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday hours before Cleo was found.

'We know they got there on the Friday night, it was getting dark, and there would have been limited opportunity for people to observe Cleo at that time.'

Police had stressed many times that the girl's mother, Ellie Smith, and her partner, Jake Gliddon, were not suspects, nor was Cleo's biological father.

Ms Smith had been posting daily public appeals on social media, pleading for Cleo to come home.

And police this week collected rubbish from roadside bins stretching from Minilya, a north of Carnarvon to Geraldton - a coastal city in the mid west region of Western Australia.

It was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may have helped them find Cleo.

The State Government also offered a $1 million (540,000) reward for information leading to Cleo's location.

Police said the Cleo's disappearance was immediately treated with the highest priority, although it took two hours to establish a roadblock at the site.

Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed that little Cleo was alive and well after she was found in the locked home

Cleo is now back with her mother Ellie and stepfather Jake (pictured together) and is being assessed in hospital

Police officers are seen in the region during the search for Cleo Smith in Carnarvon over the past few days

Detectives made several visits to Cleo's family home in Carnarvon, sought CCTV footage from a range of businesses in the area and collected samples from a campfire at the Blowholes site.

Officers also issued an extraordinary plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 621-mile radius of where the preschooler vanished and were seeking footage from motel check in, service stations, fast food outlets, truck stops, free camping areas, children's clothing stores, pharmacies and camping stores.

The selective list appeared to indicate that police were narrowing in on a suspect.

From panicked moment Cleo Smith's mum realised little girl was missing to the miracle moment she was found alive: Blow-by-blow timeline of the 18-day search for 'Australia's Madeleine McCann'

The search for Cleo Smith started with a moment of panic as the four-year-old's mother Ellie and step-dad Jake realised she was missing from the family's tent.

And it ended on Wednesday with a moment of elation as police found the missing little girl after 18 days inside a locked house about an hour's drive away.

The Western Australian toddler was found alive about 12.56am on Wednesday some two-and-a-half weeks after being taken from a tent at a remote campground in the state's north-west.

WA Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed the great news just before 7am AEDT that the little girl was alive, well, smiling and reunited with her mum.

Her miraculous recovery comes after the extensive land, sea and air search for the little girl captured international attention and comparisons with missing British girl Madeleine McCann.

Here is Daily Mail Australia's blow-by-blow guide to how the search for Cleo unfolded.

Missing four-year-old Cleo Smith (pictured) has been miraculously been found alive 18 days after being taken from a tent in a remote campsite

Friday, October 15

Cleo along with her mother Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon and her little sister Isla Mae arrive at the Blowholes campsite around 6:30pm.

They had a 'quiet' night and arrived at sunset.

Saturday, October 16

1:30am: Parents' last sighting of Cleo in the tent she shared with her parents and baby sister when the four-year-old asks for some water.

6.23am: Ellie calls 000 to report her eldest daughter missing as she continues to search the camp ground.

6.30am: The first two officers are dispatched from Carnarvon police station. They travel to Blowholes as a matter of priority, with sirens and lights.

6.41am: A second police car with another two officers is sent to Blowholes, also with lights and sirens.

7.10am: The first police car arrives. The second is only minutes behind.

7.26am: Police on the scene establish a protected forensic area which is taped off to the public, surrounding the family tent where Cleo was last seen.

7.33am: A drone operator is called upon to search from the skies.

7.44am: A third police car is dispatched to the Blowholes.

8am: Family and friends of Cleo's parents begin to arrive to help with the ground search.

A police team broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon about 1am on Wednesday and found the four-year-old girl (pictured) in one of the rooms

Another group of detectives briefly searches Cleo's home to make sure she's not there.

They then head to Blowholes and begin stopping cars coming into and leaving the area.

8.09am: A helicopter from a local company arrived at the scene and started searching as police request an SES team attend the Blowholes search.

8.24am: Police air-wing and volunteer marine searchers are called in to assist with the search.

8.34am: Roadblocks are set up at the entrance of Blowholes as detectives gather the names, registration details and addresses of people coming and going. Police search cars.

9.25am: Nine SES personel arrive at the Blowholes to assist with the search.

9.30am: Detectives sit down with a distressed Ellie and remain by her side for the rest of the day while other search crews hunt for Cleo.

11am: Homicide detectives from the Major Crime Division are called and begin travelling from Perth to assist with the search.

1pm: More homicide detectives and search experts are flown in from Perth.

3pm: Officers and search experts arrive in Carnarvon to offer their expertise.

The nightmare began shortly after Cleo's mum Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon and her little sister Isla Mae arrive at the Blowholes campsite around 6:30pm on Friday, October 15

Sunday, October 17

Ms Smith takes to social media to plead for help finding her missing daughter.

A Facebook post uploaded at 1:45am on Sunday which said: 'It's been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl's eyes.

'Please help me find her!

'If you hear or see anything at all please call the police!'

Police suggest Cleo may have been abducted.

Monday, October 18

Police release an image of the red and grey sleeping bag missing from Cleo's tent.

Cleo's biological father is interviewed by police in Mandurah and is asked to provide a statement, which he does so willingly.

WA Police with the help of SES members, volunteers and aircraft continue the land hunt for Cleo, with officers searching nearby shacks and vehicles in the area.

Her elated mother, Ellie, (pictured, with Cleo, her partner and younger daughter) broke her silence the morning Cleo was found, sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram

Tuesday, October 19

Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and her partner Jake Gliddon front the media for the first time and describe the terrifying moment they realised the little girl was missing.

Ms Smith says her four-year-old would never have left the tent by herself.

Police release new images of Cleo and the pink and blue one-piece she was wearing the night she went missing to aid the investigation.

Investigators urge anyone who was at the campsite or in the vicinity on October 15 to get in contact with police.

On October 19, Ellie Smith (pictured) and her partner Jake Gliddon fronted the media for the first time and begged the public to report any information 'big or small'

Wednesday, October 20

Police reveal the zip of the family tent, which was found hanging wide open by her mother at 6am on Saturday morning, was too high for Cleo to reach.

Officers say they 'haven't ruled out' reports from campers who heard the sound of screeching tyres in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Deputy Police Commissioner Daryl Gaunt confirms officers are investigating the whereabouts of 20 registered sex offenders in the Carnarvon area.

Investigators, bounty hunters and officers from the Australian Federal Police have spent two-and-a-half weeks searching for missing four-year-old Cleo (pictured)

Thursday, October 21

The WA Government offers a $1million reward for information that leads to Cleo's location announced by WA Premier Mark McGowan.

'All Western Australians' thoughts are with Cleo's family during what is an unimaginably difficult time,' Mr McGowan said.

'We're all praying for a positive outcome.'

The speed of the reward being issued - within days of her disappearance - was unprecedented.

Monday, October 25

WA Police confirm Cleo was definitely at the camp site - on CCTV footage on a camera installed inside a beach shack just 20 metres from the family tent she disappeared from.

Tuesday, October 26

Forensic officers and detectives spent much of the day at her home in Carnarvon, 900km north of Perth, on Tuesday and left with two bags of evidence.

Although investigators had been to the home before, this was the first time they thoroughly searched inside with a forensics team.

Acting WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the search of the family home was 'standard practice' and did not indicate they were suspects in Cleo's disappearance.

Cleo's relieved mother Ellie Smith posted on November 3: 'Our family is whole again'

Wednesday, October 27

WA Police forensics officers return to the Blowholes campground and are seen collecting soil samples from a number of campfires near shacks in the area.

The federal government announce Australian Federal Police officers had been drafted in to support forensic and intelligence efforts.

Friday, October 29

Police return to the Blowholes camp to analyse the area with drones.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde returns to the Blowholes campsite to join the search for Cleo as the search hit the two-week mark.

He confirms national and international agencies are engaged in the search for Cleo.

Sunday, October 31

Detectives go door-knocking at a number of homes along the North West Coastal Highway in the North Plantations, 5km from Cleo's hometown on Sunday.

Pictured: Police are seen examining rubbish left near the Blowholes campsite in remote WA

Monday, November 1

Detectives sort through mounds of rubbish from roadside bins located hundreds of kilometres away from the campsite she vanished from.

The material was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may have helped them find Cleo.

Officers issue a plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 1000km radius of where the four-year-old disappeared.

Police renew an appeal for more businesses in Carnarvon to provide footage and go door to door in an industrial area on the outskirts of the town.

A man from Carnarvon has been taken into police custody with the house cordoned off with tape, just a seven minutes from Cleo's family home (pictured, the home Cleo was found)

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents

Wednesday, November 3

After two-and-a-half weeks of searching Cleo Smith is found alive and well in the early hours of November 3.

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents.

'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said. 'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.'

Ellie Smith posted to social media: 'Our family is whole again'.

A Carnarvon man is currently in custody and being questioned by detectives.

How neighbours of 'quiet man' arrested after Cleo Smith was found locked in his house became suspicious after spotting him buying NAPPIES at Woolworths

By Tita Smith and Kylie Stevens for Daily Mail Australia

Shocked residents have described seeing their 'quiet' neighbour buying Kimbies brand nappies from a Woolworths supermarket just two days before Cleo Smith was found alive inside his locked home.

Police teams found the four-year-old girl inside a Carnarvon home about 1am on Wednesday - 18 days after she vanished from her family's Blowholes campsite.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken into custody to be questioned by detectives. He has no connection to the family.

One neighbour said he saw the man at the supermarket buying diapers, which seemed odd and raised alarm.

'The other day - on Monday - we saw him in Woolworths buying Kimbies [nappies] and that,' he told Sunrise.

'But we didn't click on what he was buying them for.'

Cleo Smith has been found alive and well, 18 days after she vanished from a tent

Neighbours described the man who lived at the home as 'quiet' and said they wouldn't expect him to be involved.

One man said everyone in the street - which is just a seven minute drive from Cleo's family home - is familiar with each other, but they tend to keep to themselves.

'Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him,' he said.

'We were shocked.'

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the arrest came after detectives received information that led them to the house.

He said police will not be able to provide too many details as the investigation remains ongoing, but said 'phone data was critical' in cracking the case open.

Cleo was reunited with her relieved parents a short time after being found and is now in hospital receiving care.

Neighbours awoke to frantic scenes as police cars and detectives packed into their street, piling into and out of the home where Cleo was recovered.

A shocked neighbour (pictured) of the man arrested after Cleo was found locked in his house has described spotting him buying nappies at Woolworths two days earlier

'We stood back and waited but after that, we saw someone, on the detective's shoulder,' he said.

'We thought it might be the little girl, which it was. I went closer to the detectives car and I saw her in the back of the car with the detective, he was holding her.'

Another neighbour said she received a call from her nephew at 4.30am who broke the news the little girl had been located.

'I was very pleased, I jumped out of bed and I have been awake since,' she told 9News.

The woman said she was shocked to walk outside to a sea of police and realise just how close the little girl was to her home.

'The main thing is that she has been found well and alive,' she said.

'Well done to the Western Australia Police.'

WA Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed the great news just before 7am AEDT that little Cleo is alive and well.

'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said.

Another neighbour said she was shocked to walk outside her home and see police after failing to wake up when detectives swarmed the street at 1am to recover the missing toddler

'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.

'This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for,' Deputy Commissioner Blanch said.

'It's the outcome we've achieved because of some incredible police work.

'I want to thank Cleo's parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.

'And of course, I want to thank my colleagues in the Western Australia Police Force.'

Daily Mail Australia understands a local police officer rang Cleo's mother Ellie Smith to break the incredible news.

Ms Smith said: 'Our family is whole again.'

Cleo's mother breaks her silence with emotional tribute just hours after her little girl is found safe and well - and the heartfelt text she sent to loved ones

By Charlotte Karp and Kylie Stevens for Daily Mail Australia

Cleo Smith's mother has broken her silence just hours after the four-year-old was miraculously found alive.

Ellie Smith posted a screenshot to her Instagram page early on Wednesday morning confirming her daughter was found 'alive and well'.

'Our family is whole again,' she wrote.

A close family friend also revealed the emotional message Ellie wrote to her loved ones to let them know her 'beautiful girl is home'.

'To be woken at 4.50am with my phone going crazy at 4.50am and see the words Cleo is home alive and safe,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Seeing Ellie saying her 'beautiful girl is home' is nothing short of a miracle. We are so happy for her to be home.'

Ellie Smith posted a screenshot to her Instagram stories early on Wednesday morning (pictured)

The Instagram post is the first the relieved mother-of-two has uploaded since she was reunited with Cleo after the youngster was found inside a home in Carnarvon, Western Australia, following an extensive 18-day search.

Police broke into a locked house at about 1am on Wednesday in the one of the rooms of the suburban property which is just seven minutes' drive away from her mother Ellie and step-father Jake's house

Other close friends and family members shared the happy news on social media.

Cleo's grandmother Kathy Smith said: 'Thank to all for bringing my beautiful granddaughter home.'

Another said she was 'literally balling my eyes out. Cleo is finally home'.

'We have the BEST police force in the world,' another family member wrote on Facebook. 'Thank you all soooo much.'

'The best news this morning, thank god,' someone else shared.

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEDT that Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents.

One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said.

'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.'

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed he watched the footage of her rescue, and said the little girl was smiling and 'as well as we could expect in the circumstances'.

'I saw the vision, Cleo is a beautiful little four-year-old girl,' he said. 'She's alive, well, smiling, so it is a wonderful, wonderful result.'

He also said Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and step-father Jake Gliddon were feeling emotional, but are 'strong people'.

'They have good support around them.'

'It's a wonderful result today but it'll be a tough journey for them.'

A 36-year-old man is currently in custody and being questioned by detectives. Commissioner Dawson told ABC radio the man has no connection to Cleo or her family.
Hundreds of Britains biggest firms will be forced to go green under controversial plans to tackle climate change.

Rishi Sunak will today unveil wide-ranging proposals to rewire the economy towards reducing global warming.

The package will see trillions of pounds of assets controlled by the City of London redirected away from carbon-intensive sectors like coal and oil towards initiatives such as electric car batteries.

But it will also impose requirements on all UK-listed companies to set out proposals to transition towards net zero in the coming decades, with firms assessed annually against their published plans.

Those that fail to make enough progress, or whose plans are deemed too weak, could face sanctions including fines or even removal from the stock exchange.

Critics of Mr Sunaks plans fear they could lead to firms quitting the City of London to avoid the red tape.

The move comes after years of uncertainty for the financial centre in the wake of Brexit and the upheaval caused by Covid-19, which among other factors has seen millions of employees working from home rather than the heart of the City.

Rishi Sunak will today unveil wide-ranging proposals to rewire the economy towards reducing global warming

Ministers hope the scheme will lead to a rapid shift away from investment in polluting industries and help drive progress towards the Governments target of making the UK carbon neutral by 2050.

The Treasury said the plan would make the City the worlds first net zero-aligned financial centre.

But the compulsion is likely to prove controversial with some, and could have big consequences for firms in sectors such as oil, gas and mining  BP, Shell and mining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore are among those listed in London.

The Confederation of British Industry gave the idea a cautious welcome last night, saying that business was already upping its game. But the trade body warned it was vital ministers work with colleagues abroad to produce globally consistent rules to prevent British-based firms being penalised.

City veteran Alasdair Haynes, chief executive of stock exchange Aquis, said it was good that climate disclosures are put into companies reports and accounts, but warned: You have to have proportionality. A lot of fast-growing companies are facing high costs to complete their reporting, especially when you look at the detail of whats needed.

Mr Sunak will unveil the plans today at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow. He will say that as one of the worlds biggest financial centres, the UK has a responsibility to lead the way on the issue. A deal with 450 of the worlds biggest banks, pension funds and insurance firms will see almost 100billion worth of assets begin to transition to lower carbon sectors.

The Chancellor has faced criticism from green groups over his approach to climate change, with Greta Thunberg insisting his Budget decision to cut taxes on domestic flights showed that the issue was not his main priority.

At present, firms are under no obligation to go green. A recent assessment found that barely half of all companies on the FTSE 100 have so far made any commitment to move to net zero.

The package will see trillions of pounds of assets controlled by the City of London redirected away from carbon-intensive sectors like coal and oil towards initiatives such as electric car batteries (stock image)

Under the new arrangement, a transition plan taskforce. composed of industry and academic leaders and regulators. will draw up standards that the plans must meet. Sources said the quango is designed to prevent firms greenwashing their records by adopting meaningless pledges. The rules will be introduced in 2023 following consultation with business.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, said the moves were steps in the right direction but that it was critical they did not apply only in the UK.

These need to be followed up with further action from policy makers to develop globally consistent climate and sustainability disclosure standards, she said.

Sam Alvis, of the Green Alliance, said trillions of dollars are still flowing to fossil fuels every day and voluntary measures have not got us far enough. He added that the new system would have to have strict criteria with legal bite.

The arrangement, known as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, will see firms responsible for 40 per cent of all global investment sign up to net zero goals.
The Ministry of Defence has U-turned on its refusal to let serving soldiers carry the coffin of Troubles veteran Dennis Hutchings.

Supporters of Mr Hutchings, who died last month aged 80 while on trial in Belfast over a fatal 1974 shooting, had called for members of his former Army regiment, the Life Guards, to act as pallbearers at his funeral on Remembrance Day.

Last night the MoD caved into pressure and agreed to provide military pallbearers, saying Mr Hutchings had served with great dignity, diligence and courage.

Dennis Hutchings, 80, died last month while on trial in Belfast over a fatal 1974 shooting. His supporters called for members of his former Army regiment to act as pallbearers at his funeral

Officials had originally denied a request made through the regiment by a former major who served in Northern Ireland alongside Mr Hutchings.

However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, vowed to find out who stopped the plans.

Johnny Mercer, the Conservative MP who accompanied Mr Hutchings from his home in Cornwall to his trial in Belfast, told The Daily Telegraph: I am pleased for the family that the MoD will honour Dennis Hutchings in death as they failed to in life.

Mr Hutchings' supporters gathered together outside Laganside Court in Belfast last month

'He was a good man who served his country proudly in Northern Ireland.

Mr Hutchingss son John, 48, said: I am absolutely over the moon and delighted that the Life Guards are providing these pallbearers.

An Army spokesman said: Mr Hutchings served for many years with great dignity, diligence and courage.

'The Army was formally approached to provide a bearer party for the funeral.

'As a mark of respect to Mr Hutchings, his service and his family, the decision was made by the Army to support the request.
Army top brass are to receive a severe dressing down from the Defence Secretary after a series of misconduct scandals.

Ben Wallace will give generals an unprecedented lambasting next week over fears discipline is collapsing and the Army has lost its focus, sources revealed last night.

It comes a day after Kenyan police chiefs announced the reopening of a murder probe into the brutal death of a woman last seen with British troops.

Ben Wallace (pictured) will give generals an unprecedented lambasting next week over fears discipline is collapsing and the Army has lost its focus, sources revealed last night

Pictured: Agnes Wanjiru, whose stabbed body was dumped in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya, in 2012

Army chiefs are also embroiled in a scandal involving the sexual harassment of a female officer cadet who later killed herself.

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, the Chief of the General Staff, his deputy Lieutenant General Chris Tickell and Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse, the Commander of the Field Army, are among those summoned for the rare reprimand. It is understood to be the first time in recent years that the Army Board has been called in by a Defence Secretary for such a telling off.

Mr Wallace, a former Army officer, is said to have become exasperated over the generals failure to maintain standards.

Agnes Wanjirus stabbed body was dumped in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya, where she had been entertaining soldiers from the Duke of Lancasters Regiment in March 2012. Last month a soldier claimed a colleague confessed to killing her.

In September the Daily Mail revealed how instructors at the Armys prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst had been named interested parties at an inquest into the death of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks, 21.

One is accused of having an affair with her before she hanged herself in 2019. Another warrant officer allegedly invited her to his room after a formal dinner, in a breach of rules. A full inquest will take place next year.

The Army Board meeting will also address the public fallout from disastrous procurement projects such as the 4billion Ajax armoured vehicle which faces being scrapped. Scores of troops have reported hearing issues after testing Ajax.

The Commons public accounts committee also reports today that the Ministry of Defences purchasing department is unfit for purpose. It recommends the MoD is relieved of its responsibilities for major expenditure and that all major projects should in future be signed off by the Treasury and the Cabinet Office.

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith (pictured), the Chief of the General Staff, his deputy Lieutenant General Chris Tickell and Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse, the Commander of the Field Army, are among those summoned for the rare reprimand

It comes a day after Kenyan police chiefs announced the reopening of a murder probe into the brutal death of a woman last seen with British troops. Pictured: Kenyan sex workers protest on October 26, 2021, against the murder and harassment of their colleagues in recent years

Last night a senior defence source said: The Secretary of State has summoned the Army Board to discuss a range of issues affecting the service. This extraordinary summons comes off the back of a number of worrying incidents. The meeting will cover Ajax and conduct and culture in the Army.

The Secretary of State has become exasperated over a series of issues.

An Army spokesman said: The Secretary of State is determined to work with the Armys leadership to drive out unacceptable behaviour at all levels, particularly with respect to the treatment of women.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange plans to marry the mother of his two children inside HMP Belmarsh, it emerged today.

The Australian activist, who turns 50 this week, has spent more than two years inside the maximum security prison as he awaits possible extradition to the US for releasing confidential military records.

Mr Assange started a secret relationship with South African lawyer Stella Moris, 38, while confined to the Ecuadorian embassy, fathering two sons, Gabriel, four, and Max, two, while claiming political asylum to avoid deportation.

The Australian activist, who turns 50 this week, has spent more than two years inside Belmarsh

Mr Assange started a secret relationship with South African lawyer Stella Moris, 38, while at the Ecuadorian embassy (she is seen with their two sons, Gabriel, four, (left) and Max, two

The pair got engaged in 2016, and Ms Moris has now revealed they want to get married as soon as possible rather than waiting for the legal proceedings to go on any longer.

'The most likely thing is that we'll get married in the prison and then we'll have another kind of wedding celebration with friends and family once once he's free', she told news agency DPA.

'We have spoken to the Belmarsh chaplain services about it and they said they haven't seen a wedding in Belmarsh for as long as they've been there, which is 12 years. So it's not a straightforward thing to do.'

Ms Moris is urging US President Joe Biden to let her fiance go free to show that the country is a 'beacon of press freedom'.

Washington has sought the extradition of Mr Assange over his role in one of the biggest ever leaks of classified information, accusing him of putting lives in danger by releasing vast troves of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables.

He has now spent nine years in jail or self-incarceration in Britain, and both Ms Moris and the British judge overseeing the extradition request have warned he may not survive a process to send him across the Atlantic.

Ms Moris said she wanted to get married inside Belmarsh (pictured) rather than waiting any longer

'If Biden really wants to break with the Trump legacy, then he has to drop the case,' Ms Moris said. 'They can't maintain this prosecution against Julian while saying that they defend a global press freedom.'

When Barack Obama served as president and Mr Biden was his vice president, the US decided not to seek Mr Assange's extradition on the grounds that what WikiLeaks did was similar to journalistic activities protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Weeks after taking office Trump administration officials stepped up public criticism of Mr Assange and later filed a series of criminal charges accusing him of participating in a hacking conspiracy.

The US Justice Department said in February it planned to continue to seek the extradition for Mr Assange to face hacking conspiracy charges.

Ms Moris said the couple were planning to marry soon at the top-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held.

Ms Moris said she had spoken to the chaplain service at the prison (pictured is the chapel)

US prosecutors and Western security officials regard Mr Assange as a reckless enemy of the state whose actions threatened the lives of agents named in the leaked material.

Supporters pit him as an anti-establishment hero who exposed US wrongdoing in Afghanistan and Iraq and say his prosecution is a politically-motivated assault on journalism that gives a free pass to oppressive regimes around the world.

WikiLeaks came to prominence when it published a US military video in 2010 showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

Ms Moris is urging US President Joe Biden to let her fiance go free to show that the country is a 'beacon of press freedom'

An effort to extradite him was launched in 2019 after he was detained in London after taking refuge in Ecuador's embassy in the British capital for seven years to avoid being extradited to Sweden.

British judge Vanessa Baraitser said in January that although she accepted the US legal arguments in the case, she said Mr Assange's mental health issues meant he would be at risk of suicide if extradited, leading to her rejecting the request.

Ms Moris said the 49-year-old was very low but still fighting. She likened his treatment as akin to the way some journalists are treated in China and Saudi Arabia.

'I think there's no doubt that Julian wouldn't survive an extradition,' she said.

She argued that any robust democracy had to accommodate internal dissent. 'A superpower that has a free press is very different in nature from one that does not.'

She said she is hopeful that the case will be viewed differently under a Biden administration, but refused to say if his legal team had held talks with US officials.

The lawyer said she is hopeful that the case will be viewed differently under a Biden administration, but refused to say if his legal team had held talks with US officials

Despite that hope, she said the couple were planning to marry soon inside Belmarsh, once the paperwork is done, rather than wait to hear his fate.

She said Mr Assange had been given a huge lift recently when she was allowed to take their two sons to visit, allowing him to touch his children for the first time in over a year.

'He was happy to see us, but he's struggling,' she said. 'He's very low but he's fighting. He has the hope that this will end soon.'
Baby seals can change their tone of voice in response to different sounds just like humans, a study reveals.

Scientists in the Netherlands played sea noises to baby harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), which have a wide range around Northern Europe.

Nearly all of the pups lowered the tone of their voice when they were played more intense soundscapes, the experts found.

The findings suggest seals have 'vocal plasticity', the ability to alter the tone of their voice, which is a rare trait in mammals beside humans.

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Pictured, an adorable harbour seal pup at the Seal Centre Pieterburen, in Pieterburen, the Netherlands. The species (Phoca vitulina) lowered tone of voice when they were played sounds of the sea

PITCH VERSUS TONE Pitch is the high or low frequency of a sound. When you sing, you create pitch because your vocal cords vibrate at a certain speed. For example, a foghorn emits a low frequency or pitch, whereas the sound your smoke detector emits is a high frequency or pitch. Tone refers to a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality and strength. Advertisement

The study was conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (MPI) in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences.

According to senior author Andrea Ravignani at MPI, mammals other than seals would raise the tone of their voices as noise increased.

'What seals did was lowering the pitch of their voices to escape the frequency range of noise, something that only animals with good control of their larynx  including humans but potentially excluding most mammals  can do,' he told CNET.

'By looking at one of the few other mammals who may be capable of learning sounds, we can better understand how we, humans, acquire speech, and ultimately why we are such chatty animals.'

The team studied eight harbour seal pups aged one to three weeks old that were being held at the Dutch Sealcentre Pieterburen, a rehabilitation centre, before being released back into the wild.

To investigate whether the pups could adapt their voices to noises in the environment, the team first recorded noises from the nearby Wadden Sea.

For several days, the sea noises were then played back to the pups, in three degrees of loudness (varying from no sound to 65 decibel), but with a similar pitch to that of the seal pups' calls.

The team recorded the seal pups' spontaneous calls to see if they change their tone of voice to adapt to the sea noises.

Harbour seals, also known as common seals, live in temperate coastal habitats along the northern coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia

Interestingly, when the seal pups heard louder sea noises, they lowered their tone of voice, the team found. The pups also kept a more steady pitch with the more intense noise levels.

The pups did not produce more or longer calls when they heard different levels of sea noise.

There was an exception, however; one seal clearly produced louder calls when the noise got louder  something known as the Lombard effect.

Harbour seals are less abundant in the UK than grey seals. Harbour seals have a dog-like face with large brown eyes, white whiskers and a snub nose

THE LOMBARD EFFECT The Lombard effect makes people speak louder and more clearly in a noisy environment. The Lombard effect is typical for human speech, as people raise their voices in noise to be better understood. It's an involuntary response speakers experience in the presence of noise during voice communication. Advertisement

Humans display the the Lombard effect too  we speak louder and more clearly in a noisy environment, just like a crowded bar or nightclub.

The study suggests young seals adapt to the noises in their environment by lowering the tone of their voice, an ability they seem to share with humans and bats.

Other animals in similar experiments only raise their voice (i.e. make louder calls) in response to louder noise.

'Seal pups have a more advanced control over their vocalisations than assumed up until now,' said Ravignani.

'This control seems to be already present at only few weeks of age. This is astonishing, as few other mammals seem capable of that.

'To date, humans seem to be the only mammals with direct neural connections between the cortex (the outer layer of the brain) and the larynx (what we use to produce tone of voice).

'These results show that seals may be the most promising species to find these direct connections, and unravel the mystery of speech.'

Seals are also capable of vocal learning  the ability to imitate sounds, just like a parrot does.

This was previously demonstrated by Hoover, a harbour seal at New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts in the 1970s and 1980s.

George Swallow of Maine holds Hoover at the animal's home at the New England Aquarium in Boston on August 16, 1971. Hoover was found in June that year by a Maine lobsterman when she was only a day or two old after her mother has been killed. Swallow and his wife took care of the seal and have found it a new home at the aquarium

Hoover the talking seal, discovered as a pup in 1971 by a Maine lobsterman, was able to mimic human speech.

Hoover was initially kept in a family home and could bark catchphrases in a gruff New England accent, such as 'come over here' and 'hello, there!'

Harbour seals, also known as common seals, live in temperate coastal habitats along the northern coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

In the UK, they can be seen around the coasts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and eastern England.
Astronauts heading back to Earth from the International Space Station this month will be without a bathroom, thanks to an issue with the toilets on SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.

Instead, NASA's Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will have to rely on 'undergarments' for waste management while aboard the Endeavour capsule, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, told reporters at an October 29 press conference.

'Our intent is to not use the system at all for the return leg home because of what we've seen with the fluids we are talking about,' Stich said.

Astronauts commonly use the undergarments to relieve themselves in spacesuits for launches, landings and spacewalks, Space.com notes.

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The toilet aboard SpaceX's Inspiration4 craft malfunctioned during the crew's three-day journey around the Earth last month, causing urine to leak inside the capsuleNASA's Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Engineers first noticed the trouble with the SpaceX capsule toilet design after civilians Jared Isaacman, Sian Proctor, Haley Arceneaux and Christopher Sembroski returned from their historic three-day journey around the Earth aboard the SpaceX Resilience capsule in September, the first all-tourist trip into space.

An alarm went off during re-entry but it wasn't until the vessel was back on Earth that SpaceX crew members determined the signal was indicating urine had pooled beneath the floor panels after a tube from the toilet came unplugged.

They fixed the issue by welding on a urine-flushing tube to the toilet, located on top of the capsule.

The flaw has also been detected on the Endeavour capsule, which flew SpaceX's Crew-2 mission to the ISS back in late April and is presently docked with the orbiting laboratory.

The same issue was detected with the toilet on the Endeavour capsule, which will be bringing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Akihiko Hoshide (left), French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency and NASA's Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur back to Earth later this month. As a result the lavatory will be off-limits and the crew will have to wear 'undergarments' for waste management

Astronauts found the same unglued tube and evidence of urine leaking into floor panels, but with limited resources they have no means to make the necessary repairs to the Endeavor's lavatory.

Crew-2 astronauts were expected to return to Earth this week but that may be pushed back as a result of a delay of the October 31 launch of the Crew-3 mission due to weather concerns. (A rescheduled Wednesday launch was also scuttled because of a 'minor medical issue' affecting a crewmember, NASA said.)

SpaceX vice president William Gerstenmaier, who previously worked for NASA, told The New York Times that the Inspiration4 crew didn't even notice the issue until they got back to Earth.

'When we got the vehicle back, we looked under the floor and saw the fact that there was contamination underneath the floor,' Gerstenmaier said.

According to Isaacman no bodily fluids got loose inside the capsule.

'I want to be 100% clear: There were no issues in the cabin at all as it relates to that,' he told CNN.

Urine began leaking from the toilet when a tube came unplug and pooled beneath the floor panels. SpaceX has since fixed the issue by welding on a urine-flushing tube to the toilet but the Endeavour is still moored to the ISS and unable to be repaired

The Crew-3 mission that took a new batch of astronauts to the International Space Station on Sunday used a different capsule, the Endurance.

Its toilet system shares the same design as the Resilience capsule, though, and the Endurance was given the same repair to prevent further urine leakage.

SpaceX has conducted ground tests to make sure the Endeavour's design has not been compromised by the leaked urine.

'We'll double check things, we'll triple check things, and we got a couple more samples we'll pull out of the chambers and inspect,' Gerstenmaier told CNN. 'But we'll be ready to go and make sure the crew is safe to return.'

Stitch said 'the Inspiration4 flight was really a gift for us,' for alerting crew to the issue.

Shortly after Inspiration4, which included Jared Isaacman (left), Sian Proctor (right), Haley Arceneaux (2nd left) and Christopher Sembroski (2nd right), arrived back on Earth reports surfaced that an alarm went off while the four were in orbit . It was later determined the alarm was due to a malfunctioning toilet

In September, Elon Musk said an 'upgraded toilet' would be one of several upgrades to SpaceX's next space tourism flight.

In a September 21 tweet, the SpaceX CEO obliquely referred to 'challenges' with the toilet onboard the modified Crew Dragon module that launched the Inspiration4 crew into space for a three-day trip.

At that time, however, Musk did not go into detail on what the issue with the toilet was.

In the wake of the Inspiration 4 flight, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted that upgraded toilets were definitely needed. He added: 'We had some challenges with it this flight'

The commander of the mission, 38-year-old Jared Isaacman, had previously said that the toilet had a great view of space.

'It's not a ton of privacy,' Isaacman told Insider in July. 'But you do have this kind of privacy curtain that cuts across the top of the spacecraft, so you can kind of separate yourself from everyone else.'

'And that also happens to be where the glass cupola is. So, you know, when people do inevitably have to use the bathroom, they're going to have one hell of a view.'

This isn't the first bathroom misadventure ISS astronauts have had to deal with: Back in 2019, the crew rushed to repair plumbing after a bulging pipe was disconnected from the bathroom sink, drenching the unsuspecting scientists with more than two gallons of water.

The very down-to-Earth problem occurred on the orbiting laboratory when the astronauts were trying to install an enclosure around the on-board toilet for extra privacy.

This unfortunate debacle forced the scientists to scrabble around with towels to absorb the spherical beads of water that form in microgravity.

They were gathered in the bathroom to install the extra stall when they disconnected a Quick Disconnect (QD) for the potable water bus, which is used by the astronauts for toothbrushing, bathing, and other hygiene routines.

Approximately 2.5 gallons leaked before the bus was isolated by MCC-H flight controllers, a NASA blog post detailed.

'The crew worked quickly to re-mate the leaky QD and soak up the water with towels.'

While in a microgravity environment forms in spherical balls, its unclear if the water came out at high pressure at low pressure.

'If it was a slow leak, it would have built up into a big, undulating blob that would have drifted off or crept along the wall with surface tension,' Tom Jones, a former NASA astronaut, told The Atlantic.

'If it was under a higher pressure and it was coming out at a fast rate, it would spray and make droplets go flying across the cabin.'

In October 2020, North Grumman launched its Cygnus capsule carrying a highly publicized $23 million toilet to the ISS.

The Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) zero-gravity toilet has been designed to better accommodate the female anatomy than current space lavatories.


Companies are increasingly turning to robots to deliver food around the country as consumers demand quicker access to goods despite the global labor shortage.

Companies such as Starship Technologies and Russian robot maker Yandex have partnered with a number of colleges in the U.S., the U.K and elsewhere to deliver goods as the demand for contactless delivery booms.

These robots, which number in the hundreds, are capable of holding four pizzas at a time and can navigate college campuses such as those at Ohio State University and even city sidewalks, taking advantage of advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

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While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment.

'We saw demand for robot usage just go through the ceiling,' Alastair Westgarth, the CEO of Starship Technologies, which recently completed its 2 millionth delivery, said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Companies are using robots to deliver food as consumers demand quicker access to goods despite the global labor shortage

Robotics makers, such as Starship Technologies (pictured) are partnering with colleges around the world

Starship Technologies, headquartered in San Francisco, recently completed its 2 millionth delivery

'I think demand was always there, but it was brought forward by the pandemic effect.'

The labor force participation rate in the U.S. is at 61.6 percent, roughly 6 percent below the April 2000 high, as people have left the workforce for several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starship, which has its headquarters in San Francisco, has more than 1,000 robots in its fleet, up from just 250 in 2019, with hundreds more that will eventually be deployed.

The company is delivering food on 20 U.S. campuses, such as Northern Arizona University, the University of Nevada and James Madison University; an additional 25 campuses will soon be added.

In addition, Starship, which has raised almost $100 million in funding, according to Crunchbase, is operating on sidewalks in Milton Keynes, England; Modesto, California; and the company's hometown of Tallin, Estonia.

Most of the robot designs differ by company: some have four wheels, while others have six. By and large, they use the same technology to get around, though, including cameras, sensors, GPS and sometimes laser scanners to navigate sidewalks and even cross streets autonomously. They move around 5 mph.

Remote operators keep tabs on multiple robots at a time but they say they rarely need to hit the brakes or steer around an obstacle. When a robot arrives at its destination, customers type a code into their phones to open the lid and retrieve their food.

A food delivery robot crosses a street in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment

The robots have drawbacks that limit their usefulness for now. They're electric, so they must recharge regularly. They're slow and they generally stay within a small, pre-mapped radius.

They're also inflexible. A customer can't tell a robot to leave the food outside the door, for example. And some big cities with crowded sidewalks, like New York, Beijing and San Francisco, arent welcoming them.

But Bill Ray, an analyst with the consulting firm Gartner, says the robots make a lot of sense on corporate or college campuses, or in newer communities with wide sidewalks.

'In the places where you can deploy it, robot delivery will grow very quickly,' Ray said.

Ray said there have been few reports of problems with the robots, other than an occasional gaggle of kids who surround one and try to confuse it. Starship briefly halted service at the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 after a wheelchair user said a robot blocked her access to a ramp. But the university said deliveries resumed once Starship addressed the issue.

Food is loaded into a robot at the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2021

Patrick Sheck, a junior at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, gets deliveries from a Starship robot three or four times a week as he's leaving class.

'The robot pulls up just in time for me to get some lunch,' Sheck said. Bowling Green and Starship charge $1.99 plus a service fee for each robot delivery.

Rival Kiwibot, with headquarters in Los Angeles and Medellin, Columbia, says it now has 400 robots making deliveries on college campuses and in downtown Miami.

Delivery companies are also jumping into the market. In July, Grubhub partnered with Russian robot maker Yandex to deploy 50 robots on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

'Together with Yandex, we're changing the way college students experience food delivery,' said Brian Madigan, vice president of corporate and campus partners at Grubhub in a statement.

'We're excited to offer these cost-effective, scalable and quick food ordering and delivery capabilities to colleges and universities across the country that are looking to adapt to students' unique dining needs.

Grubhub plans to add more campuses soon, although the company stresses that the service won't go beyond colleges for now.

U.S. delivery orders jumped 66 percent in the year ending in June, according to NPD, a data and consulting firm. And delivery demand could remain elevated even after the pandemic eases because customers have gotten used to the convenience.

Ji Hye Kim, chef and managing partner of the Ann Arbor, Michigan, restaurant Miss Kim, relied heavily on robot delivery when her dining room was closed last year. Kim had partnered with a local robot company, Refraction AI, shortly before the pandemic began.

Kim prefers robots to third-party delivery companies like DoorDash, which charge significantly more and sometimes cancel orders if they didnt have enough drivers. Delivery companies also bundle multiple orders per trip, she said, so food sometimes arrives cold. Robots take just one order at a time.

Kim said the robots also excite customers, who often post videos of their interactions.

'Its very cute and novel, and it didnt have to come face to face with people. It was a comfort,' Kim said. Delivery demand has dropped off since her dining room reopened, but robots still deliver around 10 orders per day.

While Kim managed to hang on to her staff throughout the pandemic, other restaurants are struggling to find workers. In a recent survey, 75 percent of U.S. restaurant owners told the National Restaurant Association that recruiting and retaining employees is their biggest challenge.

That has many restaurants looking to fill the void with robot delivery.

'There is no store in the country right now with enough delivery drivers,' said Dennis Maloney, senior vice president and chief digital officer at Domino's Pizza.

Domino's is partnering with Nuro, a California startup whose 6-foot-tall self-driving pods go at a maximum speed of 25 mph on streets, not sidewalks. Nuro is testing grocery and food delivery in Houston, Phoenix and Mountain View, California.

On Tuesday, Nuro announced it was raising $600 million in funding from a number of investors, including Tiger Global Management and Google.

The new funding round values the company at $8.6 billion, up from $5 billion last year.

Maloney said it's not a question of if, but of when, robots will start doing more deliveries. He thinks companies like Domino's will eventually use a mix of robots and drivers depending on location. Sidewalk robots could work on a military base, for example, while Nuro is ideal for suburbs. Highway driving would be left to human workers.

Maloney said Nuro delivery is more expensive than using human drivers for now, but as the technology scales up and gets more refined, the costs will go down.

For cheaper sidewalk robots __ which cost an estimated $5,000 or less __ it's even easier to undercut human delivery costs. The average Grubhub driver in Ohio makes $47,650 per year, according to the job site Indeed.com.

But robots dont always cost delivery jobs. In some cases, they help create them. Before Starships robots arrived, Bowling Green didnt offer delivery from campus dining spots. Since then, it has hired more than 30 people to serve as runners between kitchens and robots, Bowling Green dining spokesman Jon Zachrich said.

Brendan Witcher, a technology analyst with the consulting firm Forrester, says its easy to get excited about the Jetsons-like possibility of robot delivery. But ultimately, robots will have to prove they create an advantage in some way.

'Its possible that we see this emerge into something else,' he said. 'But its the right time and place for companies considering robots to test them and learn from them and do their own evaluation.'
Army bosses have been treated to a demonstration of a futuristic jet suit that could let soldiers soar through the skies above warzones at more than 80 miles per hour.

Richard Browning, founder of Gravity Industries and a 'real-life Iron Man', put his suit through its paces at the Army People Conference in Farnborough this morning.

The personal flying machine, which the firm calls a 'world first', is powered by five gas turbines and is capable of reaching altitudes of up to 12,000 feet.

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Army bosses have been treated to a demonstration of a futuristic jet suit (pictured) that could let soldiers to soar through the skies above warzones at more than 80 miles per hour

Richard Browning (pictured)  founder of Gravity Industries and a 'real-life Iron Man'  put his suit through its paces at the Army People Conference in Farnborough this morning

The personal flying machine (pictured), which the firm calls a 'world's first', is powered by five gas turbines and is capable of reaching altitudes of up to 12,000 feet

The Army People Conference is being held both at the Farnborough International Airport conference centre and virtually on November 2, 2021. Pictured: Mr Browning's invention is often compared to the suits worn by Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel comics and films

THE JET SUIT'S SPECS Turbines: Five Fuel: Jet A1 Kerosene, Premium Diesel Fight Time: Up to 8 minutes Speed: over 80 miles per hour Weight in suit: Under 13 stone (85kg) Advertisement

The Army People Conference is being held both at the Farnborough International Airport conference centre and virtually on November 2, 2021.

According to an Army spokesperson, the display was intended to demonstrate the jet suit's potential for application by British soldiers.

'The conference opened with a capability display flight by Richard Browning wearing a gravity-defying jet suit,' they explained.

'Innovation and technological advance  two of the main drivers at the Armys People Conference 21 []  were remarkably demonstrated.'

For his flight, Mr Browning took off and landed both on the hood of a nearby jeep and the cabin roof of a truck before flying to a balcony filled with army onlookers.

Many of those present took the chance to capture a photograph of the now-famous 'Jet Man' in action.

According to an Army spokesperson, the display was intended to demonstrate the jet suit's potential for application by British soldiers

'The conference opened with a capability display flight by Richard Browning wearing a gravity-defying jet suit,' the Army spokesperon said. 'Innovation and technological advance  two of the main drivers at the Armys People Conference 21 []  were remarkably demonstrated'

For his flight, Mr Browning took off and landed both on the hood of a nearby jeep (as pictured) and the cabin roof of a truck before flying to a balcony filled with army onlookers. Many of those present took the chance to capture a photograph of the now-famous 'Jet Man' in action

This is not the first time that the Mr Browning's invention has taken to the air for the pleasure of the British Armed Forces. Pictured: Mr Browning above Farnborough International Airport

Earlier this year, Royal Marines from the 42 and 47 Commando groups worked with Gravity Industries aboard the offshore patrol vessel HMS Tamar in order to explore the potential for the jet suit (pictured here at Farnborough today) to be used as part of marine boarding operations. Test flights were conducted by Gravity Industries personnel, in exercises over the Plymouth sound, in what Navy officials said was intended to help them 'understand whether the companys jet suit could be of use on military operations in the future'

Back in 2019, Mr Browning (pictured here during today's test flight) performed a demonstration flight around the HMS Queen Elizabeth, leaving the ship and cutting a graceful arc through the air  buzzing stunned passengers on a nearby private yacht in the process

This is not the first time that the Mr Browning's invention has taken to the air for the pleasure of the British Armed Forces.

Earlier this year, Royal Marines from the 42 and 47 Commando groups worked with Gravity Industries aboard the offshore patrol vessel HMS Tamar in order to explore the potential for the jet suit to be used as part of marine boarding operations.

Test flights were conducted by Gravity Industries personnel, in exercises over the Plymouth sound, in what Navy officials said was intended to help them 'understand whether the companys jet suit could be of use on military operations in the future.'

Back in 2019, Mr Browning performed a demonstration flight around the HMS Queen Elizabeth, leaving the ship and cutting a graceful arc through the air, and buzzing stunned passengers on a nearby private yacht in the process.

At the time, the British warship had been stationed off of the coast of Annapolis, Maryland, in the midst of a three-month war-game exercise with US allies.

The Jet Suit uses five gas turbines which collectively produce over 1,000 brake horsepower to gain flight, and can reach speeds of over 80 mph. Company founder Richard Browning has previously demonstrated the suit in more than 20 countries around the world

Pictured: Mr Browning in flight above the Farnborough International airport this morning
Walkers are being urged to avoid eating a poisonous plant that could be confused with parsnips  with deadly results.

Hemlock water dropwort, also known as dead man's fingers, has toxic leaves and stems that look a lot like parsley.

Meanwhile, the even more toxic roots of the plant  which were once picked and cooked in a curry by students in a catastrophic case of mistaken identity  look and smell just like parsnips.

All parts of the plant contain a powerful neurotoxin called oenanthetoxin, which triggers spasmodic convulsions, usually followed by sudden death.

Hemlock water dropwort is native to the British Isles and grows near water, but stormy weather has recently uprooted the plant onto beaches in Cumbria.

Experts are now concerned that 'foragers' and other unsuspecting members of the public might take hemlock water dropwort home to eat.

Hemlock water dropwort roots, also known as 'dead man's fingers', are widely recorded as the most toxic plant to both humans and animals

Millom Coastguard Rescue Team said on its Facebook page: 'Even a small portion can prove fatal to humans by attacking the nervous system. It is also fatal to animals'

So far there have been confirmed sightings of hemlock water dropwort at the towns of St Bees and Millom, Cumbria, according to Millom Coastguard Rescue Team.

HEMLOCK WATER DROPWORT Hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) has been called 'the most poisonous indigenous plant in Britain'. It is a member of the Umbellifer family and is found in ditches, damp meadows, in steams, by riverbanks, and in marshes. It is a large, stout plant between three and five feet high that flowers in July. The lower stem is usually thick and joins to clusters of fleshy tubers that gives rise to the popular name 'dead mans fingers' The entire plant is poisonous. The tubers, stems, and leaves contain oenanthotoxin, a highly unsaturated higher alcohol, which is known to be poisonous and a powerful convulsant. Source: Emergency Medicine Journal/Mid Argyll Hospital Advertisement

'Please be aware that we have received reports of a highly poisonous plant being washed up on local beaches,' it said in a warning posted to Facebook.

'Even a small portion can prove fatal to humans by attacking the nervous system. It is also fatal to animals.

'We advise people, especially with children and animals, to stay vigilant, avoid this plant and take extra care when visiting the beach.'

Consuming the plant can lead to nausea, vomiting, seizures, lethargy, sweating and visual hallucinations, as well as death.

Rather confusingly, hemlock water dropwort is part of the Umbellifer family of plants, which also includes species of celery, parsley, parsnip and carrots.

For this reason, hemlock water dropwort's flowers look very similar in appearance to parsley, with attractive white flowers.

While the most toxic part is the tuberous root  the part that looks like a parsnip  all parts of the plant are poisonous and a small piece can be fatal if eaten.

The green part of the plant is a perennial, growing to over a metre high in shallow water like streams, ditches, rivers and lakes.

The poisonous members of the Umbellifer family are poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and cowbane (Cicuta virosa), as well as hemlock water dropwort.

According to Wild Food UK, hemlock water droplet is even more poisonous than the deathcap mushroom, which contains enough toxin to kill an adult.

'This puts that mushroom in the shade basically when it comes to poison,' said Marlow Renton, foraging instructor at Wild Food UK.

There have been confirmed sightings of hemlock water dropwort at the towns of St Bees and Millom, Cumbria, according to Millom Coastguard Rescue Team

Images show the similarities between the flowers of poisonous hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata, left) and the flowers of parsley (Petroselinum crispum, right)

Poisoning by hemlock water droplet is an infrequent event and animals are the more common victims, such as dogs on a walk.

But generally, members of the public should refrain from picking and eating plants in the wild.

Geoff Dann, a foraging writer, told the Guardian that hemlock water droplet is predominantly known for killing livestock.

'Usually what happens is that it gets disturbed by the edge of a river by earthworks, or something, and the roots are exposed and are eaten by livestock,' he said.

'There are also cases of people digging it up and thinking it is a plant you can eat, like water parsnip or wild celery, but that is pretty rare.

'They are great big fat tubers, but who walks along a beach and picks up a random wild plant washed up on a beach and eats it? It seems a weird thing to do.'

Pictured, the plant's parsnip-like root, as found on Porthkidney beach in Lelant, Cornwall, in 2018

In 2002, Emergency Medicine Journal reported how eight students in Argyll, Scotland, ate a curry made with hemlock water dropwort, after mistaking the roots for parsnips.

Despite them only eating a small amount of the root, as they felt it tasted too bitter, four required admission to hospital.

Fortunately, boiling involved in preparation of the root resulted in less severe toxic effects and severity of symptoms than otherwise would have been seen.

'It is possible that with increasing interest in natural foods accidental poisoning of this nature may become more frequent,' the authors reported.

'These cases illustrate the potential dangers of this, but highlight the fact that even in small communities expertise is available and if accessed appropriately can be invaluable.'
A beer made from hops that spent nearly three days orbiting the Earth on board SpaceX's Inspiration4 all-civilian space mission has gone on sale.

Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston sent 66lb of hops up into space with the Inspiration4 crew on September 15, and has turned them into 'Space Craft IPA'.

The tipple produced from the space hops will cost $22.33 (16.39) for a four pack - marking the two days, 23 hours, and 3 minutes they spent in space - and is available to pre-order now, before it goes on sale from November 16.

The limited run IPA is only on sale in the US, and is said to have notes of passionfruit, guava, and grapefruit, but with the 'classic bitterness of a craft beer'.

A beer made from hops that spent nearly three days orbiting the Earth, on a SpaceX capsule with the first all civilian space mission, is available to pre-order

The Inspiration4 astronauts, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, launched on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule from Florida on September 15, and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean three days later

In a description on its website, Samuel Adams explained: 'An out-of-this world IPA made with Orbited Hops from Inspiration4, the first-ever-all-civilian space mission.

'The 66lbs of Citra and Mosaic orbited hops landed right in this stellar west-coast style IPA, creating a piney and tropical beer.

'Firm bitterness, with generous tropical notes like grapefruit, guava, and passionfruit co-pilot with piney and resiny hop aromas.'

The Boston-based company announced Space Craft last month, and says it will be available from the Sam Adams' Boston Brewery, Boston Taproom and Cincinnati Taproom, as well as online in the US through 'Give Them Beer'.

The limited run IPA is only on sale in the US, and is said to have notes of passionfruit, guava, and grapefruit, but with the 'classic bitterness of a craft beer'

It turned to social media to find a name for the beer, and had more than 5,000 entries - finally settling on Space Craft, picked with help from the Inspiration4 crew, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman.

Isaacman responded to the pre-sale announcement on Twitter by saying: 'I'm in,' with a clinking beer mug emoji.

He was joined in orbit by ex-NASA astronaut candidate Sian Proctor, childhood bone cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux, and Air Force veteran Chris Sembroski.

Inspiration4 surpassed its $200 million fundraising target, with a total of $239,180,457 raised to date.

As well as $100,000 from Samual Adams, Isaacman contributed $125 million to the fundraising campaign and SpaceX founder Elon Musk pledged $50 million.

Isaacman responded to the pre-sale announcement on Twitter by saying: 'I'm in,' with a clinking beer mug emoji

The Inspiration4 crew spent nearly three days in space. Seen here (from left to right) are Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski and Sian Proctor on board the Crew Dragon module

Samuel Adams isn't the only beer firm looking beyond our planet.

Budweiser has also revealed ambitious plans to brew beer in space for future colonists on Mars.

The company has already sent several batches of barley to the International Space Station to understand how the brewing process could take place in space.

'Budweiser is always pushing the boundaries of innovation and we are inspired by the collective American Dream to get to Mars,' said Ricardo Marques, vice president, Budweiser back in 2017.

'We are excited to begin our research to brew beer for the red planet.'
Three critically endangered big-headed turtles have hatched at London Zoo, just a few years after their parents were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.

Smugglers had tried to illegally import the adults into Canada labelled as toys but were caught, and the turtles were instead taken in by keepers in the UK three years ago.

Having settled well into their new environment at London Zoo, the turtles  two males and two females  were slowly introduced to each other, resulting in the birth of three new hatchlings last month.

Scroll down for video

New arrivals: Three critically endangered big-headed turtles have hatched at London Zoo (picutred), just a few years after their parents were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade

Tiny: One of the hatchlings is pictured. Smugglers had tried to illegally import their parents into Canada labelled as toys but they were caught and the turtles were taken in by London Zoo

Big-headed turtles' heads are so large that unlike other species they can't retract them into their shells

WHAT ARE BIG-HEADED TURTLES? The big-headed turtle has a disproportionately large head compared to its small body. In fact, their heads are so large that unlike other species they can't retract them into their shells. To compensate, nature has given them armour plating from head to tail and a very sharp beak to fend off predators. In addition to its over-sized head, the big-headed turtle has an unusually long tail. They are weak swimmers but strong climbers, using their strong claws, tail and even their beak to grasp rocks in fast-flowing water. It is the only species in its genus and family, Platysternidae and the sole representative of an entire branch of the tree of life more than 75 million years old, having diverged from all other living species before the extinction of the dinosaurs. The big-headed turtle can be found in central China, northern Vietnam, Thailand, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia and Myanmar. They are nocturnal, favour narrow, shallow and fast-flowing streams, and feed on molluscs and crustaceans. Advertisement

Zoological Society of London (ZSL) reptile keeper Kimberley Carter said: 'We had the expertise at ZSL London Zoo to give this solitary species the specialist care they individually needed, and we're pleased that this dedicated work has paid off with these three hatchlings.'

Big-headed turtles' heads are so large that unlike other species they can't retract them into their shells.

To compensate, nature has given them armour plating from head to tail and a very sharp beak to fend off predators.

The four turtles rescued from the illegal wildlife trade arrived at London's conservation zoo at the end of 2018, and have been living in separate custom-built enclosures in Reptile House because of their naturally territorial nature.

'Big-headed turtles may not be conventionally cute to most people  with their oversized heads and long, whip-like tails  but they represent a vitally important and unique branch of the evolutionary tree and have much to teach us about animal adaptions,' Ms Carter said.

'There is literally no other species like them on Earth.'

Big-headed turtles, also known as platysternon megacephalum, hail from the upper mountainous regions of Central China and mainland Southeast Asia.

However, they are threatened by hunting for their meat and the international pet trade and are classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.

At London Zoo, they are part of a collaborative conservation initiative that reintroduces rescued wild big-headed turtles back into the wild.

ZSL's curator of reptiles and amphibians, Ben Tapley, said: 'ZSL works with the Asian Turtle Program of Indo Myanmar Conservation, who help to rehabilitate the hundreds of big-headed turtles seized by local authorities and housed at the Turtle Conservation Center in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam.

To compensate, nature has given them armour plating from head to tail and a very sharp beak to fend off predators

Big-headed turtles, also known as platysternon megacephalum, hail from the upper mountainous regions of Central China and mainland Southeast Asia

At London Zoo, the turtles are part of a collaborative conservation initiative that reintroduces rescued wild big-headed turtles back into the wild

Big-headed turtles are threatened by hunting for their meat and the international pet trade. One of the rescued adults is pictured

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE NEW TURTLES? The Zoological Society of London said the turtles had been named after three of their colleagues from the Asian Turtle Program in Vietnam, in recognition of the collaborative efforts taking place to save the species. They are: Thuy Thu Nguyen

Thu Nguyen Tim McCormack

McCormack Ha Hoang Ha, Thuy and Tim will remain behind-the-scenes at London Zoo for now while they grow. ZSL is an international conservation charity working to create a world where wildlife thrives. Advertisement

'This collaborative project has implemented a vital health and genetic screening protocol at the centre, helping to safeguard wildlife at reintroduction sites from the spread of any pathogens that may be carried by the rescued reptiles  this has resulted in more than 220 rescued turtles having been safely released into protected areas over the past two years.

'Our international team is also working with local communities to help them understand how vitally important these amazing animals are, so that together we can bring them back from the brink.'

ZSL said the turtles had been named after three of their colleagues from the Asian Turtle Program in Vietnam, in recognition of the collaborative efforts taking place to save the species.

They are Thuy Thu Nguyen, Tim McCormack and Ha Hoang.

The latter said: 'Having these turtles hatch at the Zoo not only adds to the global numbers of this unique species, but allows us to learn more about them and their breeding habits  vital information shared between colleagues that informs the turtles' rescue and rehabilitation.'

While Ha, Thuy and Tim will remain behind-the-scenes for now while they grow, visitors can see one of the original rescued turtles on a visit to the zoo's Reptile House.

Ms Carter said: 'These turtles have a lot to teach our visitors about the illegal wildlife trade as well as the many other dangers facing reptiles and amphibians in the wild.'
We're often told that humans are compulsive liars, but according to a new scientific study, humans are more honest than we've previously been given credit for.

Researchers in Alabama examined have more than 100,000 lies told by 632 participants over the course of 91 days.

They found only one per cent of people regularly tell more than 15 lies per day, and most were little white lies.

Overall, the majority of lies were told by only 'a few prolific liars', the study found, but the majority of participants told few or no lies on a given day.

As an example, the authors name former US President Donald Trump as someone who lies 'considerably more than the majority of Americans'.

Trump clocked up 9.9 lies per day on average throughout the study period, according to results from the Washington Post Fact Checker, which recorded false and misleading public statements from Trump on a daily basis.

People are more honest in day-to-day life than previously thought - except for 'a few prolific liars', according to researchers in Birmingham, Alabama (stock image)

Types of liars - 'Super big liars' (1 per cent): 15.5 lies per day - Above average (15 per cent): 5 lies per day - Normal (6 per cent): 1.3 lies per day (but with bad lie days). Professor Levine: 'They have lots of days where they lie very little, but they also have spikes.' - Honest majority (77 per cent): 1.3 lies per day - Unusually honest (1.5 per cent): 0.1 lies per day Advertisement

The new study was conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and published in the journal Communication Monographs.

'People are mostly honest, except for a few pathological liars,' said the study's lead author Professor Timothy Levine, who studies deception.

'There is that kind of top 1 per cent who are telling more than 15 lies per day, day in day out.'

There has been an assumption for a long time that people lie a lot, and that lying is ubiquitous and really common, according to Professor Levine.

As an example, past research papers have claimed people lie, on average, about once or twice per day.

Meanwhile, Pamela Meyer in her TED Talk with more than 31 million views, tells the audience that 'on a given day, studies show that you may have lied to anywhere from 10 to 200 times'.

But the average number of lies per day reported in the literature does not reflect the behaviour of most people, according to the University of Alabama team.

For the study, the researchers tracked the lying of 632 undergraduate students every day over three months.

Graph shows the frequency of daily lies for all participants over three months. Note: The small circles on the x-axis indicate that at least one report of the indicated number of lies

WE SPEAK SLOWER WHEN WE'RE LYING, STUDY FINDS Liars are more likely to speak slowly and put less emphasis in the middle of words, according to a 2021 study. According to researchers in Paris, the brain can automatically detect a signature in the voice of a liar - slower speech and less emphasis on the middle of a word. This process happens even when we're not actively trying to determine if someone is being honest or not. It is hoped the discovery could be used in the future to develop 'light tools' that the police could use to determine whether a criminal is lying. Read more: Liars speak slowly and put less emphasis on the middle of words Advertisement

The participants  75 per cent of whom were female  were asked to keep a 'daily deception journal'.

This took the form of a series of daily online questionnaires via smartphone, computer or tablet.

Participants were asked how many times they lied in the past 24 hours and asked to estimate how many times they lied during a typical day.

Another measure asked participants to report their white lies (which are considered harmless or trivial) and big lies (which are rather more serious).

Over the course of the study period, the deception journals yielded a hefty 116,336 lies.

Primary motives for lying were to 'avoid others', protect one's self, impress or appear more favourable, protect another person or hurt another person.

Other lies were for personal benefit or gain, for the benefit of another person, or as a form of humour. Others, meanwhile, were told for no reason at all.

The results showed 77 per cent of the study participants were consistently honest, telling between zero and two lies per day  1.3 on average.

'For these individuals, zero to two lies per day was typical, and more than four lies per day were two standard deviations out for them,' the authors report.

By contrast, 16 per cent told five or more lies per day, according to Professor Levine.

Former US President Donald Trump (pictured) lies 'considerably more than the majority of Americans', according to the study authors

'There are people who lie way more than the rest of us,' he said. 'About a three quarters of us are, really, pretty honest. There are a few people who are super-honest.'

People also have good and bad lie days, when they tell more or fewer lies than what is typical for them, he added said.

Also, for the most part, people do not lie unless they have a reason to  this depends on our 'daily communication demands', which Professor Levine calls 'a big driver for most of us on how honest or dishonest we are'.

The researchers conclude that their study shows everyday communication is probably safer than we think it is.

'That said, there are these few prolific liars out there,' Professor Levine said. 'And I think this study showed that they are a real thing.'
NASA said on Monday that it is still unsure what is wrong with the Hubble Space Telescope, nearly 10 days after it stopped working for the second time this year.

The U.S. space agency 'is continuing to investigate why the instruments in the Hubble Space Telescope recently went into safe mode configuration, suspending science operations.

'The instruments are healthy and will remain in safe mode while the mission team continues its investigation,' NASA added in a statement.

The agency did provide a little more clarity on the situation, adding that that error codes on the Hubble's science instruments were issued at 1:46 a.m. EDT on October 23, 'indicating the loss of a specific synchronization message.'

NASA is still unsure what is wrong with the Hubble Space Telescope, nearly 10 days after it stopped working for the second time this year

The engineers working on the Hubble reset the instruments and science operations were resumed the following morning.

However, a second set of error codes were issued on October 25 at 2:38 a.m. EDT, again indicating the loss of a specific synchronization message.

Subsequently, the instruments went into safe mode.

NASA said an error code was first issued on October 23; engineers reset the instruments and science operations resumed. A second error code was issued on October 25 'indicating the loss of a specific synchronization message'

When the Hubble is in safe mode, it does not observe any celestial objects or collect data, but it is still powered up.

NASA said members of the mission are combing through data and system diagrams to understand the synchronization issue and how to fix it, while gathering other data as well.

All of the activities are expected to take at least one week, NASA explained, adding the 'rest of the spacecraft is operating as expected.'

The Hubble, which has been in space more than 30 years, first stopped working in June after it ran into issues with a 1980s-era computer that controls its science instruments.

On June 14, flight controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland tried to restart the computer after they noticed it stopped working on June 13, but they ran into the same issue and could not get it to operate normally.

In June, the Hubble stopped working after it had issues with a 1980s-era computer that controls its science instruments

Science operations on the Hubble resumed on July 17, following a month in which it was halted due to a technical malfunction.

The agency successfully performed a 'very risky' maneuver to switch the Hubble to its backup computer.

The switch 'was performed to compensate for a problem with the original payload computer that occurred on June 13 when the computer halted, suspending science data collection.'

The switch, which started on July 15, involved bringing the backup Power Control Unit (PCU) online, as well as the backup Command Unit/Science Data Formatter (CU/SDF) on the other side of the Science Instrument and Command & Data Handling (SI C&DH) unit.

The PCU brings power to the SI C&DH components, while the CU/SDF sends and formats commands and data.

NASA added that other pieces of hardware on the Hubble were also switched to alternate interfaces to connect to the backup SI C&DH.

The backup payload computer was then turned on, loaded with software and normal operations mode.

Prior to being switched on in July, the backup payload computer had not been powered on since it was installed in 2009 during Hubble's last servicing mission.

Hubble, a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, has been observing the universe for over three decades.

It has taken more than 1.5 million observations of the universe, and over 18,000 scientific papers have been published based on its data.

The telescope orbits Earth at a speed of about 17,000mph (27,300kph) in low Earth orbit at about 340 miles in altitude, slightly higher than the International Space Station.

Launched in April 1990 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Hubble is showing more and more signs of ageing, despite a series of repairs and updates by spacewalking astronauts during NASA's shuttle era

Launched in April 1990 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Hubble is showing more and more signs of ageing, despite a series of repairs and updates by spacewalking astronauts during NASA's shuttle era.

The telescope is named after famed astronomer Edwin Hubble who was born in Missouri in 1889 and discovered that the universe is expanding, as well as the rate at which it is doing so.

The Hubble recently marked its 31st anniversary in space, doing so with an image of a giant star that is 'on the edge of destruction'.

The U.S. space agency is going to replace the Hubble with $10 billion James Webb Telescope.

Following months of delays, the James Webb Telescope will launch into space on December 18, 2021, on board the ESA's Ariane-5 rocket.

Last month, the telescope was successfully unpacked in French Guiana, where it will head into space, following a 5,800 mile-long journey.
Facebook announced on Tuesday that it will shut down its controversial face-recognition system and delete the faceprints of more than 1 billion people, citing the concerns the technology has on society.

As a result of the change, it will no longer automatically recognize people's faces in photos or videos, a move that will have enormous implications.

Users will also no longer be able to face recognition to suggest a tag for a person in a photo or video. People will still have the option to tag posts manually.

The shock announcement is the company's second move - after last month's name change - to rehabilitate itself after a series of privacy scandals.

More than one-third of Facebook's 1.93 billion daily active users - equating to approximately 640 million - have opted into the Face Recognition setting and the ending of the system will impact them.

The company cited the concerns that facial recognition has on society in making the move.

Facebook said it will shut down its face-recognition system and delete the faceprints of more than 1 billion people

'This change will represent one of the largest shifts in facial recognition usage in the technologys history,' said a blog post from Jerome Pesenti, vice president of artificial intelligence for Facebook's new parent company, Meta.

'More than a third of Facebook's daily active users have opted in to our Face Recognition setting and are able to be recognized, and its removal will result in the deletion of more than a billion peoples individual facial recognition templates.'

It's unclear exactly how much money Facebook has spent on facial recognition technology, but the company purchased Face.com for less than $100 million in 2012, according to TechCrunch.

In 2016, it acquired a company known as FacioMetrics that specialized in machine learning algorithms to let phones analyzes faces for an undisclosed amount.

Earlier this year, the company settled a lawsuit over the use of its facial recognition technology for $650 million after users alleged it created and store facial scans without their permission.

Approximately 640 million daily active users opted into the setting. As a result of the change, it will no longer automatically recognize people's faces in photos or videos Users will also no longer be able to suggest a tag for a person and the system it uses for the blind and visually impaired will also be impacted

'There are many concerns about the place of facial recognition technology in society, and regulators are still in the process of providing a clear set of rules governing its use,' Pesenti added.

'Amid this ongoing uncertainty, we believe that limiting the use of facial recognition to a narrow set of use cases is appropriate.'

In September, the company issued a public apology to DailyMail.com and MailOnline for adding an AI-generated label of 'primates' to a news video from the website that featured black men.

Though the video had nothing to do with monkeys or other primates, Facebook's AI-generated prompt asked viewers if they would like to 'keep seeing videos about Primates,' horrifying and offending users of the social network.

In September, Facebook publicly apologized to DailyMail.com and MailOnline for adding an AI-generated label referencing 'primates' to this Mail news video depicting black men

A company spokesman admitted the error was 'unacceptable,' telling DailyMail.com: 'We apologize to anyone who may have seen these offensive recommendations and to the Daily Mail for its content being subject to it.'

'This was an algorithmic error on Facebook and did not reflect the content of the Daily Mail's post,' the company admitted.

The company has since disabled the faulty recommendation algorithm.

Nonetheless, Meta did say that facial recognition can be 'particularly valuable' when the technology operates privately on a person's own devices, similar to what Apple does with its FaceID unlocking technology.

'We believe this has the potential to enable positive use cases in the future that maintain privacy, control and transparency, and it's an approach we'll continue to explore as we consider how our future computing platforms and devices can best serve people's needs,' Pesenti added in the post.

In February, the company (then known as Facebook) was reported to be considering the use of facial recognition in its smart glasses set to be released in 2022, but employees had concerns about the controversial technology.

The company cited the concerns that facial recognition have on society in making the move

'For potential future applications of technologies like this, we'll continue to be public about intended use, how people can have control over these systems and their personal data, and how we're living up to our responsible innovation framework.

The announcement comes just days after Facebook rebranded itself as Meta in a bid to distance itself from the criticism the moniker has attracted for the company, its employees and its executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The company had already been scaling back its use of facial recognition after introducing it more than a decade ago.

In 2019, the company (then known as Facebook) ended its practice of using face recognition software to identify users friends in uploaded photos and automatically suggesting they 'tag' them. Facebook was sued in Illinois over the tag suggestion feature.

Meta refers to the 'metaverse,' Zuckerberg's vision for the company's transition into shared augmented reality, where uses work and play in virtual world environments.

The company is steeped deep in crisis after whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents and made bombshell claims that it 'puts profits over people' by knowingly harming teenagers with its content and stoking anger among users.

Haugen, a former product manager at the company, left Facebook with tens of thousands of confidential documents that she copied in secret and released to roughly two dozen news outlets.

Facebook employees said they knew misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic was dominating parts of the social media platform creating 'echo-chamber-like effects' ultimately reinforcing hesitancy over the vaccine.

Haugen testified before Congress on October 5 and British Parliament on October 25, presenting findings on the harm social media caused young users. One revealed that 13.5 percent of British teenagers and 6 percent of American teenagers experiencing suicidal thoughts said that they traced them to Instagram.

Last month, it was revealed how Facebook researchers are said to have had extensive knowledge that coronavirus and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine existed on the company's apps, yet did little to combat it let alone share the information with the White House.

Documents presented by Haugen show how multiple studies were run producing a number various number detailing the types of users who were most likely to share fake news.

Lawmakers, academics and the White House have urged Facebook to share such information publicly.
A robot chef named Flippy, designed to cook 300 burgers a day, has been upgraded and can now also fill up baskets of fries and place them in the deep fat fryer.

Built by Miso Robotics, a food services startup from Pasadena, California, it is now capable of working an entire fry station and can do twice as many food preparation jobs as the first Flippy, including basket filling, emptying, and returning.

White Castle has partnered with Miso on the Flippy project, giving feedback that has allowed the startup to improve the functionality of the product.

They deployed the original Flippy to a location in the Chicagoland area in September 2020. and plans to expand to additional locations once the pilot is over.

A robot chef named Flippy, designed to cook 300 burgers a day, has been upgraded and can now also fill up baskets of fries and place them in the deep fat fryer

Built by Miso Robotics, a food services startup from Pasadena, California, it is now capable of working an entire fry station and can do twice as many food preparation jobs as the first Flippy, including basket filling, emptying, and returning

FLIPPY 2: THE FAST FOOD ROBOT CHEF Automatic Dispenser for high volume foods: New Automatic Dispenser options make Flippy 2 autonomous. AutoBins for all other types of foods: Flippy 2 comes standard with three AutoBins which recognise and transfers food into baskets. Team members place food in the AutoBin and Flippy 2 does the rest. Once the product is placed in the bin, AI vision automatically identifies the food, picks it up, cooks it in the correct fry basket and places it into a hot-holding area. Advertisement

Back-of-house positions at quick-service restaurants have historically been labour-intensive, physically demanding and can be hazardous given the proximity to hot oil and grills in compact kitchens, which prompted Miso to find a safer alternative.

Flippy 2 is the second iteration of their solution, and is designed to maximise the efficiency of the kitchen, while working alongside human coworkers.

White Castle says it was 'impressed and pleased' by the productivity gains from having Flippy in the kitchen, as it helped team members stay in their designated locations, reducing the need to jump into another area.

However, employees noted during the pilot that there was a need for human assistance on both sides of the robot  from the initial point of contact with the uncooked product to when the cooked food gets placed in the holding area.

This meant that one or two employees were required at several steps.

Basket management wasn't automated so the cooking process wasn't as seamless as it could be, which is what prompted changes in Flippy 2.

'We learned so much from Flippy and our partnership with Miso Robotics. It's amazing to see the future of how we provide even better service and even more hot and tasty food to our craving customers happening right before us in real time,' said Jamie Richardson, Vice President at White Castle.

Flippy 2 doesn't remove the need for humans, it just makes the fry station, even at peak times, less than a full-time task, allowing staff to focus on other tasks, the firm explained.

White Castle has partnered with Miso on the Flippy project, giving feedback that has allowed the startup to improve the functionality of the product

Among the new features on Flippy 2 are a brand new AutoBin system for lower volume and speciality foods like onion rings or chicken tenders.

Each bin can hold as much as a full fry basket, be customised for a kitchen's specific needs and be delineated for individual products like vegetables and fish to prevent cross-contamination.

Once the product is placed in the bin, artificial intelligence kicks in, to automatically identify the foods, cook it in the correct basket and place it in a holding area.

This reduces the amount of overall human-to-food contact, according to Miso, and reduces potential oil dripping and burns by lifting moving baskets.

Flippy 2 can operate alone without human intervention in the middle of the process.

Among the new features on Flippy 2 are a brand new AutoBin system for lower volume and speciality foods like onion rings or chicken tenders

Each bin can hold as much as a full fry basket, be customised for a kitchen's specific needs and be delineated for individual products like vegetables and fish to prevent cross-contamination

'This makes the system faster, increasing throughput by 30%  or around 60 baskets per hour  which is more than what is needed in high-volume restaurants.'

'Like all technologies, Flippy 2 has evolved significantly from its predecessor, and we are extremely grateful for the insights collected from White Castle to truly push its development forward in a real restaurant environment,' said Mike Bell, CEO of Miso Robotics.

'Flippy 2 takes up less space in the kitchen and increases production exponentially with its new basket filling, emptying and returning capabilities.

'Since Flippy's inception, our goal has always been to provide a customisable solution that can function harmoniously with any kitchen and without disruption.

'Flippy 2 has more than 120 configurations built into its technology and is the only robotic fry station currently being produced at scale.'

In addition to White Castle, Miso Robotics has several other pilot agreements with leading national brands in place, including its recently announced partnership with Inspire Brands.
Paul Merson has issued a stark warning to newly-appointed Spurs boss Antonio Conte that the Harry Kane saga will rear its head once again this January.

Conte has just signed an 18-month contract to take the reins at Tottenham after Nuno Espirito Santos swift exit following their 3-0 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.

The Arsenal legend fears that Conte will undoubtedly run into issues with Kane during the next transfer window.

Paul Merson (L) has issued a stark warning to newly-appointed Spurs boss Antonio Conte (R)

The Arsenal legend fears that Conte will undoubtedly run into issues with Kane this winter

It is Contes old club Chelsea that Merson believes Man City are in danger of falling behind' and envisions that the threat from the Blues will prompt Citys efforts to secure a deal for Kane in the new year.

City have failed to score in six of their 16 games this season and Merson described this poor run of form as unthinkable.

City midfield ace Kevin De Bruyne has been struggling to make his usual impact after a busy and injury-plagued summer.

Merson seems sure that City will be looking to bring in Kane with the hope of not letting Chelsea move further clear after Christmas. Pep Guardiola's side are currently five points behind the Blues.

Kane has failed to recapture his Euro 2020 goalscoring form for club Spurs so far this season

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I think in January, Kane to City is still alive. Man City are in danger of falling behind Chelsea at the moment. This is the problem Nuno had, and Conte has the same issue with Kane, Merson said in his column for Sky Sports.

In order to potentially avert the problem, Merson believes that Conte must 'hit the ground running. Spurs fans want to play the "Tottenham Way."

I'm not sure what that is, exactly, as they haven't won anything, he added.

Conte has a big challenge on his hands. During Spurs last home defeat, the England star looked visibly disheartened, lacklustre and worlds apart from the player who has been in prolific goalscoring form for his club in recent seasons.

With only one league goal to his name so far this season, Kane was even subject to booing from his own fans last weekend when they became frustrated at his abject display.

Conte and Kante will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they face Vitesse in Europe this week and at Everton when they're back in Premier League action on Sunday.
Damian Lewis has been seen in character as MI6 agent Nicholas Elliott for the first time.

The actor, 50, shot scenes for his upcoming Cold War drama, A Spy Among Friends, in London on Sunday dressed as Elliott. Lewis donned a suit, fedora hat, spectacles and a trench coat.

Elliott was an officer noted for his close association with British double agent Kim Philby, with the forthcoming Britbox series being based on Philby's defection to the Soviet Union.

First look: Damian Lewis, 50, has been seen in character as MI6 agent Nicholas Elliott for the first time while filming in London

He was seen strolling through the streets of Pimlico - which had been transported back to the 1950s - before taking shelter beneath a black umbrella.

Lewis was also filmed eating a meal in a cafe while portraying Elliott - who died in 1994 aged 77.

It marks Lewis' first role since confirming his departure from the hugely popular Showtime series Billions.

Real life: Lewis plays Nicholas Elliott (pictured right), a British MI6 intelligence officer noted for his close association with double agent Kim Philby, who defected to Russia in 1963

In character: The actor shot scenes for his upcoming Cold War drama, A Spy Among Friends, on Sunday dressed as Elliott. Lewis donned a suit and trench coat

Guy Pearce will star opposite Lewis and play Philby.

The new show is based on the bestselling book of the same name by author Ben Macintyre, and will focus on Elliot's friendship with former colleague Philby.

Philby gained notoriety in 1963 after he was exposed as a prominent member of a British spy ring responsible for sharing British secrets with the Soviet Union during the early years of the Cold War.

Known as the Cambridge Five, the group also included Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross - although none were ever prosecuted for spying.

Bite to eat: Lewis was also filmed eating a meal in a cafe while portraying Elliott in the capital o over the weekend

Official: The first official movie snap shows Damian Lewis as Nicholas Elliot and Guy Pearce as Kim Philby

Philby escaped to Moscow in 1963 before he could face trial and would spend the rest of his life in Russia, where he would die aged 76 in 1988.

Anna Maxwell Martin, Stephen Kunken and Adrian Edmondson are also expected to star in the new drama, with Nick Murphy serving as executive producer and director.

A Spy Among Friends will reunite Lewis with Alexander Cary, an executive producer who previously worked with the British star on Homeland.

'How could I resist the opportunity to dramatize the true story of Nicholas Elliott and Kim Philby  two spies and lifelong friends, one of whom was betraying the other all along?' Cary told Deadline.

Leading role: Australian actor Guy Pearce will play Philby in the forthcoming new drama

Old times: Philby (pictured) gained notoriety in 1963 after he was exposed as a prominent member of a British spy ring responsible for sharing British secrets with the Soviet Union during the early years of the Cold War

'A friendship that resulted in the gutting of British and American intelligence at the height of the Cold War and shaped the field of play for the dangerous game against Russia that we're still trying to win today.

'Macintyre's books about spies from recent history are relevant and exciting because they examine the larger universal themes of human behavior that drive individuals among us, and like us, to excel in the murky world of espionage and, for better or worse, leave a lasting impact on the world.'

Lewis has previously played a spy in John Le Carre's Our Kind of Traitor, while also expressing a keen interest in playing a 'better' spy than fictional MI6 agent James Bond.

A Spy Among Friends is expected to air in autumn 2022 via Britbox in the UK and Spectrum's On Demand platform in the U.S.

Watch Billions exclusively on Stan in Australia.
Ireland Baldwin was snapped in Portland, Oregon walking her dogs amid a controversy surrounding her choice of a Halloween costume in the wake of her father Alec Baldwin's accidental fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while making the film Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Ireland, 26, was seen on Saturday with her boyfriend, musician RAC, in a puffy red The North Face jacket over a grey zip-up top with patterned pants. She wore her locks up in a bun and a necklace on the walk through a woodsy area.

RAC (born Andre Allen Anjos) wore a grey hooded sweatshirt and black pants with glasses and a red cap on the daytime outing.

The latest: Ireland Baldwin, 26, was snapped in Portland, Oregon Saturday walking her dogs with boyfriend RAC amid a controversy surrounding her choice of a Halloween costume, in the wake of her father Alec Baldwin's accidental fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while making the film Rust

Ireland faced criticism on social media after posting a joint Halloween costume with her beau Sunday in which she wore a schoolgirl costume with fake blood splattered on her face, while RAC had it on his shirt.

'So we stayed in for Halloween this year,' she captioned the post. 'We didnt think we would celebrate, but we found some old costumes and blood, ate really good food, drank tequila, had a couple friends over, watched a scary movie and had 0 trick or treaters....'

Ireland was questioned in the comment section of the post for the image, which comes less than two weeks after the October 21 shooting on the Rust set.

One commenter said they were 'completely sympathetic' to the Baldwin family in the wake of the 'extremely unfortunate tragedy ... but the optics of this costume, at this time, are not good. You should do you, but I wish you'd thought better of posting these pictures.'

RAC (born Andre Allen Anjos) wore a grey hooded sweatshirt and black pants with glasses and a red cap on the daytime outing.

The model held two leashes with her dogs on the daytime walk through the woodsy area

Another person said it was 'really inappropriate beyond words' for Ireland to don the costume following the tragedy on the set of Rust, while another commenter said it was 'insensitive.'

Alec, 63, and wife Hilaria, 37, celebrated Halloween in Vermont, as Hilaria took to Instagram with photos and clips of the couple and their six children.

'Parenting through this has been an intense experience, to say the least,' she said. 'Today, we rallied to give them a holiday.'

Alec and Hilaria spoke with photographers in Manchester, Vermont on Saturday in a clip posted on TMZ in which he stated he remained in touch with Hutchins' husband Matt in the wake of the tragic shooting.

Ireland faced criticism on social media Sunday after posting a joint Halloween costume with her beau in which she wore a schoolgirl costume with fake blood splattered on her face, while RAC had it on his shirt

Ireland said she and her boyfriend spent Halloween at home with friends

He said Halyna Hutchins was his friend and that Matt 'is in shock' and 'has a nine-year-old son,' and that he is 'in constant contact with him because we are very worried about his family and his kid.'

Alec said he was 'eagerly awaiting for the sheriffs department to tell us what their investigation has yielded.'

Baldwin said that the shooting was a 'one-in-a-trillion event' and that 'we were a very, very well-oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened.'

Authorities in New Mexico said they believe the gun Baldwin was holding in the incident discharged a single live round that killed Hutchins, 42, and also injured director Joel Souza, 48. Officials said that it's too early to know whether charges are going to be filed in connection with the incident.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said authorities have not yet determined whether there was negligence in the incident, and that further investigation is necessary.
Tommy Mallet has become one of TOWIE's wealthiest cast members as his trainer business raked in 2.3 million in one year.

The reality TV star, 29, launched Mallet.Footwear Limited in 2015 and the company has gone from strength to strength.

The entrepreneur's company value rocketed to more than 6 million despite the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Incredible:Tommy Mallet has become one of TOWIE 's wealthiest cast members as his trainer business raked in 2.3 million in one year

According to The Sun, Tommy and his business partner Evren Ozkarakasli could share a 1.2 million dividend payout.

The star previously revealed that as a child he could not afford trainers, however now he has cash reserves of 4.8 million and 8.8 million in total assets.

In 2017 speaking to Real Business he said: 'It started in June 2015. I was doing a modelling shoot and I loved the shoes they gave me to wear, but they were 1,200 I'd just started on the show and didn't?t have much money.

'I did a drawing and messaged it to a friend who worked in fashion and asked if he knew anywhere that could make it.

Entrepreneur: The star, 29, launched Mallet.Footwear Limited in 2015 and the company has gone from strength to strength

'Two weeks later he came to me with a sample. I thought wow, this is a good, let's see if we can sell a few online and make a small business out of it.'

The hard working celebrity's trainers are stocked in major stores around the world.

In a previous interview with The Sun Tommy said: 'When I was younger I never had enough money to buy a pair of trainers that I genuinely liked because they were all so expensive, so I put pen to paper and decided to design something similar.

Success: 'We went from having a 50k turnover at the end of our first year to having a turnover of around 2.5million towards the end of our second year'

'We went from having a 50k turnover at the end of our first year to having a turnover of around 2.5million towards the end of our second year.'

He said: 'I've worked hard and become successful, wherever I'm from and whatever the perception is.'

It comes after Tommy and girlfriend Georgia Kousoulou, 30, welcomed their first child, Brody Fordham, in May.

The pair previously discussed how becoming parents has strengthened their relationship while revealing whether they plan on getting married in the future.

Sweet: It comes after Tommy and girlfriend Georgia Kousoulou, 30, welcomed their first child, Brody Fordham, in May

'It was absolutely mental - the maddest four minutes I've ever experienced,' said Tommy to New! Magazine as he remembered the birth of Brody. 'I had my house music on as he was being born!

'People always say it's the best feeling ever, but you don't really understand it until you experience it.'

Georgia added: 'It was so overwhelming, I just cried thinking, 'Is this normal? I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know how I feel.' It was just all different emotions.

'You cry. You're looking at this little boy and he was staring into my eyes, I was thinking, 'Oh my god he's mine.''

Bond: 'It was absolutely mental - the maddest four minutes I've ever experienced,' said Tommy to New! Magazine as he remembered the birth of Brody

The new mother admitted she 'freaked out' when she first realised she was having her baby via C-section. According to Georgia, they had to opt for the procedure for safety reasons.

But looking back, she said the experience was surreal, incredible and the best decision for the baby and her.

Georgia added that she could feel the doctors 'tugging' inside her while Tommy remained by her side, stroking her head and keeping her calm.

On how becoming a parent has affected their relationship, the former TOWIE star said she now experiences a 'different type of love' for Tommy and they share an unbreakable bond.

Blessed: 'It was absolutely mental - the maddest four minutes I've ever experienced I had my house music on as he was being born!' said Tommy

Family man: He added: 'People always say it's the best feeling ever, but you don't really understand it until you experience it'

She declared that the birth of their Brody has only brought them closer together and strengthened their relationship.

Also in the interview, Tommy gushed over their three-month-old and said that seeing him smile and laugh is the 'best thing ever'.

He revealed that whenever he is stressed with work, he spends time with Georgia and Brody to remind himself of what he's doing it all for.

Tommy also confirmed that he will be a strict parent after being inspired by his parent's child-rearing techniques. He admitted his dad is the boss, and always has been, as he hopes to follow in his footsteps.

Yikes: Georgia admitted she 'freaked out' when she first realised she was having her baby via C-section and said she could feel the doctors 'tugging' inside her

Team: On how becoming a parent has affected their seven year relationship, the former TOWIE star said she now experiences a 'different type of love' for Tommy

Looking ahead to the future, the Mallet footwear mogul said he can't wait to go travelling with his family and to show Brody the world.

However, the happy couple don't plan on tying the knot anytime soon as Georgia said she wants to 'enjoy life' instead of 'rushing life'.

She said she has felt pressure to settle down with Tommy throughout their entire seven year relationship and now, she wants to enjoy time with her family instead of living up to other people's expectations.

That also applies to having more children as Georgia confirmed she is happy having just one child for the time being.

Priorities: However, the happy couple don't plan on tying the knot anytime soon as Georgia said she wants to 'enjoy life' instead of 'rushing life'

Georgia has spoken candidly on social media about the changes in her body since giving birth.

The former TOWIE star asserted in the interview that she's proud of her body and its ability to grow a human, something she reminds Tommy of whenever he gets on her nerves.

She also joked then she 'gave birth to Tommy' as she noted the striking similarity between her partner and their baby.

But Georgia acknowledged that she sees the resemblance between Brody and herself, now that his cheeks have 'filled out' and she can see his dimples.

The couple announced their decision to leave The Only Way Is Essex in May, but they are preparing to return to TV screens later this year with their solo show, Georgia and Tommy: Baby Steps.

According to the mother-of-one, she was initially hesitant about doing their own show, but ultimately decided it was the right thing to do considering their entire relationship has been documented on TV.

As the first series only has two episodes, Georgia teased the idea of shooting more instalments in the future while adding that she thinks viewers will enjoy the way it's filmed because it's different to other reality show formats.
Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has put her tough questioning at a corruption inquiry to one side, as she donned a designer ensemble and carried a cake to her office on Melbourne Cup day.

The 51-year-old, who suddenly quit as premier last month because she was being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), had a spring in her step as she stepped out in Sydney wearing a chic outfit worth at least $1,150.

Just a day after she made an apparent farewell to public life following a grilling at an ICAC inquiry, Ms Berejiklian smiled for photographers as she left her home and headed to her office, as she remains the MP for the North Shore seat of Willoughby.

Effortlessly chic: Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian put on a brave face on Tuesday after losing her job and facing a grilling at a corruption inquiry

Ms Berejiklian, who clutched a boxed cake, looked chic in a bright red polka-dot dress and black blazer.

She teamed the spring look with pricey accessories, including Salvatore Ferragamo wedged heels, which cost about $1,000.

She carried her belongings in a black TSD12 bag, which retails for $150, and completed her look with a pair of designer sunglasses on a bright Sydney day.

Stepping out: Berejiklian, who clutched a boxed cake, looked effortlessly chic in a bright red polka-dot dress and black blazer

Details: She teamed the spring look with pricey accessories, including Salvatore Ferragamo wedged heels, which cost about $1,000

On Monday, Berejiklian seemed to bid a sombre farewell to public life as she briefly addressed media after a long day of questioning by the corruption watchdog.

The former NSW Premier said the past month had been 'extremely difficult' for her, but that everything she'd done was in the public interest.

'I just want to say to everybody it's been my honour and privilege to serve you in my role in public life,' she said.

Farewell: On Monday, Gladys struck a sombre farewell note as she addressed the people of NSW after wrapping up her grilling in front of the corruption watchdog

'What's occurred to me is a difficult situation but I know many people do it tough in the community.

'I intend to get on with my life and I just want to thank everybody for my support every day I've dealt with the public.

'It's been my honour and privilege to serve the community.'

The corruption inquiry into Ms Berejiklian centres on her secret love affair with Daryl Maguire who stood down as an MP after a finding that he had received corrupt payments while serving in parliament.

During a fiery morning of questioning, which was telecast live, Ms Berejiklian said she was unaware of any corrupt activity while their relationship continued.

Speaking out: The former NSW Premier said the past month had been 'extremely difficult' for her, but that everything she did was in the public interest

At the centre of the evidence heard were SMS messages she'd received from Mr Maguire in July 2018, demanding she get a second phone and download a Chinese messaging app.

Ms Berejiklian told the ICAC that she did not have a second phone, and never sought to get one.

She said she completely rejected the proposition that her secret relationship with Mr Maguire affected the way she carried out her public duties.

'That was always separate to my public responsibility... I stand by that ever so strongly,' she said.
Jason Momoa went public and confirmed he has tested positive for COVID-19, and is currently isolating in his home in the UK.

The Hollywood superstar, 42, initially broke the news in a video he posted on his Instagram Stories.

Momoa, who's been shooting Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom in the UK since June, suggested that he may have contracted the virus when he attended the premiere for the epic science fiction film Dune, which he plays the role of Duncan Idaho.

Positive test: Jason Momoa, 42, confirmed he has tested positive for COVID-19 in a video that has been posted on his Instagram Stories

Momoa revealed that he has been in lockdown with professional skateboarder Erik Ellington.

'I got hit with COVID right after the premiere,' Momoa said in the video, which started off with Ellington doing a skateboarding jump inside the home.

Hinting that its hard to tell exactly where and when he was infected, Momoa added, 'Theres a lot of people I met in England. Got a lot of aloha from people, and who knows.'

Safety first: The Aquaman star said he has isolating at a home since testing positive

Quarantine: Momoa has been in lockdown with professional skateboarder Erik Ellington

All good: Momoa shared that he's 'doing fine' and thanked fans 'for all your concerns and love'

Momoa added, 'Either way, I'm doing fine and thank you for all your concerns and love.

He went on to share that he's camped out in his house, and that he has 'some really cool stuff that is coming out that I want to share, but unfortunately I can't leave the house.'

The Sun initially reported Momoa discovered the diagnosis while filming Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom, with a source revealing that it would affect filming on the sequel.

His take: 'Momoa said he got 'hit with COVID right after the premiere' of Dune, which was October 18 in London, England; he is pictured at the Dune premiere

Having been temporarily sidelined from the shoot, Momoa is reportedly quarantining in an eight bedroom, 11 bathroom, 20million mansion in North London.

'Jason is fine luckily and is now isolating after getting a positive test,' a source shared with the publication, adding, 'Everyone is wishing him a speedy recovery and they're looking forward to having him back on set [of Aquaman 2].'

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released on December 16, 2022.
Married At First Sight's Jessika Power infamously exchanged flirty DMs with former rugby league star Sam Burgess after his separation from wife Phoebe in 2019.

And the 30-year-old revealed what was said in those messages during an interview with Triple M Sydney's Moonman in the Morning on Tuesday.

'So Sam wanted to catch-up, and this was around the time he was going through his divorce with his wife,' she said.

The truth: Married At First Sight's Jessika Power infamously exchanged flirty DMs with former rugby league star Sam Burgess after his separation from wife Phoebe in 2019

'We haven't contacted each other for a while now,' Jessika said, confirming she never met up with the SAS Australia star in person.

'But realistically, I don't want to be involved in anything messy anyway,' she added.

Jessika previously revealed in 2019 she had exchanged 'flirty' messages on Instagram with the Rabbitohs great when he was newly single.

At the time, she told Daily Mail Australia she had simply offered her support to the NRL player as a friend and nothing more.

What really happened: The 30-year-old revealed what was said in those messages during an interview with Triple M Sydney's Moonman in the Morning on Tuesday

Keeping clear: 'Sam wanted to catch-up, and this was around the time he was going through his divorce,' she said. 'We haven't contacted each other for a while now, but realistically, I don't want to be involved in anything messy.' Pictured: Sam and Phoebe Burgess in February 2016

'I let him know that I was here to chat and just to see if he was okay, so that was it,' she clarified.

'There's no dating going on there!' she added.

Jessika also shared her thoughts on Sam's ex-wife Phoebe, promising the former WAG there was 'nothing going on between Sam and I'.

For the record: Jessika previously revealed in 2019 she had exchanged 'flirty' messages on Instagram with the Rabbitohs great when he was newly single. At the time, she told Daily Mail Australia she had simply offered her support to the NRL player as a friend and nothing more

Officially over: The Burgesses were married for five years before finalising their divorce

'I feel sorry for her,' she continued. 'I feel sorry for anyone that has a broken family or has things going on with somebody that they love with children involved.'

Sam and Phoebe's divorce was finalised earlier this year, after five tumultuous years of marriage.

The couple share two young children, daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, two.

Doting dad: The couple share two young children, daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, two

It comes after Jessika shared some of the flirty DMs she'd received from Shane Warne during an interview with Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa on Monday.

The influencer, who is a contestant on Big Brother VIP, read aloud several of the raunchy texts live on air.

Jessika said she was eventually forced to block Shane, 52, on Instagram after he persistently flooded her with messages on the social media app.

Revealing: It comes after Jessika shared some of the flirty DMs she received from Shane Warne during an interview with Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa on Monday

'Here, I'll read the last message. Here's the reply I sent to his very forthcoming message: "Hey, I'm so sorry I've had a really big day and I haven't been able to reply. I would have loved to have caught up but not in your hotel room I'm not that kind of girl,"' she said.

'And then he messaged back and said, "What are you doing now?" And it was really late at night, and I was like, "This guy just has not got a clue." So I didn't reply.'

Jessika said Shane later messaged her again to tell her he was leaving for Sydney before returning to the Gold Coast, where she's based.

Show and tell: The influencer, who is a contestant on Big Brother VIP, read aloud some of the raunchy texts live on air. Pictured: Shane Warne

Apparently he wanted to meet up again, but she didn't reply.

'And then he messaged me again saying, "Boo! What's on for this afternoon?" I didn't reply, and the last thing is just me blocking him,' she continued.

'He just kept trying, and I was like, "This guy's going to get the big block."'

Blocked: Jessika said she was eventually forced to block Shane, 52, on Instagram after he persistently flooded her with messages on the social media app

Jessika said she decided to block Shane after exiting the Big Brother house, where she spoke openly about his messages with her housemates.

She said she 'forgot I was being filmed constantly' and didn't want him to contact her if he became upset about her comments.

Speaking on Big Brother VIP, Jessika said: 'It was even weirder when I had Shane Warne in my inbox the other week... Some of the things he was sending me, I was like, "inappropriate!"'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted representatives for Shane for comment.
She made history in 2015 after being the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

But Michelle Payne ditched the riding boots for a pair of high heels as she attended the prestigious event at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old turned heads in a eighties-style mint green backless peplum dress and a tinsel-themed fascinator as she posed next to the race track.

Turning heads: Michelle Payne ditched the riding boots for a pair of high heels as she attended the 2021 Melbourne Cup Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday

She teamed the skin-baring bubble frock with strappy green stilettos and a big smile.

Michelle posed with fellow jockey James Winks, who looked stylish in a grey three-piece suit.

Her appearance at the event comes after she slammed animal rights activists and critics who want to ban horse racing.

The Eighties called! The 36-year-old turned heads in a eighties-style mint green backless peplum dress and a tinsel-themed fascinator as she posed next to the race track

Michelle explained that there is a wide misconception held by many when it comes to the treatment of horses in the racing industry.

'If they saw these horse everyday, they'd see how well cared for and happy they are,' she told Stellar.

'They are treated like kings. I look after my horse better than I look after myself,' Michelle continued. '

She emphasised how 'disappointing' it is for her to constantly hear people claim the horses are abused or treated cruelly.

'I know that's their perception but if they really knew what was going on behind the scenes they wouldn't think that,' the champion jockey added.

Flashing the flesh: Michelle's frock revealed plenty of skin at the back

Stylish: Michelle posed with fellow jockey James Winks, who looked stylish in a grey three-piece suit

Work, work, work: Michelle was commentating for Channel 10

Earlier this year, Michelle suffered horrific injuries during an incident with a horse in Ballarat, Victoria.

The horse reportedly kicked her in the face causing a deep cut on her chin and bruising on her legs.

She recalled the incident to the Herald Sun and revealed that the horse 'got a fright and panicked and kicked me in the chin and leg'.

Defending the industry: Her appearance at the event comes after she slammed animal rights activists and critics who want to ban horse racing

'They are treated like kings': The champion jockey explained that there is a wide misconception about the treatment of horses and stressed that she even looks after her own horses 'better than I look after myself'

Ouch: Earlier this year, Michelle suffered horrific injuries during an incident with a horse in Ballarat, Victoria

'It wasn't one of my own [horses]. It was a really, really quiet horse and it got a fright I fell underneath him and when he got a fright he panicked and kicked me in the chin and kicked me in the leg,' she said.

'Initially I couldn't get up because my leg was so sore and I thought I was being a sook. The blood was coming out of my chin but was still okay.'

Michelle was taken to hospital where she had stitches and underwent a head scan.

Michelle is a champion jockey and the first and only woman to win the Melbourne Cup horse race in its 160-year history.
It was only a matter of time.

Former Married At First Sight bride Tamara Joy has joined subscription-based adult website OnlyFans.

For $15 a month, subscribers can access uncensored photos and videos of the 32-year-old socialite.

Cashing in: Former Married At First Sight bride Tamara Joy has joined subscription-based adult website OnlyFans, where she is selling uncensored photos and videos for $15 per month

She announced the news on Instagram on Sunday, writing: 'So I did a thing. Go check the link in my bio.'

Tamara told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday she'd always supported her friends who made content for OnlyFans.

'I think it's great we are now in a day and age where women are able to break a certain stigma,' she said.

'The timing has never been right for me to move extra content to the platform until now.'

Too hot to handle! The 32-year-old socialite announced the news on Instagram on Sunday, writing: 'So I did a thing. Go check the link in my bio'

Tamara's OnlyFans announcement was quickly flooded with comments from fellow MAFS contestants, with Ines Basic writing: 'Oh wow hello.'

'Get it, baby,' added Natasha Spencer, while Samuel Levi wrote: 'Suggarrrrr mumma coming through xx.'

While OnlyFans is known for its adult content, there are creators on the platform who use it to post fitness videos and non-pornographic bikini and lingerie photos.

Newly single: It comes after she broke up with her Love Island star boyfriend Thomas Powell

Tamara follows in the footsteps of fellow brides Alana Lister, Jessika Power, Stacey Hampton, Hayley Vernon and Ines Basic who have all joined OnlyFans.

It comes after she broke up with her Love Island star boyfriend Thomas Powell.

Tamara announced the split during an Instagram Q&A in August, revealing the pair had parted ways after just three months.
Eight years after the original Dexter series went off the air, Michael C. Hall hit the red carpet to celebrate the return of Dexter: New Blood.

The 50-year-old actor rocked a black-on-black look at the premiere, held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City, ahead of the show's debut on Showtime November 7.

Hall was seen posing with co-stars such as Jack Alcott, who plays Dexter Morgan's son Harrison, and the actor's wife, Morgan Hall.

Black-on-black: The 50-year-old actor rocked a black-on-black look at the premiere, held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City

Hall stepped out with a black-on-black look, with a black suit coat, dress shirt sans tie, while sporting the early stages of a scruffy beard.

He completed his look with black pants and silver shoes, while posing with other co-stars such as Julia Jones.

The show is set 10 years after the ending of the original series, with Dexter Morgan living a brand new life in a sleepy upstate New York town.

Michael's look: Hall stepped out with a black-on-black look, with a black suit coat, dress shirt sans tie, while sporting the early stages of a scruffy beard

Co-stars: He completed his look with black pants and silver shoes, while posing with other co-stars such as Julia Jones

While Dexter has been thought to have died while disappearing in the midst of Hurricane Laura, he has surfaced in Iron Lake, New York as Jim Lindsay.

The trailers have teased that he works at a bait and tackle shop while settling down with the new love of his life, Angela Bishop (Julia Jones).

His peaceful new life is complicated when his teenage son Harrison (Jack Alcott) has somehow managed to track him down.

Father and son: His peaceful new life is complicated when his teenage son Harrison (Jack Alcott) has somehow managed to track him down

Hall also posed with Alcott, who hit the red carpet featuring fake snow and fake blood with a black suit coat, a unique mustard yellow turtleneck with black pants and black shoes.

He also posed with his wife of over five years, Morgan Hall, who had her red hair pulled back into a ponytail for the event.

She wore a stylish black floral print maxi dress with matching pumps for the red carpet event.

Michael and Jack: Hall also posed with Alcott, who hit the red carpet featuring fake snow and fake blood with a black suit coat, a unique mustard yellow turtleneck with black pants and black shoes

Michael and Morgan: He also posed with his wife of over five years, Morgan Hall, who had her red hair pulled back into a ponytail for the event

Morgan's look: She wore a stylish black floral print maxi dress with matching pumps for the red carpet event

Also hitting the red carpet is original Dexter star David Zayas, who rocked a crisp blue suit and a black and grey bowler hat.

Dexter: New Blood star Alano Miller hit the red carpet with a suit that appeared to be an optical illusion of some sort.

Dexter: New Blood debuts Sunday, November 7 at 9 PM ET only on Showtime.

David's look: Also hitting the red carpet is original Dexter star David Zayas, who rocked a crisp blue suit and a black and grey bowler hat

Red carpet: Dexter: New Blood star Alano Miller hit the red carpet with a suit that appeared to be an optical illusion of some sort

Jamie's look: Jamie Chung hit the red carpet with a neon green coat and pants, with an aqua blue bra, matching fuzzy shoes and a blue Apede Mod bag

Michelle's look: Michelle Lulic hit the red carpet in a sleeveless black dress with a plunging neckline and red pumps

Johnny's look: Johnny Sequoyah, who plays Audrey on the show, rocked a grey top and yellow skirt with black pumps

Gizel's look: Gizel Jimenez hit the red carpet with a black minidress, red leggings and black pumps

Sami's look: Sami Gayle arrived with a blue mini-dress, black Chanel bag and black pumps
Megan Barton Hanson took to Instagram on Sunday to share her thoughts on sex work as she dressed as Julia Roberts' famous Pretty Woman character for Halloween.

The former Love Island star, 27, has worked in the industry as a stripper and revealed that was 'shamed' for her work when she was first in the public eye.

In the social media post, she wrote a lengthy caption which slammed those who still belittle sex workers: 'To anyone who still shames sex workers or thinks sex work isnt work - big mistake, huge!'

Opinion: Megan Barton Hanson, 27, took to Instagram on Sunday to share her thoughts on sex work as she dressed as Julia Roberts' famous Pretty Woman character for Halloween

Hitting back: In the social media post, she wrote a lengthy caption which slammed those who still belittle sex workers: 'To anyone who still shames sex workers or thinks sex work isnt work - big mistake, huge!'

She dressed up as Vivian Ward wearing the iconic white and blue mini dress with black fish net suspenders and had the red locks curled just like Julia.

In one of the images on her grid she had a strawberry in her mouth and and a glass of bubbly in her hand - in keeping with the film's theme and alluding to the scene where Richard Gere's character shares the combination with Julia's character.

Megan, who now has an OnlyFans account, continued in the caption: 'When I spoke openly on Love Island 3 years ago about being a stripper, I was shamed for it.

'I was shamed by friends and those in my local area too. Contrary to stereotypes of sex workers being addicts, sl*ts and people with no hope, I had a completely different experience.

Big mistake, huge! The former Love Island star has worked in the industry as a stripper and revealed that was 'shamed' for her work when she was first in the public eye

Uncanny: She dressed up as the Vivian Ward wearing the iconic white and blue mini dress with black fish net suspenders and had the red locks curled just like Julia (pictured, 1990)

'These women and myself were choosing to make money this way. We believed and still do believe that we should be the ones making decisions on what we do with OUR bodies. Freedom of choice is a crucial element of feminism that people often overlook.

'With these women, a true sisterhood was formed, and we supported and cared for one another and looked out for each other.

'This year, Ive spoken increasingly openly about the liberation of sex workers given the popularity of OnlyFans and the debate around exclusive content sites, so this year, I am honouring myself and all sex workers with a Vivian Ward outfit.

Glamorous: The posts come after Megan opened up about her breast implants. Being open about having plastic surgery is another cause Megan stands by

'It feels like we have made some progress, but there is still such a long way to go. Happy Halloween to you all, heres to healthier, and more liberated sexual culture.'

The posts come after Megan opened up about her breast implants. Being open about having plastic surgery is another cause Megan stands by.

Speaking to MailOnline, Megan said: 'Since losing weight my implants looked uneven not how they did in Love Island and I wanted a correction.

'I want to be honest open and transparent with my followers not set unrealistic expectations.

'There's no shame in surgery if it makes you happy and you've researched a good trusted surgeon and know the risks.'

Megan's surgery was carried out by Dr Paul Harris who she praised as one of the best surgeons in the UK.

She added: 'Hopefully me actually sharing it will make girls feel it's nothing to be embarrassed of.'

Megan is currently dating TOWIE star James Lock, after she had romantic links with Demi Sims and Chelcee Grimes.
Home and Away star Sam Frost has backflipped on her previous anti-vax stance, revealing she will get vaccinated against Covid-19 but not until after Channel Seven's 'no jab, no job' deadline.

The actress, 32, said on Tuesday she will be fully vaccinated by late February - about seven weeks after the network's vaccine mandate for all presenters, cast and crew comes into effect on January 10.

Because Sam won't be allowed on the Palm Beach set until she's double vaxxed, her character Jasmine Delaney will be 'written out temporarily'.

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Change of heart: Home and Away star Sam Frost (pictured) has backflipped on her previous anti-vax stance, revealing she will get vaccinated against Covid-19 but not until after Channel Seven's 'no jab, no job' deadline

The former Bachelorette explained she wasn't able to get the jab sooner because of an unspecified 'medical procedure booked in for January'.

She also insisted she wasn't leaving the soap permanently and that she had the full support of Seven executives.

When she does get the jab in February, Sam may well receive the Novavax vaccine, which was recently submitted to the TGA for provisional approval.

Temporary exit: The actress, 32, said on Tuesday her character Jasmine Delaney was being 'written out temporarily' because she won't be full vaccinated until late February. Pictured on Home and Away with co-star Jake Ryan, who plays Robbo

If successful, it will be the fourth approved coronavirus vaccine in Australia, after AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna.

Many vaccine-hesitant Australians who are suspicious of mRNA and vector technology are holding out for the protein-based Novavax because it relies on older 'tried and true' immunisation methods.

It's unclear if Sam falls into this category; however, she previously said she didn't want the vaccine for unspecified medical reasons.

Mandate: Seven Productions announced on Friday it would be implementing a vaccine mandate for 'all presenters, cast and crew' from January 10. Because Sam won't be allowed on set for the six to seven weeks from when the mandate starts until she's double vaxxed, her character will be 'going on an off-screen adventure'

'I'm not leaving Home and Away. I've got a medical procedure booked in for January, so I won't be fully vaxxed until mid to late February,' she wrote on Instagram Stories.

'I will be written out temporarily. Jazzy is going on an off-screen adventure for a few weeks, but I'll be back.'

She added: 'My bosses are amazing; we've been in open communication for months. [I'm] very grateful we were able to make a plan that works for everyone.'

Statement: 'I'm not leaving Home and Away. I have a medical procedure booked in for January, so I won't be fully vaxxed until mid to late February,' she wrote on Instagram. 'I will be written out temporarily. Jazzy is going on an off-screen adventure for a few weeks, but I'll be back'

It comes after the Director of Production at Seven West Media, Andrew Backwell, sent an email to staff on Friday informing them the network 'will only engage fully vaccinated presenters, cast and crew'.

Staff at Seven Productions, which includes Home and Away, will need to be double vaccinated from January 10 to continue work.

A Seven spokesperson said: 'To provide the safest possible work environment for cast, crew and presenters, Seven Productions have made the decision to only engage those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, taking effect in January next year.

'Seven strongly encourages vaccination to protect our people, their colleagues and their families.'

Excuse: Sam explained she wasn't able to get the jab sooner because of an unspecified 'medical procedure booked in for January'

Sam had deactivated her Instagram account on October 9, shortly after revealing in an emotional video that she was unvaccinated and her mental health had suffered as a result of other people 'judging' her.

The actress, who has played nurse Jasmine on Home and Away since 2017, called for less judgement towards unvaccinated Australians.

'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation,' she said in the video.

'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason.

'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.'

Sam then said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision; however, it's understood she does not have a valid medical exemption.

She added tearfully: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you.

Comments: The former Bachelorette had deactivated her Instagram account on October 9, shortly after revealing in an emotional video that she was unvaccinated and her mental health had suffered as a result of other people 'judging' her

'And you're too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, "Well, it's none of your damn business why I'm not! And there's good reasons why I'm not and I don't want you to judge me."'

She explained it was important for the unvaccinated to look after their mental health, especially as freedoms return for fully vaccinated Australians.

'I'm struggling a lot with my mental health and I like to think that I'm pretty on to it. I see a psychologist regularly. So I can't imagine what it's like for people who don't have a support network around them,' she said.

She added that she could 'get in trouble' for coming out publicly as unvaccinated, before urging people to treat each other with more kindness and compassion.

Judgement: The actress, who has played Jasmine on Home and Away since 2017, called for less judgement towards unvaccinated Australians. Her video caused controversy because of her use of the word 'segregation' when referring to the way society 'judges' unvaccinated people

Her video caused a great deal of controversy, mainly because of her use of the word 'segregation' when referring to the way society 'judges' unvaccinated people.

'Segregation' is typically used to describe societies that are divided due to race, religion or sexual orientation.

A Seven spokesperson said afterwards: 'Seven strongly encourages vaccination for all our people and all Seven productions strictly adhere to the public health Covid-19 safe protocols.

'All Home and Away cast and crew also undertake Covid-19 testing three times a week in addition to other preventative measures.

'Sam Frost continues to work on Home and Away and follows the safety protocols in place.'
They were partying on the dance floor at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2019.

But two years on, Nadia Bartel and Ellie Pearson are celebrating the race that stops the nation in a very different way.

Nadia, 36, revealed on Instagram she was spending the day relaxing by the pool, after she was quietly scrubbed from the Victoria Racing Club website in the wake of her white-powder scandal.

Different year: Inside Nadia Bartel and Ellie Pearson's very different Melbourne Cup, two years after they partied on the dance floor and left in a helicopter with friends

Similarly, her BFF and business partner Ellie posted a photo to her Instagram Stories while enjoying a relaxing day in the sun.

Two years ago, the pair were partying it up on the dance floor at the Melbourne Cup, with Nadia turning heads in a quirky yellow ensemble.

They later made a dramatic exit from Flemington Racecourse, leaving in an Uber helicopter with friends.

Once on board, Nadia shared a number of videos alongside Ellie as they soared above Melbourne.

Relaxing: Nadia, 36, revealed on Instagram she was spending the day relaxing by the pool, after she was quietly scrubbed from the VRC website in the wake of her white-powder scandal

Fun in the sun: Similarly, her BFF and business partner Ellie posted this photo to her Instagram Stories while enjoying a relaxing day in the sun

While Nadia filmed from her sky-high vantage point, she captured Ellie displaying the shaka hand sign.

She then turned the camera back to herself, beaming as she documented her glamorous ride home.

Nadia has had a spectacular fall from grace since she was busted snorting white powder at an illegal party during Melbourne's lockdown on September 2.

Mile high: Two years ago, the pair were partying it up on the dance floor at the Melbourne Cup. They made a dramatic exit from Flemington Racecourse in an Uber helicopter with friends

She and three other women were each fined $5,452 after footage from the party was accidentally posted on Instagram by Ellie.

But the most humiliating part of the scandal was seeing Nadia, once known for her impeccably clean-cut image, snorting the white substance off a $1.50 Kmart plate.

She wasn't charged with drug offences, however, because Victoria Police couldn't prove what she was snorting.

Nadia, who was a Melbourne Cup ambassador last year, was later wiped from the official Victoria Racing Club website.
She's the glamorous footy WAG who is usually seen mingling in the Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse on Melbourne Cup day.

But Jessie Murphy (nee Habermann) instead spent her public holiday at the Rosemont Stud thoroughbred nursery in Gnarwarre, Victoria.

The Spring Racing Carnival ambassador was there to learn all about how the race horses are 'cared for from the moment they are born'.

Jessie Murphy's very different Melbourne Cup: The Spring Racing Carnival ambassador visited a thoroughbred horse nursery in Victoria on Tuesday to learn about the welfare of horses

Jessie shared a gallery of photos to Instagram from her visit to the stud farm with her husband, retired AFL star Marc Murphy, and wrote: 'What an incredible day we had.'

'So special to meet Shamus Award who sired Incentivise - a hot favourite for today's Melbourne Cup. This little one is also from Shamus Award, I wonder if she will grow up to be a legend of the track too,' she added.

'The care for these incredible athletes starts from the moment they are born. We learnt so much at Rosemont Stud and encourage you to head to springracingcarnival.com to do the same.'

Animal safety: Instead of mingling in the Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse, Jessie learned all about how the race horses are 'cared for from the moment they are born'

Red carpet regular: Jessie and her husband, retired AFL star Marc Murphy, are regulars at the Melbourne Cup. Pictured in the Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse on November 5, 2019

Jessie also skipped Derby Day on Saturday but said she was 'cheering on at home with family and friends'.

'We've been lucky enough to partner with Spring Carnival and have been learning about the tireless efforts taken behind the scenes to make Victorian racing possible, creating a racing event like no other,' she said.

'Next week we will head out to visit some respected industry experts who are working behind the scenes to support the stars of the track, and bring us the next generation of Victorian racehorses.'

Skipping it: Jessie also skipped Derby Day on Saturday but said she was 'cheering on at home with family and friends'

WAGs galore: Jessie joined the likes of WAGs Rebecca Judd, Nadia Bartel (pictured) and Megan Gale in skipping Derby Day this year

She added the hashtag #hereforthehorses.

Jessie joined the likes of WAGs Rebecca Judd, Nadia Bartel and Megan Gale in skipping Derby Day this year.

Seemingly not quite ready to face the red carpet after her white-powder scandal, Nadia opted for a run instead, while Bec went for a swim.
She was recently spotted hand in hand with Pete Davidson for a night of frights at Knott's Berry Farm.

But Kim Kardashian was back to business as one of Hollywood's most sought-after fashion icons as she stepped out in New York City on Monday evening.

The 41-year-old social media savant stunned wearing a figure-hugging SKIMS leather dress from her latest collaboration with Fendi just days after a group date with the SNL comedian, sister Kourtney and her new fiance, Travis Barker.

City slicker: Kim Kardashian was back to business as one of Hollywood's most sought-after fashion icons as she stepped out in New York on Monday evening

Kim knew all of her right angles as she left her hotel wearing a tight sleeve-less dress with pieces of fabric expertly gathered across her frame.

She kept covered up with a pair of matching leather gloves which inched high above her elbows.

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star added inches to her petite frame with a pair of knee-high snakeskin boots.

Lady in leather: She kept covered up with a pair of matching leather gloves which inched high above her elbows

Bold and beautiful: The 41-year-old social media savant stunned wearing a figure-hugging SKIMS leather dress from her latest collaboration with Fendi just days after a group date with the SNL comedian, sister Kourtney and her new fiance, Travis Barker

Fashion forward: Her gorgeous gown featured a long zipper running vertically down the back with a high slit

Her dark brown hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail and she wore a few sparkling Tiffany & Co. diamonds in her ears to match a thick bracelet and seven-carat, heart-shaped diamond ring.

Kim launched SKIMS in 2019 and has since included bras, bralettes, bodysuits and shorts to the range of solutionwear, which was initially supposed to be called Kimono but received backlash for cultural appropriation.

She was included in Forbes magazine's World's Billionaires list for the first time this year, which cites her businesses, KKW Beauty and SKIMS, as well as cash from reality TV and endorsement deals for her vast wealth.

Kim's worth increased from $780 million last October to $1 billion after she cashed in on KKW Beauty by selling 20 percent of the business to Coty for $200 million.

Bling: Her dark brown hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail and she wore a few sparkling diamonds in her ears to match a thick bracelet and ring

Queen: Kim launched SKIMS in 2019 and has since included bras, bralettes, bodysuits and shorts to the range of solutionwear, which was initially supposed to be called Kimono but received backlash for cultural appropriation

Powerhouses: Kim posed with Demi Moore at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards sponsored by Samsung, Harry Winston and Remy Martin at MOMA

Friendly faces: She made sure to say hi to the Montero hitmaker, Lil Nas X

Boss: She was included in Forbes magazine's World's Billionaires list for the first time this year, which cites her businesses, KKW Beauty and SKIMS, as well as cash from reality TV and endorsement deals for her vast wealth

She filed for divorce from her husband of nearly seven years, Kanye West, in February. The couple has four children together: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.

Her quick trip back to New York comes as a surprise, though, as she was spotted at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California on Friday night for the theme park's annual Halloween event.

Kim wasn't alone, though, as she toured the amusement park with a group of friends, including Pete.

Eyebrows were first raised when the two kissed during an early October SNL skit when she played Princess Jasmine and he portrayed Aladdin, and while PEOPLE claimed they are just friends, fans think something more may be brewing.
Former Brat Packer Demi Moore flaunted substantial cleavage while attending the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan on Monday.

The Emmy nominee - turning 59 this month - bared her bra in a navy-blue velvet Fendi pantsuit for the MoMA event sponsored by Samsung, Harry Winston, and Remy Martin.

Hairstylist Ben Talbott blew out and straightened Demi's signature middle-parted raven locks.

Brat Packer: Demi Moore flaunted substantial cleavage while attending the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan on Monday

Make-up artist Lloyd Simmonds had a light touch with Moore (born Guynes), who wore glasses over her hazel eyes.

The Andie Swim investor accessorized her sophisticated attire with dangly earrings, a black purse, and matching boots.

Demi walked into the venue on the arm of fashion designer Sir Kim Jones, who currently serves as artistic director for Fendi womenswear and couture.

The 48-year-old Englishman - who's featured in WSJ. Magazine's Innovators Issue - wore a black sweater, pants, and hiking boots with pink laces and blue soles.

Evergreen: The Emmy nominee - turning 59 this month - bared her bra in a navy-blue velvet Fendi pantsuit for the MoMA event sponsored by Samsung, Harry Winston, and Remy Martin

Babe: Hairstylist Ben Talbott blew out and straightened Demi's signature middle-parted raven locks

Ready for her close-up: Make-up artist Lloyd Simmonds had a light touch with Moore (born Guynes), who wore glasses over her hazel eyes

Chic: The Andie Swim investor accessorized her sophisticated attire with dangly earrings, a black purse, and matching boots

Fashion fans might recall Moore's 'unrecognizable' appearance while walking Kim's debut Fendi Haute Couture SS/21 presentation during Paris Fashion Week on January 27.

Back in 2019, the Songbird actress wore a suit tailored by Kim - who's also Dior Men's artistic director - for The Dior Sessions: Portraits by Nikolai von Bismarck.

Demi and Jones were clearly close, embracing each other and laughing on the red carpet before the party.

Once inside, Moore and the Central Saint Martins grad took a seat together at a candle-lit table.

Tastemaker: Demi walked into the venue on the arm of fashion designer Sir Kim Jones (L), who currently serves as artistic director for Fendi womenswear and couture

Featured in WSJ. Magazine's Innovators Issue: The 48-year-old Englishman wore a black sweater, pants, and hiking boots with pink laces and blue soles

His Fendi debut: Fashion fans might recall Moore's 'unrecognizable' appearance while walking Kim's Fendi Haute Couture SS/21 presentation during Paris Fashion Week on January 27

Thick as thieves: Back in 2019, the Songbird actress wore a suit tailored by Kim - who's also Dior Men's artistic director - for The Dior Sessions: Portraits by Nikolai von Bismarck

Intimate: Demi and Jones were clearly close, embracing each other and laughing on the red carpet before the party

Cozy: Once inside, Moore and the Central Saint Martins grad took a seat together at a candle-lit table

The high school drop-out also posed at the WSJ event with Inamorata owner Emily Ratajkowski and 13 Reasons Why alum Tommy Dorfman.

Demi also posed with Keeping Up with the Kardashians alum Kim Kardashian West wearing a brown leather Fendi dress with matching opera gloves.

Moore and the 41-year-old reality star then took a group shot with Kim, WSJ. Magazine editor Kristina O'Neill, and British racing driver Lewis Hamilton.

Meanwhile, the Dirty Diana producer-star's ex-husband #2 Bruce Willis looked unrecognizable in a prosthetic mask while posing with his nine-year-old daughter Mabel and seven-year-old Evelyn on Halloween.

A-list appeal: The high school drop-out also posed at the WSJ event with Inamorata owner Emily Ratajkowski (L) and 13 Reasons Why alum Tommy Dorfman (2-R)

SKIMS CEO: Demi also posed with Keeping Up with the Kardashians alum Kim Kardashian West wearing a brown leather Fendi dress with matching opera gloves

Innnovators: Moore and the 41-year-old reality star then took a group shot with Kim (R), WSJ. Magazine editor Kristina O'Neill (L), and British racing driver Lewis Hamilton (2-L)

The 66-year-old action star's second wife Emma Heming - wearing a cat ears headband - joked on Instagram that he was just some 'random guy' they 'picked up' on Sunday.

At that, Demi and Bruce's 30-year-old daughter Scout commented: 'This mask remains horrifying.. what a family heirloom.'

Last week, the former couple's 33-year-old daughter Rumer discussed why she appreciated how amicable their 2000 divorce was after 11 years of marriage.

'I'm incredibly grateful that both of my parents have made such an effort my entire life that I never felt like I had to choose between them,' the triple-threat told People.

'Happy Halloween!' Meanwhile, the Dirty Diana producer-star's ex-husband #2 Bruce Willis looked unrecognizable in a prosthetic mask while posing with his nine-year-old daughter Mabel and seven-year-old Evelyn on Halloween

Creepy! The 66-year-old action star's second wife Emma Heming joked on Instagram that he was just some 'random guy' they 'picked up' on Sunday

At that, Demi and Bruce's 30-year-old daughter Scout commented: 'This mask remains horrifying.. what a family heirloom'

'I never felt like I had to choose between them': Last week, the former couple's 33-year-old daughter Rumer (M, pictured in 2018) discussed why she appreciated how amicable their 2000 divorce was after 11 years of marriage

'I have a lot of friends who grew up with parents who got divorced at a young age and I watched their parents, like, pit them against each other or have to choose between holidays. And I didn't have to do that, and I feel so grateful that my parents made it such a priority that we could be a family, even though it looked different.'

Moore and Willis are also proud parents of 27-year-old daughter Tallulah, who got engaged to photographer Dillon Buss on May 4.

It's been a year since the New Mexico-born beauty wrapped her role in Amanda Kramer's film Please Baby Please alongside co-stars Karim Saleh and Andrea Riseborough in Butte, Montana.

The sexually-charged, fifties-set drama centers on Manhattan newlyweds witnessing a murder and then becoming the obsession of a greaser gang.
Thomas Markle Jr has issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after criticising her in the media for years.

The 55-year-old window fitter from Oregon said he'd 'made some horrible mistakes' after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry.

He also told New Idea he hopes Meghan is watching him on Australian reality show Big Brother VIP, adding: 'That's why I'm doing this, so she can see the real me.'

Saying sorry: Thomas Markle Jr (pictured) has issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after criticising her in the media for years

'I want everybody watching to take away this side of me, the real me. I am lovable, nice, I'll give you the shirt off my back, I'm funny,' he said.

Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would 'ruin your life', Thomas said there was no animosity on his side.

He insisted that growing up with Meghan had been 'a great experience' and that they were 'very close' and would spend 'lots of quality time' together.

Reaching out: The 55-year-old window fitter from Oregon said he'd 'made some horrible mistakes' after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured in New York City on September 23

Thomas said their relationship soured when Meghan started dating Harry and he was 'thrown to the wolves' with 'no experience' of handling the press.

'I was being backed into a corner, into a wall. I made some horrible mistakes and still regret them to this day,' he confessed.

Thomas insisted he loves his sister and would 'do anything' to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months.

Estranged: Thomas said their relationship soured when he was 'thrown to the wolves' with 'no experience' of handling the press. He would now 'do anything' to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with son Archie in September 2019

'I don't need a photo-op to go see my sister, and I don't want a story behind it,' he explained.

'I don't want anything, I would just love to go over to their home and knock on the door, give her a big hug and kiss, and say I missed the hell out of her and apologise right to her face...

'Maybe one day that will happen. I'd do anything to see Archie and Lilibet.'

Having his say: In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday's season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame

In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday's season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame.

'What happened to her, nobody can figure it out. Money changed her I guess. Money and fame just went to her head really bad,' he said.

Thomas went on to say that Meghan 'walked all over' her first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson, who had 'adored' her.

Peace offering: Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would 'ruin your life', Thomas said there was no animosity on his side. Pictured: the Sussexes in NYC in September

The couple married in 2011, and Thomas said that Meghan had 'dumped him' two years later before sending 'the ring back in the mail'.

'Is that cold or what? But Harry's next, Harry's on the chopping block next,' he continued.

'The only difference between now and then is all the photos prior to that he had a smile on his face, all the ones after he doesn't.'
Kaley Cuoco made sure to bundle up as the weather started getting a bit cooler as she filmed Season 2 of her Apple TV Plus series The Flight Attendant.

The 35-year-old actress was spotted on the Los Angeles set alongside co-star Zosia Mamet on Monday.

The co-stars were filming a scene outdoors in a park, with Cuoco bundling up with a massive puffer coat between takes.

Bundle: Kaley Cuoco made sure to bundle up as the weather started getting a bit cooler as she filmed Season 2 of her Apple TV Plus series The Flight Attendant

Cuoco was spotted wearing a slightly unbuttoned white blouse tucked into dark blue wide-legged jeans.

She had two gold necklaces dangling from her neck with a black purse slung from her left shoulder.

She completed her look with a pair of white sneakers as she walked with Mamet from a building on set.

Kaley's look: Cuoco was spotted wearing a slightly unbuttoned white blouse tucked into dark blue wide-legged jeans

Mamet, who plays Ani Mouradian, a lawyer and best friend to Cuoco's Cassie Bowden on the show, was wearing a brown sweater under a brown laid coat.

She also wore small hoop earrings with a black purse dangling from her left shoulder as she strode alongside Cuoco.

The actress completed her look with a pair of dark blue jeans and a pair of grey flat shoes.

Lawyer: Mamet, who plays Ani Mouradian, a lawyer and best friend to Cuoco's Cassie Bowden on the show, was wearing a brown sweater under a brown laid coat

Season 2 of The Flight Attendant finds Cassie, 'living her best sober life,' while also 'moonlighting as a CIA asset in her spare time.'

During an overnight excursion, she witnesses a murder, which leads her on another harrowing escapade.

The second season will be filming in Los Angeles, Berlin and Reykjavik, with Season 1 stars Griffin Matthews, Deniz Akdeniz, T.R. Knight, Yasha Jackson, Audrey Grace Marshall and Rosie Perez also returning for Season 2.

Sober life: Season 2 of The Flight Attendant finds Cassie, 'living her best sober life,' while also 'moonlighting as a CIA asset in her spare time'

New cast members joining for Season 2 include Mo McRae, Callie Hernandez and JJ Soria, who were announced in late September.

McRae plays Benjamin Berry, described as, 'a career CIA officer who may have a bad habit of getting a little too involved with his assets.'

Hernandez plays Gabrielle Diaz, described as, 'a quick-tempered and calculating bounty hunter whose impulse control issues often get in the way of her job.'

Soria plays Esteban Diaz, 'Gabrielle's partner and lover who tries to keep a level head and stay focused on the job, but often gets just as heated as his girlfriend.'
She recently confirmed her new romance with cosmetics entrepreneur, Rob Mason.

And MasterChef judge Melissa Leong was simply glowing as she attended the 2021 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old TV star was beaming as she mingled in the Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse.

She's glowing! MasterChef judge Melissa Leong was simply glowing as she attended the 2021 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

She turned heads in a unique black strapless dress with giant neon pink puffball sleeves.

Melissa accessorised with a matching black and neon pink snakeskin headband, mint green strappy sandals and a Bvlgari Serpenti shoulder bag, worth thousands.

The celebrity chef wore her chic bob out and minimal makeup on her glowing visage.

Not joining Melissa at the event is her new man - Rob Mason, who owns Morris Motley men's haircare and fragrance company.

She went Instagram official with Rob this month, with the pair lying side by side for cosy photographs.

Standing out! She turned heads in a unique black strapless dress with giant neon pink puffball sleeves

New romance: Not joining Melissa at the event is her new man - Rob Mason, who owns Morris Motley men's haircare and fragrance company. She went Instagram official with Rob this month, with the pair lying side by side for cosy photographs

'This is us,' she wrote in the caption, and also shared another black and white photo of Rob the same day, writing: 'Luckiest girl in the world.'

Rob shared the same photos of the pair, simply tagging Melissa in his caption.

The couple have been spending time together over the past two months, with Melissa first featured on Rob's Instagram in August.

Sweet: The 39-year-old TV star went Instagram official with Rob, the pair lying side by side for cosy photographs

'This is us,' she wrote in the caption, and also shared another black and white photo of Rob the same day, writing: 'Luckiest girl in the world'

In a black and white image, Melissa is shown cooking Rob a tasty meal, with his caption reading: 'Twas phenomenal'.

Rob also posted an image of Melissa sniffing perfumes from his brand in mid September.

The father of three young daughters produces high-end artisanal cosmetics for men at his Melbourne-based company.

Time: The couple have been spending time together over the past two months, with Melissa first featured on Rob's Instagram in August

Foodie: In a black and white image, Melissa is shown cooking Rob a tasty meal, with his caption reading: 'Twas phenomenal'

In December 2020, Melissa announced her split from former husband Joe Jones.

'It has brought us such happiness to walk together, but the time has come for Joe and I to part ways and walk on, apart,' she said at the time.

'We ask for your kindness and consideration for our privacy, we will not be making any further comment as our private lives have, and will always remain exactly that.

Smells good: Rob also posted an image of Melissa sniffing perfumes from his brand in mid September

Entrepreneur: The father of three young daughters produces high-end artisanal cosmetics for men at his Melbourne-based company

'We wish you peace at the end of such a challenging year for all.'

In June of 2020, Melissa revealed she married the tattooed bar owner hunk in February 2017 after dating for only five months, because 'when you know, you know'.

'I first met him briefly at his bar in Melbourne, Romeo Lane,' Melissa told TV Week at the time.

Split: In December 2020, Melissa announced her split from former husband Joe Jones (right)

'Then we met again properly about 18 months later at a function. We started talking there and we've just not ever ceased since really. It's pretty cool.'

The pair dated for just three months when they decided to get engaged. They then eloped after Melissa filmed SBS's The Chef's Line, just two months later.

'When that wrapped, we went to Joshua Tree in California and eloped. It was all very fun,' the foodie-turned-TV judge said.
Whose Line Is It Anyway? personality Colin Mochrie was involved in a strange confrontation in Beverly Hills, California on Monday.

The 63-year-old actor-comedian, in a clip posted on TMZ, was seen in a bizarre exchange after an autograph seeker approached him for a signature.

In the incident, a man appeared to approach Mochrie with a VHS videotape to sign, at which point tension rose as the autograph seeker looked to reach for the comic's head.

The latest: Whose Line Is It Anyway? personality Colin Mochrie was involved in a strange confrontation with an autograph seeker in Beverly Hills, California on Monday. He was snapped in Perth in 2013

The two were in a tussle at which point Mochrie struck the man in the head with the tape.

The autograph seeker, who was filming the exchange, departed after making contact with Mochrie, who had the tape in hand at the end of the incident.

The incident was caught on camera by an onlooker and published on the outlet; it was not immediately clear if the exchange was authentic or a scripted bit.

Mochrie, who was on born in Kilmarnock, Scotland and raised in Canada, has been a regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway? over the past 30 years on both the American and British incarnations of the comedy series.

Details: In the incident, a man appeared to approach Mochrie with a VHS videotape to sign, at which point tension rose as the seeker looked to reach for the comic's head. The comic was snapped in NYC in 2013

The incident involving Mochrie was caught on camera by an onlooker and published on the outlet; it was not immediately clear if the exchange was authentic or a scripted bit

He opened up about the series to NorthShore magazine this past September, as he said the show 'was sort of the beginning of the improv craze.'

He added, 'I'm happy that we sort of got it into the public consciousness.'

Looking back on his long tenure on the series, Mochrie recalled, 'When I first started doing Whose Line, my daughter was two-months-old. She turns 31 next week.'

Mochrie told the publication he was relieved to be playing to live audiences again after the early days of the pandemic had him doing shows on Zoom.

'Zoom shows were fun, but it's not the same as having that audience reaction,' he said. 'It's weird doing a comedy show to silence.'
Taylor Swift joined up with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively to go trick-or-treating in Manhattan's West Village on Sunday for Halloween.

The songstress, 31, was well disguised in a vast squirrel costume, that she unveiled on social media earlier in the day alongside a caption reading: 'Cant talk right now, Im doin hot squirrel s***' with an emoji of a squirrel.

Her superstar pal Blake meanwhile went for an edgy ensemble which made her look like a black and white character, thanks to clever make-up.

The latest: Taylor Swift, 31, (R) joined up with Ryan Reynolds, 45, and Blake Lively, 34, (L) to go trick-or-treating in Manhattan on Sunday for Halloween

The Shake It Off artist carried an orange bucket with a Jack-o'-lantern face on it that was brimming with candy on the autumn night.

Lively, 34, wore a unique ensemble of a black bob wig with her face painted grey, and a black pantsuit over a checkered vest, and white and black shoes.

She wore a face mask and had a purse while carrying an orange tote bag that looked like a pumpkin.

The Gossip Girl filled in her fans on the details of the unique ensemble in a series of Instagram posts Monday.

Both Swift and Lively showed off their costumes in detail in social media posts

Reynolds donned a lime green wig with a face mask, keeping warm in a black coat over a grey shirt with jeans and sneakers

Lively wore a unique ensemble in which she wore a black bob wig with her face painted grey, and a black pantsuit over a checkered vest and white and black shoes

The musical superstar was unidentifiable in the full body squirrel suit she wore

The Deadpool actor carried a plastic orange bucket with a Jack-o'-lantern face on it

Later: Following on from his appearance trick or treating, he appeared at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art on Monday

'I didnt have a costume,' she said. 'But I did have gray face paint, a black wig and a crazy idea. Luckily when I googled it, somebody named @hellosharonfarrell already had the same idea.'

She continued, 'Thanks for being my first YouTube beauty tutorial. I only had 10 mins and thanks to your awesome instructions I pulled it off. Yes Im covering my boobs with a wig. Dont we all? No? No??!'

The Rhythm Section star added a number of shots of the ensemble, posing in one shot in which she wrote, 'Spamming my makeup because I'm proud;' in another she wrote, 'How freaky in real life. It tripped people out.'

Reynolds donned a lime green wig with a face mask, keeping warm in a black coat over a grey shirt with jeans and sneakers.

The stars were well disguised as they crossed the street amid the Halloween activity

Lively said of her ensemble, 'I didnt have a costume. But I did have gray face paint, a black wig and a crazy idea'

Taylor's kooky costume meanwhile sparked further theories about her current work projects among fans on Sunday.

While the look was seemingly innocent to some, others took the look as a hint at an upcoming release, as many speculated that she was alluding to her re-recorded video for her 2012 song We Are Never Getting Back Together.

It was revealed last year that Taylor would be re-recording all of her albums following a massive public fall-out with Scooter Braun and her former label, Big Machine, and she now seems to be hinting at her work via Halloween.

Lively explained her creative process on the social media site

Both of the celebs carried containers full of candy on the night out in the city

Squirrel pajamas: Twitter users thought that she may have been shooting a new music video for her re-recorded album Red, as people pointed out she wore squirrel pajamas in We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Her group of Swifties delighted in the costume as Twitter went wild, but a majority thought there was a larger meaning to the seemingly innocent ensemble.

On Sunday October 24, New York based social media users captured a filming notice for a project titled 'Acorn' that shot on Swift's street.

One fan account additionally captured images of production equipment being loaded into her apartment.

Some users thought that she may have been shooting a new music video to accompany her upcoming re-recorded album Red, as users pointed out she wore squirrel pajamas in her video for We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

Additionally in the video she danced around accompanied by a band wearing furry animal costumes, one of which was a squirrel.
Have You Been Paying Attention? star Anne Edmonds has welcomed her newborn daughter with her husband and colleague, Lloyd Langford.

The couple posted about the exciting news on Anne's Instagram with a series of sweet photos of their baby.

'This is little Gwen Rosina, born 29/10/2021 at 10.15am, 2.5kg. We love her so much,' Anne, 42, wrote.

Exciting: Have You Been Paying Attention? comedians Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford welcome a child

The comedian followed it up by pointing towards Melbourne's freedom out of lockdown, before she thanked the nursing staff that cared for her.

'Freedom Baby! Must been keen for a road trip into regional VIC,' she said.

'Thank you so much to the Royal Womens Hospital for all the amazing care throughout the pregnancy in another tough year for them.'

'This is little Gwen Rosina. We love her so much': The couple posted about the exciting news on Anne's Instagram with a series of photos of their baby

Anne's followers sent their well wishes to the Get Krack!n star in the comments' section of the post.

'Congrats Anne!!! Gwen is beautiful! So happy for you and Lloyd!' wrote fellow comedian Susie Youssef.

Packed to the Rafters actor Hugh Sheridan commented: 'SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations, especially to Rosina, two beautiful parents. Love u (sic) x.'

'Oh Anne- how wonderful! So much love to you all. What happy news! Gwen is glorious,' added TV presenter Jess Rowe.

'So happy for you and Lloyd!': Anne's followers sent their well wishes to the couple in the comments section of the post

Anne and Lloyd, 38, have been together since 2018.

Earlier this year, Anne discussed the impact of the Covid lockdown on their relationship in The Age.

'We've only been together for two years. But after the lockdowns in Melbourne, it feels as though we're about to celebrate our golden anniversary.

'It's like we've compacted 20 years into four months,' she added, noting that they shared a one-bedroom apartment.
Karl Stefanovic has been separated from wife Jasmine and daughter, Harper, one, while they were visiting family in Queensland.

And the Today Show star, 47, was every inch the doting father when he was reunited with the pair on Sunday.

Karl, Jasmine, Harper and their dog, Chance The Yapper, decided to get some sun while enjoying a family stroll together.

Reunited: Together again! On Sunday, Karl Stefanovic enjoyed a relaxing neighbourhood stroll with wife Jasmine and daughter Harper, one, after they were reunited

The breakfast show star looked to be in a good mood as he walked alongside the Mara & Mine shoe designer wife.

Karl was seen elsewhere cuddling up to Harper while on a balcony.

The star kept it casual in a Rolling Stones t-shirt and a pair of blue shorts.

Daddy! Karl, Jasmine, Harper and their dog, Chance The Yapper, decided to get some sun while enjoying a family stroll together. Pictured: Karl holding Harper

He finished his ensemble with a snapback hat, sunglasses and a pair of red joggers.

Jasmine, meanwhile, opted to wear a pair of black tights and a pale blue jumper.

She finished her outfit with a blue snapback cap and black joggers.

Family stroll: Harper got pushed along in her bike while Karl walked the dog

Jasmine only recently attended the funeral of her beloved grandmother, Isabel Hollingworth.

Jasmine's husband, Karl Stefanovic, announced on-air in August that his wife had flown into hotel quarantine with their one-year-old daughter Harper May.

He said that she had acquired a special exemption from Queensland Health.

Beloved: Jasmine and her sister Jade have always shared a close bond with grandmother, Isabel Hollingworth (all pictured)

Memories: An older photo shows Jade and Jasmine as children smiling with their nan

The TV host emphasised that Jasmine's grandmother was 'really, really, really sick' at the time.

The shoe designer visited her ailing nan after she completed 14 days of hotel quarantine with Harper.

Jasmine had kept it a private matter but previously shared a photo of her holding her grandmother's hand in hospital as she sat by her bedside.

She wrote in the caption, 'Nana ~ with you now and forever.'
Heidi Klum didn't let the chilly fall elements stop her from showing off her long legs at a new event in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 48-year-old supermodel was all smiles on the red carpet at the Tracey Cunningham's True Color Book Launch Party, held at Lekfit in Los Angeles.

The blonde bombshell even got to pet some adorable puppies alongside the author Tracey Cunningham and Kathy Hilton, among others.

Leggy Heidi: Heidi Klum didn't let the chilly fall elements stop her from showing off her long legs at a new event in Los Angeles on Monday

All smiles: The 48-year-old supermodel was all smiles on the red carpet at the Tracey Cunningham's True Color Book Launch Party, held at Lekfit in Los Angeles

Puppies: The blonde bombshell even got to pet some adorable puppies alongside the author Tracey Cunningham and Kathy Hilton, among others

Klum stepped out in a skimpy black mini-dress with a plunging neckline with a black coat featuring lacy sleeves.

Her blonde hair flew down past her shoulders with the lengthy bangs covering her forehead.

The supermodel completed her look with a pair of shiny black platform heels as she hit the red carpet.

Heidi's look: Klum stepped out in a skimpy black mini-dress with a plunging neckline with a black coat featuring lacy sleeves

Red carpet ready: Her blonde hair flew down past her shoulders with the lengthy bangs covering her forehead

Klum's outing comes just after her beloved Halloween holiday, where she went all out with several different costumes.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Klum was forced to cancel her annual Halloween bash for the second year in a row.

'With everything happening in the world right now, I feel like it's still too early for me to feel okay having a party. So I will not do that this year again,' she told TooFab back in July.

Halloween: Klum's outing comes just after her beloved Halloween holiday, where she went all out with several different costumes

'Like last year, I feel like it's insensitive of me to do that. I don't want anyone to get hurt because we're having fun on my dime so I don't want to do that,' she added.

'I kind of want to sit out one more year but I definitely, I'm already working on something, because I'm also a creative person, and I live for that, that's why I get up every morning because I love it," she added.

'I love doing it to myself. I love watching amazing artists doing crazy things, so I'm definitely doing something because I just have to, for my own, you know?' she said.

Insensitive: 'Like last year, I feel like it's insensitive of me to do that. I don't want anyone to get hurt because we're having fun on my dime so I don't want to do that,' she added

The thing she was working on was an epic short film dubbed Heidi Does Halloween II: Klum's Day, featuring her husband Tom Kaulitz and her kids.

Also spotted at Tracey Cunningham's True Color Book Launch Party on Monday was Kathy Hilton, who wore a stylish blue top with black pants and gold earrings.

Borat 2 star Maria Bakalova was also spotted at the event, posing with film director Judd Apatow, who directs her in the movie The Bubble with Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillan, David Duchovny and his wife Leslie Mann, who was also in attendance.

Halloween movie: The thing she was working on was an epic short film dubbed Heidi Does Halloween II: Klum's Day, featuring her husband Tom Kaulitz and her kids

Kathy: Also spotted at Tracey Cunningham's True Color Book Launch Party on Monday was Kathy Hilton, who wore a stylish blue top with black pants and gold earrings

Maria, Judd and Leslie: Borat 2 star Maria Bakalova was also spotted at the event, posing with film director Judd Apatow, who directs her in the movie The Bubble with Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillan, David Duchovny and his wife Leslie Mann, who was also in attendance

Maria's look: Maria opted for a grey top over a black leather jacket and black pants while Apatow wore a navy blue shirt over an orange and black flannel top
With celebrities emerging from a long lockdown, there were no shortage of famous faces on display at Melbourne Cup parties on Tuesday.

And leading the pack at G.H. Mumm's lavish Cup day party were model Montana Cox and influencer Rozalia Russian.

The all-star event was held at The Commons at Ormond Collective, St Kilda.

Famous faces: Leading the pack at G.H. Mumm's lavish Cup day party were model Montana Cox (left) and influencer Rozalia Russian (right)

Cox, an ambassador for the popular Champagne brand, sizzled in a red and white mini dress.

The garment's high hemline gave onlookers an unimpeded view of the statuesque beauty's long, lean legs.

Montana's brunette tresses were held back from her fine features with a crimson headband.

Legs for days! Cox, an ambassador for the popular Champagne brand, sizzled in a red and white mini dress

Trim pins: The garment's high hemline gave onlookers an unimpeded view of the statuesque beauty's long, lean legs

The 28-year-old Glamazon is best known for being the winner of cycle 7 of Australia's Next Top Model.

Rozalia meanwhile turned heads in an off-white dress with a deep, plunging neckline.

The former ballerina is best known for being the wife of nightclub owner and one-time Melbourne lord mayor candidate Nick Russian, who also made an appearance.

Also at the event were stylist Elliot Garnaut and businessman Lewis Romano.

Catwalk queen: The 28-year-old Glamazon is best known for being the winner of cycle 7 of Australia's Next Top Model

Celebration: Verry Elleegant was ultimately the winner of the day, taking out its first Melbourne Cup

Verry Elleegant was ultimately the winner of the day, taking out its first Melbourne Cup.

Jockey James McDonald boldly predicted the horse would win, as his partner, a fellow jockey, said he'd fulfilled 'every jockey's dream'.

In a pre-race column for the Herald-Sun, McDonald described the mare as 'definitely one of my best chances' to win the race, having finished second on Fiorente in 2012 and third on Hartnell in the 2016 cups.

'I galloped her on Saturday and she is absolutely humdinging,' McDonald wrote of the New Zealand-bred and Sydney-based mare.

Verry Elleegant distanced the field over the 3,200m on Tuesday leaving hot favourite Incentivize and Irish horse Spanish Mission in its wake in second and third.
Thomas Markle Jr's Big Brother VIP stint is off to a controversial start with the 55-year-old blasting his half-sister Meghan Markle on Tuesday night.

Speaking to Fitzy and Wippa while the other housemates watched on, Thomas claimed he doesn't '100 percent buy' Meghan's claims she suffered from mental health issues while living in the UK as part of the Royal Family.

His co-stars seemed put off by his comments, with Jessika Power announcing after the interview, 'Sorry, didn't like that.'

Speaking out: Thomas Markle Jr's Big Brother VIP stint is off to a controversial start with the 55-year-old blasting his half-sister Meghan Markle on Tuesday night

Power also joked, 'Raise your hands to see if Tom goes first eviction,' before putting up her own hand.

During his interview, Markle said his father, Thomas Markle Sr, 'doesn't approve' of Meghan's husband Harry.

'My dad doesn't approve of him. My father says he couldn't even protect those chickens in their backyard if he needed to.'

Candid: Thomas claimed he doesn't '100 percent buy' Meghan's claims she suffered from mental health issues while living in the UK as part of the Royal Family

Ouch! Thomas was more than happy to share his views on Prince Harry and half-sister Meghan (both pictured) during Big Brother VIP

Offside: His co-stars seemed put off by Thomas' comments, with Jessika Power announcing after the interview, 'Sorry, didn't like that.' Left: Jessika Power, Right: Bernard Curry

He also revealed his rift with his half-sister, who is 15 years younger than him, began when he wrote to the palace asking if they could help to stop paparazzi invading his privacy.

'And the correspondence I got back was [that I was] "distant family and I don't know those people." That came from Meghan.'

The housemates began to bristle when Thomas said that his half-sister should 'do her job and stop griping about it'.

'It's so much harder than that,' said a shocked Jessika.

Hard questions: During his interview, Markle said his father, Thomas Markle Sr, 'doesn't approve' of Meghan's husband Harry. Pictured: radio hosts Fitzy and Wippa

Torn apart: 'My dad doesn't approve of him. My father says he couldn't even protect those chickens in their back yard if he needed to.' Pictured: Meghan (front) and Thomas Markle Sr (back) with family in 2000

When asked about the 'mental issues' Meghan revealed during her famous Oprah interview, Thomas shot back, 'I don't 100 percent buy that,' which elicited gasps from his co-stars in the other room.

'That was brutal!' exclaimed Bernard Curry after the painful interview concluded.

The interview aired after Thomas issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex for criticising her in the media.

The window fitter from Oregon said he'd 'made some horrible mistakes' after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry.

Saying sorry: Thomas Markle Jr (pictured) has issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after criticising her in the media for years

He also told New Idea he hopes Meghan is watching him on Australian reality show Big Brother VIP, adding: 'That's why I'm doing this, so she can see the real me.'

'I want everybody watching to take away this side of me, the real me. I am lovable, nice, I'll give you the shirt off my back, I'm funny,' he said.

Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would 'ruin your life', Thomas said there was no animosity on his side.

He insisted that growing up with Meghan had been 'a great experience' and that they were 'very close' and would spend 'lots of quality time' together.

Reaching out: The 55-year-old window fitter from Oregon said he'd 'made some horrible mistakes' after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured in New York City on September 23

Thomas said their relationship soured when Meghan started dating Harry and he was 'thrown to the wolves' with 'no experience' of handling the press.

'I was being backed into a corner, into a wall. I made some horrible mistakes and still regret them to this day,' he confessed.

Thomas insisted he loves his sister and would 'do anything' to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months.

Estranged: Thomas said their relationship soured when he was 'thrown to the wolves' with 'no experience' of handling the press. He would now 'do anything' to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with son Archie in September 2019

'I don't need a photo-op to go see my sister, and I don't want a story behind it,' he explained.

'I don't want anything, I would just love to go over to their home and knock on the door, give her a big hug and kiss, and say I missed the hell out of her and apologise right to her face...

'Maybe one day that will happen. I'd do anything to see Archie and Lilibet.'

Having his say: In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday's season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame

In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday's season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame.

'What happened to her, nobody can figure it out. Money changed her I guess. Money and fame just went to her head really bad,' he said.

Thomas went on to say that Meghan 'walked all over' her first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson, who had 'adored' her.

Peace offering: Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would 'ruin your life', Thomas said there was no animosity on his side. Pictured: the Sussexes in NYC in September

The couple married in 2011, and Thomas said that Meghan had 'dumped him' two years later before sending 'the ring back in the mail'.

'Is that cold or what? But Harry's next, Harry's on the chopping block next,' he continued.

'The only difference between now and then is all the photos prior to that he had a smile on his face, all the ones after he doesn't.'
Actress Elsa Pataky has made a home for herself in the upscale coastal town of Byron Bay with husband Chris Hemsworth.

And the Hollywood star proved yet again she has no trouble fitting into the town while going barefoot on Monday.

Elsa was spotted going au naturel with no shoes on as she took a walk in the town with her twin sons Tristan and Sasha, seven.

Barefoot beauty! Actress Elsa Pataky, 45, went barefoot as she took her twin sons Tristan and Sasha, seven, (all pictured) shopping in Byron Bay on Monday

The Fast and the Furious star was every inch the doting mother as she carried one of the twins - who were both also barefoot - on her back.

The family were also spotted looking at sunglasses at one of the town centre's shops.

Despite opting to skip the shoes, Elsa did look otherwise quite glam in a pair of leopard print track pants and a tan midriff top.

The star looked to be makeup free and finished the casual cool look with a pair of aviators that looked to be tinted.

Doting: The Fast and the Furious star was every inch the doting mother as she carried one of the twins on her back

Elsa carried a cardigan, a surgical mask and her iPhone on the outing.

It comes only a day after Elsa and husband Chris Hemsworth celebrated Halloween at their beachfront home in Byron Bay.

Chris shared photos of the pair dressed up on the balcony of their $30 million home in Broken Head.

Stylish: The star looked to be makeup free and finished the casual cool look with a pair of aviators that looked to be tinted

Need a lift! One of the twins appeared to be tired

The Thor star, 38, went as a Demogorgon while Elsa transformed into a blood-soaked nurse as they attended a party on Sunday.

Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married in December that year.

The family of five live in Byron Bay, on the NSW North Coast, in a mega-mansion estimated to be worth $30million, after relocating from Los Angeles in 2014.

Things: Elsa carried a cardigan along with a surgical mask and her iPhone

Elsa told Sunday Life in March that patience, communication and understanding were key to her successful marriage.

'You need to put a lot of work into marriage; I don't think every couple is perfect,' she said.

'It requires patience, understanding, a lot of conversation, getting to know the other person, to know yourself and what you do wrong. It's about not letting one's pride get in the way.'

Halloween with the Hemsworths! The Thor star, 38, went as a Demogorgon while Elsa transformed into a blood-soaked nurse as they attended a party on Sunday
Sopranos star James Gandolfini's ex-fiance Lora Somoza 'was found dead in her mother's swimming pool' after a 'tragic accident'.

The sex therapist died last year at the age of 51, the same age at which her famous actor fiance suffered a fatal heart attack in 2013.

Lora slipped and hit her head at her mother's Los Angeles home on July 5, 2020, and was found dead in the swimming pool, according to The Sun.

Sopranos star James Gandolfini's ex-fiance Lora Somoza died in a 'tragic accident' on July 5 last year after she slipped, hit her head and drowned in her mother's swimming pool. Pictured: James Gandolfini and Lora Somoza in 2004

'She was at her parents house and she slipped, hit her head and drowned in the pool,' her friend Zoe Moon told the publication.

'Her mother found her, it was horrible. A terrible accident.'

Gandolfini met Lora in 2000 when she was an assistant to the director on a film he made with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts called The Mexican.

They became engaged in 2003 but broke it off two years later, when Somoza moved away to care for her grandmother, who was battling from Alzheimers.

The sex therapist (pictured), who was engaged to Gandolfini in 2003 , died at the age of 51, the same age at which her famous actor fiance suffered a fatal heart attack in 2013

Following their split, Lora became a sex therapist, columnist and podcast presenter on her own show, Between the Sheets with Lora Somoza.

She often posted affectionately about her former fiance on her Instagram page, on his birthday and the anniversary of his death.

Gandolfini, who was married former model Deborah Lin in Hawaii in 2008 and their daughter Liliana arrived in October 2012.

In an interview following his death, Lora told Inside Edition that she had spoked to married actor on the phone just a fortnight before he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Gandolfini married former model Deborah Lin (pictured together) in Hawaii in 2008 and their daughter Liliana arrived in October 2012

'I got to congratulate him on his new baby girl and he sounded really good,' Somoza said during her emotional interview.

'I'm glad to have the most recent memory of mine with him on something that sounded really positive.'

Gandolfini died following a heart attack during a Rome vacation on June 19, 2013 with his son Michael, then 14, and wife Deborah and nine-month-old daughter ahead of the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.

The actor became a household name after his breakout role in 1999 in the hit HBO television show The Sopranos where played the powerful mob boss Tony Soprano whose stressful gangster and family life left him needing to visit a psychiatrist.
Gemma Whelan has revealed actors were 'left to get on with it' while filming 'frenzied' sex scenes on Game Of Thrones.

The actress, who played Lady Yara Greyjoy on the hit fantasy show, explained: 'They used to just say, ''When we shout action, go for it!'', and it could be a sort of frenzied mess.

'A director might say, ''Bit of boob biting, then slap her bum and go!''.'

Candid: Gemma Whelan, 40, has spoken candidly about filming raunchy scenes during her time on Game Of Thrones

However the star insisted actors would always 'check in with each other' before filming sexual scenes.

She told The Guardian: 'There was a scene in a brothel with a woman and she was so exposed that we talked together about where the camera would be and what she was happy with.'

'I'd always talk it through with the other actor,' Gemma added.

MailOnline has reached out to HBO for comment.

Intimate: Gemma's bisexual character Yara often engaged in raunchy scenes, most famously with actor Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy, pictured)

Gemma's bisexual character Yara often engaged in raunchy scenes, most famously with her on-screen brother Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy).

The pair became incredibly intimate while riding a horse, with the scene going on to become one of the show's most infamous.

Recalling the shoot, Gemma told the outlet 'Alfie was very much, ''is this OK? How are we going to make this work?'''

Pointing to the importance of on-set intimacy coordinators, Gemma called their appointment a 'step in the right direction' and noted intimate scenes become 'more of a choreography' under their direction.

During its eight-season run, Game Of Thrones became as well known for its steamy sex scenes as it did for its gruesomely violent battle sequences.

Drama: The fantasy series has seen its fair share of shocking relationships come to light, not least the incestuous romance between twins Cersei and Jamie Lannister

The fantasy series saw its fair share of shocking relationships come to light, most notably the incestuous romance between twins Cersei and Jamie Lannister.

Cersei's children Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon were born from the relationship between her and Jamie, rather than her marriage to the late king Robert.

Another surprising twist at the end of the seventh season saw Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) take their romance to the next level, at the same time it was revealed elsewhere that they're related.

Sultry: Another surprising twist saw Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) take their romance to the next level

Steamy love scenes have become a television staple in recent years and a whole new industry has sprung up around them.

As of 2021, Britain has 20 registered intimacy coordinators  all but three female  to thank for expertly choreographing such scenes as Daphne and Simon's passionate encounter on the library stepladder in Bridgerton.

Intimacy co-ordinators have been staple members of staff on some of the most popular series of the last 12 months: Normal People, It's a Sin, and I May Destroy You have all utilised the position.

Steamy: Steamy love scenes have become a television staple in recent years and a whole new industry has sprung up around them

But although choreographed fight scenes have long been standard practice in the industry the same cannot be said for sex scenes.

Instead, an intimacy co-ordinator will often devise a choreographed routine where the actors know exactly whose hands are going where and when.

Other times they'll take a looser 'paint by numbers' approach where one section of the body, like from the neck to the lower back, will be free to work with.

But both performers in the scene will know that beyond that designated area is off limits.

Family: Gemma shares a young son and daughter with her husband Gerry Howell (pictured together last year)

Emilia Clarke, 30, has previously spoken out about the furore one of her GoT sex scenes caused, as she revealed she was 'annoyed' by the persistent commentary.

The actress - who's character has appeared nude several times throughout the eight seasons - admitted she doesn't understand why the HBO show receives so many comments about the graphic content.

She began: 'I'm starting to get really annoyed about this stuff now because people say, 'Oh, yeah, all the porn sites went down when Game of Thrones came back on'

Dream project: As for her dream project, Gemma shared that she'd love to hone her American accent on screen (pictured filming Game Of Thrones)

'There are so many shows centered around this very true fact that people reproduce. People f**k for pleasureit's a part of life.'

At the end of the seventh series, Emilia's character Daenerys was seen getting hot and heavy with Jon Snow, played by Kit Harrington.

The pair, whose romantic relationship has been building throughout the penultimate season of the HBO fantasy drama, finally gave into their passion as they sailed north from Dragonstone, to face off against the dreaded White Walker threat.

Jon sneaked into 'quarters and his lovestruck queen was only too quick to invite him inside, resulting in the pair making love while at sea - to the delight of fans.

Opinion: The actress - who's character has appeared nude several times throughout the eight seasons - admitted she doesn't understand why the HBO show receives so many comments about the graphic content

However in an unsettling twist, the scene played out as Jon's true parentage was revealed, making Dany his aunt - although neither are yet aware of their blood relation.

Speaking in a special behind-the-scenes commentary for show, Emilia said 'gagging' was her first reaction to the tryst - while Kit acknowledged the 'weird' encounter had been inevitable after weeks of building romance.

Kit said: 'I think they both know it's wrong. I think they both know it's going to cause problems. But it's that thing, when you suddenly feel that deeply about someone and you go through these events together, it's like a runaway train.

'I think it's an inevitability from about halfway through the season that Jon and Daenerys will fall into bed together. You can't stop it from happening.'

Emilia again referenced the nudity in an interview with The Sun where she revealed she gets a lot of anti-feminist clap back about her scenes.

Discussing the scene where she walks out of a fire completely naked - yet unscathed, Emilia said: 'I just wanted to come out and do an empowered scene that wasn't sexual  it was naked, but it was strong.

'I get a lot of c*** for having done nude scenes and sex scenes. That, in itself, is so anti-feminist.'

Steamy: Emilia Clarke pictured during a Game Of Thornes sex scene

Emilia added: 'Women hating on other women is just the problem. That's upsetting.'

Despite being comfortable with her own experience, Emilia said that she does think there should be more male nudity on screen for it to be an equal balance.

She told The Late Show host Stephen Colbert: 'You know I did it, so why can't the boys do it?' and calling for 'junk equality'.

Her co-star and on-screen lover Kit Harington, who took on the role of Jon Snow, ha also agreed that male and female nudity needs to be equal.

He told Hollywood Life: 'It's only right if you're going to make a show where nudity and sex is a large part of it, that you be a part of that,' he told Hollywood Life.

Speaking out: Elsewhere, Emilia's co-star Carice van Houten - who portrays red priestess Melisandre - said that she wants to 'normalised' on-screen nudity

Elsewhere, Emilia's co-star Carice van Houten - who portrays red priestess Melisandre - said that she wants to 'normalised' on-screen nudity.

The actress, 45, who said that viewers are far more likely to see violence on screen, revealed: 'In Melisandre's case, I think I can justify it because she uses sexuality as a weapon she's trying to manipulate.'

She told the Telegraph: 'I find it hypocritical that we can show people with their heads blown off, then there's one nipple and viewers get upset.'

Lena Headey, who played Cersei Lannister in the HBO hit, has also previously defended the use of nudity in the show.

'She said: I've said from day one that I've got no problem with nudity. I've done it throughout my career. But for this character, it's been better for her regality and her feistiness to not bare her flesh until she has to.

'When it's out of her control. And if that ever happens, it won't be Cersei being seductive or sexy.'

Lena faced backlash after it was revealed she had used a body double for her 'walk of shame' during season five.

However, she defended the decision and said: 'Some people thought I was less of an actress because I didn't get my t*ts out. You know what? It was really a bit shocking. I've done nudity. I'm not averse to it.'

Meanwhile, Iwan Rheon, who plays Ramsay Bolton, said he would be happy to expose himself on screen if it was for the 'right' moment.

He said: 'If it was right for the scene then yeah, I would. I mean Emilia coming out of the fire, she's got to be naked because otherwise why is she wearing asbestos clothes?

'But then whether it's distracting to have a w**** waggling round in a scene and whether it's going to make everyone go... I'm walking into a minefield really, aren't I?'
Lorraine Pascale, 48, enjoyed a second wedding ceremony with husband Dennis O'Brien held at the very top of The Gherkin skyscraper in London over the weekend.

The couple legally became husband and wife back in June with a small registry office service, waiting five months to host a bigger bash with their friends and family.

The TV chef took to social media to share photographs from their big day, showing that she opted to wear a strapless white mini dress for the special occasion.

Congratulations! Over the weekend, Lorraine Pascale, 48, remarried husband Dennis O'Brien in a lavish London ceremony held at the very top of The Gherkin skyscraper

Adding an extra twist to her bridal look, Lorraine held onto a fuchsia pink wedding bouquet which she coordinated with a pair of Amina Muaddi pink slingback heels.

Her husband wore a white double breasted suit jacket with a black pair of trousers, while their guests were all dressed in white.

The couple were joined by family members are friends, who enjoyed an enormous all-white five-tier wedding cake.

'Loved celebrating our wedding properly. Our June register office wedding numbers were greatly reduced due to restrictions. So we did it again with everyone,' wrote Lorraine alongside a black-and-white snap of her with husband Dennis.

Wedding celebration! The TV chef took to social media to share photographs from their big day and explained their June registry office had greatly reduced numbers

Glam: Lorraine opted to wear a strapless white mini dress with a pair of Amina Muaddi pink slingback heels for the special occasion

The Gherkin's Seacu event spaces on levels 39 and 40 are licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 140 guests.

However, Lorraine legally wed the businessman at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London, back in June.

Sharing stunning pictures from the special day, including one of her and Ella Balinski - who starred in 2019 movie reboot 'Charlie's Angels' - walking down the aisle, Lorraine wrote on Instagram: 'My powerhouse of a daughter gave me away!'

In January, Lorraine revealed she was engaged to her boyfriend of three years Dennis after he proposed during the U.K's second lockdown.

Sealed with a kiss: Her husband wore a white double breasted suit jacket

The television chef announced her happy news during an appearance on Loose Women, and said she cried for ten minutes before accepting Dennis' proposal after he popped the question on his birthday.

Lorraine said: 'Big news: I got engaged over lockdown. The lucky man is Dennis O'Brien, he's amazing, we've been together for three years.

'It was during the second lockdown and it was actually on his birthday it was just when the restaurants were opening, and they were delaying their opening and he and I were testing recipes and he proposed and I cried for ten minutes before I said yes, I cried and cried and cried.'

Wow! The couple were joined by family members are friends, who enjoyed an enormous all-white 5-tier wedding cake

Lorraine married musician Count Kazimierz Balinski-Jundzill at age 23, and they had a daughter Ella. The couple separated in 2000 and subsequently divorced.

And the chef talked about her daughter Ella, who has carved a successful career in the acting industry having starred in Charlie's Angels alongside Kristen Stewart.

She said: 'You know what I haven't seen Ella since March and I miss her so much.

'She's doing incredibly well, she's got two projects coming up which will be announced soon. She's really happy, living the dream and enjoying the hot weather.'

Happy! Lorraine legally wed the businessman at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London , back in June (pictured)

The television personality first rose to fame in the modelling industry after being scouted by the agent who scouted Naomi Campbell.

Based in New York, Lorraine achieved recognition as the first black British model to appear on the cover of American Elle.

Lorraine took a diploma cookery course at Leith's School of Food and Wine in 2005 and found that cookery fitted her 'like a pair of old jeans' and went on to establish herself as a specialist cakemaker, with a contract with Selfridges.

On Loose Women, the chef spoke about how she is doing a master's degree in Psychology and a doctorate.

She told the panel: 'I've been through so much nonsense in my life I wanted to put it to good use. if you find real meaning to it, it can be healing.

'Rather than be a TV chef talking about her experiences I wanted to do something different.

'When I was modelling I felt it was fun and everything but I couldn't be who I wanted to be, it was the same with cooking.

Congratulations! In January, Lorraine revealed she was engaged to her boyfriend of three years Dennis after he proposed during the U.K's second lockdown

'At first it was fun, but then after a few episodes it was you have to make this recipe, and this one... I thought you know what I'm just going to totally change, totally be me, stop being so reserved and be totally myself.'

Lorraine said the career change would be to help others after experiencing 'emotionally abusive relationships'.

She said: 'I've been in bad relationships, emotionally abusive ones, I got dumped the day my mum passed away, I wanted to put what I learned through much therapy and training to help other people we're talking about Black Lives Matter and it's great, but I hope it can come in the forefront with mental health.'
She's committed to improving her health after being inspired by Rebel Wilson's radical weight loss.

And Ajay Rochester strove to reach her goals on Monday, when the former Biggest Loser host got in a morning stair workout at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

The 52-year-old was decked out in head-to-toe black for the early sweat session.

Sweat it out! Ajay Rochester (pictured) strove to reach her goals on Monday, when the former Biggest Loser host got in a morning stair workout at Sydney's Taronga Zoo

The mother-of-one wore a black Golden Girls T-shirt with black leggings and a dark trucker style cap.

Her only concessions to colour were a pair of pink sneakers and a pink backpack.

Ajay shielded her gaze behind a pair of dark aviator shades for the early outing around the zoo.

Back to black: The 52-year-old was decked out in head-to-toe black for the early sweat session

Comfort first: The mother-of-one wore a black Golden Girls T-shirt with black leggings and a dark trucker style cap

Pretty in pink: Her only concessions to colour were a pair of pink sneakers and a pink backpack

The former reality TV star got her steps in as she climbed a large staircase, occasionally stopping to check her map or study the animals.

It comes after Ajay revealed she is following in Rebel Wilson's footsteps after being inspired by the actress' 'year of health'.

Rochester shared an Instagram post last month detailing her efforts, alongside a photo of herself post-workout.

'This past week I made some key changes, so I subbed my white bread for Soy Burgen (sorry peeps Keto is not for me),' she began.

Future's so bright: Ajay shielded her gaze behind a pair of dark aviator shades for the early outing around the zoo

Update: Ajay shared a post to Instagram last month detailing her exercise efforts, alongside a photo of herself post-workout

Taking a break: The former reality TV star got her steps in as she climbed a large staircase, occasionally stopping to check her map or study the animals

'There are NO lollies in my house and yes the sugar withdrawals are real, I have subbed with fruit or small protein snack (Eg jerky), introduced TABATA training (not fun), upped my water intake, had Brookfarm gluten free muesli and Greek yogurt for breakky and most important of all - zero alcohol!' she went on.

Tabata is a type of HIIT workout that involves eight 20 second rounds of strenuous exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest.

'I don't know what I weigh as I don't have a scale and that's not important right now. Getting moving, making healthier choices and feeling better is the key to moving more,' she went on.

Inspired: Ajay revealed she is planning to follow in Wilson's footsteps and her 'year of health'. Rebel is pictured

'I lost a few days to a bad back which will get easier as I get lighter. Don't worry about what you can't do focus on what you can.'

Earlier this year, Ajay announced she is planning to drop the kilos she gained in lockdown following a health scare.

'It's time to take my health and fitness back! If Rebel Wilson can do it I can too!' she wrote alongside a selfie of her in hospital.

On a mission: Ajay (pictured left in 2007 and right in 2020) announced she is planning to drop the kilos she gained in lockdown following a health scare

Ajay explained that she ended up in the emergency room for an electrocardiogram after her heart started to flutter, causing her blood pressure to rise and panic.

'I'm fine. My EKG was normal, but it was enough of a scare to make me wake up and get serious. So here's to MY year of health!' she wrote.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ajay said she was shocked to discover how big she was after seeing photos of herself snorkelling and swimming earlier this year.

Wake up call: She explained that she ended up in the emergency room for an electrocardiogram after her heart started to flutter, causing her blood pressure to rise

'I looked at myself and went "s**t on a little bigger than I thought it was" and, I was quite shocked and, and a little scared for my health.'

'It really was like, "oh my God, holy s**t. What happened?" I'm like, well, you know, quarantine happened and, I don't know what happened. I lost the plot.

'I've been so inspired by Rebel's weight loss. I was like, all the fat girls around me are getting thin. Mama June (Here Comes Honey Boo Boo) lost the weight and now, Rebel has lost all the weight.

'I looked at myself and went "s**t on a little bigger than I thought it was" and, I was quite shocked and, and a little scared for my health,' she told Daily Mail Australia

Ajay went on to say that she didn't want to be the 'last fat girl standing'.

'I was literally up in Rebel's Instagram and she was doing like the stairs at the Opera House with her hot trainer. I'm like, well, I'm going to do the stairs,' she laughed.

'I'm going to follow in her footsteps and I'm declaring this my year of health.'

Back in 2020, Rebel documented her incredible weight loss journey, shedding over 30 kilos after enlisting celebrity trainer Jono Castano.
Alice Evans has continued in her explosive attack on her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd, with shocking insight into their parenting arrangements.

The actress, 50, and the Liar star, 48, who share daughters Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, are in the midst of a dramatic split, which has reached fever pitch ever since he went public with his new girlfriend, Bianca Wallace, last week.

In her latest blistering tirade, Alice hit back at Twitter users who accused her of making the split 'all about money' and also suggesting it was 'her choice' to quit her career and become a stay at home - something she staunchly denied.

Alice explained that she 'altruistically' allowed Ioan to continue working, while staying at home with the girls, despite battling chronic pain and tiredness in fibromyalgia - making it hard for her to even get out of bed at times.

Devastating: Her comments come as she opened up on how she felt about seeing the Instagram photo that confirmed her estranged husband had moved on to someone new, remarking that Ioan had broken her heart twice

Last week, Alice revealed that she was was 'heartbroken' and felt 'dead' after Ioan went Instagram official with his new love Bianca, 29, prompting Alice to accuse her ex of having a three-year romance.

She has now continued in her Twitter tirades against both Ioan and his supporters.

On Tuesday, Alice responded to a follower who claimed it was her choice to become a stay at home mother and allow Ioan to work.

She said: 'I did NOT make that choice. Two actors cannot both work because it's impossible to work in the same city. Just like two war-reporters or two overseas volunteers. I accepted to step down cos he earned more...

I realised he was sitting next to a young girl I'd never seen before. She was tagged in the post @iambiancawallace. Then I got that feeling. The feeling nobody in a relationship - even one that's seen better days -wants to feel: My God. They are a couple. Pictured: Ioan and Bianca together in an Instagram post

'It was hard. Really hard. I felt I was doing my bit for the family... every time I came to near breaking I told myself I would get back out there once they were older and that at least my husband was getting the opportunity to do the stuff he wanted...

'Rather than the stuff which shoots here, which is very limited. everything I did was altruistic... It was so freaking hard during the early years...

'I have fibromyalgia so sometimes it was hard to move or get out of bed. But I brought the girls on planes to wherever he was and TRIED to do the occasional guest spot. I felt a bit sad when I saw my friends doing amazing'.

Hitting back: She was hitting back at Ioan's supporters in explosive style

Alice's tangent began when a follower wrote: '@AliceEvansGruff I get your hurting and your angry etc. So are your kids, concentrate on them, not posting on SM bashing the now ex hubby...

'All your new supporters will forget about you in time and what will you do then ? Life can be cruel at times. I wish you well'

In response, she penned: 'Let's dissect it. 1) Concentrate on my kids: I am with my kids 24.7. I am trying to make for the fact that their father has forgotten he has them. 2) He's not my ex-hubby. He's my husband. 3) "ur new supporters will forget about you" OK 4) I wish you well? BULLS**T. 5) GO AWAY'.

Lashing out: She hit back at a fan who accused her of bashing Ioan

All over: Alice confirmed she and Ioan were splitting after 20 years in a shock statement she shared on Twitter in January 2021 (pictured together in 2018)

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA? Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition defined by widespread pain and fatigue. It affects up to 2.7 per cent of people worldwide, with three women suffering for every one man, studies suggest. Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a trauma, such as a car accident or childbirth, as well as infections. Why this occurs is unclear. The discomfort tends to be felt as aches and burning from head-to-toe. And the fatigue ranges from feeling sleepy to the exhaustion of having the flu. Severe sufferers are often unable to work or socialise. The pain can be worse at some times than others and may change location, such as becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most. Other symptoms can include headaches; IBS; diarrhoea or constipation; poor concentration; dizziness; allergies and stimuli sensitivity, such as to light or heat. Studies suggest the average patient waits five years to be diagnosed, which is thought to be due to X-rays and other medical tests not picking the condition up. It is generally defined as pain that lasts for more than three months and affects 11 or more out of 18 tender points when pressed. Treatment aims to relieve pain and aid sleep. Source: Fibromyalgia Action UK Advertisement

Another follower then accused Alice of defamation, to which she responded: 'It's not defamation if it's true. You're definitely no lawyer.'

It was then alleged that it was 'all about money' and she was told to move on, to which Alice responded: 'Sweetheart I can't move on until he decides to wrap up the divorce...

'At the moment he's poncing around in the South or France with the new love while I am 24.7 with the kids. I want to know that me and the kids have a roof over our heads.'

Ioan filed for divorce from Alice in March, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split.

The document, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, revealed the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status.

At the time, they had shared a joint statement that read: 'As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for our family and we remain committed to our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy.'

It was also reported the divorce papers state the exes are in a 'collaborative process and intend to resolve all issues including spousal support by written agreement'.

Alice, meanwhile, had addressed the pair's split in a shock statement shared to Twitter in January in which she claimed Ioan had 'mentally tortured' her.

The mum-of-two also accused her estranged husband of 'winding the s**t up me' as she posted a vitriolic video about their 'collaborative divorce' talks.

Alice and Ioan met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when Alice was in a relationship with Pablo Picasso's grandson Olivier.

She and Ioan became engaged six years later after she gave him an ultimatum about their relationship, and they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico in September 2007.

Ioan hasn't publicly addressed the couple's divorce.
Kelly Brook displayed her festive side in a photoshoot to showcase her latest collection with F&F Clothing with Tesco.

The radio presenter, 41, showed off her modelling credentials as she posed up a storm in the Christmas range.

For one look, Kelly looked party ready as she flaunted her incredible hourglass figure in a black sequin minidress.

Glam: Kelly Brook has shown off her festive side in a photoshoot to showcase her latest collection with F&F Clothing

The wrap over dress was adorned with sequins and featured a thigh-skimming hemline which highlighted Kelly's tanned legs.

She added a boost to her height with black satin stilettos and wore her brunette locks in glamorous curls.

Kelly also modelled a jumpsuit which had a cut-out section on the bust, a leopard print maxi dress and a pink silk two-piece.

Wow factor: The radio presenter, 41, showed off her modelling credentials as she posed up a storm in the Christmas range

Disco diva: For one look, Kelly looked party ready as she flaunted her incredible hourglass figure in a black sequin minidress

Looking good: She added a boost to her height with black satin stilettos and wore her brunette locks in glamorous curls

Kelly's photoshoot comes after the presenter revealed she slid into Idris Elba's DM's back in 2014 after making him the 'worst cocktail' she's ever made.

The model said on Heart Radio: 'The last time I saw Idris Elba was in a champagne bar and I was pretty tipsy. And I saw him, and like most women, was taken a bit kind of like, taken aback.

'And I went behind the bar and I started pretending I worked there, and asked him if he wanted a drink [laughs], and I made him a cocktail.

Dressed up to the nines: Kelly also modelled a jumpsuit with a cut-out section on the bust

All in the details: She teamed the look with drop earrings

Monochrome: Posing by the fireplace, Kelly slipped into a cosy knit with beaded detailing and a black pleated midi skirt

Walk on the wild side: Kelly teased a hint of her cleavage in a plunging leopard print maxi dress

Golden girl: Kelly looked gorgeous in a metallic shirt and matching trousers from the collection

Casual: The actress rocked a pair of leather leggings and a grey jumper in another look

Baby it's cold outside: Kelly modelled some loungewear as she posed by the fire

'Okay, I made him a cocktail, thats all I remember. The next day I woke up and I was very hungover, and I thought, "oh my god", I think last night I made Idris Elba the worst cocktail Ive ever made in my whole life, because I do remember him taking a sip.

'So I went to my Twitter, because I didnt obviously have his number or anything. And I slipped into his DMs, I cant believe Im telling this story'.

Kelly said she went onto message him saying: 'I hope you enjoyed the cocktail I made you last night.

The model recalled: 'He said "it was awful thought that counts though, babe, nice to meet you" and I said "oh gosh, no, really well at least it looked pretty".

'I think Id put some stuff in it, and I said "nice to meet you, by the way I have a really bad hangover".

'He went "haha! Just have a lie in" and that was it. That was the last I heard from him! How embarrassing. How embarrassing. I got the message. He shut me down.'
She's a member of a very famous family, carving out her own niche in the world.

And Rebecca Lobie showed how she's capturing fame on her own merits on Tuesday night, when the late Steve Irwin's 'hot niece' posted another sizzling Instagram snap.

The 33-year-old cousin of Bindi Irwin went topless for the racy picture, covering her modesty with only her hands and a well-placed emoji.

Busting out! Rebecca Lobie showed how she's capturing fame on her own merits on Tuesday night, when the late Steve Irwin's 'hot niece' posted another sizzling Instagram snap

The blonde bombshell wrote alongside the glamour picture, 'Does anyone ever read the caption?'

The image is a far cry from one posted earlier on Melbourne Cup day when the busty stunner decided to dress more demurely for the race that stops the nation.

Sharing a picture to Instagram, Rebecca looked almost angelic in a white ruched frock that featured tie detailing at the bust line.

White on: A later post showed Rebecca in a much more modest outfit for Melbourne Cup day

It comes after Rebecca left very little to the imagination last week while posing poolside in a plunging blue swimsuit.

The adult model flaunted her best assets in the flesh-baring one-piece in a photo shared to Instagram.

Her buttocks and side-boob were on display as she turned round to face the camera.

'That view though' she cheekily captioned the snap.

Earlier in the day, Rebecca had given fans a glimpse of her figure in a busty selfie, as she soaked up the sun in the same swimsuit.

Her eyes are up here! Lobie, who is the niece of the late Steven Irwin, flaunted her best assets in the flesh-baring one-piece in a photo shared to Instagram last month

'What an afternoon,' she captioned it.

It comes as the blonde bombshell continues to encourage fans to pay a $7 monthly fee for access to her 'exclusive' online content.

Rebecca is charging fans US$4.99 (AUD$6.80) for the first month's subscription on beckylobie.com, and US$9.99 (AUD$13.61) thereafter.

Eye-popping: Earlier in the day, Rebecca had given fans a glimpse at her busty selfie, as she soaked up the sun in the same blue one piece

For an additional US$55 (AUD$74.92), Rebecca says one video shows her 'fully naked... with just the seat belts covering up my [lemon emoji].'

'But don't worry, I made sure to pull back to give you a full view. We are just getting started,' she added.

For an extra US$34 (AUD46.31) she promises a 'nip slip' in a three-photo gallery.

Rebecca, who is the daughter of Steve Irwin's sister Joy and her husband Frank Muscillo, resigned from Australia Zoo in December 2015.

Hustling: It comes as the blonde bombshell continues to encourage fans to pay a $7 monthly fee for access to her 'exclusive' online content

She recently spoke about her new website in an interview with Daily Mail Australia, explaining it's similar to subscription platform OnlyFans but uses her own branding so she has 'more control'.

'Having another platform to be able to share my content is something I have wanted to do for a while now and has always been a big request from people,' she said.

'I love creating content and engaging with my fans and this is another way I can.'

She said of her decision to shun OnlyFans: 'It has the same features if not more. I will be posting exclusive content, chatting with fans and going live.'
Cardi B has won five American Music Awards and performed on the telecast during her career so far.

Next step: hosting the show.

'I am so proud to announce, Ill be hosting the 2021 @AMAs! Tune in November 21 8/7c on @ABCnetwork,' the siren wrote on Instagram on Tuesday morning.

New gig: Cardi B has won five American Music Awards and performed on the telecast during her career so far. Next step: hosting the show; seen in Paris in September

Go Cardi! The rapper behind such hits as 'Bodak Yellow' and 'Money' has been tapped to host the fan-voted awards show airing from Los Angeles on ABC on November 21

'When I received the invite to host the AMAs, I was so excited,' Cardi said in a statement. 'Im ready to bring my personality to the AMAs stage! Thank you to Jesse Collins, ABC and MRC for making this happen.'

The rapper behind such hits as 'Bodak Yellow' and 'Money' has been tapped to host the fan-voted awards show airing from Los Angeles on ABC on November 21.

'We are immensely excited to have the dynamic Cardi B bring her infectious energy to the American Music Awards as a first-time host,' said executive producer Jesse Collins in a statement Tuesday.

Cardi B performed 'I Like It' at the AMAs in 2018 with J Balvin and Bad Bunny and also made history during her last AMAs appearance, becoming the first female rapper to win Favorite Hip-Hop Song twice.

With her mini me: The hit maker with her daughter Kulture on Halloween

Olivia Rodrigo, in the first year shes eligible, is the leading nominee this time with seven, including artist of the year and new artist of the year.

Five-time winner The Weeknd has six nominations, going up against Rodrigo in the artist of the year category along with BTS, Ariana Grande, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Reggaeton star Bad Bunny, R&B newcomer Giveon and Doja Cat each have five nominations each. In the new artist of the year category, Rodrigo joins Giveon, 24KGoldn, Masked Wolf and The Kid LAROI.

With her man: Cardi B and Offset attend the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 2 in Paris

Swift, who currently holds the record for the most awarded artist in AMA history, could further extend her streak. She is nominated for three awards total, including favorite pop album for 'evermore.'

The AMAs added new categories this year, including favorite trending song, favorite gospel artist and favorite Latin duo or group.

Rapper Pop Smoke, who was killed in 2020, is nominated in three categories, including favorite hip-hop album and favorite hip-hop artist, and could win his first award posthumously.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Jonathan 'FoodGod' Cheban was seen schmoozing an icon on Monday evening.

The close pal of Kim Kardashian was spotted chatting up Martha Stewart at the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York City.

Both are experts at cuisine, though Cheban critiques restaurants and Stewart actually makes the meals. They have a history that dates back to 2016 when she slammed him on Twitter.

Food talk: Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Jonathan 'FoodGod' Cheban was seen schmoozing an icon on Monday evening. The close pal of Kim Kardashian was spotted chatting up Martha Stewart at the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York City

Cheban wore a black suit by Rick Owens clothing and jewelry by Jacob The Jeweler as he dropped by Stewart's table to say hello.

Martha had on a beige satin blouse that tied in front and added a camel colored coat that went nicely with her blonde hair. The designers she was wearing were Hermes and Vince.

A leopard print purse was in front of her on the table which saw several glasses and a floral arrangement.

How do you like your eggs, scrambled? Both are experts at cuisine, though Cheban critiques restaurants and Stewart actually makes the meals

The two looked like longtime pals as they chatted away with Cheban appearing overjoyed with his conversation with the cookbook author who works with Snoop Dogg.

But Jonathan and Martha have actually been pals for years as they hang in similar circles in New York.

Their friendship began in 2016 when they met at a DailyMail.com yacht party. She tweeted to her followers, 'Do you know this guy? He says he is well known.' Her fans thought it was hilarious she did not know the KUWTK star.

Martha is known for her zingers on Twitter.

'I had no idea who he was,' Stewart told BuzzFeed months later.

New pal? Martha was also seen with a handsome man in a gray suit and striped tie

'I didnt know at all and he was so mad at me. But then he saw all the attention he got, so now he loves me. He calls me and he emails me. But I had no idea because I had never watched the Kardashian program  I didnt know he was part of the coterie of people who hang out with her. Now I know  big time!'

DailyMail.com has also learned that Cheban has a new adventure.

He will join pal Kim on her new Hulu show with her family which launches next year.

Martha was also seen with a handsome man in a gray suit and striped tie.

Kim looked sensational in a brown leather sleeveless dress as she picked up an award for her work on KKW and SKIMS.

The mother-of-four, 41, was seen posing with her friend Demi Moore, who wore a black bra and suit.

The WSJ Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards were held at MoMA on November 1, 2021 in New York City and sponsored by Samsung, Harry Winston, and Remy Martin.
Bobby Brazier looked typically stylish when he attended Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball Kick Off Party aboard the Barclaycard Boat in London on Tuesday.

The son of Jade Goody and Jeff Brazier, 18, showcased his model good looks in a trendy white turtleneck teamed with a raincoat and black trousers while enjoying a day out in the capital.

Bobby beamed while posing for photographers and rocked his staple bouncy curls.

Stylish: Bobby Brazier, 18, looked typically stylish when he attended Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball Kick Off Party aboard the Barclaycard Boat in London on Tuesday

Looking good: Bobby showcased his model good looks in a trendy white turtleneck teamed with a raincoat and black trousers while enjoying a day out in the capital

He teamed his look with buckled loafers.

Also at the event were Roman Kemp, Sian Welby and Sonny Jay, while chart-topping DJ and producer Joel Corry hit the decks for a DJ set alongside MistaJam.

The bash was a precursor to the radio station's Jingle Bell Ball, which takes place in December.

Meanwhile, Bobby has been making a name for himself in the fashion world and was spotted at many of London Fashion Week's hottest events in September.

Beaming: Bobby beamed while posing for photographers and rocked his staple bouncy curls. The rising star teamed his look with loafers

He has established a successful career as a model, already working for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Dolce and Gabbana.

Bobby turned 18 on 6 June and he, his father Jeff, and brother Freddy celebrated the birthday milestone.

Bobby bears a striking resemblance to his late mother Jade, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 27 following a battle with cervical cancer.

Star-studded: Also at the event were Roman Kemp, Sian Welby and Sonny Jay, while chart-topping DJ and producer Joel Corry hit the decks for a DJ set alongside MistaJam

Smart: Roman (right), Sian (left ) and Sonny (centre) all cut smart figures when they stepped out for the bash

In the zone: Roman was in his element while addressing the crowd

On the decks: Joel kept guests entertained with his chart-topping DJ skills and made sure everyone bust a move

The fashionista's brother Freddy has followed in his older brother's footsteps by securing a modelling contract with Unsigned Models.

Bobby signed to modelling agency, Unsigned Models, in 2019 and has since participated in campaigns across the globe.

He previously revealed that he followed an unusual route into modelling. He got into trouble at school which resulted in an unexpected encounter with Unsigned Group model scout, Cesar Perin.

Trendy: The platinum blonde DJ cut a trendy figure in a camo print top teamed with slim-fit black trousers

Beaming: MistaJam beamed for photographers and made the most of the sunny weather while posing on the boat's top deck

During an Instagram Q&A session, the teen said it was a chance encounter while out with his dad that kickstarted his journey into couture.

One fan asked: 'How'd you get into modelling?' Bobby replied: 'Jokes story. I was in trouble at school and had to go in for a meeting.

'So before I go, I go Costa for a little pep talk with my dad and then when we leave @cesarpin is chasing me down the street asking me if I'm a model.'
Tamara Francesconi has launched her debut collection with retailer Misspap.

In a series of smouldering new images, Tamara, 25, flaunted her model credentials while working her best items in a variety of glamorous pieces from the partywear line.

From plunging dresses to sparkling suits, the brunette beauty's new collection is perfect for party season.

Wow: Tamara Francesconi has launched her debut collection with retailer Misspap

Rocking a bold red lip for the shoot and with her glossy tresses cascading in loose waves past her shoulders, Tamara dropped jaws in every look.

Stand-out pieces include a thigh-skimming black sequinned minidress, a strapless red dress complete with slip-on puffed sleeves and patterned jumpsuit.

The South African model shared a sneak peek of the collection on her Instagram last month, revealing the collaboration was shot at night in beautiful Rome.

Tamara's collection is available to shop from 6pm on November 2.

Stunning: In a series of smouldering new images, Tamara, 25, flaunted her model credentials while working her best items in a variety of glamorous pieces from the partywear line

Siren: The star showcased her cleavage and toned legs in several scarlet ensembles

Pose: The star slipped into a glittering black jumpsuit as she posed

Busty: The star flaunted her cleavage in one black cut-out dress

It comes after MailOnline revealed exclusively in September that Tamara had called time on her relationship with her Gossip Girl star boyfriend, Ed Westwick, 34.

While neither Ed nor Tamara have commented on the split, the model hinted at unease earlier in September when she shared a cryptic video of Oprah.

Oprah said: 'When people show you who they really are, why don't you believe them? Why must you be shown 29 times before you can see who they really are...

'Why can't you get it the first time when people show you who they are?. Believe them the first time'.

Bondage-inspired: Tamara wowed in a black cut-out dress for another look

Sparkle: The star was clearly looking ahead to the festive season in a sparkly dress

Fringe: The star showcased her honed legs in a fringed ensemble

Flirty: The star looked stunning as she posed up a storm

Sequins: The beauty exuded confidence as she posed for the shoot

Break up: MailOnline revealed exclusively in September that Tamara had called time on her relationship with Gossip Girl star Ed, 34

The couple first got together in October 2019, after Ed slid into Tamara's DMs. She explained during an Instagram Q&A last year: 'Going to answer this first because it's my most asked question, and probably the reason a lot of you follow me.

'He direct messaged me out of the blue saying hi and I nearly fell off my chair, we then chatted for a while and he asked me on a date, which I assumed would be a dinner.

'Instead he took me to a butterfly sanctuary in Mayfair, we thereafter spent the whole day exploring London together, and the rest is history.

'I feel like we have all become codependent with our partners this year (I know I have) I think it's really important to do things alone and for yourself, read a book, go for a walk, chat to a friend.'
The song and dance list for this week's Strictly Come Dancing has been unveiled as the remaining contestants have reached the halfway point of the series.

Hoping to deliver another stellar performance after scoring a perfect 40 last week, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice are dancing the Samba to Cinema Italiano by Kate Hudson.

Adam Peaty and Katya Jones will dance the Jive to Little Bitty Pretty One by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers.

Line-up: The song and dance list for this week's Strictly Come Dancing has been unveiled as the remaining contestants have reached the halfway point of the series (Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice pictured)

The pair narrowly escaped elimination last week as they survived the dance off against Judi Love and Graziano Di Prima.

Meanwhile, AJ Odudu and rumoured beau Kai Widdrington will be dancing the Charleston to Don't Bring Lulu by Dorothy Provine.

Dragon's Den star Sara Davies and Aljaz Skorjanec have been putting in consistently strong performances each week and will be hoping for more success on Saturday with a Quickstep to Dolly Parton's 9 To 5.

Tilly Ramsey and Nikita Kuzmin will be hoping to spice up the dancefloor with a Tango to Kings & Queens by Ava Max.

Performance: Adam Peaty and Katya Jones will dance the Jive to Little Bitty Pretty One by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

John Whaite and his professional dance partner Johannes Radebe will perform a lively Rumba to Sting's Shape Of My Heart.

Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova currently have the lowest average score of the remaining contestants and will be hoping to change that this week when they dance a Couple's Choice to Classic by MKTO.

Rhys Stephenson and his pro partner Nancy Xu scored an impressive 33 last week and will be looking for another high score as they perform a Quickstep to What A Man Gotta Do by The Jonas Brothers.

Finally, Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden will take to the dancefloor to perform a Paso Doble to Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor.

Show: Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden will take to the dancefloor to perform a Paso Doble to Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor

Rose, 26, and Giovanni, 31, catapulted to the top of the leaderboard last week after getting the earliest ever perfect score awarded in the dance contest's history.

The EastEnders actress and her professional partner left the judges gobsmacked after they took to the floor with a sexy Tango to Ed Sheeran's new track, Shivers, for the Halloween special.

Rose, the show's first deaf contestant, gave it her all on the dance floor on Saturday night and the couple nailed the flawless tango, filled with fancy footwork, 'out of this world' technique and plenty of attitude.

The incredible dance left head judge Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse on their feet, while Craig Revel Horwood simply said that Rose 'smashed it'.

Pair: AJ Odudu and rumoured beau Kai Widdrington will be dancing the Charleston to Dont Bring Lulu by Dorothy Provine

Much to Rose and Giovanni's delight, Anton Du Beke said: 'I've written a few things down, and they all basically say perfect. Congratulations!'

While Shirley gushed: 'You are absolutely brilliant! One of the best parts of that tango is how you keep your body closed and your head to the right and that little extra shoulder that went in. Wasn't she fabulous darling.'

Meanwhile, a particularly excited Motsi said: 'I've been sitting and judging for 14 years, I've been a couple of numbers, but this one will remain epic. This was absolutely one amazing dance.

'From the beginning, your acting skills, the way you two dance together, the technique in the dance, this was out of this world!'

Rose was dubbed the 'Queen of the tango' by Tess Daly, while the judges were true to their praise and each awarded the couple 10 marks, giving them a total of 40 - the earliest a perfect score has ever been given out in the show's history.

Strictly Come Dancing will return on Saturday 6th November at 6:45pm, with the results show on Sunday 7th November at 7:15pm on BBC One.

Success: Rose Ayling-Ellis, 26, and Giovanni Pernice, 31, catapulted to the top of the leaderboard last week after getting the earliest ever perfect score awarded in the dance contest's history
They famously shared a kiss during a Saturday Night Live sketch based on Aladdin's A Whole New World.

And Kim Kardashian certainly seems to be enjoying a new fantastic point of view with Pete Davidson.

The 41-year-old mogul and 27-year-old comedian are having fun together and also have chemistry with one another according to a new report from People on Tuesday.

Interesting: Kim Kardashian (pictured left in New York on Monday) and Pete Davidson (seen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in September) are having fun together and also have chemistry with one another according to a new report from People on Tuesday

A source for the publication said the two stars 'have chemistry' just days after they were seen holding hands on a roller coaster at Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park, California on Friday.

The insider said the pair are having 'fun' together and added: 'Pete can be super charming and Kim loves the attention.'

Kim filed for divorce from husband Kanye West in February after almost seven years of marriage and seems primed to finally enjoy the single life.

The source for People said: 'She is having fun and enjoying life. Her focus is still on her kids and work, but you can tell that she is ready to date.

Locked lips: Eyebrows were first raised when the two kissed on the lips during an early October SNL skit when she played Princess Jasmine and he Aladdin as the sat on a flying carpet

Holding hands here too: Though People magazine has claimed they are just friends - he is close to Machine Gun Kelly who is pals with Kim's sister Kourtney - fans think something more may be brewing

'She is very happy and in a good place. She has moved on from Kanye and feels it's for the best.

This comes after a day after Kim arrived in Pete's hometown of New York City as she accepted the WSJ. Innovator Award at a glitzy event on Monday night.

Her rumored love interest Pete Davidson has also landed back in Manhattan to prepare for this week's episode of Saturday Night Live, according to PageSix.

For the past few weeks there have been rumors that the queen of reality TV and the king of SNL may have begun a romance.

Quite the honor: This comes after a day after Kim arrived in Pete's hometown of New York City as she accepted the WSJ. Innovator Award at a glitzy event on Monday night

He's back! Her rumored love interest Pete Davidson has also landed back in Manhattan to prepare for this week's episode of Saturday Night Live , according to PageSix

Eyebrows were first raised when the two kissed on the lips during an early October SNL skit when she played Princess Jasmine and he Aladdin as the sat on a flying carpet.

Though People magazine has claimed they are just friends - he is close to Machine Gun Kelly who is pals with Kim's sister Kourtney - fans think something more may be brewing.

Adding fuel to the fire, they are both single at the moment.

Kim has split from husband Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, and Pete has broken up with Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor.

According to PageSix, Kim has arrived in New York City because she will attend WSJ. Magazines 11th annual Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art on Monday night.

Kim has worked with WSJ recently and she is expected to attend.

The stars who are expected to hit the red carpet are Ryan Reynolds, Lil Nas X, racer Lewis Hamilton, designer Kim Jones and author Colson Whitehead.

The site added that the Selfish author will also attend other events in Manhattan this week.

Pete is scheduled to be in a pitch meeting on Monday afternoon for SNL with creator Lorne Michaels, the site claimed.

The images of Kim and Pete together at Knott's Berry's Farm are telling.

Working relationship: Pete played Machine Gun Kelly with an actress as Megan Fox as Kim, right, as Kourtney Kardashian looked over it in a different SNL sketch

They are seated close together in the car and they can be seen talking before they hold hands with fingers intertwined.

Also at the park was sister Kourtney and her fiance Travis Barker. Travis is close to Machine Gun Kelly who is best friend's with Pete.

Kim has four kids with Kanye: North, eight; Saint, five; Chicago, three; and Psalm, two. But none of them were seen at the park.

MailOnline has contacted Kim and Pete's representatives for comment.

TMZ reported Kim attempted to keep a low profile during the visit, although she was spotted by a few eagle-eyed fans.

Also present during the trip to the theme park were SKIMS CMO Tracy Romulus, her husband, Steph Shepard and Harry Hudson.

He lives and works in NYC: Pete is scheduled to be in a pitch meeting on Monday afternoon for SNL with creator Lorne Michaels. Seen on the last episode of SNL

There she is: Kim was recently on the cover of WSJ and will likely be at their splashy event Monday in NYC

The media outlet also revealed the trip was organized by Kourtney and Travis.

Kim and Pete were both featured on an episode of Saturday Night Live that previously aired earlier this month, which the former hosted.

In one of the sketches, the pair portrayed Aladdin and Princess Jasmine and humorously discussed taking the next step in their fictional relationship.

She has split from Kanye West, now Ye

During the segment, the two notably shared an onscreen kiss, much to the delight of the studio audience.

Fans of the pair later took to various social media platforms to discuss their approval and opinions of the fictional couple.

The trip to Knott's Berry Farm comes just weeks after Kim's older sister and the Blink-182 drummer officially became engaged.

The happy couple had been friends for years prior to beginning their relationship, and they were first reported to be spending time together this past January.

Before she became involved with the musician, the 42-year-old was in a long-term relationship with Scott Disick, with whom she shares three children.

Set to wed: The trip to Knott's Berry Farm comes just weeks after Kim's older sister and the Blink-182 drummer officially became engaged. Travis is pals with Machine Gun Kelly. Seen on October 20 in LA

The drummer, 45, was previously married to both Melissa Kennedy and Shanna Moakler, and he welcomed two kids with the latter of the two while serving as her older daughter's stepfather.

Kardashian and Barker went Instagram official with their relationship just after this past Valentine's Day.

The post showed them holding hands.
The first official photograph for Cold War drama A Spy Among Friends has been released.

Damian Lewis, 50, suited up as MI6 agent Nicholas Elliott for the shot alongside Guy Pearce, 54, as Soviet secret agent Kim Philby.

The pair were sat side-by-side on a vintage sofa in the snap, while clad in dapper black suits and ties with crisp white shirts.

First official photo: Damian Lewis, 50, suited up as MI6 agent Nicholas Elliott alongside Guy Pearce, 54, as Soviet secret agent Kim Philby, for A Spy Among Friends' first official photo

Elliott was an officer noted for his close association with British double agent Kim Philby, with the forthcoming Britbox series being based on Philby's defection to the Soviet Union.

On Sunday, Damian shot scenes for the upcoming Cold War drama in London dressed as Elliott. Lewis donned a suit, fedora hat, spectacles and a trench coat.

He was seen strolling through the streets of Pimlico - which had been transported back to the 1950s - before taking shelter beneath a black umbrella.

Lewis was also filmed eating a meal in a cafe while portraying Elliott - who died in 1994 aged 77.

First look: Damian was seen in character as MI6 agent Nicholas Elliott for the first time while filming in London on Sunday

Real life: Lewis plays Nicholas Elliott (pictured right), a British MI6 intelligence officer noted for his close association with double agent Kim Philby, who defected to Russia in 1963

In character: The actor shot scenes for his upcoming Cold War drama, A Spy Among Friends, on Sunday dressed as Elliott. Lewis donned a suit and trench coat

It marks Lewis' first role since confirming his departure from the hugely popular Showtime series Billions.

The new show is based on the bestselling book of the same name by author Ben Macintyre, and will focus on Elliot's friendship with former colleague Philby.

Philby gained notoriety in 1963 after he was exposed as a prominent member of a British spy ring responsible for sharing British secrets with the Soviet Union during the early years of the Cold War.

Known as the Cambridge Five, the group also included Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross - although none were ever prosecuted for spying.

Bite to eat: Lewis was also filmed eating a meal in a cafe while portraying Elliott in the capital o over the weekend

Leading role: Australian actor Guy will play Philby in the forthcoming new drama

Philby escaped to Moscow in 1963 before he could face trial and would spend the rest of his life in Russia, where he would die aged 76 in 1988.

Anna Maxwell Martin, Stephen Kunken and Adrian Edmondson are also expected to star in the new drama, with Nick Murphy serving as executive producer and director.

A Spy Among Friends will reunite Lewis with Alexander Cary, an executive producer who previously worked with the British star on Homeland.

'How could I resist the opportunity to dramatize the true story of Nicholas Elliott and Kim Philby  two spies and lifelong friends, one of whom was betraying the other all along?' Cary told Deadline.

Old times: Philby (pictured) gained notoriety in 1963 after he was exposed as a prominent member of a British spy ring responsible for sharing British secrets with the Soviet Union during the early years of the Cold War

'A friendship that resulted in the gutting of British and American intelligence at the height of the Cold War and shaped the field of play for the dangerous game against Russia that we're still trying to win today.

'Macintyre's books about spies from recent history are relevant and exciting because they examine the larger universal themes of human behavior that drive individuals among us, and like us, to excel in the murky world of espionage and, for better or worse, leave a lasting impact on the world.'

Lewis has previously played a spy in John Le Carre's Our Kind of Traitor, while also expressing a keen interest in playing a 'better' spy than fictional MI6 agent James Bond.

A Spy Among Friends is expected to air in autumn 2022 via Britbox in the UK and Spectrum's On Demand platform in the U.S.
Will Mellor has shared rare snaps of his wife Michelle McSween as they enjoyed a sun-soaked family holiday to Gran Canaria last week.

The Coronation Street actor, 45, took to Instagram on Monday to share a plethora of sunny images from their getaway to the Spanish island with children Renee, 13, and Jayden, 17.

And it looked as though Will was thoroughly enjoying a well-earned break from Weatherfield after months terrorising the street's residents as bad boy Harvey Gaskell.

Happy couple: Will Mellor has shared rare snaps of his wife Michelle McSween as they enjoyed a sun-soaked family holiday to Gran Canaria last week

In one image, Will could be seen putting on a loved up display with his wife of 14 years as he wrapped his arm around her as they enjoyed a drink.

While another shows the couple standing in front of a waterfall as they beamed for the camera.

The TV personality also captured his wife looking out to see with a breathtaking sunset behind her.

Holiday: The Coronation Street actor, 45, took to Instagram on Monday to share a plethora of sunny images from their getaway to the Spanish island with children Renee, 13, and Jayden, 17

The Two Pints of Lager star also shared several selfies from the trip, with one showing a glimpse of their stunning accommodation.

While others showed a beach and a beautiful sunset.

Will also shared an image with Michelle, their son Jayden and a pal as they sat around the table enjoying mocktails.

Annnd relax! it looked as though Will was thoroughly enjoying a well-earned break from Weatherfield after months terrorising the street's residents as bad boy Harvey Gaskell

Lovely: Another photo shows the couple standing in front of a waterfall as they beamed for the camera.

What a view: The TV personality also captured his wife looking out to see with a breathtaking sunset behind her



Captioning the series of pictures, Will wrote: 'Last week on my family jollies @anfigroup!! We absolutely loved it! #familytime #holidays #familyholiday.'

Will's holiday comes after his thrilling stint on Coronation Street as drug lord Harvey Gaskell, a role which he began in February.

Recent scenes saw the villain escape from a prison van amid the ITV soap's explosive October scenes, with Harvey immediately seeking revenge on Leanne Battersby after she previously got him sent down.

Looking good: The Two Pints of Lager star also shared several selfies from the trip, with one showing a glimpse of their stunning accommodation

Night out: Will also shared an image with Michelle, their son Jayden and a pal as they sat around the table enjoying mocktails

However, after Leanne escaped and fled to her flat, Harvey accidentally gunned down Natasha Blakeman, who was dressed in the same Halloween costume as Leanne.

And after capturing Leanne again and forcing her to drive him off in her car, she purposefully crashed the vehicle knowing the passenger airbag was not working.

It was later confirmed by Roy Cropper that Harvey was 're-apprehended and incarcerated, meaning he was back behind bars.
Jared Leto transformed into Marvel Comic's vampire anti-hero Morbius in the new trailer for Sony's upcoming superhero movie.

On Tuesday, Sony released the latest teaser for Morbius, which stars the 49-year-old actor as a doctor who unwittingly infects himself with vampirism in a desperate bid to cure himself of a fatal blood disease.

Though the film is set in the Sony Spider-verse, the trailer hinted at a crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Michael Keaton's the Vulture made a surprise appearance in the new trailer.

Vampire: Jared Leto transformed into Marvel Comic's vampire anti-hero Morbius in the new trailer for Sony's upcoming superhero movie

Originally slated for release in July 2020, the movie was delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic but it is now scheduled to debut in theaters on January 28th, 2022.

The latest trailer for Morbius is the first look at the film in almost two years. The last trailer was released in January 2020.

Directed by Daniel Espinosa and written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, the film also stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson.

Origin story: On Tuesday, Sony released the latest teaser for Morbius, which stars the 49-year-old actor as a doctor who unwittingly infects himself with vampirism in a desperate bid to cure himself of a fatal blood disease

Transformation: Morbius is initially shown as frail and has to walk with the assistance of a cane

The official synopsis reads: 'One of Marvels most compelling and conflicted characters comes to the big screen as Oscar winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius.'

'Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil  or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?'

As the trailer, Dr. Michael Morbius is shown flying by helicopter into the mountains.

A frail-looking Morbius walks out of the helicopter with the assistance of a cane.

He is asked, 'Do you need a doctor?' to which he replies, 'I am a doctor.'

Caring: Morbius is shown caring for a patient who also has the fatal blood disease

In a voiceover, Morbius says, 'I should have died years ago,' as he is shown receiving medical treatments.

While Morbius treats a young patient who was lying in a hospital bed, the voiceover continues, 'People all over the world have my disease. Morbius' fiancee Martine Bancroft (Arjona) looks on with admiration.

In the voiceover, Morbius continues, 'I'm here to find a cure.'

As he is shown arriving in the mountains, Morbius says, ''We have to push the boundaries, take the risks.'

He slashes his palm and holds it to a wooden frame strung with wires. Moribus says, 'If you are going to run, do it now.'

Determined: Morbius is dedicated to finding a cure for his disease

Desperation: In his search for a cure, he turns to dangerous experimental treatments

The scene cuts to an explosion of bats flying out of a cave and surrounding Morbius who screams.

A container ship is shown floating in the ocean as FBI agent Simon Stroud (Gibson) says, 'Dr. Michael Morbius, you've been missing for two months.

He continues, 'Then you were found in a container ship that washed up off Long Island.'

A team of soldiers is shown infiltrating the ship until one is dragged away.

The scene cuts to Morbius as he speaks with Stroud.

'What did you do to yourself, doctor?' asks Stroud.

'I wish I knew,' Morbius replies.

Discovery: Morbius is found after two months on a container ship

On the hunt: FBI agent Simon Stroud (Gibson) is investigating Morbius

He continues in a voiceover, 'I went from dying to being more alive than ever.'

Morbius is shown hooked up to medical equipment before the scenes cuts to a shot of him looking healthy and strong.

Bancroft turns to him and says, 'It worked.'

He replies, 'Not exactly' as he is shown looking up with dilated pupils at a glass case filled with bats.

As he tests out his new powers, Morbius continues, 'I have increased strength and speed and some form of bat radar.'

'What else can I do?

Morbius appears in a closeup as his pupils dilate and then darken. He then flies through a subway.

Bancroft tells him, 'There are limits, there have to be.'

Bloodsucker: Morbius begins acquiring super powers but needs blood to survive

He says, 'There something inside of me,' as he is shown surrounded by bags of blood. Morbius transforms as his face becomes distorted and he bares his fangs

Morbius continues, 'He wants to hunt and consume blood.'

'Michael, Michael..' Bancroft says fearfully.

The scene cuts to Morbius sitting in a park with his mentor (Harris) who asks him, 'Can you control it?'

'Half the city wants to kill you,' Stroud voices over a crime scene covered with yellow tape.

Worried: Morbius' fiancee Martine Bancroft (Arjona) is concerned about him

In a reference to the Spider-man universe, a closeup of a copy of The Daily Bugle is shown with a headline that reads 'Dr. Michael Morbius Apprehended for "Vampire Murder."

Two FBI agents are seen investigating as one says, in a call back to Venom: Let There Be Carnage, 'We haven't had anything this good since that thing in San Francisco.'

Stroud continues,'The other half wants to control you.'

Clad in a prison uniform, Morbius walks by a wall of graffiti that reads: 'Murder.'

Callback: In a reference to the Spider-verse, Morbius walks by graffiti that read 'Murderer' over Spider-Man artwork

Keaton as Adrian Toomes also known as The Vulture makes his appearance as Morbius gets into a police van.

Tomes says, 'Hey Dr. Mike, 'You and I should stay in touch.'

Over fight scenes, Morbius says, 'I'd do anything to save a life.'

'But i don't know what i'm capable of,' he continues as claws extend from his fingers.

'You save lives you don't take them,' Stroud insists.

Harris says, 'Are you here to heal the world or to destroy it?'

Surprise! Michael Keaton appears in the trailer as The Vulture indicating a crossover with the MCU

Fighting the urge: Morbius struggles to control his violent urges

Dangerous: Morbius is shown surrounded by bats as his face twists into a grotesque mask

Morbius is shown surrounded by bats as his face twists into a grotesque mask.

As Morbius grabs FBI agent Alberto Rodriguez (Madrigal) by the throat, Rodriguez asks, 'Who the hell are you, man?'

'I am Venom,' Morbius tells him and flashes his fangs.

He then transforms back into his human form before saying, 'I'm just kidding, it's Dr. Michael Morbius at your service.'

Confrontation: As Morbius grabs FBI agent Alberto Rodriguez (Madrigal) by the throat, Rodriguez asks, 'Who the hell are you, man?'
Patrick Dempsey has been pictured out for the first time since it was claimed his Grey's Anatomy co-star Ellen Pompeo was paid '$5m hush money' to keep quiet about his behavior on set.

The 55-year-old actor was seen riding his bike on Monday on an electric bicycle as he cruised through Malibu, California near his home.

The sighting comes just a week after his former co-star Isaiah Washington claimed there were toxic elements to working with Dempsey on set of the ABC medical drama.

Riding it out: Patrick Dempsey pictured out after it was claimed Ellen Pompeo was paid $5M 'to not tell the world how toxic and nasty he was' during the #MeToo movement

Washington, 58, speaking on KBLA Talk 1580 with Tavis Smiley Thursday, claimed that Ellen Pompeo, 51, 'took $5 million dollars under the table... to not tell the world how toxic and nasty Patrick Dempsey really was' years back when dozens of high-profile Hollywood names were accused of workplace misconduct amid the #MeToo movement.

Dempsey and Pompeo have so far stayed silent on the claims.

Washington said he 'used as a scapegoat' when he was let go from the series in 2007 after he was accused of using a homophobic slur at castmate T.R. Knight.

Riding out the storm? The sighting comes just a week after his former co-star Isaiah Washington claimed there were toxic elements to working with Dempsey on set

No comment: Dempsey and his co-star Pompeo have so far stayed silent on the claims

He said on the radio show that 'it was an agenda to cover up for the toxic and bad behavior of many of my former castmates on that show... and the top of that would be Patrick Dempsey.'

Washington said that his tension with Dempsey was initially based on finances.

'I was the highest paid person on that show, next to Patrick Dempsey,' he said. 'Apparently, it got out, so there was a lot of resentment. I understand that but it was based on my roles and my resume. I can't help that.

Washington was critical of both Dempsey and Pompeo in the interview

'He was called Pilot Poison. No one wanted him on the show. They wanted Rob Lowe.'

Washington added that Dempsey 'was not a nice guy from day one,' recalling an exchange with producer Peter Horton and Dempsey on his first day.

'I was at a table read, Peter Horton ... came over and said, "I thought we got rid of you." Patrick Dempsey walks in, didn't think I could see him with the reflection, throws up his hands, like, "What is he doing here?" That's day one.'

Washington claimed Dempsey made racially-charged statements to him while on set.

'He liked me and once I had a conversation with him, he said, "Isaiah, do you know that white men are the masters of the universe?" And I said, "You really believe that?" And he said "Absolutely,"' Washington said, according to the outlet.

The latest: Isaiah Washington, 58, opened up about his experience on the Greys Anatomy set, and what he said were many toxic elements in play involving key figures on the set

Washington said that a 'simmering of disrespect' from Dempsey worsened as time went on, recalling details of an infamous October 2006 clash they had when he was late to the set.

'That Monday, he is late. Instead of apologizing for it, he got in my face and assaulted me three times. Physically. I did what I had to do as a man. And I cussed him out.

He said that the homophobic phrase he used was accused of using toward Knight was said in a different context.

Washington said he told Dempsey, 'You're not going to punk me, you're not going to treat me like a B-word and you're not going to treat me like an F-word.

'I was speaking to myself as we refer to as a schoolyard taunt and weakness. Talking about myself. But I had already heard the abuse, that he threw Kate Walsh through a window out of anger. That he terrorized T. R. Knight.'

Washington cited a number of instances in which he felt the set had a toxic element to it

He said that Knight, 48, was not present when he used the offensive phrase, and that the story with Dempsey was twisted to make him look bad.

'It went from us having a brawl, which was never a brawl, to me saying something about T.R.,' Washington said, adding that he was 'coerced to apologize' to keep his spot on the hit show.

In the interview, Washington claimed that Pompeo had become 'unnerved' by the buzz surrounding other performers on the series, including himself and Sandra Oh.

'She couldn't believe that everybody was more interested in me and Sandra and everybody else than her,' he said, adding that he was 'not shocked' by Pompeo's revelation last month that she clashed with Denzel Washington when the Oscar-winner directed an episode of the series in 2016.

'She really thinks that shes cool with Black people like that, but shes not,' Isaiah Washington said.
Rick Leventhal says he deleted a Halloween photo of him dressed as Alec Baldwin out of 'respect' for late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, after facing a slew of backlash the day before.

The former Fox News correspondent, 61, told Page Six why he took down the tone-deaf snap, which showed him in Western attire as Baldwin on the set of Rust, where Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed last month.

'People twisted our outfits and intent in ways neither of us could've imagined and filled our page with hate,' he told the site, also referring to wife Kelly Dodd, who was slammed for wearing a generic Native American costume.

He continued: 'We took the post down out of respect for the victims' families and only hope the cancel culture won't cancel Halloween next.'

Deleted: Rick Leventhal says he deleted a Halloween photo of him dressed as Alec Baldwin out of 'respect' for late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after facing a slew of backlash

On set accident: Baldwin accidentally shot and killed Hutchins with a prop gun last month. He's seen on set before the accident above

The day before Dodd and Leventhal sparked outrage for the wildly insensitive Halloween costumes.

Rick seemed to be looking for a reaction as he captioned the photo saying: 'Kelly celebrated her native American culture and I celebrated the great American film actor Alec Baldwin.'

Despite many of Leventhal's followers being accustomed to his controversial antics, the decision to make light of the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins was a step too far.

'A child lost his mother,' one commented, while another wrote: 'On the very day that a young boy buries his mother, this is in poor taste.'

Mother-of-one Hutchins was buried in a private funeral in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Friday after she was accidentally shot dead by Baldwin on October 21.

Sort of sorry: 'People twisted our outfits and intent in ways neither of us could've imagined and filled our page with hate,' he told the site, also referring to wife Kelly Dodd, who was slammed for wearing a generic Native American costume

Kelly and Rick faced a stern backlash on Instagram where the former Fox correspondent posted the image of him dressed up as Alec Baldwin. 'A child lost his mother!' said one comment

One comment said: 'On the very day that a young boy buries his mother, this is in poor taste'

A follower called Elaine Rieger said: 'Really insensitive, but no one is surprised. She will bring you down wait and see'

Before deleting the post Leventhal stood by his ensemble, telling The New York Post on Monday: 'In no way was I trying to offend anyone, except Alec Baldwin. Hes a jerk and deserves all the heat hes getting.'

Others were offended by his wife's decision to wear a stereotypical Native American outfit. Dodd's claims she is '30 percent Native American.'

One follower wrote: 'So talk about your heritage not mock it.. seriously? A costume? You can't argue with stupid.'

Another said: 'Yes the wardrobe of native Americans is beautiful but its not a costume n hopefully u will learn that.'

Leventhal made the post on Sunday, after which his comments section was quickly flooded with disdain for their costumes.

'Pathetic you have to attach Alec Baldwin to this,' one follower wrote. 'A horrific thing happened on set and you think Halloween is the time to display such disrespect.'

'Pathetic you have to attach Alec Baldwin to this,' one follower wrote. 'A horrific thing happened on set and you think Halloween is the time to display such disrespect'

A follower called Elaine Rieger said: 'Really insensitive, but no one is surprised. She will bring you down wait and see.'

Another commented: 'I always defend you both, but hard to find dressing up as Alec funny when a young woman's life was cut short and a young boy is now without his mum.'

Dodd - who has not spoken publicly yet about her costume - told E! News in January that she was '30 percent Native American.'

'My point was I'm black, Asian, Mexican, Spanish, I'm 30 percent Native American and I'm one percent Jewish. And I'm all races. I don't see people with color, I see people. That's it,' she said at the time.

Not okay: Dodd opted to dress as a Native American with a headdress for Halloween, which is an example of cultural appropriation

Tragic: Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after a gun was accidentally discharged by actor Baldwin on set of Western movie Rust

'I think the fashion is beautiful & this was a tribute & celebration,' the fired Real Housewives of Orange County star, 46, captioned a slideshow of photos from the night.

Others criticized Dodd's decision to hold a gun to her head in the photos published to her husband's Instagram page, mere weeks after sharing an insensitive post regarding a man's possible attempted suicide.

Dodd has also faced backlash for her controversial opinions on COVID-19, as well as facing accusations of racism and homophobia.

No compassion: Speaking to her 'haters' on Instagram, the fired Real Housewives of Orange County star, 46, wrote that she was embracing her 'Native American heritage' (seen in 2019)

In February, she was dropped from her partnership with Positive Beverages due to her 'controversial views and opinions' on coronavirus.

She first partnered with the brand in February 2019 and regularly promoted the sparkling beverage on her social media accounts and in episodes of RHOC.

Kelly also made headlines last April after saying on social media that she believed that the pandemic was 'Gods way of thinning the herd' as she argued with an Instagram user who called her out after taking a cross-country flight.

Tone-deaf: In February, she was dropped from her partnership with Positive Beverages due to her 'controversial views and opinions' on coronavirus

After a user wrote to Dodd, 'If non-essential workers keep traveling back and forth like you, it will last longer,' the reality star replied, 'Do you know how many people died from the H1N1, the swine flu or SARS? It's 25% get your facts straight you are only hearing numbers not the reality! It's God's way of thinning the herd!'

She subsequently apologized for the remarks and attempted to clarify her statement.

'When I wrote that it's 'God's way of thinning the herd,' that's not what I meant,' Dodd said on Instagram Stories. 'What I meant was, 'Do these pandemics happen because it's God's way?' I'm not God. I'm not insensitive.'

'I feel bad for all the families that have lost loved ones, and I do think we should all stay at home and protect everybody. That's not what I meant, and I want to apologize to anyone who got offended, OK? I'm sorry.'

She apologized again while appearing on Watch What Happens Live, saying of her past controversy: 'It was insensitive and I apologize if I hurt or offended anybody.'
Kim Kardashian adapted her California style to Manhattan chic when she was spotted in New York City on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old reality TV superstar looked like Batgirl in a dark Balenciaga jumpsuit and mask-like glasses as she was seen emerging from the Ritz-Carlton hotel across the street from Central Park.

This sighting comes as rumours persist that the beauty is dating Pete Davidson whom she bonded with when guest hosting Saturday Night Live in October.

Looking fab: Kim Kardashian adapted her California style to Manhattan chic when she was spotted in New York this Tuesday

She slid her unmistakable hourglass frame into a slinky black cargo dress by Balenciaga that retails online for $2,750.

Kim wore her hair in a long black do and obscured her screen siren features behind a pair of massive angular sunglasses, balancing on a pair of black stiletto boots.

She accented the look with gloves and the $5,500 Balenciaga women's extra-small grey suede calfskin handbag with rhinestones.

Legs for days: Kim wore her hair in a long black do and obscured her screen siren features behind a pair of massive angular sunglasses, balancing on a pair of black stiletto boots

Superwoman: Kim took inspiration from Yvonne Craig's Batgirl (right) as she headed out in the statement glasses

Superstar: A throng of fans were gathered near the entrance to the hotel, whipping out their phones to record their memories of Kim as she pounded the pavement

A throng of fans were gathered near the entrance to the hotel, whipping out their phones to record their memories of Kim as she pounded the pavement.

The swanky Ritz-Carlton in the heart of Manhattan is evidently quite the celebrity hot spot as Timbaland was also spotted leaving it separately that day.

Kim's latest solo sighting comes amid a swirl of rumors she is dating Davidson.

Legging it: The 41-year-old reality TV superstar was seen emerging from the Ritz-Carlton across the street from Central Park

The reality star filed for divorce from her third husband Kanye West in February and they have retained an amicable relationship as they co-parent their four children.

Just over three weeks ago Kim made her debut hosting Saturday Night Live - and shared a kiss with longtime cast member Pete during an Aladdin-themed sketch.

Dating rumors kicked into high gear last Friday when the duo were spotted attending Knott's Scary Farm as part of a group outing.

In demand: Kim's latest solo sighting comes amid a swirl of rumors she has become involved with Saturday Night Live funnyman Pete Davidson

Batgirl mood: On September 13 she exited the Ritz in the same sunglasses but a different outfit after the Met Gala

The conjecture was fueled by the fact that they were seen holding hands as they sat next to each other on one of the rollercoasters.

At the time however a People source insisted the outing was 'just friends hanging out' as 'they hang in the same circles so they will be together from time to time.'

Kim's big sister Kourtney Kardashian was also on the outing along with her fiance Travis Barker who knows Pete.

Pete and Travis have a common friend in Machine Gun Kelly a.k.a. Colson Baker who is carrying on his own high-profile romance with Megan Fox.

Mover and shaker: The swanky Ritz-Carlton in the heart of Manhattan is evidently quite the celebrity hot spot as Timbaland was also spotted leaving it separately that day

However more recently a People insider said Kim and Pete have 'chemistry' and are having 'fun,' dishing: 'Pete can be super charming and Kim loves the attention.'

The insider added that 'she is having fun and enjoying life. Her focus is still on her kids and work, but you can tell that she is ready to date. She is very happy and in a good place. She has moved on from Kanye and feels it's for the best.'

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine Kim said Kanye remains her business partner and gushed that he 'will always be the most inspirational person to me.'

Goofing off: Just over three weeks ago Kim made her debut hosting Saturday Night Live - and shared a kiss with longtime cast member Pete during an Aladdin-themed sketch
He's making the most of his time away from home.

And Scott Disick spent a little one-on-one with his eldest son, Mason, as they toured watercrafts at the Fourt Lauderdale boat show in South Florida on Tuesday morning.

The 38-year-old reality star wrapped his arm around his 11-year-old little one just days after his ex, Kourtney Kardashian, went over the top with her Halloween celebrations at her house in Los Angeles with new fiance Travis Barker.

Father and son: Scott Disick spent a little one-on-one with his eldest child, Mason, as they toured watercrafts at the Fourt Lauderdale boat show in South Florida on Tuesday morning

The Talentless creator rocked his favorite camouflaged cargo slacks with a red-and-grey button-down flannel long-sleeve shirt.

He pounded the pavement wearing white trainers and carried a black Hydroflask reusable water bottle in one hand.

Mason looked equally as casually cool in black shorts and a grey T-shirt with a graphic print of the rapper Mase.

Trailing close behind the duo was Scott's trusty assistant who wore her signature jean shorts with a white tank top and a light blue dress shirt.

Uniform: The Talentless creator rocked his favorite camouflaged cargo slacks with a red-and-grey button-down flannel long-sleeve shirt

Just the two of us: Mason looked equally as casually cool in black shorts and a grey T-shirt with a graphic print of the rapper Mase

Hard at work: Trailing close behind the duo was Scott's trusty assistant who wore her signature jean shorts with a white tank top and a light blue dress shirt

Nowhere to be seen, though, was Scott's reported new love interest, Elizabeth Grace Lindley, 20, who days ago dressed up as a Victoria's Secret angel for a wild Halloween party in West Hollywood.

Scott became a single man just last month after ending his year-long relationship with Lisa Rinna's 20-year-old daughter, Amelia Hamlin.

And just as soon as he became a single guy, Kourtney was taken off the market when the Blink 182 drummer dropped down to one knee and proposed on the beach overlooking the sunset in Montecito last month with her famous family looking on from the Miramar hotel.

Spooky season: The couple went all out for their Halloween festivities, including dressing up as Edward Scissorhands and Kim Boggs

Big fans: Another costume change was reenacting his favorite film, True Romance, where Kourtney dressed up as Patricia Arquette's character, Alabama, while Travis played Christian Slater's character, Clarence

Nailed it: They went all out with their costumes and made sure to execute each detail perfectly

Kourtney went public with her new romance at the beginning of the year, and has Reign, six, Penelope, eight, and Mason, 11, from her previous relationship with Scott.

Travis famously filed for divorce from Shanna Moakler in 2006 after just two years of marriage following claims that she had been unfaithful, and shares Landon, 18, and Alabama, 15, in addition to her daughter, Atiana, from her previous relationship with Oscar de la Hoya.

The couple went all out for their Halloween festivities, including dressing up as Edward Scissorhands and Kim Boggs.

Another costume change was reenacting his favorite film, True Romance, where Kourtney dressed up as Patricia Arquette's character, Alabama, while Travis played Christian Slater's character, Clarence.
Hailey Bieber paid tribute to her husband Justin by wearing his initials around her neck, after opening up about their past marital problems.

As she walked out a hair salon in Los Angeles on Monday, the 24-year-old supermodel looked incredible with a fresh blowout and chocolate brown hair.

The Vogue cover girl, who officially ditched her signature blonde hair last week, rocked a long black leather jacket, plain t-shirt and combat boots.

Doting wife: Hailey Bieber paid tribute to her husband Justin by wearing his initials around her neck, after opening up about marital problems

She accessorized with a gold chain with diamond charms that spelled out her spouse's full name: 'JDB' Justin Drew Bieber.

While the lovebirds just celebrated three years of marriage in September, they have been candid about working through communication issues.

In an interview with the podcast In Good Faith with Chelsea & Judah Smith on Monday, Hailey recalled an emotional phone call she had with her mother Kennya during a difficult time in her marriage to Justin, 27.

Newly brunette: As she walked out a hair salon in Los Angeles on Monday, the 24-year-old supermodel looked incredible with a fresh blowout and chocolate brown hair

Chic: The Vogue cover girl, who officially ditched her signature blonde hair last week, rocked a long black leather jacket, plain t-shirt and combat boots

Back to her roots: Hailey has been a bright blonde for years before going back to brunette

'I remember I called her a few different times, one particular time when we were in Brooklyn and I was calling her, I was crying, and I was like, "I just can't do it. There's no way that I'm going to be able to do this if it's going to be like this forever,"' the model, 24, remembered.

But Kennya, who has been married to Hailey's father Stephen Baldwin for over 30 years, was not fazed by the confession, and reminded her daughter that the rough patch was only temporary.

'And I just remember she was so calm on the phone and she was like, "It's going to pass, and you're going to be fine and he's going to be healthy and we're here for you,"' she said.

'I was crying': On Monday, Hailey Bieber has recalled the emotional phone call she had with her mother Kennya during a difficult time in her marriage to Justin Bieber

The model believes overcoming the rough patch would have been '10 times harder' had it not been for the support her mother.

'And I do feel like we just had a lot of support. I feel like if I didn't have support, it would've been 10 times harder, and it was already the hardest thing in my life at the time.'

Hailey, who was appearing on the podcast with her husband, also said she was glad to have stuck by him despite all their trials and tribulations.

Giving it her all: Hailey, who was appearing on the podcast with her husband, revealed she was glad to have stuck by Justin despite all their trials and tribulations; pictured 2018

'I was in it. I made a decision. I know for a fact that I've loved this person for a very long time and now would not be the time to give up on him. I just wouldn't do that to him,' she admitted.

'Imagine abandoning somebody in the middle of the worst time of their life, potentially. I'm not that type of a person. So I was going to stick it out no matter what the outcome was going to be.'

Before that Justin got candid about his struggles with mental health which he was battling leading up to their wedding in September 2018.

Love story: The two had been dating for years prior but had split in 2016 before rekindling their romance in 2018 before getting engaged in July of that year

Up to her: During an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show in March 2020, Justin said that he would wait to have children until Hailey was ready

The two had been dating for years prior but had split in 2016 before rekindling their romance in 2018 before getting engaged in July of that year.

He said: 'I had experienced so many things in my life. So many milestones and traveled the world and seen everywhere in the world. And I just got to a place where I was lonely, and I just didn't want to do it all alone.

'I realized there was some serious healing I needed to go through in order to get to a place where I could be in a healthy, serious relationship because I had a lot of trauma and scars. So I just committed to working on those things and getting healthy.'

Whirlwind: The two had been dating for years prior but had split in 2016 before rekindling their romance in 2018 before getting engaged in July of that year; seen in September 2021

Justin ultimately sought treatment in early 2019 for his mental health and bravely spoke publicly about his depression which led him to cancel his Purpose world tour two years prior.

The Purpose hitmaker said: 'Luckily, Hailey accepted me as I was. Even when we got married, there was still a lot of damage and hurt that I still needed to work through, but you've seen my heart through it all.'

Communication seems to be one of the key things in their relationship as Hailey admitted: 'We always had so many conversations about, "What were our goals? Where did we want to end up at a certain age?"

'We always talked about wanting to be married and be young, and have a young family, and have kids young.'
She's the pregnant Farmer Wants a Wife star who is expecting a child with farmer Will Dwyer from the show.

And Hayley Love, 26, showed off her baby bump as she posed for a mirror selfie on Tuesday and gave fans an update on her pregnancy.

Hayley admitted she's been struggling with a 'rollercoaster' third trimester and often cries when she puts on clothes and feels 'incompetent' heading into motherhood.

Struggles: Pregnant Farmer Wants a Wife star Hayley Love showed off her bump on Tuesday and admitted she feels 'incompetent' and 'cries' often during her 'rollercoaster' third trimester

Hayley said she was around 36 weeks pregnant.

'I wish I shared more of my pregnancy but I've been feeling negative and didn't want to sugar coat anything,' she began.

'I put on clothes and feel like a whale. I usually have a cry about it. My ankles swell up. I'm out of breath putting shoes on.

'I feel incompetent and I find it hard to process at 26 years old.'

Emotional: 'I put on clothes and feel like a whale. I usually have a cry about it. My ankles swell up. I'm out of breath putting shoes on,' she explained

She concluded by saying she can't wait to meet her baby and doesn't mind if her unborn child comes a little early.

'But I am so grateful that I am growing a healthy little bubba. I hope to meet you sooner rather than later (maybe a few weeks early please),' she said.

In July, the cancer survivor revealed she was 22 weeks along in her pregnancy in a statement, but confirmed she and Will were no longer together.

Shock announcement: In July, the cancer survivor revealed she was 22 weeks along in her pregnancy in a statement, but confirmed she and Will were no longer together

She was originally matched with farmer Matt Trewin on the Channel Seven show, but he broke up with her shortly before the finale.

She went on to briefly date Will and became pregnant with his child, but they broke up after she told him she was expecting.

Hayley and Will had a short-lived romance after the FWAW finale was filmed in December - and after he'd split from his winner, Jaimee.

But they ended things around April.

Will, 39, recently released a statement addressing Hayley's pregnancy news. In it, he vowed to be 'the best dad I can be... when the time comes'.
Naomi Campbell looked a vision in white when she attended the opening reception of the Qatar Creates 2021 event in Doha on Tuesday.

The supermodel, 51, wowed in a beautiful white, high necked floor length ruffled dress, which she paired with some beautiful large drop statement earrings.

The strikingly beautiful star looked effortlessly chic as she posed outside of the museum.

Model affair: Naomi Campbell looked a vision in white when she attended the opening reception of the Qatar Creates 2021 event in Doha on Tuesday

Naomi went full glam with the make up, choosing a purple and silver eye shadow with a smokey eye finish and a bold black mascara and eyeliner detail.

She opted a bronze blush on the cheeks and finished with a soft pink lip gloss that accentuated her full and sensual pout.

She finished the glamourous look by wearing her waist length dark tresses down with a centre part which perfectly framed her beautiful face.

Fans looked on as the model stood out from the crowd and stunned with her ageless beauty .

New event: The fashionista was in Qatar for the launch of the eagerly anticipated event which was held at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha

Sensational: The supermodel wowed in a beautiful white, high necked floor length ruffled dress, which she paired with large drop statement earrings

Sublime: Naomi posed with fellow model Coco Rocha at the event

The fashionista was in Qatar with her designer cousin Bianca Saunders, for the launch of the eagerly anticipated event which was held at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.

The reception launches a week of events including workshops. panel talks in art architecture, fashion and design.

The model turned philanthropist delighted fans on arrival by stopping to take some selfies.

Selfie time: The supermodel happily took selfies with fans who outside of the museum in Doha

Angelic: Naomi looked angelic in her eye-catching white frock

Sensational Coco also wore a white dress, which boasted a frilly short cape

On Monday Naomi hid the headlines when she flaunted her jet set lifestyle as she shared pictures of herself boarding a lavish private jet on Instagram.

She posted the stunning images ahead of her trip to to the middle east.

In the shots the catwalk star oozed class in a chevron pattern tracksuit and white top as she walked up the Qatar Executive aircraft steps.

In good company: Naomi Campbell chatted to Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Pierpaolo Piccioli, Creative Director of Maison Valentino

Looking good: Alexa Chung dazzled in a chocolate brown dress paired with patent boots

Ready to fly: Naomi Campbell, 51, flaunted her jet set lifestyle as she shared pictures of herself boarding a lavish private jet on Instagram on Monday

The Philanthropist rocked a black trilby hat and a pair of comfortable monochrome Nike trainers as she prepared to take to the skies.

The London native snapped a picture of herself relaxing as she leant back on a white cushion once on board.

Naomi was attending Qatar Creates, a programme of workshops and panel talks to celebrate the inauguration of the National Museum of Qatar,

Kicking back: The fashionista could be seen wearing a chevron pattern tracksuit as she relaxed on the aircraft

She captioned her Instagram post: '#KICKING OFF THE MONTH WITH #QATARCREATES with my cousin @biancasaunders (bet you did not know we had a designer in the family) PROUD.

'In Qatar supporting new young emerging talent Thank you @qatarairways #qatarcreates.'

Earlier in the day, Bianca shared a picture of Naomi wearing some items from her collections.

Dressed to impress: Earlier in the day, Naomi's designer cousin Bianca Saunders shared a picture of Naomi wearing some items from her collections

The catwalk star showcased her chic but casual style in a cream pair of trousers and a white top.

She wore a beige shirt over the top and carried a large brown bag in her hand, casually posing with her other hand in her pocket.

Captioning the snap, Bianca wrote: '@naomi is wearing AW20 long shirt and SS22 Benz Trousers during #QATARCREATES week.'
Meghan Markle's father reportedly isn't a fan of her husband, Prince Harry.

Thomas Markle Sr, who has never met Harry in person, apparently 'doesn't approve' of the Duke of Sussex, according to her brother Thomas Markle Jr.

Markle Jr said on Australian reality show Big Brother VIP his father was so distrustful of Harry he wouldn't even count on him to 'protect those chickens in their backyard'.

Daddy's not happy: Meghan Markle's father reportedly isn't a fan of her husband, Prince Harry. Thomas Markle Sr is pictured with his daughter in an undated family photo

'My dad doesn't approve of him. My father says he couldn't even protect those chickens in their backyard if he needed to,' he told his shocked housemates.

Markle Jr also said his rift with his famous half-sister began when he wrote to the palace asking if they could help to stop paparazzi invading his privacy.

'And the correspondence I got back was [that I was] "distant family and I don't know those people." That came from Meghan,' he alleged.

Speaking out: Thomas Markle Sr, who has never met Harry (right) in person, apparently 'doesn't approve' of the Duke of Sussex, according to Meghan's brother Thomas Markle Jr

The housemates bristled when Markle Jr said that Meghan should 'do her job [as a royal] and stop griping about it'.

'It's so much harder than that,' said a stunned Jessika Power.

When asked about the 'mental issues' Meghan spoke about during her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle Jr fired back: 'I don't 100 per cent buy that.'

Candid: Markle Jr said on Australian reality show Big Brother VIP his father was so distrustful of Harry he wouldn't even count on him to 'protect those chickens in their backyard'

This remark left the other contestants horrified, with Bernard Curry saying: 'That was brutal!'

The Big Brother scene aired after Markle Jr issued a public apology to his sister for criticising her in the media.

The window fitter from Oregon said he'd 'made some horrible mistakes' after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Harry.

Saying sorry: It comes after Markle Jr (pictured) issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after criticising her in the media for years

He also told New Idea he hopes Meghan is watching him on Big Brother VIP, adding: 'That's why I'm doing this, so she can see the real me.'

'I want everybody watching to take away this side of me, the real me. I am lovable, nice, I'll give you the shirt off my back, I'm funny,' he said.

Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would 'ruin your life', Markle Jr said there was no animosity on his side.

He insisted that growing up with Meghan had been 'a great experience' and that they were 'very close' and would spend 'lots of quality time' together.

Reaching out: The 55-year-old window fitter from Oregon said he'd 'made some horrible mistakes' after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured in New York City on September 23

Markle Jr said their relationship soured when Meghan started dating Harry and he was 'thrown to the wolves' with 'no experience' of handling the press.

'I was being backed into a corner, into a wall. I made some horrible mistakes and still regret them to this day,' he confessed.

Markle Jr insisted he loves his sister and would 'do anything' to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months.

Estranged: Thomas said their relationship soured when he was 'thrown to the wolves' with 'no experience' of handling the press. He would now 'do anything' to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with son Archie in September 2019

'I don't need a photo-op to go see my sister, and I don't want a story behind it,' he explained.

'I don't want anything, I would just love to go over to their home and knock on the door, give her a big hug and kiss, and say I missed the hell out of her and apologise right to her face...

'Maybe one day that will happen. I'd do anything to see Archie and Lilibet.'

Having his say: In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday's season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame

In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday's season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Markle Jr claimed Meghan changed after finding fame.

'What happened to her, nobody can figure it out. Money changed her I guess. Money and fame just went to her head really bad,' he said.

Markle Jr went on to say that Meghan 'walked all over' her first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson, who had 'adored' her.

Peace offering: Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would 'ruin your life', Thomas said there was no animosity on his side. Pictured: the Sussexes in NYC in September

The couple married in 2011, and Markle Jr said that Meghan had 'dumped him' two years later before sending 'the ring back in the mail'.

'Is that cold or what? But Harry's next, Harry's on the chopping block next,' he continued.

'The only difference between now and then is all the photos prior to that he had a smile on his face, all the ones after he doesn't.'
He first worked with the brand nearly two decades ago while starring on the teen drama Dawson's Creek.

And Joshua Jackson reminisced on the past with his wife, Jodie Turner-Smith, for a stunning spread in J.Crew's annual holiday campaign.

The 43-year-old actor looked dapper wearing a white coat to match Jodie's tailored black-and-white suit as they flipped through the 1998 edition of the famed catalog where he modeled with co-stars Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek.

Strike a pose: Joshua Jackson reminisced on the past with his wife, Jodie Turner-Smith, for a stunning spread in J.Crew's annual holiday campaign

'The last time I got together with J.Crew was for their 1998 catalog with my Dawson's Creek cast!,' he wrote on Instagram. 'Now I'm back with my beautiful wife @JodieSmith getting creative in their holiday campaign.

'I still love a J.Crew sweater, and who doesn't love seeing themselves on a cookie?'

The couple traded in snazzy ensembles for more comfortable pajamas as they shared a few of their favorite traditions.

Model behavior: The 43-year-old actor looked dapper wearing a white coat to match Jodie's tailored black-and-white suit

Cozy: The couple traded in snazzy ensembles for more comfortable pajamas as they shared a few of their favorite traditions

Wait a second! They flipped through the 1998 edition of the famed catalog where he modeled with co-stars Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek

Bliss: Joshua opted for a blue-and-green plaid set while Jodie rocked a red outfit for the adorable video shared to the retailers platform

It's all in the details: Turner-Smith, 35, revealed that Joshua is an 'excellent  and one might even say extravagant  gift giver'

'Tree trimming is big in our house. The bigger the tree, the better,' the actor said, adding that 'no holiday is complete without colcannon  Irish mashed potatoes with kale and onion.'

Joshua opted for a blue-and-green plaid set while Jodie rocked a red outfit for the adorable video shared to the retailers platform.

Turner-Smith was adamant that the family 'always plans matching pajamas for the holidays.'

'Bonus points for ugly sweaters. Not even the dogs are exempt!' she added.

Kisses: They discussed a few of their favorite traditions around the holidays before kissing underneath the mistletoe

'Get together. Get creative:' Joshua and Jodie wore his-and-hers blazers as they posed on a desk for the new holiday campaign

Whatever it takes: Turner-Smith was adamant that the family 'always plans matching pajamas for the holidays'

Jodie and Joshua were first linked together in 2018 and were married in 2019 after she proposed on New Year's Eve.

'She asked me, yeah, on New Year's Eve,' he said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. 'We were in Nicaragua. It was very beautiful, incredibly romantic. We were walking down the beach, and she asked me to marry her.'

The Queen & Slim star gave birth at home to their baby girl, Janie, in April 2020.

Watch the iconic series, Dawson's Creek on Stan in Australia.
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Kylie Jenner fans went wild when she revealed a sliver of a ring on her wedding finger on Instagram Tuesday.

And the pregnant billionaire continued to fuel Travis Scott marriage rumors while spotted wearing the same dazzling diamond band in Los Angeles later that day.

Kylie, 24, hid her growing belly under casual black clothing as she took daughter Stormi, three, to the airport for a private flight, just hours after casual displaying the bling in a post meant to showcase another sparkler Travis gifted her.

Ring, ring! Kylie Jenner was seen wearing a diamond band on her wedding finger while at an LA airport on Tuesday

Dazzling: The pregnant star subtly revealed a ring on her left hand while boasting about another diamond gift from partner Travis Scott on Instagram Tuesday, above

The star looked low-key as she arrived at the airport in her custom $300k Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV.

Dressed down for a long flight, Kylie donned baggy black layers while carrying a thick white jacket around. Continuing the comfort, she donned tan Yeezy slides designed by her soon-to-be ex brother-in-law Kanye West.

Though mostly casual, Kylie still managed to add a bit of luxury to her look, rocking gold earrings and a diamond cross on her neck.

And of course there was the diamond gracing her left ring finger, a spot traditionally reserved for wedding bands.

Mommy and me: Kylie, 24, hid her growing belly under casual black clothing as she took daughter Stormi, three, to the airport

Riding in style: The star looked low-key as she arrived at the airport in her custom $300k Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV

Accessories: Though mostly casual, Kylie still managed to add a bit of luxury to her look, rocking gold earrings and a diamond cross on her neck

Precious cargo: After putting on her jacket, she picked up little Stormi and balanced the toddler on her hip. Stormi was also ready to fly, donning a blue jacket and little grey leggings

Eye-catching: Even from a distance, it was hard to miss the diamond gracing her left ring finger, a spot traditionally reserved for wedding bands

What's that? Fans noticed what appeared to be a wedding band while Kylie tried to show off her and Stormi's matching diamond cluster rings

After putting on her jacket, she picked up little Stormi and balanced the toddler on her hip.

Stormi was also ready to fly, donning a blue jacket and little grey leggings.

Earlier that day Kylie took to Instagram to show off a pair of dazzling diamond rings partner Travis Scott bought for her and Stormi.

'Daddy got us matching rings,' the pregnant star captioned the Instagram post, which also showed a mystery band on her wedding finger, obscured by her sleeve.

The matching rings appeared to be quite the generous gift, according to Jenny Luker, president of Platinum Guild International USA.

'These are matching Toi et Moi rings (translated to 'You and Me') that appear to be set in platinum, a naturally white metal, so the fancy shaped diamonds will sparkle even brighter. And the platinum prongs will hold both diamonds most securely.

The style, which has also been spotted on celebs like Ariana Grande, symbolizes the union of two people.

Luker estimate Kylie's platinum ring has 10-12 carats of diamonds and costs approximately $300,000 while Stormi's smaller platinum ring has approximately 2-5 carats and costs approximately $40,000.

In September this year, Kylie confirmed that she and Travis are expecting their second child together, and many fans have been left wondering if the pair will marry.

The post elicited shock and surprise from family and friends - including sister Khloe Kardashian who comments twice, with 'Daaaaammmmnnn,' and then, 'No he did not!!!!!!!!'

However, others pointed out that it was 'not an engagement ring' as they speculated the status of Travis and Kylie's current relationship status.

'Oh they back together [?] I wonder if they will be together after she has her baby?' someone else commented.

And other eagle-eyed fans pointed out that it looked as though Kylie was sporting a wedding band.

Wedding bells? Others fans pointed out that they could see what appeared to be a wedding band hiding under her sleeve

Another snap: The ring was out of sight when she posted a car selfie later on Tuesday

There were others who found the flash of wealth vulgar, with one commenter writing: 'A toddler with blood diamonds. Wow. And you're bragging about. SO COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH.'

Travis, 29, - who is one of the highest-paid rappers worldwide with a net worth of $50million - is known for splashing out of his daughter and Kylie.

In August this year, he hired a yellow school bus for the little one to play around with and get a taste for everyday life outside of her Calabasas mansion.

Billionaire Kylie isn't shy on dishing out lavish gifts on the toddler either.

Last year, DailyMail.com revealed how Kylie spent $200,000 on a pony from the Netherlands named Frozen for her daughter.

Rich and richer: Both Travis and Kylie are financially set for life (Pictured, 2019)

Sources with knowledge of the deal said it would have cost between $7,000 and $10,000 to ship the pony to the US on top of the $200,000 sale price.

Breeder Stal Wilten confirmed the deal in an Instagram post in which he referenced the Kylie Cosmetics mogul and which included a photo of Frozen.

He wrote: '#ThrowbackThursday goes to the most famous pony of them all, Frozen. We got news he has landed in LA and is living the life with a sweet little girl named Stormi.

'@KylieJenner, in true fashion, made sure her daughter had the most precious pony out there.

'We can't wait to see pictures of Stormi and Frozen.'
For years she has been known as 'The Body'.

And Elle Macpherson certainly lives up to that name in an new ad for her WelleCo products, which the Aussie beauty posted on Instagram this week.

The supermodel, 57, has a Bond girl moment as she emerges from the sea in a sexy wetsuit while clutching onto some seaweed.

Having a Bond girl moment! Elle Macpherson, 57, shows off her ample cleavage in sexy wetsuit as she emerges from the sea in a new ad for her WelleCo products

She shows off her ample cleavage in the skintight suit, as well as her long slender legs.

Elle teased in the caption of her post that she is releasing a new product from her Skin Products & Supplements line.

'EMERGING SOON, BEAUTY FROM THE SEA | Some things change, some things stay the same and some things get supercharged for the better!' she wrote.

'While youve been asking, weve been busy working on a game-changing new addition to @wellecos ingestible beauty collection. 

Hot: The supermodel, 57, has a Bond girl moment as she emerges from the sea in a sexy wetsuit while clutching onto some seaweed

'And now were just about ready to reveal all... Can you guess what's emerging soon?'

The post comes after Elle sparked controversy earlier this month when she claimed to have 'Aborigine' ancestry while filming a beauty tutorial.

The beauty has since clarified she didn't mean to upset anyone with the remark.

In a series of leaked Instagram DMs obtained by Daily Mail Australia, she told Indigenous influencer Tahlia Warren-Brand: 'I never meant to be offensive.'

Flawless: The 57-year-old beauty looks incredibly youthful in the video which she posted on her Instagram page

Regrets:  The post comes after Elle sparked controversy earlier this month when she claimed to have 'Aborigine' ancestry while filming a beauty tutorial

They struck up a conversation after Tahlia shared a screenshot of a news article about Elle's video, in which she claimed to have 'Aborigine' eyes and implied she had some Indigenous ancestry because she is 'seven generations Australian'.

'Good morning/afternoon to everyone except @ellemacpherson,' Tahlia wrote alongside the article.

Much to her surprise, Elle responded: 'You are such a beautiful girl!'

Tahlia replied that her Instagram post was actually criticising Elle, writing: 'I said everyone EXCEPT you...'

Private exchange: In a series of leaked Instagram DMs obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Elle told Indigenous influencer Tahlia Warren-Brand: 'I never meant to be offensive'

'I saw - and there's no mistake in my text - Your images on IG are beautiful,' Elle said, to which Tahlia replied sarcastically: 'It's the Aboriginal in me.'

Later in the exchange, Elle acknowledged her comment about 'Aborigine' eyes was offensive, but did not apologise.

'I never meant to be offensive...' she wrote, before Tahlia hit back: 'Regardless it still was and is offensive.'

The supermodel signed off: 'I hear you and respect you.'

She said what? As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Elle had stated in a beauty tutorial for Vogue: 'My eyes are almost black; that's the Aborigine in me'

Edits: The video was later edited to remove those remarks when Elle was asked to clarify whether she was claiming to be Indigenous, or regretted using the term 'Aborigine'

Tahlia is an ambassador for Aboriginal-owned clothing label The Minority Co.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Elle had stated in a beauty tutorial for Vogue: 'My eyes are almost black; that's the Aborigine in me.'

'Being seven generations Australian, they don't reflect light the same way blue eyes do,' she reportedly added.

The video was later edited to remove those remarks when Elle was asked to clarify whether she was claiming to be Indigenous, or regretted using the term 'Aborigine'.

Family: Elle's (left) younger sister Mimi (centre) has since clarified, 'We are not Indigenous nor have we traced our ancestry.' Pictured with their mother Frances MacPherson (right) in 2002

Elle's younger sister Mimi has since clarified: 'We are not Indigenous nor have we traced our ancestry.'

Born in Australia, Elle is the daughter of entrepreneur and sound engineer Peter Gow and nurse Frances Gow.

Her parents divorced when she was 10, and she later adopted the surname of her stepfather Neil Macpherson.

Childhood: Elle's parents divorced when she was 10, and she later adopted the surname of her stepfather Neil Macpherson. Pictured: Elle and her mother Frances in 2006
Jason Sudeikis will play George Bailey in a virtual table read of Its a Wonderful Life set to raise funds for The Ed Asner Family Center December 5.

Joining Sudeikis in the ensemble cast include Rosario Dawson, Jean Smart, Mark Hamill, Ed Harris, Mandy Patinkin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Martin Sheen, Phil Lamarr, Ron Funches and Ben Mankiewicz, Variety reported Tuesday.

Also involved in the read is Cheers alum George Wendt, who is Sudeikis's real-life uncle, and will portray Uncle Billy in the famed holiday story; and Tom Bergeron, who will host.

The latest: Jason Sudeikis will play George Bailey in a virtual table read of Its a Wonderful Life set to raise funds for The Ed Asner Family Center December 5

The late Ed Asner, who died this past August, will be honored in the event to benefit his organization, which aims at helping special needs children and their families with programs centered around mental health and enrichment.

Asner's son Matt Asner, who co-founded the center with his late father, said in statement Tuesday, 'My fathers passing has left an indescribable hole in my heart.

'For our annual fundraising gala this year, I want to honor my fathers legacy as both a legendary actor and a staunch advocate for people of all abilities.'

He also thanked Turner Classic Movies and MeTV for their efforts in helping put the event together.

The center shared a promotional picture featuring the star-studded cast

Rosario Dawson and Jean Smart are among the notable names who will be in the production

'I would like to thank Turner Classic Movies for partnering to support our effort to raise much needed funds for special needs families and I am eternally grateful for the support shown by our amazing cast,' he said. 'I would also like to thank MeTV for their generous sponsorship of this event.'

Warner Bros. President of Unscripted and Alternative Television Mike Darnell will also be honored at the function, according to the outlet.

Darnells daughter Chelsea Darnell, who is the TEAFC's social director, will also be in the cast, as well as autistic actors Spencer Harte and Domonique Brown, and neurodivergent TEAFC members Ryan Booth and Lucas Salusky, according to the outlet. Victor Nelli will serve as director.

Tickets to the event, slated for December 5 at 5 p.m. PT, begin at $25.
He is known for starring as Mayhem in the Allstate Insurance advertising campaign.

And Dean Winters knows all to well what the effect of a whirlwind of chaos can cause someone in their actual life.

The 57-year-old actor has revealed that he has been in constant pain since undergoing multiple amputations following a bacterial infection.

He told Page Six on Tuesday: 'I havent taken a step since 2009 without being in pain.

'I've been sucking it up': Dean Winters (seen in April 2019) has revealed that he has been in constant pain since undergoing multiple amputations following a bacterial infection in 2009

'Ive got neuropathy on, you know, on a whole different level where I cant feel my hands and my feet. But if I stepped on a pebble, its like I go through the roof.'

Winters had contracted a bacterial infection which lead him into cardiac arrest for over two minutes while he was in an ambulance ride across Central Park.

He was able to be revived by paramedics but got gangrene which resulted in two of his toes and half a thumb being amputated.

Winters said that he has learned to live with the physical suffering as he said: 'Its a very weird dichotomy. Its like, its very hard to figure out. Nothing you can do about it.

Signature role: He is known for starring as Mayhem in the Allstate Insurance advertising campaign

Sad: Winters had contracted a bacterial infection which lead him into cardiac arrest for over two minutes while he was in an ambulance ride across Central Park

'Ive been sucking it up because, you know, the alternative is not a place where I want to be.'

Fans will be pleased to know that he will be reprising his role as Mayhem in the Allstate commercials.

He told Page Six that he originally turned down the role because he was undergoing a 10th surgery at the time but he said the company was 'relentless.'

Interesting: He told Page Six that he originally turned down the Allstate role because he was undergoing a 10th surgery at the time but he said the company was 'relentless'

Winters said: 'Its crazy if you look in the Webster dictionary, the Old English definition of the word "mayhem" is "one with amputations."'

He is also set to star in upcoming Peacock limited series, Joe Exotic, which is based on the Wondery podcast, Joe Exotic: Tiger King.

The 30 Rock star, 56, will play Jeff Lowe, Exotic's former partner-turned-enemy Jeff Lowe, who was one of the main characters in the successful Netflix docu-series, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020).

He is known for his previous work in 30 Rock, John Wick, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Oz.

Bad guy: He is also set to star as Jeff Lowe in upcoming Peacock limited series, Joe Exotic, which is based on the Wondery podcast, Joe Exotic: Tiger King

Home run: He is known for his previous work in 30 Rock (pictured), John Wick, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Oz

This is not the first time that Winters has talked about his near-death experience on June 19, 2009.

'I had a rough ride in an ambulance,' the actor told US in April 2019 while at the Tribeca Film Festival in his native New York City Friday. 'I went septic due to an illness that I had as a kid and it caught up with me.'

Winters, who also played cunning inmate Ryan O'Reily on the groundbreaking HBO prison drama Oz, said he 'had no idea what happened' as his heart stopped beating.

The latest: This is not the first time that Winters has talked about his near-death experience on June 19, 2009. He was snapped in April 2019 at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC

'I was dead in the back of an ambulance,' he said, 'and the great doctors at Lenox Hill Hospital brought me back to life after around four-and-a-half minutes.'

The New York City native, who's also been seen on 30 Rock, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, said doctors didn't tell him 'what happened until a couple of months later' in an effort to protect the patient.

'They don't want to send you back into a mental trauma,' Winters said. 'It woke me up to a lot of things that were fuzzy.'

Winters, speaking to Page Six a year after the incident, described the physical effects he experienced amid the illness, collapsing as his 'whole head' swelled up.

Tough time: The actor said he 'had no idea what happened' amid the health crisis 10 years ago

Winters said he 'died on Fifth Avenue' while in an ambulance until paramedics revived him. He told the paper his recovery in the year that followed included a three-week stay in Lenox Hill's ICU, and 10 operations performed over 95 days in medical facilities.

Amid a case of gangrene, doctors had to amputate two of his toes and a portion of his thumb.

'I feel like Im a member of a very exclusive club - with a very tight door policy. Its gonna take more than a finger and a couple of toes to keep me down,' he said.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) - World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday - part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

Britain hailed the commitment by more than 100 countries to end deforestation in the coming decade as the first big achievement of the conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow, known as COP26 - but experts noted such promises have been made and broken before.

More than 120 world leaders were heading home after two days in which they received stark warnings about the state of the Earth from Johnson, naturalist David Attenborough, Queen Elizabeth II and - most powerfully - the people of countries and regions already facing climate upheaval.

Johnson said at a news conference that it was important to "guard against false hope," but added that he was "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome of the talks. The conference aims to keep the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels - the goal set at the Paris climate conference six years ago.

Johnson had a message for negotiators from around the globe who will strain over the next 10 days to turn politicians' climate promises into reality: "The eyes of the populations of the world are on you."

The U.K. said it has received pledges from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

Colorful trees stand near a road through the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2021. More than 100 countries are pledging to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change. Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan.

Experts and observers said fulfilling the pledge will be critical to limiting climate change, but many noted that such grand promises have been made before - to little effect.

"Signing the declaration is the easy part," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. "It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet."

Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at political think tank Chatham House, said world leaders promised in 2014 to end deforestation by 2030, "but since then deforestation has accelerated across many countries."

Forests are important ecosystems and provide a critical way of absorbing carbon dioxide - the main greenhouse gas - from the atmosphere. But the value of wood as a commodity and the growing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, particularly in developing countries. Indigenous peoples are often among the hardest hit.

"We are delighted to see Indigenous peoples mentioned in the forest deal announced today," said Joseph Itongwa Mukumo, an Indigenous Walikale and activist from Congo.

He called for governments and businesses to recognize the effective role Indigenous communities play in preventing deforestation.

"These are billions in investment towards environmental preservation, but its very difficult for this money to reach Indigenous communities, reach traditional communities," said Chief Ninawa, a leader of the Huni Kui people from the Amazon attending the summit.

Some campaigners said the forests pledge was a step forward. Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher at Human Rights Watch, said there were "quite a lot of really positive elements."

She said it was positive to see China and Brazil pledging to protect forests, but noted that Brazil's public statements don't yet line up with its domestic policies and warned that the deal could be used by some countries to "greenwash" their image.

Brazil's government has been eager to project itself as a responsible environmental steward in the wake of surging deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands that sparked global outrage in recent years. Critics caution that its promises should be viewed with skepticism, and the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an outspoken proponent of developing the Amazon.

On Tuesday, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden launched a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines - the focus of the Biden plan - is considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions. Reducing methane from agriculture, in particular by belching cows, is a trickier matter.

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement "sets a strong floorin terms ofthe ambition we need globally."

Separately, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan to provide $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.

South Africa gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

But campaigners say the worlds biggest carbon emitters need to do much more. Earth has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2F). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planets ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say.

"I dont think that activists are being heard here," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist from the Philippines.

"We have to make sure that we really rally together and make sure that were so loud that the world leaders cant keep ignoring us," she said. "Because every fraction of a degree, every step towards the right direction is what matters here."

At his end-of-summit news conference. Biden acknowledged the fierce skepticism from climate activists who say world leaders are not moving with enough haste.

He insisted that climate activists have been a "vital voice," and expressed optimism that the world is waking up to understanding that the issue is not just a "moral imperative" but also an "enormous opportunity" to spur economies.

"Even if the funding didnt come from some of the governments, you have the private sector now engaged where theyre talking about investing -literally the need to invest over trillions of dollars off the sidelines," Biden said.

"So things are changing.," he added. "We just have to have the right stewardship and enough sense as world leaders to get it right."

Some 25,000 people are expected to attend the vast COP26 gathering, from heads of state to activists and charity workers. Attendees on Tuesday included Leonardo DiCaprio, who drew a crowd of journalists and fans. The Hollywood star, who is a U.N. climate change representative, visited an exhibition highlighting the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change.

One not there was Chinas Xi Jinping. Biden said the leader of the worlds biggest greenhouse-gas-emitting country made a "big mistake" with his absence.

"Theyve lost an ability to influence people around the world and all the people here at COP," Biden said

As countries announced major initiatives, those attendees appeared ready to do their small part: For a few minutes Tuesday, the vegetarian version of haggis - a Scottish delicacy typically made with sheep's lungs - was sold out. It was outselling the traditional version, servers said - perhaps unsurprising in a crowd well aware of the impact of meat-eating on the climate.

___

Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, and U.S. President Joe Biden attend the COP26 Summit, at the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (Steve Reigate /Pool Photo via AP)

President Joe Biden listens to a question during a news conference at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Britain's Prince Charles, center, arrives with worldwide indigenous leaders ahead of a session on Action on Forests and Land Use, during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the World Leaders' Summit "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment", at the COP26 Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (Jeff J Mitchell/Pool Photo via AP)

A climate protester holds a banner against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro by the security fencing outside the Scottish Event Campus, the venue for the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim speaks during a session on Action on Forests and Land Use, during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP)

CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos delivers his message during a session on Action on Forests and Land Use, during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP)

President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP)

Leonardo DiCaprio, center, visits the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)

Climate campaigners wearing masks of world leaders enact a "Squid Game" themed protest stunt with a campaigner wearing a mask of Russian President Vladimir Putin, front left, and another wearing a mask of U.S. President Joe Biden, center, on the fringes of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

President Joe Biden walks off after speaking during an event about the "Global Methane Pledge" at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland, as John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate is seen taking the podium, as shown on the screen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's Prince William, second left, speaks with Earthshot finalist Vinisha Umashankar, second right, during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners, finalists and heads of state on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)

Red Rebel Brigade climate protesters demonstrate by the security fencing outside the Scottish Event Campus, the venue for the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
DARIEN  Voters go to the polls today to decide on a slew of offices, including a new selectman who will replace longtime Darien icon Jayme Stevenson.

In June, Stevenson announced she would not seek reelection this year, putting an end to a 10-year run as the head of the towns Board of Selectmen.

Instead, Darienites will be choosing between Republican Monica McNally, who was appointed to the Board of Selectmen to fill a vacancy after being a member of the Representative Town Meeting, and Democrat Tara Ochman, a former Board of Education chairwoman. Chris Noe, a petition candidate, is also seeking the top job in town.

Other races include selectman; the Boards of Finance, Education and Assessment Appeals; the Planning & Zoning Commission; constables; and the Representative Town Meeting. The candidates for town clerk, town treasurer and tax collector are running unopposed.

Residents can still register to vote on Election Day at Town Hall and the Mather Center from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., the same hours polls are open.

Due to unfinished construction at Town Hall, Districts 2 and 5 will vote in the Mather Center, in the lower parking area, instead of the Town Hall Gymnasium. The other voting locations are as usual: Districts 1 and 6 at 35 Leroy Ave., District 3 at the Noroton Heights Fire Department and District 4 at Hindley School.

In order to balance the voting districts, some streets had their districts changed. Voters on Anthony Lane, Brookside Drive, Hillside Avenue, Hillside Court and Victory Drive who previously were in District 1 are now considered part of District 4 and should head to Hindley School to cast their ballots.
MONUMENT, Colo. (AP)  Authorities believe a man killed his wife and two of his children last weekend before killing himself in an affluent community near Colorado Springs.

Yvette M. Siegert-Kreb, 50, Felicity Kreb, 13, Barrett Kreb, 9, and Christof Kreb, 55, were found dead Saturday in their home in the community of Gleneagle, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said in a statement Monday. Details about how they died will be made public by the county coroner, the statement said.
Homes Bring Hope philanthropists, volunteers, partners and staff gather for the home-warming celebration of Madeline Mendez-Valez and her family in July.
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Global markets too stayed in positive territory ahead of key central bank meetings this week, especially in the US, Britain and Australia.  PTI

Mumbai: The market began November on a strong note, shaking off three days of losses, buoyed by robust corporate earnings and positive macroeconomic data.

The BSE Sensex reclaimed the 60000 level, rallying 831.53 points, or 1.40 per cent, to close at 60138.46. Similarly, the NSE Nifty rose 258 points, or 1.46 per cent, to end the day at 17,929.65.

Global markets too stayed in positive territory ahead of key central bank meetings this week, especially in the US, Britain and Australia.

"Domestic indices bounced back on a positive footing from the recent sell-off, due to strong momentum in global markets, favourable domestic economic data and good Q2 results announcement, said Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Financial Services.

Ajit Mishra, VP of research at Religare Broking. "Considering the kind of valuation that we are trading at...it's prudent that the market should spend some time around the current levels before making any major directional move."

Reuters said out of the 30 Nifty 50 firms that have reported Q2 results so far, 17 have beaten estimates.
The family of the victim hails from Bihar and work as laborers at the same fish processing unit. (Representational Image)

Mangaluru: In a horrific incident, a two-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in Mangaluru's Hoigebazar area on Sunday. The incident came to light on Tuesday, after which the police nabbed the accused.

The accused, identified as Chandan, works as a laborer in the fish processing unit in the area and was arrested under POCSO Act.

The family of the victim hails from Bihar and work as laborers at the same fish processing unit, where around 70-80 employees from Bihar work.

The laborers usually leave their children in a room near their workplace during work hours and pick them home after duty.

On Sunday too, the parents had left the child in the room and went for duty. In the evening when they returned, they could not find their daughter.

They searched for the child and finally found her around 9 pm in a saltwater tank which was used to store the fish.

The unconcious child was taken to a private hospital where they sent the child to a government hospital.

The doctors found that the child was sexually assaulted and informed the police, who then began an investigation, later arresting the accused.

"The child is under treatment. Her condition is better," Mangaluru City Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar told reporters.
ED arrested former home minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh and taken to JJ hospital for medical checkup in Mumbai. (Rajesh Jadhav/DC)

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) late Monday night after over 12 hours of questioning in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged extortion racket in the state police establishment, officials said.

They said Deshmukh, 71, was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

They claimed the senior NCP leader was evasive during questioning and the agency will seek his custody after they produce him before a local court here on Tuesday.

The politician arrived at the ED office in the Ballard Estate area of south Mumbai around 11:40 am, accompanied by his lawyer and his associates and was soon after put under grilling sessions with some breaks in between, sources said.

Deshmukh appeared before the agency after the Bombay High Court last week refused to quash ED summonses against him. He had skipped at least five ED notices.

The money laundering case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The federal probe agency recorded the statement of the NCP leader under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the criminal investigation being carried out by it in the alleged Rs 100 crore bribery-cum-extortion racket in the Maharashtra Police establishment that led to Deshmukh's resignation in April.

The questioning and recording of statements sessions went for long as officials said Deshmukh was a "key person" in this case and needs to be grilled on a number of subjects including the disclosures made by suspended Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze during ED questioning.

Deshmukh released a video message before going to the ED office in which he said that he himself is deposing before the agency after the Bombay HC order came last week.

"It was reported in the media that I was not cooperating with the ED...I went to the CBI twice after I was summoned...my petition is still pending in the Supreme Court but it will take time and hence I myself have gone to the ED," he said.

"I and my family cooperated with the ED when they raided us (in June)," he said.

Deshmukh questioned the whereabouts of Param Bir Singh. "He made the bribery allegations against me but where is he now."

The Bombay High Court, in its judgement issued on October 29, said Deshmukh failed to prove that probe agencies had been acting in a malafide manner against him.

It said if Deshmukh apprehended his arrest by either the ED or the CBI, he had the right that was available to any other citizen or litigant to approach the appropriate court to seek protection.

The court, however, directed the ED to permit Deshmukh's lawyer to remain present within "visible distance but not audible distance" during the questioning.

The ED case of money laundering against Deshmukh, who was earlier the home minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, and others came after the CBI booked him in the corruption case related to allegations of bribe made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Singh.

The first summons to Deshmukh, his wife and son Hrishikesh came soon after the ED raided their premises in Mumbai and Nagpur in June.

It subsequently arrested two of his aides in this case, personal secretary Sanjeev Palande (51) and personal assistant Kundan Shinde (45).

The ED also had attached assets worth Rs 4.20 crore that were stated to be "beneficially owned" by Deshmukh.

It claimed the probe found that "Deshmukh, while acting as home minister of Maharashtra, with dishonest intention has received illegal gratification of approximately Rs 4.70 crore in cash from various orchestra bar owners, through (suspended) Sachin Waze, then the assistant police inspector of Mumbai Police."

"Further, with the help of Delhi based dummy companies, Deshmukh family laundered the tainted money of Rs 4.18 crore and projected it as untainted by showing the same as amount received in the Trust namely Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha," the ED had alleged.

The ED case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Singh.

In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after he was removed from the police commissioner's post, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh had asked Waze to extort over Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

Deshmukh, while denying any wrongdoing, had maintained that Singh made the allegations against him after he was removed from the post of Mumbai Police chief.
New Delhi: India will attain its Net Zero emission target by 2070, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, late on Monday evening, as he pressed the developed nations to raise climate finance to the tune of $1 trillion. He said India was the only big economy that has delivered on its commitments made at the Paris Climate Summit six years ago in letter and spirit, adding that the Paris Summit was for him a sentiment and commitment made not just to the world but to Indias 1.25 billion population.

Mr Modi was speaking at the World Leaders Summit of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held from October 31 to November 12 under the presidency of the UK partnering with Italy. The summit is being attended by the heads of state/government of more than 120 countries.

Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere, and a country reaches its net zero target when the amount of greenhouse gases it adds is no more than the amount taken away from the atmosphere.

Delivering Indias National Statement at the Summit, Mr Modi also announced five major targets that he called the five elements of nectar, including the Net Zero target. The other four were that by 2030, India would increase its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts, India would fulfil 50 per cent of its energy requirement through renewable energy, India would reduce one billion tonnes of carbon emissions, and that India would reduce 45 per cent of its carbon intensity.

Mr Modi lambasted the developed nations for their false promises relating to climate finance and hoped that $1 trillion in climate finance will be raised by the developed nations. He said that just as polluting emissions are tracked, climate finance should also be tracked, adding that pressure should be built on those not fulfilling their promises in this regard. He said it was Indias duty to vociferously raise the views of the developing nations.

In a separate brief address at another event at the summit on Action and Solidarity -- The critical decade, Mr Modi said that adaptation (to new ways of living in harmony with the environment) has not been given the same importance as mitigation (of pollution) -- which he said was an injustice to developing countries who are more affected by climate change that is a challenge to farmers. There is a change in cropping patterns. Floods and storms are occurring, crops are getting destroyed, he said.

Adaptation should be made an important part of policies. In India, schemes such as tap water for all, the Clean India Mission and Clean Cooking Fuel for All have given adaptation benefits to our needy citizens, and have also improved their quality of life, the Prime Minister said.

Many traditional communities have deep knowledge about harmonious coexistence with nature. These traditional practices should be given adequate importance in our policies. This should be incorporated into school textbooks so that the new generation is aware of this. Developing nations should get global support for adaptation. For local adaptation and going with the thought of global support, India had advocated the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). I would invite all nations to join this initiative, the Prime Minister further added.
Meanwhile, the meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall coupled with thunder and lightning in coastal Karnataka in the next three days. (PTI File Photo)

Mangaluru: Two persons who had gone on a trip to Yerugundi falls in Dakshina Kannada district were killed when lightning struck them, police sources said on Tuesday.

Three others who accompanied them also suffered injuries in the lightning during heavy rains that pounded the area on Monday evening. The injured have been hospitalised, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall coupled with thunder and lightning in coastal Karnataka in the next three days.

A yellow alert has been issued for Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts for November 3 and 5 and an orange alert on November 4.
Hyderabad: Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundarajan has taken a serious view on Sundays death of a three-and-a-half-year-old boy at Niloufer Hospital following which serious allegations were levelled against the hospital staff of corruption and negligence resulting in the childs death.

On Monday, the Governor, currently in Puducherry where she also holds the position of Lt. Governor, is learnt to have described the incident as ghastly, and something that should not recur. She has sought serious action against all those involved in the goings-on at Niloufer Hospital, and has asked for an inquiry into the boys death.

It may be recalled that on Sunday, the family of the boy levelled serious allegations that a ward boy at the hospital, took Rs 100 as a bribe from attendants of another patient, and removed the oxygen mask from the three-and-a-half-year-old, and fixed it to another patient. The family alleged that this resulted in their boys death.

Though hospital superintendent Dr Muralikrishna had said that the ward boy, whose services were outsourced, was immediately suspended, and the director of medical education Dr K. Ramesh Reddy denied any wrongdoing with respect to the boys treatment at the hospital, on Monday, a protest by junior doctors at Niloufer raised more questions on how the hospital was being run.

The junior doctors went on a lightning protest and demanded action against outsourced workers, who the medics said, were in the habit of fleecing patients, and patient attendants which in turn was resulting in doctors being held accountable for such actions. It is learnt that Dr Muralikrishna urged the junior doctors not to launch an immediate strike and sought three days to sort the matters out. The strike threat by the junior doctors at the hospital and the serious corruption charges they levelled against outsourced employees that nothing gets done unless cash is paid as bribes by patient families, lent further credence to the sorry state of affairs at Telangana states premier government-run childrens hospital.

Reactions

If the person is really involved in such heinous act, than he should be hanged till death, no exemption for such people to live in the society. the Government of Telangana which always sets examples during such mean acts. I am sure this time also the justice is delivered to the victim and set an example. - Arun Dev, Industrialist

Though the bribe is small, yet the fault is great. When the links of the life are broken and the child has to part, there is nothing that would ever heal a parent's broken heart. Punishment is just not enough. Don't understand where human thinking is going. There is nothing that can justify the ward boy and Niloufer Hospital's deed. Severe punishment should be given to the person and strict action should be taken against the hospital. - Vaishali Ojha, businesswoman

One emotion that I feel is ANGER. Not sure if this actually happened but if it is true, this act is nothing but culpable homicide and the person must be booked and brought to justice. The hospital too cannot relinquish responsibility and administrative action for involuntary manslaughter must be invoked on them too. If it has happened once, there may have been past instances too. Shell shocked. - Wing Commander, B Srikanth

It is my opinion that the hospital should be held responsible along with the person who did it. They should have assessed the needs of every patient before taking them in. Also, time to re-evaluate the medical system for losing lives on such a trivial matter of a bribe of Rs 100. - Dr. David Tarun, Medical Officer, Rims Ongole.

Really shocking that the state of affairs in government hospitals is so terrible even in 2021. Highly unfortunate it has happened. B Shashank, Entrepreneur, Serilingampally

My heart goes out to the family of the child. After all the chaos in hospitals last year during the lockdown, we need to put a check on these issues. Else, we are heading nowhere. - Alekhya, Student, Naraynguda
Giving a detailed account of the state's grim economy, he said the government had to earmark over Rs 900 crore per month for the social security pensions alone. (ANI Photo)

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday witnessed intense war of words between the CPI(M)-led ruling front and the Congress-headed opposition over frequent fuel price hike in the country and the latter walked out of the House terming it as 'state-sponsored tax terrorism'.

Though the LDF government maintained that it was the Centre and not the state government was responsible for the fuel price hike, the UDF members wanted it to forego the additional tax revenue generated on its sales for the sake of struggling commoners.

Rejecting the opposition demand, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said the southern state was facing a sharp decline in tax and non-tax revenues due to the COVID situation prevailing in the country and even the borrowing freedom of the state was limited by the existing law.

Giving a detailed account of the state's grim economy, he said the government had to earmark over Rs 900 crore per month for the social security pensions alone.

An additional Rs 14,500 crore was required as part of the recent revision of the salary and pension of the government employees and retired hands, he said.

"In the wake of the COVID-19, it is certain that a more whopping amount should be found out to meet the expense. In this circumstance, reducing the state tax (on fuel) will aggravate the crisis," Balagopal said.

Instead, a central policy of imposing a huge increase in the petrol and diesel taxes in a short period of time must change, he said.

The minister also wanted all parties to stand united across political lines against the central policy which imposes the so-called heavy burden on common people during the time of COVID spread.

Noting that the state government does not have the authority to fix the petrol and diesel prices, Balagopal, who was also a former Rajya Sabha MP, said the UPA and NDA governments at the Centre had left it to the market to decide.

"This surge in price has been going on ever since then," he said.

He claimed that Kerala was one of the few states that did not increase fuel tax despite COVID crisis when it was increased by many other states in the country.

Rejecting the Finance Minister's arguments, Shafi Parambil (Congress), who sought notice for the adjournment motion, said the reason for the increase in fuel price was not just the companies being given pricing power but the 'tax terrorism' imposed by the state and union governments.

It is the government and not the companies who are behind the frequent price hike, the legislator alleged.

Accusing the BJP-NDA government at the Centre on the issue, he said of course the government which rules the country was the first culprit.

Backing his arguments, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan said the frequent fuel price hike was nothing but 'tax terrorism' and both the union and state governments were viewing it as the best method to fill the exchequer.

The opposition later staged a walkout in the House as Speaker M B Rajesh rejected leave for the motion.
A piquant situation has developed in Mizoram, which now finds itself saddled with two chief secretaries. While the Centre has appointed senior IAS officer Renu Sharma as the new chief secretary of the state, this coincides with the state government appointing additional chief secretary J.C. Ramthanga to the same post. Both appointments are effective from November 1.

The Centre now claims that Ms Sharmas appointment was cleared after the approval of the competent authority when apparently it is not. Now the question obviously is: who will prevail  Renu Sharma or Ramthanga? Clearly, there has been an obvious lack of coordination between the two authorities leading to the creation of this awkward situation. How was it allowed to happen, and what recourse is available now? Is there anything in the civil services rules that offers a solution, or will it end up in the courts? Or will one of the appointees agree to step aside? There are no easy choices.

Khemka is on the move, again

Senior Haryana IAS officer and noted whistleblower Ashok Khemka has been transferred for the 54th time in 29 years of service. While this is probably not news anymore, it perhaps is some sort of record in the civil services. It also shows that the veteran babu who has clashed numerous times with his political masters continues to be the Haryana politicians biggest bugbear.

Currently assigned as principal secretary of archives, archaeology and museums, the 1991 batch IAS officer has been transferred to the state science and technology and fisheries departments after barely 11 months. No reason has been offered for the transfer, which again is not unusual when it comes to all things Khemka.

But observers have told DKB that Mr Khemka is caught in the political rivalry between chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and home minister Anil Vij. He is reportedly closer to Mr Vij. But it is also true that Mr Khemkas penchant for raising awkward questions, especially on protect of the Aravalli hill area in Haryana from illegal mining and construction, continues to rile the powers that be.

Curiously, Mr Khemkas attempts to break away from the situation have not succeeded. Earlier last month, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) had rejected his request for Central empanelment citing his lack of experience with the Union government. Clearly, the whistleblower is not welcome at the Centre either and the Haryana government will be saddled with Mr Khemka, like it or not.

Govt clearing decks for Air India handover

The government has directed all Central government ministries and departments to clear their pending dues to Air India immediately. Clearly, the finance ministry and the ministry of civil aviation would like to hand over a liability-free airline to the Tatas. Apparently, various ministries, PSUs and other departments owe the airline more than Rs 600 crores, not counting the cost of transporting VVIPs, ministers and foreign dignitaries.

Now in an order issued by the department of expenditure of the ministry, director, expenditure, Nirmala Dev has said that since Air India after divestment has stopped extending credit facility for the purchase of tickets, these must be paid in cash and also directed that all pending dues be cleared at once. The return of the dues could be a first, and very small, step to clean the balance sheet of the financially beleaguered airline before its eventual take over by the Tata Group.

This will require some careful coordination between the finance and civil aviation ministries and the disinvestment secretary Tuhin Kant Pandey to ensure that the government can meet the oncoming deadline for handing over Air India by December end. This would include not just these pending dues but also various regulatory clearances, including from the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, attend a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow. (Photo: AP)

Glasgow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations, saying it gives a new hope, a new confidence and satisfaction of doing something for the most vulnerable countries.

Prime Minister Modi was joined by his British counterpart Boris Johnson on the second day of the COP26 climate summit here. The launch event was also attended by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"The launch of 'Infrastructure for Resilient Island States' gives a new hope, a new confidence, Modi said, adding that the initiative gives the satisfaction of doing something for the most vulnerable countries.

Modi congratulated the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure CDRI for the initiative and said for him the CDRI or IRIS is not just about infrastructure but it is part of a very sensitive responsibility of human welfare.

"It is the collective responsibility of all of us towards mankind, he said. It is, in a way, a shared atonement for our sins."

"The last few decades have proved that no one is untouched by the wrath of climate change. Whether they are developed countries or countries rich in natural resources, this is a big threat to everyone, Modi said.

Stating that the Small Island Developing States or SIDS face the biggest threat from climate change, Modi said India's space agency ISRO will build a special data window for them to provide them timely information about cyclones, coral-reef monitoring, coast-line monitoring etc. through satellite.

Speaking on the occasion, British Prime Minister Johnson said that it's incredibly cruel that vulnerable, small island states are right in the frontline of loss and damage that is caused by global warming.

"They have done virtually nothing to cause the problem, they didn't produce the huge volumes of CO2 to be pumped into the atmosphere, he said.

Johnson said that the UK is contributing financially to the initiative IRIS. We are stomping up as well."

Australian Prime Minister thanked India and the UK for their leadership of the CDRI. "I acknowledge them the Quad support, including the US and Japan support for India's CDRI," he said.

The IRIS initiative is a part of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient infrastructure that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects, especially in small island developing states.
The Cyber Crime Wing of the Bengaluru City Police on Monday evening arrested a boy for posting an offensive post against Sandalwood's Power Star Late Puneeth Rajkumar, who recently died of Cardiac arrest.

The boy had allegedly posted an offensive post on his Instagram account with a beer bottle. Even as the post was going viral on social media platforms, a person associated with one of the political parties took a screenshot of the post and drew the attention of the Bengaluru City Police by tagging them on Twitter.

Alerted by the post, the City police immediately forwarded the complaint to the cyber wing who swung into action and arrested the boy on Monday evening. Following the post that was not only derogatory but abusive in nature, many netizens had demanded police to take action against the boy and his friends. In his post, the boy and his friends had carried a beer bottle in their car and clicked a photo of the bottle and posted an offensive comment that would mean 'nothing can stop them having a beer and ..... on the actor's grave.' The city police had banned the sale of liquor as a preventive measure to avoid any untoward incidents soon after the demise of Puneeth Rajkumar.

Even as hundreds of people on Twitter began to express their anger, Commissioner of Police, Kamal Pant personally replied to a tweet that the accused in the incident has been nabbed. Sources in the city police revealed that officials are interrogating the accused and may also take action against others who were with him in the car and clicked pictures and encouraged him to upload the same with offensive comments.

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The new action movie "Eternals" features several milestones for Walt Disney Co's blockbuster Marvel universe, from its first deaf and South Asian superheroes to the first gay kiss.

The film arrives in US theatres on Friday after delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and stars actors from around the globe, including Mexico, the United States, Britain, Ireland, South Korea, Lebanon, and India.

Angelina Jolie, who plays a warrior named Thena, said she hopes the diversity "starts to normalize what should have been there in the first place."

Also Read | Hollywood stars shine at Eternals UK premiere; see pics

"I hope people watch these films in years to come and we don't even think about it as being diverse, it just becomes what's normal and what's right," Jolie told Reuters at the movie's red-carpet premiere in Hollywood.

"Eternals" tells the story of 10 immortal aliens, never before seen on the big screen, who have been separated for millennia but reunite to fight monstrous creatures known as Deviants.

The filmmakers and cast said that it made sense for the Eternals to represent many walks of life.

"These characters have been here since the dawn of civilization so of course, they should represent the breadth and beauty of humanity ... It feels very natural," said British-Asian actress Gemma Chan, who plays the central role of Sersi, an Eternal who works at a museum in London.

Also Read | Feels incredible to include Bollywood in a Marvel movie: Chloe Zhao on 'Eternals'

Among other cast members are Pakistani-American actor Kumail Nanjiani portraying Kingo, the first South Asian hero in a Marvel film, and Mexican-born Salma Hayek who stars as Ajak, the Eternals' leader.

When Brian Tyree Henry who plays Phastos, a master inventor who is gay, kisses his partner as they fear the world might end, audience members at the Hollywood premiere cheered and clapped.

"It's truly emotional and you can feel it," said Chinese-born director Chloe Zhao, who won an Oscar this year for "Nomadland." "It's not just a physical kiss. These two people have intense feelings for each other and they're not afraid to show it."

Lauren Ridloff who plays Makkari, the first deaf superhero in a Marvel movie, said she believes filmgoers have grown more accustomed to a diversity of characters on screen.

"We went through the Black Lives Matter movement. We started having conversations about what true representation means, what inclusivity means," she said in American Sign Language. "The timing is perfect.

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A new pledge by world leaders to halt deforestation by 2030 is likely to fail unless quickly backed by more funding, transparent monitoring and tough regulation of businesses and financiers linked to forest destruction, environmentalists warn.

More than 100 global leaders pledged late on Monday to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the end of the decade, underpinned by $19 billion in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests.

The commitment - made at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow - included countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which collectively account for the majority of the world's tropical forests.

While broadly welcomed, many conservationists noted that similar zero deforestation pledges had repeatedly been made and not met by both governments and businesses.

Those include the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), the United Nations sustainability goals and targets set by global household brands.

Also Read | For net-zero, India needs 5,600 GW of solar capacity, coal usage drop by 99 per cent: CEEW

"While the Glasgow Declaration has an impressive range of signatories from across forest-rich countries, large consumer markets and financial centres, it nevertheless risks being a reiteration of previous failed commitments if it lacks teeth," said Jo Blackman, head of forests policy and advocacy at London-based Global Witness.

"The question is whether (the) headline-grabbing announcements on deforestation will end up amounting to more of the same empty promises or if they will be followed up with the real regulatory action that is so urgently needed."

Cutting down forests has major implications for global goals to curb warming, as trees absorb about a third of the planet-heating carbon emissions produced worldwide, but release the carbon they store when they rot or are burned.

Forests also provide food and livelihoods, help clean air and water, support human health, are an essential habitat for wildlife, regulate rainfall and offer flood protection.

Last year, an area of tropical forest the size of the Netherlands was lost, according to monitoring service Global Forest Watch.

Although deforestation rates have fallen over the last two decades, about 10 million hectares are still lost each year, said Tim Christophersen, who leads the United Nations Environment Programme's nature-for-climate branch.

"There is no shortage of these political commitments," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "What there is a shortage of is the money and political will to make them happen."

Missing laws  and rights

The 2014 New York declaration, backed by more than 200 countries, companies and green groups, sought to at least cut in half losses of natural forests by 2020 and then end deforestation by 2030.

Kiki Taufik, global head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia's Indonesian forests campaign, said the pledge committed to restoring an area of forests and cropland larger than India by 2030.

Instead, forests the size of Spain have been destroyed for commodities like soy and palm oil since 2010.

Also Read | Boris Johnson hails Modis net zero climate commitment

"We need an immediate end to deforestation, backed up by water-tight domestic laws and policies which (can) recognise the land rights of local and indigenous peoples, properly protect forests, eliminate deforestation through supply chains and start to phase out industrial meat and dairy," he added.

An additional slew of government and private initiatives were announced on Tuesday in Glasgow to help reach the new declaration's 2030 goal, including billions in pledges for indigenous groups and sustainable agriculture.

Fran Raymond Price, global forest practice lead at green group WWF International, welcomed the fresh commitments, saying they acknowledged the important value of forests and other natural ecosystems.

But "what we need now is urgent action and implementation of these commitments, coupled with time-bound targets and a common transparent framework for monitoring and verification of such targets. There's no time to waste", she added.

Gabonese President Ali Bongo said effectively protecting forest also required overcoming other challenges such as combatting the organised crime rings that help drive deforestation in his African nation.

Preventing forest loss "requires consistent vigilance" as well as new technology, cash and skilled forest managers, Bongo said in Glasgow.

Ensuring Africans benefit from their forests is also key to their protection, said Bongo, whose country remains 88 per cent forested as a result of concerted conservation efforts.

Read more stories from the COP26 Summit on DH

Big money

Under the Glasgow agreement, 12 countries will provide $12 billion of public funding between 2021 and 2025 to help developing countries cut deforestation, restore degraded land and tackle wildfires.

At least a further $7 billion will be provided by more than 30 private sector investors.

"Funding should ... only reward real and substantial action taken by rainforest countries and those who respect the rights of indigenous people and local communities," said Toerris Jaeger, secretary general of the Oslo-based Rainforest Foundation Norway.

He called for immediate action and improved policies to tackle deforestation by all governments involved in the declaration.

Globally, about 35 per cent of protected natural areas are owned, managed, used or occupied by indigenous and local communities, yet such groups are rarely considered in the design of conservation and climate programmes, according to researchers at Stanford University.

Ray Minniecon, an Australian aboriginal pastor at COP26, said a lack of indigenous representatives in policy planning and negotiations was one reason efforts to protect land often didn't work.

"Indigenous peoples know how to look after country, how to care for it and heal it and heal the people. Why aren't we at the table?" he asked.

Rod Taylor, global director of forests at the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based think-tank, said that to achieve success the Glasgow pledge would need significant new financing, as well as transparent monitoring, reporting and verification of its goals.

Restoring the millions of hectares of land deforested annually would cost an estimated $6 billion per year according to the Center for International Forestry Research.

Although having more than 30 financial institutions sign the new pledge is a positive sign, many large banks not involved are among the biggest investors in deforestation-linked firms, said Danny Marks, an assistant professor of environmental politics at Ireland's Dublin City University.

"For the pledge to be successful ... these banks must be penalized or even better forbidden to lend to agribusiness companies that drive deforestation and have been implicated in human rights violations," Marks said.

Last defence

To help avoid the new pledge meeting the fate of previously unmet zero-deforestation commitments, governments must implement a step-change in transparency to include full disclosure of forest and land permits and the origins of commodities, WRI's Taylor said.

Support for smaller farmers to adopt more sustainable practices is also key, as are trade agreements that promote deforestation-free agriculture and infrastructure, he said.

Green groups say production of commodities and minerals drives many natural losses, with carbon-storing forests cleared for plantations, ranches, farms and mines.

Environmentalists have also criticised low levels of funding committed by rich countries to help developing nations develop in a green way, leaving many leaders relying on harvesting natural resources to bolster their economies and lift people out of poverty.

Gemma Tillack, forest policy director at US-based nonprofit Rainforest Action Network, said inaction by consumer brands, banks, and governments to push forest protection in countries where they procure goods was driving the loss of "our last line of defence against climate change".

"The pledge cannot be taken seriously if it does not require all parties to disclose proof of the actions taken to immediately halt deforestation and degradation and respect land rights across all forest-risk commodity sectors," Tillack added.
A statement from Chinas government urging local authorities to ensure there was adequate food supply during the winter and encouraging people to stock up on some essentials prompted concerned talk online, with people linking it with the widening coronavirus outbreak, a forecast cold snap, or even rising tensions with Taiwan.

The Ministry of Commerce urged local authorities to stabilise prices and ensure supplies of daily necessities including vegetables this winter and next spring, according to a statement Monday evening. Chinese households were also encouraged to stock up on a certain amount of daily necessities in preparation for the winter months or emergencies.

The notice was similar to one released in September before the week of holidays at the start of October, which told local governments to ensure food supplies and stable prices during the break. Even so, this new appeal sparked speculation that its linked to a widening coronavirus outbreak which has prompted a new round of lockdowns and travel restrictions after it spread to over half the mainlands provinces.

The topic Ministry of Commerce encourages households to stockpile daily necessities as needed had over 17 million views on Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like social platform, and more than 5,000 people had commented on it as of 1:45 pm Tuesday, Beijing time. By 6:13 pm views had risen to more than 43 million although the number of comments had fallen to 4,809.

A number of the comments speculated the request to stock food must be linked to plans for an attack on Taiwan. One of the comments mentioning Taiwan seen earlier in the day was no longer able to be viewed in the evening.

There was also concern that extreme weather could affect vegetable production and transportation. Wholesale vegetable prices had already soared in recent weeks, costing more than meat in some cases, after heavy rains drenched major producing regions in the north and flooded the top growing province of Shandong.

In response to the online speculation, a Ministry of Commerce official tried to calm concerns. The supply of daily necessities is sufficient everywhere and the supply should be fully guaranteed, Zhu Xiaoliang, a senior official at the Ministry of Commerce, said in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.

Earlier in the day, the state media Economic Daily put out a report saying that people shouldnt over-think or become anxious about the original MOFCOM statement. It argued that the call to stock up on food was so people would be prepared if they had to quarantine at home during the current outbreak.

Shares of food manufacturers surged in mainland China and Hong Kong on the news, with Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co. jumping as much as 9.2 per cent. Noodle maker Chen Ke Ming Food Manufacturing Co. rose almost 10 per cent at one point, while Toly Bread Co. advanced at much as 6.5 per cent.

Chinas bracing for a cold snap this week, with temperatures in some regions forecast to fall by as much as 15 degrees Celsius. Vegetable prices typically rise when the temperature drops in winter and supply is unable to catch up with increasing demand before the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Monday statement told local commerce departments to coordinate more to improve local and inter-provincial supply chains for vegetables and also to strengthen monitoring of the prices of key staples such as vegetables and meat.

Major agricultural distributors were encouraged to sign long-term contracts with producers, while provinces in both southern and northern China were told to improve their vegetable reserve systems and also release meat and vegetables from the reserves in a timely manner to replenish supplies.

The call to stock up on food comes less than two weeks after a different government department told companies not to hoard food.

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Leaders at the COP26 global climate conference in Glasgow have pledged to stop deforestation by the end of the decade and slash emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane.

While major powers have traded blame for the world's inability to agree on rapid reductions in the use of fossil fuels to limit global warming to manageable levels, there are at least signs of resolve in other areas.

Nearly 90 countries have joined a US- and EU-led effort to slash emissions of methane by 2030 from 2020 levels, a senior Biden administration official said ahead of a formal announcement on Tuesday.

Read more: PM Modi launches 'Infrastructure for Resilient Island States' for most vulnerable countries

Methane is more short-lived in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but 80 times more potent in warming the earth. As a result, cutting emissions of the gas, which is estimated to have accounted for 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times, is one of the most effective ways of slowing climate change.

The Global Methane Pledge, which was first announced in September, now includes half of the top 30 methane emitters, accounting for two-thirds of the global economy, according to the US official.

Among the new signatories to be announced on Tuesday is Brazil - one of the world's five biggest emitters of methane, which is generated in cows' digestive systems, in landfill waste and in oil and gas production. Three of the others - China, Russia and India - have not signed up, while Australia has said it will not back the pledge.

Humanity has also boosted the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by cutting down the forests that absorb roughly 30% of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the nonprofit World Resources Institute.

In 2020, the world lost 258,000 sq km (100,000 square miles) of forest - an area larger than the United Kingdom, according to WRI's Global Forest Watch.

Chainsaw massacre

More than 100 national leaders on Monday pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the end of the decade, underpinned by $19 billion in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests.

"Let's end this great global chainsaw massacre by making conservation do what we know it can do and deliver long-term sustainable jobs and growth as well," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

COP26 aims to keep alive a target of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels to avert still greater damage from the intensified heatwaves, droughts, storms, floods and coastal damage that climate change is already causing.

Under the agreement, 12 countries pledged to provide $12 billion of public funding between 2021 and 2025 for developing countries to restore degraded land and tackle wildfires.

At least $7.2 billion will come from private sector investors representing $8.7 trillion in assets under management, who also pledged to stop investing in activities linked to deforestation such as cattle, palm oil and soybean farming and pulp production.

Five countries including Britain and United States and a group of global charities also pledged to provide $1.7 billion to support indigenous people's conservation of forests and to strengthen their land rights.

Power at odds

Brazil, which has already cleared vast swathes of the Amazon rainforest, did make a new commitment on Monday to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, compared with a previous pledge of 43%.

And Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time set out a target date for India, heavily reliant on coal, to reduce its carbon emissions to a level it can absorb, albeit only in 2070 - 20 years beyond the UN's global recommendation.

But there is little sign so far of greater shared resolve by the world's two biggest carbon emitters, China and the United States, which together account for more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions but are at odds on a host of political and commercial issues.

US President Joe Biden has singled out China and leading oil producer Russia for failing to step up their climate goals in Glasgow.

Beijing has rejected Washington's efforts to separate climate issues from their wider disagreements.

The Communist Party-run Global Times said in an editorial on Monday that the United States should not expect to be able to influence Beijing on climate while attacking it on human rights and other issues.

It said Washington's attitude had made it "impossible for China to see any potential to have fair negotiation amid the tensions".

China said on Tuesday that President Xi Jinping, who decided not to attend in person, had not been given an opportunity to deliver a video address, and had to send a written response instead - in which he offered no additional pledges.

The British government said it had wanted people to attend the conference in person, and had offered absentees the chance to provide recorded addresses or statements.

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As the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, gets underway this week, many countries have vowed to do more to fight climate change. Yet those plans still fall short of whats needed to avoid a dangerous rise in global temperatures.

Data from Climate Action Tracker reveals emissions pathways for the worlds 10 biggest polluters. They account for more than two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Major emitters

In the run-up to the summit, the United States and the European Union made new vows to cut their emissions roughly 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. But neither has yet enacted sufficient policies to meet those pledges. European nations are debating a large new clean-energy package, while the Biden administration is still trying to push major climate legislation through Congress.

Read | COP26: Failure is not an option

China, the worlds largest consumer of fossil fuels, has said its emissions will peak sometime before 2030 and plans to get 25% of its energy from clean sources like wind, solar or nuclear power by then. Environmentalists had urged China to set more ambitious near-term targets before Glasgow, but it is struggling to rein in its appetite for coal power and kept its goals unchanged from those announced a year ago.

India, for its part, has not formally set a date for when its emissions will peak, with officials arguing that it needs more time to develop its economy. (Indias emissions per person are roughly one-fourth those of China and one-seventh those of the United States.) The country has announced goals for increasing the use of cleaner energy sources and slowing its growth in fossil-fuel consumption but has asked for aid from wealthier countries.

Other nations' targets

Under the 2015 Paris climate deal, countries are free to set their own national goals for tackling global warming. Some, like Russia, have set targets far above where their emissions are actually expected to be in 2030 under current policies. Iran is one of a handful of nations that has not ratified the Paris agreement and has few climate policies on the books.

Canada and Japan recently set stricter emissions targets through 2030. Neither has yet put in place the sorts of energy policies that would achieve those goals, although Canadas government is counting on a hefty carbon tax to restrain future fossil fuel use.

If countries all follow through on their current near-term pledges, the world could potentially limit warming to roughly 2.4 degrees Celsius (4.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels by 2100, according to Climate Action Tracker. But many scientists say that is still too risky. To hold global warming to a lower level of 1.5 degrees Celsius, nations would all need to do much more, collectively cutting fossil fuel emissions in half this decade.

Read | COP26 leaders vow new drive to save forests

But how that responsibility gets divided up is a perennial sticking point. Many lower-income countries, including India, say wealthier ones like the United States  historically the worlds biggest emitter  should slash greenhouse gases even faster than they have promised, to give the rest of the world more time to transition away from fossil fuels.

Land-use offenders

Some countries, notably Brazil and Indonesia, release enormous amounts of carbon dioxide when they burn and clear away carbon-rich rainforests and peatlands for agriculture.

Both countries recently submitted new climate promises, though Climate Action Tracker rates their current policies as insufficient. In Brazil, rates of tropical deforestation declined rapidly in the early 2000s but have accelerated since the election of President Jair Bolsonaro in 2018. Bolsonaro has pledged to end illegal deforestation this decade if the international community pays billions for conservation efforts, though his promises have been met with skepticism by environmentalists and Indigenous groups.

Indonesia has taken steps to crack down on the clearing of forests for palm oil plantations. But researchers have questioned how well those efforts are working.

At the Glasgow summit, diplomats are expected to discuss ways to accelerate climate action, whether by more deeply slashing greenhouse gases like methane, providing financial aid to developing countries for clean energy or strengthening programs to protect forests. While some leaders, like President Joe Biden, have said they want to keep alive the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, scientists warn that goal could soon be out of reach without immediate and rapid action.

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Japan's government plans to shorten Covid-19 quarantine periods for inbound business travellers from 10 days to 3, public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday.

The easing may be instituted as early as next Monday, NHK said. Additionally, the government plans to expand the number of daily border entrants from 3,500 people to 5,000 later this month.

Japan currently requires a 10-day quarantine for travellers, regardless of vaccination status. That time was shortened from 14 days last month.

Domestic and foreign business groups in Japan have lobbied the government to ease border restrictions to be more in line with major trading partners. The United States and European Union allow entry to travellers from most countries as long as they have proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

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A suicide bomber and gunmen were behind an attack on a Kabul hospital that killed at least 19 people on Tuesday, a Taliban official said.

Also Read | 19 killed in attack on Kabul military hospital

"The attack was initiated by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who blew himself up at the entrance of the hospital," said the official on condition on anonymity, adding the attack was now over and the assailants had all been killed.

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US Congressman Andy Levin has expressed concern over the communal clashes in Bangladesh and Indian state Tripura .

"I'm deeply concerned by news of continued violence between Hindus and Muslims in the Tripura state of India and in Bangladesh, Congressman Andy Levin said in a tweet.

Hindu temples and homes were targeted in mob attacks in Bangladesh in mid-October during the Durga puja festivities over an alleged blasphemous post on social media.

Read | Explained: What's behind the violence in Tripura?

Hindu outfits in neighbouring Tripura called for protests demanding justice for minority members in Bangladesh, leading to sporadic clashes in the state.

Provocative and brutal incitement by state and non-state actors against religious minorities must be condemned in the strongest terms, Levin said as he re-tweeted a story from The Washington Post in this regard.

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Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday resigned from the Congress and announced the name of his party--Punjab Lok Congress--just months before the Assembly polls.

The party will be formally launched later and the Election Commission has no objection to its name, he said.

The move by the former CM came days after he dismissed reports of back-end talks with the Congress, saying the time for rapprochement is over.

In his seven-page resignation letter, Amarinder Singh also slammed the Gandhis for a "conspiracy" to oust him from the state government.

In the letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he listed out his achievements as chief minister.

Read | You chose to turn a blind eye: Captain Amarinder Singh in resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi

He also lashed out at Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and senior party leader Harish Rawat.

Amarinder Singh had resigned as the Punjab CM after a bitter power tussle with Sidhu.

In the letter, he told Sonia Gandhi that despite knowing him "for the better part of his 52 years in public life" and "that too at a deeply personal level", she never "understood" him or his "character".

"You thought I was getting on in years and should be put to pasture. I am neither tired nor retired. I feel I have a lot to give and contribute to my beloved Punjab. I intend to soldier on and not fade away," wrote Singh.

Expressing his anguish over Sidhu being given the charge of the Punjab Congress chief, he said, "Despite my profound reservations and over the unanimous advice of almost all MPs from Punjab, you chose to appoint an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state Navjot Sidhu who had publicly hugged the Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan."

"Khan and Bajwa are the people responsible for sending terrorists across the border to kill Indians," he said.

Hitting out at the former cricketer, he said, "Sidhu's only claim to fame was that he would abuse me and my government on a regular basis. I am old enough to be his father but that did not stop him from using the filthiest and most vile language against me both publicly and privately."

He accused Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of "patronising" Sidhu.

"Unfortunately, rather than being reined in, he was patronised by Rahul and Priyanka, while you chose to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of this gentleman who was aided and abetted by the general secretary in-charge Harish Rawat, perhaps the most dubious individual I had the occasion to make acquaintance off," he wrote.

On the Congress Legislative Party meeting which was called before his resignation, he said a "midnight conspiracy" was carried out against his at the behest of Sonia and her children.

"It was my prerogative as the CLP leader to have called the meeting if the AICC desired it. It was only early next morning that a colleague informed me that such an outrageous act has been committed," he wrote.

"You called me at 10.15 am next morning and asked me to resign. I did so without batting even an eyelid. However, the crude manner in which the whole operation was executed by the undertakers of the AICC left a very foul taste in the mouth," he wrote.

"I actually felt deeply hurt by your conduct and that of your children who I still deeply love as much as my own children, having known their father, since we were in school together since 1954, which is for 67 years now," Singh wrote.

The former CM said he hoped that no other senior Congressperson is subjected to the "ignominy" that he was put through in the last few months.

"I hereby tender my resignation from the Indian National Congress in the interest of my state and my country," he wrote.

After announcing the name of his party, he said the registration of the party is pending approval with the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission has no objection to the proposed name, Punjab Lok Congress, he said.

He said the Election Commission had given three symbols from which one was to be chosen.

He said his party had also submitted three different symbols and the final symbol would be chosen from a set of six, three suggested by the commission and three proposed by the party.

The party will be formally launched later, he said in a statement here.

The policies, programmes, agenda and vision will be spelt out at the time of the launch of the party, he said.

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Congress on Tuesday was upbeat about its performance in the Assembly and Lok Sabha bypolls in 13 states and a union territory wresting seats from the BJP in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, as it sent a subtle message to allies like Trinamool Congress that it still has in it to take on the saffron party.

The loss of two each sitting seats in Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya did not hamper the mood in the party, as it also managed to wrest seats from the BJP to limit its losses. It won eight seats this time compared to the ten sitting seats it was holding.

Congress did not hide its happiness over the result, as leaders referred to the "setback" and "overall bad day" for the BJP, which lost a sitting Lok Sabha seat and washout in Himachal Pradesh as well as defeats in sitting seats in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

In what is seen as a message to Trinamool, which has been attacking the Congress over its strike rate against the BJP, and other doubting allies, the Sonia Gandhi-led party showcased its victory in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka against the BJP in "direct contests".

Also read: Bypoll scores tied, but setback for CM Bommai with Hangal defeat

"BJP has lost two out of three Lok Sabha seats. In Assemblies, BJP has lost at most places in direct contests with Congress. Himachal, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra are proof of this. Modi ji, shed arrogance. Repeal three black (farm) laws. Stop Petrol-Diesel-Gas Loot! Disdain for peoples pain is harmful," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Rajiv Shukla, party in-charge in Himachal, said the results are significant for the party. "Usually the ruling parties have an advantage in bypolls. Despite being in power, the BJP has lost to Congress in Himachal, Karnataka and Rajasthan and it shows the growing anger against the BJP. In Bengal also, the BJP lost," he told a press conference.

The icing on the cake for the Congress came from the victory in Lok Sabha bypoll in BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh's Mandi where late Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha wrested the seat from the BJP in a close contest.

It also won all the three Assembly seats in Himachal, which included a sitting BJP seat. For the BJP, the defeat in sitting Jubbal-Kotkhai was a shock as it was relegated to the third position and lost deposit after a party rebel emerged second.

"The people of 'Devbhoomi' (holy land) Himachal have created a glorious history by expressing strong faith in the Congress in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly seats. The farewell of BJP and the creation of 'New Himachal' under the leadership of Congress is certain," Surjewala said.

Congress tweeted that these victories are a "sign of BJP's departure" from Himachal in the next Assembly polls.

LIVE: Special Congress Party Media Byte by Shri @ShuklaRajiv at the AICC HQ.

https://t.co/bwKJwbimG9  Congress (@INCIndia) November 2, 2021

Karnataka also brought cheers for the Congress as its candidate Srinivas Mane won Hangal, a BJP sitting seat. The victory in the BJP stronghold, which is a constituency adjacent to Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai's seat, boosts the morale of the party that has lost power in the state after the BJP managed to wean away its MLAs.

"Congratulations to the wise electorate of Hangal assembly seat for the stupendous victory of Congress. The constant service of people by Srinivas Mane and immeasurable hard work of Congress workers and leaders has proved that Karnataka yearns for 'change'. BJPs exit is written on the wall," Surjewala, who is also in-charge of Karnataka, said.

Rajasthan, where the Congress unit is divided over the camps led by Chief Minister Ashiok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, was also a happy story for the party as it won both the seats that went to bypolls. It wrested the Dhariawad seat from the BJP while retaining Vallabhnagar. For the BJP, it had disastrous results as it was pushed to third in Dhariawad and fourth in Vallabhnagar.

In Maharashtra, the Congress retained Deglur, which was a sitting seat.

However, in Madhya Pradesh, Congress could win only one of the three seats that went to bypolls. It wrested Raigon from the BJP but lost in two of its sitting seats Jobat and Prithvipur. In Meghalaya, Congress could not win a single seat though it had two sitting seats.

Congress lost all the five seats contested in Assam, including Mariani and Thorwa, which it had won in the previous polls. The MLAs had crossed over to the BJP, which won three seats and its ally UPPL two.

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The ruling BJP and its allies are leading in all the five assembly constituencies in Assam, where bypolls were held on October 30, according to the latest update of the counting trends put on the Election Commission of India (ECI) website.

BJP candidates Phanidhar Talukdar, Rupjyoti Kurmi and Sushanta Borgohain are leading in Bhabanipur, Mariani and Thowra seats respectively. All the three BJP nominees were elected to the assembly in the general elections in March-April this year on tickets of opposition parties but resigned and joined the saffron party.

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Talukdar had won as an AIUDF candidate, while Kurmi and Borgohain were Congress lawmakers.

BJP ally UPPL's candidates Jiron Basumatary and Jolen Daimary are leading in Gossaigaon and Tamulpur seats respectively. Bypolls in these two seats in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) were necessitated due to the death of the sitting MLAs.

An estimated 74.04 per cent of nearly eight lakh electors had voted in the by-elections to five assembly constituencies.

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The TMC on Tuesday roller-coasted to victory in Dinhata assembly seat which its Minister of State for Home Nishith Paramanik had won earlier this year, by a record margin of 1,64,089 votes in assembly by-elections held last Saturday.

The ruling party also retained the Khardah assembly segment by winning the seat by an impressive margin of 93,832 votes.

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In the Dinhata assembly seat in Coochbehar, TMC's Udayan Guha secured votes 1,14,086 votes, whereas BJP's Palash Rana, the nearest rival, garnered mere 20,254 votes. The bypoll for the Dinhata assembly segment was necessitated after central minister Nisith Pramanik who had won the seat by a slender margin of just 57 votes resigned to retain his Coochbehar Lok Sabha seat.

In the Khardah assembly segment, state minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay defeated his nearest rival the BJP's Joy Saha by a margin of 93,832 votes. Chattopadhyay secured 1,14,086 votes, whereas Saha managed to bag 20,254 votes.

The bypoll to this assembly segment was necessitated following the death of the sitting TMC MLA.
On the lines of National Investigation Agency (NIA), Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a State Investigation Agency (SIA) that will be handling most high-profile terror cases in the Union Territory.

The CID chief of J&K will head the agency as its Director. The agency will have powers to suo moto register FIRs, while all police stations will mandatorily intimate the new body on registration of militancy cases. The government has empowered J&K Director General Police (DGP) to hand over a case to the SIA at any point of time during the investigations.

For the last several years, high-profile militancy and terror-funding cases in J&K were handed over to the NIA for probe. The announcement to constitute the SIA comes days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah concluded his four-day visit to the UT.

Also Read  October most violent month in J&K after abrogation of Article 370

According to a J&K Home Department order, the SIA will be a nodal agency for coordinating with the NIA and other central agencies.

All police stations shall mandatorily intimate the SIA immediately upon registration of terrorism related cases. Wherever, upon intimation of the National Investigation Act, 2008, the investigation is not taken up by the NIA, the DGP, J&K shall, having regard to the gravity of the offence, progress of investigation and other relevant factors, determine in consultation with the SIA whether the case is fit to be investigated by the SIA and transfer the investigation of the case at any point of time during its investigation. However, if there is difference of opinion, the DGP shall take a decision, while recording the reasons in writing, the order reads.

In the cases where investigation is not transferred to the SIA, the government has asked the police headquarters to ensure that the upcoming probe agency is kept informed about the progress of investigation.

If the SIA is of the opinion that an offence has been committed, which is fit to be investigated by it, the agency shall register an FIR suo moto while keeping the DGP informed, it added.

The cases which can be handed over to the SIA or in which the agency will have powers to register FIR on its own include, Explosive Substances Act, Atomic Energy Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Anti-Hijacking Act, Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, SAARC Convention Suppression of Terrorism Act, Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Maritime Navigation, Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act and Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery System Act.

Besides, the SIA will also have the power to look into offences having linkage to terrorist acts, including terror financing and circulation of fake currency, narco-terror case, terror-related kidnapping and murder cases, weapon snatching and terror-linked propaganda, false narrative large scale incitement and enmity against the Indian Union.

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By Akshat Rathi and Archana Chaudhary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised delegates at the COP26 climate summit with a bold pledge: The worlds third-biggest emitter will reach net-zero by 2070.

The announcement injected new life into talks that had been set back by a disappointing outcome from the Group of 20 meeting in Rome this weekend.

Though Indias goal is two decades behind rich nations such as the US and UK, its compatible with what scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophic global warming.

Also read: Experts hail India's announcement to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2070

This was a very significant moment for the summit, said Nicholas Stern, chairman of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics. Its a chance for India to show that it can deliver on both economic development and climate change.

India stood out among top emitters, including the US and China, that were being closely watched at the conference. President Joe Biden, hamstrung by politics at home, didnt bring anything substantially new to the table.

Meanwhile Chinas Xi Jinping didnt attend in person and offered no new plans to cut emissions.

The challenge for India is figuring out how to finance the transition to net zero, which will require trillions of dollars of investment. Modi reiterated his stance that rich countries should help support poor nations by raising more money to accelerate the shift to clean energy though he didnt specify how much exactly India would need from the international community.

It is Indias expectation that the worlds developed nations make $1 trillion available as climate finance as soon as possible, Modi said, a figure thats 10 times more than the annual climate finance target set by rich countries. Justice would demand that those nations that have not kept their climate commitments should be pressured.

Bloomberg reported earlier that Modis office had been working on modeling what was needed to get to net zero. But the officials balked at setting a goal without strong financing commitments from rich nations.

On Monday, the Indian leader backed up his 2070 net-zero goal with more aggressive near-term targets. He raised Indias 2030 target for low-emission energy capacity to 500 gigawatts from 450 GW and pledged to produce half the countrys electricity using renewable energy. India will also cut carbon-dioxide emissions 1 billion tons from business as usual by the end of the decade. To deliver on the 2070 goal, the country still has to lay out a detailed plan for the 40 years in between.

Earlier in the day, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson kicked off the COP26 summit by urging world leaders to "defuse the bomb of climate change." With helicopters buzzing overhead, delegates swarmed through the vast conference center along the banks of the river Clyde and long lines formed as organizers struggled to accommodate the crowds.

One of COP26 President Alok Sharmas hopes for the Glasgow summit is to eke out enough commitments from countries to keep the Paris Agreements stretch goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels within reach.

Modis announcement is consistent with what research shows is needed to meet that target. To keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5 Degree Celsius, the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that the world has to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by about mid-century and then hit net zero across all greenhouse gases by 2070.

Country-wise net zero cannot be the same for all nations, said Arunabha Ghosh, chief executive officer of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, who has advised the prime ministers office. Indias target is equitable and just, he said.

Its in Indias interest to stem global warming, even if the problem was caused mainly by carbon dioxide accumulated in the atmosphere by countries that industrialized first. The nation of 1.3 billion people is one of the most vulnerable to climate impacts.

Extreme weather events like heat waves, floods and disruptions to the rainy monsoon season will have devastating impacts. Modi also committed to increasing Indias 2030 carbon intensity reduction goal  measured as carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product  from 35 per cent to 45 per cent. Stern, from the London School of Economics, said the new targets could mean India reaches peak emissions by 2030.

Also read: Modi seeks global support for 'local adaptation' of climate resilient practices

At the COP26 opening, developing nation leaders expressed frustration that rich countries have failed repeatedly to deliver on a promise to mobilize more funds to help them decarbonize and adapt to a warming planet. Still, in their speeches on Monday, it was smaller and poorer countries that stepped up.

Nepal and Thailand also set new carbon neutrality targets, for 2045 and 2050, respectively. Meanwhile Canada and Australia declined to set new short-term emissions targets, though they did pledge some new money toward financing the transition.

In the last few months, India has been lining up policies that can take it towards these goals, policies about hydrogen, electric vehicles, renewable energy and industry decarbonization, said Chandra Bhushan, president of New Delhi-based International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology. Now India needs investments.

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The spat between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress escalated on Monday, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees party calling the leadership of the grand old party the biggest insurance of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

@INCIndia's present leadership is BJP's BIGGEST insurance! the Trinamool Congress posted on Twitter, launching a rare direct attack on the first family of the Congress, albeit without naming Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi.

The tweet came in response to West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committees president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhurys statement reminding the TMC that it had once been an ally of the BJP and its supremo, herself, had also been a minister in Atal Behari Vajpayees government.

Also Read | Mamata now criticising Congress that always supported her: Adhir

Chowdhury lashed out at the TMC after Banerjee said during a visit in Goa that the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was gaining strength only because the Congress was not serious about fighting against it.

In WB (West Bengal), we've been fighting & (and) successfully defeating BJP since 2001. Instead of accusing others, (the) INC should put its house in order to effectively fight BJP or let others who've the will & (and) ability to fight them nationally, the Trinamool Congress posted on Twitter, reacting to the comments by Chowdhury.

Banerjee targeted the Congress while formally launching the TMCs campaign in BJP-ruled Goa, where the assembly elections would be held in February-March next year. Rahul Gandhi was also in Goa the day the TMC supremo attacked the Congress.

Read | Making sense of Trinamool's attack on Congress

She again targeted the Congress on Monday.

We're not @INCIndia, we WILL NOT compromise! We are the only party taking the BJP head-on! Beyond big words, INC (Congress) hasn't done much for the people of this nation. They cannot be counted upon, the TMC tweeted quoting her saying at an event in Kolkata. We will keep fighting for the people of India and nothing can stop us!

We're not @INCIndia, we WILL NOT compromise! We are the only party taking the BJP head-on! Beyond big words, INC hasn't done much for the people of this nation. They cannot be counted upon. We will keep fighting for the people of India and nothing can stop us! pic.twitter.com/bmB5d68Tuk  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) November 1, 2021

Ever since it trounced the BJP in the assembly elections in West Bengal earlier this year, the TMC has been trying to play a more prominent role in national politics. It has been trying to expand beyond West Bengal, beginning with Tripura and Goa, both ruled by the BJP.

Though Banerjee met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during a visit to New Delhi in July, her party over the past few months has been trying to position itself as the lead opposition party, elbowing out the Congress.

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Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday formally resigned from the Congress while mincing no words condemning Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi for "patronising" Navjot Singh Sidhu, whom he referred to as "an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state".

Singh (79), in a seven-page resignation, even castigated Congress president Sonia Gandhi for choosing to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of Sidhu. Captain also lashed out at party General Secretary in-charge Harish Rawat for aiding and abetting Sidhu in his mischief designs while referring to Harish Rawat as "perhaps the most dubious individual he had the occasion to make acquaintance of".

Unfortunately, rather than being reined in, he (Sidhu) was patronised by Rahul and Priyanka, while you (Sonia Gandhi) chose to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of this gentleman (Sidhu), Capt said.

Singh announced his new regional political outfit named Punjab Lok Congress weeks after he was unceremoniously ousted as the CM after a prolonged acrimony with state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu. Singh then said he was resigning as he felt humiliated.

In the resignation letter, Singh said, I actually felt deeply hurt by your (Sonia Gandhi) conduct and that of your children who I still deeply love as much as my own children, having known their father, since we were in school together since 1954, which is for 67 years now.

He lambasted Sidhu saying he was an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state and an unstable mind. He wrote, Despite my profound reservations and over the unanimous advice of almost all the MPs from Punjab, you (Sonia Gandhi) chose to appoint an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state Navjot Sidhu who had publicly hugged the Pakistan Army Chief Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the President of the Punjab Congress Committee.

While patting himself on the back for running an honest and transparent government, Singh mentioned how his government shepherded" a bill through the state assembly in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on the Waters issue. He revealed he earned the wrath after he passed the bill claiming that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came close to dismissing his government in 2005.

I am neither tired nor retired, '' he wrote, adding, I intend to soldier on and not fade away."

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Senior Congress MP Jairam Ramesh was an influential voice at the Copenhagen and Cancun editions of the UN Climate Change Conference in 2009 and 2010. As yet another edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) gets underway in Glasgow, Ramesh spoke to DHs Shemin Joy, charging the Narendra Modi government with diluting forest and environmental laws and rules at home while making the right noises outside India. The former Union environment minister says that nuclear power has to be a bigger part of the mix for India to be able to make emissions commitments.

World leaders have converged in Glasgow for COP26. What outcome do you expect from the summit?

I have very modest expectations. It's been six years since the Paris agreement. That was based on the foundations of (climate summits of) Copenhagen in 2009 and Cancun in 2010. It took five years after Cancun to arrive at the agreement.

We are now six years after the Paris (summit), we still do not have the rule book for implementing the Paris agreement. In Glasgow, there will be a lot of rhetoric, there will be a lot of moralising, there will be a lot of grandstanding. But I don't expect any great breakthrough. Fundamental non-negotiable output of Glasgow should be the finalisation of the rule book. Countries made pledges in Paris. How are they going to hold themselves internationally accountable? It is not enough to be domestically accountable. You have to be internationally accountable. This is a global agreement. So that is still not done. It is still going round and round for six years.

Read | Six charts show how hard it is for India to hit net zero

My expectation from Glasgow is that the rule book for implementing the Paris agreement should be clinched before we get into all these meaningless debates on net zero and so on, which is completely fraudulent in my view. I mean in 2050, all the people who are going to make the commitments are not going to be around to be held accountable. It is an aspirational goal to have net zero. But the question is what are you doing in the 2020s, in the 2030s? That is more important. Net Zero becomes an excuse, it is a clock for failure to do something meaningful in the 5-10-15 year horizon. Entire COP architecture in my view is fundamentally flawed.

I have been saying this ever since I was a Minister that the COP architecture is a COP-out architecture. This is COP26. Can you imagine for 26 years, we have been meeting year after year. It is like the objective of the COP25 is to figure out where to have COP26, when you have COP26, you have to figure out where to hold COP27. This is completely dysfunctional architecture. For dealing with the problem which you know have day-to-day ramifications, climate change actions should not have to be something you announce in the form of a dramatic headline during two weeks of November. It is something which is a day-to-day activity. You make commitments, you improve on the commitments, you make new commitments, increase your level of ambition. So this is an architecture where you sleep throughout the year and suddenly you wake up and then you want to make a dramatic gesture.

I think this whole thing, I am not terribly excited by it. To be meaningful, it must deliver on the Paris agreement, it must close the Paris agreement, which was signed by so many Heads of governments and heads of States. We do not have finality on how the Paris agreement pledges are going to be monitored, reported, verified, then what are we talking about.

Do you think the Modi government is walking the talk on environment, climate change?

No. The Modi government is not walking the talk on environment. It is walking the talk on the environment globally, but it is walking in a completely different direction domestically. Yes, the Modi government has taken advantage of the dramatic fall in solar prices. For example, when I took over as Environment Minister in 2009, solar prices were Rs 15 per unit. Today, it is less than Rs 3 per unit. Solar prices have fallen dramatically. India has taken advantage of it, rightly so. In terms of renewable energy, we had a target of 20,000 MW. Modi increased it to 100,000 MW.

It was inevitable because the cost was declining so dramatically. But I don't judge the Modi government by what the Prime Minister says in Glasgow. While he speaks in Glasgow, there are proposals here to amend the Forest Conservation Act. There are proposals to convert the Environment Protection Act into an Environment Management Act. There are proposals for one overarching law to bring everything under one law. These are completely ridiculous ideas. You are diluting all the coastal regulations, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules. The draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations that is coming out is basically going to lead to making a mockery of the entire environment impact assessment process. You have loosened pollution norms for thermal power plants. I see Modi saying the right things but his actions are completely different.

What should be India's attitude, red-lines in Glasgow?

Modi will not go for red-lines or deadlines. He will only go for headlines. I don't go by this notion of red-lines and deadlines. Frankly, as of today, we cannot obviously announce that we are going to phase-out fossil fuels. We can certainly announce a phase-down strategy. I will give you an example. I don't see why we can't say that by 2045, which is a long enough period, India will not have any petrol or diesel vehicles. That is a doable target.

Read | COP26: Failure is not an option

While we cannot announce economy-wide targets, we can certainly announce some sectoral initiatives. Should we announce it in Glasgow and all, that is a separate issue. I am not talking about it. Domestic actions count more than global announcements. Whatever you announce globally, we really have to back it up domestically. Everybody recognises India's developmental challenges. Our per capita consumption of electricity is 1/8th of Europe, it is 1/15th in the US, 1/6th in China. Electricity consumption in India is bound to increase. We are not running away from it. But we cannot certainly do it in the good-old traditional manner. Today, nuclear power accounts for 3-3.4% of electricity generation. It ought to have been at least double that contribution today. So nuclear power in climate change point of view is a better option than coal.

Unfortunately what has happened in India is that the nuclear programme has not expanded at the rate at which it ought to have expanded and therefore, the pressure on coal has increased. But we must start thinking very seriously about a phase-down, not a phase-out. There is a difference between phase-down and phase-out. Now, if there is a dramatic decline in the cost of energy storage, which I think will happen, then the pressure on India to expand the coal-based power generation to provide the base load will be reduced substantially. As of now, because of the intermittency of the renewable energy, you still require base load capacity. That base load capacity comes either from gas or coal or nuclear. We have difficult choices to make but we have to be very clear about the path we are going.

The path should be a phase-down path. But we can certainly consider phase-outs in specific areas, like phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 or 2045 in India. Today, Tesla has become the sixth trillion dollar market cap company. India made some commitments at Paris. We will fulfil two of the three commitments -- those were commitments I had made in 2009 and I was criticised bitterly by BJP's late Arun Jaitley and everybody else. In 2015, the Modi government made it part of the Paris agreement. So in emission intensity, undoubtedly we will meet the target.

On the commitment of 40% of electricity coming from non-fossil fuels, I am sure we will exceed the target. But the commitment on forestry we have made is completely bogus. We said that we will expand the contribution of our forests to absorb the carbon as 'carbon sink'. That is not going to happen, particularly when you are going to destroy natural forests and if you are not going to regenerate forests. If you are going to liberalise all your forest conservation laws, which is very much on the agenda, then I am afraid we are going up completely the wrong track.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India needs to be in the Nuclear Suppliers Group to quit coal power. What is your view?

Where I disagree with Piyush Goyal is that I have always believed and I have said this in 2009 that India should have standardised on its own design of a heavy water reactor. India should not depend on imported reactors. I have a fundamental problem with that. Two standard 700 MW reactors are coming up in Kakrapar in Gujarat and more elsewhere. India should standardise on those reactors. We should build on those reactors. To think that imported reactors are going to be the answer to India's nuclear capacity problems, I have never been in agreement with this view. I have stated this in 2009 that India must standardise on its own indigenous design, upgrade it. We went from 210 MW, then we built 500 MW, then 700 MW. We can upgrade it to 1,000 MW.

Are you saying that one should not link the NSG membership with this?

No. I am just saying that we should not depend on imported reactors. After all, we signed the nuclear deal in 2005. Have we got any imported reactors? We haven't. India's nuclear strategy must be based on standardisation of its own 700 MW reactor. It cannot depend on imported reactors. Fundamental starting point of Goyal's statement is that we will depend on imported reactors. He is linking the import of reactors with the NSG. I am not talking about NSG membership. India must be a member of the NSG. That I agree. We have been trying that and we must pursue that. But I don't think imported reactors are the answer to India's nuclear problems. India's nuclear programme is at cross roads. Nuclear power accounts for 3-3.4% and we ought to have been 6%. We should by 2040 aim to have at least 10-15% of our electricity coming from nuclear power.

Another argument is about climate finance. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has said in Glasgow that developed nations have not adhered to their commitment. What is your response?

I agree. They have not. They made a promise of $100 billion. I think they are at about $80 billion. That is a generous figure because they have re-classified development assistance as climate finance. My view has always been -- this view I have taken when I was a Minister -- that countries like India and China are perfectly capable of raising the resources required for meeting their climate objectives. This climate finance is largely for smaller countries -- African countries, island States etc. It is also for countries like India. In fact, I negotiated India's first climate loan for Himachal Pradesh from the World Bank. It was one of the first World Bank projects on climate finance. But India's capacity to generate resources, domestically and internationally, is very strong. I don't think we should link what we do to the availability of finance. I have never been sympathetic to this view.

Has the government reached out to the Opposition before going to Glasgow?

No. Zero. In 2009, I wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker requesting to nominate MPs for the Copenhagen summit. They were not selected by me but by the Speaker. Murli Manohar Joshi, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Suresh Prabhu among others were there in the delegation. There were four debates in Parliament before and after Copenhagen. There were two debates each before and after Cancun. There was no reach out this time.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "fruitful" first meeting with his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit here on Tuesday during which they reviewed the bilateral ties besides exchanging views about expanding cooperation in areas of high-technology and innovation.

Prime Minister Modi and Bennett's maiden formal meeting came after their brief interaction on Monday during the climate conference.

Earlier, recalling their brief meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Modi said that the people of India deeply value the friendship with Israel.

"Enhancing friendship with Israel. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @naftalibennett had a fruitful meeting in Glasgow. Both leaders discussed deepening various avenues of cooperation for the benefit of our citizens, the Prime Ministers office tweeted.

"Furthering ties with our Strategic Partner. PM @narendramodi met PM of Israel @naftalibennett in Glasgow today," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a tweet.

Enhancing friendship with Israel. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @naftalibennett had a fruitful meeting in Glasgow. Both leaders discussed deepening various avenues of cooperation for the benefit of our citizens. pic.twitter.com/QnzdCmgijT  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 2, 2021

"In their first such engagement, the two leaders reviewed our bilateral ties and discussed expanding cooperation in areas of high-technology & innovation," it said.

Prime Minister Bennett described the "deep relationship" between India and Israel as one coming from the heart and not being about interests and urged Modi to work together to take the bilateral ties to "a whole new level".

"I want to thank you. You're the person who restarted the relationship between India and Israel, which is a deep relationship between two unique civilizations  the Indian civilization, the Jewish civilization  and I know it comes from your heart. It's not about interests; it's about a deep conviction that you harbour and we feel it," Bennett told Modi at the start of the meeting.

"On behalf of all Israeli citizens, we deeply appreciate this whole new approach that will go down in history as something that you brought about. So thank you," the Israeli premier said as per a communication from his media adviser.

Bennett also cited the "remarkable dynamics" between Indian and Israeli innovators during his days as an entrepreneur which he said helped shape his feelings.

"Indeed, my personal experience, to a great degree, shaped my feelings. As you recall, when I ran a hi-tech company, we merged with an Indian company  the two 'I's, India and Israel in Manhattan. In the office, there were a bunch of Israelis and Indians, and getting together created a remarkable dynamic of innovation. There's so much that we can learn from you," he noted.

Also read: Modi surprises climate summit with 2070 net-zero vow for India

Urging to carry forward the deepened cooperation between the two countries that started during his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister vowed to bring the ties together to a new level.

"This is indeed what we seek to do. Our goal is to continue the wonderful path that you placed with my predecessor, and bring it to a whole new level, so we can ensure that our two nations work together on innovation, technology, space, security, agriculture, food technologies, and of course climate-related technologies," Bennett stressed.

The Israeli premier also extended Diwali greetings to Modi and Indians.

Prime Minister Modi, who was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, interacted with Bennett on Monday in a cordial brief meeting.

In a video tweeted by Modi, the two leaders were seen exchanging pleasantries during their animated discussion.

"Indeed! We shall continue working together for stronger bilateral ties and for a better planet," Modi said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Indeed! We shall continue working together for stronger bilateral ties and for a better planet. The people of India deeply value the friendship with Israel. https://t.co/PEaJ6cFxkM  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2021

"The people of India deeply value the friendship with Israel," he tweeted.

Prime Minister Bennett, in a tweet, said, "it was truly great to finally meet you, @NarendraModi."

The meeting between Modi and Bennett comes after Jaishankar, during his visit to Israel last month, extended an invitation to the Israeli premier on behalf of Modi to visit India.

According to Israeli media reports, Bennett, who became prime minister in June this year, is likely to visit India next year.

India and Israel elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to Israel in July 2017.

Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the 'Make in India' initiative.

Prime Minister Modi also met Suriname President and "friend" Chan Santokhi on the sidelines of the climate summit.

"Delighted to get the opportunity to meet my friend, President Chan Santokhi of Suriname, a nation with which India has deep-rooted cultural linkages," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had bilateral meetings with his Israeli, Nepalese and Ukrainian counterparts on the sideline of the United Nations climate summit, COP26, at Glasgow.

The Prime Minister also had a meeting with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates. They discussed works being done by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in India, including promising opportunities in areas like green hydrogen, aviation fuels, battery storage and vaccine research were also discussed. Gates briefed Modi on the progress of Mission Innovation, launched by his foundation. They discussed ways to step up activities in India under Mission Innovation.

Modi and Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation including in the context of ongoing efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic. This was the first meeting between the two after Deuba took over as the Prime Minister of Nepal. The two leaders noted the excellent cooperation between India and Nepal during the pandemic particularly through the supply of vaccines, medicines and medical equipment from India to Nepal as well as by ensuring the free flow of goods across the borders, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. They also agreed to work closely towards post-pandemic recovery.

Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reviewed bilateral strategic partnership and expressed satisfaction over the progress made in diverse sectors. They agreed on further expanding cooperation, especially in the areas of high-technology and innovation.

As the next year would mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Modi invited Bennett to visit New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said. Bennett accepted the invitation and said that he would look forward to visiting New Delhi in the first quarter of the next year.

Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed satisfaction on the cooperation during the pandemic times, including mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates issued by the governments of the two countries. Modi thanked Zelensky for his humanitarian gesture of supply of oxygen concentrators to India during the second wave of the pandemic earlier this year. The two leaders positively assessed the strong people to people connect between the two countries, especially the large number of Indian students studying in various universities of Ukraine, said Shringla.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba for the first time after he became the premier of the Himalayan nation in July and discussed ways to further strengthen the close bilateral ties and combat climate change, Covid-19 and facilitate post pandemic recovery.

The meeting between Modi and Deuba, on the sidelines of the UN conference on climate change in Glasgow, took place after the former launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations.

PM @narendramodi met PM of Nepal @SherBDeuba today. In their first engagement since PM Deuba assumed office, the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen our close bilateral ties. Also discussed climate, Covid-19 & resolved to work together toward post pandemic recovery, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter.

It was their first engagement since Deuba, President of the Nepali Congress, became the Prime Minister of Nepal in July for the fifth time.

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi interacted with several world leaders, including Deuba, on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit.

Met PM @SherBDeuba in Glasgow. It is important we keep working together for sustainable development. He rightly highlighted the threat of climate change to the Himalayan region, Modi tweeted along with a photo with Deuba.

PM @narendramodi met Nepal PM @SherBDeuba in Glasgow. Theirs was a fruitful meeting, in which different issues including a collective effort against COVID-19 and working together to overcome climate change were discussed. pic.twitter.com/eusXw5C56J  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 2, 2021

Glad to have met PM @Narendramodiji at @COP26. Sustainable development is vital  especially for the future of our shared Himalayan region, which is particularly vulnerable. I thank him for highlighting this and stressing the importance of working together!, the Nepal Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Modi had immediately congratulated Deuba after the veteran Nepalese leader won a vote of confidence in the reinstated House of Representatives in July.

Deuba had thanked his Indian counterpart for the congratulatory message and said he shared views with him on further strengthening ties between the two neighbouring countries during a cordial telephone conversation.

The bilateral ties came under strain under former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli after India opened an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8, 2020.

In a separate bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi also met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and exchanged views on bilateral and regional developments.

On the sidelines of #COP26 today, PM @narendramodi met President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa. Exchanged views on bilateral & regional developments. Also appreciated the cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, including mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates, Bagchi said on Twitter.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Tuesday asked banks to remain vigilant to any emerging signs of vulnerabilities and take timely remedial measures to mitigate the risks.

In a statement, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the governor held separate meetings with the MD and CEOs of public sector banks and certain private sector banks through videoconferencing.

In his opening remarks, Das acknowledged the improved financial and operational resilience of the banking sector that imparts strength to financial stability.

He emphasised the need for banks to continue providing necessary support in the revival of economic activity, the RBI said.

"He also advised the banks to remain vigilant to any emerging signs of vulnerabilities and take timely remedial measures to mitigate the risks and maintain the stability of not only the institutions themselves but also of the overall financial system," it said.

Several other matters, including credit flows, especially to micro and small enterprises, were also discussed during the meetings.

As per the statement, discussions also took place on matters like 'outlook for stressed assets and measures for mitigation', 'pricing of risks', 'collection efficiencies' and 'engagement of banks with fin-tech entities".

Implementation of certain regulatory measures for ensuring consumer protection were also taken up in the meeting.

RBI Deputy Governors M K Jain, M Rajeshwar Rao and T Rabi Sankar also attended the meetings.

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Stirs and protest marches blocking roads, a quite common scenario in Kerala, has been criticised once again as a known actor openly protested against road blockade by the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kochi on Monday.

Even as the protest was against the skyrocketing fuel prices, a major chunk of the motorists held up in traffic blocks were also opposed to the stirs blocking road, that too during peak hours.

Actor Joju George, who openly flayed the road blockade stir stated by Congress, is also being widely appreciated on social media by individuals. Known writer M Mukundan stated that the people who already suffered a lot due to Covid should not be put to further hardships by staging stirs blocking roads.

Also Read | Kerala govt rejects demand to forego fuel tax; UDF terms it 'tax terrorism'

Despite several court directives over the years against stirs, blocking roads, the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front as well as the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front, which are the major political forces in Kerala, were not showing any interest in doing away with such stirs that cause severe hardships to the people. Even fringe parties were staging stirs blocking entire stretches even in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram during the busy hours.

Congress in the defensive

Congress is on the defensive as even Joju's luxury car was also damaged allegedly by Congress workers. Even as the women workers of Congress gave a police complaint accusing Joju of misbehaving, the police said that there was no prima facia evidence for that. The allegation of Joju in inebriated condition was also rejected by the police after conducting a medical examination.

Also Read | Opposition attacks Kerala's ruling Left over Mullaperiyar, CM rejects charges

The ruling left front also used the incident to attack Congress in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister K N Balagopal raised the issue in the Assembly after Congress moved an adjournment motion notice over the increasing fuel price and demanding the Kerala government to give tax subsidies on fuels.

Vijayan accused Congress of making false allegations of drunken ruckus by the actor without verifying. Balagopal said that criticisms could be welcomed. But attacking the actor's vehicle and accusing him of being under influence of liquor could not be, he said.

Also Read | Kerala gold smuggling case: Prime accused Swapna Suresh gets bail in NIA case

The finance minister also countered the demand for tax subsidy by stating that fuel prices in Congress ruling states were also on the higher side.

The opposition staged a walkout from the house as permission was denied for an adjournment motion.

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The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday witnessed an intense war of words between the CPI(M)-led ruling front and the Congress-headed opposition over frequent fuel price hikes in the country and the latter walked out of the House terming it as 'state-sponsored tax terrorism'.

Though the LDF government maintained that it was the Centre and not the state government was responsible for the fuel price hike, the UDF members wanted it to forego the additional tax revenue generated on its sales for the sake of struggling commoners.

Rejecting the opposition demand, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that the southern state was facing a sharp decline in tax and non-tax revenues due to the Covid situation prevailing in the country and even the borrowing freedom of the state was limited by the existing law.

Also Read | Kerala gold smuggling case: Prime accused Swapna Suresh gets bail in NIA case

Giving a detailed account of the state's grim economy, he said the government had to earmark over Rs 900 crore per month for the social security pensions alone. An additional Rs 14,500 crore was required as part of the recent revision of the salary and pension of the government employees and retired hands, he said.

"In the wake of the Covid-19, it is certain that a more whopping amount should be found out to meet the expense. In this circumstance, reducing the state tax (on fuel) will aggravate the crisis," Balagopal said.

Instead, a central policy of imposing a huge increase in the petrol and diesel taxes in a short period of time must change, he said. The minister also wanted all parties to stand united across political lines against the central policy which imposes the so-called heavy burden on common people during the time of Covidspread. Noting that the state government does not have the authority to fix the petrol and diesel prices, Balagopal, who was also a former Rajya Sabha MP, said the UPA and NDA governments at the Centre had left it to the market to decide. "This surge in price has been going on ever since then," he said.

Also Read | Opposition attacks Kerala's ruling Left over Mullaperiyar, CM rejects charges

He claimed that Kerala was one of the few states that did not increase fuel tax despite the Covid crisis when it was increased by many other states in the country. Rejecting the Finance Minister's arguments, Shafi Parambil (Congress), who sought notice for the adjournment motion, said the reason for the increase in fuel price was not just the companies being given pricing power but the 'tax terrorism' imposed by the state and union governments.

It is the government and not the companies who are behind the frequent price hike, the legislator alleged. Accusing the BJP-NDA government at the Centre on the issue, he said of course the government which rules the country was the first culprit.

Backing his arguments, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan said the frequent fuel price hike was nothing but 'tax terrorism' and both the union and state governments were viewing it as the best method to fill the exchequer. The opposition later staged a walkout in the House as Speaker M B Rajesh rejected leave for the motion.

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A 34-year-old woman head constable was crushed to death and two others were injured after a tree fell on them at the Fort St. George, the seat of power of the Tamil Nadu government, on Tuesday.

The police woman was having her breakfast on the stairs leading to the block where the Chief Ministers Cell is located when the tree fell on her and K Murugan, a constable, and S Senthilkumar, fire service and rescue personnel.

While Kavitha lost her life immediately, Murugan and Senthilkumar are receiving treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

The tree fell possibly due to heavy rains that have been lashing Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu for the past few days. After the incident, Chief Secretary V Iran Anbu and Director General of Police Sylendra Babu visited the spot.

Chief Minister M K Stalin paid his last respects to the slain head constable and announced a solatium of Rs 25 lakh to her family. He also announced Rs 5 lakh each as a relief to Murugan and Senthilkumar.

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Amid reports that properties to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore linked to Maharashtra deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar and his family have been provisionally attached by the Income Tax (IT) department, the senior politicians lawyer has issued a denial.

No properties of Ajit Pawar have either been attached nor have we received any such notice in this regard, Pawars advocate Prashant Patil said in a press statement.

However, he said that the IT department has sought some clarifications and an appropriate reply is being sent.

So far there is no official word from the IT department on the action involving the nephew of NCP founder-president Sharad Pawar.

Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya however, had claimed that properties linked to Pawar have been attached - and released a list of these properties.

Income Tax attached Properties of Ajit Pawar 1. Jarandeshwar sugar factory

600 crore 2. South Delhi flat 20 crores 3. Nirmal office of Parth pawar

25 crores 4. Goa Resort "Nilaya" of 250 crores @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/jObd05BNde  Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) November 2, 2021

Five properties including Nirmal Tower (Rs 25 crore) at Mumbai's Nariman Point, Jarandeshwar cooperative sugar factory (Rs 600 crore), a flat in South Delhi (Rs20 crore) and a resort in Goa (Rs 250 crore) were povisionally attached, according to Somaiya.

The Nirmal Tower property belongs to Ajit Pawars son Parth Pawar.

The IT department has allegdely given 90 days time to prove that these properties have not been purchased through unaccounted money.

Income Tax authorities have attached Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar's Nirmal Tower officer and that of his mother, wife, sisters and in-laws, he tweeted.

NCP chief spokesperson and state minority affairs minister Nawab Malik said that it was wrong to link relatives' properties with those of Pawar's. Its being just done to target the MVA government and its leaders, he said.

Last month, the IT department had conducted raids at houses and companies of Pawars sisters and unearthed proof of unaccounted incomes of around Rs 184 crore.

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Former Maharashtra home minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday night.

Deshmukh (72) is close to NCP founder-president Sharad Pawar and partys general secretary Praful Patel.

Deshmukh, who had evaded five summons earlier, was accompanied by lawyers when he entered the ED office at Ballard Estate.

The ED said Deshmukh has been arrested as per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

They claimed the senior NCP leader was evasive during questioning and the agency will seek his custody after they produce him before a local court here on Tuesday.

Deshmukh entered the ED office before noon and was arrested around midnight.

The senior politician from Vidarbha had to resign from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government after former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh - who is now untraceable - alleged that the minister has fixed a Rs 100 crore per month collection target for now dismissed assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze.

Before Deshmukh entered the ED office, he released a press statement and a video statement from his Twitter handle.

"When I got summons from the ED, I was accused of not cooperating with the probe agency. The media has been wrongly reporting that I have been evading summons, but I want to make it clear that whenever I was asked to appear, I told the probe agency that the matter is in the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court and to wait for the outcome, Deshmukh said.

"I clearly said that once the decision is out, I will be at the ED office. When my office and my homes were raised, my family and staff cooperated with them. I also got two summons from CBI... whenever I got summons I went to CBI office and got my statement recorded. Even today, my case is pending in the Supreme Court. But today I have presented myself in the ED office, he added.

It may be mentioned that Vaze has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the twin cases of planting of a gelatin sticks-laden Mahindra Scorpio near Antilia, the residence of Reliance Industries Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani, and the murder of the SUV owner Mansukh Hiren, and faces murder and terror charges.

Deshmukh, his wife Aarti Deshmukh and their son Hrishikesh Deshmukh had been repeatedly summoned by ED.

It may be mentioned that the ED had arrested Deshmukhs personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde - and they have been chargesheeted by the ED, which has also attached properties to the tune of Rs 4.20 crore which are linked to Deshmukh and his family.

With PTI inputs.

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In yet another sensational charge, Maharashtras minority affairs minister and NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik on Tuesday accused NCBs Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede of having raised a private army of sorts to carry out extortion and deal in drugs.

There are several members in this private army, Malik told reporters.

According to him, the members of this group include Kiran Gosavi, Manish Bhanushali, Fletcher Patel, Adil Usmani, Sam DSouza.

Also Read | Wankhede meets NCSC chairperson, submits caste documents

Are all the players in that private armythere are a few more members, he said.

Referring to NCB case number 15/2020, he said that Wannkhede summoned film actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan among others. but no development since the last 14 months. If nothing is there, close the case or take action. Case deliberately kept open for extortion. There is no charge sheet in this case, he said.

On the allegations made by the leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis that he has underworld links, Malik said, Fadnavis was the chief minister for five years and he had the home portfoliowhy he had not taken action against me then.

Also Read | Cruise case extortion claims: Nawab Malik alleges link between Devendra Fadnavis and drug peddler

It is said - those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at others - I don't have a glasshouse, he said.

Referring to a prominent hotel in Mumbai, he said, One party table booking rate was Rs 15 lakh and one hi-fi party cost used to be Rs 15 croreWho was involved in such drug parties.

He also added that Fadnavis was the chief minister and how come such facts have not come to his light and no action was taken. What happened in these parties? he asked.

Also Read | Sameer Wankhede a Hindu dalit, Nawab Malik must stop defaming him and kin: Athawale

Further targeting Wankhede, he said: Wankhede's attire is very expensive. The wardrobe that he wore these days, the cost is at least in croreshe does not repeat shirts and pantsI will show the proof. I hope that honest people should see this type of growth.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on Tuesday shared a light moment during their maiden formal meeting here when the latter informed the Indian leader about his popularity in Israel and invited him to join his party.

Prime Minister Modi met Bennett on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit here on Tuesday during which they reviewed the bilateral ties besides exchanging views about expanding cooperation in areas of high-technology and innovation.

Modi and Bennett's maiden formal meeting came after their brief interaction on Monday during the climate conference.

Also read: PM Modi holds fruitful meeting with Israeli Premier Bennett; review bilateral ties

According to a video shared on social media, Bennett told Prime Minister Modi, "you are the most popular person in Israel."

Replying to the comment, Modi said, "thank you, thank you."

Israel's PM Bennett to @narendramodi: You are the most popular man in Israel. Come and join my party pic.twitter.com/0VH4jWF9dK  Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) November 2, 2021

Bennett further asked Modi to join his Yamina Party.

"Come and join my party," Bennett said, as the two leaders laughed and shook hands.

Earlier, recalling their brief meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Modi said that the people of India deeply value the friendship with Israel.

"Enhancing friendship with Israel. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @naftalibennett had a fruitful meeting in Glasgow. Both leaders discussed deepening various avenues of cooperation for the benefit of our citizens, the Prime Ministers Office tweeted.

Enhancing friendship with Israel. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @naftalibennett had a fruitful meeting in Glasgow. Both leaders discussed deepening various avenues of cooperation for the benefit of our citizens. pic.twitter.com/QnzdCmgijT  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 2, 2021

The meeting between Modi and Bennett comes after Jaishankar, during his visit to Israel last month, extended an invitation to the Israeli premier on behalf of Modi to visit India.

According to Israeli media reports, Bennett, who became prime minister in June this year, is likely to visit India next year.

India and Israel elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to Israel in July 2017.

Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the 'Make in India' initiative.

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Back in 2007, the UN Development Programmes (UNDP) Human Development Report issued a warning that remains prescient as the 26th UN Conference of Parties (CoP26) on climate change. As the world reels from the combined effects of a global pandemic and increasingly frequent extreme climatic events ranging from cataclysmic flooding, devastating droughts to raging forest fires, the question is whether global leaders gathered in Glasgow will commit to comprehensive climate action.

The 2007 report was categorical about the cost of global failure to act decisively: Failure will consign the poorest 40% of the worlds populationsome 2.6 billion peopleto a future of diminished opportunity. It will exacerbate deep inequalities within countriesIn todays world, it is the poor who are bearing the brunt of climate change. Tomorrow, it will be humanity as a whole that faces the risks that come with global warming. A few paragraphs later, the report highlighted that the failure to act cooperatively on climate change would represent not just a failure of political imagination and leadership, but a moral failure on a scale unparalleled in history.

It is time to acknowledge that the consequences of a global failure to act decisively have been known to, and will continue inexorably, to be borne by millions of people in the poorest households, communities and countries. Within the UN context, climate change was identified more than 30 years ago as a global challenge when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by the Government of Malta, recognising climate change as a common concern of mankind.

After decades of intergovernmental negotiations, the planets future was thought to have resided in the promise of the 2015 Paris Agreement (PA) which was universally acclaimed as the first fully inclusive yet completely voluntary climate accord. Three of the worlds largest aggregate greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters  China, the US, and India -- ratified the PA, which entered into force in November 2016. Interestingly enough, the PA is not a legally binding treaty holding ratifying countries accountable to their pledges. Instead, the PA hinges entirely on the level of ambition of the independent, voluntary, national pledges of climate action referred to as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Now, as CoP26, which has been called the worlds last best chance on climate change negotiations, gets underway, failure is not an option. Can global leaders summon the leadership, discipline, trust and teamwork that is necessary or will they leave the world on the precipice of disaster represented by a moral failure of leadership on a scale unparalleled in human history?

On April 22, 2021 (Earth Day), US President Joe Biden made a historic announcement, setting a target for the United States to achieve a 50-52% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The target is consistent with Bidens goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050 and of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Bidens announcement was grounded in ambitions calling for clean technology infrastructure and innovation, and it was far-reaching in calling for fuelling an economic recovery that creates sustainable jobs and, equally importantly, seeks to advance environmental justice. It was meant to seal Bidens legacy as a global environmental leader. But now, with his Build Back Better Plan whittled down to $1.75 trillion, and still no agreement in sight as he participates in the high-level segment of CoP26, what remains to be seen is whether President Biden can persuade other key aggregate GHG emitters to commit to scaling up action.

China published its long-awaited NDC just days before the start of CoP26. Chinas emissions are expected to peak by 2030 and be reduced to net-zero 30 years later. Compared to Chinas 2015 NDC, modest progress has been tracked. But Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending CoP26. Russian President Putin has also indicated that he will be a no-show. This means that all eyes are now on the role of India  the worlds third-largest aggregate GHG emitter  and Prime Minister Modi, who is attending the conference. India has not yet submitted its NDC, so it is still unclear what Indias commitment to climate action will be.

Meanwhile, the ClimateActionTracker.Org has released a list of countries that have signalled their intent to not update their 2030 NDC targets or have signalled that they will only re-communicate their existing NDC with no significant change in emissions ambition. The list includes Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and the Russian Federation -- all of whom are significant aggregate GHG emitters. So now, all those around the world who are watching and waiting to see the outcome of CoP26 need to ask a discomfiting query: Is failure an option that most global leaders have already decided on?

(The writer is a climate change and clean energy consultant)
This farmer couple turned adversities of the Covid-induced lockdown to their advantage.

They have created jaggery from pineapple juice, moving away from sugarcane juice, the conventional raw material. They had earlier prepared jam out of this fruit.

Progressive farmer-turned-entrepreneur Nagendra Sagar from Chippali village in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district and his wife Vanishri have also prepared sweets like holige, burfi, laddu, halwa, tambittu and todedevu with the semi-liquid jaggery.

These have already become a hit among friends and villagers. According to the couple, the shelf life of the semi-liquid jaggery is six months. The couple are sharing the jaggery recipe with pineapple growers and villagers so that they can earn revenue from the product.

Unripened fruits from the district find their way to the shops in Delhi, giving another revenue option for the growers.

Nagendra Sagar told DH that he is basically not a cultivator of pineapple.

However, he wants to create a revenue-generation model for around 56,000 metric tonne of pineapple (raja variety) grown on 1,400 hectares of land in Sagar and Sorab taluks of the district.

The cultivators suffered huge losses during the lockdown last year as there was no demand from juice outlets and fruit-based industries in North India.

Explaining the preparation, Vanishri Sagar said initially, ripened fruit has to be cut into slices and sugar should be added to them. They have to be kept in a vessel for one day without adding water.

The next day, the juice has to be boiled at a particular temperature for several hours.

The juice then turns into semi-liquid jaggery, which can be used to prepare any sweet dish. The slices have to be placed in a dehydrator and the dry fruit has a huge demand in the market, Vanishri said.

The Soans brothers, L C Soans and Irwin Soans from Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district, said dried pineapple and jam prepared by them are being sold in the district now. They said wine and vinegar can also be prepared from pineapple.

Pineapple cultivator Abdul Kareem from Banavasi in Uttara Kannada district told DH the fruit can be used in making fruits cocktail.
In a setback to the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government, the saffron party lost the Hangal assembly constituency bypoll to the Congress on Tuesday, a seat located in the chief ministers home district of Haveri.

However, a thumping victory in the Sindagi assembly bypoll gave the BJP something to cheer about.

They were the first assembly constituencies that faced elections after Bommai took charge as chief minister late July. He will soon celebrate 100 days in office.

In Hangal, Congress Srinivas Mane won by 7,373 votes against BJPs Shivaraj Sajjanar, a non-Lingayat winning a Lingayat-dominated seat.

Also read: Karnataka Bypolls: BJP wins in Sindagi, Congress leads in Hangal

BJPs Ramesh Bhusanur registered a convincing victory in Sindgi, gaining a lead of 31,185 votes against Congress Ashok Managuli.

A win in Hangal was important for Bommai to assert himself: the seat neighbours Shiggaon, which he represents. Also, Bommai campaigned in Hangal for 8-10 days and several ministers were deployed to ensure the BJPs victory. BJP's CM Udasi, who died in June, had won Hangal in 2018.

"I've taken this setback seriously. And, we will make corrections," Bommai said on the Hangal defeat. According to him, the BJP lost because it did not get votes from Udasi's support base. "Also, the Congress candidate Mane spent 2-3 years and worked during Covid-19 and other occasions. So, people supported him."

BJPs poll managers conceded that it was a tough election from the get-go. According to sources, there was some split in Lingayat votes because of initial confusion on the candidature of BJP's CR Ballari - he was convinced not to rebel - and consolidation of Muslim votes that helped the Congress. Sajjanar, the defeated candidate, was seen as former chief minister BS Yediyurappa's pick.

Read | With bypoll results, alarm bells ring for BJP in hill states

In Sindagi, everything seems to have gone as per the BJPs plan. It banked on two-time MLA Bhusanur, a Ganiga Lingayat, whereas discontentment in the Congress on fielding Ashok Managuli also added to it. Ashok, the son of late JD(S) MLA MC Managuli whose death necessitated the bypoll, was poached by the Congress.

The JD(S) strategy of fielding Muslims in both Hangal and Sindgi did not work and they lost their deposits.

The Congress sees this as a precursor to the 2023 Assembly polls. Its not a face-loss just for Bommai, but the entire BJP government, KPCC president DK Shivakumar said.

Also Read | Congress upbeat about bypoll results, says it still has in it to take on BJP

"The BJP's downfall has begun. Modi's popularity is waning. It's certain that the Congress will come to power in 2023," Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said. He mockingly said the BJP lost a seat in Bommai's backyard. "He said he's the son of that soil, the son-in-law, he'd get buried there and all such emotional talk. Still, people in Hangal voted for our candidate," Siddaramaiah said.

Bommai reminded Siddaramaiah that when he was the CM the Congress won the Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls, going on to lose them later. "These elections are at a particular time and on an issue."

Even Yediyurappa maintained that this was not a referendum on Bommai's leadership. "It's always a collective effort and we can't blame one individual. The Congress needn't fly high. The BJP will return to power with 140+ seats," he said.

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Released: November 1, 2021

Delaware County Elections has completed all preparations for the 2021 Municipal Election and is confident that voters will experience a safe, sound, and secure Election Day. Delaware County polling places will open at 7:00 a.m. and remain open until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2.

Over 400,000 Delaware County residents are registered to vote, with more than 45,000 vote-by-mail ballot requests approved and over 350,000 voters eligible to vote in-person at 428 precincts at 254 polling places within the countys 49 municipalities.

Vote-by-Mail Ballots: Where to Return Your Ballot and What to do if You Didnt Receive One

On Election Day, Delaware County voters who choose to cast their vote using their vote-by-mail (mail-in or absentee) ballot will have the option of using any one of more than 40 secured ballot drop boxes* located throughout the County, including the secure drop box at the Voter Service Center (201 W. Front St., in Media from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.). The complete list of drop box locations is available at delcopa.gov/dropbox.

Residents who have requested but not yet received a mail-in ballot can request a replacement ballot at the Voter Service Center. They are urged to arrive early in order to allow time for long lines and time to process the ballot to ensure they can cast their vote in a ballot box by 8:00 p.m.

Voters who did not receive their vote-by-mail ballot, or completed and mailed their vote-by-mail ballot but are concerned that their ballot may not be received by the Elections Department by the 8 p.m. deadline (postmarks will not be honored) are urged to visit their precincts polling place on Election Day, explain their situation to their precincts Judge of Elections, and cast a provisional ballot that will be counted if their vote-by-mail ballot is not received by the deadline. Voters who possess a vote-by-mail ballot on Election Day and decide they would rather cast their vote in person have a right to do so. Voters should bring their vote-by-mail ballot (and declaration envelope) to the polling place, have it destroyed by the Judge of Elections, and vote using a replacement ballot.

COVID-19 Precautions

Voters going to the polls on Election Day should be aware that each polling place will adhere to COVID-19 guidelines and orders issued by the State. Each polling place will be supplied with a PPE Kit, including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, wipes, disposable pens, and other equipment to protect the health and safety of residents and poll workers. Poll workers will be required to wear masks and will clean commonly touched surfaces after voters have cast their ballot. Social distancing of at least six feet will be expected both inside of the polling places and outside while voters are waiting in line.

In-Precinct Voting

Before heading to the polls, voters should be aware that some polling locations change from election to election. Voters should double-check the location of their polling place on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/pollingplace.

Voters are encouraged to review a Sample Ballot for their precinct before voting. This will help voters familiarize themselves with the candidates and reduce time spent voting at the polling place, which will expedite the process for all voters. Sample ballots can be viewed at delcopa.gov/sample.

New This Election: Two Ballots

Voters casting a vote-by-mail ballot are reminded that they will receive two ballots, clearly marked Ballot A (that lists all contests for state and local elections) and Ballot B (that lists judicial-retention questions). The Ballot A and Ballot B sheets should be returned together in the secrecy envelope, marked OFFICIAL ELECTION BALLOT. Voters are not required to vote both ballots but only those ballots returned in the privacy envelope inside the envelope that is signed and dated by the voter will be counted.

First Time Voters

First-time voters are required to show appropriate ID. A list of all acceptable forms of ID can be found at delcopa.gov/id.

Pre-Canvassing and Canvassing

Under the Pennsylvania Election Code, the County Board of Elections is charged with the duty to review the mail-in and absentee ballots that have been timely returned, determine which ballots may be counted under the applicable rules, and count those ballots that are determined to be valid. This process is referred to as the canvass. The portion that takes place before the polls close on Election Day is referred to as the pre-canvass.

The pre-canvass and canvass for ballots cast in Delaware County will be taking place in the Wharf building where the Delaware County Elections office is located, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester PA. The pre-canvass will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Election Day and will continue until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, at which point it converts into the canvass. The canvass will continue around the clock until complete. The pre-canvass and canvass are performed by Delaware County Elections staff, who will be working in shifts.

Delaware County Elections expects unofficial results will begin to be posted after polls have closed at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 2, and will continue to be updated going forward as ballots are counted, including provisional, military, and overseas ballots.

A live stream of the pre-canvass and canvass processes is being conducted at the Bureaus Wharf facility in Chester and will be available on the Countys Delco Votes! website. Unofficial election results and the live stream can be found at delcopa.gov/results.

Election Day Issues

Voters who have concerns regarding voting irregularities can call the Delaware County Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (8683).

Voters who witness what they believe to be criminal activity are asked to call the Delaware County District Attorneys office at (610) 891-4797.

* Voters should be aware that, per Pennsylvania state law, the third-party return of ballots is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter. Forms for designating someone to render assistance to a disabled voter can be found on our website.
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, attended a Budget engagement session with North West businesses today.



The event, hosted by The Derry Chamber of Commerce at the City Hotel Derry, was the first opportunity for businesses to discuss the details of the latest Budget and Spending Review and what they mean for public finances and the wider economy in Northern Ireland.



The session allowed businesses to engage directly with Mr Murphy and the Department of Finance team, to address concerns or issues shared by companies.



As the Executive prepares to move to a multi-year Budget 2022-2025 settlement, the event brought together business leaders in the North West with officials from the Department of Finance.



The Department of Finance is consulting with a wide range of businesses, industry groups and sector leaders right across Northern Ireland.



Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA said: I welcome the opportunity to engage with businesses in the North West today and to hear first-hand their views on the budget.



The reality is that the Spending Review has not delivered the necessary finances to do all that we need to do. There are significant pressures on public services. Our health service is under immense pressure with waiting lists at an unprecedented level. Businesses are facing skill shortages and increased costs.



While we are facing a cost-of-living crisis with rising food and energy costs, the increase in National Insurance and the cut by Westminster to Universal Credit.



The Executives priorities include; health, sustainable economic development, green growth and sustainability, and tackling inequalities. It will be challenging to deliver on all of these priorities given the limited funding available to us.



Despite the significant pressures facing us, I am determined to work collectively with Ministerial colleagues to produce a multi-year budget that delivers for citizens and businesses here. I look forward to continuing to engage with businesses in the time ahead as we work towards a Draft Budget.



During the meeting, the Chief Executive of the Derry Chamber of Commerce, Paul Clancy, made representations on behalf of the business community across the North West.



Mr Clancy said that ongoing consultation with business groups will be crucial as the Department of Finance prepares its draft budget before the end of the year.



He said: We were pleased to be able to bring together business leaders in the North West, Finance Minister Murphy, and departmental officials to discuss the budget process. This was an excellent opportunity for our members and businesses across the North West to engage directly with the Minister and make their voices and their concerns heard.



Last weeks Budget announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP made some positive steps for Northern Ireland including a planned reduction in air passenger duty, a rationalisation of alcohol taxes, and further allocation of funding through the Barnett formula.

"The Chancellor also made significant moves on business rates, which local businesses are keen to see replicated in Northern Ireland, and we hope that the Executive continues to work closely with businesses to support them as we emerge from the pandemic.



I again want to thank the Minister and the Department of Finance for taking this opportunity to engage with businesses in the North West and we look forward to working with the department as they bring forward a draft budget before the end of the year.


A more proactive approach to A-Level Irish language provision is to be taken by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The move follows the adoption of a motion on the issue brought before the monthly meeting of the local authority by Councillor Gary Donnelly (Independent).

Speaking to the Derry Now following the meeting, Cllr Donnelly said he was delighted his motion had passed.

He added: I hope now people will sit up and take notice and find a solution to this so no young person is disadvantaged.

It is a positive development. What we need now is the will from all of the stakeholders to ensure the situation in the city is rectified.

Cllr Donnelly's motion called on the council to recognise the detrimental impact this (lack and inaccessibility of A-Level Irish) may have on those affected, in terms of their education and general wellbeing, pathways to third-level education and career choices.

It also asked council to call on the Department of Education to engage with local schools, the Foyle Learning Community and others to explore solutions to ensure that students in local mainstream post-primary schools will not face barriers to learning and gaining qualifications in Irish.

In addition, council will now write to the Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen (DUP), the Foyle Learning Community and post- primary school principals accordingly.

Speaking on the motion, Cllr Donnelly quoted Derry-educated Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney, who said a knowledge of the Irish language was an essential element in the realisation of 'self- understanding, mutual understanding, imaginative enhancement, cultural diversity and a tolerant political atmosphere.'

Cllr Donnelly added: Seamus Heaney, was educated at a local school and was not the only Nobel Prize winner at that particular school, nor was he the only writer of international acclaim to attend that particular school.

Generations of trailblazers and leaders in all walks of life, arts, sports, science and public life were educated at Derry schools and for many, the learning of Irish was an integral part of their schooling, added Cllr Donnelly.

He added: We know of many people who have developed a passion for their native language through learning it at secondary school. Even if they never used the language after they left school, it opened up their minds to other aspects of culture and history.

Learning Irish shaped their identity and their thinking. Learning Irish at school got them involved in extra-curricular activities. Life-long friendships were forged during summers spent in the Gaeltacht.

We are also seeing the creation of new jobs and career opportunities in and around the Irish language, especially in the context of incoming legislation. This is encouraging for young people but they will only be able to access these exciting opportunities if the can access the proper courses to gain the appropriate skills.

It is somewhat ironic that in 2021, Irish as a subject is facing extinction in Heaney's Alma Mater. Secondary school students are facing barriers in spite of the fact Irish is thriving as a living language, as is evidenced by the growing Irish-medium school populations at nursery and primary level. My own son is being educated in the Irish-medium sector and he enjoys a good positive educational experience. I would hope his educational pathway will continue to provide him with as many opportunities and as much choice as possible, said Cllr Donnelly.

The councillor went on to reference the fact in this academic school year A-Level students in Derry had been denied the opportunity to study Irish because the A' Level could not be accommodated at their school or by the Foyle Learning Community.

He added: Barriers to choices of subjects at A-Level stage will not only impact on the pupils' pathways into third level education and career opportunities, there may also be implications for their general well-being, social relationships and personal development.

There is a wider conversation around the decline of languages in schools, however, this motion address the specific issues of the provision of Irish language learning for A-Level in this city.

I hope that engagement on the issue now will secure a solution to ensure, in the future, the pupils, will not face the barriers to their choice in attaining A-Level qualifications in Irish.

I fully appreciate the schools are facing multiple pressures and resources in the education system are under strain, however, where there is a will, there should be a way to accommodate the educational needs of our children and young people.

This is about the protection and promotion of a minority language and the State has a duty in this regard. In this instance, we are dealing with the protection and promotion of our native language but perhaps most importantly, we are dealing with the welfare educational and otherwise and otherwise of our children and young people, said Cllr Donnelly.

Cllr Donnelly observed the young people were already facing immense pressures as we emerged from the pandemic.

He concluded: We should do our best to ensure the maximising of opportunities for our youth. As the old Irish proverb says, 'Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si' (praise the young and they will flourish).

Supporting the motion motion, Cllr Patricia Logue (Sinn Fein) said her children had been part of the first Irish school in the city and four of her grandchildren were now Irish school pupils.

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Cllr Logue added: I know at first hand how children benefit including culturally and linguistically. It is right and proper with the imminent establishment of an Irish Language Act, schools and businesses recognise how important it will be to have resources to fully ensure opportunities and benefits that will arise in Derry.

It is imperative partner groups, such as the Foyle Learning Community, have plans in place to equip local pupils and the wider public with the skills they need today, to avail of these opportunities.

Also supporting Cllr Donnelly's motion, Maeve O'Neill (People Before Profit) said she also had been contacted by students who had not been able to study Irish at A' Level.

She added: It is an injustice and the Irish language has seen and been through many injustices, throughout many, many years.

I want to commend Irish language activists for keeping the language alive and I think it is really important, Irish can be studied at A-Level. Extra effort needs to made given the injustice the language has gone through.

Cllr Donnelly's motion was passed by a vote of 24 in favour and seven against.

Earlier in the meeting, Ulster Unionist Alderman Derek Hussey described the motion as the attempted imposition of colonial engineering.'

An SDLP amendment to Cllr Donnelly's motion, proposed by Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, also fell due to lack of support.

Addressing the council, multi-linguist, Cllr Seenoi-Barr said Irish was often politicised because it was associated with 'one community'.

She added: However, until the 18th century Gaelic was widely spoken among Presbyterians. Many are rediscovering their lost heritage.

Migrants have been involved in the promotion of the Irish language for over 160 years, starting with Mir Aulad Ali, founder member of the Preservation of the Irish Language Society in the 1860s. 120 years ago Timbuktu native Osman Tisani, learned Gaelic after he moved to Barna, Galway. Since then, there have been many more.
Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, has urged the Executive not to prolong the scene of MLAs having to beg Ministers to take action so families arent forced to choose between putting food on their tables or heating their homes.

The SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson was speaking in the Assembly at Stormont on a Rising Energy Costs motion.

He appealed to both the Communities and Economy Ministers to work together to establish an emergency support package to assist both low-income households and small businesses with spiralling energy costs this winter.

Mr Durkan highlighted the issues faced by households in Derry and the rest of the North saying that they were at a further disadvantage than their British counterparts as they were the only region without a Warm Home Discount Scheme.

He said: Rising energy costs is a global issue- in the context of the COVID pandemic and its economic fallout, these are indeed unprecedented challenges outside of any administrations control.

However, the weakened and significantly disadvantaged position the North finds itself, is not.

Citizens here have been set at an even further disadvantage compared to their counterparts in the UK, as the only region without a Warm Home Discount Scheme.

A scheme which offers 140 discount on gas or electricity bills for eligible claimants paid directly to suppliers- and has been described as a lifeline by fuel poverty experts. A lifeline which households here have been left without.

The North as an area with the lowest disposable income, battling high costs is a recipe for disaster.

Now households here have been hit with a double whammy  the end of furlough and cruel cut to Universal Credit.

These forecasted rises will leave thousand across the North struggling to heat their homes, access hot water and keep the lights on. The rise is completely unsustainable and will be the breaking point for so many.

I cannot comprehend the fact that in 2021, MLAs stand in this chamber today begging Ministers to take action so families arent forced to choose between putting food on their tables or heating their homes in the run up to Christmas.

Mr Durkan also pleaded with the Executive not to exclude small businesses in emergency energy proposals as the North could not afford to see such businesses being forced to close up shop as a result of soaring energy prices.

He added: I appreciate the focus of this motion is limited to assisting low-income households but I would like to see the Economy Minister explore the potential inclusion of small businesses in emergency energy proposals.

They too have borne the brunt of the pandemics economic fallout and have been hit heavy by the impact of rising energy costs. While household costs have been capped, businesses arent afforded the same safeguards.

The North cant afford to see local businesses who weathered the storm of COVID being forced to close up shop as a result of soaring energy prices.

Businesses going bust means the loss of more jobs, pushing more people into benefits and thus contributing to the poverty cycle. We can do and must do better than that.

The Communities Minister must work alongside her Executive colleagues to establish an emergency energy winter fund for struggling households to mitigate against the rising costs of living.

I understand a bid has already been made and discussions have begun with the Utility Regulator in regard to a fuel support package.

But we need to see this matter progressed as soon as possible and not held as a dangling carrot to be stripped away at the 11th hour.

Too many opportunities have been missed. We cant afford to deny families much needed support this winter.
Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has hit out at a DUP motion to establish a ring-fenced skill fund for the North of Ireland.

While agreeing with the sentiment of the proposal and calling for a focus on green transition, Mr Durkan pointed at the failures of successive DUP Economy Ministers to meaningful tackle the regional imbalance in the North West.

The SDLP Social Justice spokesperson insisted that Derry and the North West not only needed  an injection of cash but of people as well.

He said: Recovery from the COVID pandemic will shape and inform all policy in the time ahead as will the impact of Climate Change. Both will have and have had a profound effect on the local economy and how we do business here.

The ring-fencing of funds towards the investment in our workforce, its skills and the economy of the future is a necessity and offers a chance to make green recovery our primary focus.

The North could be a global leader in terms of renewable energies, work here has already shown others what can be achieved.

Any future skills strategy must invest in educating for the jobs of the future and special focus must be placed on incentivising and equipping small businesses to seize the opportunities presented by the green transition.

However, to turn to the key issue of regional imbalance, I lament that the DUP motion omits this crucial narrative.

Yet its more than just a tired narrative - the historic economic neglect in the North West perpetrated by over a decade of DUP/Sinn Fein leadership is proven and recognised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Sustainable job creation and substantial investment to tackle regional inequalities must form a core part of any ring-fenced skills fund as well as any further economic policy.

Derry has not only suffered decades of underinvestment but the piecemeal approach to University provision beggars belief.

That former Economy Minister, Diane Dodds should express her disappointment at 850 undergraduate places being moved from Belfast to Derrys Magee campus instead of Coleraine earlier this year, after six decades of fighting for investment confirms what we already knew.

Regional imbalance has been a political choice. I will continue to raise my voice and advocate for my constituents to ensure Derry gets it fair share.

As an area of high deprivation with among the highest unemployment levels across the UK, the removal of the Universal Credit uplift and end of furlough will see further pressure placed on the North West.

It has long been stated that coming out of unemployment reinstates a sense of pride and a sense of purpose  its high time Derry was given some of that pride back.

But that cant happen in a vacuum. In order to tackle long-term unemployment and the challenges posed by a post-Covid society, there needs to be a cross-departmental framework to strengthen the governance of skills policies.

The North needs not just an injection of cash but of people. A ring-fenced skill fund must focus on making our home an attractive place to live and work. It must strengthen support for businesses and employ a whole system approach.

Were not dealing with a lack of vision here but one of political willingness. Weve been given an opportunity to build back better and that means doing things differently.
Antim: Salman Khan pitched idea of a turban & beard for his cop character to make it different from Dabangg, Wanted

Bollywoods Bhaijaan Salman Khan has convincingly portrayed various characters on screen over his career of 33 years in the Hindi film industry. In that list of characters, there were many roles of cops which left a deep impact on the audience-- may it be Chulbul Pandey of Dabangg series, Radhe of Wanted or an undercover police officer in his last release Radhe. Well, once again Salman is all set to blow his fans away as an on-screen cop in Mahesh Manjrekars upcoming action thriller, Antim: The Final Truth.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aayush Sharma (@aaysharma)

In a recent chat with Mid Day, the director revealed how he and Salman had a talk to make the cop character look different. Manjrekar revealed. He has played a cop in so many films  the Dabangg series, Wanted [2009], Garv [2004] and Radhe. So, Salman and I sat down to discuss how to make this character different. It was his idea to give the character a turban. Salman decided to grow his beard; he was [against the idea of] wearing a fake beard because it restricts ones facial movements and affects the performance. He took a lot of trouble to do justice to the role.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aayush Sharma (@aaysharma)

Starring Aayush Sharma as gangster Rahulia and Salman as an honest inspector, Antim: The Final Truth is based on the 2018 Marathi film Mulshi Pattern. The film is all set to hit the big screen on 26th November, which is the last Friday of this month. Are you excited to enjoy the theatre experience once again?
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NEWCASTLE  Tria, at 12833 Newcastle Way, sold for a bit over $26.7 million, according to King County records.

The sellers were three LLCs associated with Jackson Square Properties of San Francisco, which acquired the property in 2017 for almost $24 million.





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KENT  An office building at 15215 S.E. 272nd St. in Kent sold for over $8.1 million, according to King County records.

The seller was Meridian South Professional Center LLC, which acquired the land in 2005 for under $700,000, then developed it.





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Student nurses in their fourth-year internship are to receive an increase in payments of about 12.5 per cent.

The Irish Times reported this increase will be one of a number of proposals put forward by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly which is aimed for fourth year nursing students during their 36-week internship in hospitals to earn approximately 80% of the starting salary of a qualified nurse.

Minister Donnelly is also planning to put forward a proposal to extend the timescale for payment of an existing 100 weekly placement grant for student nurses

This new initiative will cost about 6 million per year and Government parties have been briefed on the plans in the past few days.

This follows a review, known as the McHugh report, of student nurse payments commissioned by the the Minister for Health last year.

Right now, Student nurses receive less than 22,500 for their 36-week internships in hospitals during their fourth year and are the only healthcare students that get paid prior to qualification.

Student nurses are set to protest today, Tuesday 2nd, outside the Dail over the delay in publishing the report relating to their pay.
The South East will have its long-awaited university on 1st May 2022, it has been confirmed today.

Reacting to the announcement of the successful application for the Technological University of the South East (TUSE), which will merge IT Carlow with Waterford Institute of Technology, Deputy John Paul Phelan said the multi campus university brings massive potential for the entire region and he also hopes to see a TUSE campus in Kilkenny:

There have been many delays to this important project and I would now urge the Department of Further and Higher Education to work closely with both institutes, so that it can be accelerated in the coming months. The TUSE will increase student numbers, not to mention giving students from the locality greater choice for a top class third level education and locally-sourced university qualifications close to home. This will help to reduce the brain drain which has been so damaging in the past.

More than that, the economic impact for the entire region will be enormous, positioning it for growth on a scale that we could not have dreamed about twenty years ago. It will drive regional development and increase opportunities not only for students and staff but also enterprise and local communities across Carlow and Kilkenny.

Through continued investment, I hope to see footprint of IT Carlow increase in the coming years as the TUSE develops. Todays news is the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of IT Carlow and WIT and I want to congratulate all involved.

In April of this year, the chairs of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) Governing Body and Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow) Governing Body, on behalf of the governing bodies, management, staff and students of the two institutes, submitted an application to the Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris to become a technological university (TU).

Waterford Minister for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler TD, has welcomed the confirmation of TUSE.

Minister Butler said: This is a fantastic day and a quantum leap for higher education in Waterford. This announcement will ensure that those students graduating from Waterford IT in 2022 will do so with university qualifications.Technological University status for Waterford IT will increase higher education access and increase opportunities for students, staff, business, enterprise, and local communities in Waterford.

The reality in recent years is that thousands of students have left Waterford to attend university elsewhere. The brain drain of our best and brightest will now cease due the enhanced and equal educational opportunities that will be available on Waterford students doorstep.

Minister Butler continued: I would like to sincerely thank President of Waterford IT, Professor Willie Donnelly, the management teams, governing bodies and staff who have all made a significant contribution to todays announcement.



Upon entering Government, we knew that significant investment and political will would be required to drive this process and ensure Technological University status for Waterford IT. This has been a longstanding issue in Waterford for many years, many people have been involved in the process and have given their all to secure this giant step forward," she said.

Deputy Murnane OConnor commented, This is a great day for Carlow, Kilkenny and the South East region in general. Technological University of South-East Ireland (TUSEI) is set to start in May 2022.



The establishment of this technological university will have a huge positive impact on the south east in general. It will make the region a go-to location for top class third level education for students from across the country and even further afield.



"This is the culmination of decades of work and it will finally become a reality next year. TUs have the power to transform regions and the TUSEI will be a game changer for Carlow and Waterford," the Fianna Fail TD for Carlow and Kilkenny said.
A dog walker has told the trial of Stephen Penrose, who denies decapitating his friend and burying him in a shallow grave, that he saw "meat or flesh" when he used a stick "to root" around "a heavy briary" area of a Kildare woods near the Offaly town of Edenderry.

"I knew there was something in there that shouldn't be in there," Mick Kelly told the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court today.

Mr Penrose (38), of Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Phillip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016.

The trial has heard that Mr Finnegan went missing before his decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in a Kildare woods.

Mr Kelly, who lives in Rahin, told Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, that he took his two dogs Bobby and Jack for a walk in Rahin Woods at 8.10pm on September 2 2016. Bobby is a six-month-old Husky and Jack is a Terrier, he explained.

The witness said he had driven to Rahin Woods in his jeep and parked at the barrier, which was locked. He went in at the church and walked the loop around the forest with the two dogs, staying on the track. "I never have the dogs on the lead, the dogs do their own thing," he said.

Mr Kelly said he was getting towards the end of his walk when the two dogs "went off into a bushy and heavy briary" area.

"You wouldn't walk through it. I was calling them to come back and they wouldn't come back. I had to go and see where they were," he told Mr Grehan.

"Bobby was barking big time and so was Jack. I found them about 50 yards close to the church site further into the forest. They were jumping around, I couldn't stop them," he said.

The witness said he saw "something sticking out of the ground like a plant".

Mr Kelly said he always brings a stick with him and has a dog lead on his shoulder when he walks the dogs.

"I stuck the stick in it. I thought it was a bit of an ash tree root. I used the stick to root in behind it. I knew there was meat down there somewhere causing the dogs to bark. I saw meat or flesh on the stick when I put it into the ground and knew there was something in there that shouldn't be in there," said the witness.

Mr Kelly said he rang his brother Tom Kelly but he didn't answer. He then walked out of the woodland track and placed a big stone at the edge and hung a dog lead on the shoulder of a branch to mark the spot.

The witness said he also rang Leixlip Garda Station at 8.29pm but could not get through.

As Mr Kelly was walking back towards the road, he saw two men coming in his direction and recognised their voices. "They go shooting together, they knew something was up. I told them I thought I had found a body. I was a bit spooked," he told Mr Grehan.

He brought the two men to where he saw what he believed to be a bone and flesh. One of the men rang 112, said Mr Kelly, and they stayed until gardai arrived at the scene.

He agreed with Mr Grehan that it was bright when he had started his walk that evening but was dusky by the time that the remains were found.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Owens and a jury of eight men and four women.

In his opening address, prosecuting barrister Mr Grehan said that Mr Finnegan's decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in a Kildare woods. Counsel said Mr Finnegan had "certain troubles in the past" and had taken to wearing a protective vest.

The lawyer also told the jury in his opening address that attempts had been made to cut up and burn the body of Mr Finnegan, who had been missing for almost a month and who had met a "gruesome death".

Significantly, the barrister said, the jury will hear evidence that a bloodied glove was found in the woods which was a DNA match to the accused man Mr Penrose.

Evidence has been given that Mr Penrose's phone connected to a cell site close to the area where the victims body was found.

On Monday, Mr Penrose dispensed with what was his second legal team. However, later that day the accused "re-engaged" his solicitor Mr Michael French and junior counsel Mr Eoghan Weldon BL to represent him at trial.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Justice Alexander Owens informed the jury that Mr Penrose had "once again dismissed" the services of his legal team, which he said was not a matter relevant to their consideration.

Mr Penrose is continuing to decline to attend his trial, which is in its fourth week at the Central Criminal Court.
Student nurses and midwives held a demonstration outside Leinster House today and protested pay and conditions for student nurses.

At present, students completing their clinical placement from years 1-3 and the first semester of year 4 receive a weekly accommodation allowance of 50.79 per week and reimbursement of their travel costs.

Nurses who begin their 36-week internship in the second semester of fourth year receive an annual salary of 21,749-22,249.

What a turnout!



Thank you so much to everyone who showed up to tell the Government that it is time to #PayStudentNursesAndMidwives.



Our student nurses and midwives are the future of our health service. We need to do everything we can to ensure they want to stay in Ireland. pic.twitter.com/a7c26JSte3 November 2, 2021

Leo Varadker said it is the governments' policy to protect and support the continued education of all students, including student nurses and midwives.

A longer-term review of student nurse and midwives' allowances and internship pay has been conducted by Sean McHugh, and Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly will outline his plan regarding the report shortly, according to the Tanaiste.

The McHugh report was an independent report conducted by Mr. Sean McHugh, who looked at issues of allowances and pay for student nurses and midwives.

Leo Varadker said he understands the plan will propose a 12.5% increase in payment for student nurses and midwives during their internship year and a continuation of the pandemic placement grant.

He said there will be engagement between the Minister for Health and the HSE with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and SIPTU Health on the issue of pay for student nurses.

"It is an industrial relations issue and it is appropriate to have further engagement." added the Tanaiste.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called on the Minister for Health to provide the independent report to the INMO on behalf of student nurses and midwives.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: "The Minister has had the McHugh Report into student nurses and midwives pay and conditions on his desk for nearly three months and only for the fact that student nurses and midwives were taking to the streets today have we seen leaks of the report."

Ms. Ni Sheaghdha said: "How the Government treats student nurses and midwives who are scrubbing into work in these extremely difficult times for our health service will have a lasting impact on the recruitment and retention of nurses into the future.

"We cannot have our young nurses and midwives in training believe that their only option for decent treatment is to travel abroad."

The INMO said todays demonstration is not just about the pay and conditions for student nurses and midwives  it is about the future of our healthcare system.
For more than 90 years, The Eagle-Tribune Santa Fund has assisted those in need in the Merrimack Valley through generous contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals. This year the need is as great as ever.

Contribute
TURKCE OKUYUN

Turkish city Gaziantep to tackle environmental challenges

EBRD to help city develop comprehensive step-by-step investment programme

Bank committed to helping finance Turkeys green transition

Reinforcing its key role in financing Turkeys green transition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) joins forces today with the city of Gaziantep to help improve the urban environment and peoples lives. As part of this commitment, the city in south-central Turkey will join EBRD Green Cities, the Banks flagship urban sustainability programme, and develop a comprehensive investment plan.

Gaziantep, an historical trade and cultural centre, has a population of more than 2 million people and is home to half a million Syrian refugees - the second-largest Syrian community in Turkey after Istanbul. The municipality is committed to a sustainable urban transformation that will benefit all residents.

Fatma Sahin, Mayor of Gaziantep, and Nandita Parshad, EBRD Managing Director, Sustainable Infrastructure, formalised the agreement in London today. Ms. Sahin said: We are living in a new era in terms of local government  now is the time to focus on the green economy. One of the most important issues to consider while doing municipal work nowadays is the protection of the environment. I believe that we have taken important steps towards transforming Gaziantep into a green city. That is why this agreement that we have signed with the EBRD is very important to us. Together, we will make a great contribution to a better world.

Ms Parshad added: We wholeheartedly welcome Gaziantep into our flagship Green Cities programme. Together, we will identify, prioritise and connect environmental challenges with sustainable infrastructure investment and policy measures. I welcome Mayor Sahins forward-looking vision for the city and look forward to working together.

As a first step, the EBRD will explore the opportunity to invest in a solar project and help the city to integrate solar power into electricity grids.

In addition, the Bank will help Gaziantep to devise a Green City Action Plan, the backbone of the programme. It is a step-by-step investment plan, looking at how to climate-proof essential services, including solid waste, water, wastewater, street lighting, energy supply and transport. The Clean Technology Fund, part of the Climate Investment Funds, will finance the plans development.

Gaziantep, a longstanding partner of the EBRD, is the fourth Turkish city to join the Green Cities programme, after Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul. The Bank has previously financed Gazianteps acquisition of environmentally friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and has provided a loan for the construction of a state-of the-art hospital under a private-public partnership arrangement.

EBRD Green Cities is a fast-growing urban sustainability programme with a financing volume of 3 billion and, to date, includes more than 50 cities and municipalities. The programme was launched in 2016 to address the enormous environmental challenges presented by urban conurbations. EBRD Green Cities has won support from multilateral donors and attracted significant levels of co-finance.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Turkey and has invested more than 14 billion in the country to date, most of it in the private sector. Sustainability is at the heart of the Banks investment and policy engagement.
Update: Irish Water has said repair works to a burst water main in Fermoy cannot be commenced until tomorrow morning.

In a statement issued this evening, the company confirmed that in partnership with Cork County Council, they have attended the site of a burst water main at Kent Bridge in Fermoy.

Irish Water said that crews have isolated and closed off the flow of water and the area is being made safe.

#CorkTraffic Fermoy Bridge is currently closed in both directions due to an incident (looks like a burst watermain.) Please use an alternative route this evening. Emergency services are on scene. pic.twitter.com/yh2F26bxor  Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) November 1, 2021

They said that customers in the north of the town can expect supply interruptions until the repair is complete.

Due to the location of the burst on a bridge, Irish Water said repair works are complex and need to be carefully carried out.

They said because of the need for extensive traffic management at the site and for the safety of dedicated water services crews, the repair of the burst main cant be commenced until early tomorrow morning.

They added that it typically takes two to three hours following repairs to restore normal supply to all customers affected by an unplanned outage.

Pat Britton, Irish Water, commented:

"Irish Water and Cork County Council immediately dispatched crews to make the area safe.

"The repairs will be conducted as quickly and efficiently as possible early tomorrow morning, we aim to minimise disruption to the area and restore water for all customers.

"We understand the inconvenience unplanned outages can have on customers and we appreciate your patience as we work to restore normal water supply as quickly and as safely as possible."

The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact Irish Water on Twitter @IWCare with any queries.

Earlier: Kent Bridge in Fermoy is reportedly closed to traffic while emergency services deal with an incident.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed that Gardai are at the scene of an incident on Kent Bridge "in a traffic management capacity".

Part of the footpath has collapsed on #Fermoy bridge this evening. Advise anyone to take the motorway and bypass the town instead pic.twitter.com/GiTfM1Ewxs  Louise Bunyan (@louloubunyan) November 1, 2021

Footage circulating on social media shows the bridge flooded as it appears a water mains has burst.

Motorists are being advised to use an alternative route.

In a statement on its website Irish Water said it is "currently investigating reports of a supply disruption to Ashe Quay, Crann Ard, Dublin Road, Pike Road, Fermoy and surrounding areas in Cork".

More to follow as we have it.
A Cobh man who made a death threat to a woman and her children will be sentenced next week.

The case against 36-year-old John Paul Hastings was listed for sentencing on Monday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

However, his barrister, John Devlin, asked for a one-week adjournment of sentencing.

President of the Circuit Court, Judge Patricia Ryan, granted that application and remanded Hastings in custody until November 8.

Mr Devlin said Hastings had been previously remanded in custody because he does not have an address.

The background to the case was that the accused was involved in a violent disturbance outside a house and as he spilled petrol from a motorbike he threatened a mother-of-four  One strike of a match and its Bye-bye kids.

John Paul Hastings, 36, who was previously living at Riverside Avenue, Cobh, County Cork, pleaded guilty that on May 2/ May 3 2020 he threatened a woman that she and her children would be killed or seriously harmed at their home in Cobh.

Sergeant Tony OFlynn said that shortly before midnight on May 2 last year, the woman was at home with her partner and four children and she had ordered a takeaway.

She heard a noise at her front door and thought it was the takeaway delivery.

She opened the door to see John Paul Hastings who was extremely intoxicated and agitated.

There was a small motorcycle outside the house which he knocked over, spilling petrol on the ground and made the threatening remark about the children.

Sgt. OFlynn said Hastings left the area only to return carrying a knife.

Gardai from the armed support unit were called to arrest him.

The family living at the house were so concerned that even though they had settled in the area over a period of six years they moved to an alternative location when this occurred.

It was previously noted in this case from a background report on the accused that when he goes out of control he goes significantly out of control.

Sgt. OFlynn agreed with that assessment and said, There is no intermediate level.
Christmas shoppers were alarmed by the sight of two men out on the middle of the road in a violent afternoon fist fight where a hammer was also produced and now one of the culprits has been jailed.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of three years with half of it suspended on Edmond OSullivan, 30, of no fixed address and formerly of Inchera Lawn in Mahon.

Edmond OSullivan was caught on CCTV in what Garda Ian King described as a public display of violence in the middle of Barrack Street in Cork.

The 30-year-old had brought the hammer to the scene but then stashed it behind a parked car.

The man he was fighting was the one who picked it up and wielded it during the fight.

When Edmond OSullivan was leaving the scene of the violent affray he saw the partner of the man he was fighting arrive on the street. He reacted by punching her once in the face, injuring her.

Arising out of the violent incident he pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at a flat on the street, engaging in an affray on Barrack Street and assault causing harm to the woman who is in her 30s.

OSullivan was recently released from custody when a long-awaited place became available for him in a rehabilitation programme at Coolmine in Dublin.

However, when he arrived at the centre he said that he saw the woman he was accused of assaulting  as she was also rehabilitating  and he reacted by leaving the centre immediately and returning to Cork.

Garda King said OSullivan was arrested soon afterwards and returned to custody.

Garda King said the violent fight on the street occurred between 4.30pm and 5pm on December 13 last at a time when the city was very busy with afternoon shoppers  many of them families with children.

He said the woman who was punched in the face was not involved in the previous incident and just arrived on the scene.

Garda King said it was an unprovoked one-punch assault.

Defence barrister, Donal OSullivan, said, The defendant had a long difficult background. He is of no fixed address and is addicted to a number of substances. Not being insulting to anyone, his backgrounds in terms of his parents is that they were of no assistance to him.

Looking at the life he had growing up it would not be any surprise to see where he ended up. He has developed addiction problems.

Judge Boyle noted from the evidence that the gardai received numerous 999 calls about two men fighting with a hammer.

The judge also referred in her judgement to the defendants 11 previous convictions for burglary, two for carrying weapons, six for assault, two for assault causing harm and three for robbery.

Judge Boyle said the two men were fighting over who was entitled to stay at the particular flat on Barrack Street and it later transpired that neither of them was entitled to reside there.

Garda King previously said in relation to Edmond OSullivan, He was identified as the person who started the altercation and that he assaulted (the woman) by punching her in the face, and that he smashed windows at 143 Barrack Street causing 2,500 in damage.

Garda King said the accused did not show much regard for people who were out and about doing Christmas shopping on the day.
Pitchfork, online music magazine brand commonly associated with an eclectic and alternative curated musical sensibility, will throw its inaugural London-based festival starting next week!

Playing host to a series of bespoke individual events across the city, as opposed to merely one festival location, the Pitchfork London 2021 event boasts exclusive live performances featuring over fifty artists including Stereolab, Moses Boyd, Black Midi, Metronomy (launching their new album), Tirzah, Anna Meredith, Mykki Blanco & more.

The London incarnation will play back-to-back with Pitchfork Music Festival Paris (itself running November 16-20) and will feature a mix of unique, one-off individual performances, collaborations, special showcases and curated multi-act line-ups. Metronomy launch their new album, the PC Music label present "Love Goes On" - a showcase from the label & friends at Fire Nightclub, plus vital contemporary talents Anna Meredith, Mykki Blanco and more will top curated bills at Fabric and Village Underground respectively. There will be a late night Friday appearance at the Southbank Centre from breakthrough art-rock band Black Midi, plus more other special weekday events.

The weekend then turns to multi-act festival line-ups: Stereolab make a rare London appearance to headline the Roundhouse (14th November) featuring the likes of Girl Band, Beak>, Ana Roxanne and more, whilst Moses Boyd, Nilufer Yanya, Emma Jean Thackary & Cktrl will play Hackney Church (13th November), and Tirzah, Koreless, Mica Levi's Good Sad Happy Bad project and many more appear on a club-orientated line up across 3 x venues in the Oval Space compound (13th November).

Tickets for each event will be sold separately. Tickets in partnership with DICE will be available from http://pitchforkmusicfestival.co.uk/.

eFestivals will be covering some of the events and will review shortly.

The forum link for the discussion is here.
The three Hanson men of Clifton share the same name, from left, Edward Jr. (Ed), Edward III (Skid) and Edward IV (EN). They also share a passion for trucking, farming and family.
Sandra Ellen Dunn Locke of Elkmont, Alabama, passed away at Cape Canaveral Hospital on October 31, 2021. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Sandra is survived by her husband, Anthony Locke and their daughter, Ashley Norman; her son, Andrew Tybergh
Meta (Facebook's parent company) has joined other major tech companies in making more climate change pledges as the UNs COP26 summit commences. Along with taking measures to reduce its own carbon footprint, Meta is focused on "helping people find accurate, science-led information, while also tackling misinformation," according to Nick Clegg, Meta's vice-president of global affairs and communication.

The company says that when its fact-checking partners rate a piece of content as false, a warning label is added and the post pops up less often on users' News Feeds. There's a keyword detection feature that Meta switches on during "critical public events" to help fact checkers find relevant content faster. This will be enabled during COP26 to help fact-checkers in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, German, French and Dutch find and debunk climate misinformation more quickly.

The Climate Change Information Center, which debuted last year to provide users with knowledge from experts on the issue, is now being rolled out to more countries and it will soon be available in more than 100 territories. The hub will also show national greenhouse gas emissions alongside countries' targets and commitments to perhaps make governments more accountable. On top of that, in more than a dozen countries, Facebook is expanding its use of labels on climate change posts to direct users to the center.

The UN will soon update its ActNow chatbot on Messenger, Instagram and its website to suggest 10 more actions users can take to fight combat change. There are new camera stickers on Messenger, Instagram and Messenger Kids that aim to help users "strike up a conversation" about climate change.

In addition, Meta is starting up a program to help businesses that use its apps reduce their carbon footprint and adopt more sustainable practices. The Green Boost for Small Businesses project will start this month in the UK and Spain, primarily centered on food producers, restaurants and the hospitality sector. Meta will broaden the program to Italy, France and other nations in 2022.

Elsewhere, Meta says it's a founding member of the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance. The group's goal is to push toward net zero air travel by investing in sustainable aviation fuel.

These efforts are intended to complement internal actions Meta has undertaken to combat climate change. The company hit net zero carbon emissions in 2020 and as of earlier this year, it's using 100 percent renewable energy. Other environmentally conscious efforts include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 97 percent in the last four years and supporting measures to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Like Microsoft, Meta aims to restore more water than it uses by 2030.
A cryptocurrency inspired by Squid Game successfully enticed enough investors to see its value soar to over $2,800... before its creators cashed out and vanished. The cryptocurrency called $SQUID, which wasn't officially sanctioned by Netflix, launched in late October and rose up to 310,000 percent in value within just a few days. It was sold supposedly as a way to play an upcoming online game based on the South Korean series, in which people buried in debt are forced to play a deadly game.

At 5:40AM on Monday morning, however, the coin's value plummeted to $0, its website disappeared (you can view an archive here) and its Twitter account got blocked. As Gizmodo explained, its creators staged what's called in the crypto world as a "rug pull," wherein the coin's creators cash out for real money and disappear. The scammers may have made off with as much as $3.38 million.

There were multiple signs that the cryptocurrency was a scam from the start  people merely missed or ignored them, perhaps due to the promise of a game based on the popular Netflix show. Its website was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, and as Gizmodo pointed out, people were able to buy coins but weren't allowed to sell them.

This isn't the first time a coin based on a pop culture phenomenon was launched, and it won't be the last. While some may be legit, those interested to invest in them will have to keep an eye out for signs of fraud. Just earlier this year, a cryptocurrency based on The Mandalorian turned out to be a scam, as well.
2021 - 2021 The services for infant Ellie Faith Nance will be held at noon Saturday, November 20, 2021, in the Central Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow in the Kremlin Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Ellie Faith Nance was born November 17, 
With the machinery of international trade slowed, business leaders are ditching, at least temporarily, overseas partners and the conventional wisdom of the global economy in favor of reliability, even if it costs more.

Some are moving workers and production facilities closer to home and relocating plants closer to suppliers. Others are buying their suppliers or bringing former contract work in-house.

Its about control. I want to have more control in an uncertain world, said Ellen Kullman, chief executive of 3-D printing company Carbon Inc. and the former CEO of DuPont.

For more than a generation, many executives at large multinationals have pursued a tested strategy: securing inexpensive manufacturing in distant locales, outsourcing many low-skill jobs and relying on just-in-time production and ocean transportation to grind down costs.

But since the pandemic, many companies have had trouble getting raw materials as well as hiring production workers and booking space on shipping vessels. Input shortages and supply line bottlenecks are disrupting the availability and quality of goods and services for everything from sneakers to airline flights to breakfast hours at McDonalds.

Ms. Kullman, who also is a director at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Dell Technologies Inc., said some of her customers in automotive, medical and consumer durable goods, industries that rely on manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia, increasingly want a presence in the Americas.

Theyre realizing, right now, theyre losing business because theyre kind of stuck with a very long, very efficientbut very inflexiblesupply chain, Ms. Kullman said.

There are some people who are saying, Look, what I need is short term because this is never going to happen again,  she said. Then there are other people who are saying, This is going to happen more often than we think. The world is a very different place, and its not just the pandemic. Its natural disasters. Its the floods down in the South. Its tornadoes, its hurricanes.

Supply-chain troubles at Benetton, the Italian clothing company, hit chief executive Massimo Renon in September. He tried to order a blue peacoat on the companys website and found it was out of stock.

I was asking my team, How can that be?  Mr. Renon said. And they told me, very openly, raw materials are late, logistic transportation is a mess, production cost is increasing dramatically, control of the supply chain is impossible.

The company has since decided to boost manufacturing in Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, away from less expensive but more distant locales such as Thailand. It is a reversal of the decadeslong shift by many apparel companies to Asian factories that offered low-cost supplies.

Delta Air Lines Inc. discovered during the pandemic that its contractors couldnt find enough people to clean planes or push wheelchairs in U.S. airports. The airline hired its own.

Im not waiting for them, Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in August. Ive in-sourced it, and Im not looking back.

Delta hired thousands of airport employees in the past months, Mr. Bastian said, paying entry-level wages generally higher than those offered by contractors. Many business leaders are waiting for the labor market to loosen, he said. But he isnt holding his breath.

I think a lot of people have retired. I think a lot of people have moved, Mr. Bastian said. If youre running a hotel and you cant find staff, well, staff isnt going to show up magically. You got to go out and you got to be creative.

In-house supply

Home builder PulteGroup faces daily shortages of such essentials as windows, paint and appliances. To keep work sites going, the company sometimes has to retrieve available materials from spots across the U.S.

We also have to be flexible and creative in sourcing materials even if this means spending additional dollars, Chief Executive Ryan Marshall said on a conference call last week.

The Atlanta-based company is building an automated manufacturing facility in South Carolina, set to open next year. The plant is intended to make up for a shortage of skilled workers expected to continue over the next decade. It will be Pultes second off-site facility to assemble components for its homes. The first, acquired last year and located in Jacksonville, Fla., makes wall panels, floor systems and roof trusses, which also have been in short supply.

Youre in a bit more control of your destiny by having your own facilities, Mr. Marshall said. The company plans to build six to eight of the factories in coming years, he said, but even that wont eliminate uncertainty. The company needs raw materials, he said, and, clearly, those are in short supply.

Shipping delays and trucking bottlenecks are making many companies rethink geography for every part of their operations. Multinational companies got an early shock in the pandemic when border closings, local restrictions and lockdowns caused chaos. Some have decided on permanent solutions.

Majestic Steel USA, which processes and distributes flat-rolled steel for a number of industries, has used acquisitions to broaden its footprint to the West Coast, adding to locations in Ohio, Nevada, Florida and Texas.

We want to be closer to our customers, whether because of trucking capacity or just the pure challenges and impediments in the supply chain, said Dave Kipe, Majestics chief operating officer.

The company also is trying to close the distance from suppliers. In August, Majestic committed to building a 515,000 square-foot facility on the grounds of a Nucor Corp. steel mill in Arkansas.

We get a lot of steel from Nucor, Mr. Kipe said. Instead of shipping it to Cleveland, we will be much closer to the site and can reduce lead time.

Disruptions from hurricanes and other severe weather also figure into production decisions.

Sherwin-Williams Co. decided to buy one of its suppliers with operations far from the Gulf of Mexico, where bad weather has hampered production.

The paint maker has cut its 2021 earnings and sales projections because resin suppliers, hurt by Hurricane Ida this summer, are taking longer to resume production. By acquiring Specialty Polymers Inc., which has facilities in Woodburn, Ore., and Chester, S.C., Sherwin-Williams can increase output and reduce severe-weather risks, executives said.

These plants on the East Coast and West Coast get us out of the heavy reliance on the coast down in the Louisiana, Houston area, Sherwin-Williams Chief Executive John Morikis said in a September conference call.

Closer to home

At Benetton, executives spent the summer studying how to overcome delays and rising costs in its supply chain. About 58% of the companys production is in Asia.

Using third-party producers in Laos, Cambodia, China and Thailand is cheaper. But it requires regular visits to make sure manufacturing and materials meet quality standards, said Mr. Renon, the Benetton boss, and some aspects, such as production timing, arent under the companys control overseas.

The plan is to cut its Asia-based production by half in the next 12 to 16 months and move the work to countries on the Mediterranean. The shift will cut transportation costs, the company said, and travel times will fall from several weeks to one week.

Mr. Renon said he was confident the higher cost of production would be offset, in part, with better merchandise. Customers may buy less, he said, but they come to us when they want to have something based on quality.

Supply uncertainty is especially tough on young companies trying to get a foothold in their market. Bartesian Inc., a Chicago startup that makes a countertop cocktail machine, had to revamp its manufacturing strategy just as demand soared in the pandemic.

The company had a deal with Hamilton Beach to manufacture the machines in China, where Bartesian also planned to produce the recyclable capsules used to make drinks. The company last year scrapped its plan to make the drink capsules only in China, and it set up a second facility outside Chicago.

Weve learned that we need to have control, Bartesian CEO Ryan Close said. We cant be at the mercy of our suppliers.

Production in Chicago costs more than China, but the current shipping logjam would have likely left Bartesian empty-handed or losing money to import the products from overseas, Mr. Close said. The company was at stake.

If we run out of capsules, he said, we go out of business.

Thomas Gryta & Chip Cutter

: https://www.wsj.com
The failure of G20 leaders in Rome to hash out concrete ways to tackle climate change leaves a huge amount be done

Cop26, the un climate summit that began in Glasgow on Sunday, has got off to an inauspicious start. The city itself is grappling with a strike by rubbish collectors, who complain, among other things, of being attacked by growing numbers of rats. Incisors are being bared at the conference, too. On one side are the wealthy countries who want the summit to appear a success, but are loth to stump up the cash and commitments to make it so. On the other are the developing countries which feel the existential threat of climate change most keenly, and are unwilling to have their concerns smoothed over to make the conference look a success.

On Sunday the first tranche of 30,000 delegates gathered in the vast, spaceship-like conference centre in Glasgow for cop26s opening plenaries. Kicking off proceedings, Patricia Espinosa, the executive secretary for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, told countries that averting the worst consequences of climate change is entirely within our grasp, but that it depends on the completion of our work here.

At about the same time, 2000km to the south-east, leaders from the g20 club of mostly rich countrieswhich are collectively responsible for around 80% of current greenhouse-gas emissions worldwidewere wrapping up their own meeting in Rome. That summit was meant to galvanise international political leadership ahead of cop26. It failed to do so. After two days of negotiations the final statement on climate change was insipid, doing little more than reaffirm countries commitments to the goals laid out in the Paris agreement in 2015 to limit warming to 2C above pre-industrial efforts and pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5C.

They promised to end overseas financing for coal projects, though it has already largely been curtailed after China, South Korea and Japan, which provide 95% of such funding, already pledged to stop. No pledges were made about domestic coal use beyond a token commitment to support countries phasing it out, nor was a precise date for doing so agreed on. They promised to slash leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, again reiterating a commitment that has already been made. They recognised the key relevance of getting global net emissions to zero by mid-century but skirted round making 2050 the actual target for doing so. And they promised to strengthen national plans to cut emissions where necessary. New commitments were notably absent, as were concrete ways to achieve them.

Such wateriness can be attributed, at least in part, to leaders desire to kick off cop26 from a position of consensus, rather than acrimony. But it also highlights how difficult progress is to achieve. Leaders emerged from the meeting in Rome pointing fingers at each other. Joe Biden, Americas president, attributed the g20s shortcomings to a lack of meaningful participation by China and Russia, neither of whom sent representatives in person (and who do not intend to do so for cop26). Xi Jinping, Chinas president, dialled in by video to call instead for developed countries to take the lead on emissions reduction and to fulfil their long-touted promises of providing climate financing for developing countries. Boris Johnson, Britains prime minister, called countries commitments ahead of cop26 drops in a rapidly warming ocean but declared a call from Narendra Modi, his Indian counterpart, for g20 leaders to offer 1% of their gdp to help developing countries make the transition away from fossil fuels to be unlikely in the short term.

Negotiations between at least 120 world leaders begin in earnest today. The aim of the conferencedescribed by Alok Sharma, the cop26 president, as to keep 1.5 aliverequires agreement on both a marked reduction in emissions by the end of this decade and on the later implementation of schemes to remove already-emitted carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unlike Paris five years ago, Glasgow will be judged a success or failure according to what countries can actually deliver, rather than what they can simply promise. A huge amount remains to be done.

: https://www.economist.com
At the U.N.s COP26 climate conference, U.S. President Joe Biden sought to assure world leaders the United States would keep its promise to slash greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by the end of the decade.
Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Over the period from July to October 2020 I wrote and published three articles in my Walking Away series. My aim was to show readers a more complete picture of our predicament, to present some largely overlooked facts, and to alert readers to the dangers of following the course that political leaders across the globe had set for us.



In part one, as in my previous writings, I pointed out that we are presently confronted with a global multi-dimensional mega-crisis which global leaders propose to address with various techno-fixes that will do little to solve our problems but will further reduce individual freedom, free enterprise, and community control, and ratchet up the power and wealth of an elite super class that are determined to impose a new world order of mass surveillance, regimentation, and domination.



Now, more than a year later, it has become patently clear to anyone who cares to open their eyes that this is precisely where we are about to arrive. While we were assured that mask mandates were just a temporary precaution to slow the spread and flatten the curve, they have been continued by various governmental entities, medical facilities, and private businesses in many places including my home city and county where one must mask up to enter public buildings, even the public libraries. We were also assured that there was no need for vaccine mandates, and that medical passports would not be imposed, but now they are well on the way to becoming universal. If you think it will end with that, think again. Power and wealth have been so thoroughly concentrated in the hands of that super class who own and control the systems and institutions on which we all depend, that they are able to completely dominate the rest of us. Every new technology provides them with better tools to more effectively shape your perceptions, to monitor your every move; to control where you go, what you do, with whom you do it, and your access to everything you need. Everyone who is not a member of that relatively small class will be living in an open air prison.



Canada in the coming weeks is launching a standardized proof of vaccination credential for both domestic and international travel that will be required of everyone. Airline pilots in the US have been resisting similar moves by the US government and airline companies, but their attempts to block the mandates through the courts have so far been rebuffed.



Even more extreme demands are being made upon citizens in other places, like India. Just the first 5 minutes of this Jimmy Dore report is enough to show you the picture of what is being implemented there and is already programmed to be deployed worldwide. A social credit system similar to what has been operating for some time in China will be rolled out everywhere. As the old vaudevillians and early TV performers used to say, You aint seen nothin yet.



Primary features of the New World Order are transhumanism and the the Internet of Things (IoT) in which everything is wirelessly connected to the internet, including machinery, robots, livestock, pets, household appliances, and YOU. But as Microsoft describes it, The Internet of Things isnt just about connected devicesits about the information those devices collect and the powerful, immediate insights that can be garnered from that information. From a purely physical/material perspective, there may be some advantages to that, but who will have access to all that information, and how will it be used? Can they be trusted to use it to our benefit? Its obvious where this is heading: Today the medical passport, tomorrow the implanted chip that you will need to gain access to everything. Like the cattle in this video, you will be managed by your masters. Are you willing to surrender your life to a centralized Big Brother authority? Where will you draw the line? Do you want to be a thing in this brave new world?



We humans are more than physical bodies; there is a spiritual dimension to our existence, a force that gives us life, consciousness, intellect, emotions, creativity, and free will. Another civilization is possible and it has been in the process of emerging for a very long time. It is a civilization that is being built upon better sentiments and values than fear, hatred, and limitless greed. It is a civilization in which the spiritual aspects of being are valued above the material.



The Worldwide Walkout

Now is the time to stand up and refuse to submit to the New World Order, the Great Reset, and the Brave New World that the oligarchs want to impose on us. Our rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of worship, freedom to refuse medical treatments, and all of the other hard won freedoms that have been the object of centuries of struggle are rapidly being stolen from us. We the people need to strongly express our refusal to submit. A Worldwide Walkout is happening this Wednesday, November 3. In this one minute video, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is urging everyone to get out onto the streets on Wednesday to make our resistance visible. I am suggesting that we need to go even further. While our actions must remain non-violent, our massive demonstrations need to be accompanied by non-participation in the system that has become totally corrupted. Lets make November 3 the day on which we begin to seriously withdraw from the old corrupt civilization by refusing, as much as we are able, to buy anything (and if you must buy something, pay for it using cash to preserve some shreds of financial privacy); lets refuse to go to work except only for critical jobs (in health care and other front line occupations); lets get creative and share other ideas for non-participation, and lets make this a recurring event that builds with each iteration.



Many workers, especially in the airline industry have been asserting their power by not showing up for work, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations and delays. On the heels of the massive disruptions to Southwest Airlines operations a few weekends ago during which thousands of flights were cancelled and many more delayed, similar disruptions have occurred to American Airlines just this past weekend. Most mainstream media blamed them on the weather but that is patently false. This local Dallas TV report at least was halfway honest in reporting: American Airlines Cancels 1000+ Flights Sunday Due to Weather, Staffing Shortages. Cancelled AA flights over the weekend reportedly numbered more than 2000 and the disruptions have continued into the workweek with an additional 400 flights cancelled as of early Monday morning. Staffing shortages in many other businesses and industries are further evidence that growing numbers of people are refusing to accept the increasingly onerous terms and conditions of employment and are just choosing to walk away.

We the people have the power. The system cannot stand without our consent and participation. Submission is our downfall. We must rise up and take action, not only for ourselves but also for our fellows who remain blind to the corrupting forces that have them still in thrall, and especially for our posterity, the Earth and the entire web of life. We are not alone, more people are waking up, and with courage, faith and compassion we can overcome the forces of tyranny and avert our descent into the totalitarian nightmare.



# # #
Ronald Wayne Schroeder, the ex-president of a Bank of San Antonio financing subsidiary, has entered into a plea deal in a fraud case that the institution says cost it $13.2 million.

Schroeder, who was indicted by a federal grand jury a year ago, has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The agreement was filed Monday but a plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Schroeder, 49, of New Braunfels, becomes the fifth and final defendant in the case to enter a plea rather than go to trial. Hes the only insider charged, however.

The five were indicted a few months after the Bank of San Antonio disclosed that it had uncovered a Ponzi-style fraud scheme involving Schroeder.

Mr. Schroeder is accepting responsibility for his actions by entering a plea in this matter, and continues to fully cooperate with the government in both the criminal and forfeiture actions, said Erica Benites Giese, one of Schroeders criminal defense lawyers.

No agreement has been reached yet regarding restitution, she added.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio bank reports a $13.2M Ponzi-style-fraud

Schroeder had headed the banks factoring subsidiary, Texas Express Funding. Factoring involves advancing cash to companies in return for acquiring, at a discount, the debts owed to them. This allows the companies to get money quickly instead of waiting for customers to pay their bills.

The factoring firm makes money on the difference between what it acquired the debts for and what the customers owe on the invoices. The firm is an extension of the banks commercial lending business.

According to the indictment, the four other defendants assisted Schroeder in providing false and misleading invoices from their companies to financial institutions for factoring.

The bank accused Schroeder of inducing it to purchase worthless receivables from various businesses. Bank officials alerted the FBI in May 2020.

Schroeder allegedly used the proceeds to buy automobiles, recreational vehicles, an airplane, a boat and a beach house.

In September, prosecutors received court authority for the U.S. marshals to seize and sell a 2007 single-engine Columbia 400 aircraft that Schroeder had ownership in.

SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

The Bank of San Antonio has a pending civil action against Schroeder and others in state District Court in Comal County.

Bank officials had expressed surprise in uncovering the fraud.

The fraud was contained inside Texas Express Funding and had nothing to do with our operating loan portfolio, bank Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. said last year.

The bank had a $10 million insurance policy to compensate it for losses related to the scheme.

Schroeder had a 30-year career in banking and receivable financing when he joined Texas Express Funding, a new arm of the bank, in November 2019.

Besides the conspiracy to commit bank fraud, Schroeder was indicted on five other counts. They were: conspiracy to commit money laundering; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments  which relates to knowing that property involved in a financial transaction represents proceeds from unlawful activity; and three counts of bank fraud.

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.

On ExpressNews.com: 4th defendant in San Antonio bank fraud case pleads guilty

The other four defendants already have pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Ryan Glenn Martinez, 57, and his mother, Phyllis Jo Martinez, 79, owned a San Antonio cleaning company called Nerd Factory. He pleaded guilty in May and she pleaded guilty in February.

Jill Martin Alvarado, 59, and her husband, Rigo Alvarado, 56, of Irving, pleaded guilty in March and April, respectively. They are co-owners of a trucking company called Alvy's Logistics.

All four are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Prosecutors have said they will recommend a sentence at the low end of the sentencing guidelines for each of the four. The defendants will be required to make restitution.

All of the defendants, save for Ryan Martinez, were released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. He was serving a prison sentence for an unrelated case, but currently is not the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. Its website lists his release date as November 2024.

pdanner@express-news.net
The Texas Medical Board last month took a corrective action against Houstons Dr. Stella Immanuel after she prescribed hydroxychloroquine to treat a patients COVID-19 infection without adequately explaining the health consequences, according to medical board records.

Immanuel, who gained national attention last year for pushing the drug as a cure for COVID, previously said that she used hydroxychloroquine to treat hundreds of patients. In numerous studies, COVID patients have experienced no meaningful benefit from the medication, and some research points to a greater risk of heart rhythm problems.

In an Oct. 15 decision, the medical board ordered Immanuel to submit proof of informed consent  or permission given by a patient who understands the possible health outcomes  for all off-label treatments she provides. She must adopt policies that require all consent documents to be reviewed and signed by the patient for off-label treatment. She also must pay $500 to the medical board.

FACT CHECK: President Joe Biden says people with COVID vaccination 'cannot spread it to you'

Immanuel could not immediately be reached for comment.

Medical board documents do not include any details about the patient who was prescribed hydroxychloroquine. It is unclear whether the medication caused any adverse health effects. Medical board spokesman Jarrett Schnieder said he could not provide further information.

The move is a corrective action that is considered non-disciplinary, according to medical board records. Immanuel appeared before board members in a June 12 video conference. She did not admit or deny the findings and cooperated with the investigation, the medical board said. A violation of the boards order could lead to discipline, the board said.

Born in Cameroon, Immanuel graduated in 1990 from the University of Calabar in Nigeria and completed a residency at a Bronx, N.Y., hospital.

The Texas Medical Board licensed Immanuel in November 2019 for pediatrics and emergency medicine with an address associated with the Rehoboth Medical Center in west Houston. She has no documented disciplinary actions or known complaints in Texas or Louisiana, where she was first licensed in 1998.

COVID-19 Dashboard: Key metrics for San Antonio and Texas

Immanuel first jumped on the national radar in July 2020 when she touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. A video of the event went viral, and former president Donald Trump retweeted it.

In later interviews, Immanuel revealed she is a preacher who leads Fire Power Ministries in Katy. She focuses on deliverance, or using rituals to cleanse people of evil spirits or demons. She has said she believes in alien DNA, and in 2013 she shared a video saying that certain womens diseases are caused by sex with demons in dreams.

Brooke A. Lewis and Samantha Ketterer contributed to this report.

julian.gill@chron.com
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  The family of a northern New Mexico man killed in September has asked the state Attorney Generals Office to take over the case, saying they have concerns that the shooter is receiving preferential treatment because he is related to two judges from the area.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that David Griego called 911 after he shot John Serna, 66, and reported he had done so in self-defense. The 70-year-old Griego said during the emergency call that Serna was about to attack him and that he had done so several times in the past.

Griego stayed on the line with an emergency operator and applied pressure to a gunshot wound on Sernas chest until help arrived.

No charges have been filed, and attempts to reach Griego for comment were unsuccessful.

We are wanting the process to be a little bit more timely, Sernas daughter, Sahra Martinez, said in a phone interview. Were wanting a closer look and for more attention to be focused on this so we can get some answers.

Todd Coberly, the familys attorney, recently wrote to the Attorney Generals Office, questioning the claim of self-defense and detailing a loss of confidence in 4th Judicial District Attorney Thomas Clayton.

Griego is the uncle of Judges Abigail Aragon and Michael Aragon, siblings who serve on the district court in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The court's executive officer Brenden Murphy declined on behalf of both judges to comment.

Coberly wrote that Sernas family is concerned Griego is being given preferential treatment given his relationship to the Aragons.

The Attorney General's Office said it was aware of Coberlys request but that a district attorney's office normally would have to decline to prosecute to clear the way for the attorney general to take over.

Clayton, the district attorney whose territory encompasses Mora, San Miguel and Guadalupe counties, said in a phone interview that Griegos relationship to the judges has no bearing on the case and that the investigation into Sernas death is ongoing.

Many factors come into play as to what charges will be filed, Clayton said. Sometimes it takes a period of time.

Griego told the 911 operator he fired three shots at Serna but said he believed only one of the bullets had struck him, in the chest.

Coberly said initial information from the state Office of the Medical Investigator revealed Griego also suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Court records confirm the two men  who were neighbors in a small Mora County settlement called Ledoux  had been feuding for decades. Records also show the Aragons recently recused themselves from a lawsuit involving Griego.
Sujata Jana / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

A man wearing a Fred Flintstone costume who was attempting to attack passing vehicles with a spear was struck and killed by a car on the Northeast Side early Tuesday, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

The unidentified man attempted to attack passing vehicles with a spear around 6:10 a.m. at OConnor Road and Randolph Boulevard, according to police. Both Live Oak Police and San Antonio police responded to the call.
Paula Mendez Boyd was 75, a beloved H-E-B deli specialist everyone knew as Paulita.

She was beaten, strangled and robbed, a jury Tuesday learned at the start of the capital murder trial of R.C. Curtis, 36, the husband of her granddaughter.

San Antonio police who had been called to check on her found her dead  nude and bloody  in the bedroom of her Northwest Side apartment around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2015.

Days later, Curtis was arrested after authorities realized Boyds credit cards were still being used.

Prosecutor Daryl Harris told jurors in his opening statement that co-workers called police about an hour and a half after Boyd didnt show up for her shift at the H-E-B on Interstate 10 and De Zavala Road. She had worked there more than 20 years.

On ExpressNews.com: Man charged with capital murder in death of 75-year-old H-E-B employee in San Antonio

Courtesy

The Bexar County Medical Examiner determined Boyd died of blunt force trauma and strangulation.

She was a deli lady. Her H-E-B co-workers loved her, Harris said. They knew Ms. Paula never didnt show.

Boyd lived just two blocks from the store, he said.

Boyd had been beaten, sexually assaulted and robbed, Harris said.

In the days after her death, her daughter, Brenda Boyd Perez, a co-holder of a bank account with her mother, notified police about bank card activity, including an ATM card, the day of her mothers death and afterward. Authorities collected video from a store that showed Curtis using Boyds cards. Other men did, too.

Its my family card. Buy yourself something at Walmart, Harris said Curtis told a man to whom he owed money.

Because the killing happened in the course of a robbery, Curtis was charged with capital murder. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office is not seeking the death penalty.

Harris, standing before Curtis near the defense table in the 187th District Court, pointed at the defendant and promised jurors they would hear that DNA evidence taken from Boyds body cannot exclude that man.

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Jessica Phelps /San Antonio Express-News

Defense attorneys J. Charles Bunk, Richard E. Langlois and Kelly McGinnis reserved their opening statement for when they begin presenting their case.

San Antonio Fire Department Batallion Chief Will Pritchett testified he was working out of Station 51 near UTSA when firefighters were called to Boyds residence.

After pronouncing her deceased, Pritchett said he realized it was Paulita, a friend of our station, someone firefighters saw regularly at H-E-B.

She was a real unique situation, Pritchett told the jury. Ive never had to pronounce anybody I knew.

He said those at Station 51 attended her funeral, which is not usual for us as firefighters.

Later Tuesday, jurors saw photographs of Boyds one-bedroom apartment, which appeared neat and tidy, with the exception of the bedroom where she was found nude, her face beaten. Her eye glasses were found broken and bloodied.

Co-worker Gracie Dewalt, who was one of about five H-E-B employees who went to the apartment to check on Boyd that day, testified she was about to enter when a police officer called her back. She said she learned her friend was dead when the officer later exited.

Dewalt told the jury she would drive Boyd home from work each night because Boyd was saving her money, and Dewalt said she worried about her crossing Interstate 10 to get home from their store.

She got along with everybody, Dewalt said. She was like a mom and grandma to everybody.

Jurors saw a photograph of Boyd with four firefighters from Station 51 that had been taken at the grocery store. Dewalt said some of those in the picture responded to the call at the apartment and cried when they recognized her.

As her testimony veered toward family and whether Boyd was afraid of some of her relatives, namely Curtis and his wife, her granddaughter, the defense objected, calling it hearsay. State District Judge Stephanie Boyd, who is not related to the victim, sustained the objection and stopped prosecutors from that line of questioning.

Testimony continues Wednesday in the 187th District Court.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
The Washington Post on Sunday published an astounding piece of investigative journalism on the Jan. 6 insurrection.

If you dont already have a subscription, its worth getting one.

The report represents the work of 75 journalists who interviewed more than 230 people, studied thousands of pages of documents and internal law-enforcement reports and reviewed videos and audio recordings.

The three-part series concludes the attack was premeditated. Its an indictment.

This comes as the U.S. House commission on Jan. 6 continues its inquiry, and former President Donald Trump has sued to prevent it from obtaining records, claiming executive privilege.

It also comes after Trump encouraged others to ignore the commissions subpoenas. Former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon is now facing criminal contempt proceedings for doing so.

The Posts timeline serves as the most complete accounting leading up to the Jan. 6 attack. It details calls, meetings, social media posts, official reports and other events that led to a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Insurrectionists missed by seconds capturing Vice President Mike Pence and other congressional leaders as they certified 2020 election results. One report showed that the life of Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was particularly threatened.

So was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose homes were vandalized weeks prior to the attack, the newspaper reported.

The Post investigation puts to rest doubts about the far-right forces that continue to threaten U.S. democracy.

Among the newspapers investigation findings: Domestic terrorists used social media sites to communicate, plan, arm themselves and execute the attack.

They took direction from Trump, who did nothing for 187 minutes as the attack unfolded on television.

The investigation lays out how agencies failed to listen, especially to one another; were consumed by political events; or were unprepared or unwilling to respond to an attack led by white, middle-aged rioters, the newspaper reported.

The Post concludes the violence wasnt a unique event but part of a long scheme, one battle in a war.

The newspaper strings together events beginning in spring 2020, when Trump began questioning state elections in which he sensed hed lose.

The big tell came during the first presidential debate when he was asked to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. He wouldnt.

Instead, he told the far-right Proud Boys to stand back and stand by.

The groups leader responded in real time, the Post revealed, saying, Standing by, sir.

When Pennsylvania went to President Joe Biden, giving him the electoral votes to win, groups like the Three Percenters and QAnon extremists began converging on state capitals, the Post reported.

They were a prelude.

Two months before Jan. 6, Proud Boys and other extremists rallied in Washington. A Capitol police officer sensed they were sizing up the force.

By Dec. 12, Trump supporters were in Washington again with 700 Proud Boys. Some wore earpieces to communicate with each other.

The FBI believed the principal danger  was street clashes. The Post concluded that would prove to be a grave miscalculation.

The Stop the Steal rally got a permit, applying for it under a different name. The National Park Service later allowed the permit to grow from 5,000 people to 30,000.

The Proud Boys raised money online for communications equipment and protective gear. Another group, the Boogaloo Boys, coordinated efforts with avowed neo-Nazis, the newspaper reported.

Members of this unholy alliance traveled to Washington as would other Trump supporters.

A week before Jan. 6, the FBI lost its third-party monitoring service that alerts agents and analysts to social media posts of note. A new service limited its understanding of what was going on.

The Post investigation criticizes Capitol Police leadership with a pattern of miscommunication, poor planning and sloppiness that left their officers ill-equipped.

The FBI got tougher criticism for its long-running institutional unease with investigating domestic extremism. The bureau was accused of tempering its reaction to threats of violence from White, middle-aged and middle-class Americans.

The consequences of that day are still coming into focus, the report states. But what is already clear is that the insurrection was not a spontaneous act nor an isolated event.

It was a battle in a war propelled by lies about voting fraud. Its a war against U.S. democracy.

Whats worse is the man largely responsible remains the leader of the GOP party.

eayala@express-news.net
On the eve of a jury trial, some key defendants have cut a deal in a lawsuit raising safety concerns about a San Marcos apartment complex where five people died in a deliberately set fire.

The corporate owner and various managers of Iconic Village Apartments near Texas State University reached a settlement with the plaintiffs last week, attorneys said. Several other defendants have reached separate agreements in recent days resolving the claims against them, pretrial arguments revealed.

Only one defendant  a loan servicing company  is still fighting the lawsuit.

The case heads to a Travis County jury trial this week. Jury selection begins Wednesday.

Attorneys for CBRE Loan Services, a subservicer of the corporate owners loan on the apartments, told a judge they planned to hold an unidentified John Doe responsible for igniting or causing the blaze.

CBREs attorneys said they wouldnt seek to blame a Medina County man, who also was dragged into the case as a responsible third party.

Express-News file photo

Ryon Wayne Castro, 32, a Natalia-area resident whose former girlfriend was among those hurt while escaping the flames, was accused by civil attorneys in court filings last year of intentionally, maliciously or negligently causing the fire.

At that time, both Castro and the unknown John Doe were designated as responsible third parties in the lawsuit. Such a move would have allowed the jury to consider if either of them should bear any responsibility for the catastrophe.

On ExpressNews.com: Accelerant used in deadly San Marcos fire; attorneys seek to boot accused man from lawsuit

But the defendants attorneys who pointed fingers at Castro never offered any evidence to support their claims. Castro testified during a deposition in April that he had nothing to do with the fire and had been wrongly accused. He was never arrested or charged in the case.

Criminal investigators said last year that Castro always cooperated with them and they werent focused on him.

The plaintiffs attorneys sought to strike both Castro and John Doe from the lawsuit Monday, saying there was no evidence to support the allegations.

We dont believe that this has any sort of place in this case, argued Houston attorney Kyle Findley, who represents the plaintiffs. Its not a case about how a fire started.

Express-News file photo

What the jurys going to be tasked with answering ... Did defendants have a duty to prevent fires from spreading in the manner in which it did? And did they breach that duty? And did it cause plaintiffs injuries?

Late Monday, State District Judge Jan Soifer granted a motion to dismiss John Doe from the case.

Investigators with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded three years ago that the fire was deliberately set in the predawn hours of July 20, 2018, as most residents were sleeping in the apartments at 222 Ramsay St.

The arsonist hasnt been identified, and no one has been arrested.

On ExpressNews.com: Survivor of fatal San Marcos apartment fire denies saying she suspected ex-boyfriend of arson

An accelerant was used to start that fast-moving fire, according to pretrial testimony given earlier this year by a real estate investor who manages a partnership that owns the apartments. Law enforcement officials havent commented on his claims of an accelerant because their investigation is still ongoing.

Express-News file photo

The fire killed five people living in four upstairs apartments in the same building  Dru Estes, 20, of San Antonio; Belinda Moats, 21, of Big Wells; Haley Michele Frizzell, 19, of San Angelo; David Angel Ortiz, 21, of Pasadena; and James Phillip Miranda, 23, of Mount Pleasant. All of their deaths were ruled homicides.

The blaze also critically injured Zachary Sutterfield, 23, of San Angelo, a guest staying with Frizzell and Ortiz. Sutterfield suffered third-degree burns to nearly 70 percent of his body and a traumatic brain injury as he fled the burning building.

The lawsuit contends that the apartments had unsafe conditions, such as a lack of fire sprinklers, unreliable smoke detectors and a flawed roof design that fed oxygen to the fire.

That civil action was filed by Mirandas parents, along with 13 tenants at Iconic Village and the nearby Vintage Pads Apartments.

Following the latest mediation negotiations Oct. 25, many of the defendants reached last-minute settlements with the plaintiffs.

Four of them  San Marcos Green Investors, a partnership that owns the apartments; property management firm Elevate Multifamily; regional operations manager Thomas Steubing Jr.; and leasing manager Deborah Jones  reached a settlement last week, attorneys for those parties confirmed.

The terms of that settlement are confidential, which is standard protocol.

Our clients remain hopeful that the arsonist responsible for this tragic fire will be brought to justice and bring some measure of closure to the victims and their families, those attorneys said in a statement Monday.

On ExpressNews.com: A deadly crime still unsolved  brother of student who died in Iconic Village fire filming documentary

Several other defendants also reached eleventh-hour settlements  including Allegiant Commercial Asset Services Group, a company that performed annual loan servicing inspections at the apartments; safety and fire equipment company Safequip; and BRG Management, a parent company of a former property manager of the apartments, court filings showed. Attorneys for those defendants did not respond to a request seeking comment Monday.

It wasnt immediately clear if two roofing contractors named in the lawsuit  K&K Roofing and Construction and At Home Roofing  have reached settlements with the plaintiffs, but those companies are no longer part of the case going to the jury later this week.

The lawsuit and pretrial testimony accused the two roofing companies of installing a pitched metal roof on top of a pre-existing shingle roof the year before the fire, which created an attic-type space lacking fire partitions or compartments at the apartment building where the blaze ignited.

Attorneys for CBRE plan to challenge the plaintiffs allegations.

Findley and co-counsel Adam Lewis, who represent the plaintiffs suing, werent available for comment Monday.

The trial will be publicly viewable on the 345th State District Courts YouTube channel. It is expected to last until the Thanksgiving holiday.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare


The Serbian government has approved subsidies for ten routes it has deemed to be of public interest, which will include a four weekly domestic service between Belgrade and Nis. It will mark the resumption of scheduled domestic flights for the first time since the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. As previously reported, the government will also subsidise two weekly rotations from Nis to Hahn, Cologne, Ljubljana, Istanbul, Athens and Tivat, with the latter two to be operated on a seasonal summer basis. Furthermore, it will finance two weekly flights from Kraljevos Morava Airport to Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Tivat, with the latter two to run over the summer months. The Serbian government has approved subsidies for ten routes it has deemed to be of public interest, which will include a four weekly domestic service between Belgrade and Nis. It will mark the resumption of scheduled domestic flights for the first time since the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. As previously reported, the government will also subsidise two weekly rotations from Nis to Hahn, Cologne, Ljubljana, Istanbul, Athens and Tivat, with the latter two to be operated on a seasonal summer basis. Furthermore, it will finance two weekly flights from Kraljevos Morava Airport to Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Tivat, with the latter two to run over the summer months.





The new subsidies will come into effect on January 1, 2022 and run until December 31, 2023. The Serbian government will organise an international tender to select an interested carrier or group of airlines to maintain the flights. The tender conditions are yet to be outlined. The states previous contract to subsidise flights from Nis and Kraljevo, which came into effect in 2019, and was awarded to Air Serbia, has been terminated. Under the previous agreement, the government financed services from Nis to Baden Baden, Bologna, Hahn, Friedrichshafen, Gothenburg, Hanover, Ljubljana, Nuremberg, Rome, Salzburg and Tivat, as well as from Kraljevo to Vienna and Thessaloniki. However, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the suspension of most routes, the majority of which have not been restored since. Air Serbia is currently operating two weekly rotations from Nis to Hahn, as well as a two weekly service from Kraljevo to Vienna, which is scheduled to run until December 30.





The Serbian government has defined routes of public interest as being eligible for subsidies, as they either lack commercial interest, carry less than 100.000 passengers per year, or are insufficiently served by other means of transport. The aim of the subsidies is to stimulate travel, boost tourism, business links and improve the local economy. Air Serbias flights out of Nis and Kraljevo are sold at low cost fares. Passengers on these services are unable to accrue miles through the airlines loyalty program and no business class tickets are sold. The value of the contract is expected to amount to some 8.5 million euros per year.








RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Tight races for governor unfolded in Virginia and New Jersey late Tuesday with the Democratic candidates narrowly trailing their Republican rivals in states that President Joe Biden easily captured a year ago.

Near midnight, the elections were still too early to call. As the vote count progressed, both races looked to be tight.

In Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe addressed supporters in the Washington suburbs, vowing to count all these votes." Kristin Davison, an aide to Republican Glenn Youngkin, appeared onstage at a separate event and said his campaign would continue to track the incoming votes but was pleased with the way things appeared to be headed.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy was trying to win reelection against Republican former State Assembly member Jack Ciattarelli in a race that was also too early to call. If successful, Murphy would be the first Democrat reelected as the states governor in 44 years.

The evening's results, though, may ultimately be interpreted as an early judgment of Biden, who captured Virginia last year by a comfortable 10-point margin and easily won New Jersey. The closeness of governor's races indicated just how much his party's political fortunes have changed in a short period.

The White House has been shaken in recent months by the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, a sometimes sluggish economic recovery amid the pandemic and a legislative agenda at risk of stalling on Capitol Hill.

A loss in Virginia, which has trended toward Democrats for more than a decade would particularly deepen the sense of alarm inside the party heading into next years midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. But Biden expressed optimism going into the evening while acknowledging that the off-year is always unpredictable."

I think were going to win in Virginia, Biden said at a news conference in Scotland, where he was attending an international climate summit. I dont believe  and Ive not seen any evidence that  whether or not I am doing well or poorly, whether or not Ive got my agenda passed or not, is gonna have any real impact on winning or losing."

Elsewhere, Democrat Eric Adams won the New York City mayoral election, and a ballot question promoted by top national progressives was defeated in Minneapolis. It had sought to reshape policing in the city, where the killing of George Floyd last year touched off sweeping demonstrations for racial justice across the nation.

But no other race received the level of attention of the Virginia governors campaign. Thats in part because such contests in many states have sometimes shown voter frustration with a party newly in power, foreshadowing significant turnover in Congress the following year.

In 2009, during President Barack Obamas first year in office, Republican Bob McDonnells victory in Virginia previewed a disastrous midterm cycle for Democrats, who lost more than 60 House seats the following year.

The top of the Virginia Republican ticket featured a white man in Youngkin, a Black woman, Winsome Sears, running for lieutenant governor and vying to be the first woman of color to hold the post, and a Hispanic man running to be attorney general, Jason Miyares.

AP VoteCast, a survey of statewide voters, showed about half of Virginians had favorable opinions of Youngkin, compared to 55% saying they had unfavorable opinions of Trump, suggesting that the Republican gubernatorial candidate had successfully distanced himself from the former president. Youngkin was endorsed by Trump but didnt personally appear with him, though the party is still dominated by the former president.

McAuliffe, by contrast, campaigned with his party's top national stars, including Biden, whose last visit to Virginia came a week before Election Day. VoteCast found Biden underwater, with 48% of Virginias voters approving of his job performance compared to 52% disapproving  especially stark in a state he had won so handily.

VoteCast also found that Youngkin was making small gains in the suburbs, staying competitive with McAuliffe after about 6 in 10 voters in the same areas backed Biden over Trump last year.

In Norfolk, along the state's Atlantic coast, 29-year-old Cassandra Ogren said she voted for McAuliffe in part because of his support for abortion rights and her concern about restrictions recently enacted in Texas, where a new law mostly bans the procedure. But she was also motivated by Youngkins ties to Trump.

Anyone endorsed by President Trump is not someone I want representing me, Ogren said.

VoteCast found that Virginia voters saw the economy as the race's top issue, followed by the coronavirus pandemic and schools. The significance many voters placed on schools seemed like good news for Youngkin. His pledge to ensure parents have greater say in what their kids are taught was a centerpiece of his campaign  possibly foreshadowing similar arguments GOP candidates will use across the country next year.

Youngkin has decried critical race theory, an academic framework that centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people. In recent months, it has become a catch-all political buzzword for any teaching in schools about race and American history.

The issue took on greater weight after McAuliffe said during a debate that "I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.

Bennett White, 24, a Youngkin voter in Norfolk, said he didn't want our next generation of leaders to be looking at their peers in the lens of race."

I just want to make sure that my mom is safe in the classroom," said White whose mother is a teacher, "and that her ideals and everyones ideals are protected, and were not turning into brainwashing academies.

___

Associated Press writers Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Hank Kurz in Richmond, Virginia, Alexandra Jaffe in McLean, Virginia, and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  Democrat Eric Adams has been elected New York City mayor, defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa on Tuesday in a contest far easier than his next task: steering a damaged city through its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Adams, a former New York City police captain and the Brooklyn borough president, will become the second Black mayor of the nations most populous city. David Dinkins, who served from 1990 to 1993, was the first.

Tonight, New York has chosen one of you -- one of our own. I am you. I am you," Adams told a jubilant crowd at his victory party at a hotel in his hometown borough of Brooklyn. After years of praying and hoping and struggling and working, we are headed to City Hall.

Adams victory seemed all but assured after he emerged as the winner from a crowded Democratic primary this summer in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7 to 1.

As a candidate, Adams referenced his working-class roots and being raised with five siblings by a single mother who cleaned houses. He described carrying a garbage bag of clothes to school out of fear his family would be evicted.

He brought a photo of his late mother with him Tuesday as he voted in Brooklyn. He teared up as he described his life as a classic New York story, rising from a poor upbringing to become the leader of the city.

Adams, 61, will take office Jan. 1 in a city where more than 34,500 people have been killed by COVID-19, and where the economy is still beset by challenges related to the pandemic. The tourism industry hasnt come back yet. Office buildings remain partly empty, with people still working from home. Schools are trying to get children back on track after a year of distance learning.

After he finished speaking, Adams was joined onstage by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who pledged a whole new era of cooperation between the state in the city, after eight years in which the former governor, Andrew Cuomo, was constantly at adds with Mayor Bill de Blasio.

We will fight for you, not fight each other anymore, she said.

De Blasio, a Democrat, was limited by law to two terms.

Sliwa, who founded the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol, ran a campaign punctuated by his penchant for stunts and his signature red beret. He portrayed Adams as an out-of-touch elitist.

Adams dismissed Sliwa as a clown and painted him as untrustworthy for having admitted he made up claims years ago about being kidnapped and of other exploits from the Guardian Angels patrols.

Sliwa said at an election night party Tuesday that he tried to call Adams to concede but couldnt immediately reach him.

I am pledging my support to the new Mayor Eric Adams because were all going to have to coalesce together in harmony and solidarity if were going to save this city that we love, Sliwa said.

Adams brings a nuanced perspective on policing and crime, drawing on his experiences as a former police captain, an officer who gained early attention for speaking critically about the department he served in, and as someone who experienced police brutality as a teen. At age 15, he said, he was beaten by police officers when he was arrested for trespassing.

He rejected progressive mantras to defund the police," though, and said he was proud of his time in the department.

Adams became a transit police officer in 1984. As a police officer, he cofounded an advocacy group, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, which pushed for criminal justice reform and decried police brutality.

Adams retired from the police department in 2006. He then won a seat in the state Senate, representing Brooklyn. In 2013, he was elected borough president.

Though seen as the moderate candidate in the crowded Democratic primary, one who offered a business-friendly approach, Adams has rejected the label and maintains he is a progressive.

He is a vegan who wrote a book in 2020 about how a plant-based diet helped him with diabetes.

Adams faced questions as a candidate about his residence after Politico reported he was sleeping at his Borough Hall office often. He co-owns an apartment in Fort Lee, New Jersey, with his partner, Tracey Collins. He tried to dispel the questions during the campaign by giving reporters a tour of a basement apartment in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood that he said is his primary residence.

Sliwa tried to spotlight the issue during the campaign by crossing a bridge to Fort Lee while holding a milk carton featuring a picture of missing Adams.

Sliwa also become known for living with more than a dozen rescue cats in his very small apartment with his wife. He brought one of the cats with him Tuesday to his Manhattan polling place but was told the animal had to stay outside.

In his concession speech, Sliwa made it clear he wasnt going to fade from the headlines.

You will have Curtis Sliwa to kick around, he vowed.

___

Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Two U.S. congresswomen renewed demands Tuesday for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide a formal apology and release records in connection with the January 2020 detainment of 200 Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canada border.

Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Suzan DelBene, both of Washington state, sent a letter to the federal agency, requesting a public apology and renunciation of the hourslong detainment of travelers with links to Iran as they crossed the border from Canada into Washington in the days following a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.

Men, women and children legally entering or returning to the United States at a designated port of entry should not be arbitrarily held and questioned solely based on their religion, ethnicity, or national origin, the lawmakers wrote.

Many of those detained in the days after the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani were U.S. citizens and some had even been cleared to participate in a program for trusted travelers.

At the time, CBP said it had not targeted Iranian-Americans based on their country of origin or issued any such directive to its officers. Instead, the agency blamed the detainments for as long as 12 hours on reduced staffing because of the holiday season and increased traffic.

But a month after the incident, then-CBP acting commissioner Mark Morgan said that border officials in Washington state got a little overzealous when they detained Iranian and Iranian-American travelers following the drone strike.

He added, we corrected that right away.

But Jayapal and DelBene are asking for more recognition and details of the detainments that took place between Jan. 5-6 as the U.S. was teetering on the brink of a war with Iran.

The letter makes the request for a formal apology from CBP in response to a Jan. 5, 2020 tweet in which the agency denied that Iranian Americans were being subjected to increased scrutiny in the screening process.

The Democratic lawmakers also ask for the prompt publication of an internal report that described what took place at the border crossing on those days. And finally, the letter asked for the agency to hold a press conference to publicly renounce their actions, and commit to changes moving forward.

The deadline stated for these requests is Jan. 5, 2022, the second anniversary of the detainments.

In conjunction with the Iranian community, we eagerly await the development and release of a corrective action plan to assure that these events do not recur, the letter read.

___ Associated Press writer Gene Johnson in Seattle, Washington, contributed to this report.
The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry, saying consolidation would hurt authors and, ultimately, readers.

German media giant Bertelsmann's Penguin Random House, already the largest American publisher, wants to buy New York-based Simon & Schuster, whose authors include Stephen King, Hillary Clinton and John Irving, from TV and film company ViacomCBS.

The Department of Justice filed an antitrust suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., Tuesday in the first major antitrust action by the Biden administration. The department said the deal would give Penguin Random House outsized influence" over which books are published in the U.S. and how much authors are paid.

If the worlds largest book publisher is permitted to acquire one of its biggest rivals, it will have unprecedented control over this important industry," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. American authors and consumers will pay the price of this anticompetitive merger  lower advances for authors and ultimately fewer books and less variety for consumers."

The purchase of Simon & Schuster would reduce the so-called Big Five, which dominate American publishing and include HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan, to four.

Because it targets the prices paid to authors as well as those paid by consumers, the suit shows a possible new direction for the antitrust regulators under the Biden administration, suggested Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on antirust.

Theres a desire to think very comprehensively about all the interests that could be harmed, he said. It raises lots of interesting questions about publishing and about competition in publishing.

The governments case addresses a conventional market of five mammoth old-line publishing houses. Overshadowing it is Amazon, which created an empire and ecosystem of digital books starting back in 1995, controlling not only the bookstore but also the dominant devices for reading e-books and listening to audiobooks, and eventually some of the content. The e-books undercut the prices of conventional books, providing ammunition to the publishing houses in asserting that they have to bulk up to survive the competition.

The deal raised concern from writers and from rival publishers. The Authors Guild has said it opposes the acquisition because there would be less competition for authors manuscripts.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns HarperCollins and had reportedly also been interested in buying Simon & Schuster, also slammed the deal. Its CEO Robert Thomson said last fall that Bertelsmann was buying market dominance as a book behemoth.

In a statement, Penguin Random House and Simon & Simon & Schuster said they would fight the lawsuit. They say blocking the deal would harm authors.

DOJs lawsuit is wrong on the facts, the law, and public policy, said Daniel Petrocelli, Penguin Random House's lawyer. Importantly, DOJ has not found, nor does it allege, that the combination will reduce competition in the sale of books."

The new antitrust suit signals that the Justice Department is willing to use its full authority to combat the wave of consolidation swallowing the American economy, said Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an organization that advocates for government action against business concentration.

This case also reflects how Amazons dominance looms as a predatory presence for most firms in the economy, Miller said in a statement. The CEOs of the number one and number three publishers openly sought to use this merger to become an exceptional partner to Amazon.

___

AP National Writer Hillel Italie and Business Writer Marcy Gordon contributed to this report.
There are less than two weeks left for Montana to submit a final congressional map, and the ticking clock is growing louder after the redistricting commission failed to put forward a final map this weekend.

On Saturday, Montanas Districting and Apportionment Commission once again punted on choosing a final map splitting the state into two congressional districts, opting to hear more public comment at another meeting Thursday.

If a map is not submitted to the Montana Secretary of States office by Nov. 14, the commission could face a lawsuit for not hitting the 90-day deadline set forth by the Montana Constitution.

The meeting Thursday is just 10 days before that deadline.

Republican and Democratic commissioners submitted the newest pair of maps, dubbed Congressional Proposals 12 and 13, just two days before the Oct. 30 meeting.

The newest Republican map, CP 12, and the Democratic map, CP 11, which was submitted Oct. 21, are the top two contenders for the final choice.

Commission Chair Maylinn Smith opted for another round of public comment on Saturday because of a lack of public input and analysis on one of the contenders: CP 12.

Neither of the maps that have the best shot of being chosen as a final map split Gallatin County. However, two of the proposals  CP 13, submitted by the Democratic commissioners, and CP 10, submitted by the Republican commissioners  do.

Smith said she felt the CP 12 map did address concerns voiced during public comment  like splitting Gallatin County  but she needed more time before she could choose.

I wouldve loved to have been able to say this is the map going forward on Saturday, but I sort of feel that I need to look at whats going to be best for Montana in the long run, Smith said in an interview.

Chair Smith emailed the commissioners after the Oct. 21 meeting, urging the two Democratic and two Republican representatives to reach consensus. The two new maps came as a result of that request.

The new Republican map divides only Pondera County, which hit the goal of splitting only one county that Smith brought forth at the Oct. 21 meeting. The map places all of Lewis and Clark County into an eastern district and keeps Flathead County in a western district.

Democratic commissioners decided to stick with their originally proposed  CP 11  map on Saturday. That map splits Flathead County, placing Kalispell to the east and keeping Whitefish in the west.

We got to do it by the 14th, said Democratic Commissioner Joe Lamson. We realize that. I think the chairs intention was to have this done after the Saturday meeting, but with the developments that we had it was only fair, prudent and good policy to move it on.

Republican Commissioner Dan Stusek said in an interview that he and fellow commissioner Jeff Essmann listened to public comment and criticisms of their prior proposal, CP 10, when creating the new map.

The other Republican proposal, which is still in consideration, placed Bozeman in a western district, and the rest of Gallatin County to the east.

Stusek said that the newest map, CP 12, was a product of compromise and concessions to the Democratic commissioners.

The biggest issue is dividing the states population as equally as possible. Flathead County belongs in a western district, Stusek said, but that leaves two counties that have to move to meet population equality.

Our thought is that Flathead County makes a lot more sense being in the West as a whole than Gallatin and Lewis and Clark, Stusek said. But you can get one of those two in the West, but you cant get both and keep Flathead County in the West where it belongs.

Smith plans to choose a map at the next meeting on Nov. 4, and from there a work session is scheduled on Nov. 9 to tweak and refine that map.

I will have to move a map forward at that time, I just have to, Smith said.
HAMILTON, Mont., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Breakthrough U.S. indoor agriculture company Local Bounti Corporation ("Local Bounti"), today announced that it will be participating in a fireside chat on November 8, 2021, hosted by Jefferies. During this event scheduled for Monday, November 8, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. ET, the company will share its high-growth business strategy in an interactive discussion. This event will be webcast and a transcription will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Jefferies Fireside Chat

Monday, November 8, 2021

11:00 a.m. ET

Webcast link: https://wsw.com/webcast/cc/lbt/1259532

A leader in the controlled environment agriculture ("CEA") space, where it uses 90% less water and 90% less land than traditional agriculture, Local Bounti is focused on significantly increasing produce shelf life, reducing waste and emissions, and addressing the availability of high-quality produce in local communities. Local Bounti's sustainably-grown produce is cultivated locally, reducing food miles  the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the current produce supply chain. The environmental greenhouse conditions help to ensure nutritional value and taste, and Local Bounti's products are non-GMO and pesticide/herbicide free. Local Bounti's sustainable, root-on, living product results in less environmental impacts, carbon footprint, and less waste. To learn more about Local Bounti's unique growing process, diversified product offerings and experienced leadership team, please visit localbounti.com.

In June 2021, Local Bounti and Leo Holdings III Corp. (NYSE: LIII) ("Leo"), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, announced that they entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon the closing of the proposed business combination (the "Business Combination") between Leo and Local Bounti, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, Local Bounti expects its common stock and warrants to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbols, "LOCL" and "LOCLW," respectively.

About Local Bounti

Local Bounti is a premier controlled environment agriculture (CEA) company redefining conversion efficiency and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards for indoor agriculture. Local Bounti operates an advanced indoor growing facility in Hamilton, Montana, within a few hours' drive of its retail and food service partners. Reaching retail shelves in record time post-harvest, Local Bounti produce is superior in taste and quality compared to traditional field-grown greens. Local Bounti's USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices (GAP Plus+) and non-genetically modified organisms (GMO) produce is sustainably grown using proprietary technology 365 days a year, free of pesticides and herbicides, and using 90 percent less land and water than conventional outdoor farming methods. With a mission to 'bring our farm to your kitchen in the fewest food miles possible,' Local Bounti is disrupting the cultivation and delivery of produce. Local Bounti is also committed to making meaningful connections and giving back to each of the communities it serves. To find out more, visit localbounti.com or follow the company on LinkedIn for the latest news and developments.

Additional Information

In connection with the Business Combination, Leo filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), on July 19, 2021, a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented through the date hereof, the "Registration Statement"), which includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus (the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and is being mailed to Leo's shareholders and public warrant holders. Shareholders and public warrant holders will also be able to obtain copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Leo Holdings III Corp, 21 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X 7HF, United Kingdom. Leo shareholders and public warrant holders are encouraged to read the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, including, among other things, the reasons for Leo's Board of Directors' unanimous recommendation that shareholders vote "FOR" the Business Combination and the other shareholder and warrant holder proposals set forth therein as well as the background of the process that led to the pending Business Combination with Local Bounti.

Participants in the Solicitation

Leo and its directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Leo's shareholders in connection with the Business Combination and public warrant holders in connection with the proposed amendment to the warrant agreement that governs all of Leo's outstanding warrants (the "Warrant Amendment"). Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names of Leo's directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Leo in Leo's filings with the SEC, including the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Shareholders and public warrant holders will also be able to obtain copies of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Leo Holdings III Corp, 21 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X 7HF, United Kingdom.

Local Bounti and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Leo in connection with the Business Combination and the public warrant holders of Leo in connection with the proposed Warrant Amendment. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the Business Combination is included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for the Business Combination.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Leo's and Local Bounti's actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Leo's and Local Bounti's expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the proposed Business Combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the Business Combination and the timing of the completion of the Business Combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside Leo's and Local Bounti's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 17, 2021 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Merger Agreement"), by and among Leo, Longleaf Merger Sub, Inc., Longleaf Merger Sub II, LLC and Local Bounti, (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Leo and Local Bounti following the announcement of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Leo or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement or could otherwise cause the Business Combination to fail to close; (5) the amount of redemption requests made by Leo's shareholders; (6) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the post-business combination company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange following the proposed Business Combination; (7) the risk that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the proposed Business Combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that Local Bounti or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the Business Combination, including those under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Leo's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021, and which are set forth in the Registration Statement filed by Leo and in Leo's other filings with the SEC. Some of these risks and uncertainties may in the future be amplified by the COVID-19 outbreak and there may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Leo cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Leo cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Leo does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Business Combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer or securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-bounti-disruptive-agtech-company-redefining-the-future-of-farming-to-participate-in-jefferies-fireside-chat-on-monday-november-8-2021-301413606.html

SOURCE Local Bounti
Organisers of the rural fundraiser Run1000 are looking to set a new record in January when the initiative will return for the battle of the UK nations and, for the first time, New Zealand.

Launched this year, the campaign was joined by over 1,200 participants who walked or ran during the month of January to raise funds for rural and farming charities.

Each step counted towards their countrys collective miles, ultimately raising over 51,500 for charities such as RSABI, DPJ Foundation, Embrace Farm and YANA, among others.

With teams this year from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and New Zealand, the team captains are not only competing to be crowned winners but also raise more money for their chosen charities.

Run1000 founder Sheena Horner, and captain of Team Scotland, said rural mental health "affects us all but we dont always realise it, nor appreciate that we are not alone".

"In rural areas many of us are working in isolation or live in remote areas that can result in little contact with the outside world," she added.

"I wanted to create a community that could support each other, regardless of where they are based, whilst having a little fun and raising money for charity.

With the pandemic impacting so many charities and their ability to organise events or fundraisers, we are hoping to get more people involved than ever this year."

Each team will be led by a captain who has faced their own battles with mental health. England's captain is farmer Richard Heady, who learnt the merits of getting out in the fresh air when he started running five years ago.

Team Wales is led by Emma Picton Jones, founder of Welsh mental health charity DPJ Foundation, who will lead her team for the second year after winning in 2021, with 24,397 miles.

Dairy farmer Peter Hynes, founder of #AgMentalHealthWeek, ambassador for Tackle Your Feelings and depression survivor, will lead Team Ireland.

And Team New Zealand will be led by farmer Sam Owen, born in Wales and now farming on the other side of the world, who has faced his own battles with mental health.

Run1000 will take place from 1 to 31 January 2022, and is open to all and costs just 20 to participate, with the money divided equally between the charities.

Individuals can take part by registering via the fundraising platform Enthuse, and selecting the team they would like to join.

All activity is recorded via Strava, ensuring every step is counted.
The UK exported 19 million worth of red meat to the United States in the first eight months of the year  with beef making up over a quarter of the shipments.

According to the latest data from HMRC, 1,211 tonnes of beef was exported to America between January and August of this year.

This was worth over 5m to the sector, according to the AHDB which has analysed the figures, marking a successful first year since the ban on UK beef was lifted.

Market access was granted in March 2020, following the USs longstanding ban on UK beef  introduced in the wake of the BSE outbreak in 1996.

Between January and August of this year, over 4,600 tonnes of pig meat was exported to the US  up nearly 10 percent on last year, worth 14 million to the pork sector.

These strong figures follow news that a fourth site in the UK, Foyle Food Group Melton Mowbray, has been listed to export beef with immediate effect to the US.

AHDB senior export manager for the Americas, Susana Morris said it was 'very encouraging' to see more than 5m worth of beef sent to the US in less than a year since gaining market access.

America is proving to be an attractive market for our beef as the country is experiencing high domestic consumption, rising demand from international customers and stronger demand from retail and foodservice as well as lower stocks in cold storage."

She added: There is also strong demand for meat in the US due in part to extra household savings  all of which presents an opportunity for us to take a larger slice of the market and grow our shipments even further."

Pork prices in the US were also high compared to a year ago due to tight supplies and a lack of market-ready pigs and tighter production schedules, Ms Morris said, adding that strong demand had led to lower stocks in cold storage.

This combined with the suspension of the 25 percent tariff earlier this year has given our exporters a fantastic boost and we look forward to seeing these figures increase.

Exports of both pork and beef have grown in other North American markets also this year, HMRC's trade figures show.

In Canada, pork shipments are up 54 percent to 1,183 tonnes, worth 5.4 million, while beef shipments reached 1,341 tonnes, valued at 5.2 million.
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Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest stars of Bollywood. The actor has given several blockbusters over time in Bollywood. SRK celebrates his 56th birthday today and it is rather obvious that his fans are going all out to make the star feel special through social media. On his birthday, we thought about lining up a few rare facts about the actor that you probably wouldnt have heard about. Scroll through and get to know King Khan a little better.



Shah Rukh has done 26 cameos throughout his career.



Shah Rukh is named Rahul in nine of his films, including Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Chennai Express and more.



His debut film was Dil Aashna Hai, but due to the delay in the release of the film, Deewana is considered to be his debut film.

SRK has a phobia of riding horses, and never eats ice-creams.



The number plates of all his cars read 555. Shah Rukh is superstitious about numbers and believes that the right numbers bring him good luck.



During his struggling days before he entered showbiz, Shah Rukh ran a restaurant in Daryaganj.

When his alma mater Hans Raj College, celebrated its Golden Jubilee, SRK was one of the 17 people who were given a shield by the college for excelling in life.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2021) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) (the "Company") announces that as a result of a review of its continuous disclosure record, by staff of the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC"), the Company is issuing this news release to clarify certain previous disclosure made.

On November 2, 2020, the Company disseminated a news release titled, "TransCanna Provides Corporate Update." In this news release the Company provided the following revenue guidance:

"The Company's internal gross revenue target for the 2020 fiscal year ranges from CAD$12,000,000 up to CAD$14,000,000 (with anticipated net profits from sales of $600,000 up to $700,000). The Company is on track to achieve this benchmark."

The news release also discloses, "the Company has tremendous confidence it will achieve or exceed its stated 2021 revenue targets" and also states, "With the opening of the Daly facility, associated off-take agreements, high demand for sales, and a strong distribution division, the Company maintains its guidance for a gross revenue target of CAD$55,000,000 to CAD$75,000,000 (with anticipated net profits from sales of $6,600,000 up to $9,000,000) for the fiscal year 2021."

We provide the following clarification on the revenue guidance disclosed in the November 2, 2020 news release, which is hereby withdrawn in its entirety:

The projected gross revenue targets of CAD $55M to CAD $75M were reliant on the Company reaching several milestones including, but not limited to: (a) the completion of the Phase 1 construction on the Daly Facility, which involved the construction of five cultivation rooms spanning 22,500 square feet; processing space for drying, curing and semi-automated trimming; a packaging area with space for automated scaling, pouching, and sealing activities; 11,000 square feet of climate-controlled cold storage space for bulk and retail-ready finished goods; and a secure, enclosed transportation vehicle loading bay area; (b) the launching of cultivation rooms at the Daly Facility, post-construction; and (c) the launching of new verticals, in order to serve 3rd party growers throughout the state of California with cold storage, crop management, processing, and co-branding and white labelling services.

In the process of completing the Company's 2020 year-end audit, it became clear to the Company that there were concerns with the accuracy of revenue projections and other financial information being reported from the Company's operating subsidiary, Lyfted Farms. In retrospect, the pro forma financial information provided for the purposes of the 2021 revenue guidance contained in the Company's November 2, 2020 news release was not reasonable. As a result the Company has made significant personal changes including hiring qualified personnel, including a new CFO, and is developing a formal procedure for the review and disclosure of future oriented information and continuous disclosure.

While the Company has now reached these significant milestones, they were reached nine months later than planned. The contributing factors to the delays were:

Funding - there was a marked delay in obtaining and then accessing funds for the construction loan required in order to commence Phase 1 construction of the Daly Facility. Extra care in due diligence was taken when sourcing the loan required to complete Phase 1 in order to secure the most favorable terms. After successfully closing on the loan, there were delays in accessing the funds due to the restrictive rules and regulations surrounding financing and cannabis businesses.

COVID-19 - while the Company and its subsidiaries were fortunate enough not to be directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were indirectly impacted when many of our suppliers, subcontractors, and other service providers were hit with cases of COVID-19 amongst their team, thus impacting their ability to provide services within the timeframes originally quoted.

Shortages - our region in California is experiencing industry-wide shortages of qualified tradespeople, electricians, HVAC installers and technicians, and general construction staff, all which we required to execute on Phase 1 construction. Additionally, there were global supply chain shortages and delays on equipment and materials that we required in order to build out the new Daly Facility.

Fire - California experienced significant wildfires in 2021. The distribution side of the business was impacted by the wildfires which damaged some of the outdoor crops of the Company's farming clients. As a result, and due to limited human resources, the Company decided to temporarily suspend its distribution operations out of its original facility, and focus primarily on cultivation, the Company's highest margin activity, and on getting the Daly Facility up and running.

Due to the factors mentioned above, the Company is no longer in a position to achieve the previously stated 2021 gross revenue targets of CAD $55M to CAD $75M. The Company's 2021 fiscal year forecast is now CAD $4.5M, with CAD $2.3M alone coming from the 4th quarter (November 31, 2021), as operations have come online at the new Daly Facility and the Company's distribution business, has been relaunched out of the Daly Facility.

The Company will provide revenue guidance for fiscal 2022 when it is in a position to do so.

About TransCanna

TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California-based, Canadian-listed company building cannabis-focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries.

TransCanna's wholly owned subsidiary Lyfted Farms is California's authentic cannabis brand whose pioneering spirit has been continuously providing the finest cannabis flower genetics and cultivation methods since 1984. The Lyfted Farms brand of exclusive cannabis flower is sold at premium retailers throughout the state. With its new cultivation facility in Modesto, California, the company is now poised to become one of the largest and most efficient vertically integrated cannabis companies in the California market.

For updated information with respect to our company, please see our filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the CSE at www.thecse.com, or visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com. To contact the Company, please email info@transcanna.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Bob Blink, CEO

Corporate Communications:

info@transcanna.com

604-200-8853

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

Certain information in this release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements previously made in the referenced news release, expected 2021 financial results and future successes of our business development strategies and future opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning management's guidance on sales and other statements which are not historical facts. When used in this document, the words such as "could", "plan" "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements.

Although TransCanna believes that its expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date that the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other events contemplated by the forward-looking statements will not occur. Although TransCanna believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct as these expectations are inherently subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Some of the risks and other factors which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in the referenced MD&As include, but are not limited to, unexpected increases in operating costs, a continued strain on farmers due to fires, the impact of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, competition from other retailers changes in exchange rate between the Canadian Dollar and other currencies, the impact of global supply chain delays and the retention of key staff.

This cautionary statement expressly qualifies the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and the referenced MD&As. TransCanna undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law.

Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101659
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2021 / Power Nickel Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Nickel") (TSXV:PNPN)(OTCQB:CMETF)(Frankfurt:IVVI) is pleased to announce that it has received and approved a 3D Litho-Structural Report on the Nisk project in James Bay from 3DGeo-Solution Inc. ("3DGS"), an expert in 3D modeling and Mineral Resource Estimation. The report identified a prospective set of targets that is felt will give the best potential to expand the Nisk historical deposit.

The resource estimates at the Nisk project are of historic nature and the Company's geology team has not completed sufficient work to confirm a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource. Therefore, caution is appropriate since these historic estimates cannot, and should not be relied on. For merely informational purposes see Table 1.

Table -1: Historical Resource Estimate figures for respective confidence categories at the NISK-1 deposit, After RSW Inc 2009: Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Quebec.

The information regarding the NISK-1 deposit was derived from the technical report titled "Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Quebec" dated December 2009. The key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the mineral resource estimates described above are set out in the technical report.

The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometres of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts. Power Nickel, formerly Chilean Metals is focused on confirming and expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization historical resource by preparing a new Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with NI 43-101, identifying additional high-grade mineralization, and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries to be used in the electric vehicles industry.

3DGS recommended an initial drill program of around 4000 metres covering approximately 15 holes ranging in depth from 80 metres to 500 metres. Following the drill program, 3DGSwill be responsible to prepare the NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report.

Nisk has four distinct target areas covering over 7 Kilometres of strike length.

While Nickel Sulphate discoveries globally tend to come in clusters the focus of the initial Power Nickel campaign will be drilling on the Nisk Main target and the Nisk West target where the previous exploration had identified mineralized high-grade nickel zones. In the future, it is anticipated that Power Nickel will test the east and west "Wildcat Targets". In the picture below we highlight some of the high-grade intercepts identified from the historical drilling on the project.

The picture below shows high-grade ore shoots identified from the Nickel-metal factor numerical model. The drill program will test these most prospective areas.

It is anticipated that the drilling program will begin in early November and be about 4 weeks in duration. All drilling permits have been received and drilling contracts are in place.

Company CEO and Director Mr. Terry Lynch stated, "It is rare to find a project with a historical resource with an almost 2% Nickel EQ (at current price Nickel, Copper, Cobalt and Palladium price curves- Oct 29, 2021) that we believe has a credible chance to become a mine. The electrification movement in Automobiles and Industry is growing more and more every day and this growth will be very supportive to the Nickel, Copper, Cobalt, and Palladium markets. We look forward to concentrating our efforts on NISK and moving it from Historical resource through the mine development process as quickly as possible. We are excited about the 3D Model of the Nisk project and the 4,000 metre drill program we have outlined."

About Power Nickel Inc.

Power Nickel is a Canadian junior exploration company focusing on high-potential copper, gold and battery metal prospects in Canada and Chile.

On February 1, 2021 Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (CRE:TSXV)

The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometres of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts. Power Nickel, formerly Chilean Metals is focused on confirming and expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization historical resource by preparing a new Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with NI 43-101, identifying additional high-grade mineralization, and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries to be used in the electric vehicles industry.

Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) announced on June 8th, 2021 that an agreement has been made to complete the 100% acquisition of its Golden Ivan project in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle has reported mineral resources (past production and current resources) in a total of 67 million ounces of gold, 569 million ounces of silver, and 27 billion pounds of copper. This property hosts two known mineral showings (gold ore and magee), and a portion of the past-producing Silverado mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of silver, lead, zinc, plus/minus gold, and plus/minus copper.

Power Nickel is the 100-per-cent owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific iron-oxide-copper-gold belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3-per-cent NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire copper-molybdenum deposit, recently sold to a subsidiary of Teck resources Inc. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one-third of the 3-per-cent NSR for $3-million at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's first region.

Qualified Person

Matthew DeGasperis, Geo (OGQ #2261), B.Sc., Consulting Geologist, and Kenneth Williamson, Geo (OGQ #1490), M.Sc., Senior Consulting Geologist, from 3DGeo Solution Inc. are the qualified persons pursuant to the requirements of NI 43-101, and have reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Power Nickel Inc.

Terry Lynch, CEO

647-448-8044

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact:

Power Nickel Inc.

The Canadian Venture Building

82 Richmond St East, Suite 202

Toronto, ON

Terry Lynch & CEO terry@powernickel.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

This news release may contain certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that PNPN expects to occur, including details related to the proposed spin-out transactions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding current and future exploration programs, activities and results. Although PNPN believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration success, continued availability of capital and financing, inability to obtain required regulatory or governmental approvals and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Power Nickel Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670689/Power-Nickel-to-Commence-4000-metre-Drilling-Program-on-Its-Major-Nickel-Development-Target-Nisk
BENGALURU, India, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PluginHive, a company specialised in eCommerce shipping solutions has been enabling eCommerce Merchants across the globe to provide quick and hassle free delivery to their customers. Expanding their effort further into the Hong Kong region, PluginHive has now got their multi-carrier eCommerce shipping solution officially certified by Hong Kong Post, the leading carrier service in Hong Kong. The certification happened soon after PluginHive signed an agreement with FedEx to launch a campaign across Asia Pacific, Middle East, India, & Africa region to provide their automated shipping solution for free to all eCommerce merchants using Shopify, WooCommerce & BigCommerce. This comes with added benefits for the Hong Kong-based small eCommerce merchants since the partnership offers up to a 75% discount on the shipping cost on successful signup with FedEx.

Since the partnership, PluginHive has successfully onboarded many Shopify merchants across Hong Kong and has got great feedback for the initiative.

On this occasion, PluginHive CEO & Founder Ahammed Mirdas responded, "Hong Kong is a budding market for eCommerce in 2021. This integration is aimed to boost the small & medium eCommerce business across Hong Kong by bringing together the fastest and most reliable shipping services from Hong Kong Post with the reach and quality of service that FedEx provides in 220+ countries across the globe. PluginHive is excited to be the catalyst in driving this partnership and believes eCommerce merchants will take advantage of it in the upcoming weeks."

With a combined user base of around 1 Million users across Hong Kong, popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento & BigCommerce, along with the automated shipping solution by PluginHive can empower small e-sellers to provide a great shopping experience to their customers.

As a part of this integration, merchants will be able to integrate Hong Kong Post & FedEx within their eCommerce stores powered by Shopify, WooCommerce & BigCommerce with the help of PluginHive multi-carrier shipping solution. PluginHive has ensured a streamlined carrier account sign-up process that involves a single click account registration and a smooth merchant onboarding with the help of dedicated shipping experts that will be available 24x7 via multiple channels.

Hong Kong eCommerce merchants using Shopify, WooCommerce & BigCommerce can get more details on the integration by contacting the PluginHive Support Team or visiting official PluginHive Facebook page.

Media contact:

Ujjawal Shirkot

ujjawal@pluginhive.com
NANNING, China, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 1, Guangxi Day for China Pavilion of Expo 2020 Dubai ("Guangxi Day") with the theme of "Splendid Guangxi - Opportunity, Innovation and Cooperation" was officially opened and attended by Guangxi Chamber of International Commerce. The institution tries to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the business associations of the United Arab Emirates and those of other countries along the Belt and Road by means of Expo 2020 Dubai, so as to expand the "circle of friends" and the scope of business and help Guangxi open up to the outside world.

During the project-signing section of the opening ceremony, Guangxi Chamber of International Commerce signed a memorandum of cooperation with the East African Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. According to the memorandum of cooperation, the two sides have reached agreement of cooperation in the following subjects: promoting cooperation in trade and investment; actively sharing information on economy and trade, capacity cooperation and other aspects; participating in and supporting mutual trade and investment promotion activities such as trade exhibitions, business promotion and fairs, and building a platform and providing services for each other's member companies to explore the international market and international operation; providing help and consulting services for mutual business investigation, visit, communication, training, etc. This is the first strategic partner of Guangxi Chamber of International Commerce in Africa and it will lay a solid foundation for strengthening cooperation with Africa.

On the afternoon of October 26, 2021, the Second Council of the Sixth Session of Guangxi Chamber of International Commerce was held in Nanning, China. The meeting defined the direction of development and the priority of work of the organization in the next five years. One of the tasks in future is to consolidate the cooperation platform, strengthen foreign cooperation and provide policy consultation, commercial law and other services for member companies to "go global"; the organization is to organize member companies to visit foreign countries, to build more foreign exchange and cooperation bridges and business opportunity service channels for member enterprises, and to better expand the international market. The signing of this memorandum of cooperation is one of the practical measures taken to implement the spirit of the conference.

(The event is sponsored by CCPIT Guangxi Committee and organized by Guangxi CA Panorama Group)

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1675189/Project_signing_section.jpg
NANNING, China, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the theme of "Splendid Guangxi - Opportunity, Innovation and Cooperation", Guangxi Day for China Pavilion of Expo 2020 Dubai ("Guangxi Day") was officially opened on November 1. The opening ceremony has four parts: remarks by leaders, online visit, Launching Ceremony of Guangxi Day and "Guangxi Product Promotion Along the Silk Road" China (UAE) International Commodity Online Exhibition, and project-signing section. Liu Hongwu, Vice Governor of Guangxi, and H.E. Mr. Ali Obaid Ali Alyabhouni Aldhaheri, Ambassador of the UAE to China, attended the event and delivered remarks. Chen Jian'an, Vice Chairman of CCPIT, and H.E. Mr. Juma Mohammad Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade Affairs, addressed the ceremony online.

Three highlights are presented:

First, Guangxi's story is presented with rich and colorful exhibitions. The "Splendid Guangxi" exhibition was presented at the China Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, by which investment environment, economic development, system innovation, folk customs, cultural tourism of Guangxi were displayed through pictures, videos, and physical exhibitions.

Second, business opportunities in Guangxi are to be shared, with pragmatic economic and trade matching programs. On Guangxi Day, the "Guangxi Product Promotion Along the Silk Road" Online Exhibition was launched to promote trade and investment between Guangxi and countries and regions along the Belt and Road. This event organized more than 100 companies through online exhibition, online promotion, online negotiation, and targeted matching of supply and demand free of contact. More than 50 categories of products are displayed. At least one negotiation meeting is arranged each day, where interested traders and exhibitors conduct "one-to-one" online negotiation. Special "cloud" negotiation and matching meetings were also conducted by industry and stage for companies online.

Third, Zhuang ethnicity in Guangxi is presented with wonderful cultural performances. On Guangxi Day, cultural performances fully reflecting Zhuang ethnicity in Guangxi were held, such as folk songs and dances by performers in Zhuang costumes, classical instrumental performances performed with unique Zhuang musical instruments, acrobatic performances dominated by Zhuang bronze drums, and performances of singing original folk songs. The unique performance has attracted so extensive attention that the relevant videos have been streamed online and viewed more than one million times.

(The event is sponsored by CCPIT Guangxi Committee and organized by Guangxi CA Panorama Group)

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1675188/Ambassador_UAE_China_delivered_online_remarks.jpg
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Skan AG / Schlagwort(e): Borsengang

SKAN gibt vollstandige Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption bekannt



02.11.2021 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Veroffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



FOR RELEASE IN SWITZERLAND - THIS IS A RESTRICTED COMMUNICATION AND YOU MUST NOT FORWARD IT OR ITS CONTENTS TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM FORWARDING THIS COMMUNICATION IS PROHIBITED. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR ANY OTHER MEASURES.





Ad hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR SKAN gibt vollstandige Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption bekannt Allschwil, 2. November 2021 - Die SKAN Group AG, Weltmarktfuhrerin bei hochwertigen Isolatorsystemen fur aseptische Produktionsprozesse in der (bio-)pharmazeutischen Industrie, hat heute bekannt gegeben, dass die Joint Global Coordinators die ihnen im Rahmen des Borsengangs gewahrte Mehrzuteilungsoption zum Angebotspreis von CHF 54 je Aktie vollstandig ausgeubt haben. Die Aktien der SKAN Group AG sind am 28. Oktober 2021 zum Handel an der SIX Swiss Exchange zugelassen worden. Heute haben die Joint Global Coordinators Credit Suisse und Berenberg die Mehrzuteilungsoption zum Kauf von 500'000 bestehenden Aktien zu CHF 54 je Aktie vollstandig ausgeubt. Einschliesslich der Aktien aus der Mehrzuteilungsoption wurden beim IPO 5'000'000 Aktien platziert, davon 1'731'494 neue und 3'268'506 bestehende Aktien. Das Platzierungsvolumen belauft sich auf insgesamt CHF 270 Mio. Nach Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption betragt der Streubesitz (Free Float) rund 50 Prozent - inklusive des Anteils der pre-IPO-Aktionare, die nach Abschluss des Angebots eine Beteiligung von weniger als 3 Prozent halten.

Kontakte: Thomas Balmer, Dynamics Group AG, tba@dynamicsgroup.ch, +41 79 703 87 28

Alexandre Muller, Dynamics Group AG, amu@dynamicsgroup.ch, +41 79 635 64 13

Uber SKAN: 1968 gegrundet, zahlt SKAN zu den Pionierfirmen in den Fachbereichen Reinraumausrustungen und Bau von Isolatoren fur die pharmazeutische Industrie. Innovative Produkte, kundenspezifische Losungen sowie eine leistungsfahige Dienstleistungs- und Serviceorganisation haben SKAN zu einem Marktfuhrer und wichtigen Partner der Industrie und Forschungslaboratorien werden lassen.

This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares or other securities. This document is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") or a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction. The offer and listing of any securities will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a prospectus which is to be approved by the competent review body and published. A decision to invest in securities of SKAN Group AG should be based exclusively on the prospectus published by SKAN Group AG for such purpose. Investors are furthermore advised to consult their bank or financial adviser before making any investment decision. Statements made in this publication may include forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the fact that they use words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "should", "expect", "guidance", "project", "intend", "plan", "believe", "will", "could" and/or other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with, among other things, any discussion of results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies or developments in the industry in which we operate. Such statements are based on management's current intentions, expectations or beliefs and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them. Forward-looking statements contained in this media release regarding trends or current activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Actual outcomes, results and other future events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements contained herein. Such differences may adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein and may result from, among other things, changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic or regulatory factors and other factors affecting the business and operations of the company. Neither SKAN Group AG nor SKAN Holding AG nor any of their respective affiliates is under any obligation, and each such entity expressly disclaims any such obligation, to update, revise or amend any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this media release. It should be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Except as required by applicable law, SKAN Group AG has no intention or obligation to update, keep updated or revise this publication or any parts thereof (including any forward looking statement) following the date hereof. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and dependencies, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Japan, Australia or any jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. This announcement does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire securities in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful. SKAN Group AG shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under any securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, taken up, exercised, resold, renounced, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom, and no such offer of securities to will be made to the public in the United Kingdom, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation: (i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation; or (ii) in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"), provided that no such offer of securities shall require SKAN Group AG to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to the securities means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase the securities, and the expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities falling within article 49 of the Order or (iii) other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each a "Member State"), no securities have been offered and will be offered to the public in that Member State, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in that Member State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation: (i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation; or (ii) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of securities shall require SKAN Group AG to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to the securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase securities, and the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. Information to Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares have been subject to a product approval process by each Manager established in the EEA, which has determined that the Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the offering. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Managers established in the EEA will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. None of the underwriters or any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the group, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Accordingly, each of the underwriters and the other foregoing persons disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability, whether arising in tort or contract or that they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement and/or any such statement.

Zusatzmaterial zur Meldung:





Datei: SKAN_2.11.2021

Ende der Ad-hoc-Mitteilung
Beter Bed has received the SkillsTown Achievement Award for exceptional online learning performance for its online learning platform the 'Beter Bed Academy'. Over a period of two years, the Beter Bed Academy has achieved 18,000 completed modules with 75% active users.

Hans Schuurmans, CEO of SkillsTown, explained: "Our aim with SkillsTown is to help organisations improve their performance. We are happy to raise awareness of any organisation that takes an active, leading role in this respect.Over the past few years, Beter Bed has used online learning in a unique and inspiring manner, not only to improve the performance of its staff but also to work on sustainability. An exceptional performance. They are the worthy winner of this Achievement Award."

"We are very proud of having won this award. It endorses the successful and inspiring way of online learning that we offer our staff with the Beter Bed Academy, thanks to SkillsTown", says Lineke Bernhard, HR Manager Benelux at Beter Bed Holding. "We, at Beter Bed, believe that if people can sleep better, they are happier, healthier and more productive. We include this in everything we do every day. Staff are given the scope to continue to learn and develop."

The aim of the Beter Bed Academy is to inspire our staff to broaden their knowledge in a fun and practical way, based on a whole range of innovative learning interventions. As a result, we have achieved 75% active users over a full 2-year period. A score of 18,000 completed modules is a huge performance. One reason for the success is the low threshold of the Beter Bed Academy, our own added content and the provision of learning along skills pathways. The Beter Bed Academy is an integrated element of our recurring staff interview cycle: staff and management consult regularly on how the Beter Bed Academy can contribute to the professional development of every staff member.

About Beter Bed Holding

Beter Bed Holding (BBH) is the Netherlands' leading sleep specialist in retail, wholesale and B2B.

Our mission is simple. We believe that the better we sleep, the happier, healthier and more productivewe are. And we won't rest until everyone gets the high-quality sleep they deserve.

Listed on Euronext Amsterdam, BBH operates the successful retail brands Beter Bed, Beddenreus and the new subscription brand Leazzzy. In addition, through its subsidiary DBC International, BBH has a wholesale business in branded products in the bedroom furnishings sector, which includes the well-known international brand M line.

With 3 distribution centres, a fleet of 80 vehicles, 134 stores and a fast-growing online presence, our team of over 1,000 dedicated employees served nearly 200,000 customers in 2020, generating over  200 million in revenue.

Providing expert sleep advice is at the very heart of our strategy, and thanks to our revolutionary 'Beter Slapen ID' tool, our sleep consultants help customers to get the perfect night's sleep. BBH is proud that

M line is the official sleep supplier of AFC Ajax, TeamNL, Jumbo-Visma, NOC*NSF and the KNVB.

For more information

Press enquiries: Uneke Dekkers / CFF Communications

T +31

Please click on the link below for the PDF of the press release. Press photos can be downloaded here .

Attachment
DGAP-News: zooplus AG / Schlagwort(e): Ubernahmeangebot

zooplus AG: Final offer for zooplus by H&F with support of EQT to expire in 40 hours



02.11.2021 / 07:26

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



Final offer for zooplus by H&F with support of EQT to expire in 40 hours As acceptance period expires on November 3, 2021, 24:00 hrs CET, shareholders are strongly encouraged to tender now

Acceptance rate currently at approx. 26%

Shareholders will only benefit from significant premium of 85% if minimum acceptance threshold of 50% plus one zooplus share is reached

Shareholders wishing to accept the offer, have to tender into Zorro Bidco's offer (ISIN DE000A3E5DK9)

Immediate first settlement if offer is successful as all regulatory clearances are already obtained

zooplus boards strongly recommend shareholders to accept the takeover offer Munich, November 2, 2021 - zooplus, the leading European online pet platform, would like to remind its shareholders that the acceptance period for the final offer of Hellman & Friedman ("H&F") with support of its partner EQT Private Equity ("EQT") at a cash consideration of EUR 480 per share will expire on November 3, 2021, 24:00 hrs CET. zooplus shareholders will only benefit from the significant premium, if the minimum acceptance threshold of 50 percent plus one zooplus share is reached by November 3, 2021, 24:00 hrs CET. Otherwise, the offer will fail without any further acceptance opportunity. As of November 1, 2021, 18 hrs CET, the acceptance rate is at approximately 26 percent (including the irrevocable tender commitments of approx. 17 percent of the share capital). zooplus shareholders who wish to accept the offer, have to tender their shares into Zorro Bidco's offer (ISIN DE000A3E5DK9). If the minimum acceptance threshold is reached, the first settlement and payout will happen within ten banking days after the publication of the tender results (and no later than on November 22, 2021) as Zorro Bidco S.a r.l., the investment vehicle controlled by H&F, has already obtained all necessary merger control and foreign regulatory clearances. The cash consideration of EUR 480 per zooplus share represents a significant premium of 85 percent to the unaffected 3-months VWAP of zooplus as of August 12, 2021, the day before H&F announced its voluntary public takeover offer for zooplus. This is especially attractive against the backdrop of a more challenging stock market environment for e-commerce companies in which many peers have traded down since the launch of the offer by Zorro Bidco. Recommendation to shareholders

The Management and Supervisory Boards of zooplus consider the offer to be in the best interest of the company and highly attractive to shareholders. Both boards hence strongly recommend zooplus shareholders to accept the takeover offer by Zorro Bidco prior to its expiry on November 3, 2021, 24:00 hrs CET. Important technical note

Shareholders who want to accept the offer have to submit a declaration of acceptance to their custodian bank for the takeover offer by Zorro Bidco and to instruct their custodian bank to effect the booking of their zooplus shares, for which they wish to accept the offer, into the ISIN DE000A3E5DK9. Only the offer by Zorro Bidco offers the consideration of EUR 480 per share. The concurrent takeover offer by Pet BidCo GmbH (ISIN DE000A3E5E48) offers a lower consideration of EUR 470 per share, will not be amended any further and is expected to lapse (as communicated to the company).

Company profile:

zooplus AG is the leading online pet platform in Europe measured by sales. Founded as a German start-up in 1999, the company's business model has been successfully launched internationally, dedicated to the mission of creating moments of happiness between pets and pet parents across now 30 European countries. With a large and relevant product offering in the pet food and pet care & accessories range, zooplus caters to more than 8 million pet parents across Europe of which more than 5 million made more than two orders in 2020. The product range includes renowned international brands, popular local brand names as well as high-quality, exclusive own brand lines for pet food, accessories, care products, toys and much else for dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, horses and many other furry and non-furry friends. In addition, zooplus customers benefit from exclusive loyalty programs, best value for money proposition, fast and reliable delivery as well as a seamless digital shopping experience, combined with a variety of interactive content and community offerings. Sales totalled more than EUR 1.8bn in the 2020 financial year, capturing roughly 7% of the around EUR 28bn to EUR 29bn (net) European pet supplies market, both offline and online combined. For further information about zooplus, please visit investors.zooplus.com or our international shop site at zooplus.com. Press / Investor relations contact:

zooplus AG

Diana Apostol

Sonnenstrae 15

80331 Munich

Phone: + 49 (0) 89 95006-210

Fax: + 49 (0) 89 95006-503

Email: ir@zooplus.com | press@zooplus.com

Website: https://investors.zooplus.com Finsbury Glover Hering

Tanja Dorr

Ludwigstrae 8

80539 Munich

Mobile: +49 (0) 160 99 27 19 75

Email: tanja.dorr@fgh.com

02.11.2021 Veroffentlichung einer Corporate News/Finanznachricht, ubermittelt durch DGAP - ein Service der EQS Group AG.

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



Die DGAP Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen.

Medienarchiv unter http://www.dgap.de


CHESEREX (dpa-AFX) - Adecco Group (AHEXY.PK, ADO.L), a Swiss provider of human resources solutions, reported Tuesday that its third-quarter net income attributable to shareholders climbed 67 percent to 133 million euros from last year's 80 million euros. Earnings per share were 0.83 euro, higher than prior year's 0.50 euro. Operating income improved 75 percent from last year to 196 million euros. EBITA excluding one-offs grew 13 percent on a reported basis and 15 percent organically to 250 million euros. The EBITA margin excluding one-offs was 4.8 percent, up 30 basis points. Revenues for the quarter increased 8 percent to 5.22 billion euros from last year's 4.84 billion euros. Organic revenue growth was 9 percent. Looking ahead, the company expects fourth-quarter revenues to grow modestly on a sequential basis and continues to target a full-year drop-down ratio of approximately 50 percent. According to the company, healthy demand is currently being impacted by issues created by the global pandemic, including supply chain shortages and talent scarcity. The company said it remains confident in its outlook as these headwinds diminish. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BAD HOMBURG VOR DER HOEHE (dpa-AFX) - Fresenius Medical Care said Tuesday that it plans to eliminate up to 5,000 jobs globally as part of its FME25 program. It aims to cut its annual cost base by 500 million euros by the end of 2025. The company said it will simplify its operations into two divisions, care enablement and care delivery, as part of implementation of the 2025 growth strategy. The company expects to complete the roll-out of its new global operating model around 2023 and the savings initiative largely completed by 2024. The company's chief financial officer, Helen Giza, will also assume the role of Chief Transformation Officer and lead the global efforts on FME25 program. Based on the implementation of the new global operating model, Fresenius Medical Care assumes to reduce its annual cost base by 500 million euros by the end of 2025. Around 50% of the savings are expected to be realized by 2023. By the end of 2023 around 80% of the anticipated one-time investments in FME25, amounting to about 450 million euros -500 million euros, are expected to be made. The company expects to reach positive net savings by the end of 2023. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Capita plc - Sale of speciality insurance businesses

2 November 2021

Capita agrees to sell speciality insurance businesses

Capita plc (Capita) today announces that it has agreed to sell its speciality insurance businesses to Marco Capital Holdings (UK) Limited for an undisclosed sum.

The sale comprises two businesses: Capita Commercial Insurance Services Limited (CCIS); and Capita Managing Agency Limited (CMA).

CCIS provides outsourced business processes for the insurance industry across areas including underwriting support, claims and client finance.

CMA provides regulatory approval and oversight to live and run-off syndicates in the Lloyd's insurance market.

The revenue and profit before tax for the speciality insurance businesses for the year ended 31 December 2020 were 26m and 5m respectively. These figures include a contract that is included in the sale and which is due to end in 2022. The revenue and profit before tax of the speciality insurance business excluding this contract were 20m and 3m respectively.

The senior management team and employees of CCIS and CMA will remain with the businesses as they transfer to Marco's ownership.

The sale is subject to regulatory approvals.

Deloitte FIG Corporate Finance acted as the exclusive financial adviser to Capita.

Capita previously announced its intention to sell a number of non-core businesses - including these two - to strengthen the balance sheet and focus on its two core divisions, Capita Public Service and Capita Experience.

In the past 12 months we have announced exits from: Education Software Solutions; our Employee Benefits business; Capita Life & Pensions Services (Ireland); Axelos; Atlas Master Trust; and Secure Solutions and Services.

We continue to target 700m of non-core disposals proceeds by June 2022.



Jon Lewis, Capita's Chief Executive Officer, said:

"This is the seventh exit we have announced in the past 12 months. I am really pleased with this progress.

"Today is another step towards a more focused and sustainable business for the long term.

"Further progress on disposals will be announced as and when appropriate."



ENDS



For more information, please contact:

Investor enquiries

Stuart Morgan

Director of Investor Relations

Tel: 07989 665484

Email: IRteam@capita.co.uk

Media enquiries

Capita external communications

Tel: 0207 654 2399

Email: media@capita.co.uk



About Capita

Capita is a consulting, transformation and digital services business. Every day our 55,000 colleagues help millions of people, by delivering innovative solutions to transform and simplify the connections between government and citizens, businesses and customers. We partner with our clients and provide the insight and cutting-edge technologies that give time back, allowing them to focus on what they do best, and making people's lives easier and simpler. We operate across three divisions - Capita Public Service, Capita Experience and Capita Portfolio - in the UK, Europe, India and South Africa. Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (CPI.L). Further information can be found at: http://www.capita.com



About CCIS and CMA

Capita Commercial Insurance Services Limited (CCIS) is a large-scale insurance specialist, providing outsourced business process services across areas including underwriting support, claims and client finance.

Capita Managing Agency Limited (CMA) is an independent turnkey managing agency, providing oversight and regulatory services to live and run-off syndicates in the Lloyd's insurance market.

About Marco

Marco is a European P&C Legacy solutions insurance group headquartered in Malta. The group comprises the carriers Marco Insurance PCC Limited in Malta, a Protected Cell Company, British Reserve Insurance Company Limited in the UK, Humboldt Re in Guernsey and Marco Insurance Limited in Malta.

Marco offers reinsurance and finality solutions to re/insurance carriers to optimise - balance sheet efficiency (i.e. both capital & risk); operational management; and achieve strategic objectives - by acquiring loss reserve portfolios (discontinued business or long-tail) through reinsurance, portfolio transfers and M&A (acquiring entities). Marco is Europe focused and the P&C strategy encompasses Legacy business opportunities written worldwide by European counterparties, otherwise risks located in Continental Europe, the UK and Lloyd's of London.

Marco is supported by 500m initial committed equity capital and offers a leading proposition to carriers seeking finality and balance sheet optimisation solutions in the European P&C arena. Funds managed and/or advised by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. are Marco's majority investors.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Chemring (CHG.L) reported that trading in the period to 31 October 2021 has progressed as planned despite the challenging environment.



Hence, the company expects the outturn for the year ending 31 October 2021 to be in line with the Board's expectations, with adjusted operating profit expected to be in line with the consensus of current analyst expectations.



The Group believes analyst forecasts for adjusted operating profit for the year ended 31 October 2021 are in the range of 56.0 million - 59.6 million, with a consensus of 57.5 million.



Year-end net debt is now expected to be about 27 million versus 48.2 million last year, with strong operating cash conversion of 105% of EBITDA, together with lower finance and tax payments driving the reduction.



In addition, the company announced that in the final month of its financial year, its US based subsidiary, Chemring Sensors & Electronic Systems has been awarded a Full Rate Production contract for the Enhanced Maritime Biological Detection Program of Record.



This sole source framework contract is valued at up to US$99 million with an estimated completion date of December 2027. An initial delivery order of US$16 million would see deliveries being made in the final quarter of FY22 and FY23. The customer is the US Department of Defense and all work under this contract would be performed at CSES's facility at Charlotte, North Carolina.



Chemring Australia has also received a contract modification valued at US$20 million. This is in addition to the US$22 million contract that was announced on 28 September 2021 and is for the supply of MJU-68/B infrared countermeasures in support of the F-35 programme.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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News summary:

OSA 5400 SyncModule empowers equipment vendors to easily integrate highly accurate synchronization into switches, routers, open compute servers and other IT devices

empowers equipment vendors to easily integrate highly accurate synchronization into switches, routers, open compute servers and other IT devices M.2 form factor module offers full benefits of ADVA's widely deployed Oscilloquartz technology and timing expertise

Embedded solution delivers advanced sync for 5G open RAN and other industries from data centers to critical communication networks

ADVA (FSE: ADV) today introduced its OSA 5400 SyncModule embedded timing solution, enabling technology suppliers to easily integrate precise synchronization into their hardware. The M.2 form factor module offers equipment vendors a way to simply and cost-effectively add crucial timing capabilities with key functionality into their switches, routers, open compute servers and other IT devices. Featuring GNSS, PTP and NTP engines as well as comprehensive PTP and GNSS monitoring and assurance functionality, the OSA 5400 SyncModule empowers third-party companies to leverage the unique expertise of ADVA's Oscilloquartz synchronization specialists. The solution will provide a major boost to suppliers of mobile infrastructure and white box vendors. It will be key for enabling assured sub-microsecond timing in public and private networks as well as critical infrastructure.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005094/en/

ADVA's new timing module enables technology manufacturers to easily embed synchronization capabilities into their devices (Photo: Business Wire)

"Our OSA 5400 SyncModule brings something completely new and very valuable to the market. For the first time, third-party technology manufacturers will be able to embed the most advanced synchronization capabilities into their designs and easily control them with our Ensemble Sync Director or their own management system," said Gil Biran, general manager, Oscilloquartz, ADVA. "With our OSA 5400 SyncModule, we're extending the disaggregated approach to building networks into the area of synchronization. The integrated solution gives vendors the ability to instantly inject the most advanced, highly accurate and fully assured timing into their hardware platforms. As our solution utilizes the widely applied, standardized M.2 interface, integration is simple. It can also easily be added to existing designs."

The trend towards network disaggregation is accelerating innovation and expanding the market for customers. This does, however, create a challenge for technology suppliers when it comes to synchronization. Now, the OSA 5400 SyncModule is filling that gap. The low-power M.2 module gives vendors of emerging technologies, such as open RAN and next-generation data center hardware, the ability to quickly harness the benefits of an integrated GNSS receiver, PTP, NTP and assurance engines, as well as full sync management functionality. Featuring multiple interface options for easy integration, the OSA 5400 SyncModule comes with an open API for simple configuration. It can also be managed by ADVA's proven Ensemble Sync Director management system for complete control of the timing infrastructure.

"Cost-effective and hassle-free, our new embedded timing solution brings highly precise and assured synchronization to a whole new market. For companies who are suppliers of 5G RAN hardware or open compute servers, our OSA 5400 SyncModule offers major value," commented Nir Laufer, VP, product line management, Oscilloquartz, ADVA. "Vendors like those, who are not necessarily experts in network timing, now have the opportunity to instantly pour all of our synchronization know-how into their solutions. And that enables customers to choose the ideal components for their specific needs complete with the best available timing."

Watch this video to learn more about the OSA 5400 SyncModule: https://youtu.be/iPUl_n0dvJU.

Further information is also available in these slides: https://adva.li/osa-5400-syncmodule-slides.

About ADVA

ADVA is a company founded on innovation and focused on helping our customers succeed. Our technology forms the building blocks of a shared digital future and empowers networks across the globe. We're continually developing breakthrough hardware and software that leads the networking industry and creates new business opportunities. It's these open connectivity solutions that enable our customers to deliver the cloud and mobile services that are vital to today's society and for imagining new tomorrows. Together, we're building a truly connected and sustainable future. For more information on how we can help you, please visit us at www.adva.com.

About Oscilloquartz

Oscilloquartz is a pioneer in time and frequency synchronization. We design, manufacture and deploy end-to-end synchronization systems that ensure the delivery and assurance of highly precise timing information over next-generation packet and legacy networks. As an ADVA company, we're creating new opportunities for tomorrow's networks. For more information, please visit us at www.oscilloquartz.com.

Published by:

ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany

www.adva.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005094/en/

Contacts:

For press:

Gareth Spence

t +44 1904 699 358

public-relations@adva.com

For investors:

Stephan Rettenberger

t +49 89 890 665 854

investor-relations@adva.com
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TORONTO, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aquila announced today that is has completed the acquisition of Jaicom Oy ("Jaicom") through its subsidiary Atex Media Limited ("Atex").



Founded in 1999 with north of 400 publications relying on Jaicom's products and services in their subscription and distribution operations, Jaicom is a tried-and-true provider of customer management systems across the Nordics and rest of Europe. The company offers the broadest range of software and services in the market to support newspapers, magazine publishers and associations.

Daniel Lee, CEO of Aquila, noted, "Jaicom is the market-leader in their space and a great match for Aquila as we continue to invest and strengthen our position in the global media vertical. With clearly complementary products, I'm excited for what the future holds for both Jaicom and Atex's customers and employees."

"We are delighted to welcome Jaicom into the Atex family," said Federico Marturano, CEO of Atex. "In continuously supporting our customers with their digital journey, this event is a great step to improve our offering in subscription-based journalism."

Jorma Ainassaari, CEO of Jaicom, added, "We at Jaicom are looking forward to integrating with the Atex family. This is a great opportunity for us to take our business to the next level, as well as continue to enhance and develop our products and services."

Jaicom will maintain their autonomy operating as an independent business unit of Atex. With a permanent-hold worldview to acquisitions, Aquila looks forward to being a forever home for Jaicom's employees, clients and partners.

About Jaicom

Jaicom provides customer management systems across the Nordics and rest of Europe. Hundreds of publications are currently using its comprehensive system Kayak to manage subscriptions and distribution. The company is headquartered in Finland and has operations in several European countries, including Sweden, UK and Germany. For more information: www.jaicom.com

About Atex

Atex is a leading software company selling solutions for media-rich industries. Atex is committed to helping companies build revenues and reduce costs through products that are increasingly personalised, localised, collaborative, contextually relevant, and available on-demand. For more information: www.atex.com

About Aquila

Aquila backs category leaders across software. With global institutional reach throughout media, finance, government, real estate and education, Aquila exists to help software operators build lasting companies through permanent capital. Aquila is a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc. For more information: www.aquilasw.com

Contact:

Richard Hyun

Vice President, Corporate Development

rhyun@aquilasw.com


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - IWG plc (IWG.L) said that its group revenue for the third-quarter declined 3.7% to 550.8 million pounds from 571.8 million pounds in the same period last year. Quarterly total revenues were down 0.3% at constant currency.



Quarterly total group system-wide revenue, which included the total of all revenue made by both non-consolidated and consolidated locations globally, increased 0.3% to 620.7 million pounds at constant currency.



Revenue across open centres increased 5.2% at constant currency, with all four regions recording positive revenue growth year-on-year.



Pre-2020 revenue in the quarter was broadly flat on a constant currency basis and decreased to 504.2 million pounds from 521.9 million pounds on a reported basis. Occupancy in the pre-2020 estate increased to 71.2% in the latest-quarter, up 110bps year-on-year.



The company noted that its board has undertaken a preliminary review to assess the strategic and commercial rationale for separating the digital and technology assets of the Group into a separately identified and constituted business.



Similarly, the potential to more broadly leverage the intellectual property of the Group, together with the ownership structure of the property portfolio, is the subject of further review to fully assess the options available to reorganise the assets of the Group, the company said.



The company noted that its cost optimisation program is on track to deliver an underlying annualised run rate cost reduction of approximately 320 million pounds by year-end.



The acceleration of trading, together with a growing forward order book and ongoing cost reduction, set the direction for a stronger recovery in 2022.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

IWG-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
- Acquisition of US-based Critical Process Systems (CPS) Group from Wynnchurch Capital

- Strengthening of services and process equipment offering

- Growth acceleration through complementary regional footprint and synergies in semiconductor and life science markets

STUTTGART, Germany, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exyte Group ("Exyte") has completed the all-share acquisition of US-based Critical Process Systems Group ("CPS") from Wynnchurch Capital. The transaction enhances Exyte's global offering for customers in the semiconductor and biopharma and life sciences businesses.

"Adding CPS to the Exyte Group strengthens our services and process equipment portfolio, providing innovative product solutions and adding more value for our customers by providing immediate support for capital expansion efforts," said Dr. Buchele, CEO of Exyte. "We look forward to welcoming more than 400 employees with expert knowledge and technical competencies to Exyte."

Brian Crumbaugh, Partner at Wynnchurch, stated, "CPS represented an opportunity to invest in a company with a market leading product and service offering. We are very proud and appreciative of the management team's leadership and accomplishments during our ownership period. Exyte is an ideal partner for CPS as it looks to execute on its growth plan in the upcoming years."

"The closing of this acquisition opens a whole new chapter for the CPS Group companies," said Dmitry Shashkov, CEO of CPS Group. "For our customers, it means better service and more resources to support their growth. For our people, this will be an exciting time as we are joining a larger, well established company with great resources and worldwide name recognition."

CPS will become part of the Business Area Technology and Services (T&S), led by Michael Loffelmann, SVP of T&S, with the existing management team of CPS remaining in place. "We expect the combination of the two businesses to prove highly successful, thanks to a complementary regional footprint and portfolio synergies. The joint project opportunities we have identified and our shared values will lead to a further acceleration of business growth," said Michael Loffelmann.

About Exyte

Exyte is a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of facilities for high-tech industries. With a history of more than 100 years, the company has developed unique expertise in controlled and regulated environments. Exyte has a truly global footprint, serving the most technically demanding clients in markets such as semiconductors, batteries, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data centers. The company offers a full range of services, from consulting to the managing of turnkey solutions - delivered to the highest quality and safety standards. Solving the most complex challenges, Exyte forges trusted, long-lasting relationships with its clients. In 2020, Exyte generated sales of EUR 4.1 billion with over 4,900 highly experienced and motivated employees. The company is ideally positioned to further strengthen its market leadership with its broad industry insight and its exceptional talents.

Contact:

Exyte

Adriana Williams

Vice President Corporate Communications

& Investor Relations

Tel.: +49 711 8804 1489

adriana.williams@exyte.net

www.exyte.net

About CPS

Critical Process Systems Group, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a leading provider of mission-critical solutions for highly demanding industries and applications. The company provides a broad range of products & services including corrosive fume exhaust ducts and air flow control devices, high purity process utility modules, biopharmaceutical processing equipment, and liquid, chemical, and gas storage, blending, and delivery control products, as well as process and mechanical engineering services and project management. For more information, visit www.cpsgrp.com.

About Wynnchurch

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with offices in California, New York, and an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch's strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2 billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings. For more information, visit www.wynnchurch.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1675949/CPS_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487100/Exyte_Logo.jpg
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Capita Plc (CPI.L), a consulting, transformation, and digital services provider, Tuesday announced its agreement to sell its speciality insurance businesses to Marco Capital Holdings (UK) Limited for an undisclosed sum. The sale is subject to regulatory approvals. The sale comprises two businesses, such as Capita Commercial Insurance Services Limited or CCIS, and Capita Managing Agency Limited or CMA. In the year 2020, the speciality insurance businesses generated revenues of 26 million pounds and profit before tax of 5 million pounds. Following the sale, the senior management team and employees of both businesses will remain. In the transaction, Deloitte FIG Corporate Finance acted as the exclusive financial adviser to Capita. The sale is part of the company's plan to sell a number of non-core businesses, including these two, to strengthen the balance sheet and focus on its two core divisions, Capita Public Service and Capita Experience. The company said it continues to target 700 million pounds of non-core disposals proceeds by June 2022. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
STOCKHOLM, LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global retail bank today announces it has signed an agreement to acquire PriceRunner. PriceRunner will bring new features in the form of product reviews, rich product discovery and price comparisons to the Klarna app to enhance the shopping, payments and banking experience for consumers globally.

Klarna's seamless shopping experience from inspiration and product selection, to flexible payments and delivery, tracking and returns will be elevated by PriceRunner's daily price updates, reviews, professional tests and intelligent filtering options. This will enable a more engaging experience for Klarna's consumers. Klarna will add PriceRunner's functionality to its offering while Klarna's retail partners will benefit from enhanced behavior insight, increased website traffic from high intent consumers and optimized marketing opportunities to further drive their growth.

David Fock, Klarna's Chief Product Officer commented: "At Klarna we constantly strive to make the banking and payments experience the best it can be, empowering consumers from product discovery to paying in a way that suits them. The acquisition will serve to strengthen our bank, card and payment services and support a competitive global landscape. It also further cements that Klarna will not be a marketplace but a viable and competitive alternative for retail partners vs Amazon, Google and Facebook. The PriceRunner team is a talented, passionate group, which will be a perfect fit and we are excited about what we can achieve together."

Mikael Lindahl, PriceRunner's Chief Executive Officer commented: "We have spent the last five years rebuilding PriceRunner from scratch to create a best-in-class comparison shopping service while helping retail partners improve their business. We see Klarna as the ideal partner to accelerate growth and achieve our long-term vision to become the most loved comparison shopping service in the world."

The acquisition is subject to approval by regulatory authorities.

For additional information, please contact:

Aoife Houlihan, VP of Communications

Phone: +46 (0) 72855 8047

Email: press@klarna.com / aoife.houlihan@klarna.com

About Klarna

We make shopping smooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna's offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 250,000 retail partners, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 4,000 employees and is active in 17 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com.

About PriceRunner



PriceRunner is the leading comparison shopping service in the Nordic region. It has businesses in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom and compares 3.4 million products from 22,500 retailers in 25 countries. During the 12-month period ending on Sep 30, 2021, PriceRunner had revenues amounting to SEK 460 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 52 per cent. PriceRunner employs more than 170 people in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Every month, PriceRunner is used by millions of consumers to compare products, offers, attributes and to take part in professional product tests and user reviews of products and retailers.



PriceRunner is independent of all manufacturers, brands and retailers. Our mission is to help consumers to find the right products and the best deals. Every month, millions of consumers find better products and save money by using PriceRunner's services.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com


SiC power card



Booster power module





TOKYO, Nov 2, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - DENSO Corporation has been contributing to spreading the use of electric vehicles, extending their mileage, and reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles by developing SiC (silicon carbide) power semiconductors, which incorporate DENSO's proprietary structures and processing technologies, and using them in its in-vehicle products.A power semiconductor is like the muscles in the human body. It moves components, such as inverters and motors (limbs), based on commands from an ECU (brain). Typical power semiconductors used in in-vehicle products are made from silicon (Si). In comparison, SiC offers superior performance in high-temperature, high-frequency, and high-voltage environments, and helps significantly reduce the power loss, size, and weight of inverters. Thus, SiC devices have attracted attention because they accelerate the electrification of vehicles.For example, a booster power module, which incorporates DENSO's SiC power semiconductor, is about 30% smaller in volume with 70% less power loss than a conventional product with a Si power semiconductor. As a result, products have been made smaller and vehicle fuel efficiency improved.DENSO calls these SiC technologies "REVOSIC," conveying the idea of making "changes" in society through innovative technologies. The company has been developing a comprehensive range of technologies from wafers to power modules, and will continue R&D on REVOSIC SiC technologies and spreading their use in electric vehicles to help realize a decarbonized society.Introduction of developersTomoo Morino / R&D.Dept.4, Power Module Eng. Div.I was in charge of determining the specifications of the SiC power semiconductor with the power module design department and designing the device structure based on the specifications. SiC has a low resistance compared to Si and so electric current can flow more easily. Due to this property, a prototype SiC device was damaged by a sudden surge of a large electric current. We collaborated with other departments to discuss how to prevent damage to devices in the market while taking full advantage of the low-loss performance of SiC, and the issue was solved with an idea which our department could not come up with alone: high-speed cut-off of the electric current using a special driver IC.For now, few products are equipped with SiC, but as electric vehicles spread, we will increase the number of products with SiC and thus reduce CO2 emissions.Tomohiro Mimura / R&D.Dept.4, Power Module Eng. Div.I was in charge of the process design for manufacturing SiC power semiconductor devices. The hardness of SiC is second only to diamond, so it is more difficult to process than Si. I struggled to design a mass production process that can stably deal with microstructures of less than one micrometer.DENSO has been researching SiC for many years, and so there are many predecessors and senior employees. To solve this problem with SiC, I frequently talked with senior employees to learn from their experience and know-how, and also took full advantage of existing technologies. This made it possible to commercialize the product.I hope to further improve the performance and quality of the device and reduce its cost so that SiC can be used in many more products.Satoru Sugita / Design Dept. 2, Power Module Eng. Div.I was in charge of the mounting design. I was responsible for determining the requirements to ensure reliability (e.g., materials, dimensions, processing conditions) required for installing SiC power semiconductors in power cards. In the design process, mounting defects occurred due to the high Young's modulus* (about triple that of Si), which is one of the characteristics of SiC materials. Such defects did not occur when Si was used. To cope with this unprecedented phenomenon, it was necessary to think laterally, beyond conventional ideas. To accurately understand the problem, I brought in an internal specialized department and external manufacturers of analysis instruments to gather different viewpoints and conducted genchi-genbutsu on-site verifications. This helped solve the problem and reflect the findings in the design requirements.I hope to contribute to the use of electric vehicles and help create a decarbonized society by encouraging many customers to install SiC power semiconductor in various products.*Young's modulus: A numerical value that represents the hardness of a material. It is also known as coefficient of elasticity.Source: DensoCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ 046890), a leading global innovator of LED products and technology, announced that SunLike natural spectrum LEDs to produce light that closely matches the spectrum of natural sunlight has been applied to the 19 models of the premium product line Sun@Home of LEDVANCE, a global lighting brand in Europe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005573/en/

LEDVANCE's Sun@Home products with SunLike technology (Graphic: Business Wire)

Sun@Home is a premium lighting product line for homes and offices. With the SunLike natural spectrum LED technology, it has an optimal smart solution for remotely and automatically adjusting the color temperature and dimming representing the light from noon to evening.

LEDVAND is a German lighting company producing its products in 50 nations worldwide and exporting them to approximately 140 nations. LEDVANCE is currently promoting its new human-centric lighting for the health and well-being of its users by applying the SunLike technology to 19 products of 10 categories including desk lamps, office lighting, panel lighting, room lighting, downlights, wall-mounted lamps, night lights, lightbulbs, candle-shaped lights, and track lighting and launching them in October.

"Children, students, and office workers are staying longer at home amid the pandemic, increasing the importance of lighting for not only study and work but rest as well. SunLike is the only LED technology to replicate natural light from early dawn in which the sun rises to sunset where the sun sets into, and LEVANCE has adopted it for their premium lighting brand," said an official of Seoul Semiconductor.

The SunLike technology is the lighting semiconductor technology reproducing the spectrum curve of the natural sunlight (intensity of each wavelength including the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple), replicating almost the same characteristics as natural light, improving learning abilities such as memory, correct answer rate, speed of learning, and recognition speed according to the clinical trial of Dr. Rahman at Harvard University.

SunLike acquired Rf 95 and higher in the color fidelity test assessing similarity with natural light at Underwriters Laboratories an international organization dedicated to testing lighting equipment acquiring the Diamond Level for the first time in the world as the LED light source.

Seoul Semiconductor has demonstrated the benefits of SunLike natural spectrum LEDs through research activities focusing on the effects of learning abilities, visual comfort and sleep quality. Following Seoul National University in Korea and Basel University in Europe, a research team found that exposure to short-wavelength enriched light with daylight-like spectrum improves key components of learning such as working memory, cognitive processing speed, and testing accuracy. The clinical trial began in 2019, conducted by the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and included college-aged adults. The results from the study clearly showed the effectiveness of improving procedural learning.

Seoul Semiconductor acquired all business-related rights of SunLike from TMAT for the stable production and expansion of sales of SunLike, focusing on expanding sales. The company is gradually expanding supply to different solutions, being selected by 33 lighting brands from 2017.

Lighting equipment products utilizing SunLike are listed on Seoul Semiconductor's website (www.seoulsemicon.com/en). Also, Seoul Semiconductors are posting articles covering natural light and the mystic and great power of light on its Facebook page.

About Seoul Semiconductor

Seoul Semiconductor is the world's second-largest global LED manufacturer, a ranking excluding the captive market, and has more than 10,000 patents. Based on a differentiated product portfolio, Seoul offers a wide range of technologies, and mass produces innovative LED products for indoor and outdoor lighting, automotive, IT products, such as mobile phones, computer displays, and other applications, as well as the UV area. The company's world's first development and mass production products are becoming the LED industry standard and leading the global market with a package-free LED, WICOP; a high-voltage AC-driven LED, Acrich; an LED with 10X the output of a conventional LED, nPola; a cutting edge ultraviolet clean technology LED, Violeds; an all direction light emitting technology, filament LED; a natural sun spectrum LED, SunLike; and more. For more information, please visit www.seoulsemicon.com/en.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005573/en/

Contacts:

Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

Jeonghee Kim

Tel: +82-70-4391-8311

Email: jeonghee.kim@seoulsemicon.com
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Personal medical device expert YHE Techs has announced the launch of BP Doctor MED - A Medical-Grade Blood Pressure Smartwatch. This innovative new product is the world's first FDA-approved & CE-marked* wearable blood pressure smartwatch with 24/7 health status tracking and in-app family sharing. Now, anyone can monitor and stay up-to-date on their vitals to better understand their overall health. BP Doctor MED is launching soon: signup.yhetechs.com/bpdoctormed





YHE BP Doctor MED Blood Pressure Smartwatchv

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Tracking blood pressure over time provides important insight into the body's condition, and is one of the most significant indicators of overall health that a person can self-monitor. Until now, having a fast, easy, and accurate way to measure heart rate was difficult without bulky, hard-to-use medical equipment. BP Doctor MED provides a high-tech solution. Featuring a patented double inflatable cuff design, it delivers constant medical-grade (error <= 5mmHg) accuracy for oscillometric blood pressure measurement. BP Doctor MED provides instant blood pressure feedback anytime along with important insights about blood pressure fluctuations, 24/7. Stylishly designed and similar in size to an Apple watch, BP Doctor MED is the perfect everyday accessory with powerful health tracking features. However, to be truly innovative, it should do more.





Patented Dual Cuff Design

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Instant Feedback On-the-wrist

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"As a team focused on personal health devices, we know very well the advantage of tracking health indicators such as blood pressure over time. We also knew that our product should be comfortable, stylish, and intuitive so that people would want to wear it every day, but the most important factor for any medical device is accuracy and effectiveness. We concentrated our efforts into research, development, and rigorous testing to attain medical-grade accuracy ( 5mmHg) so that users could have information that is reliable, actionable, and useful. BP Doctor MED gives users the critical information needed to make healthier choices every day. " CEO, YHE Techs.





Comfortable for Whole-day Wear

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As part of a comprehensive health overview, BP Doctor MED also performs sleep analysis and daily activity tracking with different fitness modes, in addition to tracking blood pressure, calories burned, and step count. This key health data provides insights into overall health. BP Doctor MED syncs all data in-app and generates insight charts with health indicators that can be shared with family members in real-time. What's more, the device also has the essential features of a smartwatch, including push notifications, a wake-up vibrating alarm, and schedule reminders.





Remote Share for Family Health Management

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BP Doctor MED - A Medical-Grade Blood Pressure smartwatch, encourages healthy lifestyle choices and helps people better understand their daily health status. This innovative new smartwatch is available soon with special pricing and incentives for early adopters.

To learn more visit: signup.yhetechs.com/bpdoctormed

*Note: BP Doctor MED has passed the FDA & CE Medical Recognized Consensus Standards and the FDA & CE Medical certification is pending.

Contact Info

Camel Luo

info@yhetechs.com

https://www.yhetechs.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101682
Regulatory News:

Verallia (Paris:VRLA) will meet with debt investors today with a view to launching, subject to market conditions, its second Sustainability-Linked Bond offering for an amount of EUR 500 million with a maturity of 9 or 10 years. The net proceeds of this issue would be used to refinance part of the existing financial indebtedness of the Group. This issue would also enable the Group to lengthen its debt maturity profile and continue the diversification of its sources of funding.

The Sustainability-Linked Bond is fully aligned with Verallia's 2030 ESG plan aiming to reduce scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions and increase its cullet rate on all furnaces, thus contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations (UN SDGs). The CO2 target, designed to support worldwide action to keep global warming to well-below 2C above pre-industrial levels, has been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative.

The Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework and the Second Party Opinion can be found here.

About Verallia At Verallia, our purpose is to re-imagine glass for a sustainable future. We want to redefine how glass is produced, reused and recycled, to make it the world's most sustainable packaging material. We work in common cause with our customers, suppliers and other partners across the value chain to develop new healthy and sustainable solutions for all.

With around 10,000 people and 32 glass production facilities in 11 countries, we are the leading European and the third largest producer globally of glass containers for food and beverages, providing innovative, customized and environmentally friendly solutions to more than 10,000 businesses around the world.

Verallia produced more than 16 billion bottles and jars and achieved revenues of 2.5 billion in 2020. Verallia is listed on compartment A of the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Ticker: VRLA ISIN: FR0013447729) and belongs to the SBF 120, CAC Mid 60, CAC Mid Small et CAC All-Tradable indexes.

For more information, visit www.verallia.com.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

Disclaimer

Certain information included in this press release does not constitute historical data but constitutes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Verallia operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified under Chapter 3 "Risk Factors" in the Universal Registration Document approved by the AMF and available on the Company's website (www.verallia.com) and the AMF's website (www.verallia.com). These forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performances.

This press release includes only summary information and does not purport to be comprehensive. No reliance should be placed on the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained in this press release.

This press release does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in securities in France, the United States or any other jurisdiction.

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You can unsubscribe from our press release distribution list at any time by sending your request to the following email address: investors@verallia.com. Press releases will still be available to access via the website https://www.verallia.com/en/investors/.

Verallia SA, as data controller, processes personal data for the purpose of implementing and managing its internal and external communication. This processing is based on legitimate interests. The data collected (last name, first name, professional contact details, profiles, relationship history) is essential for this processing and is used by the relevant departments of the Verallia group and, where applicable, its subcontractors. Verallia SA transfers personal data to its service providers located outside the European Union, who are responsible for providing and managing technical solutions related to the aforementioned processing. Verallia SA ensures that the appropriate guarantees are obtained in order to supervise these data transfers outside of the European Union. Under the conditions defined by the applicable regulations for the protection of personal data, you may access and obtain a copy of the data concerning you, object to the processing of this data and request for it to be rectified or erased. You also have a right to restrict the processing of your data. To exercise one of these rights, please contact the Group Financial Communication Department at investors@verallia.com. If, after having contacted us, you believe that your rights have not been respected or that the processing does not comply with data protection regulations, you may submit a complaint to CNIL (Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertes French regulatory body).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005607/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations contact

Verallia Alexandra BAUBIGEAT-BOUCHERON - alexandra.baubigeat-boucheron@verallia.com
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - DeBio Network is a decentralized anonymous-first medical and biomedical platform created for users who want to anonymously submit to tests and various medical samples from the comfort of their homes. DeBio Network is created using Substrate, a blockchain framework behind the Polkadot & Kusama Ecosystem. DeBio Network's blockchain will be an Appchain on the Octopus Network, a Substrate relay chain on the NEAR Protocol.





DeBio

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Online biomedical testing has become increasingly popular, more so due to the recent coronavirus pandemic. With a proven demand worldwide and an incredible market potential, remote medical technologies are proving increasingly attractive to patients wanting to limit contact and travel times.

"DeBio assures the sovereignty of your biomedical data," Pandu Sastrowardoyo, the CEO, was quoted as saying. "Web3 technologies assure that you can even monetize your data while keeping your identity private."

DeBio Network contributes to solving distance, availability, contact challenges and is already working on the release of their platform. Recently the DeBio Network team concluded their funding rounds which resulted in a 5x oversubscription, raising a whopping $850,000 in the process.

The DeBio Network team announced three rounds of investment:

Seed investment round of $250,000 Strategic investment round of $500,000 Private investment round of $100,000

During the investment rounds, DeBio Network received a lot of interest from investors, and the private round was closed much earlier than planned due to strong demand.

Currently, the DeBio Network team is working on their Initial Dex Offering (IDO). This will be the last chance for investors to buy $DBIO at a bargain price before it is listed on major exchanges. Subsequently, DeBio Network has also announced a partnership with Skyward.finance and Ref.finance for the upcoming IDO.

Skyward.finance is an open-source permissionless launchpad for NEAR projects. Skyward.finance allows tokens to launch without any prior liquidity. The DeBio Network team chose Skyward.finance because of their convenience, reliability, and commitment to fairness in regards to price discovery.

Ref.finance is the first major DeFi platform in the NEAR ecosystem. The DeBio Network team is planning to allow for the exchange of $DBIO and $NEAR tokens immediately following the IDO. Ref.finance will also provide bonuses for farmers and LPs.

The DeBio Network team announced that the IDO will take place in November 2021.

If you are interested in this project, you can learn more about it on the official resources:

Website: https://www.debio.network/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/debio_network

Telegram: https://t.me/debionetwork

Medium: https://blog.debio.network/

Media Contact:

DAOGENICS, LTD ("DeBio Network")

Singapore

Email: marketing@debio.network

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101686
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks rose slightly on Tuesday as government bond yields retreated ahead of key central bank meetings in the United States and Britain. The U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England will announce their monetary policy decisions on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Earlier today, the Reserve Bank of Australia left its official cash rate on hold, but abandoned an ultra-low target for bond yields. The benchmark DAX edged up 47 points, or 0.3 percent, to 15,853 after rising 0.8 percent the previous day. Meal-kit delivery firm HelloFresh jumped as much as 14 percent after raising its 2021 revenue target. Fresenius shares rallied 5.2 percent as the healthcare company reported a rise in third-quarter sales and net profit. Fresenius Medical Care rose 2.5 percent after the kidney dialysis company announced plans to eliminate as many as 5,000 full-time positions. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks were little changed on Tuesday after a survey showed that supply chain issues hit the country's manufacturing sector in October. Data compiler IHS Markit said its final purchasing managers' index for French manufacturing in October fell to 53.6 points from 55.0 in September. However, that was a notch up from an initial 'flash' estimate of 53.5. The benchmark CAC 40 was marginally higher at 6,894 after rising 0.9 percent in the previous session. Euro zone government bond yields retreated ahead of key central bank meetings in the United States and Britain. The U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England will announce their monetary policy decisions on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Earlier today, the Reserve Bank of Australia left its official cash rate on hold, but abandoned an ultra-low target for bond yields. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education think-tank and compilers of the world's most-consulted university rankings portfolio, today released the fourteenth edition of their annual list of Asia's best higher education institutions. The National University of Singapore is named as the continent's best university for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2022 QS World University Rankings: Asia contains 687 universities, including forty new entries, and is QS's most extensive independent comparison of the region's higher education system. The table accounts for eleven key indicators of university performance, which capture academic standing, graduate employability, research quality and productivity, internationalization on campus, and the diversity of each institution's international collaborations.

QS World University Rankings: Asia 2022 - Top 10 2022 2021 University Location 1 1 National University of Singapore Singapore 2 7 Peking University China (Mainland) 3= 4 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong S.A.R. 3= 3 Nanyang Technological University Singapore 5 2 Tsinghua University China (Mainland) 6 5 Zhejiang University 7 6 Fudan University 8 9 Universiti Malaya Malaysia 9 8 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong S.A.R. 10 10 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China (Mainland) QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2004-2021 www.TopUniversities.com

Highlights:





The 687 featured universities can be found in 18 locations across Asia .

The most-represented location is Mainland China (126 ranked universities), followed by India (118), Japan (108), South Korea (88), Pakistan (47), Taiwan (46), Malaysia (36), Indonesia (33), Thailand (23), Philippines (15), Vietnam (11), Hong Kong S.AR. (9), Sri Lanka (6) Singapore (3), Brunei (2), Macau S.AR. (2), and Mongolia (1).

. The most-represented location is Mainland China (126 ranked universities), followed by (118), (108), (88), (47), (46), (36), (33), (23), (15), (11), Hong Kong S.AR. (9), (6) (3), (2), Macau S.AR. (2), and (1). Peking University rises to 2 nd - its highest position in the history of the ranking.

The University of Hong Kong rises one place while joint-third Nanyang Technological University, Singapore , keeps last year's spot.

rises one place while joint-third Nanyang Universiti Malaya (8 th ) reached its highest rank since the ranking's inception, and 24 Malaysian universities improved their position.

Japan has more universities in the top 50 of the ranking (11) than any other location.

has more universities in the top 50 of the ranking (11) than any other location. South Korea's top institution is Korea University (13t h ).

top institution is Korea University (13t Seven of Asia's top ten universities for research productivity are Indian. However, Indian research quality does not match quantity, and Indian teaching capacity and employability scores decline.

Ben Sowter, Director of Research at QS, said: "This year's results reiterate the intensely competitive, intensely dynamic nature of Asian higher education. China's best universities continue to progress, Japanese higher education is stagnating - and Malaysia remains on the rise."

The complete rankings can be found at www.TopUniversities.com .

Methodological details can be found here .

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. (CSE:YUM)(OTCQB:KOMOF)(FRA:9HB) ("Komo"), a premium plant-based food company, is pleased to announce that its full range plant-based comfort foods (7 SKUs) will be carried in all 16 Nester Market locations in British Columbia and Alberta beginning this month. In connection with the launch, Nesters Market is featuring Komo as "Pick of the Month" in a promotional email, social media and in-store marketing campaign.

"Nesters Market is proud and excited to feature Komo Comfort Foods in all 16 of our locations across British Columbia and Alberta. As a Western Canadian-owned company, we wholeheartedly support locally-owned Canadian businesses whenever possible, and look forward to growing into a successful partnership with Komo Comfort Foods," says Erin Jane, Grocery Merchandising Coordinator at Nesters Market. "We stand behind Komo's delicious and healthy plant-based comfort foods, and we know it will soon become a Nesters customer (and staff!) favourite. Look for free Komo product samples in the Nesters Marketplace booth at the Vancouver Wellness Show, taking place in February 2022."

"We're on our mission to bring plant-based favourites to more people, places and plates." says Komo operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods CEO Jeffrey Ma. We launched Komo with our local delivery service and consumers in BC and Alberta will now have more places to find our wholesome frozen meals. This announcement is especially exciting as Nesters Market will be our first retail partner to carry products outside of BC."

Last month, Komo announced it has commercialized it's products with a co-manufacturer and partnered with frozen food distributors to build out its retail network. Komo anticipates being on the shelves of more stores across Canada by the end of the year and in the United States by 2022.

About Nesters Market

Nesters Market is a proudly 100% Western Canadian privately-owned company whose core values are quality, integrity, a commitment to total customer satisfaction and recognition of the importance of its responsibility to the environment. Our Nesters Market mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of our communities by providing a broad range of safe, healthy and affordable food and household products as well as relevant, convenient services. Our ultimate, overarching goal is to Add Value to people's lives; especially our loyal customers and our dedicated associates.

About Komo

Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. is a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals that are always hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients. At Komo, our mission is to help make plant-based meals a staple on every dinner table by sharing our love for feel-good food that connects the people to the planet. We believe plant-based eating is the future and - Change can start with a single biteTM. Our experienced plant-based innovation and development team recreates vegan versions of traditionally cheesy and meaty classics, with 100% plants. Komo's products are sold direct-to-consumer through our eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick and mortar grocery, convenience and natural retailer channels. Our operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods launched in 2021 with our flagship products: plant-based Lasagna, Shepherd's Pie and Chickenless Pot Pie and has recently launched a new line - Komo Plant-Based Meal HelpersTM - versatile meal starters to allow the creation of many dishes at home. All of our products are 100% plant-based, made with wholesome ingredients, free from preservatives, and frozen for freshness. Freezing products is a natural and effective way of keeping food products for longer without having to use any preservatives. Komo's meals have a 1-year frozen shelf life.

Learn more at: www.komocomfortfoods.com and follow on Instagram: @komocomfortfoods

For further information, please contact:

William White, President & CEO, Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

will@komoeats.com

1-866-969-0882

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Komo's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Komo's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, Komo's product development plans, its ability to launch its products on food delivery apps, its ability to retain key personnel, its revenues, and its expectation as to the acceptance of its products by retailer stores and consumers constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Komo disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670627/Komo-Plant-Based-Foods-Launches-into-16-Nesters-Market-Locations-in-BC-and-Alberta
NIAGARA FALLS, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies Corp. (TSXV:EHT) ("EHT" or the "Company"), a global leader in renewable energy solar and wind technologies, is pleased to report its third quarter financial results for the period ended August 31, 2021 ("Q3, 2021").

EHT would like to highlight the positive impact of the acquisition of Windular Research and Technologies Inc. ("Windular") and the reduction of the outstanding debentures completed August 25, 2021.

Revenues for the quarter increased from $65,285 in Q3 2020 to $436,902 for Q3 2021, an increase of over 569%. Principal on the 18% debentures decreased by $7,229,000 with significant savings of over $1,300,000 in interest expense per annum to the Company. Shareholder Equity improved from November 30, 2020, ($32,393,281) to August 31, 2021, of ($2,788,498). This is an improvement (gain) of $29,604,783 due to our comprehensive restructuring completed in 2021. With the ramp up of sales and profit from EHT business lines, we will be able to achieve a cash positive Shareholders Equity in the near future.

John Gamble CEO commented: "The completion of share consolidation, debt restructuring and financing in Q3, was the biggest and most significant change in the Company's financial position since inception. Our full focus for the quarter was to ensure these transactions were successfully completed. This coupled with the addition of Windular, means we now have a strong balance sheet moving forward to execute our business plan. With the announced revenues from Bell Canada in Q4 and ground-breaking in Puerto Rico, we are beginning to position the Company for significant revenue growth. The steps we are taking now will set us up for a very positive 2022 with over $50M of revenue expected from our Puerto Rico Net-Zero housing developments among our many other initiatives from Windular's work with global telecoms to our SolaStream and Agriculture technology."

The below table outlines the impact of the transactions completed during this quarter as well as providing a summary of the share capital structure:

Post-Transaction Cap Table Shareholder Group Undiluted Percentage (Undiluted) Fully Diluted Percentage

(Fully Diluted) EHT Post-Consolidation 22,198,721 32.14% 34,514,078 39.91% Windular ($15,000,000 @ 0.70 Shares) 21,428,572 31.03% 21,428,572 24.78% Debenture-holders ($14,228,110 @ 0.70 Shares) 20,325,871 29.43% 20,325,871 23.51% Financing ($3,566,400 @ 0.70 Units) 5,094,857 7.40% 10,189,714 11.80% Total Issued & Outstanding 69,048,021 100% 86,458,235 100.00%

Highlights for the three-months period ended August 31, 2021:

Acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Windular in an all-share transaction valued at $15 million. Under the Acquisition, the Company has issued 21,428,572 common shares (the "Issued Shares") to the Windular shareholders at a deemed price of $0.70.

Entered into agreements with certain debtors and creditors, including certain debenture holders to settle an aggregate of $14,228,109.94 in debt through the issuance of 20,325,871 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of CAD $0.70 per Settlement Share in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.

Closed a non-brokered private placement offering for 5,094,857 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of CAD $0.70 per Unit for the total gross proceeds of $3,566,399.90.

The full copy of EHT's Q3, 2021 results have been filed on SEDAR and will also be available on the Company's website.

About EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies

EHT (TSXV:EHT) delivers proprietary, turn-key energy solutions which are intelligent, bankable, and sustainable. Most energy products and solutions can be implemented immediately wherever they are needed. EHT stands above its competitors by combining a full suite of solar PV, wind, and battery storage solutions, which can deliver energy 24 hours per day in both small-scale and large-scale format. In addition to traditional support to established electrical networks, EHT excels where no electrical grid exists. The organization supplies advanced solutions for various industries in combination with energy saving and energy generation solutions. EHT's expertise includes the development of module structures with full integration of smart energy solutions. These are processed through EHT's production technologies into attractive applications: modular homes, cold storage facilities, schools, residential and commercial outbuildings, and emergency/temporary shelters. The Windular Research and Technologies Inc. (WRT) division provides leading edge wind technology to the global telecommunication market whereby the WRT system can be implemented directly on any configuration of existing or new towers. WRT provides a renewable source of power in remote and rural locations where the primary source of power is diesel. WRT's innovative system provides clients with a lower overall operating cost as well as a reduction in their carbon footprint.

For further information, please contact:

John Gamble

Chief Executive Officer

EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies Corp.

Tel: 289-488-1699

Email: info@ehthybrid.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information relating to sales of the products (the "Opportunities") involves risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, for the Opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although EHT believes that the assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking information on the Opportunities outlined in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. EHT disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670684/EHT-Reports-Positive-Third-Quarter-2021-Results-Resulting-From-Comprehensive-Restructuring-Windular-Acquisition
Seasoned finance executive and business leader to add significant incremental competencies to the Company's executive management team

ESCONDIDO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / CB Scientific. Inc. (OTC PINK:CBSC) ("CBSC" or the "Company") is a provider of remote ECG cardiac monitoring products and services; simple wearable solutions for detecting potentially life-threatening heart arrhythmias in patients with heart-related issues, both domestically and internationally.

The Company has announced that Brooke Martellaro has been appointed as its Chief Financial Officer effective immediately. Ms. Martellaro began her career with Arthur Andersen & Co. before progressing quickly to positions of ever-increasing responsibility with Jones Intercable, Qwest Communications International, and Dex Media, a $1.6 Billion, NYSE-listed private equity portfolio company, and others. Since launching her independent consulting practice, Ms. Martellaro has advised clients in the Construction, Financial, Healthcare, Industrials, Professional Services, Real Estate, and Technology sectors on strategic, financial, and operational improvements.

"We feel quite fortunate to have attracted a talented senior financial executive with such exceptional professional credentials," said Charles Martin, Chief Executive Officer of CB Scientific. "Her deep working knowledge and extensive experience in the areas of budgeting, forecasting, business planning, strategic communication, financial strategy, regulatory compliance, and SEC reporting is truly remarkable, and we expect it will add significant tangible value to our leadership team, now and in the future."

The Company's immediate plan for Ms. Martellaro is to fully engage with MaloneBailey LLP as they work to conclude a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) audit, which will be included in an annual report to be filed with OTC Markets, a critical next step for CBSC to advance to the OTCQB Venture Market in the very near future.

"I am looking forward with great enthusiasm to immersing myself in the Company's operations in order to come up to full speed as rapidly as possible," said Brooke Martellaro, newly appointed Chief Financial Officer of CBSC. "I believe this opportunity provides a perfect venue for me to make a positive impact by applying my expertise to implement short-term improvements and help better position us for long-term success."

An accomplished financial leader and author, Ms. Martellaro earned a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Western Colorado University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, board member, and volunteer and is a Dale Carnegie and PSI Seminars Women's Leadership graduate.

As additional new developments occur, CB Scientific plans to make timely announcements through press releases and regulatory filings to keep its shareholders, industry participants, and the public markets informed.

About CB Scientific, Inc.

CB Scientific, Inc. (https://cbscientificinc.com/), through its domestic and international subsidiaries, provides innovative products and services in the ambulatory non-invasive cardiac monitoring space. Our FDA and CE cleared EKG devices, interactive cloud-based acquisition software, and smartphone apps for both iOS and Android platforms provide improved compliance for patients at risk of abnormal heart rhythms, as well as more accurate information for physicians.

Company Contact Information:

Telephone: (888) 225-0870

Email: General Inquiries: info@cbscientificinc.com

Investor Inquiries: Robert Hesse - dorchco.bh@gmail.com

Follow CBSC: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Newsletter

This information disclosure may contain forward-looking statements covered within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions, and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products and services that we may not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in pervasive markets. This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approval for anticipated actions.

SOURCE: CB Scientific, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670716/CB-ScientificAnnounces-Addition-of-Brooke-Martellaro-as-Chief-Financial-Officer
GLASGOW, Scotland, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At COP26 in Glasgow, a collective financial commitment of US$130 billion was announced by CEOs of Nordic and UK pension funds, to be invested in clean energy and climate investments by 2030. As part of this commitment, pension funds will also report annually on the progress of their climate investments.

The Climate Investment Coalition (CIC) is pleased to communicate this commitment from asset owners in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the UK, in an aim to contribute to increasing global climate ambition and spur the global uptake of climate investments for the green transition by 2030. In addition, a pension fund from Greenland has declared its support.

"Green transition requires massive investments. Governments have to do their part and commit to a new green future. But we also need private investors on board. In 2019, Danish pension funds committed to invest 55 billion dollars in the green transition by 2030. I am proud that we have inspired others and that Nordic and UK pension funds are now ready to invest 130 billion dollars in total by 2030." H.E Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister, Denmark

CIC aims to create an international wave of climate investments to support meeting global goals for climate and sustainable development. The next stage from 2022 and beyond, will be to mobilise new commitments, in particular from investors in the EU, UK, U.S and others.

CIC works directly with committing institutional investors to ensure that commitments are being implemented, tracked and reported on annually to reach investment targets by 2030 or earlier. It is an international public-private sector initiative between the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy & Utilities, Insurance & Pension Denmark, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), Finance Denmark and World Climate Foundation.

"These ambitious pension funds are taking critical steps to ensure pensions take advantage of the enormous opportunities of the green transition, help spur immediate solutions to lower carbon emissions, while protecting our savings against the ravages of climate change. As we look ahead beyond COP26, we aim to grow these financial commitments, raising investor ambition to create a far reaching impact by 2030." Peter Damgaard Jensen, Co-Chair, Climate Investment Coalition

H.E Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, H.E Sauli Niinisto, President of Finland, H.E Barur a Steig Nielsen, Prime Minister, Government of the Faroe Islands and H.E Mute B Egede, Premier, Government of Greenland, H.E Katrin Jakobsdottir, Prime Minister, Government of Iceland, H.E Jonas Gahr Stre, Prime Minister, Government of Norway and H.E Stefan Lofven, Prime Minister, Government of Sweden were present at the announcement, along with Thorey Thordardottir, Managing Director of the Icelandic Pension Funds Association, Bo Foged, CEO of the Danish pension fund ATP and Kent Damsgaard, CEO of Insurance & Pension Denmark. Virtual statements were shared by Odd Arild Grefstad, CEO of Storebrand Group in Norway, Frans Lindelow, CEO of Skandia in Sweden, Reima Rytsola, CIO, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company and Jan Jakobsen, Group CEO of the Faroe Islands Liv Pension Fund.

The event was facilitated by Jens Nielsen, CEO of World Climate Foundation and Stephanie Pfeifer, CEO of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC).

Additional Quotes

"The IEA's 1.5 degree scenario shows that total investment in the energy system alone needs to increase 9.6% per annum between 2020 and 2030. Quantitative targets from IIGCC members to scale up these investments are a clear sign of their commitment to supporting the net zero transition over the coming decade. These pledges also signal to policymakers, project developers, and corporates that investors are seeking additional investable opportunities." Stephanie Pfeifer, CEO, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)

"In partnership with the Climate Investment Coalition, Icelandic pension funds have committed to investing more than USD 4 billion in green energy solutions, in addition to the USD 1.2 billion already invested in climate-friendly initiatives. The pension funds are committed to continued investment in projects that use geothermal power, as well as other sustainable energy sources, distribution methods, and consumption. The objective is to expedite developments that promote cleaner energy for use in transportation and business activities in Iceland." orey S. orardottir, Managing Director, Icelandic Pension Funds Association (Iceland)

"We simply can't afford not to sharpen our climate ambitions. For two reasons. Firstly, it is obvious for all that the global climate needs a green transition and concrete action now. Secondly, the green transition will be a fantastic opportunity to create good returns over the next many years. This is driven by the fact that new business solutions for existing climate challenges must be found within many sectors. In ATP, we believe that the winners of the future think and act green. At the same time the climate challenges also represent a considerable business risk which can hit our investments and must therefore be offset. So economically, we cannot afford not to take action now." Bo Foged, CEO, ATP (Denmark)

"Coalitions and partnerships play a crucial role in raising the bar in climate investments. The Climate Investment Coalition unlocks this potential and highlights the importance of public-private cooperation at the international level. There is still much to be done and the CIC commitments represent an important step on the path to net zero achieving a net zero economy by 2050." Odd Arild Grefstad, CEO, Storebrand Group (Norway)

"Our goal is by 2030 to allocate at least USD 5 billion in assets that have a role to play in climate change. This decade is crucial for the world to achieve the Paris Agreement's goal of net zero climate emissions by 2050, but the global need for investment amounts to trillions of dollars. If public and private capital mobilizes and cooperates, the gap can be closed. With our commitment in the Climate Investment Coalition, we want to show that the finance and pension industry is serious about climate transition."

Frans Lindelow, CEO, Skandia (Sweden)

"Varma updated its Climate Policy in late 2019. Varma began to track its Climate Allocation which is a cross-asset allocation that only includes companies and investments that positively contribute to climate change mitigation. This can be anything from green bonds and to companies that derive a significant portion of their revenue from cleantech and buildings that are operating 100% with emission free electricity and heating. Varma's target is to reach a 20% climate allocation by 2025. Our goal is to influence, together with other investors, how fund managers take climate perspectives into account in their operations. We also actively highlight the fact that preparing for climate change offers significant investment opportunities." Risto Murto, President and CEO, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company (Finland)

"We at LIV are very pleased to be a part of the efforts to change the course on environmental issues by increasing our green investments by 2030. We are also pleased that this can be done through a strong, international association like CIC." Jan Jakobsen, Group CEO, Liv Pension Fund (Faroe Islands)



"KLP will align its investment portfolio with a pathway towards net zero emission by 2050. In addition to a science based decarbonisation of our portfolio, KLP has committed to invest 600 million Euro each year in climate solutions such as renewable energy. We focus on developing partnerships that not only create attractive investments for KLP, but also allow other investors to scale up their level of climate friendly investments." Sverre Thornes, CEO, KLP (Norway)

"Denmark is a pioneer country leading the way for other countries to invest in the green transition and I am happy and proud to see that the Danish commitment has caused a ripple effect inspiring the Nordics and the UK to follow and make green commitments. With this USD130 bn. commitment we are aiming for a bigger momentum." Kent Damsgaard, CEO, Insurance & Pension Denmark

"We're already hard at work to deliver our net zero 2050 ambition, having taken immediate steps to reduce our portfolio's carbon footprint and halve our emissions by 2030. This includes a commitment to invest billions of pounds into renewable infrastructure over the coming decades. We want to give Nest members a bigger pension in a better world and helping to tackle climate change is a key part of that."

Mark Fawcett, Chief Investment Officer, Nest

More information:

Committing pension funds in 2019: Members of Insurance & Pension Denmark Committing pension funds in 2021: Almenni Pension Fund, ATP, Bank Employees' Pension Fund, The Pension Fund for Reykjavik City Employees, Birta Pension Fund, Bru Pension Fund, Environment Agency Pension Fund, Festa Pension Fund, Frjalsi Pension Fund, Gildi Pension Fund, Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Ilmarinen, KLP, Lifsverk Pension Fund, Liv Group, LSR - Icelandic Pension Fund for State Employees, Merseyside Pension Fund, Nest Pension, Pension Fund of Commerce, Skandia, SL The General Pension Fund, SPP, Stapi Pension Fund, Storebrand Group, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company. 2021 commitments comprise of investments in*: Equity investments - Listed

Equity Investments - Unlisted

Green Energy Infrastructure - OECD

Green Energy Infrastructure - Emerging Markets

Green bonds and debt

Climate-friendly investments in properties, etc.

Other investments / unallocated *3.4% of the total 2021 commitment is to be invested in 'empowerment'. We have included this amount in close discussion with the pension fund and will continue to report on it yearly.

Contacts

Pauline Ledermann, Project Manager, Climate Investment Coalition

pauline.ledermann@worldclimatefoundation.org, +45 4083 0497

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/climate-investment-coalition/r/us-130-billion-in-collective-commitments-towards-clean-energy-and-climate-investments-by-2030-mobili,c3445212

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Advancement of Nabota and prescriptions... KRW 290.6B sales and KRW 22.7B operating income

Expanding growth momentum with the release of Fexuprazan in Korea and Nabota in Europe next year

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical (Daewoong) (CEO Sengho Jeon) announced its management performance (consolidated) for Q3 of 2021.

Sales recorded KRW 290.6 billion, which is up 5% YoY. Operating income and net profit recorded KRW 22.7 billion and KRW 12 billion, respectively, which is up nearly four times YoY. Comparing the cumulative operating income up to Q3, Daewoong saw an increase of 7.6 times YoY from KRW 8.3 billion to KRW 63.4 billion.

Daewoong made KRW 20 billion in operating income for three consecutive quarters, and is expected to reach close to KRW 90 billion this year. In Q3, ethical-the-counter (ETC) drug export reached near KRW 200 billion, again demonstrating Daewoong's status as the powerhouse of the ETC sector. Nabota also achieved sales of KRW 20 billion and expect steep growth. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs also made achievements in the health functional foods business. Based on consolidation, Daewoong made records of KRW 265.1 billion in sales and KRW 23.9 billion in operating income.

ETC sales was KRW 174.9 billion in Q3 of the year before last, and KRW 188.9 billion in the same quarter last year. Sales in the ETC sector leaped again by 4.1% in Q3 of this year, making a record of KRW 196.7 billion. While maintaining overall substantial sales, Daewoong's products with high profitability, including Diabex, Crezet and Luphere, greatly extended and achieved high operating income. Cumulative sales in Q3 grew by 8% YoY.

Q3 sales of Nabota this year doubled YoY from KRW 11.3 billion to KRW 20.9 billion. Sales continued to show the usual trend of growth in the major sales channels (i.e. US and Korean markets), and saw high outcome in Brazil, Thailand and Mexico. Cumulative sales in Q3 grew by 85.7% YoY.

In the OTC sector, sales increased 3.3% reaching KRW 30 billion from KRW 29.1 billion in last year's Q3. Conventional OTC such as Ursa(OTC) and Impactamin has shown steady sales while sales in health functional food have increased.

Daewoong expects to further strengthen its growth momentum with next year's new drug releases. As Fexuprazan and Nabota have been recognized for their substantial operation value, they will be released in Korea and in European markets, respectively, next year. Technology for Fexuprazan has already been exported on a scale of KRW 1.1 trillion globally, and Nabota is the only botulinum toxin in Asia that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and plans to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) in China within this year. Clinical trials for treatment indications in the US are also moving forward smoothly.

CEO Sengho Jeon at Daewoong said, "Continuous R&D innovation, investment, and sales expansion based on the four-phase strategy of marketing verification are leading to performance growth. We plan to continue to strengthen our growth momentum by releasing Nabota in Europe next year along with Fexuprazan in Korea which exceeded KRW 1 trillion in technology exports."

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BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Silver Spruce Resources, Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1) is pleased to announce the receipt of exploration approvals by the Property Vendor, from the Mineral Lands Division of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, to carry out prospecting, geochemical surveys and airborne geophysical surveys on the Mystery Au project ("Mystery"). The Company recently signed a Definitive Agreement with two parties (the "Vendors") to acquire 100% of three early-stage gold exploration properties, Mystery, Till and Marilyn, (the "Property" or the "Properties") located near Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, 20-25 kilometres west of New Found Gold Corp.'s Queensway project and 15-35 kilometres south of Sokoman Minerals Corp.'s Moosehead gold project.

"We have received approval to engage the exploration programs and will be initiating both ground and airborne programs during the first week of November," said Greg Davison, Silver Spruce Vice-President Exploration and Director. "We are looking forward to evaluating the gold potential given the number of showings, prospective geology with no history of drilling and regional geophysical structures within and adjacent to our Properties."

Figure 1. Map of the Mystery project claims, named from north to south, Marilyn, Till and Mystery, located only 20-50km south of Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland.

The 8,750-hectare project is located within the Exploits Subzone, an extensive area of mineral exploration activity and discoveries over the past two years. The Properties are well situated in exploration logistics, located close to each other and <10-25 kilometres southeast and south by road from Grand Falls, Newfoundland. The Properties are located <70 kilometres from the Gander International Airport and are easily accessible from major paved roads and local logging and bush roads and trails largely by vehicles and more remote areas by ATV.

The region is structurally complex and located, in large part, between several major crustal lineaments. Numerous major to lesser sub-parallel features merge and bifurcate along strike and are transected by NW and EW-trending faults. These deep-seated structures, which juxtapose geological terranes over hundreds of kilometres, are key to the location and formation of orogenic gold deposits containing several million ounces of gold as reported by junior companies in the district.

The Properties have seen little structured exploration to date. Prospecting by the Vendor is the only exploration conducted during the past ten years. Silver Spruce expedited its initial site visit on the Properties during the week of August 23rd and received an independent positive initial report on the mineral and rock textures potentially related to shallow epithermal and/or orogenic vein-style mineralization.

Multiple surface occurrences on the Properties are reported of agate chalcedony to colloform and crystalline silica veining and multi-phase breccias, carbonate replacement by quartz, and open-space filling quartz and calcite, textures indicative of the upper zones of epithermal systems and epizonal to mesozonal orogenic systems, and are accompanied by Au and arsenopyrite, stibnite, chalcopyrite, bornite and Cu carbonate mineralization in several host lithologies including quartz, black shale and other sediments, ultramafic and gabbroic intrusions.

A selection of historical assays was reported for precious and base metals and pathfinder elements from 123 samples collected from Mystery and Marilyn (see Press Release September 14, 2021). Eighteen samples reported Au >0.5 g/t (max. 12.5 g/t Au). Cu values were reported up to 9.85% with minor Ag, Pb and Zn. Arsenic was highly anomalous with values for thirty-six samples over the 2200 ppm upper limit for Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-OES) analysis, strongly associated with elevated Au values and displayed as minor to abundant arsenopyrite.

All metal values disclosed herein for the Mystery and Marilyn properties by past operators, including the Vendors, and by Silver Spruce are reported from grab samples which may not be representative of the metal grades, or the metal grade distribution, and those from previous exploration efforts must be considered as historical in nature.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo (BC), Vice-President Exploration & Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person (QP) and is responsible for the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, a drill-ready precious metal project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's early stage Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects, with the three properties located from 5 kilometres to 15 kilometres northwest from Minera Alamos's Nicho deposit, respectively. The Company is acquiring 100% interest in the drill-ready and fully permitted Pino de Plata Ag project, located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine, in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce recently signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire 100% interest in three exploration properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, located 15-40 kilometres from recent discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp., central Newfoundland. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director

(250) 521-0444

gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO

(902) 402-0388

mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670738/Silver-Spruce-Receives-Exploration-Permits-Mobilizes-Phase-1-Program-at-Mystery-Au-Project-central-Newfoundland-and-Labrador
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - HappyBit NFT is a limited Non-Fungible Token collection that produces randomly generated pixelated smiley faces. The brand seeks to spread smiles using blockchain technology and whoever buys it will get a minted 1/1 animated pixelated smiley face NFT with interesting characteristics.





HappyBit NFT

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/101684_b715c147846128cc_001full.jpg

People who enrol themselves as the member of HappyBit dedicate their time and efforts to making others smile. The initiative has proven of great help for people who battle mental and emotional health issues. Every day, the brand works hard to spread a little joy in the world.

With every new sell out, HappyBit NFT offers more incentives. The brand aims to give back tens of thousands of dollars to the members of their community. The company also wants to give Tesla Model 3 (Standard Range Plus) to the lucky ones from their community. The team shares in a statement, "To enter, you must be one of the first 500 buyers. Buyers get one entry per HappyBit they own and are NOT limited to one HappyBit."

On their website, the brand has explained its collections in simpler words. They write, "Our collection includes 1,000 algorithmically generated HappyBit with their own unique characteristics. This means each HappyBit you buy is unique, minted and 1/1. Variations include smiles, eyes, and accessories. Hidden in the 1,000 animated Bit collection are rarities including: 33 Rare, 22 Super Rare, and 11 Ultra Rare Bits."

Check out more about the brand on their official website and social media sites below:

www.happybitnft.com

Twitter: @happybitnft

Instagram: @happybitnft

Media Contact:

Name- James pinto

Website - http://HappyBitNFT.com

email - Happybitnft@gmail.com

mobile no. +1 (484) 724-0144

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101684
Anthony Morali, Company's Architect And KMB Design Group Its Nationally Recognized Solar Engineer, Have Completed Their Plans, Designs and Surveys And Will Lead Application Process And Begin Construction Upon Receipt Of Approval From Commission

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK:GSFI) ("the Company") (https://greensolarutility.com), an emerging leader in the solar utility and finance space, today, announced that Anthony Morali, the Company's Architect and Advisor on Creative Solar Design has completed his initial design for the design and installation of a 5MW Ground Mount, Solar System at 312 Cornish Hill Road, Cooperstown, NY and that nationally recognized solar engineer, KMB Design Group, has completed the feasibility study for the project.

All three parties, Morelli, KMB and the Company are now requesting the scheduling a pre-application meeting with Planning Board in Cooperstown, NY. Mr. Morelli has sent a letter to the Chairman of the Planning Board, together with a Site Plan, and described that the plan encompasses the following: "The actual proposed area of the system will encompass 1,083,000 sf or approximately 25 acres of land (approx. 5%) within the 580 acre parcel owned by (the land owner). The system will be setback 650 feet from Cornish Hill Road, and 350 feet from the nearest dwelling unit within the property. Additionally, we will provide a continuous landscaped buffer on the south side of the Solar Array to reduce the visual impact of the Solar Farm."

CEO James DiPrima said: "We are expecting a relatively quick process with the Commission and can then begin construction activities as soon as approval is obtained."

About Green Stream Finance, Inc.

Green Stream Finance, Inc., a solar utility and finance company with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Antony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups, brokers, and private investors in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For All Inquiries Contact:

+1 (424) 280-4096

president@greenstreamfinance.com

Website: greensolarutility.com

Phone number: (646) 669-7007

SOURCE: Green Stream Holdings Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670679/Green-Stream-Holdings-Architect-Solar-Engineer-Both-Complete-Their-Initial-Plans-Surveys-for-Cooperstown-Project-Will-Meet-With-Local-Planning-Commission-To-Review-The-Design-Installation-Plans-For-5-MW-Ground-Mount-Solar-System
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation ("QPM" or the "Company") (TSXV:QPM)(OTCQB:CJCFF)(FSE:YXEP) is pleased to announce that drilling has resumed at its 100% owned Sakami project in Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory. The fully-funded fall and winter program has started and has been designed to expand the mineralized zone at the La Pointe Extension deposit with 10,000 m of drilling in 25 holes (see press release of June 9, 2021 ). Drill results from the summer program at the La Pointe deposit are still pending.

Normand Champigny, CEO of QPM, stated: "We are very excited about this next phase of drilling to test the richest and open at depth mineralization at the La Pointe Extension."

Qualified Person

Normand Champigny, Eng., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Qualified Person under

NI 43- 101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, has prepared and approved the technical content of this release.

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the Project and to advance to the mineral resource estimate stage.

For more information please contact:

Jean-Francois Meilleur

President

Tel.: 514 951-2730

jfmeilleur@qpmcorp.ca

Normand Champigny

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 514 979-4746

nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670710/Quebec-Precious-Metals-Continues-Drilling-at-the-Sakami-Project
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Talisker Resources Ltd. (" Talisker " or the " Company ") (TSX:TSK)(OTCQX:TSKFF ) is pleased to announce high-grade results from drill hole SB-2021-023 highlighted by 24.52 g/t Au over 1.0 metre within 7.51 g/t Au over 4.60 metres at its 100% owned flagship Bralorne Gold Project.

Talisker is concurrently drilling a high-grade narrow vein resource within 700m from surface at Bralorne and a close to surface (<350m) bulk tonnage resource at Pioneer.

Key Points:

Successful intercept of the 55HW returning 24.52 g/t Au over 1.0m within 7.51 g/t over 4.60m.

First successful intercept of the 79 Vein returning 26.24g/t Au over 0.80m within 8.91g/t Au over 2.75m.

Intersected four new veins in hole SB-2021-023 including: New Vein 1 - 8.53 g/t over 1.3m within 4.09 g/t over 5.65m New Vein 2 - 7.80 g/t over 3.65m within 6.52 g/t over 4.85m New Vein 3 - 8.20 g/t over 1.0m New Vein 4 - 5.31 g/t over 1.50m

Successful intercept targeting the 55 Vein returning 8.37 g/t Au over 0.75m within 3.10 g/t over 5.05m.

Successful intercept of the 101 Vein returning 7.34 g/t Au over 0.90m.

Terry Harbort, President and CEO commented, "The continued discovery of significant, unexploided veins within the Bralorne area coupled with consistent high-grade intersections on historic veins demonstrates the potential for a solid increase to our resource base at the Bralorne Project. The grade continuity within the 55HW and 55 vein re-enforce the confidence in our resource drill-out program with consistent repeated high-grade intercepts."

The 55HW and 55 veins have now been intercepted 28 and 33 times respectively. Highlights of the 55HW include 15.11 g/t over 1.0m (SB-2020-012), 14.66 g/t over 1.5m (SB-2021-020 and 34.58 g/t over 1.5m (SB-2021-058). Highlights of the 55 Vein include 43.64 g/t Au over 1.20m (SB-2020-015), 9.54 g/t Au over 1.90m (SB-2021-017) and 12.75 g/t Au over 0.5m (SB-2021-058). SB-2021-023 increases the intercepts on the 101 vein to 30 highlighted by 37.90 g/t over 0.50m (SB-2021-054).

Five diamond drill rigs are currently drilling at Bralorne. A total of 69,351 metres consisting of 126 holes of a planned and fully funded 100,000 metre drill program have been drilled at the project this year with a total of 92,057m (162 holes) since Talisker initiated drilling at the project in February 2020. Currently 37 holes consisting of 17,250 samples are currently at the assay laboratory and are expected to be received by the Company shortly.

SB-2021-023 Hole Description:

Complete preliminary results have been received for this hole.

Located in the Bralorne West block on the NW margin of the granitic intrusive.

New Vein 1 (43.85-49.50m): Fault affected breccia veining entrained within hydrothermally altered Bralorne diorite. Alteration of increased silica, sericite, and iron carbonate proximal to the C4 fault affected structure. Interval has minor gouge with vein halo arsenopyrite, and pyrite mineralization with mineralization hosted within the vein proximal to contacts.

Fault affected breccia veining entrained within hydrothermally altered Bralorne diorite. Alteration of increased silica, sericite, and iron carbonate proximal to the C4 fault affected structure. Interval has minor gouge with vein halo arsenopyrite, and pyrite mineralization with mineralization hosted within the vein proximal to contacts. New Vein 2 (157-161.85m): Fault affected breccia veining entrained within hydrothermally altered Bralorne diorite. Alteration of increased silica, sericite, and iron carbonate proximal to the C1 fault affected structure. Interval has minor gouge with disseminated arsenopyrite, and pyrite mineralization as well as mineralization hosted within the breccia veining.

Fault affected breccia veining entrained within hydrothermally altered Bralorne diorite. Alteration of increased silica, sericite, and iron carbonate proximal to the C1 fault affected structure. Interval has minor gouge with disseminated arsenopyrite, and pyrite mineralization as well as mineralization hosted within the breccia veining. 101 Vein (362.5-363.40m): 101 Vein was intersected at the contact of a fine-grained felsic dyke and Bralorne diorite. Vein halo consists of minor silica, sericite and iron carbonate alteration. Mineralization of disseminated arsenopyrite, and blebby pyrite is hosted within the wall rock with minor vein hosted arsenopyrite.

101 Vein was intersected at the contact of a fine-grained felsic dyke and Bralorne diorite. Vein halo consists of minor silica, sericite and iron carbonate alteration. Mineralization of disseminated arsenopyrite, and blebby pyrite is hosted within the wall rock with minor vein hosted arsenopyrite. 55HW Vein (437.25-438.25m): Vein intersected exhibiting the classic vein textures at Bralorne. Veining is exhibiting extensive crack and seal textures as seen with the fine grained septae. These fine bands are hosting fine grained pyrite and arsenopyrite. Multiple occurrences of visible gold are seen throughout the interval with gold proximal to the crack and seal bands. Vein halo alteration consists of silica and sericite with minor mariposite found proximal to the footwall contact of the vein.

Vein intersected exhibiting the classic vein textures at Bralorne. Veining is exhibiting extensive crack and seal textures as seen with the fine grained septae. These fine bands are hosting fine grained pyrite and arsenopyrite. Multiple occurrences of visible gold are seen throughout the interval with gold proximal to the crack and seal bands. Vein halo alteration consists of silica and sericite with minor mariposite found proximal to the footwall contact of the vein. 55 Vein (477.5-478.25m): Intersect is seen as a weakly banded massive quartz carbonate vein that has a pervasive silica, sericite and mariposite alteration halo. Vein is hosting minor arsenopyrite and pyrite with a vein halo of increased disseminated mineralization consisting of arsenopyrite and pyrite. Intersect is seen with moderate shearing along the contacts as well as within the surrounding wall rock.

Intersect is seen as a weakly banded massive quartz carbonate vein that has a pervasive silica, sericite and mariposite alteration halo. Vein is hosting minor arsenopyrite and pyrite with a vein halo of increased disseminated mineralization consisting of arsenopyrite and pyrite. Intersect is seen with moderate shearing along the contacts as well as within the surrounding wall rock. New Vein 3 (638.50-639.50m): Vein was intersected in the Bralorne diorite and is exhibiting crack and seal textures with fine banding proximal to the hanging wall contact. Mineralization is concentrated in the alteration halo hosting minor arsenopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and stibnite. Alteration is consisting of increased silica, sericite, iron carbonate and mariposite.

Vein was intersected in the Bralorne diorite and is exhibiting crack and seal textures with fine banding proximal to the hanging wall contact. Mineralization is concentrated in the alteration halo hosting minor arsenopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and stibnite. Alteration is consisting of increased silica, sericite, iron carbonate and mariposite. 79 Vein (959.55-960.35m): Vein was intersected within the Bralorne diorite exhibiting crack and seal textures with bands of fine-grained sulphides consisting of arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and pyrite mineralization. Minor vein halo alteration of silica, sericite and iron carbonate.

Vein was intersected within the Bralorne diorite exhibiting crack and seal textures with bands of fine-grained sulphides consisting of arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and pyrite mineralization. Minor vein halo alteration of silica, sericite and iron carbonate. New Vein 4 (1135.50-1137m): Untargeted Vein zone that is exhibiting a stockwork of brecciated quartz veining with pervasive alteration of silica, sericite and mariposite alteration within the zone. Veining is undulating and is seen with minor gouge and significant arsenopyrite and pyrite mineralization dominantly localized to the wall rock proximal to veining.

The photos below show SB-2021-023 intersection of the 55HW vein from 434.65m to 438.85m displaying crack and seal textures with fine pyrite and arsenopyrite laminae.

Table 1: Bralorne Gold Project - Drill Hole SB-2021-023 Diamond Drill Hole Name From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Zone Method Reported SB-2021-023 43.85 44.35 0.5 0.32 New Vein 1 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 44.35 44.95 0.6 15.79 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 44.95 45.65 0.7 2.30 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 45.65 46.15 0.5 0.36 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 46.15 47.1 0.95 8.71 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 47.1 48.3 1.2 2.10 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 48.3 49 0.7 1.19 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 49 49.5 0.5 0.15 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 157 157.5 0.5 0.40 New Vein 2 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 157.5 158 0.5 6.71 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 158 158.5 0.5 7.25 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 158.5 159.3 0.8 11.86 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 159.3 159.8 0.5 7.14 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 159.8 160.5 0.7 5.62 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 160.5 161.15 0.65 6.94 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 161.15 161.85 0.7 4.21 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 362.5 363.4 0.9 7.34 101 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 363.4 364.5 1.1 0.05 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 364.5 365 0.5 1.69 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 434.25 434.75 0.5 0.45 55HW GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 434.75 435.75 1 2.79 55HW GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 435.75 436.25 0.5 4.57 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 436.25 436.75 0.5 2.41 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 436.75 437.25 0.5 2.89 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 437.25 437.75 0.5 18.19 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 437.75 438.25 0.5 30.84 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 438.25 438.85 0.6 3.44 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 477 477.5 0.5 0.20 55 Vein GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 477.5 478.25 0.75 8.37 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 478.25 479 0.75 1.64 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 479 479.5 0.5 4.38 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 479.5 480 0.5 3.45 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 480 480.5 0.5 1.15 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 480.5 481 0.5 1.43 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 481 481.55 0.55 1.31 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 481.55 482.05 0.5 4.24 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 637 637.5 0.5 1.26 New Vein 3 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 637.5 638 0.5 2.38 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 638 638.5 0.5 1.04 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 638.5 639 0.5 4.84 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 639 639.5 0.5 11.56 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 639.5 640 0.5 2.60 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 640 641.5 1.5 0.63 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 959.55 960.35 0.8 26.24 79 Vein GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 960.35 961.5 1.15 0.62 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 961.5 962.3 0.8 3.49 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 962.3 963.3 1 1.63 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 963.3 963.95 0.65 4.41 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 963.95 965.3 1.35 0.71 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1128.5 1129.5 1 0.38 New Vein 4 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1129.5 1130 0.5 2.86 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1130 1130.5 0.5 2.26 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1130.5 1131 0.5 3.70 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1131 1131.5 0.5 1.99 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1131.5 1132 0.5 3.68 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1132 1132.5 0.5 1.43 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1132.5 1133 0.5 0.10 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1133 1133.5 0.5 1.39 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1133.5 1134 0.5 1.99 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1134 1134.5 0.5 6.99 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1134.5 1135 0.5 1.93 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1135 1135.5 0.5 2.92 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1135.5 1136 0.5 5.09 New Vein 4 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1136 1136.5 0.5 3.68 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1136.5 1137 0.5 7.17 GO_FAA50V10 SB-2021-023 1137 1137.5 0.5 2.42 GO_FAA50V10 Notes: Diamond drill hole SB-2021-023 has collar orientation of Azimuth 155; Dip -63.5. True widths are estimated at 40 - 90% of intercept lengths and are based on oriented core measurements where available. Method Reported includes the most up to date information as of the date of this press release.

Talisker is providing an opportunity for shareholders and other interested parties to participate in a Webinar to be held at 4:15 pm ET on Thursday, November 4 th . To register, please click on the following link - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BmNwJ57USjKrOuHwF2-2Ig . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release relating to the drill results at the Bralorne Gold Project has been approved by Leonardo de Souza (BSc, AusIMM (CP) Membership 224827), Talisker's Vice President, Exploration and Resource Development, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Talisker Resources Ltd.

Talisker ( taliskerresources.com ) is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Talisker's projects include two advanced-stage projects, the Bralorne Gold Complex and the Ladner Gold Project, both advanced-stage projects with significant exploration potential from historical high-grade producing gold mines, as well as its Spences Bridge Project where the Company holds ~85% of the emerging Spences Bridge Gold Belt and several other early-stage Greenfields projects. With its properties comprising 296,983 hectares over 346 claims, three leases, and 198 crown grant claims, Talisker is a dominant exploration player in south-central British Columbia. The Company is well funded to advance its aggressive systematic exploration program at its projects.

For further information, please contact:

Terry Harbort

President and CEO

Terry.harbort@taliskerresources.com

+1 416 361 2808

Sample Preparation and QAQC

Drill core at the Bralorne project is drilled in HQ to NQ size ranges (63.5mm and 47.6mm respectively). Drill core samples are minimum 50 cm and maximum 160 cm long along the core axis. Samples are focused on an interval of interest such as a vein or zone of mineralization. Shoulder samples bracket the interval of interest such that a total sampled core length of not less than 3m both above and below the interval of interest must be assigned. Sample QAQC measures of unmarked certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, and duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up 9% of the samples submitted to the lab for holes reported in this release. Sample preparation and analyses is carried out by ALS Global in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and SGS Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (ALS code PREP-31 / SGS code PRP89). Gold in diamond drill core is analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) of a 50g sample (ALS code Au-AA26 / SGS code GO_FAA50V10), while multi-element chemistry is analysed by 4- Acid digestion of a 0.25 g sample split with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for 48 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr). Gold assay technique (ALS code Au-AA26 / SGS code FAA50V10) has an upper detection limit of 100 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the gold assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish (ALS method Au-GRA22 / SGS method GO_FAG50V) which has an upper detection limit of 1,000 ppm Au. Samples where visible gold was observed are sent directly to screen metallics analysis and all samples that fire assay above 1 ppm Au are re-analysed with method (ALS code Au-SCR24 / SGS code - 6 - GO_FAS50M) which employs a 1kg pulp screened to 100 microns with assay of the entire oversize fraction and duplicate 50g assays on the undersize fraction. Where possible all samples initially sent to screen metallics processing will also be re-run through the fire assay with gravimetric finish provided there is enough material left for further processing.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Talisker's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Talisker. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Talisker's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

While Talisker considers these statements to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include market risks and the demand for securities of the Company, risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and Talisker is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Figure 1: SB-2021-023 hole location within the Bralorne West Block.

Figure 2: SB-2021-023 cross section with vein intersections hosted within Diorite.

SOURCE: Talisker Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670686/Talisker-Intercepts-Eight-High-Grade-Gold-Veins-at-Bralorne-Gold-Project-in-Drill-Hole-SB-2021-023
Calls on regulators internationally to follow the example of the U.K. and lessen the impact of income inequality on access to better alternatives than continued smoking

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) announced its support of the U.K. government's plan to simplify the pathway to license electronic cigarettes and other inhaled nicotine-containing products (NCPs) as medicines in England. The U.K. already has one of Europe's lowest smoking rates, supported by a high rate of smokers who have switched to better alternatives. This proposal makes the U.K. the first country in the world to encourage the medical licensing of e-cigarettes via prescription as a route to further lower smoking rates, particularly among low-income smokers.

Sajid Javid, Health and Social Care Secretary, announced that this will "tackle the stark disparities in smoking rates across the country, helping people stop smoking wherever they live and whatever their background." The announcement notes that "e-cigarettes contain nicotine and are not risk-free, but expert reviews from the U.K. and U.S. have been clear that the regulated e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking." Importantly, this measure is not taken in isolation but complements existing policies to encourage switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes as a way to accelerate the transition to a smoke-free U.K. The U.K. government recognizes the role of e-cigarettes supporting those trying to quit, with 27.2% of smokers using them compared with 18.2% using nicotine replacement therapy products1

Gregoire Verdeaux, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at Philip Morris International commented:

"The U.K. is a global leader in medicine, science and public health. Expert scientific reviews in the U.K. and U.S. are clear that smoke-free alternatives-such as e-cigarettes-offer adults who would otherwise continue to smoke cigarettes a better alternative. We welcome the U.K. government's continued recognition that regulated e-cigarettes and other inhaled nicotine-containing products, while not risk-free, are less harmful than smoking and can significantly benefit public health.

"The U.K. government's progressive approach to tobacco harm reduction has already contributed to a high number of smokers using better alternatives like e-cigarettes to move away from cigarettes2, and also one of Europe's lowest smoking rates3. This newly simplified, regulated prescription pathway brings an additional opportunity to help those in the poorer areas of England-where smoking prevalence is disproportionately high-abandon cigarettes.

"The U.K. government also recognizes the importance of differentiated taxation of non-prescription smoke-free products, incentivizing adult smokers who don't quit tobacco and nicotine altogether to switch to less harmful alternatives by taxing the most harmful products-cigarettes-the most, and less harmful non-combustible alternatives, the least.

"Income inequality affects smoking rates across the globe-smokers in lower income households are less likely to have access to these smoke-free alternatives. As representatives from health ministries across the globe are shortly set to gather for an international meeting on tobacco control, we hope that other governments and regulators recognize the additional actions that the U.K. government is taking to offer better alternatives to adults who would otherwise continue to smoke cigarettes."

PMI agrees that smoke-free products-under clear regulations and thorough scientific assessments-while not risk-free, are less harmful than continued smoking and can significantly benefit the public health. Regulators can decisively accelerate the achievement of a future without cigarettes through risk-proportionate regulations for all nicotine-containing consumer products. A growing number of countries-including the US, New Zealand, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Bulgaria-have recognized this approach and implemented differentiated regulation for noncombustible alternatives. Many others are debating changes to their regulation. All men and women who would otherwise continue to smoke cigarettes, regardless of their income level and where they live, should have access to and accurate information about products that are a better alternative.

Whilst PMI does not believe that smoke-free products should be sold exclusively in pharmacies, because access through a wide range of regulated channels is critical to adoption, the company welcomes a simplified, medicinal route implemented in addition to other comprehensive regulatory and supply measures to accelerate adoption of smoke-free products. The company further believes that a smoke-free future is attainable, and that this future can be achieved more rapidly if all stakeholders work collaboratively. Together with governments and civil society, the opportunity to rid the world of combustible cigarettes can be maximized through a consensus that smoke-free alternatives, when subject to proper government oversight and regulation, are part of a sound tobacco harm reduction policy.

Notes to Editors:

Sources

E-cigarettes could be prescribed on the NHS in world first GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Adult smoking habits in the UK Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) Smoking among adults Health at a Glance: Europe 2020: State of Health in the EU Cycle OECD iLibrary (oecd-ilibrary.org)

Smoke-free products in the U.K.

The U.K. has a well-established consumer market for smoke-free products, having developed over the past decade.

The U.K. e-cigarette market is diverse, with estimates suggesting there are around 3.6 million vapers in Great Britain. (Use-of-e-cigarettes-vapes-among-adults-in-Great-Britain-2021.pdf (ash.org.uk))

U.K. authorities take an evidence-based approach to e-cigarettes to date, with Public Health England concluding that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking ((2015) E-cigarettes: an evidence update GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

Over the last 5 years, other categories of smoke-free alternatives have also grown in the U.K., such as the Heated Tobacco category where there are now two competitor products on the market, includingPMI's IQOS which has been the U.K.'s number one smoke-free product since June 2020 (Nielsen data).

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, its shareholders, and other stakeholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, versions of PMI's IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn products, nicotine-containing vapor products, and oral nicotine products. As of September 30, 2021, PMI's smoke-free products are available for sale in 70 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14.9 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005710/en/

Contacts:

Philip Morris International

Trinh Nguyen

Philip Morris International

T. +1 (202) 777 4307

E. Trinh.Nguyen@pmi.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 02, 2021SYH)SYHBF)) ("Skyharbour" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Medaro Mining Corp. (CSE: MEDA) ("Medaro" or the "Optionee") which provides Medaro an earn-in option to acquire an initial 70% interest and up to a 100% interest in the Yurchison Uranium Property located in the Wollaston Domain of Northern Saskatchewan, Canada (the "Property"). The Property contains twelve (12) mineral claims, comprising approximately 55,934 hectares.



Location Map of Yurchison Project:

https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/athabasca-map-skyharbour.jpg

Yurchison Uranium Project:

Historical prospecting near old trenches returned significant uranium (ranging from 0.09% to 0.30% U 3 O 8 ) and molybdenum (ranging from 2,500 ppm to 6,400 ppm Mo) mineralization in both outcrop and float samples. Two historical holes drilled beneath the trenches returned highly anomalous molybdenum values, up to 3,750 ppm and anomalous uranium values up to 240 ppm. The Property boasts strong discovery potential for both basement hosted uranium mineralization as well as copper, zinc, and molybdenum mineralization. Regionally, Rio Tinto entered into a $30 million, seven-year, option agreement with Forum Energy Metals Corp. to acquire an 80% stake in their Janice Lake property which is located on-strike to the southwest of the Property.

The Option Agreement:

Pursuant to the Agreement, Medaro may acquire an initial 70% interest in the Property by (i) issuing common shares of Medaro ("Shares") having an aggregate value of CAD $3,000,000; (ii) making aggregate cash payments of CAD $800,000; and (iii) incurring an aggregate of CAD $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Property over a three year period.

Schedule to earn an initial 70% interest:

Date Cash Payments

(CAD $) Exploration

Expenditures (CAD $) Value of Medaro Shares

Issued (CAD $) On Closing $150,000 $0 $500,000 On or before the first anniversary of Closing $150,000 $500,000 $500,000 On or before the second anniversary of Closing $250,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000 On or before the third anniversary of Closing $250,000 $3,000,000 $1,000,000 TOTAL $800,000 $5,000,000 $3,000,000

Once Medaro has earned an initial 70% interest in the Property, Medaro may acquire the remaining 30% interest in the Property, within 30 business days of earning the initial 70% interest, by (i) issuing Shares having a value of CAD $7,500,000, and (ii) making a cash payment of CAD $7,500,000.

Skyharbour will retain a NSR of two percent (2%) on 11 of the 12 claims with Medaro holding a buyback option whereby Medaro can purchase one percent (1%) of the NSR for CAD $1 million. A separate NSR of two percent (2%) on the other claim is payable to a third party (payable pro-rata based on ownership interest in the Property).

Jordan Trimble, President and CEO of Skyharbour, stated: "We look forward to working with the Medaro team at the Yurchison Project having just signed this Option Agreement. With another accretive property transaction announced, we continue to execute on our business model by adding value to our project base in the Athabasca Basin through strategic partnerships and prospect generation, as well as focused mineral exploration at our flagship Moore Uranium Project. News will be forthcoming on exploration plans at Yurchison and Medaro is well positioned to advance the Project with a strong management and technical team as well as a healthy treasury."

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Richard Kusmirski, P.Geo., M.Sc., Skyharbour's Head Technical Advisor and a Director, as well as a Qualified Person.

About Medaro:

Medaro Mining is a lithium and uranium exploration company based in Vancouver, BC, which holds options on the Superb Lake lithium property located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Cyr South lithium property located in James Bay, Quebec, and the Yurchison uranium property in Northern Saskatchewan. The Company is also involved in the development and commercialization of a new process to extract lithium from spodumene concentrate through its Global Lithium Extraction Technologies joint venture.

About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with six drill-ready projects covering over 250,000 hectares of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project which is located 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration property with high grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone that returned drill results of up to 6.0% U 3 O 8 over 5.9 metres including 20.8% U 3 O 8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. The Company is actively advancing the project through drill programs.

Skyharbour has a joint-venture with industry-leader Orano Canada Inc. at the Preston Project whereby Orano has earned a 51% interest in the project through exploration expenditures and cash payments. Skyharbour now owns a 24.5% interest in the Project. Skyharbour also has a joint-venture with Azincourt Energy at the East Preston Project whereby Azincourt has earned a 70% interest in the project through exploration expenditures, cash payments and share issuance. Skyharbour now owns a 15% interest in the Project. Preston and East Preston are large, geologically prospective properties proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. Furthermore, the Company owns a 100% interest in the South Falcon Point Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin, which contains a NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U 3 O 8 at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO 2 at 0.023%.

Skyharbour has several active option partners including: ASX-listed Valor Resources on the Hook Lake Uranium Project whereby Valor can earn-in 80% of the project through CAD $3,500,000 in exploration expenditures, $475,000 in cash payments over three years and an initial share issuance; CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. on the Mann Lake Uranium Project whereby Basin Uranium can earn-in 75% of the project through $4,000,000 in exploration expenditures, $850,000 in cash payments as well as share issuances over three years; and CSE-listed Medaro Mining Corp. on the Yurchison Project whereby Medaro can earn-in an initial 70% of the project through $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures, $800,000 in cash payments as well as share issuances over three years followed by the option to acquire the remaining 30% of the project through a payment of $7,500,000 in cash and $7,500,000 worth of shares.

Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Skyharbour's Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:

http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/maps/SYH-Athabasca-Map.jpg

To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd..

SKYHARBOUR RESOURCES LTD.

"Jordan Trimble"



Jordan Trimble

President and CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Riley Trimble

Corporate Development and Communications

Skyharbour Resources Ltd.

Telephone: 604-687-3376

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@skyharbourltd.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
Sustainable innovations are most likely to be created together

NEUWIED, Germany, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG is focusing on promoting startups in the field of sustainable materials management and renewable chemistry. To this end, the Neuwied-based company is launching a startup challenge together with the Dutch startup incubator Brightlands Chemelot Campus.

An interview with the initiators Dr. Evert Smit (Director of Scouting at Lohmann) and Hugo Delissen (Business Development Manager at Brightlands Chemelot Campus).

Lohmann: Mr. Delissen, you are visiting Lohmann today. Please describe your impressions. How have you liked it here so far? And Dr. Smit, what are your impressions of today's meeting here in the Bonding Arena at the Lohmann TEC Center Neuwied?

Hugo Delissen: My goal is to get to know Lohmann in detail. In order to make the most of the time, we started the day at 9 a.m. today. I am impressed, because with Lohmann we have exactly the partner at our side that can support startups in the materials management and chemicals sector. What do startups need? Well, first of all, time and money. But also technical expertise in the field in which they want to establish themselves on the market, and access to a relevant network, of course. Companies like Lohmann provide effective startup support for this.

Dr. Evert Smit: Startups quickly reach the point where they need specific technical support. For example, it is important to test the products in a real environment and in the presence of industry experts before they are launched on the market. It is also a matter of providing expertise to the "industry newcomers" and familiarizing them with market-specific processes and applications. I am pleased that we at Lohmann can support startups in this. And, of course, to be able to show Mr. Delissen our company, that is rich in tradition, today.

Hugo Delissen: The task of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, in turn, is primarily to provide support in material development. However, we are limited when it comes to the subsequent application; Lohmann takes over this part. Only here can the industrial environment be realistically demonstrated. We in Geleen, the Netherlands, are more the laboratory, Lohmann the factory.

Dr. Evert Smit: It is the perfect combination of both elements. Lohmann's job, for example, is to ensure that the startups offer something that is actually in demand on the market. Ideally, the young companies then produce something that is also useful for our company.

Lohmann: The Startup Challenge is a joint project between Brightlands and Lohmann. As an observer, how should you imagine the practical implementation at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus when the interested parties arrive there?

Hugo Delissen: That is based on the needs of the start-ups. We usually start by working together on a technical innovation or product. Then an existing business model or business plan has to be further elaborated. In a sense, a story has to be written about how the company should ultimately be set up. We also provide support with this story and with financing. Because only with a resilient concept it is possible for us to mobilize money. In addition, we offer premises in Geleen where the preliminary work takes place. We are currently looking for start-ups that would like to operate in Lohmann's field of business and could become interesting partners for Neuwied.

Dr. Evert Smit: As mentioned, we then take on the technical part and provide support on the subject of applications. It is also important to build up a network of suppliers for the newly founded companies. This is a real difficulty for startups, especially at the beginning. For us as a large and established company, this is much easier. In the end, we then see how the joint path continues. Will the startup become completely independent, or will it function as a joint venture of Lohmann? That remains to be seen.

Lohmann: How did the idea for the joint startup challenge come about in the first place? What is the story behind this project?

Dr. Evert Smit: The current CTO of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Eric Appelman, is a former colleague of mine. We have a personal friendship during which we have had many conversations. Last summer, we talked about my new position as Director of Scouting at Lohmann. Eric wanted to know all about it, and that's how we came up with the idea of getting involved in startups together. The important thing now is to communicate this project well. To this end, we have also launched a website online. Ultimately, however, we can only effectively support two to three startups. 20, for example, would be absolutely unfeasible for us. The few, however, have to be a perfect thematic fit for us.

Lohmann: Although the project is still in its infancy, I would like to ask you this: Could you already imagine that Lohmann will remain active in the area of startup support in the future?

Dr. Evert Smit: As you rightly say, we are only at the beginning. For Lohmann, working with startups is a first. Of course, it may be that we do it more often.

Hugo Delissen: I am also optimistic about this, because especially in times of growing sustainability, it is important to create a culture of innovation in as many companies as possible. It's not enough just to establish this in your own organization. Sustainable innovations are created together. Our campus has precisely this task. We want to unite people who want to create innovations in the field of materials science and renewable chemistry. That's why we also host joint events and group sports. People meet each other and get ideas.

Dr. Evert Smit: If the Challenge is a success, we will certainly repeat it. Even if we "only" gain insights and don't produce a new startup, it's worth repeating. Only if it really brings no benefit at all will we do without it in the future.

Hugo Delissen: But even in this "worst case" we have achieved a minimum goal: We have done active marketing. And people will say about Lohmann: They have done something that no one has done before.

Lohmann: Mr. Delissen, is there a specific success story about a company that was "born" as a startup at Brightlands Chemelot Campus?

Hugo Delissen: Yes, quite a few, actually. In the past five years, we have supported more than 100 startups. The most successful example is certainly Avantium - a company specializing in renewable chemicals. Its best-known product is PEF, a further development of PET, which we know from drinking bottles. And that's exactly the goal of my scouting: to recruit startup candidates, who make materials and manufacturing processes more sustainable.

Lohmann: Our in-house product TwinMelt is a good example of this, the solutions without solvents. Have you already become acquainted with that?

Hugo Delissen: Not yet, but it will be presented to me this evening in Koblenz. I am already very excited about it. And it really is a good example! Generally speaking, if you don't focus on sustainability today, you will soon stop earning money.

Dr. Evert Smit: Once again, back to the topic of sustainability. The cooperation with Brightlands Chemelot Campus is also extremely valuable for our own sustainability strategy. During my visits to Geleen, I have repeatedly discovered things and concepts that will also make Lohmann a more sustainable company in the future. So, we learn from each other!

Lohmann: And what else is on the agenda for you two today? You mentioned, after all, that you will also be visiting Koblenz.

Hugo Delissen: After we have already looked at Lohmann's laboratories together and had lunch with employees, a tour of the polymerization and glaze departments will follow directly after this appointment. And after that we will go to Koblenz. I am already very excited!

Sonja Schobitz

Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG

Irlicher Strae 55

56567 Neuwied / Germany

+49 02631 34 6040

sonja.schoebitz@lohmann-tapes.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676562/Lohmann_Bonding_Arena.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1671784/Lohmann_Logo.jpg
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dar Al Arkan, the leading real estate company in Saudi Arabia, has unveiled the Urban Oasis residential tower in Dubai in partnership with the luxury Italian fashion house, Missoni, known for its bold colours and iconic zigzag motifs, stripes, and wave patterns.

The launch of the prestigious AED 800 million development marks two significant firsts for both the companies: Dar Al Arkan's regional expansion with its first project in the UAE, and the Arab world's first ever bespoke Missoni-inspired living spaces designed by the fashion brand's MissoniHome.

Urban Oasis is situated in the heart of the city directly on the Dubai Water Canal in close proximity to Downtown Dubai's. The deluxe homes of Urban Oasis offer spectacular views of the Dubai Water Canal, making the tower a true urban oasis within the bustling city. Construction of the tower is underway and is set to be completed before end-2023.

Ziad El Chaar, Vice Chairman of Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, said: "The project's location is in one of the most sought-after in the city, and we're happy to have our first flagship development in the UAE. Working with Missoni is a clear indication of our continued dedication to providing our clients and investors with the highest standards of luxury living."

Livio Proli, CEO, Missoni, said: "We're delighted to be working with Dar Al Arkan on the Urban Oasis project, our first in the region, and are excited to be furnishing these incredible apartments with the finest fabrics and Miami inspired design, which will give the homes a unique and original finish."

The stunning Urban Oasis consists of 38 floors, two and three-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom penthouses with luxury interiors from MissoniHome.

The unique penthouse apartments, come fully fitted with high-end Missoni fixtures and decor elements. The immaculately designed apartments come in varying sizes and offer unique levels of five-star living, increadible water-front views and a closed kitchen.

Residents will also have access to luxury facilities and services such a swimming pool, a children's play area, car parking, an equipped gymnasium, and 24/7 conceirge and security service.

Expanding the Dar Al Arkan brand to international markets is a testament to the success of Saudi companies in delivering unique projects in new markets.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676625/Dar_Al_Arkan_Urban_Oasis_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676626/Dar_Al_Arkan_Urban_Oasis_2.jpg

Contact:

Nora Feidi

nora.feidi@bcw-global.com

+971.4.450.7600
Casablanca, Morocco--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - TRAC IMEX Group, is proud to announce its delivery, as it made headlines in Morocco and gathered more than 15m views in less than a week. Moroccans woke up to a unique transportation that seemed impossible of dimensions that start from 9,8 meters by 10m of height. Three pieces were successfully transported from Prominox Yard to the Casablanca Port.

Figure 1: TRAC IMEX Group and Prominox succeeded the unprecedented by exporting the Moroccan expertise to Maaden.

This special transportation was assisted by local authorities, police and gendarmerie. Lydec, the subsidiary of French Group Suez, cooperated with Trac Imex to set the electricity off in many areas, which was a crucial part of the transportation that ensured everyone's safety, as the transported pieces were longer than most of the electricity cables on the itinerary.

A few hours later, local news spotted another transportation of three extra 10 meters wide pieces which are believed to be accessories to the previous transported products.

The transported pieces were produced by the Moroccan manufacturer Prominox, a leading fabrication and mechanical erection company founded in 1978 with over 43 years of experience. The pieces are made from sulfuric acid which is mainly used in the field of oil refining and mining.

The products are set to be delivered to Saudi Arabian Maaden, which is the biggest mining company in the Middle East.

The reported transportation gained global exposure on LinkedIn through a post by Trac Imex's CFO and Associate Mr. Achcharif Mohammed.

Prominox vision

Prominox's mission is to become the world's premier construction, fabricant, and project management company. The firm intends to achieve this by building satisfying careers, formidable teams, and creating value that impacts lives. Prominox is also scaling by opening up to global opportunities and meeting the expectations of the global market.

The leader of special transportation

TRAC IMEX Group is a leading company in the field of special transportation and heavy haulage. The company is also the parent company to several firms in the industrial field. TRAC IMEX is also the first Moroccan supplier of used construction machinery, and holder of a large cranes fleet, digging and grilling machinery.

Being the parent of those firms is Trac Imex's competitive advantage, as they can treat logistical operations without the need of a third party. They offer loading and off-loading, access construction to hideous work sites, etc.

Trac Imex's mission is to transport the impossible in the safest conditions with respecting deadlines and client satisfaction. The firm is also well known for importing the latest transportation technologies. All their vehicles are fitted with a wide range of satellite tracking devices, which gives customers the superior power to keep track of their transported goods.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/tracimex1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tracimexgroup

Media contact

Company: TRAC IMEX

Contact Name: Achcharif Mohammed

E-mail: sales@tracimex.com

Website: http://www.tracimex.com/

Company: Prominox

Address: Km12, Boulevard Ahl Laghlam, Casablanca 20600

E-mail: prominox@prominox.com

Website: https://prominox.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101691
Microsoft customers worldwide now gain access to MediaValet the same way they buy other services from Microsoft

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - MediaValet Inc. (TSX: MVP) (the Company), a leading provider of enterprise digital asset management and creative operations software, today announced the availability of its cloud-based digital asset management (DAM) software in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing access to applications and services built and available on Microsoft Azure. MediaValet customers can now take advantage of the streamlined purchasing, deployment and management provided by the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3817/101615_89c14054b406dad7_001full.jpg

As a transactable offer in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, organizations can now cover 100 percent of their MediaValet subscription fees with their Azure consumption commitment benefit under their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) or Commitment to Consume (CtC) agreement. Organizations that take advantage of the offer can streamline the procurement, management and renewal of MediaValet's products and services along with all other Microsoft expenditures.

MediaValet's cloud-native, AI-rich, global enterprise DAM platform fuels today's digital work environment; helping organizations improve productivity, increase ROI and drive revenue growth. Microsoft customers also have the option to purchase MediaValet through the Azure Marketplace using Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express credit cards.

"This is a big step for MediaValet. We've been waiting for this since we first chose to build MediaValet on Microsoft Azure back in 2010," said David MacLaren, Founder and CEO of MediaValet. "Being transactable on Microsoft's commercial marketplace puts the power into our customers' hands to consolidate their procurement processes and transact in a way that's best for them. From helping streamline the procurement process to enabling customers to use their Azure consumption commitment benefit, we're removing many of the purchasing hurdles for our customers with a Microsoft strategy."

This directive also provides an additional sales channel for MediaValet's product offerings. In addition to allowing organizations to purchase directly through Microsoft's commercial marketplaces, Microsoft field sellers are now incentivized to co-sell MediaValet, as they can now contribute MediaValet subscriptions directly toward their quarterly and annual sales quotas.

"Microsoft Azure Marketplace lets customers worldwide discover, try, and deploy software solutions that are certified and optimized to run on Azure," said Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Azure Marketplace helps solutions like MediaValet reach more customers and markets."

The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use.

Learn more about MediaValet at its page in the Azure Marketplace.

About MediaValet Inc.

MediaValet stands at the forefront of the cloud-native, software-as-a-service, enterprise digital asset management and creative operations industries. Built exclusively on Microsoft Azure and available across 61 Microsoft data center regions in 140 countries around the world, MediaValet delivers unparalleled enterprise-class security, reliability, redundancy, compliance, and scalability; while offering the largest global footprint of any DAM solution. In addition to providing enterprise, cloud-native DAM capabilities at a global scale, desktop-to-server-to-cloud support for creative teams, and overall cloud redundancy and management for all source, WIP and final assets, MediaValet offers industry-leading integrations into Slack, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office 365, Workfront, Wrike, Drupal, WordPress and many other best-in-class 3rd party applications.

Follow MediaValet: Blog, Twitter and LinkedIn

Surf: www.mediavalet.com

For further information, please contact:

David MacLaren

Tel: (604) 688-2321

david.maclaren@mediavalet.com

Babak Pedram

Tel: (416) 644-5081

babak.pedram@mediavalet.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101615
Company Expects 10th Acquisition to Add Accretive Revenue Growth

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Kovo HealthTech Corporation (TSXV: KOVO) (the "Company" "Kovo") - a leader in healthcare Billing-as-a-Service ("BAAS") - announced today it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire The Cvikota Company, Inc. ("The Cvikota Company" or the "Seller").

The Cvikota Company is a Wisconsin-based medical billing specialist firm that has been in business for more than 50 years, providing SaaS-style billing services for physicians, health providers and healthcare clinics across the United States with offices in Wisconsin and Tennessee. Under the terms of the Agreement, Kovo HealthTech Corporation will, through a wholly-owned subsidiary ("Buyer"), purchase substantially all of the assets of the Seller, including associated trademarks, trade names, brand names goodwill, intellectual property, customer lists and customer contracts.

Proposed Deal Anticipated to Close in November

As consideration for the acquisition, the Company will: (i) pay to the Seller cash consideration of approximately $1,375,000 million USD paid at closing (the "Closing Payment"), (ii) a promissory note (the "Note") in the amount of $687,500 USD, with interest at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum. and (iii) in January 2022, the Buyer will cause Kovo to issue common shares having a value, in USD, equal to: gross receipts for 2021 actually collected from certain accounts linked to the acquired business, less the Closing Payment, less the face amount of the Note. The pricing of the shares will be the greater of the (i) the 10 day value weighted average of the closing price at issuance, (ii) the Market Price as defined in the TSX Venture Exchange Policy 1.1 on the date prior to issuance, and (iii) CAD$0.40. The maximum number of shares that may be issued shall not result in a new control person under the policies of the TSXV. Principal of the Note shall be due as to one-half on November 1, 2022 and the remaining half on November 1, 2023.

Immediately Accretive Acquisition Aligned with Kovo Growth Model

The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Kovo as Cvikota's Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenues of approximately USD$3 million with EBITDA of approximately 20% net of synergies. Based on previously provided guidance, Kovo's acquisition strategy targets buying $1 of Annual Recurring Revenue ("ARR") for every $1 investment of debt or equity and explains how the Company proposes to use the debt and equity capital to drive growth. Kovo estimates ARR post acquisition would be approximately USD$9 million (CAD$11.2 million), an increase of about 200% versus fiscal 2020 revenue.

In addition to anticipated continued revenue growth, the Company forecasts Adjusted EBITDA* to be approximately 10% of revenue in 2021 based on higher payroll expenses incurred as part of its increased investment in staffing based on the strength of its organic sales. In addition, the Company incurred higher professional fees as part of its public company listing in 2021. The Company expects these expenses to normalize over time as it scales operations for organic and acquisition growth for the foreseeable future.

Impressive Team Built on Solid Financials and Trust

"Cvikota Company has built an impressive team and business, built on solid financials and trust with its long-standing customers," says Kovo HealthTech Corporation CEO Greg Noble. "We're excited to work together to phase-in Kovo's proprietary OneRev technology platform to help clients benefit from improved efficiencies and our industry-leading sub 30 days cash conversion cycle. For Kovo and our shareholders, this acquisition offers minimal dilution, while adding significant accretive revenue," he says.

The completion of the acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of a number of closing conditions, including receipt of the approval of the TSXV. Provided that all closing conditions are satisfied, the acquisition is expected to close in November 2021. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed on the terms contained herein or at all.

About Kovo HealthTech Corporation and US Healthcare Billing-as-a-Service

Kovo HealthTech Corporation is a growing healthcare technology company that specializes in Billing-as-a-Service offering SaaS-style recurring revenue contracts and software for US healthcare clinics, hospitals and private practices. Kovo helps healthcare providers digitally track and manage complex patient care registration, services, billing and payments in a seamless way, using its proprietary OneRev technology platform. By offering effective billing practices and technology through long-term SaaS-style contracts, Kovo helps healthcare practitioners focus on offering quality care. To learn more about Kovo and to keep up-to-date on Kovo news, visit www.kovo.co.

For more information:

Greg Noble, CEO

investors@kovo.co

1-866-558-6777

Debra Quinn

deb@kovo.co

1-866-558-6777

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") concerning the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to the future financial outlook and anticipated events or results of the Company and may include information regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, acquisition prospects and plans, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding the Company's expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which the Company operates is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "forecasts", "projects", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" occur. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances.

Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the final prospectus of the Company dated May 26, 2021. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Forward-looking information, by its nature, is based on the Company's opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Those factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Despite a careful process to prepare and review forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Although the Company bases its forward-looking information on assumptions that it believes were reasonable when made, which include, but are not limited to, assumptions with respect to the Company's future growth potential, results of operations, future prospects and opportunities, execution of the Company's business strategy, there being no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environments, future levels of indebtedness and current economic conditions remaining unchanged, the Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Company's results of operations from management's perspective. The Company's definitions of non-IFRS measures used in this release may not be the same as the definitions for such measures used by other companies in their reporting. Non-IFRS measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under IFRS. The Company uses non-IFRS financial measures, including "EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" to provide investors with supplemental measures of its operating performance and to eliminate items that have less bearing on operating performance or operating conditions and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. "EBITDA" means net income (loss) before amortization and depreciation expenses, finance and interest costs, and provision for income taxes. *"Adjusted EBITDA" adjusts EBITDA for stock-based compensation expense, transactional gains or losses on assets, asset impairment charges, interest income, net foreign exchange gains or losses, income tax expense or recovery, forgivable one-time government financial payments related to the COVID-19 pandemic ("PPP Loans"), and any transactional expenses. Specifically, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with the Company's results under IFRS and the accompanying reconciliations, provides useful information about the Company's business without regard to potential distortions. By eliminating potential differences in results of operations between periods caused by factors such as depreciation and amortization methods and restructuring, impairment and other charges, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful additional basis for comparing the current performance of the underlying operations being evaluated. The Company believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS financial measures in the evaluation of issuers. The Company's management also uses non-IFRS financial measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made). Any forward-looking statement that is made in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101665
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - International Game Technology Plc (IGT), a gaming technology provider, on Tuesday said it has signed a multi-year iGaming content distribution agreement with online gaming content creator, Yggdrasil Gaming to further penetrate into the growing gaming markets. IGT expects to feature the first Yggdrasil game on its platform in December. The deal grants IGT exclusive access to a selected number of Yggdrasil Gaming's online games for distribution in the U.S. and Canada where iGaming is permitted. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. 'Partnering with high-performing game developers such as Yggdrasil Gaming is a pillar of IGT PlayDigital's growth strategy and an additional differentiator of the IGT PlayCasino value proposition,' said Enrico Drago, IGT CEO Digital & Betting. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Netlist, Inc. (OTCQB:NLST) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended October 2, 2021.

Revenue for the third quarter ended October 2, 2021 was $26.7 million which was up 162% year over year. Net loss for the third quarter ended October 2, 2021 was ($10.7) million, or loss per share of ($0.05), compared to a net loss in the prior year's period of ($2.1) million, or a loss per share of ($0.01). These results include stock-based compensation expense of $0.4 million for the quarter ended October 2, 2021 and $0.2 million for the quarter ended September 26, 2020.

As of October 2, 2021, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $73.2 million, total assets were $98.9 million, working capital was $47.2 million, total debt and accrued interest, net of debt discount, was $21.2 million, and stockholders' equity was $47.9 million.

"Third quarter revenue more than doubled compared to the prior year period, while investments in sales, research and development, and legal activities tempered bottom line results. The recent summary judgement in the case against Samsung was a major victory for Netlist. We look forward to the hearing on November 10th in the case against Google which will address the question of intervening rights," said Netlist's Chief Executive Officer, C.K. Hong.

Conference Call Information

C.K. Hong, Chief Executive Officer, and Gail Sasaki, Chief Financial Officer, will host an investor conference call today, November 2, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review Netlist's results for the third quarter 2021. The live webcast and archived replay of the call can be accessed for 90 days in the Investors section of Netlist's website at www.netlist.com.

About Netlist

Netlist provides high-performance SSDs and modular memory subsystems to enterprise customers in diverse industries. The Company's NVMe SSD portfolio provides industry-leading performance offered in multiple capacities and form factors. Netlist also manufactures a line of specialty and legacy memory products to storage customers, appliance customers, system builders and cloud and datacenter customers. Netlist holds a portfolio of patents in the areas of server memory, hybrid memory, storage class memory, rank multiplication and load reduction. To learn more, visit www.netlist.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and often address future events or Netlist's future performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements about Netlist's ability to execute on its strategic initiatives. All forward-looking statements reflect management's present expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: risks related to Netlist's plans for its intellectual property, including its strategies for monetizing, licensing, expanding, and defending its patent portfolio; risks associated with patent infringement litigation initiated by Netlist, or by others against Netlist, as well as the costs and unpredictability of any such litigation; risks associated with Netlist's product sales, including the market and demand for products sold by Netlist and its ability to successfully develop and launch new products that are attractive to the market; the success of product, joint development and licensing partnerships; the competitive landscape of Netlist's industry; and general economic, political and market conditions, including quarantines, factory slowdowns or shutdowns, and travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. All forward-looking statements reflect management's present assumptions, expectations and beliefs regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in Netlist's annual report on Form 10-K for its most recently completed fiscal year filed on March 26, 2021, and the other filings it makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including any subsequently filed quarterly and current reports. In light of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, these forward-looking statements should not be relied on as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements represent Netlist's assumptions, expectations and beliefs only as of the date they are made, and except as required by law, Netlist undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

(Tables Follow)

For more information, please contact:

The Plunkett Group

Mike Smargiassi

NLST@theplunkettgroup.com

(212) 739-6729

Netlist, Inc.

Gail M. Sasaki

Chief Financial Officer

(949) 435-0025

Netlist, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands) (unaudited) October 2, January 2, 2021 2021 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 62,282 $ 13,326 Restricted cash 10,900 3,200 Accounts receivable, net 4,758 4,680 Inventories 19,387 3,198 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 729 514 Total current assets 98,056 24,918 Property and equipment, net 425 182 Operating lease right-of-use assets 165 114 Other assets 282 58 Total assets $ 98,928 $ 25,272 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 28,164 $ 5,327 Revolving line of credit 4,487 3,678 Accrued payroll and related liabilities 1,116 806 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 424 777 Long-term debt due within one year 16,692 17,056 Total current liabilities 50,883 27,644 Long-term debt - 146 Other liabilities 131 102 Total liabilities 51,014 27,892 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity (deficit): Preferred stock - - Common stock 226 195 Additional paid-in capital 229,523 192,071 Accumulated deficit (181,835 ) (194,886 ) Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 47,914 (2,620 ) Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 98,928 $ 25,272

Netlist, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended October 2, September 26, October 2, September 26, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net product sales $ 26,749 $ 10,212 $ 66,009 $ 35,749 License fee - - 40,000 - Net sales 26,749 10,212 106,009 35,749 Cost of sales(1) 24,241 8,875 59,135 30,477 Gross profit 2,508 1,337 46,874 5,272 Operating expenses: Research and development(1) 2,038 731 5,222 2,083 Intellectual property legal fees 8,461 784 14,585 2,257 Selling, general and administrative(1) 2,590 1,816 7,639 5,994 Total operating expenses 13,089 3,331 27,446 10,334 Operating (loss) income (10,581 ) (1,994 ) 19,428 (5,062 ) Other (expense) income, net: Interest expense, net (125 ) (139 ) (417 ) (437 ) Other (expense) income, net (2 ) 3 641 (2 ) Total other (expense) income, net (127 ) (136 ) 224 (439 ) (Loss) income before provision for income taxes (10,708 ) (2,130 ) 19,652 (5,501 ) Provision for income taxes - - 6,601 1 Net (loss) income $ (10,708 ) $ (2,130 ) $ 13,051 $ (5,502 ) (Loss) earnings per share: Basic $ (0.05 ) $ (0.01 ) $ 0.06 $ (0.03 ) Diluted $ (0.05 ) $ (0.01 ) $ 0.06 $ (0.03 ) Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic 224,020 192,257 215,135 179,154 Diluted 224,020 192,257 235,862 179,154 (1) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales $ 2 $ 1 $ 9 $ 8 Research and development 160 63 438 154 Selling, general and administrative 283 148 715 420 Total stock-based compensation $ 445 $ 212 $ 1,162 $ 582

SOURCE: Netlist, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670704/Netlist-Reports-Third-Quarter-2021-Results
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Surge Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Surge") (TSXV:NILI)(OTCQB:NILIF)(FRA:DJ5C) is pleased to announce that it was entered into a Client Services Agreement with Stockhouse Publishing Ltd. ("Stockhouse"), whereby Stockhouse will assist Surge with general market outreach and investor awareness as the Company continues to achieve important milestones and grow its investor base over the next 12 months. Surge will have access to over 30 different marketing tools focused on editorial, brand awareness and amplifying news on Surge. Using these Stockhouse tools, a larger investor audience can become aware of Surge.

The engagement with Stockhouse is for a 12-month term. All content produced will be published on the Stockhouse websites and further featured through the Stockhouse distribution platform. The total cost for Stockhouse's Services for 12 months is $200,000, of which $60,000 will be paid in cash and $140,000 will be paid by the issuance of common shares ("Shares") of the Company in 5 tranches over 12 months ("Shares for Services").

The first tranche will comprise the issuance of 100,000 shares at deemed value of $0.33 per Share and will be issued upon TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange") acceptance to the transaction. The number of shares to be issued every three months, over the next four tranches will be 50,000 shares each, after the services have been rendered. The deemed price for the shares to be issued each tranche will be determined after the services are performed and upon issuance of the shares.

"We are excited about this new arrangement with Stockhouse and the opportunity it will bring to the investment community," said Greg Reimer, President of Surge, "as it creates a platform for us to educate and inform our investors in a more personal manner about the Company's Lithium Projects located in Nevada, USA and the Company's Nickel Projects located in British Columbia".

The transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. All shares issued are subject to resale restrictions. All securities issued in connection with the transaction will be subject to a four-month and a day hold period, in accordance with applicable Canadian Securities Laws.

About Stockhouse Publishing Ltd.

Stockhouse Publishing Ltd. is a leading financial media company that serves public companies, financial institutions, media publishers, and brand advertisers. Stockhouse members have access to a wide range of world class products and tools including portfolio managers, subscription-based expert newsletters, Stockhouse Bullboards, blogs and social networking tools to help navigate their investment options. With over 9 million unique visitors annually, Stockhouse is Canada's #1 financial portal and one of North America's largest small-cap investor communities.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc.

The Company is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company active in the exploration for nickel-iron alloy and Copper in British Columbia and lithium in Nevada whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Nevada Lithium Claims

The Company owns a 100% interest in 38 mineral claims located in Nevada. The Northern Nevada Lithium Project is located in the Granite Range about 34 line- km southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 line-km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. The target is a Thacker Pass or Clayton Valley type lithium clay deposit in volcanic tuff and tuffaceous sediments of the Jarbidge Rhyolite package. The project area was first identified in public domain stream sediment geochemical data with follow up sediment sampling and geologic reconnaissance.

As announced on Sept 30, 2021, the Company is also in the process of earning an undivided 80% interest in the San Emidio Desert Lithium Project, located 60 miles Northeast of Reno, Nevada from Lithium Corporation (OTCQB: LTUM). The San Emidio Desert Lithium Project consists of 35 mineral claims comprising a total of 2800 acres and is located in the San Emidio Desert.

Caledonia Project, Vancouver Island, BC

The Company has entered into a Property Option Agreement to acquire a 100% interest in 7 mineral claims including the Caledonia, Cascade and Bluebell claims, subject to a NSR between 1-2%. Located in the Nanaimo Mining District of northern Vancouver Island. The claims are 7 km north-west of BHP's past producing Island Copper mine. During its prime operating period the Island Copper mine was Canada's third-largest copper producer. The Caledonia Project claims area lies within a 50-kilometer-long copper belt northwest of the Island Copper mine.

British Columbia Nickel Project

Hard Nickel 4 and Nickel 100 Claims

The Company has entered into an Option Agreement with Nickel Rock Resources to acquire an 80% interest in 6 mineral claims in the Mount Sidney Williams area (Hard Nickel 4) covering 1863 hectares immediately south of and adjacent to the Decar Project and the Mitchell Range area (Nickel 100) covering 8659 hectares, located in Northern British Columbia. Three of the claims are subject to 2% NSR, including the Hard Nickel 4 claim and the two southernmost claims of the Nickel 100 claims. The acquisition is subject to final Exchange approval.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Greg Reimer"

Greg Reimer, President & CEO

604-428-5690

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guaranteeing future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Surge Battery Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670688/Surge-Battery-Metals-Announces-Services-Agreement-with-Stockhouse-Publishing
CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / During this week's PROCESS EXPO, the global food equipment, and technology show, BNP Media's Food Safety Summit, and Cannabis Products Exchange will offer subject matter experts in the Food For Thought Theater in the exhibit hall. As part of this renewed agreement, the Food Safety Summit experts will offer sessions on OSHA, regulatory risks, facility hygiene, and food fraud compliance. In addition, cannabis subject matter experts will address manufacturing challenges for cannabis products, cannabis-infused beverage strategies, and the supply chain challenges for cannabinoid. PROCESS Expo is taking place November 2-5 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. For more information, visit https://www.myprocessexpo.com/food-for-thought/.

"We are excited to once again be partnering with PROCESS Expo and providing subject matter experts in the areas of food safety and cannabis production to the attendees of this important industry event," said Scott Wolters, Chief Events Officer, BNP Media, producers of Food Safety Summit and Cannabis Products Expo. "We have worked closely with the publishers of two of our media brands, Food Safety Magazine and Prepared Foods' Cannabis Products, to develop these important sessions for food and beverage processors to understand new food safety regulations and cannabis manufacturing. We invite attendees to booth #3089 for more information."

The Food Safety Summit sessions will take place in the Food for Thought Theater in Booth 1080 in the exhibit hall.

Kenneth Kirschner , Partner, Hogan Lovells will discuss The New OSHA: What Food Processors Should Expect on Tuesday, November 2 at 11:15 am

, Partner, Hogan Lovells will discuss The New OSHA: What Food Processors Should Expect on Tuesday, November 2 at 11:15 am Shawn K. Stevens , Food Industry Attorney, Food Industry Counsel, LLC will discuss What Food Processors Need to Know to Protect their Brand on Wednesday, November 3 at 11:15 am

, Food Industry Attorney, Food Industry Counsel, LLC will discuss What Food Processors Need to Know to Protect their Brand on Wednesday, November 3 at 11:15 am Joe Stout , Founder, Commercial Food Sanitation, LLC will discuss Facility Hygiene Culture / Labor Solidarity on Wednesday, November 3 at 2:45 pm

, Founder, Commercial Food Sanitation, LLC will discuss Facility Hygiene Culture / Labor Solidarity on Wednesday, November 3 at 2:45 pm John Spink, Ph.D., Food Fraud Initiative, Michigan State University will discuss New Food Fraud Compliance Requirements for Food Processors on Thursday, November 4 at 11:15 am.

The following Cannabis Products Exchange sessions will take place each day at 1:30 pm:

Stephanie Gorecki , VP of Product Development, Cresco Labs will discuss Manufacturing & Market Challenges for Cannabis Products on Tuesday, November 2.

, VP of Product Development, Cresco Labs will discuss Manufacturing & Market Challenges for Cannabis Products on Tuesday, November 2. Shehzad Hoosein , Executive Vice President, Cannabistry will discuss Cannabis-Infused Beverage Production Strategies on Wednesday, November 3.

, Executive Vice President, Cannabistry will discuss Cannabis-Infused Beverage Production Strategies on Wednesday, November 3. Matthew Anderson, Founder & CEO, Vanguard Scientific Systems will discuss Challenges in the Current Cannabinoid Market on Thursday, November 4.

The Food for Thought Theater is sponsored by the Food Safety Summit, a solutions-based conference, and expo designed to meet the educational and information needs of the entire food industry. The 2022 Food Safety Summit will be held Monday, May 9 through Thursday, May 12 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL. For more information, visitwww.foodsafetysummit.com.

CPX22: Cannabis Products Exchange is the go-to "soup to nuts" product development resource for legal cannabis edibles and beverages ideation, innovation, R&D, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and consumer safety. The 2022 event will take place April 28-29, at the Hilton Denver City Center. For more information, visit https://www.preparedfoods.com/CPX.

Both trade shows and conferences are produced by BNP Media, one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events, and market research. For more information, visit www.bnpmedia.com.

For further information, Contact:

Amy Riemer, Media Relations Contact

978-475-4441 (office) or 978-502-4895 (cell)

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: Food Safety Summit

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670712/Food-For-Thought-Education-Sessions-at-Process-Expo-Sponsored-by-BNP-Medias-Food-Safety-Summit-and-Cannabis-Products-Exchange
Serving law enforcement in all 50 states, National Police Credit Union provides personalized products and services to officers, their families, their departments, and their lodges and associations

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / National Police Credit Union, a marketing division of Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union, has faithfully followed its original mission to "serve the financial needs of police officers and their families in order to help them realize their life's goals" for over eight decades, since the Credit Union was established in 1938. As their defining logo asserts, National Police Credit Union truly "Means Police Business!"

In 1938, a few "blue shirts" set out to establish a Credit Union led by and open only to Chicago police officers "on the beat." They believed their first-hand knowledge of law enforcement provided the "x" factor in creating an institution truly rooted in meeting the distinct personal and financial needs of their peers.

Over eighty years later, the Credit Union is still run by a Board of Directors comprised solely of working and retired police officers. Their commitment to "their own" stands as true today as it did back then, and their directive remains the same: provide sound financial programs uniquely designed to fit their membership's lifestyle today and through retirement.

Since then, the Credit Union has expanded to include Branches and Regional Business Offices located throughout the country to serve officers of all ranks, their immediate family members, their departments, and their lodges and associations, thereby supporting nearly all of the personal and professional needs of an officer and his/her family.

Among the Credit Union's array of distinguishing products and services created specifically for officers in mind are the following:

Killed in the Line of Duty Loan Protection: Available for multiple loans at no cost to the borrower, this complimentary benefit cancels up to $850,000 of the outstanding balance of one or more loans should the unthinkable happen to an officer due to a line-of-duty incident.

Police Mortgages: The Credit Union's Police Mortgage featuring Killed in the Line of Duty Loan Protection is designed specifically for police officers, who enjoy quick and easy closings, customized terms, and low money down options.

Premium Checking: One of the Credit Union's most powerful products, Premium Checking features an all-in-one identity theft protection program designed to monitor, detect and restore, with services covering up to three generations of a member's family.

Complimentary financial wellness training offered on a variety of topics in several formats, all of which is scalable to the size and needs of a department.

Free and confidential credit counseling and debt management advocacy with Trusted Business Partner, Gwendolyn Hawkins, who has been assisting Credit Union members with their credit matters for over 25 years.

Confidential financial estate and retirement planning tailored specifically for police officers and their families, who have unique on-the-job and post-career insurance, educational and medical needs.

Fee-free ATMs located in all police districts throughout the Chicagoland area, which provide both a convenience for members and a safe option for the general public.

Shared Branching and fee-free ATMs located throughout the country and within close proximity to all member departments, lodges and associations for members' ease of use.

Police Business Services: Available to organizations of any size; police departments, lodges and associations enjoy a variety of value-added business services, including totally free high yield interest checking accounts with no minimum balance requirements; the ability to pull dues and pay vendors via ACH; and Mobile Check Deposit; among others.

Pictured is CEO Scott Arney

According to CEO Scott Arney, "National Police Credit Union is and always has been in the business of supporting our officers to ensure that they are in the best possible position to fulfill their financial goals and perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Quite frankly, we mean police business, and this is good business for us, for the officers we serve, and for the communities served by our officers."

About National Police Credit Union

National Police Credit Union is a marketing division of Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union, which was established in 1938 as a "blue shirts" organization open only to police officers on the beat. Today, the Credit Union serves officers of all ranks and their immediate family members. Led by CEO Scott Arney since 2002, the Credit Union serves over 38,000 members and has assets in excess of half a billion dollars. In 2014, Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union introduced its marketing division National Police Credit Union, which is the first and only full-service financial institution serving law enforcement officers and their families across the country. The Credit Union is and always has been administered by a Board of Directors comprised entirely of working and retired police officers.

National Police Credit Union is headquartered at 1407 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL, with Regional Business Offices located in Tempe, AZ and Dallas, TX. For more information, please visit our website.

If you would like more information, an interview or photos, please contact Elizabeth Berger at 312-543-2209 or elizabeth@elizabethberger.com.

SOURCE: National Police Credit Union

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670660/Staying-True-To-Its-Mission-For-Over-80-Years-National-Police-Credit-Union-Truly-Means-Police-Business
A Leader in Public Relations for the Psychedelics Space, Duree & Company to Participate in Highly-Anticipated Miami Event

Fort Lauderdale, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Duree & Company, a Fort Lauderdale and Aspen full-service public relations, marketing and special events firm, is pleased to sponsor and participate in "Wonderland: Miami by Microdose," known as "The Largest Psychedelic Medicine Business Event, Ever." This international conference is taking place Nov. 8-9, 2021 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami and will feature participants from all over the world.

As a public relations leader in the psychedelics industry, the firm is pleased to be a part of the event, which has a goal to drive the psychedelics industry into the forefront of modern medicine. Always at the cutting edge of new and emerging industries, Duree & Company launched its NeuroWellness division in fall 2019; and microsite Psychedelicpr.com, a comprehensive source of information for current and prospective clients in July 2021; in response to its growing list of clients in that space.

"Events such as 'Wonderland: Miami by Microdose' further establish the psychedelics industry's enormous potential and need for education and strategic communication, marketing, branding, media outreach, corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and more," said Duree Ross, Duree & Company's president and founder. "We opened our NeuroWellness practice area to promote existing and potential clients in the space, and we are very excited about participating in this pivotal event."

Duree & Company client Dustin Robinson, Esq., CPA, managing principal of Iter Investments and co-founder of Mr. Psychedelic Law; and Iter Investments, a venture capital firm that deploys capital primarily in businesses operating in and around the burgeoning psychedelic industry; will also exhibit at the event.

Psychedelics (also known as hallucinogens) are a class of psychoactive substances that produce changes in perception, mood and cognitive processes. According to market researcher Data Bridge, the psychedelic drugs market is projected to reach $6.85 billion by 2027.

Duree & Company offers PR and marketing services for the newly regulated psychedelic markets, including strategic public relations support, effective marketing, innovative branding, in-depth media outreach, and the development of CSR initiatives. As companies seek to publicize scientific findings, solidify investment opportunities and educate consumers about the many benefits of psychedelics, Duree & Company has the expertise to serve as the communications partner for psychedelic clients, so no opportunity is left to chance.

The firm's proven psychedelic science, psychedelic-assisted therapy and psychedelic venture capital and private equity public relations outreach has placed clients in notable media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fox News, Green Entrepreneur, Page Six, VICE, and more.

Visit Duree & Company's Psychedelicpr.com or call 954-723-9350 to find out more about how the firm can evaluate your goals, build the right press campaign, and deliver smart messaging right into the hands of media.

About Duree & Company, Inc.

Duree & Company, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service public relations, marketing and special events firm founded in 1999. The firm has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Aspen, Colorado. Duree & Company serves the corporate, agency and nonprofit arenas for local, national and international clients. Services include public relations, social media, marketing, digital marketing, content development, advertising, special events, branding, radio promotions, affiliate marketing and more. Duree & Company clients include well-known names in yachting, business, real estate, hospitality, travel, health and wellness, psychedelics and cannabis, art and culture, fashion, nonprofit organizations, legal and professional services. Duree & Company is a member of PR Boutiques International (PRBI), an international network of boutique PR firms. To learn more, call 954-723-9350; go to dureeandcompany.com; or visit its specialized cannabis site at cannabismarketingpr.com, or its new specialized psychedelics-specific site at psychedelicpr.com. Join the social conversation and follow Duree & Company on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn at @DureeCoPR.

Media Contact:

Duree & Company, Inc.

(954) 723-9350 / info@dureeandcompany.com

# # #

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101205
Trouve Victory Inc. launches the next generation of electric vehicles with a focus on high performance and zero-emission electric technology

Burlington, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Trouve Victory Inc. is bringing the next generation of fully electric vehicles to the global automotive marketplace with delivery starting in 2023.

Trouve-EV vehicles will include an 18-minute quick charge capability and an overnight full charge in 4 hours, which will allow you an 800-1,000 km or 500-700 mile driving range on a single charge. The high-performance vehicles outperform the traditional cars of today -- ALL with zero emissions.

"Electric vehicles are quieter, cleaner and more efficient to run than fossil fueled vehicles." Explains Faruk K. Rama, Trouve Chairman. "They are the answer to building a better, cleaner world for our children. In order for us to see a true global shift to electric vehicles and their benefits, we need more options for high performing, zero emissions vehicles in the market. The Trouve-EV is the answer."





Trouve-EV



To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8400/101586_f761f593a4555a58_002full.jpg

Trouve - EV will unveil 3 - model designs in the near future all with designs that are powered by high performance electric technology and are engineered to be recyclable and designed with the Trouve-EV Regenerative Energy System, harnessing the power of the elements, wind, motion and the sun. This provides extra mileage between charges and a lower operating cost regardless of driving conditions. Trouve is planning on manufacturing facilities located in Southern Ontario Canada, USA, UK, Oman and EU and as more divisions open up, they will employ tens of thousands of people interested in transitioning to a new career in the electric vehicle industry.

All the vehicle bodies are made with natural fibers making them the first fully recyclable electric vehicles. This is in keeping with the goal to create production facilities and vehicles that are environmentally friendly. The Trouve-EV's corporate DNA is based on the reduction of pollution to help support environmental sustainability.

In addition to the positive economic impact production facilities will have in the communities they operate, Trouve is also committed to education, working with some of the best Educational Institutions. "We are developing co-op and intern programs to provide students with hands-on learning experiences, leading to possible future employment with Trouve-EV. These educated, enthusiastic young people will help our company become a world leader." Comments Trouve CFO, Peter Fredricks Monchuk.

Trouve is accepting Pre-order sales on their website. www.trouveev.com. Trouve Victory Inc. welcomes investment enquiries. Sign up for the e-newsletter on the website to keep in the know of Trouve's developments.

-30-

For media enquiries or interviews contact:

MarySue Furtney enquiries@msmarketing.ca

Chairman: Faruk K. Rama chairman@trouveev.com

CFO: Peter Fredricks Monchuk peterfm@trouveev.com

UK: David MacKinnon david.m@zlx.co.uk

Oman: Sultan Al Amri Info@trouveev.com

About Trouve Victory Inc.

Trouve means in English, To Find. Trouve Victory Inc. is focused on creating an innovative, environmentally friendly fully electric vehicle. Trouve Victory Inc. assembly and manufacturing will take place in Southern Ontario, Canada USA, UK, Oman and the EU. The manufacturing facility will be carbon neutral, with a solar powered roof, and a state-of-the art robotic assembly line. Trouve prioritizes working with some of the best Universities, to develop co-op and intern programs which will provide students with hands-on learning experience, leading to possible future employment with Trouve-EV. These educated, enthusiastic young people will help our company become a world leader. The goal is to make Trouve Victory Inc., not only the electric vehicle of choice but the employer of choice.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101586
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The IPCC's recent report outlined how rapidly the world is heating up due to human activity and the role our carbon dioxide emissions are playing in that rise. Normative , the world's first carbon accounting engine, has unveiled an emissions insights tool that will help guide SMEs committed to net zero. With support from Google.org, Normative has developed the tool available through the UN-backed SME Climate Hub .

Now, SMEs can access the new tool to work out their sector average emissions. The tool indicates in which areas of their business they may need to take action to reduce emissions and gives them insight into the estimated average greenhouse gas emissions produced by similar companies in the same sector, and country.

Kristian Ronn, Normative co-founder and CEO said: "A reduction in direct emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion in the energy, chemicals and heavy industry sectors will bring down scope 2 and 3 emissions across the whole economy."

Kristian Ronn, speaking at COP26 in Glasgow, said business leaders have to grasp the historic opportunity now to measure and take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

"These insights allow SMEs to begin the journey to net zero. We are excited to be able to put our unique database to good use, and there is much more to come," he added. "We are in a climate emergency and we must all take action, real action."

"With Google.org grant funding and six months of pro bono technical support from Google.org Fellows, we are making a substantial investment in the technologies that will be crucial to tackling climate problems," says Jen Carter, Head of Technology & Volunteering at Google.org. "The Normative's industry CO2 insights is doing just that."

Read more net zero and access your industry CO2 insights here .

About Normative

Normative is the world's first carbon accounting engine, helping businesses calculate their entire climate footprint and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Co-founded in 2014 by Kristian Ronn to accelerate the transition to Net Zero, Normative sets a new standard in scientific accuracy for emissions accounting, powered by its market-leading emissions database. Normative is also the foundational software provider for the UN's SME Climate Hub through which thousands of small businesses have committed to net zero. normative.io
An Urgent Call to Support Healthcare Investment in Public-Private Initiatives

ROME, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The second edition of ECAM - The European Corporate Council on Africa and Middle East - closed in Rome having successfully brought together thought leaders, policy makers, presidents and government ministers who shared their diverse perspectives and profound expertise to inspire and challenge us to find a more human face to caring.



The Forum opened with a live feed from La Rabta hospital in Tunis, of cardiac surgeons carrying out an operation at the first paediatric cardiac surgery CATLAB in Tunisia that was donated by GSD.

The summit began in earnest thereafter and offered delegates the opportunity to focus on health developments in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The theme of this year's summit was 'Finding New Ways to Care' with particular focus on the urgency of supporting and encouraging public-private approaches to healthcare provision and investment.

Other themes up for debate and conversation drew on the G20 Agenda, such as fairer vaccine distribution and the importance of access to universal healthcare around the globe. Many speeches centered on the challenges faced by African and Middle Eastern nations in securing an adequate vaccine supply, as well as the question of how healthcare systems can be changed and improved post pandemic and in preparation for future pandemics. Multilateral cooperation was also an important theme, and debate focused on the financial burden and debt incurred by poorer nations as a result of the pandemic.

Kamel Ghribi, Chairman and founder of ECAM Council, stated "ECAM Council is the fruit of our desire to bring humanism to healthcare."

Notable keynote guest speakers were Tony Blair, Executive Chairman, INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL CHANGE and Saudi Arabia HRH Turki bin Al Faisal Al Saud, Chair of THE KING FAISAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND ISLAMIC STUDIES; Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf the Secretary General, COOPERATION COUNCIL FOR THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO; President Ilir Meta, REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA; Letizia Moratti President, E4IMPACT; Vice President and Regional Minister of Welfare, LOMBARDY; Dr. Maryam Matar Founder and Chairperson, United Arab Emirates GENETIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION; Luigi di Maio ITALIAN Foreign Minister, Roberto Speranza ITALIAN Health Minister, President Felix Tshisekedi, of THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, Jose Barroso Chairman OF GAVI, Cardinal Peter Turkson the Vatican City PREFECT OF THE DICASTERY OF INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, among other distinguished guests.

Media Contact:

media@gksdholding.com

info@Ecamcouncil.com

https://www.EcamCouncil.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/486e7b05-7616-44bf-9711-bc14fb78fb7e


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While reporting higher financial results for the first quarter, Este Lauder Cos., Inc. (EL) issued second-quarter earnings forecast below market estimates. Further, the company raised fiscal 2022 reported earnings view, but backed adjusted earnings outlook, below market.



In pre-market activity on the NYSE, Este Lauder shares were losing around 2 percent to trade at $319.



For the second quarter, the company expects net earnings per share to be between $2.47 and $2.59, and adjusted earnings per share between $2.51 and $2.61.



On average, 22 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect earnings of $2.81 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.



Reported net sales are forecasted to increase between 11 percent and 13 percent, and organic net sales are forecasted to increase between 8 percent and 10 percent.



For fiscal 2022, the company now expects net earnings per share between $7.09 and $7.30, higher than previous estimate of $7.04 to $7.26. Adjusted earnings per share is still expected between $7.23 and $7.38.



Analysts expect earnings of $7.44 per share for the year.



For the year, net sales would grow between 12 percent and 15 percent on a reported basis, compared to previous estimate of net sales growth of 13 to 16 percent. The latest outlook is ahead of its long-term goal of 6 percent to 8 percent as the business begins to normalize as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.



Organic net sales are forecasted to increase between 9 percent and 12 percent.



Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer said, 'For fiscal 2022, we continue to expect strong net sales and adjusted earnings per share growth with margin expansion.'



Separately, Este Lauder announced a 13 percent increase in the quarterly dividend on the Company's Class A and Class B Common Stock to $.60 per share, up from the previous quarterly rate of $.53 per share.



The dividend will be payable on December 15, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2021.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Phebra takes part ownership of Flexipharm Austrading through share purchase

Builds on Phebra's Existing UK Distribution Agreement

Strengthens Phebra's Presence in UK and Europe

SYDNEY, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Australian pharmaceutical group Phebra Holdings ('Phebra') is pleased to announce that it has completed a share purchase agreement with the UK hospital specialty pharmaceutical company Flexipharm Austrading Limited ('FAL').



Flexipharm Austrading, a privately-owned company founded in 2018 by experienced specialty pharma expert, Michael Clark, focuses on supplying UK hospitals with Better Critical Care Medicines. Flexipharm Austrading has an existing licence and distribution agreement with Phebra for the supply of products from Phebra's portfolio of critical care medicines; to date several products have been approved and successfully launched in the UK.



Andre Vlok, Chief Executive Officer Phebra, said: 'We are excited that Phebra has made this strategic investment in Flexipharm Austrading. This is a logical next step for Phebra, deepening a strong and successful collaboration built over the last 3 years. It strengthen Phebra's access to the key UK market which is very important for our current and future pipeline of critical care products."



"Our partnership will allow us to leverage the existing infrastructure at FAL under the expert leadership of Michael and to advance our route to market in the UK and potentially, expand our international sales into wider, selected European markets."



Michael Clark, Founder and Managing Director of Flexipharm Austrading, said: "I established the business with a goal to supply UK hospitals with Better Critical Care Medicines; Phebra had a portfolio of products that we believed offered advantages over existing products and together we have successfully launched these in the UK. But the job is only part-completed; I am delighted that Phebra is now a shareholder and look forward to deepening this relationship which is based around supplying hospitals with a focus on improved or novel versions of gold standard drugs and offering tangible and transparent value to the NHS, healthcare professionals and, independent hospitals."



About Phebra

Phebra is an Australian based specialty pharmaceutical group which develops, manufactures and markets critical medicines across the world.



At Phebra, we create critical medicines that save and improve lives.



About Flexipharm Austrading



Flexipharm Austrading's vision is to become a UK-based specialty pharmaceutical company that is genuinely respected and trusted by NHS hospitals. It was founded in 2018 by Michael Clark, an experienced specialty pharmaceutical company founder and board director. Flexipharm Austrading has a singular focus on commercialising established molecules embedded in hospital use where there are concerns around security of ongoing supply; where the current presentation is not optimal for the needs of the NHS staff; and where the current presentations can contribute to medication errors. The Company has a deep understanding of the conditions where its medicines are used and builds enduring meaningful dialogue with the NHS staff involved in using these medicines. It works in partnership with Phebra Pty Ltd, an Australian pharmaceutical company developing and manufacturing injectable pharmaceutical products. For further information visit www.flexipharmaustrading.com.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Discovery Minerals Ltd (OTC PINK:DSCR)

Discovery is pleased to report that the Ruby Gold Mine program is progressing and that Discovery is current with all Option payments.

Discovery has previously signed an LOI with mining property owners in Zambia which contains two gold ore bodies and some copper and cobalt occurrences. This agreement is subject to a full due diligence review of the properties. Ongoing negotiations are currently being carried out as to the final details. Discovery will be the Operators of these mining operations. The gold mines have been declared as having reserves in accordance with two Australian JORC Reports.

A further Agreement is being negotiated with the same mining group in Zambia regarding a major civil works Project in a JV that will require large quantities of mined construction material and earth fill sourced from the previously secured tenements and some additional ground. This JV will be conducted through a USA corporation called Africa-American Resources Inc.

Additionally, Discovery is continuing to address the matter of the Company's trading status.

Safe Harbor: This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approval for anticipated actions.

Discovery Minerals Ltd.

+1 (310) 607-8252

Admin@discoveryminerals.com

SOURCE: Discovery Minerals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670681/Discovery-Minerals-Activities-Operations-Update-for-October-2021
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amagi, a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV, today announced that it has partnered with the global smartphone brand Xiaomi, to manage and monetize their linear TV and Video-On-Demand offerings to their mobile and connected TV consumers across multiple countries. The content would be a part of Xiaomi's direct-to-consumer app.

Xiaomi is a consumer electronics and smart device manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core. The company has also established the world's leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, with 374 million smart devices connected to its platform. Xiaomi products are present in more than 100 countries around the world.

Xiaomi has chosen Amagi to be their partner for linear TV and Video-On-Demand distribution, as well as ad monetization services. Amagi would manage the workflows of multiple streaming TV channels and other Video-On-Demand assets for Xiaomi using Amagi CONTENT PLUS, and enable them to monetize the content using Amagi THUNDERSTORM, the world's leading dynamic ad-insertion solution, as well Amagi ADS PLUS, a virtual ad sales solution.

"Xiaomi is the undisputed leader in smartphone and smart TV technology and distribution in Asia, ' said Srinivasan KA, co-founder, Amagi. "We're excited to see them venture into the linear TV ecosystem, partnering with premium content brands to boost their global growth and revenues. As their technology partner, Amagi is offering them agility and flexibility in key areas of their operations, helping them scale new heights quickly and effortlessly."

Amagi provides a complete suite of solutions for content creation, distribution, and monetization. The company also has a state-of-the-art cloud broadcast operations center that can support 1000+ live linear channels. Amagi clients include ABS-CBN, A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, CuriosityStream, Discovery Networks, Fox Networks, Fremantle, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, Tegna, USA Today, Vice Media, and Warner Media, among others.

For more information about Amagi and its streaming TV solutions, visit www.amagi.com.

About Amagi

Amagi is a next-generation media technology company that provides cloud broadcast and targeted advertising solutions to broadcast TV and streaming TV platforms. Amagi enables content owners to launch, distribute and monetize live linear channels on Free-Ad-Supported TV and video services platforms. Amagi also offers 24x7 cloud managed services bringing simplicity, advanced automation, and transparency to the entire broadcast operations. Overall, Amagi supports 500+ content brands, 800+ playout chains and over 2000 channel deliveries on its platform in over 40 countries. Amagi has presence in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Paris, Singapore, broadcast operations in New Delhi, and an innovation center in Bangalore.

Amagi Contact

Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

Head of Global Marketing

Email: sanjay@amagi.com

BOCA Communications

Email: amagi@bocacommunications.com
Swiss performance sportswear brand On (NYSE: ONON) announced today that the Company will release its third quarter 2021 financial results on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, before U.S. financial markets open.

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call and webcast at 8:00 am U.S. Eastern Time on November 16, 2021 (2:00 pm CET on November 16, 2021). To access the live conference call by telephone, please dial the following numbers:

United States: +1-646-664-1960 +1-855-979-6654

United Kingdom: +44-20-3936-2999

Switzerland: +41-22-518-90-26

International: +44-20-3936-2999

Access Code: 415800

Additionally, a live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website and under the following Link. Following the conclusion of the call, a replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website.

About On

On was born in the Swiss Alps with one goal: to revolutionize the sensation of running by empowering all to run on clouds. Eleven years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel, and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, and all-day activities. Fueled by customer-recommendation, On's award-winning CloudTec innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides in sportswear's circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fanbase inspiring humans to explore, discover and dream on.

On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on-running.com.

On

www.on-running.com

Source: On

Category: Corporate

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005787/en/

Contacts:

Investor Contact:

On Holding AG

Florian Maag

investorrelations@on-running.com

or

ICR, Inc.

Brendon Frey

brendon.frey@icrinc.com

Media Contact:

On Holding AG

Vesna Stimac

press@on-running.com
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Citizen Stash Cannabis Corp. ("Citizen Stash") (formerly Experion Holdings Ltd.) (TSXV:CSC)(OTCQB:EXPFF)(FRANKFURT:MB31) is pleased to announce the positive outcome of the vote of the Company's shareholders and option holders (the "Securityholders") at today's special meeting of the Securityholders (the "Meeting") regarding the previously announced plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Canada) (the "Arrangement"), pursuant to which The Valens Company Inc. ("Valens") will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Shares") of the Company.

The special resolution approving the Arrangement (the "Arrangement Resolution") was required to be passed by the affirmative vote by at least: (i) two-thirds (66?%) of the votes cast by shareholders, present virtually or by proxy; (ii) two-thirds (66?%) of the votes cast by Securityholders (voting as a single class), present virtually or by proxy; and (iii) at least a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in virtually or represented by proxy, excluding for this purpose votes attached to the Company's Shares held by persons described in items (a) through (d) of section 8.1(2) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions.

A total of 50,783,619 Shares were represented by proxy at the Meeting, representing approximately 50.12% of the issued and outstanding Shares.

See below for a summary of the voting on the Arrangement Resolution:

(i) Two-Thirds Vote (shareholders)

FOR AGAINST (#) (%) (#) (%) 50,228,658 98.91% 554,961 1.09%

(ii) Two-Thirds Vote (Securityholders)

FOR AGAINST (#) (%) (#) (%) 51,753,658 98.94% 554,961 1.06%

(iii) Minority Vote

FOR AGAINST (#) (%) (#) (%) 44,807,805 98.78% 554,961 1.22%

The Company will apply for a final order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on November 4, 2021. Closing of the transaction remains subject to certain customary closing conditions including court approval. Assuming the satisfaction of these closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close on or about November 8, 2021.

The Company's Securityholders are encouraged to consult with their investment dealer, broker, bank manager, lawyer or other professional advisor should they have questions with respect to the matters discussed in this press release. The Company's Securityholders that require further assistance may also contact investor relations at ir@experionwellness.com.

About Citizen Stash Cannabis Corp.

Citizen Stash is the parent company of Experion Biotechnologies Inc., a Health Canada licensed cultivator and processor of cannabis, based in Mission, BC.

Citizen Stash is best known as a rapidly growing adult-use premium cannabis brand offered nationally in nine provinces and territories. Citizen Stash has invested and developed a portfolio of premium cannabis genetics, strains and products with a unique growth strategy incorporating a highly scalable aggregation and distribution business model to drive revenues across its national sales network.

Citizen Stash trades on the TSX Venture Exchange as a Tier 1 issuer under the symbol "CSC" on the OTCQB Venture under the symbol "EXPFF" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MB31".

For further information, please visit Citizen Stash's website www.experionwellness.com or contact Investor Relations, Email: IR@experionwellness.com.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). When used in this news release, words such as "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements as well as phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "could", "may", "should", "will", "would" or the negative connotation of such terms. As well, forward-looking statements may relate to future outlook and anticipated events, such as the transaction and the proposed Arrangement; court approval; and the timing and consummation of the Arrangement. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including those relating to required securityholder and regulatory approvals, exercise of any termination rights under the Arrangement Agreement, meeting other conditions in the Arrangement Agreement, material adverse effects on the business, properties and assets of Valens and Citizen Stash, whether any superior proposal will be made and such other risk factors detailed from time to time in Citizen Stash's public disclosure documents including, without limitation, those risks identified in Citizen Stash's management information circular dated September 28, 2021 and Citizen Stash's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended November 30, 2020, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Citizen Stash assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Citizen Stash updates any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Information contained on any website or document referred to or hyperlinked in this news release shall not be deemed to form part of this news release. All information concerning Valens has been prepared solely by Valens and, as such, Citizen Stash does not assume any obligation or provide any representations regarding the statements made therein.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Citizen Stash Cannabis Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670705/Citizen-Stash-Securityholders-Overwhelmingly-Approve-Proposed-Arrangement-with-The-Valens-Company-Inc
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Red Light Oregon, Inc. ("Red Light Oregon") a 50/50 joint venture of Halo Collective Inc. (NEO: HALO) (OTCQB: HCANF) (FSE: A9KN) ("Halo Collective") and Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTC Pink: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland"), is pleased to announce the release of its findings from a statistically significant and representative market study of Oregon adults. The market research study (the "Market Research Study"), aimed to gather insights on the likely beneficiaries of Measure 109 and the legalization of psilocybin services by the Oregon Health Authority ("Psilocybin Services") for adults in Oregon and help support the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (OPAB) and health officials in making data-informed regulations.

The market research utilized an online survey with 13 questions answered by 473 Oregonians. The survey was powered by Dynata Insights Platform to ensure accurate quota sampling. The data was analyzed by data scientist Alicia Chen.

In addition, to the market research, a literature review was conducted by Dr. Rohit Singh, A Ph.D. Organic Chemist and a Research Assistant Professor in the Center for Drug Design - the University of Minnesota, to assess the safety of long term activation of 5ht2b receptors by microdosing of psilocybin.

The Market Research Study has uncovered:

At least 16% of adults in Oregon are interested in Microdosing services on a weekly basis or more.





47% of those interested in Microdosing were interested in "Microdosing in a Mindfulness workshop".





The preferred price for Microdosing services such as microdosing and mindfulness workshops, microdosing and creativity workshops, or dedicated microdosing co-working spaces is on average above $50 USD.





When combining this information with the adult (21+) population size of Oregon being 2,429,348 we get a calculation of 2,429,348 X 16%(adults interested in microdosing weekly) X 50 USD (preferred price) X 52 (weeks a year) equal to 1,010,608,768 per annum estimated market size.

Based on this data, Red Light Oregon will be reaching out to OPAB members to offer recommendations found in the report, available at www.RedLightOregon.com, including:

Allowing more clients per facilitator in a group session when using low doses of psilocybin as a safe way to lower the price of psilocybin services.





Lower doses should be clarified in regulations to be no more than 3 mg of psilocybin.





Lower dose session time should be clarified to be shorter than a full dose session.





One intake session should be clarified to be enough for 6 months of lower dose service received up to 5 times a week.





Tiered prices for lower-income clients should be encouraged.





Including an internship component in facilitator training may decrease the prices of group sessions also for high dose services.

Red Light Holland plans to conduct research in the Netherlands, where psilocybin is legal, to understand the optimal ratio for facilitators in a group setting with a dose of up to 3 mg of psilocybin per person as well as the optimal time for these low dose sessions.

"The data shows a very big interest in Microdosing services on a regular basis," said Todd Shapiro, CEO, and Director of Red Light Holland. "Measure 109 is focused on equity, and microdosing is a great way to bring psilocybin services to lower-income clients. The Microdosing and Mindfulness and Microdosing and creativity workshops we have been running in the Netherlands seem to have a great interest for the people of Oregon."

"We are seeing that Microdosing services have the potential of being as large of a market as cannabis. We believe there is a huge opportunity for a company with our shared expertise to provide the people of Oregon with the best services," added Katie Field, Co-President of Red Light Oregon and President and Executive Director at Halo Collective.

"With so many people interested in microdosing on a regular basis, it was imperative for us to conduct a literature review regarding the long-term safety of microdosing activation of the 5ht2b receptor that has been implicated in health issues. While we can not give medical advice, we are very happy to provide the information we collected from existing literature on what is considered a safe recurring microdosing dose to OPAB. Katie Fields and I plan on using our collective networks to reach out to members of OPAB, in hopes of discussing these very thorough findings to increase equity and accessibility," said Sarah Hashkes, Co-president of Red Light Oregon and Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of Red Light Holland.

The full report can be found on Red Light Oregon Website www.RedLightOregon.com

Measure 109 will make Psilocybin Services available to 21 years and older in Oregon who think they can benefit from them without a need for medical diagnosis. The service must include a prep-session, psilocybin session in a licensed facility supervised by a licensed facilitator and a possibility of an integration session. On December 31, 2022, the Oregon Health Authority will prescribe forms and regulations necessary for the exact implementation.

Below are some of the answers from the 42% of adults in the sample from Oregon interested in paying for Microdosing Psilocybin Services.

Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2017/101693_f6c166e88441183c_001full.jpg

Figure 2



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2017/101693_f6c166e88441183c_002full.jpg

Figure 3



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2017/101693_f6c166e88441183c_003full.jpg

About Red Light Oregon

Red Light Oregon is an Oregon-based company that is a 50/50 joint venture between Halo Collective Inc. and Red Light Holland Corp. Red Light Oregon is developing a commercialization strategy for Psilocybin Services in Oregon utilizing a holistic approach based on the latest neuroscience research and in accordance with Measure 109, which is a measure aimed at legalizing Psilocybin Services. In addition, Red Light Oregon focuses on increasing accessibility and equity to Psilocybin Services in Oregon by promoting education, research, and accessible pricing.

About Halo Collective Inc.

Halo Collective is a leading, vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, extracts, manufactures, and distributes quality cannabis flower, oils, and concentrates and has sold approximately eleven million grams of oils and concentrates since inception. The company continues to expand its business and scale efficiently, partnering with trustworthy leaders in the industry who value Halo Collective's operational expertise in bringing top-tier products to market.

Halo Collective currently operates in the United States in Oregon and California, Canada, Southern Africa in the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the United Kingdom. The company sells cannabis products principally to dispensaries in the U.S. under its brands Hush, Mojave, and Exhale, and under license agreements with Papa's Herb, DNA Genetics, Terphogz, and FlowerShop*, a cannabis lifestyle and conceptual wellness brand that includes G-Eazy as a partner and key member.

As part of continued expansion and vertical integration in the U.S., Halo Collective boasts several grow operations throughout Oregon and two planned in California. In Oregon, the company has a combined 11 acres of owned and contracted outdoor and greenhouse cultivation, including East Evans Creek, a six-acre grow site in Jackson County with four licenses owned and operated by Halo Collective and two third-party licenses under contract to sell all of their product to Halo Collective; Winberry Farms, a one-acre grow site located 30 miles outside of Eugene in Lane County with a license owned and operated by Halo Collective; and William's Wonder Farms, a three-acre grow site in Applegate Valley, under contract to sell all of its product to Halo Collective pending the closing of Halo Collective's acquisition of its licenses and business assets. Halo Collective has recently acquired Food Concepts LLC, a master tenant of a 55,000 sq.ft. indoor cannabis cultivation, processing, and wholesaling facility in Portland, Oregon operated by the Pistil Point entities.

In California, the company is building out Ukiah Ventures, a planned 30,000 sq. ft. indoor cannabis grow and processing facility, which will include up to an additional five acres of industrial land to expand the site. Recently, Halo Collective partnered with Green Matter Holding in California to purchase a property in Lake County, developing up to 63 acres of cultivation, comprising one of the largest licensed single site grows in California. Halo Collective also plans to expand its operations in California by opening three dispensaries in North Hollywood, Hollywood, and Westwood, one of which may serve as the first FlowerShop* branded dispensary.

In Canada, Halo Collective acquired three KushBar retail cannabis stores located in Alberta as a first in its planned entry into the Canadian market, leveraging its Oregon and California brands. With the KushBar retail stores as a foundation, the company plans to expand its foothold in Canada.

Halo Collective has also acquired a range of software development assets, including CannPOS, Cannalift, and, more recently, CannaFeels. In addition, Halo Collective owns the discrete sublingual dosing technology, Accudab. The company intends to spin-off these assets and its intellectual property and patent applications into its subsidiary Halo Tek Inc. and expects to complete a distribution to shareholders on a record date to be determined by Halo Collective.

Halo Collective has recently announced its intention to reorganize its non-U.S. operations into a newly formed entity called Akanda Corp. ("Akanda"), whose mission will be to provide high-quality and ethically sourced medical cannabis products to patients worldwide. Akanda will seek to deliver on this promise while driving positive change in wellness, empowering individuals in Lesotho, and uplifting the quality of the lives of employees and the local communities where it operates, all while limiting its carbon footprint. Akanda will combine the scaled production capabilities of Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness Pty. Ltd., Halo Collective's Lesotho-based cultivation and processing campus located in the world's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) containing a cannabis cultivation operation, with distribution and route-to-market efficiency of Canmart Ltd., Halo Collective's UK-based fully approved pharmaceutical importer, and distributor that supplies pharmacies and clinics within the U.K. With a potential maximum licensed canopy area of 200 hectares (495 acres), Bophelo has scalability that is arguably unmatched in the world today.

For further information regarding Halo Collective, see Halo Collective's disclosure documents on SEDAR at www.sedar.com

Connect with Halo Collective: Email | Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

About Red Light Holland Corp.

The company is an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in accordance with the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable laws.

For additional information:

Todd Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Director

Tel: 647-204-7129

Email: todd@redlighttruffles.com

Website: https://redlighttruffles.com/

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward- looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: Red Light's plans to conduct research in the Netherlands, statements regarding Red Light Oregon's community outreach and advocacy programs; the intended outcomes and effects of Measure 109; statements regarding the implementation of Measure 109 by the Oregon Health Authority; Halo Collective's expansion and vertical integration plans, including the buildout of Ukiah Ventures; Halo Collective's intended spin-off of the assets, intellectual property, and patent applications of Accudab into its subsidiary Halo Tek Inc.; and Halo Collective's plans to reorganize its non-U.S. operations into a newly formed entity called Akanda.

Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: Red Light Holland's ability to continue as a going concern; the continued commercial viability and growth in popularity of psilocybin products; continued approval of Red Light Holland and Halo Collective's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; and the continued growth of Red Light Holland and Halo Collective.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of Red Light Holland to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with the psychedelics industry in general; increased competition in the recreational and medical psilocybin markets; the potential future unviability of the psychedelics industry; public opinion and perception of the psychedelics industry; incorrect assessment of the value and potential benefits of expansion plans and various transactions; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the psychedelics industry; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets; and risks related to infectious diseases, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect Red Light Holland's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. Red Light Holland undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101693
PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Business Warrior Corporation (OTC PINK:BZWR), the source for small businesses in America to get more customers, today announces it will host a shareholder call to be held over a live webcast on November 4, 2021, at 1 p.m. pst/4 p.m. est.

During the webcast, Business Warrior executives Rhett Doolittle and Jonathan Brooks will discuss the company's traction and results, as well as answer questions from the investment community and news media.

Reserve your spot for the shareholder call by registering here.

Key business updates to be shared:

2021 in review

Auditor selection and future uplisting

The company's new software release

The company's small business lending platform

The shareholder call will be in a listen-only mode. Questions may be asked through the registration page and in advance of the call.

About Business Warrior

Business Warrior is the source for small businesses in America to enhance their brand and boost marketing results. The Business Warrior software takes a holistic view of a business's online reputation, listings, website search results and social media. Predictive algorithms are utilized to recommend the most imperative actions needed to drive new customers, positively impact daily operations, and improve profitability. For more information, please visit businesswarrior.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release and the offering materials may contain forward-looking statements and information relating to, among other things, the company, its business plan and strategy, and its industry. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. They are based on the current beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to the company's management regarding the future of the company's business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. When used in the offering materials, the words "aim," "estimate," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "envision," "estimate," "expect," "future," "goal," "hope," "likely," "may," "plan," "potential," "seek," "should," "strategy," "will" and similar references to future periods are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which constitute forward looking statements. These statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict (many of which are outside of the company's control) and could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company, the offering or other matters, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. The company does not undertake any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT:

Investor Relations:

Jonathan Brooks

Investors@BusinessWarrior.com

(855) 884-5805

SOURCE: Business Warrior Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670694/Business-Warrior-to-Host-Virtual-Shareholder-Call-on-Traction-Results-and-Recent-Company-News
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Following a two-year hiatus, the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York and Coffee Fest New York will once again bring together over 400+ exhibiting companies and thousands of industry professionals for a new, exciting, and inspiring three-day conference and trade show taking place March 6-8, 2022 at the Javits Center in New York City. The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group, under the new leadership of Rita Ugianskis-Fishman, has been working diligently on reinventing and reimagining special events, world-class education, and valuable networking opportunities.

"Our team has spent the last 18 months researching and evaluating what the restaurant, foodservice and specialty beverage industries need to move their businesses past the pandemic and into a bright future. Our singular goal is to provide these hospitality professionals with all of the tools, education and products to help them succeed - from curated education to insight from success stories," said Rita Ugianskis, Vice President, Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group. "We know how important education is to our audience, and our brand new Food & Beverage Academy will offer program tracks for all segments of the industry - from independent owners to chains to specialty coffee and tea. Our new Education Summits will focus on the most important issues including business solutions, marketing tips, operational efficiency and staffing solutions."

According to the National Restaurant Association's State of the Industry Mid-year Report, 2021 has been a year of transition. The report points to the evolution of an entirely different business model with a great emphasis of off-premise business, digital transactions, enhanced take-out and delivery and the rise of ghost kitchens. In an effort to provide the most relevant content, the conference will offer a new Technology Pavilion and Education Program, through a partnership with the International Food & Beverage Technology Association. With so many factors to consider when making the investment in technology, operators will have the opportunity to learn from peers, thought leaders, experts and supplier partners with an unprecedented look at options and products available to them.

The two tradeshow floors will feature several pavilions including the Technology Pavilion, Food Trend Experience and Bar Innovation as well as Center Stage which will feature culinary demonstrations, award ceremonies, and bartender, coffee and culinary competitions. New tools will be provided to all show visitors this year to help them navigate the co-located exhibits and exclusive, complimentary education to help them take advantage of new ways to help their business thrive.

"It's more important now than ever before for our industry to gather in person to discuss the pressing issues impacting our members, taste new foods and beverage items and source new vendors," said Melissa Autilio Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA), sponsors of the trade show and conference. "We look forward to working closely with Clarion Events to bring this newly reimagined trade show and conference back to New York City in March 2022."

The New York State Restaurant Association (www.nysra.org) is the trade association for New York restaurants. NYSRA has been giving restaurateurs the power to succeed since 1935. The Association provides a platform for statewide cooperation and leadership on advocacy issues, along with valuable support services to members.

For 29 years, the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York has provided thousands of restaurant, foodservice, and catering professionals with access to the hottest menu trends, state of the art design and decor, the best in business education, and hundreds of the leading vendors and purveyors dedicated to serving the restaurant & foodservice community - all under one roof. For more information on exhibiting or attending visit https://www.internationalrestaurantny.com/

Since 1992, Coffee Fest has been the specialty coffee B2B event providing start-up education, resources and access to companies needed to make a cafe or restaurant opening go smoothly. For more seasoned coffee professionals, Coffee Fest is a source for networking, deepening existing supplier relations, finding new products & services & education to build on what they already know. For more information on exhibiting or attending, visit https://www.coffeefest.com/.

Clarion Events (us.clarionevents.com ) produces 37 events across 13 sectors of both trade and consumer events. The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group include the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, Coffee Festand The NGA Show. Clarion Events acquired PennWell in early 2018, bringing 4 Tradeshow 200 events into the U.S. portfolio and super-charging the already rapid growth. Clarion Events has offices in Trumbull, CT; Kennesaw, GA; Boca Raton, FL; Tacoma, WA, and Fairlawn, NJ.

For Further Information, Contact:

Amy Riemer, Media Relations Representative

978-475-4441 (office) or 978-502-4895 (cell)

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: Restaurant & Foodservice Show

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670720/Many-New-Exciting-Enhancements-Expected-for-Co-Location-of-The-International-Restaurant-Foodservice-Show-and-Coffee-Fest-in-March-2022
New Class of Navigated TMS Delivers Customized, Repeatable Treatments Improving Patient Care and Clinical Efficiencies

Magstim, the global leader in neuroscience research and treatment for mental health, has been awarded 510K clearance for Horizon 3.0. Designed specifically for the clinical setting, Horizon 3.0 offers enhanced workflows with navigated TMS and analytics.Magstim Connect is a new powerful patient data management system for TMS delivering connected care at networked sites.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005137/en/

Magstim H3 is a new class of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) delivering customized, repeatable treatments, improving patient care and clinical efficiencies. Designed specifically for the clinical setting, Horizon 3.0 offers enhanced workflows with navigated TMS and analytics. Magstim Connect is a new powerful patient data management system for TMS delivering connected care at networked sites. TMS is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that uses an electromagnetic coil to stimulate nerve cells in the region of the brain involved in mood control and depression. Magstim developed the first TMS system more than 30 years ago and there have been close to 16,000 published studies citing the use of Magstim Stimulators in neuroscientific and clinical research. This FDA clearance allows Magstim to bring Horizon 3.0 to thousands of physicians and clinicians in the USA. To learn more about Horizon 3.0 and Magstim research and clinical neurotechnology visit www.magstim.com (Photo: Business Wire).

"We spoke with physicians, patients, researchers and employees and asked them to imagine the next-generation of TMS technology," said Lothar Krinke, PhD, CEO Magstim. "How can we improve patient care efficacy and efficiencies? Horizon 3.0 is the culmination of Magstim's foundation in science, technology and our passion to improve patient outcomes."

Magstim developed the first TMS system more than 30 years ago and there have been close to 16,000 published studies citing the use of Magstim Stimulators in neuroscientific and clinical research.

TMS is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that uses an electromagnetic coil to stimulate nerve cells in the region of the brain involved in mood control and depression.

Horizon 3.0 integrates Magstim StimGuide+, which adds new layers of quality control analytics and workflow improvements to the first FDA-cleared TMS navigation system designed for the clinical setting. Magstim Connect is an advanced new patient data management system for TMS.

"Our TMS patients have experienced a high-degree of success, allowing them to change their lives," said Khaled Bowarshi, M.D., Florida TMS Clinic. "We strive to provide the best technology for our patients. I can now with confidence crown Magstim's Horizon 3.0 with StimGuide+ to be the best TMS system on the market today."

This FDA clearance allows Magstim to bring Horizon 3.0 to thousands of physicians and clinicians in the USA.

To learn more about Horizon 3.0 and Magstim research and clinical neurotechnology innovations, visit Magstim.com or call 844-624-7846.

About Welcony

Globally, Welcony technologies have supported thousands of research labs, clinics, hospitals and universities that focus on mental health, brain disorders, cognitive neuroscience and neuromonitoring. Key brands include Magstim Magnetic Stimulation, MagstimEGI high-density EEG, Technomed Clinical Neurophysiology and Neurosign Interoperative Nerve Monitoring. Welcony is backed by Telegraph Hill Partners, a San Francisco based private equity company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005137/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact: Mark Sejvar, mark.sejvar@magstimegi.com, 323-363-3530
Peloton, Roblox, and Telfar move the needle with Gen Z audiences and are defining the future of business transformation

Global creative company Sid Lee unveils its annual Belong Index of 2021, a ranked list of 10 brands that most effectively engage with Gen Z communities. This year's leading brands are Peloton, Roblox, Patagonia, Ethereum NFT, Telfar, Nike, Disney, Marvel, Depop, and Decathlon. The index is calculated based on Sid Lee's Belong Quotient, the first metric to measure how well a brand attaches to pre-existing communities.

"The Belong Index is fascinating because while it focuses on the present year, it also has an extremely keen eye on what's next the brands that do and will matter in the future," said Andy Bateman, CEO of Sid Lee in the USA. "Communities and their network effects fuel today's most popular and successful platform businesses. We believe it's because communities are where people find belonging, where they can express themselves and connect with people like them it's where they can safely shape their own sense of identity. The learnings from our brand index apply to any size company that wants to grow exponentially by engaging more authentically with their customers."

The Belong Index gives business leaders a glimpse into the psyche and behavior of Gen Z through the brands they interact with consistently. The list is part of Sid Lee's ongoing research initiative called The Belong Effect that seeks to unlock new business value from communities. The company conducted global research with Angus Reid Group to study Gen Z and Millennials' innate relationship with communities and the opportunity for brands to connect with our desire for real belonging; creating better brand connections and real advocacy.

To learn more about the Belong Index 2021 brands and the Belong Quotient, please visit https://belongeffect.sidlee.com/.

About Sid Lee

Sid Lee is a borderless creative company applying storytelling, design, and technology to build customer experiences that matter. Working as one out of Montreal, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, London, and Paris. Sid Lee imagines end-to-end customer experiences with progressive clients such as The North Face, Dos Equis, Warner Brothers, and Netflix. In 2020, Sid Lee received its first Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Design for its artisans' work on Godfather of Harlem.

The Sid Lee community brings together 900 multidisciplinary professionals, including members at Yard, Digital Kitchen, Haigo, and BIMM. Collectively, they help clients outperform their competitors and earn trust and loyalty by deploying their creative capabilities in several disciplines, ranging from design to interactive and experiential communication to advertising and architecture. Through its US expansion, Sid Lee acquired social media agency Denizen to broaden its capacities. Sid Lee is a member of kyu, a collective of top-tier global creative companies, including IDEO and SYPartners, established by Hakuhodo DY Holdings. It also co-created C2 Montreal-one of the largest innovation conferences in the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005517/en/

Contacts:

Tareeni Bogra

tbogra@sidlee.com
The clinic will begin using the Advisor Pro Decision-Support System for Type 2 Diabetes, which has recently received FDA clearance, enhancing the clinic's offering to health care practitioners and patients

DreaMed Diabetes AI LTD. ("DreaMed" or the "Company"), developer of the AI-powered Advisor Pro Clinical Decision Support System and expert-care platform for diabetes, announced today the expansion of its commercial relationship with the Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005828/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

The clinic will begin using the Advisor Pro Decision-Support System for people with Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes, enhancing its offering to health care practitioners and patients.

Advisor Pro by DreaMed is an Al Clinical Decision Support System for diabetes, providing remote insulin management with data analysis and disease management tools. The solution will be deployed at the hospital together with existing diabetes management protocols in an effort to provide patients a more personalized, precise, and effective diabetes treatment.

In the United States alone, 34.2 million people-just over 1 in 10-have diabetes. When it comes to youth diabetes, according to American Diabetes Association, about 210,000 Americans under age 20 are estimated to have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Advisor Pro is the first decision support system to receive FDA clearances for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes treatments for pediatrics and adults. The solution leverages AI to optimize insulin administration and assist healthcare providers in caring for diabetes patients who use insulin pumps or injections and monitor their glucose.

This coveted achievement came on the heels of a prestigue recognition by Nature Medicine. In September 2020, the magazine published a significant international study where the Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at the University of Florida was a participant.

The multicenter, multinational, six-month study reported equal improvement in clinical outcomes when using the AI-backed DreaMed Advisor compared with physician-guided recommendations.

Following the study, in late 2020 and 2021, the clinic piloted DreaMed Advisor Pro. After a successful trial, the clinic decided to implement the all-in-one DreaMed solution clinic-wide, adding the recently cleared upgraded DreaMed Advisor Platform to its offering and eliminating the need for multiple platforms.

In addition to supporting patients on their health journey, the agreement between the clinic and the Company will allow the clinic to deploy features that can help streamline and optimize reimbursements from healthcare plans, to support patients administratively and financially.

"Digital medicine applications can vastly improve the access of patients to healthcare. Remote medicine is part of the future of healthcare, and clinics need to deploy remote care solutions to deliver better care to their patients," says Dr. Haller from the Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at the University of Florida.

Eran Atlas, DreaMed CEO, comments: "The future is un-siloed: digital medicine enhances physician-led medicine to bring better health, better life experience, and better life expectancy to patients. We are very pleased to see a U.S. leading Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at University of Florida expand its relationship with DreaMed to make an even bigger difference in people's lives. We will be able to use this deal for expansion into its adult Endo and PCP departments as well as leverage the transaction and its model nationally with other potential customers".

About DreaMed Diabetes

DreaMed Diabetes is a medical device company providing personalized diabetes treatment optimization solutions. The company was established in 2014 and commercialized its first product, GlucoSitter, an artificial pancreas technology licensed to Medtronic Diabetes. Since then, DreaMed Diabetes has been vigorously working on the DreaMed Advisor portfolio, decision support tools in diabetes management. DreaMed became the first and only company in the world to receive a CE Mark and FDA clearance for DreaMed Advisor Pro, a decision support system in Type I diabetes patients using data from CGM/SMBG and insulin pumps. The company continues developing the DreaMed Advisor portfolio, which will aid all people living with diabetes no matter the insulin therapy or diabetes type and their healthcare professionals to provide personalized insulin therapy. For more information, please visit https://dreamed-diabetes.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005828/en/

Contacts:

Alona Stein

Alona@reblonde.com
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Tego Cyber Inc. (OTCQB: TGCB) ("the Company"), a company created to capitalize on the emerging cyber threat intelligence market. CEO of the Company, Shannon Wilkinson, joined Stock Day host, Everett Jolly.

Wilkinson began the interview by updating listeners about the Company's current projects. "We did have our commercial launch this month of our threat intelligence application, which is called Tego Guardian," said Wilkinson. "We've gone from a concept to commercialization in less than two years of R&D," she shared. "The response that we've gotten through our beta testing, as well as following our commercial launch, has been incredible."

"Our platform is doing a lot of things in the backend; we're taking in all the different threat intelligence from different sources, compiling it, deduplicating it, and taking the additional step of adding context to the threat," continued Wilkinson. "Those pieces of information are what makes Tego a bit different than some of the other solutions that might be out there on the market today."

"How are you going to sell this solution?" asked Jolly. "We have a hybrid sales approach," explained Wilkinson. "We have an inside sales team, as well as channel partners," she added, noting that the inside sales team is currently targeting Splunk users. "We have also recently maintained Amy Looper and her firm, Relativity Sells, to help us in executing our go-to-market strategy."

"We believe that a hybrid sales approach, especially with our channel partner program, will allow us to rapidly scale out our sales strategy," shared Wilkinson.

"What makes Tego Guardian special?" asked Jolly. "One of the main differentiators is data enrichment," said Wilkinson. "Another thing that is really cool about what we're doing is the market potential that we have with our solution," she said, noting the Company's advantage as they continue to build upon existing SIEM platforms and their customer bases.

To close the interview, Wilkinson encouraged listeners and shareholders to reach out with any questions and to keep up-to-date on the Company's projects as they continue to expand.

To hear Shannon Wilkinson's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7971854-tego-cyber-inc-discusses-tego-guardian-application-commercial-launch-with-the-stock-day-podcast

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the Company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/.

About Tego Cyber Inc.

Tego Cyber Inc. (OTCQB: TGCB) ("the Company") was created to capitalize on the emerging cyber threat intelligence market. The Company has developed a cyber threat intelligence application that integrates with top end security platforms to gather, analyze, then proactively identify threats to an enterprise network. The Tego Threat Intelligence Platform (TTIP) takes in vetted and curated threat data and after utilizing a proprietary process, the platform compiles, analyzes, and then delivers that data to an enterprise network in a format that is timely, informative, and relevant. The threat data provides additional context including specific details needed to identify and counteract threats so that security teams can spend less time searching for disparate information. The first version of the TTIP will integrate with the widely accepted SPLUNK platform to provide real-time threat intelligence to macro enterprises using the SPLUNK architecture. The Company plans on developing future versions of the TTIP for integration with other established SIEM systems and platforms including: Elastic, IBM QRadar, AT&T Cybersecurity, Exabeam, and Google Chronical. For more information, please visit www.tegocyber.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release, those which are not purely historical or which depend upon future events, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future constitute forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements because of various factors. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also consult the risks factors described from time to time in the Company's Reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders.

Contact:

Tego Cyber Inc.

8565 S Eastern Avenue, Suite 150

Las Vegas, Nevada 89123

USA

Tel: 855-939-0100 (North America)

Tel: 725-726-7840 x 705 (Europe)

Email: info@tegocyber.com

Web: tegocyber.com

Facebook: facebook.com/tegocyber

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/tegocyber

Twitter: twitter.com/tegocyber

Investor Relations:

Crescendo Communications, LLC

Tel: 212-671-1020

Email: TGCB@crescendo-ir.com

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

(602) 821-1102

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101694
BRADENTON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / 808 Renewable Energy Corporation (OTC PINK:RNWR) ("808" or the "Company"), today announces that the Company has recruited and secured new distributor for the territories of North Carolina and South Carolina.

According to Mr. David Chen, President and CEO of the Company, "We are very excited about this new distributor to represent the company to develop the market of North Carolina and South Carolina, as these two states have great potential to become very successful with our product lines."

Remy Breton, Vice President SilverLight Electric Vehicle commented," North Carolina and South Carolina are major tourism states just like Florida, so there is a huge market for daily rental operation. According to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, South Carolina tourism is now a record $ 23.8 billion industry, supporting one in every 10 jobs and generating $ 1.8 billion in state and local taxes. On the other hand, North Carolina also has a very strong tourism industry as well, it has nearly 40 million tourists visiting each year, its tourism industry hit a record high of $ 25.3 billion in 2018, according to Governor Roy Cooper. "

Peter Chen, CFO of the Company further commented, " As we are continuing to roll out new models, such as e-Scooter, e-Bikes, off-road neighborhood vehicles, electric go-cart, amusement park e-Ride and others, along with making improvements on our existing product lines, we are confident to gain a significant market share in the global electric recreational vehicles arena. In addition, we have already registered to attend the upcoming IAAPA Expo ( International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions / Booth 3782 ) as an exhibitor to be held in Orlando ( Nov. 16 - 19 ) this month, we believe it will be a great opportunity to introduce our company and our products to the global market."

Here is a Video of our most recent development on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8b0wJAbzl0

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements using the words "hope," "anticipate," "may" and statements regarding the potential growth of the Company, and future plans and objectives of the Company and SilverLight, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

SilverLight International Group

SilverLight Aviation, LLC is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Zephyrhills, Florida, specializing in the design and manufacture of gyroplane or autogyro aircraft in the form of kits or ready to fly aircraft. SilverLight Electric Vehicles Inc. is the electric reverse-trike vehicle division which is based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

Investor Contact :

David Chen, President - (631) 397-1111 or davechen.global@gmail.com

AV Division: www.silverlightaviation.com

EV Division: www.SilverlightEV.com

SOURCE: 808 Renewable Energy Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670619/808-Announces-New-Distributor-for-North-and-South-Carolina
Introducing Peter Greenaway CBE's first-ever advertising endeavour: a new short movie masterpiece with a never-before-seen cast of modern-day royals, bridging Raffles' noble legacy and its powerful future

PARIS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raffles Hotels & Resorts today announced Hotel Royalty Since 1887, a brand campaign developed by Accor's Creative Studio, a diverse cast of modern-day royals, and celebrated film director and artist, Peter Greenaway. Renowned for his evocative films with striking imagery, Peter Greenaway brings his powerful vision to this collaboration, the first commercial project of his career. The campaign pays tribute to the brand's storied history and prestige through an innovative, emotive, offbeat, and atypical lens - modernising hotel royalty through a multi-generational cast that have always considered Raffles their luxury brand of choice.

The new campaign is designed to reinterpret the golden age of travel, with each vignette emulating a painting, layered with saturated colours and textures that feel exotic and daring, yet also familiar. Filmed and shot at Raffles Singapore, the birthplace of the brand, the campaign draws from the fundamental spirit of Raffles, showcasing the extraordinary experience the brand provides. Inspired by Raffles' philosophy of true luxury being not only about what you do, but also about how you feel, the campaign highlights the brand's position as a destination for the well-travelled; a meeting point for many cultures, infused with international influences, where stories are told, and legends are made.

Showcasing an enchanting, imaginary day in the life at Raffles, the campaign follows a cast of real-life royals - HIRH Catharina von Habsburg, Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia with her mother HIRH Archduchess Anna Gabriele von Habsburg, born von Wrede; HRH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, King of Jaipur; George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford; HRH Princess Maria-Olympia of Greeceand Denmark; and HH Prince Nikolai of Denmark - as they embark on a series of marvellous and whimsical adventures. As the day progresses, scenes build to a crescendo through a riot of colours, textures and movement, culminating with the joy of an opulent banquet. Throughout the scenes, simple pleasures become elevated, and the journey inspires a sense of wonder and amazement, reflecting the true essence of the brand and the feeling of Raffles' guests when in residence.

From writing to fashion and from polo to aviation, each royal cast member has a personal passion that connects to the roots of the Raffles brand. Director Peter Greenaway has incorporated these passions into the campaign in symbolic and meaningful ways. One particularly poignant scene depicts HIRH Catharina von Habsburg writing exactly where Rudyard Kipling, one of her favourite authors, wrote The Jungle Book. Greenaway captures an incredibly moving moment as von Habsburg pens an emotional letter to her ancestor, Marie Antoinette. Throughout the film, Greenaway aims to portray Raffles as an exclusive retreat for well-travelled connoisseurs, enchanting them with distinctive and meaningful experiences.

To view Peter Greenaway's film, please click here http://www.raffles.com/raffles-life/raffles-royalty.

A legendary brand known for creating landmark properties in culturally rich destinations around the world, Raffles is on track to double its portfolio by 2024, adding a host of distinguished addresses that will continue to set the standard in luxury hospitality. Recently, Raffles opened a second hotel in Dubai (The Palm), and the much-anticipated Raffles London at The OWO is set to open in 2022, along with additional flagship properties planned for Boston, Doha, Jeddah, Macau, Bahrain, Moscow and more.

About Raffles

Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

raffles.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

Media Contact: Ellie Kay, Fox Communications, raffles@foxcomms.com

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BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / ByondXR, the industry leader in making virtual shopping a reality, announces a new partnership with world-renowned brand Armani beauty Germany. In this special collaboration, Armani beauty Germany is moving into the globally trending virtual world and introducing the experience of the glamorous Armani beauty world and giving to their customers and their loved ones a unique virtual store environment that will help them find the perfect Christmas gift.

The launch of the virtual event will take place alongside opening a physical pop-up store in Berlin for the Christmas holiday season.

Armani beauty Germany's first life-like 3D store is designed to engage and delight its visitors via an exceptional interactive shopping experience, created on ByondXR's immersive commerce platform.

The special event will be hosted by a virtual avatar of the renowned influencer Carmen Kroll aka Carmushka.

The virtual environment within the store replicates the retail feel while allowing users to shop comfortably from their own home, encouraging them to browse as they would in a physical location, make-up, and offers the same attentiveness and options that they would expect from such a brand as Armani beauty Germany.

Armani beauty Germany representative: "We are excited to start this journey at this time of the year and bring our beloved customers innovative solutions and new brand experiences that will tap into their imagination and delight their holiday"

The experience also promises extremely engaging interactive activities which include a special memory game developed by ByondXR and a video quest game where visitors will be quizzed on different questions and win luxury gifts and order free fragrance samples.

The experience will also include a virtual selfie stand where users can take photos of themselves to be sent out to their loved ones as a Christmas card and a virtual Make-up try-on for finding the perfect holiday glow and make up look.

Noam Levavi, ByondXR's CEO said "Working with the leading luxury brand Armani beauty is truly inspiring. It shows how Armani beauty Germany drives innovation and creativity in the digital realm, becoming a more sustainable brand that embraces new technologies and virtually brings the holiday spirit to everyone."

Together, ByondXR and Armani beauty Germany, bring innovation that shapes the future of beauty retail.

The store was launched on November 1st and will offer an exciting new look at e-commerce from a 3D perspective.

About ByondXR

Founded in 2016, ByondXR is transforming the world of e-commerce through its immersive platform. By creating virtual environments and showrooms, ByondXR successfully replicates the retail experience through an interactive program. Invaluable during the current climate, the virtual platforms also offer businesses an edge over competitors as e-commerce continues to grow into a larger part of the shopping market. For more information, visit https://www.byondxr.com/, or view the company's press kit .

Contact:

Charlie Even, Marketing Director

Email: charlie@byondxr.com

Phone: +972 524089858

SOURCE: ByondXR

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670740/ByondXR-Partners-with-Armani-beauty-World-to-Create-a-Unique-Virtual-Store-Experience-for-Christmas
- First annual Battle of the Butty, a month-long pro/am search for the UK's most exciting breakfast sandwich where YOU'RE the judge

LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide research by TABASCO Brand revealed that modern Brits are upgrading their breakfast sandwiches. Exciting fillings such as baked beans, mac 'n' cheese and even caviar are now being sandwiched together in good, old-fashioned, white sliced bread, with English muffins, wraps and even croissants also proving a favourite. Upping the ante of the breakfast sarnie, TABASCO Brand is calling on professional and home cooks alike to enter their tastiest and over the top breakfast sandwich combos into The Battle of the Butty.

Taking inspiration from Halley's six steps of deliciousness: hot and cold, sweet and sour, and crunchy and soft; The Battle of the Butty wants to hero the most unlikely of breakfast friends, whether that's bacon and marmalade, salami and grapes, or baked beans sandwiched between two slices of French toast. How do you layer your flavours? What's your secret style? From wraps to toasties, if you call it part of the sandwich family then we want to see it!

The professional winner will receive 2000 towards capital improvements of their restaurant, with the home cook receiving up to 1000 towards culinary courses OR to eat your way around the nation. Both winners will also take away a year's supply of TABASCOBrand Pepper Sauce to LightThingsUp.

Here's How it Works

The Battle of the Butty will have three rounds of judging and two divisions - the professional and the amateur. Restauranteurs are encouraged to have their freshest bread, sauciest condiments, and favourite fillings at the ready, with Halley set to travel the nation, tasting as many of the professional entries as possible and posting his reviews on his TikTok profile @lunchluncheon.

Don't own a restaurant and up for challenging the sandwich king? Keen home cooks are invited to enter the amateur division by sharing their video submissions via Tik Tok or Instagram, with the shortlist of finalists shared on the @lunchluncheon channel, leaving it up to those who prefer to eat with their eyes to crown the winner(s) of the most exciting breakfast butty.

Round 1: TABASCOBrand and Max Halley will begin their tour of restaurants, delis, and Greasy Spoon entries from the 8th of November, visiting key locations across the nation and posting reviews of in-person 'Pro' tastings, as well as reviewing finalist 'Am' video submissions on his Tik Tok, with those that have a hashtag finalist on their video by the deadline Sunday 21st November, entering Round 2.

Round 2: You're a Finalist!Max Halley (@LunchLuncheon) will share review videos for each of the Professional & Amateur Division short listers putting it to the people to judge. The top three Pro/Am videos with the most LIKES by Sunday 28th of November will go through to the final round.

Round 3: We're leaving it entirely up to the Tik Tok community to have the deciding vote! The Top 3 Pro/Am videos to be reposted with a poll and the Most Exciting Breakfast Butty's being determined by the most 'Yes' votes at 9am on Wednesday the 1st of December.

How Do You Enter?

Foodie TikToker's, Max Halley and TABASCO Brand will be recruiting participants throughout the month, sharing inspiration and recipes on their channels. Whether you're a professional or an amateur, simply create a video of you making your most exciting breakfast sandwich that includes a dash or a splash of TABASCO Brand Pepper Sauces and share on either TikTok or Instagram.

On TikTok tag @TABASCOBrand and @LUNCHLUNCHEON with ButtyBattle. On Instagram tag @TABASCO and @LUNCHLUNCHEON with ButtyBattle.

Visit TABASCO.COM/BattleOfTheButty-uk for an overview of the competition and the full T&C's.

Credit

The Battle of the Butty by TABASCO Brand is a Tik Tok and Instagram-led professional and amateur search for the nation's most exciting Breakfast Butty that includes a dash or a splash of TABASCO Brand Pepper Sauces. Living entirely in the world of social, Halley will review video submissions, whilst simultaneously trialling as many professionals as possible, posting or duet all reviews on Tik Tok @LunchLuncheon. To enter, tag @LunchLuncheon and @TabascoBrand on Tik Tok or @LunchLuncheon and @Tabasco on Instagram ButtyBattle. Visit TABASCO.com/BattleOfTheButty-uk for more info and T&C's.

High-res imagery available here

Tik Tok: @TABASCOBrand / @LunchLuncheon (Max Halley) / ButtyBattle LightThingsUp

Instagram: @TABASCO / @LunchLuncheon (Max Halley) / ButtyBattle LightThingsUp

Research

TABASCO Brand commissioned Ginger Comms to carry out the new research which polled 1,500 respondents.

About McIlhenny Company

From our home on Avery Island, Louisiana, McIlhenny Company produces TABASCO Brand products, including the legendary TABASCO Brand Original Red Sauce. A household and restaurant staple around the world, TABASCO Sauce is sold in more than 195 countries and territories and labelled in more than 36 languages and dialects.

With over 150 years of pepper expertise, our family-owned and operated company is constantly experimenting with new flavours and products to carry on our legacy of exciting the world's most popular food and drinks. Our core range of pepper sauces includes TABASCO Brand Original Red Sauce, TABASCO Jalapeno Sauce , TABASCO Chipotle Sauce, TABASCO Sriracha, and TABASCO Habanero Sauce.

To learn more about how we LightThingsUp please visit us at www.tabasco.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn.

About Max Halley

Max Halley owns the restaurant that changed the sandwich: Max's Sandwich Shop. His sandwiches have been on the cover of Esquire, Timeout, Shortlist and the front page of the Observer.

Max is the resident sandwich and condiment expert on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch; he has also been a guest chef on ITV's This Morning. Most recently Max appeared as the special guest judge and 'Sandwich King' on Celebrity MasterChef's sandwich week.

Max's first cookbook, Max's Sandwich Book, was a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. He writes regularly for the Evening Standard as well as the Sunday Times, the Guardian, the Observer, Vice, the Independent, the i Paper, among others. His latest book Max's Picnic Book: An ode to the art of eating outdoors was published in March of this year.
ROSEMONT, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Big Data, Industry 4.0, Robotics, and Machine Learning were the focus of the recent QUALITY Show that was held last week at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. Thousands of Quality Managers, Quality Engineers, Corporate Management, and Manufacturing Engineers explored the latest in inspection, process improvement, and metrology. The trade show and conference, produced by BNP Media, publishers of Quality Magazine, offered new products from nearly 100 exhibiting companies, an insightful keynote presentation and dozens of education sessions as well as networking on the show floor and at an evening networking reception.

"We thank our exhibitors, attendees, sponsors, and partners in supporting our efforts to have a safe in person event for the industry. It was inspiring for the industry to once again be able to gather to see the newest equipment, technology and solutions on the show floor," said Buck Bicek, publisher of Quality Magazine. "Our exhibitors were happy to have the opportunity to meet with decision makers from leading companies such as Caterpillar Inc., GE Aviation, Honda Development and Manufacturing, Ingersoll Rand, Lockheed Martin, Mitsubishi Chemical, Siemens, and hundreds of others.

Highlights of the event, included:

The exhibit hall floor had 95 exhibitors including Gold Sponsor ZEISS; Silver Sponsor BSI and Bronze Sponsor InnovMetric. 73% of the 2021 show exhibitors renewed their booth space on-site for the 2023 Show scheduled for October 24-26, 2023 in Rosemont, IL.

floor had 95 exhibitors including Gold Sponsor ZEISS; Silver Sponsor BSI and Bronze Sponsor InnovMetric. 73% of the 2021 show exhibitors renewed their booth space on-site for the 2023 Show scheduled for October 24-26, 2023 in Rosemont, IL. Charlie Mitchell, Manufacturing Engineer, Andretti Autosport delivered the Keynote Presentation and discussed Continuous improvement and speed of manufacturing parts from concept to reality while maintaining quality, inspection, and traceability of critical components in the racing world.

and discussed Continuous improvement and speed of manufacturing parts from concept to reality while maintaining quality, inspection, and traceability of critical components in the racing world. Prior to the keynote address Quality Magazine presented Navin S. Dedhia, retired quality management professional with 40 years of industry experience with IBM and Hitachi GST with the Professional of the Year Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the quality profession. The editors also presented Electromed with the Plant of the Year Award , for their world-class quality technology, equipment, services, and techniques that improve quality standards.

recognizing his outstanding contributions to the quality profession. The editors also presented Electromed with the , for their world-class quality technology, equipment, services, and techniques that improve quality standards. Over a dozen exhibitors demonstrated their company's expertise related to the latest technological advances in Quality in the Learning Theaters in the Exhibit Hall. Subject matter experts from ASQ Inspection Division, BSI, Coordinate Metrology Society, Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC), DISCUS Software Company, ETQ, IDS Imaging Development Systems Inc., Integro Technologies, Mahr Inc., Management & Performance Systems, Met-L-Flo, Parsons Corporation, PolyWorks USA, The Starrett Company, Tooling U-SME, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Veeva Systems, and ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions shared their knowledge with the attendees.

in the Exhibit Hall. Subject matter experts from ASQ Inspection Division, BSI, Coordinate Metrology Society, Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC), DISCUS Software Company, ETQ, IDS Imaging Development Systems Inc., Integro Technologies, Mahr Inc., Management & Performance Systems, Met-L-Flo, Parsons Corporation, PolyWorks USA, The Starrett Company, Tooling U-SME, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Veeva Systems, and ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions shared their knowledge with the attendees. The Measurement Zone , a new feature to the floor, hosted by the Coordinate Metrology Society, offered attendees hands-on engagement with the latest cutting-edge coordinate metrology measuring equipment. Attendees has an opportunity to work with applications engineers to explore and learn the functionality, methodology, and best practices of each tool.

, a new feature to the floor, hosted by the Coordinate Metrology Society, offered attendees hands-on engagement with the latest cutting-edge coordinate metrology measuring equipment. Attendees has an opportunity to work with applications engineers to explore and learn the functionality, methodology, and best practices of each tool. Attendees and exhibitors enjoyed two networking receptions including the Welcome Reception in the exhibit hall and the Pub Night Reception, which was shared with the participants of the ASSEMBLY Show and sponsored by ASG.

The QUALITY Show is produced by Quality (www.qualitymag.com), the leading resource for manufacturing professionals focused on quality assurance and process improvement. Quality's cutting-edge multi-media platform includes an eMagazine, eNewsletters, webinars, social media, video, and more! The Quality Show is produced by BNP Media (www.bnpmedia.com), one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events, and market research. For more information, visit www.qualityshow.com.

For further information, contact:

Amy Riemer, Media Relations

978-475-4441(office) or 978-502-4895 (cell)

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: Quality Show

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670707/New-Technology-Innovative-Exhibits-Education-and-Networking-Were-Features-of-4th-Biennial-Quality-Show
Hear from the Experts on Trends, Deal Strategies and Acquiring Targets

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / DealFlow Events announces an exciting slate for the two-day SPAC Conference Europe 2022, where leading SPAC deal-makers and C-suite executives will gather to discuss the power of special purpose acquisition companies. This event will take place January 19-20, 2022 at the luxurious Hilton London Bankside in London.

What SPACs mean for European companies

Will the European SPAC market replicate the boom seen in the United States? To be sure, there is substantial opportunity and interest, as a large number of US-based SPACs are locked in fierce competition over available targets to take public - not only among themselves but Europe-based SPACs as well.

Many mature private companies can take advantage of SPACs led by expert management teams. Traditionally, SPACs have often looked to small and mid-size companies, but as SPAC sponsors have become more prestigious, so has their ability to raise greater amounts of capital.

European companies engaged in technology and biotech may find SPACs particularly attractive since they can share forecasts with investors, a freedom prohibited in traditional IPOs.

Here are just some of the topics which will be covered at the conference:

SPACs: Injecting Equity into Corporate Britain

How post-Brexit economic realities are driving SPAC growth in the UK.

Raising Capital for UK Blank-check Companies

UK firms traditionally have more restrictive access to venture capital funding and public markets than their American counterparts. Why that's not going to last.

Challenges Facing UK Dealmakers

Establishing fair value of target acquisitions and selling shareholders on the deal.

Competing with Amsterdam

The Dutch presently enjoy the lion's share of SPAC IPOs in Europe, but London is still favored by investors. Learn how to position yourself to take advantage of this situation.

Why a SPAC Listing May be a Private European Company's Best Bet

Speed and sponsorship make SPACs the best route to the public market for many companies.

Exchange Listing Rules in London and Europe

The regulations governing SPACs are changing fast. Get up to speed on the current and proposed listing rules on local markets and exchanges.

Why you should attend:

Special purpose acquisition companies have seen a sharp uptick in activity across Europe over the last year, especially as US-based blank check companies increasingly look abroad for acquisition targets.

The SPAC Conference Europe offers a forum for discussion about deal trends and why alternative IPO techniques such as SPACs are such an effective route to public markets. As always, DealFlow Events is assembling a best-in-class program, where the brightest minds in the business will discuss market dynamics in Europe and the latest investment opportunities.

DealFlow Events delivers everything you'd expect from a first-class conference, plus a few special surprises. Attendees at the last event called it "the best SPAC Conference that's ever been held." We intend to surpass that in 2022 by offering an exciting slate of panel discussions and unrivaled networking opportunities.

Supporting this event are corporate sponsors Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, Ernst & Young, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Gallagher, Sidley Austin, Deloitte, Morrow Sodali, Toppan Merrill, The Nuvo Group, RRBB Accountants + Advisors, Winston & Strawn, Industrial Stars of Italy, AST, and EarlyBirdCapital.

Visit The SPAC Conference Europe website to learn more.

About DealFlow Events

When it comes to the business of finance, the tag line "A DealFlow Event" is widely recognized as a symbol of quality. Since 2008, The SPAC Conference, hosted by DealFlow Events, has offered the largest gathering of investors, bankers and management teams in the business. For more information about DealFlow Events, visit www.dealflowevents.com.

Media Contact:

Charlie Napolitano

DealFlow Events

charlie@dealflow.com

516-876-8006 ext. 20

SOURCE: DealFlow Events

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670639/The-SPAC-Conference-Europe-To-Deliver-an-International-Perspective-on-SPACs
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Lytica, the world's only provider of electronic component spend analytics and risk intelligence using real customer data, today announced the launch of the Trends plugin for its SupplyLens Pro platform. This new plugin enhances the market intelligence platform with historical pricing data and analysis to enable qualified customers to better assess their supplier relationships.

Lytica's SaaS platform provides customers with the data, insight, and analysis they need to improve procurement and build better, stronger, more resilient supply chains. SupplyLens Pro empowers the world's leading electronics companies to achieve unprecedented levels of cost reduction and risk intelligence, enabled by the world's largest independent database of electronic component intelligence and real-world prices.

With the addition of Trends, Lytica customers can gain insight into their performance over time compared to market pricing. This tracking and performance data allows customers to rank and compare their suppliers to one another. This analysis shows which suppliers have been competitive in the market and which have not been providing appropriate cost reductions. Trends also compares manufacturers and suppliers on attributes such as design support, quality, delivery performance and other attributes to empower businesses with added negotiation leverage.

"Trends is an exciting product for us, as it unlocks significant opportunities for our customers especially during extreme market conditions like the shortages experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trends sets you up to make more strategic decisions and avoid falling back into a "pain" scenario during market constraints. With the help of Lytica's Trends analysis and insights, your sourcing and procurement teams can be more informed, more confident, and more empowered." said Martin Sendyk, CEO of Lytica. "We're always looking for new ways to tap into the real market data and pricing information we have at our fingertips, and we're looking forward to providing additional value for customers with Trends."

Since introducing its SupplyLens Pro platform last year, Lytica has seen rapid adoption from some of the top Fortune 500 companies that are looking to reduce costs and gain insight into their sourcing and procurement. Lytica recently announced a $3 million raise to scale its customer-facing teams and provide even more value for its customers, as well as bolster its AI and machine learning capabilities to expand into additional products and features. The Lytica team, which has embraced remote and hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic, is actively hiring.

About Lytica

Lytica is an electronic component spend analytics and risk intelligence company that uses real customer data to help companies make their supply chain more transparent, more resilient, and more predictable. Lytica's advanced electronic component market intelligence platform employs machine learning and AI to analyze real-world pricing data, offering true market insights to reduce costs and mitigate supply chain risk. Fortune 500 and blue chip companies around the world rely on Lytica to find better prices and better manufacturers and suppliers. To learn more, visit Lytica.com.

Contact:

Mark Nolan

York IE for Lytica

mark@york.ie

SOURCE: Lytica

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670708/Lytica-Launches-New-Trends-Plugin-to-Maximize-Component-Supplier-Relationships
Y-T-D sales total $25.0 million

CHICO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTCQB:AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it has received an equipment order totaling $1,005,000. Year-to-date, AmeraMex has announced sales of approximately $25 million.

AmeraMex has grown its revenue from $8.7 million in 2017 to estimated revenue of $23 million for 2021, a 25.5 percent Calculated Average Growth Rate (CAGR) which included the negative impact COVID-19 had on revenue the first six-nine months of 2020. The rapid growth in 2021 coupled with significantly increased overhead expenses, labor expenses, spare parts and used equipment costs along with subcontractor costs, has reduced gross profit margins. Management is reviewing equipment, spare parts, and service pricing for 2022 that is expected to move margins back to the 25-30 percent range while remaining competitive.

The new order consisted of Taylor XEC 207/8 Empty Container Handlers. The equipment is expected to ship before the end of 2021 to a logistics company in Southern California.

The Taylor XEC-207/8 Dedicated Empty Container Handler has a 20,000-lb capacity and is designed to handle 8.5 foot containers stacked up to 8 high and 9.5 foot containers stacked up to seven high. The handler features a heavy-duty Taylor designed side-pick spreader, 180-inch wheelbase, 225 HP Tier 4 Final diesel engine, and end-user diagnostics.

For more information and pricing of logistics, construction, and forestry equipment or to receive information and arrange for a demonstration of the Kovaco Electric's 100 percent electric skid steer loaders or the line of ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if added information becomes available in the future.

Investor and Media Relations

McCloud Communications, LLC

Marty Tullio, Managing Member

Office: 949.632.1900 or Marty@McCloudCommunications.com

SOURCE: AmeraMex International, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670781/AmeraMex-International-Announces-Equipment-Orders-Totaling-Approximately-10-Million
During Web Summit 2021, International SOS announced its partnership with Salesforce and AOKpass to roll out a digitally integrated testing and vaccination solution which securely manages COVID-19 testing, vaccine administration, monitoring and health certification. This solution is the latest addition to International SOS' suite of medical services to help organisations manage the current pandemic and safeguard workforce health.

International SOS' end-to-end offering encompasses information, advisory and planning, on-the-ground delivery and digital certification. It can be delivered through International SOS' clinics, its medical professionals at client sites, and through its network of over 90,000 credentialed medical providers. Where in-country regulations allow, the solution includes procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, and the management of local supply chain logistics.

The overall solution is underpinned by best-in-class clinical governance, proven global and multi-site coordination, on-site delivery excellence and medical expertise. International SOS combines these capabilities with the latest in digital technology: the International SOS HealthCloud360 and AOKpass.

The International SOS HealthCloud360 digital platform is built on Salesforce cloud technology and integrates seamlessly with AOKpass, a portable digital certification that enables the secure verification of an employee's testing and/or vaccination status via blockchain technology.

As an integrated digital platform, it is both user friendly and scalable across multiple countries and sites. It includes detailed reporting and analysis to give clients comprehensive programme status. Furthermore, it has been developed with the highest standard of security and data privacy in mind; it is fully GDPR compliant and conforms to the required ISO certifications.

Key features include employees' and dependents' information management, eligibility management, appointment scheduling, clinical workflow management, vaccines and consumables inventory management, monitoring of testing/vaccination status, patient communication flow, verification of results and issuance of digital certification.

Arnaud Vaissie, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of International SOS, comments, "We have entered a new era of workforce resilience and business continuity where employee health is now a critical pillar. There is no easy way out of the pandemic, however, secure and effective testing and vaccination will be key to sustaining business operations, supporting a safe return to the workplace, travel and events, and to reducing the spread of infection".

Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Salesforce Southeast Asia says, "Since the beginning of the pandemic, companies have had to reimagine how to leverage technology to ensure a safe return to work. Salesforce is grateful for the opportunity to support International SOS in the deployment of technology that offers world-class security, user-friendly applications and personalised insights. In an environment where speed and manpower are of critical importance, the International SOS HealthCloud360 platform empowers organisations, big and small, to take appropriate care of their citizens and employees."

Darren Toh, Chief Executive Officer, AOKpass, says, "As the world's most operationally advanced secure health status issuance and verification platform and app, AOKpass is proud to partner with International SOS and Salesforce in helping enterprises across all sectors to prioritise workplace health and safety and ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency."

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, International SOS has been supporting thousands of organisations around the world including governments, large tech firms and financial institutions. From managing outbreaks, implementing COVID-19 testing and administering vaccinations, to planning for the safe return to on-site operations and the resumption of business travel. Our approach focuses on prevention, education, actionable insights and on-the-ground support.

ENDS

About AOKpass

AOKpass is a privacy-preserving, secure and interoperable system and mobile application for issuing and verifying a user's health status anywhere in the world. It is being deployed in an ever-increasing number of countries by airports, airlines, employers, and live event organisers worldwide to support a safer and more efficient return to travel, work and play. AOKpass is the most operationally advanced global health pass solution and is supported by International SOS. www.aokpass.com

About Salesforce

Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Founded in 1999, Salesforce enables companies of every size and industry to take advantage of powerful technologies-cloud, mobile, social, internet of things, artificial intelligence, voice and blockchain-to create a 360-degree view of their customers. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

About International SOS

The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives, protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, your organisation's reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity and sustainability.

Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London Singapore, is trusted by 12,000 organisations, including the majority of the Fortune 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions and NGOs. 12,000 multicultural medical, security and logistics experts stand with you to provide support assistance from over 1,000 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days.

To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: www.internationalsos.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005950/en/

Contacts:

For further information contact:

Ben Rothschild, Senior Consultant, Sermelo

T: +44 (0)207 557 4340, E: benedict.rothschild@sermelo.com
Bausano's machinery combined with its first-class customer service has resulted in Roscom producing more than one billion pounds of PVC compounds for indoor and outdoor applications

Bausano, an international leader in the design and production of customized extrusion lines for the transformation of plastic materials, today commemorates its consolidated partnership of more than 40 years with Roscom Inc., an American company based in Croydon, Pa. that specializes in producing a wide range of flexible and rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds, specialty blends, customized formulations, master batches and highly regulated material.

"We needed to find an extruder that could operate at 1,500 pounds per hour. Bausano's extruders have exceeded all our expectations, proving that 3,000 pounds per hour are feasible," said Nick Lynch, president and COO of Roscom. "Since then, we have always relied on the excellence of Bausano's machinery, thanks to which we have produced more than one billion pounds of synthetic plastic polymer materials in our factory over four decades."

For its five granulation lines, Roscom uses Bausano's MD 154 Plus twin-screw extruders, which feature a patented Multidrive transmission system that delivers high levels of efficiency, durability, reliability and sustainability. Bausano's Multidrive technology has a unique design that substantially reduces stress on motor shafts, gears and screws by using two pairs of motors. Multidrive's movement distribution guarantees greater machinery power and precision, which in turn significantly reduces energy consumption. Compared to traditional systems, Multidrive's innovative distribution of motion also reduces the likelihood of faults from excessive stress on mechanical components, which reduces the risk of downtime and ensures a longer average service life of the machine.

Bausano's MD Plus line is best suited for several types of extrusion, pipes, granules, wood plastic composites (WPC), profiles and materials used in the medical industry. Made with world-renowned "Made in Italy" quality, advanced engineering and technological innovation, Bausano's extruders are distinguished by the capacity of the company's in-house team of engineers to customize every single component, including aesthetics, based on the specific needs of the customer.

Another benefit of Roscom's partnership is Bausano's ability to fulfill Roscom's needs 24/7, having complete spare parts available for the entire production line without needing a long lead time.

"Some manufacturers in the U.S. take six to nine months to ship spare parts, which adversely affects productivity," said Lynch. "With Bausano it's different since all the components are always available in stock."

"After-sales assistance is an added value of fundamental importance for us the Bausano team responds to requests via e-mail in less than 24 hours and is always available to assist us in all our needs," said Steve Poserina, a project manager of Roscom.

Lastly, the quality and conformity of the granules produced by Bausano's MD Plus machinery had a determining impact on the choice, which Roscom was able to verify even prior to the purchase thanks to the Bausano testing laboratory.

"We sent Bausano 20,000 pounds of four different dry blends to verify that the output complied with the standards required by our customers, and they passed the test with flying colors," said Lynch. "We have collaborated with many companies and designed several systems, and I can assure you that Bausano is a first-class producer worldwide."

"We thank Roscom for its decade-long trust in our solutions and look forward to our productive, continuing partnership," said Clemente Bausano, vice president of Bausano. "Our partnership owes its success to the synergy established between the technical teams of both companies that have a shared desire to build long-term relationships with their partners and customers based on mutual trust and a commitment to continuous innovation."

About Bausano

Founded in 1946, Bausano is an international leader in the design and production of customized extrusion lines for the transformation of plastic materials. Quality, flexibility and attentiveness to the individual needs of every customer: these are the company's distinctive features in developing tailor-made solutions for the extrusion of pipes, granules, profiles and wood plastic composites (WPC) for a wide variety of applications as well as material used in the medical sector. Bausano is a strategic partner to its customers by virtue of its complete control over the value chain, a highly qualified pre-sales consultancy service as well as after-sales support with specialized operators who are able to work on-site within 24 hours from a request. The company's headquarters are located near Turin, Italy, and it has production units in Brazil and India. Its U.S. offices are based in Oswego, Ill. and Houston. For more information, visit https://www.bausano.com/ and follow on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005957/en/

Contacts:

Bausano Corporate Communications

Lbdi Communication

Silvia Vara: svara@lbdi.it

Ginevra Fossati: gfossati@lbdi.it

Skype: LBDI_pr

Bausano Product Communications

Gabriel Marketing Group

Michael Tebo

1-571-835-8775

michaelt@gabrielmarketing.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the company's common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB"), a US trading platform operated by the OTC Markets Group, under the symbol "ALVLF".

"Listing on OTCQB is part of a longer-term strategy to expose the Company to a broader audience," said Mike Bandrowski, President and CEO of Big Ridge. "We believe trading on OTCQB will help the company increase liquidity by providing our current and future American retail investors with a trading platform."

OTCQB is the premier marketplace for entrepreneurial and development stage U.S. and international companies that are committed to providing a high-quality trading and information experience for their US investors. To be eligible, companies must be current in their financial reporting, pass a minimum bid price test, and undergo an annual company verification and management certification process. The OTCQB Venture quality standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for investors.

In addition, Big Ridge announced today that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement through the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") in the United States. Through the OTCQB listing, American investors may now more easily trade the Company's stock in addition to Big Ridge's listing on the TSX Venture Exchange.

DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a U.S. company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of shares of publicly traded companies. Securities that are eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through DTC are considered to be "DTC eligible". The electronic clearing and settlement of Big Ridge's shares in the United States is far more convenient and reduces the costs incurred in trading shares. With Big Ridge's shares now traded electronically, existing investors will benefit from greater liquidity over time and execution speeds, while new investors will face fewer restrictions on their ability to acquire shares.

About Big Ridge Gold Corp.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge is earning into (up to 80%) the Hope Brook Gold Project located in Newfoundland, owns 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba, 100% interest in the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec where Clarity Gold Corp. is earning up to a 100% interest and is exploring in the Beardmore-Geraldton gold belt in Ontario.

For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

For Further Information Contact:

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP.

1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801

Toronto, ON, M5E 1W7

Tel: 416-540-5480

Email: Mike@bigridgegold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, including the expected timing of closing the Earn-In Agreement. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101705
With more than a decade's HR experience in the gaming industry, Grabow will accompany FunPlus as it further reinforces its presence in Europe

FunPlus, a leading independent mobile game developer and publisher, continues to hire top gaming industry talent to join its HQ in Switzerland with the arrival of Frauke Grabow as Head of HR, Europe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005995/en/

FunPlus Welcomes Frauke Grabow as Head of HR, Europe (Photo: Business Wire)

Grabow arrives with a plethora of international human resource experience in various industries, notably spending the past decade in the gaming sector, with long tenures at Behavior Interactive in Chile and most recently Innogames in Germany. Grabow will oversee all HR operations in the company's western markets, ensuring that FunPlus continues to attract and retain and develop the best talent in the video game industry.

"With nearly 2000 team members worldwide, and a fast growing number of those based in Europe, FunPlus' biggest strength is its people, and we're delighted to have Frauke joining us to ensure that FunPlus continues to attract the best talent, and sets industry standards in terms of a positive and fulfilling working environment for everyone," said Chris Petrovic, Chief Business Officer of FunPlus.

FunPlus made numerous hires into senior management positions from the gaming industry over the course of 2021, following the arrival of Chris Petrovic as CBO in the new year (previously at Zynga), and more recently Bob Slinn from Facebook Gaming and Eleanor Twilton Ben Youssef from Ubisoft.

For more information on FunPlus, visit http://www.FunPlus.com. Find a link to assets here.

About FunPlus

Founded in 2010, FunPlus is a world-class, independent game developer and publisher headquartered in Switzerland and with operations in China, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Russia, and the United States.

As an organization that fosters the best creative and diverse talent in the world, and employs nearly 2,000 people, the company has developed and published games that have ranked in the #1 spot in nearly 70 countries, including State of Survival, King of Avalon and Guns of Glory. FunPlus studios include KingsGroup, Puzala, Seven Games and Imagendary Studios, each with a focus on developing a unique brand of innovative games for global audiences. The FunPlus brand powers FunPlus Phoenix (FPX), one of the world's most successful esports organizations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005995/en/

Contacts:

42West/BHI for FunPlus

Jason Fagan

Jason_Fagan@bhimpact.com
TAIPEI, TAIWAN / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / The China Development Foundation (CDF) has run the "Heritage 100  Tutoring 100 Program" charity program for 15 consecutive years now. Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships to 100 college students, who volunteer to tutor and accompany disadvantaged students throughout Taiwan. The Foundation just recently announced this year's candidates and held the preparatory educational meeting. Although the pandemic prevented the group from gathering in a physical location, the 100 recipients of the grant were still able to gather online. In the online meeting, with CDIB Capital Group Senior Executive Vice President Melanie Nan sitting in as witness, the students vowed to overcome their difficulties with "love" and "patience", and to carry out their task of tutoring disadvantaged students for 100 hours.

College Student Volunteers interact during the online preparatory educational meeting for the "Heritage 100  Tutoring 100 Program." (Courtesy of China Development Foundation)

Angelo Koo, Chairman of CDIB Capital Group who also leads the Foundation, deeply believes that "education is the most valuable investment" and that only education and knowledge can help children with insufficient resources to escape poverty. Since taking over as the chairman in 2006, he has used the foundation as a platform to promote various scholarships and charity programs such as the "Heritage 100  Tutoring 100 Program." Koo is a key figure in Taiwan's financial sector and a philanthropist. He donated in his personal capacity one million surgical masks to New Jersey in April 2020.

China Development Foundation Chairman and CDIB Capital Group Chairman Angelo Koo. (Courtesy of China Development Foundation)

"Heritage 100  Tutoring 100 Program" was initiated by the CDF Foundation to transmit experience in education, exert influence, and give back to society. CDIB Capital Group Senior Executive Vice President Melanie Nan, who is also the chairperson of the CDF Foundation, said, "The goal of this scholarship is to help disadvantaged students and give them hope and warmth." The CDF Foundation awards 100 college students each year who serve as volunteer tutors and use what they have learned in university to help and provide care. At least 100 middle school and elementary school students will benefit as subjects of the program. Melanie believes that the volunteers are able to provide help for these disadvantaged students by pulling from their own developmental journeys, which is certain to become a positive force in the lives of these children.

One of the volunteers, Cheng Pei-Yu, a student at Soochow University who has received the scholarship from the CDF Foundation two years in a row, expressed her experience tutoring. She has gradually been able to bring the children closer together through empathy as well as sincere concern and companionship. Cheng said that because the volunteers shared similar upbringing and backgrounds with the children, she often recounted her own upbringing, her hard work to save money after entering university, and her dream of going abroad to study.

The children wanted to follow in their "big sister's" footsteps, and for that reason they gradually became interested in their schoolwork. Many volunteers for the CDF Foundation were just like Cheng-their empathy and companionship really did help these children find motivation and self-confidence in their learning.

For more events of the China Development Foundation (CDF), please visit https://www.cdfholding.com/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact: Raymond Wu, Mobile: +886-929-028107

SOURCE: China Development Foundation (CDF)

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670793/100-College-Student-Volunteers-at-the-CDF-Foundation-Vowed-to-Accompany-Disadvantaged-Students
The world's largest annual optics and photonics conference and exhibition returns to San Francisco's Moscone Center in January

Registration has opened for SPIE Photonics West 2022, which will take place 22-27 January at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The largest annual international conference in optics and photonics will bring together researchers, innovators, engineers, and business leaders from across the globe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005147/en/

Exhibition entrance at SPIE Photonics West 2020. (Photo: Business Wire)

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, welcomes the in-person return of the technical community to the most innovative, impactful, and informative week in photonics. Following local San Francisco requirements and national CDC recommendations for attendees' health and safety, proof of COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all participants.

Each year, Photonics West showcases the latest in applications, technologies, and discoveries in optics and photonics, with three major conferences: BiOS, highlighting new research in biophotonics, biomedical optics, and applications of medical imaging; LASE, with its focus on the laser industry and applications; and OPTO, covering optoelectronics, photonic materials, and optical devices. In addition, Quantum West will feature presentations from industry leaders working to move quantum technologies from benchtops to business. This year's Photonics West program includes more than 4,000 technical presentations.

Featuring hundreds of product launches, live demonstrations, and technologies on display, the BiOS Expo and Photonics West Exhibition are free and open to the public. The BiOS Expo featuring the latest technology in biomedical optics and healthcare applications is open 22-23 January; the Photonics West Exhibition, 25-27 January, showcases the latest in optics and photonics innovations.

From the SPIE BiOS Hot Topics and conference plenary sessions to the Prism Awards, the SPIE Startup Challenge, and the week-long industry program, the symposium will showcase the latest technologies and industry developments across the optics and photonics spectrum. Confirmed plenary speakers include Stanford University's Hongjie Dai; Nagoya University's Hiroshi Amano; Nokia Bell Labs' Andrea Blanco-Redondo; Stanford University's Jelena Vuckovic; Lawrence Livermore National Lab's Tammy Ma; Ruhr University-Bochum's Clara Saraceno; Leibniz University's Michael Kues; Stanford University's Jennifer Dionne; TU Dresden's Andres Fabian Lasagni; Columbia University's Wei Min; Kobe University's Osamu Matoba; Huazhong University of Science and Technology's Dan Zhu; Baylor College of Medicine's Irina Larina; University of California, Los Angeles' Aydogan Ozcan; Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School's Maria Angela Franceschini; and Caltech's Lihong Wang. Further plenary speakers will be announced soon.

In addition to the conferences and exhibitions, Photonics West also offers 41 training courses covering topics such as Introduction to VR/AR/MR and Smart Eyewear, Quantum Computing, and Practical Optical Systems. The wide-ranging educational program complements numerous professional development workshops, a comprehensive job fair, and many networking opportunities for technical professionals and exhibitors.

Included with full conference registration for Photonics West is access to the three-day SPIE AR VR MR conference which focuses on augmented, virtual, and mixed reality and the vital role that optics and photonics play in cross-reality (XR) hardware development. The event incorporates more than 40 invited industry talks, keynotes, and panels; a two-day exhibition; and, new in 2022, an XR-specific job fair. All of these components feature leading and upcoming consumer electronics companies, from Sony, Schott, and Microsoft to VividQ, Kura, and Lynx. There are also learning opportunities through courses, academic tracks, and a poster session.

"We are very excited to be hosting our in-person return to San Francisco, kicking off the calendar for the global photonics community's year," notes SPIE Senior Director of Technical Programs and Photonics West Event Manager Marilyn Gorsuch. "Each year, Photonics West, as the first global photonics event of the year, shapes the future for academic, industry, and government communities. Photonics West 2022 promises to be an illuminating, engaging, and thought-provoking week with many networking and socializing opportunities planned to complement the strong technical program. We can't wait to welcome our community back face-to-face, and once again show the value of live, in-person events."

SPIE prioritizes the health and safety of its staff and global community. Following the guidance of government and public-health professionals, everyone who attends Photonics West will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination. SPIE will be carefully monitoring local, state, and national health regulations for any updates and changes. As of 8 November 2021, the US Government is lifting travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers from outside the US.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://spie.org/pw

About SPIE

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 258,000 constituents from 184 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2020, SPIE provided over $5 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005147/en/

Contacts:

Daneet Steffens

Public Relations Manager

daneets@spie.org

+1 360 685 5478

@SPIEtweets
Seasoned Bombardier executive, Chris Milligan will continue to build on Safety Standdown's reputation for excellence

Bombardier's Safety Standdown celebrates 25 years of aviation safety stewardship and education

Prominent event promotes lifelong learning opportunities to highlight the industry's latest safety knowledge



MONTREAL, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier's annual Safety Standdown event, one of the most comprehensive safety gatherings in the aviation industry, is honoring a dedicated Bombardier executive who has been a passionate steward and leader of the event for many years and announcing a new successor to lead the program.

Bombardier's Chris Milligan, Vice President, Pre-Owned Aircraft Services and Flight Operations, will take over the reins from long-time Safety Standdown leader, Andy Nureddin, who has led the Bombardier Flight Operations team responsible for organizing this annual safety gathering. Andy has planned to retire at the end of 2022 and is currently focusing on completing a smooth transition of Safety Standdown leadership to Chris. Anthony Cox has been promoted to Vice President, Customer Support and is succeeding Andy in his Bombardier customer-facing capacities.

"I am very pleased to introduce Chris Milligan as the new leader of the Safety Standdown team and I want to sincerely thank Andy for his steadfast commitment and hard work in fostering the growth of this invaluable industry event," said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Services and Support, and Corporate Strategy, Bombardier. "For 25 years, Bombardier has led the industry in providing aviation professionals with critical knowledge-based aviation training in many key areas and Andy has been front and centre in that growth. I am confident that under Chris's direction, we will continue to provide aviation professionals with more lifelong learning opportunities and focus on disseminating higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry."

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Bombardier Learjet flight operations team created the Safety Standdown event in 1996 as a human-factors safety training seminar. As it has flourished, its purpose remains the same - to foster a community of aviation professionals who are committed to lifelong learning and to establishing higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry. Through its overriding theme of "Learn - Apply - Share," this special two-day conference is filled with learning opportunities, compelling workshops, presentations and more, laying the foundation for many more years of safety training to come.

About Safety Standdown

Originally conceived in 1996 as a human factors safety-training event for the Learjet flight demonstration team, the conference quickly garnered a reputation for excellence beyond Bombardier's customer base. In 1999, in response to growing interest within the industry, Bombardier opened the seminar to all pilots. In 2010, Safety Standdown expanded beyond the seminars into a year-round global human factors program offering online resources. Since 1996, more than 10,000 corporate, commercial and military aviation professionals have attended Safety Standdown seminars worldwide, live and through the webcast, including in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA. Admission to Safety Standdown has, throughout the years, remained free to all aviation professionals as safety is a top commitment to the flying public.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of over 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.comor follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft websitefor more information on our industry-leading products and services.

Bombardier, Learjet and Global 7500 are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information

Matthew Nicholls

Bombardier

+1 514-243-8214

Matthew.Nicholls@aero.bombardier.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/850faa97-1ed5-42e5-b46d-f89bb5b87250
OTTAWA, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harris, a global vertical market software provider and acquirer, acquires Onefile Limited, a UK-based apprenticeship and learning software provider.



Onefile is a market-leading provider of learning and development software to support the delivery of apprenticeships and qualifications training through its ePortfolio and learning management (LMS) platform. Founder, Susanna Lawson, says, "UK apprenticeships and training qualifications span a huge range of occupations and sectors. We envision many avenues of growth for Onefile and look forward to learning from and being supported by Harris to expand our reach and offerings."

Onefile joins Harris' growing portfolio of business units in the UK, serving industries such as healthcare and public safety. Steve Hammond, Senior Executive Vice President, says, "We are excited about continuing the success that Onefile has already achieved. Susanna has entrusted Harris with her employees and products and she has found a forever home for her vision which we will take good care of," adding, "Onefile fits in perfectly with our existing brands and opportunities for growth are abundant, and we're excited for their future at Harris."

About Onefile

For almost 20 years OneFile has pioneered EdTech, supporting over 1.2 million people to learn for their future. Onefile has a customer first approach investing in award-winning support teams as well as designing market leading SaaS products including an e-learning platform that's efficient, engaging and works with all apprenticeships, training and vocational qualifications. OneFile was awarded the Queen's Award for Innovation.

About N. Harris Computer Corporation (Harris)

Harris acquires vertical market software businesses, manages them well, and builds them for the future. Through acquisitions, Harris has grown extensively from its roots in the utilities, local government, education, and healthcare verticals to operate over 160 businesses globally across more than 20 industries. We are a part of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), one of the world's most active acquirers of VMS businesses.

For further information contact:

Steve Hammond

Senior Executive Vice President, UK

Phone: +44 787-486-2811

Email: SHammond@harriscomputer.com
EQS Group-News: HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures

Key Figures 31.10.2021



02.11.2021 / 17:46



in CHF Performance in % 31.10.2021 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 326.47 -2.7 9.6 15.6 Share Price 348.00 2.4 8.4 18.2 Total Net Assets (in million) 2'271.00 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 Fax +41 41 710 75 78 E-Mail: hbm@hbmhealthcare.com Web: www.hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier abbestellen. Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential or privileged Information and is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or information herein. If you have received this message by error, please advise the sender immediately and delete this message. The publication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator or guarantee of future results, prices of shares and the income from them may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. The investor must be aware of the investment risk and personal risk ability. Some information quoted was obtained from external sources HBM considers to be reliable. HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link.

End of Media Release


New York, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Open Society Foundations today named Natalie Samarasinghe as their first global director of advocacy, as part of their drive to speak with a powerful international voice for justice, equity, and free expression.

Samarasinghe joins Open Society with more than 15 years of advocacy and management experience, most recently as CEO of the United Nations Association-UK. She will assume her new role on January 18, 2022.

"Natalie is a respected thought leader on the subjects of human rights, multilateralism, and civil society. She is well-positioned to build a powerful global advocacy department that magnifies our impact," said Mark Malloch-Brown, president of Open Society Foundations.

Samarasinghe transformed the United Nations Association-UK into a global innovator and campaigner on UN issues with over 120 branches and 1,000 civil society partners worldwide. There, she advised NGOs and governments on advocacy strategies, and was one of the co-founders of both the 1 for 7 Billion campaign for transparency in international appointments, and the Together First movement for inclusive global governance. Samarasinghe also worked for the United Nations in the office of the President of General Assembly, and as chief of strategy for the organization's 75th anniversary initiative.

Samarasinghe has also advised governments on UN policy, and supported NGOs such as the Sri Lanka Campaign and Brazilian Igarape Institute.

"I look forward to helping lead the Foundations' advocacy priorities and being part of an impressive legacy that continues to shape laws, policies, practices, and attitudes in support of open society," said Samarasinghe.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Bullet Exploration Inc. (the "Corporation") (TSXV: AMMO) is pleased to announce that the Corporation has completed phase one of the work program on the Copper Canyon property and the required assessment work on the Anita property to keep it in good standing for 2021.

The Company completed its initial prospecting, geological mapping, rock and soil geochemistry sampling on the Copper Canyon Property. In addition, a limited magnetics geophysical survey was carried completed

Below are some of the higher soil sample results on the Copper Canyon property.

Soil Samples Au

(ppb) Ag

(ppm) CU

(ppm) Pb

(ppm) Zn

(ppm) As

(ppm) Percentile 85% 9.3 1.4 46.0 15.0 117.0 8.0 Percentile 90% 12.9 1.5 52.9 20.0 125.9 9.0 Percentile 95% 20.0 1.6 62.5 24.0 154.4 10.0 Percentile 97% 29.7 4.1 109.4 28.0 189.7 12.0

On the Anita property the company has completed the required assessment work for 2021. The Anita property is located west of, and contiguous with Kodiak's high profile MPD & AXE properties.

Below are some of the higher soil sample results on the Anita property.

Soil Samples Au

(ppb) Ag

(ppm) CU

(ppm) Pb

(ppm) Zn

(ppm) As

(ppm) Mo

(ppm) Percentile 85% 2 0.14 32.5 5.5 90.0 3.5 0.82 Percentile 90% 3 0.17 42.1 6.4 106.0 3.9 0.98 Percentile 95% 4 0.21 66.8 8.1 136.8 4.7 1.22 Percentile 97% 7 0.26 80.7 11.8 174.1 6.6 1.42

Below are some of the higher rock samples from the Anita Property.

Rock Samples Type Au

(ppb) Ag

(ppm) CU

(ppm) Pb

(ppm) Zn

(ppm) As

(ppm) 1001 outcrop 20 1.72 6300 5.5 228 14.4 1008 float 40 3.73 5150 6.4 29 5.7 1009 outcrop 20 0.90 13600 8.1 158 3.7 1010 float 0 0.03 2710 11.8 156 1.1

Both of these properties are early-stage exploration properties in the prolific Aspen Grove area of South eastern British Columbia.

Justin Rensby, P. Geo., of Exploration Facilitation Unlimited Inc, is the "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical content in this press release.

Jean Pomerleau, President of the Company stated, "We are encouraged by these early results. We will be taking a closer look at the results to determine the best path forward. If deemed appropriate we will proceed with the permitting and licensing to allow us to move forward with further exploration and drilling on the properties."

For further information please contact:

Bullet Exploration Inc.

Jean (Ted) Pomerleau, President and CEO

E: info@bulletexploration.com

T: 403-383-7913.

Reader Advisory

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future of exploration on the properties. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation and environmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; liabilities inherent in the mining industry; competition for, among other things, skilled personnel and supplies; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions; geological, technical, processing and transportation problems; changes in tax laws and incentive programs; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; and the other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed acquisition and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101725
Thunder Bay Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ('Benton' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to close its previously announced non-brokered private placement of flow-through and non flow-through units (the "Private Placement") (see Company news release dated October 21, 2021).

The Company will now issue 5,175,000 flow-through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.20 per FT Unit, for gross proceeds of $1,035,000. Each FT Unit consists of one (1) flow-through common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, each full warrant being exercisable for an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.30 for 24 months from the date of issuance. The flow-through shares will entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares, in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company will now also issue 5,245,555 non flow-through units ("Units") at a price of $0.18 per Unit for gross proceeds of $944,199.90. Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, each warrant being exercisable for an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.30 for 24 months form the date of issuance.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company is paying finders' fees in cash or securities or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four month and one day hold period. The Private Placement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The proceeds of the financing will be used to advance Benton's Newfoundland joint-venture properties as well as various Ontario-based exploration projects, and for working capital purposes.





On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President





About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol BEX. Following a project-generation business model, Benton has a diversified, highly-prospective property portfolio in Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum Group Elements and currently holds large equity positions in other mining companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever possible, BEX retains Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalties for potential long-term cash flow. Benton has also recently entered into a 50/50 strategic alliance with Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SIC) through three large-scale joint venture properties including Grey River, Golden Hope and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland that are now being explored.

For further information, please contact:

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: 416-868-1079 x251

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Benton Resources

Stephen Stares, President & CEO

Phone: 807-475-7474

Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca

Website: www.bentonresources.ca,

Twitter: @BentonResources

Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX

LinkedIn: @BentonResources

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101726
SINGAPORE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Binance, the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange, and blockchain technology infrastructure provider, today announced the appointment of Martin Bruncko as Executive Vice President for Europe. Martin brings to Binance a unique combination of government and technology background, with extensive expertise in building transformational tech companies, as well as experience in the top echelons of national and international policymaking in the areas of finance and innovations.

"I am very excited to be joining Binance in its new phase of growth, as it is starting to put a major focus on compliance and an expansion into more traditional fintech areas. The incredible community that Binance has managed to build over the years, its cutting edge technologies, and the shift toward working ever more closely with regulators give Binance almost limitless opportunities. I look forward to realizing this potential in Europe and beyond," said Mr. Bruncko.

Martin has been a founder, executive, and board member in several European deep tech and fintech companies, including AeroMobil, Stasis, GA Drilling, and Neulogy (acquired by Civitta). He has also been a member of the investment committee of the European Innovation Council Fund, which is the largest deep tech investment fund in Europe.

Previously, Martin held several senior government positions, including as junior minister for innovations and deputy for European affairs of the minister of finance of Slovakia. He was a member of the Economic and Financial Committee of the EU, Board Member in the European Stability Mechanism (previously EFSF), Senior Director and Head of Europe at the World Economic Forum, and a senior advisor to the European Commissioner for Research and Innovations and to the Government of Dubai.

Martin holds a B.A. from Stanford University and M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School. In 2012, he was honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

About Binance

Binance is the world's leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Trusted by millions worldwide, the Binance platform is dedicated to increasing the freedom of money for users, and features an unmatched portfolio of crypto products and offerings, including: trading and finance, education, data and research, social good, investment and incubation, decentralization and infrastructure solutions, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676943/Binance_EVP.jpg
As world leaders and government officials convene in Glasgow to address climate change, NuScale Power and Nuclearelectrica will sign a teaming agreement to advance clean energy solutions in Europe

At the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26), U.S. President of the United States Joe Biden and Romania's President Klaus Iohannis highlighted today that NuScale Power and Romania's S.N. Nuclearelectrica S.A., plan to build a "first-of-a-kind" small modular reactor (SMR) plant in Romania in partnership with U.S. NuScale Power, bringing the latest civil nuclear technology to a critical part of Europe. This cooperation builds upon the intergovernmental agreement signed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Romanian Ministry of Energy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006199/en/

As world leaders, government officials, non-governmental organizations, and scientists convene in Glasgow, Scotland to raise global climate ambition at this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), NuScale Power, the first and only small modular reactor to receive design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Nuclearelectrica, the Romanian nuclear energy producer, will team up advance clean nuclear technology in Romania. Following the partnership, Romania has the potential to accommodate the first deployment of SMRs in Europe.

To celebrate this announcement, we will hold a press event which will be shared live on both NuScale and Nuclearelectrica's social media channels, Thursday, November 4th, 2021, starting at 12:45 GMT.

Romania's Minister of Energy Virgil Popescu, NuScale Power Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Hopkins, Nuclearelectrica Chief Executive Officer Cosmin Ghita, U.S. Department of State's Justin Friedman, will provide remarks during the event. Additional government officials from the United States and Romania will also be in attendance.

The partnership between Nuclearelectrica and NuScale comes at a pivotal time as senior government policymakers from around the world discuss the urgency of accelerating the clean energy transition. NuScale's SMRs can support international climate goals to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change while strengthening global prosperity.

In 2019, NuScale and Nuclearelectrica signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to evaluate the development, licensing and construction of a NuScale SMR in Romania.

In August 2020, NuScale made history as the first and only SMR to receive design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission- a crucial step towards the construction and deployment of this SMR technology. The company maintains strong program momentum toward commercialization of its SMR technology, including supply chain development, standard plant design, planning of plant delivery activities, and startup and commissioning plans.

About NuScale Power

NuScale Power has developed a new modular light water reactor nuclear power plant to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, hydrogen production and other process heat applications. This groundbreaking small modular reactor (SMR) design features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale Power Module capable of generating 77 MW of electricity using a safer, smaller, and scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology. NuScale's scalable design-power plants that can house up to four, six, or 12 individual power modules-offers the benefits of carbon-free energy and reduces the financial commitments associated with gigawatt-sized nuclear facilities. The majority investor in NuScale is Fluor Corporation, a global engineering, procurement, and construction company with a 70-year history in commercial nuclear power.

NuScale is headquartered in Portland, OR and has offices in Corvallis, OR; Rockville, MD; Charlotte, NC; Richland, WA; and London, UK. Follow us on Twitter: @NuScale_Power, Facebook: NuScale Power, LLC, LinkedIn: NuScale-Power, and Instagram: nuscale_power. Visit NuScale Power's website

About Nuclearelectrica

The National Company "Nuclearelectrica" S.A. is the national Romanian company producing electricity, heat and nuclear fuel, for more than 25 years operations experience. The company operates under the authority of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, the state holding 82.49% of shares and other shareholders, 17.50%, after the listing of the company on the stock exchange in 2013.

Cernavoda NPP Branch operates two CANDU nuclear units, which are two of the most performant units among more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world, a nuclear fuel factory and is in the process of achieving an integrated fuel cycle by acquiring an uranium concentrate processing line to support the company's long-term investment projects. Nuclearelectrica has a major role at the national level, contributing over 18% of nuclear energy in total energy production and 33% in total CO2-free energy production in Romania.

www.nuclearelectrica.ro

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=nuclearelectrica%20oficial

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006199/en/

Contacts:

Diane Hughes, Vice President, Marketing Communications, NuScale Power

dhughes@nuscalepower.com

(C) (503) 270-9329

Tones Ludmila, Advisor of CEO, S.N. Nuclearelectrica

Ludmila.Tones@nuclearelectrica.ro

0040-730044468
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures settled lower on Tuesday amid concerns about growth after data showed a slowdwon in Eurozone manufacturing activity amid rising input costs due to supply chain bottlenecks and logistical problems. However, oil's downside was limited after a Reuters survey suggested that the increase in OPEC's oil output in October was short of the rise planned under a deal with allies. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for December settled at $83.91 a barrel, losing $0.14 or about 0.2%. Brent crude futures were down $0.18 or 0.2% at $84.53 a little while ago. The OPEC and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+ will meet on Thursday to decide on output levels. The alliance is expected to stick to the gradual, monthly production increases of 400,000 barrels per day. Traders looked ahead to the weekly oil reports from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The API's report is due later today, while EIA will release its inventory data Wednesday morning. Analysts expect an increase of 1.6 million barrels in crude stockpiles in the U.S. in the week ended October 29th. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Victory Resources Corporation (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 18,181,818 units (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.055 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of CDN $0.07 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing and are subject to an acceleration clause that may be triggered (after the initial hold period of the shares has expired) should the shares trade at or above $0.20 for a period of 10 days.

Finder's fees may be paid in both cash and finders warrants (having the same terms as the Warrants) in connection with a portion of this private placement pursuant to the policies of the CSE.

The proceeds from the sale of Units will be used for the on going exploration and drilling program on its Smokey Lithium Property located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, as well as towards general working capital in furtherance of the Company's business.

The securities to be issued under the placement will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About Victory Resources Corporation

Victory is a publicly traded junior international mining corporation with interests in North America. The company is currently developing its existing projects including its recently optioned Loner property in Nevada adjacent to Goldbanks, its recently acquired Smokey Lithium property in Nevada adjacent to American Lithium's flagship property, its British Columbia Mal-Wen property and its other properties including, Black Diablo in Nevada, Hammond Reef South in Ontario adjoining Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef mine, and Lac Simard in Quebec within 20 k of 3 operating gold mines including Agnico Eagle's Goldex, Canadian Malartic mines and Eldorado Gold's Lamaque mine.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Ireton, President

Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or

TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653)

E-mail: IR@victoryresourcescorp.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Victory Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670853/Victory-Resources-Announces-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement
HOPE IN SCIENCE - INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH YOUNG SCIENTISTS

LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Combating Climate Change with Chemistry

Thursday 4 November, 17.00 - 18.00

Science Show Theatre, Green Zone, Glasgow

Climate change may be 'code red' for humanity with no planet left if climate change continues at the current pace but there is hope in science - with the next generation of scientists providing some of the answers. The next generation may be the one most affected by climate change but it is also driving some of the solutions, some of which will be showcased during the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI's) youth forum event during COP26.

During the 'Next Gen' debate on 4 November, 'Countdown to Planet Zero', SCI will introduce a panel of young scientists working on climate change solutions to a global audience.

Panellists and hosts for the live debate will include: Dr Brett Parkinson from C-Zero in California, Natasha Boulding CEO and founder of Sphera Limited, and Nikita Patel, PhD student at Queen Mary University of London. Other speakers and supporters include Unilever, Croda, Scott Bader, GSK, Anaphite, Astra Zeneca and Johnson Matthey. The event will focus on three themes:

Fuels of the future

Turning waste into gold

Engineering nature

Sharon Todd, SCI Chief Executive Officer said:

"We were shocked by the findings of this year's Bath University global study into the attitudes of young people towards climate change (https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/government-inaction-on-climate-change-linked-to-psychological-distress-in-young-people-new-study/). This revealed that nearly 60 per cent of respondents felt 'worried' or 'extremely worried' in their daily lives and that 75 per cent felt the future is 'frightening'." This should concern us all and, as a global innovation hub, SCI wants to show how the next generation of scientists is actively developing solutions. The public is interested to learn about this - the event is already sold out.

"Our COP 26 youth forum debate will profile the work of young scientists and entrepreneurs addressing climate change in their work," she added. "This next generation of innovators has the power to change our world's tomorrow. The event's hosts and panellists are drawn from within SCI's innovation community, including a previous winner of our own Bright SCIdea entrepreneurs challenge. They will show how without science being applied by industry, we cannot begin to address climate change".

The panellists will include 28 year old Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO and Co-founder of Durham based Sphera Limited, a speciality materials company in the construction sector focussing on sustainable, low-carbon material alternatives to help in the race to Net-Zero. Products include carbon zero and carbon negative concrete blocks made from aggregate encompassing waste plastic. She has led Sphera to win numerous awards (including SCI's Bright SCIdea challenge) and places on prestigious business accelerators. In 2020 she was announced as a winner of Innovate UK's Women in Innovation award, which highlights top female entrepreneurs in the UK. She is passionate about inspiring and mentoring the next generation of innovators.

According to Natasha, "In terms of combating climate change, interdisciplinary collaboration is the key. No one discipline has the answer to solve our biggest challenges - but together diverse minds can. SCI is an interdisciplinary innovation hub and so it is an important vehicle for our business to connect us to other organisations that we can collaborate with."

Natasha will be joined on the panel by 29 year old Dr Brett Parkinson, Senior Engineer, Low carbon fuels and Energy Technologist at C-Zero in Santa Barbara, California. C-Zero is a hard-tech start up based in Santa Barbara, California, that works on the decarbonization of natural gas. The technology converts natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon via a high temperature process known as pyrolysis. The hydrogen can be used to produce clean, low-cost energy on demand while the carbon can be permanently sequestered as a solid"

In 2019, Brett was awarded an SCI scholarship for his research.

The other panellists will be Clare Rodseth, Environmental Sustainability Scientist at Unilever, Dominic Smith, a Process Development Engineer at GSK and Jake Coole, Senior Scientist, Fuel Cells team, Johnson Matthey.

The hosts will be AstraZeneca's Oliver Ring and Nikita Mayur Patel, PhD student at Queen Mary University of London.

Note to Editors:

To register for the event, please visit https://www.soci.org/events/hq-events/2021/cop26-countdown-to-planet-zero

About SCI: where science meets business:

SCI is a unique global multidisciplinary network connecting scientists, business people, students and other key players involved in science-based innovation. SCI promotes innovation via its international network to advance the commercial application of science into industry for the benefit of society.

SCI works across crucial sectors as diverse as food and bio-renewables, water, environment, energy, materials and manufacturing, and health and wellbeing
AUBURN HILLS, MI / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Unique Fabricating, Inc. (NYSE American:UFAB), a leader in engineering and manufacturing multi-material foam, rubber, and plastic components utilized in noise, vibration, and harshness management and air/water sealing applications for the transportation, appliance, medical and consumer markets, today announced that it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 on Monday, November 15, 2021, following the close of the market.

Doug Cain, Unique Fabricating's President and Chief Executive Officer and Brian Loftus Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss these results on the same day at 4:30 p.m. ET. To access the call, please dial 877-545-0523 (toll free) or 973-528-0016 and if requested, reference conference ID 497686. The conference call will also be webcast live on the Investor Relations section of Unique Fabricating's web site at http://ir.uniquefab.com/.

Following the conclusion of the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website for at least 90 days. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available from 7 p.m. ET on November 15, 2021 until 11:59 p.m. ET on November 29, 2021 by dialing 877-481-4010 (United States) or 919-882-2331 (international) and using the passcode 497686.

About Unique Fabricating, Inc.

Unique Fabricating, Inc. (NYSE American: UFAB) engineers and manufactures components for customers in the transportation, appliance, medical, and consumer markets. The Company's solutions are comprised of multi-material foam, rubber, and plastic components and utilized in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) management, acoustical management, water and air sealing, decorative and other functional applications. Unique leverages proprietary manufacturing processes, including die cutting, thermoforming, compression molding, fusion molding, and reaction injection molding to manufacture a wide range of products including air management products, heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), seals, engine covers, fender stuffers, air ducts, acoustical insulation, door water shields, gas tank pads, light gaskets, topper pads, mirror gaskets, glove box liners, personal protection equipment, and packaging. The Company is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. For more information, visit http://www.uniquefab.com/.

Investor Contact:

FNK IR

Rob Fink

646-809-0408

rob@fnkir.com

SOURCE: Unique Fabricating, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670818/Unique-Fabricating-to-Host-Third-Quarter-2021-Financial-Results-Conference-Call-on-November-15
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with LUXXFOLIO Holdings and Mobi724 discussing their latest press releases.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

LUXXFOLIO Holdings (CSE:LUXX) provides operational update

LUXXFOLIO Holdings has released an update that includes news of a 103 percent month-over-month increase in mining revenues and a 24 percent increase in Bitcoin reserves.LUXXFOLIO Holdings Inc. operates an industrial-scale cryptocurrency mining facility in the United States running off mostly renewable energy with a focus on the blockchain ecosystem and generation of digital assets. Dean Linden, LUXXFOLIO CEO sat down with Caroline Egan to highlight the updates.

For the full interview with Dean Linden and to learn more about LUXXFOLIO's most recent announcement, click here.

Mobi724 (TSXV:MOS) selected to launch AI driven customer engagement platform

Mobi724 Global Solutions has been selected to launch its AI-driven Customer Engagement, Data Monetization & Offers platform for RedAbierta, a regional technology partner to Banco Atlantida, a leading regional bank in Central America and the largest bank in Honduras. Marcel Vienneau, CEO of Mobi724 Global Solutions sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the partnership with Banco Atlantida

For the full interview with Marcel Vienneau and to learn more about Mobi724's recent announcement, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

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themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670856/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-LUXXFOLIO-Holdings-and-Mobi724-Discussing-Their-Latest-News


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The back and forth between Elon Musk and the director of the United Nations' World Food Program, David Beasley, has been the headline for the past week, since he criticized the ultra-rich for accumulating hoards of money, while millions of people are on the verge of death by hunger.



Earlier this week, Musk replied to one of Beasley's tweets asking the $300 billion-worth entrepreneur to help the needy by saying, 'If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it. But it must be open source accounting, so the public sees precisely how the money is spent.'



In a recent development, Beasley said that he would be more than willing to provide the exact accounts of expenditure if Musk donates the $6 billion that he requires to solve the problem.



Beasley told CNN 'For him to even enter into this conversation is a game-changer because simply put, we can answer his questions, we can put forth a plan that's clear. Any and everything he asks, we would be glad to answer. I look forward to having this discussion with him because lives are at stake.'



The whole fiasco started last Tuesday when Beasley said during an interview, 'The governments are tapped out. This is when the billionaires need to step up now on a one-time basis-$6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally going to die if we don't reach them. It's not complicated.'



While primarily the criticism was aimed towards the Musks and Bezos of the world, Beasley understood well to not disrespect his potential donors. He added, 'I'm not picking on them. I'm saying, 'Great, you made money. Please, please help share right now in a one-time crisis.'



The WFP president detailed out, 'I've got 43 nations with 42 million people in IPC level four.' IPC refers to the Integrated food security Phase Classification, a hunger indicator that has five levels. Level four is an emergency, which is only worsened by level five, which indicates famine. Due to a series of global warming-related natural catastrophes, and the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people around the globe have been left homeless, starving and just a one-time donation by the richest will be able to solve the crisis.'



Musk has been on a roll recently and in a matter of days, he has accumulated enough money to not just extend his gap with Jeff Bezos but also become the first to reach the $300 billion mark. Currently, the Tesla Inc (TSLA) CEO is worth $335 billion.



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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") reported production and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 of 11,478 ounces of gold produced at $793 per ounce all-in sustaining cost, $20.4 million net sales, and a $16.6 million increase to its treasury to $44.3 million from December 31, 2020. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A.

Q3 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

$20.4 million net sales

$4.6 million net income or $0.19 per share

$44.3 million cash balance on September 30, 2021, an increase of $16.6 million from December 31, 2020

11,478 gold ounces produced

1.42 grams per tonne average gold grade mined

$75.5 million working capital at September 30, 2021, an increase of $33.7 million from December 31, 2020

$9.6 million mine gross profit

$624 total cash cost after by-product credits per gold ounce sold

$793 per gold ounce total all-in sustaining cost

16.7% dividend increase to $0.42 annually per share, subsequently increased by 14% to $0.48 per share

Overview of Q3 2021 Results

Fortitude Gold sold 11,454 gold ounces at a total cash cost of $624 per ounce (after by-product credits). Realized metal prices during the quarter averaged $1,789 per ounce gold*. The Company recorded net income of $4.6 million, or $0.19 per share. Cash and cash equivalents at quarter end totaled $44.3 million. The Company produced 11,478 ounces of gold during the quarter and maintains its 2021 upper range gold production Outlook of 45,000 gold ounces.

*Average realized metal prices include final settlement adjustments for previously unsettled provisional sales. Provisional sales may remain unsettled from one quarter into the next. Realized prices will therefore vary from average spot metal market prices upon final settlement.

Mr. Jason Reid, CEO and President of Fortitude Gold, stated, "The Isabella Pearl mine delivered another strong production quarter with 11,478 low-cost gold ounces keeping us on target to reach the high end of our 2021 production outlook range. Other third quarter highlights included net income of $4.6 million, a record cash balance of $44.3 million and a 16.7% dividend increase to $0.42 annually. This solid third quarter, following an exceptional 2021 first half, allowed the Company to increase its dividend in October, for a third time this year, to $0.04 per month, or $0.48 per year. We are pleased to be executing our strategic business strategy, outperforming our industry peers on year-to-date valuations and we are proud to be one of the few junior producers delivering substantial dividends to shareholders."

Mr. Reid continued, "Exploration during the quarter included a positive second round of drill results at the Scarlet target located on the Isabella Pearl property, as well as the Company's largest infill drill program to date at our Golden Mile property. We continue to target an initial resource at Golden Mile in 2021, with the goal to move the project towards a production decision at the earliest possible time. Column leach tests for Golden Mile mineralization were released during the third quarter estimating 85% gold recovery. We also received our permit to expand the heap leach pad at the Isabella Pearl project in July and began construction activities during the quarter with pad completion expected early 2022. We are excited to be a profitable gold producer in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, with a stellar portfolio of 100% owned properties. We look forward to moving closer to building our second mine in Nevada, U.S.A, arguably the world's premier mining jurisdiction."

The following Production Statistics table summarizes certain information about our Isabella Pearl Mine for three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:



Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30,

2021 2020 2021 2020



Ore (tonnes) 139,950 188,048 454,679 490,620 Gold grade (g/t) 1.42 2.02 4.52 1.60 Low-grade stockpile Ore (tonnes) 8,600 51,977 8,600 70,467 Gold grade (g/t) 0.33 0.50 0.33 0.52 Pre-strip waste - - - 1,346,316 Waste (tonnes) 1,838,027 1,437,429 4,894,937 3,597,770 Metal production (before payable metal deductions)(1) Gold (ozs.) 11,478 7,847 37,593 16,747 Silver (ozs.) 16,467 9,169 33,643 20,154

The following Sales Statistics table summarizes certain information about our Isabella Pearl Mine for three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:



Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30,

2021 2020 2021 2020 Metal sold







Gold (ozs.) 11,454 8,396 37,436 17,205 Silver (ozs.) 16,330 9,616 33,171 21,046 Average metal prices realized (1) Gold ($per oz.) 1,789 1,901 1,796 1,773 Silver ($per oz.) 23.98 24.02 25.14 19.86 Precious metal gold equivalent ounces sold Gold Ounces 11,454 8,396 37,436 17,205 Gold Equivalent Ounces from Silver 219 122 464 236

11,673 8,518 37,900 17,441

Total cash cost before by-product credits per gold ounce sold $ 658 $ 963 $ 596 $ 1,182 Total cash cost after by-product credits per gold ounce sold $ 624 $ 935 $ 574 $ 1,158 Total all-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold $ 793 $ 945 $ 663 $ 1,191

See Accompanying Tables

The following information summarizes the results of operations for Fortitude Gold Corporation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, its financial condition at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. The summary data as of September 30, 2021 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited; the summary data as of December 31, 2020 is derived from our audited financial statements contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, but do not include the footnotes and other information that is included in the complete financial statements. Readers are urged to review the Company's Form 10-K in its entirety, which can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

The calculation of its cash cost before by-product credits per gold ounce sold, total cash cost after by-product credits per gold ounce sold and total all-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold contained in this press release are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see "Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations" contained in the Company's most recent Form 10-K for a complete discussion and reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures.

FORTITUDE GOLD CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

September 30, December 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) ASSETS

Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 44,337 $ 27,774 Accounts receivable 1,628 145 Inventories 33,012 23,051 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,305 1,962 Total current assets 81,282 52,932 Property, plant and mine development, net 37,531 50,990 Operating lease assets, net 220 6,198 Deferred tax assets 1,099 959 Other non-current assets 2,947 1,946 Total assets $ 123,079 $ 113,025 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 2,982 $ 1,715 Loans payable, current 101 665 Finance lease liabilities, current 78 398 Operating lease liabilities, current 220 6,198 Mining taxes payable 1,153 1,001 Other current liabilities 1,212 1,092 Total current liabilities 5,746 11,069 Asset retirement obligations 4,483 3,844 Loans payable, long-term 52 117 Finance lease liabilities, long-term 19 27 Total liabilities 10,300 15,057 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock - $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized and nil outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 - - Common stock - $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized and 23,961,208 shares outstanding at September 30, 2021 and 21,211,208 shares outstanding at December 31, 2020 240 212 Additional paid-in capital 103,517 99,682 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 9,022 (1,926 ) Total shareholders' equity 112,779 97,968 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 123,079 $ 113,025

FORTITUDE GOLD CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)



Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30,

2021 2020 2021 2020 Sales, net $ 20,422 $ 15,851 $ 66,979 $ 30,284 Mine cost of sales: Production costs 7,075 7,741 21,219 19,698 Depreciation and amortization 3,668 2,949 11,953 6,157 Reclamation and remediation 40 24 116 17 Total mine cost of sales 10,783 10,714 33,288 25,872 Mine gross profit 9,639 5,137 33,691 4,412 Costs and expenses: General and administrative expenses 1,378 593 8,723 1,781 Exploration expenses 2,023 780 4,380 1,373 Other expense, net 48 62 132 172 Total costs and expenses 3,449 1,435 13,235 3,326 Income before income and mining taxes 6,190 3,702 20,456 1,086 Mining and income tax expense 1,544 225 5,075 675 Net income $ 4,646 $ 3,477 $ 15,381 $ 411 Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.19 $ 348 $ 0.64 $ 41 Diluted $ 0.19 $ 348 $ 0.64 $ 41 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 23,961,208 10,000 23,846,686 10,000 Diluted 24,211,606 10,000 24,078,226 10,000

FORTITUDE GOLD CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)



Nine months ended

September 30,

2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income $ 15,381 $ 411 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 12,045 6,263 Stock-based compensation 3,363 - Deferred taxes (140 ) - Other operating adjustments 28 16 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (1,483 ) (1,599 ) Inventories (6,318 ) (2,662 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (343 ) (17 ) Other non-current assets (19 ) (1,304 ) Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 555 958 Income and mining taxes payable 153 675 Net cash provided by operating activities 23,222 2,741 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (1,753 ) (6,368 ) Net cash used in investing activities (1,753 ) (6,368 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Contributions from GRC - 10,567 Dividends paid (4,433 ) - Issuance of common stock 500 - Repayment of loans payable (629 ) (656 ) Repayment of capital leases (344 ) (326 ) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (4,906 ) 9,585 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 16,563 5,958 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 27,774 866 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 44,337 $ 6,824 Supplemental Cash Flow Information Interest expense paid $ 24 $ 72 Income and mining taxes paid $ 5,063 $ - Non-cash investing and financing activities: Change in capital expenditures in accounts payable $ 1,132 $ (1,532 ) Change in estimate for asset retirement costs $ 499 $ 1,404 Stock contributed from Parent $ - $ 100 Equipment purchased under finance lease $ 16 $ -

About Fortitude Gold Corp.:

Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, with the Isabella Pearl gold mine in current production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions.

Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause future actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate.

Contact:

Greg Patterson

719-717-9825

greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com

www.Fortitudegold.com

SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670803/Fortitude-Gold-Reports-Third-Quarter-Net-Income-of-46m-or-019-per-Share
Proceeds to pay for acquisition of 45 percent partnership interest in Peace River Oil Partnership

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - OBSIDIAN ENERGY LTD. (TSX: OBE) (OTCQX: OBELF) ("Obsidian Energy", the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") is pleased to announce it has filed and been receipted for a preliminary short form prospectus with the securities commissions in each of the provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, in connection with a "best efforts" marketed equity offering of subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts") for minimum gross proceeds of $12.5 million and maximum gross proceeds of $22.5 million (the "Offering"), in connection with its previously announced purchase and sale agreement to acquire the remaining 45 percent partnership interest in Peace River Oil Partnership (the "Acquisition"). Final pricing of the Subscription Receipts offered under the Offering (the "Offering Price") and the determination of the number of Subscription Receipts to be sold pursuant to the Offering will be determined in the context of the market prior to the filing of the amended and restated short form prospectus in respect of the Offering.

The Offering is being conducted by a syndicate of agents (the "Agents") and is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the execution of an agency agreement and the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the securities regulatory authorities and the Toronto Stock Exchange. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to repay and permanently reduce on a pro rata basis the non-revolving term loan of the Company's credit facility and its outstanding senior notes. Funds will subsequently be redrawn from the revolving term loan of the credit facility and loaned to the wholly-owned entity of Obsidian Energy to fund the Acquisition.

The Company has granted the Agents an option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to offer and sell that numbers of additional Subscription Receipts as is equal to 15 percent of the aggregate number of Subscription Receipts sold under the Offering on the same terms and conditions as the Offering. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable at any time for a period of 30 days after the closing of the Offering.

The Subscription Receipts will be offered in all Canadian provinces, excluding Quebec, by way of a short form prospectus and in the United States on a private placement basis to a limited number of "accredited investors" pursuant to the registration exemptions provided by Rule 506(b) of Regulation D under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act").

The gross proceeds from the sale of Subscription Receipts pursuant to the Offering will be held in escrow pending the completion of the Acquisition. If all conditions to the completion of the Acquisition are satisfied or waived (other than funding the portion of the purchase price therefor to be financed with the net proceeds of the Offering) and Obsidian Energy has confirmed the same to the Agents before 5:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on December 31, 2021, the net proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts will be released from escrow to Obsidian Energy, and each Subscription Receipt will automatically be exchanged for one Common Share for no additional consideration and without any action on the part of the holder. If: (i) the Acquisition is not completed at or before 5:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on December 31, 2021; (ii) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; or (iii) the Company advises the Agents or formally announces to the public by way of a news release or otherwise that it does not intend to proceed with the Acquisition then the purchase price for the Subscription Receipts will be returned pro rata to subscribers, together with a pro rata portion of interest earned on the escrowed funds. There can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the Offering.

The Offering is expected to close during the week of November 15, 2021.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Subscription Receipts and underlying Common Shares, have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities described herein may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Obsidian Energy in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Obsidian Energy believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

This news release contains, without limitation, forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the anticipated closing date of the Offering; the anticipated uses of the net proceeds from the Offering; the expected draw on the revolving term loan of the credit facility to fund the Acquisition; the anticipated jurisdictions in which subscription receipts will be offered; and the anticipated repayment under the senior notes.

With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this news release, Obsidian Energy has made assumptions regarding, among other things: the Company's ability to close the Offering, on a timely basis and on the terms expected; fulfillment by the Agents in respect of the of their obligations pursuant to the agency agreement and the entering into thereof; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals in respect of the Offering; the timing of the Acquisition and the Offering; conditions in general economic and financial markets; and access to capital.

Some of the risks that could affect the Company's future results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include: the continuing impact of COVID-19 and developments related to the variants thereof on economic activity and demand for oil and natural gas; volatility in market prices for oil and natural gas; liabilities inherent in oil and natural gas operations; uncertainties associated with estimating oil and natural gas reserves; competition for, among other things, capital, acquisitions of royalty reserves, undeveloped lands and skilled personnel; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions, including the Acquisition; risks related to the environment and changing environmental laws, such as, carbon tax and methane emissions regulations; geological, technical, drilling, and processing problems; currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in income tax laws or changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the oil and gas industry; and the inability of the Company to complete some or all of the financings required to fund the purchase price for the Acquisition (on acceptable terms or at all) or to satisfy all of the conditions to closing the Acquisition.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. Obsidian Energy gives no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits Obsidian Energy will derive from them. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers should also carefully consider the matters discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Obsidian Energy's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 which is available under Obsidian Energy's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Obsidian Energy shares are listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and the OTCQX Market in the United States under the symbol "OBE" and "OBELF" respectively.

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Contact

OBSIDIAN ENERGY

Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3

Phone: 403-777-2500

Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707

Website: www.obsidianenergy.com;

Investor Relations:

Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633

E-mail: investor.relations@obsidianenergy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101733
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an identity-centric cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, is pleased to announce that is has entered into an agreement with Leede Jones Gable Inc. as the lead underwriter and sole bookrunner (the "Underwriter") pursuant to which the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, on a bought-deal basis, 8,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") for gross proceeds to the Company of $4,000,000 (the "Offering") at a price of $0.50 (the "Issue Price") per Common Share.

The Company has granted the Underwriter an option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable in part or in whole at the Underwriter's sole discretion, at any time beginning on the closing of the Offering until 30 days following the closing of the Offering, to purchase up to that number of additional Common Shares as is equal to 15% of the aggregate number of Common Shares sold in the Offering to cover over-allotments, if any.

The Common Shares will be offered (i) in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated May 31, 2021 (the "Base Prospectus"), (ii) in the United States (as such terms are defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")) on a private placement basis pursuant to available exemptions from registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws, and (iii) in other offshore jurisdictions pursuant to available prospectus or registration exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. The terms of the Offering will be described in a prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus to be filed with the securities commission in each of the provinces of Canada except Quebec (the "Supplement").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital, research and development, marketing and general corporate purposes.

The Underwriters shall be paid (i) a commission (the "Cash Commission") equal to 7% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering, other than in respect of any purchasers pursuant to a mutually agreed "president's list" (the "President's List") on which the Cash Commission is equal to 3.5%, payable in cash, and (ii) options (the "Underwriters Options") exercisable at any time up to 36 months following the Closing Date to acquire the number of common shares equal to 7% of the aggregate number of Common Shares issued pursuant to the Offering, other than in respect of any purchasers pursuant to the President's List on which the Underwriters Options shall be 3.5%, at an exercise price equal to the Issue Price.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about November 10, 2021 (the "Closing") and is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Copies of the Supplement, following filing thereof, and accompanying Base Prospectus may be obtained on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and from Leede Jones Gable Inc., Suite 1000, 110 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario. The Base Prospectus contains, and the Supplement will contain, important detailed information about the Company and the proposed Offering. Prospective investors should read the Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus and the other documents the Company has filed before making an investment decision.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

About Plurilock

Plurilock provides identity-centric cybersecurity for today's workforces. The Plurilock family of companies enables organizations to operate safely and securely while reducing cybersecurity friction. Plurilock offers world-class IT and cybersecurity solutions through its Solutions Division, paired with proprietary, AI-driven and cloud-friendly security through its Technology Division. Together, the Plurilock family of companies delivers persistent identity assurance with unmatched ease of use.

For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact:

Ian L. Paterson

Chief Executive Officer

ian@plurilock.com

416.800.1566

Roland Sartorius

Chief Financial Officer

roland.sartorius@plurilock.com

Prit Singh

Investor Relations

prit.singh@plurilock.com

905.510.7636

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition, including statements relating the completion of the Offering, the expected closing date of the Offering and the expected use of the proceed . Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, obtaining all the necessary approvals and consents relating to the Offering, the impact of general economic conditions, the success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101775
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / EastWest Bioscience Inc. (the "Company" or "EastWest") (TSXV:EAST) announces the grant of 2,230,000 stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants issued pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The options vest over a 3-year period, are exercisable at a price of $0.05 per share and expire October 22, 2024. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options will carry a statutory four-month and one day hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The stock options granted above and accompanying common shares issued pursuant thereto are subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company also announces that it has cancelled an aggregate of 3,292,696 stock options that were previously granted to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company that had exercise prices of $0.10 and $0.15 and various expiry periods.

About EastWest Bioscience Inc.

EastWest Bioscience is a vertically integrated wellness company with a multitude of business units and assets that allow for seed-to-sale supply chain management. We source our raw material, process, manufacture, test, brand, market, and distribute our products to our customers in Canada, the United States, and beyond. The Company owns and operates retail and manufacturing subsidiaries.

The Company's retail subsidiary is the award winning, Canadian, natural health retail franchise - the Sangster's Health Centre's - with over 40 years of legacy in the health and wellness industry. Sangster's goal is to provide natural choices through quality products and educated advice for a healthy lifestyle. Sangster's Health Centres occupies a unique position in the industry, the stores provide vast knowledge and safe natural remedies for the prevention and treatment of disease and ailments. Sangster's introduction and development of over 202 exclusively labeled products (vitamins, mineral, herbs, proteins, natural body care and organic foods) catapulted Sangster's name and product into a large number of Canadian households. From a solid base in Saskatchewan, Sangster's has become a national brand name with franchise stores located across Canada.

Orchard Vale Naturals is the Company's manufacturing arm that is certified with a Health Canada Site License and has GMP Certified NHP Manufacturing capabilities. Orchard Vale Naturals specialize in custom blends and production runs of all sizes, small to large, for top-quality products with quick turnaround times. Orchard Vale Naturals operate out of the 34,000 sq Health Canada licensed facility in Penticton, British Columbia that is owned by EastWest Bioscience and is the Head Office for all its Canadian operations.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EASTWEST BIOSCIENCE INC.

"Rodney Gelineau"

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Director

For Further Information

Company Website: www.eastwestbioscience.com

Contact: Rodney Gelineau on 1-800-409-1930 or investors@eastwestscience.com.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the terms and conditions of the options. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: EastWest Bioscience Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/670877/EastWest-Bioscience-Announces-Grant-of-Stock-Options-and-Cancellation-of-Certain-Other-Stock-Options
Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 2, 2021) - Newcrest's (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) 2021 Sustainability Report, released today, shows continued progress in FY21 across health, safety, economic, environmental, social performance and governance despite the continued challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The safety, health and wellbeing of our people remains Newcrest's highest priority. In FY21, Newcrest finished another year with no fatalities or life-changing injuries and reported a total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) of 2.3 injuries per million hours worked.

Newcrest recognises climate change is a significant challenge facing the world today and it needs to contribute to the pursuit of a global reduction in carbon emissions. Newcrest has responded by committing to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This goal relates to operational (scope 1 and 2) emissions, though Newcrest is also working across the value chain to reduce scope 3 emissions.

Other FY21 highlights include:

Aligned the Company's climate change disclosure with the TCFD recommendations to describe how the Company is evaluating both physical and transitional climate change risks and opportunities.

Released its Tailings Governance Policy, aligning with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

Developed internal water targets and water efficiency management plans to underpin the drafting of a Group water target in FY22.

Released the Company's first Modern Slavery Statement, which outlines the steps taken to identify, manage and mitigate the risks of modern slavery across Newcrest's operations and supply chain.

Continued implementation of more than 40 programs across the globe in healthcare, essential goods, business and financial support, mental health and education as part of Newcrest's A$20 million Community Support Fund which aims to assist host communities with the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Achieved 15 of 16 FY21 sustainability targets, with partial achievement of the remaining target.

Newcrest continues to maintain its commitment to high-quality governance, transparency and ethical business practices across the organisation. The Company reports sustainability performance based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, including the GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement.

"Our purpose is to create a brighter future for people through safe and responsible mining," said Sandeep Biswas, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

"As today's report shows, there has been a strong focus across our business over the past year on keeping our people safe, supporting our communities, and expanding and delivering on our sustainability agenda."

The 2021 Sustainability Report can be accessed at www.newcrest.com and includes details of specific initiatives and performance.

Authorised by the Newcrest Disclosure Committee

For further information please contact

Investor Enquiries

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au

North American Investor Enquiries

Ryan Skaleskog

+1 866 396 0242

+61 403 435 222

Ryan.Skaleskog@newcrest.com.au

Media Enquiries

Tim Salathiel

+61 3 9522 4263

+61 407 885 272

Tim.Salathiel@newcrest.com.au

This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/101776
- The Airline Expects to Emerge from its Court-Supervised Restructuring Process Before End of Year.

- An Updated Business Plan Will Result in a Stable, Financially Viable Airline, Further Supported by the Continued Growth of its Cargo and Loyalty Businesses.

- Avianca's New Vision Combines the Airline's 100-Year Legacy with Modern, Optimized Service to Meet Needs of Today's Customers Across Latin America and Beyond.

BOGOTA, Colombia, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avianca announced today that -following its submission of additional documentation that had been requested by the United States Court for the Southern District Court of New York- the Court has confirmed Avianca's Plan of Reorganization*i. The Company expects to successfully complete its court-supervised reorganization and emerge from Chapter 11 before the end of the year as a more efficient and financially stronger airline, well positioned for long-term success.

Upon emergence, the Company will have a solid balance sheet, with significantly reduced debt and over $1 billion in liquidity. Avianca's restructuring will enable the Company to continue repositioning and simplifying its business, re-establishing as the carrier of choice in Latin America by adopting more competitive pricing for clients, reconfiguring aircraft with best-in-class modern seating, expanding network routes both domestically and internationally, refinancing its aircraft portfolio and obtaining long-term financing commitments. Avianca will keep the airline's differentiating and competitive assets, which include a robust network, one of the best loyalty programs, VIP Lounges, signature services and one of the most competitive cargo solutions in the region.

Rohit Philip, Chief Financial Officer of Avianca, said: "We are pleased to have reached this critical milestone and look forward to emerging as a stronger organization that is well positioned to fly the skies for many years to come. The financial and operational progress we have already achieved are a testament to the tenacity and commitment of the entire Avianca team, and I am proud of their tremendous efforts".

Adrian Neuhauser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avianca, said: "On behalf of everyone at Avianca, I want to express our gratitude to our loyal customers, partners, and lenders for their continued support. I especially want to thank Judge Glenn for his thoughtful and responsible oversight of the process. Looking ahead, with a stronger financial foundation, Avianca will be better positioned to capture recovering travel demand with a compelling value proposition to meet the needs of today's clients across Latin America and beyond. We are a company that combines an over-100-year legacy with modern, optimized service, while remaining committed to continuing to set the standard for safety, customer service, and value across the industry."

Business Plan:

Avianca's updated business plan impacts all facets of operations - the destinations Avianca will serve, the aircraft Avianca will operate, and the way Avianca will serve customers - to build on its leadership position and drive its future success.

Notably, the business plan projects:

A financially viable and stable airline;

Higher network density with a passenger fleet of more than 130 aircraft flying over 200 largely point-to-point routes by year-end 2025, with expanded service across Latin America as demand fully recovers;

as demand fully recovers; A leaner cost structure providing both better pricing and more direct service, while enabling growth into new markets; and

Continued growth of the air cargo and LifeMiles loyalty businesses, building on the Company's already well-established market positions.

Avianca's Business Vision Milestones:

Over the course of 2021, Avianca has made significant progress on its new business vision in three key areas: strengthening its network, redesigning products and enhancing services. Certain milestones that the Company has already successfully achieved include:

A stronger network: Announced 23 new point-to-point routes in strategic markets for 2022, including Colombia , El Salvador , Guatemala and Costa Rica . Avianca plans to operate more than 100 new routes in the next three years.?

Announced 23 new point-to-point routes in strategic markets for 2022, including , , and . Avianca plans to operate more than 100 new routes in the next three years.? Cabin reconfiguration : Incorporated more seats to offer more competitive prices and increase the number of passengers carried. The capacity of each aircraft will be increased by up to 20%.

: Incorporated more seats to offer more competitive prices and increase the number of passengers carried. The capacity of each aircraft will be increased by up to 20%. Tailor-made service bundles: Provided customers with better flexibility to manage their flights and services so they only pay for what they really need.

Provided customers with better flexibility to manage their flights and services so they only pay for what they really need. Better self-service: Strengthened online customer service, its chat service "Vianca" and digital channels so that passengers can manage their trip more easily from the mobile application and Avianca's website.

Strengthened online customer service, its chat service "Vianca" and digital channels so that passengers can manage their trip more easily from the mobile application and Avianca's website. A rewarding LifeMiles program: Introduced a new mileage accrual model and more benefits for loyalty program travelers.

Court filings and other documents related to the Chapter 11 process are available on a separate website administered by Avianca's claims agent, Kurtzman Carson Consultants, at www.kccllc.net/avianca. Information is also available by calling (866) 967-1780 (U.S./Canada) or +1 (310) 751-2680 (International), as well as by email at www.kccllc.net/avianca/inquiry.

Seabury Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor to Avianca, and Milbank LLP is serving as legal advisor.

Media Contact

Maria Carolina Cortes

VP Corporate Communications

carolina.cortes@avianca.com

* The value of the outstanding shares of the Company (including the preferred shares traded under ticker symbols OTCMKTS: AVHOQ, BVC: PFAVH) will be reduced to zero and will cease to have value and Avianca's assets and liabilities will be reorganized under a new holding company
Butler Hospitality, a New York-based hospitality technology company, raised $32M in funding.

The round, which brought total funding north of $50M, was led by Shamrock Holdings, Maywic Select Investments, Platform Ventures, and Mousse Partners.

Led by Premtim Gjonbalic, Founder and CEO, Butler provides an hospitality network with technology designed to foster community and connect travelers with the cities around them to optimize traditional operating models starting with Room Service. As an extension of its platform, the company continues to develop a portfolio of relevant dining concepts. Hospitality partners include Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and more.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth and expand operations. With this investment, Butler will more than double their presence to 12 markets across the US, with plans to service nearly 250,000 rooms. Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will soon be able to join the network of hotel and travel services that have proven successful in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, Denver, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

FinSMEs

01/11/2021
First AML, a New Zealand-based customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Anti-money laundering (AML) tech company, raised US $21m (NZ $ 30m) in a Series B funding.

The round was led by Blackbird Ventures and Headline, together with participation from existing investors Bedrock Capital, Icehouse Ventures and Pushpay founder Eliot Crowther.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its solution to Europe and double its global headcount from 90 to 180 employees.

Founded in 2017 by CEO Milan Cooper, Bion Behdin and Chris Caigou, First AML provides a regulatory technology (RegTech) solution that allows B2B clients such as financial service providers, law firms, real estate agencies, and accountants, to streamline their anti-money laundering compliance processes and minimize risk. The platform automates the identity verification of customers, with complete visibility and management oversight and also includes biometric identification for remote verification and visual tools to help users understand the ownership of complex company structures.

Launched in 2017 in New Zealand, the company has since expanded to Australia in 2021.

FinSMEs

02/11/2021
Lumigo, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based cloud-native application monitoring and debugging platform, raised $29M in Series A funding.

The round, which brought total funding to $37M, was led by RedLine Capital, with participation from Wing Venture Capital, Vertex Ventures US and existing investors Pitango First, Grove Ventures and Meron Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to double its 30-person core team, in particular building the Marketing and Product groups, bringing on leaders in both domains, and recruiting more developers.

Led by CTO Aviad Mor and CEO Erez Berkner, Lumigo is an observability platform for serverless and cloud-native applications that allows developers to find and fix issues using automated distributed tracing. The platform allows developers to quickly find the root cause of issues with visual debugging, resolve performance bottlenecks with a clear breakdown of each components execution duration, and receive notifications on issues before they impact performance with smart alerts.

Lumigo, which began by focusing on automated distributed tracing for serverless cloud services like API Gateway, DynamoDB, Kinesys, S3 and Lambda, also announced the expansion of its SaaS observability product to containers, Kubernetes and Virtual Machines.

Today, the product is used by hundreds of companies, including Medtronic, Sonos, Vimeo, and A Cloud Guru (a Pluralsight company), to observe, understand and debug their serverless applications in production.

FinSMEs

03/11/2021
Nuro, a Mountain View, Calif.-based autonomous vehicle company, raised $600m in Series D funding.

The round was led by Tiger Global Management with participation from Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management & Research Company, LLC, Gaorong Capital, Google, Kroger, SoftBank Vision Fund 1, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Woven Capital, and other existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds for the development and deployment of its autonomous delivery service in communities across the country and expansion of its team.

Led by Dave Ferguson, co-founder and president, Nuro makes custom electric autonomous vehicles designed to bring the things people needfrom produce to prescriptionsright to their home. The company has piloted autonomous local delivery for communities in Texas, Arizona, and California.

Nuro has also signed a five year strategic partnership with Google Cloud to support the massive scale and capacity required to run self-driving simulation workloads, machine learning to improve model accuracy, and storage to manage important data from the vehicles. Through their new partnership, Nuro and Google will also explore opportunities together to strengthen and transform local commerce.

FinSMEs

03/11/2021
ProLogium Technology, a Taipei, Taiwan-based solid-state battery (SSB) company, raised US$326M in funding.

dGav Capital managed fund New Epoch Capital LP, Primavera managed fund Carna Investments Holding Limited, and SBCVC managed fund SBCVC Navitas Limited all participated in the round.

The funding raised will be invested in the development of mass production facilities for ProLogium SSBs and to implement the companys global plant expansion plans. The funds will be deployed to expand production capacity in Asia, Europe and the US between 2023 and 2025 to supply the local demands of the major OEMs with EV batteries. This will accelerate the provision of SSB solutions for ProLogiums EV strategic partners.



Led by Vincent Yang, Founder and CEO, ProLogium Technology provides safe battery technologies for vehicle, consumer and industry applications. The companys patented manufacturing processes consume around an eighth of the energy required to produce a regular sulfide SSB and its solid electrolyte is 100% recyclable and can be reused for creating new battery cell.

FinSMEs

02/11/2021
Vastu Housing Finance Corporation Ltd., an Indian housing finance company, raised US$200m in Series C financing.

Creation Investments Capital Management LLC, and Norwest Venture Partners, co-led the round with each investing US$75m in the company. Mumbai-based IIFL Finance is investing US$50m.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by Sandeep Menon, founder, managing director and CEO, Vastu provides a proprietary technology platform called PULSE to allow customers  self-employed individuals and small-business owners  to estimate and demonstrate their undocumented income to access credit solutions. As of July 2021, the company provided financial assistance to more than 35,000 customers.

FinSMEs

02/11/2021
The Vensica Therapeutics device (courtesy Vensica Therapeutics) (PRNewsfoto/Vensica Therapeutics)

Vensica Therapeutics, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, closed a $16m funding round.

The round was led by Israel Biotech Fund with participation from Laborie, Lew Pell, Agriline, and The Trendlines Group.

The funds raised will support the companys phase II multicenter clinical trials in Europe and the USA.

Led by CEO Avner Geva, Vensica is a urology therapeutics company developing a platform for drug delivery for several urinary bladder indications, based on a proprietary ultrasound-assisted drug delivery system.

The round follows an announcement by the company earlier this year on the signing of a strategic license and collaboration agreement with Merz Therapeutics, a business of the Merz Group and a leader in the field of neurotoxins. Vensica licensed Merzs botulinum neurotoxin A (XEOMIN) for needle-free use in urological procedures. The company will expand its workforce in Israel for the next stage of clinical and regulatory development of its device together with XEOMIN, focusing on overactive bladder treatment.

FinSMEs

01/11/2021
Walden Catalyst Ventures, a San Francisco, CA-based early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to deep-tech investments focused on Data & AI across the U.S., Europe and Israel, closed its inaugural fund, at over $550m.

Investors in the fund include institutional LPs, as well as the CEOs of some of the worlds largest tech corporations.

Led by Young Sohn and Lip-Bu Tan, two tech veterans working across the across the semiconductor, cloud and electronics industries, and early investors in such tech companies as Zoom, Inphi, Berkeley Lights, Habana and Nuvia, Walden Catalyst plans to make investments in and support portfolio companies in the core focus areas of big data, AI, semiconductors, cloud, and the intersection of biology and technology.

With more than 30 years of industry experience, Lip-Bu is the founder and chairman of Walden International. Most recently, he served concurrently as CEO of Cadence Design Systems. Young previously held the position of Corporate President and Chief Strategy Officer of Samsung Electronics, where he spearheaded Samsungs global innovation, M&A and venture investing initiatives.

The duo collaborated on numerous investments over the past 15 years, serving on one anothers boards of directors and scaling startups from zero to tens of thousands of employees. Now, Walden Catalyst formalizes their partnership and combines their operational and investing expertise in a single firm.

The founding partners are joined at Walden Catalyst by a management team of seasoned investors including four partners such as Shankar Chandran, Roni Hefetz, Francis Ho, and Andrew Kau, who have collectively decades of experience working together on numerous investments and exits in the deep-tech space.

Walden Catalyst has made six deep-tech investments to date. Three of those startups remain in stealth mode and the other three are:

AI21 Labs , an AI lab and product company,

, an AI lab and product company, MindsDB , an in-database Machine Learning platform that plugs to enterprise databases like Postgres, MySQL, Snowflake to name a few, enabling users to create and query sophisticated Machine Learning models using SQL, and

, an in-database Machine Learning platform that plugs to enterprise databases like Postgres, MySQL, Snowflake to name a few, enabling users to create and query sophisticated Machine Learning models using SQL, and Speedata, a developer of a dedicated accelerated processor for big data analytics across industries.

The firm also has close ties to the Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), an organization co-founded by Young Sohn, and a startup competition and ecosystem for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

FinSMEs

02/11/2021
Scholar Spotlight: Sex Warriors and Suicide Bombers with Prof. Lorna Bracewell and Jordan Galehan 06:00pm | Ponce de Leon Hall

Flagler College prides itself on a faculty that exemplifies the model of the teacher-scholar. Flaglers nationally recognized excellence in teaching is made possible by our facultys active research agendas and dynamic creative endeavors. At the Flagler College Scholar Spotlight Series, we invite the St. Augustine community to join us in celebrating the exciting research and artistic work done by our faculty. Each event will be organized around a topical theme and will feature Flagler professors who have recently published prominent scholarly works on that topic.

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Flagler Room

Series Name: Flagler College Scholar Spotlight

Featuring: Lorna Bracewell author of "Why We Lost the Sex Wars" and Jordan Galehan author of Gender and the Strategic and Tactical Logic of Boko Harams Suicide Bombers Journal of Women and Criminal Justice 2021.

Gender and the Strategic and Tactical Logic of Boko Harams Suicide Bombers (PDF)

Location Flagler Room, in Ponce de Leon Hall

Tagged As
Tampa, FL (33646)

Today

A few passing clouds. Low 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
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Following the declining shipments trend of the worldwide smartphone market, the worldwide market for Chromebooks and tablets recorded a decline of 29.8% YoY and 9.4% YoY respectively during Q3 2021. In a report released by the International Data Corporation, the amount of Chromebooks shipped were 6.5 million units while the amount of tablets shipped were 42.3 million units.

Within the Chromebook market, Lenovo shipped the highest volume with 1.5 million shipments. They were followed by Acer and Dell, who had 1.4 million and 1.2 million units shipped respectively. Samsung, who came in fifth, was the only brand that had a growth of 0.2% YoY after shipping 0.6 million units.

Apple continued its longtime lead in the tablet market, shipping 14.7 million units during Q3 2021 and enjoyed a market share of 34.6 %. Samsung came in second place with 7.5 million units shipped, followed by Amazon with 4.7 million units shipped. Lenovo came in 5th place with 4.3 million units and Huawei came in with 2.3 million units.

Commenting on the market, Anuroopa Nataraj, senior research analyst with IDCs Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers said:

Many schools and governments blew out their budgets to provide devices for remote learning and even consumers aggressively purchased devices for learning in 2020. As a result, some saturation in the education market is expected in the near term. This directly impacts Chromebooks and even tablets to some extent, especially in developed markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe, due to high volumes in the preceding quarters. However, Chromebooks continue to increase their footprint in emerging markets such as Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan and China), Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, but sales in these regions account for less than 13% of the overall Chromebook volume and hence are far from moving the global market.

Source
SpaceX, the American aerospace manufacturer, has announced the registration and opening of their India-based subsidiary of Starlink satellite-based internet company. Starlink also revealed their plans to launch nearly 2 lakh active user terminals by the end of 2022 to start operations.

The objective of Starlink is to provide secure, low-latency, and reliable internet services with its network of low-earth orbit satellites. As of May 2021, the company had 1500 satellites in low-earth orbit and has integrated their services with Google Data centers.

In India, there is a clear need for reliable internet connectivity, especially in rural and difficult-to-reach locations. To open operations in India, Starlink has registered a subsidiary called Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. The Country Director for this subsidiary is Sanjay Bhargava, who was previously a PayPal executive.

The company plans to aggressively expand in India, with a goal to offer 2 lakh active terminals in over 1.6 lakh districts across the country by December 2022. This is based on getting Government approvals however, which is still pending.

In a LinkedIn post, Sanjay Bhargava, Starlink Country Director India at SpaceX said:

Pleased to share that SpaceX now has a 100% owned subsidiary in India. The name is SSCPL  Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited and the incorporation date is Nov 1, 2021. Happy Birthday, SSCPL. We can now start applying for licenses, open bank accounts etc.

Via
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that a Riverside man pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge for inflicting severe injuries on a puppy -- including slitting its throat -- and then posting videos of the suffering animal on his social media accounts.
(CNN) -- A fraternity house at George Washington University was vandalized over the weekend, including desecration of a Torah scroll, according to the university and Tau Kappa Epsilon.

"Our entire chapter is outraged and saddened by this blatant act of antisemitism and violence against our brothers," the fraternity said in a statement Sunday evening.

Chapter President Chris Osborne told CNN by phone the house was broken into while members were away and the damage was discovered early Sunday. "There was laundry detergent dumped on religious texts, specifically a Jewish Torah," he said.

"We believe it was an act of anti-Semitism," Osborne told CNN. "There was a Christian Bible and a Jewish Torah in the room, and only the Jewish Torah was vandalized. I believe it was a hate crime."

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the incident as a suspected hate crime with an "Anti-Jewish" hate bias or motivation, according to a police report provided on Monday.

One of the fraternity members reported that he returned home between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Sunday to find that a number of items -- including the Torah, kitchen cabinets, a smoke detector and wiring -- had been damaged or destroyed by an unknown person, while another resident was asleep upstairs.

The fraternity house does not have a security system, and entry into the home was not forced, according to the report.

A statement from the president of George Washington University (GWU), which is located in Washington, DC, said campus police and the DC Metropolitan Police Department are investigating.

"I want to be clear: I condemn all such acts of antisemitism and all forms of hatred, discrimination, and bias in our community," said President Thomas LeBlanc. "Any act of antisemitism is an attack on the entire GW community and cannot, and will not, be tolerated."

The university's police department has increased patrols in the area around around the house, LeBlanc said in a message to the university community. Several staff members are staying in the house, according to the president.

Osborne said about a quarter of his TKE fraternity chapter is Jewish, roughly mirroring the population of GWU, according to a college guide from the Jewish student organization Hillel.

The fraternity asked the local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to look into the incident.

"Very disturbed to learn about this hateful incident that took place overnight at the TKE fraternity house on GWU's campus," the ADL tweeted, along with a photo of the damaged Torah, torn and covered in blue liquid. "We've spoken with students & reached out to campus PD. We expect a full & rapid investigation."

The-CNN-Wire

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CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  A group of Nevada lawmakers traveling the state to engage the public in the once-in-a-decade redistricting process is
Bettina Lerman was on a ventilator for weeks after getting COVID-19 and hadn't responded to doctors' efforts to wake her from a coma when her family made the difficult decision to take her off of life support.
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Superstars and Bad Boy Superstars

Fragrance News

The shiny glam of the upcoming holidays is complemented by glittery limited editions from the house of Carolina Herrera. The new duo of popular fragrances Good Girl and Bad Boy received collector's bottles covered with silver sequins, perfectly dressed for the celebration. The new limited editions follow the launch of a special collector's bottle covered with Swarovski crystals, which is made to celebrate 40 years of the brand. You can read about it in the article: Carolina Herrera Swarovski Limited Edition - Good Girl Ruby Sparkle

As the brand announced: "Carolina Herrera sets off on a tour de force with the Superstar Collectors Edition, uniting its two iconic Good Girl and Bad Boy fragrances for the first time in a single limited edition.

Rockstar ready, both fragrances come in a silver bottle of individual design. Whilst the legendary Good Girl stiletto returns with a dazzling glitter finish, the lightning bolt that so defines the Bad Boy universe makes its first foray into a new design with a bottle in a flash of reflective chrome."

Carolina A. Herrera, Creative Director of fragrances at the House, declares the new arrivals as sensuality coated with bright energy, and celebrating the confidence that comes with stardom.

Silver has always been a source of inspiration for the original superstar, Carolina Herrera herself. The fashion designers lifelong penchant for classic Hollywood silver-screen glamour has been referenced with metallic materials ever since her first collection in 1981, and she can be seen swathed in those same shades in many fascinating photographs, enjoying fabulous nights at New Yorks Studio 54 nightclub. For current Creative Director Wes Gordon, these images and fabrics are part of his narrative vision, as he captures the spirit of New York and its nightlife and brings it straight into the twenty-first century. The visual campaign marks the reunification of the two personalities who embody the fragrances, and whose paths fleetingly crossed for the first time in the original Bad Boy film. The endlessly enigmatic Karlie Kloss returns as the personification of Good Girl, wearing a dress as eye-catching and sexy as the bottle itself.

As Wes Gordon says, The Herrera woman is fearless, confident, and the most beautiful woman in the room, always.

The ultimate rock chick, Karlie Kloss effortlessly exudes star power in this statement dress, custom-made for the campaign. Actor Ed Skrein and his irresistibly magnetic gaze make a dramatic complement by radiating Hollywood glamour with his naturally cool and easy elegance.

Together, they embody the opposing duality that both fragrances are so famous for. Juxtaposed notes of ingredients as shimmering as silver conjure in scent the delicate play between good and bad, light and shadow. Perfumers Louise Turner and Quentin Bisch were originally inspired to formulate these classic fragrances by the fascinating duality of the modern woman and the rebellious light and shadows of contemporary mans nature. The womens fragrance is housed in a glamorous silver zebra-print box, whilst the mens resides in one with a classically masculine Art Deco print, and for the first time, the fragrances will tie in with the Carolina Herrera Make-Up range. A special lipstick will be available at select locations, adding an exciting touch of festive dazzle.





Elevating the spirit of Good Girl and Bad Boy, Carolina Herrera cements itself as a trailblazer in the world of fragrance, with this collectors edition created to embrace a festive mood and to remind you that we are all Superstars.

Range:

Good Girl Superstars Collector Edition is available as an 80ml Eau de Parfum, while the Bad Boy Superstars Collector Edition arrives as a 100ml Eau de Toilette, both as a limited edition.

Source: Carolina Herrera press release
Forty Years of Goutal Paris Parfums: A Fragrant Anniversary

1001 Past Tales

Prior to the explosion of niche fragrances in the middle of the 2000s, there were a tiny number of brands which were presenting the idea of a quite personal bond with the product, and Goutal Paris was one of them. Annick Goutal began as one of the first independent perfume houses in the early 1980s and still flourishes to this day, albeit having undergone some significant changes, particularly in the last decade. Although it was never niche in the exact sense of the word, it did help launch many a perfume lover's journey into less mainstream, more eclectic fragrant compositions.

With Annick's untimely death by cancer at an early age in 1999, the brand was kept aloft by her daughter Camille, and is now monetized by the Korean firm Amore Pacific. People were somewhat surprised to see the brand's name change to simply "Goutal Paris" in the last decade, a change that perfume admirers still haven't quite gotten used to.

Once upon a time, there was Annick Goutal, you see, a woman of intuition and emotion, a visionary who took hold of her dreams and followed them through. When Annick Goutal was excelling as a pianist, she had not anticipated that a collaboration with perfumers in order to scent a face cream would result in finding her calling: perfumery. She soon instilled her own romantic spirit into a small, fledging niche brand, one among the first, and embarked on the great adventure of launching fragrances with personal mementos attached to them.

Sables was dedicated to her husband Alain, inspired by their south of France escapades and the garrigue. Eau de Camille and Eau de Charlotte were respectively dedicated to her daughters Camille (who oversees the creation process to this day, when the brand has changed hands multiple times) and Charlotte. Grand Amour was inspired by the bouquets Alain brought her when she performed. Petite Cherie, one of the brand's highlights, was also personal; it recalled her daughter Camille again and is one of the first fruity compositions in the niche sector to become a best-seller. It was also the time when special bottles of opaline were topped with butterflies and romantic illustrations.

But none was as seminal or simple as Eau d'Hadrien, her first fragrance for the house of Annick Goutal, launching in 1981. The feat of the scent is that it manages to withstand to this day, serving as a classic reference for a citrus fragrance done right. The underlying beauty of the stark composition, radiant and sparkling in its cool glory, remains intact, earning it a Hall of Fame Award in 2008, bestowed by the International Fragrance Association.

The brand has recognized this cult status by offering several editions of the classic scent over the years. The main chord of the fragrance in Eau d'Hadrien is citrus and cypress. Brisk, simple, yet never simplistic, straight-forward, and with a subtly shadowy id to its bright ego.

Annick was an avid reader of Marguerite Yourcenar, her Memoirs of Hadrian (Memoires d'Hadrien) being the fictional retelling of the Roman Emperor's thoughts and philosophizing on his life and life in general. The book, taking the form of a letter to Hadrian's successor (the equally profound emperor Marcus Aurelius), ponders on the vagaries of war, on the arts (especially poetry), on his lover Antinous, and on the theme of death. The reference for Eau d'Hadrien is very poetic; one could cynically suspect as with some modern niche brands that the reference followed the creation process rather than vice versa, but if one has actually read Yourcenar's book, it rings faithful.

Although Annick's own life was full of change  from model and chocolatier, to antique shop owner, to collaborator with her friend Michelle into Swiss skincare face creams, which prompted the initial scent investigation, and then into fine fragrance  the line was consistent; dreamy, refined, simple ideas conceived in fine materials of an emotional quality. The gold caps, in the "goudron" style were also the object of dreams. Although the fragrances were not labelled female or male in terms of the formula, the same composition was offered in two different presentations: the feminine one was very frou frou and romantic with a gold ribbon under the curvaceous cap and all ribbed glass, while the masculine version was presented in squarish bottles with a simpler cylindrical cap and a label in cursive typeface. They were extremely appealing and upscale-looking, being the object of endless photographs by perfume lovers.

The brand, however, had to change when Annick died. Her daughter Camille Goutal and perfumer Isabelle Doyen continued her heritage but also injected the brand with new elements. She is quoted as asking, "Are we in the right Goutal direction, would Annick create this type of perfume? We create going on our instinct, as we did with Annick anyway."

The Goutal company evolved in the years following Annick's passing in 1999. It had expanded from the first creations with perfumer Francis Camaill, under the creative direction of Annick herself, to the creative process of Isabelle Doyen and Annick working together, and later between Isabelle and Camille Goutal, Annick's daughter, now on to something else.

My own impression is that the creation of the Les Orientalistes collection was a turning point towards directing the brand into something different. Wearing the latest Goutal scents in the Les Orientalistes line (Ambre Fetiche, Myrrhe Ardente, Encens Flamboyant, Musc Nomade) I find that they inject a neoclassical style into what is essentially a thick school of perfumery: the oriental tradition. The fragrances are based on a group of notes that are infused with darker elements: amber, smoke, and resin. I personally found them very pleasing to various degrees, but the criticism I have heard about them is that while they are out of sync with the previous Goutal style, they are also too thin to be convincing orientals. (People perhaps forget Sables, Eau du Fier, or even Songes and Grand Amour in the Goutal line, which are certainly full-bodied.)

The sub-collection Les Absolus was inspired by the craziness for oudh and Arabian-inspired offerings of the Middle East or those who like to offer gifts inspired by the Middle East: 1001 Ouds, Ambre Sauvage, Vanille Charnelle and later on, Rose Oud. The compositions are denser than the previous Orientalistes, and they do not especially recall Goutal fragrances in style; they seem a thing apart.





In 2018 a collection of alcohol-free waters was introduced, aiming at Muslims, Far East customers, and anyone wanting to use fragrance while out in the sun.



"Created as a delicate alternative to classic fragrance formulas, all four alcohol-free waters procures an olfactory pleasure inspired by the benefits of water. A pure concentration of freshness and fragrance in a porcelain-like white bottle for the whole collection. Sprayed on the body, hair and clothing for your enjoyment from dawn to dusk."

The white flacons are decorated with charming illustrations of roses, herbs, fresh leaves, and butterflies. The Goutal Alcohol-Free Waters collection includes the fragrances Songes, Eau d'Hadrien, L'ile au The, and Rose Pompon and launched in mid-June 2018.

In 2020 all the bottles were changed, even in the newer Absolus collection, into the simpler cylindrical style.

For a good while the transformation and transliteration of former formulas into a more "cologne"-like concept brought renewed interest into the brand. This was probably the turning point of change in the packaging.

The stylized and plainer presentation of the bottles  no more fluted bottles, all oblong lines and plain gold caps  was meant to create a more unisex aesthetic, as was the name "cologne" in the broadcasting of the products. Three Colognes were thus launched, all resting on fresh approaches to beloved raw materials: neroli, vetiver, and citrus.

On the other hand, Parisian sophistication was not forgotten either.

The playful and very French-styled Oiseaux de Nuit collection, introduced in 2016, seems like a quiet Parisian throwback to the roots for the brand, from the presentation to the concept: champagne bubbles and sequin-dressed (Nuit et Confidences), iris and patchouli for an evening gown accompanied by a marabou in deep purple (Tenue de Soiree), and a colorful silk scarf on the neck (Etoile d'une Nuit.)

For some of the time between the years 2015-2020 the brand seemed to be straddling two boats: two different approaches, two segmentations perhaps. Then it was decided to jump forth into the new, injecting just a note of heritage.

In 2020, therefore, the past was revisited via Le Temps des Reves, a composition highlighting and celebrating the ethereal beauty and happiness of the bitter orange tree, citrus aurantia or Seville orange, the tree that is the emblem across Southern Europe. Predictably, the ad copy insists on the Grasse references, mentioning how the South of France and the iconic birthplace of perfumery contributed to the idea even to Annick's mind back when she launched her eponymous brand...

Alas, the discontinuation of many of the brand's iconic fragrances (for instance Eau de Ciel; Eau de Charlotte, a proto-gourmand; and Heure Exquise Eau de Parfum, etc.) and almost all their soliflores, in recent and not-so-recent years, has been noted as a subject of lament on perfume boards.

For many perfume lovers, there will always be a place in their hearts for Goutal perfumes, but they often feel that the brand's glory days are over. Maybe the market has been oversaturated with newer releases, leaving the field more antagonistic, especially for refined and quiet compositions like the ones Goutal excels at. Maybe it's that the economic crisis has left people with a more intense desire for showcasing how they spend their hard-earned money, opting for more "bang for their buck," i.e. requiring a costly posh fragrance to really project like a foghorn.

Additionally, expanding one's segmentation into more countries, where possibly the aesthetics require something different than the European or Northern American norm, (for instance Asian countries go for watery and discreet eaux, or Brazil demands refreshing blends with fruity tonalities), also dictates style and performance. Goutal fragrances have never been brash, so the acquisition by a South Korean firm makes perfect sense.

What will the future bring for Goutal Paris? We will be here to witness it. We certainly wish the venerable brand a happy 40th anniversary and thank them for shaping some of the best memories of our growing up.

Information and shopping through the official website of the Goutal brand: goutalparis.com.

Read the author's collected historical articles on 1001 Past Tales HERE.
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MORTON MARCUS is an economist, writer and speaker formerly with Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business. He can be reached at mortonjmarcus@yahoo.com .
Gainesville, TX (76240)

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Work with your past self, create paradoxes to use to your advantage, and defeat an evil wizard (easy, right?)
CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Seventeen Southeast Texas counties have been declared disaster areas after hurricane Nicholas came ashore, dumping more than a foot of rain and cutting off power to a half-million customers in Texas, according to poweroutage.us. That number had been reduced to about 4,200 as of Sunday.

Counties included in Gov. Greg Abbotts declaration are Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, and Victoria.

The Texas Department of Insurance has a number of tips for those affected by the storm: n Call your insurance company to report damage. n Take pictures and video of the damage. Dont throw anything away until your insurance adjuster tells you. n Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage. Remove standing water. Cover broken windows and holes to keep rain out. n Keep a list of the repairs and save receipts. Dont make permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster sees the damage.

For more information from TDI, go to the website, www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/storms/home-damaged-faq.html.

HAITIANS FLOOD INTO DEL RIO

Thousands of Haitian refugees fleeing political unrest and a severe earthquake have flooded into Del Rio on the Texas-Mexico border, prompting the citys mayor to declare an emergency and close the bridge with more than 15,000 migrants crowded beneath it.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz blamed the situation on President Joe Biden, reported the San Antonio Express-News.

Border agents are working to process those who crossed, while the Biden administration on Saturday accelerated flights to deport migrants back to Haiti. Abbott called it a border crisis and ordered Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and the Texas National Guard to maintain a presence around ports of entry in an attempt to deter additional entries.

Despite the influx of migrants at Del Rio, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said there were 2% fewer overall encounters of migrants along the border in August than July.

Abbott backtracked on an order to shut down entry points along the border, which the state does not have the legal power to do, unless granted permission by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to the Houston Chronicle. The federal government, not states, has ultimate authority over the countrys borders.

COVID CASES DROP, BUT DEATHS INCREASE

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the state decreased about 7% from the previous week, with 111,565 reported by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University. However, new deaths were up slightly, with 1,800 reported as of Sunday.

The number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas dropped slightly, with the Texas Department of State Health Services reporting 12,246 inpatients, down 7.8% from the previous week. However, with 3,618 of those hospitalized in intensive-care unit beds, the total number of available staffed adult ICU beds declined to just 277 statewide, with only 86 pediatric ICU beds available in the entire state.

The number of Texans who are fully vaccinated continues to creep upward, with 14.46 million reported in the state, according to DSHS. That is 49.6% of the states total population.

REDISTRICTING FOCUS OF THIRD SPECIAL SESSION

The Texas Legislature convened Monday for its third special session with the focus on redrawing political boundaries for House and Senate districts, as well as for the states congressional seats and for the State Board of Education.

Before the session began, proposed state senate districts by Republican leaders drew fire from the other side of the aisle, according to the Texas Tribune.

State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston proposed a map that redraws two districts  hers and that of Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, to include comfortable majorities of voters who backed Donald Trump in 2020. Both districts saw voters narrowly favor Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

State Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson, said the reconfigured map gives Republicans in her district an unfair advantage.

The proposed State Senate map is a direct assault on the voting rights of minority citizens in Senate District 10 and, if adopted, it would be an act of intentional discrimination, she said in a statement.

Redistricting promises to be a fiercely fought battle, as it is every 10 years.

UP TO $5M FOR RURAL HOSPITALS

Rural hospitals in Texas are set to receive up to $5 million in federal funding to help underserved Texans, the Health and Human Services Commission announced last week. As we work to address health disparities throughout the state, this funding will help break down barriers to accessing care while connecting rural Texans with health care providers in creative ways and improving overall health outcomes within their communities, said Trey Wood of the HHSC. The funding is coming from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Texas is one of four recipients of the grants, designed to address health disparities, improve health outcomes, and meet the unique needs of Texans living in rural areas using telemedicine, according to HHSC.

TEXAS HORNED LIZARD MAKES COMEBACK

A coalition of zoos and wildlife scientists has released into the wild 204 captive-raised hatchlings of the once ubiquitous Texas horned lizard, more commonly known as the horny toad.

New evidence indicates that previously released lizards are successfully reproducing, according to a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department news release.

The horned lizard is one of 1,300 Texas species of concern, which are rare or declining and need special efforts to prevent being listed as endangered under state or federal regulations.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.
National

AP

Jury seated for homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse

SEAN KRAJACIC Kyle Rittenhouse, left, speaks with Corey Chirafisi, one of his attorneys, during jury selection for his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) Adam Rogan FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2020, file photo, Kyle Rittenhouse carries a weapon as he walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., during a night of unrest following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse is white. So were the three men he shot during street protests in Kenosha in 2020. But for many people, Rittenhouse's trial will be watched closely as the latest referendum on race and the American judicial system. (Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP, File) Sean Krajacic Kyle Rittenhouse looks back at the gallery in the courtroom as the room is let go for an afternoon break at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse, an aspiring police officer, shot two people to death and wounded a third during a night of anti-racism protests in Kenosha last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) Mark Hertzberg Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi questions potential jurors during jury selection in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, in Kenosha, Wis., Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse, an aspiring police officer, shot two people to death and wounded a third during a night of anti-racism protests in Kenosha last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) Mark Hertzberg From left, Kyle Rittenhouses mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, left, listens as the charges against Kyle are read at the start of jury selection in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) Mark Hertzberg/POOL Kyle Rittenhouse walks into court for the start of jury selection on the first day of his trial in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) Mark Hertzberg Defense Attorney Mark Richards looks around the courtroom at the start of jury selection on the first day of trial for Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court Monday Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) SEAN KRAJACIC Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, center, makes his way into the courtroom for jury selection for the Kyle Rittenhouse trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) SEAN KRAJACIC Kyle Rittenhouse walks into court for the start of jury selection on the first day of his trial in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) SEAN KRAJACIC Judge Bruce Schroeder addresses the jury pool at the start of jury selection in Kyle Rittenhouses trial in Kenosha County Court on Monday. Mark Hertzberg/POOL Kyle Rittenhouse looks toward his family during a break in jury selection on the first day of his trial in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) HONS This undated photo shows Anthony Huber, right, and Hannah Gittings. Huber was fatally shot, Aug. 25, 2020, along with Joseph Rosenbaum by Kyle Rittenhouse during a protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer on Aug. 23. Rittenhouse was 17-years-old when he traveled from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin border, during protests that broke out. Jury selection in the Rittenhouse trial was due to start Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. (Hannah Gittings via AP). Mark Hoffman A group of people confront a supporter of Kyle Rittenhouse outside the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday in Kenosha. Mark Hertzberg Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, left, Judge Bruce Schroeder, center and Defense Attorney March Richards hold a sidebar conference during a break in jury selection on the first day of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court Monday Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) Mark Hertzberg/POOL Kyle Rittenhouse waits in court for the start of jury selection on the first day of his trial in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP) Sean Krajacic Kyle Rittenhouse looks back at the potential juror pool during the jury selection process at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) SEAN KRAJACIC Kyle Rittenhouse, center, returns to the courtroom for the jury selection portion of his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) SEAN KRAJACIC Judge Bruce Schroeder speaks to Corey Chirafisi, an attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse, during the jury selection process for Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) Sean Krajacic Kyle Rittenhouse looks up at the ceiling to view the renovations being done in the courtroom during the jury selection portion of his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Rittenhouse, an aspiring police officer, shot two people to death and wounded a third during a night of anti-racism protests in Kenosha last year. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

KENOSHA

A jury was selected in a single day Monday for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who shot three people while they were out on the streets of Kenosha during a protest against racial injustice last year.

Opening statements are set to begin this morning.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

In an all-day session that ran well past dark, 20 people12 jurors and eight alternateswere selected. The judge said he would decide at the end of the trial which ones are alternates and which ones will deliberate. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

The seating of a jury moved along rapidly, given the sharp polarization caused by the shootings. About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair.

Rittenhouse had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

Rittenhouse, now 18, faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the rightincluding foes of the Black Lives Matter movementas a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see an undercurrent of race in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

As jury selection got underway, Judge Bruce Schroeder stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: This is not a political trial.

It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently, he said.

The judge said Rittenhouses constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and I dont want it to get sidetracked into other issues.

One of the jurors is a gun-owning woman with a high school education who said she was so afraid during the protests that she pulled her cars to the back of her house and made sure her doors were locked. She said she went downtown in the aftermath and cried.

Another woman chosen is a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about being on the jury: I figure either way this goes youre going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly.

Another juror said he owns a gun and has it for home defense.

One juror is a pharmacist who said that she was robbed at gunpoint in 2012 but that it would have no effect on her ability to weigh the evidence in this case.

Among those dismissed were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when all that happened and a woman who said she watched a livestream video of the events and wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw.

One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction Thou shall not kill even in cases of self-defense.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon. I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public, the woman said.

The start of jury selection was briefly delayed in the morning for unexplained reasons. During the delay, the judge played a mock game of Jeopardy! with prospective jurors in the courtroom, something he sometimes does as attorneys get organized.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a demonstrator from West Allis.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.
There's a strong Kiwi contingent contesting for titles at the renowned Drum&BassArena Awards for 2021.

Aotearoa proudly boasts nominees in the Best Newcomer, Best Vocalist, Best Live Streamed Set, Best Festival and Best Album categories, capping a massive year for the genre in our country.

Lee Mvtthews are up for Best Newcomer, Elipsa is up for Best Vocalist, The Upbeats' 'Not Forever' is up for Best Album and Alix Perez' Keep Hush set in Christchurch is up for Best Live Streamed Set, with both Rhythm & Vines and Northern Bass in the running for Best Festival.

Get behind some incredible local talent and get your votes in here!

There are plenty more categories and well-deserving nominees so make sure you check it out and have your say before the second round of voting closes later this month.
Gillette, WY (82718)

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Gillette, WY (82718)

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Snow showers this morning. Becoming partly cloudy later. High 42F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

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Dallas, Texas, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WaterPure International, Inc. (OTC Pink: WPUR) today confirmed that tomorrow, on Tuesday, November 2nd, the company will launch its new website and present the companys updated business plan implemented earlier this year to continue in developing clean water operations. The presentation will include details on the companys first pilot project fully developed and now in operation to include a short video of the company drilling for and striking water in the development of a well to support a dairy operation in Sub Sahara Africa.

The renewable water market was valued at an estimated value of over $263 billion in 2020 anticipated to grow to $500 billion by 2028.

The company has recently updated its public disclosures with OTC Markets.

The company expects to make a water related intellectual property acquisition prior to the end of the year.

The company has been in discussions with Alkame Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALKM) about developing an emergency water reserve solution for disaster relief events in developing economic regions.
San Antonio, TX, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), visited San Antonio, Texas last week as part of a national tour highlighting economic recovery and President Bidens Build Back Better framework and how it will help small businesses.

Administrator Guzman met with San Antonio small business owners who have benefited from the American Rescue Plan , area community organizations, and economic development advocates to hear their experiences directly and discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's path forward for the small business community. In addition, she also highlighted the significant progress of the Biden Administrations vaccination efforts critical to helping businesses fully reopen and get more Americans safely back to work.

I was thrilled to travel to San Antonio to meet with small business owners and hear their inspiring stories, said Administrator Guzman. These entrepreneurs have demonstrated impressive resilience and innovation as we continue to recover from this pandemic. I want to thank Congressman Cuellar for his leadership and for hosting us in Texas. Congressman Cuellar has long been a committed champion of resources for entrepreneurship and small business, and I am thankful for his partnership and the partnership of the other local leaders and elected officials who joined us in Texas as we continue to work together to Build Back Better.

Congressman Cuellar joined Administrator Guzman to kick off her San Antonio visit with a stop at Luna Rosa, a family-owned Puerto Rican restaurant where they met Omar Ornelas, son of Chef Iris Ornelas. Luna Rosa is a recipient of the SBAs Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Paycheck Protection Program. Following Luna Rosa, the group visited City Base Cinema, a local theater that used the SBAs Shuttered Venue Operators Grant to reopen and once again bring cinema back to their community.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed our small business industry in unimaginable ways. Overnight, thousands of businesses were forced to close their doors while bills and payrolls continued to add up. In response, I passed critical legislation that allowed us to provide billions in federal relief funds for small businesses across the nation, said Congressman Cuellar. The three small businesses that we visited today have been serving San Antonio residents for over 37 years combined. They are an integral part of our community and provide steady jobs for hundreds of residents. Through the Small Business Administration, we were able to provide nearly $5 million in federal aid so they could retain their employees and keep their doors open for business. Our small businesses are the heartbeat of our national economy, and we cannot afford to lose them. Thank you, Administrator Isabella Guzman, for taking the time to visit us today and for working with me to keep our economys motor running.

The Administrator concluded her trip to San Antonio with a final stop at Big Lous Pizza, a recipient of the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Big Lous officially opened in 2000 and continues to be a staple in the southeast San Antonio community.

Administrator Guzman was joined by local elected officials in San Antonio including State Senator Jose Menendez, State Senator Ronald Gutierrez, State Representative Liz Campos, State Representative Diego Bernal, and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

This marks Administrator Guzmans first visit to Texas. Since June, Administrator Guzman has visited 17 states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nabis Holdings Inc. (CSE: NAB) (OTC: NABIF) (FRA: A2PL) (Nabis or the Company) announced today an update with respect to its capital structure.



Nabis received a proposal from over seventy-five percent (75%) of the holders of its 5.3% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2023 issued pursuant to the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture made among the Company, Odyssey Trust Company and certain Guarantors (as defined therein) dated January 26, 2021 and amended on April 1, 2021 (the Senior Unsecured Notes) to enter into a series of transactions that would have the effect of acquiring all of the outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes for representing $64 per $100 principal amount of the debentures outstanding, on an interest flat basis following the sale of all of Nabis Subordinate Voting Shares of Verano Holdings Corp. to Caravel CAD Fund Ltd. (the Sale of Shares) for consideration of $14,103,680.40 (this series of transactions is hereinafter referred to as the Transaction) and pursuant to a plan of arrangement filed by the Company in proceedings commenced under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act. As previously announced, the shareholders of the Company (the Shareholders) approved the Transaction, among other things, on September 28, 2021 at the annual and special meeting of Shareholders. The Company has received funds in escrow for the Sale of Shares in anticipation of closing of the Transaction.

The Transaction, if completed, will substantially de-risk the Company by discharging its remaining indebtedness and eliminating the Companys exposure to the market price of the Class A Subordinate Voting Shares of Verano Holdings on favourable terms. Nabis Board of Directors has considered the Transaction and has determined that it is consistent with the Companys strategy of discharging its remaining liabilities and positioning the Company in a manner that will allow it to pursue the creation of tangible value for its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board has unanimously resolved to pursue the Transaction and the Shareholders have already approved the Transaction.

Holders of the Notes (the Noteholders) representing more than 75% of the Notes have entered into binding, irrevocable commitments to support the Transaction. The record date of August 24, 2021 for the determination of Noteholders who are eligible to receive notice of and vote at a Special Meeting of Noteholders (the Noteholders Meeting) to be convened for the consideration of the Transaction remains unchanged. In terms of an order issued by the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) on September 14, 2021 and amended on September 27, 2021 (the Interim Order), the Noteholders Meeting previously scheduled for September 27, 2021 was duly adjourned by the Company and that the final order may be moved to such other date as the Company may determine or the Court may direct and that the date to file a response be changed to 4:00 p.m. (PST) on the date of the Noteholders Meeting.

The Transaction will be subject to certain conditions, including Noteholder approval, the approval of the British Columbia Superior Court and other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature.

The Company further announces that Caravel CAD Fund Ltd. and the Company have entered into binding minutes of settlement contemplating a full and final mutual release and that all legal proceedings previously commenced by the parties will be dismissed.

About Nabis Holdings Inc.

Nabis Holdings is a Canadian investment issuer that invests in assets across multiple industries, including real property and the U.S. and international cannabis sector. For more information, please visit https://www.nabisholdings.com/.

Cautionary Statements

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Certain statements included herein are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the timing and outcome of the meeting of Noteholders, the approval closing of the plan of arrangement and Transaction. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ, materially from the Companys expectations are disclosed in the Companys documents filed from time to time with the CSE, the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and the Alberta Securities Commission. The Company has no obligation to update such forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
LONDON, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrows Hotel Enterprises internationally manages more than 10,000 hotel rooms in more than 10 countries. The company started in 2008 as a real estate investor in the residential market in Dubai. Since 2012, Barrows has changed its strategy and the company is fully focused on the fast-growing hotel industry in the Middle East. Barrows' ambition for the coming years is loud and clear. The company wants to expand its range of services in view of the rapidly growing tourism industry. In addition, Barrows aims for international expansion in growth markets such as Asia, Africa and Russia.

In this context, an office was recently opened in Singapore. With its headquarters in Dubai, the company has a solid market share. The company has been growing strongly in Asian countries since the Covid19 pandemic. Barrows is a well-known gateway for the international hotel industry, acting as a real estate developer, investor and management advisory. Besides the hotel chains, Barrows has the most connections with institutional investors, but also counts family offices and high net worth individuals among its clientele.

By acquiring, Barrows Hotels is expanding its service offerings with various products in various Asian and African countries. With the acquisition, the company wants to grow into an important supplier in the international hotel industry in these regions.

Barrows Chairman Erwin Jager explains that the company will open offices in Johannesburg, Accra and Zhengzhou in the coming 2 months. Acquisitions of existing parties will quickly give Barrows enough scale to offer hotels a wide range of services. In addition to Asia and Africa, the Hotel specialist wants to expand in growth markets such as Russia from 2024. "In the meantime, we will continue to look at opportunities for acquisitions and collaborations. Barrows Hotels focuses on adding new markets and services to serve customers in the best possible way."



For more information:

Barrows Hotel Enterprises

media@barrowshotels.com




VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (SouthGobi or the Company) wishes to inform the Companys shareholders and potential investors of the latest business update further to its announcement dated October 27, 2021 (the Announcement).



As previously disclosed in the Announcement, due to the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Ejinaqi, a region in Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the local government authorities have imposed stringent preventive measures throughout the region, including but not limited to, the temporary closure of the Ceke Port of Entry. Accordingly, the Companys coal exports into China have been suspended. The Company anticipates the temporary closure of the Ceke Port of Entry will have an adverse impact on the Companys sales and cash flows until such time as coal exports into China are allowed to resume.

In order to mitigate the financial impact of the border closure and preserve the Companys working capital, the Companys management has decided to temporarily suspend major mining operations (including coal mining) from November, 2021. Although the Companys coal exports into China and its mining operations have been suspended, the Company anticipates that its existing coal inventories are sufficient to satisfy expected sales demand for at least 4 months following the resumption of coal exports into China. The Company will continue to closely monitor the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the status of the border closure and the impact on the operations and financials of the Company. Further updates will be provided in due course as and when appropriate.

Shareholders and potential investors of the Company are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the shares of the Company.

About SouthGobi

SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Office: +852 2156 1438 (Hong Kong)

+1 604 762 6783 (Canada)

Email: info@southgobi.com

Website: www.southgobi.com
New York, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Glass Ceramics: Global Markets to 2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06178866/?utm_source=GNW





This report covers technological, economic and business considerations in the glass ceramics industry, with analyses and forecasts provided for global markets. The report offers descriptions of market forces that are relevant to the glass ceramics industry and areas of application.



Global markets, glass ceramics segments and growth forecasts through 2026 are offered.Sales value estimates are based on prices in the supply chain.



Market-driving forces and industry structure are examined.International aspects are analyzed for all global regions and for types of glass ceramics.



Profiles of major global manufacturers are presented.



This report considers the impact of COVID-19.In 2020, the growth rate of manufacturing industries around the world was severely affected by the pandemic.



The COVID-19 pandemic has currently shrunken the progress of every regional economy. Various governments around the world are taking the measures necessary to contain the economic slowdown.



The glass ceramics market is further segmented by application: semiconductors/electronics, aerospace, medical/lab equipment, chemical, automobile, military, kitchenware, building and construction, optical and others.



Report Includes:

- 43 data tables and 38 additional tables

- An up-to-date overview of the global glass ceramics market within the industry

- Analyses of the global market trends, with data from 2020, estimates for 2021, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2026

- Evaluation and forecast the glass ceramics market, and corresponding market share analysis by application and geographic region

- Assessment of key market drivers, restraints and other macroeconomic factors affecting the glass ceramics industry

- Highlights of the current and future market potential and insights into government initiatives for enhanced infrastructural development, regulatory framework, and reimbursement scenario

- Detailed description of the main technologies for glass ceramic preparation and their production process

- Market share analysis of the key companies of the industry and coverage of recent industry activities and key competitive landscape

- A relevant patent analysis for glass ceramics market

- Company profiles of major industry players, including AGC Inc., Corning Inc., EuroKera, Kyocera Corp., Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., Saint-Gobain and Schott AG



Summary:

The global glass ceramics market totaled REDACTED in 2020 and REDACTED in 2021, with a growth rate of REDACTED from 2021 to 2026. The market should reach REDACTED by 2026.



Glass ceramics had substantial growth in the field of electronics, optical materials, dentistry and severe thermal mechanical environments.The material was first industrially designed by Dr.



Stanley Donald Stookey in the 1950s.Glass ceramics are valued for high technology and specialty applications, with numerous advantages over conventional powder processed ceramics: reproducibility of microstructure, uniformity and very low or null porosity.



Generally, glass-ceramic systems exist, as the ZAS system (ZnO  Al2O3  nSiO2), LAS system (Li2O  Al2O3  nSiO2) and the MAS system (MgO  Al2O3  nSiO2).



In the field of medical and dentistry, glass ceramics are mainly used for implants in bone and in dental prostheses.As for electronics, glass ceramics have diverse use in microelectronic packing and electronic components.



The superior properties of the microstructure, dimensional stability and variation of the chemical composition make it an ideal choice in electronics.Its unique properties make for extensive applicability.



The presence of stringent regulations imposed by regulatory authorities ensure reduction of harmful emissions from manufacturing units, further boosting market size during the forecast period.



The competitive landscape for the glass ceramics industry is moderately consolidated with a few large-scale players dominating the market. Prominent companies operating in the market are Schott AG, Corning Inc., Nippon Electric Glass, Asahi Glass Co., Ohara Inc., Zeiss, 3M, Eurokera, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Kyrocera and PPG U.S., among others.



The Asia-Pacific glass ceramics market is set to capture around REDACTED of the total glass ceramics market, with China accounting for almost REDACTED of the APAC market by 2026.The massive projected size is mainly attributed to the technological advancements in this region.



China dominates the glass ceramics market due to rising power generation, semiconductor and electronics, infrastructure development and chemical processing industries in the country.Entry of new industry participants and distribution networks strengthened by international players in the country will further support market growth over the forecast period.



The advanced ceramics industry supports aerospace, automotive, communication computers, medical and military in the region.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06178866/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
TORONTO, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF; FSE: P2QM) (Eloro, or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on its Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in the Potosi Department, southern Bolivia. To date, the Company has completed 34,409 metres (m) in 64 drill holes including three (3) in progress to test major target areas at Iska Iska. This press release reports drilling results from one (1) additional hole which tested the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe (SBBP) (Hole DHK-23) and two holes (DCN-05 and DCS-03) which tested the Central Breccia Pipe target (CBP). To date, every drill hole that has been assayed has returned multiple reportable mineralized intercepts. Currently three drill rigs are in operation at Iska Iska. Two surface drill rigs are continuing to drill at SBBP to outline an initial National Instrument 43-101 (NI-43-101) compliant resource. A third drill, an underground rig, situated in the west end of the Santa Barbara Adit, is testing the eastern part of SBBP and its mineralized envelope. Figure 1 is a geological plan map showing locations of drill holes and an updated geological interpretation. Table 1 provides significant drilling results with definitions of chemical symbols and Table 2 lists holes completed with assays pending, as well as holes in progress in the three major target areas. Highlights are as follows:



Highlights:

Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe

100g Ag eq/t (including 38.71 g Ag/t, 0.88%Zn and 0.51%Pb) over 188.5 m from 58.67m to 247.13m in hole DHK-23, drilled from the west end of the Huayra Kasa underground workings at -70 degrees due west. This intersection includes a higher-grade portion of 154 g Ag eq/t (including 75.51 g Ag/t, 0.96% Zn, 0.65% Pb and 0.16%Cu) over 65.8m



Central Breccia Pipe

Hole DCS-03 drilled southwest at -60 degrees from the south radial platform of the CBP intersected twelve (12) separate zones of quartz-tourmaline veins in granodioritic intrusive breccia with best results of 224.92 g Ag eq/t (including 25.36 g Ag/t, 0.12 g Au/t and 0.55% Sn) over 7.42m and 113.67 g Ag eq/t (including 17.85 g Ag/t, 0.085 g Au/t, 0.21% Cu and 0.18% Sn) over 12.03m

and Hole DCN-05 drilled due east at -60 degrees from the north radial platform of the CBP intersected ten (10) separate zones of quartz-tourmaline veins in granodioritic intrusive breccia with a best result of 104.72 g Ag eq/t (including 74.41 g Ag/t and 0.22% Cu) over 4.59m

Mr. Tom Larsen, CEO of Eloro, commented: We are now starting to see a reduction in the backlog of assay samples with two laboratories operating at near capacity. These latest drill results, especially from DHK-23, are again demonstrating the accumulating amount of potential commercial bulk tonnage material, especially within the Santa Barbara complex, a subset of the overall Iska Iska volcanic edifice.

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Eloros Executive Vice President Exploration, added: Mineral resource definition drilling is continuing in the Santa Barbara Target area, which is 1,400m along strike, 500m wide and extends to a depth of 600m. This target is open along strike to the northwest and southeast. Data from the downhole Induced Polarization survey is being processed and the resulting 3D inversion models should aid in refining our geological model, especially determining the likely geometry of the higher-grade zones that typically have greater sulphide content.

Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo., General Manager of Eloro`s Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L. (Minera Tupiza), said: As we move to the northwest in the SBBP, silver and gold values are increasing suggesting that there is a zonation at Iska Iska, from a more tin-rich polymetallic mineralization in the southeastern part of the SBBP to more of a silver-rich polymetallic mineralization in the northwestern part. In addition, significant enriched tin-silver mineralization occurs in the northern part of the CBP.

Table 1: Significant Diamond Drilling Results, Iska Iska, as at November 2, 2021:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f8beb2c-64d6-4e65-a54a-2c660a17b9ae

Note: True width of the mineralization is not known at the present time, but based on the current understanding of the relationship between drill orientation/inclination and the mineralization within the breccia pipes and the host rocks such as sandstones and dacites. It is estimated that true width ranges between 70% and 90% of the down hole interval length but this will be confirmed by further drilling. Percentage metal contents are shown for each element.

Chemical symbols: Ag= silver, Au = gold, Zn = zinc, Pb = lead, Cu = copper, Sn = tin, Bi = bismuth, Cd = cadmium and g Ag eq/t = grams silver equivalent per tonne. Quantities are given in percent (%) for Zn, Pb Cu, Sn, Bi and Cd and in grams per tonne (g/t) for Ag, Au and Ag eq.

Metal prices and conversion factors used for calculation of g Ag eq/t (grams Ag per grams x metal ratio) are as follows:

Element Price (per

kg) Ratio to

Ag Ag $875.00 1.00000 Sn $28.00 0.03200 Zn $2.80 0.00320 Pb $2.10 0.00240 Au $57,400 65.6000 Cu $8.80 0.01006 Bi $12.76 0.01458 In $305.00 0.34857 Cd $5.50 0.00629

In calculating the intersections reported in this press release a sample cutoff of 30 g Ag eq/t was used with generally a maximum dilution of 3 continuous samples below cutoff included within a mineralized section unless more dilution is justified geologically.

The equivalent grade calculations are based on the stated metal prices and are provided for comparative purposes only, due to the polymetallic nature of the deposit. Preliminary metallurgical tests are in progress to establish levels of recovery for each element reported but currently the potential recovery for each element has not yet been established. While there is no assurance that all or any of the reported concentrations of metals will be recoverable, Bolivia has a long history of successfully mining and processing similar polymetallic deposits which is well documented in the landmark volume Yacimientos Metaliferos de Bolivia by Dr. Osvaldo R. Arce Burgoa, P.Geo.

Table 2: Summary of Diamond Drill Holes Completed with Assays Pending and Drill Holes in Progress at Iska Iska from press release of November 2, 2021.

Hole No. Type Collar

Easting Collar

Northing Elev Azimuth Angle Hole Length

m Surface Drilling Northwest Extension Santa Barbara DSB-12 S 205072.7 7656867.5 4165.0 225 -40 806.2 DSB-13 S 205072.7 7656867.5 4165.0 225 -60 696.5 DSB-14 S 205283.0 7656587.2 4175.0 225 -65 968.5 DSB-15 S 204973.1 7657053.8 4165.0 225 -40 731.2 DSB-16 S 204973.1 7657053.8 4165.0 225 -65 862.0 DSB-17 S 7656765.4 205131.3 4173.0 225 -40 841.0 DSB-18 S 7656676.3 205207.1 4175.0 225 -40 890.4 Subtotal 5,795.8 DSB-19 S 7656676.3 205207.1 4175.0 225 -65 In progress DSB-20 S 7656765.4 205131.3 4173.0 225 -65 In progress Underground Drilling Santa Barbara Adit DSBU-1 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 90 -10 260.5 DSBU-2 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 270 -20 563.6 DSBU-3 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 270 -20 443.5 Subtotal 1,267.6 DSBU-4 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 180 -20 In progress Central Breccia Pipe  Surface Radial Drill Program  North Setup DCN-06 S 204902.0 7655860.0 4420.0 180 -80 626.4 DCN-07 S 204902.0 7655860.0 4420.0 270 -60 680.4 Subtotal 1,306.8 Central Breccia Pipe  Surface Radial Drill Program  South Setup DCS-04 S 204852.1 7655612.3 4429.7 180 -60 644.4 Subtotal 644.4 Porco Central  Surface Radial Drill Program DPC-01 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 270 -60 767.5 DPC-02 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 225 -60 908.2 DPC-03 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 135 -60 524.5 DPC-04 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 0 -60 371.4 DPC-05 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 90 -60 407.5 DPC-06 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 243 -60 716.4 Subtotal 3,695.5 TOTAL 12,710.1

S = Surface UG=Underground; collar coordinates in metres; azimuth and dip in degrees

Total drilling completed since the start of the program on September 13, 2020, is 34,409m in 64 holes including 3 holes in progress (20 underground holes and 44 surface holes).

Figure 1: Geology of the Iska Iska Caldera Complex showing locations of Major Breccia Pipe targets, the Santa Barbara Resource Definition Target Zone and diamond drill holes completed and in progress. Drill holes for which assays are reported in this release are highlighted:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cce5620d-1deb-4db4-8f54-903bee989c21

Qualified Person

Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P. Geo., General Manager of Minera Tupiza, and a Qualified Person in the context of NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Executive Vice President Exploration Eloro, and who has more than 45 years of worldwide mining exploration experience including extensive work in South America, manages the overall technical program working closely with Dr. Arce. Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor to Eloro and Independent Technical Advisor, Mr. Charley Murahwi P. Geo., FAusIMM of Micon International Limited are regularly consulted on technical aspects of the project.

Drill samples are prepared in ALS Bolivia Ltdas preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. As announced in the February 26, 2021 press release, Eloro has changed the assay protocol to utilize X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to more accurately analyze higher tin. Tin in the CBP is suspected to occur as cassiterite which is insoluble in acid digestion, and therefore not suited for wet chemical techniques. In addition, other assay protocols have been changed to provide for a more accurate measurement of the wide-ranging suite of polymetallic metals at Iska Iska. Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory.

Recently, AHK Laboratories, who manage a global network of laboratories have setup operations in Bolivia with the establishment of a preparation laboratory in Oruro. AHK has a strong base of accredited laboratories in South America including Peru, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. Eloro has contracted AHK to provide additional analytical services in order to help reduce the sample backlog. A series of check samples are currently being analyzed by AHK as a QA/QC check. AHK is following the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols. The used of both accredited laboratories is reducing the backlog of samples to be analysed and improving turnaround.

About Iska Iska

Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, wholly-controlled by the Title Holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. and is located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro has an option to earn a 99% interest in Iska Iska.

Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6km by 1.8km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosi and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi located in the same geological trend.

Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On November 18, 2020 Eloro announced the discovery of a significant breccia pipe with extensive silver polymetallic mineralization just east of the Huayra Kasa underground workings and a high-grade gold-bismuth zone in the underground workings. On November 24, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of the SBBP approximately 150m southwest of the Huayra Kasa underground workings.

Subsequently, on January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the SBBP including the discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 129.60 g Ag eq/t over 257.5m (29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu, 0.056%Sn, 0.0022%In and 0.0064% Bi from 0.0m to 257.5m. Subsequent drilling has confirmed significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent CBP. A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned 442 g Ag eq/t (164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu) over 166m including 1,092 g Ag eq/t (446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn) over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP.

Since the discovery hole on the SBBP, Eloro has released a number of significant drill results on this target, including:

122.66 grams g Ag eq/t (35.05 g Ag/t, 0.72% Zn, 0.61% Pb, 0.11% Sn and 0.06 g Au/t) over 123.61m including 205.74 g Ag eq/t (92.30 g Ag/t, 0.57% Zn, 0.85% Pb, 0.18% Sn and 0.07 g Au/t) over 32.32m (DSB-07),

105.41 g Ag eq/t (8.55 g Ag/t, 1.01% Zn, 0.48% Pb, 0.06% Sn and 0.38 g Au/t) over 173.58m including 199.77 g Ag eq/t (21.90 g Ag/t, 1.18% Zn, 0.93% Pb 0.12% Sn and 0.94 g Au/t) over 39.08m (DSB-07)

69.89 g Ag eq/t over 252.89m from 355.12 to 608.02m including several higher-grade sections of 196.60 g Ag eq/t including 131.13 g Ag/t over 14.52m, 134.62 g Ag eq/t including 93.25 g Ag/t over 21.08m and 145.35 g Ag eq/t including 2.38% Zn over 10.11m (DSB-08).

114.96 Ag eq/t including 0.325% Sn over 56.2m including a higher-grade section of 187.98 g Ag eq/t including 0.535% Sn over 28.86m; 80.71 g Ag eq/t including 0.213% Sn over 74.39m and 118.69 g Ag eq/t over 10.77m (DSB-10).

129.65 g Ag eq/t (18.38 g Ag/t, 2.14% Zn, 0.67%Pb, and 0.047% Sn) over 300.75m from 65.14m to 365.91m, including higher grade intervals of 215.54 g Ag eq/t over 72.76m, 163.35 g Ag eq/t over 31.83m and 224.48 g Ag eq/t over 19.39m. 82% of this 446.5m long hole contained reportable intervals (DHK-18).

234.19 g Ag eq/t (70.58 g Ag/t, 2.31% Zn, 2.74% Pb and 0.042% Sn) over 53.2m including a higher-grade portion of 931.73 g Ag eq/t (367.29 g Ag/t, 5.64% Zn, 13.67% Pb and 0.10% Sn) over 9.26m (DHK-20).

108.24 g Ag eq/t (3.14g Ag/t, 0.24 g Au/t, 2.03% Zn and 0.58% Pb) over 48.2m including a higher-grade interval grading 180.76 g Ag eq/t (4.46 g Ag/t, 0.35 g Au/t, 3.57% Zn and 1.05% Pb) over 15.02m (DHK-19). 160.22 g Ag eq/t (36.53 g Ag/t, 1.63% Zn, 1.20% Pb and 0.10% Sn) over 194.14m (DHK-21) including higher grade portions of: 250.50 g Ag eq/t (51.31 g Ag/t, 3.35% Zn, 1.78% Pb and 0.10% Sn) over 18.24m. 257.40 g Ag eq/t (75.83 g Ag/t, 2.29% Zn, 2.40% Pb and 0.12% Sn) over 16.33m. 350.91 g Ag eq/t (112.57 g Ag/t, 1.41% Zn, 3.08% Pb and 0.33% Sn) over 30.06m. 64% of this 512.9m long hole contains reportable intersections

94.68 g Ag eq/t (3.87 g Ag/t, 0.067 g Au/t, 1.63% Zn, 0.43% Pb and 0.05% Sn) over 169.93m including a higher-grade zone that graded 158.64 g Ag eq/t (9.35g Ag/t, 0.016 g Au/t, 3.43% Zn, 0.71% Pb and 0.03%Sn) over 29.84m (DHK-22).

On May 4, 2021, Eloro released results from the first drill hole on the CBP. Hole DCN-01 intersected multiple mineralized intercepts including 196.09 g Ag eq/t (150.25 g Ag/t, 0.10% Sn and 0.05 g Au/t) over 56.2m and containing 342.98 g Ag eq/t (274.0 g Ag/t, 0.16% Sn and 0.16 g Au/t) over 27.53m.

Hole DCN-04 drilled at -80 degrees to the north from the northern radial platform of the CBP, intersected seventeen (17) mineralized intersections, principally Sn-Ag-bearing, over its 851.4m length. Best results include: 71.54 g Ag eq/t (32.58 g Ag/t and 0.10% Sn) over 97.10m from 134.40 to 231.5m; 101.52 g Ag eq/t (28.74 g Ag/t and 0.19% Sn) over 62.01m; 70.42 g Ag eq/t (28.74 g Ag/t and 0.16% Sn) over 22.59m; and 236.96 g Ag eq/t (92.21 g Ag/t and 0.25% Sn) over 17.45m. Hole DCS-02 was drilled southeast at -60 degrees from the south radial platform of the CBP. This hole, which was drilled to 800.5m, intersected nine (9) reportable Ag-Zn-Pb-Sn mineralized intervals. Best results include 79.53 g Ag eq/t (including 0.21% Sn) over 19.42m, 101.01 g Ag eq/t (32.76 g Ag/t, 0.76% Zn, 0.75% Pb) over 10.47 and 130.95g Ag eq/t (34.14 g Ag/t, 0.10 g Au/t, 1.35% Zn and 0.56 % Pb over 7.40m.

A detailed ground magnetic survey of the Iska Iska property, reported on June 6, 2021, confirmed the extent of the Iska Iska Caldera as determined from geological mapping and satellite interpretation, including Aster data. The SBBP and CBP, both of which have been confirmed by drill-testing, are marked by prominent low anomalies reflecting strong alteration. The magnetic data suggests that the Central and Porco Breccia Pipes likely merge at depth. In addition, there is a prominent area of low intensity magnetics northwest of the SBBP which was reported on in this press release.

Geological mapping and satellite interpretation identified a third major breccia pipe target, Porco (South), that is approximately 600m in diameter (South) located southeast of the CBP in the southern part of the Iska Iska caldera complex. The Porco (South) Breccia Pipe target has a similar magnetic signature to the Santa Barbara and Central Breccia Pipes, further confirming the likelihood of it being a major breccia pipe. Six (6) drill holes have been completed on Porco; assay results are pending. Previous channel sampling in the Porco adit located adjacent the target area 200m to the southeast returned 50m grading 519.35 g Ag eq/t including 236.13 g Ag/t, 1.89 g Au/t, 0.87% Cu, 0.22% Bi and >0.05% Sn over an average sample width of 2.49m.

Currently three diamond drill rigs are active at Iska Iska, two surface rigs and one underground drill. Planned drilling for 2021 is 51,000m with the aim of outlining an initial inferred NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource by Q1 2022. The target zone at the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope is 1400m along strike, 500m wide and extends to a depth of 600m. This zone is open along strike to the northwest and southeast. A downhole induced polarization/resistivity (IP/Res) survey is in progress to further define drill targets and aid resource definition drilling. Preliminary metallurgical tests are also in progress. An updated NI 43-101 Technical Report is being prepared by independent consultant Micon International Ltd.

About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 99% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. Eloro commissioned a NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited and is available on Eloros website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barricks Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Pan American Silvers La Arena Gold Mine. La Victoria consists of eight mining concessions and eight mining claims encompassing approximately 89 square kilometres. La Victoria has good infrastructure with access to road, water and electricity and is located at an altitude that ranges from 3,150 m to 4,400 m above sea level.

For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168.

Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
OTTAWA, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceana Canada is calling on the federal government and Ministers Duclos, Minister of Health; Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard; and Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to take concrete action on a boat-to-plate traceability system in Canada to prevent fraud and mislabelling, and to prevent seafood products that are caught illegally or with inhumane working conditions from entering Canadian supply chains.



Just days before the recent federal election was called, the government published a paper  open for public comment until December 11  on its 2019 mandate commitment to develop such a system. Discouragingly, after almost two years of consultations and delays, the government has failed to outline a timeline, next steps or a strategy to protect Canadian fishers, seafood businesses, consumers and our oceans from the economic and environmental losses associated with mislabelled and illegally caught products.



Canadas failure to address this issue with urgency is leaving Canadian consumers and honest fishers vulnerable. Market research, conducted by Abacus Data for Oceana Canada in 2020/2021, found that 95 per cent of Canadians support seafood traceability; 86 per cent are concerned about the governments failure to address seafood mislabelling and illegal fishing and 46 per cent say they will purchase less seafood  or stop purchasing it all together  after learning about Canadas current standards.

Oceana Canada is calling on the new ministers to prioritize this commitment by developing a boat-to-plate traceability system that is mandatory, comprehensive and harmonizes with our largest trading partners.

Canada has committed to putting a boat-to-plate traceability in place and new ministers Duclos, Murray and Bibeau have the opportunity to put a real process in motion to make it happen. Seafood is a high-risk product for food fraud; this includes mislabelling, but also includes illegal products making their way into supply chains. Seafood cannot be regulated in the same way as food products that originate predominantly within Canada and have shorter, less complex supply chains, such as dairy or poultry, said Sayara Thurston, Seafood Fraud Campaigner at Oceana Canada.

Currently, Canada does not require that imported seafood include information needed to determine its origin, legality or sustainability status. Oceana Canadas latest seafood fraud investigation revealed that 46 per cent of seafood samples tested in restaurants and grocery stores in four major Canadian cities were mislabelled. These results demonstrate, yet again, that Canada has a pervasive and unchecked seafood fraud problem, putting Canadian consumers, honest fishers, ocean ecosystems and our seafood economy all at serious risk.



Eighty per cent the seafood that Canadians eat is caught in other parts of the world  including regions with lax fishing management practices. Seafood is one of the most highly traded food commodities in the world, and long, complex supply chains can mask illegal fishing, seafood fraud and mislabelling, human rights abuses, and millions in tax revenue lost from the legitimate economy, Thurston added. Right now, an endangered species of fish caught by modern slaves on a vessel fishing illegally can make its way onto Canadian supermarket shelves with no way for consumers to know its true origin. Canadians deserve to feel confident that their seafood is safe, honestly labelled and legally caught.

Experience from other regions, such as the European Union and the United States, shows that boat-to-plate traceability regulations work to stop fraud and protect consumers and our oceans and wild fish. Oceana Canadas 2020 report on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices found that Canadas weak seafood supply chain traceability standards are resulting in annual losses of up to $93.8 million in tax revenue and up to $379 million in revenue for Canadian seafood industry workers. On top of this, Canadians are unwittingly spending up to $160 million a year on seafood caught through illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing  including seafood potentially caught by victims of modern slavery.

Add your name to Oceana Canadas petition on the governments boat-to-plate traceability mandate commitment before the public consultation period closes on December 11, 2021. To learn more about Oceana Canadas campaign to stop seafood fraud, visit oceana.ca/StopSeafoodFraud.

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canadas formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canadas oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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TORONTO, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Water Ways Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WWT) (FRA: WWT) ("Water Ways" or the "Company"), a global provider of Israeli-based agriculture technology, providing water irrigation solutions to agricultural producers, announces that the Company received several new orders to deliver smart irrigation component to customers in South America.

The orders are valued at over C$1,000,000 and includes mainly smart irrigation component necessary to implement irrigation projects for Blueberries, Grapes and Mangoes. The Company expects to deliver the orders during Q4 2021 and Q1 2022.

Ohad Haber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are seeing the rise in demand for smart irrigation technologies from all over the world. We are having a strong year in South America and are receiving orders from both new and existing customers."

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f80cbb31-b095-4fc0-8c11-75fc0901264b

About Water Ways Technologies

Water Ways Technologies Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of Israeli-based agriculture technology, providing water irrigation solutions to agricultural producers. Water Ways Technologies competes in the worldwide irrigation water systems market, focusing on developing solutions with commercial applications in the micro and precision irrigation segments of the overall market. At present, Water Ways Technologies' primary revenue stream is derived from the following business units: (i) Projects Business Unit; and (ii) Component and Equipment Sales Unit. Water Ways Technologies is capitalizing on the opportunities presented by micro and intelligent irrigation. The Company also produces a positive mark on society by making these technologies more widely available, particularly in developing markets such as Africa and Latin America and developed markets such as China and Canada. Water Ways Technologies irrigation projects include vineyards, cotton fields, apple and orange orchids, blueberries, medical Cannabis, fresh produce cooling rooms and more.

For more information, please contact

Ronnie Jaegermann Dor Sneh Director CFO T: +972-54-4202054 T: +972-54-6512500 E: ronnie@waterwt.com E: dor@irri-altal.com

https://www.water-ways-technologies.com/

Twitter: @WaterWaysTechn1

Telegram Community: https://t.me/WaterWaysTech

Subsidiaries:

Irri-Al-Tal Ltd.: http://www.irri-altal.com/

Heartnut Grove WWT Inc.: http://www.hg-wwt.com/

IRRI-ALTAL (Shanghai) Agriculture Technology Company Limited

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such a term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to Water Ways. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect Water Ways' current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to Water Ways, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect Water Ways in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, Water Ways does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and Water Ways undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. Water Ways' results and forward-looking information and calculations may be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
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Set for completion in 2023, the new world-class facility for final assembly of Global aircraft will exemplify Bombardiers commitment to sustainability

Environmentally responsible features will reduce energy consumption by almost 60% and will lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than half

The state-of-the-art facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport represents a private investment of approximately $400M USD by Bombardier and will provide continued employment to the 2,000 highly skilled Bombardier employees currently working at Bombardiers existing Downsview facility

Bombardier reiterates continued involvement in the aerospace cluster through active engagement in the Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR) consortium and other initiatives

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier provided further details on the construction of its new, state-of-the-art facility at the Toronto Pearson International Airport that will optimize final assembly operations for its family of Global business jets, including the industry flagship Global 7500 aircraft. In an event attended by Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of the City of Mississauga, Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Jerry Dias, National President at Unifor, and several other key representatives of the Greater Toronto aerospace community, the company reiterated its commitment to continue the momentum of its presence in Ontario.

On track for completion in 2023, the facility will provide a new home to the Global Manufacturing Centre, currently located in nearby Downsview, ON. The move, which represents a private investment by Bombardier of approximately $400 million USD, will provide continued employment to the 2,000 employees currently working at Bombardiers Downsview facility.

We came here today to show you first-hand that construction of our new Global Manufacturing Centre of Excellence is advancing as planned, said Eric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier. We are extremely proud of the people who have been producing our best-in-class business jets for decades here in Ontario, and with the rising demand for large-cabin, long-range aircraft, we are looking forward to providing our teams with a new, state-of-the-art work environment, he added.

The Downsview plant was built in the 1960s, and the transition to the new, 770 000 sq. ft. facility at Pearson Airport in Mississauga will significantly reduce Bombardiers industrial and environmental footprint in the area. The company is embracing the opportunity to incorporate as many environmentally responsible features as possible. Energy consumption will be reduced by just under 60% by focussing on natural and more efficient lighting elements, and newer heating methods and updated processing systems will lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than half. Considerably less water will be used in the manufacturing process thanks to the modifications implemented in the processing shop workflow. In parallel, electric vehicles will be favoured for onsite transportation and three Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tanks will provide fuel for departing aircraft.

During the event, Bombardier also confirmed it will remain active in creating educational and job opportunities for future generations of aerospace talent in the Greater Toronto Area, particularly through its continued involvement in the DAIR consortium. The consortium, which the company cofounded with Centennial College, drives local collaborative research and development to help small and medium aerospace hub businesses scale up. It is our continuing strategy to further support local innovation, harness the ingenuity of future aerospace professionals and enrich our local supply chain. Our involvement with DAIR enables us to realize this vision and it is one that we value greatly, said Eric Martel.

Martel also emphasized the importance of local partnerships in facilitating the successful transition to a new production site. I want to thank the City of Mississauga and the Regional Municipality of Peel, as well as our partners at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for making us feel truly welcome in our future new home here in Mississauga.

I'm so proud that Bombardier, one of the worlds most innovative aviation companies, has chosen to make this very significant investment in Mississauga, said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. By opening its new Global Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in our city, Bombardier will strengthen our world-class aviation sector by continuing its relationship with Mississauga-based companies that provide leading-edge capabilities to support Bombardiers family of Global business jets. I look forward to working with Bombardier and Pearson to find new ways to bring more aerospace investment to Mississauga



Toronto Pearson has a vision to be the airport of the future  from our approach to health and safety through our globally recognized Healthy Airport program to creating a more modernized airport experience, said Deborah Flint, President and CEO, GTAA. And part of being the airport of the future means building partnerships that confer greater economic and social opportunities on the communities we serve. Bombardiers focus on innovation and connection is a perfect fit for Toronto Pearson as we build back a better, more resilient, more innovative aviation and aerospace sector right here in Mississauga.



"Unifor aerospace members' skills are virtually unmatched and the aircraft they build are unrivaled in their class," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "The new production facility will help secure advanced manufacturing jobs for the long term and will be a proud new home for highly-skilled Bombardier workers for generations to come."

Ledcor is proud to be building Bombardiers new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport, said Ray Lawrence, Vice President, Ontario, Ledcor Construction. We are excited to work with the project and design team to achieve Bombardiers sustainability and energy efficiency targets.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of over 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier .

Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft website for more information on our industry-leading products and services.

Bombardier, Global and Global 7500 are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information

Tinca Stokojnik Prouvost

Communications

Bombardier

514-855-5001, ext. 51674
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food technology company, Chinova Bioworks, offers unique natural, clean-label preservatives extracted from mushrooms for the food and beverage industry. It also offers an unparalleled opportunity for women working in STEM fields: the opportunity to partner and lead.



Since launching in New Brunswick, Canada, in 2016, the companys co-founder and CEO, Natasha Dhayagude has made it her mission to flip the script on who is considered the minority at Chinova Bioworks. Currently the company is made up of 90% women, all of them are practicing in STEM fields.

Providing opportunities for women in STEM fields is important to me because I am a women minority in STEM and have been navigating this career path my whole life without any mentors, so I know what it's like for other women who are trying to get into these positions of influence, said Dhayagude. Because I know how challenging it can be, Im committed to provide equal opportunities for women who look like me, and seek out collaboration opportunities with other female founders in the industry.

Some of the collaborating, female-run companies Chinova Bioworks is working with include Miyokos Creamery, Chrisoda and No Evil Foods. Dhayagude says working with female founders provides her with an extraordinary opportunity to learn from their hurdles and successes while improving their mission and products.

It is a journey to become a great leader, so for females especially, its important to surround yourself with women of influence who dont underestimate your own abilities, said Miyoko Schinner, an American chef, best-selling cookbook author, animal sanctuary founder, and owner of the vegan cheese brand Miyoko's Creamery, a food brand combining culinary traditions with food technology to revolutionize dairy by making cheese and butter with plant milk.

Christine Manning, co-founder of Chrisoda, a cold-fermented, better-for-you soda with apple cider vinegar, said, Im a big believer that women should join forces. When you surround yourself with other talented and supportive females, it lifts everyone up. Theres lots of room for everyone to succeed, but as female leaders we have to be conscious of this and extend the opportunity or the life raft when needed.

Sadrah Schadel is an animal rights advocate and co-founder of No Evil Foods, a nationally distributed plant-based meat company driven to transform how people think about the social and environmental impact of the food they eat. As a female founder you cant be afraid of breaking the mold, Schadel said. We dont need to do things the way theyve always been done. Diverting from whats considered to be the standard path and showing other women that they too can succeed by taking a new approach is important.

Dhayagude stresses that intentional collaborations with female founders is a part of what has made Chinova Bioworks successful and actively seeks other partnerships with female-led and owned companies. To learn about opportunities and collaborations with Chinova Bioworks visit: www.chinovabioworks.com.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30d3e6ab-d7f9-4350-921e-6df19d0e3b35

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/93dd6211-c9be-4ef6-8ebc-e244a6ca3999

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/baf4e5e8-0f24-4813-8af9-d01dccc6533f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b86e639-416f-4525-806a-7b1788c6a3ac
Austin, Texas, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Campus Advantage, an industry leader in student housing property management, consulting, and investment management, today announced it has taken over management of Taylor Bend -- a 288-bed, 96-unit, student housing property located near the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.



Built in 2012, Taylor Bend is located less than a mile from the University of Mississippi campus and features eight three-story apartment buildings and a clubhouse. Each unit is fully furnished and equipped with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a washer and dryer, a private bathroom, full-sized beds, and a ceiling fan. Property amenities at Taylor Bend include a resort-style swimming pool with a sundeck, fitness center and free parking.



We are thrilled to welcome our new client and asset to our portfolio, said Theresa Sopata, Vice President of Business Development and Client Relations. The implementation of our student housing operational excellence combined with our time-tested approach will allow us to offer an improved way of living for the residents of Taylor Bend. The residents can look forward to rewarding living and learning experiences in an enjoyable environment.



Campus Advantage was chosen to manage Taylor Bend due to its ability to address immediate property and resident needs, quickly, along with their resident- and community-focused programs and experiences that inspire and equip residents to thrive in all areas of life. This includes the companys highly regarded Students First Experience platform, which is designed to ensure that residents who choose to live at Campus Advantage communities have more opportunities to set them up for success, both now and in the future, and which the owners felt would complement the properties current residence life programming.





About Campus Advantage

Campus Advantage is a student housing management company that specializes in fostering financially prosperous communities through its property management, investments, and consulting services. Since its founding in 2003, Campus Advantage has been creating successful communities that provide rewarding living, learning, and career experiences, and as a result has become one of the fastest-growing private student housing companies in the nation. The companys asset acquisition and management strategies combined with its dedication to residence life and student development has made Campus Advantage one of the largest student housing and property management companies in the United States. Learn more at www.campusadv.com.
Canada Foundation for Innovation marks a quarter century of funding the state-of-the-art research labs and facilities researchers need to build a promising future

OTTAWA, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) launches its celebrations to mark 25 years of investing in transformative research across the country.



When the CFI opened its doors for business in April 1997, its mandate to fund state-of-the-art research infrastructure in Canadian universities, colleges and research hospitals represented a new way of strengthening Canadas research capacity to support world-leading research. From advancing renewable energy sources, to building a more inclusive society to developing powerful new medicines that tackle some of our deadliest diseases, the research supported by CFI investments over the years has always promised the possibility of a future that can be profoundly different from the past.

Having committed more than $9 billion in support of 11,989 infrastructure projects at 170 research institutions in 80 municipalities across Canada, the CFI has made investments that have helped attract and retain talented researchers from around the world by providing the state-of-the-art tools they need to think big, which in turn helps create high-quality jobs across the country.

As the CFI looks back on 25 years dedicated to creating research environments that attract and encourage researchers to pursue brilliant careers in Canadian universities, colleges and research hospitals, we applaud their success, says Roseann OReilly Runte, CFIs President and CEO. We thank the federal and provincial governments for their support in building strong foundations on which the next generation of scholars will stand as they continue the forward-thinking, innovative research necessary to meet our aspirations for the future with confidence.

Among the activities planned to mark the CFIs 25th anniversary:

Refreshed website and brand

To kick-off its 25th anniversary, the CFI has launched a refreshed brand and website, Innovation.ca. The signature red swirl within the CFI logo evokes the energy and passion that has driven this organization from its inception, and the new intertwined crescents represent the CFIs commitment to collaboration, and the partnerships required to keep a dynamic research system primed for the challenges that face todays society. Innovation.ca has been rebuilt with those partners in mind with more intuitive navigation, clearer language and new features.

Online: Visit our website

Download the new CFI logo

Rebranded Research Facilities Navigator

The CFI also rebranded its Research Facilities Navigator, injecting new energy into what has become Canadas most comprehensive online resource of publicly funded facilities interested in collaborating with industry, government and academic partners. The new look and feel of the Navigator provides an enhanced visitor experience and reflects the state-of-the-art facilities it features.

Online: See the new Navigator look

Engaging youth

The CFI has also commissioned a survey of 18- to 24-year-olds to better understand the attitudes of young Canadians toward science, and the conditions and sources that shape them. Please visit our website to learn more.

The CFI will undertake additional activities throughout the coming months to mark this milestone.



Social Media

For updates, follow us on Twitter @InnovationCA, LinkedIn, Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel to find videos about the CFI and its transformative research projects. Follow our 25th anniversary activities through #PromisingFutureNow.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

Founded in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) makes financial contributions to Canadas universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research organizations to increase their capability to carry out high-quality research. The CFI invests in infrastructure that researchers need to think big, innovate and push the boundaries of knowledge. It helps institutions to attract and retain the worlds top talent, to train the next generation of researchers and to support world-class research that strengthens the economy and improves the quality of life for all Canadians.

A promising future, now

25 years of investing in ideas that change our world

Contact

Benoit Clement

Media Relations and Social Media Specialist

Canada Foundation for Innovation

C: 613-943-2580

benoit.clement@innovation.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/659cc5f6-0df3-4630-b397-8c70e0eca5b6
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Seasoned Bombardier executive, Chris Milligan will continue to build on Safety Standdowns reputation for excellence

Bombardiers Safety Standdown celebrates 25 years of aviation safety stewardship and education

Prominent event promotes lifelong learning opportunities to highlight the industrys latest safety knowledge



MONTREAL, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardiers annual Safety Standdown event, one of the most comprehensive safety gatherings in the aviation industry, is honoring a dedicated Bombardier executive who has been a passionate steward and leader of the event for many years and announcing a new successor to lead the program.

Bombardiers Chris Milligan, Vice President, Pre-Owned Aircraft Services and Flight Operations, will take over the reins from long-time Safety Standdown leader, Andy Nureddin, who has led the Bombardier Flight Operations team responsible for organizing this annual safety gathering. Andy has planned to retire at the end of 2022 and is currently focusing on completing a smooth transition of Safety Standdown leadership to Chris. Anthony Cox has been promoted to Vice President, Customer Support and is succeeding Andy in his Bombardier customer-facing capacities.

I am very pleased to introduce Chris Milligan as the new leader of the Safety Standdown team and I want to sincerely thank Andy for his steadfast commitment and hard work in fostering the growth of this invaluable industry event, said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Services and Support, and Corporate Strategy, Bombardier. For 25 years, Bombardier has led the industry in providing aviation professionals with critical knowledge-based aviation training in many key areas and Andy has been front and centre in that growth. I am confident that under Chriss direction, we will continue to provide aviation professionals with more lifelong learning opportunities and focus on disseminating higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Bombardier Learjet flight operations team created the Safety Standdown event in 1996 as a human-factors safety training seminar. As it has flourished, its purpose remains the same  to foster a community of aviation professionals who are committed to lifelong learning and to establishing higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry. Through its overriding theme of Learn  Apply  Share, this special two-day conference is filled with learning opportunities, compelling workshops, presentations and more, laying the foundation for many more years of safety training to come.

About Safety Standdown

Originally conceived in 1996 as a human factors safety-training event for the Learjet flight demonstration team, the conference quickly garnered a reputation for excellence beyond Bombardiers customer base. In 1999, in response to growing interest within the industry, Bombardier opened the seminar to all pilots. In 2010, Safety Standdown expanded beyond the seminars into a year-round global human factors program offering online resources. Since 1996, more than 10,000 corporate, commercial and military aviation professionals have attended Safety Standdown seminars worldwide, live and through the webcast, including in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA. Admission to Safety Standdown has, throughout the years, remained free to all aviation professionals as safety is a top commitment to the flying public.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of over 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft website for more information on our industry-leading products and services.

Bombardier, Learjet and Global 7500 are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information

Matthew Nicholls

Bombardier

+1 514-243-8214

Matthew.Nicholls@aero.bombardier.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/850faa97-1ed5-42e5-b46d-f89bb5b87250
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and SAN RAMON, Calif., Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fogarty Innovation, a nonprofit educational incubator for medical technology companies, announced today that its graduate, Raydiant Oximetry, Inc., has raised an oversubscribed round of $5 million Series A2 financing. The funding was led by Avestria Ventures, which invests in early-stage womens health companies, and syndicated by KOFA Healthcare, V-Capital, Band of Angels, FemHealth Ventures, RHIA Ventures, SteelSky Ventures and Tri-Valley Ventures.



Raydiant Oximetry is a clinical-stage medical device company focused on improving womens and neonatal health. Its innovation is LUMERAH, the first-of-its-kind non-invasive fetal oximeter designed to more accurately detect fetal distress during labor and delivery. Current fetal monitoring technology has a low sensitivity that may lead to the failed identification of the distressed baby during labor and delivery, potentially contributing to subsequent newborn birth injury1. In addition, existing fetal monitoring technology has a low specificity, which can lead to the overuse of emergency C-sections2.

Initial preclinical results show that LUMERAH significantly improves sensitivity and specificity for the detection of fetal distress and consequently could improve outcomes for both mother and baby during childbirth. Because of its life-improving potential, the FDA has already granted LUMERAH Breakthrough Device status for expedited market approval.

We are very proud of Neil Ray, MD, founder and CEO of Raydiant Oximetry, and his team for showcasing the opportunity for this type of innovation in the womens health and neonatal space, said Andrew Cleeland, CEO of Fogarty Innovation. Their technology shows potential to have a large impact for millions of mothers and babies around the globe, and is the type of pioneering concept that Fogarty Innovation fosters.

Raydiant has assembled a team that is uniquely qualified to develop LUMERAH and provide obstetricians with accurate, quantifiable data for making critical labor and delivery decisions. When this device shows to improve the health of mothers and newborns, we are hopeful it will become the standard in hospitals worldwide, said Linda Greub, Managing Partner of Avestria Ventures.

Raydiant Oximetry plans to use the proceeds of the Series A2 financing to complete a clinical study at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. UTMB is one of 12 clinical research centers established by the NIH Maternal-Fetal-Medicine Network to promote clinical studies during pregnancy. The principal investigator for the study is Dr. George Saade, the Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine at UTMB.

We are very pleased that LUMERAH continues to resonate with our audiences, including clinicians and investors," said Dr. Neil P. Ray. We will continue to create shareholder value by demonstrating the clinical utility of LUMERAH and look forward to the transformative impact this technology will have on the field, physicians and their patients.

About Raydiant Oximetry, Inc.

Raydiant Oximetry is a venture-backed, clinical-stage company dedicated to improving outcomes for mothers and babies during childbirth. The company was founded by Neil Ray, MD, a pediatric anesthesiologist by training, to find a solution to the pervasive problem of medically unnecessary Caesarean sections, which can have short- and long-term implications for the mother and child. The company has developed an innovative technology, LUMERAH, a low-cost, non-invasive sensor that monitors fetal oxygenation during labor, with the aim to better identify fetal distress and reduce the rate of medically unnecessary C-sections. LUMERAH is an investigational medical device that is not currently approved for commercial sale. Learn more: Raydiantoximetry.com

About Fogarty Innovation

Headquartered on the El Camino Health campus in Mountain View, California, Fogarty Innovation is a leading medical technology nonprofit dedicated to advancing human health worldwide. Driven by a dedicated team of seasoned experts in the field, the organization fosters stronger alliances among innovators, industry and government, creating a powerful engine for the invention, development and deployment of new health technologies into the care pathway. Fogarty Innovation was founded by Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, a world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon, inventor, entrepreneur and vintner. Learn more: Fogartyinnovation.org

References:




This Chewing Gum will be Infused with Green Vein Kratom Strain

NEW YORK, NY, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: TAUG) (Tauriga or the Company), a New York based diversified Life Sciences Company, today announced that it will proceed with the production of its proprietary, Green Vein Kratom (Kratom) infused, supplement chewing gum. Each piece of Kratom infused Tauri-Gum will be infused with 20mg of Green Vein Kratom extract. The proposed flavor for this product: Granny Smith Green Apple.

Anticipated MSRP: $18.99 per Blister Pack / $182.00 per Retail Box

The Company will procure both a standard Certificate of Analysis (COA) as well as a much more detailed lab analysis report, from North Hollywood, California based CALIGREEN Laboratory.

The Company will also commercialize this product with Kosher and Halal Certifications.

Mitragyna Speciosa, also known as Kratom, is a tropical Evergreen tree in the coffee family, native to Southeast Asia. It is indigenous to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, where it has been used as herbal medicine since at least the 19thcentury. Commercially, the 3 main strains of Kratom are: White Vein, Green Vein, and Red Vein.

The Company continues to experience strong levels of demand and revenue growth, with respect to its retail business. The Company was pleased with the performance of its retail business during the month of October 2021.

E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com

ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC.

Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG) is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged in several major business activities and initiatives. The company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) Edibles market segment. The main product line, branded as Tauri-Gum, consists of a proprietary supplement chewing gum that is Kosher certified, Halal certified, and Vegan Formulated (CBD Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Mint, Blood Orange, Pomegranate), (CBG Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Peach-Lemon, Black Currant), (DELTA 8 THC Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Evergreen Mint), (Vitamin C + Zinc Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Pear Bellini), (Caffeine Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Cherry Lime Rickey), & (Vitamin D3 Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Golden Raspberry). The Companys commercialization strategy consists of a broad array of retail customers, distributors, and a fast-growing E-Commerce business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com). Please visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as inquiries, at http://www.tauriga.com

Complementary to the Companys retail business, is its ongoing Pharmaceutical Development initiative. This relates to the development of a proposed Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum, for nausea regulation (specifically designed for the following indication: Patients Subjected to Ongoing Chemotherapy Treatment). On March 22, 2021, the Company announced that it had Converted its U.S. Provisional Patent Application (filed on March 17, 2020) into a U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. On December 18, 2020 the Company disclosed that it had entered into a Master Services Agreement with CSTI to lead the Company's clinical development efforts.

The Company is headquartered in Wappingers Falls, New York. In addition, the Company operates two full time E-Commerce fulfillment centers: one located in Montgomery, Texas and the other in Brooklyn, New York.

DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent managements beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are often indicated by using words such as may, will, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, believes, or plans, and may include statements regarding corporate objectives as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones. Forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on managements present beliefs with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences or timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as are not guarantees of general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to consummate successful acquisition and licensing transactions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in the Risk Factors section of Taurigas Form 10-K and other periodic filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Tauriga Sciences, Inc.

4 Nancy Court, Suite 4

Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Seth M. Shaw

Email: sshaw@tauriga.com

cell # (917) 796 9926

Company Instagram: @taurigum

Personal Instagram: @sethsms47

Twitter: @SethMShaw

Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com

E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com

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Glasgow, United Kingdom, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, African Leaders, speaking during the African Adaptation Acceleration Summit at COP26, the largest ever gathering of global leaders focused on climate adaptation, called for the rest of the world to step up their support to help the continent adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

President Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union, who chaired the event, praised the ongoing momentum towards mobilizing additional resources to help Africa adapt to the impacts of climate change. He outlined the $6 billion in financial commitments for climate adaptation African countries have put forward in their Nationally Determined Contributions and urged the rest of the world to continue to step up and bring the additional $27 billion a year the continent requires.

President Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union endorsed the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program as the preferred channel for funding climate adaptation in Africa:

Adaptation finance flowing to Africa is grossly insufficient compared to the enormous resources needed for it to adapt to climate change. That is why African countries, working with the Global Center on Adaptation and the African Development Bank and other partners, have launched the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program. The Program is at the heart of Africas climate change needs. It is Africa-owned and Africa-led. African nations have endorsed the Program as Africas preferred mechanism to deploy adaptation finance for adaptation projects in Africa.

The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program requires $12.5 billion by 2025 in addition to the $12.5 billion already committed by the African Development Bank. The funds will be spent on climate-proofing, creating new jobs and modernising key economic sectors and to support upstream efforts to integrate climate adaptation investments at the national level.

Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of Global Center on Adaptation, moderating the Summit noted the urgent need for accelerated adaptation action across the continent:

COP26 must deliver on the promises of Paris. We are failing and we are failing Africa. We must bring more ambition and more finance to help Africa adapt to the pace of a climate emergency devastating the continent with increasingly serious consequences for the worlds poorest and most vulnerable. Africa has a plan and the world must listen. The world must join the hands of the African leaders that have said loud and clear: we will make Africa adapted to climate change.

President Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group remarked:

We must deliver climate adaptation at scale. We must build climate resilience. The African Adaptation Acceleration Program will help achieve this for Africa. There is the fierce urgency of now, to quote former U.S. President Barak Obama said! Let us get started with the $12.5 billion. It is a down payment for a more resilient future. With that African can breathe.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations said:

We must do more to protect vulnerable communities from the clear and present dangers of climate change. Over the last decade, nearly 4 billion people suffered climate-related disasters. That devastation will only grow. But adaptation works. Early warning systems save lives. Climate-smart agriculture and infrastructure save jobs. All donors must allocate half their climate finance to adaptation. Public and multilateral development banks should start as soon as possible.

During the event, Alok Sharma, President for COP26, announced new funding from the UK to support African governments to roll-out critical adaptation projects so at-risk communities can adapt to the impact of extreme weather and changing climates.

Despite the energy and the commitment I have seen in many African nations to adapt, a gulf has existed between the needs and international response and that is why adaptation has been central to the UKs COP26 presidency [] The UK is offering the African Development Bank a guarantee expected to unlock $2 billion of new financing  and half of this will help countries adapt to climate impacts, supporting the vital work of the AAAP.

The British Government also announced 20 million to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program to support African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post-COVID recovery development paths.

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also announced new funding for climate adaptation from the United States government:

The President will work with our congress to dedicate $3 billion annually in adaptation finance by the year 2024. This is the largest commitment ever made by the US to reduce the impact of climate change in those most endangered by it around the world. As part of the rollout that we are doing, we will be providing support to the Africa Adaptation Initiative directly. This will ensure effective implementation of the accelerator program. We will continue our work with the AU Commission and other African partners to shape and implement climate-smart policies across the continent.

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund said:

The enormous pressure for adaptation, particularly in Africa, is caused by inadequate mitigationso we must all do more to stabilize our climate. At the same time its critical that vulnerable countries step up adaptation efforts, with support from the international community. Advanced economies must meet or exceed their commitment to provide $100 billion a year in climate finance, including for adaptation.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization said:

"Adaptation for Africa must be a priority for the international community. This region contributes the least to emissions but suffers the most. Trade can help in many ways: food security in the face of climate threats, access to adaptation technologies, and synergies in Aid for Trade and climate finance. The blueprint for adaptation actions for the African continent set out by the GCA is vitally important, and trade and the WTO can help realize these goals."

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Founded in 2018, the GCA is hosted by the Netherlands, working from its headquarters in Rotterdam with a knowledge and research hub based in Groningen. The GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China. Through this evolving network of offices and global and regional GCA teams, the organization engages in high-level policy activities, new research contributions, communications, and technical assistance to governments and the private sector.



For more information please go to www.gca.org



About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program

As the global solutions broker on adaptation and resilience, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has joined forces with the African Development Bank to create the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) focusing on bringing four critical areas for adaptation action to scale in partnership with African countries and partners. The four critical areas of Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security; African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator; Empowering Youth for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience and Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help address the nexus of climate change, COVID-19, and the economy and will support African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post-COVID recovery development paths. AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to support Africas adaptation plans over five years ($5 billion per year). The AfDB has already committed half of the total, $12.5 billion by 2025. The program has been endorsed by President Tshisekedi, Chair of the African Union and President Ali Bongo of Gabon, the African Union Champion for Adaptation.



For more information please go to www.gca.org/programs/africa-adaptation-acceleration-program/



About State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021

The GCAs 2021 State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa report presents the most comprehensive overview of the present and future prospects of the African continent in the light of climate change. It is also a blueprint for how individuals and institutions in the African and international policy space can design, finance, and implement adaptation plans to best protect the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of African people. Published ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the report is an evidence-based advocacy tool to put adaptation and resilience in Africa higher on the agenda nationally and internationally using the reports actionable policy recommendations. As adaptation is scaled up in response to the challenge of climate change, the report is expected to influence the design of projects and programs, including those supported by the African Adaptation Acceleration Program.



To read the report please go to https://gca.org/reports/state-and-trends-in-adaptation-report-2021/
VICTORIA, British Columbia, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A 2016 report prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development laid out how much more Americans pay for medication than Canadians do. It found that the same amount of Rx medication that would cost a person in Canada $772 would cost an American $1,112, and it can be assumed that the price discrepancy has grown larger in the five years since then. Looking at the average for the entire globe and comparing to America, there are savings of around 56% buying meds in other countries of the world. Canada Drugs Direct offers similar savings for U.S. residents.

Part of the reason Rx meds cost less in Canada is because there has been a long-standing ban prohibiting Medicare from negotiating on prices directly with drug companies. What is different in Canada and elsewhere is purchasers have more bargaining power and are on more equal footing with the sellers when it comes to negotiating what the wholesale price for the medications will be. Currently, there are lobbies in the U.S. where the request is being made to change the laws that prohibit Medicare from negotiating and then being able to have lower end-user costs for prescription drugs provided through the program.

The next issue that pushes drug prices higher is the free pricing system in the USA where drug manufacturers set their own prices and are able to increase prices on drugs as freely as they wish. There is much more in the way of federal regulation done by Health Canada that limits how high a price can be attached to a drug when it is purchased from the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Part of the reason 'big' pharma is as big as it is in the USA is because there is much less in the way of federal regulation when it comes to drug pricing.

The extent of direct-to-consumer advertising increases end-user costs Americans will pay at their pharmacy too, and R&D costs tend to be higher for pharmaceutical manufacturers based in the USA. Buying medication online from Canada and saving money is as easy as visiting the website, creating an account, and forwarding a copy of the prescription. Most Canadian online pharmacies will offer favorable shipping options for U.S. residents too.

About the Company

Canada Drugs Direct is a Canadian online pharmacy that is among those recommended for Americans who shop at a pharmacy in Canada to save money on medications. It is able to source medications in a way that allows for the best prices on prescription drugs from Canada. All orders require a prescription and are dispensed by a licensed pharmacist, in the same way as any pharmacy in America. Pay less for Rx medication ordered online from Canada.

Contact Canada Drugs Direct:

https://www.canadadrugsdirect.com/

info@canadadrugsdirect.com

Toll Free: 1-888-904-8467

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NEW YORK, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, has launched an investigation into whether the officers or directors of Rogers Corporation (NYSE: ROG) breached their fiduciary duties or violated the federal securities laws in connection with the companys acquisition by DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE: DD) (DuPont).



Click here to learn more and participate in the action.

On November 2, 2021, Rogers announced that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by DuPont in a deal worth approximately $5.2 billion. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Rogers stockholders will receive $277 in cash for each share of Rogers common stock owned. The deal is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2022.

Bragar Eagel & Squire is concerned that Rogers board of directors oversaw an unfair process and ultimately agreed to an inadequate merger agreement. Accordingly, the firm is investigating all relevant aspects of the deal and is committed to securing the best result possible for Rogers stockholders.

If you own shares of Rogers and are concerned about the proposed merger, or you are interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact Melissa Fortunato or Alexandra Raymond by email at investigations@bespc.com or telephone at (646) 860-9157, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Houston, Texas, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Binance Smart Chain (BSC) community token space has just welcomed a brand-new token called Shibosu Token. Shibosu successfully launched on October 30th, 2021. Their mascot is your familiar, friendly Japanese Shiba Inu. The purpose of Shibosu is to spread love to fellow Shiba Inu token projects, while simultaneously running compelling daily giveaways for their community investors to win. The Shibosu token creator has been in the crypto space since 2014, with his first investments being in Bitcoin. The creators goal with this Shibosu token is to positively impact the crypto space by collaborating and celebrating other projects and setting a standard of how good projects in this crypto currency space operate. With an overwhelming number of scams that raid the BSC space, Shibosu Token creates a fun, safe place for investors who just love Shiba Inu meme tokens.

Tokenomics of Shibosu allow for promotions within their community and gifts money to other Shiba Inu communities. There is a 12% buy tax and an 18% sell tax. Buy taxes are distributed for 3 functions: 2% to Shiba rewards, where SHIB token is bought and distributed as rewards to holders; 5% to buy backs, which buy and burn the native token helping levels of resistance and raising the floor price; and 5% for marketing and promotions. Sell taxes are distributed with 4% going to Shiba Rewards, 7% to buy back, and 7% to marketing.

The tokenomics of Shibosu allow for compelling community giveaways. With a daily BNB lottery, investors can win additional BNB parallel to their investment growing. Also integrated into their tokenomics, 1% of transaction volume is accumulated and given out as a community prize every 3 days. Then there is their claim to fame, the gifting of BNB from the project to help support another Shiba Inu community token in the crypto-currency space.



Investors have a lot of opportunity to showcase their love for Shiba Inu meme-community tokens. With a reflection system that pays you in SHIB token, daily BNB giveaways, a deflationary token system increasing token value, and spreading some love to other like-minded communities. The Shibosu creator is going to create a family of dog lovers in all of us. Check out more details and information on their website: https://www.shibosu.live



Disclaimer: The information provided on this page does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and it should not be treated as such. This content is the opinion of a third party, and this site does not recommend that any specific cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held, or that any crypto investment should be made. The Crypto market is high risk, with high-risk and unproven projects. Readers should do their own research and consult a professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions.



For the original news story, please visit https://prdistribution.com/news/shibosu-token-brings-shiba-rewards-for-investors.html
Palm City - Margaret Jan Crandall passed away at home on November 14. Her daughter Martha and her husband Robert were at her side. Jan Crandall, nee Schmults, was born on June 2, 1935, in Barrington, Rhode Island. During WWII, the family lived in Newport where her father, Ernest, worked at t
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Tens of thousands of visitors paid hundreds of euros for a ticket. Unfortunately, the continuous rain made the Belgian Grand Prix a farce. There was never a race and the fans left disillusioned (and soaking wet). Whether they would ever be (financially) compensated? Nobody knew.

Good news

After Lewis Hamilton, among others, spoke out strongly in favour of refunding the entrance tickets, Formula 1 posted a statement on his website. F1 indicated they were working with the promoter (Spa Grand Prix, ed.) on 'several options' to express their recognition towards the ticket holders and thank them for their dedication. After that, it was quiet for months.



Now some good news seems to be on the way. When asked by GPblog if there will be any compensation for the ticket holders, promoter Spa Grand Prix replies: "Yes, there will be compensation. That is for sure. This week or next week we want to announce the details."



The Belgian promoter can't (or won't) reveal what the compensation will look like exactly. Will the ticket holders get (part of) their money back, 'free' entrance for the next edition or a discount on a new ticket? It is still guesswork. As to the contents of the compensation, Spa Grand Prix states: "We will communicate this to our customers soon."
Sebastian Vettel is not only busy building his future at Aston Martin, but the German driver is also busy dealing with social issues such as climate change. In an interview with The New York Times Vettel expresses his frustration, because according to him, Formula 1 is not doing enough.

Vettel is increasingly concerned with the climate and the consequences global warming will have for humans and animals. In Austria, he built a bee hotel and before the Italian Grand Prix, he visited Iceland to see a factory that captures carbon dioxide. The Aston Martin driver's actions show that he thinks these issues are very important.

"On the environmental front, weve faced big challenges in the past, with pandemics and wars. But what were facing for the future going forward is far bigger and more important for us to understand given the size and urgency of the problem. In terms of human rights, I dont understand why its still such a big deal. Why are we talking about things that should just be clear to us?", said the 34-year-old driver.

Lots of litter after the races

After the Grand Prix in Silverstone, there was a lot of talk about Vettel, because he helped volunteers to collect waste. He thinks Formula 1 should tell fans more about how to handle waste responsibly. "If you look at the bigger picture, theres a certain responsibility we have as Formula 1 when we go to different places in the world and we set up these huge events which bring massive excitement. We cannot just go there, do our show, and then leave everything else behind."
Greensburg, IN (47240)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 37F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 37F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  While pandemic style saw people put on pajamas and their hair up in a bun, 2021 is more about mascara and lip liners  and makeup sales in the multi-billion-dollar Mideast market are beginning to improve.

For women in the region  and particularly the Gulf Arab states  makeup is one of their biggest spends, offering an opportunity for expression even to those who cover their hair and part of their face with black veils.

After a pandemic sales slump, analysts now predict the Middle East makeup market will grow by as much as 5% over the next five years, even as sales in some parts of the world continue to slow, such as in Western Europe and North America.

Drawing on those trends, Dubai  the glitzy city state that is part of the United Arab Emirates  has been hosting a number of events and celebrities. Among them was Mario Dedivanovic, known for doing Kim Kardashians makeup, who hosted a talk on the future of beauty over the weekend. With more than 9 million followers, Dedivanovic is one of the most influential makeup artists currently on the scene.

Mask-less women donning designer shoes and bags and wearing the latest makeup trends, gathered at Mirdif City Center Mall to listen to him.

Dedovanovic said Dubai is on par with global beauty hubs.

Dubai is such a cosmopolitan city. Everywhere in the world, you know, everybody knows about Dubai, Dedovanovic told The Associated Press. He said makeup artists in Dubai are "doing everything at the same pace that ... it is being done in Paris and Milan and London.

The makeup industry was worth $4 billion in the Middle East even during the pandemic, according to market research group Euromonitor International. But the pandemic hit it hard with the surge in working from home and cancellations of many social events such as weddings. Pandemic-related job losses also meant less disposable income, and spending focused more on necessities.

Globally, the makeup industry declined by 16% in 2020, Euromonitor said, with the slump slightly less drastic at 10% in the Middle East.

Amna Abbas, a consultant for beauty and fashion at Euromonitor, said some areas of the Middle East, including the UAE, had shorter lockdown periods. Once markets reopened, we saw signs of recovery happening immediately, she said.

As people began to go back to offices, socialize more and attend events, makeup sales began improving. Euromonitor said makeup sales growth should hit 6% to 8% in the Mideast this year.

Abbas said the growth has been faster than expected, even though the market is not likely to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until 2022 or 2023. She added that recovery is still on.

Online shopping is also becoming increasingly important and so is the use of social media. After 2020, more women turned to purchasing their favorite shades of lipstick or foundation online, assisted at times by an augmented reality feature where they could see what they would look like wearing a specific color.

As part of the growing reliance on online shopping, women in the Gulf follow celebrities, influencers, and makeup brands on social media to find out about trends and beauty tips. Huda Kattan, a Dubai-based Iraqi-American beauty magnate, has built a billion dollar business here on that.

___

Follow Malak Harb on Twitter at www.twitter.com/malakharb.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday  part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

Britain hailed the commitment by more than 100 countries to end deforestation in the coming decade as the first big achievement of the conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow, known as COP26  but experts noted such promises have been made and broken before.

More than 120 world leaders were heading home after two days in which they received stark warnings about the state of the Earth from Johnson, naturalist David Attenborough, Queen Elizabeth II and  most powerfully  the people of countries and regions already facing climate upheaval.

Johnson said at a news conference that it was important to guard against false hope, but added that he was cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the talks. The conference aims to keep the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels  the goal set at the Paris climate conference six years ago.

Johnson had a message for negotiators from around the globe who will strain over the next 10 days to turn politicians' climate promises into reality: The eyes of the populations of the world are on you.

The U.K. said it has received pledges from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan.

Experts and observers said fulfilling the pledge will be critical to limiting climate change, but many noted that such grand promises have been made before  to little effect.

Signing the declaration is the easy part, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet.

Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at political think tank Chatham House, said world leaders promised in 2014 to end deforestation by 2030, but since then deforestation has accelerated across many countries.

Forests are important ecosystems and provide a critical way of absorbing carbon dioxide  the main greenhouse gas  from the atmosphere. But the value of wood as a commodity and the growing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, particularly in developing countries. Indigenous peoples are often among the hardest hit.

We are delighted to see Indigenous peoples mentioned in the forest deal announced today, said Joseph Itongwa Mukumo, an Indigenous Walikale and activist from Congo.

He called for governments and businesses to recognize the effective role Indigenous communities play in preventing deforestation.

These are billions in investment towards environmental preservation, but its very difficult for this money to reach Indigenous communities, reach traditional communities, said Chief Ninawa, a leader of the Huni Kui people from the Amazon attending the summit.

Some campaigners said the forests pledge was a step forward. Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher at Human Rights Watch, said there were quite a lot of really positive elements.

She said it was positive to see China and Brazil pledging to protect forests, but noted that Brazil's public statements don't yet line up with its domestic policies and warned that the deal could be used by some countries to greenwash their image.

Brazil's government has been eager to project itself as a responsible environmental steward in the wake of surging deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands that sparked global outrage in recent years. Critics caution that its promises should be viewed with skepticism, and the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an outspoken proponent of developing the Amazon.

On Tuesday, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden launched a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines  the focus of the Biden plan  is considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions. Reducing methane from agriculture, in particular by belching cows, is a trickier matter.

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally.

Separately, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan to provide $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.

South Africa gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

But campaigners say the worlds biggest carbon emitters need to do much more. Earth has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2F). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planets ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say.

I dont think that activists are being heard here," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist from the Philippines.

We have to make sure that we really rally together and make sure that were so loud that the world leaders cant keep ignoring us, she said. "Because every fraction of a degree, every step towards the right direction is what matters here.

At his end-of-summit news conference. Biden acknowledged the fierce skepticism from climate activists who say world leaders are not moving with enough haste.

He insisted that climate activists have been a vital voice, and expressed optimism that the world is waking up to understanding that the issue is not just a moral imperative but also an enormous opportunity to spur economies.

Even if the funding didnt come from some of the governments, you have the private sector now engaged where theyre talking about investing literally the need to invest over trillions of dollars off the sidelines, Biden said.

So things are changing., he added. We just have to have the right stewardship and enough sense as world leaders to get it right.

Some 25,000 people are expected to attend the vast COP26 gathering, from heads of state to activists and charity workers. Attendees on Tuesday included Leonardo DiCaprio, who drew a crowd of journalists and fans. The Hollywood star, who is a U.N. climate change representative, visited an exhibition highlighting the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change.

One not there was Chinas Xi Jinping. Biden said the leader of the worlds biggest greenhouse-gas-emitting country made a big mistake with his absence.

Theyve lost an ability to influence people around the world and all the people here at COP, Biden said

As countries announced major initiatives, those attendees appeared ready to do their small part: For a few minutes Tuesday, the vegetarian version of haggis  a Scottish delicacy typically made with sheep's lungs  was sold out. It was outselling the traditional version, servers said  perhaps unsurprising in a crowd well aware of the impact of meat-eating on the climate.

___

Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
As Danielle Scarpellino stood outside the Calvin Leete School polling place Tuesday morning, asking for votes as a candidate for the school board in Guilford, a voter walked past and muttered under her breath, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for coming out to vote today, Scarpellino said.

Not for you, the voter shot back.

It was another sign that the national debate on how race and history is taught in schools had made its way into local politics in this coastal town of 22,000 residents. The controversy over critical race theory created a tense atmosphere in a place that normally tends to escape such acrimony in its local elections.

Eighteen miles down Interstate 95, in West Haven, a different sort of controversy  the Oct. 20 arrest of then-state Rep. and city employee Michael DiMassa on fraud charges tied to the possible $600,000 embezzlement of pandemic relief money  led to disappointment, bewilderment and divided loyalties at the polls Tuesday.

In both towns, the Election Day mood seemed far more charged with emotion than a local election would otherwise bring. Observers in both towns said turnout seemed strong for local municipal elections on non-gubernatorial and non-presidential years.

Guilford has long been a unified town that works together for the benefit of our kids and the town  until this election, said Noel Petra, one of three Independent candidates for board of education on the fusion slate with Democrats.

Its so tense, so tense, Petra said. Its awful.

Campaign literature and signs have been littered with attack ads and community forums on social media sites have devolved into people lobbing insults at one another, voters said Tuesday.

For years, Democrats and Republicans in town got along, especially on the school board, Petra said. But now a group of unknowns, who havent been involved in town before, have come out and tried to change the message, spreading lies and hate.

Petra, a deputy commissioner for the state Department of Administrative Services, vied for one of thee five open seats on the nine-member board.

Five Republican candidates are also vying for the seats, all political newcomers who defeated several moderate incumbents in the primary, calling for an end to the indoctrination of students in critical race theory and other initiatives they say are divisive.

The academic concept developed in the 1970s to examine how race and power have influenced American history has become a major issue in local school board races across the country including in Connecticut.

I grew up here. Weve never been this politically divided and its very sad, said Susan Weber, a Guilford voter who supports the slate of Republican candidates.

Weber, born and raised in Guilford, said she took her son out of the public school system and enrolled him in private school because she doesnt like the direction and political undertones influencing the towns schools.

Theyre teaching kids what to think, not how to think, Weber said.

She said shes been called a racist for her views, and added that people with differing viewpoints should learn to respect one another.

But Sandra Ruoff, a Democratic candidate running for re-election to Guilfords board of selectmen, said the divisiveness in town is not as widespread as some, including national media coverage, make it seem.

Theres some strong opinions but its not the majority of town, Ruoff said.

She sees a silver lining to the passion around the controversial issues this election cycle  its brought out people of all political ideologies who havent been engaged in local politics before.

While the controversy in Guilford weighed on voters there, the alleged fraud surrounding federal COVID-19 funds in West Haven was on the mind of voters there, as Democratic Mayor Nancy Rossi ran for re-election.

DiMassa, a rising, 30-year-old Democrat, was charged with wire fraud in connection with what authorities say was a scheme to steal federal money intended for COVID-related expenses in the city. From his post in city hall, federal authorities said, he billed the town hundreds of thousands of dollars, and apparently paid a consulting firm he had set up in early 2021.

Rossi, a certified public accountant, has not been accused of wrongdoing by authorities. But the election could be a sign of whether voters think she bears some responsibility for the events that happened on her watch. She has announced more oversight of the citys finances in the wake of DiMassas arrest.

Rich Carew, a registered Democrat who said he votes for candidates of all politcal parties, said the scandal led him to vote for Rossis opponent, Republican City Councilman Barry Lee Cohen. Thats the only reason, he said.

I dont think she was completely responsible, Carew said of Rossi. But she was responsible because she makes the appointments.

With a 4-to-1 ratio of Democrats to Republicans, an incumbent Democratic mayor would normally be safe. It could be a close one this year, Carew said.

Gary Palladino, a Democrat who said he still supports Rossi, wasnt worried about the fallout impacting her chances. Palladino described himself as a staunch Democratic supporter and said hes become increasingly concerned with the values of the Republican Party, particularly under former President Donald Trump.

He said Rossi is leading the city in the right direction, and that shes made strides to help develop the shoreline and get the citys finances in order.

Palladino said he was disappointed to hear the news of DiMassa whom he taught at Notre Dame High School.

I actually told him I thought hed be mayor of West Haven one day.

Heading in to vote at the Alma E. Pagels Elementary School, Matt and Debbie Smith were divided on how much responsibility Rossi bears for the alleged misuse of funds.

The mayor is responsible for what happens within the City of West Haven and how this went unnoticed for so many months is disturbing, Debbie Smith said.

But Matt Smith said its good the mayor discovered it and brought it to light.

So thats a slight plus, he said.

Neither member of the couple disclosed their political affiliation, and while they might be a house divided, at least on the issue of the mayoral race, Matt hugged his wife and joked theyd still be eating dinner together that night.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
Jessica Hill / Associated Press

Former state representative Themis Klarides, whos weighing a run for governor, has announced she will not be on the campaign trail today because of a possible COVID diagnosis.

I am devastated that I will not be able to join my friends and fellow Republicans on the trail today and celebrate with them tonight, she said in a tweeted statement.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  U.S. officials have approved Idahos plan for growing and transporting hemp with up to 0.3% THC, the cannabis compound that gives marijuana its high.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture on Monday announced receiving the approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture following a new Idaho law approved earlier this year. The agency said it will open online license applications to grow hemp early next week.

I'm confident we'll have applications on Monday, said Idaho State Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Chanel Tewalt. We've had interest throughout the year with many people following the agency's progress.

The new law covers growing and transporting the crops but doesnt allow selling to Idaho consumers hemp products containing any amount of THC.

The law was a compromise effort after Idaho legislators failed for several years to approve a hemp measure. Some lawmakers feared legalizing the sale of hemp products containing THC could make it more difficult to enforce the states marijuana laws.

Backers of the new law said the states climate is ideal for growing hemp, and farmers could sell hemp seeds and a hemp-derived extract called cannabidiol, or CBD, which many see as a health aid.

Idaho was the last state to make growing and transporting hemp legal following the 2018 farm bill that legalized hemp production at the federal level.

Im very proud of the entire ISDA team for working so quickly to implement the new law, and I know we could not have gotten here alone, Celia Gould, director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, said in a statement. We extend our thanks to the Governors office, industry stakeholders, Idaho State Police, USDA and the Idaho law enforcement community for excellent collaboration and assistance.

Mississippi in 2020 legalized growing hemp, but lawmakers there never appropriated money to fund the program, meaning growers must seek approval through federal authorities.

The Idaho plan has some restrictions on who can grow hemp. For example, anyone convicted of a felony drug violation in any state or federal court in the last 10 years is excluded.

Growers who are approved must pay a $100 annual application fee and $500 annual licensing fee. Processors must pay a $100 annual application fee and $1,000 for an annual license.

The Idaho State Hemp Plan also has a protocol for destroying hemp that tests above 0.3% THC, making it illegal in Idaho. In some cases, entire crops would have to be destroyed, with methods ranging from plowing a crop under to burning it.

State officials say they have the resources to enforce those provisions in the plan.

Tewalt said it's difficult to gauge how much interest there will be in Idaho to grow hemp. Surrounding states have allowed the growing of hemp for at least several years, as well as allowing adult and medical use of marijuana.

Growers and processors will react to the overall hemp market in the U.S., which in some pockets is pretty well saturated," Tewalt said.
BOSTON (AP)  State lawmakers released a proposed new map of Massachusetts congressional districts Monday.

The map avoids any large-scale dramatic shifts in district lines, in large part because the state retained the same number of congressional districts  nine. That sidesteps the need to combine districts and potentially force incumbent lawmakers to square off against each other.

One point of contention came in the states 4th Congressional District, currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss.

The Drawing Democracy Coalition, an umbrella group of advocacy organizations, faulted the map for failing to combine Fall River and New Bedford into the same district.

The group had argued that the similar immigrant communities in the two cities should be placed in the same district to increase their political clout and provide a better opportunity for voters there to elect candidates of their choice.

While the map proposed by the Legislature unites Fall River, it puts the entire city in the 4th District and keeps New Bedford in the 9th District. As a result, the group said, Fall River residents might continue to see their voting power weakened by wealthier suburbs of Boston, like Brookline, Newton and Wellesley.

The Coalition for Social Justice and Drawing Democracy spoke with many community members about redistricting, and we heard loud and clear that they didnt want Fall River to be split between two congressional districts, and that they wanted Fall River and New Bedford to be united in the same district, said Dax Crocker, Democracy HUB Coordinator for the Coalition for Social Justice, a Drawing Democracy Coalition Steering Committee member.

Auchincloss welcomed the proposed new congressional district lines.

Though the basic contours of the 4th District persist, there is one major change, Auchincloss said in a written statement. I am thrilled that all of Fall River will now be in the district.

Auchincloss said hes worked with local officials and state lawmakers to ensure Fall River bounces back from the pandemic.

The voters of the fourth will continue to come from urban, suburban, and farmland communities. They will continue to vote both blue and red. They will continue to commute to both Boston and Providence," he said.

The map would also increase the share of people of color living in the states 7th Congressional District, currently represented by the only Black member of the delegation, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley.

The redesigned district, created after the 2010 census, was intended to contain a majority of minority voters. It was previously represented by U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano until Pressley defeated him in 2018.

All nine members of the states Congressional delegation are Democrats.

Ten years ago the state was forced to cut 10 districts down to nine, a fate avoided this time when Massachusetts reported enough of an increase in population  to just over 7 million  to retain all nine seats.

One goal of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting. which came up with the proposed map, is to have each district home to the same number of people  about 781,100 each.
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley on Sunday night told fellow conservatives they must stop liberals from attacking masculinity and creating a nation of "idle men" who watch pornography and play video games instead of working and raising families.

Hawley delivered the speech on the "future of the American man" at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, calling for a return to traditional gender roles. He said liberals' "attempt to give us a world beyond men" was part of their larger effort to "deconstruct America," an endeavor that, according to the senator, includes critical race theory, economic socialism and doing away with the concept of gender altogether.

"The Left want to define traditional masculinity as toxic. They want to define the traditional masculine virtues - things like courage and independence and assertiveness - as a danger to society," Hawley said.

America's men are withering as a result, Hawley said. The senator cited a recent Wall Street Journal article that reported men are abandoning higher education in record numbers and lagging behind women. One expert said that if current trends continue, two women will earn a college degree for every man within the next few years.

"Can we be surprised that after years of being told they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem, more and more men are withdrawing into the enclave of idleness and pornography and video games?" the senator remarked.

Hawley called for conservatives to fight the "attack on men" and push for "a revival of strong and healthy manhood in America."

"We need men to raise up sons and daughters after them, to pass on the great truths of our culture and history, to defend liberty, to share in the work of self-government," he said. "We need the kind of men who make republics possible. And it is not too much to say that our ability to get that kind of men will determine the success of our long experiment in liberty."

While Hawley claims there's "an attack on manhood," experts say they're not challenging masculinity generally, but rather, some of its harmful downsides - stoicism, dominance, aggression - or what has been colloquially referred to as "toxic masculinity." The American Psychological Association for the first time in 2018 issued guidelines about what it called "traditional masculinity." Pressuring boys and men to conform to such a "traditional masculinity ideology" can lead higher rates of suicide, violence and substance abuse, the association warned.

The group defines that ideology as "a particular constellation of standards that have held sway over large segments of the population, including: anti-femininity, achievement, eschewal of the appearance of weakness, and adventure, risk, and violence."

Fredric Rabinowitz, a psychology professor who helped the APA develop the 2018 guidelines, said they were designed to help boys and men lead happier, healthier lives.

"We see that men have higher suicide rates, men have more cardiovascular disease and men are lonelier as they get older," he told the New York Times. "We're trying to help men by expanding their emotional repertoire, not trying to take away the strengths that men have."

That distinction didn't stop conservatives from claiming that the APA was pathologizing masculinity. Fox News host Laura Ingraham said "traditional masculinity seems to be, in this report at least, conflated with being a pig or a creep."

Jared Skillings, the APA's chief of professional practice, made the distinction in defending the guidelines: "We're talking about negative traits such as violence or over-competitiveness or being unwilling to admit weakness," he told USA Today. "Of course masculinity also has positive traits - courage, leadership, protectiveness - the report includes both sides."

Hawley, a staunch supporter of former president Donald Trump, led efforts in the Senate to contest the 2020 election results. On Jan. 6, he raised his fist in support of a pro-Trump mob that was outside the Capitol. He later told The Post he didn't regret doing that, because many of the people outside the Capitol at the time were there to peacefully protest, not storm the building.

"I waved to them, gave them the thumbs-up, pumped my fist to them and thanked them for being there, and they had every right to do that," the senator told The Post.

Hawley, who's considered a likely 2024 presidential candidate, also said at the time that Trump is still "a very significant force" in the Republican Party and that, if the former president decides to try to reclaim the White House, Hawley wouldn't challenge him for the GOP nomination.
Photo-Illustration: Grub Street. Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images

Were only two days into November, but Thanksgiving reservations at Dante, which specializes in a boozy Italianate spin on the holiday, are already sold out. We were completely booked within 24 hours, says Nathalie Hudson, who co-owns the cafe and cocktail bar with her husband, Linden Pride. Just like in the olden days, theyll be seating at full capacity, all 400 covers, cozy in the temperature-controlled indoors.

Thanksgiving 2020 was a patchwork of experiments-by-necessity: limited indoor seating, outdoor seating, preordered turkey dinners for pickup, day-of deliveries via the apps. This year, chefs and restaurateurs are still scrambling, but theyre hoping for a banner day.

People want to feel New York right now, says Andrew Carmellini, whose classic-American restaurant, the Dutch, has become a New York Thanksgiving stalwart. They want to go to their favorite restaurants; they want to feel that. No one wants to cook this year, because everyone cooked at home last year. Reservations are robust at Porter House, agrees the chef Michael Lomonaco: Its coming back.

Its not just high-end places feeling this desire among New Yorkers to leave their homes: At Veselka, in the East Village, last years prix fixe menu went for $39. Im getting a bunch of different emails, says third-generation owner Jason Birchard. Are you guys committed to doing this? Are you going to do takeout? Do I need to make reservations? He is hesitant to make predictions  many obstacles facing restaurant owners these days, he chuckles  but even so, Im a positive believer that things will go well.

Josh Foster, who owns the upscale neighborhood spot Stone Park Cafe in Park Slope, is not content to sit and plan and hope. Im trying to be extremely, extremely optimistic. If I have to go up to peoples houses and ring their bell and bring them down to the restaurant personally, I will. While some restaurants are cutting back their takeout operations to focus on the in-house experience  Carmellini will offer a streamlined version across his restaurants; Dante will ditch it altogether  Foster is all in on everything: indoor dining, outdoor dining, advance pickup, day-of delivery. If an average night brings in $5,000, hes aiming for at least quadruple. Youre talking about what could turn into a $20,000 day for us, and thats not even really including the delivery and takeout services, he says.

Thanksgiving 2021 is a celebration, obviously. But its also, as restaurateurs are acutely aware, a chance to at least begin to recoup pandemic losses. Under normal circumstances, Isa Chandra Moskowitzs Williamsburg vegan comfort spot, Modern Love, would be closed on Thanksgiving. Instead, a month out, shes working out the details of the special menu. Like most restaurants, were not profitable this year, and this is a day you could really make an impact, so its really important to us that were open.

But optimism is one thing; logistics are another. Weve never had a Thanksgiving quite like this one. How many people are going out, exactly? How many turkeys do you order? Nobody is sure. But with the barrage of supply-chain issues, there is pressure to figure it out fast.

When I started hearing all the rumors of supply shortages for the holidays, I reached out to my vendors pretty much immediately, says Matt Abdoo, chef and partner at Pig Beach, which will offer its traditional pickup-only feasts from both its Gowanus and Long Island City locations. But its a gamble securing 100 turkeys nearly two months in advance. If I dont sell them, Im stuck with a bunch of turkeys I have to make money off of, he says. At midtown megasteakhouse Charlie Palmer Steak, the restaurant groups chief culinary officer, Harold Moore, is stuck asking the same answerless questions. Did I order too much? Did I work too little? I have no idea, he says. Its a big guess at this point.

Last year, Stone Park Cafe ran out of turkeys. That, Foster says, is not happening again. The problem had been weather: the forecast called for rain, and then the weather turned out to be glorious, and they couldnt keep up with the demand. We got annihilated, he says. This year, hes already ordered 16 birds, each 16 pounds  256 portions  and is poised to order more. He has learned his lesson: Id rather waste than be out.

There are many, many upsides to having outdoor dining in November, but the downside is that the volatile weather makes the numbers even more difficult to predict. Thats a big part of why, in Williamsburg, Moskowitz isnt taking any Thanksgiving reservations. We dont know what the weathers going to be, she says, estimating shell wait until the second week of this month to post. I just dont want to open reservations and ruin anybodys Thanksgiving if things dont work out. (While she is spared from the turkey rush, vegans are not immune from supply-chain issues: No maitake or oyster mushrooms on the menu this year, she cautions.)

Even if the general mode among operators is cautious optimism, nobody is quite ready to declare this years Thanksgiving a return to business as usual. I dont believe that were there yet, Moore says bluntly. Prices, certainly, will be higher across the board, with rising food and labor costs reflected on Thanksgiving menus, though still not necessarily in proportion to reality (We didnt want to completely terrify our consumer, quips Abdoo). But we could be getting close. Carmellini, who will charge $135 for the Dutchs prix fixe Thanksgiving, is confident: Its all about being social right now, he says. People want to go to restaurants.

Dante, in fact, has stumbled upon a whole new Thanksgiving crowd. There are a lot of people that didnt leave last year and really wanted somewhere to spend Thanksgiving because they didnt have family, says Hudson. They came to Dante, and now this year, theyre like, It was so great, we want to bring our family.
Today is the first Monday of the month, and you know what that means, right? A Google Android monthly update. These are usually only about security fixes, but not this time around, as there are a bunch of Pixel-specific non-security issues resolved too.

Speaking of Pixels, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have reached the end of the line when it comes to software updates, three years after their launch. The new November 2021 update is only headed to the Pixel 3a (launched in May 2019) and later devices.

As to what's fixed, unfortunately the widely reported screen flickering issue on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro isn't, but Google has outed a statement saying those fixes will arrive with the December update. That's yet another month of waiting for new Pixel 6 / 6 Pro owners, sadly.

Here's what was actually fixed - an issue that prevented notification sounds in certain scenarios, there are improvements in audio quality in certain scenarios and wireless charging in certain orientations, stability improvements for certain third party apps, better auto-brightness response in certain lighting conditions, improved transition animation performance in the Overview screen in certain conditions, improved Picture-in-Picture media playback with certain apps, and improved connection stability.

Additionally, fixes for incorrect showing of an app's icon after installation, and the way the keyboard displayed over apps in certain conditions, as well as UI elements being hidden have all been packed in too.

Not all of these apply to all of the currently supported Pixels, if you want to know exactly what goes where then head on over to the first Source linked below which has a handy table. That's also where you can see which build number your Pixel is getting with this update.

Normally we list those here, but there are very many different ones this time around for some reason. If you're interested in the specific security fixes applied, then go to the second Source linked below which has all of the nitty gritty details.

As with all Google updates, expect the rollout of this one to at least take days, if not weeks, until it reaches all of the eligible phones out there.

Source 1 | Source 2
Yigo resident, Jasmin Camacho, utilizes a hallway wall to complete her employment application as she and other job seekers hope to land one of several open Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services positions during a job fair, conducting by the Department of Labor at the agencys American Job Center in Anigua, on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
Experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are on island to investigate why so many of Guams recent COVID-19 deaths involve patients who were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The last member of a four-person CDC team is scheduled to arrive sometime this week, according to the Department of Public Health and Social Services, which in early October asked the CDC for help following a surge in COVID-19 deaths and patients dying before they made it to the hospital.

The other three CDC team members already are on Guam, and the first arrived Sunday, according to Public Health.

The team members are: Candrita McLemore, junior public health adviser; Duping Zheng, senior microbiologist; Hong Zhou, biostatistician; and Jan White, medical epidemiologist.

In late September, Public Health reported that dead-on-arrival cases made up about two-thirds of recent COVID-19 deaths on Guam.

Thirty-nine people with COVID-19 died between July 7 and Sept. 20, according to Public Health, including 24 people who did not make it to the hospital alive. Seventeen of the people who were dead on arrival did not test positive until the day they died, suggesting they did not know they were infected, according to Public Health.

Since then, 53 more COVID-19 patients have died, including 14 people who were pronounced dead on arrival, according to the Joint Information Center.

The most recent COVID-19 DOA happened Oct. 31, when a 95-year-old unvaccinated woman was brought to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. According to the Joint Information Center, the woman tested positive for COVID-19 more than a week earlier, on Oct. 20.

Public Health officials encourage residents to call 911 or seek emergency medical care if they have trouble breathing, experience persistent pain or pressure in the chest, experience new confusion, are unable to wake or to stay awake, or have bluish lips or face.

Public Health officials have said the CDC team will analyze Guams COVID-19 patient data, examining comorbidities, transmission rates and risk factors, among other things.
About six hours after he was reported missing, Guam Police Department officers found a man who escaped from the Department of Corrections quarantine facility Tuesday morning.

Police found Anthony Luis Parteko Camacho behind Benson hardware store in Mongmong Tuesday afternoon, Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio said at a press conference held at the prison.

GPDs Special Operations Division apprehended Camacho, who was found in a vehicle with another individual. Both Camacho and the other person were taken into custody, Ignacio added.

Search

The Department of Corrections began their search for Camacho after he was found to be missing from the facility in Mangilao at 6:55 a.m.

Following Camachos escape, DOC implemented an escape recovery plan, which involved collaboration with police, Corrections Department Director Joe Carbullido said at the press conference.

Camacho, who was being held for parole violations, was located at around 12:30 p.m.

I want to thank the Chief of Police of Guam Police Department and the Special Operations Division for their quick response in apprehending the prisoner. This could not have happened without effective collaboration between DOC and GPD, Carbullido said.

Both the prison and police will conduct investigations into Camachos escape.

Quarantine facility

Camacho was one of three people being held at the quarantine facility when he escaped.

He was in quarantine because he tested positive for COVID-19, according to Carbullido.

The quarantine facility at the prison consists of two tents on the outer edge of the facility that can hold up to 20 individuals, said DOC Maj. Antone Aguon.

Carbullido said the prison will evaluate the quarantine facility after taking a look at issues that may have led to Camachos escape.

Past arrests

In May, Camacho led Guam Police Department officers on a high-speed chase after he stole a black Jeep from a Tamuning residence, PDN files state.

At one point, Camacho rammed into patrol cars and injured an officer in the process. He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and assault on a peace officer, documents state.

In May 2018, Camacho was arrested with another man in connection with the robbery of two game rooms and the Mobil Gas Station in Yona. Camacho was charged with second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, PDN files state.

In 2015, Camacho was arrested in connection with the theft of a Toyota 4Runner from Santa Rita Mayor Dale Alvarez, PDN files state.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero established the Division of Childrens Wellness within the Department of Public Health and Social Services through an executive order, according to a news release from Adelup.

The new division was created because more residents are eligible for help with child care programs, and there currently arent enough services available, according to the order.

The executive order calls for the new division to begin operation on Jan. 1, 2022. It will include the Bureau of Social Services and the new Bureau of Child Care Services.

The Bureau of Child Care Services will be responsible for the administration of all federally funded child care programs and grant funds, the release stated.

The new division will launch and begin managing all federal and local child care programs by the divisions start date, the release stated.

The bureau will be responsible for:

Expanding eligibility requirements for income so that more families may qualify for child care assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanding the supply of child care services on Guam, with a focus on increasing in-home and relative child care providers. The goal is to streamline and simplify the application process for license-exempt child care providers, and to receive child care block grant subsidy payments.

Develop an operating plan to release funds to support the existing child care market.

The new division will collaborate with other government agencies, such as the Guam Department of Education, which oversees afterschool programs such as the Community Learning Centers and After School Program for Instructional Remediation and Enrichment.

Early in our administration, we identified significant shortfalls in the resources that serve our vulnerable children and their families, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said. Our existing child care centers fill only 6% of our communitys needs, so we have directed the funds and resources necessary to improve, protect, and sustain child care for all our families in need.
The number of teacher vacancies at the Guam Department of Education has increased 28% since September, according to the department.

From the departments last report, the number of vacancies went from 80 to 102, according to department spokeswoman Michelle Franquez.

Franquez said the vacancies were not related to the vaccine mandate, which requires employees to either be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

Last week, three teachers were put on leave due to refusal to comply with the mandate.

Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez said the constant shortage is still a concern for the department, and it doesnt help that three more teachers are out of the classroom.

Were glad that its not the full 30 like we feared, but three is an impact, said Fernandez.

In addition, other department employees are not available because they are serving in the military.

We have about 40 employees who are also deployed right now to support the National Guard as part of our community response to COVID-19. Wed love to get through COVID so we can get those teachers back, Fernandez said.

Currently, the department has over 1,970 teachers employed. So far, about 92% are fully vaccinated and about 7% have agreed to submit to the weekly testing.

Once the island can return back to normal and is able to reach a low positivity rate, the department will be able to address the teacher shortage more effectively, according to Fernandez.

Theres a lot of moving parts here, and I think thats why were doing our best to do whats necessary, said Fernandez. If it requires for the vaccine or weekly testing, we can get back to a safer environment and parents can feel safe. Thats what I want to do so we can also do the same for the community and get all of our teachers back in the classrooms.




Haiti - Insecurity : 4 tanker drivers kidnapped in Martissant





On Monday in Martissant 7, heavily armed individuals kidnapped four tanker drivers who had just loaded fuel at the Thor oil terminal (Carrefour), the Varreux Terminal (70% of Haiti's storage capacity) in Cite Soleil, being always inaccessible, under the control of heavily armed men of the coalition of "G9 and allied" Gangs



2 of the trucks were intended for the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, and were to supply industries, said the National Association of Petroleum Products Distributors (ANADIPP), which is angry faces these kidnappings, despite the security guarantees of the Government "Appropriate measures were not taken and this is what happened" recalling that we must not forget that setting up a secure corridor to access the Thor terminal is not enough, because tank trucks are once charged must cross the dangerous area of Martissant controlled by armed gangs.



The four tankers are immobilized in Martissant and secured by armored police vehicles, however, no driver so far is ready to pick up these fuel trucks despite the police presence.



It would not be surprising if professional associations linked to the petroleum sector would announce another strike to protest the Governments inability to end the criminal activities of gangs and effectively ensure the safety of their members.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35103-haiti-flash-the-usa-will-intervene-in-the-delivery-of-fuel-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35102-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35096-haiti-flash-barbecue-demands-the-resignation-of-the-pm-against-the-resupply-of-fuel-in-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35086-haiti-flash-deprived-of-fuel-by-gangs-the-country-at-the-gates-of-hell.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34843-haiti-news-zapping.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





FLASH : Suspension of student visas in DR

Monday evening, Jatzel Roman the Dominican Vice-Minister of Consular Affairs and Migration, informed on his Twitter account that the Dominican Government has decided to suspend "indefinitely" the special visa program for Haitian students in the country. Without further explanation ...



11 million euros for conservation in protected areas

In Haiti, 36% of the 5,000 plants and 75% of the 2,000 vertebrate species are endemic. In order to save these species, the French Development Agency (AFD) is helping to endow the Haitian Fund for Biodiversity (FHB), an independent trust fund, with a sustainable financing capacity in favor of biodiversity in Haiti. 11 million euros will be used to implement conservation actions, mainly in protected areas, while improving the living conditions of the communities that depend on them.



Haiti at an important round table in Spring Valley

Ambassador Bocchit Edmond participated in a Roundtable in the city of Spring Valley, New York. An initiative by US Deputy Mondaire Jones aimed at finding lasting solutions to illegal migration to the United States, combating insecurity and attracting foreign direct investment to Haiti.



The clock back on November 7

National time will be set back by 60 minutes from Sunday 7 November of this year, informs the secretariat of the presidency in a note dated 28 October 2021.



Opening of COP26

Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland, the 26th session of the COP26 Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place the official opening in the presence of several thousand delegates from the 197 Signatory parties to the UNFCCC, including Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35134-haiti-news-zapping.html



D-1 : Best wishes for Dalembert

"On behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, I wish the writer Louis-Philippe Dalembert success in this race for one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world established by the Academie Goncourt. His book, Milwaukee Blues, published by Sabine Wespieser is a masterpiece to read" declared Jn Emmanuel Jacquet, Minister of Culture See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35099-icihaiti-goncourt-2021-milwaukee-blues-by-louis-philippe-dalembert-among-the-4-finalists.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Editor: Arizona 4th Congressional District, really? Is Paul Gosar the best you can do?
Proposal sparks controversy during Monday's council meeting

A resolution to reclassify Havre as a class two city was tabled at Monday's meeting of the Havre City Council to give the public a greater opportunity to learn about the matter before it is voted on.

City Finance Director Doug Kaercher said this matter is being brought up again due to a misunderstanding by a previous city council that resulted in a lack of action taken to address the issue.

Kaercher said Havre's population was shown in the 2000 Census to have dropped to fewer than 10,000 people, requiring it to reclassify as a class two city, but before the council could do that the Montana Legislature passed a bill stating that cities with a population between 9,000 and 10,000 people could still be considered class one through an exemption.

He said the previous council, believing this rule change had resolved the matter, did not pass a resolution to reclassify.

However, according to state law, he said, regardless of which they choose, the city must pass a resolution to either reaffirm their status as a class one city or shift down to class two.

Along with members of the council, Kaercher said the reason they were contemplating moving to class two was because a great number of grants are available to class two cities that class one cities can't even apply for, and this money could potentially be a significant boon to Havre.

Council members also attempted to make clear that the designation of class one and class two is strictly one of population size, not of prestige or quality.

When asked how much the city could potentially be given, Kaercher said he couldn't give an estimate because grants are never a guarantee, but without being class two they won't even have a chance for these grants, many of which could help fund infrastructure projects.

However, the resolution drew vocal opposition from city firefighters, many of whom argued that because the grants are not guaranteed the potential benefits were not worth it compared to how the reclassification would affect their department.

Many who spoke against the resolution appeared to be under the impression that the reclassification was being made in order to allow the city to cut fire department services.

Unlike class one cities, class two cities are not required under Montana state law to have a paid fire department.

Havre Firefighter Cody McLain said that this is the only difference between class one and class two reflected in state law, and this is why he and so many of his fellows are wound up about the potential change.

Havre Mayor Tim Solomon, as well as the members of the council, said they have no intention of changing how the fire department operates when it comes to services and compensation, and their only concern is access to grant dollars.

McLain responded to this statement of intent by saying even if that is true, another city council and mayor may feel differently and the reclassification will give them the ability to cut the fire department.

Others criticized the way the resolution was noticed to the public, with wording that made it sound like they were required by law to reclassify as class two.

While the resolution drew opposition it was not without support.

Havre resident David Brewer said Havre is currently at the bottom of class one, competing for funds with places like Great Falls, but if they move to class two not only will they have access to more grants, but they will be part of a smaller group of cities competing for those dollars and will be at the top of class two.

Brewer said the idea that the city would cut the fire department seems unlikely, given how vital it is to the community, especially with the city having just signed an agreement with Rural Fire District 1 to provide them fire suppression.

Rep. Ed Hill, R-Havre, also spoke in favor of reclassifying as class two, echoing many of Brewer's sentiments and agreeing with the council about the importance of these grants and the infrastructure improvements they can bring.

He said he understands the concerns of the fire department, particularly McLain who called him about the issue recently, but reassured them that council is not out to hurt them with this effort.

Former city council member Bob Kaul also spoke in favor of the reclassification, which he said he has supported since his time on the council.

While many members of the council indicated their support for the reclassification council member Karen Swenson said given the misunderstandings regarding the resolution and the motives of the council it seems wrong to pass it without giving the public a chance to understand the matter better, which the council needs to do a better job of.

Council member Lindsey Ratliff said she supports the reclassification but agreed that the public should have a bit more time to ask questions and find out more.

The council voted 5-2 to table the resolution until next month's meeting with council members Andrew Brekke and Denise Brewer voting no, council member Derek Eldridge excused and all others voting for tabling the issue.

The council also passed a resolution to authorize submission of a Community Development Block Grant application and an ordinance amending city policy on dealing with code violations for abandoned structures.

Brekke said under this amended policy buildings that have had utilities shut off for one year, or have been boarder up for six months are eligible to have their owners contacted by public works so they can proceed with determinations about what needs to be done to bring it up to code.

Both passed unanimously.

The council also unanimously passed a zoning ordinance change requested by Jim Treperinas, converting the properties between 14th and 16th streets and Fifth and Sixth avenues to commercial local, which allows some businesses to be operated in properties in the district.

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Havre City Council conducts a meeting Monday in Havre City Hall.

At the end of the meeting Havre resident Don Stein came to the council saying he's been having serious problems with Havre's deer population which has been causing accidents, eating people's plants and generally being a nuisance in his neighborhood.

Stein said he's afraid the issue is going to get worse, and is quickly becoming a sanitation problem.

He said he talked to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to find out what he's allowed to do, but Solomon said the council is doing the same thing, researching what they can do and working with FWP on a plan that would including trapping.

Solomon said they still have research to do and are looking at how far they can go with things like the upcoming archery season, but it is an issue the council and he are keenly aware of and are working on.

The council's ordinance committee also met after the city council meeting was adjourned.

See more about this meeting in Wednesday's edition of the Havre Daily News.
The letter that was dubbed the selling as 'reckless' , the lawmaker wrote '' On October 17, Turkish President Erdogan told reporters that the United States has proposed the sale of a batch of F-16 fighter jets but the reported sale has yet to be confirmed. We have noted that your Department has declined to answer questions about the LOR, citing policy of not commenting before Congress has been notified of the LOR. We believe that the widespread reporting on Turkeys request, as well as President Erdogans own statements, provide us sufficient basis to declare our opposition to this potential sale.

The letter went on to say Turkeys illegal and unfettered actions are indicative of President Erdogans transformation of Turkey to a rogue state led by a leader with a nationalistic philosophy, Neo-Ottoman ambitions, and a complete disregard for following international law, said Congressman Bilirakis.

Turkey has proven to be an unreliable ally and is in violation of numerous UN Resolutions concerning the continued occupation of Cyprus, said Philip Christopher, President of the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA). It has jeopardized the security of the United States and NATO!, it remarked.

American Friends of Kurdistan applauds the members of Congress who have taken a just and critical stance on preventing Turkey from attaining additional F-16 fighter jets and upgrades, said Diliman Abdulkader, Co-founder and Spokesperson of American Friends of Kurdistan. The United States had saved many civilian lives when it removed Turkey from the F-35 program, the United States would be saving many more lives if it prevents Turkey from modernizing and expanding its current F-16 fleet. Turkey has done enough damage to the region with the weapons it already holds, and this step is decisive to keeping the region secure. The F-16s will undoubtedly be used against the Kurds across the region, we must do everything we can to prevent this. It concluded.

l..a

ANHA
This was during an exclusive meeting of Furat news agency with the member of Executive Committee of Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, Duran Kalkan, in which he touched upon on the strategies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States of America and European States with regard to the "new Ottoman" attacks and the genocide of the Turkish state.

Kalkan said: "All policies underlying today's so-called" Kurdish problem "are politics and mentality of denial and extermination of the Kurds; It is an international policy created by the hegemony of the global capitalist State, and it is totally against the solution; Because it's the same one who created the problem and it's the beneficiary of it.

The forces of global hegemony are hostile to all those who seek to resolve the Kurdish issue, defend the existence and freedoms of the Kurds, develop the will, organization and awareness of the Kurdistan liberation, and work to transcend the mentality and policy of genocide, through the realization by the Kurds of their democracy on the basis of unity based on the realization of national democratic rights.

* What are the strategies and agendas of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), particularly the United States of America, for Turkish state occupation attacks in the context of the Kurdistan Communities Union, KCK ?

The Turkish state's occupation attacks on Rojava and Southern Kurdistan cannot be separated from colonial domination and genocide policies in Northern Kurdistan. So, Certainly, the primary objective of these occupation attacks is to destroy the Kurdish presence in all respects. As in Northern Kurdistan and implementing the extermination against the Kurds, the Turkish state, the current fascist government of the AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party have clearly seen that without tangible results from the genocide attacks on Kurd in Rojava and Southern Kurdistan and the elimination of Kurdish gains there. It cannot derive from its policy of genocide in Northern Kurdistan, and thus will not succeed in achieving the Kurd genocide; Democratic and liberal developments in any part directly affect each other and open the way for the development of awareness, organization and practice in the liberal and democratic struggle; In this case, if the Turkish state wants to accomplish the Kurd genocide, it must carry out the genocide attacks against the Kurdish presence and its freedom in all parts of Kurdistan and the diaspora in a comprehensive and integrated manner. This is the result of the liquidation and extermination attacks on the PKK by the Turkish state and its Governments for more than 40 years.

* What is the European agenda, especially German, regarding the Turkish occupation of Southern Kurdistan?

At first, let's make it clear that Germany is not an independent bloc. But even if there's such a thing; it 'll be very weak and limited. Beyond this, however, one can say that they act in accordance with their own interests, putting their own political and expansionist interests above all else. The political landscape of the German state at this time is as follows. We dont say that; they're saying it in public. A few days ago, Chancellor Merkel made that statement clear. "Our political situation is based on economic interests," she said.

In addition; They're in harmony with NATO. In fact, as Germany is one of the most countries in need of NATO at this time. This is similar to the Turkish state. Just as the Turkish state addresses many of its weaknesses by relying on NATO to resolve them and achieve their security through NATO, the same can be said for Germany. So although there are some differences in economic interests, there are some differences, it's not true to say that Germany is retreating and moving away from NATO or forming a separate bloc. Because in practice there's no such thing.

If one describes the situation in Germany in this way, one can easily understand Germany's position in the face of the Turkish state's occupation of Southern Kurdistan. Therefore, despite everything, it is based on economic interests close to Turkish state occupier attacks on Rojava and Southern Kurdistan. When Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented a map of the United Nations, he said that from Idlib to Deirk, that he would clear northern Syria and Western Kurdistan of existing forces, resettle refugees there, equip infrastructure and launch a financial and economic investment project, the first country to offer its services and willingness to join was Germany. Germany's approaches to the occupiers' attacks on Southern Kurdistan were similar to its targets.

We know that Germany is pursuing its economic and financial relations with Iraq at the highest level when it sees an opportunity. Even with Iran, which has conflicts with the United States and NATO. Germany maintains financial and economic relations at a new level. Recently, this relationship continues to develop and is in financial and economic relations with the government in Southern Kurdistan, one of the most supportive forces of the government there, and wants to invest economically and financially in Southern Kurdistan. First of all, Germany considers its approaches on this basis.

If it does not support Tehran, Baghdad and Erbil, it does not stand in the way of the policies of the Turkish occupation of Southern Kurdistan. On the contrary, it supports this occupation. It is clear that Germany will not oppose the occupation of Southern Kurdistan and will support the Turkish state in its aims. The German policies supporting the Turkish occupation are permanently behind economic interests.

On the other hand, Germany has always wanted the Turks to rule the Middle East and dominate the region. The German Empire has historically based its economic, political, and military interests on Turkey's control of the Middle East. This was how it related to the Ottoman Empire. On the one hand, it depends on this and wants to plunder the wealth of the Middle East, and on the other, it wants to reach India in the context of the conflict with England. So relations with the Ottomans now continue with the Turkish state on this basis. Germany has always supported the propaganda and sovereign policies of the Turkish state in the Middle East. Because when this happens, it takes into account that more can reach the resources of the Middle East. Therefore, the occupation of Rojava, Southern Kurdistan and various areas of the Middle East by the Turkish state, as well as the occupation of these areas by the Turkish state, do not disturb Germany.

Perhaps if all the international powers stand up to Turkey, Germany will also show itself as standing up to it, but it will secretly support the Turkish state. This must be known; Because it identified its historical strategic position this way. The German capital interests system was built on this principle. This is why the United States and Germany do not oppose the Turkish occupying power's attacks on Rojava and Southern Kurdistan. On the contrary, they support these attacks. When it doesn't reveal it explicitly, or can't do it, it certainly does it in a subtle way. Both policies concerning Iran and Southern Kurdistan as well as political and economic relations and the strategic approach in the Turkish state impose this policy. As long as German capital is sovereign and follows politics, there can be no change in this German political landscape.

How is this support clearly expressed? Secretly based on what alliances and relationships as well as what kind of organization is it running? Of course the subject's questions are worth looking at. Because some things are done discreetly by communications and alliances, they are not clear, they are not published in the media, and they are not known to the general public. Any alliance and secret relations in which Germany supports the occupation of the Turkish state must be clarified here. There is also a need for more clear support to be provided.

Let's look at the scene: From Afrin to Zap, Avasin, Khakurk, the weapons used by the Turkish state in its attacks are NATO weapons. American weapons and German weapons. Turkish occupation invaded Afrin with German tanks. German tanks roam the streets of Afrin and slaughter the Kurds. It's done openly. However, the media did not fully address the issue, nor did it expose Germany's clear support for genocide. But it has to be done. The German press must do this first. German democrats must do so. Such a situation would do the greatest harm to democracy and freedom in Germany. Strengthens German capital; So it weakens the German people. The weakness of German workers has increased against strong capital. This puts Germany as a country in a weak position and in the hands of a group of capitalists who will further support fascism, repression and genocide. It therefore weakens German democracy and freedom. That's a looming reality.

T/S

ANHA
The manoeuvres involved armed fighters and helicopters flying at low altitude in the eastern countryside of Ain Issa district and on the frontlines of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries in the Shirkrak silos, and the dumping of thermal balloons and light bombs

This is the third military exercise conducted by Russian forces in NE, Syria. On October 31st, Russian forces, with the participation of Damascus government forces, conducted for the first time joint military exercises in rural Tel Tamr and yesterday military exercises in the western countryside of Tel-Abyed.

T/S

ANHA
A SWIMMER has criticised MPs for not backing a proposal to stop water companies dumping sewage in rivers.

Gareth Dean, 41, from South Stoke, runs his own company, Non Plastic Beach, which sells alternatives to products commonly made from or packaged in single-use plastic.

He also swims in the Thames six times a week near the Benson sewage treatment works, which is one of the worst-affected stretches of the river.

Sewage was discharged into the river at Benson for nearly 900 hours in the first half of last year.

Mr Dean wrote to Henley MP John Howell before last weeks vote in the House of Commons on an amendment to the Environment Bill that would have made it a legal duty on water companies to restrict sewage going into rivers.

The amendment was defeated when 268 MPs, including Mr Howell, voted against it.

Mr Howell said he could not support the amendment because upgrading the countrys infrastructure in order to eliminate sewage would cost up to 600 billion.

He said that the water companies would invest 7.1 billion in environmental measures between 2020 and 2025. Of this, 3.1 billion would be spent on storm overflow improvements. Mr Dean said he was disappointed, adding: Even if it does cost that much, then leaving the problem alone isnt going to help. It is just making things worse and when you do eventually come to look at, it the cost will be even higher.

When are things going to get fixed? The Bill is full of loose language that gives a lot of room for water companies to get away with not doing very much.

A lot of it is about self-monitoring and the Environment Agency has had a lot of budget cuts.

The chance of the water companies getting caught if they are bending the existing rules is quite limited, so we needed something strong from our politicians.

The vote was condemned by the Rivers Trust, the Angling Trust and campaign group Surfers Against Sewage as well as Jo Robb, the River Thames champion for South Oxfordshire District Council.

Mr Dean, who lives with his wife Nicola, 42, and their children Isla, four, and Jamie, two, moved to South Stoke seven years ago. He is originally from Kent and has spent most of his working life doing PR and communications in the car industry, specialising in electric vehicles when he worked for Nissan.

During the coronavirus lockdown, he would swim in the river every day and now he meets up with other local swimmers regularly.

However, he has to adapt his swimming technique after heavy rainfall, which can cause pipes to overflow and sewage spills.

Mr Dean said: It is a constant worry, unfortunately. Benson has an unenviable record for being one of the worst stretches on the Thames.

You know that whenever there has been heavy rain it will be worse and you have to avoid the river.

If I do go swimming after there has been rain, I will keep my head out of the water for three or four days.

There have been times when I have gone down to the river and a boat goes by and the bubbles stay there for a lot longer than usual. Theres also a layer of scum that looks really unpleasant.

This stretch is used by swimmers, boaters, paddleboarders and both Oxford universities for rowing. Theres also lots of wildlife.

It is terrible to think that all those people use it but nothing is being done. We need to think if we should be granting planning permission for any new houses near Benson while the sewage works is dramatically over capacity.

The Deans founded Non Plastic Beach in 2018 following a trip to Mauritius.

The couple are keen divers and realised they could do more in their own lives when they saw the efforts being made to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean.

The business started at their home but they now have a unit at the Church Farm business park off Reading Road, Woodcote.

Its products include biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner bars and are sold in more than 90 countries.

The company provided toothpaste tablets for the first plastic-free flight from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane in 2019 and its celebrity endorsers include Julia Bradbury, Eamonn Holmes and Gary Lineker.

Mr Dean said: We are not telling people they should cut out all plastic immediately but instead try to change one or two things and find a non-plastic alternative.
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Detectives are looking for information into a Monday morning shooting on the north side of Lima. According to investigators, the shooting happened just before 9:30 am at an apartment complex at 1000 W. Robb Ave. 44-year-old Garrett Turner was found inside one of the apartments with multiple gunshot wounds. Scanner traffic indicated that the shots came from outside the apartment, he was taken to the hospital where is he is listed in serious but stable condition. Anyone with information about the shooting, you are asked to call the LPD at 419-227-4444 or Crimes Stoppers 419-229-7867.
Renovation

1 November 2021

Unique design brings travelers new perspective through updated oversized rooms, suites, penthouse rooftop space and more.

Sonesta International Hotels Corp., one of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in the U.S., is proud to relaunch Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown after a nine-month, $50 million renovation. Located at 71 E Wacker Drive in the heart of downtown Chicago, Royal Sonesta and its design partner, The Gettys Group Companies , approached the hotel with a residential design to inspire business and leisure guests alike with a fresh perspective on travel. More than just a renovation or a design refresh, the finished project across the hotel's 381 guestrooms, common areas, private event spaces and penthouse rooftop ballroom and terrace intends to reimagine the modern traveler experience.

The Design

With a light and airy design channeling warmth and midwestern hospitality, the hotel welcomes guests to the 'Wacker Drive Living Room'a bright, urban living environment at the cross-section of the Chicago River and the famed Michigan Avenue. Royal Sonesta and The Gettys Group Companies approached the project in a layered fashion, developing a style that highlights Chicago's diverse culture and is not overly feminine or masculine. The reflection of the bustling city and calming river against the hotel's glass-clad exterior inspired the hotel's interior transformation.Cool tones of blue and green can be found throughout Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown in addition to pops of yellow and orange, reminiscent of the glittering towers outside.

The use of subtle architectural details and playful artwork are intended to simultaneously make a guest feel at home, while invigorating them to step outside and take in everything the Windy City has to offer. For example, the architectural arch details found in the lobby soften the robust, original columns, while paying homage to the classical structures throughout the Loop and Chicago's beloved "corn cob" towers, visible through the front windows. Additionally, the reception pods were inspired by the design motif found on some of Chicago's bridges, reinterpreted to connect the traveler to today's modern world. The team also worked with Kevin Barry Art Advisory and Indiewalls to incorporate thoughtful pieces into the design, including the dramatic custom piece in the lobby featuring rolled paper in shades of blue and green reflecting those found in the river, plus at the elevator landing where a piece featuring a chimpanzee from the Lincoln Park Zoo gazes across the hallway to another piece of an old-worldly gentleman.

The Rooms

Boasting 300 oversized guestrooms and 81 suites across 29 floors, Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown has no shortage of breathtaking riverfront and city views. With standard guest rooms averaging 400 square feetdouble the size of a standard 220 square foot hotel room in Chicagothe accommodations were created with work, life and play in mind, intended to make the hotel stay feel like a home away from home, including space for the necessary remote workday, a prerequisite of the evolving American workforce. The simple colors and design used throughout the hotel's common spaces are carried into each of the rooms and lead the guests' eyes to take in the incredible view of Chicago, instilling a sense of excitement and inspiration.

The 154 king rooms, 146 queen-queen rooms and 81 different suites all received upgraded features fit for the modern traveler like custom nightstands fitted with convenient technology and special drawers that pull out to offer extra surface space for devices. 20 percent of the hotel's inventory consists of suites, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom and even family style suites featuring bunkbeds. The variety accommodates a range of travelers' needs and lifestyles some suites even include a Peloton bike for the fitness enthusiast. A distinct difference in all of the guest rooms is the addition of a multi-purpose dining zone instead of the traditional desks commonly found in hotel rooms. The change allows the space to cater to a variety of travel styles and needs. Other updates include 65" Samsung TVs, eco-friendly thermostats, LED lights, walk-in showers as well as new coffee makers and mini-fridges in each room.

The Gatherings

With over 16,000 square feet across 18 meeting spaces, Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown is uniquely equipped to accommodate a variety of meetings and events. The jewel of Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown's event spaces is a stunning 39th floor Penthouse Ballroom with a 360-degree view of the Chicago skyline. Boasting an impressive 2,100 square feet of interior space with an extra 1,600 square feet of outdoor terrace space, the rooftop is a premier spot for weddings and other gatherings in the heart of Chicago's downtown. The elegant and sophisticated mix of meetings spaces can host groups from 10 to 350 people whether it be for business meetings or celebrations, all with the help of a dedicated convention services team. Hoyt's American Tavern, found on the first floor off of the lobby, offers attentive service and delectable, Midwestern tavern cuisine infused with cosmopolitan flair.
Rebranding

2 November 2021

ARTOTEL Group announces that the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a public company on behalf of PT Planet Properindo Jaya Tbk, to operate Vue Palace Hotel - Bandung. The MOU was signed recently by Mr. Erastus Radjimin, Founder & CEO of ARTOTEL Group, and President Director of PT Planet Properindo Jaya Tbk, Mr. Antonyo Hartono Tanujaya.

Vue Palace Hotel - Bandung is a four-star hotel located strategically in the city center of Bandung city, West Java. It offers complete facilities both for business and leisure travellers. Its location is easily accessible, only 500 m distance from the train station and close to the central business district as well as the trade center in Bandung.

Vue Palace Hotel features 102 guest rooms with spacious rooms, sized from 28 sqm and has 3 types of rooms, Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Suite Room. The hotel is also equipped with a MICE and leisure facilities such as 1 meeting room with a capacity up to 350 people, 1 restaurant and bar, swimming pool, fitness center, and spa.

ARTOTEL Group will transform Vue Palace Hotel into a mid-scale boutique hotel following the ARTOTEL Group ecosystem. In 2022, Vue Palace Hotel will change its name to ARTOTEL Vue Palace - Bandung and will display various artworks that are integrated into every hotel facility both in rooms and public spaces. All of the artworks are curated by the art and creative division of ARTOTEL Group. Further, ARTOTEL Group will give a new breath in its restaurant and bar to become a new and modern destination for casual meetings, gatherings, and hangout places in Bandung. During the transition period to renovate the hotel with a new concept, Vue Palace will be running as usual but under the name Vue Palace, ARTOTEL Curated.
Now Open

2 November 2021

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation (Sonesta), one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the U.S., announced today's opening of the brand's latest property in Minnesota, the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown. The 360-room city center hotel transitioned to Sonesta's management earlier this morning and will be operated under the company's upper-upscale brand, Royal Sonesta.

The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown hotel is in the heart of the city, within walking distance of Target Center, where the Minnesota Timberwolves play, Target Field, where the Minnesota Twins play, and the historic theater district on Hennepin Avenue. The hotel also offers direct access to the Minneapolis Skyway System, so guests never need to step outdoors to get to the Minneapolis Convention Center or the Hennepin County Government Center. Featuring spacious guestrooms and suites, and more than 30,000 square feet of modern meeting space, the hotel is an ideal option for business travelers and families alike.

Royal Sonesta hotels are artistically created and locally inspired. Each is situated within the prime location of the 17 cities in which they operate, with an eye to modern design, curated amenities and award-winning and locally inspired dining. Each Royal Sonesta is truly individual reflecting the destination with a fine-tuned, well-appointed and locally accented design.

Sonesta is the first hotel company to be Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED with Forbes Travel Guide, demonstrating Sonesta's commitment to the health and safety of its guests and team members. Sharecare's comprehensive verification process helps ensure that guests and travel planners can book with confidence knowing the appropriate health safety protocols and procedures are in place at Sonesta hotels. Each of the 250+ hotel's health and safety protocols and procedures are verified using Sharecare's health security platform to confirm a comprehensive set of public health standards are met or exceeded including Sonesta's own successful Stay Safe with Sonesta health and cleanliness program.
Appointment

2 November 2021

Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur is delighted to welcome new Head Bartender Shadrach Shan, better known as Shawn.

A member of the Bar Trigona team since 2018, Shawn has been an integral part of its dazzling journey from local favourite to global trailblazer. He first came on board as Bar Supervisor, working his way up to Assistant Bar Manager and now taking the reins as Head Bartender.

With a zest for experimenting with local produce and making the most of every single ingredient, Shawn is keen to build further on Bar Trigona's approach of sustainability and innovation.

Born in Selangor, Malaysia, young Shawn initially planned to become an architect. All that changed when, at the age of 17, he got a part-time job at TGI Fridays.

After completing his diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Service from Singapore, Shawn began his career at the Gallery Hotel Singapore. He then honed his skills as a Bartender at Mandarin Oriental Singapore, followed by a move back to Kuala Lumpur with the same brand. After a successful stint at another five-star hotel bar in the city, he joined the Four Seasons family.
Appointment

2 November 2021

Hospitality is second nature to Julian.

This early exposure gave Julian a valuable understanding of guest service, ultimately inspiring him to build a career in hotels. After earning an advanced diploma in hospitality management, he honed his skills at multiple luxury hotels in Kuala Lumpur, rapidly moving up the ladder to bar service leader and then team leader. In 2018, he joined the preopening team of Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur as Assistant Bar Manager, a role he has essayed with skill and flair ever since.

Indeed, unlike traditional hotel bars, the ambience here is effortlessly relaxed, inviting guests to open up and be themselves. Keep an eye out for Julian on the next visit: he's the one with the warm smile and chic ponytail, always ready to strike up a conversation or share a joke.

For Julian and his team, the Golden Rule is a daily motto: to treat others as you want to be treated.
Appointment

2 November 2021

Jorg T. Bockeler has been Managing Director for Operations, Marketing & Sales and Revenue since January 2018 and oversees the HOMMAGE Luxury Hotels Collection as CEO. Before joining the Dorint Group, he worked in leading positions at the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), including as Regional Manager Australia in Sydney and General Manager in Dusseldorf and Berchtesgaden.

2 November 2021  Bettina Schutt has been managing the Dorint Sanssouci Berlin/Potsdam for more than five years and is also Regional Director for the North area with eight other Dorint properties. Before taking on her management role with the Dorint Hotel Group, she worked for international hotel chains such as Swissotel, Hilton and Scandic.
Press Release

2 November 2021

PHUKET, THAILAND - Resort destinations in Southeast Asia will move beyond sustainability and embrace a more meaningful and responsible way of operating in the post-pandemic era, a major event on the future of travel, tourism and hospitality in the region has learned.

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PHIST returned on Thursday 28th October 2021 for a fourth consecutive year of shaking up the status quo and advancing the environmental agenda in Asia, with a fast-paced full-day virtual event. Over 1,000 online delegates were treated to a series of insightful and inspiring interactive sessions, including keynote addresses from industry leaders and sustainability experts. At the top of the bill was Ho Kwon Ping, Founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and Laguna Resorts & Hotels, who spoke about the need to embrace the environment, rather than simply preserve it.

Its not just about protecting endangered species or preventing deforestation; its about showing people how beautiful the environment is around them. Because if you embrace the environment, then you protect the environment, you beautify the environment, you appreciate and understand the environment, KP Ho told PHIST.

Discussing the future of travel and hospitality in the post-pandemic era, KP Ho said that alongside the obvious changes, such as strict cleanliness protocols and contactless solutions, the industry would start to move towards a more meaningful existence with a stronger human element.

Im actually very positive about tourism post-COVID, because I think its going to morph. During the global pandemic when people couldnt travel, we began to realise that were actually very social animals. We need the human touch, we need friends to visit, we need to go out with our loved one. So I think that in future were going to see a lot more meaningful, purposeful and experiential travel, and that to me is very encouraging, he added.

(left) Aliza Napartivaumnuay, Co-Founder & CEO of Socialgiver; (right) Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks and Co-Founder of PHIST  Photo: Phuket Hotels Association

This view was supported, and even anticipated, by Aliza Napartivaumnuay, Co-Founder & CEO of Socialgiver  a pioneering lifestyle platform that allows customers to support good causes when they travel. A collection of hotels, restaurants, spas and activities are connected to local grassroots projects in Thailand, with part of the purchase price being channelled to these good causes. For example, by booking one night in a pool villa in Phuket, a guest can fund a childs education for three years.

According to Aliza, this is not just about sustainability, but about creating a net positive impact. She believes that this concept can capture the imaginations of all travellers  not only those with a social conscience. Its not just about speaking to people who already care about social and environmental issues, but converting people and then slowly engaging them in more social projects, she explained.

Fortunately, most people now understand critical important of sustainability. The question is no longer about whether we need to act, but how to act in the most effective way. Many of the solutions will be found by the younger generation who are naturally more eco-conscious and socially aware. With this in mind, PHIST listened to the views of students from the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM) / Les Roches. With issues ranging from renewable energy to gender equality, these bright young minds offered insights into the main concerns facing young people today.

Nattawadee Rodsatra, a first year student at AIHM, spoke passionately about the importance of developing a sustainable mindset throughout the community. Being sustainable should not be just a fashion trend, but the norm that society practices. We need to replenish the planets resources, rather than slowly destroying them, she urged.

Concluding the event, Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9Hotelworks and Co-Founder of PHIST told attendees to consider the global pandemic as a reset button  the chance to take a step back, evaluate how were living and working, eliminate harmful practices and embrace a new, responsible era.

Asias resort islands have a once in a lifetime opportunity to get sustainable travel right the second time around. We have to take a long-term view of sustainable tourism, he stated.

Organised by the Phuket Hotels Association, Greenview and C9 Hotelworks, in collaboration with multiple like-minded strategic and supporting partners*, PHIST 2021 was the latest edition of Asias leading sustainable travel and hospitality event. Other speakers included Matawee Mujchapan, Operations Manager of Centara Hotels & Resorts, Marcia Yu, Senior Investment Manager at International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Luca Dotti, Founder & Managing Director of HOMA, Conor Brannum, Sustainability Officer at HOMA, Jesper Palmqvist, Area Director Asia Pacific of STR, and Nikhom Jensiriratanakorn, Director of Horwath HTL. CLICK HERE to watch the full video from PHIST.

The fifth edition PHIST is set to return in autumn 2022, with a face-to-face event hosted in Phuket. Full details will be announced at a later date.
Press Release

2 November 2021

LONDONThe hotel industries in seven key Asia Pacific markets reported profitability levels well below pre-pandemic levels, with only Beijing above 40% of the 2019 comparable, according to STRs September 2021 monthly P&L data release.

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Building on its launch in the U.S., STR now features monthly P&L data reporting in four world regions: Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and the Americas.

Beijings gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) of US$29.91 was 70% of September 2019 levels. Singapore (US$39.99) came in at 35% using the same time comparison, while Hong Kong (US$6.22) was at just 10%. Sydney, Bali, Bangkok and Tokyo were all in negative GOPPAR territory. Tokyo has seen the biggest profitability decline over the past several months.

Only three of the regions key markets reported positive profit conversion in September 2021: Singapore, due to quarantine demand, and Beijing and Hong Kong, which have remained resilient despite the Delta variant outbreak, said Jesper Palmqvist, STRs area director for the Asia Pacific region. Sydney, of course, has been limited due to lockdowns, but with the reopening and allowance of international travelers underway in New South Wales, the market should soon return to positive profitability. Bali and Bangkok, on the other hand, remain further behind in the recovery cycle, with negative profit conversion at -55% and -44%, respectively.

Photo: STR

Industry stakeholders interested in Monthly P&L participation should contact [email protected].
Press Release

2 November 2021

Cologne/Munich - Karl-Heinz Pawliziki, CEO of the Dorint Hotel Group in Cologne, will leave the company at Christmas after seven years and take over Arabella Hospitality S.E. Munich in the role of CEO on 1 January 2022. He will be succeeded at Dorint by the previous Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jorg T. Bockeler (55) as Spokesman of the Executive Board.

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Together with Bettina Schutt (59) - from then on COO - he thus forms the new management duo of DHI Dorint Hospitality & Innovation GmbH with more than 60 hotels & resorts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This was announced by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Dorint Hotel Group, Dirk Iserlohe, a few minutes ago.

Jorg T. Bockeler has been Managing Director for Operations, Marketing & Sales and Revenue since January 2018 and oversees the HOMMAGE Luxury Hotels Collection as CEO. Before joining the Dorint Group, he worked in leading positions at the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), including as Regional Manager Australia in Sydney and General Manager in Dusseldorf and Berchtesgaden.

Bettina Schutt has been managing the Dorint Sanssouci Berlin/Potsdam for more than five years and is also Regional Director for the North area with eight other Dorint properties. Before taking on her management role with the Dorint Hotel Group, she worked for international hotel chains such as Swissotel, Hilton and Scandic. She also gained experience with the Italian cruise line MSC.

To further support her, Frank Schonherr (47) will take over the newly created position of Vice President Operations Germany as of 1 January 2022. Rob Bruijstens (50), previously Managing Director of Dorint Hotels & Resorts Schweiz GmbH, will simultaneously become Vice President Operations Austria and Switzerland. Both will actively support Bettina Schutt.

"I am grateful that I had an experienced finance manager and hotelier at my side in this difficult time of crisis," Dirk Iserlohe thanks his departing managing director. / kn
Supplier News

2 November 2021

San Diego, CA  RMS North America, a leading provider of cloud-based property management solutions to the hospitality industry, today announced that Victor Vesnaver joined the organization as Chief Operating Officer. Vesnaver will lead the company and product direction in North America, supporting its growth strategy while fostering a culture of innovation.

Vesnaver comes to RMS North America during a time ripe with change, as the organization prepares for team and product expansions to support both its core markets and an enhanced hotel and business intelligence focus. With more than three decades of global hospitality experience, Vesnaver will be invaluable as the business plans for its first brand expansion in 2022, deepening its dedication to the hotel industry.

Before joining RMS North America, Vesnaver was the Chief Executive Officer of Koridor Hospitality, where he led the hotel technology start-up. Prior to that role, Vesnaver served as the SVP of Sales and Marketing at Springer-Miller Systems, Vice President of the Hotel Business Unit at MICROS Systems, Inc., and held the position of Assistant Vice President of Information Technology at Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

I am thrilled to be joining RMS North America at such a pivotal time as we broaden our hotel industry focus and recommit ourselves to our current markets, stated Vesnaver. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic turned the hospitality ecosystem on its head. Moving forward, we must walk alongside our clients as valued partners, helping them adapt to new consumer demands and delivering tools that drive operational efficiencies and revenue. We have ambitious plans, and Im eager to help RMS North America in setting a new standard in hotel technology.

Leveraging new business intelligence features, RMSs enhanced offering is targeted at the specific needs of hotels and resorts  facilitating these customers ability to run their businesses while catering to guest needs seamlessly and efficiently. For the latest information and updates, visit www.rmsnorthamerica.com.
Opinion Article

2 November 2021

As the hospitality industry begins to step out of the shadow of the COVID Pandemic, one question remains after a year-and-a-half of uncertainty, what do travelers want now?

The events of 2020 forever altered the way we travel. While the industry has been able to successfully adapt after the hardships of the last year, we must address the fact that travelers wants and needs have changed. Every aspect of travel was impacted by the events of the last year, from how travelers book their stay to what they expect out of their hotel experience. So, how can hospitality professionals keep up with the shifting demands of todays travelers? By listening, offering choices, and providing real value.

To find out how hotels can better adapt to the needs of the modern traveler, continue reading below as we break down how travelers needs are changing in every step of the traveling process in Hospitality on Their Own Terms.

While booking through OTAs and other third-party platforms has steadily increased over the last decade, travelers are now seeking a personal touch in the booking process. Travelers who do their own research and even book through their own preferred channel are now seeking the comfort of traditional voice channels as they book travel in this new post-pandemic landscape.

Many travelers are calling into reservation departments seeking personal reassurance that their travel experience will meet their expectations. When a prospective traveler calls your reservation department, make sure you have professionals on the other end of the line. Properly trained call center agents are experts on your property and can sell your hotel on its best attributes while also reassuring potential guests about any concerns they may have such as the need to be assured that safety practices are being taken seriously.

When speaking on airline sanitation policies for the Washington Post, Raquel Rosenthal, CEO of Digilant, a marketing agency that tracks consumer preferences says, consumers dont just want to read that an airline brand has strict sanitation policy. They want to see and experience it through digital signage and customer service interactions. And when a policy changes, consumers want to know why and how it will directly affect their experience. The same can be said for the hospitality industry.

Travelers are spending more, and they expect real value in return

Travel prices are on the rise. Travel prices seem to be bouncing back and even surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. Whether for rental cars or hotel rooms, travelers are spending more each trip than ever before, and they expect to see real value in return. With higher listed prices per night, your hotel's best shot at conveying the true value of the total travel experience is through a certified hotel call center.

Call center agents are trained to sell your hotels best features and convey to guests the true value of every dollar spent. A friendly voice operating your hotels reservation line will showcase their real value using their voice channel.

According to Doug Kennedy, President of The Kennedy Training Network, If your hotel is going to push rates, you better be prepared to deliver throughout the guests cycle of service, but most importantly when they call to double-check a rate offer or with questions about services and amenities.

Cleanliness and assurances of safety are at the forefront of every travelers mind

New cleaning and safety practices have been adopted in all industries, hospitality included, and are now considered standard. Hotel guests want to be sure their stay will feature the latest sanitation and social distancing practices.

As the last year has taught us, up-to-date safety and sanitation procedures can require the attention of the entire hotel staff. Let your staff focus on current guests while expertly trained call center agents man the lines in the reservation department. Utilizing a hotel call center will allow your staff to give 100% of their attention to meeting and exceeding your guests expectations.

When speaking to the Washington Post, Danny Turner, the Global Senior Vice President of Creative Programming at Mood Media, had this to say, more and more brands are changing their perspective from a brand-first position to a more customer-focused effort.

Essentially, each traveler expects the heightened customer service efforts of the pandemic to remain long after the pandemic is a distant memory. Companies that treat travelers with appreciation and personalized service will have the edge over the ones where you feel like a number, says Jeff Galak, Associate Professor of Marketing at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Tepper School of Business, also while speaking to the Washington Post.

As the title implies, customers dont want the cookie-cutter travel packages of the past  they want to travel on their own terms. Hospitality on the guests' terms means hotels need to offer more flexibility in bookings, room selection, and rewards programs.

In addition to pleasing customers, offering more choices to hotel guests introduces more opportunities for new revenue streams. But thats not all, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protections latest State of Travel Insurance report states that travelers want more flexibility. Travelers are learning what hoteliers have known for years, that booking directly with a property offers more flexibility than booking with an OTA. Many OTAs fail to accommodate reservation changes or provide refunds in the event of a cancellation. New research suggests that despite the continued use of OTAs, more travelers will book directly with properties.

To meet the rising expectations of a world where customer service is paramount, hotel professionals are turning to expertly trained call centers to man their voice channels, sell reservations, and increase revenue. As the role of customer service and personalized travel experiences grows, its more important than ever to have call center agents who know your property inside and out.
Opinion Article

1 November 2021

Cities and counties continue rolling out mandates requiring many businesses to demand customers show proof of vaccination before being allowed inside. These orders, which apply to businesses where people congregate, may be easier to enforce for nightclubs, stadiums or amusement parks, because they already have security operations regularly checking IDs and providing support.

Independent hotels and restaurants, who make up a big segment of the hospitality industry, might be less prepared to turn a host who greets and seats guests into a vaccination bouncer.

Popular destination cities including New York, Oahu, San Francisco and New Orleans are already enforcing their mandates. Los Angeles and Seattle are phasing in their directives, and your city could be next. Businesses that fail to comply  or where someone just innocently accepts someones fake vaccination card  can be slapped with costly fines and closures.

Weve already seen violence break out in New York when a 24-year-old greeter, following the law, was beaten by enraged customers denied entrance for refusing to show proof of vaccination. And San Franciscos In-N-Out Burger restaurant was temporarily ordered to shut down after authorities discovered its swamped fast-food staff werent asking for proof of vaccinations from everyone 12 and older who wanted to order food.

Hotels so far have escaped government-mandated rules requiring guests to prove their vaccination status. That doesnt mean it couldnt happen. And some of these health directives do not apply to the lobby or common areas, but do apply to restaurants and lounges. For instance, Seattles rule also applies to events attended by people who are not hotel guests: weddings, conferences, proms and so on.

And while larger enterprises have human resources and legal advisors to turn to for guidance, how do small hotel operators or independent restaurant owners safely navigate a proof-of-vaccination decree?

Here are a few tips to help walk the tightrope between enforcing government policies and addressing customer complaints.

Your message to customers

Keep your overall messaging to customers simple. Keep it clear. Keep it consistent. The vaccination requirement is a government mandate.

Empathize. We feel how you feel, but our business must comply, or it will be fined, shut down or possibly put out of business.

Signage and social media

Create new signage advising patrons of the mandate, citing the government code and a website where guests can get more information. Some local health departments are providing downloadable signage for you to post, so check online. Place these notices in multiple highly-visible locations: Entry door, reception desk, inside restrooms, at bar or eating counters.

Restaurants should announce the directive prominently on menus.

Announce the new rule on your business social media accounts and pin it to the top of Facebook, Twitter and the rest. Add the announcement to Yelp!, FourSquare, UrbanSpoon, OpenTable and other listings.

Update your phone recording.

Is everyone ready?

While some companies such as In-N-Out have pockets deep enough to, as they say, refuse to become the vaccination police for any government, small hotels and restaurants arent in a financial position to object.

The consequences of non-compliance are serious  and even the best-intended attempts to comply can be fraught. Many of these laws encourage guests to report non-compliance to authorities. Some warn against overly scrutinizing peoples proof of vaccination in violation of anti-discrimination laws. Others warn against refusing to accept proof from people who received WHO approved vaccination from countries outside the U.S.  which includes three vaccinations not approved by the FDA.

Clearly post the local agencys provided examples of valid proof of vaccination. It also would be best to require a valid government-issued ID be shown with the guests vaccination card, to at least ensure names match on both documents.

Get staff on the same page and create consistency: Make sure they all have memorized your process for checking vaccinations, where to direct guests for more information on the local order, and most importantly, when to hand things over to a manager. For instance, offload to managers the responsibility of being a court of appeal for customers, or the one who gets the final say in accepting a customers vaccination card as valid.

Make sure your managers have read and are up to speed on the local order.

If possible, rehearse with your staff to better arm them. Anticipate compliance. Prepare for refusal. Keep things as simple and clear as possible  what to say, how to say it and options to offer. And make it positive.

Restaurants are now required to ask for vaccination proof, so if you could please just show me those we can get you seated right away.

Yes, we are allowed to accept proof of a negative Covid test taken within (local ordinances timeframe.)"

Let staff know theres an easy way to pivot with an unvaccinated guest: Most health orders allow guests to sit outside, or to receive take-out. Again, keep it positive.

Sure, thats not a problem, I can just seat you outside today.

Im really sorry we cant seat you today, but we can get a take-out order ready for you right away.

A word about body language

How your staff delivers the message about the vaccine requirement may be as important as what they say; Help us to stay in business so we may continue serving you, hopefully, we can put this behind us soon, Body language, facial expressions (even under masks) and tone of voice can either defuse an awkward or tense situation, or enflame one. Thats why its important to practice guest interactions  keep it neutral, stay relaxed.

You value your guests and want to remain open for business  and this is what you must do in order to keep serving people.
Q. My husband and I own a home that we bought 20 years ago. In our wills, my husband and I leave everything to each other. We will soon be updating our wills, and we both want to make sure his children will have no access to the home if he should die first. Is it true that if my husband dies before me, his kids will get half of our home? I can't understand how that can be. I have no children of my own so that is not an issue.

A. Only if your husband were to die before you without a will would his children inherit his half of the home (subject to your right to live there rent free for the rest of your life).

If he dies with a will and gives you his half of the house, then you will be the sole owner, and his children will have no rights to it. You would then be able to sell it while you are alive or give it to anyone of your choosing at your death, including a new husband.

Q. I own stock in a stock purchase plan from a bank where I work. Currently the stock is solely in my name. To simplify things at my death, should I designate my husband as the primary beneficiary and my two children as contingent beneficiaries? I printed a Transfer on Death Registration - Beneficiary Designation Form, so I simply need to fill it out and send it to the bank .

A. Completing the form would simplify the transfer of your stock in the plan. However, you should confirm with your attorney that your plan is appropriate and conforms to your and your husband's estate plan.

Q. My wife and I recorded a Transfer on Death Deeds for our home and a rent house in Montgomery County, Texas. In the past, you have suggested that title companies may have an issue with these documents which could create a cloud over the title. Do you still feel this way? Should we clean this up by filing a Cancellation of Transfer at Death Deed on both properties?

A. Nothing has changed with Transfer on Death Deeds. They should work, but there may be issues. Some attorneys recommend them all the time. Other attorneys think they should never be used.

The Texas Supreme Court was told by the Texas Legislature to create a new form two years ago, but so far, there is no new form.

If the beneficiary after both of you pass away is a child (or several children), then it is most likely fine to keep the deeds as they are. But if you are leaving the homes to other persons, you may want to cancel them out.

Of course, you should speak to your attorney before doing anything. And if you prepared the deeds yourself without the assistance of an attorney, you should probably ask your attorney to review your work.

The information in this column is intended to provide a general understanding of the law, not legal advice. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Ronald Lipman of the Houston law firm Lipman & Associates is board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Email questions to stateyourcase@lipmanpc.com.
The Biden administration launched an assault on methane Tuesday, advancing initiatives across government -- and the globe -- to keep the potent heat-trapping gas from escaping landfills, oil wells and farms.

Measures being announced Tuesday seek to deploy at least five cabinet-level agencies. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency released a long-awaited proposal stiffening requirements to plug leaks in oil and gas wells. The Agriculture Department is announcing a program encouraging farmers to harness and sell methane. Pipeline regulators will expand their oversight of natural gas lines.

And President Joe Biden, who is in Glasgow, Scotland, for the United Nations COP26 conference on climate change, will also announce that more than 90 nations have signed a joint U.S.-European Union pledge to collectively reduce global methane emissions 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. Brazil, a major source of methane emissions, said Monday that it was joining the pact.

In Scotland on Monday, Biden called methane cuts the most effective strategy we have to slow global warming in the near term.

Methane, the chief component of natural gas, has more than 80 times the atmosphere-warming power of carbon dioxide the first two decades after it is released. Because it packs such a powerful punch in the short term, reductions can yield near-immediate results -- unlike the longer time frame required for the impact of carbon dioxide cuts.

Bidens campaign is already eliciting disappointment from some environmentalists who wanted the administration to go further to prevent oil industry leaks. The EPAs proposed regulation, for example, would still permit flaring of unwanted natural gas from oil wells. And proposed inspection requirements could translate to less frequent checks for smaller operations.

Rapid advancements in methane detection technology mean more sites can be monitored, said Lauren Pagel, policy director at the environmental group Earthworks. All communities deserve to breathe cleaner air and no well should be exempt from common-sense pollution standards when we know all wells pollute.

Another EPA initiative being rolled out Tuesday will seek through voluntary actions to capture 70% of methane from landfills nationwide, said a senior administration official, who spoke anonymously before the announcements were public.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is formally expanding the federal governments oversight to all onshore gas gathering pipelines. The measure will for the first time apply federal pipeline safety regulations to some 425,000 miles of pipelines, where ruptures can have lethal consequences and gush methane into the atmosphere.

City pipelines

Next year, the agency will go further by seeking to regulate some 2.3 million miles of pipelines inside cities that have escaped its oversight and are a major source of methane leaks, a senior administration official said.

The efforts are anchored by the EPA proposal to order more frequent inspections and repairs of methane leaks at oil industry sites, including, for the first time, wells that were drilled before 2015.

With this historic action, EPA is addressing existing sources from the oil and natural gas industry nationwide, in addition to updating rules for new sources, to ensure robust and lasting cuts in pollution across the country, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a news release.

The measure would require companies to replace leak-prone equipment and more frequently search for methane escaping from oil and gas sites. States would be asked to develop plans to limit methane emissions from older, existing wells and equipment.

The initiative, if finalized, also would effectively ban routine venting, when natural gas is released unchecked into the atmosphere after emerging from oil wells alongside more profitable crude.

Gas flaring

The EPA, however, is stopping short of imposing an outright ban on routine, intentional flaring, when that excess natural gas is burned instead. Thats despite concerns the phenomenon is widespread in West Texas, New Mexico and other drilling hotspots where the construction of gas pipelines hasnt kept up with crude production. Burning natural gas converts it into carbon dioxide, but when the flares burn incompletely or go out, methane vents directly into the atmosphere.

That omission is set to disappoint activists who lobbied the EPA to bar flaring, following the lead of some states.

The EPA requirements also would apply unevenly across the industry, by focusing surveillance efforts on the sites and equipment the agency says are most likely to have large emissions. Under the proposal, well sites with estimated emissions of at least 3 tons per year would have to be monitored quarterly for leaks, with prompt repairs of any that are discovered, according to an EPA official. By contrast, well sites estimated to emit fewer than 3 tons per year could undertake just one survey to demonstrate they are free of leaks or malfunctions.

Although the EPA predicts its approach would focus efforts on the wells responsible for the vast majority of leaks and reduce 41 million tons of methane releases from 2023 to 2035, the determination is based on agency estimates that scientists and activists have widely said underestimate emissions.

The proposal is now subject to public comment and revision before it can be made final next year. Environmentalists said they will be pressing the administration to toughen the final rule.

EPA still has more work to do to meet the moment and adequately address methane pollution from oil and gas sites, said Sarah Smith, head of the super pollutants program at the Clean Air Task Force. Still, she said, EPAs proposal is an important first step toward that goal.
A flurry of shoppers pelted the staff of upscale department store Kuhl-Linscomb with questions and requests on a recent October afternoon. Excuse me! customers called out, asking if a chair was in stock, certain brands of perfume were available, or where they could find holiday garland.

Employees smiled and obliged, providing answers, advice and directions to where items would be found. Meanwhile, supply carts with fine dinner plates and Yeti drinkware sat full, waiting for free hands to pluck and place the merchandise on display tables.

My poor staff, said Pam Kuhl-Linscomb, owner of the Montrose retailer. She said she is struggling to hire workers as an early holiday shopping season rushes the store. Her husband, Dan Linscomb, threw up his hands at the mention of hiring. Its so hard, he said.

Retailers big and small are accustomed to staffing up ahead of the holidays, but they are finding labor pools shallower in a market disrupted by the pandemic. Long before the start of holiday hiring, companies were complaining about staffing shortages and positions left unfilled  particularly among customer-facing industries such as retail and restaurants. Retailers alone had nearly 1.2 million job openings nationwide in August, up about 30 percent from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department.

The days are growing busier for short-staffed retailers, which means shoppers will likely have to deal with longer lines, unanswered phone calls and disheveled merhcandise racks, retailers and analysts said.

As retailers and shipping and logistics companies clamor for more workers to meet rising demand, they are finding that they must go to new lengths to hire and retain employees. Companies are boosting starting pay, adding signing bonuses and promising additional bonuses if workers stay the duration of the holiday season  or sign on for the long-term.

Walgreens and CVS raised their minimum hourly wage to $15. Costco went to $16. Kohls is paying a bonus of up to $400 for working the holiday season. Amazon, which is looking for 5,000 workers in Houston, is offering $18 an hour and sign-on bonuses up to $3,000.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Why Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals wont be the same in 2021

UPS is looking to hire more than 2,200 seasonal workers in Houston and is offering existing employees $200 for every friend they refer. UPS will also pay up to $1,300 toward college expenses for those who work at least three months.

Those types of sweeteners have forced local retailers to find ways to compete with national chains on hiring as well as prices. Gallery Furniture offers daily staff dinners and $100 bonuses each time an employee chooses to come to work on a scheduled day off  a common occurrence as the furniture market boomed alongside a boom in home sales and remodeling  said owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale.

Augie Bering, owner of the Bering Hardware, has turned to recruiters for the first time in the decades hes worked at the Houston retailer. Bering said he is in the process of increasing pay and benefits and is now offering $150 signing bonuses.

Its been difficult, to say the least, he said. All year long and were still not staffed up for the holidays.

Sellers market

For workers, its a sellers market. At a recent job fair at Krogers Buffalo Speedway store, job seekers said the supermarket chain  which was looking to hire 500 people in Houston for the holidays  offered just one of several opportunities available.

Jasmine Small, 27, moved to Houston last month from Detroit. She already works as a host at a Saltgrass restaurant, but wanted more hours. With the many openings in the retail industry, she said she planned to shop around for jobs a bit more.

Jaden Mingo, 19, psychology student at Texas Southern University, said he came to the Kroger job fair looking for a steady paycheck after doing gig work in warehouses for several months. Lazerick Scott, 17, saving to buy a car, said he was at a similar event at H-E-B the previous week. Tamia Paredes, 16, said she was working at Chik-Fil-A, but saw the chance for a change.

I wanted to get out of fast food. she said.

Retailers are taking other steps to appeal to workers. Target, for example, is trying out flexible on-demand schedules, allowing employees to pick up shifts as their free time arises. Some 20,000 workers are working these schedules, according to the company.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Job seekers, not employers, have upper hand

Labor shortages also are changing the way retailers do business, analysts said. Some large retailers, for example, are implementing more self-checkout aisles to cut costs as they direct more wages to attracting and retaining employees.

Too busy

Others are having a hard time answering phones because their employees are too busy helping customers in person.

Due to the staff shortage all the employees are currently assisting customers on the sales floor, states an automated voicemail for Arnes Warehouse, a party supply store off Studemont. Please try again.

Attempts to reach Arnes for comment were unsuccessful.

amanda.drane@chron.com

Twitter.com/amandadrane
Courtesy of CityCentre

Want to celebrate New Years Eve with a disco ball, a champagne toast and 50 of your closest friends? Airbnb wants to make sure you do that in your own home  not in one of its one-night rentals.

After a successful plan in 2020 to prevent one-night rentals for disruptive parties that a host might not be aware of, Airbnb again this year will not allow one-night rentals of Airbnb dwellings unless youre a customer with a long history of positive reviews.
Houston-native Daniella Guzman returns to local TV on KPRC 2 starting Jan. 10.

Guzman, who will anchor the news at 6 and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, replaces Dominique Sachse, who left on Oct. 29 after nearly 30 years at the station.

Houston is my home, my community, my people. I am honored to be back with my family and at KPRC 2 where I belong," Guzman said.

MORE TV NEWS: Houston anchor Dominique Sachse leaves KPRC 2

Guzman started as a KPRC 2 news intern and worked for a local Spanish-speaking news station before returning to KPRC 2 as a reporter and weekend anchor in 2006. In 2011, Guzman was part of KPRC 2's pregnancy boom along with four other anchors/reporters.

That next year, Guzman left Houston for Chicago to co-anchor WMAQs morning newscast and moved to California in 2014 to anchor NBC4's Today in LA newscast.
A butterfly-shaped pool, family art wall, and caterpillar-themed playground are just a few of the whimsical elements of a future park planned in Bridgeland.

The 4.5-acre park beside a 40-acre lake will become a community centerpiece for Bridgelands newest addition, Prairieland Village, in 2024.

Cy-Fair school notebook: Bridgeland High School wins Battle at the Berry

The newly announced Longwing Landing park will feature green spaces and water features as well as outdoor and indoor amenities, according to a press release from The Howard Hughes Corporation, Bridgelands developer.

The project is expected to break ground in November 2021, with a completion date of early 2024.

The parks at Bridgeland are not only places to gather and enjoy outdoor, physical activity, but they are also a part of the distinct identity that make our communities special, Heath Melton, president of the Phoenix Region for The Howard Hughes Corporation, said. Longwing Landing will be part of an established tradition of unique design that features exciting active and passive recreational spaces and provides community gathering places for residents to enjoy.

Cy-Fair Resource Guide: Cypress Assistance Ministries moves to new food pantry

Longwing will feature a pool area with fountains for children and a lounge for parents. The first 100 families in Prairieland will have their names on butterflies decorating an art wall in the park. The space will also include barbecue grills, an activity center and event hall, a rotating butterfly sculpture, and a playground with a caterpillar-themed play structure.

Longwing Landing is the next forward-thinking project for the team of talented designers, architects, engineers, and builders responsible for Bridgeland, Melton said. The rewarding part will be when the vision comes to life and is enjoyed by our residents. Not only will the park be a visually appealing part of Prairieland Village, but it also encourages a healthy and active lifestyle, something vitally important to The Howard Hughes Corporation.

For more information visit www.howardhughes.com.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
Its a fall tradition for high schools to host homecoming, and Jim Johnson is experiencing one of his own.

The new president of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce previously spent four years at the organization as its vice president, and after a couple of years away, he is back and eager to take over the helm with the retirement of the groups longtime leader, Carol Artz.

Coming back has been a wonderful experience, he said. This is where my roots are. I worked at this chamber from 2000 to 2015, (then) I had the chance to become the president of the Lufkin-Angelina County Chamber of Commerce.

After that, he became president of the Georgeton Chamber of Commerce in central Texas, where he served until his move back to Pearland this summer.

Coming back to a well-established and well-respected chamber in our area (is) an excellent opportunity to use the knowledge I gained in other communities and also build on the policies that we have here, Johnson said.

While the three chambers of commerce have differences, Johnson thinks he can pluck principles from his other stops and apply them to the Pearland chamber to help it grow and strengthen.

In Lufkin, that chamber served as a regional hub (for a population of about 250,000), he said. It had been around for over 100 years. What was unique about that chamber and the experience there was the ability to tie into community and recognize the important role the community plays in supporting businesses as well as businesses supporting community.

At Georgetown, there were some different conditions.

Georgetown was a fast-growing suburban community like Pearland, Johnson said. I was able to take that community outreach and the ability to engage with stakeholders and community partners as well as the experience I gained in a fast-growing community like Pearland.

Fostering sense of community at different levels

Johnson said he wants to establish a sense of community among chamber members, which could be a little more involved than people might think.

Describing community for some people is a challenge, he said. A community could be all of Pearland, or it could be a specific segment or area. You might describe it as we might be Pearland-based but our community is the greater Houston area.

If our mission is to serve business and promote growth for our members in the Pearland community, we have to recognize that we need to know what their community is and meet them where they are to better engage them in what we do as an independent not-for-profit organization.

The presidents vision also involves bringing chamber members together by type or size of business.

There is value in programs that bring people of the same business and the same professional life cycle together to share whats working, their challenges and their successes, Johnson said. So, the chamber is looking at more opportunities to bring segments of our members together to have those types of conversations and then drive the larger programs.

We already have that (in Pearland) with transportation and health care, but how can we bring our manufacturers together? How can we bring our retail members together?

That idea of essentially creating small communities from the existing large one is different, Johnson said.

I think what is unique about that is that would touch on all different sizes of businesses and all different stages of businesses, whether they are startups and they are home-based and the challenges or successes that you have at your home to large businesses that are dealing with challenges with the workforce or regulations, he said.

Thats where we will improve on and further our reach. Because now, we are engaging more businesses on where they are in their business life cycle and truly hopefully see that where we have more members of the organization so we can have a better pool of institutional knowledge and resources to bring together to truly be an organization that serves businesses and promotes growth, and thats our mission  to serve business and promote growth.

Everything we do should drive into that.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
PRAGUE (AP)  A cable car crashed in the northern Czech Republic, killing one person Sunday, officials said.

One of the two cabins of the cable car crashed to the ground in the afternoon. The only person onboard, a staff member, was killed, said Martin Puta, the head of the regional government. Puta said he hoped the cause will be investigated soon.

Rescuers said none of the 15 people from the second cabin were injured.

It was the first such accident involving the Czech Republic's oldest cable car, which dates to 1933.

Operated by the Czech Railways, it leads almost to the top of Jested Mountain, near the city of Liberec.

The crash took place the day before the cable car was scheduled to undergo a planned two-week maintenance.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Morgan Marietta, University of Massachusetts Lowell

(THE CONVERSATION) The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Nov. 3, 2021, on a clear question: Does the constitutional right to possess a gun extend outside the home? The answer may alter gun regulations in many states.

The crux of the issue before the court is captured by a debate that Thomas Jefferson had with himself at the time of the founding.

When Jefferson was drafting a proposed constitution for his home state of Virginia in June 1776, he suggested a clause that read No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

In the second draft, he added in brackets, [within his own lands or tenements].

Jeffersons debate with himself captures the question posed to the court: Is the purpose of the right to keep and bear arms the protection of a citizens own lands, or is it self-protection in general? Does the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution recognize a right to keep and bear arms in the home, or a right to keep firearms in the home and also bear them outside of the home for protection in society?

The plaintiffs in the upcoming case New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen want the court to strike down the states restrictions and allow citizens who meet basic requirements, such as having no criminal convictions, to carry concealed weapons.

Gun in the house

There are surprisingly few Supreme Court rulings on the meaning of the Second Amendment.

The question of whether the amendment recognizes a fundamental right  on par with free speech or free exercise of religion  was not decided until 2008 in the landmark ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller. For the first time, the court recognized a clear individual right to bear arms for the purpose of self-defense. This deeply disputed 5-4 ruling was expanded two years later to cover state laws.

The Heller ruling stated that the Second Amendments right is like the others in the Bill of Rights, which cannot be violated without the most compelling reasons. The amendment, the ruling says, surely elevates above all other interests the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home. The Washington, D.C., law intended to reduce crime cannot ban firearms in the home, where the need for defense of self, family, and property is most acute.

That ruling  written by Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016 and was replaced by Justice Neil Gorsuch  also recognized that like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited. Scalia cited regulations like longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill or prohibitions on carrying concealed weapons as presumptively lawful.

The principal dissent was written by Justice Stephen Breyer, the only dissenter in Heller still serving on the court. He emphasized the balance between core rights and the needs for public safety.

If a resident has a handgun in the home that he can use for self-defense, wrote Breyer, then he has a handgun in the home that he can use to commit suicide or engage in acts of domestic violence.

Concealed carry laws

State governments follow very different procedures for determining who will be allowed to carry a concealed firearm outside of the home.

Open carry, or just having a handgun in plain sight on a belt holster or carrying a long gun (rifle or shotgun), is actually legal in many places. The general idea is that carrying openly would be done only by an honest actor, so less regulation is needed. Concealed carry, having a hidden weapon in a pocket or under a jacket, is far more restricted.

At one end of the continuum are near-bans on what are called concealed carry licenses, while at the other end are states in which no license is needed. These laws are referred to as constitutional carry, meaning the U.S. Constitution itself is a citizens license to carry a firearm.

In between these two positions are rules known as shall issue, whereby the government issues a license if the applicant meets the requirements such as having no felony convictions, or may issue, which gives the government discretion to deny a license based on perceptions of fitness.

New York state has may issue laws with stringent requirements, which in practice allow almost no licenses to be issued. Applicants must demonstrate a proper cause  such as being in imminent danger from a known source  which effectively eliminates ordinary applicants.

Regulation or eradication

The strongest argument in the gun owners brief to the Supreme Court relates to New Yorks insistence that citizens show an exceptional or extraordinary need to exercise a right that the court has recognized as fundamental.

No other fundamental right, such as freedom of speech or religion, is limited to people who can demonstrate special circumstances. Instead, fundamental rights are understood to be held by ordinary people in ordinary circumstances.

The strongest argument in the opposing brief from the New York State Police is federalism  the longstanding conservative argument that state lawmakers hold wide latitude to determine their own regulations to serve as laboratories of experimentation, as Justice Louis Brandeis phrased it in 1932. The federalist principle suggests that the court should defer to the judgment of state legislatures representing the needs of local citizens.

As a close observer of the Supreme Court, I can imagine an outcome to the case in which the justices rule that, under the Second Amendment, a state can limit but not eliminate the core purposes of the protected right.

The Heller decision identifies at least one purpose as self-defense. The question is whether a specific concealed carry law creates a burden so strong that it becomes equivalent to eradication of the right to self-protection, or whether it imposes a legitimate public safety regulation that still maintains the core right for citizens who assert it.

Individual rights vs. fellow citizens

The most permissive laws that allow unrestricted concealed carry are almost certainly not mandated by the Constitution.

Shall issue laws, which allow states to screen applicants for flaws but compel local governments to provide a concealed carry license to qualified citizens, are likely to be seen even by the conservative justices as legitimate regulations that do not create unconstitutional burdens.

However, the current court might be likely to see a may issue law like New Yorks, which allows the government to deny a license to nearly every applicant, as creating a burden that blocks the core of the right to self-protection where ordinary citizens are exposed to greater threats  outside the home.

The dissenters will likely focus on Scalias invocation of the home as the height of the defensive right, allowing for restrictions outside ones own lands, where individual rights are balanced against the interests of fellow citizens.

[Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/gun-rights-at-the-supreme-court-justices-will-consider-if-the-fundamental-right-to-keep-a-gun-at-home-applies-to-carrying-weapons-in-public-169235.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP)  Fall enrollment at Indiana's public colleges has declined again statewide, with only Indiana and Purdue universities flagship campuses and some Ivy Tech Community College sites reporting gains.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education said the overall 2.6% drop in degree-seeking students this fall at public universities brings Indiana's five-year loss to 10.4%, down from 267,598 students in fall 2016 to 239,799 this year, The Journal Gazette reported.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  More Kentuckians vaccinated against COVID-19 are contracting the virus and ending up in hospitals, signaling the importance of getting a booster dose, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.

Unvaccinated people still represent the overwhelming majority of new virus-related cases and hospitalizations. But the number of vaccinated Kentuckians in those categories has risen steadily, indicating their eventual waning immunity and the need for the booster shot, the governor said.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  The Michigan Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear the appeal of an LGBTQ-rights ballot committee that contended officials wrongly disqualified tens thousands of voter signatures it submitted for an initiative to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The decision, issued in a short order, came months after the Board of State Canvassers declined to certify the petitions. Election officials had determined Fair and Equal Michigan had about 263,000 valid signatures, roughly 76,000 short.

The proposal would have revised the states 1976 civil rights law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. Organizers wanted to place the measure before the Republican-led Legislature, where similar legislation has long stalled. If lawmakers did not act, it would have gone to a statewide vote in November 2022.

While we are disappointed that the court wont act to recognize legally-valid signatures thrown out by the state, its clear the best opportunity to achieve LGBTQ equal rights in Michigan is to place full focus on Attorney General Dana Nessels historic case currently before the Michigan Supreme Court, Fair and Equal Michigan Co-Chair Trevor Thomas said in a statement.

The court previously agreed to consider whether Michigan's existing ban against sex discrimination covers sexual orientation and gender identity. The lawsuit was filed by Rouch World, a Sturgis-based wedding venue and park, and Marquette-based Uprooted Electrolysis after they refused services to a same-sex couple and a transgender woman who subsequently filed complaints with the state Department of Civil Rights.

The companies sued before the agency issued its findings.

In 2018, the department began processing complaints of discrimination against LGBT people after the state Civil Rights Commission issued an interpretive statement. It said that discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of sexual discrimination outlawed under Michigan law.

A Court of Claims judge last December agreed that gender identity discrimination is sexual discrimination but ruled the opposite for sexual orientation discrimination, saying he was bound by a 1993 state appeals court decision. The state Supreme Court will consider whether the state's current law protects against sexual orientation discrimination.

"Its long past time for our state to recognize sexual orientation as protected from discrimination under the law, Nessel, a Democrat, said last week after her office filed a brief in the case.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a federal civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment. Supporters of the Michigan measure have said it would protect against discrimination in housing and public accommodations and provide broader employment protections than federal law provides.

___

Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP)  A man and a woman were found shot to death in separate incidents within 24 hours in a North Carolina city, police said.

Fayetteville police said in a news release that one of the shootings occurred on Sunday afternoon as families were preparing for Halloween in a neighborhood.
A man running with beer stolen from a convenience store was fatally struck Monday night in a hit and run near the Westchase area, according to Houston Police.

Officers were dispatched for a reported theft before 9 p.m. in the 3700 block of South Gessner, where a man ran from a convenience store with a couple of beers, according to Lt. Larry Crowson of Houston Police.
Houston police placed residents on high alert, releasing a citywide APB on a vehicle linked to the brazen daylight slaying of a Lamar High School student who had been gunned down while walking near the River Oaks campus.

Kendrick Johnson and Daveon Thomas, meanwhile, exchanged messages on Instagram.

We need new wheels, Johnson wrote, according to prosecutors.

Authorities eventually arrested both of the men. Nearly three years later, Johnson on Tuesday sat before jurors as state District Judge Chuck Silverman began the first of three scheduled trials in the 2018 killing of teenager Delindsey Mack.

Over the course of several minutes, Harris County Assistant District Attorney Sarah Seely presented her opening arguments and unraveled a yarn of teen love, betrayal and violence. The drama spilled from social media into real life, she said, shocking Houstonians at the time and blowing open a gang war waged between the 100 Percent Third Ward (103) and Young Scott Block cliques.

Johnson was the main sniper for the 103 gang, Seely said.

This week we are trying Kendrick Johnson as the shooter, the organizer and the planner of Delindsey Macks murder, she told the jury panel. Im confident that you will find him guilty of murder.

Johnsons attorney, Skip Cornelius, reserved making his opening arguments.

Mack was killed in the middle of the day on Nov. 13, 2018, as he walked to a rendezvous point with an uncle who was picking him up from school, Seely said. Two people pulled up in a speeding car and jumped out, shooting at the 18-year-old. One of the gunmen then stood over him and repeatedly fired shots as Mack lay dying on the pavement of a church parking lot, according to court records.

He was shot seven times  in the head, heart and lungs, the prosecutor said. A student named Keona Mouton had also left the scene, investigators said, later learning that she was faking a relationship with the lovelorn teen and lured him to his death.

The shooting sparked a lockdown at the campus and prompted Mayor Sylvester Turner to visit the school soon after he received a letter from a concerned 17-year-old student. He also visited Yates High School, the Third Ward campus from which Mack had just transferred and where one of the suspects attended.

The homicide investigation took a turn when law enforcement leaders learned that it was one of many recent deaths that were part of an ongoing "war" between members of two rivaling local street gangs, 100 Percent Third Ward (103) and the YSB gang, they said at the time.

Mack's parents found out after the shooting that their son had portrayed himself on social media to be a member of the Backstreet/Freemoney gang, a group associated with the Young Scott Block, or YSB, gang. His mother had warned police twice that he was being threatened by gang members.

But while Mack had struggled at school in previous years -- being pulled out of Yates, home schooled, and then enrolled in a new campus -- things were beginning to look up, Seely said. Giddy with excitement over a new relationship, he arrived early every morning to spend time with Mouton, his uncle said.

That relationship was never real: Messages between Mouton and Johnson showed apparent plotting of the homicide, and she visited him in jail after his arrest, prosecutors have said.

Johnson and Thomas, both suspected 103 members, were connected to Mack's death after authorities found more messages that the pair exchanged on social media.

Police also found physical evidence during a traffic stop that preceded Johnsons arrest on a separate charge. He had binoculars, a scope, several extended magazines, and a 9 mm firearm that matched the shell casings used against Mack, Seely said.

Thomas, the accused getaway driver, was also charged with murder, and Mouton was certified to stand trial as an adult on a murder charge. A second shooter has not been apprehended in the case.

If convicted, Johnson, now 21, faces between five and 99 years or life in prison. He additionally faces two other murder charges not related to Mack's death.
When Rice Management Co. and city officials gathered on South Main Street more than two years ago to break ground on an innovation hub called the Ion, student organizers gathered across the road, calling for a community benefits agreement as the shovels first entered the dirt.

Such a deal, negotiated between the developer and a coalition of community groups, would lay out commitments on jobs programs, hiring priorities, affordable housing or other efforts to combat gentrification and displacement in Third Ward, a historically Black neighborhood blocks away from the Ion in Midtown.

City Council will consider a $15.3 million civic investment pact with Rice on Wednesday that grew from that organizing effort but is not the product of negotiations with the student advocates or a community coalition. Instead, Rice negotiated it with the city and Mayor Sylvester Turner, who said last year he was acting in response to the student requests.

Under the deal, Rice is committing funds for training programs, affordable housing development and other initiatives.

The problem, according to organizers, experts and several council members, is that is not how community benefits agreements  as the city and Rice have marketed the deal  work. They are supposed to be negotiated directly with the neighborhoods that have something to lose, not with the city.

What Rice Management Co. is doing with the city is absolutely not a community benefits agreement, said Uyiosa Elegon, one of the lead organizers of the Houston Coalition for Economic Development without Displacement, which formed in November 2019. Its a farce, its a sham.  This is not new. Weve seen this in other cities, where the developer co-opts the (CBA) name for its own benefit.

Assata Richards, a third-generation Third Ward resident, pointed to the coalitions own framework for a deal, modeled mostly after unfunded plans in the mayors Complete Communities neighborhood revitalization program.

Were not against development, we want development. But what we want is the opportunity for our residents to remain in their homes, Richards said. That takes some clear thinking, some specific strategy, and some clarity. Thats what Im asking for in a community benefits agreement.

Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, whose District D includes Third Ward and who attended early organizing meetings about the agreement before her election in 2019, said she has a problem with the exclusion of HCEDD.

The bottom line is, the people who asked for this agreement are not included as a person at the table, Evans-Shabazz said. I said last week we cant put the toothpaste back in the tube, but actually we probably could, if this body decided to allow a CBA between HCEDD and Rice Management.

As part of the deal under consideration, Rice  which has a $6.3 billion endowment and has spent $100 million on the Ion  has committed to spending $15.3 million on community projects. The commitment includes a $5 million investment fund for minorities and women in tech; a $4.5 million affordable housing fund to give capital and low-cost financing for developers; and $2 million in technology sector job training.

Rice and city officials argue the deal marks an unprecedented direct investment in the community.

Today, the Ion is a resource, even before weve made any of these investments, said Sam Dike, Rice Management Co.s director of strategic initiatives. He pointed to programs to include minority and women-owned businesses in the construction, maintenance and leasing of the Ion space, as well.

The level of engagement youve seen here goes beyond what any other developer youve seen in Houston do, Dike said.

The mayors office said Turner would not comment before council takes up the proposal Wednesday.

The community organizers and other advocates say Rice and the city should have followed the prescribed process for a community benefits agreement if it wanted to pursue one.

The Community Benefits Law Center, a project of the Partnership for Working Families that has helped organize benefit agreements across the country, published a manual in 2016 about how to secure solid deals for communities. That document included key indicators of ineffective CBAs, including community representatives selected by the developer.

Rice commissioned its own 13-member community group to form recommendations before negotiating with the city.

Its worth noting community benefit agreements were created to disrupt the cozy relationship between cities and developers and give communities a real voice, said Ben Beach, legal director for the Community Benefits Law Center. From that perspective, negotiating in backrooms and calling the product a CBA is an abuse of the tool.

Rice selected the working group last fall after a public survey and three virtual workshops that also featured speakers selected by Rice.

Dike said the university tried to include every stakeholder that expressed interest in being involved in the working group. HCEDD was one of those stakeholders, but not the only one, he said. The working group met in private to develop its recommendations because we did not want to politicize the process, Dike said.

The developer offered HCEDD  which already had elected an eight-person negotiating team for the deal  four spots on its community working group last November. HCEDD requested its full eight-member team be included and that Rice drop the community benefits agreement name. The universitys working group went on without them.

Community concerns are exacerbated by the fact that Rice could gain as much as $65 million in public reimbursements for the Ion. The Midtown Redevelopment Authority in August approved that sum for public infrastructure elements of the facility and its surroundings, using the authoritys share of property tax revenue in the Midtown tax increment reinvestment zone.

That includes $12.6 million for street and sidewalk improvements, $10.5 million for a parking garage and $6.3 million for two public plazas. About $6 million of the parking investment is earmarked for the vegetated facade of the garage, a point that has drawn criticism from community advocates have focused on.

Theres this idea that this is Rices investment and anything Rice does (for the community) is a cherry on top. Its their money, and they should decide how to use it. Thats really deceptive, said Jaison Oliver, an organizer who participated in the community-driven effort.

The $5 million for minority and women entrepreneurs may seem substantial, Oliver argued, until one realizes the developers plan to spend $6 million in public funds on planters.

Dike said that money will not match what Rice has put into the project, and it is conditional. Rice must build the infrastructure, and reimbursements would only return to Rice based on revenue the Ion development itself generates.

Youre getting reimbursed on the value you create, he said.

dylan.mcguinness

@chron.com
The federal agency thats behind on its investigations of significant industrial incidents has drawn up a plan for how to address its backlog of work. This includes finishing eight open reports from Texas as members of Congress turn up the pressure.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard and Investigation Board, known as CSB, reviews and makes safety recommendations after major chemical fires or explosions. But it has struggled to retain staff and is led by a sole board member who was tapped by former President Donald Trump.

On HoustonChronicle.com: As investigations pile up at the Chemical Safety Board, advocates press for changes

President Joe Biden nominated three more board members in April. A subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, meanwhile, held a recent hearing focused on how to improve the agency. CSB has 18 reports to complete.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, chairwoman of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, called on the agency at the Sept. 29 hearing to fix its past dysfunction. The Colorado Democrat asked for a copy of CSBs plan to address the case backlog. The plan was made public last week.

More Information When CSB plans to complete its open Texas investigations: Fiscal Year 2022, Q1-Q2: Sunoco, Nederland (2016) FY 2022, Q3: Kuraray EVAL, Pasadena (2018) FY 2022, Q3: Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, Houston (2020) FY 2022, Q4: Intercontinental Terminals Company, Deer Park (2019) FY 2022, Q4: TPC Group, Port Neches (2019) FY 2022, Q4 - Fiscal Year 23, Q1: KMCO, Crosby (2019) FY 2023, Q1: Wendland 1H Well, Burleson County (2020) FY 2023, Q3: LyondellBasell, LaPorte (2021) Note: Fiscal year 2022 began on Oct. 1, 2021 and ends on Sept. 30, 2022. See More Collapse

The timeliness of these reports matter, DeGette said. When CSB isnt expeditiously sharing its findings, it cannot effectively prevent future incidents and fulfill its mission to protect people and the environment.

The Houston-area incidents with outstanding reports include the Intercontinental Terminals Co. fire in 2019, which sent a plume over Houston, and the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing explosion that jolted Houston neighborhoods awake in 2020.

Investigators most recently responded to the July chemical leak at LyondellBasell that killed two workers.

CSB has been likened to the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates train and plane accidents, for example. Its meant to help prevent disasters from repeating.

It is imperative that we understand the root causes of these types of incidents so that we can safeguard workers, protect communities and prevent future incidents, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat and the committees chairman, said in his opening statement.

CSB Chairman and CEO Katherine Lemos promised the House subcommittee members that the agency was working to hire staff and catch up on the work. The agency, which had just eight investigators in 2019, had 14 as of September.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Workers ran from white chemical cloud during deadly LyondellBasell leak

The agency deploys for incidents depending on factors such as the number of fatalities and injuries and the environmental impact, Lemos said. She wants the group to be more agile, providing a range of products.

Theres no doubt that the delay has a negative impact on safety, Lemos told subcommittee members, but we do have the ability to issue urgent safety recommendations if identified in any phase of the investigation.

Lemos later submitted her plan for moving forward. She intends for CSB to adopt a more aggressive and agile approach, she wrote in the document. She described completing all 18 reports by the end of fiscal year 2023. She also plans to continue to deploy to new incidents.

Some members expressed concerned that the agencys response needed to be more standardized, so it didnt allow for bias. A letter from the American Chemistry Council and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers also highlighted the importance of objectivity.

I believe the Chemical Safety Board investigations can benefit industry, but I have real concerns (with) how this work is being conducted, said U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Virginia. Due to the ongoing challenges with management over the years, investigation processes are somewhat unclear.

emily.foxhall@chron.com
For the first time in a generation, the Supreme Court appears likely to overturn Roe v. Wade. The end of Roe need not herald the end of an era of reproductive freedom. It may instead launch a new strategy that protects the fundamental human right to decide whether to have children and raise them in safety and dignity.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in two separate cases challenging the new Texas law effectively banning abortion. The more direct nationwide threat to Roe, however, comes in December in a case challenging a Mississippi law that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks.

To fully grasp what is at stake now, its worth looking back. In 1992, one of us, Ms. Kolbert, argued on behalf of Pennsylvania abortion providers in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which challenged abortion restrictions including a waiting period requirement, biased mandatory counseling, parental and spousal notification requirements and other obstacles to care. At the time many court watchers believed Roe was doomed. Justice Clarence Thomas had just joined the court, and at least four other justices appeared likely to vote to overturn the ruling.

More than two decades later, Justice John Paul Stevenss memoir confirmed how close supporters of abortion rights were to losing Roe: Following the oral argument seven justices agreed that most of the onerous Pennsylvania abortion restrictions should be upheld. Justice Stevens wrote that he and Justice Harry Blackmun assumed that the result would be explained in an opinion overruling Roe v. Wade. Indeed, Chief Justice William Rehnquist then circulated a draft opinion for the court on May 27, 1992, that met our expectation, Justice Stevens wrote. The drafted opinion did not explicitly overrule Roe, but it effectively repudiated its central holding.

Thankfully, at the 11th hour, Justice Anthony Kennedy had a change of heart. He quietly worked with Justices David Souter and Sandra Day OConnor to draft a joint opinion reaffirming Roes holding that a woman has the right to choose abortion until viability (usually at 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy) and thereafter if necessary to protect her life or health. But the court reduced the high level of constitutional protection that Roe afforded, permitting states to impose restrictions on abortion so long as they do not constitute an undue burden. The court upheld most of the Pennsylvania restrictions, but fortunately, struck a provision requiring spousal notification.

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In recent years, the courts have upheld more barriers to care under the Casey standard, effectively placing abortion out of reach for many women, particularly teenagers, those living in rural areas and low-income women  limitations that are disproportionately experienced by women of color.

Still, Casey supported legal abortion in all 50 states. Today, the votes are likely no longer there to save even this diminished version of Roe. The new ultraconservative-dominated Supreme Court is poised to give states the unfettered ability to ban most abortions.

In the cases on Monday, the Supreme Court will address whether the Justice Department and abortion providers have the ability to challenge the Texas law in federal court.

The more significant case, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, will be argued on Dec. 1. Dobbs, with its ban on most abortions even well before the point of fetal viability, poses the central question of whether Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey remain the law of the land.

Five justices  Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito  are expected to eviscerate abortion access with their decision in Dobbs. None of these extremely conservative justices are likely to join a last-minute reprieve as happened in Casey.

When Roe falls, 26 states are likely or certain to ban abortion. Just 14 states and the District of Columbia will reliably continue permitting abortion, safeguarding womens liberty.

Save Roe has been the rallying cry of abortion-rights groups for nearly 50 years. But we need to stop banging our heads against the Supreme Courts marble walls. While the situation is dire, we do have the potential today to realign American politics and develop a new strategy that not only preserves but expands reproductive freedoms.

First, we must think and talk about this issue differently. While our opponents talk about protecting religious beliefs or the pre-born, we must highlight the rights of women themselves, and point out that enabling them to choose whether, when and with whom they have children is central to gender equality and essential to the ability to control ones own life.

Such fundamental reproductive freedoms require more than just access to abortion. Rather, they require access to basic services that empower all families to have and raise their children when and how it is best for them, including affordable birth control and child care, equitable health care and an end to L.G.B.T.Q. discrimination. We need a framework for recognizing basic human rights that goes well beyond the privacy rights that Roe rests upon and aligns with the goals that women of color have pursued for decades through the reproductive justice movement.

All of this requires political power, and that means getting active in electoral politics. The right has used abortion as a wedge issue for over 40 years; we must likewise vote as if our lives depend on it in every election, not just once every four years. Reproductive rights supporters must insist that all elected officials  from school board members to state legislators to members of Congress  be champions for the cause.

We also need to make noise. We need to organize protests and boycotts well before state laws like the one in Texas come to a vote, let alone make it to the Supreme Court. Eight years ago, a Texas state senator, Wendy Davis, conducted an 11-hour filibuster that briefly stopped an anti-abortion law and started a run on pink sneakers. Creative, newsworthy resistance builds public awareness and support, rallying voter support from the Capitol steps to social media influencers. Those voting for abortion restrictions should pay a political price for doing so.

At the same time, we must help all who need critical reproductive health care services. The pandemic has exposed and worsened economic and racial inequities in getting health care. We must raise money for abortion funds to fill the gap for patients forced to travel. In states where abortion remains available, we must push for broad access to medication abortion by expanding telemedicine and encouraging student health services and urgent care centers to provide these essential services.

The cases before the Supreme Court this fall are cause for alarm. Lets make them a rallying cry for demanding reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right  and not just a privilege dependent on your race, where you live, whom you sleep with or how you define your identity.

Kathryn Kolbert and Julie F. Kay are co-authors of Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom. Ms. Kolbert co-founded the Center for Reproductive Rights and argued Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992. Ms. Kay is a human rights attorney who has argued for abortion rights internationally including before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of A, B and C v. Ireland, which spurred liberalization of Irelands abortion law. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide a handful of area school board and municipal races, proposed amendments to the Texas constitution and hundreds of millions in school district and municipal utility bonds.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and voters can cast ballots at any Harris County poll location. To find a polling site near you or a sample ballot, visit harrisvotes.com.

Voters in Bellaire will choose new council members, Missouri City residents will consider one city council race and $85 million in general obligation bonds, while Baytown will choose its mayor and take up a handful of charter amendments, including term limits and the reauthorization of a quarter-cent sales tax to maintain and fund street improvements.

Alief ISD voters will consider more than $540 million in bonds, while Tomball ISD residents will decide whether to issue more than $565 million in debt.

Voters in Aldine, Alief, Cypress-Fairbanks, Houston, New Caney and Klein ISDs will choose school board candidates. Houston Community College System voters will decide three trustee races.

More Information Local election offices To find poll locations, sample ballots and other election day information, residents of Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties can click on their local elections administration office websites: Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County See More Collapse

On HoustonChronicle.com: Voters to decide eight constitutional amendments

In Montgomery County, residents of The Woodlands will decide whether their master planned community remains the only township in Texas or incorporates as a city. Proponents say incorporation would give residents more control over ordinances, infrastructure and law enforcement; opponents say forming a city would be costly and unnecessary.

Statewide, voters are being asked to weigh in on eight amendments to the Texas Constitution. Among them are a prohibition on any state or local governments ability to limit or bar religious services, a byproduct of the shutdown orders put in place by local authorities during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic.

Other propositions include property tax relief for surviving spouses of members of the military killed in action, allowing charitable raffles at rodeo venues, and a change in eligibility requirements to be a district judge, state appeals court or Supreme Court justice in Texas.

Another proposed amendment would allow counties to issue bonds to pay for public improvement projects. Cities already have that authority.

Voters also will decide whether to allow their local municipal utility districts to issue hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds to finance roads, water and sewer systems and drainage.

Voters will need to show photo identification to cast a ballot in person. Acceptable identification includes a Texas drivers license, a state voting certificate, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas handgun permit issued by the Department of Public Safety, a U.S. passport, military photo ID or a citizenship certificate with a photo.

This is the first election to use new voting machines purchased by Harris County. The machines have touch screens and can produce a paper backup.
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston continues to be a rare Republican member of Congress calling for his party to address the issue of climate change.

As he prepared to travel to Scotland to participate in the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Crenshaw stopped in New York to be on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to talk about the issue.

Climate change is real, Crenshaw told Noah in an interview that airs on Tuesday night on Comedy Central. Theres obviously a human element to that. And we need to take it seriously.

But Crenshaw said hes not backing policies that favor solar and wind power while penalizing the oil and gas industry, which employs 181,000 Texans in drilling and extraction alone.

IN-DEPTH: Ahead of climate summit, nations struggle to turn goals into reality

He said natural gas technology has already made a huge difference in reducing carbon emissions because it has displaced coal in the market. He said if China replaced all of its coal plants with natural gas, it would cut that countrys carbon emissions 50 percent  which would mean a 13 percent reduction globally because of how much energy China consumes.

There are ways not to destroy our economy while reducing emissions, said Crenshaw, who also talked about nuclear energy as a clean, reliable source during the interview.

Crenshaw is part of a small contingent of GOP legislators going to Scotland for the climate conference. Crenshaw will be there for four days starting Saturday morning. On Sunday, he will be part of discussions on conservative efforts around the globe to push for clean energy and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

During a nearly 30-minute interview, Crenshaw also discussed his views on immigration issues, critical race theory and cancel culture.

Crenshaw, 37, is in his second term in Congress representing the 2nd Congressional District in Harris County. The retired Navy SEAL is also one of the few Republican members Congress to appear on shows such as The Daily Show, ABCs The View and NBCs Saturday Night Live.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
4 ways traveling can make your music better

Whether youre experiencing writers block or simply looking to branch out creatively and stylistically, travel can be a great way to broaden your horizons and imbue your songwriting with fresh inspiration.

Guest post by Patrick McGuire of the ReverbNation Blog

If you feel stuck in your music-making process, traveling is one of the best ways to shake things up. Whether youre heading out on a long tour or a trip around the world, leaving home and embracing the unknown is something that can inspire your creative process and alter the way you view life. Here are four ways that traveling can improve your music:

Creates new personal connections

Youll meet people traveling that you never wouldve run into at home. Every person youll come across while traveling or touring is different and offers a unique perspective, and these connections will ultimately shape and color your music. You dont need to be especially close to someone you meet on your travels for them to impact your music. Instead, you simply need to be open to the experience of meeting new people and allowing what you observe to inform your music. Some relationships influence your music in subtle ways while others make big impacts. If youre touring and forming connections with other musicians, youll have the added benefit of forming creative relationships that can help your music and career for years to come. When youre open to meeting new people while traveling, your music improves as your views of the world expand.

Inspires your creative process

Its easy to feel lost or uninspired during the songwriting process, especially if youve already been making music for years. But a huge benefit of traveling is that getting away from the familiarity of your surroundings has a tendency to energize creativity and unlock ideas. You dont necessarily need to fly across the world and have profound experiences for this to happen. A week-long tour, impromptu road trip, or a quick weekend away from home could do the trick if you simply need to change your surroundings, though longer trips will probably deliver more inspiration than shorter ones.

Exposes you to new music

If youre lucky enough to be able to travel around the world, youll hear music on your travels that you never wouldve been exposed to at home. But even tours around your home country or the region surrounding where you live will give you the chance to hear new music. You might love being a professional musician, but seeking out new music takes effort. Traveling and touring take the work out of doing this because unfamiliar music surrounds you whether you want it to or not whether its in a taxi, at a market, or at a cultural event. And, keep in mind, you dont need to necessarily like the music you hear for it to make an impact on your work. Sometimes the benefit comes from hearing something and knowing its not the direction you want your work to go in. If you travel with an open, curious mind, youll get the benefits of exposure to new and unfamiliar music.

Shows you other ways of seeing the world

As a songwriter, your music will suffer if you stick to singular ways of thinking about music and approaching your craft. Traveling shows you new ways of experiencing the world through alternative perspectives, different cultures, and new ideas. Your songwriting practice cant thrive without newness and energy, and travel delivers these benefits. It might not seem like it, but youre faced with endless choices every time you write new music. Traveling will reveal completely new ways of thinking about and seeing yourself and the world around you.

If you feel bored with your music and unsure how to move forward, booking a long tour or going on an extended trip can help shake loose ideas and bring inspiration back into your process. But theres a catch. Travel wont benefit you or your music one bit if youre not willing to do the work of paying attention to your life and the complicated world around you. Inspiration wont show up for you unless you show up for it first, and this applies whether youre working in your home studio or are halfway across the world in an unfamiliar place. With the right mindset, traveling and touring can gift you with a renewed musical perspective and energy that will fuel your process and shape your ideas.

Patrick McGuire is a writer, musician, and human man. He lives nowhere in particular, creates music under the name Straight White Teeth, and has a great affinity for dogs and putting his hands in his pockets.

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DW Director General Peter Limbourg sees the suspension of the journalistic offerings of DW and other media outlets by the government in Belarus as an act of desperation: "The accusations against DW are absolutely ridiculous. Mr. Lukashenko has shown that he will stop at nothing to maintain his hold on power in his struggle against his own people. The heavy use of independent news outlets clearly shows that people in Belarus no longer trust the government-controlled media. We protest against the suspension of our offering because the people there have a right to objective information on the situation in their own country."

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, users first called attention on social media to the fact that DW news pages were no longer accessible via numerous providers. Since then, the government has apparently rolled out the suspension across the entire country. Mobile use is also being limited.

Deputy Minister for Communications and Informatization Andrej Kunzewitsch announced in a communique on the ministry's website that access to several online news portals would be limited, including DW.

He cited the dissemination of hyperlinks on the DW website to material that was, according to court decisions, extremist in nature: "Article 38 of the media law allows for a direct ban of the dissemination of hyperlinks to such material," said Kunzewitsch.

DW considerably expanded its program offerings for Belarus in the spring of 2021 so that Germany's international broadcaster can cover the activities of civil society in Belarus.

More people can communicate with each other and have open access to information across the world than ever before. In this context, it is often forgotten that many people live in countries with the threat of punishment for freely expressing their opinions and the free flow of information is often prevented. DW has therefore made its stand against censorship one of its central principles and is dedicated to making sure that people everywhere can access relevant information on their environment.

In many countries, government control of infrastructure can lead to information being censored or cut off all together. That's why DW has always worked to provide solutions to circumvent censorship and provide information to the people. For example, people in countries whose governments block or restrict access to independent news can access DW content securely and anonymously with the Tor Project. Websites accessible through Tor (The Onion Routing) can be recognized by the extension '.onion.' A special browser such as the Firefox-based Tor browser is necessary in order to gain access to the websites.

Over the past decade, DW has also been utilizing a censorship circumvention system called Psiphon, which works by using a network of different proxy servers (an intermediary between a user and an online source). With this technology, users in countries like China and Iran have been given the power to access unbiased information from reliable sources.
The Belarusian interior ministry on Friday classified three of the country's most popular opposition social media channels as extremist organisations, meaning that people can face up to seven years in prison for subscribing to them.

Social media channels such as Telegram messenger were widely used during mass street protests against President Alexander Lukashenko last year both to coordinate demonstrations and share footage of a violent police crackdown.

The NEXTA news outlet, run by a Belarusian exile in Poland, has three channels on Telegram, including NEXTA Live, which has nearly 1 million subscribers in a country of 9.5 million.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs has made a decision to recognise a group of citizens carrying out extremist activities through the Telegram channels NEXTA, NEXTA-Live and LUXTA, an extremist organisation and prohibiting its activities," the ministry said in a statement.

Previously, anyone who reposted material from NEXTA risked a fine or detention for 30 days. But the new classification means subscribers could be prosecuted for participating in an extremist organisation and be jailed for up to seven years.

"1.4 million more extremists appeared in Belarus today," NEXTA wrote in a Tweet. "Ministry of Internal Affairs recognized telegram channels NEXTA, NEXTA Live and LUXTA as 'extremist formations'. This means that criminal cases can be opened against creators, administrators and subscribers in #Belarus."

Protests erupted last year after a presidential election that Lukashenko's opponents say was blatantly rigged to keep the veteran leader in power.

Tens of thousands of people were detained and human rights activists say more than 800 people are now in jail as political prisoners since the protests.

The authorities have recently taken reprisals against citizens who voice dissent online. Hundreds of people were detained and face prison terms for making disrespectful comments about a KGB officer who died in a shootout in Minsk last month.

(Editing by Matthias Williams and Angus MacSwan)

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2021/10/29/belarus-classifies-social-media-channels-as-039extremist039-in-new-crackdown
Google, the parent company of the world's most popular online video-sharing platform YouTube, has blocked the official channel of Belarus' Investigative Committee, the agency's official representative revealed on Tuesday.

Speaking to Moscow-based news agency RIA Novosti, Yulia Goncharova said that the account was blocked for violating community rules.

"The channel contained video clips on high-profile cases, materials on the fight against crime, combating cybercrime and drug trafficking, presentation videos, and other socially significant data," Goncharova said, noting that it had 23,000 subscribers.

A screenshot posted later by the Investigative Committee revealed that Google made the decision due to the company's "export restriction and sanctions policy," noting that the account "cannot be restored."

Earlier this year, America's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) called the Belarusian Investigative Committee a "government organization at the forefront of post-election repression," accusing it of investigating "politically motivated criminal cases." They subsequently decided to put the government body under economic sanctions, as well as its chairman Dmitry Gora and his three deputies.

The committee is accused by Washington of having unlawfully targeted human rights organizations, as well as the dissident Roman Protasevich.

The blocking was welcomed by Franak Viacorka, a prominent assistant to former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who accused the government body of being "involved in repressions" against civil society.
McGowan Retires From Williamstown Police Department

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The police officer who accused the Police Department of sexual harassment and racism has retired, ending a year of tumult that saw the departure of both the town manager and police chief.

Sgt. Scott McGowan retired as of Oct. 31, according to a statement issued by his attorney David A. Russcol, a partner of Zalkind, Duncan and Bernstein of Boston.

"Sgt. McGowan came to believe that continuing the legal disputes with the town of Williamstown would not be in anyone's best interests," said Russcol. "He intends to dismiss his recent retaliation complaint at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, as those issues have been resolved to his satisfaction and that of the town."

Interim Town Manager Charles Blanchard said he could only confirm that as of Oct. 31, McGowan was no longer a member of the Williamstown Police Department. He added that town would issue a statement on this next week.

McGowan had recently filed a second complaint with MCAD, alleging that he was placed on administrative leave last winter as retaliation for allegations he raised in a 2019 MCAD complaint and subsequent federal lawsuit against the town, the former town manager and the former police chief.

Meanwhile, the town had three times in the past month scheduled a disciplinary hearing for McGowan, who then exercised his right to have the hearing held in public . The latest date scheduled for the hearing was Nov. 16.

During this period, the Select Board held two executive sessions related to litigation regarding police.

The town's annus horribilis began in August 2020 when McGowan filed suit in federal court alleging three counts of discrimination and retaliation for bringing misconduct in the force to light and naming then Town Manager Jason Hoch and Police Chief Kyle Johnson.

The Select Board was caught off-guard by the federal suit and had been unaware of the MCAD complaint, in which McGowan alleged the town denied him a promotion to lieutenant because he blew the whistle on various incidents of sexual misconduct and racist behavior in the Police Department.

Those incidents, some of which went undenied by the town in court filings, sparked a community conversation about conduct in the department and ultimately led to the departure of the former chief and town manager.

McGowan had dropped the lawsuit last December after it was announced that Johnson would leave his position.

In March, McGowan was placed on paid administrative leave for investigation into an "employee complaint." Hoch, who was still town manager at the time, said the leave was not disciplinary.

Russcol said the sergeant had informed Blanchard last week on his intent to retire from the department, in which he has served since 2002.

McGowan's retirement would seem to close a chapter on a year of turmoil that has led the town to consider its police practices, but town has still not fully recovered. It's back to square one in trying to find a permanent town manager after a failed search last month , and will have to find a temporary manager as Blanchard will be leaving next month. The lack of a town manager has also put off the search for a new police chief.

Russcol's full statement is below:
Fire Officials Reminder: Change Clocks, Check Alarms

STOW, Mass.  With the end of daylight savings time coming on Nov. 7, Massachusetts fire officials issued a seasonal reminder to check smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms when you change your clocks.

"Working smoke and CO alarms are key to surviving a fire or carbon monoxide leak," said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. "As we 'fall back' this weekend, remember to check your alarms when you change your clocks. Unless you have newer alarms with 10-year sealed batteries, this is a good time to replace the alkaline batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or replace the entire device if it's more than 10 years old."

Ostroskey also highlighted the importance of CO alarms as we head into the colder months.

"Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States," he said. "The primary sources of carbon monoxide in the home are furnaces and other fuel-burning appliances. We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide, so it's important to have working CO alarms to alert you to this invisible killer."

Replace Aging Smoke Alarms

"Smoke alarms are like any other household appliances: they don't last forever," said Chief Michael Winn, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. "Alarm manufacturing dates are printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms usually need to be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms after five to seven years. If the date on your alarm is more than 10 years ago, or if there's no date at all, it's time to replace it."

Replacement Alarms Should be Photoelectric With 10-Year Sealed Batteries

The State Fire Code requires replacement battery-operated smoke alarms in older one- and two-family homes to be photoelectric and have 10-year, sealed, non-replaceable, non-rechargeable batteries and a hush feature.

"We see too many disabled smoke alarms at fire scenes where people really needed them to work," said Ostroskey. "Fire officials hope that if smoke alarms are easier to maintain, like those with long-life batteries, people will keep them in use rather than disabling them or forgetting to change out the batteries."

Modern Fires Burn Faster

"Changes in construction and manufacturing make today's residential fires burn faster," said Ostroskey. "In the average house fire, there are only one to three minutes to escape after the smoke alarm sounds. Working smoke alarms give you precious time to use your home escape plan before poisonous gases and heat make escape impossible."

"No one expects to be a victim of a fire, but the best way to survive one is to have working smoke alarms," Chief Winn said. "Take a few minutes to protect those you love by changing the batteries in your smoke alarms this weekend. And if you have parents, grandparents, or older neighbors who might need a hand, volunteer to check their alarms and change their batteries, too."

Home Fire Sprinklers

Home fire sprinklers can provide residents additional time to escape and contain or even extinguish a fire, but working smoke alarms are still needed to alert people to danger.

Senior SAFE

Nearly 40 percent of last year's fire deaths involved adults over the age of 65. More than 200 fire departments across Massachusetts have grant-funded Senior SAFE programs. Seniors who need help testing, maintaining, or replacing smoke alarms should contact their local fire department or senior center for assistance.
This is a contributed article by Danny Lopez, CEO of Glasswall Solutions

With cybercrime up 600% in 2021, organisations are facing increasing risk in both the public and private sectors. Threats arent just getting more prolific - theyre increasingly complex and harder to defend against. A good example of this is the recent high-profile supply chain attacks, which the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has predicted will quadruple by the end of 2021, compared to 2020. These attacks are concealed in legitimate software products, where malicious malware is embedded in updates which ultimately allow an attacker into the target IT environment. By the time the threat is discovered, the attacker already has access to the system and all the sensitive information it stores.

These were the circumstances under which the SolarWinds attack of 2020 occurred, affecting more than 17,000 of its customers. As well as impacting businesses such as Microsoft, Intel and Deloitte, this attack was almost certainly designed to penetrate highly sensitive government agencies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Nuclear Security Administration and parts of the Pentagon.

Learning from the best

The reason it took such a sophisticated attack to penetrate these government institutions is that they make it very difficult for more traditional attacks to be successful. The defence and intelligence sectors are rarely impacted by file-based attacks, for instance, because for these organisations, cybersecurity is a case of national security, not just a business matter. As a result, there are a range of lessons that commercial businesses could learn from the defence and intelligence communities to improve their cybersecurity strategies.

A key part of the problem is that by the time an attack has penetrated the target systems, much of the damage has been done. Instead, having the measures in place to identify and protect against threats such as those posed by file-based malware is far more effective. Being reactive is the biggest security mistake made by most organisations. In order to stay protected from various online dangers, businesses must be able to remove threats from their files at the same scale and level as the defence and intelligence communities.

The secret weapon

Due to the potentially catastrophic consequences of any cybersecurity mistakes made in the defence and intelligence sector, these agencies cannot rely on reactive solutions - their frontline must be impenetrable. For many, Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology has offered a proactive solution to file-based threats thats now building significant momentum across the private sector.

Proactivity is the core of CDR technology. The protection it offers is instant, unlike reactive security solutions such as anti-virus, as files and documents undergo a rapid four-step process.

Step 1 - The file is first inspected to confirm that its digital DNA does not deviate from the manufacturers known good specification. Any irregularities are instantly rectified.

The file is first to confirm that its digital DNA does not deviate from the manufacturers known good specification. Any irregularities are instantly rectified. Step 2 - Next, the file is cleaned to remove any active high-risk content - such as embedded links or macros.

Next, the file is to remove any active high-risk content - such as embedded links or macros. Step 3 - Once any high-risk content is removed, the file is rebuilt to the known good specification and any security blind spots are closed.

- Once any high-risk content is removed, the file is to the known good specification and any security blind spots are closed. Step 4 - Once the first three steps are complete, the file is threat-free and can be delivered to the user with the confidence that it is totally safe.

Such a simple and quick process creates strong cyber-protection as it is very difficult for a threat to exist in a file that has undergone CDR. This is so valuable to organisations because it instils confidence that every file is safe to open. Significantly, neither security nor productivity has to be compromised as its instantaneous nature carries out the process without interrupting business operations.

Today, cybercriminals are incredibly sophisticated and use technology to engineer malware and create compelling versions of each file so that they are undetectable by traditional security solutions and convincing to users. However, as CDR looks at the files digital DNA, not the visual layer, it cannot be tricked by the cybercriminals sophisticated algorithms that frequently avoid detection.

Stay one step ahead

It is time for business leaders to change how they approach cybersecurity as the sustainability of traditional security approaches continues to dwindle. In order to modernise their methods, leaders should be open to change and innovation, being prepared to tackle the risks and issues that may arise. Even if they have yet to fall victim to a cyber-attack or data breach, organisations should not assume they will remain safe forever.

Cybercriminals and their attacks are not always easily identifiable, but adopting the right mindset and approach to cybersecurity will give businesses the best opportunity to defend themselves against attacks and keep their systems safe. The defence and intelligence sectors are currently reaping the benefits of CDR and the commercial space could learn a lot from following their lead.

Danny Lopez is the CEO of award-winning cybersecurity firm Glasswall, which delivers unique protection against sophisticated threats through its groundbreaking technology. Prior to joining Glasswall in 2019, Lopez enjoyed a successful international career in banking, marketing, diplomacy, and technology, including working as the inaugural CEO of London & Partners and Managing Director at the UK governments Department for International Trade.
(left to right) Andrew Loudon in stolen bus, vehicle Loudon threw into his own home using a stolen construction front-loading tractor
Although 87 journalists were murdered in the course of their duties in the last decade in Afghanistan, only 5 cases have been resolved. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) express serious concern that the Talibans takeover may further increase impunity for crimes against journalists.

According to the IFJs documentation, between 2010 and 2021, 87 Afghan journalists have been killed in the line of duty, of which only 5 cases are resolved. This is just 5.7 percent. At least 9 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in 2021 alone, with no justice for a single case. Since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, at least six journalists have been killed due to their profession and many more are suffering intensifying threats, harassment, intimidation and violence.

While the Taliban are clearly neither committed nor interested in upholding the safety of journalists and preserving press freedom, the formerNational Unity Government, led by President Ashraf Ghani, was also just as unable to investigate new or historic cases and achieve justice. In the case of the murder of Malala Maiwand, a female television anchor for Enkaas TV and radio, who was killed on December 10, 2020, two suspects were arrested just two days later. But no justice has been delivered. A suspect was arrested within a week of the assassination of journalist Elyas Daee in Afghanistans Helmand province on November 12, but the justice process was also delayed. Although the Afghanistan government announced that they arrested a member of the ISIS group said to be involved in the killings of three Enikass TV employees, Shazia Roufi, Saadia Sadat and Morsal Wahedi on March 2, 2021, again justice has not been served .

With the Talibans regime solidifying in Afghanistan, the IFJ expects a further increase in crimes against journalists and persisting impunity. On October 21, Taliban militants attacked several journalists covering a womens demonstration in Kabul, while on September 7 and 8, the Taliban also arrested more than 14 media workers for their coverage of the anti-Pakistan and Womens protests. OnSeptember 19, the interim director of the so-called Government Media and Information Centre (GMIC) announced 11 new media regulations for Afghanistans media industry, which can be arbitrarily interpreted to censor broadcast content and restrict press freedom. According to the IFJs documentation, more than153 media organisations have now ceased operations as the Taliban regime solidifies; with women journalists barred from working, a spike in telecommunication shutdowns and increased threats and violence towards media workers.

According to a research report by the Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU) titled Reflecting the current situation of Afghan Journalists and Media Workers in Afghanistan that surveyed 1,379 journalists and media workers from 28 provinces in Afghanistan, more than 70% of all respondents had received threats since the Taliban came to power in mid-August .

The SAMSN said:The SAMSN is concerned by the increased attacks on journalists, media workers and the media sector as a whole, following the Talibans takeover in Afghanistan. During its previous regime the Taliban heavily controlled the press and placed critical restrictions on journalists, and we are fearful that impunity for crimes against journalists will be even more gravely exacerbated under current Taliban rule. We recognise the efforts of Afghan journalists who are continuing to report on Afghanistans dire situation to the world despite severe challenges and threats to their safety. The SAMSN also expresses its solidarity with all Afghan journalists and expresses its commitment to continue its cooperation and support efforts during this trying time.

The IFJ said: The IFJ is well aware that the Talibans so called government have absolutely no intent to address issues related to impunity for crimes against journalists or to bring justice to the 87 journalists murdered since 2010. It is high time that the international community expedites their advocacy and compels the Taliban regime to take immediate action to combat impunity. We must work to protect the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom.
"Wow. Great for fathers to spend time with their kids and support moms, but any man in an important position who takes 6 months of leave for a newborn is a loser," tweeted Joe Lonsdale, the co-founder of Palantir Technologies and a venture capitalist. "In the old days men had babies and worked harder to provide for their future -- that's the correct masculine response."

This was a response to Dan Primack's tweet commenting on how Joe Rogan didn't even realize paternity leave existed. While perhaps Lonsdale is being intentionally antagonistic and outrageous in order to generate a response, the content of the tweet itself is dangerous coming from someone with as much influence as he has. Lonsdale is suggesting that men who stay home with newborns are losers, but what does that say about moms who want and need to stay home with their children? The implication of his tweet is that women are either losers for staying home with their kids or aren't in "important" positions in the first place.

Our values as a society are in jeopardy if we truly embrace work over family. Companies in most countries have much more progressive parental leave policies. Finland guarantees each parent 164 days of paid leave after the birth of their child; Germany allows both parents of either natural or adopted children to request up to three years of parental leave after birth; Iceland is similarly challenging and changing their system to reflect gender equality where both parents get equal parental leave. The implementation of good parental leave policies not only fosters a great environment for new parents but reflects well on the company.

Research has linked parental leave to higher employee retention rates. Google was one of the first companies to extend paid leave to six months and has a higher association with overall job satisfaction as a result. So when a successful U.S. based entrepreneur and investor, such as Lonsdale, tweets content like this, it sends a message to CEOs that progressive parental leave policies aren't necessary. Such a message is irresponsible and immoral, as dads should have every right to be with their children and spouses that moms do.

While the moral case against Lonsdale's tweet is clear, there is a clear business case against it as well. Most prevailing wisdom on leadership suggests that the mark of a great leader is the ability to make oneself unnecessary. Putting this definition to use, to be able to step away from a company or organization to be with one's family, because they have put the right people and processes in place, doesn't make them "losers," it makes them great leaders! The mark of a great leader running a great organization is precisely that their organizations run flawlessly when they step away.
"It is unacceptable to continue to make the same bad mistakes when you know that those are mistakes," Haugen said in response to a question from Laurie Segall of 60 Minutes+, who asked what she would tell Zuckerberg if she had the opportunity.

As you probably know by now, Haugen isn't just a disgruntled former employee. In fact, she has repeatedly said that her goal is to "save Facebook." For a moment, take her at her word that helping Facebook become a better company is her motivation.

"My hope is that Facebook will be a more successful company because we gave it some accountability," she said on stage. The reality is, she's not the only person. As the documents she released show, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of employees that want the exact same thing, and Haugen is amplifying their voices.

In that light, it actually makes sense that she chose to collect and then share thousands of internal documents that highlight the internal struggles the company faces between its business and building a safer platform. The documents show that the company regularly chose to look the other way when confronted with evidence that its platform was harmful to teenage girls, for example.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Facebook plans to make meaningful changes to its business in response to the criticism. Well, it did announce that it was changing its name to Meta, and would be focused primarily on building the metaverse. I suppose those are significant moves, but it's unlikely that either will do anything to fix Facebook or Instagram.

"Facebook chooses expansion and new areas instead of sticking the landing on what they've already done," Haugen said. "Instead of inventing on making sure their platforms are a minimal level of safe, Facebook is about to invest 10,000 engineers on video games."

That's harsh, but it actually illustrates an important point that Haugen isn't alone in making. Zuckerberg may very well believe that the metaverse is the next big thing and that the company he runs should focus its efforts there as a strategy for future growth. From a business perspective, that might make sense, as it tries to gain more control over its own destiny.

Except Zuckerberg says the company plans to spend $10 billion next year to build the metaverse. That's double what it spends ensuring its platform is safe. They say you can tell what someone cares about by the way they spend their money. The same is true for a company, and it's pretty clear where Facebook's priorities are.

However, every business has a responsibility to do the hard work first. Making its platforms safe is an enormous challenge, and it's not nearly as exciting as building the next big thing, but that doesn't mean it's not the most important thing the company should be focused on.

Segall also asked Haugen whether she thinks that it's time for Zuckerberg to step down in favor of someone who might set different priorities for the company. "I think it's unlikely the company will change if he remains the CEO," Haugen responded. "I think Facebook would be stronger with someone who is willing to focus on safety -- so, yes."

This is an important point because it isn't clear how a company that can't bring itself to make the changes necessary to protect the platform it already manages plans to do it on anything new it might build. If the potential of the metaverse is as great as Zuckerberg and Meta say it is, do we really want it built by the same people who built Facebook?

It's actually an important lesson: Every business is more successful with accountability. Why? Because, as a founder, it can be easy to dismiss your critics, especially when they are faceless to you or only exist "out there."

Zuckerberg, for example, exerts complete control over the company he founded. There isn't anyone who holds him accountable, outside of lawmakers or regulators, neither of which have done a very good job so far.

It might be easy to think that it's ideal to have complete control over what you build, but that usually means you're going to break some things. That's OK to an extent, but there is real value in finding people you trust who can come alongside you and help you tackle the hard questions as you grow your business.
There's no mistaking good leadership. It's canceling a meeting because, frankly, you didn't need to meet. It's making a great hire because good leaders (often) beget good leaders. It's leaving most things up to the team--and making key decisions when it matters. Ultimately, good leaders know when to step in, when to step back, and when to get completely out of the way.

The following 10 CEOs, whose executive acumen landed their firms on Inc.'s inaugural 250 Best-Led Companies list, know this instinctively. Grab a pencil, settle in, and take notes from the masters.

Patrick Spence

CEO, Sonos

No one ever wants to pick a fight with one of the world's most powerful companies--least of all one that's also a partner. But that's just what happened when, in January 2020, Patrick Spence, CEO of speaker maker Sonos, sued Google for patent infringement. "I've had constructive conversations with the big tech companies, but we got to a point with Google when it wasn't constructive anymore," Spence says. Though a United States International Trade Commission judge issued an initial ruling in Sonos's favor in August 2021, Google says it disagrees with the judgment, which will be reviewed by the ITC in December. But Spence harbors no regrets about his executive decision. "I felt, on behalf of all the people and inventors at Sonos, a real responsibility to step up and say, 'This isn't right, Google. You need to either stop copying what we're doing or pay us.' " --Eric Hagerman

Sid Sijbrandij

Co-founder and CEO, GitLab

Getting the most out of a remote workforce, many leaders are now finding, is a tall task. But not at GitLab. Even before the pandemic, the San Francisco-based software developer platform, then with 850 employees, operated remotely across more than 55 countries. Today, the company has around 1,400 full-time employees with a thriving leadership culture that co-founder and CEO Sid Sijbrandij says is baked into the company's employee handbook. An excerpt: "A manager's job is not to just drive OKRs and performance. It is also to attract, engage, and retain top talent team members and maximize their contribution to the group, department, or division. If you are interested in your team members' aspirations and success, you will attract top talent because people will want to work for you." --Amrita Khalid

Emily Leproust

Co-founder and CEO, Twist Bioscience

On paper, Emily Leproust's role as CEO of Twist Bioscience is to guide her company in manufacturing DNA that can be used for research purposes. But that's not what she actually does. Not really. Emily Leproust leads cutting-edge projects; she helps land investors--quite successfully, as Twist has raised $1 billion to date; and she sets the vision and tone for a company that now employs 700 workers. "My job today is very different from when we were a three-person company," says Leproust, who co-founded Twist in 2013. And that's as it should be. "If you're the CEO of a fast-growing company and you're not learning your next job right now, you're not doing it right." True leadership, she says, boils down to being able to step back and answer the question: What will it look like to run a 5,000-person company? And then, once you have that vision, to execute the hell out of it. "I have to start learning that now," she says, "so I can perform at the highest level possible when that day comes." --Kevin J. Ryan

Anne Wojcicki

Co-founder and CEO, 23andMe

The Sunnyvale, California, genetics testing company 23andMe has genotyped about 12 million customers since 2007--a feat that co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki credits to viewing failures as learning opportunities. "You should be a constant learning machine," she says. "Totally embrace when something doesn't go right. It's not something to be embarrassed about. Most things in life don't work, and if you don't learn from them, how are you ever going to figure out what does work?" --K.J.R.

Ethan Brown

Founder and CEO, Beyond Meat

It's no surprise Ethan Brown is a health nut. After all, the founder and CEO of Beyond Meat didn't just have a hunch consumers would be into plant-based meat--he knew, personally, they'd eat it up. A vegetarian since high school, Brown is his own target market, which is of great benefit to his company--it sold 73 million pounds of product in 2020. "People want to be around someone who has a strong set of values and who lives their values," says Brown, who wakes at 5 a.m. each day for a cardio workout. "They also need someone they can count on--whether it's to deliver tough information or give guidance." --Hannah Wallace

Jen Rubio

Co-founder and CEO, Away

When she took over as CEO of luggage and travel accessories retailer Away, in April 2021, Jen Rubio knew she had some cleaning up to do. Her predecessor and co-founder, Steph Korey, had come under fire for a brash leadership style that reportedly led to a toxic workplace culture at the New York City startup. The two founders had catapulted onto the scene in 2015 after each had worked stints at DTC pioneer Warby Parker, but running their own show put them on a steep learning curve. "Mistakes are a critical part of building," says Rubio. "It's not necessarily the mistakes themselves that become mission critical, but more so how you handle them as a leader." So what's Rubio's strategy? To approach leadership from a more empathetic and vulnerable perspective. "I try to enter every meeting with an open mind. I listen to the insights of those around me, candidly share when I'm unsure of a course of action, and remain willing to have my opinions challenged and mind changed." --Tim Crino

Arnold Donald

CEO, Carnival Corporation

Knowing when to wade into politics and take on social issues is more art than science, says Arnold Donald, CEO of the Miami-based cruise giant Carnival, which operates nine cruise-line brands globally: "I do try to stay away from politics when you get to parties and that kind of thing, because we have Democratic guests and we have Republican guests, and they're both entitled to their points of view. But I do believe in standing up for things that are fundamentally right." Thus his decision to sign on to a petition protesting a Georgia election law that restricts voting access, which opponents say disproportionately disenfranchises people of color. "In that particular case, I did sign on with other leaders in the business community. One of the most basic rights in a democracy is the right to vote." --Diana Ransom

Jennifer Tejada

CEO, PagerDuty

One of the tech industry's biggest problems is its tendency to get, well, too technical. That's according to Jennifer Tejada. So when she took the reins as CEO at the IT incident management platform PagerDuty in 2016, she made it her mission to speak in plain English--and with empathy--to both customers and her employees. One trick that helped? "I've taken a page out of Jeff Bezos's book and gotten rid of slides in our organization, and I make everyone write narratives," she says. "In addition to being like a very frustrating English class for my executives, it forces clarity of thought: You get only a few pages, and the narrative has to stand by itself and provide all the context, instead of what we tend to do, which is puke out a whole bunch of stuff and leave it to people to distill what's important." It's a win for laymen, and also for PagerDuty's newly minted shareholders--Tejada took the company public in 2019. --Lindsay Blakely

Ed Park

Co-founder and CEO, Devoted Health

Ed Park is a tech guy. Before co-founding private Medicare insurer Devoted Health with his brother, Todd, Ed was CTO, COO, and president of Athenahealth--the health care software firm that was co-founded by his brother and Jonathan Bush. (Todd's also a tech guy, having served as the U.S. chief technology officer during the Obama administration.) But Ed, for one, doesn't credit tech for his company's success, which includes landing Devoted $1.91 billion from investors. Rather, he says, it's all about delivery--as in, how his customers receive the company's services. "We instruct our teams to follow the Devoted Health prime directive: Close their eyes, envision the person they love most in the world, and do what they would do for that person, provided it's within the bounds of the law," says Ed. "The clarity of this prime directive empowers our teams to act and innovate swiftly." --Brit Morse

Michelle Zatlyn & Matthew Prince

Co-founders, Cloudflare

Since going public in September 2019, internet-security company Cloudflare has doubled its global employee count to 2,000. Good thing: The distributed-work revolution caused by the pandemic brought a wave of digital insecurity, and a surge of ransomware attacks. "What's happened over the past year and a half has just shown how important our mission to build a better internet is," says Michelle Zatlyn, Cloudflare's co-founder, president, and COO. Adds co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince: "It's not a slogan we paint on the walls; it's something we live every day. During this challenging time, the world has needed the internet more than ever before--and that fact has rallied our team." As for their leadership? Zatlyn demurs: "It doesn't matter how good Matthew and I are anymore. It's: How good are our leadership teams? And how good are their leadership teams?" --Christine Lagorio-Chafkin

Correction: An earlier version of this article contained an out-of-date funding total for Devoted Health. As of publication, November 2, 2021, the company had raised $1.91 billion from investors.

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We discuss the Glasgow COP26 agenda and Indias climate action plan, including the target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070.

The UK in partnership with Italy is hosting the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from October 31 to November 12, 2021, in Glasgow. COP26 is expected to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by accelerating a climate action plan that has international consensus.

The primary agenda will be to establish tangible actions against climate change. Indias position revolves around demanding climate justice on four issues: temperature, mitigation, finance, and responsibility by building a counter against the shifting goalposts by the developed world. India has also committed itself to achieve the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

The COP26 follows the assessment report on Earths climate published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This report highlights various climate change induced events like heat waves, droughts, extreme rainfall, and sea-level rise in the coming decades.

What is the Conference of Parties (COP)?

The COP comes under the UNFCCC, which was established in 1994, to work towards the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The UNFCCC has 198 member states, including India, USA, and China. The first COP was held in 1995, and since then 25 such conferences have been held.

At COP3 in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted where significant decisions were made regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by member states. COP21, which was held in 2015 in Paris, France, was another milestone conference where the Paris Accord was signed to set a target for limiting global warming to below two degrees Celsius  preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius  compared to pre-industrial levels.

The member states are expected to fulfil responsibilities like formulating measures to mitigate climate change, cooperating in preparing for adaptation measures to deal with the impact of climate change, as well preparing public awareness material to promote education and training material related to combatting climate change.

What is on the agenda at COP26?

According to UNFCCC, COP26 aims to work towards the following goals:

Ensure global net-zero by 2050 and keep the target of 1.5 degree Celsius within reach: The UNFCCC recommends that countries fast-track the phase-out of coal, restrain deforestation, accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and encourage investment in renewables to meet this goal. With regard to India, it is suggested that for these targets to be met, India must update its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs). India must also decarbonize its electricity and transportation sectors and must start accounting for carbon per passenger miles in the total costs.

The UNFCCC recommends that countries fast-track the phase-out of coal, restrain deforestation, accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and encourage investment in renewables to meet this goal. With regard to India, it is suggested that for these targets to be met, India must update its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs). India must also decarbonize its electricity and transportation sectors and must start accounting for carbon per passenger miles in the total costs. Bring in adaptation measures to protect communities and natural habitats: It is envisaged that countries must work together to safeguard and restore ecosystems and build resilient systems, infrastructure, and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods, and lives.

It is envisaged that countries must work together to safeguard and restore ecosystems and build resilient systems, infrastructure, and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods, and lives. Mobilize climate finance to enable member states to achieve their climate goals: The UNFCCC proposes that all countries must have National Adaptation Plans in place and must produce Adaptation Communications sharing best practices to help turn ambition into action.

The UNFCCC proposes that all countries must have National Adaptation Plans in place and must produce Adaptation Communications sharing best practices to help turn ambition into action. Coordination to finalize Paris Rulebook: The leaders and representatives of member states must work together in coordination to frame a detailed list of rules that will help fulfil the Paris Agreement.

Indias climate action plan and commitments at COP26

India has stated that it will reach its net zero carbon emission target by 2070, as specified in its climate action plan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the High-Level Segment for Heads of States and Government at COP26, emphasized the need for a collective fight by nations to tackle the devastating effects of climate change and called for making Lifestyle for Environment (LIFE) a global mission.

Speaking about climate justice, Modi reiterated that climate justice would be served only when pressure is put on those countries who have failed to fulfil their climate finance commitments. India has called on developed nations to fulfil the promised US$1 trillion towards climate finance, the progress of which must be tracked similar to that of climate mitigation.

Additionally, India is also focused on making adaptation the main part of its development policies and schemes, citing examples of schemes like Nal Se Jal, Clean India Mission, and Ujjawala, which have also improved the quality of life. India also intends to include climate change adaptation policies in school syllabi to make the next generation aware of these issues. Modi also stated that India will keep climate change at the center of policy making.

India has announced its five commitments (Amrit Tatva) that it strives to meet as it continues to work to tackle climate change related issues.
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www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others.


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Scientists from San Diego Zoo have discovered that endangered California condors can have virgin births, confirming hatching of two chicks in the year 2001 and 2009 was from unfertilized eggs.

San Diego Zoo

Also Read: With Less Than 3,000 Alive, Indian Wolf Is Most Endangered Wolf Species: Study

The two chicks named SB517 (born in 2009) and SB260 (born in 2001) possessed 100 percent DNA of their mothers, which meant the birds were capable of fertilizing eggs themselves.



While the phenomenon dubbed parthenogenesis isnt uncommon, researchers were unaware about the asexual nature of the chicks until after they died due to health complications.

According to the researchers, the female condors, or dams, had access to fertile male partners, and despite that the birds chose to reproduce asexually, indicating that not only is this the first to be documented in condors, it is also first discovered through the use of molecular genetic testing, and the first in any avian species where female birds had access to a mate.

Also Read: 57,000-Year-Old Wolf Pup Found Mummified In Ice With Everything Intact But Eyes



Unsplash

To the uninitiated, California condors are the largest land animal in North America with a 9.5 foot wingspan, weighing around 15 kilograms. The population of condors thrived from California to Florida and even Northern Mexico and Western Canada.



However, their population has been dwindling ever since European settlers started spreading across North America. The birds have been on the US endangered species list since 1967 while being on the brink of extinction just sometime after.

Oliver Ryder, the study's co-author and director of conservation genetics for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement, This is truly an amazing discovery. We were not exactly looking for evidence of parthenogenesis, it just hit us in the face.

Ryder added, We only confirmed it because of the normal genetic studies we do to prove parentage. Our results showed that both eggs possessed the expected male ZZ sex chromosomes, but all markers were only inherited from their dams, verifying our findings.

Also Read: Number Of Pixels In These Images Show How Endangered These Animals Are In The Wild



Unsplash

Researchers highlighted that the chick SB260, which died in 2003 (which was released into the wild too) was smaller than the average size while often also showing difficulty in bonding and mixing with other condors.



Also Read: 15,000 Endangered Turtles Were Smuggled To China, 260 Died Until Mexico Seized Shipment



SB517, that died in 2017 due to health complications, had a curved spine from birth and couldnt walk properly. It wasnt released into the wild.

Researches cant say surely if the health issues were due to the asexual birth, but this wasnt uncommon in asexual births in other species.

Keep reading Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news.


A CNN news anchor has had an absolute nightmare after being mocked for covering the COP26 climate summit in Edinburgh, Scotland - despite the summit taking place in a different city.

Wolf Blitzer is covering the conference for CNN and is currently based in Edinburgh - 46 miles away from where the summit is taking place in Glasgow.

Im now reporting from Edinburgh in Scotland where 20,000 world leaders and delegates have gathered for the COP26 Climate Summit. COP, by the way, stands for Conference of the Parties. Its the 26th time they have gathered to discuss and take action on this critical issue. pic.twitter.com/BGTAeU5cBy  Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) November 1, 2021

"I'm now reporting from Edinburgh in Scotland where 20,000 world leaders and delegates have gathered for the COP26 Climate Summit," Blitzer tweeted on Monday.

Displaying his expert knowledge, the broadcaster added: COP, by the way, stands for Conference of the Parties. Its the 26th time they have gathered to discuss and take action on this critical issue.



In the picture, he can be seen in a temporary studio with Edinburgh Castle in the background. This was enough for people to confirm his whereabouts in the Scottish City.

Twitter Users couldn't resist but remind him that he was in a different city to where the conference is taking place.

Whos going to tell him https://t.co/9d5NnOggQD  Alan White (@aljwhite) November 1, 2021

Helpful note to our American friends: Edinburgh and Glasgow are not the same place. https://t.co/j2Fki9wPrF  Gordon Rayner (@gordonrayner) November 1, 2021

In case useful pic.twitter.com/gEOmc5rGHe  Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) November 1, 2021

COP 26 is in Glasgow, not Edinburgh  Matt (@matthewgordonn) November 1, 2021

You are an exceptional news anchor, your hosting of the American elections since 2004 proves this, however I wish to say (without any disrepect) that you are not living up to your reputation. The summit is being held in Glasgow, 39 miles due west of your current location.  Harry Hayfield (@HarryHayfield) November 1, 2021

You wouldnt go to New York to report on events in Philadelphia would you?  Jonalthan (@JonathanSCraig) November 1, 2021

Nice castle, shame you're in the wrong city!  Eagleowl (@eagleowl123) November 1, 2021

Good luck finding people to talk to given they're all at the COP26 in Glasgow.  Dr Karen Schafheutle (@KSchafheutle) November 1, 2021

CNN has clarified that it also has cameras in Glasgow for the summit in addition to its base in Edinburgh, where President Joe Biden is staying.

Blitzer had previously been in Rome for the G20 COP26 Summit of world leaders, which concluded Sunday.
Freida Pinto secretly eloped with her fiance Cory Tran on an undisclosed date at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The actress is seen here attending the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 9, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Jon Kopaloff/WireImage via Getty Images)
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Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable.
At least 186 Mexican wolves live in western New Mexico and eastern Arizona, authorities say. The wolves  a rare subspecies of the gray wolf  were all but wiped out by the 1970s.
Local Twin Cities artists Enzyrose, Eyenga Bokamba, Noah Lawrence-Holder, LeShon Lee, and Meadow Gillispie, talk about their reaction to the murder of George Floyd, the trial of Derek Chauvin, and life as a black artist during this time.
A Connecticut woman has been charged with larceny after police say she stole nearly $600,000 from her husband and convinced him he had Alzheimers disease in an attempt to hide her actions.

Police said the 63-year-old woman forged documents over nearly 20 years in order to steal her husbands pension checks, Social Security checks, workers compensation settlements, and other funds and put the money in a secret bank account.

She obtained power of attorney for her husband by having a friend, who is a notary public, sign the legal document when her husband was not present, police said.

Police said the woman told investigators she hid the theft for years in part by convincing her husband that he had Alzheimers, believing it would dissuade him from questioning the financial irregularities.

The husband, who has since filed for divorce, went to the authorities in March 2020 to report the suspected fraud after concerned family members brought it to his attention, police said.

The woman appeared in court Thursday, charged with first-degree larceny and was being held in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud Connecticut
Hiscox has set aside $150 million to cover losses linked to Hurricane Ida and floods in Europe, the insurer said, above analysts expectations, while it reported strong premiums written this year thanks to rising rates.

The Lloyds of London insurer said on Tuesday it saw rate increases of 13% across its portfolio, with cyber growing at a significant double digit rate. Gross written premiums grew 6.1% to $3.46 billion for the nine months to September.

Rising ransomware attacks have contributed to a jump in cyber premiums, according to insurance broker Marsh.

Cyber can change overnight when somebody finds a weakness within a system and can then exploit that, outgoing Hiscox boss Bronek Masojada told Reuters.

So that is the challenge how do you respond to something where the risks change so rapidly? We are happy to provide (cyber) on a controlled basis.

Rival Beazley, which has been ramping up investment in cyber insurance, has also said the business was a major contributor to a 20% overall increase in its premium rates when it reported half-year results in July.

Beazley reports third-quarter results this week.

Hiscox said it had reserved $110 million for Hurricane Ida based on an insured market loss of $35 billion, and $40 million net for European floods based on an insured market loss of $9 billion, which Jefferies analysts called worse than their expectations.

Hiscox, which underwrites a range of risks, including for events, fine art, classic cars, kidnap and ransom, is coming off a turbulent period in which it lost a high-profile court case brought on by Britains financial regulator over business interruption policies last year.

We have been working closely with customers and brokers in the UK to pay business interruption claims as quickly as possible, said Hiscox, adding it had made final or interim payments to 5,153 insured claimants as at the end of September, a 60% jump on July 30.

Masojada said the insurer was about half-way through paying business interruption claims.

On Tuesday, Hiscox stood by its previous net loss estimate from the pandemic of $475 million for 2020 and $17 million for lockdowns this year.

(Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; editing by Carolyn Cohn and Mark Potter)

Topics Carriers Catastrophe Natural Disasters Profit Loss Flood Europe Hurricane
This edition of International People Moves details appointments in at insurer Chaucer (in the UK), the broker NFP (in Quebec) and the insurtech BOXX (in Switzerland).

A summary of these new hires follows here

Chaucer Appoints Smith From WTW to Lead New Marine Specialty Division

Chaucer, the London-based specialty re/insurance group, has appointed Mike Smith, formerly director at Willis Towers Watson, to head up its new Marine Specialty division.

Smith has over 35 years experience working within the marine insurance industry, focusing on all aspects of marine cargo and freight liability insurance from both a broking and claims management perspective, most recently with responsibility for servicing a portfolio of global cargo accounts at Willis.

The appointment comes as the marine insurance lines at Chaucer are set to be repositioned to support product development and technology driven sector innovation, enhanced service, and future growth in targeted segments.

The following changes will come into effective in January 2022:

Marine Global will be led by Phil Graham , the incumbent head of Marine at Chaucer, and incorporates the London and International market lines of cargo, specie, hull, war and liability, and the ports and terminals portfolio.

, the incumbent head of Marine at Chaucer, and incorporates the London and International market lines of cargo, specie, hull, war and liability, and the ports and terminals portfolio. Marine Specialty will be led by Mike Smith and will include marine protection and indemnity and transport logistics; the freight forwarder business in London; and Lonham, Chaucers specialty cargo, freight and logistics liability insurer, based in Ipswich, where he will be working closely with Mike Ayres and the underwriting team.

***

NFP Names Beauchamp as VP Commercial Lines in Canada

NFP, the New York City-based insurance broker and consultant, announced that Robert Beauchamp has joined as vice president, commercial lines, in Quebec, Canada.

As part of the team that came to NFP through its acquisition of Ogilvy Insurance, Beauchamp will focus on advancing NFPs growth in Quebec. His career includes 17 years as president of Invessa, a leading property and casualty insurance brokerage firm he founded in 2001 as well as various marketing and operations roles with SimplAssur, Aviva Canada and CGU Insurance.

Most recently, Beauchamp consulted with companies and executives on business development and strategy in the commercial insurance space. Beauchamp, who brings to NFP significant industry experience cultivated over more than three decades, will report to France Dallaire, senior vice president, Quebec operations, for NFP in Canada.

Ogilvy Insurance, which NFP acquired in November 2020, is scheduled to rebrand as NFP in 2022.

***

Canadian Cyber Insurtech BOXX Names Steptoe Global Chief Product Officer

Toronto-based global cyber insurtech BOXX Insurance announced the appointment of Dominic Steptoe as global chief product officer. Based in Switzerland, Steptoe will lead the development and enhancement of BOXXs products and services globally to support its aggressive growth objectives.

He will be responsible for setting the companys product strategy, overseeing product development, user experience, product partnerships and innovation.

Prior to joining BOXX, Steptoe has held a number of senior marketing and product leadership roles in different geographies around the world. Most recently, he was head of consumer business and chief marketing officer at Swisscard  a joint venture of Credit Suisse and American Express, based in Switzerland. He led the growth of the consumer business and the development of market leading products and services as well as co-brand relationships.

Previously, he was at American Express where he led regional and global product and marketing teams in London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, and developed AMEXs consumer and small business product strategy for its network partners around the world.

The appointment follows the recent announcement by BOXX of its partnership with Zurich Insurance, which Steptoe will manage along with other customer relationships in Europe.

Topics Excess Surplus InsurTech Commercial Lines Tech Business Insurance Willis Towers Watson
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called on the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) to return surplus funds to insured drivers in a Nov. 1 letter written to the nonprofits executive director R. Kevin Clinton.

According to Whiter, the MCCA had a surplus of $5 billion as of June 30. Whitmer said the surplus reflects premium overcharges and cost-saving measures in the 2019 no-fault reform legislation, which ended the states one-of-a-kind requirement to purchase unlimited medical coverages for crash injuries.

Now is not the time for the MCCA to withhold money owned to Michiganders, Whitmer wrote. I urge you move swiftly to return the surplus funds to policyholders in the form of lump-sum checks.

Whitmer called for the surplus to be returned directly to auto insurers in full.

Before changes were made to Michigans auto insurance law, the MCCA required nearly all drivers to pay a per-vehicle fee as high as $220 in 2019. The assessment reimburses car insurers for medical claims surpassing $580,000.

The MCCA fee for Michigan drivers who maintain unlimited medical coverages fell to $86 beginning July 1, 2021, the lowest in 19 years.

The MCCA had more than $27 billion in total assets according to a June 30 annual statement. Every insurance company that sells auto insurance in Michigan is required to be a member of the MCCA. Its five-member board represent the insurance industry.

Topics Personal Auto Michigan
A federal jury on Friday awarded more than $25 million to a man who sued the city of Chicago and two police detectives after being wrongfully convicted of murder and spending nearly 23 years in jail.

Eddie Bolden was freed from prison in 2016, two years after an appellate court found his trial attorney was ineffective. The Cook County states attorneys office dropped the case rather than put Bolden on trial again and he was granted a certificate of innocence, allowing him to receive state payment for his time in prison.

But attorneys for the city and detectives argued during the federal trial that Boldens criminal trial was fair and that hes guilty of the 1994 murders.

A spokesperson said Chicagos Law Department is reviewing the verdict and is assessing its legal options.

Jurors ordered the city to pay $25 million in compensatory damages, and the two surviving police detectives to pay $100,000 in punitive damages. The Chicago Tribune reports that the total award tops the $25 million verdict given to Thaddeus Jimenez in 2012, and is believed to be the highest award in a wrongful conviction case in Chicago.

Boldens lawsuit alleged that he was framed in the killings of 24-year-old Derrick Frazier and 23-year-old Irving Clayton. Boldens attorney, Ron Safer, told jurors that police had no evidence that he was involved in the drug deal that led to the killings.

Safer argued that Bolden was the only man put in a police lineup who matched the physical description a witness provided, and that detectives ignored other key evidence.

I think the jury recognized that he was victimized by a system that unfortunately has victimized people for too long, and they want it to stop, Safer said after the decision.

Attorneys for the city and the detectives argued that Bolden had connections to a high-ranking gang member who had leverage over the witnesses claiming Bolden had an alibi, giving police good reason to distrust them.

Standing with his attorneys in the lobby of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after the jurys decision, Bolden, 51, teared up as he said he could barely find words to describe what he felt.

Finally, he said. Its all I can say right now.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The family of a man who was fatally shot by two Topeka police officers in September 2017 has filed a federal lawsuit against the city seeking $10 million for alleged civil rights violations.

The parents of Dominique White, Kelly White and Mary Theresa Wynne, are also asking for $4.790 to cover the cost of his funeral. Whites family, which is represented by Chicago-based attorney Andrew Stroth, also said in their lawsuit that the city didnt adequately train its officers.

Topeka authorities cleared officers Justin Mackey and Michael Cruse of criminal wrongdoing after the shooting, and the police department concluded that they didnt violate any policies, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.

The 30-year-old White was fatally shot in the back after a struggle with Mackey and Cruse.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said White initially denied he had a gun before the officers discovered one in his shorts pocket and tried to seize it.

Kagay said White resisted the officers and was shot as he was running away with his left hand hovering over the pocket that contained the gun.

The attorneys for the city of Topeka said in a court filing Tuesday that the split-second decision Mackey and Cruse made to shoot White was reasonable under the circumstances.

Because neither Cruse nor Mackey violated any Fourth Amendment right of Dominique White, plaintiff has no claim against the city, Topekas attorneys said in the filing.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Kansas
Break up Big Tech? How about shrinking the tech companies shield against liability in cases where the content they push to users causes harm? Or creating a new regulator to strictly oversee the industry?

Those ideas have captured official attention in the U.S., Europe, U.K. and Australia as controversy has enveloped Facebook which last Thursday renamed itself Meta  Google, Amazon and other giants. Revelations of deep-seated problems surfaced by former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen, buttressed by a trove of internal company documents, have lent momentum to legislative and regulatory efforts.

But while regulators are still considering major moves such as breaking up some companies or limiting their acquisitions, the most realistic changes may be more tangible and less grandly ambitious. And also the kind of thing people might actually see popping up in their social feeds.

So lawmakers are getting creative as they introduce a slew of bills intended to take Big Tech down a peg. One bill proposes an eraser button that would let parents instantly delete all personal information collected from their children or teens. Another proposal bans specific features for kids under 16, such as video auto-play, push alerts, like buttons and follower counts. Also being floated is a prohibition against collecting personal data from anyone aged 13 to 15 without their consent. And a new digital bill of rights for minors that would similarly limit gathering of personal data from teens.

For online users of all ages, personal data is paramount. Its at the heart of the social platforms lucrative business model: harvesting data from their users and using it to sell personalized ads intended to pinpoint specific consumer groups. Data is the financial lifeblood for a social network giant valued at $1 trillion like Facebook. Er, Meta. Advertising sales drive nearly all its revenue, which reached about $86 billion last year.

That means the proposed legislation targeting personal data collected from young people could hit the bottom line of the social media companies. On Tuesday, executives of YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat offered endorsements in principle during a congressional hearing on child safety, but wouldnt commit to support already proposed legislation. Instead, they offered boilerplate Washington lobbyist-speak, saying they look forward to working with Congress on the matter. Translation: They want to influence the proposals.

Sens. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., proposed the two bills that address protection of kids online. They say theyre hearing more and more stories of teens overdosing on opioids obtained online or who died by suicide when their depression or self-hatred was magnified by social media

Among all of Haugens numerous condemnations of Facebook, her disclosure of internal company research showing that use of the Instagram photo-sharing app appeared to harm some teens appears to have resonated most with the public.

Kid Protection

When it comes to kids, Republican and Democratic lawmakers  hopelessly divided over perceived political bias and hate speech in social media  are in solid agreement that something must be done, and quickly. One thing that unites Democrats and Republicans is `Wont someone please think of the children, said Gautam Hans, a technology lawyer and free-speech expert and professor at Vanderbilt University. Its very sellable on a bipartisan basis.

In the U.K., efforts toward tougher rules to protect social media users, especially younger ones, are farther along. Members of the U.K. Parliament asked Haugen for guidance on how to improve the British online safety legislation. She appeared in London before a parliamentary committee on Monday, warning members that time is running out to regulate social media companies that use artificial intelligence to push engaging content to users.

European Union privacy and competition regulators have been far more aggressive than their U.S. counterparts in bridling the tech giants. They have levied multibillion-dollar fines on some of the companies and adopted sweeping new rules in recent years. The U.K. established a new regulator for Facebook and Google this spring.

U.S. regulators only kicked into gear in 2019, when the Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook $5 billion, and YouTube $170 million in separate cases for alleged privacy violations. Late last year, the U.S. Justice Department and a number of states filed landmark antitrust suits against Google over market dominance in online search. The FTC and several states brought a parallel antitrust action against Facebook accusing it of abusing its market power to crush smaller competitors.

Beyond the child protection measures, U.S. legislators from both parties have floated a vast number of proposals designed to crack down on social media; target anti-competitive practices by Big Tech companies, possibly ordering breakups; and to get at the algorithms the tech platforms deploy to determine what shows up on users feeds.

All these proposals face a heavy lift toward final enactment.

The Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act, for instance, was introduced by senior House Democrats roughly a week after Haugen testified as to how social media algorithms push extreme content to users and inflame anger to boost user engagement. The bill would hold social media companies responsible by removing their shield against liability, known as Section 230, for tailored recommendations to users deemed to cause harm.

Unintended Consequences

Some experts who support stricter regulation of social media say the legislation could have unintended consequences. It doesnt make clear enough which specific algorithmic behaviors would lead to loss of the liability protection, they suggest, making it hard to see how it would work in practice and leading to wide disagreement over what it might actually do.

For instance, Paul Barrett, who teaches a seminar in law, economics and journalism at New York University, calls the bill very sweeping in ways its authors may not understand, and suggests it could shred the liability shield almost entirely. But Jared Schroeder, a First Amendment scholar at Southern Methodist University, said that while theres a noble purpose behind the bill, constitutional free-speech guarantees would likely stymie any attempt to sue social-media platforms.

A spokesperson for Meta, which owns the Facebook service, declined to comment Friday on legislative proposals. In a statement, the company said it has long advocated for updated regulations, but provided no specifics.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg  make that, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg  has suggested changes that would only give internet platforms legal protection if they can prove that their systems for identifying illegal content are up to snuff. That requirement, however, might be more difficult for smaller tech companies and startups to meet, leading critics to charge that it would ultimately work in Facebooks favor.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics InsurTech Tech
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has raised significant concerns about a plan to use spectrum for 5G wireless networks on aviation safety and is planning to issue a formal warning about the issue, according to sources and a letter seen by Reuters.

The aviation industry has voiced alarm about the plan to use C-Band spectrum for more than a year. Network carriers are expected to begin using the spectrum starting Dec. 5 starting in 46 markets.

FAA Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims in a previously unreported Oct. 6 letter said the agency shares the deep concern about the potential impact to aviation safety resulting from interference to radar altimeter performance from 5G network operations in the C band.

An FAA spokeswoman said Friday it continues to engage with other agencies so that aviation and the newest generation of 5G cellular technology can safely coexist.

The Federal Communications Commission said Friday it remains committed to ensuring air safety as the agencys successful track record demonstrates, while moving forward with the deployment of new technologies that support American business and consumer needs.

The FAA held a lengthy Oct. 14 meeting with the aviation industry on the issue. FAA and FCC officials have held numerous discussions about the issue, the sources said.

The FAA is planning to soon issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin and an airworthiness directive about the issue, two officials told Reuters, confirming a Wall Street Journal report.

The aerospace and airline sector met with the FCC in August warning without changes major disruptions to use of the National Airspace System can be expected from the rollout of 5G and added the FAA will be forced to drastically reduce aviation operational capacity.

Wireless trade group CTIA said Friday 5G networks can safely use C-band spectrum without causing harmful interference to aviation equipment, and cited numerous active 5G networks using this spectrum band in 40 countries Any delay in activating this spectrum risks Americas competitiveness.

One longer-term solution is retrofitting some altimeters with out-of-band filters, but it would likely take years and many thousands of civil aircraft are likely to be impacted, the aviation industry said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)

Topics Aviation Aerospace
Corporate governance and investor data firm Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. said it has agreed to acquire Discovery Data, Inc., which provides data and analytics to the asset management, insurance and other financial services industries.

No terms were disclosed.

Based in New Jersey, Discovery Datas platform helps asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, financial technology companies, and service providers to understand their target markets and to identify new opportunities.

ISS President and CEO Gary Retelny said the addition of Discovery Data brings will help his firms clients better support the firms and people directing the flow of assets into investment products across major distribution channels.

Led by CEO Bob Skea, Discovery Data earlier this year announced a series of new capabilities, including the addition of diversity and inclusion data and predictive analytics models for behavioral intent. It also introduced MarketSage, an interactive data visualization platform.

Discovery Data will join ISS Market Intelligence (ISS MI) business unit and continue to focus on the expansion of its product suite and client engagement.

ISS is majority owned by Deutsche Borse Group, along with Genstar Capital and ISS management. Its more than 4,000 clients include many institutional investors who use its environmental-social-governance (ESG) research, market intelligence and fund services and data and analytics, as well as public companies focused on ESG and governance risk mitigation to enhance shareholder value.

Topics Mergers
Awon Phie LLC, doing business as Holiday Inn Express North Padre Island in Corpus Christi, Texas, will pay $30,000 and furnish comprehensive injunctive relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced Oct. 27.

According to the EEOCs lawsuit, the companys operations manager told an employee that she noticed her stomach, referring to her being pregnant. The companys operations manager told the employee she was a liability because of her pregnancy and fired her, stating that she could not allow a pregnant woman to work for the employer, the EEOC charged.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against pregnant employees. The EEOC filed suit against the company (EEOC v. Awon Phie LLC d/b/a Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Case No. 2:21-cv-00012) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

In addition to the monetary relief, Awon Phie LLC has agreed to injunctive remedies including hiring an external equal employment opportunity consultant; revising its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal equal employment opportunity laws and regulations; providing anti-discrimination training, including training on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act; and posting a notice regarding the consent decree settling the suit. The court will maintain jurisdiction over the case during the decrees two-year term.

We are pleased that because of this settlement, Awon Phie LLC will institute policies and provide training so that its management will better recognize and protect the rights of pregnant employees in the workplace going forward, said EEOC Trial Attorney Esha Rajendran.

EEOC Supervisory Trial Attorney Eduardo Juarez added, This case is a reminder that the decision whether a pregnant employee should work rests solely with her. It is the employee, not the employer, who is responsible for making decisions that affect the safety of the employee and her child.

The San Antonio Field Office is part of the EEOCs Dallas District Office, which is responsible for processing charges of discrimination, administrative enforcement and the conduct of agency litigation in Texas and parts of New Mexico.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits
The Florida Supreme Court has suspended an attorney for 45 days after he failed to disclose his insurance connection to the widow of a man who died in a scuba diving accident.

Craig Jenni, of Boca Raton, will also be on probation for two years after his suspension is completed, the court and the Florida Bar reported.

The trouble for Jenni began in 2018, when an insurance company asked him to investigate the death of Ashley Bugges husband, after a diving incident in Hawaii. Jenni is a diver, a marine consultant, and is known as a diving accident expert, according to court papers filed in the case.

Jenni did not make clear to Ms. Bugge that he was an attorney at the time of the initial meeting, advise Ms. Bugge that his interests, on behalf of the insurance company, were potentially adverse to her interests, or advise her to seek independent counsel, the Bars petition to the court explains.

Florida Bar rules of conduct state: In dealing on behalf of a client with a person who is not represented by counsel, a lawyer shall not state or imply that the lawyer is disinterested. When the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the unrepresented person misunderstands the lawyers role in the matter, the lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to correct the misunderstanding.

Three weeks after their initial contact, Bugge learned that Jenni was an attorney, and ceased contact with him.

Jenni, a practicing attorney since 2001, entered a conditional plea and cooperated with the Bars inquiry. He must now pay costs incurred in the investigation and attend a professionalism workshop, and must complete legal ethics courses, the Bar noted.

Topics Carriers
The family of a driver who was killed when a sawmills gate swung into the road is not due $900,000 in damages from an insurance company, due to a policy exclusion for auto accidents, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided in a Mississippi case.

In Colony Insurance vs. Wright, the court recited an addendum to the sawmills general liability policy, which excluded bodily injury or property damage arising directly or indirectly out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any aircraft, auto or watercraft. Use includes operation and loading or unloading.

The district federal court and the 5th Circuit found that the policy was unambiguous and clearly excluded coverage of any type of automobile accident, however negligent the policyholder may have been.

The case began in January 2018 when Marion Wright was driving his personal vehicle to a logging site in Clairborne County, in western Mississippi. As he passed by the sawmill owned by V&B International, Wright slammed into the sawmill gate, which had swung across the road. Wright died at the scene from multiple injuries.

The sawmill owner settled with Wrights beneficiaries for $900,000 but stipulated that would only come from insurance proceeds. The companys general liability policy was with Colony Insurance.

Colony denied the claim and moved the case to federal court in 2019. The district federal court granted summary judgment for Colony, concluding that the policy excluded coverage for injuries arising from automobile accidents.

Topics Carriers Legislation
If the insurance policy calls for prompt notice of property damage after a storm, the policyholder cannot wait two years to file a claim, a federal court in Miami has ruled.

In LMP Holdings vs. Scottsdale Insurance Co., the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida found that the all-risk commercial property policy spelled out that the insured had a duty to promptly report damages and pertinent information.

The case stemmed from Hurricane Irma, which struck Florida in September 2017 and left widespread damage in its wake. The litigation has been watched by insurers, many of whom have complained for years about Johnny-come-lately or door knocker hurricane claims  certified by public adjusters  that insurers may have difficulty examining or rebutting.

The Scottsdale policy did not specify a time frame for reporting claims. But the court found that the insurer was prejudiced by the policyholder waiting 27 months to file.

The opinion by U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez recounted that one day after Irma blew threw the Miami area, the insureds handyman found holes in the roof of the building. The site housed architectural offices and a daycare center.

The insured also found water damage in a storage room and reception area. A few months later, the plaintiff also found issues with the air conditioner unit, along with water stains on the ceiling tile. Later, the owners, Adrian and Laura Perez, said they found damage to windows and an exterior sign. They made some repairs, then filed a claim in December 2019 and a public adjuster inspected the property.

Scottsdales engineer failed to find significant wind damage and the carrier denied the claim. The property owners sued for breach of contract.

The federal judge quoted from previous court decisions, noting that under Florida law, a failure to provide timely notice of loss in contravention of a policy provision is a legal basis for the denial of recovery under the policy. Late notice also creates a rebuttable presumption of prejudice to the insurer, and courts have held that a delay of even six months or less is considered less-than-prompt notice, the judge said.

The judge granted Scottsdales motion for summary judgment.

Late claims had become such an issue in Florida that the Legislature in 2011 approved a three-year limit on hurricane claims. Claims can be reopened or supplemental claims related to the original claim can still be filed as long as the insurer received the first notice of loss ahead of the corresponding storms deadline.

The judge in the Scottsdale case did not specifically address the 2011 three-year statute of limitations on hurricane claims.
Seven Florida residents have been charged with under-reporting payroll by $40 million in order to avoid workers compensation premiums, along with money laundering and other alleged violations, state officials said Monday.

Between August 2018 and October 2021, the suspects used shell companies and money laundering to avoid paying more than $7 million in insurance premiums, Floridas Department of Financial Services reported in a news release. More than $218,000 in cash was seized from the individuals.

This elaborate scheme illustrates how far criminals are willing to go to avoid paying workers compensation premiums, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis said. Workers comp fraud creates a vulnerable situation for employees and leaves honest Florida businesses to foot the bill for higher insurance rates.

DFS worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the state attorney generals office in the arrests. The news release did not explain exactly how the alleged scheme worked, how it was uncovered, what type of business was involved, what role the arrested individuals played in the business, or where the company was operating.

The operation may be similar to others around the country that federal and state authorities have cracked down on in recent months. In South Carolina in October, 12 owners and managers of a construction firm were arrested after an undercover investigation showed they were paying workers in cash and avoiding taxes and insurance. The check-cashing company also provided fake certificates, purporting to show that the construction firm had obtained workers comp insurance.

Topics Workers' Compensation
The labor shortage in California has hit the agriculture industry particularly hard, creating a tougher environment all around  including for insurance professionals who deal in that sector.

The lack of labor in the Golden States agriculture industry further compounds ongoing concerns like limits that leave operators paying more for less, complex employment issues created by the H-2A program, which enables U.S. employers who meet specific requirements to bring in foreign nationals, cyber concerns, environmental liability exposures, and there are even matters of concern for cannabis growers.

David Espinoza, area vice president of Barkley Risk Management & Insurance in Southern California, an Alera Group company, not only has a long history in insurance, hes been involved in agriculture his entire life  hes been a grower, shipper, transporter of field products, and he was head of a farm labor contracting firm for 10 years.

As someone who has been on both sides of the coin, he has a unique perspective of whats going on in Californias agriculture and insurance landscape.

Espinoza sat down with Insurance Journal to discuss whats going on in one of the states most important industries. This has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Insurance Journal: What are a few big insurance challenges in the agriculture industry?

Espinoza: In California, the biggest issue right now is all the fires that are happening. Getting the property coverage and the general liability portion is really challenging. Commercial auto is also very expensive, as is agriculture umbrella insurance, so people are getting lower limits for a lot more money.

IJ: Whats the most interesting thing to know about agriculture in California?

Espinoza: In California, theres a real shortage of labor, which is an industry-wide problem. In the agriculture industry, its been a bigger issue because of people just not wanting to do that type of work. Theres been a big push for larger growers who are using farm labor contractors for their staffing needs. A lot of these farms that have contractors now are also moving towards the H-2A program, which allows them to bring in employees from other countries to do the work, due to the labor shortage.

IJ: What about cyber and agriculture?

Espinoza: Cyber is interesting because its hit or miss. There are people in packing houses who are adopting cyber insurance, but out in the field its something that they really dont see a need for at this time.

Theres a lot of technology thats going into agriculture, but it doesnt really get shared. You see a lot of the bigger production facilities leaning heavily on cyber insurance, but a lot of the farming operations have still not seen the need for it. Thats slowly coming in as they start to go more digital and go more remote with their timecards.

IJ: Can you talk about environmental liability?

Espinoza: Thats a topic that a lot of growers in California dont focus on much, just because you have other companies that are doing the pesticide spraying, the contaminant, and all the liability falls on them as opposed to the grower because they segregate that. When it comes to certain crop insurance, they gamble on it because the cost is so expensive.

IJ: Cannabis is big in California. Can you offer any thoughts on cannabis agriculture and insurance?

Espinoza: Cannabis is up and coming. A lot of carriers are shying away from it, and you have a lot of carriers that are starting to open lines of coverage for it. Its hard to find a good policy form for cannabis because it is new, and all the federal guidelines are challenging.

Its a tough industry because of the regulations. When it comes to the work behind it, once again the growers are using farm labor contractors for a lot of the harvesting, planting and cultivating of the cannabis. The markets are slim, the coverage forms are very thin, and theyre expensive. But it is something that is trending as more and more cities are allowing people to grow cannabis and hemp.

The other big issue with cannabis agriculture is armed guards. A lot of these facilities have to be completely enclosed, and they have to have security. A lot of them are getting armed guards because they just dont want robberies happening, endangering the employees and other staff at the location.

Topics California Agribusiness
Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical, and other former opioid makers have scored the pharmaceutical industrys first win in the sprawling four-year litigation in the US over the drugs. They defeated a lawsuit by local governments in California that claimed they created a public-health crisis through misleading marketing.

Superior court judge Peter Wilson in Santa Ana rejected claims that units of J&J, Teva, Endo International, and Abbvie's Allergan duped doctors and patients about the addictiveness of opioid painkillers and created a 'public nuisance' tied to the medications.

Officials in Los Angeles, Santa Clara and Orange counties and the city of Oakland sought up to $50bn (43bn) to beef up policing and treatment budges depleted by the epidemic.

Its the first time a judge or jury has rejected claims by states or local governments that former opioid makers should be held liable for the fallout from the US opioid epidemic, which has claimed the lives of almost 500,000 Americans over the last two decades. Teva shares rose 9% today.

The court finds plaintiffs failed to prove an actionable public nuisance for which the defendants are legally liable, Judge Wilson concluded in a tentative ruling.

Lawyers for the local governments said theyll ask a California appeals court to review the ruling.

The people of California will have their opportunity to pursue justice on appeal and ensure no opioid manufacturer can engage in reckless corporate practices that compromise public health in the state for their own profit, they said in a statement.

J&J said its pleased Judge Wilson found its Janssen units opioid marketing and promotion were appropriate and responsible and did not cause any public nuisance, according to a statement.

John Hueston, a lawyer for Endo, said the judge properly found the company did not make false or misleading statements, and Endos lawful conduct did not cause the widespread public nuisance at issue in plaintiffs complaint.

Teva also praised the ruling, while saying the company recognises that communities in the US still suffer from the fallout of the opioid epidemic and need help.

A clear win for the many patients in the US who suffer from opioid addiction will only come when comprehensive settlements are finalised and resources are made available to all who need them, the Israel-based drugmaker said in a statement.

Bloomberg
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has delivered her strongest call yet for Mark Zuckerberg to step down as chief executive of his social media empire, saying the business will be better off with a leader who focuses on user safety.

Frances Haugen said Facebooks parent company, rebranded Meta last week, is unlikely to change if its founder remains in charge. Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, the former Facebook employee, who has leaked tens of thousands of internal documents detailing the companys struggles with user safety and misinformation, also criticised Zuckerbergs unconscionable decision to invest in its metaverse concept instead of focusing on fixing its current problems.

Asked if Zuckerberg should step down, Haugen said: I think Facebook will be stronger with someone who is willing to focus on safety, so yes. However, Haugen acknowledged that Zuckerbergs control of Meta was an issue for any independent shareholders who might wish for a change at the top. Zuckerberg controls decision-making at the company through his majority ownership of the voting shares in Meta, which makes his position unassailable.

Mark holds 54% of the voting shares in Facebook. He is the chairman and the CEO and I think that at a minimum the shareholders have the right to actually choose their CEO. And so I think it is unlikely the company will change if he remains the CEO, said Haugen.

And I hope that he can see that there is so much good he could do in the world, and maybe its a chance for someone else to maybe take the reins. Haugen also criticised the strategic shift behind the companys surprise rebranding last week, with Zuckerberg committing the business to a major investment in the metaverse, a space where digital representations of people  avatars  interact at work and play, meeting in their office, going to concerts and even trying on clothes.

Do the Facebook papers spell doom for Meta  or is it too big to fail?

Haugen said the documents she had released to Congress, regulators and the press made clear that the company needed to spend more on basic safety systems and not an expansion into virtual reality.\

Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

The documents released by Haugen have revealed that Meta was aware its Instagram photo-sharing app has been accused of exacerbating mental health problems for teenage girls, that its own workers were dismayed by a failure to stem misinformation spreading in the run-up to the 6 January riot in Washington, and that Facebook was helping to fan ethnic violence in Ethiopia.

I think there is a meta problem at Facebook which is that over and over again Facebook chooses expansion in new areas over sticking the landing on what they have already done and I find it unconscionable that, as you read through the documents, it states very clearly there needs to be more resources on very basic safety systems, she said.

Haugen added that her actions were driven by a belief that Facebook needed to change in order to save lives.

I genuinely believe that there are a million, or maybe 10 million lives on the line in the next 20 years, and compared to that nothing really feels like a real consequence.

Haugens appearance at the Web Summit follows her testimonies at the US Congress and in Westminster last month.

In London, she told MPs and peers that urgent external regulation was needed to rein in the tech companys management.

Haugen was speaking at a joint committee scrutinising the draft online safety bill, which imposes a duty of care on social media companies to protect users from harmful content. Metas apps, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, are used daily by 2.8 billion people.

Responding to Haugens comments, a Meta spokesperson said: The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical. We are on track to spend more than $5bn on safety and security in 2021  more than any other tech company  and have 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on our apps.

The spokeperson added that Meta was able to invest in expansion and safety at the same time. Obviously, we can and must do both of these things at the same time  and we are.

- The Guardian
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that the recent increase in cases of Covid-19 is very concerning and that it could not be guaranteed that restrictions would not be re-introduced.

Speaking this morning, the Taoiseach said that modelling from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had suggested that the current rise in cases would peak at the end of November.

Mr Martin said the use of antigen testing was increasing and that if people collectively remained cautious, we can avoid the need to have a backward return to restrictions.

Speaking from the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, Mr Martin said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet who told him that Israel's booster campaign had been very successful and impactful on the latest wave of the virus there.

"We have learnt from Covid-19 that no one can guarantee anything," he told RTE Radios Morning Ireland.

Mr Martin said that it had been proven that vaccines work, and he appealed to anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to do so to avoid severe illness.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that if people collectively remained cautious, we can avoid the need to have a backward return to restrictions." File Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Dublin.

Healthcare representative bodies welcome booster jabs announcement

Meanwhile, two groups representing Irish healthcare workers have welcomed the announcement that Covid-19 booster vaccines will begin to be administered to healthcare staff from this weekend.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly approved the extension of the booster programme to healthcare workers yesterday afternoon, on foot of recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

From this weekend, a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine will be offered to all frontline healthcare workers who have completed their primary course with any Covid-19 vaccine.

Both the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Nursing Homes Ireland (NIH), welcomed the decision, though each said the announcement had come later than they would have liked.

"We now need to see a rapid roll-out of the vaccine boosters to healthcare workers to make up for lost time," an INMO spokesperson said.

The vaccine supply and capacity to do so is there. A lot needs to happen now to keep our hospitals safe for the winter.

The spokesperson added that unless "a credible winter plan" was put in place, the number of patients waiting on hospital beds and the number of healthcare staff on Covid-19 leave would continue to increase, leaving the country's hospitals "in a bad place this winter."

This morning, there are 523 patients waiting for beds in hospitals around the country - the highest total since February 2020.

418 patients are waiting in emergency departments, while 105 are waiting in other hospital wards.

At present, roughly 3,500 healthcare staff are unavailable for work because they have contracted Covid-19, or because they are a close contact of a confirmed case.

Nursing Homes Ireland CEO Tadgh Daly said the boosters announcement was "important and welcome."

"The prevalence of Covid-19 is increasing within our communities and this has a direct impact upon our nursing homes and healthcare settings.

"Thankfully the protection afforded to residents is much greater because the vaccination and the booster have considerably strengthened their immunity against the virus," he said.

Mr Daly said the extension of boosters to frontline staff would bring "added protection to those providing person-intensive care in our nursing homes and provide the staff with greater reassurance."

"We will be engaging with the HSE with a view to roll-out of the vaccine in as timely a manner as possible as we enter into the very challenging winter period," he added.

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. File Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Speaking this morning, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the country's frontline healthcare workers have "been at the coalface of this pandemic for almost two years, caring for those most vulnerable and making extraordinary personal sacrifices."

Mr Donnelly said that, as with all decisions regarding the administration of Covid-19 vaccines here, the NIAC had reviewed international evidence in presenting their recommendations to him.

I am working with my Department and the HSE to implement these recommendations as soon as possible.

"It is important that we remember that vaccination, along with our continued adherence to the public health advice we are all so familiar with, are the best ways we can protect each other," he added.

As has been the case with other cohorts, booster jabs to healthcare workers will only be given six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule.

If a healthcare worker tests positive for Covid-19 after completing their primary vaccine course, the booster will be delayed for at least six months after the Covid-19 infection was diagnosed.

Endorsing yesterday's announcement, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan said vaccinations had already proved "very successful at preventing severe illness and hospitalisation."

"We also know that even when vaccinated we still need to maintain other basic public health interventions - washing our hands, opening windows, wearing masks and most importantly, staying home when we have symptoms.

"These simple measures have shown themselves right through the pandemic to be very successful at breaking the chains of transmission of this disease," he said.
A new high-frequency cross-city bus service along the suggested route of Corks proposed 1bn light rail system has been announced as part of a major redesign of the citys bus network.

More bus services with shorter wait times are also promised with a simplified route and fares structure to make interchange seamless - passengers wont have to pay extra to change between bus, rail or future light rail services within a 90-minute period.

The details are contained in the draft new bus network proposal for Cork which has been published today by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

It represents one of the biggest overhauls of the citys bus routes, timetables and fares structure in decades, and follows a blank slate review which was launched in July with an invitation to the public to get involved in the process.

The new network has been prepared by Jarrett Walker & Associates, a US-based firm which specialises in designing metropolitan public transport systems, in collaboration with Bus Eireann, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

Following a review of the city's existing network, and an analysis over 1,200 public submissions made since July, the consultants have designed a draft new network which:

increases the level of bus services in Cork by 36%;

brings 34% more people living close to a frequent service:

ensures passengers face shorter waits at a bus stop and have more direct routes;

organises services around high-frequency routes within the city centre with route branches extending out to other areas of the city;

and introduces new routes to areas in the Cork Metropolitan Area including Little Island, Cobh, Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy, Glanmire, Ballincollig and Blarney.

The NTA said the redesigned network will provide a more coherently planned, higher capacity, and more understandable network while also encouraging patronage on the indicative route of the proposed light rail system.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan described the draft network as a milestone in the BusConnects project which he said will make Cork a cleaner, greener and more liveable city.

Transport network design expert, Michelle Poyourow, from Jarrett Walker & Associates, whose firm has redesigned bus networks in Dublin, Houston, Texas, Moscow and Auckland, said the near 1,200 submissions from the public helped to shape the draft network.

Draft of Cork's new bus network map

By simplifying the network and schedules and ensuring shorter waits and more direct routes, we can connect more people across the Cork Metropolitan Area, she said.

NTA CEO, Anne Graham, said while there has been 50% growth in public transport usage in Cork from 2013 to 2019, there is potential to enhance services with new connections to schools, jobs and public services.

Were confident this new network along with the other changes being introduced through BusConnects Cork will make travelling on public transport a convenient and sustainable option for more people across the city," she said.

Cork's existing bus network

Bus Eireann CEO, Stephen Kent, said Cork is one of the most challenging operational environments for the company, with congestion causing some journey segments to take 11 times longer than they should.

The new proposed network will dramatically change the public transport experience in Cork and bus services can be enhanced comparatively quickly, he said.

The redesign of the bus network is one of the nine key elements of BusConnects Cork that aims to transform the citys bus system, making public transport more useful to more people.

The draft network has now been opened for public consultation for the next six weeks. It will be finalised in the first quarter of 2022 with a view to implementing the final proposals from 2023.

It's one of the nine key elements of BusConnects Cork - a near 200m plan which aims to transform the citys bus system.

The infrastructure element of BusConnects Cork, the delivery of over 100kms of bus lanes, is being addressed through a separate process.

* You can comment on the draft network proposals online.

An online interactive map is also available.
Ive always been inclined to the view that banking hypocrisy ought to be illegal, at the very least an offence punishable by a large fine. Every time I see a banking advert on the telly, I want to put my foot through the screen because the hypocrisy is so palpable.

Heres one thats driving me mad at the moment. A young woman is on the screen, standing on a bridge on the Liffey, with Liberty Hall (good old Larkin and Connolly) in the background. A caption says shes Anna OConnor, a climate campaigner, and shes telling us we have to do more for the environment.

The solution? An AIB Green Personal Loan.

Give me a very large break. Look up the Green Loan on their website and youll be told you can borrow up to 30,000 at an APR of 6.4%. There are loads of pictures on the website of young people doing green things, like plugging in their electric cars.

The bumph says you have to spend half the money on something green (or at least, you have to show them a quote for something green when youre applying).

Lending criteria applies

The tv screen, of course, has the usual tiny type  lending criteria apply  over-18s only  subject to approval  security may be required.

This ad isnt just about encouraging young people to borrow. Its also a pretty crass attempt to give AIB some green credentials  theyre aiming at a section of the population (their marketing people call that a demographic) for whom green credentials matter. Its all a bit sick-making.

It wasnt always like that. There was a time in my generation when your relationship with your bank manager was a more personal one. The manager would understand your circumstances and help you to arrange your finances around them.

If a new baby was arriving in the house, it was a good idea to talk to the bank manager. By the same token, if there was financial trouble on the horizon you could rely on the manager to be supportive, at least within reason.

Of course, it was always a he in my day. Until I was in my mid-twenties, if a woman went to work in a bank (or the public service), she had to leave her job the minute she got married. It was pretty well impossible for a woman to graduate up through the ranks to manager status or higher, principally because of the marriage bar.

Insupportable lifestyle

The last time I had a personal encounter with a bank official in a bank was some years ago. I had an overdraft at the time and went in to ask for an increase to pay for some car repairs. He never looked at me, only at his computer screen. The computer said no.

When I asked why, the computer (speaking through the official) told me that my lifestyle was insupportable. What was it about my lifestyle that the computer found troublesome (apart from the existing overdraft) I wondered?

Apparently, the computer believed I had a subscription to Sky Sports that I couldnt afford, and two standing orders to charities. I left (not too politely, Im afraid) and havent been back.

Now  and I have asked  I know absolutely nobody who has a personal relationship with their bank, or who could turn to a bank in times of trouble or need. Credit Unions yes, but the multi-billion euro banks turn a cold eye to anyone in trouble.

We need them, of course, and we continue to support them. The most recent figures from the Central Bank show, for instance, that banks holdings of deposits from the Irish resident private sector continued to record strong inflows, with annual growth at 11.4% as at end-September 2021. Irish resident households remain the largest contributing sector to deposits on banks aggregate balance sheet. And boy are those balance sheets healthy.

That wasnt always thus, either. Few of us will ever forget that we had to mortgage the future of two generations to save our banks  because we were given no choice, because we couldnt let them fail, because Europe told us to. We lived through a period of intense national embarrassment and shame because of the greed of the banks and their arrogant mismanagement.

Resentment

Most of us went along with that, harbouring a kind of sullen resentment. Eventually, we took it out on the politicians who caused the crisis and punished, even more, the politicians who had to try to solve the crisis. We never punished the banks.

In our childlike way, we just longed for the day when the banks would say thank you to the people of Ireland. I suppose weve long since stopped holding our breath for that.

Instead, weve come to expect the sort of thing that happened a couple of months ago. The chief executive of the Bank of Ireland, Francesca McDonagh, (theres a refreshing change at least  a woman at the top) at the same time as she was announcing pre-tax profits of nearly 500 million (for the first six months of the year), said she was hoping the government would agree to regulated normalisation in the bank.

That gobbledegook is code for allowing the bank to start paying handsome bonuses to its top management again, including, presumably, herself. Eh, no, Ms McDonagh  I dont believe were quite ready to stomach the thought of bankers bonuses.

However, I really do hope that the withholding of a large bonus doesnt leave Ms McDonagh in a position where she has to move in with a family member when she arrives at old age. That might force her to watch the most nauseating of all the current crop of bank ads.

I have to be honest. One of the reasons its so nauseating is its because its so good. Not a dry eye in the house  that good.

You know the one. A lovely, distinguished, and heartbroken old lady is saying goodbye to her old sitting room. Its battered and brown, but it has all her memories. She is resigned to moving in with her son and his family and their white sterile house. But when she arrives, her room has been magically transformed into a perfect replica of the room shes had to leave. As she smiles, all the care gone from her face, her son murmurs welcome home mum.

And its all done because someone in Bank of Ireland said their magic word, begin. And supplied the mortgage to do it.

Conditions

Once, of course, the son had fulfilled all the conditions, secured the deposit, entered into a 25-year agreement to pay it back, endured the entire process of negotiating a mortgage nowadays, including offering assurances that his pay wouldnt be affected by Covid.

I guess banks have to advertise. But the truth is never in the pictures. Its always in the small print. We lend money. If you qualify and can prove you can repay with interest, you can have some. If you dont, you cant. Get into trouble along the way, and well come after you.

Its too much to ask, I suppose, that wed be shown more of that small print and less of the tear-jerking pictures.
Welcome back, Helen McEntee. The justice minister returns to her role this week after six months' maternity leave and, in doing so, sees Fine Gael with a full complement at the Cabinet table.

While all in Government, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar included, have praised the work of Heather Humphreys in taking on the portfolio for the last half a year,

Mr Varadkar pointed to his side being a little short-handed at the Cabinet last Friday.

While everyone acknowledges that both Ms McEntees and Further Education Minister Simon Harriss use of leave for the birth of their children is a positive move for them personally and for the message it sends to the wider community, Mr Varadkar said it left a lot of work for his party.

We [Mr Varadkar and Ms Humphreys] are both absolutely delighted at the return of Minister McEntee next week because weve been a bit short-staffed on the Fine Gael side of Government for a while, between Minister McEntee on maternity leave and Minister Harris on paternity leave, and Minister Coveney out of the country a lot of the time because he has to be.

We were a team of three and four on regular occasions but its great to have the full team back next week and looking forward to getting a lot of work done between now and Christmas.

If Mr Varadkar was feeling somewhat adrift, it may not have just been the numbers. Sources within the party say the Tanaiste felt a little let down over the summer by the lack of full-throated support he received from party colleagues in the wake of the Katherine Zappone controversy, with Fianna Fails Cabinet cohort often more visible in their support of the taoiseach-in-waiting.

Fractious parliamentary party meetings

However, that frustration has gone both ways, with some backbench TDs feeling Fine Gael has lost its way in the tripartite coalition, leading to parliamentary party meetings becoming more fractious than had been the norm.

Former minister for rural and community development Michael Ring told a meeting last week he thought he had stumbled into the Green Partys weekly conclave, such was the focus on the environment. Mr Ring said he did not like what hes hearing about the carbon budgets, which he said was harming rural Ireland.

Leo Varadkar and Helen McEntee. With Ms McEntee back, Mr Varadkar regains an important voice at Cabinet and a key figure if his party wants to appeal to younger voters.

He questioned why Ireland was importing food or briquettes, and said he did not know what he was going to sell to farmers on the climate action plan. He also said he was worried about the partys future because of its handling of climate transition.

While some will say that Fine Gael isnt a party known for its climate bona fides, the comments came just a couple of weeks after a number of his own TDs told Mr Varadkar that Fine Gael had lost its sense of its most sacred of political selling points  fiscal responsibility.

Cork North-West TD and former agriculture minister Michael Creed, and former justice minister Charlie Flanagan raised the issue with Mr Varadkar ahead of the budget, with a comparison to People Before Profits Richard Boyd Barrett being made.

Of course, of those who have raised issues recently, the most noteworthy seem to carry the title former minister a lot. However, it would be too easy to put criticisms of Mr Varadkars leadership solely down to sour grapes. In Fine Gaels position  nine years in government with 35 TDs now  there are as many people who have held at least a junior ministry as have not.

Fine Gael's dip in the polls

In reality, for many in the party there is a level of criticism coming Mr Varadkars way for two things, the first being the partys dip in the polls. One senior source said that, while polls were just a snapshot of time, this is about a larger trend. Having taken 20.9% of first preferences in the last election, the party surged in the polls because of its handling of the early days of the pandemic.

However, as the months have worn on, the lead in polling has become the domain of Sinn Fein, with Mary Lou McDonalds party holding a 23-5 score in the 28 polls held since last December.

The lead in polling has become the domain of Sinn Fein, with Mary Lou McDonalds party holding a 23-5 score in the 28 polls held since last December.

In the four polls carried out in October, Fine Gael had deficits of 10, 10, five and eight percentage points on its presumptive rivals for the taoiseachs office next time around.

This brings us to the second reason why some in Fine Gael are restless. There are questions over the longevity of the partys three most senior figures  Mr Varadkar, Mr Coveney and Paschal Donohoe  all of whom could be tempted away to greener pastures at the next election. One senior party figure said that, until the question of the threes future was answered, which it might not be for some time, the natives would remain restless.

One thing that could focus minds in the party is that Mr Varadkar, far from any perception that he is a beaten docket, is due to become taoiseach again in just 13 months.

He has been somewhat uneasy as second in command, having been taoiseach until June 2020, and there was a feeling in Government last year that he was actively attempting to undermine Micheal Martin  although others put that down to teething problems between the two men, who are said to have a good working relationship.

With Ms McEntee back, Mr Varadkar regains an important voice at Cabinet and a key figure if his party wants to appeal to younger voters. Back at full strength, the next six to eight months will be vital for Fine Gael as it aims to reclaim the taoiseachs office on as strong a footing as possible to counteract the Sinn Fein tide.

Did you know?

Oireachtas committees advise the Houses of the Oireachtas on a range of specific areas. Committee members include TDs, senators or both.

There are four different types of committee:

Joint Committee  Comprises members of both the Dail and the Seanad;

Select Committee  Comprises members from either the Dail or the Seanad but not both;

Special Committee  These are established to examine a specific matter;

Standing Committee  These are permanent committees required by Standing Orders of either House to be established after a general election.

What to look out for this week

Tuesday: Dail business kicks off at 2pm on Tuesday with leaders' questions, where the Taoiseach will resume his running battle with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, fresh from her party's ardfheis on Saturday. There will be motions without debate on new pay rates for the construction sector, the greyhound industry and EU laws before a 145-minute debate on the extension of Covid emergency powers takes place. This will extend the period under which pubs and restaurants can legally be fined for breaches of Covid rules.

Sinn Fein will bring a Private Members Bill on nurses and midwives before Tanaiste Leo Varadkar takes parliamentary questions in his role as Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister.

Solicitors Simon McGarr and Fred Logue, meanwhile, will discuss the Information and Tracing Bill with members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children.

Wednesday: Wednesday will begin with discussion of the Independent Group's Credit Union Amendment Bill, before leaders' questions at midday and Taoiseach's questions just after 1pm. A near two-hour session of statements on the recent European Council meetings will follow with the Taoiseach and European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne set to lead off for the Government.

At committees on Wednesday, representatives from the Central Bank will discuss the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2021 with the Finance Committee, while Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority will discuss the National Development Plan at the Oireachtas Transport Committee.

Thursday: With the environment in sharp focus, Minister Eamon Ryan will take three hours of Dail questions between his portfolios of Transport and Environment, Climate and Communications.

Later in the afternoon, there will be statements on the report by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission released in September, which found a disproportionate impact on single parents of the housing crisis.

At committees, Junior Housing Minister Peter Burke will discuss the Maritime Area Planning Bill with the Housing Committee.
Ethiopias government declared a national state of emergency on Tuesday as rival Tigray forces threatened to move on the capital.

The United States said security had deteriorated significantly, and it strongly warned its citizens to consider leaving.

The emergency declaration by the Council of Ministers was the clearest sign of alarm yet from the government of Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed, who a year ago this week allowed soldiers from a neighbouring country to invade the Tigray region and pursue the Tigray forces alongside Ethiopian troops. Thousands of people have been killed since then.

The Tigray forces and their allies pose a grave and imminent danger to the countrys existence, the councils declaration said.

The US has warned the Tigray forces, who long dominated the national government before Mr Abiy took office, against any attempt to besiege the capital, Addis Ababa, after seizing control in recent days of the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha. These position them to move down a major highway towards the capital.

The state of emergency takes affect immediately and will last for six months. The government can impose a curfew, disrupt transport services and travel and detain indefinitely anyone suspected of having links with a terrorist group. Local administrations in some areas could be disbanded and a military leadership could be installed.

Such actions would be implemented by law. Ethiopian politicians are expected to convene within 48 hours.

We're seeing a campaign of systematic, bureaucratic obstruction blocking assistance into areas occupied by (the Tigray forces)

Meanwhile, the Addis Ababa security bureau told residents that anyone with a firearm should register it now, and it warned that searches of homes and businesses would be carried out to ensure the citys peace.

Ethiopias prime minister this week again called upon all citizens to combat the approaching Tigray forces, adding that we should closely follow those who work for the enemy and live amongst us.

A new roundup of ethnic Tigrayans was seen in the capital on Monday.

The Tigray forces say they are pressuring Ethiopias government to lift a months-long blockade on their region of around six million people, where basic services have been cut off and humanitarian food and medical aid denied.

This is perhaps the most egregious humanitarian obstruction in the world, a senior official with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Were seeing a campaign of systematic, bureaucratic obstruction blocking assistance into areas occupied by (the Tigray forces) affecting not just Tigray but areas in the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions now held by the Tigray fighters, the official said.

The fighters moved into these regions after retaking much of Tigray in June, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents and widening the crisis.

We certainly had difficulty getting the prime ministers attention to the problem and any calls to address it, the senior USAID official said after a recent visit to Ethiopia.

The Tigray forces say they are now linking up with another armed group, the Oromo Liberation Army, with which an alliance was struck earlier this year.

The fighting could reach the Oromo region that neighbours Addis Ababa. Ethnic Oromo once hailed Mr Abiy as the countrys first Oromo prime minister, but discontent has since emerged with the jailing of outspoken Oromo leaders.


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Telecommunications company Aussie Broadband wins the Customer Service Organisation of the Year at the 2021 Australian Service Excellence Awards or the second time.

The awards were held last night during a live virtual event.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison congratulated the winners.

Congratulations to the winners of tonights awards. In the toughest circumstances, you have been exemplary in your professionalism and commitment to customer service, Morrison said.

Customers dont always distinguish between business, government or not-for-profit. But what they do know is good serviceand the nominees and winners of tonights Australian Service Excellence Awards have delivered this to the highest possible standard. Youve gone above and beyond  and made a real difference to the lives of Australians, Morrison said.

Aussie Broadband was also named runner up (Service Champion) in the Customer Service Project of the Year - Service Innovation for its Carbon platform. The telco was also nominated for Service Excellence in a Large Contact Centre.

Aussie Broadband general manager of corporate affairs Janet Granger-Wilcox was honoured and humbled to accept the accolade on behalf of the Aussie Broadband team.

We believe a deep care for people is really at the heart of customer service. And if you have that, no matter where you come in these awards, youre a winner. Well done to our Aussie Broadband family. This is recognition of how awesome you all are, every day, she enthused.

Aussie Broadband managing Director and co-founder Phillip Britt paid tribute to his staff.

Were extremely honoured to be recognised as the top company in Australia for our customer service. Thank you to each and every single one of you on the team. This award would not be possible without you, Britt said.

We are in business to change the telco game for all telco customers in Australia, Britt concluded.

The ASEAs are a prestigious customer service awards across all industries in Australia, not just telecommunications.

Aussie Broadband has more than 450,000 residential, small business and enterprise customers, and is the fifth largest provider of NBN services in Australia today.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 1 November 2021.
This Week in Review

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Jacksonville, TX (75766)

Today

Sunny. High 73F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.




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Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 63F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
FILE - Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, chair of the House Redistricting Committee, answers a question at a news conference announcing new state House and Senate districts, Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in Oklahoma City. Republican leaders in the Oklahoma House and Senate released new congressional district maps on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, that show major changes to the competitive 5th Congressional District that Democrats narrowly won in 2018.
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
In the workplace, saying "no" is just as important as saying "yes." It is a skill critical to career success. While many employees, particularly new ones, want to prove themselves professionally, taking on too much can actually lead to subpar work and even exhaustion, burnout, or resentment toward others, said Tonya Moffitt, CPA, managing partner of Merina+Co., an accounting and advisory firm in Tualatin, Ore., who will be speaking on the topic of protecting your time at the AICPA & CIMA Women's Global Leadership Summit.

Here's her advice for turning down requests for your time while still shining to your employer:

Understand that time is valuable. It is important to recognize that time is limited, both personally and professionally. When you take on a new project or assignment, you're actually saying "no" to something else in your life, Moffitt said. It is up to you to decide what ranks where in your life.

"I always use the rule of thumb that time is our most valuable gift to give," she said. "Therefore, when I say 'no,' I am saying 'yes' to spending more time with my husband, kids, family, and friends."

Practice. Moffitt suggests that people who aren't comfortable with saying "no" practice actually saying it. "You can say it to yourself in front of the mirror or to a pet or to some object, then you can practice saying it to other people you feel comfortable with," she suggested.

Then, start declining smaller events in your personal life. "The more you practice saying 'no,' the easier it is going to be to start saying no to bigger and harder things," said Moffitt, who also volunteers for Forward Stride, an equine therapy center in Oregon.

Assess your commitments. When someone asks you for something, don't say "yes" or "no" immediately. Ask for time to consider it. You can say something like, "Can I get back to you after I check my current commitments?" Moffitt said. Or, when working with a leader or supervisor, you can also add: "I want to make sure I do not take on too many commitments and jeopardize my existing commitments."

One idea Moffitt suggests is to keep track of how much time each of your commitments requires with an Excel file. Hers includes clients, project names, and the estimated number of hours needed to complete each one, giving her an instant analysis of how much is on her plate.

Offer alternatives. If you decide you cannot say "yes," you can still demonstrate commitment by offering workable alternatives. For instance, you could recommend someone else who can handle the request, or ask about ways you can reprioritize current projects and assignments so that you can take on the new task.

Don't apologize. If you do turn someone or something down, don't feel guilty. "If you say 'no,' it's perfectly acceptable, and you don't need to apologize for that," Moffitt said. "It's your life."

By learning to say "no," you'll be able to say "yes" to more things that matter, Moffitt pointed out. "We have a tendency to want to do everything, and we can't do everything," she said. "We need to value our time."

Join hundreds of accounting and finance professionals committed to creating an inclusive and equal profession at the 2021 AICPA & CIMA Women's Global Leadership Summit, held live online and in Dallas Nov. 35.

 Dawn Wotapka is a freelance writer based in Georgia. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Courtney Vien, a JofA senior editor, at Courtney.Vien@aicpa-cima.com.
Casa Del Mar

Here's what's happening in Los Angeles this month.

Paradise Blue Opens at The Geffen

Tony Award-nominated playwright Dominique Morisseaus Paradise Blue, a Detroit Jazz club noir-inspired drama, runs at The Geffen November 9 through December 12, tickets at https://www.geffenplayhouse.org.

Universal Studios Hollywood Celebrates with Holiday Festivities

Universal Studios Hollywood is celebrating the return of yuletide favorites Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas beginning Friday, November 26. Holiday festivities are included in the price of admission.

Catch at Casa Del Mar

Catch Reopens at Hotel Casa Del Mar

American seafood restaurant Catch reopens at Hotel Casa Del Mar on November 2. In addition to a sushi and raw bar, the menu highlights include a 16 oz Ribeye bone-in steak, braised short ribs, seared Chilean sea bass, whole Main lobster, black squid ink pasta, roasted Cinderella pumpkin soup and black truffle mashed potatoes. The restaurant will be open from 5pm to 9pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations can be made via OpenTable

Viceroy

Sugar Palm Opens at Viceroy Santa Monica

Sugar Palm, a new indoor/outdoor coastal dining concept has opened at the Viceroy Santa Monica. Open for daily brunch and dinner, is a part of the overall $21 million redesign of the LA beachside hotel. Open for brunch from 6:30am to 2:30pm and dinner from 3pm to 10pm. Reservations available on OpenTable.

ROCA Pizza

ROCA Pizza Launches New Fall Flavors

ROCA Pizza pop-up at The Americana at Brand in Glendale has launched new fall pizza flavors, salads, and desserts. Diners can get pizza by the slice or in a pan including new pepperoni hot honey, and sausage and mushroom flavors as well as sample their new Italian chopped salad and BBQ chicken chopped salad.

Fellow Westwood Debuts New Fall Dishes

Fellow in Westwood has added a variety of new dishes for their fall menu, including Hamachi crudo, marinated heirloom tomato salad, black truffle gnocchi and poached apple.

El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco Give Away: Tow Pan de Muerto Bread with Familia Dinners on November 1

In honor of Dia de los Muertos, El Pollo Loco is giving away two personal-sized loaves of its Pan de Muerto bread with every Familia Dinner purchase on Monday, November 1. This Mexican sweet bread is flavored with orange blossom and anise.

Honey Mama's

Honey Mamas Raw Bars Teams with Erewhon Market for Special 4-Pack Greatest Hits, Pop-Up Events in November

Honey Mamas, a Portland maker of raw bars, is partnering with Erewhon Markets to launch a Honey Mamas x Erewhon Greatest Hits 4-Pack ($19.99) of bars featuring Lavender Rose, Tahini Tangerine, Coconut and Oregon Mint flavors. Pop-up events at Erewhon Markets will take place Friday, November 5 from 1  6pm at Erewhon Venice, 585 Venice Boulevard, and Saturday, November 6 from 11am - 4pm at Erewhon Pacific Palisades, 15285 W. Sunset Blvd.

Beachside Restaurant & Bar Offer New Menu Items

Beachside Restaurant & Bar, located inside the Jamaica Bay Inn, have new fall menu dishes including Sambal Brussels, butternut bisque, seared scallops and Ahi tuna, pork tomahawk al pastor, Spanish Octopus, Mongolian beef shortrib and orange and mint mojo chicken.

Slow & Low Coffee Old-Fashioned

Cooper Spirits Launches Slow & Low Coffee Old-Fashioned

Cooper Spirits, in collaboration with Intelligentsia Coffee, has launched a new Slow & Low Coffee Old-Fashioned. The new libation is a blend of rye whiskey aged two years, Intelligentsia Coffee, honey, cane sugar, bitters and orange peel, $26.99, www.drinkslowandlow.com.

Liteboxer Launches New Wall Mount for Workouts

On November 3, Liteboxer, the at-home immersive work-out experience, will launch a new compact wall mount design that takes up zero floor space for in home fitness.

The new Liteboxer Wall Mount is $1495, more info at www.liteboxer.com.

Kentucky Coffee

Kentucky Coffee Launches Coffee Whiskey

Kentucky Coffee has launched their coffee whiskey, bringing a smooth finish and notes of vanilla to its new blend. It can be drunk as shots, on the rocks or mixed into a cocktail, $19.99 at Drizly.

Dennys Offers Free Build Your Own Grand Slam for Military Personnel

On November 11, in celebration of Veterans Day, Dennys is offering all active and inactive military personal a free Build Your Own Grand Slam, including choices of eggs, pancakes, bacon, biscuits and other yummy items, available 5am to noon with a valid military ID or DD214.

Ya Oaxaca! New Mole Sauces

Ya Oaxaca! has launched a line of authentic Oaxaca-made heat and serve mole sauces in three flavors, mole negro, mole coloradito and mole rojo. Available in grocery stores and three-packs for $29.99.

Sourse Launches Beauty Bites and Mood Bites

Sourse vitamin infused chocolates has launched two new products, Beauty Bites infused with biotin for strong hair and nails and Mood Bites infused with saffron and vitamin D3 for a better balanced mood. Both are vegan and gluten free, $29.90 for two bags, at https://trysourse.com.

Disaronno

Disaronno and Korbel Team Together for Holiday Italian Sparkler

Disaronno Originale and Korbel Prosecco have joined together to create a Holiday Italian Sparkler perfect for sipping on Thanksgiving and beyond. Its simple to make, just add 1 ounce Disaronno Originale and 3 ounces Korbel Prosecco in a flute glass for a smashing sipper at any gathering.

Thistle Shots for Shots Program Runs Through Nov. 15

Thistle is launching Shots for Shots, an initiative encouraging COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for free Thistle cold-pressed, organic shots. The West Coast-based brand has committed up to $100,000 to reward 12,500 customers for simply protecting themselves and others by getting vaccinated. Through Nov. 15, new and existing customers can upload their proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, whether received recently or several months ago, in exchange for Thistle credits. Visit https://try.thistle.co/shotsforshots for more information.

Jinx Offers New Healthy Treats for Four Legged Friends

Jinx, the healthy dog food company, is offering new grain-friendly Chicken Kibble, available for purchase by itself or part of their Gran-Friendly Organic Chicken Bundle with Chicken on Top Meal Topper and Chicken and Sweet Potato Jerky Treats for $46.40. They also have a wide variety of food for your pup, all at https://www.thinkjinx.com.

Thanksgiving Day Feasts

A bounty of choices are available for turkey day feasts, including:

Shutters, 1 Pico

The restaurant will serve a three course menu that will highlight the Thanksgiving classics with a twist from new Executive Chef Sean Michael Runyon. Featuring vegan options and festive cocktails, the Thanksgiving menu, will be served from 11AM to 9PM at $115 per person in addition to a special Thanksgiving kids men for $45. Tasty starters include Pumpkin Soup and dishes that celebrate the hotels oceanfront locale like Lobster Tartine, Hamachi Crudo, and Oyster on the Shell. Entrees include Heritage Turkey with all of the Thanksgiving fixings, Braised Short Rib, Pan Seared Diver Scallops and more. Pumpkin Cheesecake, Apple Pie Bites, and Vegan Almond Chocolate Tarts complete the meal.

Casa Del Mar, Catch and Terrazza

Restaurants Catch and Terrazza will offer a three course menu with choices including squash soup, crab cakes, roasted brassicas, organic turkey, Wagyu short ribs, branzino, vegetarian squash steak, chocolate poached pear tart and bread pudding for $115. Available lunch and dinner, 11am to 4pm and 5 to 9 pm.

Meat on Ocean and 555 East

On Thanksgiving Day, Meat on Ocean will be offering a three-course Thanksgiving meal including herb roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, candied yams and gravy, $68 per person. Their full menu will also be available. Reservations at Open Table.

Jean-Georges Beverly Hills

Jean-Georges Beverly Hills will offer a Thanksgiving menu on November 26th featuring a family-style experience complete with roasted turkey, butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts and pumpkin pie. The menu will be offered from 3pm to 8pm with prices starting at $210 per person and $75 per child. The Rooftop by JG will offer their original menu in addition to a special Thanksgiving plate that includes roasted turkey with truffle chestnut stuffing and cranberry sauce with mashed potatoes for $59. The restaurant will be open from 11am-10pm and prices will be a la carte.
"The Veil" star Jang Young Nam's newest drama "F20" received flak for its storyline and themes, resulting in the drama's postponement.

KBS2's special drama "F20," which also stars "School 2021" star Kim Kang Min, was slated to premiere on October 29.

Jang Young Nam's 'F20' Receives Flak and Gets Postponed

Jang Young Nam's "F20," which is the second runner for KBS2's special drama television cinema, receives flak and criticisms after promoting the hatred of schizophrenia, resulting in the drama's postponement.

Broadcast giant KBS made the final decision not to air the drama special "F20" after receiving a petition against the drama's screening by the Blue House Nation.

The melodrama "F20" follows the story of Ae Ran (Jang Young Nam), who wants to hide her son's mental illness by moving into another apartment with another mother Kyung Hwa (Kim Jung Young), who also has a son suffering from the same illness.

The production team of "F20" introduced the drama with the intention to break the prejudice against schizophrenia, however, 16 organizations, including the Korea Center for Independent Living for Mental Disorders, found that the title "F20" itself is a disease code for schizophrenia, urging the screening to be stopped.

Although the special drama was not screened on the television, "F20" was released through the cinema on October 6 and through the online legal streaming platform wavve on October 15.

"F20" succeeded the award-winning special drama television cinema "Hee Soo" which starred Jeon So Min and Park Sung Hoon.

Jang Young Nam on 'The Veil' and 'Moebius'

Award-winning actress Jang Young Nam, who appeared in many popular dramas like "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo," "My Sassy Girl" and "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," showcased her acting prowess and a show-stopping performance in the recently concluded MBC drama "The Veil" with Namgoong Min, Kim Ji Eun and Park Ha Sun.

Because of the success of the drama, the production team of "The Veil" released the highly anticipated spin-off drama "Moebius: The Veil," which follows the backstory of her character and her connection with Park Ha Sun and Jung Moon Sung.

Jang Young Nam's two-act spin-off drama "Moebius: The Veil" aired on MBC on October 29 and 30.

"Moebius: The Veil" is also available for international streaming through online legal streaming platforms Viki and Viu.

On the other hand, she is currently busy filming her newest action thriller film "Wolf Hunting" with Seo In Guk, Jang Do Yoon and Jung So Min.

Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates!



KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
MEDFORD, Ore. -- A new airline has now touched down in the Rogue Valley.

This is great, were excited! We love days like this, this is what we live for, when we can bring new opportunities for people to go to other destinations right here in the Rogue Valley, Jerry Brienza, director of the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport said.

Brienza has been the director for the last four years. The addition of a direct flight to Reno-Tahoe was made possible thanks to aha! which is powered by veteran ExpressJet Airlines.

Well, theyre brand new, theyre brand new entering into the industry ... theyre the newest regional airline in the United States so were really lucky to be on their list of first opportunities," Brienza said.

An inaugural flight over the weekend began aha! service between Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport three times weekly.

Its going to be great having a 13th destination for the Rogue Valley, so for the community were thrilled that they chose Medford, said Eli Matthews, president and CEO of the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County.

Matthews recently celebrated his eighth anniversary with The Chamber.

Flights will operate each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday departing Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport at 11:55 a.m. PT arriving in Reno-Tahoe at 1:05 p.m. PT.

aha! is also offering an introductory, limited-time launch fare of $49 each way until November 15. If you're interested, you can book at www.flyaha.com or through the aha! contact center 775-439-0888.
SALEM, Ore.  Oregon is leading a coalition of states and the District of Columbia intervening in a class action lawsuit against the federal government for Trump-era changes to the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws at religious schools.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and 18 other attorneys general filed an amicus brief on Tuesday with the US District Court for the District of Oregon, joining the class action Hunter v. US Department of Education case. The brief supports the plaintiffs in the suit, students who oppose the federal government's implementation of religious exceptions from Title IX anti-discrimination laws that started during the Trump administration.

Title IX generally prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded schools, and requires that schools act to prevent discrimination and harassment on campus. However it originally provided a slight carve-out for schools run by religious institutions. That exception expanded under Trump-era officials.

Its outrageous that the US Department of Education under the Trump administration gutted protections for women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and other classes of students that have been in place for 40 years. The new rules put students at direct and serious risk of discrimination and harassment, said Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. Even worse, the rules allow schools to avoid providing notice to their students before they enroll as to whether or not they will comply with Title IXs protections.

According to Rosenblum's office, the Trump-era rule allows any school that claims its mission statement is predicated on religious beliefs can claim an exemption from the anti-discrimination requirements of Title IX. Moreover, schools no longer have to claim this exemption in writing to the Dept. of Education, making the process of skirting Title IX faster and easier.

The elimination of a written request for exemption happened in August of 2020, and schools were then allowed to invoke it immediately in response to a student's complaint. By November, the scope of the religious exemption under Title IX had been "substantially" expanded.

In combination, the rules harm students, place them at higher risk of being victims of sex discrimination, and make it more difficult to hold schools accountable for resulting harm," the coalition of AGs wrote in their amicus brief. "States have a duty to protect students from the short-term and long-term harm of discrimination and harassment. States also have an interest in ensuring that students can learn in an environment free from those harms. For those reasons, the States support plaintiffs in requesting that this court set aside the August 2020 and November 2020 rules.

The US District Court decided earlier this month that three Christian post-secondary schools that could be impacted by a decision in the Hunter case would be allowed to join the Department of Education in its defense.

Attorney General Rosenblum was joined in the filing by the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington.
Lt.-Col. Kevin Mead, commander of the B.C. Dragoons, walks in the annual Field of Crosses display that lists the names of all of Kelowna's war dead, on Tuesday in City Park.
Lee Newspapers will be carrying a live blog of events in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial online as they unfold. The first day of what may become a weekslong trial kicks off with jury selection on Monday morning, Nov. 1.

Lee Newspapers/Kenosha News reporter Deneen Smith is reporting from inside the Kenosha County Courthouse, with reporting on this page augmented by remote staff.

More coverage:

8 p.m. The jury has been seated in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.

Word came at 7 p.m. Monday that the jury had been decided upon after juror interviews took place throughout the day at the Kenosha County Courthouse, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Twenty people were selected to hear the case. Of the juror pool, 19 are white and 11 are women. The trial is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. Tuesday with opening arguments.

You are in the command seat, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder told the jurors. You are going to know more about this case than anyone in the world.

The case is predicted to run as long as three weeks.

6:05 p.m.: Potential juror, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside student, says he was acquainted with Anthony Huber, one of the men Kyle Rittenhouse killed.

"I dont think it was right for two innocent people to die that night," the student said. "I believe the people were not out to kill him (Rittenhouse). I believe they might have been out to strip his firearm ... Honestly I dont believe he (Rittenhouse) had a reason to come here. I dont believe we needed his help like that  because that led to the death of two innocent people."

The student was excused.

5:51 p.m.: Another potential juror removed, making a total of 30 no longer in the running.

4 p.m.: Judge Schroeder reassures potential jurors of the safety of serving. "Ive never had a juror threatened, Ive never had a juror bothered in any way. I have never been bothered," he tells them.

3:55 p.m.: During questioning, prospective jurors talk about their fear of being involved in the case. "I didnt even drive a car here today because I didnt want to see anyone to see my car," one woman said.

"I really want to serve on a jury. I really do not want to serve on this jury" another person says. "I figure whichever way this goes you are going to have people across the country who are going to be upset ... Whatever the verdict is there is going to be half the population that is up in arms about it, and we have seen what happens ... here in Kenosha."

3:10 p.m.: Defense then asks about views on AR-15s like the gun Rittenhouse carried that night. "Yes, I do have a problem with it," one woman says, saying she does not think "a weapon like that" should be legal.

3:00 p.m.: Judge Schroeder cuts off a question from Defense Attorney Corey Chirafisi. Chirafisi had asked "How many people on the panel are angry about what happened, the whole riots thing why we are here?" Schroeder jumped in, saying "No, no, no, we're not here for riots."

Moments later, one woman said her 19-year-old son went to protests despite her objections. Also, said she also bought a gun for the first time because of the unrest. "My neighbor said my United States of America flag should not be up for whatever reason. I left it up and I got a gun," she said.

2:47 p.m.: Session resumes with defense being able to ask questions of potential jurors.

2:19 p.m.: Binger asks if any of the prospective jurors donated money to the Rittenhouse defense or bail funds. No hands. Asks if any close friends or family donated. No hands.

1:50 p.m.: A potential juror, an older woman, becomes emotional when talking about her granddaughter going to protests after the shootings, and said she does not think she can be unbiased. She is excused. Tom Binger asks people if they took safety measures  armed themselves  during unrest, and about half a dozen say yes. Some said they went and stayed elsewhere. One said did neighborhood watch. One woman said she bought a gun.

Binger asks about familiarity with firearms and a large number of jurors raise their hands. More than a half dozen raise hands when asked about hunting.

A potential juror said she would not want to go home to her husband if the case were decided in the direction that he would not like.

1:30 p.m.: Prosecutors begin questioning potential jurors.

As WPR's Corrine Hess reported on Twitter: "Jury selection in #rittenhouse case continues this afternoon. Assistant DA Thomas Binger is asking people if they took part in protests, counter protests or if they felt the need to arm themselves following the events of Aug. 2020. Many hands went up."

Lunch break until 1:15 p.m.: Potential jurors are taking a pizza lunch. During the break, Judge Schroeder ordered potential jurors to NOT discuss the case.

More than 10 potential jurors have been dismissed in about a two-hour period for reasons varying from no longer living in Kenosha County, to one man who brought up the Second Amendment and "politics," to several others who also said they don't believe they'll be able to silence their preconceived notions of the case, to one who is leaving the country to go to Poland on Friday, to another for her strongly held religious beliefs who said "For religious reasons I really think thou shall not kill, I dont know what else to say."

Per pool reports, the vast majority of potential jurors are white. "Of the 70 or so potential jurors in the courtroom for Kyle Rittenhouse trial, there are 3 Black women, one Hispanic man, rest mostly an older, white group," tweeted one Wisconsin courts reporter.

10:58 a.m.: Prospective jurors now hearing the list of witnesses who may be called in the case to see if they have any connection; this is always done in jury trials here. Kenosha County is small enough that people often have an acquaintance with witnesses.

If there is a connection, they are asked if the connection would influence their judgement on the case.

Three people have so far said they know people on the witness list through family or work.

10:17 a.m.: Judge asks "Is there anyone who hasn't read or heard anything about this case?" Not a single person raises their hand.

9:57 a.m.: One potential juror has already been excused. She told the judge she recently moved to Chicago and is no longer a Kenosha County resident, and thus wouldn't even be eligible to be a juror in a Kenosha County case.

9:48 a.m.: Judge says he can't rule out ordering jurors to be sequestered, but says there's "less than 1 percent chance" that'll happen. "I will resist it any way I can, but I can't rule it out."

9:40 a.m.: Getting started again with about 80 prospective jurors in the room as Judge Schroeder explains voir dire, the process of questioning prospective jurors to try to weed out those who may have a bias in the case  a tougher task than usual in the Rittenhouse case.

9:32 a.m.: Things come to a bit of a halt as the court considers bringing even more prospective jurors to the courtroom. Kenosha County already called 300 prospective jurors for the case. About 70 are now in the courtroom for the beginning of jury selection.

Just before 9:30 a.m.: With all the prospective jurors now in the room, Rittenhouse and his defense team  led by Attorney Mark Richards of Racine  enter the courtroom.

9:18 a.m.: The start of jury selection in the Rittenhouse trial begins like most trials in Judge Bruce Schroeder's courtroom, with the judge asking "Jeopardy!"-style questions with the prospective jurors as they pass time waiting for things to get started.

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Ketchikan, AK (99901)

Today

Windy at times with rain likely. Low near 45F. S winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Windy at times with rain likely. Low near 45F. S winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
EUGENE, Ore. -- The vaccine for children is going through the approval process at the federal level, and Oregonians could see shots for younger kids as early as next week.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to meet. If the vaccine is approved there, the next step is to get approval from the Oregon Health Authority.

RELATED: FDA authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11

Lane County Public Health is ready to roll out vaccines once they get full federal and state approval. They're offering a number of clinics, including at the Lane Events Center. COVID-19 Incident Commander Steve Adams said the key has been working with local health care providers to get shots rolled out across the county.

"We have been convening with all of our pediatricians, our pharmacies, and family care practices for weeks now," said Adams.

And other counties are also preparing for vaccines. Todd Noble, health administrator for Linn County Public Health, said officials have put a lot of thought in getting children ready.

"Mass vaccination settings are probably not the most conducive, especially for the younger children," said Noble. "Since they're young kids, I think the main focus will be primarily through (pediatrician) departments, primary care where families and kids know their doctors."

RELATED: 'It's a big deal': Parents react after FDA recommends vaccine for kids 5 to 11

The same goes for Benton County. Cynthia D'Angiolillio, the Immunizations Coordinator for the county health department, said relying on infrastructure is key for their county.

"We are relying on our infrastructure and our collaborative efforts to vaccinate like we have with the other age groups," said D'Angiolillio.

Serena Black, the medical director for children's services at PeaceHealth, told KEZI 9 News helping kids feel comfortable is the most important part in getting them vaccinated.

"The intention is very much to have kids come into their own pediatricians offices, family medicine doctors offices," said Black. "Receiving the vaccine in those spaces where we can have conversations with families if they have questions and where we can provide that really comprehensive care."

Equity is also a big part of Lane County health officials' goals for getting the community vaccinated. Adams said getting disabled children and children of color vaccinated is key.

"We're working with community-based organizations to design and deliver clinics as well, to ensure that we are delivering vaccine equity right across the county," said Adams.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Lane County District Attorney Patty Perlow is weighing in on the governors decision to release the names of juveniles being considered for reduced sentences without notifying the victims and their families.

That list was released to the public without any notification to the impacted victims, Perlow said. On that list of 75 individuals were eight from Lane County. Of those convicted, three were convicted of murder, two of sex crimes against children and three of robberies with weapons, including a stabbing and a failed attempt to shoot a customer in a store.

Lane County District Attorney Patty Perlow Lane County District Attorney Patty Perlow

The issue concerns juveniles who were sentenced prior to the effective date of Senate Bill 1008. On Sept. 28, Brown asked the Department of Corrections to identify those youths who were sentenced before Senate Bill 1008 took effect and who did not benefit from its changes to the juvenile justice system.

Under the bill, all youth accused of criminal conduct start in juvenile court, even for Measure 11 crimes; most who are convicted in adult court are eligible for a "second look" hearing halfway through their sentence, and youth can no longer be sentenced to life without parole.

Perlow is among the district attorneys speaking out after the governor issued the list without notifying district attorneys or the victims and their family members.

"There was a public release of the names of these offenders without any notification to the victims of these crimes. And the DA's offices have been scrambling to try to contact victims and we let them know that this is coming and that we still don't know exactly what the process is going to be. That shouldn't have happened," said Perlow.

The proposed rules the Oregon Board of Parole will use in considering the offenders for clemency do not consider victim impact from the crimes, Perlow added.

But a spokesperson for Gov. Kate Brown's office said the parole board always considers the impact of victims when making a decision at a hearing.

Eugene defense attorney John Kolego represented Truett Watt in 2004, when he was convicted of murder. Kolego said Watts had schizophrenia and had used methamphetamine, which is why an insanity plea couldn't be used.

"I felt like he didn't really have a chance growing up because he had many challenges, socioeconomic challenges and he had mental challenges, and so that coupled with the methamphetamine abuse that was rampant in his home left him especially vulnerable to this type of behavior but obviously it was very serious," Kolego said.

He also said he thinks it is completely appropriate to re-examine cases like Watts,' especially because they committed crimes at such a young age.

MORE: DA condems Brown's plan to free some youths convicted of major crimes

On Monday, Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier also shared his concerns on the issue. He said he had also hoped that before any action was taken by the governor, district attorneys would be consulted about the cases and given a chance to notify the victims and their families that the governor was considering reducing the sentences.

The basic details of the Lane County cases are listed below:

Earl Carnahan, age 17 at time of crime, convicted 1/26/1999 of murder. Sentenced to life with an opportunity for parole after 25 years. While sitting with the victim at a campfire, Carnahan became enraged at the victim and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Carnahan stated he had thought about killing the victim for several hours before he did it.

David Keever, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted 12/20/2000 of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of assault in the second degree, kidnapping in the first degree, robbery in the first degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The defendant and three co-defendants robbed a taxi driver at knife point. Keever stabbed the driver, then the group stole the vehicle, leaving the bleeding victim behind.

Brian Hardegger, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted 9/11/2002 of murder. Defendant and his father buried the victim, Hardeggers mother, alive. When the victim tried to raise her head above the dirt, Hardegger pushed her head down with his foot so that he and his father could finish covering her up. Hardegger dug the hole beforehand.

Truett Watts, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted 9/27/2004 of murder. Watts admittedly stabbed the victim because he didnt like something the victim said and intended to kill him. The victim was working on a car at the defendants house. Watts had been using methamphetamine and marijuana before the stabbing. Watts is being considered for clemency by the Governor under this process and has petitioned the Governor for a general clemency.

David Hauser, age 15 at the time of the crime, convicted 7/29/2009 of sodomy in the first degree (two counts) and sex abuse in the first degree, two counts. Hauser admitted to sexually abusing an eleven-year-old at a foster home. Hausers prior history included killing a cat and the attempted murder of his step father, for which he does not appear to have been charged.

Connor Allen, age 17 at time of the crime, convicted 01/13/2016 of sexual abuse in the first degree. Seven-year-old disclosed to a family therapist that Allen had been orally sodomizing him and making the seven-year-old orally sodomize Allen.

Elaine Jeffers, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted on 1/9/2018 of robbery in the first degree, five counts; assault in the first degree, three counts; unauthorized use of a vehicle, and felony elude. Jeffers and three others robbed seven victims in Eugene, stabbing one. The crime spree was committed in a stolen vehicle and when police pursued the vehicle, Jeffers attempted to elude. Jeffers was identified as the primary instigator of the crime spree and also stabbed one of the robbery victims.

Edward Makarenko, age 17 at time of the crime, convicted 5/3/18 of robbery in the first degree, two counts and attempted robbery in the first degree. Makarenko committed two robberies at area businesses with a handgun. In a third robbery attempt, Makarenko can be seen on video pointing the handgun at a customer and pulling the trigger but the gun misfired. Makarenko told a friend that he committed three robberies and that he tried to shoot a customer but the gun didnt work.

Below is a full statement on the issue from the governor's office:

"Governor Brown believes that we must put more emphasis on preventing crime and rehabilitating youth than on harsh punishments and lengthy and costly prison sentences. We can no longer rely solely on imprisonment as the only solution to address crime. In certain cases, the Governors constitutional clemency powers can help remedy unjust sentences where an individual has been held accountable, taken responsibility for their actions, and demonstrated their commitment to turn their lives around. When these circumstances apply, clemency is an effective way to ensure equal access to justice and keep communities safe.

"Youth should be held accountable for their actions, but the fact is that adolescent brains are still growing and developing, especially in skills such as reasoning, planning, and self-regulation. Yet, too often our criminal justice responses do not take this into account. In particular, Measure 11 removed many routes for young people to demonstrate their capacity for change and positive growth. In addition, when the so-called tough on crime policies swept the country in the 1990s, prosecutors often imposed unjustifiably long and overly punitive prison sentences, particularly targeting Black, Latinx, and Native American people. In fact, a 2018 study conducted by the Oregon Council on Civil Rights revealed that in 2012, Black youth in Oregon were convicted of Measure 11 offenses at 17 times the rate of their white counterparts.

"Fortunately, SB 1008 opened up a sensible pathway out of imprisonment for youth sentenced as adults who have demonstrated rehabilitation. Recognizing that SB 1008 itself was not applied retroactively, the Governor is using her constitutional clemency powers to provide a small number of youth who didnt benefit from that legislation the opportunity to present their cases of transformationeither in front of the Parole Board through a parole hearing or in front of the Governor through a clemency application. Although the Governors approach varies slightly for the two distinct groups being considered, these actions will result in these youth getting a similar consideration as their peers. The Governor started this process by requesting a list of names of qualifying individuals from DOC through the attached letter.

"For the youth who DOC has determined meet the first set of criteria (was a juvenile at the time of committing the offense for which they are in custody; be serving a sentence that was ordered prior to January 1, 2020; not be serving a sentence for which any convictions are for crimes that were committed as an adult; and has served 50% of their sentence or will have served 50% of their sentence by December 31, 2022), the Governors Office will engage in an individualized review process to determine whether the youth has made exemplary progress and if there is considerable evidence of rehabilitation, as well as taking into account input from the DA and victims, if any. If, after that individualized review process, the Governor determines that a commutation is warranted, the youth will be granted a conditional release. We anticipate that these reviews will occur throughout the next several months. The earliest the Governor would make any decisions on conditional releases would likely be in early 2022, and the process will continue until a final decision has been made on each case, likely through late 2022.

"For the youth who DOC has determined meet the second set of criteria (was a juvenile at the time of committing the offense; be serving a sentence that was ordered prior to January 1, 2020; be serving a sentence of fifteen years or more of imprisonment; not be serving a sentence for which any convictions are for crimes that were committed as an adult; and not be serving a sentence with a current projected release date in 2050 or later), the Governor granted a commutation on October 20 that will allow these youth (74 total) the opportunity for a parole hearing, as described in ORS 144.397. The commutation will take effect 45 days from that date, which is the earliest possible date that the Parole Board could schedule a hearing. To be clear, the Governor did not make any decision to conditionally release these youth; that discretion lies with the Parole Board in these cases. Victims and their families will receive notifications in accordance with the standard victim notification procedures for commutations, and they will have an opportunity to participate in the hearing process and present concerns about public safety before any decision is made to release any of these individuals. My understanding is that none of these hearings will begin until spring of 2022.

"The Governors approach, described above, builds on previous criminal justice reform efforts because people in prisons are often left behind when states enact progressive criminal justice reforms. However, we know that, while the physiology of juvenile brains has not changed since the so-called tough on crime era, our understanding of juvenile brain science has. Not only are teenage brains constantly changing, but many justice-involved youths are dealing with an unfathomable amount of unprocessed trauma from their childhood. Studies have shown that overly-long prison sentences for juvenile offenders don't actually make communities safer. Access to drug treatment, mental health services, and other supports are often much more effective at reducing repeat criminal activity. Once a juvenile offender has been held accountable, taken responsibility for their actions, and taken the time to process their trauma and turn their lives around, they should be afforded an opportunity to prove themselves worthy of becoming a contributing member of society.

"Dignity, fairness, and opportunity are core American values, and all Oregonians have a stake in removing barriers to these values. We all deserve a chance to reach our potential. In our justice system, this means ensuring that what a juvenile offender looks like or where they come from will not affect the treatment they receive in our justice system. It means providing them with the best chance to repair the damage they've caused, while also healing their own trauma and getting them the help they need. Through her clemency powers, the Governor is attempting to take on the hard work of guaranteeing dignity and fairness to youth in custody with unjustly lengthy sentences with no other ability to demonstrate rehabilitation."
The removal of 400m of mature hedgerow during birdnesting season has led to a conviction and fine for a Kilkenny farmer.

At Thurles District Court, the farmer pleaded guilty to one offence under the Wildlife Act 1976. The offence took place on lands at North Kilkenny between April 1-8, 2020.

The offence was in relation the removal of 400 metres of mature hedgerow in order to make room for an internal farm roadway.

The case was taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and prosecuted by Mr Gerard Meaney of the Chief State Solicitors office and barrister Mr Rory Hanniffy.

Outlining the facts of the case, conservation ranger Jimi Conroy of the NPWS told Judge Elizabeth McGrath that on April 8, 2020 he arrived in the area to investigate a complaint that a line of hedgerow had been destroyed. On the day of the investigation, he uncovered evidence that 400 meters of hedgerow had been removed and that the operation was ongoing.

Mr Conroy said he advised the man to halt the works immediately, and he complied.

In summation, Judge McGrath told the farmer that the court takes these offences very seriously. She asked him if he understood the reasons for his prosecution to which he replied that it was the wrong time of the year to be carrying out this type of work as it was during the bird nesting season.

Judge McGrath told the farmer that hedgerows were very important for bird life and also supported much biodiversity. In considering her judgement Judge McGrath took into account his early guilty plea. He was then convicted for offences under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 and fined 1,250 and ordered to pay costs of 735.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan has welcomed the actions of National Parks and Wildlife staff at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in securing the conviction.

These prosecutions further demonstrate the seriousness of wildlife crime. Im grateful to the NPWS Conservation Rangers involved and welcome the comments of the Judges. We must respect nature, and we must respect the laws that protect it," he said.
Leo Varadkar's controversy relating lo leaked confidential documents was brought centre stage in front of a global audience last night at a Web Summit in Lisbon.

The Web Summit is an annual technology conference that welcomes prominent industry leaders and co-founded by Irish entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave.

Cosgrave spoke about the controversy surrounding the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as a precursor to introducing key note speaker Frances Haughen, a Facebook whistleblower.

Before introducing Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen as keynote speaker on the opening night of Web Summit Paddy Cosgrave has told a worldwide audience about the Leo Varadkar NAGP leak story pic.twitter.com/90SDSgeMTX  Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 1, 2021

Varadkar was embroiled in controversy last year after it was revealed he had shared a confidential GP contract with his friend Dr. Maitiu O Tuathail in April 2019.

Mr. Varadkar was formally questioned by Gardai in April, and although he admitted and apologised for sharing the document with his friend, he denied doing "anything illegal, or corrupt, or self-interested".

In his speech Cosgrave praised the Whistleblowers Aid Organisation for its help in revealing the issue which was first published in Village magazine.

He then asked the editor of Village Magazine Michael Smith, as well as Chay Bowes and John Tighe who helped get the story published, thanks them and asked the audience to give the trio a round of applause.
Speaking at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that Ireland's food production sector was "one of the mort efficient in the world".

This follows comments from Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue yesterday that cattle should be slaughtered earlier in their life to help achieve a reduction in methane emissions adding that this would have a "significant impact" on reducing emissions "without necessarily reducing the herd'".

Martin added the size of the country's cattle population should "remain stable" but that other approaches should be introduced to reduce emissions from the farming sector.

Recent figures have shown the national herd has grown by nearly 80,000 in the last year which questioned whether the Government will seek to reduce the number of cattle in Ireland, which is one of the foremost contributors to methane in the atmosphere, an approach the Taoiseach has denied.

Our approach has been that the herd would remain stable but food security is important as well within a European context, he said.

"Ireland is one of the most efficient food production systems in terms of carbon emissions globally and even within Europe. So that has to be in the balance in terms of any decisions we take. The grass based nature, the pastoral based nature of our farming is a plus and thats important.

But I think if we can do those other elements, I think we can rebalance our overall contribution and in terms of reducing the emissions from agriculture and food production but theres a lot of work to be done" he added.




KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  A jury was selected for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse in a single day Monday, despite the turbulent political passions unleashed when he shot three people who were out on the streets of Kenosha during a protest against racial injustice.

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning, with the trial expected to last two weeks.

The jury must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when he opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

In an all-day session that ran well past dark, 20 people  12 jurors and eight alternates  were selected. The court did not immediately disclose which ones will actually serve as the jury. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

Rittenhouse was 17 when he traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, during unrest that broke out in August 2020 after a white Kenosha police officer shot and wounded Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

Rittenhouse, now 18, faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

As jury selection got underway, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: This is not a political trial.

It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently, he said.

The judge said Rittenhouses constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and I dont want it to get sidetracked into other issues.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot, but many are watching his trial as the latest referendum on race and the American legal system, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

During the day, about a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair. Some also expressed fear about serving on the jury because of public anger but were not immediately let go.

Among those dismissed by the judge were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when all that happened and a woman who said she knew one of the potential witnesses in the case well and would probably give more weight to that person's testimony.

Another woman who said she watched a livestream video of what happened was dismissed because she wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw. One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction Thou shall not kill even in cases of self-defense. A man who said he had been commenting consistently on news feeds and Facebook was also excused.

A man said his son is friends with the person who bought the gun that Rittenhouse later used in the shooting.

Under questioning by prosecutor Thomas Binger, some prospective jurors said they left town during the unrest. Others took precautions by moving vehicles or boarding up businesses. One said she got a gun to protect herself and her family.

After all of that  neighbors yelling that I shouldnt have my flag hanging, my United States of America flag should not be up for whatever reason  I left it up and I got a gun, the woman said.

The prosecutor also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Binger asked if any of the jurors had donated money to support Rittenhouse, or if they knew anyone who did. None said so.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon. I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public, the woman said.

Two prospective jurors said they would be nervous about serving, though the judge assured them precautions would be taken to keep them safe.

My fear is walking out of any of the days of court and just wondering what were walking out to," said one. "What are our cars going to look like when were going out to them? Are they going to be slashed? Are they going to be damaged? Am I going to be able to get home safe?

The other said she did not want to serve on the Rittenhouse jury because either way this goes youre going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly. She said: I dont want people to come after in their haze of craze.

The start of jury selection was briefly delayed in the morning for unexplained reasons. During the delay, the judge played a mock game of Jeopardy! with prospective jurors in the courtroom, something he sometimes does as attorneys get organized.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.
AUSTIN, Minn.- The lunch line at Austin High School is busy. Many students are buying lunch at the school these days because of its free lunch. Since March 2020, The Austin School District has offered every student a free meal, even if they are not eligible for free and reduced-price lunch.

Austin Public School's food and nutrition director Mary Weikum says she'd like to see more families fill out the form proving they are eligible for free and reduced price lunch.

"I think there's a misunderstanding that because all students are receiving free lunch, we all still don't need the forms," says Weikum.

The applications play a big role when it comes to funding.

"The applications really provide much of the data to the state that gives us our funding as a district, not necessarily for lunches but title projects."

According to Weikum, two years ago, 56 percent of Austin Public Schools students were receiving free and reduced-price lunches. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, during the 2017-2018 school year, nearly 4 out of 10 students enrolled in Minnesota public schools were eligible for the program. There are benefits to families who fill out the application.

"There's the PEBT(Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer) which puts money in people's pockets if their kids do qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. That was in effect last school year and it looks like it might come back. "

There's also reduced-price field trips for the district. Weikum is encouraging all Austin Public Schools families to fill out the application. The free and reduced-price lunch program application can be found here.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Rochester's Family Dentist Tree is collecting leftover Halloween candy this week for their fifth annual "Candy Buyback Event" from Nov. 1-5.

The dentistry will give kids one dollar for every pound of candy they bring in.

All candy will be sent in care packages to overseas American troops through an organization called "Operation Shoebox."

"Operation Shoebox" seeks to boost morale and put a smile on the faces of our soldiers.

"We looked into how we could reach out and support our community and support our troops and Operation Shoebox seemed like a really good place to do this," said Family Dentist Tree Front Desk Administrator Samantha Severson. "We've had good luck. We always get messages back from the troops, they so appreciate hearing from us. We do cards to them, as well, messages to them from all the little kids. They really appreciate us doing that."

Family Dentist Tree has a goal this year to beat its 2019 record of 474 pounds of donated candy.

Due to COVID, last year's event was a drop-off. But, this year kids are welcome back inside the office.

"I enjoy seeing the kids come in and the families come in," said Severson. "Some of the kids dress up and it's kind of fun and they get a kick out of being paid for their candy and to see if they beat their brother or their sister in how much they get."

You can drop off any leftover candy at Family Dentist Tree now until Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MASON CITY, Iowa  Crashing into a Mason City house is sending a man to prison.

Jason Wayne Robison, 48 of Mason City, has been sentenced to two years behind bars after pleading guilty to eluding.

Robison was accused of speeding away from an attempted traffic stop just after 1 am on July 29. Law enforcement said the chase reached speeds of 100 miles per hour before Robison lost control and crashed his van into a home in the 1500 block of N. Federal Avenue.

Both the van and the homes foundation were severely damaged.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  Olmsted County will use federal pandemic recovery money to promote the building of affordable housing.

The County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to spend $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the Growing Affordable, Inclusive Neighborhoods (GAIN) in Olmsted County program. Applicants who commit to build affordable, new homes or purchase new homes could receive a $10,000 down-payment assistance loan, forgivable incrementally over the first five years.

Too many families are struggling to find affordable homeownership options in Olmsted County. This federal funding will help hundreds of individuals and families make homeownership a reality, says Olmsted County Housing Director Dave Dunn. We know finding the money for a down payment on a home can be a difficult part of the home-purchasing process, and were hopeful this program will be the jump-start they need.

Under the GAIN program, the anticipated cost to construct the residence must not exceed $300,000.

Home ownership is a valued community and family lifestyle, and the GAIN in Olmsted County program will provide that, says Olmsted County Commissioner Matt Flynn. The program will help create affordable, safe homes, and give our local economy a boost following some difficult times that are still impacting so many members of our community.

To qualify, those looking to build or buy in Olmsted County need to meet one or more ARPA requirements to receive funding:

 80% Area Median Income (AMI) and below at time of application.

 Reside in a qualified census tract as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 Served in a business or industry which was disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic such as the hospitality industry or the tourism industry. If one adult member of the household served in an industry disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, this is sufficient to qualify.

Olmsted County says all applications to provide funding for new home construction must be approved on or before December 31, 2024, and construction of all new residences using program funding must be completed on or before December 31, 2026.

For more information on the GAIN program, click here.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The saga at City Hall over whether to scrap or save the former site of Legends Bar and Grill is set to continue after the Rochester City Council overturned a mayoral veto focused on the building's fate.

Last month, the council denied deeming the Labor Temple building a local historic landmark, but approved a plan to leave it standing while potential options for the site are being considered. Council members also agreed to spend up to $20,000 removing signs and an awning from the structure, in addition to the $17,000 the city estimates it would cost to maintain the empty building over the next six months.

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton vetoed the plan last week, believing it would be an unwise use of tax dollars on a property the city purchased with the express intention of clearing and redeveloping. With expert reviews finding the Labor Temple no longer has historic integrity, Norton told KIMT city leaders need to be wise in selecting which buildings to preserve.

"There are many, many wonderful buildings in this community that have good memories for the people in this community, and you could find historical significance in many of them. But I think we need to be very careful about which ones we choose," Norton said.

Still, five out of seven council members voted to overturn the mayor's veto Monday, with some expressing a desire to see the Labor Temple's past be part of its future.

"We have not seen the potential and the possibility of any designers or developers coming forward and suggesting a reuse for this building," said Council Member Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick. "Certainly waiting for a small amount of time to see what comes forward is worth it."

Council Member Patrick Keane, meanwhile, says he voted to overturn the veto at least in part because there's no need to rush demolition of the building.

"I do appreciate what the mayor is doing here," Keane told his colleagues. "I think there is consistency, because this council did vote back in January to go for bids, so we're signaling that that's where we're going. At the same time, I don't feel that I'm up against the wall, that I must decide this today, and I feel like that's what I'm being pushed to do. And I'll say it again, demolition is final."

The Labor Temple property is considered a major component of the city and DMC's effort to revitalize Rochester's riverfront. A development plan for the site and adjacent city-owned property is expected to be presented by the end of next spring.
FLOYD COUNTY, Iowa  Two juveniles were injured Monday afternoon after a school bus rolled over, the Iowa State Patrol said.

The two people sustained minor injuries and were released to their parents after the crash in the 1700 block of Victory Ave. around 4 p.m.

The bus, driven by 70-year-old Bonnie Lore, of Ionia, was northbound when it entered the ditch and rolled.
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- It was April 8, 1992, and Robin Fuldauer was one of only two full-time workers at The Payless Shoe Source in Indianapolis, just north of Interstate 70.

When a co-worker called in sick that day, Fuldauer knew she would be busy, and sometimes alone. Payless was in a single building, with its own parking lot. Next door was a gas station. Across the street was a paint store.

The morning was routine. She grabbed lunch and ate through the noon hour. Across the street, a witness reported seeing a strange man carrying a long bag repeatedly circling the store, then sitting for nearly a half hour at a curb nearby before disappearing. Sometime between 1:30 and 2 p.m., a killer entered the Payless store, led Fuldauer to a storage room and shot her in the head with a .22 caliber handgun. Only a small amount of money was taken from the register. The killer left through a back door.

Fuldauer was 26 years old. The witness later saw the man calmly trying to hitch a ride along the highway. The I-70 killing spree had begun.

It would end 29 days later. Or maybe it wouldn't. There are other killings, not officially attached to the I-70 killer, that could eventually be tied to him. But now, nearly 30 years after the murders, police departments from Indianapolis, Wichita, Terre Haute, St. Charles, and Raytown are preparing to come together again, this time with help from federal agencies, in an effort to take one more look at a case that has stymied investigators for decades.

CHASING A MURDERER

All of the killings occurred in small shops. All had only one or two workers on duty. All were within a short distance of either Interstate I-70 or I-35. It's 700 miles from Indianapolis to Wichita, where the killer struck three days after Fuldauer was killed.

The La Bride dElegance and Sir Knight Tuxedo and Formal Wear was due to close at 6 p.m., but a customer who ordered a cummerbund for his tuxedo was running late. He called and asked if there was any way he could come by at 6:30 to pick it up.

Patricia Magers and Patricia Smith both agreed to stay to help the customer. When he arrived at 6:30, he couldn't find either woman in the store. Instead, he came face to face with a man who he said tried to lure him toward a back room. Sensing something was wrong, the customer fled the store.

Police would find the bodies of Magers and Smith in that back room, both shot in the head. Again, only a small amount of money had been taken. The customer was able to give police a description: slight of build, maybe 5'7, dull red hair, around 150 pounds. Ballistics tests confirmed that the women were killed by the same gun as Fuldauer, a semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol.

Police departments around the country soon realized they had a serial killer on their hands. He was quiet for two weeks before his next stop: Terre Haute. His killing there gave investigators pause.

Sylvias Ceramics Shop was another small store along Interstate 70. It was the scene of another murder in broad daylight. Another small amount of money was taken.

But this time, the victim was a man. 40-year-old Michael McCown never saw his killer. He was not lured or forced into a back room. He was stocking his shelves when the killer fired a bullet into the back of his head. Was the killer no longer targeting women? Maybe. But McCown had long brown hair that he wore in a ponytail, and was wearing an earring at the time he was shot. And there was also something else about this murder scene. The killer fled with McCown's wallet.

His next stop, just one week later, would be in St. Charles, Missouri.

A LOCAL VICTIM

It was a beautiful spring day on May 3. Nancy Kitzmiller could not have been more excited. She had just graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in geography, and was hoping to land her dream job, cartography with the Defense Mapping Agency in St. Louis. It was no surprise that she was working at a store called Boot Village until then. She loved the western lifestyle, from her clothes, to line dancing, to her boots. With blue eyes and long curly hair, and those boots, she was hard to miss.

She opened the store at noon that Sunday in the Bogey Hills Plaza, just south of Interstate 70 at Zumbehl Road. Boot Village nestled between a beauty salon and a veterinary clinic. The plaza was busy, with shoppers throughout the day. Kitzmiller was working alone. A shopper passing by the store just before 2:30 p.m. saw Nancy waiting on a customer, described as medium height, with dull red hair. Minutes later, different customers found her dead. The man with the dull red hair was gone. A small amount of cash was missing from the register.

Just 24, Kitzmiller was buried in Oklahoma City, with her boots on. The local community mourned.

It only took four days for the killer to strike again, this time down the road in Raytown. Sarah Blessing started her day with an early breakfast, fed her pets, and headed to a friend's house. She opened her Store of Many Colors at noon, selling health goods and miniature trampolines. The store had just opened a month earlier, with Blessing and four of her friends taking turns usually working alone. Around 6:15 p.m., a witness spotted a man in a gray sport coat, walking toward Blessings store. Near the same time, another store owner reported a mysterious unidentified man hanging around the area. And a worker at another business nearby heard what he thought was a gunshot coming from the Store of Many Colors. He ran inside and found Blessing's body. A grocery store clerk was gathering carts nearby. He reported seeing a man leave Blessing's store. Another witness told police they saw the same man walking toward Interstate 70. Raytown provided police with more witnesses than the other sites, but the killer's identity remained a mystery.

Then, the killings appeared to stop. At least killings with that particular .22. But soon there would be more grieving families, and more victims killed along the interstate in shops that bore a striking resemblance to the ones that were the setting of the horrors of early 1992.

A year later, a rash of shootings occurred along highways in Texas. Mary Ann Glasscock, a clerk at Emporium Antiques in Fort Worth, was shot in the head on Sept. 25, 1993. A month later, Amy Vess was shot inside Dancers Closet apparel store in Arlington. Then Vicki Webb was shot at a Houston gift shop but managed to survive by playing dead. Dark haired women, killed along the interstate. At the time, Texas authorities called the link a "definite possibility." But ballistics did not match, and police began to sour on the connection. But that didn't stop the nation from going on alert. Small stores across the country took notice if they were near major highways.

Years went by. Then, police had a lead: the gun. Police identified it as a very rare model, either an Intratec Scorpion or Erma Werke Model ET 22. It's a gun that holds a small caliber bullet, a remake of an old German navy pistol. And strangely, the killer rubbed the bullet casings with jewelers rouge, a polishing designed to make the bullets slide easily into the chamber.

THE SUSPECTS

Herb Baumeister grew up in Indianapolis. After a difficult childhood that saw him committed to a mental institution for schizophrenia, and then losing numerous jobs, Baumeister became a respected businessman in the Indianapolis community after opening a string of Sav-A-Lot stores. He lived in an 11,000 square foot mansion north of Indianapolis. In 1993, one year after the I-70 killings, gay men began disappearing in the Indianapolis area. Eleven of their remains were found on Baumeister's property. Baumeister fled to Canada where he committed suicide. Police would eventually link Baumeister to nine more men, whose bodies were discovered between Indiana and Ohio, along Interstate 70. With his death, it became impossible to verify if he as linked to the killings, but given that so many of the I-70 victims were women, he didn't fully fit the profile.

Donald Waterhouse lived with his parents in Dyersburg, Tennessee. A month before the I-70 murders, Waterhouse's parents were found shot to death in their home, and Waterhouse had vanished. Like the I-70 victims, they were shot in the head with a .22 caliber weapon. And after police had a composite sketch of the I-70 killer, it resembled Waterhouse. Eventually, Waterhouse was found in October of 1992, just months after the I-70 murders, after an episode of "America's Most Wanted" led to a tip. His truck had been abandoned in East St. Louis.

Despite the possible links, he was eventually cleared in 2012 when police determined there was no concrete evidence he was the shooter.

And there were others, as police departments across the country searched for any leads possible. But they all fizzled.

Now, nearly 30 years after the killings, police agencies from those cities, along with federal agents, will soon come together again, to take one more crack at trying to solve the case, and hunt down the man responsible for at least six deaths in five cities in one month in 1992. New faces will look at old files. Old voices will be heard for what could be the final time. It's all hands on deck in the hunt for a serial killer.
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Kokomo, IN (46901)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Kokomo, IN (46901)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low around 35F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low around 35F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
A Cook County judge paused the vaccination requirement for the Chicago Police Department on Monday until the union's grievances can be arbitrated.
City Council will vote on funding for a new electric car charging station near the Highway 63 and Interstate 70 connector. The city is prepared to spend up to 20%, or $50,000 towards the new station.
More than 100,000 social security numbers were vulnerable and visible in the HTML source code of certain pages on DESE's website.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
This Jan. 29, 2010, file photo shows the company logo and view of Netflix headquarters in Los Gatos, Calif. Netflix has removed two episodes of spy drama "Pine Gap" from its streaming service in the Philippines. AP-Yonhap



Netflix has removed two episodes of spy drama "Pine Gap" from its streaming service in the Philippines, after the Southeast Asian country rejected scenes involving a map used by China to assert its claims to the South China Sea.



The Philippines on Monday asked Netflix to remove certain episodes of the six-part Australian series, saying the map depicted on the show was a violation of its sovereignty.



The second and third episodes of the show were no longer available in the Philippines by late Monday, with Netflix announcing on its platform that those episodes had been "removed by government demand". It did not elaborate.



Netflix did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.



China lays claim to most of the South China Sea waters within the so-called nine-dash line, a U-shaped feature used on Chinese maps. Parts of the resource-rich waters are also contested by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.



After a thorough review, the Philippines' movie classification board has ruled that certain episodes of Pine Gap were "unfit for public exhibition", the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.



Earlier this year Netflix removed "Pine Gap" from its services in Vietnam following a similar complaint from the country's broadcast authorities.



The Philippine films board, acting on the DFA's complaint, handed down its ruling on Sept. 28. It was not clear why the decision was only made public now.



The board, according to the DFA, noted that the appearance of the map was "no accident as it was consciously designed and calculated to specifically convey a message that China's nine-dash line legitimately exists".



The board believes that "such portrayal is a crafty attempt to perpetuate and memorialize in the consciousness of the present generation of viewers and the generations to come the illegal nine-dash line", the DFA said. (Reuters)


POLK COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV)  One man died in a rollover crash in Polk County early Sunday morning, according to Oregon State Police.

Two dead following three-vehicle crash in Marion County MARION COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV)  Two were left dead and three were sent to the hospital after a three-vehicle crash along Highway 219 in Marion County.

OSP said just before 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, it responded to Highway 51 near milepost two. Troopers said an investigation revealed a car was speeding, crashed and then rolled off the road. The car had been the subject of several driving complaints.

The driver died in the crash. He has been identified as 30-year-old Curtis Smith Jr. of Monmouth.

Highway 51 was closed for three and a half hours.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV)  A man has been arrested for the murder of his two-year-child early Sunday morning, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Vancouver PD: Woman has no feeling on left side of body after boyfriend shoots her in neck VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - A Vancouver woman was left with no feeling on the left side of her body after she was shot in the neck by her boyfri

Vancouver police said just before 1 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a report of threats to a child. A woman said the father of her two-year-old child had picked up the child earlier in the evening. The man called several hours later making threats to harm the child. Police sent out information to try to locate the suspects car.

VPD made verbal contact with the suspect, who agreed to turn himself in. At about 4:15 a.m., police arrested the suspect at Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and Northeast 57th Avenue. The child was found dead.

On Monday, police said the suspect who was arrested is 31-year-old Gustavo Villalobos-Carranza. He is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and unlawful use of a weapon.

Police: Mom charged after throwing 2 young kids off bridge into lake, killing 1 of them A Shreveport mother is accused of tossing her two young children from a bridge into Cross Lake, killing one and injuring the other.

Police said it has been determined the homicide occurred in Portland. PPB homicide detectives are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives Jeff Sharp at jeff.sharp@portlandoregon.gov or Mike Jones at michael.jones@portlandoregon.gov.

On Sunday, Gresham police confirmed a crime scene at the parking lot of Winco on Southeast First Street is related to the homicide.

Police have not released the name of the victim.
Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com.
Have you seen the proposed redistricting maps for New Hampshire? What do you think of the plans?
Lee Enterprises will be carrying a live blog of events in the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. Opening statements started Tuesday after a jury was seated Monday evening.

This video is live only when court is in session and the judge allows video/audio to go out.

Lee Enterprises/Kenosha News reporter Deneen Smith is reporting from inside the Kenosha County Courthouse, with reporting on this page augmented by remote staff.

More coverage:

5 p.m.: Breaking for the day. Elijah is expected then to be the first witness on the stand Wednesday.

4:20 p.m.: Kenosha livestreamer Koerri Elijah takes the stand.

"Most of the people ... were passionate about what happened, but not organized at all," Elijah said of the first days of protests.

Elijah testifies that he didn't see anyone get hurt before the first shooting.

When asked what it appeared the armed men were doing there that night, Elijah indicates he has not an idea.

Elijah says he didn't see any fights starting despite heated moments between armed people and unarmed people.

3:37 p.m.: No video or audio of current person testifying per judge.

Per a TV reporter: No video or audio was allowed to be broadcast during the testimony of FBI witness Brandon Cramin, who provided aerial surveillance. Prosecutors were seeking to "Prosecutors trying to establish Rittenhouse may have chased/followed Rosenbaum."

3:06 p.m.: Recess after Black's testimony.

2:40 p.m.: Richards says Rittenhouse's mom who was the one who said maybe they should flee the state, to which Black replies in the affirmative. Black convinces Rittenhouse and his mom to go to the police, to not go out of state.

Richards asks, "You wanted Kyle to have the gun, correct?" Black doesn't agree. "It wasn't really a thought in my mind."

Richards affirms that Black didn't tell Rittenhouse he shouldn't have the gun. Richards affirms that Black "wanted the gun for protection."

Black testifies that Rittenhouse was the only person he saw render aid to anyone else.

Black testifies he saw Rittenhouse go running to put out a fire with a fire extinguisher, not long after Black tried telling another man who was with them who was antagonizing protesters with a laser pointer.

Black's the stepfather talked about possibly boarding up windows if rioters came by. Black said he felt safe at the house; didn't think any rioters would come by.

Even though people threw rocks and water bottles and some sort of "gas bomb" at armed groups, Black said he never feared for his life or felt like needing to fire a gun.

On redirect, Black says that if someone were to try to take the AR-15 strapped to his body  Black and Rittenhouse had purchased identical straps  there was no way it could be pulled off or turned to be pointed at the person the gun was strapped too.

2:29 p.m.: Black says he was at the Antioch Police Department when Rittenhouse turned himself in, and was questioned that day.

Black testifies he rendered aid to someone who suffered a gash to someone's hand and helped put out fires.

Black says it would have been "impossible" to turn Rittenhouse into Kenosha Police that night. Before driving down to Antioch, Rittenhouse was "hysterical."

2:23 p.m.: Defense begins cross examination.

Black says that he and Rittenhouse considered themselves "brothers" and were "good friends."

Black says "it never really clicked" that Rittenhouse should not have had access to the gun that night.

Defense Attorney Mark Richards is trying to argue that Black's story has changed, noting that Black and Rittenhouse bought slings for their firearms together but then later says Rittenhouse unplanned and without permission got the gun for himself from Black's stepfather's safe.

2:16 p.m.: Black says he didn't know Rittenhouse was the one who fired the shots until he got the phone call of Rittenhouse saying "I shot someone, I shot someone" then immediately hanging up.

They ran into each other nearby. Black says Rittenhouse looked scared, was pale and "sweating a lot." Black says that Rittenhouse didn't say anything about himself being attacked.

Black took Rittenhouse home to Antioch, advising him to turn himself in.

After getting to their place in Antioch, there was nobody there, but Rittenhouse's mom and sisters showed up 15 minutes later.

At first there was a discussion that Rittenhouse flee the state, but Black advised Rittenhouse to turn himself in.

Prosecutor asks Black if Rittenhouse had ever worked as an EMT or paramedic, and Black replies "no" to the questions.

Prosecutor confirms with Black that Black is not getting anything in exchange for testifying, since Black is facing criminal charges for providing gun to Rittenhouse, who was then 17 years old.

Black says he saw some injuries to Rittenhouse's head, and that Rittenhouse said "his head hurt" after the shootings.

Later on in the night, protesters began throwing rocks at the armed individuals at the Car Source. Black says he wasn't at risk of "great bodily harm" and didn't think about firing his gun at them.

2:03 p.m.: Black says that he and Rittenhouse didn't know any of the people who came from out of town to "help" defend Car Source locations.

Black says he would be "safer" on top of one of the buildings. He didn't want to be "caught up" in potential violence down below.

Prosecutor asks if Black would have felt less safe on the ground and Black replies in the affirmative. Of being on the ground, Black says "it was not a safe place to be at all." He says the crowd was "saying a lot of threats, throwing a lot of things." He says threats were directed at "us" as well as the police and others in the crowd.

1:44 p.m.: Black says Rittenhouse got the gun himself from Black's stepfather's home; he did not have permission to take it since he was still 17, but Black didn't stop him. They went out together while armed in Kenosha.

Rittenhouse then started going through the house looking for medical supplies.

Black says that he and Rittenhouse met the owner of Car Source  identified as "Sam"  on the morning of the shootings, then met him again later in the day.

Black says that one of the Car Source locations they were defending did not have all of its cars burned up; just some damage.

1:27 p.m.: Dominick Black, 20, takes the stand.

He talks about becoming friends with Kyle Rittenhouse  "going to the lake, hunting"  when Black was dating Rittenhouse's sister.

Black says he bought the AR-15 for Rittenhouse under the agreement that Rittenhouse couldn't use have it until he was 18. "It was more under the lines that he would be 18 soon ... It wouldn't be his until he was 18 ... From then on, it (the AR-15) stayed at my house."

Black says that Rittenhouse used the AR-15 several times to shoot clay pigeons on Black's family's property "in a big open field" in Ladysmith.

12:26 p.m.: Lunch break. From pool reports:

As defense attorney Mark Richards displayed photos and brief video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of shots the fired was played for jurors. Rittenhouse occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

Jurors watched on a 4-by-3 foot TV screen set up just outside the jury box, some panelists straining their necks to get a better views.

Tensions seemed to fray at times between lawyers and prosecutors.

Earlier, during a morning recess and with the judge out of the courtroom, Binger and Richards quarreled briefly about the admissibility of evidence, including personal records of Rosenbaum.

"You opened the door" to new evidence, Richards said. "No I didn't," Binger shot back.

As the judge readjourned and with jurors still out of the room, Richards shook his head as Binger told the judge that the defense was seeking to enter evidence about Rosenbaum seeking mental health.

12:19 p.m.: Lead Defense Attorney Mark Richards breaks down shooting of Huber and Grosskreutz using frames from videos showing Rittenhouse being knocked to his back and other people's hands on Rittenhouse's gun on Sheridan Road.

Richards argues Rittenhouse only pointed his gun at people who were chasing him to get them away from him, except for those who threatened harm.

Richards notes that Rittenhouse "wanted" to turn himself into Kenosha Police that night but was turned away; Richards says that the KPD tried to pepper spray Rittenhouse, but missed him and told him to go home.

"He didn't endanger those other individuals," Richards argues.

"Kyle Rittenhouse protected himself, protected his firearm so it couldn't be taken and used against him or other people," Richards tells jury, saying people who "attacked him (Rittenhouse) in the street like an animal."

12:07 p.m.: "He's trying to get away from the individual," Richards says of Rittenhouse running away from Rosenbaum prior to the shots being fired.

Richards says Rosenbaum "dove for Kyle Rittenhouse's gun" after yelling "F*** you!"

Richards notes that Rittenhouse was not under any "obligation" to render aid to Rosenbaum, defending Rittenhouse's actions for running away. "Discretion is the better part of valor," Richards adds.

"All he wanted to do was get to the police," Richards says of Rittenhouse, "but the mob was closing in."

11:53 a.m.: Richards says the n-word out loud to quote Rosenbaum, who allegedly yelled "Shoot me (n-word), shoot me (n-word)" at Black Lives Matter demonstrators.

When Rittenhouse is being chased after the shooting of Rosenbaum, Richards uses the word "attack" several times to describe the actions of Huber, Grosskreutz and others; says their behavior was "marauding."

"Trying to separate the head from the body," Richards says of Huber's actions, swinging a weighty skateboard at Rittenhouse. "You'll see ... what Mr. Huber was trying to do."

Richards says that Huber's girlfriend repeatedly refused to turn over the skateboard.

Rosenbaum "was the one who lit the fuse that night," Richards states.

Richards continues arguing that Rittenhouse "doesn't want trouble" after Rittenhouse walked away from a confrontation prior to shootings.

11:50 a.m.: Responding to assertion that Rittenhouse was only person who shot anyone in Kenosha that night, Richards says "Kyle Rittenhouse is the only person who was chased by Joseph Rosenbaum."

Richards notes that Rosenbaum set a dumpster on fire, the fire (which was "very close" to a gas station) was put out, Rosenbaum "became enraged."

Richards says that Rosenbaum "arms himself with a chain ... a rather heavy chain."

11:48 a.m.: Richards says Rittenhouse has "strong ties" to Kenosha, saying that Rittenhouse's father lives here in addition to having worked as lifeguard at the RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie.

11:46 a.m.: Jury is back in the room. Defense Attorney Mark Richards of Racine begins his opening statement.

"We have two very different outlooks on the events of Aug. 25, 2020," Richards said.

11:35 a.m.: Now the prosecution and defense are arguing about how much of Rosenbaum's history can be brought up before the jury. Rosenbaum had been in a hospital for mental help and had a no-contact order with a woman, which defense wants to bring up but prosecution wants to keep out.

"A backdoor way of attacking his character," prosecution says of defense's desire to bring up the background of the dead man.

11:29 a.m.: Prosecution calls defense's plan to bring up approximately 40 pieces of evidence in opening statements "highly unusual," and raises concern that defense is presenting too much evidence in opening statements before the primary trial itself  with witnesses et. al.

"Witnesses should be presenting evidence," prosecution says in objection.

Judge sides with defense. "This is an acceptable way ... to make an opening statement." Judge notes "this is a record number" of things to be presented in opening statement, but will not disallow it.

Judge calls on defense for opening statement to be "brief and informative." When defense attorney says his opening statement shouldn't be any longer than the prosecution's, judge replies "Bless you," with a chuckle.

11:20 a.m.: After a short break, with the jury out of the room, defense lays out videos and photos it plans to show, including a video of Rosenbaum allegedly having picked up a chain, referred to as a "weapon" by a defense attorney.

Other evidence allegedly includes someone kicking Rittenhouse "in the head," and of Huber "holding back" Rosenbaum during an altercation.

Pool report: Several jurors listened with grim expressions, some sporting frowns and keeping their arms folded firmly across their chests. Others leaned forward, furrowing their brows as they listened to the state's account of the shootings. Facemasks aren't required in the courthouse, though a few jurors wore them.

Rittenhouse looked on in apparent calm in a dark pinstripe suit and tie. He occasionally fidgeted with a water bottle or glanced toward the jury box. His mom, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him on a nearby spectators' bench.

10:49 a.m.: Binger asserts that members of the crowd  among them Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz  who ran after Rittenhouse following the killing of Rosenbaum believed that the teenager "was an active shooter." He asks jury to "keep that in mind" as proceedings go forward.

10:48 a.m.: Binger notes that Rittenhouse claimed to be a medic throughout the night, but after Rosenbaum was shot "he offers no aid."

10:45 a.m.: Rosenbaum suffered five wounds from four bullets, all allegedly from Rittenhouse's gun, Binger says based on expected testimony from medical examiner. Two shots were fired as Rosenbaum was falling to the ground, including the fatal shot, Binger says.

10:43 a.m.: Binger says that FBI infrared aerial video will show Rittenhouse following Rosenbaum.

10:41 a.m.: Koerri Elijah, a well-loved Kenosha man and livestreamer, is due to testify, Binger says.

In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, Elijah wrote "Well todays the day I have to testify at the Rittenhouse trial. Ill be live later to finally unpack my thoughts."

10:40 a.m.: Binger says that "nobody seems to take (Joseph Rosenbaum) as a serious threat" as he was agitating other armed men in Kenosha. Binger notes that none of the other armed people hurt him, pushing away the 5-foot-3 man and ignoring him.

Rosenbaum would later be killed by Rittenhouse.

10:33 a.m.: Binger says that Black and Rittenhouse talked to an owner of Car Source about defending the property, even though its used cars had been already burned, as had its building.

Binger argues that after the crowd had moved on from Car Source, but Rittenhouse and another man "cross the police line" on Sheridan Road, ending up among crowd of protesters who, as Binger put it, did not see the armed people as an "ally."

10:30 a.m.: Dominick Black, the person who bought Rittenhouse's AR-15 even though Rittenhouse was 17, was dating Rittenhouse's sister, Binger said.

Black is due to testify first in the trial.

10:27 a.m.: Binger lays out that, for self-defense to be proven, it must be "reasonable" for the defendant to believe that his life, or someone else's, were in danger, and/or that great bodily harm was likely without taking action. Binger plans to argue that Rittenhouse's actions were not reasonable.

10:24 a.m.: "Life is more important than property," Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger argues in opening statement prosecuting Rittenhouse. "Like moths to a flame, tourists from outside our community were drawn to Kenosha ... and contributed to that chaos ... caused many (Kenoshans) to fear for their safety...

"The only person who killed anyone was (pointing to the defendant) Kyle Rittenhouse."

Binger notes that there's not much disagreement over the evidence: there's no question that Rittenhouse shot or killed anyone  such is accepted by all parties.

9:45 a.m.: The jury has entered the courtroom.

9:30 a.m.: The jury is not yet in the courtroom. Attorneys and the judge are arguing over how the jury will be instructed on specific counts, particularly regarding the laws around self-defense. It's a technical moment that appears in many if not all most or all jury trials that is rarely paid attention to by the public  except in major cases like this one.

8 a.m. The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse headed toward opening statements on Tuesday after a jury was seated in just a day despite the polarizing nature of the case.

About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed Monday after they expressed strong opinions about the case or worried that they couldn't be fair. Others worried about their personal safety  "No one wants to be sitting in this chair," one woman said  but the 20-member panel was finally set by early evening.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

The jury includes 12 jurors and eight alternates; 11 are women and nine are men. Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

Rittenhouse traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

The now-18-year-old Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.  Associated Press
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  Jurors heard starkly different portrayals of Kyle Rittenhouse  instigator or victim  in opening statements at his trial Tuesday on charges of shooting three people on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice.

A prosecutor said Rittenhouse set the bloodshed in motion when he triggered a confrontation with a man that night and then killed him with a bullet to the back.

But Rittenhouse's attorney told the jury that his client acted in self-defense after the man tried to grab Rittenhouse's gun and others kicked the teen in the face and clubbed him in the head with a skateboard.

You as jurors will end up looking at it from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances as they existed, defense attorney Mark Richards said.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during the summer of 2020 with an assault-style rifle. The one-time aspiring police officer could get life in prison if convicted.

The teenager traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, after protests broke out over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two nights in which rioters set fires and ransacked businesses.

The first witness was Dominick Black, who was dating Rittenhouse's sister at the time. Black faces charges he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse months before the shootings because the teen was not old enough to own one at the time.

Black testified that he and Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha to help protect a car dealership after vehicles were burned the night before. Black said he thought nobody would start trouble if they saw him with his assault-style rifle. He also said Rittenhouse helped give medical aid and put out fires.

Black said he was on the roof as protesters hurled gasoline bombs and rocks at the business. He said he heard gunshots but didn't know Rittenhouse was involved until the teenager called and said, "I shot somebody, I shot somebody.

Afterward, Black said, Rittenhouse was freaking out. He was really scared. He was pale, shaking a lot. Black said Rittenhouse told him that he acted in self-defense because people were trying to hurt him.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest in Kenosha as two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen" and said outsiders were drawn to the city like moths to a flame.

Yet Binger repeatedly stressed that amid the hundreds of people in Kenosha and the anger and chaos in the streets, the only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse.

When we consider the reasonableness of the defendants actions, I ask you to keep this in mind, Binger said, after explaining to the jury that a claim of self-defense can be valid only if Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was using deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

The prosecutor said that it is not known exactly what words were said, but it is clear that Rittenhouse started a confrontation that led Joseph Rosenbaum to begin chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot.

Binger emphasized that Rosenbaum, 36, was killed by a shot to the back after he threw a plastic bag. The first two bullets hit Rosenbaum in the lower extremities, causing him to fall forward, the prosecutor noted.

Richards, the defense attorney, argued that it was Rosenbaum who lit the fuse that night." Rosenbaum yelled an expletive at Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before Rittenhouse fired at him, according to the defense.

Rittenhouse fired four shots in less than a second because Rosenbaum was "trying to take Kyles weapon from him to use against him, Richards said.

Binger, the prosecutor, said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fled the scene instead of rendering aid, despite portraying himself as a medic earlier in the night. But Richards said Rittenhouse didnt stop to help because the crowd wanted to kill him," and instead ran toward police.

The crowd at that point clearly believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter, according to the prosecutor.

Moments after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, who was seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. The defense attorney portrayed Rittenhouse as the victim, saying Huber was trying to separate the head from the body with the skateboard.

Rittenhouse then wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Prosecutors called FBI agent Brandon Cramin to testify about infrared surveillance video of the protest on the night of the shooting. Prosecutors have said previously that the video would show that it was Rittenhouse following or chasing Rosenbaum at one point. They played a grainy video from 8,500 feet in which figures on the ground werent immediately identifiable. After a dispute between the two sides over whether additional surveillance videos exist that the defense hadnt seen, Cramin, who testified off-camera by the court's order, was asked by the judge if he could return and testify another day.

The defense pushed back against the notion that Rittenhouse was an outsider drawn to Kenosha by a call to arms on right-wing social media. Richards said Rittenhouse had strong ties to Kenosha -- his father lived there and Rittenhouse worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard -- and had seen livestreams of what was happening.

As his attorney displayed photos and video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse, wearing a dark pinstriped suit and tie, leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of gunfire was played, and occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

His mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him.

The most serious count against Rittenhouse, first-degree intentional homicide, is Wisconsins top murder charge.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see race as an underlying issue in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

 Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin, Forliti from Minneapolis. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.



Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The final proposal for Wisconsins next political maps from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers redistricting commission would narrow, but still maintain, Republican legislative and congressional majorities in the state.

Evers said his Peoples Maps Commissions proposal for the next decades legislative boundaries, unveiled at the state Capitol Tuesday, stand in stark contrast to Republican-drawn maps that were revealed last month and will be voted on in committee Thursday.

The GOP proposal focused on a least change methodology to maintain the core of existing district boundaries, which have been regarded as some of the most gerrymandered maps in the nation and have afforded Republicans strong majorities in both chambers for the last decade.

Wisconsinites wont stand for gerrymandering 2.0 and neither will I, so I want to be clear today if the Republican maps come to my desk as they are currently drafted I will veto them, Evers said. Its just as simple as that.

The Legislature must redraw political lines every decade based on the latest population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. The mapmaking process can allow a party in power, even without statewide majority support, to create or increase a legislative majority based on how district lines are drawn. Republicans often have downplayed concerns about such a practice  known as gerrymandering, after an early 19th century political cartoon  saying the GOPs success is the result of strong candidates and Democrats being clustered in cities.

The GOP-led Legislature could take up a vote on Republican-drawn maps as early as next week. Evers said he may call lawmakers into a special session to take up the commissions proposed maps, but such efforts have been largely ignored by Republicans in the past.

With a GOP-backed lawsuit filed with the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court and a similar lawsuit brought by Democrats in federal court, its highly likely the states next 10-year maps will be decided in court.

We are sure the litigation process will consider all the options and we will continue to demand the final result be a map that fairly and accurately reflects the will of Wisconsin voters  our democracy demands no less, Fair Elections Project director Sachin Chheda said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said in an email the commission prioritized partisan gerrymandering over core constitutional protections. Republicans have decried the commission maps for splitting more counties and municipalities than the GOP maps, though they split slightly fewer than the current maps the GOP drew in 2011.

A previous draft created by Evers commission received criticism that the proposal didnt have enough majority-minority districts. On Tuesday, commission chair Christopher Ford said the final proposal will perform well for communities of interest and also minority-majority districts.

We wanted to make changes where we saw fit to make the opportunities better for the people of the state of Wisconsin, and so although there is some temporary disenfranchisement, we want to fight against permanent disenfranchisement for those individuals, Ford said.

An analysis by national academic group Princeton Gerrymandering Project found that maps proposed by both the commission and Republicans would maintain the same number of majority-minority districts  one congressional district, three in the Senate and nine in the Assembly  as current boundaries.

The office of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Vos and LeMahieu were the only two to speak in favor of the GOP-drawn maps during a nearly 10-hour-long meeting last week.

Comparing maps

The Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave the Republican proposal for Assembly, Senate and congressional maps an F grade for partisan fairness, noting that all three provide a significant Republican advantage, while the congressional proposal also advantages incumbents.

The project gave the commissions three maps an A for partisan fairness. It also gave Senate and Assembly maps from both the commission and Republicans a C for competitiveness, noting that the maps are similarly competitive relative to other maps that could have been drawn. The GOP-drawn congressional map received an F for competitiveness, while the commissions proposal received a C.

All told, the commissions Assembly boundaries would create 42 GOP-leaning districts and 34 Democratic-leaning districts, and 23 districts would fall in the 45-55% competitive range, according to Daves Redistricting, an organization that provides publicly available mapping software based on census data. In the Senate, 14 districts would lean Republican, eight would lean Democrat and 11 would be competitive.

GOP-drawn maps for the Assembly would create 51 GOP-leaning districts, 35 Democratic-leaning districts and 13 competitive districts, according to a Princeton Gerrymandering Project analysis using past election results. In the Senate, 15 districts would lean Republican, 10 would lean Democratic and eight would be considered competitive.

Current maps include 47 Republican-leaning Assembly districts, 32 that lean Democratic and 20 that are considered competitive, according to Daves Redistricting. In the Senate, current boundaries provide 16 GOP-leaning districts, nine that lean Democratic and eight that are competitive.

Durable skew

Ruth Greenwood, director of the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School, said she doesnt believe the commissions maps are fair for Democratic voters, adding that predicted efficiency gaps show a large and durable skew in favor of Republican voters for both the Assembly and Senate map proposals.

PlanScore, a program that predicts precinct-level votes for districts based on past election results and U.S. Census data led by the Campaign Legal Center, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for nonpartisan maps, found that under the commissions proposal Democratic candidates would take 35% of state Senate seats and 39% of Assembly seats with a near 50-50 Democratic and Republican vote share.

Greenwood said this may be due to the commissions prioritization of compactness over partisan fairness. Greenwood noted that the first priority Evers listed in his original executive order creating the commission was that maps shall, whenever possible, be free from partisan bias and partisan advantage.

That is not reflected in the resulting plans, Greenwood said.

Greenwood said last month Republicans proposal essentially bakes in almost the same level of partisan advantage as current districts.

Republicans currently hold a 61-38 majority in the Assembly and a 21-12 majority in the Senate. Five of the states eight congressional districts are held by Republicans.

Other outcomes

The commissions Senate map would split 35 counties and 60 cities, compared with 42 counties and 28 municipalities in the GOP-drawn map. For the Assembly, the commissions proposal would split 48 counties and 104 cities, compared with 53 split counties and 48 split municipalities in the Republican map.

Congressional boundaries proposed by the commission and Republicans would split 10 counties, while the commission proposal would split 33 municipalities and the GOP map would split 24 municipalities.

According to the Legislative Reference Bureau, the proposed GOP-drawn maps would see six incumbent Republicans in the 99-member Assembly facing off in newly drawn districts.

Reps. Joe Sanfelippo and Mike Kuglitsch, both of New Berlin, would compete in the new 15th District; Ken Skowronski, of Franklin, and Chuck Wichgers, of Muskego, would both run in the new 82nd District; and Shannon Zimmerman, of River Falls, and Warren Petryk, of the town of Washington, would face off in the new 93rd District.

Tatyana Warrick, spokesperson for the state Department of Administration, said the commission did not take into consideration where incumbents lived when drawing maps and information on incumbent pairings was not available Tuesday.
When a fire destroyed their barn, these dairy farmers saw it as an opportunity to modernize their operation. Its hard to tell who loves the changes more  the farmers or the cows.
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) An idol of Goddess Annapurna which was retrieved from Ottawa, Canada, will be placed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi which will be its final resting place, the culture ministry said Tuesday.

Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy stated that he will provide details of the journey of the idol and the efforts made to retrieve and bring home the idols and antiquities from various countries on November 3 at the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath.

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Since 1976, as many as 55 idols have been returned to India. Seventy five per cent of the idols that have been returned were done so during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry said.

Out of the 55 antiquities, 42 were returned after 2014 with the Annapurna Devi being the last addition to this, it said.

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The Annapurna idol will be taken from Delhi to Aligarh on November 11, from there it will be taken to Kanauj on November 12 and reach Ayodhya on November 14, the ministry said.

Finally, it will reach Varanasi on November 15 where it will be placed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh after the appropriate rituals, the ministry said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, November 2: Immediately after returning to India after attending the G20 Summit and COP26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually hold a review meeting with districts having low COVID-19 vaccination coverage on Wednesday at 12 noon.

As per an official statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the meeting will include districts with less than 50 per cent coverage of the first dose and low coverage of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

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The Prime Minister will interact with District Magistrates of over 40 districts in Jharkhand, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and other States with districts having low vaccination coverage. COP26: State of Global Climate 2021 Report Shows Greenhouse Gas, Global Warming, Sea Levels Reach New High; CO2 Levels Increased by 149%.

Chief Ministers of these States will also be present on the occasion, it added.

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Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 106.88 crore, as per data available on CoWIN portal.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Ola has reported its first operating profit of Rs 89.82 crore for 2020-21, even as the ride-hailing company's revenue declined 65 per cent to Rs 689.61 crore amid COVID-19 induced lockdowns.

As per regulatory documents filed by ANI Technologies - the parent company of Ola - it had logged standalone operating profit (profit before finance cost, depreciation, amortisation and tax (EBITDA)) of Rs 89.82 crore in FY21 on a standalone basis, while it had registered a loss of Rs 610.18 crore in the preceding fiscal year.

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"ANI standalone (mobility business) operating profit in the black with positive EBITDA at Rs 8,982 lakh, improvement of 109 per cent on a year-on-year basis...ANI standalone (mobility business) reported profit before tax (before exceptional items) of Rs 7,629 lakh, wiping out its losses with an improvement of more than 2x on a y-o-y basis," the regulatory documents stated.

The total loss for the period stood at Rs 1,326.08 crore in FY21 on standalone basis, lower than loss of Rs 1,714.62 crore registered in FY20. Ride hailing business accounted for a majority share of the consolidated revenue for the IPO-bound company.

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ANI Technologies, which also has food delivery and financial services offerings, saw its operational loss narrowing to Rs 429.20 crore in FY21, while revenue declined 63 per cent to Rs 983.15 crore on a consolidated basis.

When contacted, an Ola spokesperson said the company has been focused towards building a business with strong operational efficiencies and improved unit economics "...and our results today reflect just that. This will be significant as we continue to build the New Mobility ecosystem for a billion people in India."

Like many other sectors, ride-hailing businesses were also adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that confined people within their homes. With offices shut and minimal people like frontline workers being allowed to travel, cab aggregators saw their revenues declining sharply last year.

In September, Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal had said the company's GMV (gross merchandise value) had crossed pre-COVID levels, and the recovery from the second wave had been three times faster compared to that after the first wave.

He had also noted that Ola had added 10 million new users in 2020-21, and that the company is working on onboarding more driver-partners, entering new cities, and building new products to better serve mobility needs post-COVID.

In May last year, Ola had laid off 1,400 staff from its rides, financial services and food business as revenues declined 95 per cent in the preceding two months due to coronavirus pandemic. In its filing, Ola said the company stepped into the new financial year amidst a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"The business dropped to zero during April 2020 with strict national lockdown. With non-emergency travel restricted, the company placed itself as a partner for emergency services, helping governments to manage the pandemic and those who were in need of medical assistance," it added.

Ola said through Pisces eServices Pvt Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company), it has made significant progress in the food business in both distribution and enhancing the product portfolio.

"Pisces has a wide distribution through 40 active delivery kitchens in major cities, which continued to be functional during the COVID-19 crisis. Pisces has built a comprehensive portfolio of both curated and popular cuisines to achieve both scale and coverage in the food segment," it added.

During the year, Ola Financial Services Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of the company) had a turbulent year with the impact of external factors on the lending environment in general and the double impact on mobility business and its spillover to the Olamoney brand.

"OFS (Ola Financial Services) successfully managed to control its risk and limit its exposure to the worsening credit environment by taking proactive steps to reduce risk. OFS launched a slew of new products and capabilities in both the lending and insurance businesses and further deepened its partnerships with the leading merchants in the ecosystem," it said.

The filing noted that OFS will be expanding the insurance business internationally to support the operations of the mobility business through innovative insurance products designed for the UK and Asutralia-New Zealand markets.

OFS will be launching new capabilities to the "pay later" instrument to make it more appealing to the target audience, it added.

"OFS is expanding its suite of products by launching new lending products in the form of two-wheeler loans, four-wheeler loans and personal loans to offer a comprehensive financial product ecosystem to the customer.

"Through these growth avenues OFS will generate regular and sustainable financial results and will have a positive impact on your customers, stakeholders and the ecosystem," the documents said.

Ola is reportedly looking at raising USD 1-1.5 billion (Rs 7,324-10,985 crore) via an initial public offering and is expected to file the DRHP (Draft Red Herring Prospectus) in the December quarter.

According to the RoC filing, Ola has been able to reduce its expenses both on consolidated (65 per cent) and standalone (75 per cent) basis across segments, including advertising and sales promotion.

The company also shared its financial documents for FY20 on RoC. Ola had narrowed its consolidated loss to Rs 2,208.23 crore in FY20 from Rs 2,592.93 crore in FY19.

On a standalone basis, the losses expanded to Rs 1,714.62 crore in the year ended March 31, 2020 from Rs 1,160.27 crore in the preceding fiscal.

The company saw its total income rising 2.2 per cent to Rs 2,845.33 crore on a consolidated basis, and by 4.8 per cent to Rs 2,259.29 crore on standalone basis in FY20 as compared to the previous financial year, according to the documents that were accessed by market intelligence firm Tofler.

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Washington, November 2: A study has predicted "deep changes" in global agriculture within a decade if the current global warming trends continue.

The findings of the study by lead author Jonas Jagermeyr, a crop modeler and climate scientist at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), The Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York City, and at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) were published on the website 'Nature Food'.

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As per the study, due to the severe changes the present breadbasket regions across the globe are experiencing, the farmers require to adapt to new climate realities now.

"We see that new climate conditions push crop yields outside of their normal range in more and more regions. Human-made greenhouse gas emissions bring higher temperatures, shifts in rainfall patterns, and more carbon dioxide in the air. This affects crop growth, and we find that the emergence of the climate change signal - the time when extraordinary years become the norm - will occur within the next decade or soon after in many key breadbasket regions globally," explains Jagermeyr.

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"This means that farmers need to adapt much faster, for example by changing planting dates or use different crop varieties, to avoid severe losses, but also to realize gains in higher-latitude regions," he added.

The study also revealed a likeliness of decline of maize crop yields by almost a quarter by the end of the century, while that of wheat could potentially see global yield increases of about 17 per cent.

By combining a set of new climate projections and various state-of-the-art crop models, the team of researchers found significant changes already in the very near future, and across the most important growing regions.

The findings of the study reveal: "Maize is grown in a wide range of latitudes, including sub-tropical and tropical countries where higher temperatures will be more harmful than in cooler high-latitude regions. North and Central America, West Africa, Central and East Asia will potentially see maize yields decline by more than 20 per cent in the coming years."

Wheat, which grows best in temperate climates, may, in turn, see productivity increase in current growing areas under climate change, including areas in the Northern United States and Canada, and China, it added.

"One effect the data show clearly is that poorer countries are likely to experience the sharpest declines in yields of their main staple crops. This exacerbates already existing differences in food security and wealth," says Christoph Muller, co-author and also a researcher at the Potsdam Institute.

Further, it was revealed that the wheat gains in the global North do not make up for maize losses in the global South.

"Poor countries and of course the affected smallholder farmers themselves often lack the means to procure food on the world market. The projected fundamental change in agricultural production patterns could hence in some regions become a risk for food security, while others profit," the study read.

As per the study, temperature is not the only factor relevant for future crop yields.

"Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have a positive effect on crop growth, especially for wheat. However, it could also reduce their nutritional value. Rising global temperatures also are linked with changes in rainfall patterns, and the frequency and duration of heatwaves and droughts, which are risks to crop health and productivity," the study revealed.

"Even under optimistic climate change scenarios, where societies put in ambitious efforts to limit global temperature rise, global agriculture is facing a new climate reality," Jagermeyr said.

The study titled "Climate change signal in global agriculture emerges earlier in new generation of climate and crop models" on Nature Food has been authored by Jonas Jagermeyr, Christoph Muller, Alex Ruane et al in 2021.

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Glasgow, Nov 1 (AP) Environmental activists expressed anger Monday at what they consider the slow pace of action to curb climate change.

Youth campaigners from several countries marched on the opposite bank of the River Clyde from where the UN climate summit was being held, holding banners with slogans such as We are watching you.

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Swedish activist Greta Thunberg accused world leaders and government officials inside the conference of pretending to take our future seriously.

Change is not going to come from inside, she said, adding: No more blah blah blah. No, whatever the (expletive) they're doing inside there.

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Earlier Monday, Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti made an impassioned appeal to world leaders to open your hearts to those already feeling the effects of global warming, saying that drought in her home country means many are going without food.

As I sit comfortably here in this conference center in Glasgow, over 2 million of my fellow Kenyans are facing climate-related starvation, she said. (AP)

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Islamabad, Nov 2 (PTI) Pakistan National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf on Tuesday said he would not travel to India to attend a conference hosted by it on Afghanistan, as he dismissed New Delhi's role as a "peacemaker" in the war-torn neighbouring nation.

India extended the invitation to Pakistan to attend the regional conference on Afghanistan next week, expected to be hosted by Indian NSA Ajit Doval.

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The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.

I will not go. I am not going. A spoiler can't become a peacemaker," Yusuf said in response to a question about whether he will be attending the meeting hosted by India.

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Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed the invitation from India but said the decision would be taken at an appropriate time.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had earlier said that Pakistan's decision would be based on keeping in view the current state of relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

A curt no by Yusuf laid to rest a possibility of thaw in ties between Pakistan and India.

Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

The relationship dipped further after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

The relations deteriorated after India announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August, 2019.

India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

Yusuf said that Pakistan, unlike the West, could not disengage with Afghanistan due to its regional proximity.

It may be a luxury for the Western world sitting 10,000 miles away (to stay away from Afghanistan) but we do not have any option to disengage from Afghanistan," he said.

He reiterated Pakistan's stance that the world should coordinate and constructively engage with the present Afghan government to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Yusuf said that engagement with Afghanistan was not a political matter for Pakistan but a humanitarian one and a matter of our national security".

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Jerusalem, Nov 2 (AP) Palestinian families on Tuesday rejected an offer that would have delayed their eviction by Jewish settlers in a tense Jerusalem neighbourhood, where protests and clashes helped ignite the 11-day Gaza war in May.

The four families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood near the Old City said their decision springs from our belief in the justice of our cause and our right to our homes and our homeland.

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They said that rather than submit to an unjust agreement they would rely on the Palestinian street to raise international awareness of their plight.

The proposal floated by Israel's Supreme Court earlier this month would have made them protected tenants, blocking any eviction and demolition order for at least the next 15 years, according to Ir Amim, an Israeli rights group that closely follows developments in the city.

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The families would have still been able to argue their case in Israeli courts.

But it would have forced them to at least temporarily attest to the settlers' ownership of the properties, which could weaken the families' case going forward, and pay rent to the settlers.

The four families are among dozens in Jerusalem who are threatened with eviction by Jewish settler organizations in several cases that are at various legal stages.

The settlers are making use of an Israeli law that allows them to claim properties that were owned by Jews prior to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation.

Palestinians who lost homes, properties and lands in the same conflict do not have the right to recover them.

There was no immediate comment from the settlers, but Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King, a staunch supporter, said they had accepted the offer.

The families, who are originally from what is now Israel, say the Jordanian government granted them the land on which their homes were later built in exchange for their refugee status after it assumed control of the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1948. They have been living there ever since.

Israel has portrayed the matter as a private real-estate dispute, but the Palestinians and human rights groups view it as a coordinated attempt to push Palestinian residents out of Jerusalem and change the city's identity.

The US has spoken out against the evictions, saying it undermines efforts to eventually revive the long-dormant peace process.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 war. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their future state and consider east Jerusalem their capital.

Jordan supports their claims.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem shortly after the 1967 war and considers the entire city to be its capital, a claim not recognized by most of the international community.

The threatened evictions were one of the main drivers of protests that erupted in Jerusalem in April and May.

The city, with major holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, is the emotional heart of the century-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been the epicenter of several waves of unrest over the years.

After weeks of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, including at a flashpoint holy site, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers fired rockets at the city.

That set off the fourth Gaza war since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.

Hamas has repeatedly warned Israel against evicting the families.

The families' decision to reject the offer sends the matter back to the Supreme Court, which could approve the evictions and pave the way for them to be carried out in the coming weeks. That would risk setting off another cycle of violence.

Ir Amim says the Israeli government has various tools at its disposal to delay or halt the evictions, but so far it has shown no indication it plans to do so.(AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Glasgow [UK], November 2 (ANI): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the COP26 meet in Glasgow on Tuesday, during which the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral and regional developments.

India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said PM Modi also appreciated the India and Ukraine cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, including mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

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"On the sidelines of #COP26 today, PM @narendramodimet President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa. Exchanged views on bilateral & regional developments. Also appreciated the India and Ukraine cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, including mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates," Bagchi tweeted.

Earlier in a day, the Prime Minister and his British counterpart Boris Johnson launched the initiative Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS).

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PM Modi reached Glasgow on Sunday to participate in the COP26 summit.

Today, the Prime Minister expected to hold a bilateral meeting with leaders of Israel, Switzerland, Finland, Malawi in Glasgow, Scotland and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

He is also likely to attend the side event by the United States of America - Build Back Better World. Further, PM Modi scheduled to attend an event on "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Development".

The Prime Minister will emplane for Delhi by tonight.

On Monday, PM Modi met Boris Johnson on the sidelines of COP26. He stated that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted PM Modi's invitation to visit India saying that he would plan his visit as soon as the circumstances allow.

He also met members of the Indian community in Glasgow to strengthen people-to-people bonds between the two countries ahead of his participation in the COP26.

At COP26, the world leaders worked to achieve the completion of Paris Agreement implementation guidelines, mobilisation of climate finance, actions to strengthen climate adaptation, technology development and transfer and keeping in reach the goals of limiting the rise in global temperatures.

The COP26 is taking place under the Presidency of the UK partnering with Italy. The high-level segment of COP26 is titled the World Leaders' Summit (WLS) and the Summit has participation by heads of State/Government of over 120 countries. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Glasgow [UK], November 2 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shrigla has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett to visit India when both met here on the sidelines of COP26 on Tuesday.

"Next year will be the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relation between India and Israel and in this context, PM Modi invited Naftali Bennett to visit India," said Shringla during a press conference here on Tuesday.

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"Prime Minister Bennett said that he had visited India about three times in the past in his capacity as a minister in the government of Israel but he will be delighted to visit India in the first quarter of 2022," Shringla said.

He said that it was the first meeting between PM Modi and Bennett. The two leaders had spoken earlier on the phone.

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Further, Shringla informed that Bennett had said that relations between India and Israel have been very close and comprehensive and "it would be his endeavour to strengthen and widen that relationship even further".

The two prime ministers spent a lot of time talking about technology, cooperation and in certain areas, said Shringla, adding, some of the areas mentioned were food processing, organic farming and the issues of strengthening supply chains and working together in high technology areas.

The Prime Minister is in Glasgow, where he attended the COP26 events and held bilaterals with several leaders. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi is an auspicious Hindu festival aimed at increasing wealth and prosperity. On this day, people engage in themes of cleansing, renewal and the securing of auspiciousness as embodied by Lakshmi. Dhanteras 2021 falls on November 2, Tuesday. To mark this event, here's a special list of Dhanteras wishes images in Marathi, Happy Dhanteras greetings in Marathi, Dhanteras 2021 images, Dhanatrayodashi quotes images in Marathi, Dhanatrayodashichya Shubheccha wallpapers, SMS in Marathi and so on.

Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, marks the start of the festival of Diwali in India and the festival of Tihar in Nepal. On this day, people greet and send wishes to each other, saying Happy and prosperous Dhanteras. Social media is full of messages related to the auspiciousness and excitement of the festival. We at LatestLY, provide you a one-stop destination for messages that you can send on all social media platforms to wish your near and dear ones. You can select from our range of messages to send through WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and SMS. Dhanteras and Diwali 2021 Date in India: Auspicious Time To Buy Gold, Shubh Muhurat for Dhantrayodashi Puja and Significance of First Day of Deepawali.

On the night of Dhanteras, diyas or lamps are lit in honour of Goddess of wealth Lakshmi and God of Ayurveda Dhanvantri. Lakshmi is the divine power that transforms dreams into reality. She is Shakti, energy, boundless and bountiful. Dhanvantri is the Hindu god of medicine and avatar of Lord Vishnu. During the Samudra Manthan, he arose from the ocean of milk with the nectar of immortality. As we celebrate and prepare for the festivities ahead, here are greeting to send on Dhanteras through WhatsApp stickers, HD wallpapers, GIF Images and SMS. New Rangoli Designs for Dhanteras 2021: Quick and Easy Rangoli Patterns To Celebrate Dhantrayodashi and Diwali Festival.

Dhantrayodashi Message in Marathi (File Image)

Dhantrayodashi Message in Marathi (File Image)

Dhantrayodashi Message in Marathi (File Image)

Dhantrayodashi Message in Marathi (File Image)

Dhantrayodashi Message in Marathi (File Image)

Dhanteras 2021 Messages: WhatsApp Greetings, Status, Images and Quotes To Celebrate Dhantrayodashi

Dhanteras is derived from two words, "Dhan" meaning "wealth" and "teras" meaning thirteen. It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Ashvin month of the Hindu calendar. On this day, people indulge in gold and silver shopping. It is considered auspicious to buy metals on this day. As you indulge in shopping for the festival, here are some messages that you can send to your friends and relatives to wish for an auspicious day. Wishing everyone Happy Dhanteras 2021!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 02, 2021 06:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Gabon, the so-called lungs of Africa, store more carbon per hectare than the Amazon, help regulate temperatures, and generate rain for millions in the arid Sahel and distant Ethiopian highlands. How it manages its rainforest is critical https://t.co/wprbVytsZ4 pic.twitter.com/QsOeJEHb0y Reuters (@Reuters) November 2, 2021

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The so-called funeral reform policy first surfaced in a swirl of rumors and, later, through a terse bulletin posted outside the local government office.

Wu Qisi, 94, heard about it from his barber. In response, he decided to die.

Wu, a rice farmer, was one of at least seven elderly Anqing residents who reportedly hastened their deaths or committed suicide in the spring of last year in reaction to the unconventional approach that local government officials took to implementing long-standing national guidelines on funerals. The local officials decreed that anyone who died before June 1, 2014, could be buried; but after that, cremations would be mandatory.

The aging residents of Anqing, a city of 5 million in eastern Chinas Anhui province, died in a last-minute rush to beat the time limit, according to local news reports and interviews with villagers.

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Everybody who dies is buried in the dirt, said Wus son, Wu Qimiao, 74. Theyre put in a coffin and buried. And when you suddenly change something like this, some people cant accept it.

The tradition of ancestor worship in China, including funerals and burials in hand-crafted coffins beneath ones field, stretches back millenniums. But in recent decades, it has clashed with a pro-cremation policy drafted by Mao Tse-tung in 1956, seven years after he proclaimed the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. Burials take up too much arable land, Mao claimed, and involve rituals unbefitting an officially atheist state. He left it to local governments to work out the specifics.

At this point, nearly all of Chinas urbanites  about half the population  are cremated when they die. Yet in the vast countryside, where history has a stronger hold, the transformation has become a recurring tinderbox, pitting ancient traditions against the Communist Partys obsession with control.

In 2012, the government of Zhoukou, a sprawling city in Henan, one of Chinas poorest provinces, demolished 400,000 graves to reclaim arable land, sparking a nationwide controversy. Villagers accused the government of plans to flip the reclaimed land for profit, according to local reports; the following winter, they restored scores of graves in retaliation.

In December 2013, authorities in Xuancheng  a city in Anhui province about 125 miles from Anqing  dug up the recently buried corpse of an 83-year-old man, doused it in gasoline and set it on fire after the mans family refused to cremate him.

Less than a year later, two Guangdong province officials were caught buying corpses from grave robbers to meet cremation quotas. Both were arrested.

In China, down to very recent times, acting properly was more important than having correct beliefs, said David Johnson, an expert on traditional Chinese village culture and professor emeritus at UC Berkeley. And the way to act properly was to act in accordance with ritual. There were rituals for all the important events in life, but they were of two basic kinds: rituals for the living and rituals for the dead.

Rituals for the dead were always most important, he said. This runs way, way back  it was driven by the belief that after death a persons soul or spirit needed to be treated with the greatest care and respect, lest it cause harm to the living. This meant among other things proper funeral ceremonies and proper burials, in auspicious tomb sites if possible.

Xianrong, a village of 300, is much like others in Anqing: Children chase one another along trash-strewn paths as their grandparents toil in the fields, loading armfuls of rice stalks into giant wicker baskets.

In major Chinese cities, interments involve state-run cemeteries, socialist funerals and expensive urns for cremated ashes. In Xianrong, as in many other villages, people continue to construct their parents coffins themselves. The dead are rubbed with lime to keep them from rotting. They lie in repose for days-long funerals, then theyre buried beneath fields of grain.

For two weeks after he heard the news about mandatory cremations, Wu Qisi  who had grown frail and nearly blind  refused to eat or drink, his son said as he smoked a cigarette in his living room beneath a giant poster of Mao.

Family members gathered by Wus bedside, soothing his cracked lips with pieces of ice. I dont want to be burned, the old man told them. He died days later, too emaciated to utter last words.

Anqing officials have denied that the policy caused any deaths. The whole reform went very, very smoothly, insisted Qian Shouzhuang, Xianrongs party secretary. Zero people resisted. Nobody in this village put up any resistance to the reform.

Qian said that villagers are thankful for the increase in arable land, and happy to spend less on funerals. Families who had already prepared coffins have been generously compensated, he said.

He added that the policy would protect the areas environment  last year, he explained, villagers sparked a forest fire while burning offerings in the hills, and 20 Anqing officials were reprimanded for negligence. It might take dozens of years for a tree to grow, he said, but only a moment for someone to burn it down.

The state-run Beijing News tallied six elderly suicides across the municipality. Some elderly villagers drank pesticide, it said in a report; one jumped down a well; another killed herself after officials destroyed her coffin in front of her.

Wang Minghu, a 53-year-old fisherman in Xiangjin, a village of 1,500 people near Xianrong, said that his 81-year-old mother Zhang Wenyi hanged herself from a tree after hearing about the policy in May 2014.

Not one person here actually wants to be cremated, said Wang. Maybe one exception is the party secretary, the village cadres. But no one else.

Zhang lived in a small dirt-floored bedroom behind Wangs two-story farmhouse. Her room contained a twin-size bed and a crude wooden desk. Every day, she woke up before sunrise to sell eggs in the villages old town, a stretch of drafty wooden homes along a narrow concrete thoroughfare. One day, she overheard other sellers whispering about cremations.

I heard about the new policy  what am I going to do? she asked his older brother, Wang recalled. Youre too old, he replied. The law doesnt apply to you.

About two weeks later, around 8 in the morning on May 13, she hanged herself.

The village government forced us to sign an agreement to say that my mother didnt die because of the funeral policy  that she died because of a fight with her neighbor, said Wang. Since then, he has begun to move on with his life; recently, he cut down the tree that his mother used to hang herself.

Wu, in Xianrong village, said he has also begun to heal. We were able to bury [my father], because he died before June 1, he said. At least he got his wish.
Rapper Kanye West was placed under fire as he invited rocker Marilyn Manson to attend his Sunday service despite the straw of sexual allegations surrounding the artist.

Now legally known as "Ye," the rapper reportedly invited the infamous rocker to join in on the gathering, TMZ reported. Manson was seen standing front and center alongside the rest of the choir during the event.

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Kanye West Criticized After Inviting Marilyn Manson to Service

Ye's Sunday service was held on a rooftop, as different songs such as "Hurricane," "No Child Left Behind," and "Come to Life" were performed, The Sun reported.

Everyone, including Manson, wore white with some of the people wearing hoods and face coverings. At one point, Manson and West reportedly bowed toward each other and touch foreheads as the musicians closed their eyes.

During the service, Kanye was also seen placing his hands on the rocker's shoulders and appeared to have embraced each other.

People online were quick to criticize the rapper for having Manson join his Sunday service with a new round of worship and gospel singing.

how the fuck did Kanye get Marilyn Manson to Sunday Service ?? pic.twitter.com/HqRnGUuSgo  Robin (@Ungernes_) October 31, 2021

Kanye really got Marilyn Manson worshipping God, his influence is unmatched  pic.twitter.com/aJ0ujxL55M  ig: @rap.philosophy (@rapphilosophy20) October 31, 2021

One user asked how "Ye" got Marilyn Manson to attend his Sunday service. Another user lauded West's influence, contending that the rapper got Manson to worship God.

Imagine calling yourself a Christian and then worshiping next to a rapist whos currently being sued by one of his many victims. @kanyewest @marilynmanson  Jocelyn Alice (@iamjocelynalice) October 31, 2021

Another user slammed West, who is a Christian, for worshipping next to a "rapist."

kanye a fucking idiot for the marilyn manson shit, religion can't save someone like that.  xtra yeatzy (@yeatzys) October 31, 2021

Another user ripped the artist for inviting Manson on the service, highlighting that "religion can't save someone" like the rocker.

Although backlash quickly turned against West, other famous personalities were also present in the service such as Justin Beiber and Roddy Rich.

Beiber reportedly got on the mic and offered a few words to the attendees.

Other Kanye West Events With Marilyn Manson

It was not the first time Kanye West invited Marilyn Manson to appear at his events.

In August, the rapper invited Manson to his Donda Listening Party at Soldier Field in Chicago. Manson's appearance in the said listening party also caused backlash to the rapper.

It can be recalled that Manson was caught in a string of sexual allegations as several women came forward and accused the rocker that he physically and sexually abused them. Actress Evan Rachel Wood and Esme Bianco are among the women who accused the rocker of physical assault.

Although accusers came to light, Manson vehemently denied all the sexual allegations slammed against him and is fighting in court to prove his innocence.

The rocker insisted that all of the liaisons were completely consensual, emphasizing that a lot of the accusations were straight-up relationships he was in.

Manson was not the only artist that was invited by Kanye West who was surrounded with issues.

During his Donda listening party in Chicago, the rapper also invited DaBaby, who was caught in a controversy over his sexual comments during his performance in Miami.

It can be recalled that DaBaby reportedly asked the ladies in his audience to light their phones up if their genitals smell like water.

READ NEXT: Little Mix Reveals Confronting Jesy Nelson Over Blackfishing Controversy Before She Left the Group

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Is Kanye West Changing His Name to "Ye" Disrespectful? - From E! News
U.S. President Joe Biden has apologized for former President Donald Trump's decision to pull out the United States from the Paris agreement, a climate accord adopted by 196 parties at COP21 in Paris.

Biden said that the United States will do its part to lower emissions, according to a Fox News report.

The U.S. had formally rejoined the Paris agreement on climate change in February after Biden has officially taken his position as the U.S. president.

The U.S. had withdrawn from the climate accord in June 2017.

Andrew Light, a former senior climate change official in the Obama administration, said that being out formally of the agreement obviously hurts the U.S. reputation.

BBC News reported at the time that the official withdrawal has re-opened old wounds for climate diplomats.

On the other hand, Biden said that the success depends on their collective commitment to improve their momentum and strengthening their climate ambition, according to The Hill report.

The U.S. President is also calling the global community to take more aggressive actions regarding the fight against climate change.

He added that the worst is yet to come if they fail to seize "this moment," noting that the U.S. would lead by example and not words, according to a CBS News report.

READ NEXT: Queen Elizabeth Overheard on Livestream Saying She's 'Irritated' by World Leaders' Inaction on Climate Change

Biden's Agenda During COP26 Climate Change Summit

Biden had also promoted his "Build Back Better" economic agenda. He said that it will make "historic investments in clean energy." Biden called it the most significant investment to deal with the climate crisis than any advanced nation has ever made.

Meanwhile, the president committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by over a gigaton by 2030 while making it more affordable for consumers to save on their own energy bills with tax credits.

Savings on energy bills can be done by installing solar panels, weatherizing homes, and lowering energy prices. Electrifying fleets of school buses, as well as increasing credits for electric vehicles, are also included.

The president also said that he would incentivize clean energy manufacturing and building solar panels and wind turbines that are growing energy markets of the future.

COP26 Climate Change Summit

A member of the royal family, Prince Charles, addressed the world leaders during the event. The Prince of Wales issued a warning that the eyes and hopes of the world are each of the countries, citing that "because time has run out."

Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the need for climate action is in stark terms as the world is strapped to a "ticking doomsday device."

Scientists said that planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions should be halved by the end of this decade, adding that with the current situation, it will continue to rise.

Former U.N. climate chief Christina Figueres said that everything that science had actually looked at was underestimated. She added that it is happening faster than they ever thought, with regards to the degree of heating, the human misery cost, and the infrastructure cost.

The former climate chief said that anyone expecting that they're going to guarantee a road to 1.5 degrees temperature cap is simply not seeing the reality of things. She said that the conference should be about getting healthily close to the temperature cap.

READ MORE: U.S. Oil and Gas Industry Seen to Worsen Climate Change With 30 Percent More Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2025

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: COP26: President Biden says the 'US is back at the table' - from Sky News






An anti-abortion group scored a victory against California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday, as a federal judge granted them a temporary restraining on free speech grounds against the law signed by the state's highest official.

The group known as Right to Life Central California won the legal victory as their supporter argue that a COVID-19 vaccine-related law in the state, also known as Senate Bill 742, is infringing their rights to free speech, The Fresno Bee reported.

Right to Life Central California is represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a nonprofit legal organization that safeguards religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and parental rights, The Daily Wire reported.

READ NEXT: Biden Administration Makes 2nd Attempt to End Trump-Era 'Remain in Mexico' Migrant Policy Despite Border Surge

California Anti-Abortion Group Wins Against Gavin Newsom's Law

Judge Dale Drozd from the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of California handed out the ruling on Saturday, stating that the legislation "unlawfully" discriminates the group's "peaceful outreach" to women in need.

Under SB 742, people pushing any kind of message cannot get within 30 feet of a person who is within 100 feet of a vaccine clinic.

As it applies, the law became a problem for anti-abortion nonprofits because the law is effective against any kind of vaccine, including the jab for HPV, a virus that can cause cancer.

According to ADF, the law signed by Newsom prohibits the group they represent to "peaceably offer charitable services to women in need on the public sidewalk and street outside," as their office is next to a Planned Parenthood clinic, which offers the HPV vaccine.

"Right to Life's primary means of outreach to women considering abortion is through its Outreach Center, which is next to Planned Parenthood," ADF underscored.

The two properties are known to be connected by a sidewalk, and Right to Life usually approaches individuals who visit Planned Parenthood and offer them alternative services, as well as sharing handbills.

"Free Speech won the day not just for our client, Right to Life, but for every other speaker in California," ADF Senior Counsel Denise Harle said about the ruling, lauding the court's decision to protect the "First Amendment" rights of every Californian.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's SB 742

The Senate Bill 742 was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on October 8, which can be used by officials to keep anti-vaxxers from "harassing and intimidating" patients and frontline workers when getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Authored by Senator and Doctor Richard Pan from Sacramento, the said law would prohibit physical obstruction or intimidation at a vaccine clinic, as pickets have a designated distance from the clinic, ABC 10 reported.

Violators of SB 742 can get a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to six months, or both.

"Health care workers administering vaccines and saving lives need local officials to have SB 742 to keep them and their patients safe from extremists who obstruct and threaten people with violence and loss of privacy for participating in COVID-19 vaccination clinics," Senator Pan said in a statement.

READ NEXT: Meghan Markle Gifts Starbucks GCs to Paid Family Leave Advocates

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WATCH: California Gov. Newsom Gets Vaccine Booster Shot - From Associated Press
The swimming attempt of up to 70 migrants to illegally enter the United States from Tijuana resulted in the death of a woman and 13 individuals being pulled from the water, federal officials said.

Migrants Attempt Another Swim Around at U.S.-Mexico Barrier

Based on the report, the migrants wanted to enter the U.S. by swimming around the barrier at Border Field State Park in San Diego.

According to USA Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said their agents found the woman unresponsive early Saturday after the agents were being notified that a group of immigrants was attempting the illegal entry swim.

CBP mentioned that their agents performed CPR themselves and even brought in the rescue emergency medical services team of the San Diego Fire Department, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. After the confirmation of the death, the San Diego Medical Examiner took custody of the body.

Moreover, the Coast Guard then rescued 13 individuals from the water.

The Border Patrol, San Diego fire crews, Coast Guard, and the California State Parks officers conducted a search of the area. The follow-up search of the authorities resulted in 36 Mexican nationals being taken into custody, composed of 25 men and 11 women.

The fate of the rest of the people who attempted the illegal entry swim was not immediately known.

READ MORE: 1 Dead, 9 Wounded in Texas Halloween Party Mass Shooting

U.S.-Mexico Border Crossings on Land and Water

Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke of the Border Patrol's San Diego Sector said that the illegal attempt was another example of the ruthless tactics that were utilized by smuggling organizations used to bolster not only their power but also their profits.

Border deaths were up sharply in the fiscal year that ended September 30. The 557 total was more than double compared to 2020 which totaled 254 fatalities. Those totals represent only bodies recovered with Border Patrol involvement.

Also, other states and local agencies have recovered bodies in different instances, so the number of deaths was likely higher.

Border Field State Park marked the southwestern corner of the U.S., which was 15 miles south of San Diego. The wildlife habitat in the area included sand dunes and salt marshes.

However, based on the park's website, officials do not recommend any swimming or wading activities due to hazardous conditions. The website shared the presence of inshore holes, rip currents, and the lack of lifeguard service within the park.

Furthermore, in March, a Honduran mother of two drowned in the same waters. She was later on identified as Yuri Rios, who made the attempt with her brother-in-law. The man, identified as Jose Duenas, survived the swimming attempt but the mother did not.

The dark, foreboding border barrier, which was about 12 feet high, was extended by the U.S. government about 300 feet into the Pacific Ocean between the park and a Tijuana beach. The park was awash in floodlights, observation towers, agents on ATVs, and night-vision cameras to discourage migrants from illegally entering the U.S., but attempts were still made.

READ NEXT: Brazilian Police Kill 25 Members of Alleged Criminal Group Responsible in Countrywide Bank Heists

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: 36 migrants attempt to illegally cross border -ABC 10 News


Former U.S. President Donald Trump has slammed his critics and called them perverts while encouraging Virginians to get out and vote for "a man who will be a great governor."

He baselessly claimed that lots of bad things went on and on in Virginia's elections as the state prepares to decide who will next lead the state, according to a Daily Mail report.

Trump said that the "Fake News media" with some of the "perverts" doing ads ad nauseam on Fox are trying to imply that Glenn Youngkin and he were against each other.

The former president said that it is not true and that they get along very well together, adding that they strongly believe in many of the same policies, particularly on education.

Election watchers noted that Youngkin has tried to keep his distance from a figure like Trump, hoping not to alienate suburban swing voters. However, Trump disputed that statement, saying that it was a narrative from "perverts" and "Fake News."

Trump said in a statement that "Fake News" and "perverts" are working overtime to try and convince people that they do not like each other; therefore, his "great and unprecedented" Make America Great Again will not show up to vote, according to an Independent report.

He added that he is not a believer in the integrity of Virginia's elections, without offering no evidence for such claims.

READ NEXT: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Faces Hatch Act Complaint Over Comments on Virginia Governor's Race: Ethics Watchdog

Glenn Youngkin Distancing Himself from Donald Trump

Youngkin has said that he is honored to have received the former president's endorsement. However, the gubernatorial candidate has reportedly distanced himself from Trump, including avoiding publicly campaigning with him.

He had also not engaged in an upcoming tele-rally Trump is holding for the candidate, according to The Week report.

Daily Mail reported that Trump said Youngkin will be a "fantastic" governor for the state of Virginia, noting Youngkin's experience as a businessman. He added that Youngkin's experience in business will be useful in making Virginia's economy great.

Trump said that every MAGA voter should strongly support Youngkin, adding that the Republican candidate for the governor position in Virginia will not let his constituents be done.

Virginia Elections

The latest data from Democratic data firm TargetSmart noted that at least 1,137,656 voters submitted early ballots, according to a CNBC News report. At least 189,891 voters had sent early ballots out of Virginia's 5.4 million electorates at the time.

Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, noted that this signals a change in the commonwealth's voting habits.

Data suggested that Terry McAuliffe has an edge over his GOP opponent Youngkin in pre-Election Day voting, with Democrats making up 53 percent of the 1.1. million who sent their ballots early, as compared to 30.9 percent Republicans.

McAuliffe said that they are substantially leading on the early vote, but it does not stop there.

Meanwhile, Youngkin said that he has not spoken to Trump recently and that he would accept the results of the election.

READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden Reacts Negatively to Donald Trump' Toys,' Giant TV Screens Left in the White House: 'What a F------ A--Hole'

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WATCH: Trump statement makes waves in Virginia governor's race - from CBS News






The California Man who reportedly punched a female flight attendant from American Airlines last week was slammed with federal charges and arrested on Monday, officials said.

The authorities identified the suspect as Brian Hsu, 20 years old, from Irvine, California, The Daily Mail reported.

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California Man Slammed with Federal Charges After American Airlines Attack

On Monday, Hsu was charged with interference with a flight crew and assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, Fox News reported. Moreover, the California man was reportedly taken into custody from his Irvin home.

The charges were issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Colorado, saying that the charges in the criminal complaint are allegations.

Hsu was scheduled to make his first court appearance in the United States District Court of California later Monday.

Authorities did not further the details on the case slammed against Hsu, as the case was listed as sealed. The prosecution for the California man will be administered by Assistant United States Attorney Brad Giles.

American Airlines also dropped an ultimatum against Hsu, as the company banned the California man from all future flights on their planes, and they will demand the "strictest" punishment to the suspect.

"The individual involved in this incident will never be allowed to travel with American Airlines in the future," the company said in a statement last week, adding that they will not be satisfied until Hsu is "prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

California Man Seen "Duct Taped" After American Airline's Unscheduled Stop

The federal charges and the status of being banned from all American Airlines flights came after Hsu reportedly broke the nose of a female flight attendant, as he punched her twice after she bumped into him during the flight.

According to reports, the female flight attendant apologized to the California man after knocking into him, but Hsu followed him down the aisle and struck her moments later.

Eyewitness McKenzie Rose shared that she saw the flight attendant walk back down the aisle after the altercation, with blood splattered on the outside of her mask.

Hsu was also reportedly seen duct-taped on the airplane seat after the flight made an unscheduled stop in Denver, Colorado, as his victim needed treatment to a local hospital over broken bones in her face.

Doug Parker, the head of American Airlines, described the recent attack as "one of the worst displays" their company saw, "when a passenger violently assaulted" one of their flight attendants.

The company also confirmed that the flight attendant is in recovery and made sure that her colleagues have the support they need.

According to the authorities, the incident was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the help of the Denver Police Department.

READ NEXT: United Airlines CEO To Fire Over 200 Employees Who Refused Vaccine

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Attack On Flight Attendant Forces Plane To Make Emergency Landing - From TODAY
At least one migrant, who was a part of a migrant caravan, was reported dead after Mexican security forces reportedly opened fire on a pickup truck late Sunday after it allegedly attempted to "ram" a patrol vehicle.

The fatality of the incident was confirmed by the Mexican National Guard on Monday, claiming that the vehicle also avoided an immigration checkpoint, Los Angeles Times reported.

READ NEXT: 'Mother Caravan': New Caravan of Thousands of Migrants Continue to March Toward U.S.-Mexico Border, Texas Buckles Up

Mexican Forces Open Fire on Vehicle Carrying Migrants

Leaders of the migrant caravan, with 4,000 members, marching towards Mexico City confirmed that the illegal immigrants in the vehicle were part of their group, France 24 reported.

According to reports, the shooting occurred 25 miles away from where the migrant march was located. The group also accused Mexico's National Guard of an attack.

However, a statement from the Chiapas Attorney General's Office, argued that the driver of the said pickup did not stop when the vehicle was instructed by the authorities, as it accelerated towards the patrol, prompting their forces to open fire as they fear for their safety.

The statement from the attorney general's office did not also mention the involvement of the Mexican National Guard.

The shooting resulted in at least one death. Authorities identified the victim as Cristobal "N," a migrant from Cuba. Four other Cubans were also injured, and were taken to a hospital, a government source confirmed.

The pickup truck that sustained the gunfire reportedly has at least 13 migrants composed of 10 migrants from Cuba and another three from Ghana.

Several people from the vehicle reportedly tried to flee from the authorities. However, Mexico's National Guard confirmed that they were detained, including the driver of the truck.

Meanwhile, nine other foreigners were placed under the custody of the immigration authorities.

Aside from the migrants, authorities noted that a rifle was also discovered in the vehicle.

According to Irineo Mujica, one of the leaders of the migrant caravan marching towards Mexico City, the group that sustained the gunfire had been traveling with them, but they decided to detach from the group over rumors of raids done by the authorities.

Dengue Fever Affects Migrant Caravan Marching Towards Mexico City

Mexico's National Immigration Institute said that at least six cases of the tropical fever dengue were detected among their members. The Institute furthered that five of those infected were minors and were taken to hospital for treatment of a severe case of hemorrhagic dengue. The agency added that the adult companions of the three dengue cases refused treatment.

Other than dengue, Kabir Sanchez, a volunteer doctor who helps in looking after the injured members of the migrant caravan, said that more than 50 percent of the marchers were injured.

Sanchez noted that his colleagues encountered cases of people with foot injuries, infections, respiratory problems, and even pregnant women at risk of miscarrying.

Meanwhile, migrant rights advocates and aid workers traveling with the migrant caravan marching towards Mexico estimated that the group might include at least 1,000 children.

READ NEXT: Biden Administration Makes 2nd Attempt to End Trump-Era 'Remain in Mexico' Migrant Policy Despite Border Surge

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WATCH: Migrant Caravan Crosses Mexico, Some Reject Visas - From Reuters
Brian Laundrie's family was not happy with a woman claiming to be the ex-girlfriend of Gabby Petito's fiance. They said she's nothing more than an imposter.

The woman, who has been going by the name of Gabriella Darling on social media, has been claiming to be Laundrie's girlfriend before Petito for months.

At first, Darling reportedly shared on social media about Laundrie being "narcissistic" and controlling ways. But after Laundrie's remains were found on October 20, Darling suddenly played the role of a woman who grieves over the death of a man she once loved, Radar reported.

She even posted a lengthy post on Instagram after Laundrie's remains were found. But a source close to the Laundrie family told The Sun that Brian's parents and her sister, Cassie, have no idea who Darling was.

READ NEXT: Brian Laundrie Case: Family Lawyer Says Police Mistakes Cause a Lot of False Allegations Against Laundrie's Parents

Source Talks to Brian Laundrie's 'Ex-Girlfriend'

April Valenzuela, who has a mutual friend with the Laundrie family, told The Sun that she spoke to Gabriella Darling for two hours over the phone last Tuesday.

Valenzuela, who has a background as a rape crisis counselor who worked with trauma victims, said she believed the woman at first and wanted to help the woman cope with her grief.

And then she learned that the Laundries had never met Darling. Valenzuela said it was not only her mutual friend with the Laundrie family who does not believe in Darling's stories but also Cassie, who was "furious" over the stories of the alleged "fake" girlfriend before Gabby Petito.

"It was messed up, and it made Cassie so mad," Valenzuela said. Valenzuela further noted that Darling suddenly ignored her after confronting her with Cassie's claims that the Laundrie family had never met her.

"She never called me. She messaged me and told me that her family's attorney told her not to talk to anyone," Valenzuela said.

"I thought she needed to be left alone, and I stood up for her right to grieve privately, but from reading what Cassie was saying about it upsetting her and her family and making videos to get people to believe she and Brian were closer than they really were and abusing my sympathy for those close to the case is just wrong," she added.

Aside from the Laundrie family, the North Port police said they were also not familiar with Gabriella Darling. Many Internet sleuths also doubted and probed into Darling alleged ties to Laundrie, most notably, Instagram user @exposinganddebunking.

Brian Laundrie's 'Ex-Girlfriend' Heartfelt Instagram Post

Gabriella Darling earlier posted a lengthy tribute to Brian Laundrie, whom she calls her "#eternalflame." Darling's eulogy has surfaced a week after Laundrie's skeletal remains were discovered in a swampy area of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.

Darling's lengthy post did not mention Laundrie's name and did not include any images of him. But she claimed in her previous posts that she was in a previous relationship with Petito's fiance.

"The hardest thing I've ever been through. Feels like a part of my heart has been ripped out, no matter what, no one will be able to fill it," Darling said in her tribute.

The woman noted that most people knew his ex-boyfriend as a monster but said she "do not know that person."

"I know the person that I had ups and downs with, the person that I shared occasional arguments over some things, and the person I eventually left for other reasons... But all in all was not a monster," Darling noted.

The woman, who claims to have children, wished she could wake him up "because this seems like a nightmare." Darling noted that she's "absolutely heartbroken" and will cry "every single day" as she vowed to grieve for her "flame" daily.

Darling said she's not sure if she'll be able to ever "move on" as she does not want to "let go." The woman noted that she would keep his memory alive by cherishing the wonderful moments they had together and making new memories "for him to enjoy above."

"I loved you then, and I will love you until the day God decided its my time to go and meet you there... Until then, our flame is eternal #eternalflame," Darling concluded.

Laundrie's "ex-girlfriend" accompanied her tribute with a photo of a woman standing by a pool, looking away from the camera.

Brian Laundrie was named a person of interest by North Port police after returning home on September 1 or 10 days before Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family.

Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when the YouTuber stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August.

Gabby Petito's body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19.

A Teton County, Wyoming coroner said the YouTuber was strangled to death by a "human being," and the manner of death was homicide.

READ MORE: Dog the Bounty Hunter Partially Blames Brian Laundrie's Parents for What Happened, Says He May Still Be Alive if They Cooperated Sooner

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: 'You Could Feel' Brian Laundrie's Temper: New Witnesses - From Inside Edition
A man from middle Georgia was found guilty of three racketeering charges Monday after authorities identified him in court as the drug kingpin running a regional drug-dealing operation with ties to Mexico's Gulf Cartel.

According to U.S. News, the probe conducted by the Houston County Drug Investigations unit led to the arrest of 53-year-old Dexter Lee Williams in March 2020.

Georgia Drug Kingpin's Connection with Gulf Cartel of Mexico

The investigation connected Dexter Lee Williams to a shipment of 87 pounds or 39 kilograms of cocaine. According to authorities, the said the worth of the drug shipment was nearly $4 million.

Macon Telegraph reported that narcotics agents intercepted the shipment at Love's Travel Stop on Sardis Church Road in south Macon on March 4, 2020.

During the reading of the verdict, Williams reportedly did not show any emotion. The alleged Georgia drug kingpin could face up to 60 years in prison at sentencing.

READ NEXT: 1 Dead, 9 Wounded in Texas Halloween Party Mass Shooting

Drug Kingpin's Attorney Says Prosecutors Out of Their Jurisdiction

During the trial, Wanda Jackson, the attorney of Dexter Lee Williams, argued that the prosecutors overstepped in their bounds and that the charges were improperly brought.

Jackson pointed out that Williams was not part of a Houston County conspiracy, and his client only sold drugs to a man in Macon whose connections had dealings in neighboring communities.

However, prosecutors countered the argument of Jackson by saying to jurors that Williams' actions were part of a long pattern of criminal activity. The prosecutors noted that Williams was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison in 2007 for distributing marijuana.

Houston County prosecutor Greg Winters said he was surprised by the volume of the drugs seized on March 4, 2020 in south Macon. Winters told the Telegraph that in his time as a prosecutor, he had never seen the same amount of illegal drugs that were brought in in just one shipment alone.

Authorities also said they used wiretaps and other surveillance methods during the investigation, and more than 25,000 telephone conversations and text messages were monitored.

Aside from the Georgia drug kingpin, authorities said the probe also led to the arrests of more than a dozen suspected local dealers. Winters even played some phone calls for the jury to hear in which Williams could be heard arranging drug deals.

Prosecutors noted that Williams' network supplied narcotics to dealers across the region, including Butts County and the Jackson area. One official also testified the drug organization had likely been operating for not less than five years.

Prosecutors added that Williams even planned to expand his drug operations not only in Washington, D.C. but also in New York City with cocaine supplied by Mexico's Gulf Cartel.

William Kendal, Houston's Acting District Attorney, said in a statement that Williams' drug operation put money over everything else and that the drug kingpin had no concern about how many lives he impacted or devastated by his actions.

READ MORE: Brazilian Police Kill 25 Members of Alleged Criminal Group Responsible in Countrywide Bank Heists

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Jury Convicts Central Georgia Drug Kingpin With Cartel Ties - From 13WMAZ
A pharmacist in Pennsylvania was arrested after he was found distributing drugs out of his drugstore in exchange for sex.

According to 6ABC, Martin Brian, 81, was accused of using his access to prescription drugs to get sex. Brian is reportedly the owner and operator of the now-defunct Murray-Overhill Pharmacy located on State Street in Media, Delaware County.

Pennsylvania Pharmacist Uses Drugs In Exchange for Sex

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said the Pennsylvania pharmacist was giving out drugs to people who were addicted to them "so he could get what he wanted from them, which was sexual gratification."

According to NBC10, the investigation started on April 18, when the Media Borough Police Department found two unconscious individuals parked in the back of the drugstore owned by Martin Brian.

As the officers checked on the two unconscious people in the car, a woman suddenly walked out from the back of the pharmacy and ran back inside after she saw the cops.

Police said the Pennsylvania pharmacist came out and asked if everything was alright. And when they questioned both Brian and the woman they spotted earlier, police said they received conflicting accounts from the pair.

The inconsistencies in the statements prompted the police to seize the woman's cell phone, and an investigation was launched.

Police said they found a lot of texts between Brian and the woman in which the pharmacist allegedly told her how to respond to the cops' questions.

Stollsteimer said they also did an audit of Brian's records and found there were tons of missing drugs. He noted that Brian's actions risked the life of every individual receiving the illicitly obtained drugs.

He added that while hardworking pharmacists all over the county are "making the overdose-reversing medication Narcan available," the Pennsylvania pharmacist chose instead to contribute to the scourge of addiction in their area.

READ NEXT: Texas Nurse Sentenced to Death for Killing 4 Patients by Injecting Air Into Arteries After Heart Surgery

Pennsylvania Pharmacist Uses Drugs for Sextortion

Based on a DEA audit that analyzed inventory from 2016 to 2021, the Murray-Overhill Pharmacy, which ceased operations in June, was the largest purchaser of Xanax, oxycodone, and the deadly substance fentanyl in the county.

On April 26, the woman spotted outside the pharmacy was interviewed by DEA agents. She reportedly admitted to meeting the defendant weekly to exchange sex acts for controlled substances and money.

Police said another woman also admitted that she had exchanged sex with Brian for drugs multiple times a week.

She told authorities that she could not count the number of bottles of oxycodone she had received from Brian. The woman added that she later sold the oxycodone back to the Pennsylvania pharmacist in exchange for heroin.

Thomas Hodnett, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Philadelphia Field Division, said the accusations against Martin Brian repeatedly distributing painkillers and other controlled substances in exchange for sexual acts are repulsive and demonstrate the suspect's total disregard "for his legal and ethical responsibilities as a pharmacist."

While executing a search warrant, police also said they found some $50,000 cash in a drawer in Brian's drugstore.

The Pennsylvania pharmacist was charged with sexual extortion and other related drug offenses. He turned himself in on Monday and was arraigned.

Martin Brian's bail was set at $250,000, and his preliminary hearing was scheduled for November 17.

READ MORE: Brazilian Police Kill 25 Members of Alleged Criminal Group Responsible in Countrywide Bank Heists

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Pharmacist Accused of Distributing Drugs in Exchange for Sex - From 6abc Philadelphia
Key Takeaways

Cryptocurrency or crypto can be defined as a collection of binary data which is designed to work as a medium of exchange.

The rise in the popularity of cryptocurrencies and their adoption by financial institutions has led some governments to assess whether regulation is needed to protect users.

Japan has a favorable environment for cryptocurrencies and recognizes Bitcoin and other digital currencies as legal property under the Payment Services Act (PSA). China on the other hand has banned financial institutions and payment companies from providing services related to cryptocurrency transactions, and facilitation services were asked to shut down.

The Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019 (Cryptocurrency Bill, 2019) was formed, it raises certain issues like whether holding, selling, disposing of, or any kind of trade through cryptocurrencies in India is to be considered legal or not. The current legal position of cryptocurrency in India is ambiguous, it has not been out rightly banned, but it cannot be classified as legal either.

In India, the fate of crypto is still unsure. Experts project that India will most likely allow the use of government-issued digital currency, due to the security concerns of private players.

Introduction

Cryptocurrency or crypto can be defined as a collection of binary data which is designed to work as a medium of exchange. The individual ownership records are stored in a computerized database. The use of cryptography secures transactions, controls creation of new coins, and verifies ownership and transfer. The Cryptocurrency Bill, 2019, defined the term cryptocurrency as any information, code, number or token generated through cryptographic means or otherwise, providing a digital representation of value, or functioning as a store of value in a financial transaction. Cryptocurrency does not exist in a physical form, like paper money, and it's not issued by a national authority. It is a virtual decentralised currency, that works on block chain technology. Bitcoin released the first open-sourced decentralized crypto in 2009, after which many other currencies were created.

By its design, block chain is resistant to any unwarranted change and is highly observable. Data once recorded cant be block chain altered retroactively. It functions over a peer-to-peer network, adhering to a protocol for validating new blocks. While the introduction of cryptocurrency has made strides in how business can be done, governments have been cautious to adopt these techniques. Since cryptocurrency lacks any central governing mechanism, its subsequent regulation is a task for governments. Regulators in several countries have warned against cryptocurrency and some have taken measures to dissuade users. The exercise of such caution is due to the relatively new nature of the technology and many countries are also menaced by crypto-scams. Governments are additionally less enthusiastic to support it since it has many black-market applications.

International Status of Cryptocurrency

Most countries do not have a concrete stand on cryptocurrency. While some oppose, others are opening up to the idea of cryptocurrency. These opinions depend on their personal cost-benefit analysis of the technology. The rise in the popularity of cryptocurrencies and their adoption by financial institutions has led some governments to assess whether regulation is needed to protect users. The United States, Senator Elizabeth Warren, has addressed a letter to SEC Chairman, asking for answers to a series of questions related to cryptocurrency regulation. Warren sees the increased use of cryptocurrency as a risk to consumers. They are wary of the lack of a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. Wallstreet has also increased its exposure to the crypto market. The SECs current stand on cryptocurrency is friendly, though no regulatory framework exists yet.

Europe is the world's biggest cryptocurrency economy, and the European Commission is working on regulation for cryptocurrency.This has included draft regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), which aimed to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets in the EU. France is recommending that cryptocurrency be regulated with the same money laundering and KYC requirements as other financial institutions.

Japan has an especially conducive environment for cryptocurrencies and recognizes Bitcoin and other digital currencies as legal property under the Payment Services Act (PSA). Recent regulations include amendments to the PSA and to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), which took effect in May 2020, togetherthey cover both businesses and cryptocurrency providers. These added the term crypto-assets replacing virtual currency, and provided greater restrictions on managing users virtual money. Crypto-exchanges in Japan have to be registered and comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) obligations.

El Salvador made headlines when it became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. The transactions happen over a local app, the holder of the wallet can use it to pay for services, to buy and sell products, and to make transfers to bank accounts without paying commission fees. The parliament has said that "any economic agent must accept bitcoin as a form of payment when it is offered by the person who acquires a good or service." This means, legally any service payable in dollars will also be payable in bitcoin. Shortly after, Cuba was the second country to accept crypto as a legal tender. Under Resolution 215, the Central Bank of Cuba now will recognize and regulate cryptocurrencies.

On the opposite side of cryptocurrency,the debate lies in China. Going against the grain, cryptocurrency-related activities receive little tolerance from the Chinese government. China has banned financial institutions and payment companies from providing services related to cryptocurrency transactions, and facilitation services were asked to shut down. Under the ban, such institutions, including banks and online payments channels, must not offer clients any service involving cryptocurrency, such as registration, trading, clearing, and settlement, etc. All crypto-transactions were made illegal, and before the ban, there was already heavy regulation on the use of cryptocurrency in China. But after the ban, many exchanges chose to relocate to jurisdictions that are more favorable to cryptocurrencies than China. The ban coincides with the news of China introducing a digital version of its own currency. Turkey has similarly banned the use of cryptocurrency. In Russia, though cryptocurrencies are legal, purchasing goods with a currency other than the Rubel is illegal.

Cryptocurrency in India

The Reserve Bank of India was historically not in favor of the use of cryptocurrency, in the Indian economy. The country has proceeded cautiously with it. In 2013, the RBI expressed concerns regarding the legal and security aspects associated with virtual currencies. Then in 2017, an inter-ministerial committee was formed to study the risks of cryptocurrency in India, and to propose specific action, if any. Their analysis report was published in 2019, and it recommended a complete ban on cryptocurrencies in India. Pursuant to this the Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019 (Cryptocurrency Bill, 2019) was formed, it raises certain issues like whether holding, selling, disposing of, or any kind of trade through cryptocurrencies in India is to be considered legal or not. The current legal position of cryptocurrency in India is ambiguous, it has not been out rightly banned, but it cannot be classified as legal either, as it has not been approved by any central legislation. Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies are beyond the purview of legal regulation in India. Due to this crypto transactions are risky, as they do not have the requisite legal recourse available.

But some recent judgments and political chatter indicate that India may not adopt the path taken by China when it comes to cryptocurrency. In the case of Internet and Mobile Association of India v. Reserve Bank of India, the Supreme Court declared that a circular issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directs banks not to deal with the transactions involving the trade of virtual currencies, was illegal and unenforceable. The circular barred the banks from providing any kind of services to any individual or entity dealing or selling virtual currencies. The court was of the view that although RBI has a wide spectrum of powers, they did not show any damage suffered by entities. The judgement did not declare Cryptocurrency as legal, but it simply struck down the RBI circular that declared so.

In the ongoing case of Arnav Gulati v. SBI & Ors, the petitioners have sought direction from the RBI to regulate and govern the cryptocurrency sector, and make provisions for payment interfaces. The petitioner argues that prohibitingthe use of UPI platform for dealing and settling of funds impacts his fundamental rights under Article 14, right to equality, and article 19(1)(g), freedom to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.Although India is yet to impose regulations on cryptocurrency transactions, it has asked for transparency in all such undertakings. The Companies Act was amended to compel companies to disclose virtual currency/cryptocurrency transactions.

Another crypto-related bill is intended to be introduced in the Parliament's winter session. The Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 (Cryptocurrency Bill, 2021)aims to define and classify cryptocurrency according to the technology involved. The objective of the Cryptocurrency Bill, 2021 is to create an enabling framework for the official digital currency which will be issued by the RBI and will prohibit all private cryptocurrencies.Finance Ministry officials are projecting that law for cryptocurrencies is likely to come around the time of the next general Budget. The Ministry wants to avoid people being cheated on by private cryptocurrency creators. Thus, regulation is being discussed.

Crypto-currency is however already starting to be utilized in India. India's oldest crypto exchange, Unocoin, allowed users to recharge their Fastag accounts using Bitcoin. It also gave an option of using Bitcoin transactions for bill payments, and e-commerce. This is already starting to gain traction amongst users. Unocoin also offers vouchers that can be brought through cryptocurrency and exchanged for items from major fast-food chains. There are many businessesthat are starting to accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, although this is limited to only some businesses, this mode of payment is becoming more attractive. In the absence of dedicated cryptocurrency laws or any specific ban on the same, cryptocurrencies in India fall in a grey area. The acceptance of the same as a mode of payment is at the discretion of the acceptor. Legal experts say that currently, the lack of relevant statutes makes crypto transactions similar to barter deals where the acceptance is purely at the discretion of the recipients.

Advocates of cryptocurrency believe that if the government sees the existence of reliable businesses willing to accept crypto, then they will be likely to implement laws that support cryptocurrency in India. Professionals in the field think that crypto has to be regulated as an asset or commodity in India. The policy according to them will be guided by national security concerns. Its goal is to balance stability and growth in the larger picture. The government has emphasised the need for strong vigilance against the misuse of cryptocurrencies and crypto-assets for error financing and domestic security threats. The government has regularly released warnings against the risks associated with virtual currencies. The released Cryptocurrency Bill, 2021 is seeking to remove private crypto providers. The RBI has in the past been released vocal about its concerns regarding cryptocurrency, and it is in favor of banning the useof private cryptocurrency. The projection is that government-enforced crypto coins may become the norm. However, on the other hand, the amendment to the Companies Act is mandating disclosure with respect to virtual currency/cryptocurrency transactions undertaken by a firm. The government has also indicated an interest in classifying crypto as an asset class, similar to gold.

Conclusion

Some experts say that the perspective about using bitcoin in illicit finance is an overstatement, and that block chain can be an effective tool in fighting financial crime and gathering intelligence. But still across the globe, the legal status of cryptocurrencies varies substantially from country to country and it is still undefined. Some are more open to cryptocurrency and explicitly allow their use, while other countries are hesitant to endorse it. In India, the fate of crypto is still unsure, and experts project that India will most likely allow the use of government-issued digital currency, due to the security concerns of private players. However, until such legislation comes, cryptocurrency has already started spreading through markets, increasing its user base. While the RBI treads carefully around the topic, the judiciary has shown its inclination towards crypto. Although it too has not openly declared it as legal, it has prevented it from being banned. It is hoped that the new cryptocurrency bill will be tabled in the winter session and more discussions about it will clarify its position in the Indian market.

Questions

Which was the first country to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender?

Do you support the spread of cryptocurrency in the Indian economy?



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The midlands switch from 'brown-to-green' will be shared by Laois Offaly based Minister of State Pippa Hackett in Glasgow when she attends the COP26 UN conference on climate change.

Prior to her departure. the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Farming and Marine said Ireland is attending as a responsible global player in the battle against climate change.

She outlined a local experience that she wants to communicate from the Midlands where Bord na Mona has pulled the plug on on peat production and the ESB has decommissioned peat burning electricity power stations.

We are happy to be taking the lead when it comes to Climate Action, and we are determined to provide a positive example to other nations of what can be done.

We have taken steps to shift away from fossil fuels, and our Climate Action Plan will be published while the conference is in progress. We are a positive example to other nations of what can be done, said the Green Party 'super junior' minister who sits at the Cabinet table.

In my own region in the Midlands, our economy is switching brown-to-green. We are generating renewable energy, restoring our boglands, and retrofitting our homes. These are all essential measures to reduce emissions. I will proudly share this experience at COP26

I will also share with delegates how we are embracing the opportunities arising in the new Green economy. Im thinking of the Rhode Energy Park in Offaly and the training of retrofitting apprentices, which will create new jobs for skilled workers, she said.

The Geashill-based senator said huge efforts are being made to persuade governments to improve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

We need to keep the temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Not to do so will see an increase in floods, droughts, heatwaves, and storms. Our local authorities will not be able to cope. Our farms will suffer. Our citizens will suffer.

The solution is to lower our emissions and maintain a planet that future generations can inhabit comfortably, without such weather extremes. Ireland may be a small country, but we are leading the way here and our presence at COP26 will help persuade the bigger players of potential for action, says Senator Hackett..

The 12-day conference will be attended by120 nations in Scotland.
A claim by a Laois TD that a local fire station is too small to fit its fire engine has been refuted by Laois County Council.

Rathdowney fire station is in need of a new building the council has confirmed, but a senior manager says the existing building can still fit the station's fire tender, disagreeing with a statement made by Laois TD Brian Stanley.

Director of Services Simon Walton told the Leinster Express that they have sought money for new buildings for both Stradbally and Rathdowney fire stations to the Department of the Environment.

"We have applied for two new Fire Stations to the Department of the Environments Fire Station Capital Programme 2021  2025; Stradbally, Rathdowney. Neither station has been approved for funding as of yet."

Mr Walton points out that they were successful in getting recent funding to upgrade other stations including Mountmellick and Abbeyleix.

"However funding for the replacement of either of the two Fire Stations in question has not materialised to date.

"In an effort to support the allocation of funding we have a Part 8 Proposal on public display at the moment for Stradbally Fire Station. In circumstances where Part 8 approval is secured, the project is then effectively shovel ready, pending the allocation of funding.

"Similarly we will consider a Part 8 process for Rathdowney Fire Station in 2022," the Director of Services said.

He confirmed that there is however a shortage of space in the two stations.

"There are existing space restrictions in both the Stradbally and Rathdowney Fire Stations. We endeavour to allocate the space available in the interests of service efficiency and staff welfare. The fact that these two Stations are our replacement priorities tells its own story.

"Finally I note that the Rathdowney Fire Tender was recently, temporarily, relocated to allow for resurfacing of the Fire Tender Bay in which it is normally parked in Rathdowney Fire Station," Mr Walton said.

He was responding to a statement made by Deputy Brian Stanley last week, urging the Government to fund new stations for Rathdowney and Stradbally. Dep Stanley said he was told by Minister Darragh O'Brien that neither station was included in their five year programme. He claimed that Rathdowney station was "too small for the new fire tender". Read in full below.
Student nurses in their fourth-year internship are to receive an increase in payments of about 12.5 per cent.

The Irish Times reported this increase will be one of a number of proposals put forward by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly which is aimed for fourth year nursing students during their 36-week internship in hospitals to earn approximately 80% of the starting salary of a qualified nurse.

Minister Donnelly is also planning to put forward a proposal to extend the timescale for payment of an existing 100 weekly placement grant for student nurses

This new initiative will cost about 6 million per year and Government parties have been briefed on the plans in the past few days.

This follows a review, known as the McHugh report, of student nurse payments commissioned by the the Minister for Health last year.

Right now, student nurses receive less than 22,500 for their 36-week internships in hospitals during their fourth year and are the only healthcare students that get paid prior to qualification.

Student nurses are set to protest today, Tuesday 2, outside the Dail over the delay in publishing the report relating to their pay.
The many Laois students at IT Carlow and Waterford IT will be attending a university from next summer.

It follows confirmation that the Technological University of the South East (TUSE) will come into being from May 2022, following the merger IT Carlow with Waterford Institute of Technology from May 1 2022.

In April of this year, the chairs of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) Governing Body and Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow) Governing Body, on behalf of the governing bodies, management, staff and students of the two institutes, submitted an application to the Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris to become a technological university (TU).

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD announced on November 2 that that he had sanction the creation of a technological university next year..

At a meeting of the south east Oireachtas members, chairs and presidents, the Minister said that all parties were working toward the new technological university opening its doors by 1 May 2022.

Minister Simon Harris TD said: I am delighted that we will soon be welcoming another technological university into the TU family. I would like to warmly congratulate and sincerely thank the very many people from the two institutions including their management, governing bodies, staff, students and the wider regional and community stakeholders who can now look forward to an exciting future upon the establishment next year of a multi-campus university presence across the region.

President of IT Carlow, Dr Patricia Mulcahy thanked Minister Harris for this announcement.

"Our new university has strong foundations developed over five decades and we look forward to the new national and international opportunities that lie ahead for us as a unitary multi-campus university. With this exciting step forward, we will be better positioned to leverage these opportunities for the benefit of the people and regions we serve; to meet the challenges that we face as a region and country; to drive social and economic transformation; and ultimately to deliver on the ambitious expectations of our stakeholders.

"We are aware that it will be a great challenge to realise the full potential of our new university and will involve significant effort from all our staff in the months and years ahead. I thank all our staff, students, graduates, collaborative partners, governing body members and external stakeholders for your ambition, support and contributions to-date, she said.

Chair of IT Carlow Governing Body John Moore said also welcomed Minister Harris's announcement today and thanked all who had contributed to achieving university status.

"I congratulate and sincerely thank those governing body members along with the presidents, executive, staff, students, partners and stakeholders of both institutes on reaching this important milestone on our journey. We look forward to supporting our new singular governing body, president and executive as they play a pivotal role in creating a future of boundless potential for the south east, he said.

President of WIT, Prof Willie Donnelly said said it is a hugely significant day for the staff and students at IT Carlow and WIT, the many stakeholders and the future generations.

"We have long promised we would deliver a university of international standing for the region. Thanks to the hard work and ambition of our staff and students, we are on the crest of creating the first university for the region. Of course, the student and their families and communities are at the heart of everything we do.

"Our new status will help positively transform the south east, making it even more attractive to indigenous SMEs and foreign direct investment by linking knowledge, research, education, innovation and international collaboration. We will remain focused on the delivery of a university of international standing and look forward to an exciting future for this new TU and the region it will serve, he said.

Chair of WIT Governing Body Jim Moore commented that he was delighted to see the great effort undertaken by both institutes culminate in todays announcement in relation to the creation of Irelands newest TU.

"The university will inspire and serve its students, staff and the region with dedication and distinction, futureproofing higher education across the south east through learning, research and engagement. The future is indeed bright, and we can now look forward to starting this new chapter in our story, he said.

The opening of the new college follows on quickly from the merger of colleges in Limerick, Tipperary and Athlone to create the Technological University of the Shannon.
Just over two years ago, the European Parliament proposed the establishment of a citizens assembly, now known as the Conference on the Future of Europe (COFEU). Its purpose is to look at the European Union, its institutions, its values and its processes and to check that they are fit for purpose and capable of delivering on its commitments to our citizens.

Similar to Irelands own successful Citizens Assemblies, the COFEU brings together citizens, elected representatives and civil society leaders to debate key issues affecting our Union, and then, to propose changes to how the EU works and operates.

Meeting virtually, and recently in person in Strasbourg, delegates are discussing a wide range of topics. Debates are ongoing on whether the EU needs more power to act on issues in public health, such as the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic, to how the Union should deal with Member States that breach the basic rules and values that underpin the European Union, to the existential threat of climate change.

Moreover and just as importantly, thousands of events are being organised across the continent, including in Ireland, to ensure that decision makers both hear and listen to the voices and ideas of citizens.

For myself, as an Ireland South MEP, I am organising events in Limerick and Cork to hear what our young people in Transition Year think about the future of the European Union. In 2022, I will also organise events in South Leinster to hear the views of local residents.

Everyone can have his or her opinions heard. The Conference organisers have launched a very interactive and interesting website where citizens can submit their ideas as to how they want to see the EU operate into the future. I would encourage everyone to visit the website, and submit your ideas.

My own personal view is that we should try to make the existing provisions of the EU Treaties work to their fullest before we propose new changes. In Ireland, we know how hard it can be to win referenda so it should be a last resort.

However, I am open to giving the EU new powers - especially when it comes to protecting citizens from health emergencies, the climate crisis and indeed, for example, cyber-terrorism. We saw how damaging a cyber-attack can be only a few months ago when a cyber-attack shut down the HSE.

As a small Member State, it is essential that all of us play our part in shaping the future of the European Union. Now is the time to share your ideas and opinions and ensure that Irish voices are heard by decision makers. Get involved, and make sure they hear you.

Billy Kelleher is a Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South representing Fianna Fail and Renew Europe.

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Nearly 2,000 adventurers descended on Glendalough on Saturday to run, cycle and kayak their way around Wicklow National Park and surrounds for the first time since the race was last held in 2019.

This sold-out Quest Glendalough event saw adventure racers came from as far afield as Australia, the USA, the UK and across Europe to take part in the event.

Quest Glendalough is a sought-after event, and the only time of the year that kayakers can take to the Upper Lake in Glendalough.

Winners of the Expert route were Niall Davis and Ellen Vitting. Winners of the Sport route were John Mullin and Joan Mahony. Winners of the Challenge route were Dwayne Flynn and Catriona Fogarty (see notes for full times and results).

Race Organiser, Oliver Kirwan, says the popularity of the event continues to grow despite the pandemic related hiatus: Glendalough is a really special place for us and our participants just love this event. Were delighted to be back after a two year absence, and that the event sold out is testament to its continued popularity.

"Weve had great support locally, and would like thank all our volunteers, marshals and especially moving the the Laragh GAA pitch for letting us set up camp on their doorstep. Well be back next year again, all things going to plan, to introduce even more people to this wonderful, historic, unspoilt area.

Participants undertook one of three challenging routes, the 21km Challenge route, the 43km Sport route and the 59km Expert route. After the event they were treated to hot food, music and a fabulous welcome home at the finish line.

Quest Adventure Series has just launched its dates for 2022, announcing it will hold five Quest adventure races next year in: Kenmare on 12th March 2022, Glendalough on 2nd April 2022, Beara Peninsula on 27th August 2022, Lough Derg on 10th September 2022 and Killarney on 8th October 2022.

The next Quest Glendalough takes place on 2nd April 2022.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, is beginning a four-day visit to the Middle East today.

Minister Coveney will meet with senior political leaders, UN officials and civil society representatives in Israel and Palestine before travelling on to Jordan.

It's the fifth such trip the minister has taken in his tenure.

He will reportedly visit Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ramallah during the trip, as well as communities in the West Bank to hear how Irish Aid funding is supporting humanitarian efforts in the region.

Speaking about his plans during the visit, Minister Coveney said, "I will speak clearly and frankly about negative trends, including violence, demolitions, evictions, and settlement activity that are causing ongoing suffering and threaten to erode the prospect of a negotiated two State solution.

"In the past week we have seen further negative developments in terms of settlement activity and civil society space which I have spoken out against. I will use this opportunity to again convey my concerns and call for the end of such acts."
A further extension to the Covid-19 emergency powers implemented by the government for a further three months will be sought in the Dail today.

However, Sinn Fein (SF) has since revealed that it will be voting against the extension, which would see measures such mask wearing and the use of vaccine passports will remain law until February 2022.

The party is joined by People Before Profit in voicing its displeasure with the proposal, while the Social Democrats and Labour will decide on their position in the Dail later today.

According to The Irish Examiner, the govt explained that it "must keep options open to deal with pandemic unknowns by retaining the ability to act quickly to impose regulations to stem the spread of the virus."

David Cullinane TD, SF's health spokesperson, said his party will reject the extension on the basis it keeps all emergency powers on statute books, while only keeping a small number of restrictions in place.

"Time has long since passed that they needed to be kept; if the minister wants an element to remain, such as locator forms and masks, he should bring forward primary legislation that deals with those restrictions alone."

The Waterford politician added: "This allows the minister to set regulations without debate, a recent example being nightclubs where we had last-minute regulations and no discussion, no debate, and no scrutiny, yet we're all held to account even though we had no part in it."

"Elements of public health measures should be kept but that can be done by primary regulation rather than leaving all on books."

Last month, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that a return to tighter COVID-19 restrictions cannot be ruled out this winter.

He also implied that face masks may remain as part of "sector specific measures" past October 22, and not just for public transport, shops and hospitals.

Similar comments were made by Tanaiste and former General Practitioner Leo Varadkar, who said there is always the possibility of restrictions being reintroduced, but the aim is to "get through winter without having to do that".
An Taoiseach Micheal Martin has confirmed that Ireland will be among 80 countries that will agree to sign a methane emission reduction pledge.

The Fianna Fail leader explained: "We will contribute globally to a global reduction. Its a global pledge, its not country-specific."

"We will develop our climate action plan which will give our specifics in respect of each sector."

A great deal of the world's methane emissions comes from agriculture.

It is estimated that methane gases are responsible for approximately 30 per cent of global warming.

The summit, the full title of which is the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the 26th Conference of Parties(COP26), is also expected to bear witness to an agreement later today to halt deforestation by 2030.

It is proposed that richer countries will pay poorer or developing ones to halt the clearing of forests for activities such as agriculture and mining.

Highlights so far:

A number of developments have taken place so far at the COP26 summit, which is currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres drew attention to melting glaciers, relentless extreme weather events, sea level rise and overheating oceans, warning: "We are digging our own graves."

Meanwhile, a video clip has gone viral that appears to show US President Joe Biden Biden falling asleep while the speaker says the future of humanity is at stake.

US President Joe Biden appears to doze off while waiting to give a speech at #COP26 on Monday.



Read more here: https://t.co/CnFFIZpSxB pic.twitter.com/RYLkHqtKMT  Sky News (@SkyNews) November 2, 2021

Veteran broadcaster and impassioned climate activist David Attenborough also called on world leaders to take action, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was criticised after he was spotted not wearing a face mask while sitting beside the 95-year-old.

If you cant bring yourself to wear a mask while sitting next to 95 year old David Attenborough, how can you say that you actually care about other people? @BorisJohnson you really should be ashamed of yourself pic.twitter.com/CCpyu0kVEa  Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) November 1, 2021

The summit has also faced some scathing criticism in recent days: youth climate activist Greta Thunberg has lambasted world leaders in attendance at the event, telling protestors near the River Clyde, which flows through Glasgow: "Change is not going to come from inside there  that is not leadership, this is leadership."

"We say no more blah blah blah, no more exploitation of people and nature and the planet. No more exploitation. No more blah blah blah. No more whatever the f**k they are doing inside there," she added.

In addition, the summit has been criticised after Israel's Minister for Energy, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, claimed that she was unable to properly enter the summit as it was inaccessible to her.
Social Democrats TD, Holly Cairns has launched a Bill today that would extend maternity, adoptive, and paternity leave to county and city councillors.

Holly Cairns said if we want to increase the number of women in politics then we must introduce maternity leave for councillors on local authorities as an important first step.

Speaking at the launch this morning, she said the Bill would 'bring some long-overdue reform to local politics and try to ensure that women, and men, are not deterred from a career in local politics because of the constraints it puts on family and personal life'.

24% of councillors in Ireland are women.

"If we ever want to substantially increase this proportion, then we must make changes to make a career in politics a more attractive prospect for women. The bare minimum required, in this regard, is maternity leave." added Deputy Cairns.

Women make up less than a quarter of TDs in the Dail and less than a quarter of councillors on local authorities across the country.



If we want to increase the number of women in politics then we need to identify the barriers to female participation and work to remove them. November 2, 2021

She said many political careers are launched in the local political arena  but the lack of maternity leave acts as a limiting factor for women and a barrier to their participation in public life.

It also denies the country of the representation of strong female political candidates, many of whom feel unable to progress a career in politics because of structural barriers that are placed in their way, according to the Deputy.

"Currently, female councillors must obtain a resolution of a local authority in order to avail of leave when they give birth. In 2021, it is bizarre that a reformed system of maternity leave, and other family leave, is not yet available to councillors. My Bill would ensure that leave is an entitlement  which does not require a resolution to be passed." she said.

Deputy Cairns hopes the government will support the Bill and says it is time to stop playing lip service to gender equality and act.

"Every political party claims to want more women in Irish public life, but no government party has yet acted decisively to make maternity leave a reality." she said.
Aldis highly anticipated Newbridge store opens Thursday, November 18. We caught up with Store Manager Dermot Magan to talk about his role with Aldi and to find out what we can expect from the new store.

Can you tell me about your career with Aldi?

Ive been working with Aldi for 10 years now, starting my career as a Store Assistant. They are a great company to work for. Aldi is Irelands highest paying supermarket, with store assistants starting on 12.30 an hour, rising to 14.30 an hour.

Ive worked in many of Aldis Kildare stores, including Celbridge, Clane and now Newbridge. I also have experience in stores across the border in Dublin.

Im hugely proud to be opening and managing Aldis Newbridge store, our ninth in Kildare. We have a great team here and I know how much value the store will bring to the local community.

What can shoppers expect at the new store?

Shoppers can look forward to a fantastic shopping experience in an environmentally friendly store featuring Aldis award-winning Project Fresh design. The 1,140sqm store will also provide 72 free car parking spaces, 10 bicycle rack stands and four electric vehicle charging points for customers.

We will offer shoppers fresh, quality products at unbeatable prices that our competitors cant match. We understand price is hugely important for shoppers and Aldi is always seeking to offer more value and savings.

Shoppers can rest assured that our staff are here to help. Irish shoppers recently voted Aldi as the supermarket with the best customer experience in Ireland.*

How does Aldi support local?

All Aldi stores go beyond serving shoppers, with staff getting deeply involved in their local communities. Aldi Newbridge will be supporting Kildare charities through our Community Grants fund and through our FoodCloud partnership, donating surplus food daily to local charities.

Aldi also supports local food and drink producers. In 2020 we spent 30 million with our 14 Kildare suppliers.

Newbridge will be our 149th store in Ireland and we open Thursday, November 18 on Moorefield Road. Our opening hours are:

Monday to Friday: 9am  10pm

Saturday and Sunday: 9am  9pm

*Sponsored Content
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced last night that the booster shots for Healthcare workers have been approved.

Mr. Donnelly said that the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has advised the use of the Pfizer & Moderna vaccines and can be used regardless of the initial vaccine course.

Mr. Donnelly said he had asked the HSE some time ago to prepare a programme for the rollout.

The vaccines will be administered this weekend to around 270,000 frontline health staff.

Booster vaccines for our healthcare workers will begin to be administered within a few days. Ive been working to ensure @HSELive were ready to roll out this extra level of protection as quickly as possible once we had the clinical advice from NIAC. pic.twitter.com/r3OLNYbFSd  Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) November 1, 2021

Minister Donnelly said:

"I received the NIAC advice just in the last few hours.

"We've been working hard with the HSE in the background to be ready should we receive this advice.

"In further good news, the HSE advises that it believes it will be ready to begin administering these booster vaccines to healthcare workers this coming weekend."

Up to 3,500 health staff are currently absent from work because of Covid-related illnesses.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), has said:

The INMO welcomes that the decision to extend vaccine boosters to healthcare workers.

This decision was made later than we would have liked. We now need to see a rapid rollout of the vaccine boosters to healthcare workers to make up for lost time. The vaccine supply and capacity to do so is there.

A lot needs to happen now to keep our hospitals safe for the winter. We can see from todays trolley figures and the number of healthcare workers who are on COVID-related leave that unless the Minister for Health and the HSE produce a credible winter plan that our hospitals will be in a bad place this winter.
A NEW plan would deliver a 25% increase in rural bus services for Limerick

Deputy Brian Leddin welcomed the proposal in the National Transport Authoritys Connecting Ireland plan.

"The plans involve a new two-hourly service from Limerick to Kilkenny; a new 30 minute frequency between Limerick and Abbeyfeale, Cork and Galway, and an hourly frequency to Waterford, Killarney and Tralee.

"The service serving Newport, Doon and Cappamore will be extended to serve Cashel, and villages such as Tournafulla, Athea and Mountcollins, which were not served by a timetabled bus route before, will now get three timetabled services a day," said Deputy Leddin.

The Green Party TD noted said this is a "radical increase in rural public transport".

"Its an increase that the Green Party fought very hard for in negotiations to enter government. In reality however, its only the first step. Rural public transport has been neglected for too long: it is often assumed that everyone in rural Ireland owns a car, but in reality in villages like Castleconnell and Caherconlish in my own constituency, 14% of households do not have a car.

"It is great to see that so many villages in the county that previously did not have a bus service will now have a service that enables them to get into Limerick City for 9am, to return home some time after 5pm, and a midday service.

"We need these services implemented but ultimately we need to move to an 'every village, every hour' approach like in Germany and Switzerland where every rural village has an hourly bus service between 6am and midnight. This will be vital not only to serve households who do not have a car, but to encourage people out of their cars to reduce our transport emissions in the context of the climate crisis," said Deputy Leddin.

A public consultation will take place starting now and ending in the middle of December.

"Id encourage people living in rural areas of Limerick and Tipperary to have a look at the proposals and to tell the NTA whether they think the proposals will work for their village or town," he concluded.
FOR a young man to drive at twice the speed limit while drunk and without insurance or a driving licence is frightening, a judge has said.

Liam Mitchell, aged 22, of Reenavangh, Doon pleaded guilty to all offences at Kilmallock Court last week.

Inspector Pat Brennan said at 3.15pm on July 11, 2021, gardai were conducting a speed checkpoint on the Main Street of Cappamore.

The defendant was driving at 98kmph in a 50km zone. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. He admitted to gardai he didnt have insurance or a driving licence, said Insp Brennan, who outlined that Mr Mitchell has a number of previous convictions including for criminal damage and arson.

Tom Kiely, solicitor for the defendant, said Mr Mitchell is not under any illusions of the possible consequences for his actions on the day.

He is very disappointed with himself. He made admissions to gardai and co-operated fully when he was stopped.

He has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, said Mr Kiely.

The solicitor said Mr Mitchell previously got a six month sentence.

He has got a taste of prison and doesnt want to go back. He is working and his employer is aware, said Mr Kiely, who handed in a letter to Judge Patricia Harney from Mr Mitchells employer which speaks positively of him.

He is a contributing member of society. He continues to struggle with an addiction on a daily basis. There is no excuse for his driving, said Mr Kiely, who appealed to the judge to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Harney said driving at twice the legal speed limit was, to put it bluntly, frightening.

For drink driving she fined Mr Mitchell 1,000 and disqualified him from driving for 10 years. Judge Harney imposed a three month suspended sentence for no driving licence; 750 fine and 10 year disqualification.

Mr Mitchell also received a 10 year disqualification for no insurance.

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
THE number of electric cars sold in Limerick during the first ten months of this years was more than double the number sold during the same period last year.

According to new data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), 229 new electric cars were registered in Limerick between January and the end of October. This compares to 91 during the same period in 2020 and means that electric cars now account for more than 6% of all new cars sold in Limerick.

In contrast, there has been a year-on-year decline in sales of new diesel (-13.05%) and petrol (-10.05%) cars across the city and county.

While sales of new cars in Limerick, across all categories, are up by more than 8% so far this year, there was a year-on-year and month-on-month reduction during October.

A total of 57 new cars were sold in Limerick during the month - down from 68 in October 2020. As of the end of last month, a total of 3,438 new cars had been registered in Limerick during 2021.

According to the figures, the five most popular make of model of car sold in Limerick so far this remains unchanged. They are: Hyundai Tucson (171), Toyota Corolla (168), Toyota Yaris (112), Ford Kuga (109) and Ford Focus (104).

Commenting on the latest figures, SIMI Director General Brian Cooke said: "With Climate Change at the forefront of everyones minds, it is hugely positive to see the year-on-year growth in the sales of both electric and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. This is a result of the Motor Industry providing a greater selection of low emitting cars combining with the Governments support in terms of incentives, giving motorists wider and more affordable choices."

Looking ahead to 2022, Mr Cooke added: "Looking forward to 2022 and beyond, it is vital that the current Government supports for electric vehicles are extended out until 2025, along with State and private investment in a countrywide charging infrastructure. If we want to rapidly electrify the Irish car and commercial fleet the industry and Government must work together to give consumers real choice. The industry can provide solutions by supplying more and more electric vehicles as the decade progresses; the consumer also needs the Government to continue its support, to help them make the transition.
BENGALURU : One97 Communications Ltd, the company that runs the Paytm payments service, is set to raise $1.1 billion from anchor investors as part of Indias largest initial public offering, three people aware of the discussions said.

BlackRock Inc., Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and GIC Pte, along with other sovereign wealth funds, are likely to come in as anchor investors, one of the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

Anchor investors are offered a part of the shares reserved for qualified institutional buyers a day before the IPO opens for subscription to the public, but they cant sell their shares until 30 days after the listing.

Mint reported on 7 October that Singapores GIC and BlackRock were in talks with Paytm to participate as a part of its anchor round of investments. Other investors in talks with Paytm include sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the report said.

The companys anchor round is expected to be closed on 3 November. Some other established investors are expected to make their first investment in India by participating in Paytms public offering. The investment will be made through their tech-focused funds," a second person said, also requesting anonymity.

Paytm increased its issue size to 18,300 crore from 16,600 crore earlier last month.

The issue will include the sale of new shares worth 8,300 crore, with existing investors selling another 10,000 crore worth of shares as part of the increased IPO size. Roughly half of the offer for sale (almost 5,000 crore) by existing shareholders will be by Paytms biggest investor Ant Financial, which currently owns 29.6% of the company.

The company has set the price band at 2,080- 2,150 per share, and it will remain open for subscription during 8-10 November.

There are a number of investors who want to subscribe to our entire anchor portion [...] We have money in the bank and are getting more customers and merchants at lower costs. We are positive that we will attract long-term shareholders and investors who will understand that the real value in Paytm is not about quarter-on-quarter profit delivery but on the long term change it brings," said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder, chairman and managing director, One97 Communications Ltd, in a 29 October interview.

The news around Paytms increased IPO size comes at a time when the company has decided against its 2,000 crore pre-IPO fundraising.

Indias market for first-time share sales is surging on debuts of tech firms, including Zomato Ltd that raised $1.3 billion. Among startups, beauty marketplace Nykaas IPO opened on 28 October, and financial marketplace PB Fintech Ltds public issue opened on 1 November.

Paytm plans to use 4,300 crore of the IPO proceeds to grow its existing business lines and acquire new merchants and customers. It has no immediate plans to invest in overseas markets. International is something we will be focusing on, once we feel the India market is matured enough," Sharma said.

Led by Sharma, Paytm has expanded beyond digital payments into banking, credit cards, financial services and wealth management. It also supports Indias financial payments backbone, the Unified Payments Interface or UPI.

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Humans have been battling viruses since before our species had even evolved into its modern form. For some viral diseases, vaccines and antiviral drugs have allowed us to keep infections from spreading widely, and have helped sick people recover. For one disease  smallpox  we've been able to eradicate it, ridding the world of new cases.

But we're a long way from winning the fight against viruses. In recent decades, several viruses have jumped from animals to humans and triggered sizable outbreaks, claiming thousands of lives. The viral strain that drove the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa kills up to 90% of the people it infects, making it the most lethal member of the Ebola family .

Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history

But there are other viruses out there that are equally deadly, and some that are even deadlier. Some viruses, including the novel coronavirus currently driving outbreaks around the globe, have lower fatality rates, but still pose a serious threat to public health as we don't yet have the means to combat them.

Here are the 12 worst killers, based on the likelihood that a person will die if they are infected with one of them, the sheer numbers of people they have killed, and whether they represent a growing threat.

Marburg virus

The Marburg virus causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates. (Image credit: ROGER HARRIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images)

Scientists first identified the Marburg virus in 1967, when small outbreaks occurred among lab workers in Germany who were exposed to infected monkeys imported from Uganda, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Marburg virus symptoms are similar to Ebola in that both viruses can cause hemorrhagic fever, meaning that infected people develop high fevers, and bleeding throughout the body that can lead to shock, organ failure and death, according to Mayo Clinic.

The case fatality rate in the first outbreak (1967) was 24%, but it was 83% in the 1998-2000 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 100% in the 2017 outbreak in Uganda, according to the WHO.

The first known Marburg virus outbreak in West Africa was confirmed in August 2021. The case was a male from south-western Guinea, who developed a fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and gingival hemorrhage. This outbreak lasted for six weeks and, while there were 170 high-risk contacts, only one case was confirmed, according to Reuters.

Ebola virus

Microscopic image of an Ebola virus (Image credit: Shutterstock)

The first known Ebola outbreaks in humans struck simultaneously in the Republic of the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. Ebola is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids, or tissue from infected people or animals. The known strains vary dramatically in their deadliness, Elke Muhlberger, an Ebola virus expert and associate professor of microbiology at Boston University, told Live Science.

One strain, Ebola Reston, doesn't even make people sick, according to Essential Human Virology (2016). But for the Bundibugyo strain, the fatality rate is up to 50%, and it is up to 71% for the Sudan strain.

The outbreak underway in West Africa began in early 2014, and is the largest and most complex outbreak of the disease to date, according to WHO.

In December 2020, the Ervebo vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration. This vaccine helps to defend against the Zaire ebola virus and a global stockpile became available from January 2021.

Rabies

This image of the rabies virus, taken through an electron microscope, shows particles of the virus itself, as well as the round structures called Negri bodies, which contain viral proteins. (Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Fred Murphy)

Although rabies vaccines for pets  introduced in the 1920s  have helped make the disease exceedingly rare in the developed world, this condition remains a serious problem in India and parts of Africa.

Infection from this virus develops after a bite or scratch from an infected animal. This can result in damage to the brain and nerves. Once symptoms begin to show, death almost always follows, according to the National Health Service (NHS).

"It destroys the brain, it's a really, really bad disease," Muhlberger said. "We have a vaccine against rabies, and we have antibodies that work against rabies, so if someone gets bitten by a rabid animal we can treat this person," she said.

However, she said, "if you don't get treatment, there's a 100% possibility you will die."

HIV

This scanning electron microscope image shows the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, in green), infecting a cell. (Image credit: Cynthia Goldsmith, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

In the modern world, the deadliest virus of all may be HIV. "It is still the one that is the biggest killer," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and spokesman for the Infectious Disease Society of America.

An estimated 32 million people have died from HIV since the disease was first recognized in the early 1980s. "The infectious disease that takes the biggest toll on mankind right now is HIV," Adalja said.

Powerful antiviral drugs have made it possible for people to live for years with HIV . But the disease continues to devastate many low- and middle-income countries, where 95% of new HIV infections occur.

Nearly 1 in every 25 adults within the WHO African region is HIV-positive, meaning that there are over two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide, according to the WHO. In 2020, there were 680,000 HIV-related deaths worldwide.

Smallpox

Illustration of a smallpox virus (Image credit: Getty)

In 1980, the World Health Assembly declared the world free of smallpox. But before that, humans battled smallpox for thousands of years, and the disease killed about 1 in 3 of those it infected, according to the BBC. It left survivors with deep, permanent scars and, often, blindness.

Mortality rates were far higher in populations outside of Europe, where people had little contact with the virus before visitors brought it to their regions. For example, historians estimate 90% of the native population of the Americas died from smallpox introduced by European explorers. In the 20th century alone, smallpox killed 300 million people, the BBC reported.

"It was something that had a huge burden on the planet, not just death but also blindness, and that's what spurred the campaign to eradicate from the Earth," Adalja said.

Hantavirus

The hantavirus caused an outbreak in November 1993, in the Four Corners region of the U.S. (Image credit: Getty)

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) first gained wide attention in the U.S. in 1993, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A healthy, young Navajo man and his fiancee living in the Four Corners area of the United States died within days of developing shortness of breath. A few months later, health authorities isolated hantavirus from a deer mouse living in the home of one of the infected people. More than 600 people in the U.S. have now contracted HPS, and 36% have died from the disease, according to the CDC.

The virus is not transmitted from one person to another, rather, people contract the disease from exposure to the droppings of infected mice.

Previously, a different hantavirus caused an outbreak in the early 1950s, during the Korean War, according to a 2010 paper in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews. More than 3,000 United Nations troops became infected, and about 12% of them died.

While the virus was new to Western medicine when it was discovered in the U.S., researchers realized later that Navajo medical traditions describe a similar illness, and linked the disease to mice.

Influenza

This digitally-colorized image shows the H1N1 influenza virus under a transmission electron microscope. In 2009, this virus (then called the swine flu) caused a pandemic, and is thought to have killed 200,00 people worldwide. (Image credit: National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID))

During a typical flu season, up to 650,000 people worldwide will die from the illness, according to WHO. But occasionally, when a new flu strain emerges, a pandemic results with a faster spread of disease and, often, higher mortality rates.

The most deadly flu pandemic, sometimes called the Spanish flu, began in 1918 and sickened up to 40% of the world's population, killing an estimated 50 million people, according to CDC.

"I think that it is possible that something like the 1918 flu outbreak could occur again," Muhlberger said. "If a new influenza strain found its way in the human population, and could be transmitted easily between humans, and caused severe illness, we would have a big problem."

Dengue

Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. (Image credit: Getty)

Dengue virus first appeared in the 1950s in the Philippines and Thailand, and has since spread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe, according to Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Up to 40% of the world's population now lives in areas where dengue is endemic and the disease, according to the journal Nature  with the mosquitoes that carry it  is likely to spread farther as the world warms.

Dengue sickens 100 to 400 million people a year, according to WHO. Although the mortality rate for dengue fever is lower than some other viruses, at around 1%, the virus can cause an Ebola-like disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever, and that condition has a mortality rate of 20% if left untreated. "We really need to think more about dengue virus because it is a real threat to us," Muhlberger said.

A vaccine for Dengue was approved in 2019 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children 9-16 years old living in an areas where dengue is common and with a confirmed history of virus infection, according to the CDC . In some countries, an approved vaccine is available for those 9-45 years old, but again, recipients must have contracted a confirmed case of dengue in the past. Those who have not caught the virus before could be put at risk of developing severe dengue if given the vaccine.

Rotavirus

Rotaviruses particles are shown here under a very high magnification of 455,882X. (Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Erskine L. Palmer)

Two vaccines are now available to protect children from rotavirus, the leading cause of severe diarrheal illness among babies and young children. The virus can spread rapidly, through what researchers call the fecal-oral route (meaning that small particles of feces end up being consumed).

Although children in the developed world rarely die from rotavirus infection, the disease is a killer in the developing world, where rehydration treatments are not widely available.

The WHO estimates that worldwide, there are more than 25 million outpatient visits and two million hospitalizations each year due to rotavirus infections. Countries that have introduced the vaccine have reported sharp declines in rotavirus hospitalizations and deaths.

SARS-CoV

(Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Fred Murphy)

The virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, was first identified in 2003 during an outbreak in China, according to the WHO . The virus likely emerged in bats initially, then hopped into nocturnal mammals called civets before finally infecting humans, according to the Journal of Virology. After triggering an outbreak in China, SARS spread to 26 countries around the world, infecting more than 8000 people and killing more than 770 over the course of several months, according to History.com.

The disease causes fever, chills and body aches, and often progresses to pneumonia, a severe condition in which the lungs become inflamed and fill with pus. SARS has an estimated mortality rate of 9.6%, however, no new cases of SARS have been reported since the early 2000s, according to the CDC .

SARS-CoV-2

This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the US. (Image credit: NIAID-RML)

SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the same large family of viruses as SARS-CoV, known as coronaviruses , and was first identified in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus may have originated in bats and passed through an intermediate animal before infecting people, according to Nature.

The initial outbreak prompted an extensive quarantine of Wuhan and nearby cities, restrictions on travel to and from affected countries and a worldwide effort to develop diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. Since its appearance, the virus has caused over four million deaths worldwide.

The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, called COVID-19, poses a higher risk to people who have underlying health conditions, according to WHO. Common symptoms include fever, cough, loss of taste or smell and shortness of breath and more serious symptoms include breathing difficulties, chest pain and loss of mobility.

On Aug. 23, 2021 the U.S. Food and Drug administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, called Pfizer-BioNTech. In December 2020, this vaccine became the first to be approved after a large clinical trial, according to Nature.

MERS-CoV

An illustration of the MERS virus, a type of coronavirus. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

The virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, sparked an outbreak in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and another in South Korea in 2015. The MERS virus belongs to the same family of viruses as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. According to WHO, the disease infected camels before passing into humans and can trigger fever, coughing and shortness of breath in infected people.

MERS, which is most common in the Middle East, often progresses to severe pneumonia and has an estimated mortality rate of around 35%. There is no vaccine available to prevent this disease, according to the NHS. The best way to reduce the chances of infection is to wash hands regularly, avoid contact with camels and not consume products containing raw animal milk.

Originally published on Live Science.
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Argentine writer-director Andrew Sala (Pantanal) brings his new film The Barbaric to the highly competitive Works in Progress section of Sanfic Industria, and brings with it a heavy contender filled with violence, secrets and the echoes of power. In The Barbaric, Nacho leaves an abusive mother in the city to live and work with his estranged father on his cattle ranch in the Pampas plains. Once there, he must learn to find his way within a world of hidden histories and damning lineages.

Ignacio Quesada (The Nights Belong to Monsters, Puerta 7) stars in the film alongside Marcelo Subiotto (The Crimes that Bind, Ciegos) and rising talent Tamara Rocca  Rocca starred in Agustina San Martins debut To Kill the Beast, which featured at Guadalajara earlier this year. The Barbaric is a co-production between Le Tiro Cine and Nevada Cine.

Variety spoke with Sala ahead of the films Sanfic Industria premiere.

A powerful theme in The Barbaric is the loss of innocence. What about that theme drew you to this project?

I had to take control of a cow-breeding ranch my mother has in the Pampas (and where half of the film was shot). Seven years ago, I was a filmmaker from Buenos Aires, politically progressive and well intentioned and all of a sudden I found myself as the boss of this ranch where social differences and naturalized violence ruled. At first, I wanted to change the way things worked, but was overwhelmed by contradictions, I made mistakes and found out that my good intentions only caused instability and suspicion. I started to question what was right and wrong. Is accepting the injustice and violence of the world part of growing up?

But thinking deeper I soon realized this is not something circumscribed to ranches and rural areas, but something everywhere. In Buenos Aires, thousands of people walk down the streets ignoring homeless, starving children, and weve naturalized this completely. So in a way this sense of loss of innocence that I was going through impregnated the whole film.

The film deals with family, class, and power through the structure of the cattle ranch. How did the setting help with these themes?

Most cattle ranches originate in the Conquest of the Desert name given to the genocide of Argentinas native population 150 years ago. Military men who fought against the native population were given huge pieces of land in exchange for their service, and settlers of European descent took this recently unoccupied land. The estancias were passed down from generation to generation, to this day.

Civilization and barbarism is a classic antinomy in Argentine history, going all the way back to Americas conquest and the subsequent extermination of the native population in military campaigns. The pro-European elite of the countrys capital, Buenos Aires, would identify civilization with the city, with the urban, with what was in contact with the European. In the rural countryside, the boss with European roots also tried to differentiate himself from the natives and gauchos. The former called themselves civilized, the latter were the wake of barbarism. In order to exterminate and subjugate the barbaric, the armies and pioneers representing the civilized world used gunpowder and terror. They spilled blood all over the desert.

Medical procedures, injury, and death are commonplace on a ranch, and you chose to show several procedures as they are performed  without hiding the reality. What informed this decision?

I needed the audience to see how the rural workers castrate a calf like its the most natural thing on earth, while audience members from the city have to close their eyes when faced with such violence. I strive for realness in film. So it was very important to show how it is to live and work in Argentinas rural pampas. This is why the film was shot on a real cow breeding ranch, and the work with cattle is shown almost in a documentary-style way. For this same reason, we mixed professional actors with non-actors and we distanced the universe of the film from certain preconceived notions and stereotypes about the pampas and their inhabitants. We avoided folkloric idealizations and quaintness, and instead we made a point in showing a contemporary rural environment, where traditional elements coexist with contemporary ones, particularly in the choice of location, the objects characters use, wardrobe and, especially, the way the characters speak.

The final scene has Nacho making an important choice, and then ends with the same pose as the photo he was infatuated with in the ranch house. What is the significance of this shot?

When Nacho first sees this photo, his father comes up and says that his own father used to ask him the question about what was this first Risdale thinking at the moment the picture was taken, like a question passed down from generation to generation. I wanted the spectator to have that same question in mind in the final scene: What is Nacho thinking? And thats where the title of the film comes in. Nacho, in that final shot in front of his father, finally understands the extent of barbarism; the dominance of a patriarchal society is intact.

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Megaton Entertainment, an indie distribution and film sales firm, has picked up a pair of titles from Hong Kong production entities AMM Entertainment and Phoenix Waters. It is launching them at the American Film Market (AFM) this week.

Megaton is pre-selling Chungking Mansions, which it bills as the biggest zombie film in Hong Kong cinema history, and also as  The Raid with zombies. Directed by banker turned producer and director Bizhan Tong (The Escort), the film tracks a diverse group of people who, following a zombie attack, try to break into Chungking Mansions.

The building was made famous in Wong Kar-wais Chungking Express and is possibly the richest cultural melting pot in the predominantly Chinese city. Wong is reputed to have called it a mass-populated and hyperactive place.

Currently in pre-production, the film is set to employ a suitably diverse cast including: Japans Rina Takeda (Attack on Titan); Koreas Go Joonhee (Possessed Intimate Enemies); Desmond Tan (Code of Law The Big Day); Hong Kongs Wiyona Yeung (Keep Rolling, Guilty By Design), Singapores Rebecca Lim (100 Yards); Charlotte Cheung (Deception of the Novelist); and Kevin Leslie (Rise of the Drays).

There will be further strong Hong Kong cast attachments in the coming weeks, Megaton manager, Gilky Wan told Variety.

Megaton is also pitching Lockdown, a pandemic-era thriller in which an actor must keep passing devious tests set by a casting director in order to keep the people around him alive. As events escalate and more people are trapped the actor must confront his past, overcome his present, and find out why events are happening.

The eclectic cast includes Xander Berkeley (The Walking Dead), John Savage (The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone), Hong Kong actress Anita Chui (OCTB), Reza Diako (Apple TV Pluss Tehran), Jumayn Hunter (Small Axe: Mangrove), Alix Wilton Regan (Cyberpunk 2077, The Wife), Kevin Leslie (The Rise of the Krays), Pamela Nomvete (Gangs of London). Other roles go to film production executive Mike Leeder and Japanese adult film star Meguri.

Tong has been handed the keys to a unit of Asia Television, previously Hong Kongs number two free-to-air broadcaster, and has created AMM Global as a content studio within it. Its output to date has been co-produced with another Tong company Phoenix Waters, which recently got into bed with a crypto firm.

Headed by industry veteran Wan, Megaton has also been involved in supplying alternative forms of cinema content, such as live simultaneous broadcast of K-pop concerts.

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An attorney for Danny Mastersons accusers argued on Tuesday that they should not have to take their civil claims to a religious arbitration proceeding run by the Church of Scientology.

Masterson, a longtime member of the church, is awaiting a criminal trial on multiple rape charges that could send him to prison for 45 years to life. His accusers have also sued the church, alleging that its agents stalked and harassed them in retaliation for reporting Masterson to the LAPD.

Last December, however, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted the churchs motion to refer the lawsuit to religious arbitration, upholding an agreement the plaintiffs had signed when they joined the church decades earlier.

Their attorney, Marci Hamilton, appealed the ruling, and the case was heard on Tuesday before a three-judge panel of Californias Second District Court of Appeal. Hamilton argued that her clients have left the church and therefore cannot be coerced into participating in the churchs arbitration proceeding.

This would be traumatizing for my clients, Hamilton told the judges. It would violate their First Amendment, absolute right to believe and practice whatever religion they choose and to escape the religion they do not want to be a part of.

William Forman, an attorney for the church, countered that the arbitration agreement is an important condition of joining the church and receiving religious services, and ought to be upheld.

It is a covenant with the church, he argued. That is how we accept people into the church.

Forman said the proceeding itself would not be a religious ritual, and that the proceeding would be neutral. Hamilton, however, argued that the proceeding would be one-sided, and that it is inherently a part of the churchs religious practice.

The position of respondents is that you cant leave a faith, she argued.

The three justices asked questions, with some appearing to show some deference toward the churchs position. Justice Lamar Baker suggested the case was not ripe because the proceeding had not happened yet, and suggested that the plaintiffs return to the court if the arbitration turned out to violate their free exercise rights.

For all we know, this arbitration could go off to a T, like any other arbitration before any other arbitration provider, Baker said. Right now, this seems speculative.

Mastersons attorney, Andrew Brettler, attended the hearing but did not address the court. The justices are expected to issue a ruling in the coming months.

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Wind whipped and dressed in vibrant wool ponchos with feathered fedoras, the subjects of Joe Houlbergs Sanfic WIP documentary Ozogoche seem possible only in a Miyazaki storyboard, yet they persist: Don Feliciano and his family belong to the indigenous Kichwa community of Ecuador. The doc observes the lead-up to their annual combing of the Ozogoche beaches, where the Cuvivi, migratory birds from North America, end their long journey dive bombing the lagoons in apparent suicide.

The land, people and birds of Ozogoche serve as rich loam for allegory as the film progresses, with space enough to absorb the difficult reality their traditions face. Ozogoche is a co-production spanning Latin America, presented at Baficis Buenos Aires Lab in Argentina, Red EDOC in Ecuador, Nuevas Mirada in Cuba and Guadalajaras Co-Production Meeting in Mexico.

Variety spoke to Houlberg ahead of the films Sanfic Industria premiere.

Ozogoche has many shots of candid conversation between family. How did you become so invisible as to capture those moments?

Im glad you noticed and mentioned this. For us, to be invisible, or better said intimate and close, was one of the most important and difficult things to accomplish. Although we are all from the same country (the crew and characters portrayed), there is a big cultural gap that we had to erase for all of us to feel as a family in the same space and separate from any exotic point of view. The result is a process of four years of traveling to Ozogoche and getting to know the family we portray and the community. It would be impossible to make this film in one year or one trip. These days we are all really good friends and we are always welcomed as family. I even became the godfather of Sisa, the main character, Felicianos granddaughter. To be able to be in the same small room with the people and with the crew and having them perform their daily routines and conversations is for me the heart of the film.

There are contrasts of traditional music and modern pop music throughout the film. Can you speak about the music choices in the film?

I believe the music, at this stage, is something that has just happened in a diegetic manner. It is something we are still thinking about for when we enter the post-production stage, and also something of huge importance for me. But I like music to appear as the movie is making itself. I might sometimes use some referential music for a cut, but no more than that.

The clothing of the families in the film are vibrant and colorful, contrasting the drab and washed out backdrops. How did color inform your direction in the film?

Again, glad you noticed it! The contrast between their traditional clothing and the space they inhabit is one of the first things that amazed me when I travelled there for the first time. In a way it is a survival necessity. The weather is so hostile and changing out there that if for any reason you get lost or injured, sight is the only way to find anyone. Also I think it is a reflection of how they are in their personalities. Again, although the weather and the conditions are so harsh up there, people are really joyful and generous and that I believe is reflected in their clothing. Besides that, for us, visually it is something that draws a path in our cinematic search and approach.

Much of Ozogoche speaks to what was, what will come to be, and what will be lost along the way. What about this message drew you to the project?

When you are up there in silence and just feeling the cold earth, it feels like time has stopped or that it just runs at a slower pace. At one point of this long process of making the movie I believed that the action that accompanied migration was the trip or traveling. But with time, I discovered that it is not about the journey, it is about the waiting, the static feeling of observing, letting time pass, letting memories disappear or reappear, letting people go and transform, letting the outside come and rearrange, letting the imagination take you to places or bring you the people, but not physically doing it.

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Annaatthe, the latest film from Indian superstar Rajinikanth, will receive a massive 1,193 screen release outside India, in addition to more than 1,000 screens at home.

The Tamil-language film, also being released in Telugu as Peddhanna, will release across 677 screens in the U.S., 17 in Canada, 110 in Malaysia, 23 in Singapore, 35 in the U.K., 43 across Europe, 85 in Australia and New Zealand, 117 in the United Arab Emirates and 86 in Sri Lanka.

The film is releasing over the Deepavali-Diwali holiday frame on Nov. 3 and 4. In Rajinikanths domiciled state of Tamil Nadu, the film is expected to release at more than 800 of the available 1,000 screens, with hundreds more across India. In North India and among Hindi-speaking audiences the main competition will be from Sooryavanshi, starring Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh.

Annaatthe is produced by Kalanithi Marans South Indian powerhouse Sun Pictures. It will be distributed in India by Sun and overseas by cinema technology and distribution group Qube.

The family drama also boasts a popular star cast including Nayanthara, Keerthy Suresh, Meena, Kushboo, Prakash Raj and Jagapathi Babu. It is directed by Siva, who has a string of hits starring Ajith Kumar behind him including Veeram, Vedalam, Vivegam and Viswasam. This will be Rajinikanths first release after 2020s Darbar.

In 2017, Rajinikanth formally announced his decision to join politics, but since then decided not to for health reasons. Last week, the actor collected the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Indias highest film honor. Following that he was hospitalized for carotid surgery and returned to his residence in Chennai on Monday.

Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth began his career in 1975 with the Tamil-language film Apoorva Raagangal. Since then he has starred in more than 160 films across Indian languages and attained cult status. Rajinikanth is a phenomenon among South Indian stars. His popularity includes fan bases in the U.S. and Japan. The release of each of his films is treated as a near-religious event by fans. Anticipating frenzied responses, cinemas lay on back-to-back shows at dawn in the first week of release.

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Up-and-coming Argentine production house Sewati Audiovisual has boarded Portraits, one of the most frightening titles pitching at this years Morbido Lab for genre projects within the framework of a rescheduled and in-person Sanfic Industria.

Sewati joins original Buenos Aires-based producers Latitud Audiovisual, co-founded in 2017 by Portraits director Gabriel Musco and Ezequiel de San Pio and Walter Ponte, both producers on the film, with the intention of creating quality audiovisual productions. Portraits is the companys second feature.

Portraits will be directed by Gabriel Musco, a graduate of the prestigious CIEVYC institute in Buenos Aires, who is quickly making a name for himself in the world of genre cinema after several impressive shorts  The Limits of Love, Therapy in the Time of Zombies among them  and his thrilling debut feature Dark Fears, about a kidnapping that takes an unexpected turn.

In Portraits, Clara Kovacic (Baires, The Crimes That Bind) plays a young woman who, after her husband dies in an accident, moves into an old apartment building hoping that a change of scenery will help her overcome the loss. Shortly after her arrival, a series of strange events begin to take place in and around her which make her suspect that the spirit of a former tenant is harassing her.

After raising her concerns with neighbors, she slowly uncovers a dark secret which is kept between the buildings walls and realizes the only way to save herself is to expose the truth of the past.

The entirety of the film takes place within the walls of a single old apartment building, think Spanish horror classic Rec, its hallways and common areas as well as the apartments of several tenants. In early concept art and a terrifying 90-second teaser the sets are dark and run-down with a palette dominated by several, if not quite 50, shades of grey. Large open spaces, high ceilings and a nouveau gothic aesthetic serve to enhance the looming presence of an aging building and the spirits which haunt it.

Sanfic and Morbido are now in their third year of collaboration, having started working together in August 2019, when the companies announced a collaborative venture which would see Grupo Morbido founder and CEO Pablo Guisa attend and participate in a genre-dedicated section of the Santiago International Film Festivals industry sidebar, Sanfic Industria. Later that year, the first ever Sanfic Morbido Fest prize was awarded to Pilar Diaz, producer of Florencia Duponts Aracne.

Portraits is one of six project titles pitching at this years Morbido Lab, where producers and filmmakers will receive guidance from Grupo Morbido founder and CEO Pablo Guisa, and be given access to potential co-producers, financiers, sales agents and platform reps.

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Laurie Snell, the estranged wife of Pennsylvania Senate candidate Sean Parnell, testified during a court hearing on Monday alleging that her husband strangled her, abused their children and told her to go get an abortion during the course of their marriage, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Parnell denies the allegations.

Her testimony, which alleged both verbal and physical abuse against her husband, took place during a hearing in Butler, Pennsylvania in child custody proceedings over their three children in their divorce case. She had previously sought temporary protective orders against Parnell in 2017 and 2018, though both were later expunged.

Former president Donald Trump endorsed Sean Parnell in September for his run in the Republican primary. Parnell is vying for Pennsylvanias open Senate seat in 2022 in whats shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested Senate races next year.

He tried to choke me out on a couch and I literally had to bite him, to escape him, she said at the hearing. He was strangling me. In another incident, she claimed Parnell slapped one of their children so hard that it left visible fingerprint-shaped welts. She also testified that he was verbally abusive. In another incident, she alleged he forced her out of their vehicle and told her to go get an abortion.

On Parnells campaign website, he states, I am pro-life, and will always vote to protect the unborn.

In a statement issued by his campaign in response to Snells testimony, Parnell denied the allegations and said he would present the truth to the court next week.

Let me emphatically state: I have never raised a hand in anger towards my wife or any of our three children, the statement said. What happened today in court was not justice, nor did it have any basis in fact or truth.

Parnell is one of several GOP candidates looking to replace incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey who is not seeking reelection in 2022.
A woman caught smuggling cocaine did not want to provide information to law enforcement about her recruiter out of fear, according to an arrest affidavit.

Felicia Aguilar was arrested on the charge of import and conspire to import the cocaine.

Aguilar arrived in a motor vehicle at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge on Oct. 29. She stated to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers that she was returning from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to her residence in Laredo. CBP officers referred her to secondary inspection.

At secondary, CBP officers said that an X-ray inspection of the vehicle revealed anomalies within the center console floor panel of the vehicle. CBP officers then discovered a non-factory compartment in the center console and extracted 10 bundles.

The bundles contained 26.80 pounds of cocaine worth about $364,800. CBP officers also discovered an aftermarket GPS tracking device concealed in the dashboard of the vehicle, according to court documents. Homeland Security Investigations responded to investigate the alleged smuggling attempt. Aguilar allegedly agreed to provide a post-arrest statement without an attorney present.

She stated she went to visit family in Nuevo Laredo at about 10:30 a.m. Aguilar added that during her visit, her cousin borrowed the car for about an hour to go to a store. The vehicle then remained in her possession the remainder of her stay in Nuevo Laredo, she told special agents.

Aguilar said her sister is the registered owner of the vehicle, but she added she is using it while making payments to her sister to purchase it, according to court documents.

Aguilar was asked who recruited her to smuggle the cocaine into the United States and how much she was being paid. Aguilar expressed concern and fear about providing that information and refused to do so, the affidavit states.
A man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his common-law wife over an argument about their child.

Marco Antonio Manrique, 27, was served with an arrest warrant on Friday charging him with assault, family violence.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Islamic State militants set off an explosion at the entrance to a military hospital in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least seven people, a senior Taliban official said. It was one of the most brazen IS attacks yet since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in the summer.

Among those killed were three women, a child, and three Taliban guards, said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Five attackers were also killed, he said, adding that Taliban guards prevented them from getting into the hospital. He said the attack was over within 15 minutes.
A man falsely told gardai he had pulled in to get petrol at a garage in Granard after being stopped over 20km from his home during Level 5 lockdown, a court has heard.

Garda Aiden Lenehan said he stopped Joseph and Nancy Lawrence, both of 110 MacEoin Park, Longford, on February 22, 2021 at Rathcronan, Granard just after 1pm.

He said Mr Lawrence told him the couple were after visiting a graveyard, something Garda Lenehan said be believed to be untrue.

Garda Lenehan said he was then told by the accused of how he had also been to a local garage to get petrol.

I went out (to the garage) and checked CCTV, but there was no evidence he (Mr Lawrence) got petrol, said Garda Lenehan.

In defence, solicitor Frank Gearty said his clients were a young married couple with four chidren, all of whom were under the age of 10.

He said Ms Lawrence had moved from Dublin to Longford where she settled down.

Mr Gearty said the reason his clients were in Granard that day was to visit a grave of a family relative at nearby Granardkill Cemetery.

Garda Lenehan again disputed those version of events and rejected for a second time claims the pair had also visited a nearby filling station.

I looked at the fuel dial on the car and it was low, he said.

I checked out the CCTV and he (Mr Lawrence) didn't pull into the garage.

Judge John Brennan in giving his view of what had occurred, said an aggravating factor was how Mr Lawrence chose not to address the issue when given an opportunity to do so by Garda Lenehan.

In mitigation, Mr Gearty said Ms Lawrence had since managed to secure a job and accepted the incident was one which should have been avoided.

He asked the court to adopt as lenient an approach as possible and said a possible extenuating factor was that the pair had chosen to travel only as far as Granard and not left the county.

Judge Brennan said the incident would have been lessened somewhat had Mr Lawrence just told the truth as he complimented Garda Lenehan on his ability to get to the bottom of the matter so swiftly.

He fined Mr Lawrence 300 and Ms Lawrence 100 with both being given four months to pay.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: November 02 2021

Investigation also resulted in arrest of additional MS-13 gang members & associates.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron have announced the arrest of 12 individuals, including several MS-13 gang members and associates, for an alleged drug trafficking operation and conspiracy to traffic firearms in Suffolk County.

Our goal is to protect public safety by focusing on preventing violent crimes from occurring, which is why our strategy has been to collect intelligence and act on that information in real time to prevent gun violence and thwart murders, particularly at the hands of MS-13, District Attorney Sini said. This investigation had many different arcs, with alleged ties to drug dealing, gun trafficking and a murder conspiracy, but law enforcement painstakingly followed each lead and ultimately took down this criminal network.

Gang activity and gang violence almost always involve drug trafficking, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. Our investigations have taken us down numerous paths, but none more dangerous than those precipitated by gang-related crime. These arrests demonstrate law enforcement's quick and efficient ability to identify and dismantle this drug trafficking network that is responsible for furthering drug addiction and gun violence in our communities.

Our department must continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that MS-13 cannot reestablish itself in Suffolk County, Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron said. This investigation is not only critical to combating MS-13, but also in combating illicit drugs and illegal weapons in our communities, Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron said. I applaud the members of the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office and all the law enforcement agencies involved in these arrests.

The Suffolk County District Attorneys Office, DEA and SCPD began an investigation in June 2021 into the alleged sale of narcotics by or to MS-13 gang members. The investigation involved physical and electronic surveillance as well as court-authorized eavesdropping.

The investigation revealed evidence that the defendants would allegedly utilize bars and restaurants in the Brentwood and Central Islip areas to conduct drug sales in addition to delivering drugs to users houses or conducting deals in commercial parking lots throughout Commack, Hauppauge, Brentwood, Central Islip and Bay Shore. The defendants involved in the drug trafficking operation include Mauricio Velasquez, an alleged drug dealer and narcotics supplier to Leonel Padilla-Hernandez and Jonathan Feliciano-Ramos, who are alleged leaders of the local drug distribution network, as well as Robert Caro, their alleged supplier.

Padilla-Hernandez and Feliciano were allegedly involved in the trafficking of cocaine into Suffolk County from Puerto Rico. On Oct. 14, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York, law enforcement intercepted a package in Suffolk County containing a quarter kilogram of cocaine intended to be delivered to Padilla-Hernandez.

The investigation also revealed that Padilla-Hernandez allegedly offered to sell firearms to other MS-13 gang members in Suffolk County on several occasions, which would be supplied to him by Felipe Garcia-Martin.

Communications intercepted during the early stages of the investigation revealed evidence of an alleged conspiracy by several MS-13 gang members to commit a murder. On Aug. 13, law enforcement arrested Franklin Orellana Garcia, 36, of Hempstead, and Mario Mejia-Say, 42, of Hempstead, in connection with the murder conspiracy. Garcia and Mejia-Say are each charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony. Garcia is also charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, for allegedly conspiring to purchase a firearm to use in the murder.

In addition, law enforcement arrested Jose Saul Martinez Villalta, a/k/a Agresor, 24, of Huntington Station, on June 29 for allegedly illegally possessing a loaded handgun. He is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony; Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony.

Pursuant to the investigation, law enforcement executed search warrants yesterday and today at six locations in Brentwood, Bay Shore and Amityville as well as on eight vehicles allegedly used to transport narcotics and weapons. The investigation and search warrants resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals and the recovery of more than two kilograms of cocaine; five guns; $25,692 cash; quantities of pills, including methamphetamine and ecstasy; and various drug paraphernalia consistent with sales, including packaging materials, cutting agents and scales.

A search warrant was also executed on Oct. 26 at a room rented by Garcia-Martin at the Hilton Home2 Suites Hotel in New Brunswick, N.J., with assistance from the East Brunswick Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutors Office, which resulted in the recovery of a loaded .9 mm pistol. Garcia-Martin was arrested on Oct. 26 while traveling from New Jersey to Suffolk County.

Mauricio Velasquez, 45, of Brentwood, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Leonel Padilla-Hernandez, a/k/a Payaso, 30, of Brentwood, is charged with Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; and three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony. Padilla-Hernandez has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Brentwood Locotes Salvatrucha (BLS) clique of MS-13.

Jonathan Feliciano-Ramos, a/k/a Bori, 27, of Brentwood, is charged with Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Roberto Caro, 51, of Amityville, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Felipe Garcia-Martin, 50, of Bay Shore, is charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

The following defendants were also allegedly involved in the sale or possession of narcotics or the possession of weapons in Suffolk County:

Roger Arias-Delcid, 41, of Bay Shore, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony; and Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Arias-Delcid has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Stoner clique of MS-13.

Jimmy Flamenco, a/k/a Smokey, 38, of Bay Shore is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony. Flamenco has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the BLS clique of MS-13.

Ever Canales-Cruz, 38, of Bay Shore, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Junyor Rene Ramirez, 30, of Brentwood, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony; and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

James Gonzalez-Beniquez, 29, of North Amityville, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Cenia Velasquez, 24, of Brentwood, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, and Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Ana Cristelia Molina-Villatoro, 40, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

District Attorney Sini thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York, East Brunswick Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutors Office for their assistance with the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Christiana McSloy and Assistant District Attorney Melisa Bliss, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.
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(Alliance News) - Capita PLC said Tuesday it has agreed to sell its speciality insurance unit to Marco Capital Holdings Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

The midcap outsourcer said the sale will see it offload its Capita Commercial Insurance Services Ltd and Capita Managing Agency Ltd businesses.

CCIS provides outsourced business processes for the insurance industry across areas including underwriting support, while CMA provides regulatory approval and oversight to syndicates in the Lloyd's of London insurance market.

Capita said the sale of the non-core businesses will help to strengthen its balance sheet and allow the company to focus on its two core divisions, Capita Public Service and Capita Experience.

Chief Executive Jon Lewis said: "This is the seventh exit we have announced in the past 12 months. I am really pleased with this progress. Today is another step towards a more focused and sustainable business for the long term. Further progress on disposals will be announced as and when appropriate."

Capita continues to target GBP700 million of non-core disposals proceeds by June 2022.

Shares in Capita were 1.7% lower in London on Tuesday at 46.86 pence each.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







Legal & General Group PLC - London-based provider of investment management, life assurance and pension services - Hires Laura Wade-Gery as independent non-executive director, starting January 3. Wade-Gery was executive director of multi-channel at Marks & Spencer Group PLC and chief executive officer of Tesco.com and Tesco Direct at Tesco PLC, both retailers.







3i Group PLC - London-based private equity and venture capital - Dutch portfolio firm Action promotes Commercial Director Hajir Hajji to CEO, replacing Sander van der Laan. Hajji will become CEO of the non-food discount retailer on January 1, and Sandar will remain with the company until March.







Devro PLC - Glasgow, Scotland-based producer of collagen products such as sausage casings - Hires Rikke Mikkelsen as independent non-executive director, starting December 1. Mikkelsen is a Danish national who leads the Global Centre of Excellence for Chocolate & Confectionary and the European Customer Innovation team at AAK AS, which specialises in plant-based oils. Rikke replaces Chantal Cayuela, who steps down as a non-executive director "on personal grounds", having joined the board only in January.







Dalata Hotel Group PLC - Dublin-based hotel operator in Ireland and UK - Confirms Dermot Crowley has succeeded Pat McCann as CEO from Monday. McCann had founded Dalata back in 2007, and Crowley had been deputy CEO.







Byotrol PLC - Chester, England-based antimicrobial technologies - Seeking full-time chief financial officer as part-time CFO Nic Hellyer plans to resign from the end of December. Also notes that Rick Hayman, head of Byotrol's Professional division and managing director of Medimark Scientific Ltd, which Byotrol bought at the start of 2020, has left the company but remains a shareholder.







Jaywing PLC - Sheffield, England-based data-driven advertising and marketing agency - Caroline Ackroyd will step down as CFO in April of next year "in order to pursue new opportunities". Jaywing now will search for a new CFO.







Cambridge Cognition Holdings PLC - Cambridge, England-based digital neuroscience - CFO Michael Holton steps down immediately to "focus on other opportunities", having joined the company only in January. Nick Walters, Cambridge Cognition's former CFO, will support the company while it looks for a replacement.







UP Global Sourcing Holdings PLC - Manchester-based consumer brands owner known as Ultimate Products - Graham Screawn will retire as CFO in the second half of 2022, having joined UP as finance director back in 2010. Has begun process to find successor.







Scotgold Resources Ltd - gold and silver explorer and producer in Scotland - Nat Le Roux steps down as non-executive chair, having held the post since 2015, but will remain a non-executive director. Scotgold promotes Non-Executive Director Peter Hetherington to chair, effective immediately. Hetherington was CEO of contracts-for-difference trading platform IG Group Holdings PLC until 2018.







Serabi Gold PLC - gold miner in Brazil - Roney Almeida steps down as chief operating officer, while Helio Tavares joins on Monday as general manager of Projects & Operations. Tavares will report to CEO Mike Hodgson. He will be responsible for operations at the Palito complex and oversee the development and construction of the Coringa gold mine. Tavares returns to Serabi for the second time, having been part of the team that originally developed the Palito mine in 2004. He then returned to Serabi in 2013 and served as general manager for five years.







President Energy PLC - operated assets in South America - Notes that subsidiary Atome Energy PLC, a green hydrogen and ammonia production company that President plans to spin-out as a separate listing on AIM in London, names Olivier Mussat as CEO. Mussat was chief investment officer for Global Energy at the International Finance Corp, part of the World Bank. President Energy calls general meeting of shareholders for November 18 to approve the dividend in specie of the shares it holds in Atome Energy.







Camellia PLC - Linton, England-based agricultural production firm - Appoints Stephen Buckland as non-executive director from Monday. Buckland had worked in Camellia's agricultural and banking businesses. He is a trustee of Camellia Foundation, a UK charity whose primary donor is the ultimate majority shareholder of Camellia with a 52% stake.







Filtronic PLC - Leeds-based antenna maker - Hires Jonathan Neale as non-executive chair, starting November 15. Neale replaces Reg Gott, who retired at the company's annual general meeting last week. Neale has been chief operating officer of McLaren Group for the past five years, having been CEO of McLaren Racing F1 prior. Before McLaren, he was with defence contractor BAE Systems PLC.







Invinity Energy Systems PLC - London-based flow battery maker - Hires Kristina Peterson as non-executive director, starting immediately. Peterson is an investment banker, who worked in the power and telecommunications teams at ABN Amro Bank NV and Citibank, part of Citigroup Inc.







By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - FD Technologies PLC on Tuesday said a sharp increase in operating expenses hurt its performance in the first half of its current financial year.

The Belfast, Northern Ireland-based consulting services provider said revenue for the six months to August 31 rose 7.0% to GBP128.0 million from GBP119.6 million posted a year earlier, delivered through a combination of improving market conditions, rebound in activity from existing customers, and new client wins.

However, the company swung to a pretax loss of GBP1.6 million from a GBP7.4 million profit a year ago. This is due to an increase in research & development costs to GBP10.7 million from GBP7.7 million year-on-year.

In addition, sales & marketing costs rose to GBP25.0 million form GBP17.5 million, while administrative expenses increased to GBP23.5 million form GBP18.7 million year-on-year.

Loss on foreign currency translation totalled GBP1.4 million versus GBP203,000 a year prior.

"I am very encouraged by the increasing momentum across the business since we announced our accelerated growth strategy in May," said said Chief Executive Seamus Keating.

"The outlook across our businesses is positive, with each business unit expected to meet or exceed its full year growth target."

FD Technologies reiterated revenue guidance for the current financial year in the range of GBP255 million to GBP260 million, with adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in the range of GBP31 million to GBP33 million.

For its financial 2021, the company posted revenue of GBP237.9 million and adjusted Ebitda of GBP40.5 million.

AIM-listed FD Technologies shares were trading flat in London on Tuesday morning at 2,015.00 pence each.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - IWG PLC on Tuesday said it is set for recovery in 2022 after a double-digit revenue fall in the first nine months of 2021 as it mulls splitting off its digital and technology assets.

The Luxembourg-based flexible workspace provider said momentum in trading performance has accelerated during the third quarter of 2021, with progress made in all major territories, and the outlook for the remainder of the year remains encouraging.

"The order book for 2022 is building and, if market conditions remain favourable, continued progress is expected," IWG said.

IWG signed more than 1,100 new clients in the three months to September 30, it said, and more than 670 existing customers expanded their workplace commitments.

Total system-wide revenue in the third quarter increased 0.3% year-on-year to GBP620.7 million. Total revenue for the group - including closed centres - was GBP550.8 million compared with GBP571.8 million in the same period last year, a decrease of 0.3% at constant currency.

For the nine months ended September 30, revenue across all IWG's open centres declined 5.4% at constant currency to GBP1.56 billion, reflecting the impact of Covid-19 on the first quarter relative to the same period in 2020. Total group revenue decreased to GBP1.60 billion compared with GBP1.87 billion for the same period last year, a decrease of 11% at constant currency.

"Although we remain suitably cautious during this period of heightened macro-economic uncertainty, the occupancy and pricing run-rate achieved in the third quarter and in September in particular, underpin our confidence in delivering results for 2021 in line with management's expectations," the company said.

IWG also said it has undertaken a preliminary review to assess the "strategic and commercial rationale" for separating its digital and technology assets into a separate business. These assets include systems and processes to originate sales demand, manage inventory, and deliver services in an "efficient and cost-effective" manner.

It added: "Similarly, the potential to more broadly leverage the intellectual property of the group, together with the ownership structure of the property portfolio, is the subject of further review to fully assess the options available to reorganise the assets of the group."

IWG said it expects to be able to update on progress in the first half of 2022.

The FTSE 250-listed stock was trading 0.2% lower in London on Tuesday morning at 306.60 pence each.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Tuesday reported a sharp rise in flown passengers in October, as the budget airline continued to grow its network despite the setback of Covid-19.

Wizz Air flew 3.0 million passengers in October, nearly tripled from 1.1 million a year earlier, with an improved load factor of 79.5% versus 65.9%.

Capacity multiplied to 3.7 million from 1.7 million.

"Wizz Air announced its major expansion in the Ukrainian market, doubling its capacity there. The expansion comes as a result of Ukraine signing the Open Skies agreement with EU on October 12. The new investment will increase its current fleet to eight aircraft in Kiev International Airport and to three aircraft in Lviv International Airport from summer 2022," the Budapest-headquartered carrier added.

Wizz Air also noted it opened its seventh base in Italy, adding 12 new destinations. It has also announced a new route connecting Moscow with Abu Dhabi from December 2021.

Available seat kilometres in October more than doubled to 6.06 billion from 2.70 billion, with revenue passenger kilometres surging to 4.77 billion from 1.83 billion.

Passengers in the rolling 12 months to October 31 was down 18% to 18.0 million from 21.8 million a year before, which included almost six months before the pandemic struck. Capacity was reduced by 11% to 24.4 million passengers from 27.4 million, but load factor still fell to 73.9% from 79.9%.

Shares in Wizz Air were up 0.7% in London on Tuesday at 4,708.00 pence each.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
After a weekend of adding to the worlds carbon footprint at the G20 summit in Rome, global leaders and some 300 other experts are now stomping around Scotland, some will be there for next two weeks before jetting across the world to go home. Joe Biden rocked up in Rome and went to meet the Pope in a convoy of 72 vehicles, I hopes they were all hybrid...

Now, Spain was at the G20, it has been ever since being invited as a guest in 2008 to Washington by the then President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.

But when you look at the list of G20 members, it does not really make much sense.

Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, USA, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, UK, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and EU are the lucky countries but why are Italy and France in the gang when so too is the European Union?

During the pandemic, Spain has set an example to the world it the way in which is has dealt with covid, in particular its vaccination campaign.

But covid aside, Spain is a world leading tourist destination not to mention its commitment to green energy exploring wave, wind and solar options with Spanish energy companies experimenting with projects across Europe, so I would ditch the EU and replace it with Spain.
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The following editorial was published in the Oct. 31 edition of the Traverse City Record-Eagle:

(AP) Theres a special irony at work when a bunch of lawmakers who spent the past 18 months shouting about onerous policies emanating from Lansing begin a little overreach of their own.

We couldnt help but catch a whiffs of hypocrisy last week as the Michigan House of Representatives voted to advance a bill that calls for statewide restrictions on local governments ability to regulate short-term rentals. State lawmakers who control the legislature have consistently called for local control in issues like public school matters. This selective trust in local decision making has us asking why the change of heart?

For the uninitiated, short-term rentals are the homes, condos, trailers, rooms and couches rented by the night through popular platforms like AirBnB and VRBO. In many destination regions like our own, they also have become a source of substantial strife as local governments attempt to install thoughtful regulations of such commercial rental properties in areas mostly zoned for residential uses.

If you live near one, especially the kind run by poorly-engaged, absentee owners, you know precisely what they are. In fact, the mention of short-term rentals in the midst of a group of year-round residents in the Grand Traverse region often elicits eye rolls and war stories about rowdy vacation renters.

Think about it for a second, nobody buys a home they plan to live in full- or even part-time expecting to live adjacent to a residential roulette wheel, loaded weekly with fraternity reunions, bachelorette parties or even family parties.

Many owners are responsible and thoughtful and manage their rental homes in ways that prevent disruptions. Experience tells us, many others are not so present or considerate.

Thats why the latest legislative effort to handcuff local regulators is such an obvious financial grab by people who are poised to cash in on a free-for-all in communities like ours. The absentee interests cant steer local regulations by voting in local elections, so they resorted to exerting considerable lobbying power in Lansing to install blanket policies.

If were honest with ourselves, the short-term rental gold rush isnt going to overwhelm neighborhoods in Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids or Roseville. Halting local regulation of such commercial uses specifically targets popular vacation communities like ours.

The latest iteration of Lansings one-size-fits-all proposal would deem nightly rentals of homes a residential use under Michigans zoning act. It also would require local governments to allow a minimum of 30% of residential units to be used for nightly rental.

(We commend local State Reps. Jack OMalley and John Roth for voting against the bill in a 2 a.m. voting spree where, despite their opposition, the proposal advanced to the Michigan Senate.)

The bills sponsors call the newest iteration a compromise, and maybe it is when compared to a previous version that simply outlawed local regulation of short-term rentals. They also argue short-term renting is a matter of private property rights.

The bills advocates may be right in some respects  were just as reluctant to impede private property owners from enjoying freedom to use their home as they see fit  but even this latest version, propelled by interest groups, is a disaster in the making.

The simple act of turning loose 30% of homes in Traverse City, Suttons Bay, Frankfort, Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Petoskey or Northport to a speculative commercial rental market would irreparably reshape our communities. Imagine for a second the flood of cash-toting speculators, including conglomerate investment groups, lunging into our already overheated local housing market thanks to the resulting free-for-all.

It takes a lot of imagination and some backflips of long-standing zoning regulations to mistake nightly rental of homes in a neighborhood or subdivision as a residential use. Its also ludicrous to argue local governments shouldnt be allowed substantial freedom to regulate local zoning as they see fit.

Its disappointing to see lawmakers from all corners of the state adopt a fair-weather stance on deferring to local governance when deep-pocketed interest groups come knocking.

Clearly hypocrisy has a price, and it will cost us local autonomy.
Whenever we picture a railroad depot from the olden days, our minds may conjure up scenes of an old western we saw on TV, that of a tiny, plain looking building in which people anticipate getting on a train.

While Manistee County had its share of unadorned and simple railroad depots, it wasnt until the Michigan East and West Railroad came to town when the area would get to see the most extravagant depot built for a city and county of its size.

By the late 1880s, the importance of the railroad as a way to transport logs was invaluable to the lumbermen whose pocketbooks (and workers) depended on them.

As other railroads such as the Pere Marquette and the Manistee and North Eastern were successful in getting their product shipped out, likewise a number of lumbermen pooled their money together to incorporate the Manistee and Grand Rapids Railroad in 1889 with a capital of $1 million. The stockholders of the company were a virtual whos who of Manistee lumber money including Louis Sands, E.N. Salling, T.J. Ramsdell, and John Canfield.

By the turn of the 20th Century the railroad operated 70 miles of road, and offered passenger service extending from Manistee, running southeast into Mason County and into Tustin where it eventually met with the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad.

For the next 20 years, the railroad operated successfully until an outside operator purchased the assets of the corporation in 1913 and formed a new line which they named the Michigan East and West Railroad.

As a way to reinvigorate the passengers, and the line itself, owners of the Michigan East and West decided to establish a first-rate passenger service. While making this a priority, officials of the railroad began drawing up plans for the construction of a new depot on the corner of Water and Spruce streets. Plans for the building called for a structure which would show off the confidence that the owners had in Manistee.

An article published in the Manistee News Advocate on May 29, 1915 provides details on the depot: An example of progressiveness is set today to its mightier rivals, by the least pretentious of the railroads entering Manistee, in the announcement by the Michigan East and West that it will soon begin the erection of a new two-story passenger depot and office building which will be an architectural adornment to the city, instead of a blot upon its landscape.

Approved and accepted plans for the new structure were received from Chicago at noon today. They call for the erection of one on the plot of ground facing Water Street, at Spruce, one block east of the building now used by the road as its station, of a two-story building 60 by 30 feet in dimensions, to cost approximately between $8,000 and $9,000.

The new station will be of fireproof construction throughout, vitrified brick with white tile partition between floors and Neponset roofing externally, hardwood finished as to interior. A glass canopy will extend over the walk from above the main entrance, and cement walks, not cinders, will be laid on all four sides of the building.

The first floor will be devoted to depot purposes, the main waiting room 26.6 by 29 feet, with adjoining the women's restroom 14 by 12 and mens smoking room 13.6 by 12. The baggage room will be 11 by 28.

The second floor will be utilized for the company offices, with private offices for Vice President Morey and General Freight and Passenger Agent Johnson.

The aim throughout will be to make the station comfortable and inviting rather than emptily ornate and fussy. The architects have been advised to rush the working specifications through to completion and while bids for the contract have not yet been accepted, let alone awarded, it is probable that ground will be broken for the new building next week.

A month later ground was broken with the bids for the project forwarded to area contractors. Local builder, Charles Anderson was awarded the contract with masons Gerlach and Nelson conjointly being awarded the mason contractor.

As weeks passed, construction of the new depot continued as crews of men toiled until the late fall to ensure the building would be completed by the end of the year. On Nov. 29, 1915 it was announced in the Manistee News Advocate that the Michigan East and West depot was to be put to use on the coming Sunday:

Although the interior work is still far from completed, the new Michigan East & West depot on Water Street yesterday for the first time was put to the use for which it is intended.

The incoming Sunday passenger train unloaded its cargo in front of the new passenger station, and the train and station crews piled up a heap of baggage in the baggage room. Local Agent Erwin Deming installed his old ticket rack in the new ticket office, for temporary use pending the arrival of the more ornate piece of furniture which has been ordered, and issued to passengers on yesterday afternoons outbound train the first tickets dispensed in the new depot.

It marked an occasion second only in importance in the annals of the road to the arrival several weeks ago of the first regular, all year- round Sunday train in Manistee. Yesterdays train brought in something like a half dozen passengers and a heavy quantity of mail.

Two weeks later the offices of the M & E.W. moved into their new headquarters inside the passenger depot. An article published on Dec. 17, 1915 in the News Advocate offers additional details:

Although not finished in an elaborate style, the inside woodwork was finished in a simple mission. The benches are of a type that would find a quick place in any home, because of their neat and tasty design. The walls also are tinted in simple colors.

The station is one that is worthy of commendation and speaks highly for the railway officials in their efforts to give Manistee the best of railroad service.

After World War I, the railroad line was unable to raise continuous capital and it ceased operations with the assets taken over by the Pere Marquette Railroad.

The new depot sat vacant for several years until it became occupied by the LaValle Funeral Home in the mid-1930s. In 1954 Ralph LaValle joined with Robert Johnson to form a partnership changing the name of the business to the LaValle-Johnson Funeral Home. In 1970, the building became the Johnson Funeral Home and continued as such for several decades.

Mark Fedder is the executive director of the Manistee County Historical Museum. He can be reached by email at manisteemuseum@gmail.com, or by phone at 231-723-5531.
MANISTEE COUNTY  Bear Lake and Manistee Area Public Schools notified families Monday of positive COVID-19 cases within the districts.

In an email to staff and families, MAPS superintendent Ron Stoneman reported the district being made aware of a total of four positive cases on Monday.

"We have received notification that three Kennedy Elementary students and one (Manistee Middle High School) student have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," Stoneman said in the email. "In addition there is one close contact identified at MMHS and one close contact identified at Kennedy Elementary. These individuals are following quarantining protocols."

According to guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, individuals in close contact are able to continue attending class if both parties were wearing masks.

"The families of these students have been contacted and are asked to monitor their student for symptoms," Stoneman said. "Any students in close contact that were unmasked during mealtimes have been contacted and are following the provided guidelines for quarantine."

Bear Lake superintendent Jakob Veith informed families Monday of three positive cases within the district.

"Today we were made aware that a student in the elementary, high school, and a staff member have tested positive for COVID-19," Veith said in an email to families. "Contact tracing has been completed with 25 additional students identified as close contacts. These students and their families have been made aware that they will continue to quarantine per the health department and CDC guidelines.

"At this time, we are following the district health departments guidelines and strongly recommending masks, but they are not mandated," Veith continued.
Mankato, MN (56001)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Mankato, MN (56001)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 30F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 30F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Julia A. Johnston, 68, of Wilburton, OK passed away at her home in Wilburton on Sunday, November 14, 2021. Services will be on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Waldrop Funeral Home Chapel in Wilburton, OK with the burial to follow in the Peachland Cemetery in Bengal, Oklahoma. O
ALTON, Ill.

Nov. 2, 2021

Southern Illinois University

$1 million

USA

Alton

Edwardsville

East St. Louis

Randall Duncan

Arthur Mateen

USA

Southern Illinois University

Alton

East St. Louis

Illinois

St. Louis

Megan Wieser

Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University

/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- TheSchool of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has received ain-kind donation from Bien Air, Inc. The company donated and is installing 256 new electric systems that operate the handpieces used in every patient workstation across the patient clinics in theandcampuses, as well as in all the preclinical student workstations. The systems provide a significant technological advancement from those being replaced."Technology is rapidly evolving in the practice of dentistry," said SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. "It is incumbent on dental schools to provide training that will prepare our graduates to utilize this technology."Faculty and staff in the SDM's Department of Restorative Dentistry had determined that the previously used air-driven units were in critical need of technological advancement. However, the cost of converting to electric handpieces was prohibitive."Through the generous donation by Bien Air, it has been possible for the school to embrace this technological advancement, which will help us to continue to train excellent dental practitioners," Rotter said.The new handpieces offer numerous advantages over traditional air-driven handpieces. By operating at half the revolutions per minute than air-driven units, they produce greater cutting power with more precise margins, less heat and less noise."The most popular feature among patients is the elimination of high-pitched whining," said, DDS, clinical associate professor and chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry. "Operating this handpiece also requires a shorter learning curve for students because it's greater cutting efficiency makes it easier to control. It is also possible to easily cut and polish all materials used in today's dental offices that air-driven units often struggled to cut through.""This avant-garde technology offers exceptional ergonomics and unmatched performance," said, general manager of Bien Air. "We are proud to partner with theSchool of Dental Medicine in providing the latest equipment for the training of future dentists."SIU School of Dental Medicine students manage approximately 35,000 patient visits each year at patient clinics inand. In addition, students offer oral health treatment, screenings and education to more than 10,000 people annually through a wide variety of off-campus community outreach events. These opportunities provide students the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists. The School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for residents of southern and central, and themetropolitan region.School of Dental Medicine, 618-650-3653, mwieser@siue.eduSOURCESchool of Dental Medicine
Aliens are a phenomenon that has continued to fascinate the majority of the population mainly due to the fact their whole existence remains sort of a mystery. Now, while you may either believe in them or might just take them as a piece of fiction, there is no doubt that Hollywood truly has capitalized on the topic and made some really really cool movies for people to watch.

 Prime Video

Being a massive fan of the concept of aliens and UFOs myself, I have compiled together a list of the top five Alien movies that you should definitely check out.



1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

 Apple TV

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this is a classic alien movie that people from all walks of life, kids or adults should watch. I remember watching it repeatedly on VCDs that I had back when I was a kid.



The movie told the story of a young boy Elliot, who befriends ET, a cute alien, who is stranded on Earth after being left behind by a spaceship. The duo then embarks on a mission to get ET back to his home.

2. Independence Day

 Disney+ Hotstar

This movie still gives me goosebumps every time I watch it, and it's more of an apocalypse movie than just a run-of-the-mill alien invasion movie.



It tells the story of how Aliens arrive on Earth and soon start destroying major cities across the world, forcing the star cast of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum to take matters into their own hands. It's a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seats, biting your nails till the very end.

3. Paul

 YouTube

This movie is a complete laughter fest and had me in splits throughout its almost 2-hour-long runtime.



Two big comic nerds, Graeme and Clive (Simon Pegg & Nick Frost) take a trip to the US' famed Area 51, where they meet Paul, the coolest alien in the history of alien movies.

Paul would smoke up with you, show you a middle finger, and assist you in getting the girl of your dreams. Just one problem though. He too needs to go back home and Graeme and Clive must evade federal agents to make sure the plan is a success.

4. Predator

 YouTube

This is undoubtedly one of the finest sci-fi/alien movies to be ever made, with the very impressive Arnold Schwarzenegger using his prime physique to battle deadly aliens.



In the movie, Arnold plays Dutch, the leader of an elite paramilitary rescue team, who, on a mission to rescue hostages, witnesses most of his team being brutally killed by a deadly advanced alien species in the middle of a jungle.

5. Close Encounters of The Third Kind

 Columbia Pictures

This Steven Spielberg movie is one of a kind and probably sheds light on what could be the most accurate depiction of aliens or spaceships in the real world. Just like in real life, the governments of major countries deny the existence of aliens, however, aliens make their presence felt to the humans inhabiting the earth.



The movie could probably have the answers that you might have been looking for, in case you were wondering what an alien-human interaction would be like.

These pretty much sum up the list of movies we think you should watch. We'd also like to give a shoutout to Arrival.

If you think we missed out on a movie, do let us know in the comments.
There is a special place on the internet that is reserved for sharing memes exclusively on Indian daily soaps. Just think of the most bizarre thing you can possibly imagine and soaps on Zee TV, Star Plus, Sab TV, Sony, and others will make sure that they either meet or exceed your expectations.

Whether it is a laptop being washed in the kitchen sink or a Bahu taking light years of time falling from the first floor of a house only to be ridiculously saved by her husband, Hindi soaps are ridiculous at questioning your intelligence.

 Twitter

The only suggestion we have for you is, bro, just stop applying your brain and enjoy the bizarre set of events by forgetting that there was ever such a thing known as science. Well, what certainly seems like another visual treat for viewers across India and the globe, there is another scene that is doing the rounds on the internet for being absolutely batsh** crazy.



It is called the crazy 'Sindoor Scene' from Colors TV's Thapki Pyaar Ki show, which has gone viral on the internet with over 2 million views across social media platforms. Insane, right?

In the promo clip for the show, the scene shows protagonists Jigyasa Singh and Akash Ahuja in the same frame, and how sindoor lands right in Jigyasa's maang by defying all the laws of physics. Here, check the video out!

Purab aur Thapki ke naye rishtey ki ho gayi hai shuruaat, par kya hoga jab Veena Devi ke saamne aa jaayega Thapki ka sach?

Jaanne ke liye dekhiye #ThapkiPyarKi, Mon-Sat shaam 6 baje sirf #Colors par.

Anytime on @justvoot.#JigyasaSingh @aakashahuja3 pic.twitter.com/Bo0XFVi5sR  ColorsTV (@ColorsTV) October 29, 2021

In the scene, Thapki (Jigyasa) is almost about to apply sindoor (vermillion) while standing in front of the mirror, when Akash's character slips on the floor only to miraculously cover a long distance to her before taking a pinch of sindoor and applying it on her forehead.

Don't worry, you're not alone in finding it weird.

After watching this crazy scene, you might actually start appreciating Rohit Shetty and even Fast and The Furious movies, coz guess what? They all seem to take place in the same universe if I am to assume.

Anyway, Twitter surely had a field day following the video going viral and people had a lot of things they just couldn't hold back saying.

Hey bhagwan  Raas Panigrahi (@raas_panigrahi) November 2, 2021

I don't know why people are making fun of this, this is what happen universe conspire things.

Those who are finding it ridiculous should read any Paulo Coelho's book it is more ridiculous  A. (@9th_sky) October 31, 2021

OMG  AYESHA SINGH STAN (@AyeshaSinghStan) October 29, 2021

Ismay inki koi galti nahi hai, indian audience ko kuch bhi paros do chalta hai i swear en serials ki script likhta kaun hai?koi bhi serials lelo bina sar- per ki story hai seriously old doordarshan were great aaj ki serials toh kuch nahi inkay saamaan kahan se namunay uthalay ho  Shehazad Mistry (@MistryShehazad) October 29, 2021

Wtf was that.  Pseudo Hypatia (@HypatiaOf2021) October 29, 2021

Wht the fukc did I just see pic.twitter.com/WTdBUfDtad  Billie (@goforitbillie) October 29, 2021

Ye Einstein ka dimaag kidher se laate ho rangu ... pic.twitter.com/cfNUnCw4Tu   (@_KiaraTweets_) October 29, 2021

Yeh kya tha bhai   (@Priyapandeyy17) October 29, 2021

Yeh dekhne se pehle me mar q nahi gae  AYESHACREATIONS (@ayeshacreationx) October 29, 2021

Me to all the viewers pic.twitter.com/JZ3IZT6TKS  Vikram Singh (@im_vikkuu) October 29, 2021

physics be like am I joke to you?   (@qxeenforever) October 29, 2021

Without a doubt, this video will soon cement its place in the meme culture and we no longer would need more material to make fun of. Well, at least for some time.


Arrangements are currently incomplete at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home for Mr. William "Sonny" McGruder, 71, of Enterprise, who passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at his residence.
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In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full
Mental health information among the resources being provided during Thursday's City of Benton Harbor Water Resource Fair

Free bottled water distribution continues, over 119,000 cases provided to date

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 2, 2021

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich. - Mental health resources are among the information being provided during the City of Benton Harbor Water Resource Fair on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Some of the resources available will include health services, food assistance, water use instruction, nutrition options and information on lead.

"Events like what's taking place in Benton Harbor can disrupt life and routines and cause residents to experience a variety of emotions including fear for their health and their family's health, stress and frustration," said Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director. "It can make even everyday challenges more difficult for some people, so we want to make sure City of Benton Harbor residents are aware there is support available either over the phone or in person."

"Many of us this past year have already experienced unprecedented challenges as a result of the pandemic, on top of our normal day-to-day stressors," said Dr. Debra Pinals, MDHHS medical director for Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs. "When you add to that an environmental crisis that disrupts daily routines it can create overwhelming feelings of fear, uncertainty and anxiety. That kind of stress can have impacts on mental and physical health. We encourage you to connect with loved ones and learn about your local community resources - make sure to seek help when it's needed."

The resource fair is being hosted for City of Benton Harbor residents to learn about the health impacts of lead and resources available to help reduce or eliminate lead from their homes. The event is a collaborative effort that will include information and representatives from local community organizations, the City of Benton Harbor, Berrien County Health Department, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, MDHHS and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

It is being held at the Benton Harbor Housing Commission/ Virginia Edwards Community Center, 721 Nate Wells Drive in Benton Harbor. Attendees are asked to wear masks and masks will be available at the event.

Distribution of free bottled water continues with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and volunteers providing 119,223 cases at community distribution sites and through deliveries to residents who are homebound or lack access to transportation.

Free bottled water is being provided by the state as residents are being encouraged to use bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing foods and mixing powdered infant formula. This action is part of an accelerated, across-the-board effort to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water while the city replaces all lead service lines.

To arrange water delivery to homebound or residents without transportation in the city of Benton Harbor, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The upcoming schedule for bottled water pickup is:

Wednesday, Nov. 3

Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 3 - 6 p.m., (Water loaded into vehicles by volunteers)

Thursday, Nov. 4

Ebenezer Baptist Church, 214 E. Britain Avenue, 10 a.m.-noon.

Brotherhood of All Nations, 1286 Monroe Street, 4-6 p.m.

Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 4.-6 p.m. (Self-service)

Friday, Nov. 5

Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Self-service)

Saturday, Nov. 6

Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, 600 Nate Wells Sr. Drive, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,

Harbor of Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 769 Pipestone Street, 4-6 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 7

Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, 3 - 5 p.m.

Brotherhood of All Nations, 1286 Monroe Street, 4 - 6 p.m.

The ongoing response in Benton Harbor includes the city, Berrien County Health Department, local community organizations, MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Additional dates and locations for bottled water pick up will be added to make sure community needs are met. Information will be posted on Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe.

To ensure the continued success of bottled water distribution locations in Benton Harbor and to recognize the city residents who have been stepping up to donate their time and talent, the State of Michigan has partnered with local agencies and will begin paying city residents who work at state-supported bottled water distribution sites. Individuals who want to serve as community ambassadors to help distribute water should connect with an established distribution site. Individuals or groups who want to serve as unpaid volunteers can sign up on the United Way's online platform.

MDHHS is engaging in a long-term effort to eliminate lead action level exceedances, educate communities on the effects of lead in drinking water, and remove lead service lines. These efforts also include recently approved funds to remove lead from homes in the city. Families living in Benton Harbor can apply for this service by filling out and mailing in an application that is available online. Residents also can call 866-691-5323 to obtain information.

For questions about lead, MDHHS can be reached at 866-691-5323 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

# # #

City of Benton Harbor Water Resource Fair flyer
The real question: Is winter ready for MDOT?

Nick Schirripa, MDOT Office of Communications, 269-208-7829 Transportation

November 2, 2021 -- Michigan's fall colors aren't even in their full brilliance, and that telltale chill already is in the air. Winter's first snow is on its way. With almost 10,000 miles of state highways to clear, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is ready to greet the snowy season with a full fleet of plow trucks and contract counties.

"We're going to be just fine," said Mark Geib, administrator for MDOT's Transportation Systems Management and Operations Division. "We have highly trained people, we have the material we need, our equipment has been inspected and is ready to go. We're in good shape."

Whether it's the wing plows, tow plows, or salt trucks, MDOT's winter fleet is at the ready. In addition to the 330 plow trucks MDOT operates, it contracts with 63 counties to maintain state highways, bringing the total number plows to closer to 1,300 statewide. While MDOT relies on direct forces to plow about 25 percent of its state roads, the other 75 percent are plowed by county forces paid by the state for their services.

For this winter, the state has budgeted around $25 million for salt. There is 450,000 tons of salt filling storage barns around the state.

MDOT also is expanding a program started last winter and will be applying liquid salt to three trunklines: M-43 in Grand Ledge, M-20 in Mt. Pleasant, and M-66 in Montcalm County. The liquid is a 23 percent salt solution sprayed instead of spreading rock salt. It's been used for a few years in other states, and MDOT is examining the efficiency of the practice for expanded use statewide in the future.

The salt solution will work faster than rock salt but also has a shorter working period. The liquid stays where it's sprayed, eliminating the "bounce and scatter" of spreading rock salt, which results in some waste. The liquid program also reduces the amount of salt being introduced into the environment. MDOT will continue to expand the liquid use as best practices are learned and the needed equipment is acquired.

The final and most important pieces of MDOT's winter maintenance operations, the brave people who pilot the plow trucks, also are falling into place. Full-time MDOT maintenance workers are at the ready, with seasonal operators currently being interviewed and hired. Many seasonal plow operators work in construction during the warmer months and return to MDOT each year when that work halts for the winter. Many of those seasonal operators still are working on active projects; their return is anticipated in the coming weeks, plenty of time to fortify MDOT's plow operator well before the heaviest of Michigan's winter weather is expected.
Decentralized elections - Michigan's elections are decentralized, meaning that they are carried out by local Republican, Democrat and nonpartisan election clerks in the state's 1,520 cities and townships. This bolsters election security by making it difficult for hackers to attack the decentralized system, and for statewide fraud to occur without coordination among hundreds of sworn, locally elected officials.

Strong and secure voter registration - Michigan has one of the best voter registration rates in the country, thanks in large part to its pioneering work registering voters when they conduct vehicle and ID transactions at Secretary of State offices (now a national best practice). Additionally, in 2018, Michigan voters enshrined the right to automatic voter registration in our state constitution. Now, unless they opt out, all eligible citizens are registered to vote when conducting many transactions with the Secretary of State. The process also helps maintain the voter registration list by checking to confirm eligibility of all registered voters when they do business with the Secretary of State.

Voting from home / Absentee voting - All registered voters in Michigan have the right to vote using an absentee ballot. Voters may complete an application for an absentee ballot with their local clerk online at Michigan.gov/Vote or submit a printed and signed request to their clerk by email, mail or in person.

Voters can vote by absentee ballot through the mail, without leaving their home. They can also go to their city or township clerk's office or drop box to return their absentee ballot, which is recommended when returning a ballot within two weeks of Election Day in order to avoid possible postal delays.

Absentee voting is a time-tested secure system in Michigan. Clerks check signatures on both absentee ballot requests and ballot envelopes against the signatures they have on file to verify the identity of every voter.

Pre-processing absentee ballots - Many other states allow clerks to pre-process, and in some cases count, absentee ballots before Election Day in order to ensure timely unofficial results on election night and prevent misinformation and conspiracy theories from undermining voters' faith in elections. The recommended best practice is to allow seven days for pre-processing before Election Day. Michigan's state Legislature allowed ten hours prior to the November 2020 general election, and currently provides clerks no time for pre-processing.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announces non-binary option for driver's licenses and state identification cards

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announces non-binary option for driver's licenses and state identification cards

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today announced that, effective Nov. 10, Michigan residents will be able to select a non-binary option - marked with an "X" - as the sex on their driver's licenses and state identification cards.

"I am proud to support Michiganders across the state who for many years have called on the Department of State to provide a non-binary sex marker on their ID that matches their lived reality," said Benson. "We have been working toward this goal since 2019, when we first removed the barriers for residents to change their sex marker in order to help protect their safety and accurately reflect their identity."

In 2019, Benson reinstituted a previously long-standing department policy that enabled residents to change their sex marker without providing documentation from a medical practitioner or obtaining a court order. At the time, the department's technology was not capable of providing a third, non-binary option, but the department worked toward overhauling the core technology behind its driver's licenses and IDs, which it finished in March of 2021. The new system expanded the number of online transactions available to residents and also made the non-binary option feasible with additional programming, which is now nearly complete.

Residents who wish to change their sex-marker to "X" will be able to do so by visiting any Secretary of State office, starting on Nov. 10, 2021. They are encouraged to schedule a visit for a license or ID correction by visiting Michigan.gov/SOS or calling 888-SOS-MICH.

Benson made the announcement shortly after the United States Department of State announced that it is working to enable Americans across the country to select a non-binary sex marker on their U.S. passports. Currently, 20 other states and the District of Columbia already allow their residents to do so on their state licenses and IDs.

# # #

For media questions, contact

Tracy Wimmer at 517-281-1876.

We welcome questions and comments at the Contact the Secretary of State page.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to

speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).
Governor Whitmer Proposes $30 Million Investment to Fund Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives

Governor Whitmer Proposes $30 Million Investment to Fund Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer Proposes $30 Million Investment to Fund Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives

Third pillar of $75 million MI Safe Communities framework would back community violence intervention and prevention grants

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed a $30 million investment to reduce violence in communities across Michigan by establishing a range of community violence prevention initiatives informed by data and best practices used nationwide. The proposal is part of the larger $75 million MI Safe Communities framework the governor laid out in July, which would utilize federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to reduce crime and keep families safe by tackling the court backlog, expanding resources available to law enforcement, and uplifting communities by making investments in jobs programs, counseling, and education.

"By tackling the root causes of violence and investing resources to prevent it, we can save lives, reduce crime, and help families feel safe," said Governor Whitmer. "As a former prosecutor, public safety is a top priority, and the MI Safe Communities framework will help law enforcement officers do their jobs more effectively. I will work with anyone to bring down crime and help Michiganders feel safe in their community. Together, we can build a safer, more just Michigan where every family can thrive, where every kid can get a great education, and where every person has a path to a good-paying, high-skill job."

"Investing in safe communities is critical, and Michigan's counties welcome an enhanced state partnership in this effort," said Stephan Currie, Executive Director of Michigan Association of Counties. "A primary county function is to protect public safety through sheriff, prosecutor and judicial offices. The increased awareness of individuals with mental illness in our criminal justice system has led to innovative partnerships and locally driven responses. We applaud investment in efforts to reduce violence, support law enforcement and ensure individuals with mental illness are getting the community support they deserve.

"The Michigan Center for Youth Justice applauds Governor Whitmer's focus on gun violence prevention with proposed targeted investments in programs and interventions that have been proven to work," said Jason Smith, Executive Director at Michigan Center for Youth Justice. "Michigan's young people deserve to live in a safe neighborhood. Providing youth and young adults with trauma-informed, healing-based treatment and resources will improve safety for everyone."

"On behalf of Hope Network, we applaud additional funding for mental services in our communities," said Joe Haveman, Director of Government Relations for the Hope Network. "I'm especially excited to learn more about services for high risk youth and young adults. Any time that we encourage a young person to go down the right path, it is money well spent. Adolescent years are our best chance to change lives and keep our kids from entering our justice system as young adults."

"We enthusiastically support this investment in violence prevention in our state," said Jonquil S. Bertschi, executive director at End Violent Encounters. "We are particularly excited about the focus on trauma informed, culturally competent services that will reduce the violence that the survivors we work with experience."

The $30 million investment will go to communities with the highest increases in violent crime. Community-based violence intervention and prevention (CVI) programs apply an effective, localized approach to gun violence reduction, providing evidence and community-informed, comprehensive support to individuals who are at greatest risk of gunshot victimization. CVI programs utilize credible messengers to directly mediate conflicts, intervene before violence occurs, and connect people to needed resources. By addressing the root causes of violence, these proactive strategies are shown to rapidly reduce gunshot wounds and deaths in the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence, saving lives and preventing tragedies while also reducing the astronomical economic costs of violence for community members, business owners, and taxpayers. They will be divided into thirty $1 million grants.

Examples of CVI programs include:

Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault Services: Prior victimization, untreated mental health issues, and substance abuse are all risk factors for violence. Effective CVI strategies directly provide services to address these risk factors and, when appropriate, make referrals to partner organizations that can help meet the needs of high-risk individuals. This includes referrals to trauma recovery services for crime victims.

Wraparound Services for High-Risk Youth and Young Adults: In Michigan, more than half of all gun homicide victims are young people between the ages of 15 and 29. Research shows that violence rates for this demographic can drop dramatically when young people are provided culturally competent case management, opportunities for healing, and practical vocational readiness and placement training. This program would provide grants to community-based organizations in high-violence neighborhoods to implement wraparound services for young adults from ages 15-29 that are at "high risk" of engaging in or being victimized by violence (this population often overlaps significantly).

Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs): This strategy helps break the cycle of violence by leveraging credible violence intervention and prevention specialists to provide intensive counseling, peer support, case management, mediation, and social services to patients recovering from gunshot wounds and other violent injuries. Research has shown that violently injured patients are at high risk of being revictimized by violence in the near future or even retaliating with violence themselves. Evaluations of HVIPs find that patients who receive services are often less likely to be convicted of a subsequent violent crime, and less likely to be violently reinjured than patients who did not receive HVIP services.

General Grant: A multi-year, competitive grant program for Michigan cities disproportionately impacted by violence and community-based organizations within those cities to implement and expand effective, trauma-informed violence reduction initiatives focused on high-risk young people. This program will also help build local capacity in Michigan to reduce violence by providing grant recipients with access to technical assistance and training, evaluation support, and coordination.

MI Safe Communities

The $30 million investment Governor Whitmer laid out today was the result of hundreds of conversations the governor and her team had with law enforcement officers, community leaders, faith leaders, and families over several months. Based on those conversations, the governor announced the three-pillar, $75 million MI Safe Communities framework in July.

MI Safe Communities would:

Invest more money into Michigan's police departments to strengthen training policies and programs and foster collaboration between the Michigan State Police and local departments on specialty services.

I ncreas e the number of visiting judges with funding for prosecution and defense to tackle the backlog of criminal cases that has piled up during the pandemic, to protect the rights of defendants and help the justice system operate more efficiently while maintaining public safety .

Make comprehensive investments to expand opportunity through Michigan's education, jobs, and justice system including violence intervention programs that deliver social services to hospital patients recovering from violent injuries and prevent further violence and injuries .

Funding Law Enforcement

Since taking office, the governor has signed budget bills delivering $1.4 billion to local governments to help them fund local police, fire departments, and emergency medical services. She has also delivered $40 million in COVID hazard pay for local officers and first-responders and over $10 million premium pay for MSP troopers. These dollars help ensure police are better equipped to fight crime today and have the resources to fight crime tomorrow.

Budget

In September, the governor signed the Fiscal Year 2022 budget bill that delivers on the kitchen-table fundamental issues that uplift communities and enable Michiganders to pursue their potential. The budget puts 167,000 Michiganders on a tuition-free path to higher-education or skills training, expands low or no-cost childcare to 105,000 kids, repairs or replaces 100 bridges while creating 2,500 jobs, and more.

Earlier this year, Governor Whitmer and legislature also worked together to put Michigan students first and passed the largest significant education investment in state history, closing the funding gap between schools in Michigan and including a historic amount of resources for schools to hire more nurses, counselors, and social workers. Early investments in mental and social health help reduce crime in the long run.

###
Union leaders representing thousands of workers employed at Dow, DuPont, Corteva and International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) locations from the United States and around the globe took part in an annual meeting this week in San Antonio, Texas, to discuss common issues, devise strategies and pledge unity.

The workers of Dow, DuPont, Corteva and IFF continue to experience many challenges following the split of DowDuPont and the ongoing pandemic. The unionized sites of each of these companies around the globe will be working together to ensure the members best interests are represented, said Kent Holsing, chairperson of the Dow DuPont North American Labor Council and president of United Steelworkers Local 12075 in Midland.

Even though the pandemic is impacting employees, corporations dont stop making decisions and acting in the best interest of their shareholders. Some of these decisions are not in the best interest of their employees," Holsing continued. We speak not only for the unionized employees of Dow, DuPont, Corteva and IFF, but also for non-union employees who dont have that voice. Workers from around the world are rightfully concerned about their future. With the changes we are all encountering, what will the future hold for us?

The union leaders shared collective bargaining data, identified mutual obstacles and determined potential solutions over a three-day period.

The council discussed the difficulties that employees at Dow, DuPont, Corteva and IFF experience, including Dows plan to affect retirement security, short staffing, excessive overtime and increased workplace fatigue, concern over proper training, and workplace/community safety.

Discussion also included several current and upcoming contract negotiations, the future of company-union relations, and organizing.

The labor leaders indicated that they strengthened their unions international connections.

Rachelle Schikorra, Director, Corporate Communications of Public Affairs at Dow, sent the following statement to the Daily News:

"Dows number one priority is ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all our stakeholders, including our people and our communities. As we approach negotiations with our bargained-for employees at our Michigan Operations, Dow looks forward to open dialogue in the appropriate forum to discuss any concerns. We value input and feedback from employees at all times. This was evident during the comprehensive approach we used to modernize our Total Rewards offerings, including our retirement savings plans, when we based our decisions on employee feedback and market data.

"Dows goals include remaining competitive in a very challenging industry around the globe and offering our people a comprehensive reward and benefits package that enhances their and their families' well-being."

Representatives from the following unions participated in the annual meeting: United Steelworkers (USW); International Union of Operating Engineers; Texas City Metal Trades; International Chemical Workers Union Council/United Food & Commercial Workers; National Conference of Firemen & Oilers; Ampthill Rayon Workers Incorporated (ARWI); Dow Chemical European Employee Forum; Dow Chemical-Stade Works Council (Germany); UNITE the Union (United Kingdom); Global Union Federation IndustriALL (Geneva, Switzerland); and Union of Workers and Employees Petrochemicals States-SOEPU (Argentina).
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The findings of the only human rights investigation allowed in Ethiopias blockaded Tigray region will be released Wednesday, a year after war began there. But people with knowledge of the probe say it has been limited by authorities who recently expelled a U.N. staffer helping to lead it.

And yet, with groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International barred from Tigray, along with foreign media, the report may be the world's only official source of information on atrocities in the war, which began in November 2020 after a political falling-out between the Tigray forces that long dominated the national government and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's current government. The conflict has been marked by gang rapes, mass expulsions, deliberate starvation and thousands of deaths.

The joint investigation by the U.N. human rights office and the government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, or EHRC, is a rare collaboration that immediately raised concerns among ethnic Tigrayans, human rights groups and other observers about impartiality and government influence.

In response to questions from The Associated Press, the U.N. human rights office in Geneva said it wouldn't have been able to enter Tigray without the partnership with the rights commission. Although past joint investigations occurred in Afghanistan and Uganda, the U.N. said, the current one is unique in terms of magnitude and context.

But Ethiopias government has given no basis for expelling U.N. human rights officer Sonny Onyegbula last month, the U.N. added, and without an explanation we cannot accept the allegation that our staff member ... was meddling in the internal affairs of Ethiopia.

Because of those circumstances, and the fact that the U.N. left the investigation to its less experienced regional office in Ethiopia, the new report is automatically suspect, said David Crane, founder of the Global Accountability Network and founding chief prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, an international tribunal.

What you need when you go into an atrocity zone is a clean slate so outside investigators can look into it neutrally, dispassionately, Crane said. You want to do these things where you dont build doubt, distrust from the beginning," including among people interviewed.

The investigation might be the international community's only chance to collect facts on the ground, he said, but because of its setup, it may disappear "in the sands of time.

People close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, asserted that the head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Daniel Bekele, underplayed some allegations that fighters from the countrys Amhara region were responsible for abuses in Tigray and pressed instead to highlight abuses by Tigray forces.

Thats even though witnesses have said the perpetrators of most abuses were soldiers from neighboring Eritrea, Ethiopian forces and Amhara regional forces.

In response to AP's questions, Bekele asserted his commissions independence, saying it is primarily accountable to the people it is created to serve. Attempts to influence the investigation, he added, can come from many directions in such a polarized environment.

Bekele said he and the commission have consistently cited serious indications that all parties involved in the conflict have committed atrocities.

Observers say a major shortcoming of the investigation is its failure to visit the scene of many alleged massacres in Tigray, including the deadliest known one in the city of Axum, where witnesses told the AP that several hundred people were killed.

Bekele said the investigation lacked the support of the Tigray authorities now administering the region after Tigray forces retook much of the area in June, about midway through the joint team's work.

The U.N. human rights office, however, said the governments subsequent severing of flights and communications from Tigray during the planned investigation period made it difficult to access key locations, both logistically and from a security point of view.

Even the interim Tigray authorities hand-picked by Ethiopias government to run the region earlier in the war rejected the joint investigation, its former chief of staff, Gebremeskel Kassa, told the AP.

We informed the international community we wanted an investigation into human rights but not with the EHRC because we believe this is a tool of the government, he said.

The U.N. has said Ethiopias government had no say in the reports publication, though it was given the chance to read the report in advance and to point out anything it believes to be incorrect."

Late last week, Ethiopias government and a diaspora group released the results of their own investigations focusing on alleged abuses by Tigray forces after they entered the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar four months ago in what they called an effort to pressure the government to end its blockade on Tigray.

The ministry of justice said it found 483 non-combatants were killed and 109 raped in parts of Amhara and Afar that were recaptured by federal forces in recent weeks. It also found widespread and systematic looting of schools, clinics, churches, mosques and aid groups' offices.

A separate report by the Amhara Association of America said it found that 112 people were raped in several districts covered by the ministry's findings. The diaspora group drew on data from offices of women's and children's affairs as well as interviews with witnesses, doctors and officials.

The diaspora group asserted that the Tigray forces committed the rapes as revenge against ethnic Amharas, whom they blame as responsible for abuses in their home region.

The spokesman for the Tigray forces, Getachew Reda, said the allegations aren't worth the paper theyre written on. Accusations of rapes and killings by Tigray forces are absolutely untrue, at least on a level these organizations are alleging, he said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  As deadlines loom for military and defense civilians to get mandated COVID-19 vaccines, senior leaders must now wrestle with the fate of those who flatly refuse the shots or are seeking exemptions, and how to make sure they are treated fairly and equally.

The vast majority of the active duty force has received at least one shot, but tens of thousands have not. For some it may be a career-ending decision. Others could face transfers, travel restrictions, limits on deployments and requirements to repay bonuses.

Exemption decisions for medical, religious and administrative reasons will be made by unit commanders around the world, on what the Pentagon says will be a case-by-case basis. That raises a vexing issue for military leaders who are pushing a vaccine mandate seen as critical to maintaining a healthy force, but want to avoid a haphazard, inconsistent approach with those who refuse.

Brig. Gen. Darrin Cox, surgeon general at Army Forces Command, said commanders want to ensure they are following the rules.

Because of some of the sensitivities of this particular vaccine, I think that we just wanted to ensure that we were consistent and equitable" in meting out a punishment that would be a repercussion of continuing to refuse a valid order.

Military vaccination rates are higher than those of the general population in the United States and the reasons for objecting  often based on misinformation  are similar to those heard throughout the country. But unlike most civilians, military personnel are routinely required to get as many as 17 vaccines, and face penalties for refusing.

The military services are reporting between 1%-7% remain unvaccinated. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called for compassion in dealings with those troops, which totals nearly 60,000 active duty service members, according to data released last week. Officials say the numbers change daily, and include those who may have gotten or requested an exemption. They have declined to say how many troops are still seeking an exemption or refused the vaccine.

Asked about possible variations in the treatment of those seeking exemptions or refusing the vaccine, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said its up to the services. "Each case is going to be treated specifically and individually as it ought to be, he said.

Kirby said Monday that the secretary doesn't want to tell commanders how to resolve the punitive measures, and instead trusts that they will do what is best for their units.

So can we promise you that there will be absolute uniformity across the board? No. And we wouldnt want to promise that because it wouldnt be the same way we handle the orders violations for other offenses as well, said Kirby.

It unclear how widely religious exemptions will be granted. Under military rules, commanders can take into account the potential impact on a units mission, and reject a religious exemption if it puts performance at risk.

Commanders can also move service members into another job, deny them overseas deployment or limit unit access if they get an exemption or while a request is being reviewed. Those steps may be more common in smaller units such a special operations forces who usually deploy in small numbers.

The Navy has warned that sailors who refuse the shot and dont get an exemption may have to refund bonuses and other financial payments, based on existing military justice procedures for disobeying a lawful order. The other services are expected to follow similar procedures.

Unvaccinated troops will also be subject to routine testing, distancing guidelines and possibly travel restrictions.

The Air Force may be the test case in some instances, because they are the first to hit a deadline. The more than 335,000 airmen and Space Force guardians must be fully vaccinated by Tuesday, and the Air Guard and Reserve by Dec. 2. According to Air Force data, as many as 12,000 active duty airmen and guardians were still unvaccinated as of late last week. Some have requested or gotten exemptions, others have refused outright. They have until Monday to request exemptions.

Air Force Col. Robert Corby, commander of the 28th Medical Group at Ellsworth Air Force Base, said that after the vaccine became mandatory in late August, appointments for shots at the base clinic doubled. He said troops have an array of questions and concerns, and commanders, chaplains and medical personnel are providing information.

I think you also have a segment of the population that probably does not feel that they are really at risk for COVID-19, he added.

Air Force Capt. Molly Lawlor, 28th Bomb Wing chaplain, said a very small percentage are seeking a religious exemption at the base. People are just trying to figure out how this new requirement fits into their belief system and the decisions that they want to make, she said.

The more than 765,000 Defense Department civilians will be close behind the Air Force, with a mandated vaccine date of Nov. 22. Supervisors are grappling with the complex task of checking and recording the vaccine status of their workers, and determining who will be the final exemption arbiter.

Civilians have until Nov. 8 to seek an exemption, and as of last week, fewer than half had provided vaccination proof. Those who refuse the vaccine and dont get an exemption will get five days for counseling. If they still refuse, they will be suspended for up to 14 days without pay, and could then be fired.

Vaccination numbers fluctuate for the military services, and drop off considerably for the National Guard and Reserve.

A bit more than half of the Army National Guard has gotten at least one shot, while the Air Guard is at 87%. Air Guard members must be fully vaccinated by early December, while the Army Guard, which is much larger and more widely scattered around the country, has until June,.

The most successful service has been the Navy, which says that only 1% of the force is unvaccinated as of last week  or about 3,500 sailors. The Air Force and Space Force was second, with 3.6% unvaccinated, followed by the Army and Marine Corps at about 7%.

Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, told The Associated Press that even before the shots were mandated, some warships were seeing vaccination rates of 98%-99%.

We feel like weve been leading the way across the services, he said. Weve been promoting the vaccines since we started vaccinating last December, January timeframe. For those who dont want the vaccine, well deal with those on an individual basis as those challenges come up, he said.

Marine Col. Speros Koumparakis, commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said that the number of Marines who have requested exemptions at the base is fewer than two dozen, and most of those are seeking religious exemptions.

He said chaplains and pastors have been made available to discuss the religious issues, and he does the initial review of any request. But ultimately, decisions may be made by personnel leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

The nearly 350,000 Navy sailors and more than 179,000 Marines must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 28, and the reserves by Dec. 28. The Army, the militarys largest service at nearly 490,000, has given active duty soldiers until Dec. 15 to be fully vaccinated. Army National Guard and Reserve have until June 30, 2022. There are a total of almost 800,000 Guard and Reserve troops, with the Army accounting for more than 520,000 of them.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  Frances president offered Britain extra time for negotiations on Monday to try to reach a compromise on a troubling post-Brexit fishing spat, hours ahead of a threatened French blockade of British ships and trucks.

France has threatened to bar British boats from some of its ports and tighten checks on boats and trucks carrying British goods if more French vessels arent licensed to fish in U.K. waters by Tuesday. Paris has also suggested it might restrict energy supplies to the Channel Islands, which are heavily dependent on French electricity.

The French government had said the port blockade would begin at midnight Monday if no compromise was found. But late in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron's office said talks would continue this week and no measures would be taken until at least through Thursday.

Speaking to reporters Monday in Glasgow, Scotland, where he is attending an international climate conference, Macron said the discussions center on a proposal he made to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after they met at the G-20 meeting in Rome on Sunday.

I asked the British to come back to us tomorrow with other propositions, Macron said. We will see where we are at the end of day tomorrow.

The British government has said throughout the long-running dispute that it is not engaged in a negotiation, and it is entirely up to France to end the conflict, which centers on fishing licenses in the English Channel. The spat has turned into a big sticking point in EU-Britain relations after the U.K. left the bloc earlier this year.

The British government welcomed France's move to delay its ultimatum.

As we have said consistently, we are ready to continue intensive discussions on fisheries, including considering any new evidence to support the remaining license applications," the U.K. government said in a statement. We welcome Frances acknowledgement that in-depth discussions are needed to resolve the range of difficulties in the U.K.-EU relationship.

The two countries said Britain's Brexit minister, David Frost, and French Europe Minister Clement Beaune would hold talks in Paris on Thursday.

Earlier Monday, the European Commission said it had called a meeting involving officials from Britain, France and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, which are self-governing British Crown dependencies with control over their own territorial waters, to allow for a swift solution on the outstanding issues in the dispute over French fishing boats access to British waters.

The fishing spat has escalated into a major U.K.-French dispute, with both sides accusing each other of contravening the Brexit trade deal that the U.K. signed when it left the EU.

Paris says authorities in the Channel Islands and Britain have denied permits to French boats that have fished in waters where they have long sailed, scooping up lobster, sea snails, sea bream and other fish from the English Channel. Britain says it has granted 98% of applications from EU vessels, a proportion that French authorities have questioned.

Britain says a few dozen boats have not been given permits because they have not shown the required paperwork to back up their applications.

We absolutely stand ready to grant more licenses should the requisite evidence be provided," said the British prime minister's spokesman, Max Blain.

As Monday's talks took place, anxious French fishing crews unloaded scallops on the French coast near the British island of Jersey, tense about what the coming hours would bring.

Jersey, which is only 14 miles off the coast of France, issued 49 temporary licenses to French boats. The government of Jersey said the vessels will be able to fish in Jersey waters until Jan. 31 to grant time for further data that is necessary for it issue permanent licenses.

Fishing is a tiny industry economically, but one that looms large symbolically for both Britain and France, which have long and cherished maritime traditions. Since the start of the year, both sides have control of their waters, subject to the post-Brexit trade deal.

Dimitri Rogoff, who heads the regional fishing committee on the French coast near Jersey, said French crews have been providing paperwork for 10 months. He said he didnt understand why Britain is making a big deal over 20 or 30 boats, and that he hoped that the French governments threats could incite our British friends to be a bit more conciliatory.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned France that the U.K. will not roll over in the face of what she termed unreasonable threats from Paris.

The French need to withdraw those threats, otherwise we will use the dispute resolution mechanism in the EU deal to take action," Truss told BBC radio. Were simply not going to roll over in the face of these threats.

Macron noted that the dispute stemmed from Britain's decision to leave the EU, saying, Get Brexit Done wasnt my motto.

While Macron said it was important to defend the French fishing industry, he expressed hope for a negotiated solution so that the countries could work together on other problems.

The United Kingdom and European Union have so many challenges  climate change, technological change, the cohesion of our nations, geopolitics, Macron said.

___

Pylas reported from London. Angela Charlton in Paris and Jill Lawless in Glasgow contributed.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  Upon arrival at Dubai's international airport, travelers can pick up a free guide to the city's top attractions and events. Curiously, the cover of this month's Time Out-DXB beckons visitors to Saudi Arabia. Emblazoned with an image of the kingdom's ancient Diriyah fort near the Saudi capital, it reads: "Welcome to Arabia. A Journey You've Never Imagined".

The landlocked, once ultraconservative capital of Riyadh is pitching itself as a city of concerts, movie theaters, world class sporting events and deal-making; a city where revamped cultural heritage sites wait to be discovered, distinguishing Saudi Arabia from other Gulf Arab capitals defined by sprawling malls and high-rise hotels.

The pitch is part of Saudi Arabia's plan to grab the limelight and title as the region's top place to do business. Currently, the more glamorous emirate of Dubai is seen as the region's hub for finance and tourism. No longer does the kingdom want consultants and executives flying in for a few days, only to fly right back out and spend those earnings elsewhere.

There are incentives  or, some say, penalties  for businesses to consider: Saudi Arabia has told companies they have until the beginning of 2024 to relocate their regional headquarters to the country or lose out on lucrative government contracts that keep the region's biggest economy humming.

It's the latest move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's day-to-day leader, who's been empowered by his father, King Salman, to overhaul the economy and reduce its dependence on oil for revenue. The 36-year-old prince wants companies, their employees and their families to move to the capital, Riyadh.

Some investors and their shareholders, however, remain wary of the prince. Four years ago  at the very same Ritz-Carlton hotel where a key investment forum took place last week and where 44 multinational companies announced their plans to establish regional headquarters in Riyadh  Prince Mohammed oversaw the unprecedented detention of Saudi business leaders, princes and officers in a purported anti-corruption sweep. The campaign, described by critics as a shakedown, largely took place outside of the courts and public view. It also cemented the crown princes grip on power.

Some of the companies now moving headquarters to Riyadh had already signed agreements to do so earlier this year, while others were announced for the first time. In all, the list includes multinational names like PepsiCo, Siemens Mobility, Unilever, Deloitte, Halliburton, Schlumberger and Baker Hughes.

Were convinced that this is win-win, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih told The Associated Press in an interview on the sidelines of the forum. Its important for us, but its even more important for the companies because they will get the benefits of being closer to decision makers.

He said the intent is not to penalize companies but to show them access to the biggest market in the region." Saudi Arabia is the only Arab nation among the Group of 20 countries representing 80% of the world economy.

Al-Falih was in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. shortly before the Riyadh summit attempting to woo more U.S. investments in Saudi Arabia. He is well-known internationally, having once served as Saudi energy minister and as oil giant Aramcos CEO and chairman.

The government hopes the Regional Headquarters Attraction Program will add $18 billion to the local economy and create 30,000 new jobs over the next decade.

Creating jobs and diversifying the economy sit at the heart of Prince Mohammed's Vision 2030 blueprint for transforming the country. He is to inherit a nation where over a third of the population is under 14, and more than 60% are under 35. No longer can the public sector absorb or afford the wages of most Saudis. The prince is partly looking to the $450 billion Public Investment Fund, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, to generate jobs and non-oil economic growth through state-backed mega-projects, like the $50 billion heritage project in Diriyah just outside Riyadh featured on the cover of Dubai's airport magazine.

Prince Mohammed is also attempting to diversify the Saudi economy amid a global push to transition away from burning fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy. The kingdom has pledged net zero emissions by 2060, but has no plans to phase out its production and export of oil and gas to other nations.

Some investors remain concerned about doing business in the kingdom, said Ayham Kamel, head of the Middle East division at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy that advises businesses.

He said there is little clarity on tax incentives for businesses that will relocate or whether they will need to adhere to a Saudi hiring quota.

The investment minister said the kingdom is working on providing answers, after a rocky start over the past five years. We did not have the opportunities well-defined and we did not have the regulations in place," al-Falih said. "That is now either done or on its way of being done in the next couple of years.

Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia wants to be seen as a safe place to do business. He said the self-declared anti-corruption campaign should be seen as a sign that the kingdom is starting a new page where foreign investors can find a level playing field.

Investors remain tepid about Saudi Arabia, though the figures are improving. Foreign direct investment to the kingdom plummeted dramatically to $1.42 billion in 2017, the year Prince Mohammed stunned the nation by sidelining his more experienced, older cousin to become crown prince and the year he launched the purported anti-corruption campaign.

Last year, foreign direct investment climbed to $4.6 billion, but that's still less than in 2016 when it stood at $7.5 billion. The figures are dwarfed by inflows to neighboring United Arab Emirates, where FDI reached $13.8 billion last year.

Some see the kingdom's ambitions as a direct challenge to the UAE's emirate of Dubai, which exudes luxury and flair with its trendy bars and restaurants, five-star hotels, high-end gyms, endless shopping and family-friendly beaches tailored for Western lifestyles and Asian tourists. For many, Riyadh remains lack-luster in comparison.

Dubai is currently hosting the World Fair's Expo. Last week, Saudi Arabia announced Riyadh's bid to play host to the six-month-long fair in 2030.

Al-Falih brushed aside comparisons with Dubai, saying Riyadh is simply claiming what he believes is its appropriate place as as the capital of the Middle East.

We are the biggest economy. We are the geopolitical capital of the region," he added. And we have the biggest ambition. We have the biggest opportunities.

Saudi Arabia is home to around 30 million people, two-thirds of them Saudi nationals. The UAE, with a much smaller territory, is home to nearly 10 million people, a little more than a tenth of them Emirati.

Dubai is working to retain its place as the regions premier tourism, financial and real estate hub. At the departure hall of Riyadh's international airport, a large advertisement hangs from the ceiling, featuring an investment opportunity in a new beachfront development in Dubai. To keep foreigners invested longer, the UAE is also easing visa rules for residents and investors.

Across the Gulf, higher oil prices have improved sentiment. Oil prices, which averaged $84 per barrel in October, have also buoyed Saudi foreign reserves to almost $466 billion.

The mood at the investment forum in Riyadh largely reflected that. The three-day forum drew more than 1,000 delegates, including several American billionaires and top U.S. hedge-fund managers. This came just three years after these same business titans canceled their attendance following the international outcry over the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents who worked for the crown prince.

On the opening night, forum guests attended a gala dinner with an open-air concert by American singer Gloria Gaynor in the King Abdullah Financial District, a complex of skyscrapers where Prince Mohammed hopes firms will set up their regional headquarters.

Kamel, the analyst, said he expects Dubai will retain a large part of the region's global investments. Saudi Arabia, he said, will attract a bit more of the current market share from businesses whose main revenue is generated by the kingdom.

Any investor interested in setting up operations in Saudi Arabia will have to contend with the fact that Prince Mohammed sits very much at the top of important decision-making.

In this kind of emerging market, you're making a bet on the leadership and it's strategic choices, he said. Theres no way to escape it.

___

Follow Aya Batrawy on twitter at https://twitter.com/ayaelb
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indianas attorney general continues to criticize Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for trying to block a new law that gives state legislators more power to intervene during public health emergencies, even while agreeing that the state Supreme Court should take up the dispute.

The attorney generals office said in a court filing late Monday that it supports the Supreme Court taking over the governor's case after a Marion County judge ruled last month that the state constitution gives the General Assembly the authority to determine when and for how long it will meet.

The Republican-dominated Legislature enacted the law, despite Holcombs veto, following conservative criticism of a statewide mask mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions that Holcomb imposed by executive orders in the early days of the pandemic last year.

The measure establishes a process under which legislative leaders can call the General Assembly into an emergency session. Holcombs lawsuit argues that the law violates a state constitutional provision that says only the governor can call the Legislature into a special session.

The attorney generals office, representing the Legislature, argued in its new court filing that urgent court action was not needed because the emergency session procedure hasnt been used and the formal start of the next regular session on Nov. 16 will allow the Legislature to meet until mid-March 2022.

The many opportunities the General Assembly has had, currently has, and will continue to have to address the Governors handling of the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency during its current and upcoming regular sessions make it even less likely that the General Assembly will invoke (the new law) any time soon, the attorney generals office said.

The Supreme Court did not take any immediate action on whether to consider the case.

Holcombs lawsuit has divided Indianas Republican hierarchy, with GOP state Attorney General Todd Rokita siding with legislators. Rokitas office unsuccessfully argued that courts shouldnt consider Holcombs lawsuit, saying the attorney general alone has the legal authority to represent the state in court and can decide whether the new law is allowed under the state constitution.

The offices new court filing referred to the law firm hired by Holcomb as unauthorized private counsel even though the state Supreme Court rejected Rokitas arguments that the governor couldnt pursue the lawsuit.

The governors office and his private lawyers didnt immediately reply to a request for comment Tuesday.

Holcomb said in a statement when his appeal was filed Oct. 22 that he wanted to ensure the state constitution was being followed.

The proper functioning of state government is critical, especially during times of emergency, Holcomb said. Our State, and its people, deserve clarity and finality on this important issue.
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SEATTLE (AP)  A federal judge has dismissed a civil-rights lawsuit filed by the mother of a 19-year-old Seattle man fatally shot during last years Capitol Hill Organized Protest.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour said Donnitta Sinclair, mother of Horace Anderson, could not show that the decision by city officials to vacate the precinct during unrest after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police created circumstances that led to Andersons shooting, the Seattle Times reported.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  A judge has found that new congressional districts passed by Oregon Democrats meet all legal criteria, with little evidence they amount to blatant partisan gerrymandering.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports the tentative opinion, released Monday by retired state Judge Henry Breithaupt, is not the final word in an ongoing lawsuit, in which Republicans are seeking to have the new six-district congressional map redrawn. Breithaupt is acting as a special master in the case, tasked with making findings of fact for a five-judge panel that will decide the outcome.

Following the latest U.S. Census Oregon received an additional seat in the U.S. House increasing the number of congressional districts from five to six. There are currently four Democratic U.S. House members from Oregon and one Republican.

The findings by Breithaupt suggest Republicans have failed to prove their insistence that Democrats purposefully stacked the new congressional maps in their own favor. A lawsuit filed on behalf of former Secretary of State Bev Clarno and three other former Republican elected officials called the map a clear, egregious partisan gerrymander.

Breithaupt's opinion relies heavily on a proposed set of facts suggested by the Oregon Department of Justice, which is representing the Legislature in defending the map.

Breithaupt agreed with the states contention that the new maps meet statutory criteria requiring them to be of roughly equal populations and contiguous, and to use existing transportation, political and geographic boundaries. The judge also agreed that an additional factor that must be considered  that lawmakers cannot unduly split communities of common interest  was difficult to determine.

The court challenge to Oregons congressional map is the states first time operating under a new system for resolving such conflicts. Under a law passed in 2013, a panel of five judges  one from each of the states current five congressional districts  are the arbiters of the dispute. That panel has until Nov. 24 to decide whether to dismiss legal challenges to the new map.

The congressional map proposed by Democrats was a major sticking point in the special session lawmakers held to pass new political maps in September. Republicans objected to the plan because it spread ultra-liberal Portland between four of the districts. They also took issue with a rejiggered fifth congressional district that now connects Portland to Bend.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former police captain Eric Adams easily won the race for New York mayor Tuesday, and Boston elected its first woman and Asian American to the citys top job as voters across the U.S. picked local leaders who were largely defined by their stances on police and crime.

Adams, who will become the second Black mayor of the nation's largest city, first triumphed this summer in a crowded Democratic primary after he struck a nuanced stance on law enforcement issues. His message on crime and his experience as a police officer largely insulated him from attacks from his Republican opponent Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol.

He described being beaten by police officers as a teenager when he was arrested for trespassing. When he later became a cop, he was a vocal critic of the police department, advocated for Black officers and spoke out about injustices. But he did not embrace calls from some progressives to defund the police by shifting money from law enforcement to social work and other programs aimed at addressing the root causes of crime.

In Boston, Michelle Wu espoused a more liberal approach to policing and called for bigger reforms, but her history-making win came in a campaign dominated more by debates about issues such as affordable housing.

Police and crime issues came to the forefront in cities big and small after the death of George Floyd last year led to a national reckoning on racial injustice and law enforcement. The debate centered on questions of when and where police are needed  or sometimes whether theyre needed at all. It also unfolded amid an increase in homicides in the wake of the pandemic.

In some big cities, fear or a desire for a middle-ground approach elevated candidates seen as more supportive of law enforcement or who rejected liberal calls to defund the police. In Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed, voters were picking a new mayor. They also rejected a proposal that would have upended law enforcement practices by replacing the police department.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, defended the police department against calls to dismantle it. On Tuesday, he was fighting to keep his job against 16 challengers, with the most serious contenders running to his left. Frey had about 43% of the vote Tuesday, well ahead of the closest challengers but still short of the 50% needed to win outright.

Under the city's ranked-choice system, election officials were to begin sorting second and third-place choices Wednesday to allocate them to candidates.

Freys prospects may be linked to the ballot question that asked voters whether they want to replace the police department with a Department of Public Safety. Frey opposed the change, but his top two challengers supported it.

On the other side of New York state, the mayoral race in Buffalo put India Walton, a democratic socialist, in a rematch with incumbent Mayor Byron Brown, the citys first Black mayor and a Democrat who lost the primary to Walton this summer.

Brown ran as a write-in candidate with support from law enforcement and criticized Walton for her plans to cut $7.5 million from the police department budget. She said the plan was aimed at addressing the root causes of crime. Brown said the move is clearly defunding police.

Brown gave a victory speech Tuesday night, though it was still too early for The Associated Press to declare a winner. He said voters had spoken against those calling for ill-conceived policies that would reverse our progress and undermine the future stability of our city, our state and in fact, our nation.

In Atlanta, City Council President Felicia Moore advanced to a runoff in the mayoral contest that was dominated by fears over rising crime rates and a spate of high-profile killings. Moore cited rising crime as a motivation for her campaign.

She will compete in a Nov. 30 runoff, but it was not clear Tuesday night who would grab the second spot. Former Mayor Kasim Reed, who is seeking a return to office, also cited the crime surge as motivation for his campaign for a third term. He told voters that the low crime rate during his tenure and the hundreds of police offices he once hired make him the best choice.

Other major candidates spoke about adding more police officers and stressed the need to focus on the root causes of crime, such as affordable housing and unemployment.

In Seattle, mayoral candidate Bruce Harrell, a former city council member who has called for hiring more police officers to stem a rise in shootings, was leading opponent M. Lorena Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, the city council president, has called for an overhaul of the police department, which is under federal supervision for a pattern of excessive force and evidence of biased policing.

While Harrell held a strong lead Tuesday night, it could be days before theres a clear winner as mail-in ballots, which tend to favor liberal candidates, are received and counted in the coming days.

In Boston, Wu and her opponent, fellow council member Annissa Essaibi George, chiefly clashed over issues such as affordable housing, public education and transportation. But differences on policing and crime also emerged between the two Democratic women in the nonpartisan race.

Wu, a daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and a protege of liberal Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, had called for major police reforms. Before she was a candidate, Wu joined other city council members in calling for a 10% cut to the police departments budget.

Essaibi George, who describes herself as Polish-Arab American, had opposed reallocating the money and has called for hiring several hundred more police officers. She was endorsed by former Boston police Commissioner William Gross.

Even in Waterloo, Iowa, with a population of about 68,000, policing and race became a flashpoint in the mayoral race.

The citys first Black mayor, Quentin Hart, won reelection despite being falsely painted by critics as an opponent of policing. Hart faced vicious criticism for months from a political action committee called Cedar Valley Backs the Blue, which was formed by retired Waterloo police officers.

The group blasted the citys move this year to retire the police departments longtime griffin logo  which looks similar to a KKK dragon  and sought the resignation of the citys first Black police chief, a close Hart associate.

Harts opponent, white city council member Margaret Klein, campaigned as a supporter of police officers and won the groups endorsement.

___

Associated Press writers Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City, Iowa; Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa; Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; Chris Grygiel in Seattle and Steve LeBlanc in Boston contributed to this report.
If youre merely dipping your toe in cryptocurrency, it can be hard to imagine your crypto as something worth talking to an estate attorney about. But that $100 in fun money could grow to a significant percentage of your total investments, sometimes overnight. Sorry to be a downer, but YOLO  so make a plan for your crypto in the event you pass away.

Crypto accounts arent like traditional investment accounts. They can be more vulnerable to security issues, and you generally cant name a beneficiary. For example, if you store your crypto on a physical device at home and a few friends know your key  a password of sorts that grants access to a crypto wallet  one of those so-called friends could wander into your house and steal your crypto as easily as they could walk off with your great-grandmothers diamond earrings. Or, if you shared the keys with no one, your crypto is lost forever.

Its important to understand how to safely store your crypto and communicate your wishes with your loved ones, just like you would with any other valuable asset.

KNOW HOW YOUR CRYPTO IS STORED

You trade and store crypto in wallets, but not the leather kind. Crypto wallets can either be digital and managed on an app or website, or physical like a thumb drive. The kind you choose depends on what you intend to do with your crypto.

 HOT WALLETS: These are used for trading and purchasing crypto. The upside is theyre typically free and convenient, but the downside is theyre less secure because theyre always connected to the internet.

 COLD WALLETS: These are used to store crypto for a longer period of time. Think of it like putting your crypto in a freezer.

The hot wallet is like a checking account  with money moving in and out  while the cold wallet is more like a savings account, where you park money for a longer time. You can have both at the same time.

Whoever holds the keys  that is, who maintains custody over a password of randomly generated numbers and letters  has access to your crypto. It could be you, a third-party crypto exchange or a hybrid of both.

Dont keep more than youre willing to lose on a third-party exchange as a long-term solution, says Alex Mejias, founder and managing attorney at James River Law in Richmond, Virginia. You dont control the keys. They could freeze your funds or get attacked. Mejias recommends a self-custody or hybrid option as the value of your crypto grows.

KEEP YOUR CRYPTO SECURE, YET ACCESSIBLE

A cold wallet can be a small physical storage device thats easy to misplace. Your cold wallet requires a PIN code for access, plus you set up a recovery phrase as a backup in case you lose your key. According to Mejias, a fireproof safe at home or a safety deposit box at a bank is a must, but dont store your cold wallet in the same place as the note containing your key, PIN and recovery phrase. If someone finds all of those items together, its bye-bye Bitcoin.

Above all, design a storage method that makes sense. Dont get so cute that you make some complicated system that you cant remember, Mejias says. Hes heard of people writing down their keys and cutting the paper into three pieces, hiding each piece in a separate location. It sounds like a good idea, but its a horrible idea. If you lose one of those three, its gone forever. Youve tripled your risk.

MAKE A DETAILED PLAN FOR LOVED ONES

Name a beneficiary in your will and add a document to your estate plan that lists your crypto assets and any passwords, PINs, keys and instructions to find your cold wallet. If you have an account at a cryptocurrency exchange, your beneficiary can contact customer support to notify them of your death.

According to a Coinbase representative, there is a process in place to guide next of kin, including one-on-one assistance from a Coinbase analyst. Gemini requires a death certificate and power of attorney to initiate a transfer out of a deceased persons account.

We hope to simplify this process in the future, so we are working to add account beneficiaries functionality to our platform, a Gemini representative said in an email.

UPDATE YOUR PLAN AND YOUR WALLET

Ensure that your assets will go to the right people by keeping your estate plan updated, especially after a life change like marriage or divorce. Provide up-to-date instructions so beneficiaries can access your assets. Cold wallets need maintenance, too, in the form of periodic firmware updates. This can help lessen the burden on your loved ones and hopefully prevent fights as they settle your estate after your death.

Crypto has the potential to be a very explosive thing because the value can be so huge so quickly, Mejias says. When you think about five, 10 years from now, were potentially talking about a whole lot of money.

This article provides information for educational purposes. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend specific investments, including stocks, securities or cryptocurrencies.

_____________________________________

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Sara Rathner is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SaraKRathner.

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: Bitcoin Wallet: How to Choose the Right One for Your Cryptocurrency
JIAOZUO, China (AP)  Wang Yuetangs sneakers sink into the mud of what was once his thriving corn and peanut farm as he surveys the damage done by an unstable climate.

Three months after torrential rains flooded much of central Chinas Henan province, stretches of the countrys flat agricultural heartland are still submerged in several inches of water. Its one of the many calamities around the world that are giving urgency to the U.N. climate summit underway in Glasgow, Scotland.

There is nothing this year. Its all gone, Wang said. Farmers on the lowland basically have no harvest, nothing." He lost his summer crop to floods, and in late October the ground was still too wet to plant the next seasons crop, winter wheat.

On other nearby farms, shriveled beanstalks and rotted cabbage heads bob in the dank water, buzzing with flies. Some of the corn ears can be salvaged, but because the husks are moldy, they can be sold only as animal feed, bringing lower prices.

The flooding disaster is the worst that farmers in Henan like Wang can remember in 40 years  but it is also a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms and the weather patterns growers depend upon are increasingly destabilized.

As the atmosphere warms up, air can hold more moisture, so when storms occur, they can rain out more extreme precipitation, said Richard Seager, a climate scientist at Columbia University. Chances are extremely likely that human-induced climate change caused the extreme flooding you saw this summer in places like China and Europe.

China, the most populous country in the world, with 1.4 billion people, is now the planets largest contributor to climate change, responsible for around 28% of carbon dioxide emissions that warm the Earth, though the United States is the biggest polluter historically.

As world leaders take part this week in the climate summit, China is being criticized for not setting a more ambitious timeline for phasing out fossil fuels.

President Xi Jinping, who has not left China since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and will not be attending the summit but sent a veteran negotiator, has said the countrys carbon emissions will level off before 2030. Critics say thats not soon enough.

Chinese government projections paint a worrying vision of the future: rising sea levels threatening major coastal cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and melting glaciers and permafrost imperiling western Chinas water supply and grand infrastructure projects such as the railroads across the Tibetan plateau.

Top government scientists also predict an increase in droughts, heat waves and extreme rainfall across China that could threaten harvests and endanger reservoirs and dams, including Three Gorges Dam.

Meanwhile, Chinas people are already suffering the brunt of climate change. And in a common pattern around the world, those who have contributed least to the warming and have the fewest resources to adapt often feel the pain most acutely.

In late July, Chinese news broadcasts carried startling footage of torrential rains swamping Henans provincial capital, Zhengzhou  at one point, 8 inches (20 centimeters) fell in a single hour  with cars swept away, subways flooded and people struggling through waist-deep water. More than 300 people died as the megacity turned into an accidental Venice, its highways transformed into muddy canals.

Even after the most dramatic storms ceased, the water continued to pool in much of the surrounding countryside, a flat and fertile region.

Here the economy depends on corn, wheat and vegetables, and other regions of China depend on Henan for food. The local government reported that nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of farmland were flooded  an area about the size of Connecticut  with damage totaling $18 billion.

All I could do at the time was to watch the heavens cry, cry and cry every day, said Wang, the peanut farmer.

A limited number of rudimentary pumps were shared among farmers in Henan. Soft plastic tubes were stretched across fields to drain water, but they periodically burst, sending farmers running to patch holes.

A 58-year-old farmer who gave only her last name, Song, said everything she owned was submerged by the floods  her home, furniture, fields, farming equipment.

Nothing was harvested. This year, the common people have been suffering all year long, she said. Ordinary people suffer most.

We have been working so hard, breaking our backs  without even a penny back, my heart aches, said Hou Beibei, a farmer whose simple vegetable greenhouses  plastic tarps covering plots of eggplant, garlic and celery  remain flooded, her hard work washed away.

She is worried about her two young children. The tuition fees of the children and the living expenses of the whole family rely on this land, she said.

The summer also saw another climate-linked natural disaster in China. In July, the hottest month on Earth in 142 years of record-keeping, according to U.S. weather experts, a vast and toxic blue-green algae bloom spanning 675 square miles (1,748 square kilometers) engulfed coastal waters off the prosperous city of Qingdao, threatening navigation, fishing and tourism. State broadcasts carried footage of people using dump trucks to remove the mounds of algae.

Another threat to Chinas coastal provinces is sea level rise. Government records show that coastal water levels have already risen around 4.8 inches (122 millimeters) between 1980 and 2017 and project that within the next 30 years, waters could rise an additional 2.8 to 6.3 inches (70 to 160 millimeters).

Because China's coastal areas are largely flat, a slight rise in the sea level will aggravate the flooding of a large area of land," erasing expensive waterfront properties and critical habitats, a government report projects.

I think these impacts are triggering a national awakening. I think people are increasingly asking, Why have extreme weather events like this happened? What are the root causes? said Li Shuo, a climate policy expert at Greenpeace East Asia in Beijing.

I think this is bringing the Chinese policymakers and the general public to a realization that we are indeed in a climate emergency.

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AP researcher Chen Si contributed research from Shanghai.

___

Follow Christina Larson on Twitter: @larsonchristina

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  Upon arrival at Dubais international airport, travelers can pick up a free guide to the citys top attractions and events. Curiously, the cover of this months Time Out -DXB beckons visitors to Saudi Arabia. Emblazoned with an image of the kingdoms ancient Diriyah fort near the Saudi capital, it reads: Welcome to Arabia. A Journey Youve Never Imagined.

The landlocked, once ultraconservative capital of Riyadh is pitching itself as a city where concerts, movie theaters, world class sporting events and deal-making are in abundance; where revamped cultural heritage sites wait to be discovered, distinguishing Saudi Arabia from other Gulf capitals defined by sprawling malls and high-rise hotels.

The pitch is part of Saudi Arabias plan to grab the limelight and title as the regions top place to do business. Currently, the more glamorous emirate of Dubai is seen as the regions hub for finance and tourism.

There are incentives  or, some say, penalties  for businesses to consider: Saudi Arabia has told companies they have until the beginning of 2024 to relocate their regional headquarters to the country or lose out on lucrative government contracts that keep the regions biggest economy humming.

Its the latest move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdoms day-to-day leader, whos been empowered by his father, King Salman, to overhaul the economy and reduce its dependence on oil for revenue.

Some investors and their shareholders, however, remain wary of the 36-year-old prince. Four years ago  at the very same Ritz-Carlton hotel where a key investment forum took place last week and where 44 multinational companies announced their plans to establish regional headquarters in Riyadh  Prince Mohammed oversaw the unprecedented detention of Saudi business leaders, princes and officers in a purported anti-corruption sweep. The campaign, described by critics as a shakedown, largely took place outside of the courts and public view. It netted the kingdom more than $100 billion in assets and cash, according to the government. It also cemented the crown princes grip on power.

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said a move by companies to Riyadh is a win-win.

Its important for us, but its even more important for the companies because they will get the benefits of being closer to decision makers," al-Falih told The Associated Press in an interview on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh.

He said the intent is not to penalize companies but to show them access to the biggest market in the region. The government hopes the Regional Headquarters Attraction Program will add $18 billion to the local economy and create 30,000 new jobs over the next decade.

Creating jobs and diversifying the economy sit at the heart of Prince Mohammeds Vision 2030 blueprint for transforming the country. He is set to inherit a nation where over a third of the population is under 14, and more than 60% are under 35.

The prince is partly looking to the $450 billion Public Investment Fund, the kingdoms sovereign wealth fund, to generate jobs and non-oil economic growth through state-backed mega-projects, like the $50 billion heritage project in Diriyah just outside Riyadh featured on the cover of Dubais airport magazine.

Some investors remain concerned about doing business in the kingdom, said Ayham Kamel, head of the Middle East division at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy that advises companies. He said there is little clarity on tax incentives for businesses that will relocate or whether they will need to adhere to a Saudi hiring quota.

The investment minister said the kingdom is working on providing clear answers. To be honest, we had challenges the first five years because our regulations were not ready, al-Falih said. That is now either done or on its way of being done in the next couple of years.

Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia wants to be seen as a safe place to do business. He said the self-declared anti-corruption campaign should be seen as a positive sign that the kingdom is starting a new page where foreign investors can find a level playing field.

Investors remain tepid about Saudi Arabia, though the figures are improving. Foreign direct investment to the kingdom plummeted dramatically to $1.42 billion in 2017, the year Prince Mohammed sidelined his more experienced, older cousin to become crown prince and the year he launched what he called an anti-corruption campaign.

Last year, foreign direct investment climbed to $4.6 billion, but thats still less than in 2016 when it stood at $7.5 billion. The figures are dwarfed by inflows to neighboring United Arab Emirates, where FDI reached $13.8 billion last year.

Some see the kingdoms ambitions as a direct challenge to the UAEs emirate of Dubai, which exudes luxury with its trendy bars and restaurants, five-star hotels, endless shopping and family-friendly beaches tailored for Western lifestyles and Asian tourists. For many, Riyadh remains lack-luster in comparison.

Dubai is currently hosting the World Fairs Expo. Last week, Saudi Arabia announced Riyadhs bid to play host to the six-month-long fair in 2030.

Al-Falih brushed aside any comparisons to Dubai, saying Riyadh is simply claiming what he believes is its appropriate place as as the capital of the Middle East.

We are the biggest economy. We are the geopolitical capital of the region, he added. And we have the biggest ambition. We have the biggest opportunities.

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Follow Aya Batrawy on twitter at https://twitter.com/ayaelb
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  President Joe Biden argued Tuesday that historic progress on addressing global warming was achieved at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, and expressed optimism for a similar outcome in Washington, where his legislative agenda has been stalled by intra-party disagreements.

Speaking in a press conference before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden highlighted new efforts to stop methane leaks, protect forests, invest in new technologies and spend money on clean energy infrastructure. But his efforts to meet U.S. commitments on climate change with a major domestic spending bill remained held up by legislative maneuvering.

I cant think of any two days where more has been accomplished on climate than these two days," Biden said.

The president contrasted the U.S. posture of leading several major initiatives at the summit with those of Russia and China, who did not send their leaders to Glasgow. The single most important thing that's got the attention of the world is climate, everywhere, from Iceland to Australia, Biden said, and theyve walked away.

We showed up. We showed up," Biden said. "And by showing up weve had a profound impact, I think, on how the rest of the world is looking at the United States.

Biden has been determined to demonstrate to the world that the U.S. is back in the global effort against climate change, after his predecessor Donald Trump pulled the U.S.  the worlds largest economy and second-biggest climate polluter  out of the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord.

Putting the U.S. on the path to halve its own output of coal, oil and natural gas pollution by 2050, as his climate legislation seeks to do, demonstrates to the world the United States is not only back at the table, it hopefully can lead by the power of our example, Biden told delegates and observers on Monday.

I know that hasnt always been the case, he added, in a reference to Trump.

But Biden has yet to deliver on his own commitments as coal-state U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has again threatened Bidens domestic effort. For all the optimism Biden has been radiating at the summit in Scotland, persistent doubts lurk about whether he can deliver solely through executive actions as continued talks with Congress have steadily cut into his ambitions.

Manchin said Monday, at an unfortunate time for the president, that he remained undecided on Biden's $1.75 trillion domestic policy proposal, which includes $555 billion in provisions to combat climate change.

Manchin holds a key vote in the Senate, where Biden has the slimmest of Democratic majorities, and has successively killed off key parts of the administration's climate proposals. He said Monday he was uncertain about the legislation's impact on the economy and federal debt and was as open to voting against it as for it.

Biden minimized Manchin's objections on Tuesday, saying of the senator, He will vote for this and I believe that Joe will be there.

He insisted no world leaders were pressing him on the fate of the legislation in Washington and expressed confidence in its passage.

Biden has essentially bet that the right mix of policies on climate change and the economy are not only good for the country but will help Democrats politically. But questions remain about whether he has enough political capital at home to fully honor his promises to world leaders about shifting the U.S. toward renewable energy.

Gubernatorial elections Tuesday in Virginia and New Jersey  states Biden won in last years election  will provide the first ballot-box test of how Americans view his presidency.

Biden joined other leaders Tuesday for an initiative to promote safeguarding the world's forests, which pull vast amounts of carbon pollution from the air. As part of a broader international effort, the administration is attempting to halt natural forest loss by 2030 and intends to dedicate up to $9 billion of climate funding to the issue, pending congressional approval.

"Forests have the potential to reduce  reduce  carbon globally by more than one third," Biden said.

The president and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen co-hosted an event to promote an alternative to China's infrastructure financing programs. Biden compared his Build Back Better World policies to the Chinese programs, saying his would not expose countries seeking infrastructure funds to debt traps and corruption.

He then highlighted the commitments by roughly 100 countries to cut methane emissions by 30% over the next decade.

Biden also joined world leaders in promoting investments in new technology to fight climate change and build a carbon-neutral future. "Our current technology alone wont get us where we need to be, he said, We need to invest in breakthroughs.

The president also met behind closed doors with Prince Charles and commended the Royal Family for its dedication to climate issues, the White House said.

Crucial for his time in Scotland is that he's emphasizing several policies that can be achieved without congressional buy-in, such as the methane pledges and private partnerships.

Back home, his administration chose Tuesday to launch a wide-ranging plan to reduce methane emissions, targeting a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

Biden came to the summit saying he hoped to see his legislation pass this week, but Manchin's new objections threaten to close the narrow window Biden may have to win passage of his initiatives. The senator is eager to preserve his state's declining coal industry despite coal's falling competitiveness in U.S. energy markets.

If Biden's climate legislation falters, he could be limited to regulatory projects on climate that could easily be overturned by the next U.S. president, and turn his stirring cries for climate action abroad into wistful talk at home.

Manchins statements are a possible sign that one of two key Democratic votes in the Senate wants to delay votes on the presidents agenda until the bill is fully reviewed. But House Democrats are still taking steps this week to pass Bidens $1 trillion infrastructure package, which includes efforts to address climate change. The White House is seeking to turn both measures into law, linking them in hopes of appeasing a diverse and at times fractious Democratic caucus.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki pushed back, saying the administration is confident the spending package already meets the criteria set by Manchin.

It is fully paid for, will reduce the deficit, and brings down costs for health care, childcare, elder care, and housing, Psaki said. We remain confident that the plan will gain Senator Manchins support.

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Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)  The University of Florida has been asked by its accrediting body to explain how denying a request by three professors to serve as paid experts in a voting rights lawsuit conforms to standards for academic freedom and avoids undue political influence.

University leaders prohibited professors Dan Smith, Michael McDonald and Sharon Austin from being paid as expert witnesses in a lawsuit that says Florida's new elections law harms voting rights. Over the weekend, school officials said such testimony would go against the schools interest by conflicting with the administration of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On Monday, Belle S. Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, told news outlets the organization planned to investigate the university's decision.

Smith chairs the universitys political science department, McDonald is a national expert on elections and Austin studies African American political behavior. All have testified in other cases as paid expert witnesses before.

Later Monday, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs and Provost Joe Glover said in a letter to the campus community that the school will immediately appoint a task force to review the universitys conflict of interest policy and examine it for consistency and fidelity.

They said it is critical that the policy advances the universitys interests while protecting academic freedom. They also said the professors are free to testify pro bono on their own time without using university resources."

The university has a long track record of supporting free speech and our facultys academic freedom, and we will continue to do so, their letter said.

In response to the university leaders' letter, attorneys for the professors said Tuesday that they'll fight for the scholars' right to speak on their own personal time, as citizens and as scholars."

By picking and choosing which of its faculty can testify in court as expert witnesses over voting rights, the University of Florida is violating these professors constitutional rights in the place where their truthful views are needed most: a United States Courthouse," said the statement from attorneys David ONeil and Paul Donnelly. They have sworn an oath to work on behalf of the people of Florida, not political interests."

The 10 Democratic members of Florida's congressional delegation on Tuesday condemned the decision in a letter to Fuchs.

We urge you to reconsider this prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment as well as the deeply rooted principles of academic freedom that we know you and the University of Florida community hold so dear," said the letter issued by the office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

As part of the accrediting body's investigation into whether the university violated the academic freedom" and undue political influence" standards, officials will be asked to provide more details about the decision to deny the professors' request, the Miami Herald reported.

Wheelan said findings are expected no later than June 2022, and the university could face no action, a warning, be further monitored, placed on probation or lose its accreditation.

UFs president answers to its Board of Trustees, which has six members appointed by the governor and five appointed by the state university systems Board of Governors. The Board of Governors, in turn, has 17 members, 14 of whom are appointed by the Florida governor and confirmed by the state Senate. These offices have been in Republican hands for many years.

DeSantis office, in a statement released Monday, denied being behind the decision to block the faculty members' testimony.

The fact remains that all public universities, including UF, have policies around situations where conflicts of interest may arise, including paid testimony in a lawsuit, DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw said in a statement.
BEIJING (AP)  China on Tuesday accused the U.S. of a lack of transparency and responsibility regarding an accident in the South China Sea involving a Navy submarine last month.

At a daily briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the U.S. should provide full details of the incident that has revived a dispute between the two countries over the strategic waterway.

We once again urge the U.S. to give a detailed account of the accident, he said.

Two U.S. Navy officials speaking on condition of anonymity on Monday said the service had determined the nuclear-powered USS Connecticut struck a seamount, or underwater mountain.

The Navy has yet to fully explain how or why the sub struck the seamount or to reveal the extent of damage to the Seawolf-class submarine.

Wang described what he called a lack of transparency and responsibility by the U.S. in following up with the incident.

He said the U.S. has so far failed to offer a clear explanation" of what the Navy nuclear submarine was doing in the area, as well as the specific location of the accident, whether it was in another countrys exclusive economic zone or even territorial waters, whether it caused a nuclear leak or damaged marine environment.

China claims sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars of international trade pass each year. Six governments claim islands, atolls and exclusive economic zones in the sea, while the U.S. insists that freedom of navigation be maintained, reinforcing that with regular military flights and naval patrols and training missions around the region.

The Navy has said the submarines nuclear reactor and propulsion system were not damaged. The collision caused a small number of moderate and minor injuries to the crew. USNI News, which was first to report that the submarine had struck a seamount, said damage to the forward section of the sub included its ballast tanks.

The incident happened on Oct. 2 but was not reported by the Navy until five days later. The vessel sailed to Guam for a damage assessment, where it remains.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Marshals Service said Tuesday that suspects being held in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection do not need to be removed from the District of Columbia jail complex despite their complaints about conditions there.

The Marshals completed an inspection of the Washington jail complex that holds both local defendants and federal defendants awaiting trial. The inspection came shortly after a federal judge held the District of Columbias corrections director and jail warden in contempt and asked the Justice Department to investigate whether inmates civil rights were being abused at the facility.

While the Marshals' inspection found the building where 30 Jan. 6 defendants are being held to be sufficient, federal officials said they will be moving about 400 other inmates out of a secondary jail building after the inspection found conditions there did not meet minimum standards. They are being transferred to a facility in Pennsylvania.

Christopher Geldart, Washingtons deputy mayor for public safety and justice, said the allegations made by federal officials are deeply concerning, even as local officials work to repair the aging jail. He said city officials were working with the federal government to obtain the Marshals Services full report and have also asked for a copy of a recent inspection by the jails independent oversight body as well.

We take seriously the responsibility of caring for justice-involved DC residents and believe they should remain in DC, he said. DOC leadership is evaluating moving inmates within the facility so that issues raised can be addressed efficiently and expeditiously.

Attorney General Merrick Garland had said during congressional testimony last month that the Marshals were conducting the inspection and the Justice Department was conducting a review of the conditions at the jail.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth had summoned the jail officials to court last month in the case of Christopher Worrell, a member of the Proud Boys who has been charged in the Jan. 6 attack, who was delayed medical care for a broken wrist. He had been recommended for surgery in June but still hadn't undergone the procedure as of mid-October, in part due to a delay by jail officials in turning over medical documents. Worrell has been accused of attacking police officers with a pepper spray gel, and prosecutors have alleged he traveled to Washington and coordinated with Proud Boys leading up to the siege.

Other Jan. 6 defendants held at the jail have decried what they say are deplorable conditions there.

More than 630 people have been charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection, where thousands of pro-Trump supporters stormed the building in an effort to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden's victory.
DETROIT (AP)  Tesla has issued a recall that automatically sent a software update fixing a safety problem in its electric vehicles, apparently heading off a looming confrontation with U.S. safety regulators.

But recall documents posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website Tuesday don't address another safety issue specified by the agency when it demanded that Tesla explain why it wasn't doing recalls for safety-related software updates done over the internet.

The recall covers nearly 12,000 Teslas with a glitch in the Full Self-Driving software that can make the cars stop for no good reason. The company's paperwork says the problems with automatic emergency braking can increase the risk of other vehicles hitting Teslas from behind.

A public recall allows owners to ensure repairs are done and that people buying cars know of potential safety problems. It also allows the NHTSA to make sure the recall addresses the safety issue. The agency can fine automakers if they dont issue recalls quickly enough or if they dont fix all of the problems.

The recall covers all four Tesla models  the S, X, 3 and Y. Tesla documents say a software update sent on Oct. 23 introduced the glitch.

Company documents say Tesla started getting reports from owners the next day about phantom braking. In a matter of hours, the company says it canceled further updates or reverted the software to a previous version. That disabled emergency braking on some of the vehicles.

On Oct. 24, the company traced the cause to a communication disconnect between two computer chips. It developed another software update to fix the problem and sent it out on Oct. 25, according to the documents. The company said it voluntarily agreed to do a recall on Oct. 26.

The move appears to show that Tesla now will issue a recall when it pushes out software updates to fix safety issues. It also sets a precedent for other automakers that they do the same.

On Oct. 12, regulators sent a letter to Tesla demanding to know why the company didn't recall its vehicles when it sent a software update to fix a problem with its Autopilot partially automated driving system. The update addressed detection of emergency vehicles parked on roads while crews responded to crashes.

The NHTSA opened an investigation of Autopilot in August after getting reports of a dozen crashes into emergency vehicles. The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the dozen crashes that are part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed.

Tesla had until Monday to explain why it didn't issue a recall for the Autopilot update. As of early Tuesday, NHTSA had not posted any documents detailing Tesla's response.

The agency said conversations with Tesla continue to ensure that any safety defect is promptly acknowledged and addressed according to the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The statement didnt say if Tesla responded to the agencys questions on the Autopilot software update.

Messages were left early Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla.

Tesla did a software update in late September that was intended to improve detection of emergency vehicle lights in low-light conditions. The safety agency says Tesla is aware that federal law requires automakers to do a recall if they find out that vehicles have safety defects.

Tesla says that Autopilot and Full Self-Driving are driver-assistance systems and cannot drive themselves, despite their names. The automaker says drivers have to be ready to intervene at any time.

Selected Tesla drivers have been beta testing the Full Self-Driving software on public roads. The NHTSA also has asked the company for information about the testing, including a requirement that testers not disclose information.

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Follow AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher at http://twitter.com/tkrisher
The Navy admiral in charge of U.S. Fleet Forces Command has been nominated to be the second-highest ranking member of the U.S. military.

Adm. Chris Grady, who has led Fleet Forces Command since May 2018, was nominated Monday to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to a Senate Armed Services Committee aide and a notice posted to Congress.gov on Monday. Tuesday afternoon the Pentagon announced the nomination.

Prior to leading Fleet Forces Command, Grady headed up the U.S. 6th Fleet. His career has also included time commanding the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, during which he deployed for nearly 10 months to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of the counter-ISIS mission known as Operation Inherent Resolve, according to his Navy biography.

He also served as assistant to the Joint Chiefs chairman in 2017.

Grady's nomination comes weeks before the current vice chairman, Air Force Gen. John Hyten, is set to retire.

Read Next: Military's Work on Sexual Assault Might Help with Fighting Extremists, Report Suggests

Ahead of his retirement, Hyten warned that his successor will need to contend with a Pentagon that takes too long to develop new weapons and capabilities needed to compete with adversaries such as China that are leaping ahead.

"Right now, it's so frustrating because the answer to every question I get is that, 'OK, we need the following capability.' And how long is it going to take? And the answer is 10-15 years," Hyten told reporters last week.

As Hyten's Nov. 21 retirement neared, lawmakers expressed concern that the vice chairman position could sit vacant, urging the White House to send a nomination as quickly as possible.

Even with a nominee now named, the confirmation process -- which includes meetings with individual senators, a Senate Armed Services hearing, a committee vote and full Senate vote -- could take weeks and leave a gap in the position.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., who is responsible for leading Pentagon nominees through the confirmation process, last week expressed hope lawmakers in both parties could cooperate to move as quickly as possible to confirm a vice chairman nominee.

But Reed also downplayed concerns about the vacancy, noting that the job has been open before and expressing confidence that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley can make up for any gaps.

In 2019, between Hytens confirmation and the his predecessors retirement, the vice chairman position was vacant for four months while senators weighed allegations Hyten committed sexual assault. Hyten denied the claims by a female Army officer and was ultimately confirmed by a wide bipartisan majority.

Milley was chairman for two of those four months.

"He understands and is prepared," Reed said of Milley managing the Joint Chiefs without a vice chairman, adding he recently spoke with the general.

Still, Republicans on Tuesday hit President Joe Biden for the late nomination.

"It's still very unlikely, in terms of meetings, in terms of hearings, in terms of floor time ... that we're going to get this done in the proper amount of time without having a gap," Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said at a news conference Tuesday. "Why on earth would you have a dereliction of duty approach to a very simple issue: Put forward the vice chairman nominee before there's a gap."

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: Vice Chairman's Retirement Leaves Hole on Joint Chiefs as Biden Delays Nominee Pick
As the military tackles the problem of extremism in its ranks, one team of researchers suggests thinking about the problem in a novel manner: Deal with it the way you would sexual assault.

A team from CNA, a research organization based in Arlington, Virginia, released a report Monday arguing that "key parallels" exist between the two issues and that some of the work on sexual assault "can be adapted to provide a solid starting point for addressing racial extremism."

The paper contends that one of the key similarities between the two issues is that neither exists in only its most extreme form. The issue of sexual harassment and assault is not just a problem of rape; for example, lesser behaviors such as casual sexually themed comments create environments where more extreme behaviors are seen as acceptable or tolerated.

Similarly, the report argues, actions such as allowing racist jokes and remarks create an environment that can be interpreted by would-be extremists as accommodating of more violent actions.

Another key similarity, according to Megan McBride, one of the report's authors, is that, at their most extreme, both issues end with behavior that is illegal and prohibited by the military.

Read Next: Army Will Approve Temporary NCO Promotions Before Soldiers Go to School

"How do you stop these activities and behaviors that already are illegal -- where their illegality isn't enough to prevent them from occurring?" she questioned in a phone call with Military.com.

McBride and her co-authors assert that the answer to that problem can be drawn from the military's work on sexual assault.

She proposes replicating "some of the reporting mechanisms that exist within the sexual assault/sexual harassment world, both because it provides people an opportunity to indicate that something has happened, but also because it creates an opportunity for the DoD to create a database to understand the real scope of the problem."

"If you talk to researchers about the problem of extremism in the military right now, a recurrent theme you hear is we don't have any data," McBride added.

It's a sentiment that comes from inside the military as well.

McBride also observed that "the military doesn't have a definition of extremism per se. It has a definition of prohibited extremist behaviors."

As a result, only the most flagrant or obvious examples of extremism get documented or addressed.

McBride is quick to note, though, that she and her team are not suggesting that the military's handling of sexual assault in its ranks is complete or totally successful. Nor are they saying the issues are identical.

"These two problems are close enough that we can turn to the literature on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and learn an incredible amount and, even if we don't have processes that we can replicate perfectly, we can start five steps ahead," she explained.

Since taking office, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has given more focus to the issue of extremists in the ranks, but the issue is far from resolved.

Aside from service members continuing to belong to white supremacy organizations, the Pentagon also has acknowledged that extremist groups are actively trying to recruit military members.

Congress has begun hearings on the topic as well.

The CNA report shies away from making recommendations of grand solutions to the problems it outlines, and McBride notes that "our primary offering in this report was a different framework for thinking about the scope of the problem."

"Whatever that solution is, it should ... create an environment that's hospitable to the service member of color and inhospitable to his or her racist leader," she said.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Yes, an Air Force Recruit with Ties to a Hate Group Is Out. But the Military's Extremism Problem Isn't Fixed.
The Army is seeking feedback from families currently enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program regarding the new, centralized case management system, called the Army Enterprise EFMP system (E-EFMP).

Among the concerns and problems the E-EFMP hopes to solve are issues that families have voiced over the past few years, such as repeat paperwork with each move, inconsistencies from installation to installation and having to physically visit an EFMP office to have their questions answered.

EFMP families can "test-drive" the new system and provide feedback. You can do that here. Feedback for the developers and program managers are encouraged.

Approximately 8% of military families have a family member enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), according to an October 2018 report -- and 40% of those are Army families. The Army's EFM Program began in 1979 to provide medical support to families, including, but not limited to:

The need for ongoing services from a medical specialist

Behavioral health concerns

Early intervention or special education services

Chronic conditions

The medical support provided to EFMP families includes coordination of assignments based on provider availability, ensures there are educational and medical resources available at the duty station and provides family support services at the local installation.

Initially, enrollment was voluntary, but became mandatory for dependents in 2005, and assignments are given to service members based on the availability of providers for their family member's needs. Enrollment is done through the local EFMP office, usually when service members are preparing to move or additional medical services are required. An EFMP screening is required for overseas assignments. Sometimes, EFMP enrollment means the family members will not be able to accompany their soldier on an overseas or remote assignment if there are no medical providers in the area.

Solving Problems

Changes to the E-EFMP system were implemented from Aug 27 through Sept 30, bringing solutions to problems currently enrolled family members are experiencing, such as:

Digital case files that are transferrable between duty stations;

24/7 access to information;

An ability to sign documents digitally; and

Access to a list of Defense Health Agency-registered health-care providers.

"One of my top frustrations is the need to renew paperwork every three years, even if nothing has changed," Army spouse Amanda Krieger said in an interview with Military.com. "Or, in the case of respite care [short-term relief for primary caregivers], every year."

But with the E-EFMP system, once a form is filled out electronically, the data will be saved in the cloud and will be available through their time in the Army.

"So they won't have to reenter the same data for each new relocation," senior executive Christopher Thomas, director of information technology for the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 (DCS, G-9) said in a press release.

Thomas said this information will be available to them as long as they have internet access, allows family members to sign documents digitally and will link to the Army's assignment process.

The E-EFMP will be available to soldiers and their family members online and through a smartphone app available on both Android and iPhones. Eventually, the E-EFMP will link to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army (IPPS-A).

Army spouse Bailey C., who asked that her last name not be shared, is currently stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany, and recently discovered her son was automatically enrolled in the program without her or her husband's knowledge. When she tried to get more information about the program and why he was enrolled, she struggled to find the local resources -- and has been unable to find a working phone number.

"It was assumed we should automatically know who needed to be enrolled and why, even though no one ever mentioned it to us," she said.

Bailey plans to do research on her own before their next assignment to ensure their family has providers in the area.

The new program's app and website aims to help family members with pre-move research. The provider trends section of the website allows you to select a potential duty station and see what providers are available and recommended. The user-generated content shares the reason why providers or duty stations aren't recommended, most commonly for the distance the provider is located from the installation.

There are almost 57,000 evaluations currently in the portal, and 78% of them are not recommending a particular provider based on the distance to the provider. The information can be broken down to specific installations and types of providers, allowing family members to do research before accepting new assignments.

At this point, families don't need to do anything to update their records, Thomas said.

-- Rebecca Alwine can be reached at Rebecca.Alwine@monster.com.
MOSCOW  A top Russian security official met the visiting chief of the Central Intelligence Agency on Tuesday, a rare encounter amid tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlin's Security Council, met CIA Director William Burns in Moscow to discuss U.S.-Russian relations, Patrushev's office said in a statement without providing any details.

Ties between the two countries have badly frayed over Russia's interference with U.S. elections and 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, its support for a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, hacking attacks and other irritants.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a June summit in Geneva in an attempt to make relations between their nations more stable and predictable.

They agreed to launch consultations on arms control and cybersecurity while noting areas of continued disagreement.

Speaking last month, Putin described relations with Washington as quite constructive and said he personally has developed working, stable relations with Biden. The Russian leader voiced hope that mutual interests would eventually help normalize U.S.-Russia ties.

Patrushev, a longtime close associate of Putin's, is considered one of Russia's most influential officials.
With less than a month to go before the Navy's vaccination deadline, the service says it has granted only five exemptions to its COVID-19 mandate -- all for medical reasons.

Lt. Cmdr. Andrew DeGarmo, a spokesman for the Navy, confirmed Tuesday in a call with Military.com that the branch of more than 300,000 active-duty personnel has issued a handful of permanent medical exemptions.

So far, the service has not kicked anyone out over the vaccine mandate, DeGarmo confirmed.

Similarly, Marine spokesman Capt. Ryan Bruce told Military.com in an email Tuesday that there has not been "a court-martial stemming from refusal to receive vaccination against COVID-19." He did note, though, that Marine Corps headquarters "does not track disciplinary actions below court-martial."

The Marine Corps said it would release its total exemption figures after the deadline has passed.

Read Next: Fleet Forces Commander Tapped to Be Vice Chair of Joint Chiefs

"Right now, [the effort is] really focused on trying to get the sailors vaccinated first and make sure everybody's taken care of," DeGarmo said.

Both branches have said active-duty sailors and Marines have until Nov. 28 to be fully vaccinated; reservists have until Dec. 28.

Although the exemption process has received significant attention as some service members publicly push for permission to sidestep the mandate, neither service thus far has supported religious exemptions to the vaccine.

DeGarmo said that the Navy has not approved any religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccinations to date, and has rejected "some" exemptions while others are under review. He noted that the service has not approved a religious exemption for any vaccine in at least seven years.

Bruce said that there is "no record of any religious accommodations for vaccination being granted by Headquarters Marine Corps in the past 10 years."

The two sea service branches have stressed that the process for such exemptions is on a case-by-case basis, and decisions are being made by senior leadership.

Capt. Richard Ryan, a chaplain who has been in the service since 2001 and oversees the Pacific Fleet, told reporters in August that the discussion around religious exemptions for vaccines is relatively new for him.

He explained that chaplains in individual commands will be charged with determining sailors' sincerity, but said that the deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, training and education, a three-star admiral, ultimately will decide who gets an exemption and who doesn't.

DeGarmo said that the case-by-case review has been time consuming but stressed that there isn't a "blanket 'no'" policy for requests in a call with Military.com on Oct. 29.

The Marine Corps has a similar approach. Its exemptions will be decided by the Manpower and Reserve Affairs department, headed by Lt. Gen. David Ottignon.

As of last week, the Navy said that 95% of active-duty sailors were fully immunized, while the Marine Corps reported 86% of active-duty Marines being vaccinated.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Marine Corps Makes It Clear: Get The Vaccine or Get Out
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The cryptocurrency based on Netflix blockbuster Squid Game has collapsed, and anonymous scammers behind the cryptocurrency that peaked to $2,861 before plummeting to $0 on Monday, made over $2.1 million before shutting the crypto project.

The SQUID crypto coin was trading at $0.003203, reports CoinMarketCap.

The developers behind the crypto project have left the project after the price of its affiliated token crashed to nearly zero.

They claimed on its official Telegram channel that its developers do not want to continue running the project due to the stress of dealing with scammers.

"Someone is trying to hack our project these days. Not only the twitter account @GoGoSquidGame but also our smart contract. We are trying to protect it but the price is still abnormal. Squid Game Dev does not want to continue running the project as we are depressed from the scammers and are overwhelmed with stress [sic]. We have to remove all the restrictions and the transaction rules of Squid Game. Squid Game will enter a new stage of community autonomy," the developers' Telegram channel wrote.

The latest development shows just how risky it can be to invest in a new and hyped token in the crypto market, reports CoinDesk.

Called "rug pull" by crypto investors, such digital scamming happens when the creators of the crypto quickly cash out their coins for real money, draining the liquidity pool from the exchange.

Launched last week, the Squid Game crypto project gained instant popularity and the token rose by more than 35,000 per cent in just three days - despite several red flags including grammatical and spelling errors in the project's white paper.

Its Telegram channel, set up by the unknown scammers, also didn't allow comments from outsiders.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
November 02, 2021

When Russian Troops Training In Russia Are 'Raising Concerns' Its Propaganda

Yesterday the Washington Post as well as Politico were again engaging in warmongering disinformation.

Both claimed that Russian troops are amassing at the Ukrainian border.

The Post wrote:

A renewed buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border has raised concern among some officials in the United States and Europe who are tracking what they consider irregular movements of equipment and personnel on Russias western flank.

Politico headlined:

Satellite images show new Russian military buildup near Ukraine

But while the headline of the piece say "near Ukraine" the text actually places the pictured troops "near the Russian town of Yelnya close to the border of Belarus."

"Which is it?" one might ask. It could of course be both as Belarus and Ukraine are neighboring countries. But a look at a map shows that the real answer is "neither".

Yelnya is about halfway between Moscow and Minsk. The distance from Yelnya to the border of Belarus is some 60 miles or 100 kilometer. The distance to the Ukrainian border is about 150 miles or 250 kilometers. Yelnya is a regular Russian army training ground and the troops said to be there there are all units from Russia's western military district. To see those troops there, even in larger formations, is normal.

That is why even the Ukrainian defense ministry says that it has seen nothing it is concerned about:

Ukraine's defence ministry on Monday denied a media report of a Russian military buildup near its border, saying it had not observed an increase in forces or weaponry. The Washington Post said at the weekend a renewed buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border had raised concern among some officials in the United States and Europe who are tracking what they consider irregular movements of equipment and personnel on Russia's western flank.

The Ukrainian defense ministry rejects the Washington Post claim of "irregular movements of equipment and personnel" in Russia and even called it "disinformation" (machine translation):

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, as of November 1, 2021, no additional transfer of Russian units, weapons and military equipment to the state border with Ukraine has been recorded. It is most probable that the facts published in the media and on the Internet about the increase of groups of the Russian Armed Forces in the Ukrainian direction are an element of special informational and psychological actions, and are essentially planned measures to relocate troops after training.

There are of course new tension between the Ukraine and Russia. The Ukraine has bought Turkish Bayraktar drones and allegedly recently used one in an attack on an artillery piece in the renegade Donbas region:

The strike prompted a wave of alarm in Moscow. I would like to mention once again that the conflict in southeastern Ukraine has no military solution, as was acknowledged by all those countries that so much fret over civilians and, generally, the situation in Ukraine. The attempts to settle it by force will have very deplorable and somewhat incalculable but generally tragic consequences, said Russias Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

There have also been artillery strikes on civil areas in Donbas and a Ukrainian takeover of a small hamlet in the demilitarized zone.

These are provocations designed to divert the Ukrainian public from the rather catastrophic economic situation Kiev is in.

The Saker asserted recently that a war over the Donbas region may be inevitable as it is in the interest of the 'west' as well as in the interest of current Ukrainian government.

I do not agree with that analysis. The Ukraine, even with silent help from NATO, would of course lose a war over Donbas. All the 'western' claims of supporting the Ukraine and all the U.S. maneuvers near Russia would then be exposed as empty talk and bluffs. Other U.S. clients, think Taiwan, would add that to the U.S. retreat from Afghanistan and the defeat of the U.S. sponsored opposition in Hong Kong and recognize that they can not trust any assurance coming out of Washington DC.

To be again exposed as toothless loudmouths would be another disaster for U.S. foreign policy. Joe Biden is too experienced to let that happen on his watch.

Then again - we have seen lots of nonsense coming from the White House, State Department and Pentagon.

Today the Ukrainian defense minister Andriy Taran suddenly resigned. No reasons were given. Did he receive orders he did not like?

Posted by b on November 2, 2021 at 18:21 UTC | Permalink

Comments
Colquitt County Administrator Chas Cannon, left, and Moultrie City Manager Pete Dillard, right, pose with symbolic checks representing Community Development Block Grants the two governments have been approved for. The county will use its grant of $684,183 for improvements to Coy Cox Road, while the city will use its grant of $712,746 to purchase and renovate a former bank building to create a new mental health center.
DALLAS (AP)  American Airlines struggled to fix its operation but still canceled more than 350 flights on Monday as disruptions caused by staffing shortages at the big carrier continued for a fourth straight day.

Monday's performance was an improvement over Sunday, when American scrubbed more than 1,000 flights  more than one-third of its schedule  according to tracking service FlightAware.

Like other airlines, American encouraged thousands of workers to quit last year when air travel collapsed during the pandemic, only to be caught short-staffed this year when travel recovered faster than expected.

Flight attendant staffing at American remains strained and reflects what is happening across the industry as we continue to deal with pandemic-related issues," said Paul Hartshorn Jr., a spokesman for the union representing American's flight attendants.

Flight attendants said many reached their maximum allowable hours for October during the final days of the month, leaving many flights without cabin crews. About two-thirds of Americans cancellations Sunday were due to a lack of flight attendants, with most of the rest due to pilot shortages, according to internal airline figures.

Americans troubles started Thursday and Friday, when high winds reduced flights at its busiest hub, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. American was unable to get pilots and flight attendants in position for upcoming flights, leading to about 1,900 cancellations nationwide from Friday through Sunday, according to FlightAware.

David Seymour, the airlines chief operating officer, said over the weekend that help was on the way. He said about 1,800 flight attendants are coming back from leave starting Monday, and more are being hired by year-end. The airline is also hiring pilots and reservations agents, he said.
The Permian Basin is known globally as one of the most prolific oil and gas producing basins on the planet. Now its developing a reputation as a prime member of what is known as the Central Space Basin.

There is a hub of six spaceports in the central US and Midlands International Air and Space Port and its adjacent Spaceport Business Park sit in the middle, Oscar Garcia, chairman and chief executive officer of InterFlight Global Corp., told Midland Development Corp. board members at their monthly meeting Monday.

Were getting more calls and interest from companies wanting to explore Midland and the Central Space Basin, he said during his third-quarter update. He estimated the tenants at Midlands Spaceport Business Park address a market that amounts to $140 billion.

Since 2018, Garcia said his company has attracted three companies to the park, creating 200 jobs and hosted more than 50 companies who have visited the facilities. Just last week, he said, a large, high-profile company visited Midland and focused on the ability to develop an airspace corridor.

He said efforts to develop and expand Midlands space economy are on target and on budget. Local leaders had a productive visit to Spaceport America in New Mexico in August to further development of an airspace corridor between spaceports. He added that efforts also have the support of the Texas and New Mexico congressional delegations.

Garcia predicted that by the end of next year, two to four new companies will take up residence in the business park, creating 192 good-paying jobs and adding to the citys gross domestic product in three key areas: Satellites, high speed aircraft and testing and manufacturing.

He noted that the rapidly developing space economy is highly competitive, with many communities wooing companies to their facilities.

They do not have the natural asset you have, which is air space, he said. That is a competitive advantage money cannot buy.

Over the last decade, the MDC has invested $9.5 million in buildings and infrastructure, according to Sara Davis, MDC executive director. She said those assets belong either to the city or to the MDC. That compares to the $49 million the MDC has invested in road, water and sewer infrastructure in the same period, she added.

MDC's investment at Midland College

Damon Kennedy, vice president of instruction services at Midland College, was also on hand to offer an update on the colleges dual credit and Career and Technical Credit programs, which have received $1.35 million in investments from MDC over the last five years, from 2017 to 2021.

Kennedy said the programs saw a bit of a dip in the last year amid the pandemic and oil market downturn but expressed confidence enrollment will recover.

He told board members the program has shifted its focus from enrollment to completion and is working to improve its tracking of graduates to gauge the impact of the investment.

Whats fascinating to me is that of the 51 percent who enrolled in the academies and then went on to college, 71 percent finished college, he said.

The goal of the academies is not just to provide students the skills they need to go to work in Midland but the momentum they need if they want to continue their college educations, he said.

Courses have expanded to include firefighting, law enforcement, cybersecurity, HVAC technology and education.

According to Kennedy, the academies have served 2,335 students by offering 16 high demand, high wage career pathways and resulted in total tuition savings of $5.215 million or about $3,800 per student. Enrollees have seen 40 percent faster degree completion, taken 10,966 courses and earned 670 credentials he added.
The 2020 census missed an estimated 1.6 million people, but given hurdles posed by the pandemic and natural disasters, the undercount was smaller than expected, according to an analysis by a think tank that did computer simulations of the nation's head count.

The analysis, done by the Urban Institute and released Tuesday, found that people of color, renters, noncitizens, children and people living in Texas  the state that saw the nation's largest growth  were most likely to be missed, though by smaller margins than some had projected for a count conducted in the midst of a global pandemic. Still, those shortfalls could affect the drawing of political districts and distribution of federal spending.

The analysis estimates there was a 0.5% undercount of the nation's population during the 2020 census. If that modeled estimate holds true, it would be greater than the 0.01% undercount in the 2010 census but in the same range as the 0.49% undercount in the 2000 census.

The 2020 head count of the nation's 331 million residents last year faced unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires in the West, hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and attempts at politicization by the Trump administration. The census is used to determine how many congressional seats each state gets, provides the data used for drawing political districts and helps determine the allocation of $1.5 trillion in federal spending each year.

The fact that the undercount wasnt larger is surprising and certainly a good news story, said Diana Elliott, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. This undercount suggests the 2020 census may not be as close in accuracy as 2010, but it may not be as dire as some had feared."

The official undercount or overcount of the census wont be known until next year when the Census Bureau releases a report card on its accuracy. The bureau's post-enumeration survey measures the accuracy of the census by independently surveying a sample of the population and estimating how many people and housing units were missed or counted erroneously

The Urban Institute created computer simulations that modeled the count by demographic characteristics and geography. Despite the smaller-than-expected national undercount, it showed wide ranges based on race, ethnic background, age and among U.S. states and metro areas.

In 2020, Black and Hispanic people had net undercounts of more than 2.45% and 2.17%, respectively, according to the Urban Institute estimates, while they were respectively 2.07% and 1.54% in 2010.

There was an overcount of white residents by 0.39%, according to the Urban Institute, and undercounts of Asians, Native Americans and Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders by 0.6%, 0.36% and 1.5%, respectively.

By comparison, 2010 had an overcount of white people by 0.84%. In 2010, there were undercounts of Asians by 0.08% and Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders by 1.34%. Native Americans on reservations were undercounted by 4.88% in 2010, but those off reservations were overcounted by 1.95%. Children under age 5 were undercounted by 4.86%, households with noncitizens by 3.36% and renters by 2.13% in 2020, according to the Urban Institute.

While the national undercount in the Urban Institute model was not as bad as feared, the fact that minority groups continue to be undercounted is unacceptable, said Cara Brumfield, a senior policy analyst at the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality.

I dont think we can be satisfied with that, Brumfield said.

Arturo Vargas, CEO of National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, said the Urban Institute analysis was yet another sign that Hispanics were undercounted. The first indication was the release of the apportionment numbers in April in which three states with large Hispanic populations  Arizona, Florida and Texas  failed to gain or didn't get as many congressional seats as expected, he said.

One of the nation's leading civil rights organizations, the National Urban League  not to be confused with the Urban Institute  said recently that an undercount of Black residents could rob African American communities of billions of dollars in federal funding and three congressional seats. National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial blamed the Trump administration, which attempted but failed to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census form and tried to end the head count early.

The National Urban League has called for congressional hearings to look into the extent of political interference in the 2020 census.

This isnt simply an unfortunate accident, Morial said. Its the result of a deliberate campaign of sabotage intended to steer political influence and public resources away from communities of color."

The Urban Institute's analysis found variations in the accuracy by geography. Among the 20 largest metro areas, the Twin Cities had the nation's highest overcount, more than 1%, and Miami had the largest undercount at about 1.7%.

Mississippi and Texas were undercounted by 1.3% and 1.28%, respectively, in the simulated count. Minnesota, Iowa, New Hampshire and Wisconsin also registered overcounts in the simulation, an unsurprising conclusion since they had among the highest self-response rates in the nation during the actual count.

About a fifth of the U.S. residents not counted in the Urban Institute's simulations, or more than 377,000 people, lived in Texas, and that could have real-life consequences. According to the Urban Institute analysis, Texas stands to miss out on $247 million in 2021 federal Medicaid reimbursements for being undercounted.

President Joe Biden's choice to head the Census Bureau, Robert Santos, was chief methodologist at the Urban Institute before his nomination last spring. He played an advisory role on the project, Elliott said.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.
BEIRUT (AP)  A televised remark by a game show host turned Cabinet minister in Lebanon about the war in Yemen has taken the countrys crisis with Saudi Arabia to new depths.

Anger over George Kordahis comments led to steps by Gulf Arab countries that further isolate Lebanon and threaten to split its new coalition government, tasked with halting the countrys economic meltdown.

Punitive measures from Saudi Arabia, once an important ally that poured millions of dollars into Lebanon, could cause more economic pain. The kingdom has banned all Lebanese imports, a major blow to a country whose main trading partners are in the Persian Gulf.

It is the latest escalation in the rivalry that has long played out in Lebanon between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Tensions have dragged on for years over the dominant role in Lebanon of the Iranian-backed militant Hezbollah group.

Now Saudi officials insist it is pointless to deal with the government in Beirut after so much drift toward Iran.

But what is really behind Saudis angry response, and what does it mean for the already embattled Lebanon?

WHAT WAS THE SPARK?

The immediate spark were comments by Kordahi, who had gained popularity in the Arab world for hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on a Saudi-owned TV network.

During a mock parliament streamed online last week, Kordahi fielded questions from an audience of young people from the region. In one answer, he called the war in Yemen absurd and said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked no one and have the right to defend themselves.

The online program was recorded about a month before Kordahi was named information minister in the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, formed in September. Kordahi was named by a mainly Christian party allied to Hezbollah.

Saudi officials blasted his remarks as offensive and biased toward the Houthis. Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis, who a year earlier took control of the capital, Sanaa, and northern parts of Yemen.

Most commentators have said they believe Kordahis comments were a pretext for the Saudis to vent their frustration at Irans influence in Lebanon.

WHAT DO THE SAUDIS WANT?

The Saudis know what they dont want  growing Iranian influence in Lebanon  but they dont know what to do about it, said Joseph Bahout, research director at the American University of Beirut.

Saudi Arabia has long been a close ally of politicians in Lebanons Sunni Muslim community, which chooses the prime minister under the countrys sectarian system. But the kingdom never forged the divided community into a strong political proxy the way the Shiite Hezbollah  with its powerful armed force  became Irans stalwart ally in Lebanon.

Particularly since the 2005 assassination of its most powerful ally, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the kingdom lost its tools of influence.

Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman  known for his assertive, some say brash, foreign policy  Saudi Arabia took sporadic action trying to impose its will but failed to develop a cohesive strategy or find new well-rooted allies. It could only watch as Hezbollah and its allies came to dominate most recent Lebanese governments.

Saudi Arabias most drastic move came in 2017, when it forced then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri to announce his resignation, citing Hezbollahs domination, in a televised statement from a brief visit to the kingdom, where he was apparently held against his will.

The incident backfired. Hariri returned home and revoked his resignation, supported by Hezbollah and its allies. He lost Saudi backing.

Relations have been chilly since. Last spring, Saudi authorities banned imports of all Lebanese produce over allegations they were used for drug smuggling.

Most recently, Riyadh refused to back Mikati as prime minister because of his coalition with Hezbollah. The Saudis found themselves alone when Washington and Paris expressed support for Mikati, after Lebanon had been without a government for over a year.

Frustrated, the Saudis appear to have gone for a strong move over Kordahis comments. Saudi Arabia, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, withdrew their ambassadors from Lebanon and expelled Lebanese envoys to the kingdom.

IMPACT ON LEBANON

The Saudi measures are a huge blow to Mikatis new government.

The import ban means the loss of millions of dollars in desperately needed foreign currency. Any further escalation could undermine jobs of more than 350,000 Lebanese in Gulf Arab states who send home millions in remittances.

Mikati and other officials have appealed to Kordahi to resign from the Cabinet, but it's uncertain that would resolve the rift.

Hezbollah has stood firmly behind the minister, saying his resignation wont resolve what they called extortion to force Lebanon to change its foreign policy.

It all portends more internal divisions in a government already paralyzed over the investigation into last years massive Beirut port explosion that killed more than 200 people. Hezbollah has demanded the chief investigating judges removal. A recent burst of street violence, the worst in years, raised the specter of social tensions ahead of crucial parliamentary elections in March that are expected to be a test for Hezbollah and its allies.

In a WhatsApp message to his Cabinet read on local TV stations, Mikati said the country is at the edge of a precipice.

He flew to Glasgow to seek French and U.S. mediation but his options are limited.

We know they are upset. We know that they dont want a government with Hezbollah as strong," Bahout said of the Saudis. We know that they know that we cant have a government without Hezbollah.

It is kind of a completely blocked and stalemated situation, he added.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the Saudi-led coalition entered the war in Yemen in 2015, not 2014.
NEW YORK (AP)  Robert Durst was indicted Monday for murder in the death of his first wife, Kathie Durst, whose disappearance nearly four decades ago has long shadowed the incarcerated millionaire, contributing to his increasingly bizarre and violent behavior and leading to an infamous on-camera confession.

A grand jury in the New York City suburbs returned the second-degree murder indictment just weeks after an investigator in the case filed a criminal complaint in town court charging the 78-year-old real estate heir with murder, Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah said.

Durst is serving a life sentence in California for killing a confidante who helped him cover up Kathie Durst's slaying. Durst was hospitalized on a ventilator with COVID-19 after his Oct. 14 sentencing in the Los Angeles case and was transferred last week to a state prison hospital. His medical condition was not released but a mug shot showed no sign of a ventilator.

Rocah said a warrant has been issued for Durst's arrest in the New York case.

When Kathleen Durst disappeared on January 31, 1982, her family and friends were left with pain, anguish and questions that have contributed to their unfaltering pursuit of justice for the last 39 years, Rocah said in a statement announcing the indictment.

Rocah said her office reinvigorated its investigation into Robert Durst when she took office in January, launching a cold case unit and dedicating necessary skill and resources. She decided to take the case to a grand jury in early October. Rocah said Durst's indictment is a "huge step forward in the pursuit of justice for Kathie Durst, her family and victims of domestic violence everywhere.

Asked by a reporter if he had any reaction to the indictment, Durst lawyer Chip Lewis replied in an email: Fake news! Asked in a subsequent email if he'll be representing Durst in the New York case and whether there are concerns about moving him to New York, given his health issues, Lewis responded, Not sure he will make it. But if he does, Ill let you know.

A lawyer for Kathie Durst's family said they were still processing the news of the indictment and would speak more about the matter in the coming days.

Kathie Dursts 1982 disappearance garnered renewed public interest after HBO aired a documentary in 2015 in which the eccentric Durst appeared to admit killing people, stepping off camera and muttering to himself on a live microphone: Killed them all, of course.

The grand jury that indicted Durst kept meeting and hearing witnesses even after State Police Investigator Joseph Becerra filed a criminal complaint in a town court in Lewisboro, New York, on Oct. 19 charging Durst with second-degree murder. He had never previously been charged in her disappearance.

Such filings are often seen as a first step in the criminal process because, in New York, all felony cases require a grand jury indictment to proceed to trial unless a defendant waives that requirement.

Kathie Durst was 29 and in her final months of medical school when she was last seen. She and Robert Durst, who was 38 at the time, had been married nearly nine years and were living in South Salem, a community in Lewisboro. Her body was never found. Robert Durst divorced her in 1990 citing abandonment. At the request of her family, she was declared legally dead in 2017.

Robert Durst's behavior became increasingly erratic as investigators made several attempts over the years to close the case. In 1999, authorities searched a lake and the couples home but turned up little evidence, with Becerra equating the search to a a needle in a haystack.

In December 2000, Durst shot and killed his best friend, Susan Berman, as she was preparing to tell police about her involvement in Kathie Dursts death. She had told friends she provided a phony alibi for him after his wife vanished, prosecutors said.

Durst was convicted in September of killing Berman. Afterward, Los Angeles prosecutor John Lewin described him as a narcissistic psychopath, saying Durst killed his wife and then he had to keep killing to cover it up.

After Bermans death, Durst went into hiding, disguising himself as a mute woman living in a cheap apartment in Galveston, Texas. There, he killed a neighbor, chopped up his body and tossed it out to sea. Durst claimed self-defense  that he and Black were struggling for control of a gun  and was acquitted. He was convicted of destroying evidence for discarding the body parts.

Durst was also sentenced in 2016 to over seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge stemming from a 2015 arrest in New Orleans.

Robert Dursts family owns more than 16 million square feet of real estate in New York and Philadelphia, including a 10% stake in One World Trade Center, the Manhattan skyscraper formerly known as the Freedom Tower. Family members bought out Robert Dursts stake in the business for $65 million in 2006.

In the 2015 HBO documentary The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, Durst appeared to admit killing people and admitted he made up details about what happened the night she disappeared because he was hoping that would just make everything go away.

Durst, who has numerous medical issues, sat in a wheelchair for much of the California trial and sentencing hearing. He read his lawyers questions from a tablet giving live transcriptions because he struggles with hearing.

Durst, testifying in the Los Angeles trial in August, denied killing Kathie Durst. After her medical school called to report that she hadnt been going to class, he said he figured she was out someplace having fun and suggested that perhaps drug use was to blame.

It hadnt occurred to me that anything had happened to her, Durst said, speaking slowly in a strained, raspy voice. It was more like: What had Kathie done to Kathie?

___

Associated Press writer Brian Melley in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

___

Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak
Alex_Schmidt

Two men are facing murder charges in connection with a shooting that occurred Sunday in a parking lot at 4555 East University in Odessa.

Martin Monge Hernandez, 19, was charged with a first-degree felony charge of murder and evading, arrest or detention with a vehicle, a third-degree felony. Cristian Escarcega, 24, was also charged with murder, a first-degree felony and evading arrest or detention, a class A misdemeanor.
A jury trial for David Wilson, the man who allegedly shot and killed Midland Police Officer Nathan Hayden Heidelberg while the MPD responded to a burglar alarm call, is set to begin this week more than two years after the incident. Below is a timeline of events surrounding the case.

March 5, 2019

The city of Midland reported that a police officer was killed in the early hours of March 5, 2019, while responding to a burglar alarm call in the 3300 block of Eagle Cove, a cul-de-sac in north Midland. The officer was identified as Nathan Hayden Heidelberg, a field training officer who had been with the department for five years.

A spokesman for the city said in a statement that Heidelberg and three other responding officers loudly announced their presence to the homeowner, David Wilson, before Heidelberg was shot and killed. Wilson, CEO of Unitex Oil & Gas, was arrested and charged with manslaughter; he was released on $75,000 bond later that day.

An arrest affidavit for Wilson stated that after being dispatched to his residence at about 1:16 a.m., officers walked the perimeter and noticed the door was unsecure. Heidelberg was investigating the unsecure door when a single shot was fired in his direction, according to the affidavit.

In a statement to the Reporter-Telegram, Wilsons attorney, Brian Carney, said his client believed that his family was experiencing a home invasion and only fired his weapon to protect his family.

March 7, 2019

Unitex Oil & Gas released a statement saying the company was deeply saddened by the events that took place this week.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the fallen officer and all of those affected by this devastating incident, the company said in the statement.

March 8, 2019

Heidelberg was laid to rest and posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor, which was presented to his parents. During his funeral, Heidelberg was remembered as someone who maintained self-composure.

As much as I try, I will never be as good a man as Hayden, MPD Chief Seth Herman said during the ceremony. I truly wish I could be more like Hayden.

March 11, 2019

Heidelbergs family gave a short statement to members of the news media.

The family of Officer Hayden Heidelberg would like to extend their sincerest thank you to the community of Midland that Hayden loved to serve, they said in the statement. While all of us knew how special Hayden was to this family, we did not realize the great impact he had on this city.

We love that Hayden touched so many lives in so many ways and are enjoying hearing all the Hayden stories. ... God bless you all and God bless Haydens brothers and sisters in blue. You will forever be a part of our family.

May 2, 2019

Wilson was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of manslaughter. The indictment stated that he recklessly caused the death of an individual  by then and there shooting a firearm at or in the direction of the said Nathan Hayden Heidelberg.

Sep. 12, 2019

Heidelberg was posthumously honored with the Star of Texas award. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott presented the award to Heidelbergs parents at the state Capitol.

Sep. 19, 2019

Wilsons defense claimed in a brief filed with the 142nd District Court that his alarm system malfunctioned and mistakenly alerted police on the night Heidelberg was killed. The brief stated that the Wilsons were not aware that their alarm company had called the police.

According to the defense, officers opened an unlocked front door, waking the Wilsons and leading to David Wilson retrieving his gun because he believed there was an intruder. The brief stated that he shot in the direction of a flashlight before closing the door and calling 9-1-1.

March 5, 2020

The MPD gathered to remember Heidelberg on the one-year anniversary of his death. During a private ceremony, they raised then later lowered a special police flag honoring Heidelberg gathered for a round of volleys from the honor guard.

August 20, 2020

The Midland Police Department unveiled a highway sign honoring Heidelberg after the Midland County Commissioners Court previously named Farm-to-Market Road 307 the Officer Hayden Heidelberg Memorial Highway. The MPD also gifted Heidelbergs patrol car to his family.

Nov. 1, 2021

After being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, a jury trial for Wilson is set to begin this week. Jury qualifications began Monday, and jury selection will begin Tuesday. Wilson is facing two to 20 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter, a second-degree felony.
79, formerly of Muskogee left us November 15, 2021 in Nebraska. Her Service of Memory will be on Tuesday, 12pm at Worship Community Center 820 E. Okmulgee. Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc- Muskogee
A 29-year-old man is facing a murder charge after being arrested in Florida in connection to the homicide of a Little River woman who was found dead in her home on Saturday, police said Tuesday.

Horry County police said Colby Kopacz, 29, was arrested Saturday by Pensacola police in Florida. He's currently being held in the Escambia County Detention Center while awaiting extradition to Horry County where he'll be charged.

The Horry County Coroner's Office said 55 year-old Amy Kopacz was found dead Saturday at her residence on Little River Inn Lane. The coroner's office said she died from injuries sustained during an assault. Police have not said if Colby Kopacz and Amy Kopacz are related.

Colby Raymond Kopacz has a previous conviction for criminal domestic violence in 2013, according to online court records, and pled guilty to assault and battery, third degree, in 2016.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israels energy minister, who uses a wheelchair, was able to attend the global climate summit Tuesday, after police prevented her from reaching the venue.

Energy Minister Karine Elharrar arrived at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow alongside Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, using a ramp to enter the building, according to footage sent by Bennett's office.

Tomorrow the exact same thing will be here, he said, gesturing toward the accessible entrance. It's very important, so is the message it sends, he said.

A spokeswoman for Elharrar said Monday that she wasnt able to attend the conference after police officers at a checkpoint did not let her vehicle with the wheelchair through.

Elharrar's spokeswoman Shaked Eliyahu said that even though conference organizers knew she required an accessible entrance, the ministers car was kept from approaching for two hours, after which she was offered a ride on a shuttle  which wasnt wheelchair accessible.

The incident was an embarrassment to organizers of the high-profile event and prompted apologies from British officials.

We deeply regret that incident, Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC radio Tuesday. What would normally happen in this situation is that Israel would have communicated that they had that particular need for their minister.

There was obviously something that went wrong in this instance and they werent aware of that and so they hadnt made the right provisions at the particular entrance she was coming to."

After the incident, Elharrar wrote on Twitter that its sad that the UN, which advances accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021, doesnt see to accessibility at its events.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted that It is impossible to safeguard our future and address the climate crisis, without first and foremost caring for people, including ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.

-

-_Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report.
Update 4:30 p.m.: Saint Louis University has responded to today's emergency plane landing with a letter from the university's president to the campus community.

In the letter, SLU President Dr. Fred Pestello applauded the training and "cool-headedness" of the student and instructor in the aircraft who were able land it safely after losing power.

"The student, Jongchan Park, and Flight Instructor Ryan Lewandowski reported no injuries after their emergency landing on dirt farmland next to Tebby Road in Millstadt, Illinois," Pestello said in his letter. "Park was practicing basic flight maneuvers between 8 and 9 a.m., with Lewandowski acting as co-pilot, when the Piper PA-28-281 suddenly lost power."

He notes Park and Lewandowski worked together to carefully land the plane.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Scott Duellman, interim dean of the Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, and Steve Magoc, chair of the Department of Aviation Science, have grounded the universitys three other Piper aircraft until our maintenance crew and federal aviation investigators can diagnose the reason the aircraft unexpectedly lost power," Pestello wrote.

"Park, a senior, is one of 124 aviation science students who are taking flight training at the Center for Aviation Science this semester. Lewandowski is among our 21 flight instructors there."

=======

Update 10:30 a.m.: Millstadt Fire Chief Kurt Pellmann responded to the scene and said the small aircraft belongs to Saint Louis University.

"It was a pilot and instructor on it  landed safely," Pellmann said. "They lost power."

Pellmann also confirmed no one was hurt.

We've reached out to Saint Louis University for comments and are awaiting a response.

=======

A plane has made an emergency landing in St. Clair County field.

KMOV-TV is reporting that officials said the field is near Illinois Route 163 and Imbs Road just south of Centreville.

No injuries are being reported at this time.

This is a developing story, we will bring you more information when it becomes available.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A prominent South Carolina lawyer whose wife and son were killed five months ago and has since found himself part of a half-dozen state investigations and a number of lawsuits had his assets frozen Tuesday by a judge worried he and his son might be scheming to hide money.

Judge Daniel Hall sided with an attorney suing Alex Murdaugh on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old woman killed in a crash on Murdaugh's boat which prosecutors said his late son was driving.

The family's lawsuit says Murdaugh is trying to hide millions of dollars they could possibly collect in their lawsuit and he could shift money between unknown accounts and potentially sell off property and a boat after he turned all his affairs over to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh. He could also benefit from the estates of his slain wife and son and his father who died of natural causes a few days later, attorney Mark Tinsley said.

They have refused from day one to give me any information," Tinsley said.

Murdaugh inherited part of a legal empire in tiny Hampton County, South Carolina. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors. The familys law firm, located in the most impressive building in town after the courthouse, has spent a century winning multimillion-dollar verdicts.

Remaining unsolved now for nearly five months are the deaths of Murdaughs wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22. Murdaugh said he returned to their rural Colleton County home to find them shot to death. Tight-lipped state police have neither named any suspects nor ruled anyone out. Murdaugh has adamantly denied having anything to do with their killings.

The deaths lead to five more criminal investigations into Murdaugh, from whether he stole money from the familys century-old PMPED Law Firm to the events around his housekeepers death and insurance payout to whether he or his family tried to obstruct the investigation into the boat crash.

A lawyer for Murdaugh argued at a hearing before the judge Friday that he has not been found responsible in any civil suits since his wife and son were killed and has insurance to cover if he is required to pay damages.

Attorney John Tiller also argued if Murdaugh loses control of his assets, that would open the door for similar things to happen in countless other cases if the person who sues thinks the defendant does not have enough insurance.

Murdaugh, 53, remains in the Richland County jail without bond after being charged with stealing nearly $3 million in insurance payments meant for the sons of his housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall in his home. His legal team did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Tuesdays ruling.

A judge handling the Murdaugh criminal cases last month asked for a report on his mental state before considering whether to set bond. A date for a hearing has not been set.

While the criminal investigations into Murdaugh continue  he also has been charged with trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son could get a $10 million life insurance policy  the civil lawsuits against him are also piling up.

Murdaugh faces at least six lawsuits seeking money as damages, from claims over the 2019 fatal boat crash to allegations he stole accidental death insurance settlements meant for his housekeeper's sons and money from his family's century-old law firm to his own brother saying Murdaugh owes him $46,500 on $90,000 loaned in September in part to get Murdaugh into drug rehab.

The judge's decision Tuesday only deals with the lawsuit from the family of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. She died after Murdaugh's boat hit a Beaufort County bridge in February 2019 and her body was found seven days later.

Prosecutors say Paul Murdaugh was driving the boat recklessly while intoxicated and charges against him were dropped after he and his mother were killed at the family's Colleton County home in June.

Lawyers in two other lawsuits against Alex Murdaugh filed similar motions asking to have the independent lawyers review and catalog all of Murdaughs assets and approve whether he can spend money. They will get part of any legal settlements or judgements against Murdaugh in the cases they are involved.

Those cases involve a man on the boat who said the Murdaugh family tried to falsely pin him as the boats driver along with the family of Murdaughs late housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. The Murdaughs said she died after a fall in the familys home in 2018.

Murdaugh has been charged with pocketing nearly $3 million worth of insurance settlements that was supposed to go to Satterfields estate.

Prosecutors have accused Murdaugh of illegally diverting the money to his accounts. They said he then paid off a $100,000 credit card bill, transferred more than $300,000 to his father and $735,000 to himself.

Hes living pretty well for someone with no assets. He has a crisis manager, Tinsley said at Friday's hearing.

Last week, at least two more lawsuits were filed against Murdaugh looking to collect debts. His old PMPED Law Firm sued, saying they loaned him $470,000 in 2021 and has not been paid back. The law firm has a separate suit against Murdaugh seeking money they said he stole from them. That suit didn't specify and amount, but legal papers have suggested it is in the millions.

Also Randolph Murdaugh IV sued his brother, saying $90,000 he loaned before his arrest to help his brother make payroll and after the arrest for rehab has not been paid back minus a $43,500 tractor and rotary cutter that court papers said were given to the brother after Alex Murdaugh first tried to sell it.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
Dont you feel a wee bit bad for Merrick Garland?

Granted, youre probably infuriated that the fascist putsch plotters continue to roam free. Which means youre probably asking yourself, on a hourly basis, When, oh when, when is someone gonna do something about it?

That lament may well be aimed at the U.S. attorney general, who has vowed to restore the rule of law by bringing justice back to the Justice Department. By now its crystal clear that the lowest people in the highest places, on the eve of Jan. 6, conspired to take democracy down. Indeed, the House has voted (nine Republicans even concurred) to recommend that subpoena stonewaller Steve Bannon be prosecuted by the Justice Department for criminal contempt. As Adam Schiff remarked, Are some people truly above the law, beholden to nothing and no one, free to ignore the law and without consequence?

I guess well find out at some point. All Garland has said thus far is that his department will apply the facts and the law and make a decision consistent with the principles of prosecution, which could mean anything.

But, if I may muster a smidgen of sympathy, Garland is in a tough position. Hes a high-minded man of probity whos been tasked to confront the lowest form of human life. As Slate legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick shrewdly observed the other day, The Big Lie is already going halfway across the world, while the institutionalists are still double-knotting their loafers.

On the one hand, If Garland does nothing to hold the coup plotters accountable, it will irrevocably shred the Justice Departments credibility, erase the rule of law, sanction the use of violence, and give MAGAs the green light for the final conflagration in 2024. Schiff, in a recent podcast, worries about that: I think theres a real desire on the part of the attorney general not to look backward.  I disagree with (that) most vehemently.

For instance, federal law  18 U.S.C. 371  says its a crime to defraud the federal government. And its clear, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling in 1925, that obstructing a free election and the ritual counting of electors, falls well within that language. The court ruled that its a federal crime to interfere with or obstruct one of (the) lawful governmental functions by deceit, craft or trickery, or at least by means that are dishonest.

Theres also abundant language in 18 U.S.C. 2384 to indict Trump and his plotters for seditious conspiracy. Heck, there are grounds to federally prosecute Trump for pressuring Georgias top election official to commit fraud by reversing Joe Bidens statewide win. Lest we forget, Trump was caught in a phone recording saying: I have to find 12,000 votesSo what are we going to do here, folks? I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes.

Still, there are potential downsides for Garland. If he does decide to do his job, in accordance with the facts and the law, hell risk a violent backlash anyway. Plus, the coup crowd and their right-wing media cheerleaders will move to impugn the Justice Departments credibility and assail it as a hotbed of partisan jackbooted socialists or whatever. (But thats already happening. Recently on his podcast, Steve Bannon ranted that Garland plotted to illegally remove Trump from office after the 2020 election: I can show you a coup and we will show you a coup.  Were going to connect hard dots. Um, Garland didnt get the attorney general job until March.)

So, for Garland, is doing nothing really a viable option? What happens to the concept of justice if he surrenders to the mob? Laurence Tribe, the esteemed law professor, warns: Looking backward as well as forward is essential if were to avoid falling over the cliff that lies ahead.

Heck, looking backward is what prosecutions are all about  holding people accountable for the wrongs theyve already committed, signaling to future potential criminals that they too would be held accountable. Garland can start by prosecuting Bannon for defying the subpoena issued by House investigators who want to know what he meant when he declared in a pre-Jan. 6 podcast that all hell is going to break loose.

As the novelist William Faulkner famously wrote, The past is never dead. Its not even past.

Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. He can be reached at dickpolman7@gmail.com.
Halloween was fun while it lasted.

For decades, it has been the one day of the year we could all forget our worries and live in the moment.

When I was a kid in the 1970s, Halloween was for kids.

As the weather became chilly and the leaves turned brilliant colors, we knew our annual candy haul would happen soon.

We didnt put much effort into our costumes  any old sheet could be converted into a ghost outfit  but planning our trick-or-treat route took hours.

Since our parents wouldnt let us begin trick or treating until it got dark out  and since we had to be home before 8 p.m.  Tommy Guillen and I refined our routes every year with the intensity of logistics executives.

Wed hit the well-to-do homes on the other side of the railroad tracks first.

Those people gave away full-size delicacies, including Hersheys, Nestle Crunch, Milk Duds, Almond Joy, Snickers, Milky Way, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and my favorite, the Mallow Cup.

The only downside with well-to-do people was that, because their homes are farther apart, we had to travel a greater distance to earn that name-brand candy.

Wed then return to our own neighborhood of modest homes and then hit the small post-World War II ranch homes a few blocks away.

The wonderful people who lived in those houses had only one minor flaw: they favored the budget-conscious, locally made Clark Bar, which was made of peanut-butter taffy and a chocolate coating.

As an adult, I love Clark Bars and love that they are still being made 104 years after they were launched. But as a kid, they werent as valuable to me. Id have to trade 10 of them to get a single Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.

Im incredibly nostalgic about my old trick-or-treating days.

To this day, when I enjoy an occasional candy bar, the taste immediately transports me back to 1972 and the wonderful memory of arriving home with a pillowcase full of sugary loot, my feet raw from the effort.

Heres why I am especially nostalgic about my childhood Halloween memories: it was a time when kids were free to be kids  free to explore, create and blossom  completely unburdened by the worries of the adult world.

In 1972, the Watergate scandal was in full swing, Bloody Friday bombs were exploding in Belfast and the last U.S. ground troops were being withdrawn from Vietnam.

But as those and other awful experiences played out in the wide cruel world, we kids were free to completely immerse ourselves in our innocent and uncomplicated Halloween traditions.

In recent years, adults have grown to enjoy Halloween.

Until recently, it was the one day when they, too, could dress up in ridiculous costumes  costumes that often satirized current events or mocked people in the news in very funny ways  and really let themselves have fun.

But now, thanks to the fun-crushing power of social media, those days are over, too.

Politics has infused itself into every waking moment of our lives, including Halloween.

Some schools are canceling Halloween parties and parades. The media offer guidance on what costumes are politically and socially unacceptable.

Everyone is on guard, worried that he or she may be recorded doing or saying something politically incorrect that inadvertently offends somebody else.

Its become a very bad idea to let yourself have too much fun, or one too many adult beverages, at a Halloween gathering.

As I said, our Halloween fun was good while it lasted.

Tom Purcell is an author and humor columnist. He can be reached at Tom@TomPurcell.com.
Watertown, SD (57201)

Today

Snow showers around this evening. Clearing skies later. Low 28F. WSW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

Tonight

Snow showers around this evening. Clearing skies later. Low 28F. WSW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Makeup makes comeback in Mideast market as pandemic eases View Photo

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  While pandemic style saw people put on pajamas and their hair up in a bun, 2021 is more about mascara and lip liners  and makeup sales in the multi-billion-dollar Mideast market are beginning to improve.

For women in the region  and particularly the Gulf Arab states  makeup is one of their biggest spends, offering an opportunity for expression even to those who cover their hair and part of their face with black veils.

After a pandemic sales slump, analysts now predict the Middle East makeup market will grow by as much as 5% over the next five years, even as sales in some parts of the world continue to slow, such as in Western Europe and North America.

Drawing on those trends, Dubai  the glitzy city state that is part of the United Arab Emirates  has been hosting a number of events and celebrities. Among them was Mario Dedivanovic, known for doing Kim Kardashians makeup, who hosted a talk on the future of beauty over the weekend. With more than 9 million followers, Dedivanovic is one of the most influential makeup artists currently on the scene.

Mask-less women donning designer shoes and bags and wearing the latest makeup trends, gathered at Mirdif City Center Mall to listen to him.

Dedovanovic said Dubai is on par with global beauty hubs.

Dubai is such a cosmopolitan city. Everywhere in the world, you know, everybody knows about Dubai, Dedovanovic told The Associated Press. He said makeup artists in Dubai are doing everything at the same pace that  it is being done in Paris and Milan and London.

The makeup industry was worth $4 billion in the Middle East even during the pandemic, according to market research group Euromonitor International. But the pandemic hit it hard with the surge in working from home and cancellations of many social events such as weddings. Pandemic-related job losses also meant less disposable income, and spending focused more on necessities.

Globally, the makeup industry declined by 16% in 2020, Euromonitor said, with the slump slightly less drastic at 10% in the Middle East.

Amna Abbas, a consultant for beauty and fashion at Euromonitor, said some areas of the Middle East, including the UAE, had shorter lockdown periods. Once markets reopened, we saw signs of recovery happening immediately, she said.

As people began to go back to offices, socialize more and attend events, makeup sales began improving. Euromonitor said makeup sales growth should hit 6% to 8% in the Mideast this year.

Abbas said the growth has been faster than expected, even though the market is not likely to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until 2022 or 2023. She added that recovery is still on.

Online shopping is also becoming increasingly important and so is the use of social media. After 2020, more women turned to purchasing their favorite shades of lipstick or foundation online, assisted at times by an augmented reality feature where they could see what they would look like wearing a specific color.

As part of the growing reliance on online shopping, women in the Gulf follow celebrities, influencers, and makeup brands on social media to find out about trends and beauty tips. Huda Kattan, a Dubai-based Iraqi-American beauty magnate, has built a billion dollar business here on that.

___

Follow Malak Harb on Twitter at www.twitter.com/malakharb.

By MALAK HARB

Associated Press
CAIRO (AP)  Tribal protesters on Monday lifted their weekslong blockade on Sudans main seaport and oil pipelines, and reopened roads linking the port to the rest of the country, a tribal leader said, following a deal with the military to remove the barricades for one month.

The development comes a week after the military dissolved the transitional government in a widely condemned coup in Sudan that threatens to further derail the countrys already fragile transition after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.

Pro-democracy activists have accused the military of engineering the port blockade and another pro-military protest outside the presidential place in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to deflect from their military takeover of the country.

Kamal Sayed, secretary general of the Baja tribal council, told The Associated Press the tribal leaders have reached a deal with the military to lift the blockade of the Red Sea port and oil pipelines, and reopen roads in the eastern city of Port Sudan for one month, to allow the formation of a new government.

The council represents six nomadic tribes that live in northeastern Sudan where the port is located. They have held street protests in Port Sudan for the past two months, setting up barricades and staying out on the streets to block the port, a lifeline for the country, oil pipelines and major roads.

The tribal protesters demand the military fully dissolve the transitional government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, whom the army put under house arrest following the coup. They also demand that a peace deal struck last year with a rebel alliance in the east be renegotiated.

The generals have denied accusations of engineering the port blockade, saying that the protesters demands in Port Sudan and in Khartoum are legitimate and should be negotiated politically.

In the weeks before the coup, Hamdoks government and the U.N. had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate the reopening of the port and the key roads.

Sayed, the tribal official, said the makeshift barricades at the ports terminals and the main highway liking Port Sudan to Khartoum was removed on Monday morning. He said the barricades would be reinstated if their demands are not met.

The blockade has caused food and fuel shortages across Sudan, with the government warning last month the country was running out of essential goods, including medicines, food and wheat.

Meanwhile in Khartoum, a semblance of normalcy has returned, with several roads and bridges reopened after weeklong tensions and protests against the militarys takeover.

The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum said that movement in and around Khartoum has improved since Saturday, but that military checkpoints remain in place in several areas. Protesters have continued to set up makeshift barricades in some neighborhoods around Khartoum.

Simon Manley, Britains ambassador to the U.N. mission in Geneva, said that some 50 countries have requested an emergency session of the U.N. Human Rights Council on the Sudanese militarys takeover. The actions of the Sudanese military are a betrayal of the revolution, the transition & the hopes of the Sudanese people, Manley tweeted.

Also Monday, security forces rearrested the countrys former foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, hours after his release from a Khartoum prison, local media reported.

Ghandour was first arrested in June last year as part of efforts to dismantle al-Bashirs Islamist regime. He was released late Sunday along with other former officials and al-Bashir allies, according to the Sudan Tribune news website.

No reason was given as to why Ghandour was rearrested. He had headed al-Bashirs now-dissolved political party and his release  which was also not explained  had stirred up controversy and anger among the pro-democracy movement.

Sudans military rulers also dismissed the countrys acting chief prosecutor, Mubarak Mahmoud Othman, late on Sunday, according to the state-run Sudan TV. The report offered no details.

Meanwhile, the U.N. envoy for Sudan, Volker Perthes, said mediation efforts were ongoing in Khartoum by a host of actors to find a way out of the crisis. Since last week, U.N. representatives have shuttled between the military and pro-democracy leaders.

Theres a lot of shuttling, Perthes told U.N. correspondents in New York in a virtual press conference from the Sudanese capital.

Hamdok remains under house arrest but is allowed to meet with foreign envoys. Perthes met with Hamdok on Sunday. The U.N. envoy did not elaborate on Hamdoks circumstances  or expand on any demands or conditions by coup leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan.

Perthes said both Hamdok and Burhan are interested  in mediation and have accepted a wise persons committee to shuttle between them and develop ideas. He also said that at demonstrations, Hamdok has become very much a symbol of civilian leadership of Sudans revolution, pointing to more images of the prime minister than previously seen.

I think by having him resume his offices, the situation would de-escalate much, and it would be much, much easier to discuss all the outstanding, controversial issues, Perthes said.

Everybody wants to find a way out, he also said, adding that there are hopes that contours of a package for negotiations could emerge in the next few days.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

By SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press
Official: New Mexico regulators should reject utility merger View Photo

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A state hearing examiner has recommended that New Mexico regulators reject the purchase of the states largest utility, Public Service Co. of New Mexico, by global energy giant Iberdrola.

The potential downsides of the merger outweigh the benefits, Ashley Schannauer, a hearing examiner for the Public Regulation Commission, said in a report and non-binding recommendation made public Monday.

Under the merger, Connecticut-based Avangrid and its parent firm, Iberdrola of Spain, would acquire PNM Resources and its New Mexico and Texas power subsidiaries. If approved, the $4.3 billion transaction would affect about 800,000 homes and businesses.

New Mexico customers earlier this year sounding the alarm over the proposal, citing a sordid track record of reliability and customer service among utilities owned by Avangrid in other states.

Spanish officials also announced in June that Iberdrola executives would be investigated over alleged bribery, breach of privacy and fraud. The company has maintained that the executives did nothing wrong.

Schannauer had blasted Avangrid and Iberdrola earlier this year for failing to disclose information about the problems elsewhere. His recommendation again cited missteps and problems, including incomplete responses and overly extensive confidentiality requests.

Joanie Griffin, a New Mexico-based spokeswoman for Avangrid, wrote in an email that the company was analyzing the decision and examining the pathways for moving forward to approval.  We remain committed to putting PNM customers first and utilizing Avangrids and Iberdrolas financial strength and resources to help New Mexico meet its decarbonization goals more quickly and efficiently.

Experts have suggested that New Mexico could serve as a platform for producing power that could be exported to larger markets. But critics worry the states customers would be reduced to a secondary consideration for Avangrid and Iberdrola as they look to expand their renewable energy holdings.

It could be several weeks before the Public Regulation Commission makes a final decision, as the parties in the case have 10 days to submit their responses to the recommendation and commissioners will have an opportunity to ask more questions.

If the merger is rejected, the company could submit a revised proposal. Also, the commissions decision can be appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Schannauer wrote that if the commission is inclined to approve the merger, changes should be made to a proposed settlement agreement the companies reached earlier this year with numerous organizations interested in the proceedings.

Avangrid had agreed to numerous concessions, including $65 million in customer-rate relief over three years and $50 million more in other types of customer assistance and spending on economic development programs. It also included safeguards to protect the public against adverse management of PNM by Avangrid in the future.

Schannauer noted that months of negotiations led to numerous changes in Avangrids commitments and promises, making it difficult to point to a final, cohesive agreement that reflects the interests of all parties involved.
California State Capitol Building View Photo

Sacramento, CA  A new state law took effect last month that prevents harassment at vaccination sites.

The law prohibited harassment within 30-feet of sites as a way to restrict protests at those locations. The Associated Press reports that US District Judge ruled yesterday that the law infringes on free speech rights.

However, other portions of the new law will stand. It remains illegal to come within 30-feet of a vaccination site for the purpose of intimidating, obstructing or injuring anyone.

Opponents had argued that the bill was written so broadly that it would also have limited protests at abortion clinics. Proponents said it was aimed at anti-vaccine extremists who were trying to prevent people from getting the COVID vaccine.

The law included penalties of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Starkly different portrayals of Rittenhouse in Kenosha trial View Photo

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  Jurors heard starkly different portrayals of Kyle Rittenhouse  instigator or victim  in opening statements at his trial Tuesday on charges of shooting three people on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice.

A prosecutor said Rittenhouse set the bloodshed in motion when he triggered a confrontation with a man that night and then killed him with a bullet to the back.

But Rittenhouses attorney told the jury that his client acted in self-defense after the man tried to grab Rittenhouses gun and others kicked the teen in the face and clubbed him in the head with a skateboard.

You as jurors will end up looking at it from the standpoint of a 17-year-old under the circumstances as they existed, defense attorney Mark Richards said.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during the summer of 2020 with an assault-style rifle. The one-time aspiring police officer could get life in prison if convicted.

The teenager traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, just across the Wisconsin state line, after protests broke out over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two nights in which rioters set fires and ransacked businesses.

The first witness was Dominick Black, who was dating Rittenhouses sister at the time. Black faces charges he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse months before the shootings because the teen was not old enough to own one at the time.

Black testified that he and Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha to help protect a car dealership after vehicles were burned the night before. Black said he thought nobody would start trouble if they saw him with his assault-style rifle. He also said Rittenhouse helped give medical aid and put out fires.

Black said he was on the roof as protesters hurled gasoline bombs and rocks at the business. He said he heard gunshots but didnt know Rittenhouse was involved until the teenager called and said, I shot somebody, I shot somebody.

Afterward, Black said, Rittenhouse was freaking out. He was really scared. He was pale, shaking a lot. Black said Rittenhouse told him that he acted in self-defense because people were trying to hurt him.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Thomas Binger described the unrest in Kenosha as two of the roughest nights that our community has ever seen and said outsiders were drawn to the city like moths to a flame.

Yet Binger repeatedly stressed that amid the hundreds of people in Kenosha and the anger and chaos in the streets, the only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse.

When we consider the reasonableness of the defendants actions, I ask you to keep this in mind, Binger said, after explaining to the jury that a claim of self-defense can be valid only if Rittenhouse reasonably believed he was using deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

The prosecutor said that it is not known exactly what words were said, but it is clear that Rittenhouse started a confrontation that led Joseph Rosenbaum to begin chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot.

Binger emphasized that Rosenbaum, 36, was killed by a shot to the back after he threw a plastic bag. The first two bullets hit Rosenbaum in the lower extremities, causing him to fall forward, the prosecutor noted.

Richards, the defense attorney, argued that it was Rosenbaum who lit the fuse that night. Rosenbaum yelled an expletive at Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before Rittenhouse fired at him, according to the defense.

Rittenhouse fired four shots in less than a second because Rosenbaum was trying to take Kyles weapon from him to use against him, Richards said.

Binger, the prosecutor, said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fled the scene instead of rendering aid, despite portraying himself as a medic earlier in the night. But Richards said Rittenhouse didnt stop to help because the crowd wanted to kill him, and instead ran toward police.

The crowd at that point clearly believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter, according to the prosecutor.

Moments after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, who was seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. The defense attorney portrayed Rittenhouse as the victim, saying Huber was trying to separate the head from the body with the skateboard.

Rittenhouse then wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a protester from West Allis, Wisconsin, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Prosecutors called FBI agent Brandon Cramin to testify about infrared surveillance video of the protest on the night of the shooting. Prosecutors have said previously that the video would show that it was Rittenhouse following or chasing Rosenbaum at one point. They played a grainy video from 8,500 feet in which figures on the ground werent immediately identifiable. After a dispute between the two sides over whether additional surveillance videos exist that the defense hadnt seen, Cramin, who testified off-camera by the courts order, was asked by the judge if he could return and testify another day.

The defense pushed back against the notion that Rittenhouse was an outsider drawn to Kenosha by a call to arms on right-wing social media. Richards said Rittenhouse had strong ties to Kenosha  his father lived there and Rittenhouse worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard  and had seen livestreams of what was happening.

As his attorney displayed photos and video clips from the night of the shootings, Rittenhouse, wearing a dark pinstriped suit and tie, leaned on his elbows to view the images on a desktop monitor. He sat ramrod straight as audio of gunfire was played, and occasionally turned toward jurors, seeming to scrutinize their reactions.

His mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sat behind him.

The most serious count against Rittenhouse, first-degree intentional homicide, is Wisconsins top murder charge.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see race as an underlying issue in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin, Forliti from Minneapolis. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.

___

Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse

By MICHAEL TARM, AMY FORLITI and SCOTT BAUER

Associated Press
Indonesia deports Chicago woman who helped kill mother View Photo

DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP)  An American woman convicted of helping to kill her mother on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali and stuff the body into a suitcase was deported Tuesday to the United States.

Heather Mack, 26, was released from prison on Friday after serving seven years and two months of a 10-year sentence. Her then-boyfriend, who was also convicted in the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and remains in prison.

Immigration officials escorted her to Balis airport on Tuesday for a flight to Jakarta, where she later departed for Chicago.

The badly beaten body of her mother, wealthy Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was found in a suitcase inside the trunk of a taxi parked at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.

The killing generated national and international attention for years, in part because of photographs of the suitcase that appeared too small to hold an adult womans body.

Mack, who was almost 19 and a few weeks pregnant, and her then-21-year-old boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were arrested a day later after they were found at a hotel about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the St. Regis.

Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly before they were convicted in 2015. Under Indonesian law, she was allowed to live with her mother in her cell in Kerobokan female prison until she turned 2, when Mack gave custody of her young daughter to an Australian woman until her release from prison.

Until she was freed Friday, Mack had not seen her daughter for about 20 months because authorities halted prison visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her attorney, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said earlier that Mack had asked for the girl, who is now 6, to remain with her foster family to avoid media attention in the U.S. Indonesian officials refused.

Minors must be accompanied by their mothers when their mothers are deported. There is no policy that allows a mother to leave her underage child here, said Amrizal, chief of the Bali immigration office.

Macks sentence was shortened by a total of 34 months due to reductions that are often granted to prisoners on major holidays because of good conduct.

After her release, Mack stayed at an immigration detention center for four days while waiting for her flight tickets and travel documents to be ready.

She was tightly escorted by immigration officers to Balis airport for the flight to Jakarta.

Jamaruli Manihuruk, chief of the Bali regional office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said his office has asked the central government to ban Mack from Indonesia for life.

Mack reportedly had a troubled relationship with her mother, with officials in the U.S. confirming that police had been called to the familys Oak Park, Illinois, home dozens of times.

Bali police said the hotels surveillance cameras showed that Mack and Schaefer had argued with her mother in the lobby of the hotel shortly before the killing, which allegedly took place inside a room in the hotel.

Schaefer testified in court that von Wiese-Mack was angry at him when she learned about her daughters pregnancy. He said she insulted him and Mack, wanted her to get an abortion and strangled him in a heated argument before he struck her several times with a fruit bowl.

Prosecutors said Mack helped stuff her mothers body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

Later video from the corridor showed Mack bringing a cart to move the suitcase and Schaefer carrying the suitcase to the cart. Video also showed the couple talking to a taxi driver. The two allegedly abandoned the suitcase in a taxi and left through the hotels back door.

___

Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

By FIRDIA LISNAWATI

Associated Press
DENVER (AP)  A 20-year-old California man accused of assaulting a flight attendant on a cross-country American Airlines flight allegedly punched the woman in the face after being told he could not use the bathroom, leaving her bleeding around her nose and giving her a concussion, according to a court document.

Prosecutors announced Monday that Brian Hsu, 20, of Irvine was charged with assault and interfering with a flight crew on a flight last week from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California.

He appeared in federal court in California Monday and was released on a $10,000 bond. He was ordered to appear in federal court in Denver, where the flight was diverted after the alleged assault, on Nov. 15.

It was not known if Hsu had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

According to an affidavit from an FBI agent who investigated the incident, four witnesses and the flight attendant, who was not named, said Hsu punched the attendant on Wednesday's flight. Meanwhile, Hsu, who said he was returning home after undergoing brain surgery in Rhode Island, told investigators that the attendant charged at him, hitting her nose on his palm.

Hsu said that, while stretching, he accidentally hit the flight attendant with his arm or hand and she began swinging at him with her hands. Fearing she was going to hit him in the head, he raised his hands defensively, he said. According to Hsu, the attendant then charged at him, hitting his palm. Hsu said he suffered a skull injury in New York City last fall and sometimes experiences a mental fog when thinking is difficult, the document said.

The attendant told investigators that she was talking to a coworker when she felt something hit her head and turned around to see Hsu, who said he wanted to use the bathroom, the document said.

She said she told him he could not because the fasten seatbelts sign was on. He then raised his arms as if to stretch and hit her head with his elbow, causing her to put her arms out and her hands up to defend herself, she said, according to the document. After he appeared to back down, she said he charged at her and punched her with his right hand.

Hsu, who was later restrained in his seat with duct tape and then plastic bonds, told investigators that he could not form a fist with his right hand because of an injury, the document said.

The alleged assault comes amid a surge this year in unruly airline passengers, who sometimes become violent.

At the time, Fort Worth, Texas-based American said the passenger, not publicly identified then, would be banned from all future flights. It also called for his prosecution. "This behavior must stop, the airline said.

The head of the union representing the airline's flight attendants, the Association of Flight Attendants, praised the decision to file charges against Hsu as a way to help deter verbal and physical abuse on flights. However, Sara Nelson also asked the federal government, airlines and airports to do more to hold disruptive passengers accountable, including creating a list of people barred from flying on any airline.

"This is not a new normal we are willing to accept," Nelson said.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Hundreds of revelers clad in white and clutching candles crowded into the main cemetery at Haitis capital on Monday to pay their respects to the dead during an annual Vodou festival.

Many in the crowd surrounded the tomb of the first person buried in the Port-au-Prince cemetery, believing it contains the guardian of the dead, known in Haitian Vodou as Baron Samedi.

Im going to continue believing in Baron Samedi. He is my leader because this country has no leader, said Emmanuel Jean-Pierre, a Vodou priest who walked several hours to reach the cemetery because he could not afford public transportation.

The celebration comes at a time of deepening misery and violence for Haiti, which is struggling to recover from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck southwest Haiti in mid-August and killed more than 2,200 people. The country also is facing a severe fuel shortage, a rise in the cost of basic goods and a spike in gang-related kidnappings. Officials announced on Monday that a university professor who was recently abducted had been killed and U.S. and Haitian authorities are trying to recover 17 members of a U.S. religious organization who were kidnapped more than two weeks ago in an unrelated case.

Revelers offered candles and money to a Vodou priest dressed in black and wearing a white hat who stood upon the tomb as he carved a cross into the candles with his fingernail and murmured something under his breath before giving them back.

One man standing near the priest whispered, If you get me a job this year, next year Ill bring you more.

Nearby, people filled wooden bowls with plantains, fish, bread, avocados and anything else they thought their dead relatives or friends might appreciate. They also poured black coffee into the ground as an offering.

Some even requested that the deceased share upcoming winning lottery numbers in their sleep. Others carried jugs of a moonshine rum known as cleren with hot peppers marinating inside.

Vodou is an official and widely practiced religion in Haiti, where it is practiced widely in the country of more than 11 million people. It was born in the 16th century when slaves from West Africa who were forced to practice Catholicism combined the saints with spirits in African religions.
DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP)  An American woman convicted of helping to kill her mother on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali and stuff the body into a suitcase was deported Tuesday to the United States.

Heather Mack, 26, was released from prison on Friday after serving seven years and two months of a 10-year sentence. Her then-boyfriend, who was also convicted in the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and remains in prison.

Immigration officials escorted her to Bali's airport on Tuesday for a flight to Jakarta, where she later departed for Chicago.

The badly beaten body of her mother, wealthy Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was found in a suitcase inside the trunk of a taxi parked at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.

The killing generated national and international attention for years, in part because of photographs of the suitcase that appeared too small to hold an adult womans body.

Mack, who was almost 19 and a few weeks pregnant, and her then-21-year-old boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were arrested a day later after they were found at a hotel about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the St. Regis.

Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly before they were convicted in 2015. Under Indonesian law, she was allowed to live with her mother in her cell in Kerobokan female prison until she turned 2, when Mack gave custody of her young daughter to an Australian woman until her release from prison.

Until she was freed Friday, Mack had not seen her daughter for about 20 months because authorities halted prison visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her attorney, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said earlier that Mack had asked for the girl, who is now 6, to remain with her foster family to avoid media attention in the U.S. Indonesian officials refused.

Minors must be accompanied by their mothers when their mothers are deported. There is no policy that allows a mother to leave her underage child here, said Amrizal, chief of the Bali immigration office.

Macks sentence was shortened by a total of 34 months due to reductions that are often granted to prisoners on major holidays because of good conduct.

After her release, Mack stayed at an immigration detention center for four days while waiting for her flight tickets and travel documents to be ready.

She was tightly escorted by immigration officers to Balis airport for the flight to Jakarta.

Jamaruli Manihuruk, chief of the Bali regional office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said his office has asked the central government to ban Mack from Indonesia for life.

Mack reportedly had a troubled relationship with her mother, with officials in the U.S. confirming that police had been called to the familys Oak Park, Illinois, home dozens of times.

Bali police said the hotels surveillance cameras showed that Mack and Schaefer had argued with her mother in the lobby of the hotel shortly before the killing, which allegedly took place inside a room in the hotel.

Schaefer testified in court that von Wiese-Mack was angry at him when she learned about her daughters pregnancy. He said she insulted him and Mack, wanted her to get an abortion and strangled him in a heated argument before he struck her several times with a fruit bowl.

Prosecutors said Mack helped stuff her mothers body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

Later video from the corridor showed Mack bringing a cart to move the suitcase and Schaefer carrying the suitcase to the cart. Video also showed the couple talking to a taxi driver. The two allegedly abandoned the suitcase in a taxi and left through the hotels back door.

___

Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  A jury was selected in a single day Monday for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the young, aspiring police officer who shot three people while they were out on the streets of Kenosha during a protest against racial injustice last year.

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.

The jury in the politically charged case must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

In an all-day session that ran well past dark, 20 people  12 jurors and eight alternates  were selected. The judge said he would decide at the end of the trial which ones are alternates and which ones will deliberate. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

Jurors were not asked to identify their race during the selection process, and the court did not immediately provide a racial breakdown of the group.

The seating of a jury moved along rapidly, given the sharp polarization caused by the shootings. About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair.

Rittenhouse had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire and the ransacking of businesses.

The now-18-year-old Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

Rittenhouse has been painted by supporters on the right  including foes of the Black Lives Matter movement  as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness by demonstrators and exercised his Second Amendment gun rights. Others see him as a vigilante and police wannabe.

He is white, as were those he shot, but many activists see an undercurrent of race in the case, in part because the protesters were on the streets to decry police violence against Black people.

As jury selection got underway, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: This is not a political trial.

It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently, he said.

The judge said Rittenhouses constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and I dont want it to get sidetracked into other issues.

One of the jurors is a gun-owning woman with a high school education who said she was so afraid during the protests that she pulled her cars to the back of her house and made sure her doors were locked. She said she went downtown in the aftermath and cried.

Another woman chosen is a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about being on the jury: "I figure either way this goes youre going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly.

Another juror said he owns a gun and has it for home defense."

One juror is a pharmacist who said that she was robbed at gunpoint in 2012 but that it would have no effect on her ability to weigh the evidence in this case.

Among those dismissed were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when all that happened and a woman who said she watched a livestream video of the events and wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw.

One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction Thou shall not kill even in cases of self-defense.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon. I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public, the woman said.

The start of jury selection was briefly delayed in the morning for unexplained reasons. During the delay, the judge played a mock game of Jeopardy! with prospective jurors in the courtroom, something he sometimes does as attorneys get organized.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a demonstrator from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin, Forliti from Minneapolis. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.

___

Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
Getty Images

It's always a good time for a weekend getaway, but there's something about the stretch between Halloween and Thanksgiving that is perfect for a quick road trip. School routines are down, holiday plans haven't taken over the calendar, and the weather is so dang nice. Plus, the three-day jaunts offer all the benefits of a vacation (new scenery, adventure, a break from everyday life) without spending big on airfare.

San Antonio is perfectly situated between the Hill Country, East Texas, and the Gulf Coast, making it the perfect launching pad for whatever your vibe might be. Want to surf? Grab your board and head to South Padre. Looking for antiques? Round Top is just two hours away.
A row of vacant industrial buildings on the near West Side is poised for a makeover as a mixed-use development.

VIA Metropolitan Transits board recently OKd staff to negotiate an exclusive agreement with an affiliate of local firm DreamOn Group to renovate the Scobey complex.

DreamOn was founded in 2019 by Julissa Carielo, who started the contracting firm Tejas Premier Building Contractor Inc., and Rene Garcia, who spent more than 35 years working for the Zachry family in construction and development.

DreamOns proposal for the Scobey site at 301 N. Medina St. includes residential, retail, education, office, food and beverage, and parking components, as well as indoor/outdoor activity areas and park space, said VIA spokeswoman Lorraine Pulido.

The company is working with architecture firm Overland Partners and Geyser Group, a real estate investor that will help with financing.

The vacant Scobey complex was built in the early 1900s and used by a transportation and logistics company until the early 1970s. It includes five buildings on more than 2.5 acres.

Local developer Ed Cross purchased it in 1999 and tried several times unsuccessfully to redevelop the property.

He proposed it as a potential headquarters for the San Antonio Water System and San Antonio Police Department, but both organizations chose other sites. A deal to sell it to another developer who wanted to turn it into office space and multifamily units fell through.

In 2017, VIA bought the property for $5.2 million from two partnerships managed by Cross.

The agency envisions it as a mixed-use project near its headquarters and Centro Plaza transit center  and a potential revenue source. Since buying it, VIA has repaired the roof, cleaned out trash and debris, and added new fencing, Pulido said.

VIA put out a request for proposals for overhauling the Scobey complex in fall 2020 and received responses from DreamOn and Mission DG, a local development company where former Mayor Henry Cisneros is a partner.

On ExpressNews.com: Henry Cisneros can tell you - development on the West Side isnt easy

DreamOn scored higher in an evaluation with criteria that included development details, financial performance, prior experience, schedule and a transit-oriented approach to the project, a policy VIA adopted in 2018.

At a Oct. 19 board work session, trustee Louis Cooper expressed reservations about the project.

It seems like VIA keeps pushing this instead of the ordinary way that would be you have a piece of property, developers come to you with a plan. Its like were chasing down somebody trying to ensure that we do something with this property, but I think its very premature to do at this point in time, he said. And then to narrow it down to this one person, one company, thats definitely not  I dont think theyre a national company  is just a little scary to me.

Cooper, however, later voted in support of the agreement.

VIA officials said the process of joint development usually follows this pattern and the agency would not have received any proposals if it was premature. They also noted the agreement does not cost VIA anything.

Javier Paredes, board liaison on the project, expressed confidence in the teams background and experience.

The board later approved the agreement at its Oct. 26 meeting. After working on the nonbinding agreement with DreamOn, the next steps are hammering out a term sheet, which would include potential revenue streams for VIA, and executing a joint development agreement.

We are very excited to be selected by VIA to work through this initial development phase for the Scobey complex, Garcia said in an email. The DreamOn Group is focused on impactful projects for our community, and this project fits that mission. We look forward to what this project will do for the San Antonio.

More development is on the horizon on the near West Side, which is cut off by railroad tracks and a highway, peppered with government buildings and home to the Haven for Hope homeless shelter.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is expanding its downtown campus, improvements to San Pedro Creek are underway, and local developer Weston Urban has mixed-use projects in the works in west downtown.

Nonprofit developer Alamo Community Group plans to build an affordable housing complex at 811 W. Houston St. near VIAs Centro Plaza. Less than 2 miles west of the Scobey buildings, DreamOn is working with Prosper West to renovate the Basila Frocks building for the nonprofits headquarters, small businesses and community gatherings.

The activity has spurred concerns about gentrification and losing historic buildings in the area. A recent example: a battle that erupted last spring over a proposal to remove the Whitt Printing Co. buildings historic designation and demolish it.

On ExpressNews.com: City panel supports preserving, demolishing parts of Whitt Printing building

The Lim family, who owns the property at Houston, Commerce and Frio streets, could not afford to rehabilitate it and sought to raze it as developers had expressed interest in buying the site, their attorney told the Historic and Design Review Commission, or HDRC.

But city staff said they had not provided evidence that the building no longer met the criteria for designation or shown that it could not be adapted or sold.

Preservationists said the history of the circa-1930 building is important and options aside from demolishing it should be explored. Gilberto Whitt fled from Mexico to San Antonio during the Mexican Revolution and started a business that printed Spanish-language publications, according to city staff.

Other residents said the building was a dangerous eyesore that should be torn down.

The HDRC ultimately voted to support a plan to preserve parts of the building, such as its concrete frame and facade, and remove other components, such as its roof and infill in the walls.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Yves here. Someone had to perform the unpleasant hype of looking at obviously too meager commitments made at the Glasgow climate summit, look under the hood to see what they really amounted to, and compare that against what needs to happen to prevent catastrophic outcomes. Needless to say, the tally by Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram is pretty sobering.

By Anis Chowdhury, Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University and University of New South Wales (Australia), who held senior United Nations positions in New York and Bangkok and Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a former economics professor, who was United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, and received the Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought. Originally published at Jomo Kwame Sundarams website

Current climate mitigation plans will result in a catastrophic 2.7C world temperature rise. US$1.63.8 trillion is needed annually to avoid global warming exceeding 1.5C.

Creative Accounting

Rich countries have long broken their 2009 Copenhagen COP16 pledge to mobilize US$100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. The pandemic has worsened the situation, reducing available finance. Poor countries  many already caught in debt traps  struggle to cope.

While minuscule compared to the finance needed to adequately address climate change, it was considered a good start. The number includes both public and private finance, with sources  public/private, grants/loans, etc.  unspecified.

Such ambiguity has enabled double-counting, poor transparency and creative accounting, noted the UN Independent Expert Group on Climate Finance. Thus, the rich countries Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported US$80bn in climate finance for developing countries in 2019.

Fudging Numbers

But OECD climate finance numbers include non-concessional commercial loans, rolled-over loans and private finance. Some donor governments count most development aid, even when not primarily for climate action.

Also, the dispute over which funds are to be considered new and additional has not been resolved since the 1992 adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Rio Earth Summit.

Official development assistance redesignated as climate finance should be categorized as reallocated, rather than additional funding. Consequently, poor countries are losing aid for education, health and other public goods.

India has disputed the OECD claim of US$57bn climate finance in 2013-14, suggesting a paltry US$2.2bn instead! Other developing countries have also challenged such creative accounting and greenwashing.

Climate Finance Anarchy

Developing countries expected the promised US$100bn yearly to be largely public grants disbursed via the then new UNFCCC Green Climate Fund. Oxfam estimates public climate financing at only US$1922.5bn in 2017-18, with little effective coordination of public finance.

Developing countries believed their representatives would help decide disbursement, ensuring equity, efficacy and efficiency. But little is actually managed by developing countries themselves. Instead, climate finance is disbursed via many channels, including rich countries aid and export promotion agencies, private banks, equity funds and multilateral institutions loans and grants.

Several UN programmes also support climate action, including the UN Environment Programme, UN Development Programme and Global Environment Facility. But all are underfunded, requiring frequent replenishment. Uncertain financing and developing countries lack of meaningful involvement in disbursements make planning all the more difficult.

Financialization has meant that climate funding increasingly involves private financial interests. Claims of private climate finance from rich to poor countries are much contested. Even the OECD estimate has not been rising steadily, instead fluctuating directionless from US$16.7bn in 2014 to US$10.1bn in 2016 and US$14.6bn in 2018.

The actual role and impact of private finance are also much disputed. Unsurprisingly, private funding is unlikely to help countries most in need, address policy priorities, or compensate for damages beyond repair. Instead, blended finance often uses public finance to de-risk private investments.

Putting Profits First

The poorest countries desperately need to rebuild resilience and adapt human environments and livelihoods. Adaptation funds are required to better cope with the new circumstances created by global warming.

Needed adaptation  such as improving drainage, water catchment and infrastructure  is costly, but nonetheless desperately necessary.

But donors prefer publicizable easy wins from climate mitigation, especially as they increasingly gave loans, rather than grants. Thus, although the Paris COP21 Agreement sought to balance mitigation with adaptation, most climate finance still seeks to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As climate adaptation is rarely lucrative, it is of less interest to private investors. Rather, private finance favours mitigation investments generating higher returns. Thus, only US$20bn was for adaptation in 2019  less than half the sum for mitigation. Unsurprisingly, the OECD report acknowledges only 3% of private climate finance has been for adaptation.

Chasing profits, most climate finance goes to middle-income countries, not the poorest or most vulnerable. Only US$5.9bn  less than a fifth of total adaptation finance  has gone to the UNs 46 least developed countries (LDCs) during 2014-18! This is less than 3% of [poorly] estimated LDCs annual adaptation finance needs between 2020-2030.

Cruel Ironies

The International Monetary Fund recognizes the unequal burden of rising temperatures. It is indeed a cruel irony that those far less responsible for global warming bear the brunt of its costs. Meanwhile, providing climate finance via loans is pushing poor countries deeper into debt.

Increasingly frequent extreme weather disasters are often followed by much more borrowing due to poor countries limited fiscal space. But loans for low-income countries (LICs) cost much more than for high-income ones. Hence, LICs spend five times more on debt than on coping with climate change and cutting GHG emissions.

Four-fifths of the most damaging disasters since 2000 have been due to tropical storms. The worst disasters have raised government debt in 90% of cases within two years  with no prospect of debt relief.

As many LICs are already heavily indebted, climate disasters have been truly catastrophic  as in Belize, Grenada and Mozambique. Little has trickled down to the worst affected, and other vulnerable, needy and poor communities.

Funding Gap

Based on countries own long-term goals for mitigation and adaptation, the UNFCCCs Standing Committee on Finance estimated that developing countries need US$5.8-5.9 trillion in all until 2030. The UN estimates developing countries currently need US$70bn yearly for adaptation, rising to US$140300bn by 2030.

In July, the V20 of finance ministers from 48 climate-vulnerable countries urged delivery of the 2009 US$100bn vow to affirm a commitment to improve climate finance. This should include increased funds, more in grants, and with at least half for adaptation  but the UNFCCC chief has noted lack of progress since.

Only strong enforcement of rigorous climate finance criteria can stop rich countries abusing currently ambiguous reporting requirements. Currently fragmented climate financing urgently needs more coherence and strategic prioritization of support to those most distressed and vulnerable.

This months UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, can and must set things right before it is too late. Will the new Cold War drive the North to do the unexpected to win the rest of the world to its side instead of further militarizing tensions?
(Natural News) Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday, Oct. 25, signed an executive order meant to help with legal challenges to President Joe Bidens vaccine mandates. Ivey stressed that the new federal vaccine mandates, including on government contractors and private businesses with more than 100 employees, rest on dubious grounds and constitute significant federal overreach.

The Republican governor directed all state agencies to ignore Bidens mandates and cooperate to the fullest extent possible with Attorney General Steve Marshall. The executive order also directs all state entities to avoid including a vaccine mandate in agreements with contractors.

The executive order does not directly prevent companies in Alabama from implementing vaccine requirements but is meant to aid in legal battles with the Biden administration. (Related: More than half of U.S. states vow to fight Bidens vaccine mandate.)

If the federal government presses on with these new federal mandates, then the Biden White House has once again failed the American people, Ivey said in an accompanying news release.

As I have stated, no doubt, this will be challenged in federal courts. I am already working in concert with Attorney General Steve Marshall, because Alabama is standing firm in this fight. This latest move by the federal government is what I believe is an illegal overreach, and I am confident we will win the battle in the courts.

Florida governor opposes vaccine mandate for police officers

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for legislation that would offer $5,000 to any law enforcement officers who want to relocate to the Sunshine State. The Republican said hes against requiring vaccination for police officers because most of the first responders already have natural immunity against Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). (Related: Policymakers ignoring natural immunity to COVID in favor of vaccine immunity.)

DeSantis appeared on Fox News, telling host Maria Bartiromo that his team is actively working to attract cops from out of state who are resisting Bidens vaccine mandates.

NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle, if youre not being treated well, we will treat you better here, DeSantis said. You can fill important needs for us, and we will compensate you as a result.

DeSantis noted that relocating cops will have roles within Floridas police and sheriff department. He also said that the state is moving ahead of a looming unconstitutional mandate by the Biden administration that would require all U.S. businesses with 100 or more workers to mandate vaccination or weekly testing.

He described Bidens vaccine mandates as unconstitutional.

Bidens mandates will wreak havoc in the economy, because even if a small percentage of these folks end up losing their jobs or voluntarily walking away, youre going to have huge disruptions in medical, in logistics, in law enforcement, DeSantis said.

During a recent CNN town hall, Biden said that law enforcement and emergency personnel should be fired if they do not comply with vaccine mandates.

Should police officers, emergency responders be mandated to get vaccines? And if not, should they be stay at home or let go? CNNs political commentator Anderson Cooper asked the president.

Yes and yes. By the way, by the way, I waited until July to talk about mandating because I tried everything else possible. The mandates are working, responded Biden.

All this stuff about people leaving and people getting it, you have everyone from United Airlines to Spirit, all these airlines, 96 to 97 percent of the people have gotten the vaccine. All the talk about all these folks who are going to leave the military if theyre mandated. Not true. You got about a 90-plus percent vaccination rate.

Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to vaccine mandates and coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

Lifesitenews.com

Breitbart.com
(Natural News) When a shadowy, foreign dark money group sows disinformation by falsely and deliberately accusing U.S. citizens of harming the public for exercising their First Amendment rights, including blowing the whistle on government and corporate agendas that boldly deny the health risks associated with increasingly coercive medical interventions like experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, what do you call this highly Machiavellian ploy?

(Article by Sayer Ji republished from GreenMedInfo.com)

Perhaps a word like meta-disinformation would suffice to describe the convoluted web of lies, diversions and projections being spun under the newly coined slur the disinformation dozen in order to blame the would-be victims of the very information crimes being perpetrated upon them by an organization calling itself the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).

Indeed, the London-based shadowy front group, which has ties to the Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss-funded Center for American Progress, exhibits Orwellian behavior that has been previously called out as an exact match for the U.K. governments Commission for Countering Extremisms definition of hateful extremism. It also perfectly fits Merriam-Websters definition of disinformation:

DISINFORMATION: : false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth

FACEBOOK: CCDHS DISINFO DOZEN IS A FAULTY NARRATIVE WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE

Despite the tens of thousands of defamatory articles that can now be found distributed throughout the global media citing the so-called disinformation dozen as the primary source of dangerous misinformation, in August 2021, the CCDH was called out by Monika Bickert, Facebooks vice president of content policy, for spreading a faulty narrative, without any evidence, that contends there are only 12 people, myself included, who are responsible for 73% of the antivaccine content on Facebook. According to her post:

In fact, these 12 people are responsible for about just 0.05% of all views of vaccine-related content on Facebook. This includes all vaccine-related posts theyve shared, whether true or false, as well as URLs associated with these people. [bold added]

Bickert explains further:

The report upon which the faulty narrative is based analyzed only a narrow set of 483 pieces of content over six weeks from only 30 groups, some of which are as small as 2,500 users. They are in no way representative of the hundreds of millions of posts that people have shared about COVID-19 vaccines in the past months on Facebook. Further, there is no explanation for how the organization behind the report identified the content they describe as anti-vax or how they chose the 30 groups they included in their analysis. There is no justification for their claim that their data constitute a representative sample of the content shared across our apps. [bold added]

The Center for Countering Digital Hates defamatory and false claims serve as potent vectors of disinformation by attempting to use both the global media and government officials to distract the worlds attention from the fact that there are not just 12 but many millions of people speaking up against medical mandates and raising concerns that mRNA vaccines (and the global vaccination agenda, as a whole) have risks and efficacy issues that constitute a serious public health threat  especially in the absence of the mandatory medical ethical principle of informed consent.

These basic questions around vaccine safety, risks and efficacy are no longer allowed to be discussed via Big Tech platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Only last week, YouTube announced that all antivaccine content would be removed from their platform. And by antivaccine YouTube means anything that has not been approved by the World Health Organization as consistent with their narrative and agenda.

As I documented in detail here, there have now been thousands of mainstream media articles written where CCDHs defamatory statements, and their weaponized construct the disinformation dozen, have been recycled and promulgated verbatim without any fact-checking or reference to Facebooks statement that CCDHs claims were never true.

So egregious is CCDHs brand of disinformation that their most fundamental claim, namely that only 12 people are solely responsible for 73% of the antivaccine content on Facebook, is literallyoff by four orders of magnitude (.05% vs 73%), as cited by the CCDHs primary referenced source of information for their notorious report: Facebook itself.

And technically, CCDHs disinformation is even more outlandish because the .05% of the vaccine-related content that they do attribute to our accounts was not identified to be explicitly antivaccine or misinformation as they claim.

Yet, CCDHs PR tactics thus far include their CEO Imran Ahmed stating that the individuals he is villifying and attacking are   killing people with their misinformation and selling death [podcast statements made at 21:00 and 44:29 minutes], words that were parroted by President Biden himself in July 2021. One might ask how a shadowy front group like CCDH, whose funding sources and top shot callers have yet to be declared, can manage to insert their talking points and narrative into the mouth of presumably the most powerful leader of the most powerful nation in the world?

CCDHS BASELESS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN IS METASTASIZING



Click to read the article.

The latest metastatic amplification of CCDHs demonstrably false accusations can be found in a letter sent October 15 by Connecticuts state attorney general William Tong to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. It was signed by 13 other state attorneys general and opens with the following statement:

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg: We, the undersigned attorneys general, are extremely concerned with the recent reports that your company maintained a whitelist of users under the project name XCheck. Our concerns center around whether this list contained members of the so-called Disinformation Dozen, those individuals who spread falsehoods and mislead Americans about the safety of the coronavirus vaccines, and in doing so, are threatening the health of our communities.

As noted in a previous letter to you and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, these 12 individuals are responsible for almost two thirds of false or misleading content regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccine content across social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Youll find that each and every one of the 14 state attorneys general who signed this letter are lending their support to the same original lies and disinformation created and perpetuated by CCDH, without reference to any verifiable facts. By adding their names to this narrative and further reifying statements like these  those individuals who spread falsehoods and mislead Americans about the safety of the coronavirus vaccines, and in doing so, are threatening the health of our communities  these public servants are further amplifying the reputational harms being done to the those named.

Theyre participating in a Transatlantic witchhunt to identify, isolate, discredit and further encumber and violate Americans exercising their basic human, civil, religious and Constitutionally protected rights.

Read more at: GreenMedInfo.com
(Natural News) The Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on Tuesday, Oct. 26, approved the emergency use of Pfizers Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for children aged five to 11. But during the eight-hour discussion, one doctor made a shocking admission: There was no way to guarantee how safe a vaccine is unless you start giving it to people.

Are vaccines really safe?

Six hours into the conference, Dr. Eric Rubin, editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, commented on how widespread the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine should be.

Rubin admitted that despite Big Pharmas insistence that coronavirus vaccines are safe and that they are key to ending the pandemic, its impossible to find out how safe the vaccines are unless theyre administered first. He added that this is usually the case for vaccines and their many side effects and rare complications.

While data suggests that the vaccine works and is considered safe, Rubin acknowledged that doctors are worried about side effects that still havent been measured accurately  like the heart condition myocarditis.

A person with myocarditis has an inflamed myocardium or heart muscle (the muscular layer of the heart wall). This muscle is responsible for contracting and relaxing, and pumps blood in and out of the heart and to the rest of your body.

When the myocardium becomes inflamed, it becomes ineffective at pumping blood. The condition causes symptoms like an abnormal heartbeat, chest pain and breathing difficulty.

In extreme cases of myocarditis, the patient may experience blood clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke, damage to the heart with heart failure and even death.

Children shouldnt be vaccinated to protect adults

The committee voted 17 to 0 with one abstention in favor of recommending the emergency use of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine in young children.

The one abstention came from Dr. Michael Kurilla, who said he would have preferred a more nuanced approach instead of a blanket authorization for young children.

Dr. Cody Meissner, a pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center, another committee member, expressed his concerns over the possibility of a vaccine mandate for children. He added that if the committee members vote yes, the states might mandate the administration of the Pfizer vaccine for children to go to school, which he thinks would be a bad idea. (Related: FDA trying to hide data showing Pfizers covid vaccine is seriously injuring children.)

Dr. James Hildreth, a temporary committee member, also voiced his concerns about the number of children who have already been infected with the coronavirus. According to estimates, almost 40 percent of children already had some form of immunity to the disease.

Hildreth noted the irony in vaccinating children to protect the adults when the opposite would be the wiser option. If 30 million children already have some form of immunity, theyve already done their part to help achieve herd immunity in the county.

Now, health experts should be focusing on convincing more adults to protect the children, added Hildreth.

Back in September, Pfizer announced that the vaccine is safe for children aged five to 11. However, outside experts warned that the clinical study did not produce enough data.

The Pfizer vaccine for younger children is a smaller dose than the one given to those aged 12 and older  10 micrograms of mRNA and 30 micrograms, respectively. The full vaccination series includes two doses given three weeks apart.

The childrens doses will come in vials with an orange cap and an orange label while the doses for adults and teens have a purple cap and a purple label.

With the passing vote of the VRBPAC, the process for getting vaccines to young children is in progress. Once the FDA leaders approve the decision, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) independent advisory will meet on Nov. 2 and 3 to decide if a vaccine will be recommended for this age group.

The final decision will be made by FDA leaders within the next few days. If authorized, the move would make nearly the entire U.S. population eligible for a coronavirus vaccine, with only children aged four and younger ineligible.

Visit Immunization.news for more updates on coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

WesternJournal.com

Youtube.com

Healthline.com

NBCNews.com
(Natural News) Famous Indian actor Puneeth Rajkumar, 46, died Friday after suffering a massive heart attack, with speculation a Covid-19 vaccine could be to blame for the untimely death.

(Article by Adan Salazar republished from InfoWars.com)

The 46-year-old actor complained of chest pain in the morning while working out in his gym, reported the Times of India.

The Bollywood actor was treated at a hospital in Bengaluru where doctors were unable to save him.

Shocking and Heart breaking to know that Puneeth is no more. It is a huge loss for the film fraternity. My deepest condolences to Puneeth's family and loved ones. RIP #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/Rx8smL9NtW  Mammootty (@mammukka) October 29, 2021

Puneet Rajkumar aged 46 years was brought to the emergency department, Vikram Hospital with history of chest pain at 11:40 am. He was non responsive and was in Cardiac Asystole and Advanced cardiac resuscitation has been initiated, reads a statement released by Vikram Hospital.

Prior to coming here, he had gone to a clinic following chest pain around 11 am. ECG was done in the clinic. He has suffered from heart attack. Treatment was immediately initiated as he arrived. His condition is critical, said Dr Ranganath Nayak, a cardiologist at Vikram Hospital.

People gathered outside the hospital to support the beloved actor.

#WATCH | People gather outside Vikram Hospital, Bengaluru where actor Puneeth Rajkumar has been admitted "He was brought with history of chest pain at 11:40 am, was non-responsive & in Cardiac Asystole, Advanced cardiac resuscitation has been initiated," said hospital statement. pic.twitter.com/0bXI2mLB2z  ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2021

A tribute by the countrys prime minister Narendra Modi made note of Rajkumars young age.

A cruel twist of fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor, Puneeth Rajkumar. This was no age to go. The coming generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful personality. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/ofcNpnMmW3  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 29, 2021

The Bollywood star was frequently tapped by the Indian government to help promote Covid-19 lockdowns and vaccines to the Indian people.

A yoga practitioner and a strong advocate of healthy living, Puneeth is known to be one of the healthiest and fittest actors in the south Indian film industry, Indian media site TheNewsMinute.com reported.

According to a tweet, Rajkumar received his first vaccine dose back in April and urged fans 45-years-old and over to get vaccinated.

Got my first dose of vaccination today. If you are 45 years & above ensure you get vaccinated. #vaccinated #LargestVaccineDrive pic.twitter.com/QsX9NnkjGS  Puneeth Rajkumar (@PuneethRajkumar) April 7, 2021

Its unclear if, or when Rajkumar received his second vaccine dose, or which vaccine he originally received.

The BBC reports, India is using three vaccines  the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, known locally as Covishield; Covaxin by Indian firm Bharat Biotech; and Russian-made Sputnik V.

Despite the uncertainty, many on social media attributed the otherwise healthy actors death to the vaccine.

Puneeth died 6 months after his 1st dose of vaccines. He got heart attack in the morning while exercising in the gymhttps://t.co/FBzyEMW77x  IKn Ihcas (@Ikn0Ihcas0) October 29, 2021

What is the reason of such cardiac arrest?? Why this has been so common post covid? Is he treated with covid medicines ever? When was he completed vaccine? Time to see those hideren facts, RIP   Shiv (@s_shiva21) October 29, 2021

Rip sir , Due to Covid Vaccine The chances of heart attack is more

I also faced the same after taking First Dose of Vaccine  Platelet count goes down & down   Khalid Safullah (@mirkhalid0786) October 29, 2021

Is there a correlation between vaccines, strenuous exercise and heart attacks?

Last week, a man documented how he was diagnosed with the supposedly-rare heart condition pericarditis after he felt chest pain during a work out.

And, also my partner has developed myocarditis. Were both fit. We both train a lot. So its very shocking, and honestly I just want every young guy to know that if you are training and youre getting vaccinated, stop training, because I was due for my second [jab] and the cardiologist said it couldve killed me. Its only by chance Im here, so yeah, good luck to everybody and do your research.

Read more at: InfoWars.com
(Natural News) Canadian ethicist Dr. Julie Ponesse said during the television show The Counterpoint that informed consent is largely nonexistent when it comes to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

Ponesse pointed out that mandating vaccinations for full participation in society is an act of coercion that renders informed and free consent impossible. In a video that went viral, she said that mandating vaccinations, especially when it comes to a highly survivable disease, is unethical. (Related: German court rules strict COVID curfews in 2020 were illegal.)

She explained that Canadians had been given a facade or the appearance of informed consent because most vaccinations were done so quickly and without much of an explanation. Additionally, there are no long-term studies that can give accurate information about what side effects people will have to fight down the road.

While signing a form that indicates consent does give dubious legal consent, it is not equivalent to informed consent.

Ponesse stressed that the COVID-19 vaccines are still in their trial phases until 2023, so the notion that anyone could give fully informed consent to a medication that has not been fully vetted is absurd. Vaccines take a long time to develop, there is no long-term data and the full effects are unknown. Thus, full consent to all that cannot be given.

Furthermore, there are too many questions surrounding COVID-19 that it is unclear what the truth about the disease is. Many who have taken the vaccine did not give any thought about the severity of the virus beyond what the government propaganda or mainstream media had peddled.

Ethical issues regarding mandatory vaccination

The act of coercion that Ponesse talked about is on full display in Victoria, Australia. Premier Daniel Andrews announced that all workers on the authorized worker list will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to work onsite, with all workers in the category needing to get their first dose by October 15 and be fully dosed by November 26.

Those who do not comply with the requirement will not be permitted to attend their place of work. They will have to work from home or risk losing their jobs. This requirement has potentially severe consequences insofar as human rights are concerned.

Human rights in Victoria is protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006. It lists a number of human rights that the state seeks to protect and promote, based on the rights enshrined in international human rights and instruments.

One of the rights enumerated in the Charter Act states that a person  must not be subjected to medical treatment without his or her full, free and informed consent. Because vaccination is a medical procedure, forcing a person to be vaccinated against his or her will is a clear violation of this right.

Another section states that every person has the right to move freely within the state and has the freedom to choose where to live. Requiring that a person may not travel to his or her place of employment without being vaccinated limits this right.

All the rights protected in the Charter Act is the concept of autonomy and dignity, and each person has the right to determine for himself or herself matters of bodily integrity, including whether or not to be vaccinated.

While it is true that many rights are not absolute and may be limited in some circumstances to take into account the rights and freedoms of others, it will not be consistent with human rights laws to force a person through informed consent to undergo medical experimentation to discover a remedy that could potentially cure others.

The right not to be subjected to medical treatment is a fundamental right that cannot be set aside for the interest of others.

In which case, international law provides a strong indication that the right not to be subjected to medical treatment is an absolute right that cannot be limited, and this should set the bar high on any attempt of the government or pharmaceutical companies to attempt to mandate forms of medical treatment, including vaccination.

Get more updates regarding vaccination mandates at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

ABC.net.au

Vic.gov.au
(Natural News) Officials announced Monday, Oct. 25, that shipping companies at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will eventually be fined if their containers get stuck in marine terminals for too long.

Before the pandemic-induced import surge, containers for local delivery only sat on container terminals under four days and containers destined for trains remained in ports for less than two days. Now, containers are getting stuck much longer, making it harder to clear cargo off the terminals and bring in ships at anchor.

Because of the delays, shipping containers are taking at least triple the time they normally take to get through major U.S. ports.

By Nov. 1, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will be charging shipping companies with containers that are transported by either truck or by rail. Officials at San Pedro Bay Ports announced that the fines will be enforced to improve cargo movement amid congestion.

For containers transported by trucks, shipping companies will pay fines for each container that stays in marine terminals for nine days or longer. Meanwhile, shipping companies also face fines if containers transported by rail stay for three days or more.

Companies will be fined $100 per container. Additionally, fines increase in $100 increments per container per day.

Officials said that all fees collected will be re-invested into programs that can help improve efficiency, expedite cargo velocity and resolve congestion impacts throughout the San Pedro Bay.

Gene Seroka, executive director at Port of Los Angeles, released a statement to explain that expediting the movement of cargo through the ports will help reduce the number of ships at anchor.

At least 40 percent of the containers on terminals are transported by either trucks or rails. Seroka noted that clearing idling cargo, will open up more space on terminals to accept empties, handle exports and improve fluidity for all the cargo owners who use ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Because of the escalating backlog of ships off the coast, the authorities must act immediately to facilitate the timely removal of containers from marine terminals. Doing so will make room for the containers stuck on ships at anchor.

Shortages and disruptions will take longer to solve

The new policy was developed in collaboration with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, the Department of Transportation and several supply chain stakeholders.

Despite President Joe Bidens attempts to ease supply shortages and disruptions before Christmas, experts warn that the process will take longer to solve. (Related: Truckers voice frustration with cargo vessel backlog at West Coast ports as supply chain disruptions worsen.)

According to economists at Goldman Sachs, there are at least 77 ships currently waiting outside docks in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The ships are carrying almost $24 billion worth of goods waiting to be offloaded.

There are at least 250,000 containers of goods currently stacked up on the docks because of delayed pickups from chassis shortages and a lack of space in railyards and warehouses. The supply chain shortage is then causing dozens of ships to back up at anchor outside the ports.

Earlier in October, the White House released a statement to announce that it received confirmation from companies like FedEx, UPS and Walmart, along with the Port of Los Angeles, to increase the number of shifts. The companies did so to address various obstacles like labor shortages, a backlog of container ships and warehousing issues.

According to the federal government, it will be working with multiple stakeholders across the supply chain for a 90-day period until the end of 2021 to mitigate bottlenecks.

Follow Bubble.news for more news related to the ongoing supply chain crisis.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

POLB.com

CNBC.com
(Natural News) The United Kingdom (UK) is preparing to establish a legal framework that would surveil online communications and punish people for thought crimes. Under the new rules, social media companies could use their algorithms to eliminate certain narratives and target the individuals behind them. This bill allows content moderators to criminalize the spread of truthful information that exposes real-life crimes and conspiracies.

The Online Safety Bill will police social media posts and private messages to ensure that the information coincides with the governments narrative of propaganda and force. The proposed legislation uses surveillance and censorship to combat abuse and hatred on the internet and provides for prosecution against people who would dare speak out of line with official government narratives. The Online Safety Bill would empower service providers with the task of defining content so they can target hate speech. This hate speech could include information that holds to account various forms of abuse, crimes, rights violations and medical malpractice. Service providers will be able to define information that is of democratic importance and can determine if information is journalistic content while eliminating any information that doesnt fit their narrative of social and psychological control.

UK to prosecute knowingly false communications online

If this Orwellian dictate is made into law, any person could be charged with creating or sharing a knowingly false communication. The bill sets up a new crime called a knowingly false communication offence that can result in criminal charges and two years of jail time. This offense is broadly defined. It will criminalise those who send or post a message they know to be false with the intention to cause emotional, psychological, or physical harm to the likely audience.

For example, people who speak about the gain-of-function bioweapon research in China could face up to two years in prison. People who talk about covid-19 vaccine failures could be charged and jailed. Anyone who talks about hospitals refusing efficacious treatments to covid patients, could be targeted for hate speech and subjected to criminal prosecution. All of these topics are currently censored by content moderators and fact checkers, even though there are troves of information documenting these crimes against humanity. If this bill is made into law, governments could claim that antivaxxers are spreading false information that they know to be untrue. The antivaxxers could then be located and charged for committing a knowingly false communication offense.

The bill allows the government to redefine what is indecent and what is grossly offensive by allowing for the censorship of any information that has a harmful effect. If the government finds a post or message to have a harmful effect they can remove the post or message and target the individual who sent it.

Rogue authorities are trying even harder to protect their power and cover up for their crimes against humanity

Information that was once deemed hateful, harmful, misleading, dangerous or false often turns out to be TRUE. Authorities are usually wrong on a vast majority of political and social issues because they only defend the narratives that protect their power and influence, not the truth. For instance, if a social media user posted about the cardiovascular dangers of covid-19 vaccines; that post could be removed and deemed harmful to public health. Months later, these vaccines were found to cause blood clots, myocarditis and pericarditis, permanently damaging peoples health. The powers that determine whether information is true or false can be wrong as many times as they need to be, but they are never reprimanded for spreading false, misleading or dangerous information that leads to peoples deaths. The Online Safety Bill empowers the elite with more power and allows them to target people who tell the truth.

This bill is a dystopian nightmare that plays on the word safety to give the public a false assurance that they are being protected from malicious actors. As this bill shows, the malicious actors are the ones subverting personal privacy, controlling the information and brainwashing the public. Now these authorities are the ones looking to prosecute people if they do not follow along with their wicked and deceitful narratives.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

LawfareBlog.com

Censorship.news

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A non-profit animal rights organization is calling out Dr. Anthony Fauci for supporting and funding animal torture. The Beagle Freedom Project is demanding an end to the criminal torture of beagles and other animals. The organization drafted a letter calling on Dr. Anthony Fauci and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to end their scientific research programs that torture and kill beagles. If [the torture of beagles under Fauci] does not end immediately, Beagle Freedom Project will make sure it becomes criminal and those who perpetrate it will be punished by law, said Shannon Keith, president and founder of the Beagle Freedom Project.

The Beagle Freedom Project rescues and rehabilitates thousands of beagles trapped in laboratories

The Beagle Freedom Project has reportedly rescued over 3,000 animals from laboratories that exploit them for pre-clinical research. Specifically, the organization has rescued over 2,000 dogs since 2010. The organization has saved and rehabilitated hundreds of beagles that suffer from trauma.

I have been inside of animal research laboratories and heard the painful screams of dogs who languish in pain and the silent sounds of those who have no voice because their vocal cords have been cut, said Shannon Keith. I was told by one technician that they do this so that the screaming does not disturb the laboratory workers while they perform their experiments. They told me that they also do this so that the beagles cannot communicate with one another.

Beagles are often used in pre-clinical research because they are more trusting, more submissive creatures that dont fight back when harmed. Animal testing laboratories around the world prey on beagles because these animals are known for their gentle and compliant nature. Right now, there are an estimated 70,000 dogs in captivity, held down and exploited for laboratory research. Dogs are used in pharmaceutical research and may be used to test out medical supplies and cosmetic products, with no regard to the animals health or survival.

NIH wastes billions of dollars in pre-clinical research that traumatizes animals

The NIH is one of the top funders of pre-clinical research that uses animals as expendable test subjects. Dr. Fauci is head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAIN), a major branch of the NIH that funds and oversees experiments on animals for the development of drugs and vaccines.

One of Dr. Faucis approvals was a $375,800 grant to a Tunisia laboratory. The research project included forty-four beagle puppies that were locked down in mesh cages and eaten alive by sand flies. The beagles heads were locked down and their vocal cords were removed as they suffered to death. Another group of beagles were left alone in cages overnight so sand flies could slowly eat them alive. (Related: NIH confesses to funding gain-of-function coronavirus research in Wuhan, proving Fauci a liar.)

A 2019 study investigating animal experimentation finds that 51-89 percent of pre-clinical research is faulty and unjustified. The study finds that upwards of $25 billion is wasted on animal research that causes suffering and death to various species of animals. The latest FDA Modernization Act ends the animal test rule, persuading laboratories to stop using experimental drugs on animals. This animal research is oftentimes pointless, because pharmacological actions on animal biology do not always extrapolate effectively to human populations.

The letter concludes: Dr. Fauci, the evidence is clear: animal testing is outdated, flawed, cruel, unethical and harmful to both animals and humans. We demand that you cease the use of animals in research, end funding to those using animals, and release those animals who are currently in laboratories to Beagle Freedom Project, the leader of rehabilitating and re-homing animals used in research.

Sources include:

NationalFile.com

BFP.org [PDF]

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Joe Biden is drawing major pushback and heat after news broke last week that his regime is negotiating a settlement to hundreds of lawsuits filed by illegal immigrants who broke U.S. laws sneaking into the country and now think they are entitled to hundreds of millions in taxpayer money.

The U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services are considering payments that could amount to close to $1 million a family, though the final numbers could shift, the people familiar with the matter said, explained a report from The Wall Street Journal.

Most of the families that crossed the border illegally from Mexico to seek asylum in the U.S. included one parent and one child, the people said. Many families would likely get smaller payouts, depending on their circumstances, the people said, according to the paper. In another instance, a Department of Homeland Security attorney involved in the settlement talks complained on a conference call that the payouts could amount to more than some families of 9/11 victims received, one person said.

Other sources told the paper that senior officials in the aforementioned departments were in agreement on the amounts of money to be paid out while going on to dispute the 9/11 payout comparison because  and get this  the U.S. government hadnt been responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Mind you, the Trump administration was not responsible for tens of thousands of people crossing into the U.S. illegally, either, but as president, Trump swore an oath to uphold the laws and protect our country, and by any measure, he was doing that. So this line of reasoning from the Biden regime is as lame as it is insane.

Republicans, expectedly and appropriately, were outraged.

It would be unthinkable to pay damages to a burglar who broke into your home for the psychological trauma they endured during the crime, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) noted in a statement, according to Breitbart News. And yet the Biden administration wants to reward migrants who illegally entered our country with up to $450,000 each for just that reason.

The Biden administrations promises of citizenship and entitlement programs have already caused the worst border crisis in history  a huge cash reward will make it even worse. This is the height of insanity, Cotton said.

Thats quite the penalty to pay for illegally entering our country. Can you imagine the magnet that will create for more illegal immigration? Way to go Joe! Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) added.

Thats quite the penalty to pay for illegally entering our country. Can you imagine the magnet that will create for more illegal immigration? Way to go Joe!  https://t.co/HVnD4NIG8U  Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) October 28, 2021

I hope every American who voted against mean tweets feels sick to their stomachs over Border Crisis Biden wanting to give 450k to illegals. I hope they feel betrayed, embarrassed, and duped. Because they should, talk show host Michael Berry noted further.

I hope every American who voted against mean tweets feels sick to their stomachs over Border Crisis Biden wanting to give 450k to illegals. I hope they feel betrayed, embarrassed, and duped. Because they should.  Michael Berry (@MichaelBerrySho) October 29, 2021

UNACCEPTABLE Report says Biden admin considering payments of 450k per person 2ppl who crossed the border ILLEGALLY Those are taxpayers dollars We should not be paying anything to ppl who break our laws, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), riffed.

UNACCEPTABLE Report says Biden admin considering payments of 450k per person 2ppl who crossed the border ILLEGALLY Those are taxpayers dollars We should not be paying anything to ppl who break our laws  ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 28, 2021

Paying $450K to separated illegal migrant families will incentivize not only more illegal crossings, but abandonment of children at the border. Its encouraging child trafficking, conservative pundit Allie Beth Stuckey opined.

Paying $450K to separated illegal migrant families will incentivize not only more illegal crossings, but abandonment of children at the border. Its encouraging child trafficking.  Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) October 28, 2021

Now Black Democrats are upset because Biden is considering giving 450k to Illegal immigrants, and hasnt given jack squat to Black Democrats.  Dr.Darrell Scott (@PastorDScott) October 29, 2021

This is obscene. If Democrats had a single ounce of integrity they would join all Republicans and impeach  and convict  Biden over this.

Sources include:

OpenBorders.news

USAFeatures.news
(Natural News) Departing from the sentiments of his boss Pope Francis, Archbishop Vigano delivered a message on No Fear Day in Turin (Torino), Italy, about how the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) is ushering in a global health dictatorship, which he says tomorrow will be an ecological dictatorship.

Hundreds of thousands of people all around the world, Vigano told listeners, are showing their opposition to this global tyranny in the form of protests. People do not want to comply with all the pandemic folly, he says, which includes lockdowns, curfews, vaccines, health passports, and totalitarian blackmail of the elite who are being used to push all the fascism.

It is a power that reveals itself as intrinsically evil, animated by an infernal ideology and driven by criminal purposes, Vigano stated.

A power that now declares that it has broken the social contract and considers us not as citizens but as slaves of a dictatorship that today is a health dictatorship and tomorrow will be an ecological dictatorship.

This power, Vigano added, is now so convinced that it succeeded in bringing about a silent coup detat that it is no longer even trying to disguise any of it anymore. The tyranny is fully out in the open, and amazingly there are some who still see nothing wrong with any of it.

They tell us clearly: They are servants of the devil, and as such they claim the right to assert themselves, to be respected, and to spread their ideas, Vigano said.

And not only this: In the name of a usurped power  a power that according to the Constitution ought to belong to the people  they demand our obedience to the point of self-harm, the deprivation of the most elementary rights, and the cancellation of our identity.

Vigano compares covid vaccination to sacrificing ones children to Moloch

What Vigano was specifically referring to is a new exhibition taking place on Quirinal Hill entitled Inferno that centers around the Auguste Rodin sculpture called The Gates of Hell.

This sculpture, which was completed between 1880 and 1890, was presented at the 1900 Paris Exposition to seal the Masonic and anti-Catholic nature of that event, Vigano says.

Whats more, for years now the idol of Moloch from the set for the film Cabiria has stood at the Colosseum. So we have the demon who devours children, the Gate of Hell inspired by Charles Beaudelaires poems Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil), and also the Festival of Blasphemy a few days ago in Naples.

In the city of San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), with the permission of the municipal government, posters were displayed showing horrible blasphemies against God, to celebrate freedom of thought and speech by insulting the Lord, Vigano further added.

Everything being depicted with these types of art exhibits, along with all of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny, comes straight from the Agenda 2030 great reset agenda put forth by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The Plan is to end all private property ownership and turn everyone on the planet into slaves of the global elite. And the Fauci Flu plays an important role in bringing this all to fruition.

The Agenda 2030 also includes electronic money, obviously, with the obligation to buy and sell with a card that is linked to the green pass and to social credit, Vigano warns.

They want to deprive us of our very means of subsistence, forcing us to be what we do not want to be, to live as we do not wish to live, and to believe in things we consider to be a blasphemous heresy.

You can read Viganos full message at this link.

The latest Chinese Virus news can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Dr. Bryan Ardis talked about the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for children during the Oct. 27 episode of The Dr. Ardis Report on Brighteon.TV. Ardis said the FDA still approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children despite being aware of its risks.

Independent advisers for the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for children five to 11 years old on Oct. 26. The advisers focused on three factors  the vaccines effectiveness, the potential risk of serious side effects like heart inflammation and the COVID-19 pandemics social and physical effects  before issuing a recommendation.

According to an analysis by FDA scientists, the benefits of getting injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine clearly outweigh its risks of myocarditis and pericarditis. Furthermore, data from the two drug companies say the mRNA shot is 90.7 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in the five-to-11-year-old group.

FDA adviser Paul Offit defended his decision to approve the vaccine, saying that myocarditis  heart muscle inflammation  tends to be less common in pre-adolescent children. Making these decisions can be difficult and nerve-wracking, but they are not made when you know everything. The question is when do you know enough, he said.

Pediatrics professor Jay Portnoy, another FDA adviser, also defended his decision to approve Pfizers shot for children. Our kids are going to be dealing with this virus for many years to come. Getting the vaccine is just the first step that theyre going to take toward being able to protect themselves.

Ardis displayed a list of FDA advisers who voted in favor of approving the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for children. The list includes the email addresses of Offit, Portnoy, FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Peter Marks and FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock.

I would like to ask everybody to email those people and find out why they approved it. I put those emails there because I need everyone in America whos upset about that to email them directly, the Brighteon.TV host said. (Related: FDA declares biological war on children with final sacrifice of the innocent.)

FDA gives the thumbs-up despite vaccines causing health problems

The chiropractor said he wants as many people as possible to find out why the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children despite the risks. Why did they approve this, when its already been shown [that] it has injured [and] maimed a whole bunch of people? Im not OK that they actually sat through an entire meeting all morning yesterday, and then said theres no data that supports risks [outweighing] the benefits of the shots for [children] five to 11 years old.

Ardis cited the FDA fact sheet for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which outlines the risks associated with it. These fact sheets are also available for the Moderna mRNA shot and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

What are some of the risks associated with this shot that they just [expanded] the emergency use authorization for? It actually lists side effects that have been reported with this vaccine  including myocarditis [and] pericarditis, [the] inflammation of the lining outside the heart. This is the FDA document, so they know that these are side effects of the vaccines.

He also looked at the FDA fact sheet for the Moderna mRNA vaccine. Similar to the document for Pfizer, the risks for the two-dose vaccine include myocarditis, pericarditis and fainting. Ardis pointed out that fainting is actually linked to cardiac inflammation.

It mentions fainting in association with the injection of the vaccine. That means some people get queasy and they pass out. However, did you know that a symptom of myocarditis is actually called syncope? Passing out, going unconscious and fainting  thats a side effect, a complication of myocarditis, Ardis explained.

They are  going to be injecting you with a shot they know causes inflammation of your heart muscle, which actually is a cause for congestive heart failure. How many of you think your five- to 11-year-old children deserve to start off their teenage years or adolescent years with congestive heart failure caused by myocarditis? (Related: FDA trying to hide data showing Pfizers covid vaccine is seriously injuring children.)

He continued: Theres no way on the planet anybodys convincing me or my children that they should get these shots. I have five kids [and] none of them are going to have this. I dont agree with any of it, its disgusting. I am not okay with the amount of injury and harm thats going to come to these children, [which] the FDA already knows about. As much as these institutions and federal health agencies are okay with hurting you, maybe even killing you  I am not okay with it. So somebodys got to stand for you, try to protect you and give you information.

Watch the full Oct. 27 episode of The Dr. Ardis Show below. Tune in to The Dr. Ardis Show every Wednesday at 10-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

FDA.news has more stories about the FDA green-lighting harmful COVID-19 vaccines for children.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TheGuardian.com
(Natural News) When the COVID-19 pandemic began, federal health officials, with the blessing of then-President Donald Trump, asked the country to give them two weeks to slow the spread of the virus and that would be sufficient.

And for the next two to three weeks, the country essentially shut down with the exception of the most vital of services: Retailers, companies, firms and other businesses closed and locked their doors, idling tens of millions of American workers. An eerie silence fell over downtown regions, and abandoned city blocks looked as though theyd been constructed for a dystopian movie.

But Americans were willing to do our part so we complied. Then two weeks stretched into a month; then two months; then  the goalposts just continued to move. Trump tried to convince states to reopen and several red states did, but not before the economic and political damage had been done and Trump wound up losing an election he had in the bag just nine months earlier.

Now here we are, and the Biden regime along with Democrats all over the country who once said they wouldnt trust or take a Trump vaccine are now using it to destroy entire sectors of our economy again with vaccine mandates.

The president himself has issued a mandate for nearly all federal employees and federal contractors (while exempting Congress members and their staffs, of course), but finally a sane federal judge has thrown a legal lifeline to them and has slowed the process of tyranny, as Breitbart News reported late last week:

A federal judge for the district court in Washington, DC, issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday barring the Biden administration from firing both unvaccinated civilians and active-duty military members

The order comes after 20 plaintiffs sued the Biden administration for its handling of religious exemptions in its Chinese coronavirus vaccine mandate for federal employees. President Joe Biden issued an executive order on September 9 requiring all employees working for a federal contractor or subcontractor to get vaccinated against the Chinese coronavirus by November 24 to be considered fully vaccinated by a December 8, 2021, deadline. The mandate will also order private companies with more than 100 employees to implement required vaccinations or weekly testing for employees.

None of the civilian employee plaintiffs will be subject to discipline while his or her request for a religious exception is pending, District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered, according to what is known as a Minute Order obtained by Fox News.

In her ruling, the judge also ordered active duty military plaintiffs, whose religious exception requests have been denied, will not be disciplined or separated during the pendency of their appeals, according to the Fox News report.

BREAKING: @Yoder_Esq with a HUGE WIN in Church v. Biden. (Yes, thats the actual case caption. For those playing along, 1:21-cv-2815) This is an amazing development from the DC District Court in the stand for OUR RIGHTS against the unconstitutional vaccine mandates. pic.twitter.com/kWus7XQ4pp  Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) October 28, 2021

The Biden regime had until noon Friday to respond to the judges order. The administration plans on pushing ahead with the mandate but wont be disciplining any federal workers or military members just yet.

The plaintiffs attorney, Michael Yoder, told Fox News the regime has displayed an unprecedented, cavalier attitude toward the rule of law and an utter ineptitude at basic constitutional contours.

This combination is dangerous to American liberty. Thankfully, our Constitution protects and secures the right to remain free from religious persecution and coercion. With this order, we are one step closer to putting the Biden administration back in its place by limiting government to its enumerated powers. Its time citizens and courts said no to tyranny. The Constitution does not need to be rewritten, it needs to be reread, Yoder continued.

The case comes as a growing number of red states have either vowed to sue over another Biden vax mandate (for businesses with 100 or more employees), passed laws barring vaccine mandates for businesses, or both.

Remember when Dems were all about my body, my choice?

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

FoxNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The supply chain crisis has affected almost everything in America  from childrens toys to cars and even food banks.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank normally receives dozens of food items daily with donations coming from faraway grocery stores in Egypt and Italy. But imports have slowed down significantly. Amy Hill, director of Community Engagement & Advocacy at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, said that many of the sources theyve relied on for years havent been as reliable.

The delays are caused by products stalled on ships in the Pacific Ocean. The supply chain crisis is also linked to labor shortages that are causing a nationwide supply chain backlog. (Related: Supply chain issues, soaring food prices wreak havoc on US economy #EmptyShelvesJoe.)

Because food banks are receiving fewer supplies, volunteers may resort to food swapping for the upcoming holidays. They might use fresh potatoes instead of canned potatoes, explained Hill.

According to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank staff members, they might have to deal with the shortages up until Christmas. In the meantime, they plan on buying more food from local vendors.

Some food banks are prepared for the supply chain crisis. Jennifer Brillhart, president and CEO of York County Food Bank, said that they started purchasing more food since summer because they anticipated a greater need during winter.

Prices soar amid the supply chain crisis

Overall, consumer prices in September have gone up 5.4 percent from a year ago. The prices of meat have gone up more than most. Prices of other staples like dairy products, grains, fruits and cooking oils are also increasing.

In U.S. cities, the prices of meat, poultry, fish and eggs have gone up by 15 percent since the start of 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Along with a run-up in costs at the supermarket, gasoline prices have also increased as natural gas and heating oil prices are predicted to increase more by winter. The fuel price increase can make things harder for those with low incomes.

Additionally, the assistance programs launched by the federal government to help those struggling amid the pandemic in 2020 have mostly lapsed. And while some households have savings from government payments, not everyone can afford extra expenses.

Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist at Wells Fargo, warned that the factors causing higher food prices have been building for some time and arent going away anytime soon.

Schools forced to adapt menus because of unreliable deliveries

The Huron Valley schools in Highland, Michigan, are also facing alarming food and labor shortages because of what supply chain experts are calling a global transport systems collapse.

As the economy reopened after lockdowns, experts said that many industries, particularly those delivering food and supplies to schools, are struggling to meet increased demand. Experts are worried that the backlog of orders could extend throughout the rest of the school year.

School nutrition departments have modified their meal programs to a grab-and-go system in 2020 when schools shut down for remote learning. Now, theyre struggling to find menu items, with front office staff and school administrators often helping to serve meals.

Sara Simmerman, food and nutrition supervisor for the 8,600-student district, expressed her worry because things may even get worse before it gets better.

School nutrition departments change menus almost daily depending on deliveries. They also postpone equipment purchases to make up for higher prices on food and supplies.

The unpredictability of deliveries adds to the frustration of school nutrition departments. For example, a satellite kitchen that serves the districts elementary schools recently received only 35 of the 400 cases of food ordered. But several days later, they received 700 cases of food at once.

Lieling Hwang, assistant director of nutrition services for the Long Beach Unified school district in California, explained that deliveries of goods and foods are now extremely delayed. What used to take two to three weeks now takes an average of eight weeks to receive because of the supply chain crisis.

Follow MarketCrash.news for more news related to the economy and rising food prices.

Sources include:

Fox43.com

NYTimes.com

TheGuardian.com
(Natural News) A Harvard professor urged parents not to give their children the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

Many public health officials around the world say that it is important to vaccinate the elderly, children and those with compromised immune systems against coronavirus. The U.S. federal government is already planning the rollout of Pfizers COVID-19 shot for children aged 5 to 11.

But in an interview, Dr. Martin Kulldorff advised parents not to get their children inoculated against coronavirus.

Kulldorff, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a biostatistician at Brigham and Womens Hospital, serves on scientific advisory committees for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He said that its better not to get children vaccinated against coronavirus because the disease is not a huge threat for kids.

While children can still get infected with coronavirus, Kulldorff explained that its similar to how they can get the common cold and that its not something parents should worry about. He added that coronavirus deaths in children are very rare circumstances.

According to data and studies reviewed by Kulldorff, theres a greater chance that children may contract a serious disease or die from the flu compared to the COVID-19 virus.

The CDC reported that only 195 children younger than four and 442 children aged five to 18 have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Oct. 20. The agency added that kids are 15 times less likely to be hospitalized with coronavirus than those who are 85 or older. Children are also 570 times less likely to die from the disease, reported the CDC.

Children in Sweden fine without vaccines

Kulldorff cited Sweden as an example. The country was hit badly by the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, but decided to keep daycare and schools open for all children.

All of Swedens 1.8 million children survived without vaccines, face masks and social distancing in schools. If young children were sick, they stayed at home to get better and avoid infecting others.

There were zero coronavirus deaths among children in Sweden, with only a handful of hospitalizations  proving that COVID-19 is not a risky disease for kids. (Related: Getting the coronavirus naturally may give children better immunity, explains British health expert.)

If parents are still thinking of getting their kids vaccinated, Kulldorff urged them to consider the many negative side effects of different vaccines. According to the FDA, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were linked to heart inflammation like myocarditis and pericarditis. Cases of heart inflammation are more common among young people post-vaccination.

Other experts agree with Kulldorff

On Oct. 25, Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of the messenger RNA technology in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, posted on Twitter to say that there is absolutely no scientific or medical justification for vaccinating children.

Dr. Harvey Risch, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine, told parents to remove their children from public schools that force students to get vaccinated. In an interview, Risch advised that its better to homeschool children since their lives are on the line if they get vaccinated against coronavirus.

If someone already has immunity after recovering from an infection, then a coronavirus vaccine doesnt offer a lot of benefits. And if youre a child, even if you havent had COVID, the risk of serious disease or death is minuscule, proving that the risks outweigh the benefits of vaccinating children.

Visit Vaccines.news to learn more about the negative side effects linked to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

WND.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Twitter.com
(Natural News) Three people were accidentally given COVID-19 vaccines at the Lewis Main Exchange at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington. The Army is currently investigating how this incident occurred.

Col. Joey Sullinger of I Corps Public Affairs said: Joint Base Lewis-McChord is aware three people were inadvertently administered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine instead of another vaccine at the Lewis Main Exchange.

The Army did not release the identities of the persons involved, although positive corrective action has been taken to prevent such errors from happening again. Army medical professionals are notifying and ensuring the health and welfare of those affected. This incident is under investigation, the Army said in a statement.

The information was first shared on Twitter on October 26, but there had been no references or citations regarding the source of the information.

Accidental doses happening across the country

This is not the first time that accidental COVID-19 vaccine doses were given in the United States. In September, a Maryland family found that their 4-year-old ended up getting a COVID-19 shot by mistake, but the vaccine has not yet been approved for children that age. The family was at a Walgreens store to get their flu shot when the mix-up happened.

The same thing happened to a family of four in Indiana, who were mistakenly given a COVID-19 vaccine instead of a flu shot in early October. About 90 minutes after they got what they thought were flu shots, they received a call from their pharmacist saying that mistakes were made and that the entire family had been injected with adult doses of a COVID-19 vaccine instead.

Although the couple was already fully vaccinated, their concern was for their children, Sophia, 5, and Lukas, 4, who showed signs of adverse effects after being given full adult doses.

Lukas started feeling sick before we even got home from Walgreens. He was feeling yucky, lethargic and already had begun a fever, the couple said.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has only been approved for individuals aged 16 and older and has an emergency use authorization for children aged 12 to 15. Pfizer said that it already submitted a formal request for emergency use authorization for a smaller dosage for children ages 5 to 11.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine , said that the children will probably do okay. The difference is they got a three times higher dose of a vaccine than is being tested in clinical trials. It is concerning they got a higher dose, and they have to be monitored, but they should do really well, he said.

He also said that the childrens extra dose of the vaccine is going to be similar to receiving a booster shot.

After requesting that Walgreens give them proof of vaccination to show medical professionals in case of an emergency, the family said that Walgreens hesitated. They wanted to get their legal department involved and did not want to give us those cards, so we got our own attorney, Alexandra Price said. (Related: Mother to sue Louisiana high school for administering COVID-19 vaccine to her child without parental consent .)

Her husband, Joshua, explained that the cards were important proof for the doctors in case the children continue to get sick.

Walgreens spokesperson Kris Lathan released a statement saying that due to privacy laws, they cannot comment on one specific event. However, he did say that such instances are rare and that the company takes these matters seriously.

In the event of any error, our first concern is always our patients well-being. Our multi-step vaccination procedure includes several safety checks to minimize the chance of human error and we have reviewed this process with our pharmacy staff in order to prevent such occurrences, he said.

Get more updates about the COVID-19 vaccine at Pandemic.news

Sources include:
(Natural News) A 37-year-old police officer and small business owner is trying to live her life as normal despite accepting the fact that she could drop dead any day, any time.

(Article republished from TheCOVIDBlog.com)

Ms. Chantal Uren is a police officer for the Western Australian Police Force (WAPOL). She said that the police force mandated vaccines for all personnel in August. Though Ms. Uren made clear that she is not an anti-vaxxer, she was against receiving these particular injections due to lack of sufficient information on them. There is no data about long-term effects, she said. Ms. Uren was also concerned about how the shots were rushed to the market. But she felt there was no choice but to receive the injections if she wanted to keep her privileged role with WAPOL.

Despite her reluctance, Ms. Uren received her first Pfizer mRNA injection sometime in late August. She knew immediately that the decision changed her life, and not for the better. Vertigo, nausea and hives all appeared within 15 minutes.

Ms. Uren was discharged after medical personnel got the rash under control. But the relief was temporary. The next day, she had a 103 degree (39.7 Celsius) fever, more hives, and more nausea. For the next four weeks, Ms. Uren suffered persistent hives, fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, and a debilitating cough. Unfortunately the worst was yet to come.

Bells Palsy, ruptured aneurysm and stroke

Ms. Uren was apparently still going to work through all this. But that all changed sometime in mid-September. Mrs. Uren said her eyes felt weird one Tuesday morning. So she took an antihistamine before driving to work. When she arrived at work, a co-worker told her that her face was drooping sideways.

Chantal Uren before Bells Palsy.

Ms. Uren immediately went to the emergency room. She woke up the next morning in the hospital, only to collapse in the shower. Doctors discovered that main artery from her heart to brain ruptured. That means either the vertebral arteries or the carotid arteries. She also suffered a transient ischemic attack, aka a stroke.

The twilight zone still wasnt over for her.

Doctors said there was a 25% chance she would never recover from the stroke, Bells Palsy and cerebral aneurysm. But Australias dystopian health system struck again when she spoke to another doctor about her prognosis:

I was booked in for an appointment at the vaccine safety clinic. I didnt really understand what the appointment was about until I was taken into a private room with a doctor who tried to tell me that the vaccine had nothing to do with what had happened to me but then also couldnt tell me that it didnt. He sat in his chair stating that it was worth the risk of having another stroke to get my second Pfizer shot. How can a doctor sit there and tell someone those things. He was willing to risk my life to meet what I believe his goal to be of getting as many people vaccinated as possible.

Trolls and trying to live a normal life

Ms. Uren learned what many readers of this blog already knew. Doctors cannot and will not help you with post-injection injuries. But shes also learning the consequences of speaking out about her situation. Ms. Uren is a cop. But shes also really girlie. She likes getting dressed up and doing her makeup. It makes her feel normal. The Bells Palsy appears to come and go. So she takes advantage of the good days by dressing up. Trolls came out of every cave from there.

David Geisler is one of those trolls. He insinuated that Ms. Uren was faking because she is posting on social media and shes looking great with her hair and makeup. This particular troll got under Ms. Urens skin; and she responded with a lengthy post, which includes a photo of her in a wheelchair. The saddest and most sobering part of the post is the conclusion:

I may appear normal now to everyone on the outside but the main artery to my brain is ruptured and will take a year or more to heal so on the inside Im far from normal. The risk of having a stroke at any moment is very high and scary

There is some positive news in Ms. Urens life. She announced her engagement on October 9. But shes unlikely to ever return to her career as a cop, which she seemed to love. Depending on your view, Ms. Uren is lucky to be alive.

A 2005 study published in the British Journal of Nursing found that 33% of carotid artery ruptures result in near-instant death. Those who survive are typically left paralyzed. The prognosis is a little better for vertebral artery dissection (rupture), as long as it happens outside of the cranium. Otherwise, the outlook is grim.

Ms. Uren said she is focusing on her forthcoming marriage to keep her mind healthy through all this.

Read more at: TheCOVIDBlog.com
(Natural News) Pilots are dying within days after taking the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, sometimes midflight. While mainstream media outlets are quick to cover up these deaths, independent journalist and political commentator Scott Kesterson said the reports are real and he has personally confirmed at least one death of a pilot midflight.

Kesterson made this statement on Thursday, Oct. 28, during his program BardsFM on Brighteon.TV.

News came out in mid-October that a pilot for Delta Airlines died during a flight within days after getting vaccinated against COVID-19. This claim is according to Dr. Jane Ruby, a former drug development expert at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to Ruby, a recently vaccinated pilot for the airline died during a commercial flight shortly after taking off from Los Angeles. This forced the co-pilot to make an emergency landing.

The co-pilot told the flight attendant that the captain was speaking normally one moment, then  said a few weird things, then died, said Ruby. The flight had to make an emergency landing.

Without revealing the identities of her sources, Ruby said they have been vetted and that they are all employees of Delta Airlines and that one of them is a pilot and another is a flight attendant who witnessed the event.

According to Ruby, the co-pilot informed the flight crew that the pilot who died had completed his second shot just several days prior to the tragic flight.

Delta Airlines was quick to react to this story with denial. Mainstream media has come to the airline companys aid with multiple articles claiming to have fact-checked the story as a complete falsehood.

But Kesterson believes Ruby is telling the truth after verifying the story with his own sources.

Those claims are true, and theres more to come on this, said Kesterson.

But its a part of this  diabolical plan that were dealing with, which is to force the injection upon everybody  which is nothing more than a bioweapon  knowing that this is going to execute a slow and steady die off within key sectors of our country and leaving us vulnerable, both for just basic functioning of our infrastructure and also vulnerable for our enemies. (Related: Scott Kesterson: Fear of COVID-19 is carefully ENGINEERED to compel people to get vaccinated  Brighteon.TV.)

Many pilots have died after taking vaccines

The Delta Airlines incident is not the first time a recently vaccinated pilot died midflight, endangering hundreds of people on board their planes.

Ruby herself mentioned knowing about at least two other pilots who died due to the COVID-19 vaccines. In one incident, a pilot in Seattle was found dead in his home due to an embolism caused by the vaccine. In another incident, a pilot in Salt Lake City caught COVID-19 from the vaccine and later died of kidney failure after being put on remdesivir.

Back in June, four pilots for British Airways all died within days of each other due to the COVID-19 vaccines.

These are just the latest reports involving pilots dying after getting vaccinated. Many other reports have pointed out that other flight crew, such as flight attendants, are also dying after getting vaccinated.

Kestersons advice to his viewers is to use some common sense. This means thinking twice before boarding a flight, especially with an airline that has mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for its pilots and other flight crew.

I stopped flying the minute they mandated the face mask, said Kesterson. And that was out of a principle that I wasnt going to be told to put something over my face over something that I knew was fake to begin with.

I refuse to fly anywhere anymore, he continued. And I wont. I just think its a bad decision to do so. And Ive heard many, many people say, Well, I have to fly because of business. On top of the injection issues, youre now having to consider another threat, which is, is the plane going to land safely?

Kesterson has a lot more to say regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates and how they are killing skilled people in essential industries. Watch the full Oct. 28 episode of BardsFM with Scott Kesterson here:

BardsFM with Scott Kesterson airs every Thursday at 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccine mandates are killing otherwise healthy people by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

LifeSiteNews.com

WashingtonWatch.org
(Natural News) Physician Dr. Stella Immanuel warned that signs of the end times have been emerging during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. She made this claim during the Oct. 27 edition of The Dr. Stella Immanuel Show on Brighteon.TV.

Immanuel said these signs are mentioned in the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. She also cited numerous examples of these signs emerging more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world.

First and foremost of these predictions are those of wars and rumors of war.

There is plenty of that happening to the body of Christ, and especially to Israel. There is  hatred and antisemitism rising up everywhere. Hatred has come, even [to] America that used to be one country, Immanuel said.

We dont know where they stand right now, with these crazy leftists. So many will be offended; offense is the hallmark of this generation. People get offended for all kinds of stupid, little things. They will betray one another, they will hate one another. Right now, these people are hating  [and] fighting against each other. People are just divided in homes, even [among] their own families. There shall be famines. If you notice right now, theyre setting us up for famine. There shall be pestilences  coronavirus, AIDS [and] all kinds of pestilences. There [will] be earthquakes in diverse places and plenty of [those are] happening.

Aside from the chaotic signs, Immanuel also mentioned the prevalence of immoral behavior.

There [will] be a lot of iniquity [and] sin. There [will] be a lot of homosexuality, fornication, drug addiction, betrayal, lying and stealing  just a lot of iniquity. That means many people [are] not interested in God, she said.

The Bible says a lot of things are [going to] happen  and [they are] escalating, going higher and higher. These things are going to happen for the end comes. So the pressure that is over the people  is going to increase and increase [until they] eventually run to Jesus. If you endure [until] the end, [you] will be saved. There has to be endurance.

Immanuel: COVID vaccine a medical and spiritual danger

The Texas-based doctor described the COVID-19 vaccines as medical and spiritual dangers.

I really want to zoom in [and] talk about the [COVID-19] vaccine. Let me not call it a vaccine. Its not really a vaccine [based on] how dangerous it is, she said. Were having a lot of patients that are coming in with a lot of issues, so I just want to address some of [them]  and make people realize: Whats happening to you [comes] from the [COVID-19] vaccine.'

According to Immanuel, anyone getting injected with the shot might end up dying before [they] even have a chance to run to Jesus. She continued: I know a lot of side effects that are happening [after] this [vaccine]. A lot of people are not recognizing that theres a deception when it comes to this genetic modification. Theres a major deception.

The physician pointed out that all other diseases  such as the flu and high blood pressure  had reportedly disappeared when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Doctors are being pressured to put COVID-19 as diagnosis. I know patients that have told me: My dad did not have [COVID-19] but in his death certificate, they put [it]. So there is a lot of deception going on, she said.

If you die [of] COVID, you die of COVID. If you show up in the hospital [after having] made a suicide attempt and you [later die] of [an] overdose, sometimes [the doctors] will put COVID [as the cause of death.]

Immanuel also questioned the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in the COVID-19 vaccines. According to Childrens Health Defense, the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna use these LNPs for their shots. These particles encapsulate the [viral] mRNA to protect them from degradation and promote cellular uptake. She asks: Why do they need to put [an LNP] in this vaccine to allow it to cross the blood-brain barrier? (Related: COVID-19 vaccine reactions being blamed on PEG, but could it be the body responding to mRNA transhumanist genetic reprogramming?)

You see, our body is so smart. If you introduce a foreign thing in the body, the body fights it immediately. Thats how we were created by God. That is why you walk around with millions and millions of germs around and dont die because Gods innate immunity was created just perfect for us to live in this world. (Related: 30-plus studies prove that natural immunity is the best defense against covid.)

The world has lived with viruses, plagues and everything for generations  long before all these stuff came. And guess what? No virus, no plague, nothing has been able to wipe out humanity. Because whatever disease [or] virus burns itself out naturally, even before human being started intervening with vaccines. I think that some of those human interventions are causing most of the problems in the world.

Why do they want you to get this vaccine? Because they know that in the end time, the devil will need to be in a position to be able to deceive everybody.

Watch the full Oct. 27 episode of The Dr. Stella Immanuel Show below. Tune in to The Dr. Stella Immanuel Show every Wednesday at 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Truth.news has more articles about COVID-19 vaccines and the end times.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

BibleGateway.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org
(Natural News) If you still believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is not being politicized and, more specifically, utilized to collapse our society so the Marxist puppet masters running Joe Bidens regime can then rebuild it in their ideological, authoritarian image, you need to keep reading.

Right now as this story goes to publication, there is a series of crises developing in major urban centers all around the country thanks to COVID vaccine mandates  mandates that were engineered specifically to cause as much disruption as possible.

Over the weekend, the FDNY was forced to close more than two dozen firehouses  26 to be exact  because hundreds of firefighters who refuse to get the vaccine called in sick rather than be placed on unpaid leave, as the New York Post reported:

The shutdown came amid a pitched battle between City Hall, which on Monday will start enforcing a mandate that all city workers have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and jab-resisting firefighters, many reportedly saying they were already sick with the coronavirus and therefore have natural immunity.

If someone dies due to a slower emergency response, its on Bill de Blasio and his overreaching mandates. I hope this fool fixes it ASAP! U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), tweeted after noting that five stations in her district were shut down.

.@FDNY Ladder 149 in Dyker Heights #Brooklyn was closed today due to Mayor de Blasios overreaching vaccine mandate. If he doesnt reverse course, the city will lose first responders and put New Yorkers in more danger. pic.twitter.com/jVo1WUVkgM  Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) October 30, 2021

No borough or neighborhood was spared, with the shuttered companies ranging from Engine Co. 55 in lower Manhattan, to Engine Co. 234 in Crown Heights, to Engine Co. 231 in Brownsville. Others included Ladder Co. 128 in Long Island City and Engine Co. 158 and Ladder Co. 78 on Staten Island, according to information provided by Malliotakis and Councilman Joe Borelli (R-SI), who cited the Uniformed Firefighters Association. Borelli said the list of 26 came from a FDNY alert dispatched to members, The Post added.

Its definitely a sick-out. Its a job action, one FDNY insider told the paper. If they call in sick they have to go to the medical office. The medical office is overwhelmed.

Were fked. We are going to toast like marshmallows, retired electrician Vinny Agro, 63, told The Post.

Meanwhile, out in Los Angeles County, Sheriff Alex Villanueva warned that fully 30 percent of his 18,000-strong department was unavailable to work, most of whom were deputies, due to a variety of reasons to include a county-wide vaccine mandate.

He warned of an imminent threat to public safety that will be caused by a mass exodus of thousands of deputies and civilian personnel from his department who say theyre not going to get the vaccine, LAist.com reported.

I could potentially lose 44% of my workforce in one day, Villanueva noted Thursday in an open letter to the Board of Supervisors. He went on to say he cant and wont enforce reckless mandates that put public safety at risk.

With the pandemic waning, there is no justification for your mandate, Villanueva noted in his letter to the supervisors. This mandate is like putting up storm windows after the storm has passed.

In a public statement accompanying the letter, the sheriff wrote, I am vaccinated and believe the vaccine works. However, he added, the choice to receive the vaccine is a personal one, and an individual who served the community tirelessly before there was a vaccine should not now be fired because they made a decision about their own body.

And in Tucson, Ariz., a longtime city water department worker said that the department is shedding workers at an alarming rate  again, due to the vaccine mandate  and that will cause chaos and disruption to the citys water services.

We are watching employees walk out as I speak in the water quality and operations division, said the employee, who asked to remain anonymous in an interview with KOLD.

Were pulling people from other areas and other departments to help specifically cover the operations division which is overseeing the water quality and drinking water parameters, the worker said.

The vaccine mandate is ripping our society apart and vital services are collapsing. The situation will only get worse.

Sources include:

KOLD.com

NYPost.com

LAist.com
(Natural News) Analyst and computational biologist Jessica Rose believes there are systematic flaws that prevent the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) system from working as intended. Rose elaborated on this when she was interviewed by Doctors and Scientists host Brian Hooker.

From December 2020, Rose anticipated that the number of vaccine adverse events would increase. She analyzed the death count and missing data and found that the number of fatalities linked to COVID vaccines was higher than the number reported to VAERs.

Rose testified at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting in September that underreporting was not considered in the VAERS data. I wasnt wrong. There was this missing data issue  thats what sparked this, she said.

She published her findings showing that VAERS does not accurately track adverse reactions due to several flaws, including a huge backlog of data that is still waiting to be entered into the system. Rose added that health professionals were missing safety signals and that the system was not being applied properly. Some data also got lost during updates.

The most important thing I found in my determination is whether or not this tool  which can be a pharmacovigilance tool  is being used as such. All of this data is being entered by human beings. Probably nice people who arent being paid enough, who have too many things to do, so everything isnt necessarily nefarious, she said.

Adverse events severely underreported

VAERS itself admits that reports about adverse events are not automatically collected and require reports to be filed. However, they often lack details and can sometimes have information that contains errors.

Underreporting is one of its main limitations as VAERS receives reports for only a small fraction of actual events. The degree of underreporting varies widely as well.

The FDA or the CDC also never calculated the VAERS underreporting factor (URF), which is required information for any risk-benefit assessment of vaccines. Because the FDA or CDC never calculated this information, all safety recommendations to date have only been guesswork, resulting in the needless loss of life for over 150,000 Americans.

A hospital whistleblower recently came forward saying that she was not allowed to report adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. The whistleblower, Deborah Conrad, said that she worked as a physician assistant at the United Memorial Medical Center for two years. She admitted that she tracked patients and their COVID-19 vaccination status and found that there was a serious underreporting of adverse reactions to VAERS.

Her local community reported a 50 percent COVID vaccination rate, but according to Conrad, 90 percent of hospitalizations are fully vaccinated individuals who had been admitted for several reasons such as COVID-19 infections. Many of the patients were young and presented unusual or unexpected health events.

Conrad also said that she personally treated at least five patients that presented with new and unprovoked deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within six months of their vaccinations.

She shared that the doctors at the hospital approached her to report instances of adverse reactions, but when she offered to file patients reports with VAERS, she was directed that she was not allowed to report for anyone elses patients but her own. Conrad submitted a total of 50 adverse events reports in a four-week period, including four deaths.

However, the hospitals chief quality officer stated that she has not heard this level of reporting from anywhere else and didnt hear similar reports from [another hospital in the system]. (Related: Study reveals FEWER than 1% of vaccine injuries are reported to VAERS.)

The hospital then told her that in her role in the organization, she was to support the hospitals approach to the vaccine. Submitting reports to VAERS is apparently not aligned to the hospitals approach.

Conrads attorney, Aaron Siri, sent a letter to the CDC and FDA on her behalf. The lawyer wrote: It is alarming that the Hospitals approach to the vaccines does not and has not included educating healthcare providers about VAERS and encouraging them to efficiently and consistently file reports. Instead, its apparent approach is to actively deter them from doing so.

Follow VaccineInjuryNews.com for more news and information related to vaccine injuries and deaths.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

IPAKnowledge.org

VAERS.hhs.gov

TrialSiteNews.com

TheExpose.uk
(Natural News) The left-wing sycophants who work at the major U.S. news networks will never admit it but it is looking more and more like former President Donald Trump should still be President Donald Trump and that his repeated claims of vote fraud and a rigged election are legitimate.

In 2016, Trump won the blue wall upper Midwestern swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to hand Democrat Hillary Clinton an electoral vote shellacking, but he would need to win them again in order to beat Joe Biden. Those states were targeted, however, by an underhanded scheme led in large part by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to undermine election laws in those states and others to essentially rob Trump of his well-deserved reelection victory.

Now, a county sheriff in one of them  Wisconsin  has charged the state election commission of massive legal violations by telling local elections officials not to send poll workers into nursing homes to assist residents with voting last November, The Conservative Brief reported on Friday.

The outlet continued:

During a press conference on Thursday, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling called on the Wisconsin Department of Justice to launch a statewide investigation, alleging that the Wisconsin Election Commission took advantage of impaired seniors.

The Sheriffs office suggested that this sort of conduct took place in all 72 counties of the state and believes the WEC committed a Class I Felony.

Following Schmalings accusations, the Wisconsin Election Commission held an emergency meeting, which was reported by the Journal-Times.

The RCSO alleged that fraud was committed at Ridgewood Care Center in Mount Pleasant, where eight people who had lost significant cognitive ability still cast ballots that were allegedly filled out by staff, because of policies the WEC approved that the RCSO alleges broke state election law, the paper reported.

The commission says that the changes it approved during the pandemic (all of the Democrats in these states who made unconstitutional changes to voting laws used the pandemic as their excuse) were acceptable, especially as they pertained to no longer requiring Special Voting Deputies to go into eldercare facilities to help those who wanted it to cast their ballots. Those deputies were also to prevent fraudulent voting from taking place, such as nursing home staff assisting residents with their votes, which is a violation of state laws.

But based on his investigation, Schmaling has called on the Wisconsin Department of Justice to launch a statewide probe of the 2020 election.

An election statute was in fact not just broken, but shattered by members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, he said during a press conference last week when he and Sgt. Michael Luell discussed the findings of an investigation into the Ridgewood Care Facility.

Racine law enforcement looked at 2020 visitor logs and found that other visitors were let into the nursing home throughout the pandemic, about 900 times between the decision in March not to use special voting deputies and November 2020. Those visitors included someone to clean the fish tanks and birdcages and even DoorDash delivery people, The Federalist reported.

Those people were allowed into the Ridgewood Care Facility, but heaven forbid we make an exception for special voting deputies, Luell told reporters.

"It's not a process. It's a law." The Wisconsin Election Commission instructed nursing homes to commit voter fraud! pic.twitter.com/Auaa50MWKF  Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) October 28, 2021

Under state law, violating statutes pertaining to the special deputies constitutes election fraud, which is a felony.

Were just one of 72 counties, Racine County, Schmaling noted further. Ridgeland is one of 11 facilities within our county. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of these facilities throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.

We would be foolish, we would be foolish to think for a moment that this integrity issue, this violation of the statute, occurred to just this small group of people at one care facility in one county in the entire state. I would submit to you that this needs the attorney generals investigation, the sheriff continued, calling for an immediate investigation.

If nothing happens to these Democrats, Republicans need to take heed and call all bets are off moving forward. Without election integrity, the country is lost already.

Sources include:

ConservativeBrief.com

JournalTimes.com

NewsTarget.com
After a major oil leak wreaked havoc on the Orange County coast; state lawmakers convened in Sacramento on Thursday to demand that those responsible "be held accountable," with one senator calling for a stop to California's offshore drilling.

California Oil Rigs

The majority of oil rigs off California's coast are in federally governed seas, senators recognized at an oversight hearing held by the state Senate's Natural Resources and Water Committee that stopping offshore drilling would be a challenging feat. Moreover, any attempt to revoke leases for drilling, pipelines, and other oil infrastructure in state waters might be met with fast legal challenges, potentially costing taxpayers millions, if not billions, of dollars.

Nonetheless, lawmakers and state experts testifying Thursday agreed that as long as oil is exploited offshore, concerns to wildlife and California's prized beaches would exist.

"Is it worthwhile to drill for oil and gas off the coast of the United States? The pervasive hazards put a $44 billion-a-year coastal industry in California in jeopardy, "Sen. Dave Min stated (D-Irvine).

Min pointed out that offshore oil production in federal and state seas in California represents less than 0.3 percent of total US output.

"That's a drop in the bucket," he added, "and yet we're constantly faced with the prospect of oil leaks."

Related Article: Oil Spill Investigators Claimed that Pipeline Damage may Have Happened Months Before



Galloons of Oil Spill

An estimated 25,000 gallons of oil spilled into the water near Huntington Beach, and investigators believe it was triggered by a cargo ship anchor snagging a 17-mile-long pipeline that goes from an oil platform to the Port of Long Beach.

The hearing on Thursday provided no new information on the cause of the leak, which occurred 4.5 miles offshore in federal seas. In addition, the timeliness and efficacy of the pipeline operator's and US Coast Guard's responses to the leak, which had been questioned in the days following the event, remained unknown.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham outlined the state's reaction to the leak. Bonham said he and other state officials flew over the lake on Sunday, Oct. 3, two days after officials got information of a probable leak.

Immediate Response

According to Bonham, about 1,500 employees were dispatched within the first week of the reaction to clean up beaches and critical natural areas, confine oil drifting off the coast, and treat wildlife saturated by spilled oil. When asked about the reason for the spill, Bonham deferred to the federal authorities in charge of the investigation.

He told legislators, "It's tied to that evidential and investigative dynamic, and I really can't comment."

Sen. Brian Jones (R-Santee) called for a full inquiry into the leak and how it may have been avoided, but he cautioned lawmakers against jumping to conclusions about who was to blame.

"While the oil corporation undoubtedly has some culpability in the problem, I believe we must not place all of the blame on the business until we have all of the facts," Jones said.

Environmental Disaster

The disaster shut down beaches and dumped gallons of crude oil down the coast in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach, killing fish and birds and endangering critical wetlands. The Small Business Administration of the United States has granted federal disaster aid for firms impacted by the leak.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was "time once and for all to disabuse ourselves that [oil drilling] needs to be part of our future" during a press conference at Bolsa Chica State Beach a few days later. Min has also promised to introduce laws to ban offshore drilling and oil extraction.

The oil rigs off the coast of Orange County are operated by an Amplify Energy subsidiary, Beta Operating Co., and the pipeline that broke is the San Pedro Bay Pipeline. Although the incident happened in federal seas, the pipeline is one of many that the State Lands Commission has awarded a long-term lease for traveling across state waters, which extend three nautical miles from shore.

Amplify representatives were invited to appear at the meeting on Thursday but declined, according to committee chairman Sen. Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles).

Governors from both parties and the state's lands and coastal commissioners have successfully thwarted multiple attempts to increase offshore drilling in federal seas in California.

Historical Significance

When President Ronald Reagan's administration planned to open most of the nation's outer continental shelf in the 1980s, 24 California towns and counties passed municipal legislation prohibiting the construction of new infrastructure to facilitate offshore drilling. Oil firms sued seventeen of them, but the ordinances are still in place in some form.

The California Coastal Sanctuary Act, approved by the state legislature in 1994, prevents new leasing in state waters.

California approved legislation prohibiting new oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructure built on state grounds as the Trump administration tried to open federal waters to drilling on an unprecedented scale.

Prohibitions

Newsom said in April that new licenses for hydraulic fracturing will be prohibited beginning in 2024, putting an end to the contentious oil extraction technology that has been a focus of environmental campaigners for years.

The governor also asked the California Air Resources Board to figure out how to phase out all oil extraction by 2045. According to the governor's office, Newsom's request to stop the sale of new gas-powered automobiles in California by 2035 would coincide with California's attempt to achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2045.

Also Read: Marine Bacteria Found Capable of Biodegrading Diesel and Oil: Can it Clean Up Oil Spills?

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
As per Conservation International, the La Mosquitia territory encompasses about 1,350 square miles and is among the most intact lowland tropical zones in Latin America, sustaining another of Honduras' top important ecological clusters.

To native folklore, a historic empire dubbed as "La Ciudad Blanca," or "The White City," lies far in the northern Honduran woods.

Researchers unearthed sites and relics that were engulfed by the forest using evidence obtained by earlier ventures and other ground-surveying radars and infrared scanners, exposing mysteries of an ancient civilization that might be over 1,000 years old.

Yet, the territory is today endangered by illicit logging and animal smuggling, posing major hazards not just to native ecosystems and biodiversity but also to the safeguarding of key ancient sites, as stated by cinematographer and adventurer Doug Elkins.

The Magnificent White City

Its title refers to enormous white stone pillars purportedly seen by European conquistadors and subsequently Western colonists; the settlement is said to have been devoted to a monkey god idolized by a pre-Columbian civilization.

Elkins was a member of the expedition that uncovered the remains of what is believed to be the White City in partnership with the Honduran authorities and Honduran experts.

"We were up in the highlands, several days by boat trip off modern civilization, when we came across this giant boulder with a rock formation: a figure wearing a mask or helmet, carrying a rod and a bag by what appeared to be seeds sprouting out of it," he explained.

The National Geographic said that in the 1940s, an American voyager named Theodore Morde arrived from an exploration mission to La Mosquitia with thousands of relics.

Morde proclaimed how he had found the iconic district and that Native communities explained an immense monument of a monkey god that were laid to rest there.

Elkins' interest in the White City emerged in the 1990s, after he learned it while employed as a documentary maker. He told reporters that the intricate petroglyph indicated there were previously ancient dwellings in the region, despite the fact that no evidence of them was evident at the time.

Laser beams sniped off the surface as the scan plane buzzed over the forest, measuring the altitudes of buildings concealed behind deep jungle coverage so engineers can recreate the terrain in 3D.

3D models of the land were then used to eliminate the forest area, exposing what seemed to be structure foundation, farmland fields, roadways, and waterways.

Also read: CGI Dinosaur Gives Speech on Climate Change to World Leaders in UN Video

Voyage to Finding the Ancient Metropolis' Location

Backpacking to the secluded area posed hurdles that pushed the team to their boundaries, such as interactions with poisonous reptiles, quicksand, massive numbers of flying insects, and even flesh-eating microbes, said Douglas Preston, crew member and writer of "The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story," in 2017.

According to explorer participant Christopher Fisher, a Mesoamerican archaeologist and educator of anthropology at Colorado State University, one rock estimate entombed with its head poking out of the surface might be a were-jaguar, which is assumed to be a portrayal of a shaman's divine presence during the ceremonial conversion.

Moreover, the archaeologists discovered tombs, promenades, ships engraved with ravens and serpent, and a pyramidal with a stockpile of rock statues concealed at its foot deep in the bush.

Due to their secluded areas and minimal state funding, most of the Honduran jungle undoubtedly contains traces of innumerable old ruins that were never examined or recorded. According to Castro, most of these remains may reflect societies that contemporary historians are yet unaware of.

Also read: Mountain Snowpacks in Western US Might Completely Disappear Soon
A bat has swooped in "by a long way" to win the annual bird of the year award, causing a great upset for New Zealand birds but a triumph for one of the country's few native land mammals.

HOLY SHIT GOOD NEWS FOLKS, PEKAPEKA-TOU-ROA IS CROWNED BIRD OF THE YEAR!!! WE DID IT COMRADES  #TEAMPEKAPEKA pic.twitter.com/QSTalplBXT  the vintage green sweatshirt  (@greeniememes) October 31, 2021

The bat among the birds was an unexpected entry this year, according to Forest and Bird, the election's organizers. The pekapeka-tou-roa, or long-tailed bat, is one of the country's two bats and one of the world's rarest animals. When it is born, it is the size of a bumblebee and as little as a thumb.

The polls closed on Halloween night, which was also the end of the voting period. On Monday, Lissy Fehnker-Heather of Forest and Bird revealed the prize on RNZ's Morning Report.

She stated that the pekapeka-tou-roa won by 3,000 votes over the avian flock and that this year's competition had the most overall votes in the tournament's 17-year history. "We received roughly 58,000 votes from all across the world," she remarked.

"No, bats are New Zealand's only native land mammals, and they are classified as nationally critical," Fehnker-Heather responded when asked whether the bat's admittance was a prank. "However, they face many of the same challenges as our native birds. Therefore this year, we decided to attempt to raise awareness about it."

According to her, rats, possums, stoats, and cats are all severe threats to the species, with the population dropping at a rate of about 5% every year. Powerful backers may have aided the bat in the polls: The pekapeka campaign has received support from New Zealand's Ministry of the Environment.

Related Article: Mommy Bat Dies Giving Birth, Her Bestfriend Bat Steps in to Adopt Baby

Kakapo vs Pekapeka

NOOOOOOO!!!!! The pekapeka (long-tailed bat) won bird of the year! I genuinely yelled out loud like Luke finding out who his father was. This will not stand. This election was stolen. The winner can only be Kereru. #BirdoftheYear pic.twitter.com/CFWksBZ9aA  Erica Challis (@challis_erica) October 31, 2021

The kakapo, the world's only nocturnal and flightless parrot and last year's champion came in second. The titipounamu, or rifleman, came in third and was regarded by Maori as the gods' messenger.

Fourth place went to Kea, the world's only alpine parrot, notorious for wrecking automobiles and being extremely intelligent. Finally, the Antipodean Albatross, one of New Zealand's biggest seabirds, came in fifth place. The yearly tournament is not without its share of controversies.

Controversial Competition

There's really nothing more New Zealand than:

a) having a heated bird of the year comp every year

b) putting a bat in the comp, which is not a bird but does fly so close enough I guess

c) everyone voting for the not bird



Looking forward to next year when Tuatara takes the win  Cassie (@shortcasserole) October 31, 2021



Hundreds of ballots from Russia arrived in the United States in 2019, prompting accusations of election manipulation. However, the votes were eventually deemed valid, and a Forest and Bird official speculated at the time that Russian ornithologists may have been involved.

Forest and Bird claimed that 300 fraudulent votes were cast in the online voting by Australians trying to rig the race in the shag's favor the year before.

"It wouldn't be Bird of the Year without a scandal," Fehnker-Heather said when asked if other vulnerable flying species, such as bees might be featured in future competitions.

ALSO READ: The Mystery Behind Wombat's Cubed Feces

Fore more news about the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A fungus affected hundreds of animals and humans in British Columbia and Washington State in the early 2000s. Scientists discovered that the infection killed porpoises and dolphins in the Salish Sea, suggesting that it may have affected cetaceans even before humans.

Cryptococcus gattii

A Study released on the 21st of October 2021 in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms covers how human-caused changes on land might influence aquatic creatures, focusing on the fungal disease Cryptococcus gattii.

A team of scientists from Canada and the Pacific Northwest, led by the University of California, Davis, put together the information regarding the fungal outbreak in marine animals. They collected and examined data gathered by veterinarians, microbiologists, marine animal scientists, and stranding responders over the course of decades.

C. gattii is a fungus that may cause disease of the lung and brain. It is obtained by breathing in fungus spores and dwells in soil and tree habitats.

It is not regarded as being contagious between individuals. Cryptococcus gattii was likely translocated to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900s, while the specific methods of transmission are unclear. It is often found in tropical and subtropical forests, paralleling eucalyptus trees' distribution.

Humans, domestic animals, and terrestrial species got infected with C. gattii on Vancouver Island in 1999, and the disease spread to mainland British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California.

Also Read: Newly Discovered World's Oldest Fungus in South Africa Raises Questions About Early Life on Earth

The Discovery

The researchers also discovered that the fungal disease killed 42 dolphins and porpoises in the Salish Sea, including harbor porpoises, Dall's porpoises, and Pacific white-side dolphins.

Soil disturbance operations such as construction, deforestation, etc. may aerosolized C. gattii spores, infecting humans and animals that reside near the disturbed areas and breathe in the spores.

"As we change the environment in unprecedented ways, we could see more diseases that affect people and wildlife," said lead author Sarah Teman, a research assistant at the SeaDoc Society, a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

The C. gattii-infected marine animals were discovered near terrestrial hotspots, suggesting that the spores dropped on the sea's surface, where porpoises and dolphins inhaled them as they surfaced to breathe.

Researchers also discovered evidence that the first possible case of C. gattii in the Pacific Northwest occurred in a Dall's porpoise in 1997, two years before the first human case in the area was identified in 1999.

Why Marine Mammals are Often Studied

"Often we study marine mammals because they play important roles in the ecosystem, and they are cool," said Joe Gaydos, a UC Davis wildlife veterinarian at SeaDoc Society and co-investigator. "Too often we forget that they can also alert us to diseases that affect humans."

The research was supported by the SeaDoc Society and the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant.

The Animal Health Centre of the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Foods and Fisheries, the BC Centre for Disease Control, Cascadia Research Collective, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Marine-Med, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Northwest ZooPath, and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia are among the other co-authoring institutions.

Related Article: Outbreak of Untreatable, Drug-Resistant Superbug Fungus Unnerves Experts in 2 US Cities

For more news, updates about marine mammals and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Since Tropical Storm 'Victor' dissipated at the beginning of October, the Atlantic has been rather calm. Now that Wanda has stopped the calmness, AccuWeather experts are keeping an eye on another region for possible development.

Subtropical Storm Wanda

A nor'easter that hit the mid-Atlantic and New England earlier this week has now moved out over the northern Atlantic. However, its voyage isn't yet accomplished. What's remained of the storm has formed into Subtropical Storm Wanda, the last name on the Atlantic hurricane season's list for 2021.

Since Victor developed over the far eastern section of the basin on Sept. 29 and roamed the southern ocean until it dissipated on the 4th of October, the Atlantic has not named a storm.

Wanda was roughly 960 miles (1,540 kilometers) west of the Azores as of Sunday night. It had sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 kilometers per hour) and was traveling east at 8 miles per hour (13 kilometers per hour).

Wanda differs from previous storms this season, such as Ida and Henri, in that it is a subtropical cyclone rather than a tropical one, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Lauren Hyde.

While tropical storms are more likely to form in warmer seas, subtropical storms are more likely to form in cooler waters.

Another distinction between the two kinds of storms is that subtropical storms are not as powerful as tropical storms or hurricanes, despite the fact that both may have severe effects such as strong waves, destructive gusts, and flooding rain.

Also Read: Meteorologists Warn Tropical Storm Victor May Intensify Into a Hurricane

Tropical Disturbance

"Environmental conditions are expected to sustain Wanda at subtropical storm strength for the next few days, but are not favorable enough to further strengthen Wanda significantly," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Thomas Geiger.

Luckily, Wanda is not predicted to affect land, but shipping interests should brace themselves for intense seas in its trail.

"Wanda is forecast to take a southeastward turn before tracking northeastward late Monday or early Tuesday towards cooler waters," Geiger noted.

Another tropical disturbance along the coast of Africa was being monitored by AccuWeather experts on the opposite side of the Atlantic. This tropical wave was positioned hundreds of miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and had a low likelihood of developing during the following 48 hours.

This wave's formation would be unusual, according to Geiger, since tropical cyclones rarely form south of the Cabo Verde Islands in late October or early November.

Naming a Storm

If this wave becomes a tropical storm, it will be the first to be given a name on the World Meteorological Organization's supplementary name list, which was created to replace the Greek alphabet.

This new name list was created when the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was forced to use the Greek Alphabet to name additional storms during the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

The Greek alphabet will no longer be used by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) because it creates a distraction from the delivery of danger and storm alerts and is possibly confusing. Adria is the first name on this new list.

Related Article: Developing Storm in Atlantic Coast Can Bring Strong Winds and Flooding in US Coasts

For more news, updates about Wanda and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
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A Hartford Superior Court judge is considering whether the Dulos divorce case would need to be reopened for Michelle Troconis attorney to access transcripts from a family court hearing that occurred about a week before Jennifer Dulos vanished in 2019.

Attorney Jon Schoenhorn is pressing his civil case against a court reporter on the grounds he was denied transcripts of Dulos divorce proceedings that he claims should be public records.

During a virtual hearing Monday, Schoenhorn argued that asking a court to reopen the Dulos divorce so he can request a judge to grant him access to hearing transcripts is a misinterpretation of previous case law.

I only see that as an excuse for a delay, Schoenhorn said. Who would be the opposing party in that case?

Schoenhorn filed a civil writ in April, compelling court reporter Melodie Moss, who works at the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District, to provide a court transcript of the two-day Dulos divorce hearing where a doctor presented his findings from a psychological report about the family.

About a week after the hearing, Jennifer Dulos disappeared from her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019. The 50-year-old mother of five has never been found and authorities said she is presumed dead. Her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, faced murder and other charges in the case when he died by suicide in January 2020.

Family Court Judge Donna Heller dismissed the divorce four days after Fotis Dulos died.

Schoenhorn was originally seeking the transcript to aid in his clients defense on conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence charges in connection with Jennifer Dulos death and disappearance.

But now Schoehorn said he is proceeding with the case on principle since he claims the judge did not properly seek a sealing order for the divorce hearing.

This being done on the idea that this was a public hearing that is constitutionally required to be held in open court, Schoenhorn said Monday. Im just another member of the public whos curious about what happened in a public courtroom in contentious litigation between rich people.

But the Office of Attorney General William Tong, representing Moss, contends that Heller, who was overseeing the Dulos divorce and child custody proceedings, verbally sealed the hearing and that included the psychological report and any transcripts.

Tongs office is seeking to have the writ dismissed on the grounds Schoenhorn filed the case in a civil court rather than a family court.

Assistant Attorney General Alma Nunley said Monday that the court reporter does not have the authority to ignore a sealing order regardless of the status of a case.

In order to get access to the transcript, Nunley argued that Schoenhorn would have to get a family court judge to reopen the divorce so he could intervene to seek the document.

So I have to ask a judge to lift an order that was never legal in the first place, Schoenhorn said.

Hartford Superior Court Judge David Sheriden indicated he needed time to review the case before he issued a ruling on the motion to dismiss. But Sheriden said he had been considering that were a unified Superior Court system with divisions.

Nunley and Assistant Attorney General Robert Deichert included in their memo in support of dismissing Schoehorns claim 10 pages of the transcript hearing that they said should remain sealed from public view. In the portion of the transcript that was released, Heller ordered the courtroom closed and the report sealed. She also ordered any audio recordings sealed.

Nunley said her office only reviewed the relevant portions to determine if Heller had sealed the transcript. Nunley did not specify how her office was able to review the document since they contend it remains sealed.

The focus of the family court proceeding was a discussion on the findings of Dr. Stephen Herman who had completed a psychological report on the Dulos family.

The hearing, however, was never completed after Herman walked off the stand and refused to return to complete his testimony.

The findings in the psychological report have never been made public. Schoenhorn is seeking the transcript to determine how his client was portrayed during the hearing.

In May, Stamford Superior Court Judge John Blawie allowed Schoenhorn to have access to the psychological report. But Schoenhorn is contending that he also wants the transcript of the hearing, and by refusing to provide him with it, Moss acted in violation of her statutory authority and the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

Troconis has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear Dec. 2 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Troconis is accused of helping to create an alibi for Fotis Dulos the morning of the disappearance and helping to dispose of evidence afterward, according to arrest warrants in the case.

Police said they believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait for his estranged wife to return home after dropping off their children at school the morning of May 24, 2019, according to arrest warrants.

Police said Jennifer Dulos was attacked in her garage and is presumed dead based on the blood and other evidence they found, arrest warrants state. While her remains have never been found, the states chief medical examiner said she would not have survived the attack without immediate medical attention, the warrants state.

The night of the disappearance Fotis Dulos and Troconis were captured on Hartford surveillance footage making a series of stops, arrest warrants stated. Fotis Dulos was seen dumping bags, some of which were later recovered and contained his estranged wifes blood and clothing, according to arrest warrants.

According to arrest warrants, Troconis also helped Fotis Dulos take a pickup truck belonging to one of his employees to a car wash the week after the disappearance. Jennifer Dulos blood was later found on a seat in the truck, which police believe was used the day she vanished, according to the arrest warrants.

Fotis Dulos former attorney and longtime friend, Kent Mawhinney, has also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the case. Mawhinney is scheduled to appear Nov. 17 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Navy has determined that a submarine damaged in a collision in the South China Sea in early October struck a seamount, or underwater mountain, two defense officials said Monday.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement. The Navy has yet to fully explain how or why the USS Connecticut struck the seamount or to reveal the extent of damage to the Seawolf-class submarine.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee schools will have to jump through even more hoops if they want to implement mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under legislation recently approved by the states GOP-controlled General Assembly.

The strict new rules are part of a sweeping bill Republicans signed off on in the middle of the night over the weekend as they worked to undermine numerous COVID-19 protective measures.

Lawmakers were willing to back down on measures targeting private businesses after industry groups balked at mask requirement restrictions. The business groups were left with some provisions they oppose  conflicting state and federal mandates on vaccines, the threat of lawsuits to enforce the new law, and the fear that the U.S. government could take over workplace safety regulation in Tennessee because of attempts to undermine federal safety rules.

When advocates for public schools asked for similar leniency on mask wearing, lawmakers brushed off their pleas that mask mandates were necessary to protect children and teachers amid the virus outbreak and kept strict limits in the bill. At the same time, private schools were given an exemption so they could require masks.

The move comes as Tennessee continues to experience some of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the United States after at times seeing some of the highest case counts, deaths and hospitalization rates in the nation since the pandemic began.

Tennessee is already facing federal scrutiny for how it's handled the issue of masks in schools. Gov. Bill Lee issued an order allowing parents to opt their children out of mask mandates. Three judges have since blocked the order from applying in three counties, one in each federal court district in the state. And Tennessee is among the five states under U.S. Education Department civil rights investigations because they have banned or limited mask requirements in schools. The department says the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.

The legislation now goes before the Republican governor, who has held off on promising he'll give the bill his signature. He's also yet to veto a bill during his first term in office.

Under the proposal, government entities  including public schools  would largely be prohibited from implementing mask mandates. Those entities would only be allowed to require masks if they lived in a county with a rolling average 14-day COVID-19 infection rate of at least 1,000 per 100,000 resident while the state is under a state of emergency. The state currently is far below that threshold.

Yet even then, mask mandates would continue to be limited in use. The school's principal would have to request the mandate to the school board. If approved by the board, the mandate could only apply to that particular school  not the whole school district  up to 14 days.

Meanwhile, private businesses, private schools, health care facilities, airports, prisons and jails were given a last-minute exemption as high-profile companies like Ford Motor Co. reached out.

As of Monday, school officials in Nashville said they were reviewing the slate of bills passed during the three-day special legislative session as they waited to see if Lee would sign them into law.

Spokesperson Sean Braisted said the district is committed to putting student and staff safety first, while complying with all lawful requirements.

We will communicate any new procedures to families and staff as quickly as possible, he said.

Lawmakers also banned government entities from issuing vaccine mandates, as well as prohibiting private businesses requiring proof of vaccination.

Yet government entities and businesses could sidestep both the vaccine and mask mandate bans if they reach out to the state's comptroller's office and show they would lose federal funding by complying with the state law.

State Comptroller Jason Mumpower would have to set the guidelines on qualifying for an exemption. As of Monday, a spokesperson for the office said officials were having preliminary discussions on what staff and resources might be needed to handle the potentially large swath of requests from schools and businesses.
Firefighters rally outside Mayor Bill De Blasio's residence Gracie Mansion to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in New York. The city is bracing for a worker shortage as tens of thousands of municipal employees remain unvaccinated.
Protesters took to the streets of Londons historic financial district to lobby against the use of fossil fuels ahead of the U.N. climate summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow
A New York sheriff is defending his decision to file a criminal complaint against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo without consulting prosecutors or the woman who says Cuomo groped her late last year


Yarmouth Christians unveil anti-slavery mural

An eye-catching mural that could help to save lives has been installed in Great Yarmouth this week to help combat modern slavery.

Commissioned by Park Baptist Church and Imagine Norfolk Together, the mural was unveiled at a ceremony one Monday in October to mark anti-slavery day. It depicts four of the most common industries where slavery occurs: Carwashes, nail bars, construction and domestic work, and is accompanied by a plaque with further details on how to spot the signs of what is a growing national problem.



Unveiling the mural, Rev Dr Dan Pratt, founder of The Together Free Foundation, said: This new mural highlights how victims of modern slavery can be hidden in plain sight within every community. This innovative and creative initiative to raise awareness could help to save the lives of people trapped in exploitation.



The mural can be found on the Michael Blank / Middlegate Hut on Tolhouse Street in Yarmouth and is part of a wider local strategy to raise awareness of modern slavery, which encompasses both the trafficking of people into, out of and around the UK, and exploitation itself.



Anna Heydon, Development Worker with Imagine Norfolk Together, said: Modern Slavery is a hideous crime which thrives on secrecy and peoples unwillingness to admit or recognise that it happens where they live. This mural is a call to action. We must refuse to ignore or turn a blind eye from situations of injustice and oppression, but instead to stand against them and to stand with the victims.



Rev. Peter Timothy, minister of Park Baptist Church, added: Our aim is to help raise awareness and educate our community, so that our town may be a place where the vulnerable feel safe and where traffickers know there are no hiding places for this cruel and de-humanising act.



Each year thousands of referrals concerning modern slavery are made to authorities, with incidents of trafficked children being reported in every local area in the UK. The exact number of people trapped in slavery is difficult to determine, but cases continue to increase, with the true number of victims thought to be much higher due to the difficulties in detecting and reporting the crime.



To help improve awareness, Great Yarmouth Library hosted a display of books related to the subject, whilst Ms Heydon was accompanied by PC Claire Hamilton-Deane to host an information stall at the library cafe to help answer questions on slavery, pictured right.



PC Hamilton-Deane was keen to emphasise the need for the public to report their concerns: If you spot one of the signs of modern slavery or witness something that concerns you, please report it to 101, or call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.



To find out more about modern slavery download the Unseen App or visit theclewerinitiative.org .



Read our previous story about the anti-slavery mural here .



The photos are courtesy of Imagine Norfolk Together.

Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk?

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture.

Tony Rothe, 02/11/2021
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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romania reported a record daily number of 591 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday amid a persistently low vaccination rate and a wave of coronavirus infections that has overwhelmed the country's ailing health care system.

Only 37% of adults in Romania, a European Union member with around 19 million people, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to an EU average of 75%. Within the 27-nation EU, only Bulgaria has a smaller share of its population vaccinated.

Romanian authorities said Tuesday that 541 of the 591 people who had died of COVID-19 since the day before were unvaccinated. More than 1,800 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care Tuesday.

The unfolding disaster prompted authorities to impose tighter restrictions starting last week. Vaccination certificates are required for many day-to-day activities, such as going to the gym, the cinema or a shopping mall. For everyone, there is a 10 p.m. curfew.

Octavian Jurma, a doctor and health statistician, told The Associated Press that Romanias high COVID-19 mortality rate is the result of strong-anti-vaccination movements, poor medical education and a national response that has failed to curb the health crisis.

There was no (government) communication strategy whatsoever, and no education strategy. The only people communicating, and very effectively, are the anti-vaxxers and the negationist movements," Jurma said Tuesday. The truth is that this pandemic wave was left to peak completely unmitigated  and the whole burden was put on the hospitals."

The number of vaccines administered in Romania  where nearly 50,000 people have died of COVID-19  increased through October and reached a daily record of 150,000 doses. But the number fell over the last week, declining to around 75,000 doses on Monday.

Other Central and Eastern European countries with low vaccination rates are facing similar virus surges.

Bulgaria, where 25% of adults have been fully vaccinated, also reported its highest daily pandemic death toll Tuesday; of the 310 who died in 24 hours, more than 90% were unvaccinated, authorities said.

Bulgarian Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov on Tuesday called the situation a national disaster.

Croatia, a country of 4.2 million, reported its highest daily death toll since May on Tuesday, when officials said 40 more COVID-19 patients had died since a day earlier. Authorities are setting up more vaccination sites in the capital, Zagreb.

In countries such as Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, where vaccination rates have reached around 50% of the population, new waves of infections have led to steps to reduce the pressure on hospitals while authorities try to stimulate vaccine uptake.

In Slovenia, an EU country of 2 million people, hospitals suspended non-urgent medical interventions Tuesday to free up space for COVID-19 patients.

Robert Carotta, the national coordinator for COVID-19 wards in Slovenia's hospitals, told local news agency STA that the number of patients is growing at the fastest pace since the start of the pandemic. If the pace continues, the country's health care system will be overwhelmed, he said.



Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, contributed to the report

___

Follow AP's pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Bill Crane is a syndicated columnist based in Decatur. He has worked in politics for Democrats and Republicans, respects the process and will try and give you some things to think about. Your thoughts and responses to his opinions are also welcome, bill.csicrane@gmail.com.
Champaign, IL (61820)

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Champaign, IL (61820)

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Longview, TX (75601)

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

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The doctoral dissertation focuses on school factors that affect the subjective wellbeing of school-aged children and how art can contribute to the wellbeing of students. The aim was to identify the school factors that affect the wellbeing of students and describe the potential of the arts to contribute to said wellbeing through art therapy and teaching through art.

The first therapeutic intervention intended to improve the wellbeing of students through art was conducted in 2003 at Tallinn University Health Research Laboratory on high school-aged girls. The participants said that the therapeutic process aided by the arts (music, drawing) helped them with self-discovery and stress relief and described the experience as interesting and useful. Vibroacoustic therapy offered a pleasant bodily experience as the low frequency sounds cause physical sensations. The music the researchers used helped the participants focus on their thoughts and had a calming effect. Drawing was said to be relaxing and helped them discover themselves. The aforementioned art-based components contributed to the wellbeing of the students by improving the general functioning of the girls.

From 2014, schools have started hiring creative therapists. The number of creative therapists working in schools was the highest during the 2017/2018 school year. Five of those therapists with whom the schools had signed employment contracts participated in the research. School executives were also involved. In order to support the students, the therapists used individual preventive and curative measures, psychoeducational groups and therapeutic recreation (healing, recovery, refreshment and mood support) programmes. They used evaluation of art therapy, which helped them track the aim and effectiveness of the therapy, and consulted and trained teachers, support specialists and parents. Through interviews with therapists and school executives, six categories describing the specifics of art therapy in schools emerged: active and creative, various forms of working, therapeutic lessons, calming and relaxing effects, therapeutic relations and support during adjustment. These categories highlight how art therapy differs from other support services provided by schools.

Based on the example of Randvere School, the dissertation describes music-based teaching activities. The music-based activities used by teachers can be divided into five categories based on their goals: 1) restorative and transformative activities that support students in self-regulating; 2) activities aimed at listening, focusing and remembering, which develop cognitive skills; 3) activities that simplify learning and pique the interest of students or integrate a variety of topics; 4) music as a reward; and 5) socialising activity. Teachers pointed out that applying arts (music) in teaching does not require artistic training. The important part is that the teachers themselves enjoy making music. Teachers thought that the potential of music to improve the wellbeing of students was connected to it being refreshing and emotionally and relationally supportive.

The doctoral dissertation connected two fields of research: research on school factors that affect the wellbeing of students and research describing the potential of the arts to improve the wellbeing, focusing on art therapy and teaching through art. The therapeutic approach as a support service in schools is gaining popularity, which is why it is extremely important to properly describe the fields of work of art therapists in schools; equally vital is describing the benefits of art therapy in achieving the school's educational goals as seen by school executives. Application of the teaching thorough the arts method is one of the possible measures to improve the wellbeing of students through teaching.

The bigger aim, however, is to introduce the opportunities of creative therapy in schools to the Ministry of Education and Research and to the heads of schools. Creative therapists apply a therapeutic approach in supporting the students at school and can help and advise teachers in teaching through the arts.

The dissertation was supervised by professor Eha Ruutel from Tallinn University. The opponents are associate professor Kristi Koiv from the University of Tartu and professor Merike Sisask from Tallinn University.
Their tickets were booked. Their schedules were set. The students were finally going to test their product on real people. But in July, Sierra Leone's COVID-19 level spiked almost overnight, and Lehigh's Sickle Cell Anemia Diagnostic Device team lost yet another opportunity to conduct fieldwork.

But the team of undergraduates were unfazed. They were used to the pandemic upending their plans, and they were used to its demands for more creativity and flexibility in approaching their research. So they shifted focus. Rearranged priorities. And asked themselves how they could best move their project-;developing test strips to detect sickle cell disease in infants-;forward despite the constraints of the coronavirus.

In the spring, we were focused on re-evaluating the device and making sure it was functional because we had planned to travel to Sierra Leone in August to test the device on children 5 years and below with Sickle Cell Disease. But when that trip got canceled, we honed in on social marketing and being an active propagator of our project to the public." Laura Duffany '23, a dual major in behavioral neuroscience and global studies in Lehigh's College of Arts and Sciences

And then, finally, some good news. As the team was transitioning yet again to adapt to the global crisis, they got an email announcing they had won the National Institutes of Health's Healthcare Technologies for Low-Resource Settings Prize in the 2021 Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge. The prize of $15,000 will be split evenly among the team.

"I was really shocked," says bioengineering major and team leader Tiffany Pang '22, who also led the effort in applying for the grant. "We've been trying for this grant every year since the project began. But since we're still in our alpha testing phase, I didn't think we'd garner the attention of the NIH. This award shows that diagnostics are really just so important."

The entire team contributed to the DEBUT proposal (the challenge solicits design projects that represent "innovative solutions to unmet health and clinical problems"). And they spent more than two weeks on what was, for many of them, their first work as coauthors. Their proposal was one of 76 such applications. In total, 400 students from 47 universities in 26 states applied for the DEBUT Challenge.

"This is a nationwide design competition between biomedical engineering programs," says the project's lead mentor Xuanhong Cheng, a professor of bioengineering and materials science and engineering in the Rossin College. "So this is great recognition for these students. I'm very proud of them."

Four student groups have contributed to the project since its inception in 2018. Their work led to two previous awards: a VentureWell grant in 2019, and a Davis Projects for Peace award in 2020.

"Each group definitely pushes the project forward," says Cheng.

The Sickle Cell Anemia Diagnostic Device project is part of the Global Social Impact Fellowship (GSIF) program led by Khanjan Mehta, vice provost for Creative Inquiry and director of the Mountaintop Initiative. GSIF attracts students from across the university who are interested in addressing sustainable development challenges in low-income countries like the Philippines, Kazakhstan, and Sierra Leone. Students learn to work across disciplines and cultures, conduct original research, conduct fieldwork (in normal times), and perhaps most importantly, contribute to making a real impact on tough problems.

Sickle cell disease is one of those problems. The genetic condition causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, which impedes blood flow, and causes infection, fatigue, and severe pain. Sierra Leone has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, and Cheng says that many of the country's healthcare providers believe undiagnosed sickle cell disease may be partly to blame.

"The doctors were estimating that up to 90 percent of kids with sickle cell disease don't survive past age five," says Cheng, who first visited Sierra Leone in 2018 with Mehta and a team of Lehigh faculty to assess project opportunities for the GSIF program. "There's no cure, and there's no effective treatment other than managing the symptoms."

It's hard to manage a condition that never gets properly diagnosed at birth. But labs in Sierra Leone lack access to simple, reliable tests that can quickly detect the presence of sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait. (Infants with the latter are asymptomatic, but they carry a single mutated gene that increases the risk that their own offspring could have the disease.) Cheng returned from her trip in 2018 convinced that Lehigh students could help develop a test that could compete with-;and improve upon-;those that were currently serving resource-limited areas.

"It's been proven that early screening can help decrease the mortality rates of those with sickle cell disease," says Pang. "And so our goal is to develop an affordable, sensitive, point-of-care lateral flow device that shows results in less than 15 minutes."

The device will work like a pregnancy test, detecting the proteins that reveal sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait. It's currently in the alpha testing phase, meaning the team is working to increase its sensitivity, decrease its cost, and understand how it compares with similar devices on the market.

The potential for the device is huge from a health perspective. But the project itself has already had a significant impact on the perspectives and plans of team members like Duffany.

"I think the most exciting thing about research is realizing the global implications of it," she says. "This experience has really inspired my curiosity, and I'm considering a different career path as a physician scientist. If that doesn't work out, I'll probably come back to research, because I have this foundation now, and a real passion to solve these problems."

For Pang, who has been working on the project for more than two years, the research experience has not only influenced her trajectory (she wants to go to grad school and focus on medical devices) but also taught her valuable lessons. For one, it's okay to fail.

"In research, there's going to be a lot of failure," she says. "I've learned how to deal with that, what to take away from it, and how to move on."

She's also learned that she's not the follower she always thought she was. She came into the project with little knowledge of sickle cell disease or how to do the lab work, and for the longest time, she looked to the seniors in the group for guidance. But now she's the one answering the questions and sharing what she knows.

"I've become a leader for our team, and I never imagined myself in this position," she says. "It's definitely given me a lot of confidence to realize that I have the capability not only to problem solve but also to pass on the knowledge that will help the team carry on this project for years to come."
In 2021, mass vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became the primary management strategy that helped to ease restrictions, open up the economy, as well as protect those who were most vulnerable to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 vaccine rollout began in February 2021 and is continuing in most countries.

Testing for COVID-19 symptoms during vaccination was considered another major management strategy. Additionally, testing and contract tracing helped to provide essential data on when, where, and how the virus was spreading.

Study: COVID-19 testing and vaccine willingness: Cross-sectional survey in a culturally diverse community in Sydney, Australia. Image Credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Background

COVID-19 vaccination has been declared mandatory by the Australian government. The vaccine rollout in Australia is state-based and phased, where priority is given to frontline healthcare workers, older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people with specific underlying medical conditions.

Two COVID-19 vaccines including the Pfizer (Comirnaty) and AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) vaccines were available during the current study. However, AstraZeneca was found to be less effective and pose certain risks as compared to Pfizer. Therefore, Pfizer became the preferred vaccine in Australia. This shift slowed down the rollout, as few community members refused to get vaccinated with AstraZeneca during the first half of 2021.

A recent survey indicated that the percentage of Australians who agreed to get vaccinated fluctuated from February to June of this year. A previous survey, when vaccines were not available, suggested that the main concerns to COVID-19 vaccination included vaccine safety, the need for more information, and distrust of the government or vaccine.

A survey on COVID-19 testing indicated that a small percentage of Australians were willing to get tested if they had mild symptoms. The most common barriers to testing were having symptoms but not believing it to be COVID-19, concerns regarding the test being painful, preferring to self-isolate, and feeling that symptoms were not severe enough. However, these surveys did not include culturally and linguistically diverse communities of Australia.

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server aimed to bridge the research gap that existed in a culturally and linguistically diverse population concerning COVID-19 testing intentions and vaccine willingness in Sydney, Australia between March 21, 2021, and July 9, 2021.

About the study

The current study involved 708 participants who were recruited through bilingual Multicultural Health staff and Health Care Interpreter Service staff. The recruited participants had to be 18 years of age and speak either of the following languages: Arabic, Assyrian, Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Hindi, Khmer, Chinese, Samoan/Tongan (combined as one language group), or Spanish.

The participants had two means of taking part in the study, either by completing the survey themselves online or completing the study with the help of bilingual staff or an interpreter. The participants had to undergo demographic questions, questions related to COVID-19 testing intentions, and questions related to vaccine willingness.

Finally, logistic regression models were used for determining the factors that were associated with both vaccine willingness and testing intentions. Free-text responses were also analyzed with the help of content analysis.

Study findings

The results of the study indicated that the mean age of the participants was 45.4 years, with 51% of the participants being female. Most of the participants recruited in the study were not born in Australia.

Taken together, 31% of the participants did not speak English well or at all, while 70% had no tertiary qualifications. Additionally, inadequate health literacy was reported in 41% of the participants.

The results reported that three-quarters of the participants, ranging from 58.7% for Croatian speakers to 99.4% for Hindi speakers, responded that they would get tested no matter what on the development of COVID-19 symptoms. Furthermore, 72.7% of participants with inadequate health literacy responded that they would get tested no matter what, as compared to 80.3% of people with adequate health literacy. The intention to get tested for COVID-19 was found to be associated with age and varied significantly across language groups.

The most common barriers to testing, as identified by the participants, were concerns regarding testing being painful, the belief that if they already had a negative test report they did not require another one, and concerns regarding getting infected at the testing center.

The findings of the current study also indicated that most of the participants were willing to get vaccinated for COVID-19, while about 20% of the participants were unwilling while the rest remained unsure. Vaccine willingness was found to be greater in males as compared to females. The vaccine acceptance was highest in Khmer speakers, whereas the not sure response was highest in Dari and Samoan/Tongan speakers, and the no response was highest for Arabic and Assyrian speakers.

The main barriers to vaccination were side effects and safety concerns regarding the vaccine, a need for more information, and distrust in the government.

Study takeaways

Overall, the results of the current study showed higher testing intentions as compared to national Australian estimates during the same period. However, the study also demonstrated lower COVID-19 vaccine willingness in comparison to national Australian estimates.

The current study involving culturally and linguistically diverse communities showed that the different community members had serious concerns regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Thus, different language groups have different needs that must be met through local targeted communication strategies.

Although the Australian federal government provided a policy in November 2020 regarding the need for translated and simple English communication about the vaccines to cater to all communities, this policy was not implemented while the current study was conducted. Therefore, public health entities must work collaboratively to provide specific approaches to people belonging to different communities to encourage them to participate in COVID-19 testing and vaccination.

Limitations

Although the current study was able to indicate the concerns regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccination for different communities in Australia, it had certain limitations. First, the study included only ten specific language groups that did not represent all the cultural and language groups of Australia.

Second, this study did not ask the participants whether they had been vaccinated. Lastly, the study was unable to incorporate specific items about the Astrazeneca vaccine, since recruitment began before the news regarding its side effects hit mainstream media outlets.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
With mask wearing and social distancing on the decline and the cold and flu season upon us, researchers have developed a viral panel that enables the simultaneous testing for SARS-CoV-2 along with numerous common respiratory viruses, that tells us whether other viruses also are at play in patients hard hit by COVID.

This new genetic epidemiology tool that provides detailed genetic information about the viruses present when packaged with a molecular immunology model called Nextstrain also enables researchers to assess the novel viral variants that are circulating in a state or nation and patterns for their spread with the goal of helping predict and mitigate future outbreaks, says Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, director of the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory, or GEM Lab, at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

Deficits in SARS-CoV-2 monitoring and keeping tabs on other co-circulating respiratory viruses have been public health challenges during the pandemic, Kolhe and his colleagues report in the journal Viruses.

Coinfection is a reality, Kolhe says with these respiratory viruses that we unwittingly transmit through the air when we cough, sneeze, even talk, particularly when we are in close quarters for long periods like hospitals, nursing homes, schools and potentially even our workplace.

Another reality is that coinfections can have the compounding effect of worsening symptoms and outcomes, much as we have all heard that co-morbid conditions like diabetes and hypertension can do, he says.

Particularly when patients are not doing well, looking for other respiratory viruses with the new panel could help provide insight on why and possibly new directions on how to help, he says. The more expansive panel is more expensive than straight COVID testing, which will remain the frontline test in this pandemic, Kolhe predicts.

While the cold and flu season were essentially a wash last year because of COVID precautions like mask wearing -; in fact the coinfection rate in the group they studied was under 1% -; he and others are concerned the cold and flu season now upon us will be very different even with vaccination initiatives for both COVID and the flu.

We are concerned that because most of us are no longer wearing masks or social distancing and have mostly resumed our normal schedules that one consequence will be more coinfections. We feel this is a good tool to have ready when the flu and cold season hit." Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, Director, Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory

Working with the San Diego-based biotech firm Illumina, the researchers developed a 41-virus panel that includes four common human coronaviruses that have been causing colds in people for years as well as SARS-CoV-2, and other players like RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, which also causes a typically mild cold, and more than a dozen influenza viruses.

They looked at 483 patient samples, mostly taken by nasopharyngeal swab, as well as a dozen saliva samples, that had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from across the state of Georgia between June 2020 and the end of December.

Standard SARS-CoV-2 testing uses polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, which can tell you if the virus is present, but the technique they are using for the panel actually sequences the viral genome enabling detection of variants, like the potential more deadly Delta variant, that have made headlines in recent months.

It also details changes in the larger, conserved region of the virus that occur essentially every time it multiplies, which indicates it has found a host organism, like a human. While those small changes in the conserved region of the virus don't impact clinical outcome, they do provide a sort of genomic stamp of where the virus came from, Kolhe says, as he watches their interactive visualization of an individual in Augusta with 10 distinct but benign changes in the conserved region, changes that show up next in about 100 infected people in Savannah.

"There is no molecular coincidence that the exact same sequence is going to show up in Savannah," he says. "This is a way to identify the starting point, watch how people's movement actually moves the virus with them and which counties are going to be affected."

The unique molecular signature also is a way to know which cases are not connected. One of the questions he wants to answer is when this iteration of the virus infects another person does it experience more of these changes.

The interactive visualization model they use to watch viral spread play out can also track the movement of variants, like Delta, that do have direct clinical consequences like degree of contagiousness and resulting sickness.

Kolhe notes that some of the human movement may happen before the individual realizes he is positive.

Knowing precisely which viruses are present is important because, while there is some commonality among the respiratory viruses, the treatments tend to be different, but there is not much crossover data on how much to date, Kolhe says. As examples, what happens if a patient with COVID-19 who is coinfected with a flu virus, gets treated with monoclonal antibodies, manmade antibodies that target the virus, or corticosteroids that help reduce the hyper-immune response that can destroy the lungs in a process called a cytokine storm. There is some evidence that monoclonal antibodies and corticosteroids may also be effective for some flu but many questions remain, like what happens when the monoclonal antibodies are made specifically for the COVID virus. There is some evidence that vaccines for flu and COVID don't appear to have an overlap in protection.

Respiratory viruses are known to be present in pairs, for example the common rhinovirus in conjunction with another cause of the common cold, including some other common coronaviruses, can heighten related misery like a runny nose, headache and cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Also, while you can be tested for the virus responsible for your flu, many times patients are not tested and SARS-CoV-2 -; along with what appears to be one of the mildest cold and flu seasons since current data reporting systems were initiated in 1997 -; has further decreased the chance of that happening in recent times, Kolhe says.

Stanford University reported in late March 2020 that about 1 in 5 people with COVID-19 were also infected with other respiratory viruses and that 1 in 10 people with symptoms of respiratory illness diagnosed with a common respiratory virus also were co-infected with the COVID-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2. Coinfections bacteria and fungi also occur.

While a lot has been learned about SARS-CoV-2 in the past nearly two years, there is insufficient documentation of the variations in the genome of the virus, some of which contribute to how the virus acts, and little insight on other viruses coinfecting people, Kolhe says.

The new study shows that genomic epidemiology is essential in predicting disease transmission and patterns of transmission, including the potential to recognize a likely resurgence, the investigators write.

Their findings included identifying which version of the virus was most prevalent early in the pandemic in Georgia: The clade for pangolin lineage B.

Co-authors on the study include flu expert Dr. Ted Ross, director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Georgia, and Dr. Justin Bahl, an associate professor in the center with expertise in disease ecology, modeling and infectious diseases and virology. Ross is leading one of the new Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers, a National Institutes of Health-funded initiative to develop a single dose vaccine that can protect against multiple strains of the flu virus.

Respiratory viruses can be spread by touch, like shaking hands or touching a surface where the virus is present then touching your nose, mouth or eyes, the CDC says. Both the cold and flu viruses are essentially always present but the fall and winter are generally considered flu season and late August through early Spring is the prime time for colds, the CDC says. And, those with underlying health conditions, who are older or pregnant are considered at higher risk for serious illness and complications from both COVID-19 and the flu.

Nextstrain is routinely used by the CDC to better predict what the flu viruses will look like in an upcoming season, so the vaccines can better target them, and likely areas of major impact.

The panel Kolhe and his colleagues developed already is available to other researchers through Illumina. The process of validation of the panel's efficacy also is available.

Their research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Relaxing limits on take-home doses of methadone-;a medication used to treat opioid addiction-;does not appear to lead to worse treatment outcomes, according to a new study led by Washington State University researchers.

Published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, the study looked at the impact of a temporary policy change allowing providers to send patients home with additional methadone doses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, federal regulations allowed take-home privileges only for established patients who have proven themselves stable, a measure intended to reduce risk of patients selling the provided methadone.

While the researchers saw the average number of methadone take-home doses nearly double during the pandemic, they found no significant changes in treatment outcomes. There was no rise in the number of patients experiencing emergency department visits, whether overdose-related or for other reasons. There was also no notable increase in the number of patients who tested negative for methadone.

Our research highlights the need to consider permanently loosening the restrictions on methadone take-home doses, which would help many people who are struggling to access opioid treatment." Ofer Amram, lead study author

Ofer Amram is an assistant professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine whose research focuses on decreasing health disparities in vulnerable populations.

The study was based on data from 183 patients treated at a methadone clinic in Spokane County, Washington. Methadone take-home doses from the clinic rose from 11.4 doses per 30 days in the eight months prior to the pandemic policy change to 22.3 doses per 30 days in the eight months following.

Methadone can only be prescribed and dispensed by federally approved opioid treatment programs, and there are only about 1,800 such programs around the country. This makes requiring daily visits to get methadone especially difficult for individuals who live far from a treatment program, Amram said.

In a previously published study of patients attending the same clinic involved in this study-;the only publicly funded methadone clinic in Eastern Washington-;Amram and his coauthors showed that patients who lived closer to the clinic continued with treatment better than those who lived further away. Yet take-home limitations pose challenges even for those who live close to a treatment clinic but don't have reliable access to transportation or find that daily visits take too much time away from employment, Amram said.

Amram's co-authors on the study, "The impact of relaxation of methadone take-home protocols on treatment outcomes in the COVID-19 era," include Solmaz Amiri, Victoria Panwala and Robert Lutz of the WSU College of Medicine; Paul J. Joudrey of the Yale School of Medicine and Eugenia Socias of the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine.

The study was supported by a Washington State University faculty seed grant and the university's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program.
A cohort study conducted in New Zealand (NZ) has found that antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein, as well as neutralizing antibodies to both the ancestral strain and the Delta variant, remain relatively stable between eight and eleven months post-infection. The study, which is published on the preprint server medRxiv*, suggests that long-lived antibody responses can be generated from a single natural infection event.

Study: The persistence of neutralizing antibodies up to 11 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the southern region of New Zealand. Image Credit: Naeblys / Shutterstock.com

Tracking the immune response following natural infection and vaccination

Following the initial introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in NZ in February 2020, and a community outbreak of 1,154 confirmed cases, this nation successfully eliminated SARS-CoV-2 and remained largely free of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, until the current outbreak of the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), combined with reports of the gradual waning of antibodies over time, highlighted a need to study and track the immune responses generated after natural infections and vaccination. The need to monitor these immune responses has become particularly warranted since the initial waves of infections and because currently licensed vaccines are based on the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain, rather than the Delta variant, which is now dominating infections globally.

Recent reports have suggested that neutralizing antibody levels are an important correlate of protection. Therefore, these efforts have stimulated intense efforts on understanding how mutations within the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in a SARS-CoV-2 VOC might impact neutralizing antibody activity and protection from re-infection.

The researchers of the current study present a follow-up serological assessment of polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-confirmed cases nearly one year post-infection, including levels of neutralizing antibodies to the Alpha, Beta, and Delta VOCs.

About the study

During the first COVID-19 wave in NZ, a cohort of 78 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases, infected between November 3, 2020, and May 4, 2020, was recruited in the Southern District Health Board region of NZ. Of these, 30 participants donated 37 samples, with a median of 302 days post symptom onset, for the present study.

There were no successive community outbreaks during the study timeframe, nor had any participants received a COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, immune responses represented a single exposure event tracked over the time course.

Antibodies to both SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) proteins were assayed. At the same time, neutralizing antibodies to the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2,) VOCs were assessed using a surrogate Viral Neutralization test (sVNT) that is based on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein corresponding to the sequence for each of these variants.

Antibody responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection over time| Antibody responses targeting Nucleocapsid (N) protein (a), Spike (S) protein (b) as well as neutralizing antibodies (c) over time. New donations are indicated by red circles with previously reported donations indicated by unfilled circles (n=172). (d) Correlation between S protein antibodies (left) and N protein antibodies (right) vs neutralizing antibodies. LOESS regression (blue line) was used to visualize general trends in antibody levels, and standard error of regression is indicated by grey shaded area (n=172). (e) Neutralizing antibody responses to variants of concern including only the latest donations (represented by red circles in a-c) (top). Kruskal- Wallis test showed a significant difference (p<0.001) with follow up Wilcoxen test Holm adjusted p-values indicated by stars, *p<0.05, ***p<0.001 (n=37). Percentage of samples below (purple) and above (pink) the assay cut-off (bottom). Dashed horizontal lines represent respective test cut-offs throughout.

Study findings

In a previous report on the same cohort, the researchers observed that IgG antibody responses to the viral spike protein and neutralizing antibodies were relatively stable over an eight-month period post-infection compared with antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein.

The team, in the present study that includes later time-points, confirms the relative stability of the spike antibodies compared to the nucleocapsid antibodies. Nucleocapsid antibodies declined rapidly between 8-11 months, with 73% samples below the cut-off at this later time-point. This contrasted with the spike antibodies, where 97.3% of samples remained positive at the later time-point.

Likewise, neutralizing antibodies to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain also showed no decline at this later time point, with 94.6% remaining positive. This trend was also reflected in the strong correlation between spike and neutralizing antibodies, which was not observed with nucleocapsid antibodies.

The sVNT assay demonstrated a significantly reduced neutralization capacity to the Beta variant compared with ancestral strain with a median inhibition of 24.7% versus 49.7%, respectively, and a significant, but less marked, reduction to the alpha variant at 32.6%. In contrast, there was a non-significant reduction to the Delta variant of 35.7%. This trend was mirrored in the proportion of samples below the assay cut-off, with the Beta strain showing the highest proportion of negative samples at 35.1%, compared with the Alpha and Delta strains at 21.6% and 18.9%, respectively.

Confirming that the Beta variant evades the humoral immune response

These data conform to other studies, where the Beta variant appears to evade humoral immunity to a greater extent as compared to the Alpha and Delta variants. This immune escape is partly determined by the E484K mutation in the Beta RBD that interferes with antibodies generated in response to ancestral strain sequences.

In contrast, the Delta variant does not contain this critical escape mutation but is instead associated with increased transmissibility due to gains in replication efficiency. The persistent levels of neutralizing antibodies to the Delta variant following ancestral strain infection bodes well for vaccination with the ancestral spike protein sequences being administered in NZ and around the world.

Long-lived antibody responses can be generated from a single natural infection event

In the absence of re-exposure, antibody reactivity to the viral spike protein, as well as neutralizing antibodies, remained relatively stable between 8 and 11 months post-infection.

However, given the risks of serious disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination is still strongly recommended.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Anyone waiting for the results of a medical test knows the anxious question:'Will my life change completely when I know?' And the relief if you test negative.

Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is deployed more and more to predict life-threatening disease. But there remains a big challenge in getting the Machine Learning (ML) algorithms precise enough. Specifically, getting the algorithms to correctly diagnose if someone is sick.

Machine Learning (ML) is the branch of AI where algorithms learn from datasets and get smarter in the process.

Let's say there is a dataset about a serious disease. The dataset has 90 people who do not have the disease. But 10 of the people do have the disease." Dr Ibomoiye Domor Mienye. Mienye, post-doctoral AI researcher. University of Johannesburg (UJ)

"As an example, an ML algorithm says that the 90 do not have the disease. That is correct so far. But it fails to diagnose the 10 that do have the disease. The algorithm is still regarded as 90% accurate", he says.

This is because accuracy has been defined in this way. But for health outcomes, it may be urgent to diagnose the 10 people with the disease and get them into treatment. That may be more important than complete accuracy about the 90 who do not have the condition, he adds.

Penalties against AI

In a research study published in Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, Mienye and Prof Yanxia Sun show how ML algorithms can be improved significantly for medical purposes. They used logistic regression, decision tree, XGBoost, and random forest algorithms.

These are supervised binary classification algorithms. That means they only learn from the 'yes/no' datasets provided to them.

Dr Mienye and Prof Sun are both from the Department of Electrical and Engineering Science at UJ.

The researchers built cost sensitivity into each of the algorithms.

This means the algorithm gets a much bigger penalty for telling a sick person in the dataset that they are healthy, than the other way round. In medical terms, the algorithms get bigger penalties for false negatives than for false positives.

Disease datasets AI learns from

Dr Mienye and Prof Sun used public learning datasets for diabetes, breast cancer, cervical cancer (858 records) and chronic kidney disease (400 records).

The datasets come from large hospitals or healthcare programs. In these binary datasets, people are classified as either having a disease, or not having it at all.

The algorithms they used are binary also. These can say "yes the person has the disease" or "no they don't have it." They tested all the algorithms on each dataset, both without and with the cost-sensitivity.

Significantly improved precision and recall

The results make it clear that the penalties work as intended in these datasets.

For chronic kidney disease for example, the Random Forest algorithm had precision at 0.972 and recall at 0.946, out of a perfect 1.000.

After the cost-sensitivity was added, the algorithm improved significantly to precision at 0.990 and recall at a perfect 1.000.

For CKD, the three other algorithms' recall improved from high scores to a perfect 1.000.

Precision at 1.000 means the algorithm did not predict one or more false positives across the entire dataset. Recall at 1.000 means the algorithm did not predict one or more false negatives across the entire dataset.

With the other datasets, the results were different for different algorithms.

For cervical cancer, the cost-sensitive Random Forest and XGBoost algorithms improved from high scores to perfect precision and recall. However, the Logistic Regression and Decision Tree algorithms improved to much higher scores but did not reach 1.000.

The precision problem

In general, algorithms have been more accurate at saying people do not have a disease, than identifying the ones who are sick, says Mienye. This is an ongoing challenge in healthcare AI.

The reason is the way the algorithms learn. The algorithms learn from datasets that come from large hospitals or state healthcare programs.

But most of the people in those datasets do not have the conditions they are being tested for, says Mienye.

"At a large hospital, a person comes in to get tested for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Their doctor sent them there because some of their symptoms are CKD symptoms. The doctor would like to rule out CKD. Turns out, the person does not have CKD.

"This happens with lots of people. The dataset ends up with more people who do not have CKD, than people who do. We call this an imbalanced dataset."

When an algorithm starts learning from the dataset, it learns far less about CKD than it should, and isn't accurate enough in diagnosing ill patients  unless the algorithm is adjusted for the imbalance.

AI on the other side of a boat ride

Mienye grew up in a village near the Atlantic Ocean, that is not accessible by road.

"You have to use a speedboat from the nearest town to get there. The boat ride takes two to three hours," he says.

The nearest clinic is in the bigger town, on the other side of the boat ride.

The deep rural setting of his home village inspired him to see how AI can help people with little or no access to healthcare.

An old lady from his village is a good example of how more advanced AI algorithms may assist in future, he says. A cost-sensitive multiclass ML algorithm could assess the measured data for her blood pressure, sodium levels, blood sugar and more.

If her data is recorded correctly on a computer, and the algorithm learns from a multiclass dataset, that future AI could tell clinic staff which stage of chronic kidney disease she is at.

This village scenario is in the future, however.

Meanwhile the study's four algorithms with cost sensitivity, are far more precise at diagnosing disease in their numerical datasets.

And they learn quickly, using the ordinary computer that one could expect to find in a remote town.
The ability to recognize familiar faces is fundamental to social interaction. This process provides visual information and activates social and personal knowledge about a person who is familiar. But how the brain processes this information across participants has long been a question. Distinct information about familiar faces is encoded in a neural code that is shared across brains, according to a new Dartmouth study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Within visual processing areas, we found that information about personally familiar and visually familiar faces is shared across the brains of people who have the same friends and acquaintances," says first author Matteo Visconti di Oleggio Castello, Guarini '18, who conducted this research as a graduate student in psychological and brain sciences at Dartmouth and is now a neuroscience post-doctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. "The surprising part of our findings was that the shared information about personally familiar faces also extends to areas that are non-visual and important for social processing, suggesting that there is shared social information across brains."

For the study, the research team applied a method called hyperalignment, which creates a common representational space for understanding how brain activity is similar between participants. The team used data obtained from three fMRI tasks with 14 graduate students who had known each other for at least two years. In two of the tasks, participants were presented with images of four other personally familiar graduate students and four other visually familiar persons, who were previously unknown. In the third task, participants watched parts of The Grand Budapest Hotel. The movie data, which is publicly available, was used to apply hyperalignment and align participants' brain responses into a common representational space. This allowed the researchers to use machine learning classifiers to predict what stimuli a participant was looking at based on the brain activity of the other participants.

The results showed that the identity of visually familiar and personally familiar faces was decoded with accuracy across the brain in areas that are mostly involved in visual processing of faces. Outside of the visual areas however, there was not a lot of decoding. For visually familiar identities, participants only knew what the stimuli looked like; they did not know who these people were or have any other information about them.

In decoding personally familiar identities, the findings demonstrated that there was much more shared information across the brains of the participants. There was high decoding accuracy in four other areas outside of the visual system: the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, which is known to be involved in social processing (processing other people's intentions and traits); the precuneus, an area which has been shown to be more active when processing personally familiar faces; the insula, which is known to be involved in emotional processing; and the temporal parietal junction, which plays an important role in social cognition and in representing the mental states of others (also known as the "theory of the mind").

"This shared conceptual space for the personal knowledge of others allows us to communicate with people that we know in common," says senior author Maria (Ida) Gobbini, a research associate professor in the Cognitive Science Program at Dartmouth and associate professor in the department of experimental, diagnostic and specialty medicine at the University of Bologna.

Past research by the team using fMRI experiments found that these "theory of mind" areas in the brain are activated when a person sees someone personally familiar. "When we see someone we know, we activate immediately who that person is," says Gobbini. "This is what allows us to interact in the most appropriate way with someone who is familiar." For example, how you interact with a friend or family member may be quite different from the way you interact with a colleague or boss.
Even as the U.S. prepares to roll out a covid-19 vaccine to elementary school-aged kids, its efforts to inoculate teenagers  who have been eligible for the shot since May  continue to meet with a lackluster response.

So far, about half of kids 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated in the U.S., compared with nearly 70% of Americans 18 and older. Pediatricians expect it will be even harder to persuade skeptical parents of younger children to get their kids inoculated. Many are concerned about the potential unknowns of a relatively new vaccine compared with the low risk of serious illness covid poses for children.

A recent poll from KFF found 27% of parents of children 5 to 11 said they plan to get them vaccinated "right away," while 30% said they would "definitely not" get the vaccine for their 5- to 11-year-olds. More than three-quarters of parents of children in this age group reported they were "very" or "somewhat" concerned that not enough is known about the long-term effects of the vaccine in kids.

"I'm not quite on board with everybody getting vaccinated," said Tara Currier, 42, a mother of four in Marysville, California, who decided not to vaccinate her three older children, ages 12, 14 and 16. She said she also plans to delay vaccinating her 10-year-old daughter.

While she is fully vaccinated herself, Currier said she won't vaccinate her children until she can be certain the shot is "actually a protection and not something that's going to affect their bodies later on. I don't know that can be answered yet, because the vaccine hasn't been seen in people for very long."

Public health officials and leading experts have been increasingly vocal in emphasizing that while children are at lower risk of serious illness from covid, they are not at zero risk. Nearly 6.3 million children have tested positive for covid, and more than 580 have died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. A small percentage have developed long-term symptoms.

They also stress that vaccinating children is essential to slowing the spread of the virus in the broader population. Nationwide, more than 45 million people have been infected by SARS-CoV-2, which causes covid, and more than 745,000 have died.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine for emergency use in children ages 12-15 in May, after approving the same shot for teens 16 and older five months earlier. On Friday, the agency authorized for emergency use a smaller dose of the vaccine for children ages 5-11, and shots are expected to be available this week following signoff by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In clearing the Pfizer vaccine for children and teens, the FDA said ongoing clinical studies show children and adolescents face greater risks from covid and its potentially devastating side effects than they do from a rare side effect of the vaccine involving inflammation of the heart reported in some young adults.

Still, California offers a lens on the challenges health officials and pediatricians face in persuading parents nationwide to embrace the new shots. The state ranks in the nation's top quartile in overall vaccination rates, with 72% of people 12 and older vaccinated, according to the CDC. But that number masks vast disparities among the older and younger age groups.

Statewide, just 59% of kids 12 to 17 were fully vaccinated by Oct. 24. By comparison, 71% of people 18 to 49 were vaccinated by that date; 80% of residents 50 to 64; and 75% of residents 65 and older.

In addition, teen vaccination rates vary hugely by region, another microcosm of the U.S. While many of the wealthier urban and suburban counties along the California coast boast vaccination rates upward of 70% for kids 12 to 17, multiple counties in the state's rugged north report fewer than a quarter of that age group are vaccinated.

Marin County is one of the state's success stories. Relatively wealthy, decidedly Democratic and overwhelming white, the county had vaccinated 93% of kids 12 to 17 as of Oct. 19, according to the California Department of Public Health. That's more than twice the rate of 12- to 17-year-olds vaccinated in rural Madera County in the Central Valley; and it dwarfs the 16% of kids 12-17 vaccinated in Modoc County in the state's mountainous northeast.

When younger teenagers became eligible in the spring, public health officials in Marin County set up two mass vaccination sites with "lots of fanfare and confetti and a ribbon-cutting kind of feeling," said county public health officer Dr. Matt Willis. Families were eager, and within 10 days, the county had vaccinated half their adolescent population.

For parents who were more hesitant, "pediatricians were crucial," Willis said. Dr. Nelson Branco, a pediatrician in Larkspur, said his practice waited a few weeks before opening its own vaccination clinic. They checked the vaccine registry for their 4,000 12- to 17-year-old patients, identified 800 who had not been vaccinated, then sent out an email blast inviting them to one of their weekly clinics and to call with any questions.

"We found that there were lots of parents of teenagers who are very anxious for their kids to get back to more normal activities," said Branco. "We're seeing the same things with parents of younger kids. The question is 'When?' not 'Should I?'"

In a rural county like Madera, which hasn't voted for a Democratic president since Jimmy Carter, the low vaccination rates reflect factors beyond a conservative political bent, said Dr. Nicole Webb, a pediatrician at Valley Childrens Healthcare in Madera. Rather, many residents face logistical challenges that don't exist for Californians in the suburbs and cities, where a pharmacy or doctor's office is a short drive or transit ride away.

"I think the tempting thing is to try to make global generalizations based on political or ideological blinds, but I think its actually a lot more complicated than that in a place like this," Webb said.

Even in counties reporting high teen vaccination rates, there are pockets where pediatricians are struggling to convince wary parents. Santa Clara County has vaccinated 75% of kids 12 to 17, according to CDPH. But at her practice in central San Jose, Dr. Amna Khan said most of her patients are on the fence.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center sees mostly Medi-Cal patients, and many of Khan's patients are recent immigrants. "In my patient population, they have a lot of reason to distrust the government and medicine in general," Khan said. "It's not a political statement. It's distrust from things they've heard from their family or church or neighbors."

Often, these conversations are a "difficult dance" that Khan must navigate with cultural sensitivity and help from translators. Sometimes, she faces the minefield of parent-teen conflict, with arguments breaking out in the exam room between kids who want the vaccine and parents who refuse.

No matter where parents are raising their kids, pediatricians said, the common factor driving their decision to vaccinate  or not  is concern about their child's safety.

Parents lining up to vaccinate their children are worried about the threat of covid. Parents hesitant about the shot are worried about possible side effects of the vaccine. Somewhere in the middle are parents unsure what to think because of the conflicting information they have gotten from social media or friends.

Even among parents who have unquestioningly vaccinated their children for other diseases, the choice on covid isn't an obvious one.

"Parents are now saying, 'You know what? I dont think this is right for my kid. I dont think Im going to make this decision, or at the very least Im going to wait at least six months, maybe a year or maybe longer before I even consider this for my child,'" said Jessica Calarco, a professor of sociology at Indiana University who has been monitoring a group of moms in Indiana throughout the pandemic.

"Theyll say, 'You know what, my kid wears masks. We wash our hands. We are responsible with play dates. And so, the vaccine just isnt necessary because were doing enough, and my kid is healthy enough that they will probably be fine.'"

Doctors and public health officials say they find themselves regularly explaining to parents that covid is indeed harming kids.

"There have been more than 35 pediatric deaths in California alone, and this is more deaths than we see with flu," Dr. Erica Pan, California's state epidemiologist, told reporters last week. "This simply is not an acceptable number of child deaths when such effective and safe prevention is available."

Covid has triggered multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the immune system attacks the body and impedes organ function, in more than 660 California kids since March 2020, Pan said. Six have died.

California is slated to have more than 1.2 million doses of the weaker version of the vaccine for kids 5 to 11 the first week the vaccine is approved for emergency use, Pan said. Pediatricians will be crucial to the state's efforts to vaccinate kids, along with clinics at school sites and door-to-door campaigns by community leaders.

In Yuba City, pediatrician Dr. Mark Sawyer tells patients, "If you want to stop hearing about covid on the radio and stop hearing about lockdowns and everything, then this is it, this is the way. Just get vaccinated."

Phillip Reese, an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento, contributed to this report.

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Thought Leaders Dr. Alessandra Stangherli Research associate Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to research associate Dr. Alessandra Stangherlin about her latest research that provided new insights into the circadian rhythm of the heart.

Please can you introduce yourself, tell us about your background in molecular biology, and what inspired your latest research into circadian rhythms?

My name is Alessandra Stangherlin, and I have a long-standing interest in cellular circadian rhythms. I devoted the last five years of my career to studying how osmotic homeostasis is maintained during the circadian cycle.

Early observations showed that the abundance of soluble cytosolic protein has a circadian rhythm, with a 20% change. If not counterbalanced, such change in the intracellular amount of macromolecules could affect the osmotic potential of the cytosol, triggering the compensatory movement of water, with negative consequences for cell viability.

I found that mammalian cells import and export Na, K, and Cl with a 24 hours rhythm to compensate for the changes in cytosolic protein. This homeostatic control mechanism allows the cells to keep a constant cell volume and to preserve cell viability. In cardiomyocytes, the variation in ion content confers an intrinsic daily rhythm in firing rate.

What is meant by the term 'circadian rhythm'?

The adjective "circadian" derives from the Latin words "circa" (about) and "dies" (day). A circadian rhythm is a behavioral, physiological, or cellular phenomenon that repeats every 24 hours. Circadian rhythms allow for synchronizing an organism's physiology to the outside world and the anticipation of daily environmental changes in light, temperature, and food availability.

Many aspects of human physiology have a circadian nature, such as the sleep/wake cycle, the release of several hormones, and cellular metabolism. Very importantly, although they can be synchronized via external inputs, circadian rhythms are self-sustained and occur even in the absence of external time-giving cues.

Image Credit: VectorMine/Shuuterstock.com

Previously, how did we believe the cardiac circadian rhythm operated?

Circadian rhythms in heart rate have been known for decades. In healthy individuals, heart rate increases in the morning and decreases during the night. Until recently, the circadian regulation of heart rate was mainly attributed to non-cell autonomous mechanisms governed by the central clock situated in the brain via sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation.

However, the contribution of cellular clocks has never been investigated. We now show that a cell-autonomous clock within cardiomyocytes regulates heart rate independently of the central nervous system and systemic cues. Indeed, action potential firing rate changes between day and night in isolated cardiomyocytes in culture. More importantly, we found that the daily variation in HR persists in vivo under autonomic blockade.

We also believed that the cellular ion concentrations involved in circadian rhythm were fairly constant. Why has your research contradicted this theory and how do these levels actually vary?

We have all learned from textbooks that the intracellular concentration of Na is about 10 mM, the concentration of K is about 140 mM, and we generally assumed that they remain fairly constant. We were surprised by our results, which showed that the intracellular concentration of many ions changes during the day by about 20-30%.

Our model suggests that the net import and export of Na, K, and Cl changes during the circadian cycle leading to changes in the intracellular concentration of these ions. We have identified the SLC12A family of cotransporters as important players in this process, but we do not exclude that other transporters such as VRAC may also play a role.

Can you describe how you carried out your latest research into circadian rhythms?

We employed various state-of-the-art techniques, from live-cell microscopy and tracking of quantum dots to assess cytosolic crowding to microelectrode array technology to measure action potential firing rate. The key to discovering ion rhythms was using an analytical technique called inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This technique can be used to determine the elemental composition of a sample with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity and overcomes the disadvantages of the current colorimetric assays and electrophysiological methods.

How has this changed the way we think of the cardiac circadian rhythm?

This work has further confirmed the importance of cellular circadian rhythms in regulating basic cell functions and heart physiology. The 24 hour rhythm in Na, K, and Cl abundance we have described has an important physiological implication, as it affects the electrochemical gradient of these ions across the plasma membrane. In cardiomyocytes, this modulates the depolarization phase of the action potential, leading to increased firing rate when intracellular ions are high (end of the night) and a decrease in action potential firing rate when ions are low (end of the day).

Negative cardiovascular events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death occur with a higher incidence in the morning, but the underlying causes are unknown. Our data suggest that any impairment of the buffering mechanism we have described could render the heart more vulnerable to stress in the morning when a change in demand is required.

How can you see your research influencing future treatment options for cardiovascular conditions?

Future treatments could involve pharmacological or behavioral treatments to sustain our circadian rhythms. For example, maintaining a healthy daily routine, which includes keeping the same sleep pattern, avoiding bright light before bedtime, and avoiding eating during the night, could help keep our body clocks in synchrony.

Image Credit: BRO.vector/Shutterstock.com

Your research has also helped to explain why shift workers are more vulnerable to heart problems. What preventative measures can those who do shift work take?

Our work and others suggest that shift workers become more vulnerable to heart problems because of a mismatch between the brain clock and the heart clocks. The brain clock is very sensitive to environmental light, and therefore one needs to be very careful with light exposure.

There are different strategies that night shift workers could put in place to synchronize their body clocks to the new schedule. Most of these rely on adopting a regular sleep and light routine in line with their chronotype (i.e., night owls might prefer to go to bed straight after their shift). When sleeping during the day, it is important to get at least seven hours of sleep. Pay attention to the quality of sleep (use a comfortable bed, sleep in a dark and quiet room), and avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine in the few hours before going to bed, which can reduce the quality of sleep.

What are the implications of this research on the relationship between heart health and sleep?

Studies suggest that there is an interaction between circadian and sleep-wakedependent processes on heart rate. Indeed, the timed release of hormones such as cortisol and melatonin, regulated by the central clock in the brain and light exposure, modulates our sleep/wake cycle. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and a correct light exposure pattern is thought to be critical to keeping our clocks in synchrony and is very likely beneficial for heart health.

Collaboration has been a huge part of your research. How important was this level of collaboration and do you believe that if more researchers collaborated together, more scientific discoveries could be made?

Our work was supported by a long-standing collaboration with many academic collaborators and AstraZeneca and was highly multidisciplinary. We used a wide array of techniques, which has only been possible thanks to the unique expertise of our colleagues. Having a good network of colleagues and collaborators is fundamental to expanding with confidence and supporting the range of experiments one can carry out.

What are the next steps for you and your research into circadian rhythms?

Next, I would like to investigate ion rhythms at the subcellular resolution and study whether these rhythms are impaired during aging.

Where can readers find more information?

About Dr. Alessandra Stangherli

I obtained a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and a Ph.D. in Cellular Biology from the University of Padova, Italy. During my Ph.D., I focused on the regulation of cAMP and cGMP signaling and their role in cardiomyocyte contraction. In 2016, I joined the laboratory of Dr. John O'Neill at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, UK, as a research associate to study how cellular circadian clocks regulate cellular physiology. I am currently a principal investigator at CECAD, Cologne, where I will study the mechanisms of regulation of ion homeostasis during aging.
There were days, nights and weekends in the early months of the pandemic when Denise Von Bargen was the only person running covid tests at the public health lab in Ventura County. She once had eight or nine employees to assist her, but, one by one, they had all retired or left for other jobs.

Like other public health laboratories in California charged with broad-scale disease testing and surveillance, the Ventura lab received federal and state money for new equipment and short-term hires to bolster its response to covid-19. But the funding was temporary, and Von Bargen, the director, could not use it to increase the salaries of her employees, who could earn more money doing less work in the private sector.

Operations deteriorated further last month, after the lab lost its license to run routine tests that check the county's ocean water for deadly bacteria. It appears to have been a clerical error: The licensing paperwork changed, and the staff typically responsible for submitting the application had quit.

"The biggest threat to [public health labs] right now is not the next emerging pathogen," said Donna Ferguson, director of the public health lab in Monterey County, "but labs closing due to lack of staffing."

Across California, public health departments are losing experienced staffers to retirement, exhaustion, partisan politics and higher-paying jobs. Even before the coronavirus pandemic throttled departments, staffing numbers had shrunk with county budgets. But the decline has accelerated over the past year and a half, even as millions of dollars in federal money has poured in. Public health nurses, microbiologists, epidemiologists, health officers and other staff members who fend off infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV, inspect restaurants and work to keep communities healthy are abandoning the field. It's a problem that temporary boosts in funding can't fix.

The brain drain is sapping community health oversight in ways big and small. The people who staff public health labs, for example, run complex tests for deadly diseases that require specialized training most commercial labs lack. While their work is largely unseen by the public, they touch almost every aspect of society. Public health labs sample shellfish to make sure it is safe for eating. They monitor drinking water and develop tests for emerging health threats such as antibiotic-resistant viruses. They also test for serious diseases, such as measles and covid. And they typically do it at a fraction of the cost of commercial labs  and faster.

Public lab directors are typically required to hold doctorates, and they must have appropriate credentials for their labs to be certified.

Ferguson said it feels like there's a revolving door on her lab, as recent college graduates join for a few months to gain experience, at a starting pay of $19 an hour, and then move on to higher-paying jobs at hospitals. It's all but impossible to hire qualified staffers for part-time roles, like the ones created with temporary bursts in funding, because of the training required. In California, many lab positions require a public health microbiologist certificate from the Department of Public Health.

California has 29 public health labs, down from nearly 40 before the 2008 recession. A lab in Merced has been without a director for months and could soon close. While there's no official count of how much the field has shrunk, nearly every lab is missing key staff members, said Godfred Masinde, who is president of the California Association of Public Health Laboratory Directors, lab director for San Francisco and filling in as lab director in Fresno County. Dozens of public health microbiologist positions are unfilled around the state.

"We have funding now; we have equipment," Masinde said. "But we don't have the staff to run the equipment."

His San Francisco lab typically runs 100,000 tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia each year, and 150 to 200 tests for syphilis every day, Masinde said. While California also has state-run labs, he noted, they simply don't have the capacity to pick up the slack for shuttered county labs.

Counties are struggling to recruit and retain staffers for other positions as well. An informal survey conducted by the California Directors of Public Health Nursing found that at least 84 public health nurses have left their jobs since March 2020. Many retired, part of a graying workforce challenged with recruiting nurses into an obscure field requiring special accreditation.

Public health nurses are trained in nursing and community health, and often work with families, or community groups, not just individual clients. They do home visits after births, work on early childhood development and help respond to outbreaks of infectious disease. "So providing more of a holistic approach, and also addressing the social determinants of health," said Michelle Curioso, public health nursing director for Kern County and president of the California Directors of Public Health Nursing. Like lab staffers, public health nurses must be specially certified to work in public health departments.

In California, the average annual salary for a registered nurse is more than $120,000, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, while public health nurse job postings in several counties offer salaries starting around $65,000.

Nursing shortages have been particularly severe in rural California. In Butte County, several public health nurses retired earlier than expected, said Monica Soderstrom, Butte's director of public health nursing, and two young nurses who went on pregnancy leave decided not to return after finding jobs with higher wages. "It has been difficult to fill our vacant positions," said Soderstrom, "as we are competing with hospitals and clinics paying sign-on bonuses due to covid staffing needs."

The loss of top county health leaders  department directors and health officers charged with leading the pandemic response in local communities  has been particularly stark, mirroring a sobering national trend. Seventeen of California's 58 counties have lost their health officer since March 2020, and at least 27 have lost a director or assistant director. The director and deputy director of the state Department of Public Health also resigned.

The collective expertise lost with those departures is hard to overstate.

Take, for example, Dr. Robert Bernstein, who moved to California in 2018 to become health officer for rural Tuolumne County after more than two decades working in public health for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Florida Department of Health, among other organizations. In California, health officers must be physicians, and are charged with enforcing state and local statutes and protecting the public from health hazards.

In March 2020, just as the pandemic was making its first surge across the state, Bernstein was asked to resign by the county board of supervisors. According to Bernstein, supervisors were upset that he had ordered rabies vaccines for two children bitten by bats  including a bat that tested positive for rabies  against their parents' wishes. The county declined to comment on the matter, saying it is legally prohibited from discussing personnel matters.

Bernstein moved to Butte County and became health officer after his predecessor resigned in May 2020. Bernstein watched as colleagues in neighboring counties, facing menacing public threats over covid-related health orders, began quitting, seemingly one after the next. In some communities, public health officers also faced rude and derisive pushback from local elected officials, even as law enforcement leaders openly refused to carry out their health directives.

"You might, as a public health officer, have the authority and responsibility to recommend or even mandate certain public health actions," Bernstein said, "but you need a partnership with those in authority to carry [them] out."

By September this year, Bernstein was disillusioned with the dynamic and the notion that his family could get caught up in the covid rancor. "I just decided that as a dad of 16-year-old triplets, I dont need me or the kids to be threatened in any way, and I can do good public health work at the state level or federal level or even international level," Bernstein said.

Michelle Gibbons, executive director of the County Health Executives Association of California, said local departments are seeing the cascading effects of those top-level defections, with midlevel managers hesitant to move into senior positions, even though top officials can command salaries of more than $200,000.

The state budget this year included $3 million for an assessment of California's public health infrastructure, and public health leaders believe it will show that staffing and training are major issues. Still, the budget did not include additional long-term funding for health departments. Amid negative headlines and a lobbying blitz, Gov. Gavin Newsom eventually agreed to add $300 million a year for public health, a handshake deal not scheduled to begin until July.

Advocates warn that the timing matters: Many public health workers are hanging on to see their communities through the pandemic and will leave once it ebbs. "Were going to see a huge wave of retirements when this is over," said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California.

In Ventura County, Von Bargen, exhausted by the pandemic, has been trying to retire for a year. She didn't want to abandon the lab she fought so hard to keep open, and it took that long to find a replacement. Her successor will start early next year, at which point Von Bargen, too, will join the ranks of former public health employees.

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Newborn screening (NBS) was first used to measure the seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the late 1980s. This method is useful in monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the absence of symptomatic disease.

Study: Trends in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Massachusetts estimated from newborn screening specimens. Image Credit: Simfalex/ Shutterstock

Monitoring outbreaks of new diseases remains a challenge for disease surveillance networks. NBS programs serve as a source of such information. NBS programs collect infant dried blood spot specimens at centralized clinical laboratories where they are tested for markers of treatable genetic disorders. These infant blood specimens harbor maternal immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies that cross the placenta; hence, these reflect maternal exposure to infectious agents.

The study

A new study published in the medRxiv preprint* server reported findings, addressing questions on the incidence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from a retrospective, de-identified and systematic survey of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among childbearing women in Massachusetts.

The study utilized data generated from newborn screening (NBS) specimens. Women whose infants dried blood spot (DBS) specimens had completed routine newborn screening were included. DBS specimens arriving at the NBS screening program in March of 2019 served as the controls and DBS from November 4, 2019, through December 31, 2020, were the study samples.

In this study, human monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody cross-reactive to SARS-CoV-2 was prepared from CR3022 variable genes expressed from plasmids. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Spike protein was expressed using HEK-293F cells and prepared.

Results

RBD protein-specific IgG antibodies were detected in the DBSs residues of the Massachusetts NBS program by an adaptation of a previously described enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) designed for serum.

Seropositive rates from a population of anonymized newborn DBS were measured in a subset of residual DBS  from a period believed to significantly pre-date the COVID-19 outbreak. The low positive controls depicted IgG concentrations significantly above the mean of the tested specimens and all above the values for the tested specimens.

There were 1,817 presumed seronegative specimens from March 2019, of which seven (0.39%) were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. While among the 72,117 study specimens, 1,261 (1.75% state-wide) were seropositive and 45 seropositive individuals were from November and December 2019. Of the 29 seropositive specimens from July 2020, the average inhibition was 57%, whereas of the available 45 specimens from November and December 2019, the average inhibition was 1.45%, confirming that most seropositive individuals from 2019 were false positives.

Meanwhile, the state-wide monthly seroprevalence in early November 2019 was 0.03%, with a 90% credible interval (CI) of 0.00-0.11%which remained low until May 2020. After that, the seroprevalence rose to 1.47% following sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission in spring and plateaued at approximately 2% beginning July 2020, reflecting decreased transmission in summer months, owing to the implementation of preventive measures. Meanwhile, the estimate for seroprevalence for December 2020 was 2.15%.

State-wide trends showed similar qualitative results. Overall seropositivity varied considerably across the state; however, cities with high seroprevalence exhibited similar qualitative trajectories to overall state-wide trends.

While the widths of credible intervals also varied, reflecting uncertainty due to smaller sample sizes for some cities. For instance  the estimate for seroprevalence in Boston was 0.05% (90% CI [0.00, 0.17]) in November 2019, which rose to 3.56% at the end of 2020which was slightly higher than that for the state. Additionally, modeling time continuously yielded similar qualitative trends.

Good qualitative consistency was elicited by seroprevalence levels and MAVEN cumulative incidence trajectories from 2019-2020. However, there was a divergence between the curves at the end of 2020. This implied that the seropositivity in the heel stick cohort did not rise as sharply as the cases during the winter resurgence. The findings depicted a deviation between the DBS data and multiple other sources of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance towards the end of the sampling timeline.

On examining the community-level factors associated with increased seropositivity, it was found that the incidence of seropositivity among the non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic or Latino increased in several cities and towns, including Brockton, Springfield, Everett, Chelsea, Lynn, and Lawrence. Therefore, it was suggested that certain additional sociodemographic variables warrant further study to characterize their association with seropositivity.

Conclusion

The present study provides a strategy for systematically evaluating and estimating the population-wide cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 by assessing state-wide and overtime distribution of maternal antibodies. It was stated that NBS could serve as a readily available data source that is most useful for informing cumulative incidence estimates in areas where widespread infection testing is still unavailable or remains heavily biased.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has largely passed children by with fewer infections and a minute proportion of deaths in this age group. However, some adverse outcomes do occur, such as the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Study: Risk factors for severe PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized children: a multicenter cohort study. Image Credit: SURAKIT SAWANGCHIT/ Shutterstock

A new preprint available on the medRxiv* preprint server describes an effort to describe the risk factors for severe COVID-19 in children.

Background

Earlier studies in this area have identified the presence of obesity, other chronic medical conditions, and inflammation as putting the children at risk of severe COVID-19. Still, most have been small and from richer countries.

The current study examined data from children hospitalized with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (including MIS-C), confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to pull out the risk factors in children with severe outcomes. These were defined according to the Clinical Progression scale of the World Health Organization (WHO), which requires non-invasive ventilation or mechanical ventilation, high-flow oxygen via nasal cannula, vasopressors, or death.

What did the study show?

The researchers looked through the data for over 400 COVID-19 hospitalizations, for children with a median age of approximately 3.8 years, between March 19, 2020, to May 31, 2021. The cases came from Canada, Costa Rica, and Iran, contributing two-thirds, just over a quarter and 7% of cases.

Disease severity increased proportionally with age, so that <2% of newborn babies developed severe COVID-19 compared with over a third of children over 12 years of age. Overall, more than one in three children with the infection developed severe COVID-19.

In Canadian cases, the median age was higher, at 5.8 years, compared to the other two countries. Canada also had a higher adolescent percentage, comprising a third of pediatric cases, compared to <6% in the other two countries. The cases in this country belonged to a later period of the pandemic, with more than two-thirds having been admitted during 2021.

Almost half the children had one additional illness, and almost a fifth had more than one. Children with one additional illness became severely sick in ~32% of cases, compared to 37% in those with two illnesses, but 20% of healthy children.

Presenting symptoms included fever in >82% of children, while more than half presented with cough. Approximately 32% had vomiting, the same proportion had rhinitis, while < 30% had diarrhea and abdominal pain. Of the total, less than a third had to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Six of the patients died, all with a history of other illnesses. Two of these were cancer patients in palliative care.

After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of multiple illnesses was linked to more than double the risk of severe disease. People with anemia or hemoglobin disorders were at almost six times higher odds for disease severity.

Obesity was linked to almost three times higher odds. The presence of a neurological disorder, having coinfections with bacteria or viruses, or if the patient had a chest imaging result indicative of COVID-19 increased the odds of severe disease more than three times.

Having a symptom such as shortness of breath increased the odds of severe disease by 4.8 times. The diagnosis of MIS-C is linked to higher risk as well, by almost four times. Children with elevated neutrophil counts had higher odds, by 2.6 times.

Obesity was reported in over 40% of children with severe disease, but only 4% of those with mild infection. A higher proportion of already sick children were adolescents.

In children younger than 12 years, neurological disorders increased the risk of disease severity more than three times. Conversely, obesity was associated with 3.2 times more risk in adolescents when the underlying medical conditions were listed by age group.

The scientists checked their accuracy by recalculating the odds if no MIS-C case was included, which showed that their results were well within limits.

What are the implications?

The results of this study showed that COVID-19 among children was more severe among those with other illnesses, obesity, and neurological disorders. The presence of anemia and/or hemoglobinopathy, shortness of breath, or coinfections with bacterial or viral pathogens were also risk factors for severe disease.

Finally, children whose chest X-ray findings agreed with a diagnosis of COVID-19, those with high neutrophil counts, and those with MIS-C were also at higher risk. Older children were far more likely to have severe disease. Hypertension, chromosomal anomalies, and low albumin levels were associated with a severity that disappeared when confounding factors were accounted for.

Among younger children (below the age of 12 years), the presence of neurological disease was a strong predictor of severe disease, but in adolescents, obesity was a risk factor.

Surprisingly, immunocompromised children did not appear to be at an elevated risk of severe disease. Less than 5% of severe cases had weakened immunity in this cohort, agreeing with earlier studies. This finding seems to bear out the hypothesis that it is not the lack of a robust immune response but its lack of regulation that leads to severe COVID-19 in most individuals who require hospitalization.

In this study, the proportion of infants from Canada of hospitalized pediatric COVID-19 cases was more than four times higher than that in the general Canadian population. This indicates that infants were more likely to be hospitalized. Some of these infants may not have had severe illness but may have been admitted for observation following the development of severe symptoms.

This is more likely with infants during the first part of the pandemic, especially if serious bacterial pathogens were thought to be a possible cause of the symptoms. However, few of these infants, if any, had a recorded severe outcome, despite the known fact that illness and death among infants are higher at baseline than older children. Symptomatic disease among infants did not, therefore, have a greater risk of turning severe compared to other children.

The second peak of severity, observed among adolescents, was not seen to persist in adjusted models. With obese adolescents being at increased risk of severity, this agrees with earlier studies in children and adults, underlining the key role of metabolic factors in deciding severity.

Risk factors involving blood counts, acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein, and albumin levels were not evaluated because of the lack of data, nor could ethnic factors be assessed for their risk. However, it was a multicenter study, with over a hundred severe cases among the ~400 hospitalized COVID-19-positive children whose risk factors had been comprehensively recorded. This allowed differences in risk factors to be identified by age group.

In conclusion, we identified several independent risk factors for severe disease in children hospitalized for symptomatic PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on our analysis, age was not an independent risk factor, but the apparent increased risk in adolescents is mainly secondary to the presence of age-specific comorbidities. Furthermore, age appears to modify the effect of specific comorbidities such as obesity.

Such studies could help develop targeted vaccination programs for high-risk children and guide treatment protocols for monitoring such groups following the diagnosis of COVID-19 among them.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
The politicization of covid vaccines  and, well, just about everything else having to do with the pandemic  has led to confusion, if not utter fatigue.

And some posts circulating on social media  this slickly edited piece on YouTube, for example  seem to build on these feelings, attempting to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the vaccines. This one intersperses comments from White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci extolling their protectiveness with screenshots of news headlines, starting with those citing 100% effectiveness, then moving through others reporting sharply lower percentages. Set to the rapidly increasing tempo of the orchestral piece "In the Hall of the Mountain King," the video ends with headlines about drug company profits.

But slowing the video to parse the headlines reveals more complexity. Some are reporting on studies that looked only at infection rates; others, more serious outcomes, including hospitalization and death. Some are about vaccines not offered in the U.S.

In short, the video fosters misperceptions by mixing together dissimilar data points and leaving out key details.

Still, one can't help but wonder what's really going on with effectiveness  and is any of it a surprise?

If you don't read any further, know this: No vaccine is 100% effective against any disease. The covid shots are no exception. Effectiveness in preventing infection  defined as a positive test result  appears in some studies to wane sharply the more time that goes by after completing the one- or two-shot regimen. But on key measures  prevention of serious illness, hospitalization and death  real-world studies from the U.S. and abroad generally show protection weakening slightly, particularly in older or sicker people, but remaining strong overall, even with the rise of the more infectious delta variant of the covid virus.

The bottom line? Getting vaccinated with any of the three vaccines available in the U.S. reduces the chance of getting infected in the first place, and significantly cuts the risk of hospitalization or death if you do contract covid-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published a study showing fully vaccinated people were more than 10 times less likely to die or be hospitalized than the unvaccinated.

"When it comes to what matters, vaccines hold up really well," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious-disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "They were designed to tame the virus."

So, what do "efficacy" and "effectiveness" mean, anyway?

Before a drug or vaccine is greenlighted by federal regulators, it is tested on volunteers randomly assigned to get either the product or a placebo. Then researchers compare how the groups fare. In the case of a vaccine, they look at how well it prevents infection, and whether it protects against serious illness, hospitalization or death. Those clinical trial results are often referred to as efficacy measures.

In the real world, however, a drug or vaccine's performance is affected by numerous factors, including a much larger population receiving it, some of whom have underlying conditions or socioeconomic circumstances different from those in the clinical trial. That real-world performance measure is called effectiveness.

When authorized for emergency use following clinical trials, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna two-dose vaccines reported efficacy against symptomatic illness in the mid-90% range. The Johnson & Johnson single-dose shot  which was tested later, when there were more variants  reported overall efficacy in the high 60% range. Those numbers exceeded the 50% threshold health officials sought as a minimum for covid vaccine efficacy. Keep in mind, also, that the annual influenza vaccine's real-world effectiveness is often 40% to 50%.

Another point: 95% effectiveness doesn't mean 95% of vaccinated people will never get infected. What it means is that a fully vaccinated person exposed to the virus faces only 5% of the risk of infection compared with an unvaccinated person.

Have the effectiveness numbers changed?

Yes, decline in effectiveness against infection is seen in some studies. A few have also raised concerns that protection against serious illness may also be diminished, particularly in older people and patients with underlying medical conditions.

Reasons for the decline vary.

First, when the vaccines were authorized, much of the U.S. was under tighter pandemic-related stay-at-home rules. Nearly a year later, restrictions  including mask rules  have loosened in many areas. More people are traveling and going into situations they would have avoided a year ago. So, exposure to the virus is higher.

Some studies from the U.S. and abroad show that time elapsed since vaccination also plays a role.

The Lancet recently published a study of more than 3.4 million Kaiser Permanente members, both vaccinated and not, reviewing the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine. It showed an overall average 73% effectiveness against infection during the six months after inoculations, and an overall 90% effectiveness against hospitalization.

But protection against infection declined from 88% in the month after full vaccination to 47% at five to six months. Time since vaccination played a larger role than any changes in the virus itself, the researchers concluded.

"It shows vaccines are highly effective over time against severe outcomes," said report lead author Sara Tartof, an epidemiologist with the Department of Research and Evaluation for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. "Against infection, it does decline over time, something that is not unexpected. We have boosters for many other vaccines."

The virus, too, has mutated.

"Along came delta," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "Because this virus was so highly contagious, it changed the outcomes slightly."

And some vaccinated people can fall seriously ill with covid, or even die, especially if they have an underlying medical problem, as was the case with Gen. Colin Powell. He died of covid complications even though he was fully vaccinated  likely because he also had a blood cancer called multiple myeloma, which can lower the body's response to an invading virus as well as to vaccination.

What should we make of these changing numbers and the recent authorization of booster shots?

Most scientists, researchers and physicians say the vaccines are working remarkably well, especially at preventing serious illness or death.

And it's not unusual to need more than one dose.

Vaccines for shingles and measles both require two shots, while people need to be revaccinated against tetanus every 10 years. Because influenza varies each year, flu shots are annual.

Immune response is often better when vaccines are spaced apart by a few months. But during the rollout of the covid vaccines, so many people were falling ill and dying of covid each day that the Food and Drug Administration and CDC decided not to delay, but to authorize the first and second doses within about a month of each other.

"We learn as we go along," said Schaffner. "It was always anticipated there might have to be follow-up doses."

Now, the recommendations call for a second dose for anyone who received a J&J shot at least two months prior. For those who received the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the recommendation is to wait six months after the second dose to get a booster, which is currently recommended for those who are 65 and older; have any of a variety of underlying health conditions; live in congregate settings, such as nursing homes; or have jobs that put them at higher risk. The booster recommendations may expand in the coming months.
Thought Leaders Dr. Steven Stagg Senior Lecturer Anglia Ruskin University

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to Dr. Steven Stagg about his latest research into autism and how autistic children struggle to read hidden emotions.

Please could you introduce yourself, tell us about your background in autism, and what inspired your latest research?

My name is Dr. Steven Stagg. For the past 10 years, I have been researching different aspects of autism spectrum disorder. My previous work has investigated social processing in autism, being diagnosed later in life, and autistic traits in transgender and non-binary individuals.

I am currently examining stress and resilience in British Indian parents with an autistic child and adults experiences of meltdowns. The idea for my research on emotion came about while I watched a TV program in which a happy father cried at his daughter's wedding. This started me thinking of how we process emotions in terms of context. For example, how did I know the father was overjoyed and not upset?

The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide, roughly 1 in 160 children have autism but there is no one cause for autism. Why is this?

If you are asking why the number of children with autism seems to be increasing, then this is probably because we are getting better at recognizing autism in children. Historically women and ethnic minorities have often had their autism overlooked or misdiagnosed. As knowledge about autism becomes more prominent, parents become better at recognizing the signs of autism in their children, leading to more diagnoses.

Autism is a genetic disorder but is likely to result from a combination of genetic factors rather than a single gene, which makes explaining the causes of autism tricky.

Image Credit: Veja/Shutterstock.com

What is meant by a hidden emotion and how do these differ from regular emotions?

I think it is helpful to think about actors to explain this. The job of an actor is to convey emotion and inner feelings to the audience. However, in real life, we often need to mask our feelings and cover our emotions.

For example, if a work colleague is turned down for a promotion and smiles weakly and says, 'it's okay, I didn't really think I would get the position anyway', we know they are feeling sad and not happy. In this case, we might say that they are hiding their true feelings.

Human emotions have been shown to be extremely difficult to understand. Why is this and why would this make it even more difficult for people with autism?

This is a difficult question to answer. I am not an expert on emotion. I would say that emotions are embedded within social contexts. They serve social purposes, which makes it tricky to read someones emotions. When emotions are stock and obvious, they are not difficult to recognize, and autistic individuals seem to have little problem in these instances.

However, when they are embedded in a real-world scenario, they are less obvious. Interpretation of the scenario and, a lot of times, knowledge of the person displaying the emotion is necessary to work out how someone really feels.

Why is being able to detect the differences between emotional expressions and emotional feelings essential in managing social conservations?

Because this allows us to respond appropriately to individuals and thus foster bonds. In the scenario mentioned above, where the work colleague fails their promotion, we could respond by saying, 'not to worry, let's have a coffee and talk about it.'

Alternatively, we might respond by saying, 'well, you didn't think you would get the job anyway'; the second response is unlikely to foster a bond.

Image Credit: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

Can you describe how you carried out your latest research into autistic children and hidden emotions?

We first showed the adolescents pictures of emotions. We established that they were as good as their neurotypical peers at identifying the emotions. We then showed them short videos where an actor displays their emotion (fear at seeing a spider). Then he feigns a smile to cover up his fear (e.g. the actor's girlfriend enters the scene, and he does not want her to think he's afraid). The final frame of the video freezes on the actor, feigning a smile.

Here, the adolescents were asked to name the actor's emotion and the emotion the actor was feeling. The neurotypical group identified the displayed emotion as nearer to happy and the felt emotion as nearer to fear. The autism group did not distinguish between the displayed emotion and the felt emotion. Instead, they identified both as being nearer to happy.

What did you discover?

That adolescents with ASD were as good as their neurotypical peers at recognizing emotion from a photograph. Still, they had difficulty taking context into account when deciding how someone was feeling. As a result, their decision was based on how someone looks rather than what the context informs them

Were there any limitations to your research? If so, what were they?

Our sample size was relatively small, but this is relatively common in autism research.

Do you believe that with continued research into the way autistic children process emotions, we can help these children understand emotions easier?

I think we need more research into this area. For example, we might question why autistic individuals need to be trained to recognize emotion and whether they can do this effectively.

On the other hand, suppose people understand that emotion recognition is a difficulty and accommodate that difficulty. In that case, it will make life easier for individuals with autism.

What are the next steps for you and your research into autism?

In terms of emotion and context, we need to explore how neurotypical children develop the ability to inform their judgments about others emotions based on context. It would also be interesting to see when this appears in development and what factors enhance this ability.

About Dr. Steven Stagg

I am currently a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin Univerity. I have also worked with the Westminster Parliamentary Committee on autism.

In addition, I have been awarded grants to study adults who have received a diagnosis after the age of 50 and grants to research autism-related issues in minority ethnic groups in the U.K.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 57F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

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Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 58F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
From 1993 to 2003, Jeffersonville High School students performed School Colors, a production that was born of their conversations on race and identity in America. A group of residents and former students are working to bring the play back this fall.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 58F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Cloudy. High 57F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with showers later at night. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
(Newser)  Update: Body camera video released earlier this year shows Louisiana State Police troopers beating, stunning, and dragging Ronald Greene before his deathand an autopsy review ordered by the FBI could make homicide charges more likely. Sources tell the AP that the forensic review has removed the relatively minor car crash the 49-year-old Black man was involved in after a high-speed chase as a cause of death, along with "agitated delirium." The sources say the reviewwhich attributed the death to factors including the beating and being restrained at length by officersfound that Greene's fractured breastbone and ruptured aorta were probably the result of CPR and other life-saving efforts, not the crash. Our original story from May 19 follows:

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Ronald Greene's family joined a rally Thursday in Baton Rouge, marching from the Louisiana Capitol to the governor's mansion to demand charges be filed against the troopers involved in the 49-year-old Black man's death. "We want every trooper involved in this incident to be terminated immediately," the head of the Urban League of Louisiana told the crowd, USA Today reports. "And then after the termination, we want every single trooper involved in this incident to be arrested. And then we want them to be charged." Greene's death after a police chase has been under investigation for two years. Body camera video shows the troopers punching and dragging Greene just before his death. In the meantime, a state police officer said, the troopers "have already received internal discipline."

Lawyers for Greene's family said they had a meeting with a local prosecutor Thursday and were encouraged by it. They left with the feeling that arrests could be made soon, per CNN. "What makes sense to us would be a charge of homicide on the officers that put their hands on Ronald Greene, and we want those also that participated in the cover-up that night and subsequently afterward to face punishment as well," Ron Haley said. But nothing came out of the family's 45-minute meeting Thursday with Gov. John Bel Edwards, which another lawyer for the Greenes described as "tense" but "respectful." The release of the video was significant, per USA Today. "The public now sees why we've been saying something is wrong," Haley said. "They see the inhumanity, the brutality, and the reckless indifference of Ronnie's life." (The FBI became involved last fall.)
(Newser)  Update: A Texas judge says a death row inmate backed by celebrities including Kim Kardashian West and Rihanna should not receive a new trial. The judge in Bastrop County said Rodney Reedsentenced to death for the 1996 murder of a young woman"has not proven by clear and convincing evidence that he is actually innocent," per the New York Times. Reed's lawyers said they presented more than 20 witnesses who implicated the victim's fiance. The judge's recommendation now goes to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which will decide if 53-year-old Reed will get a new trial. Our original story from July 19 follows:

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"Celebrities Go to Bat for Man Sentenced to Die," read Newser's own headline in 2019. Now, defense lawyers are getting the chance to go to bat for Rodney Reed. The Black man was sentenced to die for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop, Texas, but Texas' top appeals court halted his execution just days before it was to take place in November 2019. CBS News reports that court sent the case back to trial court, where a two-week evidentiary hearing began on Monday that will see defense attorneys ask for a new trial. Their case, per KXAN: that Reed is innocent, that the state didn't hand over all exculpatory evidence, and that the prosecutors gave false testimony. Reed has maintained that he was having an affair with Stites, 19, and had consensual sex with her the day prior to her death.

His lawyers say the quantity of Reed's sperm detected in Stites' body syncs with that timeline, and that prosecutors withheld witness statements that supported Reed's claim the two were in a consensual relationship. At the original trial, prosecutors said there was no such relationship. They originally made the case that Stites was at home with her fiance, Jimmy Fennell, before leaving for work, and that Reed stopped her on the drive and raped and killed her. Reed's defense has argued that Stites was murdered by Fennell. Fennell, a former cop who served time for an unrelated sexual crime, will be called to testify. The Marshall Project reports that in 2019 an inmate signed an affidavit stating that sometime around 2010 Fennell confessed to him that he killed "my n----- loving fiancee." (Read more death row stories.)
(Newser)  As he made history by becoming the first person to fly across New Zealand's Cook Strait in an electric plane, Gary Freedman thought it only fitting that the first thing he saw when approaching the Wellington coastline was the rotating blade of a wind turbine producing renewable energy. Freedman's 40-minute solo flight in the small two-seater came 101 years after the first person flew a conventional aircraft over the body of water that separates the South Pacific nation's two main islands. Monday's flight was aimed at drawing attention to the possibilities of greener flying and timed to coincide with the opening of the UN climate summit in Scotland, the AP reports.

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Wellington International Airport officials say it may be the longest distance flown in an electric plane across any body of water. "It's a very exciting day for the airport. A world-record-setting day," said spokesperson Jenna Raeburn. Freedman said the day began badly with pouring rain at his departure point near the town of Blenheim. After he delayed the flight for 15 minutes, the weather cleared just enough for takeoff and soon improved to sunny conditions over the ocean. Freedman said he was ecstatic when he landed, and the technology worked better than he'd hoped. "We still had 40% left in the battery," he said. "We could have almost flown back again."

Freedman, 49, who founded the company ElectricAir, said the idea came as he thought about the incongruity of driving an electric car and flying a gas-powered plane. He went to Slovenia to buy a Pipistrel Alpha Electro plane, then jumped through various hoops with New Zealand aviation regulators to get the plane cleared. It weighs less than 880 pounds and is much quieter than a traditional aircraft. For the 48 mile-trip, Freedman flew just 1,000 feet above sea level and at the relatively slow speed of 81mph in order to preserve its charge. Freedman said it takes about one hour to fully charge the plane; the maximum flight time is also about an hour. The technology is not advanced enough to power large planes, Raeburn said, but biofuels and hydrogen will likely provide greener alternatives in the future.

(Read more New Zealand stories.)
(Newser)  New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says 9,000 city workersaround 2.4% of the totalare now on unpaid leave because of the Big Apple's vaccine mandate, which kicked in on Friday The mayor said staff shortages have not caused any disruption to services and employees placed on leave can return when they are vaccinated against COVID-19, reports Axios. De Blasio said Monday that around 12,000 religious exemptions will be evaluated "in the coming days." He said more than 90% of workers covered by the mandate are now vaccinated and urged mayors, governors, and CEO across America to bring in similar mandates "to end the COVID era once and for all."

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Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro, however, said hundreds of firefighters had called in sick, apparently to protest the mandate, CNN reports. He said 2,300 FDNY firefighters were out sick on Monday, compared to 800 to 1,000 on a normal day. "Once the members come to their senses and stop using medical leave improperly, they can help out not just the citizens of the city but their brothers and sisters staffing the units," the commissioner said. He said no firehouses have been closed due to staff shortages. The department employs around 11,000 firefighters, and deputy commissioner Frank Dwyer tells NBC that the number out on medical leave is "very unusual."

Around a quarter of the city's firefighters and a sixth of police officers hadn't received a first dose of vaccine by Sunday, the AP reports. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said most unvaccinated people in the department have applied for exemptions and only 34 police officers and 40 civilian employees are on unpaid leave. De Blasio thanked the thousands of city workers who were vaccinated over the weekend. He warned that firefighters found to be faking illness will be considered "AWOL effectively." (Last week, a judge refused to block the mandate.)
(Newser)  The governor of Treviso province in northern Italy says the region has lost one of its "gastronomical stars"restaurateur Ado Campeol, widely known as the "father of tiramisu." While the 93-year-old and his family never copyrighted the recipe, historians believe the dessert was invented at Campeol's Le Beccherie restaurant in the early 1970s, the Guardian reports. The dish, whose name means "lift-me-up" in the local dialect, is made from egg yolks whipped with sugar and mascarpone cheese, layered over coffee-soaked ladyfinger biscuits and topped with cocoa powder. Campeol added it to the menu in 1972.

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The restaurant is now run by Campeol's son Carlo, who has this origin story for tiramisu: While breastfeeding him, his mother, Alba had turned to mascarpone mixed with sugar and biscuits soaked in coffee to keep her energy up, which is traditional in Treviso," Carlo told Italian media. Then, with chef Roberto Linguanotto, "she turned those elements into a pudding." Linguanotto has said he worked with Alba Campeol on the dessert after he accidentally dropped mascarpone cheese into a bowl of eggs and sugar, the BBC reports.

It was at Campeol's restaurant, "thanks to intuition and the imagination of his wife, that was born the tiramisu, one of the most celebrated desserts in the world," regional governor Luco Zaia said Saturday on Facebook, per CBS. The governor led a push in 2013 to have the dish certified by the European Union, arguing that versions with strawberries and cream were not true tiramisu. Cempeol, whose father opened the restaurant in 1939, is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. (Read more dessert stories.)
(Newser)  Challenged by a United Nations official to donate enough money to help solve world hunger, Elon Musk responded with a challenge of his own. David Beasley, director of the World Food Program, had called on Musk, Jeff Bezos, and others among the world's wealthiest people to make a one-time donation, per CNN. The total he mentioned in an interview last week was $6 billion"$6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally going to die if we don't reach them," Beasley said. "It's not complicated." Musk answered Sunday in a tweet. "If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6 billion will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it."

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Musk added an insistence on open source coding, "so the public sees precisely how the money is spent." No problem, Beasley tweeted. He shared an article with Musk about the threat of mass starvation driven by a combination of climate change, disasters, conflict, structural poverty and inequality, per CBS. "6B will not solve world hunger, but it WILL prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation," Beasley wrote in another tweet.

Bloomberg's Billionaire Index listed Musk on top as of Monday, with a net worth of $311 billion, per CNN. The net worth of American billionaires has risen sharply during the pandemic, with one estimate showing it at more than $5 trillion now. As Musk and Beasley traded tweets, the official offered to get on a plane so the two could talk about the issue. "Please publish your current & proposed spending in detail so people can see exactly where money goes," Musk answered. The agency says people in 43 countries are "on the very edge of famine." Tesla, the company Musk founded, hit a valuation of $1 trillion last week. (Read more World hunger stories.)
(Newser)  Don't expect Sen. Joe Manchin to support President Biden's $1.85 trillion domestic legislation, at least not yet, the West Virginia Democrat made clear in a press conference Monday. He accused members of his party of employing "shell games, budget gimmicks" to make the bill palatable, Politico reports. Manchin's stance could mean the end of his party's hopes for a vote this week, if not the end of Biden's agenda altogether. But congressional Democrats mostly saw no reason to panic, partly because they didn't hear much new, despite the dramatics. "It didnt seem like anything he couldn't have sent in an email," said Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

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Manchin said he needs more time to study the plan and its impact on the budget, per the New York Times. And he wants a vote on the infrastructure measure. Negotiations, which have focused largely on answering Manchin's objections, are continuing. But Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who leads the Progressive Caucus, is starting to sound impatient. She plans to let Biden work on Manchin, per CNN. "We are going to do our work in the House and let the Senate do its work," she said. "But we're tired of, you know, just continuing to wait for one or two people." Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said the House version already satisfies Manchin's concerns.

Democrats need all 50 of their senators to vote yes for the social spending framework to pass; no Republicans are behind it. Biden "obviously has work to do" with Manchin, Sen. Mazie Hirono said after the press conference. Other Democrats expressed confidence that he wouldn't abandon the president. "Manchin is not going to be the guy who pulls the foundation out of the Biden first-year track record," said Sen. Tim Kaine. "I don't think he'll surprise me on this." Jayapal said: "The president said he thinks he can get 51 votes for this bill. We are going to trust him." (Read more Joe Manchin stories.)
(Newser)  The estranged wife of Republican Senate candidate Sean Parnell says he choked her, hit their young children, now aged 8 to 12, and was verbally abusive before their split in 2018. In sworn testimony at the start of a three-day custody trial in Butler, Pa., on Monday, Laurie Snell said Parnell, an Army veteran endorsed by former President Trump in the Pennsylvania race to replace Pat Toomey, once "tried to choke me out on a couch and I literally had to bite him" to get free. "He was strangling me," Snell said, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. She also said he "started hitting the kids" in 2018, the year they separated.

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Snell, who is seeking full custody and wasn't cross-examined, said Parnell slapped one child on the back, leaving fingerprint-shaped welts, and punched a closet door that swung into the face of a child, who was bruised and blamed by Parnell. "We were petrified," she testified, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She added Parnell warned her not to call police because "it would ruin his image." She described other occasions when Parnell pinned her down, calling her a "whore" and "piece of s," and forced her out of their vehicle on a highway, telling her to "go get an abortion." Parnell's campaign website, which shows him smiling alongside his three kids, notes he "will always vote to protect the unborn."

Parnellwho twice failed to prevent Snell's testimony through a gag order, per the Washington Postcountered that it was full of lies and inaccuracies. He said he "never raised a hand in anger towards my wife or any of our three children" and looked forward to presenting his case next week. But the accusations have already produced calls for Parnell to exit the Senate race. "He's a disaster of a candidate" who'd "lose to a golden retriever by double digits," former US Rep. Ryan Costello, a Chester County Republican, tweeted following the testimony. "He should write books & play hero on Fox & [get out] of the race." (Read more Pennsylvania stories.)
(Newser)  Ghislaine Maxwell shuffled into a pretrial hearing in Manhattan on Monday, and she had just one thing to say to the court: "I have not committed any crime." Prosecutors, however, had much more to say regarding Jeffrey Epstein's associate, including that she hasn't requested a plea deal for her sex trafficking case, and that they haven't offered her one. The 59-year-old confirmed this to US District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who presided over what the Daily Beast says was a "lengthy" hearing regarding witness testimony and what can be presented as evidence to the jury at her trial, such as an alleged "little black book" of famous names and addresses.

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CNBC notes that Maxwell also lost other big rulings at Monday's hearing, including her defense team's request that they be allowed to mention during her trial that charges were only brought against her because of the intense media coverage, especially after Epstein died by suicide in August 2019. In addition, Nathan ruled that defense attorneys can't offer evidence or testimony suggesting Maxwell had won civil litigation with victims in the past, as Nathan noted the litigation had been voluntarily dismissed after a settlement, before any official judgment could be rendered.

One especially big loss for Maxwell, however, regarded terminology allowed to be used at the trialspecifically, the word "victim," per the Guardian. Maxwell's team had requested that term not be allowed, but Nathan, in her ruling, said, "Precluding the word is both unnecessary and impractical." Nathan also determined the word "minor" was permissible, and that Maxwell's accusers can remain anonymous, with their full names available only to the jurors.

As for Maxwell herself, CNN notes she entered the hearing wearing shackles on her hands and feet, as well as a baggy blue jumpsuit and large reading glasses, her hair now down to her shoulders. At one point, she "smiled and blew a kiss over her mask to her sister, who returned the gesture." More hearings are scheduled throughout this month. Opening arguments in her trial are set to begin Nov. 29. (For more, check out this investigative piece on the women who allegedly helped Epstein.)
(Newser)  Tiger King 2 is coming on Nov. 17, and Carole Baskin isn't happy about her inclusion in it. The Big Cat Rescue founder is suing Netflix for using footage of her in the documentary miniseries sequel, since Baskin says she only signed release forms to appear in the first Tiger King, Variety reports. She wants footage of her removed. Hours after the breach of contract lawsuit was filed, a judge denied Baskin's request for a temporary restraining order, meaning the docuseries will likely premiere as planned, with any Baskin footage still included, per Deadline.

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Baskin claimed last year that Netflix tricked her into appearing in the first Tiger King, and she repeats those allegations in the lawsuit. The streaming service, per the lawsuit, told her Tiger King would be "an expose of the big cat breeding and cub petting trade akin to the documentary feature film entitled Blackfish," rather than focusing on what the suit calls "Joe Exotic's roadside zoo."

The lawsuit takes aim at Netflix and the docuseries for painting Baskin's rescue as the same type of outfit Joe Exotic ran, as well as for implying Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her first husband in 1997. When the Tiger King sequel was announced in September, Baskin told Variety that when the directors tried to "clear the air" with her, she told them to "lose my number because that was not at all what we had agreed we were working on." She added, "I wouldnt call Eric Goode or Rebecca Chaiklin true documentarians. I mean that was just a reality show dumpster fire." (Read more Carole Baskin stories.)
(Newser)  There's a rumor that the son of Chinese Marxist leader Mao Zedong was killed in a US airstrike during the Korean War because he lit a stove to make fried rice. Referring to that rumor, a man wrote online last month that "that fried rice was the best thing to come out of the whole Korean War." And for that, he was arrested. He's not the only one. In March, shortly before its 100th anniversary in July, China's Communist Party, long known for quelling dissent, amended a law making it a criminal offense to discuss what "were once subjects of historical debate and research, including Mao's rule itself up to a point," reports the New York Times.

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The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) gives 10 examples of questions that, if voiced, could warrant up to three years in prison on a charge of slandering the country's martyrs and heroes. These include: "During World War II, did the Communist Party avoid confronting the Japanese army directly?" and "Was the Korean War not fought in self-defense?," in addition to questions about Mao's son giving away his position, per China Digital Times. The lawaccompanied by hotlines for citizens to report violations, the Guardian reported in Aprilhas already been used "at least 15 times to punish slights to party history," per the NY Times.

The CAC oversaw the banning of comics site Baozou (one of its comics inspired the Netflix film Next Gen) from social media site Weibo in 2018 over a video that appeared to mock Communist Party war hero Dong Cunrui, per the Verge. But this new law allows for individual persecution. For instance, a 27-year-old woman was sentenced last month to seven months behind bars for suggesting that misogynistic men view themselves as Dong Cunrui, per the NY Times. Others have reportedly been arrested for mocking a scientist who developed high-yield rice strains, in what Chinese political analyst Wu Qiang sees as "a sign of the establishment of an absolute political totalitarianism." (The party is also cracking down on celebrity culture.)
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(Newser)  For $100 an hour, Georgia woman Taylor Davis could have visited an upscale spa. Instead, that was how much she was charged for sitting in an emergency room, waiting to be seen. Davis tells Fox 5 that she went to the ER at Emory Decatur Hospital in July with a head injury but she gave up and left after spending seven hours in the waiting room. Weeks later, she received a bill for $688, which the hospital told her was an emergency room visit fee, also known as a facilities fee. "I didn't get my vitals taken, nobody called my name. I wasn't seen at all," Davis says.

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Davis says she was told it was the hospital's policy to charge the fee whether a person is seen or not. "When you type in your social, that's it," she tells Fox 5. "You're going to get charged regardless." An email she received from the hospital states: "You get charged before you are seen. Not for being seen. This is hospital protocol. Sorry about that." Davis says she is now very reluctant to go to a hospital for any reason. In a statement, Emory Healthcare said it is "working with the individual to address this matter, and correct inaccuracies that may have been assessed or communicated," per MarketWatch. (Read more hospital stories.)
(Newser)  A Tulsa mother disappeared while searching for her missing son and foul play has not been ruled out in both disappearances, police say. Glenda "Cookie" Parton, 80, was last seen while driving on Oct. 25. A day earlier, her son Dwayne Selby, 56, and his friend Jack Grimes, 76, were reported missing after last being heard from on Oct. 22. They had been planning to attend a horse show in Fort Worth, Texas, but relatives say they never arrived. Parton's car was found abandoned by the side of a US 75 in north Tulsa on Oct. 26and two days later, the car Selby and Grimes were using was found abandoned deep in a park in the same area, the Tulsa World reports.

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"There were no signs of her at the car," Casey Roebuck with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office told Newson6 of Parton last week. "There are no obvious signs of foul play, but now she can't be found either." On Tuesday, the sheriff's office announced that human remains found by hunters in north Tulsa Sunday were those of Grimes, reports KJRH. The sheriff's office says the remains were largely unrecognizable and the case is now being investigated as a homicide.

"We currently are searching the area where Jack's remains were found for additional victims, for we cannot rule out the possibility that Glenda and Dwayne have also met with foul play," Sheriff Vic Regalado said Tuesday, per the World. The sheriff said the three are all involved in the horse show business and urged anybody with information on them to reach out to police and think about "whether or not somebody in their lives that may have been connected to these individuals might be acting strangely, may have immediately left town during this time." (Read more Oklahoma stories.)
(Newser)  North Port, Florida Police Chief Todd Garrison believes Brian Laundrie was probably dead before his officers started looking for him. Garrison, speaking on a panel with other law enforcement leaders Friday, acknowledged that his officers made a major error while watching the Laundrie home but defended the overall handling of the case, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. The chief explained that his agency played a support role in the first few days after Gabby Petito, Laundrie's fiancee, was reported missing to authorities in New York. "Now, we know that, by the time we became the lead agency, Brian had already left the house and presumably had already been deceased out in the Carlton Reserve," Garrison said.

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Officers, had, however, mistaken Laundrie's mother for Laundrie. Garrison said that when Laundrie's parents reported him missing, "there was nobody more surprised than me." The chief said that when his officers went to the home with the FBI, he was hoping "they would find Brian hiding in a back bedroom." "Yes, we made a mistake," Garrison said, per People. "It was human error, but I still stand behind my team." The chief said the "phenomenal" work from his team and the FBI led to Petito's remains being found, which was the main focus of the investigation in its early days.

The body of Laundrie, a person of interest in Petito's death, was found in a nature preserve near his parents' home on Oct. 20. Autopsy results were inconclusive. Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, who was also on the panel Friday, praised Garrison and his department's handling of the case, noting that the chief was right when he said the search for Laundrie should focus on the nature reserve. "That guy went out there and by all accounts probably committed suicide and he was right out there where we thought he was," Hoffman said. "There was four feet of water out there at the time." (A Laundrie family attorney says the 23-year-old was "extremely upset" when he left his parents' home.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Antiquities Coalition, in collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and the US Department of State and US Embassy of to Bahrain, held a webinar titled Strengthening Bilateral Ties in the Fight Against the Illicit Trade in Cultural Property.

The panel discussion was introduced by the Executive Director for the Antiquities Coalition D Tess Davis and featured BACA President Shaikha Mai Mohammed Al Khalifa, Acting Assistant Secretary of the US Department of States Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs Matthew Lussenhop, Smithsonian Institution Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large Dr Richard Kurin, Advisor to the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage in Manama Dr Mounir Bouchenaki and Charge dAffaires at the US Embassy to Bahrain Maggie Nardi.

Moderated by Dr Kurin, the discussion underlined the central role of cultural leadership in enhancing global security, domestic economies and foreign diplomacy and elaborated on the dangers of illicit trafficking in cultural properties and associated terrorist activities.

The key speakers highlighted the growing challenges, especially during the pandemic, and shared their countries perspectives and efforts in the field.

Shaikha Mai expressed her gratitude to the Department of State and the Antiquities Coalition for organising this seminal initiative at this time when illicit traffic is booming in the region.

She stated that although Bahrain is not active in the illicit trafficking of cultural property, it is committed to heritage preservation and can play a significant role in controlling frontiers and combating illegal traffic with the support of the US.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

More illegal workers have been arrested and are now facing deportation proceedings as a result of the governments intensified campaign to maintain the labour markets stability.

This came as the Enforcement Sector of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) yesterday organised an inspection campaign on shops and several expatriate employees gathering places in the Southern Governorate.

It was conducted in cooperation with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) at the Ministry of Interior and the Southern Governorate Police Directorate.

The individuals arrested were found to have committed several violations related to the provisions of the LMRA Law and the Residence Law in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Fifty-eight Filipinos in the Kingdom of Bahrain were repatriated by the Philippine Embassy via Gulf Airs direct commercial flight on 28 October.

They arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila the following day.

The repatriates included detainees, overstaying overseas workers, wards at the Embassy Shelter and two with a medical conditions.

Due to the continuing implementation of the limitation of arriving passengers in the Philippines, many distressed Filipinos in Bahrain requested the embassys assistance for booking tickets at a special rate given by Gulf Air.

The embassy also coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and concerned agencies for the exemption of the repatriates from arrival limitations as well as for the quarantine facilities for them.

Since August 2021, the embassy has facilitated the repatriation of 287 stranded Filipinos in Bahrain via Gulf Airs direct flight to Manila.

Out of the 287, the embassy shouldered the airfare of 175 distressed Filipinos using the DFAs Assistance to Nationals Fund.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A visiting European Parliament delegation has praised Bahrains remarkable progress across vari[1]ous development fields, particularly in promoting human rights.

Members and senior staff of the European Parliaments Delegation for Relations with the Arabian Peninsula (DARP) lauded the Kingdoms strides in the field of womens advancement, and the states keenness to provide services that are directly related to the rights of individuals.

This came as members of the Council of Representatives held talks yesterday with the European delegation, which is currently on a visit to the kingdom.

The European Parliament representatives also praised the interest of Bahrains legislation and procedures in rights, hailing the prominent role played by the kingdom to support the efforts of the international community to safeguard human rights.

They underlined their keenness to enhance parliamentary cooperation and communication to achieve their goals for the best interests of countries and their peoples.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh yesterday stressed the importance of consolidating bilateral parliamentary cooperation with the European Parliament.

Al Saleh, who received the European Parliaments delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula (DARP) headed by Dr Sven Simon, said it will raise the performance level in support of the democratic process and common interests on an international scale.

DARP members expressed their keenness to develop bilateral relations and exchange expertise to develop the legislative system and support peace, security and stability in the world.

The meeting reviewed the achievements witnessed by Bahrain under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the efforts made by the legislative and executive branches to achieve desired development.

It also discussed the comprehensive economic development and initiatives launched by the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to reach recovery stage after the pandemic, as well as achieve economic growth, financial balance, and improve the citizens lives.

The Shura head affirmed that the Kingdom is proceeding steadily in its democratic, human rights and development path, through national initiatives and plans based on firm principles of tolerance, national unity and peaceful coexistence among all religions, sects and cultures.
By Dr Yasser Gomaa

The concept of Internationalization has been applied effectively in the field of education since the beginning of the eighties, as it has been linked with other concepts such as global education and multicultural education.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, another set of concepts related to the concept of internationalization, including education across countries, education without borders, and transcontinental education, have emerged.

Noteworthy, the process of internationalizing higher education comprises a set of activities and services that integrate a multi-cultural international dimension in teaching and research in the higher education institutions, such as promoting cooperation in the domain of scientific research, sharing research facilities, co-authoring research publications, the inclusion of international perspectives in the curricula, encouraging teaching staff members and students to acquire a second and a third language, the mutual recognition of the academic credit hours and the equivalence of certificates and scientific degrees at the international level among higher education institutions, and the purchase of local universities by foreign investors.

Many studies have concluded that there is a close relation between internationalization and the achievement of scientific leadership for higher education institutions; as they confirm that the use of internationalizing strategies effectively in the higher education institutions provides them with a global competitive ability, and turns them into prestigious scientific institutions of a global nature. Based on the foregoing, it is clear that internationalization is a successful mechanism in transforming higher education institutions from being a mere national institution to becoming a global institution capable of giving an international dimension to all aspects of the system that work in an integrated manner, which contributes to enhancing the quality of the teaching and learning process and the development of the required competencies.

Hence, I call upon the higher education institutions in Bahrain that should not confine themselves to the local space. They should disseminate the culture of internationalization, and develop educational programs and activities aiming at increasing the awareness of their students and preparing them to accept cultural differences and trends that urge international solidarity and understanding of other cultures and equip them with skills and competencies that qualify them to cope with the international context. Besides, they should establish centres for internationalizing and marketing their programs regionally and internationally.

Moreover, they should motivate their students to learn foreign languages, which is one of the essential steps towards the internationalization frame. Language, in this case, is not only a means of communication but rather a means of grasping the cultures of other peoples. Of importance, also, is that they should be fully aware that internationalization is one of the most influential factors in the international rankings of higher education institutions.

On top of that, I call on the higher education institutions in Bahrain to set up viable plans which aim at enhancing cooperation between them, developing their institutional capabilities, expanding the adoption and employment of multiple strategies of internationalization, upgrading their efficiency and competitive ability at the international level to be compatible with the requirements of internationalization, adapting the contemporary world trends in various academic and research spheres, and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization.

This is to step up the attractiveness of higher education in Bahrain to foreign students and to keep pace with the new global climate of higher education.

This is, also, to realize the lofty Royal vision of His Majesty, the Redeemed king of the country, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and in accordance with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and the Honorable Prime Minister. May Allah bless and preserve them.


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ATLANTA (AP)  Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore emerged Tuesday as the clear leader in the mayor's race in Georgia's largest city, advancing to a Nov. 30 runoff with about 40% of the vote in the nonpartisan race.

Moore's opponent remained unclear early Wednesday, as City Council member Andre Dickens sought to deny former Mayor Kasim Reed the second runoff spot.

I am confident that people have heard our message for change and agree with us that Atlanta deserves more, Moore told supporters Tuesday night.

Reed's faltering comeback bid had turned into a fight for his political life by the time he told supporters after midnight Wednesday that he wasn't giving up, even as more than three-quarters of city voters chose someone else.

We have been in close elections before, Reed said. We have won close elections before. Just remember it's not easy."

Dickens said he moved ahead among the 14 candidates as polls showed 40 percent of voters undecided until the final weeks of the race.

I made the case about improving Atlanta in a way thats inclusive for everyone, solving our crime problem, and leading us into the future, and people actually listened, and they got involved, Dickens said in a WSB-TV interview early Wednesday. There was a lot of voter fatigue, we voted a lot during COVID, and folks started paying attention in October, and Im glad they did and it got me to where I am today.

Attorney Sharon Gay and council member Antonio Brown were trailing in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced in May that she wouldnt seek a second term, creating a wide-open race to succeed her.

Confronting rising crime was a major focus, but candidates also addressed concerns about affordable housing, bolstering struggling city services and keeping the wealthy Buckhead neighborhood from seceding.

Meanwhile, Republicans were watching for any mistakes in Atlanta that could justify a state takeover of elections in heavily Democratic Fulton County, under a sweeping new state law approved amid unproven claims of fraud by former President Donald Trump and his allies.

Like many cities across the country, Atlanta has experienced a spike in killings. Several high-profile homicides have captured attention.

We all want to live in an Atlanta, I think we all do, where it's safe to jog down the street, where it's safe to pump your own gas, where it's safe to even sleep in your own bed without bullets flying through the windows, Moore told supporters.

Moore was first elected to council in 1997 and was elected citywide as council president in 2017. She touted her legislative record, and promised greater accountability and transparency. Moore entered the race before Bottoms bowed out, and is a longtime critic of Reed, who she said led the most corrupt administration in Atlanta history.

Reed, who served two four-year terms beginning in 2010, left office amid a federal investigation into corruption at City Hall. A half-dozen members of his administration have been indicted. Some pleaded guilty and others await trial.

Reed was never charged, and his lawyers said federal prosecutors told them in August that the inquiry into Reed had been closed. Federal officials have not commented on that claim.

Others argue that even if Reed wasnt indicted, the fact that so much malfeasance occurred during his tenure should disqualify him. In an Oct. 12 debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, Moore said Reed led the most corrupt administration in Atlanta history.

Moore was also focused on city services, saying the city needs to reinvest in its people and facilities to make sure taxpayers get what they pay for, amid complaints about faltering services such as yard debris pickup.

Reed argued hes uniquely qualified to confront crime, pledging to increase the number of officers as he did earlier when he was mayor and crime rates were lower.

I ran for mayor because I love Atlanta and it was breaking my heart to see what was happening to a city that had given me everything as a young man, Reed told supporters Wednesday.

Dickens was endorsed by former Mayor Shirley Franklin and promised to increase the number of officers, arrest gang leaders and implement community policing. He also aimed to increase affordable housing, improve infrastructure and ensure current residents qualify for high-paying jobs.

Voting in Buckhead, Timothy Haidara, a 25-year-old engineer, said he cast his ballot for Reed.

I have a son who is being raised in the city, and I think Kasim will bring a better Atlanta, he said, adding that he thinks the former mayor is the best person to get the economy going after COVID and to get more people working.

Amber Williams, a 32-year-old self-employed artist, also voted in Buckhead and said she voted for Moore.

Shes very relatable and has that loving aspect I think the city needs," she said. She looks out for the community and the children the most, and thats very important to me.

___

Associated Press writer Jeff Martin contributed reporting.



Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Meta Platforms, the company that runs Facebook, said Monday it has canceled 937 accounts linked to the government of Nicaragua and the Sandinista party of President Daniel Ortega.

Meta said it also removed 140 deceptive pages, 24 groups and 363 Instagram accounts for violating the companys policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity.

Meta said it was a classic example of a troll farm," which it defined as attempts to corrupt or manipulate public discourse by using fake accounts to ... mislead people about whos behind them.

The firm said the network of accounts was launched after mass protests against the government in 2018. The accounts sought both to denigrate members of the opposition, and praise the government. Some of the accounts purported to be students from a Nicaraguan university that was an epicenter of the protests.

Nicaragua is set to hold elections on Nov. 7 in which Ortega is seeking a fourth consecutive term. But those elections have been rendered almost moot by the government's arrests of critics and seven potential challengers.

Starting in May, Ortega began arresting almost any public figure who publicly disagreed with him, including people who fought alongside him in the countrys 1979 revolution. Families of 155 political prisoners said in a statement that their loved ones have been subjected to mistreatment and torture in prison.

The countrys main opposition coalitions have said that Ortegas moves have ended any vestige of real electoral competition."

About 140,000 Nicaraguans have fled their homeland since the government cracked down on widespread protests starting in 2018.

Meta said the troll farm removed in October was operated from the offices of the postal service, noting additional smaller clusters of fake accounts were run from other government offices, including the Supreme Court and the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute.

This campaign was cross-platform as well as cross-government, the company said. It ran a complex network of media brands across Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Blogspot and Telegram, as well as websites tied to these news entities. They posted positive content about the government and negative commentary about the opposition, using hundreds of fake accounts to promote these posts.

Ortega claims the protests that erupted in April 2018 were an attempted coup with foreign backing. And he has feuded with Roman Catholic bishops who participated as mediators then in the short-lived first round of dialogue between the government and opposition, after which the government harshly put down the protests.

At least 325 people died during clashes that year between civilians and government forces in Nicaragua, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
"We're proud to partner with Esri Canada to deliver this enhanced and comprehensive solution for municipal operations management to governments across Canada," said Jeremy Wubs, Senior Vice President, Marketing for Bell Business Markets. "Combined with Bell's leading 5G network and our proven IoT capabilities, this agreement with Esri Canada offers cities across the country a holistic platform to help them manage their critical infrastructure and services in real time."

The Bell Integrated Smart City Ecosystem enables Canadian communities to accelerate their digital transformations, enhancing decision-making and streamlining collaboration across municipal or regional departments. The platform collects, integrates and displays data in one seamless end-to-end experience, enabling multiple stakeholders to make decisions from a shared view that provides broader and clearer context for all involved. Cities can customize the solution, building on top of their existing location intelligence investments, or access multiple pre-integrated IoT solutions with customized reporting and automation of processes.

Bell has Canada's largest portfolio of IoT solutions specifically designed to empower Smart City transformations, enabling the fast and secure collection of data from multiple sources for a diverse array of applications, including water leak detection, asset management, smart waste management and energy management.

Canadian municipal and regional governments have increasingly been adopting digital solutions to improve their resilience and responsiveness to a variety of scenarios and issues, from public health to severe weather events to infrastructure interruptions. According to IDC, 86% of Canadian public sector respondents have adopted one or more IoT solutionsi. Smart City initiatives enable government staff and agencies to make better decisions faster through access to connected digital sensor data and ultimately deliver services more efficiently and more responsively.

"A city is smartest when it is using accurate and up-to-date geographic data to make decisions that affect people's lives," said Alex Miller, President of Esri Canada. "The more timely that information is, the easier it is to make the right decisions. This partnership offers cities the tools they need to do that simply and easily."

Esri's ArcGIS technology is the market leader and most widely used GIS and location intelligence system for communities across Canada. ArcGIS Velocity is Esri's cloud-native capability for real-time and big data analytics. Cities can use ArcGIS Velocity to monitor and analyze sensors, observations, and IoT data at scale. With ArcGIS Velocity, cities can ingest live event data from multiple sensors, protocols, and formats. In addition to real-time, analytics can also be performed on historical data. Administrators can automatically send alerts and push data in response to triggers, populate dashboards, or publish maps and data services across the organization. Ultimately, these capabilities help cities shorten the time from observation to decision-making.

Learn more about the Bell and Esri Integrated Smart City Ecosystem here. The Integrated Smart City Ecosystem will also be presented during Esri Canada's Building a Safer, Connected Community virtual event on November 2.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet, media and business communication services throughout the country. Founded in Montreal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities with a commitment to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. This includes the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About Esri Canada

Founded in 1984, Esri Canada provides geographic information system (GIS) solutions that empower people in business, government and education to make informed and timely decisions by leveraging the power of mapping and spatial analytics. These solutions enable organizations to better manage their resources, plan their future and collaborate within and beyond their organization. Esri Canada's products and services help advance successful digital transformation. The company serves 12,000 organizations from 16 offices across Canada and is based in Toronto. In 2019, Esri Canada achieved Platinum Club status with the Canada's Best Managed Companies program by retaining its Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years or more. More information can be found at esri.ca. Follow Esri Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media inquiries

Bell

Caroline Audet

[email protected]bell.ca

@Bell_News

Esri Canada

Mary Ambrose

[email protected]

Investor inquiries

Bell

Richard Bengian

514 786-8219

[email protected]

______________________ i IDC report IoT Adoption in Canada, 2021 by Nigel Wallis IDC#CA47059321

SOURCE Bell Canada

Related Links

https://www.bell.ca/


GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - Climate change is a global crisis that requires global action to help those most in need. Today at the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, attended the African Adaptation Acceleration Summit where he announced that Canada will contribute $37.5 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), up to $10 million to the Adaptation Fund that will support vulnerable countries against the devastating impacts of climate change, and up to $10 million for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network.

With the additional support to the LDCF, this Fund will continue to address the adaptation needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries through critical, on-the-ground projects related to water, agriculture and food security, disaster risk management and prevention, and fragile ecosystems. The Adaptation Fund supports projects and programs that help vulnerable communities in developing countries to adapt to climate change. Increased funding to the NAP Global Network will continue to build on results achieved to date and advance gender responsive capacity building. Funding for these important initiatives comes from Canada's $5.3 billion international climate finance commitment over the next five years. Minister Guilbeault also announced that Canada will increase its provision of funding towards climate adaptation to a minimum of 40 percent.

Adaptation finance is critical to the success of COP26, particularly for vulnerable countries in Africa still struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic while seeking to build back in a more climate-resilient manner. So far, the speed and scale of climate finance in Africa have been insufficient to meet the urgent needs of climate change impacts, such as extreme heat and drought.

Canada's previous international climate finance commitment of $2.65 billion has been delivered over the past five years and projects are expected to result in benefits including reducing or preventing 222 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, helping 5.9 million people adapt to the effects of climate change in vulnerable communities, as well as contributing to the mobilization of additional climate finance investments from the private sector.

Quotes

"The devastating impacts of climate change are being felt not only in Canada, but all around the world. Developing countries are uniquely vulnerable to extreme weather events linked to climate change. Severe droughts in the Horn of Africa are causing immense suffering and shine a harsh light on the urgent need for collective action on climate adaptation. Climate change is a global challenge that requires bold solutions, and Canada will continue to be there to increase the scope, scale and speed of climate action around the world."

 The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"Canada recognizes the particular challenges faced by developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries, in adapting to the increasing threats of climate change. That is why we have committed to increasing our support to critical and concrete programs delivered by our partners on the ground, including in Africa. This will directly help communities most at risk adapt to climate change and build resilience the impacts of climate change."

 The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development

Quick facts

Canada is among several countries that have already answered the international call to increase their Climate Finance contributions with the announcement in June 2021 that Canada is doubling to $5.3 billion over five years.

is among several countries that have already answered the international call to increase their Climate Finance contributions with the announcement in that is doubling to over five years. Natural disasters worsened by climate change are estimated to cost approximately US$18 billion per year in low- and middle-income countries.

per year in low- and middle-income countries. In 2009, developed countries committed to a goal of mobilizing jointly US$100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries fight climate change and adapt to its impacts. This commitment has been an important part of international climate discussions since it was introduced. This collective goal was reconfirmed under the Paris Agreement as Parties committed to continue to deliver on this goal through 2025.

a year by 2020 to help developing countries fight climate change and adapt to its impacts. This commitment has been an important part of international climate discussions since it was introduced. This collective goal was reconfirmed under the Paris Agreement as Parties committed to continue to deliver on this goal through 2025. Canada worked with Germany to develop a plan to deliver on the US$100 billion Climate Finance goal.

worked with to develop a plan to deliver on the Climate Finance goal. The United Kingdom holds the Presidency of COP26 , this year's international climate meeting and negotiations. Climate Finance and adaptation are two key themes for COP26 .

Related products

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

For further information: Joanna Sivasankaran, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-790-1907, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.ec.gc.ca


OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is prioritizing the health and safety of all people in Canada by continuing to take a risk-based and measured approach to re-opening the border. Canada's phased approach to easing border measures is informed by the available data and scientific evidence, including the vaccination rate of Canadians, and the improving epidemiological situation.

The strict vaccine travel requirements that will be fully phased in by November 30, and the pan-Canadian proof of vaccination credential now available for travel, are creating opportunities for safe travel for vaccinated Canadians.

As a next step in increasing travel opportunities, Transport Canada is easing the restriction on international flight arrivals. The department is expanding the scope of the existing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that currently directs international passenger flights into 10 Canadian airports.

Effective on November 30, 2021, international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at the following additional Canadian airports:

St. John's International

John C. Munro Hamilton International

Region of Waterloo International

Regina International

Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International

Kelowna International

Abbotsford International

Victoria International

These airports, in cooperation with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada, are working to implement the measures necessary to start safely welcoming international passengers as of November 30.

Consideration will be given to adding additional airports as conditions dictate, based on demand, operational capacity, the epidemiological situation in Canada, and recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The Government of Canada continues to work closely with airports and aviation operators to ensure appropriate procedures are put in place to protect travellers and workers.

Border and public health measures remain subject to change as the epidemiological situation evolves.

Quote

"Increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely re-open these additional Canadian airports to international passenger flights. This measure will help ensure that travellers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels this winter, while continuing to support the Government of Canada's measured approach to re-opening our border."

The Honourable Omar Alghabra

Minister of Transport

Quick Facts

The 10 Canadian airports currently accepting international flights are: Halifax Stanfield International, Quebec City Jean Lesage International, Montreal-Trudeau International, Ottawa /MacdonaldCartier International, Toronto Pearson International, Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International, Edmonton International, Calgary International, and Vancouver International.

Associated Links

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

SOURCE Transport Canada

For further information: Contacts: Allison St-Jean, Senior Communications Advisor & Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected]; Media Relations: Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.tc.gc.ca/


"I'm honoured to be named amongst this illustrious group of powerful women who are all committed to inspiring change. In a country that hosts 9% of the world's forests, I feel fortunate to work within Canada's forest sector, building a career dedicated to the sustainable management of our natural resources," says Collins. "Inclusion begets innovation and I'm committed to making the forest sector more inclusive. Given women make up approximately 17% of the workforce, it's imperative that we break down barriers, uplift under-represented voices, and encourage women to pursue rewarding careers in forestry."

Collins is a forest professional in British Columbia, currently serving as the Managing Director of the Juniper Collective  a forward-looking inclusion and diversity consultancy that partners with organizations in the forest sector to develop practical solutions for respectful and inclusive workplaces. Dana has been widely recognized as a changemaker in the sector, pursuing every undertaking through a critical, intersectional lens. In her previous role as the Executive Director of The Canadian Institute of Forestry, she spearheaded a national initiative to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in Canada's forest sector. Dana was previously named as a recipient of The Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forest Management.

"When we actively enable for diversity and inclusion, and foster a sense of belonging, workplaces, industries, and whole sectors can only strengthen," added Collins.

Past award winners include some of Canada's most iconic women: The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine, the first African-Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons; Melissa Grelo, co-host of CTV's The Social; Dr. Shawna Pandya, scientist-astronaut candidate; Michele Romanow, tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist; and Susan Aglukark, award-winning musician.

"When I look at this year's winners, I see a group of radically authentic women who remind us all of what it means to stand up with courage, for ourselves and those around them," said Sherri Stevens, Owner and CEO of WXN. "By recognizing and celebrating the strength, fearlessness, resilience and heart these women demonstrate, we can inspire more of the same in generations to come."

For more information on WXN and the Top 100 Awards please see https://wxnetwork.com/page/top100awards.

About The Juniper Collective

The Juniper Collective is an inclusion and diversity consultancy that partners with organizations to develop practical solutions for respectful and inclusive workplaces. By using data specific to an organization's unique needs, the Juniper Collective creates individualized strategies for inclusion and diversity with a measurable impact.

About WXN

Women's Executive Network (WXN), a member-based organization, is North America's #1 and only organization that meaningfully propels and celebrates the advancement of women at all levels, in all sectors, and of all ages. WXN delivers this advancement through training, events, mentoring, networking, and award and recognition programs for members and partners. WXN operates in Canada and the U.S.

SOURCE The Juniper Collective

For further information: Media contact: [email protected]
77 per cent of the eligible population in India has been vaccinated against COVID with the first dose while 32 per cent of people have received both doses.

Centres mega COVID-19 vaccination campaign Har Ghar Dastak will be launched on November 2 on the occasion of Dhanwantari Diwas, informed the official sources. The month-long door-to-door vaccination campaign is aimed towards full vaccination in poor-performing districts. After a review COVID-19 meeting with the Health Ministers of states and UTs on Wednesday, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the media about the Har Ghar Dastak campaign to ramp up vaccination.

We are going to launch a mega vaccination campaign Har Ghar Dastak. We have decided that for the next one month, healthcare workers will go door-to-door to vaccinate people eligible for the second dose and also those who have not taken the first dose, said Mandaviya.

According to the Union Minister, 77 per cent of the eligible population in India has been vaccinated against COVID with the first dose while 32 per cent of people have received both doses. More than 10 crores people have not taken the second dose of vaccine. People who are eligible for the second dose should take the vaccine, he added.

Highlighting the need to accelerate the pace and coverage of vaccination, he stated that there are more than 10.34 crore people in the country who have not taken the second dose after the prescribed interval. As many countries report a high number of Covid-19 cases, the ramping of vaccination drive in India to reduce severity becomes crucial.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives on Monday advanced new lines for legislative and congressional districts with the expectation that the maps will almost certainly face a court challenge.

Lawmakers voted 65-38 to approve the congressional district lines and 68-35 to approve House of Representatives district lines. Ten or fewer Republicans joined with Democrats to oppose the new boundary lines. Both plans now moves to the Alabama Senate.

Republican Rep. Chris Pringle, the co-chairman of the redistricting committee, said the approved maps comply with the Voting Rights Act and recent court rulings. Reapportionment is always taken to court. Everything we did will be scrutinized. I think we did a good job of applying the law and the guidelines equitably, Pringle said.

Democrats, who voted against the maps, argued the process was rushed and that the maps, which are expected to maintain GOP dominance in the Alabama Legislature and congressional delegation unnecessarily split counties and do not reflect the state's growing diversity.

We look forward to fighting this out in court and figuring out how we can get to a process that is going to work for the people of Alabama, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels said.

Lawmakers must draw new districts every 10 years after new census numbers are released, adjusting lines to keep the population of each district as equal as possible.

Some Democrats have argued that Alabama, whose population is about 26% Black, should have a second congressional district with a significant African American or minority population.

The seven-member delegation has for decades included a single African American, elected from the only district with a majority Black population. The district is now represented by Rep. Terri Sewell, the only Democrat in the states congressional delegation.

The Republican-supported plan keeps Sewells District 7 with a population that is about 55% Black, while the other six districts are overwhelmingly white.

One rejected proposal would have created a second district with a Black population of about 36%.

"It would have given us an influence district or a purple district. It would have been really nice to have a not just Democrat-Republican district so gerrymandered, but have something that was a competitive district," said Democratic Rep. Merika Coleman of Pleasant Grove.

Several lawmakers in both parties argued that the process had been rushed.

It's discouraging to me because we're hurrying. We really don't have the adequate, accurate information to make the kind of momentous decisions that we're being asked to make, said Republican Rep. Mike Holmes of Wetumpka.

Democratic Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa noted lawmakers passed a substitute legislative plan that lawmakers only saw today and that voters didn't see at all.

Pringle said lawmakers are under a time crunch to get the maps ready in time for next years elections after receiving their census data late.

The GOP-controlled Legislature in 2017 had to redraw legislative maps under court order to fix racial gerrymandering in 12 districts. The ruling came after Black lawmakers filed a lawsuit challenging the maps as stacking and packing Black voters into designated districts to make neighboring districts whiter and more likely to elect conservative Republicans.

Pringle said in drawing the lines this year that they did so without looking at race, based on the existing map and population changes. He said they later calculated the racial composition of districts.

The Alabama Senate advanced new lines for state Senate and state school board districts.

State senators voted 25-7 for new state Senate lines and 24-4 for new Board of Education lines. Those bills now move to the Alabama House of Representatives.
Getty Images for Avelo Airlines / An Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-700 Next Gen airplane like the ones Avelo will use at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.

NEW HAVEN  After just one month without any scheduled air service at all following the departure of American Eagle, Tweed New Haven Regional Airport will begin a new era Wednesday with the first flights to and from Orlando by start-up Avelo Airlines  and the start of Florida service that soon will extend to a total of six cities.

The other cities Avelo has announced it will serve from New Haven, its first East Coast base, include Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Palm Beach and Sarasota-Bradenton. Flights to Fort Lauderdale begin Friday. Flights to Tampa begin Monday. Flights to Fort Myers begin Nov. 11.

Service to Palm Beach begins Dec. 16 and flights to Sarasota-Bradenton begin Jan. 13. Tickets for all routes are on sale at www.aveloair.com.

And keep watching  because more destinations are on the way, Avelo President and CEO Andrew Levy said Tuesday after arriving at Tweed, where two Avelo aircraft are on the ground.

We already know at least (destination) Number 7 for sure, but we havent announced it because that would require aircraft Number 4 and Avelo isnt sure yet when that plane will arrive, Levy said. The third aircraft to serve Tweed is expected in about three weeks, he said.

The fourth airplane will allow us to add additional service to the first six markets, plus add a seventh, Levy said.

I couldnt be more optimistic about our prospects here, Levy said. Ticket sales are on forecast or perhaps even better than forecast, he said. I has really accelerated, especially over the last four weeks. Obviously, its a good time of year to be selling flights to Florida.

Construction to get Tweeds existing facilities on the New Haven side of the airport ready for Avelo is still underway, but I think its going to be great, Levy said.

I think tomorrow is going to be less than perfect because there still be be construction going on in the background, but it will be terrific for our customers, he said. But theres a lot of work still to be done, so there will be some construction going on in the background.

Within three or four weeks, it will be done, Levy said.

Its a really nice facility here and it is really exciting to see it all come together, he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Mayor Justin Elicker, East Haven Mayor Joe Carfora and Avports CEO Jorge Roberts will join Levy and Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon, at a 9:30 a.m. press conference in advance of the first flights scheduled 11 a.m. takeoff. Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce President Garrett Sheehan and University of New Haven President Steven Kaplan also will be among the speakers.

Weve come a long way since first announcing plans to serve Tweed on May 6, said Jim Olson, Avelos head of communications. As he spoke, he was on the tarmac at Tweed, where Avelo already had one Boeing 737 on the ground and another expected to arrive Tuesday.

The response to Avelos service announcements has been fantastic, Olson said. While he wouldnt release detailed booking information, he said bookings for New Haven service have been tracking ahead of our California launch, which has been doing really well.

The best evidence of that is that even before Avelo began flying from New Haven, it added Palm Beach and Sarasota to the initial four routes, Olson said. The company wouldnt have added two additional markets in the last couple of weeks if the initial four destinations werent doing well, he said.

We couldnt be more excited about this inaugural Avelo flight out of HVN, and all that it means for our airport, our community, and the flyers we serve, said Sean Scanlon, executive director of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority. For years weve talked about expanding air service to and from southern Connecticut, and Avelos decision to add nonstop service from HVN to six destinations is finally giving customers an affordable and convenient option theyve been looking for.

Avelo, headquarted in Houston, is a new, low-cost airline created from what originally was Casino Express Airlines and later Xtra Airways.

It began flying as Avelo on April 28, 2021, making it Americas first new scheduled airline in nearly 15 years, and currently serves 11 western cities from its initial base at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles. In recent months, it also has announced flights to four destinations from Las Vegas, including Santa Rosa, Calif., Fort Collins, Colo., Eureka, Calif., and Redding, Calif.

In the last few days weve had some of our best sales ever and New Haven is a big part of that, Olson said.

Olson said the first flight to Orlando, scheduled to depart at 11 a.m. Wednesday, is selling very fast and may sell out before departure. While some of the travelers are officials and members of the media, the majority of the people on that flight are paying customers, he said.

The vast majority of the people on the flight are paying between $59 and $79 one-way for their tickets, Olson said.

To support its new service, Avelo has hired a little more than 85 people so far in New Haven, Olson said. The goal is employ more than 100 people at Tweed by early next year, he said.

Asked about future destinations and the possibility for flights beyond Florida, Olson said, Our focus right now is on Florida. We dont want to get to ahead of ourselves. ... This is a brand new airport for us. Our focus is to make sure we have smooth and ... especially reliable operations.

Introductory one-way fares between Tweed, which goes by the booking symbol HVN, and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which goes by the booking symbol SRQ, will begin at $49 and are available at AveloAir.com, the company has said. Introductory fares to the original four destinations and Palm Beach were $59.

The start of Avelos service comes as good news for Tweed, which saw American Airlines cease its longtime American Eagle service between Tweed and Philadelphia at the end of September.

Tweed also recent announced the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority approval of a new food and beverage concession agreement Thursday with G Cafe.

G Cafe, which bakes fresh, old world breads and runs coffee shop/cafes in both downtown New Haven and Branford, will give Tweed its first non-vending machine concession in years and its first full-blown restaurant in decades.

According to the agreement, the cafe will serve fresh-brewed coffee, espresso, bottle juices, sodas and water, along with freshly-baked bread and bagels, pastries, hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads and desserts. It also will feature a Grab-N-Go section will be open from the earlier of either 6 a.m. or at least 90 minutes before the first scheduled commercial departure until 30 minutes past the last scheduled departure of the day.

Avelo is investing $1.2 million to help upgrade and modernize facilities and operations as part of an overall $100 million expansion project at Tweed, which will include a new terminal and extended runway. The expansion, which was enabled by a 43-year lease extension that the Board of Alders recently granted the authority, will be financed by airport operator Avports.

Avelos arrival to Tweed marks the largest expansion of service at the airport in more than 30 years, the airline has said.

For more information, visit AveloAir.com.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
ORLEANS, Mass. (AP)  The Coast Guard on Tuesday suspended its search for a small plane reported missing off the coast of Massachusetts.

The search was suspended at 9:30 a.m. after several vessels and aircraft spent 55 hours covering more than 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) of ocean off Cape Cod without finding any sign of the missing pilot or plane, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
PETER HVIZDAK /Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Police are investigating after two teenage boys were struck by gunfire Monday afternoon in a double shooting in The Hill neighborhood.

New Haven officers were approached around 2:27 by a concerned person on Lamberton Street who reported a person shot between Button and Arthur streets, police spokesman Officer Scott Shumway said Monday.
BERLIN (AP)  Federal prosecutors have charged a German woman with membership in two foreign terrorist groups, violating weapons law and committing her son as a fighter to a foreign terrorist group.

German federal prosecutors said Tuesday that Stefanie A., whose last name was withheld in line with privacy rules, left Germany in 2016 with her son, who was 13 at the time, in order to live with her husband in Syrian territory that was then under the control of the Islamic State group.
HAMDEN  Luca Esposito, 12, had so much time during the pandemic to perfect his cake making/decorating skills that the seventh-grader now has started a business and is saving for college.

I mean all it really takes is practice and starting at a young age, said Luca, a student at Hamden Middle School. I like when Im happy with the finished product and they rave about it.

Lucas mother, Robin Esposito, a nurse at Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in North Haven, said the two have been baking together since Luca was young  before his earliest memory of the activity at age 4.

Contributed photo

They come from an Italian family where food is love, cooking is love, Robin Esposito said, and so they spent many hours together cooking, making treats  some of them experimental and baking all kinds of products  cakes, cookies, bar treats, doughnuts.

Luca baked all the pies for last years Thanksgiving.

Then, Social media during the pandemic changed things, and brought her sons skills to a new level, Robin Esposito said.

Luca couldnt hang out with his friends, so he started watching cake-making videos and, lots of flour, sugar, buttercream and experimenting later, got the look and tastes so perfected that guests who saw his cakes at family gatherings started to order.

Contributed photo

He then established Lucas_Creative_ Cakes on Instagram  there is no apostrophe in Luca because Instagram doesnt allow the characters in user names.

I got farther along because of the pandemic than I would have been if I had been seeing friends, Luca said.

One of his cakes goes for about $20 and to his moms surprise, hes saving the money for college. Its all profit because mom doesnt charge for ingredients.

Luca, who is considering a future as a drummer or scientist, said he sees baking as a hobby in his adult life, rather than a career, although sometimes he thinks about owning a bakery.

Contributed photo

Suzanne McCurry-Scull of West Haven is friends with Lucas grandfather and, when she saw Lucas cakes in a Facebook post, ordered one for her 54th birthday party.

I thought, The kid is starting a business, lets give it a whirl, she said. Its so nice to see a young kid with a passion like that who wants to do something about it.

McCurry-Scull is glad she did.

Luca made her a chocolate cake with salted caramel buttercream and a chocolate ganache drip. He decorated the cake with rosettes of buttercream with a salted caramel in the center of each.

As good as (his cakes) look, they taste 10 times better, McCurry-Scull said. It was amazing  the flavors and the decorations. Its amazing that a 12-year-old kid is doing this.

Contributed photo

She said a lot of her family doesnt like cakes and sweets, but in the case of Lucas cake, they were raving about how great it was.

Luca makes his cakes from scratch  he keeps recipes in a Baby Yoda notebook. As for cake flavors, he does a chocolate, a vanilla, a hot water chocolate, almond vanilla, sour cream vanilla and, recently, developed a strawberry that was tricky because of having to boil down the fruit.

Depending on the order, he can make the inside of the cake a color or many colored layers. He works with fresh strawberries and raspberries, lemon curd, buttercream, ganache and even fondant.

His piping bags are important tools. Lucas creative side comes out when hes baking.

Contributed photo

Lisa Hamasian of North Haven ordered a cake for a 2-year-olds birthday party and all she told Luca was that she wanted a Mickey Mouse theme.

He took it to the moon. He made the cake perfect for photos when we cut the cake being yellow, black and red Mickey colors, she said.

I love how absolutely gorgeous the cakes are but also how they taste, Hamasian said. Everything is homemade and tasted as though hes been baking for 20 years.

Contributed photo

Hamasian said people asked after the party what bakery she got the cake from.

Word of mouth and those who have experienced Lucas cakes are his best advertisements. Robin Esposito said she brought a Luca cake to work and a coworker wants a taco-themed cake.

When people order, I emphasize its still a kid making a cake, she said.

Contributed photo

Robin Esposito said it was wonderful they could find happiness during the pandemic.

Contributed photo

We love doing things together. There are certainly moments where were frustrated, she said. Its something fun to do together and you cant go wrong with the final product.

Lucas father, Frankie Esposito, is the taste-tester.

Robin Esposito said even if Luca doesnt become a professional baker she hopes hell carry on the tradition with his kids of doing special things together.

With kids these days, anything that builds his confidence or gives him a skill, she said. If nothing else, hell have a very happy wife someday.

Contributed photo

She said Luca doesnt necessarily like competitive sports, so when someone says, Your son made that cake? It definitely makes me proud.
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP)  A Michigan city that is urging residents not to drink tap water failed to timely warn people about high levels of lead and must make improvements at the water plant, federal regulators said Tuesday after an inspection revealed a variety of problems.

The Environmental Protection Agency said the situation was dire enough to order Benton Harbor to consider turning the water system over to someone else.

The people of Benton Harbor have suffered for too long," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a written statement. EPA is fully engaged and working to support the community, and today, we are taking a critical next step to ensure that drinking water is safe and reliable.

Benton Harbor is a predominantly Black, mostly low-income community of 9,100 people, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Chicago.

State and local officials in October told residents to use bottled water for cooking and drinking. Experts believe an aging water system, fewer users and other issues are causing lead to leach from pipes, contaminating the supply.

The EPA said it inspected the water plant in late September and also looked at how Benton Harbor had responded to elevated lead levels. The government said the city for more than a year had failed to warn residents and the Berrien County health department.

The city told inspectors that no public education materials are sent with water bills delivered through the mail, the EPA said in a 23-page order.

Mayor Marcus Muhammad has defended how the city has communicated with the public, insisting that advisories have been publicized since 2018. But he also acknowledged that issues at the water plant need to be addressed.

The doctor can diagnose you, but when he gets you the prescription, youve got to pay for it, the mayor said. "And if you dont have the money then you remain sick.

The EPA said the water plant needs to make critical filter repairs and improve the use of chlorine and corrosion control chemicals.

Benton Harbor also was ordered to hire an outside expert to address the long-term future of the water plant, including a possible merger with another system.

The problems "extend far beyond the ongoing lead contamination," said Nicholas Leonard, director of Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, which had urged the government to intervene.

Liesl Clark, the head of Michigan's environmental agency, said the order is not intended as a punitive exercise but is a way to identify Benton Harbor's needs.

The state has been focusing on delivering water to residents and devising a strategy to replace lead water lines outside homes. Nearly $19 million in state and federal money has been set aside, but the goal is $30 million.
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media

HAMDEN  Police are investigating after they say a woman in her 60s was knocked to the ground and robbed Monday evening in the Hamden Plaza parking lot.

Police said the theft occurred around 7 p.m.
The Guilford teen accused of stabbing a woman outside a Westport salon last year will remain at a mental health facility and still not competent to stand trial, the prosecutor said Tuesday.

Ellis Tibere, 19, faces charges attempted murder, first-degree assault and possession of a deadly weapon. He remains at the Whiting Forensic Hospital in Middletown, where medical professionals continue to indicate he is not competent to stand trial.

During a brief remote hearing Tuesday, Senior Assistant State's Attorney Maureen Ornousky said Whiting provided a report on Monday, indicating Tibere remains incompetent to stand trial, but said medical professionals believe his competency can be restored. Tibere will remain at the facility for the time being.

Ornousky defense attorney John Gulash could not attend Tuesdays hearing and requested a continuance in the case.

Gulash, according to Ornousky, was unable to attend the proceedings because he was scheduled to be in court at the same time on another matter where he was representing a witness in a murder case.

Since Gulash did not request a specific date for the continuance, Judge Kevin Randolph set a new court date of Dec. 2.

Tiberes charges stemmed from an attack on Jan. 6, 2020, in the parking lot of a Post Road East plaza. His arrest affidavit indicated that he waited in the parking lot for hours and then attacked the random woman. Wearing a black mask, Tibere walked up to a Greenwich woman in her car, opened the door and stabbed her, according to the affidavit.

Tibere has also been charged with violating the conditions of release and first-degree criminal mischief after he allegedly removed his GPS monitor and left his familys Guilford property where he had been on house arrest after posting a $1 million bond in May 2020.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Michigan's redistricting commission on Monday overwhelmingly voted to advance proposed congressional and state Senate maps to the final stage of the process, approving lines that would be fairer to Democrats than those drawn by Republican lawmakers in the last two decades.

It was the first time the panel submitted plans for a closing 45-day public comment period. It was unclear if commissioners may also offer alternative Senate and U.S. House proposals later in the week or stand pat. They faced a Friday deadline to propose maps, with votes on final maps expected by late December.

The commission was created by voters in 2018 to handle the once-a-decade process of drawing congressional and legislative boundaries instead of the partisan Legislature.

The panel used a composite of the last 13 statewide races to show Democrats won 52% of votes while Republicans got 48%. Democrats could have a 20-18 edge in the Senate under such a scenario.

Due to 2011 gerrymandering, Republicans secured a 22-16 majority after the 2018 election despite Democrat Gretchen Whitmer winning the governorship by nearly 10 percentage points.

It's a good map. I think it's a great map actually, said commissioner Anthony Eid, one of five members who affiliates with neither major party. It supports communities of interest. It supports all of the (federal Voting Rights Act) considerations that we've been looking at.  The composite scores of all 10 years of election history show that it's a fair map on accepted measures of partisan fairness."

Michigan is losing a U.S. House seat, leaving it with 13.

Under three proposed congressional maps, there could be 7-6 splits in favor of either party if it is competitive statewide. The final districts will lead to a shakeup in the delegation. Many incumbents could square off in primaries or file to run in a different district to avoid that.

Both the congressional and legislative maps appear likely to be challenged in court in part because of opposition from the Black community in Detroit. Minority voters are required to have an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.

Michigan would no longer have any majority-African American districts after the panel decided that Black voters could comprise more than 40% but less than half of the voting-age population and still elect minority candidates.

Commissioner Brittni Kellom, a Black Democrat from Detroit, late Monday began to propose a fourth congressional map that would make changes to two districts in the city and surrounding areas in response to public feedback, but she ran into some initial opposition from other panel members.

It's upsetting, and people are watching and listening, Kellom said, while crying. I'm passionate about this. I watch you all spin your wheels online for other things, and this is important."

But Chair Rebecca Szetela, an unaffiliated commissioner, questioned if the alternative would be an improvement.

I'm not seeing the justification because I don't really see these two districts as being much better. That's what I'm struggling with. I'm not trying to silence you, she said.

The commission planned to continue deliberations Tuesday, including on state House districts and potentially the fourth congressional map.

___

Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)  Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. But you may not see it in your neighborhood anytime soon.

Hundreds of little robots __ knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas __ are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment.

We saw demand for robot usage just go through the ceiling, said Alastair Westgarth, the CEO of Starship Technologies, which recently completed its 2 millionth delivery. I think demand was always there, but it was brought forward by the pandemic effect."

Starship has more than 1,000 robots in its fleet, up from just 250 in 2019. Hundreds more will be deployed soon. They're delivering food on 20 U.S. campuses; 25 more will be added soon. They're also operating on sidewalks in Milton Keynes, England; Modesto, California; and the companys hometown of Tallin, Estonia.

Robot designs vary; some have four wheels and some have six, for example. But generally, they use cameras, sensors, GPS and sometimes laser scanners to navigate sidewalks and even cross streets autonomously. They move around 5 mph.

Remote operators keep tabs on multiple robots at a time but they say they rarely need to hit the brakes or steer around an obstacle. When a robot arrives at its destination, customers type a code into their phones to open the lid and retrieve their food.

The robots have drawbacks that limit their usefulness for now. Theyre electric, so they must recharge regularly. They're slow, and they generally stay within a small, pre-mapped radius.

Theyre also inflexible. A customer cant tell a robot to leave the food outside the door, for example. And some big cities with crowded sidewalks, like New York, Beijing and San Francisco, arent welcoming them.

But Bill Ray, an analyst with the consulting firm Gartner, says the robots make a lot of sense on corporate or college campuses, or in newer communities with wide sidewalks.

In the places where you can deploy it, robot delivery will grow very quickly, Ray said.

Ray said there have been few reports of problems with the robots, other than an occasional gaggle of kids who surround one and try to confuse it. Starship briefly halted service at the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 after a wheelchair user said a robot blocked her access to a ramp. But the university said deliveries resumed once Starship addressed the issue.

Patrick Sheck, a junior at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, gets deliveries from a Starship robot three or four times a week as hes leaving class.

The robot pulls up just in time for me to get some lunch, Sheck said. Bowling Green and Starship charge $1.99 plus a service fee for each robot delivery.

Rival Kiwibot, with headquarters in Los Angeles and Medellin, Columbia, says it now has 400 robots making deliveries on college campuses and in downtown Miami.

Delivery companies are also jumping into the market. Grubhub recently partnered with Russian robot maker Yandex to deploy 50 robots on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Grubhub plans to add more campuses soon, although the company stresses that the service wont go beyond colleges for now.

U.S. delivery orders jumped 66% in the year ending in June, according to NPD, a data and consulting firm. And delivery demand could remain elevated even after the pandemic eases because customers have gotten used to the convenience.

Ji Hye Kim, chef and managing partner of the Ann Arbor, Michigan, restaurant Miss Kim, relied heavily on robot delivery when her dining room was closed last year. Kim had partnered with a local robot company, Refraction AI, shortly before the pandemic began.

Kim prefers robots to third-party delivery companies like DoorDash, which charge significantly more and sometimes cancel orders if they didnt have enough drivers. Delivery companies also bundle multiple orders per trip, she said, so food sometimes arrives cold. Robots take just one order at a time.

Kim said the robots also excite customers, who often post videos of their interactions.

Its very cute and novel, and it didnt have to come face to face with people. It was a comfort, Kim said. Delivery demand has dropped off since her dining room reopened, but robots still deliver around 10 orders per day.

While Kim managed to hang on to her staff throughout the pandemic, other restaurants are struggling to find workers. In a recent survey, 75% of U.S. restaurant owners told the National Restaurant Association that recruiting and retaining employees is their biggest challenge.

That has many restaurants looking to fill the void with robot delivery.

There is no store in the country right now with enough delivery drivers, said Dennis Maloney, senior vice president and chief digital officer at Dominos Pizza.

Dominos is partnering with Nuro, a California startup whose 6-foot-tall self-driving pods go at a maximum speed of 25 mph on streets, not sidewalks. Nuro is testing grocery and food delivery in Houston, Phoenix and Mountain View, California.

Maloney said it's not a question of if, but of when, robots will start doing more deliveries. He thinks companies like Domino's will eventually use a mix of robots and drivers depending on location. Sidewalk robots could work on a military base, for example, while Nuro is ideal for suburbs. Highway driving would be left to human workers.

Maloney said Nuro delivery is more expensive than using human drivers for now, but as the technology scales up and gets more refined, the costs will go down.

For cheaper sidewalk robots __ which cost an estimated $5,000 or less __ it's even easier to undercut human delivery costs. The average Grubhub driver in Ohio makes $47,650 per year, according to the job site Indeed.com.

But robots dont always cost delivery jobs. In some cases, they help create them. Before Starships robots arrived, Bowling Green didnt offer delivery from campus dining spots. Since then, it has hired more than 30 people to serve as runners between kitchens and robots, Bowling Green dining spokesman Jon Zachrich said.

Brendan Witcher, a technology analyst with the consulting firm Forrester, says its easy to get excited about the Jetsons-like possibility of robot delivery. But ultimately, robots will have to prove they create an advantage in some way.

Its possible that we see this emerge into something else, he said. But its the right time and place for companies considering robots to test them and learn from them and do their own evaluation.

___

AP Video Journalist Mike Householder contributed from Bowling Green, Ohio.
MOSCOW (AP)  A top Russian security official met the visiting chief of the Central Intelligence Agency on Tuesday, a rare encounter amid tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlin's Security Council, met CIA Director William Burns in Moscow to discuss U.S.-Russian relations, Patrushev's office said in a statement without providing any details.

Ties between the two countries have badly frayed over Russia's interference with U.S. elections and 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, its support for a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, hacking attacks and other irritants.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a June summit in Geneva in an attempt to make relations between their nations more stable and predictable.

They agreed to launch consultations on arms control and cybersecurity while noting areas of continued disagreement.

Speaking last month, Putin described relations with Washington as quite constructive and said he personally has developed working, stable relations with Biden. The Russian leader voiced hope that mutual interests would eventually help normalize U.S.-Russia ties.

Patrushev, a longtime close associate of Putin's, is considered one of Russia's most influential officials.

Speaking at an online panel Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov noted that U.S.-Russian relations are more troubled now than they were even at the height of the Cold War and called for quick moves to reduce tensions.

He particularly hailed arms control consultations that followed the Geneva summit and voiced hope they could achieve progress.

Ryabkov lamented the U.S. Embassys decision to stop issuing non-immigrant visas to Russians and encouraged Washington to send additional consular staff to resume normal operations.

Russia and the U.S. exchanged several rounds of diplomat expulsions and took other steps restricting the activities of their respective diplomatic missions amid growing tensions over the past years.

As part of trading diplomatic blows, Russia banned the U.S. Embassy from hiring local residents. The embassy has said the move forced it to reduce its consular staff by 75% and cut most U.S. citizen services as well as non-immigrant visa processing for non-diplomatic travel.

A senior U.S. official told reporters last month that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has shrunk from about 1,200 in 2017 to approximately 120, a dramatic reduction.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, said the personnel shortage made it difficult to continue with anything other than a caretaker presence at the embassy, adding that the Russian government is aware of that and progress must be made soon.

__

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP)  Virginia Republicans completed a sweep of down-ballot statewide offices Wednesday, with victories for attorney general and lieutenant governor, including the first Black woman ever to be elected statewide in the commonwealth.

The wins echoed the Democrats defeat in the race for governor, and marked a dramatic turnaround in a state where the GOP had not won a statewide race since 2009.

In the lieutenant governor's race, Republican Winsome Sears, who returned to Virginia politics after an absence of nearly two decades, defeated Democrat Hala Ayala. Sears becomes the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor and the first woman of color to hold statewide office. Ayala would have broken the same historic barriers had she won.

In the attorney general's race, Republican Jason Miyares, the son of a Cuban immigrant, defeated the Democratic incumbent, Mark Herring, who was running for a third term.

Both Ayala and Herring conceded Wednesday.

Sears rocketed out of political obscurity earlier this year when she won the GOP nomination on the strength of a campaign photo in which she posed holding a military rifle.

She will succeed Democrat Justin Fairfax, who unsuccessfully ran for governor. Her role as a tiebreaking vote in a closely divided state Senate has become even more important given GOP victories in other races. In addition to winning the governor's mansion, the party is also claiming that it has regained control of the House of Delegates, though several key races are still too early to call.

If Republicans do gain control of the House, the only thing blocking them from total control of state government is a narrow 21-19 Democratic advantage in the state Senate. Senators are not up for reelection until 2023.

Democrats have been particularly concerned about abortion legislation. Ayala made supporting a womans right to an abortion a key issue in her campaign, noting that the Senate has one Democratic member who has said he personally opposes abortion. Sears has also long opposed abortion, something she links to her Christian faith.

Im a Christian first, and a Republican second. I dont want to hear about your economic policies and youre going to build the country if we have to kill babies along the way, she told an interviewer in 2019.

A former Marine, Sears had a brief stint in electoral politics 20 years ago as a one-term delegate in the General Assembly, representing parts of Hampton Roads. Her return to politics after a two-decade absence began when she served as national chairperson for Black Americans to Re-Elect President Trump.

Early Wednesday, Sears stood with her family in front of cheering supporters at a victory party in Chantilly, saying, What you are looking at is the American Dream.

Throughout the race, Sears also highlighted her background as a Jamaican immigrant, campaigning against illegal immigration and rejecting the notion that the nation is plagued by systemic racism.

In case you havent noticed, I am Black and I have been Black all my life, she said. But thats not what this is about. What we are going to do is we are now going to be about the business of the commonwealth. We have things to tend to.

Miyares will be the first Republican to hold the attorney general post since Ken Cuccinelli won in 2009.

A delegate from Virginia Beach, Miyares highlighted his background as the son of a Cuban immigrant throughout the campaign. He frequently criticized Herring for decisions by the state parole board to release inmates early without notifying victims, decisions Herring said were totally outside his jurisdiction.

Herring, like Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, was forced to admit in 2019 that he had once worn blackface. He said it occurred at a college party in 1980 and apologized for his actions. While Herrings opponent in the Democratic primary criticized the attorney generals conduct, Miyares did not make it an issue during the fall campaign.

Miyares narrowly won the GOP nomination over a hard-right opponent, Chuck Smith.

Jurisdictions throughout the state reported high turnout, with roughly 3.3 million ballots tallied by 3 a.m. Wednesday. That greatly exceeded the 2.6 million ballots cast in the last gubernatorial election in 2017, which itself was a high turnout year. The turnout in 2017 was in part a backlash to Donald Trumps 2016 election. Democrats swept all three statewide elections in 2017.

This year marks a sharp turnabout for the Virginia GOP, which has struggled over the past decade and had not won a statewide race since the 2009 cycle.

Both the attorney general and the lieutenant governor posts have served as launching pads to the governor's mansion. Half of the past 10 lieutenant governors in Virginia have gone on to be governor. The previous nine elected attorneys general all ran for governor.

___

Associated Press writers Brian Witte in Chantilly, Virginia, and Alexandra Jaffe in McLean, Virginia, contributed to this report.
A Niagara County Court jury deliberated for just over 6 1/2 hours on Monday, but did not appear to be close to returning a verdict in the murd
Gunmen reportedly attacked the Ado-Ekiti residence of Yoruba Nation coordinator, Professor Banji Akintoye. The umbrella body of Yoru...

Gunmen reportedly attacked the Ado-Ekiti residence of Yoruba Nation coordinator, Professor Banji Akintoye.

The umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, made this known in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Maxwell Adeleye, attaching images from the scene of the attack.

The organisation noted that the incident happened on Saturday in the Professors absence.

It also noted that the police had been notified.

a bullet from the scene of the accident



Part of the statement read, The leadership of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), is displeased to inform the general public that the Ado-Ekiti country home of its leader, Professor Banji Akintoye, was attacked on Saturday, 30th October, 2021.

Gunshots were fired into the house by assailants who apparently climbed a chair outside the gate to shoot in.

Luckily, Professor Banji Akintoye was not around at the time, and nobody was hurt.

Bullets suspected to be from AK 47 rifles were recovered after they dropped from the ceiling onto the floor.

Part of the statement read, The leadership of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), is displeased to inform the general public that the Ado-Ekiti country home of its leader, Professor Banji Akintoye, was attacked on Saturday, 30th October, 2021.

Gunshots were fired into the house by assailants who apparently climbed a chair outside the gate to shoot in.

Luckily, Professor Banji Akintoye was not around at the time, and nobody was hurt.

Bullets suspected to be from AK 47 rifles were recovered after they dropped from the ceiling onto the floor.

bullet from the scene of the accident

We the Yoruba people within, and beyond the horizon of Nigeria will hold the Nigerian Government responsible if any evil happens to our leader or any of his relations.
A Federal High Court in Abia State has adjourned a suit filed on behalf of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu against ...





A Federal High Court in Abia State has adjourned a suit filed on behalf of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government on matters relating to infringement of human rights.

A member of Kanus legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.

Kanu through his lawyers had filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The suit is regarding matters relating to the IPOB leaders extradition, alleged maltreatment by security operatives and his release.

The court had assigned the suit for hearing on November 2, 2021.

However, Ejimakor told our correspondent that the suit had been adjourned to a later date.

He said, Mazi Nnamdi Kanus human rights suit which was slated for November 2, 2021, has been adjourned to November 19, 2021, by the Federal High Court in Abia.

We are saddened by this development which primarily seeks the unconditional release of Kanu from his illegal detentions.

It was reported that the IPOB leader is currently in the facilities of the Department of State Services while awaiting trial by the Nigerian government.

IPOB had called for a one-week sit-at-home in solidarity and for his unconditional release.
A high court in Kaduna has ordered Today Publishing Company, publishers of The Union newspaper, to pay N10m as damages for defaming Nasir El...





A high court in Kaduna has ordered Today Publishing Company, publishers of The Union newspaper, to pay N10m as damages for defaming Nasir El-Rufai, governor of the state.

The court also ordered the company to tender a public apology to the governor which must be published in national dailies.

El-Rufai had sued the newspaper for publishing false claims about his assets declaration.

The Union newspaper had on July 2, 2015, published a frontpage story saying that the governor had declared assets worth N90bn and 40 mansions.





In the judgment delivered on Monday, Mairo Muhammed, the presiding judge, also restrained the defendants from further defaming the governor.

The court held that El-Rufai had shown that the offending material was published to third parties by the defendants.

The plaintiff had satisfactorily shown that he did not declare assets worth N90bn and 40 mansions, the implication of which is that the words were false and defamatory of the plaintiff, the judge held.





AbdulHakeem Mustapha, El-Rufais lawyer, described the judgment as a well considered judgment which was replete with industry and erudition.

Reacting to the courts verdict, the governor said the the freedom to publish is not a license to defame people or clothe rumour-mongering and malice as journalism.

El-Rufai said he approached the court and personally testified in the case as a demonstration of his belief in the rule of law, a stance he has taken in securing apologies from other newspapers for libel and which informs his continued pursuit of other instances of defamation in the courts.
The Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State chapter, on Tuesday called on the government and regulatory bodies to put strict building ...





The Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State chapter, on Tuesday called on the government and regulatory bodies to put strict building regulations in place, to avoid future building collapse.

Chairman of the chapter, David Majekodunmi, said this during his visit to the site of a building in the Ikoyi part of the states which collapsed on Monday.

Majekodunmi faulted the signage of the building construction, stating that if the regulatory bodies had done the needful, then the public would know who to blame for the mayhem.

According to him, the numbers on the construction signage shows that the same person is the consultant and the architect.

He said, If the regulatory bodies had seen this signboard and done the needful, maybe wed be able to know who we are accusing or who to hold responsible for this mayhem.

The chairman said that, from his point of view, the collapse was an implosion, which could have been averted if regulatory bodies like the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria or Council of Registered Engineers had done the needful.

This construction has been going on for two to three years. Ideally, if this has been going on and we have this signage, the regulatory body could have blown the whistle, he said.

He added, It has been on the social media that they got approval for 15 stories but they took it up to 21 stories, why? The regulatory body has every power, even if the government is silent, to blow it out.

In doing so, we know that the regulatory body is doing well. They need to buckle up their belt and do the needful. Government need to do the needful and create more laboratory testing agencies for building materials.
Prince Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, the newly elected National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has said he would ensure th...

Prince Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, the newly elected National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has said he would ensure that the party takes over power at the federal level during the 2023 general elections.

In a statement he issued in Kaduna on Monday, the 25-year-old man said he will work with the newly elected Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and other stakeholders to achieve the vision.

Prince Mohammed also called on all Nigerian youths to join the PDP in a bid to rescue the country from the alleged bad governance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said, Under the leadership of our newly-elected Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, myself and other elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC), we will work assiduously to return PDP to Aso Rock in 2023.

Whether you voted for me or not, whether you supported me or not, I want to assure you that this is a victory not just for me, but for the entire PDP and the youth of Nigeria.

Prince Mohammed, an indigene of Kaduna State, also vowed not to disappoint the elders of the party who worked for his victory at the just concluded national convention in Abuja.
While most people are still well-protected, public-health officials say that even highly-effective COVID vaccines can lose power over time. That's why scientists and federal agencies recently recommended a booster shot for some people.

But you might be feeling a little confused about who can get one, when it should be administered and why they're recommended.

The Times-Picayune and The Advocate hosted a virtual COVID-19 panel with three medical experts Tuesday to get answers to those questions.

Health reporter Emily Woodruff was joined by the following experts:

Katherine Baumgarten, MD, Ochsner Health medical director of infection control and prevention

Michael Hagensee, MD, PhD, professor of medicine in infectious diseases and microbiology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine

Alistair Ramsay, PhD, professor of microbiology, immunology and parasitology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine

Watch a replay of the event -- sponsored by AARP -- in the module below.

Can't see the video? Click here to watch on YouTube.
On Friday evening, Lurline Duncan gathered with loved ones to launch balloons in memory of her son, Gregory Heisser, who was shot to death with his fiancee Darnisha DeSilva in front of their children in Little Woods three years ago.

Duncan hasnt forgotten about Gregory and Darnisha  but she fears the city has. She has sat through countless court hearings for their alleged killer. A judge has set and canceled trial dates four times. The case is on its third assistant district attorney. Two key witnesses have died of COVID-19.

I'm a wreck half the time, just going back and forth to court, said Duncan. Every time I go back to court, there's something that adds fuel to the fire.

Long a cautious holdout amid waves of coronavirus infections, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court held its first jury trial in October since the pandemic began. Yet COVID-19 precautions, along with turnover among prosecutors and public defenders, mean that trials could resume at a much slower pace than before the pandemic.

+3 Guilty plea cuts short first criminal jury trial in New Orleans New Orleans first attempt at a criminal jury trial since the coronavirus pandemic began came to an abrupt halt Thursday when the defendant pl

District Attorney Jason Williams hammered out plea deals with defendants and dismissed hundreds of felony cases since taking office, which according to Karen Herman, the court's chief judge, has helped reduce the massive COVID-induced backload of cases to pre-pandemic levels.

Yet it appears that the backlog persists for the most serious cases, where defendants face life or decades in prison.

There are 184 people in the New Orleans jail awaiting trial on homicide charges, up from 138 people in July 2020. While the jails population is roughly the same as late March 2020, the share of defendants held over a year has grown from 24% to more than 33%, according to Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office rosters.

Weve got multiple crisis points right now, but the biggest one is with major felonies, said Danny Engelberg, chief of trials for the Orleans Public Defenders.

Historically, only about 1% of charges result in trials in New Orleans, with most of the rest resolved through plea deals. But most of the courts jury trials involve the cases with the highest stakes, and it often takes the pressure of an impending trial to resolve charges like murder or rape.

+2 Selection begins in first New Orleans criminal jury trial since pandemic It had been more than 19 months since a jury had been seated in Criminal District Court. But on Monday, an Orleans Parish prosecutor finally u

That last hour, once I call for the jury, and the jury commissioners getting the list done, they start talking, Herman said. The tension in the room changes. The whole atmosphere in the courtroom becomes charged.

By collective agreement of the judges, the court essentially banned jury trials for most of the first year and a half of the pandemic. Other area courts were more aggressive about resuming trials when state Supreme Court orders allowed. Orleans Parish Civil District Court has held 11 jury trials and prosecutors in Jefferson Parish have put defendants on trial more than 20 times.

Herman says she has no regrets, and said she preferred to be "overly cautious" than turn the court house into a "super-spreader building."

A brief window of juror availability in July was slammed shut due to the delta variant and the wave of infections it caused. The courts first pandemic-era trial resulted in a plea agreement before closing arguments. It has yet to be followed by another.

+2 Retrial delayed for Cardell Hayes in 2016 killing of ex-Saints star Will Smith A retrial for Cardell Hayes in the 2016 slaying of retired Saints defensive star Will Smith and the shooting of his wife wont happen this yea

The court saw a positive response to its latest round of jury summons, Herman said. But several factors will likely prevent the court from hastening the pace of jury trials, which happened about once a week before the pandemic.

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First, judges typically hold off on trials during the winter holidays and Carnival. The court will halt jury service entirely from Dec. 16 through the end of the year. Second, COVID-19 precautions mean that jury selection will happen with much smaller groups, slowing the process.

Additionally, each case has its own wrinkles that can delay a trial. The man accused of killing Duncans son, Kenneth Augustine, was set to go to trial next week. But the recent arrest of two co-defendants means his trial will be pushed back again, Duncan said.

Meanwhile, like many white-collar workplaces during the pandemic, both the Orleans Public Defenders and the District Attorneys Office have experienced significant turnover. Even when fresh hires have trial experience, it takes time to catch up on individual cases. Duncan said as new prosecutors took over Augustine's case since his January 2019 indictment, she has sometimes felt like she had to bring them up to speed herself.

+4 New Orleans DA reaches $2 million settlement with Robert Jones in wrongful conviction case Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams agreed Monday to settle a wrongful conviction lawsuit filed by a freed Angola lifer for $2 mil

Williams took over as district attorney in January promising to reverse long-running retention problems. But so far there's been a steady drumbeat of departures due to a mix of terminations and resignations.

In his first six months, Williams fired three holdovers in the trials division from District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros era, according to public records. Eleven more lawyers in the division resigned, with most taking jobs at other prosecuting agencies in Louisiana. Collectively, those 14 attorneys had 99 years of legal experience.

By late July, the trials division had 22 lawyers. More departures have followed, including veteran prosecutor Kevin Guillory, who was only recently announced as deputy chief of trials.

Williams said departures like Guillory's are a sign that other agencies value the experience lawyers gain at the District Attorney's Office.

New hires will this week bring total staffing in the trials division up to 28 lawyers, according to Williams. Thats one fewer than in December 2019, when Cannizzaro was fretting over turnover, but Williams is comfortable with the number.

+3 In the killing of cop Marcus McNeil, DA objects to more delays in bringing accused shooter to trial Nearly four years after a New Orleans police officer was slain on patrol, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams made an unusual cour

Williams said 28 is right where we need to be, actually is over where we need to be. Attrition has been a historical problem, in this office through administrations and decades, actually. We properly flagged that as we were going through our transition, and what weve done is weve maintained the recruitment and hiring pace, knowing that this is a tough job."

Williams said since the start he has taken steps to address turnover like boosting entry-level pay, the offices first paid parental leave policy and expanded training. The office has also doubled the size of its victim-witness assistance division, which he said takes pressure off of attorneys for keeping crime survivors up to date.

On the other side of the courtroom, Engelberg said his office has also lost experienced lawyers. He says the public defenders office needs almost double the number of lawyers it has now to handle a workload of nearly 1,000 cases where defendants face life or decades-long prison sentences.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrells proposed budget includes a long-sought increase in public-defender funding that Engelberg hopes will help the office improve retention.

+21 Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman wants to cement a legacy, but challengers say that's the problem For most of his fourth term in office, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman yielded control of his jail to a court official.

Engelberg noted that there are advantages to trying cases more slowly, painting a contrast with earlier eras when rapid trials produced notorious wrongful convictions. Still, he and other defense attorneys said their incarcerated clients are growing anxious to have their cases heard.

"Theyre all frustrated  and the judges and the defense attorneys and the ADAs. Everybody's frustrated," said defense lawyer Keith Couture.
Federal agents were following a Houma man when he pulled up to a 7th Ward residence in a Ford F-150 truck with pounds of methamphetamine, they said in a court filing.

What happened next led to gunfire and charges, including assaulting a federal officer, that could land Joshua Bogen in prison for decades if convicted as charged in an indictment filed Thursday in federal court.

Bogen, 30, is accused of pointing a gun at Drug Enforcement Agency task force members as they moved in to arrest him on the night of Oct. 18. Federal agents said that in response, a task force member fired a shot at Bogen, who was arrested without injury.

Bogens defense attorney didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

DEA investigation in 7th Ward ends in shootout, arrest, NOPD says Federal DEA agents had a shoot-out with an armed man in the 7th Ward Monday evening, authorities say.

In court papers, a federal agent said that a local DEA task force received information that Bogen would be transporting about two pounds of crystal methamphetamine from Houma to the 1900 block of Pauger Street on the evening of Oct. 18.

Agents tracked Bogen as he drove from his home on East Tunnel Boulevard in Houma to the 7th Ward. Two of them parked in front of the Pauger Street home in an unmarked surveillance vehicle, according to court records.

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Task force members claim they saw Bogen turn on the trucks interior light and hold up a large bag believed to be crystal methamphetamine to the light before exiting the truck toward the residence.

Then, the feds say, a DEA special agent moved his surveillance unit into the driveway and yard of the Pauger Street residence and turned on his flashing blue lights. The agents in the other vehicle, who were wearing police vests, exited their vehicle to approach Bogen, the feds say.

Bogen is accused of pointing a Glock pistol at the agents. Task force officer Corey Duplantis, a member of the Houma Police Department, fired a shot at Bogen in response, Duplantis said in a complaint filed in federal court.

Bogen then allegedly threw his gun and bag of methamphetamine over a fence and surrendered. He was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail.

Bogen is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a drug trafficking offense, being a felon in possession of a firearm and assaulting a federal officer.

The New Orleans Police Department said last week that its Force Investigation Team, a special unit set up under the federal consent decree, is investigating the shooting.
Testimony in former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strains sex crimes trial opened last week with two accusers telling the jury, in graphic detail, that Strain raped them when they were children growing up in what was then the small, rural town of Abita Springs.

After taking off a long weekend for the All Saints Day holiday, the sensational trial resumes Tuesday morning at the St. Tammany Parish courthouse in Covington. Strain, 58, is accused of eight sex crimes, including four counts of aggravated rape that could put him in jail for life.

Strain, once among the north shore's most powerful elected officials and a man who spent 20 years as the parish's top lawman before losing a re-election bid in 2015, has pleaded not guilty. Additional accusers are expected to take the stand in the coming days and the trial is expected to run through this week.

Here are 6 things that emerged during the first week's testimony:

Accusers Skip Keen and Mark Finn said they were often left alone with the then-teenage Strain, who was several years older. Keen says he was sexually abused in a camper at the Strain familys fireworks stand. Finn says he was assaulted during frequent visits to the Strain familys home in Abita Springs.

Prosecutors stressed that aggravated rape  which make up half of the charges against Strain  can involve penetration, however slight, of either party. Keen testified that he penetrated Strain, who is more than six years older than he is.

Both accusers testified that they were young when the abuse started and much smaller than Strain. They said that they viewed him as a big brother or even a father figure.

Both men kept silent for decades. Keen says he told his wife and children in 2013 after his wife threatened to leave him because of his anger issues. The same year, Finn told his mother and a woman with whom he was romantically involved.

Keen, who worked as a ranking deputy under Strain, revealed the sexual abuse to federal agents who had come to his home to question him about a Sheriff's Office work release program they were investigating. FBI agent Wayne Horner testified that Keen made the disclosure before they asked the first question. (Keen would later plead guilty to corruption stemming from the work release program; Strain faces a federal trial in that case in December.)

Finn was in jail when federal agents came to talk to him following a tip from Keen. Horner and IRS agent Timothy Moore testified that Finn broke down and wept when they mentioned Strains name. Ive been waiting my whole life for someone to ask me about that guy, he told Horner.

Note: The Times-Picayune doesn't typically name victims or alleged victims of sex crimes. Keen was named in a court filing stemming from his guilty plea in the federal case. And Finn has publicly identified himself in news stories.
NEW ORLEANS  A reexamined autopsy ordered by the FBI in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene has rejected the Louisiana State Police claim that a car crash caused his fatal injuries, narrowing prosecutors' focus on the troopers seen on body camera video beating, stunning and dragging the Black motorist.

The unusual second look at what killed Greene confirmed what his family suspected the moment they saw his bruised and battered corpse and his car with only slight damage: A minor crash at the end of a high-speed chase had nothing to do with his death.

The FBI this week received the new forensic review it commissioned in light of the long-buried body camera footage, vehicle black box data and other evidence the state police withheld from Greene's original autopsy. The review, which did not involve another examination of the body, attributes Greene's death to a series of factors, including troopers striking the 49-year-old in the head, restraining him at length and his use of cocaine.

The new review notably removes the crash and "agitated delirium" from the list of causes in Greene's original autopsy, according to a person familiar with the findings who wasn't authorized to discuss the federal inquiry and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Indicted State Police trooper pleads not guilty in brutal beating of Black motorist A former Louisiana State Police trooper accused of brutally beating a defenseless Black suspect 18 times with a flashlight two years ago plead

It also addresses a key unanswered question from the original autopsy, whether the crash that didn't deploy the air bag in Greene's car was severe enough to cause a fractured breastbone and ruptured aorta. The new review determined those injuries were most likely the result of CPR and other life-saving efforts by first responders, the person familiar with the findings said.

Still unclear was whether the new autopsy would prompt the Union Parish coroner to change the manner of Greene's death from accidental to homicide, which could affect the charges available to state and federal prosecutors.

Greene's mother, Mona Hardin, said she hopes the new report brings the case closer to justice "so I can put my son to rest," adding that she has yet to bury his cremated remains. "This thing has been so crazy. No one has properly grieved."

The new autopsy report comes as federal prosecutors are in the final stages of a two-year civil rights investigation that began looking into Greene's death but has since expanded to examine the beatings of several other Black motorists, and whether top brass obstructed justice to shield troopers from possible prosecution.

Rafael Goyeneche, a former prosecutor who heads the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a New Orleans-based watchdog group, said the new cause of death makes it even more likely prosecutors will bring serious charges. "This yanks the rug from under the defense claim that the accident caused his death and that the beatings weren't that severe," he said.

Louisiana State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A U.S. Justice Department spokesperson declined to speak about an ongoing investigation but added that if the evidence reveals violations of the law, the department will "take all appropriate action."

Green's May 10, 2019, death came after he failed to stop for a traffic violation and led troopers on a midnight chase across northern Louisiana at speeds topping 115 mph (185 km/h), ending along a rural roadside near Monroe. State police initially told Greene's family he died after crashing into a tree, an account the Union Parish coroner committed to writing in an official report, which describes Greene's death as a motor vehicle accident and makes no mention of a confrontation with troopers.

+3 Violent, buried videos from Louisiana State Police show pattern of beatings targeting Black people LSP says 67% of its uses of force in recent years have targeted Black people  double the percentage of the state's Black population.

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After officials refused for more than two years to release the troopers' body camera video, the AP obtained and published it this spring, showing white troopers converging on Greene before he can even get out of his car, repeatedly stunning and punching him as he appears to surrender and repeatedly wails, "I'm your brother! I'm scared! I'm scared!" A trooper can later be seen dragging the heavyset Greene by his ankle shackles and he is left prone and face down in the dirt for more than nine minutes before he eventually goes limp.

Yet even after AP published video of Greene's violent arrest, state officials and advocates for the troopers repeated the crash theory, with Gov. John Bel Edwards floating it as recently as September.

"The issue would be did he die from injuries sustained in the accident?" Edwards, a Democrat, said on a radio program. "Obviously, he didn't die in the accident itself because he was still alive when the troopers were engaging with him. But what was the cause of death? I don't know that that was falsely portrayed."

+3 Ranking Louisiana trooper at scene of Ronald Greene's violent death cleared of misconduct A Louisiana State Police internal investigation into alleged misconduct by the ranking trooper at the scene of Ronald Greene's beating and dea

Edwards went on to say troopers' actions were "criminal" but that whether they caused Greene's death was the subject of an investigation and "I'm not going to get in front of that."

A lawyer for the troopers involved in Greene's arrest told a court in July that the crash killed him.

"At trial, defendants will present scientific evidence that Mr. Greene's death was caused by a crash-related blunt force chest trauma resulting in a fractured sternum and ruptured aorta," P. Scott Wolleson wrote in a filing in a civil lawsuit brought by Greene's family.

Greene's was among a dozen cases over the past decade in which an AP investigation found troopers or their bosses ignored or concealed evidence of beatings, deflected blame and impeded efforts to root out misconduct. Dozens of current and former troopers said they occurred in an agency with a culture of impunity, nepotism and in some cases outright racism.

Federal investigators are also examining the actions of police commanders, which included pressuring their own detectives to hold off on arresting the trooper who acknowledged hitting Greene in the head with a flashlight and was overheard on his body camera video boasting to a colleague that he "beat the ever-living f--- out of him."

That trooper, Chris Hollingsworth, died last year in a single-vehicle crash hours after he learned he would be fired for his role in the Greene case.

Speaking to investigators shortly before his death, Hollingsworth sought to justify his flashlight strikes on Greene in part because the man "didn't have any apparent injuries" after the crash and "could have done anything once my hold was broke off him."

___

Bleiberg reported from Dallas
A Harvey man was convicted of murder last week for the 2007 shooting death of a Metairie cocaine dealer, a slaying he was convicted of eight years ago before being granted a new trial on appeal.

Calvin King, whos been tried four times for the slaying of Javier Sanchez, faces mandatory life imprisonment after a Jefferson Parish jury convicted him of second-degree murder and armed robbery Friday at 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2 in front of Judge Adrian Adams, who presided over Kings latest trial.

The states star witness against King, now 49, has long been Sanchezs girlfriend, Maria Abreu.

As she tells it, King and two other men tied her up with duct tape, bound her to a bed on the second-floor of her apartment on Clearview Parkway and ransacked the place shortly before Sanchez came home on the night of Nov. 2, 2007.

She has testified that she saw Sanchez leave in his Ford Expedition with King and the two other men hours before Sanchez turned up dead alongside Interstate 10 in New Orleans East. He had been shot in the stomach at close range.

Kings first two trials ended in mistrials. In one of them, a law enforcement officer testified about something that had been deemed inadmissible. And the other time a prosecutor referred to a statement from King that also had been ruled inadmissible.

La. Supreme Court rules Harvey man entitled to new trial in murder case The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled this week that a former 24th Judicial District Court judge was acting within his proper discretion when he o

At his third trial in 2013, jurors found King guilty. But state Judge Robert Pitre ordered a new trial for King after determining Abreus testimony was rife with inconsistencies, giving great weight to a defense witness who testified that Abreu could not have seen anyone getting into a car outside while she was inside a lighted room at night.

Pitre also freed King from custody on $70,000 bond.

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The state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal later overturned Pitre, siding with arguments from Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connicks office that Abreus inconsistencies were insignificant and did not constitute an injustice for King. But then the state Supreme Court overturned the 5th Circuit, saying Pitre  who is now retired  had stayed within his proper discretion by granting King a new trial.

That trial began with jury selection Monday and concluded Friday. Abreu testified on Thursday.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours before finding King guilty as charged, court records show.

One of King's lawyers, Roger Jordan, said, Were disappointed in the verdict, and Mr. King will be appealing this decision.

Jordan added that Abreu's testimony again contained important inconsistencies.

The D.A.'s Office declined comment on the case.

A co-defendant of King, Willie Gross, was convicted in a separate trial and received a life sentence. He had previously testified that he and King had tied up Abreu and rifled through her and Sanchezs apartment because Gross and King had been cheated by Sanchez in a drug deal.

But Gross insisted that he and King had settled their differences with Sanchez hours before he turned up dead, and Sanchez was alive when they left him.

Authorities have never identified the third intruder whom Abreu recalls seeing with Gross and King.
A 30-year-old woman's previous disclosures of childhood rape went unbelieved until the suspect in the case was recorded on video admitting the abuse decades later, according to the Kenner Police Department.

Sidney Simoneaux, 78, of McComb, Mississippi, was booked Monday with three counts of first-degree rape of a victim under 13 and three counts of sexual battery of a victim under 13, said Lt. Michael Cunningham, a Kenner police spokesperson.

The abuse occurred about 24 years ago when the victim was 6, Cunningham said. Simoneaux at the time lived in Kenner and was known to the victim's family.

Simoneaux allegedly raped and inappropriately touched the girl multiple times over the course of several months, Cunningham said.

Years later, the victim was 16 and living in another jurisdiction when she revealed the abuse to relatives and a friend. Her claims were discounted because of discrepancies with the time-frame during which she remembered being abused, according to authorities.

"Nobody really believed her," Cunningham said.

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+3 The Jack Strain trial: 6 key takeaways from week 1 as trial resumes Tuesday Testimony in former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strains sex crimes trial opened last week with two accusers telling the jury, in graphic 

But the woman and Simoneaux came into contact in September. During that conversation, which was recorded by audio and video, Simoneaux admitted sexually abusing the victim, according to Cunningham.

"She came in the very next day and brought the video," Cunningham said.

Detective Peter Foltz spoke with the victim's friend and relatives, corroborating the story that she'd previously revealed the abuse to them when she was a teenager, according to authorities.

Foltz obtained a warrant for Simoneaux's arrest, and he was taken into custody at his home in McComb. Simoneaux was extradited to Jefferson Parish on Monday.

He was being held without bond at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.
An influential advisory panel on Tuesday recommended kid-size doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, putting the U.S. on the brink of a major expansion of vaccinations. A final decision was expected within hours.

UPDATE: Pfizer pediatric dose of COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 gets final approval from CDC

The Food and Drug Administration already has OKd the kid-size doses  just a third of the amount given to teens and adults  as safe and effective for the younger age group. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines  and its advisers unanimously decided Pfizers shots should be opened to 28 million youngsters.

If the CDCs director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, signs off as expected, it will mark the first opportunity for Americans under 12 to get the powerful protection of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Today is a monumental day in the course of this pandemic, Walensky told the advisory panel as it began its deliberations earlier Tuesday.

+2 Louisiana COVID numbers: Data on cases, deaths, hospitalizations, vaccines Editor's Note: Due to changes in the importance of various metrics used to track the pandemic, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate r

She said while the risk of severe disease and death is lower in young children than adults, it is real  and that COVID-19 has had a profound social, mental health and educational impact on youngsters, including widening disparities in learning.

There are children in the second grade who have never experienced a normal school year, Walensky said. Pediatric vaccination has the power to help us change all of that.

Pediatricians in parts of the country are ready to start getting shots into little arms as soon as they get the final OK, as Pfizer already has begun shipping millions of doses to states, doctors' offices and pharmacies.

Many pediatricians and parents have clamored for protection for youngsters so they can resume normal childhood activities without risking their own health  or fear bringing the virus home to a more vulnerable family member.

And several panelists who've cared for hospitalized youngsters said they want parents with questions to know the shots are safe and far better than gambling their child will escape a coronavirus infection.

I have vaccinated my kids, said CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University, saying she wouldnt recommend something for other families unless she was comfortable with it for her own. We have seen the devastation of this disease.

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In the U.S., there have been more than 8,300 hospitalizations of kids ages 5 to 11, about a third requiring intensive care, according to government data. The CDC has recorded at least 94 deaths in that age group, with additional reports under investigation.

And while the U.S. has seen a recent downturn in COVID-19 cases, experts are worried about another uptick with holiday travel and as winter sends more activity indoors where its easier for the coronavirus to spread.

Pfizers kid shots contain a third of the vaccine dose thats already been used to vaccinate millions of people 12 and older. The 5- to 11-year-olds will receive two shots, three weeks apart, the same schedule as everyone else -- but a smaller amount in each shot, using a smaller needle.

A study of 2,268 youngsters found the kid-size vaccine is nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 -- based on 16 diagnoses among kids given dummy shots compared to just three who got the real vaccination.

CDC officials calculated that for every 500,000 kids this age vaccinated, between 18,000 and 58,000 COVID-19 cases would be prevented, and prevent anywhere from 80 to 226 hospitalizations.

The FDA examined more children, a total of 3,100 who were vaccinated, in concluding the shots are safe. The younger children experienced similar or fewer reactions -- such as sore arms, fever or achiness -- than teens or young adults get after larger doses.

That study wasnt large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that occasionally occurs after the second full-strength dose, mostly in young men and teen boys. Regulators ultimately decided the benefits from vaccination outweigh the potential that younger kids getting a smaller dose also might experience that rare risk.

Some of CDC's advisers said for some parents, deciding to get their children vaccinated may hinge on that small but scary risk.

The risk of some sort of bad heart involvement is much higher if you get COVID than if you get this vaccine, Dr. Matthew Oster, a pediatric cardiologist at Emory University, told the panel. COVID is much riskier to the heart.

Last week, FDA's advisers struggled with whether every young child needed a vaccine. Youngsters hospitalized with COVID-19 are more likely to have high-risk conditions such as obesity or diabetes -- but otherwise healthy children can get seriously ill, too, and the CDC's advisers ultimately recommended the shots for all of them.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Lisa Renard worked with kids most of her adult life, first as a New Orleans school teacher, then as the director of a day-care center in the 7th Ward. To her nieces and nephews, she is their beloved Nanny Lisa.

I helped raise my sister's kids, cause I didn't have any, Renard said.

Renard took a medical leave from her day-care center, Fun For Life Learning Center, in the summer of 2020 due to complications from diabetes.

Those complications ultimately led to the amputation of her right leg below the knee.

Determined to return to work, Renard was fitted for a prosthetic leg. She was undergoing rehabilitation at the West Jefferson Health Care Center when Hurricane Ida took aim at southeast Louisiana.

Renard said she and other residents were evacuated with little warning. She also had no way of knowing that the next four days inside a poorly equipped and overcrowded warehouse would descend into chaos and, for her, a life-or-death ordeal.

The day of us moving, I wasn't even asked if I wanted to call family or nothing, she said.

Along with 842 other patients from seven nursing homes and rehab centers, Renard was brought to a former industrial warehouse in Independence. Bob Dean Jr., owner of the nursing facilities, also owns the warehouse. His plans to move patients there had been approved by the state Department of Health.

Even before Ida made landfall, residents had concerns. The warehouse offered no privacy. Portable toilets lined the walls. Patients were placed on mattresses crowded side-by-side on the floor.

To Renard, those patients were the lucky ones.

When they rolled me in and saw they had those little cushions on the floor, I knew I couldn't lay down, she said.

Confined to her wheelchair, pressed against a wall, Renard saw distress all around her. Patients began crying out for help. Stuck in place for four days, Renard suffered silently through her own pain and indignity.

+5 After state shut down nursing homes, owner Bob Dean files appeal arguing to reopen them The owner of seven nursing homes that evacuated 843 residents to a squalid warehouse for Hurricane Ida has filed appeal documents to get his n

I couldn't get to the bathroom, she said, breaking down in tears. So that meant I just had to stay in my wheelchair and use the bathroom on myself.

As the storm roared outside, the shelter began to flood. A bad situation got worse.

Nurses and other staff members said they were forced to move patients from the flooded part of the warehouse to sections that were already jam-packed.

Natalie Henderson, a staff nurse, was one of the employees who had to try to find additional space.

They kept rolling in more residents. I'm like, Oh my God,  Henderson recalled. We had to keep pushing the patients tighter and tighter to fit everyone in.

After the storm, food and drinking water began to run short.

They were getting hungry. They were getting thirsty. And you weren't able to continue to get your medicine, Renard said.

Then, in the hours after the storm died down, Renard began suffering her own personal emergency.

+4 Who's responsible for evacuation plans for nursing homes? Louisiana officials aren't sure Louisiana state government does little to screen the nursing home natural disaster evacuation plans required by law or to ensure that nursing 

I complained and told them something was wrong with my (left) leg. I had pain. But nothing was done, she said.

As a diabetic, she knew all the symptoms.

The way I knew I was in trouble because I smelled decaying flesh. My leg had an odor, it was really bad, she said.

Three days after the storm hit, prompted by 911 calls, state health officials returned to the warehouse for what amounted to a mass rescue.

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Renard's family grew alarmed, including her cousin, Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court Arthur Morrell.

We all thought that ... she was in a safe place and they would take care of her, Morrell said.

It took about 48 hours to move all the patients from the warehouse.

Renard knew she was having a medical crisis, but she didn't know where she was going, or if anyone would take care of her. But she was able to tell rescuers one critical piece of information.

I gave them my sister's name. Thank the Lord I gave them my sister's name, she recalled through tears.

Renard said her ride in an ambulance is a blur. All she can recall is being wheeled into a mass evacuation site in Baton Rouge.

All I remember was when I got to LSU, they said, We're going to clean you up. And I laid down on like a gurney. And when I laid on that gurney, I remember nothing else.

Death toll now 15 among nursing home residents evacuated to Tangipahoa Parish warehouse State health officials now say that 15 nursing home residents have died out of a group of more than 800 that was evacuated to a warehouse in T

When Renard woke up, she was in a surgical recovery room at Baton Rouge General Hospital. She was grateful to be alive, but shocked when she was told about her condition.

I didn't know because I was out of it. I didn't know until I woke up after they had performed the surgery, she said. They took my leg off.

It was a nightmare. It was. I remember telling my sister, 'Just let me die.

She almost did die. Her sister didn't tell her until weeks later.

My sister told me that I almost died. I didn't know. I was too sick, but I didn't know how sick I was, she said.

What got her through her ordeal?

Power of prayer, everybody praying for me to make it.

Dean has been hit by at least 10 lawsuits, from patients as well as employees. A lawsuit on behalf of Renard has been drafted and is expected to be filed soon, according to her attorneys.

Amid a criminal investigation into the evacuation and warehouse conditions by state officials, all seven of Dean's nursing homes have been shut down by the Louisiana Department of Health.

The civil lawsuits are being defended by attorneys for Deans insurers. John McLindon, Deans criminal defense attorney, has appealed the state revocation of his licenses.

In the four-page appeal letter, McLindon wrote, There was no cruelty or indifference to the welfare of any of the residents. The nursing facilities were in substantial compliance with the nursing facility licensing laws, rules, and regulations.

McLindon defended the evacuation and use of the Tangipahoa warehouse in a WWL-TV interview.

We executed the plan flawlessly, McLindon said. Even LDH agrees with that. They went by and said, 'This is good. People are coming in. Everything's good.' The only thing that changed is that the storm turned and went straight to the evacuation facility.

As for Renard, she recently was forced to undergo a second operation to take even more of her infected leg, this time above the knee. She is now adjusting to life as a double amputee, recovering at a different rehab center on the west bank.

Despite her hardships, Renard is grateful. She said the power of prayer helped get her through her ordeal.

I look at it like this. Losing my leg was bad. But I didn't lose my life. I'm still alive. Thank God for that, she said.

Renard is planning to getting fitted for a second prosthetic leg. Among her goals: to, once again, work with children.

Editor's note: This story was changed on Nov. 2 to clarify where Renard was undergoing rehabilitation when Hurricane Ida hit.
For years, St. Tammany Parish voters have been hearing about the looming financial plight the parish will face if a new revenue source isn't secured for the jail and courthouse. A pair of quarter-cent sales taxes that funded those operations expired in early 2018 after voters three times shot down attempts to renew them.

Now, as voters again are being asked to adopt a sales tax for criminal justice costs, the long-threatened fiscal crisis is at hand.

By March, the parish will have exhausted the $17.3 million reserve fund that it has been draining for more than three years to pay for operations and maintenance of the jail, the 22nd Judicial District Court and the District Attorney's Office --- all costs the state requires the parish to cover.

Parish officials are hoping for a different outcome when voters go to the polls Nov. 13, touting this proposition as a quality of life tax to keep St. Tammany one of the safest parishes in Louisiana. They are also stressing the differences between this measure and the earlier, unsuccessful tax attempts.

Instead of seeking a renewal of two separate sales taxes, one for the jail and one for the courthouse, this time voters will decide a single sales tax dedicated to mandated criminal justice costs. It's 4/10ths of a cent, smaller than the two quarter cent sales taxes it would replace, and will generate $22.2 million annually. It would expire in seven years rather than 10, a decision Parish President Mike Cooper said will build voter trust.

The ballot language excludes construction and expansion that was part of the original tax dedication and remained in the renewal language.

"Unlike previous tax initiative, this one has been narrowed to fund critical operation of the criminal justice system," tax information on a parish-government informational website, keepsttammanysafe.org, says. "This is not a tax for new construction or major capital upgrades."

The retooling is the work of a 24-member revenue review panel that Cooper created to scrutinize the budgets of the parish and the agencies it is required to help fund.

The parish is explicitly breaking down how the money would be allocated: $12.1 million to Sheriff's Office and jail; $8.1 million to the District Attorney; $4.6 million to operate and maintain the courthouse; and $3.4 million to the 22nd Judicial District Court. Smaller amounts would go to other agencies, such as the City Court of East St. Tammany and the Registrar of Voters.

"We're not looking for added revenue to run parish government," Cooper said, noting that money from the parish general fund will still be needed to meet the entire cost, which he pegged at nearly $30 million.

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"We lost this revenue, over $20 million. We're trying to restore that revenue with a new initiative," he said.

The goal, Cooper said, is a properly funded criminal justice system, and the agencies aren't asking for large increases but to sustain what they have an keep up with a growing parish.

The keepsttammanysafe.org site notes that St. Tammany's populations was 2.38 times greater than in 1980 when the sales taxes were initially adopted  and at a higher rate.

Cooper said that the revenue committee considered other options, including rededicating a portion of the 2-cent sales tax that can only be spent on roads, drainage and bridges. But, he said, members felt it would be a mistake to take anything away from infrastructure needs, which are continuing to grow.

As for seeking a property tax, Cooper said that a 9-mill tax would be needed to generate the same amount of revenue, putting all of the burden on property owners. A sales tax, by contrast, is also paid by people who don't live in St. Tammany.

What happens if the tax fails? That's a question that Cooper answers carefully.

"Then we don't have the revenue to pay our state-mandated expenses. Those agencies are going to look for ways to get that revenue," he said, declining to speculate on what might happen next.

The measure has received the support of the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and the Bureau of Governmental Research, a New Orleans-based nonprofit watchdog group.

Early voting is underway and runs through Nov. 6.

Editor's note: A subhead on this story incorrectly said the tax would run for 10 years. It will run for 7 years.
Norman, OK (73070)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 48F. SE winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 48F. SE winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Norman, OK (73070)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 48F. SSE winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 48F. SSE winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Williamsport  The Financial Aid Office at Pennsylvania College of Technology is offering its resources to help current and future college students and their families complete the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Colleges and universities require the FAFSA to determine student eligibility for federal and state grants, federal loans and some scholarships. Penn College is hosting two free FAFSA completion sessions in November and February to aid the online application process.

The sessions are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 4:30-7 p.m. in Room 202 of the colleges Madigan Library. One-on-one assistance in the Financial Aid Office is also available via appointment. Registration is required for both options.

Students currently enrolled or planning to attend any college or university are invited. Students who are 23 or younger should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Most first-time students can complete the FAFSA within 45 minutes. Attendees planning to submit their FAFSA during one of the completion sessions should create a student and/or parent FSA ID at least three days prior at www.studentaid.gov. They should also bring copies of their 2020 financial documents, including federal tax returns, W-2 forms, untaxed income statements, record of child support paid or received, and amount of their current assets.

Financial Aid staff will help student and parent taxpayers use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which allows FAFSA filers to electronically transfer federal tax return information into the FAFSA.

Our Financial Aid team is excited to once again host this important event, said Jessica S. Hunter, director of financial aid at Penn College. Completing the FAFSA is essential. It truly is the cornerstone application in the financial aid process. Our goal is to help each student establish a foundation that puts them in position to maximize all financial aid resources. We understand that the financial aid process can be stressful, but we are here to assist students and their families successfully navigate the process.

To register for the FAFSA completion session or one-on-one in-office assistance, visit

www.pct.edu/finaid, call the Financial Aid Office at 570-327-4766 or email finaid@pct.edu.
Williamsport, Pa. -- An Old Lycoming Township man plead no contest today to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 death of his girlfriends 19-month old son, Kymani Moore.

Jason M. Forsyth, 22, will face between five and 10 years in state prison and up to a $25,000 fine for his role in the death of Ky'mani. He will also be required to pay restitution to the family.

In entering a no contest plea, Forsyth gave up his right to a jury trial. He admitted to acting in a reckless and grossly negligent manner with disregard for the substantial risk of severe injury or death.

Forsyth was arrested January 7, 2020 on three felony counts of murder, two felony counts of aggravated assault, and one felony charge of endangering the welfare of children and other related charges, according to Old Lycoming Township Police.

Related reading: Man charged with death of toddler

Police, along with fire departments and EMS, were called to Misner Road in Old Lycoming Township on the morning of December 21, 2018 for an unresponsive child, according to a police affidavit.

Alyssa Carpenter, Ky'mani's mother, told police that Forsyth was living with them at the time. She said that Forsyth was the only person to have had contact with Ky'mani the morning of December 21. The toddler died later that day.

According to Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade, the autopsy report showed the child died from blunt trauma. Evidence of abdominal bleeding and a skull fracture were also present, he told Judge Nancy Butts in during the plea hearing. The report also stated that the toddler had several marks and bruises from prior instances. Prosecution requested the court to schedule a sentencing date which has not yet been chosen. Forsyth remains in Lycoming County Prison with no bail. Docket sheet
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has raised controversy since Governor Wolf's commitment to the initiative in 2019 by executive order  a decision that made Pa. the first state to join without legislative approval.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a regional partnership between 10 Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states that work to limit regional carbon emissions from electric power plants in participating states, according to the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection. For an overview of RGGI and Pa's participation, watch a DEP webinar.

The process of implementing RGGI in a state can be simplified into steps:

States set a cap on the amount of allowable CO2 emissions from a plant.

The state ensures the cap is met by selling allowances to powerplants per each unit of carbon emission at their plant.

The state uses the revenue from the sale of allowances to reinvest in the state economy.

On Oct. 27, the Senate approved a concurrent resolution to block RGGI regulations on power plants. Now, the resolution moves to the House before moving to Governor Wolf for final action.

Governor Wolf is likely to veto the resolution given his support of RGGI. A two-thirds vote of approval from the Senate can override a veto; however, the senate approval on Oct. 27 was just shy of a two-thirds percentage, according to the PA environmental digest. More legislators would need to express support of the resolution if if returns to the Senate.

Legislators have been vocal about their disapproval of Pa's entry into RGGI, including Senator Gene Yaw, who serves Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Union Counties.

Sen. Yaw has stressed the rapid rise in the RGGI carbon tax, shifting from $5.20 per ton of CO2 to $9.20 per ton, over the past two years. These economic effects of RGGI are likely to hurt low-income communities and seniors the most, claimed Yaw during a Senate hearing on the resolution.

Citing data from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) and studies from Penn State and the PJM Interconnection, Sen. Yaw's press release from the hearing notes that RGGI will increase electric rates by as high as 18%.

"RGGI is a license to pollute by allowing polluters to buy credits and continue to pollute, stated Sen. Yaw.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro has also weighed in recently. Last week, Shapiro issued the following statement, according to AP news reports:

We need to take real action to address climate change, protect and create energy jobs and ensure Pennsylvania has reliable, affordable and clean power for the long term. As governor, I will implement an energy strategy which passes that test, and its not clear to me that RGGI does.

In his role as Attorney General, Shapiro formally reviewed the RGGI regulations, in their proposal form, and ruled them constitutional. The legality is questioned on the grounds that RGGI is effectively a tax because it generates more revenue than the costs accrued from power plants, reports the Pennsylvania capital star.

The Attorney General's office will review the final form of the regulations.




News Release: NREL Researchers Point Toward Energy Efficiency for Achieving 100% Renewable Grid

Nov. 2, 2021

Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount of storage needed to power the nations buildings entirely with renewable energy, according to analysis conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energys (DOEs) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

As more communities plan to eventually rely on 100% renewable energy, the researchers offer a strategy that could guide their pathsone that shifts away from long-duration storage.

Minimizing long-duration storage is a key element in trying to achieve the target cost-effectively, said Sammy Houssainy, co-author with William Livingood of a new paper that outlines an approach to 100% renewables. The research paper, Optimal Strategies for a Cost-Effective and Reliable 100% Renewable Electrical Grid, appears in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.

The researchers considered solar and wind as the source of renewable energy, given that most plans for meeting the 100% target take those into account. They also used the Department of Energys EnergyPlus and OpenStudio building energy modeling tools to simulate energy demand, considering such factors as building size, age, and occupancy type. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration informed the scientists about the existing building stock characteristics and energy load used by the buildings.

Further, the researchers separated the country into five climate zones, ranging from the hot and humid (Tampa, Florida) to the very cold (International Falls, Minnesota). The other zones encompassed the cities of New York, El Paso, and Denver. Knowing the extremes of heating and cooling demands in each zone enabled the researchers to select the appropriate mix of renewable power sources to minimize any needed storage.

While varying definitions exist in the literature, for purposes of this study the researchers define long-duration storage as energy storage systems that meet electricity demands for more than 48-hour durations. Therefore, long-duration energy storage provides power days or months after the electricity is generated. However, most long-duration storage technologies are either immature or not available everywhere. The two NREL researchers calculated reaching the last 75% to 100% of renewable energy would result in significant increases in costs associated with long-duration energy storage. Instead of focusing on storage, the researchers emphasized the optimal mix of renewable resources, oversized generation capacities, and investments in energy efficiency. The researchers note that multiple pathways exist to reach 100% renewable and, as the costs and performance of technologies change, new pathways will emerge, but they identified a key pathway that is achievable today.

They also determined that oversizing renewable capacities by a factor of 1.4 to 3.2 and aiming for 52% to 68% in energy savings through building energy-efficiency measures lead to cost-optimal paths depending on region of the country. Houssainy said making homes and offices more energy efficient reduces the amounts of renewable resources needed, decreases the amount of storage, and cuts transmission costs, ultimately supporting the implementation of a carbon-free energy system.

What's included in the paper is really a multistep process to follow, Livingood said. That process is applicable to large cities, as well small cities. Now, the end result will change, city to city, as this multistep process is followed to cost-optimally achieve the target.

For example, Tampa would generate all of its electricity from solar panels, while International Falls would receive 100% from wind turbines, the researchers calculated, in order to have the least reliance on storage.

It is not intended to replace the need for site-specific, detailed engineering design and planning processes for buildings, electric grid, and energy infrastructure, Livingood said, but we believe that our novel calculation methodology yields overarching concepts and conclusions that are broadly relevant and applicable. For cost-effectively achieving 100% renewable scenarios, our newly developed calculation methodology provides general principles that help guide these detailed engineering design and planning processes.

DOEs Building Technologies Office funded the research, under the advisement of Andrew Burr (formerly DOE).

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC.
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Audre Bagnall, an executive vice president with UChicago Medicine, said the number of bays and beds came from consultants' recommendations. She said PMB did not expect the beds and bays to be filled every day, adding that the company would monitor ER numbers. If additional beds were needed, Bagnall said, the facility would work with other area health facilities.

Councilmen Scott Evorik, R-at large, and Chad Jefferies, D-1st, said the number of beds could be discussed further when the site plan is presented.

Councilwoman Laura Sauerman, R-4th, questioned how adding eight more ER beds could be harmful to the community. Bringing more health care to the area sounds like a great idea, she said.

Early in the meeting, Dr. Daniel McCormick, president of Franciscan Health Crown Point, raised questions about the project. He requested that the City Council and BZA do additional research regarding community needs. The doctor also requested that the petition be referred back to the BZA for further findings of fact.

Planning Administrator Anthony Schlueter reported that the project would complement current uses in the area, such as the neighboring Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute. Schlueter added that his department finds the location to be an appropriate location for a micro-hospital and cancer center.
The first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighter built on the Great Lakes in 40 years has launched.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and The Interlake Steamship Co. recently hosted a launch ceremony for the M/V Mark W. Barker, a 639-foot ship that's technically still under construction in Wisconsin.

It was launched at the Sturgeon Bay shipyard in a maritime tradition marking the first time a vessel is moved into the water and which is supposed to confer good fortune on future voyages.

Today is truly gratifying for our company to commemorate the first time the completed hull of our new ship has touched water, said Mark W. Barker, Interlake president and namesake of the new ship.

It's the first new ship constructed for The Interlake Steamship Co. since 1981.
HAMMOND  A Merrillville woman is preparing to plead guilty to peddling counterfeit wrinkle remover cream.

Dina Al-Sbeihi, 37, signed a plea agreement Monday in which she will admit her guilt to a consumer fraud charge, according to a U. S. District Court online document.

The agreement states she is giving up her right to make the government prove the felony charge against her at a trial that currently is scheduled to begin Dec. 6.

She could have faced a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment if a jury found her guilty.

The U.S. attorneys office has agreed to recommend Al-Sbeihi serve no more than one year in prison. The U.S. attorney also will dismiss two other felony counts now pending against her

She would forfeit $260,739 to the court to pay restitution to the victims of her illicit wrinkle cream sales.

No date had been set Monday for her to formally change her plea.

A federal grand indicted Al-Sbeihi in June 2020 on charges she was importing counterfeit Juvederm and Restalyne products from China and elsewhere and branding them to look like authentic brand name products.
PORTAGE  A report of an intoxicated clown out on Halloween night with another man touching a child and exposing himself while urinating landed the two behind bars, Portage police said.

James Anderson, 41, with Crown Point and Valparaiso addresses, was arrested on charges of public nudity and public intoxication, according to the police report.

Jason Lach, 43, of Portage, who was dressed as a clown and carrying both a beer and handgun, also was arrested and faces a charge of public intoxication, police said.

A witness told police he was out with his wife and 4-year-old daughter in the area of Boulder Avenue and Evelyn Street after 7:30 p.m. Sunday when he was approached from behind by two men, later identified as Anderson and Lach.

The man said Anderson tapped him on his shoulder and then reached down and stroked his daughter's hair several times, police said. The man said he pushed Anderson's hand away, told him to leave and then watched as Anderson exposed himself while urinating in the street with his daughter and other children and adults in the area trick-or-treating.
VALPARAISO  A 49-year-old Valparaiso woman has pleaded guilty to stealing up to $50,000 from the parent advisory council at the Discovery Charter School in Porter while serving as the group's president.

Lisa Apato pleaded guilty to two amended and reduced counts of felony theft in return for prosecutors dropping a more serious theft count and allowing her to serve her five-year sentence on probation rather than behind bars, according to the proposed plea agreement.

Apato, who served one day behind bars in the case, will also be required to pay back $50,000 to the parent group if the proposed agreement is approved Nov. 30 by Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish.

The proposal further calls for Apato to receive misdemeanor treatment immediately following the successful completion of probation, including repayment of the stolen funds.

Apato was scheduled to go to trial Nov. 30, which would have been four years after the theft was discovered.

She was charged with a level 5 felony count of theft, which carries a potential sentence of one to six years behind bars, according to court documents.
Anyone concerned about the environment can learn how to make a difference in his or her community at a Northwest Indiana Green Drinks meeting this week.

Northwest Indiana Green Drinks will stage a presentation on "How to Grow a Green Movement: Creating a Sustainability Commission" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. It's bring your own beer and food as the meeting will take place on Zoom and Facebook Live.

Save the Dunes and the Michigan City Sustainability Commission hosts the Northwest Indiana Green Drinks meetings on the first Thursday of the month with the help of 219 Green Connect. They used to take place in local watering holes but have gone online only since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

This month's guest hosts include 95.1 FM/AM 1420 WIMS, Solar United Neighbors Indiana, Carbon Neutral Indiana and Soul Power.
VALPARAISO  Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, objects to the countys American Rescue Plan spending ordinance.

He asked when the plan was drafted and by whom.

You came into the room, said Board of Commissioners Vice President Laura Blaney, D-South, said. It was in the side chambers where (County Attorney) Scott (McClure) and I were working on it.

Biggs said he didnt have any benefit of input.

Blaney reminded him he knew commissioners were working on it for a long time.

Not once did you ever come up to me and say, Whats being included? Can I be involved? said Board of Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-Center.

The ordinance sets out how Porter County plans to spend the first half of the $33 million allotted to the county by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. It was approved in a 2-1 vote.

 $25,000 for a behavioral health study to look at ways to address the countys high number of suicides. Last year, the county saw 33 suicides; 19 have occurred so far this year, said County Council member Greg Simms, D-3rd.
The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.



BEIJING  China is the largest contributor to global warming and Chinas people are already suffering the brunt of climate change.

Historic floods that destroyed farms this summer in the countrys agricultural heartland are a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms.

Chinese government reports also predict rising sea levels will threaten major coastal cities while melting glaciers imperil western Chinas water supply. Those with the least resources to adapt are often on the frontlines of suffering in a common pattern around the world. As one farmer in Henan province said, Ordinary people suffer most.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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The Social Security Administrations most current list of the countrys top 1,000 baby names dates from 2019, so we have yet to see how these searches translate into baby naming en masse. But the experts I spoke to agreed that new parents are searching for names that represent optimism and strength.

Jennifer Moss, founder and chief executive of BabyNames.com and co-host of The Baby Names Podcast, is seeing a huge influx of gods and goddess names  Persephone, Adonis, Achilles, Athena. These are just jumping on the charts, and theyve never been there before. The name Anahita, the ancient Iranian goddess of fertility, is similarly gaining, Redmond added.

With mythological names, Moss suggested, people want to instill strength in their children, because were all feeling scared and powerless right now over this virus we cant control. How better to arm your child for the uncertain future than to give them the name of a god or goddess who has power over the universe?

Biblical names, which had been dropping off Mosss charts in past years in favor of more creative monikers, have also surged. For comfort in hard times, people turn to faith, she said. Were seeing Gabriel, Elijah, Esther, Lilith and even Naomi, which hasnt trended in a long time.

Some parents-to-be have been so distracted by the pandemic that theyve skipped the deliberation and quickly picked a name. Amanda Austin of Erie, Pa., owner of an e-commerce store specializing in dollhouse miniatures, came up with her daughters name on a whim. It was in March, when the whole world was shutting down, she said. Covid terrified me. My husband and his dad own a construction company and Pennsylvania had banned construction work.

The name Annette popped suddenly into her mind. I shared it with my husband and he loved it, Austin said. His reaction is a far cry from my other daughters naming process, where we went back and forth for months. I think we had so much going on with the pandemic that we didnt have the mental bandwidth to dig deeper. The name also reminded the couple of the 1950s, a less complicated time.

Baby names are like a mirror; they reflect whats happening in culture, said Jonah Berger, a marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Catalyst: How to Change Anyones Mind. Given the current mood, I wouldnt be surprised if traditional names get a bump.
Are the unhoused a people? If the answer is yes, then dont they deserve equal protection under the law? These questions were broached last week by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California in a long report titled Outside the Law: The Legal War Against Unhoused People. Rather than think of homelessness as a condition, the authors argue, lawmakers should protect those who live on the street in the same way that the Constitution and California law protect groups based on race, gender or religion. The report calls for state legislation prohibiting discrimination based on housing status.

Its a quietly big idea that tries to do three things at once.

First: It offers a legal framework to protect the homeless against discrimination. If, say, a city enacted a policy that made it illegal for homeless people to use public bathrooms, advocates for the homeless could then sue. As it is now, you wouldnt be able to argue that such a move was illegal because it discriminates against the homeless. This is for the very simple reason that targeting them, often with bills that dont mention them specifically but clearly have been written for them, is legal.

Second: The authors believe that classifying the unhoused as a social group and talking about them as such in public at, say, city council meetings and on national television will help negate some of the stigma attached to them. The hope is that it will force people to recognize the homeless as human beings who are part of the broader community.

Third: The idea that the homeless are a people may help garner support for the construction of more affordable and public housing.
In 2017, after the shock of Brexit and then Donald Trumps election, Christopher Bail, a professor of sociology and public policy at Duke University, set out to study what would happen if you forced people out of their social media echo chambers.

Bail is the director of the Polarization Lab, a team of social scientists, computer scientists and statisticians who study how technology amplifies political divisions. He and his colleagues came up with a simple experiment. As Bail writes in his recent book, Breaking the Social Media Prism, they recruited 1,220 Twitter users who identified as either Democrats or Republicans, offering to pay them $11 to follow a particular Twitter account for a month. Though the participants didnt know it, the Democrats were assigned to follow a bot account that retweeted messages from prominent Republican politicians and thinkers. The Republicans, in turn, followed a bot account that retweeted Democrats.

At the time, a lot of concern about the internets role in political polarization centered around what the digital activist Eli Pariser once called filter bubbles, a term for the way an increasingly personalized internet traps people in self-reinforcing information silos. The echo chamber idea was reaching its kind of apex in terms of its public influence, Bail told me. It nicely explained how Trump had won, how Brexit had happened. Bails team wanted to see if getting people to engage with ideas they wouldnt otherwise encounter might moderate their views.

The opposite happened. Nobody became more moderate, said Bail. Republicans in particular became much more conservative when they followed the Democratic bot, and Democrats became a little bit more liberal.
For those who are the greatest risk, the people we care most about detecting, rapid tests are extremely, extremely sensitive, said Dr. Mina, who is on the medical board of 4 Catalyzer, a company that is developing a rapid molecular Covid test (a process distinct from an antigen test). If I am at risk of going into a bar and infecting 20 people, these tests are almost 100 percent. It is almost perfect for finding the people who are the greatest risk to others.

For many users, at-home Covid tests give them peace of mind.

Erin Zuckerman, 35, who works in wealth management and lives in Jersey City, asks every family member or friend to take a rapid test when they visit. We have an 8-month-old baby who isnt vaccinated, she said. I cant let my guard down.

She has a routine. When anyone steps foot in her apartment, whether its her sister there to babysit or friends coming over for a dinner party, she hands them a test kit to take to the bathroom. She exposes her child only to people who are vaccinated, and even still, they have to keep their masks on until the results come back negative. Its anxiety inducing every time, she said. I find it worse than a pregnancy test to wait to see if that line comes.

Supply issues aside, there is no such thing as taking too many Covid tests, according to Dr. Mina. If everyone was doing it, it would be a major win for the population at large, he said.

The only downside is these tests have a small rate of false positives, so the more you test, the more likely you are to encounter one. The Abbott BinaxNOW test, for example, has a 0.1 percent false positive rate, according to one study, which means if you test yourself 1,000 times, one result might come as a false positive (still, it could take years for that to happen).

Dr. Mina said, according to another study, Quidel QuickVue tests have a false positivity rate of 0.8 percent, or 1 in 125. (Abbott wouldnt comment on outside studies of their test. Quidel did not respond to a request for comment.)
For Anna Deavere Smith, the transcript is the tool. A fine tool, certainly: Her brand of verbatim theater, perfected in a series of documentary plays since the early 1980s, duplicates the expressive peculiarities of real speech, making every defensive stammer and evasive curlicue count.

But thrilling as it is, mere mimicry is never the point. In an essay Smith describes actors as cultural workers reaching out, through words, into that which is different from themselves. Her goal is ambitious: to undo tribalism by modeling the innately human ability to empathize even with enemies.

This makes for some very complex drama when you dont know who the enemy is. In Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, which opened in a watered-down yet still urgent revival by the Signature Theater Company on Monday evening, Smith juggles excerpts from 320 interviews with people on all sides of the riots that broke out in the citys South Central neighborhood that year. Arranging them in kaleidoscopic patterns, she keeps your sympathies switching so fast you find yourself experiencing a kind of moral whiplash.

Smith often plays every character in the first major productions of her plays. In Twilight, that means swiftly embodying some 40 people of various ages, genders and ethnicities. Talking about the uprising that followed the acquittal of the police officers who viciously beat King in 1991, they try to explain what happened, no two having the same point of view.
According to statements that passengers who witnessed the episode made to the F.B.I. agent, the flight attendant asked Mr. Hsu to stay away from the bathroom, and Mr. Hsu punched her in the face with sufficient force to cause her to hit the lavatory door. Another witness described the passenger striking her with his fist in a way that appeared practiced or trained.

After the flight attendant was struck, another flight attendant repeatedly asked Mr. Hsu to sit in his seat, according to the filing. Mr. Hsu did not initially comply but finally sat down, and then, one witness told the authorities, Mr. Hsu was restrained with tape and later plastic bonds.

Mr. Hsu told the authorities a different account. He said that he was returning to California from New York after having brain surgery in Rhode Island to reconstruct portions of his skull after he was assaulted in New York City in fall 2020 and sustained a skull injury, according to the filing.

Mr. Hsu said he got up from his seat on the plane to use the restroom and stretch. While he was stretching, Mr. Hsu said, he accidentally bumped the flight attendant, and she began swinging at him with her hands, the filing said. Mr. Hsu said that he backed up towards his seat and raised his hands defensively and that she hit her nose against the palm of his right hand.

Mr. Hsu told the authorities that he sometimes experiences a mental fog and that he became scared because an impact to his head in its current state could cause him severe injury or death, according to the complaint.
The potential jurors were summoned from across Kenosha County, including people who live in the heart of the city of Kenosha along Lake Michigan, where the protests, looting and arson occurred, as well as those from rural farming communities in the western part of the county, on the other side of the expressway connecting Chicago and Milwaukee.

Kenosha County is nearly split politically, voting for former President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, then flipping to narrow victories for former President Donald J. Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Judge Schroeder sent home dozens of potential jurors, including one woman who told him that she had recently moved to Chicago, but he was hesitant to excuse others with more minor troubles: a scheduled surgery, a work conflict, a health problem that causes debilitating migraines.

Many people in the jury pool said that not only had they followed the news in the Rittenhouse case, but they had formed such deeply held views on it that they were not comfortable serving on the jury.

I just cant see how I can get it out of my head, one man told the judge of his opinions, just before he was dismissed.

My opinion is set in stone on this, another man said.

One woman said her husband had such strong feelings about the Rittenhouse case that serving on a jury whose decision went against his view meant, she said in a quavering voice, that she would not want to go home.

Thomas Binger, a prosecutor, asked the potential jurors if they had given money to Mr. Rittenhouses defense fund; if they or family members had participated in the demonstrations in August; and if they agreed that human life was more valuable than property.
It was the kind of spotlight associated with a certain other young climate activist: A hall full of world leaders and a speaking slot preceding the secretary general of the United Nations.

The woman in the spotlight was not Greta Thunberg, but Txai Surui, a 24-year-old Indigenous climate activist from Brazil, making her first appearance on the world stage. On the opening day of the global climate summit in Glasgow, she made an eloquent appeal drawing attention to the devastating deforestation of the Amazon.

The Earth is speaking, Ms. Surui said. She tells us that we have no more time.

The animals are disappearing, she added. The rivers are dying, and our plants dont flower like they did before.

Ms. Surui told the heads of state in the audience that they were closing your eyes to reality and their timetables for reducing carbon emissions and scaling back the use of fossil fuels were inadequate.
The underlying tension of the summit is the stark disconnect between what the leaders of the biggest global warmers have so far promised and what scientists and civic leaders say must be done.

There is also a disconnect between what has been promised and what has been actually delivered. Leaders of developing countries reminded the summit, for example, that poorer nations have yet to receive the $100 billion in annual climate aid by 2020 that was once pledged.

Several leaders, among them Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, and Gaston Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, pressed forcefully for a discussion of loss and damage. They are, in effect, demanding reparations of a sort for countries that bear little responsibility for the emissions warming the earth  but are already suffering the effects.

Late on Monday, leaders from more than 100 countries, including Brazil and China, did pledge to end deforestation by 2030, and a suite of measures is intended to channel that goal into action. Governments committed $12 billion and private companies $7 billion to protect and restore forests in a variety of ways, including $1.7 billion for Indigenous peoples.

But experts say the commitments countries have made to reduce emissions are nowhere close to what is necessary. And there remains a question about whether even those limited commitments can be met.

In the United States, Mr. Biden is struggling to deliver on his ambitious climate targets. He spent much of Monday talking up his Build Back Better climate and social policy proposals. But in fact his administration had already been forced to abandon the centerpiece policy of that bill  a measure that would incentivize the power sector to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy  because of objections by Senator Joe Manchin III of coal-reliant West Virginia.
Queen Elizabeth II, absent from the climate summit because of health concerns but not silent, urged world leaders on Monday to rise above their current political differences and show true statesmanship for the sake of the planet.

In a video message to the COP26 gathering in Glasgow, the 95-year-old monarch said that nations had overcome insurmountable problems and adversity throughout history by cooperating.

It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics, she said. But what they do for the people of tomorrow  that is statesmanship.

The queen, wearing green and a butterfly brooch, had canceled her visit to Scotland on the advice of doctors because of what Buckingham Palace described as fatigue.
Manuel Neri, a noted San Francisco artist whose life-size figurative sculptures, often painted and usually of women, evoked classical statuary while updating it for the 20th century, died on Oct. 18 at his home in Sacramento. He was 91.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, the artist Ruby Neri.

Mr. Neri was a younger presence in the Bay Area Figurative Movement, which encompassed a group of artists in the 1950s and 60s who bucked the trend toward Abstract Expressionism and returned to figure-focused art. Its members included the painters Richard Diebenkorn and David Park and the sculptor and ceramicist Peter Voulkos. Mr. Neri studied with Mr. Diebenkorn and Mr. Voulkos, among others in the movement.

In plaster, bronze and other materials, Mr. Neri rendered figures sometimes without heads or arms and painted directly on the casts, incorporating scratched or textured detailing. His oeuvre centered on the female form; the poet Mary Julia Klimenko was his model for much of his career.
Demessieux seemed destined to take a top liturgical position, at Dupres St.-Sulpice or even at Notre-Dame. But shortly after her debut, Dupre, who appears to have been fed unfounded rumors that Demessieux had been disloyal, cut off contact with his pupil and resolved to sabotage her career.

Instead, Demessieux stayed with her familys parish church, where she had been organist since she was 12, until she succeeded Camille Saint-Saens and Gabriel Faure as titulaire, or chief organist, at the church of the Madeleine in 1962. She prospered at a Cavaille-Coll instrument with which she had a rare bond, having recorded a transcendent Franck cycle on it in 1959, the high point of an invaluable eight-disc set from Eloquence that came out earlier this year, amply documented with notes by the organist DArcy Trinkwon.

Although Demessieux was a star in the 1940s and 50s, when she kept up a punishing concert schedule alongside her liturgical work and her teaching in Liege, Belgium, her status faltered after her death from cancer in 1968, at just 47. The Eloquence set gives her Decca tapes their first release on a major label in the CD era.

Part of the reason for Demessieuxs ebbing fortunes can be traced to the rise of neoclassical and period performance practices, which made her impulsive, lyrical, heartfelt style  one that brought a singular lightness of touch to a grand symphonic tradition  seem outdated, especially in the Bach and Handel with which she often opened her concerts.

Part of the reason, too, was the difficulty of her compositions, some of which were unpublished until recently and were promoted mostly by students like Pierre Labric. Although her whirling Te Deum from 1958, inspired by the Aeolian-Skinner organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, has had sustained success, works like her etudes, her Triptyque and her late Prelude and Fugue pushed the frontiers of the possible, and they remain ferociously hard even now, Tharp said  things she really wrote for herself.
There are many growth areas in television these days, but few are as busy or offer as much variety as adult animation. Already the format for more than a few of the recent pasts most richly entertaining shows  Bojack Horseman, Bobs Burgers, Rick and Morty, Archer, Tuca & Bertie  it has only gained momentum. New series arrive every week (and thats not counting the quarterly infusion of anime), perhaps driven by a combination of evolving tastes and pandemic-induced production shifts.

They can take the form of superhero and science-fiction genre stories, like Amazon Prime Videos Invincible, HBO Maxs Gen:Lock (premiering Thursday) or Adult Swims Blade Runner: Black Lotus (Nov. 13). Many still crop up in the broad category of wacky-family comedies, like Foxs The Great North or The Harper House on Paramount+. Some lean into animations license for transgression, like Adult Swims Teenage Euthanasia, Netflixs Chicago Party Aunt or Tubis The Freak Brothers (Nov. 14). Others, you suspect, might require too much courage to try to pull off with live actors, like Fairfax, Amazons satire of teen influencers and hypebeast culture, or Q-Force, Netflixs irreverent comedy about a cadre of L.G.B.T.Q. spies.

Inspired by the return of Netflixs Big Mouth, here are three excellent adult-animation series that take very different approaches to the same goal: Whether its through theatrical smuttiness, minimalist degradation or surreal fantasy, each has something to say about the real lives of young people.

Big Mouth

The most unrelentingly and entertainingly dirty show on the small screen returns with a fifth season on Friday. Like neurotic New Yorkers in a Sondheim musical, its adolescent characters are endlessly talkative when it comes to their obsessions: masturbation, the dimensions of the organs involved in masturbation, the likes and dislikes of the classmates they think about while theyre masturbating.
Sometimes the actor Michael C. Hall likes to think about his own obituary. He knows that Dexter, the Showtime drama he starred in for eight seasons, will make its way into its first paragraph.

If not the first sentence, he said.

A show about Dexter Morgan (Hall), a Miami blood spatter analyst who moonlights as a quippy serial killer, Dexter premiered in 2006, at the knife point of televisions antihero obsession. A perennial Emmy contender during its run, the show has a complicated legacy. It ended in 2013 with an episode, Remember the Monsters?, that often ranks with the worst finales in TV history. (Quick recap: flatlining sister, murder by pen, well-timed hurricane, Dexter is a lumberjack now.)

It left a bad taste in audiences mouths and in mine as well, he said. This was on a sun-glazed October afternoon at an outdoor cafe near his uptown apartment, and he was bettering that bad taste with a scone and an Americano. Hall likes his coffee the way he likes his prestige series  dark  and his sense of humor skews bleak, too. He made several jokes about cancer (he survived Hodgkins lymphoma a decade ago), which he leavened with his thin smile.

Hall has a square chin, broad Cro-Magnon brow and flinty green eyes. (Paleolithic, but sexy with it.) In a baby blue shirt with long underwear peeking out beneath, he looked like any other fashionably rugged Upper West Sider. But fans recognize him pretty often, and when they do, they shout, Dexter, not Michael. They ask him to pretend-murder them for selfies. They used to tell him that they wished that the show would come back. And in some ways, Hall wished for that, too.
NEW YORK, MY VILLAGE

By Uwem Akpan

It is impossible to find the village of Ikot Ituno-Ekanem, home to the Annang tribe in the Niger Delta, on the internet. This is where Ekong Udousoro, the protagonist of Uwem Akpans debut novel, New York, My Village, is from. When we meet Ekong, he is a former professor and managing editor in Uyo, Nigeria, in the process of acquiring a visa to travel to New York for a fellowship, named after Toni Morrison, at the fictional publishing house Andrew & Thompson. There, he is to edit an anthology on the Biafran War that will bring the atrocities committed against his people to a greater audience.

Akpan is precise in balancing his main characters (at times) naive optimism with his readers knowledge of class and race-based homogeneity in Western publishing. It is with a wince and a laugh that one reads Ekongs prediction: It was to be my first time in America. I had seen a lot of America on TV and spoke American English, so it was not going to be that complicated. But to summarize the book as a satire on New Yorks publishing industry belittles its aims. Before he gets to the titular city, Ekong is twice denied for a visa because he cannot prove the existence of his tribe or the war crimes it has survived, prompting doubt from embassy officials about the legitimacy of his project in New York. What sort of country in the 21st century cannot even count its ethnic groups? he wonders. How do you know who is who? Does the price for the lack of this basic knowledge have to be being mistakenly slaughtered along with others? How does one become a minority? How does one stop being a minority?

The answer to that final question is the books success. Akpans examination of the publishing industry serves less to mock and more to chart the ways in which narrative is essential in the forming of cultural groups. Various characters are often asked to write memoirs that would situate their identities in trauma, a precept Akpan steadfastly rejects. This is a book in which African American spirituals are dubbed ultra-sad songs about slavery, and which instead encourages literary holism. Ekongs 600-page anthology, like this novel itself, extends sympathy to both Annangs and Biafrans, encompassing texts by Chinua Achebe, S.E. Orobator, Brig. Gen. Godwin Alabi-Isama and others.

Image To summarize the book as a satire on New Yorks publishing industry belittles its aims.

That is not to say that Akpan envisions universal harmony  interpersonal connections become complicated by tightly held ethnic and racial ideologies. Ekongs relationships at home and abroad are continually lost and regained as characters navigate one anothers differing cultural identities. Keith, his African American neighbor in New York, quickly conflates his experiences with those of Black Africans; and Molly, the white-passing publisher of Andrew & Thompson, makes efforts toward diversification that sometime manifest as microaggressions themselves. Ekongs marriage to Caro, back in Nigeria, is strained by her grandfathers treachery in the war. Most strikingly, there is Ujai, the American-raised daughter of Ekongs childhood friend, who represents our Black diaspora burning at both ends.
A professor at Harvard Law School and a prolific scholar and commentator on current affairs, Feldman is well equipped to assess Lincolns constitutional record. A lucid, provocative stylist and an expert in fields ranging from Islamic politics to the American separation of church and state, he is widely known for an illuminating political biography of James Madison. The Broken Constitution can be read as a sequel to that book, connecting the nations founding and early years to what Lincoln called the astounding outcome of the Civil War. Indeed, Feldman roots his interpretation of Lincoln and slavery in what he now calls the compromise Constitution that Madison and the other framers hammered out  the Constitution, he says, that Lincoln would eventually break.

From the start, however, Feldmans depiction of the Constitutions connection to slavery is questionable. Although he calls it the compromise Constitution, Feldmans Constitution was almost seamlessly pro-slavery. The famous negotiations that offered concessions to the slaveholders come across more like abject submission. Feldman ignores the antislavery currents inside the Federal Convention that challenged and sometimes defeated the pro-slavery delegates. He overlooks how much the Constitutions provision authorizing abolition of U.S. participation in the Atlantic slave trade was an antislavery victory over the lower South, which tried to block it as a dealbreaker  a measure that, even when weakened by a maneuver Madison bemoaned, was the first serious blow ever against the trade undertaken in the name of a national government. Feldman fails to see the Constitution as an ambiguous document that offered protections to the slaveholders but also contained considerable antislavery potential, sufficient for thoughtful if wishful Northern abolitionists like Benjamin Rush to hail it as the death knell of slavery.

Having erased the Constitutions ambiguities over slavery, Feldman claims antislavery activists down to Lincoln could not seriously invoke the Constitution in order to attack slavery because the Constitution said nothing against the practice. With little more to go on than the wispy, hypocritical egalitarian phrases in the Declaration of Independence  dismissed by Feldman as the slaveholders Declaration  antislavery advocates supposedly railed against slavery with admirable moral fervor but feeble constitutional backing. When Lincoln carefully constructed a historical and constitutional argument for halting slaverys expansion and hastening its doom for his famous Cooper Institute address in 1860, the result, Feldman contends, was an odd performance that incoherently identified antislavery possibilities in the framers compromise Constitution. Eradicating slavery, Feldman insists, would require breaking the very Constitution that Lincoln claimed to venerate.

In fact, as historians have been detailing for decades, antislavery spokesmen and organizations, from the framer Benjamin Franklin in 1790 up to and including Lincolns Republican Party, repeatedly seized upon provisions in the Constitution, from the preambles general welfare clause to the provision granting Congress authority over the national territories, as instruments to hasten slaverys demise. Three generations of antislavery constitutionalists, while admitting that the Constitution barred Congress from directly abolishing slavery in the states where it already existed, pushed numerous strategies to place slavery, as Lincoln would put it, in course of ultimate extinction. The antislavery constitutionalists demands  above all to halt slaverys expansion, bar the admission of new slaveholding states and uphold state laws that would obstruct the capture and return of fugitive slaves  in time persuaded no less stalwart an abolitionist than Frederick Douglass that the Constitution was a glorious liberty document. As incorporated in the Republican Party platform, those demands led directly to Lincolns ascension in 1860, Southern secession and the civil war that ended in slaverys abolition.

Contrary to Jefferson Davis, Lincoln and the Republicans triumph did not break the Constitution; it broke the pro-slavery view of the Constitution while vindicating the long beleaguered antislavery view. Nor did Lincoln break an already broken Constitution by assuming quasi-dictatorial powers in order to preserve the Union. Feldmans charge that Lincoln violated respect for constitutional popular sovereignty by refusing to acquiesce in Southern secession elides that the Constitution established the majority as sovereign in national affairs, and it rests on the assumption, rightly disputed by Lincoln, that the Southern fire-eaters truly represented the will of the Southern citizenry. Even President James Buchanan stated that secession was unconstitutional. Feldmans criticisms of Lincoln for trivializing and then suspending habeas corpus in much of the North have more merit. Still, it strains credulity to indict Lincoln for tyranny because he took emergency actions, almost exclusively against Confederates, spies and other traitors, in order to save democratic government, all the while holding open elections and suffering the merciless attacks of Democrats.
The haunted man at the heart of Jai Chakrabartis A PLAY FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (Knopf, 304 pp., $27) is one of the few survivors of a generation, a Polish immigrant in New York who cant forget the makeshift family that was transported to Treblinka without him. Jaryk and his older friend, Misha, first met in a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw and now theyre the only two of its former residents able to testify to the heroism of its director, a historical figure named Janusz Korczak, who spurned an opportunity to save himself and accompanied his young charges to the gas chamber.

Chakrabarti writes that his title refers to a play by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, about a dying child living through his imagination, that Korczak staged at the orphanage in 1942  an attempt to comfort his beloved boys and girls, to prepare them for what was to come. Chakrabarti uses this historical footnote to envision a whole new fictional production, organized 30 years later by an Indian academic trying to save an endangered village whose inhabitants have fled the violent birth of the new nation of Bangladesh. Invited to participate, Misha eagerly accepts. But Jaryk, who has finally met a woman he might trust with a glimpse of his past, lets him fly to Calcutta alone.

Mishas sudden death sends Jaryk on a journey halfway across the globe that will plunge him into an increasingly complicated political drama. But its the plight of Lucy, the newly pregnant American he leaves behind, that gives Jaryks moral dilemma added intimacy: Will honoring past loyalties sabotage those of the present and future? As the novel moves between Lucy in America and Jaryk in India, with interludes that return to the Warsaw ghetto, we come to understand Jaryks guilt-stricken need to burrow into oblivion  and to hope that another need will somehow uproot it.
A mathematician who hates imaginary numbers  Get 1 out of me! he shrieks  D-503 is the golden boy of the One State. He gazes longingly at the Integral, comparing its machinations to a ballet. Why is this dance beautiful? he writes. Answer: because the movements are unfree. The deeper teaching of this dance lies in its absolute aesthetic bondage, its ideal unfreedom. But the steely blades of the Integral soon find a romantic rival for D-503s affections. One day, during one of the state-sanctioned Personal Hours, he takes a walk and meets I-330, a sharp-toothed woman with angular eyebrows, whose resemblance to a right angle seems to do it for him. He describes her as slender, sharp, supple and stubborn, like a whip.

Before long, I-330 sneaks him away to the House of Antiquity, a museum of the before-times filled with ephemera of the ancients: books, candleholders, rows of furnishings in epileptic disarray, impossible to incorporate into any equation. Later, she surprises him by wearing something other than the prescribed uniform, an ancient dress  paper thin, saffron yellow: one thousand times more evil than if shed been wearing nothing at all. Before long it is clear: I-330 is a rebel, part of a secret group looking to topple the One State and bring back the days of alcohol, Scriabin and poetry not sanctioned by the State.

Zamyatin was born in Lebedyan, Russia, in 1884. He joined the Bolshevik Party early on and took part in the Revolution of 1905, for which he was imprisoned and exiled to the provinces. After a stint in England (overseeing the construction of icebreakers), he returned to Russia in 1917 and witnessed the October Revolution unfold up close. Euphoric, he threw himself headlong into party work, sitting on the boards of literary organizations and offering lectures on the craft of fiction. He also became a significant literary critic, and his greatest pet peeve was the influence of Taylorism  a 19th-century American philosophy of efficiency  on a new movement of worker-writers called Proletkult. Their leading adherent was the writer Alexander Bogdanov, whose novel Red Star (1908) was about a scientist and revolutionary who travels to Mars and finds a perfect socialist society predicated on technology and ruthless efficiency. The Proletkult writers were also too eager, Zamyatin thought, to play the part of court poets, and for an increasingly censorious court at that. In a 1921 essay titled I Am Afraid (translated by Mirra Ginsburg), he wrote: True literature can exist only where it is created, not by diligent and trustworthy officials, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels and skeptics.

We has the distinction of being the first novel officially banned in the Soviet Union. Glavlit, the Soviet organ responsible for literary censorship, was established in 1922, just a year after Zamyatin completed work on the book. Just before it was outlawed, he sent a copy abroad, and thus We was first published not in Russian but in English (in a translation by Gregory Zilboorg), by the U.S. publisher Dutton in 1924. Trouble came when excerpts appeared in Russian in an emigre journal in Prague. To protect Zamyatin, the editor insisted they were retranslations and not  importantly  from an original version the author might have furnished for circulation abroad after the ban. The Soviets erred on the side of suspicion, as was their wont. Zamyatin quickly fell out of favor and was unable to get any of his new work published. In 1931, he appealed directly to Stalin to let him move abroad, with the condition that he would return as soon as it becomes possible in Russia to serve great ideas in literature without cringing before little men. It was arranged for Zamyatin and his wife to move to Paris, where he lived until he died of a heart attack in 1937.

In 1946, George Orwell got his hands on the English translation of We and reviewed it in The Tribune. So far as I can judge, he wrote, it is not a book of the first order, but it is certainly an unusual one. Orwells enthusiasm led to a timely reissue in 1952. In the aftermath of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, We struck readers as eerily prophetic. The same is true now. In a foreword to this new edition, Margaret Atwood writes: Stalins show trials and mass purges would not take place for a decade  yet here is the general plan of later dictatorships and surveillance capitalisms, laid out in We as if in a blueprint.
Old rifts divide the first day of COP26

The opening day of a climate summit in Glasgow was heavy on dire warnings and light on substantive proposals as prime ministers and presidents met to discuss a warming world. Longstanding tensions emerged over who should bear responsibility for cutting emissions, while less-developed countries demanded more aid and swifter action from wealthier ones.

The aim of the summit is for countries to nudge each other into strengthening their own climate plans and keep warming limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, so that the worst effects of climate change can be averted. We are standing at an inflection point in world history, President Biden said, calling climate change an existential threat to human existence as we know it.

Every corner of the world will feel the effects of global warming, but they will be most drastic for small island nations  particularly low-lying ones, like Fiji or Barbados, that could be swallowed whole by rising seas.

Britains about-face: Once a leading polluter, the country is now trying to be a leader on using renewable energy. But experts question whether its commitment is sufficient, and whether it can persuade other nations to meet meaningful goals.
Carmakers have been able to blunt some of the sting by raising prices, passing on some of the pain to car buyers. Ford and General Motors last week both reported big drops in sales and profits for the summer period, but raised their profit forecasts for the full year. Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars, said Friday that its net profit rose 20 percent in the third quarter even though the company sold 25 percent fewer vehicles. Higher sticker prices more than compensated.

The pain is falling hardest on workers and anyone in need of an affordable car. Auto companies have been allocating scarce chips to high-end and other vehicles that generate the most profit, leading to long waits for less expensive vehicles. Used car prices are skyrocketing because of the lack of new cars.

Vehicles with high profit margins like Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado pickups are continuing to get pumped out, said Ram Kidambi, a partner at the consulting firm Kearney who is based in Detroit. But vehicles that have lower margins are getting impacted, and therefore the work force there is getting impacted.

The crunch started last year as the prices of key raw materials like steel and copper began climbing, said Viren Popli, the chief executive of Mahindra Ag North America, an arm of the giant Indian vehicle manufacturer that makes tractors for the United States market.

The worlds uneven bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic meant that the far-flung links of the global supply chain were out of sync and could not connect. By late summer, the United States was starting to deliver booster shots, while a devastating outbreak in Malaysia shut down factories.

Mahindra quickly gobbled up its existing inventory of parts and then had to wait for refills. But they were delayed in ports with hundreds of ships backed up and container costs spiraling to $20,000 from $3,000.
Hecate Energy, a renewable energy developer, had hoped to install a 500-acre solar farm in Copake, N.Y., a quiet town nestled between the Catskill and Berkshire Mountains. The setting was ideal because of its proximity to an electrical substation, critical to the power transmission.

But after facing an outcry from some in the community who feared the installation would mar the bucolic setting, Hecate scaled back its plans.

We heard loud and clear, said Diane Sullivan, Hecates senior vice president for environmental and permitting. People felt that the project was too large and they wanted us to shrink it down.

Hecate cut the size of the planned development to 245 acres, which it says will still produce the 60 megawatts of electricity in the original design.
GLASGOW  The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would heavily regulate methane, a potent greenhouse gas that spews from oil and natural gas operations and can warm the atmosphere 80 times as fast as carbon dioxide in the short term.

For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency intends to limit the methane coming from roughly one million existing oil and gas rigs across the United States. The federal government previously had rules that aimed to prevent methane leaks from oil and gas wells built since 2015, but they were rescinded by the Trump administration. Mr. Biden intends to restore and strengthen them, aides said. Older oil and gas rigs tend to leak more methane than new systems.

The announcement came as more than 100 nations around the world joined together at a United Nations climate change summit here to promise to curb global emissions of methane 30 percent by 2030. If they succeed, that will be the equivalent of eliminating emissions from every car, truck, airplane and ship, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

This is huge, Mr. Birol said at an event where countries outlined their methane plans.

President Biden called the agreement a game-changing commitment and insisted the new efforts will help create jobs to manufacture technologies for methane detection while employing pipefitters and welders to cap abandoned wells and plug leaking pipelines.
Headliner

Four

After the chef Jesse Schenker made his name at Recette and The Gander in Manhattan, he decamped for the Long Island village of Oyster Bay, where he opened 2 Spring with Claudia Taglich, his business partner, in early 2018. Now, he has another restaurant ready to make its debut next door. Called Four, its in a historic Victorian cottage. (The two restaurants connect by a glass-covered pavilion that functions as an expanded dining room for 2 Spring.) Four has just 10 upholstered seats at a marble counter surrounding a demonstration kitchen done in simple Scandinavian style with blond wood set within the cottages white brick and siding. A painting of Anthony Bourdain is a centerpiece on one wall, and a huge Bonnet range equipped with a Japanese charcoal grill helms the kitchen. There, Mr. Schenker will be onstage so to speak, preparing and serving a 10- to 12-course tasting menu, $245, for one of the more elevated dining experiences available on Long Island. Mr. Schenker said he missed the ad hoc menus he used to prepare on Mondays at Recette. I am thrilled for the opportunity to cook in a similar intimate style for my guests, he said. Among the dishes hes planning are an oyster tartlet, langoustine with Champagne essence, rigatoni with giant clam and chiles, foie gras with a duck fat croissant, Mishima Wagyu with wasabi and onion, and chocolate pot de creme. Mr. Schenkers attention to detail will extend beyond the food and the list for 500 wines (from an underground cellar) to the tableware, with no pieces repeated throughout the dinner. Soon, he will open Provisions, a retail food shop, in a building around the corner. (Opens Thursday)

4 Spring Street (Shore Avenue), Oyster Bay, N.Y., 516-624-6877, 4springstreet.com.

Opening

The Mermaid Inn

This third location of Mermaid Inn, in the former Red Cat space in Chelsea, was open for just six days before lockdown in March 2020. It has reopened. The owners, Danny Abrams and Cindy Smith, have also announced that with a new partner, Jeff Bank, the chief executive of Alicart, which owns Carmines and Virgils, they will be opening a vast new Mermaid Inn next spring. It will be in the 15,000-square-foot space that housed Heartland Brewery at 127 West 43rd Street.

227 10th Avenue (23rd Street), 646-905-5900, themermaidnyc.com.

Greenpoint Fish at Threes Brewing

Because indoor seating is very limited at its home base on Nassau Avenue, the restaurant arm of this fish market is taking up residence at Threes Brewing a few blocks away. (For now, there will be no restaurant service at the market.) From Friday through April 30, their oysters, salads, smoked fish pate, chowder, tacos, fried calamari and sandwiches will be on the menu for indoor and outdoor dining and takeaway. (Friday)

113 Franklin Street (Kent Street), Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 731-333-3430, greenpointfish.com.

Merakia

This Greek steakhouse known for its spit-roasted lamb for two has reopened with a new consulting chef, Jean Charles Metayer, who has restaurants in Athens. The restaurateur James Paloumbis is now the managing partner.

5 West 21st Street, 212-380-1950, merakia.com.
Still, about three in 10 parents say they will definitely not get the vaccine for their 5- to 11-year-old child, according to the most recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Only about three in 10 parents said they would immunize their child right away, a percentage that has barely budged since similar polls in July and September.

Many other parents are eager to see their children vaccinated as quickly as possible. Anticipating the C.D.C.s decision, the Biden administration has enlisted more than 20,000 pediatricians, family doctors and pharmacies to administer the shots. About 15 million doses are already being shipped to vaccination sites across the country, federal officials said on Monday.

Children ages 5 to 11 will receive one-third of the dose authorized for those 12 and older, and the vaccine will be delivered with smaller needles and packaged in smaller vials to avoid a mix-up with adult doses.

About half of the parents in the Kaiser poll said they worried about mandates that would force them to inoculate their children. Schools in all 50 states already require certain vaccines, but those have full approvals from the F.D.A. Covid vaccines for children have only been given emergency authorizations thus far.

California this month became the first state to say it would require children who attend public and private schools in the state to be immunized as early as next fall  but only after the vaccine is fully approved by the F.D.A. Even in states with mandates, some students may be able to opt out by citing medical reasons or religious beliefs.
Coronavirus vaccines were significantly less effective in protecting people with weakened immune systems than they were for other people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday, buttressing the agencys call for immunocompromised adults to receive third or fourth doses of vaccines.

Two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines were 77 percent effective against Covid-related hospitalization for immunocompromised people. That was a significant degree of protection, the agency said, but far lower than the shots benefit to people without immune deficiencies: In those people, the agency said, the vaccines were 90 percent effective against Covid hospitalizations.

The Moderna vaccine also offered more protection to people with weakened immune systems than did the Pfizer shot, mirroring results seen across American adults. And certain people with immune deficiencies  especially organ or stem cell transplant recipients, who often take drugs to suppress their immune systems and prevent rejection of the transplant  showed weaker responses to Covid vaccines than other categories of immunocompromised people did.

The study did not examine recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

To help immunocompromised people mount a more aggressive immune response, the C.D.C. suggests that they be given three doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, plus an additional booster shot six months after the third dose. In addition, the agencys scientists wrote, they should take precautions like wearing masks, and be considered for treatments like monoclonal antibody therapy as early as possible after a Covid diagnosis.
The ruling underscored what legal experts have asserted from the outset about the opioid litigation: that apportioning responsibility will be very difficult, because opioids pass through so many entities  including manufacturers, medical supply distributors, doctors and pharmacies, including big-box retailers  before reaching a patient. Crucially, the medication is federally approved. Moreover, establishing a nexus between the corporate entities and the substantial illegal trafficking of opioids is also very challenging.

Adam Zimmerman, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles who studies mass litigation, said that it was difficult to predict whether the ruling was an outlier, because so few cases have been decided among thousands that are employing similar legal strategies by both sides. Nevertheless, he said: Its the first defense win so it suggests that maybe as these cases are litigated instead of being settled there are opportunities for defendants to score victories.

He noted that the plaintiffs approach was to rely heavily on statistical modeling of pill volume, overdoses and deaths rather than producing individual prescriptions and tying them to outcomes.

The defendants have said over and over again that the plaintiffs need to establish with precision exactly what illegal marketing behavior of theirs caused the opioid epidemic or whether the crisis would have just emerged anyway, Mr. Zimmerman said. But other judges, he said, may find the plaintiffs macro approach persuasive.

Indeed an Oklahoma state judge presiding over a 2019 bench trial against Johnson & Johnson ruled against the company, finding it liable for $465 million, a decision that is currently on appeal. In July, the company proposed a nationwide settlement of $5 billion over nine years, pending approval by plaintiffs in thousands of cases. At the time, the California plaintiffs chose not to participate because of their ongoing trial.

Judge Wilsons decision is labeled tentative, a procedural term, although in practice it is final. The plaintiffs have already announced they will appeal and noted that this is just one state case among thousands that have been filed.

The people of California will have their opportunity to pursue justice on appeal and ensure no opioid manufacturer can engage in reckless corporate practices that compromise public health in the state for their own profit, the lawyers said in a statement.
The letter may as well have been engineered to stir up longstanding anxieties. One American Jewish obsession is something euphemistically called continuity, and might more prosaically be called future Jewish babies who will grow up to have more Jewish babies. Will Jews intermarry out of existence? Will they stop attending synagogue, even on the High Holy Days? Has the median American Jew  Ashkenazic, native-born, lightly religious  become a white person who knows a potato pancake is called a latke? For a worried establishment, Israel  along with memory of the Holocaust, whose firsthand witnesses grow fewer every year  has been the solution. Like a flying buttress, Israel has held up the American Jewish community from the outside: a living instantiation of thriving Jewish peoplehood that can be utilized to strengthen the worlds largest Diaspora community, whose synagogues sometimes hang an Israeli flag alongside the American one and many of whose seminaries require students to spend time studying in Israel. American Jews are not that worried about how American Jews feel about God, because Gods not such an important religious symbol in American Jewish life, Shaul Kelner, a sociologist at Vanderbilt University, told me. Israel and the Holocaust are.

The letter intimated not only that the pro-Israel consensus is fraying, which has been apparent for a while, but something else, too: That the primary cause of this fraying may not be something as straightforward as the actions of Israels governments or the assimilation of American Jews. Instead, a generation of Jews is confronting head-on the tension between Jewish universalist principles and the idea of Jewish particularity  that Jews possess special obligations toward one another. For years, American Jews could look upon Israel as a tiny state full of long-oppressed people with hostile neighbors, and even see themselves as underdogs in their own country, so this tension could remain largely out of view.

The letter entered this fraught terrain when it asked American Jews to view the Mideast conflict structurally, as another instance of one powerful groups oppressing the less powerful one. This was its most profound and destabilizing argument: That Jews, after two dozen centuries of dispossession, persecution and exile have the upper hand and the responsibility to act like it. Hannah Bender, a third-year student at Hebrew Union College, put it to me this way: All of our texts were written during a history when we were the victims. What do we do now that we have power?

Most living American Jews grew up during an era when strong support for Israel was a cornerstone of the community. Attending preschool, day school or Hebrew School, a Jewish child dropped coins into blue-and-white tins for the Jewish National Fund, the early Zionist organization founded to support the pre-state community. Every year, he attended a summer camp where he learned to sing Zionist folk anthems. For his birthday and bar mitzvah, he received Israel Bonds and trees planted in Israel in his name; if he visited Israel, he physically planted the tree himself. If he was a young adult in the last 20 years, he may have visited Israel for 10 days on Birthright Israels dime, where he rode a camel, rafted the Jordan, visited the Western Wall on a Friday night and got to know Israeli soldiers who hopped on the bus for a few days. Back home, he tracked the news and hunted the American media for manifestations of bias. He attended an AIPAC convention, perhaps through his Hillel or AEPi; he might have gone on a March of the Living trip, in which students travel to Poland to visit Auschwitz, and then to Israel to observe Memorial Day and Independence Day.

The pro-Israel consensus transcends partisan politics. The Pew Research Centers surveys are considered the gold standard of research into American Jewish opinion, and the one this year was anticipated by the Jewish establishment with the trepidation of Floridians eyeing a tropical depression in the Gulf. Released in May, the survey found that 82 percent of American Jews said that supporting Israel was essential or important to what being Jewish means to them. The same number also identified as liberal or moderate, and a large majority said they leaned Democratic. Yet, among Jews under 30, Pew found lower emotional attachment to Israel, lower approval for Netanyahu and higher support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, as have other recent studies. (Some argue that such findings obscure American Jews tendency to age into pro-Israel sentiments.)

But this consensus is relatively recent. The official policy of Reform Judaism at the outset of Zionism, as set by the so-called Pittsburgh Platform of 1885, was antipathy to the very idea of a Jewish nation-state in the Holy Land. In 1898, a year after Theodor Herzls First Zionist Congress in Switzerland, the association of Reform congregations in America declared itself unalterably opposed to political Zionism. Why? America is our Zion. The tide turned in the coming decades, according to the historian Jonathan D. Sarnas American Judaism, when prominent Jews like the Progressive lawyer Louis D. Brandeis announced his support for a Jewish state. The ideology truly gained purchase in the Jewish community during the Holocausts aftermath and the founding of Israel itself in 1948.

And then came the Six-Day War. Thomas L. Friedman, a former Times Jerusalem bureau chief, writes memorably in his book From Beirut to Jerusalem of watching the news on June 6, 1967: Like so many American Jews of my generation, I was momentarily swept up by this heroic Israel, which captured my imagination and made me feel different about myself as a Jew. The swift Israeli victory over several Arab armies that had planned to attack, resulting in the conquests of the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and East Jerusalem  complete with an image of Jewish soldiers standing at the Western Wall, a holy site Jews had not been allowed to visit for nearly two decades  marked the sea change, turning a proud brand of Zionism into an article of faith for most American Jews.
As New Yorkers cast their ballots on Tuesday, a broad range of issues, from public safety to education, were top of mind. But some said what was most significant about the current moment was its potential to usher in history.

New York has had 109 mayors; Eric Adams, who won Tuesdays election, will be only the second Black man to take the citys helm.

To Djene Keita, 30, who is Black, voting for Mr. Adams felt like casting a vote for her young sons future. Just having someone for him to look up to and be inspired by would be great, said Ms. Keita, who is from Harlem.

Mark Godfrey, 65, said Mr. Adamss ascendance felt similarly personal, a sign of subtle changes that are occurring in the U.S. in racial equity and representation.
November is shaping up to be an emotional month.

On Nov. 8, after more than a year and half of restrictions, vaccinated international travelers will finally be allowed back into the U.S.  including at land borders with Canada and Mexico. The end of the ban on international visitors has kicked off a surge of travelers booking trips to the U.S.

Cue the tearful reunions.

As the U.S. opens up to international travel, wed like to know: What are your reunion plans?

If youre planning to reunite with friends or relatives from abroad in the coming months, tell us what youre planning and what this moment means to you. We may use your response in upcoming Times coverage.

If youd like to participate, you can fill out this form below.
The winner of Tuesdays election for Manhattan district attorney will become only the third person to hold the position in more than 40 years, taking over a prosecutors office that is one of the most prominent in the country.

The district attorneys office handles tens of thousands of cases a year and is conducting a number of high-profile investigations, including one into former President Donald J. Trump and his family business that has resulted in the indictment of the company and one of its top executives.

If Alvin Bragg, the heavily favored Democratic nominee, prevails, he will become the first Black head of the Manhattan district attorneys office. Mr. Bragg, a former federal prosecutor and a chief deputy at the New York State attorney generals office, has throughout his campaign drawn on his biography to explain his policies, which he has said balance public safety with fairness for all defendants.

The office prosecutes a disproportionate number of Black men, and many of Mr. Braggs supporters have said that his personal experiences would help transform its work, moving its focus away from low-level crimes and toward gun trafficking, economic crime and public corruption.
Eric Adams will be the citys second Black mayor, and Alvin Bragg will be Manhattans first Black district attorney. Jumaane Williams was re-elected public advocate, and Brad Lander won the comptroller race.

You dont know how much you fuel me, Adams says in victory speech. Image New York has chosen one of its own, Eric Adams said on election night. I am you. Credit... James Estrin/The New York Times Eric Adams claimed victory as New York Citys second Black mayor on Tuesday night and promised to unite the city while focusing his administration on the communities of color and the working-class and poor residents he said had carried him to success. New York has chosen one of its own, Mr. Adams said. I am you. Just 17 minutes after the polls closed, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, one of Mr. Adamss top aides, ran onstage at the Marriott in Brooklyn and shouted, We won, doubling over as if in disbelief. But the outcome of the election was never much in question. Mr. Adams, 61, easily triumphed over Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels patrol group and a radio host. Gov. Kathy Hochul joined Mr. Adams onstage in the middle of his speech. In a show of where he intends to focus his administration, Mr. Adamss remarks were preceded by a performance from a group of young people of color from the Devora Dance Center in Jamaica, Queens. They performed to Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys and the sounds of African drummers. Mr. Adams made his way to the stage by walking through the center of the crowd, and hugged his brother onstage before greeting supporters. You dont know how much you fuel me, Mr. Adams said, explaining that he rejected the recommendation of advisers to enter from the back of the stage. Mr. Adams said it was neighborhoods like those in southeast Queens, where he grew up, that now needed his attention the most. During his victory speech, Mr. Adams, as he did throughout the primary and general election, leaned on his biography: The teen who was beaten by the police and sat in the station house will now be in charge of the precinct. The child who had a learning disability and struggled in school will now be in charge of educating one million students. This is about carving out a pathway so people can enjoy the prosperity this city has to offer, Mr. Adams said. Mr. Adams said he would also reach out to the business community to help the city recover from the pandemic, crime and economic difficulties that people are experiencing. He also promised not just to talk about safety but to have safety in the city. His victory comes 32 years after David N. Dinkins was elected the citys first Black mayor. Its been a long time, said J. Phillip Thompson, a deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives under Mayor Bill de Blasio, who also worked as an aide to Mr. Dinkins. Mr. Thompson said he was optimistic that Mr. Adams could live up to his promises to help the citys most vulnerable. There is an opportunity to tackle poverty and racial equality, Mr. Thompson said. More importantly, Eric Adams understands the opportunity is there.

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Alvin Bragg is elected Manhattan district attorney, becoming first Black person to lead the office. Image Alvin Bragg at his watch party at Harlem Tavern, in the neighborhood that served as the constant backdrop of his campaign. Credit... Laylah Amatullah Barrayn for The New York Times Alvin Bragg was elected Manhattan district attorney on Tuesday and will become the first Black person to lead the influential office, which handles tens of thousands of cases a year and is conducting a high-profile investigation into former President Donald J. Trump and his family business. The Associated Press called the race for Mr. Bragg on Tuesday night. Mr. Bragg, 48, a former federal prosecutor who campaigned on a pledge to balance public safety with fairness for all defendants, will succeed Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat who did not seek re-election. We have been given a profound trust tonight, Mr. Bragg told a crowd gathered in the outdoor pavilion at Harlem Tavern, in the neighborhood where he has lived most of his life and that has served as the constant backdrop of his campaign over the last two years. The fundamental role of the district attorney is to guarantee both fairness and safety. He said that under his administration the racial disparities in the system would be shut down, and mentioned personal experiences that would shape his perspective in office. I think Ill probably be the first district attorney whos had the police point a gun at him, he said. Mr. Bragg said dealing with the humanitarian crisis on Rikers Island was an urgent priority, and that included sending fewer people to jail. Image Thomas Kenniff, the Republican nominee for Manhattan district attorney, at his election night party at the Metropolitan Republican Club. Credit... Andrew Seng for The New York Times Mr. Bragg had been heavily favored to prevail over his Republican opponent, Thomas Kenniff, given that Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the borough. The Manhattan district attorneys office continues to disproportionately prosecute Black defendants, and Mr. Bragg throughout his campaign has drawn on his personal experiences growing up in New York to illustrate the types of changes he wishes to make. Mr. Bragg has said he would show leniency to defendants who commit low-level crimes and has emphasized the importance of accountability for the police and the offices prosecutors. His victory comes as Democrats are seeking to balance sweeping changes to the criminal justice system with some voters concerns about rising gun crime. In 2020, millions of people around the country took to the streets to protest the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and call for change. But after rises in homicides and shootings in New York and other cities, some voters have moderated their stances. The most high-profile case confronting Mr. Bragg is the investigation into Mr. Trump and his family business. Over the summer, the business and one of its top executives were charged with running a yearslong tax scheme that helped executives evade taxes while compensating them with off-the-books benefits. Mr. Vances investigation into Mr. Trump and his business is ongoing; Mr. Bragg has faced questions about it throughout his campaign and will continue to do so. Though he cited his experience of having sued the former president over 100 times while at the state attorney generals office, Mr. Bragg has said he will follow the facts when it comes to the current inquiry. Mr. Bragg voted Tuesday morning at the Wyatt T. Walker senior housing building on Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem. He said that voting for himself, the first time he has done so, had been humbling. Just to be engaged in our democracy from this new perspective has been so important to me, so meaningful on a personal level, he said. Mr. Bragg then drove to a polling place on 134th Street, where he was greeted by Jumaane D. Williams, the city public advocate; and Cordell Cleare, a Democratic State Senate candidate. Upon seeing Mr. Bragg, Mr. Williams offered an enthusiastic greeting: The D.A. is here!

Sliwas attempts to cast Adams as an elitist who did not even live in New York fell short. Video N.Y.C. voters had a choice between two candidates with sharply different viewpoints: Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee and founder of the Guardian Angels, and Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee and current Brooklyn borough president. Credit Credit... Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times After a lengthy, bitter primary constrained by the coronavirus and a contentious general-election campaign, New Yorkers went to the polls on Tuesday to pick a mayor to lead the nations largest city out of the throes of the pandemic and into a new political era. After eight years under Mayor Bill de Blasio, voters were choosing between two candidates with sharply distinct visions: Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee and a former police officer who is currently Brooklyns borough president; and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels, who has never held public office. They chose Mr. Adams, who ran a campaign tightly focused on public safety and was heavily favored in a city where Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans. Mr. Adams has promised to lead New York in a more equitable direction, pointing to his working-class roots to suggest he would be an advocate for issues of concern to less affluent New Yorkers. Still, in contrast to the message of economic populism that Mr. de Blasio rode to victory in 2013 and 2017 (he was prevented by term limits from running again), Mr. Adams made explicit overtures to big-business leaders, arguing that they too have a significant role to play in the citys recovery. Image Mr. Adams greeted voters outside P.S. 375 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Credit... Todd Heisler/The New York Times After voting in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, on Tuesday, Mr. Adams wiped away tears. Because Im standing here, everyday New Yorkers are going to realize they deserve the right to stand in this city also, he said. This is for the little guy. Mr. Sliwa was keenly focused on public safety and addressing homelessness, but on other matters and certainly in personality, he and Mr. Adams had significant differences. Mr. Sliwas campaign was marked by antics and eccentricities that often drew more attention than his policy positions. His trip to the polls on Tuesday grew into a fracas when he tried to bring one of his many cats with him to vote, then fought with election officials who asked him to remove his red campaign jacket when they deemed it was a violation of electioneering rules. During the campaign, Mr. Sliwa sought to draw a contrast with Mr. Adams, whom he called elitist. Image Curtis Sliwa made a final campaign stop in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, on Tuesday. Credit... Hilary Swift for The New York Times He highlighted still-simmering questions around Mr. Adamss residency and his financial dealings. Mr. Sliwa also tried to capitalize on anger in some corners of the city around vaccine mandates. In the end, it was not nearly enough. In his concession remarks at the Empire Steak House in Midtown Manhattan, Mr. Sliwa told supporters he was pledging my support to the new mayor Eric Adams. He added: Were all going to have to coalesce together in harmony and solidarity if were going to save this city that we love. Julianne McShane and James Thomas contributed reporting.

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Brad Lander, a progressive councilman, is elected city comptroller. Image In a victory speech, Brad Lander promised a just and equitable and sustainable" future for New York City. Credit... Desiree Rios for The New York Times Brad Lander, a three-term New York City councilman, won Tuesdays race for city comptroller against Daby Carreras, a Republican aligned with the Trump wing of the party, according to The Associated Press. Mr. Lander, 52, a left-leaning Democrat from the liberal stronghold of Park Slope, Brooklyn, amassed endorsements from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Elizabeth Warren and New York Citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams. The comptroller audits city agencies and oversees the citys public pension funds, with assets totaling nearly $300 billion. The post frequently attracts politicians with higher aspirations. The departing New York City comptroller, Scott M. Stringer, ran for mayor, as did his two predecessors, John C. Liu and William C. Thompson Jr. Mr. Lander has promised to expand efforts to make the citys pension fund investments more environmentally friendly. During the campaign, he pledged to help overhaul the way the city invests in infrastructure to make it more efficient, and to conduct sharp, strategic audits of agencies. We are going to carry our city forward in a way that is more just and equitable and sustainable, Mr. Lander said in a victory speech Tuesday night. His victory means that Eric Adams, the citys next mayor, will have to contend with both a comptroller and a City Council that are further left than he is on many issues, including policing and urban development. Mr. Carreras, who Bloomberg reported is a financial adviser at Spartan Capital Securities LLC, ran as a far-right Republican and had suggested he would focus entirely on pension investment returns if elected.

Jumaane Williams is re-elected public advocate. Next up: a run for governor? Image Jumaane Williams, the citys public advocate, has his eye on higher office. Credit... Desiree Rios for The New York Times Jumaane D. Williams was re-elected New York City public advocate on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported, a victory that gives him a stable base to pursue another office that hes interested in: governor. Mr. Williams, 45, has formed an exploratory committee and has said he will make a decision in the next few weeks about whether he will run for that job. He seemingly alluded to that possibility as he declared victory on Tuesday night. You gave me your trust, and your voice when you put me in this role and I work every day to live up to that trust, to raise your voice, Mr. Williams told supporters at a rally in Brooklyn. He then added with a grin: I will never take that for granted  no matter where I go, no matter what I do. The 2022 governors race has grown competitive lately. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who took office when former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo resigned, is running, and Letitia James, the state attorney general, announced her candidacy last week. Other possible candidates include New York Citys outgoing mayor, Bill de Blasio, and Representative Thomas Suozzi from Long Island. The public advocate serves as an all-purpose ombudsman and is also next in the line of succession to the mayor. While the post comes with little formal power and a budget of under $5 million, it offers a bully pulpit from which its occupant can push the concerns of New Yorkers that City Hall is not attending to. Because of a quirk in political and electoral timing, this was the third time that Mr. Williams had to run for public advocate in less than three years. Eyeing a campaign for governor while running for public advocate left Mr. Williams, a former Brooklyn city councilman, open to criticism from his Republican opponent, Dr. Devi Nampiaparampil, that he would not pay attention to the job of public advocate if re-elected. Mr. Williams has said that if he runs for governor, he would do so to address two of the most important issues facing the state  criminal justice reform and affordable housing  from his perspective as a progressive. After a surprise run for lieutenant governor in 2018 brought him closer to victory than many expected, Mr. Williams said that he was getting a warm reception during state listening tours.

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Republicans hold on to their last City Council seat in Queens. Image Joann Ariola, a longtime civic leader and the chairwoman of the Queens Republican Party, defeated her Democratic opponent in the race to represent District 32. Credit... Jackie Molloy for The New York Times City Council District 32, which has been held by Eric A. Ulrich since 2009, is a political rarity: It is the only Republican-held Council seat in Queens. And after Tuesday, it will stay that way. The race to succeed Mr. Ulrich had attracted attention from across the political spectrum. In the end, Joann Ariola, a longtime civic leader and the chairwoman of the Queens Republican Party, defeated Felicia Singh, a Democrat and teacher. It was something of a test of the enduring power of the Republican Party in Queens. While the county has long leaned Democratic, it is still home to roughly 140,000 registered Republicans, the most of any borough. District 32 sits in southeast Queens, spanning parts of many different neighborhoods around Jamaica Bay, from the western Rockaways up through Howard Beach, and into Ozone Park, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill. While the southern portion includes white conservative strongholds like Breezy Point, the northern end skews Democratic and includes large communities of South Asian and Caribbean immigrants. In Ozone Park, which lies in the northern part of the district, Rezbana Alam, 36, said on Tuesday she had voted for Ms. Singh. Ms. Alam, a Democrat and full-time parent, said that she believed Ms. Singh could make the neighborhood safer. Her public safety proposals included reallocating funding from the police budget to violence-intervention and mental health programs. Image Felicia Singh, a Democrat and teacher, grew up in Ozone Park, Queens. Credit... Chery Dieu-Nalio for The New York Times Ms. Singh, who grew up in Ozone Park and has Indo-Caribbean roots, was among several candidates who could have become the first people of South Asian descent elected to the Council. She would also have been the first nonwhite representative of District 32. Ms. Alam said that Ms. Singh had visited her house while campaigning and seemed very open-minded. But Ms. Ariolas tough-on-crime platform resonated with voters who were frustrated with Mayor Bill de Blasio and the national Democratic Party. Ms. Ariola had called the city a derailed train and strongly criticized bail-reform measures and cuts in police funding. Eddie Rivera, 66, a retiree who also lives in Ozone Park and is not registered with either party, echoed those concerns, saying Democrats have lost their way. He called Ms. Ariolas platform common sense. Zamil Ahmed, a 41-year-old server who lives in the neighborhood, is a registered Democrat, but he blamed the party for a rise in gun violence and said that quality of life had declined. Its like the whole city is almost destroyed, he said. Ms. Ariola picked up his vote.

Shahana Hanif makes history as the first Muslim woman elected to the New York City Council. Image Shahana Hanif won a City Council race on Tuesday, and will represent a district that includes several Brooklyn neighborhoods. Credit... Desiree Rios for The New York Times In New York City, a global beacon that draws a diverse population from all over the world, the City Council has never had a person of South Asian descent  or a Muslim woman  among its membership. That changed on Tuesday, when Shahana Hanif, a former City Council employee, won her election in a Brooklyn district that covers Park Slope, Kensington and parts of central Brooklyn. Ms. Hanif, who is Bangladeshi American, was the first Muslim woman elected to the Council in its history, despite the fact that the city is home to an estimated 769,000 Muslims. She was one of two history-making South Asian candidates to win as well; the other, Shekar Krishnan, won a seat representing Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens. (A third, Felicia Singh, another South Asian candidate, lost to her Republican opponent in a closely watched Queens race.) In a statement on Tuesday night, Ms. Hanif said that she was humbled and proud to be the first Muslim woman on the Council  and the first woman of any faith to represent District 39. She cited volunteers and endorsements from community and progressive groups, including the left-leaning Working Families Party. Together we are building an anti-racist, feminist city, she said. We deserve a city that protects its most vulnerable, a city that has equitable education, a city invested in climate solutions that are local and driven by communities, a city where our immigrant neighbors feel at home and heard and safe. This work requires all of us to keep showing up even though the election is over. The City Council will have a total of five new Asian American members next year, more than ever, including its first Korean American members  Julie Won and Linda Lee were elected to lead districts in Queens  and a Cambodian American member, Sandra Ung, who will represent another Queens district, based in Flushing. And the Council will have its first out gay Black women as members: Kristin Richardson Jordan scored an overwhelming victory in a Harlem district, as did Crystal Hudson in a Brooklyn district that encompasses parts of Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. A number of other L.G.B.T.Q. candidates clinched victories, including Tiffany Caban in Queens. Chi Osse in Brooklyn and Erik Bottcher in Manhattan had run in uncontested races, and Lynn Schulman was expected to win a seat in Queens. The candidates are part of a larger shift in New Yorks City Council, which is poised to be nearly as diverse next year as the city it represents. More than two dozen women are positioned to take a majority of the Councils seats, for the first time ever.

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Its about time: Voters reflected on electing N.Y.C.s second Black mayor. Image The milestone was on the minds of many voters on Tuesday. Credit... Todd Heisler/The New York Times As New Yorkers cast their ballots on Tuesday, a broad range of issues, from public safety to education, were top of mind. But some said what was most significant about the current moment was its potential to usher in history. New York has had 109 mayors; Eric Adams, who won Tuesdays election, will be only the second Black man to take the citys helm. To Djene Keita, 30, who is Black, voting for Mr. Adams felt like casting a vote for her young sons future. Just having someone for him to look up to and be inspired by would be great, said Ms. Keita, who is from Harlem. Mark Godfrey, 65, said Mr. Adamss ascendance felt similarly personal, a sign of subtle changes that are occurring in the U.S. in racial equity and representation. Mr. Godfrey, a resident of Ozone Park in Queens who said he was an independent, said Mr. Adamss identity as a Black man and his experiences as a police officer and a victim of police brutality meant that he understands what being profiled is like. Mr. Godfrey said he hoped those experiences would give Mr. Adams a unique and valuable perspective. David N. Dinkins, the citys first Black mayor, was elected to a single term in 1989 and died in 2020. He has been remembered as a mentor who inspired other Black leaders to run for office. Some voters like Esmirna Flores, 38, recalled watching Mr. Dinkins as mayor as they cast their ballots on Tuesday. The prospect of electing a second Black mayor was absolutely awesome, said Ms. Flores, who is Latina and lives in the Kingsbridge area of the Bronx. Its about time that we have more Black representatives, more brown people representing, she said. Image Esmirna Flores said that it would be absolutely awesome to elect the second Black mayor in the citys history. Credit... Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Still, others like Mable Ivory, 45, a Black voter in Harlem, said they saw Mr. Adamss identity as something positive, but noted that it did not play a significant role in shaping their vote or compelling them to head to the polls. There were also mixed feelings among some voters, who appreciated the chance to make history, but disagreed with aspects of Mr. Adamss platform. Gabriel Nott, 27, called the milestone an important step forward. But he said he remained unsure whether Mr. Adams was the best option for the job among the many Democrats he beat in Junes primary. Its really key to kind of consider what is he going to do for those communities in New York City, said Mr. Nott, who is from the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. But I think that its really still significant. Correction : Nov. 3, 2021 An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of a New York voter. He is Gabriel Nott, not Knott.

Eric Adams says he is the Democratic Partys future. Some N.Y.C. voters were not so sure. Image Voters cast their ballots at Public School 207 in the Bronx on Tuesday. Some Democrats said they supported Mr. Adams but were concerned about his progressive credentials. Credit... Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times The tension between left-wing Democrats in New York and those who consider themselves more moderate, a rift that has characterized the states politics for years and was a major battle in the mayoral primary in June, remained evident on Tuesday. In left-leaning New York City, Eric Adams, the citys new mayor-elect, has declared himself the new face of the Democratic Party, suggesting his platform and profile would be a model for other politicians across the country. But his positions received mixed reviews from voters in the city on Election Day, with some embracing him enthusiastically and other Democrats admitting they were hesitant about casting their votes. Allister Klingensmith, 40, expressed some ambivalence about voting for Mr. Adams because he did not see most of his political views reflected in the candidates platform. Id like to see more done with the environment, especially environmental causes, Mr. Klingensmith, a Democrat, said. I just dont think hes doing enough there. Image Allister Klingensmith said he voted for Eric Adams with some hesitation on Tuesday, reflecting the distance between the citys progressive left and Mr. Adams, who has taken more moderate positions on several issues. Credit... Ahmed Gaber for The New York Times On the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Edward Horton, 66, said he supported Mr. Adams in the primary election, largely because he thought the candidate would be able to increase affordable housing and tackle the citys homeless crisis. Steve Rush, 65, a retired city worker who identified himself as a moderate Democrat, said he believed that Mr. Adams could handle issues of police reform with sensitivity  he was a police officer for more than two decades before entering politics  and without compromising safety. I think he has a healthy caution about N.Y.P.D, Mr. Rush said of Mr. Adams. We have to do public safety in a way that doesnt hurt minority communities, as it has. But that same relationship with the Police Department made Shahreen Akhter, a 30-year-old registered Democrat in Ozone Park, Queens, skeptical that Mr. Adams would move quickly on police reform. She also said she worried over how he might achieve his goal of expanding the city public school systems gifted and talented program, which Ms. Akhter said currently widened inequity among students. Ms. Akhters concerns led her to cast her vote for the Socialist candidate, Cathy Rojas, instead, she said. Audrey Dursht, a Morningside Heights resident and a former teacher, said that education was her top priority, and that her vote for Mr. Adams was a reluctant one. Ms. Dursht, 65, added that she felt this years slate of mayoral candidates was not a great selection, but said she did not want to see Curtis Sliwa in office.

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Adams forged a path to victory by leaning on his personal story and a moderate platform. Image On the campaign trail, Eric Adams never failed to remind voters where he had come from. Credit... James Estrin/The New York Times Eric Adams leaned heavily on his biography on the long road to becoming New Yorks 110th mayor  and just the second Black person to hold the office. When he talked about public schools on the campaign trail, Mr. Adams reminded voters that his dyslexia went undiscovered for most of his youth. When he spoke about homelessness, Mr. Adams recounted carrying a trash bag of clothes to school because he was worried that his family would be evicted before he returned home. On crime and safety, Mr. Adams promised that he could both promote public safety and protect Black and Latino residents from civil rights abuses. He said that his experience of being beaten by the police as a teenager inspired him to join the department and speak out against discrimination from within its ranks, eventually leading a group called 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. After retiring from the Police Department, Mr. Adams, 61, served four terms as a state senator before being elected, then re-elected, Brooklyn borough president. But while he has emphasized his working-class bona fides and vowed to fight for New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet in an expensive city that had left them behind, Mr. Adams has had no qualms about courting New Yorkers at the top of the heap. After winning a bruising Democratic mayoral primary in June  where he ran as a moderate in a field crowded with progressives  Mr. Adams held a raft of fund-raisers with New Yorks rich and powerful. He consulted with the billionaire former mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and dined with the billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch while promising that city government would be more friendly to business than it has been under Mayor Bill de Blasio. Mr. Adamss charm and ease in depicting himself as many things to many people and his ability to convincingly shape-shift at will may be his greatest skill, but it leaves some people uneasy. Even those who have known him for decades arent sure which version will show up to City Hall in January. Sometimes, even Mr. Adams does not seem sure. Im so many formers, he said over the summer during a visit to the White House, where he declared himself the new face of the Democratic Party, Im trying to figure out the current.
The first problem was debt. The historian Robin L. Einhorn points out in American Taxation, American Slavery that the United States after the war owed over $42 million to foreign lenders and, among Americans, to the army, the public creditors, and people who had become creditors in the first instance involuntarily  holders of the certificates issued by army officers who had impressed supplies. The annual interest on this debt amounted to $2.4 million.

Worsening the problem of war debt was a lengthy, punishing recession  by some accounts as bad as or worse than the Great Depression  which forced state governments to raise taxes and render them all the more reluctant to pay congressional requisitions, or voluntary contributions to the national government.

The economic crisis brought civil unrest. To head off rural discontent, several states passed pro-debtor legislation (including the printing of paper money), intensifying conflict between those who owed and those who were owed. In 1786, in the most famous instance of internal rebellion, a Revolutionary War veteran named Daniel Shays led an armed insurgency through western Massachusetts, targeting tax collectors and other government officials, demanding debt relief. It was Shayss Rebellion, in particular, that supercharged elite fears of excess democracy.

Heres Elbridge Gerry, also of Massachusetts, speaking at the Philadelphia Convention:

The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots. In Massachusetts it has been fully confirmed by experience that they are daily misled into the most baneful measures and opinions by the false reports circulated by designing men, and which no one on the spot can refute.

The lack of any real commerce power in the Confederation Congress compounded the problems of debt and taxation. After the Revolutionary War, when Great Britain sought to exclude American ships from the Atlantic carrying trade, and several European nations sought to exclude certain American goods from European markets and from European colonies in the Western Hemisphere, Congress was powerless to respond with retaliatory trade restrictions, the legal historian Michael J. Klarman writes in The Framers Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution.

The confederation also could not raise the revenue to deal with foreign adversaries. Congress had no response when Spain closed the Mississippi River to American navigation in 1784, Klarman writes, or when Algerian pirates attacked American ships in the Mediterranean Sea in 1785, kidnapping American citizens and holding them for ransom.

That American settlers continued to move west, in violation of treaties with Native American nations, only worsened the situation. If they provoked war, the government could not protect them.

By 1786, the Confederation Congress was gridlocked on most major issues. It was on the path to insolvency and poised to default on its foreign loans. It faced a hostile Britain, which still held forts on the nations western borders, and was unable to stop or repel attacks from Native tribes. Many Americans, and national elites in particular, thought the republic was doomed to failure. Our situation is becoming every day more and more critical, a young James Madison wrote. No money is paid into the public treasury; no respect is paid to the federal authority. Not a single state complies with the congressional requisitions, several pass them over in silence, and some positively reject them.
The 2015 Paris climate agreement called on nations of the world to preserve forests and other ecosystems that store carbon. But forests continue to disappear  cut and burned and fragmented into ever smaller patches. This failure challenges all of our other climate efforts because unless forests remain standing, the world will never contain global warming.

In one of their first major actions this week, delegates at the global climate conference in Glasgow pledged to end deforestation, committing $12 billion to the effort, with an additional $7 billion from the private sector. But this is not the first time such a promise has been made, and yet deforestation has continued.

There are steps the world can take now to stop it. Territorial rights of Indigenous peoples must be recognized, protected forest areas expanded and roads and industry avoided in still intact forests. These steps can set the stage for more sustainable forest economies.

Heres a snapshot of the crisis: Last year the loss of primary old-growth tropical forest rose by 12 percent over 2019, according to the World Resources Institute. That loss added about twice as much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as whats emitted by cars in the United States every year, the institute estimated.
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Six years ago in Paris, world leaders celebrated a breakthrough in global climate politics: After more than two decades of failure, nearly every country finally agreed to reduce as soon as possible the amount of planet-warming greenhouse gases they were pumping into the atmosphere.

Those leaders knew, though, that their pledges were woefully insufficient to avert disaster and would need to be ratcheted up at a later date. That is why they have gathered in Glasgow this week, and it also why John Kerry, the Biden administrations climate czar, called the summit the last best hope for the world to get its act together.

So hows the world doing? Heres what people are saying about how to think about the summit, what success there might look like and what the implications will be for global climate politics if it isnt achieved.
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For the past few centuries, the Yupik peoples of Alaska have told gruesome tales of a massacre that occurred during the Bow and Arrow War Days, a series of long and often brutal battles across the Bering Sea coast and the Yukon. According to one account, the carnage started when one village sent a war party to raid another. But the residents had been tipped off and set an ambush, wiping out the marauders. The victors then attacked the undefended town, torching it and slaughtering its inhabitants. No one was spared.

For the last 12 years, Rick Knecht has led an excavation at a site called Nunalleq, about 400 miles west of Anchorage. When we began, the hope was to learn something about Yupik prehistory by digging in an average village, said Dr. Knecht, an archaeologist at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Little did we know that we were digging in something approaching the Yupik equivalent of Troy.

Their most astonishing discovery was the charred remnants of a large communal sod house. The ground was black and clayey and riddled with hundreds of slate arrow points, as if from a prehistoric drive-by shooting. In all, the researchers and native Yupik people who live in the area unearthed more than 100,000 well-preserved artifacts, as well as the singed carrion of two dogs and the scattered bones of at least 28 people, almost all women, children and elders. Several of them had evidently been dragged out of the house, bound with grass rope and killed  some beheaded. It is a complex murder scene, Dr. Knecht said. It is also a rare and detailed archaeological example of Indigenous warfare.
I do believe that Apple retaliated against me for speaking out, Ms. Parrish said in an interview. She said she wanted to make clear to Apple that retaliating against workers for speaking out at what they see as injustice is not an acceptable response.

Apple has disputed the charges made by the employees.

Deirdre OBrien, Apples human resources chief, told employees in a September meeting viewed by The New York Times that the company tracks pay and closes wage disparities whenever they are found. And Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, framed the conversation as a battle over rooting out people who leak company information.

As you know, we do not tolerate disclosures of confidential information, whether its product I.P. or the details of a confidential meeting, Mr. Cook wrote in a September memo to employees that was viewed by The Times and was reported earlier by The Verge. We know that the leakers constitute a small number of people. We also know that people who leak confidential information do not belong here.

An Apple spokesman on Tuesday reiterated a previous comment the company had shared about employee activism, saying that Apple was deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace and investigating concerns. The company said it did not comment on specific employees.

Apple has in the past faced isolated cases of worker discontent. Last year, Kate Rotondo, a former software engineer, filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming gender discrimination and unequal pay before choosing to end the agencys investigation.

Barbara Dawn Underwood, an Apple retail store employee in Georgia, sued Apple for $1.7 million, accusing the company of failing to stop a co-worker from sexually harassing and assaulting her and then retaliating by firing her while she was trying to return to work after taking leave. Apple has asked for the case, filed in a Georgia federal court, to be dismissed, and Ms. Underwood is waiting to see if she can proceed.
The revelations have led to congressional hearings and regulatory inquiries. Last week, Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive, renamed Facebooks parent company as Meta and said he would shift resources toward building products for the next online frontier, a digital world known as the metaverse.

The change affects more than a third of Facebooks daily users who had facial recognition turned on for their accounts, according to the company. That meant they received alerts when new photos or videos of them were uploaded to the social network. The feature had also been used to flag accounts that might be impersonating someone else and was incorporated into software that described photos to blind users.

Making this change required us to weigh the instances where facial recognition can be helpful against the growing concerns about the use of this technology as a whole, said Jason Grosse, a Meta spokesman.

Although Facebook plans to delete more than one billion facial recognition templates, which are digital scans of facial features, by December, it will not eliminate the software that powers the system, which is an advanced algorithm called DeepFace. The company has also not ruled out incorporating facial recognition technology into future products, Mr. Grosse said.

Privacy advocates nonetheless applauded the decision.

Facebook getting out of the face recognition business is a pivotal moment in the growing national discomfort with this technology, said Adam Schwartz, a senior lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties organization. Corporate use of face surveillance is very dangerous to peoples privacy.

Facebook is not the first large technology company to pull back on facial recognition software. Amazon, Microsoft and IBM have paused or ceased selling their facial recognition products to law enforcement in recent years, while expressing concerns about privacy and algorithmic bias and calling for clearer regulation.

Facebooks facial recognition software has a long and expensive history. When the software was rolled out to Europe in 2011, data protection authorities there said the move was illegal and that the company needed consent to analyze photos of a person and extract the unique pattern of an individual face. In 2015, the technology also led to the filing of the class action suit in Illinois.
This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. Here is a collection of past columns.

You might only be vaguely familiar with Huawei, the large Chinese technology company that has been in the cross hairs of the United States.

Huawei is a test of how the U.S. government is trying to keep the country strong, safe and on the cutting edge as the future of technology becomes less American. Huawei may also be an example of American elected officials taking a tough but scattershot stand against China while leaving their own country vulnerable in other ways.

Let me explain more about Huawei, why the United States is squeezing the company and what this all means for Americans and the rest of the world.

Remind me what Huawei does?

Huawei sells smartphones and equipment that help form the backbone of telephone and internet networks. The company started in the late 1980s, and its rise into one of Chinas first truly global corporate successes mirrored the countrys economic and technological transformation.
ENCINITAS, Calif.  The celebratory chords of a mariachi band filled the community center. On seemingly every surface fresh marigold blossoms glowed a bright orange.

And, in this town just north of San Diego, two types of masks were present at its recent Dia de Muertos event: faces painted white and black to resemble skulls as well as the more familiar kind  cloth coverings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The virus weve been living alongside for nearly two years has left us grappling with a staggering, unfathomable level of loss. On Monday, the official worldwide death toll from Covid-19 hit five million.

In California, the pandemic has imbued Dia de Muertos, the annual tradition also known as Day of the Dead, with particular, painful significance.
BOSTON  The women running for mayor of Boston, the city councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George, have each raised serious money, totaling $2.15 million and $1.94 million, respectively. But if you look at who is giving them that money, the differences are stark.

Out-of-state donors. Ms. Wus candidacy has attracted national attention, with nearly 19 percent of individual contributions to her campaign, totaling more than $400,000, coming from outside of Massachusetts. Out-of-state donations make up only about 7 percent of Ms. Essaibi Georges haul.

Environmental groups. Progressives, who once denounced the influence of super PACs, are now making vigorous use of them, said Paul D. Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. The Green Advocacy Project, an environmental group based in Palo Alto, Calif., has contributed $250,000 to two super PACs supporting Ms. Wu, who has been leading in polls.

Police officers. Ms. Essaibi George, who was endorsed by the citys former police commissioner, William Gross, has received more than 430 donations, totaling more than $150,000, from police officers and firefighters, according to state records. By contrast, Ms. Wu, who has pushed for cuts to the police budget, has received only 13.
Expect it to be a late night in Virginia. And possibly a long week.

In 2020, President Biden won the state by 10 percentage points, and the race wasnt called until well after midnight. No one expects the margin of victory for either Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate, or Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate, to reach double digits, meaning a large percentage of the vote total will likely need to be counted before it is clear who won.

If the margin is fewer than 10,000 votes, Virginians may have to wait a few days. The state requires that all mail ballots postmarked by Election Day be counted if they are received by the following Friday at noon. In 2020, the count included 10,901 ballots that fell in that post-Election Day window.

And as voters navigate the relatively new early voting process, both campaigns expect an uptick in provisional ballots, which also can take days to be counted.

The state has made some improvements since the 2020 election.

Counties are now required to prepare their early absentee ballots for processing, meaning the ballots can be opened, checked for eligibility and scanned up to a week before Election Day. That is likely to help alleviate the type of bottlenecks in tabulating absentee votes that delayed the 2020 vote count.
Glenn Youngkin, a Republican business executive, marched to victory in Tuesdays election, delivering his party the governorship of Virginia and highlighting a strong night for Republicans less than a year after voters pushed them fully out of power in the nations capital.

The outcome in Virginia, combined with an unexpectedly close contest in New Jersey, where the governors race remained too close to call, delivered a jolt of encouragement for Republicans and a stark warning sign for the Democrats less than 10 months into President Bidens term.

Mr. Bidens approval rating has sagged to new lows as Democrats on Capitol Hill have struggled to coalesce behind his legislative agenda. The latest election results suggested an ominous erosion of the support in the suburbs that had put the party in power.

Here are five takeaways from Tuesdays contests and what the results could mean for 2022, when control of the House, Senate and 36 governorships will be on the ballot:

Youngkins success across the state offers a G.O.P. pathway.

Republicans suffered repeated down-ballot losses in the past four years, as the party grappled with how to motivate a base deeply yoked to Donald J. Trump without alienating the suburban voters who came to reject the former presidents divisive style of politics.

Enter Glenn Youngkin and his fleece vest.

Mr. Youngkin pulled off something of a surprise and rare feat: He drove up the Republican margins in white and rural parts of the state further than Mr. Trump had, cutting into the edge of the Democratic nominee, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, in suburban areas. He even flipped some key counties entirely.

Mr. Youngkin won in Chesterfield County, outside of Richmond, and Stafford County, an exurb of Washington, D.C., both places that Mr. Biden carried in 2020.

And in conservative southwestern Virginia, Mr. Youngkin was topping 80 percent in heavily white and rural counties  up substantially from the Republican showing in the last governors race.

Virginia Shifts Right in Race for Governor The Republican candidate for governor, Glenn Youngkin, received much stronger support in every corner of the state than President Trump did in 2020. Mr. Youngkin defeated former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the Democrat, according to The Associated Press. Shift from 2020 Vote margin SHIFT IN MARGIN From the 2020 presidential election More Democratic More Republican SHIFT IN MARGIN From the 2020 presidential election More Democratic More Republican LEADER McAuliffe Youngkin Circle size is proportional to the amount each countys leading candidate is ahead LEADER McAuliffe Youngkin Circle size is proportional to the amount each countys leading candidate is ahead

Mr. Youngkin had campaigned heavily on education and seized on Mr. McAuliffes remark that he didnt believe parents should be telling schools what they should teach. Mr. Youngkin used the comment, made during a debate, as an entryway to hammer his rival on issues like race and transgender rights in schools. The issues simultaneously motivated the G.O.P. base while casting the matter to moderates as an issue of parental rights.

This is no longer a campaign, Mr. Youngkin said. It is a movement being led by Virginias parents.

Republican strategists were downright gleeful about the possibility of repackaging Mr. Trumps policies without his personality.

All politics are presidential. But Biden loomed larger than Trump.

To the extent that the Youngkin victory provided a fresh G.O.P. blueprint, the surprisingly strong showing in New Jersey by the Republican candidate, Jack Ciattarelli, who was virtually tied with Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, made plain that the political environment had seriously degraded for Democrats nationally.

A national NBC News poll in late October showed that 45 percent of registered voters approved of the job Mr. Biden was doing, compared with 52 percent who disapproved. Perhaps as ominous was the intensity gap: Far more voters strongly disapproved of Mr. Biden (44 percent) than strongly approved (19 percent).

Such diminished standing offered Republicans an opportunity even in traditionally blue territory.

In Virginia, the McAuliffe campaign had relentlessly tried to make the race about Trump, Trump, Trump  in its television ads and on the stump.

That represented quite the reversal from when Democrats took back the House in 2018. Then, party strategists warned candidates to talk about issues, not Mr. Trump. But with him out of office, the McAuliffe team believed he needed to draw in Mr. Trump more explicitly.

It didnt work.

Weve never had an election about a former president, said Brad Todd, a Republican strategist who works on Virginia campaigns. He noted that more than 10,000 ads had tried to link Mr. Trump and Mr. Youngkin. Current elections are about the current president, Mr. Todd said.

Strategists in both parties said that the Virginia race was heavily shaped by Mr. Bidens falling approval rating, and that the downward Democratic trajectory had begun when the president stumbled through the troubled pullout of American troops from Afghanistan.

Mr. McAuliffe and the Democrats never recovered.

Despite Democratic efforts to goad Mr. Trump into visiting the state, he never did so, allowing Mr. Youngkin to create some political distance  and to remain unencumbered by Mr. Trumps usual demands of public fealty.

Some Republicans credited Susie Wiles, who is now overseeing Mr. Trumps political operation, for helping guide Mr. Trump toward the approach. Others half-jokingly credited the social media platforms that banished Mr. Trump this year, muffling the impact and curtailing the frequency of his musings.

Image President Biden campaigning with Mr. McAuliffe last week. Credit... Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times

The G.O.P. margins make it even more worrisome for Democrats in 2022.

The headline, of course, is that Mr. Youngkin won. But for political strategists focused on the midterms in 2022, his final margin  and specifics about where his campaign excelled and Mr. McAuliffe underperformed  is every bit as revealing about the trajectory of the two parties.

Think of it this way: Because Mr. Biden carried Virginia by 10 percentage points in 2020, a Youngkin victory represents a Republican improvement of more than 10 percentage points in exactly one year.

That is a lot  even knowing Virginias history of delivering its governorship to the party out of power in the White House.

Just as worrisome for the Democrats is that of the 36 governorships up for grabs in 2022, eight are now held by Democrats in states that had a smaller Democratic margin of victory in 2020 than Virginia, according to an election memo for donors from the Republican Governors Association. That list includes three of the most crucial presidential battlegrounds: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The picture in the House is just as bleak for Democrats.

Patrick Ruffini, a Republican pollster, noted that if a roughly 10-point swing  about the gain Mr. Youngkin needed to win in Virginia  were applied to the 2020 House results in districts nationwide, Republicans would have picked up 38 House seats.

Strategists in both parties said that unless the political environment improved for Democrats, they were at risk of losing both the House and Senate in 2022.

This election is a warning for all Democrats, declared Guy Cecil, who leads one of the partys largest super PACs.

There were other weak down-ballot results for the party on Tuesday.

In Pennsylvania, the Republican candidate won a Supreme Court seat in a state Mr. Biden won. In Ohio, Mike Carey, a Republican, won the 15th Congressional District and was leading by more than Mr. Trump carried that district in 2020. And in the New York City suburbs on Long Island, a Republican was handily beating the incumbent Democratic district attorney in Suffolk County. In nearby Nassau County, Republicans led the races for district attorney and county executive.

The political middle still matters.

The American electorate is increasingly polarized, and a shrinking sliver of voters oscillates between the two major parties. But those voters still matter. For every vote that flips to the other side, a campaign must find two new voters to make up for the lost ground.

For years, it was the Democrats in Virginia who were obsessed with cutting into the margins in Republican strongholds and the suburbs.

Mark Warner, now a senator, famously slapped his name on the side of a NASCAR truck when he ran for governor as a Democrat in 2001. Tim Kaine, the states other senator, ran radio ads in his 2005 bid for governor that touted his work as a former Christian missionary and his support of abortion restrictions. Even Mr. McAuliffe himself ran in 2013 as a jobs-obsessed economic moderate who thanked the historic number of Republicans who crossed party lines to vote for him.

Yet in 2021, Mr. McAuliffe ran as a mainline Democrat. He deployed Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Barack Obama and Stacey Abrams in a bid to rally his partys partisan faithful.

If Mr. McAuliffe was seemingly singularly obsessed with his base, the Youngkin campaign homed in on an issue that Democrats typically dominate: education. That focus helped him make incursions into Democratic territory.

The emphasis wasnt just rhetorical. Mr. Youngkins two most frequently aired general election television ads were about schools and specifically Mr. McAuliffes debate remark. Those ads represented a full 28 percent of his total airings for the entire campaign, according to an analysis by AdImpact, a media-tracking firm.

Democratic ideological factions face off in cities.

Several municipal races pitted the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party. The contests offered mixed results.

In Buffalo, India Walton, who was seeking to become a rare democratic socialist elected to a mayoralty, was trailing the write-in campaign led by Mayor Byron Brown, whom she had defeated in the Democratic primary.

In Minneapolis, voters rejected an amendment to transform the citys Police Department into a new Department of Public Safety. At the same time, the citys moderate Democratic incumbent mayor, Jacob Frey, held a significant advantage after the first round of ranked-choice voting.

In Seattle, Bruce Harrell, a former City Council president, was leading his more progressive rival, Lorena Gonzalez.

The left did score some wins. In Boston, Michelle Wu, who was running with the backing of progressives, won the mayors race. And in Cleveland, Justin Bibb, a 34-year-old with progressive backing, is set to become mayor as well.
Follow live results of the N.J. governors race.

Election workers in New Jersey encountered problems on Tuesday connecting electronic polling books to the internet, resulting in long lines in some parts of the state as voters tried to cast ballots, including in the race for governor, officials said. The state is using the tablet-like devices for the first time in an election.

Known as e-poll books, the devices pull a list of eligible voters for each polling location from a statewide database. They were used at 139 early-voting sites in New Jersey. The e-poll books are used in tandem with electronic voting machines. It was not immediately clear how widespread the connectivity problems were or whether they were caused by technical issues or user error.

Some voters and elected officials expressed frustration over the delays, which they said had led some people to leave polling sites without voting. I woke up to a phone call about it, Mayor Jason F. Cilento of Dunellen, N.J., said in an interview.

Mr. Cilento, a Republican, said he went to the lone polling station in Dunellen, a borough of 7,400 people in Middlesex County, in central New Jersey, where he found 30 to 40 people waiting in line as election workers struggled to get the system online.
[Follow results of the N.Y.C. mayoral race and other New York elections.]

Most of the political worlds attention on Tuesday will be focused on Virginia, where former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, is trying to return to his old office in a run against Glenn Youngkin, a wealthy Republican business executive.

Polls show the race is a dead heat. And the themes of the contest  with Mr. McAuliffe trying relentlessly to tie Mr. Youngkin to former President Donald J. Trump, and Mr. Youngkin focusing on how racial inequality is taught in schools, among other cultural issues  have only amplified the elections potential as a national bellwether. The results will be closely studied by both parties for clues about what to expect in the 2022 midterms.

While the Virginia race is Tuesdays marquee matchup, there are other notable elections taking place. Voters in many major American cities will choose their next mayor, and some will weigh in on hotly contested ballot measures, including on the issue of policing. Theres another governors race in New Jersey, too. Here is what to watch in some of the key contests that will provide the most detailed and textured look yet at where voters stand more than nine months into the Biden administration.
Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois resident, arrived in Kenosha, Wis., in August 2020 as a teenager with innocent motives, his lawyer told jurors in an opening statement.

Mr. Rittenhouse had ties to the community, family and friends who lived in Kenosha and a job as a lifeguard at the RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie, just outside town. When he went downtown on the third day of protests after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Mr. Rittenhouse was there to clean graffiti and help protect the city from more destruction, his lawyer said.

And when Mr. Rittenhouse walked along Sheridan Road in Kenosha with his rifle in the late evening hours of Aug. 25, 2020, he was pursued by Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man he shot, as well as other attackers who were determined to injure him, take his firearm and possibly kill him, said the lawyer, Mark Richards.

Kyle Rittenhouse protected himself, Mr. Richards said. Protected his firearm, so it couldnt be taken and used against him or other people who Mr. Rosenbaum had made threats to kill. The other individuals who didnt see that shooting attacked him in the street like an animal.
Because self-defense is an issue at the trial, Judge Schroeder has ordered that the term victim cannot be used to refer to the people who were shot. They can be called rioters or looters only if it is established in court that they were rioting or looting, he has said.
Like moths to a flame, tourists from outside of our community were drawn to the chaos here in Kenosha. People from outside of Kenosha came in and contributed to that chaos. But out of the hundreds of people that came to Kenosha during that week, the hundreds of people that were out on the streets that week, the evidence will show that the only person who killed anyone was the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse. The evidence will show that hundreds of people were out in the street experiencing chaos and violence, and the only person who killed anyone was the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse. Were not asking you to solve a mystery in this case. In most homicide cases, the elements that I need to prove might be a little challenging. But here, theres no doubt, there will be no dispute in this record that the defendant had that gun that night, shot eight bullets. Four of them hit Joseph Rosenbaum, two of them at an unknown individual, one into Anthony Hubers chest and one into Gaige Grosskreutzs arm. That will not be in dispute. The central issue in this case is going to be self-defense. And the judge has given you an instruction, which I want to highlight here, because there are some factors that Id like you to keep in mind when you hear the evidence in this case. The defendant used deadly force. There is a privilege under our laws to use deadly force, but its a very limited privilege. That privilege, according to the law, indicates that the defendant can only use deadly force, if he reasonably believed that the force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself. Was it reasonable for the defendant to believe that the force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself?
WASHINGTON  When the Supreme Court hears a major Second Amendment case on Wednesday, many expect that the courts recently expanded conservative majority will be poised to strike down the New York law under review, one that imposes strict limits on carrying guns outside the home.

But a brief filed by a group of prominent conservative lawyers and former government officials in Republican administrations has complicated that picture. Drawing on originalism, the interpretive method embraced by the conservative legal movement, the brief argued that the original understanding of the Second Amendment was that there is not an absolute, unfettered right to carry loaded guns in public.

J. Michael Luttig, a former federal appeals court judge revered by conservatives, was among the lawyers who filed the brief. He said the issue was straightforward.

When you look at the history and tradition, spanning six or seven centuries, you indisputably find that public carry of guns has been variously prohibited and regulated throughout the entire time, he said in an interview. New Yorks statute, and the statutes in other states that are its equivalent, fit very comfortably within the history and tradition of firearm regulation.
WASHINGTON  Democrats struggled on Tuesday to salvage a major initiative to address climate change in their sweeping social and environmental policy bill amid opposition from Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a key Democratic holdout.

Mr. Manchin, a centrist from one of the top coal- and gas-producing states, has pushed to remove or weaken a provision that would impose a fee on emissions of methane, a powerful planet-warming pollutant that leaks from oil and gas wells. He has already effectively succeeded in stripping the bill of its most powerful climate change provision, a program that would have replaced coal- and gas-fired power plants with wind and solar power.

Senator Manchin has expressed reservations about the methane fee, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, said on Tuesday. We want to mitigate methane, but well see.

With House leaders pressing for a vote as soon as Thursday on the sweeping $1.85 trillion social safety net and climate measure, Democrats were rushing to resolve their remaining disputes on the bill and ensure that it would have the votes necessary to pass. Given the evenly divided Senate, the legislation needs the support of every Democrat, making Mr. Manchins objections  which he warned on Monday were still outstanding  potentially fatal to the package.
WASHINGTON  The basic question at a Supreme Court argument on Tuesday was whether elected bodies can violate the First Amendment when they censure their members for something they said. Put another way: Are censures, which are formal reprimands and a kind of punishment, a form of free speech or a threat to it?

The answer to that question, several justices said, did not seem difficult.

Unless theres something special about the word censure, and maybe there is, this is a very easy case, said Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. One person says something derogatory about another person, and then the other person responds by saying something derogatory about the first person. Nobodys free speech rights are violated there.

The case was brought by David Wilson, a former elected trustee of the Houston Community College System and an energetic critic of its work. In addition to airing his concerns in interviews and on a website, Mr. Wilson sued the systems board, orchestrated robocalls and hired private investigators to look into whether another trustee had lied about where she lived.

He was, a federal appeals court judge wrote in a dissent, a gadfly legislator.

Mr. Wilson said there was plenty to criticize about the college system. In a Supreme Court brief, his lawyers said the board had been investigated for rampant political graft. In 2018, a former trustee was convicted of accepting bribes from people seeking contracts with the college.
American officials on Tuesday warned that the reopening of international land borders next week could lead to longer wait times at ports of entry and asked that travelers have their travel and vaccine documents readily available for border officials.

On Monday, U.S. land borders will reopen to authorized adults who can show proof that they are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Unvaccinated children under 18 will be allowed in if they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, officials said on Tuesday.

This applies to travelers crossing at official ports of entry, as well as those arriving by passenger train. Officials said it did not matter if the proof of vaccination was in a language other than English.

The long-awaited reopening on Nov. 8 comes just ahead of the holiday season, clearing the way for tourists and other nonessential travelers after about 19 months of border closures during the pandemic. It follows a recent decision by the Biden administration to reopen the country to vaccinated foreigners traveling by air. While a negative coronavirus test is required to enter the country by air, that will not be the case for crossing land borders. The border has been open to essential travel for legal trade, emergency response and medical reasons.
At the Department of Veterans Affairs, where thousands of workers who interact with patients were supposed to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 8, officials have taken a dim view of such exemptions. Since the department issued a vaccine mandate for its 115,000 frontline health care workers this past summer, about 88 percent of the 380,000 employees covered by the mandate have had at least one dose, falling short of officials hopes for nearly full vaccination.

In hospitals or nursing homes with particularly vulnerable populations, I think that there will be a point there where it is an undue burden on us to ensure safety in the provision of health care, said Denis McDonough, the secretary of the department, at which point were going to have to deny religious exceptions.

Vaccine reluctance in the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs mirrors that of civilian society, where vaccine rates are largely lower without such mandates. Some people have embraced vaccine conspiracy theories or have been fearful of possible side effects, or do not see themselves at risk for the virus.

Over the summer, as the Delta variant surged, military officials became alarmed at the growing number of deaths; more active duty members died from the virus in the fall than in all of 2020, and none of them were vaccinated. In total, 71 service members have died. The Navy has led the charge with vaccinations, and roughly 99 percent in the service have had at least one shot ahead of the deadline to be fully vaccinated by the end of the month. Sailors were made acutely aware of the dangers of the virus early in the pandemic when an outbreak occurred on an aircraft carrier deployed to the Pacific Ocean. The captain, who pleaded with the Pentagon for help, was later fired.

There is a common understanding that we often work in congregate settings such as shipboard environments and it is understood that in these settings, infectious diseases can spread very rapidly, said Capt. Robert Hawkins, who leads the Navy Medicines Commanders Action Group. Immunizations have played a large role in readiness to conduct our mission for a long time, so we have had an understanding of their role in protecting our health and mission.

In the Marines and the Army, about 93 percent of all active-duty troops have been at least partially vaccinated. Each service branch set its own deadlines and complex disciplinary procedures for those who decline shots, including extensive counseling sessions with clergy and commanders.
The lead lawyer representing Kyle Rittenhouse is Mark Richards, 59, a veteran defense lawyer and former prosecutor who has spent his career in Kenosha and Racine, Wis., primarily representing people accused of drug crimes and murder.

He joined Mr. Rittenhouses legal team in September 2020, but took charge of the defense in January 2021, replacing John Pierce, a lawyer who had helped Mr. Rittenhouse raise money for his case and counts members of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers militia among his clients.

Mr. Richards, a Wisconsin native, has worked as a lawyer for 34 years, first as a prosecutor in the Kenosha County District Attorneys Office, then in Racine. According to his biography, he has tried more than 100 jury trials.

The notable defendants he has represented include Tyler Huffhines, who was arrested in 2019 and accused of running a black-market vaping operation in Kenosha County with his brother. In 1999, Mr. Richards defended a Racine jail inmate who was accused of choking his cellmate to death. The case against the defendant, Kurtis King, was dismissed after a separate investigation found evidence of misconduct by the prison guards.
He signed up to be a cadet in a program for teenagers who aspire to be police officers. He filled his Facebook page with support for Blue Lives Matter. He sat up front at a rally for President Donald J. Trump, and posted images of it on TikTok. And he chose to mark his 16th birthday by raising funds for a support group for the police called Humanizing the Badge.

Now, Kyle H. Rittenhouse faces trial in the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, in the aftermath of street protests last year in Kenosha, Wis.

Mr. Rittenhouse, now 18, had come to Kenosha from his home in Antioch, Ill., a 30-minute drive away, where he lived with his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, a nurses aide, in an apartment complex.

Before the shootings, Mr. Rittenhouse had two profiles on TikTok. On one, he posted a picture from a rally for Mr. Trump in Iowa. On the other, he posted support for Blue Lives Matter, guns and Mr. Trump. Bruh, Im just tryna be famous, he wrote in his bio summary on the account, which had attracted 26 followers.
LAGOS, Nigeria Construction on a high-rise building that collapsed Monday in Lagos, killing at least 20 people, had been ordered halted earlier this year after inspectors found abnormalities, the authorities said Tuesday.

The 21-story structure was cordoned off in June after it had failed to meet structural specifications, said the Lagos State deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat.

Workers were recently allowed to resume the job on the high-rise, Mr. Hamzat said, but on Tuesday it was no longer a construction site but a frantic rescue scene. A day earlier, the building had pancaked into a heap of concrete.

With scores still missing, government officials, security forces and volunteers descended on the area, as families crying and huddling nearby awaited news of their loved ones.
Still, Mr. Bolsonaros absence goes against the argument that Brazil is reversing course, said Natalie Unterstell, the president of the Institute Talanoa, a climate policy think tank.

Its a big contradiction, she said. At the moment when he should be confirming that he wants to be more ambitious about climate issues, he isnt present.

Environmentalists and political opponents in Brazil were also quick to poke holes in the announcements. The green growth plan lacked details to make it credible, they said, and the commitments on emissions included a significant caveat, revealed by examining the proposals technical aspects.

In 2015, as part of the Paris Agreement, Brazil had promised to slash carbon emissions by 43 percent. Now it has vowed to cut emissions by 50 percent. But what looks like an improvement is not, experts said. The base number used for the calculation in both cases  Brazils emissions in 2005  has been adjusted since the first pledge. So each commitment translates to cutting roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide, around 1.2 gigatons.

Its an old new commitment, said Marcelo Ramos, a representative from the state of Amazonas and the deputy speaker of Brazils lower house. Once again Brazil fails to show ambition.

Then there is the matter of Brazils record. By law, the country was supposed to have already started slashing its emissions. Instead, emissions grew to levels not seen since 2006, making it one of the few nations where emissions rose during the pandemic.

The increase was largely driven by a surge in deforestation. From August 2020 to July 2021, Brazils portion of the Amazon lost 4,200 square miles of tree cover, according to the latest numbers published by the National Institute of Space Research. If Brazil had followed its previous deforestation commitments, the rate would be about a third of what it is now.
At least 25 people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded during an attack by the Islamic State on a military hospital in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday, according to local officials, with gunfire and explosions echoing throughout the city into the afternoon.

The attack, which included armed gunmen and at least one suicide bomber, targeted the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan military hospital in one of Kabuls more affluent neighborhoods, where both wounded soldiers who fought for the former government and Taliban fighters were being treated.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said the attack was carried out by several members of the Islamic State, including a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives at the gate to the hospital. A car full of explosives outside the hospital also exploded, wounding dozens, and several Taliban fighters were killed and wounded in the ensuing gun battle, Mr. Mujahid said.

The Islamic State Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K, took responsibility for the attack hours later.

One of those killed was Mawlawi Hamdullah Rahmani, a senior commander responsible for the Talibans Kabul corps and one of the first Talibs to enter the presidential palace after the government collapsed in August, said Wahidullah Hashimi, a Taliban government official.
China has called on families and local governments to stock up on daily necessities as the country enforces stringent restrictions intended to curb a number of Covid outbreaks.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce issued the guidance in a statement on Monday. The Economic Daily, a Communist Party-backed newspaper, said that the directives were an effort by the government to prepare the public for Covid lockdowns in the prelude to winter.

China has enforced a zero Covid policy that includes widespread testing and lockdowns to stamp out any small resurgence of the coronavirus. The country is battling several Covid-19 outbreaks.

Pan Chenjun, an agriculture analyst at the Dutch lender Rabobank, said, The directive to stock up on necessities is mainly about warning residents to prepare for any quarantine if Covid cases occur in their community.
The United States vowed at the Glasgow summit to start providing $3 billion each year, by 2024, to help developing countries adapt to climate change. The Biden administration called it the largest U.S. commitment ever made to reduce climate impacts on those most vulnerable worldwide, assuming that Mr. Biden can persuade Congress to come up with the money.

But how much resilience and disaster recovery does $3 billion buy? A White House official said that no one was available to talk about the pledge. So here are some recent comparison points:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency spent $50.2 billion on disasters over the past 12 months, federal records show. Thats about $3 billion every 22 days, for a country with just 4 percent of the worlds population. And this wasnt even an especially bad year for storms.

After Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans in 2005, the United States spent $14.5 billion on a series of levees and pumps to protect the city of fewer than 400,000 people from future storms. But even that amount was enough only to guard against a medium-strength storm. If another Katrina-scale hurricane struck, the city would be likely to flood again.

This summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended spending $29 billion on barriers to protect the Texas coast from storm surge  a project known as the Ike Dike, so named because the idea gained support after Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston in 2008.

New Orleans and Galveston are a bargain compared with New York City. The Army Corps of Engineers considered spending $119 billion to protect the city from flooding. In 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York needed $10 billion just to protect the eastern edge of Lower Manhattan.

How much resilience can the world hope to get if Biden comes through on his $3 billion pledge? It might be enough to protect a smaller version of Miami. The Corps of Engineers recently proposed spending $6 billion for a six-mile long, 20-foot-high sea wall to protect Miami from the Atlantic Ocean. (Locals hated the idea, saying it would ruin the view.)

Any amount of money invested is moving in the right direction, Ed Johnson, former chief financial officer at FEMA and now head of EHJ-Solutions, a consulting group, said of Mr. Bidens pledge. But this should be considered nothing more than a small down payment.
MOSCOW  William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, met with a top adviser to President Vladimir V. Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, leading a delegation of American officials on a two-day visit to the Russian capital that served as the latest evidence of heightened engagement between two global adversaries.

Mr. Burns was traveling at President Bidens request, the American Embassy in Moscow said in a statement. The surprise visit was something of a merger of Mr. Burnss current role as intelligence chief and his past jobs as a senior American diplomat and state department official. Karen Donfried, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, joined Mr. Burns in his meeting with the adviser to Mr. Putin, Nikolai Patrushev.

They are meeting with members of the Russian government to discuss a range of issues in the bilateral relationship, an embassy spokesman said of the American delegations visit, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

It was at least the fourth trip to Moscow since July by a senior American official, a sharp uptick in contact that has come in the wake of the summit meeting between Mr. Biden and Mr. Putin in Geneva in June. Officials on both sides say the talks have so far yielded no breakthroughs and are aimed primarily at stabilizing the relationship between two nuclear-armed adversaries increasingly competing in cyberspace as well as geopolitics.
On the September morning when he returned to jail, Mr. al-Garosha stepped out onto his landing, still holding his 1-year-old daughter, Dina. She was born after he started his cycle of jail terms, and he has been only a stop-start presence in her life. Mr. al-Garosha gave Dina one last kiss, before handing her back to his 20-year-old wife, Samar.

Reaching the street, he settled into a brisk stride. He walked past the tire merchant opening up his shop, past the patch of empty ground where a missile struck during a brief war last May, past a line of scuffling schoolchildren waiting to buy snacks from a refreshments stall.

It was at a similar street stall that Mr. al-Garosha had first met Samar, one afternoon in 2017. Mr. al-Garosha ran the stall with a friend, selling tea and coffee. One day, the friends sister turned up, and Mr. al-Garosha chatted briefly with her. It was Samar, then 16.

They spoke for only a few minutes, and he was in no financial position to support a spouse. But Mr. al-Garosha felt a connection and, perhaps as importantly, felt he was running out of time to get married.

Many Gazans marry in their late teens, and he was already 25. Since most Gaza marriages are still arranged through a brides parents, he called Samars father to ask permission to marry her. They were engaged four days later.
New York City voters will decide three citywide contests: mayor, comptroller and public advocate. Democrats are heavily favored in each, as they are in most of the other contests for City Council, borough presidents and the Manhattan district attorney. Five ballot questions include measures involving legislative redistricting, changes to voting laws, environmental policy and New York Citys civil courts. Read more 
Stillwater, OK (74078)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 47F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 47F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
A Chinese woman has sparked controversy online with her extremely frugal lifestyle, which involves spending as little money as possible, even if it means giving up on some of lifes small pleasures.

Consumerism may be at an all-time high in the developed world right now, but the minimalist lifestyle trend is also becoming increasingly popular. In China, hundreds of thousands of people share money-saving tips on private social media groups, with some members standing out through their frugal lifestyles. One such individual is Wang Shenai, a 32-year-old woman from Nanjing and member of a 400,000-strong online group called Frugal Womens Federation. She has achieved celebrity status among her peers for her extreme money-saving techniques, but also sparked controversy among the general public, after a recent interview she gave went viral.

Wang Shenai sat down with Tencents Talking to Strangers program, discussing her money-saving strategies and her views on consumerism and minimalism in a lengthy interview. The 32-year-old woman said that she grew up poor and that her family always tried to save as much money as they could. Her mother would always put the money she saved in the refrigerator, and whenever she would give her any small change, she would throw the coins on the ground in order to teach her that money was hard to come by. These early experiences stuck with her long into adulthood.

Growing up in a small, run-down house, Wang Shenai couldnt help to get her own place, and as soon as she could get a job, she started saving up for her own place. While most people feel happiest when they spend money on things they believe will bring them happiness, Wang says that she has always been happiest saving money. Spending money makes her feel anxious and vulnerable while saving up her finances gives her a sense of security.

Over the past nine years, Wang Shenai and her husband have managed to save roughly 90 percent of their monthly income, despite raising two children, and were thus able to acquire two houses. Her achievements were not without sacrifice, though, even though the 32-year-old woman doesnt see them as such.

Wang doesnt shy away from using used things such as furniture if it means saving some money, she only spends 100 yuan on underwear every year, with all the other clothes being donations from friends who dont want to wear them anymore, and going out for drinks or a meal with friends is considered way too expensive.

These confessions have attracted Wang Shenai a lot of criticism online, with people calling her stingy and claiming that she must be suffering from a mental illness. However, she has pushed back against her critics, clarifying that she has never encouraged anyone to follow her example and that every person is different and free to do as they please.

Wang said that, having worked at an advertising and marketing company, she learned that brands created artificial needs to increase shopping behavior, which ultimately led to compulsive shopping. She gave the example of young girls who start by buying popular cosmetic brands; over time they will have higher and higher quality requirements, and their expenditures will increase as well. So they end up paying for goods they cant really afford, just to feel fulfilled.

Wangs frugal lifestyle created controversy on Chinese social media, but despite having her share of critics, the 32-year-old is regarded as a mentor by many of the members of her private minimalist tip-sharing group.
Lex Suvanto

Edelman names Lex Suvanto managing partner and CEO of Edelman Financial, a newly created position. Suvanto has been with Edelman since 2013, most recently serving as global managing director. He has advised on transactions, activism defense situations and IPO as well as high-profile crisis situations. Prior to Edelman, Suvanto was managing director and CMO at Abernathy MacGregor. In addition, Edelman named regional leaders for financial communications in the US (Katie Spring and Josh Hochberg), EMEA (Alex Simmons), APAC (Chad Tendler) and Canada (David Ryan). "Lex and this outstanding group of leaders have built a strong platform for delivering world-class counsel and execution, and we will continue to invest significantly to further grow our team," said Edelman CEO Richard Edelman.

Bill Smith

The Bliss Group hires Bill Smith as SVP to lead paid, earned, shared and owned (PESO) communications strategy and corporate storytelling for healthcare, finance, technology, and professional services firms. Smith joins The Bliss Group from Makovsky, where he was a group vice president, leading strategy across the firm's financial and professional services practice. He has also served as a vice president at BCW Global and a senior account executive at Dukas Linden Public Relations. In his new position, Smith will be responsible for helping the agency introduce "search media relations," which the agency says will enable it to identify and reach an optimized set of influencers and organizations. "The days of just gaining coverage are long gone and Bill is helping us usher in a new era," said The Bliss Group CEO Bob Pearson.

Justine Fedak

MERGE hires Justine Fedak as chief marketing officer and a member of the company's executive committee. She most recently ran her own firm, Corporate Hippie; worked as chief brand strategist at Pollara Strategic Insights; and held a variety of senior marketing positions at BMO Financial Group. Fedak also co-founded Instant Impact Group, a diversity and marketing consulting firm, with Star Jones. "Justine truly embodies MERGE's purpose of promoting health, wealth and happiness," said MERGE chief executive officer Patrick Venetucci.

Bob Jimenez, Jessamyn Katz, Joseph Tateoka

The Plank Center adds Bob Jimenez, Jessamyn Katz and Joseph Tateoka to its board of advisors. Jimenez is senior vice president of corporate affairs at Cox Enterprises, serving as the chief communications counsel to members of the company's executive team and leading the management of its brand, reputation and strategic communications. Katz is president of Heyman Associates, where she leads searches to fill executive-level roles in strategic communications, investor relations, marketing and other specialties. Tateoka is vice president of global learning & development at Edelman and an adjunct professor at DePaul University College of Communication. "Nurturing and mentoring the next generation of ethical, skilled communications leaders is essential to our profession," said Plank board chair Bridget Coffing. "We're delighted and honored to have Bob, Jessamyn and Joseph join our Board of Advisors, as they bring the integrity, talent and experience that will help us drive this critical imperative."
Washington Post thumps Trump. After running a well regarded investigative series about the Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol, the DC Post decided to avoid the fate of the Wall Street Journal by not running Donald Trumps response.

The Post's series reported that Trump, his legal team and political allies pushed misleading claims about electoral fraud that led to the rioting.

The WSJ on Oct. 27 ran Trumps letter complaining about its Oct. 25 editorial that was slugged The Election for Pennsylvanias High Court.

Trumps 600-word broadside was packed with lies and misinformation pertaining to the rigged election.

In its editorial, the WSJ noted that Joe Biden beat Trump by 80,555 votes in Keystone State.

To which, Trump responded: Well actually, the election was rigged, which you, unfortunately, still havent figured out. He then served up bullet points of nonsensical claims about how the election was stolen.

The Wall Street Journal decision to publish Trumps bogus letter undermined the work of its staff that had already reported that the ex-presidents charges were bunk.

In nixing the former presidents letter, WaPo backed its reporters who poured over thousands of pages of court documents, hundreds of videos and interviews with 230 people who played a role in the day that Trump supporters attempted to overthrow Americas democracy.

The paper did report that Trumps letter claimed that the Posts reporting was fake news and denied the rioters had anything to do with Trump.

But they sure did like to wave those Trump flags.

Americas democracy is no longer the envy of the world, according to a poll conducted by Pew Research.

Nearly six in ten (57) of people polled in 16 countries say the US used to be a good example of a model democracy but has not been in recent years.

My hunch is that four years of Donald Trump in office and his subsequent undermining of the 2020 election, which triggered the attack on the seat of Americas democracy has other countries down in the dumps over the Land of the Free.

South Korea (73 percent) was most turned off by recent political events in the US. It was followed by Canada (69 percent), Japan (67 percent), Singapore (66 percent) and Australia (64 percent).

At 32 percent, Italy took the top spot of the countries saying Americas democracy is a good example to follow. Greece (25 percent), Spain (22 percent), UK (20 percent), Netherlands (18 percent) and France (18 percent) ranked next. Those numbers are hardly a robust endorsement of the USofA.

New Zealand, France and Greece tied at 27 percent in believing the US was never a good example to follow.

The countries rated Americas technology, popular culture and military as the best or above average compared to other developed nations.

Two out of three respondents view Americas healthcare system as the worst in the developed world.

Facebook (aka Meta) has taken a tiny step to improve its corporate image by shutting down its facial recognition system due to growing concerns about the use of this technology as a whole, according to a Nov. 2 blog post by Jerome Pesenti, VP-artificial intelligence at the company.

Facebook acknowledged there are many concerns about the place of facial recognition technology and regulators are still in the process of providing a clear set of rules governing its use.

In the upcoming weeks, Facebook will delete more than a billion peoples individual facial recognition templates.

More than a third of Facebooks daily active users opted in to the Face Recognition setting.

Facebook hasnt entirely pulled the plug. It will limit facial recognition to a narrow set of uses. Those categories include helping people get access to a locked account, or verifying their identity for financial accounts.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg still believes facial recognition is both broadly valuable to people and socially acceptable, when deployed with care.

Dont blow it, Mark.
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Comhairle na nOg is a youth council operating in each of the 31 Local Authority areas across Ireland.

Comhairle Na nOg gives children and young people the opportunity to be involved in, and have a voice in, the development of local and national services and policies and any issues that affect them in their local area. It is the recognised national structure for participation by children and young people (aged 12-17 years) in decision making.

Offaly Comhairle na nOg throughout 2021 as part of their work plan on climate change have been developing an app named Trash-Talk. The app provides secondary school students in Offaly with a toolkit that students can use to campaign to make their schools single-use-plastic free. Anyone can download and use this app from their app store and become more aware of environmental issues and learn how to reduce single-use-plastic in their school.

In order to achieve more awareness about the issue of plastic waste in schools in Offaly, Comhairle na nOg collaborated with the Environment section in Offaly County Council and now have 6 secondary schools in Offaly receiving workshops from Susan Adams of Education for Sustainability. Susan Adams provides education to young people in sustainability and variety of environmental based action workshops (www.educationforsustainability.ie).

Transition Year students from St Brendans Community School in Birr and the Sacred Heart School in Tullamore kicked off their campaigns on October 14 and 15.

They completed a workshop which educated them on plastic pollution and the effects it has on the planet. They discovered interesting facts such as plastic is developed from fossil fuels such as oil and gas therefore its production contributes to global warming. The students also learned that plastic pollution is becoming an increasing environmental hazard in our rivers and oceans for animals and humans and has led to many large garbage patches in our oceans. One of the largest being the Giant Pacific Garbage Patch. Students also discovered that one plastic bottle takes 450 years to disintegrate.

Students will now be campaigning and developing a plan to tackle single use plastic in their schools while using the app developed by Offaly Comhairle na nOg. Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr. Declan Harvey opened the campaign at the Sacred Heart School Tullamore on Friday 15th of October and welcomed the ingenuity of Comhairle na nOg in developing the application which will help to increase awareness in young people around Offaly. Cllr Harvey stated its a good example of collaborative working with Comhairle na nOg and the Comhairle na nOg steering group and Offaly County Council who provided the funding for the schools to complete the workshops.

Offaly Comhairle na nOg are hosting their Annual General Meeting on Thursday the 25th of November 2021 online. This is a great opportunity to see the work they have completed in 2021 and also for young people to have their say on issues important to them. If any young people in Offaly would like to join or for more information please contact alambe@offalycoco.ie



Follow Offaly Comhairle na nOg on Social Media

Facebook: Offaly Comhairle na nOg

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Offaly-based Junior Minister in the Department of Agriculture, Senator Pippa Hackett, has said "equality between women and men in agriculture will ensure our rural areas flourish."

Her comments come as The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, outlines a range of measures to support womens participation in farming as part of the new CAP Strategic Plan. The package of measures includes: an increased rate of grant aid of 60% for women aged 41-55 years under Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS); women-only Knowledge Transfer (KT) Groups; and a call under the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) initiative for proposals to examine womens participation in agriculture.

The new CAP Regulations place particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the socio-economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. The SWOT analysis in preparation for Irelands CAP Strategic Plan identified gender inequality as a weakness, while the economic benefits of increasing female participation was identified as an opportunity.

Minister McConalogue commented, Gender equality is a priority for my Department, as well as being a cross-cutting objective of the forthcoming CAP. The contribution of women to agriculture is important and my Department has worked to design measures which will increase their participation in farming. Food Vision 2030, the agri-food sectors new ten-year stakeholder strategy, also supports an enhanced role for women in the sector and recommends some further actions, including a national dialogue on women in agriculture. I have asked my officials to prioritise this dialogue for next year.

Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, a farmer herself from Geashill, said, It is important that gender mainstreaming is integrated into policymaking both through specific CAP interventions, such as the 60% grant rate for qualified female farmers under TAMS, and also through all agriculture schemes. I am pleased that equality between women and men, which is a core principle of the European Union, is being given increased emphasis to ensure our rural areas flourish. I have met many wonderful and innovative female farmers around the country and I look forward to these measures being of great support to them and indeed to all female farmers."

Minister of State Martin Heydon T.D. said: Women have always been central to farm enterprises across the generations, but often in roles that are not visible or sufficiently recognised. These measures seek to correct that imbalance and ensure greater representation by women as farm holders and in decision making on farms.
It is being planned to use one of the ESB's former buildings in Shannonbridge Power Station for the storage of power.

Two ESB managers met with Offaly County Council recently and discussed with them the proposal to turn the Dalton building on the site into an energy storage centre.

Dalton Centre is a sizeable building which the ESB recently handed over to the County Council following the permanent closure of the power station last December.

One of the ESB managers told the meeting the ESB has started to empty out Dalton in preparation for the installation of large storage batteries.

The councillors were also told that there is a peregrine falcon nesting on the building which will entail the drawing up of an ecology report.

"We are living in a challenging environment," continued the ESB official. "It is possible that Ireland will be hit by energy shortages during the winter."

One of the councillors asked if the roof in Dalton was made of asbestos. The ESB official said it wasn't.

The ESB managers said the ESB intends to go ahead with its plans to demolish its two closed peat-fired power plants in Shannonbridge and Lanesboro. However, Donal Phelan, Senior Manager in the Generation and Trading Directorate in the ESB, said a couple of buildings will be repurposed as battery storage hubs, and Dalton will be one of these.

He said that following a review of redevelopment options for the decommissioned plants in Lanesboro and Shannonbridge the state-owned company has decided to seek planning consent for new technology hubs to allow greater levels of renewable energy on the grid.

The ESB confirmed this week that the large industrial plant buildings will be demolished in line with the companys planning obligations. The confirmation follows remarks from Environment and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan a couple of weeks ago that he wouldnt rule out the closed plants having a central role in emergency measures for back-up power over the next four to five years. Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen urged Minister Ryan to provide clarity on his comments which they said had rattled affected communities in the region at a time when energy and fuel costs continue to rise.

In response the ESB issued a statement which stated: Following the closure of both the midland stations in December 2020, a review of options for redevelopment of both sites post decommissioning was carried out and presented to the Just Transition working group.

Based on the recommendations and conclusions drawn it was decided to seek planning consents for both the remediation and redevelopment works at both sites, which would involve the construction of electrical grid system support technology hubs that can facilitate greater levels of renewable energy generation on the grid in line with ESBs Brighter Future Strategy.

These technologies, which will include energy storage through the use of batteries, will be offered to the grid operator through upcoming auctions for system services.

Using battery-stored energy is likely to become more widespread in the future as it allows peaks in demand to be met with lower carbon emissions.

Cllr Eamon Dooley wondered who would have the final say on the matter of Shannonbridge's proposed demolition, Minister Eamon Ryan, or the state-owned company? He said battery storage hubs only create a few jobs. He highlighted the success story of Ferbane Business Park which was a joint community/ESB venture that came into existence in response to the demolition of Ferbane Power Station and which led to the creation of 80 jobs. Ferbane Business and Technology Park continues to grow, he remarked. This time round the Just Transition programme, he contended, doesn't feel as positive a response.

In fact the Just Transition fund has been a disaster. The amount of money granted is nowhere near enough and many communities cannot meet the matching funding requirements.

Cllr John Leahy said the Just Transition fund doesn't seem to be the solution to plug the hole that the government's decarbonisation programme has created in Offaly.

Donal Phelan told the councillors that the ESB feels a strong affinity to Offaly and its communities and has enjoyed a positive relationship with the people of Offaly for many years. He said the company wants to see that continue.

He praised the former staff of Shannonbridge Power Station for continuing to work hard and devotedly in their jobs during the final years of the Station's life, years which were very challenging. For example, the EPA changed the water discharge regulation which made things considerably more demanding for the staff.

Mr Phelan denied that Minister Ryan ever suggested the power station might reopen to meet energy shortages. What the Minister said is that the Lanesboro and Shannonbridge sites still have a role to play, such as storage batteries in the Dalton building. However, there won't be many jobs in this. The storage batteries will help us advance further towards the country's decarbonisation goals.

Cllr Noel Cribbin said the government often doesn't inspire confidence. I sometimes wonder if the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. There is a lack of adequate planning. It was obvious that closing Shannonbridge and Lanesboro would cause energy shortage problems but that was never taken into consideration. Surely we should have erected more wind turbines and created more solar farms before closing down Shannonbridge?

Mr Phelan said the ESB's plan had been to keep Shannonbridge open for at least another ten years and to convert to biomass, but this plan was changed. He said faults in two large power stations in Dublin and Cork had caused the recent anxiety about winter power shortages but I think we have now handled the problem, and I think the winter is going to be OK.
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Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

New York-based private equity firm Leeds Equity announced the final close for Leeds Equity Partners VII with total commitments of over $1.4 billion.

Leeds Equity, which was founded in 1993 and focuses on investments within the Knowledge Industries said in a press release that Leeds VII is comprised of $1.33 billion of commitments from third party limited partners and $80 million of commitments from the general partner and its affiliates.

The Fund had an initial target of $1 billion, which was increased with the support of limited partners over its hard cap to accommodate significant investor demand, it said.

The Firm pursues investments across both its buyout fund strategy, Leeds Equity Partners, and its growth equity fund strategy, Leeds Illuminate, which was launched in 2020. Leeds VII brings Leeds Equity's capital commitments across its funds to over $4 billion.

Jeffrey T. Leeds, Partner of the firm said: "Virtually all Leeds VI investors committed to Leeds VII, and we are delighted to welcome new limited partners from the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and MENA." Added Leeds, "Our investors are, in fact, our partners, and we look forward to continuing to work together as we deploy Leeds VII."

"The successful fundraise for Leeds VII is a result of the commitment the Firm maintains to partnering with the highest quality companies and management teams and our shared mission to deliver best-in-class outcomes," said......................

To view our full article Click here
Paul Dean Hicks, 84, passed away on November 6, 2021, in Las Vegas, NV. Dean was born on August 10, 1937, in Rutledge, MO, first son of Clarence Hicks and Madeline (Ewing) Hicks. Dean graduated from Memphis High School, Memphis, MO in 1956. He married Carol Joan Blackwell (deceased February 
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Updated as of 2:12 p.m.: Saginaw Road between Dublin and Stark is now open, according to a Midland County Central Dispatch alert.

Midland County's Central Dispatch issued an alert just after 10 a.m. Tuesday regarding a Saginaw Road closure due to a traffic crash. The road will be closed between Dublin and Stark Roads.
BIG RAPIDS  One of Big Rapids highest ranking military members is returning to his hometown to celebrate Veterans Day this year.

Active duty U.S. Navy Admiral Larry LeGree, a Big Rapids High School Class of 1987 Alum, will return to unveil the Major General Ben Fuller Monument at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Holland Park-Veterans and Homefront Heroes Memorial in Big Rapids; and he will be the Grand Marshall for the downtown Big Rapids Veterans Day parade beginning at 11 a.m. the following day, Thursday, Nov. 11.

The Admiral received his commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991, with a degree in Systems Engineering. Admiral LeGree is a nuclear qualified Surface Warfare Officer. His sea duty has included assignments aboard the destroyers USS SCOTT (DDG 995) and USS JOHN YOUNG (DD 973); USS ASHLAND (LSD 48); and multiple assignments aboard the aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). His deployments include Operation DESERT STORM, United Nations Operations in Kosovo, Maritime Interception Operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM and UNIFIED RESPONSE.

The Admiral served ashore as a special assistant to the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command and later as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy and speechwriter for the Director, Naval Reactors. He also served as the Principal Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and is currently assistant chief of staff, J-3, Joint Forces Command, Naples, Italy. LeGree previously served as senior advisor for nuclear security affairs, Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.

As a Commander, LeGree served a combat tour as Commanding Officer of the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. He was the first operational Commanding Officer of USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19), taking that ship and crew on their first deployment. He also served as the final Chief Engineer of ENTERPRISE, his third tour on the Big E. Before his recent assignment to Naples, Italy, he served as the Commander of Amphibious Squadron EIGHT and Immediate Superior in Command for the BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group.

Admiral LeGree holds a Master of International Public Policy from the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University. He also holds masters degrees in Public Administration and Political Science from North Carolina State University. He most recently completed a National Security Fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and various service medals and unit awards.

Admiral LeGree is the son of Larry Sr. and the late Stephanie LeGree, of Big Rapids. The public can meet the Admiral from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at AMVET Post 1941, 320 S. 4th Ave., Big Rapids, immediately following the General Fuller monument dedication ceremony. At that time, the Post will be celebrating the US Marine Corps birthday with the traditional cake cutting ceremony.

IF YOU GO

 General Fuller Monument Dedication Ceremony: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Holland Park-Veterans & Homefront Heroes Memorial, West Spruce Street, Big Rapids.

 Meet and Greet the Admiral, Marine Corps Birthday: Noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at AMVETS Post 1941, 320 S. 4th Ave., Big Rapids.

 S.O.S. Veterans Day Breakfast: 9-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at AMVETS Post 1941, 320 S. 4th Ave., Big Rapids.

 Veterans Day Parade: 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, along Michigan Avenue, in downtown Big Rapids.

 Annual Veterans Day Concert: 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Williams Auditorium, 901 S. State St. STR205, Big Rapids. Featuring the FSU West Central Concert Band with Dr. Richard Scott Cohen, musical director and conductor.
Just one day after the world hit a gloomy milestone of 5 million deaths from COVID-19, Midland County Commissioners said the virus is getting too much attention.

Commissioner Jeanette Snyder said Tuesday that she doesnt agree with mandates issued by the Midland County Department of Public Health or with serial testing protocols in schools.

I just wanted to say I don't agree with it, said Snyder, during the regularly scheduled board meeting. I've heard people in the community, Ive done my own research and we are giving COVID way too much attention.

Snyder added that she spoke with a Midland-based physician about differences between individuals who are vaccinated for COVID-19 and those who are not vaccinated. She said the physician told her there is no difference whether or not people are vaccinated for COVID.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fully vaccinated individuals are less likely than unvaccinated persons to contract COVID-19, and infections with the Delta variant in fully vaccinated persons are associated with less severe clinical outcomes.

This mandate is inappropriate because its really singling out the unvaccinated, Snyder said. And the serial testing, I dont agree with it. I dont agree with this mandate. I think that COVID, like I said before, its getting way too much attention.

Snyder also added comments regarding two viruses, Ebola and Swine flu, that came to the United States in the late 2000s.

Why has this (virus) stuck? They dont know. Its not more dangerous than some of the other things I have mentioned.

The Swine flu, or H1N1, had a one-year designation as a pandemic. At the time, the CDC said the U.S. mounted a complex, multi-faceted and long-term response to the pandemic. Back in 2019, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no COVID-19 response team in the federal government.

Snyder said she would like to know how long the mandate will be in effect. She added comments regarding the authority under which Midland Countys Health Officer, Fred Yanoski, makes decisions.

She said Yanoskis authority is under the states public health code. This statute, Part 127 of Act 368 of 1978, is an act to protect and promote public health. For the full writing, visit here.

We've been told that we don't have a say in this, Snyder said.

Commissioner Steve Glaser said he agrees with Snyder's remarks, adding comments regarding Yanoskis authority in the health department. He said he does appreciate the health officers role in the community.

Hes made a determination, along with Dr. (Cathy) Bodnar, but we are dealing with a circumstance with a virus, particularly the Delta virus (sic), Glaser said.

To clarify, COVID-19 is the virus, whereas the Delta variant is a variant of the COVID virus.

Vaccinated people can be carriers (and) vaccinated people can contract the disease. So, why are we isolating the unvaccinated? Were neglecting the possibility of people carrying natural immunity from being prior infected by the disease and perhaps were asymptomatic and didnt even know," Glaser said.

Quarantine means staying home for 14 days after you are exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. According to the CDC, this is because you can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 but may not show symptoms for up to 14 days.

Midland resident William Zablocki provided remarks regarding the way COVID-19 is handled in schools. Zablocki is a member of the Rise Up Midland group, which was formerly called "Parents Against MPS Mask Mandates" - MPS, refering to Midland Public School district.

He said the group supports people's right to choose, not a blanket mandate in schools.

Zablocki was joined by two other Midland area residents to provide comments before the commissioners. A fourth resident was also in attendance to share her remarks.

During the board meeting, Midland area resident Mindy Cox said she had concerns over the excessive punishments that could follow after disobeying the mandate. She said the least vulnerable population for COVID-19 are children, and they are targets for COVID precautions in schools.

Regarding the recent public health emergency order, Midland resident Jill Booth said "traditional" science is not being followed.

This town has been founded by leaders in the chemical industry, and it couldnt have been done without really evaluating the science, Booth said to commissioners. "And I am suggesting that this health order is based on CDC guidelines and not traditional science.

Booth indicated she supports ivermectin and monoclonal antibodies for early COVID treatment, referring to them as measures that have been proven to be essential to preventing hospitalizations and deaths. She later emailed the following to the Daily News: "My point was to have our board members research early treatment successes (ivermectin FOR HUMANS included), not to be a livestock COVID treatment proponent."

According to the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC, there is a human dose of ivermectin, although it is typically used to treat parasites in farm animals.

But humans and livestock are not provided the same dosages for treatment. People are treated with the medication for some infections caused by parasites, head lice and skin conditions like rosacea  however, there is no available data to show that ivermectin is effective or safe in treating or preventing COVID-19.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there are currently clinical trials underway to assess ivermectin tablets for treating and/or preventing COVID-19. Because they are ongoing, there are no reported conclusions from the trials.

For recently information regarding Midland Countys confirmed case and death numbers, recovered and hospitalization count and probable cases and deaths, visit here. There's additional information about COVID-19 in local schools included.

Snyder represents District 1 on the Midland County Board of Commissioners. Her areas of representation include the City of Coleman, the Village of Sanford and the following townships: Edenville, Geneva, Jerome and Warren townships.

Glaser represents District 3 on the board. His areas of representation include Greendale, Homer, Jasper, Lee and Porter townships.

In other business, the 2022 budget was approved Tuesday. Commissioner Scott Noesen of District 7 thanked Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden for her work on the budget packet, and other commissioners voiced having a similar gratitude for Gransden.

The next scheduled meeting will take place at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 in the County Services building.

This article was updated to clarify two Midland residents' public comments during the Tuesday meeting. The article should have stated Midland resident Mindy Cox said the least vulnerable population for COVID-19 are children, and yet they are targets for COVID precautions in schools. And Midland resident Jill Booth reached out to the Daily News to clarify that she does not personally support the use of ivermectin in preventing COVID-19 related hospitalizations and death, rather she would like county board members to research early treatment successes of ivermectin use in humans, not to be a livestock COVID treatment proponent.
The Midland County Sheriffs Office is investigating a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash that killed a 75-year-old Midland County woman.

The crash took place at about 9:56 a.m. Tuesday on East Saginaw Road, just east of North Stark Road, in Homer Township.

The sheriff's investigation indicated that the 75-year-old woman was driving a blue 2007 Subaru Legacy westbound on East Saginaw Road, while a silver 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by an 18-year-old Northville man, was traveling eastbound.

The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee crossed the center line and into the path of the Subaru Legacy, resulting in the crash.

The 75-year-old Midland County woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver was the lone occupant of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and was transported to Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland with apparently non-lethal injuries.

Both involved parties were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. The air bags deployed in both vehicles.

While there is no evidence to indicate that alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash, the sheriff's office is waiting on toxicology reports for a final determination. The report will be forwarded to the Midland County Prosecutors Office for review once it has been completed.

Midland County Sheriffs Office personnel were assisted at the scene by the Michigan State Police and their Third District Accident Reconstruction Team, Midland City Police Department, Midland City Fire Department, Homer Township Fire Department, Mid-Michigan EMS, and the Midland County Road Commission.

Related Content:

Saginaw Road to close Tuesday due to traffic crash
Lansing native Melissa White doesnt remember a time when she wasnt playing the violin. The classically trained violist will be the guest artist at Midland Symphony Orchestras upcoming concert on Nov. 13.

Whites interest in the instrument was piqued at age 4 when she saw famed violinist Itzhak Perlman performing on Sesame Street. Two years later, she began violin lessons through Michigan State Universitys community program, where she fell in love with the sound that came from the strings and bow rubbing together and the various harmonies she could create.

I enjoy just the fascination of the resonance that comes out of this wooden box, White said.

White became a classically trained violinist and is one of the founding members of the Harlem Quartet; she is currently touring with the quartet now, playing a mix of varying jazz styles. She has worked with orchestras across the globe as well as artists including Bruno Mars. In 2019, a violin solo by White was featured in the soundtrack of the horror film Us. White also plays with Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective in London; earlier this year they released their American Quintet album, which includes Florence Prices Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major.

Being able to stay busy as a musician is something I feel blessed to do, White said.

White will join the Midland Symphony Orchestra later this month to play Prices first masterwork, Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major. Split into three movements, the piece weaves together a classical sound with harmonies that harken to spirituals and hymns from Black heritage. The concerto made history in 1933 as the first work by a Black woman to be performed by a major American orchestra.

White became familiar with Prices work through the latters string quartets, but it has always been a dream for her to perform Prices first concerto. As a Black woman herself, sometimes the only one in an orchestra, White identifies with Prices upbringing and her fight to have her voice be heard.

I loved the soulful nature of her writing and the harmonic progression, White said. Its quite powerful and I dont take it lightly that I get to share her voice.

Prices concerto holds another special meaning for White, as she played it in her last concert in February 2020 before theaters closed and shows were cancelled due to the pandemic.

White describes her upcoming show in Midland as a homecoming, as she has visited the city in her youth for track meets and enjoys coming to Michigan for performances. She hopes the audience will enjoy the experience as much as she will.

I hope people have an experience that is uplifting and a journey, White said.

The MSO will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at Midland Center for the Arts. In addition to Prices concerto, the orchestra will perform Felix Mendelssohns Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, Italian. Admission is $5 for students and starts at $26.50 for adults (not including processing fees). Tickets can be purchased at midlandcenter.org, by calling the ticket office at 989-631-8250 or in-person at 1801 W. Saint Andrews Road, Midland.
Director of Content and Operations

Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
Livingston, TN (38570)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 39F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 39F. Winds light and variable.
Funeral service for Otis C. Harrison, Jr., 47, formerly of Oakwood, passed away November 6, 2021 in Cypress, CA. Viewing will be on, Monday, November 22 at Emanuel Funeral Home of Palestine from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 23, at True Vine DOXA Center, Fairfie
Cora Heart Crether, 64 of Palestine, died on November 10th in Tyler. Funeral service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rising Star Baptist Church in Grapeland. Burial will follow in Golden Gate Cemetery in Grapeland. The viewing will be Friday from 10 to 6 at Emanuel Funeral Home Palestine.
Palestine, TX (75801)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune renewed on Tuesday his country's full support to the Libyan government of national unity and all measures taken to achieve stability in that country, a statement by the Libyan Foreign ministry said
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Nine persons have been killed and houses burnt in reprisal attacks on Fulani settlements in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, Northcentral Nigeria, official sources said here Tuesday
Photo: (Photo : Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

School districts in America are planning to replace and update the old, gas-guzzling vehicles that take the children to school every day with electric school buses to help curb the impacts of climate change.

According to reports, 25 million U.S. students ride 480,000 old school buses that are not sustainable and eco-friendly. Aside from adding to the air pollution, these buses are also affecting the children's health as they inhale the fumes from the diesel engine.

Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), buses running on diesel may cause respiratory illnesses like asthma, especially those exposed to the pollutants in the long term. Studies show that children from low-income communities are more exposed to diesel buses since 60 percent take the bus to school.

As schools try to secure funding for the electric school buses, some districts have received commitments and entered deals with private contractors to facilitate the shift.

Read Also: Cooking With Gas Stoves May Be Harmful to Children's Lungs Due to Nitrogen Dioxide

California and Maryland First to Shift

About 258 school districts in California and Maryland will soon procure electric school buses after receiving state or private funding. According to Green Biz, Maryland has plans to roll out 326 school buses in four years. This is the most significant objective to shift to eco-friendly buses in the U.S. to date, while other schools have a funding plan to change 10 to 60 buses at a time. California will spread out its bus distribution to at least a dozen school districts.

About 36 percent of these electric school buses will go to suburban communities while 30 percent will be in city schools and 17 percent are in rural areas. California chose to focus on districts with known high air pollution and communities of color.

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Public Schools have recently approved a plan to replace 50 diesel buses using state money after a two-year deliberation with schools, parents, students, and lawmakers. Holly Thorpe, a 12-year-old student, was overjoyed to learn that they will be riding new, eco-friendly school buses soon.

"It wasn't imaginary any more," Thorpe said. "It just wasn't like an idea. It was coming to life."

Though initial spending will be expensive, the operation and maintenance of electric school buses will be 60 percent cheaper than the current buses since this run on rechargeable solar-powered batteries. However, these school districts initiating the shift make up just two percent of the total school population in the U.S.

Congress Urged to Invest in Electric School Buses

The American Lung Association (ALA) urged Congress to invest in electric school buses in its infrastructure bill. According to Forbes, if Congress would set aside $20 billion in funds for this project, one-fifth of schools in the country would be able to use electric vehicles that provide "critical health and climate benefits."

Following a survey of American voters, 68 percent said that they want Congress to focus on zero-emission vehicle investments, while 84 percent said they want lawmakers to do something about the air pollution around the kids.

But Diesel Technology Forum executive director Allen Shaeffer said that schools should choose vehicles with technology that works best for their need because diesel bus options use low-carbon renewable fuels that also bring down the carbon footprint. He said that not all electric buses may help global warming since some types still come from fossil fuels.

Related Article: STUDY: Air Pollution Linked to Premature Birth, Low Birth Weight in Millions of Babies
Photo: (Photo : BRUNA BRUNA/Pixabay)

A woman yearning to become a mother has been advised never to get pregnant because the blood clots she incurred 13 years ago could result in her death. Robyne Toseland, 36, was advised by her doctors that she would have a dangerous pregnancy because she suffered from thrombosis.

Toseland wrote in The Sun that she learned of her thrombosis at 23 years old when she suffered from a serious pulmonary embolism or blood clots in the lungs. Her family thought she would not survive this medical ordeal, but after intensive treatment, including blood thinners and transfusions, Toseland has been living and thriving with her condition for the past decade.

Doctors told the woman, who lives in Cambridge in the U.K., that it would be a long recovery for her as the medical incident left some lung scarring. Following her hospitalization, which almost took her life, Toseland said that she has suffered from multiple blood clots and was resigned to the fact that it is now a part of her life. Her most recent hospital incident was in March 2021.

Read Also: Mom Gives Birth to a Healthy 14-Pound Baby Boy After 19 Miscarriages

Planning a Family

Toseland and her husband have wanted to start having babies, but being told by her doctors that she cannot be pregnant was "devastating to hear." Thrombosis puts too much pressure on her lungs, and her doctors are concerned that this would further cause a strain if she were to have a baby.

The couple has other options for expanding their family, but Toseland said she would be turned down for adoption because of her health issues. She and her husband also can't afford to go through surrogacy.

The young woman said that she's hoping that her story would raise awareness on "just how serious blood clots are." Although she is grateful to be thriving despite her medical episodes, Toseland said that her condition has "destroyed my life in a lot of ways," and she hopes no one else will suffer a similar experience.

Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 100,000 people die from thrombosis every year, while pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of death among women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby.

Cause of Blood Clots

Toseland said that doctors initially considered her use of birth control pills as the cause of her blood clots. However, she has been taken off the pills years ago. Her current diagnosis indicates that she could be suffering from antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disorder known as Hughes syndrome.

Per the Mayo Clinic, APS develops when the body's immune system produces more antibodies to protect against viruses and bacteria. Too many antibodies, however, can lead to blood clots, which has also been reported as a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine in a small number of extreme cases.

APS has no cure, but there are medications to manage the risks. In women, the condition can lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth if the woman becomes pregnant.

Related Article: Mom With Osteogenesis Imperfecta Defies Odds With Pregnancy That Could 'Crush' Her Body
Photo: (Photo : Engin Akyurt/Pixabay)

A Pennsylvania school district has made changes to its school dress code after a Satanic group blasted the discriminatory practice of banning clothes that are "satanic in nature."

Joseph Rose, who belongs to the Satanic Delco group, pushed to amend the school dress code. Some parents whose kids attended the Rose Tree Media School District approached him with complaints about the banned clothing detailed in the school handbook.

Rose conducted a month-long campaign alongside the other parents to get the school district officials to change their stand against banned clothes that have sexually suggestive graphics or wordings or designs that promote the use of drugs and alcohol. The school district also frowned upon students wearing clothes with disrespectful language and Satanic images.

"The idea that a public school, which really isn't a place for religion to begin with, would allow all but one religion is just so obviously unfair and unconstitutional," Rose said.

Read Also: Ohio Dad, 79, Faces Domestic Violence Charge for Shooting Son Who Played Guitar Too Long

No Complaints Received

Rose Tree Media School District superintendent Eleanor DiMarino-Linnen said in an announcement that they did not formally receive any complaints from students or parents about clothing items banned in the school dress code. However, the school official also acknowledged that they will rephrase the wording on the student handbook to remove any references to "satanic in nature."

Law professor Ann Juliano said that the decision was the correct move as DiMarino-Linnen recognized that religious beliefs, such as this case, might become an issue for the community. Juliano also commended the phrasing of the superintendent's response in saying that they would take out the words in question.

However, some Pennsylvania school district parents are divided on the matter. Though they recognize that this is a "free speech issue," they don't want the students exposed to Satanic or cultish ideologies. Others questioned if the school district officials bent over backward to appease just one group. One mom expressed concern that Nazi ideologies could find their way into the dress codes if this other case was allowed.

Not Satan Worshippers

Meanwhile, after a series of emails and calls to the school district, Rose welcomed the decision to recognize their freedom of expression. He is also working on asking the Garnet Valley School District to change its school dress code to remove any references to satanic or cults.

Rose, however, made it clear that they do not worship Satan despite their organization's name. The group said they do not promote such a belief in the personal Satan but are open to rational inquiries about supernaturalism and superstitions on their official site. They exercise "reasonable agnosticism" in their thinking and actions.

On its private Facebook page, the group said that they are an active and independent organization with over 300 members in Philadelphia. Rose also said that his campaign against the school dress codes is helping raise awareness for Satanist practice. The win against Rose Tree Media School District has had an empowering impact as the group reaches out to other schools.

Related Article: Kentucky High School Lap Dance Involving Students and Teachers Sparks Investigations
Last September Patently Apple posted a report titled "Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette team up for their second Apple TV+ series called 'High Desert.' Today Apple TV+s comedy series High Desert has added Matt Dillon, Rupert Friend, Christine Taylor, Bernadette Peters, Weruche Opia, and Brad Garrett to its cast.

Arquette plays Peggy, an addict who decides to make a new start by becoming a private investigator after the death of her beloved mother with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California. For more, read the Deadline report.

Mariah Carey returns to Apple TV+ with "Mariahs Christmas: The Magic Continues"

(Click on image to Enlarge)

The holidays are officially here as Apple and Mariah Carey today announced the Queen of Christmas return to Apple TV+ with an all-new holiday event, "Mariahs Christmas: The Magic Continues," to sprinkle more magic around the world, and set to debut globally in December.

The Apple TV+ special will bring multi-platinum, multi-Grammy Award-winning icon Carey together with Grammy-nominated worldwide artist Khalid and Grammy winning legend Kirk Franklin for the first and only performance of their new single, "Fall in Love at Christmas," on Apple TV+.

Archive: Apple TV News
There is nothing new to be said about our police forces, what was said fifty years ago or seventy years ago will hold good even today.

Writing for The Indian Express two decades back I had said that The growing ineffectiveness of state police forces in the face of powerful offenders creates a demand for CBI investigation, even in cases which are well within the professional and logistic competence of the state police. The CBI itself becomes eminently vulnerable to charges of bias once the affairs of the Central Government become the subject matter of enquiry. The state police forces are well on way to being reduced to a level where they will be good for nothing but ceremonial parades and watch and ward duties and a day may come when the CBI too may face an erosion of credibility. Who shall we turn to then? The Interpol, the FBI, or Scotland Yard?

The moment of reckoning for the CBI seemed to have arrived. The family members of SSR sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to bring in the CBI. Then we are told members of SSR family seem to be distressed at the way CBI is investigating the case. What shall be done now?

The reiteration of the trite fact will help illuminate the dilemma of both police and the public. The popular mind has a very straightforward and simple expectation from the police. It is that police should make itself useful to them in all sorts of circumstances. It is a demanding task. You cannot be useful to the victim and the offender, to the complainant as well as the accused, to the party in power and the ones in perpetual quest of wresting it, to the underprivileged and the powerful, all at the same time.

The only way in which police can navigate this situation is by remaining strictly neutral and following the dictates of law. Therein lies the rub. Police never was, nor is, the agent of law; it is the handmaiden of those who control it. The word has gotten around that those who bring to bear the most pressure on police win the day.

The organizational culture of police puts too much premium on their blind obedience of orders. Stanley Milgram, a management expert conducted a series of obedience experiments in Connecticut in 1961 and advanced a hypothesis that human beings have a natural tendency to obey men in authority and they will even stoop to needless brutality and inhumane treatment of their fellow beings should they feel so commanded by an authority.

In the light of above findings, we can better understand the conduct of the police force in which obedience is drilled in day in and day out. The senior police leadership of the day, and in days to come, need to be put through a crash course in disobedience to refuse to make the organization available to the dictates of political expediency. But who will do it?

One must also now admit the sad but inescapable fact that increasingly it is the criminality of various echelons of governments that often require to be investigated. The fate of political leaders holding responsible positions in governments sometimes depends on the outcome of the investigation of a criminal case. The manifest centrality of impartial investigation for the functioning of democracy can no longer be ignored. The political control of police is leading to unheard of situations. Police officers acting as flag bearers of their respective governments find themselves pitted against each other. In West Bengal it was the CBI vs local police, in the instant case an IPS officer from Bihar was incarcerated by BMC. But the worst instance of police the mistaken direction that police has taken is the exchange of fire and tragic death of police men.

As above, so below was one of the central tenets of the ancient hermetic philosophies  the world in which humans lived was a reflection of the glories of Heaven, but at the same time, the heavens were affected by what happened on the mortal Earth. The eternal truth, as above so below, holds good even today.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Microsoft has a metaverse, too, and its built on Microsoft Teams?!

By designing its metaverse for online business and social experiences, Facebook (sorry, Meta) took aim at Microsofts own experiences for collaboration and hybrid work. Now, in the first half of 2022, Microsoft is promising that it will also offer a metaverse for online meetings via everything from smartphones to mixed-reality headsets. The technology? Mesh for Microsoft Teams (though calling the concept a metaverse is a bit of a stretch).

Microsofts own metaverse is a chance at redemption, of a sort. In 2017, Microsoft tried to roll out Windows Mixed Reality, both as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update  where it only allowed developers to access it  followed by a more formal unveiling as part of the Fall Creators Update. Mixed-reality headsets from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and Acer launched at prices up to $400 or sothen waited for Microsoft to allow anything but Microsoft Store apps, then add beta SteamVR support, while the Windows 10 April 2018 Update finally added full-fledged SteamVR-on-Mixed Reality support.

Windows 10s original Cliff House concept, which could be navigated in mixed reality. IDG

By that time, PCWorlds review of Acers Windows Mixed Reality headset showed that they worked, though not as well as rival devices with external sensors  but by then, few really cared. Microsoft and its partners were passed by by Oculus, a brand being killed in favor of Meta in 2022. Microsoft itself moved towards augmented reality with its HoloLens 2, which at its Microsoft Ignite conference this week is being characterized as a mixed-reality device. Microsoft is also taking 15 percent off the price through Nov. 15, supposedly to spur developers to sign on.

What is Microsofts metaverse?

Microsofts own research still shows that about two-thirds of business users want to work from home and want more social interactions, and it believes that the metaverse might be the intersection of both trends. Microsofts vision of VR productivity involved a cliff house, a virtual space where you could teleport from room to room and pin documents and video streams to virtual walls.

Microsofts vision for Mesh for Microsoft Teams begins here: as a row of human faces and avatars, all interacting within Teams. Microsoft

Thats not the case for Mesh for Microsoft Teams, which is using an exceedingly simple approach toward transitioning between the physical world and the virtual one: imagine a Teams call, with a row of faces. Now imagine some of those faces as avatars, rather than actual people. That, for now, is all Microsofts metaverse is  sort of a midway point between turning your webcam on or off, while not allowing people to see you working in your pajamas.

Sometimes I just want to be able to sit in my chair downstairs and have my heat pad on, but maybe its not that appropriate, said Katie Kelly, a principal project manager at Microsoft working on Mesh for Teams, who Microsoft cited as part of a blog post explaining its metaverse concept. Id love to be able to turn on my avatar. Im still present and engaged, and the people that are there feel like Im present and engaged.

While Teams Together Mode is the first application of Microsofts metaverse and Mesh for Teams, a shared virtual space should be close behind. Microsoft

So far, Microsofts metaverse concept feels preliminary and reactive, giving Microsoft quite a bit of wiggle room to roll it out as a preview in the first half of 2022.

To start, we will take audio cues so as you talk your face will animate, Kelly said, according to Microsoft. Youll also have animations that bring additional expressivity to the avatars. Your hands will move. There will be a feeling of presence even though its as simple as being able to take your audio and manifest that as facial expressions. Thats the first release. The ambition is to closely follow that with Microsofts plethora of AI technologies so that we can use the camera to insinuate where your mouth is and mimic your head and facial movements.

Over time, as sensors improve, the way in which Mesh for Microsoft Teams will supposedly improve, so your avatar will become more responsive. Microsoft has also spent several years building out more traditional virtual spaces with Accenture, which supposedly uses it for everything from onboarding employees to virtual retreats, even with virtual monorails whooshing attendees from event to event.

Automatic translation, which is a staple already in Teams, should move into the metaverse virtual space, Microsoft said. Microsoft

Given Microsofts jilted love affair with now discontinued apps like Story Remix, Mixed Reality Viewer, and so on, you have have plenty of reasons to doubt that Microsoft can actually deliver on its promises. Still, being able to chat with a coworkers dressed as dragons, or bunnies, or simply as a thought bubble seems somewhat reasonable two days after Halloween, in a world where some employees havent shaken hands with one another in years.
Dr Theo Acheampong, an international petroleum economist based in the United Kingdom, is advocating for the immediate removal of taxes on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).



He said it will help cushion consumers who have been saddled with a myriad of taxes on petroleum products making cost of living very expensive.



Countries like France recently absorbed the potential impact of price increment on petroleum products in the short term to avert social upheaval.



Speaking with Kofi Abotsi on Town Hall Talk on Asaase Radio on Friday (29 October), the petroleum economist said: I think the government can do something, and I have advocated that if you look at some of the prices of petroleum products, especially LPG, I dont see why we should be imposing 20% or so tax on it.



A lot of our people use it for cooking and the evidence-based shows that anytime prices of LPG goes up then households substitute with other alternate fuel like charcoal which is not good for the environment.



He added: Government can actually halve or remove the taxes on LPG at least for now to cushion the burden on households and other consumers.



National dialogue

Dr Acheampong further called for a national dialogue on the various margins on other petroleum products.



And then when it comes to other petroleum products like petrol and diesel, I think we need to have conversation on some of the margins and the taxes that are being charged.



The BOST margin that has been increased I think a 100 or 200% since the last two years, so this is before pre-pandemic, we need to have conversation about strategic role of BOST these days they are engaged in other commercial activities, so does that warrant the charge of the margins that is being paid to BOST.









Source: asaaseradio.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon Moses Anim is appealing to the various associations in the fisheries sector to help the ministry to put an end to the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the country.



According to the Member of Parliament for Trobu Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, it is the ultimate goal of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to eliminate night fishing, the use of dynamite and DTT, as well as any other thing that brings challenges and difficulties to the fishing industry.



Hon. Moses Anim made the appeal at the inaugural ceremony of the Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana (TUMASGHA) at GHACEM Club House, Tema Community 5 on Friday 29th October 2021.



One of our cardinal advice to the association is to support us to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fish. We want you to support us to eliminate night fishing, the use of dynamite, DDT, and any other thing that brings challenges and difficulties to this industry. We will plead with you that while you form an association, you say no to any illegal fishing, he pleaded.



Deputy Minister of Fisheries feared that the continuous use of the DTT and dynamite, apart from making it difficult for the country to meet its international obligation and also endangered by EU slapping the nation with an avoidable yellow are killing, bringing diseases and shortening the lifespan of lives in this country.



We hope this association will help us to throw this challenge behind us for God and country sake. You are a limited liability incorporated therefore we expect you to go by the conduct of the new company act. We expect you to exhibit the corporate governance that will let you be good, and attractive so that others will also emulate or join your association, he stressed.



He however advised the Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana to be transparent to its members by making accountability and openness its key and also open the floor for every member to contribute during its meetings.



Highlighting the importance of the fisheries sector, Hon. Moses Anim noted that the sector generates production processing, marketing and employment.



He added that the love for fish and fish products by the Ghanaian population has culminated in the fish accounting for 60% of the countrys annual protein intake; thus, it has exceeded the estimated 14 per cent kilogram per annum for the ECOWAS States as the per capita consumption of fish in Ghana is between 20-25% kilogram per annum. Fish contains Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids which have enormous health benefits, he indicated.



The Trobu Lawmaker indicated the need to ensure optimum utilization of the fishes that are being produced, hence, the ministry is increasing sensitization and awareness creation programmes for fish processors and traders in hygienic fishing handing and processing methods and standards.



Our processors and traders have been introduced to improved fish handling and smoking technology such as the FTT, Insulated fish containers and improved fish drying platforms. This is to ensure the production of safe and quality fish and fishing products and improve livelihood for our actors in the post-harvest sector.



MOFAD and FC are working with our development partners and CSOs to upscale the uptake of these technologies and continuity of the awareness creation programmes. I wish to highlight that marine fisheries management plan 2022 to 2026 and the sector medium-term development plan highlights investment in the post-harvest sector with respect to improved technologies, product diversity, and standard for operation improved market infrastructure and market access he disclosed.



He, therefore, commended the roles so far played by the various fisher-based associations in the production, utilization, and management of the fisheries resources as working with these associations has made the administration and communication within the fisheries sector easy.



the associations act as the vehicle to convene information from government to the various partners. We are therefore excited to welcome Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana to the Fisheries fraternity, he mentioned.



President of Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana (TUMASGHA) Mrs Janet Ampiah delivering her inaugural speech disclosed that there is research ongoing to come up with a modern way of smoking the tuna to preserve it to last for one or two years for export.



We are coming up with a world standard of smoking and preserving tuna so that the authorities abroad will accept the smoked tuna and not the one in the can she disclosed.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The countdown is over, and this evening at the Ashesi University, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumla will deliver his much-publicised public lecture on government's digitisation drive.



Dr. Bawumia, who has spearheaded Ghanas digitization drive, will address the topic: USING DIGITALIZATION TO TRANSFORM AN ECONOMY - THE GHANA STORY.



With digitization as a 4th industrial revolution, Dr. Bawumia will tell the Ghanaian success of how the Akufo-Addo government has used digitization to achieve a number of milestones, which are addressing social and economic issues.



A number of international financial and tech institutions will be part of the audience.



Ghana is globally renowned as a digitization pacesetter on the African continent, Dr. Bawumia is also expected to address how Ghana has achieved many global firsts in many innovations through digitisation.



The lecture will start at 5:30 p.m. and it will be broadcast live on many television and radio stations across the country.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Some industry players and companies have been honoured at the fourth edition of the Ghana Business Awards held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.



In all, a total of 48 individuals and companies received 65 awards for their contributionto the business sector.



The ceremony which sougth to celebrate the achievements of individuals and companies who have distinguished themselves in the sector in the year under review saw the ultimate awards going to Mr Julian Kingsley Opuni, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana and Mr Chris Chinebuah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Fueltrade Limited who emerged as CEO of the year Entrepreneur of the decade and respectively.



Organised by Globe Productions Limited, the awards has since its inception in 2018 rewarded excellence and standards in the business sector.



The CEO of J.K. Ahiadome Transport and Company Limited picked the Industry Leadership Awards of the Year for the Oil and Gas (Downstream) sector with the Personality of the year (Public Sector) Award going to Mr

Emmanuel Antwi -Dankwa, CEO of the Volta River Authority.

CompuGhana and Electroland Ghana Limited picked up the Retail Company and Electronic Company of the year, while M&C Group received the Trading Company of the year award.



The Ghana National Gas Company and its CEO, Dr Ben K.D. Asante were awarded the Oil and Gas (Upstream) Company of the year and Outstanding Leadership Award of the Year for the Public Sector.

Alhaji Fareed Amin Yakubu CEO of Santol Energy received the Young Achiever of the year award.





Speaking at the awards ceremony, the CEO of GlobeProductions, Mr Latif Abubakar, said the winners were selected by an independent advisory board who evaluated the awardees based on a criteria listed for each category.



He explained that the benchmarks for shortlisted winners performance were based on some key performance indicators (KPIs) in the standards of excellence, including information technology and competitive pricing.



Themed "The Digital Economy, Making More Winners" the awards which was in partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD), Nobel International Business School (NiBS), Ipag Business School, Swiss Business School and the Lincoln University with support from the Graphic Communications Group Limited and Media General sought to promote business excellence nationally and internationally as well as provide an unparalleled opportunity for networking among industry players.



Ghana Business Awards

The Ghana Business Awards is a prestigious programme that recognises and rewards excellence across all sectors in Ghana. The awards provides a platform to recognise individuals and companies that play a significant role in the growth and development of their business sector, while recognising the key functions within the sector that promote growth and sustainability.



Present at the ceremony were the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Mr Javier Gutierrez, the Economic Chief at the United States Embassy, Ms Stephanie Hutchison, and the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Roland Affail Monney.







Winners

Below is the list of winners at the awards



BUSINESS MERITORIOUS AWARD

MR. EDWARD EFFAH GROUP CEO AND CHAIRMAN, FIDELITY BANK



AGRIBUSINESS COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ECOM GHANA



TELECOM COMPANY OF THE YEAR

VODAFONE GHANA



AIRLINE OF THE YEAR DOMESTIC

AFRICA WORLD AIRLINES



AIRLINE OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL

EMIRATES AIRLINE

BUSINESS NEWS BRAND OF THE YEAR (JOINT WINNERS)

JOY BUSINESS

GRAPHIC BUSINESS



BEST GROWING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

TCL GHANA



BEVERAGE/WATER COMPANY FOR THE YEAR

BELA AQUA- BLOW CHEM INDUSTRIES



COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD OF THE YEAR

DREDGE MASTERS LIMITED



CONSULTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ADK CONSORTIUM



EMERGING CONSULTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

CARVINCLAY PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT



TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMPANY OF THE YEAR (JOINT WINNER)

KAYA TOURS

KINGSAIR TRAVEL AND TOUR



DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR

THE LITTLE COW CONSULTING LIMITED



DREAM PROJECT OF THE YEAR

B5 PLUS LIMITED



EMERGING BRAND OF THE YEAR

BEL CAN MIXTURES- BLOW CHEM INDUSTRIES LIMITED



ENGINEERING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

BOS ENGINEERING GHANA LIMITED



EXCELLENCE IN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (JOINT WINNERS)

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)

VODAFONE GHANA



EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

ZENITH BANK (GHANA) LIMITED



EXCELLENCE IN HSEQ AWARD

ENI GHANA EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY LTD.



EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR

GT BANK



EXPORTER OF THE YEAR

KINGDOM EXIM GHANA LIMITED



FASHION AND LIFESTYLE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

WOODIN- PREMIUM AFRICAN TEXTILES



FOOD COMPANY OF THE YEAR

MASCO FOODS GHANA



GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ENTERPRISE INSURANCE LIMITED



HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR- DIAGNOSTICS

SUNSHINE HEALTHCARE LTD



HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR- HOSPITAL

LISTER HOSPITAL & FERTILITY CENTRE



HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

PREMIER HEALTH INSURANCE



HEALTH INSURANCE BRAND OF THE YEAR

APEX HEALH INSURANCE LIMITED



HERBAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

TINATETT HERBAL MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING COMPANY LIMITED



HOSPITALITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR

EUSBETT HOTEL



MULTINATIONAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

LUEX HEALTHCARE



AUTO COMPANY OF THE YEAR

UNIVERSAL MOTORS GHANA LTD



IT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

COMSYS GHANA LIMITED



IT CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

LIRANZ LIMITED



ENERGY COMPANY OF THE YEAR

VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY



LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ENTERPRISE LIFE



SANITATION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

SEWERAGE SYSTEMS GHANA LIMITED



SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRICE OF THE YEAR

SMOCKYWORLD LIMITED



TRADING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

M&C GROUP



SAVINGS AND LOANS COMPANY OF THE YEAR

BAYPORT SAVINGS AND LOANS



SHIPPING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

MAERSK GHANA LTD



LOCAL CONTENT AWARD

ENI GHANA EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY LTD



LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

J.K. AHIADOME TRANSPORT & COMPANY LIMITED



MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

B5 PLUS LIMITED



MARINE SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

BENMARINE OFFSHORE SERVICES LIMITED



MEDIA ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR

MEDIA GENERAL GROUP



MINING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI (IDUAPRIEM) LIMITED



MOBILE MONEY SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

MOBILEMONEY LIMITED (MTN MOMO)



OIL AND GAS COMPANY OF THE YEAR (DOWNSTREAM)

GOIL COMPANY LIMITED



OIL AND GAS COMPANY OF THE YEAR (UPSTREAM)

GHANA NATIONAL GAS COMPANY



PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

UNICHEM GHANA LTD



PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

KELLOGG'S



PROMISING CEO OF THE YEAR

KWAME EDENKEMA BLAY- CEO OF WESTERN GROUP



PROMISING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

THE MAKERS ELECTRONICS COMPANY LTD



PROMISING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

ERNEST AMISSAH  CEO OF SUNPOWER INNOVATIONS LTD



ELECTRONIC COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ELECTROLAND GHANA LIMITED (EGL)



RETAIL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

COMPUGHANA LTD.



SECURITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR

STALLION TIGER



TRADE FACILITATION OF THE YEAR

GHANA SHIPPERS AUTHORITY



IMPORTER OF THE YEAR

NUNGUA WAREHOUSE GROUP OF COMPANIES



ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

J K AHIADOME TRANSPORT & COMPANY LIMITED



OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE FOOD INDUSTRY

PAPAYE FAST FOOD LIMITED



OUTSANDTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY

JAPAN MOTORS TRADING COMPANY LTD



OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE SAVINGS AND LOANS

OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL SAVINGS AND LOANS LIMITED



OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE IT INDUSTRY

TIMES-END "C" COMPUTERS LTD



OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS GROUP





SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

YOUNG ACHIEVER OF YEAR

ALHAJI FAREED AMIN YAKUBU- CEO OF SANTOL ENERGY



OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD(PRIVATE)

ERIC ASUBONTENG- MD OF ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI GHANA LIMITED



OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC SECTOR)

DR. BEN K D ASANTE, CEO, GHANA NATIONAL GAS COMPANY



EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARD

NICK DANSO ADJEI- CHAIRMAN OF GHANA LINK NETWORK SERVICES LTD



ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

MR COLLINS OTOO OKLEY- NUNGUA WAREHOUSE GROUP OF COMPANIES



EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD

BEATRICE AGYEMAN ABBEY- GROUP CEO OF MEDIA GENERAL



BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD OF THE YEAR

JAMES GNANARAJ RAJAMANI- KINGDOM EXIM GROUP OF COMPANIES



PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR- MEDIA CATEGORY

DR. FADDA DICKSON- MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DESPITE MEDIA GROUP



WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE (PUBLIC SECTOR)

MS. BENONITA BISMARCK- CEO OF GHANA SHIPPERS' AUTHORITY



WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE (PRIVATE SECTOR)

PATRICIA OBO-NAI- VODAFONE GHANA



INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AWARD OF THE YEAR-OIL AND GAS (DOWNSTREAM)

JAMES KWOKU AHIADOME, CEO, J.K. AHIADOME TRANSPORT & COMPANY LIMITED



BRAND OF THE YEAR

BEL-AQUA MINERAL WATER BY BLOW CHEM INDUSTRIES



BANK OF THE YEAR

FIDELITY BANK GHANA LIMITED



GROUP OF COMPANIES OF THE YEAR

JOSPONG GROUP OF COMPANIES



INDIGENOUS COMPANY OF THE YEAR

GHANA LINK NETWORK SERVICES LTD



COMPANY OF THE YEAR (PRIVATE SECTOR)

MOBILEMONEY LIMITED (MTN MOMO)



COMPANY OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC SECTOR)

UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, ACCRA



SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

MUKESH THAKWANI, B5 PLUS LIMITED



PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD (PRIVATE SECTOR)

MUHAMMADU MUZZAMMIL, ECOM GHANA



PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD (PUBLIC SECTOR)

EMMANUEL ANTWI -DARKWA, VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY



CEO OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC SECTOR)

DR. JOHN KOFI MENSAH, AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)



ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

DR. JOSEPH SIAW AGYEPONG, FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN-JOSPONG GROUP OF COMPANIES



ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

CHRIS CHINEBUAH, CEO, FUELTRADE



CEO OF THE YEAR- PRIVATE SECTOR

JULIAN KINGSLEY OPUNI, M.D OF FIDELITY BANK



CEO OF THE DECADE

MRS. ABIOLA BAWUAH, REGIONAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WEST AFRICA FOR UBA

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei has donated computers and accessories to Mangoase Methodist School in her constituency.



This was promised by the hardworking MP who has vowed to make education propriety in her area.



The MP made the donation to the school during a successful Town Hall Meeting over the weekend.



Chiefs, traditional elders, and teachers of the school were all grateful to their MP, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei for the gesture.



They, however, pledged their support for the MP in her quest to bring more developmental projects to the constituency.



Mangoase youth lauds Nana Ama Dokua



The Youth in the community has also lauded the MP for her frequent visit to the community and support.



According to them, the MP despite her busy schedule has always responded to their needs when called upon.



Unlike other MPs who donate cutlasses to their communities, we have an MP who is keener on education in our community, the leader of the youth said during the Town Hall Meeting









Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Head of Clinical Pathology at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana (UG), Professor Regina Appiah-Opong has disclosed that the institute is currently investigating the efficacy of several traditional remedies that have "interesting anti-cancer activity".



Prof Appiah-Opong said researchers at the institute were currently investigating a lot of anti-cancer products to find out how safe they were for human use and how they could be packaged for mass production.



Addressing the media on the sidelines of a free breast cancer screening exercise held at the UG Night Market, Prof Appiah-Opong said the investigations formed parts of efforts to encourage production by local herbal medicine practitioners.



"We are not urging people to go immediately you get cancer to take herbal medicine. What we are saying is that make sure that you go for early screening at a hospital where you will be advised what to do and we encourage you to follow that," Prof Appiah-Opong said.



"What we are doing is in support of this, eventually we may come up with a product and it will go through FDA approval, all the necessary regulatory processes and it will be on the market for everybody to use.



"We have found some medicinal products that have interesting anti-cancer activity, not only breast cancer. We have found some that are interesting for prostate, leukaemia and so on".



Programme



The screening exercise was organised by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research with support from the Female Employees of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana and the UG, Legon Hospital.



Prof Appiah-Opong said aside from the research being conducted in the laboratories, the Institute decided to raise awareness of the illness because of increasing reports of late detection of breast cancer in Africa.



She also encouraged women to seek early treatment for breast cancer which she said could be achieved through frequent screening.



Hundreds of students, staff and traders participated in the screening exercise.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.



The Anambra-born tycoon, who arrived the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi Abuja at about noon on Monday, was still being interrogated by operatives of the Commission as at 10:30 pm.



Though allegations against the socialite were sketchy as of press time, a source disclosed that his case borders on alleged money laundering and tax fraud.



When contacted, spokesman of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren said he was yet to be briefed on the development.



It was unclear as at press time, if the businessman, who commands large followers across Nigeria, would sleep in EFCC cell or be released on bail to go home before daybreak.









Source: Vanguard









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that with the African Development Bank stating that Africa will need some US$3 trillion in mitigation and adaptation by 2030 to enable her implement nationally determined contributions, Africa should seriously consider the question of financing this challenge.



The Almighty has blessed our lands with abundant natural resources, and it would be wholly unfair for the world to demand that Africa abandons the exploitation of these same resources needed to finance her development, and help us to cope better with the threat of climate change, at a time when many countries on the continent have only just discovered them, President Akufo-Addo said.



He continued, The development and industrialization of the wealthy nations of today were also hinged on the exploitation of their natural resources. This development came at the expense of pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. Even today, the western world is responsible for 76% of carbon emissions.



COP26 in Glasgow



Around 120 leaders have come together in Glasgow since (Monday) at the start of COP26, launching two weeks of global negotiations to help determine whether humanity can drive forward the urgent action needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.



As the world experiences record temperatures and extreme weather pushing the planet dangerously close to climate catastrophe, the need for urgent action at COP26 has never been clearer.



COP26 brings the major emitting countries face to face with the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The World Leaders Summit are expected to send a clear signal to negotiators to be as ambitious as possible and agree to a negotiated outcome that accelerates action this decade.



The Summit will also underscore that the Paris Agreement is working, with increased commitments on finance, emissions and adaptation as we see the first crank of the Paris Agreement ratchet.



Nana Addo's Address



PeaceFM's Senior Correspondent, Sampson Kwame Nyamekye, reports that the president said this when delivered Ghanas statement at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26, currently ongoing in Glasgow, Scotland.



According to him, the president pointed out the need to strike a "balance" between socio-economic advancements and its environmental impact.



Ghana acknowledges the importance and effects of Climate Change, and the urgent need to combat it, and we acknowledge equally the importance of protecting our development. We believe that a balance must be struck and maintained between our social, economic and environmental imperatives, Nana Akufo-Addo stated.



Protecting Ghanas Forests and Oceans



Describing deforestation and forest degradation as the greatest challenges to sustainable forest management in Ghana, the President stated that Ghana has, in the course of the last two decades, adopted several policies and programmes, such as National Forest Plantation Development Programme and the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, aimed at restoring her lost forest.



In June this year, I led the entire country, through the Green Ghana Project, to plant over seven million trees, far above the five million we had targeted. Next year, we aim to plant a minimum of twenty million trees, and we have already begun earnest preparations towards this, he added.



"from 2024 and beyond, we aim to reduce emissions by some ten million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the cocoa-forest landscape, through the implementation of the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, one of five ecological landscape-tailored programmes in Ghanas REDD+ Strategy, he assured.



Ghana, President Akufo-Addo stressed, through her Nationally Determined Contributions in the forestry sector, is committed to supporting the global target of halving emissions by 2030, and attaining neutrality by 2050.











Ghana Joins Others To Make Declaration on Forests and Land Use

Meanwhile, more than 100 world leaders have promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit's first major deal.



Brazil - where stretches of the Amazon rainforest have been cut down - was among the signatories on Tuesday. The pledge includes almost 14bn ($19.2bn) of public and private funds.



Experts welcomed the move, but warned a previous deal in 2014 had "failed to slow deforestation at all" and commitments needed to be delivered on. Felling trees contributes to climate change because it depletes forests that absorb vast amounts of the warming gas CO2.



UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the global meeting in Glasgow, said "more leaders than ever before" - a total of 110 - had made the "landmark" commitment.



The countries who have signed the pledge - including Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana the US and the UK (the full list is here) - cover around 85% of the world's forests.

Source: From SAMPSON KWAME NYAMEKYE/ UK/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Barring any unforeseen circumstances, every new born child delivered in Ghana next year will get, within a few months, a Ghanacard number, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has announced.



Speaking at a public lecture to shed more light on the digital strides chalked by the Akufo-Addo government since it assumed office as part of measures to make public services more accessible and affordable, Dr Bawumia said the actual card will be issued when the child is grown and the biometrics are fully formed (after age 6).



This, Dr Bawumia said, forms part of digital reforms being undertaken at the Births and Deaths Registry to make it more in tune with the times and provide better protected information on the citizens and residents of Ghana.



The Vice President, who made the disclosure while speaking on the theme TRANSFORMING AN ECONOMY THROUGH DIGITALIZATION- THE GHANA STORY on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at the Ashesi University, Berekuso, said the transformation at the Birth and Deaths Registry was welcome news.



Easily one of the most depressing visits I have paid to a government office during my time as Vice President was to the Births and Deaths Registry headquarters. There clearly was insufficient investment in the institution. It was messy and it was sad. It turned out that the Births and Deaths Registry had three separate databases as registers for births and deaths and these databases were in silos. It is not surprising therefore that corruption and fake birth certificates thrived in this environment, he noted.



Thankfully, the process of digitization of the records is almost complete and the three databases have been cleaned up and integrated. Furthermore, we are integrating the births and deaths register with the databases of Ghana Health Service, National Identification Authority, Ghana Statistical Service, Immigration and the Police so that the record of births and deaths should be consistent across all these databases.



E-Pharmacy



Outlining a long list of innovations either undertaken or on the cusp of take-off, Vice President Bawumia announced, among others, the impending launch of the E-Pharmacy, which would involve the digitization of pharmacies in Ghana.



Patients or people generally face difficulties when trying to find medicines in pharmacies. They have no way of knowing which pharmacies have the medicines. They could go to five pharmacies before getting lucky. Sometimes patients are directed to go to specific pharmacies to buy the medicine, denying them any advantage there might be of choosing from a lower priced shop. People also dont know what the prices of the medicines are at different pharmacies and tend in their time of vulnerability to just buy at the prices offered when they find the drug. It is also difficult to tell whether the medicines are genuine or fake. There is also the problem of drug abuse with prescription medicines like Tramadol.



To address these problems, in 2019, I challenged the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to digitize the operations of pharmacies in Ghana. Following this and working with my office, the Pharmacy Council in collaboration with the private sector has completed work on a digital platform for all pharmacies in Ghana and a pilot of 45 pharmacies is currently ongoing.



Basically, the digital E-Pharmacy platform will offer the opportunity to everyone through a mobile phone to upload your prescriptions and find out which pharmacies near you have the medicines. Secondly you can compare the prices for the same drug offered by different prices so that you can buy from the lowest priced pharmacies.



Consumers will also be able to order the drug and pay for it on the phone through mobile money or GhQR (Scan and Pay), etc. The medicines are then delivered to the customers at home through a courier service.

As well, The E-Pharmacy will enable Ghana address the issue of drug abuse. Those prescribed controlled medicines like Tramadol for example will only be given a one-time CODE sent via SMS (once the prescription is uploaded) to use at the pharmacy. The e-pharmacy platform will also check fake or counterfeit medicines because the platform will be linked to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) which will monitor the batch numbers of all products real time. Any drug for which the FDA does not have a batch number will be classified as fake.



The E-Pharmacy is scheduled to be launched before the end of the year, making Ghana the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to have a national scale E-Pharmacy and one of only a few countries in the world with a national scale E-pharmacy.



The lecture, which was attended by members of academia, students, the clergy, chiefs, and other members of the general public, was the latest by Vice President Bawumia, aimed at getting the citizenry, particularly the youth, to have a greater appreciation of the work being done in the digital space, and solicit their views on other areas that may need special attention.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 delivered a keynote address at the Ashesi University under the theme ''Transforming An Economy Through Digitization: The Ghana Story''.



Addressing a gathering, the Vice President touched on some key digitization programmes implemented by the government and other initiatives in the pipeline.



With digitization as a 4th industrial revolution, Dr. Bawumia used the platform to tell the Ghanaian success of how the Akufo-Addo government has used digitization to achieve a number of milestones.



Ghana is globally renowned as a digitization pacesetter on the African continent, Dr. Bawumia thus addressed how Ghana has achieved many global firsts in many innovations through digitisation.





Read full statement below:





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Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The police have confirmed the death of at least 17 people in a road crash on Monday (1 November) in the Ashanti Region.



The head-on collision involves a Kumasi-bound articulator vehicle which veered off its lane and a sprinter bus, the Offinso police confirmed to Asaase News.



The police said the deceased comprise 14 females and three males while 15 others sustained injuries and are being treated at a health facility.



DSP Edmund Nyamekye, the head of police MTTD at Offinso told Asaase Newss Karen Dodoo Antwi that the incident happened at dawn.



How it happened



The accident involves a sprinter bus with registration number GT 6075-15 and an articulator truck, GS 4339-17. The sprinter bus was loaded with passengers heading towards the Savannah Region and then the articulated vehicle was coming from Techiman towards Kumasi.



So, when they got to the Abofour Forest, the articulated truck veered off its lane into the lane of the sprinter bus and there was a head on collision, so far we have registered 17 deaths.



He said investigations have started into the crash.

Source: asaaseradio.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Lesbianism, Gayism, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and related acts (LGBTQ+) are inimical to Ghanas culture and values, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, has said.

He has, therefore, urged the public, especially Christians, to pray against the practice of such acts, while entreating the church to stay united against its acceptance in the country.



The Most Rev. Naameh, who is also the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC), was speaking at the 75th anniversary of the Our Lady of Annunciation (OLA) Catholic Cathedral Parish in Tamale in the Northern Region, which was climaxed last Saturday.



The anniversary, which was officially launched in 2017 with a series of activities, was on the theme: "We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).



The church was established in 1946 by a Canadian Parish Priest, Rev. Father Remigius McCoy.



Advice



The Most Rev. Naameh advised members of the Catholic Church to live lives worthy of emulation to impact positively on society.



He also called for harmony at all times, saying peace is not necessarily the absence of war; peace is needed in our homes, families and between spouses, parents and children.



He further admonished Christians to eschew negativity in their lives to help make the world a better place for all, adding that it was necessary for them to live by faith to deepen their relationship with God.



As part of the activities marking the anniversary, the Most Rev. Naameh cut the sod for the construction of a two-storey building to serve as a commercial facility to help generate revenue for the cathedral.



The Chairman of the Anniversary Steering Committee, Mr John Yakubu Fusheini, entreated the congregation to offer support for the timely completion of the project.



The Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, commended the Catholic Church for its contributions to the development of the country through the provision of schools, health facilities, peace-building initiatives, among other such forms of support.



On behalf of the RCC, he pledged GH10,000 towards the project.



Conferment of Awards



Five persons were conferred with Papal awards  the Order of St Gregory  for their dedicated work to the church over the years.



They are Mrs Cecilia Asobayire, Messrs Philip G. Afulang, Alfred A. Ndago and Clement Akapame, all of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Archdiocese, and Mrs Gabriella Doris Wumnaya of the Damongo Archdiocese.



The names of the male awardees will now be prefixed with Sir, while those of their female counterparts would go by the prefix Dames.



Forty-five parishioners were also awarded citations for their dedicated services to the OLA Cathedral.



On behalf of his fellow awardees, Sir Ndago said the honour would further motivate them to work assiduously to promote the development of the church.









Source: graphiconline.com









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An emotional scene played out at Sydney airport on Monday, November 1, as Australias international border reopened after almost 600 days and loved ones were able to reunite



On March 20 last year, Australia introduced some of the worlds toughest border restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Almost all travel to the island continent halted, prompting critics to dub the country a "hermit state". For the last 19 months, Australians have been banned from travelling overseas without permission.



Families were split across continents, and tens of thousands of nationals were stranded overseas.



The few who did gain permission to enter were forced to spend thousands of dollars and agree to spend 14 days locked in a hotel room.



Those conditions have now been dropped for the countrys two largest cities  Sydney and Melbourne  which will now allow vaccinated Australians to come and go without quarantine of any kind.



Tim Turner, who had not seen his son for more than a year, said it was "pretty brilliant" that they were now able to reunite.



Arriving in Sydney was "beautiful, beautiful", he told reporters at the airport.



Julie Choo, who flew back from the UK to visit her sick mother in hospital, said she was trying not to cry as the plane touched down.



She said: "I just cant wait to touch my mothers hand when I see her. I cant wait to hold her. Its going to be very emotional."













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A man meant to travel to the United States of America today is said to be trapped under the rubble of the building that collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos. A video taken at the scene of the building collapse shows a driver crying at the scene and pointing to the collapsed building. He explained that a passenger he was supposed to take to the airport was trapped in the building. The number of people trapped under the rubble is not known at the moment.



Men of the Federal, state Fire Services and Rescue Team and men of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, are currently at the scene of the incident to rescue those trapped.



Watch a video of the driver crying at the scene below.











































































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Source: lindaikeji's Blog









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Ghana placed third on the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) in Africa, behind Mauritius and Tanzania, with a score of 86.69 per cent, covering the period 2019-2020.

This was contained in the 2020 GCI Report of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).



Since the launch of the GCI in 2015, it has been a trusted reference, measuring countries commitment to cybersecurity and raising awareness of its importance.



The level of each countrys development or engagement is assessed along the five strategic pillars of the ITUs global cybersecurity agenda (GCA) - legal, technical, organisational, capacity building and international cooperation.



Another area where the country showed commitment in the fight against cybercrime was the deployment of the cybercrime incident reporting points of contact (PoC) to enable individuals and organisations to report cyber-related incidents with ease.



Speaking at a seminar in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, the acting Director-General of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, said the countrys current score on the metric showed major progress from the previous ratings in 2017 and 2018 of 32.6 and 43.7 per cent, respectively.



Event



The seminar formed part of activities of the annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) commemorated in October on tag line: Safer Digital Ghana.



Among the participants were state prosecutors and investigators from the northern zone.



Also present were the Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ms Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa; the Director of the Legislative Drafting Division, Office of the Attorney-General, Ms Mavis Amoah, and Mrs Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, also of the A-Gs Office.



Investment



Dr Antwi-Boasiako said the progress Ghana was making in cybersecurity was a confirmation of the governments investment in the sector, adding: Ghanas third place ranking in Africa is a major leap from the 11th place attained in the previous rating and projects it as being among the best on the continent and the world.



He mentioned some of the key interventions meriting the countrys position to include the revision of the national cybersecurity policy to provide direction and the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which seeks to regulate cybersecurity activities in the country, promote its development and related matters.



Other interventions, Dr Antwi-Bosiako said, were the institutionalisation of cybersecurity to foster domestic cooperation and collaboration, the ratification of relevant cybercrime international conventions and treaties, such as the Budapest and the African Union conventions on



Cybersecurity and personal data protection, also known as the Malabo Convention.



The rest are the development of Ghanas computer emergency response team (CERT) ecosystem and capacity building and awareness creation.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The countrys forests and reserves are under threat due to encroachment and other human activities, including farming and estate development.

An environmental economist, Prof. Anthony Amoah, has, therefore, called for immediate measures to stem the tide.



He suggested that key stakeholders, particularly the Forestry Commission, build trust with communities within which the forests and reserves were situated to help protect the resources.



The environmentalist was speaking with the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of a workshop on the environment and natural resources research initiative (ENRRI)  EfD Ghana, in Accra.



Prof. Amoah, who is also a Dean at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in Somanya in the Eastern Region, said many protected forests and reserves had been under attack in the last decade and mentioned the Achimota Forest, the Shai Hills and the Gua Kuo Forest as some of the most affected resources, leading to Ghana losing huge sums of money.



Citing a World Bank report of 2019, he said in spite of efforts to preserve forest resources, it was estimated that net forest depletion in Ghana, which was $1.578 billion in 2010, had risen to $3.134 billion in 2017.



This shows a net forest depletion of over 98 per cent from 2010 to 2017, Prof. Amoah said.



According to him, Ghanas forests and reserves could be turned into world-class eco-tourism and recreational centres for revenue generation and employment creation, as they also contained insects, medicinal plants and animals.



Seminar



The workshop, which was organised in partnership with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), was attended by representatives from the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, researchers, members of academia, the media and civil society organisations.



The ENRRI  EfD Ghana is one of the 15 centres under the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative which contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources through capacity development, policy-relevant research and engagement.



It brings together accomplished researchers with varied expertise in environmental economics in the country and from elsewhere to conduct evidence-based research and also advise the government and development partners on policy options for the management of the environment and natural resources.



Significance



For his part, a natural resource economist and Director of the ENRRI  EfD Ghana, Prof. Wisdom Akpalu, said the forests and reserves offered a lot of benefits for both present and future generations and, therefore, it was the responsibility of all to protect those resources.



Without trust, institutions become powerless, he said, adding that if the processes that build trust are inherently corrupt, then it becomes a problem," the director said.



He said ENRRI  EfD Ghana would continue to research into areas that would help Ghana develop sustainably.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George has described as lies the Ghana Police Services explanation concerning the alleged attempted arrest of Madina MP during church service.



The Police, in a statement, said, stories circulating that some Police personnel had been dispatched to arrest the MP at a church today Sunday, October 31, 2021, are untrue.



Any plain-clothed Police personnel found on the premises of the church may have been there for intelligence purposes and not to effect an arrest.



Reacting to the above statements on his Facebook wall, he said, ACP Kwesi Ofori and the IGP should tell their fib to class 1 kids that the plain cloth officers were there to gather intelligence. Absolute bumble!



He added that as the Police have determined to use legal means to interrogate all suspects, including the Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu, they must be guided by Articles 117 & 118 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders 28 & 30 of Parliament.



The Police have been seeking to arrest Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu, after organising a protest that had ended riotously.



The protestors had blocked the Ayi Mensah-Danfa road by burning tyres and preventing the free flow of traffic.



The MP who had refused the Polices invitation to assist them in investigating the matter stated that the Police attempting to arrest him on the protest grounds was an act of lawlessness.



He has subsequently filed a contempt of Parliament against two of the Police Officers and the Adenta Police Command for their actions.



According to Sam George, though he realises the need to support the Police to maintain law and order, we shall resist them when they act outside the remit of the law with reckless abandon and in a capricious manner unbecoming of officers of the law.



His conviction is based on the violence that characterised the Ayawaso-West Wuogon bye-elections, where he was slapped across the face by a state security agent.



I have been a victim of the lack of professionalism and irresponsibility of SOME police officers and national security personnel, and I have made it my life mission to continue to fight for reforms in what should be a model public service institution, and I would rest not until we rid the Police Service of these despicable bad nuts. The Police is NOT above the law, he concluded.











Source: myjoyonline.com









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Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra held its 10th Anniversary Corporate Soiree on Saturday 30 October 2021, where a glowing tribute was paid to all hardworking and dedicated team members as well as stakeholders and partners that have made the 10-year journey of the hotel a success.



Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra brought together top dignitaries including members of the diplomatic community, team members, partners and several government delegations, as well as the hospitality industry players at their Movenpick at 10 Corporate Soiree.



The 10th Anniversary celebrations, which began some months ago, follow the theme of "Doing the ordinary in extraordinary ways  10 years and beyond".



The celebrations have seen a lot of activities being undertaken, including blood donations in conjunction with the Accra Technical University, Charity Donations at the Shelter for Abused Children under the Kilo of Kindness Campaign, amongst others.



Speaking at the Corporate Soiree, General Manager of the hotel, Deborah Lee-Ann Sivertsen, expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their warm support and affection in making the dream of Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra a reality. She further acknowledged the immense support and contributions of the corporate organisations, stakeholders and her teams passion for making real memories.



Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra strives to demonstrate quality, reliability and care and has achieved many successes since joining Ghanas hospitality industry. For the greatest part of last year, we were deprived of sharing these commitments with you but we are grateful for this opportunity to reaffirm our beliefs that welcoming, safeguarding and taking care of guests is at the very heart of what we do and who we are, she said.



On her part, Mrs. Mawuena Trebah, the Board Chair of Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra expressed her delight in the collaboration between government and the regulators for all the success achieved within the 10 years of operation.

"I would like to acknowledge the partnerships with government and their regulators; they offer policy guidelines and directions to support and broaden the national policy agenda through the hospitality industry. We want to thank the government and we look forward to more fruitful collaborations to grow the hospitality industry to its exceptional level, she said.



The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, led the proposal of toast and the cutting ceremony of the Movenpick at 10 Anniversary cake.





Background



It would be recalled that Former President of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, who was the Guest of Honour of the inaugural celebration, officially declared Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra launched on Monday 7th November, 2011 in Accra.



The flagship hotel was completely rebuilt by his Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Alsaud, Chairman of the Kingdom Holding Company and Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI).



The historic event was also witnessed by Jean Gabriel Perez, former President and CEO of Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Roger Kacou, Former Vice-President Africa  Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Samad Sok, Chairman and CEO of KHI, Stuart Chase, first General Manager of the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra, a relative of Ueli Prager, founder of Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Kofi Bucknor, several government delegations and hospitality industry players.



About Movenpick



In Switzerland, in 1948, Ueli Prager created Movenpick, a revolutionary dining concept where anyone could enjoy a taste of good wine, good times and the good life. Today, that same brand of welcoming hospitality lives on in every Movenpick hotel, where everyone can appreciate lifes essential pleasures, through moments of true indulgence.



With more than 100 hotels and resorts around the world and another 50 planned by 2025, Movenpick remains true to its Swiss heritage and rich culinary legacy, honouring its founders promise to do things well by doing things right.



In recognition of the brands holistic approach to sustainability, and its deep commitment to local environments and communities, Green Globe has named Movenpick the worlds most sustainable hotel company every year since 2017.



Movenpick is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has jabbed the main opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, accusing them of being good at propaganda.



He avers that it is only hard facts and data that can counter their efforts, adding that these figures are available thanks to the governing New Patriotic Partys record in development which is way ahead of the NDC.



Our record will always be superior to the record of the NDC. The NDC is very good at propaganda. They are specialized in that, but the only way to counter the propaganda is with facts and data. They are very afraid of facts and data.



Bawumia was speaking on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the end of a three-day orientation programme held for newly-appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, MMDCEs, in Accra.



He added that with the development efforts that the government was undertaking nationwide, it was the responsibility of MMDCEs to disseminate information to the local levels where they are the political heads.



By so doing, they will scuttle the robust propaganda machinery of the NDC and also put the NPP in good stead to win the 2024 General Elections.



This coming election in 2024 is going to be fought at the local level, it is not going to be fought in Accra, so you know the projects, the NDC cannot sit in Accra and lie about projects when you in your regions and districts can tell the people what we have done.



When you do that, they can go and check and the NDC cannot come back with propaganda. We have to be proactive and tell the people, Bawumia added.



This is not the first time the Veep is taking potshots at the NDC, he serially accused the party of incompetence prior to becoming Vice-President and has also been highly critical of then-President John Dramani Mahama.













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The Speaker of Parliament has refused a Police request to release the Madina MP, Francis Xavier Sosu, for interrogation.

In a letter from Parliament to the police, it said the Madina MP will be engaged in legislative proceedings.



The letter signed by the Deputy Director of Legal Services of Parliament said, I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021, and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter.



The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament further directs that I refer you to the provisions of article 122 of the 1992 Constitution and to inform you that on Wednesday the 27th October, 2021 he referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament, allegations of breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command respectively, the letter added.



Mr. Sosu is a person of interest for police after he led a protest against bad roads in his constituency.

In the protest, some of the protestors blocked roads and burnt tyres and allegedly destroyed some property.



Police have insisted that these amounted to criminal activity and have tried to invite the MP to assist with investigations.



Mr. Sosu said some police officers tried to arrest him during the protest. Police were also reported to have tried to arrest Mr. Sosu while he was at Church on Sunday though the Police administration has denied the reports.



Though protestors had blocked roads during the protest, Mr. Sosu said there was no basis for any arrest because he had followed due process in organising the protest.



After the first attempt to arrest him, Mr. Sosu filed a formal complaint in Parliament accusing two police commanding officers of contempt of Parliament. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referred the complaint against the two police personnel to the Privileges Committee of Parliament.



The officers cited in Mr. Sosus complaint were ACP Isaac Kojo Asante, the Greater Accra Regional Operations Commander, and ACP Eric Winful, the Adentan Divisional Commander.

Source: classfmonline.com









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The police administration has served notice that it will use every legal means to interrogate the MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, refused to release him to assist in investigations.



The police are after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker over his alleged involvement in a protest in his constituency which led to an unlawful road blockade and destruction of public property.



The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Ghana Police Service wrote to the Speaker on Wednesday (27 October 2021) requesting the release of the MP.



However, in a response, issued through the deputy director of legal services, Nana Tawiah Okyir, the Speaker said: I am directed by the Rt Hon Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26 October 2021 and having regard to the limitations of Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter.



Matter of privileges committee



The Speaker said he had already referred the case to the privileges committee of Parliament to probe breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command respectively.



In a statement on Sunday (31 October), the police said: The MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu, was invited on the day of the protest to assist the police for his alleged involvement in the unlawful blockade of a road and the destruction of public property but he declined the invitation.



He declined further invitations, citing parliamentary privilege.



Three other persons have been interrogated on this matter and we shall continue to use every legal means to interrogate all other suspects including the Honourable MP for Madina, the statement added.



Denial of arrest



The police also denied going to the MPs church to effect his arrest on Sunday.



Stories circulating that some police personnel had been dispatched to arrest the MP at a church today Sunday (31 October 2021) are untrue, said the statement, signed by ACP Kwesi Ofori on behalf of the Police Service.



Any plain-clothed police personnel found on the premises of the church may have been there for intelligence purposes and not to effect an arrest.







Source: classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Police has provided clarifications on why some officers were deployed to the church premises of the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu.



Some police personnel reportedly surrounded the Believers House Prayer Ministry at Ritz Junction in Madina where the MP was said to be worshipping.



It is believed they were there to effect the MP's arrest following his involvement in a chaotic protest in his constituency on Monday, October 25, 2021 where roads were blocked and the MP angrily drove off through the crowd.



Reports indicate two Police officers on the scene to restore calm and some constituents narrowly escaped fatal injuries when the MP's vehicle sped off.



However, the MP is said to have escaped the arrest at his church.



But speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', the Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori refuted claims that the personnel were at the church to arrest the MP.



According to him, it was a tactical operation to tell the MP that they are keeping taps on him.



"The Police, as a foremost law enforcement agency in this regard, put up a tactical plan to wherever he is. It is in respect of this that they chanced upon him at the church. He was in the church; we could have arrested him looking at the Police officers who were around but it was a tactical ops to tell him that [1] we know where he is at that moment and that he cannot even run away from the law. It was a signal sent under this tactical ops scheme and one thing we would like to say is that his refusal to appear before the Police has been well-taken note of," he cleared the air.



He further debunked claims that the personnel stormed the church premises resulting in a state of disorder.



'" . . we know it's a faith-based movement. We don't want to do anything that might impede the church's activities."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ghana Police Service has called on Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu to honourably present himself for interrogation.



Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu has refused to appear before the Police following his involvement in a protest at Madina where two officers and some residents narrowly survived being run over by the MP's vehicle.



The protesters are said to have unlawfully blocked the roads at Madina causing chaos with the MP ordering his driver to dangerously speed through a crowd.



The MP's driver - a Police officer - has been interdicted by the Police.



The Police is said to have written to the Speaker of Parliament to direct the MP to avail himself for investigations.



Speaker's Reply



The Speaker of Parliament, in a letter from Parliament to the Police, has refused their request to release Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu citing a standing order of the Legislative House.



The letter signed by the Deputy Director of Legal Services of Parliament said; I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021, and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter.



The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament further directs that I refer you to the provisions of article 122 of the 1992 Constitution and to inform you that on Wednesday the 27th October, 2021 he referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament, allegations of breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command respectively, the letter added.



Police Claps Back



In an interview on Peace FM's morning show ''Kokrokoo'', Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori says the Police will utilize all legal means to summon the MP for interrogation.



But, to him, ''as an honourable Member of Parliament, he (Francis-Xavier Sosu) should honourably avail himself to Police authority to question him on the issue because the Public Order law enjoins him to do that''.



" . . if he doesn't come, we have several options. Even what the Hon. Speaker wrote citing some clauses, the Police is likely to go to the Apex Court to seek interpretation to guide our future security operations of the kind. We can also go to court to present him with summons and if he refuses to come and the court issues bench warrant", then they will take him, he asserted.





ACP Kwesi Ofori assured the MP that, "nobody will do anything bad to him but just submit yourself to the law'', stressing ''you are making laws for Ghanaians'' and they expect that he (Madina MP) obeys the law.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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A former minister of energy, Boakye Agyarko, has declared his ambition to contest for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2024 presidential primaries after serving the party faithfully, loyally and hard, adding that he stands a better chance of leading Election 2024 as a flagbearer to Break the 8 year rotation of governance between the NPP and NDC.



According to Mr. Agyarko, he is fit for purpose, for which reason he has resolved to put himself up to be elected by the party delegates.



The NPP stalwart once again reiterated his dream to lead the party in the next general elections on the Kumasi base OTEC FMs breakfast show dubbed Nyansapo on Thursday, October 28, 2021



The one-time contestant in the partys flagbearership position in 2008 said his faithfulness and loyalty to the party are unquestionable, adding that he will practically lead the party to yet another unprecedented victory should party delegates give him the nod.



Boakye Agyarko told the programmes host, Captain Koda, that, he has enough experience and qualities to break the eight-year rotational governance between the NPP and the National Democratic Congress NDC.



Boakye Agyarko disclosed that the reason for which he left his base in the United States of America to come to Ghana was to contribute to the development of the country.



It was the presidential race of 2007 that brought me back from the US. I left the US to participate in our politics and in fact, I was a participant in our politics before the unfortunate incident of June 1983 sent me into exile. I was in exile for 18 years. I never quit politics and will never quit politics because public service is my first passion. When the time comes, it shall be made known, he said.



He however encouraged all members of the NPP to focus on helping Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deliver a successful second term.



Boakye Agyarko admonished that the failure of the NPP government will have a devastating effect on Ghanas democracy hence the need for all members of the party to join forces and ensure a successful final term for the president.



In 2008, I was a contestant, one of the 17. I stayed to pay my dues. I consider myself fit for purpose and so I will not resale from that ambition or that objective. But at the end of the day it is for the grassroots to decide, he added.



Mr. Agyarko has, since the commencement of the partys annual regional delegates conference been involved in the process.



The former Campaign Manager of the NPP has already participated in three regional conferences, Savanah Region, Upper West, and Upper East. Sources say, his involvement in the process is to energize his base ahead of the crucial flagbearership race.













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Lawyers of National chairman of the National Democratic Congress Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo are subjecting Chief Inspector Bernard Berko, the investigator in the case in which the NDC chairman is standing trial over a leaked audiotape to further scrutiny.



The focus of Lawyer Tony Lithurs cross-examination of the prosecutions third witness who is the investigator is about why Kweku Boahen was charged. Tony Lithur is also seeking an answer to why Alfred Ogbamey and Haruna Iddrisu, the minority leader were not invited when they were at that meeting.



Responding to questions under cross-examination, the investigator said, those people did not say anything incriminating that warranted them to be invited.



He also told the court that, though the accused persons did not corporate to give information when invited to the police CID Headquarters, he found no need to call persons he heard on the tape like Alfred Ogbamey and the Minority leader to serve material as witnesses.



My Lord, I said, I didnt hear the voice of A2 (Kweku Boahen) on the tape but not only him. I also did not hear the voice of others who were at the meeting. My lord A2 himself stated that he was part of the said meeting and that he agreed with whatever A1 (Ofosu-Ampofo) said or he was in support the witness said.



Ofosu-Ampofo and Deputy National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Kwaku Boahen have both been charged.



Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo has been charged with one count of conspiracy to cause harm and two counts of assault against a public officer while on the other hand, Mr. Boahen is facing one count of conspiracy to cause harm.



More to come







Source: kasapafmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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STC Chief Executive, Nana Akomea, has condemned what has been termed as ''moneycracy'' in Ghana's politics.



According to him, the culture of political aspirants doling out items and money to delegates is becoming worse.



He was speaking in relation to the recent bribery scandal involving the Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) nominee, Alex Sarfo Kantanka who's captured on tape demanding refund of his money to some Assembly members for his endorsement.



He is said to have financially induced the members in hopes that they will vote for him but they didn't, therefore making him face rejection for the second time since he was rejected the first time after the Assembly members voted against him.



The nominee, in a viral video, is heard angrily calling for a refund of a GH1000 he paid to the Assembly members.



Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Nana Akomea noted that the payment of money to voters is a normal feature of every electoral process.



He, therefore, wondered why the Juaben MCE nominee would make a fuss about his.



"You don't make a spectacle that I've paid money, so refund my money, because now you have to go and prove. Because some of the people asked what money did you give them; maybe you sent it through someone. Maybe it's transmission losses, so this is not something you have to make noise about," he advised.



He, however, bemoaned inducing electorates to win elections, although noting that moneycracy in politics may not end.



To him, it is prudent for this trend to be checked so it doesn't degenerate into an uncontrollable situation as he disclosed that in recent times, aspirants are compelled to share not only Television sets but also cars among other exorbitant items for confirmation votes.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Christopher Ampadu, a lecturer at Pentecost University, has advised politicians to desist from bribing their way into holding positions.



He cautioned them that the day of reckoning will catch up with them just as it has done to the Juaben MCE nominee, Alex Sarfo Kantanka, should they continue to financially induce electorates for confirmation vote.



The Juaben MCE nominee was arrested and granted bail after a video of him demanding a refund of GH1000 he paid to the Assembly members to endorse him as substantive MCE surfaced on social media.



Mr. Sarfo Kantanka was heard in the viral video angrily threatening the members to pay back his money or face his wrath.



Bribery is an offence and for that matter, he was arrested by the Police.



Reacting to the issue during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Dr. Christopher Ampadu, who doubles as West African Director of Samaritan Strategy, urged political aspirants to be men and women of integrity knowing that they will reap what they sow.



He condemned the moneycracy that has characterized Ghana's politics fearing its consequences in the future.



"The day of reckoning will catch up with you. So, we have to advise all types of leaders that there is always a time of accountability. So, if you hold a position or play role today, you have to know that it's not unending. A day is coming when you will be subjected into accountability. . .We have to get people with integrity; people who are honest," he admonished.



He also counseled electorates not to sell their votes.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng a. k. a. Funny Face who allegedly threatened to kill his ex-wife, girlfriend and commit suicide, on Instagram, has been admitted to a GH20,000 bail with two sureties.



The Kaneshie District Court also ordered Benson to report to the Police twice a week. The matter has been adjourned to November 24. Benson has been discharged by the Accra Psychiatric hospital after undergoing two medical examinations.



He was expected to appear before the Court on November 10, this year. However due to the discharge, accused was sent to court today and full medical report on him submitted accordingly. The Court presided over by Oheneba Kuffour on October 20 this year, ordered a psychiatric examination on Benson aka Funny face at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. He was also ordered to undergo substance abuse examination at the Police Hospital in Accra.



It urged Funny Face aged 40, to stay away from social media for a month. Funny Face, a comedian, charged with threat of death, had his plea reserved by the Court. Bensons ex-wife's name was given as Lizzy. His girlfriend is called Vanessa.



However, the facts of the matter were read out in open court. Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare informed the Court that Benson had been discharged by the Accra Psychiatric hospital and a full report submitted on (him) accused. ASP Asare at the last sitting said our suspicion is that accuseds action may be influenced by narcotic substances.



The facts as narrated by ASP Asare are that accused is a comedian, actor and musician residing at Millennium City at Kasoa(Odupon) in the Central Region. ASP Asare said accused was married to one Lizzy but they broke up in 2017.



In 2020, accused got engaged to one Vanessa and they had twins. ASP Asare said in February this year, Vanessa fled with their twins after they broke up, to an unknown destination. Prosecution said on October 17, this year, accused took to his Instagram page and threatened to kill his ex-wife, Lizzy, and girlfriend Vanessa and commit suicide.



The Prosecutor said accused in his caution statement blamed his action on depression and his failure to take his prescribed drugs given by a psychiatric hospital.



Prosecution suspects the accused person is mentally unstable and pleading with this honourable court to give an order for the accused person to be re-examined and report, ASP Asare said.





Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Logansport, IN (46947)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
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Local Flavours THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO RIDING IN HOOD RIVER, OREGON Words, photos, & video by Brice Shirbach

Presented by Visit Hood River



I have been spending more and more time in the Pacific Northwest over the last several years since my first trip on a bike for the old Oregon Enduro Series back in 2013, with no less than 2-3 visits per year more recently. Most of my time and energy in the Cascades has been centered around Oregon, specifically along the Coastal Range, but this trip marked my first visit to a place renowned throughout the global mountain bike community: Hood River. I have spent years admiring the iconic imagery that has come from places like Post Canyon and 44 Trails, many of which are the handiwork of friends and mentors, Colin Meagher and Nikki Rohan. My palms have gotten sweaty watching videos of north shore-style skinnies leading to massive drops and gaps in the middle of a lush and green Cascadian forest. It's the kind of place that, on paper at least, seemed to represent everything I want in an adventure destination with its codependency between the mountains and the Columbia River. To be quite honest, I had been looking forward to this trip more than any other in recent memory, and somewhere in my head I had already begun to prepare myself for the letdown that comes from building up such reverence for a place that I had never set foot. As it would turn out, the week that would follow in Hood River would only serve to exceed even my loftiest of expectations.





Brice Shirbach Local Flavours

Age: 39

Location: Wilmington, DE, USA

Industry affiliations: Pearl Izumi, Pivot Cycles, Maxxis Tires, Shimano, Stans NoTubes, Topeak, Lazer Helmets, Julbo

Instagram: @bricycles

Favorite Trail in Hood River: Dirt Surfer

//39Wilmington, DE, USAPearl Izumi, Pivot Cycles, Maxxis Tires, Shimano, Stans NoTubes, Topeak, Lazer Helmets, JulboDirt Surfer

Mount Adams is as far north of Hood River as Mount Hood is south, and is equally magnetic.

The tallest mountain in the great state of Oregon: Mount Hood.

The tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest is hundreds of miles to the north, yet is still visible from parts of Hood River.

A swirl of moody weather is always around the corner in the PNW.

The town of Hood River rests at the intersection of the Hood and Columbia Rivers.

Syncline is just across the gorge from town.

A Bit About the Region

Getting to Hood River

Gary Paasch and Elle Ossello are two of Hood River's most endearing advocates and ambassadors.

Colin Meagher and Nikki Rohan enjoying some quality time along The Spit, a tiny peninsula that juts out into the Columbia River from the mouth of the Hood River.

The Spit effectively doubles as a dog park.

Nikki peering over the edge of Little Moab at Syncline.

Mount Hood looms in the distance as Nikki leads me down Little Maui trail.

Little Moab is loaded with chunky rock sections, rock rolls, drops, and a bit of exposure.

Gary Paasch goes full send on FMX at Post Canyon.

Elle and Gary enjoying quality time on Grand Prix.

The Barn Door drop is a sight.

The Best Trails to Ride in Hood River

The actual town of Hood River is really only home to Post Canyon in a technical sense, but obviously if you're planning a trip here you're likely using Hood River as a home base, and within a close radius are 3 very distinct regions to ride and even more if you open the radius up just a little bit, with riding on the south and western aspects of Mount Hood as well as Gifford Pinchot within a couple of hours' drive. That said, we're going to focus on the 3 aforementioned regions as they each provide something very unique as far as the ride experience goes, and as such really showcase just how brilliant and diverse the opportunities are throughout the area.



Post Canyon

Post Canyon has been a part of mountain bike lore for 25 years. Over the years Post Canyon has filled pages of our favorite bicycle magazines, dropped jaws during video parts, and has generally sat somewhere near the top of the "must-ride" heap. I'll admit to being a bit intimidated by the mystique of this place prior to getting to town. In my head all of the trails had 25 foot tall northshore style ladder drops, along with 50 foot gaps, and skinnies weaving in and out of the trees high overhead. In truth, those kinds of features do exist, but the network is far more vast than I could have imagined. It's huge, with 3,000 vertical feet of relief from the top of the network, and dozens of miles of densely forested trails that work their way down toward the Columbia River. These are definitely shared use trails, and some of the best descents on a mountain bike are also some of the best climbs for a moto, so be wary of that before you ride.



Key trail - Dirt Surfer : This is my favorite trail at Post Canyon. It's a 2 1/2 mile long descent from the top of the network, and save for the 90 second kick to the gut climb in the middle, is an absolutel rip from start to finish. The first half is where you'll find a good amount of technical features, with loads of baby heads and roots, but there are plenty of lines and plenty of speed available over all of it. After the climb the flow picks up as does the speed. I'm a big fan of trails with easter eggs, meaning sneaky hits that you need to keep an eye out for, and Dirt Surfer is loaded with those throughout.



Key trail - FMX : Gary Paasch built this trail when he was 14(!) alongside his friend Jake right at the time the trails at Post were transitioning from rogue to legal, and despite the massive freeride nature of this trail, it was allowed to remain and effectively ushered in a unique workflow that makes Post Canyon so special. FMX itself is fairly short, but it's sandwiched between several trails that are loaded with features, just none quite to the scale as this. It has massive jumps that are trickable, and should absolutely be scouted first before ridden.



Key trail - Bad Motor Scooter : This trail has been around for a while now, and continues to be one of the most fun and playful in all of Post Canyon. It's a half mile long rip that starts in the open before diving into the trees, and is chock full of medium sized tables and doubles, and some brilliantly built berms.



Key trail - Kleeway : Named after the late Matt Klee, HRATS first board president, Kleeway is a riot of a trail with high speeds, several tables, a few doubles, and loads of smiles, most of which is built on a clear cut canyon wall making for a little bit of exposure throughout most of the ride down.





Syncline

Just across the Columbia River from town is where you'll find Syncline. Syncline features several miles of trail along a south-facing aspect with about 1,500 vertical feet of relief from top to bottom. It's a fairly dry area, with loads of loose dirt and rock to navigate, and stunning views of the Columbia River with a Cascadian backdrop from just about every inch of trail. The climb up is easy enough and there are a number of routes down, with some diving in and out of forests while others stay out in the open. During the warmer months, there are a few things to keep an eye out for at Syncline: rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak. The south-facing aspect keeps a lot of sun on the trails and as such they are rideable throughout the year. The trails are bordered to the west by the Coyote Wall, a cliff that drops over 1,500 feet to the valley floor below, so please exercise caution when riding near it as it has claimed some lives over the years.



Key trail - Little Moab : This is my favorite trail at Syncline. It's built along the edge of an absolutely massive cliff, the Coyote Wall, and is loaded with technical rock riding and features from start to finish. There are line choices aplenty, a few opportunities to send small to medium sized drops, and a handful of steep and chunky rock chutes to weave down.



Key trail - Hidden Canyon : A 2 mile long descent dropping 1,100 feet, Hidden Canyon is narrow, fast, and rocky with several steep and rocky pitches to navigate throughout. It does dive in and out of some forested sections, so this is a trail where poison oak can be prevalent.



Key trail - Crybaby : Starting above Little Moab and following the edge of the Coyote Wall from start to finish, Crybaby is the highest trail at Syncline and one of the favorites of just about everyone who has ridden here. It's blisteringly fast and has plenty of opportunities to pop around off of natural features, as well as some really well built corners. You'll enjoy some of the best views at Syncline as well.





44 Trails

The 44 Trails network of multi-use trails is the largest single network of singletrack trails near Hood River, Oregon. There are a number of access points to these trails, with the Oak Ridge trailhead being about 10 miles south of Hood River, while the Bennett Pass lot is closer to 30 miles from town. That should give you a sense of just how vast tis region is. Riding here feels very different compared to Post or Syncline, with much more of a backcountry element playing heavily into the dynamic at 44 Trails. Many of the trails are also higher up in elevation, so the weather at 44 Trails is going to be a little different than those lower down and closer to the Columbia River. Mount Hood is prominently visible in many part of this region as well, which only helps to make just about every trail here the right call when deciding where you're going to ride. Cell service is scarce, and you really are in the backcountry out here, so prepare for your ride with that in mind.



Key trail - Dog River : Dog River is a 6 mile descent with a few small climbs at various points, that drops riders roughly 2,500 vertical feet to the Mount Hood Highway. It's a popular shuttle trail, but it can also be ridden as an out and back (up and down), or connected to other 44 Trails for a pretty epic loop. The dirt is generally pretty good, and its loaded with some technical features throughout.



Key trail - Surveyor's Ridge : 13 miles long from end to end, Surveyor's Ridge is quite an adventure on its own, or it can be used as a singletrack thruway to connect the northern and southern ends of the 44 Trails region. The trail undulates over rocky and rooty terrain, offering up amazing views of Mount Hood to the west, and losing 2,500 feet of elevation when ridden south to north with about 1,600 feet of climbing in that same direction of travel.



Key trail - Bottle Prairie : Bottle Prairie is a 4 mile long trail that can be included as a part of any number of loops or can be shuttled on its own. The trail drops 1,600 feet from start to finish, with a few short punches to round out the experience. The forest is dense and beautiful, and the trail has a rough hewn feel to it, with some really fun natural features to bounce around on as well as some beautiful corners to lean the bike over in.





The actual town of Hood River is really only home to Post Canyon in a technical sense, but obviously if you're planning a trip here you're likely using Hood River as a home base, and within a close radius are 3 very distinct regions to ride and even more if you open the radius up just a little bit, with riding on the south and western aspects of Mount Hood as well as Gifford Pinchot within a couple of hours' drive. That said, we're going to focus on the 3 aforementioned regions as they each provide something very unique as far as the ride experience goes, and as such really showcase just how brilliant and diverse the opportunities are throughout the area.Post Canyon has been a part of mountain bike lore for 25 years. Over the years Post Canyon has filled pages of our favorite bicycle magazines, dropped jaws during video parts, and has generally sat somewhere near the top of the "must-ride" heap. I'll admit to being a bit intimidated by the mystique of this place prior to getting to town. In my head all of the trails had 25 foot tall northshore style ladder drops, along with 50 foot gaps, and skinnies weaving in and out of the trees high overhead. In truth, those kinds of features do exist, but the network is far more vast than I could have imagined. It's huge, with 3,000 vertical feet of relief from the top of the network, and dozens of miles of densely forested trails that work their way down toward the Columbia River. These are definitely shared use trails, and some of the best descents on a mountain bike are also some of the best climbs for a moto, so be wary of that before you ride.Just across the Columbia River from town is where you'll find Syncline. Syncline features several miles of trail along a south-facing aspect with about 1,500 vertical feet of relief from top to bottom. It's a fairly dry area, with loads of loose dirt and rock to navigate, and stunning views of the Columbia River with a Cascadian backdrop from just about every inch of trail. The climb up is easy enough and there are a number of routes down, with some diving in and out of forests while others stay out in the open. During the warmer months, there are a few things to keep an eye out for at Syncline: rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak. The south-facing aspect keeps a lot of sun on the trails and as such they are rideable throughout the year. The trails are bordered to the west by the Coyote Wall, a cliff that drops over 1,500 feet to the valley floor below, so please exercise caution when riding near it as it has claimed some lives over the years.The 44 Trails network of multi-use trails is the largest single network of singletrack trails near Hood River, Oregon. There are a number of access points to these trails, with the Oak Ridge trailhead being about 10 miles south of Hood River, while the Bennett Pass lot is closer to 30 miles from town. That should give you a sense of just how vast tis region is. Riding here feels very different compared to Post or Syncline, with much more of a backcountry element playing heavily into the dynamic at 44 Trails. Many of the trails are also higher up in elevation, so the weather at 44 Trails is going to be a little different than those lower down and closer to the Columbia River. Mount Hood is prominently visible in many part of this region as well, which only helps to make just about every trail here the right call when deciding where you're going to ride. Cell service is scarce, and you really are in the backcountry out here, so prepare for your ride with that in mind.

The Columbia River ablaze during a stunning sunset.

Dirt Surfer would end up being my favorite trail in Post Canyon.

Gary Paasch going full send while Mount Adams surveys the scene.

44 Trails in Mount Hood National Forest offer up world class backcountry miles.

All we are is... ...dust in the wind?

Weather:

Bike Advice:

Local Clubs and Advocates:

Cascadia's beauty is unmatched.

Mouth of the Hood River.

Check out my full gallery of images here

Accommodations and Food:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Local Bike Shops:

Other tips:

Presented by Visit Hood River



I don't often sleep on planes, but for once I managed to drift off to dreamland on this flight. The nice thing about flying west is that you're effectively working with the clock, so even though my flight left PHL at 6:00 am, made a stop in IAH for a few hours before completing its journey in PDX, it was still the morning by the time we touched down in Oregon. The 6:00 am departure meant that I needed to be up before 4:00 am for the flight, so while I wouldn't say that I slept "well" during the flight, I was happy to take whatever I could get given the circumstances.The plane jostled and I opened my eyes after my head bumped against the window. There was a moment of disorientation followed by embarrassment as I realized I might've been drooling ever so slightly, before I remembered where I was. I pulled open the shade and, once my eyes adjusted to the brilliant sunshine, saw that Mount Hood was eye level with me. The summit actually seemed to be slightly higher in elevation than the plane was, which explained the jostle as we were setting up for the landing in Portland just a few minutes. Hood didn't seem to have as much snow on it as normal, but she was majestic all the same. While far from the highest of mountains in the Cascade range, there's something about Mount Hood that makes it one of the most iconic. Its razor sharp profile and considerable loft allow it to stand out in a range full of towering volcanic peaks. I tried to peek across the aisle to catch a glimpse of some of the mountains to the north in Washington and managed to catch a brief glimpse of Mount Adams and St. Helens before the hustle and bustle of final preps before landing.For thousands of years, the Chinook Indian Nation lived in what is now the area that stretches as far east as The Dalles and west to the Pacific coastline. Salmon was the foundation for much of the Chinook welfare, but they were also proficient hunters and gatherers as well, utilizing the plant resources provided by the fertile soil of the Cascades, and hunting elk, deer, bison, and other forms of wildlife for countless generations. The arrival of various European settlers and ships brought a number of diseases and epidemics to the Chinook, among other indigenous tribes, which had devastating effects on the communities. Despite the federal government's refusal to acknowledge the Chinook Indian Nation, they do have a 70-year-old constitution that codifies who they are and identifies their five constituent tribes  the Clatsop and Cathlamet (Kathlamet) of present-day Oregon and the Lower Chinook, Wahkiakum (Waukikum) and Willapa (Weelappa) of what is now Washington State. You can help the Chinook Indian Nation in their efforts to gain federal recognition here . Federal recognition is important for several reasons, but one of the primary reasons is that federal authorities will protect their sovereign status, their lands and tribal property, and their rights as members of domestic dependent nations.Hood River is a small but energetic community of just over 8,000 year-round residents. It's the primary population center for Hood River County, which is home to just over 23,000 people according to the most recent census. Early settlers leaned heavily on apple growing, but after a deep freeze in 1919, pears replaced the bulk of apple production and have been a staple since. In fact, Hood River County is known as the pear capital of the United States. Outdoor recreation is a huge draw for the region as well. Mountain biking, climbing, hiking, and windsurfing are all abundant recreational pursuits, and with the proximity of Mount Hood and a number of backcountry touring zones, winter in Hood River is just as busy.Interestingly, despite its location on the northeastern flank of Mount Hood, Hood River is relatively "dry" compared to communities just a few miles west of town. Rainfall decreases exponentially with each mile as you head east from the Pacific Crest. The disparity is noticeable even among the trail networks that surround Hood River, as evidenced between the green and lush Post Canyon and the dry, arid landscape of Syncline.Hood River is about 60 miles east of Portland International Airport, or PDX. Flying in and out of PDX is a breeze compared to larger international airports, and from there Hood River is easily accessible via Interstate 84. You can also grab a Lyft or Uber ride from the airport, though it's worth noting that those rides are only available one way. Greyhound offers service to and from Hood River from Portland as well, but bikes aren't allowed so unless you plan on renting while in town, it's not an especially feasible option when planning a trip to ride bikes.Driving to Hood River is simple enough with the convenience of I-84 running straight through town, with 3 exits for Hood River. Drive times to Hood River include: Seattle, WA - 4:00 hours, Eugene, OR - 2:30 hours, Boise, ID - 5:30 hours, Spokane, WA - 4:30 hours, and Reno, NV - 9:00 hours.Once in town getting around is quite easy. Downtown to the riverfront is very walkable and bike friendly. There's also the Hood River Pedicab , which offers up pedicab and EV transportation services throughout town and anywhere within a 60 mile radius. Getting to and from the trails is a breeze as well, though I'll admit that the Hood River Bridge, while quite pretty to look at, is rather sketchy to drive on. The metal grooves are a bit squirmy under your tires, and there's not much real estate available, a characteristic that is especially evident when passing an 18-wheeler headed in the opposite direction.Hood River is squarely in the transition zone between the wet temperate rain forest of the western slopes of the Cascades, and the dry deserts that occupy eastern Oregon. It receives a little over 30 inches of rain per year, with the wettest period occurring between November and the end of January. It can get a few snow storms as well, but the snow doesn't seem to linger this close to sea level. As you might imagine, the "windsurfing capital of the world" can get a bit breezy at times, particularly during the summer months, which is also the driest time of the year in these parts. Daytime highs rarely exceed the low 80's during the summer, and are typically in the low 40's during the winter, so riding here can be done year-round. If you're visiting during the shoulder season, pack for both ends of that spectrum.I traveled to Hood River with my Pivot Trail429 , and I was pretty happy with that decision. I'm also a big proponent for riding shorter travel bikes as if they're DH sleds, but I realize that's not everyone's cup of tea. In truth, Hood River is a good place for almost every stripe of mountain bike. Post Canyon is shuttleable, and as such you can certainly come ready for some freeride fun. Of course if you're keen to explore that network from top to bottom via pedal power, then you'll likely want something a bit more efficient and aside from the massive features on trails like X Chorus and FMX, there's nothing that will feel overwhelming for most modern trail bikes. 44 Trails and Syncline have more natural tech available, but I felt super comfy on the 140/120 T429.I believe that mountain bike advocacy is the most important but least discussed theme within our sport/community, which is why I cannot stress enough how vital it is to showcase and humanize efforts of groups like HRATS and 44 Trails. I think it's a reasonable expectation to show some financial support for any organization that is responsible for the stewardship and maintenance of the trails we are visiting, and that can be done by simply becoming a member of that respective group, or by sharing some Trail Karma The Hood River Area Trail Stewards , or HRATS, was officially formed in 2012. Prior to their formation, Post Canyon was a well loved but often scrutinized collection of trails that experienced issues typical of rogue trail building. Founding HRATS board President Matt Klee, along with a bevy of other volunteers, saw the opportunity to grow into an effective advocacy and trail building group and expand the existing trail network in the Post Canyon area into much more of a community resource that would help to grow the local riding contingent. Today HRATS, a chapter of IMBA, is cultivating relationships with partners in both Oregon and Washington, and oversees much of the continued trail building and development in Post Canyon, as well as trails at Syncline, and Golden Eagle Park and Pump Track. 44 Trails is a non-profit 501(c)3 community service corporation dedicated to providing access to trails in "rural" areas along the eastern flanks of Mount Hood, much of it within the National Forest. They're comprised entirely of volunteers and rely on fundraising from events and activities in addition to donations . They work closely with Federal, State and local government agencies as well as numerous other volunteer organizations including Northwest Trails Alliance (NWTA), and Hood River Area Trail Stewards (HRATS) among others.I spent my week in town at the Hood River Hotel , an historic hotel located right in downtown. It's perfectly placed in downtown Hood River, and the second you step inside it's clear that you're in a place that has taken great care to preserve and honor its past while very much embracing a modern aesthetic. My room was spacious, comfortable, and really helped to set the tone for an amazing trip. Plus they have really good coffee, a pretty sweet schwag selection, and free pears in the lobby!There are numerous other hotel options as well, from chain hotels like Hampton Inn and Suites, and Best Western, to luxury resorts on the edge of town. Airbnb yields over 250 results on either side of the Columbia River as well. Camping here is a great decision as well, and there are several places to park your camper to van life it with hookups throughout the region. Camping in Mount Hood National Forest ranges from "first come, first serve" primitive sites to more developed campgrounds as well. You can check out your options here The food in and around town is awesome, and I'll admit I was quite surprised by both the diversity and the quality of the dining options in such a small town. River Daze Cafe has really good coffee and serves up delicious breakfast and lunch, using only locally sourced and organic ingredients.I'm a "smoothie for breakfast type", and I spent almost every morning walking across the street to grab a smoothie and juice from Freshies Bagels and Juice Broder East offers breakfast and lunch and is conveniently located in downtown. The menu is clean, tasty, and Swedish. Ground Espresso Bar and Cafe has tasty sandwiches and paninis, along with that ever important midday coffee...or mimosa.I ate more meals at Kickstand Coffee and Kitchen than anywhere else during my visit to Hood River. Kim Hardin, who takes us on board for a Grand Prix lap in the embedded video above, runs this place and she's crushing it. The food and drink selection are delicious, and of course bikes are in the DNA of the business, so it's wins all around. Ferment Brewing offers food, beer, cocktails and mocktails available for dine-in or for carry-out by ordering online. Outdoor seating is available and its right on the waterfront.I love sushi, I love burgers, and I love bowls of food. Wicked Sushi Burgers and Bowl s has all of that.Hood River isn't an especially large town but you wouldn't know it judging by the number of bike shops who call it home. Bikes are a part of the fabric of the community in Hood River, so it certainly stands to reason that you have several options when it comes to bicycle retail and repair. The cool thing about this place is that despite the large number of shops in a small town like this, everyone of them has a place and there's enough available business to support them all. Plus many of them have worked together at some point, so there's a great deal of mutual respect between each shop. Discover Bicycles : Discover offers up rentals and shuttle service, and is a full service retail shop located on State Street in downtown. Mountain View Cycles : Featuring the fastest turnaround in all of the Gorge, Mountain View is staffed by incredibly friendly, stoked, and passionate people who are also entrenched in the cycling community. Fat Tire Farm is a full service and retail operation located on 4th St, and they offer a very popular shuttle service to boot. Bear Grass Bicycles : This is where many of Hood River's master mechanics got their start and its still home to perhaps the most revered wrench in town. Dirty Fingers Bicycle Repair : Dirty Fingers keeps it simple: they fix bikes and they do so with quick turnaround and good prices. They also offer rentals and tours of the area.1. I know I'm in the minority here, but pears are my favorite fruit. While not all pears are created equally, the good ones are pretty great. Pears are actually Oregon's official state fruit and are its number 1 tree crop. The rich volcanic soil is ideal for these fruits of the gods, and they're so abundant that many businesses have baskets where you can help yourself to a delicious pear or two. Be sure to visit any number of fruit stands in and around Hood River and treat yourself.2. Gary Paasch is the owner and coach behind The School of Send , a coaching service looking "to create a community of like-minded riders that build mountain biking skills in a progressive, comfortable, and positive environment." You can sign up for summer or fall camps, and they also offer small group and private clinics.3. Hood River is known is the windsurfing capital of the world, particularly from June through September, as the persistent westerly winds and swells make it irresistible for advanced freestyle surfers. Beginners have it good here as well, with a protected cove right on the Hood River waterfront.
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WSOP 2021: Are the Fields Tougher or Softer than Recent Years?

November 01, 2021 Jon Sofen

Everyone knew the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) would differ in many ways compared to previous years. Most European players haven't been able to make it to Las Vegas due to a U.S. travel ban, and those who aren't vaccinated against COVID-19 can't compete.

Without those two groups of players, are the fields softer or tougher this year? The only way to answer that question is to seek out the opinions of those who regularly chase bracelets, which is precisely what we did, starting with Allen Kessler, who originally projected the series would be the toughest one ever.

"The fields are tougher, just like I predicted, because I have this theory that people who don't get vaccinated, even though there's some really good players, are generally the more fish kind of players," Kessler told PokerNews in a recent "Chainsaw Report" episode.

Kessler's friend, Mike Matusow, however, had a different take on the issue. The four-time bracelet winner said the fields are, "the same" and "there's no difference" compared to previous years.

Multiple Bracelet Winners Sound Off

Shaun Deeb and Robert Mizrachi each own four gold bracelets. They've competed in hundreds of World Series of Poker events between them at all buy-in levels. Both agreed the fields are softer in 2021 for the same reason  the travel ban.

"I think they're way softer," Deeb told PokerNews. "The Europeans are a lot of professional players and many of them didn't make it, no Russians, no Australians. Americans have been the fish in poker for a long time."

Deeb is certainly an expert on the caliber of play at the WSOP. He competes in as many events annually as anyone, has four bracelets, and won the 2018 Player of the Year award.

Mizrachi falls in line with Deeb on this issue. He claims that the lack of international players makes the fields softer.

"There are less players, a lot of the European players are not here," Mizrachi said. "And the Australian players, they're great players, and they're not here too. So, I mean, it's definitely a lot easier."

Their opinion wasn't the consensus, however. Ami Alibay, for example, had an opposing take.

"I think the fields are way tougher than before because there are no international players," Alibay argues. "Most of the players are American, and everybody knows that Americans are the second-best players in the world."

Robert Mizrachi

What Do the Results Suggest?

It's clear that the players can't come to a consensus on the difficulty of the 2021 WSOP versus previous years. One other way to answer the question is to look at the results and compare how players are performing this year versus 2019, 2018, etc.

Take Phil Hellmuth, for example. At age 57, he's off to his best start ever to a World Series of Poker. The "Poker Brat" has a bracelet (his 16th) and five final table appearances in the first month. So, does that mean the fields are softer this year?

It very well could as Deeb, who got off to a slow start, has recently come on strong as well by shipping his fifth gold bracelet and putting himself in contention for another WSOP Player of the Year award.

So, what have we learned? The answer to the question depends on who you ask.

Check out our 2021 WSOP Hub here!
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One of the Charleston region's largest technology employers will scale back its global corporate real estate footprint and allow its workforce to remain remote.

Daniel Island-based Blackbaud Inc. said it is focused on adapting to the changing needs of its 3,100 employees and remaining flexible.

"The shift to a digital-first world continues to accelerate, and we're embracing that," CEO Mike Gianoni said.

He added that the change is a "location-agnostic approach as the future of work" for software companies like Blackbaud "and we're proud to lead the way."

Like many companies, Blackbaud went to a work-from-home policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gianoni said it's been a success.

"Our dedicated employees have continued to deliver against our goals while working remotely since March 2020," he said.

The newly announced policy will leave its 3-year old, 172,000 square-foot headquarters on Fairchild Street most unoccupied.

"We will still use our headquarters office for employee gatherings, customer meetings and team building whenever it is safe to do so in a post-COVID-19 world," said Lea Anna Hogsette, senior public relations manager.

Blackbaud sells software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, from private schools to charities. It has offices in Minnesota, Texas and New Hampshire and international locations in Scotland, England, Australia and Canada, according to its annual report.

Last year, the company told investors it had "revisited our real estate strategy with a focus on optimizing our footprint for the future of work at Blackbaud, including the ... exit of certain office leases globally." The changes cost the company $23.1 million in one-time expenses in 2020 and are expected to deliver $14 million in annual savings starting this year, according to its annual report to shareholders.

Blackbaud moved from New York to the Charleston region in 1989. It revealed plans for its current headquarters on Fairchild Street in 2016, after outgrowing its previous building on nearby Daniel Island Drive.

Holder Properties developed the new campus that was to create space for 300 new jobs, along with training areas to "incubate" emerging nonprofits and teach technology skills to local elementary-school students.

The construction was to take place in two phases and represent an investment of $150 million. Blackbaud completed first 172,000-square-foot stage of the development in 2018 and bought the campus from Holder last year for $76.3 million. Plans for the undeveloped portion of the property have not been finalized.

"Blackbaud still owns its headquarters building and surrounding land on Daniel Island, so we have options for the future, and we remain committed to Charleston," Hogsette said.

With most employees no longer commuting and by reducing its office space needs, Blackbaud said it plans to focus on becoming a zero-waste company, which ties to its commitment to environmental, social and governance issues.

In announcing the new policy, the company noted that roughly 80 percent of its new hires in 2021 worked remotely.

"We are focusing on building a connected, engaged culture regardless of where our people are located," said Maggie Driscoll, chief people and culture officer.
COLUMBIA  A North Carolina bank is converting a former quick-service restaurant site in Columbia to become its first branch in South Carolina.

First Carolina Bank, based in Rocky Mount, N.C., is entering the Columbia market in the first quarter of 2022, according to its website.

It is planning to convert the former Urban Cookhouse restaurant at 3000 Devine St. in the Shandon neighborhood into its Columbia location.

First Carolina has expanded across North Carolina and into Virginia Beach, Va., in the past decade, according to its website. Its plans include branch locations in Columbia and Atlanta in the first quarter of 2022 and in Greenville in the third quarter.

The bank offers a full suite of consumer services including checking, loans and credit cards.

Urban Cookhouse left the location earlier this year and has been filling catering orders without a walk-in location.

The restaurant earlier this fall announced plans on its social media to operate a food truck.

Spinx in Northeast

The Spinx chain has confirmed that it intends to open a gas station/convenience store site at the intersection of Two Notch and Clemson roads.

A company spokeswoman did not offer details about the station and its timing on opening.

Spinx, based in Greenville, has a limited presence in the Midlands, despite being one of the Upstate and Charleston's favorite places to fill up.

Its current locations include Broad River Road and a Sunoco-affiliated station on Piney Grove Road in Irmo. In the Northeast it operates locations on Decker Boulevard and on Hardscrabble Road, plus a Sunoco-affiliated site on Garners Ferry Road.

U-Haul in Cayce

Looks like the next blue light special will be on trailers and packing boxes.

The former Kmart location at 1500 Charleston Highway in Cayce will be converted to a U-Haul business, according to a news release.

U-Haul will utilize a the entire former big-box space of about 100,000 square feet.

"U-Haul is unique because we can fully utilize a property of this size, and we can do it without the environmental impact of building a new facility from the ground up thanks to our adaptive reuse program," said Kevin Anderson, U-Haul Company of South Carolina president.

The site will offer vehicle and trailer rental, packing materials and self-storage areas, according to the announcement.

New hotel on Garners Ferry

Garners Ferry Road is getting its latest addition to its growing suite of hotels.

Work is underway on a Springhill Suites on East Exchange Boulevard near the key intersection of I-77 and Garners Ferry.

According to building permits, the building will be a five-story hotel with 104 rooms.

Someone from Columbia might not realize what a hotel haven the area near the interchange has become, unless trying to find a spot for relatives in town for the holidays.

Among the hotels already operating along East Exchange are Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Country Inn and Suites, Baymont by Wyndham and TownePlace Suites.

Other motels have built in other locations along Garners Ferry, tapping into the area's flow of interstate travelers and Fort Jackson visitors.

Make sure to get our weekly Columbia Business newsletter. Sign up here.

Have any Midlands business news to share in the column? Reach Mike Fitts at mfitts@postandcourier.com.
MYRTLE BEACH  Three Myrtle Beach residents are accused of stealing $530,000 in tax refunds and stimulus checks by falsely using the identities of international student workers, according to a criminal complaint.

The probe turned up a couple of hundred foreign student workers who are victims of tax fraud and identity theft. IRS tax returns were filed using their names as if the students were U.S. citizens, the report said.

Ivo Krasimirov Ivanov, 28, Donna Karakatsani, 48, and Todor Milkov Stoenchev, 54, were arrested after an investigation by the IRS' criminal investigation division and the U.S. Department of State's Office of Inspector General into a stolen identity fraud scheme in the Myrtle Beach area.

The trio faces charges of theft of public funds and wire fraud, according to the criminal complaint.

The investigation started in April 2020 when an unnamed international student worker filed an incident report with the Horry County Police Department, alleging that someone filed a false tax return using their personal information, the complaint said.

The worker told authorities that a tax refund and $1,200 coronavirus stimulus payment in their name was direct deposited into a bank account that doesnt belong to them.

The employee was among foreigners who commonly work at tourist-related jobs in the Myrtle Beach area, helping make up for local employment shortfalls. This summer, 729 international students were part of the work-travel program, known as J-1, in Myrtle Beach. That's down from 3,200 in recent summers because of COVID restrictions, according to U.S. State Department data.

During the investigation, Bulgaria law enforcement officials told U.S federal agents they received 17 reports related to 33 victims alleging tax fraud and identity theft. IRS said the victims communicated via Facebook with a Myrtle Beach company that aided the transactions.

Seven student workers, who live in Bulgaria, told investigators they gave their W-2 tax forms and a passport or visa photo to a firm to do their tax returns, but they ultimately decided to use other companies, according to the complaint.

After the victims tried to process their tax returns, they were informed that it was already filed with the IRS in their names. The victims' checks were sent to Myrtle Beach, according to the complaint.

Part of the fraud involved filing standard 1040 tax return forms instead of forms used by foreign workers, making the filings eligible for COVID stimulus checks. Foreign workers can get Social Security numbers but are not eligible for COVID payments.

Analysis by the IRS later revealed an internet address registered in Myrtle Beach was used to file 189 suspicious tax returns.

Further investigation showed 543 tax returns were tied to a single Myrtle Beach Post Office box, according to the complaint, with another 174 tax returns filed to a second Post Office box in the area.

The complaint said Ivanov and Karakatsani live at the same Myrtle Beach address listed on the Post Office box applications. Stoenchev also resided at the same residence until June.

From February 2019 to January 2021, 68 accounts held at 16 different banks in the names of 14 people were used to receive both IRS refunds and COVID stimulus payments, the complaint said.

More than $530,000 was deposited into the 68 bank accounts, investigators said.

Karakatsani was released Oct. 27 on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Ivanov and Stoenchev remain without bond at J. Reuben Long Detention Center and are scheduled to have their preliminary hearing on Nov. 2.
A judge has ordered that disgraced attorney Alex Murdaughs assets be frozen and placed under control of independent guardians amid growing allegations of embezzling and unpaid debts.

Circuit Judge Daniel Hall issued the ruling Nov. 2 after attorneys in three civil cases against Murdaugh expressed fears that he was trying to hide millions of dollars they could possibly collect in their lawsuits. Hall appointed a pair of attorneys, Peter McCoy Jr. and John T. Lay Jr., to oversee Murdaugh's money and assets.

Though Murdaugh is currently jailed, he had handed control of his affairs to his son, Buster, sparking concerns that he could still shift money between unknown accounts or sell off property ahead of any judgments.

Those concerns only increased in recent days as two of Murdaughs former law partners  his brother, Randy, and attorney John E. Parker  filed lawsuits alleging that he had failed to pay back more than $500,000 in loans they had provided him this year.

His brothers lawsuit alleges that Buster Murdaugh had already begun selling off his fathers assets to cover debts.

Murdaughs lawyers had argued that a freeze on his assets was unnecessary since he has not been found responsible in any of the civil suits and has insurance to cover him if he is required to pay damages.

In a written statement released Nov. 2, two of the attorneys suing Murdaugh celebrated Hall's decision.

"Our justice system in South Carolina is working as intended," said Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, who have alleged Murdaugh stole millions of dollars from the estate of his late housekeeper. "It is designed to protect victims from being further victimized by someone like Alex Murdaugh."

The Murdaugh name has long been synonymous with wealth and power in rural Hampton County, where the family operates a high-powered law firm and controlled the chief prosecutors office for three generations. That image has been tarnished with a series of scandals involving Alex Murdaugh in the months since his wife, Maggie, and son Paul were fatally shot in an unsolved double-homicide at the familys Colleton County hunting lodge in June.

Murdaugh, 53, has since been accused of trying to orchestrate his own murder in a failed insurance fraud plot, stealing $3.4 million from a wrongful-death settlement intended for the family of his late housekeeper and embezzling millions from his former law firm. Murdaughs attorneys have indicated he siphoned money to support a 20-year opioid addiction.

All this fueled worries from attorneys in three separate lawsuits that Murdaugh and his surviving son might take steps to hide millions of dollars in cash and assets so they cant be recovered in judgments.

Murdaugh is being sued in connection with a 2019 boat crash in Beaufort that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. His son, Paul, was accused of piloting the boat while drunk. He is also being sued by a passenger in the boat who alleges that Murdaugh conspired to pin the blame for the crash on him.

Meanwhile, the sons of his former housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, are suing him over the missing wrongful- death settlement related to her reported slip-and-fall accident at his home in 2018.

Attorneys submitted several documents to support their push for a freeze on the finances: a photo of Buster Murdaugh that lawyers said was taken in October at a Las Vegas casino; a nearly $1 million mortgage that a property owner paid off to Alex Murdaugh; an online listing asking $114,000 for Murdaughs boat; and a nearly two-year-old unpaid tax bill that could lead to the auction of Murdaughs beach home on Edisto Island.

The same day Hall heard arguments over the proposed freeze, two of Murdaughs former partners filed lawsuits against him alleging more unpaid debts.

Randy Murdaughs suit states that he loaned his brother $75,000 to cover an overdrawn account at Palmetto State Bank and another $15,000 to help pay the initial cost of his drug rehab. Randy Murdaugh was unaware at the time that his brother was in such poor financial health, the suit states.

Buster Murdaugh sold Randy Murdaugh a Kubota tractor and a rotary cutter to cover a portion of the debt, but some $46,500 remains outstanding, the lawsuit alleges.

Parker alleges that he loaned Alex Murdaugh $477,000 in three installments between March and July, but none of that money has been repaid.

Murdaugh attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin offered no comment on the two lawsuits when contacted this week.

Avery G. Wilks contributed reporting from Columbia.
Gunshots were fired in what police called an early morning road rage incident near the College of Charlestons campus.

A man who was riding a scooter east on Calhoun Street got into a "traffic altercation" with man in a gray sedan about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 2, Inspector Mike Gillooly, a Charleston police spokesman, said.

The car's driver fired a weapon at the man on the scooter several times, Gillooly said. The car then fled while the victim called 911, he said.

No one was injured.

Calhoun Street between St. Philip and Coming streets was closed about two hours while authorities inspected the area, according to an alert sent by the College of Charleston's emergency management team.

Officers searched the area but couldn't find the vehicle described by the man on the scooter, Gillooly said. The colleges public safety department was working with Charleston police to investigate the shooting.

All streets were open again by 7:15 a.m., and downtown was already bustling with students and workers beginning their days.

No additional information was available as the investigation was ongoing, college spokesman Mike Robertson said.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Weve been talking a lot about cannabis at the national and state levels in recent years, but there are really three or four separate debates going on. And as we were reminded by a recent Post and Courier report on South Carolinas struggling hemp industry, people who hope to win converts to their cause of choice would do well to remember that.

At the top of the tower of controversy is legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, which 18 states have done even though it violates federal law. Although former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham has proposed it as part of his campaign for governor, even most Democrats in South Carolina seem hesitant to embrace the idea, and most Republicans are adamantly opposed.

A related, less understood idea is to decriminalize marijuana  that is, to keep it illegal but treat its possession like a speeding ticket, which would have the effect of deprioritizing marijuana arrests. This could reduce prison costs and racial disparities in policing, so it has wider, but still limited, support.

An unrelated idea  or one that should be unrelated  is the medicinal use of marijuana. So far, 38 states have authorized medical marijuana, which studies show can relieve chronic pain that prescription drugs cant touch and do so without the dangerous side effects of opioids.

Whatever you think of medicinal marijuana  and our editorial staff supports it  it continues to face significant opposition from South Carolinas law enforcement community and many physicians. They believe medical marijuana would make it more difficult for police to fight illegal marijuana use and would make physicians feel pressured to prescribe a drug that lacks FDA approval.

That doesnt mean supporters should give up, but it does mean that people whose primary interest is the cultivation of hemp should steer clear of that issue  and even further from decriminalization and legalization of recreational marijuana.

Which brings us to what should be a noncontroversial use of cannabis: hemp farming, which has been touted for years as a replacement for tobacco and other fading crops  a way to support South Carolinas struggling farm economy.

Within months of Congress lifting restrictions on hemp production and use in 2018, our Legislature expanded the state's an experimental hemp-growing program, and more than 200 farmers now have licenses to grow hemp.

But like hemp growers in other states, most are focused on the booming retail market for cannabidiol, or CBD, oversaturating the market. Compounding the problem is the fact that, as one of many efforts to help police distinguish legal hemp from illegal marijuana, the Legislature prohibited farmers from selling hemp flowers, which are used for smoking and in the manufacture of most CBD products, to stores in the state. The result, as The Post and Couriers Jerrel Floyd reports, is that hemp farmers have produce going to waste while CBD stores and other retail outlets are selling out of processed hemp purchased from other states.

The struggles of the hemp industry are worrisome, not because hemp is an essential crop  at least not yet  but because there is great social, environmental and economic value in preserving South Carolinas agricultural heritage.

Growers should have recognized the state restrictions before they jumped into the business, but now that we have a crop of farmers who better understand the practical effect of our state laws, the Legislature should work with them, the Agriculture Department and law enforcement to find a way to loosen the restrictions. Hemp advocates who hope to convince legislators should stop talking about recreational or even medicinal marijuana when making their case. In fact, they should do everything they can to separate those issues in the minds of legislators  and everyone.

And instead of focusing so much on the shiny object that is the oversaturated CBD market, hemp farmers should cultivate new markets for hemp fiber and grain, such as its potential use in rope, clothing, mulch, building materials, paper and fuel. Thats something the state Agriculture Department could, and should, work to grow.
Woodruff's population is expected to more than double over the next five years, driving Spartanburg County School District 4 to approve a plan to realign its schools and consider building a new Woodruff High School to open in fall 2025.

The new construction would require a referendum to be approved by voters, most likely in September 2022. While the Board of Trustees approved the realignment plan in October, it has not voted to place the new high school construction plan on a future ballot. That decision could come later this year or in early 2022.

Woodruff City Manager Lee Bailey told The Post and Courier there are 3,000 single- and multi-family homes under construction within city limits. The population of 4,500 is expected to increase to 11,000 by 2026. There are another 2,000 homes scheduled for construction outside city limits toward Greenville County that includes areas served by District 4.

The cost to build a new high school on Highway 146 about a half-mile from the existing high school would be between $60 million and $75 million, according to William Rallie Liston, superintendent of School District 4.

"The growth that is happening is driving all of this discussion," Liston said. "For years, we have watched growth in the Greenville County School District that borders us. It's been an overnight surprise with the houses being built in Woodruff."

Woodruff is located in southern Spartanburg County. The city's growth was modest before recent development in the area pushed it to unprecedented levels.

Liston said a 2018 study determined the cost to retrofit the district's existing four schools would be about $30 million. The district has a primary, elementary, middle and high school. It's been 32 years since a new school was built in the district, Liston said.

The board opted not to retrofit the buildings. Instead, a plan was developed to move second grade students from the primary school into the elementary school, move fourth and fifth grade students from the elementary school into the middle school and move middle school students into the existing high school once a new new high school was built.

"The move in grade structure at the schools would create 10 to 15 vacant classrooms available for growth," Liston said. "In those buildings, we would have a combined 50 classrooms come open overnight. It would be the most economical way we could do this and holding a referendum [on the new high school] next September is our goal."

A citizens group has been formed, including former school board members, to help steer the process. If approved by voters, new high school site construction could begin in October 2022 and be completed by May 2025.

Liston said the district's enrollment for 2021-2022 is 2,900 students and is likely to increase by 1,500 students over the next two to five years. The existing high school's capacity is 800 students. A new high school would provide capacity for 1,500 students, he said.

"Woodruff is going to be a vibrant place, and we already have great schools now," Liston said. "We are going to embrace the folks coming in because it is going to help us get better and not detract."

For Melvin Brewton, board of trustees chairman for School District 4, the new growth presents new challenges and opportunities.

"I am excited about what is going on in the city and school district," Brewton said. "I think [residents] see there is a need and I think they will get behind us and support us. Most of the growth until recently has been in the City of Spartanburg but there is a big boom in growth happening in Woodruff."

Brewton said it is too soon to say how many new teachers would be hired in the district to meet the demands created by adding students to the system. New hires would be done a school-by-school basis, he said.

The new single- and multi-family residential construction boom is expected to continue for several years. Bailey said the city's growth has begun attracting more interest from national retail chains considering the city for expansion. Bailey is supportive of the school district's plans to realign and build a new high school.

"I think the need for the new school is very valid," Bailey said. "The time has come as a group to plan for the future and accommodate growth and work to keep the same culture we have in Woodruff."
I have taken the story of Trent Colberts resistance to the authorities pushing the racist diversity/CRT cum cancel culture agenda down our throats as a case study. The audio posted with Aaron Sibariums original Free Beacon story takes us inside the asylum.

Is there a major American institution that the mania has not infected and turned into an enemy against us? Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Director Don Siegels 1958 original starring Kevin McCarthy remains a timeless classic. Resistance may be futile.

Thats Donald Sutherland in the 1978 remake at the right. Sutherland is a stand-in for the likes of Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken and her colleagues enforcing the regime of Diversity and Inclusion at Yale Law School.

What can we learn from Colberts example? I think he illustrates Heritage Foundation President Kay Jamess first proposition in Seven Steps to Surviving Cancel Culture Thinking of her own experience as a black woman opposing abortion and other sacred orthodoxies of the left, James urges: First and foremost, dont give a damn about cancel culture. If you do, youre giving small-minded people control over you that they dont deserve. Realize that these are often people who want to silence your ideas because theyre afraid if others hear them, they might agree.

Courage is the virtue that Bari Weiss urges as well in the November Commentary essay We Got Here Because of Cowardice. We Get Out With Courage. Subhead: Say no the the Woke Revolution. Its easier said than done, as the cases Weiss runs through make clear. Colbert can be added to Weisss honor roll.

Listening to the audio of Colberts Close Encounter of the Diversity Kind at Yale Law School, I was struck by Colberts poise and self-possession. Thats a big If youve got there  If you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you

Colbert speaks with the voice of one who was raised by a mother and father who set him on his path. He went to church on Sunday. His mother taught him by example not to be a coward, not to say it if you dont mean it.

Having followed the story as it unfolded, Razib Khan interviewed Colbert last week for his Unsupervised Learning podcast. This episode is rightly titled Standing athwart the mob. Interested in the same questions I was, Khan provided this introduction to the episode:

I was broadly familiar with the culture-war saga that Colbert was caught up in, having read a piece a few weeks ago in The Washington Post describing how a seemingly innocent and jocular email triggered accusations of racism at YLS (as well as Aaron Sibariums piece in The Washington Free Beacon). Colberts in Persuasion [posted here] made me curious about him, and I reached out to talk about what he had seen, and the lessons that we as a society and individuals might take from it. First, Colbert gives us his own perspective of what transpired at YLS to make him a trending topic on social media. Perhaps to the surprise of Millennials, the 23-year-old Zoomer seemed not entirely familiar with the well-known podcast Chapo Trap House. As a member of Gen X, I have to admit its a little unnerving to hear Millennials viewed as geriatric elders. But Colbert grew up in a world of super-charged cultural change and perhaps perceives the passage of time differently than those of us who came into adulthood before smartphones. He contended that some of the offense others perceived might be a matter of cohort differences and even just his casual Zoomer manner. Even a few years difference today might mean an entirely alternative landscape of memes and sensibilities, so a subtle and wry reference among his age-mates could strike an individual only a few years older as offensive, opaque and tone-deaf. With that in mind, I was curious about his background, and where he got the strength to stand up to the YLS administrative bureaucracy. We explored his relationship to his Cherokee background, as well as growing up in a moderately conservative household where religion was important. Colbert takes the idea of right and wrong seriously, and he felt that his own conscience would not allow him to agree to an apology that was premised on lies. Importantly, he also had a supportive group of friends at YLS and a wider circle of backers in the community. Eventually, we moved to broader social forces, and how his individual choices and decisions might impact others. By doing the right thing, rather than the easy thing, Colbert hopes to show that it is possible to defeat the kind of bureaucratic machine that was unleashed upon him and trigger a preference cascade that changes the culture on campus. And doing the right thing has not been entirely easy, as Colbert admits to being uncomfortable with realizing how others at YLS viewed him purely through a racial lens, as well as the fact that many prominent organizations accused him of being a racist. Overall, perhaps the take-home lesson is that it doesnt take an exceptional person to take on the system. Just someone who has a core set of principles and friends and family who support them when they might have to make decisions that lead to socially unpopular outcomes.

This excellent podcast is well worth your time if you are interested in Colberts story.

Khan himself is good in the interview. At one point he refers to the people who narced on you, which really gets at Colberts experience inside the asylum.
Globus Bank Limited has opened a new branch in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The executive director of the bank, Sunday Ilegar, commissioned the branch at Old Nitel Exchange, Alagbaka Way, Akure, on Monday.

Mr Ilegar said the branch would help deepen commercial banking activities in the city and the state, and would offer quality services and products to its customers.

The bank is expected to open a branch in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, soon, PREMIUM TIMES learned.

Globus Bank is one of nine unlisted commercial banks in the country.

It commenced operations on November 6, 2019 and has since expanded its brand to various locations in the federation.

The bank aims to revolutionise the financial services industry by leveraging technology, people and service to broaden the horizon of banking services and providing adequate solutions that are tailored towards meeting customers needs.

In 2020, the banks assets rose at the fastest pace more than any other bank  quoted or unquoted.

The bank in August opened branches at Asaba, Delta State and Benin, Edo State.

Its head office is located at 6, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island Lagos State, while it has branches at Lekki, Ikoyi, Abuja, Uyo, Ikeja, Ilupeju, Apapa, Idumagbo, Matori, Ilupeju, Port Harcourt and Ibadan.
The founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Tony Elumelu, on Monday joined other world leaders to launch what is tagged, Generation Unlimited (Gen U) Sahel.

The world leaders included the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Aminat Mohammed, chairperson of African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, among others

Simply called Gen U, the programme is an initiative that is aimed at maximising opportunities in the Sahel, towards equipping 100 million young people with the skills needed to thrive by 2030.

The Sahel region includes Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.

Mr Elumelu said his foundation, which has empowered thousands across the 54 African countries, is proud to be co-implementers for the Gen-U programme.

He noted that the foundation has funded 10,898 entrepreneurs across Africa, who have gone on to create further 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across the continent.

In 2019, we partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to identify, train, mentor and fund 2100 young entrepreneurs in the Sahel region and this include Northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger , Chad, Cameroon and Mauritania.

Again in 2020, we partnered with UNDP to fund and train 1860 young Malians, who face threats of conflicts, insecurity and poverty, as well as loss of livelihood from climate change through our intervention, we were able to create small businesses and generate economic growth in the youth, channeling their creativity and skills to transform the sahel region, he said.

Mr Elumelu said the foundation is happy to be a global partner, noting that a collective effort is needed to find a lasting solution to the intractable crisis by empowering and investing in the people, especially young ones in the Sahel to give them economic hope and opportunities.

About the launch

The initiative, which involves a huge partnership between the government, multilateral organisations, civil societies and private sectors from all over the world, was launched on Monday.

The UN official, Mrs Mohammed, who officially launched the initiative, said the GenU Sahel is an especially important and urgent initiative as millions of people living in the Sahel face insecurity and serious challenges to sustainable development complicated by the devastating pandemic.

She noted that the Sahel is young with over 64 per cent of people under 25 and more than half are women and girls.

The United Nations stands with young people, the ongoing conversation between the United Nations and Young people of the Sahel launched under our integrated strategy for the Sahel are helping us to understand your priorities and hopes, so that we can integrate them into our support for the region.

Young peoples few points and approaches are essential to making the Sahel peaceful, resilient and prosperous today and tomorrow. The security council resolution creating the UN integrated strategy for the development of the Sahel is focused on Women and Young people but it remains challenging to make tangible progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she said.

Also speaking, Mr Faki said the African Union and UNICEF had made a commitment to intensify the initiative beyond this year, adding that the partnership is important in order to federate synergy around the issues surrounding the young people.

Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary Generals Envoy on Youth emphasised on the need for inclusion for the success of the program, not only in the Sahel but around the world.

The launch also featured a panel session with young leaders and other speakers, which include Emanuela Claudia Del Re, EU Special Representative for the Sahel; Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact; Cynthia Samuel-Olanjuwon, Assistant Director General & Regional Director Africa; and Argentina Matavel Piccin, Regional Director UNFPA West & Central.

About Gen U

Launched at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, in September 2018, Generation Unlimited (GenU) is a global multi-sector partnership to meet the urgent need for expanded education, training and employment opportunities for young people, aged 10 to 24, on an unprecedented scale.

Generation Unlimited has generated interest from government and leaders from industry and other key sectors committed to cohere efforts around young people for large-scale impact.

The GenU Sahel will focus on the provision of relevant skills, opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact for people in the Sahel region.
The Kaduna State High Court has ordered a newspaper to pay Governor Nasir El-Rufai N10 million as damages and tender a public apology to him over a story that the governor declared asset worth N90 billion.

The court gave the order on Monday in a judgment delivered by Justice M.L. Muhammed in a case brought by Mr El-Rufai against Todays Publishing Company Limited.

The court said the apology must be published in national dailies and also restrained the defendants perpetually from further defaming the governor.

Background

The media outfit in a publication on July 2, 2015 claimed that Mr El-Rufai declared owning N90 billion, including 40 mansions, in his asset declaration forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Mr El-Rufai described the story as untrue and malicious and subsequently instituted the case against the newspaper.

Judgment

In the judgment, the court held that Mr El-Rufai demonstrated, through his pleadings and evidence, that he never declared assets worth N90 billion and 40 mansions.

The content of the judgement is reproduced below.

The court reiterated the ingredients which a Plaintiff must prove to succeed in an action in defamation to wit; Publication of the offending words; that the words refer to the Plaintiff; that the words are defamatory of the plaintiff; that the words were published to third parties; that the words are false; and that there are no justifiable legal grounds for the said publication.

In juxtaposing the said ingredients with the instant case, the court held that by Exhibits 1 and 2(The Print and Electronic Versions of the said publication), the plaintiff had shown that indeed the offending material was published by the Defendants to third parties.

The court also held that by Exhibit 11(The Plaintiffs Assets Declaration Form submitted to the CCB), the Plaintiff had satisfactorily shown that he did not declare assets worth 90 billion naira and 40 mansions, the implication of which is that the words were false and defamatory of the Plaintiff.

The court also noted that in the course of trial, the DW1 admitted that whereas the publication was made on the 2nd of July, 2015, they went to the CCB and the Media Aide of the Plaintiff to get details of the said declaration on the 3rd of July, 2015, being the following day. So, by implication, they published what they wanted before going to get details of the said declaration.

The court also noted that DW1 concluded his testimony by admitting that there was no basis for the said publication.

On the defence of the Defendants, the court held that the Defendants ought to have shown to the court from Exhibit 11-Plaintiffs Assets Declaration Form that indeed the Plaintiff declared 90Billion naira assets and 40 mansions and that having failed to so do.

The only plausible conclusion would be that the publication was clearly defamatory of the plaintiff. The court further referred to the testimony of the DW1 which was replete with admissions and held that the Defendants had failed to prove the defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege.

On the Plaintiffs Assets Declaration Forms, which he earlier submitted to the CCB before and after he held offices as DG, BPE and Minister of the FCT-Exhibits DW1, DW2 and DW3, the court held that they were not relevant to the instant case as the case bothered on the Plaintiffs declaration of 2015 before he took office as Governor of Kaduna State.

On the whole, the court resolved all the issues for determination in favour of the Plaintiff and entered judgment jointly and severally against the Defendants and in favour of the Plaintiff as follows:

1. N10,000,000.00 as General Damages

2. An apology to be given the same publicity as the defamatory material.

3. An order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants from further defaming the Plaintiff.
Armed bandits have killed the Chief Imam of Sabon Garin Bilbis Jumua mosque in Katsina State for reportedly resisting their attempt to kidnap him.

Malam Adam was killed on Monday morning on his farm on the outskirt of the town.

Sabon Garin Bilbis, a town on the boundary between Zamfara and Katsina States, is in Faskari local government area of Katsina.

An official of the mosque, Lawal Mamman, who announced the death of the Islamic cleric, said the bandits also kidnapped women working for Mr Mamman in the farm during the attack.

Mr Mamman said the bandits had ordered Mr Adam to follow them on one of their motorcycles but he had refused to do so.

They started threatening him with gun but he said he would go nowhere even when they said they would kill him. He told them he had a bad leg and could not follow them into the bush.

After the argument, one of the bandits said they should just kill him and leave the place. They killed him and left his corpse there but took away the women , Mr Mamman said.

25 abductees released

Meanwhile, bandits have realeased 25 persons abducted two weeks ago in Kanon Haki, also in Faskari local government area.

A man, Bilyaminu Idris, said two of his sisters and an uncle were among those released on Monday.

He, however, did not say whether a ransom was paid for their release.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isa, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the developments.
The village head of Fagbohun community in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Simeon Fagbohun, has accused the officers of the Nigeria Customs Service of invading the settlement causing villagers to flee their houses.

The accusation came days after the lifeless body of a customs officer was found in a river near the community, and another one declared missing following a clash between the officers and suspected smugglers.

Mr Fagbohun, who told journalists that the invasion was a reprisal, said the killing of the officer did not happen in his community.

He said the officers were attacked in Iya Sango village, five kilometres away from Fagbohun.

I am here to clear some misinformation that I have read on the social media about our community about the death of some customs officers in that area, said Mr Fagbohun.

It is not in Fagbohun village the custom officers were killed, it is in Iya Sango village that they killed them but, the village is now defunct. It is the Ohori people that now stay in Iya Sango, they make little settlements there and are doing farming.

This Iya Sango village is in Yewa land but Fagbohun is a village these smugglers used to pass, it is the biggest village on that axis, which has vulcanizers and schools.

Those smugglers have a stopover in our village to fix their tyres and also eat. They stopped in a place called Eti Odo in Fagbohun village.

The alleged attack

Mr Fagbohun said he was in Ilaro on October 26 when got a call around 7 p.m. that customs officers had arrested his elder brother and were taking him to an unknown destination. He said he was told that some smugglers had killed some of the officers.

The village head accused the customs officers of setting houses in the village ablaze, adding that villagers now live in fear.

We saw that they have burnt the house of Adeoye Fagbohun, one of the sons of Fagbohun family, he is an elder brother to me, they burnt his house with three motorcycles. He is the one doing vulcanizing in the junction of the village where his house was, his vulcanizing machine was also burnt inside the house.

Iya Alates house was also burnt, we all saw it with the police, there were three motorcycles in that house also. The house of Nathaniel was also burnt with one motorcycle. We now saw that the remaining houses like that of the Akao family in the village, they entered the house and brought out the motorcycles in the house and burnt them, three motorcycles were burnt there also.

Mr Fagbohun said the officers did not burn Odunaro house but they took the motorcycles owned by people in the house and burnt them outside the house. They also did the same to the Ogundipe house, according to him.

I also saw that they went into my own palace too, they looted my palace, they didnt burn motorcycles in front of my house but I cant find two motorcycles in my house.

Also, our pumping machine, the farmers in the village bought, we want to use it for irrigation in the dry season, five pumping machines, they removed them from the cartons and we cant find them.

The machine we used to spray herbicides and other chemicals on the farm, seven of them have been taken, about 20 cartons of them are also missing, all my doors were forced opened.

The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident but said he could not ascertain who the attackers were. He said the police will stop at nothing to unravel the perpetrators.

Customs react

The spokesperson of the Ogun Area 1 command of customs, Hammed Oloyede, said he has no knowledge of an invasion by the officers.

The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operating Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, Theophilus Duniya, also denied there was an invasion.

He said although the command had lost two of its officers to the attack in the area, the operatives did not take the laws into their hands.

He said seven suspects were arrested with Dane guns and matchets and had been put in custody as murder suspects.

In as much as we seek to have justice for the slain officers, we cannot take the laws into our hands by destroying peoples property. So, whatever the claims are, were not executed by our operatives, he said.
Gunmen on Tuesday morning stormed the staff quarters of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and abducted a professor of economics, Obansa Joseph, two of his children, and other people.

A resident said the gunmen invaded the senior staff quarters at Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at 1 a.m on Tuesday and operated for about an hour.

The source asked not to be named for fears he might be targeted by the abductors and their gang members.

The names of the professors two children abducted during the attack could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

The identities of the other victims are also unclear at this time. Our source only identified them as Barrister John, Fidelis and Mallam Sambo.

The universitys spokesman, Habib Yakoob, confirmed the development, saying the victims are about six in number.

Yes, I just confirmed that the information is true. Apart from the professor and his children, a non-academic staffer was also involved. They are about six victims, Mr Yakoob said.

He, however, added that security operatives have been mobilised to secure their freedom.

They are on their trail, the spokesman said by telephone.

The victim, Mr Obansa, is described as a distinguished economist of repute.

Apart from teaching at UNIABUJA, he is also a visiting professor of economics at Veritas University, also in Abuja.

Mr Obansa is an alumnus of the University of Abuja and the University of Lagos. His research interests include health economics and quantitative economic analysis.

He has published extensively in reputable national and international journals and has served in several management and administrative capacities at the University of Abuja.

As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, had yet to respond to enquiries concerning the attack.

Several parts of Nigeria are currently facing worsening insecurity challenges and spikes in crimes as security operatives battle to halt the menace.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Federal Government to pay $1.6 billion oil revenue to the Delta State government.

Uwaezuoke Okorowo, the judge, ordered the federal government to pay the money as a 13 per cent derivative sum due as arrears of revenue payable to the oil-rich Delta government.

Delta State government had anchored its case on a 2018 verdict of the Supreme Court ordering the federal government to recover all revenues lost to oil exploring and exploiting companies due to wrong profit sharing formula termed as the Production Sharing Contracts since August 2003.

According to the courts verdict, Nigeria had lost money to the companies for the period of about 14 years, from 2003 to 2017, due to the failure of the government to implement the law providing that Nigerias shares of the PSCs be jacked up whenever the price of crude oil exceeded $20 per barrel.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, subsequently engaged some consultants who assessed the lost money to be $62 billion but failed to recover the money from the companies as ordered by the apex court.

Acting on the apex courts verdict, however, the Delta State government filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 12, prayed for an order compelling the AGF to pay five per cent of $50 billion which it claimed was recovered as additional revenue that accrued to the Nigerian government.

Through its lawyer, Ken Njemanze, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the plaintiff claimed in its suit that its share of the 13 per cent derivative of the expected revenue had been assessed to be $ 1,638,396,277.

AGFs defence

In his defence contained in an affidavit filed by an official of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Thomas Etah, the AGF maintained that Delta State was not a party to the terms of settlement leading to the 2018 consent judgement of the apex court.

The parties which instituted the suit leading to the apex courts verdict were Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

That the terms of settlement in question have been entered as judgement of the court between the parties before the court, the AGF argued.

Opposing the placing of the suit on the undefended list by the court, Mr Malami contended that it will not serve the interest of justice to grant the plaintiffs claim against the defendant without full hearing.

He also filed a notice of preliminary objection dated September 22, 2021, arguing that the Federal High Court, by virtue of section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution, lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on disputes between a state and the federation.

The subject matter of this suit is a dispute between the Delta State as a state and the federation.

That the subject matter relates to the recovery of revenue accruing to the federation account, the beneficiaries of which are the federation and the states of the federation.

That the subject matter of this suit is not to be commenced by way of undefended list, the AGF argued. He urged the court to dismiss the suit.

Deltas counter-argument, prayer

But the Delta State government urged the court to reject the AGFs claim that it was not a party to the suit lodged by the Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers governments.

The suit described above was instituted in the Supreme Court for the enforcement of the general of the littoral states (of which Delta State is one.)

The plaintiff has a pecuniary interest in the said suit and its outcome affects her rights and or liabilities.

It sought, among other prayers, 10 per cent post-judgment interest at court rate on the said $1,638,396,277 to the plaintiff until final liquidation thereof.

Judgement

The judge, Mr Okorowo, who earlier in a July 22, 2021 ruling transferred the plaintiffs suit from the regular cause list to undefended list, maintained on Monday that the suit instituted to recover revenue accruing to the Delta State government, qualified for the undefended list.

He ruled that the development made the court to declare the plaintiffs case unchallenged.

In his verdict on Monday, the judge granted all the prayers sought by the Delta government after dismissing the AGFs preliminary objection.

The suit succeeds on its merit and all the reliefs sought by plaintiff are granted, Mr Okorowo held.

Judgement is hereby entered on the claims of the plaintiff in this case. This is the order of this court, he added.

Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom earlier got similar judgements

Similarly, the Federal High Court, Abuja had in June this year, ordered the Federal Government to pay $951 million to the Bayelsa Government as 13 per cent derivative sum due as arrears of revenue.

Also, the court ordered the FG to pay the sum of $3.3 billion to Rivers and Akwa Ibom state governments, being their revenue share from crude oil sales.

It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers governments sued the AGF at the Supreme Court, demanding an upward adjustment of the shares of revenues accruing to the Nigerian government whenever the price of crude oil exceeded $20 per barrel.

The three states had relied on section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act.

In the apex court verdict delivered in October 2018, John Okoro ordered the Nigerian government to embark on an upward adjustment of the shares of revenues accruing to the government whenever the price of crude oil exceeds $20 per barrel.

The particular section requires the Federal Government to adjust the shares of the revenue accruable to the federation, whenever the price of crude oil exceeds $20 per barrel.
President Muhammad Buhari has said Nigeria will cut its carbon emission to net zero by 2060. He spoke at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26 in Glasgow, UK.

Mr Buhari said the conference is happening at a time the world is suffering from the devastating effects of climate change.

Mr Buhari said he did not think any Nigerian needs to be convinced that climate change is not about the problem of the future but about what is already facing the country.

Desertification in the north, drought in the centre, pollution in the coast are enough evidence for all to see, Nigeria is committed to net zero by 2060, he said.

In our lifetime, Lake Chad has gone from an adverse expanse of biodiversity to a shadow of itself; we are investing in renewed growth, hydro dams, and solar projects  Nigeria is not looking to make the same mistake that will be suffered in the future.

The Nigerian leader said the government is looking for partners, technology, and finance to make cleaner and efficient use of all available resources for a more stable transition in energy markets.

He informed the audience that Nigerias revised nationally determined contribution has additional priority sectors, water and waste, nature-based solution, adaptation and resilience, vulnerability assessment and a clean, cooking, gender and green job assessment, bottom-up renewable energy transition pathway to 2030.

Speaking further, Mr Buhari said even though parties to the Paris agreement are expected to transition from fossil fuel to clean energy and reach a net zero ambition for greenhouse gas emission, Nigeria is actually more of a gas than oil producing country and requires financing of projects using transition fuel such as gas.

Nigeria has developed a detailed energy transition plan and roadmap based on data and evidence, our transition plan also highlights the key role that gas will play in transitioning our economy across sectors and the data and evidence shows Nigeria can continue to use gas until 2040 without detracting from the goals of the Paris agreement, he said.

Mr Buhari told the audience that Nigeria has approved a national action plan on gender and climate change.

This document incorporates priority areas of our economic recovery and growth plan and nationally determined contribution, the implementation strategy for this national action plan is being developed, he said.

In a bid to commit to transitional change through climate policy, the revised national policy on climate change was approved in June 2021. This will enable us to implement mitigation measures and also strengthen adaptation towards a sustainable and resilient development. pathway in Nigeria.

Mr Buhari further called the attention of the COP26 president to the centrality of financial support to developing countries in order to attain national and global climate change goals as it will require technical and financial support to developing countries.

Speaking further, the president said the country plans to electrify 5 million households and 25 million people using decentralised solar energy solutions.

In Nigeria, in the area of energy access, Nigerias commitment t to adjust transition is reflected in our initial energy compact which include the governments flagship project to electrify 5 million households and 25 million people using decentralised solar energy solution, this is major step towards closing our energy access deficit by 2030, he said.

He said the outcome of COP26 must result in a quick resolution of all outstanding issues pertaining to the finalisation of the Paris agreement rule book, adaptation, mitigation, finance, article 6 and loss and damages.
The Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the indefinite suspension of the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, following the collapse of a 21-storey building in the Ikoyi area of the state.

Gbenga Omotosho, the commissioner for Information, said in a statement on Tuesday.

At least 10 bodies have been recovered while others are still trapped under the rubble.

On Monday, Mr Oki had said the building agency approved 15 floors for the 21-storey building.

But Mr Obafemi contradicted the claim, saying the owner of the building got approval for 21 floors.

Investigation

Mr Omotosho said an independent panel has been set up to investigate the incident.

He said the members of the panel would be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and other professional bodies.

He said the body would probe the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence.

He said that aside from the independent body, an internal investigation group has been set up by the government to probe the incident.

According to the statement, Mr Sanwo-Olu has assured that the government will investigate the matter thoroughly and punish the culprits.

ALSO READ: More bodies recovered from Lagos building collapse site

Rescue operation

The commissioner said more equipment and personnel have been deployed to the site to save more lives, adding that nine persons have been rescued while 14 were brought out dead.

Mr Omotosho said that a help desk has been set up at the site for people seeking information about their relatives who may have been involved in the incident.

He said the government will embark on further foundation and borehole acidic level tests to ascertain the impact on the collapsed building. These tests, particularly the borehole acidic level, is important for the entire Gerrard Road and adjoining areas.
The Supreme Court management, on Tuesday, broke its silence on Fridays raid on the home of one of its Justices, Mary Odili.

In a statement by its Director, Press and Information, Festus Akande, the apex court said the invasion which depicted a gory picture of war appeared like a mission to kill or maim her.

It said the raid carried out under the guise of undertaking a search based on a questionable and baseless warrant was uncivilised and shameful.

We are alarmed with the news of the unwarranted and despicable raid on the official residence of one of our senior justices in the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, JSC, CFR on Friday October 29, 2021 in a Gestapo manner that unfortunately depicted a gory picture of war by some armed persons suspected to be security operatives representing different agencies of government, who seemed to have come to kill and maim their target under the guise of undertaking a search whose warrant was questionable and baseless.

We are deeply saddened and taken aback by this uncivilized and shameful show of primitive force on an innocent judicial officer that has so far spent several years of her productive life serving the country she calls her own.

Condemning the raid, the apex court drew parallels between it and the similar one carried out by the State Security Service (SSS) operatives on the houses of some judges, including two Justices of the Supreme Court, in Abuja and other parts of the country in 2016.

In a fashion like the SSS operatives 2016 invasion of judges homes, some security operatives including police officers laid a siege to the home of Mrs Odili, the wife of a former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, at Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, on late Friday.

A chief superintendent of police, Lawrence Ajodo, had applied for and obtained a search warrant from the Wuse Zone 6 magistrates court in Abuja, for execution on the Maitama, Abuja residence of Mrs Odili, who is the second most senior justice of the apex court.

Mr Ajodo claimed, in the court document, to be acting on behalf of a certain joint asset recovery team allegedly being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

He said the application was based on an ongoing investigation into whistleblower information suggesting that criminal activities were taking place in the house.

Security operatives invaded the home on October 29 to execute the search warrant obtained from the magistrates court, but it was doubtful they were able to gain entry.

The magistrate who issued the search warrant reportedly revoked it later that day on the grounds that he was misled to issue it.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who superintends over the Federal Ministry of Justice, distanced himself from the raid and the court processes on Saturday.

This incident brought back, rather painfully, the ugly memory of the October 2016 midnight invasion of the homes of our respected justices with no satisfactory explanations as to the true motive behind such brazen assault on our collective sensibility, the Supreme Courts statement said.

Judiciary deserves respect

The apex court said the judiciary being the third arm of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be respected and treated as such.

We have had a full dosage of this fusillade of unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on our judicial officers and even facilities across the country and we say it loudly now that enough is enough.

It added that the judiciary should never be misconstrued by any individual or institution of government as the weeping child among the three arms of government that must always be chastised and ridiculed to silence because of our conservative disposition.

Investigations

The Supreme Court it had carried out an investigation into the incident, but also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, to discretely probe the matter and make its outcome public.

We commenced a full-scale independent investigation to unravel the true masquerades behind the mystery as well as the real motives behind the whole imbroglio, the statement said, but did not disclose the findings of the probe.

It added : Similarly, we call on the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to rise up to the occasion by carrying out a discreet investigation and make his findings known to the Nigerian public with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice as quickly as possible.

The statement came almost two days after police authorities ordered an investigation into the incident on Sunday.

In a police statement denying Mr Babas knowledge of the invasion of Mrs Odili, the IGP directed the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) to conduct a discrete investigation into the incident.

He also promised to make the outcome of the investigation public while he also ordered

The IGP also denied ordering the operation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS), who were also initially accused of being part of a joint team of security operatives that invaded the judges home had also denied involvement.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, also distanced himself from it.

Discordant tunes

Despite the denials issued by the security operatives, the Supreme Court said, Tuesday there have emerged discordant tunes from the various security agencies that allegedly participated in the dastardly act.

The Nigerian judiciary cannot only bark, but can also bite, it warned traducers.

We can no longer be treated with disdain and levity. The rule of law and constitutionality must govern our conduct so that we can tag along with the comity of nations and be taken seriously too.

Mrs Odili is the wife of a former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili.

The invasion of Mrs Odilis residence was initially linked to an acclaimed investigation of Mr Odili by the EFCC.

The EFCC had made a move to prosecute Mr Odili after he left office after two terms as governor in 2007, but was barred by the Federal High Court which issued a perpetual injunction restraining EFCC and other security agencies from arresting him.

Recently, Mr Odili filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the seizure of his passport by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) which claimed to have acted on EFCCs instruction.

Delivering judgement in the suit earlier in October, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, ordered the NIS to release Mr Odilis passport, while also affirming the previous court decisions prohibiting his prosecution.
Rescue officials have recovered 20 bodies buried under the rubble after a 21-storey building collapsed on Monday in the Ikoyi part of Lagos, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said.

The building, situated on Gerard Road, trapped about 50 persons under the rubble, witnesses said.

Residents and family members of persons trapped under the collapse besieged the site on Tuesday, furious that rescue operations were slow.

On Monday, it took over four hours for excavators and other heavy equipment to arrive at the site.

A relative, who declined to say his name, said he has three siblings in the collapsed building. He was seen crying and urging security agents to allow him and other men to assist in the operation.

Another relative said his elder brother, who is an engineer, is still trapped beneath the rubbles.

His name Engineer Efe Martins, yesterday was one month he joined them. As at 1:04 p.m on Monday, he sent a picture to us of this building that he was working there. He was downstairs having a meeting with the proprietor, the principal  owner of the property, because he sacked a guy recently and he was trying to get him back in.

He said his brother is 54 years old, and the first born son of their parents.

On Tuesday, the Lagos State government deployed more equipment and manpower to the scene of the incident.

Also on Tuesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered the suspension of Gbolahan Oki, the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

Mr Oki had, on Monday, said the collapsed building only got approval for 15 floors, and that inferior material were used in the construction.

Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, however, refuted the claim, insisting that the government gave approval for the construction of a 21-storey building.
There was pandemonium Monday when hoodlums laid siege at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square over the shooting of one of their members by a prison escort.

The hoodlums caused a scene, which made the judges end proceedings abruptly and other court officials scamper to safety.

According to a witness, the gunshot victim was allegedly trying to interact with some of the inmates in the Black Maria and was warned several times by prison officials but he ignored them.

A statement by Rotimi Oladokun, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Lagos, said an inmate was brought before the court for hearing when some suspected associates staged an attack on the escort personnel with an attempt to forcefully release the inmate while at the premises of the court.

However, the quick response and vigilance of the NCoS court escorts thwarted their effort, he said

Mr Oladokun said that one of the attackers sustained bullet injuries during the incident.

During the ensuing melee one of the attackers was shot while trying to dispossess armed personnel of his rifle, he said.

Mr Oladokun added that security operatives were immediately deployed to the court premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order adding that all inmates have been successfully returned into secure custody of the Correctional Service.

This newspaper gathered that after the victim was shot on the leg, information got to the hoodlums, who swiftly came to barricade the entrance of the court and deflated the tyres of the Black Maria.
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Nigerian government to establish a specialised team of prosecutors to facilitate the effective investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against journalists and other media workers. This, they said, would enable Nigeria to fulfill its regional and international treaty obligations to ensure the safety of journalists.

The group disclosed this in a letter on Tuesday to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, aimed to mark this years International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI).

They said such a move would also be consistent with the spirit of the 2021 commemoration of the day, which focuses on the instrumental role of prosecutorial services in investigating and prosecuting not only killings but also threats of violence against journalists.

The Executive Director of MRA, Edetaen Ojo, in the letter recalled that at its 68th session held in 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which proclaimed November 2 of every year as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI).

Mr Ojo said that by establishing the team of specialized prosecutors, Nigeria will be positioned to fulfil its international treaty obligations under a number of regional and international instruments, most notably Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.

It is a matter of grave concern that despite the numerous cases of attacks against journalists in Nigeria in the last few decades, including many of them killed, no one has ever been charged with any crime for such attacks and nobody has ever been punished, the group stated.

The group suggested that the team of prosecutors should be supported by a team of investigators from the police and other relevant law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to ensure effective investigation of cases.

According to them, the current situation reflects negatively on the government of Nigeria and sends a wrong message to perpetrators that they can attack or even kill journalists and that there will be no adverse consequences for the perpetrators.

The letter noted that as a regional power and leader, it is imperative that Nigeria demonstrates moral leadership by living up to commitments freely made, particularly in the African context, by respecting and abiding by such regional standards and instruments.

Mr Ojo said Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, titled Safety of journalists and other media practitioners imposes an obligation on State Parties to the African Charter to guarantee the safety of journalists and other media practitioners, and provides, among other things:

*States shall take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and other media practitioners, including murder, extra-judicial killing, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, kidnapping, intimidation, threats and unlawful surveillance undertaken by State and non-State actors;

*States shall take measures to raise the awareness and build the capacities of journalists and other media practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders on laws and standards for ensuring the safety of journalists and other media practitioners;

*States shall take effective legal and other measures to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of attacks against journalists and other media practitioners, and ensure that victims have access to effective remedies;

*States shall be liable for the conduct of law enforcement, security, intelligence, military and other personnel which threatens, undermines or violates the safety of journalists and other media practitioners; and

*States shall take specific measures to ensure the safety of female journalists and media practitioners by addressing gender-specific safety concerns, including sexual and gender-based violence, intimidation and harassment.

The MRA expressed its readiness to work with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to elaborate a framework for the team of prosecutors to be established and to subsequently continue working with and supporting members of the team, including by providing them with relevant materials that can assist them in their work.
The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has resolved to direct the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Office of Accountant General of the Federation to withhold funds allocated to the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

The embargo would be put in place if the agency insists that it would not present its budget before the committee.

The committee chairman, James Faleke (APC, Lagos), announced this at the commencement of the budget defence session organised by the committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Mr Faleke, the agency is basing its refusal to present its budget before the committee on the Act establishing it

Section 51g of the Act of the NSIA reads, undertake, do or agree to do any activity or incur such expenditure and carryout such ventures which in the opinion of the Board are necessary, incidental or conducive for the attainment for the objects and functions of the Authority.

The NSIA Act was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The agency invests funds on behalf of the three tiers of governments through the future generation fund, Nigeria infrastructure fund and stability fund.

Mr Faleke said he spoke with the Managing Director of NSIA, Umar Sodiq, on presenting its budget before the committee but that the MD insisted that the agencys budget is approved only by its board.

The chairman said the Act establishing NSIA is not superior to the Constitution.

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This agency of government (NSIA) has refused consistently to present their budget before the national assembly. We have spoken to the MD and we advised him that it is against the Constitution.

The agency is relying on its law, which says that its board shall approve its budget. I have told the agency that the law, whether made in error or rightly is not superior to the Constitution, he said.

Consequently, Mr Faleke said if the agency fails to present its budget before the committee there will be no disbursement of funds from any of consolidated accounts to that agency.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has said many Nigerians are yet to benefit from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) six years after its creation.

Mr Mustapha said this at the inauguration of a 15-man committee on BHCPF in Abuja.

This is according to a statement signed and issued by the director of press at the SGF office, Willie Bassey, on Tuesday.

Mr Mustapha, who was represented by the permanent secretary, political and economic affairs office at the OSGF, David Adejo, said the fund was established to provide health services to vulnerable Nigerians.

He said despite the budgetary allocation for its operationalisation, many Nigerians have not benefited from the fund.

What is BHCPF?

The BHCPF is the fundamental healthcare funding provided by the National Health Act. It was included in the national budget for the first time in 2018 since the Act was signed in 2014.

It provides for not less than one per cent of the consolidated revenue for healthcare funding.

In the 2022 proposed budget, N54 billion, amounting to six per cent of the total health budget, is earmarked for BHCPF.

The BHCPF is aimed at providing adequate care and services at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level, mostly for the vulnerable population, so as to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

New committee

The SGF said the newly inaugurated committee will ensure the provision of quality basic health care services to all Nigerians.

He said this is part of the governments effort to reform the health sector, particularly, the primary healthcare services.

He explained that the joint working committee was constituted to provide an effective stakeholders coordination mechanism towards the actualisation of the Fund.

ALSO READ: Red Cross officials list factors that hinder healthcare delivery in Nigeria

He said the National Health Act (2014) has been empowered to increase the overall financing to the health sector and help improve access to primary health care services for Nigerians especially the poor and the vulnerable.

Health Reform

Mr Mustapha said the reform was a demonstration of President Muhammadu Buharis commitment to ensure quality basic health care service to all Nigerians with emphasis on rural dwellers and the vulnerable in the society.

He said the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR), through engagements with critical stakeholders, has developed a draft stakeholder coordination framework to help support an effective multi-stakeholder engagement toward a harmonised strategy for implementation of the Fund at national and sub-national levels.

He said the committee is expected to bring stakeholders up to speed on the status of the Fund, to proffer recommendations as action plans to fast track progress of implementation, and to establish the need for the stakeholder coordination framework and other mechanisms to sustain momentum.

Existing gaps

In his remarks, the Director-General of BPSR, Dasuki Arabi, said the purpose for establishing the Fund was to bring relief to a good number of Nigerians who have never experienced proper basic healthcare.

Mr Arabi said the fund also aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for health services in order to improve the quality of lives of rural dwellers and vulnerable people.

He attributed the slow implementation of the Fund to gaps in the enabling Act and poor buy-in from the states and inter-agency rivalry, amongst others.

He said in a bid to revive the Fund, the BPSR with the support of development partners undertook analysis of the current situation of the Fund in order to uncover the underlying issues and seek a way forward for speedy implementation.
Officers of the Ogun State Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, have arrested two suspected ritualists with dismembered human parts in a casket.

The suspects, Toheeb Talabi and Dare Banjo, were arrested in the Ijebu-Igbo area of the state on Monday when some residents saw them taking a casket into a herbalists house.

David Akinremi, the state commander of Amotekun Corps in Ogun, said the suspects were apprehended following a tip-off that some persons were sighted bringing in a casket in the middle of the night.

Following the tip-off, Mr Akinremi, a retired commissioner of police, said his officers immediately mobilised to the scene, where they had saw Mr Banjo, the herbalist.

According to Mr Akinremi, the casket was found in Mr Banjos house and the offensive odour oozing from the it triggered suspicion.

He added that the casket contained a dismembered, headless corpse.

The Amotekun commander said the suspects confessed the corpse was meant for money ritual, before they were handed over to the police.

At about 8 p.m. of yesterday, November 1st, 2021, Amotekun operatives in Ijebu Igbo received an information that some persons were sighted bringing in a casket into a house in Fara area of the town, said Mr Akinremi.

The operatives quickly mobilised to the scene and on arrival, they discovered that the building is the residence of one Dare Banjo, who is a herbalist.

A casket was seen at a corner of a room in the house and the stench from the casket triggered suspicion. The herbalist, Dare Banjo, was then asked to open the casket.

Behold, inside the casket was a dismembered corpse, without head, of a suspected male victim of ritual killing by the herbalist and his cohorts.

Hence the said Dare Banjo and of his accomplice named Toheeb Talubi were immediately arrested. The two suspects who confirmed the corpse was for money rituals have been handed over to the police for further investigation.
The #EndSARS panel set up to investigate cases of police brutality in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the police to liaise with the family of Simon Nyamkwange, who was allegedly shot dead by members of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police.

The panel chaired by Suleiman Galadima, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, gave the order following complaints by the deceased family that the police were holding unto the remains of the deceased one year after he was allegedly killed by them in Abuja.

Uju Terseer, the lawyer to the complainant, informed the panel that efforts by the deceaseds brother, Abraham Nyamkwange, to retrieve his brothers corpse from the Wuse General Hospital in Abuja, for burial had been futile.

We have written several letters to the police, demanding the corpse of Mr Nyamkwange for burial, but to no avail, Mr Terseer told the panel.

The Nyamkwange family had filed a petition at the panel detailing the circumstances that led to their brothers gruesome murder.

Details

According to the petition, the late Nyamkwange was allegedly shot at the Eterna Filling Station in Abuja by a SARS operative on April 22, 2020.

The investigating police officer in charge of Mr Nyamkwanges case reportedly informed the deceaseds family that their brother was alive at the time he was brought to the police station, but bled to death due to lack of medical care.

The petitioner revealed in his filing before the panel that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Wuse Police Division, Mamman Barakwai, informed him that there was an armed robbery attack at Eterna Filling Station, which led to the deployment of his men.

He (Mr Barakwai, the DPO) sent his squad to the place (Eterna Filling Station), and that the deceased challenged them (the SARS team), that was when they opened fire on him (late Nyamkwange).

The complaint further disclosed that Aunde Peter, a police officer, extorted N200,000 from the family on the pretext of helping them to retrieve their brothers remains from the police for burial.

Order

This development prompted Mr Galadima to direct the panels lawyer, Chino Obiagwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to work out a meeting with police legal team and the Nyamkwange family for the release of deceaseds corpse for burial.

Addressing the panel on Monday, police lawyer, Fidelis Ogwobe, said the IPO in charge of Mr Nyamkwanges case had travelled to Anambra State for election duty.

He said the police legal department was not aware of the complainants request for the release of the deceased persons corpse, a claim contradicted by series of request letters by the Nyamkwanges attached to documents filed at the panel.

Following Mr Ogwobes request, the case was adjourned till November 12, 2021, for hearing.

Panel

The NHRCs 11-member Independent Investigative Panel commonly referred to as #EndSARS panel, was inaugurated in October 2020 to probe various forms of rights violations perpetrated by the operatives of the defunct SARS and other police units.

Part of its mandates was to recommend compensations for victims and sanctions or prosecution for erring police officers.

The setting up of the panel replicated in about 29 states and Abuja was triggered by the nationwide #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest led by the youth against the brutal activities of men of the defunct SARS in October last year.

The protest led to the disbandment of SARS, with authorities promising broad police reforms and setting up of the judicial panels of inquiry across the states to compensate victims.
Bandits on Saturday killed a yet unspecified number of people in Unguwar Dudu in Faskari local government area of Katsina State, residents of the area have reported.

The bandits were also said to have sacked shops in the area during the evening attack.

It was the second time in five days that bandits were attacking communities in Faskari, after an earlier attack on Unguwar Samanja village.

Habibu Mohammed, who is from the area but now lives in Kaduna, claims two of his uncles were killed during the attack that lasted for more than 40 minutes.

He gave the names of the victims as Alhaji Ado and Alhaji Bature, who were both traders living in the village.

Many people have fled the axis since the beginning of banditry in the area. In Katsina metropolis, many have fled Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Kankara, Funtua, Batsari, Danmusa and other frontline local government areas due to insecurity.

When there is an attack, reporters usually rely on these persons to connect with people still in the village for updates.

Attack

Premium Times check showed that the community is not far from the 4th Army Super Camp located in Faskari.

When they came, they started shooting sporadically before some of them disembark(ed) from their motorcycles and started looting shops.

Due to lack of response following absence of telecoms service in the area, the bandits operated for more than 40 minutes. They killed several people and wounded others, who are now being treated at a hospital in Faskari town, Mr Mohammed said.

He could, however, not ascertain the number of those killed because he resides in Kaduna.

One of our relatives went to Gusau to call and inform me about the attack. I didnt wait to ask how many people were killed but the death of my two uncles have been confirmed.

A local, Babangida Gaikau, also confirmed the attack but also said he did not know how many people died.

The police spokeperson in Katsina, Gambo Isa, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attack.
The FCT Police Command has deployed additional security to the main and satellite campuses of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) following the invasion of the institution by some armed persons in the early hours of Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by the FCT police spokesperson, Joseph Adeh, a deputy superintendent of police, on Tuesday.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how gunmen on Tuesday morning stormed the staff quarters of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and abducted a Professor of Economics, Obansa Joseph, two of his children, and other people.

A resident narrated that the gunmen invaded the senior staff quarters at Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at 1 am on Tuesday and operated for about an hour.

The abduction comes amidst increased banditry activities in some satellite tows in the federal capital territory.

Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, had a few months ago, raised the alarm that Abuja was no longer safe because Boko Haram terrorists had hoisted their flags in Shiroro Local Government of the state. Niger state is one of the states bordering the FCT.

The statement by the police said, The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Babaji Sunday has dispatched additional tactical and conventional policing resources to the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) main and satellite campuses as well as the staff quarters and other affiliate formations of the university, to fortify security, improve public safety and protect citizens in and around the university community.

It said the command was working in collaboration with the army to ensure the rescue of the abducted persons.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

POLICE FORTIFY SECURITY IN AND AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA

 As CP Babaji Sunday reassures residents of the FCT, safety and protection of lives and property.

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Babaji Sunday has dispatched additional tactical and conventional policing resources to the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) main and satellite campuses as well as the staff quarters and other affiliate formations of the university, to fortify security, improve public safety and protect citizens in and around the university community.

The CP gave the order following report that some yet to be identified armed criminals invaded the UNIABUJA Staff Quarters located at the GIRI area of the FCT in the early hours of today, 2nd November, 2021.

The CP noted that a combined team of the Police and personnel of the Nigerian Army 176 Guards Battalion were swiftly mobilized to the area to protect the citizens. Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that six (6) persons were allegedly abducted into the forest by the criminals on sighting the security operatives.

The CP, while calling for calm, further noted that the security forces are already working with the locals in the area toward rescuing the victims. He assured that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book.

4. On this note, the Command pledges its undeterred resolve to ensure lives and properties of residents within the FCT are protected and urge them to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

DSP Josephine Adeh ANIPR,

Police Public Relations Officer,

For: The Commissioner of Police

FCT Police Command,

Abuja.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has commiserated with families of victims of bandits attacks in Chikun and Igabi local government areas of the state.

According to a statement by the states commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday, security forces reported that armed bandits attacked worshippers at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kakkau Daji in Chikun LGA where a worshipper (Yusuf Dauda) was killed and an unspecified number of others was kidnapped.

The statement also confirmed that another worshipper, Musa Yusuf, was injured in the incident.

Similarly, bandits killed one local (Dahiru Sani) at Kangon Kadi general area of the same LGA, and one person (Bello Alhaji) at Barebari in Igabi LGA.

In the same LGA, armed bandits at Sauran Giwa general area killed Hakilu Umar and Muntari Umar while they were returning from a religious function.

The Governor prayed for the repose of their souls and charged security forces to intensify their efforts in securing lives and properties in the state, Mr Aruwan said.

However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said over 100 worshippers were abducted in the incident at the Baptist Church, while also confirming the death of a worshipper.

Speaking on the development, Kaduna CAN chairman, Joseph Hayab, lamented that security has worsened in the state, contrary to the assurances by the government.

We are seriously worried now, he said, according to a report by Politics Nigeria news platform.

Gunmen are gradually approaching the township. Emmanuel Baptist Church, which is in Kakau Daji, is just less than three kilometres to Sabon Tashan.

The truth about the shutdown of the network of telecom services is that people who are making policies are not fair to the citizens. You will agree with me that the government is doing trial and error, and this has not worked to curb insecurity in the state.

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CAN also said the bandits had contacted the family of one of the abducted worshippers and demanded a high ransom. Due to the kidnappers having to exert more effort to get the information about the victims relatives.

The abducted Emmanuel Baptist Church worshippers would have cried out on Sunday to facilitate their rescue and for people to know that they were endangered, but they could not cry out, Mr Hayab added. So, the shutdown of the telecom network even assisted the bandits more.

Mr Haya urged the government to adopt more effective measures against insecurity in the state, warning that unless this was done, the situation would continue to worsen.
Amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerian journalists, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has praised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led regime for providing an enabling environment for journalism to thrive.

Three weeks ago, Tordue Salem, a journalist at Vanguard Newspapers, was declared missing in Abuja, Nigerias capital city.

Recently, journalists were manhandled and barred from covering proceedings in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by government security operatives.

Last month during the one year anniversary of the nationwide #EndSARS protests against police brutality and human rights violations, armed police personnel teargassed and arrested journalists in Lagos and Abuja.

Some of them were arrested at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos during the memorial procession to mark the one year anniversary of the shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the location in October 2020.

Despite a plethora of instances of clampdowns on journalists, Mr Malami said the Buhari-led government had helped Nigeria exit the ignoble class of countries with the worst records of crimes against journalists.

The minister spoke on Tuesday at a policy dialogue on the protection of journalists to mark the 2021 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in Abuja.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/68/163 at its 68th session in 2013 that proclaimed the 2nd November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI).

Referencing the 2020 report of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), titled, Getting Away with the Murder, Mr Malami said, The report indicated that Nigeria was the only country to get off the index of nations with impunity for crimes against journalists.

This is another positive feather of development in the human right (sic) record of the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR that calls for celebration.

While acknowledging that journalism is not a crime, and that journalists play a crucial role in fostering good governance and democracy, the AGF urged reporters to refrain from fake news and seditious reporting.

Journalists are not in any way targeted for witch-hunt. It is essential to note that Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy that guarantees freedom of expression thereby providing conducive atmosphere and veritable platforms that enable Nigerians their inalienable fundamental rights to unhindered ventilation of opinions, Mr Malami said.

In a similar fashion, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said no journalist has been hounded under the Buhari administration, but acknowledged the harassment and expulsion of Punch Newspaper correspondent at the Aso Rock Villa for reporting on Mr Buharis medical trip to the United Kingdom which lasted over three months.

He noted that no journalist needs to die in the course of plying their trade, an assertion further buttressed by Umar Pate, a communication scholar and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State.

No news is worth the life of any journalist, Mr Pate, a professor of communications, said in his lead presentation, Ending Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in Nigeria.

Poor remuneration, weak judicial judicial system

Mr Pate attributed the plight of journalists in Nigeria to weak judicial system and poor remuneration.

Weak judicial system allows impunity to thrive against journalists, because they cant seek redress when their rights are infringed upon.

The academic asserted that journalists safety is imperilled by both state and nonstate actors, lamenting that he had lost six journalists whom he helped train at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, to insurgents.

Individuals who killed those journalists have not been brought to justice, an instance that amplifies Mr Pates concerns over weak judicial system in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: Group seeks specialised team for prosecution of crimes against journalists

In a goodwill message, Clement Boutillier, team leader/head of section, democracy, governance and migration of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said there is no democracy anywhere without journalists.

Quoting the famous motto of the Washington Post, Democracy Dies in Dark, the EU chief lamented that journalists are being harassed, jailed and killed across the world.

He added that despite the odds against journalists, the Nigerian press remains the most vibrant on the African continent.

Way forward

Mr Pate recommended improved remuneration for journalists and strengthening of Nigerias judicial system to deal with cases of violence against media practitioners.

The Vice Chancellor also advised media organisations in the country to prioritise the safety of their reporters, especially in conflict reporting.

He admonished journalists to collaborate with government security agencies for safety purposes.

The scholar argued that there can be no accountability in government without a vibrant and independent media.
Nigeria is offering would-be investors a generous three-year tax holiday and other incentives in a bid to turn around its moribund mining industry

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, on Tuesday called on foreign investors to invest in the countrys mining sector to benefit 100 per cent ownership of their investments.

Some foreign mining investors are not aware that Nigeria is a mining nation; we want them to come and invest in Nigerian mining as our incentives are good compared to other mining nations, he told journalists ahead of forthcoming sixth edition of the Nigeria Mining Week on Tuesday in Abuja.

Our royalty is the lowest compare to other mining nations, we charge 3.5 per cent, while other mining nations charge 17 to 20 per cent depending on the mineral mined, he said.

The 2021 Mining Week is scheduled to be held from November 16 to November 17, with the theme: Seven reasons to invest in Nigerian Mining.

He said the federal government allows local and foreign mining investors to have 100 per cent ownership of minerals mined, as one of its incentives to woo investors to the industry.

According to him, Nigeria is still fresh in mining; we need to encourage mining investors to invest in Nigeria to enjoy maximum benefit of the countrys green field resources.

Other incentives include: holders of a mineral title are guaranteed free transfer of funds through the Central Bank of Nigeria and a three-year tax holiday.

He said that this years mining week would be a virtual event, adding that it would bring together mining investors, governors, some ministers and the event would be declared open by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Uchechukwu Ogah, the Minister of State, said that this years mining week would be purely an investment programme that would yield a lot of benefits for the nation.

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Kabir Kankara, the president, Miners Association of Nigeria, said the event would be digital due to COVID-19 pandemic with the attendant palpable fear of the emergence of new variants.

Mr Kankara said that the event had contributed in raising global awareness to the huge potentiality of the nations mineral endowments with the view to attracting local and foreign investments to transform the endowments to national wealth.

He said the event had also provided a platform for conversations toward policy formulation and reviews through stakeholders engagements and interactions. (NAN)
Today, we see Nigerian women standing up to be counted where it matters most. We have Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, heading up the World Trade Organisation, and always being in contention for any massive global position where an African can make a difference. Her trajectory and experience are the envy of most people. Dr Arunma Oteh was here with us as the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and discharged herself creditably well. She went on to a fellowship at the prestigious Oxford University. Dr Mrs Amina J. Mohammed represents Nigeria at the United Nations where she is a Deputy Secretary General, and in pole position for heading what is arguably the most powerful organization on earth. Back home, we have Mrs. Aishah N. Ahmad as Deputy Governor at the Central Bank in charge of Financial System Stability whilst Mrs. Zainab S. Ahmed is at the helm of the finance ministry despite the difficulties associated with such responsibilities they have brought a lot of grace to bear on their roles.

Delving a little deeper into the banking sector which is considerably most impacted by the increase in female representation, we find Mrs. Bola Adesola, former Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank, now Chairman of Ecobank and Dr Mrs. Dere Awosika who had headed the National Immunization Program but now chairs Access Bank Plc. Mrs Sola David-Borha, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Ireti Sanuel Ogbu, Tomi Somefun, Miriam Olusanya are some Chief Executive Officers of some of Nigerias most powerful and systemically-important banks. Mrs Osaretin Demuren, Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga and Mrs Ibukun Awosika were all bank Chairpersons until recently too. Many of Nigerias large companies, including conglomerates, have appointed a great number of Nigerian women into their boards  especially as executives, non-executives and independent directors. Research published by the Morgan Stanley Composite Index in 2016 showed that boards with more than one woman on them performed better than all-male boards, were more stable and sustainable in decision-making, and encountered fewer crises.

A look into Nigerias petroleum sector shows that Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Petroleum, arguably Nigerias most powerful oil producer, is headed up by Elohor Aiboni, a lady. The richest African woman, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, operates Famfa Oil, one of Nigerias indigenous oil producers, and has made a huge success out of that company. Thousands, perhaps millions, of Nigerian women currently head up many micro, small, and medium companies all over the country, making their marks and ensuring that the economic clock keeps ticking. Nigerian women have since gone beyond being adept at running schools, restaurant chains, fashion outlets, and such industries that had been considered a preserve of females. What is more? A handful of young Nigerian ladies current lead consulting firms, fintech companies, construction and architectural firms, engineering companies, infotech firms and other such that had been seen for way too long as territories for males. The barriers have since been eliminated. Of course, the civil service in Nigeria is headed by Mrs Folasade Esan, and the list of permanent secretaries shows a good number of women playing critical administrative roles in our public sector.

Nigerias women have arisen and have kept rising.

A keen observer will correlate the renaissance of Nigerian women with the establishment in year 2001 of the Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a non-governmental organization, which was set up to add verve to the activity of Nigerian women in the corporate world. What started in 2001 as tentative steps have today become a phenomenon, encompassing Nigerian women home and abroad, growing in strength, and empowering up and coming ladies to try and achieve a lot more than they had hoped. Many ladies, fresh out of Nigerias higher institutions, today have a reference point, as WIMBIZ  through her annual conferences and other advocacy and empowerment programs  keeps raising the bar and showing to all, that Nigerian women are able to do a lot more than everyone had imagined. The organization lists on its website that it has influenced or impacted over 200,000 women, but chances are that its influences have gone far beyond that in its 20 years of existence. It would be great however, to see the impact of WIMBIZ in encouraging women into leadership positions, through the increasingly disorganized democratic system. Maybe what Nigeria needs is women helping to straighten out that space.

Someone offered to tell the difference between men and women. And that difference was not the obvious physiognomic ones that come to mind. It had to do with the way women think. Im not quite sure this is scientific, but it made a lot of sense from his definition  men seemed to think of a singular issue at any particular time, while womens brain functioned bionically, connecting everything to everything. If you can recall the imagery of an electric ball, with so many sparking electrons, links, statics and connections all buzzing around, yes. That is the brain of a woman. That is why the world has agreed that women usually multitask, and do so quite effortlessly. Many women at their prime, are mums, wives, organizers, fixers, beauticians, artists, and bosses at the same time. Perhaps a number of the CEOs I mentioned earlier may still be expected to cook special meals for their families at home, despite having the weight of billions, probably trillions of Naira, on their delicate shoulders. We will usually never hear them complain openly about the stress they have to go through. Without sounding patronizing, my personal belief is that women are made of much sterner stuff than men. I am a man and could hardly bear most of what women go through. I have a wife and daughters too and have seen the sheer strength they exude. We were taught wrongly for too many years. For except for the business of lifting heavy objects, women are certainly not the weaker sex.

History

I suspect something may have happened a long time ago that made men conspire against women to allocate to them roles that will suppress this same prodigious talent I speak about. With the slow-downs caused by pregnancy and childcare, men generally filled societal leadership roles, and relegated women to the background. But even then, women played a central role, providing backup for men in every regard, and indeed running most homes and farms more efficiently than men could have managed. It came a time when the world realized that it was locking out at least 50% of global wealth and productivity by keeping women sequestered at home and thus out of the tax net. That story too has changed. Developments in medicine, science and technology, has helped in making life easier for all, and women have greatly benefited. Today, developed countries are perfecting methodology on how to quantify the unpaid work that billions of women do at home as part of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP). The research I referred to above my the MCSI has been further extended too, indicating that company boards that can push up the numbers of female members to about 30% female membership will achieve spectacular results. What looks like a newfound subscription to female inclusion is thus grounded in psychology and rooted in data; all male boards sometimes allow adrenalin to overflow, often focus on benefits to members, and males are known to sometimes be addicted to modern toys sometimes at the expense of the companys survival or sustainability.

The Future

The future therefore looks very female, and I joke sometimes that it is men that should by now be worried about what the future holds for their own inclusion in how society is run. Europe and parts of the Americas are now known as womans world. Women have also focused greatly of late, on the development and assistance of the female child, offering scholarships, trainings, bursaries, mentorships and handholding to girls even as men who mainly run governments remain blind to the crisis of new illiteracy and delinquency in our society today. The upshot of this development is a decline in the dominance, productivity, and indeed dignity of men. Men  who have since inserted themselves to permanently dominate governance and often used their positions to do and undo  should perhaps find time to apologize for past misdeeds, and change their ways because women are known to be very meticulous and never forgetful  even in demanding their pounds of flesh.

The future is decidedly female. And indeed, the future is no longer far away. The future, is now! The future is today. For me, it looks like Nigeria will really soar, the day we get a female president to run our affairs. Women are known to be non-nonsense folks and are not as distracted as we male folk are. When women headed government agencies here, many who are used to the old ways of doing things, to slicing and dicing the commonwealth, sometimes find it hard to take and so we see a new wave of female leaders who are often antagonized and hounded out by some men who just detest the idea of being led by women and the strictures that come with that  something we must all watch out for and fight against. We have had some bad examples no doubt, but psychology, and empiricism, tells us all that women tend to be more reliable. I believe we are now on a growth trajectory with regard to the increased participation of women in governance, business, sports, intellectual discourse and every sphere of our existence. We should look forward with great hope. Nigeria, and the world, could only be better for it.

Tope Fasua, an economist, author, blogger, entrepreneur, and recent presidential candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), can be reached through topsyfash@yahoo.com.
The House of Representatives Committee on Steel, on Wednesday, commenced investigation into the collapse of Delta Steel Company Limited, Aladja, Warri.

The steel plant, which was built in the 1980s at an estimated cost of $1.89 billion, has been the subject of controversy since its privatisation in 2005 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

At the commencement of the hearing into the complex on Monday, members of the host community accused Premium Steel Limited, the new owner of the company, of stripping its assets.

A Senate ad hoc committee in the 7th Assembly had carried out an investigation into the matter in 2011. The committee led by Ahmad Lawan, the current senate president, investigated the process of the concession of the company to Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited.

The committee resolved that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate those involved in the sales of Delta Steel.

In 2015, the steel plant was subsequently sold to Premium Steel Company Limited, a company owned by Indian billionaire, Sunil Vaswani, by Asset Management of Nigeria (AMCON) for N28 billion.

AMCON, under the leadership of Mustapha Chike Obi, acquired the plant by virtue of the Loan Purchase Agreement that certain banks as creditors of Delta Steel Company entered into with AMCON due to DSCs inability to pay up the debt owed these banks and subsequently sold the assets to Premium Steel Limited.

The takeover led to a row between AMCON and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) over the assets. In 2020, BPE had claimed that AMCON can only take over the core assets, not the non-core assets. In a rejoinder, AMCON claimed ownership of core and non-core assets of the plant.

At the hearing, Jite Brown, Chairman of Udu LGA, Delta State, where the company is located, while speaking on behalf of the community, said Premium Steel has failed to invest money to revive the plant. According to him, there are less than 20 staff working at the plant.

He said Premium Steel has been stripping the company of the assets at the plant.

We have called several security meetings to address the residents and Premium Steel; the only response we get from them is that they dont have any obligation with the government, they only have business with Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and AMCON has given them all the right to do all what they are doing.

We want this committee to revoke the sale of DSC. They cant handle the company; the company is dying, he said

Responding to the remarks, a representative of AMCON, Albert Anozie, said AMCON only sold the assets used to secure loans.

What we took over was the asset that was charged to the loan which the banks gave to the company, Mr Anozie said.

Also, the Minister of Mines and Steel (State), Uche Ogah, said the ministry was not carried along in the process that led to the privatisation and outright sales.

So for us at the ministry, when all the assets were transferred to BPE, we had little or nothing; we were not carried along. So, we may not have much to say, he said.

However, the investigation took a different turn when Premium Steels management were asked to speak on the issue. The leader of the delegation refused to be placed on oath, stating that he is a lawyer.

The lawyer, who had not introduced himself, was not permitted to speak by the Chairman of the Committee, Abdullahi Ali (APC, Kano).

Mr Ali had ruled that the managing director of Premium Steel should be the one to appear before the committee.

At this point, the delegation of Premium Steel walked out of the hearing.

The action of the management of the Premium Steel caused mild rowdiness at the hearing, as members of the host community protested it. The protest by the host community lasted for about five minutes.

Consequently, the committee ruled that the MD of Premium Steel must appear before the committee on November 3, or risk contempt of the House.

You have all seen the criminal behaviour of Premium Steel and everybody is embarrassed. They cannot walk out on the parliament because this committee is an offshoot of the parliament and we cannot tolerate that, he said.

In view of their criminal behaviourfor Premium Steel to have walked out of the parliament is a disgrace to this nation; I hereby summon the MD of Premium Steel to appear before the parliament on the 3rd of November.

The hearing was adjourned till November 3, by the chairman of the Committee.

The decision to investigate the steel company was a sequel to a motion moved by Rolland Igbakpa (PDP, Delta) in 2019.
Motorists driving through and within Anambra State have been asked to ensure their vehicles are properly registered with up to date number plates.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Echeng Echeng, issued the directive as part of security measures ahead of the November 6 governorship election in the state.

Mr Echeng said that improperly identified vehicles would be impounded and the violators subjected to the relevant laws.

A statement from the police spokesperson in Zone 13, Nkeiruka Nwode, said the measure became necessary in order to check crime in the state.

Ms Nwode, a deputy superintendent of police, heads the police media team for the Anambra election.

Any vehicle that plies without a plate number or up-to-date plate number will be impounded and the law invoked upon the defaulter, the commissioner of police, Mr Echeng is quoted as saying.

The commissioner reiterated the readiness of the police to provide a crime-free and safe environment during and after the election in the South-east state.

He reminded motorists, both public and private in Anambra, that the ban on unauthorised use of tinted glasses in vehicles would be enforced in the state.

The Anambra State Police Command is dedicated to providing security to the people of the State before, on and after the election. Therefore, we need the cooperation of the members of the public to achieve this, the statement said.

(NAN)
Three more bodies have been recovered from the collapsed building at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday morning, increasing the death from the incident to 10.

Two persons were also rescued and rushed to the hospital for treatment. Nine persons have now been rescued from the rubble.

The deputy governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, gave the update while addressing journalists at the scene of the incident.

Our focus is how to get people out of the incident right now. This morning, we took out two people and they are doing well in the hospital right now, Mr Hamzat said.

Totally we have taken out nine people, they are at the General Hospital, some people have even been discharged, about two or so. But we have also sadly taken out 10 bodies, he said.

Five dead bodies had been recovered from the rubble on Monday evening, and it was still unclear how many were trapped underneath.

Mr Hamzat said emergency responders are currently doing a search and rescue operation, which was why relatives of persons trapped and journalists were barred from gaining access into the building to allow for some quiet.

As of 1 p.m on Tuesday, 10 bodies had been recovered from the collapsed building, while 10 persons had been rescued.
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- EY is one of the first professional service organizations to achieve carbon negativity, says carbon neutrality isn't enough

- EY becomes carbon negative by reducing absolute emissions and offsetting and removing more carbon than it emits

LONDON, Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY organization has become carbon negative, a major and significant step toward achieving the EY carbon ambition of becoming net zero by 2025. Becoming carbon negative means the EY organization is now reducing its total emissions and offsetting and removing more carbon than it emits.

To achieve this carbon ambition, the EY organization has set an aggressive target to significantly reduce its emissions by 40% by 2025 through seven key actions. This represents one of the most ambitious decarbonization plans not just in professional services, but across global industry. There has been a continued EY investment in a carbon offset portfolio.

Carmine Di Sibio, EY Global Chairman and CEO, says:

"I am proud that EY is leading the way in sustainable business by achieving carbon negative status. Businesses need to take the lead and the reality is that carbon neutrality simply isn't enough if we are to deliver a sustainable planet for future generations. Today's announcement will make a real difference as the world transitions toward a low-carbon future and EY will continue to take actions that create long-term value for EY people, clients and communities around the globe."

A continued reduction in EY absolute emissions

EY global FY21 emissions (394k tons of CO2e) reduced by 60% compared to FY20 (976k tons of CO2e), achieved through a significant reduction in business travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing delivery of the EY seven-point carbon action plan. This also represents a 71% decrease from the 1,354k tons of CO2e emitted in the FY19 baseline year.

As the EY organization resumes business travel and returns to offices and clients, EY teams will continue to keep emissions below the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-validated 1.5C pathway in FY22 and beyond. EY will remain carbon negative as it works toward net zero in 2025.

Investment in a carbon offset portfolio

The EY organization has invested in a carbon offset portfolio with South Pole, a leading global climate solutions provider, which includes multiple projects that offset or remove carbon through reforestation, regenerative agriculture, biochar and forest conservation. Six new projects, invested in through South Pole, including the QianBei Afforestation Project in China, contribute to removing or offsetting a total of 528k tons of CO2e, meaning the EY organization is removing an additional 34% of the EY FY21 carbon footprint, making EY carbon negative.

Steve Varley, EY Global Vice Chair  Sustainability, says:

"As governments work to forge greater consensus on action and keeping 1.5C alive, the critical role of business is becoming more urgent. After EY became carbon neutral in 2020, the organization looked at the latest climate data and decided it could, and should, do more. The reality is that becoming carbon neutral is a good first step but it isn't enough on its own, and those - like EY - who have the ability to go further and faster must do so now. EY is proud to be one of those organizations setting the standard on carbon negativity and we urge others to do the same."

By achieving carbon negative status, the EY organization demonstrates a commitment toward accelerated climate action and empowering its people to serve EY clients as they also seek to decarbonize.

Alongside the work the organization is undertaking to become more sustainable, EY teams have developed a new set of global sustainability services for EY clients aimed at helping them on their own sustainability journeys. The solutions are focused on value-led sustainability, helping EY clients capture the business opportunities from sustainability and decarbonization, while also protecting and creating value. This follows the approach EY teams have taken to achieve the EY carbon negative ambition.

Today's announcement follows a number of actions the EY organization has taken to reduce the organization's environmental impact and drive sustainable growth. These include two initiatives in collaboration with HRH The Prince of Wales's Sustainable Markets Initiative; The S30, a group of 30 of the world's leading C-suite sustainability leaders focused on accelerating business action on sustainability and joining the "Terra Carta" - a charter that puts sustainability at the heart of the private sector. The EY organization has also joined the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, which is committed to shifting financial flows towards nature-positive outcomes.

The EY organization also recently reported for the first time against the WEF-IBC stakeholder capitalism metrics - a set of 21 ESG disclosures, against which companies and organizations can report, spanning four key areas; Principles of Governance, Planet, People and Prosperity aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Notes to editors

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

Definition of terms

Science-based target (SBT). A greenhouse gas reduction target to reduce an organization's emissions in line with climate science and the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Carbon neutral. The result of an organization removing and offsetting emissions equivalent to its carbon footprint each year.

Carbon negative. The result of an organization both reducing its emissions in line with its 1.5C SBT and investing in nature-based solutions and carbon technologies to remove and offset more carbon than it emits each year.

Net zero. The point at which an organization has achieved its 1.5C SBT and removed its residual emissions from the atmosphere.

Alasdair Gee

EY Global Media Relations

+44 (0) 20 7197 7188

alasdair.gee@uk.ey.com

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SOURCE EY
The initiative leverages IBS Software's latest iPartner Handling solution to extend Lufthansa Cargo's special checks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to its extensive global GHA network. The solution seamlessly integrates with airlines running IBS Software's iCargo cloud platform for air cargo management to provide a single access, easy to use set of mobile and web tools that GHAs can use to carry out specialised workflows and tasks. Through the iPartner Handling solution, rich information captured by GHAs is made available to Lufthansa Cargo on a real-time basis, enhancing the quality and service levels of all of its cargo products. The platform also offers digital connectivity options for GHAs via APIs and has been architected keeping future industry initiatives such as ONE Record in mind.

The roll out has been planned in two phases, the first of which will see 30+ Lufthansa Cargo stations across Europe, Asia and the Americas going live, followed by additional stations and several new use-cases and enhancements being added to the solution. The first wave of five stations has already successfully gone live.

"Driving the digital transformation of our industry has always been an ongoing priority for us at Lufthansa Cargo. Aside from directly improving the data quality and thus making processes more efficient, the 'Mobile Digital Handling' initiative also opens up tremendous opportunities for us for further innovating and improving how we work with our partners along the whole supply chain," said Dr. Jan-Wilhelm Breithaupt, Vice President Global Fulfillment Management at Lufthansa Cargo.

"There is significant impetus in the industry to foster digitalization initiatives that enhance partnerships and collaboration in the supply chain. The iPartner Handling solution takes us one step further towards our over-arching goal of building a digital ecosystem for our iCargo customers that can help generate positive business outcomes for them quickly and effectively," said Ashok Rajan, SVP & Head of Cargo & Logistics, IBS Software.

"We are glad to develop our long-term partnership with IBS Software even further. 'Mobile Digital Handling' is the next success story for how the combination of IBS Software's technology leadership and Lufthansa Cargo's innovation capabilities contributes to shaping our industry. It was a pleasure to see how the realization of our vision went hand in hand with the development of the iPartner Handling solution. Being the launching customer, we hope that other cargo airlines will join soon this new community solution. In joining forces we will drive the digitalization of the industry," said Dr. Jochen Gottelmann, CIO at Lufthansa Cargo.

For more information https://www.ibsplc.com/product/airline-passenger-solutions.

About IBS Software

IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise and hospitality industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover flight & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air-cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company and operates from 15 offices across the world. Further information can be found at https://www.ibsplc.com/.

For media enquiries, please email the Corporate Communications team: CorpComm@ibsplc.com.

Lufthansa Cargo AG

With a turnover of 2.8 billion euros and a transport performance of 6.5 billion freight ton kilometers in 2020, Lufthansa Cargo is one of the world's leading companies in the transport of airfreight. The company currently employs around 4,400 people worldwide. Lufthansa Cargo's focus is on the airport-to-airport business. The route network covers around 300 destinations in more than 100 countries, using both freighter aircraft and cargo capacity from passenger aircraft operated by Deutsche Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings Discover and SunExpress, as well as trucks. The majority of the cargo business is handled via Frankfurt Airport. Lufthansa Cargo aligns its corporate responsibility commitment with the sustainability goals of the United Nations (UN). Lufthansa Cargo has committed itself to anchoring five selected sustainability goals in its corporate activities and to making a substantial contribution to achieving these goals by the year 2030. Lufthansa Cargo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the specialist for the logistics business of the Lufthansa Group.

www.lufthansa-cargo.com

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SOURCE IBS Software
The new campaign is designed to reinterpret the golden age of travel, with each vignette emulating a painting, layered with saturated colours and textures that feel exotic and daring, yet also familiar. Filmed and shot at Raffles Singapore, the birthplace of the brand, the campaign draws from the fundamental spirit of Raffles, showcasing the extraordinary experience the brand provides. Inspired by Raffles' philosophy of true luxury being not only about what you do, but also about how you feel, the campaign highlights the brand's position as a destination for the well-travelled; a meeting point for many cultures, infused with international influences, where stories are told, and legends are made.

Showcasing an enchanting, imaginary day in the life at Raffles, the campaign follows a cast of real-life royals - HIRH Catharina von Habsburg, Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia with her mother HIRH Archduchess Anna Gabriele von Habsburg, born von Wrede; HRH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, King of Jaipur; George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford; HRH Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark; and HH Prince Nikolai of Denmark - as they embark on a series of marvellous and whimsical adventures. As the day progresses, scenes build to a crescendo through a riot of colours, textures and movement, culminating with the joy of an opulent banquet. Throughout the scenes, simple pleasures become elevated, and the journey inspires a sense of wonder and amazement, reflecting the true essence of the brand and the feeling of Raffles' guests when in residence.

From writing to fashion and from polo to aviation, each royal cast member has a personal passion that connects to the roots of the Raffles brand. Director Peter Greenaway has incorporated these passions into the campaign in symbolic and meaningful ways. One particularly poignant scene depicts HIRH Catharina von Habsburg writing exactly where Rudyard Kipling, one of her favourite authors, wrote The Jungle Book. Greenaway captures an incredibly moving moment as von Habsburg pens an emotional letter to her ancestor, Marie Antoinette. Throughout the film, Greenaway aims to portray Raffles as an exclusive retreat for well-travelled connoisseurs, enchanting them with distinctive and meaningful experiences.

To view Peter Greenaway's film, please click here http://www.raffles.com/raffles-life/raffles-royalty.

A legendary brand known for creating landmark properties in culturally rich destinations around the world, Raffles is on track to double its portfolio by 2024, adding a host of distinguished addresses that will continue to set the standard in luxury hospitality. Recently, Raffles opened a second hotel in Dubai (The Palm), and the much-anticipated Raffles London at The OWO is set to open in 2022, along with additional flagship properties planned for Boston, Doha, Jeddah, Macau, Bahrain, Moscow and more.

About Raffles

Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

raffles.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

Media Contact: Ellie Kay, Fox Communications, [email protected]

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SOURCE Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Some of the most attractive reasons for students opting to study in foreign medical universities are affordable fee structure and a simple admission process.

While Germany, China and Russia have traditionally been the most popular destination to take up medicine, South America and the Caribbean is emerging as one of the most sought-after centres to pursue this coveted degree  one of the strongest reasons is English, which is the official language of the region, unlike other countries which are dominated by their native language.

One of the leading institutions that offer quality medical education in a world class campus is Texila American University (TAU) in Guyana and delivered by a body of multi-cultural faculty. The MCI-recognized medical university has state-of-the-art simulation labs and laboratories that enable learning of advanced diagnosis. One of the biggest advantages of studying at TAU will be gaining international exposure with the university hosting students from 54 countries across the world including those of India, USA, Canada, UK, Jamaica, Nigeria, and many others.

Affordable Fee Structure

A student can complete the five-year MBBS program for a fee of $46,000 (Rs 36 lakhs) *. In one of the biggest initiatives to encourage academic excellence and establish equity in education, TAU provides scholarships of up to 30 lakhs to meritorious students.

Training for USMLE and FMGE

Extensive training with 96 per cent pass rate for the three-step USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination), an examination that a student has to clear to practice in US hospitals, is an integral part of TAU's medical curriculum. If the student clears step one on first attempt, TAU will offer a free review program worth up to $5,000.

Besides this, Indian students who wish to return to India to practice, have a golden opportunity to train for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) at the university.

Opportunities in USA for Clinical Training

Studying at TAU increases a student's chances of taking up clinical rotations at top hospitals in the USA, which in turn increases their exposure to advanced healthcare environment.

This prepares a student to take up residency programs (Medical Speciality- PG) in USA. The university offers placement assistance for post-graduate programs in the US. Students who do their PG in USA are usually awarded with stipends of Minimum $42,000 by the teaching hospitals.

Admission Process

Start your application by clicking Register Now, after which the university's Admission officer will take your application through the admission process. Applicants passed class 12 with at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognised board are eligible to apply for the Program.

Key Advantages at TAU

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America which is also part of the Caribbean Community. It enjoys a reputation for personal safety and good climate. Texila American University offers high-standard accommodation for its students along with multi-cuisine food. The hostel facilities for boys and girls are at a walkable distance from the campus. TAU is definitely some of the best schools to Study MBBS In Caribbean.

Students can now stop worrying about high capitation fees to be paid towards Medical Course and complete their medical education with Texila American University, Guyana debt free

*Fees mentioned may change from time to time based on Intake. Other Ancillary fees not included.

About Texila American University

Texila graduates have consistently achieved top score in licensing exams across the world which is attributed to the top-notch training that we provide our students. Texila affiliated hospitals in the USA, provide the students a great clinical exposure for effective patient care. TAU assists deserving students the opportunity to complete residency programmes in US hospitals, putting at your disposal top career options.

The MCI-recognized medical university has state-of-the-art simulation labs and laboratories that enable learning of advanced diagnosis

TAU provides scholarships of up to 30 lakhs to meritorious students.

Students have the Opportunity to do the Clinical Training in top teaching Hospitals in USA.

Students have a golden opportunity to train for FMGE and USMLE

PHOTO: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676452/Study_MBBS_Abroad.jpg

SOURCE Texila American University (TAU)
DUBLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap") (NYSE: AER) has announced that following its acquisition of the GE Capital Aviation Services business ("GECAS"), it has signed a 20-year joint venture agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines ("Safran") regarding Shannon Engine Support ("SES"). SES, the leading provider of spare engines for CFM International, is now a 50/50 joint company between AerCap and Safran.

SES, the world's largest lessor of CFM56 and LEAP engines, will continue to provide lease engine support to CFM and CFM operators.

Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap, said, "The SES business is a great fit within the AerCap portfolio, with similar expertise, common assets and a complementary customer base to our wholly owned engine leasing business. This partnership extends our longstanding relationship with Safran, one of the world's leading aviation companies. We look forward to working with the team at Safran to drive continued success at SES."

Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, said, "The SES joint venture with AerCap is a key asset of supporting our CFM operators, especially as the CFM56 and the LEAP engines continue to achieve strong success in the marketplace. Having AerCap, the largest aviation lessor, as a strategic partner significantly adds to our customer offering."

About AerCap

AerCap is the global leader in aviation leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 300 customers around the world with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and is based in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Los Angeles, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle, Toulouse and other locations around the world.

About SAFRAN

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 76,000 employees and sales of 16.5 billion euros in 2020 and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange, and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Safran Aircraft Engines designs, produces, sells, alone or in partnership, commercial and military aircraft engines offering world-class performance, reliability and environmental-friendliness. Through CFM International*, Safran Aircraft Engines is the world's leading supplier of engines for short and medium-haul commercial jets.

*CFM is a 50/50 joint company between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE

About SES

Shannon Engine Support is the world's largest lessor of CFM56 and LEAP engines, with the largest portfolio strategically located worldwide. With over 30 years' experience and a wealth of technical expertise, SES offers airlines assurance to help them find the right solution to suit their requirements. Headquartered in Shannon, Ireland, with marketing offices in Beijing, China and Budapest, Hungary, SES has a portfolio of more than 350 CFM56 and LEAP spare engines, including CFM56-5B, CFM56-7B, LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events, including the impacts of, and associated responses to: the Covid-19 pandemic; our ability to successfully integrate GECAS' operations and employees and realize anticipated synergies and cost savings; and the potential impact of the consummation of the proposed GECAS transaction on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, customers and competitors. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/aercapnv.

SOURCE AerCap Holdings N.V.

Related Links

www.aercap.com


(All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted)

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM) (NYSE: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") and Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (TSX:KL,NYSE:KL, ASX:KLA) ("Kirkland Lake Gold") are pleased to announce today that they have filed a joint management information circular dated October 29, 2021 (the "Joint Circular") and related meeting and proxy materials in connection with their respective special meetings of shareholders (the "Meetings") scheduled to be held on November 26, 2021. The purpose of the Meetings is to seek approval for certain matters in connection with their previously announced merger of equals (the "Merger") to be effected by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).

The Merger

Pursuant to the merger agreement dated September 28, 2021 (as amended, the "Merger Agreement"), Kirkland Lake Gold shareholders ("Kirkland Shareholders") will receive 0.7935 of an Agnico Eagle common share (the "Agnico Shares") for each Kirkland Lake Gold common share (the "Kirkland Shares") held. The Merger will require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by holders of Kirkland Shares present (virtually) or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the special meeting of Kirkland Shareholders (the "Kirkland Meeting"). The issuance of shares by Agnico Eagle in connection with the Merger is subject to the approval of at least a majority of votes cast by holders of Agnico Shares (the "Agnico Shareholders") present (virtually) or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the special meeting of Agnico Shareholders (the "Agnico Meeting"). Immediately upon completion of the Merger, existing Agnico Shareholders and existing Kirkland Shareholders are expected to own approximately 54% and 46% of the Agnico Shares in the combined company, respectively (on a non-diluted basis).

Board of Directors' Recommendations

The Board of Directors of each of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold have unanimously approved the Merger and recommend that their respective shareholders vote " FOR " the matters put before them at the respective Meetings.

Reasons for the Merger

In recommending the Merger, the Board of Directors of Agnico Eagle and the Board of Directors of Kirkland Lake Gold considered a number of factors including the following:

Creating a World-Leading Senior Gold Producer . The Merger will create the combined company which will continue under the name Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, which will be a high-quality senior gold producer with the lowest all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold, highest EBITDA margin and lowest-risk portfolio of operating mines among its senior gold peers. The combined company is expected to produce approximately 3.4 million of ounces of gold in 2021 on a pro forma basis.





. The Merger will create the combined company which will continue under the name Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, which will be a high-quality senior gold producer with the lowest all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold, highest EBITDA margin and lowest-risk portfolio of operating mines among its senior gold peers. The combined company is expected to produce approximately 3.4 million of ounces of gold in 2021 on a basis. Enhances Position in one of the Most Prolific and Prospective Gold Regions in the World . The combined company is expected to be Canada's leading gold producer, with anticipated production in the country of approximately 2.5 million ounces of gold in 2021, or approximately 75% of 3.4 million ounces of total expected gold production, on a pro forma basis. The combined portfolio will be anchored by high-quality gold production in Ontario , Quebec and Nunavut in Canada , as well as at the Fosterville Mine in Victoria, Australia , Kittila in the Lapland region of Northern Finland and Pinos Altos and La India in Northern Mexico .





. The combined company is expected to be leading gold producer, with anticipated production in the country of approximately 2.5 million ounces of gold in 2021, or approximately 75% of 3.4 million ounces of total expected gold production, on a basis. The combined portfolio will be anchored by high-quality gold production in , and in , as well as at the Fosterville Mine in , Kittila in the Lapland region of and and La India in . Unique Synergies to Drive Significant Value Creation .





. The combination of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold creates a unique opportunity to unlock significant operational, development and strategic synergies along the Abitibi-Kirkland Lake corridor and to leverage sector-leading technical expertise to create additional value across the portfolio.





creates a unique opportunity to unlock significant operational, development and strategic synergies along the Abitibi-Kirkland Lake corridor and to leverage sector-leading technical expertise to create additional value across the portfolio.

The combined company is expected to generate over $0.8 billion and $2 billion in pre-tax synergies and optimization benefits over the next five and ten years, respectively.





and in pre-tax synergies and optimization benefits over the next five and ten years, respectively.

While substantially unquantified, the Merger also offers significant potential for more efficient sharing of established competencies developed individually by Kirkland Lake Gold and Agnico Eagle, as well as significant opportunity to successfully innovate as operations are modernized.





and Agnico Eagle, as well as significant opportunity to successfully innovate as operations are modernized. Maintain a Strong Leadership Team with a Proven Track-Record . The combined company will benefit from the combination of two strong management teams with proven track-records of growing per share value in key metrics such as production, mineral reserves, cash flow and net asset value.





. The combined company will benefit from the combination of two strong management teams with proven track-records of growing per share value in key metrics such as production, mineral reserves, cash flow and net asset value. Unparalleled Track Record of Growing Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources . The Merger will combine the only two companies among senior gold peers to have grown mineral reserves and production per share over the last 10 years through consistent investment in exploration and value-added acquisitions.





. The Merger will combine the only two companies among senior gold peers to have grown mineral reserves and production per share over the last 10 years through consistent investment in exploration and value-added acquisitions. Industry-Leading ESG with Ability to make Long-Term ESG Investments . The combined company is positioned to be a leader in environmental, social and governance initiatives, with one of the lowest greenhouse gas emission rates per ounce, and will have an enhanced ability, through the sharing of established competencies, joined forces on innovation and scale, to be a more effective collaborator with key suppliers, government and communities, and to become net zero by 2050 or sooner.





. The combined company is positioned to be a leader in environmental, social and governance initiatives, with one of the lowest greenhouse gas emission rates per ounce, and will have an enhanced ability, through the sharing of established competencies, joined forces on innovation and scale, to be a more effective collaborator with key suppliers, government and communities, and to become net zero by 2050 or sooner. Enhances and Adds Flexibility to an Attractive Minesite and Project Pipeline . The Merger will combine a robust pipeline of growth projects and exploration opportunities. These projects are located in existing mining camps and are expected to drive manageable, relatively low-risk, high-return production growth over the next decade and more. For example, there is an opportunity to develop Agnico Eagle's Kirkland Lake area greenfield development assets, with the benefit of Kirkland Lake Gold's established infrastructure at the Macassa Mine and the Holt Complex.





. The Merger will combine a robust pipeline of growth projects and exploration opportunities. These projects are located in existing mining camps and are expected to drive manageable, relatively low-risk, high-return production growth over the next decade and more. For example, there is an opportunity to develop Agnico Eagle's area greenfield development assets, with the benefit of established infrastructure at the Macassa Mine and the Holt Complex. Provides the Financial Strength to Increase Capital Distributions to Shareholders While Investing in Growth Projects . The increased financial strength of the combined company is expected to provide enhanced financial flexibility to fund both the robust pipeline of growth projects and to build on a proven track record of growing sustainable capital returns to shareholders while also maintaining a strong investment-grade balance sheet.





. The increased financial strength of the combined company is expected to provide enhanced financial flexibility to fund both the robust pipeline of growth projects and to build on a proven track record of growing sustainable capital returns to shareholders while also maintaining a strong investment-grade balance sheet. Strategic Alternative Process . The Board of Directors of Kirkland Lake Gold has periodically reviewed a range of strategic alternatives for creating shareholder value and in the ordinary course of business Kirkland Lake Gold has had regular engagement with several industry peers in that regard, including other potential transactions. During the summer of 2021, Kirkland provided due diligence access in connection with a potential change of control transaction with two of the most logical prospective counterparties, did not receive any compelling offers and determined, supported by analysis from its financial advisors, that the Merger was the best way to maximise value for Kirkland Shareholders over the long term in light of the significant synergies expected to be realized by the combined company.





. The Board of Directors of has periodically reviewed a range of strategic alternatives for creating shareholder value and in the ordinary course of business has had regular engagement with several industry peers in that regard, including other potential transactions. During the summer of 2021, Kirkland provided due diligence access in connection with a potential change of control transaction with two of the most logical prospective counterparties, did not receive any compelling offers and determined, supported by analysis from its financial advisors, that the Merger was the best way to maximise value for Kirkland Shareholders over the long term in light of the significant synergies expected to be realized by the combined company. Extensive Due Diligence and Arm's Length Negotiations . The Arrangement and the terms of the Merger Agreement are the result of extensive due diligence and a comprehensive negotiation process, undertaken with the oversight and participation of Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's respective legal counsel and financial advisors.





The Arrangement and the terms of the Merger Agreement are the result of extensive due diligence and a comprehensive negotiation process, undertaken with the oversight and participation of Agnico Eagle's and respective legal counsel and financial advisors. Stakeholder Analysis. The terms of the Merger Agreement treat all stakeholders of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold , respectively, equitably and fairly.

Additional details with respect to the reasons for the Merger as well as its potential benefits and risks are described in the Joint Circular, which Agnico Shareholders and Kirkland Shareholders are urged to read carefully.

Approvals and Conditions to Closing

Completion of the Merger is subject to shareholder and court approvals, approval of the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board ("FIRB Approval"), and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions. The Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") has conditionally approved the listing of the Agnico Shares to be issued in connection with the Merger, the Merger has been approved under the Competition Act (Canada), and exemptive relief has been granted by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission from compliance with certain prospectus and share sale requirements. It is currently expected that the effective date of the Merger will occur as early as December 2021 or during the first quarter of 2022.

The Meetings

In light of the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and the associated public health measures, Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold will be conducting separate virtual-only Meetings via live webcast. Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold believe that a virtual meeting gives all shareholders an equal opportunity to participate regardless of their geographic location or the particular constraints, circumstances or risks that they may be facing as a result of COVID-19. Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold shareholders will not be able to attend the Meetings in person.

The Agnico Meeting will be held online at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on November 26, 2021 in a virtual-only format, which will be conducted via live webcast available online using the TSX Trust virtual shareholder meeting platform at https://virtual-meetings.tsxtrust.com/1233, password "agnico2021" (case sensitive). The Kirkland Meeting will be held online at 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on November 26, 2021 in a virtual-only format, which will be conducted via live webcast available online using the TSX Trust virtual shareholder meeting platform at https://virtual-meetings.tsxtrust.com/1231, password "kirkland2021" (case sensitive). Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 13, 2021 will be eligible to vote at the respective Meetings.

Mailing of the Joint Circular and related meeting and proxy materials has commenced and shareholders of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold should expect to receive their respective meeting materials shortly. Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold shareholders are encouraged to read the Joint Circular and its appendices carefully and in their entirety. The Joint Circular has been filed under Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's respective issuer profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

How to Vote

All shareholders are strongly encouraged to submit their completed form of proxy (in the case of registered shareholders) or voting instruction form (in the case of non-registered shareholders and, in the case of Kirkland Lake Gold, holders of Kirkland CHESS Depositary Interests ("Kirkland CDIs") in Australia), or alternatively, to vote over the internet or by other means, in each case, well in advance of the Meetings and in accordance with the instructions included in the Joint Circular and in the form of proxy or voting instruction form, as applicable, so that as many shares as possible are represented at the Meetings.

Agnico Shareholders must vote before 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on November 24, 2021 (or by 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on the day other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory or civic holiday which is at least 48 hours prior to any adjourned or postponed Agnico Meeting).

Kirkland Shareholders must vote before 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on November 24, 2021 (or by 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on the day other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory or civic holiday which is at least 48 hours prior to any adjourned or postponed Kirkland Meeting). Holders of Kirkland CDIs must complete their voting instructions before 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on November 23, 2021 in order to allow sufficient time to collate the votes of such holders and submit them to Kirkland Lake Gold's transfer agent prior to the proxy cut-off time.

Detailed instructions for how to vote and participate at each Meeting are included in the Joint Circular and a copy of the applicable TSX Trust Virtual Meeting Guide is available on Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's respective issuer profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. If you have questions regarding the portal for the Meetings or require assistance in accessing the websites for the Meetings, you may contact [email protected].

Shareholder Questions and Assistance

If you have any questions regarding the Agnico Meeting, please contact Agnico Eagle's strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group, by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 (toll- free in North America) or at 1-416-304-0211 (for collect calls outside of North America), or by email at [email protected].

If you have any questions about the Kirkland Meeting, please contact Kirkland Lake Gold's strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale Advisors by telephone at 1-877-659-1824 (toll-free in North America), at 1-800-155-612 (toll free in Australia) or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect calls outside of North America), or by email at [email protected].

About Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Finland and Mexico. It has a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects in these countries as well as in the United States and Colombia. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading environmental, social and governance practices. The Company was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a low-cost senior gold producer operating in Canada and Australia that is targeting 1,300,000 - 1,400,000 ounces of production in 2021. The production profile of Kirkland Lake Gold is anchored by three high-quality operations, including the Macassa Mine and Detour Lake Mine, both located in Northern Ontario, and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position, extensive management expertise and an overriding commitment to safe, responsible mining.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release has been prepared as at November 1, 2021. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address circumstances, events, activities or developments that could, or may or will occur are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "future", "ongoing", "plan", "possible", "potential", "may", "seek", "should", "will", "would" or the negative of such terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to statements and information concerning: the Meetings; the reasons for, and anticipated benefits of, the Merger to the parties and their respective securityholders, including corporate, operational, financial, scale and other synergies and the timing thereof; the structure, steps, timing and effects of the Merger; the combined company's future plans, market and growth profile, operating margins, operating costs and overall strategy and performance; estimates of future gold production; estimates regarding future cost reductions, synergies, including pre-tax synergies and optimization benefits and expectations of improved efficiencies, financial flexibility, future innovation and integration opportunities; comparisons of the combined company to senior gold peers; expectations regarding the combined company's environmental, social and governance initiatives; expectations regarding the development of the combined company's development assets and ability to fund growth projects; the anticipated mineral resources and mineral reserves of the combined company; the receipt and timing of the final order ("Final Order") of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the "Court") and the effective date of the Merger; the satisfaction of conditions for listing the Agnico Shares issuable under the Merger on the TSX and the New York Stock Exchange and the timing thereof; the timing, receipt and conditions of required regulatory, Court and shareholder approvals for the Merger, including but not limited to the receipt of FIRB Approval and the approval of the Kirkland Shareholders and the Agnico Shareholders; the ability of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold to satisfy the other conditions to the Merger; the composition of the shareholders of the combined company; the anticipated dividend policy and capital allocation practices of the combined company following completion of the Merger; and the expected operations and capital expenditure plans for the combined company following completion of the Merger. The combined and/or pro forma financial information included in this news release does not reflect what the actual financial and operational results would necessarily have been had Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold operated as a single combined company for the periods presented, and such information does not purport to project the combined company's financial results or results of operations for any future period.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, operational, and other risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, including those described below, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold to be materially different from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and, as such, undue reliance must not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements are also based on numerous material factors and assumptions, including as described in this news release, including with respect to: the ability of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Merger and the completion of the Merger on expected terms; the ability to successfully integrate Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold in a timely manner following the completion of the Merger; Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's present and future business strategies; operations performance within expected ranges; anticipated future production and cash flows; local and global economic conditions and the environment in which Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold will operate in the future; the price of gold, copper, silver and other key commodities; projected mineral grades; international exchange rates; anticipated capital and operating costs; and the availability and timing of required stock exchange, regulatory, governmental and other approvals for the completion of the Merger.

Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the failure of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, stock exchange, Court and shareholder approvals, including FIRB Approval, the approval of the Kirkland Shareholders and the Agnico Shareholders and the Final Order; the significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Merger, in a timely manner, or at all; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger in the expected timeframes, or at all; and the additional risk factors set out in the Joint Circular, including under the heading "Risk Factors". Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, see also the AIF and MD&A of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold, respectively, filed under their respective profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and included in Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's Form 40-F filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, as well as Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators and the SEC and Kirkland Lake Gold's filings on the Australian Stock Exchange. Other than as required by law, Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures

The information in this news release includes the following non-GAAP financial measures: all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold ("AISC") and EBITDA margin. These financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers, even as compared to other issuers who may also be applying the World Gold Council ("WGC") guidelines, which can be found at http://www.gold.org. Management of Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold believe that the use of these non-GAAP measures will assist analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the companies in understanding the costs associated with producing gold, understanding the economics of gold mining, assessing the companies' operating performance, the combined company's ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and to generate free cash flow on an overall company basis, and for planning and forecasting of future periods. However, AISC does have limitations as an analytical tool as it may be influenced by the point in the life cycle of a specific mine and the level of additional exploration or expenditures a company has to make to fully develop its properties. Accordingly, these non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, analysis of the companies; results as reported under IFRS. Further information relating to non-GAAP measures is set out in the Joint Circular under the heading "Joint Management Information Circular  Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures". A reconciliation of certain the non-GAAP measures presented in this news release is contained in each of Agnico Eagle's and Kirkland Lake Gold's most recently filed annual MD&A, which are available under their respective profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Third Party Data

Certain comparisons of the combined company to its senior gold peers (such as all-in sustaining cost per ounce, EBITDA margin and portfolio risk) are based on data obtained from Bloomberg, The Fraser Institute, equity research reports or public disclosure of the senior gold peers, obtained as of September 27, 2021 (unless otherwise stated). Bloomberg is a software, data and media company which delivers business and market news, data and analysis. The Fraser Institute is a Canadian think-tank that produces research on a number of topics, including energy, natural resources and the environment. An equity research report is a document prepared by a research analyst at a financial institution that provides a recommendation on whether an investor should buy, hold, or sell shares of a public company and often includes target price, investment thesis, valuation, and risks assessment and are available from numerous sources, including Bloomberg. Information publicly disclosed by the senior gold peers includes continuous disclosure documents filed by the senior gold peers on SEDAR and EDGAR, and such documents include statements of mineral reserves and mineral resources, historical production figures and cost and production guidance. Neither Bloomberg nor The Fraser Institute has any affiliation to Agnico Eagle or Kirkland Lake Gold.

Where figures for the combined company are compared to its senior gold peers, the data from Bloomberg, The Fraser Institute, equity research reports or public disclosure, as applicable, has been used to ensure consistency in the compared measures across the combined company and the comparison group. Neither Agnico Eagle nor Kirkland Lake Gold has the ability to verify the Bloomberg, The Fraser Institute, equity research reports or public disclosure figures and the non-GAAP financial performance measures used may not correspond to the non-GAAP financial performance measures calculated by Agnico Eagle, Kirkland Lake Gold or any of the senior gold peers.

Comparative Measures Based on Third Party Data

"Highest EBITDA margin" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure based on estimates of this figure obtained from the most recent equity research reports prepared in respect of Agnico Eagle, Kirkland Lake Gold and the senior gold peers obtained as of September 27, 2021. This term has no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Financial comparisons between the combined company and its senior gold peers are made on the basis of the data presented in the equity research reports which may not be calculated in the same manner as Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold calculate comparable measures.

"Lowest all-in sustaining cost" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure based on the most recent 2021 guidance for each of Agnico Eagle, Kirkland Lake Gold and the senior gold peers as of September 27, 2021, sourced from each entity's public disclosure. This term has no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Financial comparisons between the combined company and its senior gold peers are made on the basis of the data presented by each entity in its public disclosure which may not be calculated in the same manner.

"Lowest-risk portfolio" is an assessment of risk based on data from The Fraser Institute's "Survey of Mining Companies 2020" (the "Fraser Report") and historical production data for calendar year 2020 included in the public disclosure of Agnico Eagle, Kirkland Lake Gold and each senior gold peer. The risk assessment is determined for the combined company and each senior gold peer by using the Fraser Report scores for mining jurisdictions across the world and weighting such scores based on each entity's 2020 production in each of the applicable jurisdictions.

The senior gold peers used for the purposes of these comparative measures were Barrick Gold Corporation, Kinross Gold Corporation, Newcrest Mining Limited and Newmont Corporation.

SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

Related Links

http://www.agnicoeagle.com


"At AllMed, we are committed to helping patients receive the most clinically appropriate care for their mental and behavioral health conditions," said Maridy McGinnis, AllMed President and CEO. "Dr. Hoffman's understanding of recent changes in behavioral health and his direct experience with the challenges clinicians face, will be instrumental in our ability to provide appropriate support to our clients ensuring patients receive appropriate care in a timely fashion."

Dr. Hoffman is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with specialty training in treatment-refractory mood disorders. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies and research in molecular biology and the genetics predisposing the development of melanoma, Dr. Hoffman went on to study at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, receiving his doctorate of medicine. While at Jefferson, he participated in research surrounding anticoagulated patients and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding with the Department of Cardiology at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Hoffman then completed his residency in psychiatry, and held the Chief Resident position, at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA.

Dr. Hoffman brings to AllMed his extensive expertise across the behavioral health spectrum, ranging from inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization (PHP) and outpatient levels of care. He continues to provide care to patients in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, he has an extensive medical-legal consultation practice, specializing in civil litigation and medical malpractice defense, as well as focusing on quality measures in the delivery of psychiatric healthcare for insurance carriers.

"I am excited to join AllMed and to pair my experience in mental and behavioral health, with my knowledge of healthcare delivery and payor systems," said Dr. Micah Hoffman, AllMed Behavioral Health Medical Director. "I look forward to partnering with clients to ensure AllMed meets the evolving needs of their behavioral health members and clinical staff to deliver timely and optimal care."

Dr. Hoffman will collaborate with Dr. Kathryn Kolonic, AllMed Vice President and Medical Director, in expanding the available behavioral health services specialties. He will also be a clinical leader and mentor to the AllMed network of psychiatrists and psychologies; developing customized training materials and staying up to date on legislative and clinical practice changes that may impact clients and patients.

ABOUT ALLMED HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT

Since 1995, tailored utilization management (UM) and independent review organization (IRO) services from AllMed have provided the informed guidance leading health care payers require to deliver determinations with confidence. AllMed works as an essential extension of their clients' teams to deliver clinical decision-making that supports improved patient care while ensuring appropriate health care utilization. As trusted advisors setting the bar for our evolving industry. The AllMed payer community impact is substantial, as evidenced by the coordination and management of cases for more than 200 million Americans.

To learn more, please visit AllMedmd.com or call (800) 400-9916. Please follow us on LinkedIn.

FOR INQUIRIES

Nancy Narraway

VP of Sales and Marketing

AllMed Healthcare Management, Inc.

(800) 400-9916

SOURCE AllMed Healthcare Management, Inc.

Related Links

www.allmedmd.com


PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Altitude Water, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altitude International Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: "ALTD") has successfully redesigned and developed a new recirculating Maxim unit along with a new mobile Maxim water unit for the U.S. military to meet specification requests by the Utilities Marines, U.S. Army Engineers and ALTD's partner, Russkap Holdings.

"I am extremely proud of Altitude Water's manufacturing team, for this achievement and the expediency in which they accomplished this task," said Altitude International Holdings CEO Greg Breunich.

"The dedicated employees at Altitude Water expanded our manufacturing capabilities and production schedules, designed new systems for the military, while simultaneously training new assemblers-a remarkable feat," he said.

"Finally, we appreciate RussKap's confidence in our manufacturing capabilities and the opportunity given to demonstrate the breadth of what we can accomplish even when the clock is ticking and supply chain trickling."

By creating two new variations of the original Maxim water unit in operation at Camp Lejeune since the beginning of the year, Marines now can opt for additional auxiliary water storage, as well as tap ALTD's unique ozone purification system, which keeps water pure.

"Our listening to troops on the ground, together with Altitude Water's capability and commitment to meet the military's needs in real-time, sets us apart," says Russkap President Yehuda Kaploun.

"When our military asked for more water storage and faster purification, Altitude Water's engineers went to Camp Lejeune and integrated those requests, designed new units, and installed the upgrades in the field in just two days. Meanwhile Altitude's home operation continued assembling and delivering new orders and meeting deadlines, taking a tremendous team effort that put us in position to keep moving forward."

"Not only did we manufacture, ship and when needed, redesign, all of our Russkap Holdings orders for the military last month, Altitude International's Philanthropic Arm and Advisory Board members made waves in October's water-sphere," said Breunich. "The team also redesigned Amy Grant's machine to install the same recirculation technology used by the military and completed the task prior to the "Friends of Amy Grant Weekend at the Farm". This allowed her to showcase the technology for humanitarian issues and provide water for all of the visitors at the farm."

"Our Advisory Board Member and NBA-champion Joakim Noah, along with his father Yannick Noah, successfully shipped four of Altitude's air-to-pure-water machines to the children of Cameroon, Africa. Additionally, in honor of the Noah family's charitable work via Noah's Arc Foundation and to showcase Joakim Noah night in Chicago, Altitude Water delivered a unit in the Foundation's name to the Mayor Adams Community Committee in Chicago. Noah's Arc and Joakim Noah have been very active in supporting the causes and programs of this center."

"The only place to go from here with our partner Altitude Water is up," says Ed Russo, CEO of Russkap. "Altitude's patented ozone purification system is being requested by various government entities and we'll get them there to help solve water shortages and contaminated water crises plaguing many corners of the world."

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and the actual results and future events could differ materially from management's current expectations. The economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified in the Company's previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information future events or otherwise.

Media contact: Justin Baronoff 561-750-9800;

[email protected].

SOURCE Altitude International Holdings, Inc.
Over the last six decades, Corse's work has continuously investigated perception, properties of light, and ideas of abstraction. Comprised of 34 monumental works selected from Corse's expansive career, this exhibition highlights her ambitious and complex investigations in painting, explores the manifestation of light and its phenomenological experiences, and forges for Corse a unique place in the history of abstraction and twentieth-century art. The featured works have been drawn from various series, including the artist's seminal White Light paintings, begun in 1968, examples of her Black Light paintings from the 1970s, works from her clay-based Black Earth series, Arch and Inner Band paintings, as well as sculptural pieces including her argon light boxes, and a monumental free-standing Beam .

"I want to thank Amorepacific Museum of Art for my first museum exhibition in Korea. I am very honored to have the privilege and I hope we experience from so far away a like mind in our shared humanity," said Corse. The exhibition reveals a deep insight into the artist's practice and ongoing dialogue with perceptual awareness. The works embody rather than merely represent light, inviting viewers to experience them in innovative ways. Collectively they open themselves up to their environment and create an experiential encounter for viewers, grounded in vision and movement. APMA sincerely hopes that this exhibition will provide new opportunities to expand and transcend one's perspective on light. For visitors' safety, pre-reservation made via APMA's official website (https://apma.amorepacific.com) is required for all entrants.

* Exhibition Room 1 begins with Mary Corse's seminal White Light paintings series. In 1968, she developed a radical painting technique that combined layered glass microspheres over acrylic paint. The industrial material is used to optimize the visibility of road markings on highway interstates, which she first noticed while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Scattering these tiny glass particles in a thin layer over her surfaces, Corse developed an aesthetic that harnessed the refractive index of light. As light interacts with Corse's paintings, it oscillates and responds to our position and movement as viewers. The luminance of her work exposes physical brushstrokes that emerge and fade and a surface tactility that glints and glows but then ceaselessly flattens. Two other bodies of works - the Inner Band series and Untitled (Beams) (2020) - continue in the lineage of the White Light paintings.

* Exhibition Room 2 introduces the Color Painting series and the Arch paintings. In the late 1990s, Corse began producing works incorporating primary colors - red, yellow and blue - after solely focusing on monochromatic black or white paintings. By layering the hues with glass microspheres, the artist found that she could avoid "just painting a picture of color" and instead "make color be the light." Interested in the fact that all colors are present within white light, with these paintings she attempted to "go deeper into white light," revealing pure, saturated color. As products of white light, the primary colors, along with the use of glass microspheres, expand her longstanding examination into the properties of light and human perception. In her Arch paintings, Corse shifted into a more structured form reminiscent of the architectural post and lintel. Beginning with a single arch in either black or white, these paintings contain a shortened band to allow the outer edges to meet at the top. This motif, often appearing like doors or acting as portals, brings Corse's work closer than ever before to a representative image, and so relate more explicitly to the human body and the space it inhabits. These works play with physical, phenomenal, and representational space, creating a push-and-pull effect that seems to draw the viewer's gaze into and out of the canvas's surface.

A monochromatic shaped-canvas painting produced during her time at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (1964-68) is exhibited in * Exhibition Room 3. At the Chouinard, Corse began experimenting with the physical structure of the canvas as altering its shape allowed her to move beyond the traditional rectangular format she had been exploring in her abstractions. Taking the form of octagons, hexagons, and diamonds, her shaped-canvas works consisted of large monochromatic fields with white borders. The Octagonal Blue (1964) shows the introduction of fragments of micro-element, mica in an attempt to capture light in her paintings.

* Exhibition Room 4 shows Untitled (Electric Light) (2021), from her Light Paintings. When she originally produced these works in the late 1960s, the light boxes represented Corse's most concerted pursuit of, in her words, "an objective truth." The light boxes achieve this ultimate goal by using light as a medium itself and compelled her to seek out a way to "put the light into the painting." Her studies in physics, which aided her production of the works, taught her that such pursuits were futile. This revelation that human experience is inherently subjective freed her to reintroduce subjectivity into her work by returning to painting and re-introducing the brushstroke. Corse's experience with the light boxes also committed her to discover a way to make her paintings generate light, not just represent or allude to it.

* Exhibition Room 5 transitions to her Black Light series. Corse's pursuit of light was not only limited to its emitted and reflected properties. By the early 1970s, she introduced into her practice black paint mixed with acrylic squares. Extending her exploration of materials, the Black Light paintings adopted both acrylic squares and glass microspheres to reflect and refract the light in addition to its absorption by the dark pigment, resulting in a glittering black surface. The cosmic effect of the Black Light series reveals Corse's interest in the oscillation of light conditions, connoting the historical nature of light and dark as concepts as well as that of distance (such as the stars in the night's sky), subtlety, and the gradation of radiance. Corse has stated, "I try to bring in the reality of our moment."

Corse's experimentation with the black surface continues to * Exhibition Room 6. After her move from Los Angeles to the remote Topanga Canyon west of Los Angeles in the early 1970s, Mary Corse began making ceramic works to explore what she felt was the opposite of her ethereal White Light paintings, which she had been producing since 1968. Her works in clay (earth) were an attempt to "ground" her paintings, and tie them to the physical, earthly realm. She initiated the Black Earth series by taking plaster impressions of a large flat rock in the hills nearby her home. Once the plaster molds were made, they were transferred to clay, then transformed into fired ceramic tiles with a glossy black glaze in an updraft kiln custom-built by the artist. The works were assembled in a grid-like format and mounted on the wall to create the Black Earth series.

For more information, please visit https://apma.amorepacific.com

[About the Artist]

Mary Corse (b. 1945, Berkeley, California) has pursued a sustained investigation of abstraction, materiality, and perception through subtly gestural and precisely geometric paintings made over a six-decade career. Emerged amongst a generation of artists in the mid-1960s that were living and working in California, light became both the subject and object of her art. While studying at the Chouinard Art Institute in the late 1960s, she began experimenting with unconventional media and supports, producing shaped canvases, works with Plexiglas, and illuminated boxes. Between 1966 and 1968, her interest in the relationship between light and perception led to her experiments with argon light boxes powered by Tesla coils. Her work developed in parallel but at a remove from artists associated with the Light and Space movement in Los Angeles, to which she has often been compared. Unlike those artists, Corse's experiments with electric light ultimately led her back to including visible brushstrokes in her paintings, a subjective gesture she had previously removed. In the 1990s, Corse reintroduced primary colors into her paintings based on her understanding of color as constitutive of white light. She continues to explore notions of subjectivity, perceptual awareness, and the experience of radiant light and her paintings open themselves up to their environmental surroundings by capturing and refracting light while engaging the viewer in both physical and metaphysical encounters of body and mind. Corse's innovative handling of materials that both capture and refract light ensures that our perceptions of her paintings change as the lighting shifts or we move about the space. Corse makes the inherent abstractness of human perception felt instead of merely seen.

Corse has held numerous solo exhibitions including the 2019 presentation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2018 and Dia: Beacon in 2018. Corse's works reside in the permanent collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Dia Art Foundation, New York; the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; the Long Museum, Shanghai; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among many others.

SOURCE Amorepacific Museum of Art
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Johnston, Iowa-based Mark J. Becker & Associates, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2011, Mark J. Becker & Associates (MJBA) is an employee benefit consulting firm with a focus on serving the public sector, social services, medical community, secondary and higher education industry, and small group businesses. The team designs and manages traditional employee benefits programs and offers strategic planning, risk analysis and funding tool management services. Mark Becker and his team will be relocating to Gallagher's West Des Moines office, under the direction of Jerry Roberts, head of Gallagher's Heartland region employee benefit consulting and brokerage operations.

"MJBA will boost our consulting capabilities and access in Iowa and the Heartland region, and their strong ethical focus is culturally aligned with our own," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I am very pleased to welcome Mark and his team to Gallagher."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 57 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella

Media: Linda J. Collins VP - Investor Relations

VP- Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected]

630-285-4009/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Related Links

http://www.ajg.com


MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carine M. Schneider, FGE, President of AST Private Company Solutions, Inc., an AST Company in Menlo Park, California, today announces November 8 as the publication date for her book "The Democratization of The Private Market." The book provides expert insight into the opportunities and limitations for a broader global private market.

Based on in-depth research and years of professional private market expertise, Schneider reviews the regulatory, technical, and societal challenges to open this asset class to more investors. The book delves into the complicated structure of the sector while providing recommendations on how to create a robust and secure market from interviews with industry leaders.

"Investors worldwide see the potential of the private market as it drives economic growth and innovation," said Schneider. "'The Democratization of The Private Market' allows investors and regulators to understand how to safely open the untapped opportunities of the sector and how to make it easier for more investors to participate."

According to Schneider, who is also the developer of Astrella, the private company platform for managing shareholder data and more, there has been no simple solution for investors to transact shares in a private company. "As the use of blockchain technology, decentralized financial solutions and digital securities grow, so does access to these investments," said Schneider. "Regulators are challenged to protect investors who want to participate in this market. The book will guide them on practical changes."

To support the book release, there will be a launch event, CAPtivate 2021, in San Francisco on November 10 sponsored by AST and other organizations. CAPtivate 2021, the first major event in the private market community since the start of the pandemic, will reconnect the community with industry leaders to discuss private market trends.

About AST Private Company Solutions, Inc.: Founded in 2019, AST PCS is an AST affiliate serving private companies worldwide. Carine Schneider is an award-winning private equity leader and is President of AST PCS.

To learn more about AST, please visit astfinancial.com. To learn about Astrella, visit https://astrella.com/. Follow AST and Astrella on Twitter at @ASTFinancial and @astrellahq.

Tara Korch

Flackable

(866) 225-0920 ext. 104

[email protected]

SOURCE AST

Related Links

http://astfinancial.com


Investment in a shop's online presence and related digital marketing tools helps independent shops attract prospects, build brand recognition, boost customer retention, and ultimately drive profitable growth. With the ability to track and manage their website performance through the WebVitals dashboard, shop owners can gain data insights to achieve revenue goals and measure overall shop success.

"Updating to a modern, clean website is just the start with AutoVitals," said Robert Allen, Senior Product Manager at AutoVitals. "The Web.X solution connects to our sophisticated appointment request system so communication across service advisors, technicians, and customers are seamless. Plus, the launch of our new WebVitals dashboard further streamlines our interconnected tools and solutions, so shop owners can spend less time managing multiple platforms and vendors."

The WebVitals dashboard enables shop team members to see real-time changes to their digital presence and marketing efforts. The following sections are built for data at-a-glance and reporting:

Key Vitals: includes website traffic and the number of web appointments, calls and contact us form submissions

includes website traffic and the number of web appointments, calls and contact us form submissions Shop Revenue: shows ARO and total revenue from all web and new web customers

shows ARO and total revenue from all web and new web customers Insights: provides at-a-glance overviews of website visits, traffic sources, and other crucial key performance indicators (KPIs)

provides at-a-glance overviews of website visits, traffic sources, and other crucial key performance indicators (KPIs) Google My Business: tracks listing views and phone calls made from Google searches

tracks listing views and phone calls made from Google searches Google Lighthouse: scores your website in terms of performance, accessibility, and best practices

scores your website in terms of performance, accessibility, and best practices Google Ads: monitors analytics such as cost-per-click, conversion rates, and impressions

The custom websites that AutoVitals design and develop for their clients consistently ace the Google Lighthouse Performance test with near-perfect scores for SEO, performance, and consumer accessibility straight from Google itself.

"Google is the digital king these days and we've purposefully designed WebVitals to help our shop owner clients keep track of how they perform and stack up in the digital space," said Steve Noone, Web Design and Development Manager at AutoVitals. "We're committed to providing solutions that give our clients a 'complete look under the hood' of their shop's digital operations and a 360 view of their business."

The WebVitals dashboard and the new reporting capabilities are available to AutoVitals customers immediately at no extra cost.

To learn more about Web.X and the highly-reviewed suite of tools for automated workflow, digital inspections, online marketing, rewards, and motorist engagement, visit www.autovitals.com .

About AutoVitals

AutoVitals is driving profitable growth for the independent auto repair shop owner. Many auto shop management software providers provide digital vehicle inspections (DVI), but AutoVitals is the only complete digital Shop Success Solution with robust workflow management, CRM, and website and digital marketing add-ons that are proven to increase your average repair order (ARO), enhance the utilization of your staff and bays, and ultimately drive higher profitability for your shop. For more information, visit www.autovitals.com.

Press Contact:

Tara Bohnert

(866) 949-2848

https://www.autovitals.com

SOURCE AutoVitals
BALTIMORE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, today urged House and Senate leaders to restore a critical provision to the Build Back Better legislation scheduled for a vote this week. Originally introduced in both houses of Congress as the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2021 (H.R. 431/S. 212), the provision would remove a barrier to educational and employment success commonly experienced by blind Americans, who often cannot afford the high cost of access technologies like screen readers and refreshable Braille displays, by creating a refundable tax credit in the amount of $2,000 to be used over a three-year period to offset the cost of these technologies.

"The Access Technology Affordability Act aligns with the priorities of the Build Back Better legislation, which is intended to create opportunity and relieve economic pressure on American families," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "By alleviating the high cost of technology that is critical to the educational and economic success of blind and deafblind people, this provision will allow more of us to support our families and participate fully in our nation's progress and prosperity."

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

[email protected]



SOURCE National Federation of the Blind

Related Links

http://www.nfb.org


"Hey, looks like your team just tuned-up my Internet service," says one end-customer after getting their internet service switched to 60 GHz cnWave. The speed test for this customer shows a download speed of 1,664.27 Mbps and an upload speed of 1,653.94 Mbps.

The distributed network infrastructure utilizes Cambium Networks' 60 GHz cnWave fixed wireless broadband equipment with Terragraph, a gigabit wireless technology developed by Meta Connectivity to extend fiber capacity over the air.

"Historically, we've offered our customers 50 and 100 Mbps services with Cambium Networks' PMP 450 fixed wireless product line. However, the pandemic has accelerated the pace of innovation," said Jordan Wehe, Marketing Director of Jade Communications. "Cambium's cnWave technology is making gigabit access more accessible for the Manassa community."

With more people working from home, remote education and the addition of smart home devices, Jade Communications needed to provide symmetrical services with higher upstream throughput. Jade Communications, which has 4,500 subscribers, currently has over 65 cnWave units installed and twelve city blocks receiving higher speed symmetrical services.

"The new equipment is so fast; I can't believe it. I was able to make the changes on my iPad and Kindle effortlessly," said Ann H., a Jade Communications customer in Manassa. "It was a great experience. We wholeheartedly recommend Jade for internet and Wi-Fi."

Installation of the service is also fast. Jade is offering next-day gigabit-speed service to all their subscribers and plans to migrate many of their users to the 60 GHz cnWave equipment. This supports the family-oriented Manassa community, which is one of the lowest-income counties in Colorado.

Fixed wireless technology allows Jade to rapidly bring service to their customers without spending thousands of dollars on time-consuming construction for fiber buildouts. For Jade, 60 GHz cnWave significantly reduces the cost to deliver gigabit service when compared to fiber. Because of this, Jade can recoup the cost of installation within three months of onboarding a customer. Jade passes the savings onto their customers; their subscribers can get the bandwidth they need at a price they can afford.

"Fixed wireless broadband using 60 GHz is enabling service providers and cities to deploy cost-effective, high-speed, multi-gigabit fixed wireless connectivity for their users," said Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO of Cambium Networks. "We are pleased to recognize Jade's efforts in delivering multi-gigabit speeds to Manassa, Colorado."

Cambium Networks' 60 GHz cnWave fixed wireless technology layers a unique industrial design with automatic beam-steering on top of the latest 802.11ay standard, providing reliable multi-gigabit capacity along with low latency and resilience. The robust network design enables large numbers of network users to enjoy bandwidth-intensive services such as streaming video, video conferencing, social media, audio streaming, voice calling and more.

Download the case study on the Jade Communications installation here to learn more.

Cambium Networks' full wireless fabric portfolio of solutions are available through its global network of partners. The company has shipped more than 10 million radios and is celebrating its Decade of Excellence in its first 10 years in business.

About Jade Communications

Jade Communications is an award-winning internet service provider in Southern Colorado. Jade creates internet magic by delivering Gig-Speed technology in a manner that is fast, fun, and private. Our commitment to delivering the best online experience includes tools like parental controls and virus security that are sure to save subscribers time and worry. Jade currently serves over 30 communities and has won over $10 million in broadband grant funding to bring Gigabit technology to Colorado's most remote communities.

About Cambium Networks

Cambium Networks delivers wireless communications that work for businesses, communities, and cities worldwide. Millions of our radios are deployed to connect people, places and things with a unified wireless fabric that spans multiple standards and frequencies of fixed wireless and Wi-Fi, all managed centrally via the cloud. Our multi-gigabit wireless fabric offers a compelling value proposition over traditional fiber and alternative wireless solutions. We work with our Cambium certified ConnectedPartners to deliver purpose-built networks for service provider, enterprise, industrial, and government connectivity solutions in urban, suburban, and rural environments, with wireless that just works.

Media Contact:

Dave Reddy

Big Valley Marketing for Cambium

+1 (650) 868-4659

[email protected]

SOURCE Cambium Networks

Related Links

https://www.cambiumnetworks.com


DUBLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Canada Biobanks Market, By Type (Population Based Biobanks, Disease Oriented Biobanks, Tissue Biobanks, Others), By Ownership, By Product, By Specimen Type, By Application, By End User, By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Canada biobanks market is bound to experience impressive growth with an anticipated CAGR in the forecast period, 2022-2026, on account of increased research and technological advancement in genomic studies.

Moreover, the global companies are actively investing in the healthcare research in Canada, and along with the government initiatives and private funding in the Canada biobanks market, which is anticipated to register a robust growth in the upcoming five years. Rapidly increasing research institutes, and inclination of the students and researchers towards various genomic studies is also driving the growth of the Canada biobanks market.

Additionally, advancements in the biobanking and growing trend of conserving cord blood stem cells of newborns for future applications of stem cell therapies is also influencing the growth of the Canada biobanks market in the future five years. Development of precision medicine, genomic drugs, etc. is also supporting the growth of the Canada biobanks market.

Furthermore, growing need for cost-effective drug discovery and development of the same is further aiding the growth of the Canada biobanks market in the forecast years, until 2026. Although, factors like high cost of automation of the biobanks and concerned issues related to procurement of biospecimen samples may affect the market or put a mild restraint on the future growth of the Canada biobanks market.



Biobanks are the storage units for the wide-range repositories that are responsible for the collection, storage and distribution of human samples like blood, cells, plasma, serum, urine, tissues, etc. Integration of advanced technologies, data analytics, and automation supports the maintenance of the biobanks.

Some of the biobanks also keep records of the personal and health information of the patients like genetic information, health records, family histories, and lifestyle history. The information is helpful in predicting diseases and other biological and genetic studies.



The Canada biobanks market is segmented by type, ownership, product, specimen type, application, end user, competitional landscape, and regional distribution. Based on type, the market is further segmented into population based biobanks, disease oriented biobanks, tissue biobanks, and others.

Disease oriented biobanks are anticipated to hold the largest revenue share of the market and assert their dominance over the market in the upcoming five years on account of surging count of chronic diseases, neural diseases and genetic diseases.

Moreover, rapidly increasing studies based on the cure for various diseases as well as to understand the new diseases, communicable or non-communicable is also expected to drive the growth of the Canada biobanks market in the next five years.



With the evolving technology, it is appropriate to say that the effective research and development of the technologically advanced instruments and methods to satisfy consumer demands would support the market growth and benefit the market players as well as the consumers.

New market players may focus on the research and development to provide such products that satisfies the consumer demand as well as benefits the market players in building their brand value. Other competitive strategies include mergers & acquisitions and new product developments.

Companies Mentioned

Applied Biobanking Solutions Inc.

BC Children's Hospital Biobank

McCain GU BioBank

Alberta Cancer Research Biobank

Biobank at Montreal Heart Institute

CHU Dumont Biobank

Pfeffer Lab Biobank

Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health (RCWIH) BioBank

Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC)

Canadian Biosample Repository

CARTaGENE biobank

Report Scope:

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2016-2019

Base Year: 2020

Estimated Year: 2021E

Forecast Period: 2022F-2026F



Canada Biobanks Market, By Type

Population Based Biobanks

Disease Oriented Biobanks

Tissue Biobanks

Others

Canada Biobanks Market, By Ownership

Academic & Research Institutes

Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industries

Hospitals

Non-Profit Organizations

Others

Canada Biobanks Market, By Product

Equipment & Consumables

Media

Software & Services

Canada Biobanks Market, By Specimen Type

Blood Products

Solid Tissue

Cell Lines

Nucleic Acid

Others

Canada Biobanks Market, By Application

Therapeutics

Drug Discovery

Clinical Research

Clinical Diagnostics

Others

Canada Biobanks Market, By End User

Academic & Research Institutes

Pharma & Biotech Companies

Hospitals & Clinics

Others

Canada Biobanks Market, By Region

Ontario

Quebec

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan and Manitoba

and Rest of Canada

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/91ktfq

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carcell Biopharma ("Carcell", the "Company") announced today the close of an over-subscribed financing. The round was led by Hyfinity Investments, with participation from BioTrack Capital, Legendstar Capital and other investors.

Carcell Biopharma is a pre-clinical biotech company incubated by EVX Ventures. Following a "platform of platforms" model, Carcell's vision is to house multiple platform technologies that will lead to next-generation cell and gene therapies. Two lead platforms have been established around engineered red blood cells for immunomodulation and non-viral gene delivery using lipid nanoparticles. The company is founded by XQ Lin, the chairman and founder of EVX Ventures and Dr. Jiahai Shi, Associate Professor at the City University of Hong Kong. Joining the founding team are Lanlin Wu, the former CEO of Dendreon China, together with other biotech industry veterans with previous work experience at marquee biotech companies in Boston and Singapore.

Carcell is powered by a top-notch R&D team in Singapore and has plans to establish a site in Boston in the near future. The funds will also be used to construct a 6000 sqm integrated R&D and manufacturing centre in Shanghai, supporting the pre-clinical development of the drug candidates towards IND-enabling studies. Operating through the Singapore-Shanghai-Boston axis, Carcell leverages all the advantages from each region in the discovery, manufacturing, and clinical phases of drug development.

XQ Lin, Chairman and founder of Carcell Biopharma, commented, "Carcell builds on EVX Ventures' global track record in incubating novel modality platform companies. Our innovative business model will enable us to accelerate the development of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs."

Dr. Xin He, Managing Partner and founder of Hyfinity Investments, stated, "Hyfinity is glad to support Carcell financially and also in assembling a world class team in China. The company is a rare combination of a strong leadership team, with a solid foundation in engineered red blood cell technologies, and in non-viral delivery know-how. We look forward to being a long term investor, supporting the leadership team in their efforts of building a globally competitive cell and gene therapy platform company."

Carcell is developing cell and gene therapy products with an innovative cross-border business model. With its global access to scientific and industrial resources, Carcell will bring world's leading technologies to cancer, auto-immune and rare disease patients in China. With a broader vision of "China for Global", Carcell will continue to grow its technology and product pipeline to bring innovative therapies to broader patient populations in the global market.

About EVX Ventures

EVX Ventures is a global VC that builds, incubates, and invests in biotech companies. With a focus on disruptive therapeutics platform technologies and novel therapeutic modalities, they invest in global technologies to redefine the therapeutics of tomorrow. Learn more at www.evx.ventures

About Hyfinity Investments

Hyfinity Investments are led by senior partners from top-tier investment institutions in China, with years of experiences in healthcare investment, local operation, and overseas licensing. Hyfinity Investments is devoted to advancing the global innovations in diseases with high unmet needs, by leveraging the rich clinical resources in China. Their mission is to foster industry leaders through converging resources globally. Learn more at www.hyfinityfund.com

About BioTrack Capital

Founded in 2017, BioTrack Capital is a dedicated healthcare venture capital firm focused on building and incubating innovative life science companies in China. We continually seek to discover innovative biotech companies, innovative medtech companies, and innovative business models in healthcare which are led by outstanding entrepreneurs.

Media contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Carcell Biopharma Inc.
ROCKY POINT, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As an innovative new service platform, Casa Concierge helps to connect homeowners across Long Island to the very best contractors, home renovations experts, maintenance workers, and consumer service professionals in their area.

The fact is that the home renovations, contracting and maintenance industry is extremely competitive, and with technology constantly advancing, marketing your business these days is a whole new ballgame! As a business owner, Casa Concierge can help you to truly unlock the growth potential of your home renovations business!

Working with one of the best digital marketing agencies in NYC, Xcode Consulting, Casa Concierge offers home renovations businesses a full-spectrum, suite of digital marketing solutions designed to help them experience unmatched levels of growth, and acquire new, serious clients on a daily basis!

In addition to connecting contractors and home renovations/maintenance professionals with clients via their in-house listings, Casa Concierge also provides your business the latest innovations in web development, search engine optimization, paid ad campaigns, social media assistance, and much more. And with years of experience in home renovations fields, they know precisely how to communicate your brand and services to clients in need.

Not only will they design and develop you a website, loaded with all the latest marketing features, but they can help you to rank higher across countless search terms and keywords. Ensuring that your business gets the visibility it needs to experience the growth you're after. Plus, with experienced audio, video, and written content strategists at the helm, they will help to present your brand in a way that speaks directly to consumer needs - allowing you to convert leads at a much higher rate than ever before!

For more information on how Casa Concierge can help to grow your home renovations business, visit CasaConcierge.com today.

About Casa Concierge

Casa Concierge is a revolutionary new service aimed at helping homeowners across Long Island - both Nassau & Suffolk County, with all their home renovations, maintenance work, and general service needs. Despite its relatively recent debut, the Casa Concierge team has been providing marketing and business consultancy services to a wide range of businesses across multiple specialties, including a number of entities in the home improvement sectors and consumer services fields. Representing businesses large and small, Casa Concierge is the perfect platform for both users, in need of services, and businesses looking to provide services, and vastly expand their client base.

Media Contact:

Nick Khan

[email protected]

516-304-0124

SOURCE Casa Concierge
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Coastline College, in keeping with its tagline 'Leader of Innovative Education' is taking its mascot in a direction like no other college or university. 'Fin' the college's newly designed dolphin mascot has joined forces with the Dolphin Project and the Ocean Conservation Society, to help bring awareness of life in our seas and help protect dolphins and other ocean marine life along the Orange County coastline.

Coastline College students are already working with Back Bay Science Center and Moore Lab at Scripps Marine Biotechnology and Biomedical Institute to culture bacteria from sponges to search for microbes that produce compounds that show antibiotic properties as part of their major's-level course work and in the independent studies, Work-Based Learning courses. The Back Bay Science center conducts a monthly program called Marine Life Inventory that collects monthly data on water quality, plankton, and marine organisms. The samples from the MLI are used to collaborate with the Tiny Earth Program. Tiny Earth is a network of talented students and instructors that share research, best practices, and enthusiasm for discovery in effort to "save the seas." Both research programs help support populations of marine mammals from the back bays to the open ocean.

Coastline students participating in ecological research at the Newport Back Bay Science Center gain hands-on experience in data collection, entry, management, and analysis, and build relationships with scientists' skills as they learn about the biodiversity.

"The steps we take to protect and conserve our ocean will positively impact the success of the entire planet." Tanya R. Hoerer, PhD., Professor of Organismal Biology and Marine Science, Dept of Biological Sciences.

Coastline College (and Fin) has also partnered with the Ocean Conservation Society, a nonprofit organization conducting long-term marine mammal research and educational projects for the protection of the oceans and marine wildlife. They study dolphins, whales, and other species in the wild and use scientific data to bring about policy changes and raise public awareness. Coastline will work with the organization in promoting awareness around how to approach dolphins at sea and promote an ongoing Instagram campaign where students who can take a photo of a dolphin along our coastlines can submit it to the college and then the Ocean Conservation Society will tell us what the name of the dolphin. They have named all the dolphins that swim along the coast.

Additionally, Coastline College has partnered with The Dolphin Project, a non-profit organization, dedicated to the welfare and protection of dolphins worldwide. They help to rehabilitate captive dolphins for retirement and/or release. The college has adopted a dolphin named Johnny that is being rehabilitated and trained to be released back into the wild. Coastline College will be sharing ongoing videos on all their digital platforms showing the ongoing progress of the dolphin as it prepares to be released into the wild at the same time Coastline college graduates are also released into the "wild" world.

About Coastline College:

Coastline College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For eight consecutive years, Coastline College was selected as one of the top 150 colleges by The Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence which is considered the nation's signature recognition for America's community colleges. Coastline College guides diverse populations of students toward the attainment of associate degrees and certificates leading to career advancement, personal empowerment, and transfer. By meeting students where they are, Coastline provides innovative instruction and services designed to achieve equitable outcomes.

CONTACT: Dawn Willson, [email protected], 714-241-6186

SOURCE Coastline College

Related Links

www.coastline.edu


Over the duration of COP26, Clear Channel digital screens will showcase Conservation International's new campaign, which invites passers-by to stop and listen to the beautiful sounds of nature.

The digital screens will feature a QR code which, once snapped, transports the public to conservation.org/HearMe, where they can listen to some of nature's most majestic soundscapes, from the Amazon rainforest to South African savannah, from Southeast Asia mountains to the North Pacific Ocean, and learn more about Conservation International's work to protect nature around the world.

Conservation International's campaign invites world leaders and people worldwide to immerse themselves in the many voices of nature, and in doing so, be moved to believe that together, we have the power to protect and replenish those voices.

The campaign comes as nearly 3,000 delegates participated in the Convention on Biodiversity COP15 talks earlier this month, where governments agreed to pledge more investment to protect biodiversity. Conservation International warns more attention is needed to halt the unprecedented destruction for another reason: to fight climate change.

"Nature isn't just something that is beautiful to see and hear  it is essential in the fight to slow climate change, to our very survival. The science on this is clear: if we don't invest in stopping the destruction of nature, we will fail to avert climate catastrophe - even if we get everything else right," said Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International. "We are working across the global south  and now, here at COP26 in Glasgow - to drive investments to nature for the benefit of people and the climate."

Nature can provide at least 30% of global action required to prevent the most dangerous impacts of climate change  yet solutions such as protecting, restoring and managing forests, mangroves and peatlands receive less than 3 percent of all global climate funding.

"Hear Me" gives a nod to the award-winning "Nature Is Speaking" films that Conservation International launched with MAL\FOR GOOD in 2014, and whose tag line, "Nature doesn't need people. People need nature," drives home the point that saving nature is really about saving ourselves.

Clear Channel is lending its support to the campaign by donating advertising space on digital screens across its markets, in Europe, the Americas and Asia. This global scale has the potential to reach millions of people worldwide.

This global pro-bono out of home campaign builds on Clear Channel's longstanding commitment to using OOH's unique strengths, its mass reach and ability to build brand fame, to give a voice to some of today's most pressing issues  in this case, climate change.

William Eccleshare, CEO of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. explains, "At Clear Channel, our ambition is to create a better world through the ways in which we use our out of home advertising platform. This can only be achieved if we protect the future first. We're playing our part in two vital ways: first, by using the power of our medium to extend the reach and facilitate debate on important issues that often don't get the attention they deserve. This includes our pro-bono campaign with Conservation International which we're incredibly proud to be helping amplify so that people worldwide, and not just the delegates of COP26, are invited to the conversation.

"Second, we're making tangible changes to how we operate as a business to reduce our environmental impact. For example, earlier this year we developed a prototype for a new piece of street furniture that cleans the same amount of air as 20 trees, and we continue to use recycled materials to build our bus shelters and partner with charities like Trees for Cities to create greener cities."

Clear Channel is a signatory to the UN Global Compact and has committed to be Carbon Net Zero by 2050 across its global operations in line with the Paris Agreement. The company is spearheading projects and initiatives to drive sustainability across its business operations and will be reporting on its progress in an upcoming ESG report.

About Conservation International

Conservation International works to protect the critical benefits that nature provides to people. Through science, partnerships and fieldwork, Conservation International is driving innovation and investments in nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, supporting protections for critical habitats, and fostering economic development that is grounded in the conservation of nature. Conservation International works in 30 countries around the world, empowering societies at all levels to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet. Follow Conservation International's work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is one of the world's largest outdoor advertising companies with a diverse portfolio of approximately 500,000 displays in 22 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia, reaching millions of people monthly. Comprised of two business divisions  Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA), the U.S. and Caribbean business division, and Clear Channel International (CCI). CCO employs approximately 4,800 people globally.

Find out more on:

www.clearchannelinternational.com

www.clearchanneloutdoor.com

www.investor.clearchannel.com

SOURCE Clear Channel Outdoor

Related Links

http://www.clearchanneloutdoor.com


"By naming Matt, we've set the tone for the strength and caliber of talent that will transform Cordis into a pioneering leader to fuel our growth and redirect our clinical strategy to meet the needs of the evolving cardiovascular market," said Cordis CEO Shar Matin.

Muscari proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. Following his time in the service he spent the last 20 years in medical device leadership with experience at US Surgical, Intuitive Surgical and, most recently, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI) where he led the Peripheral Vascular Commercial organization. Muscari directed CSI's growth of the U.S. Office Based Lab (OBL) channel to constitute 50% of the business.

"I am thrilled and honored to join the Cordis team," said Muscari. "It is an organization that has a rich history of innovation and collaboration with the most influential physicians in the cardiovascular industry around the world. I look forward to joining the bold vision we have for Cordis and bringing that level of physician engagement and innovation back to the cardiovascular industry."

According to Matin, Muscari was instrumental in implementing a full cultural transformation at CSI, something that Cordis seeks to accomplish as a fundamental pillar of its future growth. "Matt has a passion for market disruption, breakthrough therapies and building a team culture that is motivated to win. At Cordis, we believe that culture is foundational to success, and Matt's addition to the organization demonstrates our commitment to attract the best in the business to join our mission to care for patients."

About Cordis

Cordis is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacturing of interventional vascular technology with a more than 60-year history of pioneering breakthrough cardiovascular technologies to treat millions of patients. With a reputation for clinical acumen, training, and services, Cordis established a legacy of innovation in high-quality and less-invasive cardiovascular products and built a strong global footprint with operations in more than 60 countries around the world.

Contact:

Kurt Haggstrom, Vice President, Global Marketing

Phone: 949-244-7382

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Cordis
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cross-Fire & Security Co., Inc. ("Cross-Fire" or the "Company"), a full-service life safety company specializing in the design, engineering, installation, maintenance, monitoring and servicing of state-of-the-art fire and life safety systems, announced today it has named Robert V. Rex as Senior Vice President of Growth & Strategy. In this new position, he will be responsible for developing and cultivating customer relationships, evaluating add-on opportunities, and helping steer the Company's strategic growth plan.

Mr. Rex has more than 40 years of experience in business development and the fire and security industry. Before joining Cross-Fire, he was Business Development Manager of Critical Infrastructure at 3S Incorporated, an APi Group company, where he developed new business and managed customer accounts. Prior to that, he spent over 20 years at Honeywell Global Fire and a predecessor company, Pittway Corporation, most recently as Manager, Strategic Global Accounts Mr. Rex began his career as the founder and owner of Eastern Security Systems, which was eventually acquired by Commonwealth Security Systems.

Mr. Rex holds several certifications in fire safety-related training and served as Secretary and Regional VP for the Pennsylvania Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania for 15 years. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the 7x24Exchange International  Mission Critical Association.

Mr. Rex commented, "I am excited to join the Cross-Fire team, and I look forward to building out our platform's suite of services as we continue our leadership in the fire and life safety field."

"As we seek to accelerate our growth by investing in top-quality technologies and services, it is important to have an experienced business development veteran at the helm," said Brendan Doorly, Founder, and Kevin Maguire, Founder, at Cross-Fire. "We believe Robert's relationships and decades of fire and safety experience will help us source potential targets and grow the business, while delivering the best solutions available to our customers. We are delighted to welcome Robert to Cross-Fire."

Kelly Romano, Cross-Fire Chairwoman of the Board, added, "Robert's reputation and industry knowledge will be tremendous assets as we look for opportunities to build the Company. I'm eager to work closely with him during this exciting time in Cross-Fire's development."

Cross-Fire was acquired by AE Industrial Partners, LP ("AEI"), a private equity firm specializing in Aerospace, Defense & Government Services, Space, Power & Utility Services, and Specialty Industrial markets, in May 2021. The Company serves as AEI's fire and life safety services platform, as AEI looks to make significant investments in this critically important industry.

About Cross-Fire & Security Co., a North American Fire Holdings company

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, Cross-Fire & Security Co. is a full-service life safety company specializing in the design, engineering, installation, maintenance, monitoring and servicing of state-of-the-art fire and life safety systems. Its dedicated team of highly skilled and certified project managers and technicians manage all aspects of a project, from the design phase through final inspection, using state-of-the-art solutions and technology. For more information and to see a sample list of Cross-Fire's projects, please visit www.cfsnyc.com.

About AE Industrial Partners

AE Industrial Partners is a private equity firm specializing in Aerospace, Defense & Government Services, Space, Power & Utility Services, and Specialty Industrial markets. AE Industrial Partners invests in market-leading companies that can benefit from our deep industry knowledge, operating experience, and relationships throughout our target markets. AE Industrial Partners is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and the ILPA Diversity in Action initiative. Learn more at www.aeroequity.com.

CONTACT:

Lambert & Co.

Jennifer Hurson

845-507-0571

[email protected]

or

Caroline Luz

203-656-2829

[email protected]

SOURCE Cross-Fire & Security Co., Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cfsnyc.com


"We are thrilled to once again be able to shine a spotlight on our city's vibrant arts and cultural scene," said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER, which organizes Denver Arts Week. "The arts community has always been vital to Denver's identity; and as the city continues to navigate its recovery, we hope Denver Arts Week serves as an inspiration and a reminder to continue to support our diverse array of local artists and cultural institutions."

Denver Arts Week kicks off on November 5 with First Friday Art Walks, where people can explore some of Denver's creative districts, including RiNo (River North) Art District, Art District on Santa Fe, Tennyson Street Cultural District, South Pearl Street, Westwood Creative District, 40 West Arts District, Olde Town Arvada, and Aurora Cultural Arts District. First Fridays are the best place to find community celebrations, gallery openings, live music, art demonstrations and local art for sale. Many districts are also hosting Dia de los Muertos celebrations as part of First Fridays, so people can learn more about the history and tradition of the holiday.

Following First Fridays is Free Night at the Museums on Saturday, November 6, during which some of Denver's top museums stay open late  from 5 to 10 p.m.  and offer free admission. There are also free shuttles between museums and neighborhoods, making it easy to enjoy several spots throughout the evening. This year's participating institutions include Denver Art Museum, Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Dinosaur Ridge, Forney Museum of Transportation, Four Mile Historic Park, History Colorado Center, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, Molly Brown House Museum, Museo de las Americas and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Denver Art Museum will also take part, offering yet another free opportunity for the community to experience its fully reimagined campus.

During Free Night at the Museums, visitors are encouraged to check with each individual location for safety guidelines, including some pre-registration requirements, as well as parking information. Additionally, shuttle maps will be available on the Denver Arts Week website, and masks are required for all guests ages two and older on the shuttles.

The 44th Annual Denver Film Festival also takes place during Denver Arts Week  November 3-14  bringing the best of cinematic storytelling from around the world to The Mile High City. After a successful virtual adaptation in 2020, the largest film festival in the region returns with options for both virtual and in-person events like red carpet premieres, events & screenings at the Sie FilmCenter and satellite locations, interactive goings on, filmmaker conversations, and more.

Throughout the remainder of the week, people will be able to explore the city's vibrant art districts, check out museum exhibitions and outdoor art, indulge in live performances, take in film and literary events and purchase art from local artists. Also, there are still numerous virtual events taking place  including performing arts, film screenings and more  so all art lovers can enjoy the festivities at their comfort level.

Of course, art is also on sale during Denver Arts Week  and there are nearly 50 deals to be found throughout the week. From membership discounts to two-for-one tickets, sales on original works of art, and free events, receptions, demos and more, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Denver's vast array of art and culture at a low or no cost.

For more information, including deals on local art and hotel stays, visit the Denver Arts Week website.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating 112 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. A total of 17.7 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2019, generating $6 billion in spending, while supporting more than 60,000 jobs, making Tourism one of the largest industries in Denver. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER or by phone at 800 2 Denver. Denver International Airport (DEN; flydenver.com ) connects The Mile High City to more than 200 destinations worldwide. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates at: Facebook.com/visitdenver ; Twitter.com/visitdenver ; Instagram.com/visitdenver ; and YouTube.com/visitdenver .

Contact: Ashley Geisheker, [email protected]; (303) 571-9451

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Related Links

www.denver.org


DiMe believes that digital endpoints present an opportunity to provide a more meaningful and complete understanding of patients' conditions and responses. By incorporating digital endpoints into medical product development, patients could benefit from the potential reduced time and cost of bringing new therapies to market, the lessened burden of trial participation on patients and caregivers, and improved understanding of how new therapies affect daily living.

COVID-19 has helped fuel the advancement of digital endpoints in clinical research. Data from DiMe's library of digital endpoints shows that, over the last two years, the number of unique digital endpoints being used in industry-sponsored trials of new medical products has increased from 34 to 226, and the number of research study sponsors actively collecting digital endpoints in clinical trials has increased from 12 to 69. However, despite a 665% uptick in the use of these measures, the industry has yet to see a new medical product approved on the basis of a digital endpoint. Moreover, almost every endpoint in the library is unique, inhibiting progress towards a shared understanding of how these new digital endpoints reflect health status.

Industry collaborations could be a solution to this uncoordinated approach. This initiative is laser-focused on bringing a well-developed digital measure to bear as a broadly accepted digital endpoint for use in medical product development.

"This initiative aspires to be a blueprint for the development and deployment of digital endpoints in medical product development," says Jennifer Goldsack, CEO of DiMe. "We applaud our collaboration partners for coming together with a common goal, to establish digitally measured nocturnal scratch as a broadly accepted endpoint for use in registrational trials. Together, we will work to set the industry standard and position those involved to lead the field in global best practice as they translate this work in a single context of use to other therapeutic areas and other measures."

About the Digital Medicine Society: The Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) is the professional society serving the digital medicine community, driving scientific progress and broad acceptance of digital medicine to enhance public health. At DiMe, our commitment to fully integrating experts from all of the disciplines comprising digital medicine is unwavering. From regulators to white-hat hackers, ethicists to engineers, and clinicians to citizen scientists, we are proud to welcome all experts committed to ensuring that digital medicine realizes its full potential to improve human health. Join us !

Media Contact: Jamie Gray, [email protected] , 310.699.3163

SOURCE Digital Medicine Society (DiMe)

Related Links

http://dimesociety.org


WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced a series of actions advancing its strategy as a premier multi-industrial company focused on market-leading high-growth, high-margin businesses with complementary technology and financial characteristics.

DuPont has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rogers Corporation ("Rogers") (NYSE: ROG)(1) for $5.2 billion. Rogers is a global leader in engineered materials and components, with unmatched application engineering expertise and leading positions in markets where its advanced technology solutions offer competitive advantages. Its value-added products include high-frequency circuit materials, ceramic substrates for power semiconductor devices, and high-performance foams which go into a variety of highly specialized end-markets where the company has strong, enduring customer relationships. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Rogers shareholders and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

As part of its ongoing transformation, DuPont also announced that it intends to divest a substantial portion of its Mobility & Materials segment(2).

"With today's announcements, we are sharpening our focus on high-growth, high-value opportunities in sectors with steady long-term secular growth trends where our global innovation leadership enables a competitive advantage," said Ed Breen, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DuPont. "Moving forward, our portfolio will be centered on key pillars  electronics, water, protection, industrial technologies and next generation automotive. We are committed to investing in each of these pillars organically and through strategic acquisitions to maximize our capabilities in areas that enable our customers to grow by delivering next generation technologies and sustainable high value-added solutions. These strategic steps are expected to create tremendous opportunities for DuPont and Rogers employees and unlock significant value for shareholders."

By focusing the portfolio on high-growth, high-margin businesses closely tied to secular growth areas, the combined transactions are expected to substantially improve DuPont's top-line growth, operating EBITDA margins and cross-cycle earnings stability, putting us in line with best-in-class multi-industrial peers.

Acquisition of Rogers Corporation

Rogers designs, develops, manufactures and sells high-performance and high-reliability engineered materials and components through its Advanced Electronics Solutions (AES) and Elastomeric Material Solutions (EMS) segments. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Rogers has a workforce of more than 3,500 employees with a global network of 14 manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and Asia and 2021 expected revenues of approximately $950 million.

Breen continued, "Building on our recent acquisition of Laird Performance Materials, the acquisition of Rogers further cements our position as the leading electronic solutions provider in the industry. We are building an unmatched portfolio that is ideally positioned to capitalize on rapid demand acceleration in high-growth markets, including electric vehicles, ADAS, 5G telecommunications and clean energy. With industry-leading positions in each of its product categories, a proven history of application engineering excellence and deep customer relationships, Rogers is highly complementary to and aligned strategically with our existing Electronics & Industrial business and is expected to deliver compelling returns over the near and long-term."

"DuPont is a natural fit for Rogers, as a leading advanced materials solutions provider," said Bruce D. Hoechner, Rogers' President and CEO. "DuPont is a proven leader in advanced specialty materials, and Rogers will benefit from DuPont's global reach and strong technical and commercial depth. Like DuPont, Rogers' success is built upon a dedicated team of people committed to excellence and technology leadership to solve our customers' most complex application challenges. This combination will create an exciting next chapter for Rogers' customers, employees and partners."

DuPont expects to realize approximately $115 million in pre-tax run-rate cost synergies by the end of 2023. The cost synergies associated with both the Laird Performance Materials acquisition and the intended Rogers acquisition represent approximately 6% of the combined revenue, including DuPont Interconnect Solutions. The estimated one-time cost to achieve these synergies is approximately $75 million. DuPont expects the deal to be accretive to its top-line growth, operating EBITDA, free cash flow, and adjusted EPS upon closing. The enterprise value multiple of the transaction is approximately 19x estimated fiscal 2022 EBITDA on a stand-alone basis and approximately 14x including cost synergies.

DuPont has committed financing in place for the acquisition of Rogers. DuPont plans on using a portion of the proceeds from the planned divestiture of a substantial portion of the Mobility & Materials segment to repay all acquisition financing related to Rogers and pursue additional growth opportunities in its remaining key pillars as part of its balanced capital deployment plan.

Intent to Divest Substantial Portion of Mobility & Materials Segment

DuPont intends to divest a substantial portion of its Mobility & Materials segment. The Mobility & Materials segment is comprised of category-defining businesses with longstanding market-leading positions and differentiated products, technologies and capabilities to win with customers and outperform competitors. The businesses within the Mobility & Materials segment that are in-scope for intended divestiture are predominantly those in the Engineering Polymers and Performance Resins lines of business as well as the Company's stake in the DuPont Teijin Films joint venture. The in-scope product lines include, but are not limited to, well known and respected brands such as Zytel, Delrin, Hytrel, Crastin, Vamac and TEDLAR. Combined, these businesses represent approximately $4.2 billion in revenue and about $1.0 billion of operating EBITDA based on full year 2021 estimates.

"Finding an ownership model that appropriately values the leadership positions and deep customer value proposition of the in-scope Mobility & Materials portfolio will position the business for continued success, leveraging its unmatched combination of products, technologies, and operating expertise for the benefits of its employees and customers," said Breen. "Through unprecedented challenges in the past 18 months, these teams have proven that their unwavering commitment to deliver for their customers, employees and partners has generated solid results and I am confident they are well equipped to expand their leadership positions under new ownership."

Conference Call

The Company will host a live webcast with investors and analysts to discuss these announcements beginning today at 8:00 a.m. ET and extending until about 9:30 a.m. ET in conjunction with its third quarter 2021 earnings conference call. The slide presentation that accompanies the conference call will be posted on the DuPont's Investor Relations Events and Presentations page. A replay of the webcast also will be available on the DuPont's Investor Relations Events and Presentations page following the live event.

Advisors  Rogers Corporation Acquisition

Evercore is serving as DuPont's lead financial advisor, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as a financial advisor and provider of fully committed financing, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as its legal counsel.

Advisors  Mobility & Materials Divestiture Process

Goldman Sachs is serving as DuPont's financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as its legal counsel as we initiate the divestiture process.

About DuPont

DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.

About Rogers Corporation

Rogers Corporation (NYSE: ROG) is a global leader in engineered materials to power, protect and connect our world. Rogers delivers innovative solutions to help our customers solve their toughest material challenges. Rogers' advanced electronic and elastomeric materials are used in applications for EV/HEV, automotive safety and radar systems, mobile devices, renewable energy, wireless infrastructure, energy-efficient motor drives, industrial equipment and more. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Rogers operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Asia and Europe, with sales offices worldwide.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "target," and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words.

On April 1, 2019, the Company completed the separation of the materials science business through the spin-off of Dow Inc., ("Dow") including Dow's subsidiary The Dow Chemical Company (the "Dow Distribution"). On June 1, 2019, the Company completed the separation of the agriculture business through the spin-off of Corteva, Inc. ("Corteva") including Corteva's subsidiary E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company ("EID"), (the "Corteva Distribution" and together with the Dow Distribution, the "DWDP Distributions").

On February 1, 2021 the Company completed the divestiture of the Nutrition & Biosciences ("N&B") business to International Flavors & Fragrance Inc. ("IFF") in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction (the "N&B Transaction") that resulted in IFF issuing shares to DuPont stockholders.

On July 1, 2021, DuPont completed the previously announced acquisition (the "Laird PM Acquisition") of the Laird Performance Materials business, ("Laird PM").

On November 2, 2021, DuPont announced it has entered definitive agreements to acquire Rogers Corporation for cash, (the "Intended Rogers Acquisition"). The transaction is subject to approval by Rogers' shareholders, regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

On November 2, 2021, DuPont announced that it has initiated a divestiture process (the "In-Scope M&M Divestiture Process") related to a substantial portion of its Mobility & Materials segment, (the "In-Scope M&M Businesses"). The outcome of which, including the entry into definitive agreements, is subject to approval of the DuPont Board of Directors.

Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain and subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which that are beyond DuPont's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results. Some of the important factors that could cause DuPont's actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) in connection with the Intended Rogers Acquisition, the failure to (x) obtain the necessary approval from Rogers' shareholders, regulatory approvals, or anticipated tax treatment, or (y) satisfy any of the other conditions to closing; (ii) the possibility that unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies could impact the value, timing or pursuit of the closing of the Intended Rogers Acquisition; (iii) the timing and outcome of the In-Scope M&M Divestiture Process and the risks, costs and ability to realize benefits from the pursuit of any disposition of the In-Scope M&M Businesses resulting therefrom; (iv) the ability to achieve expected benefits, synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with the Laird PM Acquisition within the expected time frames or at all or to successfully integrate Laird PM ; (v) ability to achieve anticipated tax treatments in connection with the N&B Transaction, Laird PM Acquisition or the DWDP Distributions; (vi) changes in relevant tax and other laws; (vii) indemnification of certain legacy liabilities of EID in connection with the Corteva Distribution; (viii) risks and costs related to the performance under and impact of the cost sharing arrangement by and between DuPont, Corteva and The Chemours Company related to future eligible PFAS costs; (ix) failure to effectively manage acquisitions, divestitures, alliances, joint ventures and other portfolio changes, including meeting conditions under the Letter Agreement entered in connection with the Corteva Distribution, related to the transfer of certain levels of assets and businesses; (x) uncertainty as to the long-term value of DuPont common stock; (xi) risks and uncertainties related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the responses thereto (such as voluntary and in some cases, mandatory quarantines as well as shut downs and other restrictions on travel and commercial, social and other activities) on DuPont's business, results of operations, access to sources of liquidity and financial condition which depend on highly uncertain and unpredictable future developments, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions resume; and (xii) other risks to DuPont's business, operations; each as further discussed in detail in and results of operations as discussed in DuPont's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business or supply chain disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on DuPont's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. DuPont assumes no obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

DuPontTM and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with TM, SM or  are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

(1) On November 2, 2021 DuPont announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rogers Corporation. The transaction is subject to approval by Rogers Corporation's shareholders, regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.



(2) On November 2, 2021 DuPont announced that it has initiated a divestiture process related to a substantial portion of its Mobility & Materials segment. The outcome of which, including the entry into definitive agreements, is subject to approval of the DuPont Board of Directors. The scope of the intended divestiture excludes certain product lines including Auto Adhesives and Multibase.

SOURCE DuPont
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dignity Gold , LLC, ("Dignity Gold"), the United States-based digital security that is taking a revolutionary approach to using gold reserves to back its token, announced the appointment of several new members to its Advisory Board. The board welcomes Dean Newton, General Partner at Relevance Ventures, the only non-tribe affiliated Native American owned venture capital firm; Gary Levi, Founder of Intrac Global; and Roy Behren, Managing Member at Westchester Capital Management LLC and a former attorney with the SEC.

Dignity Gold, a blockchain development company creating security tokens to unlock new ways of investing in the United States precious metals, mining, and mineral sector, made the additions to its advisory board to expand its financial expertise, regulation-forward approach, diversity, and add key experts in several different disciplines.

"We are delighted to welcome these distinguished individuals to our Advisory Board," said Kent M. Swig, Chairman of Dignity Gold. "Each new member will serve a valuable role in continuing to establish Dignity Gold as a trusted and compliant, gold reserve-backed security token that provides the simplest path for a variety of (retail / institutional) investors to benefit from opportunities in the United States precious metals mining and mineral sector."

Dean Newton is a General Partner at Nashville-based venture capital firm Relevance Ventures (the only non-tribe affiliated Native-owned VC in the United States), where he works alongside his brother Cameron Newton, founder of Relevance Ventures, and serves on a number of Boards of the interesting companies he invests in. Mr. Newton joined Relevance in 2018, after nearly 20 years in executive roles in media, mobile, and other tech-centric companies in the Los Angeles and Nashville area. Mr. Newton attended Harvard for both his undergraduate and law degrees.

Gary Levi is the founder of Intrac Global, an asset exchange firm providing creative financial solutions, strategic marketing and structural capacity management to create sustainable revenue growth and reduce operating costs. He is also the founder and president of Global Strategies Inc., an international strategic marketing and management consulting for corporate clients to increase trade and consumer awareness. Mr. Levi is an experienced leader with a strong history in marketing and advertising, search engine optimization, marketing management, digital strategy, negotiation, and business planning. Mr. Levi received his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver and his MBA from St. John's University.

Roy Behren is currently a Managing Member at Westchester Capital Management LLC, as well as Portfolio Manager for Westchester Capital Management's Merger Fund ($MERFX) and Event-Driven Fund ($WCEIX). WCM provides investment advisory and discretionary investment management services to some of the world's leading institutions, high-net-worth investors and retail shareholders. Mr. Behren also serves on the board of advisors for Sharp Alpha Advisors. Previously, he served as an attorney for the Securities on Exchange Commission (SEC). He is an expert in investment advisory services, specializing in event-driven and alternative investment strategies. Mr. Behren earned a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and Law degrees from New York University and the University of Miami.

The new members will work harmoniously with the current members of the board which include Kent M. Swig, Steve Braverman, Oliver B. Swig, William B. Heyn and Alexander Nassief.

To learn more about the new Advisory Board members, check out their LinkedIn profiles: Dean Newton , Gary Levi and Roy Behren .

About Dignity Gold, LLC

Founded in 2019 by Stephen Braverman and Kent M. Swig, Dignity Gold is the parent company of Dignity Corp. which is issuing the Dignity token using the ticker DIGau backed by gold deposits located in the United States.

Media Contact:

Jonathan Zaback

Impact Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE Dignity Gold, LLC

Related Links

https://dignitygold.com/


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The NYC-based art logistics company Fine Art Shippers has officially become a sponsor of Asian Art in London 2021 that celebrates this year its 24th anniversary with many amazing events for everyone interested in Asian art

Fine Art Shippers is an art logistics company with headquarters in NYC. It has been offering high-quality art shipping and art handling services for more than 25 years now. Apart from providing art shipping help, the company endeavors to promote talented contemporary artists and art exhibitions around the world. This year, Fine Art Shippers has become a sponsor of Asian Art in London (AAL) that is now back in London with its 24th installment. The show started on October 21 and will run through November 6, 2021.

Asian Art in London was established in 1998 as an international center and platform for endorsement and promotion of Asian art in entire Europe and London in particular. The 24th edition of the art show includes two distinct parts: Indian & Islamic art and East Asian Art. The first stage features everything from Persian and Indian miniature paintings to sculptures, armor, textiles, and ceramics. The second one concentrates more on iconic Chinese porcelain, enamels, Japanese paintings, and Indonesian art. Asian Art in London stands as a multi-purpose platform allowing collectors to find what they are looking for, specialists to discuss details of every work, and ordinary folk to enjoy the astonishing atmosphere and stunning artworks of the event.

London is one of many places where Fine Art Shippers has its representative offices. The company can pick up all types of art and ship artwork to any destination. Many visitors of Asian Art in London would benefit from the specialty art services provided by Fine Art Shippers. High performance and considerable experience make the company a perfect choice for both art businesses and individuals. The partnership between Fine Art Shippers and Asian Art in London is a prime example of effective and beneficial cooperation in the art industry.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Fine Art Shippers
- FintechOS 22 allows financial service providers to accelerate digital projects without high levels of technology expertise and investment

- New capabilities include 'Buy Now, Pay Later', split payments loans, overdraft and credit facility options for end customers, as well as new mortgage products

- The platform pioneers 'High productivity financial infrastructure' for financial institutions struggling with digital transformation projects

- FintechOS 22 is launched at FintechOS Leap (2nd-4th November), the company's annual three-day virtual event showcasing successes, challenges and best practices for financial innovation.

LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FintechOS, a global technology provider for banks, insurers, credit unions and other financial services companies, today unveiled its latest product release FintechOS 22. FintechOS 22 combines composable digital and core business blocks with a no-code/low-code approach, underpinned by cloud-native, data-at-the-core architecture, that allows institutions to modernize legacy systems and launch new, differentiated digital products faster, more effectively, and more efficiently.

Many financial service providers have embarked on digital transformation projects. But 70% of these projects fail to meet their digital transformation aim and providers received almost no return on their investments (BCG, 2021). FintechOS helps financial service providers overcome these obstacles so that they can build, test and scale new digital products and services in weeks rather than months. With FintechOS 22, the company is delivering the first 'high productivity financial infrastructure platform', making it easier for internal teams to launch digital projects without needing significant resource or specialised knowledge.

Updates to the platform for banks includes:

New vertical, end to end solutions such as Buy Now Pay Later and split payments loans, overdraft and credit facilities.

Ready-made UX journeys for first-time-buyer mortgages, personal loan applications, split payments, and onboarding for digital bank accounts including SME banking.

Connectors to exploit API data sources including LexisNexis Bridger Insight, Companies House, and postal address databases.

Updates to the platform for insurers includes:

Pre-built UX journeys for personal health insurance self-service quote and buy, property and casualty first notification of loss, transparent policy version history tracking, multi-policy contracts.

Enhanced Proposal Configurator allows firms to create automated rules to offer more personalized cover to applicants, presented as offer cards, and aids compliance with IDD (Insurance Distribution Directive) and FNA requirements where DNT (Demands and Needs Test) and consultancy are mandatory.

In addition, FintechOS is launching FintechOS Academy which allows its customers and implementation consultants to learn how to create and edit financial products independently of IT teams. This self-service model alleviates the reliance on overburdened internal software development and IT teams for change requests.

FintechOS 22 is underpinned by four main pillars:

Composable digital CX  Ready made customer journeys across onboarding, banking, lending, insurance, and claims that can be easily personalised to boost UX and engagement.

 Ready made customer journeys across onboarding, banking, lending, insurance, and claims that can be easily personalised to boost UX and engagement. Core business capabilities  Pre-built vertical-specific components from loans to insurance with faster integration into third-party ecosystems allow institutions to tailor existing, best-in-class innovations and speed time to market.

 Pre-built vertical-specific components from loans to insurance with faster integration into third-party ecosystems allow institutions to tailor existing, best-in-class innovations and speed time to market. Enabling a makers' community  FintechOS platform is built for builders: the 'digital makers' within institutions and their integration partners. The Innovation Studio combined with the Academy and the newly launched Marketplace allows non-technical teams to create and launch truly personalized products and customer journeys.

 FintechOS platform is built for builders: the 'digital makers' within institutions and their integration partners. The Innovation Studio combined with the Academy and the newly launched Marketplace allows non-technical teams to create and launch truly personalized products and customer journeys. Cloud-native, data at the core infrastructure  This brings major improvements in the Software Development Lifecycle management and guarantees operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and ensures data-driven personalization is built into all the products, services and experiences being offered.

"Too often, financial institutions embarking on a digitalisation strategy find themselves tasked with replicating competitors' technological capabilities just to catch up," said Teo Blidarus, CEO and Co-founder at FintechOS. "This burden is made worse by the heavy technical knowledge and financial commitment that organisations have needed to make only to then have to reinvent the wheel each time a new product is created. With FintechOS 22, institutions can finally overcome these inefficiencies and develop products that are truly personalised to the needs of their customers."

"But this is just the start. As Embedded Finance begins to reshape our markets and blur the lines between providers, industries and technologies, financial service providers must change. They need to be able to rapidly build new and differentiated products that can be easily integrated into third party offerings. And this can only be achieved through high productivity financial infrastructure and a low-code innovation approach. The era of IT-centric monolithic technology architectures must end," concluded Blidarus.

FintechOS 22 is being launched at FintechOS Leap (2nd-4th November). FintechOS Leap is the virtual, annual three-day virtual event showcasing successes, challenges and best practices for financial innovation. The event features over 60 leading speakers and is attended by 1000+ industry professionals.

About FintechOS

FintechOS is driving a paradigm shift in the way financial products and services are created by making banks and insurers truly customer-centric.

We consolidate critical data from multiple sources like existing databases and ecosystem APIs and these rich data insights are automatically plugged into every step of the customer journey to create truly personalized offerings. Our tech integrates seamlessly with existing IT systems and our low code tools quickly empower organizations to design valuable customer experiences.

These capabilities free our customers to tailor products, services, and interactions to a segment of one, increase ROI and decrease time-to-market.

FintechOS Lighthouse is designed to build end-to-end banking customer journeys that are fit for the future - it enables the delivery of smarter, personalized products and services. Pre-built functionality and low-code empower organizations to create value quickly. Move away from legacy systems or keep them in place - it's all possible.

FintechOS Northstar, our customer-centric platform for insurance lets insurers deliver clever products and services, at a faster rate. Our platform makes continuous innovation and fast go-to-market a reality. At the same time, it reduces cost via end-to-end digital customer journeys and increased efficiencies.

The FintechOS Innovation Studio opens up access to innovation through a low code framework. It's a space where your non-technical teams can create and launch personalized products and journeys - all driven by data and powered by automation.

More than 45 institutions run on FintechOS, including Erste Bank, Societe Generale, Scotiabank, Howden Group Holdings, Vienna Insurance Group and many more. Our reach spans 20 markets and four continents. We power the institutions that manage more than $100bn in assets and have offices in London, Amsterdam, New York and Bucharest.

Find out more, visit us at: https://fintechos.com/

SOURCE FintechOS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As first responders continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic along with unprecedented natural disasters, they rely on lifesaving equipment to help keep their communities safe. Today, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation published the second annual Book of Giving, a digital and print fundraising catalog showcasing more than two dozen of the most requested pieces of lifesaving equipment first responders rely on to do their jobs.

"During these unique and difficult times, our front-line heroes have exposed themselves to more danger than usual while their need for updated equipment and resources has increased dramatically," said Robin Peters, executive director, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. "Last year's Book of Giving directly contributed to more than $20,000 in donations to the Foundation and we hope that the second edition inspires further generosity to allow us to continue to be a resource for those who put their lives on the line to protect others."

The collection of lifesaving equipment featured in the Book of Giving shows consumers how a donation, large or small, can help save lives. Some of the most notable items showcased this year include:

Wildland Gear  Lightweight personal protective equipment (PPE) intended for use during extreme conditions in forests and other natural spaces. (Page 6; $700 )

Lightweight personal protective equipment (PPE) intended for use during extreme conditions in forests and other natural spaces. (Page 6; ) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)  Provides firefighters with breathable air, allowing them to safely explore smoke-filled areas during fires, chemical explosions or other dangerous situations. (Page 7; $6,000 )

Provides firefighters with breathable air, allowing them to safely explore smoke-filled areas during fires, chemical explosions or other dangerous situations. (Page 7; ) Automated Chest Compression System  Medical Device used by first responders to deliver uninterrupted, contactless chest compressions to cardiac patients at a constant rate and depth. (Page 9; $15,000 )

Medical Device used by first responders to deliver uninterrupted, contactless chest compressions to cardiac patients at a constant rate and depth. (Page 9; ) Automated External Defibrillator (AED)  Portable, battery-operated device that allows first responders, schools, and the public to be prepared to give lifesaving assistance on-scene if someone goes into cardiac arrest. (Page 11; $1,500 )

Portable, battery-operated device that allows first responders, schools, and the public to be prepared to give lifesaving assistance on-scene if someone goes into cardiac arrest. (Page 11; ) Rescue Boat  Allows for rapid response during water rescues and helps first responders provide lifesaving assistance in the event of a flood or water emergency. (Page 18; $15,000 - $35,000 )

Lifesaving equipment like this (and more) are awarded to first responder organizations thanks to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. In 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Firehouse Subs founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen traveled to Mississippi where they fed first responders, as well as survivors. As they returned to Florida, exhausted and exhilarated, they knew more could be done, and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born. Since inception, the Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $62.5 million in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awards grants to first responders and non-profits on a quarterly basis, to support community safety. A majority of grants go toward purchasing lifesaving equipment for first responder organizations. Those interested in applying for a grant or donating to the Foundation can do so through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation website: FirehouseSubsFoundation.org.

To view the digital version of the Book of Giving, please visit: https://firehousesubsfoundation.org/app/themes/firehouse/pdf/book-of-giving.pdf

ABOUT FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION

In 2005, the Firehouse Subs founders established the 501(c)(3), non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The charity provides lifesaving equipment, prevention education, scholarships and continued education, and disaster relief for first responders and public safety organizations, as well as support for members of the military. Since inception, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded more than $62.5 million to hometown heroes in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is honored to be listed as a four-star nonprofit organization, the highest designation, by Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Grant allocations are made possible thanks to the overwhelming support of Firehouse Subs restaurants and generous donors. More than 70% of the funds raised for the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation come from the generosity of Firehouse Subs guests and the restaurant brand. Please consider supporting a Firehouse Subs restaurant near you!

SOURCE Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - PODA HOLDINGS, INC. ("Poda" or the "Company") (CSE: PODA) (FSE: 99L) (OTC: PODAF) is pleased to announce that former big tobacco sales leader, Christoph Tepr ("Tepr"), has joined Poda.

Tepr has accepted an upcoming employment position with the Company as Vice President of European Sales & International Expansion, which is expected to commence on January 17th, 2022. In the interim, Tepr has joined the Global Advisory Board for Poda.

Tepr brings to Poda more than 15 years of commercial experience with some of the biggest tobacco and e-cigarette companies in the world, including Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and JUUL Labs. His broad management experience has spanned sales operations, commercial deployment, brand management and professional services  targeting customers in mature and emerging product / service segments. He has led the growth of iconic brands such as L&M, IQOS, and JUUL.

At Philip Morris, Tepr held several key sales and management positions and was instrumental in deploying the IQOS product into the Swiss marketplace. At JUUL, Tepr was hired to build the Swiss commercial organization from the ground up and, together with his team, took the company to category leadership within 12 months of launch. Subsequently, he successfully restructured the German commercial organization for JUUL. Prior to this he held a commercial leadership position with British American Tobacco, focusing on commercializing and growing their Heat-not-Burn and conventional product portfolio.

Tepr holds a MSc in International Business from Maastricht University as well as an executive certificate in Driving Strategic Innovation from IMD Lausanne / MIT Sloan.

Tepr commented, "Poda is an agile challenger in the fast-growing Heat-not-Burn space. With their proprietary technology platform, Poda represents a rare opportunity that has the potential to capture significant market share and ultimately transform and expand application areas within the category  while simultaneously improving the lives of the worlds 1.3 billion adult smokers by offering them a potentially less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes. Having worked in multinational tobacco companies as well as for the fastest-growing e-cigarette start up in US history, I look forward to using that experience to establish Poda's European operations, set up a world-class team and make commercial headway into key European markets."

Mr. Ryan Selby, CEO of the Company, commented, "I am thrilled that Mr. Tepr has agreed to join the Poda team, both as a member of our Global Advisory Board and, in January 2022, as the Vice President of European Sales & International Expansion for Poda. Our goal is to build Poda into a truly global company that can challenge big tobacco head on, and we believe our superior Heat-not-Burn technology will allow us to do just that. Having someone with the skills and experience of Mr. Tepr leading the Poda team in Europe will be invaluable as we launch our products into the European market and beyond. Additionally, the fact that Mr. Tepr has spent essentially his entire career in big tobacco and now sees the potential for Poda to become a major player in the reduced-risk tobacco industry speaks volumes about the quality of Poda's Heat-not-Burn technology. These are exciting times at Poda, and we are thrilled that Mr. Tepr will be joining the Poda team and leading our commercialization through sales in Europe."

Pursuant to joining Poda's Global Advisory Board, Tepr has entered into an advisory agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Company has granted an aggregate of 400,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to Tepr which may be exercised at a price of CDN$0.56, subject to the following Options vesting schedule: (a) 80,000 Options vesting upon signing the advisory agreement; (b) 80,000 Options vesting six months following the date of grant; (c) 80,000 Options vesting twelve months following the date of grant; (d) 80,000 Options vesting 18 months following the date of grant; and (e) 80,000 Options vesting twenty-four months following the date of grant.

On Behalf of the Board,

Ryan Selby

CEO, Director, and Chairman of the Board

Poda Holdings, Inc.

Toll-free North America: +1-833-TRY-PODA (879-7632)

Outside North America: +1-406-TRY-PODA (879-7632)

[email protected]

www.poda-holdings.com

ABOUT PODA HOLDINGS

Poda Holdings, Inc. ("Poda" or the "Company") is actively engaged in the global commercialization of Heat-not-Burn ("HnB") smoking products, which have the potential to reduce the risks associated with combustible smoking products. The Company has developed a patented HnB system that uses proprietary biodegradable single-use pods, which are both consumer and environmentally friendly. The innovative design of the Company's HnB platform prevents cross-contamination between the heating devices and the pods, eliminating all cleaning requirements and providing users with the most convenient and enjoyable potentially-reduced-risk smoking experience. Poda's HnB system is fully patented in Canada and is patent pending in over 60 additional countries, covering almost 70% of the global population. The Company's Poda Pods are the first and only cigarettes to have a completely closed end. This exclusive design eliminates all cleaning requirements and provides a truly ashless HnB cigarette. Poda's fully patented system is one of a kind and solves the major pain-point that other HnB products suffer from: daily cleaning requirements. The Company's flagship Beyond Burn Poda Pods contain a unique tobacco-free blend of pelletized tea leaves infused with synthetic nicotine, which provides adult smokers with a smoke-free alternative to their regular habit without sacrificing satisfaction. Beyond Burn Poda Pods have been expertly crafted to mimic the sensorial experience of traditional cigarettes without the smoke, without the smell, and without the tobacco.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although Poda Holdings believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions, and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Poda Holdings can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Poda Holdings undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Poda Holdings, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Poda Holdings disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

SOURCE Poda Lifestyle and Wellness Ltd.

Related Links

https://podalifestyle.com/


"It is a privilege and an honor to receive, from the hands of such esteemed friends, this Human Dignity Award of the American Jewish Committee," said Patriarch Bartholomew. The Patriarch has been the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christianity since 1991 and an exemplar of religious leadership for people of all faiths.

His All-Holiness conveyed "deepest gratitude for this expression of love and care, not only towards our humble person, but also towards what the Ecumenical Patriarchate stands for: dialogue, reconciliation and the fight against religious extremism, hatred and antisemitism."

"To fight antisemitism, hatred, and discrimination of all kinds, we all need to be involved," Bartholomew said. "The role of education and family is very important indeed, but religious communities also have a key role to play in eradicating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism."

The award was presented by Harriet Schleifer, AJC President; Bobi Baruch, AJC Interreligious Affairs Chair; and Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations, at the New York Hilton.

AJC, a Jewish pioneer in interreligious relations, began its special relationship with the Orthodox Church in New York half a century ago. AJC was a founding member of the formal dialogue between Orthodox Christian and world Jewish leadership launched in March 1977, in Lucerne, Switzerland.

"Patriarch Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have been partners in our core commitments to defeat antisemitism in all its renascent forms and to support the State of Israel's quest for security and peace among the community of nations," said AJC President Harriet Schleifer.

AJC delegations have met with Bartholomew over the past 30 years in many places, including Jerusalem, Washington, Rome, Thessaloniki, New York, and Istanbul, home of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

"Your All-Holiness, we at AJC have been the Ecumenical Patriarchate's partners not only in advancing Orthodox-Jewish relations, but also in assuring religious freedom for all, especially in Turkey, home to the Patriarchate, and throughout the Middle East, where Christianity was born and is now threatened," said Rabbi Marans.

Bartholomew commended AJC for "advancing interfaith cooperation and understanding, especially among the Jewish and Christian Orthodox traditions."

AJC's Human Dignity Award is a facsimile leaf of Genesis chapter 1 in the Kennicott Bible, the lavishly illuminated Hebrew Bible that survived from medieval Spain, before the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Combining Jewish, Christian, and Islamic artistic motifs, the Kennicott Bible captures the spirit of interreligious relations which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew exemplifies.

"The opening of the Hebrew Bible has been at the core of the Patriarch's commitment to human dignity, which Jewish tradition calls Kevod Habriyot, respect for God's creations, human beings  created b'tzelem Elohim, in God's image - and Earth, l'avdah u-l'shamrah, to cultivate it and protect it," said Marans.

Also participating in the award ceremony were His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who has led the Ecumenical Patriarchate's dialogue with the Jewish people for decades. Both are longtime partners of AJC.

Patriarch Bartholomew's New York visit comes after meetings in Washington, D.C. with President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Tomorrow, on the thirtieth anniversary of enthronement as Ecumenical Patriarch, Patriarch Bartholomew will lead the Orthodox Thyranoixia, the opening doors ceremony for St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. AJC contributed to rebuilding the church.

Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director of International Interreligious Affairs, will be the Jewish speaker at a celebration in Greece later this month of Patriarch Bartholomew's thirty-year tenure as Ecumenical Patriarch.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


DUBLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Pay TV Forecasts Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

IPTV subscriber numbers will exceed cable TV in 2026. IPTV will add 63 million subscribers between 2021 and 2026 to a total of 398 million.

Simon Murray, Principal Analyst, explained: "The main reason for this is China where the huge shift from cable TV to IPTV will continue."

China will have 226 million IPTV subscribers by 2026, leaving only 172 million for the rest of the world. China will add 19 million IPTV subscribers between 2021 and 2026. However, China will lose 39 million cable TV subscribers during the same period to end 2026 with 89 million subscribers.

The analyst forecasts 13 million more pay TV subscribers between 2021 and 2026 to take the global total to 1.01 billion. China will continue to supply nearly a third of the world's pay TV subscribers, with 315 million expected by end-2026. India will bring in another 178 million. China and India will together provide half the world's pay TV subscribers by 2026.

Key Topics Covered:

The Pay TV Forecasts Update report covers 280 pages in two parts:

A 102-page PDF giving a global Executive Summary and profiles for the top 20 countries.

A 178-page excel workbook providing global and 138 country forecasts (2010-2026).

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nuntsq

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Sadly, drowning remains the number one cause of injury-related death among children ages 1-4, taking the lives of three children in the United States every day. In addition, it's been reported that more than 60 percent of African American children cannot swim. Goldfish Swim School and Jones are committed to making a positive impact to help lower these staggering statistics by bringing greater awareness to the importance of swim lessons, as they have the ability to reduce the risk of childhood drowning by 88%.

Jones has felt the impact of these statistics firsthand. At five-years-old, he nearly drowned while visiting an amusement park with his family. It was at that point his parents enrolled him in swim lessons, and his love of the sport developed. From learning to swim, to becoming an Olympian, to championing water safety and drowning prevention, Jones has made it his life mission to bring greater awareness to the importance of all children learning to swim.

As a newer parent himself, Jones' passion for water safety only continues to strengthen. Jones and his wife, Rupi, welcomed their son Ayvn into the world in 2019. Since then, Ayvn has already developed a love of the water, taking swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School.

"I believe things come full circle, and my life is the epitome of that," said Jones. "You know, to be honest, I never put out the 'I'm retiring' social media post. I never felt my work in swimming was done. I've committed to a lifetime of community advocacy and set out on a mission to help people to understand the importance of learning to swim. I could not have found a better swim school partner with which to align. I've personally seen the impact Goldfish makes in children's lives. My son is a Goldfish Swimmer, and I am proud to call myself a Goldfish Dad. While my time competing in the pool may be finished, my work is far from done. I have been working in the learn-to-swim space for 12 years, and by teaming up with Goldfish Swim School, we will create a powerful force that will make big waves in water safety awareness!"

The partnership came naturally as Jones is an ambassador and board member of the USA Swimming Foundation , the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, where Goldfish Swim School is an official partner. Goldfish Swim School has committed to raising $1 million for the Foundation, which supports swim lesson providers with resources, materials and grant funding to allow the opportunity for every child across the country to learn to swim. Jones recently teamed up with Goldfish Swim School for its latest giveback campaign  'Safer Swimmer Pledge'  that reached over 400 million people with the message of prioritizing water safety and drowning prevention. Jones leveraged his alignment with Speedo USA as the Philanthropic Sales Manager to incorporate an additional fundraising arm to the campaign.

"Cullen has long felt like a member of our Goldfish Family as he continuously goes above and beyond to support our mission of water safety," said Chris McCuiston, CEO & Co-Founder of Goldfish Swim School. "This formal partnership is just another step in the right direction as we work together to make even bigger waves in water safety education, resources and swim lessons. We could not be more honored to have Cullen by our side as we push the boundaries of innovation to highlight the importance of swim lessons for all children."

Jones joins an impressive roster of Goldfish Swim School partners, brand ambassadors and role models, including World Champion Swimmer & Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy and Dr. Molly O'Shea of Birmingham Pediatrics + Wellness Center, who is the official pediatrician of Goldfish Swim School. Together, this rockstar lineup is making incredible strides with Goldfish Swim School to help combat the childhood drowning epidemic, while making a true impact in communities across North America.

As demand continues to rise  with Goldfish Swim School now teaching more than 150,000 children each week how to be safer in and around the water  the brand and its partners are committed to going above and beyond to nurture a culture that provides a GOLDEN Experience! through lessons, campaigns, events and more.

Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years, teaching children how to be safer in and around the water. Each school offers swim lessons and programs using a proprietary philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay, to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. The franchise network spans 120-plus schools across North America and each school's number one focus and main priority is always the same  educating children on water safety while teaching them how to swim and respect the water.

Get to know Goldfish Swim School's newest partner by visiting https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/blog/2021/november/meet-goldfish-swim-school-s-newest-ambassador-ol/

For more information on Goldfish Swim School, please visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/ .

About Goldfish Swim School

Founded by husband and wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. Recently, the brand was recognized by Entrepreneur in its Franchise 500 ranking, Franchise Times' 2020 Fast & Serious List, and Inc. Magazine's 2019 Top 5000. Goldfish Swim School is currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with more than 120 schools open, and an additional 130 in development in more than 30 states and Canada.

Media Contact: Kelly McNamara, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300, [email protected]

SOURCE Goldfish Swim School
"We like to take the guesswork out of giving and make it easy for donors to give online," said Erica Thornley, Vice President of Product Development and ColoradoGives.org. "All the nonprofits on ColoradoGives.org have been vetted and are in good standing with the Secretary of State's Office. We want donors to feel good knowing they are giving on a safe platform to trusted nonprofits that match causes they care about."

Since its inception in 2010, Colorado Gives Day has raised $307 million for Colorado nonprofits, making it among the most successful giving days in the nation. In 2020, Colorado Gives Day raised more than $50 million during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 82,988 donors surpassed all expectations by giving 230,504 individual donations and helping 2,874 Colorado nonprofits continue the good work they do in our communities every day.

"Coloradans know how to make good happen every day of the year, but especially on Colorado Gives Day," said Kelly Dunkin, President and CEO of Community First Foundation. "I believe COVID has made us all realize how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. People recognize more than ever how much nonprofits do to help keep us safe, healthy and thriving."

People who give on or schedule their donation for Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, Dec. 7 will find their donations boosted by a $1.6 million Incentive Fund. "Our Colorado business partners really stepped up to support local nonprofits by contributing to the incentive fund," said Dunkin. "Every nonprofit that receives a donation on Colorado Gives Day will get a piece of this fund, which means even more money is going to help our nonprofit community in Colorado."

FirstBank has been the corporate partner of Colorado Gives Day since the beginning, providing cash prizes, event support, incentive fund contributions and paid advertising.

"As a longtime corporate partner, it's been inspiring to watch giving in Colorado grow each year, especially in 2020 when local nonprofits needed support the most," said Kelly Kaminskas, President of Retail and Digital Banking for FirstBank and Community First Foundation board member. "Coloradans continue to exceed our expectations with their generosity, and we're confident they'll keep up the giving spirit this Colorado Gives Day."

Donors can search for local nonprofits on ColoradoGives.org to learn more and donate on Colorado Gives Day. Donations can also be scheduled now to process on Colorado Gives Day, and all donations, including scheduled donations, will be boosted by an incentive fund of $1.6 million.

Media notes:

Governor's Video Proclamation

More information on Colorado Gives Day 2021 is available online at ColoradoGives.org. For statistics on last year's Colorado Gives Day and year-over-year comparisons, please visit ColoradoGives.org/Data&Reports.

Photos you can use.

About Community First Foundation

Community First Foundation has been connecting donors and innovative Colorado nonprofits since 1975. As the community foundation serving Jefferson County, we are committed to connecting people, ideas and nonprofits so that all of Jeffco is thriving. We help donors with philanthropic planning, support nonprofits with grants and resources, and together, build resilient and connected communities. Our work is rooted in radical listening and a commitment to equity and inclusion.

About FirstBank

FirstBank began providing banking services in 1963. Today, it's known as an industry leader in digital banking and has grown to be one of the largest privately held banks in the United States, maintaining more than $25 billion in assets and 110 branch locations across Colorado, Arizona and California. FirstBank offers a variety of consumer deposit accounts, home equity loans, mortgages, rental property loans and a full range of commercial banking services, including business financing, commercial real estate loans, treasury management and more. Since 2000, FirstBank has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist, contributing nearly $75 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The company is also unique in that a large portion of its stock is owned by management and employees, giving employees a financial stake in the bank's success through its Employee Stock Ownership Program. For more information, visit www.efirstbank.com . MEMBER FDIC

Beth McConkey, 720.898.5919

[email protected]

Jake Holtrop, 713-205-0126

[email protected]

SOURCE Community First Foundation

Related Links

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In September, Immortals promoted its president & CCO Jordan Sherman to CEO. Sherman said, "As a Michigander and a University of Michigan alumnus, I know personally how much value gaming, through Immortals, can deliver to Great Lakes communities. We've observed the strides the GLR has made in making itself a destination of choice for growing companies, technological innovation, entrepreneurs, and emerging industries. All of these characteristics make the GLR an ideal market for competitive gaming, and Immortals aims to bring that opportunity to life."

Immortals said that while the demographics of the GLR suggest immense demand for gaming and esports, the region is woefully undersupplied with events, activations, and other experiences. Sherman added, "Immortals is in a position to be the gateway of esports and gaming in the Great Lakes, and to expose residents of all ages to very special and connective elements that gaming uniquely delivers."

Immortals has partnered with municipalities and local community groups across the region to amplify existing or to build new esports and competitive gaming events (i.e., tournaments, activations, and live events). These partnerships are designed to help create new jobs, retain talent, enrich communities, and otherwise contribute to regional economic growth and development in the GLR.

Immortals Executive Chairman Ari Segal said, "Immortals sees an opportunity for competitive gaming to be a driver of civic pride and economic growth in the GLR, and we want to be the catalyst."

In announcing its relocation to the Great Lakes Region, Immortals also announced several forthcoming events and ongoing initiatives, including:

Immortals x Wild Rift "Immortals Invasion" Takeover: From November 1-4, 2021 , the first-ever "Immortals Invasion," a Wild Rift takeover, kicks off in Ann Arbor, Michigan . In partnership with Riot Games, students can participate in community-driven events. To further awareness, all week-long, Immortals will host a series of events to introduce Riot Games' Wild Rift to students. Learn more about the events here .

"Immortals and Riot recognize the untapped potential for gaming and esports not only in the Great Lakes but midwest collegiate towns as a whole," said Chris Greeley, Head of NAOCE Esports at Riot Games. "We are excited to create on-campus esports experiences for students with Wild Rift."

University of Michigan Esports LAN Event: Immortals is supporting the University of Michigan's return to in-person LANs event on November 13 across ten gaming titles. Attendees will have the chance to win prizes and merchandise.

Student Group Collaborations: Since September, Immortals has worked with the Michigan Sport Consulting Group (MSCG) to conduct surveys, focus groups, and hands-on research to develop a connection with the community. The MSCG's market research and analysis informed Immortals on how to motivate and build awareness for esports and competitive gaming, specifically Wild Rift, among students. Through MSCG, Immortals was introduced to student influencers and brand ambassadors who will support onsite activations, including "Immortals Invasion" in Ann Arbor from Nov. 1-4 .

Gaming Business Summits: Immortals announced a series of Immortals Gaming Summits ("IGS"), through which it will engage directly and in-person with local businesses, political, business, and community leaders, school officials, and other interested parties to discuss how competitive gaming can be a positive catalyst of economic growth and community engagement. Immortals announced that IGS will launch in November 2021 , when the company will host its debut summits in Detroit, Michigan , Cincinnati, Ohio , and Columbus , Ohio.

Pro Teams: Immortals will add an all-women VALORANT team which will be based out of the Company's Great Lakes headquarters. Immortals' League of Legends team remains based in Los Angeles.

About Immortals

Founded in 2015, Immortals is a US-based esports and gaming organization that competes across multiple premier esports titles including League of Legends (LCS), VALORANT, and Wild Rift. Through its competitive operations as well as community-driven activations and initiatives, tournaments, partnerships, and more, Immortals is dedicated to using gaming as a connective force linking its players, fans, staff, and the broader gaming community.

For more information, please visit www.Immortals.gg and follow Immortals on Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube , and Snap .

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Immortals

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a leading global provider of consulting services to public sector and commercial clients, has named John Whitham a partner in its Health segment, supporting payer and provider growth strategies in the western US market. Three new directors have also joined the Guidehouse Health team to support its payer, provider, and public sector health offerings.

"John has a passion for developing optimal business partnerships that enhance performance, drive growth, and mitigate risk," said Alicia Harkness, Guidehouse partner and Health segment leader, who was named a 2021 Top Healthcare Executive to Watch by WashingtonExec. "We're already seeing the value he's bringing to the team, helping clients navigate complex decisions so they can better serve their communities."

A seasoned industry expert with 25 years of experience, Whitham has broad expertise in advising providers, IT vendors, payers, and the public sector on organizational strategic planning, IT effectiveness, enterprise resource planning modernization, digital transformation, revenue cycle optimization, operations improvement, and consumer access. This includes developing national healthcare IT practices as a principal consultant for ECG Management Consultants and JHD Healthcare Partners. Whitham has also served as a board member and trusted advisor to many of the leading health IT firms in the US, as well as for private equity-backed healthcare technology firms at varying stages of their growth and development.

Ranked by Modern Healthcare as the third largest healthcare management consulting firm in 2021, Guidehouse's Health segment integrates consulting and outsourcing expertise in both public sector and regulated commercial markets to solve healthcare's most complex challenges. This "OneHealth" approach enables Guidehouse clients to tap into talent across the company, helping them deliver informed, resilient, and innovative services to their communities and customers.

As the Health segment continues to grow and expand capabilities across payer, provider, life sciences, public sector, and state and local health settings, Guidehouse is proud to welcome the following experts to the team.

Joan Deming-Murphy, RN, MS, MBA, Director, Philadelphia

A senior healthcare practice leader with more than 30 years of healthcare operations and financial performance expertise, Deming-Murphy returns to Guidehouse after holding positions at KPMG and Huron. Deming-Murphy is focused on addressing and solving critical organizational issues around efficiency, productivity, and profitability. She blends her deep subject matter knowledge with advanced business and clinical degrees, as well as leadership experience to drive margin improvement, operational efficiency, and high-performing teams.

Chirag Patel, MA, Director, Chicago

Patel brings a diverse background to Guidehouse to support clients with customized strategic planning solutions. He is focused on helping healthcare leaders develop long-term enterprise and service line level plans and partnerships that are growth-oriented and sustainable. Patel has more than 15 years of collective experience as a health system executive leading business development and payer-provider partnerships at Carle Health, as well as an executive at Kaufman Hall and a consultant at Sg2.

Kaajal Singh, MHA, Director, Washington, DC

With 15 years in health strategy, operations, analytics, and leadership, Singh is an expert in the design, execution, and management of multimarket growth and innovation initiatives. A team builder and talent developer, she brings years of experience in collaborating with and across top-tier organizations to create value-based care delivery, population health, health equity, and payment strategies. Previously a leader at GE, Advisory Board Company, and Booz Allen Hamilton, Singh is also a founding member of Chief, enabling women to cross-pollinate ideas and advance their leadership journeys.

With 11 KLAS #1 rankings, including Best in KLAS for Strategy, Growth, and Consolidation Consulting in 2021, Guidehouse serves hospitals, health systems, government agencies, life sciences companies, employers, payers, and other healthcare organizations. The Guidehouse Health team has deep industry partnerships and decades of strategy, funding, policy, revenue cycle, digital and retail health, managed care, and managed services experience. Visit the Guidehouse Center for Health Insights for a complete view of payment, operational, and consumer disruption insights and solutions.

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has more than 12,000 professionals in over 50 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com.

Media Contact:

Guidehouse

Cecile Fradkin [email protected]

SOURCE Guidehouse

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STOCKHOLM, LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global retail bank today announces it has signed an agreement to acquire PriceRunner. PriceRunner will bring new features in the form of product reviews, rich product discovery and price comparisons to the Klarna app to enhance the shopping, payments and banking experience for consumers globally.

Klarna's seamless shopping experience from inspiration and product selection, to flexible payments and delivery, tracking and returns will be elevated by PriceRunner's daily price updates, reviews, professional tests and intelligent filtering options. This will enable a more engaging experience for Klarna's consumers. Klarna will add PriceRunner's functionality to its offering while Klarna's retail partners will benefit from enhanced behavior insight, increased website traffic from high intent consumers and optimized marketing opportunities to further drive their growth.

David Fock, Klarna's Chief Product Officer commented: "At Klarna we constantly strive to make the banking and payments experience the best it can be, empowering consumers from product discovery to paying in a way that suits them. The acquisition will serve to strengthen our bank, card and payment services and support a competitive global landscape. It also further cements that Klarna will not be a marketplace but a viable and competitive alternative for retail partners vs Amazon, Google and Facebook. The PriceRunner team is a talented, passionate group, which will be a perfect fit and we are excited about what we can achieve together."

Mikael Lindahl, PriceRunner's Chief Executive Officer commented: "We have spent the last five years rebuilding PriceRunner from scratch to create a best-in-class comparison shopping service while helping retail partners improve their business. We see Klarna as the ideal partner to accelerate growth and achieve our long-term vision to become the most loved comparison shopping service in the world."

The acquisition is subject to approval by regulatory authorities.

For additional information, please contact:

Aoife Houlihan, VP of Communications

Phone: +46 (0) 72855 8047

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

About Klarna

We make shopping smooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna's offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 250,000 retail partners, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 4,000 employees and is active in 17 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com.

About PriceRunner



PriceRunner is the leading comparison shopping service in the Nordic region. It has businesses in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom and compares 3.4 million products from 22,500 retailers in 25 countries. During the 12-month period ending on Sep 30, 2021, PriceRunner had revenues amounting to SEK 460 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 52 per cent. PriceRunner employs more than 170 people in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Every month, PriceRunner is used by millions of consumers to compare products, offers, attributes and to take part in professional product tests and user reviews of products and retailers.



PriceRunner is independent of all manufacturers, brands and retailers. Our mission is to help consumers to find the right products and the best deals. Every month, millions of consumers find better products and save money by using PriceRunner's services.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

SOURCE Klarna Bank AB (publ)
RESTON, Va., Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, was recently awarded a new task order by the Air Combat Command (ACC) Acquisition Management and Integration Center (AMIC) to support ACC intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. The single-award, firm-fixed price task order has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options, and a total contract value of approximately $531 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed at over 25 CONUS locations.

"Combating global threats requires our armed forces to possess and constantly obtain critical knowledge of the strategic, operational, and tactical environments," said Leidos Defense Group President Gerry Fasano. "We look forward to leveraging our more than 33 years of strategic intelligence experience and exceptional performance on the current ACC ISR program to support our warfighters in meeting the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime air defense."

Under the contract, Leidos will provide subject matter expertise and threat mitigation support for ACC ISR operations along with a full range of intelligence support and ISR operational services that encompass analysis and assessment support, ISR training support, and intelligence support for HQ ACC Staff, subordinate NAF Staffs, Centers, and Wings.

Headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, the AMIC provides services acquisition solutions for ACC, the largest of the Air Force's major commands.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company's 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.30 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 1, 2021, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

Contact:

Melissa Duenas

(571) 526-6850

[email protected]

Thomas Doheny

(571) 474-4735

[email protected]

Jalen Drummond

(571) 992-5046

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.Leidos.com


Lohmann: Mr. Delissen, you are visiting Lohmann today. Please describe your impressions. How have you liked it here so far? And Dr. Smit, what are your impressions of today's meeting here in the Bonding Arena at the Lohmann TEC Center Neuwied?

Hugo Delissen: My goal is to get to know Lohmann in detail. In order to make the most of the time, we started the day at 9 a.m. today. I am impressed, because with Lohmann we have exactly the partner at our side that can support startups in the materials management and chemicals sector. What do startups need? Well, first of all, time and money. But also technical expertise in the field in which they want to establish themselves on the market, and access to a relevant network, of course. Companies like Lohmann provide effective startup support for this.

Dr. Evert Smit: Startups quickly reach the point where they need specific technical support. For example, it is important to test the products in a real environment and in the presence of industry experts before they are launched on the market. It is also a matter of providing expertise to the "industry newcomers" and familiarizing them with market-specific processes and applications. I am pleased that we at Lohmann can support startups in this. And, of course, to be able to show Mr. Delissen our company, that is rich in tradition, today.

Hugo Delissen: The task of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, in turn, is primarily to provide support in material development. However, we are limited when it comes to the subsequent application; Lohmann takes over this part. Only here can the industrial environment be realistically demonstrated. We in Geleen, the Netherlands, are more the laboratory, Lohmann the factory.

Dr. Evert Smit: It is the perfect combination of both elements. Lohmann's job, for example, is to ensure that the startups offer something that is actually in demand on the market. Ideally, the young companies then produce something that is also useful for our company.

Lohmann: The Startup Challenge is a joint project between Brightlands and Lohmann. As an observer, how should you imagine the practical implementation at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus when the interested parties arrive there?

Hugo Delissen: That is based on the needs of the start-ups. We usually start by working together on a technical innovation or product. Then an existing business model or business plan has to be further elaborated. In a sense, a story has to be written about how the company should ultimately be set up. We also provide support with this story and with financing. Because only with a resilient concept it is possible for us to mobilize money. In addition, we offer premises in Geleen where the preliminary work takes place. We are currently looking for start-ups that would like to operate in Lohmann's field of business and could become interesting partners for Neuwied.

Dr. Evert Smit: As mentioned, we then take on the technical part and provide support on the subject of applications. It is also important to build up a network of suppliers for the newly founded companies. This is a real difficulty for startups, especially at the beginning. For us as a large and established company, this is much easier. In the end, we then see how the joint path continues. Will the startup become completely independent, or will it function as a joint venture of Lohmann? That remains to be seen.

Lohmann: How did the idea for the joint startup challenge come about in the first place? What is the story behind this project?

Dr. Evert Smit: The current CTO of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Eric Appelman, is a former colleague of mine. We have a personal friendship during which we have had many conversations. Last summer, we talked about my new position as Director of Scouting at Lohmann. Eric wanted to know all about it, and that's how we came up with the idea of getting involved in startups together. The important thing now is to communicate this project well. To this end, we have also launched a website online. Ultimately, however, we can only effectively support two to three startups. 20, for example, would be absolutely unfeasible for us. The few, however, have to be a perfect thematic fit for us.

Lohmann: Although the project is still in its infancy, I would like to ask you this: Could you already imagine that Lohmann will remain active in the area of startup support in the future?

Dr. Evert Smit: As you rightly say, we are only at the beginning. For Lohmann, working with startups is a first. Of course, it may be that we do it more often.

Hugo Delissen: I am also optimistic about this, because especially in times of growing sustainability, it is important to create a culture of innovation in as many companies as possible. It's not enough just to establish this in your own organization. Sustainable innovations are created together. Our campus has precisely this task. We want to unite people who want to create innovations in the field of materials science and renewable chemistry. That's why we also host joint events and group sports. People meet each other and get ideas.

Dr. Evert Smit: If the Challenge is a success, we will certainly repeat it. Even if we "only" gain insights and don't produce a new startup, it's worth repeating. Only if it really brings no benefit at all will we do without it in the future.

Hugo Delissen: But even in this "worst case" we have achieved a minimum goal: We have done active marketing. And people will say about Lohmann: They have done something that no one has done before.

Lohmann: Mr. Delissen, is there a specific success story about a company that was "born" as a startup at Brightlands Chemelot Campus?

Hugo Delissen: Yes, quite a few, actually. In the past five years, we have supported more than 100 startups. The most successful example is certainly Avantium  a company specializing in renewable chemicals. Its best-known product is PEF, a further development of PET, which we know from drinking bottles. And that's exactly the goal of my scouting: to recruit startup candidates, who make materials and manufacturing processes more sustainable.

Lohmann: Our in-house product TwinMelt is a good example of this, the solutions without solvents. Have you already become acquainted with that?

Hugo Delissen: Not yet, but it will be presented to me this evening in Koblenz. I am already very excited about it. And it really is a good example! Generally speaking, if you don't focus on sustainability today, you will soon stop earning money.

Dr. Evert Smit: Once again, back to the topic of sustainability. The cooperation with Brightlands Chemelot Campus is also extremely valuable for our own sustainability strategy. During my visits to Geleen, I have repeatedly discovered things and concepts that will also make Lohmann a more sustainable company in the future. So, we learn from each other!

Lohmann: And what else is on the agenda for you two today? You mentioned, after all, that you will also be visiting Koblenz.

Hugo Delissen: After we have already looked at Lohmann's laboratories together and had lunch with employees, a tour of the polymerization and glaze departments will follow directly after this appointment. And after that we will go to Koblenz. I am already very excited!

Sonja Schobitz

Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG

Irlicher Strae 55

56567 Neuwied / Germany

+49 02631 34 6040

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676562/Lohmann_Bonding_Arena.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1671784/Lohmann_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October sales of 19,519 vehicles, a decrease of 14.1 percent compared to October 2020. Year-to-date sales totaled 292,732 vehicles; an increase of 29.5 percent compared to the same time last year. With 27 selling days in October, compared to 28 the year prior, the company posted a decrease of 11 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 5,186 vehicles in October, a decrease of 18 percent compared to October 2020.

Mazda Reports October Sales Results

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported October sales of 4,836 vehicles, a decrease of 24.6 percent compared to October last year. Year-to-date sales increased 19.2 percent with 57,278 vehicles sold.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported October sales of 4,416 vehicles, a decrease of 0.3 percent compared to October last year. Year-to-date sales increased 5.3 percent, with 37,380 vehicles sold.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through approximately 780 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

























Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date

























October October YOY % % MTD

October October YOY % % MTD



2021 2020 Change DSR

2021 2020 Change DSR























Mazda3 2,514 2,570 (2.2)% 1.4%

33,133 27,739 19.4% 20.9%

Mazda6 815 1,356 (39.9)% (37.7)%

15,086 13,306 13.4% 14.7%

MX-5 Miata 492 851 (42.2)% (40.0)%

10,100 7,503 34.6% 36.2%

CX-3 1 473 (99.8)% (99.8)%

5,100 7,485 (31.9)% (31.1)%

CX-30 3,147 3,214 (2.1)% 1.5%

50,621 31,007 63.3% 65.2%

CX-5 10,177 11,890 (14.4)% (11.2)%

147,520 116,147 27.0% 28.5%

CX-9 2,373 2,382 (0.4)% 3.3%

31,172 22,794 36.8% 38.4%













































CARS 3,821 4,777 (20.0)% (17.1)%

58,319 48,548 20.1% 21.5%

TRUCKS 15,698 17,959 (12.6)% (9.4)%

234,413 177,433 32.1% 33.7%























TOTAL 19,519 22,736 (14.1)% (11.0)%

292,732 225,981 29.5% 31.1%













































*Selling Days 27 28





255 258





























SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Related Links

www.mazdausa.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings, LLC (NYSE: MIC) (the "Company") today announced its financial and operational results from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2021.

"Our reported results reflect the previously announced closing of the sale of Atlantic Aviation which resulted in a distribution of $37.386817 per unit in cash on October 7, 2021," said Christopher Frost, chief executive officer of MIC. "We continue to expect the merger of the Company with an entity managed by Argo Infrastructure Partners, LP will be concluded in the first half of 2022 and result in consideration of $3.83 per unit in cash being distributed."

"Following the sale of Atlantic Aviation, holders of the Company's 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes, due in 2023, were entitled to put their notes to us at par plus accrued interest. Approximately $26.9 million of Notes were repurchased on October 22, 2021, leaving approximately $6.8 million outstanding," Frost added.

Financial and Operational Results

MIC's results from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2021 reflect improving conditions for its businesses as the number of visitors to Hawaii continued to recover from COVID-induced lows. Visitors to the islands increased to approximately 79% of pre-pandemic levels during the period. The resulting increase in hotel occupancy and restaurant patronage contributed to a 47% increase in gas consumption compared with the third quarter of 2020 ("prior comparable period").

The financial impact of the increased consumption was partially offset by a higher wholesale cost of Liquified Petroleum Gas ("LPG") distributed by Hawaii Gas. Overall gas consumption was 7% below the levels recorded in the third quarter of 2019.

Each of MIC's key financial performance metrics reflect the impact of increased expenses of approximately $280.2 million primarily associated with the sale of its Atlantic Aviation business and with the Company's reorganization as a limited liability company.

MIC recorded a net loss from continuing operations of $274.7 million in the third quarter compared with a net loss of $5.5 million in the prior comparable period.

The Company reported Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items from continuing operations of $9.0 million for the quarter, versus $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2020.

MIC used $271.5 million of cash in operating activities during the quarter compared with cash generated of $1.5 million in the prior comparable period.

The Company reported Adjusted Free Cash Flow from continuing operations of $7.9 million for the quarter, versus $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Summary Financial Information



Quarter Ended

September 30,

Change Favorable/ (Unfavorable)

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

Change Favorable/ (Unfavorable)

2021

2020

$

%

2021

2020

$

%

($ In Thousands, Except Unit and Per Unit Data) (Unaudited) GAAP Metrics





























Continuing Operations





























Net loss $ (274,651)



$ (5,490)



(269,161)



NM

$ (296,461)



$ (25,192)



(271,269)



NM Net loss per unit attributable to MIH (3.12)



(0.06)



(3.06)



NM

(3.38)



(0.29)



(3.09)



NM Cash (used in) provided by operating activities (271,548)



1,462



(273,010)



NM

(292,199)



(1,324)



(290,875)



NM Discontinued Operations





























Net income (loss) $ 2,954,444



$ (887,880)



3,842,324



NM

$ 2,996,984



$ (864,249)



3,861,233



NM Net income (loss) per unit attributable to MIH 33.61



(10.20)



43.81



NM

34.19



(9.95)



44.14



NM Cash provided by operating activities 47,860



108,125



(60,265)



(56)



28,965



283,506



(254,541)



(90)

Weighted average number of units outstanding: basic 87,891,018



87,030,751



860,267



1



87,645,390



86,864,951



780,439



1

MIH Non-GAAP Metrics





























EBITDA excluding non-cash items - continuing operations $ (271,181)



$ 2,052



(273,233)



NM

$ (260,248)



$ 8,258



(268,506)



NM Investment and acquisition/disposition costs 280,161



3,335



276,826



NM

291,036



16,161



274,875



NM Adjusted EBITDA excluding non - cash itemscontinuing operations 8,980



5,387



3,593



67



30,788



24,419



6,369



26

Cash interest (616)



(3,546)



2,930



83



(9,478)



(10,935)



1,457



13

Cash taxes 1,580



1,765



(185)



(10)



5,935



7,973



(2,038)



(26)

Maintenance capital expenditures (2,007)



(1,389)



(618)



(44)



(4,767)



(5,435)



668



12

Adjusted Free Cash Flow - continuing operations $ 7,937



$ 2,217



5,720



NM

$ 22,478



$ 16,022



6,456



40











NM  Not meaningful.

About MIC

MIC owns and operates businesses providing energy services, production and distribution in Hawaii. For additional information, please visit the MIC website at www.macquarie.com/mic.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow

In addition to MIC's results under U.S. GAAP, the Company uses the non-GAAP measures EBITDA excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow to assess the performance and prospects of its businesses.

MIC measures EBITDA excluding non-cash items as a reflection of its ability to effectively manage the volume of products sold or services provided, the operating margin earned on those transactions and the management of operating expenses independent of its capitalization and tax attributes. The Company believes investors use EBITDA excluding non-cash items primarily to assess the operating performance of its businesses and to make comparisons with the operating performance of other businesses whose depreciation and amortization expense may vary widely from MIC's, particularly where acquisitions and other non-operating factors are involved. MIC defines EBITDA excluding non-cash items as net income (loss) or earnings the most comparable GAAP measure before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and non-cash items including impairments, unrealized derivative gains and losses, adjustments for other non-cash items and pension expense reflected in the statements of operations. Other non-cash expenses, net, excludes the adjustment to bad debt expense related to the specific reserve component, net of recoveries. EBITDA excluding non-cash items also excludes base management fees and performance fees, if any, whether paid in cash or stock.

The Company's is an owner of high-value, long-lived assets capable of generating substantial Free Cash Flow. MIC defines Free Cash Flow as cash from operating activities the most comparable GAAP measure  less maintenance capital expenditures and adjusted for changes in working capital.

Management uses Free Cash Flow as a measure of its ability to fund acquisitions, invest in growth projects and to reduce or repay indebtedness. GAAP metrics such as net income (loss) do not provide MIC management with the same level of visibility into the performance and prospects of the business as a result of: (i) the capital intensive nature of its operations and the generation of non-cash depreciation and amortization; (ii) units issued to the Company's external manager under the Management Services Agreement, (iii) the Company's ability to defer all or a portion of current federal income taxes; (iv) non-cash mark-to-market adjustment of the value of derivative instruments; (v) gains (losses) related to the write-off or disposal of assets or liabilities, (vi) non-cash compensation expense incurred in relation to the incentive plans for senior management of the Company's operating business; and (vii) pension expense. Pension expenses primarily consist of interest expense, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial and performance gains and losses. Any cash contributions to pension plans are reflected as a reduction in Free Cash Flow and are not included in pension expense. Management believes that external consumers of its financial statements, including investors and research analysts, use Free Cash Flow to assess the Company's ability to fund acquisitions, invest in growth projects and reduce or repay indebtedness.

Management believes that both EBITDA excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow support a more complete and accurate understanding of the financial and operating performance of its businesses than would otherwise be achieved using GAAP results alone.

Free Cash Flow does not take into consideration required payments on indebtedness and other fixed obligations or other cash items that are excluded from MIC's definition of Free Cash Flow. Management notes that Free Cash Flow may be calculated differently by other companies thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Free Cash Flow should be used as a supplemental measure to help understand MIC's financial performance and not in lieu of its financial results reported under GAAP.

See the tables below for a reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to EBITDA excluding non-cash items from continuing operations and a reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations to Free Cash Flow from continuing operations.

Classification of Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Growth Capital Expenditures

MIC categorizes capital expenditures as either maintenance capital expenditures or growth capital expenditures. As neither maintenance capital expenditure nor growth capital expenditure is a GAAP term, the Company has adopted a framework to categorize specific capital expenditures. In broad terms, maintenance capital expenditures primarily maintain MIC's current levels of operations, capability, profitability, or cash flow, while growth capital expenditures primarily provide new or enhanced levels of operations, capability, profitability, or cash flow. Management considers various factors in determining whether a specific capital expenditure will be classified as maintenance or growth.

MIC does not bifurcate specific capital expenditures into growth and maintenance components. Each discrete capital expenditure is considered within the above framework and the entire capital expenditure is classified as either maintenance or growth.

Disclaimer on Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements. The Company may, in some cases, use words such as "project," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "potentially" or "may" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning the Company's expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, statements regarding the proposed sale of the Company and the anticipated uses of any proceeds therefrom, statements regarding the anticipated specific and overall impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. Forward-looking statements in this communication are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including, among other things: changes in general economic or business conditions; the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company's ability to complete the announced sale; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed transaction; the risk that conditions to closing of the proposed transaction are not satisfied, including the failure to timely obtain the requisite approvals or regulatory clearances; the occurrence of any event giving rise to a termination of the proposed transaction; the Company's ability to service, comply with the terms of and refinance debt; its ability to retain or replace qualified employees; in the absence of a sale, its ability to complete growth projects, deploy growth capital and manage growth, make and finance future acquisitions and implement its strategy; the regulatory environment; demographic trends; the political environment; the economy, tourism, construction and transportation costs; air travel; environmental costs and risks; fuel and gas and other commodity costs; the Company's ability to recover increases in costs from customers; cybersecurity risks; work interruptions or other labor stoppages; risks associated with acquisitions or dispositions; litigation risks; reliance on sole or limited source suppliers, risks or conflicts of interests involving the Company's relationship with the Macquarie Group; and changes in U.S. federal tax law. These and other risks and uncertainties are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in its other reports filed from time to time with the SEC.

The Company's actual results, performance, prospects, or opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Additional risks of which the Company is not currently aware could also cause its actual results to differ. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS, LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS ($ in Thousands, Except Unit Data)



September 30, 2021

December 31,

2020

(Unaudited)



ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,371,973



$ 1,518,108

Restricted cash 955



1,036

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 25,279



23,113

Inventories 10,543



9,564

Prepaid expenses 4,334



2,212

Other current assets 6,924



1,715

Current assets held for sale(1) 



2,185,002

Total current assets 3,420,008



3,740,750

Property, equipment, land and leasehold improvements, net 296,637



297,375

Operating lease assets, net 11,455



9,878

Goodwill 120,193



120,193

Intangible assets, net 4,604



4,923

Other noncurrent assets 11,067



5,520

Total assets $ 3,863,964



$ 4,178,639

LIABILITIES AND UNITHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Due to Manager-related party $ 57



$ 1,203

Accounts payable 6,820



13,082

Accrued expenses 18,891



17,798

Current portion of long-term debt 28,292



1,060

Distribution payable 3,297,420



960,981

Operating lease liabilities - current 1,829



2,019

Other current liabilities 4,755



9,591

Current liabilities held for sale(1) 



1,613,830

Total current liabilities 3,358,064



2,619,564

Long-term debt, net of current portion 97,861



578,169

Deferred income taxes 27,294



26,453

Operating lease liabilities - noncurrent 9,581



7,869

Other noncurrent liabilities 53,647



53,278

Total liabilities 3,546,447



3,285,333

Commitments and contingencies 





Unitholders' equity(2):





Common Units paid in capital (500,000,000 authorized; 88,197,409 units issued and outstanding on September 30, 2021 and 87,361,929 units issued and outstanding on December 31, 2020) 192,207



178,062

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,171)



(6,175)

Retained earnings 123,027



713,129

Total unitholders' equity 309,063



885,016

Noncontrolling interests 8,454



8,290

Total equity 317,517



893,306

Total liabilities and equity $ 3,863,964



$ 4,178,639















(1) See Note 4, "Discontinued Operations and Dispositions", in our Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part I of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, for discussions on businesses classified as held for sale.



(2) The Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 preferred units. On September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, no preferred units were issued or outstanding. The Company had 100 special units issued and outstanding to its Manager on September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS, LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited) ($ in Thousands, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)



Quarter Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020 Revenue













Product revenue $ 60,086



$ 39,036



$ 173,413



$ 136,293

Total revenue 60,086



39,036



173,413



136,293

Costs and expenses













Cost of product sales 40,613



25,059



113,203



85,218

Selling, general and administrative 61,704



11,135



88,429



40,561

Disposition payment to Manager 228,551







228,570





Total Selling, general and administrative 290,255



11,135



316,999



40,561

Fees to Manager - related party 7,698



4,980



20,801



16,160

Depreciation 3,757



3,717



11,133



10,906

Amortization of intangibles 107



105



319



318

Total operating expenses 342,430



44,996



462,455



153,163

Operating loss (282,344)



(5,960)



(289,042)



(16,870)

Other income (expense)













Interest income 6



(42)



22



22

Interest expense(1) (948)



(4,905)



(13,991)



(16,215)

Other income (expense), net 180



(769)



(238)



(937)

Net loss from continuing operations before income taxes (283,106)



(11,676)



(303,249)



(34,000)

Benefit for income taxes 8,455



6,186



6,788



8,808

Net loss from continuing operations (274,651)



(5,490)



(296,461)



(25,192)

















Discontinued Operations(2)













Net income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes 3,004,955



(718,061)



3,063,442



(688,499)

Provision for income taxes (50,511)



(169,819)



(66,458)



(175,750)

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 2,954,444



(887,880)



2,996,984



(864,249)

Net income (loss) 2,679,793



(893,370)



2,700,523



(889,441)

















Net loss from continuing operations (274,651)



(5,490)



(296,461)



(25,192)

Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest (14)



(122)



167



459

Net loss from continuing operations attributable to MIH (274,637)



(5,368)



(296,628)



(25,651)

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 2,954,444



(887,880)



2,996,984



(864,249)

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MIH

2,954,444





(887,880)





2,996,984





(864,249)

Net income (loss) attributable to MIH $ 2,679,807



$ (893,248)



$ 2,700,356



$ (889,900)

















Basic loss per units from continuing operations attributable to MIH $ (3.12)



$ (0.06)



$ (3.38)



$ (0.29)

Basic income (loss) per units from discontinued operations attributable to MIH 33.61



(10.20)



34.19



(9.95)

Basic income (loss) per units attributable to MIH $ 30.49



$ (10.26)



$ 30.81



$ (10.24)

Weighted average number of units outstanding: basic 87,891,018



87,030,751



87,645,390



86,864,951

















Diluted loss per unit from continuing operations attributable to MIH $ (3.12)



$ (0.06)



$ (3.38)



$ (0.29)

Diluted income (loss) per unit from discontinued operations attributable to MIH 33.61



(10.20)



34.19



(9.95)

Diluted income (loss) per unit attributable to MIH $ 30.49



$ (10.26)



$ 30.81



$ (10.24)

Weighted average number of units outstanding: diluted 87,891,018



87,030,751



87,645,390



86,864,951

Cash distributions declared per unit $ 37.386817



$ 



$ 37.386817



$ 















(1) Interest expense includes non-cash gains on derivative instruments of $8,000 and $213,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared with non-cash losses of $7,000 and $963,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.



(2) See Note 4, "Discontinued Operations and Dispositions", in our Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part I of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, for discussions on businesses classified as held for sale.

MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS, LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited) ($ in Thousands)



Nine Months Ended September 30,

2021

2020 Operating activities





Net loss from continuing operations $ (296,461)



$ (25,192)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations:





Depreciation 11,133



10,906

Amortization of intangibles 319



318

Write-off of debt financing costs 4,170



2,882

Amortization of debt discount and financing costs 664



1,414

Adjustments to derivative instruments (7,628)



(4,290)

Fees to Manager - related party 20,801



16,160

Deferred taxes (853)



(835)

Other non-cash expense, net 4,274



4,085

Changes in other assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:





Accounts receivable (2,065)



6,764

Inventories (2,142)



(272)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets (3,834)



(1,531)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses (6,841)



(3,376)

Income taxes payable (6,837)



(10,472)

Other, net (6,899)



2,115

Net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations (292,199)



(1,324)

Investing activities





Purchases of property and equipment (10,314)



(10,790)

Other, net 72



36

Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations (10,242)



(10,754)

Financing activities





Payment of long-term debt (469,253)



(1,003)

Dividends paid to common unitholders (960,981)





Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest (3)



(3)

Debt financing costs paid (292)





Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations (1,430,529)



(1,006)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash from continuing operations (1,732,970)



(13,084)



MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS, LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  (continued)

(Unaudited) ($ in Thousands)



Nine Months Ended September 30,

2021

2020 Cash flows provided by (used in) discontinued operations:





Net cash provided by operating activities $ 28,965



$ 283,506

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 3,242,836



(192,913)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (5,123)



55,120

Net cash provided by discontinued operations 3,266,678



145,713

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 



(255)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 1,533,708



132,374

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period 1,839,220



358,565

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $ 3,372,928



$ 490,939

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:





Non-cash investing and financing activities:





Accrued purchases of property and equipment from continuing operations $ 680



$ 443

Accrued purchases of property and equipment from discontinued operations 4,201



14,848

Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities from discontinued operations 14,666



9,419

Cash distribution declared, but not yet paid 3,297,420





Taxes received, net, from continuing operations (625)





Taxes paid, net, from discontinued operations 143,906



4,970

Interest paid, net, from continuing operations 12,901



10,165

Interest paid, net, from discontinued operations 29,616



68,544



The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash from both continuing and discontinued operations reported within the consolidated condensed balance sheets that is presented in the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows:



As of September 30,

2021

2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,371,973



$ 32,667

Restricted cash - current 955



1,374

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash included in assets held for sale 



456,898

Total of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows $ 3,372,928



$ 490,939



MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  MD&A



Quarter Ended

September 30,

Change Favorable/(Unfavorable)

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

Change Favorable/(Unfavorable)

2021

2020

$

%

2021

2020

$

%

($ In Thousands, Except Unit and Per Unit Data) (Unaudited) Revenue





























Product revenue $ 60,086



$ 39,036



21,050



54



$ 173,413



$ 136,293



37,120



27

Total revenue 60,086



39,036



21,050



54



173,413



136,293



37,120



27

Costs and expenses





























Cost of product sales 40,613



25,059



(15,554)



(62)



113,203



85,218



(27,985)



(33)

Selling, general and administrative 61,704



11,135



(50,569)



NM



88,429



40,561



(47,868)



(118)

Disposition payment to Manager 228,551







(228,551)



NM



228,570







(228,570)



NM

Total Selling, general and administrative 290,255



11,135



(279,120)



NM



316,999



40,561



(276,438)



NM

Fees to Manager - related party 7,698



4,980



(2,718)



(55)



20,801



16,160



(4,641)



(29)

Depreciation and amortization 3,864



3,822



(42)



(1)



11,452



11,224



(228)



(2)

Total operating expenses 342,430



44,996



(297,434)



NM



462,455



153,163



(309,292)



NM

Operating loss (282,344)



(5,960)



(276,384)



NM



(289,042)



(16,870)



(272,172)



NM

Other income (expense)





























Interest income 6



(42)



48



114



22



22









Interest expense(1) (948)



(4,905)



3,957



81



(13,991)



(16,215)



2,224



14

Other income (expense), net 180



(769)



949



123



(238)



(937)



699



75

Net loss from continuing operations before income taxes (283,106)



(11,676)



(271,430)



NM



(303,249)



(34,000)



(269,249)



NM

Benefit for income taxes 8,455



6,186



2,269



37



6,788



8,808



(2,020)



(23)

Net loss from continuing operations (274,651)



(5,490)



(269,161)



NM



(296,461)



(25,192)



(271,269)



NM

































Discontinued Operations





























Net income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes 3,004,955



(718,061)



3,723,016



NM



3,063,442



(688,499)



3,751,941



NM

Provision for income taxes (50,511)



(169,819)



119,308



70



(66,458)



(175,750)



109,292



62

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 2,954,444



(887,880)



3,842,324



NM



2,996,984



(864,249)



3,861,233



NM

Net income (loss) 2,679,793



(893,370)



3,573,163



NM



2,700,523



(889,441)



3,589,964



NM

































Net loss from continuing operations (274,651)



(5,490)



(269,161)



NM



(296,461)



(25,192)



(271,269)



NM

Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests (14)



(122)



(108)



(89)



167



459



292



64

Net loss from continuing operations attributable to MIH (274,637)



(5,368)



(269,269)



NM



(296,628)



(25,651)



(270,977)



NM

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 2,954,444



(887,880)



3,842,324



NM



2,996,984



(864,249)



3,861,233



NM

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MIH 2,954,444



(887,880)



3,842,324



NM



2,996,984



(864,249)



3,861,233



NM

Net income (loss) attributable to MIH $ 2,679,807



$ (893,248)



3,573,055



NM



$ 2,700,356



$ (889,900)



3,590,256



NM

































Basic loss per unit from continuing operations attributable to MIH $ (3.12)



$ (0.06)



(3.06)



NM



$ (3.38)



$ (0.29)



(3.09)



NM

Basic income (loss) per unit from discontinued operations attributable to MIH 33.61



(10.20)



43.81



NM



34.19



(9.95)



44.14



NM

Basic income (loss) per unit attributable to MIH $ 30.49



$ (10.26)



40.75



NM



$ 30.81



$ (10.24)



41.05



NM

Weighted average number of units outstanding: basic 87,891,018



87,030,751



860,267



1



87,645,390



86,864,951



780,439



1















NM  Not meaningful.



(1) Interest expense includes non-cash gains on derivative instruments of $8,000 and $213,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared with non-cash losses of $7,000 and $963,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS, LLC

RECONCILIATION OF CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS TO EBITDA EXCLUDING NON-CASH ITEMS AND A RECONCILIATION FROM CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW



Quarter Ended September 30,

Change Favorable/(Unfavorable)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

Change Favorable/(Unfavorable)

2021

2020

$

%

2021

2020

$

%

($ In Thousands) (Unaudited) Net loss from continuing operations $ (274,651)



$ (5,490)











$ (296,461)



$ (25,192)









Interest expense, net(1) 942



4,947











13,969



16,193









Benefit for income taxes (8,455)



(6,186)











(6,788)



(8,808)









Depreciation and amortization 3,864



3,822











11,452



11,224









Fees to Manager - related party 7,698



4,980











20,801



16,160









Other non-cash income, net(2) (579)



(21)











(3,221)



(1,319)









EBITDA excluding non-cash items - continuing operations $ (271,181)



$ 2,052



(273,233)



NM

$ (260,248)



$ 8,258



(268,506)



NM































EBITDA excluding non-cash items - continuing operations $ (271,181)



$ 2,052











$ (260,248)



$ 8,258









Interest expense, net(1) (942)



(4,947)











(13,969)



(16,193)









Non-cash interest expense, net(1) 326



1,401











4,491



5,258









Benefit for current income taxes 1,580



1,765











5,935



7,973









Changes in working capital (1,331)



1,191











(28,408)



(6,620)









Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - continuing operations (271,548)



1,462











(292,199)



(1,324)









Changes in working capital 1,331



(1,191)











28,408



6,620









Maintenance capital expenditures (2,007)



(1,389)











(4,767)



(5,435)









Free cash flow - continuing operations $ (272,224)



$ (1,118)



(271,106)



NM

$ (268,558)



$ (139)



(268,419)



NM













NM  Not meaningful.



(1) Interest expense, net, includes non-cash adjustments to derivative instruments, non-cash amortization of debt financing fees, and non-cash amortization of debt discount related to our 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021, interest expense also includes non-cash write-offs of debt financing costs related to the repurchase of our 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes and the full repayment of $100.0 million of senior secured notes at Hawaii Gas. In connection with the repayment of the Hawaii Gas $100.0 million senior secured notes, the Company paid a $4.7 million 'make-whole' payment.



(2) Other non-cash income, net, includes primarily non-cash mark-to-market adjustment of the value of the commodity hedge contracts, non-cash compensation expense incurred in relation to the incentive plans for senior management of our operating businesses, and non-cash gains (losses) related to the write-off or disposal of assets or liabilities. Other non-cash income, net, excludes the adjustment to bad debt expense related to the specific reserve component, net of recoveries, for which this adjustment is reported in working capital in the above table. See "Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow" above for further discussion.

SOURCE Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings, LLC
BOSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new student-led project has officially launched under the Center for Law and Social Responsibility at New England Law | Boston: The Identity Affirmation Project.

Learn more at www.nesl.edu/IAP .

Law students Katharine Nakaue and Greg Newman-Martinez co-founded the Identity Affirmation Project at New England Law | Boston to assist transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals through the legal name change process.

Founded by law students Katharine Nakaue (she/they) and Greg Newman-Martinez (he/him), both in the evening program at New England Law, the Identity Affirmation Project aims to assist transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people in the process of legally changing their name or gender marker in Massachusetts, including probate court filings.

When a person identifies by a name or gender other than what was assigned at birth, they may seek to legally change their name or gender marker so official documents match their identity. The project's mission is to guide people through often overwhelming legal steps at no cost.

After months of research, building community connections, and securing final approval from the Law Center's Director, Professor David Siegel (he/him), the Identity Affirmation Project (IAP) is officially accepting participant inquiry forms from individuals who wish to start the legal name change process. For now, participants must be U.S. citizens, Massachusetts residents, and at least 18 years of age.

Co-founder Greg Newman-Martinez says they hope to expand services as the project grows. "We are so excited to be able to fill this need and provide some peace of mind for trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming adults in Massachusetts. During the pilot phase, we successfully assisted several clients and also discovered that we would be able to take on more clients than originally anticipated. My hope, in addition to seeing this project continue to grow, is that similar services will be available across the country, and ultimately that these processes will become less burdensome."

The probate filing process is often the most difficult to navigate. IAP participants receive assistance filing in probate court, and with name or gender marker changes on the following documentation:

Social Security Card

MA Driver's License

U.S. Passport

MA Birth Certificate

Other documents as needed

Fees associated with these documents may apply. Services through the Identity Affirmation Project are provided at no cost to the participant and volunteers can assist with seeking a waiver for court fees. Student volunteers guide participants through the probate and documentation processes with oversight from the project's faculty advisor, Director of the Center for Law and Social Responsibility at New England Law, Professor David Siegel.

Siegel explained the importance of such work for the students as well as the individuals receiving assistance. "Fostering student-initiated, student-driven, and student-led projects like this is exactly why we created the Center for Law and Social Responsibility. Students who recognize critical legal needs and develop ways to meet them become lawyers who have impact."

For more details, contact information, and an inquiry form for interested participants, visit www.nesl.edu/IAP .

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND LAW | BOSTON

New England Law | Boston was founded in 1908 as Portia Law School, the first and only law school established exclusively for the education of women. Today, New England Law offers its co-ed student body flexible, convenient programs that combine rigorous academics, dynamic community, and early access to practical experience, as well as a diverse, global alumni network spanning 29 countries, 50 states, and 99 practice areas. For more information, visit www.nesl.edu .

SOURCE New England Law | Boston

Related Links

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HUNTINGTON, Ind., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc., (OTCQB: NIDB), the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, is proud to announce the Corporation has increased the cash dividend paid to shareholders for the 27th year in a row.

The cash dividend of $0.30 per common share per quarter represents a $0.02 per share or 7.1% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. President and CEO Michael S. Zahn stated, "We are pleased to reward our shareholders with our 27th consecutive year of increasing our cash dividend. Due to our continued strong financial performance and capital levels, the Board of Directors feels the dividend increase is warranted." The dividend will be payable on November 26, 2021 to shareholders of record on November 11, 2021. This makes an annualized dividend yield of 2.7% based on a closing price of $44.50 per common share, which was the last reported trade on October 27, 2021. The book value of NIDB's stock was $40.75 per common share as of September 30, 2021 with 1,202,985 shares outstanding.

In addition, Christopher D. Cook had joined the bank on October 25th, 2021, assuming the role of Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. Cook has over 25 years of banking experience and has 10 years of experience as CFO at another institution. In addition, Cook was appointed to the Board of Directors for both the Bank and the Holding Company. Zahn comments, "We are extremely excited to welcome Chris to our team. His vast banking experience and expertise will immediately add value to the organization." Cook is a Certified Public Accountant along with a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's of Business Administration from Ball State University and completed the Graduate School of Banking in Madison WI.

Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered at 648 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, Indiana. The company offers a full array of banking and financial brokerage services to its customers through its main office in Huntington and five full-service Indiana offices in Huntington (2), Warsaw and Fort Wayne (2). The Company is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) utilizing the OTCQB platform under the symbol "NIDB". Our web site address is www.firstfedindiana.bank.

SOURCE Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.firstfedindiana.bank


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NuggMD , the nation's leading medical marijuana telemedicine platform, launched its platform for patients in Maine and Maryland today, bringing the total number of markets covered to thirteen. NuggMD has connected over 800,000 patients with fully-licensed medical marijuana practitioners since 2016.

NuggMD's latest expansion brings their network of knowledgeable, state-licensed medical marijuana practitioners directly to the homes of residents in Maryland and Maine through their state-of-the-art virtual telemedicine platform.

While having a medical marijuana certification is the only way to legally access cannabis in Maryland, Maine allows recreational sales. Despite full legalization, nearly 5% of Maine's population are medical marijuana patients. Roughly 90% of Maine's cities and towns don't allow recreational sales, so the medical marijuana market remains stronger than ever.

"Adult-use cannabis may be legal in Maine, but we're fully aware of the specific care that the medical marijuana community requires based on our patient relationships in other states," said NuggMD co-founder and CMO Alex Milligan. "We champion the advocates in Maine who banded together earlier this year to allow caregivers, growers and patients to have more of a say in the regulatory medical process. It's a privilege to serve this amazing community."

While Maine allows medical marijuana telehealth evaluations as a matter of law, Maryland's regulations require an in-person visit for an evaluation. This requirement was waived by Bulletin 2020-011 for the COVID emergency and is now waived indefinitely by Bulletin 2021 - 009 .

"We're so excited to be joining Maryland's medical marijuana community," says NuggMD co-founder and COO Kam Babazade. "Telemedicine is a vital option for patients who can't go to a physical doctor's office. It reduces their risk and need for unnecessary travel, which is a net positive for the state as a whole."

NuggMD's licensed doctors are available to Maine and Maryland residents seven days a week from 8am - 10pm EST. As always, their risk-free evaluation costs nothing for patients that don't qualify. NuggMD is committed to protecting patient privacy and protects records as required by both HIPAA and state law. All NuggMD practitioners are fully-licensed and have obtained all certifications and training required by their prospective states. For more information on NuggMD's Maine services, please visit NuggMD.com/Maine . For more information on NuggMD's Maryland services, please visit NuggMD.com/Maryland .

About NuggMD:

NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in California, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia. They have connected over 800,000 patients with their new medical marijuana doctors face-to-face via their state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. They believe that every human being has the right to explore the benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore all of their options in their journey to wellness. For further information, visit nuggmd.com .

SOURCE NuggMD

Related Links

nuggmd.com


BOSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One80 Intermediaries (One80), a specialty insurance broker headquartered in Boston, today announced that it has acquired Hill Program Managers, LLC., a Denver, Colorado based program manager for commercial lines insurance. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hill Program Managers is family run and specializes in oil and gas service providers, architects and engineers, and construction and design contractors. Coverages include general, professional, excess professional, pollution, contractor's pollution, and excess liability.

"One80 continues to invest in highly focused businesses, and I am thrilled to welcome Hill Program Managers onboard," said Matthew F. Power, President of One80 Intermediaries. "Hill Program Managers will deepen One80's expertise in the oil and gas service industries and expand upon our professional and pollution coverage offerings."

Hill Program Managers works closely with three carrier partners to develop, market, and underwrite leading insurance programs to agents and brokers throughout the United States.

"With over 30 years in the insurance industry, my team and I pride ourselves in excellent service and exceptional loss ratios and operating results," said Michael Hill, Managing Director at Hill Program Managers, a division of One80 Intermediaries. "Joining One80 will allow us to provide our agents and brokers with One80's extensive platform and grow together in these exciting times ahead," he continued.

Media Contact:

Lenika Milne

[email protected]

(786) 865-4614

About One80 Intermediaries

One80 Intermediaries is a privately held, national firm with offices throughout the US and Canada. As a leading insurance wholesaler and program manager, the company offers placement services and binding authority for property & casualty, financial lines, personal lines, cannabis, life insurance, medical stop loss, alternative risk, warranty, lender-based insurance, travel/accident and health risks. One80 serves commercial companies, non-profits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets in the US, Canada and UK. Coverage spans all industry classes. One80 has offices in more than 35 locations in the US and Canada. For more information visit www.one80intermediaries.com

SOURCE One80 Intermediaries

Related Links

http://www.one80intermediaries.com


Newsome reached out to his friend Alan Blankstein, award-winning author and educational leader to help tell the story. They engaged stakeholders from across the district to support concepts, bringing teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders together to focus on curriculum that addressed the whole child - from their challenges at home, their motivations and how they learn. He helped everyone see where they fit, and how vital their input was to the success of each student. There are no "throw away kids."

'Petersburg Rising' captures Newsome's successful formula: financial stability, engaging curriculum, civics and citizenship engagement being re-imagined and fine-tuned to enhance the student learning experience. This work, along with efforts of students working together to write a grant, bolstered the governor's efforts to recruit more qualified teachers.

Today, Petersburg schools are accredited. Graduation rates are rising, and students are beginning to step into their roles as tomorrow's leaders. 'Petersburg Rising' is sparking an overdue conversation of how we can make a difference in our schools, and our children's education. Whether in large cities or small communities throughout our country. Just ask us how Petersburg Rising can make a difference in your community.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Petersburg Rising
CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Pipeline Monitoring System Market by Pipe Type (Metallic, Non-Metallic), Technology (Ultrasonic, PIGs, Smart Ball, Magnetic Flux Leakage, Fiber Optic Technology), Solution, End-use Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Pipeline Monitoring System Market size is projected to grow from USD 13.2 billion in 2021 to USD 19.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2021 to 2026.





Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=138709351

Browse in-depth TOC on "Pipeline Monitoring System Market"

97  Tables

42  Figures

171  Pages

View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pipeline-monitoring-system-market-138709351.html

The pipeline monitoring systems market is expected to witness high growth as a result of increased number of oil & gas leakages in production, pipelines, and storage tanks due to natural disasters and high pressure along with stringent government regulations for pipeline safety and security and expansion and upgradation of pipelines. The growth in trend of the development of new devices and solutions to monitor the pipeline performance, optimize the resources, automate the functions, and safeguard the operations fuels the growth of pipeline monitoring systems.

In terms of value, the metallic pipes segment is estimated to lead the pipeline monitoring system market in 2020.

The metallic pipes segment accounted for the largest market share in the pipeline monitoring system market. Ductile iron pipes, stainless steel pipes, aluminum pipes, and other types, such as cast-iron pipes, corrugated pipes, and copper pipes, are considered under metallic pipes. Iron-based pipes may get corrosive when treated with highly oxygenated water steam; thus, metallic pipes made with steel have a higher demand from the end-user industries. Metallic pipes are also more conducive to heat and less corrosion-resistant than non-metallic pipes.

In terms of value, leak detection is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment in the pipeline monitoring system market.

The leak detection segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026. This could be attributed to the increasing focus on improving the control over pipeline infrastructure and automating the process to improve productivity, which would enable the monitoring of the conditions of assets and raise an alarm in case of unauthorized events. One of the major reasons of leak detection application to grow includes, increase in investments from oil & gas companies in pipeline monitoring infrastructures and safe transportation of the material through it.

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The APAC region is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the pipeline monitoring system market during the forecast period.

The APAC region is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the Pipeline Monitoring System Market in terms of both value and volume from 2021 to 2026. This region is witnessing the highest growth rate due to the rapid economic expansion. According to the IMF, China and India are among the fastest-growing economies globally. India is expected to overtake China with the highest growth rate, thus driving the global economy. The expansion of existing pipelines and development of new ones increased incidents of oil and gas leakages in pipelines and storage tanks at production facilities, and formulation of stringent regulations by the governments for the implementation of leak detection technologies and systems in different countries of APAC, and rapidly growing industrial sectors are expected to drive the market in APAC.

Siemens AG (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), BAE Systems (UK), and TransCanada PipeLines Limited (Canada), amongst others, are the key players operating in the pipeline monitoring system market.

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/pipeline-monitoring-system-market.asp

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/pipeline-monitoring-system.asp

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
QCRA has recently added an Invictus Aura Storm, a medical-grade air purifier submitted for FDA approval. The Storm is a multi-stage UV-C air sanitizer that delivers hospital-grade sterilization for rooms up to 21,000 cubic feet (~52ft x 52ft x 8 ft.). The Storm inactivates and eliminates bacteria and viruses (including the SARS-CoV-2 virus). Third-party certified testing shows a 4-log sterilization (99.99% in under 60 minutes). Note: Hospital-grade sterilization is defined as 4-log sterilization (99.99%) in 120 minutes. Aura Storm achieved this standard in less than 60 minutes.

According to Kaiwen Cheng, President of QCRA, "Covid has provided QCRA with unique challenges since Robotics Teams are required to work very close together to plan, design, build, test, and compete with their robots. We require them to be masked when in the Zone, but we are excited to have an additional level of protection since most of our participants are not yet vaccinated due to their ages."

According to Invictus President, Erik McMillan, "We compliment QCRA for taking the steps necessary to protect its students. The SARS-CoV-2 virus keeps transforming, and we need to provide highly effective solutions to meet the pandemic head-on. These students work in close quarters as they design and build their robots. It is important to have impactful air sanitizing equipment as close to them as possible."

About Invictus:

Invictus Sterilization is a subsidiary of Invictus Lighting and is a highly regarded innovator for the most difficult challenges in LED Lighting Technology. It is routinely selected by civilian, military, and government entities requiring unique solutions. Invictus is the owner of 18 patents, with 8 additional patents pending. This expertise has been focused on developing comprehensive UV-C Solutions for the elimination of dangerous microorganisms (including COVID-19) without producing harmful residue. Invictus is headquartered in Hickory, NC.

About Queen City Robotics Alliance:

Queen City Robotics Alliance (QCRA). QCRA is a 501c3 non-profit organization. QCRA's mission is to nurture the future workforce by providing practical and hands-on STEM experiences for local youth.

SOURCE Invictus Sterilization

Related Links

www.invictussterilization.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After an incredible, positive response at the Natural Products Expo East trade show last month, COOLCURA, the unique FENG FU ICE THERAPY product solution, is now making its official launch via Kickstarter today. COOLCURA's products provide a comfortable and easy-to-use method of reaping the benefits of Feng Fu Ice Therapy, which is an ancient acupuncture technique believed to bestow numerous health benefits that may promote health and well-being. The new, innovative line is now available only on Kickstarter for the next 30 days with the goal of raising $10,000.

Relax and enjoy the restorative properties of ice and cold therapy with CoolCura. An ancient Chinese tradition called "Feng Fu" applies ice to the back of the head at the Feng Fu point to help center the body and promote general wellness. CoolCura pairs this practice with modern convenience for a comfortable, easy-to-use neck band with a freezable/reusable stainless steel eco ice pod for daily use.

The Feng Fu Spot, located where the end of the neck and base of the skull meet, was recognized in Chinese Medicine as an important pressure point for overall health and well-being. Modern medicine confirms that the Feng Fu Spot is nerve central for many of the nerves controlling blood supply. Applying ice to your Feng Fu spot for 15 to 20 minutes is believed to cause your body to respond by releasing endorphins into the bloodstream, resulting in a euphoric, relaxed feeling. However, placing ice cubes directly on this spot can be cumbersome and messy, until now. The COOLCURA line of products have been uniquely designed with convenience and accessibility in mind to provide users with the desired benefits of Feng Fu Ice Therapy.

Developed by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Brian Adams and Barbara Canellis, COOLCURA and COOLCURA PRO are engineered and designed to take advantage of the health and wellness benefits associated with Feng Fu Ice Therapy. The COOLCURA devices feature a unique design that allows anyone to experience Feng Fu Ice Therapy, without the mess of melting ice or the difficulty of holding the ice in the correct location. Feng Fu Ice Therapy is similar to acupuncture, but instead of needles, one uses the reusable stainless steel ice pod. The coldness cools down inflammation and quickly and effectively delivers the desired results.

"For my family, the benefits of Feng Fu Ice Therapy have been remarkable and dramatic," explains Barbara Canellis. "Our family has used Feng Fu Ice Therapy to combat pain, fatigue, stress, headaches, and to help us simply feel better," she added. Barbara was first introduced to Feng Fu Ice Therapy when her son Austin suffered a panic attack when she was helping him remove his wound packing following a surgical procedure. Barbara placed an ice pack on the back of his neck at the base of his skull, and in seconds, Austin returned to normal and was embraced by a sense of calm. This experience was the catalyst that started Brian and Barbara's COOLCURA journey.

Realizing there was no product on the market that leveraged this type of therapy, Barbara and Brian worked with an experienced product development team and manufacturing partner to create the COOLCURA product line. "I have experienced many benefits since I began making Feng Fu Ice Therapy part of my daily routine and hope to offer others the opportunity for similar experiences and benefits," adds Brian.

Barbara and Brian are thrilled to launch their campaign in support of COOLCURA and COOLCURA PRO and look forward to building excitement and interest in this new line. Backers are encouraged to support the campaign on Kickstarter through one of the various pledge options.

"Our goal is to bring Feng Fu Ice Therapy to as many people as possible so they can experience firsthand many of the same health and well-being benefits my family has enjoyed," concludes Barbara.

For additional information, please visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/coolcura/coolcura and follow COOLCURA on Facebook.

About COOLCURA

COOLCURA puts a modern twist on traditional Feng Fu Ice Therapy. COOLCURA's products provide a comfortable, easy to use method to enjoy the many benefits associated with Feng Fu Ice Therapy, to allow you to sit back and let the cooling effect ease your mind, body, and soul. Release, Relax, Refresh to Soothe your Mood.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kelley DeVincentis

Morgan Hurley

Southard Communications

[email protected]

212-777-2220

SOURCE COOLCURA
PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Research Department Explosive (RDX) Market by Type (Explosives, Pyrotechnics, and Others), Application (Military and Civilian), and Sales Channel (Domestics and International): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030."According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global Research Department Explosive (RDX) market was estimated at $9.83 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit $13.92 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 3.4% from 2021 to 2030.

Download Report (213 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/13854

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Increased mining activities and rising expenditure on defense & military applications drive the growth of the Research Department Explosive (RDX) market. On the other hand, stringent regulatory frameworks and availability of alternate methods for mining & blasting restrain the growth to some extent. However, surge in demand for RDX in military operations and innovation & development toward offering advanced products are expected to create lucrative opportunities in the segment.

COVID-19 Scenario of RDX Market -

There was a huge disruption in the supply chain in the chemicals & materials industry along with falling business confidence, especially during the initial phase, which in turn impacted the global Research Department Explosive (RDX) market negatively.

However, as the global situation is getting better, the market is anticipated to revive soon.

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The explosives segment to retain the lion's share-

On the basis of type, the explosives segment held the major share in 2020, garnering nearly half of the global Research Department Explosive (RDX) market, due to the increased mining and construction activities carried out across the globe. The Pyrotechnics segment is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 3.6% throughout the forecast period.

The military segment to dominate by 2030-

On the basis of application, the military segment contributed to the lion's share in 2020, holding more than three-fourths of the global Research Department Explosive (RDX) market, owing to the increased production of military ammunition, war heads, explosives & other war based products. However, the civilian segment is projected to cite the fastest CAGR of 4.4% from 2021 to 2030. This is attributed to the fact that international companies have been operating in the industry since a long period of time.

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Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the major share in 2020-

By region, the market across Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, dominated in 2020, garnering more than two-fifths of the global Research Department Explosive (RDX) market, due to the presence of countries which are inclined toward increasing their annual defense budget quite frequently. Simultaneously, the LAMEA region is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 4.6% throughout the forecast period. Increased infrastructural developments in the province fuels the market growth.

Key players in the industry-

BAE Systems

Chemring Group PLC.

Dyno Nobel

EPC Groupe

Austin Powder Company

Eurenco

Mil-Spec Industries Corporation

Orica Limited

PRVA ISKRA  NAMENSKA A.D.

Nitro-Chem SA.

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Similar Reports We Have on Defense Industry:

Surface to Air Missiles Market by Launch Type (Vehicle Launched and Shoulder Launched), by Product (High Altitude Missile, Hollow Missile, and Low Altitude Missile), by Application (Fighting, Air Defense, and Others) - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2030.

Missile Guidance System Market by Launch Platform (Air-to-air, Air-to-surface, Surface-to-air, Anti-ship, and Anti-tank), Type of Guidance System (Command Guidance System, Beam Rider Guidance System, Homing Guidance System, and Inertial Guidance System), and End Users (Ground Vehicles, Combat Aircrafts, Ships, Submarines, and UAV's): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2030.

Ballistic Missile Market by Launch Mode (Surface-to-Surface, Surface-to-Air, Air-to-Air, Air-to-Surface, and Subsea-to-Air) and Range (Short-range, Medium-range, Intermediate-range, and Intercontinental): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212027.

Anti-Tank Missile System Market by Type (Man-Portable and Vehicle-Mounted), Application (Homeland and Defense), and Platform (Land and Aerial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030.

Nuclear Missiles and Bombs Market by Type (Nuclear Missiles and Gravity Bombs), Missile Rang (<1000km, 1000km-5000km and >5000km) and Application (National Defense and Research Institutions): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030.

Rocket and Missiles Market by Missiles Type (Ballistic Missile and Cruise Missile), by Rocket Type (Artillery Rocket and Air-Launched Rocket), by Launch Mode (Surface-to-Surface, Surface-to-Air, Air-to-Air, Air-to-surface, and Subsea-to-Surface), and by Propulsion (Solid Propulsion, Liquid Propulsion, Hybrid Propulsion, Ramjet, Turbojet, and Scramjet): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030.

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We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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PARIS and BOSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shift Technology , a provider of AI-driven decision automation and optimization solutions for the global insurance industry, today announced that Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE), has made an investment extending the company's recent Series D funding event. This strategic investment is intended to support ongoing technology innovation and go-to-market acceleration.

"Shift is well known in the industry for its leadership in fraud detection and its innovative use of artificial intelligence to help insurance professionals make the best possible decisions across the underwriting and claims processes," said Mike Chen, vice president, Corporate Development and Ventures, Guidewire. "By investing in Shift, we are helping to fuel that innovation engine to the benefit of our joint customers and the insurance industry in general."

Shift officially joined the Guidewire PartnerConnect program as a Solution partner in 2019 and in early 2020 published the Shift Claims Fraud Detection Add-on for ClaimCenter in the Guidewire Marketplace. This integration between Shift and Guidewire makes it possible for insurance professionals to receive real-time alerts in their ClaimCenter environment, helping them make claims decisions as quickly, accurately and fairly as possible.

"Today's insurance professionals are facing any number of challenges, not the least of which is how to assess the validity of a claim and then decide how best to proceed," explained Martin Fitzpatrick, CFO, Shift Technology. "This investment in Shift is an important acknowledgement of the work our two companies have already done together in this space and what we can do together in the future."

About Shift Technology

Shift Technology delivers the only AI-native decision automation and optimization solutions built specifically for the global insurance industry. Addressing several critical processes across the insurance policy lifecycle, the Shift Insurance Suite helps insurers achieve faster, more accurate claims and policy resolutions. Shift has analyzed billions of insurance transactions to date and was presented Frost & Sullivan's 2020 Global Claims Solutions for Insurance Market Leadership Award. For more information, please visit www.shift-technology.com.

Contacts:

Rob Morton

Corporate Communications

Shift Technology

+1.617.416.9216

[email protected]

SOURCE Shift Technology

Related Links

https://www.shift-technology.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoptalk, the leading U.S. conference in the retail, grocery and consumer packaged goods industries, has announced the launch of Shoptalk Supply Chain Meetup. Taking place online on April 26-28, 2022, Shoptalk Supply Chain Meetup will provide an online meeting destination for the retail supply chain ecosystem to connect and learn as they work to modernize the strained retail supply chain.

Shoptalk Supply Chain Meetup's virtual meetings program will bring together 1,000+ executives for unmatched business development, learning, collaboration, networking, and Shoptalk's signature Tabletalksfocused peer group discussions. The Meetup will host more than 5,000 1:1 meetings, connecting executives from all facets of the retail supply chain. The audience will include executives and solution providers focused on sourcing and purchasing, manufacturing operations, first and middle-mile logistics, warehouse operations, inventory management and demand planning, merchandising, retail operations, last-mile fulfillment, & sustainability.

Launch partners for the event include leading industry publications Supply Chain Dive , Supply Chain Digital and Supply Chain Brain .

The announcement of Shoptalk Supply Chain Meetup follows the successful conclusion of the second edition of Shoptalk Fall Meetup, which brought together 2,000 executives from North America and Europe for more than 10,000 online meetings. Shoptalk's signature Meetups bring large, curated groups together for double opt-in virtual meetings and peer group discussions. The Meetups have successfully facilitated more than 43,000 online meetings for more than 6,000 participants in the past year.

"Our Meetups have achieved unprecedented success over the past year and achieved more than 90% satisfaction rate for meetings. Participants have told us they want to continue to connect post-pandemic and year-round with these efficient, cost-effective formats, which is why we're making them part of our permanent lineup of events," said Katie Dominesey, vice president, commercial, at Shoptalk.

Shoptalk Supply Chain Meetup will be the fifth Meetup event hosted by Shoptalk. Upcoming Meetups for 2022 include: Groceryshop Spring Meetup (May 10-12, 2022), Shoptalk Meetup for Women (June 21-23, 2022), and Shoptalk Fall Meetup 2022 (Sept. 13-15, 2022). The Meetups are in addition to and complement Shoptalk's flagship and renowned in-person events: Shoptalk (March 27-30, 2022, Las Vegas), Shoptalk Europe (June 6-8, 2022, London) and Groceryshop (Sept. 19-22, 2022, Las Vegas).

"Shoptalk's Meetups are unique in their ability to create year-round connections across the retail ecosystem," said Rebecca Sausner, general manager, Shoptalk and Groceryshop. "With the supply chain crises expected to persist into 2023, we know retail executives are investing in innovation. Shoptalk's Meetup platform is the easiest way for the industry to connect in 1:1 fashion."

For more information, visit: www.supplychain.retailmeetup.com

About Shoptalk

A Hyve Group plc (LSE: HYVE:LN) event, Shoptalk is widely known for organising retail's best and fastest growing events, and bringing together thousands of industry changemakers to collaborate at unparalleled scale across a broad range of online and offline use cases and innovative new formats, including Tabletalks, Hosted Meetings and Meetups. Since 2015, Shoptalk has defined the retail industry's community of innovators by bringing established retailers and brands together with direct-to-consumer and tech startups, large tech and Internet companies, venture capital investors, real estate developers, equity analysts, media and others. For more information, visit www.shoptalk.com.

About Hyve

Hyve Group plc is a next-generation global events business whose purpose is to bring together and connect entire sector ecosystems from all corners of the globe. We meet our customer needs to learn, network and trade via both market leading in-person and online events. Hyve Group plc is all about globally consistent best practice and unrivalled quality. Our vision is to create the world's leading portfolio of content-driven, must-attend events delivering an outstanding experience and ROI for our customers. Hyve's market leading portfolio of global brands include: Shoptalk, Spring Fair, MosBuild, Bett and Mining Indaba.

SOURCE Shoptalk
MIAMI, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- South Florida PBS is proud to be recognized by Sharecare, leading digital health company, as the winner of the 2021 Sharecare Award in the Disruptors in Healthcare category for its entry Fauci: The Virus Hunter. The Sharecare Awards, in association with The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter (NY NATAS), honors excellence in documentaries, series, shorts, web/online programming related to health and well-being.

The one-hour documentary, Fauci: The Virus Hunter, is a South Florida PBS' Health Channel original production in partnership with The Associated Press and the Hispanic Information Telecommunications Network (HITN). The documentary provides an in-depth look at Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci's life and career, from the groundbreaking clinical investigator whose work in vasculitis remains the standard of care to becoming director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases and "America's Doctor," with two major health crises bookending his career, AIDS and COVID-19.

"It is an honor for South Florida PBS to receive the 2021 Sharecare award for Fauci: The Virus Hunter, which SFPBS' Health Channel was able to bring to fruition thanks to our Board and strong partnerships such as the ones with The Associated Press and HITN. It is gratifying to have our work recognized by such an important organization," stated Dolores Sukhdeo, President and CEO for South Florida PBS.

"The Associated Press and AP Productions are honored to have joined together with South Florida PBS and HITN to tell this impactful story. To be recognized by NY NATAS for strength in storytelling and production furthers the mission of AP and our partners", commented Michael Fabiano, AP Vice President and General Manager for Americas Media, as well as head of AP Productions.

"Dr. Fauci's story will greatly inspire young people interested in pursuing careers in science to make a difference in people's lives. HITN is committed to promoting stories like Dr. Fauci's among Hispanic families to encourage and empower the next generations", said Guillermo Sierra, HITN's Head of Television and Digital Services.

About South Florida PBS

South Florida PBS is Florida's largest public media company, including Public Broadcasting stations WXEL-TV, serving the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast and WPBT2, serving Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and the Health Channel, the only 24/7 channel dedicated to health in the nation. South Florida PBS connects organizations and institutions across our region and preserves South Florida's history. Leading the way in this global society, South Florida PBS is committed to creating and presenting award-winning programs focused on kids, education, arts and culture, health, environment, science, and civic engagement.

About AP

The Associated Press is a global non-profit news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day. Online: www.ap.org

About HITN-TV

HITN-TV is a leading Spanish-language media company that offers educational and cultural programming for the whole family. It reaches more than 44 million homes in the United States and Puerto Rico through DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, AT&T TV, DISH Network, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Mediacom, CenturyLink, Prism and Altice, Liberty Cable & Claro (Puerto Rico). Download the "HITN GO" Everywhere app available on Apple, Android, Apple TV, and Roku with a wired subscription. For more information, visit: www.hitn.org and follow @HITNtv on social platforms.

CONTACT:

Jeneissy Azcuy Anabel Cardenas Vice President of Marketing and Communication Social Media and Marketing Coordinator 305.424.4013 305.424.4009 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE South Florida PBS; Health Channel
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SYNC1 Systems has launched a bold initiative to aid credit unions across the country with programs that help retain current members and add new ones. This CUSO partner now displays a portfolio of successful campaigns that has contributed to remarkable growth of member bases through word-of-mouth marketing, upselling of other services, increasing deposits, and growing revenue.

Josh Rider, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, explains the approach he takes to beginning a relationship with a new credit union client.

"I ask them four strategic questions:

Would you like to provide your members a better, more comfortable, and faster loan experience?

Would you like to grow your membership organically with no added costs?

Would you like to know you could spin up a new lending vertical at no cost?

Would you like to achieve all this with an easy, safe, and customizable tool that will not require you to purchase additional software or spend a huge number of hours training your crew?

Their answers to those questions give us a starting point to determine how we can help. And last year, we assisted more credit unions than we ever have before."

Rider reports that new SYNC1 clients have experienced an array of frustrating service issues from their previous LOS providers, such as: long waits on issue responses, a total lack of understanding of their credit unions' needs, and most frequently  massive costs associated with the small feature requests or adjustments.

Rider quoted a common refrain from his customers about those competitor attitudes: "They act like monopolies, essentially telling you  You get what you get, and you have to deal with it because you don't have other options."

SYNC1, proudly points to their dedicated response team of developers who are specifically trained in all aspects of the lending industry, so that each one is fully prepared for credit union client service on Day 1. This approach removes the delay of a "learning curve" and reduces the number of adjustments typically found in new client relationships.

Rider summarizes the SYNC1 attitude: "We do not force our clients into anything. We are collaborators. We want to serve your membership the way you serve your membership. Let's remind the "others" that you have a CHOICE!"

About SYNC1 SYSTEMS:

Sync1 Systems is a CUSO with next-generation loan origination technology, offering software that ensures the credit union member application experience is simple, fast, flexible and painless. For users at the dealership, in the branch, or on the "1 Mobile" smartphone integration, members are kept firmly in control. SYNC1 Systems designs products specifically for increasing credit union loan revenue and growing membership.

Contact:

SYNC1 Systems

888-200-7801

[email protected]

SOURCE SYNC1 Systems
MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tacora Resources Inc. ("Tacora" or the "Company") announced that it will hold a conference call on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss third quarter 2021 financial results. The financial results will be available on https://www.tacoraresources.com/investors/ no later than November 30, 2021.

To access the financial results and login information for the conference call, a party must pre-register and certify that it is eligible for such access. Pursuant to the indenture dated May 11, 2021, between Tacora Resources Inc., as Issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent, relating to the 8.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the "Notes"), access to the financial results and conference call will be available only to the following:

a) the Trustee;

b) registered holders of the Notes;

c) beneficial owners of the Notes;

d) prospective purchasers of the Notes who have certified to Tacora Resources Inc. that they are "qualified institutional buyers" as defined by Rule 144A of the Securities Act or "non-U.S. persons" as defined by Regulation S of the Securities Act;

e) securities analysts who cover or intend to cover Tacora Resources Inc. and the Notes; and

f) market makers who make or intend to make a market in the Notes.

If you meet one or more of the criteria set forth above and would like to access, but have not yet been granted access to http://www.tacoraresources.com/investors/, please contact Investor Relations at [email protected] or Joe Broking.

Investor and Analyst Contact:

Joe Broking

President and Chief Executive Officer

T  +1 (218) 398-0079

E  [email protected]



About Tacora Resources Inc.

Tacora is a private company that is focused on the production and sale of high-grade and quality iron ore products that improve the efficiency and environmental performance of steel making. The Company owns and operates the Scully Mine, a 6 million tonne per year iron ore concentrate producer located in Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and owns the Sydvaranger Mine, a mine located in Sr-Varanger, Norway that is currently idled with a feasibility study recently completed for an expansion to 4 million tonnes per year of iron ore concentrate. The Company's equity investors include funds managed by Proterra Investment Partners LP; Aequor Holdings LLC; Cargill, Inc.; a fund managed by Orion Mine Finance; Titlis Mining AS; and MagGlobal LLC. 100% of the Scully Mine concentrate is purchased and marketed globally by a subsidiary of Cargill, Inc. Additional information about the company is available at www.tacoraresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature and relate to our expectations, beliefs, and intentions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking. Although Tacora believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may accordingly differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, and these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause outcomes to differ from our expectations. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects Tacora's expectations as at the date of this press release and is subject to change after such date. Tacora disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy Tacora's senior secured notes. Tacora's senior secured notes were offered solely to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and to non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. under Regulations S of the Securities Act. Tacora's senior secured notes were not registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. As a result, they may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

SOURCE Tacora Resources, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tacoraresources.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters joined with families from across the country at a Capitol Hill rally today calling on Congress to move forward on legislation unveiled earlier this year that would help fix the nation's broken immigration system by halting the separation of U.S. families that have both legal and undocumented members.

The union strongly backs the American Families United Act in part due to 20-year member Jason Rochester, a Georgia UPS worker. Rochester and his wife Cecilia have been separated since 2017 when the family  relying on faulty legal advice  decided she should self-deport to her native Mexico rather than live in fear of being arrested by U.S. immigration officials.

Although the family thought she would be able to come back to this country in six months, she has been barred from returning to her adopted homeland. Not even when their young son Ashton underwent treatment for kidney cancer was she granted a reprieve.

"Congress has been sitting on its hands instead of acting to reunite American families," Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said. "Everyone knows the nation's immigration system is broken. Keeping loved ones apart doesn't solve anything and only brings heartbreak. It is time to act now."

In a letter sent to leaders of the House Judiciary's Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship earlier this year, Jason Rochester noted more than 1 million U.S. families have mixed citizenship status like his. He said he won't give up the fight until changes are made. "I don't believe that what has happened to my family is what Congress or the American people intend or want from our nation's immigration system," he wrote. "The system is broken and it's hurting families like mine."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Ted Gotsch, (703) 899-0869

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


Nationally and in the South, the increase in August halted two months of decline in telehealth utilization, in June and July. The August telehealth growth coincided with the peak of the surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant in the South. This may suggest that the increase in telehealth use has been propelled by patients and providers seeking a venue of care that reduced the risk of disease transmission.

COVID-19 itself joined the top five telehealth diagnoses nationally in August 2021, the first time it had done so since January 2021. While COVID-19 ranked at number five among telehealth diagnoses nationally in August, it ranked at number three in the South. The only region where it did not appear in the top five was the Northeast.

Mental health conditions remained the top-ranking telehealth diagnosis nationally and in every region, but from July to August 2021 this diagnosis declined in percentage share of all telehealth claim lines nationally and in every region. The decline, which had begun nationally from June to July, was greatest in the South, where mental health conditions' share of telehealth claim lines fell from 50.1 percent in July to 47.5 percent in August. The decrease may have been related to having a greater share of nonmental health conditions, including COVID-19, move to telehealth because of the recent pandemic surge.

Among the top five mental health diagnoses, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appeared in August 2021 in the number five rank in the Northeast, displacing bipolar disorder. It was the first time in months that PTSD had ranked among the top five mental health diagnoses in any region but the Midwest, where it remained at number five in August.

Nationally in August 2021, CPT2 99441, physician telephone patient service, five to ten minutes of medical discussion, joined the top five telehealth procedure codes by utilization. Ranking at number five, it displaced CPT 90833, psychotherapy performed with evaluation and management visit, 30 minutes.

About the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker

Launched in May 2020 as a free service, the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker uses FAIR Health data to track how telehealth is evolving from month to month. An interactive map of the four US census regions allows the user to view an infographic on telehealth in a specific month in the nation as a whole or in individual regions. Each infographic shows month-to-month changes in volume of telehealth claim lines, top five telehealth procedure codes and top five telehealth diagnoses (or diagnostic categories), along with that month's top five granular diagnoses within the most common diagnostic category.

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker continues to shed light on changes in telehealth. This is one of many ways we pursue our healthcare transparency mission."

For the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, click here.

Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 35 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Careand How to Fix It and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.

Contact:

Rachel Kent

Senior Director of Marketing, Outreach and Communications

FAIR Health

646-396-0795

[email protected]

1 A claim line is an individual service or procedure listed on an insurance claim.

2 CPT  2020 American Medical Association (AMA). All rights reserved.

SOURCE FAIR Health

Related Links

www.fairhealth.org


Aroma chemicals are chemical substances that impart odor. These substances are used extensively to provide scent or flavor in products as they are typically highly volatile. Along with essential oils, these substances form the backbone of components that are used to formulate fragrances and flavors. Booming demand for luxury cosmetic and personal care products with attractive aromas is expected to impel the aroma chemicals industry growth through the forecast period. Moreover, escalating consumer interest in aromatherapy is also likely to fuel market growth in the coming years.

Request for Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4596

Benzenoids are set to witness an upsurge in demand due to rising consumer interest in natural food ingredients over chemical ingredients. The natural source of benzenoids is also anticipated to observe high adoption in the food & beverage industry owing to soaring consumer preference for processed food & beverage products with natural ingredients. Additionally, growing concerns pertaining to side effects of cosmetics on the skin are stimulating the demand for natural ingredients in aroma chemicals, which is foreseen to boost the adoption of benzenoid aroma chemicals. Driven by these factors, the global aroma chemicals market from the benzenoids product segment is estimated to exceed a valuation of USD 3.1 billion by 2027.

Key reasons for aroma chemicals market growth:

Surging usage in developing water-efficient laundry products.

Growing consumer interest in aromatherapy.

High product significance in cosmetics & personal care products.

Increasing product demand in North America .

2027 forecasts show 'soaps & detergents' segment retaining its dominance:

Based on application, the soaps & detergents segment is projected to surpass USD 965 million in revenue by 2027. Government initiatives to promote cleanliness, particularly in developing countries like India and China, coupled with the increasing need for essential cleaning products in the healthcare sector, are slated to support the demand for soaps & detergents in healthcare applications, thereby fostering the aroma chemicals market outlook.

Europe to maintain top status in terms of revenue:

In the regional landscape, the Europe aroma chemicals market share is anticipated to progress at approximately 6% CAGR through the assessment period due to the expanding cosmetic & personal care industry in the region. Europe is the largest market for cosmetic products owing to the high presence of manufacturers in the region, which is speculated to propel product demand in cosmetic manufacturing.

Request for customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4596

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on aroma chemicals market

Following the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, researchers sought to identify methods to accelerate patient recovery from COVID-19-induced loss of smell. This substantially improved product significance in COVID-19 treatment.

Furthermore, the onset of COVID-19 disrupted the global supply chain, adversely impacting virtually all industries. To cope with this situation, companies implemented lucrative strategies to capitalize on growth opportunities and expand their industry presence, which has been favorable for market growth during the pandemic. For instance, in February 2021, Eternis Fine Chemicals, India's largest exporter of aroma chemicals, acquired Tennants Fine Chemicals, the largest producer of aroma chemicals in the UK.

Leading market players

Key companies operating in the aroma chemicals industry include BASF SE, Solvay, Kelkar Group, Hindustan Mint & Agro Products, Symrise AG, Robertet, and Kao Corporation, among others.

Related Reports:

U.S. Aroma Chemicals Market - Future Business Strategies and Revenue Impact Analysis, 2027

Industrial Hemp Market - Future Business Strategies and Revenue Impact Analysis, 2025

About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.gminsights.com

SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc.
A long-time entrepreneur, Alex Fitzgerald joined the insurance industry more than 20 years ago. Together with his wife, Heather, they formed The Fitz Group to provide underinsured Americans with better financial certainty through proper coverage. They also have become adept at recruiting, training and supporting agents in all aspects of building their own businesses.

Today, The Fitz Group partners with numerous top-rated insurance carriers to distribute life insurance products through their agents, licensed in all 50 states. Training and providing agents with the right tools to grow their own teams has resulted in The Fitz Group becoming one of the most well respected IMO's in the industry.

"The way Fitz and his entire agency supports and helps grow agents is truly impressive," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "We look forward to helping The Fitz Group take full advantage of the opportunities available to them as Integrity partners and help them rise to the next level."

"At Integrity, our passion for innovating insurance drives everything we do," continued Adams. "We are continuously seeking solutions that make it easier for Americans to get insurance in ways they prefer  and easier for agents to help meet customer needs. Integrity provides the technology and resources that help streamline and simplify the entire insurance experience for all stakeholders and The Fitz Group has the stellar team to effectively implement those tools and technology."

"I'm proud of where we've grown The Fitz Group over the past 20 years," said Alex "Fitz" Fitzgerald, CEO of The Fitz Group. "Today, an even bigger door opened to our staff and agents. This step is about diversifying our business and becoming partners with some of the best minds in our industry. This is a launching point to grow and expand, as well as make a difference for all our agents and the Americans we serve. I feel that my reins have been loosened and I'm ready to run faster than ever before, all while having fun and making a difference."

The Integrity platform now available to The Fitz Group includes proprietary quoting and enrollment technology, data and analytics tools, and product development. Integrity also provides centralized shared services, such as compliance, accounting, human resources, IT, legal and a full-service marketing and advertising firm.

"When agencies such as The Fitz Group partner with Integrity, we are able to take a lot of things off their plate and let these already successful agencies experience what we call the 'Integrity Effect'  which allows them to focus on elements they are passionate about and grow faster than they ever thought possible," said Andy Albright, Managing Partner of Integrity as well as President and CEO of The Alliance.

The Fitz Group amplifies its agent offering by gaining access to Integrity's fast-growing partner network, where some of the country's leading agencies share strategies, best practices and solutions to today's challenges in order to better serve more Americans. Additionally, The Fitz Group employees qualify for the Integrity Employee Ownership Plan, which provides meaningful company ownership.

"There is power in becoming an Integrity partner," shared Heather Fitzgerald, President of The Fitz Group. "Scale matters more than ever before. We are better together and stronger together. I see a real opportunity to make a historic impact on the insurance business with Integrity's leadership and support by our side."

For more information about The Fitz Group's partnership with Integrity, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/FitzGroup.

About Integrity Marketing Group

Integrity Marketing Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading distributor of life and health insurance and provider of innovative solutions for wealth management and retirement planning. Through its partner network, Integrity helps millions of Americans protect their health, wealth and legacy with a commitment to meet them wherever they are  in person, over the phone and online. Integrity's cutting-edge technology helps streamline the insurance and financial planning experience for all stakeholders. In addition, Integrity develops products with carrier partners and markets them through its distribution network of agencies, brokerages and RIAs throughout the nation. Integrity's almost 5,500 employees work with agents and advisors across the country. For more information, visit www.integritymarketing.com.

About The Fitz Group

The Fitz Group is a leading insurance agency headquartered in Addison, Texas, that is focused on providing Americans with life insurance and annuities. The Fitz Group excels at helping insurance agents become some of the best in the industry at serving clients, while also creating a business for themselves. The Fitz Group team is comprised of dynamic and successful leaders in the industry. Since its inception in 2004, The Fitz Group has grown to become a thriving IMO known for its dedication to excellent service. For more information, visit www.thefitzgroup.org.

SOURCE Integrity Marketing Group, LLC

Related Links

http://www.integritymarketing.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiger Infrastructure Partners ("Tiger Infrastructure") announced today an investment of 50 million in Qwello GmbH ("Qwello"). Based in Munich, Germany, Qwello is a fast-growing, full-service builder, owner, and operator of electric vehicle ("EV") charging infrastructure in major European cities. The company is focused on the provision of inner-city charging infrastructure. Qwello operates charging poles at public locations in partnership with local municipalities. The company provides a turnkey charging solution to cities by providing all elements of the charge point infrastructure service, including hardware and software development, installation, ownership, operations, and maintenance. Qwello was founded and is led by Henrik Thiele, who has several decades of experience as an entrepreneur and senior executive in the automotive and rail industry, both in Europe and globally.

Qwello's vision is to create easy access and easy-to-use charging stations in convenient urban locations. Qwello's charging poles have been designed with user-friendly features, such as symbol-based user communication for universal usage, options for contactless credit card or mobile payment and a high-quality integrated cable with a Type 2 plug (as well as a Type 2 socket for users who prefer to use their own cable). Qwello has also developed an intuitive mobile app which offers simple invoicing and billing, reservations, and location search.

Emil W. Henry, Jr., CEO and Managing Director of Tiger Infrastructure, commented: "The European EV sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by subsidies for EVs, fast declining battery costs and the expansion of EV offerings by OEMs. However, the supply of charging infrastructure is not keeping pace with the significant demand for EVs. I am delighted that Tiger Infrastructure is making an investment in Qwello during this inflection point in the evolution of the electric vehicle industry. Qwello has designed an impressive product and has built a pipeline of opportunities to partner with major cities to install and operate charging stations. We look forward to funding Qwello's growth and infrastructure deployment to create a leading provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure".

Alessandro Boninsegna, Managing Director of Tiger Infrastructure, added: "We have been following the EV charging sector closely over the last several years as we believe the industry is poised for significant growth. Henrik and his team have built an impressive company with a superior product, a unique business model and a differentiated go-to-market strategy. We are excited to partner with the company in its next phase of growth".

Henrik Thiele, Managing Director and Founder of Qwello, added: "We were seeking a financial partner who shared our vision to simplify the charging experience in public, urban locations. We believe Tiger is a like-minded investor whose expertise and capital will assist us in making Qwello a leading brand across Europe. With Tiger's investment, Qwello is well-positioned to help cities across Europe solve the immediate and growing requirement to supply critical electric vehicle charging infrastructure to the public".

About Tiger Infrastructure Partners

Tiger Infrastructure Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that invests in growing infrastructure platforms. Tiger Infrastructure targets investments in communications, energy transition, transportation, and related sectors, primarily located in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.tigerinfrastructure.com.

About Qwello

Qwello is an Electric Vehicle charge point developer and operator with operations in Europe. Qwello deploys charging infrastructure across major European cities by partnering with local municipalities through public concession contracts, providing both infrastructure and charging services. For more information on Qwello, visit www.qwello.eu/en.

SOURCE Tiger Infrastructure Partners

Related Links

www.tigerinfrastructure.com


RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonya Council announced today that Tonya's Cookies signature Pecan Crisp Cookies are included in this year's Oprah's Favorite Things Holiday Gift Guide, featured in the December 2021 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com. The Oprah's Favorite Things annual list is a must-have holiday shopping guide that features the most decadent desserts, ingenious gadgets, and finest finds in home, fashion, and beauty.

Tonya Council's Pecan Crisp Cookies are included in this year's Oprah's Favorite Things Holiday Gift Guide, featured in the December 2021 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com. Tonya's Cookies are available at www.tonyascookies.com and in the Oprah's Favorite Things storefront on Amazon at amazon.com/oprah, or on the Amazon App on iOS and Android. Tonya Council is a North Carolina baker and granddaughter of the late Mildred Council, aka "Mama Dip."

Light and crisp and tasting like pecan pie, Tonya's Cookies Pecan Crisps have been a bestseller since 2009 for Tonya Council, a North Carolina chef, baker and entrepreneur, and the granddaughter of late Southern food icon Mildred Council, better known as "Mama Dip."

Tonya's Cookies will be available for purchase at www.tonyascookies.com and in the Oprah's Favorite Things storefront on Amazon at amazon.com/oprah , or on the Amazon App on iOS and Android. Local shoppers can find them at the Sweet Tea & Cornbread shop or at the Tonya's Cookies pop-up shop, opening November 19th. Both are located at the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh.

As Oprah says on OprahDaily.com , "You won't even know that these are gluten-free! Baker Tonya Council wanted GF cookies that tasted like her grandmother's pie. The result: a sweet treat that's rich while somehow staying very light."

"Growing up in my family's restaurant business, I've always known I was meant to be involved with food," said Tonya Council. "I originally made my Pecan Crisp Cookies as a tribute to my grandmother and her delicious pecan pie. It's incredible to see them reaching such a wide audience, and I hope that my story inspires others to follow their own dreams."

Twelve lucky readers will have the chance to win all 110 items on Oprah's Favorite Things List in the 12-Day Give-O-way Sweepstakes ( www.oprahdaily.com/12days-2021 ), which runs from November 12 through November 23.

To see the full list of items please visit https://www.oprahdaily.com/oprah-favorite-things-2021 .

The Winter issue of O Quarterly, featuring Tonya's Cookies Pecan Crisps on this year's list, hits newsstands nationwide on November 9.

About Tonya Council

Tonya Council is a North Carolina chef, baker and entrepreneur. The granddaughter of late Southern food icon Mildred Council (aka, Mama Dip), she is the founder of Tonya's Cookies, Sweet Tea & Cornbread (a retail shop in Raleigh), Sweet Tea & Cornbread Grill & Eatery, and NC Made, a collection of gourmet food products. Her small business empire embodies her dedication to connecting with and supporting the local community, as well as businesses across her home state of North Carolina.

Media Contact:

Helen Patrikis

631-553-1370

[email protected]

SOURCE Tonya's Cookies

Related Links

http://tonyascookies.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trilogy Real Estate Group, a Chicago-based real estate investment and property management firm, announced today that its Park 205 DST has been fully subscribed. $25.4 million in equity proceeds from the offering, along with approximately $28.1 million in debt financing, was used to acquire Park 205, 115-unit, luxury multifamily community in Park Ridge.

"Our expansive network continues to provide us with opportunities to acquire recession-resilient properties in strong suburban nodes like Park Ridge," said Matt Leiter, Chief Financial Officer for Trilogy Real Estate Group. "We are pleased that our investors are positioned to benefit from ownership of quality multifamily real estate."

Located at 205 Touhy Avenue, Park 205 offers a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes. The spacious units are stylishly appointed with hardwood or vinyl plank-style flooring, granite countertops, eat-at kitchen islands, in-unit washer and dryer and walk-in closets. Residents enjoy top-notch community amenities including a fitness center, a heated pool and sundeck, poolside grills, a communal firepit, access-controlled gates and temperature-controlled indoor parking.

Park 205 is strategically located adjacent to a Whole Foods and within walking distance of the vibrant Uptown district with its numerous shopping, dining, cultural and recreational amenities. Commuting residents enjoy access to the Park Ridge Metra which provides direct, efficient access to downtown Chicago employment. The community's attractiveness is further punctuated by its proximity to Maine South High School, which U.S. News and World Report ranks in in the top 4% of all high schools on a national basis.

Jesse Karasik, Chief Investment Officer of Trilogy Real Estate Group, stated, "With its favorable location adjacent to a Whole Foods, proximate to the Metra and within the boundaries of one of the nation's top-ranked high schools, Park 205 enjoys stability and long-term growth dynamics."

Trilogy Residential Management, Trilogy's top-rated management company for eight consecutive years, will manage the property.

Trilogy Real Estate Group has sponsored several private investment funds and qualified opportunity zone funds. Since 2002, the principals of Trilogy have completed over $4 billion in transaction volume, including $670 million of acquisition and financing activity in 2020. Trilogy manages and develops properties across the Midwest, the East Coast, and the Southwest.

About Trilogy Real Estate Group

Trilogy Real Estate Group is a vertically integrated real estate investment and property management firm with a focus on multifamily apartments and commercial real estate. Trilogy has been recognized as one of the Top Property Management companies for 8 consecutive years and has an "A" rating in the epIQ Index. Since 2002, the principals of Trilogy have completed over $4 billion in transaction volume. Trilogy has been tested in multiple real estate cycles and consistently sources and manages attractive real estate investments in major markets around the United States.

Contact: Jennifer Franklin

Spotlight Marketing Communications

(949) 427-1385

[email protected]

SOURCE Trilogy Real Estate Group
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pairing the best liquids from North America with the best in cannabis, Two Roots Beverage Co. announced its partnership to provide non-alcoholic beer for Truss Beverage Co. newly launched brand, Bedfellows Liquid Arts.

The partnership brings Canadian consumers of legal age, carefully crafted cannabis beverages and takes a uniquely collaborative approach to drive innovation, combining the best products across North America.

"Now more than ever, consumers are looking for alternative adult beverage options to socialize and relax," said Maikel van de Mortel, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer at Two Roots Beverage Co. "Like Truss, we are dedicated in our pursuit to deliver a premium beverage experience, which has resulted in the winning of many prestigious national and international awards for our portfolio of brands. We're excited to be part of Truss' journey to bring their first collaborative cannabis beverages to Canada."

Two Roots Beverage Co. is known for setting the quality standard and retaining mouthfeel, aroma, and taste profiles for its non-alcoholic and malt beverages. Because of this dedication to delivering a premium beverage experience, Two Roots Beverage Co. was selected to collaborate on the new Bedfellows products being introduced into the Canadian market by Truss Beverage Co., Haus Mates, and Indie Pals.

"When creating the Bedfellows brand, we were inspired by the notion of two unlikely partners coming together to bring something entirely new and unexpected to the Cannabis infused beverage category," said Lori Hatcher, Head of Marketing at Truss Beverage Co. "As experts in creating the best-crafted cannabis beverages, we're thrilled to partner with Two Roots to launch our first collaborative cannabis brand, which we know consumers have an appetite for."

About Two Roots Beverage Co.

Two Roots Beverage Co. Inc. manages a wide portfolio of beverage brands, including Rochester Mills and Two Roots Brewing Co., winner of numerous national and international awards, including double Gold and Bronze at the Great American Beer Festival. Two Roots Beverage Co. operates breweries in San Diego, CA, and Auburn Hills, MI. For more information, please visit www.tworootsbeverageco.com

About Truss Beverage Co.

Truss Beverage Co. is a joint venture between MolsonCoors Canada and HEXO Corp., a licensed producer of cannabis products in Canada; formed to lead innovation in the development of non-alcoholic, cannabis-beverages for the Canadian market. The Truss portfolio has a wide range of products for Canadian consumers of legal age, providing a variety of taste experiences for multiple beverage occasions.

SOURCE Two Roots Brewing

Related Links

tworootscannabis.com


The first PLM system they chose faltered at the basic task of building a BOM for their complex products.

Due to the rapid pace of their growth, they knew they needed to upgrade from spreadsheets and emails for product development. Their technical baby gear like strollers had up to 1000 components. The first PLM system they chose faltered at the basic task of building a BOM for their complex products. The search for the right PLM began anew.

Today their workflows are streamlined and automated with information readily available in one, central repository. Information duplication is reduced as are errors. How did this smooth sailing come about?

Read the full story

Request a Demo

UPPAbaby (www.uppababy.com)

The UPPAbaby mission is to make the smartest strollers, car seats and juvenile gear available: intuitively designed, stylish and sleek, with the features and functions all parents wantplus innovations they never knew were possible. UPPAbaby is committed to providing a customer experience that is as exceptional as the company's products. Founded in 2006, UPPAbaby is based in Massachusetts, USA with products available worldwide.

Centric Software (www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides a Product Concept to Consumer Digital Transformation Platform for fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods including cosmetics and personal care and food and beverage. Centric's flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric PLM, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, quality and product portfolio optimization innovations specifically for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB focuses on core tools and industry best practices for emerging brands. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (CVIP) offers highly visual digital board experiences for collaboration and decision-making. Centric Software pioneered mobility, introducing the first mobile apps for PLM, and is widely known for connectivity to dozens of other enterprise systems including ERP, DAM, PIM, e-com, planning and more as well as creative tools such as Adobe Illustrator and a host of 3D CAD connectors. Centric's innovations are 100% market-driven with the highest user adoption rate and fastest time to value in the industry. All Centric innovations shorten time to market, boost product innovation and reduce costs.

Centric Software is majority-owned by Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D digital mock-up and PLM solutions.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including being named by Red Herring to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Centric also received various excellence awards from Frost & Sullivan in 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2021.

Centric Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software Inc. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Centric Software

Related Links

www.centricsoftware.com


"With today's announcement, we enhance our longstanding client relationships in the region, recognize Salt Lake City for the vibrant market it has become for emerging technology and life sciences companies, and we look forward to adding an invaluable asset to the firm in the person of Justice Himonas," said Doug Clark , managing partner of Wilson Sonsini. "Our expansion into Salt Lake City will allow us to better serve Utah's innovative companies, as well as the investors and institutions that support them."

Wilson Sonsini has advised more venture capital firms on Utah-related deals and more Utah-based issuers on IPOs than any other firm since 2016, ranking first in each category by a substantial margin. The firm ranks fourth among law firms in advising on Utah-related mergers and acquisitions in the same period. "We have been actively advising on capital markets, venture financing, M&A, and other transactions in the Utah business community for many years," said Allison Spinner, the leader of Wilson Sonsini's corporate department. "The addition of Marc Porter and relocation of Matt Squires cements our long-term presence in Salt Lake City and makes it even easier for us to address the sophisticated needs of clients in the growing Utah market."

Since 2019, Wilson Sonsini has had a physical presence in Utah through SixFifty, a software subsidiary that develops automated tools that make legal processeslike drafting employee handbooksefficient and affordable. "The firm has recognized Utah as a site of innovation, and the opening of a firm office here just confirms that," said Kimball Dean Parker, the CEO of SixFifty and the director of LawX, a legal design lab at Brigham Young University Law School. "It's fitting that the Utah office of Wilson Sonsini will include Justice Himonas, one of the most forward-thinking members of our judiciary."

Justice Himonas will join Wilson Sonsini's litigation and appellate practices and advise companies on complex governance and regulatory issues. He served as a trial court judge in Utah for 10 years before his appointment to the Utah Supreme Court in 2015. Throughout his legal career, he has concerned himself with issues relating to the access and affordability of civil justice in the U.S. court system. Justice Himonas has received widespread acclaim, including distinction by the American Bar Association as a "Legal Rebel," for his work with Utah attorney John Lund to establish Utah's Office of Legal Services Innovation and a regulatory "sandbox" allowing entities to explore new ways of delivering legal services. More than 25 innovations are being piloted in the sandbox.

Porter has developed a leading corporate practice for technology, consumer products, and life sciences companies in Utah, where he has spent much of his professional career, and beyond. He executes a substantial volume of financings and liquidity events each year for early- to late-stage private companies as well as venture capital firms. Before entering private practice, he served a clerkship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and graduated from Brigham Young University Law School.

Squires, a Utah native and head of the firm's Latin America practice, brings significant experience with both domestic and cross-border venture financings, mergers and acquisitions, and public and private capital markets transactions for clients in technology, software, logistics, clean energy, and other industries.

"Utah continues its rapid momentum as a great place to do business, particularly for technology companies. Wilson Sonsini's presence not only validates that fact, but makes it truer than ever," said Josh James, technology visionary and founder and CEO of Domo, a Wilson Sonsini client. "The firm is already a critical advisor to many local companies and executives, including me, and with this move, it has set the table for even greater things to come in Utah."

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini's services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com .

FACT SHEET

Representative Utah Clients

Wilson Sonsini represents more than 30 clients headquartered in Utah .

represents more than 30 clients headquartered in . They include:

Divvy



Pluralsight



Recursion Pharmaceuticals

Representative Utah Matters

Recursion IPO : Wilson Sonsini represented clinical-stage biotechnology company Recursion Pharmaceuticals in its $501 million upsized initial public offeringone of the largest biopharma IPOs this year.

: represented clinical-stage biotechnology company Recursion Pharmaceuticals in its upsized initial public offeringone of the largest biopharma IPOs this year. Entrata Private Investment : Wilson Sonsini represented Entrata, a comprehensive property management software provider, in connection with a $507 million private investment, the largest private investment round in Utah history.

: represented Entrata, a comprehensive property management software provider, in connection with a private investment, the largest private investment round in history. Divvy Series D : Wilson Sonsini represented Divvy, a leader in spend management with corporate users including the Utah Jazz, in a $165 million funding round that valued the company at $1.6 billion .

: represented Divvy, a leader in spend management with corporate users including the Utah Jazz, in a funding round that valued the company at . Securities Class Action Dismissals: Wilson Sonsini has secured dismissals with prejudice of federal securities class actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah for ZAGG, USANA Health, Pluralsight, and Domo.

Additional Bio Details

Marc Porter

Consistently recognized for excellence in corporate work by Chambers USA , Best Lawyers in America, and other outlets.

, Best Lawyers in America, and other outlets. Clerked for Judge Paul J. Kelly Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Former lead articles editor, Brigham Young University Law Review.

Law Review. Education:

J.D., Brigham Young University Law School, summa cum laude , 2000

Law School, , 2000

B.A., Brigham Young University , 1995

Matt Squires

Named a "Top Rising Star" by The Deal (2021).

Named a "Rising Star" by Washington Super Lawyers (2017-18).

Education:

J.D., New York University School of Law , 2008

, 2008

M.A., English Literature, Brigham Young University , summa cum laude , 2005

, , 2005

B.A., Brigham Young University , magna cum laude , 2002

, , 2002 Fluent in Portuguese, knowledgeable in Spanish.

Justice Constandinos "Deno" Himonas

Grew up in Price, Utah .

. First Greek American to serve on the Utah Supreme Court.

Served as a trial judge in Utah's 3rd District Court from 2004 to 2015.

3rd District Court from 2004 to 2015. Oversaw more than 100 jury trials.

Before leaving the bench, he was the only non-Mormon on the Utah Supreme Court.

Select presentations, panels, and publications:

South by Southwest 2019, "Adopting Online Courts in Utah's Legal System" (panel)

Legal System" (panel)

2019 International ODR Forum, Keynote Address



Legalweek 2020, " Utah , California , Arizona , Oh My! What Changes to Law Firm Ownership Rules Really Mean" (panel)

, , , Oh My! What Changes to Law Firm Ownership Rules Really Mean" (panel)

Himonas & Hubbard, "Democratizing the Rule of Law," Stanford Journal of Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Volume 16, Issue 2 ( June 20, 2020 )

) Select honors:

Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation



Pioneers of Progress President's Award, The Days of '47



Rebuilding Justice Award (co-recipient), Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System



Judicial Excellence Award, Utah State Bar



Honorary Alumnus of the Year, University of Utah College of Law

College of Law

Legal Rebel, ABA Journal

Education:

J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1989

Law School, 1989

B.A., University of Utah , magna cum laude, 1986

Notable rulings by Justice Himonas

Authored a 4-1 decision of the Utah Supreme Court allowing transgender individuals to change the sex designation on their drivers' licenses and other state records. In the Matter of the Sex Change of Sean W. Childers-Gray , f.k.a. Jenny Pace , and Angie Rice , f.k.a. Arthur Edward Rice .

. Authored a unanimous opinion ruling that state law requiring medical malpractice plaintiffs secure a "certificate of compliance" from a state agency is unconstitutional under the separation of powers doctrine. Yolanda Vega v. Jordan Valley Medical Center LP .

. Authored a unanimous opinion ruling that a lawsuit brought by the family of a woman who drowned in a creek in a city-owned park should not have been dismissed under the state's recreational use statute. Feldman et al. v. Salt Lake City Corp.

Additional Commentary

Justice Himonas : "I am excited to be joining a firm that not only practices law at the highest possible level but has consistently pushed the entire profession forward. Wilson Sonsini does such a good job representing innovative clients because it has an innovative mindset itself. That's what drew me to the firm."

: "I am excited to be joining a firm that not only practices law at the highest possible level but has consistently pushed the entire profession forward. does such a good job representing innovative clients because it has an innovative mindset itself. That's what drew me to the firm." Marc Porter : " Wilson Sonsini has no peer, in Utah or elsewhere, in providing sophisticated counsel to emerging technology companies. I'm gratified that the firm has acknowledged the vitality of Utah's business climate with its decision to move into the city, and I'm honored to play a role in that expansion myself."

: " has no peer, in or elsewhere, in providing sophisticated counsel to emerging technology companies. I'm gratified that the firm has acknowledged the vitality of business climate with its decision to move into the city, and I'm honored to play a role in that expansion myself." Matt Squires : " Utah is ready for Wilson Sonsini , and the firm, for its part, is equally ready to serve its existing and future clients in this growing region. Our presence on the ground will allow us to be an even more integral part of Utah's future."

: " is ready for , and the firm, for its part, is equally ready to serve its existing and future clients in this growing region. Our presence on the ground will allow us to be an even more integral part of future." Caz Hashemi , head of Wilson Sonsini's litigation department: " Justice Himonas complements the firm's appellate and investigatory practices in unique ways. He will bring a rare level of stature to any engagement he touches, the insights of a visionary, and, most importantly, a keen mind for legal analysis."

SixFifty

Customer base : SixFifty's many corporate customers include Nissan, Vineyard Vines, ING, Cole Haan , and Allbirds.

: SixFifty's many corporate customers include Nissan, Vineyard Vines, ING, , and Allbirds. One-to-one model : SixFifty releases at least one free tool for every tool that generates revenue. SixFifty developed, for instance, Hello Landlord and Hello Lender tools to help renters and homeowners affected by the pandemic to access federal relief.

: SixFifty releases at least one free tool for every tool that generates revenue. SixFifty developed, for instance, Hello Landlord and Hello Lender tools to help renters and homeowners affected by the pandemic to access federal relief. Recent products :

: PIPL : SixFifty has released a tool to help organizations comply with China's Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). SixFifty previously released products to help organizations comply with data privacy laws implemented in the European Union (the GDPR), California , and Nevada .

: SixFifty has released a tool to help organizations comply with Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). SixFifty previously released products to help organizations comply with data privacy laws implemented in the European Union (the GDPR), , and .

Employee handbook : SixFifty previously released a tool that automatically generates employee handbooks covering more than 60 different company policies (from dress codes to Family and Medical Leave Act policies) in every state, customized to the business in question.

SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Related Links

http://www.wsgr.com


With Fund V, 137 plans to use the same investment strategy as it employed for its previous four funds. Namely, most of the fund's capital will be used to provide custom liquidity solutions to founders, executives, early employees, and other large shareholders of private, high-growth technology companies. Fund V will also make small investments in primary rounds. Over the last ten years, 137 Ventures has invested in more than 75 companies, of which 13 have gone public thus far (including seven companies that have gone public in the last 14 months).

Said 137 Ventures Managing Partner Justin Fishner-Wolfson, "Our team is happy to have helped founders by providing them hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity over the years. By doing so, we have been able to invest directly with founders and other large shareholders in some of the industry's most sought-after companies. Our limited partners support our approach to venture investing, for which we are very grateful. We have spent the last ten years proving the effectiveness of our model and developing a track record that we are proud of. The decades ahead will be focused on scaling the team and continually innovating liquidity solutions for visionary founders and company leaders."

137's largest active portfolio companies by fair market value at present are SpaceX, Gusto, Flexport, Workrise, and Curology. The five largest investments by dollars invested since the launch of 137 Ventures Fund IV in 2019 are Workrise, Wonolo, Thirty Madison, Anduril, and Lattice.

"Founders and VCs have a shared goal of delivering outsized venture returns over time. Obtaining liquidity through 137 Ventures aligns incentives and allows founders and executives to more comfortably play the long game,'' said David Sacks, co-founder and general partner of Craft Ventures. "137 has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to founders and I look forward to seeing how they expand their services."

Today's 137 Investment Team  Promotions & Additions

The investment team is comprised of a managing partner, Justin Fishner-Wolfson, and three investment partners: S. Alexander Jacobson, Andy Laszlo, and Nick Procaccini. These four investment partners have worked together for many years and were previously successful entrepreneurs, operators, and investors from other leading venture firms. Rounding out the investment team are James Pardee, who was promoted from senior associate to principal, and Christian Garrett, who was promoted from head of platform to principal, both in June 2021. The firm also welcomed to the team Alex Lurie as director of legal & business affairs in January 2021 and Brian Jue as investment analyst in May 2021. (137 is currently hiring investment analysts and associates as well as an IR associate. Inquire at [email protected].)

137 Ventures' Origin Story

137 Ventures Co-founders Justin Fishner-Wolfson and S. Alexander Jacobson met while working at Founders Fund. In 2010, Fishner-Wolfson spotted a gap in the market when several of his friends who were working at Facebook at the time sought his advice to obtain liquidity by using their private Facebook shares as collateral. Facebook was founded in 2004 and would not go public until 2012. These friends had valuable Facebook shares but did not have the cash to fund life events such as purchasing a home or repaying student loans. When Fishner-Wolfson realized such liquidity solutions did not exist, he and Jacobson left Founders Fund to create 137 Ventures. The firm was founded on the thesis that venture-backed companies would stay private longer and the need for liquidity would continue to grow over time. Since then, this thesis has been borne out. According to Pitchbook, the average time from a company's first venture investment to an exit has gone up 20% during the ten-year period ending September 30, 2020.

137 Ventures raised its first fund in 2011. Since then, 137 has closed four additional flagship funds and dozens of co-investment vehicles. The firm generally targets position sizes ranging from low single-digit millions up to tens of millions of dollars for core positions. While sector-agnostic, the firm focuses on growth-stage companies with at least tens of millions of dollars in revenues and business models that benefit from competitive advantages that accumulate over time, such as network effects, economics of scale, and information asymmetries.

Founders Referring Founders

More than 60% of the holdings in 137 Ventures' third and fourth flagship funds were referred to the firm by the founders and executives who had previously done business with 137. Founders cite tax efficiencies, upside retention, preservation of voting rights, and the lack of adverse impact on the company's 409A valuation as some of the benefits of 137's liquidity solutions.

VCs Referring Founders

One of 137's biggest sources of deal flow are traditional venture capital firms. Traditional VCs realize companies staying private longer could impose significant financial stress on their founders and executives. VCs view liquidity solutions from 137 Ventures as helping founders and executives meet their short-term financial needs in order to focus on building long-term, durable businesses.

About 137 Ventures

137 Ventures is a growth-stage venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco, CA and Las Vegas, NV. Unlike traditional VCs, it largely invests in fast-growing technology companies by providing customized liquidity solutions to their founders and other sizable shareholders. 137 Ventures has a flexible investment strategy and can also make small investments in primary venture rounds. Since its inception in 2011, the firm has raised five flagship funds and multiple co-investment vehicles, bringing the total assets under management to approximately $2 billion. More about 137 Ventures, including a list of its portfolio companies can be found on their website .

Media Contact:

Ching Wu

[email protected]

650-388-6705 (cell)

Disclaimer: The portfolio companies identified and described herein do not represent all of the portfolio companies purchased, sold or recommended for portfolios advised by 137 Ventures. The reader should not assume that an investment in the portfolio companies identified were or will be profitable. A complete list of portfolio companies is available upon request. This material presented is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. It is not a recommendation of, or an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, any particular security, strategy or investment product. Any analysis or discussion of investments, sectors or the market generally are based on current information, including from public sources, that we consider reliable, but we do not represent that any research or the information provided is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied on as such. Our views and opinions expressed in this report are current at the time of publication and are subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Loans will be arranged or made pursuant to a California Financing Law License. 137 Ventures Management, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. SEC registration does not indicate a certain level of skill or training.

SOURCE 137 Ventures
STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Corporate Solutions, an Olympus Partners portfolio company, and a leading manufacturer of specialty proteins and fats used in premium pet food, has acquired Missouri-based marine protein manufacturer LinkOne Marine Solutions ("LinkOne Marine"). LinkOne Marine is a leading manufacturer of dried, fresh, and frozen marine proteins including salmon, sardine, and herring (among others) serving premium pet food brands in North America. The combined company will be able to better serve its customers with a complete offering of premium protein ingredients.

"We are excited about the value-added products they offer the market and believe there are significant growth opportunities available for the combined business," said Scott Clawson, CEO of 3D. "The acquisition is highly complementary to the products and capabilities we currently offer, and we look forward to growing and working alongside the LinkOne Marine team."

"We believe 3D is the ideal home for the LinkOne Marine business and that the combined business will greatly improve how we serve our customers," said Ed Mareth, co-founder of LinkOne. "We are excited to build on our long-term success as a part of 3D," said Kevin Keeling, the other co-founder of LinkOne.

LinkOne Marine partners with established fisheries in North America, South America, and Europe to source and manufacture specialty marine proteins for the premium pet food industry. They provide unrivaled supply chain and sourcing capabilities combined with expertise in formulation.

3D is a leading manufacturer of specialty proteins and fats to the premium pet food sector. The Company operates a network of six facilities in the U.S. that provide processed proteins and palatants to premium pet food brands and co-manufacturers. The Company is owned by management, its founders, and Olympus Partners.

ABOUT OLYMPUS PARTNERS

Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus manages funds in excess of $8.5 billion on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing.

SOURCE Olympus Partners
Solving tomorrow's cyber security problems, today

- Following the hugely successful HITB+CyberWeek event in Abu Dhabi in 2019, DisruptAD brings back the event to the UAE's capital where the world's best thinkers and cyber security experts will come together in a five-day hybrid event from 21-25 November 2021 at ADNEC

- World's top 16 'best of the best' Pro Capture the Flag teams competing in a new style of attack and defence contest, battling it out for a prize pool of US$116,000

- Security Conference (24-25 Nov) and training labs (21-24 Nov) featuring 32 of the world's best subject matter experts speaking across 4 vertical tracks (Hack, Make, Break, Build) with welcome address by H.E. Faisal Al Bannai and keynote by Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti.

- Security exhibition open to the public featuring IoT hacking challenges, wireless security, packet capture contests, lock picking classes, car hacking workshops, AI related demos, and hardware focused challenges

- For the first time, a start-ups village, sponsored by DisruptAD, will showcase next-generation UAE and global start-ups from Asia, Europe, and North America

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hack In The Box (HITB), known for its cutting-edge technical talks and trainings in computer security, is returning to Abu Dhabi, UAE with a new hybrid event from 21-25 November, 2021. This year's edition of HITB+CyberWeek is brought by DisruptAD, ADQ's venture platform that connects pioneering, visionary and entrepreneurial minds to displace the norm and scale globally from Abu Dhabi. The event will bring together the world's top thinkers and cyber security experts to share the latest knowledge, ideas and techniques among security professionals and university students.

Commenting on behalf of DisruptAD, Faisal Al Hammadi, said: "Technological advancements and cutting-edge solutions are becoming more valuable as the world seeks solutions that address the challenges of tomorrow. At DisruptAD, we are on a mission to drive the future of innovation, disrupting priority sectors in the UAE and driving economic growth. As an active partner in the start-up ecosystem, we are looking forward to our participation in HITB+Cyberweek and fostering competitive innovation in Abu Dhabi while also supporting a thriving local community of entrepreneurs and innovators."

"Our world has changed and so has HITB+CyberWeek. As the world enters unchartered territory in a post-COVID era, we need unique minds that love solving the impossible," said Dhillon Kannabhiran, Founder and CEO of Hack In The Box. "The UAE has a reputation for visionary thinking and leads the region on numerous fronts including technological advancements. To solve the next generation of cyber security problems, we need to act now to develop the next generation of cyber security warriors."

Continued Kannabhiran: "That's why we're bringing more than just our cutting-edge talks and trainings for professionals to HITB+CyberWeek  we're also bringing together start-ups, the world's best hackers to compete with UAE teams in the Pro CTF competition, and a host of hardware and software related challenges and mini-workshops to spur the next-generation of students to 'think outside the box'."

The event combines the HITB Security Conference (24-25 November) with some sessions open to the public, and paid trainings for security professionals (21-24 November). It is the first HITB hybrid event with livestreaming for virtual attendees from around the world combined with a physical event at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi where visitors can experience the Security Exhibition, Start-Up Village and more.

Pro Capture the Flag (CTF): Best 16 CTF teams battle it out for US$116,000

With a prize pool of USD $116,000, 16 of the world's best CTF teams will be flown into Abu Dhabi to battle it out in a two-day attack and defence CTF competition. Organized by HITB in collaboration with Hackerdom, Russia's leading CTF organising crew and CTF.ae, winners of 2019's Cyber Battle of The Emirates and now the UAE's first outfit specialized in creating and managing cybersecurity Capture the Flag events and training in the Emirates. The CTF will pit .edu winners from the pre-qualification CTF held in Singapore in August alongside pre-invited PRO teams from around the global to prove definitively that they are the best of the best. Portions of the contest will also be hybridized for teams unable to make the trip in-person thus making this the world's first truly hybrid Capture the Flag competition.

No Limits to the way we collaborate, share knowledge and skills

"With HITB security conference events in Amsterdam, Singapore and the UAE, we believe we're breaking down the boundaries between regions and creating the right environment for a fascinating mix of ideas, networking among like-minded people and most importantly, the sharing of knowledge. Let's face it: our hyperconnected digital world has no boundaries and we believe there should be no limits to the way we collaborate, the way we share the latest research and techniques and how we train the next generation of cyber warriors. Next generation problems need next-generation ideas, solutions and skills. HITB+CyberWeek brings together unique minds to solve the impossible," added Kannabhiran.

Learn more about HITB+CyberWeek and register for the event and obtain tickets here https://cyberweek.ae/2021/

About DisruptAD

DisruptAD, ADQ's venture platform, was launched to accelerate the future of innovation. The platform offers productive incubation, investment and commercial scaling opportunities for tech start-ups in a state-of-the-art infrastructure for a digital led age. DisruptAD aims to advance R&D and unleash the potential of the UAE's innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem through highly skilled tech talent.

DisruptAD is attracting and creating a thriving community of founders, fund managers, incubators, and accelerators to globally build, support and scale disruptive technologies from Abu Dhabi.

About 'Hack In The Box'

Hack In The Box (HITB) is a series of network security and hacking related conferences held annually around the world. HITB conferences offer cutting-edge hardcore technical talks delivered by some of the most respected names in the computer security industry. Held annually in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, they are among the foremost platforms for the discussion and dissemination of next generation cyber computer security issues. HITB+CyberWeek will bring together the world's top thinkers and cyber security experts to share the latest knowledge, ideas and techniques among security professionals and students from November 21-25 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Hesham Najiya

Communication Director

MSL Group MENA

[email protected]

SOURCE DisruptAD
SMYRNA, Ga., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerate360 Distribution, LLC ("Accelerate360") announced today that it has acquired MSolutions, LLC ("Media Solutions") from Anderson Media Corporation, in an equity purchase which will give Accelerate360 full ownership of the acquired business. The deal closed on November 1, 2021.

"Media Solutions is a great partner to the publishing community and has seen extraordinary growth over the past couple of years while providing outstanding service to their clients," said Accelerate360 President and CEO David Parry. "We are excited to welcome the Media Solutions team to the Accelerate360 family and look forward to working with them to build on their recent success."

Media Solutions President, John Franznick added, "We are very proud of the great retail partnerships we have built, and I would like to thank our dedicated employees who have contributed so much to our success. Today's announcement underscores how committed Accelerate360 and Media Solutions are to the magazine distribution supply chain and to helping our retail partners and publishers see continued growth and success."

With this acquisition, Accelerate360 will add approximately 2,000 retail locations to its industry leading network of distribution assets. The company delivers multiple categories of consumer products to more than 60,000 retail locations weekly.

About Accelerate360

Accelerate360 is an omnichannel distribution, data and media company that provides customized solutions for consumer product brands and retailers. They deliver consumer products to over 60,000 retail locations weekly and have a 100-year track record of growing brands through logistics, sales, sourcing, marketing and media. Accelerate360 specializes in the General Merchandise, Health, Beauty, and Wellness categories and develops and curates' programs to cater to clients' objectives. As a data driven organization, Accelerate360 leverages first party and third-party data to customize impactful and efficient solutions for our clients. Accelerate360 is also the largest magazine wholesaler in the U.S. and owns over 30 media brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the company has offices and fulfillment centers strategically positioned around the United States and is proud to employ over 1,000 employees.

About Media Solutions

Media Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Alabama, are experts at distributing products, processing and analyzing data, and category management. Media Solutions is the exclusive supplier of thousands of magazines and other products to the top bookstores, club stores, travel centers and specialty retailers in the U.S.

SOURCE Accelerate360
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- System optimization and application automation is no longer a choice - it is a necessity for enterprises of every size. Traditionally, this need for automation has meant long, complex, and prohibitively expensive custom application integration that has favored the largest corporations and most powerful players in every industry, to the exclusion of small to medium sized businesses working with limited budgets and antiquated infrastructure. This gap has left businesses still operating with traditional data transfer models and disconnected systems in the wake of the industry giants. If left unchecked, automation disparity will inevitably lead to a major decline in the vibrant and diverse business environment that we have come to expect in the west today. Gone are the days of being able to compete in nearly any market without optimizing data transfer, tracking business intelligence analytics, and relying on manual data entry. Luckily, technology has progressed to fill this gap  eschewing the old and outdated methods of integration in favor of agile and flexible solutions known as iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service).

At Ariox, we are laser-focused on leveling this automation playing field with the introduction of our all-in-one cloud hosted iPaaS Integration platform, Lumino. Inside the Lumino portal users can create integrations using our library of pre-built connectors, configure those integrations using our powerful data customization components and rules engine, monitor Business Intelligence analytics and so much more. Not only does Lumino provide users with the tools to keep up with the industry big boys, but it does so without creating dependence on outside management, development, and proprietary software. Gone are the days of waiting months or perhaps even years for a development team to customize and configure all your integrations or provide trouble shooting service  with Lumino, users retain that power in-house with the simple click of a mouse or tap on a mobile device. Perhaps best of all, Lumino provides this outstanding functionality, backed by our expert integration team, at a fraction of the cost of traditional integration and iPaaS systems. Our flexible tiered pricing structure ensures you only pay for the connections and service that you need, leaving behind the clunky pricing models of the past and embracing a structure that keeps customers first.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last month, both American and Southwest Airlines have canceled thousands of flights for reasons including weather and staff shortages. With travelers already facing additional challenges brought on by Covid-19, these sudden flight cancellations highlight the need for travelers to prepare for travel disruptions.

According to travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.com, 70% more travelers are insured for trips this holiday season over 2019. Ahead of the busy season, Squaremouth explains how travel insurance can help if your airline leaves you stranded.

Coverage for Rebooking Costs

Many travel insurance policies include coverage for travelers whose flights are delayed or canceled by their travel supplier. Typically, this can include reimbursement for the additional transportation costs required to help the traveler continue their trip as planned.

Benefits During a Delay

When a traveler's flight is unexpectedly delayed or canceled by their airline, most policies can provide benefits during their delay, including covering the cost of food, accommodations, and local transportation. This coverage is triggered after a specified length of time, at least 3 hours.

Reimbursement for Missed Expenses

In addition to reimbursing for additional transportation and delay expenses, travel insurance policies can reimburse travelers for the portion of their trip that was missed during the flight delay or cancellation. This can include the cost of lodging, transportation, and excursions - among other non-refundable trip expenses - that were missed.

Know the Fine Print

While this type of coverage is common, the specifics vary by policy. The most lenient policies provide these benefits for "any delay of a common carrier", while others specify the cause of the delay.

Travelers who are looking for this type of coverage should understand their policy's language and may want to opt for the least restrictive policy language.

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

Squaremouth.com, and their multi-award winning customer service team, has helped over 2 million travelers save time and money to find the best travel insurance policy for their trip.

Leveraging decades of travel expertise, and industry-leading technology, Squaremouth.com hosts the most intuitive travel insurance quoting and comparison engine on the market today.

Coupled with verified customer reviews and the largest portfolio of products, Squaremouth allows travelers to instantly purchase a travel insurance policy from every major provider in the US.

SOURCE Squaremouth

Related Links

http://www.squaremouth.com


WESTCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Children's Health Physicians is pleased to announce the appointment of Allen J. Dozor, M.D. as President of Boston Children's Health Physicians, effective immediately. Dr. Dozor has a long and distinguished history with the organization, most recently serving as Interim Vice President since April 2020.

Dr. Dozor is a longtime member of the Boston Children's family since he joined the faculty and attending staff at Boston Children's Hospital in 1982. Dr. Dozor moved to Westchester and accepted the position of Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology at New York Medical College and Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Westchester Medical Center in 1985 and has since devoted his professional career to the growth of the organization, to the care of patients, and to the advancement of multiple academic endeavors. He founded the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy, Immunology, and Sleep Medicine at BCHP (formerly CWPW) and has also served as the Director of the Armond V. Mascia, MD Cystic Fibrosis Center, the only such center in the Hudson Valley. Additionally, he founded and directed the fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology, he has served as the Associate Physician-in-Chief at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center since its inception, and in 2008 he co-founded the Children's Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley. Dr. Dozor also serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Public Health at New York Medical College.

"We are grateful for the many contributions which Dr. Dozor has made to the field of Pediatrics, and congratulate him on his appointment as the next President of BCHP. His tireless efforts and commitment have hugely impacted BHCP and our patients in a positive manner," says Gerard Villucci, CEO. "We know that as President, he will help lead BCHP to new heights and enable our practice to provide our patients with the highest quality treatments and care. Dr. Dozor's extensive leadership experience will allow BCHP to continue to respond to the ever changing demands of the pediatric community."

Dr. Dozor states, "I am humbled to take on this new role. My goals as a physician align with my goals as president. I am so proud of the growth of BCHP, and its long-standing commitment to superb patient care, medical research, training future generations of physicians, and advocating for the current and future health and well-being of children and families."

Under Dr. Dozor's leadership, the future is bright as he continues to make strides for BCHP and their patients. BCHP enthusiastically welcomes Dr. Dozor as their new president.

About Boston Children's Health Physicians

Boston Children's Health Physicians (BCHP) is a large multi-specialty group with more than 300 clinicians. BCHP proudly offer a full range of care to families in over 55 practices throughout New York's Metropolitan Area, the Hudson Valley and Connecticut. Working with partners at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at WMCHealth and New York Medical College, BCHP is dedicated to state-of-the-art patient care, excellence in medical education, and cutting-edge scientific research. BCHP is also part of the Boston Children's Hospital network of care, the #1-ranked children's hospital by U.S.News & World Report. For more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook @BCHPhysicians.

CONTACT: Kristen DiBari, Boston Children's Health Physicians

914-594-2319 | [email protected]

SOURCE Boston Children's Hospital

Related Links

www.childrenshospital.org


BEIJING, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ameba Capital, a leading venture capital firm in China, announced the closing of a US$265 million US dollar fund, which is seeded with several China's leading "Software as a Service" (SaaS) companies and additional capital to make early-and venture growth-stage SaaS investments in the region. The fund, which is Ameba Capital's debut US dollar fund, is recognized as the world's first fund focusing on China SaaS investment opportunities.

The fundraising attracted leading investment institutions from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, including sovereign wealth funds, global fund of funds, technology industrial groups and prominent family offices. NewQuest Capital Partners and its co-investors led the transaction as lead investors.

Founded in 2011, Ameba Capital is one of the first venture capital firms to invest in China's SaaS sector and has successfully backed a number of unicorns with significant stake and influence. Its portfolio companies include Jushuitan, Yao Inno, Leyan Technology, Xiaoyang Education and BY AI, which are recognized as China's top SaaS companies in the e-commerce, healthcare, and education sectors, respectively. Ameba Capital believes in the tremendous potential of China's SaaS businesses, and believes that the China SaaS space will maintain its rapid growth trajectory over the next two decades.

Kevin Wang, Founding and Managing Partner of Ameba Capital, stated, "Despite challenges posed by uncertainties around the US dollar fundraising market, Ameba Capital successfully raised the largest first-time China technology-themed US dollar fund of the year. The success reflects the market's confidence in Ameba Capital and that it is increasingly becoming the partner of choice for aspirational entrepreneurs and fast-growing SaaS businesses."

About Ameba Capital:

Ameba Capital is a leading venture capital firm in China. Ameba Capital was established in 2011, specialized in equity investments for early and growth companies in enterprise service and information technology sectors. Ameba Capital has a proven track-record in delivering strong returns while maintaining its elite positioning and boutique approach. For more information, please visit www.amebacapital.com.

About NewQuest Capital Partners:

NewQuest is the leading dedicated secondary private equity platform focused on the Asia-Pacific region with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Mumbai. NewQuest specializes in providing strategic liquidity solutions to private equity asset owners, including private equity funds, financial institutions, corporations, hedge funds and family offices. NewQuest was established in 2011 and currently manages four funds with capital commitments of over US$2.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.nqcap.com.

SOURCE Ameba Capital
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), scheduled to take effect in less than two months, will limit patient access to care at a time when the health care system is already destabilized due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final rule includes a harmful 3.75 percent cut to surgeons and surgical practices. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) calls on Congress to reverse these significant cuts that will hurt patients and their providers.

"Surgeons and their patients have already been significantly impacted by the pandemic," said ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS. "These Medicare cuts will further exacerbate our pandemic-strained health care system and cause further delay in care to the patients who need it most."

This cut means that on January 1, 2022, a 3.75 percent cut, combined with automatic Medicare cuts, will slash Medicare payments to surgeons by nearly 9 percent. A recent survey of ACS members shows a majority of surgeons believe these cuts will result in longer wait times for patients and delays to care. As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have already caused Americans to delay needed care, these cuts will only further strain health care systems nationwide.

A bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives supports stopping the cuts. Representatives Ami Bera, MD (D-Calif.) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-Ind.) recently led a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), signed by 247 U.S. Representatives and supported by 135 national medical groups, urging them to stop these harmful cuts. In the coming weeks, the ACS, alongside the Surgical Care Coalition, will continue to advocate for Congress to protect patients and the care they need.

The ACS is a founding member of the Surgical Care Coalition, which advocates for access to quality surgical care for all Americans. The Surgical Care Coalition is comprised of 13 surgical professional associations that proudly represent the more than 150,000 surgeons working across the country with a common goal of improving the quality of care, and quality of life, for all patients.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 84,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

CONTACT: Dan Hamilton, 312-202-5328 or Sally Garneski, 312-202-5409, [email protected]

SOURCE American College of Surgeons

Related Links

http://www.facs.org


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Kennel Club (AKC), the world's largest purebred dog registry and advocate for all dogs, is pleased to express strong support and appreciation for the passage of the New York State Law, going into effect in January 2022, which will ban homeowners insurance breed discrimination.

On Saturday, October 30, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 4254 (now Chapter 545), which states, "With respect to homeowners' insurance policiesno insurer shall refuse to issue or renew, cancel, or charge or impose an increased premium or ratebased solely upon harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds."

Insurance companies may cancel, increase rates, or refuse to issue policies if a dog is declared dangerous as defined in New York State Law, so long as the action is based on "sound underwriting and actuarial principles" and the action is reasonably related to actual or anticipated loss. However, the action cannot be based on the dog's breed.

For the past 10 years, AKC has advocated for legislation in New York on this issue which will protect responsible dog owners from situations where they are unable to obtain or afford homeowner's insurance simply because of the breed of dog they own.

New York state law already expressly prohibits municipalities from passing laws that target specific breeds of dogs. The new law (formerly A. 4075 and S. 4254) extends these protections to homeowners who are responsible dog owners, while still holding all dog owners accountable, regardless of the breed they choose to own.

"AKC is grateful to New York Governor Kathy Hochul as well as Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick for sponsoring this law, which will ban homeowner's insurance breed discrimination," said AKC President & CEO, Dennis Sprung. "Thanks to this new legislation, effective January 2022, New York dog owners will be protected from having higher rates or being denied homeowner's insurance based on the breed of dog they own."

The AKC also thanks the New York dog owners who took the time to contact their legislators and the Governor in support of this issue. This bill will go into effect 90 days from the date of signing.

For more information, visit the AKC Government Relations Legislative Action Center on Breed Specific Legislation..

About the American Kennel Club

Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization, which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers

SOURCE American Kennel Club

Related Links

www.akc.org


moomoo entered Jared's life on the recommendation of his wife, after which he embarked on his investment journey.

He uses moomoo to browse stock quotes, read financial news, analyze market trends, and make friends with investors worldwide.

But it's not just for fun; Jared, along with many others, has seen incredible results using the app.

Jared was exposed to investing at an early age, but he did not trade regularly or with purpose at first.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he, like many others, found more time secluded at home and started to look at his investments in the stock market with a more serious eye, adding on options into his investment strategy.

Although Jared has only five years of investment experience, he has already formed his investing philosophy and points toward timing as the primary driver in his investment decisions.

Implementing this rule of thumb, he uses information from moomoo to identify the stocks worth paying attention to.

According to Jared, once he adds some stocks to his watchlist, the next step is to decide which stocks to buy, which is the most difficult choice to make.

He also said he is a fan of the Heat Lists feature on moomoo, which shows trending stocks by showing activities based on the number of trades or searches of a stock or the clicks and views of its related news.

Jared is well aware of the risks involved, and he strictly adheres to a predetermined exit strategy to control the risks.

For example, he will set a strict profit-taker and stop-loss point, and once the threshold is reached, he will close out the positions no matter what.[1]

By adopting these investing strategies, Jared has achieved impressive returns on moomoo.

But even that is only a stepping stone to his real goal of becoming financially free and having the ability to live on his returns alone.

"The app offers a lot of free tools," Jared said. "Users have free access to stock quotes on moomoo, whereas most other apps tend to charge a fee for this feature. What's more, the quotes are quickly updated with little time lag. The AI Monitor feature and other automated analytics are great. You also have access to abundant financial news and its Moo community, where many investors share their views. moomoo allows me to get to know the latest news and strategies and decide which stocks to buy, which saves me a lot of time in decision-making."

As an active app user, he said moomoo makes investing more accessible and returns higher, and the proof is in the pudding.

"You don't see returns so high with so little experience without a powerful tool to help," Jared said.

And even more than achieving his financial dreams, he said investing has become a spice in his busy life, enabling him to make continuous self-improvements and meet a group of like-minded people who are also passionate about investing and will continue to share his story using moomoo.

"Many of my relatives and friends are new to investing," Jared said. "The Moo community serves as a great platform for them to learn from seasoned investors who share their experience there. Beginners can grow quickly by learning from others."

On the ninth anniversary of Futu's establishment, Jared gave his blessings to Futu.

"I wish Futu a prosperous future and hope it can provide more and more useful tools to investors so that we can grow with Futu along our investment journey," he said.

Disclaimer: Securities are offered through Futu Inc., member SIPC/FINRA. All investing involves risk. Neither Futu Inc. nor moomoo endorses any particular investing strategy. You should carefully consider your investment goals and objectives when deciding what investment strategy to follow. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

About moomoo



moomoo is a professional trading platform that offers access to commission-free trading of stocks, options and ETFs (restrictions apply). It is a one-stop platform that integrates AI-powered trading tools, real-time data, and one of the most engaged online trading communities. In the United States, moomoo's securities services are offered by Futu Inc., a licensed broker-dealer regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Futu Inc is also a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Moomoo Inc. is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. For more information about moomoo, please visit the company's official website, www.moomoo.com.

[1] In a stop loss order, if the market is unusually fast the stop price that is executed may be quite a bit different than the initial stop set price.

SOURCE Moomoo Inc.
GLENVIEW, Ill., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Anish R. Kadakia, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Name in Orthopedic Surgery for his eminent work in the Medical field and in recognition of his work at Comprehensive Orthopedic and Spine Care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University.

Anish R. Kadakia, MD, has been providing exceptional medical services to the Glenview, IL area for over twenty years. Dr. Kadakia is an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle surgeries for his patients at Comprehensive Orthopedic and Spine Care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. In his eight years at the hospital, he has helped numerous patients regain mobility and live with less pain.



In addition to his work as an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Kadakia is the co-author of Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery, published with co-author Dr. Mark Myerson in 2019. He teaches as a Professor at Northwestern University and works with residents, fellows, and medical students during their training. Dr. Kadakia also frequently uses his expertise and advanced knowledge of the subject as an expert witness in legal matters.



To remain abreast of developments in the medical field, Dr. Kadakia is a member of the Illinois Orthopedic Society, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, the American Orthopedic Association, the Societe Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopedique et de Traumatologie (SICOT), and he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.



He has received many recognitions and awards for his time in medicine, including: Top Orthopaedic Doctor Chicago Magazine (2020); Top Orthopaedic Doctor Chicago Magazine (2018); AAOS Achievement Award American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery  AAOS (2017); James Stack Teaching Award Orthopaedic Surgery (2016); Top 16 Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon in North America Orthopaedics This Week (2015); William S. Smith Resident Teaching Award University of Michigan  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (2011), Patients' Choice Award (2008-2014, 2017, 2018) On-Time Doctor Award (2009, 2014, 2017, 2018), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2010-2013, 2016-2018), Patients' Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2012-2014), Top 10 Doctor  Metro Area (2014), Top 10 Doctor  City (2014), and Top 10 Doctor  State (2014).



On a personal note, Dr. Kadakia supports numerous charities, including Charity Water, St. Judes, and Steps To Walk. He works with local Meals on Wheels chapters to support his community, and has previously visited India to help build schools, and visited Bangladesh to help install water systems for schools.



Dr. Kadakia would like to dedicate this honorable recognition to his mentor Mark Myerson, MD; and his brother Nimish Kadakia, MD, who inspired him in his career.



For more information, visit https://www.northwestern.edu/ or https://www.nm.org/.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]





SOURCE Continental Who's Who
Released in July, Archicad 25 is one of the most user-driven versions yet, with powerful enhancements to design, visualization, documentation, and collaboration capabilities that are a direct response to user feedback. With enhanced usability, navigation, and accurate quantity take-offs, Archicad empowers teams to create great architecture  by working in a single software from early concept designs through to construction documents.

What's new in Archicad 25 Update 2

Introducing Redshift by Maxon for Archicad 25  The world's first fully GPU-accelerated biased rendering engine has been built to meet the specific demands of contemporary high-end production rendering. With Redshift, users get the flexibility and quality of CPU-based rendering with GPU-based speed thanks to a suite of powerful features tailored to support creative individuals and practices of every size.

Currently available as a Technology Preview for Archicad 25 users with a Software Service Agreement (SSA) or Forward Agreement, Redshift will be offered as an exclusive benefit for Graphisoft Forward subscribers starting with Archicad 25 Update 3.

Collaboration  To facilitate open collaboration, Archicad supports more than 40 export and import formats, including DWG, PDF, XLS, and SAF, as well as the manufacturer-independent and industry-standards IFC and BCF.

Native Survey Point delivers streamlined coordination workflows so that architects can set and lock the project's survey point and use it to coordinate with stakeholders  regardless of the software they're using.

delivers streamlined coordination workflows so that architects can set and lock the project's survey point and use it to coordinate with stakeholders  regardless of the software they're using. Improved IFC export process means architects and engineers can exchange model geometry and data easily and be certain they're sharing the most accurate model.

means architects and engineers can exchange model geometry and data easily and be certain they're sharing the most accurate model. Working with Hotlink modules is easier than ever because models can now be populated with information directly from Excel.

is easier than ever because models can now be populated with information directly from Excel. FRILO Connection  Integrate structural models between Archicad and FRILO with a simple click, without risk of sharing outdated information.

"It's exciting to see that Graphisoft continues to invest in Archicad and is pushing the boundaries of BIM software," said David Thompson, Director, THAA Architects. "It's reassuring to know that the software continues to be developed and improved."

Design  Archicad empowers architects to design with accuracy and efficiency, reducing design flaws and errors with a technology enhancement that conveniently allows for checking full and partial linear overlaps.

Available as a Technology Preview, the Overlap Check functionality has been boosted to detect partial linear overlaps, thus ensuring delivery of high-quality models. Archicad 25 already checks for duplicate and fully overlapping linear elements.

"At Graphisoft, we believe that the software must adapt to the architect and not the other way around," said Shesh Gorur, Vice President for Product Success, Graphisoft. "The tool must be flexible enough to accommodate creativity while complying with local standards and regulations. Graphisoft's focus is to provide precision tools that make our products more flexible and intuitive  you work on the design, and the process runs in the background," he added.

Visualization  Translate conceptual designs into compelling presentations that bring models to life and inspire the audience.

The enhanced Graphic Override, new Surface RGB, and transparency slider let architects and designers further personalize the look of their designs.

Documentation  Deliver error-free documentation that automatically follows your design and complies with regulations and local standards.

Fully customizable textual content and zone colors and upgraded quantity takeoffs ensure accurate information in the right formats.

For more information about Archicad 25, please visit graphisoft.com.

About Archicad

Design and deliver projects of any size with Archicad's powerful set of built-in tools and user-friendly interface that make it the most efficient and intuitive BIM software on the market. Featuring out-of-the-box design documentation, one-click publishing, photo-realistic rendering, and best-in-class analysis, Archicad lets you focus on what you do best: design great buildings. Discover what's new in Archicad 25.

About Graphisoft

Graphisoft empowers teams to create great architecture, through award-winning software solutions, learning programs, and professional services for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. Archicad, the architects' BIM software of choice, offers a complete end-to-end design and documentation workflow for architectural and integrated architectural and engineering practices of any size. BIMx, the most popular mobile and web BIM app, extends the BIM experience to include all stakeholders in the building design, delivery, and operations lifecycle. BIMcloud, the AEC industry's first and most advanced cloud-based team collaboration solution, makes real-time collaboration possible across the globe regardless of the size of the project and the speed or quality of the team members' network connection. Graphisoft is part of the Nemetschek Group. To learn more visit www.graphisoft.com

SOURCE Graphisoft

Related Links

http://www.graphisoft.com


SEYMOUR, Iowa, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At the request of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL), in coordination with the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), is assisting with the removal, transport, and sheltering of more than 500 dogs and puppies currently in the care of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) licensed breeder in Seymour, Iowa. Daniel Gingerich agreed to surrender all of the animals in his care after the USDA documented more than 190 violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

The complaint against Gingerich, filed by the DOJ, detailed horrific conditions at multiple locations in Iowa where Gingerich kept dogs, including dead dogs, dogs with untreated injuries and illnesses, like parvo and distemper, dogs with painful fur matting, dogs in cages that were too small, and moldy food.

The ARL is overseeing the rescue operation and sheltering, medical needs and care of the animals, while partnering with the ASPCA who is assisting in operational planning, field removal and medical care, as well as supporting veterinary forensic exams, transport, legal and investigative assistance, and providing essential emergency sheltering supplies. The Animal Rescue Corps, Bissell Pet Foundation, First Medical Inc., Hills Foundation, Iowa State University, RedRover, Wayside Waifs and Wisconsin Humane Society will also support this case by providing responders to assist with transporting and providing daily care, food and supplies for the animals.

The rescue process began Thursday, October 14 with the removal of approximately 30 animals in acute medical distress. Since then, more than 200 additional dogs and puppies have been rescued over the course of several days as the removal efforts continue. The dogs that have remained on the properties throughout the process have and continue to receive daily care.

Tom Colvin, CEO at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa stated, "The light is shining on bad actors in the dog breeding industry as a result of this action by the Department of Justice. A new approach of stopping them before animals suffer is long overdue. We are thankful to all our partners in putting an end to this operation specifically, and we look forward to making this a step toward large-scale change."

"We are grateful to the Department of Justice for taking action to finally remove hundreds of animals from the horrifying cruelty and neglect that they were left to suffer in at the hands of this USDA licensed breeder," said Robert Hensley, Legal Advocacy Senior Counsel for the ASPCA. "This shocking cruelty is a predictable result of the USDA's customer service policy through which they substitute education and cooperation for enforcement, allowing the very animals they have a legal and moral obligation to protect to endure prolonged and extreme suffering. We thank Animal Rescue League of Iowa for stepping up to remove these animals from harm's way, and we are proud to support their efforts."

"Our hearts broke when we learned of the situation so many dogs are living through." said Geoff Hall, Wayside Waifs' President, "But thanks to donor support, we're extremely grateful to have the ability to help our animal welfare colleagues save these dogs' lives."

The ARL, along with its partners appreciates public support as they undertake one of the largest rescues in recent history. This has been a long process and all involved hope a light is shining onto a very large breeding issue in the state of Iowa and across the country.

About Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for thousands of pets each year. The ARL serves people and pets from across the state through pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more. For more information, visit ARL-Iowa.org, @arliowa.

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Wayside Waifs

As Kansas City's largest and most comprehensive no kill pet adoption campus, Wayside Waifs prepares pets and people for the bond of their lives. Each year the organization cares for more than 6,000 abandoned, abused, and homeless animals. Wayside is a private, independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. It receives no government funding and is supported entirely by private donations and grants. To see all of the animals available for adoption or to donate, please visit www.WaysideWaifs.org.

Facebook: WaysideWaifs; Twitter: @WaysideWaifs; Instagram: @WaysideWaifs

About WHS

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) was founded in 1879 and is the oldest and largest shelter in Wisconsin, annually serving 40,000 animals and the people who love them. WHS is an independent nonprofit and receives no general government funding and is not part of any national umbrella group. WHS operates shelters in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Brown and Door Counties, as well as a spay/neuter clinic in West Allis. The organization offers adoption services, youth programs, veterinary services, retail stores, wildlife rehabilitation, training classes and more. WHS is ranked 4 stars by Charity Navigator, the premier independent charity watchdog group. To learn more, visit www.wihumane.org.

About Animal Rescue Corps

Since 2010, Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national animal protection nonprofit, has provided large-scale animal rescue for communities that lack resources to address abuse and disaster themselves. In addition to emergency rescue, ARC offers education and shelter relief. ARC's mission is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals. To learn more about Animal Rescue Corps, visit: animalrescuecorps.org

About RedRover

Since 1987, RedRover has focused on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and humane education. With more than 4,600 trained volunteers in the United States and Canada, RedRover can deploy its volunteers quickly when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving large numbers of animals. In its 34-year history, RedRover has responded to more than 230 natural disasters and other crises around the country including the Camp, Carr, and Wall fires, Hurricanes Harvey and Katrina, the Oroville Dam crisis, and more. To learn more about how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, please visit RedRover.org.

SOURCE ASPCA

Related Links

http://www.aspca.org


BOGOTA, Colombia, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avianca announced today that following its submission of additional documentation that had been requested by the United States Court for the Southern District Court of New York the Court has confirmed Avianca's Plan of Reorganization*i. The Company expects to successfully complete its court-supervised reorganization and emerge from Chapter 11 before the end of the year as a more efficient and financially stronger airline, well positioned for long-term success.

Upon emergence, the Company will have a solid balance sheet, with significantly reduced debt and over $1 billion in liquidity. Avianca's restructuring will enable the Company to continue repositioning and simplifying its business, re-establishing as the carrier of choice in Latin America by adopting more competitive pricing for clients, reconfiguring aircraft with best-in-class modern seating, expanding network routes both domestically and internationally, refinancing its aircraft portfolio and obtaining long-term financing commitments. Avianca will keep the airline's differentiating and competitive assets, which include a robust network, one of the best loyalty programs, VIP Lounges, signature services and one of the most competitive cargo solutions in the region.

Rohit Philip, Chief Financial Officer of Avianca, said: "We are pleased to have reached this critical milestone and look forward to emerging as a stronger organization that is well positioned to fly the skies for many years to come. The financial and operational progress we have already achieved are a testament to the tenacity and commitment of the entire Avianca team, and I am proud of their tremendous efforts".

Adrian Neuhauser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avianca, said: "On behalf of everyone at Avianca, I want to express our gratitude to our loyal customers, partners, and lenders for their continued support. I especially want to thank Judge Glenn for his thoughtful and responsible oversight of the process. Looking ahead, with a stronger financial foundation, Avianca will be better positioned to capture recovering travel demand with a compelling value proposition to meet the needs of today's clients across Latin America and beyond. We are a company that combines an over-100-year legacy with modern, optimized service, while remaining committed to continuing to set the standard for safety, customer service, and value across the industry."

Business Plan:

Avianca's updated business plan impacts all facets of operations  the destinations Avianca will serve, the aircraft Avianca will operate, and the way Avianca will serve customers  to build on its leadership position and drive its future success.

Notably, the business plan projects:

A financially viable and stable airline;

Higher network density with a passenger fleet of more than 130 aircraft flying over 200 largely point-to-point routes by year-end 2025, with expanded service across Latin America as demand fully recovers;

as demand fully recovers; A leaner cost structure providing both better pricing and more direct service, while enabling growth into new markets; and

Continued growth of the air cargo and LifeMiles loyalty businesses, building on the Company's already well-established market positions.

Avianca's Business Vision Milestones:

Over the course of 2021, Avianca has made significant progress on its new business vision in three key areas: strengthening its network, redesigning products and enhancing services. Certain milestones that the Company has already successfully achieved include:

A stronger network: Announced 23 new point-to-point routes in strategic markets for 2022, including Colombia , El Salvador , Guatemala and Costa Rica . Avianca plans to operate more than 100 new routes in the next three years.

Announced 23 new point-to-point routes in strategic markets for 2022, including , , and . Avianca plans to operate more than 100 new routes in the next three years. Cabin reconfiguration : Incorporated more seats to offer more competitive prices and increase the number of passengers carried. The capacity of each aircraft will be increased by up to 20%.

: Incorporated more seats to offer more competitive prices and increase the number of passengers carried. The capacity of each aircraft will be increased by up to 20%. Tailor-made service bundles: Provided customers with better flexibility to manage their flights and services so they only pay for what they really need.

Provided customers with better flexibility to manage their flights and services so they only pay for what they really need. Better self-service: Strengthened online customer service, its chat service "Vianca" and digital channels so that passengers can manage their trip more easily from the mobile application and Avianca's website.

Strengthened online customer service, its chat service "Vianca" and digital channels so that passengers can manage their trip more easily from the mobile application and Avianca's website. A rewarding LifeMiles program: Introduced a new mileage accrual model and more benefits for loyalty program travelers.

Court filings and other documents related to the Chapter 11 process are available on a separate website administered by Avianca's claims agent, Kurtzman Carson Consultants, at www.kccllc.net/avianca. Information is also available by calling (866) 967-1780 (U.S./Canada) or +1 (310) 751-2680 (International), as well as by email at www.kccllc.net/avianca/inquiry.

Seabury Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor to Avianca, and Milbank LLP is serving as legal advisor.

Media Contact

Maria Carolina Cortes

VP Corporate Communications

[email protected]

* The value of the outstanding shares of the Company (including the preferred shares traded under ticker symbols OTCMKTS: AVHOQ, BVC: PFAVH) will be reduced to zero and will cease to have value and Avianca's assets and liabilities will be reorganized under a new holding company

SOURCE Avianca Holdings S.A.
LAVAL, Quebec, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Third-Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Revenues of $2.111 Billion



GAAP Net Income of $188 Million



Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) 1 of $885 Million



GAAP Cash Generated from Operations of $564 Million

Expects to Launch Solta Medical IPO 2 in December 2021 or January 2022 and Bausch + Lomb IPO Approximately 30 Days Following Solta Medical IPO 3

Reaffirmed 2021 Full-Year Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Guidance Ranges

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health" or the "Company" or "we") today announced its third-quarter 2021 financial results.

"Our third-quarter 2021 results continue to demonstrate that our recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remains in progress across our business segments," said Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO, Bausch Health. "In the third quarter, several key products grew and gained market share. Additionally, we are delivering on multiple near-term R&D catalysts that we believe will help drive future growth."

"We have remained steadfast in our commitment and have been working diligently to accelerate the strategic alternatives process that will enable us to unlock value in our three attractive businesses as soon as possible," continued Mr. Papa. "We are excited to announce that, subject to market conditions and other approvals, we expect to launch the proposed IPO of our Solta Medical business in December 2021 or January 2022, and following that, we expect to launch the Bausch + Lomb IPO approximately 30 days later, also subject to market conditions and other approvals."3

Select Company Highlights

Launched Biotrue Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye Drops in the United States

Completed divestiture of Amoun Pharmaceutical Company S.A.E. (Amoun) to Abu-Dhabi -based ADQ

-based ADQ Repaid debt by $1.100 billion in the third quarter of 2021 using cash on hand, cash generated from operations and in connection with the Amoun divestiture

Pipeline Advancements

Received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the New Drug Application (NDA) for XIPERE 4 (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension), a therapy that uses the suprachoroidal space to treat patients suffering from macular edema associated with uveitis; launch is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022

(triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension), a therapy that uses the suprachoroidal space to treat patients suffering from macular edema associated with uveitis; launch is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022 Announced statistically significant topline results from the second Phase 3 trial evaluating the investigational drug NOV03 5 (perfluorohexyloctane) as a first-in-class eye drop with a novel mechanism of action to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction; Bausch Health expects to file an NDA with the FDA in the first half of 2022

(perfluorohexyloctane) as a first-in-class eye drop with a novel mechanism of action to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction; Bausch Health expects to file an NDA with the FDA in the first half of 2022 VYZULTA (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024%, received regulatory approval in Thailand

Accelerating Strategic Alternatives

The Company has continued to execute upon its plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) of its Solta Medical (Solta) business. In preparation for the IPO, the Company has submitted a confidential S-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has made key leadership appointments. The Company expects to launch the Solta IPO in December 2021 or January 2022, subject to market conditions and regulatory, stock exchange and other approvals. In addition, the Company has continued to execute upon its previously announced plans to separate Bausch + Lomb from Bausch Pharma6 and expects to launch an IPO for Bausch + Lomb approximately 30 days after the IPO of Solta, subject to market conditions and regulatory, stock exchange and other approvals. After that, the Bausch + Lomb spinoff can occur following the expiry of customary lock-ups and receipt of applicable shareholder and other necessary approvals and the achievement of the Company's target net leverage ratios.2

Third-Quarter 2021 Revenue Performance

Total reported revenues were $2.111 billion for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $2.138 billion in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $27 million. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of $19 million and the impact of divestitures and discontinuations of $46 million, primarily due to the divestiture of Amoun, revenue was flat organically1,7, compared to the third quarter of 2020.

Revenues by segment were as follows:







Three Months Ended









Change at













Sept. 30

Reported

Reported

Constant

Organic

(in millions)

2021

20208

Change

Change

Currency9

Change1,7

Total Bausch Health Revenues

$2,111

$2,138

($27)

(1%)

(2%)

0%





























Bausch + Lomb segment

$949

$916

$33

4%

3%

3%





























Bausch Pharma6,10

$1,162

$1,222

($60)

(5%)

(6%)

(2%)

Salix segment

$527

$496

$31

6%

6%

6%

International Rx segment

$271

$308

($37)

(12%)

(14%)

(1%)

Ortho Dermatologics segment

$140

$143

($3)

(2%)

(3%)

(3%)

Diversified Products segment

$224

$275

($51)

(19%)

(19%)

(19%)































Bausch + Lomb Segment8

Bausch + Lomb segment revenues were $949 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $916 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of $33 million, or 4%. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of $10 million and the impact of divestitures and discontinuations of $4 million, the Bausch + Lomb segment increased organically1,7 by approximately 3% compared to the third quarter of 2020, primarily due to higher sales resulting from the positive impacts of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bausch Pharma6,10

Bausch Pharma revenues (non-GAAP)1 were $1.162 billion for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $1.222 billion for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $60 million, or 5%. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of $9 million and the impact of divestitures and discontinuations of $42 million, revenue decreased organically1,7 by 2%.

Salix Segment

Salix segment reported and organic 1,7 revenues were $527 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $496 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of $31 million , or 6%. The increase was primarily driven by higher sales resulting from the positive impacts of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including sales of XIFAXAN (rifaximin), RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) and TRULANCE (plecanatide), which grew by 12%, 14% and 14%, respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2020.

Salix segment reported and organic revenues were for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of , or 6%. The increase was primarily driven by higher sales resulting from the positive impacts of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including sales of XIFAXAN (rifaximin), RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) and TRULANCE (plecanatide), which grew by 12%, 14% and 14%, respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2020. International Rx Segment 8

International Rx segment revenues were $271 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $308 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $37 million , or 12%. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of $7 million and the impact of divestitures and discontinuations of $42 million , primarily due to the divestiture of Amoun, the International Rx segment decreased organically 1,7 by 1% compared to the third quarter of 2020.

International Rx segment revenues were for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of , or 12%. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of and the impact of divestitures and discontinuations of , primarily due to the divestiture of Amoun, the International Rx segment decreased organically by 1% compared to the third quarter of 2020. Ortho Dermatologics Segment 8

Ortho Dermatologics segment revenues were $140 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $143 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $3 million , or 2%. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of $2 million , the Ortho Dermatologics segment declined organically 1,7 by 3% compared to the third quarter of 2020, primarily driven by a decrease in net realized pricing of our medical dermatology products, partially offset by an increase in volumes.

Ortho Dermatologics segment revenues were for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of , or 2%. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange of , the Ortho Dermatologics segment declined organically by 3% compared to the third quarter of 2020, primarily driven by a decrease in net realized pricing of our medical dermatology products, partially offset by an increase in volumes. Diversified Products Segment8

Diversified Products segment reported and organic1,7 revenues were $224 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $275 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $51 million , or 19%. The decline in revenue was primarily attributable to a decrease in volumes and net realized pricing.

Operating Results

Operating income was $574 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $460 million for the third quarter of 2020, a favorable change of $114 million. The change was driven by a favorable change in other income (expense), which was primarily attributable to insurance recoveries related to certain litigation matters, and the decrease in amortization of intangible assets in the third quarter of 2021. The favorable change was partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) due to the non-recurrence of profit protection measures taken in the third quarter of 2020 to manage and reduce operating expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Net Income

Net income for the third quarter of 2021 was $188 million, as compared to $71 million for the third quarter of 2020, a favorable change of $117 million. The change was primarily due to an increase in our operating results, as discussed above, and lower interest expense, partially offset by an increase in income taxes.

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)1 for the third quarter of 2021 was $417 million, as compared to $469 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $52 million.

Cash Generated from Operations

The Company generated $564 million of cash from operations (GAAP basis) in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $256 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of $308 million, or 120%. The increase in cash from operations was primarily attributed to insurance recoveries and the collections of trade accounts receivables, partially offset by an increase in payments related to separation, separation-related, IPO and IPO-related costs.

EPS

GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) Diluted for the third quarter of 2021 was $0.52, as compared to $0.20 for the third quarter of 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)1

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)1 was $885 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $948 million for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of $63 million. The decrease was driven by higher SG&A expenses and the Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)1 associated with Amoun, which was divested in July 2021.

2021 Financial Outlook

Bausch Health reiterated guidance for the full year of 2021 as follows:

Full-year revenue range of $8.40  $8.60 billion

Full-year Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) range of $3.35  $3.50 billion

Other than with respect to GAAP Revenues, the Company only provides guidance on a non-GAAP basis. The Company does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to GAAP net income (loss), due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation. In periods where significant acquisitions or divestitures are not expected, the Company believes it might have a basis for forecasting the GAAP equivalent for certain costs, such as amortization, which would otherwise be treated as non-GAAP to calculate projected GAAP net income (loss). However, because other deductions (such as restructuring, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt and litigation and other matters) used to calculate projected net income (loss) vary dramatically based on actual events, the Company is not able to forecast on a GAAP basis with reasonable certainty all deductions needed in order to provide a GAAP calculation of projected net income (loss) at this time. The amount of these deductions may be material and, therefore, could result in projected GAAP net income (loss) being materially less than projected Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP). These statements represent forward-looking information and may represent a financial outlook, and actual results may vary. Please see the risks and assumptions referred to in the Forward-looking Statements section of this news release.

Additional Highlights

Bausch Health's cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $1.904 billion 11 at Sept. 30, 2021

at The Company's availability under its 2023 Revolving Credit Facility was $1.171 billion at Sept. 30, 2021

at Basic weighted average shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2021 were 359.6 million shares. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2021 were 364.0 million shares

Conference Call Details

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021



Time: 8:00 a.m. ET



Webcast: http://ir.bauschhealth.com/events-and-presentations



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About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. For more information, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including, but not limited to, Bausch Health's future prospects and performance, including the Company's 2021 full-year guidance, the Company's plan to separate its eye health business from the remainder of Bausch Health and the timing thereof, (including the Company's expectation that an IPO for Bausch + Lomb will launch approximately 30 days after the IPO of Solta Medical, subject to market conditions and regulatory, stock exchange and other approvals, and that the Bausch + Lomb spinoff can occur can occur following the expiry of customary lock-ups and receipt of applicable shareholder and other necessary approvals and the achievement of the Company's target net leverage ratios), the Company's plans to pursue an IPO of its Solta Medical business and the timing thereof, (including the Company's expectation that the Solta Medical IPO will launch in December 2021 or January 2022, subject to market conditions and regulatory, stock exchange and other approvals), details of the Company's product pipeline and expected regulatory filings (including NOV03) and expected launches of new products (including XIPERE) and the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company and the Company's recovery therefrom. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions, and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should or will be achieved, received or taken, or will occur or result, and similar such expressions also identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements, including the Company's full-year guidance, are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are provided for the purpose of providing additional information about such expectations and beliefs, and readers are cautioned that these statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's most recent annual and quarterly reports and detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's proposed plan to separate its eye health business from the remainder of Bausch Health, including the expected benefits and costs of the separation transaction, the expected timing of completion of the separation transaction and its terms, the Company's ability to complete the separation transaction considering the various conditions to the completion of the separation transaction (some of which are outside the Company's control, including conditions related to regulatory matters and a possible shareholder vote, if applicable), that market or other conditions are no longer favorable to completing the transaction, that any shareholder, stock exchange, regulatory or other approval (if required) is not obtained on the terms or timelines anticipated or at all, business disruption during the pendency of or following the separation transaction, diversion of management time on separation transaction-related issues, retention of existing management team members, the reaction of customers and other parties to the separation transaction, the qualification of the separation transaction as a tax-free transaction for Canadian and/or U.S. federal income tax purposes (including whether or not an advance ruling from either or both of the Canada Revenue Agency and the Internal Revenue Service will be sought or obtained), potential dis-synergy costs between the separated entity and the remainder of Bausch Health, the impact of the separation transaction on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business counterparties, general economic conditions, conditions in the markets Bausch Health is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments and legal and regulatory rules affecting Bausch Health's business. In particular, the Company can offer no assurance that any separation transaction will occur at all, or that any separation transaction will occur on the terms and timelines anticipated by the Company. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's proposed plan to pursue an IPO of its Solta Medical business, including the expected timing of completion of such transaction and the Company's ability to complete such transaction, that market or other conditions are no longer favorable to completing the transaction on a timely basis or at all, the receipt of (or failure to receive) any shareholder, stock exchange, regulatory and other approvals required in connection with the transaction and the timing of receipt of such approvals, business disruption during the pendency of or following such transaction, diversion of management time on transaction-related issues, retention of Solta Medical management team members, the reaction of customers and other parties to such transaction, and the impact of such transaction on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business counterparties and other events that could adversely impact the completion of such transaction, including industry or economic conditions outside of Bausch Health's control. In particular, the Company can offer no assurance that any IPO will occur at all, or that any such transaction will occur on the timelines anticipated by the Company. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the fear of that pandemic, the availability and effectiveness of vaccines for COVID-19, (including with respect to current or future variants), COVID-19 vaccine immunization rates, the emergence of variant strains of COVID-19, and the potential effects of that pandemic, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on the Company, including but not limited to its supply chain, third-party suppliers, project development timelines, employee base, liquidity, stock price, financial condition and costs (which may increase) and revenue and margins (both of which may decrease). In addition, certain material factors and assumptions have been applied in making these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding our 2021 full-year guidance with respect to expectations regarding base performance and management's belief regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated responses on such base performance and the operations and financial results of the Company generally, expected currency impact, the expected timing and impact of loss of exclusivity for certain of our products, expectations regarding the impact of a recall of certain Consumer products as a result of a quality issue at a third-party supplier, the impact of the Amoun divestiture, expectations regarding gross margin, adjusted SG&A expense (non-GAAP) and the Company's ability to continue to manage such expense in the manner anticipated and the anticipated timing and extent of the Company's R&D expense; and the assumption that the risks and uncertainties outlined above will not cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Management has also made certain assumptions in assessing the anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company and its results of operations and financial conditions, including: that there will be no material restrictions on access to health care products and services resulting from a possible resurgence of the virus and variant strains thereof on a global basis in 2021; there will be increased availability and use of effective vaccines; that the strict social restrictions in the first half of 2020 will not be materially re-enacted in the event of a material resurgence of the virus and variant strains thereof; that there will be an ongoing, gradual global recovery as the macroeconomic and health care impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic diminish over time; that the largest impact to the Company's businesses were seen in the second quarter of 2020; that our revenues will likely return to pre-pandemic levels during 2021, but that rates of recovery will vary by geography and business unit, with some regions and business units expected to lag in recovery possibly beyond 2021; and no major interruptions in the Company's supply chain and distribution channels. If any of these assumptions regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements.

Additional information regarding certain of these material factors and assumptions may also be found in the Company's filings described above. The Company believes that the material factors and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable in the circumstances, but readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

Non-GAAP Information

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: (i) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), (ii) organic growth/change, (iii) constant currency and (iv) Bausch Pharma revenues. As discussed below, we also provide Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) to provide supplemental information to readers. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as key metrics in the evaluation of the Company's performance and the consolidated financial results and, in part, in the determination of cash bonuses for its executive officers. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in their assessment of our operating performance and the valuation of the Company. In addition, these non-GAAP measures address questions the Company routinely receives from analysts and investors, and in order to assure that all investors have access to similar data, the Company has determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors.

However, these measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP nor do they have any standardized meaning under GAAP. In addition, other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate such measures. Accordingly, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to such similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on such non-GAAP measures, but instead to consider them with the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation. They should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The reconciliations of these historic non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables below. However, as indicated above, for guidance purposes, the Company does not provide reconciliations of projected Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to projected GAAP net income (loss), due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations.

Specific Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc. (its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) adjusted for interest expense, net, (Benefit from) provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain other items described below. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), along with the GAAP measures used by management, most appropriately reflect how the Company measures the business internally and sets operational goals and incentives. In particular, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) focuses management on the Company's underlying operational results and business performance. As a result, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) both to assess the actual financial performance of the Company and to forecast future results as part of its guidance. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is a useful measure to evaluate current performance. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is intended to show our unleveraged, pre-tax operating results and therefore reflects our financial performance based on operational factors. In addition, cash bonuses for the Company's executive officers and other key employees are based, in part, on the achievement of certain Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) targets.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is net income (loss) attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc. (its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) adjusted for interest expense, net, (Benefit from) provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and the following items:

Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale : The Company has excluded the impact of impairments of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets, as well as impairments of assets held for sale, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes impairments of intangible assets and assets held for sale from measuring the performance of the Company and the business, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that intangible assets contribute to revenue generation.

: The Company has excluded the impact of impairments of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets, as well as impairments of assets held for sale, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes impairments of intangible assets and assets held for sale from measuring the performance of the Company and the business, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Goodwill impairments: The Company excludes the impact of goodwill impairments. When the Company has made acquisitions where the consideration paid was in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired, the remaining purchase price is recorded as goodwill. For assets that we developed ourselves, no goodwill is recorded. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment. The amount of goodwill impairment is measured as the excess of a reporting unit's carrying value over its fair value. Management excludes these charges in measuring the performance of the Company and the business.

The Company excludes the impact of goodwill impairments. When the Company has made acquisitions where the consideration paid was in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired, the remaining purchase price is recorded as goodwill. For assets that we developed ourselves, no goodwill is recorded. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment. The amount of goodwill impairment is measured as the excess of a reporting unit's carrying value over its fair value. Management excludes these charges in measuring the performance of the Company and the business. Restructuring and integration costs : The Company has incurred restructuring costs as it implemented certain strategies, which involved, among other things, improvements to its infrastructure and operations, internal reorganizations and impacts from the divestiture of assets and businesses. With regard to infrastructure and operational improvements which the Company has taken to improve efficiencies in the businesses and facilities, these tend to be costs intended to right size the business or organization that fluctuate significantly between periods in amount, size and timing, depending on the improvement project, reorganization or transaction. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items provide supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allow for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provide useful supplemental information to investors.

: The Company has incurred restructuring costs as it implemented certain strategies, which involved, among other things, improvements to its infrastructure and operations, internal reorganizations and impacts from the divestiture of assets and businesses. With regard to infrastructure and operational improvements which the Company has taken to improve efficiencies in the businesses and facilities, these tend to be costs intended to right size the business or organization that fluctuate significantly between periods in amount, size and timing, depending on the improvement project, reorganization or transaction. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items provide supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allow for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provide useful supplemental information to investors. Acquisition-related costs and adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets : The Company has excluded the impact of acquisition-related contingent consideration non-cash adjustments due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates, and the amount and frequency of such adjustments is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company's acquisitions, as well as the nature of the agreed-upon consideration. In addition, the Company excludes the impact of acquisition-related costs and fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions as the amounts and frequency of such costs and adjustments are not consistent and are impacted by the timing and size of its acquisitions. There were no acquisition-related costs or fair value inventory step-up for the periods presented.

: The Company has excluded the impact of acquisition-related contingent consideration non-cash adjustments due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates, and the amount and frequency of such adjustments is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company's acquisitions, as well as the nature of the agreed-upon consideration. In addition, the Company excludes the impact of acquisition-related costs and fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions as the amounts and frequency of such costs and adjustments are not consistent and are impacted by the timing and size of its acquisitions. There were no acquisition-related costs or fair value inventory step-up for the periods presented. Loss on extinguishment of debt : The Company has excluded loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a cost of refinancing our existing debt and is not a reflection of our operations for the period. Further, the amount and frequency of such charges are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions and other factors in the debt market out of management's control.

: The Company has excluded loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a cost of refinancing our existing debt and is not a reflection of our operations for the period. Further, the amount and frequency of such charges are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions and other factors in the debt market out of management's control. Share-based compensation : The Company has excluded costs relating to share-based compensation. The Company believes that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense assists investors in the comparisons of operating results to peer companies. Share-based compensation expense can vary significantly based on the timing, size and nature of awards granted.

: The Company has excluded costs relating to share-based compensation. The Company believes that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense assists investors in the comparisons of operating results to peer companies. Share-based compensation expense can vary significantly based on the timing, size and nature of awards granted. Separation and IPO costs and separation-related and IPO-related costs : The Company has excluded certain costs incurred in connection with activities taken to: (i) separate the eye-health and the Solta aesthetic medical device businesses from the remainder of the Company and (ii) register the eye-health and the Solta aesthetic medical device businesses as independent publicly traded entities. Separation and IPO costs are incremental costs directly related to effectuating the separation of the eye-health business and the initial public offering ("IPO") of the Solta aesthetic medical device business (the "Solta IPO") and include, but are not limited to, legal, audit and advisory fees, talent acquisition costs and costs associated with establishing a new board of directors and related board committees. Separation-related and IPO-related costs are incremental costs indirectly related to the separation of the eye-health business and the Solta IPO and include, but are not limited to, IT infrastructure and software licensing costs, rebranding costs and costs associated with facility relocation and/or modification. As these costs arise from events outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items provide supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allow for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provide useful supplemental information to investors.

: The Company has excluded certain costs incurred in connection with activities taken to: (i) separate the eye-health and the Solta aesthetic medical device businesses from the remainder of the Company and (ii) register the eye-health and the Solta aesthetic medical device businesses as independent publicly traded entities. Separation and IPO costs are incremental costs directly related to effectuating the separation of the eye-health business and the initial public offering ("IPO") of the Solta aesthetic medical device business (the "Solta IPO") and include, but are not limited to, legal, audit and advisory fees, talent acquisition costs and costs associated with establishing a new board of directors and related board committees. Separation-related and IPO-related costs are incremental costs indirectly related to the separation of the eye-health business and the Solta IPO and include, but are not limited to, IT infrastructure and software licensing costs, rebranding costs and costs associated with facility relocation and/or modification. As these costs arise from events outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items provide supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allow for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provide useful supplemental information to investors. Other Non-GAAP adjustments : The Company has excluded certain other amounts, including legal and other professional fees incurred in connection with legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests regarding certain of our legacy distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices, litigation and other matters, and net gain on sale of assets. Given the unique nature of the matters relating to these costs, the Company believes these items are not normal operating expenses. For example, legal settlements and judgments vary significantly, in their nature, size and frequency, and, due to this volatility, the Company believes the costs associated with legal settlements and judgments are not normal operating expenses. In addition, as opposed to more ordinary course matters, the Company considers that each of the recent proceedings, investigations and information requests, given their nature and frequency, are outside of the ordinary course and relate to unique circumstances. The Company has also excluded expenses associated with in-process research and development, as these amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing, size and nature of acquisitions. Furthermore, as these amounts are associated with research and development acquired, the Company does not believe that they are a representation of the Company's research and development efforts during any given period. The Company has also excluded IT infrastructure investment, that are the result of other, non-comparable events to measure operating performance. These events arise outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations. The Company believes that the exclusion of such out-of-the-ordinary-course amounts provides supplemental information to assist in the comparison of the financial results of the Company from period to period and, therefore, provides useful supplemental information to investors. However, investors should understand that many of these costs could recur and that companies in our industry often face litigation.

Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) is net income (loss) attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc. (its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) adjusted for restructuring and integration costs, acquired in-process research and development costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, asset impairments (including loss on assets held for sale), acquisition-related adjustments, excluding amortization, separation and IPO costs and separation-related and IPO-related costs and other non-GAAP charges as these adjustments are described above, and amortization of intangible assets as described below:

Amortization of intangible assets : The Company has excluded the impact of amortization of intangible assets, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes amortization of intangible assets from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Amortization of intangible assets that relate to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Any future acquisitions may result in the amortization of additional intangible assets.

Historically, management has used Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. This non-GAAP measure excludes the impact of certain items (as described above) that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance. By disclosing this non-GAAP measure, it is management's intention to provide investors with a meaningful, supplemental comparison of the Company's operating results and trends for the periods presented. It is management's belief that this measure is also useful to investors as such measure allowed investors to evaluate the Company's performance using the same tools that management uses to evaluate past performance and prospects for future performance. Accordingly, it is the Company's belief that Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) is useful to investors in their assessment of the Company's operating performance and the valuation of the Company. It is also noted that, in recent periods, our GAAP net income (loss) was significantly lower than our Adjusted net income (non-GAAP). Commencing in 2017, management of the Company identified and began using certain new primary financial performance measures to assess the Company's financial performance. However, management still believes that Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) may be useful to investors in their assessment of the Company and its performance.

Organic Growth/Change

Organic growth/change, a non-GAAP metric, is defined as a change on a period-over-period basis in revenues on a constant currency basis (if applicable) excluding the impact of recent acquisitions, divestitures and discontinuations (if applicable). Organic growth/change is change in GAAP Revenue (its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) adjusted for certain items, as further described below, of businesses that have been owned for one or more years. Organic revenue growth/change is impacted by changes in product volumes and price. The price component is made up of two key drivers: (i) changes in product gross selling price and (ii) changes in sales deductions. The Company uses organic growth/change to assess performance of its business units and operating and reportable segments, and the Company in total, without the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations and recent acquisitions, divestitures and product discontinuations. The Company believes that such measures are useful to investors as they provide a supplemental period-to-period comparison.

Organic growth/change reflects adjustments for: (i) the impact of period-over-period changes in foreign currency exchange rates on revenues and (ii) the revenues associated with acquisitions, divestitures and discontinuations of businesses divested and/or discontinued. These adjustments are determined as follows:

Foreign currency exchange rates: Although changes in foreign currency exchange rates are part of our business, they are not within management's control. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, however, can mask positive or negative trends in the business. The impact for changes in foreign currency exchange rates is determined as the difference in the current period reported revenues at their current period currency exchange rates and the current period reported revenues revalued using the monthly average currency exchange rates during the comparable prior period.

Although changes in foreign currency exchange rates are part of our business, they are not within management's control. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, however, can mask positive or negative trends in the business. The impact for changes in foreign currency exchange rates is determined as the difference in the current period reported revenues at their current period currency exchange rates and the current period reported revenues revalued using the monthly average currency exchange rates during the comparable prior period. Acquisitions, divestitures and discontinuations: In order to present period-over-period organic revenue (non-GAAP) growth/change on a comparable basis, revenues associated with acquisitions, divestitures and discontinuations are adjusted to include only revenues from those businesses and assets owned during both periods. Accordingly, organic revenue (non-GAAP) growth/change excludes from the current period, revenues attributable to each acquisition for twelve months subsequent to the day of acquisition, as there are no revenues from those businesses and assets included in the comparable prior period. Organic revenue (non-GAAP) growth/change excludes from the prior period, all revenues attributable to each divestiture and discontinuance during the twelve months prior to the day of divestiture or discontinuance, as there are no revenues from those businesses and assets included in the comparable current period.

Constant Currency

Changes in the relative values of non-U.S. currencies to the U.S. dollar may affect the Company's financial results and financial position. To assist investors in evaluating the Company's performance, we have adjusted for foreign currency effects. Constant currency impact is determined by comparing 2021 reported amounts adjusted to exclude currency impact, calculated using 2020 monthly average exchange rates, to the actual 2020 reported amounts.

Please also see the reconciliation tables below for further information as to how these non-GAAP measures are calculated for the periods presented.

Bausch Pharma Revenues

Bausch Pharma revenues, a non-GAAP metric, are determined by subtracting Bausch + Lomb segment revenues for the applicable period from total Bausch Health revenues for the applicable period.

1 Please see the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of this and other non-GAAP measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measure. 2 This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. 3 The launches of the Solta Medical and Bausch + Lomb IPOs are subject to market conditions and regulatory, stock exchange and other approvals. 4 In 2019, the Company acquired an exclusive license from Clearside Biomedical, Inc. for the commercialization and development of XIPERE in the United States and Canada. 5 In 2019, the Company acquired an exclusive license from Novaliq GmbH for the commercialization and development of NOV03 in the United States and Canada. 6 The remainder of Bausch Health is referred to as "Bausch Pharma" and will assume a new name upon the separation of the Company's eye health business, Bausch + Lomb. 7 Organic growth/change, a non-GAAP metric, is defined as a change on a period-over-period basis in revenues on a constant currency basis (if applicable) excluding the impact of recent acquisitions, divestitures and discontinuations. 8 In connection with the planned separation of the Company's eye health business into an independent publicly traded entity from the remainder of Bausch Health Companies Inc., the Company has realigned and has begun managing its operations in a manner consistent with the organizational structure of the two separate entities as proposed by the separation. Commencing in the first quarter of 2021, the Company realigned its segment reporting structure and now operates in five reportable segments. Further, in the second quarter of 2021, the Company moved certain products previously reported in the International Rx reporting unit to the Global Consumer or Global Ophtho Rx reporting units. Prior period presentations have been recast to conform to the current segment reporting structure. 9 To assist investors in evaluating the Company's performance, we have adjusted for changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Change at constant currency, a non-GAAP metric, is determined by comparing 2021 reported amounts adjusted to exclude currency impact, calculated using 2020 monthly average exchange rates, to the actual 2020 reported amounts. 10 Bausch Pharma revenues, a non-GAAP metric, are determined by subtracting Bausch + Lomb segment revenues for the applicable period from total Bausch Health revenues for the applicable period. 11 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at Sept. 30, 2021 includes restricted cash of $1.210 billion of payments into an escrow fund under the terms of a settlement agreement regarding certain U.S. securities litigation (which settlement agreement is subject to an objector's appeal of the final court approval of the agreement).

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Bausch Health Companies Inc.













Table 1 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations















For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020















(unaudited)



















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30, (in millions)

2021

2020

2021

2020 Revenues















Product sales

$ 2,088



$ 2,111



$ 6,167



$ 5,734

Other revenues

23



27



71



80





2,111



2,138



6,238



5,814

Expenses















Cost of goods sold (excluding amortization and impairments of intangible assets)

574



578



1,742



1,565

Cost of other revenues

8



12



26



39

Selling, general and administrative

653



572



1,944



1,731

Research and development

121



103



348



333

Amortization of intangible assets

338



391



1,055



1,263

Goodwill impairments









469





Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale

18



2



213



17

Restructuring, integration, separation and IPO costs

8



2



29



13

Other (income) expense, net

(183)



18



329



172





1,537



1,678



6,155



5,133

Operating income

574



460



83



681

Interest income

2



2



6



11

Interest expense

(351)



(374)



(1,083)



(1,155)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

(12)







(62)



(51)

Foreign exchange and other

3



(13)



11



(26)

Income (loss) before (provision for) benefit from income taxes

216



75



(1,045)



(540)

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes

(25)



(5)



36



133

Net income (loss)

191



70



(1,009)



(407)

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

(3)



1



(8)





Net income (loss) attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc.

$ 188



$ 71



$ (1,017)



$ (407)



Bausch Health Companies Inc.













Table 2 Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)











For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020















(unaudited)



















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30, (in millions)

2021

2020

2021

2020 Net income (loss) attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc.

$ 188



$ 71



$ (1,017)



$ (407)

Non-GAAP adjustments: (a)















Amortization of intangible assets

338



391



1,055



1,263

Goodwill impairments









469





Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale

18



2



213



17

Restructuring and integration costs

3



1



9



12

Acquired in-process research and development costs





12



3



20

Acquisition-related costs and adjustments (excluding amortization of intangible assets)

8



2



8



26

Loss on extinguishment of debt

12







62



51

IT infrastructure investment

6



5



17



16

Separation costs, separation-related costs, IPO costs and IPO-related costs

41



5



111



5

Legal and other professional fees

11



6



45



28

Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net

21







(2)



(1)

Litigation and other matters

(212)



4



320



127

Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments

(17)



(30)



(154)



(207)

Total non-GAAP adjustments

229



398



2,156



1,357

Adjusted net income attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc. (non-

GAAP)

$ 417



$ 469



$ 1,139



$ 950







(a) The components of and further details respecting each of these non-GAAP adjustments and the financial statement line item to which each component relates can be found on Table 2a.

Bausch Health Companies Inc.









Table 2a Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information















For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020















(unaudited)



















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30, (in millions)

2021

2020

2021

2020 Selling, general and administrative reconciliation:















GAAP Selling, general and administrative

$ 653



$ 572



$ 1,944



$ 1,731

IT infrastructure investment (a)

(6)



(5)



(17)



(16)

Legal and other professional fees (b)

(11)



(6)



(45)



(28)

Separation-related and IPO-related costs (c)

(36)



(4)



(91)



(4)

Adjusted selling, general and administrative (non-GAAP)

$ 600



$ 557



$ 1,791



$ 1,683

Amortization of intangible assets reconciliation:















GAAP Amortization of intangible assets

$ 338



$ 391



$ 1,055



$ 1,263

Amortization of intangible assets (d)

(338)



(391)



(1,055)



(1,263)

Adjusted amortization of intangible assets (non-GAAP)

$ 



$ 



$ 



$ 

Goodwill impairments reconciliation:















GAAP Goodwill impairments

$ 



$ 



$ 469



$ 

Goodwill impairments (e)









(469)





Adjusted goodwill impairments (non-GAAP)

$ 



$ 



$ 



$ 

Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale reconciliation:















GAAP Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale

$ 18



$ 2



$ 213



$ 17

Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale (f)

(18)



(2)



(213)



(17)

Adjusted asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale (non-GAAP)

$ 



$ 



$ 



$ 

Restructuring, integration, separation and IPO costs reconciliation:















GAAP Restructuring, integration, separation and IPO costs

$ 8



$ 2



$ 29



$ 13

Restructuring and integration costs (g)

(3)



(1)



(9)



(12)

Separation and IPO costs (c)

(5)



(1)



(20)



(1)

Adjusted restructuring, integration, separation and IPO costs (non-GAAP)

$ 



$ 



$ 



$ 

Other (income) expense, net reconciliation:















GAAP Other (income) expense, net

$ (183)



$ 18



$ 329



$ 172

Litigation and other matters (h)

212



(4)



(320)



(127)

Acquisition-related contingent consideration (i)

(8)



(2)



(8)



(26)

Net (loss) gain on sale of assets (j)

(21)







2



1

Acquired in-process research and development costs (k)





(12)



(3)



(20)

Adjusted other expense, net (non-GAAP)

$ 



$ 



$ 



$ 



Bausch Health Companies Inc.







Table 2a (continued) Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information















For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020















(unaudited)



















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30, (in millions)

2021

2020

2021

2020 Loss on extinguishment of debt reconciliation:















GAAP Loss on extinguishment of debt

$ (12)



$ 



$ (62)



$ (51)

Loss on extinguishment of debt (l)

12







62



51

Adjusted loss on extinguishment of debt (non-GAAP)

$ 



$ 



$ 



$ 

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes reconciliation:















GAAP (Provision for) benefit from income taxes

$ (25)



$ (5)



$ 36



$ 133

Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (m)

(17)



(30)



(154)



(207)

Adjusted provision for income taxes (non-GAAP)

$ (42)



$ (35)



$ (118)



$ (74)







(a) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "IT infrastructure investment" (see Table 2). (b) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Legal and other professional fees" (see Table 2). Legal and other professional fees incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests related to, among other matters, our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices. (c) Represents the two components of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Separation and IPO costs and separation-related and IPO-related costs" (see Table 2). (d) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Amortization of intangible assets" (see Table 2). (e) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Goodwill impairments" (see Table 2). (f) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale" (see Table 2). (g) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Restructuring and integration costs" (see Table 2). (h) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Litigation and other matters" (see Table 2). (i) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Acquisition-related costs and adjustments (excluding amortization of intangible assets)" (see Table 2). (j) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net" (see Table 2). (k) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Acquired in-process research and development costs" (see Table 2). (l) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Loss on extinguishment of debt" (see Table 2). (m) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments" (see Table 2).

Bausch Health Companies Inc.









Table 2b Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)











For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020















(unaudited)





















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended





September 30,

September 30, (in millions)

2021

2020

2021

2020 Net income (loss) attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc.

$ 188



$ 71



$ (1,017)



$ (407)



Interest expense, net

349



372



1,077



1,144



Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

25



5



(36)



(133)



Depreciation and amortization

382



436



1,189



1,397

EBITDA

944



884



1,213



2,001

Adjustments:

















Asset impairments, including loss on assets held for sale

18



2



213



17



Goodwill impairments









469







Restructuring and integration costs

3



1



9



12



Acquisition-related costs and adjustments (excluding amortization of intangible

assets)

8



2



8



26



Loss on extinguishment of debt

12







62



51



Share-based compensation

33



27



95



81



Separation costs, separation-related costs, IPO costs and IPO-related costs

41



5



111



5



Other adjustments:

















Litigation and other matters

(212)



4



320



127



IT infrastructure investment

6



5



17



16



Legal and other professional fees (a)

11



6



45



28



Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net

21







(2)



(1)



Acquired in-process research and development costs





12



3



20

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)

$ 885



$ 948



$ 2,563



$ 2,383







(a) Legal and other professional fees incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests related to, among other matters, our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices.

Bausch Health Companies Inc.











Table 3a Organic Growth (non-GAAP) - by Segment

















For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020

















(unaudited)



































Calculation of Organic Revenue for the Three Months Ended











September 30, 2021

September 30, 2020

Change in Organic Revenue



Revenue as Reported

Changes in

Exchange

Rates (a)

Organic

Revenue (Non-

GAAP) (b)

Revenue as Reported

Divestitures and

Discontinuations

Organic

Revenue

(Non-

GAAP) (b)

(in millions)

Amount

Pct. Bausch + Lomb (c)































Global Vision Care

$ 226



$ (1)



$ 225



$ 214



$ (1)



$ 213



$ 12



6 % Global Surgical

173



(4)



169



151



(1)



150



19



13 % Global Consumer (c)

379



(3)



376



351



(1)



350



26



7 % Global Ophtho Rx (c)

171



(2)



169



200



(1)



199



(30)



(15) % Total Bausch + Lomb

$ 949



$ (10)



$ 939



$ 916



$ (4)



$ 912



$ 27



3 %

































Bausch Pharma































Salix

$ 527



$ 



$ 527



$ 496



$ 



$ 496



$ 31



6 %

































International Rx (c)

271



(7)



264



308



(42)



266



(2)



(1) %

































Ortho Dermatologics (c)































Ortho Dermatologics (c)

66







66



70







70



(4)



(6) % Global Solta

74



(2)



72



73







73



(1)



(1) % Total Ortho Dermatologics

140



(2)



138



143







143



(5)



(3) %

































Diversified Products (c)































Neurology and Other (c)

151







151



200







200



(49)



(25) % Generics (c)

48







48



56







56



(8)



(14) % Dentistry

25







25



19







19



6



32 % Total Diversified Products

224







224



275







275



(51)



(19) %

































Total Bausch Pharma revenues (d)

$ 1,162



$ (9)



$ 1,153



$ 1,222



$ (42)



$ 1,180



$ (27)



(2) %

































Total Bausch Health revenues

$ 2,111



$ (19)



$ 2,092



$ 2,138



$ (46)



$ 2,092



$ 



 %





(a) The impact for changes in foreign currency exchange rates is determined as the difference in the current period reported revenues at their current period currency exchange rates and the current period reported revenues revalued using the monthly average currency exchange rates during the comparable prior period. (b) To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. For additional information about the Company's use of such non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the body of the news release to which these tables are attached. Organic revenue (non-GAAP) for the three months ended September 30, 2021 is calculated as revenue as reported adjusted for the impact for changes in exchange rates (previously defined in this news release). Organic revenue (non-GAAP) for the three months ended September 30, 2020 is calculated as revenue as reported less revenues attributable to divestitures and discontinuances during the twelve months prior to the day of divestiture or discontinuance, as there are no revenues from those businesses and assets included in the comparable current period. Organic revenue (non-GAAP) is also adjusted for acquisitions, however, during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no acquisitions. (c) In connection with the planned separation of the Company's eye-health business into an independently traded entity from the remainder of Bausch Health Companies Inc., the Company has realigned and has begun managing its operations in a manner consistent with the organizational structure of the two separate entities as proposed by the separation. Commencing in the first quarter of 2021, the Company realigned its segment reporting structure and now operates in five reportable segments. Also, certain products historically included in the reported results of the Generics business unit in the Diversified Products segment are included in the reported results of the Global Ophtho Rx business unit in the Bausch + Lomb segment and certain products historically included in the reported results of the Global Consumer business unit in the Bausch + Lomb segment are included in the reported results of the Neurology and Other business unit in the Diversified Products segment. Further, in the second quarter of 2021, the Company moved certain products previously reported in the International Rx business unit to the Global Consumer or Global Ophtho Rx business unit. All segment and business unit references in this news release are to this realigned segment and business unit reporting structure and prior period presentations of results have been conformed to the current segment and business unit reporting structure to allow investors to evaluate results between periods on a constant basis. For more information about the current segment reporting structure, please see "New Segment Structure" slide in the appendix to our Third-Quarter 2021 Financial Results presentation. (d) Bausch Pharma revenues, a non-GAAP metric, are determined by subtracting Bausch + Lomb segment revenues for the applicable period from total Bausch Health revenues for the applicable period.

Bausch Health Companies Inc.











Table 3b Organic Growth (non-GAAP) - by Segment

















For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020

















(unaudited)



































Calculation of Organic Revenue for the Nine Months Ended











September 30, 2021

September 30, 2020

Change in Organic Revenue



Revenue as Reported

Changes in

Exchange

Rates (a)

Organic

Revenue (Non-

GAAP) (b)

Revenue as Reported

Divestitures and

Discontinuations

Organic

Revenue

(Non-

GAAP) (b)

(in millions)

Amount

Pct. Bausch + Lomb (c)































Global Vision Care

$ 666



$ (14)



$ 652



$ 542



$ (2)



$ 540



$ 112



21 % Global Surgical

520



(22)



498



394



(4)



390



108



28 % Global Consumer (c)

1,051



(21)



1,030



986



(1)



985



45



5 % Global Ophtho Rx (c)

527



(12)



515



546



(1)



545



(30)



(6) % Total Bausch + Lomb

$ 2,764



$ (69)



$ 2,695



$ 2,468



$ (8)



$ 2,460



$ 235



10 %

































Bausch Pharma































Salix

$ 1,515



$ 



$ 1,515



$ 1,377



$ 



$ 1,377



$ 138



10 %

































International Rx (c)

890



(34)



856



848



(44)



804



52



6 %

































Ortho Dermatologics (c)































Ortho Dermatologics (c)

199







199



225







225



(26)



(12) % Global Solta

219



(9)



210



166







166



44



27 % Total Ortho Dermatologics

418



(9)



409



391







391



18



5 %

































Diversified Products (c)































Neurology and Other (c)

448







448



506



(7)



499



(51)



(10) % Generics (c)

127







127



176



(1)



175



(48)



(27) % Dentistry

76







76



48







48



28



58 % Total Diversified Products

651







651



730



(8)



722



(71)



(10) %

































Total Bausch Pharma revenues (d)

$ 3,474



$ (43)



$ 3,431



$ 3,346



$ (52)



$ 3,294



$ 137



4 %

































Total Bausch Health revenues

$ 6,238



$ (112)



$ 6,126



$ 5,814



$ (60)



$ 5,754



$ 372



6 %





(a) The impact for changes in foreign currency exchange rates is determined as the difference in the current period reported revenues at their current period currency exchange rates and the current period reported revenues revalued using the monthly average currency exchange rates during the comparable prior period. (b) To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. For additional information about the Company's use of such non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the body of the news release to which these tables are attached. Organic revenue (non-GAAP) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is calculated as revenue as reported adjusted for the impact for changes in exchange rates (previously defined in this news release). Organic revenue (non-GAAP) for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is calculated as revenue as reported less revenues attributable to divestitures and discontinuances during the twelve months prior to the day of divestiture or discontinuance, as there are no revenues from those businesses and assets included in the comparable current period. Organic revenue (non-GAAP) is also adjusted for acquisitions, however, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no acquisitions. (c) In connection with the planned separation of the Company's eye-health business into an independently traded entity from the remainder of Bausch Health Companies Inc., the Company has realigned and has begun managing its operations in a manner consistent with the organizational structure of the two separate entities as proposed by the separation. Commencing in the first quarter of 2021, the Company realigned its segment reporting structure and now operates in five reportable segments. Also, certain products historically included in the reported results of the Generics business unit in the Diversified Products segment are included in the reported results of the Global Ophtho Rx business unit in the Bausch + Lomb segment and certain products historically included in the reported results of the Global Consumer business unit in the Bausch + Lomb segment are included in the reported results of the Neurology and Other business unit in the Diversified Products segment. Further, in the second quarter of 2021, the Company moved certain products previously reported in the International Rx business unit to the Global Consumer or Global Ophtho Rx business unit. All segment and business unit references in this news release are to this realigned segment and business unit reporting structure and prior period presentations of results have been conformed to the current segment and business unit reporting structure to allow investors to evaluate results between periods on a constant basis. For more information about the current segment reporting structure, please see "New Segment Structure" slide in the appendix to our Third-Quarter 2021 Financial Results presentation. (d) Bausch Pharma revenues, a non-GAAP metric, are determined by subtracting Bausch + Lomb segment revenues for the applicable period from total Bausch Health revenues for the applicable period.

Bausch Health Companies Inc.





Table 4 Other Financial Information







(unaudited)







(in millions)

September 30,

2021

December 31,

2020 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 690



$ 605

Restricted cash(a)

1,214



1,211

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

$ 1,904



$ 1,816











Debt Obligations







Senior Secured Credit Facilities:







Revolving Credit Facility

$ 



$ 

Term Loan Facilities

3,751



4,332

Senior Secured Notes

3,813



4,217

Senior Unsecured Notes

14,782



15,364

Other

12



12

Total long-term debt and other, net of premiums, discounts and issuance costs

22,358



23,925

Plus: Unamortized premiums, discounts and issuance costs

227



260

Total long-term debt and other

$ 22,585



$ 24,185











Maturities of Debt Obligations(b)







Remainder of 2021

$ 



$ 

2022







2023







2024





2,291

2025

9,723



10,632

2026

1,500



1,500

2027 - 2031

11,362



9,762

Total debt obligations

$ 22,585



$ 24,185















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30,



2021

2020

2021

2020 Cash provided by operating activities

$ 564



$ 256



$ 1,402



$ 717









































(a) As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Restricted cash includes $1,210 million of payments into an escrow fund under the terms of a settlement agreement regarding certain U.S. Securities Litigation, subject to one objector's appeal of the final court approval. These payments will remain in escrow until final approval of the settlement. (b) Subsequent to September 30, 2021, the Company drew down, net of repayments, $290 million under its 2023 Revolving Credit Facility which was primarily used to make deposits of $300 million, in the aggregate, into escrow funds under the terms of settlement agreements regarding the Glumetza Antitrust Litigation. The amounts outstanding under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility as of November 2, 2021 of $290 million are not reflected in the table above.

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bauschhealth.com


AVENTURA, Fla., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Benihana Inc., the nation's leading owner and operator of Japanese teppanyaki and sushi restaurants, today announced it has exceeded its donation goal to the American Cancer Society with its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign. The American Cancer Society's mission is to save lives, celebrate lives and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Benihana's campaign ran throughout the month of October, donating $2 for select menu items across the Company's four brands: Benihana, Samurai, RA Sushi and Haru Sushi. Employees for all four brands transformed their uniforms for the month to pink shirts, hats and scarves to help generate awareness for this important life-saving cause and raised $50,000.

In September, Benihana celebrated National Fried Rice Day by raising over $100,000 for No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America. This "National Calendar of Days" holiday was launched by Benihana in 2018 and has supported No Kid Hungry for the last two years by donating $1 for every bowl of fried rice purchased across the Company's restaurants. Each dollar donated can help provide up to ten meals for kids in need*.

And for the last thirteen years, Benihana has supported St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with an annual campaign to raise funds for the Hospital and its patients. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, and Benihana is proud to support this world-renowned organization, raising over $50,000 last year by donating $2 from the purchase of select menu items throughout the year.

Benihana is also active in each community served, donating food to local hospitals and first responders, hosting library events, providing certificates of achievement to school students, welcoming school field trips, recognizing veterans and current military and many other activities that support the neighborhoods around the restaurants.

"We care! We are so proud to support these important organizations in their missions to provide assistance and life-saving research. The American Cancer Society, No Kid Hungry and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are committed to excellence and making a significant difference in our communities. Benihana shares that commitment and we are proud to invite our many guests to join us in supporting each of these charitable organizations," said Tom Baldwin, CEO and President of Benihana Inc.

*Meal equivalency varies during COVID-19 relief. No Kid Hungry does not provide individual meals; your donations help support programs that feed kids. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org/OneDollar.

About Benihana Inc.

Benihana Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the nation's leading operator of Japanese teppanyaki and sushi restaurants with more than 100 restaurants operating under the brands BENIHANA, HARU SUSHI, RA SUSHI, and SAMURAI, including franchised BENIHANA restaurants in the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

To learn more about Benihana Inc. and its four brands, visit www.benihana.com/about/company-video/

Contact:

Jeannie Means

305-702-2880

[email protected]

SOURCE Benihana, Inc.
COPPELL, Texas, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Birchstone Residential , a culture-based property management company focused on creating great places to live, today announced the addition of Keith Hughes as vice president of construction. The hiring of Hughes is emblematic of Birchstone's continued growth as it assumes management responsibilities of apartment communities in the Sunbelt, Southeast and pursues opportunities in new markets.

Keith Hughes

Hughes will simultaneously manage the day-to-day field operations of multiple multimillion-dollar construction projects and will oversee an emerging in-house construction team expected to grow to 10 or 12 associates. Hughes will assume responsibility of all components of the construction process, from assisting on acquisitions and blueprint designs to budgeting and scheduling construction plans.

"With his vast experience and penchant for driving high-level results, we believe Keith is the perfect fit to lead our construction initiatives," said David Deitz, president of Birchstone Residential. "Keith's achievements give him enormous credibility in the industry, and he exhibits all of the key intangible qualities you'd want in a leaderaccountability, dedication and the ability to quickly adjust on the fly. We look forward to having Keith as a key part of our team and part of the Birchstone family."

Prior to joining Birchstone, Hughes, who has accrued 25 years of industry experience, served as regional construction manager for BH Management, where he spearheaded more than $60 million in capital projects in a 12-state region. This included acquisitions, value-add projects, insurance and non-recurring capital expenditures.

"I'm excited to join an on-the-rise property management firm that is quickly carving its distinctive niche in the industry," Hughes said. "The opportunity to lead and help grow the construction team is tremendous, and I'm eager to assist Birchstone's continued expansion into desirable markets across the country. I look forward to offering my expertise on the construction front and collaborating with fellow associates on forward-thinking initiatives."

About Birchstone Residential

Birchstone Residential is the in-house property management company of Ashcroft Capital. It has a comprehensive property management platform that provides all essential services, including leasing, maintenance and construction management. Birchstone was purpose-built to execute the value-add business plan for each Ashcroft property, optimize financial returns and deliver high resident satisfaction. Committed to a people-centric culture and employee development through job training, job enrichment and accelerated development, Birchstone seeks to provide best-in-class service that attracts new residents and enriches the lifestyles of current residents.

About Ashcroft Capital

Founded in 2015, Ashcroft Capital is a vertically integrated multifamily investment firm with over $1.5 billion of assets and more than 8,000 units owned throughout several high-growth metros of the Sun Belt. The firm focuses on capital preservation while striving to return strong, risk-adjusted cash-on-cash to investors. Ashcroft is capitalized with high net worth, family office and institutional capital. Ashcroft specializes in value-add multifamily real estate and exhibits an expertise in extracting maximum value from every asset it acquires. Rather than attempting to play cycle timing, the firm strives to acquire excellent apartment communities within well-located submarkets of large and growing U.S. metros.

Media Contact

Stephen Ursery

LinnellTaylor Marketing

[email protected]

303.682.3945

SOURCE Birchstone Residential

Related Links

https://birchstoneresidential.com/


OSLO, Norway, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (NYSE and OSE: BORR) will release its financial results for the third quarter 2021 on Friday, November 5, 2021.

A conference call and webcast will be held at 14:00 CET (9:00 AM New York Time). The earnings report and presentation will be available from the Investor Relations section on www.borrdrilling.com.

In order to listen to the presentation, you may do one of the following:

a) Webcast

Please use the following link: www.incommuk.com/customers/online with access code: 286812

b) Conference Call

Dial in details, Participants:

Conference ID: 286812

Norway, Oslo 81 503 308

United Kingdom 020 3936 2999

United States 1 646 664 1960

All other locations +44 20 3936 2999

Participants will be asked for their full name & Conference ID.

There will be a Q&A session after the presentation. Information on how to ask questions will be given at the beginning of the Q&A session.

Replay details:

Replay Access Number: 897146

A recording will be available until December 3, 2021 on the company's website at the "Webcast" link, or by using the following link: https://www.incommglobalevents.com/replay/7056/borr-drilling-limited-q3-2021-results-presentation/

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/borr-drilling-limited/r/borr-drilling-limited---invitation-to-webcast-and-conference-call-q3-2021-results,c3445106

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) today announced the hiring of Char Nicanor-Kimball in the newly created role of Vice President of e-Commerce and the promotion of Art Huggard to the role of Vice President of Digital Technology. These moves represent Build-A-Bear's continued commitment to its digital transformation and to the delivery of innovative new products and experiences.

Char Nicanor-Kimball brings more than 20 years of e-Commerce experience to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Most recently, Nicanor-Kimball was the Sr. Director of e-Commerce at Hannah Andersson where she led the business team responsible for the operations, consumer journey and interaction of the site. She has extensive experience in e-Commerce site operations, revenue and profit responsibility as well as merchandising management. Prior to Hannah Andersson, Nicanor-Kimball worked in expanding the digital commerce at National Geographic, Stride Rite, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nordstrom. Nicanor-Kimball will be responsible for leading the growth of Build-A-Bear's e-Commerce business as the Company continues to strategically expand its effort to drive its omni-channel initiatives and digital transformation.

Art Huggard joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in 2017 as Director, e-Commerce Development. Huggard was instrumental in the Company's successful implementation of the Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform and Deck Commerce Order Management System. His efforts have significantly contributed to increasing Build-A-Bear's consumer-facing digital initiatives and the Company's expanding relationship with Salesforce. In addition to the technology side of e-Commerce, Huggard and his team are leading several of Build-A-Bear's new systems initiatives critical to the ongoing advancement of its digital transformation. Prior to joining Build-A-Bear, Huggard held the roles of Director of e-Commerce at Bass Pro Shops as well as Omnichannel Program Director at Hudson's Bay.

About Build-A-Bear:

Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on "adding a little more heart to life" appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own "furry friends" to celebrate and commemorate life moments. The company has nearly 500 interactive brick-and-mortar retail locations that provide guests of all ages an interactive entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection. It also offers engaging e-Commerce/digital purchasing activities on www.buildabear.com including its online "Bear-Builder" as well as the new "Bear Builder 3D Workshop". In addition, the company leverages its brand's power and equity beyond retail through entertaining content, wholesale products and non-plush consumer product categories via licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $338.5 million in fiscal 2019. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.

SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop

Related Links

www.buildabear.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- C.A. Fortune, a consumer brands agency headquartered in Chicago, announces the addition of Mass Marketing Services (MMS), further expanding their breadth of club channel solutions for their clients. Established in 1994, MMS has cultivated a strong, specific niche with Costco and has been known and respected in the industry for over 25 years. This transaction closed on November 1st, 2021.

MMS set out 27 years ago with a strategic vision to meet the needs of manufacturers by providing the marketing creativity, channel knowledge, and sales support to profitably develop, produce and sell their goods to the club channel. Utilizing their vast experience in the club space, the MMS team provides manufacturers with channel specific expertise, direction and support to secure, maintain, and grow their business at Costco.

"Everyone on our staff lives and breathes Costco. Having either joined us directly from Costco or from the manufacturer side, our team knows the business inside and out," says Sarah Anaya, Senior Partner of MMS. "We've found ourselves ready to integrate with a wider organization that will capitalize on our joint strengths, give us greater capabilities, larger scope and more readily deployable services, which will help take us to the next level and better serve our clients. Between C.A.'s industry reputation, modernized approach to the market, and an unparalleled track record, C.A. proved to be the best fit for us."

"Through this investment, C.A. Fortune considerably strengthens our all-channel solution to clients by applying MMS' significant resources and capabilities in the club channel," says Jamie Frye, Chief Sales Officer of C.A. Fortune. "This Costco investment will provide our clients with a deeper club growth strategy, enhanced through C.A.'s existing strengths."

"Here at C.A., we consistently review our capabilities against our clients' needs and where we see the industry going. Each day we see shifts in the ever-changing consumer world and it's our responsibility to ensure we're steadily and strategically closing those gaps," says Tyler Lowell, CEO and Managing Partner of C.A. Fortune. "Following an exhaustive vetting out process of the top club channel agencies in the country, and specifically Costco dedicated, it became clear partnering with MMS was the right investment for long-term success for our clients."

This integration provides a complete club channel solution for manufacturers rounded out with e-commerce services. C.A. E-comm, the e-commerce pillar within C.A., will work hand-in-hand with MMS' club team to drive incremental success for clients across Costco.com and others. This forward-thinking business investment allows the full C.A. banner, inclusive of C.A. Fortune, C.A. Ferolie, and C.A. Carlin, to remain at the forefront of the industry, providing their clients with a 360 sales strategy to drive success in today's modern marketplace.

About C.A. Fortune

Originally founded in 1983 and subsequently expanded under current ownership, C.A. Fortune has grown into a leading, privately-held, full-service consumer brands agency. With nationwide coverage, the company offers clients a comprehensive solution  including sales management, a sales accelerator, marketing and branding, insights, retail activation, and digital and e-commerce services. C.A. Fortune is headquartered in Chicago and has regional offices across the country.

To learn more, visit CAFortune.com.

About Mass Marketing Services

Mass Marketing Services is a full-service firm specializing in club sales, both domestic and international, whose involvement spans all aspects of the business, from the initial introduction of the product to closing the sale and managing the account. Through trusted, longstanding partnerships and by nurturing emerging brands, they have consistently helped bring exceptional products to market. With a commitment to excellence and by providing outstanding services to vendors and customers, their objective is to make any company's club aspirations a successful and sustainable reality.

To learn more, visit massmarketingservices.com.

Media Contact:

Kait Benetz

[email protected]

312.442.7223

SOURCE C.A. Fortune
First Ever Roundup of Companies that Proved Management Excellence across the Middle Market

PHOENIX, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) ("4Front" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, has been named in Inc. 's first annual Best Led Companies list  a select, data-driven list of the strongest U.S. firms across the middle market, with annual revenues of $50 million to $2 billion, evaluated on a 12-point measure of management excellence. This novel program is the first Inc. recognition list to honor both public and private companies.

The final list recognizes 250 companies that are agile enough to maneuver but also big enough to have a broad impact. In total, these companies employ 35 million people, about one-fourth of the US workforce. All 250 have a successful track record of having leadership teams that spur solid performance, create value, penetrate markets, and engage with customers.



To be considered for the list, employees at each company had to fill out an application, answering questions about their company's performance, executive team, and leadership. Applicants were then analyzed via an algorithm that identified the very best companies according to their leadership teams' superlative accomplishments in four key areas: performance and value creation; market penetration and customer engagement; talent; and leadership team.

"This inaugural list represents the remarkable mid-sized companies, both public and private, often founder-led, that are at the vanguard of reinventing American business," said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. "With their leadership, all businesses will benefit from an exciting, competitive future full of possibilities."



"After putting in more than a decade of hard work and becoming one of the world's most efficient cannabis companies out there, we are honored to be included in Inc.'s first annual Best Led Companies list," said 4Front CEO Leo Gontmakher . "We have remained focused on our mission of developing and delivering an unmatched family of brands, superior cannabis genetics, and innovative production and cultivation methodologies. Most importantly, we've always stayed true to our belief of doing business the right way. Our people are our greatest asset. Not only are they great at what they do  they're even better at who they are. As we continue to make strategic moves in the cannabis sector, we will continue to be fueled by our people's leadership skills and passion and our shared support for the therapeutic potential of the cannabis plant."

To compile the list, Inc. evaluated public and private U.S.based companies with a 2020 revenue of $50 million to $2 billion or a valuation of $50 million to $10 billion, by using a proprietary 12-point measure of management excellence, which was generated with input from partners at Pitchbook and Shango Labs.

Since it was founded, in 2011, 4Front's team of experienced professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, advocates, and out-of-the-box thinkers have been advancing the future of cannabis. With operations and facilities in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and managed facilities in Washington, the Company makes some of the world's best cannabis products. In the last decade, 4Front's R&D team has researched and developed more than 20 different cannabis brands and 1,800 different cannabis-infused products.



Recently, 4Front commenced operations at one of the largest, most efficient cannabis manufacturing facilities in the world, in Commerce, California. The 170,000 sq. ft. facility (the "Commerce Facility" or "Facility") is manufacturing both in-house and partner brands, with product categories including infused pre-rolls, gummies, hard candies, fruit chews, caramels, mints, soft gel capsules, vapes, tinctures, and other manufactured infused products. Earlier this year, 4Front also closed the first phase of its multiphase expansion project to build an up to 558,000 sq. ft. cultivation-and-production facility (the "Facility") in the Village of Matteson , Illinois, located outside of Chicago.



Gontmakher added, "Advancing cannabis is at the heart of everything we do. From superior genetics to proven cultivation and manufacturing methodologies to streamlined packaging and distribution to our consumer-first retail approach, we will continue to be committed to fostering a better cannabis industry for everyone."

To see the complete list, visit https://www.inc.com/best-led-companies .

The November issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 9, 2021.

For more information, visit https://4frontventures.com and https://missiondispensaries.com/ .

About Inc.

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc., offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 allows the founders of the best businesses to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About 4Front Ventures Corp.

4Front Ventures Corp. ("4Front" or the "Company") ( CSE: FFNT ) ( OTCQX: FFNTF ) is a national, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator who owns or manages operations and facilities in strategic medical and adult-use cannabis markets, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington. Since its founding in 2011, 4Front has built a strong reputation for its high standards and low-cost cultivation and production methodologies earned through a track record of success in facility design, cultivation, genetics, growing processes, manufacturing, purchasing, distribution, and retail. To date, 4Front has successfully brought to market more than 20 different cannabis brands and over 1800 products, which are strategically distributed through its fully owned and operated Mission dispensaries and retail outlets in its core markets. As the Company continues to drive value for its shareholders, its team is applying its decade of expertise in the sector across the cannabis industry value chain and ecosystem. For more information, visit https://4frontventures.com/ .

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in 4Front Ventures' periodic filings with securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to future developments and the business and operations of 4Front Ventures, statements regarding when or if transactions will close or if/when required conditions to closing are attained, the impact of the transactions on the business of 4Front and other statements regarding future developments of the business. Although 4Front Ventures has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on satisfying closing conditions, [obtaining regulatory approvals]; and engagement in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. federal laws; change in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. 4Front Ventures disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and 4Front Ventures does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

SOURCE 4Front

Related Links

https://4frontventures.com


Simple Key

Consumer-friendly kits include a universal key and a do-it-yourself EZ Installer to easily "pair" new keys. Retailers can replace 600 OEM keys with two dozen Simple Key products.

Universal EZ InstallerTM

Customers easily pair keys on their own using an app on their phone. The "do-it-yourself" installer is compatible with thousands of vehicle makes and models and allows retailers to offer high-value automotive keys without the need for expensive dealership service department programming equipment.

Retail Optical Key ScannerTM (ROKS)

ROKS is a retail DIY ordering device that simplifies automotive key replacement. Retailers scan their customer's key and a new copy of the key is shipped to the store for pickup, or shipped directly to the customer. ROKS is a virtual car key store in a boxreplace almost any key and create a new revenue stream with little-to-no investment in tools, inventory, or training.

Keys NOW!TM Automated Key Machines

For decades, retailers have struggled to offer modern car keys because of difficult-to-use manual key cutting machines. Car Keys Express has changed all that with Keys NOW!, the world's first and only fully-automated house and car key duplication machines. Keys NOW! is as easy to use as a microwave oven. Open the door, insert the key, then stand back. A precisely duplicated key is produced instantly. Keys NOW! comes in three varieties, each designed for the desired level of customer engagement.

"Unlike our industry peers, Car Keys Express has created a variety of pioneering solutions designed explicitly to enable our retail partners to recapture consumers who previously depended on dealerships for their modern key needs," said Mike Bliss, Vice President for Car Keys Express. "This is a win for consumers who now have lower price modern car keys, conveniently located at retailers they trust. Retailers get a big win, providing a high ASP, differentiated solution that can't be sold online. We're proud of our innovative portfolio and look forward to demonstrating how our solutions can be tailored to the needs of individual retailers at this year's AAPEX show."

Whether you want inventory onsite or none at all, DIY ("do-it-yourself") or DIFM ("do-it-for-me"), Car Keys Express can customize a program that's perfect for your business model.

"Bringing modern automotive key replacement into auto parts stores has been a goal since our inception, said Mark Lanwehr, Car Keys Express CEO and Founder. "It's what motivated us to invent our award-winning universal key technologies. We're currently engaged with all major auto parts retailers with our unique ecosystem of industry-leading technologies. Virtually every system on modern vehicles has a healthy aftermarket parts presence in retail, except car keys. Given the fact that car keys are used by 280 million North American drivers at least twice a day, it represents a huge opportunity."

If you're attending AAPEX in Las Vegas, visit Car Keys Expressbooth #A5816. Go to CarKeysExpress.com/AAPEX for details and special show pricing.

About Car Keys Express

Car Keys Express is a global leader in discount, automotive key replacement for businesses and consumers. The company invented the world's first Universal Car Remote and Universal Car Keys and is the only company that manufactures a full line of aftermarket versions of modern car keys, like remote keys and smart keys. Car Keys Express offers a complete line of retail-friendly solutions to allow retailers to build a key replacement program or enhance an existing program. Car Care Express, a division of Car Keys Express, offers mobile vehicle reconditioning service for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2002, Car Keys Express is continually recognized for excellence in the industry, winning Inc. Magazine's, "Inc. 5000" in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, AAPEX "Best New Product" Award in 2015 and 2019, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017, and EnterpriseCorp's FAST Innovation Award Winner in 2017, among others. To learn more, visit www.CarKeysExpress.com.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

About AAPEX

AAPEX represents the more than $1.6 trillion global automotive aftermarket industry and features innovative products, services and technologies, as well as advanced business management and technical training for professionals to maintain excellence and take their businesses to the next level. Historically, AAPEX features approximately 2,500 exhibiting companies. AAPEX buyers include automotive service and repair professionals, auto parts retailers, independent warehouse distributors, program groups, service chains, automotive dealers, fleet buyers and engine builders. AAPEX is co-owned by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, visit www.aapexshow.com .

SOURCE Car Keys Express

Related Links

http://www.CarKeysExpress.com

http://www.aapexshow.com


MIAMI, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced it has been named as one of the World's Top Female-Friendly Companies of 2021 by Forbes, a leading source of business news worldwide.

Presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, the inaugural listing of the top female-friendly companies recognizes multinational organizations recommended by women based on a global survey of 85,000 female workers, along with each company's reputation for gender equality and representation of women in leadership positions.

Carnival Corporation  whose nine popular cruise line brands include namesake Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in the U.S., along with AIDA Cruises, Cunard, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia  was ranked among the top 300 female-friendly companies in the world, and was the only cruise-specific company recognized on the list. The full list of the World's Top Female-Friendly Companies for 2021 is available on the Forbes website.

"This recognition as a top female-friendly company underscores our highest responsibility and top priority, which is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we visit and our shipboard and shoreside personnel," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. "We are honored to once again be recognized by Forbes for our commitment to providing a positive and supportive work environment for all of our colleagues and business partners based on inclusion and the power of diversity."

The Forbes World's Top Female-Friendly Companies list was determined through a globally administered independent survey of approximately 85,000 women across 40 total countries. Respondents were asked to anonymously evaluate their employer's performance across a broad range of gender-related topics, as well as overall workplace satisfaction and willingness to recommend their company, while also providing recommendations for other employers in their industry. In addition, each company was evaluated based on publicly available information on representation in leadership positions and the results of a women-only survey to gather perceptions on companies in relation to gender equality.

The recognition from Forbes as one of the top female-friendly companies in the world builds on recent recognitions Carnival Corporation has earned for its companywide operations and dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion. This includes several recent honors from Forbes based on the publication's annual listings of America's Best Large Employers of 2021, Best Employers for Diversity for 2020 and America's Best Employers for Women in 2020, as well as the World's Best Employers of 2021.

Additionally in 2021, Carnival Corporation was named a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award Winner honoring the best 100 U.S. places to work and earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, designating the company as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. The company was also recognized for its commitment to corporate social responsibility leadership by Newsweek on its second annual list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and named as one of the Best Companies for Latinos by Latino Leaders Magazine.

The recognition for excellence in the workplace underscores Carnival Corporation's commitment to support diversity, equity and inclusion throughout its companywide operations and to provide a positive and empowering corporate culture for all its shipboard and shoreside employees. The company's success is a direct result of its employees, who represent nearly 150 countries across the globe and have helped create a collaborative and dedicated workforce committed to consistently exceeding guest expectations and providing extraordinary vacations for millions of guests around the world.

About Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.

SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc

Related Links

www.carnival.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CCS Fundraising, the leader in nonprofit fundraising consulting, announced new additions to its Board of Directors. Complementing their ten internal leaders, CCS welcomes Elizabeth (Liz) Moore and Ron Lumbra to the Board.

Elizabeth D. (Liz) Moore, Former Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Consolidated Edison of New York: Until the end of 2019, Elizabeth D. Moore was a Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Consolidated Edison, Inc., and served on the Boards of its two subsidiaries, Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc. and Con Edison Transmission, Inc.

Ms. Moore earned a law degree from St. John's University and holds a Bachelor of Science from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. Ms. Moore served on Cornell's Board of Trustees for 14 years and in 2013 was elected Trustee Emeritus. Ms. Moore has received various awards and recognitions, including the 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America, 2015 Top Black Lawyers, Fourth Annual Power List, 25 Influential Black Women in Business, Leader for a New Century, and the 11th Annual Ida B. Wells-Barnett Justice Award.

Ron Lumbra, Managing Partner, Heidrick & Struggles: Ron Lumbra is a partner at Heidrick & Struggles and a member of the global CEO & Board of Directors Practice. Mr. Lumbra has more than 23 years of executive search and succession consulting experience and an extensive track record of recruiting board directors and chief executive officers. In June 2019, Mr. Lumbra was invited to testify in front of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services and Diversity in the Boardroom: Examining Proposals to Increase the Diversity of America's Boards.

Mr. Lumbra holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont. Mr. Lumbra is chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Vermont and serves on the UVM Foundation leadership council. He serves on the Board of two SPACs, CRIS II Acquisition Corporation and Prospector Capital Corp, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. Formerly, Mr. Lumbra was a Board Director for the Alumni Association of the University of Vermont, the Harvard Business School Club of Greater New York, the Houston Youth Symphony, and the Board Chair and Director of KaBOOM!

These exceptional leaders join Caroline Chick (Managing Director), Derval Costello (Managing Director), Greg Hagin (Principal & Managing Director), Peter Hoskow (Principal & Managing Director), Eric Javier (Principal & Managing Director), Jon Kane (President), Tom Kissane (Principal & Managing Director), Sevil Miyhandar (Managing Director), Robert Rice (Principal & Managing Director), and Janine Triano (Chief Human Resources Officer) on the CCS Board of Directors. Learn more about the members of the CCS Board of Directors here.

About: CCS Fundraising is a strategic consulting firm that has partnered with nonprofits for 75 years. We provide transformational change through a wide range of services that support and strengthen nonprofit fundraising programs. CCS operates in more than a dozen offices in countries around the world. The firm's experts, skilled in campaign and development strategy, work closely with organizations of all sizes across all nonprofit sectors.

Margaret Fleming, Corporate Marketing Manager

CCS Fundraising

[email protected]

(203) 695-5111

SOURCE CCS Fundraising
BEIJING, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 26th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP26) opened on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland, the first conference after the five-year review cycle under the Paris Agreement inked in 2015.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has on many occasions highlighted China's view on tackling the climate challenge, expressed China's firm support for the Paris Agreement and announced the country's concrete actions to protect the planet.

In his written statement to the World Leaders Summit at COP26 released on Monday, Xi reiterated a call for global unity and actions to address climate change and put forward three suggestions.

Uphold multilateral consensus

"When it comes to global challenges such as climate change, multilateralism is the right prescription," Xi said in the statement, calling on all parties to build on the existing consensus, increase mutual trust and step up cooperation to deliver a successful COP26.

The Chinese president has facilitated major progress on climate issues at the global level. In 2015, he delivered a keynote speech at the Paris Conference on Climate Change, making a historic contribution to the conclusion of the Paris Agreement

At the Climate Ambition Summit in December 2020, President Xi announced China's further commitments for 2030, making steady progress in implementing the Paris Agreement.

Earlier this month, he underscored the importance of sharing the fruits of green development among all countries when addressing the leaders' summit of the China-hosted 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15).

Focusing on concrete action

"Visions will come true only when we act on them," said Xi on Monday as he urged all countries to honor their commitment, set realistic targets and do their best according to national conditions to deliver their climate action measures.

As the Chinese president has said, China always honors its words with actions. According to a climate change white paper released last week, the country's carbon emissions intensity in 2020 came down by 48.8 percent compared to 2005 and by 18.8 percent on the 2015 level, showing China takes the Paris Agreement seriously.

By the end of 2020, non-fossil fuels accounted for 16 percent of primary energy consumption in China and the country also phased out 120 million kilowatts of installed coal-fired power generation capacity during the past decade.

China has launched green action initiatives that encourage green infrastructure, energy, transportation and finance under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework as well. In 2020, 57 percent of China's investment in BRI partner countries went to renewable energy projects, up from 38 percent in 2019.

Accelerating green transition

Xi on Monday highlighted the role of innovation in science and technology and called for the promotion of a greener economy and society and exploration of a new pathway that coordinates development with conservation.

China recently has published two key directives: a top-level design document for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030.

According to Xi, the country will further roll out specific implementation plans for key areas such as energy, industry, construction and transport, and for key sectors such as coal, electricity, iron and steel, and cement, coupled with supporting measures in terms of science and technology, carbon sink, fiscal and taxation, and financial incentives.

These plans together will form China's "1+N" policy framework for helping the nation fulfill its pledge to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 with a clearly defined timetable, roadmap and blueprint.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-11-02/From-COP15-to-COP26-China-calls-for-unite-actions-to-protect-Earth-14R8MSzM208/index.html

SOURCE CGTN

Related Links

www.cgtn.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CHC Group LLC (the "Company" or "CHC") announced today that it has posted additional disclosure to the data room related to its previously announced exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") to all Eligible Holders (as defined below), to exchange any and all of the Company's 5% Senior Notes due 2024, co-issued by the Company and CHC Finance Ltd. (the "Existing Notes"), including: (i) with respect to certain amendments to the A&R Credit Agreement (as defined below) and New Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement (as defined below) which form part of the Exchange Consideration (as defined below), (ii) raised incremental capital through the issuance of additional term loans under the New Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement and (iii) certain related fees paid by the Company in order to secure such amendments. The Company strongly advises Eligible Holders to access the Company's data room where the Company has posted information describing such additional developments and review such disclosure when evaluating the Exchange Offer, and reminds such Eligible Holders that the Withdrawal deadline for the Exchange Offer remains 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 5, 2021, which is concurrent with the Expiration Time of the Exchange Offer, which also remains 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 5, 2021, meaning that all Eligible Holders who have validly tendered their Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer retain the ability to withdraw their tenders as of the date and time hereof until the Expiration Time.

Instructions to access the data room related to the Exchange Offer are set forth in the Company's confidential Exchange Offering Memorandum, dated September 2, 2021 (as amended from time to time and as amended hereby, the "Exchange Offering Memorandum"). The Company has retained Odeon Capital Group LLC to act as the dealer manager (the "Dealer Manager") for the Exchange Offer. Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC is acting as the exchange agent for the Exchange Offer (the "Exchange Agent"). Questions regarding the Exchange Offer, including any questions with respect to the additional disclosure described above, or how to access such disclosure in the Company's data room, should be directed to the Dealer Manager, 750 Lexington Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attn: Andrew Feldschreiber, Managing Director, or (212) 257-6164. Requests for documentation should be directed to Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC by telephone at (310) 751-2601 (International) or (888) 249-2695 (U.S./Canada) or by email at [email protected]. Only Eligible Holders who have completed and returned an eligibility letter, available from the Exchange Agent, may receive and review the Exchange Offering Memorandum or participate in the Exchange Offer.

Upon settlement, each holder who validly tendered their Existing Notes prior to the Expiration Time will receive, if such Existing Notes are accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer, consideration consisting of (i) $650.00 in principal amount of First Lien Non-Revolving Loans (as defined in the Exchange Offering Memorandum) for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, (ii) $200.00 in principal amount of New Secured Term Loans (as defined in the Exchange Offering Memorandum) for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and (iii) each holder's pro rata share of the Exchange Warrants (as defined in the Exchange Offering Memorandum, such Exchange Warrants, together with the First Lien Non-Revolving Loans and the New Secured Term Loans, the "Exchange Consideration"), on the terms set forth in the Exchange Offering Memorandum.

As discussed above, as a result of (i) certain amendments to the A&R Credit Agreement and New Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement which form part of the Exchange Consideration, (ii) raised incremental capital through the issuance of additional term loans under the New Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement and (iii) certain related fees paid by the Company in order to secure such amendments, the Company strongly advises Eligible Holders to access the data room in order to review the additional disclosure the Company has provided regarding the developments discussed above when evaluating the Exchange Offer and deciding whether to participate in the Exchange Offer or withdraw previously validly submitted tenders before the Withdrawal Deadline.

As of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on November 2, 2021, $42,078,080 aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes, or 96.13% of the Existing Notes currently outstanding, have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Exchange Offer.

To participate in the Exchange Offer, holders of Existing Notes must (a) be either (i) a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), (ii) an institutional accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), (a)(12) or (a)(13) of the Securities Act or (iii) a person that is not a "U.S. person" within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act and (b) not be a natural person (each such holder, an "Eligible Holder"). In addition, any Eligible Holder that elects to participate in the Exchange Offer will be required to become a lender under the A&R Credit Agreement (as defined in the Exchange Offering Memorandum) and the New Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement (as defined in the Exchange Offering Memorandum). Therefore, Eligible Holders electing to participate in the Exchange Offer will be required to complete the joinders, an administrative questionnaire, tax documentation and other requirements of the agents under the A&R Credit Agreement and the New Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement (including "know your customer" and other similar documentation), each as further described in the Exchange Offering Memorandum. Failure to do so will render invalid a tender of Existing Notes by the electing Eligible Holder.

The Company expects to settle the Exchange Offer promptly after the Expiration Time. Accrued and unpaid interest on Existing Notes validly tendered and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will be paid in cash to, but not including, the settlement date of the Exchange Offer.

The Exchange Offer is subject to the general conditions set forth in the Exchange Offering Memorandum. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum amount of Existing Notes being tendered. The conditions precedent are for the sole benefit of the Company and may be amended or waived, in whole or in part, at any time, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company, subject to applicable law.

Eligible Holders of the Existing Notes are urged to carefully read the Exchange Offering Memorandum and the documents incorporated by reference therein (including all documentation posted to the Company's data room as described above) before making any decision with respect to the Exchange Offer. None of the Company or its affiliates, the dealer manager with respect to the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Agent or the trustee with respect to the Existing Notes is making any recommendation as to whether holders should tender any Existing Notes in response to the Exchange Offer, and neither the Company nor any such other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Existing Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Existing Notes to tender.

The Exchange Consideration has not been and will not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, or any state or foreign securities laws. The Exchange Consideration may not be offered or sold in the United States or for the account or benefit of any U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Exchange Offer is not being made to Eligible Holders of Existing Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About CHC Group LLC

CHC's mission is to provide the highest level of service in the industry. CHC's helicopters are primarily used to facilitate large, long-distance crew changes on offshore production facilities and drilling rigs. The Company also provides SAR and EMS to government agencies and our oil and gas customers.

CHC provides MRO services through its Heli-One business to both its own Helicopter Services segment and to third-party customers. The Company's MRO capabilities enable it to perform heavy structural repairs, and maintain, overhaul and test helicopters and helicopter components globally across various helicopter types. CHC's MRO services include complete maintenance outsourcing solutions, parts sales and distribution, engineering services, design services and logistics support.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that we expect, believe, or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations; changes in financial condition; changes in general U.S. or international economic or industry conditions and/or conditions in the Company's reportable segments; changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions; or other circumstances, conditions, developments and/or events arising after the issuance of this press release, except for the Company's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on preliminary or potentially inaccurate estimates and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the estimated financial information. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the Company's ability to consummate the Exchange Offer. Actual results may differ materially from the Company's forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including as a result of the risks and other items described in the Exchange Offering Memorandum. Factors other than those referred to above could also cause the Company's results to differ materially from expected results. Additionally, the business and financial materials and any other statement or disclosure on, or made available through, CHC's website or other websites referenced herein shall not be incorporated by reference into this press release.

Contact:

Investor Relations:

Christopher Hanratty

[email protected]

(212) 262-7300

SOURCE CHC Group LLC
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AI-driven web security company DNSFilter ( www.dnsfilter.com ) released its annual Domain Threat Report. Their research spans March 2020 through August 2021, but they found more than the COVID pandemic impacted end users' interaction with malicious sites. They identified trends among sites related to cryptocurrency, unemployment, and more.

According to the report, 11.47% of COVID-related queries during the pandemic were malicious-that's more than 1-in-10. Although media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic has recently waned, the opportunity for malicious domains capitalizing on COVID-related searches continues. The shape these threats have taken has changed, with unemployment scams (a result of pandemic benefits) in mid-2021 surging.

DNSFilter blocks threats in real-time at the DNS level, stopping access to malicious domains. The information collected in DNSFilter's 2021 Domain Threat Report is backed by their proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI) known as Webshrinker.

DNSFilter CEO Ken Carnesi writes the foreword of the threat report and notes, "2021 was the first time we truly took stock of this DNS data and recognized that sharing it will help others secure their IT infrastructure." Carnesi believes "this report will assist organizations better understand the current, rapidly evolving, domain landscape and make better decisions when it comes to enabling DNS security."

COVID-19, Cryptocurrency, and ChinaFindings from the report

According to the report, 11.47% of COVID-related queries during the pandemic were maliciousthat's more than 1-in-10. Although media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic has recently waned, the opportunity for malicious domains capitalizing on COVID-related searches continues. The shape these threats have taken has changed, with unemployment scams (a result of pandemic benefits) in mid-2021 surging.

Cryptomining has also had a resurgence over the last year as blockchain technology and NFTs rise in popularity. Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Litecoin are more likely to be cryptomining sites, while copycat domains of Bitcoin are more likely to be phishing. 18.72% of cryptomining sites actively include terms relating to "mining" or "coin." These sites are not necessarily hiding their intentions.

Other trends noted in this year's report shed light on the geographic location of malicious domains. One of the more interesting findings was China is responsible for 16.69% of all malware queries on DNSFilter's network. However, four out of five of the ccTLDs (Country-code Top-Level Domains) with the highest percent of malicious domains were in Africa.

Jen Ayers, COO of DNSFilter and former VP of Overwatch at CrowdStrike, writes in her closing thoughts: "The speed with which we've seen high-profile and expensive attacks occur accelerated beyond even the most pessimistic predictions five years ago. As of January 2020, we blocked a total of 23 million DNS-based threats on our network. This figure rose to a scary 328 million by the end of June 2020, representing an increase of over ~1200%. We do not expect this to slow down...DNS-based threats are here to stay."

Read the complete DNSFilter Domain Threat Report .

About DNSFilter

DNSFilter is a venture-backed startup providing edge-layer security via DNS. They protect over 15,000 organizations from ransomware, phishing, botnet, and other cybersecurity threatsall while running on the fastest network within the DNS security industry. DNSFilter identifies threats up to 154 hours faster than competitors, and uniquely categorizes more than 76% of domain-based threats, including zero-day threats.

Media Contact:

Jessica Rafaeil

404-936-0191

[email protected]

SOURCE DNSFilter
LIVONIA, Mich., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNEX, a leading provider of Digital Transformation through Open Source, Cloud and Automation technology solutions was recently honoured by Liferay with the "Worldwide Marketing Excellence Partner " for the Year 2020-2021 at the Liferay Partner Summit Awards Ceremony, held at the online SCOOCS Platform on October 7, 2021.

The Liferay Partner Summit Awards Ceremony was held by Liferay to recognize the Channel Partners who have proven themselves consistently exceptional at delivering on client needs and driving business results. The Marketing Excellence Partner of the Year was to honour the Liferay partner who most effectively used marketing to drive demand for Liferay solution sales.

"We are extremely honoured to receive this award from Liferay," said Harish Ramachandran, CEO, CIGNEX. "It has been great working with Liferay for over the past two decades, as we share the same passion for innovation. This award is an acknowledgement to the amazing work our team has delivered that has benefited both Liferay and CIGNEX' customers," he added.

Joe Shum, VP, Sales - NA at Liferay stated, "CIGNEX has shown a long-term commitment to Liferay and to our community over a decade, and during a challenging year like 2020, they have managed to keep delivering top-quality digital experience solutions leveraging a robust marketing strategy. Their work is an example of how marketing can boost lead generation and generate value for customers. It is a pleasure to have CIGNEX named the Worldwide Marketing Excellence Partner of the Year."

Having been a partner of Liferay since 2006, CIGNEX offer a full range of Liferay services, some of which include Development, Upgrade & Migration, Performance Tuning, and Support.

More information on CIGNEX' Liferay Expertise can be found here.

About CIGNEX (www.cignex.com)

CIGNEX is a Michigan based global consulting company offering solutions & services on Open Source, Cloud & Automation. Since 2000, CIGNEX has been delivering enterprise class solutions that enable organizations achieve unparalleled results.

For additional information, contact:

Priyanka Sharma

Global Head of Marketing

CIGNEX

[email protected]

+91 079 6701 0345

SOURCE CIGNEX
HOUSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) recognized CITGO Petroleum Corporation with a 2021 Safety Excellence Award, a highly prized industry honor, for stellar occupational safety performance in 2020.

The award was presented during the recent ILTA International Operating Conference & Trade Show in Houston, Texas. Thousands of terminal industry professionals meet in Houston each year to network, share best practices, discuss challenges and learn about the latest equipment and technology.

"CITGO is humbled to once again receive this distinguished recognition as we continue working to achieve operational excellence," said CITGO President and CEO Carlos Jorda. "We have tremendous respect for ILTA and its advocacy on behalf of our industry. This recognition validates our core value of safety performance across all operating segments of CITGO and is a special acknowledgement of the outstanding operating personnel in our terminal network."

CITGO wholly and/or jointly owns 38 active terminals and six pipeline, making the Company's terminal network one of the largest in the country.

ILTA represents companies and partnerships that operate bulk liquid storage terminals worldwide. ILTA members handle products including crude oil, refined petroleum products, chemicals, renewable fuels, fertilizers, vegetable oils and other food grade materials.

About CITGO

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Lake Charles, La.; Lemont, Ill.; and Corpus Christi, Texas, and wholly and/or jointly owns 38 active terminals, six pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,300 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 769,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the fifth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 4,400 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets, all located east of the Rocky Mountains. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc.

SOURCE CITGO Corporation

Related Links

www.citgo.com


THUNDER BAY, ON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: AIR) (FRA: CKU) (OTC: CLRMF) is pleased to announce new assay results from the drilling campaign presently underway at the Company's Thunder Bay North Project (the "Project") from the Escape and Current magma conduit deposits.

The Escape Deposit has undergone systematic expansion drilling of nearly 30,000m since the maiden Indicated resource of 505,369 ounces PdEq1 (3.67 g/t PdEq in 4.28 million tonnes reported January 20, 2021). The Current Deposit, 2.5km to the east (Figure 2), has a well-defined Indicated mineral resource of 1,328,789 PdEq1 ounces (3.44 g/t PdEq in 11.99 million tonnes).

New assays from the Escape Deposit (Table 1) include:

Hole ELR21-085 which intersected 16.1m grading 4.20g/t Palladium Equivalents (PdEq)1 composed of 1.58g/t Platinum (Pt), 1.27g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.52% Copper (Cu), 0.31% Nickel (Ni) (Figure 1).

New assays from the Current Deposit (Table 2) include:

Hole CL21-021 which intersected 8.6m grading 5.10 g/t PdEq1 composed of 2.22 g/t Platinum (Pt), 2.10g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.45% Copper (Cu) and 0.31% Nickel (Ni) from 151.0- 159.6m downhole including 2.6m grading 9.80 g/t PdEq composed of 4.07 g/t Platinum (Pt), 4.03g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.88% Copper (Cu) and 0.65% Nickel (Ni) from 155.0m  157.56m downhole (Figure 2).

Mineral resource endowment and palladium-equivalents are quoted pursuant to the Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Thunder Bay North Project, Thunder Bay, Ontario, with an effective date of January 20, 2021 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report was posted to SEDAR March 4, 2021 and prepared by Nordmin Engineering Ltd.- QP Glen Kuntz, P.Geo. Ontario.

__________________ 1 Palladium equivalency formula can be viewed in the following Link (Click Here)

Update on Metallurgy and PEA

Metallurgical optimization studies continue with Blue Coast Research of British Columbia. The results of the metallurgical studies on drill core-derived bulk sample material and independent analysis of smelter recoveries and smelter payables are expected to input directly into a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) mine cash flow model planned for publication in Q4/2021.

Table 1: New Assay Results Update  Thunder Bay North Project

Hole ID From,

m To,

m Length,

m Pt+Pd

(g/t) Cu+Ni

(%) Pt

(g/t) Pd

(g/t) Cu

(%) Ni

(%) PdEq ELR21-080 353.7 360.0 6.3 1.93 0.61 1.12 0.81 0.41 0.21 2.92 ELR21-080 389.0 401.0 12.0 1.26 0.42 0.70 0.56 0.24 0.18 2.03 ELR21-081 350.6 360.0 9.4 1.89 0.60 1.09 0.80 0.39 0.21 2.88 ELR21-081 372.0 378.0 6.0 1.52 0.47 0.86 0.66 0.29 0.18 2.31 ELR21-082 238.6 242.5 3.9 1.37 0.30 0.75 0.62 0.23 0.07 1.72 ELR21-085 225.9 242.0 16.1 2.85 0.83 1.58 1.27 0.52 0.31 4.15 ELR21-086 364.0 366.0 2.0 1.33 0.46 0.74 0.59 0.25 0.21 2.19 CL21-020 144.0 146.0 2.0 1.41 0.33 0.68 0.73 0.20 0.14 1.91 CL21-020 152.0 160.0 8.0 2.91 0.58 1.49 1.42 0.37 0.22 3.59 CL21-020 168.0 175.0 7.0 1.44 0.35 0.75 0.70 0.18 0.16 1.99 CL21-020 178.5 179.5 1.0 4.65 0.84 2.51 2.14 0.69 0.15 5.12 CL21-021 151.0 159.6 8.6 4.33 0.76 2.22 2.10 0.45 0.31 5.09 **incl. 155.0 157.6 2.6 8.10 1.53 4.07 4.03 0.88 0.65 9.79 CL21-022 154.0 161.0 7.0 2.37 0.45 1.25 1.13 0.24 0.21 2.95 CL21-023 135.7 137.7 2.0 1.05 0.21 0.53 0.52 0.10 0.11 1.37 CL21-023 141.3 142.4 1.0 3.53 0.89 1.72 1.81 0.56 0.34 4.69 CL21-023 147.5 149.5 2.0 1.02 0.33 0.53 0.49 0.16 0.17 1.63 CL21-024 138.2 140.2 2.0 1.16 0.29 0.63 0.53 0.15 0.14 1.60 CL21-025 144.0 146.0 2.0 1.47 0.29 0.77 0.70 0.12 0.17 1.94 CL21-025 178.7 182.1 3.4 2.63 0.43 1.35 1.28 0.24 0.18 3.09 CL21-026 123.7 129.7 6.0 1.84 0.39 0.94 0.90 0.21 0.18 2.38 CL21-026 137.7 149.7 12.0 1.39 0.34 0.74 0.66 0.15 0.19 1.98 CL21-027 126.0 135.0 9.0 1.48 0.34 0.76 0.73 0.17 0.17 2.01 CL21-027 183.0 185.0 2.0 1.54 0.46 0.76 0.79 0.22 0.24 2.37

Note: 1) All intercepts are estimated to be >95% of true width based on drill hole inclination 2) Mineralized intervals calculated at 1 ppm Pt+Pd cutoff

Please see the link below for Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1: 2021 Drill Hole Intercepts in the Escape Deposit Area  Link (Click Here)

Figure 2: 2021 Drill Hole Intercepts in the Current Deposit Area  Link (Click Here)

Abraham Drost, CEO of Clean Air Metals stated that "the present round of assay results from the Current deposit ("CL" holes) confirm continuity of mineralization between sections along the trend of mineralization, at the Lower Bridge and Upper Beaver Lake Zones. Earlier assays from this round of drilling at the Current Deposit have already been incorporated into a mean stope optimizer (MSO) mine planning algorithm for the upcoming PEA.

The results from highlight Hole ELR21-085 in the Escape Deposit ("ELR" holes) appear to demonstrate increasing grade on the eastern edge of the historic Steepledge South resource area, 700m north of the Escape South High-Grade Zone. The drilling plan for Steepledge South is coming into prominence here with 20+ holes laid out for completion in Q4 and possibly into Q1/22."

COVID Policy

Clean Air Metals has adopted COVID-19 avoidance and personal protection measures for its geological staff, drilling contractor and service suppliers. Personnel are required to maintain physical distance, use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), self-monitor and self-isolate or elect to work from home. The Company is aware of Thunder Bay Health Unit guidelines that provide for "mandatory" self-isolation for returning overseas travel. The guidelines also "strongly recommend" self- monitoring and self-isolation as needed after travel into the Northwest region from other areas of the province and interprovincially. Mineral Exploration and Development has been deemed an essential service in the Province of Ontario (http://www.netnewsledger.com/2020/03/23/ontario-covid-19-business-allowed-to-remain-open-list-march-23-2020/ ).

Qualified Person

Dr. Geoff Heggie, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and Exploration Manager for the Company, has reviewed and approved all technical information in this press release.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Clean Air Metals uses ALS Global ("ALS"), a well-established and recognized mineral assay and geochemical analytical services company. The Thunder Bay laboratory holds ISO-9000 accreditation; the Vancouver facility holds ISO-17025 registration.

All NQ-sized drill core is cut with a diamond-tipped saw blade with half of the core submitted to ALS for sample preparation and analysis. Core samples from selected intervals are individually bagged and tagged, gathered up in larger sealed poly bags and shipped to the sample prep facility in Thunder Bay, ON under custody of Clean Air Metals' personnel at all times. Sample preparation is completed at the ALS sample preparation facility located in Thunder Bay, ON and analysis is completed at the primary ALS assay laboratory located in Vancouver, B.C.

Clean Air Metals follows a documented quality control procedure for its core assay sampling program consisting of the insertion of blind blanks, duplicates, and certified palladium-platinum and copper-nickel standards into the sample stream. The insertion procedure results in a minimum of 11% to 12% control sample frequency depending on the length of the sampled interval.

Gold, platinum, and palladium are analyzed using fire assay (FA) with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish. Samples with grades above the optimal ICP-MS detection limits are analyzed using an optical emission spectroscopy method (ICP-OES).

Also, thirty-three (33) elements of each sample, including copper, nickel, silver, chromium, cobalt, and sulphur, are analyzed by a multi-element analytical method using the atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) technique following four-acid digestion of the sample. When samples have grades above the optimal detection limits for this analytical method, they are re-analyzed using a high-grade method consisting of either ICP-AES or atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques.

Social Engagement

Clean Air Metals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Thunder Bay North Project is on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock First Nation and Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek. The parties together are the Cooperating Participants in a Memorandum of Agreement dated January 9, 2021.

About Clean Air Metals Inc.

Clean Air Metals' flagship asset is the 100% owned, high grade Thunder Bay North Project, a platinum, palladium, copper, nickel project located near the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Lac des Iles Mine owned by Impala Platinum. The Clean Air Metals project hosts the Current Deposit and magma conduit and the Company is actively exploring the Escape Deposit, a twin structure to the Current Deposit. Executive Chairman Jim Gallagher and CEO Abraham Drost lead an experienced team of geologists and engineers who are using the Noril'sk magma conduit stratigraphic and mineral deposit model to guide ongoing exploration and development studies. As the former CEO of North American Palladium Ltd. which owned the Lac des Iles Mine prior to the sale to Impala Platinum in December 2019, Jim Gallagher and team are credited with the mine turnaround and creation of significant value for shareholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Abraham Drost"

Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements regarding the potential of the Thunder Bay North Project and the Escape Lake and Current Lake deposits and timing of technical studies (include the preliminary economic assessment) and mineral resource estimates. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projection.

SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc.

Related Links

https://www.cleanairmetals.ca/


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Gaming, the all-in-one global earnings platform and tournament organizer, announced a partnership with game studio Sky Mavis and Okcoin, one of the world's fastest-growing cryptocurrency platforms, to produce the Axie Infinity Fall Showcase. On November 5-7, North American players will compete for a prize pool of 250 AXS (~$30,000 USD). Winnings will be distributed instantaneously after the tournament ends through Community Gaming's use of blockchain-based smart contracts.

With over 2.5 million active daily players and $190 million in revenue over the past 30 days, Axie Infinity has quickly become one of the most popular blockchain games in the world. Using AXS, the governance token for Axie Infinity, Sky Mavis continues to be one of the leaders in play-to-earn gaming.

"As the pandemic jumpstarted questions about the future of work, Sky Mavis has given us a glimpse of a world where work and play are positively intertwined," said Chris Gonsalves, CEO of Community Gaming. "Axie Infinity has cemented its place as play-to-earn forerunner, and as Community Gaming continues its evolution into both tournament organizer and earnings platform, we expect to collaborate further with Sky Mavis."

All weekend matches of the Axie Infinity Fall Showcase will be streamed live on Community Gaming's Twitch channel .The Top 8 portion of the tournament will be featured on Twitch's front page. This is the first time a blockchain game has received front page placement on the streaming giant's site.

"The Okcoin community has expressed tremendous excitement about Axie Infinity, and we're thrilled to sponsor the Fall Showcase hosted by Community Gaming," said Alex Chizhik, Head of Listings at Okcoin. "The metaverse is here and we are excited to continue bringing exciting, innovative, and first-to-list projects to our customers."

To celebrate a new milestone in blockchain gaming, Okcoin and Community Gaming will give away 1 AXS every 30 minutes during the tournament's stream. Additionally, Okcoin will offer $30 for users who trade in $10 in any coin within the event time frame*. This promotion underscores Okcoin's commitment to bolstering adoption of play-to-earn networks, having also been the first US-licensed exchange to list both AXS and Axie Infinity's Smooth Love Potion (SLP) token.

"We've been impressed with Community Gaming's connective platform and its embrace of Axie Infinity,"said Jeffrey Zirlin, Co-Founder of Sky Mavis. "As NFT gaming rapidly ascends into the mainstream gaming consciousness, we're excited to continue exploring and expanding its esports footprint with innovative partners like Community Gaming."

About Community Gaming

Community Gaming is the all-in-one platform offering esports infrastructure to all key stakeholders in the industry. Through its seamless UX and highly scalable blockchain payment technology, the platform equips players, organizers, and game developers with the tools they need to create, facilitate, and participate in esports tournaments. Connect with us at CommunityGaming.io .

About Okcoin

Established in 2013, Okcoin is a US-licensed cryptocurrency platform that makes crypto investing and trading easily accessible to anyone around the world. With a user base that has grown over 30x in the last year, Okcoin is one of the largest and fastest-growing crypto platforms with service in over 190 countries  more than any other US-based exchange. Okcoin was the first regulated platform to offer direct access into decentralized finance (DeFi) through Okcoin Earn, enabling users to easily stake their digital assets and earn crypto rewards in return. The platform has industry-low fees with a selection of over 40 cryptocurrencies. Headquartered in San Francisco, Okcoin has a remote, globally-distributed team with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Malta, and Miami. Follow Okcoin on Twitter at @Okcoin and visit okcoin.com for more information.

About Sky Mavis

Sky Mavis is a technology-focused game studio based in Singapore. It creates virtual worlds with player-owned economies, marketplaces for trustless trading of unique digital assets, and infrastructure that enables its products to reach millions of players worldwide. Sky Mavis' flagship product is Axie Infinity, the #1 game on Ethereum by daily, weekly, and monthly active players. By using blockchain technology and incentive design, Axie Infinity has transcended traditional games and evolved into a complex digital nation. Connect with Sky Mavis at skymavis.com .

SOURCE Community Gaming Inc

Related Links

https://communitygaming.io/


DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CONTI Capital, a real estate investment company with over $1.25B in transactions, has launched its fourth investment fund to raise $150 million for the acquisition of multifamily properties and the development of new vertical and horizontal rental housing.

CONTI's RE High-Growth Fund IV offers accredited investors, wealth managers, and institutions the opportunity to diversify capital across a mix of multifamily assets and geographic markets. The Fund will seek a target return of 10-14% ROI with a 35-year hold period and is structured as a private offering for accredited investors under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D.

"The flexibility and diversity of our High-Growth Fund IV takes advantage of a range of both established and new multifamily properties," says Carlos Vaz, founder and CEO of CONTI. "This approach allows us to adjust asset allocations as market conditions change, actively manage performance, and offer risk-adjusted returns for investors."

The Fund will target established multifamily assets deemed value add, core plus, and core properties and in new development for apartment complexes and communities comprised entirely of single-family homes built for rent. The geographic footprint is focused on the United States' 13 southern states known as the Sun Belt states.

CONTI continually monitors and analyzes the economic and demographic drivers affecting the multifamily industry. The real estate investment company produces The CONTI Report each quarter with economic, demographic, and industry insights impacting commercial real estate investing.

About CONTI Capital

Founded in 2008 and with over $1B in assets under management, CONTI provides capital solutions to acquire, manage, and sponsor real estate investments across the U.S. on behalf of individuals, wealth managers, and institutions. CONTI's mission is to create outstanding value for investors through active stewardship of their capital and with efforts that are backed by years of industry experience, strong company culture, and a relentless drive to perform. Learn more at www.conticapital.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause an investment's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially and adversely different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "targeted," "projected," "underwritten," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, guarantees of future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements cannot be made. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person or entity assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor any other person or entity is under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results. This overview is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interests in CONTI RE High-Growth Fund IV (the "Fund") or any other securities, which can only be made pursuant to the Fund's Private Placement Memorandum. Investment in the Fund is suitable only for sophisticated investors who fully understand, and are willing to assume, the risks involved in an investment in the Fund, including the risk of total loss of an investor's capital. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

EDITOR NOTE: The official, legal corporate name for the organization is rendered in all capital letters as CONTI Capital.

SOURCE CONTI Capital

Related Links

http://www.conticapital.com


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Category scope

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Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) held its annual new member certifying exam virtually for the second year in a row. The exam supports the board's core function of upholding high standards of patient safety in cosmetic surgery; as such, the board considers it a milestone to be able to now offer a secure online examination that has proved to be just as rigorous as the exams held in-person.

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) held its annual new member exam virtually in 2020 and 2021.

"We found the process of virtual testing to be so seamless last year, we knew that administering the exam in the virtual space was a clearly superior plan for this year, as well," stated Wilbur Hah, MD, ABCS President.

To meet the challenge of crafting this highly rigorous exam that produces a valid, clear evaluation of a surgeon's fitness for board certification, the ABCS worked with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), a leading expert in medical testing methods. The certifying exam for cosmetic surgeons consists of both a written and oral portion; the oral exam was given through secure video channels with board certified cosmetic surgeons who hold specific experience and expertise serving as examiners.

"We are grateful to our diplomate surgeons for their help in administering the oral portion of the exam, and to the NBOME for their fantastic work. Together, we have all worked to ensure the standards remain high, just as in years past," Dr. Hah said.

The importance of the cosmetic surgery specialty for patient safety

Underqualified doctors can legally offer cosmetic medical procedures without appropriate training or experience in the specialty. This is an especially dire problem for patients seeking highly sought-after cosmetic procedures, which attract unqualified providers wishing to profit on consumer interest in cosmetic surgery.

"Patient safety hinges on the availability of highly qualified surgeons," explained Dr. Hah. "The ABCS' educational and testing efforts all serve to make well-trained board certified cosmetic surgeons available to more patients, ensuring they can safely achieve the results they desire."

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, in partnership with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), offers continuing education and fellowship opportunities for surgeons to train in the specialty of cosmetic surgery, followed by the option of pursuing ABCS board certification via a rigorous exam process.

Surgeons looking to learn more about board certification may visit the ABCS' website for more information. Patients looking to find a board certified cosmetic surgeon may use the website's " Find a Surgeon " tool to locate qualified providers in their area.

About American Board of Cosmetic Surgery: The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) is the only board dedicated exclusively to excellence in cosmetic surgery. For over 40 years, the ABCS has demonstrated the highest standards of training, knowledge, and expertise in cosmetic surgery, in addition to promoting safe and ethical practice. You can find more information about the ABCS online at www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

About the NBOME: NBOME is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit assessment organization committed to protecting the public by providing the means to assess competencies for osteopathic medicine and related health care professions. NBOME's COMLEX-USA examination series is a requirement for graduation from colleges of osteopathic medicine and provides the pathway to licensure for osteopathic physicians in the United States and numerous international jurisdictions. You can find more information about NBOME online at: www.nbome.org .

Media Contact: Dr. Wilbur Hah, (425) 689-5665; Renee Cree, Director of Communications, NBOME, [email protected]

SOURCE American Board of Cosmetic Surgery

Related Links

http://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org


The launch of the prestigious AED 800 million development marks two significant firsts for both the companies: Dar Al Arkan's regional expansion with its first project in the UAE, and the Arab world's first ever bespoke Missoni-inspired living spaces designed by the fashion brand's MissoniHome.

Urban Oasis is situated in the heart of the city directly on the Dubai Water Canal in close proximity to Downtown Dubai's. The deluxe homes of Urban Oasis offer spectacular views of the Dubai Water Canal, making the tower a true urban oasis within the bustling city. Construction of the tower is underway and is set to be completed before end-2023.

Ziad El Chaar, Vice Chairman of Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, said: "The project's location is in one of the most sought-after in the city, and we're happy to have our first flagship development in the UAE. Working with Missoni is a clear indication of our continued dedication to providing our clients and investors with the highest standards of luxury living."

Livio Proli, CEO, Missoni, said: "We're delighted to be working with Dar Al Arkan on the Urban Oasis project, our first in the region, and are excited to be furnishing these incredible apartments with the finest fabrics and Miami inspired design, which will give the homes a unique and original finish."

The stunning Urban Oasis consists of 38 floors, two and three-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom penthouses with luxury interiors from MissoniHome.

The unique penthouse apartments, come fully fitted with high-end Missoni fixtures and decor elements. The immaculately designed apartments come in varying sizes and offer unique levels of five-star living, increadible water-front views and a closed kitchen.

Residents will also have access to luxury facilities and services such a swimming pool, a children's play area, car parking, an equipped gymnasium, and 24/7 conceirge and security service.

Expanding the Dar Al Arkan brand to international markets is a testament to the success of Saudi companies in delivering unique projects in new markets.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676625/Dar_Al_Arkan_Urban_Oasis_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676626/Dar_Al_Arkan_Urban_Oasis_2.jpg

Contact:

Nora Feidi

[email protected]

+971.4.450.7600

SOURCE Dar Al Arkan
MONTREAL, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- dcbel, a leader in residential solar and vehicle charging technology, is opening a new logistics and administration complex in the heart of Silicon Valley. As part of the company's sales and support rollout in northern California, the location was selected for its strong ecosystem of public- and private-sector companies intent on reimagining energy delivery. The company's r16 home energy station provides residential solar, electric vehicle charging, vehicle-to-home backup power and energy automation.

Having secured a $40 million funding round announced earlier this year, dcbel is on track to make its flagship r16 intelligent home energy station available for sale and installation in California, New York, and Texas later this year.

"The 10,000 sq. ft facility, close to San Francisco airport, is ideally situated to serve the wider Bay Area, an important hub and the first of many we are looking to establish over the coming months," said Bill Reynolds, the company's West Coast Operations Lead. The office will also serve as a showcase and training center for dcbel's expanding team and partner installation companies.

"As we turn our focus to sales and support enablement for our network of community installers, and energy stakeholders including CCAs, Utilities, Aggregators and Regulators, this key milestone brings dcbel closer to its goal of delivering energy that lets consumers live a life without compromise," noted Linda Farinaccio, Head of Market Channels & Partnerships at dcbel.

About dcbel

dcbel empowers homeowners to be self-reliant and sustainable. The dcbel r16 home energy station brings together solar energy conversion, electric vehicle charging, vehicle-to-home backup power and energy automation. Learn more at https://www.dcbel.energy/.

SOURCE dcbel

Related Links

https://www.dcbel.energy


PHOENIX, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What if man's best friend could introduce you to your romantic partner for life? Dogtopia, the nation's fastest-growing dog daycare, boarding and spa franchise, announced today its partnership with Dig, a dating app for people who like dogs or have one and are looking to meet someone with the same lifestyle and interests.

The partnership between Dogtopia and Dig allows users of the app to learn special tips and tricks from Dogtopia's subject matter experts, identify as a Dogtopia pet parent with a badge on their profile, and even locate the closest Dogtopia as a safe spot to meet for a first date. Additionally, Dogtopia pet parents will get an extended free trial of the Dig app, and Dig app users will get an exclusive Meet & Greet offer from Dogtopia.

"We are excited about this collaboration with Dig," said Toni Teplitsky, Director of Marketing for Dogtopia. "No longer do people seeking dates need to put 'must love dogs' in their profiles or worry about where to meet. This app is a great way to bring together dog lovers everywhere and forward Dogtopia's noble cause of enhancing the joy of dog parenthood."

As part of the partnership, Dogtopia will share Dig content, incorporate stories into newsletters, and showcase Dig on its Virtual Playroom website. In turn, the app will feature Dogtopia's name, logo and blog content within their app to encourage users and pet parents to check out their local Dogtopia daycare.

"Dig builds relationships so dogs and dog-lovers can live healthier, longer, and more joyous lives together with the humans who love them," said Leigh D'Angelo, CEO and Co-Founder of Dig. "We could not imagine a better partner than Dogtopia, who shares our vision of amplifying the joy and positivity dogs bring into all of our lives."

With more than 170 locations across North America, Dogtopia is the nation's fastest-growing brand in the pet industry. At Dogtopia, dogs enjoy an open-play environment with protective rubber flooring to ease joints while promoting safe socialization, exercise, and education. Dogtopia's webcams also provide pet parents with peace of mind and the ability to check in on their pups when they are away. Now with Dig, Dogtopia will also be promoting the socialization of the pet parents raising these furry friends.

About Dogtopia

Founded in 2002, Dogtopia is an early pioneer and innovator in the pet services industry, offering an experience focused on quality of care, safety and transparency in the market. With an emphasis on education, exercise and safe socialization for dogs, pet parents have the assurance of leaving their beloved furry family members in the hands of trained professionals in an environment created with the safety of dogs in mind. For more information, visit www.dogtopia.com .

About Dig

Founded in 2018, Dig is the first dating app dedicated to dog-lovers looking for love of the human kind. Dig daters can find and connect with each other through messaging and video chat directly on the app, get dog-friendly deals from local pet companies, stay up to date on dog-focused events, and learn tips and tricks from vets and trainers. Dig is available on the App Store and on Google Play. To learn more, visit DigDates.com

Media Contact: Haley Anderson, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300

SOURCE Dogtopia

Related Links

http://www.dogtopia.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles and revolutionize the rental car industry, a new company, Joulez, has launched an innovative EV rental car company.

Joulez is a New York-based web and mobile rental car platform built around the unique needs of EV renters that is seeking to transform the rental industry and create the groundwork for a comprehensive network built around supporting EVs.

Pictured is Joulez CEO Micah Bergdale picking up the first Tesla for his company's fleet. Bergdale, a former Apple engineer, is a long-time proponent and supporter of EV technology. So far, Joulez had raised $85K from its Start Engine campaign launch toward its initial $1.07 million raise, (https://www.startengine.com/joulez ), with common stock in the EV rental business currently being offered to investors at $1 per share with a minimum investment of $100.

The company is the brainchild of CEO Micah Bergdale, a former Apple engineer who was one of the first Mac Geniuses hired as part of Steve Jobs' launch of the Apple Retail initiative in 2001.

Bergdale is a long-time proponent and supporter of EV technology and his experience working at Apple, being an Apple fan, and subsequently, a Tesla and EV enthusiast played a huge part in his decision to start Joulez.

Joulez has an active, successful StartEngine campaign to help bring its services to market, (https://www.startengine.com/joulez ).

"The car rental industry still has yet to catch up with the growing demand for greener transportation," Bergdale said. "As it stands, EVs only make up about 2% of the cars in the rental industry. I am unaware of any company that is looking to start an exclusively EV rental company. The EV industry is primed for major growth, and Joulez is ready to deliver a car rental experience unlike any other."

The company's on-demand system will allow customers to book cars through its mobile app or website with support available through Zoom video conference and reservation management interface.

"We recognize that renting an EV may take some adjusting for those accustomed to gas cars, and therefore, we are committed to providing our customers with the most user-friendly experience possible," he said.

The top potential benefits for investors in Joulez include:

The rental car market is expected to reach $214 billion by 2027, and as Millennials and Gen Z become the largest consumer demographic in the U.S., the demand for green services such as EV rentals will only continue to grow.

by 2027, and as Millennials and Gen Z become the largest consumer demographic in the U.S., the demand for green services such as EV rentals will only continue to grow. The resale value of EVs has outperformed traditional gas-powered cars, and the company anticipates this trend to continue, providing steady financing to support expanded operations.

The founding team at Joulez previously launched Bytemark, the leading mobile software platform provider for mass transit, which is now owned by Siemens.

As they gear up for its official launch, the company currently has a beta test group of clients renting their Teslas, and they are working to design and develop the mobile app which customers will use to book their cars. Joulez will also offer rentals at competitive rates for the New York City market with prices ranging from $75-$200/day.

The majority of the funds raised from the first tranche of their CF campaign will go toward expanding the number of vehicles in the company's fleet.

ABOUT JOULEZ, INC.

Joulez is an electric vehicle (EV) rental company aimed at revolutionizing the rental car industry and laying the groundwork for an ecosystem built around supporting EVs.

Media Contact:

George Pappas

Conservaco/The Ignite Agency

562 857-5680

[email protected]

https://ignitecfp.com

SOURCE Joulez
ATLANTA, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax  (NYSE:EFX) is expanding its commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues and today announced that the company will make new quantitative ESG disclosures available annually on Equifax.com . These disclosures are being made in accordance with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) framework and include initial SASB-aligned reporting as well as public disclosure of the company's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO-1) report. Equifax also announced a commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a market leading sustainability commitment enabled by the company's Equifax Cloud transformation.

"We strive to empower economically healthy individuals and communities everywhere we do business and believe that a strong ESG strategy is imperative to creating a more inclusive global economy. Our ESG commitment is aligned with our purpose - to help people live their financial best," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "Continuing to drive greater diversity in our workforce and adhering to strong environmental sustainability practices is critical to building long-term innovation and value for consumers, our customers and our shareholders. With the expansion of our ESG disclosures, we are further committing to ongoing transparency and holding ourselves accountable to advancing our ESG priorities across our day-to-day operations."

Equifax recognizes that continued emission of greenhouse gasses can cause greater global warming that could lead to significant economic and social consequences. The company is announcing a commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. To support this commitment, Equifax is disclosing its greenhouse gas emissions baseline data and a framework for a decarbonization strategy to address its global operational footprint, including the company's supplier value chain.

As a technology company that does not manufacture physical products, Equifax's carbon emissions are primarily driven by the electricity used to power offices and data centers. The move to the Equifax Cloud is expected to propel the company on its journey to net-zero by significantly reducing the footprint of on-site technology and data centers and leveraging the enhanced energy efficiency of its cloud service providers.

"Equifax understands the power of data, analytics and technology in addressing the most pressing issues facing the world around us," noted Bryson Koehler, Chief Technology Officer at Equifax. "Our Equifax Cloud transformation furthers the company's sustainability goals, with migration of physical data centers to the cloud expected to significantly reduce our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. To help achieve this, Equifax makes a concerted effort to partner with cloud providers that have efficient, low-carbon strategies and share our goals of reducing emissions. Our Equifax Cloud transformation is a great example of the alignment between our business strategy and our ESG priorities."

Equifax has also aligned its Inclusion and Diversity strategy to its purpose of helping people live their financial best. The company is among the first in its industry to disclose an EEO-1 and SASB report on workforce demographics. These disclosures illustrate that in 2020, 31% of Equifax global senior leadership identified as female, and women comprised 45% of the Equifax global workforce. During the same time period, 42% of Equifax U.S. employees identified with diverse racial and ethnic groups; a 2% increase over the previous year.

"We are strongly committed to nurturing a culture where diverse talent thrives," commented Carla Chaney, Chief Human Resources Officer at Equifax. "We are dedicated to building a highly collaborative, innovative environment where our global teams deliver for our customers every day. Inclusion and Diversity is a key element of an energizing workplace where top performers of all backgrounds contribute at their highest level. We are proud of what we have accomplished, know that we still have more to do, and are committed to ongoing transparency along our journey."

Disclosure of the company's EEO-1 report and net-zero greenhouse gas emission commitment follow the release of the 2020 Equifax Security Annual Report and are underscored by ongoing investments from the Equifax Foundation to our local communities. Over the last decade, the Equifax Foundation has invested more than $25 million into Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and fintechs to support greater access to credit, credit-building, access to capital, and wealth-building efforts. In 2020, the Equifax Foundation gave over $2.7 million in direct grants and matching gifts to organizations our employees passionately support.

Equifax believes that credit building can be a tool for tackling income inequality and decreasing the racial wealth gap. The company's solutions address complex social challenges, helping to accelerate access to credit and drive financial inclusion around the world. For more information on the difference we make and our commitment to ESG practices, please visit: Equifax.com .

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 12,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kate Walker for Equifax

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

http://www.equifax.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading advisory firm RCLCO Real Estate Consulting announced today that Eric Willett has joined the team as Managing Director within the company's management consulting practice. In his new role, based out of Los Angeles, California, Willett will work with commercial real estate's most dynamic companies to craft and execute enterprise strategy, portfolio transformation, and corporate growth initiatives.

"We're very excited to have Eric on the RCLCO team. His hire reflects the growing need for strategic support at the enterprise-level as real estate companies navigate an extraordinary period of transition," said Adam Ducker, CEO of RCLCO. "Eric shares our vision of providing analytical guidance that looks around the corner, and he brings a thorough understanding of organizational strategy to our rapidly expanding management consulting services."

Willett will co-host RCLCO's upcoming installment of the firm's Monthly Round-Up Webinar series on November 11, 2021, discussing how he and Managing Director Charlie Hewlett integrate "big stories" (market-wide macro-trends) and "small stories" (company-specific nuances and competitive advantages) into innovative portfolio and organizational enterprise strategies.

For more than fifty years, RCLCO's Management Consulting team has supported leading players in the real estate industry in the development of forward-looking strategy. The practice area has deep expertise in the intersection of portfolio, capital, organization, and operations, and has implemented strategies with companies of all sizes and product types.

Willett joins RCLCO from CBRE where he was Director of Research and Thought Leadership. There, he led a team of research professionals in the delivery of rigorous insights spanning all major property sectors. An RCLCO alumnus, Willett previously worked at the firm leading strategy engagements and directing proprietary research on industry best practices. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and is regularly cited as a commercial real estate expert by national and regional media including The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, among others. Willett graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

About RCLCO

Since 1967, RCLCO has been the "first call" for real estate developers, investors, public institutions and non-real estate companies seeking strategic and tactical advice regarding property investment, planning, and development. With the insights and experience gained over 50 years and thousands of projects  touching over $5B of real estate activity each year  RCLCO brings success to all product types across the United States and around the world. RCLCO leverages quantitative analytics platforms and a strategic planning framework to provide end-to-end business planning and implementation solutions at an entity, portfolio, or project level. RCLCO is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, and has offices in Los Angeles, CA, Orlando, FL, and Austin, TX. Learn more at www.rclco.com

SOURCE RCLCO

Related Links

https://www.rclco.com/


NEW DELHI, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe Biosimilars Market, Dosage, Price, Sales and Clinical Trials Insight 2026 Report highlights:

Europe Biosimilars Market Opportunity: > USD 10 Billion

Dosage and Pricing insight On Approved Biosimilars

Biosimilars for Cancers Accounts for > 20% Market

Biosimilars for Diabetes Accounts for > 5% Market

Biosimilars Approval and Commercialization by Country

Insight On Biosimilar Clinical Trials By Company, Indication and Phase: > 100 Biosimilars

Insight On Commercially available Biosimilars in Market: > 25 Biosimilars

Biosimilar Market Trends by Country

Download Report:

https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-europe-european-biosimilar-biosimilars-medicine-market-sales-size-omnitrope-ema-eu-guidelines-insulin-clinical-trials-approval-process-guidelines

In past few years, biosimilar drugs have gained immense popularity in Europe due to their impact on lives of many patients. Biosimilars or follow on biologics is a biotherapeutic product which is highly similar to reference biologic drug. When the patent of the biologic drug expires, manufacturers resort to the approval from regulatory authorities so as to initiate the production of biosimilars. The biosimilar developed should be similar to reference products in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy. As their development involves less clinical trials and research activities, they are priced 15%-30% lower than original drugs, thus increasing patient base.

As of now, European Union has approved around 70 biosimilars amid which 54 are available in the market. The biosimilar approved so far have been indicated for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, blood disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiencies and cancer. Since their approval, the Europe Biosimilar market is continuously growing which is mainly attributed to their lower price along with favorable reimbursement policies. Several pharmaceutical companies in Europe including Teva Pharmaceutical, Celltrion, Pfizer, Merck and others have invested a large amount in driving the Europe biosimilar market.

Furthermore, the Europe biosimilar market will be driven by short marketing time as launching a biosimilar does not involve extensive marketing as security and efficacy of their branded drugs have already been established in the market. Apart from this, the Europe biosimilar market will also gain momentum with the increasing support from the government and the development of less stringent regulatory guidelines. It has been analyzed that Europe dominated the global biosimilar market in 2020 and is expected to do so during the forecast period. The Europe being the economically stable nation, presence of large pharmaceutical companies and increasing number of product approvals are contributing in growth of Europe biosimilar market.

Although there are several favorable factors which boost the growth of market, but a few factors including complicated manufacturing, immunogenicity, stringent regulatory guidelines are restraining the growth of Europe biosimilar market. Apart from this, the lack of education regarding the safety and efficacy of biosimilars among patients, physicians and pharmacists is one of the major challenges for the growth of biosimilars in European market. To overcome this, increasing initiatives have been done by European government to promote the use of biosimilar by developing favorable reimbursement policies or incentives for the patients.

The Europe biosimilar market was valued at around US$ XX Billion in 2020 and is expected to follow trajectory growth rates to reach around US$ XX Billion by 2026. The rising geriatric population in Europe which is at higher risk of developing chronic diseases will possess high medical need for the development of cost effective therapy, thus driving the growth of biosimilars in the region. In coming years, patents of several blockbuster drugs including Yervoy, Pembrolizumab, Cimzia and others will expire which will open opportunities for the development of biosimilars. Moreover, UK is expected to dominate the Europe biosimilar market owing to presence of large pharmaceutical sector, favorable government policies and increasing.

Contact:

Neeraj Chawla

Research Head

[email protected]

+91-9810410366

SOURCE Kuick Research
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has made available 1,000+ company profiles for the oil and gas extraction category on its B2B platform. Companies listed in this category are primarily engaged in oil and gas drilling, extraction, and related activities (such as offshore oil rig operations and subsea drilling).

Get Free Access to These 1,000+ Profiles

Snapshot of BizVibe's oil and gas extraction company profiles and categories.

Each profile is free to view and packed with high-quality insights, providing businesses with detailed company information. Users can take advantage of these insights to identify, target, and connect with the right oil and gas extraction companies. This company information includes employee insights, company competitors, the impact of emerging trends and challenges, the latest news, and more.

Free Insights Included for all Oil and Gas Extraction Company Profiles:

List of product and service category offerings and primary operating industries

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List of key clients

Top trends and challenges within operating industry and expected influence on business impact

Latest company news with the ability to sign up for timely news alerts

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Oil and Gas Extraction Companies on BizVibe

BizVibe's platform contains 30M+ company profiles, spanning across 200+ countries, categorized into 40,000+ products and services. There are 1,000+ company profiles related to oil and gas extraction on BizVibe, covering 5+ related categories. Each company profile contains detailed insights dedicated to helping procurement and sales teams find trusted suppliers and target sales prospects.

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About BizVibe

BizVibe has been conceptualized and built by a team based out of Toronto, Bangalore, and London. We are a branch of Infiniti Research and have dedicated units in all three locations. BizVibe helps buyers find the most relevant suppliers from around the world and help sellers target prospects who need their products and/or services. For more information, please visit www.bizvibe.com and start for free today.

Contact

BizVibe

Jesse Maida

Email: [email protected]

+1 855-897-5880

Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/

SOURCE BizVibe
WAYNE, Pa., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolve IP, a leading international service provider of Work Anywhere solutions, today announced that it has partnered with Dubber, the world's leading provider of cloud-based conversational recording and AI. The powerful combination of Dubber and Evolve IP enables enterprises to analyze data points across conversations, capture critical attributes of calls, videos, and messages, and improve customer and employee interactionsall in a simplified, automated, and compliant manner.

The Dubber platform will enable a unified recording and analytics solution across Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and Evolve IP enterprise voice services. Many existing Evolve IP customers with Call Recording solutions will be upgraded to Dubber early next year.

"The average business is using 3.5 different collaboration solutions and most expect users to continue to work away from the office the majority of the time. Gaining insights into critical work conversations occurring out of the office on a variety of platforms is becoming vital for businesses as we adjust to a 'Work Anywhere' future," said Scott Kinka, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of Evolve IP. "By 2025 Gartner estimates 75% of all calls will be recorded. By natively integrating Dubber's solution into Evolve IP's critical infrastructure, we can extend call recording to every endpoint, unlocking the possibility of AI on every phone and meeting the demand for unified conversational recording."

Steve McGovern, CEO of Dubber, said "Evolve IP is an obvious partner for us as their pace of innovation will support our continued growth as we look to meet the growing demand for natively integrated voice solutions that support a remote workforce. We are looking forward to collaborating with such an ambitious partner that has such a strong reputation and footprint in their markets."

Provisioned with a click, Dubber's Unified Conversational Recording platform enables voice data to be generated from every conversation and delivered to Dubber's infinitely scalable Voice Intelligence Cloud where AI creates insights, intelligence, beautiful transcriptions and more. From a phone or the web, users will be able to securely:

Record  As needed and automatically capture conversations without costly hardware or storage.

 As needed and automatically capture conversations without costly hardware or storage. Replay  Compliantly store and control replay of recordings without limits. View transcriptions. Search conversations in seconds.

 Compliantly store and control replay of recordings without limits. View transcriptions. Search conversations in seconds. Reveal  AI-powered analysis reveals critical insights to businesses. From sentiment analytics, keyword trends, to notifications and more. All from one platform that connects to company data, applications, and dashboards.



By adding the reliability of Dubber's unified conversational recording and voice AI to Evolve IP's enterprise voice solutions, customers who are already fully invested in the world's leading UC solutions can take advantage of immediately accessible and infinitely scalable conversational recording and intelligence:

Cloud & Native  Dubber is natively integrated, simplifying deployment with total compliance and security.

 Dubber is natively integrated, simplifying deployment with total compliance and security. Individual & Confidential Call Recording  Designed for individuals, replaying any conversation, video, or chat is a click away.

 Designed for individuals, replaying any conversation, video, or chat is a click away. Unified Recording  Unified call recordings, video, and data with AI-enriched transcriptions, alerts, elastic search, and more.

 Unified call recordings, video, and data with AI-enriched transcriptions, alerts, elastic search, and more. Integrated and Integrateable  Dubber API connects voice data to critical applications - like Salesforce, big data sets, and dashboards.

To learn more about Evolve IP's enterprise voice solutions or any of our other Work Anywhere solutions, contact Evolve IP today.

Why Clients Choose Evolve IP

Evolve IP enables employees to Work Anywhere productively and securely. Our enterprise solutions seamlessly integrate collaboration & communications, digital workspaces, and contact center  all delivered from a browser on any connected device. Evolve IP's technologies free IT to focus on business innovation, not systems and infrastructure, and enable their employees to contribute even more to the enterprise  no matter where or when they are working. Businesses that choose Evolve IP have selected a true technology partner. A company that becomes an expert extension of their IT team, an organization that listens to their needs to tailor solutions just for their business and is responsive and engaged in every interaction.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12891919



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Evolve IP
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationally known trial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, along with his partner James Harrington announced today a record settlement of $17,500,000.00 with the State of Ohio, in a prisoner abuse case. This civil rights suit was filed as a result of the torture and crippling of Seth Fletcher by prison guards at the Chilicothe Correctional Institution. The guards handcuffed Mr. Fletcher behind his back, and then broke his spine by throwing him to the ground. After rendering him a quadriplegic, the guards water boarded him as he begged for water, and then they deprived him of medical treatment. Later, the guards taunted him and bragged on social media about what they had done.

Fieger stated:

"The torture and crippling of a prisoner in America sounds medieval. Yet it happened, here, in America, in 2020. As horrific as this case is, I want to thank the Ohio Attorney General's office and Governor Dewine for accepting responsibility in this most horrific of cases. This abuse should never happen again."

SOURCE Fieger Law
DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Corners Aviation has launched an industry disruptive product, branded as Freedom by Four Corners Aviation. The concept enables customers to have all the benefits of their own scalable aviation department  with a customized and fully integrated lift solution, including aircraft, crew, operations, and supplemental lift, but without the hassles of ownership such as administration, accounting, and uncertainties.



Freedom by Four Corners Aviation is a modern way for clients to enjoy the multiple benefits of private jet travel, without worrying about ownership, financing, operations, insurance, crew management, maintenance, or any of the aggravations associated with private jet travel.



This radical and sweeping approach to business jet access protects and preserves shareholder and client capital. For more information on Freedom by Four Corners Aviation go to: https://link.caltech.com/u/b6417823/-s6Q8T447BG2_SzohnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffourcornersaviation.com%2F.



Freedom by Four Corners Aviation ushers in an entirely new business segment to the business aviation community, called Corporate Jet as a Service (CJaaS). What Netjets is to fractional ownership, Freedom by Four Corners Aviation will be to CJaaS.



Well-Designed and Financially Strong

"Corporate Jet as a Service is an innovative arrangement that optimizes several advantages for our clients: fixed pricing, customized delivery, and no balance sheet treatment," said Brian Proctor, CEO of the Aquila Aviation Ventures, which includes Four Corners Aviation and the Mente Group. "CJaaS is a well-designed and financially strong solution for both corporate and private flying, which allows customers to focus on their core competencies while we perform ours," he added.



"Over decades as aviation asset advisors to top tier organizations, all of them love what the airplane can do for them  for their productivity, for their bottom line, and for their lives," Proctor said. "None of them really want to own and operate an airplane, however, they were willing to put up with the uncertainties to get what they wanted. With Freedom by Four Corners Aviation, they get everything they want without the hassle."



"The need for owning, maintaining, and operating your very own private aircraft is now gone. We do it all for you, simplifying the entire experience," said Cameron Gowans, President and COO of Four Corners Aviation. "Four Corners Aviation offers an ultimate platinum level service tier tailored to senior individual level travel, an exclusive gold tier executive transportation program, a silver tier guaranteed aircraft supplemental solution, and bronze tier ad hoc flight answer."



Clients can pick and choose their level of service as their flying needs dictate. And Four Corners Aviation also takes care of making sure customers fly in supreme safety by employing the most rigorous and stringent safety programs in the industry.



Through a revolutionary and flexible business model, Four Corners Aviation has modernized access to corporate air travel. CJaaS can manage all flight operations so clients can focus on delivering increased value for their investors.



Four Corners Aviation, a portfolio company of Aquila Aviation Ventures, applies the financial prowess of City+Ventures and Mente Group's business jet expertise to offer the innovative CJaaS program. Through detailed client understanding, industry expertise, and the pursuit of simplification, Freedom by Four Corners Aviation delivers streamlined aviation experiences that are flexible, creative, responsive, and nimble.



The Next Major Development in Jet Travel

Freedom by Four Corners Aviation is the next breakthrough development in private aircraft transportation. It is the latest in a long string of historical advances in the business jet travel:



Introduction of the Learjet, the first purpose-built business jet in 1960s,

The first aircraft management company in the 1970s,

The first fractional aircraft program in the 1980s,

The first jet card in 2001,

Now, there is Freedom by Four Corners Aviation.

Four Corners Aviation is a dynamic, multi-faceted company that thinks, sees, and moves beyond the ordinary to achieve extraordinary results. The Four Corners value proposition is straightforward yet powerful. Through client understanding, industry expertise, and the pursuit of simplification, CJaaS delivers streamlined aviation experiences that reduce risk while protecting capital.



About Four Corners Aviation

Four Corners Aviation offers the most comprehensive suite of solutions in business aviation today. Four Corners will offer fresh products and services to support business aviation users such as Corporate Jet as a Service, Aircraft Management, and Jet Card Solutions. Four Corners' assets include an aircraft management and charter company headquartered at Stewart International Airport in New York, and a fleet of Cessna Citation, Embraer Phenom, Bombardier Challenger, and Gulfstream business jets. The business is an ARGUS Platinum Rated Charter Operator, which supports a diverse fleet based throughout the United States and operating around the world.



About Aquila Aviation Ventures LLC

Aquila Aviation Ventures is an investment company formed to serve unmet industry needs and leverage resources across entities to scale for future growth. The company identifies and invests in high-growth firms within the business aviation sector. The company holds Four Corners Aviation and Mente Group. Aquila recently invested in Mente Group, which has permitted it to recapitalize in order to expand its platform and fund high quality products.



About City+Ventures

City+Ventures is a premier development and investment company focused on building companies and communities. With Omaha roots, but regional and national assets, City+Ventures owns and operates a wide array of businesses, including automotive dealerships; carwashes; a private jet management and charter company; real estate management; and construction-related businesses, in addition to holding a real estate portfolio. In August 2020, City+Ventures' proven track record of reinvention and financial success earned it the No. 71 spot on the Inc. 5000 Company list. For more information, visit https://link.caltech.com/u/d24d4ae3/1EuY8T447BGdmCzohnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcity-ventures.com%2F.

Four Corners Aviation (@FC_Aviation) / Twitter

Four Corners Aviation (@four_corners_aviation) Instagram photos and videos

Four Corners Aviation - Home | Facebook

Four Corners Aviation: About | LinkedIn

Contact: Jim Gregory, James Gregory Consultancy llc, 316 558 8578

SOURCE Four Corners Aviation
The 11th Circuit recently affirmed a district court's decision to grant summary judgment in favor of the government in a FBAR civil penalty collection case. Rum, who appealed the district court decision, made several arguments, but chief among them was that the district court applied the wrong standard of willfulness with regard to 31 U.S.C.  5321(a)(5). This section of the U.S. code refers to assessing civil penalties to taxpaying businesses in the United States that are found to have willfully failed to correctly file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).

At the trial level, both Rum and the government moved for their own respective summary judgements. The district court initially referred the case to a magistrate judge. The magistrate judge recommended that the district court grant the government's motion and deny Rum's motion. The magistrate judge advised that Rum's argument about the legal definition of willfulness does not include the concept of recklessness was invalid and recommended that the maximum penalty be imposed.

Rum argued on appeal that the district court and magistrate judge erred when they determined that reckless conduct was enough to satisfy the "willful" element of the statute. Rum argued that the proper standard should be "violation of a known legal duty," mirroring the standard used in cases under the Bank Secrecy Act. Rum also appealed on several other grounds which the Circuit Court found irrelevant and dispatched quickly.

The 11th Circuit in its opinion cited precedent which dealt with violations from other legislation packages such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which contained civil and criminal penalties where willfulness was a standard. The preceding case law held on the key issue that recklessness in civil liability was generally understood to be violative of an objective standard and therefore could rightfully be used to impute willfulness in civil cases.

What Does This Mean?

The 11th Circuit Court's decision means that the government can cast a wider net in assessing willful FBAR penalties. The governments burden to prove the critical elements of the willful FBAR penalty is substantially lower because of this ruling.

This is an important tool in the pocket of the government. Due to the nature of the elements of most FBAR violations, the IRS has often struggled to prove their case against violators. Penalties for more serious violations such as FBAR civil fraud are much more difficult to prove, and the inclusion of recklessness in the willful FBAR penalty standard gives prosecutors a wider safety net to catch violators where the proof available does not necessarily amount to a finding of intentional fraud.

While the ruling does not affect the difficulty of proving civil fraud or criminal violations in FBAR cases, it does make exposure for mistakes on FBAR filings both more likely and more substantial.

Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed domestic or foreign tax and information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on domestic or offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply.

It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution.

Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure.

As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!

Difference Between Willful and Non-Willful Penalties

Even if there is no obvious willfulness element in a taxpayer's failure to file an FBAR, the IRS can still impose willful FBAR penalties. However, the distinction between willfulness and recklessness is relevant because of the penalty guidelines of the FBAR penalty statutes. Since 2004, the maximum penalty for a non-willful violation is $10,000. In comparison, the maximum penalty for a willful violation is the greater of either $100,000 or 50% of the balance in the account at the time of violation. For Mr. Rum, the practical difference between a finding of willfulness and a finding of non-willful amounted to over $90,000.

Call Us Today

If you are faced with FBAR civil charges, or want to avoid them entirely, you should call the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing today. Our experienced dually licensed California Tax Attorneys and CPAs can provide the guidance you need to avoid stepping into costly IRS mousetraps.

It can be difficult to stay on top of the rapidly changing U.S. tax law landscape. Understanding the myriad of international tax and information reporting statutes and how penalties are assessed in FBAR civil violations can be incredibly challenging. The dually licensed international Tax Attorneys and CPAs at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing have decades of combined experience navigating the web of IRS rules and regulations. If you are the subject of an IRS action, call the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing at (800) 681-1295 or schedule online here.

See the full version of this article here:

Public Contact: Dave Klasing Esq. M.S.-Tax CPA, [email protected]

SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC

Related Links

klasing-associates.com


Market Dynamics

Factors such as government initiatives to increase agriculture production will offer immense growth. Also, the rise in veganism will be crucial. However, the increased chances of food contamination will restrict the market growth.

Company Profiles

The fruit and vegetable market in us report provides complete insights on key vendors including Chiquita Brands International Sarl, Dole Food Co. Inc., Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., General Mills Inc., Nestle SA, Salix Fruits, San Rafael Industries, Sunkist Growers Inc., Sysco Corp., and Tanimura and Antle Fresh Foods Inc.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive scenario provided in the fruit and vegetable market in the US report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.

Market Segmentation

By Product, the market is classified as non-organic fruits and vegetables and organic fruits and vegetables.

By Distribution Channel is classified as offline and online.

Revenue Generating Segment

The fruit and vegetable market share growth in the US by the non-organic fruits and vegetables segment has been significant. This report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the fruit and vegetable market size in US.

Related Reports -

Durian Fruit Market - The durian fruit market has the potential to grow by USD 8.58 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.47%. Download a free sample report now!

Fruit and Vegetable Mixed Juices Market -The fruit and vegetable mixed juices market has the potential to grow by $ 12.08 bn during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4%. Download a free sample report now!

Fruit And Vegetable Market In US Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.08% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 42.61 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.94 Regional analysis US Performing market contribution US at 100% Key consumer countries US and ROW Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Chiquita Brands International Sarl, Dole Food Co. Inc., Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., General Mills Inc., Nestle SA, Salix Fruits, San Rafael Industries, Sunkist Growers Inc., Sysco Corp., and Tanimura and Antle Fresh Foods Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

Related Links

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WESTPORT, Conn., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Full Sail IP Partners, an acquiror of leading brands, has acquired the Weatherbeater brand from Transform SR Brands LLC ("Transformco").

For more than 50 years, people trusted Weatherbeater paint and stain to protect their largest investment, their homes. At its height, Weatherbeater offered more than 1,200 colors for use on front doors, siding, trim and shutters. Weatherbeater paints included innovations such as one coat coverage, mildew & chalk resistance and superior durability that resisted peeling, cracking and fading, earning the brand a strong following of loyalists.

"We're thrilled to acquire Weatherbeater, with its long history of innovation, high levels of brand awareness and reputation for great products. We look forward to providing a broad range of products to improve the look and lengthen the life of homes from coast to coast and in all climates," said Alan Kravetz, Full Sail's CEO.

The acquisition of Weatherbeater marks the second acquisition for Full Sail, following the company's first acquisition of the Odwalla brand from the Coca-Cola Company, announced in September 2021.

Transformco has a large portfolio of brands that it intends to activate through product development, licensing and, where applicable, through outright sale. The company's brand portfolio includes Kenmore and DieHard (as a licensee), as well as house brands within the appliance, tool, grill, floor care, apparel, footwear and home categories.

About Full Sail IP Partners

Full Sail acquires brands and creates new opportunities for growth and expanded relevance through a transformational brand licensing business model. Backed by Warburg Pincus, a leading global growth investor, and powered by LMCA, one of the innovators of corporate brand extension licensing, Full Sail is focused on building a portfolio unmatched in the industry. For more information, please visit www.FullSailIP.com.

About Transformco

Transformco is a privately held company with five core businesses: A real estate portfolio of 59.8 million square feet; Sears Home Services, the nation's largest appliance repair provider; the Shop Your Way loyalty and credit card program; Sears and Kmart full-line stores, specialty stores and online operations; and Transformco Brands.

Contact

Christine Petta

Full Sail IP Partners

[email protected]

Larry Costello

PR Director  Transformco

[email protected]

SOURCE Full Sail IP Partners

Related Links

https://www.FullSailIP.com


BOSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

CLIENT

Stonewall Kitchen LLC ("Stonewall Kitchen" or the "Company") manufactures and markets branded specialty food and home goods products. The York, Maine-based Company's portfolio consists of the flagship Stonewall Kitchen brand; Tillen Farms pickled vegetables and cocktail cherries; Napa Valley Naturals oils and vinegars; Montebello organic pasta; Urban Accents spice mixes, seasonings, and sauces; Vermont Coffee Company organic coffee; and Village Candle fragranced candles, gifts and accessories. The Company has more than 8,500 wholesale accounts nationwide and internationally, a thriving catalog and online direct-to-consumer business, and eleven company stores throughout New England including the flagship campus featuring a store, cafe and cooking school in York.

SITUATION

Premier specialty foods and home goods producer Stonewall Kitchen, joined forces with financial partner, Audax Private Equity ("Audax") in 2019. Since being founded in 1991, Stonewall Kitchen grew from working in local farmers markets to an expansive national network of wholesale, retail, and E-commerce channels. Following the partnership with Audax, Stonewall Kitchen sought to expand their Family of Brands through a targeted M&A strategy focused on high quality, best-in-class companies within tangential product categories.

ENGAGEMENT

G2 Capital Advisors, LLC ("G2") served as the exclusive financial advisor to Stonewall Kitchen leading a high-touch buy-side effort focused on identifying and engaging with companies that have a strong market presence and quality products within the specialty foods and home goods markets. This segment of the market is a focus area for G2 through its Consumer Retail practice.

OUTCOME

G2's mandate with Stonewall Kitchen led to the acquisition of Michel Design Works, which added an enhanced product offering, additional sales channels, and strong operational talent. Together, Stonewall Kitchen and Michel Design Works will leverage a larger national footprint and product expertise to continue to deliver the highest quality of goods to their customers.

John Stiker, CEO of Stonewall Kitchen, commented "We are thrilled to welcome Michel Design Works to our growing family of specialty brands. Quality and creativity are at the forefront of everything they do, and their extensive product offering within the home goods space perfectly complements our brands and core values. They are a tremendous addition to the curated collection of brands that we're bringing together for our customers and guests. It is not always easy to find businesses that complement each other like Michel Design Works and Stonewall Kitchen, but the team at G2 did a great job identifying this opportunity and supporting our team through the process."

"The combination of Stonewall Kitchen and Michel Design Works is a great outcome for all parties involved. Given Stonewall Kitchen's focus on engaging with companies who are best-in-class, Michel Design Works proved to be a natural fit. They are known in the market for their long tradition of excellence just like Stonewall Kitchen and we look forward to watching these companies flourish as a result of their new partnership." said Andrew Keleher, Vice President at G2 Capital Advisors.

About G2 Capital Advisors

G2 Capital Advisors provides M&A, capital markets and restructuring advisory services to the middle market. We offer integrated, multi-product and sector-focused services by pairing highly experienced C-level executives with specialist investment bankers. We aspire to be the trusted advisor of choice to our clients including corporations and institutional investors.

About Stonewall Kitchen:

Stonewall Kitchen is a leading specialty food and home goods producer headquartered in York, Maine. Founded in 1991 by partners Jonathan King and Jim Stott, the two established the Stonewall Kitchen brand by selling jams and jellies at local farmers' markets with a flavorful line of distinctive and high quality products. Over time, they expanded the brand to include sauces, condiments, crackers and baking mixes, always focusing on innovative product development, beautiful packaging, and exceptional guest service. Today, Stonewall Kitchen is the premier specialty food and home goods platform in North America, home to a family of premium quality brands including the flagship Stonewall Kitchen brand; the Vermont Coffee Company brand of high quality, non-GMO, certified organic coffee; the Urban Accents brand of globally-inspired spice mixes, seasonings, and sauces; the Village Candle brand of fragranced candles, gifts and accessories; the Tillen Farms brand of pickled vegetables and cocktail cherries; the Napa Valley Naturals brand of olive oils, culinary oils, balsamic vinegars and wine vinegars; the Montebello brand of artisan organic pasta imported from Italy; the Vermont Village brand of organic apple sauce and apple cider vinegars; and the Legal Sea Foods brand of restaurant-quality seafood sauces and condiments. The company boasts more than 8,500 wholesale accounts nationwide and internationally; a thriving catalog and online division; a cooking school and cafe in York, Maine; and eleven retail Company Stores throughout New England. As winners of many prestigious awards from the Specialty Food Association and the recipient of the coveted Outstanding Product Line Honors, Stonewall Kitchen is proud to be one of the most awarded specialty food companies in the country.

About Michel Design Works

Michel Design Works is a comprehensive gift, home and lifestyle brand bringing beautiful, high quality and affordable items for every room in the house. Over its 35+ year history, Michel Design Works has crafted a brand celebrating beauty and fragrances of the natural world. Today, the Company is well-known for its cohesive collection of fragrant consumable items offered in vibrant, intricately designed packaging. The high quality of its products, which marry exceptional tactile feel, scent and proprietary imagery with attractive price points, makes Michel Design Works an accessible luxury for personal usewhile beautiful packaging guarantees the perfect gift for any occasion. MDW's core product portfolio consists of Bath & Body soaps and lotions; Kitchen & Decor aprons, trays, and kitchen towels; Home Fragrance candles and sprays; and Coordinated Tabletop napkins and serveware.

About Audax Private Equity

Audax Group is a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised over $27 billion in capital across its Private Equity and Private Debt businesses. Audax Private Equity has invested over $7 billion in more than 140 platforms and over 1,000 add-on companies, and is currently investing out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund. Through its disciplined Buy & Build approach, Audax Private Equity seeks to help platform companies execute add-on acquisitions that fuel revenue growth, optimize operations, and significantly increase equity value. With more than 300 employees, Audax is a leading capital partner for North American middle market companies. For more information, visit the Audax Private Equity website: http://www.audaxprivateequity.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

CONTACTS ON THIS DEAL:

Patricia M. Reinhardt, Managing Director: T: 508.287.7065 E: [email protected]

Peter Reed, Director: T: 617.918.7972 E: [email protected]

Andrew Keleher, Vice President: T: 860.748.6480 E: [email protected]

Matt Ball, Senior Associate: T: 617.918.7933: [email protected]

Aaron Levy, Senior Analyst: T: 857.250.2767 E: [email protected]

HEAD OF CONSUMER & RETAIL:

Brian Cohen, Managing Director, Head of Consumer & Retail: T: 914.980.6384 E: [email protected]

MEDIA RELATIONS:

Jennifer Johnson, Vice President, Marketing T: 978.204.8050 E: [email protected]

SOURCE G2 Capital Advisors

Related Links

http://www.g2cap.com


ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global generic injectables market is expected to expand on the back of many factors, including the product approvals by government authorities. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) recently announced the approval of foremost generic of glucagon for injection USP, which can used in the treatment of critical hypoglycemia. This drug can be utilized as a diagnostic support in the radiologic examination of many body parts such as duodenum, stomach, colon, and small bowel in instances when weakened intestinal motility might be advantageous.

The analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) note that the global generic injectables market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period, 2021-2031. Several market players such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited are increasing focus on providing superior quality generic and branded injectables at reasonable prices.

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Generally, syringes are considered one of most critical containers when it comes to performing their inspection process. Thus, specific handling protocols are required for these products than the regular primary packaging types. Considering this fact, major companies in the global generic injectables market are growing the incorporation of advanced inspection systems, which allow for prevention of glass-to-glass contact and careful handling of syringes. These efforts are helping market enterprises to deal with the issues of breakage or cracks.

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Generic Injectables Market: Key Findings

Companies Focus on Development of Complex Injectable Products

Major players operating in the global generic injectables market are expanding their product portfolio. For instance, Biological E Limited has diversified its product range in 20 regular as well as complex injectable products. Moreover, several enterprises are concentrating on their expansion in regulated as well as newer markets.

Market Leaders Educate Enterprises on Handling Drug Containment and Delivery

In recent years, there is a surge in the demand for specialty generic injectables that are packaged in glass vials. Several enterprises in the global generic injectables market are conducting webinars to increase awareness among new market entrants about the need for simplicity and flexibility at the time of performing drug containment and delivery procedures.

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Generic Injectables Market: Growth Boosters

Rise in elderly patient pool, increase in prevalence of numerous health conditions, including diabetes, cardiac, and cancer, and surge in the use of generic injectables around the globe are some of the crucial factors driving the sales opportunities in the global generic injectables market

Government authorities as well as the BFSI sector from several countries around the world are offering various programs and financial schemes for companies in the generic injectables market. These financial aids are helping market enterprises in streamlining their business activities according to the volatile market situations.

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Generic Injectables Market: Competition Landscape

Enterprises are seen strategizing their moves to be prepared for future market needs. Companies are ensuring that they have sturdy supply chains in order to avoid and deal with the vulnerabilities that may occur due to potential COVID-19-like scenarios. Moreover, several market players such as Zydus Cadila are making generic version of Remdesivir, named Remdac, available at cheaper prices.

Major players in the global generic injectables market are diverting their cash in-flow toward research activities, which are focused on the development and commercialization of highly advanced drug delivery systems

Generic Injectables Market: Key Players

The report profiles some of the key players in the generic injectables market. This list includes following names:

Baxter International, Inc.

AstraZeneca

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

Biocon

Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc

GlaxoSmithKline plc

Lupin Ltd.

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Mylan N.V.

Merck KGaA

Pfizer, Inc.

Novartis AG (Sandoz International GmbH)

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Piramal Pharma Solutions

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Generic Injectables Market Segmentation

Product Type

Large Molecule Injectables

Small Molecule Injectables

Application

Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Cardiology

Diabetes

Immunology

Others

Container Type

Vials

Premix

Prefilled Syringes

Ampoules

Others

Route of Administration

Intravenous

Intramuscular

Subcutaneous

Others

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Modernization of healthcare in terms of both infrastructure and services have pushed the healthcare industry to new heights, Stay Updated with Latest Healthcare Industry Research Reports by Transparency Market Research:

Drug Delivery Systems Market: The global drug delivery systems market was valued approximately US$ 510 Bn in 2016 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of over 6.9% from 2017 to 2025 to reach approximately US$ 900 Bn by 2025. Increase in demand for self-administration and home health care devices are likely to fuel expansion of the global drug delivery systems market from 2017 to 2025.

Lyophilized Injectable Market: Manufacturers in the lyophilized injectable market are increasing efforts to reduce breakage rates and heat-transfer capability in vials. They are conducting several lyo-breakage tests using worst-case injectable formulations and cycle designed to break vials. Companies are producing flat base vials with squared-off shoulder and heel vials to yield better performance in lyophilization applications.

Sterile Injectable Drugs Market: The global sterile injectable drugs market is prophesied to achieve growth on the back of short timelines for approval of new drugs to be used in the treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. is observed to approve sterile injectable drugs at a faster rate.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
ROSEVILLE, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced today the launch of its second territory in Georgia with the opening of a new location in North Fulton. Located at 903 Macy Drive, Always Best Care of Roswell is owned and operated by franchisee and Peach State native Kathryn Godwin. The new business will provide award-winning senior care services to the suburbs of the Atlanta area, including Dunwoody, Alpharetta and Milton, among others.

"We are delighted to see our services expanding in the greater Atlanta market, which in turn will lead to more quality care for the growing senior population. We are equally pleased to welcome Kathy, who brings years of financial and business savvy to the brand," said Jake Brown, President & CEO of Always Best Care. "As we continue to expand our footprint across the country, we look forward to welcoming those with similar strong business backgrounds to the team."

Godwin opens Always Best Care of Roswell following a career as a senior finance professional with expertise in finance, operations and people management. Born and raised in Atlanta, she graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in management and earned a master's in finance from Georgia State University. Godwin has spent the greater part of her life preparing for an exciting career of entrepreneurship. Enthusiastically taking on this new endeavor, she also welcomes her mother, Sylvia Godwin, to the business as a care coordinator responsible for providing quality home care. Godwin is also a member of the Alzheimer's Association, where she plans to continue to build on her connections to make a difference in the lives of seniors.

"I am thrilled to be opening my Always Best Care business in Roswell, a community I have been a part of for more than 22 years. I look forward to providing care to the elderly population and pairing them with caregivers who provide high-quality assistance and support," said Godwin. "By taking control of my own destiny and receiving franchise support from Always Best Care, I am prepared and excited to grow the business through both clients and caregivers, aiming to hire more than 100+ professionals within my first year."

Always Best Care is one of the nation's leading providers of non-medical in-home care and assisted living referral services. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada.

By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and assisted living finder and referral services, with skilled home health care in some limited markets.

For additional information on services available through Always Best Care of Roswell, or for a free evaluation, please call (404) 822-0934, email [email protected] or visit alwaysbestcareroswell.com.

About Always Best Care

Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care assists seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs, and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company's clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas.

Always Best Care also offers an exclusive program called Always in Touch, a telephone reassurance program that provides a daily phone call to seniors and disabled adults who are living alone and have limited contact with the outside world. Always in Touch is a national telephone reassurance program offered in the USA and Canada. For more information on Always in Touch, or to request an application, visit www.Always-In-Touch.com .

CONTACT:

Paige Alonso

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Always Best Care

Related Links

http://www.alwaysbestcare.com


"We're thrilled to debut one of our most spirited campaign films yet," said Martin de Dreuille, Vice President Global Marketing of GREY GOOSE  vodka. "The vodka martini is one of the most iconic cocktails in the world, beloved because it's both simple and versatile. While there are myriad ways to craft the cocktail, the type of vodka used can make or break the experience. Vive Le Martini! is not only an ode to the worldwide ubiquity of this cocktail, but also a celebration of the natural, quality ingredients that elevate a GREY GOOSE martini above the rest. We invite consumers to take in the joie de vivre of this film and rediscover the inimitably smooth and exuberant GREY GOOSE martini along with it."

Vive Le Martini! was brought to life by GREY GOOSE creative agency MullenLowe LA and directed by famed choreographer Ryan Heffington, known for his award-winning dances for music videos such as Sia's "Chandelier," as well as collaborating with Spike Jonze on commercials for Kenzo and Apple. Heffington created a series of uniquely fluid movements to embody GREY GOOSE vodka's signature silky texture and the sensorial feeling of creating a martini.

The campaign is launching in the midst of a global martini resurgence. One in 4 cocktails is now served in a martini glass in on-premise accounts across the US, with GREY GOOSE remaining the #1 vodka recommended by bartenders as the base ingredient for a vodka martini. The cocktail is also trending online, with "martini cocktail recipes" averaging over 60,000 organic Google searches per month and the use of the martini glass emoji spiking on Instagram this past September (up more than 250% from August alone).

Vive Le Martini! can now be seen in 30 and 15-second versions across a variety of platforms, including TV, online video, and on the brand's social channels. To complement the film and build on the cocktail's social momentum, GREY GOOSE will also be launching a multi-phased influencer campaign, engaging with talent around the world to share a wide variety of martini recipes throughout the holiday season.

Furthermore, for consumers stirred to make their own martini cocktails over the holidays, the brand is launching an all-new cocktail kit in partnership with renowned Italian design factory Alessi this month. Featuring a 750ml bottle of GREY GOOSE vodka alongside a custom Boston shaker, cocktail measure, bar strainer, and stirrer, the design for each item was inspired by the lunar universe crafted in stainless steel, with refined, shiny finishes that give off a unique silvery glare. The GREY GOOSE x Alessi cocktail kit wil be available in the US for $350.00 USD and can be purchased at DrinkGreyGoose.com, or via ReserveBar.

For more information on Vive Le Martini! campaign or the GREY GOOSE x Alessi Cocktail Kit, please contact [email protected].

Full film creative credits available upon request.

About GREY GOOSE  Vodka

Made without compromise, GREY GOOSE is made with the highest-quality ingredients and has a 100% traceable production process, from crop to cork. Every aspect of the creation of GREY GOOSE is focused on crafting vodka of unmatched quality. Each bottle of GREY GOOSE is distilled and bottled in France, with a recipe and process that remains unchanged since inception, using just two ingredients  single origin Picardie wheat and spring water from our natural limestone well in Gensac-la-Pallue. A one distillation process brings out the true essence of these ingredients.

The expertise of the GREY GOOSE Cellar Master, Francois Thibault, ensures an unparalleled smoothness and exceptional taste. The GREY GOOSE portfolio is comprised of GREY GOOSE Vodka, GREY GOOSE La Poire, GREY GOOSE L'Orange and GREY GOOSE Le Citron Flavored Vodkas.

www.greygoose.com

The GREY GOOSE vodka brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

SIP RESPONSIBLY

SOURCE GREY GOOSE
MATTHEWS, N.C., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Harris Teeter today announced President Rod Antolock's retirement after nearly 22 years of service to the organization, commencing February 1, 2022. He will be succeeded by Tammy DeBoer, currently Harris Teeter's senior vice president of merchandising, operations, and marketing.

"Rod's leadership has been instrumental to the growth and success of Harris Teeter for more than two decades. His commitment to customer service and quality will continue to guide Harris Teeter into the future," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO.

Antolock joined Harris Teeter in 2000, and he has served in numerous executive positions, including senior vice president of operations and senior vice president of operations and merchandising. Antolock was promoted to executive vice president in 2012, where he led several teams, including merchandising, operations, marketing, human resources, loss prevention, store development, quality assurance and distribution, and manufacturing. He was named president of Harris Teeter in 2015. Prior to joining Harris Teeter, Antolock served in various leadership roles for the Albertsons Companies between 1978 and 2000.

During his time with Harris Teeter, Antolock led the development of the company's "Service Excellence" customer engagement model and introduced new ways of operating, including a new urban upscale model, expanded store format and a model store walk concept. Under his leadership, Harris Teeter also expanded into multiple new geographies, including Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware.

In his retirement, Antolock and his wife look forward to traveling and spending time at their lake house.

Tammy DeBoer Promoted to President of Harris Teeter

DeBoer, currently senior vice president of merchandising, operations, and marketing for Harris Teeter, has been promoted to president of the company, succeeding Antolock.

DeBoer has more than 25 years of retail experience. She joined Harris Teeter in 2020, leading operations, merchandising, and marketing and overseeing the company's 258 stores across seven states and Washington, D.C. Previously, DeBoer served as an executive with Family Dollar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dollar Tree, Inc., where she most recently served as the organization's executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Prior to joining Family Dollar, she spent 19 years with Delhaize where she held various leadership roles in merchandising and operations and led the company through acquisitions and introduction of pilot stores.

"Tammy is a seasoned veteran of the retail industry. Her broad and deep experience, including brand transformation, merchandising, operations, and more, make her a true asset to Harris Teeter and the leading choice to assume the role of president," said Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger's senior vice president of operations.

DeBoer has been recognized several times as "One of the Most Influential Women in Mass Market Retail" by MMR and by Supermarket News as one of five top "Executives to Watch." Progressive Grocer named her a "Top Female Executive in the Supermarket Industry," the Griffin Report listed her as a "Top Female Executive in the Grocery Industry," and the Mecklenburg Times recognized her as one of the "50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte."

DeBoer holds a bachelor's degree in Technology from Appalachian State University and completed the Supermarket Business Executive course with Cornell University.

To download Antolock and DeBoer's headshots, visit here.

About Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). The regional grocery chain employs approximately 35,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or "the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) reports that at the Court hearing on October 28, 2021, the High Court of Namibia ordered the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia ("Ministry") to complete its filing of the documents supporting the decision of the Minister to refuse the Haib Copper licence renewal before November 11, 2021. The Ministry proceeded with a first filing on October 21, 2021 but it was not complete and did not include any documents directly related to the decision of the Minister to deny the renewal of the Haib Copper licence.

The Court will hold another hearing on November 11, 2021, to define the further procedures with regards to the review of the decision of the Minister.

The Company will provide regular updates in this regard and any other matter concerning this situation.

As disclosed in our press release dated June 16, 2021, the Company had received notice from the Ministry informing the Company that its application for the renewal of its EPL had been denied citing the Company's inability to advance the EPL to Pre-Feasibility and complete the proposed drilling program as planned. The Company maintains that the Ministry was kept well apprised, with no objection on their part, of a proposed change from the Pre-Feasibility study to an upgraded Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and commencement of a full feasibility study. The latter was already started at the time of the refusal. Moreover, the Ministry issued all permits required for the drilling program and are well aware that Deep-South has completed the drilling program.

As a result of the Minister's refusal to renew the Licence, the Company terminated all work on site and proceeded with the retrenchment of its employees on site.

The Company is vigorously contesting the decision by all means necessary and available under the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act (the "Act") and other applicable laws of Namibia. In its application for renewal and subsequent representations made to the Ministry, the Company maintains that it clearly demonstrated having met all criteria under the Act to justify the renewal of its Licence.

About Deep-South Resources Inc

Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company Deep-South growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper project, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Minister's refusal to renew the Company's Licence, the Company's intention to contest the Minister's decision before the Courts of Namibia and the outcome of such proceedings.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Deep-South, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Namibia; the failure of the Namibian Government to comply with its continuing obligations under the Act to allow for the renewal of the Licence; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis for its quarter ended ended February 28, 2021 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Deep-South, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

Suite 888, 700 West Georgia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7Y 1G5

Tel: +1-819-340-0140. E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: http://www.deepsouthresources.com

SOURCE Deep-South Resources Inc.
President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia, which is holding the G20 Presidency in 2022, commented: "Indonesia is proud to endorse the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The initiative brings together the critical stakeholders that must align and co-create a sustainable path for our nations and for our grandchildren. It is our task to restore the triple happiness envisaged by the Balinese Tri Hita Karana three balances  people with people, people with nature, and people with spiritual harmony."

While energy-poor countries are currently responsible for 25% of global CO2 emissions, their share of global emissions could grow to 75% by 2050, according to analysis published today by the Alliance. Yet these countries currently only receive 13% of clean energy financing, despite representing nearly half of the world's population. There are also 243 GW of coal plants being planned, permitted, or under construction in developing countries. If constructed, they would emit 38 billion tons of CO2 over the coming decades, which is nearly the same as total global emissions in 2020. To change this trajectory and maximize its impact on jobs and livelihoods, the Alliance announced they are providing more than USD10 billion to focus on fossil fuel transitioning, grid-based renewables, and distributed renewables. Alliance partners include:

Anchor philanthropic organizations: The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund;

The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund; Investment partners : African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, UK's CDC Group, US International Development Finance Corporation, and World Bank;

: African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, UK's CDC Group, US International Development Finance Corporation, and World Bank; Country partners: Co-Hosts of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) Italy and the UK, and Denmark .

"The world is undergoing an economic upheaval, in which the poorest are falling farther behind and being battered by climate change's effects. Green energy transitions with renewable electrification are the only way to restart economic progress for all while at the same time stopping the climate crisis," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "Providing people with an on-ramp to the modern economy while making real, measurable progress against the existential threat of climate change, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is one of the boldest, most transformative initiatives in our history."

Changing Energy for Good

Over the last decade, significant breakthroughs in technology have made renewables the cheapest option for new power in more than two-thirds of the world. For the first time in history, the technology exists to reliably and affordably empower those who lack access to electricity. This in turn boosts human development by creating jobs at a massive scale and advances gender equity through increased accessibility, all the while cutting emissions to avert the climate crisis.

"By replacing diesel generators and coal-fired power plants with renewable alternatives we can reduce carbon emissions quickly. The alliance will work closely with emerging and developing countries who are keen to embrace an inclusive and just energy transition, to bring carbon emissions down and incomes up," said Per Heggenes, CEO of the IKEA Foundation. "We're proud continue to bring together governments, philanthropies, development finance institutions, and the private sector to join us in our collective ambition."

Through the Global Call for Transformational Country Partnerships, the Alliance is focused on meeting growing demand for power with renewables in place of coal and extending productive-use power to communities that either lack access to electricity or have unreliable access. Before the Alliance's launch, partner members have established relationships in several countries, providing an opportunity to fast-track efforts to pilot breakthrough business models. By working with governments to design and implement their de-carbonization plans and enhance their domestic policy, planning, and regulatory frameworks, the Alliance will help create more favorable investment environments and enable the end-to-end delivery of national transformational programs.

This includes the identification, development, execution, monitoring, and scaling of programs, which will unlock greater levels of investment in clean power sector assets, accelerate equitable energy transitions, and achieve near-term carbon reductions. The Alliance will also de-risk expensive early stages of project development by helping countries test strategies and innovative technologies that may have a higher initial risk profile, and then scale solutions that work.

Partnering for Impact

Earlier this year, IKEA Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation joined forces to commit a combined USD1 billion to fight climate change and energy poverty. With the addition of Bezos Earth Fund, the catalytic grant capital provided by these anchor partners will unlock billions of dollars in investment capital from multilateral and development finance institutions. The Alliance will use its collective efforts for collaborative action and provide grant funding, technical assistance, and a range of financing options.

"The climate and energy access crises underscore the need for a better way. We must urgently transform our energy system. By bringing the leading technical providers and financing agents together, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is well placed to become the most significant initiative to extend clean, reliable energy to those who don't have it, while eliminating carbon pollution. In turn, it will create millions of jobs, benefit health, and provide essential development and climate gains," said Andrew Steer, CEO of Bezos Earth Fund.

In order to increase investment and impact in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the Alliance is actively recruiting a diverse set of new partners. RF Catalytic Capital, Inc. (RFCC), the public charity that The Rockefeller Foundation launched in 2020 to enable like-minded funders to pool resources and bring about transformational change, will facilitate the Alliance's multi-partner investment.

The Alliance will also fund and coordinate with "delivery partners" that will provide significant policy, technical, and project development capacity. In addition to identifying local partners in each market, delivery partners include COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC), Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Solar Alliance, Odyssey, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), and the U.S. Government's Power Africa program.

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative to the UN Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All commented: "For 759 million people without electricity, and 2.6 billion people without access to clean cooking solutions, energy poverty is a daily reality that impacts every aspect of their lives. With less than nine years to achieve SDG7, the launch of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet could not come at a better time. As a partner, we at Sustainable Energy for All recognize the catalytic role that galvanizing partners and resources can play towards unlocking a just, equitable, and prosperous future for all."

The Alliance also launched a global mobilization campaign with non-governmental organizations and youth activists to advocate for the long-term changes needed to "Change Energy for Good," asking people to use #LetsChangeEnergy and add the reason why they want energy changed.

For more information and to access the Global Call for Partnerships, please visit www.globalenergyalliance.org.

Statements of Support from World Leaders :

"Homo Sapiens are facing the greatest challenge ever: to change its development model in the attempt to deliver a livable future to the next generations. By no means this can be done if we continue to treat separately climate change and global inequalities. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is a world class initiative, joining public and private efforts to help one billion people to improve their life standard meanwhile all together reducing the global CO2 emission by 4 billion tons. This is a great promise to our children, and a strong commitment by states, investors, and philanthropic institutions to act synergistically. I believe the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet will become the engine of a profound change."  Roberto Cingolani , Minister for Ecological Transition for the Republic of Italy

"Every nation and institution around the world must do more to alter the course of climate change. Denmark looks forward to partner with this new green initiative the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. It will accelerate climate transitions in developing and emerging economies that will reduce global emissions and spread green energy to millions of citizens across the globe."  Danish Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities Dan Jrgensen

looks forward to partner with this new green initiative the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. It will accelerate climate transitions in developing and emerging economies that will reduce global emissions and spread green energy to millions of citizens across the globe."  "I am delighted that the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is launching at COP26 , including a new partnership with the Energy Transition Council as part of the Breakthrough Agenda. By bringing philanthropy, government, investors, and civil society together, the Alliance embodies how international cooperation can drive ambitious climate action and share the benefits of clean growth for all. In this decisive decade, the partnership between the Alliance and the Energy Transition Council will support developing countries and emerging economies transition away from coal power and rapidly scale up clean, affordable and reliable energy that will power new jobs, resilient economic growth and close energy access gaps."  Alok Sharma , UK's President for COP 26 and Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy

, including a new partnership with the Energy Transition Council as part of the Breakthrough Agenda. By bringing philanthropy, government, investors, and civil society together, the Alliance embodies how international cooperation can drive ambitious climate action and share the benefits of clean growth for all. In this decisive decade, the partnership between the Alliance and the Energy Transition Council will support developing countries and emerging economies transition away from coal power and rapidly scale up clean, affordable and reliable energy that will power new jobs, resilient economic growth and close energy access gaps." "To confront the climate crisis head-on, countries need to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible. This will not only prepare them for the future, but also make them healthier places to live right now, and help grow their economies. This is especially true of developing countries that have been reliant on fossil fuels, and it's why the Global Energy Alliance People and Planet initiative's goal of reaching one billion people with clean energy is so critical. It will help to make progress where it's needed most." Michael R. Bloomberg , UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition Solutions; Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P.

About Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet :

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched on November 2, 2021 at COP26 with USD10 billion of committed capital to accelerate investment in green energy transitions and renewable energy solutions in developing and emerging economies. This historic partnership leverages catalytic grant funding to unlock investment capital with the aim of mobilizing USD100 billion in public and private capital in order to reach one billion people with reliable, renewable power, avoid and avert four billion tons of carbon emissions, and create, enable, or support more than 150 million jobs and drive economic growth over the next decade. The Alliance serves as a platform for collaborative action and provides grant funding, technical assistance, and a range of financing options. For more information and to access the Global Call for Transformative Country Partnerships, please visit www.globalenergyalliance.org.

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation
DUBLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "India Air Purifier Market, FY2017-FY2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Indian Air Purifier Market stood at over USD85.08 million in FY2021 and is projected to cross over USD569.07 million by FY2027F, on account of rising pollution levels and outdoor air pollution across the country.

The air purifier can refresh stale air, lowering the risk of health problems caused by indoor pollutants, which can trigger respiratory infections and aggravate asthma symptoms. A high-quality air purifier removes various types of indoor air pollutants. Air purifier companies are working on cost-effective technologies to make air purifiers affordable.

For instance, in November 2020, Honeywell introduced Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaners with UV Systems which remove impurities from the air and provide filtration and disinfection without a significant pressure drop. New indoor air quality sensors detect even the smallest particles, volatile compounds and other key metrics.

Nowadays, a basic air purifier that simply cleans the air with the touch of a few buttons is coming packed with features such as real-time and wifi-enabled control systems. Rapid urbanization, rising health concerns, increasing consumer spending on lifestyle products, and depleting air quality across the country are the major factors driving the market for air purifiers in India during the forecast period.

Companies in India are spending a lot of money on promotional activities like advertising, cashbacks, and discounts to attract potential customers in the residential sector. With rising pollution levels, rising incidences of respiratory diseases, and lack of proper ventilation systems, the majority of the companies have increased their spending to raise consumer awareness in order to increase the demand for air purifiers in the residential sector.

Owing to rising air pollution, approximately 2 crore people in India are suffering from breathing diseases. One of the most effective ways to reduce the cause of asthma attacks is to use an air purifier to keep the air clean and free of pollutants and dust. Toxins found in indoor air can be easily removed by using an effective air purifier, contributing to the increased sales of air purifiers across the country.

The Indian Air Purifier Market is divided into the following segments such as filter type, coverage area, end-user, distribution channel, region, leading cities and company. In terms of filter type, the Indian Air Purifier Market is divided into HEPA + Activated Carbon, Prefilter + HEPA + Activated Carbon, Prefilter + HEPA, HEPA and Others. Among them, HEPA + Activated Carbon has dominated the Indian Air Purifier Market with a market share of more than 48% in FY2021.

This is because they are used to remove dust as well as particulate matter, while activated carbon removes foul odor. Activated carbon and HEPA filters can trap 99.97% of small particles sized 0.3 microns and larger particles as well, especially spores. As a result, these two technologies complement each other, and provide highly efficient air purification and odor removal as compared to single technology-based air purifiers.

Based on coverage area, the Indian Air Purifier Market is segmented into ? 300 sq. ft, 301-600 sq. ft, 601-900 sq. ft and >900 sq. ft. Among which, 301-600 sq. ft is dominating the Indian Air Purifier Market due to increasing use in commercial sectors such as hospitals, malls, office buildings, hotels and restaurants.

Based on end-use segment, the Indian Air Purifier Market is segmented into Residential, Commercial and Institutional. Among which, the commercial segment accounted for the majority of share in the Indian Air Purifier Market due to large amount of people working under one roof, where they breathe the same air which makes air purification at commercial units a must.

Some of the major players operating in the Indian Air Purifier Market are

Philips India Limited

Eureka Forbes Limited

Sharp Business System India Pvt. Ltd.

Panasonic India Pvt. Ltd.

Secure Connections Pvt. Ltd. (Honeywell Connections)

Daikin Airconditioning India Pvt. Ltd.

Kent RO Systems Ltd.

Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited

Crusaders Technologies India Private Limited

Dyson Technology India Pvt Ltd

Report Scope:

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: FY2017-FY2020

Base Year: FY2021

Estimated Year: FY2022E

Forecast Period: FY2023F-FY2027F

India Air Purifier Market, By Filter Type:

HEPA + Activated Carbon

Pre-Filter + HEPA + Activated Carbon

Pre-Filter + HEPA

HEPA

Others (Ion Ozone, Electrostatic Precipitator, Photo-Catalytic technology, etc.)

India Air Purifier Market, By Coverage Area:

? 300 sq. ft

301-600 sq. ft

601-900 sq. ft

>900 sq. ft

India Air Purifier Market, By End-Use:

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

India Air Purifier Market, By Distribution Channel:

Direct Sales

Multi-Branded Electronics Store

Online

Supermarket/Hypermarket

Others (Exclusive Stores, Distributor Sales, etc.)

India Air Purifier Market, By Region:

North

West

South

East

India Air Purifier Market, By Leading Cities:

Delhi NCR

Mumbai

Bengaluru

Rest of India

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cytsh1

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Company celebrates major milestone in its 12-year history of funding small business growth in North America

ATLANTA, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - IOU FINANCIAL INC. ("IOU" or "the Company") (TSXV: IOU), a leading online lender to small businesses (IOUFinancial.com), announced today that it has surpassed US$1B in total loan originations.

"This is a major milestone for all IOU team members, partners and stakeholders," said Robert Gloer, President and CEO. "In 12 years, the company has grown but our values have not changed: now more than ever we are committed to exceeding the expectations of our broker partners and the small business owners across North America who rely on our funding solutions to drive their growth plans."

In addition, IOU announced today that its loan originations for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 surpassed all previous records. The company originated over US$52 million in small business loans in Q3, a new high-water mark in the 12-year history of the company, representing a sequential growth of 51.5% vs. Q2 2021, and 183.1% over Q3 2020.

"We are thrilled to surpass pre-pandemic loan origination numbers and start setting new all-time records for IOU Financial," said Robert Gloer, President and CEO. "We remain cautiously optimistic that the economic recovery will continue despite the lingering potential macroeconomic and public health risks."

IOU Financial originated its first loan in December 2009 and quickly positioned itself as a trusted alternative to banks by helping small business owners get fast and easy access to funding visa its proprietary IOU360 technology platform. The Company continued funding small businesses throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and has subsequently introduced the industry-first IOU Financial Cash Back Loan and announced an-all-time record in monthly loan originations.

"We faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with the same entrepreneurial spirit that drove us to launch IOU Financial on the heels of the 2008 financial crisis  and both experiences have reinforced the importance of helping small businesses adapt to new challenges and grow," added Gloer. "Here's to the next 12 years of small business growth!"

The Company is due to share its Q3 Financial Results in the coming weeks.

About IOU Financial Inc.

IOU Financial Inc. is a wholesale lender that provides quick and easy access to growth capital to small businesses through a network of preferred brokers across the US and Canada. Built on its proprietary IOU360 technology platform that connects underwriters, merchants and brokers in real time, IOU Financial has become a trusted alternative to banks by originating over US$984 million as of September 30, 2021 in loans to fund small business growth since 2009. IOU trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol IOU (TSXV: IOU), and on the US OTC markets as IOUFF. To learn more about IOU Financial's corporate history, financial products, or to join our broker network please visit www.IOUFinancial.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of IOU including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory and shareholder approvals, the execution of definitive documentation and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. IOU does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE IOU Financial Inc.

Related Links

https://ioufinancial.com/


EXTON, Pa., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iPipeline, a leading provider of no code / low code content-based digital solutions for the life insurance and financial services industry, today announced participation with Life Happens in its Life Lessons Scholarship Program for students ranging from 17-24 years of age. Life Happens is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping consumers take personal financial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products.

As part of the annual program, financial aid is given to students who have lost a parent without life insurance. The scholarships are part of September's Life Insurance Awareness Month, designed to help educate individuals on the importance and benefits of owning life insurance.

"The loss of a parent can be devastating for a young person, so we were excited to join forces with Life Happens and provide 6 students with college scholarships from the Greater Philadelphia Region during September's Life Insurance Awareness Month. Scholarships cannot bring back loved ones, but we hope they will provide some much-needed financial relief," said Larry Berran, CEO, iPipeline. "Life insurance plays a vital role in ensuring young individuals have the necessary coverage in place to support their futures. iPipeline's purpose is to help our customers protect more families. Our focus is on making it easier and faster for families to select and purchase insurance. Streamlining the buying process will contribute to reducing the number of uninsured individuals and ultimately better protect their loved ones."

"Life Happens' mission as a nonprofit is to educate and provide unbiased information to guide smart insurance choices to protect loved ones. We have several programs and educational campaigns that help build awareness of the importance of life insurance. Our September Life Insurance Awareness Month is one key campaign, and we were pleased to have iPipeline join the ranks of our many corporate partners," said Faisa Stafford, President and CEO, Life Happens. "Time and time again I have personally seen the positive impact we can have on students who have experienced emotional hardship and financial devastation in the wake of a death or disability of a breadwinner. With the generous assistance of companies like iPipeline we are building awareness of the importance of having life insurance while financially assisting young individuals to continue the pursuit of their dreams."

To learn more how iPipeline is making life insurance easier to purchase and working to protect the financial futures of families on a global basis, contact [email protected], or call 1-800-758-0824, option 2.

About Life Happens

Life Happens is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers take personal financial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products. The organization does not endorse any product, company or insurance advisor. Since its inception in 1994, Life Happens has provided the highest quality, independent and objective information for people seeking help with their insurance buying decisions. To learn more, visit www.lifehappens.org.

About iPipeline

iPipeline is a leading provider of no code / low code, content-based digital solutions for the life insurance and financial services industry. Through our SSG Digital, end-to-end platform, we accelerate and simplify sales, compliance, operations, and support. We provide process automation and seamless integration between every participant in our ecosystem including carriers, agents, general agencies, advisors, broker-dealers, RIAs, banks, securities/mutual fund firms, and their consumers on a global basis. Our innovative solutions include pre-sales support, new business and underwriting, policy administration, point-of-sale execution of applications, post-sale support, data analysis, reporting, user-driven configuration, consumer delivery and self-service, and agency and firm management.

iPipeline's platform is used by approximately 450 carriers and fund companies, 1,400 distributors and financial institutions, and their agents and licensed advisors in a cloud-based environment. With headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, iPipeline has locations in Boston, Bromley (UK), Burlington (Canada), Cheltenham (UK), Dallas, Davidson, Fort Lauderdale, Huntersville, Ontario (CA), Philadelphia, Pleasanton, and Salt Lake City. Visit www.ipipeline.com.

Media Contact:

Dana Taormina

JConnelly for iPipeline

973-647-4626

[email protected]

SOURCE iPipeline

Related Links

https://www.ipipeline.com


As part of the company's forthcoming 2022-2024 corporate strategy, this strategic emphasis will serve as the focal point for its go-to-market solutions within the framework of energy transition, decarbonization, adaptation and mitigation, and natural resource stewardship. Additionally, the company is coupling climate response with Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), which is taking on heightened significance, both within Jacobs and externally as companies around the globe rise to the climate challenge and address urgent social issues.

"This enhancement to our existing delivery model and organizational structure is designed to expand Jacobs' ability to respond with sustainable and resilient solutions that create value for our clients, employees, communities and investors," said Jacobs President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Pragada. "As our business shifts, so do our sustainability ambitions  like integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into our operations and every client solution we deliver."

Jacobs looked to its own talent force in appointing SVP of Global Climate Response and ESG Jan Walstrom to lead the office and interface with the investor community to showcase Jacobs global capabilities and technology-enabled expertise in developing sustainable and resilient solutions for a net zero economy. Walstrom has previously held progressive leadership roles in the global environment, sustainability and technology markets for more than 25 years and her experience encompasses work with governments and industry-leading multinational corporations throughout the world.

Jacobs' VP and Head of Global Sustainability, Zoe Haseman  who leads the company's Sustainability Center of Excellence with responsibility for developing and driving Jacobs' PlanBeyond 2.0 and Climate Action Plan  joins Walstrom in the new office. She will focus on educating internal and external stakeholders on global trends, opportunities and market initiatives to help inform Jacobs' strategies and actions in delivering on ambitious sustainability commitments, creating social value for communities, and leading on new sustainable innovations and tools to differentiate Jacobs in the marketplace.

Climate response is a critical agenda item for business and government leaders globally. As a purpose-led company, Jacobs will channel its expansive capabilities in resilient infrastructure, clean water, green energy and social value toward benefitting people and the planet. This move amplifies Jacobs' commitment to climate response and ESG and provides the foundation for working with its global client base in co-creating solutions for a more connected, sustainable world.

About Jan Walstrom

Walstrom's career at Jacobs spans almost 30 years, serving as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Solutions for People & Places Solutions for the past two years and the Global Environmental Market Director for the past four. As Head of Sustainability & Environment, Walstrom led the framework for the delivery of iconic projects such as the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games and East London Olympic Park, all world-leading examples of transformation and social infrastructure project development for the future. She is a member of the Association for Project Management & Project Management Institute and a University of Tulsa (OK), Department of Biological Sciences Alumni Board member. Walstrom graduated with honors from the University of Tulsa with a bachelor's degree in organismic biology.

About Zoe Haseman

During her 10 years with Jacobs, Haseman has led sustainability advisory on major client projects in the U.S. and the U.K., heading up Jacobs' Global Sustainability Center of Excellence as VP & Global Head of Sustainability since 2019. With over 20 years of sustainability experience across multiple sectors, she sits on the World Environment Center Global Board, is a Trustee on the Board for Engineers without Borders U.K. and is a member of the World Economic Forum's Alliance for CEO Climate Leaders Senior Advisory Group and the U.K. Business in the Community's (BiTC) Net Zero Task Force. Haseman holds a Bachelor of Science (honors) degree in environmental science from University of Manchester, U.K.

About Jacobs

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence and spread of variants of COVID-19, and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2020, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2021, and in particular the discussions contained under Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433

SOURCE Jacobs

Related Links

http://www.jacobs.com


The Jeep brand is launching its first ever Jeep Graphic Studio. Centered around consumer and market demands, the Jeep brand has created the exclusive program to deliver graphics requested by its customers, allowing for greater personalization and customization of Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The graphics are the first to be offered directly from the Jeep brand, with each custom print measured to ensure the proper fit and finish. Also for the first time ever, the Jeep brand will offer texture graphics to showcase things such as topographic lines in ways that have never been seen before.

"Our customers have asked for a way to deliver custom graphics for their Jeep 4x4, providing the highest quality, with features the industry has never seen before," said Jim Morrison, vice president, Jeep Brand North America. "We know that Wrangler and Gladiator are two of the most customized vehicle platforms of all-time and now our customers have another way to make their Jeep vehicle their own."

Jeep Graphic Studio items start at $40 and range up to $165. Offerings include 3D-printed shifter inserts, hood graphics and fender inserts. All graphics are made using the highest quality material with longevity in mind. Unlike other graphics for sale for customer personalization, Jeep Graphic Studio products come with a 5- or 7-year guarantee (depending on pieces) against UV damage and graphic peel. With every order, customers will receive installation tools and videos to showcase how to install the graphics properly at home.

Enthusiasts can visit JeepGraphicStudio.com for more information.

Jeep Brand

Built on 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand with capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence. Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that is available to the entire Jeep 4x4 lineup, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver Jeep 4x4 owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left- and right-hand drive configurations. Jeep is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Jeep and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Jeep brand: www.jeep.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep

YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Linx, the only locally-focused, global private aviation company providing aircraft management, joint ownership and Jet Card membership services through its 20 locations nationwide, was selected as the first operator to receive ARGUS's new Platinum Elite safety ranking, the aviation industry's first continuous monitoring evaluation system. As the worldwide leader in specialized aviation services that allow organizations around the globe to improve their operational and business decision making, ARGUS's new Platinum Elite rating introduces new level of dedication to ensuring world-class safety standards are met and provides the flying public increased visibility into the safety of business aviation.

"Since our initial partnership with ARGUS in 2007 as one of the first private aviation operators to receive an ARGUS Platinum rating, we have been steadfast in our commitment to elevate safety in our industry," said Jamie Walker, President and CEO of Jet Linx Aviation. "Now, as the first operator to receive Platinum Elite status, we are excited to usher in a new standard of safety in private aviation and in transparency to the private aviation consumer."

The ARGUS Audit Team built Platinum Elite from the ground up based on the needs of passengers and operators. Building upon the elements of the ARGUS Platinum rating, the team refined how ARGUS integrates with operators through the ARGUS Dynamic CHEQ Interface (DCI) Tool. ARGUS has built an industry first active monitoring system (ACM), and created CSMS performance monitoring, to assure standards are continuously met and changes to their operation are actively managed; truly monitoring an operator.

For the last 15 years, Jet Linx has demonstrated its commitment to safety and established itself as a leader in safety throughout the private aviation industry. In 2020, Jet Linx earned re-certification as an ARGUS Platinum-rated operator for the eighth consecutive review cycle. The Platinum Rating takes an in-depth look into the quality of documented processes in place and is only awarded to those operators who have demonstrated successful implementation of industry best safety practices relative to their operations and maintenance. Jet Linx also remains the only operator to conduct an all-team Safety Summit each year, pausing revenue operations to bring their entire nationwide team together for education and collaboration on safety.

"Platinum Elite is the result of the next evolution in aviation safety audits. Our continuous monitoring evaluation system provides the operator and the customer with near real-time safety analysis  something the industry has been requesting for a long time," said Joe Moeggenberg, Founder and CEO of ARGUS International."

For more information on Jet Linx, please visit www.jetlinx.com.

About Jet Linx Aviation

Jet Linx Aviation is a locally-focused private jet company founded in Omaha, NE in 1999 as a more personalized approach to national private jet companies. Jet Linx offers three different ways to experience private aviation  a guaranteed jet card, joint ownership, and private jet management program  providing its clients with an all-encompassing, local solution to all of their private jet travel needs. Jet Linx is an IS-BAO Stage 3, ARGUS Platinum Elite and Wyvern Wingman safety rated operator, an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of all aircraft operators in the world. In 2019, Jet Linx became the only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star trained and accredited private aviation company in the world. In addition to establishing the independent global rating system's preeminent and unparalleled service standards for the in-flight experience, Jet Linx also collaborated with Forbes Travel Guide to develop their own customized, proprietary Jet Linx standards of service excellence. Jet Linx is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and has Base locations in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Omaha, San Antonio, Scottsdale, St. Louis, Tulsa and Washington D.C. For additional information, please visit the Jet Linx website (www.jetlinx.com).

About ARGUS International Inc.

ARGUS International (ARGUS), a member of the SGS Group, is the leader in Aviation Data, Software, Audits, and Certification Services. ARGUS Market Intelligence is the premier Aviation Forecasting service worldwide and have emerged as a leader among market intelligence service providers. ARGUS PROS is one of the 1st accredited audit organizations in the United States and involved in the development of the IOSA Auditing Program. We continue to be the leading provider of on-site safety audits nationwide. ARGUS PRISM is the worldwide leader in safety management systems and a pioneer in FAA Accreditation Consulting for UAS service providers. ARGUS was founded in 1995 and headquartered in Colorado. To learn more about ARGUS international, please visit www.ARGUS.aero.

SOURCE Jet Linx
COTTAGE GROVE, Wis., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Fitness and Wellness, the world's largest specialty fitness retailer and the retail division of Johnson Health Tech, announced today that it is acquiring all Gym Source retail locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut. The Gym Source stores will be folded under the Johnson Fitness and Wellness brand.

Gym Source will continue to operate as a national commercial fitness dealer serving customers across a variety of industries, including hospitality, multi-family housing, corporate fitness, private clubs, medical and wellness and more.

"We're thrilled to welcome the Gym Source retail team to the Johnson retail family," said Bob Zande, President of Johnson Health Tech Retail, Inc. "Gym Source has created an exceptional team and network of specialty fitness stores. We are very pleased to add these locations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic as it accelerates our growth and increases our level of customer service in the region."

The acquisition of Gym Source locations increases the number of Johnson Fitness and Wellness retail stores to 100 in the U.S. and 365 stores globally. Each store offers a wide assortment of premium fitness equipment, including Johnson Health Tech's proprietary brands Matrix, Vision and Horizon, along with award-winning customer support.

"Gym Source has served customers in both the retail and commercial market segments for more than 75 years. With the sale of our retail stores, we are now able to focus on what has always been the largest division of the company, commercial fitness sales and service. Johnson Fitness and Wellness is both a retail market and industry leader and will be an excellent new owner for our stores," said President Deborah McKeever.

Johnson Fitness and Wellness is acquiring all Gym Source stores. They are located in: Southampton, N.Y., Newton, Mass., Paramus, N.J., Short Hills, N.J., Princeton, N.J., Danbury, Conn., Greenwich, Conn., Villanova, Pa., and Falls Church, Va.

The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The acquired Gym Source retail locations will be rebranded to Johnson Fitness and Wellness. Gym Source will continue to own and operate a commercial sales force serving customers throughout the U.S.

About Gym Source

Gym Source USA LLC is a privately-owned, commercial fitness equipment sales and service provider and is headquartered in Teterboro, N.J. The company, which has been operating for more than 75 years, prides itself on being a single source solution for its commercial customers.

About Johnson Fitness and Wellness

Johnson Fitness and Wellness (JFW) is the retail division of Johnson Health Tech Retail, Inc. JFW is the world's largest specialty fitness retailer with more than 465 stores worldwide and counting. Each JFW retail outlet offers the strongest assortment of fitness products and brands, including Matrix, Vision and Horizon. The stores are staffed by experienced fitness consultants who help customers find the perfect product to achieve their fitness goals. Customers have access to a wide assortment of personal fitness and wellness equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, home gyms and accessories. To learn more, visit johnsonfitness.com.

About Johnson Health Tech

Johnson Health Tech, Inc. (JHT), Taiwan, is among the world's largest and fastest-growing fitness equipment manufacturers and is home to some of the most respected brands in the fitness industry, including Matrix, Vision and Horizon. The company manufactures a wide assortment of fitness equipment for both commercial and residential use, including treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes and strength training equipment. JHT's global management headquarters is based in Taichung, Taiwan, with global product development, marketing and engineering based in Cottage Grove, Wis.

SOURCE Johnson Fitness and Wellness

Related Links

https://www.johnsonfitness.com


COLORADO SPRINGS, Co., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth year in a row, Junior Achievement and Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) will connect entrepreneurs with high school students across the country during November, National Entrepreneurship Month, to share their experience with teens and to encourage them to consider business ownership as a career option. The initiative, known as JA Launch Lesson, has traditionally involved entrepreneurs acting as mentors in the classroom. But given the "new normal" this school year, JA is offering virtual and remote options. Over the past five years, JA and EY US have reached more than 210,000 high school students with this learning experience.

Additionally, JA and EY US have teamed up for JA Connect Entrepreneurship, a new and engaging online experience that helps teens gain an understanding of what it takes to start and successfully run a business. The site uses bite-sized content that is easily relatable to today's teens and helps them start the journey to becoming tomorrow's successful business owners. JA Connect Entrepreneurship is available at www.connect.JA.org.

"Small business continues to play a critical role in the economic well-being of communities," said Jack E. Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. "The earlier young people are provided access to entrepreneurial experiences, the more likely they are to consider careers in entrepreneurship as adults. We greatly appreciate EY for their vision and support of these two important initiatives."

"EY has a long heritage of empowering the next generation of entrepreneurship and we've loved exposing JA students directly to entrepreneurs accordingly," said Marna Ricker, EY Americas Vice Chair  Tax Services. "Junior Achievement's latest initiatives, specifically focused on teens and business ownership, will help young minds thrive in their entrepreneurial journey as they look to make an impact in their communities and in building a better working world."

JA Launch Lesson is a 50-minute educational experience built around the theme of entrepreneurship that creates a point-of-entry for students, volunteers, and educators. It is delivered locally by entrepreneurs virtually, in classrooms, and in other student venues around the United States during National Entrepreneurship Month. Entrepreneurs are provided with a guide by JA that gives them the opportunity to connect with students, offer relevant information about their company and entrepreneurial journey, and share advice and next steps for students who are interested in starting their own business.

JA Connect Entrepreneurship provides self-guided, on-demand learning experiences and resources to high school students interested in entrepreneurship. The site's content and resources are designed to offer different learning experiences: augment and extend JA Entrepreneurship Pathway programs, explore entrepreneurial ideas independently and guide JA students in the next steps of their entrepreneurial journeys (planning, incubating and launching their own startups).

About Junior Achievement USA (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more nearly 3 million students per year in 104 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in

100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of

Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

SOURCE Junior Achievement USA

Related Links

www.ja.org


KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas City Life Insurance Company ("Kansas City Life') announced today that it has sold Sunset Life Insurance Company of America, Inc. ("Sunset Life"), a wholly-owned subsidiary, to Bona Holdings, LLC, effective on November 1, 2021.

Kansas City Life is expected to record a net gain of approximately $5.5 million on the transaction.

Sunset Life was founded in 1937 and acquired by Kansas City Life in 1974. Sunset Life operated primarily in the life insurance and annuity market, but ceased writing new business in the early 2000's. Kansas City Life reinsured 100% of the outstanding business of Sunset Life on December 31, 2020, and will continue to service all business issued prior to November 1, 2021, under the terms of the December 31, 2020, reinsurance agreement.

"Kansas City Life had a wonderful relationship with Sunset Life and its customers for over 45 years," said R. Philip Bixby, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Kansas City Life. He added, "While we are excited to see what Sunset Life's future opportunities will be under Bona Holdings, we are also pleased to be able to maintain our existing relationships with those customers who joined our enterprise through Sunset Life." He concluded by adding, "The sale of Sunset Life will permit Kansas City Life to consolidate corporate resources and to focus on growth and customer service while continuing to provide Security Assured to all of our customers."

Kansas City Life Insurance Company (OTCQX: KCLI) was established in 1895 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Company's primary business is providing financial protection through the sale of life insurance and annuities. The Company operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Kansas City Life Insurance Company
DENVER, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarisana Psychedelic Therapies is pleased to announce the publication of its second case study analyzing the use of ketamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The manuscript titled "Intramuscular ketamine to treat major depressive disorder: A case series of forty patients" has been published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Vol 6, Issue 2).

The case series set out to learn more about intramuscular ketamine injection's effect on mental health symptoms and resulted in findings that challenge the conventional administration method of ketamine therapy and its ability to be covered by insurance.

The IV method of ketamine administration is the most commonly practiced, which has led to the belief that it is a safer alternative to the IM method of administration, however this study is one of the first to demonstrate that intramuscular ketamine injections (IM) can be just as effective as the intravenous (IV) route.

Dr. Rakesh Jain, who completed the statistical analysis of this data set adds, "This data set is very exciting because it shows a very robust response with IM ketamine that is very comparable or better than other studies that have used the intravenous delivery system.

The paper is a case series of forty consecutive patients who have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and who have Health First Colorado (Medicaid) as their payor source. The patients followed in this case series showed a greater than 50% decrease in their scores on three psychological screening tests that measure depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety (PHQ-9, PCL-5, GAD-7). The screening tests were administered before and again at the end of an Induction Series of six ketamine sessions.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carl J Bonnett states, "In order to improve the current ketamine experience, Klarisana is looking at alternate methods of administration that could be more beneficial to the patient. Our research team is thrilled that our findings support our current approach to treatment and substantiate our belief in the power of psychedelic medicine to treat severe mood disorders."

Klarisana is currently operating six behavioral health and ketamine clinics, with a seventh clinic set to open next month in Longmont, CO and plans for two additional clinics in the next year.

Plans to rapidly expand are fueled by the growing interest and demand for psychedelic assisted therapy, as more studies show the promising effects it has on mental health. CEO Neil Haznar states, "We are excited to bring this treatment to a wider audience, which is why we're expanding to communities that might have little access to or knowledge about these treatments."

To create an affordable and accessible experience, Klarisana is in network with many major insurance carriers such as BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, Medicaid, and more, and offers special discounts to veterans seeking treatment. If you are interested in learning more please visit www.Klarisana.com

To read the study please visit: https://sciforschenonline.org/journals/psychiatry-mental-health/JPMH145.php

MEDIA CONTACT

Kelsey Johnson, PR Coordinator

844-455-2747

[email protected]

ABOUT Klarisana

Dr. Carl Bonnett, a retired 20 year member of the Army National Guard, founded mission-driven Klarisana in 2015 after becoming aware of the alarming suicide rates among United States veterans. A purpose-driven organization, the core belief of founder Dr. Carl Bonnett is that a ketamine journey can help a person reframe their trauma and build back a happier, more satisfying life. Today, Klarisana treats a number of mental health disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

SOURCE Klarisana

Related Links

http://www.Klarisana.com


NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA) to DL Chemical Co., Ltd. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of Kraton will receive only $46.50 in cash for each share of Kraton that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company.

If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn ([email protected]) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-kra/ to learn more.

To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Related Links

http://www.ksfcounsel.com


"Kroger is a leader in fresh food and innovation," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Every day, we look for new and differentiated ways and experiences to meet our customers evolving needs and elevate and celebrate the moments that matter most to our customers. As an illustration, Bed Bath & Beyond has a compelling portfolio of products that complement the items our customers already love to shop. This strategic online collaboration and in-store pilot will provide Kroger shoppers easy access to essential home and baby products alongside their favorite grocery staples  continuing to fulfill our commitment of providing our customers with anything, anytime, anywhere."

The multi-category omnichannel collaboration will include popular items  from bedding and storage to baby furniture and gear  from Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy Baby's assortment, including the company's exclusive Owned Brands as well as national brands.

"Many of life's special moments revolve around a meal," said Stuart Aitken, Kroger's senior vice president and Chief Merchant & Marketing Officer. "This collaboration will bring Bed Bath & Beyond as well as buybuy Baby products to our e-commerce and in-store experiences, expanding the ways we can help celebrate those first homes, moves to college, growing families and more. Now, when visiting a family member's new home, loved ones can surprise them with a meal and a new set of dishes to serve it on in one convenient shopping experience."

Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy Baby products will launch on Kroger.com by early 2022. The e-commerce venture will be enabled by Kroger's Ship marketplace. A branded shop-in-shop experience pilot in select stores will follow.

"Our collaboration with an exceptional retailer like Kroger underscores Bed Bath & Beyond's authority in the home and baby categories," said Mark Tritton, Bed Bath & Beyond's President and CEO. "Today's announcement is a key milestone, bringing Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy Baby products to reach more customers than ever before. Our product assortment combined with Kroger's customer base will present extensive opportunities for current and future customers."

Media Assets

To download Kroger and Bed Bath & Beyond visuals, please visit here.

About The Kroger Co.

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

About Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") is an omnichannel retailer that makes it easy for our customers to feel at home. The Company sells a wide assortment of merchandise in the Home, Baby, Beauty and Wellness markets. Additionally, the Company is a partner in a joint venture which operates retail stores in Mexico under the name Bed Bath & Beyond.

The Company operates websites at bedbathandbeyond.com, bedbathandbeyond.ca, buybuybaby.com, buybuybaby.ca, harmondiscount.com, facevalues.com, and decorist.com.

-30-

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The extensive range of applications of neodymium magnets, from electrical motors to medical science and renewable energy to satellite communication stirs the growth of the neodymium market. The evaluation of the demand for neodymium across a large application range estimates the neodymium market to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period from 2021  2031.

Neodymium is a permanent magnet of an alloy of iron, boron, and neodymium that imparts it first-class strength. For such reasons, more than one-third of neodymium magnets that are developed are used to manufacture various permanent magnet motors. Permanent magnet motors are lightweight and compact, and save power for applications where they are used.

Asia Pacific accounts for a significant share of the neodymium market. The strong demand for neodymium in China and Japan from the flourishing industrial sector is stimulating the neodymium market in the region.

However, Europe held the leading share of the neodymium market in the recent past.

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North America will continue to remain key consumer of neodymium due to rise in demand for various applications such as laser crystals, permanent magnets, catalysts, and neodymium glasses.

Neodymium Market  Key Findings of Report

Use of Coated Resistant Materials Resolves Susceptibility to Corrosion, Design of Rod Magnets Expands Applications in Fine Jewelry

Neodymium is widely accepted as a rare earth magnet leading to its extensive use in industrial products. For instance, jet engines, magnetic bearings, and automatic door locks are some industrial and commercial uses of neodymium. However, the extreme susceptibility of neodymium to corrosion that causes physical disadvantages needs to be addressed. Coating neodymium with resistant materials to prevent degradation is one way to address the physical damage of neodymium.

Ask for Special Discount on Report  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=11477

This promotes the use of rare earth metals such as neodymium in the intermediate components of audio speakers, smart bombs, and headphones. Manufacturers of neodymium are establishing reliable revenue streams via DC motors and liner actuators for particle accelerators and automobiles.

Besides this, initiatives undertaken by product manufacturers to expand the output capacity of rod magnets will further expand the applications of neodymium. Rod magnets are used to design the clasp of fine jewelry that extends convenience and elegance to the piece. On the other hand, complicated closures of fine jewelry pieces can reduce the consumer experience. Moreover, manufacturers in the neodymium market are applying nickel coating on small magnetic rods for an elegant look for jewelry pieces.

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Rising Demand for Green Energy Technologies to Create Revenue Streams

The emphasis on the use of green sources of energy for concerns of global warming is taking a front seat in energy circles the world over. Dedicated programs to harness solar energy and wind energy are gaining momentum. These require infrastructural and operational equipment. The development of large-scale wind farms requires efficient windmills wherein their motors have in-built motors made of special rare-earth magnet called neodymium.

Neodymium is also used in windmills to develop magnetic mounting systems that securely attaches ladders and other equipment to steel tower walls securely. This progressive mounting solution has multiple benefits, including reduced construction time and cost, increased worker safety, and eliminates the need to weld brackets or drill holes in the tower wall.

Neodymium Market  Growth Drivers

Wide spectrum of applications of neodymium magnet in industrial, commercial, technical, and consumer use segments drive neodymium magnet

Undertakings from manufacturers to address physical disadvantages of neodymium strengthen demand

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Neodymium Market  Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the neodymium market are Lynas Rare Earth Ltd., Metall Rare Earth Limited, Alkane Resources Ltd, China Minmetals Rare Earth Co. Ltd., Australian Strategic Materials Ltd., Noah Technologies Corporation, Arafura Resources, HEFA Rare Earth Canada Co. Ltd., Neo Performance Materials Inc., Lenntech Water Treatment Solutions, and American Elements.

The neodymium market is segmented as follows;

Neodymium Market, by Application

Permanent Magnets

Catalysts

Laser Crystals

Neodymium Glasses

Electric Capacitors

Metallurgy

Phosphors & Luminescence

Others (including Polishing Powders and Ceramics)

Neodymium Market, by Region

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



France



U.K.



Italy



Spain



Russia & CIS

& CIS

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



Japan



India



ASEAN



Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

Insoluble Sulfur Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/insoluble-sulfur-market.html

Tactile Printing Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/global-tactile-printing-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

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Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/neodymium-market.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
ELLICOTT CITY, Md., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Proudly serving Howard County, attorney Lisa M. Goldblatt is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Attorney for her professional excellence in the field of Law, dedication to serving her clients, and her leadership with The Law Office of Lisa M. Goldblatt.

As a successful divorce and family law firm, The Law Office of Lisa M. Goldblatt was established with the mission to resolve cases of divorce, the pursuit of alimony, and child custody matters. Founding partner, Lisa M. Goldblatt brings decades of professional excellence and invaluable insight to lead clients through their family law cases to obtain positive results. The dedicated team is committed to securing a bright future for the clients and families they serve in Howard County and Baltimore County, through guided insight and zealous advocacy, and reliable representation.



Attorney Lisa Goldblatt has led an impressive career for nearly 20 years. As the sole counselor at the Law Office of Lisa M. Goldblatt, Ms. Goldblatt has maintained a laudable reputation within the legal community and throughout Howard and Baltimore County. As a family law, child custody, and divorce attorney, she is dedicated to working diligently on behalf of her clients to negotiate an agreement or to defend their rights in court. Ms. Goldblatt is renowned for her vast repertoire of expertise in divorce, separation, alimony, marital property, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, custody, child support, visitation, third party custody/visitation, protective orders, and civil peace orders. At The Law Office of Lisa M. Goldblatt, she strives to make the divorce process and other family law cases as easy as possible for her clients. In turn, she provides personal service to her clients by being actively involved in all aspects of their cases.



Prior to establishing her firm, Ms. Goldblatt excelled academically. She graduated from the University of Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She then moved to Washington D.C. to attend The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, graduating in May 2002. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and New York; however, she primarily practices in Maryland.



An active member of her community, Ms. Goldblatt maintains notable memberships and affiliations with several professional organizations. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Columbia Festival of the Arts, a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, a member of the Howard County Business Women's Network, a member in the Howard County Public Schools, and past-chair of the Women's Council of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Baltimore Chapter. She is also devoted to charitable endeavors, including volunteering at the family law clinic in the Howard County Circuit Court and previously volunteering for the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer's Service. She is also an active member of her religious institution.



To learn more, please visit https://lisamgoldblattlaw.com/.



Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]



SOURCE Continental Who's Who
Another ancillary benefit of the reorganization process is the change of the concession classification to the start of the Advanced Exploration stage under the Industrial Large Scale Mining Regime. This gives Lumina up to four years in the Advanced Exploration stage, then two years in the Economic Evaluation stage, with the option to extend an additional two years. In aggregate, this allows for up to eight years before a Mining Production Title is required to advance to exploitation.

Diego Benalcazar, SVP commented: "Not only does this bring Cangrejos and Gran Bestia onto one consolidated concession; it also brings in all the unexplored peripheral targets onto the main concession that will be permitted. This consolidation is an important step towards advancing and permitting the project."

Lumina currently has a valid Environmental Impact Study ("EIS") on the 3,498 hectare original Cangrejos concession and an additional EIS on the original 779 hectare C20 concession allowing for all required drilling and development work required for the Pre-feasibility study. The Company plans to unify the two EIS's into a single EIS that covers the new main concession.

About Lumina Gold

Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on the Cangrejos Gold-Copper Project located in El Oro Province, southwest Ecuador. Lumina has an experienced management team with a successful track record of advancing and monetizing exploration projects.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminagold.com/.

To receive future news releases please sign up at https://luminagold.com/contact.

LUMINA GOLD CORP.



Signed: "Marshall Koval"



Marshall Koval, President & CEO, Director



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to the unification of the two EIS permits and having up to eight years for Lumina to achieve a Mining Production Title. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the prices of gold and copper, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Lumina Gold Corp.

Related Links

www.luminagold.com


TULSA, Okla., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) today reported net income of $237 million for third quarter 2021 compared to $212 million for third quarter 2020. Diluted net income per common unit was $1.08 in third quarter 2021 and 94 cents in third quarter 2020.

Diluted net income per unit excluding mark-to-market (MTM) commodity-related pricing adjustments, a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measure, of $1.09 for third quarter 2021 exceeded the 87-cent guidance provided by management in late July. Actual results benefited from additional refined products shipments, continued lower-than-expected expenses (in part due to Magellan's ongoing optimization efforts) and a reduced unit count following the partnership's repurchase of 8.1 million units during the quarter.

Distributable cash flow (DCF), a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the amount of cash generated during the period that is available to pay distributions, was $277 million for third quarter 2021 compared to $259 million for third quarter 2020. Free cash flow (FCF), a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the amount of cash available for distributions, additional expansion capital opportunities, equity repurchases, debt reduction or other partnership uses, was $252 million during third quarter 2021 versus $192 million during third quarter 2020.

"Magellan once again generated strong financial results driven by our refined products segment and the continued demand recovery for the essential fuels and services we provide," said Michael Mears, chief executive officer. "We remain committed to our disciplined approach of managing our business for the long term and creating value for our investors. During the third quarter of 2021, we demonstrated this commitment by repurchasing more than $390 million of equity and increasing our quarterly cash distribution."

An analysis by segment comparing third quarter 2021 to third quarter 2020 is provided below based on operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure that reflects operating profit before depreciation, amortization and impairment expense and general and administrative (G&A) expense. Due to the pending sale of the partnership's independent terminals network that was announced in June 2021, the financial results from these assets have been reclassified from the refined products segment to discontinued operations for all periods.

Refined products. Refined products operating margin was $272 million, an increase of $44 million. Transportation and terminals revenue increased $42 million primarily due to higher transportation volumes versus the pandemic levels of 2020 driven by the recovery in travel, economic and drilling activity as well as additional contributions from Magellan's Texas pipeline expansion projects. The current period also benefited from the partnership's mid-year 2021 tariff increase, which averaged nearly 3%. These favorable items were partially offset by less storage revenues due to lower utilization and rates following recent contract expirations.

Operating expenses were essentially unchanged between periods. An increase in integrity spending related to the timing of maintenance work, higher power costs due to more volume shipped and higher property tax accruals were mainly offset by favorable product overages (which reduce operating expenses). Other operating income increased almost $3 million in part due to reduced estimates for retained liabilities associated with the partnership's 2020 sale of marine terminals.

Earnings of non-controlled entities increased slightly as unrealized gains on futures contracts used to economically hedge commodity-related activities at the partnership's Powder Springs Logistics joint venture were partially offset by lower earnings from its Pasadena marine terminal joint venture, following the sale of nearly half of Magellan's ownership interest during second quarter 2021.

Product margin (a non-GAAP measure defined as product sales revenue less cost of product sales) decreased slightly between periods primarily due to lower margins and sales volume related to the partnership's gas liquids blending and fractionation activities in the current quarter.

Crude oil. Crude oil operating margin was $112 million, a decrease of $24 million. Transportation and terminals revenue decreased $38 million primarily due to lower average tariff rates and reduced storage revenues. Average tariff rates decreased primarily as a result of the expiration of several higher-priced contracts on the partnership's Longhorn pipeline in late 2020. In addition, deficiency revenue recognized in the year-ago period did not recur in third quarter 2021. Storage revenues declined primarily due to the 2020 period benefiting from increased short-term storage utilization at higher rates, with recent contract renewals at lower rates.

Operating expenses declined $12 million primarily due to a decrease in integrity spending related to the timing of maintenance work, lower fees paid to the partnership's Seabrook joint venture export facility for ancillary services and favorable product overages. Other operating expense was favorable $3 million in part due to lower losses recognized on a basis derivative agreement during the current period.

Earnings of non-controlled entities decreased $4 million primarily due to lower throughput fees and additional depreciation for recently-constructed assets related to the partnership's Seabrook joint venture export facility, as well as lower storage revenue and less favorable product overages for the BridgeTex pipeline.

Product margin was favorable by almost $3 million primarily due to a reclassification during the 2020 period of prior affiliate marketing activities to transportation revenue, where this activity is now recorded.

Other items. Depreciation, amortization and impairment expense decreased $7 million due to the impairment in third quarter 2020 of certain terminalling assets, whereas G&A expense increased $9 million primarily due to higher incentive compensation costs as a result of improved financial results in 2021.

Net interest expense increased $4 million due to lower capitalized interest as a result of reduced expansion capital spending and higher debt outstanding. As of Sept. 30, 2021, Magellan had $5.1 billion of debt outstanding, including $123 million under its commercial paper program, with nearly $13 million of cash on hand.

Gain on disposition of assets of $3 million in the current period resulted from true-ups for previous asset sales, including the final working capital adjustment related to the recent sale of a portion of Magellan's interest in its Pasadena marine terminal joint venture.

Income from discontinued operations increased $8 million due to improved product margin for the partnership's independent terminals as a result of higher gas liquids blending sales volume at better pricing, as well as the absence of depreciation now that the assets are classified as held for sale.

Financial guidance for 2021

As a result of the higher-than-expected financial performance during third quarter and management's outlook for the remainder of the year, Magellan is increasing its annual DCF guidance by $30 million to $1.1 billion for 2021.

Guidance assumes total refined products shipments will be slightly higher than initial estimates for the year, with an overall increase of 14% expected versus 2020 as incremental volumes associated with expansion projects within the state of Texas continue to overcome the lingering impacts of the pandemic. Based on actual results so far and recent trends, these estimates expect 10% higher gasoline, 17% higher distillate and 40% higher aviation fuel shipments. For reference, total 2021 refined products transportation volumes are expected to increase approximately 4% versus 2019, which is more representative of historical demand, as additional gasoline and distillate volumes from expansion projects are partially offset by lower aviation fuel.

While the partnership awaits receipt of the required regulatory approval for the pending sale, guidance continues to assume Magellan owns its independent terminals throughout 2021.

As previously announced, Magellan recently increased its quarterly cash distribution to $1.0375 per unit. Based on this new distribution amount, the current 213.4 million units outstanding and the higher DCF guidance of $1.1 billion, distribution coverage for 2021 is expected to be 1.22 times the amount necessary to pay cash distributions declared for the year.

FCF is projected to be $1.29 billion for full-year 2021, or $384 million after distributions. Full-year FCF guidance currently does not include the expected $435 million proceeds from the pending sale of the partnership's independent terminals, which is awaiting required regulatory approval and assumed to close in 2022 for guidance purposes.

Based on actual results to date and the current number of common units outstanding, net income per unit is expected to be $4.43 for 2021, which results in fourth-quarter guidance of $1.10 per unit. Guidance excludes future MTM adjustments on the partnership's commodity-related activities as well as the expected gain on the pending independent terminals sale.

Management does not intend to provide financial guidance beyond 2021 at this time but continues to target annual distribution coverage of at least 1.2 times for the foreseeable future. Consistent with its historical approach, Magellan plans to provide guidance specific to 2022 early next year when year-end 2021 financial results are reported.

Capital allocation

Magellan remains focused on delivering long-term value for its investors through a disciplined combination of cash distributions, capital investments and equity repurchases.

As announced last month, the partnership repurchased 8.1 million of its common units for approximately $391 million during third quarter 2021, depleting the remainder of its previously-approved $750 million repurchase program. In addition, the partnership's board of directors recently approved a $750 million increase in Magellan's authorized equity repurchase program, to a total of $1.5 billion, and extended the program through 2024. The timing, price and actual number of potential future equity repurchases will depend on a number of factors including expected expansion capital spending, excess cash available, balance sheet metrics, legal and regulatory requirements, market conditions and the trading price of the partnership's common units.

While Magellan is actively assessing potential capital investments to create future value, management remains committed to its proven disciplined approach of targeting low-risk projects that meet or exceed its 6 to 8 times EBITDA multiple threshold. Based on the progress of projects now underway, the partnership expects to spend approximately $80 million in 2021 (of which $68 million has been spent through third quarter) and $20 million in 2022 to complete its current slate of expansion capital projects, including new investments to enhance Magellan's gas liquids blending capabilities and to increase connectivity of its Cushing, Oklahoma crude oil terminal.

Earnings call details

Management will discuss third-quarter 2021 financial results and outlook for the remainder of the year during a conference call at 1:30 p.m. Eastern today. Participants are encouraged to listen to the call via the partnership's website at www.magellanlp.com/investors/webcasts.aspx. In addition, a limited number of phone lines will be available at (800) 908-8370, conference code 21998112.

A replay of the audio webcast will be available for at least 30 days at www.magellanlp.com.

Non-GAAP financial measures

Management believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures utilized by the partnership. As a result, this news release and supporting schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of operating margin, product margin, adjusted EBITDA, DCF, FCF and net income per unit excluding MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, which are important performance measures used by management.

Operating margin reflects operating profit before depreciation, amortization and impairment expense and G&A expense. This measure forms the basis of the partnership's internal financial reporting and is used by management to evaluate the economic performance of the partnership's operations.

Product margin, which is calculated as product sales revenue less cost of product sales, is used by management to evaluate the profitability of the partnership's commodity-related activities.

Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure utilized by management and the investment community to assess the financial results of a company.

DCF is important in determining the amount of cash generated from the partnership's operations, after maintenance capital spending, that is available for distribution to its unitholders. Management uses this performance measure as a basis for recommending to the board of directors the amount of cash distributions to be paid each period and for determining the payout for performance-based awards issued under the partnership's equity-based incentive plan.

FCF is a financial metric used by many investors and others in the financial community to measure the amount of cash generated by the partnership after considering all investing activities, including both maintenance and expansion capital spending, as well as proceeds from divestitures. Management believes FCF is important to the financial community as it reflects the amount of cash available for distributions, additional expansion capital opportunities, equity repurchases, debt reduction or other partnership uses.

Reconciliations of operating margin to operating profit, adjusted EBITDA, DCF and FCF to net income and FCF to net cash provided by operating activities accompany this news release.

The partnership uses exchange-traded futures contracts to hedge against price changes of petroleum products associated with its commodity-related activities. Most of these futures contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. However, because these futures contracts are generally effective at hedging price changes, management believes the partnership's profitability should be evaluated excluding the unrealized gains and losses associated with petroleum products that will be sold in future periods. Further, because the financial guidance provided by management excludes future MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, a reconciliation of actual results to those excluding these adjustments is provided for comparability to previous financial guidance.

Because the non-GAAP measures presented in this news release include adjustments specific to the partnership, they may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.

About Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.

Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) is a publicly traded partnership that primarily transports, stores and distributes refined petroleum products and crude oil. The partnership owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, with access to nearly 50% of the nation's refining capacity, and can store more than 100 million barrels of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and crude oil. More information is available at www.magellanlp.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words and phrases such as: plan, guidance, assumes, believes, estimates, expected, continue, ongoing, project, trends, potential, changes, outlook, future, target, remain, intends, long-term, may, will, should, await, pending, assessing and similar references to future periods. Although management believes such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual outcomes to be materially different. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct impact on the partnership's results of operations and financial condition are: ongoing impacts from the pandemic; changes in supply, price or demand for refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas liquids and the commodities used in the production thereof or for transportation, storage, blending or processing of those commodities through its facilities; changes in laws applicable to the partnership; changes in the partnership's tariff rates or other terms as required by state or federal regulatory authorities; shut-downs or cutbacks at refineries, of hydrocarbon production or at other businesses that use or supply the partnership's services; changes in the throughput or interruption in service on pipelines or other facilities owned and operated by third parties and connected to the partnership's terminals, pipelines or other facilities; the occurrence of operational hazards or unforeseen interruptions; the treatment of the partnership as a corporation for federal or state income tax purposes or the partnership becoming subject to significant forms of other taxation; changes in the partnership's capital needs, cash flows and availability of cash to fund unit repurchases or distributions; and failure of customers or vendors to meet or continue contractual obligations to the partnership. Additional factors that could lead to material changes in performance are described in the partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2020 and subsequent reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q. You are urged to carefully review and consider the cautionary statements and other disclosures made in those filings, especially under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements." Forward-looking statements made by the partnership in this release are based only on information currently known, and the partnership undertakes no obligation to revise its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per unit amounts) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021 Transportation and terminals revenue $ 459,940



$ 464,910



$ 1,305,217



$ 1,332,271

Product sales revenue 111,220



168,815



443,127



575,575

Affiliate management fee revenue 5,288



5,329



15,895



15,925

Total revenue 576,448



639,054



1,764,239



1,923,771

Costs and expenses:













Operating 157,716



146,556



446,102



422,907

Cost of product sales 89,375



145,855



364,916



488,614

Depreciation, amortization and impairment 68,439



61,401



183,226



168,304

General and administrative 37,497



46,632



115,480



148,671

Total costs and expenses 353,027



400,444



1,109,724



1,228,496

Other operating income (expense) (2,863)



2,591



539



4,033

Earnings of non-controlled entities 39,135



36,466



116,484



116,107

Operating profit 259,693



277,667



771,538



815,415

Interest expense 54,212



57,016



179,371



170,976

Interest capitalized (1,272)



(315)



(10,451)



(1,240)

Interest income (260)



(138)



(903)



(439)

Gain on disposition of assets 



(3,231)



(12,887)



(72,933)

Other (income) expense 1,455



2,224



3,708



18,111

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes 205,558



222,111



612,700



700,940

Provision for income taxes 824



821



2,169



2,044

Income from continuing operations 204,734



221,290



610,531



698,896

Income from discontinued operations 6,904



15,309



22,514



39,438

Net income $ 211,638



$ 236,599



$ 633,045



$ 738,334

































Basic and diluted income from continuing operations per

common unit $ 0.91



$ 1.01



$ 2.70



$ 3.15

















Basic and diluted income from discontinued operations per

common unit $ 0.03



$ 0.07



$ 0.10



$ 0.18

















Basic and diluted net income per common unit $ 0.94



$ 1.08



$ 2.80



$ 3.33

















Weighted average number of common units outstanding used for

basic net income per unit calculation 225,222



218,637



226,045



221,637

















Weighted average number of common units outstanding used for

diluted net income per unit calculation 225,222



218,788



226,045



221,730



















MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P OPERATING STATISTICS



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021 Refined products:













Transportation revenue per barrel shipped $ 1.719



$ 1.724



$ 1.658



$ 1.697

Volume shipped (million barrels):













Gasoline 71.9



80.3



199.4



224.1

Distillates 42.5



53.0



127.6



152.4

Aviation fuel 4.7



8.4



16.8



21.7

Liquefied petroleum gases 0.1



0.1



0.5



0.6

Total volume shipped 119.2



141.8



344.3



398.8

















Crude oil:













Magellan 100%-owned assets:













Transportation revenue per barrel shipped $ 1.401



$ 0.803



$ 1.145



$ 0.803

Volume shipped (million barrels)(1) 45.1



49.2



167.9



145.3

Terminal average utilization (million barrels per month) 25.9



24.9



24.7



25.1

Select joint venture pipelines:













BridgeTex - volume shipped (million barrels)(2) 30.6



29.1



99.9



84.6

Saddlehorn - volume shipped (million barrels)(3) 15.1



19.9



46.5



56.0











(1) Volume shipped includes shipments related to the partnership's crude oil marketing activities.

(2) These volumes reflect the total shipments for the BridgeTex pipeline, which is owned 30% by Magellan.

(3) These volumes reflect the total shipments for the Saddlehorn pipeline, which was owned 40% by Magellan through January 31, 2020 and 30% thereafter.

MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P OPERATING MARGIN RECONCILIATION TO OPERATING PROFIT (Unaudited, in thousands)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021 Refined products:













Transportation and terminals revenue $ 307,218



$ 349,430



$ 876,363



$ 984,895

Affiliate management fee revenue 1,579



1,643



4,676



4,802

Other operating income (expense) 193



2,873



2,223



6,279

Earnings of non-controlled entities 7,134



8,160



25,946



25,528

Less: Operating expense 114,313



114,612



316,371



314,241

Transportation and terminals margin 201,811



247,494



592,837



707,263

Product sales revenue 106,027



153,352



422,986



487,551

Less: Cost of product sales 79,612



128,372



334,366



394,316

Product margin 26,415



24,980



88,620



93,235

Operating margin $ 228,226



$ 272,474



$ 681,457



$ 800,498

















Crude oil:













Transportation and terminals revenue $ 154,652



$ 116,920



$ 433,947



$ 351,817

Affiliate management fee revenue 3,709



3,686



11,219



11,123

Other operating income (expense) (3,056)



(282)



(1,684)



(2,246)

Earnings of non-controlled entities 32,001



28,306



90,538



90,579

Less: Operating expense 46,956



35,042



139,645



118,072

Transportation and terminals margin 140,350



113,588



394,375



333,201

Product sales revenue 5,193



15,463



20,141



88,024

Less: Cost of product sales 9,763



17,483



30,550



94,298

Product margin (4,570)



(2,020)



(10,409)



(6,274)

Operating margin $ 135,780



$ 111,568



$ 383,966



$ 326,927

















Segment operating margin $ 364,006



$ 384,042



$ 1,065,423



$ 1,127,425

Add: Allocated corporate depreciation costs 1,623



1,658



4,821



4,965

Total operating margin 365,629



385,700



1,070,244



1,132,390

Less:













Depreciation, amortization and impairment expense 68,439



61,401



183,226



168,304

General and administrative expense 37,497



46,632



115,480



148,671

Total operating profit $ 259,693



$ 277,667



$ 771,538



$ 815,415

























Note: Amounts may not sum to figures shown on the consolidated statements of income due to intersegment eliminations and allocated corporate depreciation costs.

MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER COMMON UNIT EXCLUDING COMMODITY-RELATED ADJUSTMENTS TO GAAP MEASURES (Unaudited, in thousands except per unit amounts)





Three Months Ended





September 30, 2021



Net Income

Basic Net

Income Per

Common Unit

Diluted Net

Income Per

Common Unit

As reported

$ 236,599



$ 1.08



$ 1.08



Commodity-related adjustments associated with future

transactions(1)

2,524











Excluding commodity-related adjustments

$ 239,123



$ 1.09



$ 1.09



















Weighted average number of common units outstanding used for

basic net income per unit calculation

218,637











Weighted average number of common units outstanding used for

diluted net income per unit calculation

218,788





































(1) Includes the partnership's net share of commodity-related adjustments for its non-controlled entities. Please see Distributable Cash Flow ("DCF") and Free Cash Flow ("FCF") Reconciliation to Net Income for further descriptions of commodity-related adjustments.

MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P DISTRIBUTABLE CASH FLOW AND FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION TO NET INCOME (Unaudited, in thousands)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended





September 30,

September 30,

2021 Guidance

2020

2021

2020

2021





















Net income $ 211,638



$ 236,599



$ 633,045



$ 738,334



$ 975,000

Interest expense, net 52,680



56,563



168,017



169,297



226,000

Depreciation, amortization and impairment(1) 71,822



56,115



193,408



174,407



232,000

Equity-based incentive compensation(2) 1,169



5,626



(9,120)



9,535



15,000

Gain on disposition of assets(3) 



(103)



(10,511)



(68,538)



(69,000)

Commodity-related adjustments:

















Derivative (gains) losses recognized in the

period associated with future transactions(4) 5,839



4,063



6,741



21,072





Derivative gains (losses) recognized in previous

periods associated with transactions completed

in the period(4) 2,889



(9,096)



(18,915)



(32,154)





Inventory valuation adjustments(5) (18,291)



(1,044)



9,540



2,354





Total commodity-related adjustments (9,563)



(6,077)



(2,634)



(8,728)



(20,000)

Distributions from operations of non-controlled entities in excess of earnings 10,811



9,699



36,161



24,509



44,000

Adjusted EBITDA 338,557



358,422



1,008,366



1,038,816



1,403,000

Interest expense, net, excluding debt issuance cost amortization(6) (51,933)



(55,784)



(152,392)



(166,968)



(223,000)

Maintenance capital(7) (27,858)



(25,562)



(81,160)



(50,238)



(80,000)

Distributable cash flow 258,766



277,076



774,814



821,610



1,100,000

Expansion capital(8) (68,454)



(25,513)



(309,986)



(67,576)



(80,000)

Proceeds from asset sales 1,711



121



334,583



270,697



270,000

Free cash flow 192,023



251,684



799,411



1,024,731



1,290,000

Distributions paid (231,245)



(226,633)



(697,264)



(685,018)



(906,000)

Free cash flow after distributions $ (39,222)



$ 25,051



$ 102,147



$ 339,713



$ 384,000

























(1) Depreciation, amortization and impairment expense is excluded from DCF to the extent it represents a non-cash expense.

(2) Because the partnership intends to satisfy vesting of unit awards under its equity-based long-term incentive compensation plan with the issuance of common units, expenses related to this plan generally are deemed non-cash and excluded for DCF purposes. The amounts above have been reduced by cash payments associated with the plan, which are primarily related to tax withholdings.

(3) Gains on disposition of assets are excluded from DCF to the extent they are not related to the partnership's ongoing operations.

(4) Certain derivatives have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes and the mark-to-market changes of these derivatives are recognized currently in net income. The partnership excludes the net impact of these derivatives from its determination of DCF until the transactions are settled and, where applicable, the related products are sold. In the period in which these transactions are settled and any related products are sold, the net impact of the derivatives is included in DCF.

(5) The partnership adjusts DCF for lower of average cost or net realizable value adjustments related to inventory and firm purchase commitments as well as market valuation of short positions recognized each period as these are non-cash items. In subsequent periods when the partnership physically sells or purchases the related products, it adjusts DCF for the valuation adjustments previously recognized.

(6) Interest expense includes debt prepayment costs of $12.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, which are excluded from DCF as they are financing activities and not related to the partnership's ongoing operations.

(7) Maintenance capital expenditures maintain existing assets of the partnership and do not generate incremental DCF (i.e. incremental returns to the unitholders). For this reason, the partnership deducts maintenance capital expenditures to determine DCF.

(8) Includes additions to property, plant and equipment (excluding maintenance capital and capital-related changes in accounts payable and other current liabilities), acquisitions and investments in non-controlled entities, net of distributions from returns of investments in non-controlled entities and deposits from undivided joint interest third parties.

MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES (Unaudited, in thousands)





Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30,



2020

2021

2020

2021 Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 276,852



$ 286,122



$ 840,105



$ 879,077

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

19,823



22,183



30,419



626

Net cash provided (used) in investing activities

(91,462)



(37,692)



(110,265)



160,144

Payments associated with settlement of equity-based incentive

compensation









(14,700)



(6,151)

Settlement gain, amortization of prior service credit and

actuarial loss

(1,427)



(2,687)



(3,953)



(7,151)

Changes in accrued capital items

(3,873)



(11,397)



52,772



(4,047)

Commodity-related adjustments(1)

(9,563)



(6,077)



(2,634)



(8,728)

Other

1,673



1,232



7,667



10,961

Free cash flow

$ 192,023



$ 251,684



$ 799,411



$ 1,024,731

Distributions paid

(231,245)



(226,633)



(697,264)



(685,018)

Free cash flow after distributions

$ (39,222)



$ 25,051



$ 102,147



$ 339,713























(1) Please refer to the preceding table for a description of these commodity-related adjustments.

SOURCE Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.

Related Links

http://www.magellanlp.com


"I am very excited to be joining Binance in its new phase of growth, as it is starting to put a major focus on compliance and an expansion into more traditional fintech areas. The incredible community that Binance has managed to build over the years, its cutting edge technologies, and the shift toward working ever more closely with regulators give Binance almost limitless opportunities. I look forward to realizing this potential in Europe and beyond," said Mr. Bruncko.

Martin has been a founder, executive, and board member in several European deep tech and fintech companies, including AeroMobil, Stasis, GA Drilling, and Neulogy (acquired by Civitta). He has also been a member of the investment committee of the European Innovation Council Fund, which is the largest deep tech investment fund in Europe.

Previously, Martin held several senior government positions, including as junior minister for innovations and deputy for European affairs of the minister of finance of Slovakia. He was a member of the Economic and Financial Committee of the EU, Board Member in the European Stability Mechanism (previously EFSF), Senior Director and Head of Europe at the World Economic Forum, and a senior advisor to the European Commissioner for Research and Innovations and to the Government of Dubai.

Martin holds a B.A. from Stanford University and M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School. In 2012, he was honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

About Binance

Binance is the world's leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Trusted by millions worldwide, the Binance platform is dedicated to increasing the freedom of money for users, and features an unmatched portfolio of crypto products and offerings, including: trading and finance, education, data and research, social good, investment and incubation, decentralization and infrastructure solutions, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com

SOURCE Binance
Mary Bird Perkins and OneOncology finalize agreements to expand access to resources for cancer patients. Tweet this

"There are so many benefits to partnering with a like-minded organization such as OneOncology. They've done the research, and just like us, they understand that patients battling cancer want to be cared for by a team that focuses entirely on high-quality cancer care," said Tom Adamek, board chairman, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. "Throughout the process of defining our relationship with OneOncology, they have been clear, straight-forward and, like Mary Bird Perkins, always placing the patient first. I can't wait to see what the future holds for both organizations. It's going to be amazing for patients in Louisiana and the Gulf South."

There are numerous benefits for patients and Mary Bird Perkins that will soon be noticeable:

Through OneR, OneOncology's research network, new clinical trials will be available to patients, offering new opportunities to participate in a study that may enhance their treatment and how cancer care advances for future generations.

In some cases, infusion drug costs and medical supplies for patients and insurance companies may drop below the national average as a result of OneOncology's national buying power.

Efforts will begin to further expand services and recruit additional oncologists to the Mary Bird Perkins network.

The relationship with OneOncology will ensure the Cancer Center can continuously reinvest in advanced treatments, technologies and support services.

A new Electronic Medical Records platform and technology support will allow Mary Bird Perkins to focus resources on expanding patient services and pursuing clinical advancements.

In addition, OneOncology is conducting breakthrough research in biomarker and next generation sequencing, which are the backbone of personalized treatments in oncology. Understanding current testing patterns and strategies to increase their uptake is a vital component to bringing precision medicine to patients who are cared for in the community setting. This kind of research identifies how the physicians working with OneOncology will help bring advanced diagnostics to patients who entrust Mary Bird Perkins with their care.

As a leader in value-based care, the participation of OneOncology practices in Medicare's Oncology Care Model and commercial insurer programs will give Mary Bird Perkins insights to ensure patients' needs are always put first as the healthcare industry shifts in the future to risk-based arrangements intended to lower the cost of care while improving outcomes.

"We couldn't be more excited about the Mary Bird Perkins team joining OneOncology," said Jeff Patton, MD, CEO, OneOncology. "Their commitment to patient care, clinical innovation and value-based care perfectly aligns with our mission. They've displayed their transparency and commitment to patients throughout the process of building and finalizing the partnership. We are ready to support them as they advance the mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer."

Joining Mary Bird Perkins in partnership with OneOncology are the largest radiation and medical oncology groups across the state that have worked with the Cancer Center for decades. Those practices are Southeast Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group, which provides radiation therapy throughout Mary Bird Perkins' service areas, and Northshore Oncology Associates, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, specifically the communities of Covington and Slidell. Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates, which services the Greater Baton Rouge area, will also join the collaborative.

Through the remainder of the calendar year, the Cancer Center and OneOncology will focus on implementing clinical programs and identifying opportunities to optimize the partnership, which officially begins in Jan. 2022.

"This is an exciting new path for Mary Bird Perkins," said Todd Stevens, president and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. "We'll take what we've built over the last 50 years and expand upon it in ways that we were unable to before. And with the community's support firmly behind us, we will stop at nothing to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. We have our sights set on innovation and taking the next great leap forward in cancer care," said Stevens.

About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at nine centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma, Gonzales, Zachary and Natchez, Mississippi, and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. Mary Bird Perkins has a strategic partnership with OneOncology and the largest radiation and medical oncology groups from across the area including exclusive partnerships with Southeastern Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group, which provides radiation therapy throughout Mary Bird Perkins' service areas, Northshore Oncology Associates, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, specifically the communities of Covington and Slidell and Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates, which services the Greater Baton Rouge area. For more information, please visit www.marybird.org .

About OneOncology

OneOncology was founded by community oncologists, for community oncologists, with the mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer. Our goal is to enable community oncology practices to stay independent, improve patient access to care in their communities, all at a lower cost than in the hospital setting. OneOncology supports our platform of community oncology practices through group purchasing, operational optimization, practice growth, and clinical innovation. Our 615 cancer care providers care for 280,000 patients at 181 sites of care nationwide. To learn more, visit oneoncology.com or LinkedIn .

SOURCE OneOncology

Related Links

https://oneoncology.com/


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Burford Capital Limited, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, will host an event for investors and analysts today, November 2, 2021, from 10.00am-12.30pm EDT / 2.00-4.30pm GMT / 3.00-5.30pm CET. A presentation will be available shortly before the start of the investor event at www.burfordcapital.com/shareholders.

The following key themes will be discussed:

Portfolio expected to generate significant gains: Returns have been rising as matter size has increased and as experience and data have continued to improve outcomes. Our internal model suggests the current core balance sheet portfolio ex-YPF can generate cash proceeds of $3.4 billion and realized gains of $2.0 billion , plus $360 million of asset management performance fee income. 1

Returns have been rising as matter size has increased and as experience and data have continued to improve outcomes. Our internal model suggests the current core balance sheet portfolio ex-YPF can generate cash proceeds of and realized gains of , plus of asset management performance fee income. Continued opportunities for growth: Burford has led the industry in product development and continues to innovate today. It has implemented a successful expansion strategy to drive incremental business in current markets and expand geographically.

Burford has led the industry in product development and continues to innovate today. It has implemented a successful expansion strategy to drive incremental business in current markets and expand geographically. Strongly positive asymmetry to returns: Our capital provision assets typically have much greater upside than downside.

Our capital provision assets typically have much greater upside than downside. Focused on sustainable shareholder profitability: Our five-year rolling return on tangible equity has exceeded 20% for each of the last four years, suggestive of a sustainable long-term level.2

The event will be broadcast via real-time webcast to registrants through the following link: https://burford-capital-2021-investor-day.open-exchange.net/registration. Webcast registrants will also be able to view the investor event through a replay facility available at the same link shortly after the event's conclusion.

1 Calculation derived from our internal modeling of individual matters and of our portfolio as a whole. These data are not a forecast of future results. The inherent volatility and unpredictability of legal finance assets precludes forecasting and limits the predictive nature of our internal models. The inherent nature of probabilistic modeling is that actual results will differ from the modeled results, and such differences could be material.

2 Return on tangible common equity is annual Burford-only profit after tax adjusted for amortization of intangible assets divided by average shareholders' equity less goodwill and intangible assets and is calculated as a mean of last five years.

About Burford Capital

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world from its principal offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, Singapore and Sydney.

For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford.

This release does not constitute an offer of any Burford fund. Burford Capital Investment Management LLC ("BCIM"), which acts as the fund manager of all Burford funds, is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The information provided herein is for informational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities (including, without limitation, interests or shares in the funds). Any such offer or solicitation may be made only by means of a final confidential Private Placement Memorandum and other offering documents.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events. These statements are intended as "forward-looking statements". In some cases, predictive, future-tense or forward-looking words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "guidance", "intend", "may", "plan", "potential", "predict", "projected", "should" or "will" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements which are forward-looking statements, including in our periodic reports that we file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, other information sent to our security holders, and other written materials. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on numerous assumptions and that our actual results of operations, including our financial condition and liquidity and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from (and be more negative than) those made in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. Significant factors that may cause actual results to differ from those we expect include those discussed under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2021. In addition, even if our results of operations, including our financial condition and liquidity and the development of the industry in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in our views or expectations or otherwise.

In addition to forward-looking statements, this release includes calculations derived from our internal modeling of individual matters and of our portfolio as a whole. These data are not a forecast of future results. The inherent volatility and unpredictability of legal finance assets precludes forecasting and limits the predictive nature of our internal models. The inherent nature of probabilistic modeling is that actual results will differ from the modeled results, and such differences could be material. The modelling data included in this release are for informational purposes only.

SOURCE Burford Capital
TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Today ReachStack announced that they have been selected by MD Financial Management Inc. (MD) to enable MD's next generation of personalized client communication, engagement & growth initiatives.

MD, a recognized leader in data driven client communication and content marketing within the Wealth Management industry, has partnered with ReachStack to accelerate the use of information provided by clients on their interests and needs, to efficiently deliver more frequent personalized interactions between their advisors and clients.

By leveraging ReachStack's next generation content tracking, analysis and automated delivery platform within their highly successful content and client communication program, MD will be able to efficiently scale the business impact they see from using personalized communication and service experiences to increase client engagement, satisfaction and referrals for their advisors.

"We are proud of the impact our content programs are having with our clients and advisors. As we evolve our program to deliver even more personalized and impactful content to each client based on their unique needs and interests, ReachStack's client profiling, content matching and automation capabilities will play a key role in our success." ~ Shawna Dennis, VP, Marketing & Communications, MD Financial Management

"Shawna and her team are innovative thinkers and pioneers in the use of data to optimize the business impact of their content and communication investments. We are excited to collaborate with her team on this initiative." ~ Brendan Kenalty, CMO & Partner, ReachStack.

About MD Financial Management Inc.

With more than 50 years of physician-focused experience, MD Financial Management Inc. is dedicated to providing financial peace of mind to Canada's physicians and their families, so they can enjoy what matters most to them while achieving their career and life goals. MD had more than $59 billion in assets under management as of July 29, 2021. MD Financial Management Inc. wholly owns or has a majority interest in its seven subsidiaries (the MD Group of Companies). It provides financial products and services, is the fund manager for the MD Family of Funds and offers investment counselling services. For a detailed list of the MD Group of Companies, visit md.ca.

About ReachStack

ReachStack is an intelligent email platform for the North American wealth management industry. For more information please visit ReachStack.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Brendan Kenalty

CMO

ReachStack

416-459-7973

[email protected]

Yali NDiaye

Communications Manager

MD Financial Management Inc.

613-813-7361

[email protected]

SOURCE ReachStack

Related Links

https://www.reachstack.com/


The medical device packaging market in Europe report covers insights on major trends, key growth drivers, and challenges impacting the overall growth of the market.

The medical device packaging market in Europe covers the following areas:

Medical Device Packaging Market Sizing

Medical Device Packaging Market Forecast

Medical Device Packaging Market Analysis

The report identifies the growth of the medical device market in Europe as one of the major factors driving the growth of the market. The shift toward smart packaging of medical devices will be crucial in fueling the growth of the market over the forecast period.

The Medical Device Packaging Market in Europe is segmented by product (pouches, trays, clamshells, and other products) and geography (Western Europe and Eastern Europe).

By product, the market witnessed maximum growth in the pouches segment in 2020. The segment is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for market players during the forecast period. In terms of region, Western Europe is expected to emerge as largest market for medical device packaging market through 2025. The presence of many pharmaceutical and medical device packaging companies in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK is contributing to the growth of the region.

This report presents a detailed picture of the medical device packaging market in Europe by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters.

Companies Mentioned

Amcor Plc

Berry Global Group Inc.

Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH

DuPont de Nemours Inc.

Gerresheimer AG

KP Holding GmbH & Co. KG

Oliver Healthcare Packaging Co.

RENOLIT SE

Sonoco Products Co.

Wipak Group

Subscribe to our "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 to join a community, who are eligible to view 3 reports monthly and download 3 reports annually.

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Global Healthcare Packaging Market - Global healthcare packaging market is segmented by product (bottles, blisters, vials, pouches, and others), packaging (primary packaging and secondary packaging), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America).

Download Exclusive Free Sample Report

Medical Device Packaging Market in Europe: Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of almost 9% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 3.68 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 8.20 Regional analysis Western Europe and Eastern Europe Performing market contribution Western Europe at 82% Key consumer countries Germany, France, UK, Italy, and Spain Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Amcor Plc, Berry Global Group Inc., Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Gerresheimer AG, KP Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Oliver Healthcare Packaging Co., RENOLIT SE, Sonoco Products Co., and Wipak Group Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
The SkyTerra team is pleased to announce another boost in their Microsoft partner standings. Tweet this

Reaching the Gold Level  Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions competency means they have become known for selling and deploying Microsoft Office 365 cloud and hybrid solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. In return, Microsoft provides them with unlimited signature cloud support.

Their new Silver Level  Enterprise Mobility Management competency shows that they stand out as experts in powerful, secure mobility management solutions for large businesses.

Additionally, as they have expanded the team to meet the overall adoption of the Enterprise Mobility and Security needs in M365 and Azure, the SkyTerra team has been there to implement the right solutions for their customers, maximizing their investments in the Microsoft 365 stack of solutions. They continue to dedicate themselves to making sure that they can provide their customers the best skills and support possible.

Stay tuned, because there is more to come. The SkyTerra Technologies team is hard at work on more Microsoft partner competencies, including Golds in Data Analytics, Enterprise Mobility and Security in the upcoming months.

For more information, visit www.skyterratech.com or partner.microsoft.com/en-US/membership/competencies .

About SkyTerra Technologies: SkyTerra is a leading New Hampshire IT advisory and cloud computing company. In a nutshell, we help companies do more with less by leveraging proven cloud solutions. Whether your organization is on-premises, already in the cloud or somewhere in between, we are your trusted advisor, providing you guidance for all of your IT needs.

SkyTerra is recognized by Microsoft and its partner ecosystem as a leading Azure provider. This means that an engagement with us provides you with direct access to an incredibly advanced, enterprise-level support team of certified Microsoft engineers and project management professionals who know what options and methods will work best for you  saving time and avoiding costly mistakes.

SOURCE SkyTerra Technologies

Related Links

https://www.skyterratech.com


BERLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Moonfare, the leading digital private equity investment platform for individual investors, announced today that it has raised $125 million in Series C funding, led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners. Moonfare will use the funding to continue to develop innovative investment solutions and accelerate its international expansion. The company has raised $185 million in funding to date.

Moonfare offers individual investors access to select private market funds that were previously only available for institutions. In September, Moonfare exceeded 1 billion assets under management, doubling its assets in only 8 months. Moonfare's last financing round was in March of this year and was led by Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, which also participated in the current round. Fidelity has entered into an exclusive distribution partnership with Moonfare.

"We are excited for this round of funding and the opportunity to leverage the capabilities and network of our new partners at Insight Partners." says Moonfare founder and CEO Dr. Steffen Pauls. "We will transform the business into a global champion for individual investors in the years to come."

"In an impressively short time, Moonfare has established itself as the international leader in an extremely large and expanding market," explains Insight Partners' Managing Director Matt Gatto. "They have curated a selection of the world's top private equity and venture capital funds and enabled access for individual investors through a digital platform that provides a seamless user experience and is built for scale. We look forward to partnering with Moonfare on their continued growth."

The number of households with more than $1 million to invest is growing around the world, exceeding 20 million households in 2021 and controlling over $80 trillion of assets (according to Cap Gemini World Wealth Report 2021). These investors have long sought direct access to alternative investments, such as private equity and venture capital funds, to diversify their portfolios and realize the potential for higher returns. However, individual investors continue to be significantly under-exposed to these private strategies, as access has been limited by high minimum investment requirements, regulatory restrictions, and administrative burdens.

Moonfare makes it possible for qualified individual investors to invest directly in top-tier private equity and venture capital funds at low minimums via a fast and easy-to-use digital experience. The platform is designed to customize to different customer preferences and regulatory requirements. It is the only private market fund platform globally that transacts with individual investors directly and through family offices, banks, and other advisors. Moonfare's digital secondary market allows investors to sell their existing stakes, bringing liquidity to a traditionally illiquid asset class and removing a key obstacle to investing for individual investors.

Moonfare already operates in 13 countries across Europe and Asia and has offices in Berlin, Hong Kong, London, and Luxembourg, with more to open soon. The company plans to double the size of its global team with over 80 full-time employees in the tech and product departments alone.

About Moonfare

Moonfare offers individual investors access to top private equity investment opportunities. With a digital onboarding process and asset management platform, Moonfare allows clients to register and invest in as little as 15 minutes and with minimums as low as $60,000. To date, Moonfare has offered 42 private market funds from top general partners worldwide with an emphasis on private equity buyouts, US tech funds and real asset categories like infrastructure.

Moonfare's investment team conducts ground-up due diligence on all funds. Fewer than 5% of available funds pass this process and make it onto the Moonfare platform. This focus on quality is one reason why Moonfare has won the trust of more than 1,800 clients who have invested more than 1 billion on its platform. LinkedIn named Moonfare as one of the top 10 startups in Germany in 2020.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

SOURCE Moonfare
LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software, announces it has acquired eSight Energy Limited, a UK-based software development company that empowers property owners, operators and occupiers worldwide to better manage their energy consumption and environmental footprint. Deploying eSight Energy solutions enables organisations to improve energy-related decision-making and savings through off-the-shelf and customisable reporting and analytics. The acquisition enhances MRI's comprehensive facilities and real estate management capabilities by adding energy monitoring solutions that decrease operating costs, reduce environmental impact, improve facility performance, and help meet legislative and compliance standards.

"One of the foundations of a well-connected community is sustainability. With this acquisition, we're excited to continue empowering organisations to take on the challenge by helping them meet their environmental, social and governance goals," says Saurabh Abhyankar, MRI's Chief Product Officer. "Improving sustainability and energy efficiency results in a rare win-win-win by reducing costs, improving occupant health and helping the planet. eSight Energy provides businesses with the tools they need to help ensure they are doing everything they can to achieve these goals."

eSight Energy software integrates with a broad range of real estate data sources and delivers a unified view of a company's energy footprint  whether via interactive dashboards or detailed, customisable reports. The result is to provide actionable insights that reduce costs and consumption, helping organisations raise the value of their real estate portfolios while contributing to a more sustainable environment. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with offices in the US, the company monitors more than 260,000 buildings and production sites across 60 countries, helping its customers realise up to 30% savings on their energy costs.

MRI continues to invest in solutions that drive efficiency in every part of the organisation  from space scheduling, planning and booking to facilities lifecycle management to best-practice energy usage. The acquisition reinforces the company's commitment to helping clients produce better overall ESG outcomes now and in the future. In addition, the information generated by eSight Energy software can be used to meet financial reporting requirements, such as energy and carbon reporting required by some governments. The software also simplifies and automates the tenant billing process, enabling accurate invoicing and on-time payments: It reads consumption data from tenant meters, generating error-free invoices; for multi-tenant buildings, the system can track individual submeters.

Janie Jefferies-Freer, CEO at eSight notes: "As a global leader in real estate software solutions, MRI furthers our reach and ability to help organisations worldwide boost their energy performance and environmental impact. From retail stores to universities to office blocks, today's buildings are powered by a multitude of energy sources that produce large amounts of data from various systems, sensors and monitors. Combining eSight's ability to tap into that data with MRI's facilities management capabilities enables more organisations, whether large or small, to track energy consumption, identify issues and quickly resolve them."

Founded in 1998 with the goal of monitoring energy consumption and reducing associated costs, eSight enables organisations to centralise and analyse all types of data affecting the energy efficiency of their buildings and equipment regardless of the data's source, system or format. MRI will continue to support eSight users without interruption.

About MRI Software

MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's comprehensive, flexible, open and connected platform empowers owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organisations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. MRI has been a trailblazer in the PropTech industry for over five decades, serving more than two million users worldwide. Through leading solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to elevate their business and gain a competitive edge. For more information, please visit mrisoftware.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

UK for MRI

Platform Communications

Hugh Filman (+44 7905 044850)

or Zoe Mumba (+44 7725 832393)

[email protected]

US for MRI

Rachel Antman

+1 212-362-5837

[email protected]

(ANZ for MRI)

Heather Jones (+61 400 394 669)

[email protected]

SOURCE MRI Software

Related Links

http://mrisoftware.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT Thursday, Nov. 4, to preview the launch of the agency's first planetary defense test mission, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). As a technology test, the mission will help determine if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future. DART's target asteroid is not a threat to Earth.

The briefing will livestream on NASA Television, the NASA app, the agency's website, and NASA's Twitter account.

Briefing participants will be:

Lindley Johnson , planetary defense officer, NASA Headquarters, Washington

, planetary defense officer, NASA Headquarters, Elena Adams , DART mission systems engineer, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel, Maryland

, DART mission systems engineer, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Nancy Chabot , DART coordination lead, Johns Hopkins APL

, DART coordination lead, Johns Hopkins APL Andy Cheng , DART investigation team lead, Johns Hopkins APL

To participate in the call, media must RSVP by 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, to Josh Handal at: [email protected]. Please refer to NASA's media accreditation policy for teleconferences and onsite activities. Media and the public also may refer to the DART press kit for more information on the mission and ask questions during the briefing on social media using #AskNASA.

DART is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1:20 a.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 24 (10:20 p.m. PST Tuesday, Nov. 23) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The spacecraft is designed to direct itself to impact an asteroid while traveling at a speed of roughly 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 kilometers per hour). Its target is the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos (Greek for "two forms"), which orbits a larger asteroid named Didymos (Greek for "twin"). In fall 2022, DART will impact Dimorphos to change its orbit within the Didymos binary asteroid system. The Didymos system is the ideal candidate for DART because it poses no actual impact threat to Earth, and scientists can measure the change in Dimorphos' orbit with ground-based telescopes.

To allow the public to share in the excitement of DART, NASA has launched the Planetary Defenders campaign. Participants can answer a short series of questions about planetary defense to earn their planetary defender certificate, which they can download or print, as well as a digital badge to share on social media. To participate, visit:

https://dart.jhuapl.edu/Planetary-Defender

The Johns Hopkins APL has been directed to manage the DART mission for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office as a project of the agency's Planetary Missions Program Office. The agency provides support for the mission from several centers, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Johnson Space Center in Houston, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The launch is managed by NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


"Military spouses are critical to the community and family unit," said the chief executive officers of Navy Federal, PenFed and USAA in a first-ever joint statement. "It is well known that military spouses face unique employment challenges compared to their civilian counterparts, which hinders their careers, family livelihood and impacts the broader military community. Our companies are committed to helping address this critical issue in support of our military families and their communities."

According to the Department of Defense, 22% of military spouses were unemployed in 2019.That figure has not significantly improved since 2012. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the situation worsened for military families, with 42% of military spouse respondents who had been working prior to the pandemic reporting that they had stopped working at some point.

"Military spouse unemployment is consistently a top challenge presented to our military families and one that requires renewed attention, collaboration, and innovative solutions," said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. "Our hope is that through this concentrated research, supported by Navy Federal, PenFed and USAA, we'll be able to uncover what works to find replicable solutions to increase sustainable career opportunities for military spouses."

The research phase of the initiative will kick off in January 2022 and continue through 2024. Results from the research will be released at key points over the next three years, which will help to direct and inform the next phase of work to help close critical gaps in programs and resources in support of military spouse employment. This effort will build upon initiatives that the three companies, respectively, have supported, engaged with, and led to help remove significant barriers to military spouse hiring.

More information on the initiative can be found at https://bluestarfam.org/careers/

About Navy Federal Credit Union

Established in 1933 with only seven members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving over 10 million members globally and is the world's largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all branches of the armed forces and their families. Dedicated to its mission of service, Navy Federal employs a workforce if over 19,000 and has a global network of 347 branches. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Pentagon Federal Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.4 million members worldwide with $30 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services. Our mission is to empower members of our community to achieve their financial well-being. To learn more, visit www.penfed.org.

About USAA

Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 36,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families is the nation's largest grass-roots military family support organization, with a mission to support military families to improve military readiness. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. Blue Star Families' nationally recognized surveys and analysis give military families an important voice that informs policymakers and its military family programs. It uses the power of its collective resources and cross-sector collaborations to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of members of military families to strengthen the troops, their families, and our nation as a whole. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.

Contact:

Laura Propp

(573) 424-3550

[email protected]

SOURCE USAA
DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Neiman Marcus Group ("NMG" or the "Company") is announcing new and expanded partnerships with Textile Exchange, Give Back Box, and FASHIONPHILE to support its commitment to curate sustainable products and services as a part of its forthcoming 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy.

"Now more than ever, environmental sustainability is top of mind for fashion and retail industries. NMG is taking action and driving change while we continue to revolutionize the ultimate luxury experience," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Group. "As our team works to finalize the anticipated 2025 ESG strategy, the Company is looking forward to helping build a better future for our industry with help from amazing partners such as Give Back Box, Textile Exchange, and FASHIONPHILE."

NMG recently became a member of Textile Exchange, a nonprofit organization that develops and promotes industry standards for preferred fibers. The organization encourages the adoption of sustainable materials across the global fashion and textile industry to reduce CO2 emissions from textile fiber and material production by 45 percent by 2030. The Company has chosen Textile Exchange to provide key in a Sustainable Products workstream within NMG's 2025 ESG strategy  providing leading insights and education to NMG's merchants and brand partners as the Company seeks to increase revenue from sustainable and ethical products over time. Neiman Marcus Group is the first North American luxury retailer to join Textile Exchange alongside top brands from groups like LVMH, Kering, and more. Neiman Marcus Group will speak at Textile Exchange's annual conference on November 18th alongside panelists from VF Corporation and Elevate Global to kick off this journey.

Claire Bergkamp, Chief Operating Officer of Textile Exchange, says, "We are delighted that Neiman Marcus Group has joined Textile Exchange as a Partner level Member. NMG is synonymous with luxury merchandise and has the power to change their directly controlled products and influence on a much larger scale. It takes leaders such as NMG being committed to scaling preferred fibers and materials to evoke the industry-wide change we need."

NMG is also teaming up with Give Back Box to expand its offering of sustainable services and support the circular economy. Give Back Box empowers Neiman Marcus customers to extend the life of the looks they love by donating them to someone in need - helping someone and reducing fashion's environmental footprint at the same time.

To participate, customers can reuse the box their Neiman Marcus order arrived in; fill it with any gently used clothing, accessories, and shoes they'd like to donate; print their free, prepaid shipping label at GiveBackBox.com; seal their box; attach the shipping label; and schedule a pick-up or drop off the box at any UPS, USPS, or FedEx location. Give Back Box will direct customers' donations to local charities and provide Neiman Marcus Group with real-time impact reporting on pounds of cardboard and clothes recycled. NMG is announcing the partnership via a customer letter in over 50,000 Neiman Marcus online shipments ordered during the brand's "Give Big" holiday campaign. For more information on the program with Give Back Box, visit https://www.neimanmarcus.com/editorial/services/give-back-box.

Monika Wiela, CEO & Founder of Give Back Box says, "We are very excited and proud to be launching a program with Neiman Marcus. We do believe the impact created together will go far beyond just the life cycle of clothing, and we are looking forward to creating impact and inspiring people to help others and do good this holiday season."

Supporting its investment in sustainable services, NMG became the first luxury retailer to make a long-term investment in resale by acquiring a minority stake in FASHIONPHILE, one of the world's top resellers of pre-owned luxury handbags and accessories. In 2019, NMG joined forces with FASHIONPHILE to roll out an integrated circularity program that has transformed the resale landscape and accelerated the luxury lifecycle to a velocity unparalleled to anything else in the world today.

Since its inception, the partnership has seen six FASHIONPHILE locations open inside of Neiman Marcus stores (Palo Alto, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Fashion Island, NorthPark Dallas, Scottsdale), extending the lifecycle of more than 39,000 items. Neiman Marcus and FASHIONPHILE now issue Neiman Marcus gift cards as an optional payment method to all customers who sell their luxury products to FASHIONPHILE. Customers who opt to be paid in Neiman Marcus gift cards are also able to enjoy an extra 10% bonus on the gift card value.

FASHIONPHILE Selling Studios will open across nine more Neiman Marcus stores in the next nine months to continue introducing customers to a new path of sustainable shopping. These locations include Boca Raton, King of Prussia, Atlanta, and Austin opening this Fall, followed by San Antonio, Las Vegas, Topanga, Troy, and Northbrook opening next Spring.

About The Neiman Marcus Group, LLC

Neiman Marcus Group is a relationship business that leads with love in everything we do for our customers, associates, brand partners, and communities. Our legacy of innovating and our culture of Belonging guide our roadmap for Revolutionizing Luxury Experiences. As one of the largest multi-brand luxury retailers in the U.S., with the world's most desirable brand partners, we're delivering exceptional products and intelligent services, enabled by our investments in data and technology. Through the expertise of our 9,000+ associates, we deliver and scale a personalized luxury experience across our three channels of in-store, eCommerce, and remote selling. Our NMG|Way culture, powered by our people, combines individual talents into a collective strength to make life extraordinary. Our brands include Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Horchow. For more information, visit www.neimanmarcusgroup.com.

About Give Back Box

Give Back Box partners with retailers like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Rent The Runway to provide customers a convenient method to donate household goods. Give Back Box not only provides an easy way to help people, it gives a secondary use to corrugated boxes and guarantees they will be recycled. Since 2012, it has shipped and recycled over ONE million boxes and diverted over 19 million pieces, or 13 million pounds, of clothing, from landfills and given them a second life.

About Textile Exchange

Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit that creates leaders in the preferred fiber and materials industry. We develop, manage, and promote a suite of leading industry standards, as well as collect and publish critical industry data and insights that enable brands and retailers to measure, manage and track their use of preferred fiber and materials. With a robust membership representing leading brands, retailers, and suppliers, Textile Exchange is positively impacting climate through accelerating the use of preferred fibers across the global textile industry. To learn more about Textile Exchange, visit TextileExchange.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TextileExchange.

SOURCE Neiman Marcus Group
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Netskope, the SASE leader, today announced Cloud Exchange, a suite of integration modules from Netskope and strategic partners that make customers' existing security infrastructure much more efficient at stopping cloud security threats. Cloud Exchange, which is free to Netskope customers, successfully enables cloud-based data and intelligence sharing across security and IT operations teams, helping those teams act faster and more effectively.

Cloud security risks continue to grow, a trend further accelerated by the pandemic-driven shift to remote work. According to Netskope Threat Labs research , cloud-delivered malware has reached an all-time high as of the second half of 2021, accounting for nearly 70% of malware delivery overall. Solving myriad web and cloud security challenges requires teams to proactively share actionable threat intelligence and use tools that draw on the best of multi-vendor integrations to shorten time-to-value, reduce friction in the delivery of security services, and increase the overall effectiveness of infrastructure.

"Teams endure security operations complexity and often struggle to operationalize the valuable telemetry and threat intelligence that would make their security infrastructure more efficient," said Andy Horwitz, Vice President, Business Development, Netskope. "With Cloud Exchange, we're removing complexity and helping all customers get more out of the investments they've made in their security stack. We're very pleased to collaborate with important partners in security and workflow management to make this easy today."

New or enhanced Cloud Exchange integration modules announced today include exporting logs, automating service tickets, sharing indicators of compromise (IOCs), and exchanging risk scores, delivered by Netskope with integrations for well-known technology partners and domain specialists. Cloud Exchange modules include the following:

Cloud Threat Exchange (CTE) enables automated bi-directional IOC sharing of file hashes and malicious URLs, such as between Netskope and CrowdStrike for the latest in ransomware and threat intelligence. CTE has plug-ins for multiple security vendors, industry standards STIX and TAXII, plus customers can create their own CTE plug-ins.

enables automated bi-directional IOC sharing of file hashes and malicious URLs, such as for the latest in ransomware and threat intelligence. CTE has plug-ins for multiple security vendors, industry standards STIX and TAXII, plus customers can create their own CTE plug-ins. Cloud Ticket Orchestrator (CTO), new this year, automatically creates service tickets from Netskope alerts within IT service management and collaboration tools such as those from Atlassian, PagerDuty, ServiceNow, and Slack, helping to automate response workflows.

new this year, automatically creates service tickets from Netskope alerts within IT service management and collaboration tools such as those from Atlassian, PagerDuty, ServiceNow, and Slack, helping to automate response workflows. Cloud Risk Exchange (CRE) enables the exchange and normalization of risk ratings between security solutions, such as Zero Trust Assessment (ZTA) for devices from CrowdStrike and user confidence index (UCI) risk ratings from Netskope. CRE enables adaptive policy controls to support zero trust principles, and can automatically invoke CTO service tickets to trigger investigations.

enables the exchange and normalization of risk ratings between security solutions, such as Zero Trust Assessment (ZTA) for devices from CrowdStrike and user confidence index (UCI) risk ratings from Netskope. CRE enables adaptive policy controls to support zero trust principles, and can automatically invoke CTO service tickets to trigger investigations. Cloud Log Shipper (CLS) exports Netskope logs to preferred SIEMs and data lakes, smoothly enabling security operations or XDR/MDR services with rich details of web and cloud activity including data flows.

Cloud Exchange integration modules support high availability deployments and are available free to Netskope customers via Netskope, Github, and AWS Marketplace.

For more on Cloud Exchange, read the Netskope blog . A full list of partner modules and integrations is also available on Netskope.com .

Supporting Quotes

"Today's complex threat landscape requires a modern security strategy that includes shared telemetry between solutions, providing actionable intelligence to joint customers. This allows security teams to more effectively defend their organizations from sophisticated cyber actors," said Matthew Polly, Vice President of Worldwide Alliances, Channels and Business Development, CrowdStrike. "We are excited to participate in Netskope's Cloud Exchange by sharing our IOCs and contextual device assessment, enabling customers to more easily implement a Zero Trust framework and protecting their applications, data and users from cyber attacks."

"Cloud Log Shipper adds rich, contextual, expansive, and detailed Netskope event and alert data to Rapid7, enabling SOC teams to quickly understand and investigate customers' cloud applications, data, users, and devices," said David Beaver, Director of Strategic Alliances & Partner Programs, Rapid7. "Rapid7 InsightIDR is also able to share actionable information back to Netskope via Cloud Threat Exchange, closing the feedback loop and reducing the potential for successful attacks."

"At Mimecast, we understand the importance of collaboration and intelligence sharing in cybersecurity," said Jules Martin, Vice President, Ecosystem & Alliances, Mimecast. "The Netskope Cloud Threat Exchange will make it easy for joint customers to process incidents of compromise from their various security vendors, and we're thrilled to be an inaugural partner."

"The integration between Netskope's Cloud Ticket Orchestrator and the PagerDuty digital operations management platform allows for efficient incident resolution for Security teams of any size," said Steve Gross, Senior Director, Global Technology Ecosystem, PagerDuty.

Cloud Exchange integration modules are also on showcase this week during Netskope's 2nd Annual SASE Week , a three-day series of virtual events designed to help technical and executive attendees understand the people, process, and technology choices needed for a successful Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) journey.

About Netskope

Netskope, the SASE leader, safely and quickly connects users directly to the internet, any application, and their infrastructure from any device, on or off the network. With CASB, Firewall, SWG, and ZTNA built natively in a single platform, the Netskope Security Cloud provides the most granular context, via patented technology, to enable conditional access and user awareness while enforcing zero trust principles across data protection and threat prevention everywhere. Unlike others who force tradeoffs between security and networking, Netskope's global security private cloud provides full compute capabilities at the edge.

Netskope is fast everywhere, data centric, and cloud smart, all while enabling good digital citizenship and providing a lower total-cost-of-ownership.

Media Contact

Inkhouse for Netskope

[email protected]

SOURCE Netskope
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman, a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager today announced that the firm joined the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, which has the goal of achieving net zero emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. As of November 1, 2021, the initiative included 220 signatories representing $57 trillion in assets under management.

The firm will initially partner with select clients that share an ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As part of this commitment, the firm's portfolio managers across the sustainable investing strategies of its public equities and public taxable fixed income funds have affirmed their intent, consistent with their stated objectives and strategies and pursuant to their own targets, to invest with the goal of attaining net zero alignment.

In conjunction with joining the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, Neuberger Berman is pleased to announce that it has formed an ESG Advisory Council to provide expert external advice on key sustainability topics, including net zero.

George Walker, Chairman and CEO, Neuberger Berman, said "We believe that joining the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative as well as the formation of the Neuberger Berman ESG Advisory Council is a natural extension of our leadership in the ESG investing landscape. Neuberger Berman already manages net zero mandates for climate-focused clients, including a 1.3bn multi-asset credit mandate from the Brunel Pension Partnership, an institution dedicated to responsible investing. We look forward to designing leading climate-related investment solutions in partnership with our clients globally."

Jonathan Bailey, Head of ESG Investing, Neuberger Berman, added, "We believe financial institutions have a key role to play in mitigating climate change and the risks it presents to businesses and the global economy. Incorporating material climate risks and opportunities into our investment process aligns with our fiduciary responsibility and long-term investment philosophy of seeking to maximize risk-adjusted returns for our clients. Furthermore, we believe we have a clear responsibility to actively engage with companies that have not yet aligned their business model with the transition to net zero in order to mitigate the risk of issuers being burdened with stranded assets."

The Neuberger Berman ESG advisory council consists of respected thought leaders across the ESG landscape including:





George Serafeim  Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration and Chair of the Impact-Weighted Accounts Project at Harvard Business School

 Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration and Chair of the Impact-Weighted Accounts Project at Ben Caldecott  Director, Oxford Sustainable Finance Program & Founding Director of the UK Centre for Greening Finance & Investment

 Director, Oxford Sustainable Finance Program & Founding Director of the UK Centre for Greening Finance & Investment Mindy Lubber  President and CEO of Ceres, a sustainability focused non-profit organization based in Boston, MA

 President and CEO of Ceres, a sustainability focused non-profit organization based in Vijay Advani  Former executive chairman of Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA, and current Chairman of the U.S.-India Business Council Global Board of Directors

The ESG Advisory Council's initial focus will be to review and provide feedback on Neuberger Berman's approach to pursuing portfolio alignment with a net zero emissions objective. In addition, the ESG Advisory Council will focus on enhancing the methodologies used to measure sustainable outcomes.

As a global leader in the asset management industry, Neuberger Berman is committed to staying at the forefront of ESG investing to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable future. In its most recent assessment, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment designated Neuberger Berman as a "PRI Leader", an award achieved by only 20 of its over 2,100 PRI signatories.

About Neuberger Berman

Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategiesincluding equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge fundson behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 25 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,400 professionals. For seven consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $437 billion in client assets as of September 30, 2021. For more information, please visit our website at nb.com.

The Neuberger Berman ESG Advisory Council will not make investment or voting recommendations.

The year 2020 represents the first year that asset managers became eligible for PRI Leader designation, which formerly included asset owners only. The new designation was awarded to only 20 of the 2100+ investment manager PRI signatories. The Leaders' Group showcases signatories at the cutting edge of responsible investment, and highlights trends in what they are doing. PRI uses signatories' reporting responses and assessment data to identify those that are doing excellent work in responsible investment  across their organizations and with a focus on a given theme each year. The 2020 theme is climate reporting. Information about PRI Leader is sourced entirely from PRI and Neuberger Berman makes no representations, warranties or opinions based on that information.

This material is being issued on a limited basis through various global subsidiaries and affiliates of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. Please visit www.nb.com/disclosure-global-communications for the specific entities and jurisdictional limitations and restrictions.

The "Neuberger Berman" name and logo are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC.

 2021 Neuberger Berman Group LLC. All rights reserved.

Media Contact:

Alexander Samuelson

Neuberger Berman

(212) 476-5392

[email protected]

SOURCE Neuberger Berman

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Users can simply place the Carrier air monitor in their room of choice, plug it in and connect the device to the Carrier Home app.1 The air monitor continuously samples the air in the room, measures levels of particulates and features sensors that detect the level of fine particles (2.5 microns or smaller) that may be associated with health effects such as potential lung damage, asthma development and increased allergy symptoms. The monitor features an LED ring light that provides instant, constant air quality status.

For spaces that may have high levels of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), the Carrier air monitor includes a sensor that detects the concentration of such compounds, which can be emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and may be linked with potential health concerns.

Consumers can use the Carrier Home app to access their air monitor's output from anywhere. The app has the capability to pair with multiple Carrier Healthy Home devices on a single dashboard. The app paired with the Carrier air monitor offers a number of useful features including:

Shares a Carrier indoor air health score.

Provides indoor air quality concentration for certain pollutants (PM 2.5 : 2.5 microns or smaller), TVOCs, relative humidity & temperature.

: 2.5 microns or smaller), TVOCs, relative humidity & temperature. Provides personalized notifications of current and trending air quality in the space.

Provides educational information about PM 2.5 , TVOCs and relative humidity.

, TVOCs and relative humidity. Gives an update on the current outdoor air quality.

"Our new air monitor allows users to learn more about their indoor air quality within their living spaces," said Holly Rhodes, Associate Director, Indoor Air Quality Products, Carrier. "Understanding these unique conditions makes the invisible  the quality of the air we breathe  visible and allows consumers to uncover and improve potentially hidden issues in order to help create a healthier indoor environment."

The Carrier air monitor is the latest device among a number of solutions offered through Carrier's Healthy Homes Program that can aid in addressing indoor air quality. Other offerings include the Infinity whole-home air purifier; the portable smart air purifier; HVAC system filters with high MERV ratings; UV lights installed inside HVAC equipment; as well as humidifiers and dehumidifiers to help address humidity levels in the home to help increase comfort.

To learn more, please visit: https://shop.carrierathome.com/collections/all/products/air-monitor.

About Carrier

Founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier is a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy-efficient products, building controls and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, transport and food service customers. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit carrier.com or follow @Carrier on Twitter.

Third party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Google and Android are trademarks of Google, LLC. Amazon, Alexa and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.









1 Wi-Fi connection required. Works with Alexa and Google Assistant and select Apple and Android mobile devices. Free Carrier Home App download required. See User Guide at CarrierAtHome.com for more details.

SOURCE Carrier

Related Links

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ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world that is quickly moving towards Artificial intelligence and decentralization, it is no doubt that web 3.0 and blockchain technology will most likely be the next big thing. The ability of web 3.0 to integrate semantics into our interactions with machines is outstanding. It can perfectly tailor our web experiences to personal taste already makes it a mind-boggling innovation.

There is no doubt that these technological solutions will shape the way we live in years to come. However, beyond these solutions are innovations that will not only shape the way we live but will influence how we see life itself. Welcome to the Omnisphere!

Omnisphere is a unique blockchain innovation that will enable users to be seamlessly onboarded onto web 3.0 applications. At the same time, giving the users full sovereignty over their data and all the security needed. All of this is achieved through the combination of decentralized capacity, blockchain, and private full-stack applications.

Omnisphere offers a platform that combines the best features of web 3.0 and the blockchain to provide a truly sovereign, efficient, and decentralized internet. In addition, users can exist digitally only once and exert complete control over their data. This rich data resource ensures that their web experiences are tailored to their taste and open up unending web opportunities.

What are the unique technological innovations Omnisphere employs to achieve this?

The Omniverse makes use of overlapping layers of networks, with each one fulfilling a specific purpose. This structure of networks enables the Omniverse to function perfectly while delivering value on many fronts simultaneously.

1. THE OMNIGRID: this is the first layer of the Omnisphere, and it is a distributed peer-to-peer network of computers that deliver computing, storage, and network capacity.

It is responsible for storing user data in decentralized storage and ensuring that users and authorized apps can remotely access stored data.

It is the base IT capacity layer that provides computational power to the UNISPHERES and the OMNICHAIN and is a leaner alternative to centralized data infrastructures that dominate the internet today.

2. THE OMNICHAIN: This is the second layer of the Omnisphere. It is a blockchain innovation that runs on the omnigrid decentralized capacity. It hosts all the smart contracts in the Omnisphere and also validates the transactions related to these smart contracts. This ensures data security as it is being exchanged through the Omnigrid.

The Omnichain uses a consensus engine that is built on top of the Polkadot blockchain. It sources information by interacting with oracles which are external sources of information, and then it captures and holds such information.

One of the beauties of the Omnichain innovation is that it can be seamlessly integrated with any blockchain network; this will make the onboarding of users very easy and accelerate the next generation of internet products.

3. THE OMNIVERSE: The Omniverse is the third layer of the Omnisphere. It is a network on top of which anyone can build web 3.0 applications; these applications enjoy total user privacy, high security, and immunity to censorship or data espionage.

The Omniverse contains unlimited Unispheres, which have countless UNIWEBS, OMNIAPPS, UNIAPPS, and UNICHAINS.

Unispheres are decentralized private environments running on top of the OmniGrid, they are integrated with specific communities, and each application is deployed in its Unisphere. A Unisphere contains a blockchain, an identity management system, and enough computing and storage capacity to host any Uniapp.

Unichains contain unicontracts which are smart contract protocols used for deploying Unispheres using UniApps inside Omnispheres.

Omniapps are applications running inside the Unispheres; they could be social media apps, networking, or video conferencing apps.

Uniapps are decentralized and custom-developed applications. They are coded in the Vlang and are fully integrated with UNICHAINS and UNISPHERES.

The internet is one of the most innovative technologies, and the web has always moved from less innovative products to more innovative ones. There is no doubt that the internet is primed to move towards a more decentralized web specifically designed to give the best user experience. It is interesting to watch how these innovations happen, and this innovation by Omnisphere is incredible. Surely, the future is here!

Media Details

Company: Omnisphere

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.omnisphere.tech/

Disclaimer: All investment strategies and investments involve the risk of loss. Consider doing your own due diligence before making financial decisions related to any Cryptocurrency.

SOURCE Omnisphere
DUBLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Antibody Drug Conjugates Contract Manufacturing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Condition (Myeloma, Lymphoma, Breast Cancer), By Linker (Cleavable Linker, Non-cleavable Linker), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market size is anticipated to reach USD 18.4billion by 2028, according to a new report by the publisher.

The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2021 to 2028. The factors driving market expansion is complex nature of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), increasing demand for manufacturing capacity as well as increasing number of research on antibody therapies.



Around 70.0% of ADC projects are outsourced to contract development and manufacturing organisations. As ADCs are complex molecules, they require clean room biologic and high containment cytotoxic facilities for safe handling. Hence, there are real opportunities for companies that can provide specialised, innovative chemistries that require skilled workers.



ADCs are currently a niche market, with few CMOs offering all of the drug's components, resulting in a complex supply chain. Besides, with seven commercially authorised ADC on the market and roughly 90 projects in clinical trials, it is essential to reduce the complicated supply chain in order to increase production efficiency. For the success of the trial, a transparent and integrated supply chain is essential.



The coronavirus pandemic has assessed a typically optimistic and deliberate approach to monoclonal antibody development and disrupting supply chains not only for those antibodies deemed most promising a year ago, but also for others antibody drug conjugate that have been thrust into the spotlight as potential COVID-19 treatments.The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a strong and quick reaction from scientists working in government, and industries to create medicines and vaccines. As a result of the increasing demand for effective COVID-19 treatment medicines, global production of vaccines, antibody drug conjugates, and other pharmaceuticals is projected to expand.



Antibody Drug Conjugates Contract Manufacturing Market Report Highlights

By condition, the myeloma segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 49.4% in 2020. This is largely due to the fact that antibody-drug conjugates are a novel form of immunotherapy presently being researched and evaluated in the treatment of myeloma

Based on the linker, the cleavable linker segment accounted for a maximum share of 56.5% in 2020. Extensive use of cleavable linker technology in ADC and a greater number of cleavable linker-based authorised products are the factor responsible for the growth

Asia Pacific dominated themarket in 2020 due to the robust improvements in research and development activities, emerging markets, and competition in the pharmaceutical CMO sector

dominated themarket in 2020 due to the robust improvements in research and development activities, emerging markets, and competition in the pharmaceutical CMO sector In 2018, nearly 202 ADCs have entered the clinical trials and there were about 23 novel ADCs in the last 12 months increasing at a rate of 30.0%

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Report Scope

Chapter 2 Methodology



Chapter 3 Objectives

3.1 Objective - 1: Understanding the market dynamics

3.2 Objective - 2: Understanding the market estimates and forecasts

3.3 Objective - 3: Understanding the attributes such as strategy framework, competitor categorization

3.4 Objective - 4: Understanding the key service and application scopes to conclude on the market size.



Chapter 4 Executive Summary

4.1 Market Outlook

4.2 Segment Outlook

4.3 Competitive Insights



Chapter 5 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market: Variables, Trends & Scope

5.1 Market Lineage Outlook

5.1.1 Parent Market Outlook

5.1.2 Ancillary Market Outlook

5.2 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

5.3 Market Variable Analysis

5.3.1 Market Driver Analysis

5.3.1.1 Rising Prevalence Of Cancer

5.3.1.2 Advancemtent In Medical Technology

5.3.1.3 Increasing Demand For The Biologic Therapy

5.3.2 Market Restraint Analysis

5.3.2.1 High Manufacturing Cost Of Antibody Drug Conjugates

5.4 Antibody Drug Conjugates Contract Manufacturing Market: Analysis Tools

5.4.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.4.2 Pestel Analysis

5.4.3 Major Deals & Strategic Alliances Analysis



Chapter 6 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market: Condition Segment Analysis

6.1 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market : Definition & Scope

6.2 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market: Market Share Analysis, 2020 & 2028

6.3 Myeloma

6.3.1 Myeloma Market, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)

6.3.2 Lymphoma

6.3.2.1 Lymphoma Market, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)

6.3.3 Breast Cancer

6.3.3.1 Breast Cancer Market, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)

6.3.4 Others (Urothelial Cancer)

6.3.4.1 Others (Urothelial Cancer) Market, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)



Chapter 7 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market : Linker Segment Analysis

7.1 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market: Definition & Scope

7.2 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market: Market Share Analysis, 2020 & 2028

7.3 Cleavable Linker

7.3.1 Cleavable Linker Market, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)

7.4 Non-cleavable Linker

7.4.1 Non-cleavable Linker Market, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)



Chapter 8 Antibody drug conjugates contract manufacturing market: Regional Analysis



Chapter 9 Company Profiles

9.1 Cambrex

9.1.1 Company Overview

9.1.2 Financial Performance

9.1.3 Service Benchmarking

9.1.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.2 ReciPharm

9.2.1 Company Overview

9.2.2 Service Benchmarking

9.2.3 Strategic Initiatives

9.3 ThermoFisher

9.3.1 Company Overview

9.3.2 Financial Performance

9.3.3 Service Benchmarking

9.3.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.4 Pantheon

9.4.1 Company Overview

9.4.2 Financial Performance

9.4.3 Service Benchmarking

9.4.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.5 Corden Pharma

9.5.1 Company Overview

9.5.2 Financial Performance

9.5.3 Service Benchmarking

9.5.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.6 Samsung Biologics

9.6.1 Company Overview

9.6.2 Financial Performance

9.6.3 Service Benchmarking

9.6.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.7 Lonza

9.7.1 Company Overview

9.7.2 Financial Performance

9.7.3 Service Benchmarking

9.7.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.8 Catalent

9.8.1 Company Overview

9.8.2 Financial Performance

9.8.3 Service Benchmarking

9.9 Siegfried

9.9.1 Company Overview

9.9.2 Financial Performance

9.9.3 Service Benchmarking

9.9.4 Strategic Initiatives

9.10 Piramal Pharma Solutions

9.10.1 Company Overview

9.10.2 Service Benchmarking

9.10.3 Strategic Initiatives

9.11 Boehringer Ingelheim

9.11.1 Company Overview

9.11.2 Service Benchmarking

9.11.3 Strategic Initiatives



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/azor8t

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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BRUSSELS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Panoramix (Providing risk assessments of complex real-life mixtures for the protection of European citizens and the environment), a 4-year project led by the Technical University of Denmark, focuses on innovative ways for quantifying the risk associated with exposure to chemical mixtures, without animal testing. The project is supported by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe program with a 4.4M grant and will hold a kick-off meeting in Copenhagen on 22-23 Nov 2021.

Children are exposed to man-made chemicals already before they are born. While progress has been made to reduce toxic substance levels, new chemicals constantly enter the market. Many sectors are involved in reducing chemical exposure. Citizens are increasingly concerned regarding their lifestyle choices; NGOs are working to provide tools to make informed decisions; regulators are updating and setting new safety levels for each substance and; industry is adapting to a changing demand.

Risk assessment used as a scientific basis for new regulations tends to focus on one chemical at a time to reduce complexity. Still, scientists are convinced that it is necessary to tackle toxicant exposure at the level of mixtures of chemicals. The Chemical Strategy for Sustainability published in October 2020 stresses the need to address the combination effects of substances into the EU legislation to achieve a "toxic-free" environment.

Professor Vinggaard, coordinator of Panoramix, explains: "We are constantly exposed to different substances coming from different sources: from the water we drink to the food we eat. Moreover, a single mixture can be composed of dozens of chemicals, both known and unknown. Finally, some harmful effects might take years to manifest in the population. With Panoramix, we aim to address these critical points with a specific focus on children."

Samples of water, food and human cord blood will be studied to consider human exposure from different environmental compartments. Using in vitro tests that are increasingly replacing animal testing, researchers will focus on samples for their adverse effects on fundamental biological processes. Samples suspected to contain harmful combinations of chemicals will then be analysed to identify which substances contribute most to these mixture effects.

This information will be compared to Odense Child Cohort data, an ongoing project studying the impact of the environment on the development of the fetus and infant throughout their early life. By linking the results of the in vitro tests on the cord blood samples with the health conditions of the Odense Child Cohort, potential long-term effects induced by chronic chemical exposures will be uncovered. Thus, this research framework will pinpoint the co-occurring chemicals that are most likely associated to specific human health effects ("mixtures of concern") and, their levels in water, food and the human body.

The data generated by the 11 European Panoramix partners will propose safety levels for chemical mixtures in water, food and the human body to guide regulators in shaping safety policies.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1674130/Panoramix_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Panoramix
"My first experience with Fauci would be in the White House Situation Room on January 28, 2020. It was the first of many confrontations with an individual who would do more damage to this nation, President Trump, and the world than anyone else this side of the Bat Lady of Wuhan," writes Navarro.

Their first clashes were over President Trump's January 31, 2020 ban on travel from China to stop the spread of COVID-19. Fauci stubbornly insisted, "In my experience, travel restrictions don't work." But Navarro penned a memo detailing how not imposing such restrictions would cost "the possible loss of as many as half a million American lives." Navarro exposes Fauci's role in funding gain-of-function experiments on bat viruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and holds Fauci accountable for numerous missteps in handling the pandemic, even going so far as calling Fauci "the likely Godfather of the Pandemic." He chronicles Fauci's everchanging proclamations on the pandemic and charges Big Pharma with delaying the vaccine until after the election.

Notable quotes from Fauci include:

"This [virus] is not a major threat to the people of the United States and this is not something that the citizens of the United States right now should be worried about." - January 21, 2020

"There's no reason to be walking around with a mask." - March 8, 2020

"The overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza." - March 26, 2020

Navarro concludes, "Faucialong with Big Pharma, must be held ethically and legally accountable for the Wuhan lab gain-of-function catastrophe. The suppression of low-cost therapeutics such as Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin caused a deadly delay in delivering relief to the American people."

In Trump Time is a true insider's look at the entire four years of Trump's presidency and can be purchased on Amazon here: https://bit.ly/intrumptimenewswire

For regular updates please visit: https://peternavarro.com/

Media Contact: [email protected]

About Peter Navarro

Peter Navarro holds a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University and was a professor emeritus of economics and public policy at the University of California-Irvine for more than 20 years. He served as Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy at the White House during the Trump Administration. He is the author of numerous books, including his China trilogy: The Coming China Wars (2006), Death By China (2011), and Crouching Tiger (2015). At the White House, Dr. Navarro advised President Trump on policies to increase economic growth, decrease trade deficits, and strengthen America's defense industrial base. He also helped increase foreign military sales to allied nations, and reformed conventional arms transfer and unmanned aerial systems policies.

SOURCE Peter Navarro

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Poly Studio Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows are simple to buy and deploy right out-of-the-box. With an optimized room view as well as speaker tracking and framing technology, Poly Studio Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows deliver an equitable and dynamic meeting experience for everyone. Poly's Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions on Windows can be paired with new Dell or Lenovo conferencing PCs.

"Meetings are happening everywhere - from conference rooms to personal workspaces and everything in between. People crave equitable and consistent video meeting experiences no matter where they are," said Laura Marx, Vice President, Global Alliance And Product Marketing, Poly. "Poly DirectorAI technology intelligently frames in-conference room meeting participants so anyone not in the room can easily track the conversation."

"Today's workplace needs have changed, and Microsoft Teams Rooms is introducing inclusive collaboration experiences through concepts like front row," says Albert Kooiman, Senior Director of Microsoft Teams Devices Partner Engineering and Certification at Microsoft Corporation. "The new lineup of Poly Room Solutions for Teams Rooms brings users to the forefront of the future of meetings with optimized room views, plus speaker tracking and framing for a more equitable and dynamic meeting experience."

Oftentimes conference room participants either appear small and are difficult to hear, or the person close to the camera looks fine while the person sitting at the far end of the table looks too small. This leads to other meeting participants finding the experience to be inequitable, uninviting or dis-engaging. Poly's DirectorAI technology overcomes this disparity and delivers a high-performing meeting experience in any size space.

Poly Studio Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms come in a variety of configurations, and can comfortably equip any meeting room size to deliver an equitable experience for all:

Poly Studio Focus Room Kit for Microsoft Teams on Windows  Includes Poly Studio P15 and Poly Room PC for Microsoft Teams Room with Dell, or Lenovo

Includes Poly Studio P15 and Poly Room PC for Microsoft Teams Room with Dell, or Lenovo Maximize limited space with powerful all-in-one video bar and clutter-free cabling



Beam-forming microphone array makes sure no one misses a thing



Low noise and consistent image quality with high-performance image sensor



Always maintain proper light exposure with automatic low-light compensation

Poly Studio Small/Medium Room Kit for Microsoft Teams on Windows  Includes Poly Studio USB and Poly Room PC for Microsoft Teams Room with Dell, or Lenovo

Includes Poly Studio USB and Poly Room PC for Microsoft Teams Room with Dell, or Lenovo Poly DirectorAI technology provides cutting-edge video experiences



Maximize limited space with powerful all-in-one video bars and clutter-free cabling



Beam-forming microphone array makes sure no one misses a thing



Production-quality group framing and pinpoint-accurate speaker tracking

Poly Studio Large Room Kit for Microsoft Teams on Windows  Includes Poly Studio E70, Poly Room PC for Microsoft Teams Room with Dell, or Lenovo

Includes Poly Studio E70, Poly Room PC for Microsoft Teams Room with Dell, or Lenovo Dual cameras with 4K 20-megapixel sensors covers large rooms

20-megapixel sensors covers large rooms

Poly DirectorAI technology provides cutting-edge video experiences



Group framing and speaker tracking, including smooth dissolve video transition between views

Poly has been working alongside Microsoft for over 15 years, and has the broadest portfolio of Teams certified devices available -- from our headsets and speakerphone devices to our video conferencing gear.

For more on Poly's Solutions for Microsoft Teams, please visit: https://www.poly.com/us/en/solutions/platform/microsoft

Pricing and Availability

Poly's Microsoft Teams Rooms Solutions with Dell or Lenovo are now available in North America and select regions, starting at $3,150.

For more information on Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows, please visit: https://www.poly.com/us/en/solutions/platform/microsoft/video/teams-rooms-windows

About Poly

Poly (NYSE: POLY) creates premium audio and video products so you can have your best meeting -- anywhere, anytime, every time. Our headsets, video and audio-conferencing products, desk phones, analytics software and services are beautifully designed and engineered to connect people with incredible clarity. They're pro-grade, easy to use and work seamlessly with all the best video and audio-conferencing services. Poly MeetingAI delivers a broadcast quality video conferencing experience with Poly DirectorAI technology which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver real-time automatic transitions, framing and tracking, while NoiseBlockAI and Acoustic Fence technologies block-out unwanted background noise. With Poly (Plantronics, Inc.  formerly Plantronics and Polycom), you'll do more than just show up, you'll stand out. For more information visit www.Poly.com.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Poly Media Contact:

Shannon Shamoon

PR Manager

+1 (831) 201-9142

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Mike Iburg

Vice President, IR

+1 (831) 458-7533

[email protected]

SOURCE Poly

Related Links

http://www.poly.com


INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Joseph Lese, Principal Architect and Owner of Progress Studio, and the entire Progress Studio team is thrilled to announce our recent certification as an LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Supplier Diversity Initiative. The NGLCC is the business voice of the LGBT community and serves as the nation's exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned and operated businesses.

NGLCC NATIONAL LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE logo

Progress Studio is now eligible to participate in the NGLCC's corporate partners' supplier diversity programs, can take advantage of the vast educational opportunities promoted by the NGLCC, and can work to foster business to business relationships with other LGBTBEs worldwide throughout the year and especially at the NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference.

Progress Studio began as a small, one-person architecture firm in the cultural municipality of Broad Ripple, Indiana in October 2018 and since has grown to an incredible six-person-team located in the heart of Downtown Indianapolis.

As Indianapolis' only 100% owned LGBTQ+ architecture firm, we aim to provide design excellence through the use of advanced technology. We believe that by providing our clients with sustainable solutions that are budget friendly and accessible, we hold ourselves to a higher standard as experts in the architecture and design community.

At Progress Studio, we are constantly evolving as a company and as individuals to listen, lead, and communicate with our business partners and clients. To all of those who have been with us thus far, thank you for the incredible support.

Progress Studio Media Contact

Evan Bell (He/Him/His)

[email protected]

317-978-1100

Progress Studio Principal Architect

Joseph Lese (He/Him/His)

[email protected]

NGLCC Media Contact

[email protected]

202.234.9181

SOURCE Progress Studio
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Puffy, one of America's fastest-growing mattress brands, have achieved yet another best mattress award for their innovation in comfort technology.

Achieving a best mattress award in the highly competitive world of online mattresses is no easy feat. The company has received numerous industry awards, and been recognized by companies such as Forbes, CNet, Sleep Matters, Best Mattress Guide, and more, beating out several other leading online mattress brands in doing so.

Puffy Voted America's Best Mattress 2021

The Puffy line-up features a mix of memory foam and hybrid mattresses, all designed, manufactured, and shipped in the USA. Their signature cloud-like feel is a result of the use of premium foams and materials, which have been certified and sourced from the USA . The unique design of their mattress range has resulted in recognition from a wide range of industry experts.

The Puffy Mattress has been awarded Best Foam Mattress For Back Sleepers 2021 by Sleepopolis, while their flagship hybrid model, The Puffy Lux Hybrid has been awarded Best Mattress For Side Sleepers With Back Pain 2021 by Forbes , Best Gel Mattress 2021 by CNet, and more.

According to the CDC , 35% of adults in the United States are sleep-deprived. The Puffy vision to have every American experience the life-changing benefits of better sleep has carried over to their mattress offers. With Healthcare , Military , Teachers & Student discounts , the brand remains committed to making a good night's sleep accessible to everyone.

Puffy CEO Arthur Andreasyan shared insights into the company's growing list of accolades: 'When developing our mattresses, we conducted extensive research to identify the critical factors of rejuvenating sleep. It's encouraging to see our hard work recognized and rewarding to watch the impact it has made'.

Every purchase of a Puffy product comes with a host of benefits, including their sleep trial, flexible financing options, free shipping, and lifetime warranty. The upcoming Puffy Black Friday Mattress Sale is a much-awaited event. The company also runs a wide range of sales and offers year-round.

About Puffy

Puffy is a mattress company currently operating in the United States and Canada. The Puffy team is committed to developing the most luxurious mattresses, bedding, and bedroom furniture that you can buy online.

Puffy has been featured on The Talk and was recently awarded Best Mattress of 2021 . For more information, visit https://puffy.com.

SOURCE Puffy

Related Links

www.puffy.com


HOUSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR) announced today that company management will participate in several institutional investor conferences in November and December, including the Baird Global Industrial Conference, Goldman Sachs Global Sustainability Forum and the Credit Suisse Global Industrials Conference.

Baird Global Industrial Conference

Duke Austin, Chief Executive Officer, Derrick Jensen, Chief Financial Officer, and Kip Rupp, Vice President  Investor Relations, will virtually meet with institutional investors during the conference on November 10, 2021. Duke Austin and Derrick Jensen will also participate in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Baird analyst Justin Hauke on the same day at 9:05 a.m. Eastern time. This fireside chat will only be available to Baird clients.

Goldman Sachs Global Sustainability Forum

Duke Austin, Chief Executive Officer, will virtually participate in a panel at the forum titled, "Enabling Net Zero and Infrastructure Solutions: Challenges and Opportunities", on November 30, 2021 at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, which will be broadcast live over the Internet. Live webcast links and archived replays of this presentation will be available in the "News & Events" area of the Investor Relations section of Quanta's website (https://investors.quantaservices.com/news-events ) . Kip Rupp, Vice President  Investor Relations, will virtually meet with institutional investors during the conference on November 30, 2021.

Credit Suisse Global Industrial Conference

Duke Austin, Chief Executive Officer, Derrick Jensen, Chief Financial Officer, and Kip Rupp, Vice President  Investor Relations, will virtually meet with institutional investors during the conference on December 2, 2021. Duke Austin and Derrick Jensen will also participate in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Credit Suisse analyst Jamie Cook on the same day at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, which will be broadcast live over the Internet. Live webcast links and archived replays of this presentation will be available in the "News & Events" area of the Investor Relations section of Quanta's website (https://investors.quantaservices.com/news-events ) .

About Quanta Services

Quanta Services is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the utility, renewable energy, communications, pipeline, and energy industries. Quanta's comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com.

Kip Rupp, CFA, IRC

Quanta Services, Inc.

(713) 341-7260

SOURCE Quanta Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.quantaservices.com


RCG is experiencing rapid growth and the partnership with Frontenac is the next step in the Company's evolution. Tweet this

Rob Simplot, RCG's President and CEO, said, "EOS has been a terrific partner in our journey to build a global digital consulting powerhouse. RCG is experiencing rapid growth and the partnership with Frontenac is the next step in the Company's evolution. The Frontenac team is an experienced group of investors who believe in RCG. They are committed to helping RCG provide an even more compelling set of world class digital consulting service offerings and capabilities to the Fortune 1000 marketplace. Frontenac brings extensive industry experience and I look forward to working with them to capitalize on organic and inorganic growth opportunities."

Michael Langdon, Managing Director at Frontenac, said, "Together with Rob and the RCG team, we look forward to continuing RCG's path towards becoming the preeminent digital consultancy with end-to-end capabilities. With our history of working with leading tech-enabled services companies, RCG is truly a perfect fit with Frontenac. The exceptional leadership team makes us excited to work with them and build on RCG's history of success." Joe Rondinelli, Principal at Frontenac added, "RCG is uniquely positioned in the digital transformation industry with deep vertical market expertise and a global delivery model that designs and builds technology solutions for its clients. We will look to accelerate its growth by investing in leading technology capabilities such as AI, machine learning and advanced analytics, among others."

Concurrent with the recapitalization, Aziz Virani, a Frontenac executive partner and 30+ year IT services veteran, joins the Board of Directors as Chairman. Virani was formerly with Accenture as the Global Managing Partner, Technology practice for the Financial Services Operating Group, and a member of Accenture's Global Executive Council. He is also the former CEO of CLEAResult and President  North America, for Avanade, a global professional services company providing IT consulting services for the Microsoft platform. "This announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for RCG," said Virani. "We look forward to partnering with Rob and his management team to enhance the culture of client service, high performance and teamwork that RCG has established over nearly 47 years. We are excited to assist in providing increased value to RCG's customers and driving the next stage of growth initiatives to become the leading platform for digital transformation and managed services."

Honigman LLP served as legal counsel to Frontenac on the transaction. Clearsight Advisors acted as the sole financial advisor to RCG, and Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel to the Company.

About RCG Global Services:

RCG is a global provider of digital transformation consulting services, combining digital strategy and modern cloud and data technologies to deliver measurable business outcomes for customer engagement, workforce enablement, and operations optimization. RCG helps customers ignite transformational thinking and unlock new value throughout their journey to achieve their digital ambitions. RCG serves Fortune 1000 enterprise clients across a range of markets, with special emphasis on the consumer, financial services & insurance, and healthcare industries. RCG is based in Iselin, New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, and offshore delivery centers in the Philippines and India. For more information, please visit rcgglobalservices.com.

About Frontenac:

Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries. Frontenac works in partnership with established operating leaders, through an executive-centric approach called CEO1ST, which seeks to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence. Over the last 50 years, Frontenac has built a leading franchise working with over 275 owners of mid-sized businesses as they address complex transition issues of liquidity, management enhancement, and growth planning. For more information, please visit www.frontenac.com.

About Clearsight Advisors:

Clearsight Advisors is an independent merchant banking firm dedicated to driving the Knowledge Economy by providing world-class M&A and capital raising solutions exclusively to growth-oriented Business Services and Technology companies. Clearsight combines deep market insights across software, services and data. Clearsight Capital Advisors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a registered member of FINRA & SIPC. For more information about Clearsight, visit www.clearsightadvisors.com.

SOURCE RCG Global Services

Related Links

http://www.rcggs.com


"This well-deserved recognition honors Rick's remarkable accomplishments, his strong leadership and his commitment to Graybar's success," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "We congratulate Rick on this prestigious achievement, and we thank him for his extraordinary contributions to our company and our industry."

Rick first joined Graybar in 1983 as a warehouse employee. He progressed through positions in counter sales, customer service, sales, product management and district sales management. Rick was elected to Graybar's Board of Directors in 2018. In addition to his many career achievements, Rick holds a bachelor's degree in management and has successfully completed several executive education programs.

"I am extremely humbled to receive this incredible honor from Savoy Magazine," Rick said. "While this honor recognizes my personal achievements, it is also a testament to Graybar's commitment to diversity and inclusion at all levels of our organization."

Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 292 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.

Media Contact:

Tim Sommer

(314) 578-7672

[email protected]

SOURCE Graybar

Related Links

http://www.Graybar.com


Ritchie Bros.' acquisition of SmartEquip, which was announced in late September, has now closed

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. (NYSE: RBA) (TSX: RBA) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of SmartEquip, an innovative technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle and integrates parts procurement with both OEMs and dealers.

"This acquisition expands our solution set and furthers our goal of providing the best customer experience as we transition from a traditional auctioneer to a global marketplace for insights, services, and transaction solutions," said Ann Fandozzi, Chief Executive Officer, Ritchie Bros. "SmartEquip will enable us to offer asset-specific, full-lifecycle parts and service support to customers on behalf of our dealer and OEM partners."

SmartEquip is a multi-manufacturer platform that provides customers with real-time service and diagnostic support, dynamically customized, via serial number, to each asset in their fleet, as well as enabling the electronic procurement of parts from OEMs and their dealers. The company supports approximately $1 billion in annual transaction volume with more than 600 OEM brands, on behalf of fleet locations across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. SmartEquip has 60 employees and will continue to operate as a standalone business and maintain its physical presence in Norwalk, CT for the foreseeable future.

"Ritchie Bros. is a perfect partner for us and our team is very excited to take the next growth step together," said Bryan Rich, SmartEquip's Executive Chairman. "Through Ritchie Bros.' global customer base, this merger will accelerate SmartEquip's ability to support its rapidly growing footprint across our joint global marketplaces and customer base. We can't wait to get started!"

Under the terms of the transaction, Ritchie Bros. has acquired 100% of the equity of SmartEquip for approximately US$175 million subject to adjustment.

Advisors:

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Ritchie Bros. and Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Dechert LLP are serving as legal advisors. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is serving as financial advisor to SmartEquip and Robinson+Cole, LLP is serving as legal advisor.

About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Ritchie List, a self-serve listing service for North America; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including, in particular, statements regarding the benefits and synergies of the SmartEquip transaction, future opportunities for the combined businesses of Ritchie Bros. and SmartEquip, future financial and operational results and any other statements regarding events or developments that Ritchie Bros. believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan, "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or statements that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Ritchie Bros.' control, including risks and uncertainties related to: general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which Ritchie Bros. and SmartEquip operate; Ritchie Bros.' ability to successfully integrate SmartEquip 's operations and employees with Ritchie Bros.' existing business; the ability to realize anticipated growth and synergies in the SmartEquip transaction; the maintenance of important business relationships; the effects of the SmartEquip transaction on relationships with employees, customers, other business partners or governmental entities; transaction costs; deterioration of or instability in the economy, the markets we serve or the financial markets generally; as well as the risks and uncertainties set forth in Ritchie Bros.' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and Ritchie Bros.' Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, each of which are available on the SEC, SEDAR, and Ritchie Bros.' website. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Ritchie Bros.' forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Ritchie Bros. does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros.
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE: LSPD) resulting from allegations that Lightspeed may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Lightspeed securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2166.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On September 29, 2021, market analyst Spruce Point Capital Management published a report regarding Lightspeed. Spruce Point also published a press release, summarizing its findings. The summary stated, inter alia, "Evidence shows that Lightspeed massively inflated its business pre-IPO, overstating its customer count by 85% and gross transaction volume ("GTV") by 10%  a payment volume metric that a former employee described as "smoke and mirrors." [. . .] Evidence of declining organic growth and business deterioration through Lightspeed's IPO, despite management's claims that Average Revenue Per User ("ARPU") is increasing. [. . .] Recent acquisition spree has come at escalating costs with no clear path to profitability, while management pursues aggressive revenue reporting practices. [. . .] Weak governance standards and worrisome auditor oversight by PwC under a concerning CFO, who was tied to a prior technology roll-up scandal."

On this news, Lightspeed's shares fell $13.73 per share, or over 12%, to close at $98.77 per share on September 29, 2021, damaging investors.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

Related Links

www.rosenlegal.com


"This inaugural list of companies represents the remarkable mid sized companies, both public and private, often founder-led, that are at the vanguard of reinventing American business," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc . magazine. "With their leadership, all business will benefit from an exciting, competitive future full of possibilities."

Over the past six years, Samsara has grown to over 1,500 employees worldwide, spanning the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and Taiwan. Throughout this rapid growth and scale, Samsara has remained focused on building a unique culture, staying true to company values, and creating a great experience for employees every day. A few ways Samsara has focused on employees this year include:

Focusing on a flexible way of working : In response to feedback from employees, the future of work at Samsara gives individuals and teams the flexibility to decide for themselves where they want to work  whether that's in the office or at home. The goal of this approach is to empower everyone to work in a way that best suits their needs so they can feel connected, productive, and make a long-term impact.

: In response to feedback from employees, the future of work at Samsara gives individuals and teams the flexibility to decide for themselves where they want to work  whether that's in the office or at home. The goal of this approach is to empower everyone to work in a way that best suits their needs so they can feel connected, productive, and make a long-term impact. Maintaining commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion: Samsara has made new commitments to increase diversity across the team and ensure it's a place where people from all backgrounds can make an impact. By 2025, Samsara commits to achieve: gender parity at the people manager level, increased women in engineering roles, increased representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions, and more. This year, Samsara also released its first annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report to provide an in-depth look at the company's demographic data, inclusion-focused programs and initiatives, and targets they will work to accomplish.

Samsara is actively hiring and recruiting across a number of departments with hundreds of open roles . The full Inc. Best-Led Companies List can be found online here . The November issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 9, 2021.

About Samsara

Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves more than 20,000 customers across a wide range of industries including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Learn more about Samsara's mission to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy at www.samsara.com.

About Inc.

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc., offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 allows the founders of the best businesses to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

SOURCE Samsara

Related Links

www.samsara.com


NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SEEDS  Access Changes Everything, a nonprofit access organization dedicated to providing transformative educational opportunities to high-achieving students from low-income households proudly marked its 30th anniversary today.

"Thirty years ago, the intelligence, hard work, and passion of low-income students in New Jersey began to meet the vision, resources, and network of the SEEDS founders and supporters," said John F. Castano, President and CEO of SEEDS. "The result has been 30 years of success for more than 3,000 alumni who currently make the top independent schools and colleges across the country better; who have advanced to become MDA's MD's, JD's, and PhD's; who launch startups, rise quickly up the corporate ladder, and have landmark success in the arts, investing and even the Olympics."

Founded in 1992 to combat disparities in educational access and opportunity faced by students from low-income backgrounds, the organization identifies top-performing students, provides them with supplemental education, and helps place them into highly selective independent schools and colleges with substantial financial and tuition aid to ensure their success.

To date, 3,038 students have graduated from SEEDS programs, with 559 of those students currently receiving transitional support through SEEDS' Guidance Program. Ninety-nine percent of SEEDS graduates have matriculated into college  compared to just 29% of low-income students, nationwide. Since its founding, SEEDS has leveraged more than $143.5 million in student aid and/or scholarships directly from the schools in which students attend.

SEEDS' programs include the Young Scholars Program (YSP) for 6th and 7th graders, the Scholars Program (SP) for 9th graders, and the College Scholars Program (CSP) for 12th graders. Students participate in weekly classes during summers and on Saturdays during the academic year, and partake in rigorous coursework, workshops, and extracurricular activities designed to further their knowledge, encourage leadership, and promote time-management

This year, 132 students graduated from SEEDS' programs. The CSP Class of 2021, comprising 40 high school seniors, received more than 100 acceptances from nearly 50 colleges and universities, including several prestigious and Ivy League institutions. Ninety-two middle schoolers part of YSP and SP enrolled in 62 selective independent schools across 14 states, collectively receiving more than $4.8 million in financial aid directly from the schools they are attending.

Students eligible for participation in SEEDS programming come from households whose annual family incomes, on average, do not exceed $33,800. The organization invests $17,000 to educate each student  an investment that often yields more than $450,000 in overall tuition assistance directly from the schools in which students attend. SEEDS programs are cost-free for students and families.

For more information about SEEDS  Access Changes Everything, please visit www.seedsaccess.org.

About SEEDS  Access Changes Everything

Founded in 1992, SEEDS  Access Changes Everything, formerly New Jersey SEEDS, is a nonprofit organization that provides motivated, high-achieving students from low-income households with access to top-tier education that would have otherwise been unattainable due to socioeconomic status. Through three challenging academic programs, SEEDS aims to prepare students for eventual placement into competitive private schools and colleges across the country.

SEEDS has been recognized locally and nationally by leading organizations including the Althea Gibson Foundation, Bank of America, Jersey Cares, Mutual of America, Oprah's Angel Network, the Partnership in Philanthropy and Rutgers University. In addition, Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of the financial health and efficiency of nonprofit organizations, has awarded SEEDS four consecutive 4-star ratings, its highest rating.

Media Inquiries

Jasmine L. Guerra

E: [email protected]

P: 862.227.9150

SOURCE SEEDS - Access Changes Everything

Related Links

http://www.seedsaccess.org

http://www.njseeds.org


MILWAUKEE, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Iowa First Bancshares (OTC Pink: IOFB), for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with MidWestOne.

Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/iowa-first-bancshares-corp or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Ademi LLP alleges Iowa First Bancshares' financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet Iowa First Bancshares shareholders will receive only aggregate cash consideration of $47.6 million, subject to adjustment. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Iowa First Bancshares by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a significant penalty if Iowa First Bancshares accepts a superior bid. Iowa First Bancshares insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of Iowa First Bancshares' board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Iowa First Bancshares.

If you own Iowa First Bancshares common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/iowa-first-bancshares-corp.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP

Related Links

http://www.ademilaw.com


HOUSTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: SMLP) (the "Partnership") announced today that Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Summit Holdings"), and Summit Midstream Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (together with Summit Holdings, the "Co-Issuers"), which are subsidiaries of the Partnership, closed a private offering (the "Offering") of $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2026 (the "Notes"). Concurrently with the closing of the Offering and the issuance of the Notes, Summit Holdings, as borrower, entered into a first-lien, senior secured credit agreement with the Partnership, certain subsidiaries of the Partnership party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as agent and the several lenders and other agents party thereto, consisting of a $400.0 million asset-based revolving credit facility (the "ABL Credit Agreement").

The Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed, on a senior second-priority secured basis, by the Partnership and each restricted subsidiary of the Partnership (other than the Co-Issuers) that is an obligor under the ABL Credit Agreement or under the Co-Issuers' 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "2025 Notes"). The Obligations under and as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement are jointly and severally guaranteed, on a senior first-priority secured basis, by the Partnership and certain subsidiaries of Summit Holdings.

The Co-Issuers used a portion of the net proceeds from the Offering, together with cash on hand and borrowings under the ABL Credit Agreement, to repay in full and terminate the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2017 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time), among Summit Holdings, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the "Revolving Credit Facility").

The Co-Issuers intend to use the remainder of the net proceeds to fund the previously announced redemption of all of the $234,047,000 in aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Co-Issuers' 5.50% Senior Notes due 2022 (the "2022 Notes"), including accrued and unpaid interest, and for general corporate purposes, including to pay fees and expenses associated with the Offering. The Co-Issuers will redeem all of the 2022 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on November 12, 2021. The indenture governing the 2022 Notes was satisfied and discharged upon the closing of the Offering.

The Notes and related guarantees were offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or to persons other than "U.S. persons" outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes and related guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell any security, including the Notes, nor a solicitation for an offer to purchase any security, including the Notes, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Summit Midstream Partners, LP

SMLP is a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in the core producing areas of unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMLP provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering, processing and transportation services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with customers and counterparties in six unconventional resource basins: (i) the Appalachian Basin, which includes the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and West Virginia; (ii) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (iii) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming; (iv) the Permian Basin, which includes the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp formations in New Mexico; (v) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; and (vi) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado. SMLP has an equity investment in Double E Pipeline, LLC, which is developing natural gas transmission infrastructure that will provide transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas. SMLP also has an equity investment in Ohio Gathering, which operates extensive natural gas gathering and condensate stabilization infrastructure in the Utica Shale in Ohio. SMLP is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, the use of proceeds from the Offering and the redemption of the 2022 Notes. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements and may contain the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." Forward-looking statements also contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause SMLP's actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting SMLP is contained in its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 4, 2021, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on May 7, 2021 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on August 9, 2021, as amended and updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and SMLP undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

SOURCE Summit Midstream Partners, LP

Related Links

http://www.summitmidstream.com


LONGUEUIL, QC, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian-based Synergy Medical, a global leader in pharmacy automation technology for prescription drug packaging in single and multi-does blister cards, is proud to announce the appointment of internationally recognized business leader, project engineer, and product packaging expert, Stephane Banville, to the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager.

Synergy Medical Sets Bold Direction Forward with New GM Stephane Banville

Formerly Vice President Americas of Sidel Canada Inc., a worldwide provider of packaging products for the food and beverage, home goods and personal care industries, Banville brings the better part of two decades of experience with him as he joins a company fresh from its recent merger with Parata Systems, a larger, more expansive technological force in providing automated solutions to the modern pharmacy, headquartered in the U.S.

"Given the scope of the company's recent acquisition, the time was right to seek strategic perspectives from a decidedly new angle without preconceived notions," explained Jean Boutin, Founder and President of Synergy Medical. "Stephane's ability to see the larger picture amidst the pressures of continuing and accelerating growth, while working to attract and retain our people, is going to be crucial as we work to reframe the organization for the future."

Synergy Medical's partnership with Parata Systems naturally means bigger and better things for both companies, but for his part, Banville is singularly focused on the "better" part of the equation as he readies plans for a re-energized, full-scale push into the Canadian market and beyond.

"For the last five years, the company has been growing at an average rate of about eight percent. We'd like to see that increase to around 20 percent per year," Banville said. "So correspondingly, that will require new resources and systems on the infrastructure side, as well as a renewed commitment to making Synergy Medical an attractive place to work on the people side."

Even though many of the changes will likely be substantial, Banville sees them more as a reflection of Parata's influence rather than a reproduction. The distinction is an important one, he stressed, especially in regard to staying true to the entrepreneurial beginnings of the company.

"Synergy is a company created largely by the singular will, determination, and inventiveness of its founder, Jean Boutin, and as such, should continue to feature aspects of his mindset going forward. While we certainly have to become 'leaner' in areas where Parata can be a collaborative partner in conserving cost, we also have a responsibility to inspire ourselves with good practices as we always have."

For now, while Synergy Medical may still be in the process of fine-tuning, the foundation of the enterprise will not change, nor will the senior leaders in place.

"We're looking at consolidating offices and production under the same roof, finding ways to increase efficiencies, investing in new finance and production modules, expanding our manufacturing footprint, and so on," Boutin said. "And yet, I've never been more confident in the company than I am today and in its new GM to take us where we need to go tomorrow."

That's high praise, but as Banville says, "Equal only to the height of the bar Jean set all those years ago."

To learn more about Synergy Medical or Parata Systems, visit synmedrx.com or parata.com, respectively.

About Synergy Medical. Synergy Medical is based in Longueuil, Quebec, and from 2008 has been designing, manufacturing and installing automated systems which allow pharmacies to efficiently and accurately prepare compliance packs. Synergy Medical has installed over 600 SynMed XF and SynMed ULTRA systems throughout North America and in Europe, in independent pharmacies as well as in centralized production facilities for pharmacy chains. The client list of this leader in automated dispensing already includes the largest pharmacy chains in Canada, the US and the United Kingdom. For more information, please go to www.synmedrx.com.



About Parata Systems. Parata provides pharmacy technology solutions to reduce costs, improve health outcomes and enhance the patient experience by offering the most comprehensive pharmacy automation portfolio with medication adherence packaging, high-speed robotic dispensing technologies and pharmacy workflow solutions. Discover how Parata powers pharmacies to help people lead healthier lives at parata.com.

Media Contact:

Gina VonEye

813.309.4192

[email protected]

SOURCE Synergy Medical
In addition to being ranked #1 in overall customer satisfaction, Tempur-Pedic earned #1 rankings across all factors in the Retail Mattress category, which include support, durability, comfort, variety of features, value, warranty and contact with customer service. In the Online Mattress category, in addition to being ranked #1 in overall customer satisfaction, Tempur-Pedic earned #1 rankings for durability and warranty.

"We are honored to have achieved this award in the Retail Mattress category for the third consecutive year and in the Online Mattress category for the first year. This recognition is a testament, by consumers, to our commitment to provide innovative and high-quality product solutions that address their sleep needs so that they can achieve their best sleep, every night. I would also like to thank our employees and valued retail partners for making this possible through their dedication, hard work and support," said Scott Thompson, Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO.

Tempur-Pedic, the most highly recommended bed in America**, created the world's first body-responsive mattresses nearly 30 years ago, changing the industry with its one-of-a-kind TEMPUR-Material that delivers deep, comfortable, undisturbed rest, every single night. Since then, the company has expanded to offer a complete line up of mattresses, including the TEMPUR-breeze collection that provides all-night cooling comfort, pillows, adjustable ergonomic smart bases such as the TEMPUR-Ergo Smart Base powered by Sleeptracker-AI, and accessories that deliver meaningful solutions to address consumers' most pressing sleep concerns, including sleeping hot, snoring and addressing aches & pains.

*For J.D. Power 2021 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards

**Based on percentage of owners who report very/extremely likely to recommend Tempur Pedic, Tempur-Sealy Brand Tracker Report November 2020

About the Company

Tempur Sealy is committed to improving the sleep of more people, every night, all around the world. As a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of bedding products, we know how crucial a good night of sleep is to overall health and wellness. Utilizing over a century of knowledge and industry-leading innovation, we deliver award-winning products that provide breakthrough sleep solutions to consumers in over 100 countries.

Our highly recognized brands include Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Stearns & Foster and our non-branded offerings include value-focused private label and OEM products. Our distinct brands allow for complementary merchandising strategies and are sold through third-party retailers, our Company-owned stores and e-commerce channels. This omni-channel strategy ensures our products are offered where ever and however customers want to shop.

Lastly, we accept our global responsibility to serve all stakeholders, our community and environment. We have and are implementing programs consistent with our responsibilities.

Public Relations Contact

Erin Maratea

Brand Public Relations

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

800-805-3635

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

Aubrey Moore

Investor Relations

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

800-805-3635

[email protected]

SOURCE Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tempursealy.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice (the "Coalition")  a group of about 18,000 abuse survivors represented by law firms who collectively represent more than 60,000 survivors  and the Boy Scouts of America ("BSA") jointly announced today that they have formed a Survivor Advisory Working Group (the "Survivor Working Group") to focus and improve upon BSA's current and future youth protection policies, programs and protocols.

The Survivor Working Group will work with BSA leadership to, among other things, continue to enhance the BSA's current youth protection program, discuss and address survivor concerns, assist in preparation for and implementation of the non-economic commitments of the BSA under the Plan of Reorganization, and discuss how to expand the input of survivors at the national and local council level.

The Survivor Working Group will be comprised of between 15-20 members, including between 8-12 survivors who are members of the Coalition, and at least 6 representatives of BSA, including (1) the CEO/Chief Scout Executive, (2) the Chair of BSA's Safe Scouting Support Committee, (3) the Executive Vice President and Youth Development Officer, (4) the Director of Membership Standards, (5) the Chair of BSA's Audit and Risk Management Standing Committee of the Executive Board, and (6) a representative of the Ad Hoc Committee of Local Councils. Importantly, the Coalition demanded that the Working Group be open to all survivors, to ensure that all perspectives are heard.

The Working Group will begin meeting within the next two weeks and convene regularly until BSA emerges from its Chapter 11 proceedings, at which point its work will be transitioned to the Child Protection Committee, a survivor advisory group which BSA, after negotiations with the Coalition, has already agreed to form pursuant to its Plan of Reorganization.

This announcement follows a recent commitment from the BSA to appoint a survivor to its National Executive Board. Both the formation of a Survivor Working Group and the addition of a survivor to the BSA Board are the direct result of Coalition negotiations with the BSA.

"I am cautiously optimistic about this agreement by the BSA to work with those survivors, like me, who have been harmed by Scout leaders in the past," said Survivor Gill Gayle, who will be a member of the Survivor Working Group. "It is a step in the right direction to recognize the voices of Survivors in a meaningful way, but the proof will be how much they actually listen and implement our suggestions and recommendations. We will have a good sense of that in the coming months."

"One of the most important things for me, and every Survivor, from day one of this case was making sure that the abuse we suffered never happens to another Scout again," said Greg, a survivor who asked to be identified only by his first name, and will be part of the advisory group. "I want to speak to the very top levels of the BSA organization and make sure the perspective of more than 82,000 individuals who were harmed like me are taken into account."

Another member of the Survivor Working Group, Michael Lipari, who served in the armed forces and was deployed in Iraq, stated, "One can be bitter, or one can try to make things better. The Coalition is trying to make things better by pushing for and establishing this Working Group. We hope that each Survivor will stop fighting against each other and instead work together on this most important issue."

Roger Mosby, Chief Executive Officer of the BSA, said, "We are devastated that there were times in our past when the BSA failed to adequately protect the children in our care, and we are deeply sorry for the suffering that every survivor of abuse has experienced. We want to assure the survivor community that we are committed to listening to them and continuing to improve our Youth Protection program based on their input, as well as the input of our own experts. We hope that today's announcement will further demonstrate our commitment to the Survivor community. We appreciate the Coalition's leadership in this effort, and fully stand behind the Working Group, its purposes, and its goals. We look forward to working with Survivors to ensure their voices are heard."

Virtual Information Meetings for Survivors

The Coalition will be hosting regular virtual meetings to keep the survivor community apprised of updates ahead of the December 14, 2021 deadline to vote for the Plan. The next virtual meeting will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at 8:00 PM ET. For information on the benefits of The Plan, instructions on how to vote, or access to the next virtual meeting, visit scoutingabusesurvivors.com .

About the Coalition

The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice includes approximately 18,000 abuse survivors, represented by law firms who collectively represent more than 63,000 childhood sexual abuse survivors. The Coalition's goals include: ensuring fair and equitable treatment for abuse survivors; establishing the largest possible compensation fund for survivors, to be distributed as expeditiously as possible; and focusing on the future of the BSA, including youth protection.

About the Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation's foremost youth programs of character development and values-based leadership training, which help young people be "Prepared. For Life." For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.Scouting.org.

Media Contact

For Coalition:

Andrew Merrill / Brian Schaffer / Joan Vollero

[email protected]

For BSA:

[email protected]

SOURCE The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice and the Boy Scouts of America
HERSHEY, Pa., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company announced today that it has been ranked #1 on Forbes' list of the "World's Top Female Friendly Companies," spearheading a roster of 300 honorees. Being recognized at the top of this list by Forbes illustrates firsthand Hershey's longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, believing DEI is mission critical to the company's long-term success.

"Guided by The Pathways Project, we continue to advance progress around gender equity  a core component of our greater DEI strategy," said Alicia Petross, Chief Diversity Officer of The Hershey Company. "At Hershey, we are more than female friendly  we are female forward. From internal initiatives, such as pay equity, our hiring and development strategy and women's business resource group, to external initiatives, such as the International Women's Day HerSHEy's bar and our ongoing community engagement efforts to support all youth, this recognition is a testament to our continued commitment to gender equity across our organization."

In 2020, Hershey co-created The Pathways Project with employees to catalyze courageous conversations, propel progress and put rigorous DEI goals in place  with gender equity playing a critical role. This recognition comes on the tails of the company's 2020 milestone of achieving a dollar-for-dollar aggregate pay equity for both salaried women and people of color in the United States.

In addition to pay equity, Hershey has made several other notable outcomes to support women including the formation of a women's business resource group, the expansion of family-focused benefits like fertility benefits and paid paternity leave and the establishment of career development programs for underrepresented groups. As reported in Hershey's 2020 Sustainability Report, the company has 48.1 percent gender diversity around the world, 37.4 percent of people leaders globally are women and the Board of Directors has 42 percent gender diversity.



By 2025, The Pathways Project plans to achieve aggregate dollar-for-dollar pay equity for salaried employees worldwide and seeks to increase representation of Hershey's employee base so that 47 to 50 percent of employees are women and 30 to 40 percent are people of color. Similarly, the company aspires to have 15 to 22 percent People Leader roles occupied by people of color and 40 to 42 percent by women.

Since taking the reins as CEO nearly five years ago, CEO Michele Buck  included in the small percentage of women CEOs in the Fortune 500  has led from the top to ensure DEI is a priority throughout the company, from the boardroom to production line floors. The company's commitment to gender equity and diversity has been solidified under her leadership and today is even more deeply rooted in the company's corporate culture than ever before. Hershey sees diversity as a key source of energy and innovation and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees around the world can bring their whole selves to work each day.

Methodology

To compile the list, Statista surveyed 85,000 women in 40 countries. All surveys were anonymous, allowing participants to openly share their opinions. Respondents were asked to rate their employers' performance on gender-related criteria and their willingness to recommend their employer to others. They were also asked to evaluate other employers in their respective industries. Statista also asked respondents to rate companies based on their corporate responsibility, marketing campaigns and public perception, as related to gender equality. The final list ranks the 300 companies that received the most recommendations and boast the most gender diverse boards and executive ranks.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 90 brands around the world that drive more than $8 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's Booty.

For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed. To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com

Follow:

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hershey-company?trk=top_nav_home

http://www.facebook.com/hersheycompany

http://www.youtube.com/hersheycompany

http://www.instagram.com/hersheycompany

SOURCE The Hershey Company

Related Links

https://www.thehersheycompany.com


"Food has been a centerpiece of our family gatherings and recreating these classics recipes gives me a chance to fall back in love with some of my favorite foods growing up and rediscover the magic of holiday cooking," says Hough. "Plus, every dish is simply made better with the Incredible Egg. Eggs are as versatile as they are delicious, the perfect ingredient for holiday season baking, cooking and entertaining."

Throughout November and December, Hough will be sharing a few of his own eggceptional holiday recipes remade, all childhood favorites made modern to enjoy during the holidays. Follow Hough on Instagram, @DerekHough, for recipes like a Sheet Pan Egg in a Bagel Hole, Seasonal Deviled Eggs Three Ways, Jalapeno Cornbread Stuffing and Eggnog Waffle Cookies.

"I can't wait to share some of my family's favorite meals with an updated spin, and see how everyone else is remaking their own traditional meals," adds Hough.

Hough and America's egg farmers have teamed up with some of your favorite foodies, chefs and bakers who will share how they plan on remaking some of their cherished family recipes.

Joining Hough in sharing eggceptional holiday recipe remakes are best-selling cookbook author of Cooking with Shereen from Scratch: Because You Can!, Chef Shereen Pavlides; host of Delicious Miss Brown on Food Network, Kardea Brown; best-selling cookbook author, founder/CEO of Casa Marcela and Emmy-nominated Chef Marcela Valladolid, recipe creator and food photographer behind Browned Butter Blondie, Heather Mubarak; culinary and baking expert Jocelyn Delk Adams; and award-winning blogger and founder of Cherish 365, Jennifer Borget.

These culinary experts will all share how they're remaking their own traditional family recipes with tips on how simple it can be to incorporate new, on-trend and unique flavors into your family's holiday favorites.

"No matter how you celebrate, time-honored family recipes are a central part of the holiday festivities, and, besides love and care, eggs are a key ingredient to making these recipes and holiday moments special," says Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. "But if you're like me, you're always looking for just a little twist or tweak to make those legacy recipes even just a little better with a fusion of new flavors or cooking methods. So consider this your challenge: What cherished holiday recipe is ready for a redo in your family? Pick up an extra dozen eggs and bring those reimagined holiday recipes to life this holiday season!"

Have a beloved holiday recipe ready for a redo in your family? Share your reimagined holiday recipe by tagging @incredibleegg in your creations and using #EggceptionalHolidays.

The Incredible Egg is kicking off the holiday season with its own Eggceptional Holiday Recipe Remakes. Visit www.IncredibleEgg.org for holiday recipe ideas inspired by all the best flavors of the celebratory season, including Eggnog French Toast, Gingerbread Dutch Baby, Deviled Eggs Three Ways and more.

About the American Egg Board (AEB)

Home of The Incredible Egg, the American Egg Board (AEB) is the national marketing organization of America's egg farmers. The AEB's mission is to increase demand for eggs and egg products through research, education and promotion. The AEB is located in Chicago, Ill. For more, visit IncredibleEgg.org.

SOURCE American Egg Board
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the summer of 1975 inventor Josh Reynolds and former US Congressman Joseph DioGuardi "shocked the world" with their release of the Mood Stone ring. Now it's about to re-emerge as a "physical" NFT. The asset is the property of NFT Creative Enterprises, LLC financed by former US Congressman, author and human rights activist, Joseph DioGuardi, CPA.

Reynolds was a Wall Street burnout-turned "mindfulness" teacher who reached "fame" appearing on The Merv Griffin Show as a biofeedback stress-management guru. The "mood stone" was developed as a "thermal biosensor" after a year of R&D. Seven distinct "stone" colors were correlated with relative emotions - from fear and anxiety (cold hands) to deep relaxation, bliss and passion (hot hands). The well-recognized oval stone and sterling silver ring went into mass production and the world's 1st smart wearable was born.

Immediately after its release in August 1975 a massive surge of PR swept across the country, and the retail industry went wild. Unfortunately, so did knock-off copycat rings with their imitation mood stones set in cheap base metal rings. The market didn't care  a reported $250m of "mood rings" sold in just 4 months. Celebrity owners of the original reportedly included Barbara Streisand, Cher, Joe Namath, Ali MacGraw, Polly Bergen and Sophia Loren, among others.

Now, nearly half a century later a rare original solid gold Mood Stone ring is about to be auctioned off as a "physical" NFT, allowing the winning bidder to physically own a piece of history and iconic household name and pop culture artifact. Reynolds, the mood ring creator would go on to develop several other household name products including the ThighMaster.

As a physical NFT asset the ring is fully certified for authenticity and provenance via a "smart contract". Known as the Mattereum Passport it uniquely contains warranties and insurance with legal enforceability. This complete certification helps build trust in trade while enhancing the value and marketability of the NFT. The offer also includes a utility bonus replica of the original gold ring with a new, performance enhanced mood stone.

The NFT is scheduled to go up for a week's auction starting Saturday, November 6th on the Venly.io platform. Upon completion of the sale a limited edition of 999 EthereuMood rings will go on sale at a fixed price. Details of all Offers and a link to the Venly market place are on the original mood ring landing page.

As a timely, socially responsible initiative an associated company has launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding page accepting donations to bring mood rings into public school systems. It will be bundled with a validated university developed emotional wellness program that's already in over a dozen schools worldwide. The addition of the mood ring as a biofeedback device can help improve students' visceral learning to better manage their stress, anger, and angst.

SOURCE NFT Creative Enterprises, LLC

Related Links

https://theoriginalmoodring.io


OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Permanente Federation, which represents the national interests of more than 23,000 physicians of the eight Permanente Medical Groups of Kaiser Permanente, was named a 2021 Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards winner by Modern Healthcare, for its #JustTheVaxx (Just the Vaxx) live chat and broader social media campaign encouraging COVID-19 vaccination.

The Modern Healthcare awards recognize health care's best advertising, marketing, promotion and communication campaigns on and across all media platforms. In the category of social media, the Federation received a 2021 bronze medal for its digital campaign using physician voices to build confidence and combat widespread misinformation about vaccination.

"This honor acknowledges the importance of physician leadership and voices in leveraging technology to deliver critical information to the public during the coronavirus pandemic," said Stephen Parodi, MD, executive vice president of The Permanente Federation, associate executive director of The Permanente Medical Group in Northern California and national infectious disease leader for Kaiser Permanente. "This award also highlights our commitment to medical excellence by delivering rapidly developing scientific information to our audiences at the right time and via the right channels."

The innovative digital campaign had two distinct parts. The first part included social media quotes and videos from physicians who shared why they recommend the vaccine to their patients. Quotes from physicians across the eight geographical areas served by Kaiser Permanente were shared via social media from April to June on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. A related effort included recordings of 30-second clips of Permanente physicians sharing why they got the vaccine, which were submitted for a California Department of Public Health campaign to build vaccine confidence.

The second part of the social media campaign began in May when The Permanente Federation launched its #JustTheVaxx (Just the Vaxx) live chat on Instagram. Alex McDonald, MD, sports medicine physician with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, hosted the live chats, which featured interviews with physicians practicing Permanente Medicine around the country from a variety of specialties discussing their experiences with vaccine safety, strategies to help patients overcome hesitancy, and first-hand experiences with being vaccinated. Eye-catching original graphics accompanied the campaign on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Modern Healthcare awards program identifies and recognizes outstanding health care marketing campaigns that impact the industry, address ever-changing health care challenges, and reinvent how audiences receive and retain health care information.

"It is critical, now more than ever, that physicians are present and serve as an authentic voice for patients and health care professionals, to counter misinformation," Dr. McDonald said. "Physicians must expand their voices beyond the four walls of the clinic or hospital, share trusted health information and build relationships through the revolutionary power of social media."

One of the first guests on Dr. McDonald's #JustTheVaxx social media chat was La Tanya Hines, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Hines underscored the important role that physicians can play in providing the public with critical information that affects their health.

"Physicians offer authentic medical voices for quality care in this fast-paced world," she said. "Using social media is an excellent tool for reaching patients and influencing quality outcomes."

COVID-19 remained a top target for marketers in 2021 as the delta variant drove new surges across the country and vaccine and mask mandates divided communities, said Modern Healthcare editor Aurora Aguila.

"Advertising and social media campaigns crafted to inform, educate and build trust are among the winners in this year's Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards," Aguila said. "Congratulations to all of the winners."

The complete list of Modern Healthcare award winners has been published online at ImpactWinners and appears in the November 1 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine.

To learn more about Permanente Medicine, visit permanente.org. Check out @PermanenteDocs on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the Permanente Medical Groups

The Permanente Medical Groups are self-governed, physician-led, prepaid, multispecialty medical groups composed of more than 23,000 physicians. We are dedicated to the mission of improving the health of our patients and communities. Together with the Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, we are Kaiser Permanente  an award-winning health care system that delivers Permanente Medicine to more than 12.5 million Kaiser Permanente members. We work collaboratively, enabled by state-of-the-art facilities and technology, to provide preventive and world-class complex care in eight states  from Hawaii to Maryland  and the District of Columbia.

About The Permanente Federation

The Permanente Federation LLC is the national leadership and consulting organization for the eight Permanente Medical Groups (PMGs), which, together with the Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, comprise Kaiser Permanente. The Federation works on behalf of the PMGs to optimize care delivery and spread Permanente Medicine  medicine that is person- and family-centered, compassionate, evidence-based, technology-enabled, culturally responsive, team-delivered and physician-led. The Federation, based in Oakland, California, fosters an open learning environment and accelerates research, innovation and performance improvements across the PMGs to expand the reach of Kaiser Permanente's integrated care delivery model and to lead the nation in transforming health care.

SOURCE The Permanente Federation

Related Links

http://www.permanente.org


AUSTIN, Texas and COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventus Systems, Inc. , a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions, and Tradovate, a leading online brokerage firm for active, self-directed futures traders, announced that Tradovate has deployed the Eventus Validus platform for trade surveillance.

Rick Tomsic, Founder & CEO of Tradovate Holdings, LLC, said: "We love the Validus platform. It's been a great tool for us to help our trade desk identify and drill down into any potential trade irregularities. The combination of pre-built surveillance procedures, with reports and protocols we can customize based on our needs and client base, is extremely powerful. Validus gives us the ability to dive deeply into any suspicious or unusual order flow activity at a very granular, detailed level, giving us comfort both from a trade desk and compliance standpoint."

Tomsic said that the firm uses Validus to monitor more than 2.5 million orders per month to identify patterns or dangerous activity within the order flow, as well as to meet certain operational requirements, such as monitoring and ensuring the proper use of regulatory tags.

Eventus CEO Travis Schwab said: "Firms like Tradovate with extensive retail activity appreciate the ability to rapidly follow up and explore any unusual order flow patterns. This is a great example of how our platform can be used not only by compliance and regulatory teams but by front-office supervisors. We commend the firm for going above and beyond what's required in order to stay ahead of any potential issues and leverage the many capabilities Validus has to offer."

Tradovate Trade Desk Manager Terry Nelligan said: "Eventus does a great job of offering views that make it easy to visualize the market with respect to customer orders. We're able to find suspicious patterns within a single client account or those that may emerge between multiple clients. Validus makes it simple, easy, and intuitive, providing a visual representation of activity for the period when an alert is triggered that goes beyond what we would be able to monitor on our own. Eventus does a great job of understanding our goals and then helping us customize the platform to implement that."

Validus employs a multi-step approach to alert classification by first casting a wide net to ensure that all potential or near-miss alerts are considered, followed by machine learning and robotic process automation to go deep into each alert and identify market behavior that could lead to regulatory or reputational consequences. The platform's visualizations and flexibility allow front-office supervisors to quickly and efficiently detect problematic behavior.

About Eventus Systems

Eventus Systems is a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions. Its powerful, award-winning Validus platform is easy to deploy, customize and operate across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX), fixed income and digital asset markets. Validus is proven in the most complex, high-volume and real-time environments of tier-1 banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading groups, market centers, buy-side institutions, energy and commodity trading firms, and regulators. The company's rapidly growing client base relies on Validus and Eventus' responsive support and product development teams to overcome its most pressing regulatory challenges. For more, visit www.eventussystems.com .

About Tradovate

Operating out of Columbus, Ohio, Tradovate, LLC launched in April 2016 as an online futures brokerage firm dedicated to meeting the needs of active retail traders. The firm offers a modern, cloud-based futures trading platform and subscription-based, commission-free trading. Tradovate powers futures trading from anywhere, with complete access to download the platform for Windows and/or Mac, log in on the web with Chrome and other browsers, and trade via mobile Apple or Android devices. For more information, visit www.tradovate.com.

SOURCE Eventus Systems; Tradovate

Related Links

http://www.eventussystems.com


AVENTURA, Fla., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Triangle Fragrance is pleased to reveal the American brand's flagship location in New York City is Flying Solo, located on 420 West Broadway in SoHo. Flying Solo is the largest independent designer platform in the U.S. showcasing international fashion and beauty.

Flying Solo carries the full Triangle Fragrance eau de parfum collection featuring the red, white, and blue lines comprised of:

Triangle Fragrance Founder Magda Khalifa

the classic floral-whiskey "Confidence"

the acclaimed "Victory", with its distinct Cuban tobacco and Russian leather accord

the scintillating fruity-citrusy "Clarity"

the subtle, lingering "Energy", with its clean-cut Asian bamboo note

the warm and spicy unisex scent, "Peace"

the sweet smell of "Freedom", with its signature campfire note.

Visitors to the shop can experience the scents first-hand and can purchase in-store or on Flying Solo's website.

Triangle Fragrance is founded by Magda Khalifa, a first generation American who joined the military after witnessing the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. After writing about her post-war struggle-to-success story she was inspired to create the brand, conflating beauty and self-help to serve people a truly modern luxury experience.

"The combination of Flying Solo's aesthetic and leadership in retail aligns with the spirit of Triangle Fragrance. This is a compelling collaboration," said Khalifa.

The founder of the innovative fragrance house will make appearances at the showroom to connect with fans of the brand and its alluring scents, and to sign the unique Collector's Cards exclusive to each fragrance.

Flying Solo's showroom is open seven days a week from 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm. For more information on Triangle Fragrance, visit TriangleFragrance.com.

About Triangle Fragrance

Triangle Fragrance was founded in 2020 and features masterpiece eau de parfum for men and women. The fragrances are proudly made in USA with plant-based alcohol, and made without parabens, sulfates, triclosan, phthalates, mineral oil, or dyes.

Triangle Fragrance is inspired by Freedom Triangle - the self-help framework introduced to the world in the 2019 memoir "American DREAM", by US Army combat veteran Magda Khalifa. Each fragrance and its complementary Collector's Card bring the points of Freedom Triangle to life, providing people a pleasurable pathway of self-discovery, growth, and healing.

Media Contact:

Magda Khalifa

757 986 0418

[email protected]

SOURCE Triangle Fragrance
MONTREAL, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the period ended September 30, 2021. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

"Oyu Tolgoi produced solid operating results in the third quarter. Copper production of 41,935 tonnes was up 16% year-over-year and 14% relative to Q2'21. The mine also produced 130,799 ounces of gold in the quarter, an increase of 256% compared to the same quarter last year and 16% more than was produced in Q2'21. Revenue for the quarter was $622.8 million, an increase of 135.6% from Q3'20 revenue of $264.4 million. Thanks to the hard work of the Oyu Tolgoi team, and despite the difficult environment created by COVID-19, we are on track to meet our production guidance for 2021. All technical undercut readiness activities to begin underground production have been completed and Oyu Tolgoi has been ready from a technical perspective to commence the undercut since July 2021." Stated Steve Thibeault, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Turquoise Hill Resources.

"While the COVID-19 situation in Mongolia is improving slightly, Oyu Tolgoi is maintaining rigorous anti-COVID protocols at site to ensure the health of our employees. Currently 100% of the Oyu Tolgoi workforce has been double vaccinated and a campaign to administer a third dose is advancing well."

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Oyu Tolgoi open-pit and underground workforce posted an AIFR of 0.13 per 200,000 hours worked for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 .





. In Q3'21, Oyu Tolgoi produced 41,935 tonnes of copper and 130,799 ounces of gold.





Mill throughput of 9.3 million tonnes in Q3'21 was in line with Q2'21 and 7% lower than Q3'20. Processing of harder ore as well as lower SAG mill availability, due to maintenance, impacted Q3'21 mill throughput.





Despite significant COVID-19 related challenges at the Oyu Tolgoi mine site, causing the site to operate at less than 50% of its planned personnel for Q3'21, 2021 production guidance remains on track and some underground progress has been made with the restart of Shaft 4 sinking and commencement of no-load Material Handling System 1 (MHS1) commissioning in October 2021 .





. Revenue of $622.8 million in Q3'21 increased 135.6% from $264.4 million in Q3'20. Both copper and gold volumes increased by 34.9% and 338.2%, respectively, driven by the scheduled move to the higher grade areas of Phase 4B . Average copper prices were 43.8% higher and average gold prices were 6.3% lower than Q3'20.





in Q3'21 increased 135.6% from in Q3'20. Both copper and gold volumes increased by 34.9% and 338.2%, respectively, driven by the scheduled move to the higher grade areas of Phase . Average copper prices were 43.8% higher and average gold prices were 6.3% lower than Q3'20. Income for the period was $22.9 million in Q3'21 compared with $161.7 million in Q3'20, reflecting the impact of a $299.9 million deferred tax asset de-recognition in Q3'21 (Q3'20: recognition of $131.1 million ), which resulted mainly from underground delays as well as a $34.8 million increase in operating cash costs 1 due mainly to higher royalty costs from increased sales revenue, additional COVID-19 related costs and higher consumption and power costs, partially offset by lower power study costs. These unfavourable movements were further offset by a $323.6 million increase in gross margin due to the increased revenue. Income attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill in Q3'21 was $34.9 million ( $0.17 per share) vs $128.6 million ( $0.64 per share) in Q3'20.





in Q3'21 compared with in Q3'20, reflecting the impact of a deferred tax asset de-recognition in Q3'21 (Q3'20: recognition of ), which resulted mainly from underground delays as well as a increase in operating cash costs due mainly to higher royalty costs from increased sales revenue, additional COVID-19 related costs and higher consumption and power costs, partially offset by lower power study costs. These unfavourable movements were further offset by a increase in gross margin due to the increased revenue. Income attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill in Q3'21 was ( per share) vs ( per share) in Q3'20. Cost of sales was $1.98 per pound of copper sold and C1 cash costs 1 were negative $0.65 per pound of copper produced. All-in sustaining costs 1 were $0.03 per pound of copper produced.





per pound of copper sold and C1 cash costs were negative per pound of copper produced. All-in sustaining costs were per pound of copper produced. Total operating cash costs 1 of $216.2 million in Q3'21 increased 19.2% from $181.4 million in Q3'20, due primarily to higher royalty costs from increased sales revenue, additional COVID-19 related costs and higher consumption and power costs, partially offset by lower power study costs.





of in Q3'21 increased 19.2% from in Q3'20, due primarily to higher royalty costs from increased sales revenue, additional COVID-19 related costs and higher consumption and power costs, partially offset by lower power study costs. Underground capital spend in Q3'21 was $200.6 million , including $63.7 million of underground sustaining capital. Total underground capital spend since January 1, 2016 was $5.1 billion , including $0.3 billion of underground sustaining capital, as of September 30, 2021 . Given the total underground development spend of $4.8 billion and contractual obligations of $0.4 billion as at September 30, 2021 , Oyu Tolgoi is expected to reach the total $5.3 billion underground development (actual spend plus contractual obligations) as stated in the original 2016 feasibility study, during November 2021 . In the event that the necessary additional investment to progress underground development is not supported by all directors of the OT LLC board by the end of November 2021 , OT LLC will be at risk of having to slow down further work on the underground development.





, including of underground sustaining capital. Total underground capital spend since was , including of underground sustaining capital, as of . Given the total underground development spend of and contractual obligations of as at , Oyu Tolgoi is expected to reach the total underground development (actual spend plus contractual obligations) as stated in the original 2016 feasibility study, during . In the event that the necessary additional investment to progress underground development is not supported by all directors of the OT LLC board by the end of , OT LLC will be at risk of having to slow down further work on the underground development. Cash generated from operating activities was $350.6 million in Q3'21 vs $77.6 million in Q3'20, reflecting a $261.9 million improvement in cash generated from operating activities before interest and tax, which resulted from a $323.6 million increase in gross margin from increased sales revenue, partially offset by unfavourable movements in working capital 1 and deferred revenue. Deferred revenue decreased in Q3'21 mainly due to exceptionally high deferred revenue at June 30, 2021 , which was impacted by the timing of ramp-up in concentrate shipments during Q2'21 following the declaration of force majeure as well as related contingency measures that were put in place during Q2'21 to improve Oyu Tolgoi's short-term liquidity that started to be unwound during Q3'21. Deferred revenue increased in Q3'20.





in Q3'21 vs in Q3'20, reflecting a improvement in cash generated from operating activities before interest and tax, which resulted from a increase in gross margin from increased sales revenue, partially offset by unfavourable movements in working capital and deferred revenue. Deferred revenue decreased in Q3'21 mainly due to exceptionally high deferred revenue at , which was impacted by the timing of ramp-up in concentrate shipments during Q2'21 following the declaration of force majeure as well as related contingency measures that were put in place during Q2'21 to improve Oyu Tolgoi's short-term liquidity that started to be unwound during Q3'21. Deferred revenue increased in Q3'20. Oyu Tolgoi concentrate shipment volumes to customers improved during Q3'21, compared to Q2'21; however, above target inventory levels remained at the end of Q3'21, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 related Mongolian / Chinese border restrictions, which resulted in force majeure being declared since March 30, 2021 . Shipments to Chinese customers recommenced on April 15, 2021 , and Oyu Tolgoi LLC (OT LLC) continues to work closely with the Mongolian and Chinese authorities to manage any supply chain disruptions. The force majeure will remain in place until there are sufficiently sustained volumes of convoys crossing the border to ensure OT LLC's ability to meet its ongoing commitments to customers and to return on-site concentrate inventory to target levels.





. Shipments to Chinese customers recommenced on , and Oyu Tolgoi LLC (OT LLC) continues to work closely with the Mongolian and Chinese authorities to manage any supply chain disruptions. The force majeure will remain in place until there are sufficiently sustained volumes of convoys crossing the border to ensure OT LLC's ability to meet its ongoing commitments to customers and to return on-site concentrate inventory to target levels. All technical undercut readiness activities have been completed, and Oyu Tolgoi has been ready from a technical perspective to commence the undercut since July 2021 . Undercut commencement remains delayed and is pending resolution of certain non-technical undercut criteria, including the support of all OT LLC Board directors to increase the underground development capital investment and to commence discussions with the project finance lenders, obtaining outstanding required regulatory approvals and agreeing on a pathway to meet OT LLC's long-term power requirements, all of which are critical elements for consideration to proceed with the decision to commence the undercut and remain the subject of ongoing discussions. See the section of this press release titled "Negotiations with the Government of Mongolia ".





. Undercut commencement remains delayed and is pending resolution of certain non-technical undercut criteria, including the support of all OT LLC Board directors to increase the underground development capital investment and to commence discussions with the project finance lenders, obtaining outstanding required regulatory approvals and agreeing on a pathway to meet OT LLC's long-term power requirements, all of which are critical elements for consideration to proceed with the decision to commence the undercut and remain the subject of ongoing discussions. See the section of this press release titled "Negotiations with the Government of ". As a result of the cumulative and ongoing impacts of COVID-19, continued delayed commitments from the Definitive Estimate not having received the support of all directors of the OT LLC Board, as well as the outstanding unresolved non-technical undercut issues, the Company now expects sustainable production for Panel 0 to be delayed to H1'23, broadly in line with the currently forecast 6-month delay to undercut commencement.





Progress on Shafts 3 and 4 has been impacted by quarantine requirements and international travel restrictions related to COVID-19. As a result, no significant development progress on these shafts was made during Q3'21. Consequently, OT LLC has advised that a 9-month delay on Shafts 3 and 4 is currently forecast which, in combination with a COVID-related reduction in underground development progress as well as expected changes to mining scope, is currently forecast to delay the initiation of Panel 2 by approximately 14-16 months compared to the Definitive Estimate. Panel 1 is currently forecast to be impacted to a lesser extent with an approximate commencement 11 months later than the Definitive Estimate. These delays are expected to extend the ramp up to 95,000 tpd by a similar timeframe. Efforts to minimize the delays to Panel 1 and Panel 2 due to ventilation constraints ahead of Shaft 3 and 4 commissioning continue. See the section of this press release titled "Oyu Tolgoi Underground Update".





Turquoise Hill's current estimate of its base case incremental funding requirement is $3.6 billion ( June 30, 2021 : $2.4 billion ). The increase reflects preliminary information provided by OT LLC primarily regarding the delay to the initiation of the undercut.





( : ). The increase reflects preliminary information provided by OT LLC primarily regarding the delay to the initiation of the undercut. As at September 30, 2021 , Turquoise Hill has $0.8 billion of available liquidity, which under current projections is expected to meet the Company's requirements, including funding of underground capital expenditure, into Q3'22.

___________________ 1 Please refer to Section  NON-GAAP MEASURES  on page 21 of this press release for further information.

OPERATIONAL OUTLOOK FOR 2021

Oyu Tolgoi's copper and gold production guidance for 2021 remains within the ranges of 150,000 to 180,000 tonnes of copper and 400,000 to 480,000 ounces of gold, respectively.

Operating cash costs2 for 2021 are still expected to be within the range of $800 million to $850 million.

Capital expenditure for 2021 on a cash-basis has been reduced to $80 million to $100 million from $105 million to $125 million for the open-pit and to $0.8 billion to $0.9 billion from $0.9 billion to $1.0 billion for the underground, including underground sustaining capital expenditure, caused mainly by the impact of the delayed undercut commencement and the on-going impacts of on-site COVID-19 restrictions. Open pit capital is mainly comprised of deferred stripping, equipment purchases, tailings storage facility construction and maintenance componentization. Underground capital is inclusive of VAT.

2021 C1 cash costs2 are expected to be in the range of negative $0.20 to positive $0.20 per pound of copper produced. Unit cost guidance assumes the midpoint of the expected 2021 copper and gold production ranges and a gold price of $1,804 per ounce.

___________________ 2 Please refer to Section  NON-GAAP MEASURES  on page 21 of this press release for further information

OUR BUSINESS

Turquoise Hill is an international mining company focused on the operation and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia, which is the Company's principal and only material mineral resource property. The Company's ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi mine is held through a 66% interest in OT LLC; the remaining 34% interest is held by Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC (Erdenes), a Mongolian state-owned entity.

The Oyu Tolgoi property is located approximately 550 kilometres south of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital city, and 80 kilometres north of the Mongolia-China border. The property is cut by the Oyu Tolgoi trend, a 12 kilometres north-south orientated corridor which is host to the known deposits, Hugo North, Hugo South, Oyut and Heruga. Open pit mining operations commenced at Oyut in 2013. The Hugo North deposit (Lift 1) is currently being developed as an underground operation.

The copper concentrator plant, with related facilities and necessary infrastructure, was originally designed to process approximately 100,000 tonnes of ore per day from the Oyut open-pit. However, since 2014, the concentrator has consistently achieved a throughput of over 105,000 tonnes per day due to improvements in operating practices. Concentrator throughput for 2021 is targeted at over 110,000 tonnes per day and expected to be approximately 40 million tonnes for the year due to improvements in concentrator performance and more favourable ore characteristics.

At the end of Q3'21, Oyu Tolgoi had a total workforce (employees and contractors), including for underground project construction, of approximately 14,000 workers, of which over 96% were Mongolian.

SELECTED FINANCIAL METRICS (1)



Three months ended Nine months ended ($ in millions, unless otherwise noted) 3Q 3Q Change 3Q 3Q Change 2021 2020 % 2021 2020 %













Revenue 622.8 264.4 135.6% 1,467.1 673.1 118.0% Income (loss) for the period 22.9 161.7 -- 473.9 253.0 -- Income (loss) attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill 34.9 128.6 -- 368.5 246.4 -- Basic and diluted income (loss) per share attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill 0.17 0.64 -- 1.83 1.22 -- Revenue by metals in concentrates

-

- -

Copper 362.7 198.7 82.5% 883.8 517.3 70.8% Gold 254.3 61.1 316.2% 570.0 145.3 292.3% Silver 5.8 4.6 26.1% 13.3 10.5 26.7% Cost of sales 202.7 168.0 20.7% 440.9 495.9 (11.1%) Production and delivery costs 152.6 125.7 21.4% 317.4 367.5 (13.6%) Depreciation and depletion 50.1 42.2 18.7% 123.5 128.3 (3.7%) Capital expenditure on cash basis 216.9 254.5 (14.8%) 697.4 817.5 (14.7%) Underground-Development 136.9 203.2 (32.6%) 479.5 733.7 (34.6%) Underground-Sustaining 63.7 38.9 63.8% 174.5 49.9 249.7% Open pit 16.3 12.4 31.5% 43.4 33.9 28.0% Proceeds from pre-production revenue (39.3) (18.5) 112.4% (51.3) (26.1) 96.6% Royalties 37.6 15.5 142.6% 82.8 40.0 107.0% Operating cash costs (2) 216.2 181.4 19.2% 627.9 550.3 14.1% Unit costs ($)











Cost of sales (per pound of copper sold) 1.98 2.22 (10.8%) 1.90 2.25 (15.6%) C1 (per pound of copper produced) (2) (0.65) 1.48 143.9% 0.06 1.72 (96.5%) All-in sustaining (per pound of copper produced) (2) 0.03 1.88 (98.4%) 0.63 2.13 (70.4%) Mining costs (per tonne of material mined) (2) 2.08 1.93 7.6% 2.20 1.78 23.6% Milling costs (per tonne of ore treated) (2) 8.01 5.90 35.8% 7.10 6.06 17.2% G&A costs (per tonne of ore treated) 3.63 2.98 22.0% 4.02 3.05 31.8% Cash generated from (used in) operating activities 350.6 77.6 351.8% 426.7 (28.6) 1,592.0% Cash generated from operating activities before interest and tax 351.1 89.2 293.6% 895.0 125.4 613.7% Interest paid 0.9 0.7 28.6% 111.9 146.2 (23.5%) Total assets 13,908 13,087 6.3% 13,908 13,087 6.3% Total non-current financial liabilities 4,422 4,390 0.7% 4,422 4,390 0.7%

(1) Any financial information in this press release should be reviewed in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements or condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the reporting periods indicated. (2) Please refer to Section  NON-GAAP MEASURES  on page 21 of this press release for further information.

Q3'21 vs Q3'20

Revenue of $622.8 million in Q3'21 increased 135.6% from $264.4 million in Q3'20. Both copper and gold volumes increased, by 34.9% and 338.2% respectively. This was driven by the scheduled move to the higher grade areas of Phase 4B . Average copper prices were 43.8% higher and average gold prices were 6.3% lower than Q3'20.





in Q3'21 increased 135.6% from in Q3'20. Both copper and gold volumes increased, by 34.9% and 338.2% respectively. This was driven by the scheduled move to the higher grade areas of Phase . Average copper prices were 43.8% higher and average gold prices were 6.3% lower than Q3'20. Income for the period was $22.9 million in Q3'21 compared with $161.7 million in Q3'20, reflecting the impact of a $299.9 million deferred tax asset de-recognition in Q3'21 (Q3'20: recognition of $131.1 million ), which resulted mainly from underground delays as well as a $34.8 million increase in operating cash costs 3 due mainly to higher royalty costs from increased sales revenues, additional COVID-19 related costs and higher consumption and power costs, partially offset by lower power study costs. These unfavourable movements were further offset by a $323.6 million increase in gross margin due to the increased revenue. Income attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill in Q3'21 was $34.9 million ( $0.17 per share,) vs $128.6 million ( $0.64 per share) in Q3'20.





in Q3'21 compared with in Q3'20, reflecting the impact of a deferred tax asset de-recognition in Q3'21 (Q3'20: recognition of ), which resulted mainly from underground delays as well as a increase in operating cash costs due mainly to higher royalty costs from increased sales revenues, additional COVID-19 related costs and higher consumption and power costs, partially offset by lower power study costs. These unfavourable movements were further offset by a increase in gross margin due to the increased revenue. Income attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill in Q3'21 was ( per share,) vs ( per share) in Q3'20. Cost of sales of $202.7 million in Q3'21 increased 20.7% from $168.0 million in Q3'20, reflecting a 33.7% increase in volumes of concentrate sold driven by a 13.9% increase in volumes of concentrates produced and also improvement in Q3'21 shipping rates following introduction of measures to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 border restrictions that resulted in declaration of force majeure during Q1'21.





in Q3'21 increased 20.7% from in Q3'20, reflecting a 33.7% increase in volumes of concentrate sold driven by a 13.9% increase in volumes of concentrates produced and also improvement in Q3'21 shipping rates following introduction of measures to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 border restrictions that resulted in declaration of force majeure during Q1'21. Capital expenditure on a cash basis was $216.9 million in Q3'21 compared to $254.5 million in Q3'20, comprised of $200.6 million (Q3'20: $242.1 million ) in underground capital spend, including $63.7 million in underground sustaining capital (Q3'20: $38.9 million ), and $16.3 million (Q3'20: $12.4 million ) in open-pit sustaining capital expenditure.





in Q3'21 compared to in Q3'20, comprised of (Q3'20: ) in underground capital spend, including in underground sustaining capital (Q3'20: ), and (Q3'20: ) in open-pit sustaining capital expenditure. Total operating cash costs 3 of $216.2 million in Q3'21 increased 19.2% from $181.4 million in Q3'20, principally due to an increase in royalty costs driven by higher revenue as well as additional costs associated with the implementation of increased COVID-19 safety measures and controls. Further, higher consumption and power costs were partially offset by lower power study costs.





of in Q3'21 increased 19.2% from in Q3'20, principally due to an increase in royalty costs driven by higher revenue as well as additional costs associated with the implementation of increased COVID-19 safety measures and controls. Further, higher consumption and power costs were partially offset by lower power study costs. Unit cost of sales of $1.98 per pound of copper sold in Q3'21 decreased 10.8% from $2.22 per pound of copper sold in Q3'20, reflecting fixed cost efficiencies from higher metal production as well as higher copper grade and recovery from the scheduled mining progression to the higher grade areas of Phase 4B .





per pound of copper sold in Q3'21 decreased 10.8% from per pound of copper sold in Q3'20, reflecting fixed cost efficiencies from higher metal production as well as higher copper grade and recovery from the scheduled mining progression to the higher grade areas of Phase . Oyu Tolgoi's C1 cash costs 3 of negative $0.65 per pound of copper produced in Q3'21 decreased from $1.48 per pound of copper produced in Q3'20, primarily reflecting the impact of a $193.2 million increase in gold revenue.





of negative per pound of copper produced in Q3'21 decreased from per pound of copper produced in Q3'20, primarily reflecting the impact of a increase in gold revenue. All-in sustaining costs 3 of $0.03 per pound of copper produced in Q3'21 decreased from $1.88 per pound of copper produced in Q3'20. Similar to the decrease in C1 cash costs 3 , this decrease primarily reflects the impact of the higher gold revenues but, unlike C1 cash costs 3 , was partially offset by the impact of increased royalty costs due to higher sales revenue.





of per pound of copper produced in Q3'21 decreased from per pound of copper produced in Q3'20. Similar to the decrease in C1 cash costs , this decrease primarily reflects the impact of the higher gold revenues but, unlike C1 cash costs , was partially offset by the impact of increased royalty costs due to higher sales revenue. Mining costs 3 of $2.08 per tonne of material mined in Q3'21 increased 7.6% from $1.93 per tonne of material mined in Q3'20. The increase was mainly due to lower material mined due to lower manning levels caused by COVID-19 related controls and restrictions, increased cycle times caused by mining deeper into the open-pit, higher spend on consumables and fuel driven by market price increases, partially offset by lower maintenance costs due to the lower manning levels.





of per tonne of material mined in Q3'21 increased 7.6% from per tonne of material mined in Q3'20. The increase was mainly due to lower material mined due to lower manning levels caused by COVID-19 related controls and restrictions, increased cycle times caused by mining deeper into the open-pit, higher spend on consumables and fuel driven by market price increases, partially offset by lower maintenance costs due to the lower manning levels. Milling costs 3 of $8.01 per tonne of ore treated in Q3'21 increased 35.8% from $5.90 per tonne of ore treated in Q3'20. This increase was mainly due to lower milled ore and higher consumables and power costs caused by the processing of harder, higher grade Phase 4B ore in lieu of softer ore from Phase 6B and stockpiles. G&A costs of $3.63 per tonne of ore treated in Q3'21 increased 22.0% from $2 .98 per tonne of ore treated in Q3'20. This increase was mainly due to lower amounts of ore treated as well as higher insurance and COVID-19 related costs.





of per tonne of ore treated in Q3'21 increased 35.8% from per tonne of ore treated in Q3'20. This increase was mainly due to lower milled ore and higher consumables and power costs caused by the processing of harder, higher grade Phase ore in lieu of softer ore from Phase and stockpiles. G&A costs of per tonne of ore treated in Q3'21 increased 22.0% from .98 per tonne of ore treated in Q3'20. This increase was mainly due to lower amounts of ore treated as well as higher insurance and COVID-19 related costs. Cash generated from operating activities was $350.6 million in Q3'21 vs $77.6 million in Q3'20, reflecting a $261.9 million improvement in cash generated from operating activities before interest and tax, which resulted from a $323.6 million increase in gross margin from increased sales revenue, partially offset by unfavourable movements in working capital3 and deferred revenue. Deferred revenue decreased in Q3'21 mainly due to exceptionally high deferred revenue at June 30, 2021 , which was impacted by the timing of ramp-up in concentrate shipments during Q2'21 following the declaration of force majeure as well as related contingency measures that were put in place during Q2'21 to improve Oyu Tolgoi's short-term liquidity that started to be unwound during Q3'21. Deferred revenue increased in Q3'20.

___________________ 3 Please refer to Section  NON-GAAP MEASURES  on page 21 of this press release for further information

OYU TOLGOI

Operations, Safety Performance and COVID-19 Update

The Oyu Tolgoi open-pit and underground workforce posted an AIFR of 0.13 per 200,000 hours worked for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which represents an improvement from the six months ended 30 June 2021.

During Q3'21, Mongolia continued to experience a significant number of COVID-19 cases, which continued to limit the ability of Oyu Tolgoi to maintain normal roster changes for its workers. While Oyu Tolgoi did experience an improvement in on-site personnel numbers vs Q2'21, average workforce numbers remained below 50% of planned requirements during Q3'21.

COVID-19 restrictions have adversely impacted both open-pit operations and underground development, which, through the end of Q3'21 and as announced on October 14, 2021, have resulted in a cumulative increase of $140 million to the estimate of underground development capital included in the Definitive Estimate. This increase includes the currently known, incremental and time-related costs of COVID-19 restrictions through September 30,2021; however, it does not include any impacts arising from associated schedule delays or delayed commitments caused by the Definitive Estimate not yet having received the support of all the directors of the OT LLC Board, as these are still under assessment. The Company will continue to monitor these costs and will update the market as appropriate.

All workers at the Oyu Tolgoi site have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and a third dose program is well advanced. Improvements in quarantine protocols both on-site and off-site have resulted in a relaxation of restrictions, which resulted in higher workforce numbers in September 2021 while still minimising the spread of COVID-19. A return to normal workforce levels is expected by the end of 2021, and Oyu Tolgoi will continue to cooperate with the Mongolian authorities to implement and maintain control measures to protect the health and well-being of its workers as well as the local community.

Selected Operational Metrics

Oyu Tolgoi Production Data

All data represents full production and sales on a 100% basis



3Q 3Q Change 9 months 9 months Change

2021 2020

2021 2020















Open pit material mined ('000 tonnes) 22,588 23,979 (5.8%) 61,005 74,032 (17.6%) Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 9,336 10,072 (7.3%) 28,550 30,606 (6.7%) Average mill head grades:











Copper (%) 0.53 0.45 17.8% 0.52 0.45 15.6% Gold (g/t) 0.63 0.21 200.0% 0.60 0.18 233.3% Silver (g/t) 1.29 1.22 5.7% 1.26 1.19 5.9% Concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 191.9 168.5 13.9% 567.0 502.9 12.7% Average concentrate grade (% Cu) 21.9 21.5 1.9% 21.9 21.5 1.9% Production of metals in concentrates:











Copper ('000 tonnes) 41.9 36.3 15.4% 124.1 108.0 14.9% Gold ('000 ounces) 131 37 254.1% 390 94 314.9% Silver ('000 ounces) 249 219 13.7% 739 645 14.6% Concentrate sold ('000 tonnes) 224.4 167.9 33.7% 503.3 488.1 3.1% Sales of metals in concentrates:











Copper ('000 tonnes) 46.4 34.4 34.9% 105.0 99.9 5.1% Gold ('000 ounces) 149 34 338.2% 333 84 296.4% Silver ('000 ounces) 278 201 38.3% 591 566 4.4% Metal recovery (%)











Copper 83.9 78.9 6.3% 83.6 77.4 8.0% Gold 68.7 53.7 27.9% 70.3 51.0 37.8% Silver 64.1 54.6 17.4% 64.0 54.0 18.5%

In Q3'21, both copper and gold production from the open-pit were higher vs Q3'20 due mainly to mining higher grade material from Phase 4B. Mill throughput of 9.34 million tonnes in Q3'21 was in line with Q2'21 and 7% lower than Q3'20. Processing of harder ore as well as lower SAG mill availability, due to maintenance, impacted Q3'21 mill throughput.

Oyu Tolgoi provided an updated mine plan reflecting the impacts of the mine redesign in response to previously disclosed open-pit geotechnical events, which is currently forecast to result in deferral of some open-pit metal to beyond 2024. In addition, the on-going impacts of on-site COVID-19 restrictions, have resulted in delayed waste movement thereby impacting short term operations. While opportunities to reduce the impact of this forecast metal deferral are under consideration, related work is not expected to be completed until H1'22.

Oyu Tolgoi Underground Update

All technical undercut readiness activities have been completed, and Oyu Tolgoi has been ready from a technical perspective to commence the undercut since July 2021. Undercut commencement remains delayed and is pending resolution of certain non-technical undercut criteria, including the support of all OT LLC Board Directors to increase the underground development capital investment and to commence discussions with the project finance lenders, obtaining outstanding required regulatory approvals and agreeing on a pathway to meet OT LLC's long-term power requirements, all of which are critical elements for consideration to proceed with the decision to commence the undercut and remain the subject of ongoing discussions.

During Q3'21, underground development progress continued to be significantly impacted by COVID-19 constraints on-site and in Mongolia, including restrictions on movement of both domestic and international expertise. Despite these constraints, breakthrough of the conveyor decline was achieved in August 2021, sinking of Shaft 4 recommenced in mid-October 2021, and preparatory work for Shaft 3 sinking continued. Breakthrough of the service decline is forecast in November 2021.

MHS1 construction is almost complete with no-load commissioning commencing in Q3'21 and is currently expected to be completed by the end of January 2022. Construction of the first on-footprint truck chute is well advanced and currently forecast to be completed by February 2022. Completion of both MHS1 and the first on-footprint truck chute is broadly in-line with the Definitive Estimate, a positive result given the challenging circumstances. Nevertheless, given the cumulative and on-going impacts of COVID-19, continued delayed commitments from the Definitive Estimate not yet having received the support of all directors of the OT LLC Board, as well as the outstanding unresolved non-technical undercut issues, the Company now expects sustainable production for Panel 0 to be delayed to H1'23, broadly in line with the current forecast 6-month delay to undercut commencement.

Progress on Shafts 3 and 4 has been impacted by quarantine requirements and international travel restrictions related to COVID-19. As a result, no significant development progress on these shafts was made during Q3'21. Consequently, OT LLC has advised that a 9-month delay on Shafts 3 and 4 is currently forecast which, in combination with a COVID- related reduction in underground development progress as well as expected changes to mining scope, is currently forecast to delay the initiation of Panel 2 by approximately 14  16 months compared to the Definitive Estimate. Panel 1 is currently forecast to be impacted to a lesser extent with an approximate commencement 11 months later than the Definitive Estimate. These delays are expected to extend the ramp up to 95,000 tpd by a similar timeframe. Efforts to minimize the delays to Panel 1 and Panel 2 due to ventilation constraints ahead of Shaft 3 and 4 commissioning continue

As at the end of Q3'21, cumulative* underground development progress was 60,085 equivalent metres (eqm) and cumulative* Conveyor to Surface advancement was 15,174 eqm. It is anticipated that development rates will continue to be impacted into Q4'21.

Oyu Tolgoi Underground Project Development Progress Excluding Conveyor Declines** Year Total Equivalent

Development

(Km) Lateral Development

(Km) Mass Excavation

('000' m3) 2016 1.6 1.5 3.0 Q1'17 1.0 0.8 5.2 Q2'17 1.4 0.9 9.2 Q3'17 1.4 1.2 8.3 Q4'17 2.2 1.9 8.9 2017 6.1 4.8 31.6 Q1'18 2.6 2.1 11.6 Q2'18 2.4 2.1 8.6 Q3'18 3.0 2.1* 23.3* Q4'18 2.3 1.6 16.0 2018 10.3 7.9 59.5 Q1'19 3.2 2.3 21.4 Q2'19 3.2 2.4 19.3 Q3'19 3.6 3.2 11.4 Q4'19 4.8 4.5 9.0 2019 14.9 12.4 61.1 Q1'20 5.5 5.3 3.2 Q2'20 5.5 5.1 10.6 Q3'20 4.7 4.1 14.3 Q4'20 4.2 3.8 8.5 2020 19.9 18.4 36.6 Q1'21 3.5 2.9 13.5 Q2'21 1.7 1.2 11.6 Q3'21 2.2 1.8 8.1 Total 60.1 51.0 225.2

Notes:

Totals may not match due to rounding. * Lateral development and mass excavation amounts for Q3'18 have been updated to reflect revised results. ** Excludes Conveyor Declines but includes sustaining capital development metres in the quarter.

Oyu Tolgoi Conveyor Decline Project Development Progress Year Total Equivalent

Development

(Km) Lateral Development

(Km) Mass Excavation

('000' m3) 2016 0.0 0.0 0.0 Q1'17 0.1 0.1 0.0 Q2'17 0.4 0.4 0.2 Q3'17 0.9 0.9 0.5 Q4'17 0.9 0.8 0.5 2017 2.3 2.3 1.2 Q1'18 0.8 0.8 0.1 Q2'18 0.8 0.8 0.1 Q3'18 0.8 0.8 0.3 Q4'18 0.6 0.6 0.1 2018 3.0 3.0 0.6 Q1'19 0.8 0.8 0.8 Q2'19 0.9 0.9 0.8 Q3'19 0.9 0.7 4.9 Q4'19 1.1 0.7 8.3 2019 3.7 3.1 14.7 Q1'20 1.0 0.7 7.5 Q2'20 1.0 0.9 2.6 Q3'20 0.9 0.9 0.0 Q4'20 1.0 1.0 0.0 2020 4.0 3.6 10.1 Q1'21 0.8 0.8 0.0 Q2'21 0.7 0.6 3.2 Q3'21 0.6 0.6 1.6 Total 15.2 13.9 31.5

Note: Totals may not match due to rounding.

The Company continues to engage Rio Tinto and various Mongolian governmental bodies to resolve the remaining outstanding non-technical undercut criteria, and remains committed to moving the project forward and ensuring long-term and mutually beneficial solutions to the issues under discussion. Rio Tinto and the Company have recently tabled a proposal to the Government of Mongolia, which the Company believes addresses all of the major outstanding issues while ensuring that OT LLC will continue to deliver compelling value to all partners. By way of examples, certain items contained in the overall proposed package that the Company is willing to discuss include proposals to reduce a portion of the debt currently owing by Erdenes and to accelerate or increase the anticipated returns to Erdenes and the Government of Mongolia. Nevertheless, delayed resolution of outstanding issues, as well as the slowing of discussions as a result of the COVID-19 situation in Mongolia, will delay the Company's expected timing for initiation of the undercut. Due to the delays of the approval of the Definitive Estimate and necessary additional investment by the OT LLC Board, some contractual commitments for future works on items such as Material Handling System 2 and the Concentrator upgrade have experienced delays, and are expected to impact the overall project duration, which will have ongoing cost implications. Any significant further delay to the initiation of the undercut would result in further, unfavourable impacts to the underground project schedule, including the timing of sustainable production for Panel 0, the timing to commence Panel 2 and the timing and quantum of underground capital expenditure, all of which would materially, adversely impact the timing of expected cash flows from the Oyu Tolgoi underground project thereby further increasing the quantum of Turquoise Hill's estimated incremental funding requirement and would also, in turn, adversely affect the ability of the Company and OT LLC to obtain additional funding or r-profile existing debt as contemplated within the timeframe set out in the Heads of Agreement entered into between the Company and Rio Tinto in April 2021 ("HoA"). See the section of this press release titled "Funding of OT LLC by Turquoise Hill".

The Definitive Estimate, which was completed in December 2020, forecast first sustainable production in October 2022 and estimated a development capital cost of $6.75 billion. It assumed COVID-19 related restrictions in 2021 would be no more stringent than those experienced in September 2020. As actual 2021 COVID-19 restrictions have been and are expected to be, for a period of time, more stringent than those assumed in the Definitive Estimate, a reassessment is underway to consider potential impacts thereof on the underground development capital estimate as well as the overall project schedule. The additional 2021 development cost impact of the known COVID-19 delays up to September 30, 2021 is estimated to be approximately $140 million, and additional impacts are expected as COVID-19 restrictions persist into Q4'21. The Company continues to monitor the impacts associated with COVID-19 delays as well as the time to resolve the non-technical undercut and other issues on the underground development capital estimate as well as the overall project schedule.

Given the cumulative and on-going impacts of COVID-19, continued delayed commitments resulting from the Definitive Estimate not yet having received the support of all directors of the OT LLC Board, as well as the outstanding non-technical undercut issues, the Company now expects sustainable production for Panel 0 to be delayed to H1'23, broadly in line with the current forecast 6-month delay to undercut commencement.

OT LLC spent $200.6 million on underground capital during Q3'21, including $63.7 million of underground sustaining capital. Total underground project spend from January 1, 2016, to September 30, 2021, was approximately $5.1 billion, including $0.3 billion of underground sustaining capital. Underground project spend on a cash basis includes VAT and capitalised management services payments but excludes capitalised interest. In addition, OT LLC had contractual obligations7 of $0.4 billion as at September 30, 2021. Since the restart of project development in 2016 through September 30, 2021, Oyu Tolgoi has committed over $3.9 billion to Mongolian vendors and contractors. Given the total underground development spend of $4.8 billion and contractual obligations of $0.4 billion as at September 30, 2021, Oyu Tolgoi is expected to reach the total $5.3 billion underground development (actual spend plus contractual obligations) as stated in the original 2016 feasibility study, during November 2021. In the event that the necessary additional investment to progress underground development is not supported by all directors of the OT LLC board by the end of November 2021, OT LLC will be at risk of having to slow down further work on the underground development.

____________________ 4 Please refer to Section  NON-GAAP MEASURES  on page 21 of this press release for further information.

Incremental Mine Design Refinements

Panel 1 and Panel 2 are the focus of additional study work, which will continue through to 2023. The study work includes:

Design optimisation for Panel 2

Design optimisation for Panel 1

Pillar recovery assessment

To support these studies, additional data is being collected from surface and underground drilling. This data is used to refine the structural and geotechnical models, which form the basis of the mine design. Although the drilling has been hampered by COVID-19 cases and restrictions on people movements, the study work remains broadly on schedule.

Results from the Panel 2 study are expected in H1'22. The scope of this study includes a review of the base case, including optimisation of the panel orientation and the undercut strategy. The initial focus is on the northern section of Panel 2 (where additional data is already available) and will be expanded to include the southern section in the latter part of 2022.

The Panel 1 and Pillar Recovery studies are scheduled for completion in early 2023.

Force Majeure

OT LLC concentrate shipment volumes to customers improved during Q3'21; however, above target inventory levels remained at the end of Q3'21 as a result of the COVID-19 related Mongolian / Chinese border restrictions that resulted in force majeure being declared March 30, 2021. Shipments to Chinese customers recommenced on April 15, 2021, and OT LLC continues to work closely with Mongolian and Chinese authorities to manage any supply chain disruptions and is temporarily increasing its capacity to move concentrate through the use of double trailer trucks and other measures. The force majeure will remain in place until there are sufficiently sustained volumes of convoys crossing the border to ensure OT LLC's ability to meet its ongoing commitments to customers and to return on-site concentrate inventory to target levels.

FUNDING OF OT LLC BY TURQUOISE HILL

In accordance with the Amended and Restated Shareholders' Agreement dated June 8, 2011 (ARSHA), Turquoise Hill has funded OT LLC's cash requirements beyond internally generated cash flows by a combination of equity investment and shareholder debt.

For amounts funded by debt, OT LLC must repay such amounts, including accrued interest, before it can pay common share dividends. As at September 30, 2021, the aggregate outstanding balance of shareholder loans extended by subsidiaries of the Company to OT LLC was $8.0 billion, including accrued interest of $2.1 billion. These loans bear interest at an effective annual rate of LIBOR plus 6.5%.

In accordance with the ARSHA, a subsidiary of the Company has funded the common share investments in OT LLC on behalf of state-owned Erdenes. These funded amounts earn interest at an effective annual rate of LIBOR plus 6.5% and are repayable, by Erdenes to a subsidiary of the Company, via a pledge over Erdenes' share of OT LLC common share dividends. Erdenes also has the right to reduce the outstanding balance by making cash payments at any time. As at September 30, 2021, the cumulative amount of such funding was $1.4 billion, representing 34% of invested common share equity, with unrecognised interest on the amounts funded of $0.9 billion.

As at September 30, 2021, Turquoise Hill has $0.8 billion of available liquidity, which under current projections is expected to be sufficient to meet the requirements of the Company, including its operations and underground development, into Q3'22. Short-term cash forecasts have been prepared which also incrementally incorporate the plans that the Company has in place to access additional sources of funding as contemplated in the HoA which then enables the Company to access sufficient liquidity to meet its minimum obligations for a period of at least 12 months from the balance sheet date.

At the time it was signed, the HoA provided an updated funding plan (the Funding Plan) for the completion of the OT LLC underground project in Mongolia. The Funding Plan was designed to address the estimated remaining funding requirement at that time and replace the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding that Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill previously entered into on September 9, 2020.

Under the HoA, subject to securing approval by the OT LLC Board and any required support from the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto will:

pursue re-profiling (rescheduling of principal repayments) of existing project debt to better align with the revised mine plan, project timing and cash flows; and

seek to raise up to $500 million in senior supplemental debt (SSD) under the existing project financing arrangements from selected international financial institutions.

In addition, Rio Tinto has committed to address any potential shortfalls from the re-profiling and additional SSD of up to $750 million by providing a senior co-lending facility (the Co-Lending Facility) on the same terms as Oyu Tolgoi's project financing, while Turquoise Hill has committed to complete an equity offering of common shares for up to $500 million in the form of, and at Turquoise Hill's discretion, either (i) a rights offering, or (ii) a public offering or private placement of common shares, in either case sufficient to satisfy any remaining funding shortfall of up to $500 million within six months of the Co-Lending Facility becoming available. The requirement of Rio Tinto to advance funds under the Co-Lending facility is subject to a number of conditions precedent set out in the HoA (a copy of which is available on the Company's SEDAR and EDGAR profiles), including, among others: that certain undertakings provided by the Company in favour of the Oyu Tolgoi project finance lenders be amended to cover the Co-Lending Facility; that terms of the Oyu Tolgoi project finance agreements with respect to a "Sponsor Senior Loan" not be amended in any material respect; the absence of new material claims and proceedings against Turquoise Hill or Rio Tinto that could adversely impact the funding elements of the HoA; the absence of a material adverse change and of a "Suspensive Event" as defined under the Oyu Tolgoi project finance agreements, and operations at Oyu Tolgoi not having been suspended for certain defined periods of time; all relevant third party approvals and consents having been obtained; and the board of directors of OT LLC and its Technical Committee having approved the undercut decision. The foregoing list of conditions does not purport to be exhaustive, and investors should refer to a copy of the HoA as filed on the SEDAR and EDGAR profiles of the Company.

To address the residual funding requirement after implementing the Funding Plan under the HOA, the Company will, at the appropriate times, consider all funding options available to it. Such options may include additional debt from banks or international financial institutions, an offering of global medium-term notes, a gold pre-sale transaction, a gold streaming transaction and additional equity.

Successful implementation of the HoA is subject to achieving alignment with the relevant stakeholders in addition to Rio Tinto (including existing lenders, any potential new lenders and the Government of Mongolia), market conditions and other factors. However, as described above, any significant further delays to the initiation of the undercut, or non-fulfillment of any of the other conditions precedent identified jn the HoA. would also adversely affect the ability of the Company and OT LLC to obtain additional funding or re-profile existing debt as contemplated within the timeframe set out in the HoA. The Company is in discussions with Rio Tinto regarding implementation of the HoA as well as its residual funding requirements. In addition, given the uncertainties outlined above, the Company is currently assessing alternatives in the event that the timeline as outlined in the HoA is not achieved.

Turquoise Hill's liquidity outlook will continue to be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors, many of which are outside the Company's control, including:

changes in commodity prices and other market-based assumptions;

open-pit operating performance as well as the successful implementation (or otherwise) of ongoing optimisation efforts, the results of which are not anticipated until H1'22;

further and/or unanticipated impacts on operations and underground development related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the economic, commercial and financial consequences thereof;

the outcomes of Turquoise Hill's and Rio Tinto's engagement with various Mongolian governmental bodies to resolve the remaining outstanding non-technical undercut criteria, including how a domestic long-term power solution is implemented, as well as other aspects of the proposal recently tabled by Rio Tinto and the Company to the Government of Mongolia , and the ongoing negotiation thereof, as discussed in the "Negotiations with the Government of Mongolia " section of this press release below.

Turquoise Hill continues to monitor its liquidity outlook and will provide updates as and when circumstances require.

Turquoise Hill currently estimates its base case incremental funding requirement to be $3.6 billion (30 June 2021: $2.4 billion), taking into consideration:

metal price assumptions for copper and gold over the incremental funding period;

the Definitive Estimate, which estimated a development capital cost of $6.75 billion ;

; COVID-19 restrictions through the end of Q3'21, which have resulted in a cumulative increase of $140 million to the estimate of underground development capital included in the Definitive Estimate to the end of September 2021 . This increase includes the currently known, incremental, time-related costs of COVID-19 restrictions through September 30, 2021 ; however, it does not include any impacts arising from associated schedule delays or delayed commitments caused by the Definitive Estimate not yet having received the support of all the directors of the OT LLC Board, as these are still under assessment;

to the estimate of underground development capital included in the Definitive Estimate to the end of . This increase includes the currently known, incremental, time-related costs of COVID-19 restrictions through ; however, it does not include any impacts arising from associated schedule delays or delayed commitments caused by the Definitive Estimate not yet having received the support of all the directors of the OT LLC Board, as these are still under assessment; the current forecast of sustainable production for Panel 0 to be delayed to H1'23, broadly in line with the current forecast 6-month delay to undercut commencement;

the current forecast of delays to Shafts 3 and 4 which, in combination with reduced underground development progress as well as additions to mining scope, is currently forecast to result in delays of approximately 14  16 months to Panel 2 and 11 months to Panel 1 compared to the Definitive Estimate; and

the impact of the open-pit mine redesigns in response to previously reported geotechnical events, resequencing of open-pit ore phases due to the delayed commencement of the undercut as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on the open-pit waste movement.

The increase in base case incremental funding reflects preliminary information provided by OT LLC primarily regarding the delay to the initiation of the undercut.

Additionally, Turquoise Hill currently estimates its base case incremental funding will continue to be influenced by various factors over the incremental funding period, many of which are outside the Company's control, including:

the timing of commencement of the undercut (for further information, see the "Oyu Tolgoi Underground Update" section of this press release above);

any further revisions to the amount of development capital required to bring the underground mine into production, if it were to deviate from the aforementioned Definitive Estimate of $6.75 billion plus the additional 2021 underground development cost impacts of the known COVID-19 issues up to Q3 '21, which are estimated to be approximately $140 million ;

plus the additional 2021 underground development cost impacts of the known COVID-19 issues up to Q3 '21, which are estimated to be approximately ; any impacts arising from associated schedule delays or delayed commitments caused by the Definitive Estimate not yet having received the support of all the directors of the OT LLC Board;

the timing of sustainable production and ramp-up profile and their impact on cash flows, which are impacted by, amongst other things, the timing of undercut commencement and resolution of the remaining outstanding non-technical undercut criteria, timing to commence Panel 1 and Panel 2 as well as any further COVID-19-related delays;

the outcomes of Turquoise Hill's and Rio Tinto's engagement with various Mongolian governmental bodies to resolve the remaining outstanding non-technical undercut criteria, including how a domestic long-term power solution is implemented, as well as other aspects of the proposal recently tabled by Rio Tinto and the Company to the Government of Mongolia , and the ongoing negotiation thereof, as discussed in the "Negotiations with the Government of Mongolia " section of this press release below;

, and the ongoing negotiation thereof, as discussed in the "Negotiations with the Government of " section of this press release below; changes to the amount of cash flow expected to be generated from open-pit operations, net of underground and open-pit sustaining capital requirements;

further and/or unanticipated impacts on operations and underground development related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the economic, commercial and financial consequences thereof;

changes in expected commodity prices and other market-based assumptions (upside and downside pricing sensitivities would have, respectively, a favourable or unfavourable impact on the base case incremental funding requirement); and

incremental mine design refinements to Panels 1 and 2.

More generally, any changes in the above factors will impact the incremental funding requirement and, as a result, the actual quantum of incremental funding required may be greater or less than the $3.6 billion base case estimate, and such variance may be significant.

As a result of the project delays and the increase to the Company's base case estimated incremental funding requirement disclosed above in this press release and initially announced on October 14, 2021, and given the conditions precedent to availability of the various sources of funding available under the HoA, there is currently significant uncertainty regarding the ability of the Company and OT LLC to carry out, within the timeframe set out in the HoA, the re-profiling of existing debt, to obtain additional SSD or additional funding, or the process to access funds under the Co-Lending Facility.

The Company is currently in discussions with Rio Tinto to consider the potential adjustments to be made to the timeframe and terms and conditions set out in the HoA to address near term funding risks and will update the market as appropriate.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Turquoise Hill's ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi mine is held through a 66% interest in OT LLC. The remaining 34% interest in OT LLC is held by Erdenes. Turquoise Hill is obliged to fund Erdenes' share of the capital costs under the ARSHA.

Underground construction recommenced in May 2016 when OT LLC received the final requirement for the restart of underground development: formal notice to proceed approval by the boards of Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto (as project manager) and OT LLC. Approval followed the signing of the Oyu Tolgoi Underground Mine Development and Financing Plan (UDP) in May 2015 and the signing of a $4.4 billion project finance facility in December 2015. Development had been suspended in August 2013 pending resolution of matters with the Government of Mongolia.

Turquoise Hill's investment in the Oyu Tolgoi mine is governed by the 2009 Investment Agreement among Turquoise Hill, the Government of Mongolia, OT LLC and an affiliate of Rio Tinto (Investment Agreement or IA). The Investment Agreement framework was authorised by the Mongolian Parliament and was concluded after 16 months of negotiations. It was reviewed by numerous constituencies within the Government. Turquoise Hill has been operating in good faith under the terms of the Investment Agreement since 2009, and we believe not only that it is a valid and binding agreement, but that it has proven to be beneficial for all parties.

Adherence to the principles of the Investment Agreement, the ARSHA and the UDP has allowed for the development of the Oyu Tolgoi mine in a manner that has given rise to significant long-term benefits to Mongolia. Benefits from the Oyu Tolgoi mine open-pit operations and underground development include, but are not limited to, employment, royalties and taxes, local procurement, economic development and sustainability investments.

As previously announced by the Company on January 11, 2021, the Government of Mongolia has expressed concern with the results of the Definitive Estimate, which was completed and delivered by Rio Tinto and publicly announced by the Company on December 18, 2020 and is concerned that the significant increase in the development costs of the Oyu Tolgoi project has eroded the economic benefits it anticipated to receive therefrom. The Government of Mongolia has indicated that if the Oyu Tolgoi project is not economically beneficial to the country, it would be necessary to review and evaluate whether it can proceed. The Government of Mongolia has stressed the importance of achieving a comprehensive solution that addresses both financial issues between the shareholders of OT LLC as well as economic and social issues of importance to Mongolia, such as water usage, tax payments, and social issues related to employees, in order to implement the Oyu Tolgoi project successfully. In particular, the Government of Mongolia has expressed its intention to initiate discussions with respect to the termination and replacement of the UDP.

While acknowledging Oyu Tolgoi's significant contributions to Mongolia, Turquoise Hill continues to engage with the Government of Mongolia and remains open to improving the UDP to deliver even greater benefits from Oyu Tolgoi to all stakeholders.

In Q1'20, OT LLC submitted a mineral resources and reserves update for registration with the Mongolian Minerals Council as required pursuant to local regulatory requirements in Mongolia. In September 2021, the updated Resources and Reserves (RR19) was approved by the Minerals Council of Mongolia, and the updated Feasibility Study (OTFS20) will be able to be submitted for assessment once the RR19 registration process progresses further.

Oyu Tolgoi Special Committee Independent Consulting Group Report

As announced on December 1, 2020, the board of directors of OT LLC established a special board committee (the "OT Special Committee") comprised of two representatives of Erdenes and two representatives of the Company to investigate the causes of the increase in cost and schedule extension to the underground development of the Oyu Tolgoi project during the period between the 2016 Feasibility Study and the December 2020 Definitive Estimate.

A group of consultants called "The Independent Consulting Group" ("ICG") was hired to conduct the review on behalf of the OT Special Committee. ICG submitted its report to the OT Special Committee on August 3, 2021 (the "ICG Report"). The ICG Report raises certain questions in relation to the project management process surrounding the increase in cost and schedule extension and suggests that changes in geotechnical parameters did not contribute significantly thereto. The OT Board and the Company are conducting a detailed review of the ICG Report and will seek a number of clarifications and supporting detailed explanations for certain of the broad conclusions it contains. The Company will update the market as appropriate.

Negotiations with the Government of Mongolia

Turquoise Hill continues to engage Rio Tinto and various Mongolian governmental bodies to resolve the remaining outstanding non-technical undercut criteria, and the Company remains committed to moving the project forward and ensuring long-term and mutually beneficial solutions to the issues under discussion. Nevertheless, delayed resolution of outstanding issues, as well as the slowing of discussions as a result of the COVID-19 situation in Mongolia, will delay the Company's expected timing for initiation of the undercut. Due to the delays of the approval of the Definitive Estimate and necessary additional investment by the OT LLC Board, some contractual commitments for future works on items such as Material Handling System 2 and the Concentrator upgrade have experienced delays, and are expected to impact the overall project duration, which will have ongoing cost implications. Any significant further delay to the initiation of the undercut would result in further, unfavourable impacts to the underground project schedule, including the timing of sustainable production for Panel 0, the timing to commence Panel 2 and the timing and quantum of underground capital expenditure, all of which would materially, adversely impact the timing of expected cash flows from the Oyu Tolgoi underground project thereby further increasing the quantum of Turquoise Hill's estimated incremental funding requirement and would also likely in turn adversely affect the ability of the Company and Oyu Tolgoi to obtain additional funding or re-profile existing debt as contemplated within the timeframe set out in the HoA entered into between the Company and Rio Tinto in April 2021. In the event that the necessary additional investment to progress underground development is not supported by all directors of the OT LLC board by the end of November 2021, OT LLC will be at risk of having to slow down further work on the underground development.

Turquoise Hill remains committed to seeking resolution of outstanding issues and remains mobilized in Mongolia to continue discussions with the Government to progress timely resolution for the benefit of all stakeholders. Company representatives have spent almost 3 months in country since March working to resolve issues constructively. Rio Tinto and the Company have recently tabled a proposal to the Government of Mongolia, which the Company believes addresses all of the major outstanding issues while ensuring that OT LLC will continue to deliver compelling value to all partners. By way of examples, certain items contained in the overall proposed package that the Company is willing to discuss include proposals to reduce a portion of the debt currently owing by Erdenes and to accelerate or increase the anticipated returns to Erdenes and the Government of Mongolia. The Company will continue to monitor the situation, assess any impact of any related delays and update the market as appropriate.

Oyu Tolgoi Mine Power Supply

OT LLC currently sources power for the Oyu Tolgoi mine from China's Inner Mongolian Western Grid, via overhead power line, pursuant to back-to-back power purchase arrangements with Mongolia's National Power Transmission Grid JSC, the relevant Mongolian power authority, and Inner Mongolia Power International Cooperation Co., Ltd (IMPIC), the subsidiary of Inner Mongolia's power grid company.

OT LLC is obliged under the Investment Agreement to secure a long-term domestic source of power for the Oyu Tolgoi mine. The PSFA provides a binding framework and pathway for long-term power supply to the Oyu Tolgoi mine. The PSFA originally contemplated the construction of a coal-fired power plant at Tavan Tolgoi (TTPP), which would be majority-owned by OT LLC and situated close to the Tavan Tolgoi coal mining district located approximately 150 kilometres from the Oyu Tolgoi mine. In April 2020, the Government of Mongolia advised that it was unwilling to support OT LLC's proposal to develop TTPP and announced its intention to supply power to Oyu Tolgoi from a Government of Mongolia funded, owned and operated power plant at Tavan Tolgoi (SOPP).

In June 2020, OT LLC and the Government of Mongolia entered into the PSFA Amendment to reflect their agreement to jointly prioritise and progress SOPP, in accordance with and subject to agreed milestones, as the domestic source of power for the Oyu Tolgoi mine. The milestones included: signing a power purchase agreement (SOPP PPA) for the supply of power to the Oyu Tolgoi mine by March 31, 2021, commencing construction of SOPP by no later than July 1, 2021, commissioning SOPP within four years thereafter, and reaching agreement with IMPIC on an extension to the existing power import arrangements by March 1, 2021 in order to ensure there is no disruption to the power supply required to safeguard the Oyu Tolgoi mine's ongoing operations and development.

The PSFA Amendment provides that if certain agreed milestones are not met in a timely manner (subject to extension for Delay Events as defined) then OT LLC will be entitled to select from, and implement, the alternative power solutions specified in the PSFA Amendment, including a coal-fired power plant at Oyu Tolgoi, the Mongolian grid or a primary renewables solution, and the Government of Mongolia would be obliged to support such decision.

Three PSFA Amendment milestones (execution of the extension of the IMPIC supply arrangements, execution of the SOPP PPA, and start of SOPP construction) were not met by the original dates of March 1, 2021, March 31, 2021, and July 1, 2021, respectively.

The Ministry of Energy formally notified Rio Tinto and OT LLC on February 25, 2021 that the Government of Mongolia's preference is to supply power to the Oyu Tolgoi mine from the Central Energy System through a Mongolian grid Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA). Rio Tinto and OT LLC have expressed willingness to consider Mongolian grid supply provided certain key conditions can be met, including the National Power Transmission Grid (NPTG) securing a suitable extension of the power import arrangements with IMPIC to ensure certainty of power supply to Oyu Tolgoi until such time as the Mongolian grid is able to deliver stable and reliable power to Oyu Tolgoi over the long term.

OT LLC continues to collaborate with the Government of Mongolia to ensure a secure, stable and reliable long-term power solution is implemented with an immediate focus on negotiating the ESA as well as extending the IMPIC supply arrangements prior to the commencement of the undercut.

Oyu Tolgoi Tax Assessments

On January 16, 2018, Turquoise Hill announced that OT LLC had received and was evaluating a tax assessment for approximately $155 million (which was converted from Mongolian Tugrik to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on that date) from the Mongolian Tax Authority (MTA) relating to an audit on taxes imposed and paid by OT LLC between 2013 and 2015 (the 2013 to 2015 Tax Assessment). In January 2018, OT LLC paid an amount of approximately $4.8 million to settle unpaid taxes, fines and penalties for accepted items.

On February 20, 2020, the Company announced that OT LLC would be proceeding with the initiation of a formal international arbitration proceeding in accordance with dispute resolution provisions within Chapter 14 of the Investment Agreement and Chapter 8 of the UDP. The dispute resolution provisions call for arbitration under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) seated in London before a panel of three arbitrators. By agreeing to resolve certain matters within the 2013 to 2015 Tax Assessment dispute under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, both parties have agreed that the arbitral award shall be final and binding on both parties and the parties shall carry out the award without delay.

On December 23, 2020, Turquoise Hill announced that OT LLC had received and was evaluating a tax assessment for approximately $228 million (which was converted from Mongolian Tugrik to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on that date) from the MTA relating to an audit on taxes imposed and paid by OT LLC between 2016 and 2018 (the 2016 to 2018 Tax Assessment). Most of the matters raised in respect of the 2016 to 2018 Tax Assessment are of a similar nature to the matters that were raised in the 2013 to 2015 Tax Assessment. The MTA also proposed a $1.4 billion adjustment to the balance of OT LLC's carried forward tax losses. The adjustments are to disallow or defer certain tax deductions claimed in the 2016 to 2018 years.

On January 11, 2021, Turquoise Hill announced that OT LLC had completed its evaluation of the 2016 to 2018 Tax Assessment claim and confirmed that OT LLC had given notice of its intention to apply to the UNCITRAL tribunal to amend its statement of claim to include certain matters raised in the 2016 to 2018 Tax Assessment. OT LLC's application to include these matters in the pending arbitration for the 2013 to 2015 Tax Assessment was accepted. In addition to those matters included within the statement of claim, there are certain limited tax matters included in the 2013 to 2015 and 2016 to 2018 Tax Assessments, which are being addressed in local Mongolian tax courts. As there is less certainty with respect to the resolution of these matters, the Company has accrued for certain amounts and has also adjusted its loss carry forwards.

In February 2021, Oyu Tolgoi received notices of payment totalling approximately $228 million (which were converted from Mongolian Tugrik to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on those dates) relating to amounts disputed under the 2016 to 2018 Tax Assessment, and in March 2021, Oyu Tolgoi received notices of payment totalling $126 million (which were converted from Mongolian Tugrik to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on those dates) relating to amounts disputed under the 2013 to 2015 Tax Assessment. Under the Mongolian General Tax Law, the amounts were due and paid by OT LLC within 10 business days from the dates of the notices of payment. Under the same legislation, OT LLC would be entitled to recover the amounts, including via offset against future tax liabilities, in the event of a favourable decision from the relevant dispute resolution authorities.

On May 3, 2021, the Company announced that the Government of Mongolia filed its statement of defence together with a counterclaim ("GOM Defence and Counterclaim") in relation to the tax arbitration proceeding. Turquoise Hill is not a party to the arbitration, but the GOM Defence and Counterclaim has requested that the arbitral tribunal add both the Company and a member of the Rio Tinto Group as parties to the tax arbitration. The principal thrust of the GOM Defence and Counterclaim is to seek the rejection of OT LLC's tax claims in their entirety. As part of the counterclaim, the Government of Mongolia also makes assertions surrounding previously reported allegations of historical improper payments made to Government of Mongolia officials and seeks unquantified damages. Also, in the event OT LLC's tax claims are not dismissed in their entirety, the Government of Mongolia is seeking in the counterclaim an alternative declaration that the Investment Agreement is void.

The Company denies the allegations relating to the Company in the GOM Defence and Counterclaim and filed a submission to the arbitral tribunal to oppose the Government of Mongolia's request that it be added to the tax arbitration. If nevertheless the Company is added to the arbitration proceedings, Turquoise Hill will vigorously defend itself against the counterclaim

The Company remains of the opinion that the tax positions adopted by OT LLC in its tax filings were correct and that OT LLC has paid all taxes and charges required under the Investment Agreement, the ARSHA, the UDP and Mongolian law.

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINTS

In October 2020, a class action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York against the Company, certain of its current and former officers as well as Rio Tinto and certain of its officers. The complaint alleges that the defendants made material misstatements and material omissions with respect to, among other things, the schedule, cost and progress to completion of the development of Oyu Tolgoi in violation of Section 10(b) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Under the schedule established by the court, a first amended complaint was filed on March 16, 2021, and a second amended complaint was filed on September 16, 2021. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaint on October 19, 2021. The Company believes that the complaint against it is without merit.

In January 2021, a proposed class action was initiated in the Superior Court in the District of Montreal against the Company and certain of its current and former officers. An amended complaint was filed on July 27, 2021 which did not substantially alter the claim. The claim alleges that the Company and its current and former officers named therein as defendants made material misstatements and material omissions with respect to, among other things, the schedule, cost and progress to completion of Oyu Tolgoi, in violation of, among other things, sections 225.8, 225.9 and 225.11 of the Securities Act (Quebec). The Company believes that the complaint against it is without merit and is preparing to defend the application for leave and certification of the proceeding.

See the risk factor titled "The Company may be subject to public allegations, regulatory investigations or litigation that could materially and adversely affect the Company's business" in the "Risk Factors" section of the AIF.

CORPORATE ACTIVITIES

Exploration

Turquoise Hill, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Asia Gold Mongolia LLC, Heruga Exploration LLC and SGLS LLC, operates an exploration program in Mongolia on licences that are not part of Oyu Tolgoi. Turquoise Hill owns three exploration licences: Bag and Od-2 in the Omnogovi province and Khatavch in the Dornogovi province. Field work was initially planned for late Q2'21 but was delayed due to COVID-19 cases and restrictions on people movements in the country, including in the Omnogovi and Dornogovi provinces.

In Q3'21, Turquoise Hill was able to commence field work on all three of its licences with the support of local and state government authorities. To ensure the health and safety of the exploration team, contractors and the communities, Turquoise Hill limited its people interaction by conducting all field work from site-based camps. At Bag and Od-2, the team finished the 2020 geophysics program, which had been delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. On the Khatavch lease, the team commenced work on various geological surveys including mapping, sampling, ground gravity and topography as well as magnetics.

During Q3'21, Turquoise Hill donated COVID-19 rapid tests to Khanbogd Soum (Bag and Od-2 licenses) and Mandakh soum (Khatavch). Both donations were well received and have enabled systematic COVID-19 testing in these soums.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

The Company presents and refers to the following non-GAAP measures, which are not defined in IFRS. A description and calculation of each measure is given below and may differ from similarly named measures provided by other issuers. These measures are presented in order to provide investors and other stakeholders with additional understanding of performance and operations at the Oyu Tolgoi mine and are not intended to be used in isolation from, or as a replacement for, measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Operating cash costs

The measure of operating cash costs excludes: depreciation and depletion; exploration and evaluation; charges for asset write-down (including write-down of materials and supplies inventory) and includes management services payments to Rio Tinto and management services payments to Turquoise Hill, which are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

C1 cash costs

C1 cash costs is a metric representing the cash cost per unit of extracting and processing the Company's principal metal product, copper, to a condition in which it may be delivered to customers net of gold and silver credits from concentrates sold. This metric is provided in order to support peer group comparability and to provide investors and other stakeholders with additional information about the underlying cash costs of OT LLC and the impact of gold and silver credits on the operations' cost structure. C1 cash costs are relevant to understanding the Company's operating profitability and ability to generate cash flow. When calculating costs associated with producing a pound of copper, the Company deducts gold and silver revenue credits as the production cost is reduced by selling these products.

All-in sustaining costs

All-in sustaining costs (AISC) is an extended cash-based cost metric providing further information on the aggregate cash, capital and overhead outlay per unit and is intended to reflect the costs of producing the Company's principal metal product, copper, in both the short term and over the life-cycle of its operations. As a result, sustaining capital expenditure on a cash basis is included rather than depreciation. As the measure seeks to present a full cost of copper production associated with sustaining current operations, development project capital is not included. AISC allows Turquoise Hill to assess the ability of OT LLC to support sustaining capital expenditures for future production from the generation of operating cash flows.

A reconciliation of total operating cash costs, C1 cash costs and AISC is provided below.









(Three Months Ended) (Nine Months Ended) C1 costs (Stated in $000's of dollars) September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Cost of sales 202,690 167,991 440,918 495,871 Cost of sales: $/lb of copper sold 1.98 2.22 1.90 2.25 Depreciation and depletion (50,131) (42,268) (123,548) (128,340) Change in inventory (22,066) (1,702) 80,807 18,182 Other operating expenses 77,542 49,909 207,306 144,713 Less:







- Inventory (write-down) reversal (6) 252 3,598 2,611 - Depreciation (580) (629) (1,775) (4,579) Management services payment to Turquoise Hill 8,703 7,885 20,581 21,839 Operating cash costs 216,152 181,438 627,887 550,297 Operating cash costs: $/lb of copper produced 2.34 2.27 2.30 2.31 Adjustments to operating cash costs(1) (15,745) 3,086 (28,946) 15,732 Less: Gold and silver revenues (260,067) (65,700) (583,362) (155,790) C1 costs ($'000) (59,660) 118,824 15,579 410,239 C1 costs: $/lb of copper produced (0.65) 1.48 0.06 1.72









All-in sustaining costs (Stated in $000's of dollars)







Corporate administration 5,255 6,496 26,823 21,068 Asset retirement expense 2,457 (3,076) 5,440 (145) Royalty expenses 37,592 15,505 82,794 39,960 Ore stockpile and stores write-down (reversal) 6 (252) (3,598) (2,611) Other expenses 908 603 1,714 4,069 Sustaining cash capital including deferred stripping 16,213 12,420 43,385 33,913 All-in sustaining costs ($'000) 2,771 150,520 172,137 506,493 All-in sustaining costs: $/lb of copper produced 0.03 1.88 0.63 2.13





(1) Adjustments to operating cash costs include: treatment, refining and freight differential charges less the 5% Government of Mongolia royalty and other expenses not applicable to the definition of C1 cash cost.

Mining costs and milling costs

Mining costs per tonne of material mined for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are calculated by reference to total mining costs, respectively, of $46.9 million and $134.2 million (Q3'20: $45.9 million and $131.7 million) and total material mined of 22.6 million and 61.0 million tonnes (Q3'20: 23.8 million and 73.9 million tonnes).

Milling costs per tonne of ore treated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are calculated by reference to total milling costs, respectively, of $74.8 million and $202.8 million (Q3'20: $59.4 million and $185.5 million) and total ore treated of 9.3 million and 28.6 million tonnes (Q3'20: 10.1 million and 30.6 million tonnes).

Working capital

Consolidated working capital comprises those components of current assets and liabilities which support and result from the Company's ongoing running of its current operations. It is provided in order to give a quantifiable indication of the Company's short-term cash generation ability and business efficiency. As a measure linked to current operations and the sustainability of the business, the Company's definition of working capital excludes: non-trade receivables and payables; financing items; cash and cash equivalents; deferred revenue and non-current inventory.

A reconciliation of consolidated working capital to the financial statements and notes is provided below.

Working capital September 30,

December 31, (Stated in $000's of dollars) 2021

2020











Inventories (current) $ 254,318

$ 197,962 Trade and other receivables

13,631



60,012 Trade and other payables:









- trade payables and accrued liabilities

(300,765)



(315,570) - payable to related parties

(55,047)



(65,552) Consolidated working capital $ (87,863)

$ 123,148)













Contractual obligations

The following section of this press release discloses contractual obligations in relation to the Company's project finance, lease, purchase, power and asset retirement obligations. Amounts relating to these obligations are calculated on the assumptions of the Company carrying out its future business activities and operations as planned at the period end. As such, contractual obligations presented in this press release and in the Company's Q3 2021 MD&A will differ from amounts presented in the financial statements, which are prepared on the basis of minimum uncancellable commitments to pay in the event of contract termination. The presentation of contractual obligations here and in the Company's Q3 2021 MD&A is provided in order to give an indication of future expenditure, for the disclosed categories, arising from the Company's continuing operations and development projects.

A reconciliation of contractual obligations as at September 30, 2021 to the financial statements and notes is provided below.

(Stated in $000's of dollars) Project Finance

Facility Purchase

obligations Other

Obligations Power

commitments Lease

liabilities Decommissioning

obligations













Commitments (MD&A) 4,303,885 392,004 368,704 213,761 32,072 235,912 Cancellable obligations - (330,964) - (181,765) - - (net of exit costs)











Accrued capital expenditure - (33,403) 33,403 - - - Discounting and other adjustments (128,809) - - - (4,751) (95,623) Financial statement amount 4,175,076 27,637 402,107 31,996 27,321 140,289

INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities legislation is gathered and reported to senior management, including the Company's CEO and CFO, on a timely basis so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosures. There were no changes in the Company's disclosure controls and procedures during the three months ended September 30, 2021.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Disclosure of information of a scientific or technical nature in this press release and in the Company Q3 2021 MD&A in respect of the Oyu Tolgoi mine was approved by Jo-Anne Dudley (FAusIMM(CP)), Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Jo-Anne Dudley is a "qualified person" as that term is defined in NI 43-101.

SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA

($ in millions, except per share information) Quarter Ended



Sep-30

Jun-30

Mar-31 Dec-31



2021

2021

2021 2020































Revenue $ 622.8 $ 317.8 $ 526.5 $ 405.1















Income for the period $ 22.9 $ 118.8 $ 332.1 $ 241.6















Income attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill $ 34.9 $ 96.9 $ 236.7 $ 159.9















Basic and diluted income per share attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill $ 0.17 $ 0.48 $ 1.18 $ 0.79











Quarter Ended



Sep-30

Jun-30

Mar-31 Dec-31



2020

2020

2020 2019































Revenue $ 264.4 $ 278.0 $ 130.7 $ 221.4















Income (loss) for the period $ 161.7 $ 72.3 $ 19.0 $ 109.5















Income (loss) attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill $ 128.6 $ 72.6 $ 45.2 $ 113.1















Basic and diluted income per share attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill $ 0.64 $ 0.36 $ 0.22 $ 0.56

Consolidated Statements of Income

















(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)

















(Unaudited)























Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended





September 30,

September 30,

Note

2021

2020

2021

2020



















Revenue 4

$ 622,786

$ 264,520

$ 1,467,131

$ 673,146 Cost of sales 5

(202,690)

(167,991)

(440,918)

(495,871) Gross margin



420,096

96,529

1,026,213

177,275



















Operating expenses 6

(77,542)

(49,909)

(207,306)

(144,713) Corporate administration expenses



(5,255)

(6,496)

(26,823)

(21,068) Other income (expenses) 20

(3,676)

(250)

(31,463)

1,550 Income before finance items and taxes



333,623

39,874

760,621

13,044



















Finance items

















Finance income 7

446

1,590

2,343

16,214 Finance costs 7

(2,590)

(1,503)

(5,821)

(4,828)





(2,144)

87

(3,478)

11,386 Income from operations before taxes



$ 331,479

$ 39,961

$ 757,143

$ 24,430



















Income and other taxes



(308,541)

121,803

(283,288)

228,608 Income for the period



$ 22,938

$ 161,764

$ 473,855

$ 253,038





















Attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd.



34,943

128,612

368,528

246,380

Attributable to owner of non-controlling interest



(12,005)

33,152

105,327

6,658 Income for the period



$ 22,938

$ 161,764

$ 473,855

$ 253,038



























































Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable



















to Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. 17

$ 0.17

$ 0.64

$ 1.83

$ 1.22



















Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (000's)



201,231

201,231

201,231

201,231



The notes to the Company's financial statements, which are available on the Company's website, are part of its consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income















(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)















(Unaudited)



















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30,



2021

2020

2021

2020

















Income for the period

$ 22,938

$ 161,764

$ 473,855

$ 253,038

















Other comprehensive income:















Items that will not be reclassified to income:

















Changes in the fair value of marketable securities at FVOCI

141

283

5,028

410 Other comprehensive income for the period (a)

$ 141

$ 283

$ 5,028

$ 410

















Total comprehensive income for the period

$ 23,079

$ 162,047

$ 478,883

$ 253,448



















Attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill

35,084

128,895

373,556

246,790

Attributable to owner of non-controlling interest

(12,005)

33,152

105,327

6,658 Total comprehensive income for the period

$ 23,079

$ 162,047

$ 478,883

$ 253,448



(a) No tax charges and credits arose on items recognised as other comprehensive income or loss in 2021 (2020: nil)

The notes to the Company's financial statements, which are available on the Company's website, are part of its consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

















(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)

















(Unaudited)























Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended





September 30,

September 30,

Note

2021

2020

2021

2020



















Cash generated from operating activities



















before interest and tax 16

$ 351,064

$ 89,252

$ 894,993

$ 125,445



















Interest received



466

2,393

2,319

19,591 Interest paid



(903)

(658)

(111,925)

(146,176) Income and other taxes paid 19

(38)

(13,277)

(358,686)

(27,426) Net cash generated from (used in) operating activities



$ 350,589

$ 77,710

$ 426,701

$ (28,566)



















Cash flows from investing activities

















Receivable from related party: amounts withdrawn 18

-

-

-

511,284 Expenditures on property, plant and equipment



(216,873)

(254,510)

(697,443)

(817,540) Purchase of commodity put options



-

-

(29,907)

- Purchase of other financial assets



(132)

(383)

(132)

(383) Proceeds from pre-production sales



39,345

18,498

51,346

26,091 Other investing cash flows



1

859

63

1,106 Cash used in investing activities



$ (177,659)

$ (235,536)

$ (676,073)

$ (279,442)



















Cash flows from financing activities

















Repayment of project finance facility



-

-

(21,744)

(1,545) Payment of lease liability



(1,848)

(341)

(2,143)

(4,240) Cash used in financing activities



$ (1,848)

$ (341)

$ (23,887)

$ (5,785)



















Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents



(283)

544

(490)

980 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents



$ 170,799

$ (157,623)

$ (273,749)

$ (312,813)



















Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period



$ 679,073

$ 1,496,795

$ 1,123,621

$ 1,651,985 Cash and cash equivalents - end of period



849,872

1,339,172

849,872

1,339,172 Cash and cash equivalents as presented on the balance sheets



$ 849,872

$ 1,339,172

$ 849,872

$ 1,339,172



The notes to the Company's financial statements, which are available on the Company's website, are part of its consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheets









(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)









(Unaudited)





















September 30,

December 31,







Note

2021

2020

















Current assets









Cash and cash equivalents 8

$ 849,872

$ 1,123,621 Inventories 9

254,318

197,962 Trade and other receivables



13,631

60,012 Prepaid expenses and other assets



72,214

127,274 Other financial assets 20

1,268

-











1,191,303

1,508,869 Non-current assets









Property, plant and equipment 10

11,663,785

10,927,512 Inventories 9

62,174

37,557 Prepaid expenses and other assets 19

348,671

- Deferred income tax assets 13

622,594

880,705 Other financial assets



19,262

14,118











12,716,486

11,859,892 Total assets



$ 13,907,789

$ 13,368,761

















Current liabilities









Borrowings and other financial liabilities 12

$ 57,284

$ 28,288 Trade and other payables 11

402,107

390,059 Deferred revenue



122,526

103,289











581,917

521,636 Non-current liabilities









Borrowings and other financial liabilities 12

4,145,113

4,173,491 Deferred income tax liabilities 13

136,694

111,717 Decommissioning obligations 14

140,289

133,964











4,422,096

4,419,172 Total liabilities



$ 5,004,013

$ 4,940,808

















Equity











Share capital



$ 11,432,122

$ 11,432,122 Contributed surplus



1,555,774

1,558,834 Accumulated other comprehensive income



6,446

1,418 Deficit





(3,047,073)

(3,415,601) Equity attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill



9,947,269

9,576,773 Attributable to non-controlling interest 15

(1,043,493)

(1,148,820) Total equity



$ 8,903,776

$ 8,427,953

















Total liabilities and equity



$ 13,907,789

$ 13,368,761



The notes to the Company's financial statements, which are available on the Company's website, are part of its consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Equity

























(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)























(Unaudited)































































Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill























Accumulated































other











Non-controlling













Contributed

comprehensive











interest









Share capital

surplus

income

Deficit

Total



(Note 15)

Total equity

































Opening balance

$ 11,432,122

$ 1,558,834

$ 1,418

$ (3,415,601)

$ 9,576,773



$ (1,148,820)

$ 8,427,953 Income for the period

-

-

-

368,528

368,528



105,327

473,855 Other comprehensive income for the































period

-

-

5,028

-

5,028



-

5,028 Employee share plans

-

(3,060)

-

-

(3,060)



-

(3,060) Closing balance

$ 11,432,122

$ 1,555,774

$ 6,446

$ (3,047,073)

$ 9,947,269



$ (1,043,493)

$ 8,903,776

































Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 Attributable to owners of Turquoise Hill























Accumulated































other











Non-controlling













Contributed

comprehensive











interest









Share capital

surplus

income (loss)

Deficit

Total



(Note 15)

Total equity

































Opening balance

$ 11,432,122

$ 1,558,811

$ (813)

$ (3,821,889)

$ 9,168,231



$ (1,237,174)

$ 7,931,057 Income for the period

-

-

-

246,380

246,380



6,658

253,038 Other comprehensive income for the































period

-

-

410

-

410



-

410 Employee share plans

-

78

-

-

78



-

78 Closing balance

$ 11,432,122

$ 1,558,889

$ (403)

$ (3,575,509)

$ 9,415,099



$ (1,230,516)

$ 8,184,583



The notes to the Company's financial statements, which are available on the Company's website, are part of its consolidated financial statements.

About Turquoise Hill Resources

Turquoise Hill is an international mining company focused on the operation and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia, which is the Company's principal and only material mineral resource property. Turquoise Hill's ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi mine is held through a 66% interest in Oyu Tolgoi LLC (Oyu Tolgoi); Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC (Erdenes), a Mongolian state-owned entity, holds the remaining 34% interest.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information



Certain statements made herein, including statements relating to matters that are not historical facts and statements of the Company's beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events or future performance, reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and are typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "could", "should", "expect", "seek", "may", "intend", "likely", "plan", "estimate", "will", "believe" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. These include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding: discussions with, and the nature of the Company's relationship and interaction with, the Government of Mongolia on the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi, including with respect to the Definitive Estimate and the potential termination, amendment or replacement of the IA or the UDP as well as the willingness of the Government of Mongolia to further engage in meaningful discussions with the Company, Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi; the willingness and ability of the parties to the IA or the UDP to amend or replace either such agreement; the approval or non-approval by the OT Board of additional investment and the likely consequences on the timing and overall economic value of the Oyu Tolgoi project, including significant delays to first sustainable production; the implementation and successful execution of the funding plan that is the subject of the HoA and the amount of any additional future funding gap to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project and the amount and potential sources of additional funding required therefor, all as contemplated by the HoA, as well as potential delays in the ability of the Company and Oyu Tolgoi to proceed with the funding elements contemplated by the HoA as a result of delays in approving or non-approval of additional investment by the OT LLC Board; the expectations set out in OTTR20; the timing and ultimate resolution of certain non-technical undercut criteria; the timing and amount of future production and potential production delays; statements in respect of the impacts of any delays on achieving first commercial production and on the Company's cash flows; expected copper and gold grades; the merits of the class action complaints filed against the Company in October 2020 and January 2021, respectively; the likelihood that the Company will be added as a party to the international tax arbitration brought by Oyu Tolgoi against the Government of Mongolia and the merits of its defence and counterclaim; liquidity, funding sources and funding requirements; the amount of any funding gap to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project; the amount and potential sources of additional funding; the Company's ability to re-profile its existing project debt in line with current cash flow projections; the amount by which a successful re-profiling of the Company's existing debt would reduce the Company's currently projected funding requirements; the Company's ability to raise supplemental senior debt; the timing of studies, announcements and analyses; status of underground development; the ca
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VMDO Architects , an architecture firm specializing in design for educational clients and communities, has welcomed Maria Casarella, AIA, and Brian Gruetzmacher, AIA, to its design team.

Both designers join the company's growing Washington, DC-based team, an office VMDO established in 2018 in response to the District's Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act. This Act established the District of Columbia's course toward operating on 100% renewable energy by 2032, a goal in strong alignment with VMDO's own values and design principles.

Maria Casarella, AIA, and Brian Gruetzmacher, AIA, to VMDO's design team and are based out of the firm's Washington D.C. office. VMDO Architects, an architecture firm specializing in design for educational clients and communities, opened a Washington D.C. office in 2018 and has steadily grown its presence in the District metro area since.

"VMDO has designed more than 500,000 square feet of net-zero energy projects in the National Capital Region (NCR). The LEED Zero school, Discovery Elementary , was the first building in the NCR to demonstrate a net-positive energy balance," said Rob Winstead, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, a principal at VMDO. "We are committed to building on that legacy in D.C. and have been carefully bringing together the right studio leaders to support that goal."

Both Casarella and Gruetzmacher join the team with strong portfolios of work in the District's metro area and will now co-lead the operations of the VMDO local office. The team will continue its focus on pairing design excellence with energy efficiency, equity, health and wellbeing, and helping to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Maria Casarella , AIA has over 25 years of award-winning civic, institutional and historic preservation design experience. Her talent in guiding clients through complex entitlements and design approvals in the District region has led to the completion of well-lauded renovation and new construction assignments across a range of project types. She has held leadership roles in advocating for sustainable preservation and equitable communities through her appointed seat on the DC Historic Preservation Review Board from 2008-2015 and her current roles as a Trustee of the DC History Center and a Board member of N Street Village.

has over 25 years of award-winning civic, institutional and historic preservation design experience. Her talent in guiding clients through complex entitlements and design approvals in the District region has led to the completion of well-lauded renovation and new construction assignments across a range of project types. She has held leadership roles in advocating for sustainable preservation and equitable communities through her appointed seat on the DC Historic Preservation Review Board from 2008-2015 and her current roles as a Trustee of the DC History Center and a Board member of N Street Village. Brian Gruetzmacher , AIA has over 20 years of design experience in project management roles, nearly a decade of which has been garnered in the District. After many years of work across project sectors, he joined the VMDO team to make a community impact through the design of spaces for education and civic engagement. His experience includes numerous school assignments and other civic spaces, amongst other typologies such as housing and the arts.

"I have had the privilege of working in incredible design firms through my career to-date, but environmental performance has become a non-negotiable design issue for me at this point. After knowing of VMDO's reputation for sustainable design leadership for many years, I feel grateful for the opportunity to be part of their unwavering dedication to designing resilient places that will serve communities for many generations to come," said Maria Casarella, AIA.

Gruetzmacher also shared, "I am grateful for the opportunity to work in partnership with Maria in the continued growth of VMDO's D.C.-based design practice. We are exploring opportunities for unique new ways to engage D.C.'s local communities in the climate-responsive design of civic and educational spaces, and am proud to be a part of the broader VMDO team along with some of the most well-regarded leaders in sustainable design."

The D.C.-based VMDO team now host 10 full-time staff members working in the studio located at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 7000.

ABOUT VMDO ARCHITECTS With offices in Charlottesville, VA and Washington, DC, VMDO has specialized in architectural planning and design since 1976. In our office, in our collaborations, and in our response to the need for a healthier populace and planet, we believe an emphasis on quality and enduring design can transform a place and elevate the human experience. To learn more, please visit www.vmdo.com .

Contact:

Nicole Marshall

504-644-7335

[email protected]

SOURCE VMDO Architects

Related Links

https://www.vmdo.com


BLUE BELL, Pa., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Continued growth in Cloud & Infrastructure Solutions ("C&I"), with segment revenue up 1.7% YoY

Total company gross profit grew 5.8% YoY and gross margin increased 180 bps YoY

Cash from operations was $65.5M vs. $66.3M in prior-year period; Free cash flow (7) increased 14.9% YoY to $39.4M ; Adjusted free cash flow (8) increased 36.3% YoY to $69.9M

Company reaffirms FY 2021 guidance of 0 to 2% YoY revenue growth, 9 to 10% non-GAAP operating profit margin, and 17.25 to 18.25% adjusted EBITDA margin

Unisys CFO Mike Thomson to become president and COO

Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) today reported third-quarter 2021 financial results. "During the third quarter, we made continued progress executing on our strategy for sustained revenue growth and margin improvement by expanding the company's solution portfolio and enhancing go-to-market efforts, while proactively managing the workforce to successfully attract and retain talent in a competitive labor market," said Unisys Chair and CEO Peter A. Altabef. "We did this while increasing gross profit, free cash flow and total contract value year over year."

Summary of Third-Quarter 2021 Results

Revenue:

Revenue was $488.0M vs. $495.2M in 3Q20, down 1.5% YoY

vs. in 3Q20, down 1.5% YoY

The company saw continued revenue growth in C&I and Enterprise Computing Solutions ("ECS") year over year. Digital Workplace Solutions ("DWS") revenue declined due to exiting some contracts that were not core to how it plans to grow this business and impacts related to global supply chain shortages.

Gross Profit:

Gross profit increased 5.8% YoY to $126.9M vs. $119.9M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20

Gross profit margin increased 180 bps YoY to 26.0% vs. 24.2% in 3Q20

Operating Profit:

Operating profit was $25.1M vs. $27.7M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20

Non-GAAP operating profit (4) was $28.0M vs. $42.4M in 3Q20

was vs. in 3Q20

Operating profit margin was 5.1% vs. 5.6% in 3Q20



Non-GAAP operating profit margin was 5.7% vs. 8.6% in 3Q20



SG&A increased year over year largely due to increased investments in the company's go-to-market efforts, primarily related to direct sales support and increases to non-cash-based compensation.

Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income:

Adjusted EBITDA (5) was $74.6M vs. $82.3M in 3Q20

was vs. in 3Q20

Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.3% vs. 16.6% in 3Q20



Net loss from continuing operations was $18.7M vs. a net loss of $13.3M in 3Q20

vs. a net loss of in 3Q20

Net income margin of (3.8)% vs. (2.7)% in 3Q20 (110 bps decline)



Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations (6) was $6.9M vs. $34.7M in 3Q20

was vs. in 3Q20

Non-GAAP net income margin was 1.4% vs. 7.0% in 3Q20



Adjusted EBITDA was driven by the same items that impacted operating profit, and net income was impacted by higher taxes year over year as a result of the geographies in which income was earned.

Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations:

Loss per share from continuing operations of $0.28 vs. a loss of $0.21 in 3Q20, impacted by the profitability items and higher taxes highlighted above.

vs. a loss of in 3Q20, impacted by the profitability items and higher taxes highlighted above.

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (6) was $0.10 vs. $0.51 in 3Q20, also impacted by the noted profitability and tax-related items.

was vs. in 3Q20, also impacted by the noted profitability and tax-related items. Cash Flow:

Cash from operations was $65.5M vs. $66.3M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20

Cost reduction and other payments increased $13.5M year over year, in connection with the company's profitability improvement initiatives, which impacted cash from operations.

year over year, in connection with the company's profitability improvement initiatives, which impacted cash from operations.

Free cash flow improved 14.9% YoY to $39.4M vs. $34.3M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20

Adjusted free cash flow improved 36.3% YoY to $69.9M vs. $51.3M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20 TCV, Pipeline and Backlog:

Total contract value (3) was up 13.0% YoY

was up 13.0% YoY

Total company pipeline (2) was up 4.9% sequentially

was up 4.9% sequentially

The pipelines for proactive experience DWS solutions and cloud solutions each also grew sequentially, both on a dollar basis and as a percent of the total company pipeline.



Total company backlog (1) of $3.0B vs. $3.3B as of 2Q21

of vs. as of 2Q21

Total company backlog was impacted by shifting the mix of business toward higher-growth, higher-margin solutions and exiting some non-strategic contracts. The duration of contracts in backlog also shortened in 2021. The types of contracts the company is shifting toward are less capital intensive and have shorter implementation times.

Balance Sheet:

The company continued de-risking the balance sheet with the removal of additional pension liabilities in October through an annuity contract valued at $235M .

Leadership Changes

The company announced the appointment of Unisys Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mike Thomson as president and chief operating officer (COO), effective upon the hiring of a new CFO. Thomson has driven the financial transformation of the company since becoming CFO in 2019, including the substantial strengthening of the company's balance sheet. Thomson has also played an important operational role in the company, as he currently runs the company's corporate development efforts and oversees the strategy function. The company has begun the search for a new CFO.

Thomson will succeed current Unisys President and COO Eric Hutto, who is stepping down after 6.5 years of service with the company to pursue other interests. Hutto, who was instrumental in improving the financial performance of the company in recent years and in the implementation of the company's new strategy and operating model, will be leaving his current role on November 30. Chair and CEO Peter Altabef will assume Hutto's responsibilities on an interim basis until the CFO transition is complete.

Financial Highlights by Segment:

DWS:

DWS revenue was $141.3M vs. $148.3M in 3Q20, down 4.7% YoY

vs. in 3Q20, down 4.7% YoY As noted above, as the company exited certain non-strategic contracts within DWS and also saw some supply chain impacts, both of which impacted revenue.

DWS gross profit was $16.8M vs. $21.6M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20 DWS gross margin was 11.9% vs. 14.6% in 3Q20



Gross profit and margin were down year over year largely due to the flow-through impact of the revenue decline noted above.

During 3Q21, the company signed a new scope contract with a global commercial real estate services firm to implement a case management system, which will help the client move to a centralized global model for this process and technology.

C&I:

C&I revenue grew 1.7% YoY to $118.9M vs. $116.9M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20 C&I revenue growth supported by 16.9% YoY growth in C&I revenue in the U.S. & Canada

C&I gross profit grew 116.3% YoY to $9.3M vs. $4.3M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20 C&I gross margin improved 410 bps YoY to 7.8% vs. 3.7% in 3Q20, reflecting improvements to margins for both cloud and traditional infrastructure solutions.

During 3Q21, the company signed a contract with a leading Mexican insurance company to design a hybrid environment integrating public and private clouds and to migrate crucial business information from a conventional data center to that cloud environment.

ECS:

ECS revenue grew 1.8% YoY to $149.2M vs. $146.6M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20 YoY revenue growth was supported by higher license renewal revenue than anticipated



ECS services revenue also grew 1% YoY

ECS gross profit grew 28.8% YoY to $97.0M vs. $75.3M in 3Q20

vs. in 3Q20 ECS gross margin improved 1360 bps YoY to 65.0% vs. 51.4% in 3Q20

During 3Q21, the company signed a contract with an Asia Pacific national government agency to manage IT infrastructure, based on the ClearPath Forward platform, that supports systems processing approximately 25 million driver's license and 60 million motor vehicle transactions per year.

Conference Call

Unisys will hold a conference call November 3 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its results. The listen-only webcast, as well as the accompanying presentation materials, can be accessed on the Unisys Investor website at www.unisys.com/investor. Following the call, an audio replay of the webcast, and accompanying presentation materials, can be accessed through the same link.

(1) Backlog  Represents future revenue associated with contracted work which has not yet been delivered or performed. Although we believe this backlog is firm, we may, for commercial reasons, allow the orders to be cancelled, with or without penalty.

(2) Pipeline  Pipeline represents prospective sale opportunities being pursued or for which bids have been submitted. There is no assurance that pipeline will translate into recorded revenue.

(3) Total Contract Value  TCV is the estimated total contractual revenue related to contracts signed in the period without regard for cancellation terms. New business TCV represents TCV attributable to new scope for existing clients and new logo contracts.

Non-GAAP and Other Information

Although appropriate under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the company's results reflect charges that the company believes are not indicative of its ongoing operations and that can make its profitability and liquidity results difficult to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, or to its competitors' results. These items consist of certain portions of post-retirement, debt exchange and extinguishment and cost-reduction and other expenses. Management believes each of these items can distort the visibility of trends associated with the company's ongoing performance. Management also believes that the evaluation of the company's financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of its results that exclude the impact of these items in order to enhance consistency and comparativeness with prior or future period results. The following measures are often provided and utilized by the company's management, analysts, and investors to enhance comparability of year-over-year results, as well as to compare results to other companies in our industry.

(4) Non-GAAP operating profit  The company recorded pretax post-retirement expense and pretax charges in connection with cost-reduction activities, debt exchange/extinguishment and other expenses. For the company, non-GAAP operating profit excluded these items. The company believes that this profitability measure is more indicative of the company's operating results and aligns those results to the company's external guidance, which is used by the company's management to allocate resources and may be used by analysts and investors to gauge the company's ongoing performance.

(5) EBITDA & adjusted EBITDA  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is calculated by starting with net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation common shareholders and adding or subtracting the following items: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, interest expense (net of interest income), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further excludes post-retirement, debt exchange/extinguishment, and cost-reduction and other expenses, non-cash share-based expense, and other (income) expense adjustment. In order to provide investors with additional understanding of the company's operating results, these charges are excluded from the adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(6) Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share  The company has recorded post-retirement expense and charges in connection with debt exchange/extinguishment and cost-reduction activities and other expenses. Management believes that investors may have a better understanding of the company's performance and return to shareholders by excluding these charges from the GAAP diluted earnings/loss per share calculations. The tax amounts presented for these items for the calculation of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share include the current and deferred tax expense and benefits recognized under GAAP for these amounts.

(7) Free cash flow  The company defines free cash flow as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures. Management believes this liquidity measure gives investors an additional perspective on cash flow from on-going operating activities in excess of amounts used for reinvestment.

(8) Adjusted free cash flow  Because inclusion of the company's post-retirement contributions, discontinued operations and cost-reduction charges/reimbursements and other payments in free cash flow may distort the visibility of the company's ability to generate cash flow from its operations without the impact of these non-operational costs, management believes that investors may be interested in adjusted free cash flow, which provides free cash flow before these payments. This liquidity measure was provided to analysts and investors in the form of external guidance and is used by management to measure operating liquidity.

About Unisys

Unisys is a global IT solutions company that delivers successful outcomes for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include digital workplace solutions, cloud and infrastructure solutions, enterprise computing solutions, business process solutions and cybersecurity solutions. For more information on how Unisys delivers for its clients across the commercial, financial services and government markets, visit www.unisys.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any projections or expectations of earnings, revenues, annual contract value, total contract value, new business ACV or TCV, backlog, pipeline or other financial items; any statements of the company's plans, strategies or objectives for future operations; statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; and any statements of belief or expectation. All forward-looking statements rely on assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. In particular, statements concerning annual and total contract value are based, in part, on the assumption that each of those contracts will continue for their full contracted term. Risks and uncertainties that could affect the company's future results include, but are not limited to, the following: uncertainty of the magnitude, duration and spread of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 and governments' responses to it on the global economy and our business, growth, reputation, projections, prospects, financial condition, operations, cash flows and liquidity, our ability to attract, motivate and retain experienced personnel in key positions; our ability to grow revenue and expand margin in our Digital Workplace Solutions and Cloud and Infrastructure businesses; our ability to maintain our installed base and sell new solutions; the potential adverse effects of aggressive competition in the information services and technology marketplace; our ability to effectively anticipate and respond to volatility and rapid technological innovation in our industry; our ability to retain significant clients; our contracts may not be as profitable as expected or provide the expected level of revenues; our ability to develop or acquire the capabilities to enhance the company's solutions; the potential adverse effects of the concentration of the company's business in the global commercial sector of the information technology industry; our significant pension obligations and required cash contributions and the possibility that we may be required to make additional significant cash contributions to our defined benefit pension plans; our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited; the risks of doing business internationally when a significant portion of our revenue is derived from international operations; the business and financial risk in implementing future acquisitions or dispositions; cybersecurity breaches could result in significant costs and could harm our business and reputation; the performance and capabilities of third parties with whom we have commercial relationships; a failure to meet standards or expectations with respect to the company's environmental, social and governance practices; our ability to access financing markets; a reduction in our credit rating; the adverse effects of global economic conditions, acts of war, terrorism, natural disasters or the widespread outbreak of infectious diseases; the impact of Brexit could adversely affect the company's operations in the United Kingdom as well as the funded status of the company's U.K. pension plans; a significant disruption in our IT systems could adversely affect our business and reputation; we may face damage to our reputation or legal liability if our clients are not satisfied with our services or products; the potential for intellectual property infringement claims to be asserted against us or our clients; the possibility that legal proceedings could affect our results of operations or cash flow or may adversely affect our business or reputation; and the company's consideration of all available information following the end of the quarter and before the filing of the Form 10-Q and the possible impact of this subsequent event information on its financial statements for the reporting period. Additional discussion of factors that could affect the company's future results is contained in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

RELEASE NO.: 1102/9854

Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder.

UIS-Q

UNISYS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) (Millions, except per share data)









Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020 Revenue













Services $417.9

$426.0

$1,268.8

$1,247.9 Technology 70.1

69.2

246.3

201.5

488.0

495.2

1,515.1

1,449.4 Costs and expenses













Cost of revenue:













Services 343.1

345.9

1,019.7

1,061.6 Technology 18.0

29.4

87.1

79.9

361.1

375.3

1,106.8

1,141.5 Selling, general and administrative 95.1

85.5

279.7

252.5 Research and development 6.7

6.7

19.1

16.1

462.9

467.5

1,405.6

1,410.1 Operating income 25.1

27.7

109.5

39.3 Interest expense 8.5

2.4

27.0

20.9 Other (expense), net (24.2)

(32.5)

(434.6)

(134.3) Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (7.6)

(7.2)

(352.1)

(115.9) Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 10.9

6.1

(33.8)

26.6 Consolidated loss from continuing operations (18.5)

(13.3)

(318.3)

(142.5) Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 0.2

-

(1.0)

0.5 Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation (18.7)

(13.3)

(317.3)

(143.0) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax -

0.4

-

1,066.8 Net (loss) income attributable to Unisys Corporation $ (18.7)

$ (12.9)

$ (317.3)

$ 923.8















Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Unisys Corporation













Basic













Continuing Operations $ (0.28)

$ (0.21)

$ (4.79)

$ (2.27) Disontinued Operations -

0.01

-

16.96 Total $ (0.28)

$ (0.20)

$ (4.79)

$ 14.69 Diluted













Continuing Operations $ (0.28)

$ (0.21)

$ (4.79)

$ (2.27) Disontinued Operations -

0.01

-

16.96 Total $ (0.28)

$ (0.20)

$ (4.79)

$ 14.69

UNISYS CORPORATION SEGMENT RESULTS (Unaudited) (Millions)





















Total

DWS

C&I

ECS

Other Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

















Customer revenue $ 488.0

$141.3

$118.9

$149.2

$ 78.6 Intersegment -

-

-

-

- Total revenue $ 488.0

$141.3

$118.9

$149.2

$ 78.6 Gross profit percent 26.0 %

11.9 %

7.8 %

65.0 %























Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

















Customer revenue $ 495.2

$148.3

$116.9

$146.6

$ 83.4 Intersegment -

-

-

-

- Total revenue $ 495.2

$148.3

$116.9

$146.6

$ 83.4 Gross profit percent 24.2 %

14.6 %

3.7 %

51.4 %

























Total

DWS

C&I

ECS

Other Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

















Customer revenue $1,515.1

$428.9

$366.6

$486.3

$233.3 Intersegment -

-

-

1.4

(1.4) Total revenue $1,515.1

$428.9

$366.6

$487.7

$231.9 Gross profit percent 26.9 %

13.5 %

10.1 %

62.4 %























Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

















Customer revenue $1,449.4

$442.0

$334.1

$439.2

$234.1 Intersegment -

-

-

0.1

(0.1) Total revenue $1,449.4

$442.0

$334.1

$439.3

$234.0 Gross profit percent 21.2 %

8.6 %

2.2 %

52.9 %





UNISYS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Millions)









September 30,

2021

December 31,

2020 Assets





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 615.4

$ 898.5 Accounts receivable, net 356.0

460.5 Contract assets 51.3

44.3 Inventories 11.2

13.4 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 91.5

89.3 Total current assets 1,125.4

1,506.0 Properties 616.4

727.0 Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization 530.2

616.5 Properties, net 86.2

110.5 Outsourcing assets, net 136.8

173.9 Marketable software, net 184.8

193.6 Operating lease right-of-use assets 62.9

79.3 Prepaid postretirement assets 123.0

187.5 Deferred income taxes 147.0

136.2 Goodwill 242.9

108.6 Intangible assets, net 16.5

- Restricted cash 9.1

8.2 Assets held for sale 20.0

- Other long-term assets 166.8

204.1 Total assets $ 2,321.4

$ 2,707.9







Liabilities and deficit





Current liabilities:





Current maturities of long-term-debt $ 18.8

$ 102.8 Accounts payable 119.7

223.2 Deferred revenue 224.2

257.1 Other accrued liabilities 299.1

352.0 Total current liabilities 661.8

935.1 Long-term debt 514.1

527.1 Long-term postretirement liabilities 1,144.5

1,286.1 Long-term deferred revenue 153.0

137.9 Long-term operating lease liabilities 47.9

62.4 Other long-term liabilities 50.2

71.4 Commitments and contingencies





Total Unisys Corporation stockholders' deficit (294.3)

(356.8) Noncontrolling interests 44.2

44.7 Total deficit (250.1)

(312.1) Total liabilities and deficit $ 2,321.4

$ 2,707.9

UNISYS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (Millions)









Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2021

2020 Cash flows from operating activities





Consolidated net loss from continuing operations $ (318.3)

$ (142.5) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax -

1,066.8 Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:





Gain on sale of U.S. Federal business -

(1,057.7) Loss on debt extinguishment -

28.5 Foreign currency losses 3.2

14.3 Non-cash interest expense 1.5

3.5 Employee stock compensation 11.5

11.1 Depreciation and amortization of properties 23.2

22.0 Depreciation and amortization of outsourcing assets 50.8

48.9 Amortization of marketable software 50.9

50.2 Amortization of intangible assets 1.7

- Other non-cash operating activities (0.1)

0.6 Loss on disposal of capital assets 1.5

3.3 Postretirement contributions (43.6)

(344.5) Postretirement expense 407.7

72.8 Deferred income taxes, net (65.3)

(16.9) Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions





Receivables, net and contract assets 135.0

12.4 Inventories 2.2

1.5 Other assets (4.1)

0.4 Accounts payable and current liabilities (229.6)

(127.7) Other liabilities 36.3

27.2 Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities 64.5

(325.8) Cash flows from investing activities





Purchase of business (150.4)

- Net proceeds from sale of U.S. Federal business -

1,162.9 Proceeds from investments 3,286.4

2,550.2 Purchases of investments (3,294.6)

(2,561.7) Investments in marketable software (42.1)

(54.8) Capital additions of properties (19.7)

(16.7) Capital additions of outsourcing assets (14.7)

(23.6) Other (0.9)

(0.5) Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities (236.0)

1,055.8 Cash flows from financing activities





Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 1.5

7.1 Payments of long-term debt (99.1)

(451.0) Cash paid for debt extinguishment -

(23.7) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 4.5

- Other (7.7)

(4.8) Net cash used for financing activities (100.8)

(472.4) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (9.9)

(25.3) (Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (282.2)

232.3 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 906.7

551.8 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 624.5

$ 784.1

UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (Unaudited) (Millions, except per share data)





















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

September 30,



2021

2020

2021

2020 GAAP net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation $(18.7)

$(13.3)

$(317.3)

$(143.0)

















Postretirement expense: pretax 13.0

24.4

407.7

72.8

tax 0.4

0.4

52.8

1.1

net of tax 12.6

24.0

354.9

71.7

















Cost reduction and other expenses: pretax 13.0

23.8

45.7

98.4

tax -

(0.2)

0.6

0.9

net of tax 13.0

24.0

45.1

97.5

noncontrolling interest -

-

-

-

net of noncontrolling interest 13.0

24.0

45.1

97.5

















Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation 6.9

34.7

82.7

26.2 Add interest expense on convertible notes -

2.1

-

6.2 Non-GAAP net income attributable to Unisys Corporation for diluted earnings per share $ 6.9

$ 36.8

$ 82.7

$ 32.4

















Weighted average shares (thousands) 67,131

63,032

66,211

62,897 Plus incremental shares from assumed conversion:















Employee stock plans 764

613

857

504

Convertible notes -

8,625

-

8,625 Non-GAAP adjusted weighted average shares 67,895

72,270

67,068

72,026



































Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations













GAAP basis













GAAP net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation for diluted earnings per share $(18.7)

$(13.3)

$(317.3)

$(143.0) Divided by weighted average shares 67,131

63,032

66,211

62,897 GAAP diluted loss per share $(0.28)

$(0.21)

$ (4.79)

$ (2.27)

















Non-GAAP basis













Non-GAAP net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation for diluted earnings per share $ 6.9

$ 36.8

$ 82.7

$ 32.4 Divided by Non-GAAP adjusted weighted average shares 67,895

72,270

67,068

72,026 Non-GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.10

$ 0.51

$ 1.23

$ 0.45

UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP (Unaudited) (Millions)















FREE CASH FLOW

















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020 Cash provided by (used for) operations $65.5

$66.3

$ 64.5

$(325.8) Additions to marketable software (12.4)

(18.1)

(42.1)

(54.8) Additions to properties (7.7)

(6.1)

(19.7)

(16.7) Additions to outsourcing assets (6.0)

(7.8)

(14.7)

(23.6) Free cash flow 39.4

34.3

(12.0)

(420.9) Postretirement funding 11.5

11.5

43.6

344.5 Discontinued operations -

-

-

(9.1) Cost reduction and other payments 19.0

5.5

68.4

23.5 Adjusted free cash flow $69.9

$51.3

$100.0

$ (62.0)

UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP (Unaudited) (Millions)















EBITDA

















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020 Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation $ (18.7)

$ (13.3)

$ (317.3)

$ (143.0) Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 0.2

-

(1.0)

0.5 Interest expense, net of interest income of $2.0, $1.3, $5.5, $6.0, respectively* 6.5

1.1

21.5

14.9 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 10.9

6.1

(33.8)

26.6 Depreciation 25.6

22.6

74.0

70.9 Amortization 17.7

14.2

52.6

50.2 EBITDA $ 42.2

$ 30.7

$ (204.0)

$ 20.1















Postretirement expense $ 13.0

$ 24.4

$ 407.7

$ 72.8 Debt extinguishment, cost reduction and other expenses** 11.8

23.8

41.0

90.2 Non-cash share based expense 4.5

3.1

11.5

11.1 Other expense, net adjustment*** 3.1

0.3

6.7

2.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 74.6

$ 82.3

$ 262.9

$ 196.6















*Included in other (expense), net on the consolidated statements of income (loss) **Reduced for depreciation and amortization included above ***Other (income) expense, net as reported on the consolidated statements of income (loss) less postretirement expense, interest income and items included in cost reduction and other expenses

















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020 Revenue $488.0

$495.2

$1,515.1

$1,449.4 Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation as a percentage of revenue (3.8)%

(2.7)%

(20.9)%

(9.9)% Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue 15.3 %

16.6 %

17.4 %

13.6 %

UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP (Unaudited) (Millions)















OPERATING PROFIT

















Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020 GAAP operating income from continuing operations $ 25.1

$ 27.7

$ 109.5

$ 39.3 Cost reduction and other expenses* 2.1

13.8

17.3

30.8 Postretirement expense** 0.8

0.9

2.7

2.5 Non-GAAP operating profit from continuing operations $ 28.0

$ 42.4

$ 129.5

$ 72.6















Revenue $488.0

$495.2

$1,515.1

$1,449.4















GAAP operating profit percent 5.1 %

5.6 %

7.2 %

2.7 % Non-GAAP operating profit percent 5.7 %

8.6 %

8.5 %

5.0 %















*Included in cost of revenue, selling, general and administrative and research and development on the consolidated statements of income (loss) **Included in selling, general and administrative on the consolidated statements of income (loss)

SOURCE Unisys Corporation
"When it comes to climate risk and resiliency, there's critical work being done in every state. And it's an issue that state insurance regulators have prioritized for decades," explains Mike Consedine, CEO of the NAIC. "State insurance regulators have long been on the front lines of climate-related natural catastrophe preparedness and response, protecting policyholders and maintaining well-functioning insurance markets. We're very excited to participate in this event to share our work and learn from others."

State insurance regulators and the NAIC have an extensive history focused on managing the risks faced by the insurance industry and consumers. This includes addressing how natural hazards impact the solvency of insureds as well as the affordability and availability of insurance. In 2020, the organization and its members created a Climate and Resiliency Task Force, recognizing the challenges, risks and opportunities faced by the entire insurance industry and the importance of engaging all states on climate-related risk and resiliency issues. Current and future efforts build on decades of experience managing the economic fallout of natural disasters. State insurance regulators are better able to tackle this multi-generational issue by working collectively and sharing experiences, both at the domestic and international levels, to work toward a safer, more resilient future.

The agenda for the PSI COP26 Sustainable Insurance Series agenda can be found here.

Register for the panel: How are U.S. insurance regulators taking action on climate change?

About NAIC

As part of our state-based system of insurance regulation in the United States, the NAIC provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers. The U.S. standard-setting organization is governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer reviews, and coordinate regulatory oversight. NAIC staff supports these efforts and represents the collective views of state regulators domestically and internationally. For more information, visit www.naic.org.

SOURCE National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Related Links

http://www.naic.org


OAKTON, Va., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

What's the news? The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance around the world, has awarded AT&T* a Task Order agreement to support its domestic and international wireless and wireline connectivity needs. The agreement, awarded via the General Services Administration's (GSA's) Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract, is valued at $182 million over 10-years if all options are exercised.

Why is this important? USAID is the world's premier international development agency. It provides financial and humanitarian assistance to more than 100 countries to promote global health and stability, catalyze innovation and partnership and empower women and girls. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience.

What is the scope of the capabilities AT&T will provide to USAID? Under this Task Order, AT&T will continue to provide wireline voice and data services to USAID domestic locations while significantly expanding the scope of services we provide. We will consolidate USAID's disparate networks onto the AT&T global IP voice network and provide mission critical connectivity in support of an additional 90 USAID international locations. We expect to transform connectivity in USAID data centers, integrate global satellite connectivity to support communications across the globe, and provide mobile data solutions that will allow USAID personnel to establish mobile hot spots in locations where connectivity is scarce.

The Task Order allows USAID to access additional advanced networking capabilities from us such as cybersecurity services, hosted voice services and high-speed cloud connectivity solutions.

Here's what people are saying:

Chris Smith, Vice President-Civilian and Shared Services, AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet

"We're honored to support the important work of the nearly 15,000 personnel at USAID who help under-resourced nations cope with famine, disease, war, oppression and natural or man-made disasters. Our aim is to ensure they have the connectivity they need when and where they need it to deliver their mission to bring relief and hope to the needy."

When does the work begin? Work is underway to transition USAID to our global IP network. The transition is expected to be completed in early 2023.

About USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.

Where can I find more information? Go here for more information about AT&T's work in the public sector or visit the USAID here.

*About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives.

AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at att.com.

 2021 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

SOURCE AT&T Communications

Related Links

https://www.att.com


Emily Kramer joins VERO as Senior Vice President of Marketing, overseeing VERO's external branding efforts, sales generation, and customer feedback loops. Kramer joins VERO with an extensive history in financial services, having served as the SVP, Business Development and Marketing of ClickPay (acquired by RealPage, Inc in 2018). After acquisition, Kramer continued as head of ClickPay's Business Development and Marketing while also driving impact for RealPage's Financial Services division. Prior to ClickPay, Kramer held positions at American Express and Citigroup.

"As we continue to grow and expand our client-focused offerings, I'm thrilled to bring some of the best industry talent to lead new initiatives and help to tell the VERO story," said Lou Baugier, CEO and co-founder of VERO. "Keith and Emily fill critical roles and will undoubtedly drive us further on our mission to simplify and automate all operations for real estate operators and their renters."

VERO consolidates a broken leasing process in one simple platform, making lease management easier and more affordable for property managers while providing transparency and cost savings for renters. On average, it takes less than 17 minutes to apply and sign a lease with VEROcompared to the industry average of seven days. By combining each separate step of the leasing process into one centralized solution, VERO grants owners benefits including streamlined workflow, mitigated risk, and increased net asset value (NAV), while passing time savings and transparency onto their renters. VERO has increased transactions by 500% on an annual basis, and grown revenue by 140% QoQ. Current VERO partners include LeFrak, Stonehenge, Alfred, and FirstService Residential, among others.

ABOUT VERO

VERO is the modern leasing infrastructure for renters and owners. Designed to streamline and automate all operations, VERO consolidates a broken leasing process in one simple platform, making lease management easier and more affordable for property managers while providing transparency and cost savings for renters. Learn more about VERO: sayvero.com

CONTACT

[email protected]

SOURCE VERO

Related Links

https://app.sayvero.com


VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Visier , the globally recognized leader in people analytics and planning, closed out the company's third fiscal quarter of the year with a surge in product innovation and market recognition.

"Market timing is everything and people analytics is clearly having its moment," said Ryan Wong, CEO of Visier. "We've seen unprecedented change, from resignations hitting all time highs, to mandatory SEC disclosures on diversity, equity and inclusion. All of this is contributing to the surge we're experiencing in this market. While this is certainly good for business, what's equally important is that we're able to make a difference. We're incredibly proud to be able to support our customers with innovations that directly tackle these urgent challenges."

Visier's Q3, which ended on October 31, brought the company's total customer count to over 12,000, with more than 12 million employee records under management. Highlights from this quarter include:

Company Achievements

Visier launched Visier NOW , a new suite of product offerings designed specifically to tackle today's most pressing workforce issues. Two new products were available at launch: Retention Focus, which is tailor made to support businesses during the "Great Resignation"; and Guided Diversity Planning, a purpose-built solution to help turn DEI promises into actionable plans.

, a new suite of product offerings designed specifically to tackle today's most pressing workforce issues. Two new products were available at launch: Retention Focus, which is tailor made to support businesses during the "Great Resignation"; and Guided Diversity Planning, a purpose-built solution to help turn DEI promises into actionable plans. Visier received a TrustRadius Tech Cares Award for its ongoing work to advance progress in diversity, equity and inclusion. This is the second year in a row Visier has been recognized with a Tech Cares Award, with the 2020 award focused on the company's Covid-19 response and support to customers.

for its ongoing work to advance progress in diversity, equity and inclusion. This is the second year in a row Visier has been recognized with a Tech Cares Award, with the 2020 award focused on the company's Covid-19 response and support to customers. Visier was also recognized by Intellyx with the 2021 Digital Innovator Award . Focused on enterprise digital transformation and the disruptive vendors that support it, this award recognizes a vendor that demonstrates significant enterprise value in the IT marketplace.

Customer Momentum

In Q3 Visier welcomed dozens of new, and returning customers from the global retail sector, services industry, global insurance, finance, electronics, manufacturing, supply chain, health information technology, science, and biotechnology.

Snap Inc. shared how they are using data, and people analytics, to support their comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. By 2025, they plan to increase underrepresented U.S. racial and ethnic groups to 20%, increase women in tech roles to 25% and increase women, and U.S. racial and ethnic groups by 30% in leadership.

shared how they are using data, and people analytics, to support their comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. By 2025, they plan to increase underrepresented U.S. racial and ethnic groups to 20%, increase women in tech roles to 25% and increase women, and U.S. racial and ethnic groups by 30% in leadership. NCI highlighted how the combined use of Visier and iCIMS enables their organization with data-driven recruitment and talent acquisition strategies. With long-term, multi-year contracts at stake, NCI relies on the integration of iCIMS into Visier, to get a single view of both the candidate pipeline and their entire human capital management function across all employee lifecycle activities.

how the combined use of Visier and iCIMS enables their organization with data-driven recruitment and talent acquisition strategies. With long-term, multi-year contracts at stake, NCI relies on the integration of iCIMS into Visier, to get a single view of both the candidate pipeline and their entire human capital management function across all employee lifecycle activities. Visier celebrated some of its leading enterprise customers with an integrated advertising and editorial program featuring people analytics leaders from companies like Providence , Panasonic , Wayfair , eBay and more.

, , , and more. Visier relaunched its editorial site as Outsmart, featuring daily ideas and insights by and for people-centered leaders. Previously known as Clarity, Outsmart shares the name of Visier's annual customer conference, and features articles, profiles and videos for HR and people leaders. The site recently published the first annual Top 25 HR Leaders to Watch .

Market Momentum

Visier and Degreed announced a new partnership where Visier's analytics engine will be embedded in Degreed's learning experience platform. This offering is planned for general availability in Q4 of this year.

where Visier's analytics engine will be embedded in Degreed's learning experience platform. This offering is planned for general availability in Q4 of this year. Visier published a new research report " Stop the Exit " with new insights into the ongoing "Great Resignation." This report outlines the highest levels of resignations seen since the year 2000, and what strategies organizations have implemented to successfully retain critical employees.

" with new insights into the ongoing "Great Resignation." This report outlines the highest levels of resignations seen since the year 2000, and what strategies organizations have implemented to successfully retain critical employees. Visier ran a series of high profile highway billboard ads in San Francisco , Chicago , Boston and New York to draw attention to the urgent topics of the resignation wave and the need to tackle diversity, equity and inclusion as a top corporate priority.

Leadership Momentum

Visier welcomed two new independent board members . Visier welcomed Tina Jones , Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources at Cadence Design Systems; and Darryl Robinson , Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of CommonSpirit Health.

. Visier welcomed , Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources at Cadence Design Systems; and , Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of CommonSpirit Health. As a founding member of the People Intelligence Alliance, Visier welcomed the new Thought Leadership Council . Launched in September 2020 , the People Intelligence Alliance integrated a community of vendors, practitioners, customers, and service providers committed to openness and connectivity of data, to bring new levels of clarity and insights to HR and people management.

Companies use Visier to understand and improve their workforce at every stage of the employee lifecycle--from recruitment to retirement. Visier is designed to answer virtually any question HR, people managers and executives need to ask about their workforce to improve diversity and inclusion, performance and productivity, employee retention and happiness, and to more effectively plan hiring and career progression, and manage people and teams.

More information about Visier can be found at www.visier.com .

About Visier

Visier is the recognized global leader in people analytics and workforce planning. Founded in 2010 by the pioneers of business intelligence, Visier focuses on what matters to business leaders: answering the right questions, even the ones a person might not know to ask. Questions that shape business strategy, provide the impetus for taking action, and drive better business outcomes through workforce optimization. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC with offices and team members worldwide, Visier has 12,000 customers in 75 countries around the world, including enterprises like Adobe, BASF, Bridgestone, Electronic Arts, McKesson, Merck KGaA, Uber and more.

For more information, visit www.visier.com .

SOURCE Visier

Related Links

http://www.visiercorp.com


TEWKSBURY, Mass., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPet, LLC, the largest North America-based independent branded premium natural pet food company, today announced that its Mishawaka, Indiana-based manufacturing facility has earned the high honor of a grade "AA" certification by the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety. This world-renowned certification is evidence of the company's dedication to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, remarkable leadership from WellPet's food safety and quality group, and continued, strategic investments in quality and safety. WellPet's Minnesota-based Farm Fresh Kitchens manufacturing facility and its WHIMZEES manufacturing facility in the Netherlands also earned high ratings in previous BRC audits.

A demonstration of the companys firm commitment to best-in-class food safety and quality, this is WellPets third manufacturing facility to achieve high marks from the rigorous audit by the British Retail Consortiums Global Standard for Food Safety.

WellPet prides itself on its carefully crafted, high-quality natural pet food and treat innovations from the Wellness, WHIMZEES, Old Mother Hubbard, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, and Sojos brands, which serve as the foundation of pet wellbeing and a long, happy life shared between pets and pet parents. As the BRC's globally recognized standards set the bar for extraordinary manufacturing practices, this accreditation further certifies that WellPet's products are safe, legal, and designed to prioritize quality above all else.

To ensure this high standard of food safety and product quality, the WellPet team controls the entire manufacturing process start to finish, from quality checks on raw materials to the shipment of finished product to customers, resulting in a long-standing, loyal team of employees who take pride in the products that are produced.

"Our Mishawaka, Indiana manufacturing facility is core to our business and providing pet parents with the food they trust to fulfill a shared life of wellbeing together, so the achievement of such high marks from the BRC is a true honor. We're incredibly proud of the entire Mishawaka team for their contributions," said Tricia DiPersio, Vice President of Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory Affairs at WellPet. "At WellPet, we've built an exceptional food safety culture, and this accreditation shows our unwavering commitment to food safety and quality assurance."

The AA grade accreditation enables valued customers and partners to place the utmost trust and confidence in WellPet's pet food and treats.

According to the BRC, the Global Standard for Food Safety focuses on:

Senior management commitment and the development of a culture of product safety

Evaluation of food safety for products and processes, to ensure the safety of products based on analysis and critical control points and a food safety plan

Quality management systems for the documentation of organizational and management policies and procedures

Environmental and operational conditions necessary for the production of safe food

Development of prevention systems to protect the site and make sure only approved food ingredients are purchased

Encouraging sites to develop robust systems for product security and food defense

Requirements for high-care production zones

To learn more about the WellPet team and its Mishawaka facility, visit www.wellpet.com.

About WellPet, LLC:

WellPet, the largest North America based independent branded premium natural pet food company is home to premium pet food brands Wellness, WHIMZEES, Old Mother Hubbard, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, and Sojos. For more than 100 years, WellPet has delivered on the promise of doing whatever it takes to make the healthiest natural products for the pets that depend on us. Today, our team of animal lovers, nutritionists, and veterinarians at WellPet are committed to carrying forth our strong heritage, continuing to find new ways to bring innovation, nutritional excellence, and product quality to our family of natural brands, always putting pet health first. For more information, visit www.wellpet.com.

SOURCE WellPet, LLC
TSX: WEF

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Western Forest Products Inc. (TSX: WEF) ("Western" or the "Company") today provides an initial response to the British Columbia provincial government's (the "Province") update on its review of old growth forest management.

The Province has announced its intention to work in partnership with First Nations on the proposed deferral of harvesting in 2.6 million hectares of BC forests. The proposed deferrals, if implemented, have been identified as temporary, and are subject to First Nations engagement. The Province continues to state that final decisions on deferral areas will be based on discussions between the Province and First Nations governments.

Western requires more specific information on the Province's proposed measures to meaningfully assess any potential impacts on the Company's business. Determination of potential impacts will be subject to further dialogue with the First Nations on whose territories the Company operates and their government-to-government discussions. Should the proposed measures impact Western's business, the Company will seek support from the Province for its workers and full compensation for investments.

The Province's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act affirms the application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to free, prior and informed consent. Western respects government-to-government engagement and the critical role First Nations have in decisions that may affect them.

Western has been working with First Nations for many years to foster positive working relationships built on respect for Aboriginal rights and title, including the right of First Nations to economically benefit from the lands within their territories. Western appreciates and welcomes the opportunity we have been given by many of our Indigenous partners to support and participate in these important processes.

Western has achieved a series of milestone agreements with Indigenous partners in 2021 that advance our mutually beneficial relationships and exemplify the Company's ongoing actions to support reconciliation. These actions include the collaboration on and co-development of:

We appreciate the opportunity to work together with these and other First Nations in advancing sustainable forest management.

About Western Forest Products Inc.

Western is an integrated forest products company building a margin-focused log and lumber business to compete successfully in global softwood markets. With operations and employees located primarily on the coast of British Columbia and Washington State, Western is a premier supplier of high-value, specialty forest products to worldwide markets. Western has a lumber capacity in excess of 1.0 billion board feet from seven sawmills and four remanufacturing facilities. The Company sources timber from its private lands, long-term licenses, First Nations arrangements, and market purchases. Western supplements its production through a wholesale program providing customers with a comprehensive range of specialty products.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may constitute forward-looking statements under the applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking statements and can be identified by the use of words such as "will", "may" and similar references to future periods. Although such statements reflect management's current reasonable beliefs, expectations and assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements are accurate, and actual results or performance may materially vary. Many factors could cause our actual results or performance to be materially different, including a change in the Company's financial situation, general economic conditions, development and changes in laws and regulations affecting the forest industry, including as related to old growth timber management, and other factors referenced under the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of our MD&A in our 2020 Annual Report dated February 18, 2021.

SOURCE Western Forest Products Inc.

Related Links

www.westernforest.com


The announcement was accompanied by the One Sun declaration endorsed by 80 ISA member countries, which stated that, "Realizing the vision of One Sun One World One Grid through interconnected green grids can be transformational, enabling all of us to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to prevent dangerous climate change, to accelerate the clean energy transition, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. These efforts can stimulate green investments and create millions of good jobs. By sharing the sun's energy, we can help to build a more peaceful and prosperous world."

The project, spearheaded by the Governments of India & the UK, and implemented by ISA, in partnership with the World Bank Group, aims to harness solar energy wherever the sun is shining, ensuring that generated electricity flows to areas that need it most. The GGI-OSOWOG will bring together a global coalition of national governments, international financial and technical organizations, legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy. In doing so, the project aims to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy such as coal by enabling them to purchase affordable solar power from other countries.

As the chief agency leading and delivering the project, ISA aims to help mobilize US$1 trillion of funding by 2030 to assist developing countries in expanding their solar power grids to meet their energy access, energy security and energy transition needs. The initiative is widely seen as a big and bold move ahead on the ISA's solar transition roadmap and will go some way towards realizing its vision for a solar energy future.

Speaking at the event today, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi said: "One Sun, One World & One Grid will not only reduce storage needs but also enhance the viability of solar projects. This creative initiative will not only reduce carbon footprints and energy cost but also open a new avenue for cooperation between different countries and regions.

"The One Sun One World One Grid and Green Grids Initiative is an idea whose time has come. If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions. I congratulate the International Solar Alliance and the UK COP Presidency for bringing it nearer to implementation."

The event also featured an address by Rt Hon'ble Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, who stated: "What we want is to take these inventions, these breakthroughs, and get them the finance and the support they need to make sure that they are disseminated through the whole world."

President Biden supported the GGI-OSOWOG initiative in his speech at the launch event saying: "We have to scale up clean technologies that are already commercially available and cost competitive like wind and solar energy."

Following the announcement, ISA Director General, Dr. Ajay Mathur, remarked: "This network has the potential to be a modern engineering marvel, and a catalyst for effectively mitigating climate change in the next decade. The One Sun Declaration is multilateralism in action, with leaders of the world coming together to drive sustainable impactful change for a cleaner planet and a greener economy.

"Through the power of solar and other renewables, and our collective efforts, we believe we can build and achieve a green recovery, transitioning away from fossil fuels to a solar future and opening up affordable, renewable electricity supplies to markets that have been historically underserved."

Under the plans being released today, ISA intends to push for a network of interconnected green grids in the coming years. As part of its first phase, the project will drive interconnectivity across the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The second will focus on African power pools, while the third will drive global green grids interconnections.

The global grid concept was first announced by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2018 during the first assembly of the ISA. In May 2021, the UK pledged technical, financial and research support for the OSOWOG project.

About the International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), was launched at COP21 in Paris and has recently expanded its membership scope to include all UN member states. There are 90 signatories and 193 prospective members. The ISA provides a dedicated platform for co-operation, through which the global community, including governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations, corporates, industry, and other stakeholders, can contribute to help achieve the common goal of increasing the use and quality of solar energy in meeting energy needs of prospective ISA member countries in a safe, convenient, affordable, equitable and sustainable manner.

SOURCE International Solar Alliance
Tehran, Nov 2 : Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh on Monday warned against what he called regional threats of Israel and called the latest US-led military flight over regional waters "provocative".

Asked about the allocation of 1.5 billion US $ by Israel to counter Iran's nuclear program, Khatibzadeh said Iran has never ruled out or ignored the threats posed by Israel against stability and security in the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Basically, the nature of this regime (Israel) is creating crisis, and the roots of this regime are growing in insecurity and instability," Khatibzadeh added during his weekly press conference.

In the meantime, Israel is well aware of Iran's capabilities and its own limitations, and also knows that Iran is serious about its security, he said.

"We closely monitored and followed it in details," the Iranian Spokesman added.

"Those who carried out these provocative actions know that it was a colourless show not worth paying more attention to." On Sunday, Israeli, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini fighter jets flew with a US advanced fighter-bomber across the Middle Eastern maritime vital points, including the Strait of Hormuz, south of Iran.
Tehran, Nov 2 : Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday downplayed a recent statement by the United States, Britain, France and Germany on Tehran's nuclear program, Tasnim news agency reported.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh called the four western states' comments on Iran's nuclear activities as "unconstructive" and lack of reality.

The comments by the Iranian Spokesman came after the leaders of four western countries expressed their concerns about Iran's nuclear program after a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Iran "has accelerated the pace of provocative nuclear steps, such as the production of highly enriched uranium and enriched uranium metal," the statement was cited by the Western media.

Khatibzadeh stressed the "peaceful nature" of Iran's nuclear activities, saying that Tehran is not building nuclear weapons which have no place in Iran's defence doctrine.

Iran is a responsible member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a cooperative member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said.
Glasgow : , Nov 2 (IANS) Speaking at a side event at the COP26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said 'adaptation, not mitigation' should be given priority for the development imperative of developing countries.

"Adaptation does not get as much importance in the Global climate debate as mitigation. This is an injustice to developing countries, which are more affected by climate change," Modi said at the event on 'Action and Solidarity -- The Critical Decade' at COP26 Summit in Glasgow hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

During his speech, Modi explained how climate is a major challenge for farmers in most developing countries, including India, where the cropping pattern is changing and crops are being destroyed by untimely rains and floods or frequent storms.

Stating that from drinking water sources to affordable housing, all of these need to be made resilient against climate change, the Prime Minister said, "We have to make adaptation a key part of our development policies and projects." He elaborated how Indian government's projects such as 'Nal se Jal'-- Tap water for all, 'Swachh Bharat'-- clean India Mission and 'Ujjwala'-- clean cooking fuel for all in India, "have not only provided adaptation benefits to our poor citizens but have also improved their quality of life." The traditional practices of the communities that have adequate knowledge of living in harmony with nature must be given due importance in adaptation policies, he said, adding, "This flow of knowledge must also be included in the school syllabus so that it is passed on to the new generation. Preservation of lifestyles in compliance with the local conditions can also be an important pillar of adaptation." The methods of adaptation may be local, but backward countries should get global support for them, Modi added.

The Prime Minister asked all countries to join India's initiative of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that epitomises the concept of global support for local adaptation.
New York, Nov 2 : Led by influential Senator Ted Cruz, a trio of Republicans have introduced legislation to exempt India and other members of the Quad from sanctions warning that taking action against India for buying Russian defence equipment would undermine efforts to combat Chinese aggression.

Along with Senators Todd Young and Roger Marshall, he introduced last week the legislation titled, "Circumspectly Reducing Unintended Consequences Impairing Alliances and Leadership Act of 2021" (CRUCIAL Act), to create a ten-year exemption for members of the Quad, India, Australia and Japan, from US sanctions "that would undermine unity against China".

"Countering China's aggressive behaviour requires viable partners in Asia and beyond, and the US-Indian relationship has become a cornerstone of our multilateral efforts," Cruz said about the rationale for the proposed legislation.

Although Japan and Australia do not buy Russian defence equipment, Cruz made the bill a broad measure that does not on the face of it make India the centrepiece and turns the focus to China's aggressiveness, especially in the Indo-Pacific where the US has vital interests.

India is facing the prospect of sanctions under the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for buying the Russian missile air defence system, S-400 Triumf, which it is to begin receiving in November.

Republican and former President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on NATO ally Turkey for buying the S-400 and refused to sell it F-35 multi-role jets.

China has also been sanctioned for buying the same missile defence system equipment and SU-35 jet fighters from Russia, but with limited effect.

The ten-year window in the CRUCIAL Act would protect India from future sanctions for Russian defence contracts in the pipeline for the purchase of frigates and the lease of a nuclear-powered submarine.

There is both opposition and support from the Democratic side for giving India a waiver.

Democrat Senator Mark Warner, who heads the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, sent President Joe Biden a letter against sanctions. In a show of bipartisan support, it was also signed by Republican John Cornyn, another committee member who is the co-chair with Warner of the Senate India Caucus that works to promote relations with India.

But Bob Menendez, the Democrat who heads the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had written to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this year that "if India chooses to go forward with its purchase of the S-400, that act will clearly constitute a significant, and, therefore, sanctionable, transaction with the Russian defence sector under Section 231 of CAATSA." He added, "It will also limit India's ability to work with the US on development and procurement of sensitive military technology." Politico said that a Senate Armed Services Committee staffer "hinted" that the waiver issue would be resolved in the latest defence budget known as the National Defence Appropriation Act when it is passed.

If that happens, there would be no need for the bill at this time but maybe needed for India's pending purchases.

Cruz is a hawk when it comes to Russia and his support for waiving sanctions that primarily target Russia by trying to cut off its defence market gives his legislative proposal credibility as he cannot be accused of ultimately doing Moscow a favour by retaining a multi-billion dollar customer.

In the case of India, he is going against his position on another sanction targeting Russia that Biden has waived.

He has held up several of Biden's ambassadorial appointments by blocking the required Senate approval for them because of his staunch opposition to the President dropping sanctions against the gas pipeline known as Nord Stream 2 to pump gas directly from Russia to Germany.

Announcing his legislative proposal, Ted Cruz said, "India is a critical part of the security architecture that coalesced" against China during Republican and former President Donald Trump's presidency and "now would be exactly the wrong time for President Biden to undo all of that progress through the imposition of these sanctions, which were meant to deter Russia." Justifying India buying the S-400 valued between $4 billion and $5.5 billion, Cruz said, "As China has sought to expand its global dominance, India has resisted their exploitation and looked elsewhere to bolster its defence capabilities and economy." "Now would be exactly the wrong time for President Biden to undo all of that progress through the imposition of these sanctions, which were meant to deter Russia. Doing so would accomplish nothing except undermining our shared security goals of combatting China's aggression and forcing India to become dependent on Russia," he added.

Co-sponsor Young said when Trump signed the CAATSA in 2017, no one predicted the emergence of the strategic partnership between the US and India and the Quad.

"If the Biden administration were to impose sanctions on India as its attempts to deter Chinese aggression, we would undermine the good work that has been done. Now is the time to strengthen the Quad instead of pushing our partners away," he said.

"As China continues to threaten its neighbours and attempt to overturn the rules-based international order our relationships with key Democracies such as India, Japan, and Australia will only become more important -- serving as a multiplier in our efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific," Marshall said.

Some of the opposition to a waiver that could emerge from the Democratic side could be aimed at Cruz because he has held up Biden's diplomatic nomination and because he is invoking Trump's role in the Quad.

Politico quoted an anonymous Democratic Senate staffer as saying, "For a guy who is willing to rob the entire State Department of having any senior staff in place over his faux-Russia hawkishness, this waiver advocacy is as offensive as it is hypocritical." According to Politico, the staffer said the CAATSA waivers remain "incredibly contentious" among lawmakers and asked, "How many exceptions are we going to make before other countries simply assume the US is not serious about preventing (Russian President Vladimir Putin from suckering others into buying Russian over American?"

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)
Glasgow : , Nov 2 (IANS) Offering a new mantra and raising its pledge for combating climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told world leaders at the COP26 that India will target a net zero goal by the year 2070 and aim at increasing its non-fossil fuel energy to 500 GW in its energy mix by 2030.

Terming it as 'Panchamrut Ki Saugat' - India's contribution to climate action called as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Modi while speaking on the first day of the high-level segment at the COP26 said India will reduce its carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 starting with reducing projected carbon emission from now till 2030 by 1 billion tonne and committed to have renewable energy component of 50 per cent by 2030.

Modi gave a new mantra for sustainable development through sustainable lifestyle. Displaying his penchant for acronyms, Modi said 'One Word One World' movement mantra -- 'Life, Lifestyle for Environment' can be a mass movement wherein instead of mindless and destructive consumption, there should be mindful and deliberate utilisation.

India's earlier target was to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels with already 24 per cent achieved by 2016. Ahead of the COP, India was under pressure from rich nations to declare a net zero target year -- where the amount of carbon emitted needs to be balanced with either removal or absorption of equal amount -- but had declared that it will be done at an appropriate movement.

The west has always painted India as the third largest emitter after China and the US while India has maintained its per capita emissions are nowhere near the highest emitters.

However, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, addressing media after the day's events here denied there was any outside pressure.

"It is for the posterity we are making this effort. It is an important commitment to our future generations. Net zero for India will mean the shortest gap from here and the peak emissions. The leader of a country that sets a target of 175 GW, he sets his own target of 450 GW and now sets a target of 500 GW progressively is not doing it under any pressure. The only pressure on him is the pressure of humanity, the pressure of our own future." "India is not going to be pressurised; will not be pressurised and has never been pressurised in any way. We are doing it of our own volition. The projections are based on science," he said.

Modi called out promises made by rich nations till date have been hollow, and said, "Just like India has raised its ambition, the rich nations, too, need to raise theirs. Climate finance and technology transfer agreements cannot remain the same." He exhorted the rich nations to enhance to 1 trillion US$ for climate finance and low-cost technology transfer and said it is needed to track climate finance.

Taking cudgels on behalf of the developing world, Modi appealed to all nations to take bolder steps.

This COP26 is deemed critical because as warned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), every additional 0.5 degree of warming will increase heat extremes, extreme precipitation, and droughts and for coastal areas, sea level rise will be a threat to their very existence.

Before the COP, India had announced adaptation was one of the important aspects for consideration. Accordingly, speaking at a side event, the Prime Minister said adaptation, not mitigation, should get priority for the development imperative of developing countries.

"Adaptation does not get as much importance in the Global climate debate as mitigation. This is an injustice to developing countries, which are more affected by climate change," Modi said at the event on 'Action and Solidarity -- The Critical Decade' at COP26 Summit.

Modi held a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson where the two leaders reviewed the implementation of the 'Roadmap 2030' priorities, particularly in trade and economy, people-to-people, health, defence, and security areas. They expressed satisfaction at the progress in delivering the enhanced trade partnership, including steps taken towards the launch of free trade agreement negotiations.

He reiterated India's commitment to closely work with the UK on climate finance, technology, innovation and adaptation of green hydrogen, renewables and clean technologies, including joint initiatives under International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Los Angeles, Nov 2 : Actors Stellan Skarsgard, Andrea Riseborough and Gustaf Skarsgard have joined the cast of psychological crime drama 'What Remains', helmed by Chinese director Huang Ran The English-language film, which begins shooting next month in Finland, is the feature directorial debut of Huang Ran, a mainland Chinese artist-turned-filmmaker, reports variety.com.

His previous 'The Administration of Glory' debuted in the short film competition at Cannes in 2014. The script of 'What Remains' was written by Megan Everett Skarsgard.

In addition to the stellar cast, the film has attracted a world-class production crew.

'What Remains' is being produced by Film Service Finland and Huang through his production company Fake Action Truth, with financing from iQIYI, a leading video streaming platform in China.

It has additional financial support from Business Finland and Art Algorithm Capital, an Asia-based media and art investment fund.

Huang was educated at Birmingham University and Goldsmith's College in the UK and has enjoyed international success working with video, painting, installation and performance.

His first solo exhibition, 'An Experience Shaped by An Experience I Never Experienced', was reported to be a "deconstruction of the notion and mechanisms of history, the sublimation of violence and the expression of creative anxiety".

His short film developed themes of deception, theft and violation, both sacred and otherwise, and examined artistic practice and issues of historical credibility. In 2015 it earned Huang the Katrin Cartlidge Foundation Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Actress Rani Mukerji, who will be soon seen reprising the role of Vimmi aka Babli in 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', has praised debutante Sharvari and said that it is amazing to see talented newcomers come in industry as they will play a big role in shaping the industry.

Rani said: "Sharvari is definitely a talent to watch out for and she looks refreshingly breathtaking on screen. She has really surprised me with her craft and I feel she has a very bright future ahead of her.

"Sharvari is a very confident performer and has worked really hard for the film. It was evident when she was giving her shots because her skill as an artist shone through.

"It is amazing to see talented newcomers come in the industry because they will play a big hand in shaping the industry in the years to come." Rani says a'Bunty Aur Babli 2' is the perfect launchpad for Sharvari.

"It presents her as the Hindi film heroine on the big screen. Her presence on screen is superb and she dazzles on screen." Yash Raj Films' 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', which is set to release on November 19, is a rib-tickling comedy that will pit two sets of con artists, from different generations, against each other as they show their mastery over disguises to outwit each other.

Rani feels Sharvari will wow audiences with her screen presence.

She said: "She will take everyone by surprise and hopefully audiences will give her a lot of love and appreciation for her hard work."

-- Syndicated from IANS
Jaipur, Nov 2 : Counting is on for the votes cast in the October 30 bypolls to the two Assembly constituencies of Vallabhnagar and Dhariyawad in Rajasthan.

The elections were necessitated after after the demise of Congress MLA Gajendra Singh Shekhawat from Vallabhnagar and the BJP's Gautamlal Meena from Dhariyawad.

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that the counting began at 8 a.m. at the Mohanlal Sukhadia University Campus of Udaipur district headquarters for Vallabhnagar and Government Senior Secondary School, Neemuch Naka, Pratapgarh district headquarters for Dhariawad.

Counting of votes of the Vallabhnagar seat will be completed in 23 rounds and Dhariyawad in 24 rounds, he said.

In Vallabhnagar, a total of 1,186 postal ballots were issued in the categories of absentee voters above 80 years, absentee disabled voters, service voters and polling staff, out of which 1,049 postal ballots were received.

For Dhariyawad, 300 postal ballot papers were issued in the above four categories, out of which a total of 285 postal ballots have been received. Counting of postal ballots will be done in the Returning Officer's chamber.

Gupta said that after the declaration of election results, no procession, rally and function will be allowed by the winning candidate. He said that only two persons would be allowed along with the winning candidate to obtain the certificate of election from the Returning Officer.

A total of 16 candidates were in the fray-- nine from Vallabhnagar and seven from Dhariyavad.

Around 71.72 per cent polling was recorded in Vallabhnagar and about 69.10 per cent in Dhariyavad.

The polling percentage in both the assembly constituencies was around 70.40.

Gupta has directed the District Election Officer and District Superintendent of Police to visit the counting centres on time and ensure adequate security arrangements. CAPF, SAPF and local police have been deployed in a three-tier security circle.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that all necessary arrangements like sanitisation of the counting place a day before the counting place, arrangement of helpdesk, thermal scanner at the counting place, face shield, hand gloves, soap and sanitizer, separate toilets for women counting workers has been provided.
Meerut, Nov 2 : Bizarre though it may sound but the police in Meerut has found engines of two-wheelers stored in a defunct washing machine, trucks and boxes.

During a raid on the house of Mohd Afzal in Sotiganj, the police found the hidden bike engines -- ranging from 150cc to 500cc.

The police seized 117 bike engines from Afzal's house.

According to sources, the police have identified a 13-member gang that steals two-wheelers from Delhi-NCR, and subsequently, dismantles them. Seven engines have been identified, out of which six were from Delhi and one from Haryana, based on FIRs lodged.

Suraj Rai, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), said, that the gang could dismantle an entire car within 15 minutes after stealing it.

The mastermind of the four-wheeler auto mafia, Haji Galla, is already behind bars, along with his four sons and other accomplices. They have been booked with charges under the Gangster Act, and 17 of them have been charged under the Goonda Act.

Delhi alone accounted for 35,019 auto thefts in 2020, the highest in the country, according to the National Crime Record Bureau's latest data.

The whopping figure was recorded at a time when the country was under strict lockdown for months altogether due to the Covid pandemic.

In 2019, the figure was slightly higher at 46,725.

ASP Rai said: "The number would be much higher if we include NCR districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, from where stolen vehicles make their way to the Sotiganj market. It is not possible to ascertain the quantum of trade taking place here as two-wheeler engines and other spare parts are easier to hide because of their smaller size, as compared to four-wheeler engines. We have raided just one house and that too on the main Sotiganj road. There would be many more in the by lanes."
Lucknow, Nov 2 : Even as the BJP steps up its attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on his Jinnah statement, he has decided to deflect focus by announcing that the 3rd of every month will be observed as the 'Lakhimpur Kisan Smriti Diwas to remind people of the "BJPs cruelty".

He has urged the "people of Uttar Pradesh, all well-wishers of farmers and SP workers and those of the allies" to back the decision.

On October 3, four farmers were allegedly mowed down by a SUV while they were returning after staging protests against the farm laws at an event in which Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya and Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni were present.

Farmers alleged that the SUV belonged to Teni and his son Ashish Mishra was in it.

Ashish Mishra has been arrested and farmers are now calling for the Union Minister's dismissal since he is also an accused in the case.

Meanwhile, SP leaders have come out strongly in defence of Akhilesh Yadav's decision not to contest the 2022 Assembly polls.

"SP National President being in the fray is inconsequential as the party, as a whole, will contest the 2022 Assembly polls on the name, face and leadership of Akhilesh Yadav himself," said party spokesperson MLC Udaiveer Singh.

Apart from Akhilesh Yadav, a number of top politicians like Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati and Chief mMnister Yogi Adityanath had stayed away from the assembly elections only to take the MLC route through by polls.
Kanpur, Nov 2 : Kanpur has reported one more case of Zika virus, taking the tally to 11.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kanpur, Dr Nepal Singh, said that pathology samples of a 42-year-old woman from Shiv Katra, sent to the KGMU lab in Lucknow and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, tested positive for the virus on Monday.

So far, 11 people, including three IAF staff from in Chakeri area, have tested positive for the infection.

"The surveillance team took the sample of the woman, who is asymptomatic, and sent it for test. She has been kept under observation. Samples of her family members, relatives and people in contact will be collected on Tuesday. Anti-larva spray, cleaning and fogging will also be done by the surveillance teams in the area," said the CMO.

In a statement, district magistrate Visakh G Iyer said that there is no need to panic. "Zika virus does not spread by contact or aerosols instead it is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which also causes dengue and chikungunya. It can easily be curtailed by strict surveillance and awareness," he said.

Meanwhile, a house-to-house survey was conducted by 65 surveillance teams of health, civic, para-medical personnel and staff of local administration in the affected areas, including IAF station on Monday. The teams collected samples from across 12 localities spread in a radius of 3 km in Chakeri area. The teams also examined people having fever-like symptoms.

Till date, 1,745 samples have been collected," said the CMO and added that "Our surveillance teams are also sensitising people about the hazard of stagnant water and asking them to empty pots, containers and tanks filled with water."
Seoul/Washington, Nov 2 : Senior officials from South Korea and the US held talks on ways to restart dialogue with North Korea, the State Department said.

US Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Jung Pak hosted a "deputy-level consultation meeting" with her South Korean counterpart, Rim Kap-soo, according to the Department.

"The two sides discussed the current situation on the Korean Peninsula; prospects for humanitarian cooperation; and the potential for dialogue with the DPRK," Yonhap News Agency quoted the Department as saying.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

The meeting comes after Kim said the countries will continue to discuss ways to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table, including an end of war declaration proposed by Seoul.

Kim made the remarks after a Seoul meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, on October 24.

South Korea believes that declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War could work as a catalyst to resume dialogue with Pyongyang.

North Korea currently remains unresponsive to .S overtures for dialogue. It has also stayed away from denuclearization negotiations since 2019.

This meeting further demonstrated the shared commitment between the US and the Republic of Korea to advance our common goal of achieving complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula," said the press release, referring to South Korea by its official name.

Monday's meeting was also attended by officials from South Korea's Ministry of Unification and the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, as well as officials from the US National Security Council and the Treasury and Defense Departments, it added.
When former US President Donald Trump signed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in August 2017, a US Federal Law to impose sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia, he believed the legislation was "seriously flawed", notwithstanding the overwhelming majority with which it was passed by the House (419-3). At that time American's anger over Russia on Ukraine issue and allegations of meddling in US elections was such that no-one realised that it could create foreign policy dilemmas later. Recently two key Senators have urged President Joe Biden to waive possible sanctions against India for purchase of Russian S-400 to conserve important strategic partnership in the interest of national security of US.

What Problems CAATSA poses on US Foreign Policy Choices? Under the Trump administration, then-Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had argued "We believe that the application of CAATSA sanctions could have a deleterious effect on a strategic partnership with India, while at the same time, not achieve the intended purpose of deterring Russian arms sales. Washington needs to be realistic that sticking to CAATSA in interdependent world is counterproductive and diversion from main focus of countering main threat from China. One of the aim of CAATSA was economic strangulation of targeted countries mainly Russia. The sanctions have pushed the targeted countries closer to China, to an extent that Russia has reluctantly become a junior partner to China due to financial compulsion to mitigate sanctions from the west. Russia is going ahead with China despite the fact that Chinese Belt and Road Initiative is side-lining Russian dream of Eurasia and many other friction points amongst the two.

It is worth considering for United States that in its long term interest, weakening Sino-Russian nexus may be a necessity and CAATSA is doing just the opposite. Russia continues to be the second largest arms supplier in the world. The idea of economic isolation of Russia is also irksome to US allies like Germany and other European countries are highly dependent on Russian gas. EU is keen to trade with China & Russia. In the interdependent world, wherein the US itself is dependent on Chinese supply chain on numerous commodities, expecting others not to do business with targeted countries is unrealistic.

CAATSA is constraining foreign policy of US into dilemmas of waivers to save strategic partnerships, as one such dilemma will soon appear when India starts receiving S-400 systems, risking a dent in its strategic partnership, Indo-Pacific strategy and the newly formed Quad. It also has potential to strain its relationship with some NATO allies like Germany and France wanting to engage with Russia and China. Post CAATSA, China which hardly had any genuine friend earlier, seems to have an anti-US Axis in terms of China-Russia-Pakistan-Iran-Turkey and Taliban in waiting. Sanctions against China and Turkey for procurement of S-400 haven't shown any worthwhile impact, as the US' supply chain dependency on China, despite minor decoupling is substantial and Turkey continues to be unpunished NATO member.

Indian Compulsions The threat of CAATSA is hurting its strategic partners like India. Indian military hardware is heavily dependent on Russian technology, maintenance, procurement of hardware and spares. For many decades Russians have been collaborating with India in its indigenous manufacturing programs and were amenable to transfer of technology, which India was finding difficult to procure from US. It includes some major systems like nuclear-powered submarines, warships and nuclear reactors. Lately due to the geo-political, strategic and economic considerations, India is trying to be self-reliant, as well as diversifying procurement from various countries to include US, France, Israel and few more. In last decade the defence procurement from Russia has gradually reduced from over 65 per cent approximately to nearly 53 percent and correspondingly it has increased in favour of the US, Israel and France. There is a noticeable upward trend in purchase of US military hardware, as the year 2020 alone saw a purchase $3.4 billion worth of US military equipment, indicating enough accommodation by India. In a buyers' market US has competitors to include Russia, Israel and France, and every country will make sovereign choice to pick the best deal including India.

The US undoubtedly is an important global strategic partner of India in the current geo-strategic equation with congruence of interests in most global issues. India continues to do its best to respond to sensitivities and concerns of the US, at times risking some of its old relationships like Iran. To accommodate US interest India reduced import of oil from Iran facing a cost disadvantage, as Iran oil was being imported in Rupee terms, in crude form and attuned to existing refineries in India. India also suffered by almost losing out stakes in Chahbahar Port to China, which was too willing to embrace Iran with $400 billion deal. India doesn't seem to be repeating the same mistake with Russians, who haven't done anything bilaterally which demands a divorce in mutual relationship.

The Case of S-400 Air Defence Equipment.

India signed a $5.4 billion deal with Russia in 2018 to buy the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system and made a down payment and plans to complete the purchase by 2025. S-400 was chosen because it was most suitable to Indian requirement at that point of time. It's a done deal and India is unlikely to pull back, irrespective of the pressure from the US. During recent Indo-US Summit, S-400 was not even on the agenda, as India has nothing to discuss, having locked the deal three years back. The US apprehension in context of use of Russian systems in close integration with US systems and the associated chances of operation information / technology leaks are unfounded, because India is already operating the equipment of West and Russia simultaneously, without such complaint. Additional checks, balances and interoperability issues can easily be worked out as both countries have already signed basic foundational agreements. At this point its impossible for India to run into risk of halting Russian procurement and supply chain of spares for existing inventory. The technological leakage argument is more valid for Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been armed with enough modern hardware by the US, some of which is readily available to China for reverse engineering.

US Needs to Revisit CAATSA US needs to come out of superpower syndrome of leaving no strategic choice with strategic partners, but to defy, to pursue its own interest through laws like CAATSA. The US could not moderate behaviour of any country under sanctions through CAATSA proving the point of Tillerson and Mattis of not achieving the intended purpose. If CAATSA can be a cause of cracks in Quad, diversion of focus from the US' main adversary, then its better to revisit it, because some global challenges have become so enormous that they require chorus of all democracies and response of America alone may not be adequate. US will do well by not pushing Russia further closer to China but it should strategically work for opposite outcome, which is possible because an expansionist, aggressive unconstrained China is a threat to Russia too. The advice of John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Mark Warner, D-Va to President Joe Biden to call for a waiver on national security grounds makes lot of sense in strategic cost benefit analysis.

(Maj Gen S.B. Asthana is a veteran infantry general and strategic analyst. The views expressed are personal and of the author, who retains the copyright. He can be reached at shashiasthana29@gmail.com and @asthana_shashi on Twitter)
Colombo, Nov 2 : Sri Lankan authorities have started administering the the booster Covid vaccines on health workers, frontline workers, and military personnel amid a massive vaccination campaign that was already underway in the country.

Director-General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena said the Pfizer vaccines would be administered as the booster dose and the rollout would be carried out according to the priority list followed at the beginning of the vaccination drive, which began in the country in late January, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Accordingly, the frontline health workers and other health workers including personnel of tri-forces and police will be vaccinated followed by people engaged in airports, ports and the tourism sector," Gunawardena said.

Following this, Gunawardena said those above 60 years and those with illnesses between the ages of 30 to 60 will be administered the Pfizer vaccine.

"Lastly, all those above 20 years of age will be given the booster shot," he said.

The Health Ministry recently said the government aimed to complete the third vaccine rollout by March next year, as all those above the age of 20 years would be eligible for a booster dose.

Sri Lanka presently has vaccinated over 90 per cent of those above 20 with at least the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The island has in recent weeks witnessed an easing of Covid-19 cases after the country faced a rapid third wave since April caused by the Delta variant.

To date, 541,073 cases were detected in Sri Lanka since March last year, while 13,743 people were killed by the virus.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Colombo, Nov 2 : Sri Lanka has resumed direct flights between Colombo and Paris after a lapse of six years.

Airport officials said a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake early on Monday, carrying 200 passengers, reports Xinhua news agency.

The officials said that Sri Lankan Airlines will operate scheduled flights between Sri Lanka and France non-stop every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The first direct flights between the two countries were launched in the 1980s.

In 2015, these direct flights were discontinued.
November 02 : Shilpa Shettys husband and businessman Raj Kundra is away from social media since he was released from jail on bail. Recently, Raj Kundra deleted his Instagram and Twitter accounts post the porn films case against him. The businessman was quite active on Instagram and twitter until his arrest in the pornography case. He often shared pictures and videos featuring himself and Shilpa.

Raj Kundra was arrested in July for his alleged connection in creation and publication of porn films. Kundra was granted bail by a metropolitan magistrate court in September on surety of Rs 50,000 and with several conditions. In his bail application, the businessman had claimed that there was no evidence with the prosecution that could connect his app HotShots with a legal offence. He had also claimed that he was being turned into a scapegoat. Recently, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra had reportedly filed a defamation case against actor Sherlyn Chopra for below the belt remarks about them in public. Chopra, on the other hand, had also filed a complaint against the couple accusing them of mental harassment and fraud.

Shilpa Shetty, who was away from social media and her work for quite some time after Raj Kundras arrest, is now on her normal routine, it seems. She is still lying low on social media and shares only festival and her workout posts. She had also shared several cryptic posts after her husbands arrest. However, after his arrest, Shilpa issued a statement regarding Raj's arrest, and said that she is not commenting on the legal developments. She had also urged the media and her fans to give her and her children privacy. My stand I have not commented yet, and will continue to refrain from doing so on this case as it is subjudice, so please stop attributing false quotes on my behalf. Reiterating my philosophy of, as a celebrity Never complain, never explain. All I will say is, as its an on-going investigation, I have full faith in the Mumbai Police & the Indian judiciary, she had written in a post.
Chennai, Nov 2 : The Tamil Nadu Health Department has constituted medical teams to visit villages in the state to inoculate people who have not taken a jab against Covid-19.

A team comprising a doctor, nurse, and other staff will commence visiting villages from Tuesday onwards.

The district medical officers will monitor the team that will be travelling to the villages.

The state Health Department, in a statement on Tuesday, said that there are 80,000 villages in the state and each would be covered.

The Health Department, in its study, found that after opening of offices and factories, number of vaccinations slowed down on weekdays.

Kavitha Balamurugan, a doctor with a medical team from Chengalpattu, told IANS: "I am part of the medical team that will be touring villages in Chengalpattu district and I feel that this novel initiative will lead to vaccinating almost the whole of the population. I am eagerly looking forward to traveling to villages for inoculation." The Health Department will associate with the state Education Department and will depute students to create awareness among their parents regarding the necessity of vaccination against Covid-19.

According to a study conducted by the state Health Department, in certain pockets of Tamil Nadu, lethargy has crept in regarding vaccination and the new initiative is to rope in almost everyone to be vaccinated against Covid -19.

State Health Minister Ma Subramanian told IANS: "This is a new initiative of the state Health Department and our team will cover all the 80,000 villages of Tamil Nadu to inoculate people who are left out of the vaccine drive." "We do not want any lethargy in this and the state government is monitoring the situation closely. The efforts of the doctors, nurses, and other staff of the Health Department in bringing the Covid-19 fresh cases under 1,000 are laudable and we do not want to lose this advantage by slowing down the vaccine drive," the HealtH Minister said.
Istanbul, Nov 2 : Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Turkey's most populated city Istanbul, urged the international community to extend "the highest level of international cooperation" for the safe return of refugees as their number hit 2.5 million in the city.

"Turkey's largest city Istanbul currently faced with nearly 2.5 million refugees, including asylum seekers and those who received their residence permits," Imamoglu said.

This population has matured in the past seven years, and it has been highly dramatic and laborious to cope with the entire process, Xinhua news agency quoted the Mayor as saying.

He urged the world to scrutinise the flow of migrations caused by wars, famines, and different kinds of inequalities, and work together for solutions.

Turkey, a key transit point for asylum seekers on their way to Europe, is home to over 4 million refugees, including 3.7 million Syrians, according to official figures.
Lucknow, Nov 2 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will embark on a padayatra in various parts of Lucknow on November 11.

According to party sources, the yatra will begin from Badi Kali temple in Chowk and conclude at the Dargah Hazrat Abbas after meandering through the Old City.

The intellectual cell of the city Congress committee issued a letter to people informing them of the event.

The padayatra aims to apprise them about the pledges taken by the Congress to improve the life of people in Uttar Pradesh.

The letter also urged people of the city to support the Congress party in the interest of women and public in general.

The route for the yatra aims at reviving the secular chord in the state capital.

"Priyanka seems to be focusing on the famous 'Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb' of Lucknow which has taken a beating in a highly polarized society in recent years," said a Congress functionary.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu said that the yatra will remind people that the thread that binds India is a shared legacy which is above realms of caste, religion and other elements of diversity.
Lucknow, Nov 2 : With just two days left for Diwali, forest officials and wildlife activists have stepped up efforts to check owl sacrifice which is rampant in Uttar Pradesh during the festival.

According to official sources, teams have been set up to patrol areas where occult practices take place.

Occultists, in particular, indulge in owl sacrifice during this time.

A letter issued by the forest department has asked all NGOs, District Magistrates and police chiefs to remain alert on smuggling of owls.

A senior forest official said: "During Diwali, the evil practice of black magic involving sacrifice of animals (particularly owls) is greatly prevalent, especially among the tribal communities living in areas along the banks of rivers. We are also sensitising people against this practice." The owl is believed to be the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi, the divine power symbolising wealth, fortune, power, beauty and prosperity.

Owl sacrifice takes place because people believe that it will bring prosperity and good fortune. A countrywide smuggling of owls flourishes in the country during this season.

There are 30 owl species in India, and most of these are in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Patna, Nov 2 : The RJD early Tuesday sent a letter to the Election Commission (EC) seeking immediate removal of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Sanjeev Kumar Kapar who is deployed as returning officer in Kusheshwar Asthan Assembly constituency, where counting is underway.

The RJD alleged that Kapar had threatened counting officials during the 2020 Assembly election to favour candidates of the ruling JD(U).

Manoj Jha, in a letter to the poll body, said that Kapar is a "tainted officer" who is "biased".

An audio clip of Kapar wherein he was threatening polling agents and supporters of RJD has also went viral on social media, he said.

Manoj Jha sent the letter to the poll body at 12.37 am.

Amid apprehension of cheating during counting, the party has sent top leaders in a rank of Tejashwi Yadav, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Jagadanand Singh and Shyam Rajak to monitor the developments at the counting centres in a bid to prevent "mischief" by the ruling JD(U).

Tejashwi Yadav and Abdul Bari Siddiqqi are camping in Kusheshwar Asthan in Darbhanga while Jagadanand Singh and Shyam Rajak are camping in Tarapur in Munger district.

The RJD has already warned of massive agitation if Nitish Kumar and his party members will pressure District Magistrate and other officials at the time of counting to favour the JD(U) candidate.

The RJD alleged that in the 2020 Assembly elections, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and BJP leaders threatened district officials to defeat the former's candidates in 15 seats.

RJD leaders had given special training to counting agents and candidates to keep a close tab on officials during counting of votes. In case of any rigging, they are asked to inform senior leaders of the party immediately.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad has already claimed that party's both the candidates are going to win the election with a big margin from Kusheshwar Asthan and Tarapur.

He also claimed that the formula is ready to defeat the Nitish Kumar government.

The bypolls at these two places were held on October 30 where Kusheshwar Asthan registered 49 per cent and Tarapur was 50.05 per cent turnout.
Chennai, Nov 2 : The unit of actor Prabhu Deva's upcoming film that is being directed by Pa Vijay has done something that most other film units haven't thought of doing before.

They have managed to shoot at the scenic Aagaya Gangai waterfalls in Kollimalai hills.

Kollimalai, a hilly region, was ruled by the great king Valvil Ori, one of the seven great philanthropists recorded in Tamil history. Known as Kurinji land in Tamil literature, Kollimalai is home to sages.

Locals believe that powerful deities including Lord Periyannan, Goddess Ettukai Durgai and Lord Arappaleeswarar dwell here.

Therefore, not many film shoots have been held in these parts.

A special attraction of the place is the 1,500-foot-long Aagaya Gangai waterfalls. The speciality of this waterfalls is that it is not visible from any part of the hills and can be seen only after climbing down 1,250 narrow steps.

In fact, the full view of the falls can be enjoyed only when one reaches the last step.

It is here that the unit of the film, which features Prabhu Deva and Mahima Nambiar in the lead, managed to shoot after getting necessary permissions.

Produced by K Murugan of MS Movies and directed by Pa Vijay, the film is a crime-horror-thriller.

Sources close to the unit say that to reach the shooting spot, the cast and the crew, comprising over 300 people, had to start at 5 a.m. They had to negotiate huge rocks, wind and rain, while carrying heavy technical equipment required for the shoot.

The unit managed to reach the waterfalls by around 11 a.m. after quite a bit of struggle. They eventually managed to complete the shoot successfully.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Global crypto exchange company CrossTower on Tuesday announced its partnership with the South Asian Engagement Forum to celebrate Diwali at the iconic World Trade Center in New York City.

For the first time in history, three-day Diwali celebrations will be held from November 2-4, showcasing a spectacular digital mural on the WTC podium and fireworks over the Hudson River.

"CrossTower is privileged to be a partner of the first ever All-American Diwali celebration, especially so soon after our expansion into India. Given that there are 2.7 million Indians in the US, this event combines the American tradition with the festival and has brought together two biggest democratic countries, the US and India, to celebrate one of the biggest festivals," said Kapil Rathi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of CrossTower, in a statement.

This event combines the American tradition of viewing fireworks over the Hudson River with the festival of lights.

A fireworks display will take place on the Hudson and be available via livestream on Diwali Eve on November 3 at 7.30 p.m. ET, to inspire Indian Americans to engage with their neighbours, colleagues, and friends from a variety of backgrounds in engaging conversations about Diwali.

"There is no better symbol of the triumph of resiliency than the World Trade Center and we are very fortunate to be able to bring this message to all,"said Rahul Walia, Indian American founding trustee of the South Asian Engagement Foundation.

Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2021
Mumbai, Nov. Nov 2 : Nearly 12 hours after arresting Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced him before a Special Court even as the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi slammed the agency, while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) warned of "more" action.

Deshmukh, 72, who had been incommunicado for nearly two months, 'voluntarily' appeared along with his lawyer, before the ED offices on Monday morning, and after a 13-hour grilling, was placed under arrest at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, shocking state political circles.

The MVA allies Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress have castigated the ED and termed it as a "politically motivated move" aimed to destabilise the three-party government.

They also questioned the Centre on the whereabouts of the 'missing' former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh who hurled the allegations against Deshmukh in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in March.

"The arrest does not fit within the legal framework, Deshmukh is already fighting a legal battle the outcome of which is awaited. The arrest is unfortunate," said the Sena's Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

"This action is clearly with political intentions to malign the MVA government Central agencies like ED, IT, NCB, CBI are misused to target the government and a repeat of West Bengal is being attempted here. But we are not scared," said NCP National Spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik.

He questioned if even Singh, like many others in the past, was given a "safe passage", whether he took the air route, or sea route or the land route to Nepal from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh or Bihar as all the three states are BJP-ruled.

Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant termed it as "a travesty of justice as the complainant who levelled the allegations without giving any evidence is himself absconding or allowed to flee the country".

"The Preliminary Enquiry of the CBI gave a clean chit to Deshmukh. His real crime was as home minister, he took certain steps which the BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not like, including the Mohan Delkar suicide case or the Arnab Goswami matter," Sawant said.

However, the BJP leaders have welcomed the action against Deshmukh and warned that the next target would be Sena Minister Anil Parab, with many more to follow soon.

Meanwhile, the ED is likely to seek a seven-day remand for Deshmukh, who has been arrested on alleged charges of collecting Rs 100 crore from Mumbai hoteliers and money-laundering.
Hyderabad, Nov 2 : Sai Dharam Tej's recent political drama titled 'Republic' was released at the theatres, opening to rather poor collections. Despite the underwhelming performance, the movie had received critical acclaim from noted politicians from the two Telugu states.

'Republic' is now set to land on OTT. The film is to premiere on ZEE5 on November 26. ZEE5 had bagged the digital rights of 'Republic' ahead of its theatrical release, as the makers were ambiguous about the theatrical release.

The political drama is directed by Deva Katta, who is well-known for his portrayal of social issues. Aishwarya Rajesh appeared as the female lead in this movie. Actress Ramya Krishnan and others had appeared in pivotal roles as well.

Sai Dharam Tej is currently recovering from injuries caused by an accident, which landed him in hospital for more than a month. 'Republic' was released when Sai Dharam Tej was still in hospital.

Sai Dharam Tej's previous movie 'Solo Brathuke So Betteru' had an OTT release on ZEE5 as well.
Addis Ababa, Nov 2 : The Ethiopian federal government has claimed that more than 100 residents were killed by rebel forces in a key town in Amhara regional state.

"The terrorist group, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), has summarily executed more than 100 youth residents of Kombolcha in areas it has infiltrated," the Ethiopian Government Communications Service said, as it called on the international community not to turn a blind eye to such atrocities.

In a statement, government spokesperson Legesse Tulu said that the atrocities perpetrated by forces loyal to the TPLF over the night particularly targeted youth in Kombolcha.

Kombolcha is a key industrial town in the Amhara region, bordering the conflict-hit Tigray.

The Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, the lower house of Parliament, had previously designated the TPLF as a terrorist organisation.

The government had previously expressed its concern over lack of response from the international community in condemning the perpetuated atrocities of the TPLF.

Since November 4, 2020, the Ethiopian government has been undertaking military operations against the TPLF.

The government had previously assigned an interim administration in Tigray after the ouster of the TPLF, which used to rule the region.

However, the government in late June announced a unilateral ceasefire in the country's conflict-affected northernmost Tigray regional state.

Forces loyal to the TPLF soon took control of much of the area in the region, including the regional capital.

The conflict has since then expanded to the Amhara and Afar regions, neighbouring Tigray.

Amid intensifying conflict over northern parts of the East African country, Prime Minister Abiy ahmed had on Sunday called on all able Ethiopians to participate in the ongoing fighting against the rebel group.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Chinese smartphones and electronics giant, Xiaomi plans to manufacture phones in Pakistan, its local partner, Air Link Communication Limited, revealed in a material disclosure statement filed in the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Geo News reported.

"Xiaomi, the global consumer electronics & smartphone giant, has joined hands with Select Technologies (Pvt) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Link Communication Limited, as its manufacturing partner for Xiaomi mobile phones in Pakistan," reads the statement.

Last month, Air Link had announced that it will incorporate a wholly-owned subsidiary "Select Technologies (Pvt) Limited".

"The primary objective of this wholly-owned subsidiary would be to take on additional mobile device manufacturing of certain selected brand(s)," Air Link had stated.

Air Link said that it is initially targeting the production of an estimated 2.5-3 million handsets annually, which "will have a material incremental impact on the earnings per share of the company other than the normal course of business".

The manufacturing of these smartphones will approximately contribute $450 million annually to revenue, the company projects.

"The production facility will be located adjacent to Air Link's existing state-of-the-art mobile manufacturing facility at the Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat Lahore," read the statement.

The production facility is expected to be operational within January 2022.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Guyana on Tuesday recognised Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, India's first indigenous vaccine against Covid-19.

Hailing the decision, the Indian High Commission in Guyana said that it is an important step forward in the post Covid partnership between both the countries.

On Monday, Australia also recognised Covaxin for allowing entry of travellers who had received the vaccine and five other countries also recognised the Indian vaccine certificate.

In a tweet, the High Commission of India in Guyana said, "Guyana has recognised India's indigenous vaccine Covaxin -important step forward in the post-COVID partnership between India and Guyana.

"Now, all passengers aged 18 years and above travelling to Guyana must be vaccinated against Covid-19 before arrival. Passengers are required to present their vaccination card bearing their name of vaccine, date vaccine was inoculated and batch from an accredited facility." On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that five more countries -- Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia -- have recognised India's vaccination certificate.

In a tweet in the evening, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates continues! Five more recognitions for India's vaccination certificate, including from Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia." "Australia had recognised Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for allowing entry of travellers who had received the vaccine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Australian drug regulator, announced that it has recognised two more Covid-19 vaccines not registered in Australia but used widely internationally, which includes Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China).

The TGA stated that with the recognition of Covaxin, and BBIBP-CorV, along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), many citizens of India and China as well as other countries in the region where these vaccines have been widely deployed will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia.

The TGA stated that it will facilitate the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, Nov 2 : In a respite to the Karnataka government which has eased restrictions after a decline in the number of cases, Bengaluru has not recorded any Covid fatality in the past 70 days, according to the health department.

The last Covid death that Bengaluru had recorded was on August 23. According to statistics released on Monday, only two fatalities were recorded across the state.

Following the trend, the government is all set to lift nightlife curbs in Bengaluru and other cities. The Covid Technical Advisory Committee has already recommended easing curbs on nightlife, according to sources.

The state reported 185 Covid positive cases with Bengaluru accounting for 95 cases. The state's positivity rate stood at 0.3 per cent.

According to experts, vaccination coverage in the state, especially in Bengaluru, contributed to the reduction in Covid fatalities and positivity rate.

Karnataka has so far administered 4.2 crore first doses of Covid vaccination and 2.3 crore second doses.

According to sources, the Covid Technical Advisory Committee has recommended the lifting of the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. night curfew.

The state government has removed all major restrictions barring movement of people from Kerala. The committee has also considered the possibility of spread of the new variant virus AY 4.2.

The night curfew was clamped from April 10 during the tenure of former Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa at the peak of the second wave. The government is likely to lift the restrictions on night life after Diwali celebrations.

However, a final call will be taken after the festival ends and the impact of the gathering of lakhs of people without following Covid norms of social distancing and wearing of masks for Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar' funeral, who died due to cardiac arrest, is known in another two weeks, experts opine.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, condemning the DMK-led government for releasing water from the Mullaperiyar dam before the water level touched the 140 feet mark, said that his party the AIADMK would soon stage demonstrations across five southern districts of the state.

In a statement on Monday, Panneerselvam said: "We will conduct demonstrations across five districts of south Tamil Nadu soon. Former Chief Minister, late J. Jayalalithaa, had fought a long legal battle in courts to raise the water level in Mullaperiyar dam from 136 feet to 142 feet." Rallies will be held at Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Madurai and Theni districts of the state as farmers in these areas are totally dependent on the water from the Mullaperiyar dam for farming.

Panneerselvam has taken up the Mullaperiyar issue as he is trying to re-establish his supremacy among the Thevars, a community predominant in South Tamil Nadu and it is a hot subject affecting entire the southern belt of the state.

At Theni, the farmers' organisations under the collective of Vaigai Dam Irrigation Farmers Association have already started protesting against the DMK government. The organisation leaders met the district collector K.V. Muraleedharan on Monday and petitioned him not to allow the Kerala leaders in the Mullaperiyar dam premises.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, Nov 2 : Director Sundar C's horror-comedy 'Aranmanai 3', which is running in theatres across the state, will release on OTT platform ZEE5 Tamil on November 12.

Actor Arya, who plays the lead in the film along with Raashi Khanna and Andrea Jeremiah, posted a video clip on Twitter confirming the news.

The third part of the immensely popular and hugely successful 'Aranmanai' franchise released in theatres on October 14.

While the earlier two parts of the 'Aranmanai' franchise were shot on sets erected for the purpose, this part was shot in a real palace in Gujarat called the Wankaner Palace, where the entire crew stayed for a period of 40 days.

The film, presented by Udhayanidhi Stalin on behalf of Red Giant Films and produced by Khushbu Sundar on behalf of Avni Cinemax, features a big star cast including the late actor Vivekh and popular comedian Yogi Babu.

Music for the film is by Sathya and cinematography is by U.K. Senthil Kumar.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, Nov 2 : The BJP maintained its lead over the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the by-elections to the Huzurabad Assembly seat on Tuesday.

Eatala Rajender of the BJP was leading by 3,270 votes against his nearest rival G. Srinivas Yadav of the TRS at the end of the eighth round of counting.

Rajender, whose resignation caused the bypoll, secured a total of 35,107 votes after completion of eight rounds, while Yadav had polled 31,837 votes. Venkat Balmoor of the Congress party was a distant third.

For the first time since the beginning of counting in the morning, the TRS candidate took the lead in the eighth round. In this round the BJP polled 4,089 votes while the TRS garnered 4,248 votes.

However, the BJP's overall lead continued.

With 14 more rounds to go for counting, a close finish is likely in the bitterly contested bypoll.

Rajender, who took a lead of 166 votes in the first round, increased it in the subsequent rounds but Yadav put on the brakes in the eighth round.

Out of 2,36,837 voters, 2,05,053 had cast their votes in the by-election held on Saturday.

The counting began at 8 a.m. at SRR College in Huzurabad amid tight security arrangements.

The postal ballots were counted first. The TRS secured 503 postal votes against 159 by the BJP and 32 by the Congress. Another 14 postal votes were declared invalid.

The Election Commission has prohibited any victory procession after the counting. According to the orders issued by the CEO, not more than two persons will be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his representative while receiving the certificate of election from the Returning Officer.

A total of 30 candidates were in the fray for the bye-election, caused by the resignation of Eatala Rajender after he was dropped from the cabinet by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao following allegations of land grabbing.

Rajender, who had been representing the Huzurabad seat since 2009, contested as a BJP candidate.
Chennai, Nov 2 : A woman head constable who was posted outside the Secretariat in Chennai was crushed to death on Tuesday after a tree fell on her. A male head constable who was standing beside her escaped with minor injuries.

Condoling the death of constable Kavitha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to her family.

The police said that the huge tree got uprooted at 9.15 a.m. on Tuesday and Kavitha was crushed to death under it. Half a dozen police personnel who were on duty there managed to run away while constable Murugan suffered minor injuries.

Kavitha is survived by her husband who works with the Southern Railway and family who live in Tondiarpet railway quarters. She has three children. While her eldest is in college, the other two go to school.

According to police, due to incessant rain the Secretariat was deserted as otherwise more than 100 people would have been present to submit their grievances.
Sanaa, Nov 2 : A total of 25 people was killed in a missile attack by the Houthi militia against the strategic oil-rich Yemeni province of Marib, a military official said.

"The Houthis carried out a missile attack against an Islamic educational center and a mosque in Al Jubah district of Marib late on Sunday night, killing at least 25 people at the scene," the official told Xinhua news agency.

He said that the shelling injured more than 10 others, including children and students.

A religious educational centre and a mosque were partially damaged in the ballistic missile attack which caused a huge explosion in the area.

Earlier on Monday, Yemen's Minister Information Moammar al-Eryani confirmed in a brief statement posted on his Twitter account that "about 29 people were killed and injured by the Iranian-made ballistic missile attack".

However, there were no immediate reports commenting on the incident or claiming responsibility by the Iranian-backed Houthi group.

Last week, the Houthi group achieved on-ground military progress and managed to capture the centre of Al Jubah's district in the southern part of Marib, after days of deadly fighting with the Yemeni government forces.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia began in February a major offensive on Marib with an attempt to seize control of the oil-rich province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : A former employee of logistics company Aggarwal Packers and Movers Ltd has been arrested for allegedly creating a fake website of the company and cheating its customers, police said on Tuesday.

According to the cyber branch, "A case was registered after group president of Aggarwal Packers and Movers Ltd reported that some unknown person has created a fake website using the brand's name and was cheating his customers, who easily believed them to be the real company." During the investigation it was found that an ex-employee of the company named Deepak used to download the data of customers from the company's computer with the help of his Gmail ID.

"He used to send the data of the customers in excel form to his associate Ashish Singh. Deepak received a sum of Rs 18,000 every month from Ashish in his Axis Bank Account in lieu of the transfer of data," Police said.

With the help of technical surveillance, Police apprehended co-accused Ashish Singh (35) from his village, who during interrogation, confessed to his involvement in the case.

"The accused Ashish used to receive data of customers from accused Deepak Goel on his e-mail and WhatsApp and transferred the said data to co-accused Suresh. Co-accused Suresh used to sell the said data to either some rival company or to fraudsters and eventually accused Ashish used to receive a sum of Rs 3,000 for each customer data via bank transfer. Accused Ashish after keeping a fixed commission, used to send money to Deepak Goel," the police added.

One i-Phone 7 used in the offence has been recovered from Ashish's possession. He has been arrested under appropriate sections of the law.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Facebook's parent company Meta has allowed the Kazakhstan government direct access to its content reporting system, as the social network faces larger scrutiny after revelations by whistleblower Frances Haugen.

Kazakhstan is the first country in Central Asia to have access to the system and already be onboarded for the direct channel to contact Facebook's global operation teams.

"W are delighted to provide the 'Content Reporting System' to the Government of Kazakhstan, which we hope can help the government to deal with harmful content in a more efficient and effective manner," said Facebook's Regional Public Policy Director, George Chen.

In a statement, the government expressed confidence that the use of the "Content Reporting System" will increase the efficiency and overall effectiveness of the work carried out to counter the spread of illegal content on the Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Facebook continues to battle serious allegations led by whistleblower Haugen and others over users' data privacy and presence of misinformation on its platforms.

Haugen, a former product manager in Facebook's civic integrity group, has testified before the US Congress about a trove of internal documents she gave to The Wall Street Journal.

One of her main arguments was that Facebook's business of selling ads based on engagement leads it to keep users on the service at all costs, even when it knows that the content they are engaging with is harmful.

A former member of Facebook's Integrity team has also alleged that "the company prizes growth and profits over combating hate speech, misinformation and other threats to the public", The Washington Post reported.

According to a copy of the affidavit obtained by The Post, the allegations echoed many of those made by the first whistleblower Haugen.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Defence Ministry on Tuesday approved proposals worth Rs 7,965 crore for modernisation of the Armed Forces under 'Make in India'.

The Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals for modernisation and operational needs of the Armed Forces amounting to Rs 7,965 crore.

"All of these proposals (100 per cent) are under 'Make in India' with focus on design, development and manufacturing in India," Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Key approvals of procurement from domestic sources include twelve Light Utility Helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL); Lynx U2 Fire Control System from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) which will enhance the detection tracking and engagement capabilities of Naval war ships and Mid Life Upgradation of the Dornier Aircraft from HAL to increase the Naval capacity of maritime reconnaissance and coastal surveillance.

As a further impetus to 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', a global procurement case of Naval guns has been foreclosed with these guns' quantity added to the upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) being manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

These SRGMs provide niche capabilities of engaging fast manoeuvring targets using guided munitions and range extensions and are to be fitted on the warships of the Indian Navy.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Canberra, Nov 2 : People in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), finally released from their Covid-19 lockdowns, are digging deep into their wallets as they return to retail shops and restaurants, according to latest figures from the country's biggest bank.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia's (CBA) data released on Tuesday showed that in the week ending October 29, national consumer spending had tracked 20 per cent higher than the corresponding week of 2019, which was prior to the start of the pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

CBA economists said if the trend continued, the national spending would reach the growth levels seen earlier in 2021, which averaged at 22 per cent above 2019 figures in late April and early May.

"We are seeing the economic engine rev higher again as people get out and about, catching up on lost time with friends and family," said CBA chief economist Stephen Halmarick.

Last week, spending in NSW, which began to emerge from its lockdown in mid-October, was 23.3 per cent higher than the corresponding week in 2019. Among the sectors doing brisk business were restaurants and pubs, and transportation was also popular.

Meanwhile, Victoria, which lifted many of its lockdown restrictions last week, saw spending rise 1.2 percentage points above the prior week, equating to a 10 per cent increase on the same week in 2019.

The Victorians were also keen to return to restaurants, with spending up 20 percentage points from the week earlier, while drinking out surged 30 percentage points. Overall, the state contributed just under half of the national increase in spending in the week.

"Victorian retailers welcomed back shoppers this weekend, and we anticipate that will translate into stronger spending on clothing, footwear and general retail in next week's report as it had done in NSW as its lockdown ended," Halmarick said.

Excluding Victoria, spending across all states and territories now sits at 20 per cent or more above 2019 levels.

Economists, however, noted that some retail categories that benefitted from a post-lockdown surge were showing signs of softening.

This includes personal care spending, which eased a little last week but remain above pre-lockdown pace.

"If you missed a haircut during lockdown, you don't catch up by having two," Halmarick said.
Kochi, Nov 2 : The Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted bail to prime accused Swapna Suresh in the Kerala gold smuggling case, after almost 16 months.

The bail came in the case registered against her by the National Investigation Agency and since she had secured bail in other cases, she can now walk free.

Meanwhile, since she has to execute few bonds and sureties in this case and a few other cases, it's unlikely that she will be able to come out of the jail, later in the day.

Her counsel pointed out that the court has given her a clean chit in the terror angle in the NIA case.

The smuggling case came to light on July 5, 2020, when the Customs arrested Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, for allegedly smuggling gold in a diplomatic baggage destined for the Consulate.

Swapna Suresh, who previously worked in the UAE Consulate, and her associate Sandip Nair, were arrested in the case by the NIA from Bengaluru a few days later.

When strict restrictions were imposed on travel last year to check the spread of the coronavirus, both Swapna Suresh and Nair managed to drive from here to Bengaluru from where they were arrested by an NIA team a few days later.

Eyebrows were raised at that time on how they managed inter-state travel.

Meanwhile, Swapna's mother expressed happiness that her daughter finally has got bail.

"At this moment, all I wish to say is to say thank all who supported us and also to those who made fun of us. Every week I used to visit her in the jail and I used to return heartbroken. As a mother, what I will say is my daughter is innocent and she will prove her innocence. She used to say that she was trapped, but never said who were those people, who trapped her. However once she comes out, I myself will bring her before the media," said her mother.
Washington, Nov 2 : NASA has delayed the upcoming launch of the agency's SpaceX Crew-3 mission due to a minor medical issue involving one of its crew members.

The space agency is now looking for potential launch opportunities "at the end of the week"... "the earliest possible opportunity for launch is 11:36 p.m. EDT Saturday, November 6", NASA said in a statement.

The Crew-3 launch to the International Space Station was earlier planned for October 31 but was postponed, due to unfavourable weather, to November 3.

Even as the teams will continue to monitor crew health, Crew-3 astronauts will remain in quarantine at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

However, the space agency clarified that the medical "issue is not a medical emergency and not related to Covid-19".

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket are in good shape and will remain at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.

The Crew-3 flight will carry NASA astronauts Raja Chari, mission commander; Tom Marshburn, pilot; and Kayla Barron, mission specialist; as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who will serve as a mission specialist, to the space station for a six-month science mission, staying aboard until late April 2022.

This is the third crew rotation mission with astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and the fourth flight with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight, as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Programme.

Aboard Dragon with the crew will be more than 400 pounds of supplies and hardware, including over 150 pounds of which they will use to conduct experiments aboard the space station. Here is some of the research riding with them into low-Earth orbit.

In addition to the experiments flying with them aboard Dragon, the Crew-3 astronauts are also scheduled to conduct many additional experiments and technology demonstrations during their mission.

Crew-3 is crucial for the testing of new upgrades to the space station's Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), including the newly installed toilet, the Brine Processing Assembly, carbon dioxide scrubbers, and two new hydrogen sensors slated to arrive aboard a SpaceX Cargo Dragon in late December.
Manila, Nov 2 : The Philippines is preparing to welcome back foreign travellers to its pristine beaches and innovated "new normal" tourist attractions as the country's Covid-19 cases are on a decline and vaccination drive is ongoing.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently unveiled its "More Fun Awaits" campaign which highlights new tourism products and packages, aiming to sustain the presence of the Philippines as a tourist destination amidst the pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

Like other countries, the Philippines closed its borders to foreign tourists when the deadly coronavirus started to spread early last year.

Except for select foreign nationals granted special visas, the Philippines still bars foreign tourists as part of the border measures to curb the transmission.

With most of the tourism workers inoculated, the Philippines now looks forward to being open to international visitors once again, vowing it is "more than ready to provide visitors a safe and pleasant experience".

According to the DOT's plan, fully vaccinated tourists will be welcome and whisked straight to the tourist destinations without the need for hotel quarantine.

"That is why we prioritized the vaccinations of tourism workers so we can start accepting domestic tourists and eventually foreign tourists," Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat told a recent radio interview.

For instance, in the world-famous Boracay island in the central Philippines, she said 91.09 per cent of tourism workers and 62.78 percent of the island residents had been fully vaccinated so far.

Famous for powdery white sand, shallow azure water, and spectacular sunsets, Boracay is a favourite destination for international tourists.

"Our vaccination rollouts are crucial in protecting our tourism workers as they face visitors every day," Puyat said, hoping that the island will inoculate its target population by November.

"With 100 percent of tourism workers in Boracay inoculated, the DOT is confident that in the weeks to come, tourism arrivals on the island will further increase, and more tourism establishments will be able to reopen to restore jobs," Puyat said.

Aside from the sun and beach tourist destinations that the country is well-known for, the DOT also spotlights new and enhanced bike tours, dive circuits, farm and food tourism circuits, hiking and trekking, and outdoor museums through historical and cultural tours, among others. These activities cater to tourists' "new normal" preference for outdoor activities and well-ventilated areas.

Puyat said the DOT will continue innovating and developing destinations to ensure safe, fun, and sustainable tourism for local and foreign tourists.

As a key economic driver, the tourism industry's contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 12.7 per cent in 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, The Covid-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the tourism sector, slashing foreign arrivals and displacing service workers.

The country received 8.26 million foreign tourists in 2019, while in 2020 only over 1.3 million foreign tourists visited the country due to the hard lockdown imposed in March that year.

The PSA said the number of people working in the tourism industry dropped to 4.68 million in 2020 from 5.72 million in 2019. The share of tourism in the GDP also decreased to 5.4 per cent in 2020.

The Philippine government has eased domestic travel restrictions as the country continues to report a dip in new Covid-19 cases after emerging from the third wave of infections that peaked in September.

As of Tuesday, the Philippines reported a total of nearly 2.8 million confirmed cases.

According to government data, at least 26.8 million of the country's 77 million target population received two vaccine doses. In the capital region Metro Manila, home to over 13 million people, at least 8.5 million have been fully vaccinated.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Nov 2 : A man in China was reportedly detained for nine days after sending a meme to a group chat that was deemed offensive to police in an incident that has gone viral on Chinese social media, CNN reported.

The man, identified only by his surname Li, allegedly sent the meme on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, in a group exchange complaining about the local Covid-19 prevention and control measures late last month, according to authorities and state media, the report said.

Police in Qingtongxia city, in Ningxia region, posted a screenshot of Li's text exchange on Chinese social media, but later removed the post.

State-run outlet The Paper published further details of the incident that has provoked consternation in China, with a related hashtag garnering 170 million views.

Many protested Li's punishment, arguing that use of an internet joke was hardly grounds for being detained by police, the CNN report said.

According to The Paper, Li sent a meme showing a dog in a police hat, holding a police badge and pointing at the camera. It's a common image that has been used widely online before, with different variations sometimes including a cat or cartoon character in the police hat.

On October 30, local police received a tip from a member of the public, alleging that Li had sent an image "insulting the image of police", according to The Paper.
Gandhinagar, Nov 2 : Shiv Sena candidate Kalavati Delkar was ahead in the race for the Lok Sabha seat of Dadra Nagar Haveli with a lead of 42,342 votes.

The counting began at 8 a.m in the constituency, part of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, a reserved seat for ST candidates where an overwhelming 75.91 polling was recorded on Saturday.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Mohan Delkar, the Independent MP from the constituency, in February.

Kalavati Delkar, the widow of the late Mohan Delkar, was seen leading the race with 42,342 votes after the twentieth round of counting.

The contest for the seat is three-pronged with the Shiv Sena fielding Kalavati Delkar, the BJP giving the ticket to Mahesh Gavit, who is fighting his first major election after his stint as a district panchayat councillor and Mahesh Dhodi from the Congress.

The constituency has a total of 2.58 lakh voters, including 1.22 lakh female voters. Even though the Shiv Sena and the Congress are constituents of the MVA government in Maharashtra, they contested against each other in Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The Shiv Sena had sent Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut to campaign for Kalavati Delkar.
San Francisco, Nov 2 : Facebook-owned WhatsApp for iOS is rolling out a new beta version of its app. With this update, users can get a new interface to watch videos from Instagram, YouTube and other sites within the app.

As reported by WABetaInfo, version 2.21.220.15 of the app brings a new interface for picture-in-picture (PiP) video reproduction, implementing a new control bar.

According to the publication, "it allows moving the picture-in-picture view easily, and it also implements some shortcuts, like the possibility to end the video and to show it in full-screen mode".

Citing WABetainfo, 9To5Mac notes that only a few iOS beta testers will be able to take advantage of this new control bar, as WhatsApp is slowly rolling out this feature over new versions of the app.

The blog also points out that "some iOS beta testers might notice a small change after playing a YouTube video within WhatsApp" as the app "immediately shows it in full-screen mode".

WAbetaInfo said this feature has also been rolled out for specific beta testers.

As per the report, in another beta version of WhatsApp, the company refreshed its branding for 'WhatsApp from Meta'.

Meta is the name of the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, among other apps.
Sydney, Nov 2 : The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday announced that many restrictions for fully inoculated people would end three weeks earlier than previously intended, in response to the faster-than-expected rate of vaccination.

Many of the changes scheduled for December 1, such as no limit on visitors to a home, no rules for outdoor gatherings with fewer than 1,000 people, and indoor swimming pools reopening for all purposes, will be brought forward to November 8, reports Xinhua news agency.

Businesses will be able to welcome in more fully vaccinated customers with all premises to move to one person per 2-square-metre rule, and nightclubs will be able to re-open dance floors.

The earlier ease of restrictions came as the state is steadily ramping up its fully vaccinated rate.

As of October 31, 87.8 per cent of NSW residents aged 16 have been fully vaccinated while 93.6 per cent received first doses. For residents aged 12 to 15, 62.3 per cent were fully vaccinated and 79.3 received first doses.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he still wanted to see the inoculation rate climb up to "around 95 per cent".

To achieve that goal the government is motivating unvaccinated people to roll up their sleeves for their two jabs.

Initially, the NSW government had said "freedoms" would be returned to unvaccinated people by December 1, but Perrottet said they would now have to wait until December 15 or whenever the vaccination rate reached 95 per cent.

"Our vaccination rates have been key and, ultimately, we want to get to a point where NSW is open and free and we believe the changes we have made today enable that to occur," he said.

Meanwhile, the daily figures of NSW continue to trend down from their peak in September, with 173 new cases and four deaths recorded on Tuesday.
Islamabad, Nov 2 : Four terrorists were killed in a clash with police in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.

The counter-terrorism department of police conducted the operation in Hangu district on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of some high-profile targets in a compound, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

During the operation, an exchange of fire broke out in which four terrorists were killed while four others escaped by taking advantage of the darkness.

Police seized arms and ammunition from the militants' hideout and kicked off a search operation for the fleeing terrorists.

The killed terrorists were involved in planning and executing attacks on polio eradication teams, kidnapping for ransom, street crimes and terrorist attacks on police and civilians, according to the statement.
Tokyo, Nov 2 : The leader of Japan's main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), Yukio Edano on Tuesday announced that he will resign from the post he has served in since the party was founded four years ago, due to its poor performance in the recent general elections.

"My inadequacy is the reason this happened," he said at a party meeting.

"I apologise from the bottom of my heart to all of the party executives, to all of our supporters across the country, and most of all to our colleagues who unfortunately were not elected." Under the leading of Edano, the CDPJ's presence shrank from 110 seats to 96 in the 465-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, reports Xinhua news agency.

A number of high-profile CDPJ candidates lost in their single-member districts, including heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa in Iwate Prefecture and deputy leader Kiyomi Tsujimoto in Osaka Prefecture, who failed to gain a seat even under proportional representation.

CDPJ had been expected to add its seats as it unified candidates with other opposition groups including the Japanese Communist Party (JCP).

Its major supporter Rengo, Japan's largest labour organisation, had been strongly opposed to cooperating with the JCP and said after the election that the CDPJ had "significant issues to resolve." "It is the CDPJ's responsibility to take the next step toward becoming an alternative choice for government. In order to do that, I decided we need to work toward next year's House of Councillors election and the next general election under a new leader," Edano said.

Edano said he will stay in office until the end of the special parliamentary session on Nov. 10 and that a leadership election will be held soon after.

CDPJ Secretary General Tetsuro Fukuyama has also expressed his intent to step down to be responsible for the election result.

"I'm filled with regret that we weren't able to welcome many of our colleagues back to parliament. My heart is set. We will announce a way forward for our party soon," Fukuyama tweeted on Monday.
Shimla, Nov 2 : In a major embarrassment for the state ruling BJP, the Congress on Tuesday won the Mandi Lok Sabha bypoll along with all three Assembly constituencies -- Arki, Fatehpur and Jubbal-Kotkhai -- in bypolls.

Congress candidate Pratibha Singh won the Mandi seat, a prestige for Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur as it falls in his home district, by defeating BJP's greenhorn Brigadier Khushal Thakur (retired), a decorated officer who played a crucial role in the 1999 Kargil war, by a slender margin of 8,766 votes.

The Congress candidates won Arki, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Fatehpur Assembly segments with comfortable margins.

Congress veteran and six-time Chief Minister late Virbhadra Singh's legacy was put to test against BJP's Chief Minister Thakur's credibility during the parliamentary bypoll of Mandi, one of country's toughest and sprawling constituencies.

Pratibha Singh, now a third-time MP from Mandi, is the wife of the late Virbhadra Singh.

The seat fell vacant with the death of two-time BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, who defeated Congress candidate Ashray Sharma, the grandson of former Telecommunications Minister Sukh Ram in his electoral debut, with a margin of 3.98 lakh votes in 2019.

Eyeing sympathy votes, Pratibha Singh, who was banking largely on her first-time legislator son Vikramaditya Singh for campaigning, sought votes on development carried out by her husband during his three stints as an MP from Mandi and six terms as the Chief Minister.

Pratibha Singh, who lost the Mandi seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, missed no opportunity to remind the electorates that the victory in Mandi by-election "will be a tribute to him (Virbhadra Singh)".

Her husband, Virbhadra Singh, who devoted over 50 years for the common people despite being born in royalty, had travelled across the state, both as an MP and the Chief Minister.

The veteran leader passed away on July 8 in Shimla at the age of 87, leaving behind a rich political legacy.

Her husband was elected from Mandi in 1971, 1980 and 2009. However, Virbhadra Singh lost the Mandi seat in 1977. At the time of his death, he was representing the Arki Assembly seat.

The Mandi constituency, which includes Kullu, Mandi and some areas of Chamba and Shimla districts, besides the tribal-dominated Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, is one of the biggest in the country.

In the assembly seats, the key contest was between Congress candidate Rohit Thakur and BJP rebel and Independent Chetan Bragta on the Jubbal-Kotkhai seat.

Bragta is the son of former horticulture minister Narendra Bragta, who passed away in June because of post-COVID complications. Thakur won the seat by a margin of nearly 6,000 votes.

Congress candidate Sanjay Awasthy won the Arki assembly seat by 3,277 votes, while in Fatehpur Congress candidate Bhawani Singh Pathania defeated his nearest rival Baldev Thakur of the BJP by 5,652 votes.

Elated over party's victory, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri told IANS that this poll was the semifinal ahead of the 2022 Assembly poll.

"The BJP has lost faith in the state owing to anti-people policies. It is a vote for change. We are going to make a comeback in the state in the next Assembly elections," he said.
Gandhinagar, Nov 2 : The tourists visiting the world's tallest statue, "Statue of Unity" can now experience the rich cultural history of Gujarat at Kevadiya railway station itself with the Indian Railways setting up an art gallery with a souvenir shop there.

The Western Railway has awarded the first of its kind contract in Indian Railways for development of the art gallery with a souvenir shop at Kevadiya station under the PPP initiative.

The art gallery will showcase different art and craft forms of Gujarat and India and will be developed and operated by a private party with earnings to Railways of Rs 24.7 lakhs and potential revenue of Rs 2.83 crore.

This concept will not only enhance the experience of people visiting Kevadiya, but the Railways claim to provide employment to the local tribal people of Narmada district by giving them an opportunity to promote their tribal art.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Amrullah Saleh, Vice President of the former Afghan government, has asked former President Ashraf Ghani to release the tapes of the peace process with Zalmay Khalilzad and other relevant foreign diplomats in particular of the past July and August, Khaama Press reported.

Saleh in a Twitter post said that Ghani must do it to counter the growing propaganda that accuses the Afghan side of the collapse of Afghanistan.

"I know these tapes exist and you have them. This is the time to release," Saleh said in a tweet.

This comes after Khalilzad, the former US special envoy to Afghanistan's reconciliation, and US secretary of state Antony Blinken accused Ghani to have been behind the collapse of the previous Afghan government.

Blinken in his latest interview with CBS said that he had talked with Ghani and he had endorsed to hand on the government to the Taliban but added that he fled Afghanistan the following day.

Ghani in his remarks after leaving Afghanistan had said that he escaped his country to prevent bloodshed and destruction of Kabul.
Kolkata, Nov 2 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday congratulated all the Trinamool Congress candidates for the landslide victory in the by-elections to the four Assembly seats in the state.

The party that has got more than 75 per cent of the polled votes registered a huge victory in all the four assembly constituencies. In two, the ruling party secured a victory margin of more than 1 lakh.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said: "My heartiest congratulations to all the four winning candidates.... This victory is people's victory, as it shows how Bengal will always choose development and unity over propaganda and hate politics. With people's blessings, we promise to continue taking Bengal to greater heights." Of the four candidates, Udayan Guha who contested from Dinhata in Cooch Behar won with the highest margin of 1,64,089 votes against Ashoke Mondal of the BJP.

Guha had lost to the BJP's Nishit Adhikari by a margin of only 57 votes in the recently concluded assembly polls. Adhikari wanted to continue as an MP and decided to resign and that led to the election. The Trinamool Congress was able to wrest the seat from the BJP in just six months.

The Trinamool Congress candidate from Gosaba in South 24 Parganas also registered a win with a margin of more than one lakh votes.

Mondal who was pitted against the BJP's Palash Rana defeated his rival by a margin of 1,43,051 votes. Though Gosaba was a winning seat for the Trinamool Congress, the ruling party managed to increase the margin. Trinamool Congress candidate Jayanata Naskar who won by a margin of a little less than 20000 votes in the last assembly polls died just after the announcement of the result.

The ruling party also won the Khardha seat in North 24 Parganas and was successful in bringing back Sovondeb Chattopadhyay to the assembly. Chattopadhyay who had earlier won from Bhabanipur assembly constituency had resigned to make way for chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Chattopadhyay won by a margin of 93832 votes defeating the BJP's Joy Saha.

Though the result of Santipur in Nadia assembly constituency is yet to be announced, but according to the latest information available Trinamool Congress candidate Brojokishore Goswamy is leading over his nearest rival Niranjan Biswas of the BJP by a margin of 64,022 votes.

According to Election Commission data, the ruling Trinamool Congress got 76.5 per cent of the total polled votes whereas the BJP, the second largest party in the state, managed to get only 14.5 per cent of the votes.

"The people of the state have given the mandate very clearly and loudly. It is clear that the people are against separatist and fundamentalist forces working in the state and they have no place in the state's politics," a senior cabinet minister said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Jammu, Nov 2 : As the anti-terror operation continued for the last three weeks in J&K's Poonch district, security forces on Tuesday said they have arrested a villager who is the militant operator in the area.

As the Poonch anti-terror operation continued for the 23rd day on Tuesday, security forces said they have arrested a villager in Bhatta Durrian area who is a militant operator.

Police sources said cordon has been lifted, but the combing operation is still underway and efforts are on to track down the militants.

"After investigation it came to light that the under trial terrorist, Zia Mustafa, who was killed during this operation when the security forces took him to identify a hideout, was in touch with a militant operator from Bhatta Durrian village.

"He has been arrested and has been identified as Muhammad Yasir.

"Yasir is being questioned and there are chances that joint forces may get some leads during his questioning", sources said.

Nine army soldiers including two JCOs were killed and three others, an army soldier and two policemen were injured during this operation.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 2 : For a lay person, More in Manipur, Fazilka in Punjab and Mumbai in Maharashtra are just three places on the international borders. But for those in the drug cartels or even the peddlers, these three are intricately linked.

If the officials are to be believed, India was, till about a decade ago, a link for the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle, which are major opium producing regions in the world. Golden Triangle is a term used for the tri-junction area of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand while the Golden Crescent includes Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mumbai's unique location - a sea port with easy access for seafarers from Pakistan and Afghanistan - has made it a transit hub for retail and distribution networks for all kinds of narcotics. Mumbai is also home to all things Bollywood and the underworld, the two of which are inter-twined and feed on each other. Experts now said it is not just trade but over the last two decades, Mumbai has emerged as a major consumption hub too.

Even when large quantities of drugs are being consumed in Mumbai by a variety of sections of the society, in recent decades, the consumer is the most affluent section, officials said. This was evident when names of many Bollywood actresses surfaced as alleged drug consumers.

Especially after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, the drug cartels and Bollywood connection was a hotly debated topic. Many celebrities, including film stars, were arrested or questioned for their association with drugs and its suppliers. However, be it those cases in 2020 or the latest Aryan Khan case, there has been either no recovery or the amount seized has been insignificant.

"Bollywood runs on the black money coming from off-shore accounts and those may be linked with drug lords too. The law enforcement agencies should be proactive and take actions against them," former DGP of Border Security Force (BSF) Prakash Singh said.

Bollywood or not, but the fact remains that Mumbai is consuming a lot more drugs. According to a source in the agency in Mumbai, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) consumes an average 500 kgs of marijuana every month that generates a business worth Rs 500 crore a month for the drug mafias.

The cases made by the multiple agencies under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act (NDPS Act) - as recorded by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) - are proof enough.

In 2020, Uttar Pradesh had reported 10,852 NDPS cases, followed by Punjab with 6,909 cases, Tamil Nadu with 5,403 cases, Kerala reported 4,968 cases and Maharashtra registered 4,714 cases under the NDPS Act.

Although for the year 2020, it was Uttar Pradesh that topped the list in registering maximum cases under NDPS Act, followed by Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra, NCRB data for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 shows that it was Maharashtra that topped in cases followed by Punjab.

Further, when it came to city-specific data, it was the financial capital that reported the largest number of cases among 19 metropolitan cities under the NDPS Act. Mumbai reported 3,509 cases, followed by Bengaluru at 2,766 cases and Indore at 998 cases.

Earlier in September, the Mumbai branch of the Narcotics Control Bureau had seized drugs worth Rs 150 crore and arrested over 300 peddlers, including 34 Nigerian nationals. "Many types of drugs, including 30 kg of charas, 12 kg of heroin, two kg of cocaine, 350 kg of ganja, 25 kg of mephedrone were confiscated in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and other areas in Maharashtra," an officer from the NCB said, adding that 114 cases were registered under the NDPS Act.

Despite these regular cases, there are gaps within the functioning of agencies.

"For instance, after the recent large haul from the Mundra port, all that we heard from NCB was the small recoveries from Bollywood, but we have not heard anything significant on Mundra," Singh said, adding, "This was the largest recovery that has taken place in India in the last 10 years. We know who has sent that consignment but it is not yet clear, who the recipient was? NCB has a lot of explaining to do." But it is not just the coastal areas - such as the Mundra Port - that are a cause of worry. The large international borders with Pakistan on the west and Myanmar on the east too are trouble spots for the agencies. Strengthening the system will also mean plugging the porous border; the Manipur border offers the best example for it.

For the entire Manipur-Myanmar border, people from both sides can travel up to 16 km inside and are allowed to carry head loads. "They mostly bring items of daily use but it is where the drugs also finds its way across the border," he said and rued, the many check posts along the border have failed to detect the contraband transit. "We cannot rule out the connivance of personnel posted there." He also offered a piece of advice to the NCB team. Play less to the glamour quotient and act against real culprits.

But again, the real culprits in the whole trade can be traced back to Afghanistan. It is the hub, the biggest source of drugs and revenue. "Its unbridled production and unregulated supplies have become a major menace for the world as it is affecting the youth and also supporting narco-terrorism making the fight against extremism and terrorism even more challenging. It is important to beef up internal security mechanisms as well as international collaboration through intelligence exchange," former diplomat Anil Trigunayat said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, Nov 2 : Samsung is expected to reveal three Galaxy S22 flagship models in February next year and now a former Samsung employee has released the design of the unreleased Galaxy S22 as well as S22 Plus smartphones.

According to PhoneArena, unlike the Galaxy S21 series, where all three models shared a similar camera island on the back, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus will not adopt the same drop-like camera design as the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

There should not be any difference between the two regular models except the size itself. The screens of the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus could be slightly shorter and wider compared to the last generation.

In terms of specifications, the upcoming series may feature a new 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom capabilities as opposed to a high-resolution sensor with poor optical zoom.

Samsung is planning to take a different approach on the Galaxy S22/S22+ models. The Galaxy S22 series smartphones will have a 10MP telephoto lens that supports 3x optical zoom rather than the hybrid zoom of the Galaxy S20/S21 era.

Previous rumours suggested that the Galaxy S22 Ultra is expected to continue the dual 10-megapixel telephoto camera setup on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. One of the lenses will be a periscope lens that will offer 10x optical zoom.

Galaxy S22+ is expected to be equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery. In terms of software, Galaxy S22 will be pre-installed with OneUI 4.x based on Android 12.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : As delegates gathered in Glasgow for the second day of COP26 on Tuesday, real economy leaders join heads on stage to launch new partnerships that will catalyze finance and climate solutions in Africa and Small Island Developing States, and help half a billion farmers to implement regenerative farming practices this decade.

The cluster of new public-private partnerships, which unite captains of industry, finance and philanthropy with leading voices from civil society, such as Xiye Bastida and Selina Leem, address acute climate vulnerabilities countries face while accelerating rates of decarbonisation and resilience building.

The mobilization of action and scaling-up of finance for these geographies is critical to advancing the climate action agenda.

This climate action agenda will be at the centre of COP26 and is led by two UN High-Level Climate Champions -- Nigel Topping and Gonzalo MuAoz -- to drive breakthroughs across regions and sectors to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience of 4bn people to the impacts of climate change.

As well as the new partnerships, the Champions also announce the latest members of their Race to Zero campaign, which now counts 5,235 businesses, 67 regions, 441 financial institutions, 1,039 educational institutions and 52 healthcare institutions -- all committed to contributing their fair share of halving global emissions by 2030.

Of particular note, Mayor Eric Garcetti (C40 Chair) reports that 1,049 cities have joined the campaign under 'Cities Race to Zero'.

Gonzalo MuAoz said: "This is the decisive decade -- the decade to deliver on the promise of Paris and the prospect of a better, safer, fairer, healthier future for everyone." Nigel Topping said: "To keep 1.5 degrees alive, we must cut global emissions five times faster than we have over the last decade, which requires transformative action that simultaneously builds resilience, and puts the most vulnerable communities at the heart of the conversation." The first partnership is the Africa Green Finance Coalition (AGFC) -- a continent-wide collaboration -- to spur the trillions of green investment needed to transform Africa's economy by accelerating green finance policy and regulatory reform to attract private capital at scale, both from international and domestic investors.

Secondly, Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, announced a multi-jurisdictional and multi-asset financing facility to scale public and private finance for climate solutions and resilient infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean.

This financing facility aims to invest in approximately 800 megawatts of new wind, solar and EV charging infrastructure projects in Caribbean Small Island Developing States.

This initiative, which will invest in shovel-ready projects, has the potential to generate game-changing impact towards accelerating clean energy transition and deployment in the region.

The third and final partnership is Regen10, a bold new platform to achieve regenerative food systems this decade across 50 per cent of world food production.

Regen10 will work with over 500 million farmers to apply regenerative production methods, while simultaneously ensuring roughly $60bn per year is deployed to finance the transition to reverse nature loss in line with the Paris Agreement.

These initiatives kick-off a full programme of thematic events at COP26 -- convened High-Level Climate Champions -- starting with Finance Day on November 3 and concluding with Cities, Regions and the Built Environment next week on November 11.
Hyderabad, Nov 2 : The BJP was racing ahead in by-elections to the Huzurabad Assembly seat as its candidate and former minister Eatala Rajender increased his lead to over 11,000 votes.

At the end of 15th round, he was leading by 11,583 votes of his nearest rival G. Srinivas Yadav of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Rajender, whose resignation caused the bypoll, secured a total of 68,486 votes after completion of 15 rounds while Yadav had polled 57,0003 votes. Venkat Balmoor of the Congress party was a distant third with 2,131 votes.

The former minister, who was leading from the first round, increased his lead with every round. Barring eighth and 11th round when TRS nominee took the lead, it was Rajender who had an upper hand in the remaining 13 rounds.

Seven more rounds of counting were remaining but going by the outcome so far, Rajender is likely to emerge a winner.

Out of 2,36,837 voters, 2,05,053 had cast their votes in the by-election held on Saturday.

A total of 30 candidates were in fray in the by-election, caused by the resignation of Eatala Rajender after he was dropped from State Cabinet by Chief Minister K. Chandraekhar Rao following allegations of land grabbing.

Rajender, a four-time MLA from Huzurabad, also quit TRS to join BJP.

Meanwhile, celebrations were held in the BJP camp as Rajender took a clear lead. Party workers burst crackers and distributed sweets at the party office in Hyderabad.

The Election Commission has prohibited any victory procession in Huzurabad after the counting. According to the orders issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, no more than two persons will be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his representative while receiving the certificate of election from the Returning Officer.
Paris, Nov 2 : France and the UK will hold an in-depth meeting here on Thursday to discuss their dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights, the French newspaper Le Figaro reported on Tuesday.

French presidential office Elysee announced on Monday evening that no retaliatory sanctions against the UK will come into force before Thursday when renewed talks will be held in Paris, Xinhua news agency quoted the newspaper as saying The UK's Brexit Minister David Frost was quoted by the newspaper as saying that he accepted the meeting proposal made by French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clement Beaune.

"I look forward to having discussions with him in Paris on Thursday," he said on his social media account.

Speaking to journalists in Glasgow on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that discussions concerning the dispute over fishing will continue between France, the UK and the European Commission.

He ruled out the application of retaliatory sanctions, because "it is not while we are negotiating that we will impose sanctions".

Macron added that he trusted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson would take France's proposal seriously and the discussions would lead to a result.

Last week, the French Ministry of the Sea announced that from Tuesday, British fishing vessels will be banned from docking in six designated ports in Hauts-de-France, Normandy and Brittany.

France will also strengthen sanitary, customs and safety controls of British ships.

Furthermore, France will enhance control over all lorries from and to the UK.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Defending their party president Akhilesh Yadav's decision of not contesting the Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party leaders on Tuesday claimed that in the past also several leaders, including incumbent Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, did not contest the polls.

The Chief Ministers from 2007 till now have been the members of the upper house in the state, they said.

Soon after Yadav's announcement on Monday, the Opposition tore into the SP saying that the decision was taken as the party had lost all hopes of winning.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajiv Rai said that the party, not the parliamentary board, will decide who will contest elections. As far as the BJP is concerned, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and both the Deputy Chief Ministers Dinesh Sharma and Keshav Lal Maurya are members of the Legislative Council.

During his last term as the Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav was a Legislative Council member. He had not contested the 2012 elections.

Similarly, BSP supremo Mayawati who has been Chief Minister four times was a MLC but not a MLA.

Yogi Adityanath is also a MLC. He did not contest the elections in 2017 when the BJP stormed into power but he was the MP from Gorakhpur and was later elected leader of the Legislative party.

Keshav Lal Maurya and Dinesh Sharma are both MLCs elected after being appointed as ministers.

For the Assembly polls, Akhilesh, the MP from Azamgarh, will be the face of his party's campaign, Rai said.

In 2000, Rajnath Singh was elected as a MLA from Haidergarh and was the Chief Minister, while another Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was the last elected MLA as Chief Minister. He was elected from Gunnaur.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, Nov 2 : The top nuclear negotiators of South Korea and Japan held phone talks on Tuesday to explore measures for progress in stalled denuclearization efforts, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said.

Noh Kyu-duk, the special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his Japanese counterpart Takehiro Funakoshi shared their assessments of the regional security situations and discussed ways to achieve lasting peace, according to the Ministry.

The two sides agreed to closely work together for the early resumption of dialogue with North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Seoul has recently stepped up diplomacy to bring North Korea back to denuclearization talks.

Noh had a video conference with his Chinese counterpart Liu Xiaoming on Monday and talked by phone with Sung Kim, U.S special representative for North Korea, last week.
Seoul, Nov 2 : South Korea's Unification Minister Lee In-youngheld a series of meetings with heads of international organisations in Geneva this week to discuss North Korea issues, his office said on Tuesday, amid brisk talks between Seoul and Washington on providing humanitarian assistance to Pyongyang.

Lee met World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday and agreed to strengthen cooperation on North Korea's public health issues, according to the Unification Ministry.

"(The two sides) exchanged opinions on North Korea's COVID-19 situation and ways to cooperate in its public health and medical sectors," the Ministry said in a statement.

The meeting took place after the minister accompanied President Moon Jae-in on his latest Vatican visi, reports Yonhap News Agencyt.

On the same day, Lee also met the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Secretary General Jagan Chapagain and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice President Gilles Carbonnier and agreed to continue close communications to push for the reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War and on other humanitarian issues involving North Korea.

Lee was set to wrap up his Europe visit and return home Wednesday.

The series of meetings came as senior officials from South Korea and the US gathered in Washington on Monday to discuss ways to restart dialogue with North Korea.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry said the two sides had working-level talks to implement various trust-building measures to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.

The Ministry did not provide further details, but Seoul and Washington are known to be at the last stage of coordinating humanitarian assistance to North Korea, such as quarantine supplies.

The North has remained unresponsive to US overtures for talks after their Hanoi summit in February 2019 collapsed without a deal.

On Tuesday, the Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling for coronavirus vaccine assistance to North Korea.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, Nov 2 : A holiday Special Court on Tuesday remanded former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh to the custody of Enforcement Directorate till November 6 in a money-laundering case, 16 hours after he was arrested at 1.00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Special Judge P.B. Jadhav rejected the plea by ED's counsel, Additional Solicitor-General Anil Singh seeking 14 days' custody, which the defence lawyers, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhri and advocate Aniket Nikam strongly protested.

Chaudhri said that before the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court, the ED had said that Deshmukh was only a suspect and not an accused in the case and termed the arrest 'illegal'.

That was the reason Deshmukh voluntarily went to the ED office on November 1 and after 13 hours of questioning he was placed under arrest, he said.

The defence sought to know what fresh evidence the ED had gathered in the past four days since Friday (Oct 29) leading to the arrest especially since he had always cooperated with the agency whenever summoned.

The Bombay High Court on Friday declined Deshmukh's plea to quash the ED summons against him, and he said that his matter was still pending before the Supreme Court.

Following an application by Deshmukh, the Special Judge Jadhav allowed home-food and medicines, and presence of a lawyer during the ED interrogation, given his advanced age of 72 and several health issues like a dislocated arm and heart problems, besides being a Covid-recovered patient, said Nikam.

The ED filed its case based on the CBI's FIR against Deshmukh after former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had alleged that the minister had tasked sacked cop Sachin Vaze and others to collect Rs 100 crore from Mumbai hoteliers every month.

In a video-statement prior to appearing before the ED, Deshmukh had demanded to know "where is Singh who had levelled the false allegations" and now disappeared, amid reports he may have sneaked out of India.

Following Singh's letter in March, the ED and CBI had carried out multiple raids on Deshmukh and family, and the ED sought his 14 days custody citing 'non-cooperation'.

Deshmukh refuted the ED charges saying that whenever he was summoned, he had replied to them, provided documents, etc and said that he would appear after the outcome of his various court appeals.

"On account of a witch-hunt campaign launched at the instance of certain vested inimical interests, some blatantly false allegations have been levelled by those persons who have absolutely no credibility, honour or pride," said Deshmukh.

He added that "these unscrupulous persons are themselves knee-deep involved in several rackets of extortion and even murder. The principal person who held the high office of Mumbai CoP is now a wanted absconding criminal".
Seoul, Nov 2 : South Korea has called for Japan to allow entry of Korean business travellers and students to facilitate exchanges in the private sector, Seoul officials said on Tuesday, as Tokyo is preparing to ease quarantine requirements for international arrivals.

Japan has restricted entry of foreigners, except family members of Japanese nationals or travellers with special permits, since January, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Local media said the government is preparing to loosen the strict rules in line with the falling number of Covid-19 cases and complaints from the business circle.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry said it has been consulting with the Japanese side to ease the entry ban on its nationals, starting with business people and students who meet quarantine requirements.

"We have repeatedly stressed that business people and students should be first allowed to travel if they meet certain requirements and called for related measures as soon as possible," a senior Ministry official said.

The official said eased entry procedures were also discussed during the phone talks between the two nations' leaders last month and a bilateral meeting of the foreign ministers in September.

"We have delivered our opinion via various channels, and the Japanese side is well aware of that," the official said.

Japanese media reported that the Tokyo government plans to allow vaccinated people to visit the nation for business and education purposes later this month and cut the quarantine requirement for business travellers from 10 days to three days.
Gandhinagar, Nov 2 : The Gujarat Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Tuesday denounced the attack on a Dalit family of a Kutch village allegedly over their entry into a temple and called for an end to caste-based discriminatory practices.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat had called upon society and RSS workers two to three years back to create an atmosphere which allowed temple entry, sharing of water and cremation ground to all in a village, said Bharat Patel, RSS Gujarat Prant Sanghchalak.

During the establishment of a temple and its "pratishthan" ceremony in a village in Palanpur in Banaskantha recently, two kitchens were to be set up in the temple.

"The RSS workers pressured the locals to make just one kitchen for all without caste discrimination," he added.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal (ABKM), organised at the RSS office at Dr Hedgewar Bhavan in the Kankaria area of Ahmedabad.

"We condemn all kind of violence against mankind not only in India, but anywhere in the world. ABKM workers in Gujarat reach out to people of villages and other places wherever we hear about such bad practises and peacefully discourage them," Bharat Patel told IANS.

Patel said that an annual ABKM meet of senior RSS functionaries was held at Dharwad in Karnataka recently in which a resolution was passed to condemn the recent incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

"We urge the Bangladesh government to not just arrest the accused involved in the attacks but also ensure that the minority community lives peacefully," said Patel.

The ABKM meeting took place on October 28, 29 and 30 in Karnataka's Dharwad.

Meanwhile, RSS workers will be celebrating the "Amrit Parva" marking the completion of 75 years of Independence during the whole year throughout the nation. Seminars, book releases and several programs will take place in Gujarat.

The ABKM on Monday passed a resolution condemning the current conspiratorial Islamic attacks on the Hindus in Bangladesh in the meeting.

Earlier, on October 26, six members of a Dalit family at Ner village in Bhachau taluka of Kutch were allegedly assaulted by a group of 20 persons.

Based on a complaint, police detained seven accused.

The injured claimed that they were specifically targeted after they entered the Ram temple in the village during the "Pran Pratishtha" ritual, police said.

All the six persons were admitted in the Civil Hospital in Bhuj in Kutch following the attack, in which they received injuries on their heads and other parts by sharp weapons.

According to police, the group first allegedly damaged the farmland of the Dalit family by letting cattle graze through it and then entered their house to assault them.

Victim Govind Vaghela, in his complaint, claimed that he learnt on October 26 morning that buffaloes were destroying his farm near the village. "Upon reaching my farmland, I saw that the crops were being destroyed while a group of men were waiting underneath holding axes, sticks, rods in their hands. They started assaulting us with the weapons, asking us why we entered the village temple during it's Pran Pratishtha," said Govind Vaghela's complaint.

According to police, thereafter the group of 20 accused reached the house of Jagabhai Vaghela (64), father of Govind and assaulted him, his wife Baddhiben Vaghela, son Bhura Vaghela and nephew Hasmukh Vaghela.

Taking cognisance, two FIRs were lodged against 20 accused under IPC sections 307 for attempt to murder, 323 for causing hurt, 324 for causing hurt by dangerous weapons, 452 for house tresspass for causing hurt, 120b for criminal conspiracy, 506 for criminal intimidation, 294b for obscenity, sections of the rioting and sections of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (prevention of atrocities) act.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : A wanted criminal has been arrested in Delhi, police said on Tuesday.

According to the police, the accused named Devendra Pratap (42) had abducted a couple from Anand Vihar in 2018, robbed them at gunpoint and dumped them in Mayur Vihar Phase 1.

A Police PCR van, which had noticed the couple shouting, intercepted the car and managed to nab one of the occupants, Rohit Sharma while all other accused managed to flee.

Earlier, Devendra was arrested in an attempt to murder case along with an aide in March, but was released in June.

A case was registered and investigation was taken up by local police.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Sayani Gupta is famous for starring in 'Four More Shots Please!' alongside Kirti Kulhari, Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo. The actress is currently in Amritsar shooting for the last schedule of the show's third season.

She has carved a niche for herself with her strong performances both in the mainstream and parallel or middle of the road cinema. She has a slew of projects to her name, one such name is the International Emmy-nominated drama series 'Four More Shots Please!' Sayani said, "Four More Shots Please! is like a family now. I love being a part of the show and spending time with the girls and the crew. We are shooting for crucial sequences in Amritsar, and I am really looking forward to it." The actress is accompanied by her mother on the shoot so that they could spend some quality time together. "Lately, I have had a packed calendar and couldn't spend time with my mother. Now that she has joined me here, I am more than excited! It's her first time in Punjab and she was overwhelmed to see the Partition museum, Jallianwala Bagh and she's in love with the people of Amritsar," she added.

Meanwhile, the actress also has the next season of another International Emmy-nominated show 'Inside Edge' waiting for release.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Bihar government's health department on Tuesday launched a dedicated WhatsApp chatbot called 'Vaccine Mitra to make it easier for people to access a wide range of information about Covid vaccination.

The bot is free to use and will be available in English and Hindi.

It is built with the latest intuitive capabilities of the WhatsApp API platform that enables users to select 'quick replies' and eliminates the need for users to type out a message. The chatbot is also enabled with the capability of finding the nearest vaccination centre, helping in creating awareness on vaccines, and much more for the residents of Bihar.

"Vaccine Mitra is a step towards digitally aiding citizens with easy access to information related to vaccination. We are hopeful that the citizens of Bihar will find this useful and together we will achieve success by vaccinating the entire population," said Mangal Pandey, Bihar Health Minister, in a statement.

To access the bot, WhatsApp users need to simply send 'Hi' to the number https://wa.me/919431025555.

"Intuitive and seamless technologies such as WhatsApp have made critical contributions in helping governments elevate citizen engagement and services. Bihar government's custom tech-solution in the form of 'Vaccine Mitra' Helpline chatbot on the WhatsApp-API is a testament to the effective and scalable, transformational power of technology put to use by the Bihar state administration," added Shivnath Thukral, Public Policy - Director, WhatsApp India.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Around two dozen journalists in Pakistan were charged in the last two years and most of them were prosecuted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, said a report of the Freedom Network, launched on the eve of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, The News reported.

The Freedom Network 2021 Impunity Report provides insights about the challenges faced by journalists and information practitioners in Pakistan charged under the PECA, the arbitrary exercise of power by the authorities and the response of the justice system, the report said.

The Section 20, which criminalises online defamation, and carries a three-year jail term, and up to one million rupees in fine, is the most frequently invoked section of the PECA against journalists.

"Opinions or criticism of the military and the intelligence agencies is the most frequent complaint against journalists pursued under the PECA. Criticism in general - whether against the executive (both civilian and military) or the judiciary triggered the most complaints against journalists pursued under the PECA law. The prime nature of the complaint was alleged defamation," it reads. Majority of the journalists were from Pakistan Punjab.

Iqbal Khattak, the executive director of Freedom Network, said Pakistani journalists are increasingly using online spaces to share independent news and critical commentary that are suppressed on traditional media. "We have noticed a corresponding increase in efforts to control online expression, either legally or through coordinated digital campaigns against journalists," he said. The report supplies evidence that the PECA has emerged as the primary legal instrument to intimidate and silence Pakistani journalists in recent years because it criminalises online expression.

The report's findings are based on the analysis of cases of 23 journalists and information practitioners who were either sent notices by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under PECA or charged with offences under the same law during the period 2019-21. The analysis was done on data, provided by these journalists and information practitioners through a special impunity measurement template, based on the comprehensive Impunity Index developed by the Freedom Network.

The analysis found that the cases were registered against 56 per cent of journalists and informational practitioners who had a brush with the PECA between 2019 and 2012. Out of the individuals who were formally charged, around 70 per cent were arrested and half of them were subjected to torture in custody.
Hyderabad, Nov 2 : Veteran Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna was admitted to hospital in Hyderabad. He had complained of pain in his right shoulder which was bothering the actor for the last six months.

A statement from the medical representatives of the CARE Hospitals said that Balakrishna had complained that he could not lift his right hand and was in extreme pain.

"Upon evaluation accompanied by an MRI, our team of Orthopedic Surgeons at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, we decided to treat Balakrishna. Our shoulder surgeon, Dr Raghuveer Reddy, and Dr B.N. Prasad performed a 4-hour surgery to repair the shoulder muscle tendons successfully," the press note from the hospital said.

The report also suggests that the doctors have confirmed Balakrishna's well-being, indicating that he has been doing well, and hence is ready to get discharged from the hospital.

Balakrishna's fans are worried about the health condition of their favourite actor, as they wait for more updates regarding his health.

The 'Lion' actor is to be seen in Boyapati Srinu's upcoming entertainer titled 'Akhanda'. On the other hand, he is also hosting a show on Telugu OTT platform 'AHA'. The show is titled 'Unstoppable with NBK'. The actor recently shot for the first episode of the celebrity talk show, and appeared to be quite energetic, despite the shoulder pain.
Shimla, Nov 2 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said he humbly accepted the verdict given by the people in the by-elections to one Lok Sabha seat and three Vidhan Sabha constituencies in the state, as the ruling BJP lost all.

He said the results were not according to their expectations.

"We would try to come up to the expectations and aspirations of the people of the state and would work with renewed zeal and dedication to perform better in Assembly elections of 2022," Thakur said in a statement.

The Chief Minister congratulated the winning candidates.

The BJP lost the Mandi parliamentary seat and three Assembly seats to the opposition Congress.
Chandigarh, Nov 2 : Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday resigned from the Congress and sent a seven-page letter to party President Sonia Gandhi. He named his party the Punjab Lok Congress.

"I have today sent my resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi ji, listing my reasons for the resignation. 'Punjab Lok Congress' is the name of the new party. The registration is pending approval with the Election Commission of India. The party symbol will be approved later," Amarinder Singh informed in a tweet.

Singh had quit as the chief minister in September after a power tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Sidhu.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : A new high-level coalition for clean energy was announced on Tuesday by India and the UK at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, involving major governments, international organisations, legislators, business leaders, researchers, and citizen groups.

It includes a group of governments called the Green Grids Initiative -- One Sun One World One Grid.

The group was announced at COP26 by summit host Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

In the presence of other heads of government, including US President Joe Biden, the two Prime Ministers presented a One Sun Declaration, endorsed by more than 80 countries, setting out the group's aims.

A Ministerial Steering Group will lead a process to accelerate the construction of large solar power stations and wind farms in the best locations, linked together by continental-scale grids crossing national borders.

The Steering Group includes France, India, the UK and the US, and will also have representatives from Africa, the Gulf, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

Germany attended the first meeting as an observer while post-election negotiations on a new government continue, as did Australia.

In a simultaneous online event convened by an international network of legislators called the Climate Parliament, members of a broader Green Grids Initiative partnership were introduced.

Working alongside the governments are members of parliament and Congress, renewable energy companies, university researchers and international development agencies.

Speakers in the Climate Parliament event also included two leaders of the international youth climate strike, Alexandria Villasenor of the US and Ayisha Siddiqa from Pakistan.

Among the business leaders were Anand Mahindra, Chairman of one of India's largest industrial groups, the Mahindra Group, and Paddy Padmanathan, CEO of ACWA Power, which holds the record for the world's cheapest solar power.

The online event was opened by African superstar Angelique Kidjo of Lion King fame, followed by William Ury, author of world bestseller on negotiation "Getting to Yes".

Research support for the Green Grids Initiative is being provided by the Climate Compatible Growth consortium of universities, which includes Cambridge, Imperial College, Oxford, and the University College London.

Green Grids Initiative Working Groups made up of national and international agencies have already been established for Africa and for the Asia-Pacific region. Their membership includes most major multilateral development banks such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

The Green Climate Fund, established to channel part of the $100 billion a year pledged by rich countries in the climate negotiations, is leading a Finance Working Group.

The Africa Working Group is co-convened by the AfDB and the African Union, and the Asia-Pacific group is coordinated by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

The International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency are actively involved, as are the ASEAN Energy Centre in Southeast Asia and the SAARC Energy Centre in South Asia.

"One Sun One World One Grid" is a favourite phrase of Modi.

In their One Sun Declaration the national leaders say, "all the energy humanity uses in a year is equal to the energy that reaches the earth from the sun in a single hour. The sun never sets -- every hour, half the planet is bathed in sunshine. By trading energy from sun, wind and water across borders, we can deliver more than enough clean energy to meet the needs of everyone on earth".

In addition to large-scale solar and wind power connected through international grids, the One Sun Declaration highlights the need for investment in solar minigrids for remote villages, smart charging for electric vehicles to help balance green grids, and new financial instruments to attract low-cost capital into clean energy.

Mahindra, whose company is a major car manufacturer and solar developer, said: "Nothing could be more urgent than to accelerate the shift to clean energy and electric transport around the world. Companies like ours need to partner with legislators, governments and international organisations to step up the pace. We will be an active participant in the Green Grids Initiative." Former British environment minister Barry Gardiner, whose long-standing personal friendship with Prime Minister Modi played an important role in convening the initiative, said: "In an interconnected world it makes no sense that governments continue to fixate on energy independence. A global green grid will make it possible for power generated anywhere to be utilised everywhere.

"It is cooperation on a global scale to utilise the renewable resources of water, wind and sun and to trade each country's surplus to where it is required. This is an international political vision equal to the climate challenge we face."
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Taking forward the battle with Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik in Tuesday shared purported WhatsApp chats between a drug peddler and the officer's sister, Yasmeen Wankhede.

Malik also questioned the lavish parties with crores of rupees thrown at a five-star hotel with each table costing Rs 15 lakh during the tenure of Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis.

"Screenshot of the WhatsApp chat between Yasmeen Dawood Wankhede (sister of NCB officer Sameer Dawood Wankhede) and a drug peddler," Malik's tweets said this afternoon, continuing his snoop on the NCB sleuth.

Wankhede countered this by claiming that a drug peddler had approached his sister who is a lawyer but she declined as she didn't handle narcotics cases. He claimed that the peddler, Salman even tried to trap him and his family and lodged a fake police complaint earlier this year, but nothing came out of it.

Malik also slammed Wankhede for his lavish lifestyle of wearing expensive watches worth Rs 25 lakh or above, shoes, shirts worth Rs 70,000, or T-shirts of Rs 30,000 and asked how the officer claiming to be honest and upright could afford such extravagance.

He accused Wankhede of running "a private army" comprising people like Kiran Gosavi, Manish Bhanushali (both having BJP links), Fletcher Patel, Adil Usmani, Sam D'Souza, through which he extorted crores of rupees by framing people in fake cases.

He said last year Wankhede had summoned top stars like Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and others for questioning after which there was no development for 14 months.

"If there's no case or charge sheet, then close it... Cases are deliberately kept open for extortion purposes," Malik alleged.

Responding to Malik's charges, Yasmeen Wankhede pointed out that their mother's wealth was bequeathed to her brother since he was a teenager and dismissed the allegations of an extravagant lifestyle suggested by the NCP minister.

Malik questioned the BJP's Fadnavis on the details of the lavish parties thrown at a luxury hotel where drug deals were cracked and asked why he did not probe them when he was the CM.

Challenging Fadnavis to prove his charges that he had links with the mafia, the NCP leader said: "I have spent 62 years of my life in Mumbai. No 'Mai ka Lal' has the guts to point fingers and say that I have any underworld connections. I dare them to prove it. Why wait till Diwali is over?" Besides Fadnavis, former BJP minister Ashish Shelar has also warned Malik to watch out for a big bomb post-Diwali, while Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray sarcastically hoped that there would indeed be a blast and it would not fizzle out.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : India has been joined by the UK, Australia, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mauritius at the COP26 to launch the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS), a dedicated initiative to provide technical support on the multifaceted issues posed by infrastructure systems and promote disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure assets.

IRIS is co-created by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) - launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2019 - for working with the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to identify opportunities for partnerships and technical collaborations to strengthen infrastructure systems for resilient development in these countries.

Modi, along with his counterparts Boris Johnson (UK), Scott Morrison (Australia), Frank Bainimarama (Fiji), Andrew Holness (Jamaica), and Pravind Kumar Jugnauth (Mauritius) launched the IRIS at The World Leaders Summit at the annual climate change conference COP26 that started on Sunday.

The world leaders have gathered at the Glasgow COP to negotiate climate actions to reduce emissions for keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial era. The small island states are the most vulnerable as the sea level rise - one of the most prominent impacts of climate change predicted by Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their latest report - will be a fatal blow for them.

After explaining why there was a need to have such a platform, Modi announced that the Indian space agency, ISRO, will build a special data window for SIDS. "With this, SIDS will continue to receive timely information about cyclones, coral-reef monitoring, coast-line monitoring, etc. through satellite." Stating that although SIDS countries have lived in harmony with nature for centuries, and have the know-how to adapt to the natural cycles, he said: "But due to the selfish behaviour shown in the past several decades, the unnatural form of nature has come to the fore, the result of which innocent Small Island States are facing today." Such countries depend a lot on tourism, but due to natural calamities, even tourists are afraid to come there as these countries face the biggest threat from climate change. "The disasters caused by climate change can literally take the form of catastrophe for them and wipe out decades of progress. It is a major challenge not only for the security of their lives, but also for their economies," he said and called IRIS as the "most sensitive responsibility of human welfare".

The CDRI is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development. CDRI promotes rapid development of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals' imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and decent work.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : Forty nations responsible for over 70 per cent of the world's GDP, including the EU, the US, China, Morocco, India, Bangladesh and Kenya, on Tuesday signed a pledge to accelerate the roll out and affordability of zero-emission solutions in some of the highest-emitting sectors under the "Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda" banner.

The breakthrough -- announced during the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) -- is an overarching pledge by governments.

As countries move from setting broad economy-wide targets, or NDCs, to implementation, this pledge is designed to scale up roll out of climate policies in key sectors by spurring public-private partnerships and cross-country collaboration in the steel, hydrogen, power, and transport sectors.

It marks the first time hydrogen and the so-called hard to abate sector of steel have taken centrestage at the climate talks.

Under a headline vision for each sector, there are a number of initiatives that countries can then elect to sign up to on top of the domestic legislation that would be required to enact the pledge.

The pledge requests the IEA, IRENA and High-Level Climate Champions to carry out research in each sector showing needs and annual progress made towards the goal, but it has yet to detail how those signing the pledge will be held accountable to it.

The UK government, host to the ongoing COP26, is claiming the four sectors could create 20 million jobs worldwide, add around four per cent in additional global GDP and amount to $16.7 trillion in investment by 2030 across both emerging and advanced economies.

At the launch, the UK government also issued a report - authored by experts from institutions from China, Brazil, India, Italy and the UK, which shows how supportive policies can unlock action in these sectors.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Pakistan National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf on Tuesday said that he will not travel to India to attend a conference on Afghanistan being hosted by New Delhi on November 10, Express Tribune reported.

In a response to a question during a press conference, Yusuf said that a "spoiler" could not take on the role of a "peacemaker", the report said.

India had extended the invitation to Moeed to attend the regional conference. Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan will reportedly attend the moot hosted by the Indian national security adviser.

While India was not invited at the conference hosted by Pakistan in September and Iran in October, New Delhi was part of the Moscow Format, the report said.

India's effort to host the regional conference is seen as an attempt to deflect domestic pressure and the impression that New Delhi has been left out of Afghan consultations, the report added.

At a weekly news briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said that India seemed to be trying to find "some relevance" in the context of Afghanistan while referring to the upcoming conference in New Delhi.

Moeed said Pakistan and Uzbekistan shared the same stance on Afghanistan, adding that there was a need to coordinate on Afghanistan for the sake of the Afghan people.

He said there was a need for constructive engagement with the Taliban regime in Kabul to avert a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country. "The world's failure to engage with Kabul would result in a humanitarian crisis," he added.
Hyderabad, Nov 2 : In a big setback to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the BJP wrested Huzurabad Assembly seat in the fiercely contested by-election.

Eatala Rajender, who had switched loyalties to contest as BJP candidate after being dropped from the State Cabinet over allegations of land grabbing, defeated his nearest rival G. Srinivas Yadav of TRS by 24,068 votes.

Rajender, whose resignation from Assembly caused the bypoll, secured a total of 1,06,780 votes while Yadav polled 82,712 votes.

The Congress party suffered humiliation as its candidate finished a distant third with just 3,012 votes.

Rajender, who was leading from the very first round, increased his lead with every round. Barring eighth and 11th rounds when TRS candidate took the lead, it was Rajender who dominated the counting spread over 22 rounds.

Out of 2,36,837 voters, 2,05,053 had cast their votes in the by-election held on Saturday.

A total of 30 candidates were in the fray in the bye-election, caused by the resignation of Eatala Rajender after he was dropped from State Cabinet by Chief Minister K. Chandraekhar Rao following allegations of land grabbing.

Rajender, a four-time MLA from Huzurabad, had also quit TRS to join BJP, who was quick to announce him as its candidate in the bypoll.

While resigning from TRS, Rajender hit out at what he called the autocratic style of functioning of Chandrasekhar Rao and also alleged that he was humiliated in the party as he comes from a backward class.

Huzurabad bypoll was seen as a battle of prestige between KCR and Rajender, who had been winning the seat since 2009.

The 57-year-old leader, who served as finance minister in the first TRS Cabinet, held the health portfolio till he was dropped from Cabinet by KCR in May.

KCR and his son and TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao stayed away from campaigning but the TRS went all out to defeat Rajender.

KCR's nephew and finance minister T. Harish Rao led the campaign. Several ministers and TRS leaders actively participated in it.

In August, much before the announcement of by-election schedule, KCR had visited the constituency to launch his ambitious Dalit Bandhu scheme on pilot basis.

For Huzurabad, the government had released Rs 2,000 crore for the scheme, under which every Dalit family will receive Rs 10 lakh as grant to start any business.

The TRS government's move had come under flak from the opposition parties which alleged that the ruling party was trying to lure the voters.

The Election Commission, however, stayed the implementation of the scheme till the completion of by-election.

Rajender, who was first elected from Kamalapur constituency on TRS ticket in 2004 and retained it in the by-election, was shifted to Huzurabad in 2009 and since then he had been winning the seat for TRS.

One of the founding members of TRS, Rajender maintained his grip on the constituency. Continuing his winning streak in 2018, he defeated his nearest rival Kaushik Reddy of Congress by 47,803 votes. Rajender had then polled 1,04,840 votes while Kaushik Reddy had secured 61,121 votes.

Though Kaushik Reddy defected to TRS a few months before bypoll, the outcome shows he could not ensure transfer of votes to the ruling party.

Before the victory in the bypoll, BJP hardly had any presence in Huzurabad. In 2018, its candidate P. Raghu had polled only 1,683 votes, which was less than NOTA votes (2,867).

With the victory in Huzurabad, BJP's strength in 119-member Assembly rose to three.

Huzurabad is the second Assembly seat wrested by the saffron party from TRS in the last one year. In November last year, BJP had wrested Dubbak seat by a narrow margin.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : In a morale booster for Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi, Congress candidate Jitesh Antapurkar won the Deglug-Biloli assembly by-election in Nanded district with a huge margin.

Of the total 12 candidates in the fray in the SC reserved seat, the MVA nominee Antapurkar secured around 108,840 votes compared with his nearest Bharatiya Janata Party rival Subhash Sabane getting 66,907 votes and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi contender Dr. Uttam Ingole left trailing far behind along with the remaining 9 in the fray.

Pleased MVA leaders including Congress PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party Minister and state President Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena Minister Aditya Thackeray welcomed Antapurkar's handsome victory in the by-elections, necessitated by the death of the sitting MLA Raosaheb Antapurkar.

Aditya Thackeray said the MVA candidate's victory is "a symbol of the faith reposed by the people in the MVA government", headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

NCP's Patil said that despite all attempts at disruptive politics indulged in by the Opposition BJP, the people of Maharashtra have unequivocally supported the MVA and its progressive policies.

District strongman and Congress' Chavan commented that the victory proves that the people of the state have endorsed the solid developmental agenda of the MVA government over the past two years.

Making it a prestige issue, top state leaders of the BJP had vigorously campaigned for the October 30 polls which witnessed an impressive voter turnout of nearly 64 per cent.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Non-government organisation (NGO) Arappor Iyakkam has filed a corruption complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register an FIR and probe corruption in the construction of residential apartments at KP Park here.

According to Arappor Iyakkam, the complaint was lodged with DVAC to register a FIR and start a probe against PST Engineering Construction, for poor construction quality of the 864 tenements at KP Park, Fire and Rescue Services Department and also against former Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O.

Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam was then Minister for the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (formerly Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board) in the erstwhile AIADMK government.

According to Arappor Iyakkam, the tender for construction of the 864 apartments was given to PST Engineering Construction as a single bid in the financial bid stage without any competition.

The NGO said the tender should have been cancelled in the case of a single bid and another bid should have been called.

It alleged that the tender was awarded at a price that was about 45 per cent higher than the then market rate resulting in a loss of Rs 27.72 crore to the state exchequer and unjust enrichment of the contractor.

The construction was of very poor quality and below the specifications, putting at risk the residents lives, the NGO alleged.

According to Arappor Iyakkam, the Tamil Nadu government had appointed the Centre for Urbanisation, Buildings & Environment (CUBE) -- a joint initiative of IIT-Madras and the Tamil Nadu government -- to assess the quality of construction of the apartments.

Citing the report of CUBE, the NGO said the plastering work was of poor quality with the sand:cement ratio not complying with the required norm.

According to it, the third party agency C.S. & Associates should also be probed as they did not raise much concern about the construction quality.

It alleged that the contractor got the No Objection Certificate from the Fire and Rescue Services Department for the building without proper fire safety precautions/devices.

The NGO also alleged irregularities in the award of the tender for building 1,056 tenements at KP Park - adjacent to the above building - and sought a probe by DVAC.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Congress after the results of the bypolls on Tuesday said that it indicates that the country is moving towards a change at the national level. Rajeev Shukla, Congress In-charge of Himachal Pradesh where the party swept the polls, said that the indication is clear and loud.

"In the Lok Sabha bypoll, BJP is losing. This means that the indication is positive for the opposition and the people have given affirmative response to the issues raised by the Congress," Shukla said.

The Congress said that the "opposition unity is must," but did not respond to the results in Bihar where the Congress faired badly. Shukla said the wave of Mamata Banerjee still continues in West Bengal but BJP is losing.

Karnataka Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad said, "the Congress has won in Chief Minister's home turf in Hangal while we came second on the other seat where last time we were third. The people have given signal to the BJP." The Congress said that Himachal Pradesh results will impact elections in other states which are going to polls.

The results and trends in the bypolls to the three Lok Sabha seats and 29 Assembly constituencies have been encouraging for the Congress in the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka where the party has been better placed than the BJP.
Amaravati, Nov 2 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday described the resounding victory of his YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in by-election to Badvel Assembly as people's affirmation of good governance in the State.

Reacting to the poll outcome, he tweeted that this blessing of people for 'people's government' and good governance was beyond expectations, and that his government would try to do more good for the people.

Jagan Mohan Reddy thanked people for giving a huge victory to the YSRCP and congratulated Dr Dasari Sudha for her victory.

In a one-sided contest, Sudha defeated her nearest rival, Panathala Suresh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by 90,533 votes.

In the constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes, Sudha polled 1,12,211 votes while Suresh finished distant second with 21,678 votes.

The outcome was significant for the Chief Minister as the constituency is part of his home district Kadapa.

Terming Badvel by-election result as people's victory, Government Chief Whip G Srikanth Reddy said that people have reposed their trust in the state government, as they witnessed true welfare in the last two years.

He told reporters that the Badvel win has increased their responsibility in delivering good governance and stated that this is the victory of every Dalit, weaker sections, and every common man.

He said though the BJP contested the poll, it was TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu who was working behind the scenes. He claimed that people were well aware of that fact and thus, rejected them both.

The MLA added that one must know what the people really want and suggested the BJP leaders consider fulfilling the promises made during the state's bifurcation to win people's hearts.

He slammed Chandrababu Naidu saying he destroyed the State for the sake of special package by mortgaging the special status at the Centre. He said that the state government had been implementing welfare schemes as per the calendar, without any irregularities through direct benefit transfer.

Meanwhile, BJP state President Somu Veerraju claimed that the by-poll outcome Ashows that people are not happy with the YSRCP government. He said this was evident from the fact that the BJP's votes increased by 300 per cent compared to 2019.

He also alleged that the YSRCP won the by-election by resorting to electoral malpractices.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Jammu and Kashmir administration has sacked a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) Prison and a school principal for having terror links, sources said here on Tuesday.

Dy SP Feroz Ahmad Lone and the principal of the Government Senior Secondary School at Bijbehra Javid Ahmad Shah have been terminated from service for actively working with terrorist outfits after the Union Territory administration invoked Sec 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution to sack the two employees after an investigation clearly established their terror links.

The sources said that DSP Lone, appointed in 2012 during Omar Abdullah's tenure as the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state, hatched a criminal conspiracy with terror commanders to send youths illegally to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for weapons training and later push them back into Kashmir as active terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) to indulge in acts of terrorism.

It is learnt that Lone was working for Riyaz Naikoo, the killed HM terrorist. Investigations revealed that two youth, Danish Ghulam Lone of Braw Bandina district of Pulwama and Sohail Ahmad Bhat of Dogripora in Awantipora in Pulwama district, were recruited and asked by Riyaz Naikoo to meet his arrested associate and terrorist Ishaq Palla.

Both Rasool and Bhat reached Central Jail Srinagar and confirmed their arrival to Ishaq Palla. However, getting unsatisfactory replies to their queries, the jail staff refused to give permission to Danish and Sohail to meet Palla and ordered them out of the jail premises.

"When Rasool and Bhat were denied permission, Palla approached jail Dy SP Feroz Lone who after consulting with Ishaq Palla misused his official position and assisted in the issuance of passes in respect of both Danish and Sohail", the sources said, adding that the Dy SP personally went to the reception area and brought both Danish and Sohail inside the prison premises to meet Ishaq Palla.

It was in this meeting that a criminal conspiracy was hatched to send Danish and Sohail to PoK for arms training to join terrorist ranks to wage war against the Union of India. Both were arrested before they could cross over to Pakistan, they added.

It was an open secret that prisons in J&K were being used as a breeding ground for radicalization and even assassinations and terror plots were hatched from jail before August 2019. The role of elements like Feroz Lone holding an important position to facilitate such activities is what had led to a complete breakdown of the prison system.

The sources said that Javid, the Principal, was first appointed a lecturer in 1989 and later became the Principal of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School Bijbehara, Anantnag. He was a hardcore terrorist supporter and ardent sympathizer of the Hurriyat and the Jamat-e-Islami (JeI).

He played the role of an advisor to Hurriyat and JeI cadres working in Bijbehara in 2016 during terrorist Burhan Wani agitation.

As Principal of the government institution, he ensured that Hurriyat hartal calendars were followed in letter and spirit not only in the school which he was heading but its subsidiary institutions too. Javid by misusing his official position rather openly, disallowed girl students of his institution to study and participate in physical education and curriculum, citing it against the fundamentals of Islam.

He was supporting terrorists and motivating the girl students to study Islamic studies in a distorted way with the sole objective to radicalize them and fulfil his pro-JeI designs.

The Principal was appointed during former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's regime.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky for his humanitarian gesture of supply of oxygen concentrators to India during the second phase of Covid pandemic earlier this year.

PM Modi, who met Zelensky on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow, also took stock of the state of bilateral relations and exchanged views on developments in the region. They expressed satisfaction with the cooperation during the pandemic times including mutual recognition of Covid vaccination certificates by both countries.

The two leaders positively assessed the strong people-to-people connection between the two countries, especially the large number of Indian students studying in various Universities of Ukraine.

The two leaders reaffirmed their readiness to work together for further strengthening of bilateral relations
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was arrested in a money-laundering case early on Tuesday, after extensive questioning, and produced before a holiday special court, which sent him to custody of the Enforcement Directorate till November 6.

Special Judge P.B. Jadhav rejected the plea by ED's counsel, Additional Solicitor-General Anil Singh seeking 14 days' custody, which defence lawyers, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhri and advocate Aniket Nikam strongly protested.

Chaudhri said that before the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court, the ED had said that Deshmukh was only a suspect and not an accused in the case and said termed the arrest as "illegal".

That was the reason Deshmukh voluntarily went to the ED office on November 1 and after 13 hours of questioning he was placed under arrested, he said.

The defence sought to know what fresh evidence the ED had gathered in the past four days since Friday, leading to the arrest especially since he had always cooperated with the agency, whenever summoned.

Following an application by Deshmukh, Special Judge Jadhav allowed him home food and medicines, and presence of a lawyer during the ED interrogation, given his advanced age of 72 and several health issues like a dislocated arm and heart problems, besides being a Covid-recovered patient, said Nikam.

The Bombay High Court on Friday declined Deshmukh's plea to quash the ED summons against him, and he said that his matter was still pending before the Supreme Court.

The ED filed its case based on the CBI's FIR against Deshmukh after the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had alleged that the minister had tasked cop Sachin Vaze and others to collect Rs 100 crore from Mumbai hoteliers every month.

In a video-statement prior to appearing before the ED, Deshmukh had demanded to know "where is Singh who had levelled the false allegations" and now disappeared, amid reports he may have sneaked out of India.

Following Singh's letter in March, the ED and CBI had carried out multiple raids on Deshmukh and family, and the ED sought his 14 days custody citing "non-cooperation".

Deshmukh refuted the ED charges saying that whenever he was summoned, he had replied to them, provided documents, etc and said that he would appear after the outcome of his various court appeals.

"On account of a witch-hunt campaign launched at the instance of certain vested inimical interests, some blatantly false allegations have been levelled by those persons who have absolutely no credibility, honour or pride," said Deshmukh.

He added that "these unscrupulous persons are themselves knee-deep involved in several rackets of extortion and even murder. The principal person who held the high office of Mumbai CoP is now a wanted absconding criminal".

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress have castigated the ED and termed it as a "politically motivated move" aimed to destabilise the three-party government.

They also questioned the Centre on the whereabouts of the "missing" Mumbai Police Commissioner who hurled the allegations against Deshmukh in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in March.

"The arrest does not fit within the legal framework... Deshmukh is already fighting a legal battle the outcome of which is awaited. The arrest is unfortunate," said Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

"This action is clearly with political intentions to malign the MVA governmenta Central agencies like ED, IT, NCB, CBI are misused to target the government and a repeat of West Bengal is being attempted herea But we are not scared," said NCP national spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik.

He questioned if even Singh, like many others in the past, was given a "safe passage", whether he took the air route, or sea route or the land route to Nepal from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh or Bihar as all the three states are BJP-ruled.

Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant termed it as "a travesty of justice as the complainant who levelled the allegations without giving any evidence is himself absconding or allowed to flee the country".

"The preliminary enquiry of the CBI gave a clean chit to Deshmukh. His real crime was as Home Minister, he took certain steps which the BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not like," Sawant claimed.

However, the BJP leaders have welcomed the action against Deshmukh and warned that the next target would be Sena Minister Anil Parab, with many more to follow soon.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : In its continued crackdown on smuggling of narcotic drugs into India, the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in two different cases in October, 2021 have seized 155 kg of Hashish which had been smuggled into India from Nepal and was being transported to the hinterland.

In the first case on October 7, DRI officers intercepted a Renault Duster car on the Hapur-Meerut road. Thorough examination of the said car resulted in the seizure of 85 kg of high-quality Hashish which had been ingeniously concealed in a specially built cavity under the boot of the Duster car. The cavity could only be accessed through special tools which were found hidden at three different places in the car, a finance ministry statement said.

Two persons, including the owner of the vehicle were arrested.

In the second case on October 29, DRI officers intercepted a Mahindra Bolero Pick-up truck in Ramraj town (Uttar Pradesh) near Bijnor. Thorough examination of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 70 kg of high-quality Hashish which was concealed in a specially created cavity near the driver-side of the carriage body of the vehicle.

The delivery of the hashish had been made to a dealer who was arrested along with the drugs. The person arrested is a history-sheeter and had been arrested earlier by Uttar Pradesh (STF) in a case involving seizure of 55 kg Hashish in 2018.

Further investigations are being carried out.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Facebook's parent company Meta on Tuesday denied a claim by the Kazakhstan government that it has been given direct access to Facebook's content reporting system.

In a statement, the government expressed confidence that the use of the 'Content Reporting System' will increase the efficiency and overall effectiveness of the work carried out to counter the spread of illegal content on the Facebook and Instagram platforms.

A Meta spokesperson told IANS that the company has a dedicated online channel for governments around the world to report content to them that they believe violates local law.

"We follow a consistent global process to assess individual requests - independent from any government - in line with Facebook's policies, local laws and international human rights standards. This process is the same in Kazakhstan as it is for other countries around the world," the Meta spokesperson said.

In an earlier joint statement, the Kazakhstan government had quoted Facebook's Regional Public Policy Director, George Chen, as saying: "We are delighted to provide the 'Content Reporting System' to the Government of Kazakhstan, which we hope can help the government to deal with harmful content in a more efficient and effective manner".

The KazakhA overnment, however, released its own statement, independent from Facebook, and included correspondence between the company and the Kazakh government on its process for government requests and the training the social network provides to governments using the system.

Facebook continues to battle allegations led by whistleblower Frances Haugen and others over users' data privacy and presence of misinformation on its platforms.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has credited the bypoll results to the party workers. He said this win is the victory of ground level workers.

In a tweet on Tuesday said, "Every victory for the Congress is a victory of our party workers. Keep fighting hate. No fear!" The Congress has swept polls in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan while it won one seat in MP, Maharashtra and Karnataka each. It has also won a Lok Sabha seat as its candidate Pratibha Singh won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, a prestige battle for Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur as it falls in his home district, by defeating BJP's greenhorn Brigadier Khushal Thakur (retired), a decorated officer who played a crucial role in the 1999 Kargil war, by a slender margin of 8,766 votes.

The Congress won all three Assembly constituencies -- Arki, Fatehpur and Jubbal-Kotkhai -- of Himachal Pradesh in bypolls.

The Congress has won both the seats -- Vallabhnagar and Dhariyawad -- in Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "What is more important, is for people to see who is most viable option that they need to support against BJP, and I think Congress is fast emerging as that option." The Congress has however, faired well where it was in direct contest with the BJP. In Bihar, Congress has not been the first choice despite the party contesting all alone. The main contest was between the RJD and the JDU.

The party won the lone seat in Maharashtra and wrested one seat from BJP in Karnataka while it got one seat in MP.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : India is reviewing the Taliban's offer to resume work on Tapi (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) gas supply pipeline, as the security issues remain a challenge, official sources said.

According to the officials, India is reviewing the Taliban's offer as the security concerns, both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, remain a constant challenge..

"Pakistan wants this project to be limited to its own country, it will create all sorts of trouble so that this project does not reach India. Pakistan's hostile attitude towards India has been continuing especially after the Taliban took over Afghanistan wherein it has been actively involved in the proxy war by sending terrorists to India.

"India has adopted a careful watch on the situation after the new regime under Taliban and see how the new government ensures the security for this project," an official said.

However, strategic experts said that there are many challenges in getting this project materialised in the changed perspectives from Indian point of view.

Expressing apprehensions about the TAPI project, they said that credible actions against terrorism have not been assured either by Afghanistan or Pakistan, therefore, this project seems to be unviable for India as of now.

"Recently Turkmenistan Foreign Minister was in Kabul to discuss work on TAPI initially to supply gas to Pakistan. Although the dialogue mechanism for TAPI with the four countries has gone on, the realisation has been held back due to instability in Afghanistan and deterioration in Indo-Pak relations," former diplomat Ambassador Anil Trigunayat told IANS.

"As Pakistan is refusing to take any credible measures against cross-border terrorism or home-based terror groups, I do not forsee TAPI acquiring significant momentum as far as India the biggest eventual consumer is concerned," he added.

There have been two issues which would be withholding the effective execution of this project up to India. One is the turbulent situation in Afghanistan and the India- Pakistan relationship is not good, so the successful execution of this project remains under the cloud.

Former Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis and Professor of International Studies at the Delhi University, Sanjeev Srivastava, also said that prevailing situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan's hostile attitudes towards India are the major hurdles in this gas line project.

"India has a constructive approach to this project and following the wait and watch policy until we are assured by the two stakeholders, Afghanistan and Pakistan, that they will not let the ultras use their soil for terror activities, this project seems to be unrealistic for India as of now." India is closely observing the talks between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on this issue, he added.

He further explained that there has not been any dialogue between India and Pakistan and India has no reasons to believe Pakistan as it has been pushing terrorists to India.

A TAPI gas pipeline could have fulfilled the majority energy requirements of India and could have reduced the dependence on crude oil import but reviewing the situation in neighboring countries, the India government has diversified its ambit to fulfill the energy requirement.

"India has already been looking for other alternatives such as importing oil from the US, giving impetus to battery operated vehicles to reduce the oil import," Srivastava added.

Giving the first indication that the resumption of the TAPI gas pipeline project will start soon in Afghanistan, acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, after a meeting with Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov on October 31 in Kabul, said they talked about the TAPI gas pipeline project, whose implementation in Afghanistan will start soon.

Conceived in 2014 and seeing work begin in 2015, the 1814-km-long pipeline was envisaged to enter India at Punjab's Fazilka. However, the turbulent situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's support to terrorists both in India and Afghanistan have become a major road block to this ambitious project.
Chennai, Nov 2 : The drastic increase in raw material prices seems to have contributed to the jump in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in October 2021 than the real growth in the economy, an official of Consortium of Indian Associations (CIA) said.

CIA Convenor K. Raghunathan also said the committee set up by the Tamil Nadu government for the revival of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) should come out with its report at the earliest.

"The GST collections in Oct 2021 should not be compared with the collections during the corresponding period last year as the nation was under lockdown. Even comparing the GST collections logged in Oct 2019 with that of October 2021, there may be much to crow about," Raghunathan told IANS.

CIA is a consortium of about 70 industry bodies present across the country.

Raghunathan and another industrialist, not wanting to be identified, said there has been a huge increase in raw material prices during the last two years.

"In terms of the number of units produced, the quantum would be lower than the normal output. The hike in raw material prices is the reason for achieving high GST collections without any physical growth," the Coimbatore-based industrialist told IANS.

According to Raghunathan, the prices of steel, aluminium, and fuel have increased and so have the production costs.

He also said micro industries can file GST returns once in three months and the October 2021 remittance includes the three months collection of many under quarter units, which was not there in 2019.

Similarly, items like Covid-19 vaccine, personal protection equipment, sanitisers, and similar other items were not there in 2019, Raghunathan said.

Further the high exports due to half yearly closing and easing of container shortage in July and August also contributed to GST collections last month.

"So, if one factors the above, the GST collection last month, might even be lower than that of October 2019," Raghunathan added.

On Monday, the Central government said the gross GST revenue collected in the month of October 2021 stood at Rs. 130,127 crore, which is a growth of 24 per cent over the GST revenues in the same month last year and 36 per cent over 2019-20.

The revenue for October is also the second highest ever since the introduction of GST, second only to that in April 2021, which is related to year-end revenues.
Guwahati, Nov 2 : The ruling BJP and its ally United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) in Assam on Tuesday swept all the five assembly seats where bypolls were held on Saturday. The Bharatiya Janata Party won the Bhabanipur, Thowra and Mariani Assembly seats with big margins while its partner UPPL secured the Gossaigaon and Tamulpur seats.

Congratulating the victorious BJP and UPPL candidates, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that winning in all five constituencies in the bypolls by huge margins is a loud endorsement of people's faith in the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda.

With Tuesday's victory, the BJP's strength in the 126-member assembly increased to 62 and the UPPL now has seven members. Another BJP ally, the Asom Gana Parishad, which did not field any candidate in the bypolls, has nine MLAs. The Congress and the AIUDF's strength has now been reduced to 27 and 15 respectively. The Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) has three members, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Raijor Dal have one member each. One seat (Majuli) of the assembly was lying vacant after Union Minister and former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal resigned from the House following his election to the Rajya Sabha on September 27.

In the March-April elections, the opposition Congress won the Thowra and Mariani Assembly seats while the Muslim dominated party All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) succeeded in the Bhabanipur seat. The UPPL retained its Tamulpur seat but wrested the Gossaigaon seat from the Bodoland People's Front (BPF). BJP nominee Phanidhar Talukdar retained the Bhabanipur seat defeating Congress candidate Sailendra Nath Das by a margin of 25,641 votes. He won the seat as a All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) candidate and subsequently joined the BJP.

BJP candidate Rupjyoti Kurmi, who was earlier elected to the state assembly four times as a Congress nominee and recently joined the saffron party, retained the Mariani seat thrashing Congress candidate Luhit Konwar by a margin of 40,104 votes. Another Congress turned BJP candidate Sushanta Borgohain retained the Thowra seat for the third time by defeating independent candidate Dhaijya Konwar by a margin of 30,561 votes. UPPL candidate Jiron Basumatary won the Gossaigaon seat defeating the Congress nominee Jowel Tudu by a margin of 28,252 votes while UPPL candidate Jolen Daimary won the Tamulpur seat by a record margin of 57,059 votes defeating independent aspirant Ganesh Kachary.

The bypolls were necessitated due to the Covid-related deaths of two sitting MLAs belonging to the UPPL and the Bodoland People's Front, while two Congress and an AIUDF legislator joined the BJP after quitting their Assembly membership.

In the by-elections, 73.77 per cent of around 8 lakh eligible electors cast their votes to decide the electoral fortune of 31 candidates.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin met the parents of a 17-year-old girl who committed suicide three days after she took the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Stalin met the parents of 17-year-old T. Soundharya at the Vellore circuit house on Tuesday. Her father Thirunavakarasu and her mother Rukmini are daily wage earners and they told the Chief Minister that Soundharya was a brilliant student and had scored 510 out of 600 marks in the plus two examinations.

Soundharya who had taken NEET on September 12 committed suicide on September 15 at her home after her parents had gone to work. She was a Class 12 student of Thottapalayam Higher Secondary school at Katpadi in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government had constituted the Justice (rtd) Rajan commission to study the impact of NEET in the state. The report has said that there was a clear divide between the Urban and Rural students and that students from poor backgrounds would be at a disadvantage in NEET.

Four students had committed suicide during the NEET exam with a student taking his life before the examination and three others after the examination on September 12.
Bengaluru, Nov 2 : Basavangudi Women's Police in Bengaluru, Karnataka have registered an FIR against a person for his addiction to porn sites and late night chats with call girls, police said on Tuesday.

The FIR had been lodged based on the complaint by his spouse, a 36-year woman as per the instructions of the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Monday.

The woman had approached court, alleging that she has been harassed by her husband for questioning his addiction to porn sites.

The complainant has informed that she got married to the accused on November 11, 2019. He had received Rs 2 lakh cash and Rs 1 lakh worth gold jewels as dowry. In a short time, she came to know that her husband is addicted to porn sites.

She had complained to his parents about his addictions. They had reprimanded him and asked the complainant to give him another chance to correct himself.

However, her husband's addictions went from bad to worse. He didn't make any amends. He subscribed to porn sites, indulged in late night chats with call girls and spent money on them. When questioned about this, he started harassing her.

The accused has also put up his profile on matrimonial sites claiming that he is a divorcee. She pleaded the court to direct police to investigate the matter. The police is investigating the matter.

Basavanagudi Women's police have registered a case of dowry harassment, domestic harassment and also booked him under IT Act. Further investigation is on.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Chinese families have been encouraged to stockpile daily necessities, prompting panic buying, amid surging vegetable prices linked to recent extreme weather, fears of supply shortages and an ongoing Covid outbreak, The Guardian reported.

A notice posted on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce late on Monday urged local authorities to stabilise prices and families "to store a certain amount of daily necessities as needed to meet daily life and emergencies".

It prompted some alarm and speculation, including that it related to increasing tensions with Taiwan. Related hashtags were viewed more than 18 million times, the report said.

"As soon as this news came out, all the old people near me went crazy panic buying in the supermarket," wrote one user on Weibo.

State media urged calm and Zhu Xiaoliang, a senior commerce ministry official, told broadcaster CCTV "the supply of daily necessities is sufficient everywhere," but varying explanations were offered for the notice.

Some said the commerce department often releases such warnings in the weeks before national holidays while the People's Daily said the ministry had issued its instruction earlier this year because of natural disasters, the surge in vegetable prices and recent Covid cases, the report added.

The Economic Daily, a state-backed newspaper, warned residents against having "too much of an overactive imagination" but also said the directive was linked to the outbreak and was to ensure people were prepared in the event of a lockdown.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : China has increased its daily coal production by over one million tonnes per day, easing its energy shortage as world leaders gather in Britain for climate talks billed as one of the last chances to avert catastrophic global warming, Daily Mail reported.

But in a blow to the COP26 summit, China's president Xi Jinping will not even give a 'virtual' speech in Glasgow, instead only submit a written statement, the report said.

The world's biggest coal importer has battled widespread power cuts in recent months - particularly in its industrialised northeast - that have disrupted supply chains, due to strict emissions targets and record prices for the fossil fuel.

But the crisis is now winding down thanks to a boost in domestic coal output, according to a statement from China's top economic planning body late Monday, the report said.

China's National Development and Reform Commission said average daily coal production has risen to above 11.5 million tonnes since the middle of October, up by 1.1 million tonnes compared with the end of September.

The production surge comes as world leaders - but not Jinping - convene in Glasgow for COP26 talks to secure more ambitious global greenhouse gas emissions.

Xi, whose country is the world's largest emitter of planet-heating gases, has instead submitted a written statement to the summit, the report added.

The energy shortage also pushed China to take other drastic measures, with Radio Free Asia (RFA) saying that the country is defying UN sanctions by purchasing coal from neighbouring North Korea.

Citing Chinese sources, RFA said that North Korean companies are smuggling the fuel in small ships and offloading it at sea, despite a 2017 UN ban on North Korean coal exports to limit its source of funds for its nuclear weapons programme.

The coal-smuggling trading companies are run by powerful North Korean government organisations, RFA reported, citing a trade official from North Pyongang, the report said.
Panaji, Nov 2 : The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday urged the Goa State Commission for Women to direct the police to re-investigate the mysterious death of a 19-year-old girl who was found dead at the popular Calangute beach in August this year.

A delegation of Trinamool leaders also submitted a memorandum to the Commission.

"The main demand is for the case to be re-investigated. If there is no progress in the Siddhi Naik case, the Goa Trinamool will approach the Judicial Magistrate next," party leader Swati Kerkar told reporters.

Trinamool leaders have also raised the issue of women's safety in the state in wake of a series of murders and sexual assaults reported over the last two months.

"It is high time we prioritise the safety of women in Goa. There should be CCTV cameras and a patrolling unit on beaches to effectively check criminal activities," the memorandum to the Commission said.

Last month, a delegation of Trinamool leaders including party MP Mahua Moitra and Babul Supriyo met the family of Siddhi Naik and assured that the issue of the shoddy police probe would be raised in Parliament.

The 19-year-old girl, a resident of Nachinola village in North Goa, was missing since the morning of August 12 and a missing complaint was filed by her father with the Calangute police station. The body was found, in a partially clothed state, on the following day at Calangute beach. A post mortem has ruled out any sexual assault and murder, while identifying the cause of death as drowning.

Siddhi's father, Santosh, has however demanded that the case should be registered and investigated as a murder, raising red flags about the police investigation.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : At least 13 people were injured in a blast near the Chief Chowk in Balochistan's Kharan on Tuesday afternoon, Samaa TV reported.

The injured people have been moved to the hospital. The police and Rangers personnel have, on the other hand, cordoned off the area. A search operation is underway.

According to the police, the bomb was installed on a motorcycle. Around five to four kg of explosives were used in the attack, the report said.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudus Bizenjo has condemned the attack and called it "an attempt of anti-nationalist organisations to disrupt peace in the province".

"Such acts of terrorism won't dampen our spirits," he pointed out, instructing the authorities to ensure the provision of proper medical treatment for the injured people.

This is the third explosion in Balochistan in a week. On Monday, a man was killed and two people injured after a bomb, installed in a car, exploded near Hub.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and three injured in a blast in Pajgur on Sunday. The explosives were installed on a motorcycle. Officials said that the bombing was apparently targeted at the FC vehicle, the report said.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Tuesday and discussed ways to step up activities in India under Mission Innovation -- a multinational initiative to accelerate public and private global clean energy innovations.

Meeting Bill Gates on the sidelines of COP26 Summit in the UK's Glasgow, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the work being done by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in India.

Bill Gates briefed Prime Minister on the progress of Mission Innovation, and they discussed ways to step up activities in India under it, as well as promising opportunities in areas like green hydrogen, aviation fuels, battery storage, and vaccine research.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : CPI-M leader Brinda Karat on Tuesday alleged personnel conducting RT-PCR tests in Delhi government centres have not been trained properly.

In a letter to Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, she wrote that after coming in contact with a Covid-19 positive person, she and several other CPI-M members went to the nearest government centre to their office at Mandir Marg to get tested.

"There the test was conducted taking swab from the tongue and not from the throat, even though the test itself is known as the Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal (OP/NP) test, which requires a deep throat swab collection.

"When I questioned the person conducting the test, I was informed that this is what they have been trained to do... My apprehension is that this could lead to incorrect results, if the test is not conducted following the strict protocol," she said in her letter.

She said that she doubted whether this is restricted to only one centre.

Karat has asked the Delhi Health Minister to look into this matter and correct any omissions in the training procedures.

"I would also like to mention that the staff in the Centre are not to be blamed as they seem to be running the Centre quite efficiently," she added.
Glasgow, Nov 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on the sidelines of COP26 in the UK's Glasgow on Tuesday.

In their first meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral strategic partnerships and expressed satisfaction over the progress made in diverse sectors. They agreed on further expanding cooperation, especially in the areas of high technology and innovation.

Recalling that next year would mark 30 years of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Modi extended an invitation to Bennett to visit India.
Gandhinagar, Nov 2 : Continuing with the tradition set up by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Bhupendra Patel will be celebrating Diwali with jawans at at Dhordo, Kutch.

The minister of state for home, Harsh Sanghavi informed this here on Tuesday.

There will be a cultural program at Dhordo with the theme of the Tricolour.

Sanghavi said that he too will be joining this celebrations at Dhordo. "The Gujarat Police and Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department in a joint activity with the BSF, Army, Navy, Indian Coastal Guard, NCC and Gujarat police jawans will present cultural programs with various bands on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The locals will also join with them," said Sanghvi.

"The cultural program at Dhordo will be on a theme of our national flag, the Tricolor," added Sanghavi.

Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2021
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) should take care of the country's security, the Modi government will look after their families.

Launching the 'Ayushmaan CAPF' Scheme health cards at the national level here, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always given paramount importance to the interests of the security forces and has taken many steps for their welfare.

According to officials of the Ministry, the scheme has been designed to cover all serving personnel and their dependents of the seven Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs namely Assam Rifles (ARs), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and under this scheme 35,58,773 security personnel will be given this card.

CAPF personnel and their families will now be able to avail cashless in-patient and out-patient healthcare facilities at all hospitals empanelled under Ayushmaan Bharat PM-JAY or CGHS.

The scheme is a joint initiative of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and National Health Authority (NHA).

Under this scheme 32,972 troopers of the NSG, 2,35,132 of Assam Rifles, 3,33,243 of ITBP, 2,54,573 of SSB, 4,66,927 of CISF, 10,48,928 of BSF, 11,86,998 of CRPF will be facilitated.

Th Home Minister launched the scheme by handing over the Ayushmaan card to a personnel. He also handed over 'Ayushmaan CAPF' Scheme health cards to the NSG Director General for distribution to NSG personnel.

From Tuesday onwards, health cards distribution will be undertaken in all CAPFs and the number of cards distributed will be displayed on the website of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on a daily basis. The distribution of about 35 Lakh cards will be completed by December, 2021.

Shah had launched 'Ayushmaan CAPF' scheme on Pilot basis in Assam on January 23, 2021 to provide healthcare services to all CAPFs personnel and their dependents.

As a part of celebration of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' it was decided that the process of making of health cards was speeded up and now all 35 lakh cards will be distributed to Force personnel and their family members by December, 2021.

The pan-India roll out of Ayushmaan Scheme for CAPFs will provide seamless access to healthcare services to all serving CAPF personnel and their dependents anywhere in the country at all AB PM-JAY and CGHS empanelled hospitals.

To enable seamless services to security forces's beneficiaries, the NHA has created appropriate mechanism with a dedicated toll-free helpline 14588, an online grievance management system, and a stringent fraud and abuse detection, prevention and control system, the officials added.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Senior Congress leader and former Union minister, Salman Khurshid on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) Vinod Rai for maligning his party on the 2G spectrum issue.

Addressing media persons, he said that the affidavit of Vinod Rai to Sanjay Nirupam that what he said during the 2G spectrum issue was untrue proved that Rai "had thrown all morality, honesty, and decency to the wind".

He demanded that all those who raised the issue including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rai, Gen V.K. Singh (retd), Kiran Bedi, Baba Ramdev, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Anna Hazare apologise to the nation.

Khurshid said that Rai is presently the Chairman of the Banking Services Recruitment Board, but has not uttered a single word on the "huge banking scam" that was taking place in the country after the Narendra Modi government took over in 2014.

He said that there was not a single statement from the former C&AG regarding the 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank bank fraud as well as several other banking scams that had rocked the nation. He said that Rai was silent on Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya, and several others who had fled the country after committing banking fraud amounting to thousands of crores.

He said that the impact of 2G spectrum scam was affecting the Congress even today and that along with the party, the country has also suffered, citing the rise in fuel prices "and the kind of corruption that was never witnessed before".

Noting that Rai's affidavit fully exposed "the conspiracy to malign, defame and bring down the UPA government led by Congress", he said that the party would raise the matter in every forum, including the Winter session of the Parliament. He also said that the court had not found any evidence of wrongdoing in 2G spectrum allocation.
Gandhinagar, Nov 2 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders in Gujarat has slammed the attack on a Dalit family in a village in Kutch allegedly over their entry in a temple, calling for an end to caste-based discriminatory practices.

"The RSS Sarsanghchalak (Mohan Bhagwat) had made a call to the society and RSS workers two to three years back to create an atmosphere which allowed temple entry to all, source of water or cremation ground to all in a village," said Bharat Patel, RSS Gujarat Prant Sanghchalak. He was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal (ABKM), organised at RSS office in Ahmedabad.

"We condemn all kinds of violence against mankind not only in India, but anywhere in the world. ABKM workers in Gujarat go out in villages and other places, wherever we hear about such ill practises of caste discrimination are being followed and amicably and peacefully resolve them," Bharat Patel told IANS.

Six members of a Dalit family at Ner village in Bhachau taluka of Kutch were, according to the FIR, assaulted by a group of 20 persons, on October 26 following which police detained seven accused.

The injured victims of Dalit family claimed that they were specifically targeted after they entered Ram temple in the village during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ritual, the police said.

They have been admitted in a civil hospital in Bhuj of Kutch following the attack.

Patel also said that an annual ABKM meet of senior RSS functionaries was held at Dharwad in Karnataka recently in which a resolution was passed to condemn the recent incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

"We urge the Bangladesh government not just to arrest the accused involved in the attack but also ensure that the minority community over there can live peacefully," said Patel.
Vrindavan :Widows lighting earthen lamps and making Rangoli with Flowers to celebrate Diwali on the bank of River Yamuna in Vrindavan on Tuesday November 02,2021.(PHOTO:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Vrindavan :Widows lighting earthen lamps and making Rangoli with Flowers to celebrate Diwali on the bank of River Yamuna in Vrindavan on Tuesday November 02,2021.(PHOTO:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Vrindavan :Widows lighting earthen lamps and making Rangoli with Flowers to celebrate Diwali on the bank of River Yamuna in Vrindavan on Tuesday November 02,2021.(PHOTO:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Vrindavan :Widows lighting earthen lamps and making Rangoli with Flowers to celebrate Diwali on the bank of River Yamuna in Vrindavan on Tuesday November 02,2021.(PHOTO:IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra, Nov 2 : The Yamuna ghats in Vrindavan were lit up when over a hundred widows breaking social taboos and conventional shackles, joined Diwali festivities, Tuesday evening. In the past, Hindu widows were treated as "inauspicious" and were prevented from participating in festivals or other joyous occasions. Not so now.

Judicial activism, spread of education, have ushered in a new era of socio-cultural changes, says Madan Jha, of the Sulabh International, which organised the programme at the famous Keshi Ghat.

The widows lit up colourful Diyas, earthen lamps, at the beautifully decorated Yamuna bank. The colourful Rangolis drew appreciation from a big crowd that cheered the women. The chanting of mantras and bhajans, with spirited group dances, added lusty flavour to the festive occasion.

Jha said This was the ninth year in a row when widows participated in the celebration of lights, organised by Sulabh Hope Foundation under the mentorship of Eminent Social reformer Dr Bindeshwar Pathak.

Thousands of widows, mostly from West Bengal, live in Vrindavan for decades and they were not allowed to take part in rituals, till social organisation Sulabh extended them a helping hand, added Vinita verma, Vice President of the organisation.

One of the widows Manu Ghosh says she is "motivated by the series of revolutionary initiatives. Widows are now happy and enjoying stay in Vrindavan." With an aim to bringing a ray of happiness and counter the tradition of widowhood, noted social reformer Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Movement came up with this unique idea. Sulabh looks after hundreds of widows living in various ashrams in Vrindavan and Varanasi since 2012.

On a routine basis, Sulabh provides them medical facilities and vocational training besides meeting their day-to-day needs so that they do not feel left out during the twilight years of their lives.

It may me mentioned here that in the light of Supreme Court's directives, Sulabh takes care of widows living in various ashrams.

Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2021
Guwahati/Shillong/Aizawl, Nov 2 : The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)swept all the ten Assembly seats in four northeastern states - Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland - where bypolls were held last month.

The results, announced on Tuesday, would not only lead to NDA constituents increase their strengths in the respective Assemblies but also, according to political pundits, would influence the upcoming Assembly polls in Manipur (2022), and Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, and Mizoram (in 2023).

Increasing their vote share compared to the March-April assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party won the Bhabanipur, Thowra and Mariani Assembly seats while its partner United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) succeeded in the Gossaigaon and Tamulpur seats with a record margin of votes.

The NDA allies -- National People's Party (NPP) led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and United Democratic Party (UDP) won all three seats in Meghalaya, and the Mizo National Front (MNF), of Chief Minister Zoramthanga, and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, won one seat each in Mizoram and Nagaland, respectively.

The NDPP candidate, however, was elected unopposed in the Shamator-Chessore seat.

Besides Assam, the BJP heads the governments in Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

After the declaration of the bypoll results on Tuesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited the election success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Due to the Prime Minister's all-out mission for the multifaceted development of northeastern states, people giving their whole hearted support to the NDA allies. With our success in all the states, BJP and NDA's responsibility further widened," observed Sarma, who is also the convener of the BJP-led anti-Congress alliance of regional parties -- North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

The Congress, which had governed these states for many decades, scored zero.

State Assam chief Bhupen Kumar Borah, however, said that this election has greatly strengthened the party's base in the five constituencies and this would prove to be invaluable to the party in the future.

"Naturally, as a political party, we would have been delighted to win the election but we are not dejected simply because we lost. The general public thinks that being on the side of the ruling party would lead to the development of their area and this is only natural," he said.

Criticising the BJP government, Borah claimed that a total of 3,243 people in the state committed suicide between now and 2019, due to the situation caused by Covid pandemic, and asked if this was an example of the "people- oriented" development of the BJP government?" In the 126-member Assam Assembly, the BJP had won 60 seats in the elections earlier this year, which was similar to the number it won five years ago, but after the bypoll results, its strength increased to 62, and of the ruling alliance to 78, with UPPL's seven members and Asom Gana Parishad's nine MLAs.

While BJP fought the byelections with its two allies - UPPL and AGP, the Congress, which led a 10-party 'Mahajot' (grand alliance) in the March-April Assembly polls and bagged 29 seats, fought the bypolls almost alone.

Two former 'Mahajot' allies - Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Hagrama Mahilary-led Bodoland People's Front (BPF) - had fielded separate candidates in at least three seats dividing the non-BJP vote.

The Congress tried to forge an alliance with the influential peasant leader and rights activist Akhil Gogoi led Raijor Dal but due to seat sharing disputes, the alliance could not materialise.

Political commentator and writer Sushanta Talukdar said : "Both BJP and the Congress have high stakes in Assam and the outcome of the bypolls are likely to influence the upcoming Assembly polls in the neighbouring states." "The Congress might be trying to consolidate its position in the northeast on its own but reality shows that it has to take the support of the other non-BJP parties, specially the local parties," Talukdar, the editor of multilingual online portal 'nezine', told IANS.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Chennai, Nov 2 : The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has taken action against a lower primary school for maintaining attendance register of students on the basis of their caste.

The students were divided into three batches following Covid-19 restrictions but instead of dividing them on the basis of alphabetical order, the children were divided on caste lines. The GCC pulled up the school and directed to discontinue the practice immediately.

The school headmistress told media persons that it was unintentional and that the students were earlier also had caste put against their name in attendance register.

The headmistress also said that this was only for administrative purposes and that students will not know of the castes of their classmates.

Deputy Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation, D. Sneha told media persons, "The issue is sorted out and the attendance register is corrected. It seems to have been unintentional as per oral investigation." The Deputy Commissioner said that the attendance is now maintained in alphabetic manner. She said that the Assistant Education Officers are directed to check the attendance registers of schools under GCC.

C. Rajeev, Director, Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai told IANS, "This is shocking, how can the headmistress go scot-free after maintaining an attendance register on caste basis. While the government is trying to fizzle out the caste feel among the people, teachers are intentionally injecting caste consciousness in minor children. Stringent action must be taken against those who have erred."
Glasgow, Nov 2 : At the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Bill Gates, the Founder of Breakthrough Energy, together with European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer, on Tuesday officially entered into a pioneering partnership that will boost investments in critical climate technologies.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding follows up on the initial announcement made in June this year at the Mission Innovation Ministerial Conference.

The partnership between the commission, European Investment Bank and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst will mobilise up to 820 million euro ($1 billion) between 2022-2026 to accelerate the deployment and rapidly commercialise innovative technologies that will help deliver European Green Deal ambitions and the EU's 2030 climate targets.

Each Euro of public fund is expected to leverage three Euros of private funds. Investments will be directed towards a portfolio of EU-based projects with high potential in four sectors -- clean hydrogen; sustainable aviation fuels; direct air capture; and long-duration energy storage.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: "The time for action is now. The climate challenge requires us to invest in high-risk innovations and to eliminate the 'green premium' involved in commercialising new technologies." "I cannot wait to see the technologies coming to the market. The EU-Catalyst partnership is another step on the way to making Europe the first climate neutral and climate innovation continent. I look to Member States, industry and others to join the climate innovation race." Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, said: "To meet the Paris climate goals we need a global technological revolution and massive investments in game-changing innovations. The European Investment Bank has a strong track record of financing early stage technologies, helping scale them up to become more affordable.

"Today we are using this expertise to reach the EU's ambitious climate targets. I am delighted that we can announce today a new partnership with the European Commission and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst to support the green solutions of tomorrow and build a green future for all of us." Bill Gates, Founder of Breakthrough Energy, said: "Reaching net-zero will be one of the hardest things humanity has ever done. It will require new technologies, new policies, and new partnerships between the private and public sector at a scale we have never seen before.

"This partnership with the European Commission and European Investment Bank will help accelerate the widespread adoption of climate solutions, which will build clean industries, and create job opportunities throughout Europe for generations to come."
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 : The opposing sides in in the faction-ridden Congress in Kerala appear to be in no mood to lie low as was seen at the first meeting of the newly-constituted committee of the party which met here on Tuesday.

Since the defeat of the Congress-led UDF in the April 6 Assembly polls, the party party high command has literally taken over the affairs of the party and brought in those they wished - K. Sudhakaran was appointed the new state President and V.D. Satheesan the Leader of Opposition.

This irked the traditional faction managers in the party - Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, who have literally been sidelined by the high command and this forced the two to unite to take on their "common enemy".

However, Sudhakaran by now has given enough hints that he wouldn't mind taking on his adversaries, even if it comes to resorting to the ballot, as the organisational polls to elect the national President of the party are round the corner, and he is ready to contest for the state President's post.

The last time a state President came through the ballot was in the early 1990s when Vayalar Ravi thumped A.K.Antony and since then the state party chief has always been nominated by the high command.

According to a source who did not wished to be identified, those leaders who are known supporters of the Chandy-Chennithala duo appear to have declared war on Sudhakaran and it surfaced in the meeting also.

Sudhakaran, who is known for his tough demeanour, made it clear in the meeting that indiscipline would not be tolerated and public utterances will be treated toughly and asked all to air their views and opinion in the party forum only.

The first meeting of the newly-constituted organisational body of the state unit saw two former state Presidents - immediate former incumbent Mullapally Ramachandran and V.M.Sudheeran - missing, as they are not on the same page with Sudhakaran, nor are they close to the Chandy-Chennithala group.
Patna, Nov 3 : Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United managed to win both the seats where a bypoll was held last week.

While in Kusheshwar Asthan, it managed to win convincingly with a big margin votes against the RJD candidate, there was neck-and-neck fight between these two parties in Tarapur till the last round.

In Kusheshwar Asthan, JD-U's Aman Bhushan Hajari defeated RJD's Ganesh Bharti with a margin of 12,698 votes, but in Tarapur, the close contest went on till the second last round, before JD-U candidate Rajiv Kumar Singh defeated RJD's Arun Shah by a small margin of 3,821 votes.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said: "We have nothing to lose in this election. We are the single largest party in Bihar Assembly with 75 seats. We had a close fight in Tarapur and the match went till second last over. The vote percentage also increased in these two seats." "In Kusheshwar Asthan, the JD-U candidate gained sympathy votes as his father was elected as MLA in 2020 Assembly election. Winning and losing is part of the election. The people of Bihar want change and our fight against the NDA will continue." "We have pointed out concerns before the constitutional institution (Election Commission). We also respect the institution. We have always pointed out issues with proof and it will continue," he added.

JD-U state President Umesh Kushwaha said: "RJD chief said that he has a formula before the result of by-election to demolish Nitish Kumar government. I don't understand what formula he has and what kind of formula or equation he has. The number is with us and after winning these two seats, we achieved more strength in the Bihar Assembly." "Lalu Yadav, through his claim to demolish the Nitish Kumar government is just fooling the voters. We believe that the voters knew everything. He wants to cheat the people of Bihar." BJP's OBC wing General Secretary Nikhil Anand said: "The crown prince of RJD Tejashwi Yadav's propaganda failed in this by-election. RJD threw seriously ill Lalu Prasad in this by-election but eventually lost. Congress leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Hardik Patel, and Jignesh Mevani also tried to play the role of 'Vote Katwa' to help the RJD but they also failed." Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad, blamed senior leaders including RJD state President Jagadand Singh, RJD Vice President Shivanand Tiwari, senior RJD leader Sunil Singh and others for defeat.

"These leaders have projected Tejashwi Yadav as leader of the party. These leaders have not taken every leader to unite the party. These people had been taken by an ill father in the election campaign. If we have to fight any contest, we have to fight together. In this case, the party leaders did not take every leader with them," he said.

"Shivanand Tiwar was having lunch with my father Lalu Prasad on Tuesday... People like him eat on our plate and defeat us. They come to our party to defeat us. Due to their acts, my younger brother lost the election. I can understand what kind of pain he is undergoing at the moment," Tej Pratap said.
Glasgow, Nov 3 : Calling upon the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) to work closely to protect the interests of developing countries, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav urged that climate finance cannot continue at the levels decided in 2009 and it should be at least $1 trillion to meet with the goals of addressing climate change.

The Environment Minister was speaking at the Ministerial meeting of the LMDC on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow. The meeting was presided by the Bolivian President, Luis Alberto Arce Catacora and the participating countries in the meeting included India, China, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Underlining the unity and strength of LMDC as fundamental in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations to preserve the interest of the global south in fight against climate change, Yadav highlighted that recognition of the current challenges being faced by developing countries required intensified multilateral cooperation, not intensified global economic and geopolitical competition and trade wars, a release from the Ministry said.

The Environment Minister underscored that under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is working on ambitious climate actions in line with sustainable development priorities. He requested the LMDC members to join hands with India to support the global initiatives it has pioneered, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).

The Minister also appreciated the efforts of the Third World Network (TWN) for its support to LMDC and expressed the need to ensure resources to TWN, the release added.

Yadav called upon the LMDC countries to work closely to protect the interests of developing countries, including the need to ensure a balanced outcome with equal treatment to all agenda items, including finance, adaptation, market mechanisms, response measures, and decisions on delivery of transfer of environment friendly technologies.

The countries collectively underscored that it needs to be ensured that the voices of the LMDC countries are heard loud and clear. The outcomes of COP26 must respect the fundamental principles of Convention, including equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).

The developed countries must provide means of implementation to developing countries in terms of climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building. They highlighted the empty promises of the developed countries and inability to deliver the $100 billion per year by 2020. They also called upon the speedy finalization of the Paris Rulebook.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Jerusalem, Nov 3 : Leaders of Israel and Bahrain met for the first time since the two countries normalized their ties on the sidelines of the climate summit in Glasgow, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met on Tuesday with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, United Kingdom, the statement added.

A "historic first meeting" was held between senior leaders of the two countries, the statement said, without elaborating on the content of their talk, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel and Bahrain signed a US-brokered normalization deal in September 2020.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Glasgow Nov 3 : United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres spoke highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposals of upholding multilateral consensus, focusing on concrete actions and accelerating the green transition to address global climate change.

Guterres made positive comments on Monday on Xi's written statement for the World Leaders Summit at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change when he held talks with Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative of Xi and China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Zhao Yingmin, Head of the Chinese delegation to COP26 and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Guterres said he hopes the Chinese delegation would, as always, give full play to its influence at COP26, strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, and contribute to the success of COP26, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two sides also exchanged views in depth on issues that include strengthening pragmatic cooperation among all parties, promoting the green transition, enhancing political mutual trust between the South and North, fulfilling the pledges of financial and technical support to developing countries, and working together to cope with climate change.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Beijing, Nov 3 : A Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said the problems in US democracy can only be solved by the American people themselves, and that fake democracy will certainly meet resistance from the international community.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a query on the results of a recent poll by the US National Public Radio, which showed that 81 per cent of American people believe democracy in the country faces a severe threat.

Noting that China takes no interest in commenting on how American people view democracy in their country, Wang said democracy should be a right enjoyed by all people rather than a patent held by certain countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added that whether or not a country is democratic should be judged by its people rather than by a few people from the outside.

"There are multiple ways to realize democracy, and it is impossible to expect all countries to follow the exact same pattern." Democracy in the United States has its own problems, and these problems can only be solved by the American people themselves, rather than by other countries, Wang said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson added the paths and modes of democracy in different countries should be suited to their own national conditions and development, and should be explored and developed by the countries' citizens themselves.

He pointed out that peddling one's own mode of democracy through force, coercion and pressure is in total violation of that democracy, and that it is hegemonism under the pretext of democracy, which will only intensify division and confrontation and lead to conflict and chaos.

"These acts of fake democracy are sure to meet resistance and opposition from the international community," the Spokesperson said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
archTIS Joins Microsoft Intelligent Security Association "Our members, like archTIS, share Microsofts commitment to collaboration within the cybersecurity community to improve our customers ability to predict, detect, and respond to security threats faster." - Maria Thomson, Microsoft Intelligent Security Association Lead

archTIS, a global technology provider of innovative solutions for secure collaboration of sensitive information, today announced it has become a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) to defend customers against increasingly sophisticated, fast-moving threats. The collaboration makes it even easier for customers to discover and enable integrations with Microsoft 365 applications and Microsoft Azure Sentinel to support their data security needs, with archTIS solutions listed in the MISA partner catalog.

Kurt Mueffelmann, Global COO and US President of archTIS, said, Our membership in MISA deepens our long-standing relationship with Microsoft and commitment to customer security. He continued, NC Protects integration with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure Sentinel use Microsofts core security and augment it with granular, data-centric security and unique capabilities using Microsoft Information Protection labels and enabling upstream actions with Azure Sentinel to enhance data security and protect against threats.

The combined data protection capabilities of Microsoft and archTIS NC Protect product enable granular attribute-based access control (ABAC) and protection of sensitive information across Microsoft applications in the cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments.

Maria Thomson, Microsoft Intelligent Security Association Lead, said, The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association has grown into a vibrant ecosystem comprised of the most reliable and trusted security software vendors across the globe. Our members, like archTIS, share Microsofts commitment to collaboration within the cybersecurity community to improve our customers ability to predict, detect, and respond to security threats faster.

NC Protects core Microsoft integrations for delivering dynamic, data-centric security include:



Microsoft Information Protection: NC Protect uses key Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) capabilities to provide fine-grained, data-centric security for collaboration in Microsoft 365 applications including Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Office, Exchange Online and Yammer, as well as SharePoint on-premises. By combining MIP sensitivity labels with NC Protects dynamic ABAC-based policies, customers will benefit from unique capabilities that expand protection and control of information access, collaboration and sharing.

Azure Sentinel - The new NC Protect Data Connector for Azure Sentinel easily ingests user activity and protection logs and their associated events from NC Protect into Azure Sentinel to analyze the data at cloud scale, as well as trigger holistic alerts and remediation actions alongside the dynamic and real-time access controls of NC Protect.

About archTIS

archTIS Limited (ASX:AR9) is a global provider of innovative software solutions for the secure collaboration of sensitive information. The companys award-winning data-centric information security solutions protect the worlds most sensitive content in government, defence, supply chain, enterprises and regulated industries through attribute-based access and control (ABAC) policies. archTIS products include Kojensi, a multi-government certified platform for the secure access, sharing and collaboration of sensitive and classified information; and NC Protect and the cp. suite of products for enhanced information protection for file access and sharing, messaging and emailing of sensitive and classified content across Microsoft 365 apps, Dropbox, Nutanix Files and Windows file shares. For more information visit archtis.com or follow @arch_tis.
VAI, a leading ERP software developer, and Associated Pharmacies, Inc. (API), a subsidiary of American Associated Pharmacies (AAP), are working together to improve API business operations with VAIs S2K Pharma software. The partnership allows API to gain total visibility of warehouse distribution processes and maintain a high level of compliance while accessing the best products and pricing in the market.

For over three decades, API has specialized in warehouse pharmaceutical wholesale distribution, giving over 2,500 independent pharmacies across the US the opportunity to buy products at competitive prices. APIs warehouses are designed to lower the inventory cost and increase margins on Brand Rx, Generic Rx, and OTCs for participating pharmacies. As part of a major cooperative serving as a distribution network for pharmacies, API was faced with the challenge of modernizing operations while following the FDAs Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) guidelines for drug tracking. When evaluating solution providers, it was crucial that API had an ERP solution provider that could streamline operations and support new integrations in compliance with pharmaceutical regulations.

In August 2020, API implemented VAI S2K Pharma ERP software solution. The timing of the partnership came during the COVID-19 pandemic where pharmacies were tasked with new demands and priorities. With S2K Pharma, API can gain stronger insights into the pharmaceutical supply chain, streamline distribution management, and monitor and collect data for reporting and compliance, in one secure environment. With the 2023 deadline to meet DSCSA guidelines looming, API can also rely on S2K Pharma to support accurate tracking and reporting on drug distribution and management.

One of the biggest benefits from our partnership with VAI has been establishing a dedicated team approach. Our partnership strengthens our efficiency and enables faster results for our customers, said Clint King, API President. By leveraging S2K Pharma, we can streamline the distribution experience for our pharmaceutical customers while meeting the changing regulatory needs of the industry.

Challenges within the pharmaceutical industry today are continuously shifting amid the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Claudio Gallina, VP-Pharmaceutical Division, VAI. Our commitment is to work with Associated Pharmacies so they can best utilize their S2K Pharma technology, while maintaining accurate reporting and compliance. Together, we will ensure that the company stays ahead of any developments within the industry even as they prosper and grow.

Looking toward the future, the pharmaceutical supply chain is gearing up to meet the FDAs DSCSA requirements for drug tracking requirements by 2023. To ensure API can meet the deadline, the company is also utilizing VAIs integration with LSPediAs Verification Router Service. With LSPediA, API can rely on the built-in verification router service solution for its compliance needs. By joining forces with API, VAI is helping pharmaceutical distribution companies modernize their operations in compliance with DSCSA before the deadline, while simultaneously improving customers ability to grow their business.

About VAI

VAI is a leading independent mid-market ERP software developer renowned for its flexible solutions and ability to automate critical business functions for the distribution, manufacturing, retail, and service sectors. VAI's software solutions are backed by a wealth of experience and a reputation for excellence that countless companies rely on. With specific ERP solutions for Hard Goods, Food, and Pharmaceutical companies, VAI has helped some of the most recognized companies address key industry requirements and deliver bottom-line results. VAI continues to innovate with new solutions that leverage analytics, business intelligence, mobility, and cloud technology to help customers make more informed business decisions and empower their mobile workforce. For more information, visit http://www.vai.net.

About API

Founded in 1987, Associated Pharmacies, Inc. (API), a subsidiary of American Associated Pharmacies, supplies products to independent pharmacy owners across the US. API members take advantage of savings on brand, generic and OTC products at discounted, volume prices. For more information, visit https://www.rxaap.com/

Media Contacts:

Bridget Devine

Walker Sands

bridget.devine@walkersands.com

(312) 561-2492

Diane Dady

VAI

ddady@vai.net

(631) 619-4729


Throughout my career, Ive always been a restaurateur at heart and sought ways to make a positive impact on the industry. I couldnt think of a better company to join to continue that mission than Black Box Intelligence. I am honored and grateful to join the team. - David Cantu

Black Box Intelligence has announced that 30-year restaurant industry veteran David Cantu has joined the company as chief executive officer. Cantu has long served the hospitality sector as an industry champion and technology innovator.

We are thrilled to have someone of Davids caliber join and lead the Black Box Intelligence management team, said Kevin Ma, managing director of Diversis Capital. Since acquiring Black Box Intelligence earlier this year, weve made significant product upgrades and enhancements while supporting our clients and partners. Most notably, the acquisition of MillerPulse in May more than doubled the dataset within Black Box Financial Intelligence. We knew we needed to bring in a CEO with a proven background as a technology innovator in the restaurant industry to help take the company to the next level. The company is well positioned for significant growth and David is the perfect fit to lead the team through the next chapter and beyond.

Cantu co-founded workforce technology company HotSchedules in 1999. He grew the business to 6,000 restaurant brands managing 120,000 locations supported by 2.8 million hourly workers before merging with Fourth Enterprises in 2019.

Ive followed Black Box Intelligence for many years and have tremendous respect for what theyve built and their position in the marketplace, said David Cantu. Throughout my career, Ive always been a restaurateur at heart and sought ways to make a positive impact on the industry. I couldnt think of a better company to join to continue that mission than Black Box Intelligence. I am honored and grateful to join the team.

Prior to HotSchedules, David worked his way up in restaurant management with Outback Steakhouse and P.F. Changs China Bistro, where he served as an operating partner in San Antonio, TX. David serves on the board of directors for Wisely, a customer engagement platform, and is involved in various restaurant technologies shaping restaurant operations and the guest experience.

Joni & I are delighted to welcome David to the team, said Black Box Intelligence co-founder Wallace Blair Doolin. For over two decades, he has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, a relentless pursuit of innovation and sharp focus on improving the lives of the those that work in and support the restaurant industry.

Black Box Intelligence is the leading performance benchmarking provider for the restaurant industry connecting the dots on people, profits and performance. Their unparalleled dataset reveals insight into financial, workforce, guest and consumer trends from over 300 brands and 87,000 restaurant units. Black Box Intelligence is also the producer of The Best Practices Conference held annually in Dallas, Texas.
2021 BIG RYG Virtual At ChurnZero, part of our mission is to bring Customer Success everywhere for everyone, at all levels, in every location  even if that means from your home office.

BIG RYG Virtual is an online conference for Customer Success leaders and their teams that is taking place on Thursday, November 18, 2021. An acronym for Red, Yellow, and Green, RYG represents the common indicators of customer health. This free half-day virtual event will focus on the everyday issues facing our industry with thoughtful discussions and tangible solutions. Well go beyond problem admiration and leave you with real tactics for real impact.

This is the second annual BIG RYG Virtual conference that ChurnZero is hosting. Last year the event brought in over 5,000 registrations and the team is excited to engage with even more Customer Success and SaaS professionals this year.

At ChurnZero, part of our mission is to bring Customer Success everywhere for everyone, at all levels, in every location  even if that means from your home office, said You Mon Tsang, CEO and Founder of ChurnZero. After just hosting a sold-out, in-person BIG RYG conference in Washington, D.C. last month, we are thrilled to be able to broaden our audience with this free virtual event for everyone in the industry to learn tactical best practices that can be implemented in CS professionals day-to-day immediately.

The BIG RYG Virtual conference offers two tracks of Customer Success focused learnings. The speaker lineup and conference program are now live and will include these among many other sessions:



An Offer You Cant Refuse: Ask Jason Anything  Jason Lemkin Founder & CEO, SaaStr; You Mon Tsang, CEO & Founder, ChurnZero

How Stacked is Your CS Tech Stack? Software vendors want in. Should You let them?  Jay Nathan, Chief Customer Officer, Higher Logic; Greg Rose, Chief Experience Officer, Intellum; Melinda Gonzalez, VP of Customer Success, Pendo

Battling Imposter Syndrome in Customer Success  Sharon Winerton, VP Customer Success, Catalina Marketing

BIG RYG Virtual sponsors include Higher Logic, Intellum, ZoomInfo, ESG, and The Success League.

Register to attend for free at http://bigrygvirtual.churnzero.net.

About ChurnZero

ChurnZero is a real-time Customer Success platform that helps subscription businesses fight customer churn. Its software solutions allow businesses to understand how their customers use their product, assess their health and their likelihood to renew, and give businesses the means to personalize the customer experience through timely and relevant touchpoints. ChurnZero is headquartered in Washington, DC and is backed by leading investment firms such as JMI Equity, Baird Capital, Grotech Ventures and Middleland Capital. For more information visit https://churnzero.net/.
Cybereason, the leader in operation-centric attack protection, announced it was named a 2021 Top HighTech Company to work for in Israel by Dun & Bradstreet. Cybereason ranked #24 out of 50 companies recognized. Cybereasons operation-centric security approach enables defenders to outthink and outpace sophisticated cyber threats from nation-state attackers and cybercriminal groups. This approach has kept Cybereason defenders undefeated against ransomware.

Cybereason recently hired its 1,000 employee and recognition on Duns prestigious list will help us with ambitious hiring goals in the months ahead. We are aggressively looking for talented professionals interested in working for a supportive and inclusive company. The employees are the strength of Cybereason, they have a never-give-up attitude and have enabled us to build the best cybersecurity company in the world, said Lior Div, CEO and Co-founder, Cybereason.

Cybereason is experiencing hypergrowth across the world. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to deliver Cybereason XDR powered by Google Chronicle. In addition, Cybereason recently landed a premier spot on the 2021 CNBC Disruptor 50, a showcase of 50 private companies whose innovations are revolutionizing their industries and our everyday lives.

Div added, At the heart of the Cybereason culture is our UBU value (you be you), our mission of accepting every person as an individual and the wider importance of inclusivity and diversity. It is our mission to continue to build a global team of diverse defenders with a collective strength that comes from acceptance of each one of us, exactly as we are.

About Cybereason

Cybereason is the champion for todays cyber defenders, providing operation-centric attack protection that unifies security from the endpoint, to the enterprise, to everywhere the battle moves. The Cybereason Defense Platform combines the industrys top-rated AI-powered detection and response (EDR and XDR), next-gen antivirus (NGAV), Anti-Ransomware Protection and Proactive Threat Hunting to deliver context-rich analysis of every stage of a MalOp (malicious operation). Cybereason is a privately held, international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 40 countries.

Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/

Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Media Contacts:

Bill Keeler

Senior Director, Global Public Relations

Cybereason

bill.keeler@cybereason.com

(929) 259-3261


Vinos de Jerez is excited to announce the return of the 8th annual International Sherry Week that will run from November 8 - 14th, 2021. This worldwide celebration of Sherry wines will directly coincide with the Copa Jerez Competition, with over 250 food and beverage professionals from eight different countries gathering at the Villamarta Theatre in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on November 9-10th, 2021. Sommelier Jordi Paronella and chef Nicholas Lopez from Mercado Little Spain of Think Food Group in Hudson Yards, New York City, will be representing the United States.

Building on the success of the 2020 International Sherry Week events, thousands of restaurants, bars, wine stores, wine educators and bodegas across the world will hold Sherry tastings and offer pairing menus, as well as other Sherry-themed events, to share the joy of the superb wines from the Sherry Triangle. To ensure that all Sherry lovers can participate, virtual chats, webinars, tastings and interviews will be offered online and on social media, making these wines even more accessible to aficionados and professionals in every corner of the world.

Virtual Sherry Pairing Demonstration with Curate: Sunday, November 14th, 5 pm EST - Cesar Saldana, President of Vinos de Jerez, along with Chef Katie Button and Felix Meana of Curate: Tapas Bar, La Bodega, Wine Club, and Trips will be hosting a virtual tasting and cooking demo in celebration of International Sherry Week 2021. Katie, Felix and Cesar will guide guests through a tasting of classic Spanish ingredients shipped fresh from Curate at Home, paired with wines in the Fino, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez styles. To attend the event, registration is through Zoom, with food experience packages available through Curate at Home and wines can be found through Sherry Wines to find a local retailer.

Sherry Fair: November 13th at The Gibson bar in Washington DC - A variety of activities including Sherry flights, rebujitos (the Sherry-based drink of the Seville Spring Fair), games, and raffles.

Virtual Tasting Event with Binnys Beverage Depot: November 12th, 2021 at 12pm CST - Join Alicia Barrett, Wine Educator Binnys and President of Vinos de Jerez, Cesar Saldana, for an in-depth tasting and discussion on Instagram live. Binnys will also have promotions on Sherry for the duration of Sherry Week.

Sherry Week is a great opportunity to share with consumers the vast knowledge from all our varied activities - Sherry Cocktail Competitions, seminars, masterclasses, and our Sherry Educator Programme, says Cesar Saldana, General Manager Sherry Wine Council, Jerez-Xeres-Sherry. Professionals in the wine and gastronomy sectors can spread the word about Sherry to enthusiasts, whether newcomers or experienced. So were not only connecting Sherry lovers from around the world but also supporting all our collaborators.

For more information about International Sherry Week, visit sherry.wine or shop.sherrywines.us. To find International Sherry Week events near you visit https://www.sherry.wine/sherryweek/events.

About Sherry Wines

Sherry is a fortified wine which can only be produced in the Sherry Triangle''  formed by the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlucar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz, south-western Spain. The Consejo Reguladors role is to protect the Denomination of Origin (DO) Jerez-Xeres-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda, ensuring that no wine from any other geographical area is sold as Sherry wine. DO Jeres-Xerez-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda is the oldest DO in Spain, and has 2,800 wine-growers. Wine has been produced in the area since Roman times, and Sherry has been exported around the world since the 16th century

About Parallel 36

Parallel 36 focuses on marketing and communications providing strategic advice and execution for brands in the beverage alcohol category. A business results oriented agency, Parallel 36 integrates business development, trade marketing, and consumer activations expertise with digital marketing, content creation and media relations. Leveraging relationships across the U.S. beverage alcohol industry, Parallel 36 accelerates the success of clients.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 21STCV37148. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, and (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections  226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

The complaint alleges Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. failed to pay employees for all the time they were under Defendant's control. This, allegedly, includes the time Plaintiff and other California Class Members had to submit to mandatory temperature checks and symptom questionnaires for COVID-19 screening prior to clocking in for the day, as well as prior to clocking back in after returning from a meal break. To the extent that the time worked off the clock did not qualify for overtime premium payment, Defendant allegedly failed to pay minimum wages for the time worked off-the-clock.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
Were delighted to partner with First Growth Technologies to gain further access to this unparalleled data set and technology theyve developed around it. - Bill Edgerton, Edgerton Wine Appraisals & Consultation

With rare wine becoming one of the highest valued collectables in the country, with some prices skyrocketing 15-20% in the past year, there has been a need for a comprehensive resource for valuation and authentication. To fill that need, First Growth Technologies, the leading rare wine data and technology company, announced a partnership today with Edgerton Wine Appraisals & Consultation, the leading rare wine authentication and appraisal firm.

Weve been working with First Growth Technologies and its comprehensive set of rare wine auction valuation data for years and have always found it to be best source of information for the appraisals we do for commercial and legal purposes, said Bill Edgerton, Accredited Senior Appraiser, American Society of Appraisers. With our appraisals primarily used for estates, divorces, damage claims and legal disputes, accuracy and integrity of the data we use are key. Were delighted to partner with First Growth Technologies to gain further access to this unparalleled data set and technology theyve developed around it.

Dave Parker, President of First Growth Technologies and The National Association of Wine Retailers, agreed. Bill is the most recognized industry expert in the field of rare wine appraisal and authentication. As the original compiler of wine auction data for the industry, he understands the importance that a comprehensive data set brings to wine auction houses, rare wine retailers and top collectors. Were honored to be his partner going forward.

Annie Edgerton, Certified Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Wine, DipWSET and Partner in Edgerton Wine Appraisals & Consultation added, Ive been working with Dave Parker and his companies for years and found them to always operate at the highest standards. Benchmark Wine Group, First Growths affiliate, is my go-to buyer for private wine cellars, and the Wine Market Journal, published by First Growth, is clearly the leading wine valuation resource in the world and used by us every day.

Peter Gibson, Editor of the Wine Market Journal, elaborated, Bill is the undisputed dean of wine appraisals and authentication. A wine industry icon for decades, the expertise that Bill and Annie bring to our partnership is a great match with the data and technologies offered by the Wine Market Journal. The Wine Market Journals dataset now represents an astounding 3,000,000 rare wine auction trades from virtually every significant live and internet auction house in the world. Our trade data now goes back to 1986. No other rare wine valuation resource even comes close.

First Growth Technologies will be referring to its clients the expert appraisal, authentication and testimony work that Edgerton Wine Appraisals & Consultation is so well known for. The data and technology offered by First Growth will enable Edgerton to expand the scope and effectiveness of their business. The two companies will work together exclusively on some of the largest and highest valued cellars in the country.

About First Growth Technologies https://firstgrowthtech.com/

First Growth Technologies is the rare wine and spirits industry's preferred provider of data, technology and services for businesses and serious collectors. Publishers of the Wine Market Journal and Spirits Market Journal, they provide up-to-date information on virtually every auction trade of these products in the world. Rare wine retail transaction data is also provided to key data partners.

About Edgerton Wine Appraisals & Consultation https://edgertonwineappraisals.com/

Edgerton Wine Appraisals & Consultation is the leading authority on wine appraisals, consultation and authentication. The father-daughter team of William H. Edgerton and Annie Edgerton brings over 50 years of combined experience. William is an internationally recognized expert in wine appraisal and counterfeit identification and has been certified as an Accredited Senior Wine Appraiser by the American Society of Appraisers. Annie is a designated Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators, is a Certified Sommelier and holds a Diploma from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Edgertons appraisals are used for commercial and legal purposes, primarily for estates, divorces, damage claims and legal disputes.


Andy Cash, David Krugler, Phil Henry, Alwyn Fredericks (clockwise from upper left) Our firm was built on a commitment to do everything necessary within the legal system to bring justice to our clients and their families after a tragic event.

Attorneys Andy Cash, David Krugler, Alwyn Fredericks and Phil Henry from the law firm of Cash Krugler Fredericks were recently recognized in the latest edition of Best Lawyers in America. Cash, Krugler and Fredericks were each recognized for their work in the area of Personal Injury, while Henry was named to the list of honorees for Medical Malpractice. In addition to being recognized as a top Personal Injury attorney, Fredericks was named the Atlanta Products Liability Attorney of the Year.

The Best Lawyers designation is one of the most respected inside and outside of the legal industry because it is based on a peer review criterion that is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical region and legal practice area. This is the 40th year that Best Lawyers in America has released its list of the legal professions most accomplished and respected attorneys.

CKF partner, Shane Bartlett, believes the honor illustrates the unwavering commitment his colleagues have to obtaining justice for clients facing the most challenging circumstances. Our firm was built on a commitment to do everything necessary within the legal system to bring justice to our clients and their families after a tragic event, said Bartlett. The Best Lawyers honor is a testament to what our firm stands for and the passion that encompasses these four leaders as well as our entire legal team.

This is not the first time this year that members of Cash Krugler Fredericks have been recognized for excellence in the practice of law. In May, the firm was named Best Personal Injury Law Firm in the annual Daily Report Best Of edition, an honor based on the voting of attorneys and legal professionals in Georgia. In addition, six of the firms attorneys were again recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication that honors less than 6% of those licensed to practice law in Georgia.

About Cash Krugler Fredericks:

The attorneys at Cash Krugler Fredericks bring over 180 years of combined experience to each clients case. The firm has obtained significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of injury victims and their families across the country, and continues to be regarded as one of the top law firms in the U.S. The firm specializes in cases involving defective products, medical malpractice, elevator/escalator accidents, brain and spinal cord injuries, wrongful death claims, as well as serious car, truck and motorcycle accident cases, among others.
Since the inception of the DEI Committee, our programming has helped people within the firm better understand issues like gender bias, racial bias and issues facing the LGBTQ+ community.

Frazier & Deeter, a nationally ranked public accounting and advisory firm, was named a Best CPA Firm for Equity Leadership, as well as a Best Firm for Women, by the Accounting MOVE Project. Frazier & Deeter is the only firm based in the Southeast to receive this honor eight times.

The Accounting MOVE Project measures and supports the advancement of women in accounting and consulting firms. The MOVE report outlines tactics that women, advocates for women and firm leaders can take to ensure that women CPAs can achieve their aspirations for their careers and drive firm growth in the process.

In an industry that typically struggles with inclusivity, Frazier & Deeter has made a commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels welcome and supported, noted Rasheedah Luqman, Manager of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee at Frazier & Deeter. Since the inception of the DEI Committee, our programming has helped people within the firm better understand issues like gender bias, racial bias and issues facing the LGBTQ+ community.

Monique Quindsland, Partner champion for Frazier & Deeters DEI Committee, further explained, Frazier & Deeter was ahead of its time in terms of offering flexibility that supported working parents, which helped the firm retain women during its 40-year history. The DEI committee is building on that foundation with formal affinity groups for women and parents, which will help us attract and retain exceptional women as the firm continues to grow.

The findings of this years report reveal that in spite of overwhelming uncertainty and change in the workforce that collaboration, diverse perspectives and the ability to embrace change has given women leverage in creating new opportunities in a challenging professional landscape, said Cindy Stanley, Executive Director for the Accounting & Financial Womens Alliance (AFWA), the Association Partner for the Accounting MOVE Project. Firms realized that by providing the opportunity for women to work in a remote and hybrid work environment that they were able to cultivate a diverse and expanding pool of talented professionals.

The Accounting MOVE Project Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership list recognizes firms with a percentage of women partners and principals that are well above the industry average.

Frazier & Deeters Womens Business Leadership Initiative supports female executives and business owners. Since its introduction in 2009, the initiative has offered programming for women seeking to launch a business, grow an existing business or enhance their leadership skills. In addition to supporting women business owners, this program also offers women within the firm a unique platform for building a network of business relationships.

About the Accounting MOVE Project

Since 2010, the Accounting MOVE Project has measured and supported the advancement of women at accounting and consulting firms. MOVE is the only annual benchmarking project that both counts and advocates for women in the profession.

MOVE is made possible by support from its sponsors and by administrative fees paid by participating firms. Firms receive benchmarking reports based on the MOVE Project.

About Frazier & Deeter

Frazier & Deeter is an award-winning accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The firm provides a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory services to serve the emerging needs of clients as they evolve. Frazier & Deeter and its FD family of brands have nine offices across the United States and one in the United Kingdom. The firm has been recognized repeatedly as a Best of the Best Accounting firm, a Best Firm to Work For in the U.S. and a Best Firm for Women in Leadership. Frazier & Deeters brand promise is Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference.
Were so pleased to recognize personal and group achievement in the geospatial arena. This is something attendees look forward to, and after a two-year hiatus, theres even more excitement about coming together to celebrate the achievements of these industries, said Lee Corkhill.

LIDAR Leader Awards and Younger Geospatial Professional Awards to celebrate excellence in the geospatial market in Denver, February 7, 2022

Geo Week, the single powerhouse event that champions the coming together of geospatial technologies and the built world, is accepting nominations to celebrate excellence in the geospatial market. The 2022 Geo Week Awards Ceremony includes the LIDAR Leader Awards, Younger Geospatial Professional Award, and the ASPRS Awards, and honors the achievements of individuals and teams working in the geospatial technology space. The ceremonies will take place during Geo Week in Denver, CO, on February 7, 2022.

Were so pleased to recognize personal and group achievement in the geospatial arena. This is something attendees look forward to, and after a two-year hiatus, theres even more excitement about coming together to celebrate the achievements of these industries, said Lee Corkhill, Event Director of Geo Week.

LIDAR Leader Awards, in its third iteration in partnership with LIDAR Magazine, is seeking nominations in five distinct categories:



Outstanding Personal Achievement in LIDAR

Outstanding Enterprise Achievement in LIDAR

Outstanding Team Achievement in LIDAR

Outstanding Innovation in LIDAR

Outstanding University Achievement in LIDAR

Spatial Medias LIDAR Magazine (http://www.lidarmag.com) will assist the program by encouraging nominations and publishing pre- and post-show analyses of finalists. Managing Editor Dr. Stewart Walker will assist a distinguished panel that will review and judge submissions.

Past recipients include Karl Heidemann, Physical Scientist, USGS (Retired), Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX) Team, Woolpert, AEye for the AE110 Artificial Perception System, A. AlbrightUniversity of Houston, and Hasso Plattner Institut.

Dr. Walker remarked: We all acknowledge that this is high summer for lidar, from the SPACs and sensor action from the automotive players, who are also addressing other verticals, to the fabulous sensors and remarkable project completion that are characteristic of the geospatial market. We want to recognize the visionaries who make all this possible, through their energy, imagination and risk-taking.

The Younger Geospatial Professional Award, in partnership with Lidar News, recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and leadership by an exceptional member of the worldwide, geospatial community 35 years of age or younger. Nominations are accepted in the form of short videos explaining how nominees encourage others to pursue excellence and leadership in their geospatial careers, and an overview of a 10-minute presentation that, if chosen, would be presented at Geo Week. Nominees are given suggested topics, including:

The challenge of advancing your career during a pandemic

Innovative uses of drone lidar

What can one person do about sustainability?

What will be the next geo-technology game changer?

How 3D technology is going to be used in smart cities of the future

The Younger Geospatial Professional Award is supported by Lidar News (http://www.lidarnews.com). Gene Roe, Founder and Managing Editor of Lidar News, remarked, The Younger Geospatial Professional of the Year Award will provide the winner with an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership and advance their career. Award recipients receive complimentary conference passes to Geo Week.

Gabrielle Getz of Cesium was the winner of the inaugural Younger Geospatial Professional of the Year Award for 2019.

In addition to the LIDAR Leader Awards and The Younger Geospatial Award, ASPRS will be recognizing achievement in photogrammetry and remote sensing. Winners will be recognized during a ceremony on Monday, February 7 at Geo Week 2022. Geo Week also features more than 125 speakers across 50 sessions, nearly 100 exhibitors on the show floor, and more than 125 supporting partners.

Learn more about all the awards and submit nominations by December 1 at https://www.geo-week.com/2022-geo-week-awards/.

About Geo Week

Geo Week is part of a network of events and media for the global geospatial and built markets organized by Diversified Communications, a leading organizer of conferences, trade shows, and online media with 15 years in the technology arena. Geo Week, taking place February 6-8, 2022, is the new brand name of previously stand-alone events AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference, and reflects the increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies. Powerful partnership events will also take place at Geo Week, including ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing), MAPPS and USIBD (US Institute of Building Documentation). Diversified Communications also produces Geo Week E-Newsletter, SPAR 3D E-Newsletter, AEC Next E-Newsletter, GeoBusiness Show (UK), Digital Construction Week (UK), Commercial UAV Expo Americas, and Commercial UAV News. For more information, visit http://www.geo-week.com.
GETIDA Announces Greg Ghia as New Director of Revenue Operations ...I look forward to joining the largest organization in the world exclusively dedicated to Amazon FBA auditing and to creating an unmatched customer experience for Amazon sellers of all sizes.

GETIDA, a global leader in Amazon FBA Auditing and Reimbursements, announced today that Greg Ghia has joined the company as Director of Revenue Operations. Ghia will be responsible for the overall effectiveness and productivity of the companys growth strategy.

GETIDA is a unique auditing and technology platform solution driven by a global team that is passionate about supporting the Amazon seller community. We become an extension of our Amazon sellers and industry partners to ensure their FBA auditing needs are handled with a world class solution. I look forward to joining the largest organization in the world exclusively dedicated to Amazon FBA auditing and to creating an unmatched customer experience for Amazon sellers of all sizes, said Ghia.

Ghias over 25 years of experience has given him a deep understanding of all aspects of sales management, sales operations, and scaling teams in both Fortune 100 companies, and start-up organizations. He has led revenue teams at Dell, Apple, and Outreach.io among others, and has recently focused on helping early-stage upstart organizations grow into global brands.

I am thrilled that Greg is joining our team at such an exciting time in the companys rapid stage of growth, and Im sure that his advanced management and leadership skills within software sales and operations will take our company to the next level, said Eytan Wiener, GETIDAs CEO.

Since Wiener joined as investor and CEO of GETIDA in early 2021, the company has experienced significant growth, becoming a prominent solution provider in the Amazon seller industry. GETIDA has broadened its team dramatically to support this expansion with more key new hires on the horizon before the years end. GETIDA audits billions of dollars worth of transactions daily for third-party Amazon sellers worldwide with a global team of over 80 members in 6 countries.

About GETIDA

GETIDA is a technology solutions company based in Teaneck, New Jersey. Founded in 2015, GETIDA specializes in Amazon FBA discrepancy analytics, financial recovery, and consulting. Utilizing proprietary auditing technology, GETIDA focuses on discovering and managing financial and inventory-related discrepancies, with billions of dollars of transactions managed daily. GETIDA is an authorized Solution Provider on the Amazon AppStore and the Amazon Service Provider Network (SPN).
Golden Bridge Awards by GLOBEE All organizations operating anywhere in the world  large to small and startups, government, public and private, for-profit and non-profit are eligible to submit nominations to the 2022 Golden Bridge Awards in a wide range of categories honoring achievement in every aspect of business + work life.

The Globee Awards organizer of the worlds premier business awards programs and business ranking lists is now accepting nominations and entries for the 2022 Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards. To celebrate achievements Globee Awards has introduced new commemorative items.

The Golden Bridge Awards is the worlds premier business awards program honoring achievements in every industry around the world. Everyone deserves commendation for job well done. Identify, recognize, and nominate executives, professionals, and employees for their achievements no matter how small or large. There are many categories in which your organization, products and services, and the people behind their success can be nominated. Categories are classified under the following groups:



People | Innovator, Lifetime Achievement, Maverick, and Women Awards Categories Group

People | Entrepreneur Awards Categories Group

People | Executive, Management, and Professionals Awards Categories Group

People | Professional and Staffer (non-executive) of the Year

New Product & Service Innovation | AI, Information Technology & Cyber Security Awards Categories Group

New Product & Service Innovation | Content Technologies and Information Management Awards Categories Group

New Product & Service Innovation | Education Awards Categories Group

New Product & Service Innovation | Energy/CleanTech Industry Awards categories

New Product & Service Innovation | Health Care Awards Categories Group

New Product & Service Innovation | Industry and Vertical Markets Awards Categories Group

New Product & Service Innovation | Best New Product or Service Awards Categories Group

Product & Service Development | People Awards Categories Group

Product & Service Development | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Company | Innovative Company of the Year Awards Categories Group

Company | Best Company Awards Categories Group

Company | Startup Awards Categories Group

Corporate Communications and PR | People Awards Categories Group

Corporate Communications and PR | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Creative | App & Mobile Website Awards Categories

Creative | Live Events Awards Categories

Creative | Publications and Print Awards Categories

Creative | Digital and Online Campaign Awards Categories

Creative | Video, Commercial, Advertising, and Film Awards Categories

Creative | Web, Social Media, and Online Presence Awards Categories

Creative | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Customer Service & Support | People Awards Categories Group

Customer Service & Support | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Customer Success of the Year Awards Categories Group

Human Resources | People Awards Categories Group

Human Resources | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Information Technology Users | People Awards Categories Group

Information Technology Users | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Marketing | People Awards Categories Group

Marketing | Campaign, Outstanding Achievement, Project or Initiative, and Team-Department Awards Categories Group

Milestone of the Year Awards Categories Group

COVID-19 Business Response Awards Categories Group

All new products and services nominated in the new product awards categories of this years Golden Bridge Awards will be eligible to participate in the Peoples Choice Globee Awards for Favorite Product-Service of the Year.

Learn more about the 2022 Golden Bridge Awards and how to nominate here: https://globeeawards.com/golden-bridge-awards/

Winners of previous years are listed here: https://globeeawards.com/golden-bridge-awards/winners/

Stay posted and read success stories of organizations by subscribing to the Globee Newsletter: https://globeeawards.com/subscribe/

The coveted annual Golden Bridge Awards program recognizes and honors the worlds best in organizational performance, products and services, innovations, executives and management teams, women in business and the professions, case studies and successful deployments, public relations and marketing campaigns, product management, websites, blogs, white-papers, videos, advertisements, creativity, partner programs, and customer satisfaction programs from every major industry in the world.

A worldwide judging panel of executives and professionals representing a wide spectrum of industries will determine the winners. Winners will be presented and honored in a virtual ceremony attended by the finalists, winners, judges, and industry peers from all over the world. Industry experts and end-users or consumers of products and services can participate in the judging process. More details to register as an industry expert and help as a judge are available at https://globeeawards.com/golden-bridge-awards/judges/

Some of the organizations that have won in the past include Samsung Electronics, Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, MiraClick Affiliate Network, PJ Lhuillier, Inc., iTalent Digital, SYSPRO, IPification, Platform Science, iPipeline, Verint Fraud & Security Solutions, Digital.ai, g2o, Legacy Events Group Ltd, Untangle, Inc., 7 Stage Advisors, 6sense, DeepCube, Great Eagle Holdings Limited, ARIIX, Philo, Rockwell Automation, Solv by Concentrix, TRIANZ, Semperis, Yottaa, 1touch.io, Chime Technologies, Impartner, Red Media Africa, Vivial, Inspired eLearning, LLC., Tech CU, The Insides Company, JazzHR, Updox, Envolve, Code42, ITC Infotech, Kannaway, Jack Henry & Associates, Withings, Waggl, Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., FogHorn, TAC Security, SecurityMetrics, ZecOps, Pape Group, The State of Utah, LionOBytes, RevBits, ShipMonk, MindTickle, Greenway Health, VEMPOWERALL, Cardinal Group Companies, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, IKIO LED LIGHTING, Wolters Kluwer, Spirion, Illinois College, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, FM:Systems, Acceptto, BigID, Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions, SaltStack, PRO Unlimited, Luminance Technologies Ltd, Spirion and TaxSlayer, Centene, PR WIRE, Cisco Systems, Inc., International Paper, Clean Energy Fuels Corp., Adversa, Avalance Global Solutions, Biz News Connect, American Psychological Association, HUYA Bioscience International (HUYABIO), Vertafore, Paypal, hc1, Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC), Nextivity Inc., ROBOZE, Ness Digital Engineering, EXL Service Inc., Izaros Consulting, Florence, Verifi, A Visa Solution, ProfitSword, Intermedia, SmartBeings Inc., Adaptiva, CV19Dashboard.org, Cybera, Artificial Intelligence, Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), Loop, The Crypsis Group, Rimini Street Foundation, Advantexe Learning Solutions, Luminance, Empire Today, LLC., Rohde & Schwarz, Makers Nutrition, Improovy, Inc., 1906, L&T Technology Services Limited, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc., MemVerge, Forward Networks, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), Darktrace, Botkeeper, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Public Relations Department, Sumsub, Enablon, Grokker, ASG Technologies, Silverfort, DivvyCloud, Lookout, Concentrix Solv, Tata Consultancy Services, LTD, NexxtGen, 70 Million Jobs, Hayes, SmartBeings, CT Corporation, a Wolters Kluwer company, Nexxt Gen Corporation, Orange Romania, RevBits Cyber Security Solutions, Jasco Products, Medical Marijuana, Inc., N2W Software, Senior Placement Services, IBM  Quote to Cash Operations, 2Checkout, Solatube International, ROCSOLE, MUFG Americas, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, AppViewX Inc., Vonage, Napatech Inc., Concentrix, Indio, Branch Insurance, KnowBe4, UnitedHealth Group (UHG)  Optum, and Young Living Essential OilsHatchWorks Technologies, Cloudbric, Poly, IBM, UniWill Ventures, Wolters Kluwers ELM Solutions, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, Rise Interactive, Marqeta, ManagedMethods, EZPack Water Ltd., Centene Corporation, Jaco Products, Applied Systems, PeopleReady, ZOME Energy Networks, Norhart, Nu Skin Enterprises, GROUNDFLOOR, ADP, IGEL, United Natural Foods, Inc., Spinnova, Community Policing, Reverd.com, Novatek Apps, Student Shelter In Computers, Jeunesse Global, Ultimate Software, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Steven Plochocki, Zyter, Houston Methodist Hospital, Cebuana Lhuillier, Brainshark, Altimetrik, Generation Amazing, GoCanvas, Chronicled, Cisco CX Managed Services, mnAI, Alcide, Medigate, Full Sail University, Mylo, AVer Information, iboss, 4Life Research, ZIRAATBANK, CSS Corp, The Audacious Agency, Cepheid, KERLINK & UNHCR, Verizon Connect, Humanitix, eSight, Bitglass, New Heights Educational Group, Epson America, Inc., Sage Intacct, Zero Networks, Centage Corporation, Chargebacks911, Spirion, Jumio, ModSquad, Tigerspike  a Concentrix Company, Dell Technologies Education Services, Mentor Collective, PayMotion, Innover, Vyvo Corp, Stefanini Group, KEO Marketing Inc, Thechuppahs- Trend Rentals, Loom Solar Private Limited, Lenovo Technology SDN BHD (Lenovo Malaysia), Digital Air Strike, Point3 Security, Wolters Kluwers CT Corporation, Rimini Street, Inc, BillingPlatform, MorrisCookies Science & Development OU, Ingenious e-Brain Solutions, and HomeServe USA.

About the Globee Awards

Globee Awards are conferred in eleven programs and competition: the American Best in Business Awards, Business Excellence Awards (Best Employers), CEO World Awards, Communications Excellence Awards, Customer Sales & Service World Awards, Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards, Disruptor Company Awards, Golden Bridge Awards, International Best in Business Awards, IT World Awards, and Women World Awards. Learn more about the Globee Awards at https://globeeawards.com

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
One women's history of holding on too tightly, and her stories of learning to turn loose Author shares Lessons learned in letting go

Holding on Loosely: Opening My Hands, Lightening My Load, and Seeing Something Else by Dana Knox Wright was written as a response to a question she asked herself: "What freedom and joy might be waiting for me on the other side of clinging?" The stories are the inspiring answers to the questiondrawing a conclusion that when we turn loose we find more of everything that really matters and less of the things that steal joy.

Now through a series of warm and engaging, yet at times painful stories, Wright in a particular season of her life invites readers inside her personal journey of tracing her steps back to faith and seeing something else unfold. Stories filled with insightful wisdom she hopes will inspire and instill confidence in all women, regardless of age, to give themselves permission let go of things that tend to hold them back in life in order to see something else.

Dana's conversational writing style speaks truth that may not always be comfortablebut is greatly needed. "You'll come away inspired to live with greater understanding and ultimate peace," says Ronne Rock, author of One Woman Can Change the World.

This is one woman's history of holding on and her stories of turning loose. A book that could not have been written in her twenties or her thirties. Nor could it have been written in her forties. These individual stories were actually meant to be a whole. Together they weave a bigger picture.

Tara Royer Steele, author of Eat. Pie. Love. says, "I felt like Dana had been living my life, and walking in my shoes. The stories felt like soothing balm for my heart, a gentle reminder that Im not alone on this journey. We are all in this together, and we can share our stories to encourage others to keep going."

Wright has learned to expand on life and not diminish activity because of age. She has learned how to walk through a season, turning loose of things, and creating new adventures. She has embraced age and waging war against her comfort zone.

Books are available online and in bookstores.

To learn more, visit: http://www.danaknoxwright.com

About Dana Knox Wright

Dana Knox Wright began letting go of fear at fifty. Its the decade where, in an odd twist, Sandra Bullock asked for her autographthe decade she began hiking to places with seriously wild animals, rafting in crazy rivers and eating wild blackberries with only mild concern rabid foxes eat from the plants, too. After a long career in radio voiceover, she found a passion for spreading goodness and living to the full. She has offered readers encouragement, hope and sisterhood for almost ten years through her essays published on her blog. Dana holds a degree in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, and is the author of Saving Stories: Afternoons with Darrell (2017). She is the mother of three adult children and three grandchildren, and currently lives in a small river town in the Texas Hill Country with her husband and an English Mastiff named Pearl.

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Actual SEO Media Team's team has grown by leaps and bounds in recent months. We practice what we preach. We maintain our background and follow through with our promises. Our clients and team see that, so they stay with us.

With jobs numbers steadily climbing back to pre-pandemic levels, one Houston company bucks the trend of slow growth and is rapidly expanding. With a 40% growth in employee numbers in the last 4 quarters, Actual SEO Media, Inc. defies the national trend of slow returns to pre-pandemic levels of employment.

The pandemic affected everyone on a global scale, and businesses are still rebuilding to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. The process is gradual as everyone is scrambling to find talented workers while juggling post-pandemic regulations and marketing strategies. It isn't uncommon to see growth stagnate for a time as businesses try to reorganize internally and prepare for future ventures.

Actual SEO Media, Inc. on the other hand decided to defy logic and has seen rapid growth in this last quarter. Like others during the pandemic, the company reorganized its team to accommodate the pandemic health guidelines and remain open. Once the government allowed businesses to reopen their businesses offline, the company took the chance to expand further than its pre-pandemic stature.

The company welcomed new hires in various positions. These positions included those in creative fields like content writing and web design. Other sectors within the company, such as sales and marketing, also saw new faces. With this expansion, Actual SEO Media, Inc. is now able to serve the needs of more clients better and faster.

Altogether, the company has seen 40% growth of their members within the previous quarter, defying the national average. Coupled with their new hires and tried-and-tested workflow, their productivity has also skyrocketed. This productivity has given them the chance to expand their services and open newer locations.

Successful internal growth has allowed for new business ventures, attracting new clients to the company's six current offices. When asked how they manage to not only retain their previous clients but even see new ones, Actual SEO Media, Inc.'s CEO Jamin Mootz said, "We practice what we preach. We maintain our background and follow through with our promises. Our clients and team see that, so they stay with us."

The company employs a non-abusive methodology of organic content to create real growth for their clients. This includes writing content articles that drive attention and clicks to a companys website.

Actual SEO Media, Inc. has a team of in-house researchers, writers, editors, and web designers that work together to produce content clients will be proud of. While other companies export their work for subpar results, this companys professional team works with only hand-selected writers who produce high-quality articles about and for clients.

As a leading SEO company in Houston, Actual SEO Media, Inc. helps clients to expand their online presence. By using a variety of techniques, the company aims to maximize clients' search engine optimization and widen their clients' scope of recognition. For more information, contact the office at (832) 834 - 0661 or by email atinfo@actualseomedia.com.


Heyday, a fast-growing New York-based skincare franchise thats on a mission to provide expert skincare that empowers everyone to be their best self, is changing the way people think about their skin. Now, the brand with locations in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and the Washington, D.C., area is on track to close out 2021 on a high note, capitalizing on the momentum of inking 29 new franchise agreements in Q3.

Savvy franchise candidates across the country are recognizing that skincare is a $7 billion service industry with a $100 billion online category, Heydays president of franchising Sean Bock said. Right now, these early franchisees are getting in at the ground level and are joining us in our path to win the hearts and minds of a growing number of customers. They recognize from the beginning that our recurring revenue model and personalized service that turns clients into loyal longterm fans will help their businesses grow.

So far in 2021, Heyday has opened two new locations, with 97 signings, four leases and eight new franchisees added to the system. Most recently in Q3, the skincare brand closed a 13-unit deal in Denver, Colorado, with the first locations slated to open in 2022. Additionally, Heyday inked a 10-unit deal for seven locations in Tampa and three locations in Atlanta, all of which are owned by a former Orangetheory Fitness franchisee. The brand also continues to grow its presence in Philadelphia with a second Heyday location slated to open next year.

"We know we have a very special concept with Heyday that is set to revolutionize the way people look at skincare, Bock said. Our franchise opportunity gives motivated investors an option to capture the skincare market in their communities, providing clients with a valued monthly service that will soon become a regular part of their overall health and wellness routine.

Currently, Heyday has 11 existing locations spread across New York City, Philadelphia, Bethesda, and Los Angeles, and Bock said he believes the brand will grow dramatically through franchising with plans to have at least 300 stores open over the next five years. The brand has already attracted interest from multi-franchise operators, senior executives, and entrepreneurs with strong backgrounds in sales and marketing.

To learn more about Heyday franchise opportunities, visit https://www.heydayskincare.com/pages/franchise.

About Heyday:

Heyday is a fast-growing skincare company on a mission to provide expert skincare that empowers everyone to be their best self. Through a fleet of industry-leading physical stores, Heyday has made the facial experience more accessible and helps consumers achieve their skincare goals with the knowledge and care of talented estheticians. Heyday is changing how we take care of our skin, redefining the future of the skincare industry for the modern consumer. For more information about Heyday, visit https://www.Heydayskincare.com/.
From January 5 to 8, 2022, Intellias, a leading software engineering service provider and partner to the automotive OEM and suppliers, will showcase automotive software development services at CES 2022 in Las Vegas.

At booth 7075 in West Hall, the experts will show and discuss their capabilities in consulting, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance of automotive-grade software solutions. Technologies will cover embedded software development, cloud solutions, platform development, and the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data.

CES 2022 is the most prominent stage to discuss technological changes in software-defined and automated vehicles covering human-machine-interface, navigation systems, and the whole value chain of vehicle development states Oleksandr Odukha, VP of Automotive Delivery. As a partner to global automotive companies, we stand ready to discuss these challenges based on our experience and capabilities.

Intellias technology focus for CES 2022:

Electric vehicle routing and HD maps

Electrification and autonomous driving are changing the role of navigation systems turning them into an integral part of the vehicle. By including real time traffic data, over the air updates, and high-definition maps with lane-accurate positioning, navigation systems assure safe driving.

At CES 2022, we will discuss solutions and experience gained in various projects, including fast and reliable map compilation, 2D and 3D rendered maps as well as system integration of navigation systems as stand-alone components within the ADAS module, states Oleksandr Odukha.

The company will also share its experience in building electric vehicle navigation solutions that help plan optimized routes considering all the peculiarities of electric vehicles, like battery level and consumption parameters, and providing accurate range maps, and adding optional charging stations.

Human-machine interface design

Intellias expertise in automotive HMI development covers User Experience and User Interface solutions that shorten driver response time and improve the human-vehicle interaction. At CES, Intellias will discuss case studies covering experience in designing and implementing head unit applications based on various platforms, realistic and high-performance 3D rendering, head-up display software development, and multimodal interaction, including voice, gesture control, and handwriting recognition.

Internet of Things and connected cars

Intellias possesses extensive expertise in developing and operating connected vehicle services that provide content such as traffic, parking, and fuel prices over the air. The vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2X) experience covers automotive backend services, software design for Internet of Things (IoT) devices as well as embedded solutions for the Internet to Everything (IoE) ecosystem bridging car, cloud, smart home and smart city.

To join a discussion, establish a partnership, or share experience in the automotive industry, a 25- or 45-minute meeting with Intellias representatives can be booked here.

About Intellias

Intellias is a digital consulting and custom software development partner of Fortune 500 enterprises and top-tier organizations like HERE Technologies, LG Electronics, and KIA. Automotive brands trust Intellias to build secure, adaptive, and AI-based software for connected cars and autonomous driving. Over 2,000 Intellias experts in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the US, and Saudi Arabia deliver production-grade software used by millions of drivers around the globe.

About CES

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is the most influential tech event in the world of technologies and global innovations. This is a global arena where the worlds biggest brands do business and meet new partners. It is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and features every aspect of the tech sector. It also includes a conference program where the worlds business leaders address the industrys most relevant issues.
MIAMI Chairman of the Board Jennifer Wollmann For South Florida international homebuying to remain essentially on par with the previous year despite the lockdowns and bans on international travel speaks to the incredible resiliency and the allure of our market"

South Florida posted strong international home sales in 2021 despite Covid-19 global travel bans as the Miami mega region outperformed Florida and the nation, according to the latest Profile of International Home Buyers of the MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI) conducted by MIAMI and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Now, Miami global investment is set to surge with vaccinated foreigners being allowed to resume travel to the U.S. this month, pent-up demand and a weaker U.S. dollar.

Foreign homebuyers purchased $5.1 billion of South Florida residential properties in 2021, down 9% from $5.6 billion in 2020. Because the Miami mega region is the No. 1 U.S. destination for global consumers and home to diversified foreign homebuyers, the Miami global market outperformed the state and nation. Statewide, international homebuyer dollar volume declined 22% ($15.6 billion last year to $12.3 billion in 2021). Nationally, global homebuyer dollar volume declined 27% (from $74 billion to $54.4 billion).

For South Florida international homebuying to remain essentially on par with the previous year despite the lockdowns and bans on international travel speaks to the incredible resiliency and the allure of our market, MIAMI Chairman of the Board Jennifer Wollmann said. We expect a significant increase in foreign visitors once the U.S. opens its borders to international travelers on November 8. Global buyers purchase in Miami because it is a world-class global city with better real estate prices than other similar global cities. Foreign buyers feel at home with our diversity and acceptance of all cultures.

The profile surveyed MIAMI members international residential transactions from August 2020 to July 2021.

South Florida Registers More than Half of all Florida International Home Sales

Florida is the top U.S. destination for foreign buyers (21% of all sales), according to NARs 2021 Profile of International transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate. Florida has been the No. 1 state for foreign home buyers for the last 13 years.

More than half of all international home sales in Florida (52%) are in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, according to the Florida Realtors 2021 Profile of International Residential Real Estate Activity in Florida. Orlando finished No. 2 with 10%, and Tampa is No. 3 with 8%. One in five of all U.S. international home sales happen in Florida and one in two in Florida are in the Miami metro market.

South Florida is the top destination for all the top countries buying in Florida: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Venezuela, according to the Florida Realtors study.

South Florida secures about 10% of all international home sales in the entire U.S.

South Florida Foreign Homebuyer Market Share is Four Times Larger than the U.S. Figure

South Florida foreign buyers purchases accounted for 14% of total dollar volume and 13% of all South Florida residential properties sold in 2021, according to the MIAMI and NAR report. No other market in the U.S. has those figures.

At 13%, South Floridas foreign homebuyer market share remains more than three times the state figure and four times larger than the nation. Statewide, the global homebuyer market share of all closed sales is 4%. Nationally, the global homebuyer market share is 3%.

New York: Top State Purchasing in South Florida

New York ranked as the No. 1 state purchasing in South Florida, according to the MIAMI and NAR Report. New York purchases in Miami increased from 24% in 2020 to 29% in 2021. California (15%) and New Jersey (9%) also increased their homebuying activity in South Florida.

A surge in out-of-state individuals and companies purchasing and relocating to South Florida this year has fueled a record-breaking year for South Florida real estate. Seven of the top 10 sales months in Miami history have happened this year and Miami existing condo sales broke the record for most annual sales in only nine months.

Miami-Dade County Has the Largest Share of South Florida Foreign Buyers

Miami-Dade County accounted for the largest share of South Floridas foreign buyers (65% in 2021; 70% in 2020). Broward County saw an increase in foreign buyers (27% in 2021; 26% in 2020). Palm Beach County had 3%, up from 2% in 2020.

The foreign buyer market share of total sales in each county in 2021 are: Miami-Dade County (13%), Broward County (11%) and Palm Beach County (10%).

Argentina: Top Foreign Country Buying South Florida Real Estate

Argentina is the top foreign country purchasing South Florida real estate. It is the second consecutive year Argentina finished as No. 1.

The top countries of origin for consumers purchasing properties in South Florida are:

1. Argentina (13% of South Florida foreign purchases)

2. Colombia (12%)

3. Venezuela (10%)

4. Mexico (7%)

5. Chile and Brazil (6% each)

6. Peru and Canada (5% each)

7. Ecuador (4%)

8. Spain and France (3%)

These top tier countries of origin  Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Canada, Ecuador, Spain and France  account for 74% of all South Florida international closed sales.

South Floridas foreign buyers come from more than 40 countries. Other U.S. markets are limited to two or three countries. The diversified number of markets that purchase in Miami allows the region to always post high global sales because when one foreign market declines, others step up to take its place.

Countries purchasing in Miami include: Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Canada, Ecuador, Spain, France, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Costa Rica, Barbados, Bolivia, Paraguay, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Cuba, Haiti, South Africa, Singapore, Jamaica, Czech Republic, and more.

Colombia is the No. 1 Country Buying in Miami-Dade County

The top countries of origin for consumers purchasing properties in Miami-Dade are:

1. Colombia (15%)

2. Argentina (14%)

3. Venezuela (10%)

4. Mexico (8%)

5. Brazil and Peru (7% each)

6. Chile and Canada (4% each)

Other countries that purchased properties in Miami-Dade included Ecuador, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, France, China, Cuba, Panama and Russia.

Argentina is the No. 1 Country Buying in Broward County

The top countries of origin for consumers buying real estate in Broward County are:

1. Argentina (17%)

2. Colombia (15%)

3. Peru (8%)

4. Canada, Venezuela and Chile (7% each)

5. Brazil, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and Spain (3% each)

Other countries that purchased properties in Broward included Bolivia, Ecuador, Bahamas, China, Czech Republic, India, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia are the Top Countries Buying in Palm Beach County

The top countries of origin for consumers buying real estate in Palm Beach County are:

1. Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Colombia (18% each)

2. Chile, Peru and Ukraine (9% each)

Foreign Home Buyers Spend 9% More on Average vs. Nation

Foreign home buyers spend more on real estate than other buyers, and South Florida real estate buyers spend a higher median price than other international buyers in the U.S.

MIAMI international home buyers spent a median price of $386,200 for residential properties in 2021. In comparison, foreign buyers in the United States spend $351,800.

63% of South Florida International Buyers Paid in Cash

According to the new MIAMI and NAR survey, about 63% of all international residential transactions in South Florida were made in all-cash. Thats 24% higher than the percentage of U.S. foreign buyers paying all-cash (39%).

South Florida international home buyers prefer condominiums (61%) in the central/urban areas (66%), which they intend to use mainly as residential rental, vacation home or both (72%).

7% of South Florida Foreign Buyers Purchased Homes Without Even Visiting

About 7% of South Florida foreign buyers purchased local homes without even visiting Florida in 2021. About 23% purchased with just one visit to Florida; 29% purchased with two visits; 18% bought after visiting Florida three times. About 77% purchased with three visits or less.

About 50% of MIAMI members worked with an international client in the past 12 months. Thats more than three times the national figure of 15%.

Survey results reflect MIAMIs commitment to increasing South Floridas real estate brand worldwide and the Miami real estate markets position as a top international destination.

MIAMI has 223 partner organizations worldwide and conducts international outreach on a global level.

Visit https://bit.ly/2021MiamiInternational to access the full report.

About the MIAMI Association of Realtors

The MIAMI Association of Realtors was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 101 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward-MIAMI Association of Realtors, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS-MIAMI) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents 52,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 223 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com

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Kami Knight-Magpusao TruBlue is unique because were a total solution for all of your home care needs ... When you call TruBlue, we can take that home maintenance management off your plate so you can get back to doing the things you love. - Knight-Magpusao said

Kami Knight-Magpusao is looking forward to bringing her backgrounds in senior care and human resources to her new business  TruBlue Total House Care Serving Folsom Lake.

Clients looking for dependable, high-quality, customizable services can hire TruBlue for handyman repairs, cleaning services, yard work, seasonal services and minor home renovations. TruBlue also works with homeowners, realtors and property managers who need to get homes move-in ready quickly and keep them maintained. Knight-Magpusao and her team serve Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento counties and the surrounding areas.

TruBlue is unique because were a total solution for all of your home care needs. We know as homeowners ourselves that finding trustworthy, dependable companies to do all the work you need around the home can be stressful. No one has time to sit around for quote after quote after quote. When you call TruBlue, we can take that home maintenance management off your plate so you can get back to doing the things you love, Knight-Magpusao said.

As part of that whole-home approach, TruBlue also conducts Senior Home Safety Assessments, performs age-friendly renovations and offers House Care Plus, a regular service program that can help seniors and busy families enjoy the comforts and convenience of owning a home without worrying about the maintenance hassles.

Knight-Magpusao is no stranger to senior care. She has a background of 20 years in running Adult Residential Facilities serving seniors alongside her work in human resources. Shes been recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, served on Executive Leadership Committees and more. In the senior care world, she directed staff recruitment, on-boarding and training as well as policies and procedure management. She currently holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification and a Senior Home Safety Certification. Her company is supported by her husband, a military veteran, Michael. Kami and Michael honor our veteran community by partnering with local veteran groups to bring veterans back into the workforce at all levels.

Weve always enjoyed our work with seniors and were looking forward to expanding that mission with TruBlue. My parents are getting older and Im starting to see the kinds of challenges our clients are facing in my own family, Knight-Magpusao said. With TruBlue, we can help seniors maintain their homes, we can help busy families with their to-do lists and we can help the sandwich generation do both.

TruBlue serving Folsom Lake is licensed, bonded and insured. To learn more about TruBlue of Folsom Lake, call 916-471-4498, email KMagpusao@TruBlueHouseCare.com or visit http://www.trubluehousecare.com/folsom-lake.
Jesus Never Fails: The Story of Roger and Margaret Fox, Missionaries to Japan: a potent example of missionary work. Jesus Never Fails: The Story of Roger and Margaret Fox, Missionaries to Japan is the creation of published author Margaret Fox Shaiebly, a missionary for forty-four years who retired as missionary in residence at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania at age eighty-two and went to be with the Lord at ninety-one.

Shaiebly shares, In 1951, Roger and Margaret Fox packed up two small children and a few meager possessions and set off to Japan to serve as missionaries. They found a country still recovering from the devastation of war. They started language studies to be able to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people who a few years earlier were the enemy.

They learned new ways to live. They experienced new customs and ways of thinking. They spent three terms of Christian service over fifteen years before they worked themselves out of a job by building a national church with a national pastor in charge of the still-growing congregation of believers. This is their story.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Margaret Fox Shaieblys new book is a fascinating private look into the lives of the Fox family.

Inspired at a young age, the author always dreamed of being a missionary to Borneo. Little did Margaret know, the Lord had much more in store for this dedicated Christian.

View a synopsis of Jesus Never Fails: The Story of Roger and Margaret Fox, Missionaries to Japan on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Jesus Never Fails: The Story of Roger and Margaret Fox, Missionaries to Japan at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Jesus Never Fails: The Story of Roger and Margaret Fox, Missionaries to Japan, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Sister Helen Amos, RSM, Executive Chair, Board of Trustees, Mercy Health Services It is a great honor to be recognized with an award named for such a beloved Baltimore icon and masterful politician and public servant, William Donald Schaefer..." -- Sister Helen Amos, RSM

The University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy has announced that Sister Helen Amos, RSM, Executive Chair, Mercy Health Services Board of Trustees, will receive the 2020 William Donald Schaefer Award as part of virtual ceremonies to be held today, Tuesday, Nov. 2nd, 2021 (the late Mr. Schaefers 100th birthday).

Sister Helen was to have been recognized in April 2020 as part of the William Donald Schaefer Policy Conference and Award Ceremony at The University of Baltimore, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Honoring the 50-year public service legacy of Mr. Schaefer, the conference explores the traits of legendary, transformational leaders and discusses how these traits can be cultivated in public sector leaders today.

The William Donald Schaefer Award celebrates the contributions of the honoree to effective government and lifelong commitment and service to the well-being of the citizens of Maryland. Award recipients are chosen based on a variety of factors, including their efforts to better the community, aid the regions most vulnerable populations, and taking steps to improve the lives of fellow Marylanders.

Previous honorees have included Congressman Elijah Cummings (2015); Dr. Nancy Grasmick (2016), former Maryland State Superintendent of Schools; The Honorable Carolyn Colvin (2017), former Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (2018).

It is a great honor to be recognized with an award named for such a beloved Baltimore icon and masterful politician and public servant, William Donald Schaefer, whos years of service spanned nearly three decades as Baltimore mayor, Maryland governor and state comptroller, Sister Helen said.

Sister Helen Amos, RSM, has more than 35 years experience in the fields of education and health care administration. After working as a teacher in Georgia, Sister Helen arrived in Baltimore to take a position as Registrar for Mount Saint Agnes College where she had earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics in 1962. Sister Helen would later take on administrator duties with the Sisters of Mercy of the Union and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Before coming to Mercy, Sister Helen served as President of the Sisters of Mercy of the Union in Silver Spring, Maryland from 1984 to 1991.

Sister Helen and the leadership team of Mercy Health Services are responsible for the development and implementation of numerous programs at Mercy, including the creation of The Center for Womens Health & Medicine and its flagship programs in gynecologic oncology and breast cancer diagnosis and treatment; The Womans Doctor program on WBAL-TV; and Mercys network of specialty and primary care physicians.

Sister Helen serves on the board and is President of Mercy Ridge, a continuing care retirement community in Timonium, MD. She is currently a board member of Mercy Health Ministry, St. Louis, Missouri; the Downtown Partnership (past chair) and the Downtown Management District Authority of Baltimore City; Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; Mercy High School; and the Board of Financial Administration of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy was established in 1985 in honor of then-Mayor of Baltimore City William Donald Schaefer. The Center provides non-partisan applied research, technical assistance, and professional development services to government and nonprofit organizations.

Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, Mercy Medical Center is a university-affiliated, Catholic hospital with a national reputation for womens health, orthopedics, surgical oncology, and other medical disciplines. Mercy is home to the nationally renowned Weinberg Center for Womens Health and Medicine, and the 20-story, +$400 million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information, visit Mercy online at http://www.mdmercy.com; MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy.

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Rick Wagoner (left); Larry Burns (right) Both Rick Wagoner and Larry Burns have vast experience across the EV and transportation sectors, as well as with lithium-ion energy storage systems and strategic planning. They will play a key role in driving the adoption of Neocarbonix...

Nanoramic Laboratories, an industry-leading energy storage and advanced materials company, has added two senior industry leaders to its Advisory Board, Rick Wagoner and Lawrence (Larry) Burns. Both new members held key positions at General Motors (GM): Wagoner as former Chairman and CEO, and Burns as former Corporate VP of Research & Development.

Wagoner and Burns will assist Nanoramic in revolutionizing the lithium-ion battery market with its Neocarbonix electrode technology. Using Neocarbonix, battery manufacturers can reduce costs by 20% and improve energy density by 30% compared to current battery designs, substantially increasing the range and affordability of electric vehicles (EVs).

Eric Kish, CEO of Nanoramic, said: Both Rick Wagoner and Larry Burns have vast experience across the EV and transportation sectors, as well as with lithium-ion energy storage systems and strategic planning. They will play a key role in driving the adoption of Neocarbonix and providing EVs with superior energy recovery, charge time, acceleration, braking, and performance in extreme environments.

Wagoner had a 32-year career at GM and is best known for his pivotal leadership as the companys Chairman and CEO. Since retiring from GM in 2009, he has been active as a Board Member and Advisor to multiple public and early-stage companies. He currently serves as Chairman of Invesco and a Board Member of ChargePoint Inc., Excelitas Technologies, and Graham Holdings.

Burns was Corporate VP of Research & Development for GM from 1998-2009, during which he was responsible for advanced technology development, product portfolio, and strategic planning. In 2011, Burns was elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his leadership and contributions to automotive technologies. He currently advises organizations such as Kitson & Partners, Goodyear, and Niron Magnetics on the future of mobility, manufacturing, energy, and innovation. Previously, he was a consultant to Waymo (Google Self-Driving Cars), Professor of Engineering Practice at the University of Michigan, and Director of the Program for Sustainable Mobility at Columbia University.

Wagoner said: I am pleased to be an investor in, and advisor to Nanoramic. I am a big supporter of the auto industrys move to EVs and believe the technology that Nanoramic has developed can play a significant role in supporting that direction by offering smart ways to reduce battery cost and improve quality and reliability.

Burns said: Nanoramic has deep and proven material science and nano-material manufacturing capabilities. Combined with strong leadership and a focused strategy, it is transforming energy storage and thermo-material technologies. I am looking forward to helping this exciting company realize its full commercial potential.

About Nanoramic

Nanoramic Laboratories is an industry-leading energy storage and advanced materials company that has developed an innovative electrode technology, Neocarbonix. Nanoramic is commercializing this technology to transform energy storage for electric vehicles: increasing energy density and longevity, while reducing costs. Founded in 2009 out of MIT, Nanoramic is the exclusive designer, manufacturer, and licenser of Neocarbonix electrodes, FastCap Ultracapacitors and Thermexit thermal interface gap filler pads. See http://www.nanoramic.com.

Nanoramic, Thermexit, Neocarbonix and FastCap are trademarks of FastCap Systems Corporation, doing business as Nanoramic Laboratories.  2021 FastCap Systems Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Massachusetts-based, digital cardiac health company InfoBionic has been awarded a contract with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide remote cardiac monitoring and diagnostic services. We are the first company to deliver to the VA 4-in-1 remote cardiac arrythmia monitors which provide full disclosure and we couldnt be prouder. Taking care of our nations veterans is more than our duty, it is our honor.

Massachusetts-based, digital cardiac health company InfoBionic has been awarded a contract with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide remote cardiac monitoring and diagnostic services for the largest integrated health care system in the United States.

The VHA provides care to the nations military veterans at 1,293 healthcare facilities, which includes 171 Veterans Affairs medical centers and 1,112 out-patient sites. There are currently more than 9 million veterans enrolled in the VHA healthcare system.

We are the first company to deliver to the VA 4-in-1 remote cardiac arrythmia monitors which provide full disclosure and we couldnt be prouder. Taking care of our nations veterans is more than our duty, it is our honor. And we look forward to this relationship, said Dave MacCutcheon, InfoBionic COO.

InfoBionic is the developer of the MoMe Kardia platform, a simple-to-use, easy-to-wear remote cardiac monitoring and diagnostic device. MoMe Kardia is the only full disclosure ambulatory cardiac monitoring system in the United States that gives clinicians access to 24-hour echocardiogram (ECG) data for analysis any time during monitoring, added MacCutcheon.

The VHA employs more than 367,200 full-time health care professionals and support staff. It is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research. More than 46,000 active volunteers, 120,000 health profession trainees, and nearly 16,000 affiliated medical faculty serve integral roles in the VHA community.

InfoBionic products are available to all federal buyers through the GSA Advantage program under contract 36F797721D0248.

About InfoBionic:

InfoBionic is a digital health company transforming the efficiency and economics of ambulatory remote patient monitoring processes by optimizing clinical and real-world utility for the users that need it most  physicians and their patients. The Massachusetts-based team of seasoned entrepreneurs have had successful careers in healthcare, IT, medical devices and mobile technology, and bring specific expertise in remote monitoring and cardiology. They have seen first-hand the complexities of traditional cardiac arrhythmia detection and monitoring processes and designed the transformative MoMe Kardia platform to remove the roadblocks hindering faster, more effective diagnosis and decision-making. Frost & Sullivan bestowed the 2019 North American Remote Cardiac Monitoring Technology Leadership Award upon InfoBionic.


NetFortris Reinforces Channel-First Strategy, Relaunches Partner Program NetFortris always has been channel-led, but were renewing our commitment to the partners with a program that comes with substantive changes, not just lip-service. Weve handpicked experienced channel pros and instituted new processes to focus on giving our partners... a competitive edge.

NetFortris, an award-winning provider of end-to-end managed cloud communications, network and security services, announced today at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, that is reinforcing its channel-first strategy with the relaunch of the NetFortris Partner Program, including significant investments in channel leadership, support and systems.

The relaunch of the NetFortris Partner Program coincides with the release of the companys new brand identity, which more closely reflects NetFortris future-focused business technology solutions and its brand promise to deliver competitive advantage to partners and their customers.

For nearly two decades, NetFortris has been quietly building and refining its best-in-class engineering, development, service delivery and customer experience competencies. Now, were turning that laser focus toward advancing our go-to-market strategy, which is 100 percent aligned with the channel, said Jamie Minner, who joined the company as Chief Revenue Officer in June 2021.

NetFortris always has been channel-led, but were renewing our commitment to the partners with a program that comes with substantive changes, not just lip-service. Weve handpicked experienced channel pros and instituted new processes to focus on giving our partners and their customers a competitive edge.

Significantly, NetFortris has realigned its entire organizational structure to better support indirect sales partners and their business clients. Specifically, each region is led by a regional vice president who oversees dedicated regional channel managers, strategic account managers, sales engineers, provisioning managers and customer onboarding specialists to ensure consistent collaboration and communications between the NetFortris team, the selling partners and their customers.

The new NetFortris Partner Program now includes four partner tiers  Platinum, Diamond, Gold and Bronze  based on monthly recurring revenue (MRR). The new structure rewards partners with increasing benefits as they move up the tiers and grow their business with NetFortris. Benefits include:



Market Development Funds (MDF)

Co-marketing Campaigns

SPIFFs

More

Additionally, all partners will have access to a new partner portal with sales and marketing resources.

NetFortris already is delivering on its brand promise with the newly released Fortress Secure Office Solution, which delivers an industry-first, economical and integrated enterprise-grade tech stack to small businesses. The unprecedented all-in-one solution gives partners an edge over their competitors and helps small businesses drive tech-enabled competitive advantage affordably.

Partners can learn more about the all-new NetFortris Partner Program by visiting Booth 1567 at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, November 1-4, at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

Join NetFortris Vice President of Marketing Raquel Wiley for her keynote, The Edge of Glory: Meet Todays Channel Superstars, at 9-9:10 a.m., November 3, in Level 3, South Seas Ballroom A.

For information about becoming a NetFortris Partner, contact NetFortris at channelpartnerprogram@netfortris.com or http://www.netfortris.com/partner-program.

About NetFortris

NetFortris is a nationwide managed services provider that delivers secure, reliable end-to-end communications and networking solutions to organizations of all sizes  from small and medium businesses (SMBs) to midmarket and enterprise customers. Uniquely, NetFortris offers cloud-based solutions housed in geo-redundant data centers and carried over a private nationwide MPLS network. Their award-winning portfolio of solutions includes Unified Communications and Collaboration, SD-WAN, Managed Network and Data Security. NetFortris services are managed 24/7 with or on behalf of business customers by an expert network engineering and operations team. The company provides concierge customer advocacy, 24/7 in-house customer support and consolidated billing for multiple services and locations. For more information, visit http://www.netfortris.com. Follow NetFortris on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) author of YOUR CONSCIENCE When you coordinate all Four Functions of the Mind, the Conscience can reliably reflect your own Super Conscious Wisdom to resolve all conflicts and suffering.  Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)

According to Leonard Perlmutter, author of the new book, YOUR CONSCIENCE, humanity possesses the innate creative potential to resolve all political, social, racial and economic conflicts and suffering. And in an excerpt from his book in the November, 2021 issue of Transformation the Journal of Yoga Science as Holistic Mind/Body Medicine, Perlmutter explains in precise, understandable detail that by coordinating the Four Functions of the Mind and using the Conscience to access Super Conscious Wisdom, every human being can solve all of lifes challenges.

But why should you care? Why is this book different? And why is an understanding of the mind, and the role of the Conscience, so critically important? Physicist Albert Einstein made it perfectly clear when he said, Problems cannot be solved on the level at which they appear. They must be solved on a higher level. Armed with that hypothesis since 1977, Leonard Perlmutter and his wife Jenness have committed themselves, for 44 years, to performing an ongoing series of scientific experiments. Their purpose has been to transform the inherent, debilitating energy of stress, fear, anger and greed into reserves of healing energy, will power and creativity. Many of their results are presented in the book, YOUR CONSCIENCE.

This short, profound book can transform lives. It offers simple tools to access our unlimited wisdom and creativity, tools we never learned in any level of our schooling. Imagine the potential for renewal if an entire generation gained the confidence to know whats to be done and whats not to be done in every moment, no matter what the challenge. And without question, as Leonard Perlmutter reminds us in YOUR CONSCIENCE, We have many challengesboth personal and global. These include: Abortion, Addiction, Aging, Anger, Anxiety, Bullying, Burnout, Civil Rights, Climate, Change, Death, Depression, Education, Family, Fear, Food, Government, Greed, Gun Control, Health, Immigration, LGBTQIA, Marriage, Misogyny, Money, Moral Decline, Non-Truth, Parenting, Politics, Pollution, Poverty, Racism, Self-Preservation, Sex, Sleep, Stress, Terrorism, and Violence.

Perlmutter concludes that, The freedom to skillfully resolve such conflicts and suffering is the real and practical gift that comes from coordinating the Four Functions of the Mind. Then, in the absence of dissension from the Ego, Senses and Unconscious, the Conscience is free to guide each of us to realize the brilliance of confidence and imperishable comfort we all long for.

YOUR CONSCIENCE can be adapted for students in middle school through advanced graduate degrees, as well as for adult education programs in community centers, cultural institutions, places of worship, and other educational venues. The book has been endorsed by educator Tara Brach, Dean Ornish MD, Bernie Siegel MD, and others.

YOUR CONSCIENCE, The Key to Unlock Limitless Wisdom and Creativity and Solve All of Lifes Challenges by Leonard Perlmutter with Jenness Cortez Perlmutter; AMI Publishers; First Edition; Nonfiction; Self-Help and Personal Growth; Release Date: September 7, 2021; Paperback: $14.95 ISBN 9780975375266.

Available: amazon.com, bn.com, americanmeditation.org, and other national booksellers.

Author:

Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) is founder of the American Meditation Institute and originator of National Conscience Month. Mr. Perlmutters first book, The Heart and Science of Yoga was endorsed by Dean Ornish MD, Dr. Oz, and Bernie Siegel MD. Over the past 26 years, he has served on the faculties of the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts and the International Himalayan Yoga Teachers Association in Calgary, Canada. He has taught workshops on the benefits of the conscience, meditation and Yoga Science at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente, numerous medical schools, The New York Times forum on Yoga, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Association of Graduates. Since 2009, Leonards Foundation Course on Yoga Science has been certified for continuing medical education credits by the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association.

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Media Contact:

Robert Washington

60 Garner Road

Averill Park, NY 12018

Tel: 518.674.8714

Fax: 518.674.8714


Building Industrial Digital Twins This book is a valuable resource to anyone starting their first industrial Digital Twin project, not just for the technical content, but also for the clear guidance on using Digital Twins to solve real-world business problems.

Digital twin technology enables organizations to create digital representations of physical entities such as assets, systems, and processes throughout their life cycle. It improves asset performance, utilization, and safe operations and reduces manufacturing, operational, and maintenance costs.

In Building Industrial Digital Twins, industry veterans Pieter van Schalkwyk and Shyam Varan Nath introduce readers to the concept of digital twins and set them on a path to develop a digital twin strategy to positively influence business outcomes in their organization.

The book provides detailed guidance on how to use the Microsoft Azure Digital Twins platform for a digital twin development and deployment, along with sample code files available on Github. By the end of this book, readers will have developed the skills to build and deploy a digital twin prototype to demonstrate, assess, and monitor their assets at specific stages in the asset life cycle.

This book is a valuable resource to anyone starting their first industrial Digital Twin project, not just for the technical content, but also for the clear guidance on using Digital Twins to solve real-world business problems, commented Dan Isaacs, CTO of the Digital Twin Consortium.

Building Industrial Digital Twins is available now on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback format.

About The Authors:

Shyam Varan Nath is a Specialist Leader, Analytics and Cognitive, at Deloitte. Prior to this, he worked for Oracle, General Electric, IBM, and Halliburton. He is the primary author of two books, Industrial Digital Transformation, and Architecting the Industrial Internet. He holds an undergraduate degree from IIT Kanpur, India, as well as an MSc (in computer science) and an MBA from FAU, Boca Raton, Florida. Shyam is part of the Program Committee of IoTSWC and a regular speaker at large technology events.

Pieter van Schalkwyk is the CEO at XMPro, a leading No-Code Application Composition Platform provider for asset-intensive industries. Pieter holds a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Information Technology. He chairs the Natural Resources Working Group in the Digital Twin Consortium (DTC). Prior to this Pieter was the chair for the Digital Twin Interoperability Task Group in the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC). In February 2019, Pieter received the IIC Technical Innovation Award.

Both Pieter and Shyam are available for interviews about Building Industrial Digital Twins. Send an email to info@industrialdigitaltwinbook.com to request a complimentary electronic or physical media copy.
The countdown to save the koala from disappearing forever has well and truly begun  and from now until Christmas everyone can help these wonderful animals for free, just by listening to a great new festive playlist.

Recent research has revealed that there could be as few as 30,000 koalas remaining in the wild throughout Australia, which is a tiny fraction of the historical peak figure of around 8 million.

This festive season, we can all give koalas the best present of all  a future, simply by listening to the Christmas - Your Essential Playlist on Spotify or Apple Music as many times as possible between now and December 31.

When a listener enjoys the playlist filled with much-loved Christmas songs, a donation is made to the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF), a principal non-profit organization dedicated to the effective management and conservation of the koala and its habitat.

These donations will support the Foundations crucial ongoing work in research, habitat rehabilitation and preservation of the few remaining viable koala populations.

Perth-based songwriter, playlist curator and environmental scientist Tony Stephens has called for people across the world to do their bit for the adorable marsupial.

This is a great opportunity for everyone to come together and help save the incredible but very vulnerable koala  without spending any money, he said.

The festive season can be a tight time financially for many people, so this is a fantastic way that anyone can help save the species at no cost, which is quite unique when it comes to fund-raising.

Its very simple, enjoy the playlist as many times as you can. Listen to it on the way to work, at home doing the chores, while cooking a meal or even as background music during a night of board games with the family to help get into the Christmas spirit.

This Spotify/Apple Music Christmas playlist, that features our own popular composition in the number one position, was developed as an initiative to support the AKF. People listen to the playlist and this generates royalties which then creates a donation to the Foundation.

How to help:

Listen to Christmas  Your Essential Playlist (on Spotify https://spoti.fi/3m92m1d) or (on Apple Music https://apple.co/3CNt7OK).

Also, share the initiatives official Facebook post with friends and social media followers.

Learn more about koalas, their current challenges and the amazing work of the Australian Koala Foundation here: http://www.savethekoala.com
New Havis Lockable Under-Seat Storage Box for Ford F-Series Trucks We are excited to release a unique under-seat storage option that allows mobile workers to securely store mission-critical items, says Brett Young, Havis National Sales Manager for Public Safety.

Havis, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of in-vehicle mobile working solutions for the public safety and utility sectors, is pleased to introduce the new Lockable Under-Seat Storage Box for Ford F-Series trucks.

The C-SBX-104 features a 14-gauge steel box for secure storage that is compatible with an assortment of Ford trucks ranging from F-150 to 550, and supporting crew cab, cab chassis, and Special Service Vehicle (SSV) pickups.

Its dual lids align with the 60-40 split in the rear seat with low-profile latches that lock with included keys. We are excited to release a unique under-seat storage option that allows mobile workers to securely store mission-critical items, says Brett Young, Havis National Sales Manager for Public Safety.

An easy, no-drill installation can be completed in minutes by mounting to the factory holes. Uses all have the option to attach the adjustable divider to pre-drilled holes, or to drill and mount where they prefer.

"Another key differentiating factor for Havis's Under-Seat Storage Box is the knock-out panels for wire routing and three sections of obround holes," adds Sam Barall, Havis National Sales Manager for Enterprise. "These features provide ventilation for safe equipment mounting and allow fans to be mounted for increased air circulation, thereby protecting the equipment while improving its performance."

For more information, contact media@havis.com, or visit http://www.havis.com.

ABOUT HAVIS

Havis, Inc., is a privately held, ISO 9001 certified company that manufactures in-vehicle mobile office solutions for public safety, public works, government agencies, and mobile professionals. For more than 80 years, the Havis mission has been to increase mobile worker productivity with industry-leading products that are built to the highest safety and quality standards and are designed with comfort in mind. Havis is dedicated to responsible intellectual property management, and fosters ongoing innovation. Havis's patent and trademark portfolio demonstrate a commitment to consistently researching and developing unique products and solutions for mobile industries around the world. With headquarters in Warminster, PA, and an additional location in Plymouth, MI, Havis currently employs more than 300 people. For more information on Havis, please call 1-800-524-9900 or visit http://www.havis.com.
Named after a famous cosmonaut: All below-grade concrete structures of the expanded airport in Kemerovo, Russia, named after Aleksey Leonov, are protected from the Siberian cold by Penetron. With low permeability and a self-healing capability to seal hairline cracks, the concrete structures of the new terminal of the Alexey Leonov International Airport will enjoy a long service life, similar to the nearby Kuzbass Ice Palace* that we successfully completed earlier this year.

The summer 2021 inauguration of the new passenger terminal at Aleksey Leonov International Airport in Kemerovo, Russia marked the 300th anniversary of the opening of Kuzbass (the Kuznetsk coal fields). The Penetron System was specified to ensure durable  and waterproof  below-grade concrete structures.

The Kuznetsk Basin in southwestern Siberia, also known as Kuzbass, is one of the largest coal-mining regions in Russia. The Basin covers an area of around 10,000 square miles (26,000 km2) and possesses some of the most extensive coal deposits in the world. Kemerovo is the economic hub of the region.

Originally built in the 1960s with two modest-sized ground-floor terminals, the expansion and modernization of the Kemerovo airport was long overdue. The newly completed project, developed by GK Spectrum in collaboration with ASADOV Architectural Bureau, adds an expansive glass and concrete terminal with two telescopic passageways. The arrivals and departures zones are now on different levels, and capacity was increased from 200 to 460 passengers per hour. The new terminal also includes special service and business class lounges.

Honoring a Cosmonaut and Artist

The new and larger airport is named after Aleksey Leonov, a famous Soviet cosmonaut, who was the first person to walk in space in 1965. He also commanded the Soyuz capsule in the SoyuzApollo mission, which docked in space for two days with an American Apollo capsule in 1975, explains Igor Chernogolov, Managing Director of Penetron Russia. A little-known fact is his skill as an accomplished artist. The mural in the main hall of the new airport terminal reproduces one of his paintings!

Today, Kemerovos Alexey Leonov International Airport (KEJ) is one of two major airports in the Kemerovo Oblast area of southwestern Siberia. The expanded facility can now accommodate small and medium-sized airliners, as well as military aircraft. Annual passenger volume at the new airport is expected to reach 2 million passengers by 2028.

Built by the Limak Marash Group, the projects general contractor, the new airport terminal features three above-ground floors and a below-grade basement floor, which houses the pumping stations, various tunnels, and rooms for technical and supply infrastructure.

Protection from Freeze-Thaw Degradation

Because of the well-known challenges of the cold Siberian climate, Penetron Kuzbass, the local Penetron representative in Kemerovo, was asked to provide a robust concrete waterproofing solution for the reinforced concrete structures of the terminals basement structures and to protect any exposed concrete from damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles common to the region.

The Penetron System was recommended to provide the concrete basement structures with the much-needed protection. A combination of PENECRETE MORTAR, a crystalline waterproofing mortar used to repair cracks, and PENETRON, a topical crystalline waterproofing material applied as a slurry, was used to provide durability and permanent protection for the new airport terminal structures.

With low permeability and a self-healing capability to seal hairline cracks, the concrete structures of the new terminal of the Alexey Leonov International Airport will enjoy a long service life, similar to the nearby Kuzbass Ice Palace* that we successfully completed earlier this year, adds Igor Chernogolov.



See our report from August 26, 2021, Kuzbass Ice Palace Built to Last with Penetron: (https://www.penetron.com/news-media/media-releases/view/Kuzbass-Ice-Palace-Built-to-Last-with-Penetron/)

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
As CEO, I am passionate about growing the agency to serve as the go-to partner to CMOs and their teams. In doing so, we will continue to support their marketing priorities and provide strategic guidance that will deliver measurable results and return on investments.

Norbella, a leading independent full-service media agency, today announced Norman Guadagno as chief executive officer (CEO). Succeeding founder, Steph Noris, Guadagno brings over 20 years of marketing experience in both agency and client roles to lead Norbellas rapid growth and drive expansion of agency offerings to meet the present and future needs of marketers. Noris will remain involved in key agency initiatives.

The media and advertising landscape is undergoing transformative change that impacts how marketers build, spend, and measure their budgets. Marketing teams are challenged to manage a number of responsibilities from producing quantifiable results that drive the business, to creating and growing brands, to building successful partner and customer ecosystems  all while managing complex tech platforms. The investments in media  digital, traditional, and social  are often the largest part of the budget and the most complex to manage and measure.

Norbella is ready to expand its capabilities and invest in talent resources to bring innovative and unique media and advertising strategies to help clients achieve more from their marketing investments, says Norman Guadagno, CEO at Norbella. As CEO, I am passionate about growing the agency to serve as the go-to partner to CMOs and their teams. In doing so, we will continue to support their marketing priorities and provide strategic guidance that will deliver measurable results and return on investments. Im also excited to lead Norbella through the next evolution of the media and advertising industry and help our trusted clients navigate this dynamic market.

Previously, Guadagno served as the CMO of Acoustic, a marketing cloud platform company where he built the companys marketing function and grew the companys brand awareness by over 80% within the first year. Prior to Acoustic, Guadagno was the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Carbonite, a data-protection provider for consumers and SMB, where he contributed to more than doubling revenue and positioning the brand as a top ten technology brand for SMB buyers. Guadagno also brings agency experience to Norbella as he spent five years in a variety of senior leadership roles at independent digital marketing agency, Wire Stone, which is now a part of Accenture Interactive.

Norbella was founded on the belief that companies needed an innovative and purposeful independent media agency to support their business and marketing goals, says Steph Noris, Founder of Norbella. Over the past 12 years, Ive led Norbella to create industry leading media and advertising campaigns that delivered strong, impactful results. And today, Im honored to welcome Norman as Norbellas new CEO as I take a step back from day-to-day operations and will continue to support the agency in key initiatives. With his extensive marketing and leadership experience, I am confident that he will solidify the agency as a leader in the media and advertising industry to meet the changing needs of our clients and to deliver transformative results.

Founded in 2009 as an independent full-service media agency, Norbella has led its clients through the ever-changing marketing landscape with media and advertising capabilities. Clients of Norbella include American Leather, athenahealth, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Devo, EG America, Cybereason, DCU, Massachusetts State Lottery, and Toast, Inc. To learn more about Norbella, visit: http://www.norbella.com.

About Norbella

Norbella, a leading independent full-service media agency, brings creative solutions to companies through analytics, media strategy, planning, and buying offerings that deliver results to achieve business goals. Founded in 2009 by Steph Noris, Norbella provides innovative media and advertising services to healthcare, technology, and consumer brands such as American Leather, athenahealth, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Devo, EG America, Cybereason, DCU, Massachusetts State Lottery, and Toast, Inc.

For more information, visit: http://www.norbella.com.

Press Contact

Lilian Ma

lmkidston@gmail.com

(516) 582-4901
One of the exhibits in this report. Segments that displayed negative growth decreased as a consequence of COVID-19 induced impacts: decreased travel, physical location closures or delays in service amidst social distancing, and decreased consumer income. Consumers also purchased more digital open-loop gift cards.

The report titled 18th Annual U.S. Open-Loop Prepaid Cards Market Forecasts, 20202025 provides an analysis of the growth and development of the open-loop prepaid cards industry through 2025. The report examines loads, growth potential, and market dynamics in the United States across all open-loop prepaid card segments.

Mercator Advisory Groups forecast report identifies key segments that will continue to decline over the next few years as well as those forecast to grow. The economy, regulation, consumer behavior, and the COVID-19 pandemic will all influence which segments grow and which decline.

"The pandemic has affected open-loop card loads differently by segment. Most of the growth in open-loop prepaid loads came from government benefits: state unemployment and stimulus programs. Segments that displayed negative growth decreased as a consequence of COVID-19 induced impacts: decreased travel, physical location closures or delays in service amidst social distancing, and decreased consumer income. Consumers also purchased more digital open-loop gift cards. As the pandemic subsides and government benefits cease in 2021, we expect a drop in open-loop loads for 2021, followed by a slight positive trend into 2025." commented David Nelyubin, Senior Analyst of Mercator Advisory Group's Prepaid Advisory Service, the author of the report.

Highlights of the report include:



Open-loop prepaid card load category market share in 2020.

Open-loop prepaid card loads, forecast, and analysis into 2025 by segment.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on open-loop prepaid card market segments.

Companies and other organizations mentioned in the report include: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Travel Association, International Trade Administration, Green Dot, FDIC, Federal Register, University of Michigan, Western Union, PCMA, U.S. Census, College Crisis Initiative, CFPB, Ace Hardware, Social Security Administration, Administration for Children and Families, PEW, National Conference of State Legislatures, United States Department Of Labor Employment & Training Administration, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Federal Reserve, IRS, ADP.

Members of Mercator Advisory Group's Prepaid Advisory Service have access to this report as well as the upcoming research for the year ahead, presentations, analyst access, and other membership benefits.

Please visit us online at http://www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com.

For more information and media inquiries, please call Mercator Advisory Group's main line: 781-419-1700, send email to media@mercatoradvisorygroup.com.

For free industry news, opinions, research, company information and more visit us at http://www.PaymentsJournal.com.

Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/MercatorAdvisor.

About Mercator Advisory Group

Mercator Advisory Group is the leading independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments and banking industries. We deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help our clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Our clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and associations to leading technology providers and investors. Mercator Advisory Group is also the publisher of the online payments and banking news and information portal PaymentsJournal.com.
Franchising wireless internet service has never been done, so I appreciate that challenge and I'm eager to lead this pioneering effort.

Patriot Broadband has named tech entrepreneur Greg Ford as the new COO in charge of the tactical side of leading the wireless internet franchise forward in its plans to expand across underserved parts of the U.S.

Ford comes to patriot after a two-decade career with technology companies. In the early days of wireless technology and cellular deployment, Ford oversaw the building of networks in rural communities throughout the Western U.S.

Patriot is such an exciting company because we are bringing internet services to rural America, and Greg's a huge hire for us, said Matt Friedman, CEO of parent company Franchise Founders. We really were looking for someone that not only had business acumen, but more importantly, the experience in this particular category. We found all that and more with Greg Ford.

Patriot Broadband provides high-speed wireless internet in rural areas of the U.S. and Canada where people are historically underserved. Patriot utilizes a hybrid of fixed wireless and hard-wired solutions to bring better speeds, better prices and more flexible contract terms to single-family homes, multi-dwelling units, HOAs, mobile home communities, schools, businesses and more.

Franchising wireless internet service has never been done, so I appreciate that challenge and I'm eager to lead this pioneering effort. The more I talked with the team, the more I believed in the business model, Ford said.

Franchisees are attracted to Patriot Broadband because of the combination of a recession-resistant service in a largely untapped market. The opportunity offers low overhead and a flexible lifestyle, as well as training and support throughout the life of the franchise agreement.

Ford said he was drawn to the COO position in part because of Patriot Broadbands unique offering in rural markets and in part because he sees it as a higher calling.

Its a noble pursuit, Ford said. Its estimated that 30% to 40% of rural America doesn't have access to broadband quality internet, and that holds people back in a lot of ways. Patriot Broadbands franchisees can make significant improvement to their communities by providing our services.

He sees Patriot Broadbands value-proposition as two-fold: It's providing that valuable service to those communities, and it's a great investment opportunity for franchisees because it is such an underserved market.

To learn more about Patriot Broadband, visit patriotbroadband.com. To find more information regarding the franchise opportunity, please visit franchise.patriotbroadband.com.

About Patriot Broadband

Patriot Broadband is a franchise that is dedicating to building networks for affordable, quality, high-speed wireless internet across the rural, underserved communities of the U.S. and Canada. It partners with franchisees to identify favorable markets, design a network unique to a franchisees community and maintain that service to subscribers. Patriot Broadband is a proud member of the Franchise Founders network of brands. To discover more about Patriot Broadbands franchise opportunity, please visit franchise.patriotbroadband.com.

About Franchise Founders

Franchise Founders is a group of seasoned, motivated entrepreneurs who use their experience to help grow successful businesses through franchising. A few of the of brands that Franchise Founders has made an equity investment into include:



Bobby Chez, a gourmet to go restaurant concept that specializes in crab cakes, seafood and house made sides

Patriot Broadband, a wireless internet services provider for rural America

Rizzieri Salon, an upscale hair/color and skin/beauty company

Sparklean, an all-natural, biodegradable jewelry and glass cleaning solutions franchise

Xtension Envy, an innovative hair extension membership model

Inspire Weight Loss, a client-centric, health and wellness coaching program

The Franchise Founders team has expertise in a variety of industries, including technology, retail, health & beauty and foodservice. They seek to partner with business owners who are experts in their industry, have a proven business model and a commitment to excellence. For more information about Franchise Founders and how they grow franchise concepts from the ground up, explore their website at franchisefoundersgroup.com.
Oakland Zoo was alerted of the injured pelican who was suffering from a fishhook wound Untold numbers of birds, turtles and other wildlife are affected by this solvable issue. Proper disposal of fishing line is crucial, and every citizen can help by picking up any fishing items found in nature

On October 27th, Oakland Zoo received and responded to a call from distressed citizens visiting Lake Merritt, reporting a pelican suffering from a large fishhook lodged into its throat as well as fishing line encircling its neck and bill. The improperly disposed of fishing gear had been preventing the animal from being able to eat or drink for weeks.

Using two kayaks and a small motorboat to reach and then capture the pelican, Oakland Zoos VP of Animal Care, Colleen Kinzley, and Zoological Managers Ann Marie Bisagno and Andrea Dougall, then transported the bird to Oakland Zoos Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

Upon arrival at the Zoo, veterinary staff examined the bird, administered fluids, conducted a blood draw, and examined the injured area on the neck. From initial observations, the veterinary staff determined the pelican suffered from dehydration, starvation, and based on the bloodwork appeared to have possible anemia.

After examinations, Dr. Alex Herman, VP of Veterinary Service sat Oakland Zoo removed the one-inch barbed fishing hook from the pelicans neck.

The pelican has now been aptly nicknamed Merritt by Oakland Zoo staff.

Veterinary staff have successfully fed Merritt smelt and capelin fish, which is a hopeful sign of recovery. For now, Merritt will remain at Oakland Zoos Veterinary Hospital for ongoing wound treatment and recovery.

Many coastal birds and other marine life are injured or killed each year by cut and discarded fishing lines, associated hooks, and tackle.

Untold numbers of birds, turtles and other wildlife are affected by this solvable issue. Proper disposal of fishing line is crucial, and every citizen can help by picking up any fishing items found in nature, says Amy Gotliffe, Vice President of Conservation at Oakland Zoo.

These items are improperly disposed of on beaches or from fishing boats. The wildlife either becomes entangled in the fishing lines or experiences debilitating injuries. Between 2002 and 2015, a study by the Audubon Society reports that California-based International Bird Rescue treated at least 2,957 birds for injuries caused by fishing gear.

Oakland Zoo urges guests and the public to join them in Taking Action for Wildlife by changing fishing habits to help save birds and other marine life like Merritt the pelican.

When fishing, never leave behind lures, hooks, fishing lines, or bait. Dispose of any gear properly in box or similar enclosed receptacle within designated disposal areas or at home.

Oakland Zoo is normally contacted by wildlife organizations to rescue animals. This is a rare occurrence for the Zoo to answer a public call. If you encounter injured wildlife, please call your local animal control center.

Contact:

Isabella Linares

Oakland Zoo

ilinares@oaklandzoo.org

Office: 510-632-9525 ext. 239

Erin Harrison

Oakland Zoo

eharrison@oaklandzoo.org

Office: 510-632-9525 ext. 120

ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA:

Oakland Zoo, home to more than 850native and exotic animals, is managed by the Conservation Society of California(CSC); a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community in Taking Action for Wildlife locally and globally. With over 25 conservation partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums.


Half of my customers use a third-party service for their crating needs so they can focus on their core business. Offering a service that handles packing, crating and shipping under one roof was a natural choice for my company.

Pinnacle Packaging has taken the stress and uncertainty out of shipping those large, heavy, awkward, fragile, or high-value items by adding a new and secure custom packing, crating, and shipping option to its catalog of goods and services.

Pinnacle Packagings President Nicole DeJoris explained that her customers have requested such an option over the years.

The inspiration to offer packing, crating, and shipping as a service go hand in hand with the packaging businessthey are symbiotic, she said. Our current environment calls for a more holistic offering considering the demand for packaging and shipping is at an all-time high and is projected to remain so for the immediate future.

According to The Miami Herald, there are peak holiday season surcharges for the U.S. Postal Service which are temporary. A recent article pointed out that "packages sent by Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Return Service are included in the holiday surcharge. International packages are excluded. Increases start at 25 cents per package and go up to $5."

With her companys new option, DeJoris made the shipping process to be simple and easy. Customers call and arrangements will be made to pick up the item and deliver it to Pinnacle Packaging. It uses its fleet of trucks if the item is in the upper Midwest region or arranges for a trusted partner to pick it up if outside the area.

Once the item arrives safely, the team gets to work using only the highest quality materials, including crates, corrugated containers and boxes, custom-engineered crates, skids and pallets, mil-spec crates, museum and trade show crates, and knock-down and reusable crates.

They also use custom on-site packaging and packing to ensure there is plenty of protection so that nothing is damaged when the item arrives at its destination. This could include vacuum sealing, custom corrugated packaging, interior packing and padding, specialized custom cushioning, and engineered product-specific packaging.

When shipping large equipment or machines, the companys industrial packing product consists of a forklift-able platform with weight equal to the equipment or machine being crated, plywood or OSB panels with external frames measuring 14 or 24, and fasteners, internal blocking, packaging, padding, anti-humidity barriers, and drying agents as appropriate for the size, weight, and fragility of the item.

Half of my customers use a third-party service for their crating needs so they can focus on their core business, said DeJoris. Offering a service that handles packing, crating and shipping under one roof was a natural choice for my company.

About Pinnacle Packaging

At Pinnacle Packaging, we stand behind our products so we can go above and beyond your expectations. With over 20 years in the packaging industry, we are committed to using our expansive knowledge of the packaging industry to provide our customers with the latest supply and packaging design information. When standard packaging supplies alone are not enough, we also work with our customers to provide custom packaging solutions. We ultimately work to make sure our customers are prepared and informed about the offerings available to their business so they can create a lasting impression through packaging. For more information, visit Pinnacle Packaging.
The Firm is properly positioned to deliver a full suite of thoughtful services throughout the eco-system of organizations that deploy capital and those who invest capital, said Hayes.

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, one of the nations largest accounting, tax, and advisory firms, is excited to announce that Mike Hayes has joined the Firm as its New England Financial Services Leader. Hayes, a seasoned asset management and asset allocator specialist, brings approximately 30 years of experience to the role, including over 15 years as a partner in Big Four accounting firms. Hayes is poised to provide the marketplace a truly differentiated delivery of key consulting, assurance, and tax services scaled to asset managers and asset allocators of all sizes.

Throughout his career, Hayes has gained diverse industry exposure to the private equity, venture capital, credit, fund of funds, endowment portfolio, private foundation, higher education, and pension segments. He has amassed additional expertise in the areas of capital markets, fin-tech, ESG, deal diligence, and operational improvement. He will leverage the strength of the Firm and the global PKF network of 20,000 specialists in 150 countries to bring to market pragmatic solutions alongside fellow PKF professionals who have deep experience as both service providers and senior management executives.

The Firm is properly positioned to deliver a full suite of thoughtful services throughout the eco-system of organizations that deploy capital and those who invest capital, said Hayes. Marrying a thoughtful practice of subject matter professionals across the asset allocator and asset investor industries will allow us to serve that collective marketplace in an unparalleled fashion. I look forward to meeting and listening to what matters most to industry participants and then putting the best service solutions in practice.

As clients across the financial services spectrum continue to find themselves under greater scrutiny from regulators and investors, our teams first-hand knowledge and comprehensive services have never been more important to ensure these institutions remain accountable and profitable, said Marc Rinaldi, Partner-in-Charge of PKF OConnor Davies Financial Services practice. When it comes to supporting financial institutions in this effort, Mike is one of the best in the business. His innate ability to address the most complex problems with thoughtful and specialized solutions places him in an ideal position to expand our New England client base and accelerate our next generation of growth.

About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, is a full-service certified public accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, the Firm has 14 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, and Rhode Island and more than 1,000 professionals providing a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax, and management advisory services. PKF OConnor Davies is led by over 100 partners who are closely involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness.

The Firm is a top-ranked firm, according to Accounting Todays 2021 Top 100 Firms list and was recently recognized as one of Americas Best Tax Firms by Forbes. PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's 2021 Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey.

PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting, tax, and business advisory services in over 400 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience, and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com.
Were impressed with Stephen Faust and the management teams ability to remain capital-efficient while growing organically and profitably. We look forward to working with them as they execute on their vision

Prepaid Technologies, a Birmingham, Ala.-based provider of prepaid digital payment solutions, today announced raising $96 million in new growth financing. Edison Partners, the growth equity firm, led the transaction, and StepStone Group (which recently acquired venture capital platform Greenspring Associates) co-led. Stifel Venture Bank, a Division of Stifel Bank, and Top Tier Capital Partners also participated. The company will use the proceeds to accelerate its market expansion and continue to advance its category-leading technology payments platform and customer-focused prepaid solutions.

Analysts estimate $120 trillion in business payments are still check-based, and service providers are fragmented across multiple vendors for verticals such as payroll, rewards, purchasing and disbursement. These four opportunities alone represent $80 billion addressable markets, growing at more than 10% annually and accelerating with the proliferation of smartphones, e-commerce, and digitized payments since the pandemics onset. Prepaid Technologies enables its customers to access and customize B2B and B2C payments across these segments with a unified innovative fintech partner with a focus on the consumer and end user experience.

Prepaid Technologies is making it easy for businesses to transform their outdated disbursement, payroll, and purchasing processes with real-time digital payments across niche categories where competitors dont have the same level of depth or expertise, said Jennifer Lee, Partner, Edison Partners, who co-led the investment.

This is a unique product offering, where a company can access and customize different payment solutions in a one-stop shop. Were impressed with Stephen Faust and the management teams ability to remain capital-efficient while growing organically and profitably. We look forward to working with them as they execute on their vision, added Lee. Modern payroll and expense management for remote workforces continues to see strong traction through the last 18 months. B2B payments are also trending higher as companies opt for disbursement solutions that make it easier and safer to deliver corporate funds. These tailwinds bode particularly well for the companys growth and provide a moat for adjunct product opportunities.

Prepaid Technologies has seen over 15,000% straight-line growth in its load value. Revenue has increased 9x over five years since the company raised its only round of outside capital, $5 million in 2016 through Ballast Point Ventures. The company has delivered a clear product-market fit with 1,700 customers and 450 active partners including banks, payroll processors, payment providers, such as FIS, emergent fintechs including digital banking platforms, enterprise technology companies, marketing, health and wellness payments processors, and merchant services providers.

Recent launches include the MyDashCard app and dashPerks, a cardholder cashback rewards program. Prepaid Technologies also enjoys strong retention metrics with notable blue-chip customers like Lowes, Taco Bell, Nissan, and Sony. The company is also seeing tremendous growth in its disbursements product which businesses use to pay their vendors electronically.

We purpose-built our platform to create a turnkey way for companies to configure payments solutions across their enterprise however they operate. Clients access payments through our dashboard technology or integrate solutions into their workflows through our robust API suite. Were laser-focused on productization and customization that will help to transition more companies to card-based and digital solutions. With this investment, and with Edison Partners expertise and experience, we can focus on investing in our current solutions, accelerating our industry footprint and expanding our suite of offerings to ensure our customers and partners achieve their goals, said Stephen Faust, CEO, Prepaid Technologies.

Loyalty payments and refund programs present an enormous niche opportunity. There is both a programmatic vertical opportunity and underserved community opportunity. Prepaid Technologies has an incredible load volume and data set, and the management team has deep banking and payments expertise, which were confident will bode well for the companys continued growth and deliver value to customers and partners around the globe, said Chris Sugden, Managing Partner, Edison Partners. Sugden will join the board of directors.

Recognized by LendIt Fintech as Fintech Equity Investor of the Year, Edison Partners has financed and guided more than 50 private fintech market leaders. The firms current active portfolio includes Bipsync, ComplySci, Fund That Flip, GAN Integrity, Giant Oak, GoHenry, Houwzer, MoneyLion, Nuula, Yieldstreet, and Zelis.

The investment in Prepaid Technologies is Edison Partners first investment in Alabama and is the firms third growth financing in an underserved market this year following investments in Boulder, Colorado-based The Pros Closet and Houston, Texas-based MacroFab.

About Prepaid Technologies

Prepaid Technologies is the fintech solution and payments program manager for more than 1,700 customers, providing innovative digital payment solutions including payroll, expense, gift, reward and incentive card products to employers, financial institutions, and government agencies. Learn more at http://www.in-prepaid.com.

About Edison Partners

For 35 years, Edison Partners has been helping CEOs and their executive teams grow and scale successful companies. The firm's investment team brings extensive investing and operating experience to each investment. Through a unique combination of growth capital and the Edison Edge platform, consisting of operating centers of excellence, the Edison Director Network, and executive education programs, Edison employs a truly integrated approach to accelerating growth and creating value for businesses. A team of experts in enterprise solutions, financial technology, and healthcare IT sectors, Edison targets high-growth companies located outside Silicon Valley with $10 to $30 million in revenue; investments also include buyouts, recapitalizations, spinouts and secondary stock purchases.

Edison's active portfolio has created aggregated market value exceeding $10 billion. Edison Partners is based in Princeton, NJ and manages more than $2 billion in assets.
ProLiteracy was presented the Dyer Pearl Literacy Award at the Barbara Bush Foundations National Summit on Adult Literacy. We congratulate our fellow recipients, and at this pivotal moment, reaffirm ProLiteracys support of the National Action Plan and our commitment to working together to transform the lives of low-literate adults," said Mark Vineis, ProLiteracy president and CEO.

On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, ProLiteracy was presented the Dyer Pearl Literacy Award at the Barbara Bush Foundations National Summit on Adult Literacy. The event was held at the REACH at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. First Lady Jill Biden delivered the keynote remarks at the event.

Awarded by the Barbara Bush Foundation, the honor recognizes organizations whose work exemplifies 1) strong and successful community collaborations; 2) successful and/or scalable programs in family, adult, and/or child literacy; and 3) best practices in adult literacy.

The award is named for Rebecca Dyer, a longtime employee of the Barbara Bush Foundation and adult literacy advocate. ProLiteracy was one of the four national and community-based organizations to receive the award based on their exemplary work in the field of adult or family literacy.

We are grateful to the Barbara Bush Foundation for this meaningful recognition. We are humbled to be in such company as the Coalition on Adult Basic Education; the Irving, Texas, Independent School District Adult Education Program; Strong City Baltimore; and Sharon Darling, founder of the National Center for Families Learning, said Ginger Duiven, ProLiteracy Board Chair, We know that to solve the literacy crisis, it will take all of us working together to solve this complex, systemic issue.

"It is an honor to be chosen for such a prestigious award as the Dyer Pearl Award and to be recognized for our resources, professional development, research, and advocacy work that we do on behalf of our member and customer network. We are proud partners and supporters of the National Action Plan, said Michele Diecuch, ProLiteracys Senior Director of Programs.

The summit brought researchers, experts, and innovators from the field of education and adult literacy together alongside philanthropists and industry partnerswith the mission of working together to solve Americas low literacy problem. The goal of the summit was to announce and discuss the National Action Plan for Adult Literacy. ProLiteracy participated in the five national planning teams that informed the content and goals of the National Action Plan.

Being recognized in this way is a tremendous honor for our organization, partners, foundations, and donors, said Mark Vineis, ProLiteracy president and CEO, We congratulate our fellow recipients, and at this pivotal moment, reaffirm ProLiteracys support of the National Action Plan and our commitment to working together to transform the lives of low-literate adults."

###

About ProLiteracy

ProLiteracy is the largest adult literacy and basic education nonprofit membership organization in the nation. ProLiteracy has been the leader in adult literacy content development, programs, and advocacy for more than 60 years. ProLiteracy works with its member organizations to help adults gain the reading, writing, math, English, and digital skills they need to be successful. ProLiteracy advocates on behalf of adult learners and the programs that serve them, provides training and professional development, and through its publishing division, New Readers Press, creates and distributes materials used in adult literacy and basic education instruction. ProLiteracy has 1,000 member programs in all 50 states, and works with 21 nongovernmental organizations in 35 developing countries. For more information, visit ProLiteracy.org. You can follow ProLiteracy on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
"We want Prophixs legacy to have a positive and measurable impact on causes our employees and customers care about, and its a great privilege for our efforts to be recognized by TrustRadius. ~Alok Ajmera, President & CEO, Prophix Software

Prophix Software, a global leader in mid-market Corporate Performance Management (CPM) software, today announced it has been named a 2021 Tech Cares Award winner for the second consecutive year by TrustRadius. This second annual award celebrates companies driving change in the technology community through social responsibility programs and corporate culture.

At Prophix, we pride ourselves on providing superior customer service  and part of that is supporting the communities where our customers live and work, said Alok Ajmera, President and CEO of Prophix Software. Across the organization, we collectively believe its our responsibility to contribute towards making the world a better place, and this philosophy is reflected in our employee-driven CSR program. We want Prophixs legacy to have a positive and measurable impact on causes our employees and customers care about, and its a great privilege for our efforts to be recognized by TrustRadius.

Since 2014, Prophix has made regular donations to charities selected by its 350 employees. Most recently, Prophix donated $25,000 to First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. The companys Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program was also recently featured in the Globe & Mail, highlighting the time off they offer employees for meaningful volunteer work.

In 2020, employees at Prophix created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee to recognize the rich perspectives and experiences that arise from racial, ethnic, socio-economic, sexual, age, gender, and religious diversity, as well as physical and neuro-divergent perspectives within the community.

Prophix also supports remote employees with programs to promote well-being, including yoga and meditation classes and webinars on mental health.

We're excited to announce our second annual Tech Cares Award winners, said TrustRadius CEO Vinay Bhagat. The past two years have tested the tech community. We've been inspired by watching leaders in the B2B technology industry pursue meaningful progress in social, environmental, and cultural spaces. Not only do we feel that these companies are deserving of recognition  but we also consider them a great example as we build a stronger future together.

To be accepted for the Tech Cares Award, each nominated organization had to be a B2B technology company that demonstrated strong CSR in 2020 and 2021. Everyone was welcome to nominate an organization for this award, including those who work for or with the company. All nominations were thoroughly vetted by the TrustRadius research team.

About Prophix

Your business is evolving. And the way you plan and report on your business should evolve too. Prophix helps mid-market companies achieve their goals more successfully with innovative, cloud-based Corporate Performance Management (CPM) software. With Prophix, finance leaders improve profitability and minimize risk by automating budgeting, forecasting, and reporting and puts the focus back on what matters most  uncovering business opportunities. Prophix supports your future with AI innovation that flexes to meet your strategic realities, today and tomorrow. Over 1,500 global companies rely on Prophix to transform the way they work. To learn more, visit Prophix.com.

About TrustRadius

TrustRadius helps technology buyers make better decisions and helps vendors tell their unique story, improve conversion, engage high-intent buyers, and gain customer insights. Each month over 1 million B2B technology buyers, over 50% from large enterprises, use verified reviews and ratings on TrustRadius.com to make informed purchasing decisions. Headquartered in Austin, TX, TrustRadius was founded by successful entrepreneurs and is backed by Mayfield Fund, LiveOak Venture Partners and Next Coast Ventures.

Contact:

Rachel Douglas

Prophix

+1 (905) 279-8711 Ext: 502

rdouglas@prophix.com
Reinvent Telecom Launches Wholesale Business Messaging Platform The platform goes beyond basic broadcast messages to enable business-class functionality, such as automated series campaigns, workflows, simultaneous conversation management and one-to-one interactions.

Reinvent Telecom, a provider of private-labeled cloud-based unified communications (UC), SIP Trunking, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and contact center solutions, announced today the launch of the Reinvent Wholesale Business Messaging Platform, which enables a new monthly recurring revenue (MRR) opportunity for the companys reseller partners.

The Reinvent Wholesale Business Messaging Platform allows resellers to enable their business customers to connect with their customers via SMS and MMS messaging using a business main phone number or toll-free number.

Reinvents Wholesale Business Messaging cloud-based business-class solution is ideal for:



Notifications

Sales and Marketing Promotions

Live Interactions

Appointment Reminders

Delivery Scheduling and Tracking

Customer Surveys

Customer Support and Trouble Tickets

One-to-One Customer Interactions

More

Reinvents business messaging platform is a wholesale messaging solution with true differentiation in the market. The platform goes beyond basic broadcast messages to enable business-class functionality, such as automated series campaigns, workflows, simultaneous conversation management and one-to-one interactions, said Jeff Kramarczyk, Product Manager at Reinvent. This new wholesale product has both the capabilities and the pricing flexibility for our partners to win in all business messaging applications.

The Reinvent Wholesale Business Messaging Platform comes equipped with a complete suite of customizable and programmable SMS and MMS features, including:



Textcast - Broadcast news to communities, customers or employees about sales, events and more.

Timetext - Schedule texts to be sent at a specific date/time for sales follow-up, special offers, or additional customer information.

Survey - Get feedback from your customers about service quality, new products, purchasing plans and more with quick text polls.

Series - Keep leads engaged, customers loyal and employees informed with text campaigns over days, weeks or months.

Tags - Tag customers to events, interactions and campaigns for targeted and personalized texts.

Keywords - Automate responses to customer inquiries using pre-set replies to common questions based on keywords.

Pathways - Assist customers by routing them to live agents through interactive text responses.

App Integration - Text-enable existing applications with custom integrations.

Were excited to introduce our wholesale business texting platform to resellers, VARs and MSPs looking for an additional revenue stream, said David Ansehl, Director of Wholesale Channel at Reinvent Telecom. Our resellers can offer messaging as an over-the-top service on any service offering, including Microsoft Teams. It can also be offered as a standalone service to new customers or as an add-on to their existing customers communications, collaboration or other managed services solution to boost MRR. Plus, there are no upfront costs to partner with Reinvent. Partners can add our robust business messaging solution to their stack without a capital investment.

For more information about Reinvents Wholesale Business Messaging Platform, visit Booth 1653 at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, November 1-4, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, or visit https://reinventtelecom.com/solutions/white-label-business-sms-mms-messaging.

For new partner inquiries about reselling Reinvents two-way business messaging platform today, please call 888.704.7346 or email sales@reinventtelecom.com.

About Reinvent Telecom

Reinvent Telecom, a division of Saddleback Communications, operates a private-label communications platform that empowers its wholesale partners to transform their businesses into next-generation cloud-based communications service providers. Reinvent enables its wholesale partners to deliver reliable, high-quality Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Conferencing & Collaboration, Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams and SIP trunking services. Reinvents solutions are built on the proven platform from Metaswitch, a global leader in communications network software technology, and backed by Saddleback Communications, a stable, profitable Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier and a wholly owned enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). Reinvents powerful turnkey solution is managed from quote to compensation through its proprietary Reinvent Partner Portal (RPP), enabling its wholesale partners to generate revenue quickly and build a successful cloud voice business while keeping full ownership and control of their customers. For more information, visit us http://www.reinventtelecom.com or call 855.455.7346.
White-labeled WordPress Hosting Control Panel Today Im excited to share that were enabling agencies to not only create a streamlined experience for their clients, but were providing the tools they need to create a new revenue stream for their business.

Rocket.net, the complete Managed WordPress Hosting Platform, announced today that it has launched the world's easiest and most customizable Managed WordPress Reseller Hosting product for agencies and creatives alike.

In the last 15 years, weve learned a lot about how agencies and creatives leverage WordPress within their business, said Ben Gabler, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Rocket.net. Today Im excited to share that were enabling agencies to not only create a streamlined experience for their clients, but were providing the tools they need to create a new revenue stream for their business.

Launched in 2020, Rocket.nets Managed WordPress Hosting platform quickly became a success much due to its unique position at the edge of the cloud. With Cloudflare Enterprise in front of every WordPress site and servers powered by Performive, Rocket.net is helping agencies and creatives tackle Googles new core web vital requirements from over 250 locations around the world. With that, Rocket.net also provides much needed website security to protect their business, so that agencies and creatives can focus on what they do best - creating.

Rocket.nets new Managed WordPress Reseller Hosting product truly empowers agencies in ways never possible before, starting with a turnkey WooCommerce integration. Weve been a customer at Rocket.net for over twelve months now and its without a doubt the best WordPress platform weve ever seen. Said Grant Phillips, CEO of Growth Labs. When Rocket.net approached us about the new WordPress Reseller Hosting offering and WooCommerce plugin, we couldnt wait to integrate it into our business. Within just seven minutes of installing the plugin, we were taking sales and automatically provisioning WordPress sites all while providing our customers with a world-class experience.

With Rocket.net, agencies can not only fully white-label Rocket.nets Managed WordPress Hosting platform within WooComerce, but they can embed the entire Rocket.net WordPress Control Panel in any software in the world. Ultimately, allowing agencies and creatives alike to maximize Average Revenue Per Customer and Lifetime Value, all while owning the entire customer experience.

Rocket.nets Managed WordPress Reseller Hosting Product integrates the following features, enabling agencies and creatives alike to grow their business:



White-label Control Panel: Rocket.net has become known for its simple, yet powerful proprietary control panel. This control panel is now available for agencies to completely customize with their brand, from their logo, to the colors and icons throughout.

One-click Integrations: In-line with the rest of the Rocket.net platform, it's easier than ever for agencies to integrate the white-label solution with their existing WooCommerce store.

Integration Flexibility: With the ability to embed Rocket.net's portal anywhere in the world, agencies and creatives can drop a few lines of HTML into their existing system and the entire control panel is available to their clients.

New Agency Plans: In order to set agencies and creatives up for success, Rocket.net launched ten new Agency tiers to help maximize success as you grow.

Robust API: The entire platform was built API first, so the same API powering the Rocket.net control panel is available to customers to create anything they like.

This is just the beginning of whats to come. Im always asked what were going to do differently as a hosting company and my answer hasnt changed. It's not just about speed, security, or which fancy cloud we're on, it's about the customer experience." said Gabler. "We're not just talking to our customers daily, we're listening. That combined with SaaS methodology and over 17 years of direct hosting experience, our company is positioned to move faster than ever for our customers. Features that would take weeks to implement, now take days.

For more information about Rocket.nets Managed WordPress Reseller Hosting Product, go to https://rocket.net/solutions/wordpress-reseller-hosting/

About Rocket.net

Rocket.net, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, is a Managed WordPress Hosting provider designed for websites of all sizes. Since its launch in early 2020, Rocket.net provides an all-in-one solution built on top of Cloudflare Enterprise, providing each WordPress website with an enterprise-level experience, including prioritized traffic routing and caching in every Cloudflare location. This service, traditionally hard to configure and out of reach for website owners and agencies alike, requires zero configuration or advanced knowledge, making it possible for website owners to focus on what really matters most: content.
Portland is somewhat unique to the SEO industry, as we have deeper roots and more vibrant community than many larger cities

SEOblog.com, a fast-growing website providing the latest SEO news, tips and resources and helping business owners connect with leading digital marketing and SEO agencies, has released its exclusive 2021 ratings naming the best Portland SEO companies in the United States.

SEOblog analysts determined the 15 best Portland SEO companies based on dozens of key quantitative and qualitative factors. SEOblog industry experts examined each digital marketing agencys website, social media experience, market presence, client list, portfolio, expert certifications and authorship, among other factors in its ranking system.

SEOblog has provided an in-depth view of companies in a particular city or focus area on various directory pages to help business owners find the expert help they need to grow. This was a new, free offer added by SEOblog in 2019.

The U.S. boasts several top Portland SEO agencies that contribute to a highly competitive digital marketing landscape.

Portland is somewhat unique to the SEO industry, as we have deeper roots and more vibrant community than many larger cities said Kent Lewis, president and founder of Anvil Media. We were one of the first to create a dedicated regional annual event (SearchFest) in 2005. In 2006, we founded SEMpdx, a professional trade organization for search engine marketers that is still going strong today. Im honored to be one of the founding members of both entities.

SEOblog.com rankings are updated regularly as the market shifts and new players emerge. SEOblog.com has published more than 2,300 agency listings, with more added every day. There is no fee to participate, and the website welcomes all qualified agencies to apply.

SEOblog.coms 15 Best Portland SEO Companies in 2021:

Delmain, Intuitive Digital, Upsource, Sproutbox Media, Talk Out Loud, Anvil Media, Mad Fish Digital, XPND Interactive, PDX SEO, Adpearance, Iterate Marketing, Webfor, Effective Web SEO, Stoute Web Solutions and Mambo Media.

Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/portland/

About SEOblog.com

SEOblog.com is a leading thought leadership site with a rich history of publishing educational and informative articles about SEO and digital marketing topics. In early 2019, SEOblog.com answered the call from buyers of digital marketing services that lacked unbiased, informative online resources and launched a comprehensive directory to highlight the best SEO companies in the United States -- https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/.

SEOblogs mission is to connect businesses with qualified digital marketing agencies while also offering further SEO education, best practices and industry trends.

SEOblog.com is a one-stop shop for educational SEO and digital marketing content, research, ratings and reviews for the best agencies in each local market across the United States. The website will be increasing its coverage of U.S. SEO agencies and accepting more guest blog posts in the coming months. Contact SEOblog if youre interested in getting involved.
Shmoop Logo Ive known this kid for years, and I had no idea that he was at home with two siblings as mom was at work.  So now I get it.  Middle school teacher, New Jersey

Since Shmoops founding nearly 15 years ago, it has focused on building tools that help students gain learning progress. Shmoop has delivered on those commitments and is now leading efforts in learning sciences by providing some of the most advanced classroom technologies for students.

In 2019, Andy Rahden, CEO, and Mike Soldan, CXO, took the reins at Shmoop. They publicly declared that they would become a leader in the K-12 education technology industry. In order to achieve this, Shmoop acquired some of the brightest minds in education and partnered with some of the most advanced learning organizations like Digital Promise.

For SEL to be done the right way, you need to put the student at the center of the work and focus on the factors of their lives that impact their ability to achieve academically. Heartbeat uses the best research-based frameworks that are free of politics and bias while allowing our students to do their best. Parents, guardians, educators, and most importantly, students love the way Heartbeat fixes this problem in our education system, said Rahden.

In a recent article, Digital Promise highlighted the Shmoop Heartbeat. Digital Promises Learner Variability Project partnered with Shmoop to pilot the tool in school districts that were managing both virtual and in-person learning. In the article, teachers reported that Heartbeat provided insight on the whole child, helping them better understand students SEL needs and how those needs affect their learning. It also allowed their students to express their feelings, build rapport, and reflect on how their own SEL needs impact their academic success.

"The Shmoop Heartbeat is a game-changer in SEL awareness for districts right down to the classroom level. We were very fortunate to partner with Shmoop in the pilot process of the Heartbeat program and were blown away by the student information and data we received from this process," said Sam Brooks, Supervisor of Personalized Learning at the Putnam County School System.

In addition to customer validation, Shmoop also received the formidable Learner Variability Certification from Digital Promise, an EdTech Award from EdTech Digest in the Cool Tool category, and a coveted W3 Award. Shmoop was also recognized by Learnosity as a, trailblazer in the social and emotional learning (SEL) space, selected as a finalist for the ASU GSV Cup Competition, and most recently was able to share more about Heartbeats creation at ASU GSV 2021.

For more information about Heartbeat and Shmoops mission, visit: https://www.shmoop.com/heartbeat

About Shmoop:

Shmoop was founded in 2008 with a focus on easing the stress of the learning environment. Its Online Courses, Test Prep, Teaching Guides, Study Guides, and interactive Study Tools are written by teachers and educators, balancing a teen-friendly, approachable style with academically rigorous concepts. Shmoop sees 6 million monthly unique visitors and has won numerous awards from EdTech Digest, Tech & Learning, and the Association of Educational Publishers. (http://www.shmoop.com).

Referenced Digital Promise Article: https://digitalpromise.org/2021/10/06/sel-at-scale-how-edtech-can-support-meaningful-social-and-emotional-learning/
SPS

Smart Packaging Solutions SA (SPS) has provided an update on the patent infringement lawsuit filed against CPI Card Group Inc. (CPI) in Wilmington, Delaware USA on April 20, 2021. The Complaint alleges that CPI is infringing U.S. patent rights controlled by SPS and covering dual interface inductive coupling technology in smart cards. The parties considered various approaches for resolving the dispute, but were ultimately unable to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of the dispute. As a result, SPS made formal service of process on September 17, 2021, and the lawsuit is proceeding accordingly. The case is known as Smart Packaging Solutions SA v. CPI Card Group Inc., Civil Action No. 21-CV-00556. (D. Del. 2021).

SPS is a French company with offices and principal place of business at 85 Avenue de la Plaine, ZI De Rousset-Peynier, 13790 Rousset, France. With over 250 employees and representatives in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, SPS is a world leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of smart cards and smart card technology. As explained again by SPSs President, Frederic TROJANI, Our technology forms the heart of our company, and we are strongly committed to protecting it. We try hard to respect the technology rights of other companies, just as we expect other companies to respect our technology rights.

SPS is represented in the litigation by the Chicago law firm McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff.
Senator Ossoffs recent introduction of the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act has solar companies thrilled nationwide. The legislation is co-sponsored by three other Senators; Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Green Home Systems recently voiced their enthusiasm with the Managing Director of GHS Robbie Hebert stating, This is a win not only for the solar industry but for solar consumers, the economy and most importantly, the future of the environment. Solar is certainly the future, and we are thrilled that some of our nations leaders are taking leaps and making strides in a green direction.

What is the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act?

According to Senator Ossoffs website, The Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act would provide tax credits for American manufacturers at every stage of the solar manufacturing supply chain, from production of polysilicon to solar cells to fully assembled solar modules.

Some analysis experts, specifically the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), expect this legislation to boost the economy by creating tens of thousands of jobs across the U.S.

This tax credit will work alongside existing solar incentives to help accelerate solar production in the U.S. further distancing us from Chinas stronghold on the industry.

Senator Ossoff stated, Im working to boost American solar manufacturing and accelerate the transition to clean energy...This bill will create tens of thousands of American jobs, support American energy independence, and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

While the legislation overall would prove to be a positive for Georgia, there are possible obstacles that get it the way of the legislation being a success unless addressed. Obstacles like HOA rules could hinder some Georgia residents from being able to install solar panels. Many HOAs in Georgia continue to ban solar panels regardless of guidelines put in place to prevent this from happening like the Solar Power Free-Market Financing Act of 2015. For the legislation to be successful, Ossoff will need to take a proactive approach and combat the challenge of HOAs head-on.

The incentive, if passed, will be available through 2028 and will take two years to go into complete effect.

What does this mean for Green Home Systems?

GHS, along with solar companies across the country will be able to thrive from this incentive by hiring more American workers and further withdrawing from China.

GHS has a long history of using American-made products including the panels and inverters themselves. They were the only solar company to stand up in Washington D.C. and vouch for the solar tariffs to help boost American solar companies and distance the U.S. from our reliance on Chinese-made products. As GHS is already a heavily American-based company, they are eager to see other companies follow-suit.

Whats good for American Solar is good for us, says Robbie Hebert. We are so pleased to see innovative political leaders taking a stand for the American solar industry, and we cant wait to see the solar boom this will create in our country. Hopefully Senators in other states will take note.


Splan has created a unique secured digital check-in workflow for employees, staff, and visitors that is disrupting the industry, states Madhu Gourineni, CEO at Splan.

Splan Inc. a leading developer of open-architecture security software for the physical security industry, today announced the launch of its new module focused on COVID-19 safety solutions to help bring back employees, staff, and visitors safely to the workplace. Splans open architecture with flexible configuration philosophy helps organizations implement COVID-19 best practices for employees health and safety. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a high-risk situation for organizations around the globe and staying compliant with all the new health mandates can be challenging. Organizations must take precautionary measures to mitigate risks and create a healthy work environment as employees return to the office. Splans COVID-19 Safety Solutions offer a seamless check-in workflow for employees, staff, and visitors. These safety solutions effectively automate the process of ensuring that all individuals are properly vetted and screened upon entry. Organizations can track and trace vaccination status, COVID-19 test results, temperatures, and flag potential risks.

We are happy to be able to offer our customers a clear head as they open their doors to employees and visitors, states Madhu Gourineni, CEO at Splan. Splan has created a unique secured digital check-in workflow for employees, staff, and visitors that is disrupting the industry. Its important for organizations to implement precautionary measures while maintaining a warm, welcoming, and safe visitor experience. Splans COVID-19 Safety Solutions effectively automates the human element that would normally manage, enforce, and report on compliance and safety in the workplace, creating a more efficient process. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way businesses operate and being able to track vaccination status has become a necessity. Splan offers a simple solution that allows for the management, enforcement, and reporting of vaccination status.

With the recent vaccine mandate on organizations with 100+ employees, tracking vaccination status and compliance is now more important than ever. Employees, staff, and visitors can seamlessly check in through Splans SignInEasy App and experience a true touchless experience; similarly, they can check in through a kiosk located at a front desk. For frequent visitors, the app can save certain information such as credentials and even vaccination status. Splans software solution can easily administer COVID-19 questionnaires that monitor symptoms and flag risks of infection. If an employee is flagged, that individuals access badge can be temporarily disabled.

Splan has made a strong impact on mitigating risks when it comes to COVID-19 in the workplace. The company has been successful in helping organizations nationwide bring back employees, staff, and visitors safely and will continue well into the future. For further information on Splans COVID-19 Safety Solutions, contact Splan at sales@splan.com.

About Splan Inc.

Splan Inc. is a California-based company that provides next generation software check-in solutions for visitors, contractors, and employees. Splans open architecture technology seamlessly automates the check-in process and continues to provide a true touchless check-in experience for customers. Since 2013, the company has uniquely delivered an intelligent and fully automated solutions to help small, medium, and large-scale enterprises with visitor & unified identity access management. In addition, the company has also worked closely with schools and event managers to help control access and allow only authorized individuals to enter a school or event facility. Splan is committed to delivering the most innovative web-based security solutions that are cost effective, easy to use, and enterprise-centric and has deployed its unified mobile credentialing solution and COVID-19 Safety Solutions in organizations nationwide to help create a safer environment for all. The company has brought to market over 40 integrations with mobile credentialing and access control providers and has partnered up with over 30 integrators to bring this powerful solution to the door. For further information on Splans software solutions, visit https://www.splan.com/.

Company Contact:

Lilian Pham

Splan Inc.

Phone: 510-320-3305

Email: Marketing@splan.com

PR Contact:

Monique Merhige, President

Infusion Direct Marketing, Inc.

Phone: 772-380-4845

Email: monique@infusiondirect.com
Strategic Information Group Strategic has long followed a decentralized operational model, enabling us to optimize our talent and best serve the needs of our customers and partners, said Suzy Reno, President, Strategic Information Group. Past News Releases RSS

Strategic Information Group, the award-winning provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, services, and support, today announced the move of its corporate headquarters from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California to Rock Hill, South Carolina. The move marks the continued transition of day-to-day leadership from CEO and Owner, Doug Novak, to Suzy Reno, who was named Strategics President in January 2021. Reno is based in the companys Rock Hill headquarters.

Strategic has long followed a decentralized operational model, enabling us to optimize our talent and best serve the needs of our customers and partners, said Suzy Reno, President, Strategic Information Group. This move is part of a larger realignment of our office spaces, which Im pleased to announce also includes our global expansion to Ireland, the United Kingdom, India and Thailand in recent years.

With the headquarters move, the current Cardiff-by-the-Sea office will be closed. Customers are advised to note the new office address and phone number and to continue sending payments to the company lock box, or alternatively, use ACH:

Strategic Information Group

454 Anderson Road South

Suite 162, Mailbox 603

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Phone: +1 (803) 327 4636

Strategic now operates out of 10 offices across the globe. In North America, Strategic has offices in Rock Hill, South Carolina; Redwood City, California; Fishers, Indiana; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Novi, Michigan; and Ontario, Canada. Globally, Strategic has office presence in Dublin, Ireland; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Kalyan Thane, India; and Amphur Plaeng Yao, Thailand.

ABOUT STRATEGIC INFORMATION GROUP

Strategic Information Group (Strategic) is a global QAD Channel Partner and Reseller in the US, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, as well as a worldwide services provider. We provide QAD next generation ERP software that meets the challenges of todays manufacturers from start-ups to market leading companies, remaining trusted advisors and consultants throughout the lifecycle of our customers business strategy. We serve all six QAD target verticals with a full range of enterprise applications, including QMS and CRM in addition to ERP. With over 28 years of experience as a QAD partner, we specialize in delivering results through proven solutions and services that maximize the value of companies technology investments by streamlining operational efficiency and reducing operational expense. From our innovative products that extend functionality such as Enterprise Banking Solutions (EBS) and SIG EDI, and streamlined industry-specific processes such as FDA Validation and Automotive Sequencing, to our team of seasoned professionals performing integration, implementation, or fully outsourced managed services, Strategic consultants understand your industry challenges and speak the language of manufacturing.
Arbor Day Foundation "Green spaces provide long-lasting environmental benefits, but they also play a vital role in creating more vibrant, livable cities by providing social, health and economic benefits for individuals and families." - Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S. Corporate Citizenship Social Impact at TD Bank.

This year, TD Bank celebrates the 10th anniversary of the TD Tree Days program, a community-based program, delivered in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, that brings people together to help create a more vibrant planet by expanding urban forests and green spaces in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. This year, 21 organizations have been awarded a grant which will allow them to plant native trees in their communities to help improve climate resiliency on a local scale.

"Green spaces provide long-lasting environmental benefits, but they also play a vital role in creating more vibrant, livable cities by providing social, health and economic benefits for individuals and families," said Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S. Corporate Citizenship Social Impact at TD Bank. "TD is proud to work with the Arbor Day Foundation to help create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow by supporting critical green space programs in our communities."

This past year has shown the damaging impacts of existing environmental inequities that are taking place in our changing climate, said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. Now more than ever, it is imperative we seek to ensure that everyone has the necessary access to trees and green spaces, as they provide a critical resource that is important to the health, safety, and recreation of a thriving community.

This year, TD Tree Days will support tree planting events in a variety of communities across 12 states, including project planting sites located around several neighborhoods, schools, parks, nature trails, and heavily trafficked roads that lack a sufficient percentage of tree canopy. These projects will bring the programs overall total to 200 completed projects in over 80 communities throughout the past decade. The trees that are planted through the TD Tree Days program this year will also help TD Bank reach the TD Ready Commitment, TD Bank's corporate citizenship platform, goal of planting one million trees by 2030, an effort that spans several of the companys environmental programs and projects.

This years TD Tree Days events are scheduled in the following communities: Detroit, MI, Pennsauken Township, NJ, Tampa, FL, Asheville, NC, Auburn-Lewiston, ME, Asbury Park, NJ, Winter Haven, FL, Bronx, NY, Goulds and West River Parks in Miami, FL, Alexandria, VA, Bridgeport, CT, Brooklyn, NY, Wilmington, NC, Roxbury, MA, Easton, PA, Northfield, NH, Jacksonville, FL, Wilmington, DE, Hartford, CT, and Newark, NJ.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 400 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About the TD Ready Commitment

TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow  Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/tdreadycommitment.
The contest offers $5,000 in prizes for compelling short stories for teens and adults that are easy to read, and hard to put down.

The Story of the Year Contest is back for its fifth annual season and invites writers from around the globe to put their imaginations to the task of sparking a love of reading. Storyshares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring reading practice and improving literacy skills, launched their call for entries on November 2, 2021. Submissions are free, unlimited, and open internationally until the contest closes on February 1, 2022. Winners will be chosen by a diverse panel of judges spanning the education and publishing fields, with announcements being made on April 5, 2022.

The contest offers $5,000 in prizes for engaging short stories for teens and adults that are easy to read, and hard to put down. It features a $2,000 grand prize award for the most compelling story with authentically diverse characters and experiences, as well as a $1,000 prize for each of the following categories: best creative nonfiction, best coming of age tale, and best story taking place against the backdrop of a U.S. state.

Those familiar with the Story of the Year contest know that it is so much more than an average writing competition; its a mission. In addition to one finalist per category, all writers who create engaging stories within the unique parameters of Storyshares guidelines will have their work published in the Storyshares library before a wide, established, and ever-growing audience of teens and young adults from middle school, high school, and above who struggle with reading. Storyshares provides the tools and resources to help writers craft books that combine culturally relevant and interesting content with approachable language and formatting. This powerful style of book has turned many hesitant readers into avid ones.

Our writers and the stories they submit have an enormous impact. Tens of millions of teens and young adults lack the literacy skills needed to read the books written for their age and interests, says Louise Baigelman, cofounder and executive director of Storyshares. Thats why weve created stories that meet them at their individual intersections of interest and ability. Stories that they can read, and want to read. Each book reaches thousands upon thousands of students, improving their abilities to read and write while preparing them for greater academic and professional success.

The National Center for Education Statistics shows that over 750 million teens and adults across the globe lack the crucial literacy skills needed to stay informed, learn, and even participate fully in society. Reading is a fundamental life skill, and an absence of this ability negatively impacts every aspect of life, from academic performance to building a career, to everyday communication. Thats what Storyshares is here to change.

Our annual writing contest aims to provide writers with the tools, guidance, and incentives to join in expanding our unique library of stories. The highest quality submissions we receive are published in both digital and print form, and distributed through our e-reader website, Amazon bookstore, and our many great education partners. We are incredibly proud of the 300+ stories published so far (from thousands of submissions) and are eager to continue building out diverse shelves for todays readers.

Together with our writers, we are reimagining the books in the global libraryto spark a love of reading for the millions of readers who have been overlooked.

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ABOUT STORY SHARES

Storyshares works to empower and inspire struggling readers of all kinds, including English language learners, students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, and students from low-income communities who have fallen behind in reading. The organization has been recognized by The Library of Congress, Forbes, the International Literacy Association, and Teach for America for its innovative approach and impact in the field. Their work is a testament to the belief that, everyone is a reader, some just havent found the right book yet.

More information about the Story of the Year writing contest including contest guidelines, categories, submission instructions, and official contest rules is available at http://www.storyshares.org/contest
The building where Changsha Campus Center is located With its "full-time employees + students working part-time" operating model, the Changsha Campus Center will provide customer services: inbound calls, outbound calls, and online chat for clients in IT, e-commerce, computer, communications, and consumer electronics industries.

Shanghai transcosmos Marketing Services Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shanghai, China; CEO: Eijiro Yamashita; transcosmos China), a wholly-owned subsidiary of transcosmos inc., is proud to announce that the company formed an industry-academia collaboration with Hunan College of Foreign Studies in July, 2021, and opened a Changsha Campus Center. The center began providing contact center services in October, 2021.

As clients' digital transformation partner, transcosmos China places emphasis on talent cultivation, and has been offering services in partnership with schools in order to address spikes in customer contact volumes during large-scale campaigns including Double 11, the biggest shopping festival in China. Based on such experiences, transcosmos China has decided to build a center by utilizing a facility on the Hunan College of Foreign Studies campus.

The Changsha Campus Center, which has opened in the Science and Technology Incubation Building of Hunan College of Foreign Studies, is equipped with various facilities including a contact center with over 400 workstations, 2 training rooms, a meeting room, and an employee cafeteria. To ensure information security, the center has 24/7 security monitoring systems, highly secure networks, and network behavior management systems.

With its "full-time employees + students working part-time" operating model, the Changsha Campus Center will provide diverse customer services such as inbound calls, outbound calls, and online chat for clients in IT, e-commerce and 3C (Computer, Communications, and Consumer Electronics) industries. Most students working part-time major in e-commerce, computer science and cross-border e-commerce, and are allowed to work up to 40 hours per week. Along with paid internships, transcosmos China also offers a career path for students to become a transcosmos China employee after graduation.

Founded in 1993, Hunan College of Foreign Studies is an independent college specializing in foreign languages with 10 faculties and 32 majors. The college built the Science and Technology Incubation Building specifically for industry-academia collaboration with businesses. Industry-academia collaborations enable universities and colleges to offer educational, internship, and job searching opportunities for students whilst allowing businesses to develop and utilize IT talents.

 About transcosmos China Changsha Campus Center

Founded: August 2021

Number of workstations: 400+

Floor area: 2,000 square meters

Location: Hunan College of Foreign Studies, Wangcheng District, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China

Services: Contact center services including inbound calls, outbound calls, and online chat

*transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.

*Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 170 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/
We are grateful for the service and experiences military students bring to Trident. It is our hope that this scholarship can provide more opportunities for these men and women to work towards their academic goals. - Travis Allen, Senior Vice President, Trident

Trident University International (Trident) is pleased to announce updates to its Military Success Scholarship (MSS) for bachelors students.

First introduced in 2017 to support Tridents active duty population, the MSS is designed to help students who have exhausted their annual military tuition assistance benefits. The University has expanded the number of courses the scholarship can be applied to annually for eligible bachelors students from four to six courses.

Students utilizing this scholarship program can reduce their cost per credit hour by 50% for up to six courses after exhausting their tuition assistance benefits within the same military fiscal year.

We are grateful for the service and experiences military students bring to Trident, stated Travis Allen, Senior Vice President, Trident. It is our hope that this scholarship can provide more opportunities for these men and women to work towards their academic goals.

Tridents student and alumni community, numbering over 32,000, includes talented men and women from all over the world - including over 27,000 with a military affiliation. The University stands out among military-centric colleges because of its unwavering commitment to supporting military and veteran populations, showing their support through philanthropic activities, such as volunteering to help local military families in need. In 2019, the city of Cypress recognized the University for their positive efforts within the local community.

Scholarship Eligibility:



Students currently serving U.S. Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard members who are currently enrolled in a Trident undergraduate program.

Meet Trident admission requirements and successfully complete courses taken prior to first MSS awarded course. Successful completion is defined as receiving a passing grade per the University Catalog requirements.

Utilize all Military TA Benefits at Trident, unless transferring from another institution in which case students would need to complete a minimum of two courses at Trident and utilize their remaining Military TA benefits.

Meet and maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout the program.

Students on an approved Leave of Absence, which runs through to the new military fiscal year, will not be eligible for scholarship from the previous military fiscal year.

Scholarship amount does not apply to repeated courses within the FY22 fiscal year.

Visit Tridents website to learn more about its Military Success Scholarship and see full eligibility requirements.

About Trident University International

Founded in 1998, Trident University International is a member of the American InterContinental University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Trident uses the EdActive learning approach, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills designed to enhance the lives and education of students. Trident offers quality associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs and certificates, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Trident has over 32,000 alumni, of which more than 27,000 have a military affiliation, and has received acknowledgements from Washington Monthly, Military Times, and Military Advanced Education & Transition for their dedication to student success. Visit http://www.trident.edu or call at (855) 290-0290 to learn more about Trident's wide range of educational options.
"At VHS Learning, we empower schools with the industrys best teacher-led online learning programs. Its extremely gratifying to have educational organizations utilize our program for so long because it affirms that were helping them achieve their missions."

Many educational institutions that partner with VHS Learning are so pleased with the nonprofits quality of online education that they remain partners for years. But five organizations stand out for the impressive lengths of their partnerships  nearly two decades.

These longtime partners include:

The Cape Cod Collaborative in Osterville, Massachusetts, first chose VHS Learning as a partner in 2002. Together, the two organizations supplement the high school curriculums in Cape Cod Collaboratives 19 member districts with VHS Learnings more than 250 online courses.

The Connecticut Consortium in Hartford, Connecticut, first became a VHS Learning partner in 2003. While the consortium primarily works with institutions of higher education, it also makes VHS Learnings online courses available to more than 600 high school students in the state of Connecticut.

Falmouth High School in Falmouth, Maine, first joined VHS Learnings network of partners in 2005. The school serves approximately 680 students and is ranked third in the state.

The Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative (LPVEC) in West Springfield, Massachusetts, has utilized VHS Learnings program since 2004. LPVEC is a legal partnership of seven school districts in western Massachusetts, but many of its offerings are open to other districts and municipalities to help them save money and expand capacity.

Woodstock Union High School and Middle School in Woodstock, Vermont first became a VHS Learning partner in 2006. The high school serves students from six surrounding towns and has been recognized for excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.

VHS Learning currently provides educational equity to students in 63 countries and 50 US states. Its more than 250 unique online courses include 24 AP offerings, innovative STEM and humanities programs, and a wide variety of unique electives. The teachers who provide instruction for VHS Learning courses are high school certified in their subject areas and 81% possessing a masters degree or higher.

At VHS Learning, we empower schools with the industrys best teacher-led online learning programs, said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. Its extremely gratifying to have educational organizations utilize our program for so long because it affirms that were helping them achieve their missions. Our heartfelt thanks to these organizations for being such dedicated partners; we look forward to serving and supporting these schools and their students for many years to come.

About VHS Learning

VHS Learning is a nonprofit organization with 25 years of experience providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. Offering more than 250 unique online courses for high school credit, including 24 AP courses, credit recovery and enrichment courses, and a selection of dual-credit options, VHS Learning is accredited by Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC), and Cognia. Courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA. For more information about VHS Learning please visit https://www.vhslearning.org/ and follow on Twitter at @VHSLearning.
W.F. Young LOGO Jaime McKinley, President for W.F. Young states, We are so excited for the growth of our leadership team that will help our company accelerate strategic growth and expand our innovative product portfolio serving animals and people."

W.F. Young, a leading global animal health company and owners of the Absorbine brand of equine products and The Missing Link brand of pet products, has hired 3 key leaders for critical roles that will support the rapid growth the company is experiencing and help drive new business and innovation as W.F. Young plans for its 130th year in business.

Andy Leebrick joins W.F. Young in the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer. He is a key addition to the executive leadership team and will be instrumental in driving profitable sales growth and the product innovation pipeline. Andy joins W.F. Young with over 30 years in the pet specialty and consumer products industries including pivotal roles at Safeway and General Mills. Andy has spent the last 8 years focused on pet growth at KONG Company as Vice President of Global Product & Sales Development. Jaime McKinley, President for W.F. Young states, We are so excited for Andys leadership as he is exceptionally skilled to accelerate our strategic growth and product portfolio. Andy has a proven track record of building customer and partner relationships across the globe, and we are thrilled to share a mutual passion for improving the lives of animals.

Dale Kiefer joins W.F. Young in the position of Vice President of Operations as the company prepares for the retirement of William Bradford from the current role. Dale is a highly experienced supply chain professional in the international, CPG, and human health supplement business arenas and has held critical roles at Edgewell and Timex. Most recently, he served as the Director of Contract Manufacturing and Procurement at i-Health/DSM. Dale is Six Sigma Green Belt Certified and an APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional. In addition, he is an adjunct professor teaching supply chain management for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Vicki Evans, Executive Vice President & CFO for W.F. Young states, We are thrilled to welcome Dale to the W.F. Young family. His years of experience in logistics, supply chain and manufacturing management in the consumer-packaged goods industry are a perfect fit to lead our dynamic operations team during a time of accelerated growth.

John Williams joins W.F. Young in the newly created position of Director of Digital Marketing and will add thought leadership and tactical expertise to the expanding digital and eCommerce teams at the company. He will be responsible for growing the reach, engagement, and loyalty for the companys iconic brands and driving revenue growth across W.F. Youngs digital channels. John brings over 15 years of digital marketing experience to the team including key roles at Farmers Insurance Group, CDK Global (where he worked with General Motors), Moneytree, and Hanapin/Brainlabs. Most recently, he served as the Director of Digital Marketing for Saatva. Amy Cairy, Vice President of Marketing states, There is palpable excitement on the marketing team with Johns addition. Weve had the great fortune of working with John from the agency side at Brainlabs and also in a consulting role, and so we know the value that his expertise and data-driven approach brings in helping us achieve our digital marketing goals.

W.F. Young is continuing to expand its team of employees to support current growth needs and drive future business. More information on the current available positions can be found at http://www.wfyoung.com/careers or on the W.F. Young LinkedIn page.


As 2021 winds down, so do popular trilogies by four YA authors: Roshani Chokshi, Mackenzi Lee, Natasha Ngan, and Kiersten White. We asked each of them about the origin of their series, the writing experience throughout, and what comes next.

Roshani Chokshi

In September, Chokshis Gilded Wolves trilogy, which began with The Gilded Wolves and The Silvered Serpents, ended with The Bronzed Beasts. Beginning in the late 1880s during the Exposition Universelle in Paris and ending in Venice, a band of five searches for an ancient artifact that has the power to change the world.

Do you remember your original inspiration for the series? Where did it all begin?

Ironically, the inspiration for the series came from the desire to write something fun, lighthearted, glamorous, and magical. I set out to write National Treasure fanfiction and ended up with a Faustian, existential crisis of a trilogy with a bonus middle finger to colonialism.

How and when did the title for each book in the series develop?

The first two titles came from emotionally charged scenes in the stories. The last title came from the panic of wondering how I would incorporate bronzed bears into a plot device before a friend suggested beasts as an alternative. I think of all three books, the title of the finale is the only one that doesnt appear in-text. If I am wrong and my brain is merely glazed over from deadlines, feel free to throw cyber tomatoes at me.

Did the reader response to the first book impact your writing or perspective as you went on to write subsequent books? In what ways?

It certainly impacted my perspective concerning how we make art. Social media has destroyed a necessary barrier between artist and audience. It is humbling to see the reach of a story, but in observing reader responses, I discovered a vicious anxiety to explain myself, point to my scars, clutch the pages of my research, the observations of my sensitivity readers, and hold them up as armor to digital damnation. Now I do not look. Its not my place. I owe my readers nothing more than my best efforts.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I am a plotter sans pants. Meaning, I make a path through the woods of a story, but I put on the wrong shoes and a flimsy dress and I forget all about the brambles on the way and have to clip them as I go lest I get scratched.

Has your writing process changed over the course of writing this series?

It has made me more and less precious with my writing process. Less precious in that I can stomach the grotesque, misshapen lump of words that comprise a first draft. More precious in that I am arriving at a place where I am comfortable fighting for more time to give to a project rather than churning them out at the expense of my sinews and sanity.

How does your approach vary depending on whether you are writing for a middle grade or young adult audience?

It doesnt. At the end of the day, I measure a storys merit by how much it makes me feel and how effectively I can articulate those emotions.

What is your hope as this final book reaches readers?

There is a beautiful, treacherous alchemy in writing stories and releasing them in the wild. Those words are nothing more than ink on a page, but they can turn to gold or lead in a readers heart. They can turn to magic. I hope this book makes magic for them.

Mackenzi Lee

The Noblemans Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks (HarperCollins/Tegen, Oct.) is the final book in the Montague Siblings trilogy, following The Gentlemans Guide to Vice and Virtue and The Ladys Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. This concluding volume takes place years after the events of the first two books, as Adrian Montague, the younger brother of disowned siblings Monty and Felicity, learns of their existence and sets out on an adventure to find them.

Do you remember your original inspiration for the series? Where did it all begin?

My ideas tend to come to me as one thing that then magnetizes and attracts a bunch of other things that have been sitting around in my head for a long time. There is very rarely one initial moment of inception. If I had to point to one thing, though, itd be my senior year of college as a history student, as the teaching assistant for a class that was exploring the Grand Tour in the 1700s, delving into different worthy destinations. I hadnt known anything about the Grand Tour before this, but Id just come off a year of living abroad and was feeling very excited about the transformative power of travel on young people. I wasnt a fiction writer at the time, but I was fascinated by how a parallel to my experience existed in the 1700s. I shuffled the idea of an adventure story structured around a Grand Tour away in my brain, returning to it years later.

When did you realize that this story had series potential?

It feels like a miracle that this story ended up being a series. After Gentlemans Guide, it was my publisher that approached me about doing a second book. I assumed theyd want another book about Monty and Percy but they requested a book about Felicity. Assuming I knew best, I started drafting a book about Monty and Percy, but I quickly realized that I was undercutting one of the things I most wanted to do with Gentlemans Guide, which was to write a historical story with an unambiguously happy ending for the queer characters. But, as soon as you do a sequel, you have to introduce conflict again... And if it was a relationship that was the center of the story, then you need to introduce conflict into that relationship. It was immediately apparent that wouldnt work; I didnt want to create conflict between Monty and Percy just for the sake of another adventure. So, I wrote about Felicity and it ended up being really fun!

After Ladys Guide, I was looking for a way to stay in the world to do one more story. During a q&a on Instagram, a reader asked what had happened to [Monty and Felicitys] little brother. I thought, OH! and went to ask my editor if she wanted to do this one more time.

How and when did the title for each book in the series develop?

I turned Gentlemans Guide in as an untitled manuscript. When we were brainstorming titles, a friend of mine said, You need something about vices and virtues. The Gentlemans Guide portion was inspired by a guide to the Grand Tour, a piece of 1700s source material that I used when researching the book, called A Gentlemans Guide to a Tour Through Italy. I needed the same title structure for the next books and went through so many ideas before we hit Petticoats and Piracy.

I recall that in our PW interview from 2017, it was titled The Ladies Guide to Crinoline and Crime.

Yes! Thank goodness we changed it because who can say the word crinoline?

Did the reader response to the first book impact your writing or perspective as you went on to write subsequent books? In what ways?

Absolutely! Gentlemans Guide was my second book and also my breakout book. My first book was wildly unread so having vocal readers who wanted to talk to me about [Gentlemans Guide] and share their favorite characters and parts of the story was a very new experience! One of the most fun parts was seeing what readers would react to because there are always details I dont expect will make an impact but do. Ive found that its actually quite rare that authors and their fans have the same favorite parts and characters. When I went to write Ladys Guide, it wasnt that the fandom made choices for me, but they did reassure me. For example, in Gentlemans Guide, I coded Felicity as an asexual character, thinking it was something [about her identity] that I would sprinkle in. But so many people picked up on it and were excited about the representation. They wanted confirmation of her being an asexual character, so I decided to make [her asexual identity] a more explicit part of Ladys Guide than I might have otherwise. There are also characters who had only brief scenes, but whom readers became very attached to, so Ive been able to do unexpected callbacks. It feels a bit like having inside jokes with your fandom!

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I used to describe my writing process as driving in the dark, only being able to see as far in front of you as headlights illuminate, needing to keep driving forward to see further. But then I started writing for Marvel, which requires me to outline intensely because it then has to go through many levels of approval before I can begin writing. So, Ive became an outliner out of necessity, but its ended up being effective. In fact, Im furious about how well outlining works because I hate doing it. Its part of my process now, but it was against my will.

Has your writing process changed over the course of writing this series?

Everything changed once I got a book deal and I had to start thinking about my writing as a commodity. Once there were readers and an editor and an agent involved, I got stuck because I felt like I was doing everything backwards. Before it was write what you love, throwing it all at the wall to see what sticks. Now, I had everything I had been working toward, and it messed with my head. When youre trying to get published, you think that once you get an agent, youll be happy. Then you get an agent, and you still dont feel like a real writer. You think a book deal will do the trick, but then you realize thats not enough either. Nothing makes you feel like youve made it; there is always someone around you achieving on a different scale than youits hard to keep your eyes on your own paper and your own success. So yes, the industry part of being a published author and the commodification of my art changed how I approach writing, especially in terms of finding a way to access the unfiltered creativity and joy that I had before being published. Still, there are moments when I feel like I lose that while in thrall of the industry.

What would you do differently the next time you approach writing a series?

Id plan and pitch it as a series from the start, instead of going back and having to retcon things. Id be more intentional with my choices in book one because Id know Id have to carry on until book three.

Id also try to listen less to negative voices. Im a human, so every once in a while I decide Im going to hate myself and go on Goodreads to read one-star reviews. Of course, those reviews exist because your books arent going to be for everyone. But when youre writing a series, the people who didnt like things about the first or second book ended up becoming more active roadblocks in the process of writing the third. The echo of negative reviews is loud in a series because it resonates down the line. With standalones, you can kind of move on, but with a series you have to keep going.

Were there times you had to pivot to accommodate unexpected plot turns or character developments?

Well, Noblemans Guide is now coming out a year and a half after it was originally planned. When we announced it, the book was written, and I thought it was fine. Then I changed my mind and ended up scrapping almost the whole thing and rewriting it top to bottom. I rewrote it almost clean slate three or four times in total. When you do such a big rewrite, its interesting to see which things change and which dont. The core of this book has always stayed the same: its a book about mental illness, anxiety, and self-esteem through generations. Its a story about how to love someone who is mentally ill. That core never changed, but I got caught up in the infinite ways the set dressing around that could look. I got a bit in my own head about it being the finale and needing to end strong for the fans. I got too caught up in the story machinations and feeling like I wasnt making the right choices, even though there are no right choices.

How do you feel as you close the chapter on these characters?

Im feeling a bit melancholy, to be honest. This series has been a substantial part of my life for the last six years or so. It completely changed my life in terms of how it affected my career, putting me on peoples radars to positive and negative effect. It sounds silly, but these characters have become constant friends. In this industry, where things can be so unpredictable and brutal, always having the Montagues to go back to kept me going sometimes. Saying goodbye to them is a little bit sad and lonely; its like breaking up with someone and only wanting to talk to that same person about how youre feeling. Im slowly moving on.

What is your hope as this final book reaches readers?

As a trilogy, I hope these books encourage people to think about history as having a diverse cast, inspiring them to look for diversity within history and to recognize themselves within those stories. I hope they realize that we are not the first generation of queer people or women who want to live life on their own terms or people who live with mental illness, but that people have been dealing with these experiences for as long as there have been people.

Finding these little commonalities is my favorite thing about history, because you start to think of people in the past as human beings and as the past being comprised of millions of people with individual lived experiences instead of a lumped group of people experiencing things the same way. I hope this helps readers reclaim their own stories and histories while setting the example that historical fiction can be fun. Its not all dour, sad stories about wars and terrible things.

Whats next for you?

I have a contract with Marvel that Im finishing up. Ive written three books about different anti-heroes within the Marvel universe, portraying them as teenagers deciding their paths. The first book is about Loki, the second is about Gamora and Nebula, and the third will be out next year, but I cant talk about it yet. Its all Ive been thinking about lately, but Im just twiddling my thumbs waiting to talk about it!

Natasha Ngan

Ngans Girls of Paper and Fire trilogy, a fantasy featuring queer heroes and inspired by Chinese and Malaysian history and mythology, comes to an end with Girls of Fate and Fury (Little, Brown/Patterson, Nov. 30). The finale picks up after the shocking final pages of Girls of Storm and Shadow, which left Lei and Wrens futures uncertain in the face of terrorizing peril.

Do you remember your original inspiration for the series? Where did it all begin?

I had this moment of seeing a girl kneeling in front of a demon king. I was intrigued by her, who he was, and the power dynamic at play. When an idea first comes to me, I dont usually know the genesis, but now that I look back, I can see how much I was influenced by wanting to write something that felt true to my heritage and the cultures that Ive grown up in. For me theres always a very visual element to the kernel of an idea. The first line usually comes to me early, too, and rarely changes.

It feels almost inevitable looking back, like I was always going to write Girls. I had come to the end of my contract for my first two books, which were only published in the U.K. and Germany, so I wasnt on contract. I had written a book that my previous publishers didnt buy, so I could do whatever I wanted. Today, Girls doesnt seem like the most challenging of books, but, at that time, when my agent and I were trying to sell it, it was one of the only f/f fantasies [in YA], plus it deals with heavy subjects, which many publishers felt would be too difficult for young readers.

This book is often mistaken for your debut because it became an instant bestseller and was your first U.S. release. What was that overnight success like?

It took me and my agent, Taylor [Haggerty], a year to sell Girls, which had so many rejections, all along the same lines: it is too difficult a book to try to publish. We got one offer, thats all, which wasnt enough for me to live off without a second job. I didnt expect anything of it, but Jimmy Patterson did so much to push the book and my amazing readers got it out to other people. I felt so proud when I hit the [bestseller] list, not for myself, but for the girls the book represents. It felt like such a win for Asian girls and for survivors [of sexual assault]. Editors and writer friends have told me that, now, when books come to them pitched as comps to Girls, its a positive. Im just so glad because there were so many doors shut in my face during those early days, which doesnt feel like so long ago. I take no credit for it, but I feel thankful to have been a part of this movement to where we finally have choice in f/f fantasy because so much more of it exists.

How and when did the title for each book in the series develop?

The first title has always stayed the same. I often come up with the title very soon after I determine the concept. Im not sure if it helps me shape the book thematically or whether I even do it consciously.

I immediately liked the dichotomy of paper and fire, but when we had the conversation with JimmyJames Patterson, who was my publisher at the timewe were worried too many other books out there had a similar title scheme, but we couldnt come up with anything that fit as well. For the second and third books we changed my original titles, which were more literal, like Girls of Sand & Snow. We wanted something more thematically interesting, like Storm & Shadow. For the third, we brainstormed words that were important to the series, hinting at things while not giving too much away. Im glad we landed on Fate & Fury because so much of the book does deal with the concept of fate and it really comes into play in the last book. And the reason for fury is pretty evident!

Did the reader response to the first book impact your writing or perspective as you went on to write subsequent books? In what ways?

Oh, massively! Before Girls was published, I hadnt sold a lot of books. Girls didnt sell for a huge amount of money either, so I didnt know that anything was going to come of it. It was a difficult, niche book that has reached so many more people than I ever thought. The response was so overwhelming that it made writing harder because I didnt want to let anyone down. And, while youre writing and on deadline, you see reviews for the other books, even if youre not actively seeking them out. Its very hard to turn off other words and opinions to just sit down and write.

There was also so much pressure because these books deal with many sensitive subjects that are so close to my heart, so I knew the responsibility I had in portraying this story. I wanted to make sure survivors felt they were well represented.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Im a complete pantser and its funny because everyone assumes Id be a plotter! Ive recently been helping my friend who is leading a workshop about YA literature. Her class is studying Girls and theyve told me that it follows all the right beatsand Ive not planned any of it. But, I think, on some level, after youve written a certain number of books, you get a feel for the flow of it. Still, for books two and three I had to tap into my reluctant planner mode, particularly for book two because its the bridge book and carries so much on its shoulders. Book three provided a little more freedom because I was coming to the end and could let things evolve more naturally. My original draft of book three was 150,000 words and is now on par with the other two books at 110,000 words, but I meandered all over before I found my way.

Were there times you had to pivot to accommodate unexpected plot turns or character developments?

Every moment of writing is a pivot for me! When I say I plot, I mean something very, very bare bones; it all fits on one page. As I write, I get a feeling for whats going to happen next. Its all about staying true to the characters and following their lead. Book three was full of surprises though, especially for the end. It was really satisfying to have this denouement for all the characters. I did jot down what I thought would be the natural finish for their arcs and stories while I was writing the first two books, but when book three came I never looked at those notes and the only thing that stayed the same was the very end.

Best moment since Girls of Paper & Fire was published?

Any time I have a heart-to-heart with a reader. I feel so touched by the stories readers come to share. When I write, I feel like Im in this vacuum, especially because I dont live in America and I dont go to many festivals, nor am I part of any writing groups. I feel so humbled whenever someone tells me that reading my books helped them understand their identity or come out to their family. To be a tiny part of that is incredible.

Worst moment or part of writing this series?

Deadlines! Also, with a standalone, I write the book and then its done, and I can move on. With a series like Girls, I had to continue despite whatever was going on in reaction to it. As much as I was receiving wonderful feedback, I was also getting negative feedback, including homophobic backlash and people complaining that the book was inappropriate for teens. Needing to continue writing against deadlines with that energy being directed at you is really hard. Its part of the reason Ive withdrawn from social media: I need to write in my own little space because otherwise I hear all that and Im incredibly sensitive to hurting someones feelings. Those opinions are valid, but theyre hard to hear in the morning when you need to write 5,000 words that day.

Theres also the flip side of having the privilege of meeting readers in that some stories they share are incredibly hard to hear. I wouldnt call those experiences worst moments, but they are difficult moments because I feel like I dont always know how best to help, or I worry I wasnt the best person to give them support. Its very difficult to navigate when youre in a signing queue.

How do you feel as you close the chapter on these characters?

Very relieved, for the most part, but I did have a moment the other day where I started crying. It didnt happen directly after finishing the book or the edits, it was just a completely random moment while I was sitting and talking to my partner about what the books have done for me and felt a sense of accomplishment. It hit me that it was done; the story had come to a close. Like a lot of other female YA writers, I struggle with imposter syndrome, tending to diminish in my head the good things Ive done, so it hit me that Ive come to the end of this journey, but not alone. And its incredible that weve done this together. I rarely say my books, because theyre our books mine, my publishers, and my readers. Im excited to move on to other stuff and to have a bit of space mentally, but its bittersweet.

Whats next for you?

I have nothing set up in terms of contracts, but I can say that Im working on another f/f fantasy that will be a standalone because oh my gosh am I ready for a break from writing a series! I also have another f/f story in the anthology Fools in Love, coming out in December. Almost all the stories in the anthology are queer and from such a diverse range of genres. Im also working on a middle grade novel, which Ive wanted to do for a long time. Its about video games and mixes in Chinese mythology.

Kiersten White

The Excalibur Curse (Delacorte, Dec. 3) ends Whites Arthurian trilogy, which began with The Guinevere Deception and The Camelot Betrayal. In this final book, Guinevere will set things rightdefeating a rising evil, remaking a kingdom, and undoing the mistakes of the pastno matter the cost.

Do you remember your original inspiration for the series? Where did it all begin?

Initially, I had pitched a spy series. My publisher was on boardand [my agent and I] were getting ready to put together a proposalwhen my editor reached out and said, We still want three books from you, but we think you should do fantasy next. It ended up being a weird situation of needing to put the cart before the horse because I had a three-book fantasy deal before I had an idea attached. But, as soon as I knew Id be writing a trilogy, I seized my chance to do Arthurian!

Ive always loved Arthurian legends, but a lot of the adaptations frustrate me in that they dont treat women well. I immediately knew I wanted it to be about Guinevere because even the more feminist adaptations dont do her justice.

How and when did the title for each book in the series develop?

I always called the first book The Guinevere Deception and it was always the Camelot Rising trilogy because its very much set during the creation of the Camelot most would recognize. We had a fear that naming the first book The Guinevere Deception would make it sound too thriller-y, but we went around in circles coming up with 20 other titles before landing right back on The Guinevere Deception! We figured that the cover art would convey that it was fantasy, so it didnt matter so much what the title was. I like that it makes it very clear that shes the heart of the story.

The other two books werent titled right away, but I brainstormed with friends while keeping to the same pattern. I wanted them to be recognizably Arthurian.

Did the reader response to the first book impact your writing or perspective as you went on to write subsequent books? In what ways?

I wouldnt say reader response really factors in at all for me because, when Im writing on a one-book-a-year schedule, Im generally well into planning or drafting book three by the time book one comes out. Book two is done, so it doesnt matter what people love or hate about book oneits already too late! With my first trilogy, Supernaturally was already done by the time Paranormalcy was published and I had some panic. Not because of what people hated, like you might assume, but because of what they loved. I worried that I hadnt used characters they loved enough!

The really freeing thing about trilogies is that book three is never going to sell as well as book one. The first book is always going to sell better because more people will pick up book one and not continue with the trilogy than those who will continue to book three. And, so, by the time you get to book three, its clear that readers who make it this far clearly like whats going on. Theres a real freedom to knowing that everything is on the table, so you can just go for it.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I have ideas on simmer all the time. Right now, I have 10 fairly well-developed ideas that I havent written a word of, just hanging out in the back of my head. Maybe someday Ill get to them, or maybe not. Or maybe Ill realize that two of the ideas are meant to be one big monster idea. Once I know my main character, where it starts, and what Im aiming for, I just write. The way that I get there is a like a long walk in a dark wood. I take whatever trail seems the most interesting, sometimes taking the wrong trail and needing to backtrack. For me thats the most joyful part of drafting.

This series was borne of many years of loving Arthurian stories and knowing that I wanted to tell one, while also having done a historical retelling with the And I Darken trilogy and a very faithful companion retelling with The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. One of the things that attracted me to the idea of doing an Arthurian retelling was that there isnt any canon; its always been community storytelling, like fanfiction, since day one. Its freeing because you cant mess up a canon that doesnt exist! Arthurian literature has a long, proud history of wildly glaring anachronisms, so I leaned into that. I did do a lot of research into medieval and pre-medieval England to make sure I had a strong sense of setting, like how cities were run and how waste management worked. I wrote The Guinevere Deception over the course of a week at my friend Stephanie Perkinss house; she took care of and fed me while I wrote all day, every day. It was one of the most fun writing experiences of my life.

Does your writing process depend on whether youre writing a standalone or a series, or even depending upon genre?

I would describe my writing process as chaos. It should change depending on whether Im writing a series or a standalone! I should think to myself, Hey, youre investing in these characters for years, you might want to make a series bible or write some details down, but I dont. That said, I think the big difference between writing a standalone and writing a series is emotional pacing. For a series, you need a character who has room to grow through three separate story arcs within an overall series arc that gets the character from who they are to who they need to be, landing on the threshold of adulthood. For each character, I ask how many arcs are needed to achieve that journey. Depending on how many arcs are needed, I structure the books differently. A standalone is a one-book arc, so the plot must take the character through all their pain and emotional growth in one volume. With a two-book series, I look at the first book as asking a question of a main character and the second book as answering that question. With a trilogy, the first book sets up the character and what they want, giving it to them by the end. Book two is when the character realizes, Oh no, I did not actually want this, this is terrible, and must figure out what it is they really want, while book three puts them through hell to achieve or get what theyve discovered they want or need. Clearly, I have strong feels about the structures of standalone vs. duology vs. trilogy, but, as far as process, I have major regrets every time I write a series and hate my lack of organization.

How do you feel as you close the chapter on these characters?

This is embarrassing for me to admit, but I cry every time I read the final few chapters of The Excalibur Curse. Its so weird to react so strongly to something I wrote, but I went through hundreds of pages with these characters. I love Guinevere and her journey from thinking she knew exactly who she was and what her purpose was to going through all the pain of real self-discovery. Its a personal journey. Its also been a weird series because book one came out and then, a few months later, the whole world shut down. All of the writing and promotion for books two and three has been from home and very solitary, which makes its ending more surreal.

What is your hope as this final book reaches readers?

I dont care if my endings are happy, I just want readers to find them to be satisfying. As far as the series itself, its one of my quieter series, so I hope it lives on in libraries, so readers will continue to experience the adventure, love, and acceptance within its pages.

Whats next for you?

Its going to be a busy year! I have Excalibur Curse coming out in December, then my debut adult supernatural thriller, Hide, is publishing in May. Wretched Waterpark, the start of my middle grade series Sinister Summer, comes out in June, then in July theres Padawan, my teen Obi-Wan Kenobi book. Finally, in December, book two of the Sinister Summer series will come out!
When American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland first joined the company in 2000, she found herself the only Black woman among more than 80 dancers. A year earlier she had seen a photo of Black ballerina Lauren Anderson on the cover of Dance Magazine, which had made a profound impression on her: a Black dancer representing the very white and exclusive ballet world, she writes in her new book, Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy. These experiences inspired her to explore her lineage as a Black ballerina, and Copeland dug, read, and researched to learn about the Black ballerinas, like Anderson, who had come before her. Author of three previous books, Copeland believes the resulting book, a collection of profiles of 27 Black ballerinas, with illustrations of each dancer by Salena Barnes, is the most important one she will ever write. She spoke with PW about the challenges of researching these women, the process of writing and shaping the book, and the issues of racism and colorism in the ballet world.

How did you go about researching the Black ballerinas of the past?

The researching was so difficult! When I was promoted to soloist in 2007 and all the headlines were about me being the first Black soloist at ABT, the dancer Julie Kent told me about Nora Kimball-Mentzos, who had been a soloist with ABT in the 1980s. She was actually the first Black soloist with the company. But when I Googled her name, absolutely nothing came up. It wasnt until 2013, when we were working on my memoir Life in Motion, that Gilda [Squire], my manager, was somehow able to get in touch with Noras sister. Its been a journey of reaching out any way we could to contact the dancers and learn more about them.

Heres another example: when I started working on the book, one of my young dance mentees named Makeda told me about Frances Taylor Davis, who had begun dancing professionally in the 1940sand who eventually became one of the driving forces behind my desire to write this book. Makeda was somehow related to Frances and she passed her phone number on to me and I was able to talk to her. Over the years before Frances died in 2018, we formed a strong relationship.

I found a lot of the dancers through this kind of word-of-mouth, through my connections at Dance Theater of Harlem, through watching DVDs of performances. The lack of documentation on Black ballerinas made me so sad that I began to feel it was my responsibility, with my visibility and my platform, to do this research and to write down the legacy.

How did you choose the 27 ballerinas who are profiled in the book?

It was extremely difficult to select the dancers to include. It was really a team effort between me, Gilda, and my editor Alyson Hellereven my husband got in on the decision-making. So many dancers have touched my life and inspired me, it was hard to make the selections that would shape the book. For example, Marion Cuyjet made it in at the last minute: even though she herself was never able to dance professionally, as I researched the other dancers, I began to realize what an important through line she waslike Philadelphia, where many Black ballerinas first trained, like Dance Theater of Harlemand what an important role she played as a ballet teacher who championed Black ballerinas. I hadnt heard a lot about her during my careershe was on my radar, but not like Raven Wilkinson, for example, whom I had discovered in a documentary on the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and who became one of my closest friends and mentors. As I was doing my research, though, I came to realize what a huge impact Marion had on many Black ballerinas stories.

Why did you decide to write the book for young people?

When I started working on this project, I thought it would be more of a history for an adult audience. I spend so much time with Black and brown youth, though, and I started to realize that they are the ones who need this information. They need to know they have a lineage and a history in ballet and that its their responsibility to continue it.

What was the writing and editing process like? Did you collaborate with Salena Barnes, the illustrator, to any extent?

Finding the right voice was a challenge. Initially I was just writing down facts about the dancers, but then I began to feel that I wanted it to be personal, and it evolved into being about how these women affected my life, and other peoples lives. In fact, the original title was simply Black Ballerinas but as it became more personal, I added the subtitle My Journey to Our Legacy to show that the book is about these ballerinas impact on me. I didnt do any formal interviews; I relied on my own experiences and stories told by other dancers I know. I dug through old emails and even old voice mails that I had saved. I wanted the stories to be my perspective on these ballerinas.

I did a lot of writing, and then I sent all the material to Alyson. And for the editing process, instead of going back and forth on email, we decided to do live editing, on Zoom. She and I would get together with her assistant and with Gilda and the four of us would read out loud and make suggestions and changes that way. I really feel that the end result is very much my voice, telling the stories of these women interwoven with my experiences.

I was very fortunate in being able to choose from an array of illustrators, and Salena Barnes came up pretty quickly as our choice. We wanted a person of color and Salena understands Black bodies so well, and dancers proportions. There really wasnt much back and forth on the illustrations; she got most of them on the first try.

You focus on Black ballerinas; do you believe Black men in ballet face similar issues?

Oh yes! Ive mentored many young Black male dancers and its such a difficult journey for them. At ABT I learned so much about how to communicate and interact from the Black men who came and wentthere isnt a single Black male dancer who has stayed throughout my career with the company. I learned how to navigate through white space from the Black male dancers. But it felt important to me to concentrate on ballerinas, because ballet is so much about the ballerina; the male dancers are usually there to support the ballerinas. There is also so much more opportunity for Black men in ballet because we always need more men in ballet; there are never enough men.

Other dance formsmodern, jazz, tap, hip-hopdont seem to have the same issues of colorism and racism as ballet does. Why do you think it has been so prevalent in ballet?

Ballet is different from other dance forms in being extremely specific as to form and style, and especially as to what ballet bodies should look like. It originated in Europe and whoever is in charge has always held the key to what the bodies dancing ballet will look like. Balanchine really set the tone in this country for ballerinas being tall and skinny with small heads and long straight hair. In doing so, he put great limitations on the art form and its artists by focusing on this rather than on the stories we can tell through our dancing.

Do you believe there has been progress in the 21st century when it comes to racism and colorism in ballet?

I do. Im a very hopeful person. I will say that throughout my 25-year career in ballet, I have seen more progress in the past year and a half than in all the preceding years. The world has had a kind of reckoning that has had an impact on ballet as well. But we have so far to go! Ballet is so far behind every other art form in this regard.

Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy by Misty Copeland. Aladdin, $19.95 Nov. 2 ISBN 978-1-5344-7424-6
Denvers BookBar, the bookstore and wine bar founded by Nicole Sullivan in 2013, has purchased The Bookies, another Denver bookstore that has been in business for 50 years. After the death this past summer of its founding owner, Sue Lubeck, her family put the store on the market. The Bookies, a childrens bookstore, is well known for its large selection of books, educational products, and toys, as well as for its extensive programming.

We werent seeking to purchasing another bookstore or even contemplating a second BookBar location, stated Sullivan in a release. But I couldnt bear the possibility of Denver losing such an iconic bookstore. The Bookies will keep its name, and Sullivan said that there are no plans to open a wine bar on its premises.

The two stores will be reincorporated as a public benefit corporation, the first step towards their becoming a certified B corporation with its core mission being literacy. Sullivan also plans to integrate The Bookies into BookBars nonprofit arm, BookGive. BookBar donates 10% of all book sales and 100% of VIP membership dues to BookGive, which distributes gently used books to people in need throughout the Denver metro area. It has collected and donated to date 70,000 books.

BookBar is also undergoing changes designed to expand its customer base and encourage customers to linger. Already known for its programming, a two- story event and gallery space is being built behind the 2,300-square-foot original building to better accommodate large events and Jonah Kaplan, the son of Mitch Kaplan, the owner of Books & Books in Coral Gables, Fla. has been hired as BookBars new bar manager. He will be overseeing the expansion of the wine bar, which recently updated its menu and obtained a full liquor license.
In an unprecedented effort at labor organizing in the comics industry, a group of 10 staffers at Image Comics, a major independent comics publisher, have announced plans to launch Comic Book Workers United, a new union in affiliation with the Communications Workers of America.

The group has launched a CBWU website that includes information on the goals of the union and background on efforts to unionize the company. The CBWU will represent editorial, production, and other support staff at Image. The new union will not represent comics artists and writers, who are overwhelmingly freelance workers and by law are not allowed to engage in collective bargaining.

The announcement of the union has spurred a wave of support on social media by comics creators and workers across the industry. The ten Image Comics staffers involved in the effortwhose positions range across production, editorial, accounting, marketing, and salesare Emilio Bautista, Ryan Brewer, Leanna Caunter, Marla Eizik, Drew Fitzgerald, Melissa Gifford, Chloe Ramos, Tricia Ramos, Jon Schlaffman, and Erika Schnatz.

While the CBWU effort is focused on Image Comics, a noted independent house founded by comics artists looking for more equitable treatment, the launch of the union is aimed at spurring discussions and action on working conditions across the comics industry. In a statement on the CBWU website, the group states: For years, comics publishing workers have watched our professional efforts support creators and delight readers. Sadly, we have also watched that same labor be taken for granted at best and exploited at worst.

The statement emphasizes that the comic book and publishing industry as a whole, is overtaxed and undervalued, and that our labor is integral to the comic book industry. It requires specialized skills, dedication, and makes quality publishing possible. It continues: We love what we do. But loving what you do doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't ask for improvements to your working conditions. It is with this in mind and with great hope for the future of Image Comics and the comic book industry itself that we announce our intent to form a union and request voluntary recognition.

PW reached out to the ten staff organizers with questions about where they are in the process of forming the union, the size of the bargaining unit, and the response of Image Comics management and Image publisher Eric Stephenson; the parties did not respond to questions by press time. Image Comics management, however, provided a short statement: "Image has always believed in the fair and equitable treatment of staff and has always strived to support employees to the best of our company's ability with regard to their employment."

On the CBWU website, the group states that the unions goals, among others, are salary and workload transparency for all positions, improvement of morale via increased compensation or workload management, better communication with staff, better documentation of duties, improved career mobility, increased staff diversity, and the addition of a collective voting option to allow staff to cancel publication of works by creators found to have engaged in objectionable activities or personal behavior.

The CBWU organizers emphasize that their effort to unionize is inspired by the founding of Image Comics. The house was launched in 1992 by a group of prominent bestselling superhero comics artistsamong them Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Jim Valentino, and Marc Silvestriwho broke away from DC and Marvel to launch an independent publishing house that continues to flourish. Those artists, the CBWU states, wanted better compensation and greater control over their works in an industry that was, and still remains, overwhelmingly a work-for-hire industry.

In the early stages of organizing, we looked to Image's founders for inspiration. Their dreams of self-determination and more equitable treatment in the industry they loved and helped make successful are also our dreams, the CBWU statement said.

We are honored to grow their legacy by taking this step to give all comic book industry professionals, regardless of title, the same rights, guarantees, security, and protections which the founders sought when they broke away from the big two to start their own company. In fact, several months into our organizing efforts, Jim Valentino made a comment on social media celebrating union accomplishments. That was the moment we knew this could work.
In separate motions filed last month, Amazon and the Big Five publishers argued that a lawsuit accusing them of a conspiracy to fix e-book prices was illogical and should be dismissed. But in a lengthy opposition brief filed this week, lawyers for a potential consumer class portrayed their case as the second act of the Apple e-books case, and insisted there is more than enough evidence for the case to proceed.

In the 56-page filing, lawyers for the plaintiffs insist that the existence of Most Favored Nation clauses in the Amazon contracts of the Big Five publishersthe crux of the plaintiffs' caseis sufficient to allow the case to proceed, especially given that the MFN is the same mechanism five major publishers and Apple used to eliminate price competition from the consumer e-book market in 2010.

In affirming Apples per se liability for its role in the publishers earlier conspiracy, the Second Circuit explained that when multiple competitors sign vertical agreements that would be against their own interests were they acting independently, those agreements can prove the existence of a horizontal cartel, the brief states, noting that the MFNs in the Apple case were found to be strong evidence that Apple consciously orchestrated a conspiracy among the publishers. So too here, the brief asserts. Defendants contracts replicate the same illegal arrangement in the Apple litigation and provide direct evidence of a horizontal price-fixing agreement.

But beyond the existence of the MFNs in their Amazon contracts, the plaintiffs also point out a number of so-called plus factors which they claim support their allegations of a price-fixing conspiracy.

Among them, the plaintiffs argue: the market for e-books "is concentrated; Amazon and the publishers each had motives to colludefor Amazon it is a desire to dominate its retail competitors and for the Big Five to regain control over trade e-book pricing; Without some kind of collective involvement, "the agency model goes "against each publishers independent business interests; The publishers sharply raised [e-book] prices under the agency model even though e-book costs were not increasing; And finally, the brief states, the publishers have a history of collusive price-fixing, and Amazon is under investigation by multiple antitrust regulators.

Surviving a motion to dismiss is a fairly low legal barthe plaintiffs dont have to prove their case at this point, only present sufficient evidence that a case exists, a standard, the plaintiffs' brief insists, that is clearly met.

The suit was first filed in the Southern District of New York on January 14 (and later amended) by Seattle-based firm Hagens Bermanthe firm that successfully sued Apple and five major publishers for colluding to fix e-book prices in 2011. It alleges that Amazon and the Big Five publishersHachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random Houseare co-conspirators in an alleged scheme to keep e-book prices artificially highspecifically through the use of various forms of a Most Favored Nations clause (MFN).

 Defendants contracts replicate the same illegal arrangement in the Apple litigation and provide direct evidence of a horizontal price-fixing agreement. 

But in their September 17 motions to dismiss, lawyers for Amazon and the Big Five publishers scoff at the allegations, and argue there is no evidence of any coordination, communication, or other agreement among them to fix e-book prices. Further, they insist that the alleged conspiracy fundamentally makes no sense: why would the five largest American trade publishers band together to give Amazon monopoly power over e-booksespecially when the Apple case was all about the publishers seeking to blunt Amazons market power?

If true, Plaintiffs conspiracy allegation would mean that the Publisher Defendants got together to create a monopolist retailer with whom they would then have to deal, the Amazon brief states.

But in their opposition brief, plaintiff lawyers insist that the conspiracy is not only plausible, but probable.

Publisher Defendants rely on Plaintiffs allegations regarding the Big Fives fear of 'Amazons growing power,'" the brief explains. But that fear is precisely why the Big Five wanted to take control over the pricing of their e-booksboth before, in their agreements with Apple, and now in their agreements with Amazon. And that is why they picked up the conspiracy where they left off: they wanted to reintroduce the agency model to regain their control over pricing, even if that meant letting Amazon entrench its dominance in the retail market for trade e-books.

And again, the brief points out, the plaintiffs don't have to prove the conspiracy at this stage, only that their allegations are plausible enough to avoid dismissal. "Although an innocuous interpretation of the defendants conduct may be plausible, that does not mean that the plaintiffs allegation that that conduct was culpable is not also plausible, lawyers argue.

To further buttress their case, the brief states, there is sufficient evidence to establish Amazon as a monopolist in the consumer e-book market. Amazon's defense to that charge doesnt pass the laugh test, the brief states, alleging that Amazon controls nearly 90% of the consumer e-book market." And while Amazon doesnt set e-book prices, its insistence on using MFNs, the plaintiffs argue, ensure that no rival retail platform can differentiate itself from, or otherwise compete with, Amazon.

In addition to the destruction of price competition, the brief asserts that Amazons practices "inhibit consumer choice because potential competitors cannot offer promotional advantages or explore alternative business models. That results in higher consumer prices, fewer technical innovations in e-books, and fewer innovations in the business of distributing e-books.

There is no timeline for the court to rule on the motions to dismiss.
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued to block Penguin Random House parent company Bertelsmanns proposed acquisition of Viacom CBS subsidiary Simon & Schuster, arguing that it would result in substantial harm to authors. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on November 2. With it, the DoJ alleges that the proposed acquisition would enable Penguin Random House, which is already the largest book publisher in the world, to exert outsized influence over which books are published in the United States and how much authors are paid for their work. (Penguin Random House is the world's third largest publisher, but its largest trade publisher.) The full lawsuit can be read here.

Notably, the DoJ focused its opposition to the deal around its impact on authors (and particularly on potential bestselling authors). If consummated, this merger would likely result in substantial harm to authors of anticipated top-selling books and ultimately, consumers, the DoJ complaint states. Post-merger, the two largest publishers would collectively control more than two-thirds of this market, leaving hundreds of authors with fewer alternatives and less leverage.

In a statement, U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland said that books have shaped American public life throughout our nations history, and authors are the lifeblood of book publishing in America. But just five publishers control the U.S. publishing industry. He continued: If the worlds largest book publisher is permitted to acquire one of its biggest rivals, it will have unprecedented control over this important industry. Acting assistant attorney general Richard A. Powers, of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division, added that the lawsuit will prevent further consolidation in an industry that has a history of collusion.

While PRH global CEO Markus Dohle has pledged to allow PRH and S&S editors bid against one another post-acquisition, the DoJ specifically rejected that overture. In short, after securing nearly half the market for publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books, Penguin Random House asks this court to trust that Penguin Random House will not use its market power to maximize profits for the benefit of its shareholders but rather, it will essentially compete with itself to reduce those profits, the complaint states. This proposal defies economic sense, can be evaded or violated without detection, and is unenforceable.

The DoJ also took issue with PRH's previous statements that the merger with Simon & Schuster will provide a counterweight to Amazons alleged buying power, arguing that the publisher's internal documents tell a different story: Penguin Random House plans to embrace Amazon even more closely after the merger. For example, in seeking approval from Bertelsmanns Supervisory Board to pursue Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House executives stated that the acquisition would advance their [g]oal to be an [e]xceptional partner for Amazon.

The reaction from both PRH and S&S has been swift. In a release announcing their intentions to fight the lawsuit, the two publishers called the proposed deal a pro-consumer, pro-author, and pro-book seller transaction. Furthermore, sources close to PRH said that the government cherry-picked the numbers used to oppose the deal, questioning how the government could define what an anticipated top-selling book even is.

In a memo to PRH employees, Dohle wrote that PRH believes the DoJ is mistaken in its assessment, adding that the publisher is committed to vigorously defending this acquisition. The memo argued that the proposed deal would "benefit all constituents, including authors, agents, retailers, and, ultimately, readers, and will do nothing to undermine the robust, competitive publishing landscape that currently exists." In a memo of his own, S&S president and CEO Jonathan Karp echoed Dohle's sentiments, noting that the DoJ has not alleged that the acquisition would harm competition in the sale of books.

Daniel Petrocelli, vice-chair of OMelveny & Meyers and PRHs lead trial attorney, said that the DoJs lawsuit is wrong on the facts, the law, and public policy." The publishing industry "is strong and vibrant and has seen strong growth at all levels, Petrocelli said. We are confident that the robust and competitive landscape that exists will ensure a decision that the acquisition will promote, not harm, competition. PRH anticipates that the case could go to trial sometime in 2022.

When the deal was first announced in late 2020, antitrust scholar Chris Sagers, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law professor and author of the 2019 book United States v. Apple: Competition in America told PW that there was maybe a 50/50 chance" the deal would be challenged or conditioned by regulators. As a practical matter, regulatory agencies during the past few decades have rarely brought serious challenges to deals less concentrating than four to three, Sagers said. That is, so long as a deal leaves at least four major firms in a market, the agencies are unlikely to sue.

But size does matter, Sagers added. And even though the PRH/S&S deal would have left four major publishers at the top of the publishing business, Sagers warned then that the metrics used to calculate market concentration, known as the HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index) could weigh against approval, with the combination of PRH and S&S essentially creating one firm significantly larger than its next closest rivala situation NewsCorp CEO Robert Thomson, whose company was said to be the underbidder for S&S, called out when PRHs massive winning bid was announced.

There is clearly no market logic to a bid of that sizeonly anti-market logic, Thomson said of PRH's winning bid, in a statement from November 25, 2020. Bertelsmann is not just buying a book publisher, but buying market dominance as a book behemoth.

In response to the news, Mary Rasenberger, the CEO of the Authors Guild, which has been critical of the proposed acquisition, called the decision "unexpected, given that so many other major mergers and acquisitions in the publishing industry have gone through recently and over the last few decades with nary a raised eyebrow from DOJ, leaving us with only a handful of companies dominating the industry."

The statement continued: "More importantly, the decision raises the bigger question that goes beyond traditional publishers to the consolidation of distribution channels and Amazons monopsony of book retail. We look forward to working with the Biden Administration on antitrust reform that gets to the root of the problems in the industry, whereas the proposed merger was just a symptom.

When the acquisition was first proposed last year, the deal generated backlash from many in the book business. Concerns included that the combined company would be too large for even the remainder of the Big Five publishers (which would have then become the Big Four), let alone other publishers in the business, to compete when bidding for books. The lawsuit is seen by some both inside and outside of publishing as a sign of the Biden Administration's intent to act more vigorously in antitrust matters.

Penguin Random House, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann, publishes 2,000 new trade books in the U.S. annually and reported revenues of $2.5 billion from U.S. publishing in 2020. Simon & Schuster, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS, publishes 1,000 new trade books in the U.S. annually, and reported revenues of $901 million from U.S. publishing in 2020.
Hard security concerns are again front and center in Europe as Vladimir Putin pushes to revise the post-Cold War settlement, regather the Russian imperial dominion, and compete for influence on the Continent. Two decades of Russian military modernization, combined with the disarmament of a majority of European NATO members, has tilted the military equation along NATOs periphery against the alliance. In the political arena Putin recently scored a major coup when the Biden administration decided to lift sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, cementing Russias position as the principal energy supplier to Germany. Today, NATOs Eastern flank countries are increasingly feeling the pressure from Moscows hybrid operations, while Russias occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine impacts the alliances operational planning. To complicate matters, Belaruss de facto reincorporation into Russia has been all but completed, especially in the military domain.

In this deteriorating security environment, there is one bright spot that promises to offset Russias geostrategic advantage and harden Europes defenses: the so-called Three Seas Initiative (3SI). The Three Seas is a project launched in 2015 by Croatia and Poland and aimed at the economic and infrastructure development of twelve countries situated between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas. Currently the 3SI group consists of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania. The Three Seas is arguably the most innovative initiative since the end of the Cold War, for it carries with it the potential to complete the transformation of Central Europe and shore up deterrence and defense along Europes Eastern frontier.

The 3SI has held four presidential-level summits, and there are plans for a fifth summit in Latvia in 2022. The economic investment projects identified during the sessions have garnered attention in the policy community. In terms of the area it covers, the 3SI member countries comprise about a third of the European Union, with a population of 111 million and per capita GDP average at about 80% of the EU average. They also have some of the fastest economic growth rates in the European Union (for instance, between 2015-19 the 12 averaged 3.5% GDP growth vs. 2.1% for the EU as a whole). Hence, investment in their economies carries with it the prospect of establishing a clear glide path for the two halves of Europe, the Cold War era Western Europe and former Eastern bloc Soviet satellites, to gel in the coming decades, completing the post-1989 transformation. The most urgent needs are infrastructure, energy and digital connectivity  areas where the 3SI twelve have seen a deficit estimated at about $1.5 trillion. The United States has recognized the implicit economic potential and political impact of the 3SI. The Trump administration signaled its support for the initiative when Secretary Mike Pompeo at the 2020 Munich Security Conference announced that the United States would commit $1billion dollars to it. The Biden administration has continued to support and advocate for the project and, as a path forward, sees Germany assuming a greater role in it. However, bringing the 3SI directly under the EU umbrella remains a contentious issue among a number of the members, who see the project as complementing the Unions work as opposed to being absorbed into the larger EU space.

In addition to the obvious economic impact of the 3SI, there is a clear geostrategic imperative for the transatlantic community to invest in Central European infrastructure, with a direct impact on NATOs military capabilities and U.S. operational planning. The 3SI intermarium corridor still grapples with post-imperial legacy infrastructure, especially its transportation networks which have favored the East/West-West/East flows since the 19th century and which are also reflected in highway and railroad networks. This is particularly important in light of the fact that several cycles of NATO enlargement after the Cold War have extended and reconfigured the alliances frontier in the East, making the issue of military mobility on the North-South and South-North axes an urgent concern. This deficiency has constrained the U.S. and its allies ability to exercise, which with the present defense posture provides the second-best alternative to permanent basing.

There is already movement when it comes to the construction of roads and bridges in the intermarium corridor, with Via Baltica slated to connect Warsaw to Tallinn, and then Tallinn to Helsinki by ferry. But the biggest infrastructure piece from the perspective of military mobility along NATOs Eastern flank is Via Carpathia, which aims to link the ports of Klaipeda in Lithuania with Thessaloniki in Greece by way of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Via Carpathia will be completed in 2025; a possible addition to it that would further enhance military mobility along the flank is a proposed fork in the South that would dogleg Eastward through Romania to the Black Sea port of Constanta. As part of a larger infrastructure reconfiguration along NATOs Eastern flank, Poland has committed to building the Central Transportation Hub, a key infrastructure investment for the region that would change the operational picture in the theater. The hub is envisioned as a combination air, rail, and road nexus, with ten road and rail spokes reaching from this new airport into Polands key regions. The projected 700 kilometers of new high-speed rail is to be rated according to the NATO STANAG for moving military equipment.

For NATO to strengthen deterrence along the frontier and respond effectively to Russias New Generation Warfare planning, the legacy East-West infrastructure must be complemented by the requisite North-South connectivity. In that regard the Three Seas Initiative is transformative, expanding operational planning options and thereby strengthening deterrence along the Eastern flank. If fully implemented, Europe would finally overcome the post-imperial and post-Soviet legacies in Central Europe. The 3SI merits American continued political support and investment, and investment from across the transatlantic community.

Andrew A. Michta is a Contributing Editor for 1945. The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Edge Ramirez are set to star in a new romance film from director Isabel Coixet titled Nobody's Heart.

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The film is an adaption of author and screenwriter William Boyd's short story Cork, which is based on the life of celebrated Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa.

Mbatha-Raw will star as Lily who inherits her dead husband's cork factory where she begins a relationship with his co-worker. The passionate relationship helps Lily discover new things about herself and her late husband.

Nobody's Heart takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, in the 1930s. Production will begin in Portugal in January.

WestEnd Films has launched international sales of the project and will be introducing the film at the American Film Market. John Fiedler is producing.

"This is a fascinating, twisted and sexually charged love story between two characters sharing a unique passion with the background of Portugal in the 1930s. After reading William Boyd's script, I completely fell in love with the story and I know there's a hunger out there for stories like Nobody's Heart," Coixet said in a statement.

Mbatha-Raw recently starred in Marvel's Loki and also appeared in Misbehaviour, Belle and The Morning Show. Ramirez has starred in The Girl on the Train, Joy and Jungle Cruise.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/02/2021



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Jamie Skaar has founded two Washington-based companies

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Jamie is a world traveler

The suitor hopes to find a woman who will join him on his adventures

The bachelor previously studied in London

Jamie was not a fan of The Bachelor franchise prior to appearing on the show

ABC calls Jamie, who supports minority business owners, "a catch"

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
Outer Banks stars Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline have called it quits on their relationship.

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E! News reported Monday that Stokes, 29, and Cline, 23, have split after a year of dating.

People confirmed the breakup.

"Madelyn and Chase are no longer together," a source said. "They were trying to work things out privately but broke up a couple of months ago."

Sources told Page Six that "things got rocky" between Chase and Madelyn in September.

Stokes and Cline met on the set of Outer Banks, which streams on Netflix. The pair play John B and Sarah on the teen drama series.

Stokes and Cline went Instagram official with their relationship in June 2020.

Outer Banks follows a group of teenagers living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The show co-stars Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss and Rudy Pankow, and returned for a second season in July.
The year 2021 has been, to quote Dickens, a bit of the best of times and the worst of times with respect to our regional economy.
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LONDON (AP)  The chief executive of British bank Barclays stepped down Monday following a report by United Kingdom regulators into his past links with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jes Staley has previously said he deeply regrets his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself at a federal jail in New York in August 2019 while awaiting a sex trafficking trial. There is no suggestion that the 64-year-old Staley knew anything about Epstein's alleged crimes.

Staley said he will contest regulators' preliminary conclusions, which were shared with him and the bank Friday. The report by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority examined the way Staley characterized his relationship with Epstein to Barclays when he was Epsteins private banker in his previous job at U.S. investment bank J.P. Morgan.

Details of the report have not been released, and both regulators have refused to comment.

Barclays said in a statement Monday that the bank and Staley agreed he would resign in light of regulators' preliminary findings and Staley's decision to fight them.

The bank noted that the investigation makes no findings that Staley saw or knew about any of Epsteins alleged crimes, which it said was "the central question behind its decision to back its chief executive after Epstein was arrested in 2019. It wouldnt comment further.

Staley said his last contact with Epstein was in fall 2015, when he and his wife sailed to Epsteins private island for lunch. That trip occurred shortly before he joined Barclays. He said he had no contact with Epstein once he joined the bank in December 2015.

C.S. Venkatakrishnan, head of global markets for the bank, will take over as chief executive. Barclays said succession planning has been in place for some time, and he had been identified as the preferred candidate more than a year ago.

Shares in Barclays fell 2% following the announcement, as Staley had been widely credited with doing a good job at the bank.

Barclays credited him for running the company with commitment and skill," helping transform operations and improve its results. It added that the regulatory process still has to run its course and that it is not appropriate for the bank to comment further on the preliminary conclusions.

Analysts said that Barclays had to act because of the potential damage to its reputation.

"Barclays is right to pull the plug now, said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com. It probably could have done it earlier.

The bank said Staley will get a 2.5 million pound ($3.5 million) payout and receive other benefits for a year. He also may be eligible to receive repatriation costs to the U.S. and could receive more cash.
Connecticut threw open on Monday a window of amnesty for those entering this year with outstanding taxes, with the possibility for individuals and businesses to avoid penalties and any possibility of prosecution in exchange for settling up with the state.

Authorized last June by the Connecticut General Assembly, the amnesty window runs through Jan. 31, 2022. Amounts due must be paid in full, with no installment options available. Interest payments still apply, but at only 25 percent of the amount that would otherwise be due.

Information is online at GetRightCT.com or via telephone at 1-866-658-1528. The Department of Revenue Services offers detailed information in an online FAQ.

It is the first such program offered by the Department of Revenue Services since Gov. Ned Lamont selected Mark Boughton as commissioner, who long served as the mayor of Danbury.

On Monday, Boughton told Hearst Connecticut Media as many as 45 percent of taxpayers do not pay the full amounts they owe, whether on income generated under the table in the cash economy in his words or businesses that underreport the amount of sales tax they owe. In many instances, taxpayers owe a few hundred dollars or less.

This is a good way to get everything squared away, Boughton said Monday. You want to make this go away? Give us X right now and well save you a ton of money.

On the back side of the Great Recession in 2013, Connecticut recouped $193 million in a tax amnesty program, according to John Biello, deputy DRS commissioner. Biello told members of the legislature last February that DRS had anticipated $35 million under that years program. Connecticut followed that up with the 2017 CT Fresh Start amnesty program.

In addition to advertising, DRS is attempting to contact those in arrears and suspected non-filers in the words of DRS  including businesses that have yet to register with the state. Lamonts budget chief Melissa McCaw told legislators early this year that DRS was on the cusp of bringing a new system online that uses advanced analytical engines to identify people or businesses that are not filing taxes with the state.

The department pledges not to use amnesty applications as evidence in any criminal investigation or prosecution, with the exception of instances in which one knowingly files a false application for amnesty. Those with ongoing audits, formal protests or litigation with DRS are eligible for amnesty. The program is not open to those who have accepted payment offers with DRS or are under criminal investigation.

The Connecticut motor carrier road tax is not being included in the amnesty program.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
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TORRINGTON  The Torrington Symphony, under the direction of conductor Maurice Steinberg, has been busy despite the Covid limitations.

The symphony is now preparing for its annual holiday concert, set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre at the Warner Theatre, Main Street, Torrington.
Tuesdays election is expected to bring about significant change in the Danbury area.

A few races for the top elected position in their respective municipality - including Danbury - are open races for the first time in a long time. In other races, there are tight races that could be decided by slim margins.

For those headed to the polls, or considering to vote, on Tuesday, here are some key things to know:

What to know about voting

Wondering where to vote, when to vote or how to vote? Or, are you even registered?

All of those questions can be answered before even heading to the polls. Yes, you can call the local registrars of voters. But, chances are they are going to be relatively busy Tuesday.

Lets start with the basics: the polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. If you get to the polls by 8 p.m., you are allowed to vote.

Are you registered to vote and where do you vote? Those are slightly more complicated, but the information can easily be obtained on the Secretary of States website at: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx. The site allows interested voters to look themselves up, confirm their registration status and provides information on where to vote.

If youre wondering what your ballot looks like, the Secretary of States Office has that information on a town-by-town basis. It can be viewed at https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Town-Ballots/2021-November-Municipal-Town-Ballots.

A few other quick things: a drivers license nor photo ID is required to vote in Connecticut. You may have to sign an affidavit to confirm your identity. Also, if you are not registered to vote and want to, you can register that day in person. Each town has a designated office where residents can register. Most are in town halls, but they do vary.

Lastly, if youre voting by absentee ballot, be sure to drop it off in a ballot box before the close of the polls. If you mail it on Election Day, chances are it wont be counted.

Danbury mayor

No race is bigger in the Danbury area than the race for the citys mayor. For nearly 20 years, Republican Mark Boughton was the citys chief elected official. He stepped down late last year to become the head states Department of Revenue Services.

In stepped Joe Cavo, a councilor-turned-mayor, but he has no plans of running for that spot again, instead running for City Council. Instead, it will be Republican Dean Esposito, Cavos chief of staff, against councilor Roberto Alves.

The winner will be elected to guide a city that saw population growth in the latest census  something few municipalities around the state saw. They will also be asked to lead an increasingly diverse city.

While no two people are exactly alike, many see a win for Esposito as a continuation of the Boughton regime. He was, after all, Boughtons chief of staff, too. A win for Alves would represent a change in philosophy and direction for a growing city  one in which nearly one-third of residents are foreign-born.

The outcome of the election will, of course, have ripple effects in surrounding towns.

Redding first selectman

To the south, Redding First Selectman Julia Pemberton is being challenged by former state Rep. John Shaban.

Pemberton, in her fourth term, once again received the Democratic nod. She says she is focused on development at the Gilbert and Bennett wire mill, economic development, and improving community and inclusion.

Shaban, the Republican challenger, unsuccessfully ran for Congress against Jim Himes more recently. But could the political veteran have more success in his own town? He said he plans to focus on brownfield management and the development of more green energy.

The first selectman may not have oversight of the school district, but it is a topic that has caused plenty of stir in town over the last year. Race, teaching methods and more have been questioned by a faction of town residents, prompting the superintendent to look for employment elsewhere.

Will national politics play a role?

Last year, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump atop the ticket, the Danbury area saw a swing in the way many municipalities voted. Nearly all towns voted Democrat at the top of the ticket.

In towns that were already Democrat-leaning in the previous presidential election, the margins improved for that party. In the presidential race, New Milford flipped to lean Democrat at the top of the ticket, as did Brookfield. The Democratic margin grew dramatically in 2020 in Redding from 2016.

But this isnt a presidential year.

So the question for candidates will be how much of those growing margins that leaned to the left carry over. Or, do local politics merge with national politics at all? If they do, it could be good news for local Democrats.

Already decided

A handful of local candidates will wake up Tuesday morning with nerves at a minimum.

Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker, a Democrat, is running unopposed. The same could be said for New Fairfield Democrat Pat Del Monaco, Bridgewaters Curtis Read and Shermans Don Lowe.

Dan Rosenthal, of Newtown, is running on the minority party line. The good news for him is that hes not running against anybody either.

For all of your Danbury-area coverage on election night, head to newstimes.com. Stories will be updated throughout the night and into Wednesday morning.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A reexamined autopsy ordered by the FBI in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene has rejected the Louisiana State Police claim that a car crash caused his fatal injuries, narrowing prosecutors focus on the troopers seen on body camera video beating, stunning and dragging the Black motorist.

The unusual second look at what killed Greene confirmed what his family suspected the moment they saw his bruised and battered corpse and his car with only slight damage: A minor crash at the end of a high-speed chase had nothing to do with his death.

The FBI this week received the new forensic review it commissioned in light of the long-buried body camera footage, vehicle black box data and other evidence the state police withheld from Greenes original autopsy. The review, which did not involve another examination of the body, attributes Greene's death to a series of factors, including troopers striking the 49-year-old in the head, restraining him at length and his use of cocaine.

The new review notably removes the crash and agitated delirium from the list of causes in Greenes original autopsy, according to a person familiar with the findings who wasnt authorized to discuss the federal inquiry and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

It also addresses a key unanswered question from the original autopsy, whether the crash that didn't deploy the air bag in Greene's car was severe enough to cause a fractured breastbone and ruptured aorta. The new review determined those injuries were most likely the result of CPR and other life-saving efforts by first responders, the person familiar with the findings said.

Still unclear was whether the new autopsy would prompt the Union Parish coroner to change the manner of Greene's death from accidental to homicide, which could affect the charges available to state and federal prosecutors.

Greenes mother, Mona Hardin, said she hopes the new report brings the case closer to justice so I can put my son to rest, adding that she has yet to bury his cremated remains. This thing has been so crazy. No one has properly grieved.

The new autopsy report comes as federal prosecutors are in the final stages of a two-year civil rights investigation that began looking into Greenes death but has since expanded to examine the beatings of several other Black motorists, and whether top brass obstructed justice to shield troopers from possible prosecution.

Rafael Goyeneche, a former prosecutor who heads the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a New Orleans-based watchdog group, said the new cause of death makes it even more likely prosecutors will bring serious charges. This yanks the rug from under the defense claim that the accident caused his death and that the beatings werent that severe, he said.

A Louisiana State Police spokesman said the agency has been provided no further information on the ongoing federal investigation but continues to cooperate. A U.S. Justice Department spokesperson declined to speak about an ongoing investigation but added that if the evidence reveals violations of the law, the department will take all appropriate action.

Greenes May 10, 2019, death came after he failed to stop for a traffic violation and led troopers on a midnight chase across northern Louisiana at speeds topping 115 mph (185 km/h), ending along a rural roadside near Monroe. State police initially told Greenes family he died after crashing into a tree, an account the Union Parish coroner committed to writing in an official report, which describes Greenes death as a motor vehicle accident and makes no mention of a confrontation with troopers.

After officials refused for more than two years to release the troopers body camera video, the AP obtained and published it this spring, showing white troopers converging on Greene before he can even get out of his car, repeatedly stunning and punching him as he appears to surrender and repeatedly wails, Im your brother! Im scared! Im scared! A trooper can later be seen dragging the heavyset Greene by his ankle shackles and he is left prone and face down in the dirt for more than nine minutes before he eventually goes limp.

Yet even after AP published video of Greenes violent arrest, state officials and advocates for the troopers repeated the crash theory, with Gov. John Bel Edwards floating it as recently as September.

The issue would be did he die from injuries sustained in the accident? Edwards, a Democrat, said on a radio program. Obviously, he didnt die in the accident itself because he was still alive when the troopers were engaging with him. But what was the cause of death? I dont know that that was falsely portrayed.

Edwards went on to say troopers' actions were criminal but that whether they caused Greenes death was the subject of an investigation and Im not going to get in front of that.

A lawyer for the troopers involved in Greenes arrest told a court in July that the crash killed him.

At trial, defendants will present scientific evidence that Mr. Greenes death was caused by a crash-related blunt force chest trauma resulting in a fractured sternum and ruptured aorta, P. Scott Wolleson wrote in a filing in a civil lawsuit brought by Greenes family.

Greenes was among a dozen cases over the past decade in which an AP investigation found troopers or their bosses ignored or concealed evidence of beatings, deflected blame and impeded efforts to root out misconduct. Dozens of current and former troopers said they occurred in an agency with a culture of impunity, nepotism and in some cases outright racism.

Federal investigators are also examining the actions of police commanders, which included pressuring their own detectives to hold off on arresting the trooper who acknowledged hitting Greene in the head with a flashlight and was overheard on his body camera video boasting to a colleague that he beat the ever-living f--- out of him.

That trooper, Chris Hollingsworth, died last year in a single-vehicle crash hours after he learned he would be fired for his role in the Greene case.

Speaking to investigators shortly before his death, Hollingsworth sought to justify his flashlight strikes on Greene in part because the man didn't have any apparent injuries after the crash and "could have done anything once my hold was broke off him.

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Bleiberg reported from Dallas.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The island kingdom of Bahrain on Tuesday urged all its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately as a diplomatic crisis escalates between Gulf Arab states and cash-strapped Lebanon.

Bahrains foreign ministry ordered all Bahrainis to leave Lebanon due to the tense situation there, which requires caution, days after the United Arab Emirates did the same. The ministry also warned its citizens not to travel to Lebanon permanently  in order to prevent exposure to any risks.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Carroll Hughes, a veteran lobbyist at the Connecticut state Capitol who was well-known for representing the interests of package store owners and the state's police chiefs, has died. He was 79.

His wife and partner at Hughes & Cronin Public Affairs Strategies, Jean Cronin, confirmed to the Hartford Courant that her husband died on Monday evening at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital after battling leukemia for three years.

He lived a great life, loved his job, loved his family, loved the Capitol, loved everything about it, Cronin said. He will be missed. Hes just one of a kind. Larger than life.

Hughes established the states first independent lobbying practice in 1974, according to the firms website, paving the way for other lobbying firms in Connecticut.

Hughes, who served as executive director of the Connecticut Package Stores Association, for years fended off efforts to revamp many of the the state's liquor laws, often arguing proposals such as changing the state's pricing structure or allowing allowing liquor sales on Sundays would ultimately hurt small family-owned stores.

During public hearings at the state Capitol, Hughes would often criticize bills for benefitting big box stores and chains at the expense of the small, independent liquor store owner. In 2019, he noted, for example, how one proposal had provisions he said were designed and written in some corporate boardroom far from here, designed to eliminate the stores.

Fierce, smart, and hardworking, he was a friend to so many, state Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, the second-highest ranking Senate Republican, said in a written statement. He will be missed by all and remembered for helping bring the voices of many  from small business owners to the brave men and women in law enforcement  to the state Capitol.

Carroll was brilliant at his job," former West Hartford police chief James Strillacci, who was a former president of the police chiefs association, told the Courant. He called Hughes "a guide to the byzantine ways of the legislature, a font of historical lore and a sage adviser.
DENVER (AP)  A Denver ballot initiative that would have allowed residents to sue the city for a slow response to homeless encampment clean-ups has been amended in a court ruling just days before voters head to the polls and thousands have already cast their mail ballots.

The proposed measure originally allowed citizens to sue the city if officials dont clean up an encampment within 72 hours of a complaint. In early October, the Denver City Council opposed the initiative, saying it directly contradicts the seven-day notice city officials must give before sweeping most homeless encampments, an order handed down by a federal judge in January.

The measure was amended after a judge ruled Sunday that the time limit was unlawful and should be removed. However, it still asks voters to decide on creating up to four city-funded authorized camping locations on public property with required running water, restrooms and lighting. Local homelessness advocates say four sanctioned sites still isnt enough to address the scale of the problem.

Ballots submitted before Tuesday will be counted with the original language of the measure. But even if it passes, the part that would have allowed residents to sue the city for a slow response to homeless encampment clean-ups wont be enforced, said Jacqlin Davis, a spokesperson for the City Attorneys Office.

City officials say over the last few months they have received an uptick in the number of complaints and requests to clean up local homeless encampments in residential neighborhoods. Cathy Alderman, chief communications and public policy officer for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, said there are more homeless people in Denver today than there ever has been.

The city has put millions of dollars into programs, outreach teams and housing projects to help solve the issue. But hundreds still remain on the streets  many in unsanctioned camping sites downtown.

National and local homelessness and housing advocates opposed the measure for being punitive and criminalizing homelessness.

Local homelessness advocates like Benjamin Dunning from Denver Homeless Out Loud said he's glad the court recognized the unlawfulness and harm of the measures time burden on city officials in contradiction with the court ruling. But in truth, the whole piece of legislation is rotten, he added.

Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director for the National Coalition for the Homeless, called the measure disturbing and said he sees it as somewhat a copy of whats happening in Texas with abortion."

Issues that some in the general public see as troubling, theres now this pattern of enlisting those general public individuals to be a part of what some would see as a solution, Whitehead said.

The city filed its lawsuit against Garrett Flicker, chair of the Denver Republican Party, who is behind the initiative. Flicker did not respond to interview requests by email.
LITCHFIELD  Rabbi Peter Oliveira initially declined the offer when asked to be the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Litchfield.

Oliveira, a Messianic rabbi who shares the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah, was familiar with the church and had been a guest speaker at other similar churches.

At first I said no, because I thought it was the strangest thing, Oliveira said. I prayed about it and felt the conviction that if somebody is asking me to do something and advance a blessing in the community, whats wrong with that? I ended up accepting the request.

That was right before the COVID-19 pandemic, Oliveira said, and now hes leading the congregation through unique and historic times as it celebrates its 300th anniversary.

Oliveira, who previously had been living in Rhode Island before moving to Haiti, first connected with the church when he returned to New England and wanted to start a Messianic congregation of his own.

I was walking up and down all the streets and the churches and knocking on doors and asking the pastors if itd be OK to use their space to start a little Messianic congregation in this area, Oliveira said. The only church that opened their doors to us was the First Congregational Church of Litchfield.

Oliveira started the Congregation Mishkahn Nachamu, which means tabernacle of comfort, and now simultaneously leads that and the First Congregational Church of Litchfield.

In fact, his Messianic congregation is throwing a birthday party for the churchs congregation at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The truth is, when its your birthday, you dont plan your own birthday party, Oliveira said. Somebody who loves you does that.

The First Congregational Church of Litchfield was founded in 1721, with the original meeting house being constructed in 1723 and was utilized as not only a place of worship, but as a community center. The church has had 28 pastors in its 300 years, among them the notable Lyman Beecher  Harriet Beecher Stowes father  who served the church from 1810 to 1826.

I feel that in order for us to understand the present, you almost have to go back in time to see what happened here, Oliveira said. There was a group of people who didnt want to have this dogmatic were this or were that. They decided that the most important thing is for the congregation to come together and worship together and allow each person to read the Bible and interpret it in the way that they feel without arguing.

That openness exhibited today includes the act of allowing him to start his Messianic congregation there and later being named pastor.

I find it fascinating that here we are 300 years later and because of that spirit of not being dogmatic, they opened their doors for a Messianic Jewish congregation and they asked a rabbi to be their pastor, Oliveira said. It has something to do with the spirit in which the church was formed. As a result that opened the door for whats happening now.

As they look toward the future of the church while reflecting on the past, Oliveira said hes excited for the relationship between the Messianic congregation and the First Churchs congregation to continue to develop.

The relationship is pretty unique, he said. We actually have people from the First Congregational Church who come on Saturdays to celebrate. Likewise, we have people from the Messianic congregation who will come on Sundays. Theres a cross-pollination of people coming from one or the other. Its almost like theyre realizing that were not different, we just have different expressions of the way that we celebrate and the way that we worship.

And from that, Oliveira said hes been afforded a chance to learn in ways he otherwise wouldnt have.

Personally for me, I am amazed at how Ive learned not to think that my way is the right way, Oliveira said. God can work in a variety of ways. I am humbled by it. It would be so neat if more of humanity looked at the benefit each person has and the way they see things and kind of learn from one another and be encouraged by one another. Its been a really neat learning opportunity for me.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The judge presiding over Kyle Rittenhouse's homicide trial opened jury selection Monday with a round of Jeopardy!-like trivia, assured potential jurors he doesn't have COVID-19 and reached back to the fall of the Roman Empire to emphasize the gravity of their duty.

Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder drew laughs in the courtroom  and some cringes on social media  as he peppered potential jurors with trivia questions, and offered commentary on some. When the answer to one was the movie Psycho, the 75-year-old Schroeder quipped: You've heard of it.

One potential juror told Schroeder he had nasal surgery scheduled in 10 days. The judge asked him, What would you rather do, be here with me or have your nose operated on? The man responded: Ill be honest with you, Im not looking forward to it. The judge laughed and said he would take it under consideration.

The tenor of Monday's hearing was no surprise to one attorney who has appeared before Schroeder.

Michael Cicchini, a Kenosha-based defense attorney, said the beginning of jury selection can be "a logistical nightmare. Attorneys are handed seating charts and other paperwork as jurors are led in, and they need time to get organized. Schroeder traditionally spends that time playing trivia with the jury pool until the attorneys are ready, he said.

Schroeder is presiding over one of the biggest trials of his career. Rittenhouse, 18, of Antioch, Illinois, shot three people during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020. The protests began after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, who is Black, in the back during a domestic disturbance. Blake had been fighting with officers and had a knife; the county prosecutor later declined to charge the officer.

Rittenhouse has said he traveled to Kenosha to protect businesses from looting and arson. Two of the men he shot, Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, died of their wounds. Rittenhouse also shot and wounded a third man, Gaige Grosskreutz.

Rittenhouse contends he fired in self-defense and conservatives nationwide have rallied behind him, holding him up as a bulwark against chaotic protesters and a symbol of gun rights. Others, including liberals and activists, portray him as a domestic terrorist, saying he made a volatile situation worse by showing up with a gun.

Previously, Schroeder's highest-profile case was the 2008 homicide trial of Mark Jensen, who was accused of poisoning and smothering his wife. Jensen was convicted, but appellate courts and the state Supreme Court ruled that Schroeder wrongly admitted as evidence a letter Jensen's wife gave a neighbor saying if anything happened to her Jensen would be responsible. A new trial is set for 2022.

In 2018, Schroeder sentenced a woman convicted of shoplifting to tell the manager of any store she entered that she was on supervision for theft, saying embarrassment can deter criminality. A state appeals court tossed out that sentence.

Schroeder drew scrutiny last week when he told attorneys that Rosenbaum, Huber and Grosskreutz cannot be referred to in court as victims, calling the word loaded. But he rejected a prosecution request to block any reference to them as rioters, looters or arsonists, saying the defense can do so if supported by evidence.

On Monday, Schroeder suffered a coughing fit then reassured potential jurors he had been vaccinated three times against COVID-19. He also apologized for being disorganized, saying jury selection doesn't usually occur on Monday mornings.

Schroeder finally began jury selection with a story about the war in Vietnam, comparing jury duty to being drafted, saying no one would be excused for minor reasons. He then asked for a round of applause for any veterans present.

Cicchini said Schroeder traditionally gives brief speeches about the history of trials to impress upon jurors the importance of their task. On Monday, he referenced the fall of Rome when explaining the system's evolution.

When Rome fell, the world changed dramatically, the judge said, before launching into more history about how cases were decided more than 2,000 years ago. He spoke of priests blessing trials in which defendants had to place their hands on burning coals or in boiling water  if they didnt come out too badly, that was a sign from God of their innocence.

Schroeder also cautioned that media coverage of the case may have misled potential jurors.

This case has become very political, he said. "It was involved in the politics of the last election year. ... You could go out now and read things from all across the political spectrum about this case, most of which is written by people who know nothing. I dont mean that that they are know-nothings. I mean that they dont know what youre going to know: those of you who are selected for this jury, who are going to hear for yourselves the real evidence in this case.

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This story has been corrected to add the missing word You've to judge's quote on movie Psycho.

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Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse

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Associated Press reporters Amy Forliti in Minneapolis and Scott Bauer in Madison contributed to this report.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  On a train hurtling toward Glasgow, the mayors of Seattle and Freetown, Sierra Leone, greeted each other like long lost sisters, bonded by years of Zoom calls and collaboration in the fight against climate change.

They lead cities on different sides of the economic and climate divide  one in the cool, northwestern corner of the one of the worlds richest nations; the other the capital of an impoverished country in the tropics of West Africa.

But Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and her Freetown counterpart, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, are both on the front lines of global warming, working to ensure their cities are prepared for rising sea levels, torrential rains and extreme heat.

On Monday, they traveled to the U.N. climate conference in Scotland with a group of big city mayors to demand that world leaders follow the science and act now to head off a catastrophic increase in global temperatures.

Aki-Sawyerr describes herself and mayors as the captains of small boats trying to warn an ocean liner of the dangers ahead.

Im going to stand on top of the bow and Ill be waving my hands furiously and Im going to be saying, Look over here, youre hitting an iceberg and you need to stop now, she said. And Im hoping that therell be enough of us doing the same thing for it to make a difference.

Aki-Sawyerr and Durkan are part of a delegation from the C40 group of big city mayors who are demanding that they be included in decisions about how to combat global warming and mitigate its effects. City leaders will be asked to implement many of the decisions made by presidents and prime ministers, so they should be consulted and receive funds to do the job, the group says.

The delegation also included the mayors of Los Angeles, Paris and London, as well as the Nordic cities of Oslo and Stockholm, and North Dhaka in Bangladesh.

The mayors sought to underscore their environmental credentials by making the 645-kilometer (400-mile) journey from London to Glasgow by rail. The electric train they traveled on generates about seven times less greenhouse gas emissions per passenger than flying.

Together, the C40 groups 97 members are home to more than 700 million people, or almost 10% of the worlds population. Their organization also tries to help local communities, backing a program in which over 1,000 communities supported a campaign for a net-zero emissions future.

The mayors aren't alone in saying that cities will play a big part in the fight against climate change.

More than half the worlds population now live in urban areas, and the trend is only going to continue. Despite the economic shock caused by COVID-19, cities are still seen as gateways to a better life because density and diversity lead to creativity and innovation, said Bernice Lee, director of futures at Chatham House think tank in London.

Crucially, around 80% of emissions come from the planets cities, so they really have to be part of the solutions, and decisions made in major cities really matter, Lee said. They can be great environments for both testing and piloting the next generation of solutions."

The U.N. climate conference, known as COP26, comes just two months after an international panel of climate scientists said time was running out to meet the goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and avert catastrophic climate change. While organizers say Glasgow is the last best chance for an agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions, some world leaders, including Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, have decided not to attend.

China is the worlds biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, followed by the U.S., the European Union, India and Russia, according to the International Energy Agency.

Freetown is already seeing the impacts as a changing economy collides with global warming.

Increased migration from the countryside is forcing people to build informal settlements near coastal mangroves and on hillsides around the city, which destroys forests and worsens floods during heavy rains. More than 1,000 people were killed by a mudslide in 2017.

In response, the city is planting trees and working to improve sanitation and flood mitigation projects, Aki-Sawyerr told the U.N. Environment Program. One program gave tricycles to youth groups who collect household waste, which is then composted and returned to urban farmers.

There are billions of people in the global south for whom climate change impacts are happening today. Now. Those livelihoods are being destroyed, Aki-Sawyerr said. These are the smaller, smaller emitters  and yet the consequences are dire.

But the fight against climate change is also taking place 6,700 miles (10,800 kilometers) away in Seattle.

Temperatures in Seattle, known for cloudy skies and drizzling rain, rose above 100 F (38 C) on three consecutive days in June as a mass of hot air sat over the western U.S. and Canada. On June 28, the temperature reached 108 degrees F (42 C), the highest in 151 years of detailed record-keeping.

The state of Washington recorded 138 heat-related deaths this summer compared with seven the previous year.

While scientists are hesitant to link any single weather event to global warming, Seattle officials are preparing for rising sea levels, higher tides and more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves.

Seattle maintained its commitment to the Paris Climate Accord after former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal. The city promotes public transportation, cycling and walking as alternatives to solo car journeys and is working to increase energy efficiency in public and private buildings.

Mayors are the front line in their cities for everything from who picked up the garbage or didnt, Durkan said. Policy at the national level and central government level  their biggest challenge is how to implement it? What does that mean? Boots on the ground? Our first thought is, how do you implement and what does it mean to real people?

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Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
Robert Durst, who for decades has been suspected in the disappearance of his wife more than 40 years ago, was indicted Monday by a New York grand jury for her homicide, the Westchester District Attorneys office said.

The decision was made less than two weeks after a criminal complaint was filed in Lewisboro, the Westchester County town where the couple lived when Kathie Durst disappeared, charging Durst, 78, with second-degree murder.

Kathie Durst, who graduated what was then known as Western Connecticut State College in Danbury, vanished on Jan. 31, 1982, hours after meeting with friends in Newtown.

Her family and friends were left with pain, anguish and questions that have contributed to their unfaltering pursuit of justice for the last 39 years, District Attorney Miriam Rocah said Monday in a statement.

Robert Durst was found guilty of murder in California in September in the 2000 slaying of his longtime friend, Susan Berman. He was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole last month. Prosecutors said Berman was about to come forward with information about Kathie Dursts disappearance.

Decades after his wife vanished, authorities claim Durst fled to Texas in 2000 after New York investigators began looking into the disappearance again.

Prosecutors claimed Durst visited Berman in Los Angeles later that year and killed her to keep her silent about his wifes disappearance.

He later returned to Texas, where authorities alleged Durst killed his neighbor, Morris Black, in another shooting, before chopping up the mans body and dumping it in the ocean. He was acquitted in that killing after claiming self defense.

Durst was arrested in 2015 after he appeared in The Jinx, an HBO documentary about his case. Durst was alone in a bathroom in the HBO series when a live microphone caught him saying, What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.

Durst was most recently moved to a prison medical facility after his lawyer said he tested positive for COVID-19 and had been placed on a ventilator.

Court documents filed in 2017 by Kathie Dursts family seeking to have her declared dead allege that Robert Durst was abusive and she had been hospitalized after one incident. The family claims that the two had argued the night she went missing.

Kathie Durst was about to finish medical school to become a pediatrician, her family said. She was close to her mother and her siblings and would have no reason to suddenly break contact with them and never be seen again, the documents said.

For nearly four decades there has been a great deal of speculation about this case, much of it fueled by Robert Dursts own highly publicized statements, Rocah said. An indictment is a crucial step in the process of holding wrongdoers accountable for their actions.

The office said a warrant for Dursts arrest has been issued.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  A people's tribunal opened Tuesday in the Netherlands to highlight the number of journalists around the world who were killed for doing their jobs, often with impunity for their killers.

The tribunal, convened by a group of press freedom organizations, has no powers to sanction perpetrators but will present evidence to raise awareness about journalists targeted for attacks in order to stop their reporting. It is expected to issue a judgment in May next year.

The first hearing took place on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, an observance declared by the U.N. General Assembly. Appearing before the tribunal was one of the two journalists awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last month for their fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters have faced persistent attacks, harassment and even death.

The Nobel laureate from the Philippines, Maria Ressa, addressed the hearing via a video link, warning of what she called the weaponization of social media, with rapidly multiplying hate messages being used in attempts to silence critical voices.

The meta-narrative, for example, in my case is: journalist equals criminal. You say that lie a million times it becomes a fact, she said.

Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, also spoke, saying that still we are in danger because there is impunity.

Organizers of the tribunal said in their indictment that at least 1,400 journalists have been killed doing their job since 1992. "In at least 900 of these cases, journalists were killed in direct reprisal for their work. In 86% of these cases, none of the perpetrators are brought to justice, organizers said.

The tribunal is focusing on three slain journalists: Lasantha Wickrematunge in Sri Lanka, Nabil Al-Sharbaji in Syria and Miguel Angel Lopez Velasco in Mexico. Activists have indicted the governments of Sri Lanka, Mexico and Syria for failing to deliver justice in the slayings. Evidence in the cases is expected to be presented at future hearings early next year.

Each of these cases are marked by continued impunity, without concrete perspective for justice in the country in question, the tribunal indictment states. They are reflective of a wider pattern of violence against journalists in these contexts and illustrate the ways in which these states, by act or omission, fail to honor their obligations under international human rights law.

As the tribunal convened for its first session in a church in The Hague, British lawyer Helena Kennedy said the cases "are emblematic of the persistent impunity for the murders of journalists across the world."

In a statement marking the day to end impunity for crimes targeting journalists, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said: Only by investigating and prosecuting crimes against media professionals can we guarantee access to information and freedom of expression.

Such people's tribunals have been set up previously in cases where victims have little or no access to other forms of legal redress. A tribunal opened in London in June to establish whether Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people amounted to genocide. It hopes to issue a ruling by the end of the year.
Lebanon, IN (46052)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Lebanon, IN (46052)

Today

Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High 47F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Pottsville, PA (17901)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable.
Following an outcry over sequences involving a disputed map, Netflix has deleted two episodes of the spy drama Pine Gap from its service in the Philippines. A map depicting Chinese claims in the South China Sea is depicted in the scenes in question. On Monday, November 1, the Southeast Asian country requested that some episodes of the six-part Australian drama be removed off the streamer, citing the map as an infringement of the Philippines' sovereignty, according to a report by Independent. The second and third episodes of Pine Gap were soon removed from Netflix's streaming service in the country. Further, Netflix stated that the episodes were removed due to "government demand," but refrained from providing other details.

The resource-rich waters within the U-shaped nine-dash line depicted on Chinese maps are claimed by China. However, parts of the South China Sea have also been claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. This contentious map appears in two episodes of Pine Gap, which is set inside a spy base's control room. It appears in the context of regional maritime claims. According to the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the country's films board concluded that certain segments of the show were "unfit for public exhibition," reported the news outlet. On September 28, the films board issued its decision, citing the DFA's statement. The DFA also stated that the Chinese map's appearance was "no accident," as it was "deliberately created and calibrated to precisely convey a message that China's nine-dash line truly exists."

According to the DFA, the country's films board believes that such portrayal is a clever attempt to maintain and memorialise the illegal nine-dash line in the consciousness of the current and future generation of viewers.

'Vietnam's broadcasting authorities also protested to controversial map'

In the month of July, Vietnam's broadcasting authorities also protested to the fiercely controversial map, following which Netflix was forced to remove spy drama, Pine Gap, from their offerings in the country. "Netflix's violations offended and hurt the sensibilities of the entire people of Vietnam," the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information stated on its website, as reported by Independent.

(Image: Twitter/@Netflix/Unsplash)
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday seized a large quantity of heroin from Mumbai's Vile Parle area. According to the information shared by the NCB, the agency has seized heroin worth crores in the international drug market. The NCB is currently searching for the prime suspect.

The NCB has completed the seizure of a large haul of heroin. The suspect in the case has been reported absconding by the agency, as informed by ANI. FIR has been filed in the case and further investigation is now underway.

Recent drug busts in Mumbai

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai on 8 October informed that it seized 25 kg of heroin worth Rs 125 crores from a container at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port. The giant drug bust took place during a raid by DRI zonal unit. Jayesh Sanghvi, a businessman, has been arrested from the Navi Mumbai area in connection with the case. DRI officials informed that they detained a container arriving at the Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, from Iran. The agency carried out a search operation at the port on 4 October. Jayesh Sanghvi, the arrested accused, was sent to DRI custody till 11 October.

Meanwhile, on 12 September, the DRI seized 2,988.21 kg (almost 3 tonnes) of heroin worth Rs 21,000 crore from two containers at the Mundra port. As per reports, the heroin was imported by a trading company registered in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada city and was declared as semi-processed talc stones originating from Afghanistan, shipped from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran to Mundra Port in Gujarat. The heroin transported and packed in plastic pipes painted to resemble bamboos was alleged to be taken to Delhi, after which it was to be transported to different states across the country, especially to Punjab.

The probe in the case was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Before the case was transferred to the NIA, the DRI had arrested 8 persons including 4 Afghans and one Uzbek national. It also carried out follow-up operations in New Delhi, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Mandvi, Gandhidham, and Vijayawada.



(With inputs from ANI)

Image: Unsplash/Representative Image
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday formally resigned from the Congress party. He sent a scathing seven-page letter to party president Sonia Gandhi in which he mentioned what he has done for the party and how Navjot Singh Sidhu and Harish Rawat contributed to his resignation.

From 1980 to the present, Amarinder Singh summed up his contribution towards the grand old party. The Captain had quit as the Punjab CM in September after being 'humiliated' by the Congress.

Key highlights: Amarinder Singh's resignation letter to Sonia

'Preventing the arbitrary partition of Punjab'

"In the wake of the Punjab Accord in August 1985 when the Sub Divisions of Abohar and Fazilka were being handed over to Haryana, on the directions of my Chief Minister Barnala, it was I who singlehandedly camped in the village of Kandukhera for days on and ensured that this arbitrary partition of Punjab did not take place."

Single-handedly ensured two unlikely victories for Congress in Punjab; completed manifesto promises

"I ensured that the INC won nine Lok Sabha seats in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections and subsequently led to party's victory in the 2002 Vidhan Sabha elections winning 62 seats," Singh said adding that in the 1997 assembly polls party has won only 17 seats of the 117 seats.

"In 2017 I led the party to a resounding victory winning 77 out of 117 seats in the Vidhan Sabha the highest ever since the state, in its present form, as created in 1966."

"For 4 years and six months, I ran a good, clean and transparent administration...We set a record of completing 92% of our Manifesto."

Says a bulk of Congress MLAs in Punjab are involved in illegal sand-mining

"As far as the issue of illegal sand mining was concerned the offenders unfortunately were the substantive bulk of Congress MLAs and Ministers, including an overwhelming number in the current government...intend to make the list of these people public."

Sidhu is a Pak acolyte, Harish Rawat dubious

"Despite my profound reservations and over the unanimous advice of almost all the MPs from Punjab, you chose to appoint an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state Navjot Singh who had publicly hugged the Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the president of Punjab Congress Committee. Khan and Bajwa are the people responsible for sending terrorists across the border to kill Indians."

"Unfortunately rather than being reined in, he (Sidhu) was patronised by Rahul and Priyanka, While you chose to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of this gentleman who was aided and abetted by the General Secretary in-charge Harish Rawat, perhaps the most dubious individual I had the occasion to make acquaintance off."

"Sidhu is a person of unstable mind ad you will one day regret this decision and it would be too late by them. I am sure you must be regretting it now."

Congress didn't think twice before getting into bed with Shiv Sena, so who is communal?

"A party that today hurls accusations at me for taking up the farmers cause with the NDA/BJP Government at the Centre did not think twice before getting into bed with the Shiv Sena when it suited it. Which is communal and who is, therefore, Secular, it is for people to judge. They are no fools."

Slams emergency, asks if Congress thought he'd do resort politics

Referring to the emergency CLP meeting, Amarinder said, "You probably thought that if this third world emergency imposition kind of circus that happened in June 1975 was not enacted, I would have whisked the MLAs to some resort."

Tells Sonia Gandhi she never understood his character; feels hurt by her, Rahul and Priyanka

"'Despite knowing me for the better part of my 52 years in public life and that too a deeply personal level you never understood me or my character."

"I actually felt deeply hurt by your (Sonia Gandhi) and that of your children (Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi) who I still deeply love as much as my own children, having known their father. since we were in school together since 1954, which is for 67 years now."

Captain Amarinder's Resignation by Republic World on Scribd
After officially resigning from the Congress in a scorching 7-page letter to Sonia Gandhi, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced his new political party 'Punjab Lok Congress', which is awaiting approval for name and logo from the Election Commission. It is this party with which Captain Amarinder intends to contest the 2022 Punjab Elections, for which he has sought a seat-share alliance with the BJP.

I have today sent my resignation to @INCIndia President Ms Sonia Gandhi ji, listing my reasons for the resignation.



Punjab Lok Congress is the name of the new party. The registration is pending approval with the @ECISVEEP. The party symbol will be approved later. pic.twitter.com/Ha7f5HKouq  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 2, 2021

The Election Commission has no objection to the proposed name, Punjab Lok Congress, he said. About the party symbol, Capt Amarinder said, the Election Commission had given three symbols from which one was to be chosen. He said his party has also submitted three different symbols and the final symbol will be chosen from the set of six symbols, three suggested by the Election Commission and three proposed by the party.

The party will be formally launched later. The policies, programmes, agenda and vision will be spelt out at the time of the launch of the party, Captain Amarinder added.

Captain Amarinder Singh resigns from the Congress party

Also on Tuesday, in a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Captain Amarinder wrote, "Despite my profound reservations and over the unanimous advice of almost all the MPs from Punjab, you chose to appoint an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state Navjot Singh who had publicly hugged the Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the president of Punjab Congress Committee. Khan and Bajwa are the people responsible for sending terrorists across the border to kill Indians. It may be noted that 82 of Punjabi soldiers have been martyred in Jammu and Kashmir since my government took over in 2017."

He added, "Sidhu's only claim to fame was that he would abuse me and my government on a regular basis. I am old enough to be his father but did not stop him from using the filthiest and most vile language against me both publicly and privately."

Speaking about his achievements as a Congress member, he also said, "I led the party to win 8 of the 13 Lok Sabha seats, against a nationwide sweeping BJP wave. We won all the corporations and municipal elections besides, two-thirds of the panchayat elections. We also won four of the five bye-elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha."

"For 4 years and six months I ran a good, clean and transparent administration. The achievements are far numerous to even enumerate. Punjab's handling of the COVID -19 Pandemic was among the best in the country. All this was achieved despite a severe resource crunch and continuous cross border ingress of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan," he added.

As far as Captain's new political journey is concerned, he has stated he's looking forward to forging an alliance with the BJP for the upcoming polls and has decided to contest on all 117 seats. Apart from the BJP, Singh also informed that he will hold talks with the Akali Dal and has vowed to form a united front to defeat the Congress party in Punjab, and fight Sidhu from wherever he contests.

Captain Amarinder's Resignation by Republic World on Scribd
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has revealed that multiple Congress MLAs, many of whom are still in the government, were involved in illegal sand mining. He said, As far as the issue of illegal sand mining was concerned, the offenders, unfortunately, were the substantive bulk of Congress MLAs and ministers, including an overwhelming number in the current government. Captain Amarinder Singh sent a seven-page resignation letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and gave multiple reasons behind his resignation.

Regarding the illegal mining case, Captain Amarinder said that he regrets not taking any action while he could have and he will make the list of those ministers involved public in the coming days. He said in the letter, One of my enduring regrets would remain as to why I did not take some of them to the task. The thought it would embarrass the party held me back. However, I do intend to make the list of these people public as this has been provided to me by the Government of Punjab and State Intelligence from time to time.

Captain Amarinder Singhs reason behind the resignation

He said that he was against Sidhu's appointment as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief as he was with BJP for almost 14 years. Amarinder Singh said in the letter to Sonia Gandhi, "Despite my profound reservations and over the unanimous advice of almost all the MPs from Punjab, you chose to appoint an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state Navjot Singh who had publicly hugged the Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the president of Punjab Congress Committee. Khan and Bajwa are the people responsible for sending terrorists across the border to kill Indians. It may be noted that 82 of Punjabi soldiers have been martyred in Jammu and Kashmir since my government took over in 2017." He further added, "Sidhu's only claim to fame was that he would abuse me and my government on a regular basis. I am old enough to be his father but did not stop him from using the filthiest and most vile language against me both publicly and privately."

Captain Amarinder's Resignation by Republic World on Scribd

As Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu openly battled each other, Congress summoned a Legislative Party meeting on September 18 and did not inform the Punjab CM of the same. Harish Rawat, the in-charge for Punjab whom Captain Amarinder refers to as a dubious individual, said that the party was asked by a large number of MLAs to schedule a meeting. As the CM was not told, the speculation grew that he will be ousted. Due to this incident, Singh tendered his resignation to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, saying that he will not tolerate the "humiliation".

He was introduced to the party back in 1980 by his friend from school Rajiv Gandhi. However, he protested against Operation Blue Star and left the party in 1984, following which, he joined Shiromani Akali Dal. He later became a minister in Punjabs state government for Agriculture, Forest, Development and Panchayats before finally becoming the Chief Minister.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's glorification of Muhammad Ali Jinnah hasn't gone down well with his uncle Shivpal Yadav's party Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia). Speaking to the media on Monday, PSP-L spokesperson Arvind Yadav stressed that there was no justification for any party to discuss the man who spearheaded the formation of Pakistan on religious lines. Instead, he called upon parties to recall the contribution of India's first Education Minister Abul Kalam Azad, former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and freedom fighter Ashfaqulla Khan.

PSP-L spokesperson Arvind Yadav opined, "I think that any Indian Muslim who is a patriot takes the name of Abul Kalam Azad, APJ Abdul Kalam and Ashfaqulla Khan in public and feels proud. I feel that no party should not discuss Jinnah. If anyone wants to discuss, remember the pair of Ashfaqulla Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil, Abul Kalam Azad and APJ Abdul Kalam."

Akhilesh Yadav stokes controversy

Stoking a major row while campaigning for the UP Assembly polls, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that Muhammad Ali Jinnah fought for India's independence. Addressing a public rally in Hardoi on October 31, he spoke of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Jinnah in the same breath citing that they all became barristers after studying in the same place- a reference to the UK. Speaking on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, he contended that they all struggled for an independent India.

Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav remarked, "Sardar Patel Ji, father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Jinnah studied in the same institute and became a barrister. They studied at the same place. They became barristers. They fought for India's freedom. They didn't refrain from taking part in any kind of struggle."

Demanding an apology from Akhilesh Yadav, UP CM Yogi Adityanath commented, "Yesterday, his divisive mindset came to the fore once again when he tried to glorify Jinnah by likening him to Sardar Patel. I think that the people of Uttar Pradesh and India will never accept this divisive mindset. This is the Talibani mindset". Emphasising that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is the basis of the country's unity and integrity, he added that the Centre is striving for Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat under the leadership of PM Modi.
The day when NASA will deploy its state-of-the-art James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is nearing and the hype is more real than ever. The telescope has been assigned with the task of searching for evidence of life in the farthest reaches of space, an endeavour that has borne significant fruit in recent years with the addition of a range of ground-based and orbital telescopes that scan the heavens along with different spectra of electromagnetic radiation, giving astronomers numerous tools to scan the cosmos. However, the James Webb Space Telescope will vastly boost this arsenal and is set to be a formal replacement for the iconic Hubble Space Telescope. Some experts believe that JWST has the capability of detecting signs of life in exoplanets in just three days, that's the level of expectation attached to the telescope.

The experts believe so after conducting a study that was reported at the American Physical Society April meeting this year, as per The Science Times.

"Webb will also observe exoplanets located in their stars habitable zones, the regions where a planet could harbour liquid water on its surface and can determine if and where signatures of habitability may be present. Using a technique called transmission spectroscopy, the observatory will examine starlight filtering through planetary atmospheres to learn about their chemical compositions," explained Webb Fact Sheet by NASA.

After a 5,800-mile move, #NASAWebb has unpacked & settled into the cleanroom at its launch site in French Guiana! Webb was carefully lifted from its packing container and then raised vertical.



More on our launch location: https://t.co/eb4xMdEsLu



: NASA/Chris Gunn pic.twitter.com/DWcaoHxap3  NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) October 18, 2021

Experts put their faith in James Webb Space Telescope

The JWST, unlike the Hubble telescope, won't be orbiting the Earth but instead, it will circle the Sun at a distance of 1.5 million kilometres from our planet at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2. American Physical Society April's study author, Caprice Phillips' research says that while orbiting the sun, the telescope will investigate the atmosphere of seven potentially habitable gas dwarf exoplanets using its instruments to find ammonia and other potential signs of life and might be able to produce results in just three days.

Putting their faith in the JWST, experts believe that the brand new observatory will offer additional insights into the little-known atmosphere of the potentially habitable gas dwarf planets that have till now remained shrouded in mysteries. According to NASA, the Webb telescope is being sent so far is because it will be observing very faint infrared signals of very distant objects, and it needs to be shielded from any bright, hot sources, like the sun for instance.

James Webb nearing launch

The telescope is currently undergoing the final stages of testing before it gets launched on December 18 from Europes Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. However, the scientists are now faced with the challenge of safely stacking the delicate object into an Ariane rocket which has a diameter measuring only 5.4 metres. Besides, it will be fairly challenging for the experts to escort the rocket out of Earths atmosphere as the telescope under the rocket will have to endure rigorous vibrations and shaking for eight minutes after the rocket takes off. Notably, NASA has chosen Arianespace for launch service as it is one of the worlds most powerful rockets.

(Image: James Webb Space Telescope)
At least six people have died and upto hundred feared missing after a 22-storey under-construction luxury residential block collapsed in Nigeria's largest city Lagos. A rescue operation has been launched at the site for survivors late on Monday Three out of the six deceased were rescued from debris last night, an official Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu told The Guardian. As many as 100 people were employed in the construction of the building, workers and witnesses told the publication.

"There (were) more than 50 working today and the manager too," a construction worker at the site, Wisdom John told The Guardian. He received non-life-threatening injuries and was getting treated in an ambulance at the spot. Meanwhile, the authorities have not given any clarification on the reason behind the collapse of the multi-storey building. Lagos State police commissioner Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu told The Guardian that it was "too early" to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

"Me and my brother escaped, but more people are there- more than 100 people," Construction worker Eric Tetteh told AP.

While the local authorities deployed search and rescue groups to retrieve bodies and locate survivors, Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat was met by a furious mob for delaying rescue efforts at the site. "The Agency has activated its emergency response plan to the scene. Search and Rescue operations are ongoing...All first responders are at the scene while the heavy-duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched," Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said in a statement on Facebook.

[image: Lagos State Emergency Management Agency/facebook]

[image: Lagos State Emergency Management Agency/facebook]

There have been several reports of building collapses in Nigeria in recent years, owing to the substandard materials and poor structure of the constructions. In 2019, 10 people died after a school crumbled in the Nigerian commercial hub. In another incident, 116 people died after a six-storey building fell during service by a celebrity televangelist.

Collapsed building part of 'portfolio project'

The building that came down around 2 pm local time in the upmarket district of Ikoyi, was a part of the 360 degrees tower project. As per BBC, the complex is being constructed to house luxury apartments in the upscale area of the largest town in Nigeria. The housing scheme is also a part of a bigger brand Fourscore Homes Limited, a portfolio of projects in the UK, US, South Africa and other areas of Nigeria. The collapsed building was among one of the three towers by developers whose brochure claimed a "stress-free lifestyle, complete with hotel flair," with the cheapest apartment to be sold at $1.2 million.

(Image: AP)
A cargo plane crash in South Sudan's capital Juba killed five crew members, according to an airport official. The cause of the plane accident shortly after takeoff from Juba International Airport on the way to Maban County in Upper Nile state in the country's north was not immediately known. Antonov, a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing and services company that had been chartered, was transporting gasoline.

Airport director Kur Kuol stated that five people lost their lives, which includes the pilot and crew. He also claimed that two Russians and two South Sudanese were killed in the accident. According to Turkish daily newspaper Yeni Safak, he further said that they know the plane had a crew of five and he believes that there are no survivors. He added that officials will determine the number of victims after searching the crash scene. He also said that right now, they don't know for sure how the crash happened because the incident happened so far away from the airport. A witness told Anadolu Agency over the phone that he had witnessed the plane's flaming wreckage and that no survivors could be found.

South Sudan Red Cross reached the location of the accident

The humanitarian organisation of the country, South Sudan Red Cross reached the location of the accident, Gondokoro, Juba. They announced that they have collected five bodies that have been burned beyond recognition. They also stated that they will be giving the dead bodies to the authorities. On Twitter, they shared three images from the accident.

Our team is at the plane crash scene at Gondokoro, Juba. We have collected five bodies burned beyond recognition. We will hand the bodies to the authorities. #planecrash pic.twitter.com/RmNRPAKwLF  South Sudan Red Cross (@SSRCS) November 2, 2021

Plane crashes are not new in South Sudan, a few months ago in March, a plane crash in Jonglei state killed ten people, including the two pilots, according to the region's governor and the airline. As per the reports, up to 24 passengers could have been on the plane.

Several mediation initiatives in Sudan are now underway

United Nations Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes said on Monday that the national and international efforts to resolve the issue in South Sudan should bear fruit in the coming days. Perthes revealed that several mediation initiatives in Sudan are now underway. In the aftermath of the military takeover, he stated the situation on the ground is calm but tight, and that former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is doing fine under house arrest in his home.

(With inputs from AP News)

Image: Twitter/@SSRCS
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) allegedly sent about 200 military aircraft to an island near Taiwan in October for training, a move that experts claimed had prevented Taiwan separatist provocations and foreign meddling attempts. On Sunday, October 31, 8 PLA aircraft, including one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, 6 J-16 fighter jets, and 1 KJ-500 early warning aircraft, entered Taiwan's self-proclaimed southwest air defence identification zone, with the Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft also flying southeast of the island through the Bashi Channel, according to a press release from Taiwan's defence authorities.

According to the Taipei-based news website Ettoday.net, this brings the PLA aircraft activity total in October to 196. This included a record-breaking 38 planes on October 1, 39 planes on October 2, and 56 planes on October 4. According to a press release seen on the website of Japan's Ministry of Defence joint staff, 2 Y-9 patrol aircraft and 1 Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft flew through the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea into the Pacific Ocean east to the island of Taiwan, before returning home via the same routes. According to the island's defence authorities, the overall count this year has reached around 700, up from 380 last year.

PLA deployed freight helicopter and an assault helicopter to the region for first time

Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen also made incendiary remarks in October, including the "two states theory" in her October 10 speech and Tsai's first formal acknowledgement of US force deployment on the island on Thursday, October 28. It is normal for the PLA to increase the scale and composition of exercises near Taiwan to deter Taiwan secessionists and foreign interference, as well as to protect China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a Chinese mainland military expert who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Global Times on Monday.

The PLA despatched a Mi-17 freight helicopter and a WZ-10 assault helicopter to the region for the first time on October 26, according to local media. According to the above-quoted expert, the participation of helicopters could indicate that the PLA has begun the next phase of exercises by practising multidimensional amphibious assault and landing after gaining air superiority and control of the sea regions. On October 1, there were a record-breaking 38 aircraft, followed by 39 on October 2, and 56 on October 4.

Taiwan-Beijing Conflict

As Beijing asserts full control over the democratic island of Taiwan, there has been an upsurge in intrusions. Taipei, on the other hand, has resisted Chinese aggression by strengthening strategic connections with democracies, especially the United States, which Beijing has consistently opposed. Despite the fact that the two sides have been controlled independently for more than seven decades, Taiwan is a democracy with a population of almost 24 million people located off the southern coast of mainland China. China has repeatedly warned that "Taiwan's independence" will result in war. On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping swore to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to crush any moves by the island to gain official independence.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image: ANI/RepresentativeImage
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of ecological "bombs" threatening the world from Crimea and Donbas.

Speaking at the COP26 Climate conference, the Ukrainian president complained of risks the Russian naval base in Crimea poses to the local ecosystem.

He also said a devastating conflict in eastern Ukraine led to shortage of water, soil degradation and the flooding of mines in the rebel-controlled part of Donbas.

Zelenskyy added Ukraine will cut greenhouse emissions by 65% by 2030 and will become carbon neutral by 2060.

IMAGE: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Launching a scathing attack on its adversary, the State of Palestine has claimed that "Israeli occupation" is the most critical environmental threat that its people are facing. In a speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) on Monday, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh highlighted that Zionist settlements in the occupied West Bank are a major cause of environmental degradation in the region. In addendum, he also highlighted Israels below-standard waste treatment and its devastating repercussions on Palestinian land. It is imperative to note that huge amounts of wastewater from the West bank settlements-particularly Ariel- flow through Palestine(as a part of the Jordan River) before falling into the Dead Sea every year.

The way in which waste is treated by Israel, particularly toxic waste, as well as solid waste, are the principal causes of pollution in Palestine, Shtayyeh was quoted as saying by Jerusalem Post.

In #COP26, we affirmed our commitment to contribute to int'l collective action to combat climate change. Despite Israel's systematic destruction of Palestinian environment, Palestine pursues measures to support climate change adaptation in line with its National Development Plan.  Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh .   (@DrShtayyeh) November 1, 2021

During the meet, the Palestinian leader also called for the regions independence and sovereignty asserting that Israeli occupation hindered its sustainable development goals, as reported by Jerusalem Post. Nonetheless the Israeli occupation is the major stumbling block to sustainable development in Palestine. The occupation must come to an immediate end so that our people can live in freedom and in dignity and can do so in an independent territory with its capital Jerusalem, he said at the conference that witnessed more than 130 world leaders in attendance.

I hope we will continue to cooperate and collaborate and work together to ensure clean air and a clean and greener environment for one and all, he added.

'Difficult to achieve independence'

West Bank is a landlocked sliver of land which is bordered by Jordan and Israel. While Israel occupied the area in 1967, Palestinians claim it to be their own. The West Bank also includes the area of East Jerusalem, which is one of the key areas of contention owing to its religious importance. At present, it houses over one lakh Israeli settlers while roughly two to three million Palestinians live in the disputed territory under limited self-governance and Israeli rule, according to BBC. Palestinians have repeatedly highlighted that with a rising number of settlements in the West Bank, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve their "dream of independence".

(File Image: AP)
On the sidelines of the COP26 Climate Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with American business magnate and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday.



Prime Minister @narendramodi met @BillGates on the sidelines of the @COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Both discussed ways to further sustainable development and steps to mitigate climate change. pic.twitter.com/Li65b0VKN4  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 2, 2021

PM Modi interacted with many other leaders on the second day of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) Summit. Prior to his meeting with Bill Gates, PM Modi met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. They exchanged views on bilateral and regional developments.

On Monday, PM Modi met his British counterpart Boris Johnson and discussed a wide spectrum of subjects, "including mitigating climate change".

PM also met with the heir-apparent to the throne, Prince Charles in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi dubbed the meeting between both the leaders a delightful interaction and lauded the "many efforts" of The Prince of Wales towards further sustainable development. He also shared images of the Prince greeting PM Modi with folded hands.

PM Modi's 5 Commitments On Climate Action At COP26

PM Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the COP26 World Leaders' Summit in Glasgow where he made a critical pitch for climate action and stood for the nations of the developing world in a powerful address. While delivering his National Statement on India's behalf, PM Modi also presented a five-point 'amrit tatva' from India on climate change, terming the commitment as 'panchamrit'.

These include:

India will bring its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.

By 2030, India will fulfil 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy.

India will cut down its net projected carbon emission by 1 billion tonnes from now until 2030.

By 2030, India will bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45%.

By 2070, India will achieve the target of 'net zero' carbon emissions

Image: ANI
The Iranian Navy said they have prevented a possible 'pirate attack' on an Iranian oil tanker sailing towards the Gulf of Aden on Monday, news agency Sputnik reported citing local media reports. According to the news agency, the attack was thwarted by the Iranian Navy destroyer Alborz which was reportedly deployed to the Gulf of Aden in August in order to protect ships carrying oil tankers.

Iran reportedly fights off pirate attack on oil tanker

"The escort team of the Iranian Army's Navy stationed on the oil tanker clashed with pirates on the vessel's way to the Gulf of Aden, before entering the Bab El-Mandeb Strait," Sputnik news quoted Fars news agency.

According to Tasnim news agency, four boats were moving towards the tanker in order to hijack, however, the swift action taken by the Iranian Navy thwarted the vested interests of the pirates. It said that the boats were carrying six armed pirates. Notably, it is not the first time Iran has said that it used its Navy to defend itself from pirate attacks. The Commander of Irans Army-Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said that the Iranian Navy had once again successfully defended Iranian tankers from an attack by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on October 16, reported The Maritime Executive.

"The 78th naval fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, consisting of the Alborz destroyer, was attacked by five pirate boats this morning while escorting two Iranian tankers," The Maritime Executive quoted commander while speaking on Iranian television on October 16.

Iranian Navy encountered a similar kind of incident in 2019

"With the timely action of the army marines, the two tankers safely passed through the Gulf of Aden, the Admiral added said adding the incident as 'maritime terrorism.' According to Tasnim news agency, the country has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden to safeguard merchant ships and tankers from Iran and other countries since November 2008. Earlier, in 2019, the Iranian Navy encountered a similar kind of incident in which eleven boats surrounded one of its oil tankers in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. However, this time too, the Iranian Navy saved the vessel from any damage, reported The Maritime Executive.

(Image: Pixabay)
Afghanistan's former vice president Amrullah Saleh has asked Ashraf Ghani, the country's former President, to share the tapes of his conversations on the peace process with Zalmay Khalilzad and other significant international diplomats, specifically in July and August. "I call on @ashrafghani to release the tapes (esp Jul/Aug) of the conversations with Khalilzad & other relevant foreign diplomats on peace process to counter the growing propaganda that it was and is all the Afghan fault. I know these tapes exist & hope you have them. This z d time [sic]," Saleh wrote on Twitter. It came after US Secretary of State Antonio Blinken and Khalilzad accused Ghani of being responsible for the breakdown of the previous Afghan government.

I call on @ashrafghani to release the tapes ( esp Jul/Aug) of the conversations with Khalilzad & other relevant foreign diplmts on peace process to counter the growing propaganda that it was & is all the Afghan fault. I know these tapes exist & hope you have them. This z d time.  Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) November 2, 2021

Last month, US former special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, stated that Afghans are facing massive hardships in the country. He had taken part in numerous formats of negotiations on the situation in Afghanistan and specifically urged the Taliban to halt their attack in the country, reported ANI. Khalilzad is an Afghan-born diplomat, well-known for his participation during the talks with the Taliban in Qatar that led to the Doha Agreement during the Donald Trump-led US administration. The incumbent President Joe Biden carried out the agreement, resulting in a disorderly departure of US forces and American citizens, which caused a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, reported The Associated Press (AP).

Blinken accuses Ghani of fleeing Afghanistan without showing resistance

On Sunday, October 31, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that former Afghan President pledged to fight and show resistance till death but fled Kabul as soon as the Taliban took over the capital city on August 15, reported Pakistan newspaper Dawn. In a recent interview with CBS Face The Nation talk-show, Blinken said that on the night of August 14, he was on the phone with Ghani, requesting him to accept a plan to hand over control to a new administration in Kabul, which would have been headed by the Taliban but would have 'encompassed all sections' of Afghan society. "Ghani told me that he was prepared to do that but if the Taliban wouldn't go along, he was ready to fight till death," Blinken said adding that the former Afghan President fled the country very next day, as reported by the outlet.

Image: ANI/AP
In Ontario, Canada, which is the most populated province of the country and home to more than 3 lakh Hindus, Hindu Heritage Month has begun which is celebrated in the month of November. To commemorate Hindu Heritage Month, Devi Mandir in Pickering hosted a ceremony and has placed enormous billboards around the Greater Toronto Area.

One of the attendees said that as Devi Mandir and Hindu Forum Canada, which is an NGO join forces to commemorate Hindu Heritage Month, this is a very pleasant and auspicious day. This month was designated as Hindu Heritage Month in December 2016. The attendee further said that in the Toronto district, the school board of trustees decided to dedicate this month to the sound of the cosmos, Om.

India's Consul General in Toronto opened the gathering

Apoorva Srivastava, India's Consul General in Toronto, opened the gathering and wished everyone in the community a happy Diwali. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario's Minister of Finance, delivered the Premier's message to Hindu Forum Canada. He stated that Hindu Canadians have played a significant role in the country's efforts to get back on track, and that multicultural groups and organisations have played a more effective role in combating the deadly COVID-19.

November is #HinduHeritageMonth!



I was happy to attend the celebration at Devi Mandir and present greetings on behalf of Premier FordNation.



Hindu Ontarians have been vital contributors to our provinces prosperity and economic recovery! pic.twitter.com/NPf0NiCrW5  Peter Bethlenfalvy (@PBethlenfalvy) October 31, 2021

The ceremony was attended by around 200 members of the community. Over two hours of "Bhajans" and ethnic dances were performed while coronavirus guidelines were followed. Local police officers, Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs), the Deputy Mayor, and other officials, as well as local Gurdwara Sikh leaders, attended the ceremony. Gurudwaras hosted the meal as part of the Hindu Heritage Month events.

The US proclaimed October as Hindu Heritage Month

In the meanwhile, according to community leaders, the US has proclaimed October as the Hindu Heritage Month in the country, with proclamations issued by more than 20 of the 50 states and more than 40 cities. Elected officials issued the notifications to recognise the contributions of this minority population in the United States. Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Virginia, Nevada, Mississippi, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan are among the states to recognise October as Hindu Heritage Month.

(Inputs from ANI)

Image: ANI
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh called the US military flight over regional waters "provocative", as reported by Xinhua. He also slammed Israel stating that "it's regime is creating a crisis." The "nature" of Israel has also fuelled growing insecurity and instability, Khatibzadeh asserted during a press conference.

The FM spokesperson's comments came after Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain carried out a joint air force operation with the US on Sunday. The countries flew fighter jets over Iranian regional waters led by US advanced fighter-bomber. The exercise was a part of a joint military exercise across Middle Eastern maritime vital points, including the Strait of Hormuz, South of Iran.

When asked about the allocation of 1.5bn US dollars by Israel to counter Iran's nuclear program, Khatibzadeh asserted that Tehran has never ruled out threats posed by Tel Aviv. "The nature of (Israel) regime is creating a crisis, and the roots of this regime are growing in insecurity and instability," Xinhua quoted Khatibzadeh as saying during the week presser. He also added that despite the threats, Tehran is well aware of its "capabilities and limitations."

Iran-US standoff

Once allies, Washington and Tehran have witnessed a steep escalation of tensions in four decades since the Islamic Revolution. The relations saw new lows after complex politics over the JCPOA nuclear deal asserted "maximum pressure" on Iran from Washington. Beginning in 2019, Iran was accused of breaching obligations under the deal by stockpiling limits of enriched uranium. Moreover, it also suspended the protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency, keeping off nuclear inspectors from monitoring Iran's nuclear program, which was additional to the agency standard agreement, World Politics review mentioned.

In 2020, against the backdrop of heightened tensions, an Iran-backed militia attacked US Forces in Iraq. Trump ordered a drone strike in Iran, killing the top military leader General Qassem Soleimani, as he arrived in Baghdad. Both sides, however, withdrew leaving the differences unresolved. Subsequently, several trade sanctions on imports from Iran had also fuelled growing spat between the countries.

While it was expected that the Biden administration revoked several unilateral economic sanctions to support the JCPOA talks earlier this year, the situation has proven to be more taught than expected after hardliner conservative Ebrahim Raisi became Iran's president in June further creating hurdles in the progress. Meanwhile, as recently as October 29, Iran slammed the US for imposing new economic embargos against several Iranian companies and individuals related to the Islamic Republics unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) industry.

Image: @IRMFA_EN_Twitter/AP
The Minister of State for External Affairs of India V. Muraleedharan stated on Tuesday that he met with Gambia Foreign Minister, Dr Mamadou Tangara and addressed a wide range of issues, which comprise development partnerships, commerce, people-to-people connections and many more. Muraleedharan took to Twitter to say that he had comprehensive and productive conversations with Tangara.

Had extensive & fruitful discussions with Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr Mamadou Tangara of The Gambia.



Discussed wide ranging matters including development partnership, capacity building, trade, investment & people-to-people ties.



The relationship is poised to strengthen further. pic.twitter.com/DxbstwRTY5  V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) November 1, 2021

India-Gambia ties

Further, during the meeting, V. Muraleedharan stated that the relationship between India and the Gambia is based on shared principles and four fundamental pillars of engagement such as political, trade and economic, development, and people-to-people ties.

India & the Gambia relations are centred around common values & four key pillars of engagement.



Political

Trade & Economic

Development Partnership

People to People ties.



Two important agreements signed to take the relationship further. #India #TheGambia pic.twitter.com/lKO3DSJvoZ  V Muraleedharan /   (@VMBJP) November 1, 2021

Minister Muraleedharan even informed that during his two-day visit to The Gambia, two accords have been signed, one of which is a visa waiver agreement for the bearers of official and diplomatic passports, while the other is the General Framework Agreement for the Joint Commission's establishment. He also said that he believes that such steps will further foster the relationship.

Glad to have signed two agreements during my visit to The Gambia.



1 Agreement for exemption of visa for official and diplomatic passport holders.



2 General Framework Agreement for setting up of Joint Commision.



A step in fostering the relationship, further. pic.twitter.com/mQsVPeYMPf  V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) November 1, 2021

Previous MoUs between India-Gambia

Furthermore, India and Gambia had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier in the month of July, to deepen and promote bilateral collaboration in personnel administration and governance reformations. According to an official announcement, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, stated that the MoU was signed virtually

Citing the official statement, ANI reported, The cooperation in areas such as improving performance management system in government, implementation of contributory pension scheme and, e-Recruitment in government form part of the areas to be covered under the activities of MoU.

It was agreed that a collaborative working group meeting would be conducted to help create the work plan, according to the statement. Additionally, the statement stated that Secretary Sanjay Singh signed the MoU on behalf of the Ministry of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, while, on behalf of the Gambia's Public Service Commission, H.E. Mr. Lamin E. Singhateh, Charge d'Affaires inked it. Top officials from the Gambia's Public Service Commission, Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ambassador of India's embassy in Senegal, which is affiliated to The Gambia, were virtually present at the signing event.

On 30 June, the Union Cabinet authorised the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.

Image: Twitter/ @MOS_MEA
Ballistic missiles which were fired by the Houthi rebels that targeted a religious school and mosque in northern Yemen, injured and took the lives of nearly 29 civilians, stated the country's administration. From the bombing in Marib province, on Sunday night, several women and children were among the victims, as per BBC. They had been displaced from the conflicted zone and were seeking refuge in a shelter. Further, the Houthis, who have been launching strong attacks to take Marib earlier this year, have yet to respond to this incident.

The Information Minister of Yemen Moammar al-Eryani wrote on Twitter about the attack on religious school by saying that the Iran-backed Houthi militants targeted the neighbourhoods in the al-Juba district, roughly 50 kilometres south of Marib, with two "Iranian-made ballistic missiles. He went on to say that the missiles hit a religious school and mosque in the al-Amoud region, which was congested with people who fled from other districts in recent weeks.

1-Again Iranian-backed Houthi militia targets residential areas in Al-Juba district, Marib, w 2 Iranian-made ballistic missiles hit mosque &Dar Al-Hadith in overcrowded area of Al-Amoud &IDPs fm outside the district, resulted in death of 29 civilians, including women &children    (@ERYANIM) November 1, 2021

Furthermore, the bloodstained carpet was covered with the ripped remnants of many books, according to pictures released on the local Marib Press website, the BBC reported. Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV later stated that nearly 39 dead individuals have been recovered from the wreckage of the damaged buildings but government authorities have not confirmed this exact number.

Another Deadly missile attack in Yemen by Houthis

Meanwhile, on October 28, Thursday, 11 persons, including women and children, have been killed when a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthis hit their home in Marib, as per security authorities informed about the incident to the Associated Press. The family members of a major tribal leader who resided in the Al-Aumd region were among the victims of the attack.

According to the Associated Press, authorities who asked to remain anonymous because they were not permitted to inform the media said on Friday that at least 11 additional houses were damaged and 16 more people have been injured in Thursday's attack.

Following the six years of violence which has caused the death of over 100,000 individuals and led to the world's largest humanitarian catastrophe, with 20 million people in need of relief, the oil-rich province is the Yemen government's final foothold in the north. Yemen has been ripped apart by civil war ever since the Houthis seized control of the capital city, Sanaa, and parts of the country's northern region in 2014, forcing the internationally known government to flee to the south and eventually to Saudi Arabia. Moreover, in March 2015, the Saudi-led alliance, with US assistance, commenced the fight against Houthis in an effort to restore the government to power.

(Image: AP/ Representative Image)
The South American country of Uruguay reopened its borders to foreigners who have been completely vaccinated and have a negative COVID-19 PCR test on Monday, as per a report by Xinhua. After greeting the first visitors arriving at Carrasco International Airport, Deputy Minister of Tourism Remo Monzeglio stated that they are showing the world that Uruguay can host tourists with all health guarantees.

About 3.2 million international visitors came to Uruguay in 2019, contributing almost 8% of the country's GDP. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic imposed restrictions, the figure dropped last year. With roughly 74% of the population completely vaccinated and nearly half having received a booster dose, the South American country hopes to re-establish itself as a safe destination. The most recent official statistics suggest that Uruguay has 393,899 COVID-19 cases and 6,078 COVID-19 deaths.

Uruguay has ordered 500,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations

Uruguay has ordered 500,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations, a part of them being for foreigners who need a booster shot. Children who enter the country without having been vaccinated will be vaccinated, according to Merco Press. Following their mandatory post-arrival PCR test, foreigners can be booked for vaccination five days after entering the country. In terms of vaccination, local officials anticipate a coexistence between Uruguayans and foreigners.

Remo Monzeglio also said that the number of tourists will gradually increase. He went on to say that the majority of visitors will come and stay in the country for long periods of time. According to Uruguay's Defense Minister Javier Garcia, reopening of the borders is the most significant event since the declaration of a public health emergency, according to Merco Press. Another South American country, Argentina on the other hand, has once again postponed the reopening of the General San Martin Bridge, requiring visitors to enter Uruguay through a different point of entry.

The government released a decree outlining the rules for foreigners

On Thursday, the government released a decree outlining the rules for foreigners seeking to enter Uruguay. According to Merco Press, it said that foreigners who have been fully vaccinated against the virus and minors arriving in the country are not required to adhere to mandated social isolation measures. However, travellers must wear a face mask when within two metres of other people, obtain health insurance in Uruguay, and take a PCR test for the second time after a week of arrival.

Image: Pixabay
India and UK will together launch the initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday while briefing the media about the programs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Conference of Parties (COP26) on the third day. The initiative will be jointly announced by PM Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson at the Glasgow Summit on Tuesday. IRIS is a part of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects especially in small island developing states, Shringla explained.

During the press briefing, the Foreign Secretary also updated that Australia will also be a vital "partner in this effort". The project is an outcome of PM Modi's concerns over the loss of lives and livelihoods and entire infrastructure, housing during natural calamities, as per Shringla. "This is an effort to try and equip countries that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change," Shringla said during the presser, as per ANI.

The inauguration session of IRIS will be addressed by several leaders of small island states. The list of leaders includes PM of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama; PM of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, PM of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth and Secretary-General of UN, Antonio Guterres. PM Modi will also meet a "number of leaders" from other countries and eminent individuals associated with climate change and socio-economic development work.

In his remarks, PM outlined the criticality of climate adaptation in development policy, importance of traditional practices and the need for global support for adaptation.



Full text of PMs remarks  https://t.co/g5wgvxyP99  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 1, 2021

PM discusses the need for 'adaptation' at COP26

Adaptation is a core part of our development policies and projects, PM Modi said as he addressed a session on 'Action and Solidarity - The Critical Decade' event at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. "Adaptation has not gained as much importance in the global climate debate as Mitigation. This is an injustice to those developing countries, which are more affected by climate change," he asserted. Noting the commitments of India in adapting newer measures to limit climate change, PM Modi said, projects like tap water for all, Swachh Bharat- clean India Mission and Ujjwala- clean cooking fuel for all in India have not only provided benefits of adaptation to the needy citizens, their quality of life has also improved.

Highlighting the need to acknowledge traditional adaptation policies, he further stated that preservation of lifestyles according to local conditions can also be an important pillar of adaptation. In his concluding statement, PM Modi called for global support for local adaptation and urged all countries to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to be jointly launched by the UK and India.

(With inputs from ANI)

(Image: ANI/AP)
A 24-year-old woman named Summer Diaz from California developed a New Zealand accent after a car accident that left her in a coma for two weeks. Summer was hit by an SUV while crossing a street on November 25 last year, resulting in foreign accent syndrome, a rare disorder in which brain damage causes someone to talk differently. Summer also said that she has never visited New Zealand.

As per the reports of Jam Press, she said that she has no recollection of what happened on that day. According to her, she didn't have a parking spot at her flat, hence, she parked elsewhere and crossed the street. She further said that she was apparently halfway over the crosswalk when the SUV hit her. Summer was brought to the nearest hospital with a broken pelvis, a broken shoulder and a brain injury after the accident.

Summer Diaz was in a coma for two weeks

For two weeks, she was in a coma and her family and boyfriend were unable to see her regularly because the accident occurred during the pandemic. Summer also said that when she woke up in the hospital, she remembered feeling lost and confused. She said that people asked her to pronounce the alphabet. According to Jam Press, she also said that when she first woke up, she was unable to talk.

Summer learned sign language but when she eventually talked, she observed changes in her speech as she gradually regained consciousness. She said that she recalled attempting to communicate with others and realising that her voice was different, as she was talking in a New Zealand accent. Summer's New Zealand accent grew to the point where people began to wonder where she was from.

People wouldn't believe that Summer is American

She said that her nurses would frequently ask where she was from. People wouldn't believe that Summer is an American because of her Kiwi accent.

According to Jam Press, she had to explain that the Kiwi accent wasn't hers and that she had only recently begun to use it. Summer also said that she has a little bit of a British accent because her boyfriend is British but she had never visited Australia or New Zealand.

Image: Unsplash/ Representative
Some fear the app will be used to control people amid a citywide crackdown on public protest and dissent.

Authorities in Hong Kong look set to expand compulsory use of a COVID-19 tracking app, as police vowed on Tuesday to track down the developers of a fake version of the app.

Police are investigating the origins of the fake app after the government made its LeaveHomeSafe app compulsory for anyone entering government-run buildings, including courts, swimming pools, badminton courts and public markets from Nov. 1.

Police on Monday arrested three government employees and two contractors for using the fake app to gain access to Immigration Tower.

The LeaveHomeSafe app has sparked concerns that it will be used to control people's movements for political purposes.

Media backed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) called on Monday for the app to be made mandatory in all public indoor spaces.

On Tuesday, Michael Tien, who represents Hong Kong at the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, said the government is planning to make it compulsory for people to use the app when going to any kind of restaurant, as part of a bid to persuade Beijing to scrap quarantine for Hong Kong visitors.

"The Chinese government wants to see LeaveHomeSafe as the key apparatus to trace people from Hong Kong, who eventually test positive [for Covid-19], where they have been in the last 14 days," Tien said in a comments reported by government broadcaster RTHK.

The news came a day after five more people pleaded guilty to charges of "taking part in an illegal assembly" after they attended a banned gathering commemorating the victims of the June 4, 1989 massacre than ended weeks of student-led protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung, Leung Kam-wai and Wu Chi-wai, the last of 16 activists to be tried and jailed for taking part in the candlelight vigil, entered the plea on Monday, while co-defendants Jimmy Lai, Gwyneth Ho and former vigil organizer Chow Hang-tung pleaded not guilty.

"We should commemorate June 4, 1989," Lee, who once headed the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China which ran the vigils for three decades, told the court. "It's our duty, and I have no regrets."

"I understand every word of the charge, but I can't see where the crime is in mourning the loss of innocent lives," Chow told the court, prompting applause from the public gallery.

Ho said she was pleading not guilty. "Even if commemorating [the Tiananmen dead] is a crime, the truth can't stay silent," she said.

Judge Amanda Woodcock adjourned proceedings for the five pleading guilty until Nov. 12, for mitigation pleas and sentencing.

Previous defendants who attended the vigil of some 20,000 people have been jailed for up to 10 months, or handed suspended sentences.

The high-profile cases came amid an ongoing crackdown on public dissent and peaceful protest under the national security law, which bans any criticism of the Hong Kong authorities or the CCP regime, as well as speech and actions deemed seditious, subversive, secessionist, or supportive of terrorism.

Hong Kong police arrested four people aged 61-85 in Mong Kok at the weekend for "sedition" after they held up a yellow umbrella symbolizing the 2014 pro-democracy movement, along with a pop-up display calling for fully democratic elections on the street.

One may plead guilty

Meanwhile, a former student activist charged with "secession" under Hong Kong's draconian national security law will likely plead guilty, prosecutors told the District Court on Tuesday.

Tony Chung, who is about to stand trial for "secession" and "money-laundering" in connection with his activities in the now-disbanded group Studentlocalism, but is now likely to strike a plea bargain, the prosecution told the court on Tuesday, RTHK reported.

Chung was arrested on Oct. 27 for allegedly violating Article 21 of the national security law, which forbids anyone from giving any kind of assistance to someone violating the law, and which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years.

He stands accused of "actively organizing, planning, implementing or participating in acts aimed at splitting the country and undermining national unity in Hong Kong from July 1 to Oct. 27 this year, along with others," according to the charges against him.

The money-laundering charges relate to a crowdfunding campaign by Studentlocalism, which called for donations only from those who supported independence for Hong Kong, and to payments totaling nearly H.K.$700,000 made to Chung's personal bank account between January 2018 and July 2020.

Chung is also accused of conspiring to publish seditious publications in Hong Kong between Nov. 30, 2018 and June 9 of this year, before the national security law took effect.

Chung was among four young people arrested by Hong Kong police on July 26 on suspicion of "secession" under the national security law, which took effect on July 1.

The arrestees aged from 16 to 21 were taken into custody in raids in the New Territories districts of Yuen Long, Shatin, and Tuen Mun on suspicion of "organizing and inciting secessionist activities."

Police said they were suspected of posting announcements online calling on people to fight to establish a "Hong Kong nation," of declaring that they would use all necessary means to achieve this end, and of calling for pro-independence groups to unite.

Studentlocalism disbanded ahead of the law's implementation, but as the posts were made after the new law took effect, they fell under articles in the law banning "incitement" to secessionist activities, police said.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Zhang's family say she will die if she isn't allowed to seek medical treatment outside prison.

Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan is shown in a screenshot taken from a video interview.

Jailed Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan is close to death following months of intermittent hunger strikes in protest at her jailing, RFA has learned.

Zhang, 37, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by Shanghai's Pudong District People's Court on Dec. 28, 2020, and has been eating very little food, rather than refusing anything, to avoid being force-fed by tube.

"I don't think she's going to live much longer," Zhang's brother Zhang Ju said via his Twitter account at the weekend.

"If she doesn't make it through the coming winter, I hope the world will remember her as she once was," he added.

He said Zhang currently weighs less than 40 kilograms, despite being 1.78 meters tall.

One of a group of citizen journalists detained, jailed, or "disappeared" after they went to the central city of Wuhan to cover the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhang was sent for medical treatment at the end of July for malnutrition following several months of hunger strike in a Shanghai prison.

Zhang pleaded not guilty at her trial, where she appeared in court in a wheelchair. A guilty plea is typically a prerequisite for more lenient treatment in China's judicial system under the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Zhang Zhan's mother had a video call with her daughter on Oct. 28, and told RFA that her health seems to have deteriorated.

"She can't walk unassisted now, and her head keeps drooping as she speaks," her mother said. "She will be in huge danger if they don't release her on medical parole."

"I cried for several hours straight after I got out [from the video meeting]," she said.

Gansu-based rights activist Li Dawei said Zhang has persisted with her hunger strike despite desperate pleas from her own family.

"I told the state security police that if they let me meet with her, I would do some ideological work with her and change her attitude, and persuade her to eat," Li told RFA. "I got no reply."

'Idealistic, stubborn'

Zhang's brother Zhang Ju said it would likely have been hard for Li to change his sister's mind, however.

"I've never met anyone more idealistic, nor anyone more stubborn than her," he said.

Wang Jianhong, spokesperson for the U.S.-based rights group Humanitarian China, said international pressure could be the only way to save Zhang's life now.

"I think it would be very meaningful if we could save Zhang Zhan, because she will never give up her hunger strike while she's in prison," Wang told RFA.

"In these very dark times, she won't try to protect herself, she won't compromise, and she won't bow down to power."

"She has always been that way; she has always wanted to conquer fear."

A petition on Change.org calling for Zhang's immediate release had garnered more than 3,000 signatures at the time of writing.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The US denies China's charges of a cover-up in reporting details of the incident.

An accident in the South China Sea involving a nuclear-powered American submarine was caused by an uncharted, natural underwater feature, the U.S. Navy has concluded after a month-long investigation.

In a statement issued late Monday, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its investigation into the Oct. 2 collision determined that the USS Connecticut grounded on an uncharted seamount while operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region. A seamount is a mountain under the sea.

The investigation has been submitted to the commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, for review and endorsement, as well as to decide whether further accountability actions are needed, the three-sentence statement said.

The U.S. military initially reported, five days after the collision, that the submarine struck an unknown object while operating in the South China Sea. Eleven sailors were reportedly hurt, but none with life-threatening injuries. The sub is undergoing repairs at the Guam Naval Base.

China, which accused the U.S. Navy of covering up the incident, on Tuesday called for the U.S. to explain in detail what happened.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the U.S. side had not clarified the intended navigation of the sub, whether the incident happened in the waters of another country or whether it caused nuclear leakage or damage to the marine environment.

"This fully exposes the opacity and irresponsibility of the U.S. side," Wang was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

The U.S. has denied any cover-up.

Alexander Neill, a defense and security consultant based in Singapore, told RFA that in his opinion the explanation seemed genuine.

I don't think the U.S. Navy would attempt to cover up or distort the truth about the nature of the accident. They know that eventually it would leak over time, Neill said.

Experts say a large area of the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea are listed on nautical charts as so-called dangerous ground - a poorly surveyed and extremely challenging area to navigate. The deep waters are studded with seamounts.

The USS Connecticut is one of the fastest subs in the fleet. It has the most sophisticated sonar and tracking technologies to scan what is all around the sub, but sea conditions under the surface are a bit like flying at altitude - undersea weather if you like  with turbulence, currents, changes in salinity and temperature, the Singapore-based analyst explained.

This might mean the sub travelling at speed might suddenly descend while the seabed is not fixed and the topography can change, he added.

Accountability action

In 2005, another submarine - the USS San Francisco - struck a seamount near Guam at full speed, killing one sailor and injuring 24 others.

Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who has been critical of the U.S. foreign policy in Asia, said: Questions naturally arise about the U.S. Navy's professionalism and whether they should continue operating nuclear-powered submarines in foreign waters lest they risk another collision that might lead to an ecological catastrophe in the worst-case scenario.

This is very embarrassing because it was avoidable, " Korybko added.

In its initial statement on Oct. 7, five days after the collision, the U.S. Pacific Fleet reported that the submarine was in a safe and stable condition and its nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remained fully operational.

According to Neill, the incident has been under investigation to establish whether it was a true accident or avoidable.

In most cases of avoidable incidents the commander of the vessel is relieved of duty and mostly this is the end of their naval career, he said.

The best narrative for China is to accuse the U.S. of irresponsible and unprofessional behavior, also throw in the nuclear threat - which is also their narrative on AUKUS, Neill added, referring to an Australia-U.K.-U.S. security pact announced in September.

China has been strongly critical of AUKUS which would help Australia develop nuclear submarines and is seen as a pushback against Chinas growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific.

The South China Sea has become a flashpoint of tensions between the U.S. and China and a potential conflict zone between the two powers. Observers say Beijing has been expanding its underwater warfare capabilities including a submarine fleet that is currently inferior to the U.S. but developing rapidly.

The U.S. Defense Departments latest report on Chinese military power, published in September 2020, said that China puts high priority on submarine development.

The report said the Chinese Navy will likely maintain between 65 and 70 submarines through the 2020s, replacing older units with more capable units on a near one-to-one basis."

Currently China operates four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 50 diesel-powered attack submarines, according to the report.

The U.S. Navy reportedly has around 70 submarines, all nuclear-powered.
Myanmar soldiers torched at least 200 homes in the countrys western Chin state over the weekend, ethnic Chin sources said Monday as the Southeast Asian nation marked nine months under military rule.

Junta troops entered Thantlang township on Friday morning, began looting the property of residents, and then set fires that burned more than 200 homes as well as some churches. Troops had set fire to the township, burning 18 homes and a hotel on Sept. 28.

Last weeks incident began when the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) militia shot and killed one of two soldiers breaking into a home in the township that was unoccupied after residents fled across the border five weeks earlier to Indias Mizoram state to escape a military offensive, said Zo Thum Hmung, executive director of the Chin Association of Maryland.

Then, the soldiers started using firebombs on the homes and lighting fires in other parts of the town, he said of Thantlang, which is home to around 10,000 people living in around 3,000 dwellings.

The latest reports suggest that more than 200 homes have been burned down as of midnight. The fires are still burning now because the fire brigade is gone as well.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Sunday the abhorrent attacks underscore the urgent need for the international community to hold the Burmese military accountable and take action to prevent gross violations and abuses of human rights, including preventing the transfer of arms to the military.

New York-based Human Rights Watch on Sunday called the burning a crime against humanity.

Lwin Ko Latt, NUGs Internal Affairs and Immigration Minister, released a statement dated Oct. 30 which claimed that around 300 homes and religious buildings had been burned down in Chin state.

Soldiers in Chin were burning down homes; firing heavy artillery; stealing property; arresting, torturing and killing civilians; and raping women in the state since Feb. 1, the minister said.

Zo Thum Hmung said two churches were among the buildings destroyed during the attack. U.K.-based aid group Save the Children released an announcement which said that one of their offices in Thantlang was destroyed in a fire on Sunday.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said nine people were still living in Thantlang before the fires, but everyone has now fled.

Thantlang is pretty deserted nowmany homes were burned down, the resident said. The only people who still remain in town are the caretakers of an orphanage known as the Mission for Orphans and Captives.

A map shows Thantlang township in Myanmar's Chin state. RFA

While reports from both the CDF and the Chin Human Rights Organization said that the military was behind the burnings, junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun rejected the claims during a newscast on Saturday.

PDF troops launched an attack using three handmade grenades and started shooting light weapons, he said. Thats why [military troops] responded to them.

The PDF troops took cover in civilian buildings and fled the scene. They burned four of their own homes while retreating to prevent the troops from following them.

Zaw Min Tun said soldiers tried to extinguish the fire but were unable to as PDF troops were shooting at them.

However, residents told RFA that the soldiers made no effort to extinguish the fire, which they said burned for nearly 24 hours, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Oct. 29.

The shadow National Unity Governments Sept. 7 declaration of a nationwide state of emergency and call for open rebellion against the junta was met by a military offensive against allied pro-democracy Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militias and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs).

Nine months after the military overthrew the elected government in a Feb. 1 putsch over unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, Myanmars urban centers are eerily quiet amid a stepped-up security presence.

Security forces have killed 1,229 civilians and arrested at least 7,013, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

A resident of Myanmars largest city Yangon, the countrys economic capital and home to 7 million people, said despite blanket security, people feel unsafe from shootings, bombings and arrests, leaving people.

People are losing their jobs while prices have gone sky high. Everyones worried about who might come knocking on your door. We feel there is so much injustice, said the source, who declined to provide a name.

Myanmars second city, Mandalay, was popular with travelers before the coup, but visitors are now rare and local people are reluctant to take to the streets, according to a resident who also declined to be named.

Mandalay residents, are absent from the streets, as they arent secure anymore, he said. We have to be wary of the military as well as various gangs and robbers these days.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane and Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
A barbed-wire fence erected by China on the border with Myanmar's Kachin state is seen on Oct. 29, 2021.

Villagers living along Myanmars mountainous border with China are destroying fences put up by Chinese authorities to block travelers who might spread COVID-19, saying the barriers have been built inside Myanmar territory, sources say.

The destruction of fencing in northern Myanmars Kachin state and Shan state in the countrys east is causing friction along the border, with both residents and politicians faulting the two countries for letting the problem fester.

Chinas embassy in Myanmar denied any Chinese encroachment and called the construction of fences a common practice in many countries to strengthen border management.

On Oct. 25, residents of Pangkham village in Shan states Muse township took down a fence they said had been set up nearly 30 feet inside village land, one villager said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Villagers first saw the new fence when they went to their fields to plant crops, he said.

China had first built a solid fence in 2014, but after that they set up barbed wire that was put from 20 to 30 feet inside our own land, and we removed this new fence, he said, adding that when villagers had previously gone to work in their fields, Chinese soldiers had appeared there to make a show of force.

And so we villagers have been moved back four times already, he said.

China has not yet responded to the removal of this newest fence, villagers said.

Muse, the main border crossing into China, lies across a river from Ruili (Shweli, in Burmese) in southwestern China's Yunnan Province.

This is the third such dispute between Chinese border authorities and residents of the Muse district in the last two months, villagers said.

The Muse township administrator and other local officials have now visited Pangkham, an area close to Chinese border town of Jiagou, and say they will file a report on the situation with higher-ups at the district level, they said.

In another incident on Sept. 12, residents of Namkham townships Hak Hin village took down a Chinese fence extending into village land after Chinese authorities rebuffed villagers objections, village chief Lon Ai Suan said.

Since the outbreak of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in China in April 2020, border crossings have been tightened on the Chinese side of the border with Myanmar to control the entry and exit of Myanmar nationals, resulting in frequent disputes, sources say.

'Can't do anything on our own'

Authorities in both countries have been unable so far to settle the issue of encroachment, said Sai Hla Pe, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in northern Shan state, pointing to frequent incidents in Pansai, Pangkham, and the Naung Mon areas of Muse.

We have gone to these places to see for ourselves, he said.

The problem should be solved between the two governments, because we cant do anything about this on our own. We can only report to the authorities on the results of our investigations in the field, he said.

Charges of encroachment by China have also been made by villagers in Kachin state, where one resident said a 20-foot-tall, 500-foot-long fence was put up between Waingmaw and Kanpaiti townships during the last week of July.

Its obvious that they are doing whatever they want in the uninhabited areas of Myanmar, Zay Jones, a resident of Kanpaiti, said. They are expanding into our country, and no one says anything about it, he said.

You can see barbed wire fences on the mountains from Kanpaiti. No one knows for sure whether these mountains are in Myanmar or in China, but we know [the fences] are on the Myanmar side.

The Chinese just put up fences wherever they want, he said.

Local residents said that Kanpaiti township officials have sent a letter of protest to Chinese officials on the other side, but that no replies have been received.

Local officials in Shan states Muse district conduct field inspections and send objections to the relevant Chinese departments when problems occur," an official from the district's administration department said, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

"And if there is a violation of an agreement we signed earlier, we will send a letter of protest and report the situation to higher authorities, the official said.

In some places where we have found a definite encroachment, they have had to pull it down, and in other places we have had to consult with joint inspection teams from both sides. But because of COVID, this isnt happening at present, he said.

Fencing and closed-circuit television cameras are seen along Myanmar's border with China. Photo: Mai Nyi Win Mg





'China may have reached an understanding'

In Kachin state, the Chinese border lies mostly along areas controlled by the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and almost all of it has been fenced off by China, local sources said. China has been building new fences since July near the remote mountain town of Laiza and in other places, they added.

China may be prioritizing the building of fences in these areas to stop refugees entering China because of concerns over the political situation in Myanmar nine months after a Feb. 1 military coup overthrew the countrys elected civilian government, sparking widespread protests and fighting.

China may have reached an understanding with the ethnic armed groups, said Than Soe Naing, an analyst of ethnic affairs in Myanmar.

Thus, we see today that new fences are being set up, especially in areas where there are clashes between junta forces and local militias who are trying to stop [central government] incursions into their land, he said.

Attempts to reach Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment were unsuccessful.

Chinas embassy in Myanmar in an email to RFAs Myanmar Service on Monday called the construction of border fences a common practice in many countries to strengthen border management.

The fences will not enter Myanmar territory, the embassy said.

China and Myanmar have been in close communication on this issue and hope the media can report it objectively.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Richard Finney.
SOFIA -- Furniture, some of it smashed and streaked with black spray paint, lays scattered about the Rainbow Hub in Sofia, a chilling reminder of the violent attack on the LGBT center last weekend.

Located in an apartment block in the Bulgarian capital, the Rainbow Hub was hosting a gathering on October 30 when a group of about 10 men barged in and proceeded to smash and destroy anything in their way.

The mob was allegedly led by Boyan Rasate, a notorious ultraright figure in Bulgaria who is also running in the country's presidential election on November 14.

Rasate is also accused of punching one of the women inside the center at the time of the attack, as well as brandishing a knife.

"I started shouting, 'No!' to stop them from coming in," explained Gloriya Filipova, the group's project coordinator. "He (Rasate) hit me and just kept coming. Everyone else followed him in," Filipova told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service.

While Rasate has so far declined to say publicly whether he was among the attackers, Bulgaria's Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev on November 1 said that enough evidence had been collected to charge him with "acts that grossly violate public order," a crime that carries a prison sentence of up to five years.

Hours later, the Central Election Commission decided to lift the immunity that Rasate enjoyed as a presidential candidate.

The attack on the Rainbow Hub has been condemned not only across the Bulgarian political spectrum but by several embassies in Sofia, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

On November 1, ambassadors visited the Rainbow Hub -- which is run by the locally based Bilitis Foundation and Gays and Lesbians Accepted in Society (GLAS) -- "to express solidarity with our friends and partners in the face of this senseless attack."

ILGA-Europe, an umbrella NGO representing the interests of LGBT people, condemned the attack and urged Bulgarian authorities "to publicly condemn the attacks, investigate, and sanction the attackers."

The attack on the Rainbow Hub has shined a spotlight on the intolerance the LGBT community faces in Bulgaria, a generally conservative country in the Balkans and a member of the 27-nation EU.

The Bilitis Foundation said it had recently submitted to the Bulgarian Justice Ministry a petition with more than 8,000 signatures demanding that the country's Criminal Code include hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And on October 27, the Bulgarian Constitutional Court ruled that the word "gender" only applies in the "biological sense," a snub to those who believe the word should have a more fluid definition.

A Ring At The Door

A group of seven people -- and one more taking part online -- had gathered at the Rainbow Hub at 5 p.m. on October 30 for what the Bilitis Foundation later described as a "trans-community gathering."

About a half hour into the discussion, the door buzzer rang, Filipova recounted.

"A girl went to open it. I also went to the door to see who it was. As I was approaching, a group of men was already barging in," Filipova said.

She quickly recognized that Rasate was not only among the mob, but leading it.

The young men quickly began smashing furniture, flipping over desks and chairs, spray-painting objects, as well as breaking the laptop being used to broadcast the event.

"They just started throwing and breaking things, destroying kitchen cabinets, while shouting that we were corrupting children," said Filipova.

Some inside the center managed to get out during the mayhem. "But most of us were just stunned and waiting for it to end," recounted Filipova.

After vandalizing the center, the mob headed toward the door, apparently to leave, but according to Filipova's testimony, Rasate wasn't done yet.

"He stopped in front of me, and that scared me because he had already hit me once and I didn't know if he would strike me again," Filipova said. "I told him they had done their job and could leave. He said, 'No, I still have one more job,' and pulled out a knife."

Whether I participated or not...we are currently in an election campaign and I will not give an answer."

Brandishing the knife, Filipova said Rasate proceeded to slash the tires of a scooter belonging to one of the discussion participants.

"Luckily, he didn't use it to harm any of us," Filipova said.

By the time police arrived, about 10 minutes after Filipova had called for help, the attackers were long gone.

Details have since emerged indicating that the attack appeared to have been well planned.

Eyewitnesses have come forward to say that a young woman had first rung the bell to the center while the mob of men hovered in the shadows of the stairwell.

"If 10 strong men had been standing at the door, I doubt anyone would have opened the door," explained Lilia Dragoeva of the Bilitis Foundation to RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service. She said she suspects that members of the mob may have scoped out the center as they planned their attack.

"It's an open space and anyone can come in. We assume that in addition to coming in for materials on offer, they had time to look around. That's why we assume they were able to cause so much damage so quickly. They knew where everything was," added Dragoeva.

Rasate: Extremist With A Rap Sheet

Contacted by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service, Rasate refused to say whether he was involved in the incident at the LGBT center.

"Whether I participated or not, as I told other colleagues of yours, we are currently in an election campaign and I will not give an answer," he said.

Rasate has also had a number of run-ins with the law. Between 2004-15, he was arrested and charged several times, including for disrupting public order and making racist and xenophobic remarks.

Rasate was born Boyan Stankov in 1971 in Sofia and spent part of his childhood in Germany. He changed his name to Rasate, apparently as a tribute to Vladimir Rasate, who ruled Bulgaria between 889-893.

Rasate entered the world of extremist politics in 1991 when he joined the short-lived Bulgarian National Radical Party. Years later, he founded the Bulgarian National Union, an ultranationalist group, which he led from 2000 to 2010.

Despite his extremist views, Rasate often appears on Bulgarian TV to criticize the LGBT community, the presence of migrants and minorities in the country, or to defend a controversial annual march to commemorate Hristo Lukov, a general who sided with Nazi Germany during World War II and was killed by Bulgarian communist partisans in 1943.

Rasate has also had a number of run-ins with the law. Between 2004-15, he was arrested and charged several times, including for disrupting public order and making racist and xenophobic remarks.

On October 25, Rasate took part in a debate on Bulgarian TV between some of the marginal candidates running in the presidential election.

"We'll take back the control of our economy that liberal psychopaths gave away to foreigners and sellouts," he said.

Wake-Up Call For Bulgaria?

The attack on the Rainbow Hub was condemned by politicians and parties across the spectrum in Bulgaria, including former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, whose center-right government in 2018 withdrew Bulgaria from a European treaty designed to combat violence against women over strong opposition expressed by religious and political groups.

"We condemn the attack on the LGBT office and a woman that was carried out by some random presidential contestant," Borisov said.

Center-right European Parliament member Radan Kanev said in a Facebook post that the event, while "outrageous and disturbing," was not unexpected, because "violence based on hatred of different sexualities, specifically gay people, is not a new problem in Bulgaria. On the contrary, it is a deepening problem that has already taken innocent victims."

Filipova expressed hope that the attack will serve as a wake-up call for Bulgaria's political establishment to tackle homophobia and intolerance in Bulgarian society.

"For years, we have been trying to bring about changes in legislation that addresses hate crimes caused by homophobia and transphobia. Unfortunately, these attempts for almost 15 years have so far been unsuccessful," Filipova said. "I hope they realize now that the problem is really serious."

Reported and written by RFE/RL Bulgarian Service correspondent Elitsa Simeonova with contributions from RFE/RL's Tony Wesolowsky in Prague.
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns has traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian officials amid persistent tensions between the two countries.

Burns and Nikolai Patrushev, the head of Russia's Security Council, discussed Russian-U.S. relations," the council's press service said in a short November 2 statement.

CIA Director William Burns, at the presidents request, is leading a delegation of senior U.S. officials to Moscow on November 2 and 3, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow said.

They are meeting with members of the Russian government to discuss a range of issues in the bilateral relationship," it added.

Russia's ties with the United States are at post-Cold War lows, strained by issues including Russia's meddling in elections, Moscows annexation of Crimea, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, cyberattacks allegedly from Russian hackers, and the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said that, despite tensions, his administration is looking to cooperate with Moscow on specific issues, including strategic arms reductions, the Iran nuclear talks, and countering ransomware and other cyberattacks.

Based on reporting by TASS and AFP
Georgias opposition United National Movement (ENM) has launched permanent protests calling for the release of jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is a month into a hunger strike.

"The only demand on the agenda today is freedom for Saakashvili, ENM member Zaal Udumashvili told the protesters on November 2 as they gathered outside the prison in the city of Rustavi where Saakashvili is being held.

Another leader of the party, Koba Khabazi, said he would stay there overnight and called on other protesters to do the same.

A similar rally is being held near the Government House in Batumi, the coastal city where ENM leader Nika Melia told the crowd that the protests would not end until "the truth prevails" and Saakashvili is released.



Georgia has been plagued by political paralysis since parliamentary elections in 2020. The crisis has deepened since Saakashvili was jailed last month ahead of the first round of local elections and went on hunger strike.



The ENM, which was founded by Saakashvili, has alleged that runoff elections on October 30 were rigged in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream party.



Preliminary results from the runoff had Georgian Dream narrowly winning 19 of the 20 contested mayoral posts, including all five in the country's main cities.

ENM lawmaker Eka Kherkhulidze, who met Saakashvili in prison on November 2, told his colleagues that the ex-president was calling on them to boycott parliament.



The previous day, Saakashvili called for protests to "take back power" from the Georgian Dream government and "make them answer to the law."

He said he had lost almost 20 kilograms since the start of his hunger strike.

According to the Ministry of Justice, if Saakashvili's condition deteriorates to the point that he needs to be hospitalized, he will be transferred to a medical facility of the penitentiary service.

Saakashvili's lawyers and doctors say the facility is not equipped to monitor and treat Saakashvili. They also say Saakashvili will not be protected in the institution and demand he be transferred to a clinic in Tbilisi.



The United States joined the European Union on November 1 in voicing concern about the conduct of the elections.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi said in a statement it agreed with international election observers that the vote was well administered, but it noted allegations of intimidation, pressure on voters, and an escalation of negative rhetoric impacting the vote.

The statement largely echoed the view of the European Union, which said the vote was marked by numerous shortcomings, especially in the "misuse of administrative resources and violent rhetoric by Georgia's political leaders" that only served to increase political polarization.

With reporting by Civil.ge
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has tested positive for COVID-19, the Foreign Ministry has announced.

"His general condition is good and he continues working from quarantine," ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told state media late on November 1, adding that the foreign minister's schedule will be subjected to changes.

Earlier on November 1, the Foreign Ministry reported that Amir-Abdollahian was going to India at the end of the month to attend a meeting at the Indo-Iranian Joint Economic Commission.



Many Iranian officials have had COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

With nearly 6 million positive cases, Iran is the country worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the Middle East. It has reported more than 125,000 deaths.

Only some 45 percent of Iran's 84 million people are fully vaccinated. The latest surge came in August, fueled by the contagious Delta variant.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
South Koreas donation of 2,000 coronavirus masks to a private hospital in Iran was meant as a goodwill gesture to ease a dispute over billions of dollars in Iranian funds frozen in Seoul due to U.S. sanctions.



But when the South Korean Embassy posted photos on social media of Ambassador Yun Kang-hyeo meeting with the staff of Tehrans Atieh hospital and presenting them with a box of face masks, it provoked a backlash.

Many Iranians reacted angrily on Twitter, with some blasting the move as a joke, an insult, and the belittling of a nation that has been struggling with the Middle Easts deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus while also facing crippling U.S. economic sanctions.



Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on November 1 called the donation a joke, adding that no nation will tolerate another nation [stealing] from it.

Khatibzadeh said South Korea should return the around $7 billion of Iranian funds frozen in two South Korean banks.



South Korea was one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil. But Seoul halted its imports after then-President Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sanctions against the Islamic republic. The accord had curtailed Irans nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.



The dispute between Tehran and Seoul over the frozen funds has intensified in recent months. In April, Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) released a South Korean oil tanker, three months after seizing the vessel over alleged oil pollution.

The move was widely seen as an attempt to force South Korea to release the frozen funds. But Seoul has been wary of releasing most of the frozen money because it would be hit with fines for violating U.S. sanctions.

South Korea's 'Lost Credibility'

Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman was not the only public figure to express outrage at South Koreas donation of the face masks.



Lawmaker Alireza Salimi, addressing parliament on November 2, asked whether Seoul knew how many face masks and COVID-19 vaccines Iran could purchase just with the interest accumulated from its funds being kept in South Korean banks.



Salimi added that South Korea could not rebuild its lost credibility among Iranians by simply donating masks.

They need to prove that theyre an independent country and [can] abide by their commitments, Salimi was quoted as saying by the official government news agency IRNA.

Javan, a daily newspaper affiliated with the IRGC, said South Korea and its stinking ambassador to Tehran should be punished for the humiliation.

His expulsion from the country [alone] cannot be a response to this insolence, the daily said in an editorial on November 2.



Javan also criticized the staff at Atieh hospital for accepting the donation and Khatibzadeh for suggesting that the move was laughable.

This was not a joke for anyone to laugh at, the daily wrote, adding that if South Korea was concerned about helping Iran, it would have returned Irans funds and not blocked it at a time of sanctions and coronavirus that have disrupted peoples livelihoods.

'Give Us Our Money Back'

The uproar prompted a reaction by South Koreas Embassy in Tehran, which emphasized the six decades of friendly ties between the two countries and posted a list of humanitarian assistance that Seoul had sent to Iran in recent months.



The aid included the donation of 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in October, the delivery of 1 million of face masks in July, and a $27 million contribution toward helping Iranian authorities deal with Afghan refugees residing in the country. The embassy said more humanitarian aid would be announced soon.

The face mask controversy comes after a decision in September by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to ban the import of South Korean-made home appliances.



The move was praised by Irans hard-liners as punishment for South Korea, which they say has bowed to illegal pressure by the United States.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in October that he had told his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, that Irans Central Bank has decided to launch a formal complaint against South Korean banks for not releasing Irans money.

He also suggested that Irans state TV could stop airing South Korean television shows.

"I told him that our children at home watch Korean shows and ask us if these kind Koreans are the same who don't give us our money back?" Amir-Abdollahian said.

Chung has defended Seouls decision, saying it has used part of Irans frozen funds to pay off Tehrans annual dues at the United Nations.

In February, Iran said Seoul had agreed to unfreeze part of Irans blocked assets.

In March, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will oppose the release of billions of dollars in Iranian funds in South Korea until Tehran returns to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord.

President Joe Biden, who assumed office in January, has offered to revive the deal, but multiple rounds of indirect talks with Iran in Vienna that began in April have failed to clinch an agreement.



In response to Trump withdrawing the United States from the nuclear deal and reimposing sanctions, Tehran gradually breached limits imposed by the pact, including on uranium enrichment, refining it to higher purity, and installing advanced centrifuges.



Last week, Iran said it will rejoin talks aimed at reviving the deal by the end of November.
The hunger-striking husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman held in Iran for five years, says the British government is not doing enough to secure his wifes release.

Richard Ratcliffe began a hunger strike on October 24 outside the Foreign Office in London to highlight his wife's situation, a week after she lost her appeal on a second prison term in Iran.

We pushed the British government to act, and they wouldn't do anything until Nazanin goes to prison, Ratcliffe told RFE/RL on November 1.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe is one of a number of Western passport holders being held by Iran in what rights groups condemn as a policy of hostage-taking aimed at winning concessions from foreign powers.

A project manager for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the news agency and data firm's philanthropic arm, she was detained at Tehran airport in April 2016 as she headed back to Britain with her daughter following a family visit.

She was sentenced to prison after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Irans clerical establishment following what Amnesty International called a deeply unfair trial.

In April, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to another year of imprisonment on charges of "spreading propaganda against the system and banned from leaving the country.

She was allowed in March 2020 to live under home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but her family now fears she will soon return to prison after losing an appeal.

The reason we started doing [the protest] now is precisely because the Iranian authorities said: 'Listen, your appeal has failed. You'll be going to prison soon. We will call you, Ratcliffe said.

"As many Iranian listeners will know, there is a tremendous anxiety that it has produced from the way the Iranian prison system works, he said. So this is an anxious time and there are reasons to be anxious.

During the hunger strike, Ratcliffe has met with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the mayor of London, and members of parliament.

The Foreign Office said it would "continue to press Iran" on securing the release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe went on a 15-day hunger strike two years ago outside the Iranian Embassy, a move he credits with getting their young daughter released.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe hasnt seen her daughter in two years.

With reporting by AFP
Facebook owner Meta Platforms has denied a claim by Kazakhstan that it had been granted exclusive access to the social-media giant's content reporting system.

The Kazakh government released on November 1 what it called a "joint statement" with Facebook that said an exclusive agreement was reached on access to the data that would "help the government to report content that may violate Facebook's global content policy and local laws of Kazakhstan."

The government said the agreement, which would be the first of its kind in Central Asia, would allow authorities to more easily remove content it deems illegal and "harmful."

But Meta spokesman Ben McConaghy said on November 2 that Facebook had dedicated online channels for governments to report content that they believe violates local law.

"We follow a consistent global process to assess individual requests -- independent from any government -- in line with Facebook's policies, local laws, and international human rights standards. This process is the same in Kazakhstan as it is for other countries around the world," McConaghy said in a statement.

"The government released their own statement, independent from Facebook," he added.

After Meta's denial, Kazakh Minister of Information and Social Development Aida Balaeva said the original statement had been coordinated with Meta's regional Asia office.

"The Ministry of Information and Social Development held talks with Meta's office in Hong Kong that covers China, Mongolia, and Central Asia. The text of the joint statement issued on November 1 and its publication in media were fully agreed on by the leadership of the aforementioned office," Balaeva wrote on Facebook.

Balaeva did not comment on McConaghy's statement.

In mid-September, Kazakh lawmakers approved the first reading of a bill that would have obliged Facebook and other foreign-owned social networks to register in Kazakhstan and set up representative offices in the Central Asian state, where hundreds of opposition and human rights activists have been prosecuted for their postings on social media, especially when expressing support for the banned Koshe (Street) Party and its associate, the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement.

Critics of the bill have accused the authorities of the autocratic nation of 19 million of seeking to gain new censorship tools, while the bill's authors say it aims to prevent cyber-bullying and the spread of other dangerous content.

Kazakh officials have said Facebook has at least 3.2 million users in the country, while other platforms owned by Meta Platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp have even more users.

With reporting by Reuters
Germany should not forget the crimes committed by the Nazis in occupied Serbia during World War II, the vice president of the Bundestag said following a visit to the Balkan country for a commemoration.

Claudia Roth, a top Greens party member, last month became the first senior German official to attend the annual memorial for the victims of the Nazi massacre in the central Serbian city of Kragujevac.

The Nazi army killed an estimated 2,800 people in Kragujevac on October 21, 1941, in a retaliatory massacre of civilians in response to Serbian resistance attacks on the Wehrmacht.

The date is marked annually as the Day of Remembrance of the Serbian victims of World War II.

Roth told RFE/RL that the Balkans and Serbia are often too far on the fringes of the German peoples remembrance of WWII, having been overshadowed by other atrocities committed under Nazi rule.

The massacres in Kragujevac and Kraljevo, another town in central Serbia where Nazi troops killed some 2,000 people, left deep scars for those who survived and lost loved ones, as well as in the collective memory.

My intention in attending was to underline that we will not let the crimes of the Nazis and the Wehrmacht be forgotten and that, building on that remembrance, we want to foster good and friendly relations with our Serbian friends and partners," Roth said.

Full reconciliation can only be achieved through an honest reckoning with and acceptance of historical events, Roth said.

My impression is that the desire for reconciliation is incredibly strong in Serbian society, as elsewhere. I am, therefore, glad that, guided by the idea of remembrance into the future, we can continue the pursuit of properly working through black spots in our history and our remembrance activities together with our Serbian partners, she said.
SKOPJE -- Following his party's poor performance in the second round of mayoral elections, North Macedonia's prime minister, Zoran Zaev, was quick to announce his resignation on October 31.

Zaev, an economist and private businessman, took responsibility for the poor showing of his ruling Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and also resigned as the president of the center-left party.

His resignation did not come as a surprise.

"October 31 is all-in for me," Zaev said before the local elections, saying that if his party lost, he would step down. While a new prime minister will come from the SDSM, the largest party in the ruling coalition, the opposition has already called for snap parliamentary elections.

Here are five reasons why North Macedonia's voters turned against Zaevand his party.

1. Unfulfilled Promises Of Reform

The 47-year-old Zaev became prime minister and leader of the ruling coalition in May 2017. He was propelled into power from the opposition after his prominent role in exposing the illegal wiretapping of up to 20,000 Macedonian officials and citizens by the government of the nationalist Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), who had been in power since 2006. After being sentenced to prison on corruption charges, the leader of the party, Nikola Gruevski, fled to Hungary.

Coming into office, Zaev promised honest and responsible governance, a strong fight against crime, and institutional reform so the country could progress toward NATO and European Union membership. His failure to fulfill those promises was one of the main reasons for his electoral defeat, says Marko Trosanovski, president of the Skopje-based Institute for Democracy.

"They were warned several times, both in previous election cycles and by experts, to return to the reform agenda, but they left many unaddressed problems: Judicial reform and the public administration remained [politically] partisan," Trosanovski said.

2. Corruption Scandals

After the wiretapping scandal's seismic impact on North Macedonia's politics, Zaev promised to deliver justice. But the public became disillusioned after the so-called "Racket" affair in 2019, in which people close to Zaev allegedly participated with Katica Janeva, the special prosecutor in charge of investigating organized crime and corruption, in extorting money from businessman Jordan Kamchev. (In June 2020, Janeva was sentenced to seven years in prison for abuse of office.)

Other reforms were overshadowed by a public perception that the government was being soft on crime and corruption, said political analyst Xhelal Neziri.

"There is a perception that the SDSM had only replaced VMRO-DPMNE and that it was continuing the same practice of influencing the judiciary, controlling the prosecution, with impunity for politicians and people associated with the government," Neziri said.

During Zaev's tenure, several scandals rocked the government. One of Zaev's top advisers, Dragi Raskovski, was placed under house arrest for alleged impropriety regarding the purchase of government software, even though Zaev regularly proclaimed Raskovski's innocence.

When former Prime Minister Gruevski, along with former representatives of the security services, fled the country, there were no repercussions and no one from Zaev's administration accepted responsibility for their escape.

The public perceived a similar lack of accountability after the government's reaction to a fire in September in Tetovo at a makeshift COVID-19 hospital where 14 people died. The health minister, Venko Filipce, offered his resignation, but Zaev did not accept it because he said the investigation showed the minister was not at fault.

3. The Bulgaria Factor

Zaev's government successfully negotiated and signed the Prespa Agreement with Greece in 2018, renaming Macedonia as the Republic of North Macedonia. That ended a 27-year-old dispute with Athens and cleared Skopje's path to NATO accession. But progress toward the European Union has still been blocked by objections from neighboring Bulgaria. Sofia has accused North Macedonia of discriminating against the country's ethnic Bulgarians, allegations which Skopje denies.

Zaev made statements that were seen as unacceptable to many Macedonians, such as saying that he no longer viewed Bulgaria as a "fascist occupier" during World War II.

"The public was not prepared for another national humiliation and for [the government's] very insensitive attitude that didn't take into account [the public's] collective memory and feelings," Trosanovski said.

According to Trosanovski, North Macedonia will be blocked for a long time by Bulgaria in its EU accession bid regardless of whether the current government remains in power.

"The government will be much more careful in the negotiations and less willing to compromise. They didn't have much room for maneuver anyway and the European Union itself is preoccupied with other problems and internal dysfunction," Trosanovski said.

4. Failing In The Regions

One of the main reasons for the SDSM's losses in the recent local elections, according to Neziri, is due to the poor management of the municipalities by party officials and mayors. After the SDSM formed the government in the spring of 2017, the party won 57 mayoral seats from a total of 80 municipalities in local elections in the fall of that year.

In the recent local election campaign, the opposition criticized SDSM mayors for their performance on improving local infrastructure -- for example, traffic management, water supplies, and sewage treatment.

The opposition challenger in the capital, Skopje, who went on to win the poll, said that the former Mayor Petre Silegov had accomplished only 5 percent of his 2017 electoral promises in the city. Now, after the latest polls, the SDSM has only 16 mayors, with the VMRO-DPMNE holding 42 mayoral seats.

5. Internal Party Strife

Since coming to power, the SDSM has been hampered by internal rifts and high-profile figures leaving the party. In 2013, Zaev became leader of the party in tandem with Radmila Sekerinska, who was given the new role of vice president. But this year, current Defense Minister Sekerinska decided to step down from her party role after reportedly having a dispute with Zaev, the substance of which is not publicly known.

Damjan Manchevski, a long-standing member of the SDSM, also left the government. And former Finance Minister Dragan Tevdovski, who was considered to be the architect of the party's economic program, was dismissed from the government.

"Intra-party divisions and Zaev's failure to balance [various] interests within the party have contributed to this spectacular drop in support," Neziri said.

One of the biggest electoral blows for the SDSM was delivered by the former mayor of Kumanovo, Maksim Dimitrievski, who was also an old opposition ally of Zaev. In the recent local elections, Dimitrievski decided not to run on the party's ticket and defeated the SDSM candidate in Kumanovo, one of the biggest cities in North Macedonia and traditionally an SDSM stronghold.
Acting Romanian Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca has officially renounced his mandate to form a new government, a day after announcing that he did not have enough support in parliament to become the new prime minister.

Nicolae Ciuca returned his mandate in a letter to parliament after saying on November 1 that the "mathematical reality" of his National Liberal Party's (PNL) attempt to form a minority government without other parties meant he could not garner enough support.

Ciuca, speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting of the PNL, told reporters he decided to give up the nomination after the executive political bureau of PNL withdrew the mandate.

"I have the conviction that all the activities taking place at the level of the political parties should be based on dialogue and the understanding of the situation the country is going through at the moment," he said.



Ciuca was nominated on October 21 by President Klaus Iohannis in a second bid to end a political stalemate that has hampered efforts to tackle a surge of COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Iohannis asked Ciuca, a retired general, to form a minority center-right government a day after his first choice, Dacian Ciolos, the leader of center-right Save Romania Union (USR), failed to win a parliamentary vote of confidence for his cabinet.



Iohannis will now have to try for a third time to find a prime-minister nominee, meaning continued political uncertainty. The crisis began when the center-right coalition under PNL leader Florin Citu was ousted by a no-confidence vote in parliament after a former coalition ally, the USR, walked out of his government.



Even though he enjoyed the political backing of Iohannis, Citu had been subjected to scathing criticism from all parliamentary parties for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and a looming economic crisis prompted by rising energy prices.



Fresh negotiations between the PNL and the other political groupings could be launched on November 2, should Iohannis choose to do so, Ciuca said.



Citu, who is still serving as prime minister in a caretaker role, said that instead of seeking a minority government again, the party will now draft a more "flexible" mandate to form a coalition.



Ciuca had been attempting to secure the support of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest single party in parliament, as the PNL and their allies in the UDMR, the party representing Romania's ethnic Hungarian minority, control only 150 of the 466 parliamentary seats.



The USR had been ruled out as a partner by both the Liberals and Iohannis after Ciolos's failure to garner support for a USR minority government.



Romania's political crisis continues as the country faces a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections. The country's hospitals have been under strain and an average of more than 400 deaths have been registered each day over the past three weeks.

Iohannis himself has come under attack for his handling of the pandemic and his support for Citu, with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), a newly formed far-right party that acceded to parliament in December, starting to collect lawmakers' signatures to suspend the president.

The AUR, which has also called for early elections, has only 43 lawmakers and needs the backing of other big parties to garner the 117 signatures -- one-third of lawmakers -- needed to kick off the impeachment procedure.

With reporting by G4media.ro. Hotnews.ro, AFP, and Politico
Russia's state-controlled Gazprom declined to book more pipeline capacity via Ukraine and Poland to ship gas to Europe in the first three quarters of next year, in a sign it may be waiting for approval of the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany.

President Vladimir Putin said last week that Gazprom would start pumping extra natural gas into European gas storage facilities once Russia finishes filling its own stocks, which could happen by November 8.

However, Gazprom did not book additional gas transit capacity via in Ukraine and the Yamal-Europe pipeline to Germany for January-September 2022, according to the results from several capacity auctions on November 2.

Bloomberg reported that Gazprom can still book capacities at forthcoming monthly sales.

Gas prices in Europe have spiked in recent weeks, fueled by low inventories and a strong recovery in global demand as economies emerge from the coronavirus crisis.

Russia, which provides one-third of Europe's gas imports, has been accused by some analysts and European officials of exacerbating the energy crisis to advance approval of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline running under the Baltic Sea.

Moscow denies it is withholding supplies to exert pressure.

German regulators have until January to make a decision on whether Nord Stream 2 is an independent transport network in line with EU directives, after which the European Commission has another two months to respond.

Early in October, the operator of Nord Stream 2 said that the first string of the pipeline would be gradually filled to build inventory and pressure.

"Gazprom is presumably betting on Nord Stream 2 coming online fairly soon -- and does not want to assume additional obligations as of now as the Ukraine transit route and the Yamal-Europe pipeline are likely to be used as balancing routes once Nord Stream 2 is up and running," Dmitry Marinchenko, senior director at Fitch ratings agency, told Reuters.

Ronald Smith, senior oil and gas analyst at BCS brokerage, told the news agency that Russia appears to want to fill Nord Stream 2 with gas taken from the Yamal-Europe pipeline.

"If Nord Stream 2 isn't soon approved for launch, however, Gazprom may be forced to request additional, more traditional transit capacity on Yamal-Europe," he said.

With reporting by Bloomberg and Reuters
In characteristically blunt fashion, Russian President Vladimir Putin had this to say when asked last month if Russia was again using its energy resources as a political weapon:

This is complete nonsense, ravings, and politically motivated blather, he told a Moscow energy conference on October 13.

Two weeks later, the European Unions foreign policy chief was uncharacteristically blunt as he described Russias threat to cut gas supplies to Moldova, a decision that prompted the cash-strapped, aspiring EU member to declare a state of emergency: the weaponization of gas supplies.

With natural-gas prices hitting record highs, Europes winter of discontent is only beginning, fueled by misgivings over the blocs energy policies and suspicions over the intentions of the continents single largest supplier of gas.

Those suspicions have been fueled by Russian officials themselves, and they have compounded doubts about the specific intentions of Gazprom, the state export monopoly that is beholden to Kremlin policy.

The 27-member EU gets more than 40 percent of its gas imports from Russia.

A $120 billion publicly traded company in which the Russian government holds a controlling stake, Gazprom ostensibly seeks to maximize profits through exports. Yet with prices climbing higher since at least the summer, the company has opted not to meet increased demand from European consumers, something that some European lawmakers have asserted is market manipulation.

For Gazprom, more exports mean more pipelines -- for example, Power of Siberia, across southern Siberia into China; or TurkStream, under the Black Sea to Turkey and southern Europe.

It also means an additional pipeline directly into the heart of Europe: Nord Stream 2, under the Baltic Sea.*

The nearly complete pipeline is awaiting final certification from German regulators, who say the process could be completed by the new year.

Russian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, have linked quick approval of the pipeline with stabilizing European markets. Those comments were perceived by some analysts and critics as a quid-pro-quo effort to prod German regulators to move faster.

Days before Putins speech in Moscow, Russias envoy to the EU suggested that the blocs own policies were to blame for Russias cold shoulder, something Putin himself later hammered on.

The crux of the matter is only a matter of phraseology, Vladimir Chizhov told the Financial Times. Change adversary to partner and things get resolved easier. When the EU finds enough political will to do this, they will know where to find us.

Moscow alone can hardly be blamed for high prices and shortages, Stephen Sestanovich, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for the former Soviet Union, wrote in an analysis last week. Yet, the turmoil reconfirms Russias willingness to exploit its customers vulnerabilities -- as seen in previous disputes with Ukraine and Estonia.

Prices Jump. Europe Frets.

Just five days after Putins speech, on October 18, market analysts and traders were watching an important trading deadline -- for when companies book shipping contracts for the upcoming month.

With available capacity in the primary pipeline route for Russian gas -- Ukraine -- and a secondary route via Poland, it would be easy to use the existing network, and for Moscow to meet the spiking demand and make a nice profit, experts said.

In what some saw as a poke directly at Russia, the International Energy Agency said Moscow could ship at least 15 percent more gas than it was already supplying.

Gazprom didnt. Prices jumped higher. European customers fretted more.

Gazprom did not immediately respond to e-mails from RFE/RL seeking comment.

Low Storage

Over the summer, analysts had warned that Europes winter could be turbulent, with electricity prices spiking in line with spiking gas prices.

Among the compelling explanations for Gazproms lack of interest in increasing supplies was the need to top up Russias own storage units going into the cold weather months. Once that was completed, Gazprom could up its shipments to Europe, where stored gas volumes were also unusually low.

In an October 28 meeting with Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller, Putin directed him to supply storage units in Austria and Germany after November 8 -- when Russia's storage was expected to be filled.

By the following day, prices dropped nearly 29 percent on a key European trading hub, according to Independent Commodity Intelligence Services.

The United States has been largely hawkish on the question of Europes reliance on Russian gas, and in particular, the potential dangers of a second Baltic Sea pipeline.

However, President Joe Bidens administration earlier this year opted not to block the end-stage construction of the nearly complete pipeline, over the protests of Republican lawmakers in Congress. Those protests, and the accusations that Russia was weaponizing its energy resources, have grown even louder.

Using energy as a weapon is one of those things where you know it when you see it, Amos Hochstein, the U.S. State Departments top energy official, told reporters last month.

I think were getting close to that line. If Russia indeed has the gas to supply and it chooses not to and will only do so if Europe accedes to other demands that are completely unrelated, then its hard to make the argument that it is not, he said.

Ukraine, which nets hundreds of millions of dollars in fees from Europe-bound Russian gas transiting its pipeline networks, also opposed the U.S. decision.

We have always known that Gazproms decision not to ship gas through Ukraine was geopolitical at its core. And we now have overwhelming evidence, Serhiy Makohon, the head of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, the operator of the countrys pipeline network, said in a statement to RFE/RL.

Reverse Flow

For skeptics of Russias intentions, history is a guide. Moscow shut off gas supplies twice to Ukraine and its Western-leaning government in the 2000s. The shutoffs, which occurred in January, rippled into Europe, causing shortages and resulting in people shivering in unheated apartments in some countries.

One day after Putins meeting with Miller, another event caught analysts attention: Gas flowing westward to Germany via pipelines in Poland was reversed, flowing eastward instead. There was no official explanation for the reversal in the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which continued into November 1. Gazprom issued a statement saying it was still fulfilling its contractual obligations.

Tom Marzec-Manser, a gas analyst with Independent Commodity Intelligence Services, called the reversal unusual but not completely unheard of.

The lack of flow on the pipeline: You can make your own judgment, your readers can, whether there is some political element to that, he told RFE/RL.

Gazprom has been consistently sending signals in opposite directions to agitate gas markets rather than alleviate the crisis, said Leslie Palti-Guzman, president of the energy consultancy company Gas Vista LLC.

In addition to pressuring German regulators to speed up certification of Nord Stream 2, Palti-Guzman said, Russia may be seeking to undermine the allure of U.S. liquefied natural-gas shipments to Europe and also to pressure European customers to sign longer-term contracts.

Higher gas and electricity prices also fuel populist discontent, she said.

Moldova's Emergency

With a new government that supports closer ties with the EU, Moldova has been grappling with the end of a long-term contract with Gazprom. The company demanded drastically higher rates, and when Moldova balked, Gazprom cut deliveries by one-third.

That prompted Moldovan President Maia Sandu to declare a state of emergency.

On October 28, after a Brussels meeting with Moldovas prime minister, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused Gazprom of using political pressure" in return for lower gas prices.

The Russian company, meanwhile, denied that politics played any role in the talks, saying they were conducted exclusively on commercial terms.

A day later, the government agreed to a new, five-year contract with markedly higher prices.

Marzec-Manser, the gas analyst, said that while Moscow was clear in its disapproval of the Sandu governments EU aspirations, Moldovas old contract did not conform with EU standards.

You cant have your cake and eat it, too, he said.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said Nord Stream 2 runs under the Black Sea. It is the Baltic Sea.
The Russian authorities have detained three men suspected of illegally obtaining the personal data of Federal Security Service (FSB) agents whom jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny has accused of being involved in his poisoning last year.

The TASS news agency and the Baza news website quoted law enforcement sources on November 2 as saying the three suspects from a private investigation firm gathered the phone billing data of the FSB agents on behalf of Navalny and his associates.

"Some of the information that was obtained by the detainees was used by Navalny for one of his investigations," TASS quoted a law enforcement official as saying.

The three suspects -- Pyotr Katkov, Aleksandr Zelentsov, and Igor Zaitsev -- have been charged with forgery and violation of privacy laws.

However, law enforcement officials believe the three suspects did not know their client was Navalny, who conducted an investigation in cooperation with news outlets piecing together the movements of purported FSB agents trailing him before his near-fatal poisoning.

In December, investigative website Bellingcat, The Insider, CNN, and German magazine Der Spiegel published a report naming eight men with suspected ties to the FSB's toxins team who had allegedly taken turns trailing Navalny on trips in the three years leading up to his poisoning.

Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport in January upon his arrival from Germany, where he was recovering from a poisoning in Siberia from what several European laboratories concluded was a military-grade chemical nerve agent.

In February, a Moscow court ruled that while recovering in Germany, Navalny had violated the terms of parole from an old embezzlement case that is widely considered politically motivated. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Navalny has insisted that his poisoning was ordered directly by President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin has denied.

With reporting by Baza and TASS
A court in Russia's Tatarstan region has sentenced a prominent Islamic scholar to 6 1/2 years in prison for running a branch of a banned religious group.

Gabdrakhman Naumov was sentenced by a court in Kazan for leading a branch of the Islamic Nur movement, his lawyer Ruslan Nagiyev told RFE/RL on November 2.

Naumov is well-known in Tatarstan as a teacher at the Russian Islamic University and the former imam of a mosque in Kazan.

He was arrested in March 2020 and charged with being the leader of the Nur movement in Tatarstan, where Turkic-speaking ethnic Tatars live.

The Nur movement was founded in Turkey by prominent Islamic scholar Said Nursi, who before his death in 1960 had advocated against communist secularism and for the integration of modern science and logic into Islam.

The movement has millions of followers around the globe, especially in Turkey, but has been banned in Russia since 2008.

Russian authorities have said the group promotes the creation of an Islamic state that encompasses all Turkic-speaking areas and countries.
Building a natural-gas pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India (TAPI) was the main topic of conversation when Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov went to Kabul to meet with the Taliban's interim government on October 30-31.

Since coming to power 15 years ago, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has been fixated on completing TAPI. But the authoritarian ruler's attention might be better turned to the Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP), which looks more attractive to its European market than ever before.

Due to a lack of pipelines connecting Turkmenistan to other markets, this period of record gas prices on world markets is quietly passing the Central Asian country by -- a shame for cash-strapped Ashgabat and its destitute citizens since it holds the fourth-largest proven reserves of natural gas on the planet.

A Salesman In Kabul

Meredov met with Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, and acting Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of deceased Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Atop the agenda of their meetings was -- as Muttaqi said of his meeting with Meredov -- "Important issues such as TAPI, railroads, and electricity."

Yaqoob tweeted: I am directly responsible for overseeing the security of the TAPI project...[and] we will not hesitate to make any sacrifices for the implementation of this national project."

TAPI was an important issue when Turkmen officials met with former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government as well as that of his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, and with representatives of the Taliban when it ruled the country in the late 1990s.

The Afghan government has been promising since 2010 to create a special force of some 7,000 troops to guard the TAPI pipeline.

The Taliban even promised to guard TAPI in 2018 when they were battling government forces.

The pipeline aims to carry some 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from fields in Turkmenistan more than 1,800 kilometers through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

Pakistan and India would each receive 14 bcm and Afghanistan would receive 5 bcm, which would be a huge increase for Afghanistan compared to the country's recent annual use of less than 200 million cubic meters.

Additionally, it was reported during Meredov's recent meeting with Taliban representatives that Afghanistan could earn some $500 million in transit fees annually, though Meredov said in November 2017 that Afghanistan would earn some $1 billion from transit fees.

When the price of gas briefly shot to more than $1,000 per 1,000 cubic meters in October this year, officials in Turkmenistan must have broken out in a sweat.

Twenty-five years ago, Turkmen officials were trying to get their only gas customer at that time -- Russia -- to pay $40 per 1,000 cubic meters instead of $32.

But even if the security situation in Afghanistan becomes more stable under the Taliban, there are still significant problems with financing the approximately 775-kilometer stretch of TAPI through Afghanistan.

The estimated cost of the total project is some $10 billion, though that estimate is a decade old.

In a recent article for the Atlantic Council, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Steve Mann wrote that even with an improvement in security inside Afghanistan, "the ascent of the Taliban will do nothing to address the projects dire flaws, including financing, bankability, and pipeline ownership and operation."

He added that "On top of that, the severe [economic] sanctions on the Taliban introduce a new deal-breaker."

Pakistan has sought to renegotiate the price of Turkmen gas from TAPI several times in recent years and Turkmenistan reportedly agreed in 2020 to consider lowering prices.

India might now be out of the project entirely as New Delhi's relations with Islamabad have never been good and are even worse with the Taliban.

The Kazakh and Uzbek foreign ministers have also visited Kabul since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August, and Meredov's visit may have also been aimed at firming Turkmenistans ties with the new Afghan authorities.

Pivot To The TCP?

But it is odd that Turkmenistan is making an effort to revive TAPI while the possibilities of constructing the TCP seem to have improved significantly.

The TCP aims to carry some 30 bcm from Turkmenistan across the bottom of the Caspian Sea to the pipeline network in Azerbaijan and eventually to Europe.

The European Union has been hoping for years to see the project realized as part of its Southern Gas Corridor (SGC).

With the record gas prices at the moment and fears that the EU is becoming too dependent on Russia as Nord Stream 2 reaches completion, a boost in gas volumes from a different supplier should be seen by the EU and Turkmenistan as a golden opportunity -- especially as some of the key obstacles to the TCP's construction have been removed.

One was the dispute between Turkmenistan, on the east side of the Caspian, and Azerbaijan, on the west side, over three oil and gas fields located halfway between the two countries in the middle of the sea.

That decades-old dispute was resolved in January.

There was also the problem of needing a pipeline that stretched from Azerbaijan to Europe, but the 1,841-kilometer Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) that runs through Turkey was completed in 2018.

The TANAP project foresees expanding pipeline capacity to some 60 bcm annually.

But Azerbaijan does not have enough gas to provide such a volume, so TANAP would have to include Turkmen gas to reach that level.

The SGC pipeline network was completed at the end of 2020, and gas from Azerbaijan's Caspian field Shah Deniz 2 is already being supplied through the SGC and TANAP to Greece, Albania, and -- via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline -- to Italy.

All that is needed is to build the roughly 300-kilometer TCP at an estimated cost that ranges from $5 billion to $8 billion.

A U.S. company called Trans Caspian Resources just proposed an option that would carry smaller volumes of gas but be operational within two years.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Allan Mustard attended the recent Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan International Conference and suggested an alternative: the Caspian Connector. It could carry some 10-12 bcm of gas annually and, using existing infrastructure, be built for $500 million-$800 million.

But one major obstacle remains.

Russia and Iran have raised environmental concerns over the construction of a pipeline along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, despite the fact that Kazakhstan has already done so in the northern part of the Caspian. And Russia has constructed longer and deeper pipelines across the bottom of the Black Sea to Turkey and, in the case of Nord Stream 1 and 2, across the bottom of the Baltic Sea (some 1,222 kilometers), making the two lines the longest underwater pipelines in the world.

There was little, however, that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan could do in the face of Russian and Iranian resistance.

Turkey is a rising power in the world again with its influential roles in the conflicts in Libya and Syria, not to mention the military support it gave Azerbaijan during the recent conflict with Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh. It has even recently supplied armed drones to Ukraine, one of which Kyiv recently used to destroy some artillery of the Moscow-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.

Ankara has shown its willingness to stand up to Moscow and Tehran, and if Turkey increases its public support for the TCP that could convince Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan to move forward with the project.

But obtaining Ankara's support might be the problem for Turkmenistan.

Turkmen officials are urging Turkish authorities to shut down protests in Turkey against the Turkmen government that are led by migrant laborers. It is also seeking to have the activists deported to Turkmenistan.

Ankara was apparently upset when one Turkmen protester was forced into the Turkmen Consulate in Istanbul and beaten in early August.

The Turkish government has been sensitive to such incidents since Saudi journalist and activist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

There is speculation that Turkeys reluctance to shut down anti-Turkmen government protests on Turkish territory has led to Ashgabats hesitancy in accepting Ankara's offer to join the Turkic Council, which comprises Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

But Turkmenistan needs to move on its proposed gas pipelines if the country is ever going to cash in on its extensive gas reserves.

While TAPI seems no closer to being realized than it was 25 years ago, the TCP or some form of it -- with a guaranteed market of paying customers -- could be completed in the near future.

RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, contributed to this report
Ukraine's Defense Minister Andriy Taran has submitted a letter of resignation, the fourth senior official to do so in the past 24 hours, amid media reports saying parliament plans to discuss a government reshuffle this week.

The cabinet's parliamentary envoy, Taras Melnychuk, wrote on Telegram on November 2 that Tarans resignation letter had been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, or parliament.

No further details or reasons were provided.

Taran, who has been defense minister since March 2020, didnt immediately comment.

Earlier on November 2, First Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Lyubchenko submitted a letter of resignation, a day after Melnychuk said two other deputy ministers, Oleksiy Reznikov and Oleh Uruskiy were also stepping down.

Lawmakers from the ruling Servant of the People party had said on November 1 they would nominate Reznikov to replace Taran.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said that changes in the government were possible, but he declined to comment further.
15 years ago, civil rights activist Dr. Benjamin Chavis, one of the co-founders of the non-for-profit organisation Diamonds Do Good1, met with Nelson Mandela, and the great man personally asked the good doctor to help to raise more awareness about the benefits to Africa that are derived from the good that diamonds do.2.

Funded by the natural diamond industry, Diamonds Do Good recently gave donations to the Flaviana Matata Foundation in Tanzania (set up by supermodel Flavia Matata to support education and empowerment for girls) as well as to Sentebale (set up Prince Harry to supports the wellbeing and mental health of young people afflicted with HIV in Lesotho and Botswana). It plays to a lot of the many good news stories about natural diamonds and for an industry that produces the ultimate luxury, it makes sense that Social Purpose and Sustainability are so often central to what they do.

So why arent consumers hearing more about good news stories like Diamonds Do Good? To some extent, its the fault of our industry, which remains fixated with the 4 Cs of Carat weight, Cut, Colour and Clarity, and has been slow to grasp the need to talk to todays new consumers about the fifth C; Community. The good news is that there are some great stories to tell, because natural diamonds make a huge financial, environmental, and social contribution to almost all the countries in which they are found. But maybe these good news stories are being undercut by another, very worrying narrative. A narrative which is being peddled by a handful of lab-grown companies predominantly (but not exclusively) in the US, who publish inaccurate information, and/or through innuendo and misrepresentation denigrate the natural diamond story, tarring the whole industry with the same brush; (please see the second half of this article under the heading; A lie will fly twice around the whole world while the truth is still getting its boots on for examples).

Why this anti-natural diamond agenda is so disappointing is that the IGDA (International Grown Diamond Association) trade body has stated that one of its key roles was to promote a marketplace where truthful , accurate, and non-misleading information can appropriately be conveyed to consumers about our members laboratory-grown diamond products and practices3.

Incidentally, I opened a page on the IGDA website entitled Ethical Sustainable Choice, and theres a pretty unattractive photo of a number of explosive blasts happening in a huge open pit mine, with the overlay Land Impact. 2.63 tonnes of mineral waste is disposed when extracting a carat of diamond4. Two very important points worth thinking about: -

1. Firstly, sustainability isnt only about the environment  maybe fifty years ago that was all it stood for, but not today; today its a balance including not just environmental (and Im ignoring the fact that kimberlite absorbs carbon emissions or a company like De Beers is moving towards being carbon neutral), but also about benefitting people. Where you choose to see only a big hole, we also see schools, hospitals, and employment, thriving communities and protected wildlife. You dont stop everyone driving today because their cars use petrol; you dont close every school and hospital because they need electricity which may be sourced from fossil fuels. What you do is work towards a long-term solution that benefits everyone.

2. Secondly, Ive been racking my brain to identify the diamond mine in the photo, except that it simply doesnt look like any diamond mine that Ive seen FOUND IT!!! It seems to be a photograph from a slightly different angle of a blast at the Stoilensky iron ore mine5 in the Belgorod region of western Russia which has absolutely nothing to do with diamonds. Thats really not very clever.

3.





Figure 1 (LHS): Photo taken from ethical sustainable choice from the International Grown Diamond Association.

Association website. www.theigda.org/ethical-sustainble-choice (*their spelling mistake)

Figure 2 (RHS): "Blasting Works". Photo taken from the Stoilensky Iron Ore Mine multimedia page. www.sgok.nlmk.com/en/media-center/multimedia/blasting-works.

But lets move on, because there is something far more important at stake. Actions have consequences, even if they are unintentional, consequences for people who deserve better, and many of whom are not able to defend themselves.

The first point should be blindingly obvious: Lab-grown diamonds have every right to exist, and to succeed, but their success has been riding on the coattails of natural diamonds. If the bad apples in the lab-grown industry continue to undermine the desirability of natural diamonds, the consumer is going to lose interest in all diamonds, especially lab-grown diamonds. Put one bad apple in a barrel of good apples and unless you quickly pick it out, the whole barrel eventually gets thrown away.

But theres also something much more fundamental at play. If anyone successfully undermines the natural diamond industry, who are the people who really get hurt? Put that another way; where do most of the worlds natural diamonds come from? They come from Africa, where they make a huge social and financial contribution to the communities in which they operate, but lets leave the benefits aside for a moment, even if it is a huge differentiator, because that is still missing the main point .

That point is that when you seek to undermine the natural diamond industry for profit , the people who primarily get harmed are millions of ordinary people who work in the industry, whole families with real lives, real dreams, real hopes, and real fears, communities, countries even, who rely on the revenues from natural diamonds to live, sometimes just to survive, sometimes to try to better their lives they are Black Africans.

Please dont pretend its only big companies like De Beers that get hurt; even in Botswana where they have a 50:50 Joint Venture (Debswana) with the government, they only receive just under 19% of the profits the rest gets ploughed back into the country into roads, schools, hospitals and so on. The vast majority of Debswanas workers at every level are Black Africans. The local businesses who supply them are run by Black Africans - natural diamonds are vital to the life of Botswana the country. The miners in South Africa are Black Africans. The 1.5 million artisanal diamond diggers in west Africa are Black Africans. In their case, when someone undermines their very livelihoods, what you are really doing is further marginalising some of the already most marginalised people on the planet, and you are doing it for profit why is that okay? If you think it is, then please get on an airplane, fly to Sierra Leone (which today is a democracy) and ask the people employed in kimberlite and artisanal diamond mining whether they will be pleased if you get to close their industry down, destroy their jobs and livelihoods, but you might also add that you will be able to increase your own profits I am pretty sure you wont get the answer you want. The diamond industry isnt perfect; few industries are, but its making huge efforts to go in the right direction, and its social contribution to the peoples of Africa is simply irrefutable.

Nelson Mandela wanted people to hear how natural diamonds had benefitted Africa. To those in the US lab-grown industry who think it is acceptable business practice to undermine natural diamonds using innuendo and insinuation, sometimes by being disingenuous, sometimes it might be more accurate to say simply by being dishonest, there is a very simple message. A year after the death of Geroge Floyd, Black Lives shouldnt just matter for Americans in America. They should matter everywhere.

Examples: A lie will fly twice around the whole world while the truth is still getting its boots on Mark Twain.

US online retailer 12 Fifteen6 are a case in point. A one-carat mined diamond is the product of over 87,000 pounds7 of displaced earth Thats no small impact. In fact, there are more than 10,000 abandoned mines in Canada alone . Do the research and youll find that there is no reason to buy mined. Not now. Not ever 8. I did the research. Canada has three producing and two closed diamond mines, all of which make, or made, significant contributions to their local communities. The other 9,998 so-called abandoned mines never had anything to do with diamonds.

Partner company Diamond Nexus9 warns consumers to avoid Canadian diamonds Whatever dollars you spend on a Canadian diamond prop-up the market for African diamonds10 As for the environmental damage Every day, Canadian mines produce one million tons of waste rock and 950,000 tons of tailings, which are finely ground rocks and minerals from processing extracted materials like diamonds. Except if you check the source documents11 you discover that the waste rock and tailings figures they quote refer to the entire Canadian mining sector12.

Diamond Nexus further warns that Native people fear that the animals (caribou and muskoxen) will eat vegetation that grows near tailings pondswhich could introduce toxic heavy metals into the food chain. But when you check the source article, you discover that its an article about gold and lead zinc mining, not diamond mining13.

Both 12Fifteen and Diamond Nexus are part of the Forever Group of companies, with their office in Franklin Wisconsin. Forever lets consumers know that As soon as any land mining or ocean dredging is part of the equation, some amount of evil comes with it14 an industry that was and continues to be rife with conflict, corruption, environmental abuse, and unsavoury consumer practices.15. Thats a first nail in Africas coffin.

California based Diamond Foundry, who earlier this year gained headlines with a USD200 million capital injection from US financial giant Fidelity, lists what their lab-grown diamonds are NOT. I click on No conflicts funded16 and its about Russia Really? Well according to Diamond Foundry 40% of all diamonds sold at U.S. retail directly fund Putin's government and that purchasing diamonds from Russia is a good way to show your support for Putin and his government. I certainly didnt know that. Lets Fact check that number.

Accurate statistics for Russian diamonds purchased by US consumers dont exist, and as a proportion of global production at no time during the last ten years did Russia even produce 40% of the worlds natural diamonds by weight or value17. Additionally, diamonds sold at retail in the US are predominantly already set in jewellery and the price includes the cost of polishing, the jewellery setting, the gold or platinum, wholesale jewellery margins, retail mark-upsetc18, virtually none of which is Russian. So once again, how can we verify this 40% figure?

So I took diamond producer Alrosa as the proxy for Russian diamond production and assumed that since the US accounts for about half of world diamond jewellery consumption, half of Alrosas rough diamond production might end up in US diamond jewellery. Okay - Lets do the maths. Half of Alrosas diamond sales in 2019 equals USD1.7 billion; half of US diamond jewellery sales that year equalled USD19.6 billion19. On that basis, 8% of US diamond jewellery sales were attributable to Alrosa... Alrosa, not the Russian Government. The Governments of Yukutia and Russia each own 33% of Alrosa and all the Federal Government in Moscow receives is its share of the tax and dividends paid by Alrosa I know this because the figures are not just publicly available, the accounts are audited by PWC . In 2019, tax and dividends from Alrosa paid to the Federal Government in Moscow amounted to around USD499 million20 so if half of this was attributable to US diamond jewellery sales, that represents 0.6%21 of US diamond jewellery sales22 that  directly fund Putin's government  not 40%. Incidentally, Alrosas other shareholders include mainstream US institutions23 like State Street, Vanguard, JP Morgan and Blackrock and Fidelity24. They seem to think its an investable company.

Diamond Foundry also states that, Tiffany doesnt disclose that fact25 what fact? That it buys diamonds from Russia? Yes, it does26.

Under the heading No Land Displaced27, is a chart entitled Supply Chain Audit based on Diamond Source28, which shows that the largest environmental impact from Mined Diamonds comes from China. In 201929, China produced 51 carats of natural diamonds not 51,000, not 51,000,000, just 51! You could hold the entire annual production in the palm of one (very small) hand, yet this chart implies that Chinas rough diamond production has more impact on land use than the 38.5 million carats produced by Alrosa, and higher air emissions than the rest of the worlds diamond production combined. Really? I note that China is the largest producer of lab-grown diamonds, much of the power from coal fired power stations except this chart shows that the environmental impact of Chinas lab-grown diamonds is. you guessed it  tiny.

30

Under the heading No Wildlife Displaced31 former Tiffany & Co. CEO Michael J. Kowalski is quoted from an interview with the New York Times discussing  the treacherous consequences of mining . in a piece about Bristol Bay Mining. Only if you check the source article do you learn the 2015 article Gold isnt worth the price has nothing to do with diamond mining and is solely about Bristol Bay Mining which is a copper/gold mine project in Alaska.

Diamond Foundry retail partner The Clay Pot in New York State tells their customers that  a large portion of diamonds are anything but 'conflict free'. The diamond industry has long been linked to human-rights abuses, child labour, ecological destruction, untraceable origin, and cartel pricing32 .

Ironically if this hasnt put you off natural diamonds completely, The Clay Pot directs you to a website called www.Diamondfacts.org33 which tells you that the trade in Conflict Diamonds has been virtually eliminated and then proceeds to discuss all the benefits natural diamonds bring to people in developing countries

Diamond Foundry also inform consumers that while their lab-grown diamonds have No Cartel Pricing, Cartel pricing is why mined diamonds cost more34 and point out that there is price collusion in natural diamond pricing (and how it works35. There is no cartel pricing in natural diamonds. If there was, the US and European competition authorities would be on the case before you can say This is horseshit. But The Clay Pot echoes the sentiment their lab-grown diamonds are 30-40% cheaper than a large, high-quality mined diamond will be pricey no matter where you go, because that is a commodity that is controlled by outside forces36 

Another Diamond Foundry partner, New York based Lori McClean fine jewelery goes straight for the jugular. Frankly, the modern diamond industry is strife with misery. A large portion of diamonds are anything but 'conflict free'. They can play a part in funding violence and war, human rights abuses, poverty, and the environmental damage resulting from mining techniques and practices37. After reading this, would your typical consumer even consider buying a natural diamond and why is that okay?

Diamond Foundry partner Verite also sells Canadian-mined diamonds and gemstones. We believe these options are beyond conflict-free and avoid the human and environmental toll of mining38. Its a rather obvious question to which an answer is not proffered. How does a Canadian diamond mine avoid the human and environmental toll of mining, but a Botswanan diamond mine doesnt or lets call it for what this is there goes another nail in Africas coffin.

Portland Oregon based Miadonna tell their potential customers, Despite what the earth-mined diamond industry wants you to believe, the mining, distribution and sale of conflict diamonds is a still a major issue that needs to be addressed. TENS OF THOUSANDS of men, women, children, and infants are being tortured, raped and killed by rebels who are known to still be using conflict-diamonds as a source of funding39. The fast growing De Beers Gemfair40 programme in west Africa connects artisanal and small-scale miners to the global market through digital technology and assurance of ethical working standards; it also ensures they received a fair value for their diamonds. My simple question is whether you think one if its members would feel that this sweeping statement of rape, torture and murder is today a fair way of depicting their product? I think not.

Connecticut based Clean Origin warns that Diamond mines are also vulnerable to collapse and explosion and workers often see increased cancer risk, hearing loss, lung problems, and other health issues as a result of their professions. In 2010, 33 miners in Chile were stuck below ground in a collapsed mine for 69 days41. Except, and I apologise if it seems a small point; there are no diamond mines in Chile and never have been. But Clean Origin are very clearAfter years of human suffering and ecological devastation, it is worth pausing to question why there would ever be a good reason to purchase a mined diamond. There isnt42.

Frugal Rings43, a Utah based online platform, informs consumers that mining is relatively expensive, but DeBeers has released public documents, for example, showing that their production costs (per carat) for mined diamonds hovers around $100. That means theyre being sold at retail for a 3,000% to 5,000% markupnot bad (for DeBeers)44 . 5,000%? Well, in 2019 De Beers average cost was USD96 per carat45 and the realised selling price was USD132 per carat. A 5,000% mark-up on the cost of a diamond implies that a diamond sold at retail for USD5,000 only cost USD1 to mine, or put that another way, De Beers average diamond costing USD96 per carat to mine sells at retail for USD480,000 per carat. Really?! Someone may be smoking something  but when I checked, marijuana is only legal in Utah for medicinal purposes.

US lab-grown diamond retailer ADA Diamonds seems to make the argument that consumers have been misled by mining companies to believe that lab-grown diamonds are cheaper to produce than natural diamonds46 the marginal cost to grow each diamond in a laboratory will always be greater than the cost for De Beers and other mining operations to dig diamonds out of the Earth47. If ADA Diamonds meant that it costs more to grow a 2-carat lab-grown diamond than to recover a 0.01-carat natural diamond, that probably true. But the website doesnt say that. Is it more expensive to grow a 1-carat lab-grown diamond than to recover a 1 carat natural diamond? Put simply. NO.

 and so on and so forth goes the anti-natural diamond narrative, and while these examples are of some US lab-grown companies, they arent on their own. Its time it stopped, and I suspect consumers and everyone else in the diamond industry, would agree.





Richard Chetwode runs a diamond consultancy business. He is also Chairman of Namibian Diamond Mining Company Trustco Resources, is Chairman of the Advisory Board of Australian technology company www.Yourdiamonds.com as well as holding other non-executive directorships and consulting to several diamond (and other) businesses. All the opinions in this article are his own.





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(mining.com) - Canadian Mining Journals Seven Questions series features accomplished leaders in the mining industry. This time, we spoke with Eira Thomas, president, CEO and co-founder of Lucara Diamond (TSX: LUC), which recently approved a $534-million underground expansion of its Karowe diamond mine in Botswana, known for producing large, high-value diamonds. Thomas has more than 25 years of experience in the mining industry focused on diamonds (Aber Diamond, Stornoway Diamond and Lucara) and gold (Kaminak Gold and Tectonic Metals). In addition to being part of the exploration team that discovered the Diavik diamond mine, she was named one of the World Economic Forums Young Global Leaders in 2008. Canadian Mining Journal spoke with Thomas about innovation in the diamond market, Lucaras pandemic response in Botswana, and how the mining sector can attract a more diverse workforce.
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low near 30F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 30%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low near 30F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
Investors surprised

The surprise expressed by investors was completely understandable because earlier securities companies were racing to announce the third quarter results and nine months of 2021 business results were evaluated as the most effective so far. Statistics from HoSE show that up until now, at least 14 securities companies have announced their financial statements for the third quarter with impressive results.

For example, revenue and profit after tax of Saigon Securities Company (SSI) reached VND 1,846.3 bn and VND 667 bn, respectively. This was an increase by nearly two times compared to the same period in 2020. For accumulated nine months of 2021, SSI recorded total revenue of VND 5,091.1 bn, up 53.3%, and profit before tax reached VND 2,062.6 bn, up 91.8%, over the same period in 2020. With this result, SSI has exceeded 12% of the profit plan for the whole year in only nine months.

Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City Securities Company (HCM) announced third-quarter business results with revenue of VND 906 bn, up 128%, and pre-tax profit of VND 397 bn, up 127%. In nine months, HCM recorded net revenue of VND 2,411 bn, up 124%. HCM also completed 90% of the year plan. Its pre-tax profit was more than VND 397 bn, up by 135% and completed 96% of the whole plan. According to statistics, nine month earnings per share (EPS) reached VND 3,027. Return on total assets (ROA) and return on the share (ROE) were 5.9% and 19.3%, respectively.

Previously, Viet Rong Securities (VDS) announced business results for the third quarter and nine months of 2021 with a growth rate of over three digits. Specifically, VDS recorded VND 227 bn in revenue, up 153%, and accumulated nine months reached VND 761 bn, up 193%. VDS also completed 144% of the whole year plan. Third-quarter profit after tax reached VND 73 bn, up 98%, and accumulated nine months reached VND 320 bn, up 539%, and completed 222% of the 2021 plan. This continues to be the highest profit achieved by VDS since it established. This was due to the huge profit of VDS in the third quarter of VND 698, and accumulated in the last four quarters at VND 4,163.

Notably, the list of securities companies reporting profits in the third quarter also saw the presence of securities companies struggling in difficulties. Many securities companies are managing to handle losses of previous years, such as DongA Securities Company (DAS), Saigon Thuong Tin Securities Company (SBS), and APG Securities Company (APG).

Stocks fall sharply

It can be said that the impressive business results of the group of securities companies are not difficult to explain, especially in the context that everything is supporting securities companies. The first is that the transaction value of the market has increased many times over the same period last year. Specifically, the average daily transaction value in the third quarter reached USD 1.1 bn, up 316 percent. This is the quarter that recorded the highest number of new account openings with 337,000 accounts. The second factor is that margin lending continues to grow, as securities companies simultaneously increase capital to take advantage of this attractive source of income. In this context, analysts recommend investors disburse into this group of stocks to wait for the third quarter business results.

Everything is in favor of securities stocks, but in fact, these stocks continuously go down to the surprise of investors. Many stocks even fell sharply, even though the closing date of the list to receive the right to buy bonus shares was near, as in the case of HCM. This stock code was continuously sold by investors and reduced in price until close to the ex-right date to buy additional shares, at VND 14,000 per share. This offer price was much lower than the market price before the ex-rights date of more than VND 50,000 per share, but investors still sold out. The selling pressure before the closing date of the list of shares entitled to receive shares also occurred with many other securities companies, including SSI. This stock code was pushed from the mark of VND 63,000 per share to only VND 60,000 before the ex-rights date.

For stock companies that have no share bonus activities during this period, the decline is even greater. According to statistics, stocks of the securities sector suffered an average price drop of 15% to 30% during the fall in October. Although this group of industries rebounded in the session of 27 October when the VN-Index established a historic milestone, many investors still suffered losses.

High expectations

Commenting on the recent price drop of the securities group, a senior investor in the stock market, said that the group of securities stocks adjusted after rising too hot, and many stocks increased two to three times compared to the beginning of 2021. With the rising wave, in addition to the expectation of business results, which is clearly shown in the third quarter financial statements, the bullish wave also comes from a greater expectation in the future when the T0 transaction was implemented in 2020. However, not all securities companies benefit from T0 transactions. In fact, only large securities companies, occupying a large brokerage market share, are the main beneficiaries of T0 transactions. With small securities companies, competitive pressure will be fiercer in the context that more and more securities companies with foreign capital enter the market.

In particular, the appearance of foreign securities companies also puts pressure on domestic giants. According to a leader of a domestic securities company, international experience helps foreign securities companies have the conditions and capacity to access new products faster, along with financial potential being a factor that helps foreign securities companies to be stronger and more daring in transforming into low-cost and attractive products and services to attract customers.

According to another leader of a securities company with investment capital from South Korea, investors are expecting too much from this industry group, and many people even expect this growth to last. Investors are optimistic about the long-term prospects of Vietnam's capital market, and that's why they are here. Although the market will not go up forever because the securities industry is a highly capital intensive business, it is trading at an average P/B of 3.6x, and ROE throughout the cycle is 11% to 15%. This is the reason investors can find better opportunities in other more attractive sectors.

Kim Giang
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 36F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 36F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
An 82-year-old Black woman who became a civil rights pioneer when she was arrested for refusing to move to the back of an Alabama bus in 1955 wants to end the case once and for all
Salem - Joanne E. (Roulier) Bomarsi, 81, of Salem, passed away Tuesday morning, November 16, 2021 in Peabody. Born in Salem, MA, Joanne was the daughter of the late Lionel E. and Alice (Frasier) Roulier. A graduate of the former St. Chretienne Academy in Salem, Joanne worked for many years a
A statistical method used by the U.S. Census Bureau for the first time in 2020 to protect confidentiality has made people and occupied homes vanish, at least on paper, when they actually exist in the real world
Charles Cam Miller sees the scar on his chest every day and remembers how, when he was 9, a bullet from Brenda Spencers .22 rifle pierced him from back to front.

He vividly recalls the sight of Principal Burton Wragg and head custodian Michael Suchar lying bleeding in front of Cleveland Elementary School in the San Carlos neighborhood.



For the record: A previous version of this story failed to mention that custodian Michael Suchar, who was fatally shot, was survived by a son in addition to a wife, who was mentioned in the article. The Union-Tribune regrets the error.

And Miller has never forgotten the horror he felt when he lay in an ambulance next to an inert Suchar and, as the ambulance rounded a curve, the custodian rolled on top of him, face to face.

It was 40 years ago, on Jan. 29, 1979.

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Spencer, then 16, armed with the rifle and scope her father gave her for Christmas, started picking off students heading to the elementary school directly across the street from her Lake Atlin Avenue home. Miller was one of her victims.

She fired 36 rounds. Eleven hit their mark  eight children and three adults. Wragg and Suchar died; the others, including San Diego police Officer Robert Robb, survived their wounds.

Spencer fired at the school for about 20 minutes and famously told a reporter who reached her by phone that she was shooting because I just dont like Mondays I did this because its a way to cheer up the day.

The flippant phrase inspired a hit single, I Dont Like Mondays, by Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats.

Michael Suchar and wife, Tina, left; Burton Wragg (Courtsey photos)

Her former defense attorney said the Patrick Henry High School student suffered from a broken home, an abusive father, drug use and hostility toward authorities and society in general.

Her standoff with SWAT lasted more than six hours. Officers found around 200 rounds of unspent ammunition in the house.

Spencer, who was charged in court as an adult, pleaded guilty in 1980 to two counts of murder. She was sentenced to concurrent terms of 25 years to life in prison. Nine counts of attempted murder were dismissed.

Now 56 years old, she remains in the California Institution for Women in Corona. After being denied parole several times, she is eligible for another hearing in 2021.

Hers wasnt the first school mass shooting in the nation, but at that time it was among the few in which more than two or three people died or were wounded. Two of the worst before the Spencer shootings  in 1966 at the University of Texas, where a gunman killed 17 people and wounded 31, and in 1976 at Cal State Fullerton, where seven were killed and two were wounded  involved adult male shooters.

As with any mass shooting, Spencers sniper assault on the elementary school changed the lives of the widows, the wounded, their families and a community. It might have even changed the nation.

She hurt so many people and had so much to do with starting a deadly trend in America, said Richard Sachs, a San Diego County deputy district attorney tasked with formally opposing parole for Spencer on several occasions.

Since 1979, the United States and other nations have seen a dramatic rise in the frequency of mass shootings and the casualty list.

A University of Southern California professor who has studied school shootings agreed that, while they can no longer considered new, they tend to cast a wider, more significant effect on society through widespread news reporting and posts on social media sites.

That shooting probably affected every person on that campus, Ron Avi Astor, a professor of social work and education, said of the San Carlos shooting. It has a very strong ripple effect; even if youre not hit by a bullet, that stays with you forever. Its like the ripple in a pond that goes through generations and a community.

The community may eventually have a hard time remembering the 1979 shooting. The school was sold and leveled, and new housing was built on the 9-acre site. A KB developer sign notes homes available starting at $700,000.

The developer installed a memorial, now at the corner of Lake Atlin and Lake Angela streets, to Wragg and Suchar. It includes a memorial paid for by people in the community.

KB homes were built on the former site of Cleveland Elementary School in San Carlos (Karen Kucher/San Diego Union-Tribune)

One ripple outward from the shootings sent fear through a third generation in the Wragg family.

The principals widow, Kathe Wragg, and daughter Penny made sure the parole board heard their opposition to releasing Spencer from prison. Both have since died, and two surviving sons dont like to speak publicly about it, family members said.

But Haley Wragg, who at age 26 wasnt alive when Spencer killed her grandfather, learned as a child to fear her release from prison.

I know there was a lot of turmoil in the family every time Brenda was up for parole, she said in a recent interview. I was so young I didnt really understand it. I felt really scared  like shed come after me. I felt like letting this person out of her cage would harm my family members even more.

Her cousin Valerie Stahl said she grew up not knowing much about Spencer until she hit college and Googled the incident. Stahl said her mother, Penny Wragg, never got the right help dealing with the murder of her father at the school.

Now I think its better to talk about it, Stahl said.

Haley Wragg said she decided to break the family silence by telling her grandfathers story on a video for Safe Kids, Inc., which develops school safety curricula and guides for parents.

My grandfather and the janitor threw themselves at the kids that were being shot at that morning, to save their lives, and in the process, lost their own, she said. I may not have grown up with a grandpa, but many children grew up to have their own families.

One of those children was Miller, who believes Spencer targeted him that morning because he was wearing a down vest in her favorite color: blue. Other children in down coats were targeted, too, and Spencer later was quoted as saying she enjoyed seeing feathers fly as she shot them.

Miller recalls that his mother had just dropped him off, about 8:30 a.m., and he saw the principal and custodian lying in the parking lot near some bushes. He felt a sharp pain and blacked out for a moment, then a neighbor girl helped him toward the school building. He and other wounded children were hustled to the auditorium to await an ambulance.

I lay in the cafeteria it seemed like forever, with a bullet entry wound in his back and a chest exit would, Miller said.

Meanwhile, San Diego police had raced to the school on reports of gunfire, children shot, then an officer wounded. Patrol Officer Ted Kasinak halted a garbage truck driver headed into the shooting scene and commandeered the truck. He drove it into the parking lot to serve as a shield while officers and school staff removed the wounded.

Arial photo showing Brenda Spencers home facing the school driveway and the trash truck across the school walkway to shield the wounded. (Jerry Windle, U-T File / San Diego History Center)

Right away a volley of shots started, then it stopped, Kasinak said. He took cover behind the truck as SWAT officers surrounded the Spencer house.

Officer Robb, wounded in the neck by a round from Spencer, was huddled behind a tree with other officers, Kasinak recalled. Robb was awarded a medal of valor for rushing forward to try to save those who had been shot.

SWAT Officer Jim McGinley said he took up a sniper position on a neighbors roof, his rifle trained on the Spencer back door. SWAT Officer Marty Duitz aimed his rifle at the front door, from the safety of a school room. They said they had a green light to kill Spencer if they had an opportunity.

But Officer Paul Olson, primary negotiator, talked to Spencer on and off by phone for hours, urging her to throw out her gun and surrender. He promised that a Burger King Whopper would be waiting for her.

Now 72, Olson has kept his report notes from that day. He said Spencer told him things like having shot a rabbit in the back of its head from 25 yards. She said the school victims looked like a herd of cows for gathering around the wounded, making them easy pickings.

Spencer came out of her house about 2:30 p.m., laying her .22 rifle and a pellet rifle on the ground, then boxes of ammunition. Kasinak and Officer Patty Bernathy drove the teen to the homicide unit for questioning.

Suchar, the custodian who died after being shot was survived by his wife and a son. Mike Guerrero, a financial accountant with National School District, worked for Suchar as a part-time janitor while studying at San Diego State University.

He said Suchar and the principal didnt get along all that well, but that day when Wragg was felled in the parking lot, Suchar didnt hesitate to run out and try to help.

All I can think was, his military training kicked in. Its your comrade and you assist him, Guerrero said. He noted that Suchar had been in the Seabees, a Navy construction battalion, during World War II and emerged with no battle wounds.

San Diego police officers Patty Bernathy and Ted Kasniak escort Brenda Spencer to homicide investigators after the shootings at Cleveland Elementary School in 1979. (Barry Fitsimmons/San Diego Union-Tribune)

Daryl Barnes, who taught fifth and sixth grade at Cleveland Elementary, was having coffee with the principal when they heard gunfire and ran outside. Barnes was narrowly missed by bullets as he dragged several children indoors.

Twenty-two years later, his son, Dan Barnes, also a teacher, found himself a target of Granite Hills High School shooter Jason Hoffman. Hoffman fired at him, but missed. Dan Barnes is now principal at Grossmont High School.

Daryl Barnes retired from teaching in 2001 and died in 2016. His widow, Karen Barnes, said her husband always believed that the Lord had protected him from Spencer during the shooting.

He always remembered that day, Barnes said. He always talked about that blood stain on the principals shirt.

Mary Rintoul remembers, too. She was Mary Clark then, aged 9, when she was shot through her lower torso and didnt know it. A quick pain subsided as she was rushed into the cafeteria, to safety. Other children lay bleeding on the stage.

I remember that fear; you dont know whats going on. We didnt understand why she was shooting at us, Rintoul said.

Police escorted them to buses to be united with parents at Pershing Middle School. Her mother discovered the bullet hole through her jacket zipper and in her side.

Rintoul suffered nightmares and got counseling. Her older brother helped her over a fear of guns by taking her out shooting jackrabbits when she was 11. She said she learned the gun wasnt the danger, but the person firing it.

Whenever I hear of school shootings, Im bothered because I know what those children are facing, Rintoul said. I stopped following Brendas parole hearings 25 years ago. I realized shed never have a realistic answer of why she did it.

Spencers former attorney, Michael McGlinn, who has represented juvenile offenders for decades, believes his former client didnt know what she was doing and no longer poses a threat to society. He was not hired to represent Spencer at her parole hearings.

She wrote him a letter in 2015, thanking him for his criminal defense work and noting, what I did was horrible so I dont really complain about the amount of time Ive done.

McGlinn believes Spencers accounts that her divorced father, Wallace Spencer, sexually abused her and that under his influence she began dressing as a boy and learned to hunt and shoot with him. Her father went on to marry Spencers 17-year-old Juvenile Hall cellmate but they later divorced. He died at age 87 in 2016.

The morning of the shooting, McGlinn said, Spencer drank alcohol and took her epilepsy medicine, Tegretol. When he saw her days later in Juvenile Hall, she was ashen, zombie-like in appearance, the lawyer said. After she came out of her zombie state (in prison) I didnt perceive her as a danger. And I dont today.

Sachs, the deputy district attorney who supervises the lifer unit to track the parole hearings of major offenders, disagrees with McGlinn. He noted that Spencer shot people 150 feet away with deadly accuracy, not as one under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

At her 2016 parole eligibility hearing, she cried frequently demonstrating emotional instability, Sachs said.

She claimed she wasnt trying to kill anybody, she was just shooting, he said. What she did was so awful, shooting at children. We feel a life sentence is only fair for someone guilty of all those things.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @pdrepard
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  World leaders turned up the heat and resorted to end-of-the-world rhetoric Monday in an attempt to bring new urgency to sputtering international climate negotiations.

The metaphors were dramatic and mixed at the start of the talks, known as COP26. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described global warming as a doomsday device strapped to humanity. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told his colleagues that humans are digging our own graves. And Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, speaking for vulnerable island nations, added moral thunder, warning leaders not to allow the path of greed and selfishness to sow the seeds of our common destruction.

Amid the speeches, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his coal-dependent country will aim to stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2070  two decades after the United States and at least 10 years later than China. Modi said the goal of reaching net zero by 2070 was one of five measures India planned to undertake to meet its commitments under the Paris climate accord.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel avoided soaring rhetoric and delved into policy.

"Theres no more time to sit back," Biden said in a more measured warning that also apologized for his predecessor's decision to temporarily pull the U.S. out of the historic 2015 Paris agreement, something he said put the country behind in its efforts. Every day we delay, the cost of inaction increases.

In a recorded welcome message, Queen Elizabeth II said she hoped the conference would be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment."

History has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope, she said in the video, which was recorded on Friday at Windsor Castle.

One of the United Nations biggest concerns is that some countries are more focused on amorphous long-term net-zero goals instead of seeking cuts this decade that could prevent temperature increases that would exceed the Paris goal.

Modi also outlined shorter-term goals for the worlds third-biggest carbon emitter: raising its goal for non-fossil energy production, meeting half of its energy needs with renewable sources, cutting carbon emissions by 1 billion tons compared with previous targets and reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by 45%  all by 2030.

While 2070 sounds far off for Indias pledge, four outside experts from think tanks and universities said India's new short- and long-term goals are significant, while not huge, because of that nation's development status. Ulka Kelkar, who directs India climate policy analysis for the World Resource Institute, said a lot depends on details, but the 2070 goal would be similar to the U.S. and Europe adopting net-zero goals 20 years ago.

Still, European officials privately expressed disappointment at Indias late target, but declined to comment publicly.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen touted already announced efforts to make Europe the first net-zero continent in the long-term and cut emissions 55% in this decade. She pushed for other rich countries to aid poorer nations as much as Europe does and put a price on carbon emissions because nature cannot pay that price anymore.

Bolivia President Luis Arce said the speeches from developed countries sought to portray them as climate change leaders but this is far from the truth. He said rich nations need to face their historic responsibilities for causing the warming problem and not fix it by forcing rules on poor countries. The real solution, he said, is an alternative to capitalism and unfettered consumerism.

Johnson pointed out that the 130-plus world leaders gathered for the leaders' summit portion of the conference had an average age of over 60, while the generations most harmed by climate change arent yet born.

Outside the negotiations, youth climate activist Greta Thunberg accused world leaders of pretending to take our future seriously.

Change is not going to come from inside there, Thunberg said, We say no more blah, blah, blah.

The conference aims to get governments to commit to curbing carbon emissions fast enough to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planets ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say. With every tenth of a degree of warming, the dangers soar faster, they say.

The other goals for the meeting are for rich nations to give poor nations $100 billion a year in climate aid and to reach an agreement to spend half of the money to adapt to worsening climate impacts.

But Mottley, of Barbados, warned that negotiators are falling short.

"This is immoral and it is unjust," Mottley said. "Are we so blinded and hardened that we can no longer appreciate the cries of humanity?"

We are already gasping for survival, chimed in President Wavel John Charles Ramkalawan of the Seychelles, another island nation. Tomorrow is not an option for it will be too late.

Guterres struck an equally gloomy note.

We are digging our own graves, said the U.N. secretary-general. Our planet is changing before our eyes  from the ocean depths to mountaintops, from melting glaciers to relentless extreme weather events.

The speeches will continue through Tuesday, then the leaders will leave.

The idea is that they will do the big political give-and-take, setting out broad outlines of agreement, and then have other government officials hammer out the details. Thats what worked to make the historic 2015 Paris climate deal a success, former U.N. Climate Secretary Christiana Figueres told The Associated Press.

For heads of state, it is actually a much better use of their strategic thinking, Figueres said.

Thousands lined up in a chilly wind in Glasgow on Monday to get through a bottleneck at the entrance to the venue. But what will be noticeable are a handful of major absences.

Xi Jinping, president of top carbon-polluting nation China, is not in Glasgow. Figueres said his absence is not that significant because he isn't leaving the country during the pandemic and his climate envoy is a veteran negotiator.

Biden has chided China and Russia for their less-than-ambitious efforts to curb emissions and blamed them for a disappointing statement on climate change at the end of the meeting of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies in Rome this weekend.

Perhaps more troublesome for the U.N. summit is the absence of several small nations from the Pacific islands that couldnt make it because of COVID-19 restrictions and logistics. Thats a big problem because their voices relay urgency, Figueres said.

In addition, the heads of several major emerging economies beyond China are also skipping Scotland, including those from Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. That leaves Modi the only leader present from the so-called BRICS nations, which account for more than 40% of global emissions.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless, Frank Jordans and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A year and a half past the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement creating awareness of just how badly this country leaves its Black residents behind, the lists of Black-owned restaurants make the rounds less frequently and the cries to support budding Black chefs quieted down. But for two of Seattles prominent Black-owned restaurants, supporting Black people in the industry is an ongoing, committed part of their lives.

Changing the systemic problems putting Black chefs and restaurateurs at a disadvantage requires a change from rampant gatekeeping to holding open doors. These two restaurants demonstrate how to do just that.

Andrea O. via Yelp

Osteria La Spiga

In February, Osteria La Spiga chef and co-owner Sabrina Tinsley started the restaurants Future of Diversity Guest Chef Series. Operating a one-off pop-up usually requires fronting a lot of money for ingredients, tracking down a space, and drumming up an audience, but this program does its best to make things as easy as possible for the BIPOC guest chef to come in and impress with their unique culinary stylings.

Natalie Evans of We Be JAMin Bakery cooked Afro-Caribbean food, Monica Wachira of Moniques Hot Kitchen cooked Kenyan cuisine, and in September winemaker Shae Frichette of Frichette Winery teamed up with Chocolatier Michael Poole of Hot Chocolat for a class.

La Spiga provides the space, equipment, and facilitates all the ordering, plus purchases all of the ingredients. The guest chefs then take home 20% of the proceeds from the night, plus tips and many sell their own products in addition to the food they make that night. On top of this, Tinsley interviews each chef on Zoom to make sure that pop-up customers get the context of the food and understand who made it and why. While you cant taste the food, La Spigas website keeps an archive of all the previous interviews.

Decembers version of the event is a pop-up Holiday Market on Dec. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at the restaurant. The previous guest chefs will sell their products, including spice blends, oils, baked goods, and sauces, along with various hot street foods, and raffle tickets for a basket full of stuff from La Spiga and the guest chefs.

Ezell's Famous Chicken

Ezells Famous Chicken

Siblings Faye Stephens, Lewis and Darnell Rudd now openly discuss the many systemic challenges they ran into as Black people trying to launch a business in Seattle. Beyond sharing their story of trouble getting loans and issues with city permitting, they hope to find ways to make it easier for todays Black entrepreneurs to follow a similar path. In September, the company announced its Rudds R.U.B.B. initiative: Raising Up Black Businesses. The beloved fried chicken chain paired up with food delivery service DoorDash to give away $2500 to each of 20 Black-owned businesses in the form of no-strings-attached grants.

The partnership came about when DoorDash offered a free promotion to Ezells in 2020 as part of their own efforts to support Black-owned business. But while Ezells was doing fine right then  takeout fried chicken being a pretty pandemic-proof operation  Ezells CEO Lewis Rudd took the opportunity to show how their support for Black-owned businesses could do even more.

The initial $50,000 ($40,000 from DoorDash and $10,000 from Ezells) got dispersed in October. While all types of businesses received money, the group included grants to local food business Fully Charged Allergy Friendly Baked Goods (formerly Dotz).

Ezells plans to continue the program in the future and is recruiting businesses to partner with them to fund it as an ongoing operation. But while the formal organization only launched this year, for those that know Rudd, this just continued his long tradition of supporting employees and community members as they start their own businesses.
PHOENIX (AP)  The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously upheld a lower court judgment that found the Republican-controlled Legislature violated the state constitution by including new laws banning school mask mandates and a series of other measures in unrelated budget bills.

The swift ruling from the state's high court came less than two hours after the seven justices heard arguments in the state's appeal of a trial court judge's ruling. The justices had hammered Solicitor General Beau Roysden with questions about the Legislature's inclusion of policy as different as dog racing and secure ballot paper in one of the budget bills.

The state constitution says each bill must cover but one subject with each item properly connected to others. Separately, the titles of each bill must reflect the contents and give lawmakers and the public adequate notice of what's included.

The decision will have far-reaching ramifications for the Legislature. Republicans who control the Senate and House have worked around that requirement for years, slipping policy items into budget bills. This year, the Legislature was particularly aggressive and packed the 11 bills that make up the budget with a hodgepodge of conservative policy items, some of which had failed as standalone bills.

The court upheld a September ruling from Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper that blocked the school mask ban and a host of other provisions in the state budget package from taking effect. Cooper found that provisions in three budget bills  including the ban on school mask mandates  violated the title rule. She blocked those provisions while allowing the rest of the bills funding education, universities and health to take effect.

She entirely struck down another budget bill because it violated the single subject rule. The Legislature had packed it with a conservative wish list of unrelated policy items including a ban on local governments imposing COVID-19 restrictions, requiring special security paper to be used on ballots, allowing the Game and Fish Department to register voters and a required investigation of social media companies.

Other provisions included a special committee to review the 2020 election, stripping Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs of her duty to defend election laws and handing it to Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich and converting dog racing permits to harness racing licenses.

Can you tell me, and this is a serious question, how dog and harness racing relates to anti-fraud ballot paper in order for us to find a single subject within SB1819, Justice Bill Montgomery asked Roysden.

Heres what I would say to that, Roysden responded. I would say the court should not start down that path 110 years into statehood.

Chief Justice Robert Brutinel asked why not, and Roysden said its not the place of the judiciary to enforce the single subject rule.

So, the single subject rule is just a suggestion? Brutinel asked.

Montgomery and other justices also questioned Roysden on the mask mandate ban, asking what it had to do with school funding. The constitution says appropriations are to be contained in legislation known as the feed bill, while directions on how to spend the money is contained in separate bills for items such as K-12 schools and health.

So how does ... the face covering mandate and the vaccination mandate or precluding a mandate, how does that relate to the appropriations, Montgomery asked.

Roysden said the Legislature believed mask mandates would cut attendance, but Montgomery and Chief Justice Brutinel were not persuaded and pressed him on how a ban on mask mandates specifically related to the spending in the "feed bill."

"What I'm hearing is it doesn't have to relate to spending," Brutinel asked.

It doesnt, Roysden said. Because its the legislature ..."

He warned of chaos if the high court upheld the trial court ruling.

Gov. Doug Ducey's spokesman C.J. Karamargin had called the trial court ruling clearly an example of judicial overreach made by a rogue judge. On Tuesday, he said "we are extremely disappointed in the ruling.

There are three separate co-equal branches of government, and we respect the role of the judiciary  but the court should give the same respect to the separate authority of the legislature, Karamargin said in a statement.

He also said Arizonans should have the ability to make their own health decisions free of government mandates.

Ducey has appointed four of the seven judges who heard Tuesdays case. Newly appointed Justice Kathryn King recused herself from Tuesdays hearing and an appeals court judge not appointed by Ducey heard the case.

In a case that raised the same issues, another judge on Tuesday blocked three sections of another budget bill because they violated the single-subject rule. Judge John Hannah left the rest of the criminal justice budget bill intact, saying they stand independent of the challenged provisions.

The city of Phoenix brought that challenge, saying provisions blocking a majority of civilians from serving on civilian police oversight boards violated both the title and single subject rule. The city also challenged a provision in the same budget bill that allows any lawmaker to request an attorney generals investigation into any written policy, written rule or written regulation adopted by any agency, department or other entity of the county, city or town.

Hannah wrote that the state constitution's framers knew that democratically elected legislatures sometime do not behave democratically, so they included rules on legislative process in the constitution knowing the judiciary would be called upon to enforce them.

Cooper and now the Supreme Court sided with education groups, including the Arizona School Boards Association, that had argued the bills were packed with policy items unrelated to the budget.

Coopers ruling cleared the way for K-12 public schools to continue requiring students to wear face masks to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. At least 29 of the states public school districts issued mask mandates before the laws were set to take effect, and some immediately extended them after Coopers ruling.

Arizona cities and counties were also able to enact mask requirements and other COVID-19 rules that would have been blocked by the budget bills.

Roopali Desai, the attorney for the school boards association, urged the court to affirm Cooper's ruling because the Legislature misled the public by not giving the public notice through the bill titles.

You look to see whether or not the challenged provisions are adequately noticed in the title or whether the title is misleading, Desai told the court. In this case, both are true.

In her court filings, Desai said Cooper relied on well-settled precedent and properly ruled that each of the challenged laws was passed in violation of the constitution.

Nothing in Tuesday's rulings prevents the Legislature from trying to reenact the stricken laws in the next Legislative session.
LONDON (AP)  Queen Elizabeth II urged world leaders attending the U.N. climate summit to rise above the politics of the moment," saying in a video message Monday that she hoped they could work together for the sake of future generations.

The 95-year-old monarch had been expected to attend the Glasgow meeting, but she had to cancel the trip after doctors said she should rest and not travel. The queen recently underwent medical checks and spent the night at a London hospital -- her first hospital stay in years.

In the video message, recorded last week at Windsor Castle and played Monday during a welcoming reception for presidents and prime ministers, the queen said many people hoped leaders at the summit recognize that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.

I, for one, hope that this conference will be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship, she said. History has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope."

In a tribute to Prince Philip, my dear late husband, the queen said she was happy to welcome the delegates because the environment was a subject close to Philips heart. In a rare public display of emotion, she said she could not be more proud that Philips environmental efforts live on through the work of their eldest son, Prince Charles, and his son Prince William.

The monarch, who has reigned for 70 years, closed with a poignant line about future generations.

Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today: we none of us will live forever, she said. But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our childrens children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.

The queen has long enjoyed robust health, but her health recently became the subject of headlines after she reluctantly accepted medical advice to cut back on her busy schedule and stick to desk-based duties and virtual audiences for two weeks.

In late October she cancelled a two-day trip to Northern Ireland, but palace officials said it was her firm intention to attend Remembrance Sunday ceremonies on Nov. 14, a major event on the sovereigns calendar.

Buckingham Palace said the queen stayed overnight in a central London hospital last week for preliminary investigations," in her first such hospital stay in eight years.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday that the queen was on very good form during their regular weekly meeting.
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A driver and his passenger died early Monday in Concord when the car they were in slammed into a light pole, officials said.

The crash happened around 1:45 a.m. on the northbound side of Port Chicago Highway, near High School Avenue, Concord police said in a news release.
San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin on Tuesday charged a San Francisco police officer with unlawfully killing an unarmed man at his home in a 2017 shooting that resulted in the victims death three years later.

It is only the second time in San Francisco that a police officer has been charged with homicide while on duty  the first case was also charged by Boudin, who has pledged to prosecute bad police officers. The new case  filed against Officer Kenneth Cha  marks Boudins fifth prosecution alleging excessive force by law enforcement officers.

Cha was charged with voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, along with enhancements for personal use of a firearm and infliction of great bodily injury.

He shot Sean Moore on the doorstep of Moores San Francisco home in the Ocean View neighborhood on Jan. 6, 2017, after responding to a call that Moore was violating a restraining order against noise harassment by pounding on a shared wall.

Moore, who had schizophrenia, and was then 42, was unarmed.

We rely on officers to follow their training and to de-escalate situations; instead, in just eight minutes, Officer Cha elevated a nonviolent encounter to one that took Sean Moores life, Boudin said in a statement. Sean Moore was unarmed and at his own home when Officer Cha shot him twice.

Scott Burrell, an attorney representing Cha, called Boudins charging decision surprising and disappointing in a statement Tuesday. He argued that Cha had lawfully fired his gun while defending himself and his partner against a dangerous and violent assault.

The defense attorney also noted that former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon had reviewed the same set of facts and declined to file charges against Cha. Burrell called the prosecution politically motivated, as Boudin stares down a potential recall.

Recall backers, who accuse Boudin of being too lenient on crime and criminals, submitted 83,000 signatures to qualify the recall for the ballot  roughly 32,000 more than required. The citys elections department had not finished counting and verifying the signatures Tuesday.

According to police, Cha and his partner, Colin Patino, showed up at Moores home and told him he was violating the restraining order. Body camera footage of the incident shows Moore, just outside his home and behind a metal security door, denying he violated the order, repeatedly cursing at police and ordering them to leave.

A few minutes into the verbal confrontation, Cha pepper sprayed Moore in the eyes, the video shows. Moore briefly retreated into his home before officers ordered him back out, where Patino soon struck Moore with a baton and Cha fired two shots.

The officers said they were injured as well, alleging that Moore punched Patino in the face and that Cha was kicked in the face. Former District Attorney George Gascon charged Moore with various crimes including assault on a peace officer, but a judge later dismissed most of the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

An appeals court affirmed that ruling in 2018, finding that officers violated the Fourth Amendment when refusing to leave Moores home.

Police Chief Bill Scott sent a message Tuesday to department employees, informing them that Cha had been charged and reminding them that he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Scott also sent notes from a town hall the department held after the incident, including a detailed synopsis and bodyworn camera footage.

Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said Cha deserves the right to defend himself against charges stemming from a volatile situation involving a hostile man.

Officers responded to a call for service and encountered the very hostile Sean Moore who was accused of violating a restraining order. We support Officer Chas constitutionally protected right to present his defense against these charges that stemmed from this extremely volatile incident.

In 2019, the SFPOA awarded Cha a medal of honor for his actions in another 2017 fatal shooting  in which Cha was credited with saving the life of a Subway sandwich shop worker who was being stabbed by a man who had refused to pay for his meal.

Moore was serving a sentence at San Quentin State Prison on unrelated charges when he died in January 2020 at the age of 46. An autopsy listed the cause of death as acute intestinal obstruction and severe abdominal adhesions due to remote gunshot wound to abdomen, according to the San Francisco Examiner, which obtained a copy of the coroners report. That report also said he had significant conditions that contributed to his death, including hypertensive cardiovascular disease; obesity; slight coronary atherosclerosis; diabetes mellitus; schizophrenia; and chronic substance abuse.

San Francisco agreed to a $3.25 million settlement to a civil rights lawsuit Moore filed against the city and the two officers, alleging excessive force and other violations. After he died, Moores parents took over the lawsuit. The settlement, negotiated with the City Attorneys Office and approved by the Board of Supervisors last summer, acknowledged no wrongdoing.

Attorney John Burris, who represented Moores family in the suit against the city, said he was pleased with Boudins decision to prosecute Cha.

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Its been a long time coming, Burris said. I always thought this should be a criminal prosecution, but there didnt seem to be much movement in that direction at the time.

Moores death could have been prevented if police had not escalated the situation, Burris said.

This really is a case that was initiated by the police, he said. If the police had de-escalated the situation, this man would be alive.

While Boudin decided to prosecute Cha, his partner, Patino, was not charged, said Boudin spokeswoman Rachel Marshall, because the statute of limitations for the charges he could have faced had expired before Boudin took office.

Boudin is currently prosecuting six police officers.

The first police officer that Boudin charged with homicide, Christopher Samayoa, had just graduated from the police academy and started field training when he shot and killed 42-year-old Keita ONeil on Dec. 1, 2017. The incident began with a pursuit, after police tried to stop ONeil on Highway 101 for allegedly snatching keys from a state lottery worker and stealing her white minivan.

ONeil fled on foot into a public housing complex in the Bayview. When he ran by a patrol cruiser driven by Edric Talusan, a field training supervisor, Samayoa, who was in the passenger seat, opened the side door and fired through the window, striking ONeil in the head. Police said ONeil was unarmed. Samayoa faces manslaughter, assault and other charges.

Boudin charged another police officer with assault, battery and other charges for allegedly beating a man with a baton.

A grand jury indicted a third officer on assault charges after he shot and wounded a man. Additionally, the district attorney refiled charges against two Alameda County Sheriffs deputies accused of beating a man with a baton in a Mission District alley.

Michael Cabanatuan and Rachel Swan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan, @rachelswan
A grieving wife has sued the San Francisco waste company where her husband worked as a financial controller, alleging the executives held a hostile inquisition that drove him to kill himself.

Gabriella Tabak said that her 45-year-old husband, Adam Tabak, was a stable, level-headed father of three before his meeting last December with top brass from Recology and their attorneys. During the meeting he was given no agenda and could not leave the room while Recology officials interrogated him over fraud and money laundering charges against a company executive, the federal lawsuit said.

The meeting took place over Zoom, according to a spokesperson from Recology.

Although the company did not have a scintilla of evidence that Tabak had participated in fraud, the complaint said, five figures of authority  including Recology Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Gary Chen and a team of at least four attorneys from the companys law firm, Morrison & Foerster  accused him of wrongdoing when they convened on Dec. 1, 2020.

The language they used was so threatening, hostile (and) oppressive, the complaint continued, that it sent Tabak into a psychotic breakdown in which he did not eat or sleep for three days and eventually checked himself into a psychiatric facility.

On Jan. 2, Tabak took his own life by stabbing himself in front of his wife and children, according to the complaint. He had been on medical leave since Dec. 7, and was scheduled to return to work on Jan. 4, it said.

Gabriella Tabak seeks unspecified damages for wrongful death, deceit, false imprisonment, negligent hire and supervision of the meeting participants and disability discrimination, among other allegations.

The tragedy stems from an indictment last year of Paul Fredrick Giusti, the former group government and community relations manager for Recologys San Francisco group, who was charged for providing more than $1 million in money and benefits to former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, in exchange for higher payments from the city to dump waste at a Recology facility.

Federal authorities arrested Nuru in January 2020 on a string of allegations, including that he solicited funds from Recology to benefit himself and other city employees.

This year, Recology paid San Francisco residents and businesses nearly $100 million, after a probe by the city attorney found the company had improperly increased its rates over the last four years. In addition to customer reimbursements totaling more than $95 million, the company paid a $7 million civil penalty and lowered monthly rates in April.

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That month, federal law enforcement officials indicted a second Recology executive, John Francis Porter, on charges of bribery and money laundering for trying to increase San Franciscos dumping fees to the waste management company.

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Robert Reed, a spokesperson for Recology, said in a statement released Tuesday that Gabriella Tabaks claims are utterly without merit.

Recology has never claimed that Adam was involved in the conduct that led to the U.S. Attorneys and San Francisco City Attorneys investigations, the statement read. Citing attorney-client privilege, it said the company could not disclose details about the meeting, but that the attorneys who participated conducted themselves professionally at all times.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
If the Supreme Court, as widely expected, strikes down New York states restrictions on carrying guns in public, there could be a proliferation of firearms on city streets. And not just in New York.

The law the justices will consider Wednesday, requiring a permit from local officers to carry a concealed handgun, is similar to statutes in seven other states, including California and the District of Columbia. Those laws are not directly before the court but are almost certain to fall if New Yorks law is ruled to be in violation of the constitutional right to bear arms.

Counties like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, with the biggest cities in California ... are going to have to allow more people to carry guns on the streets, said Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who has written extensively on firearms issues.

Out of about 10 million people in Los Angeles County, Winkler said, fewer than 400 private citizens are allowed to carry concealed firearms legally, reflecting the policy of law enforcement agencies in most urban areas of California to deny permits unless applicants have strong evidence of danger to themselves or family members. In rural counties, by contrast, the permits are issued regularly.

In states that require officers to issue permits to any applicant who is legally entitled to own a gun, between 3% and 5% of the population has concealed-carry permits, Winkler said. In Los Angeles County, that would amount to between 300,000 and 500,000 people.

It would be between 26,000 and 43,000 in San Francisco, and between 50,000 and 84,000 in Alameda County. Currently, according to law enforcement officials, San Francisco has issued only one concealed-weapons permit to a private citizen, and Alameda County has issued 300.

If the court strikes down the law, Winkler said, within the next few years theres a good chance that when you go into your favorite supermarket, theres going to be someone there with a concealed firearm.

And if the concealed-carry law falls, other laws may also fall in California, which has some of the nations tightest gun restrictions: bans on large-capacity gun magazines and on semiautomatic rifles and pistols the state defines as assault weapons; waiting periods and age limits for gun purchases, and a unique, voter-approved requirement of background checks for purchasers of ammunition.

The court could signal a willingness to consider challenges to those laws, inviting a flood of litigation and creating uncertainty about states ability to regulate firearms, said attorneys at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun-control organization based in San Francisco.

Most of the California laws have been upheld by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  applying the wrong test of constitutionality, said C.D. Michel, the National Rifle Associations chief counsel in California. But the Supreme Court, which in 2017 rejected a challenge to Californias permit requirements for concealed handguns, has changed.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who has accused his colleagues of treating the Second Amendment as a second-class right, now has company in Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, two Donald Trump appointees who expressed similar views as appellate judges. Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, another Trump selection, have joined Thomas dissents when the court left other state gun laws intact.

And now the court will review a gun law for the first time in more than a decade  the first since its rulings in 2008 and 2010 declaring that the Second Amendment entitles Americans to possess handguns at home for self-defense The vote to consider the New York law, upheld by lower courts based on the Supreme Courts precedents, suggests that a majority is prepared to interpret the amendment more broadly.

If I had to guess, I do think they will strike it down, said John Donohue, a Stanford law professor who has filed arguments with the court supporting the New York law. I am trying to convince anyone who can be persuaded not to do it in a way that causes an unusual level of disaster.

That depends both on the scope of the ruling, due by the end of the courts term next summer, and on the public safety impact of having more guns on the streets. That has long been a central issue in the gun-control debate, and it is sharply disputed in the New York case.

The question in this case is whether right-to-carry in such a nation increases crime. It doesnt, William English, an assistant professor of economics at Georgetown University, said in a Supreme Court filing by the pro-gun Firearms Policy Coalition. He said carrying concealed firearms in public, allowed by laws in all but eight states, has had no statistically significant effect on murder or violent crime rates.

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Donohue said numerous studies have reached the opposite conclusion. Between 1979 and 2014, he said in a 2019 analysis, the passage of right-to-carry laws led to an immediate increase in and worsening pattern of violent crime that was substantial and statistically significant, with immediate rises averaging 9% and increases of up to 15% within 10 years.

The Rand Corp. surveyed conflicting studies and said in an April 2020 report that evidence of right-to-carry laws impact on homicide rates was inconclusive but there was some limited evidence that such laws may increase violent crime.

But there is little dispute that the United States  whose 333 million residents own more than 390 million firearms, nearly half the worlds total  has more gun violence than other affluent nations. The U.S. gun homicide rate was 4.43 deaths for every 100,000 in the population in 2017, compared with .06 per 100,000 in Great Britain and .04 in Japan and China.

If guns saved lives, wed have a low homicide rate, Donohue said.

Those statistics are irrelevant to the current debate, retorted English, because other nations have different cultures and characteristics.

The Supreme Court case is New York State Rifle & Pistol Association vs. Bruen, 20-843.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Kayla Moore lost consciousness during a Feb. 12, 2013, struggle with Berkeley police inside her apartment and never woke up. The 41-year-old transgender womans death was ruled an accident, caused by acute drug intoxication, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Something similar happened to Rakeem Rucks, who became unresponsive while Antioch police officers pinned the 34-year-old to the ground outside of an apartment complex in June 2015. The official cause of his death was a heart attack probably brought on by methamphetamine use.

Roy Nelson Jr., 42, complained he couldnt breathe when Hayward police officers had him belly-down on the street in December 2015. He died the same night. His death was attributed to physical exertion and methamphetamine use.

In all three cases, coroners employed by Bay Area sheriffs ruled the deaths to be the result of something other than police violence, even when family lawsuits and outside autopsy reports claimed otherwise. A study released last month indicates theyre part of a broader national trend in which police killings are drastically undercounted in the U.S., renewing questions about whether law enforcement information can be trusted.

In California, the questions extend to the outsize role that elected sheriffs play in determining the cause of violent or unexpected deaths. In 48 out of the states 58 counties  and six out of nine Bay Area counties  sheriffs also hold the title of coroner.

Trust the numbers?

According to figures collected by the California Department of Justice, 936 people died in law enforcement custody last year, an 18% increase from 2019 and the most in at least a decade. Of the 180 deaths that occurred during arrest, 92 were determined to be justifiable homicides, 23 to be accidents and 12 to be suicides. Five were from other causes, and 48 are still pending investigation.

But a Justice Department spokesperson noted that the above statistics are self-reported by law enforcement agencies and probably incomplete. With regards to use of force incident reporting, its important to note that the dataset is narrowly defined and does not represent the totality of use of force incidents that occur in California, the spokesperson wrote in an email.

A recent study in the Lancet, a prominent medical journal, went further.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

In the study, researchers with the University of Washington compared death certificate information from the federal governments National Vital Statistics System against data on deadly police interactions from three open-sourced trackers: Fatal Encounters, Mapping Police Violence and the Counted, a project by the Guardian.

The researchers found a vast discrepancy in the official and unofficial counts: Of the 30,800 deaths they estimated to result from police violence from 1980 to 2018, approximately 17,000  or 55.2%  were not reported by the federal government.

The causes of underreporting vary, Eve Wool, the studys lead author and a researcher at the universitys Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, said during a Sept. 28 video news conference. Several are that medical examiners and coroners are often embedded within police departments, leading to conflicts of interest as theyre expected to report on the violence of the departments they may be embedded within.

The California State Sheriffs Association didnt respond to a request for comment Monday. Alameda County sheriffs Sgt. Ray Kelly, whose department investigated the Moore and Nelson cases, said the Coroners Bureau operates independently of the sheriffs side of the house.

We rely on professionals who work in that department to use their expertise, Kelly added. We dont get involved.

Controversy engulfed the San Joaquin Sheriffs Office in late 2017, when its chief forensic pathologist, Bennet Omalu, resigned after publicly accusing Sheriff-Coroner Steve Moore of interfering with his death investigations to protect deputies. The California Legislature responded by passing a bill that would have required larger counties to separate the coroner from the sheriff, but then-Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed it in 2018.

In most California and Bay Area counties  including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma  the sheriff and coroner remain shared positions. In Contra Costa County, for instance, the Sheriffs Office runs what are called coroners inquests any time theres a fatal incident involving law enforcement personnel.

In the case of Angelo Quinto, a 30-year-old Navy veteran who died after being restrained by Antioch police officers in his home last December, the jury concluded that Quintos death was an accident brought on by excited delirium, a term that isnt recognized by the American Medical Association and is often applied to fatal police encounters involving people of color.

Quintos family and its attorneys contend that police caused Quintos death. The Fatal Encounters website on which the University of Washington researchers partially relied lists Quintos cause of death as Asphyxiated/Restrained.

Black Americans were 3.5 times more likely to die as a result of a police altercation than white Americans, researchers found. Latinos and Native Americans also experienced higher rates of fatal police violence than white people. Kayla Moore, Rucks and Nelson were Black, while Quinto was Filipino American. All four were experiencing mental health episodes when they or others called 911 for help, according to civil filings.

Its always Black, brown and poor people who are most impacted by police violence, said Melissa Nold, a Vallejo civil rights attorney who helped represent the families of Moore, Rucks and Nelson at a previous law firm. And folks with mental health issues are also often the most vulnerable.

Civil lawsuits are perhaps the most common recourse for bereaved families who dont accept the official government record.

Nelsons family settled with the city of Hayward for $1 million in October 2019. Rucks family settled with the Antioch Police Department for $475,000 in March 2020.

If it werent for her race, Moores death would not have been counted in the University of Washington study, which did not have victim data for transgender people and Asian Americans.

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Provided by Moore family

In February 2013, Berkeley police were called to Moores apartment by a roommate who said he had been kicked out of their residence and that Moore was behaving erratically.

Two officers arrived and tried to handcuff her. They said she resisted and that it took six officers to subdue her. Moore stopped breathing and could not be revived. Her death was ruled an accident.

Her family members said Berkeley police knew of Moores schizophrenia and mental health history, having dealt with her before. They filed a lawsuit in 2014 alleging excessive force and citing a private physicians report, which determined that pressure on Moores chest contributed to her death.

After U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer dismissed the familys lawsuit in 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld that ruling in January 2020.

In an emailed statement to The Chronicle, the city of Berkeley called Moores death a tragedy, but suggested it had undergone a robust legal process. Her death was investigated by Homicide investigators, the District Attorneys Office and the Coroners office, and there were no findings of criminal conduct in the death, the statement read.

One of the people who helped raise Moore doesnt agree.

Police officers didnt just accidentally participate in the death of my child. They murdered my child, said Elysse Moore, Moores stepmother. Parents are not supposed to bury their children. Its been a nightmare.

To Moores sister, its also the predictable result of a system that doesnt count every lost life equally.

To not have police killings recorded as they should be is its own kind of tragedy and violence, Maria Moore told The Chronicle. What more can we grieve for?

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika
Family members have identified the victim shot and killed Saturday at a Gilroy city council members property as 18-year-old Michael Daniel Zuniga-Macias.

Police received calls shortly before 1 a.m. reporting the shooting at a large party outside a house belonging to Council Member Rebeca Armendariz, on the 400 block of Las Animas Avenue. The property sits at the edge of a tree-lined road, with a patch of grass and a cyclone fence separating it from Highway 101.

Three other people were wounded, police and city officials said in a statement issued Monday evening. Two remain in the hospital, while another was treated for injuries and released. Police said the victims range in age from 17 to 19.

On Saturday afternoon, police arrested 19-year-old Benjamin David Calderon in connection with the shooting. At this point, police believe there are at least two shooting suspects, and Calderon is one of them, city officials said in the statement.

Investigators from the Gilroy Police Department and the Santa Clara County Crime Laboratory seized two guns from the crime scene, along with other evidence. Officials said they have yet to determine whether the guns were used in the shooting.

Relatives of Zuniga-Macias were still processing their shock and grief Monday afternoon, and his great-aunt, Beatrice Macias, seemed to be choking back sobs when she answered a reporters call.

Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley said the violent incident had left residents stunned, upset and confused.

Its another senseless tragedy that leaves us dumbfounded as far as how to keep our family and loved ones safe, Blankley told The Chronicle.

A GoFundMe page launched to help pay for funeral expenses had earned more than $11,300 as of Tuesday evening. One donor, Richard Charvet, wrote in the comments that he had mentored Zuniga-Macias at Graduation Alliance, an academic program that serves as an alternative to traditional high school.

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He was a good kid who needed someone to believe in him, Charvet wrote.

Armendariz did not return calls or respond to a text message on Monday.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
Mark Winema / Getty Images/Mark Wineman / Getty Images

A young woman who went missing in Fairfield on Saturday was found dead in Monterey County the next day, and three people have been arrested in connection with her death, officials said.

Fairfield police said Leilani Beauchamp, 19, of Carmel was reported missing Saturday night after she left a Halloween party in Sacramento early that morning with two men who are active duty Air Force members. The men allegedly took Beauchamp to their home on Cascade Lane in Fairfield, where investigators later determined Beauchamp was killed, Fairfield police said in a news release.
In whats become a recurring theme this fire season, the Bay Area is facing another air quality advisory this week, as smoke from massive wildfires to the northeast drifts in and spreads a haze over the region.

So far, such stretches of moderate air quality have not come close to last years horrendous stretches of bad air, which hit some of the worst levels since officials started keeping records in 1999. The advisory issued for Thursday and Friday by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District indicates that air quality wont dip below federal health standards.

Still, some people in the Bay Area have been complaining this fire season of ill effects during extended periods of moderate readings on the Air Quality Index  between 50 and 100 on the scale set by the Environmental Protection Agency, considered acceptable but possibly risky for those unusually sensitive to air pollution.

But just how bad for your health is a span of days, or even weeks, with moderate air quality readings? The impacts of higher AQI categories, in the 150-300 range, are clear  theyre horrible for our health  but less is known about the relative risks of breathing moderate air for extended periods of time.

At the very least, according to pulmonary experts in the Bay Area, its probably not very good.

We dont have a lot of information about extended periods of exposure to moderately poor air quality due to wildfire smoke, because we havent had these kinds of conditions before, said UCSF pulmonary expert John Balmes. (But) they will be studied, I can guarantee you.

Experts say that at this point, they can begin to extrapolate from related kinds of research. For example, Balmes said a substantial amount of evidence indicates that non-wildfire smoke particularly in the moderate zone has been associated with various negative health outcomes, both in the short and long term.

In the short term, research has shown that non-wildfire smoke can exacerbate preexisting heart and lung disease, asthma and lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis or pneumonia.

Research has also found that living in areas with poor air quality in general can shorten someones life span, and that families who live closer to highways have a higher prevalence of asthma. A recent Harvard study found an association between wildfire smoke, coronavirus cases and deaths, but focused mostly on bad wildfire smoke days.

The long-term effects, Balmes said, are trickier in part because periods of widespread exposure to poorer air quality are still relatively new, and most of the literature on long-term effects looks at months and years of exposure versus days or weeks. But theres evidence that air pollution from non-wildfire smoke can affect cognitive development, the growth of lung function and mental health, particularly for children, according to Balmes.

A recently published Stanford study also found that several days of exposure to moderate air quality  or medium smoke days  had substantial effects on pregnant women, and increased their risk of preterm birth by 5%.

An entire month of moderate exposure increased the risk by up to 20%, said Marshall Burke, an associate professor of earth system science at Stanford who has been studying the health effects of poor air quality and wildfires.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Nearly a year ago, Burke and several other researchers at Stanford estimated that the pollution from a stretch of heavy wildfire smoke likely led to as many as 3,000 excess deaths in California in just one month, mainly among people 65 and older, and many of whom had underlying conditions.

Burke and his team called it the hidden cost of air pollution exposure.

At least part of the hidden cost currently seems to be a rise in preterm births, but much is still unknown about the other impacts of moderate air quality from wildfire smoke on our health, Burke said.

I dont think we should be surprised to find that even moderate exposure over a long time has negative consequences, Burke said. If we found something else Id be surprised, actually.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

With research ongoing, experts said Bay Area residents can take some steps to protect themselves during periods of reduced air quality.

For starters, always check the air quality in your area before you go outside, and be aware of more subtle symptoms that could indicate even moderate air quality has become an irritant, said Dr. Sharon Chinthrajah, a pulmonologist with Stanford Health Care.

Those symptoms could include headaches, eye irritation, sore throat without a cough, or even a rash or sensitive skin.

Researchers and pulmonologists still dont know whether long periods of moderate air quality are as drastically unhealthy as short periods of extremely hazardous conditions. For people with asthma who fall into the category of sensitive groups, even moderate air quality can be an irritant, Chinthrajah said.

It also might be prudent to close the windows and opt for a recirculating central ventilation system or a MERV 13 filter to make sure the air inside a house is clean and purified, experts said. Those who are sensitive to poor air quality might also try to avoid going outside for a long period of time even when air quality is moderate, added Balmes.

(For more information about how to check air quality in your area, go here. Also, visit The Chronicles Air Quality Map for real-time readings near you.)

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
The California State Historical Resources Commission voted unanimously Friday to recommend Berkeleys Peoples Park be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The vote comes about a month after UC Berkeley approved a $312 million plan to build housing there for students and unsheltered residents. The decision to potentially list the park as a historic site would not change the outcome for the proposed development.

The university plans to develop two buildings  one with 148 units for students and the other with 125 beds, at least half of which will go to the homeless  on the 2.8-acre site near campus.

Neighborhood groups have opposed the project, arguing that building housing at the park destroys the history and legacy of the site.

Harvey Smith, president of the Peoples Park Historic Advocacy Group, applauded the vote by the California State Historical Resources Commission.

We were very happy that the commissioners understood the important historical and cultural legacy of the park and acknowledged the loss of life during the struggle for the park, Smith said in a statement. The commission recognized the parks importance in the great social and political movements of the 1960s and Berkeley's extraordinary role in the history of that decade.

A spokesperson for UC Berkeley said in a statement that a listing on the National Register does not prevent the development.

In fact, listing a property on the National Register alone does not prevent any future development, the statement read. Accordingly, the listing of Peoples Park on the National Register is not incompatible with the universitys existing plans to build on the site housing for unhoused people; create urgently needed below-market apartments for more than 1,000 students; preserve a majority of the site, approximately 1.7 acres, as a revitalized open community park space; and to create a new memorialization of the parks past, meaning and legacy.

Anyone can nominate a property to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nominees are first vetted by the states historic preservation office  including the commission  and National Register Review Board before being forwarded to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., for final review.

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In 1969, the park became a battlefield after UC Berkeley cleared housing there to make way for dormitories. Activists fought the plan and ultimately won, keeping development from the property, even though a county sheriffs deputy fatally shot a man and then-Gov. Ronald Reagan brought in the military to occupy the area.

Smiths group and Make UC a Good Neighbor, another advocacy group, have vowed to fight UC Berkeleys plans for the park.

In July, the group filed a lawsuit against the regents alleging that their overall long-range plan for UC Berkeley failed to meet state environmental law requirements. On Thursday, the groups added the proposed development at Peoples Park to the July lawsuit, Smith said.

CEQA requires that UC mitigate the impacts of its massive growth on the community, Smith said. It is unfortunate that UC continues to dismiss community concerns, leaving us no recourse but to file these lawsuits.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Oakland city leaders invited housed residents and business leaders near Lake Merritt to tour a tiny home village Monday that will begin moving in homeless people later this month. The idea was to strengthen the bonds between housed residents in the area and those heading to the village to ensure its success.

The Lakeview Village, located at East 12th Street and Second Avenue, will house 71 people in pallet shelters who formerly lived in encampments. As Oakland struggles to build enough permanent supportive housing for its more than 4,000 unhoused residents, its increasingly turning to tiny home villages to provide shelter. While permanent supportive housing can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit and take many years to build, tiny home villages are comparatively affordable  each cabin costs about $7,500  and quick.

In addition to several existing community cabin sites, the city plans to launch another tiny home village later this month at Third and Peralta streets for about 40 people. The tiny home shelters are just one of several interventions as the city grapples with an increasing homelessness crisis.

Residents are expected to move into the rows of tidy, austere white structures before the end of the month. The structures, which have electricity, are basic with just a twin bed, but still a step up from the dozen tents that sit a few yards from the property. Those residents will have first priority to move into Lakeview Village.

The tiny home village was built on a vacant parcel where a local developer has approval to build 361 homes, including 108 affordable units, in two buildings, but the project is stalled.

Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, who spearheaded the tiny home village, said the open house was an opportunity for neighbors, business owners, faith leaders and others in the area to view the homeless shelter. As encampments pop up in neighborhoods, tensions often flare and the partnership among the community is key, Bas said.

The village will also launch a Community Council made up of unhoused and housed residents to strengthen those ties. The council will come up with a code of conduct for the site and work on different projects, including beautification efforts.

This is a supportive shelter project that is using public land for the public good, Bas said.

The winter is upon us, the rain is upon us, we need to get people off our streets and into these shelters, she added.

The nonprofit Housing Consortium of the East Bay will run the site and provide mental health, substance abuse help and housing navigation.

The city is using $2.4 million in federal COVID relief funds to build the village and to launch the separate tiny home village at Third and Peralta streets for about 40 residents.

Bas said city staff are currently meeting with the residents of nearby encampments to offer them a spot.

Each home would house one person unless the occupant wants to room with someone. Toilets, showers and wraparound services would also be available.

If a resident doesnt want to move into the site, the person will be offered shelter elsewhere before the city closes the nearby encampment, said LaTonda Simmons, the citys interim homelessness administrator.

LaChina Richardson, a resident at the homeless encampment on the same lot as the village, said she didnt want to move into the site.

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But Richardson said she moved into a past community cabin site, but returned to living on the streets because she didnt get along with her roommate.

Though Richardson said she knows the new village wont require roommates, she still doesnt trust it.

Robert Morris, a resident of an apartment complex near the site, said hes lived in the area for 14 years and has a vested interest in whether the village will be successful.

What I see here is dignity, Morris said pointing to the pallet shelters.

The long-term prospects for the site are unclear. The developer behind the more than 360 units approved for the property has been working to raise financing to break ground for more than six years. If developer Michael Johnson doesnt secure the funds by Feb. 15, hell have to return to the City Council for more approvals.

Until the developer is able to break ground, Bas said it is imperative the lot doesnt sit vacant and is used, even temporarily, as a homeless intervention. Johnson has also supported creating the village on the lot.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Umai, a hot dog haven that serves no less than 27 dogs and sausages, is expanding rapidly throughout the Bay Area.

The establishment has two outposts in San Jose and San Francisco, respectively, and is adding four more locations over the next several months. Hot dogs topped with kimchi and truffles are headed to Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco (December), Westfield Valley Fair on the border of San Jose and Santa Clara (late 2021), Sacramento (late November) and Westfield Oakridge in San Jose (February 2022).

Umais dizzying array of hot dog combinations include bratwursts topped with daikon radish and bonito flakes or a bacon-wrapped chicken dog with Swiss cheese and sliced pickles, served on buns made from a proprietary recipe. There are also Italian and andouille sausages embellished with house-made sauces. Surprisingly, vegetarians wont go hungry here: There are six veggie-based hot dogs available, and any dog can be modified. Umai used to offer gluten-free buns but doesnt at the moment; its been difficult to find a quality version, said owner Dat Thieu.

The restaurant is an Instagram hit  people are frequently posting shots of hot dogs with cheese pulls  and business boomed particularly during the pandemic. Sales increased by 30% in 2020 over the previous year and delivery tripled, Thieu said. He started getting expansion requests from all over the Bay Area, particularly malls.

Umai may be in high demand now, but it started as a tiny operation decades ago. In 1992, the original owners  the parents of a friend of Thieus  started selling hot dogs from a street food cart in San Jose after immigrating to the Bay Area from Vietnam. They made their own sauces and fusion creations, topping hot dogs with Asian ingredients.

Thieu got involved with Umai a few years ago on the side of his tech job. After Umai took off and the original owners sold the business to Thieu, he quit to focus on hot dogs full time. He runs the current locations in San Joses Berryessa neighborhood and at San Franciscos Westfield Centre.

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Thieu has immersed himself in the world of hot dogs. Hes constantly researching food trends and testing new flavor combinations. Umai has branched out into regional hot dog styles from Chicago, New York and Mexico, thanks to fervent customer requests. The hot dog spots best-seller is the Kyoto fire: a hot link piled with fried onions, habanero peppers, teriyaki sauce, jalapenos and furikake. Another hit is a giant, deep-fried mozzarella stick meant for dipping in the house-made sriracha ketchup or honey mustard.

For dessert, theres a deep-fried banana served in a buttered brioche bun to look like a hot dog. Its topped with whipped cream, caramel and chocolate sauce.

Whats wrong with expanding this menu out to capture the essence of hot dogs? Thieu said.

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
Last years Thanksgiving was a bonanaza for Bay Area restaurants, as families stuck at home with little motivation to cook bought takeout meals like never before. This year, fewer restaurants are getting in on the holiday action on Nov. 25, with the expectation that many home celebrations will return to some level of normalcy.

That said, plenty of restaurants also learned theres an appetite for excellent prepared dishes for Thanksgiving, especially in a city like San Francisco, where home kitchens are often small.

Expect to see a mix of traditional turkey dinners and more creative renditions of holiday favorites such as vegetarian savory pies and cranberry sauce jazzed up with kumquats, often packaged to be reheated at home. Many of these are set for large groups, but several others are designed for two or even one person. Meanwhile, some restaurants will open their dining rooms for in-person festivities.

Here are 20 restaurants serving specials for Thanksgiving, broken up by region:

SAN FRANCISCO

Brendas French Soul Food

If you dont mind doing a little cooking, consider a Thanksgiving meal kit from soul food favorite Brendas. Choose from turkey breast ($165, feeds two to five) or a whole bird ($330, feeds eight to 12); either way, the turkey is brined and ready to be roasted at home. The poultry comes with six sides, including andouille-cornbread dressing, buttery whipped potatoes and frozen biscuits that you can pull hot out of the oven. Cooking instructions and a foil roasting pan are included.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 23. 652 Polk St., San Francisco. https://resy.com/cities/sf/venues/brendas-french-soul-food/events/thanksgiving-dinner-kits-pick-up-sf-tuesday-2021-11-23

Cafe de La Presse

This Parisian-inspired bistro is closing its Thanksgiving takeout meal ($99, serves two) with a French accent: apple pie tatin with cinnamon-flavored caramel. Otherwise, the offerings are all-American: sliced turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and several other dishes.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 24. 352 Grant Ave., San Francisco. exploretock.com/cafedelapresse

Cassava

Serving the Outer Richmond, Cassava is offering a $225 takeout feast designed for a family of four. Theres a whole turkey, pumpkin pie and six sides, including marshmallow-topped candied yams, a classic green bean casserole and sourdough-cornbread stuffing with squash.

Preorder online for pickup Nov. 24-25. 3519 Balboa St., San Francisco. cassavasf.com/thanksgiving

Jaranita

The more casual sibling to waterfront Peruvian restaurant La Mar is creating takeout Thanksgiving meals ready to be reheated at home. The chicken package ($50, feeds four) is a great deal for groups who have no need for turkey. It comes with a whole chicken, salad, fries, fried rice and beef empanadas. Theres also a crispy pork belly option ($100 for four), with corn mash, sweet poatoes and sauces.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 25. 3340 Steiner St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/jaranita

International Smoke

Celebrity chefs Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry are rolling out a buffet for in-person diners on Thanksgiving, full of smoked turkey with truffle gravy; Wagyu prime rib with horseradish cream; and kid-friendly options like macaroni and cheese. The buffet costs $89 per person; kids 12 and under cost $39. For those whod rather celebrate at home, theres also a family-style takeout meal ($299, serves four) with turkey, several sides and an apple crumb pie.

Preorder by Nov. 23 for pickup or delivery Nov. 24-25 or reserve for dine-in Nov. 25. 301 Mission St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/internationalsmoke

Presidio Social Club

This Presidio staple is preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal ($345 to feed four to six) to eat at home. Theres a whole roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cranberry relish and your choice of pumpkin or chocolate bourbon pecan pie. Large-batch, barrel-aged cocktails are also available.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 25. 563 Ruger St., San Francisco. toasttab.com/pscthanksgiving/v3/

SPQR

SPQRs Thanksgiving takeout dinner costs an eye-popping $650, but it feeds at least eight people, comes from a Michelin-starred kitchen and sounds like quite the Italian-inflected feast. Theres turkey with black truffle gravy, a Caesar salad made of winter greens and baked mushroom-filled pasta with a marsala cream sauce. The meal also comes with four sides and choice of dessert, such as caramelized sweet potato cheesecake.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 24-25. 1911 Fillmore St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/spqr

The Morris

Who needs turkey when you can eat duck? Wine bar the Morris is selling its famed smoked ducks ($90 for a whole or $45 for half), ready to be finished off in the oven at home. Roasted veggies ($10), chocolate pudding ($11) and packs of fancy wine ($130-$260) round out the menu.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 21-22. 2501 Mariposa St., San Francisco. toasttab.com/the-morris-2501-mariposa-st/v3/

Provided by Daughter's Diner

EAST BAY

Brendas

See above for the Brendas French Soul Food listing. The restaurant is offering the same meal kit at its Oakland location.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 23-24. 4045 Broadway, Oakland. https://resy.com/cities/oak/brendas-oakland

Communite Table

One of the more affordable options for a small party of two, this Oakland restaurant is offering a turkey dinner with sides and dessert for $70 for two or $170 for six. Everything is designed to be reheated at home, including foccacia stuffing, a cheesy cauliflower-Brussels sprout gratin and buttermilk biscuits. Groups can also add more items a la carte, like a pan of macaroni and cheese.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 23-24. 4171 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. communitetable.square.site

Daughters Diner

A strong option for solo diners and smaller parties, Oaklands Daughters Diner is offering a takeout traditional feast that can be scaled down for $69 per person. The meal comes with roasted turkey breast and confit leg, plus five sides and dessert. The sourdough stuffing is flavored with chestnut and sage; the squash is topped with goat cheese, pomegranate and olives; and the typical pumpkin pie comes in a pudding format.

Preorder by Nov. 19 by calling (510) 309-1943 for pickup Nov. 24. 326 23rd St., Unit D, Oakland. daughtersdiner.com

Horn Barbecue

Act fast on this one, as the West Oakland barbecue stars Thanksgiving offerings are sure to sell out in the coming days. Get a whole smoked turkey ($150) with pans of macaroni and cheese ($45-$75), collard greens ($55-$75) and Horns excellent cheesy potatoes ($45-$75) for takeout. Or ditch the bird tradition entirely and go for a whole smoked brisket ($250) or slab of beef ribs ($120).

Preorder for pickup Nov. 24. 2534 Mandela Pkway., Oakland. exploretock.com/hornbarbecue

Rick and Anns Restaurant

This Berkeley staple known for weekend brunch is offering a lengthy a la carte menu of family-style Thanksgiving dishes ready to be reheated, from a whole roasted turkey ($130) to herb foccacia stuffing ($25) to mini sweet potato biscuits ($16 per dozen). Solo diners arent left out of the fun, thanks to a $40 individual meal of turkey breast, sides and a petite pumpkin tart.

Preorder by calling 510-646-0869 for pickup Nov. 24. 2922 Domingo Ave., Berkeley. rickandanns.com

Sabio on Main

Over in Pleasanton, Sabio on Main is planning a four-course, sit-down Thanksgiving meal ($80 per person). Diners get to choose among smoked turkey, braised beef short ribs, roasted salmon and mushroom ravioli for the mains. The vegetarian-friendly feast also includes butternut squash soup, salad and chocolate mousse.

Reserve for dine-in Nov. 25. 501 Main St., Pleasanton. exploretock.com/sabioonmain

Provided by Vine Hospitality

NORTH BAY

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Glen Ellen Star

This elegant Sonoma County favorite is rolling out a traditional turkey feast to feed eight people at home for $480. Groups will get a whole bird, chicory salad, sourdough-mushroom stuffing, caramelized Brussels sprouts in bacon marmalade and more. For dessert, theres a whole pumpkin pie and honey ice cream.

Preorder for pickup Nov. 25. 13648 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen. https://app.upserve.com/s/glen-ellen-star-glen-ellen

La Toque

For a sit-down, Michelin-starred Thanksgiving experience, head to Napas La Toque. The restaurant is serving a four-course meal ($98 per person), with optional wine pairings ($60) and a three-course offering for kids ($55). The full menu isnt out yet, but expect slow-roasted turkey and leftover turkey sandwiches to take home.

Reserve for dine-in Nov. 25. 1314 McKinstry St., Napa. exploretock.com/latoque

Left Bank Brasserie

The four-course Thanksgiving menu ($59 per person) from this group of French restaurants allows you to choose from three entrees: a roasted turkey plate with six classic sides; honey mustard-glazed pork with apple chutney and leek-potato gratin; or a vegetarian risotto starring mushrooms and squash. Butternut squash soup, salad and pumpkin pie round out the menu. Adding to the flexibility: Customers can order those dishes separately a la carte and enjoy them at the restaurant, or do takeout or delivery.

Reservations available for Nov. 25. 507 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. leftbank.com

Poggio Trattoria

Reservations are going fast for Sausalito Italian restaurant Poggio Trattorias Thanksgiving feast ($70 per adult, $25 for children 12 and under). The three-course menu stars roasted turkey with classic sides and a pumpkin cheesecake dessert. Diners can also choose a starter, such as a salad with green goddess dressing or butternut squash soup.

Reservations available for Nov. 25. 777 Bridgeway, Sausalito. poggiotrattoria.com

PENINSULA AND SOUTH BAY

Flea Street

This Menlo Park farm-to-table restaurant is offering a reheat-at-home turkey dinner, as well as a vegetarian feast, each priced at $100 per person. The main vegetarian entree is a deep-dish savory pie filled with Swiss chard and feta, with miso gravy on the side. Other dishes include butternut squash soup, wild mushroom brioche stuffing and brown sugar yams. Pies and large-batch cocktails are available separately.

Preorder by Nov. 17 for pickup Nov. 25. 3607 Alameda De Las Pulgas Menlo Park. exploretock.com/fleastreet

Left Bank Brasserie

See above for the North Bay listing. The same menu is on offer in Menlo Park and San Jose.

Reservations available for Nov. 25. 377 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose; 635 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. leftbank.com

Pasta Moon

A favorite for upscale Italian in Half Moon Bay, Pasta Moon is serving a three-course Thanksgiving meal ($88 per person) with choices for every course. In addition to turkey with classic sides, there are less traditional entrees like beer-braised beef short ribs, lobster and spinach risotto. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available, as is a separate menu for kids under 12 ($25).

Reservations available for Nov. 25. 845 Main St., Half Moon Bay. pastamoon.com

The Village Pub

Woodsides Michelin-starred destination is prepping organic turkeys of varying sizes ($125-$265) that are ready to be roasted at home. Build out the meal with traditional sides like mashed potatoes ($8) and Brussels sprouts with chestnuts ($8), which are available a la carte alongside whole pies ($38).

Preorder by Nov. 21 for pickup Nov. 24. 2967 Woodside Road, Woodside. eventbrite.com/e/the-village-pubs-thanksgiving-to-go-tickets-192440824687

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Historic Napa Valley winery Far Niente is fulfilling its promise to acquire more vineyards: The Oakville producer announced on Tuesday that it purchased the winery at Rutherfords Provenance Vineyards, which will become the new home for its Cabernet Sauvignon label Bella Union.

The new Bella Union winery space, which is located along Highway 29 and will include a revamped tasting room, is expected to open in 2023.

The acquisition follows Far Nientes major purchase of a Napa Valley vineyard in July, when CEO Steve Spadarotto said he planned to double the companys land holdings.

This latest purchase adds 38 acres (10 of which are vineyards) to its growing portfolio, bringing its total land holdings to 533 acres. The winery declined to disclose a purchase price for the Rutherford property.

With the Rutherford purchase, the winery is following through on plans to expand its Cabernet footprint in Napa.

Bella Union, one of six wine brands that make up the Far Niente portfolio, initially sourced most of its grapes from a 25-acre vineyard on Bella Oaks Lane, a short distance from the Provenance Vineyards property. It has since expanded to source from vineyards in Calistoga, Oak Knoll and Yountville, but its primary source is currently DeCarle Vineyard, located adjacent to the Provenance property.

We are always on the lookout for opportunities like this that strategically complement our portfolio, said Spadarotto in an email to The Chronicle.

The winerys first harvest at this new facility will take place in 2022. Meanwhile, Lodis Thomas Allen Wine Estates has purchased the inventory and brand from Provenance Vineyards to complement its Hook or Crook Cellars brand. Thomas Allen is primarily known for its affordable wines from the Lodi area.

Far Nientes recent expansion push sets it apart from other large wine companies, which are focused on purchasing major brands rather than land.

Aside from Bella Union, the winery operates the eponymous Far Niente label, Nickel & Nickel, dessert wine brand Dolce, EnRoute, and the relatively new Post & Beam. Bellas Cabernet Sauvignon starts retailing at $80 a bottle on its website, though it is offered at other retailers starting at just under $50.

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Far Niente was founded in Oakville, in 1885, by gold-rusher John Benson, an uncle of noted American landscape painter Winslow Homer.

The winery closed during Prohibition and sat vacant until 1979, when Gil and Beth Nickel purchased and restored it.

The Nickel family still has an ownership stake in the company. The brand is best known for its Napa Valley Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons.

Up next, Far Niente hopes to add more Cabernet vineyards in Napa to its portfolio and is looking to open a tasting room for its Pinot Noir brand EnRoute, according to Spadarotto.

This story has been updated with new information from Spadarotto.

Tanay Warerkar is the San Francisco Chronicles assistant food & wine editor. Email: tanay.warerkar@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @TanayWarerkar
Customers at Anh Hong, a Vietnamese restaurant that Michael Le helped his family open in Milpitas in 1999, were always ordering Asian beers. There was just one problem. In the restaurants early years, there were only a few choices available: Beer 33, Singha, Kirin, Saigon and Tsingtao. None of them were made by craft breweries. And they were all one-note, light lagers.

Le, whose family runs several Anh Hong locations throughout the Bay Area, wanted to pair the restaurants Vietnamese food like the Ca Kho To, sweet and salty catfish cooked in a clay pot, with flavorful, full-bodied beer, but there werent any Asian examples he could source.

He had the same issue at the Thai-Laotian restaurant, Dara Thai Lao Cuisine, that he opened with his wife, Daovone Xayavong, in Berkeley. (That restaurant has since closed.) Lao food in particular is very rich, and when I say rich, I mean we use ingredients that are very strong flavors like fish sauce and fermented fish paste, says Le. The food needed beer that had a lot of body and hop aroma, but not as much bitterness as was found in many American craft beers, like IPAs.

Thats when Le decided to start making beer of his own.

Two decades later, Le is still making beer, and what started as a home-brewing hobby is now a full-fledged business, Asian Brothers Brewing.

Clara Mokri/Special to The Chronicle

Le and Xayavong are producing some of the Bay Areas most personal craft beers. They are unique not only because they are designed to pair with Vietnamese, Laotian and other Southeast Asian cuisines; theyre also notable because each beer tells a story on the label  specifically, the stories of the Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Mien, Hmong and Laotian refugees who fled the region in the late 70s and early 80s.

The reasons these refugees fled are varied. In Vietnam, there were re-education camps and hard labor after the communist victory. In Cambodia, some were escaping the brutal regime under the Khmer Rouge. Those stories are personal for Le and Xayavong, who are refugees themselves  he from Vietnam, she from Laos. (The couple declined to talk about the specific reasons they fled their native countries.)

Each Asian Brothers beer is named for a different historical event or cultural story. The Vietnamese-inspired beers focus on the bookends of the war. The 54 Saigon Street Beer commemorates the year American forces first arrived in South Vietnam, a year that has special significance for the Le family since it was the year his grandparents opened the original Anh Hong restaurant, in Saigon. The 75 Tropical IPA, meanwhile, marks the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam. The labels are meant to be a reminder of the devastating effects this conflict had on Les home region.

Pilsner the Bull is a Hmong-style pilsner dedicated to the people without a country, without a flag, the label says. The Cambodian Player is a wheat beer meant to illuminate the value of friendship in Cambodian culture. Thai Warrior lager pays homage to the determination required of Thai boxers.

Clara Mokri/Special to The Chronicle

Some of the beers tell more general tales, like the Lao Jungle IPA, which nods to the Southeast Asian refugees who fled on foot and made their way to Thailand through the jungles of Laos. It is about the sense of community that developed despite the hardship.

Although Le and Xayavong have been brewing professionally for 14 years, the name Asian Brothers Brewing, and this approach to narrative-driven beers, is new.

Initially, in 2007, the couple called their brewery Cedar Alehouse, since they brewed on Cedar Street in Berkeley. In 2017 they moved the brewery to Sacramento, next door to a new Anh Hong outpost. At that point, they were, in a sense, a typical California craft brewery, making popular styles like IPAs and hefeweizens. The beers werent expressly tied to their Southeast Asian identity, though they did sell the kegs at the family restaurants, Anh Hong and Dara Thai Lao.

For Cedar Alehouse, the taproom business was tough: brewery competition, high overhead and disappointing sales forced them to close in 2018. At a goodbye party they threw, Le kept hearing his friends offer reassurances to him like, Were Asian, man, were brothers, dont worry. The words Asian brothers echoed in his head. He looked around and saw Hmong, Lao and Vietnamese friends, many of them refugees like him.

That was the moment when everything fell into place, says Le, who decided right then to stay in the brewery business, renaming his label as Asian Brothers Brewing and committing to a new approach around narrative-driven beers. It wasnt enough to just make beer; Le needed to make beer that had a special significance for him, Xayavong and their community. We have stories to tell about our Asian culture, he says.

Clara Mokri/Special to The Chronicle

The nascent Asian Brothers Brewing business fell on hard times again when the pandemic hit. It had been producing all its beer in kegs, selling them through restaurants; when restaurants were shut down, the brewerys sales went to zero. But Le figured out a way to produce bottled beer, which could still reach customers even while they were in quarantine. He partnered with Byron Moles of Santa Maria Brewing in Atascadero (San Luis Obispo County) to produce the bottles.

As sales of bottles increased last year, Le and Xayavong made the tough decision to get out of the restaurant business to focus on beer, with a goal of eventually building a new brewery in Isleton, located in the delta of Sacramento County. In the meantime, bottle production coming out of Santa Maria Brewing will continue.

For Le and Xayavong, making Asian craft beer means developing recipes that pair well with various types of Asian food, along with the stories on the labels.

To do that, theyve had to look beyond lagers, the beer style most commonly found in Southeast Asia. We never had beer until the Europeans and Americans brought it to Southeast Asia, and we only knew lagers for the longest time, says Le. But he thinks that fuller-flavor styles like IPAs, wheat beers, ales and stouts can pair well with Asian food, too. We have to manage with the hops and the malt to create the fragrances and flavors that we were looking for, says Le.

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By starting with a dish like Bo Tai Chanh,a dish of thinly sliced beef tenderloin topped with herbs, peanuts and a citrus dressing, Le could taste that a lager, which is often made partly from bland-tasting corn or rice as opposed to being entirely based on more flavorful malted barley, simply got lost alongside the bold notes of the food. The dish needed a beer with more substance. The 54 Saigon Street Beer, an ale that tastes crisp, clean and malty, complements the beefs meaty, nutty and acidic notes.

Clara Mokri/Special to The Chronicle

Bitterness is something that Le and Xayavong had to tinker with. Many California breweries make intensely hoppy, and therefore bitter, beers, but too much bitterness can overpower a dish. Le noticed, for example, that the bitterness of IPAs was clashing with Thai red and green curry. Hes tried to brew beers that retain the heavy hop aromas IPAs are known for but lowered the actual bitterness in the taste. The resulting Asian Brothers Thai IPA has a freshness and malty heft, with tropical aromas of orange and grapefruit. Its delicate, citrusy bitterness works well with pad thai.

The 75 Tropical IPA is aromatic and malty with a light, fruity bitterness that harmonizes with hearty, spicy dishes. Its fruity hop flavors work nicely with the herbs found in Com Tam Suon Bi Cha, a Vietnamese rice plate served with grilled pork and a steamed egg custard, while the beers gentle bitterness matches the char of the pork

Asian Brothers Lao Jungle IPA has bold malt strength with a floral, herbal hoppiness that recalls lemongrass and mint, a great foil for the fish paste and spicy chiles found in Laotian dishes like Tum Maak Hoong, the fiery Laotian version of papaya salad. Those aromas also suit Vietnamese dishes like Bo La La Lot, a small cigar-shaped roll of ground beef that is wrapped in a fragrant leaf and grilled. Eaten by wrapping one in lettuce with herbs, the dish has verdant flavors that recall the lush jungle of Laos.

The stories of Southeast Asias refugees now include a new generation. The couples granddaughter recently asked them what her heritage is. Le is Vietnamese, Xayavong is Laotian, and her mother is Filipina. Le told her she was part of the jungle people, those who met escaping and banded together.

Its not just our story, says Le.

Lou Bustamante is a Bay Area freelance writer. Email: food@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thevillagedrunk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday recommended all children ages 5 to 11 get vaccinated against COVID-19, a move long anticipated by millions of parents whose kids could start getting shots as early as Wednesday.

The CDC approval came hours after an advisory panel enthusiastically endorsed vaccination for children in the age group. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said in a statement that with the official recommendation, the United States has taken another important step forward in our nations fight against the virus that causes COVID-19.

The approval gives a formal green light to the Pfizer vaccine authorized for young children by the Food and Drug Administration last week. The first shots could be administered in California on Wednesday or Thursday, after a Western states advisory group weighs in.

The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices found that the benefits of vaccinating the young age group outweighed the risk of potential side effects. All 14 panel members attending Tuesdays meeting voted in favor of recommending the vaccine.

We have one more vaccine that saves the lives of children. We should be confident to use it to the maximum, said Dr. Sarah Long, a pediatrician with Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and a member of the advisory committee.

The vaccine will be given to 5- to 11-year-olds in a dose a third the size of that given to older kids and adults. Children, like adults, get two shots spaced three weeks apart. Children who turn 12 between their first and second shot may get either the smaller dose or the adult-sized dose.

The Biden administration has said it is prepared to launch a large-scale rollout to the nations 28 million 5- to 11-year-olds next Monday, but many providers already have vaccine supply on hand and were ready to administer it right away.

Bay Area providers were expected to start giving shots to 5- to 11-year-olds later this week. Counties reported they had already received vaccine supply for the age group, and most had started organizing clinics  some opening this weekend  for young children.

Kids who get their first shots within the next week or two should be fully vaccinated ahead of the major winter holidays, which should be a bonus for families planning to travel or attend festive get-togethers, pediatricians said.

Its tremendous relief, and a tremendous moment for celebration, said Dr. Jenna Holmen, a UCSF pediatrician. She said many parents have been clamoring for a vaccine for younger children, mostly to prevent serious illness but also to help the kids get back to normal life. After watching the impacts on kids  both medically and mentally  with this pandemic, its huge to have this. Eliminating the fear and returning to life is really critical at this point.

The CDC advisory panel offered a much heartier endorsement of vaccines for younger children than its FDA counterpart, which last week had expressed hesitation over whether all kids would need the shots. CDC panelists said that evidence overwhelmingly shows the vaccines are effective and safe, and that widespread adoption by this age group could dampen further spread of disease, in addition to preventing hospitalization and death.

Its unclear, though, how enthusiastic parents will be about vaccinating little kids. A CDC survey, results of which were reported to the advisory panel, found that roughly half of parents would definitely or probably vaccinate their 5- to 11-year-olds. Many parents said they were concerned about long-term and more immediate side effects of the vaccine; about 10% said they did not believe COVID was a threat to their children.

We all have a lot of enthusiasm for this vaccine for this age group. But we also understand that parents have legitimate concerns and legitimate questions, said Dr. Beth Bell, a CDC panelist and professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington in Seattle. Our vote is a way of telling the American public that based on our expertise and the information we have, were all very enthusiastic. Were getting our kids and our grandkids vaccinated.

COVID is generally not as severe in young children as in adults, which has made the discussion around vaccines for them somewhat more nuanced, as doctors and health officials carefully consider potential side effects from immunization.

At least 8,300 children ages 5 to 11 have been hospitalized with COVID in the U.S., and 94 have died, according to the CDC; COVID was the eighth leading cause of death among the age group last year. CDC officials noted that those numbers would have been higher without mitigation efforts such as masking and social distancing that likely prevented many cases.

Clinical trials of the vaccine in that age group found no serious side effects, though health officials still have concerns about rare negative outcomes, including myocarditis, a heart inflammation disorder reported in teens and young adults. According to data presented to the advisory panel, no deaths from vaccine-associated myocarditis have been reported for any age group in the United States.

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The Pfizer vaccine was about 90% effective at preventing COVID in trials, and children ages 5 to 11 had an immune response similar to kids ages 12 to 17.

In a report to the advisory panel, CDC epidemiologists said that vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds could reduce national COVID case counts as much as 8% over the next six months. They also expect widespread adoption of vaccines could lead to fewer school closures and more opportunities to socialize and resume pre-pandemic activities for children.

San Francisco Unified School District officials advised parents and guardians to get young children vaccinated as soon as possible to protect their health and to prevent them from missing class due to quarantine. Lets keep our students in school and learning in person, said Superintendent Vincent Matthews in a statement.

A dozen fourth- and fifth-graders who attended a vaccine information session at Malcolm X Elementary School in the Bayview on Tuesday seemed mostly curious  though at times concerned  about the prospect of vaccination. If I get the shot, can I still get COVID? asked one 9-year-old. Why should we get the vaccine if we could still get COVID? said another.

A panel of adults  including Matthews, Board of Education President Gabriela Lopez, and Dr. Daniel Woolridge, a UCSF pediatrician  addressed the students questions. Woolridge explained everything from the risks of not getting vaccinated to how the vaccine would impact their bodies.

Oh! Oh! Now I can tell my parents! said one fourth-grader after learning about how the vaccine was made.

Those questions that you asked  many adults are still trying to figure out the answers to, said Matthews as the session was wrapping up. Those were outstanding questions.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Annie Vainshtein contributed to this report.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  A proposal to grant early release from prison to one of the world's most prolific serial killers has raised outrage in Colombia and a denunciation on Monday from President Ivan Duque.

Luis Alfredo Garavito confessed to killing about 190 children, most aged 8 to 16 and received more than 50 long sentences. Prosecutors said sometimes posed as a beggar or a monk and lured poor children with money and soft drinks. He later slit their throats, sometimes after torturing and raping them.

But Colombia limits prison sentences to 40 years and allows early release for good behavior after more than half a sentence is served.

The television program Los Informantes revealed on Sunday that the national prison institute had asked a judge in May to grant Garavito provisional release because of his exemplary behavior in prison.

A judge denied the request because Garavito, now 64, had not paid a fine for his victims of roughly $41,500.

I have profound indignation at the possibility that anyone would suggest that that beast leave prison," Duque said in Glasgow, Scotland, where he was attending the U.N. climate conference.

The national government neither sponsors or supports that, he added.

Garavito was arrested in April 1999 on an attempted rape charge, but when an investigating judge asked him if he was the killer of 114 children whose bodies were found in 59 Colombian towns beginning in 1994, Garavito admitted the crimes and begged to be forgiven. Then he confessed to 26 more murders.

``I ask you to pardon me for all I have done, and all I will confess. Yes, I killed them  and many others, he said in an excerpt from the videotaped confession broadcast by Colombian television newscasts.

Garavito showed the judge and psychologist his tally of the killings that he kept in a battered notebook, according to a leading newspaper, El Tiempo. Across the creased pages were scratched 140 lines  one for every victim.

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Later, while in prison, he confessed to about 50 other killings.

El Tiempo said Garavito told the judge he was the oldest of seven children and grew up beaten by his father, and repeatedly raped by two neighbors

He left home at 16, working first as a store clerk, then as a street vendor who sold religious icons and prayer cards.

Prosecutors said Garavito found his victims on the street, gaining their confidence with gifts of soft drinks and money. The victims eventually were found with their throats slit. Some had been tortured and raped.

The prison institute issued a statement on Monday saying it had acted in conformance with legal postulates by sending the documents to the judge.
CAIRO (AP)  Egyptian authorities arrested the suspect in a gruesome killing on Monday in a Suez Canal city, soon after shocking footage of the slaying set off an uproar on social media.

The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police force, said in a brief statement that the suspect had attacked a man in a busy street in Ismailia and beheaded him. The suspect had previously worked at a furniture store owned by the slain man's brother.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Hundreds of revelers clad in white and clutching candles crowded into the main cemetery at Haitis capital on Monday to pay their respects to the dead during an annual Vodou festival.

Many in the crowd surrounded the tomb of the first person buried in the Port-au-Prince cemetery, believing it contains the guardian of the dead, known in Haitian Vodou as Baron Samedi.

Im going to continue believing in Baron Samedi. He is my leader because this country has no leader, said Emmanuel Jean-Pierre, a Vodou priest who walked several hours to reach the cemetery because he could not afford public transportation.

The celebration comes at a time of deepening misery and violence for Haiti, which is struggling to recover from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck southwest Haiti in mid-August and killed more than 2,200 people. The country also is facing a severe fuel shortage, a rise in the cost of basic goods and a spike in gang-related kidnappings. Officials announced on Monday that a university professor who was recently abducted had been killed and U.S. and Haitian authorities are trying to recover 17 members of a U.S. religious organization who were kidnapped more than two weeks ago in an unrelated case.

Revelers offered candles and money to a Vodou priest dressed in black and wearing a white hat who stood upon the tomb as he carved a cross into the candles with his fingernail and murmured something under his breath before giving them back.

One man standing near the priest whispered, If you get me a job this year, next year Ill bring you more.

Nearby, people filled wooden bowls with plantains, fish, bread, avocados and anything else they thought their dead relatives or friends might appreciate. They also poured black coffee into the ground as an offering.

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Some even requested that the deceased share upcoming winning lottery numbers in their sleep. Others carried jugs of a moonshine rum known as cleren with hot peppers marinating inside.

Vodou is an official and widely practiced religion in Haiti, where it is practiced widely in the country of more than 11 million people. It was born in the 16th century when slaves from West Africa who were forced to practice Catholicism combined the saints with spirits in African religions.
The latest on U.N. climate summit COP26 in Glasgow:

GLASGOW, Scotland  The British government plans to make the U.K. the worlds first net-zero aligned financial center as companies and investors seek to profit from the drive to build a low-carbon economy.

U.K. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak will lay out the governments plans during a speech Wednesday as top financial officials from around the world meet at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

As part of the initiative, U.K. financial institutions and publicly traded companies will be required to publish plans detailing how they will reduce their contribution to global warming as Britain seeks to cut net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. A panel composed of industry and academic leaders, regulator and community organizations will develop standards for the plans to ensure companies make progress toward meaningful goals.

According to a statement, Sunak will say the U.K. is home to one of the worlds leading financial centers, and so has a responsibility to lead the way in financing efforts to fight global warming.

The comments come after Britain and other wealthy countries failed to meet their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to finance climate-related projects in the developing world by 2020.

Sunak will urge wealthy nations to boost their support for climate projects in the developing world, saying that the $100 billion target will be met by 2020, according to the advance statement.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  President Joe Biden praised fellow global leaders for their work at the UN climate summit, saying that they demonstrated great example of the kind of ambition you need to confront the scourge of global warming.

I cant think of any two days where more has been accomplished on climate than these two days, Biden said at the start of his summit ending news conference.

Biden on Tuesday announced that the U.S. was launching a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

The president added that China, the worlds biggest greenhouse emitter, made a big mistake with Chinese President Xi Jinping not attending in person. He added the Chinese lost the ability to influence people around the world, and all the people here at COP with its absence at the summit.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  The United Nations apologized Tuesday for leaving participants at this years global climate conference struggling to enter the venue  or log onto virtual meetings.

The U.N. climate office thats in charge of organizing much of the meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, said the event was taking place under exceptional and unprecedented logistical circumstances. This included pandemic restrictions for the more than 30,000 people registered for the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 conference, resulting in limitations on the number of people allowed into rooms.

Civil society groups have accused the U.N. of failing to be inclusive on an issue of great importance to communities around the world.

The U.N. said the opening days had been a learning process.

We are doing our utmost to continuously learn and adapt, it said, but urged participants to prepare for continued queues and in the case of inclement weather, please come prepared with appropriate gear.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Chinese President Xi Jinpings absence from the COP26 leaders summit in Glasgow doesnt mean the Chinese are not engaging with the fight against climate change.

But Johnson said Tuesday that he wants the giant country to do more to slash carbon emissions. He said China had sent a very high level delegation to the U.N. climate conference talks in Glasgow even though Xi stayed home, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

China has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, 10 years later than many nations, and for carbon emissions to peak by 2030 or before.

The question is, how much before? Thats what were discussing with China, Johnson said.

The prime minister, whose country is hosting the conference in Scotland, said China had already made a substantial commitment. He praised Beijings decision to end financing for coal plants overseas, though not yet at home.

Johnson said at a news conference that youre starting to see the impact of that Chinese decisionin the whole Asia-Pacific region already.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Nearly three dozen countries and dozens of organizations launched an effort Tuesday to reduce agricultures contribution to global warming and making food supplies and farming more resilient against mounting climate damage.

The United States and United Arab Emirates led the effort, announced at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Thirty-one nations and other non-government organizations have joined the initiative.

The initiative is called Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate. The U.S. Agriculture Department said in a statement the program had already drawn $4 billion for investment in climate-friendly improvements in food systems and agriculture over the next five years.

Agriculture is responsible for a significant amount of climate-damaging emissions globally, and farming and food networks are vulnerable to drought and a range of other worsening disasters as the Earths temperature rises.

The program is meant to coordinate the work of government regulators, researchers, scientists and others on the problems.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Leonardo DiCaprio has brought a touch of Hollywood star power to the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, drawing a big crowd of journalists and fans as he arrived for Day 3 of the conference.

The actor, who is a U.N. climate change representative, was pictured at the conference on Tuesday sporting a blue suit and a dark face mask. An entourage and a crowd of people hoping to get photos of DiCaprio on their mobile phones surrounded him.

DiCaprio, 46, visited Kew Sciences Carbon Garden Space, an exhibition in the main conference center aiming to highlight the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change.

A spokesperson said the actor seemed to enjoy seeing the wonderful display of plants and messages about nature-based solutions to climate change that the Kews display has on show.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  The head of the U.N. nuclear agency touted atomic power as one key way to balance climate concerns and the worlds energy needs.

Many environmentalists have long been skeptical of nuclear energy, because of the potential for disastrous accidents and the lingering issue of what to do with the waste.

But the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday that he is seeing fresh interest in nuclear among younger people who dont have the same associations with it as some in the old ecology movement."

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told The Associated Press that nuclear energys big advantage lies in the steady supply it provides compared to the fluctuations from wind or solar.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cautioned against getting caught up in a mood of exaggerated enthusiasm, but he hailed the progress made as world leaders gathered at the U.N. climate summit.

Johnson and scores of other leaders were preparing to head home from the COP26 conference Tuesday after two days of talks in Glasgow, Scotland. The summit will last another 10 days, as negotiators strain to turn the politicians climate pledges into reality.

Johnson said his message to negotiators is: The eyes of the populations of the world are on you.

Johnson said at a news conference that it was important to guard against false hope, but he added that he was cautiously optimistic about the outcome of talks aimed at keeping the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

He cited Indias pledge to make a deep dent in carbon emissions by 2030 and a pledge by more than 100 world leaders to stop deforestation.

Johnson repeated his comparison of climate change to a ticking doomsday device, but said, Weve got a bomb disposal team on site, and theyre starting to snip the wires.

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VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis says this year's U.N. climate conference will show whether there really exists a political will to do what it takes to mitigate climate change and to assist the poorer and more vulnerable nations most affected by it.

Francis sent his regrets for not attending the conference, saying in a message read by the Vaticans No. 2 official, Cardinal Pietro Parolin: I had hoped to be with you in person in Glasgow, Scotland, but that was not possible.

He added in the message, I accompany you, however, with my prayers as you take these important decisions.

Francis has made caring for the planets environmental health a key plank of his papacy since it began in 2013. Sadly, we must acknowledge how far we remain from achieving the goals set for tackling climate change, he wrote in his message for the COP26 conference.

The pontiff urged the international community to use honesty, responsibility and courage in addressing global warming.

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GLASGOW, Scotland -- China is at a special development stage that warrants its status as the worlds biggest current emitter of climate-damaging fossil fuel pollution, the nations senior climate negotiator said Tuesday.

Xie Zhenhua, a U.N. climate negotiator and special climate envoy for China, spoke to reporters Tuesday at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. China has been much talked about as a major polluter but has been little seen at the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not joined the more than 100 other world leaders at the event, addressing observers and delegates in a written message on Monday instead.

Xie, who played a pivotal role in talks leading to the 2015 Paris climate accord, underscored Chinas stance that the United States and other developed nations should be the ones doing more to cut climate-damaging emissions faster, not China.

We have already been making our biggest possible effort to address climate change, Xie said, saying China was unable to start reining in its reliance on coal-fired power plants any quicker than it was doing.

So regarding the fact that China is the current largest emitter, its because China is at a special development stage, Xie said.

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KAMPALA, Uganda  The managing director of the International Monetary Fund says Africas women must be empowered as part of broader efforts to build the continents resilience amid climate change.

Kristalina Georgieva spoke Tuesday before an Africa-focused summit at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

When women are empowered, communities are so much better, she said.

She said pre-existing obstacles to adaptation must be removed, including by widening access to credit for farmers as well as investing in resilient infrastructure. Georgieva said the world has to do more to support Africas appeal for help to adapt to climate change.

African leaders are pressing their demand for the international community to do more to support the continent of 1.3 billion people, which contributes least to global emissions but is the most vulnerable to climate change.

The African Union seeks $12.5 billion to implement a $25 billion climate change adaptation program over five years. Half of that money is coming from the African Development Bank.

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KAMPALA, Uganda  The head of the African Union says the international community must support the continents efforts to adapt to climate change, including a program that requires $25 billion over five years.

Speaking Tuesday at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the continent needs the world to raise $12.5 billion, with the balance coming from the African Development Bank.

In his remarks before a meeting of world leaders, Tshisekedi noted that the global effort on climate change cant be won unless it is won in Africa. He said he hopes the money will be raised before the next climate conference.

It is a starting point rather than a ceiling, and it will contribute to building trust and confidence, he said.

The continent of 1.3 billion people contributes least to climate change but will suffer most from its effects, according to experts. African leaders and climate campaigners have long called for technology transfers and substantial cash donations to help the continent build resilience.

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GLASGOW  World leaders looked at a Formula 1 car made from recycled plastic and a microwave-sized device that can generate hydrogen fuel Tuesday as they looked to promote innovation to slow climate change at the U.N. summit in Glasgow.

Speaking at the summit, President Joe Biden said our current technology alone wont get us where we need to be. He added we need to invest in breakthroughs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted his countrys One Sun, One World, One Grid initiative to develop an interconnected solar grid across time zones.

The session was attended by Prince William, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah and moderated by Sky Group CEO Dana Strong.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  The United States and several European countries plan to provide funds and expertise to help South Africa ditch coal and roll out more renewable energy.

German officials said South Africa will receive about $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to manage the country's transition away from coal-fired power plants, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

South Africa gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants.

German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze said the partnership announced Tuesday. which is also backed by Britain, France and the European Union, has the potential to become a blueprint for other regions.

One focus of the initiative will be helping to create new jobs for tens of thousands of people in South Africas coal mining industry.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Countries responsible for almost half the worlds methane emissions are signing a pledge Tuesday to cut by at least 30% the amount of the potent greenhouse gas they release into the atmosphere over the next decade.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines is considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions.

Cutting methane produced from agriculture  in particular by belching cows  is a trickier matter.

Dozens of countries, including the United States, European Union members and Britain, are signing up to the pledge. It is part of a series of methane-reduction efforts announced by the Biden administration Tuesday.

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally.

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MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says Russia relies on its vast forests and their significant capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen in achieving the goal of building a carbon-neutral economy by 2060.

Putin said Tuesday that after all, our country accounts for around 20% of the worlds forestland.

Experts have questioned Russias calculations on just how much carbon its forests absorb, particularly in light of the devastating forest fires the country has seen in recent years.

Putin made the comments in a video statement at the launch of a new initiative aimed at preventing deforestation, which was announced at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday. Putin isnt attending COP26 in person, and no reason has been given for him not going.

The Russian leader said Moscow expects the new declaration on forests and land use backed by 100 countries to facilitate closer partnerships between countries in forest conservation and to help to fulfill the objectives of reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere set out in the Paris Agreement.

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KAMPALA, Uganda  The International Rescue Committee is urging world leaders attending the U.N. climate summit to urgently invest in climate resilience and famine prevention among the worlds most vulnerable countries.

In some African countries where the group operates, including Somalia, people face the sharp end of the climate crisis, including emergency conditions with current levels of global warming, it said.

Were extremely worried about the impact of continuing drought and conflict on vulnerable populations throughout the horn of Africa, where a large proportion of the population relies heavily on crops to eat and sell for their livelihoods, Kurt Tjossem, the groups vice president for East Africa, said in a statement.

In Somalia, 3.5 million people face hunger after a failed harvest, with farmers who depend on livestock seeing their animals die from thirst daily, he said.

Although Africa contributes least to global warming, experts say the continent of 1.3 billion people will suffer most from its effects.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says about 1,000 cities and local governments have backed a campaign for a net zero future, promising to purse ambitious climate actions to limit the rise of global temperatures.

Garcetti, the outgoing chair of the C40 group of big city mayors, told a panel discussion at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow on Tuesday that the communities promised to pursue actions in line with meeting the goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

Scientists say time is running out to meet that goal and the wish to keep that goal alive has been a centerpiece of the conference.

The 1,049 communities signed up for one or more actions, such as divesting from fossil fuels, creating sustainable food systems and committing to reduce air pollution. The actions have the potential to reduce global emissions by at least 1.4 gigatons annually by 2030.

Garcetti said that this needs to be the decade of exponential action.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Environmentalists have launched their traditional Fossil of the Day awards at the U.N. climate conference, with Britain and Australia the first to receive the questionable honor.

Climate Action Network, an umbrella group of hundreds of non-governmental organizations, said many observers who had traveled long distances to attend the summit were prevented from reaching meetings because of lengthy lines. When they tried to log on from elsewhere, technical problems prevented them from connecting, CAN said.

It urged the host country to improve organization so civil society groups can participate in the talks.

Australia received the second fossil for recently approving three new coal projects even as it claimed to be stepping up its efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, CAN said.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Ecuadors president has announced that his country is expanding the marine reserve around the Galapagos Islands by almost half.

President Guillermo Lasso told the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow on Tuesday that the government has agreed with the fishery, tourism and conservation sectors to establish a new marine reserve in the Galapagos Islands of 60,000 square kilometers (more than 23,000 square miles).

Lasso said this would be added to an existing marine reserve of about 130,000 square kilometers (50,000 square miles).

Experts says oceans are particularly vulnerable to climate change and the Galapagos Islands are considered one of the worlds biodiversity jewels.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  More than 100 countries are pledging to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change.

Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow.

But campaigners say they need to see the detail -- such promises have been made, and broken, before.

The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

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BEIJING  China is the largest contributor to global warming and Chinas people are already suffering the brunt of climate change.

Historic floods that destroyed farms this summer in the countrys agricultural heartland are a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms.

Chinese government reports also predict rising sea levels will threaten major coastal cities while melting glaciers imperil western Chinas water supply. Those with the least resources to adapt are often on the frontlines of suffering in a common pattern around the world. As one farmer in Henan province said, Ordinary people suffer most.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP)  Police in a North Carolina city are investigating two separate weekend incidents in which three people were shot and killed and another person was hospitalized.

Greensboro police responding to a report of a gunshot at an intersection early Saturday found two people with gunshot wounds, WGHP reported.
Regarding Let cops who refuse shots quit (Open Forum, Oct. 30): Claudio Vera Sanchez argues that police should not respond to chronic domestic violence and let mental health professionals handle those calls.

He states a recent study that found 32% of arrestees repeated domestic violence. If 68% of arrestees did not repeat abuse, this indicates that arrests are effective in preventing recidivism.

For centuries, we did not criminalize domestic violence in the U.S., and women were killed at extremely high rates. The Violence Policy Center reports a rise in domestic violence homicides in this country in the past five years. The highest rates of domestic violence homicide were among Black women.

Mental health professionals can work with perpetrators who are on probation. But the risk of fatal attacks in domestic violence calls is too high to ask mental health professionals to be the first responders.

It has taken decades to get to the point where police will intervene; we should not remove that option. Law enforcement intervention can save lives.

Nancy Lemon, Berkeley

Cows are the problem

Regarding Seaweed in feed a tool to reach emissions goal (Front Page, Oct. 29): The article nicely highlights how seaweed could substantially reduce one significant problem associated with cows: their methane emissions that dramatically accelerate climate change. However, the article fails to mention the many other problems related to cows.

These other problems include land, water and air pollution from the vast amount of cow manure produced. A mature dairy cow weighing 1,400 pounds can generate about 120 pounds of feces and urine each day. The hazardous gases released from manure breakdown include hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

There is also the excess water use associated with cows. It takes approximately 1,800 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef.

But perhaps the biggest problem with cows is that eating them harms our health. Eating red meat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, kidney disease and many other adverse health outcomes.

So, if we want to improve our health and our planets health, lets focus on reducing the number of cows rather than on feeding them seaweed.

Michael Martin, San Francisco

Housing makes sense

Regarding 495 units on parking lot, but supes said no (Front Page, Oct. 28): If any of your readers are in doubt as to whether supporting new housing for the location in question is a net benefit for the people of San Francisco, I would encourage them to walk down Stevenson Street, review the proposal and consider the question for themselves.

On one hand we have the supervisors apparent plan  do nothing  and on the other hand we have a development group that actually has the appetite (for what seems to me to be a relatively risky investment) in new housing on a painfully dilapidated city block.

The supervisors apparent abuse of their oversight function blatantly deprives people of safe, clean places to live while simultaneously preventing an influx of jobs and capital.

When a group of leaders vote to block commonsense investment, in obvious disregard for the public interest, I cant help but wonder about both corruption and simple irrationality as controlling factors behind their votes.

San Francisco historically has been a bastion of progress and hub for world-changing ideas. I hope that the vague ethics of some local leaders represent nothing more than a slight hiccup that this great lighthouse in the fog will overcome.
SACRAMENTO  The decision last week by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to reject a proposed 495-unit apartment building on a Nordstrom parking lot quickly rippled far beyond the city.

Officials expressed surprise and anger from Sacramento, where a state housing agency is now investigating whether the board acted improperly, to Orange County, where a legislator suggested the vote exacerbated Californias housing crisis  an illustration of the growing tension as the state intensifies pressure on local communities to build more homes.

Major legislation in recent years has aimed to streamline the approval process for massive developments, backyard cottages and duplex conversions, removing some veto power from local governments in an effort to make it easier and cheaper to produce all types of housing that California needs to address its shortage. The administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom has also stepped in to require that cities plan for far more new housing over the next decade and ramped up its enforcement of those goals.

For some of the leading supporters of those efforts, the confusing collapse of the project in an alley near the corner of Sixth and Market streets  which San Francisco supervisors sent back to the drawing board after it won approval from the city Planning Commission, citing concerns about gentrification, shadows and seismic safety  is a stark example of why state intervention is not only necessary, but should escalate.

The reason that you see state-level policy is because of situations exactly like this, said Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. We should be rallying around this type of project.

Wicks said she was frustrated that San Francisco had turned down a plan that checked so many of the right boxes, including adding more than 100 units of much-needed affordable housing near public transit without displacing anyone and creating hundreds of union jobs. That puts more pressure on her East Bay district and other communities in the region, she said, by forcing people to commute longer distances to cheaper housing because they cant live in San Francisco where they work.

It feels like we still have a mandate to ensure good projects are streamlined and getting built, she said.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

Wicks is among a group of lawmakers who held a series of hearings across California last month to discuss regional housing needs and potential legislation for next year to address those local challenges.

The state has already begun taking significant steps in the past few years to boost housing production, often led by legislators from San Francisco and the Bay Area over the objections of local governments and homeowner associations, approving dozens of new laws this session alone.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, has been at the forefront of the charge since 2017s SB35, which forced cities that have not fulfilled their state housing targets to approve projects that meet certain zoning, design and affordability standards.

Lawmakers have since replicated that approach of overriding local opposition numerous times, including with 2019s SB330 by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, a moratorium on permit caps, new fees and other local policies that make it harder to build in cities without enough housing; a package of bills that same year to prohibit minimum lot sizes, reduce development fees and remove other barriers to homeowners adding secondary units on their properties; and SB9, a contentious measure this session from Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, that will establish a streamlined process to split lots and convert homes into duplexes, potentially creating up to four units on a property that had just one before.

Newsom, who ran for governor on a platform of aggressively increasing construction, has enthusiastically backed policies that lean on local governments to approve more housing. In his very first month in office, he sued the Orange County city of Huntington Beach to force officials to set aside additional sites for low-income housing, and proposed withholding transportation money from cities that dont meet their state housing targets, though he ultimately backed off that idea following criticism.

His Department of Housing and Community Development, the agency investigating San Franciscos rejection of the apartment complex, has set much higher goals for most regions in the latest regulatory cycle where local governments must come up with a plan to fulfill their housing needs for the next eight years.

Theres an intentionality and a political will, Newsom said during a September signing ceremony for housing legislation, that was missing just a few years ago.

A new accountability unit envisioned by the governor, which formally launched this fall within the Department of Housing and Community Development, gives the process more teeth. The unit will provide technical assistance to cities and counties as they zone for and permit new housing, while taking enforcement steps against those that fall short of their state goals. The department is also set to receive additional authority in January to take regulatory or legal action against local governments that violate other housing laws.

Megan Kirkeby, deputy director of housing policy development for the department, said the state is shifting to a more proactive approach to ensure cities follow through on the commitments theyve made in their development plans and set up programs that actually make it feasible to build the homes for which theyve zoned. In previous cycles, much of the housing never got constructed, with few consequences, creating a pent-up demand and soaring costs that the state is now struggling to bring under control.

We think this is essential, Kirkeby said. Were just not going to meet our housing goals without this.

Not everyone agrees the housing crisis can be solved on the backs of local governments. Cities and homeowner groups, particularly in suburban and coastal areas, have fought back against many recent laws for taking away their power to decide how they want their communities to develop.

Sen. Steve Glazer, a Democrat from Orinda who has regularly opposed bills that remove local control over housing decisions, said the real hurdle to resolving the affordability crisis is that construction has become prohibitively expensive.

He said politicians and housing advocates from urban centers, which are the least affordable parts of the state, have embraced a false narrative to cover up their failures, trying to shift blame to single-family neighborhoods that prefer less density.

But cities like San Francisco, where jobs are concentrated, have a responsibility to lead on building new housing, Glazer said. The decision to reject the project on the Nordstrom parking lot was the height of hypocrisy.

To defend their inadequacies, theyve chosen to back legislation that attacks the suburbs, he said. The San Francisco people do it because they dont want to focus on their own city.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Facebook and the parent company of TikTok are seeking major Bay Area office expansions, according to San Franciscos largest office landlord.

Facebook is looking for 700,000 additional square feet. And ByteDance is searching for approximately 250,000 to 300,000 square feet in Silicon Valley, said Owen Thomas, CEO of Boston Properties, which owns Salesforce Tower and Embarcadero Center. These examples support our repeatedly stated position that tenants are committed to the office as their location of choice to collaborate, innovate and train, all critical for their long-term success.

The potential deals would boost the economy and defy predictions that remote work will kill offices.

If signed, they would be among the largest in the Bay Area since the pandemic began, representing a return to the mega-expansions of the decade before the pandemic. Over the summer, Apple also leased around 700,000 square feet in Sunnyvale as it seeks to bring workers back to the office. Facebook, whose parent company was renamed Meta last week, leased space in Fremont just prior to the pandemic and has a major expansion planned in Menlo Park called Willow Village.

Facebook is looking for another 500,000 square feet in Seattles South Lake Union neighborhood, where Amazon is headquartered, Thomas said on an earnings call last week.

We are always evaluating our facilities and real estate needs, but we dont comment on rumors, said Chloe Meyere, a Facebook spokesperson.

TikTok previously leased an office in Mountain View, according to CoStar, a real estate data firm. TikTok didnt respond to repeated inquiries regarding its real estate plans.

Most Bay Area office workers continue to work from home, a drag on the regions recovery of restaurant and retail spending, transit ridership and office leasing.

Boston Properties owns more than 51 million square feet of real estate across the U.S., including around 8 million square feet in the Bay Area. Only 18% of tenants have returned to Boston Properties Bay Area properties, the lowest percentage of any of its regions, Thomas said. New York is the highest at 52%.

The urban downtown recovery in San Francisco continues to lag our other markets. Very few businesses have commenced their return to work, downtown streets remain quiet, much of the ground ... remains closed and the city has had a very restrictive mask mandate, Doug Linde, president of Boston Properties, said on the call. The city eased its mask mandate on Oct. 15.

Thomas said the combination of techs willingness to continue remote work and restrictive health orders have both delayed San Franciscos recovery.

COVID has had the biggest impact on San Francisco of all the markets where we operate. And I think a lot of that has been the technology tenants in some ways, leading the way on work from home and second, the very restrictive COVID mandates that have been put in place. And the lifting of those mandates has lagged all of our other cities, and thats undoubtedly had an impact on the census data that I mentioned earlier, Thomas said.

That all being said, San Francisco remains arguably the technology capital of the world. Its got the largest cluster of computer science workers certainly in the United States. And we believe in the long-term recovery of the San Francisco market, but I do think it will lag our other markets.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Thomas said the company would also consider starting construction in 2022 or 2023 at its Fourth and Harrison development site in Central South of Market, which is on pause.

Linde said the company is still signing leases in San Francisco at top dollar.

This quarter, weve completed over 100,000 square feet of leases, including (four) full-floor transactions in Embarcadero (Center). The average starting rent was just over $100 a square foot on those full-floor deals, a 21% increase over expiring rents, he said. Thats a premium over the citys average rents of $73 per square foot annually and among the highest rents in the country.

Another major landlord, Kilroy Realty, said the easing of San Franciscos mask mandate will bring more workers back to offices.

With relation to office occupancy, Austin is probably the leader in the country with almost 50% occupancy. San Francisco and San Jose are trailing other metro areas at roughly 20%. But those two markets are increasing fairly quickly, primarily because San Francisco relapsed its mask mandate on Oct. 15, Robert Paratte, Kilroy executive vice president of leasing and business development, said on an earnings call last week. San Francisco was more shut down, as Ive said before, than any city in the country. Its starting to open up.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)  Several West Virginia coal companies with ties to Gov. Jim Justice plan to resume coal production at four surface mines in Eastern Kentucky, bringing 150 new jobs to the region.

Justice's son Jay, president of the Justice Companies, said it was working to reopen the production sites at the Bevins Branch and Beech Creek mines in Pike County, the Bull Creek mine in Knott County and the Infinity mine in Harlan County.

The Infinity and Bevins Branch mines were among five in a 2019 lawsuit settlement by the state of Kentucky against Jim and Jay Justice and several other family coal companies.

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet argued in the lawsuit that the Justices had reneged on a past agreement to fix reclamation and environmental problems at the mines. They had agreed to clean out ponds designed to keep sediment out of streams, as well as stabilizing landslides, monitoring water quality and eliminating highwalls.

The settlement arranged deadlines for the Justices to complete this work and required the companies to put up a $2.9 million letter of credit the state could take if the Justices defaulted. In late September, the cabinet filed a motion, accusing the Justices of missing the deal's deadlines.

The state then moved to collect the $2.9 million plus interest, revoke permits for the Justice's five mines and block their companies from getting new permits or revising current permits until the violations were fixed, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The family's attorneys said the state's response was overly harsh, unfair, and not consistent with the law. They stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it impossible to meet the deadlines set out in the 2019 settlement.

An attorney for the Justices contacted state regulators in 2020 to propose using the $2.9 million to finance the reclamation work. The state rejected the idea.

Justice said reopening the four mines in Eastern Kentucky was possible due to the nation's economic recovery. Coal production in Eastern Kentucky was up nearly 46% in the April-to-June quarter compared to the same time a year earlier, and jobs had picked up by 3.57%, according to the Herald-Leader.

Justice said there are plans to finish the reclamation work required under the 2019 deal but it will take more time. He said in a letter to a state official in late October that the companies could finish work at the Bevins Branch mine by April 1 and at the Infinity mine by April 20.

Were not trying to get out of a liability at all, Justice said in a letter to a state official in late October.

The state does not benefit from the Justice companies practice of obtaining mine permits then leaving violations unabated and the permits unreclaimed for years while they evade enforcement and ask repeatedly for extensions of time to do the reclamation work that the law requires, state attorneys told the Herald-Leader.
Pfizer is hiking sales expectations for its top-selling COVID-19 vaccine again, and its early look at 2022 also falls well above Wall Street forecasts.

The drugmaker said Tuesday that it now expects to book about $36 billion in revenue from Comirnaty this year. Thats about 7% higher than what Pfizer forecast in July and more than twice what the company expected at the start of the year, shortly after distribution of the two-shot vaccine began.

Next year, Pfizer says global vaccine sales could total around $29 billion or more, and theres room for growth. The company expects to recognize revenue for 1.7 billion doses in 2022, but it could produce 4 billion.

We continue to believe the vaccine has durability, and there will continue to be significant revenue beyond 2022, Chief Financial Officer Frank DAmelio told analysts.

Analysts forecast, on average, $24 billion in sales from the vaccine next year, according to FactSet. They also expect revenue from the shots to start waning in the following years, depending on how the pandemic plays out.

But for now, Comirnaty, which Pfizer developed with Germanys BioNTech, has gained a dominating market share in the U.S. and Europe. It also is seeing growth in emerging markets.

In the U.S., around 248 million doses of Comirnaty have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That compares to 159 million and 15 million doses of vaccines from rivals Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, respectively.

Pfizer books the vast majority of revenue from Comirnaty and splits profit, as well as the cost to make and distribute the vaccine, with BioNTech. In the third quarter, the U.S. drugmaker recorded about $13 billion in sales from the shots, even though revenue slipped in its home market.

Analysts expected that, as demand fell following the rush to get shots shortly after vaccine eligibility expanded in the spring. But demand appears to be picking up again and will be helped by booster shots and an expansion of the vaccine for use in children.

Late last week, the Food and Drug Administration cleared kid-size doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine  just a third of the amount given to teens and adults  for emergency use. Children could become eligible for the vaccinations later this week.

Pfizers vaccine is the first cleared by the FDA for use in children. The U.S. government has already purchased 115 million pediatric doses of the shots, or enough to vaccinate every U.S. child, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla told analysts on Tuesday.

Outside Comirnaty, Pfizer products include several cancer treatments, other vaccines and internal medicine drugs like Eliquis, for preventing blood clots and strokes.

The company also is developing a potential oral COVID-19 drug that could be used to treat patients or as a preventive measure to keep a household from getting sick after a member catches the virus.

Pfizer executives said Tuesday the potential treatment shows signs of being effective against several variants of the virus, and they were optimistic as they await research data expected later this year.

Its a really important drug for the world ... fingers crossed as we look forward to the readout, Pfizers Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Mikael Dolsten said.

Overall, Pfizer earned $8.15 billion in the third quarter. Adjusted results totaled $1.34 per share. The companys revenue more than doubled to $24.09 billion compared to last years quarter.

Analysts expected, on average, third-quarter earnings of $1.08 per share from Pfizer on about $22.58 billion in revenue.

Pfizer also raised its 2021 forecast again on Tuesday. It now expects 2021 adjusted earnings of $4.13 to $4.18 per share on revenue ranging from $81 billion to $82 billion.

Analysts forecast earnings of $4.04 per share on $78.77 billion in revenue.

Shares of New York-based Pfizer Inc. jumped nearly 5% to $45.72 in midday trading as overall markets rose slightly.

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Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thpmurphy
When coming or going from Joshua Tree National Park, you may notice a tattoo shop on the side of the road in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Then another one. Then several more.

As it turns out, Southern Californias high desert is a really heavily tattooed area, says Strata Tattoo Laboratory owner Jay'e Jones. For an area of 80,000 people there's like, I want to say 21 shops. Its pretty crazy.

The clientele varies quite a bit, with plenty of locals and people from the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps base, which happens to be the largest in the United States. Then there are those who come to visit Joshua Tree and decide that theyd like to bring some part of the desert home  on their bodies.

Courtesy of

As soon as these people walk in the tattoo shop door, its usually clear that theyre tourists, shop owners say. More often than not, they have come from Los Angeles or San Diego, and occasionally theyre down from the Bay Area for a few days. They are a specific demographic: often millennials or younger who are dressed in boho desert ensembles. They dont have an appointment.

Usually Strata Tattoo Lab cant accommodate them, as most of the artists who work there are booked out months or even a year in advance, Jones says. But occasionally someone can be squeezed in, and almost always, this is their request: a tiny Joshua tree on the forearm or the ankle.

Predominantly its just a lot of little Joshua Tree bangers, Jones says, referring to tattoos that can be executed quickly. Every once in a while somebody will get a saguaro or an agave or a prickly pear, or you know, an alien-themed piece. There's a lot of UFO stuff, but mostly it's just Joshua Tree bangers.

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

Courtesy of Strata Tattoo Lab

To be sure, there are various kinds of visitors who request park-related tattoos. But locals also report numerous run-ins with a certain type of traveler: ones who put on airs and ramble about their drug experiences and desert epiphanies. Residents refer to these visitors as hipsters, and while some get annoyed, others enjoy making fun of them.

The last time we had a group of hipsters walk in  and of course we couldn't help them because were appointment only  this one lady said the word aesthetic 20-something odd times in a five-minute conversation, Jones says. She's using it in the wrong context every time and I'm like, God, expand your vocabulary or at least learn the meaning of what you're saying.

Over at Ink & Steel  which recently closed and is up for sale  owner Tom Austin says the clientele was about 20% to 25% park visitors. Theyll come in talking about their desert epiphany and ask for a tattoo, he says, and sometimes he would talk them out of it.

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

Courtesy of Strata Tattoo Lab

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

Some just dont seem to appreciate the permanence of the tattoo, he says, or maybe they think they can just get it lazered off, but dont realize they will have a scar. Others are planning to go back into the park the next day, which is a really bad idea.

Jessica Castro

We don't want anyone to ever be upset with their decision to get a tattoo, he says. So yeah, if you're going to go and play in the rocks, and you're going to be out in the sun and rolling around and being scraped up and rashed, I will not advise you to get this.

Although most people get little Joshua trees, Austin has also seen them get roadrunners, cacti or the latitude and longitude of their favorite place in the park. More often than not they get it in one of the usual spots, but sometimes a young woman will ask for a Joshua tree down near the bikini line, he says.

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

Courtesy of

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

We see that with any subject matter, he says. Sometimes theyre clearly on the fence about whether to get a tattoo because mom and dad are still paying the bills, and theyre afraid theyre going to lose that gravy, he says. So they get it in their underwear.

Although it can certainly be repetitive to have to put little generic Joshua tree after little generic Joshua tree on people, the artists and owners try to look on the bright side and make the best of it.

I appreciate the fact that they love the desert as much as I do, Austin says.

When asked how many Joshua trees shes done, Jones says, I dont even know where to begin with that. Easily in the hundreds, for sure.

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

Jessica Castro/Special to SFGATE

But actually, she doesnt mind. In fact, she has a Joshua tree and howling coyote tattooed on the side of her right knee.

Most of us really enjoy doing Joshua trees  they're just cool looking things, she says. We try to make it extra fun and do it a little different every time, to make it unique for the person. But I love doing Joshua trees. I've been tattooing for 20 years and it never gets old.
Matt Rourke/AP

Tesla will be relocating its headquarters from the Bay Area to Austin, Texas, sometime in the near future, and CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to take another swipe at San Francisco on his way out.

In response to a Fox News article about a Tuesday special election in Austin to restore police department funding after it was cut last summer, Musk tweeted, "Austin should be its city, not a San Francisco copycat."
This story originally appeared on KCRA.

FAIRFIELD, Calif.  Three people, including an airman, were arrested in relation to the homicide of a 19-year-old woman in a crime spanning three counties.

KCRA 3 has spoken with family, friends, neighbors and officials to learn more about the death of Leilani Beauchamp, who had roots in Northern California. Here is what we know so far.

The Fairfield homicide: What happened

Beauchamp's remains were found Sunday around 5:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Corral De Tierra Road in Salinas in Monterey County, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. The Fairfield Police Department said the day before, she was last seen leaving a Halloween party in Sacramento County early Saturday morning.

With her were two active duty Air Force members, one of them who was arrested, police said. The three went to the Fairfield home of Juan Parra-Peralta, the Travis Air Force Base airman taken into custody. Police said the home is along Cascade Lane but did not specify where along the street the home is.

Prosecutors in a Solano County courtroom on Tuesday believe Beauchamp was shot and killed in the Cascade Lane home.

Investigators have not determined if it was a military firearm that was used in the shooting.

Who is Leilani Beauchamp?

The 19-year-old grew up in the greater Sacramento area, in El Dorado Hills and in Folsom.

According to Michele Smith, a spokesperson for the family and close friend of Leilanis parents, she attended Rolling Hills Middle School. She went to Folsom High School for a few years before transferring to Carmel High School, after her family moved to Monterey. She recently began going to college in San Jose.

Smith told KCRA 3 Leilani loved make up, poke bowls, and her two younger siblings. She described her as a bright light, trustworthy, king, caring and loving.

No one deserves to lose a child or through this, she said. My friend has a whole holiday season without their daughter who was murdered.

Ally Souza met Leilani during their sophomore year at Folsom High School.

Souza said the two were best friends and loved to eat tacos, go to Dutch Bros. Coffee, make silly videos, and hang out with friends.

She was so funny, so goofy, and so silly, Souza told KCRA 3. No one deserves this, especially her.

KCRA 3 also heard from Souzas mother.

"Leilani was a beautiful, smart, vibrant girl who will truly be missed," wrote Souza's mother, Kiyoko Glover, in a prepared statement. "My daughter has lost her best friend and we have lost a loved one, and there are no words to express our heartache."

On Monday, Beauchamp's family provided the following statement to KCRA 3:

"Leilani was truly a blessing to us and her beloved friends. Leilani shared a very close relationship with her younger brother and sister who, after she ventured out to college, maintained daily communication with them. We will miss her smile, her laugh, her caring demeanor, her strong will, her passion for life and the love she brought to our family. We love you Leilani."

Smith, the representative for Leilanis family, told KCRA 3 they have already seen a fraudulent GoFundMe account created and are concerned with people taking advantage of this situation.

Two siblings and an airman arrested in Beauchamp's death

Siblings Jessica and Marco Quintanilla are the other two people arrested in the murder of Beauchamp, Fairfield police said.

Jessica, 21, was arrested on murder charges with no bail, police said. Marco faces an accessory to murder charge and a parole violation for a previous felony conviction for attempted murder. Marco's bail is set at $50,000.

The third person, Parra-Peralta, was arrested in connection with Beauchamp's death but the Solano County District Attorney's Office told KCRA 3 that it is still determining if he will face formal charges.

Parra-Peralta is a 1st class airman assigned to the 60th aerial port squadron at Travis Air Force Base. He was arrested on base by police, the base confirmed.

Prosecutors believe it was Jessica who shot and killed Leilani at Parra-Peralta's home on Cascade Lane.

A man who lives at the home told KCRA 3 that Beauchamp and Parra-Peralta knew each other and that she had been at that home before. The man also said Jessica and Parra-Peralta were dating. Mutual friends told KCRA 3 that Parra-Peralta and Jessica were romantically involved.

Prosecutors are investigating if what the district attorney said appears to be a love triangle may have led to the murder.

Jessica and Marco's next court date is for Thursday.

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Lysee Mitri and Stephanie Lin contributed to this reporting.
Susan Robin Bender was ready for a weekend with friends when she arrived at the Modesto Greyhound station on April 25, 1986. The smiley 15-year-old had dressed for the occasion, sporting a light blue skirt with polka dots, a blouse and white vest.

While waiting for the bus to Carmel, Susan ran into a friend. She told them about her excursion to the coast and that she planned to be back in a few days. The friend saw Susan making a call at the depot pay phone and, about 10 minutes later, a green van pulled up. Susan got in  seemingly without the driver forcing her  and she was never seen again.

For more than three decades, Susans case has troubled Modesto detectives. In the hopes of finally locating the long-lost teen, the department announced in October its reopening the case.

"In reviewing this case, we identified potential areas of opportunity which may assist in moving this case forward, the department said in a statement. This includes the use of advancements in technology. Given the circumstances of the crime, we also believe there may be individuals (previously unidentified) who may have pertinent information surrounding Susans disappearance.

Google Street View

Susan had a lot of freedom for a 15-year-old, which wasnt terribly uncommon in the 1980s. Her mother, Pat Bender, didnt report her missing until May 1, assuming until then that Susan had safely made it to Carmel and was having fun with friends. But when Susan failed to call home as she usually did, her mother became worried.

Pat told the Modesto Bee in 1987 that Susan had run away twice before, but each time shed returned home in fairly short order. "Everything had been good between us for a couple of months before she disappeared, and there was no indication that she was going to run away, she said.

Police also believed Susan wasnt missing of her own volition. Detective Richard Ridenour, who was assigned to the case until his retirement in 2000, told the Bee in 1987 that he thought Susan was likely deceased. "We have certain evidence to indicate foul play was involved in the disappearance of Susan Bender, Ridenour said.

Modesto Police Department/Handout

That evidence was found in the possession of an unnamed male person of interest. According to Pat Bender, Susans diary, phone book and articles of clothing were found in the mans home. The man was questioned by police but released; he was never arrested in connection with Susans disappearance. "The police said there's little they can do without a body, Pat Bender said in 1999.

When the Speed Freak Killers were apprehended in 1999, there was some speculation that perhaps Susan was one of their victims. Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, two childhood friends from Linden, California, targeted young women in and around the nearby Stockton area. Many of their victims have never been identified. But despite years of investigation into Herzog and Shermantines crimes, there has never been a link to Susans case.

"Susan Bender just fell off the face of the earth," Ridenour told the Modesto Bee in 1999. "What's really strange about the case is that nothing has ever come up about her in all these years and no one has ever come forward with any information about what happened to her."

Modestos cold case investigators are hoping that the many years since Susans disappearance has increased witnesses willingness to speak out. They also pointed to modern technology that could help with a break in the case, although they dont have any specific new leads as of yet.

"Its important to remember that Susan was a child with a family, the Modesto Police Department said in a statement. Unfortunately, that family has gone 36 years without closure or justice. Its our job as an agency to assist in providing some level of closure with the ultimate goal of getting justice."

Anyone with information about Susan Robin Bender is asked to contact Detective Josh Grant at 209-342-9104 or grantj@modestopd.com. At the time of her disappearance, Susan was 5-foot-5 and 128 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Cardi B has won five American Music Awards and performed on the telecast during her career so far. Next step: hosting the show.

The rapper behind such hits as Bodak Yellow and Money has been tapped to host the fan-voted awards show airing from Los Angeles on ABC on Nov. 21.

We are immensely excited to have the dynamic Cardi B bring her infectious energy to the American Music Awards as a first-time host, said executive producer Jesse Collins in a statement Tuesday.

Cardi B performed I Like It at the AMAs in 2018 with J Balvin and Bad Bunny and also made history during her last AMAs appearance, becoming the first female rapper to win Favorite Hip-Hop Song twice.

Olivia Rodrigo, in the first year shes eligible, is the leading nominee this time with seven, including artist of the year and new artist of the year.

Five-time winner The Weeknd has six nominations, going up against Rodrigo in the artist of the year category along with BTS, Ariana Grande, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Reggaeton star Bad Bunny, R&B newcomer Giveon and Doja Cat each have five nominations each. In the new artist of the year category, Rodrigo joins Giveon, 24KGoldn, Masked Wolf and The Kid LAROI.

Swift, who currently holds the record for the most awarded artist in AMA history, could further extend her streak. She is nominated for three awards total, including favorite pop album for evermore.

The AMAs added new categories this year, including favorite trending song, favorite gospel artist and favorite Latin duo or group.

Rapper Pop Smoke, who was killed in 2020, is nominated in three categories, including favorite hip-hop album and favorite hip-hop artist, and could win his first award posthumously.
Looking to increase your vacation selfie game? Dont worry, Eduardo Vallin has you covered.

As Instagram concierge at the W Punta de Mita hotel in Mexico, Vallin helps guests locate and take the best social media-worthy photos while they bask in that vacation glow.

One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing the pictures come to life, Vallin said. I enjoy getting to know the person through their Instagram aesthetics and interests and then creating a personalized tour, then finally seeing the finished product on their Instagram.

His is just one of a variety of creative concierge jobs that hotels and resorts have introduced in recent years.

In Aruba, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort recently introduced a carbon offset concierge; Jareth Vermeulen helps guests offset the environmental impact of their flights to the carbon-neutral hotel by purchasing carbon emissions offsets. Guests can do this on their own or have Vermeulen assist them. Though the position is new, Vermeulen had been offering sustainability tours of the property as sustainability manager.

Its really been enjoyable to mingle with the guests and understand the reason why they choose Bucuti & Tara Beach and also their sustainability passion, he said.

Why this trend toward specialized concierge services?

For hotels, its a way to stand out from the crowd and convey a vision by focusing on topics like climate change, said Emanuel Schreiner, founder of RVS Hotel Consulting.

As for customers, personalization is not just a travel trend; hotel guests want to experience unique moments, tailor-made for their vacation, Schreiner added. Having highly specialized staff that is able to cater to the most extravagant aspects of their travel will definitely create added value for the guests. We will see in the long run whether the demand actually meets all these particular offerings.

Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, said he created the carbon offset concierge because some travelers feel guilty for the emissions that come from air travel. Offsets can help guests enjoy a more guilt-free vacation, he said.

Global warming and climate change appear in almost every review of the hotel, Biemans said. Three years ago, most people didnt even know what climate change was or global warming was. Today it is a household word.

Another new take on the concierge position: The Hyatt Regency Portland in Oregon plans to have a concierge of weird, starting in November, to help guests find unique and little-hyped tours and experiences.

What makes Portland so great is that it's the small, some call them weird, off-the-beaten-path destinations and characters that make the city so beloved, said Jamie McKinney, the new concierge. We both wanted a way to highlight these quirky entities, which dont always rise to the top of Yelp, yet are so crucial to the liveliness and the effectiveness of tourism in our city.

McKinney said the position is being created in response to feedback from travelers wanting to explore the real Portland.

The places that locals actually go to," she said.

For example, guests might want to learn about the elusive Bigfoot, so she will send them to the North American Bigfoot Center, where displays feature an array of bigfoot information and artifacts.

In scouting these tours, Ive relied on my local expertise and my natural inclination to explore and dig deeper, allowing me to uncover the very best of the weird side of Portland, she said.

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Follow Kristi Eaton on Twitter at Twitter.com/KristiEaton.
FORREST CITY, Ark. (AP)  One person was killed when a small aircraft veered out of control and crashed while landing at an eastern Arkansas airport.

The single-engine Cessna 150 was landing at Forrest City Municipal Airport when the aircraft veered off the runway and crashed about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP)  A 16-year-old boy was in critical condition Tuesday after being shot in the head while waiting at a bus stop.

Lawrenceville police said the Central Gwinnett High School student was waiting for a bus around 6:30 a.m. when two other teenagers, ages 17 and 18, walked up to him and one of them shot him in the head, news outlets reported.

Neighbors spotted the suspects running through yards and helped direct police to them. Two suspects are in custody, police said.

Police said the shooting stemmed from a fight on Monday between the teens.

They had a history where they had some sort of conflict, and of course this was the result, Lawrenceville Lt. Jake Parker said.

Central Gwinnett High School's principal, Shane Orr, confirmed the shooting in a statement to students.

I do not have many details at this point, as this situation is still being investigated by the police. I have been notified that a 10th grader at our school has been identified as the victim. The police do have the person responsible in custody, and, unfortunately, the preliminary information I have received is that this individual is also a student at our school, Orr said.

Orr said there was no word on the condition of the student who was shot.

This is a grave situation and our thoughts are with the family of this student, he said.

Parker said the shooting happened around 6:30 a.m. Officers said the student was listed as critical at an area hospital.

The victims mother, Latoya Nicholson, identified the shot student as sophomore Timothy Barnes Jr. She said her son was shot in the head and is currently brain dead. She said she now has the decision to make on whether or not to take him off of life support, WXIA-TV reported.

A 17-year-old suspect is in custody and faces multiple charges, Parker said. An 18-year-old was also arrested, but Parker said his involvement remains under investigation.

Authorities have not released the names of the victim or the suspects in the case.
FAIRFIELD, Calif. (AP)  Three people, including an active duty Air Force member, have been arrested in the killing of a 19-year-old woman who was last seen leaving a Halloween party over the weekend in Northern California, police said.

Leilani Beauchamp, of Carmel, was seen leaving a party Saturday in Sacramento with two Air Force members who share a Fairfield home, Fairfield Police Lt. Jausiah Jacobsen said in a statement.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  African leaders and campaigners are pressing the international community to do more to help poorer and vulnerable nations adapt to climate change, seizing on evidence showing the continent to be the most endangered by the effects of global warming.

The head of the African Union, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, said other parts of the world must contribute half of the $25 billion the continent needs to run an adaptation program over the next five years. The balance will come from the African Development Bank.

Tshisekedi spoke Tuesday before an Africa-focused summit at the U.N. climate conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow. He was one of several leaders who highlighted Africa's plight in the face of climate change despite being the populated continent least responsible for global emissions.

Tshisekedi noted that the global effort on climate change cant be won unless it is won in Africa," which is home to 1.3 billion people. Africas 54 nations contribute only about 3% of global emissions, a fact that surprises some ordinary Africans when they find out.

It is a starting point rather than a ceiling, and it will contribute to building trust and confidence, Tshisekedi said of the $12.5 billion Africa needs to raise for climate-adaptation projects.

He said he hoped the money would be raised before the next annual climate conference, to be held in Africa.

World leaders are already pledging toward adaptation efforts, and it remains to be seen how much will be raised for Africa when the two-week Glasgow conference ends.

In the meantime, some African leaders and campaigners are applying pressure, noting that a previous pledge to raise $100 billion for Africa was never honored.

We dont need more facts. We need more finance, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said.

Patrick Verkooijen, chief executive of the Netherlands-based Global Center on Adaptation, said the situation for Africa is adapt or die, noting that the effects of climate change are at Africa's doorsteps today.

Alok Sharma, a British official who is leading the climate conference known as COP26, spoke of Malagasy women in Madagascar facing a bleak future of being unable to farm because of challenges stemming from climate change.

The need is great, and the injustice is stark, he said.

Others who spoke Tuesday included U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said adaptation efforts were a priority for Washington. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva called for the removal of obstacles to the empowerment of women as part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa's resilience amid climate change.

Eze Christiana, a Nigerian living in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, said she doesn't think it is important to gather and talk about climate change.

"We just need to adapt to it and take it the way we see it, she said of global warming.

According to a report last month from the World Meteorological Organization and other U.N. agencies, Africa's people remain extremely vulnerable as the continent warms more and at a faster rate than the global average.

The International Rescue Committee said Tuesday that in Somalia and some other African countries where it operates, people face the sharp end of the climate crisis, including emergency conditions from the current levels of global warming.

The international community must invest in climate resilience and famine prevention, the humanitarian group said in a statement.

Were extremely worried about the impact of continuing drought and conflict on vulnerable populations throughout the horn of Africa, where a large proportion of the population relies heavily on crops to eat and sell for their livelihoods, Kurt Tjossem, the groups vice president for East Africa, said in that statement.

In Somalia, for example, 3.5 million people face hunger after a failed harvest, with farmers who depend on livestock seeing their animals die from thirst daily, he said.

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Associated Press journalist Josphat Kasire in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.

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Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
PHOENIX (AP)  Former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said Monday he was questioned by investigators from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich's office about the 2020 election.

The questioning of Fontes, a Democrat who oversaw mail-in balloting last year but lost his own re-election bid, suggests Brnovich is pressing ahead with his pledge to review the findings of the state Senate Republicans' partisan review of the 2020 election. That review, led and almost entirely funded by supporters of former President Donald Trump, confirmed President Joe Biden's victory in Maricopa County but spread falsehoods about alleged malfeasance.

Brnovich is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate but could be weighed down by sharp criticism from Trump, who retains considerable sway with the GOP base. Trump repeatedly attacked Brnovich earlier this year as lackluster, claiming the attorney general wasn't doing enough to advance the false claim that Trump's loss in Arizona was the result of fraud.

Fontes, who is running in a contested Democratic primary for secretary of state, said he spoke for about an hour Monday morning with two special agents from Brnovich's office. He said the discussion was professional and collegial, but he said the agents did not seem to know much about election systems.

If they were trying to build an actual case, they wouldve been prepared before they asked me any questions, Fontes told The Associated Press. This is nothing more than political box-checking and an abuse of power by a desperate Republican Senate nominee.

Fontes said the agents asked about the archiving of data to the server but did not disclose other specific lines of inquiry.

Brnovich's office declined to comment.

While Biden and Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly won at the top of the ticket in Maricopa County, Democrats did not fare well in down-ticket races, including Fontes' bid for re-election. The Republican who beat him, Stephen Richer, has repeatedly defended the 2020 election.

Brnovich said last month that he would look into the findings of Cyber Ninjas, which led the Senate Republicans' review of the 2020 election. While it confirmed that Biden won in Maricopa County, it also spun falsehoods about deleted data, double voting and other malfeasance in a report that ignored basic facts about how elections are run

I will take all necessary actions that are supported by the evidence and where I have legal authority," Brnovich said at the time. "Arizonans deserve to have their votes accurately counted and protected.
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP)  Bulgaria is deploying 350 troops and 40 army vehicles along its southern border with Turkey to help border police deal with a growing migrant influx, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The troops will conduct joint patrols along the 259-kilometer (161-mile) border with Turkey. They also will repair the partly damaged barbed-wire fence that was erected five years ago to prevent migrants, mainly from Syria, from illegally crossing the border from Turkey into the European Union nation.
BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP)  Central African Republics presidential guard opened fire on United Nations peacekeepers in the capital, wounding 10 of them, the U.N. mission said Tuesday. One person was struck and killed by a U.N. vehicle as it fled the scene.

The U.N. mission known as MINUSCA condemned Monday's development, calling the shooting of the unarmed Egyptian peacekeepers near the presidential palace deliberate and unjustifiable."

Presidential spokesman Albert Mokpem Yaloke urged calm, saying it was an incident that we are managing.

We deplore the death of this compatriot and we offer our most saddened condolences to the family, he said.

Monday's incident took place after a MINUSCA civilian officer entered the security perimeters of the presidential residence, according to MINUSCA spokesman Vladimir Monteiro.

After an exchange with the forces, he decided to turn back, Monteiro said.

The development comes amid mounting security fears in the capital, Bangui, of another rebel attack. Back in January rebels tried to seize the capital but were repelled by security forces after intense fighting on the citys outskirts.

President Faustin Archange Touadera recently offered a unilateral cease-fire to rebels, though said that government forces could still act in self-defense. The unexpected gesture prompted speculation that the president was becoming more vulnerable to the armed groups who oppose him.

Tensions are also rising between the government and the U.N., which has called on the countrys authorities to separate from the Wagner group that is responsible for the president's safety. The U.N. has also imposed an arms embargo.

The U.N. mission, which now has more than 12,000 military and police personnel, deployed to the mineral-rich country in 2013 when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power and forced then President Francois Bozize from office.

Anti-Balaka militias later fought back, also targeting civilians in the streets. Untold thousands were killed, and most of the capitals Muslims fled the capital in fear of their lives.

The country saw a period of relative peace in late 2015 and 2016, but violence then intensified once again. A 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 rebel groups has neared collapse in the years since.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  China is at a special development stage that warrants its current status as the world's biggest emitter of climate-damaging fossil fuel pollution, the nation's senior climate negotiator said Tuesday.

Xie Zhenhua, a special climate envoy for China, spoke to reporters at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

As a major climate polluter and as the world's second-biggest economy, China has been much talked about, but little seen, at the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping  who is not known to have left the country during the pandemic  has not joined the more than 100 other world leaders at the event, addressing observers and delegates in a written message Monday instead.

Xie, who played a pivotal role in negotiations that achieved the 2015 Paris climate accord, underscored China's longstanding position that the United States and other developed nations should be the ones acting faster to cut climate-damaging emissions, not China.

China is already "making our biggest possible effort to address climate change, Xie said, saying China was unable to start reining in its reliance on coal-fired power plants any quicker than it already was.

So regarding the fact that China is the current largest emitter, its because China is at a special development stage, Xie said. The nation will be able to speed up its emission cuts later, he said.

We do not only make promises, we honor our promises with real action, he said.

China, which is heavily dependent on coal-fired power, pledged last year to start reining in its fossil fuel emissions later in this decade and to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Climate negotiators welcomed Xi's announcements then, but its 2060 date is a decade later than many other countries' target, and Xi has resisted international calls to move faster. At the climate summit, China has taken part in some initiatives  such as joining a multinational pledge Tuesday to preserve forests  but announced no new climate efforts so far.

Despite China's status as an economic powerhouse, its leaders argue that factors that include China's modest per-capita income make it a developing country still.

As such, it bears less burden to cut emissions than economies like the United States or Europe that have already powered to wealth by burning coal and petroleum, China argues. The average American still produces more than twice the climate-damaging amount of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels than the average Chinese citizen.

China and U.S. officials long have played a mutual blame game as global warming intensifies, with China faulting the U.S. as the world's largest climate polluter historically, and Donald Trump's administration in particular pointing to China's pollution in justifying rollbacks of U.S. climate efforts.

President Joe Biden used the summit Monday to express regret for the U.S. role in climate damage.

Those of us who are responsible for much of the deforestation and all of the problems we have so far, Biden said, have overwhelming obligations to the poorer nations that account for few of the emissions yet are paying a price as the planet has grown hotter.

Biden also apologized Monday for Trumps decision to leave the Paris climate accord, saying that put us sort of behind the eight ball a little bit on combating climate change.

Xie on Tuesday dismissed a reporter's question about whether China, as the world's current worst carbon emitter, bore any similar obligations to other countries for China's role in damaging the Earth's climate.

Instead, he faulted the U.S., saying it was Trump's withdrawal that slowed down climate efforts.

We have wasted already five years owing to the U.S. withdrawal from the climate accord, Xie said. And now we need to work harder and catch up.

Biden rejoined the Paris accord earlier this year as one of his first acts as president.

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Follow all AP stories on climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate.
FARMINGTON, Utah (AP)  A Utah prosecutor has established a new unit dedicated to reviewing cases for possible wrongful convictions.

The panel established by Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings differs from many others by including criminal-justice reform advocates from American Civil Liberties Union of Utah and Libertas Institute.

We want people who are passionate about the criminal justice system, treating people right and getting it right, Rawlings said. The nine-person panel also includes lawyers, a former sheriff and two people who work in higher education, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The volunteer team will be led by Glen Dawson, a retired Davis County judge.

Dawson pointed to a case he presided over, where Rawlings asked for a conviction to be vacated for a 17-year-old boy who was found guilty in a 1996 fatal shooting motel clerk during a botched robbery. Rawlings said then the teen didnt get a fair trial, and he felt the conviction should be tossed.

He did the right thing, Dawson said of Rawlings.

People can ask for a review if convicted of a felony. Application must be based on credible and verifiable evidence of innocence or new technologies to test or retest relevant evidence.

Similar Utah panels exist in Salt Lake, Summit and Utah counties.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A federal appeals court on Monday revived a lawsuit filed by an online freelance journalist in Texas who says she was arrested for merely seeking information from the police.

Priscilla Villarreal goes by the name La Gordiloca on Facebook and Twitter. Monday's opinion from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals describes her as a non-traditional journalist who posts livestreamed video and information on crime scenes in the Laredo area, along with often unfiltered commentary that is sometimes critical of local authorities.

Her lawsuit, revived in a 2-1 decision by the appeals court panel, said she was arrested in 2017 and accused of violating a little-known Texas law that a judge later found unconstitutional.

Monday's opinion said the law made it a crime for a person to solicit information from public officials that has not been made public if the person seeking the information intends to benefit from it in some way. Villarreal had sought  and obtained from a police officer  the identities of a person who killed himself and a family involved in a car accident and published the information on her Facebook. The arrest affidavit said she sought the information to gain Facebook followers.

The charges against Villarreal were thrown out by a judge who ruled that the state law was unconstitutionally vague. Villarreal sued Laredo officials, alleging her constitutional rights to free speech and protection from unlawful seizure were violated when police arrested her.

In district court filings, the Laredo officials lawyers said the police acted in good faith and had no reason to believe the law under which Villarreal was arrested would later be found unconstitutional.

A federal district judge in Texas found the officials were protected by qualified immunity  meaning the law largely protects them for actions they take as part of their official duties.

But two of the three judges for the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit disagreed, reversing much of the district court's ruling.

Priscilla Villarreal was put in jail for asking a police officer a question, Judge James Ho, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump, wrote for the majority. If that is not an obvious violation of the Constitution, its hard to imagine what would be. And as the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, public officials are not entitled to qualified immunity for obvious violations of the Constitution.

Ho was joined by Judge James Graves, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama. Judge Priscilla Owen, nominated by former President George W. Bush, dissented. The court said her reasons would be posted later.
An Apple employee who was fired last month after raising concerns about the company's treatment of its workers submitted allegations to the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday.

Janneke Parrish, who was a product manager on Apple Maps in Austin, Texas, helped launch #AppleToo, a movement aimed at improving working conditions at the company. While the company told her she was fired for deleting apps and files from a company phone during a company investigation, she thinks it's because of her activism.

Parrish is at least the third corporate Apple employee to file an NLRB "charge," or an allegation of a violation of the National Labor Relations Act, against the company in recent months, a sign that the iPhone maker is facing increasing scrutiny over its labor practices. If the NLRB finds merit in Parrish's charge, the agency can file a complaint and seek remedies.

"Apple Inc. terminated Parrish's employment ... in attempt to nip-in-the-bud the successful organizing campaign that Parrish and her coworkers established to address and redress employees' workplace concerns," Parrish wrote in the charge, which was reviewed by The Washington Post.

Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock has previously said the company has "always been deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace." He said the company doesn't discuss specific employee matters out of respect for privacy. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Big technology companies are facing a wave of employee activism that aims to improve diversity and reduce discrimination inside the ever-growing and increasingly dominant behemoths. More than 20,000 Google employees staged a walkout to protest sexual misconduct and inequality in 2018, and last year Black women at Pinterest accused the company of discrimination and retaliation. Amazon settled a wrongful termination suit in September against two women it fired after they publicly criticized the company's climate policies. Apple, known for its secretive nature and highly polished public image, is unaccustomed to organized efforts to shine a light on its management practices.

Over the summer, more than 500 employees - many working at Apple's more than 500 global retail stores - have submitted stories via #AppleToo that allege the company has not done enough to stop "racism, sexism, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, sexual and other forms of harassment" inside its walls.

Among the Apple employees raising concerns is Cher Scarlett, who organized an employee wage survey to shine a light on alleged pay discrepancies affecting underrepresented groups. Scarlett, who has also filed an NLRB charge, is currently on leave from the company.

Parrish said in an interview last month with The Washington Post that she was under investigation by Apple's global security division, which told her she was under investigation for leaking details about Apple chief executive Tim Cook's Sept. 18 virtual Town Hall meeting, where he addressed allegations of workplace misconduct at the company in front of all employees.

Parrish said she did not leak information about the Town Hall, and said she believes she was targeted because of her involvement with #AppleToo.

Shortly after Parrish was questioned over videoconference, she said a courier showed up to her Austin-area home to collect her company-owned iPhone and laptop. Parrish said she deleted some apps and files before her devices were collected by the courier, including the augmented reality game "Pokemon Go" and Google Drive, because those apps contained personal information. She said Apple fired her for deleting those apps.

Parrish says she also owns a personal smartphone that Apple did not collect as part of its investigation.

Parrish's NLRB charge will be investigated by one of the agency's regional offices.

According to the NLRB, there are about 20,000 to 30,000 charges filed each year and most of those cases settle. The NLRB does not penalize companies, but instead imposes "remedies" that include forcing the company to reinstate the employee that filed the charge. The NLRB can also choose to investigate further after a charge is filed and expand the scope of the initial allegations.

According to the NLRB's website, there have been seven charges filed against the company this year, compared to one each of the previous three years. The details of the complaints have not been made public.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Kyle Rittenhouse shot three men, killing two of them and wounding the third, during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year. Rittenhouse argued that he fired in self-defense after the men attacked him. Here's a look at the charges that prosecutors carried into court, as well as lesser charges that the judge put before the jury in his final instructions.

COUNT 1: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESS HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON

This felony charge was connected to the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man Rittenhouse shot. Bystander video shows Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse through a parking lot and throwing a plastic bag at him. Rittenhouse flees behind a car and Rosenbaum follows. Video introduced at trial showed Rittenhouse wheeling around and firing as Rosenbaum chased him. Richie McGinniss, a reporter who was trailing Rittenhouse, testified that Rosenbaum lunged for Rittenhouse's gun.

Reckless homicide differs from intentional homicide in that prosecutors weren't alleging that Rittenhouse intended to murder Rosenbaum. Instead, they were alleging that Rittenhouse caused Rosenbaum's death in circumstances showing an utter disregard for human life.

The charge was punishable by up to 60 years in prison. The dangerous weapon modifier carried an additional five years.

COUNT 2: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON

This felony charge was connected to the Rosenbaum shooting. McGinniss told investigators he was in the line of fire when Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum. The charge would have been punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison. The weapons modifier carried an additional five years.

COUNT 3: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON

Video shows an unknown man leaping at Rittenhouse and trying to kick him seconds before Anthony Huber moves his skateboard toward him. Rittenhouse appears to fire two rounds at the man but apparently misses as the man runs away.

This charge is a felony punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison. The weapons modifier again would have added up to five more years.

COUNT 4: FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON

This charge was in Huber's death. Video shows Rittenhouse running down the street after shooting Rosenbaum when he falls to the street. Huber leaps at him and swings a skateboard at his head and neck and tries to grab Rittenhouse's gun before Rittenhouse fires. The criminal complaint alleged Rittenhouse aimed the weapon at Huber.

Intentional homicide means just that  a person killed someone and meant to do it. A conviction would have meant a mandatory life sentence. The weapons modifier would have added up to five years.

The jury also was given the option of second-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide in Huber's death.

Second-degree intentional homicide would have been punishable by up to 60 years in prison.

The first-degree reckless homicide charge sought in Huber's death matched an original charge in Rosenbaum's death  it would have required jurors to decide that Rittenhouse caused Huber's death with an utter disregard for human life  and would have been punishable by up to 60 years in prison.

COUNT 5: ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON

This was the charge for Rittenhouse shooting Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm seconds after he shot Huber, and as Grosskreutz came toward him holding a pistol. Grosskreutz survived. Video shows Rittenhouse pointing his gun at Grosskreutz and firing a single round.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 60 years. The weapons modifier would have added up to five more years.

The jury also was given the option of considering second-degree attempted intentional homicide and first-degree reckless endangerment charges.

The possible punishment for attempted second-degree intentional homicide is 30 years. Attempted first-degree reckless endangerment is punishable by up to 12 1/2 years.

COUNT 6: POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON BY A PERSON UNDER 18

The judge dismissed this charge on Monday.

Rittenhouse was armed with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle. He was 17 years old on the night of the shootings. Wisconsin law prohibits minors from possessing firearms except for hunting or when supervised by an adult in target practice or instruction in the proper use of a dangerous weapon. Rittenhouses attorneys argued that another subsection of the law, regarding short-barreled rifles, provided grounds for dismissing the charge.

Prosecutors argued the defense was misreading the statute, and Schroeder had earlier twice declined to dismiss the charge. But the judge also had said the statute was confusing. After prosecutors conceded that the rifle was not short-barreled, Schroeder dismissed the charge.

COUNT 7: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN EMERGENCY ORDER FROM STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Rittenhouse was charged with being out on the streets after an 8 p.m. curfew imposed by the city, a minor offense that carries a fine of up to $200. The judge dismissed this charge during the trial, saying the prosecution didn't offer enough evidence to prove it.

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Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP)  Nineteen families on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have been left without a home after a city condemned a decades-old motel.

WLOX-TV reported that Pascagoula officials said Crown Inn had structural problems, safety hazards and code violations.
SOUTH PARIS, Maine (AP)  Authorities in Maine said Tuesday they were investigating a fire in South Paris that killed a 5-year-old child.

The State Fire Marshal's Office said the child died at a hospital after the Tuesday afternoon fire, WGME-TV reported. Authorities did not release the name of the child or a potential cause of the fire on Tuesday.
NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP)  A sheriff's investigation refutes allegations that a Florida Panhandle teacher subjected her students to pornography by letting them watch the R-rated movie Alexander."

Parents of a 15-year-old girl told school officials she was traumatized by the Niceville High School teacher showing students a movie that they considered to be porn."

But Okaloosa County Sheriffs officials said there was no probable cause to bring charges against the teacher.

Investigators determined the teacher had a legitimate reason for showing the film to her college level classical studies students. They also found the teacher had taken steps to limit what the students watched to keep underage students from viewing some of the more graphic scenes, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported.

The 2004 Oliver Stone movie stars Colin Farrell as ancient Greek king Alexander the Great. It contains nudity and scenes of sexual assault and homosexuality.

The teacher told investigators she knew which scenes they would see given the time they had in class to view the movie. She said those scenes were of battles and speeches, which would be a good resource for the students to reference for testing.

But after learning that a more family friendly version of the movie was no longer available on Netflix, the teacher said she mistakenly obtain a directors cut of the film.

The students who chose to watch the movie scenes when it was offered in September did so in a school hallway so they would not disturb the rest of the class. The students used the 15-year-old's laptop because it worked better than the school computers, the report said.

At the time, the girl was absent from school for two days and used her teacher's password to access an account and watch the movie from home, the newspaper reported. The couple and their daughter then watched the graphic scenes they later described to the Okaloosa County School Board as pornography.
DENVER (AP)  Police in suburban Denver on Tuesday released body camera footage involving an officer accused of putting a woman suspected of shoplifting in a chokehold.

A judge ordered the footage in the case of Sheridan Officer Shawn Ralph to be made public last month in response to a request from Colorado media outlets under a new law that generally requires footage to be released within 21 days of a request.

Ralph is accused of using the chokehold on Sept. 3 after the handcuffed woman spit in his eye as she was apparently aiming at a store worker, who had confronted her about the alleged theft, according to an arrest affidavit. After looking at footage from all four officers there, police said it appeared that Ralph's left hand went toward her neck, with the web of it near her windpipe and his fingers and thumb on either side of her neck for about five seconds. His other hand eventually rests on top of his left, appearing to support it. A sergeant either knocked or pulled Ralphs hands away from the womans neck, the document said.

One of the four videos released of the incident briefly shows an officers gloved hands near the womans neck before the camera moves away.

In a statement to police, Ralph said that he reached his gloved hand toward the woman's mouth to stop her from spitting more but she pulled back, causing his hand to slip to her chin, the affidavit said.

A message left for Ralph's lawyer, Zach Wagner, seeking comment was not returned.
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP)  A Louisiana woman has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison and has agreed to repay $121,600.50 to a school where she was a bookkeeper for about two years.

Carlina Moore of Alexandria pleaded guilty to wire fraud in August and was sentenced Tuesday in Lafayette, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Shreveport said in a news release Tuesday.
BANGKOK (AP)  Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Bill Richardson, on a humanitarian mission to strife-torn Myanmar, met Tuesday with the head of the Southeast Asian nations military-installed government.

Myanmars Information Ministry said Richardson held discussions with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing about prevention and control of COVID-19. Also present were the ministers of foreign affairs, health and international cooperation, it said. The meeting was shown on the evening news broadcast of state television MRTV.

Richardsons mission was announced Sunday by his office, which quoted him as saying he is visiting the country to discuss pathways for the humanitarian delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, medical supplies, and other public health needs.

However, his mission has also raised hopes that Richardson will seek the release of U.S. journalist Danny Fenster, who has been jailed in Myanmar for the past five months.

Myanmars health care system is largely broken amid widespread resistance to the militarys ouster in February of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Medical personnel have been at the forefront of the opposition to military rule.

The situation is exacerbated by Myanmars poverty and increasingly fierce fighting between the government and pro-democracy insurgents in various parts of the country.

Governor Richardson believes that, in moments of crisis and instability such as this one, we must ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to those most in need, his office said in a statement.

Detained journalist Fenster, who is from the greater Detroit area, is charged with incitement for allegedly spreading false or inflammatory information. The offense is punishable by up to three years in prison.

Fenster, managing editor of the Yangon-based online news magazine Frontier Myanmar, is also charged with association with unlawful associations, which carries a two-to-three year prison term. The U.S. government and media freedom organizations have been pressing for his release, as well as that of other journalists detained since the army's takeover.

The State Department said Richardson is making the trip on his own but that it hopes he can help convince Myanmars leaders to allow the entry of aid for the coronavirus pandemic and other urgent needs. The U.S. government, like other Western nations, has avoided sending officials to Myanmar because it does not want to be seen as recognizing the legitimacy of the military's seizure of power.

While this is not an effort sponsored by, or on behalf of, the United States government, we hope his trip contributes to improved humanitarian access, it said in a statement Monday.

Richardson, who has also served as governor of New Mexico and secretary of energy in the Clinton administration, has a record of acting as a sort of freelance diplomat.

He is best known for traveling to nations with which Washington has poor, if any relations  such as North Korea  to obtain the freedom of detained Americans.

Recently he has been involved in seeking freedom for U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela, another country with which Washington has strained ties.

Richardson has a long history of involvement with Myanmar, starting in 1994 when as a member of Congress he met Suu Kyi at her home, where she had been under house arrest since 1989 under a previous military government.

He last visited Myanmar in 2018 to advise on the crisis involving the countrys Muslim Rohingya minority. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to refugee camps in Bangladesh after Myanmars military in 2017 launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in the western state of Rakhine, where most lived.

The crackdown included rapes, killings and the torching of thousands of homes, and was termed ethnic cleansing by global rights groups and the U.N.

Richardson accepted Suu Kyis invitation to join an advisory board on the crisis, but then resigned, calling it a whitewash and a cheerleading operation for Suu Kyi after an argument with her.

In reaction to this years army takeover, he urged the Biden administration and the international community to strongly condemn the anti-democratic coup and "impose crushing international sanctions as soon as possible.

But while calling for Suu Kyi's safety, he also described her as  complicit in the atrocities conducted by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities.
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP)  The chief international representative in Bosnia is warning that the war-scarred Balkan nation could face the biggest existential threat of the post-war period if the international community does not curb threatened separatist actions by Bosnian Serbs.

High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt was scheduled to deliver the warning in a briefing to the U.N. Security Council but council said his appearance was canceled because of opposition from Russia, a close ally of Serbia and the Bosnian Serbs.

Schmidt.said the prospects of further division and conflict are very real, if Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik withdraws Serb troops from the Bosnian army and creates a separate Serb force, according to excerpts of his prepared briefing carried by Bosnias Klix.ba portal.

Those moves and other threats, if carried out, would "ultimately undermine the states ability to function and carry out its constitutional responsibilities, Schmidt wrote.

Schmidt, a senior German diplomat, called Dodiks threatened actions tantamount to secession without proclaiming it. He said they endanger not only the peace and stability of the country and the region, but  if unanswered by the international community  could lead to the undoing of the agreement" that ended the Bosnian War in 1995.

Dodik responded Tuesday by dismissing the report as a propaganda pamphlet that was written to favor Bosnian Muslims.

If we are separatists, he is an occupier," Dodik said, adding that Schmidt represents no one.

The Bosnian War started in 1992 when Bosnian Serbs, with the help of the Yugoslav army, tried to create ethnically pure territories with an aim of joining neighboring Serbia. More than 100,000 people were killed and millions were left homeless during the worst bloodshed in Europe after World War II.

The war pitted Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims, Serbs and Croats against each other and ended with the U.S.-sponsored peace agreement that created two regions, the Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation. The two regions were given wide autonomy, but kept some joint institutions, including the army, the top judiciary and tax administration. Bosnia also has a rotating three-member presidency made up of Bosniak, Serb and Croat members.

Dodik, the Bosnian Serb member of the presidency, has for years been advocating for the separation of the Bosnian Serb mini-state and having it become part of Serbia. Such a move would unlikely win support from the United States and much of the West.

Dodik, who has tacit support from Russia and Serbia, recently intensified his campaign, pledging that the Bosnian Serb parliament would by the end of November declare the creation of its own army, tax authority and judiciary.

He has threatened to take over the Bosnian army barracks located in the Serb half of Bosnia once the Bosnian Serb military is formed. He said if the West tries to intervene, he would call Bosnian Serb friends for help.

A U.N. Security Council session where Schmidt was to deliver the report was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed until Wednesday afternoon, in hopes of reaching an agreement with Russia, which diplomats said proved impossible.

Schmidt was supposed to speak at a council meeting to extend the mandate of the EUFOR peacekeeping mission in Bosnia by one year. Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations have been private, said the vote to extend the EUFOR mission for a year will take place on Wednesday afternoon without a briefing.

Russia threatened to veto the resolution approving the extension unless all references to the high representative for Bosnia are removed  an apparent attempt to undermine Schmidts authority as the observer of the 1995 peace deal.

In July, the Security Council rejected a resolution put forward by Russia and China that would have immediately stripped the powers of the high representative and eliminated the position in a year.

Before the vote, Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky accused the high representative of becoming like a czar with almost post-colonial type of powers. The Office of the High Representative has dismissed scores of officials, including judges, civil servants, and members of parliament since its inception and has been sharply criticized by Bosnian Serbs for not offering the possibility of appealing decisions.

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This story corrects the year the Bosnian War started to 1992, not 1991.

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Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia and Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations in New York.
John Minchillo/AP

CHICAGO (AP)  The Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized Monday in Washington, D.C. after falling and hitting his head while helping Howard University students who are protesting living conditions on campus, according to a spokesman.

The 80-year-old Chicago civil rights leader was entering a campus building when he fell and hit his head, according to Jackson spokesman Frank Watkins.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The judge who presided over the trial of Derek Chauvin has made public the names of jurors who convicted the former Minneapolis police officer of murder in the death of George Floyd.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, in response to a request to release the names by The Associated Press and other news organizations, also Monday made public the names of two alternate jurors who watched the trial but did not deliberate, as well as the responses of the jurors and alternates to questionnaires that were sent to prospective jurors during jury selection.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a former Minneapolis police officer for confiscating drugs during three separate investigations, which he then kept for his own use.

Ty Jindra, 29, was found guilty of stealing Tramadol, methamphetamine and oxycodone. In two cases he filed false reports and in one case he failed to mention that he had discovered pills, prosecutors said.
MIAMI (AP)  The key witness against a Colombian police captain who leaked sensitive information about U.S. anti-narcotics investigations has been given a sharply reduced sentence Tuesday for his help in a case that has highlighted concerns about the Drug Enforcement Administration's operations overseas.

Judge Robert Scola sided with federal prosecutors in Miami who found that Juan Carlos Davila-Bonilla's cooperation merited a 40% reduction from sentencing guidelines recommending a minimum 57 month sentence for obstruction of justice.

Instead, the judge ordered he be freed immediately under supervised release after spending 33 months in custody since his January 2019 arrest in Colombia on a U.S. warrant.

Davila-Bonilla's testimony helped convict Juan Pablo Mosquera, a once-r ising star in Colombia's police who headed an anti-narcotics squad in the city of Cali overseen by the DEA's Sensitive Investigative Unit, the gold standard of its partnerships abroad.

Mosquera, who pleaded guilty in the U.S. to two counts of obstructing justice, was charged with trying to sell information about what he thought was an impending narcotics indictment against an American who had ditched probation decades earlier and was believed to be living in Colombia.

Mosquera's police unit was one of many vetted by the DEA under a program meant to help conduct drug investigations in foreign countries where U.S. agents face more restrictions than local officers.

The program has led to the arrests of hundreds of drug capos in more than 20 countries.

But a scathing U.S. Inspector General report this summer blasted the DEAs leadership in Washington for failing to properly oversee its foreign law enforcement partners even in the aftermath of a string of well-publicized scandals.

The case against Mosquera arose from a tip that he was trying to sell information through his representative, Davila-Bonilla, a previously convicted Colombian drug trafficker, to targets of U.S. law enforcement investigations.

When the DEA found out, it organized a sting in which it shared false information with Mosquera about an indictment out of Miami against an American fugitive identified in court papers as P.L.

Less than a week later, Davila-Bonilla was recorded on a phone call with someone he thought was a drug-trafficking associate of P.L. but in reality was a DEA confidential source. Davila-Bonilla told him that the Miami extradition request was imminent and that the American should leave Colombia

Prosecutor Joseph Schuster said that Davila-Bonilla's role in the conspiracy was minor compared to that of Mosquera. And he said that Davila-Bonilla had also helped with investigations against two other drug kingpins, neither of whom were identified by name. He said one of those had already been indicted and the other was under investigation by prosecutors in New York.

Also weighing in Davila-Bonilla's favor was the fact that he has no previous criminal record in the U.S., although he has been convicted twice before for distributing cocaine in Germany and Italy.

Id like to say to this honorable judge and court how much I apologize for this mistake," Davila-Bonilla said in brief remarks before Scola imposed the light sentence, adding that he hoped the court would give him an opportunity to rebuild my life.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A man was arrested Tuesday in the southeast Alaska community of Kake, which a tribal official earlier said had gone into lockdown.

Alaska State Troopers arrested the man on a criminal trespass charge, troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel said by email. Troopers in a statement said other charges were possible, pending the outcome of their investigation.

No injuries were reported.

Troopers said they received a call from a resident about 3:40 a.m. saying a window at a school had been broken, but the person wasn't sure when that happened. Another caller, around 4:30 a.m., said that the man who was later arrested had entered their home without permission and that four gunshots were heard a short time after he left, troopers said.

The statement did not indicate who fired the shots.

Another caller later provided further information to the troopers, the statement said, offering no details.

Joel Jackson, president of the Organized Village of Kake, had told the Anchorage Daily News the community would be on lockdown until troopers arrived. Troopers said they reached Kake around 11 a.m.

Nobody was hurt; everybody stayed indoors while this thing played out, Jackson told CoastAlaska.

CoastAlaska reported that Kake has no permanent law enforcement presence. Jackson told the outlet that village public safety officers serve on a rotation that leaves Kake without a law enforcement presence for two weeks at a time.

Kake is a community of about 580 people 95 air miles southwest of Juneau.

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The story is corrected to say the man was arrested on a criminal trespass charge.
MACON, Ga. (AP)  A middle Georgia man was found guilty of three racketeering charges on Monday, identified by authorities in court as the head of a regional drug-dealing operation.

Dexter Lee Williams, 53, was arrested in March 2020 after a probe by the Houston County Drug Investigations unit connected him to a shipment of 87 pounds (39 kilograms) of cocaine worth nearly $4 million, according to authorities.

Williams showed no emotion in court as the verdict was read, The Macon Telegraph reported. He could face up to 60 years in prison at sentencing.

Williams' attorney, Wanda Jackson, had argued at trial that prosecutors overstepped their bounds and that the charges were improperly brought, the newspaper reported. Jackson also argued that Williams was not part of a Houston County conspiracy and had only sold drugs to a Macon man whose connections had dealings in neighboring communities.

Prosecutors countered by saying to jurors that Williams' actions were part of a long pattern of criminal activity. Williams was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison in 2007 for marijuana distribution, they said.

Houston County prosecutor Greg Winters said the shipment worth nearly $4 million was seized in March 2020 in south Macon and he was surprised by its size.

In my time as a prosecutor, Ive never seen the amount of illegal drugs that were brought in in one shipment alone, Winters told the Telegraph.

Authorities said they used wiretaps and other surveillance methods during the investigation and that more than 25,000 telephone conversations and text messages were monitored. They said the probe also led to the arrests of of more than a dozen suspected local dealers.

Winters played several phone calls for the jury in which Williams could be heard arranging drug deals.

According to prosecutors, Williams' network supplied narcotics to dealers across the region, including in Butts County and the Jackson area. One official testified the organization had likely been operating for more than five years.

Prosecutors also said Williams planned to expand operations into the Washington, D.C.,. and New York City areas with cocaine supplied by Mexico's Gulf Cartel.

Houstons Acting District Attorney William Kendall said in a statement that Williams drug operation put money over everything else and that Williams had no concern about how many lives he impacted or devastated.
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina man was sentenced to prison nearly two years after he shot and wounded two people at a meatpacking plant, a prosecutor said.

Bladen County District Attorney Jon David said in a news release that Jaquante Hakeem Williams was sentenced to between 188 months to 250 months in prison on Monday for the attempted murder of two Smithfield Foods Inc. employees.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Missouri Supreme Court judges on Tuesday heard arguments over whether parts of a sexual assault victims rights law are unconstitutional.

The Legislature in 2020 passed the law, also known as the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights. Part of the law requires defense attorneys to remind their clients' alleged victims of their right to have a support person present while being questioned.

Missouri State Public Defender Director Mary Fox and several other public defenders sued, claiming that provision constitutes compelled speech and violates their freedom of speech. A lower court judge ruled that part of the law must not be followed, and the state appealed in defense of the law.

Jeff Esparza, who represented public defenders in court, told Supreme Court judges during arguments that the requirement also creates a conflict of interest as it forces defense attorneys to look out for the interests of their clients and those raising claims against them.

The defense attorney is one of the few people in the system that is dedicated to protecting the rights of the accused, and this statute requires that defense attorney to no longer be solely dedicated to that purpose," he said.

He also said that since the circuit judge blocked that section of the law, no one has suffered because of it, particularly because police and prosecutors also remind assault victims of their rights.

Sitting here, as a defense attorney, it makes me cringe a little bit to think that I have to walk into a room and give my clients accuser a warning of that nature, Esparza said.

Deputy Solicitor General Jeff Johnson, who is defending the law in court, told judges that sexual assault victims can be retraumatized by repeated interviews while their case plays out in court. He said thats why the law directs defense attorneys to remind them of their rights during questioning.

But Judge Mary Russell questioned the constitutionality of requiring defense lawyers to give survivors those warnings.

Its specific speech thats required to be given, Russell she told Johnson. Sounds like compelled speech.

Judges did not indicate when they might rule.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Redistricting plans that enlarge North Carolinas congressional delegation and retool the state House seats each cleared one legislative chamber on Tuesday, backing boundaries that favor Republicans even as their mapping rules prevent the use of partisan data to create them.

The House voted along party lines for a map that redraws the chamber's 120 districts, which are based on population changes recorded in the 2020 census. The new boundaries  if they're enacted and if they withstand litigation  should keep the GOP in a good position to retain the majority it's held since 2011.

The full Senate later approved a new congressional plan for 14 seats  one more than the state's current U.S. House delegation thanks to state population growth over the past decade. Democrats and outside analysis predict Republicans could win at least 10 of those seats  two more than they currently hold  if the map is used. District lines in the Triad would make it difficult for first-term Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning of Greensboro to return to Capitol Hill in 2023.

Earlier Tuesday, a Senate committee also approved recommended districts for the chambers 50 seats. Floor debate on this mostly GOP-drawn plan is expected Wednesday.

Republicans, who control both General Assembly chambers, aimed to give final approval to all three maps by the week's end. Since redistricting plans aren't subject to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto stamp, courts are the likely venue for party officials and their allies to seek to overturn what they consider illegal gerrymanders.

Projected GOP seat advantages in North Carolina contrasts with closely divided statewide elections in 2020, when Republican Donald Trump narrowly edged Joe Biden and Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper was reelected by 4.5 percentage points.

Republicans defended their proposed boundaries as complying well with criteria to shape the districts and undergoing a highly public process that included live-streaming of map drawing.

The final product that you see before you today has resulted in what I believe to be an impressive map that splits very few precincts, keeps municipalities whole and creates compact districts, Rep. Destin Hall, a Caldwell County Republican and House Redistricting Committee co-chairman, said during floor debate before a 67-49 vote on the House map.

House Democrats said their Republican colleagues failed to act in response to the critiques at public hearings held since September, resulting in an unfair map for the next decade. They said Republicans could avoid more litigation after years of lawsuits in the 2010s that struck down maps if they made changes now.

Weve seen what happens when redistricting goes wrong  lots of lawsuits, lots of anger and lots of distrust, said Democratic Rep. Linda Cooper-Suggs of Wilson County. The bill we have before us is a missed opportunity to instill faith in this body and our democracy.

GOP leaders won't discuss projected partisan outcomes of elections stemming from their proposals. They point out that the House and Senate redistricting committees in August prohibited the use of data like voter registration and past statewide election results to assist with drawing lines.

The maps reflect population growth over the past decade in counties in and around Raleigh and Charlotte. With redistricting rules requiring districts to be identical or nearly identical in population totals, more lawmakers will represent top urban areas with the 2022 elections. Meanwhile, many rural areas that saw overall population declines between 2010 and 2020 will have fewer legislators representing them.

The population shifts mean that several pairs of state legislators  nearly all of them Republicans  would now live in the same proposed House or Senate district, meaning they may have to run against each other in order to return to the General Assembly in 2023.

Among those double-bunked under proposed maps include House Majority Leader John Bell of Wayne County, 17-term GOP Rep. Julia Howard of Davie County and Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican and redistricting committee co-chairman. Other boundary changes, however, likely would give Republicans a chance to pick up Senate seats in Wake County and in northeastern counties.

In the congressional map proposal, approved by the Senate 27-22, Guilford County, which is represented entirely by Manning, would be parceled out among three proposed Republican-leaning districts. And Democratic Rep. G.K. Butterfield, who has represented the northeastern 1st Congressional District since 2004, said in an interview Tuesday his proposed district is now a toss-up."

Democrats complained that the congressional proposal is an illegal partisan gerrymander. They also have chided Republicans for failing to ensure Black voters can still elect their favored General Assembly candidates in regions where the federal Voting Rights Act has historically protected them.

Republican legislative leaders also decided to prohibit the use of racial data in map drawing, in part because they argue court-approved maps drawn in the late 2010s didnt use such data. A lawsuit filed last Friday already challenges the GOP's decision to leave out race-based data.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Attorneys for Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska asked a judge Tuesday to dismiss federal charges accusing him of lying to FBI agents who were investigating illegal campaign contributions.

Attorney John Littrell argued in a court filing that the charges were incorrectly filed in California because the nine-term congressmen spoke to federal agents once in Nebraska and once in Washington, D.C.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  A New Jersey man was sentenced to 17 months in prison for bribing postal workers to steal packages.

Jabre Beauvoir, 23, had pleaded guilty in June to one count of bribery. U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty imposed the sentence Tuesday and also ordered Beauvoir to pay restitution of about $24,000.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Firearms are being banned at the New Mexico state Capitol building with few exceptions starting in early December, under rule changes approved Monday by leading Democratic lawmakers.

The changes reverse a live-and-let-live approach toward guns in the Statehouse that has endured for more than a century.

Until now, New Mexico has allowed the open and concealed carry of firearms in the building with no systematic screening for weapons at entrances, which are guarded by State Police when the Legislature is in session. Limited gun restrictions were put in place in recent years during the State of the State address and contentious hearings on gun bills.

The new prohibition on deadly weapons  also including various knives, brass knuckles and sharpened canes  takes effect Dec. 6, when legislators are scheduled to convene for political redistricting.

Democratic state Sen. George Munoz of Gallup said the changes were a necessary response to new and unpredictable security threats.

We need to tighten down the Capitol, said Munoz, acknowledging that he has a concealed carry license. It is the way the world is making us do things now.

The gun ban, drafted by Democratic Senate majority leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe, applies to most people, including legislators and staff inside the Statehouse and adjoining annex offices. The new restrictions don't apply to certified law enforcement officers and uniformed armed service personnel, and additional exceptions can be granted by the House speaker and Senate president, positions currently held by Democrats.

Republican lawmakers said the gun ban would infringe on a bedrock state constitutional right to bear arms  that some see as form of free expression in itself  and called for a more thorough public debate and vetting.

The changes were approved by an 8-5 vote of a panel of leading lawmakers who oversee administrative, legal and security issues at the Legislature, with Republicans voting in unison against the changes.

Republican House minority leader James Townsend of Artesia said the proposal would unfairly deny legislators and staff the ability to defend themselves, compromising security in the process.

Were not talking about Capitol security, were talking about banning firearms, he said.

Senate majority leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe, author of the new rules, acknowledged that he has felt frightened and intimidated by people carrying firearms inside the Capitol  and said his constituents have steered away from legislative hearings because of people openly carrying guns.

There are places where firearms just shouldnt be part of the process and they shouldnt be part of free speech, and the Roundhouse is one of them, said Wirth, using a common nickname for the circular Capitol building. Concealed carry is certainly not going to happen in the courthouse. ... There just are places where, as a policy decision, we make the decision that firearms are not in the mix.

Wirth said the Legislature is on firm legal ground in restricting firearms, noting that the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to robust security precautions in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol in Washington and undisclosed security threats to the state Capitol in Santa Fe.

The state Capitol was cordoned off early this year by fencing, concrete barricades and military personnel in response to undisclosed threats.

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This version corrects that Townsend is from Artesia.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  No one was injured in a Monday night fire that destroyed a Missouri state office building, Gov. Mike Parson's office said Tuesday.

The Department of Social Services' Jefferson City building was empty when firefighters arrived Monday, according to Parson's office.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP)  West Lafayette's mayor has vetoed an ordinance passed by the northwest Indiana city's council that would ban local police from using facial-recognition surveillance technology.

Mayor John Dennis vetoed the ordinance Monday after the West Lafayette City Council approved the measure on a 5-4 vote, the Journal & Courier reported.

Dennis and West Lafayette Chief of Police Troy Harris told the council facial-recognition technology is crucial for police investigations,

We do not own any facial-recognition technology, and Im not here to advocate to do so," Harris said. We do utilize this technology to help us solve crimes and to make our decisions safer.

Dennis, a former deputy chief with the Lafayette Police Department, said he believes this is just the beginning of a great deal of conversation when it comes to this type of technology.

The ordinance was sponsored and presented by council member David Sanders, who said during that he's concerned about the distorting effects this technology has.

The problem is that technology is distorting government action. The availability of the technology  a technology that we dont really know how it works  will be distorting what the government does. And thats the problem," he said.

West Lafayette is located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Palestinian families on Tuesday rejected an offer that would have delayed their eviction by Jewish settlers in a tense Jerusalem neighborhood, where protests and clashes helped ignite the 11-day Gaza war in May.

The four families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood near the Old City said their decision springs from our belief in the justice of our cause and our right to our homes and our homeland. They said that rather than submit to an unjust agreement they would rely on the Palestinian street to raise international awareness of their plight.

The proposal floated by Israel's Supreme Court last month would have made them protected tenants, blocking any eviction and demolition order for at least the next 15 years, according to Ir Amim, an Israeli rights group that closely follows developments in the city.

The families would have been able to continue arguing their case in Israeli courts. But it would have forced them to at least temporarily attest to the settlers' ownership of the properties, which could weaken the families' case going forward, and pay rent to the settlers.

The four families are among dozens in Jerusalem who are threatened with eviction by Jewish settler organizations in several cases that have been working their way through the Israeli court system for decades.

The settlers are making use of an Israeli law that allows them to claim properties that were owned by Jews prior to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Palestinians who lost homes, properties and lands in the same conflict do not have the right to recover them.

There was no immediate comment from the settlers, but Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King, a staunch supporter, said they had accepted the offer.

The families, who are originally from what is now Israel, say the Jordanian government granted them the land on which their homes were later built in exchange for their refugee status after it assumed control of the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1948. They have been living there ever since.

Israel has portrayed the matter as a private real-estate dispute, but the Palestinians and human rights groups view it as a coordinated attempt to push Palestinian residents out of Jerusalem and change the city's identity. The U.S. has spoken out against the evictions, saying it undermines efforts to eventually revive the long-dormant peace process.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 war. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their future state and consider east Jerusalem their capital. Jordan supports their claims.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem shortly after the 1967 war and considers the entire city to be its capital, a claim not recognized by most of the international community.

The threatened evictions were one of the main drivers of protests that erupted in Jerusalem in April and May. The city, with major holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, is the emotional heart of the century-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been the epicenter of several waves of unrest over the years.

After weeks of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, including at a flashpoint holy site, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers fired rockets at the city.

That set off the fourth Gaza war since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Hamas has repeatedly warned Israel against evicting the families.

The families' decision to reject the offer sends the matter back to the Supreme Court, which could approve the evictions and pave the way for them to be carried out in the coming weeks. That would risk setting off another cycle of violence.

Ir Amim says the Israeli government has various tools at its disposal to delay or halt the evictions, but so far it has shown no indication it plans to do so.

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Jeffery reported from Ramallah, West Bank.
In yet another investigation into the role that utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric has played in Californias worsening wildfires, the company announced Monday that it received a subpoena from the U.S. attorneys office seeking documents related to the Dixie fire.

PG&E received the subpoena Oct. 7, according to Mondays regulatory filing, which also said the utility expects to take a loss of at least $1.15 billion from the blaze.

The Dixie fire  the second-largest wildfire in California history  ignited in the dense forest of Plumas County in July. In the weeks and months that followed, it burned through more than 963,000 acres across five counties, destroying 1,300 structures and leveling the town of Greenville.

The cause remains under investigation, but PG&E previously said its equipment may have been the source of the blaze after a worker in the Feather River Canyon area reported two blown fuses and a tree leaning into a power line conductor on July 13, the date the fire started.

A small fire was burning at the base of the tree, but nearly 10 hours passed between the initial sighting and the arrival of first responders, according to a report submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission.

The quarterly report filed Monday confirmed that PG&E received a subpoena from the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of California in October. The company is cooperating with the investigation, they said.

PG&E spokeswoman Lynsey Paulo said in a statement Monday that the company is working every day to resolve claims stemming from past fires and to make its systems safer.

Our hearts continue to be with everyone who was affected by the Dixie fire, Paulo said. As weve shared previously, we believe our actions around the time of the Dixie fires ignition show that we are a reasonable operator of our electric system. We remain focused on reducing wildfire risk across our service area and are committed to keeping our customers and communities safe.

A spokesperson for the attorneys office declined to comment Monday, citing the ongoing investigation.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Butte County district attorneys office and other agencies are also investigating the cause of the blaze, PG&E said. Cal Fire seized some equipment as part of its probe in July but has not yet issued a determination as to the fires cause.

Potential liabilities from the fire are dependent on a variety of factors, including the cause of the blaze as well as the number, size and type of structures and trees damaged or destroyed, PG&E said.

But the aggregate $1.15-billion liability represents the lower end of the range of potential losses: The company also could be liable for claims relating to property damage, business interruptions, fire suppression and evacuation costs, medical expenses and even damage to national park or forest lands, the utility said.

PG&E did not have enough information by the quarterly filing date to accurately estimate some of those costs  including potential claims tied to vegetation destruction  but said such losses could be significant with respect to fire suppression costs due to the size and duration of the 2021 Dixie fire.

The latest investigation marks another blow for the beleaguered utility, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after multibillion-dollar legal liabilities from 2018s Camp fire and other blazes.

PG&E eventually pleaded guilty to 84 deaths from the Camp fire, the deadliest wildfire in state history.

Though it emerged from bankruptcy the following year, PG&E has continued to face legal challenges.

In September, the Shasta County district attorneys office filed 31 criminal charges, including manslaughter, against PG&E for its role in the 2020 Zogg fire, which killed four people and destroyed more than 200 buildings.

The companys chief executive, Patti Poppe, acknowledged at the time that its equipment probably started the Zogg fire but disputed the criminal charges.

Poppe also noted that climate change and unprecedented drought in California have forever changed the relationship between trees and power lines, and said the agency had established new standards to reduce risk to communities.

Briona Haney, a spokeswoman for the Shasta County D.A.'s office, said a Zogg fire arraignment scheduled at the end of October had been deferred because the company is filing a demurrer against air pollution charges in the complaint.

PG&E also faced 33 criminal charges for its role in the 2019 Kincade fire in Sonoma County after Cal Fire determined its transmission lines caused the blaze. The company pleaded not guilty in October to those charges, the Sonoma County district attorneys office said.

PG&E said it is aware of approximately 10 complaints on behalf of 676 plaintiffs related to the Dixie fire, and said additional complaints are likely.

The plaintiffs assert that PG&Es alleged failure to properly maintain, inspect and de-energize their distribution lines was the cause of the 2021 Dixie fire, the company said.

PG&E has vowed to take more safety measures to prevent additional disasters.

The power line suspected in the Dixie fire was set to be buried underground in a safety move, but the work was not completed before a Douglas fir fell on the line and blew two fuses.

PG&E expects to recover costs of the fire from insurance, customers and the California Wildfire Fund, it said in the filing.

More than $630 million in costs was incurred in suppressing the Dixie fire, according to a report from the National Interagency Coordination Center.

After burning and smoldering for nearly three months, the blaze was declared fully contained last Tuesday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Police have identified a person found with fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle on a Kansas City street as a 15-year-old boy.

Kamari Bridges, 15, died from his injuries in the shooting, police said in an updated news release. Officers found Bridges around 8:30 p.m. Sunday in a car on the eastern edge of the Blue Hills neighborhood, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died overnight.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Gov. J.B. Pritzker and an entourage of top state officials planned to depart for the United Kingdom Tuesday on a weeklong hunt for climate-friendly investment and to tout Illinois' new clean-energy law at the global climate change summit in Scotland.

Pritzker's group will start in London, spending three days meeting with government and industry leaders to encourage expansion in Illinois' green-energy economy, particularly a burgeoning electric-vehicle industry, spokeswoman Emily Bittner said. She did not identify any of the British participants.

The group will continue on to the Scottish city of Glasgow on Friday for the COP26 climate summit, where Bittner said the Democratic governor will deliver a speech at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions on Nov. 7.

Illinois is leading the Midwest on climate action and building a green energy economy and I am eager to tout our success abroad, Pritzker said in a statement last week announcing the trip. Our historic clean energy legislation, talented workforce, and role as a transportation hub for the nation makes our state a top destination for international companies looking to do business in the U.S."

The Clean Energy Jobs Act, which Pritzker signed into law Sept. 15, pledges to make Illinois carbon free by 2045. It provides a $700 million subsidy to two unprofitable nuclear plants to keep them operating, closes coal-fired power plants by 2045, provides rebates for purchases of electric cars and more.

Accompanying the governor will be his chief of staff Anne Caprara, deputy governors Andy Manar and Christian Mitchell, first assistant deputy governor Christy George and deputy policy director Jessica Himes.

Five other governors  all Democrats  have announced plans to attend: Jay Inslee of Washington, New Mexico's Michelle Lujan Grisham, Hawaii's David Ige, Louisiana's John Bel Edwards and Oregon's Kate Brown. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that family obligations will keep him home, but his lieutenant governor will attend.

Maryland and Massachusetts, states led by Republican governors, will also send representatives.

Bittner said Pritzker is paying his own expenses. Airfare for staff members will be paid by Intersect Illinois, a business ambassador group financed by Illinois corporations to spur new development. Staff members' lodging will come from the state budget. Bittner did not estimate total budget costs.

Democratic House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch will join the group in London on Wednesday and pay his own expenses, spokeswoman Jaclyn Driscoll said. He will not go to Glasgow, returning to the U.S. on Saturday.

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Follow Political Writer John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor
Andreea Alexandru/AP

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romanias prime minister-designate relinquished his mandate to try to form a new government after it appeared he did not have enough support in parliament to get his proposed Cabinet approved.

Former army general Nicolae Ciuca of the National Liberal Party was set to put forward a new government on Wednesday. It was expected to fall short of the majority support needed after the opposition Social Democrat Party and the junior Save Romania Union (USR) party said they would not back Ciuca.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wants to spend the last $17 million of his COVID-19 education relief money to fully pay for anyone to go to a technical college for two years to train to enter high demand jobs.

The governor plans to make the announcement Wednesday afternoon at a factory in Duncan. His senior education advisor and the president of the state's 16 technical colleges spoke to The Associated Press about the plan Tuesday.

This will provide high-demand, high-skilled job training in areas like health care, manufacturing, IT and construction," South Carolina Technical College System President Tim Hardee said.

McMaster wants to help up to 15,000 people by paying for the tuition, fees, textbooks and materials for associate's degrees, but to continue the program, he will need the General Assembly to add $124 million, said Melanie Baron, the governor's senior education advisor.

The governor is basing his new program on an initiative from right after the pandemic started in early 2020 where he spent $12 million in federal relief money to pay for 12-week programs to certify people for critical need jobs, Barton said.

About 4,000 people have taken advantage of the program to become truck drivers, forklift operators or welders. Nearly 500 of them are now working as nursing assistants, officials said.

Nursing and other health care jobs will fall under the new program across the state. But Hardee said individual technical schools can adjust based on the biggest needs.

The Upstate might need factory workers with robotics skills, while the coast needs people to work in hospitality and Columbia employers might need computer experts, Hardee said.

To get the scholarships, people will need to remain employed while taking classes or either do 100 hours of community service or take a financial literacy course.

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Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP)  Authorities say two juveniles are in custody in the shooting death of another teenager outside a store in a Cleveland suburb.

Maple Heights police found Shashawn Anderson, 14, of Cleveland, when they responded to reports of shots fired shortly before 4 p.m. Monday. The teen had been shot in the lower back and was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly afterward.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Republican Kevin Brobson was elected Tuesday to serve on Pennsylvanias highest court, leaving it with a 5-to-2 Democratic majority.

The Commonwealth Court Judge Brobson defeated Superior Court Judge Maria McLaughlin. Hell take the seat being vacated by the mandatory retirement of Republican Justice Thomas Saylor.

Brobson lives in suburban Harrisburg and has spent more than a decade on Commonwealth Court.

His more high-profile cases include a congressional redistricting decision that was promptly overturned by the Democratic majority Supreme Court in 2018.

The state Supreme Court has been at the center of major political disputes in recent years, handling cases over the hotly contested 2020 presidential election as well as the legality of how Gov. Tom Wolf used his authority to respond to the global pandemic.

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THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Republicans in Pennsylvania saw success in voters' choices Tuesday to fill open seats on statewide appeals courts, amid light turnout statewide and a marquee race for a seat on the state Supreme Court that will not change the Democrats majority on the state's high court.

In Pittsburgh, Democrat Ed Gainey became the first Black mayor of Pennsylvania's second-most populous city, shouting to a crowd of cheering supporters a message of unity and that they were one city, one Pittsburgh.

Counties were wrapping up their vote counts in the hours after polls closed, but it was too early to call some statewide races before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

In a race for a seat on Superior Court, former Chester County and state prosecutor Megan Sullivan, a Republican, beat Democrat Timika Lane, a Philadelphia judge. The court handles appeals from county courts in criminal and civil cases.

Two seats were open on Commonwealth Court, and Republican Stacy Wallace, a lawyer from Bradford County, won one of the seats as the top vote-getter of four candidates. The court handles cases involving state government and local governments.

Election officials reported no significant problems while turnout was expected to hit 25% to 30% of registered voters.

Democrats went into Election Day with a 5-2 majority on the state Supreme Court that has played critical roles in settling fights over last year's presidential election and Gov. Tom Wolf's use of authority to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sole vacancy, opening with the mandatory retirement this year of Republican Justice Thomas Saylor, is being contested by two lower-court judges  Republican Kevin Brobson from Commonwealth Court and Democrat Maria McLaughlin from Superior Court.

The other seat on Commonwealth Court remained uncalled.

The Democrats seeking the seat are Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Lori Dumas and Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge David Spurgeon. The other Republican is Drew Crompton, a former Senate GOP aide running for a permanent spot on the court after being appointed to it temporarily last year.

Four statewide judges appeared likely to keep their seat on the bench for 10 more years in up-or-down retention races: Superior Court judges John Bender and Mary Jane Bowes and Commonwealth Court judges Anne Covey and Renee Cohn Jubelirer.

The judges who win could end up ruling in an array of high-profile cases pending in state courts, from abortion rights to public school funding to whether the state's mail-in voting law is constitutional.

The most notable of the states mayoral contests was in Pittsburgh, where Gainey, a five-term state House member, became the city's first African-American mayor after being heavily favored against Republican Tony Moreno.

Look at the image we are showing our children, Gainey, in a hoarse voice, shouted to the celebrating crowd at the downtown Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. I want our children to see a city for all of them.

In Scranton, Democrat Paige Cognetti declared victory for a second term and, in Harrisburg, Democrat Wanda Williams declared victory over Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who lost to Williams in the primary and ran as a write-in candidate. Results were not yet official in those races.

In Philadelphia, Democrat Larry Krasner won another term as district attorney, beating high-profile criminal defense lawyer Chuck Peruto, the Republican nominee, and getting the go-ahead to continue his progressive overhaul of the office.

Democrats won two special elections for open seats in Democratic-leaning districts in the state House of Representatives. Thom Welby won an open Scranton-area seat, while Gina Curry won the other in Delaware County.

For many voters, local races on the ballot Tuesday are the major attraction, contests that include county judge, district attorney, school board, district judge, mayor and city council.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has joined a conservative Republican lawmakers campaign to investigate books that cover race, gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools.

State Rep. Matt Krause, who chairs the House General Investigating Committee, has sent state and local school officials a list of more than 800 books dealing with those subjects and related issues, asking them to search for the books on their campuses. Krause wants the schools to advise which of the books and how many they possess, where they are kept and how they were paid for.

Many of the books on the list were written by women, people of color and LGBTQ writers and cover topics including teen pregnancy and abortion. Krause's inquiry comes after Abbott signed a law similar to those approved by legislatures in other GOP-controlled states limiting how race and racism can be taught in schools. In Texas, that includes the idea that the advent of slavery in what is now the United States marks the true founding of the nation.

Critical race theory  an academic way of thinking about America's history through the lens of racism  became a lightning rod for the Republican-dominated Legislature this year.

In a letterfirst reported by The Texas Tribune, the Fort Worth Republican also demanded that school districts report any other books that could cause students guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex or convey that a student, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Krause's list included such celebrated works as The Confessions of Nat Turner," the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Styron, The Cider House Rules" by John Irving, the graphic novel version of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson.

Krause is challenging incumbent Ken Paxton for the Republican attorney general nomination in next year's primaries. He gave the districts until Nov. 12 to respond, but he did not specify why he wanted the information or the consequences for failing to comply.

Krause did not respond to a telephone message from The Associated Press, but The Tribune reported that he declined to comment.

In a letter dated Monday, Abbott warned the head of the Texas Association of School Boards that parents are worried that schools are exposing students to pornography or other inappropriate content," even though the group has no role in approving what students read or study.

A growing number of parents of Texas students are increasingly alarmed about some of the books and other content found in public school libraries that are extremely inappropriate in the public education system. The most flagrant examples include clearly pornographic images and substance that have no place in the Texas education system, the Republican governor wrote to association Executive Director Dan Troxell.

Abbott, who is running for reelection, did not specify what images he regarded as pornographic or what content he believed was inappropriate.

The school board association said in a statement that most districts leave the supervision of library materials up to individual district administrations and staff.

The role of a school board primarily includes establishing a strategic plan for the district, adopting policies in public meetings, approving the districts budget, and selecting and evaluating a superintendent, the association said.
GLASGOW, Scotland - Speaking at a high-profile climate summit that attracted more than 100 world leaders, President Joe Biden apologized Monday for the Trump administration's inaction on climate, lending a personal note to his administration's efforts to sharply reverse the U.S. position on what he views as an existential issue.

"I guess I shouldn't apologize - but I do apologize for the fact that the United States and the last administration pulled out of the Paris accords and put us sort of behind the eight ball a little bit," said Biden, speaking briefly at a breakout meeting of world leaders at the COP26 climate summit.

Presidents rarely apologize for broad U.S. policies, even when they are pushing to change them, and the message carried additional resonance for being delivered overseas. Biden's comments, which came during a smaller meeting after his address to the opening session of the climate conference, highlighted the policy U-turn that he is seeking and underscored how Biden is using this foreign trip to move America away from his predecessor's policies.

During the Trump administration, the United States, the world's largest economy, walked away from the Paris climate accord and was virtually invisible at international climate talks. The Biden administration in contrast has shown up in force in Glasgow, Scotland, with a delegation featuring not only the president, but also a big majority of his Cabinet and a sizable group of career officials. American luminaries such as former president Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore are also taking part.

"This is the decisive decade," Biden said in remarks to fellow world leaders. "To state the obvious, we meet with the eyes of history upon us."

Biden plans to spend the next two days in Scotland working to reestablish the United States as a leader on climate issues. Shortly before he spoke Monday, the White House released a strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and announced that more than 70 countries have joined an initiative led by the United States and the European Union to reduce methane emissions by 30% by the end of the decade.

The president will also work with Congress to set aside $3 billion a year to help developing countries adapt to climate change. That sum, which will go toward protecting the world's poorer citizens from rising seas and temperatures, is part of the $11.4 billion Biden already announced at the U.N. General Assembly in September.

Biden said the United States has a special responsibility to lead on climate because it is a major greenhouse gas contributor. "I want to emphasize again, those of us who have deforested a long time ago, those of us who have taken actions a long time ago to cause the problems we have, we have to be ready to step up," he said.

The president sought to put the issue in historical terms, signaling that he was thinking of his legacy and that of his generation of leaders. Speaking at the smaller forum, Biden mused about what "future historians" would write about how heads of state acted in this decade, whether they would say "we let this final chance to stem the crisis slip through our fingers" or "in the 2020s, we stepped up."

For all the dramatic talk and sweeping promises, the limits of the conference were evident, too.

The leaders of two major greenhouse-gas-producing countries, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, declined to attend the conference. Given the growing confrontation between those two powers and Western nations, their decision to snub the summit could forecast difficulty in persuading them to join global climate change efforts.

Some climate activists dismissed the goals set by Biden and other world leaders in Glasgow as woefully inadequate to address the looming disaster. Others noted that Biden so far has been unable to pass the climate program embodied in two major bills before Congress, his infrastructure plan and his Build Back Better social spending package.

"Biden is at Glasgow empty-handed, with nothing but words on paper," said Varshini Prakash, executive director of the Sunrise Movement. "It is humiliating and fails to meet the moment that we're in."

Biden signaled a recognition of his struggles at home, acknowledging that he has a sales job to do among some voters about the importance of reducing emissions. "That's the next big case I have to make," he said.

Still, the president's pledge to pour billions into developing countries as they try to fend off the floods, droughts and famines resulting from climate change came as a surprise to those watching closely. It was read by some as a way to counter China, which has been pursuing a program to construct major projects in developing countries.

"Biden's unexpectedly strong emphasis on financing for developing countries can be seen as a direct attempt to counter China's influence through its Belt and Road global infrastructure efforts," said Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton White House climate adviser who is now with the Progressive Policy Institute.

Biden's aid for developing countries needs congressional approval, like the bulk of his promises at the summit, many of which are tied up in his multitrillion-dollar legislative agenda awaiting action by Congress. Biden touted his Build Back Better agenda in Glasgow, saying it would enable the United States to meet his goal of cutting emissions by 50% or more by the end of the decade. The Biden White House has also set a goal of making the power sector 100% carbon-free by 2035.

"My Build Back Better framework will make historic investments in clean energy, the most significant investment to deal with the climate crisis that any advanced nation has made, ever," Biden told leaders during his remarks Monday morning.

But as Biden was touting his plan in Scotland, a new hurdle for the legislation emerged at home. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a key moderate vote in the Senate, told reporters Monday that he is not ready to support the Build Back Better legislation, asserting that its revenue-raising portions are "shell games" and that the bill is a "recipe for economic crisis."

That unexpected rebuke left administration officials highlighting other ways Biden has begun to make progress on his pledge to cut emissions, for example, through administrative action and by scrubbing the U.S. code to find ways that various agencies can incorporate climate goals as they make policy.

The president's top domestic climate adviser, Gina McCarthy, told reporters in a call Sunday afternoon that the administration would show up to Glasgow on "strong footing" because of the president's efforts to move the gears of the federal government.

"We have and will continue to use every agency and every tool at our disposal to marshal a climate response," McCarthy said, noting that the administration had embraced higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, advanced wind and solar projects, and had begun working to reduce emissions of potent greenhouse gases such as methane and hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs.

U.S. officials also downplayed concerns about whether the Biden administration's actions will pass constitutional muster. The Supreme Court on Friday granted a request from 19 Republican-led states and the coal industry to consider their challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to curb greenhouse gases from power plants, potentially threatening another plank of Biden's climate agenda.

The GOP states are trying to prevent the EPA from issuing the type of sweeping emissions controls that were proposed by the Obama administration. The Supreme Court put Obama's Clean Power Plan on hold in 2016, and it was never implemented.

Despite Biden's domestic challenges, the U.S. presence in Glasgow was unmistakable as the administration sought to send the message that America was reasserting its leadership role. A large venue called the U.S. Center staged dozens of panel discussions.

Among its first events Monday was a session titled "America All In." Others dealt with "Equitable Deep Decarbonization" and "Tech For Net Zero." The U.S. Center is run by the State Department and emblazoned with an epigraph from Biden that reads: "We've already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis and we can't wait any longer. We see it with our own eyes, we feel it, we know it in our bones and it's time to act."

John Kerry, President Biden's special presidential envoy for climate, swung by the U.S. Center as well to mingle with a crowd of diplomats, journalists and others. Kerry noted that such an American presence had been missing under President Donald Trump.

Under Trump, the United States sent only scaled-down delegations to U.N. climate talks. Trump officials in Katowice, Poland, in 2018 drew the scorn of protesters when a top White House adviser on energy and climate sat on a panel and talked up the benefits of fossil fuels.

For the most part, U.S. officials kept a low profile both that year and in Madrid in 2019, the last time a U.N. climate summit took place. Unlike other nations, the United States had no pavilion to highlight its accomplishments and policies, and no high-level officials working to steer the outcome.

- - -

The Washington Post's William Booth and Steve Mufson contributed to this report.
CAIRO (AP)  A senior U.S. diplomat on Tuesday urged Sudans top general to restore the country's civilian-led government as mediation efforts pressed on to resolve the civilian-military dispute that was capped by last weeks coup in the African nation.

U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffery Feltman said Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan should allow Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his Cabinet to resume their work and release government officials and politicians detained in connection with the takeover.

Hamdok has been under house arrest since the military takeover, led by Burhan, though he has been allowed to meet with visiting foreign mediators. The general also dissolved the transitional government and detained many other government officials and political leaders in a coup widely condemned by the United States and the West.

Feltman said the coup hijacked and betrayed the aspiration of the Sudanese people in a peaceful democratic country, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government.

Burhan has claimed that the takeover was necessary to prevent a civil war, citing what he said were growing divisions among political groups. However, the coup came less than a month before he was to hand over some power to a civilian-run administration.

Feltman said Burans concerns should have been addressed through political means, according to the power-sharing deal between the generals and the pro-democracy movement that established the transitional government after al-Bashirs ouster in 2019.

Neither side can out-sideline the other. Both have important roles to play in the transition, he told reporters in an online briefing from Washington.

The Oct. 25 coup came soon after Feltman left Sudans capital, Khartoum, following intensive talks with civilian and military leaders to resolve their frayed ties and mounting tensions over the course and pace of Sudans transition to democracy.

Feltman said Burhan and other military leaders engaged with him at the time in bad faith.

They were talking to us how to address the concerns they had through the constitutional means, and instead, as soon as we left, they decided to just turn over the entire negotiating table in favor of military takeover, he said.

Feltman said there are Sudanese initiatives to find a way out of the crisis, with the U.S., the U.N. and other international and regional actors engaging in these efforts.

Sudanese pro-democracy leaders, however, will likely demand guarantees to trust the power-sharing with the generals again after the takeover, Feltman said.

"The civilians feel burned by what their military partners did on Oct. 25th," he said.

Pro-democracy groups have called for mass protest marches across the country to press demands for re-instating the deposed transitional government and releasing senior political figures.

Tens of thousands of Sudanese took to the streets across the country Saturday, in the largest protest yet since the coup. Three protesters were killed and dozens injured  several by live rounds  when security forces opened fire in several locations.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  Vermont Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson has been confirmed to a seat on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Monday confirmation by the U.S. Senate makes Robinson the first openly LGBTQ woman to serve on any federal circuit court.
GLEN ALLEN, Va. (AP)  Republicans have won at least 50 seats in the Virginia House, ensuring at least a tie with Democrats who had fought to retain control.

Several races were still too early to call, but the GOP also declared victory in some of those, with party leaders saying they were confident they had flipped control of the House.

The Republican gains are part of a seismic win for the GOP in Virginia, as Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin captured the governors office, Republican Winsome Sears won the lieutenant governors race, and Republican Jason Miyares won the attorney general's seat.

Youngkin defeated former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Sears beat Democrat Hala Ayala and Miyares denied two-time Democratic incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring a third term. Sears will become the states first female lieutenant governor and the first woman of color to win statewide office in Virginia.

Tuesdays election was seen as a referendum on a series of progressive reforms that Democrats have enacted over the past two years, including the repeal of the death penalty, the legalization of marijuana, a loosening of abortion restrictions and a series of police reforms.

Otto Wachsmann, a Republican who defeated Democratic incumbent Roslyn Tyler in the 75th District, said he believes the strong showing by Republicans in part represents a backlash against a Democratic party that he says has moved too far to the left in once-conservative Virginia.

The average person wasnt satisfied with that; they were looking for a voice of reason, Wachsmann said.

Every Republican House incumbent won reelection, including eight whose seats were uncontested. The party flipped at least five Democratic seats, including those in two of the last remaining districts held by Democrats in predominantly rural districts.

A surprise win by Republican Kim Taylor over three-term incumbent Democratic Del. Lashrecse Aird in the 63rd District gave Republicans their 50th seat. Aird claimed victory late Tuesday, but a late surge by Taylor gave her a 741-vote win.

Garren Shipley, a spokesman for House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert, said Republicans believe they have flipped several seats in races where vote tallies show the two candidates extremely close, including in District 85 in Virginia Beach, where Democratic Del. Alex Askew was ahead of Republican challenger Karen Greenhalgh by less than 100 votes.

Gilbert said in a statement Wednesday that Republicans believe Greenhalgh has won the race by more than 200 votes.

We are very confident that there will be 52 Republicans seated when the House convenes in January, Shipley said.

House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn acknowledged that the results were not what Democrats were hoping for but said there are still several tight races that will determine the majority as votes continue to be counted. The state Department of Elections has said that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 will be counted through noon on Friday.

We are going to make sure every Virginians voice is heard and every vote is counted, Filler-Corn said in a statement.

Democrats held a 55-45 majority heading into Tuesdays election, but Republicans waged an aggressive campaign to flip up to 13 seats held by Democrats whom they considered vulnerable. The GOP needs to flip at least six seats to regain the majority the party lost in 2019. Democrats still hold a slim 21-19 majority over Republicans in the Senate. Senators are not up for reelection until 2023.

Republicans had controlled the House since 2000, but Democrats won back 15 GOP-held seats in 2017, helped by voter hostility toward then-President Donald Trump. In 2019, Democrats took full control of the legislature by wiping out slim Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

In other tight House races this year, two-term Democratic incumbent Chris Hurst lost to Republican challenger Jason Ballard in the 12th District and first-term Democratic Del. Joshua Cole was defeated by Republican challenger Tara Durant in the 28th District, which includes the city of Fredericksburg and parts of Stafford County.

In District 83, which includes parts of the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Republican challenger Tim Anderson, an attorney and gun shop owner, ousted Democratic incumbent Nancy Guy.

___

Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  An employee of a West Virginia city has pleaded guilty to skimming city funds, state officials said.

Kim Bannister pleaded guilty Friday to a felony embezzlement charge, the West Virginia state auditor's office said in a news release.

Bannister was the office manager for the city of Madison. She engaged in a fraud scheme to skim city funds, receive extra payroll checks, and be paid for leave she was not entitled to have, officials said.

Bannister was sentenced by a Boone County judge to one to 10 years in prison. The court agreed to suspend the sentence and granted a motion for probation for a seven-year period. She was ordered to pay more than $39,000 in restitution.

Two of Bannisters co-workers were sentenced in February for their part in the scheme to take more than $157,000 from Madison. The charges were the result of a year-long fraud investigation into the city's finances, officials said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration is rolling out a new initiative aimed at reducing suicides by gun and combating the significant increases in suicides by members of the military and veterans.

The White House is announcing the new plan on Tuesday, which officials say is an unprecedented focus by the federal government on reducing the risk of suicide through awareness and training campaigns and new regulations to increase the availability of gun storage products.

The plan calls for federal agencies, including the Defense Department, Homeland Security, the Justice Department, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Transportations emergency medical services office to create public awareness campaigns to encourage safer storage of guns and training for counselors, crisis responders and others.

The effort also includes the Justice Department finalizing a rule that was first proposed in 2016 and would require stores that sell firearms to also offer secure gun storage and safety devices, the White House said.

John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, commended the administrations efforts on gun storage, saying they were blazing a new path to keep guns away from people who could be a danger to themselves.

In 2019, firearms were the most common method used in suicide deaths in the United States, accounting for nearly 24,000 deaths, or a little over half of all suicide deaths, according to federal health statistics. Experts say many people who take their lives using guns typically have quick access to firearms and have tended to be gun owners or their family members.

As part of the plan, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will distribute a guide for firearms dealers that spells out both safety steps that are required under the law and additional steps the federal government recommends. The guide will also detail the Justice Departments focus on prosecuting gun crimes and violations of federal firearms laws.

The administration said ATF would also seek to revoke the licenses of dealers the first time that they violate federal law, with limited exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. Those violations would include selling guns to someone who cant legally own them, failing to run a background check, falsifying federal records or refusing to cooperate in required ATF inspections.

The federal government will also create maps to help people find places to safely store guns outside of their homes, officials said. Officials will also expand efforts within the Department of Veterans Affairs focused on suicide prevention and safety planning, along with training for family members of people who could be at higher risk for suicide, administration officials said.

The Department of Defenses annual calendar year suicide report released in September showed that 580 military personnel, including 384 active duty service members, died by suicide in 2020. The suicide rate among active duty service members has statistically increased since 2015, the report said. Theres been no statistical change for reservists and National Guard members during the same timeframe, according to the report.

Many firearms dealers have already been stepping up suicide prevention efforts as the number of gun sales in the U.S. rose to a historic high in January, continuing a surge that began as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020. Some firearms dealers have also started handing out or offering cards with the phone number of suicide prevention hotlines and tips to identify signs of depression or other mental health issues.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP)  A Wichita-area priest has been placed on administrative leave after he was accused of sexually abusing a child, according to the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.

The Rev. Michael Schemm will be restricted from offering sacraments or preaching while the allegation is investigated, the diocese said in a news release Monday.
POLSON, Mont. (AP)  A western Montana woman has been charged with deliberate homicide after Lake County officials said it appeared she intentionally struck a woman with her car, killing her.

Sharon Whitworth, 56, of Polson is charged with the death on Sunday of Tonya Charles, 63, also of Polson, Sheriff Don Bell said.
By Olivia Wynkoop

Bay City News Foundation

As a result of Marin County's COVID-19 vaccination rate rising, the Marin County Public Health lifted its indoor mask mandate for the county at noon on Monday.

Marin County met the Bay Area-wide criteria for easing mask mandates, which means over 80 percent of Marin residents are vaccinated, hospitalization rates remain low and the county remained in Centers for Disease Control's "yellow tier" for COVID-19 rates for the past 21 days.

Local businesses and agencies are still allowed to set their own face covering policies, the county said. Health officials advise residents to still carry around a face covering in case businesses still require all customers to wear a mask indoors.

Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis still encourages residents to wear a mask, and says he's confident in Marin's ability to continue to limit COVID-19 risks.

"To be more secure coming into the winter months, we need to continue to use face coverings in places of higher risk and gain even higher vaccination rates," Willis said in a statement. "Remember, masks work both ways: they protect you and the people around you, including those who are too young and not eligible yet to be vaccinated."

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A San Francisco police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for shooting a mentally ill and unarmed man in the city's Oceanview neighborhood in 2017, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced Tuesday.

Officer Kenneth Cha faces the manslaughter count as well as an assault with a deadly weapon charge and enhancements for the shooting of Sean Moore on Jan. 6, 2017. Moore ended up dying in 2020 as a result of his injuries, prosecutors said.

The District Attorney's Office said the case is only the second homicide prosecution against an on-duty law enforcement officer in San Francisco history.

"We rely on officers to follow their training and to deescalate situations; instead, in just eight minutes, Officer Cha elevated a nonviolent encounter to one that took Sean Moore's life," Boudin said in a statement.

Moore was shot in the early morning hours at his home in the 500 block of Capitol Avenue after Cha and another officer had responded to a noise complaint by a neighbor. The shooting was captured on the officers' body-worn camera footage and was the first shooting involving San Francisco police after the department had rolled out the cameras to officers.

Moore's mother said her son had a history of mental illness and that officers should have deescalated the situation before Cha shot him. Moore was initially charged in connection with the case, but all charges were dropped later in 2017. While in prison for a separate case, he later died on Jan. 20, 2020, from injuries caused by the gunshots that hit his liver and colon, prosecutors said.

San Francisco settled a lawsuit filed by Moore's family for $3.25 million earlier this year, with civil rights attorney John Burris representing the family.

Burris said he was "pleasantly surprised" that Cha had been charged for shooting Moore.

"I'm hopeful that this represents sort of a new day" with more officers being charged in use of force cases, he said, noting a few other cases filed and prosecuted against law enforcement in the region recently.

The San Francisco Police Officers Association, which has been sharply critical of Boudin's criminal charging decisions in several cases, issued a statement Tuesday about the charges filed against Cha.

"Officers responded to a call for service and encountered the very hostile Sean Moore who was accused of violating a restraining order. We support Officer Cha's constitutionally protected right to present his defense against these charges that stemmed from this extremely volatile incident that an autopsy concluded took Mr. Moore's life while he was serving time in prison on another matter," SFPOA president Tony Montoya said.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Idaho State Board of Education on Tuesday approved a decision joining a federal lawsuit to block contractor requirements in President Joe Bidens executive orders that include COVID-19 vaccine mandates, but colleges and universities will meanwhile abide by the order.

The board voted unanimously to ratify the decision to join the lawsuit filed Friday. In the same vote, the board gave colleges and universities the OK to begin actions necessary to comply with Biden's order.

The board on Tuesday cited unknowns in how long the lawsuit could go on, potentially jeopardizing nearly $90 million in federal research contracts and agreements that typically involve subcontractors on research efforts. Federal research grants aren't affected. Those grants can help students go to school and faculty conduct research.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Georgia requests an injunction blocking Biden's order while the case plays out. It's not clear when a ruling on an injunction might be made.

Given that uncertainty, Board President Kurt Liebich said, we would be wise to begin the process of complying with that executive order.

It's not clear how many workers in Idaho would be affected by the order.

The lawsuit also includes the state of Idaho, Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and other entities within those states. The Idaho State Board of Education appears as a plaintiff in its capacity as regents of the University of Idaho, and board of trustees of Boise State University, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College.

The states in the lawsuit are asking a federal judge to block Bidens requirement that all employees of federal contractors be vaccinated against the coronavirus by Dec. 8, arguing that the mandate violates federal procurement law and is an overreach of federal power.

Biden's executive order is astonishing  not only for its tremendous breadth and unworkably short deadline, but also because so little care has been given to how it will work in the real world, the lawsuit said.

The sweeping vaccine mandates put forward by Biden in August affect 100 million Americans, requiring that employers with more than 100 workers require workers to be vaccinated or tested weekly for the virus.

Workers at health facilities who receive federal Medicare or Medicaid will have to be fully vaccinated, affecting more than 17 million health care workers, the White House said.

Employees of the executive branch and contractors that do business with the federal government are also required to be vaccinated with no option to test out. That covers several million more workers.

The requirement for large companies to mandate vaccinations or weekly testing for employees will be enacted through a forthcoming rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that carries penalties of $14,000 per violation.

Idaho lawmakers plan to convene Nov. 15 at the Statehouse to pass laws also aimed at thwarting Biden's COVID-19 mandates.
Its not surprising to see a house sell for more than $1 million in the Bay Area, but its a bit more unusual in places like Santa Cruz County  especially when the home is only 328 square feet.

A tiny cottage in the Seabright neighborhood of Santa Cruz has just one bedroom and one bathroom and sold last month for $1 million after an initial listing price of $988,000.

An all-cash offer won the five total bids.

The home is small, but the garage acts as a bonus room since it was converted into a livable space  it even has a bathroom. Since the renovation was done without permits, that square footage cant officially be included in county records.

Still, listing agent Walter Stauss said the house needs a lot of work and if the new owner does plan to reside in it as a primary residence, which they indicated, theyll have their work cut out for them.

The property has ample outdoor space, with a backyard thats both spacious and could be used for additional storage. Its built on a 3,833-square-foot lot and is set back from the street. Location was probably the most important aspect of this sale. The reason it sold for as much as it did is because of the location. It's close to the beach and restaurants, he said. People like to be in that neighborhood. It's close to a bunch of stuff and it has a bunch of character.

Built in 1948, it last sold in 1999 for $250,000.

Stauss said he expected the housing market to have slowed down by this time of year, but he hasnt seen that at all. Hes also continuing to see buyers from the Bay Area coming down to buy primary or secondary homes in Santa Cruz County. The work-from-home thing has a bigger effect than anyone anticipated, Stauss said. Silicon Valley is a huge job market. The fact that people don't have to commute anymore and can enjoy the Santa Cruz lifestyle is a big deal. I don't see that changing at all.

While this is great for the sellers in Santa Cruz looking to relocate elsewhere, its been hard for Santa Cruz locals to buy homes. It's super unfortunate for people that have grown up here and they can't afford to buy a house here. It's a really unfortunate side to this whole thing, Stauss said.
On Sunday nights episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver pulled no punches in a lengthy segment on homelessness  and how the nations perception of the growing crisis is a large part of the problem.

Examples highlighted by Oliver range from a completely tone-deaf investigation into the subject on The Tyra Banks Show in 2006 to more contemporary TV news segments, some of which are bizarrely laden with black-and-white visual effects and sinister music as residents relay unfounded fears of their unhoused neighbors.

Far too often, stories focusing on homelessness are presented solely through the lens of how it affects those with homes, when in reality, it is obviously the people without them who need the real help, Oliver laments in the segment, which has amassed more than a million views on YouTube.

He goes on to describe how the crisis has been severely compounded by the pandemic, with experts forecasting a 49% increase in chronic homelessness over the next four years due to COVID-related job loss and reduced income, which is projected to cause twice as much homelessness as the 2008 recession, according to the Economic Roundtable, a Los Angeles-based research organization.

There are a slew of reasons why someone might be unhoused: the loss of a job, inability to afford medical expenses, to escape domestic violence, or simply the fact that housing costs are rising far more quickly than wages, as Oliver points out. Here in San Francisco, 42.5% of unhoused residents surveyed by the Coalition on Homelessness said their lack of a home was due to unemployment, while 63% said their largest barrier to obtaining housing was their inability to afford rent.

But in addition to a largely skewed public understanding of the causes driving the crisis, Oliver explains how policies and infrastructure in cities across the U.S. have failed their unhoused populations. For instance, he describes how Los Angeles had just 16 mobile toilet stations servicing its estimated homeless population of 36,000 people, all of which were hauled away at night due to lack of around-the-clock security  and that was before the pandemic.

So the next time you complain about human st in the street, maybe think about what it would be like if someone padlocked your bathroom every night, said Oliver. You, too, would suddenly be getting really creative really fast.

Oliver then describes instances of hostile architecture, such as spikes under bridges or benches with dividers intended to prevent people from lying down or finding a place to rest. In San Francisco, you might remember the anti-homeless boulders placed on a Clinton Park sidewalk in 2019 that local artist Danielle Baskin attempted to remove by listing them on Craigslist, or the McDonalds on 24th and Mission that blared classical music from its outdoor speakers as a means to prevent people from sleeping outside of the restaurant.

If youre thinking, Hold on, why dont homeless people just go to shelters? there can be a lot of problems with that, explained Oliver.

Pulling data from the San Francisco Chronicle, he noted how in 2019, the city of Oakland had just 457 beds available in 15 shelters due to lack of funding  not nearly enough to accommodate the citys estimated 4,000 unhoused people. (SFGATE and the San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another.) That year, Oakland's number of unhoused people per capita was the highest of any of California's large cities, the Chronicle reported.

But even in instances where enough shelter beds are available, he said, people may not always want to utilize them  either for fear of becoming separated from family members or losing pets or belongings.

That said, funding isnt the only issue. Proposed housing solutions in cities like Clairemont, a suburb of San Diego, also experienced strong opposition from what Oliver described as NIMBY residents. To that, he makes an imperative point:

There are lots of people, even liberals, who believe that homelessness is a personal failing, poverty can be avoided, and their own good fortune makes them not only better than the unhoused, but more worthy of comfort. It is basically Reagans attitude from a Whole Foods crowd, he said.

As far as solutions go, Oliver points to programs like permanent supportive housing, with access to therapy and counseling, substance abuse treatment and other services. But he says the root of policy change lies within the ways in which people talk about the homelessness crisis.

It will take a massive commitment in infrastructure, funding and resources, but the very first step here is a collective change of perceptions. [...] Basically, we need to stop being dicks and assuming that the unhoused are a collection of drug addict criminals whove chosen this life for themselves instead of people suffering the inevitable consequences of gutted social programs, and a nationwide divestment from affordable housing.

Watch the full segment on YouTube:
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Bucking the trend of tech companies downsizing or leaving their Bay Area offices during the pandemic, Facebook and the parent company of TikTok are looking to expand, a source told the San Francisco Chronicle (SFGATE and the San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another).

Facebook is seeking 700,000 square feet of Silicon Valley office space, while TikTok parent company ByteDance is seeking between 250,000 and 300,000 square feet, the CEO of Boston Properties told the Chronicle. Boston Properties is San Francisco's largest office landlord, owning 8 million square feet of real estate in the Bay Area.
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It's autumn, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has summer in mind, issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) that notes the agency is considering creating, for the first time, a federal standard to prevent heat illness.

The ANPRM reviewed state standards, including California standards, on preventing heat illness and death, and sought input as to whether the agency should incorporate some of these standards into a final federal rule. Comments are due Dec. 27.

"Employers should anticipate federal OSHA's heat standard will adopt some, or perhaps many, of the provisions from heat-stress standards previously implemented in California, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington," said Curtis Moore, an attorney with Fisher Phillips in Charlotte, N.C.

Added Phillip Russell, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Tampa, Fla., "The notice suggests federal OSHA will be taking a similar approach to California by requiring heat injury and illness prevention programs, workplace controls, acclimatization, monitoring, emergency response and worker training, and engagement by employers."

OSHA has identified certain industries, such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and warehousing, as having the highest average number of fatalities per year due to heat illness, "so these businesses in particular should seriously consider being part of this rulemaking process to ensure their concerns and ideas can be heard," said John Ho, an attorney with Cozen O'Connor in New York City. Notably, from 2000 to 2010, agricultural workers' risk of dying from heat-related causes was 35 times higher than that of employees in all other industries, OSHA stated.

History and Requirements of State Standards



Some heat illness prevention standards were passed in the Pacific Northwest this past summer.

Oregon issued a temporary rule in July after experiencing temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, OSHA said. Washington state also issued emergency heat rules this past summer that provided workers with protections in addition to the state's previously issued heat rule.

State standards differ in their scope of coverage, OSHA observed. For example, Minnesota's standard covers only indoor workplaces. California's and Washington's standards cover only outdoor workplaces, although California is engaged in rulemaking for a potential indoor heat standard. Oregon's emergency rule covers both indoor and outdoor workplaces.

California, Washington and Oregon all have additional protections that are triggered by high heat, but the trigger for these extra protections differ. In Washington, the trigger is a temperature reading of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while in Oregon it is a heat index of 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

In California, it is a temperature reading of 95 degrees Fahrenheit and includes only certain industries. For example, when the temperature reaches 95 degrees or above in California, agricultural employers must ensure that their workers rest for at least 10 minutes every two hours; encourage employees to drink small quantities of water more frequently; and hold short, regular meetings to review emergency response measures.

There is a great disparity in the trigger level at which a hazard exists because ambient temperature, humidity and metabolic heat can vary for each workforce, noted Mark Lies, an attorney with Seyfarth in Chicago. The trigger level "does not take into account the individual employee's health conditions and ability to tolerate heat," he added. "It will be a challenge to set an absolute number in a regulation at which every employee can potentially be exposed to heat illness."

All existing state standards require training for employees and supervisors. All except for Minnesota's require employers to provide at least one quart of water per hour for each employee, offer access to shade break areas, establish an emergency response plan and mention the importance of acclimatization for workers.

California has the most robust acclimatization program, which mandates close monitoring of new employees for up to 14 days and monitoring of all employees during a heat wave, OSHA noted.

OSHA's Questions

OSHA had numerous questions in its ANPRM, including some about existing efforts at the state level to prevent occupational heat-related illness, such as:

What are the most effective aspects of existing state standards aimed at preventing occupational heat-related illness?

What are the challenges associated with implementing the existing state standards?

Which components of state standards or programs should be included in federal guidance or regulatory efforts on heat-related illness prevention?

Would any of the elements of the state standards not be feasible to include at the federal level?

General Duty Clause

Although OSHA does not have a specific standard governing hazardous heat conditions at work, the agency currently enforces the general duty clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act against employers that expose their workers to this hazard. The clause states that employers have a responsibility to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Nonetheless, the general duty clause does not specifically prescribe hazardous heat exposure thresholds or provide specifics for how employers are to eliminate or reduce their employees' exposure to hazardous heat. In addition, OSHA noted that its enforcement efforts to protect employees from hazardous heat conditions under the general duty clause have been met with significant legal challenges.

However, OSHA will use the general duty clause as a basis for citations for heat-related illness and fatalities until a federal heat standard can be issued, said Bill Principe, an attorney with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete in Atlanta. "The ANPRM is just the first step."


The West Texas Intermediate for December delivery added 48 cents to settle at 84.05 US$ a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for January delivery increased 99 cents to close at 84.71$ a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

New York: Oil prices advanced on Monday as traders are awaiting a key meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+.

OPEC+ is expected to meet on Thursday, discussing its plan on crude production. The group is gradually easing record output cuts made last year, Xinhua news agency reported.

It is "doubtful" whether OPEC+ will step up its oil production to a greater extent, Carsten Fritsch, Energy Analyst at Commerzbank Research, said on Monday in a note.

"Comments made by the two leading countries in the alliance, Saudi Arabia and Russia, indicate that production in December will be increased as planned by 4,00,000 barrels per day. Another two heavyweights -- Iraq and Kuwait -- recently expressed the same

view," he said.

For the week ending October 29, the US crude benchmark lost 0.2 per cent, while Brent dipped 1.3 per cent.
Sify.com Movies Reviews Tamil Jai Bhim

Jai Bhim review: A must-watch courtroom drama

Jai Bhim : A must-watch courtroom drama

Source: SIFY By: MOVIEBUZZ Critic's Rating: 3.5/5 Monday 01 November 2021

Movie Title Jai Bhim review: A must-watch courtroom drama Director TJ Gnanavel

Star Cast Suriya, Rajisha Vijayan, Prakash Raj, Manikandan, and Lijo Mol Jose

In Jai Bhim, director TJ Gnanavel has flawlessly adapted the real legal battle of the renowned advocate Chandru in the Madras HC after Rajakannu, a man from tribal community in Muthanai village near Kammapuram who was tortured by the local cops in a theft case.

Rajakannu (Manikandan) is a hard-working and honest man from the Irular community. When cops investigate a burglary case in a local politician's residence, they feel that Rajakannu, who had earlier visited the house to catch a deadly snake is the culprit.

They torture all the relatives of Rajakannu and ask his whereabouts. Finally, they also get Rajakannu and brutally torture him so that he would confess the crime. All of a sudden, they inform Rajakannu's wife Sengani (Lijo Mol Jose ) that her husband escaped from the prison. Later, Sengani with the help of local communist party leaders approaches the kind-hearted and knowledgable advocate Chandru(Suriya), who takes up the case without even charging a single rupee.

The rest of the film is all about how Chandru finds out the injustice that happened to Rajakannu and unmasks the crime of the local cops!

Director Gnanavel has authentically captured the lifestyle of the tribal people, their innocence, and honesty throughout the film. Though all the characters in the film are black and white, the film is not over the top as they have adapted a real incident. The police brutality in the film is not for the faint-hearted, especially those who cannot digest films like Visaaranai. The film also stands tall in properly registering the case proceedings in the High Court, probably the first in Tamil cinema?

Performance-wise, Manikandan and Lijo Mol Jose are exceptions as the tribal couple, they have given their heart and soul in the film, be it emotionally and physically demanding scenes. Kudos Suriya, who took a backseat and allows the director to give more importance to the core story and performed just as one of the characters in the film. But Suriya also comes throughout the film as the character is strongly written with some powerful scenes that also stay high on emotions.

For Suriya, Jai Bhim is a fantastic follow-up film after the highly successful Soorarai Pottru. It's good to see the actor has earned back his form with back-to-back quality films. Prakash Raj who plays the investigating officer has also done a neat job. Rajisha Vijayan, Ilavarasu, and other supporting actors are also adequate.

Technically, Jai Bhim's art department deserves applause for bringing back the 90s era. As pointed out earlier, the High Court proceedings are flawless and the set work is another important reason for the authentic portrayal. Sean Roldan's background score and soul-stirring songs have also elevated the emotional scenes in the film. SR Kathir's cinematography is another silent hero of the film, his work in the tiny police station and the vast High Court setup shows his versatility.

To conclude, Jai Bhim is a must-watch film to know the injustice that happened to a section of people and how as a society, we should spread love and not hatred to establish equality!



Verdict: A must-watch courtroom drama
Sun Pictures, which has produced the film, claimed that this was the biggest overseas release for a Tamil film.

The film, which is scheduled to hit screens for Deepavali, will release in over 1,100 overseas theatres.

Chennai, Nov 2 (IANS) Megastar Rajinikanth's 'Annaatthe', which has triggered huge expectations among fans and the public, will have as big a release abroad as it has in India.

The production house, in a tweet, said 'Annaatthe' would be screened in as many as 677 theatres in the United States alone.

In the UAE, which has a considerable number of Indians, the film will release in 117 screens.

In Malaysia, the film would be screened in 110 theatres, while in neighbouring Singapore, it would be screened in 23 theatres. The film will be screened in 86 screens in the island nation of Sri Lanka.

The family entertainer, which has been directed by Siva, will release in 17 theatres in Canada and 35 theatres in the United Kingdom. It will release in 43 theatres in Europe and in 85 theatres in Australia and New Zealand.

With just a day to go for the film's release, the excitement seems to be rising by the minute.

The film, which, apart from Rajinikanth, also features Nayanthara, Khushbu, Meena, Keerthy Suresh and Jagapathi Babu among others, has music by Imman and cinematography by Vetri.

--IANS

mani/kr
It should come as no surprise that, as technology advances, the marketplace has grown increasingly digital. Every day, the advantages of digital marketing become more apparent. Consumers are increasingly exploring and purchasing things online. Consumers conduct 82 percent of their research online, according to Forbes.

According to TechCrunch, 79 percent of Americans shop online. So, how do you reach out to these people? The answer is simple: internet marketing. To effectively reach and engage their target consumers online, an increasing number of small businesses are employing a digital marketing plan. Even your nearby laundry business and other services like house cleaning or maid service are doing it. The most cost-effective technique to reach potential customers has proven to be digital marketing tactics.

Cost-effectiveness

Among the significant advantages of digital marketing is its low cost. You do not have to pay hundreds of grand to have more leads.

The reason why small and mid-sized companies find it difficult to compete with larger enterprises is because of the standard marketing strategies. Large enterprises spend money on commercial films, radio broadcasts, and other forms of advertising. Small companies do not have the budget to compete with those types of traditional marketing.

There is no doubt why marketers find digital marketing a cost-effective method to generate new leads.

Time is the most expensive aspect of digital marketing. Implementing plans and generating results from such initiatives can take time. The result, on the other hand, is definitely worth your time.

Target Ideal Customers

You have to target the proper audience to make your marketing effort a successful one. These target audience or ideal customers should have an interest in your company, products, and services that you offer. These people should want to hear from what you can offer. The capacity of your brand to target the right customers is the most significant advantage in digital marketing.

It is challenging to target consumers in traditional marketing strategies, but everything is different when reaching out to consumers through digital marketing. Your ad campaign is not passed across people who may not have any interest in your products or services. With targeted campaigns, your ads only go to people who are interested in your business, products, or services. Thus, you get enough leads to justify your digital marketing efforts and budget.

Buyer personas are created when you utilize search engine optimization advertising or other marketing methods. These are made-up folks who are designed to look like your ideal customer. These personas let you target the most likely to be interested in your products or services.

Make changes as you go.

One of the most appealing aspects of digital marketing is the ability to make changes as you go. This is a feature that is exclusive to digital marketing.

You can't back out of traditional tactics once you've committed. You won't be able to change your ad once your flyers or billboards are up until the end of your campaign. This is costly because you can't adjust your campaign once it's life to improve outcomes.

When you invest in online marketing, you have the freedom to change your mind at any time.

You can make changes to your PPC campaigns as needed, as well as your social media advertisements, SEO strategies, and content. As a consequence, you'll be able to tweak your campaign to get the best results.

Investing in various digital marketing tactics, such as PPC and SEO will provide your company with numerous benefits. Online marketing is a fantastic way for your company to expand and increase valuable traffic and sales.

Investing in digital marketing services can increase income, leads, and conversions for your firm. If you're ready to take your company to new heights, reach out to us online to learn more about how we can assist you.
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A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Beach Energy chief executive Matt Kay has abruptly resigned from the Kerry Stokes-backed oil and gas producer and will depart effectively immediately after six years in the job.

Morne Engelbrecht, Beachs chief financial officer, has been appointed acting CEO while a search process is conducted to find a replacement.

Beach Energy chief executive Matt Kay has resigned. Credit:Ben Searcy.

Mr Kay said he felt now was an appropriate time for him to pursue other professional opportunities.

I was brought on board to help Beach grow from a single-basin operator and diversify the business, he said in a statement.
In 2007, she moved to Australia to undertake a Masters in Food Sciences and Technology at UNSW, before gaining experience with multiple food manufacturers, working in chocolate and yoghurt.

Joining Mars Wrigley in 2014 as a Site Food Safety Lead, Nicoles been on a fast-track to success ever since, with experience in quality assurance and value stream paving her way to a people leadership role.

At Mars Wrigley, everyone is benchmarked on performance, ability and willingness to learn, not gender, said Nicole, who is the only female in her team.

Ive been supported to grow with a combination of experience and learning, including mentorship, and a six-month management training program with global leaders.

Working her way up the ladder with the company has been the ultimate dream, she said, an opinion backed by the European Federation of Management Development that in 2017, awarded the company the GOLD Excellence in Practice award for its Accelerated Leadership Program.

As well as the chance to be selected for the Mars Graduate Program, all employees have access to Mars University, a virtual training platform that partners with prestigious institutions such as London Business School and the International Institute for Management Development, as well as a virtual library of resources to help them build their knowledge.

Building a better tomorrow

While Nicole has always wanted to be a people leader, it wasnt career ambitions alone that made her choose Mars Wrigley.

Like many Millennials, she wanted to make the world a better place and valued positive global, as well as workplace, initiatives.

Working at Mars Wrigley is about inspiration, purpose, integrity and sustainability for generations to come, said Nicole.

For example, the company is committed to helping farmers produce sustainable cocoa and to transforming the palm supply chain to prevent deforestation and advance respect for human rights.

Other high-value initiatives include reducing water and plastic use as well as greenhouse gas emissions, helping raise food safety standards globally, and partnering with organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme to drive higher crop yields sustainably.

As an employee, I appreciate that I work for a company that believes the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.

Opportunity awaits outside of major city centres

While many employees fantasise about escaping the long commute and the city house prices, Nicole has been able to do something about it.

She has a new home in Hornsby, away from city centre pressures, with her husband and two children, and a commute that takes only minutes.

Living and working outside of the city has given me more time to do the things I want to do outside of work, said Nicole. I have time to read, go for a run and focus on my family, and Ive become less stressed with the help of flexible working hours.

With more than 40 per cent of food and beverage manufacturing jobs in regional Australia, Mr Leakey said industry and governments need to consider new ways to attract and retain talent like Nicole to outer city hubs like Asquith and regional areas such as Ballarat. He believed the benefits of a less stressful life, as well as a role with an award-winning employer, would attract many more graduates to the talent pipeline.

Find your dream career at careers.mars.com/au/en
Another of those practices  the use of trade as a coercive tool for non-trade-related issues  was also aired last week when the World Trade Organisation agreed to examine Chinas tariffs of up to 220 per cent on Australian wine. Those tariffs were imposed (along with others on barley, lobsters, coal and other products) after Australia called for an international investigation of the origins of COVID-19, banned Huawei from participating in 5G rollouts and criticised Chinas treatment of the Uighurs and Hong Kong. Chinas unfair and abusive practices and Donald Trumps misguided and MAGA-driven trade wars highlight how far the international trading system based on a philosophy of open markets  a system that helped turbo-charge Chinas growth  has broken down and how ineffective the WTO has become in policing its rules. Other countries, including the UK, Canada and New Zealand, are lining up as third parties in the dispute, which has essentially wiped out Australian wine exports to China because it encapsulates some of the core criticisms of Chinas trade practices. Last month the WTO completed a trade policy review of China  as much an assessment by Chinas peers as an investigation by the WTO itself  that found, unlike the previous review in 2018  deep dissatisfaction with Chinas behaviours.

While the WTOs summation was diplomatic (and was seized on by China as an endorsement of its policies) the review provoked scathing criticisms from, not just Australia or the US but the EU, Japan, the UK and Canada. They accused China of bullying and engaging in practices that were inconsistent with the commitments China made when it joined the WTO in 2001. The bans on Australian and Canadian products (in Canadas case for the detention of Huawei chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou) were described by the Canadians as part of a pattern that demonstrated Chinas growing willingness to deploy economic coercive measures to block or otherwise hinder trade in response to political disagreements. Loading The US Charge dAffaires at the WTO, David Bisbee, said the expectations when China joined the WTO  that it would dismantle policies and practices that were incompatible with an international trading system based on open market-oriented policies  had not been realised and it appeared China had no inclination to change. China had used the imprimatur of WTO membership to become the worlds largest trader while doubling down on its state-led, non-market approach to trade, he said.

The UK implicitly criticised China for its treatment of the Uighurs, calling on it to ratify the International Labour Organisations conventions on forced labour. The EU targeted Chinas expansive use of the concept of national security in its trade policies while Japan accused it of lacking transparency and distorting global steel markets with its over-capacity. South Korea complained about abuses in trademark registration processes while India was unhappy about Chinas barriers to access to its markets for Indias agricultural products. There were a number of criticisms of Chinas self-designated status (allowed under WTO rules) as a developing country, which enables it to claim special and differential treatment on trade issues relative to developed economies. That was a particular bugbear of the Trump administration, given Chinas prominence in world trade. China now says it is willing to be pragmatic about its insistence that it is still entitled to claim that status, whatever that might mean. China has for decades been accused of flooding world markets with cheap and subsidised products. Credit:Bloomberg Chinas unfair and abusive practices and Donald Trumps misguided and MAGA-driven trade wars highlight how far the international trading system based on a philosophy of open markets  a system that helped turbo-charge Chinas growth  has broken down and how ineffective the WTO has become in policing its rules.

The US-EU deal on steel and aluminium, the support for Australias complaint to the WTO over the treatment of our wine industry and the depth and breadth of the criticism Chinas trade practices attracted in the WTO review, however, perhaps provide an insight, or even a preview, of how Chinas behaviours might be modified. Loading Trumps tariffs (which have been left in place by Joe Biden) dont work. They hurt the US more than China. There is now, however, a sufficient commonality of interest and real angst among Chinas major trading partners across a range of issues  from state subsidies to the use of access to Chinas markets as a weapon in non-traded issues, to human rights abuses  to use its own tactics against it.

China can maintain its state-planned and controlled economy and society. That is very much its own business and a matter for its own people to decide. If, however, it wants access to the worlds major markets then, assuming the key western economies could agree a broad set of rules for engagement with China, whether within or outside the WTO, it would have to do so on terms that reflect a far more level and transparent playing field for trade and one in which there was no scope for using market access as a mechanism for coercion on non-trade matters.
MSO Presents Evergreen Ensemble 

MSO.LIVE from November 3

As Melbourne celebrates a return to live music, one inescapable facet of the post-pandemic music scene is the continuing development of digital programming. The joy of performers reconnecting with audiences in performance venues will be tempered by the reality that artists, so long deprived of income, need to explore every avenue to broaden their financial and support bases.

Evergreen Ensemble perform for MSO.LIVE.

In a laudable move to share its resources with smaller ensembles, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has engaged several groups to appear on its digital platform, MSO.LIVE. This month brings the release of the first four concerts, presenting a colourful cross-section of Melbournes musical life.

Whetting the musical appetite, the Evergreen Ensembles fascinating program explores the musical life of eighteenth-century Edinburgh through the lens of castrato Giusto Tenducci. Travelling far beyond his native Italy, he was befriended by Mozart and Casanova, painted by Gainsborough, and seemingly courted more infamy than fellow castrato Farinelli.
Super fund executives were last week accused by regulators of personally benefiting from their jobs, using insider financial information to avoid investment losses or getting free tickets to sporting events through sponsorship deals.

Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume, who has overseen a major reform package of the retirement savings industry, thinks there is room for improvement.

Superannuation Minister Jane Hume says super funds need to be more accountable. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

It is far more professional, as befits a $3.3 trillion industry, however the journey isnt finished, she says.

While the government has sought to improve the efficiency of the system through yearly performance tests, the stapling measure and ranking tools, uplifting super fund governance is next.
Call it the Melbourne Cup that could. After a world record 262 days in lockdown and zero spectators last year, all it took was a first November Tuesday of unseasonably warm weather, and a government green light for a crowd of 10,000 to return to Melbournes racing capital of Flemington for The Race that Stops a Nation.

Inside Flemingtons exclusive corporate dining precinct, it was a case of bye bye Birdcage. Once the staging ground for celebrity and corporate VIP excess, Flemingtons famed Birdcage did not fly for the second year running.

MasterChef host Melissa Leong mixed it with co-stars Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen in the pink zone with Ten Networks big names. Credit:Eddie Jim

For the downsized corporate marquees, it wasnt a case of size matters. Location did as well.

When you spend $100 million on the Cup over five years, you want to make sure that you are the biggest corporate kahuna in the exclusive Flemington pink Baby Birdcage zone which replaced the famous corporate entertaining area. So it was for Cup broadcaster the Ten Network, which had two Wildflower corporate dining marquees in positional prime time.
But the mechanical ability to feel a stimulus does not conclusively tell us how horses feel pain. Pain seems simple. A lot of us have internalised the view taken by Rene Descartes: nerves sense pain and send signals to the brain, which then registers that pain. A portrait of French philosopher Rene Descartes, after the Dutch painter Frans Hals (c. 1649). Credit:Photo: Musee du Louvre This is not true at all. Pain is the integration of both sensory and emotional states. We cannot disentangle that, says Professor Mark Hutchinson, a leading expert in human and animal pain at the University of Adelaide. An emotional response can be perceived as response, and a painful insult can be perceived as emotional.

Like the story of the man who turned up at the hospital in extreme pain after piercing his shoe with a huge nail  only for the doctors to discover the nail had never penetrated his foot. Pain cant simply be measured by a machine hooked into our nerves. It is the perception that really matters. And we cant ask horses how they feel. Were stuck between a rock and a hard place to know what the true experience is, says Professor Hutchinson. There are two different scientific approaches to solving this problem. First, the precautionary principle, applied by the National Health and Medical Research Council to lab animals, that demands researchers assume something that would cause pain to a human would cause the same amount of pain to an animal, unless evidence to the contrary exists.

When it comes to using animals for human research, the NHMRC adopts a precautionary principle. Credit:iStock A second approach is to look for two separate but complementary signals: does the animal possess a nervous system that approximates a humans, and does it display signs it is in pain? For a long time, humans have assumed horses are thick-skinned. We used to class them as pachyderms, along with rhinos and elephants. In a pivotal 2020 paper, Professor Paul McGreevy from the University of New England School of Environmental and Rural Science considers the issue. Skin samples from the glute (the butt), where horses are whipped, of 10 humans and 20 horses were taken. The thickness of the top layer skin was measured, and the number of nerve endings was carefully counted. The conclusion: the top layer of horse skin is of the same thickness and has almost exactly the same number of nerve endings in their skin as humans. Virtually indistinguishable, the researchers write. Horse skin is thicker overall, but that extra thickness is below the level of the nerves (the research was funded by the RSPCA).

How forceful is the action of whipping? Australias horse-racing industry switched to padded crops in 2009. However, there is some evidence the force generated by a padded crop is similar to that generated by a non-padded one. Mick Sullivan uses a vigorous whip to urge home Partys Pride at Randwick on September 10, 1977 Credit:Fairfax Professor McGreevy co-authored a 2012 study demonstrating, even with padded whips, the action of whipping usually left a visible indentation on the horses side. This does not tell us conclusively if the whip was doing tissue damage. Professor McGreevy says the industry has so far refused to let him take a thermal camera, which might detect such damage, to a race. Catalyst in 2015 did some interesting, although unscientific, first-person research: whipping a human with a horse whip. The result: a welt, bruise, and pain. A journalist for The Guardian did the same and concluded it did not hurt at all. Perhaps the most interesting data comes from a 1996 study in which researchers prodded cows with varying levels of force to see how hard they had to press before the cow got annoyed and moved away. Just six Newtons of force were needed, a fraction of the 46 Newtons of force produced by jockeys in a 2013 McGreevy experiment.

Where does all this leave us? A horse possesses the machinery to feel pain; at the level of the skin that machinery seems similar to humans. How does a horse perceive the feeling of the whip? Like a human might? Plausible, given the skin is so similar, but we dont yet have conclusive evidence. We use it to get them to walk away from it. That should be the end of the discussion, says Professor McGreevy. But Dr Steve Dennis, the president of Equine Veterinarians Australia, isnt so sure. Its the degree [horses] process pain. If we evolved with our companions, that have hooves that jump on top of us when we roll around and play, I just think if it was really, really painful  like it would be for a human  I think there would be an adaptation that would occur within the system that would allow that to be processed better.

That said, his organisation takes the position they want all riding codes to work towards phasing out the whip for good. The punting is the big elephant in the room, he tells me. Convincing the betting public that the horse they want to bet on is going to perform as well without the opportunity for a jockey to use a whip may be difficult. I spent some time hunting for the best scientific case that whips and riding crops do not cause pain. The best I could come across was a 2011 review by the British Horseracing Authority. It reviewed the scientific evidence and concluded that when used properly, the whip stimulates a horse and should not cause pain.

But this review admitted there were no studies on the relationship between whip use and horse welfare. Rather than looking at whether horses had the mechanisms to feel pain, and displayed signs of feeling pain, the review used several other pieces of evidence to come to its conclusion. First, the authority claimed, whip weals  injuries caused by whipping  were almost never observed on a horse. Second, assessment by the authoritys vets of horses that do show welts never raised any welfare concerns. Third, human evidence suggests pain perception is altered during strenuous exercise. Fourth, a horse would surely act to avoid a whip if it really hurt  and there are no signs of that, the authority argued. Jockey James McDonald celebrates as he passes the finishing post on Verry Elleegant to take out the Melbourne Cup. Credit:Justin McManus Does whipping horses make them go faster? Again, we turn to Professor McGreevys research for answers. His team tracked 48 horses across several races; the horses wore electronic sensors to measure speed. The researchers broke the track up in 200-metre sections.
I dont think I know anything  whether that anything I dont think I know is about strategic alliances and regional security or climate change policy or university funding, or vaccine supply when he said the rollout wasnt a race, by which he really meant it couldnt be a race because he didnt order enough Pfizer. Im not saying the haze is a product of prime ministerial lies, such accusations not being my taste or entirely accurate. Its simply that Morrisons a spinmeister, albeit not quite in the same league as Zuckerberg. This is well known, of course. Even so, sometimes I just think I know it. US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in Rome. Credit:AP The submarine fiasco likewise defies rational understanding: the $90 billion deal for France to help build 12 diesel submarines binned for maybe/possibly eight nuclear-powered subs supplied, in about 20 years, with the help of the US and Britain after an 18-month review to identify an optimal pathway to same. This new deal was a big deal, though. A big September announcement, around 7am Australian time  76 years and 14 days after the Japanese surrender aboard USS Missouri, 82 years and 15 days after Germanys pre-dawn invasion of Poland  at a joint virtual press conference between freedom-loving Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and that fella downunder.

At a time of global turmoil, with many Australians hunkered down in battle with the virus, few wouldnt have felt the fleeting warmth of fireside nostalgia at the optics: three ashen-haired leaders from the Anglosphere together once more, this time under the banner of AUKUS, the awkward regional implications of which everyone could worry about later. As to Macrons liar charge, which is of Morrison keeping him in the dark about the new deal, I cannot judge how much of his indignation is warranted and how much performative. To paraphrase Barnaby Joyce, for Chrissakes its not like we stole Noumea or something. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce: We didnt steal an island. We didnt deface the Eiffel Tower. It was a contract. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Sadly, I wasnt at the leaders outwardly chummy catch-up over dinner at the Elysee Palace in June at which, the PM now says, he told his French counterpart that conventional subs were not going to be able to meet Australias strategic interests. A text message, suggesting Macron was jittery about the deals status, has since mysteriously surfaced. But, Morrison explained, he wasnt about to tell Macron what was really going on behind the scenes and risk sabotaging the secure negotiations with our traditional allies on the nuclear deal.

I know (or think I know) the channelling of historical subtext when I see it. Morrison might as well have said: Well, would you disclose state secrets to those axe-grinding, cheese-eating surrender monkeys? Loading Put yourself in Macrons shoes, though, and the heart breaks. Not because of ScoMo who I suspect Macron would see as the Kraft-eating type, so what can one expect. Not because of BoJo  Pythonesque frontman of Frances traditional enemy. But I can almost hear the plaintive cry: Et tu, Biden? The latter admittedly has his own struggles with linguistic clarity. He says he was unaware France had not been given advance notice Australia would be terminating the contract: What happened was, to use an English phrase, what we did was clumsy  I was under the impression that certain things had happened that hadnt happened.
An unusual feature of the disaster is that both vessels were travelling in approximately the same direction at the time the collision occurred. The Tahiti had sailed from No. 5 Darling Harbour for New Zealand, at 4 p.m., and the Greycliffe had left Circular Quay at approximately the same time, with about 125 passengers on board, on her usual run to Vaucluse, Parsley Bay and Watsons bay. The ferryboat for that trip is generally known as the school boat, as she carries many children returning from schools in the city.

It is not known definitely how the collision occured. The Tahiti, which is commanded by Captain Aldwell, had reached a point nearly opposite Bradleys Head when the accident happened.

The collision occurred so suddenly that the passengers on board the Tahiti did not realise what had happened. The screams of women and children on the stricken Greycliffe rudely enlightened them.

Captain William Barnes of the Greycliffe. Credit:Staff photographer

Apparently the Greycliffe was broadside on to the mall steamer. At the moment of impact, the sharp bow of the Tahiti hit into the wooden superstructure of the ferry boat, at first pushing it forward and turning it over, and then tearing right through the smaller vessel amidships, one half of the Greycliffe going to the south side of the Tahiti and the other to the north.
Fully vaccinated people will be able to have unlimited visitors to their home, hospitality venues can host more diners and nightclubs will reopen for dancing in NSW from this Monday, after the state government decided to bring a number of freedoms forward on its road map.

The changes will mean restrictions set to ease for all residents on December 1 will instead ease only for people who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Dominic Perrottet has brought forward restriction changes for vaccinated citizens. Credit:Kate Geraghty

In turn, people who are not vaccinated will need to wait until the state has hit 95 per cent full vaccination or December 15, whichever occurs first, to exit their stay-at-home orders.

Unvaccinated people had previously been promised they would be under the same restrictions as the rest of the population from the start of December.
A junior police officer has suffered head wounds after responding to a report of domestic violence at a Gladesville unit and being confronted by a 38-year-old man allegedly armed with two large kitchen knives, who has been charged with attempted murder.

The 26-year-old probationary constable who has been serving with NSW Police for six months went to the home on Punt Road in Sydneys northwest about 11.30am after a woman reported an incident at the police station across the road.

Police negotiators are at Gladesville a unit where an officer was slashed on the head. Credit:Nine

When the officer arrived, he was allegedly slashed on the head and suffered a dislocated shoulder before the 38-year-old man retreated into the home and locked the door.

Police subsequently mounted a major operation, deploying heavily armed tactical officers and negotiators. The road was closed and a police helicopter was hovering in the area.
The jockeys werent the only ones experiencing a mix of race-day excitement and jitters as thousands of punters poured into Sydneys Randwick Racecourse for Melbourne Cup day celebrations on Tuesday.

Were just here embracing the atmosphere after a very long lockdown, said Thomas Wood, 22, of Avoca Beach.

Melbourne Cup day crowds were capped at 17,000 at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Credit:James Brickwood

Were just here to have fun, weve been stuck on the Central Coast. Were embracing what we can - today its Melbourne Cup.

Nearby, Bianca Hickey, 19, of Neutral Bay, said being at an event with so many people was a bit weird, Im not going to lie.
Adolescent girls from socio-economically advantaged backgrounds drove the biggest rise in mental health admissions and visits reported by Sydneys two childrens hospitals in five years, according to data collected after the pandemics first wave.

Experts say the startling spike in young people presenting with mental health problems to the citys childrens hospitals at Westmead and Randwick following last years lockdown is an acute exacerbation of a problem that has been rising over the past five years.

More children used hospital mental health services in NSW after the first lockdown than at any other time in the past five years, said Raghu Lingam, a population child health researcher at UNSW and senior author of a new study published on Wednesday in the Lancet. But the most dramatic rise has been by teenage girls aged 12 to 17, with an up to 80 per cent increase in this group.

More children and teenagers used hospital mental health services in NSW following the first COVID-19 wave than in the five years before the pandemic hit, according to a new study. Credit:istock

Researchers from UNSW and Sydney Childrens Hospital Network examined pediatric hospital admissions and emergency department attendances at the Childrens Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Childrens Hospital, Randwick for multiple conditions for each month from January last year to February 2021 and compared it to hospital records from the previous four years.
The father of former police minister Troy Grant was seen drinking red wine and dozing in a chair less than an hour before he allegedly ran over a pedestrian in a fatal hit-and-run crash, a court has been told.

Kenneth Grant, 72, is on trial in Newcastle District Court accused of running over scientist Tony Greenfield on the evening of November 30, 2019, after they separately left a Christmas party in the Hunter region.

Kenneth Grant, pictured in 2019, has pleaded not guilty. Credit:James Alcock

Mr Grant has argued he was sleepwalking at the time or was experiencing temporary memory loss as part of a condition known as transient global amnesia. He has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, and not stopping during a police pursuit.

On Tuesday, Dr Anup Desai  a specialist in respiratory and sleep medicine  told the judge-alone trial he did not believe Mr Grant was sleepwalking that night. This was for several reasons, including that a person usually needs to be asleep for 30 to 40 minutes to enter the state that sleepwalking occurs in.
Much has been made of the Prime Ministers plan for 2050 announced almost as he stepped on the plane for Rome and Glasgow. Ill leave it to more expert commentators to dissect the many problems of that plan. Suffice to say, it falls short on ambition as much as new ideas and strong steps to keep warming at 1.5 degrees.

And so many countries, businesses as well as the public are shifting their focus to the next 10 years of opportunity and action. Bringing a 2050 target to COP is like bringing a $10 bottle of wine to the third date. At her house. When she is cooking.

Scott Morrison launching the governments net zero emissions plan last week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

On climate change and at Glasgow, the Prime Minister is missing something more than just an effective plan to address climate change. He is missing a compelling and emotional story about why action matters. That, as much as anything, is leaving him isolated in the rooms and halls of the COP26 conference.

On the first full day of COP26 global leaders gave their set speeches on climate action. Boris Johnston, more comfortable being jovial and optimistic, was grave, even dramatic in his address. The world is at one minute to midnight.
A woman killed by her abusive husband the day he was released from a watchhouse had not been notified by Queensland police that he would be let out.

The story, one of the accounts in the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board annual report released on Tuesday, detailed how the woman had contacted police to report her husbands violence for the first time.

Police were unable to save the women on multiple occasions. Credit:Michelle Smith

Police initially took no action over her complaint that she had been strangled and abused verbally, determining there was insufficient information to act.

Responding officers left her home and the woman called police again a short time later as her husbands violence escalated.
Feral horses in Victorias high country will be trapped and culled to tackle the soaring number of brumbies trampling unique alpine ecosystems under a long-delayed plan by the state governments parks service.

Scientists have welcomed the Parks Victoria 10-year plan, which was held up by court action. In 2019 the Australian Brumby Alliance took Parks Victoria to court to prevent it from trapping, removing or otherwise interfering with feral horses from the Bogong High Plains and Alpine National Park.

Horses at Native Dog Flat in the Alpine National Park.

The alliance argued brumbies were part of the cultural heritage of the Australian Alps, and wanted their removal referred to the federal Environment Minister, but the court judge ruled the governments approach was appropriate.

Parks Victoria will use professional shooters to remove horses in ecologically sensitive areas, and also trap horses for rehoming  if homes can be found  the 10-year plan says. Horses will be removed entirely from the Bogong High Plains and significantly reduced in the eastern Alps region.
A Perth student who allegedly stabbed her teacher has briefly appeared in court, accused of plotting with another teenager to kill the woman.

The 14-year-old girl was allegedly handed a knife by her 13-year-old friend before entering Willetton Senior High School about 11am Monday and stabbing her teacher, a woman aged in her 50s.

The student then fled the school and was arrested Monday evening.

A WA Police spokeswoman alleged the two students had plotted to kill the year 8 co-ordinator during numerous online conversations with one another in the two weeks preceding the attack.
When the content of text messages sent from Emmanuel Macron to Scott Morrison appeared on local news sites on Monday night, some Australian officials feared a new line had been crossed.

The highly co-ordinated leak to three different newspapers wouldnt just make an already toxic relationship with the French even worse. But it risked further alienating the Biden administration, which has appeared to be trying to publicly disassociate itself from Australias handling of the AUKUS announcement despite the Americans being intimately involved in its preparations.

Australia doesnt want to drag the US further into its worsening diplomatic spat with France.

According to reports in The Daily Telegraph, The Australian and The Australian Financial Review, two days before the AUKUS arrangement was announced, the French President messaged the Australian Prime Minister to say that he was not available at the time Australia was seeking a phone conversation.

Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarines ambitions? Macron reportedly said in the text message.
Intelligence officials have travelled to Syria in a secret operation to gather information about the Australian families of Islamic State fighters living in a refugee camp in the countrys north as the federal government weighs up a rescue mission.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal that in late September and early October several officials travelled to the al-Roj camp, where 20 Australian women and more than 40 of their children have been living.

There are believed to be more than 40 Australian children in the al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria. Credit:Save the Children

The government is now waiting on a report from agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation on whether it is possible to rescue some of them.

There is a particular focus on the cases of young children who need urgent medical attention. This masthead last month revealed the case of a five-year-old girl who has shrapnel in her head, back and hip, which makes it difficult for her to walk and is causing delayed speech and development.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has ordered a review of his governments processes for awarding taxpayer-funded grants, after Gladys Berejiklians appearance at a corruption inquiry reignited controversy over pork-barrelling in marginal seats.

Further distancing himself from his predecessor Ms Berejiklians previous comments that pork-barrelling was widespread and not illegal, Mr Perrottet has tasked the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Productivity Commissioner with reviewing how grants should be administered and assessed.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has ordered a review into how government grants are handed out in NSW. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Taxpayers expect the distribution of public funds will be fair  I share that expectation, he said.

Mr Perrottet said the objective of the review was to ensure all grants administered by the NSW government for community-based projects including sporting fields, playgrounds and local infrastructure deliver value for public money and are robust in planning and design.
Singapore: Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen has questioned when Australia will deliver on a pledge of 2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, saying he will buy more from China if they dont turn up.

The long-time leader told a press conference in the capital Phnom Penh he was counting on the donated vaccines from Australia because the country still needs more despite having one of the most successful immunisation drives in south-east Asia.

Cambodias Hun Sen has leaned on China for vaccines. Credit:AP

Australia had promised to donate the Pfizer vaccines and this was long overdue but if there is uncertainty about getting it, then our next decision is to buy the Sinovac vaccines, he was quoted as saying.

I am aware that the vaccines we have now will not be enough to vaccinate the targeted population including the consideration of vaccinating those three years and above in the near future.
Hes got an IQ of 69 N Surendran, lawyer The date for the execution was confirmed in a letter sent last Tuesday by the Singapore Prison Service but Sharmila has kept it from her mother in Ipoh, north-west Malaysia in the faint hope that it will be revisited. Nagaenthran has been on death row for 11 years. Singapores record of not bending from a hard line on capital punishment would suggest such an outcome is very unlikely but Nagaenthrans legal team is preparing a last roll of the dice in court here this week. We are appalled and shocked. We have been calling upon Singapore not to execute Nagaenthran. Weve been asking them to commute the sentence, Surendran said. He is intellectually impaired. Hes got an IQ of 69.

The first page of the letter sent by Singapore authorities to Nagaenthrans family last week, informing them of his November 10 execution. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights urges nations that still use the death penalty not to impose it on a person suffering from any form of mental disorder and Nagaenthrans

Singaporean lawyer M Ravi has filed a constitutional challenge that will be heard in the High Court here next Monday. But the arguments of his legal team have proven fruitless in multiple appeals since he was caught, at the age of 21, entering Singapore from Malaysia with 42.72g of heroin strapped to his thigh. The amount was enough to land him an automatic death sentence when a court convicted him a year later, throwing out a defence that he acted as a drug mule under duress from a friend who had assaulted him and threatened to kill his girlfriend. And while judges were subsequently given the discretion to convert such penalties to life in prison in some drugs cases  if the offender was proven to be simply a courier and suffering abnormality of the mind  several efforts to have him spared have since been rejected.

A Singaporean psychiatrist diagnosed Nagaenthran with an intellectual impairment but judges disputed the extent of it, taking issue with the Malaysians conflicting accounts of the reasons for his offending. His last two appeals were turned down in 2019. With regard to Nagaenthrans mental state, the High Court and Court of Appeal held that Nagaenthrans mental responsibility for his offence was not substantially impaired, Singapores Ministry of Home Affairs told the Herald and The Age in a statement. Nagaenthran was found to have clearly understood the nature of his acts, and he did not lose his sense of judgment of the rightness or wrongness of what he was doing. Nagaenthran was accorded full due process under the law, and all channels of appeals have been exhausted. In a bid to maintain law and order in one of the worlds safest cities, Singapore makes no apology for using the death penalty as a deterrent against serious crimes.

It once had the highest per-capita execution rate in the world, hanging more than 400 prisoners between 1991 and 2004, mainly for drug offences. There are about 50 people currently on death row but while there have been far fewer executions in recent years, there remains support for the punishment among the population. A 2019 survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs showed nearly seven out of 10 Singaporeans believed the death penalty to be more effective than life in prison as a deterrent against murder, the use of firearms and drug importation, although a study three years earlier by Singapore Management University found less support for capital punishment for non-violent drug crimes. The death penalty is an important component of Singapores criminal justice system, the Ministry of Home Affairs said. We use capital punishment in the most limited of circumstances, to deter the most serious crimes in Singapores context, such as murder and drug trafficking, and this has proven effective. Singapores planned execution of Nagaenthran, however, has been slammed by rights groups.

Loading In situations like these, it is like Singapore is hellbent on deliberately defying every sort of international human rights standard to carry out its capital punishment verdicts, and the consequences be damned, said Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watchs Asia Division Deputy Director. There is really no other explanation for its decision to blatantly violate UN admonishments and proceed with the execution of someone like Nagaenthran, who suffers a mental disability. Going forward with this execution would be outrageous and unacceptable, and Singapore should stop it now before its too late. Lawyers for Nagaenthran, who have also appealed unsuccessfully to Singapore President Halimah Yacob for clemency, are outraged at the timing of the decision to carry out the sentence. The border between Singapore and Malaysia is still closed due to the pandemic and as a result only five of Nagaenthrans relatives are permitted to travel to the island to visit him before his execution and they must quarantine at all times while they arent at the prison.
Australia and France are two great countries but at the moment their leaders are like two schoolboys who are hauled in front of the principal after a fight in the schoolyard and shout: But he started it!

The cause of the fight is, of course, Australias decision in September to cancel the $90 billion agreement to purchase French diesel-powered attack-class submarines.

French officials say they were betrayed and insulted because the news of the imminent announcement leaked to the media before the Australian government told them. Australia says it had good reasons to switch to US or British nuclear submarines.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison seems to have wanted to use his current trip to Europe to bury the hatchet. He made a great show of approaching French President Emmanuel Macron to wish him gday at the G20 in Rome.

But in the past two days the fight has reignited. After a meeting with Mr Macron, US president Joe Biden took the French side and said the handling of the subs announcement was clumsy.
POINTE BLANCHE:--- Viking Ocean Cruises cruise ship Viking Orion arrived in port on Saturday morning, marking the return of another cruise line to the destination. A small pier-side reception took place to officially welcome Viking Orion followed by the traditional inaugural call plaque exchange.

Port St. Maarten Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Gumbs said that Viking is a relatively new brand to ocean voyages with a unique concept offering no casinos onboard, adults-only, and a blend of upscale amenities. We definitely welcome product differentiation and the feedback from the passengers were great regarding the Island experience, CEO Gumbs said on Monday.

Viking Orion guests and crew were fully vaccinated, and the crew was allowed to go ashore and enjoy the duty-free shopping experience that the destination has to offer.

Destination St. Maarten is ranked one of the highest in terms of crew expenditures and the Port St. Maarten Group is happy that crew members are being allowed to disembark and enjoy the Friendly Island experience.

The Viking Orion was built in 2018 and has a length of 745 feet and a beam of 94.5 feet, gross tonnage of 47,800; 465 staterooms that can host 930 guests.

Viking Cruises, which is considered the leader in river and small ship ocean cruising, offers destination-focused itineraries designed for experienced travelers who have an interest in geography, culture, and history.

Viking currently operates a fleet of more than 70 vessels, offering scenic cruising along the rivers and oceans of the Americas, Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia.

In 2015, Viking introduced its first ocean ship with the naming of the 930-guest all-veranda Viking Star. One year later, Viking launched its second ocean ship, Viking Sea, which was joined by sister ship Viking Sky in 2017, Viking Orion in 2018, and Viking Jupiter in 2019. In May 2021, Viking welcomed its newest sister ship, Viking Venus, to the fleet. Viking Saturn will join the companys award-winning fleet in early 2023.

In its first year of operation, Viking Ocean Cruises has rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisures 2016 Worlds Best Awards. With more than 250 awards to its name, Viking has been rated the #1 River Cruise Line and #1 Ocean Cruise Line by Conde Nast Traveler in the publications 2021 Readers Choice Awards. Viking has also been consistently rated the #1 ocean cruise line and one of the best river cruise lines in Travel + Leisures Worlds Best Awards.

Viking was founded in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia. In 2000, the company purchased Europes KD River Cruises in order to grow its fleet, to leverage 40 years of river cruising experience, and to acquire rights to prime docking locations in key European cities.



The company expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing US headquarters in Los Angeles, California. Through rapid expansion, the company has grown to be The Worlds Leading River Cruise Line, with double-digit growth in recent years. And with the launch of its ocean fleet in 2015, the company has also become the leader in small ship ocean cruising.



With operational headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, Viking provides destination-focused itineraries designed for experienced travelers.
Oranjestad:--- On October 29, the four mental health care organizations all signed a cooperation agreement to improve the quality of mental health care for the communities within the Dutch Caribbean.These are Respaldo on Aruba, GGZ Curacao, Mental Health Foundation on Sint Maarten and Mental Health Caribbean on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius.

Particularly due to COVID, the pressure on mental health care around the world has increased enormously. To speak as one voice for the whole Dutch Caribbean, the organizations are stronger when they work together. The collaboration will bring about a sustainable exchange of expertise which will benefit the quality of care on all islands.

This signing will further intensify the existing cooperation in various areas. The organizations will work together, especially in the field of education, quality of care, and legislation challenges. This means, for example, jointly setting up educational programs, so that more training opportunities will become available within the region and own talents can be retained.

Erik Jansen the initiator of this cooperation/ the director of Mental Health Caribbean further stated: The aim is also to be able to make better use of each other's expertise and facilities. As organizations, we are not equipped to provide the full range of treatment.

This collaboration should make this easier and more efficient.

Management and support staff of these organizations met on October 28th and 29th in Aruba to finalize and sign this cooperative agreement. The St. Maarten Mental Health Foundation was represented by Financial and Operational Director Sandro Garcia and Psychologist Tameka Lambert.

Already one successful initiative of such cooperation is that the St. Maarten Mental Health Foundation has 3 psychologists who will graduate in June 2022 with a doctorate degree in psychology.

The Mental Foundation, therefore, looks forward to the many more opportunities through this collaboration, as together we are stronger.

Signed by:

FSMA Respaldo

Oranjestad, Aruba

By: Mr. H. van Gaalen

Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mental Health Foundation St. Maarten

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

By: Mr. S. J. Garcia

Title: Financial & Operational Director
PHILIPSBURG:--- On November 1st, 2021, the Parliament Justice Committee made a visit to the Prison and House of Detention in Point Blanche. The purpose of the visit was for them to become more familiar with the prison facility. The Members of Parliament alongside the Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna E. Richardson, were welcomed by the prison management team and led up to the conference room for the introductory meeting and a presentation. The morning started off with a welcome and introductory speech by Minister Richardson and the prison management team. The presentation then delved into the prison organization structure, the challenges experienced as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current positive developments despite these challenges. The prisons vision is to provide the best correctional service and safeguard the community by protecting and reducing re-offending, said Mr. Steven Carty, prison management team member who was one of the presenters.

Some of the current developments include the installation of the new cell locks, the start of a literacy program for the inmates, and a cooking program that has been set up for inmates at the institution. This cooking program is being led by 2 qualified chefs where the inmates receive classes twice per week. These classes include getting acquainted with the International Hazard Analysis Critical Control Program (HACCP), cutting skills, hygiene, and more. The program has been ongoing for some months now with fruitful results and the enthusiasm shown for these classes is extremely high. The sewing room was recently reopened and is nearly operational, the GED instructor is being recruited, the GYM equipment to spruce up the gym area is in the process to be ordered and is on route to Sint Maarten, and the repairs to the woodwork shop area will be retendered within the month of November. With these activities, it is the goal to restart rehabilitation programs and positively work on the inmates reintegration while they are still incarcerated.

After the presentation, a tour was given to the members of parliament where they got the chance to view every part of the prison facility. This included the general housing area where the inmates reside, the recreational areas, the kitchen, the doctors office, the library, and more. They also spoke to various prison staff members during the tour such as the sewing instructor, the kitchen chefs, the librarian, and the canteen staff member. They explained the operations in the specific areas which provided the members of parliament with a better perspective of the situation. At the time of the tour, the sewing room was operational in which 5 inmates were currently working. The inmates were introduced to the members of parliament and shared their stories and their appreciation that the sewing classes had been restarted. One inmate even shared his desire to start his own clothing line in the near future. Thereafter the members of parliament and Minister Richardson received the opportunity to speak with inmates from the inmate association. Minister Richardson received a list of things that the inmate association drafted, and this list will be used as a checklist to improve living conditions at best for the inmates. It is necessary to ensure all meet security standards and if so, then all efforts will be made to implement or provide.

The tour today I would deem as a fruitful one. After visiting the Prisons in the Netherlands, I could immediately relate to where improvements are needed in the living spaces of the inmates. Having a moment to discuss the grievances of the inmates with them and the ability to share changes and improvements that are in the pipeline and currently in the implementation phase such as the G.E.D program, brought some comfort. However, I also recognize that there is a history of promises and as such, we are at a time, where prompt action is needed. As such, we continue to push forward and also incorporate aspects that the inmates have brought forward as essential for a more comfortable living environment, stated Minister Richardson.

All in all, the visit was a positive one whereby the members of parliament got a good view of the prison operations and spoke to various prison staff members and inmates. Despite the challenges, the Prison and House of Detention are working diligently on improving the prison environment by tackling several crucial areas simultaneously. These areas are being worked on by the prison alongside the prison program manager and other technical assistance provided by Sint Maarten and the Netherlands, says Mr. Bell, acting prison director.
PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is recommending to persons to get their annual flu vaccine. High-risk groups are reminded and/or recommended to get their seasonal flu shot.



Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads very easily from person to person and can affect anybody in any age group.



Check with your physician to see whether or not you are part of the high-risk group and be proactive. Get vaccinated and apply strict and consistent preventive measures to stop you from getting the flu.



Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations. Vaccination (flu shot) is the most effective way to prevent infection.



Persons who form part of the risk groups are:



 all pregnant women who are in the last six months of pregnancy or second trimester  from their fourth month onwards;

 with pulmonary disease: asthma (when maintenance medication is given; this also holds true for children), COPD, carcinoma of the lung, anthracosilicosis, lungfibrosis , mucoviscidosis, severe kyfoscoliosis, status after resection of a lung, breathing difficulties;

 with cardiac disease: having experienced a myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, valve dysfunction, cardiac failure;

 with diabetes mellitus, even if not on medication;

 with chronic kidney disease/failure: dialysis, kidney transplant;

 after a recent bone marrow transplant;

 with HIV-infection;

 with an intellectual disability in an intramural setting;

 with a diminished resistance to infections: livercirrosis, (functional) asplenia, auto-immune illnesses, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive medication;

 60 years and older.



Front-line workers as well as health care workers who may be in contact with patients in these risk groups (personnel in nursing homes, senior citizen home, hospital, outpatient clinics and general practitioner/specialist practices), should get their flu vaccination.



Home care givers of persons with a very high risk for severe illness and mortality attributed to the flu should also get vaccinated.



The symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.



The flu vaccine will not protect you against COVID-19.



For persons who already have an appointment to get their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you can get your flu vaccine either one week before your appointment or two weeks after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.



For persons who are getting a COVID-19 vaccine for the first time or is scheduled to get their second COVID-19 vaccine, the same time interval applies.



CPS reminds the public that while they are responsible for administering the COVID-19 vaccines, flu vaccines are coordinated by your house doctor.



Consult your family physician (house doctor) in due time and do not place others at risk. Take the necessary preventive measures when in the vicinity of any sick persons. Apply strict cough etiquette and proper hand hygiene.



Eat healthy foods, get a lot of exercise, and maintain a good sleep schedule which is usually eight hours.
PHILIPSBURG:---The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation has stepped up to the plate to ensure that students have the best chances of making optimal use of the education being offered by providing a healthy breakfast to approximately 225 students at two schools.

The foundation has received requests from other schools for the breakfast program and Tzu Chi would like to invite the public to support the program. It costs only US $1 per day to help one student. You can choose to support as many students as you would like.

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017, Tzu Chi had been involved in many activities to help ease the burden amongst families in the country and aid in the recovery process. One of these worthwhile activities had been a breakfast program, in which students were provided with a healthy breakfast in an effort to help them focus less on being hungry and more on their education.

The St. Maarten Academy (academic section), one of the schools assisted, had approached the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation to resume the breakfast program at its school as a number of students were attending school hungry because their parents simply could not afford to provide them with a meal. While the situation of children going to school hungry had been prevalent since before the pandemic, unfortunately, COVID-19 has made the situation worse as many parents are still out of work and are unable to provide meals for their children.

As per the schools request, the healthy breakfast program resumed at St. Maarten Academys academic section on September 13th, 2021, where between 100 to 125 students are served daily. As Tzu Chi focuses on healthy eating and the environment, the foundation provides healthy vegetarian and vegan items to these students, which is prepared fresh daily. On October 18, 2021, the program was extended to St. Maarten Academys Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) section, where approximately 100 students are fed daily. Additional requests have since been received for the program to further extend to other schools.

The breakfast program includes bananas and apples; vegan burgers; veggie patties (vegan items made from lentil peas, chickpeas, tofu, vegetables); sweet bun; coconut drop made with oatmeal; vegan cupcake, and iced lemon tea or hot tea.

Apart from the tea, which is available to everyone, students get to choose any three items from the list that they prefer. The array of healthy options means that students' appetites will not be bored eating the same thing daily. Our volunteers (and, if needed, teachers) assist in distributing the meals.

"As we all realize, this is a much bigger problem in the community and together with the public, we can extend this healthy eating breakfast program to other schools," said Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung. She alluded to a quote by Master Cheng Yen which says: "The problems of the society have to be solved by the people in the society."

Master Cheng Yen started the Tzu Chi Foundation 55 years ago with 30 poor housewives in the underprivileged Hualien City in Taiwan, by saving US $0.2 pennies of their grocery money daily, to help people who were suffering. From the 30 housewives sowing seeds of love daily, this blossomed and spread throughout the entire city. Today Hualien is one of the richest and most civilized cities, having some of the best schools and the best hospitals in Taiwan largely because the teachings are based on humanities and character training. Today, 55 years later, Tzu Chi has become one of the largest organizations reaching out to 126 countries during the pandemic. With millions of volunteers and members taking the same action daily around the world, countless families and individuals' lives are changed from poverty to prosperity daily.

"It is all about saving small coins daily to sow good seed for ourselves and others. Above all, we invite all people with goodwill to cultivate a field of blessings and bring about a society of love," Cheung said.



The intention is to map the program currently being executed at the two sections of St. Maarten Academy, hence the same healthy options will be provided. Students will be able to receive their breakfast without any barriers and the food items are always prepared fresh and healthy for their brain and body.

A hungry child is unable to focus and unable to learn, which defeats the purpose of education. The consequences of not having a proper education is not just one for the child, but the society as a whole. As they are our future, we are obligated to help these vulnerable children as it, in essence, will be helping our society in the future, Cheung remarked.

The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation is built on the strength of its volunteers and in offering our love and care to those we assist including, in this case, students and teachers. The Foundation is therefore also inviting volunteers in the community who would like to assist in this effort.

Your collective assistance will help not just brighten the day of the young minds in our society, but also help them to focus on what really matters most during these critical years of their lives  their education, Cheung noted.



Donations can be made monthly with a minimum US $3 and up at Tzu Chis Windward Islands Bank (WIB) Charity Account # 21767402 or at the foundations office at L.B. Scott Road or call Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung at tel +1-721-586-3019 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on November 2, 2021.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

1. Discussion on Human Rights and Human Rights Conventions (IS/978/2020-2021 dated September 3, 2021)

2. Discussion on Membership to the World Trade Organization (IS/978/2020-2021 dated September 3, 2021)

Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and www.pearlfmradio.sx
See what's up in the night sky for November 2021, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

Related: Space calendar 2021: Rocket launches, sky events, missions & more



Monday, November 1 - Asteroid Pallas Pauses (evening)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Monday, November 1, the main belt asteroid designated (2) Pallas will complete a retrograde loop that began in July  causing it to temporarily stop moving through the background stars. On this night, the magnitude 9.5 asteroid will be located less than halfway up the southern evening sky in central Aquarius  a few finger widths to the lower right (or 3 degrees to the celestial southwest) of the medium-bright star Lambda Aquarii (aka  Aqr and Hydor). After tonight, Pallas will resume its regular eastward motion (red path with dates:time).

Tuesday, November 2 - GRS and Two Shadows Cross Jupiter (from 11:00 to 14:20 UT)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Tuesday evening, November 5, observers with telescopes in locations from northern Asia to Australia can watch the Great Red Spot and the small black shadows of two of Jupiters moons cross the planets disk at the same time. At 8 p.m. Japan Standard Time or 11:00 UT, the Great Red Spot and Ganymedes large shadow will join Ios smaller shadow already in transit. The two shadows will dot Jupiters disk for 75 minutes, and then Ios shadow will move off the planet. Ganymedes shadow and the Great Red Spot will depart Jupiter at 11:20 p.m. JST, or 14:20 UT - around the same time that Jupiter will be setting.

Wednesday, November 3 - Crescent Moon above Mercury (pre-dawn)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

Low in the east-southeastern sky before sunrise on Wednesday, November 3, the old crescent moon will shine prettily several finger widths above (or 4 degrees to the celestial northwest of) Mercurys bright dot. Virgos brightest star Spica will be positioned a few finger widths to their right. The three objects will share the field of view in binoculars (green circle), but be sure to turn your optics away from the eastern horizon before the sun appears.

Wednesday, November 3 - Old Moon Occults Mercury (afternoon)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

During the day on Wednesday, November 3, the moons orbital motion will draw it closer to Mercury, culminating in a daytime lunar occultation of the planet observable in amateur telescopes (green circle) from the eastern USA and Canada, and the Caribbean. For New York City, the lit limb of the moon will cover Mercury at 3:47 p.m. EDT (or 07:47 GMT). The planet will pop into view from behind the dark limb at 4:40 p.m. EDT (or 08:40 GMT). Those times will vary by location, so begin to watch several minutes early, or use an astronomy app like Starry Night to determine the timing where you live. An experienced observer and/or a GoTo telescope will help you find the pale moon in daytime. (Caution: Never point an unfiltered telescope anywhere near the sun.)

Thursday, November 4 - New Moon and Large Tides (at 21:14 GMT)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

The moon will reach its new phase on Thursday, November 4 at 5:14 p.m. EDT or 21:14 GMT. While new, the moon is travelling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only reach the far side of the moon, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun, the moon becomes unobservable from anywhere on Earth for about a day (except during a solar eclipse). On the evenings following the new moon phase, Earths planetary partner will return to shine in the western sky after sunset. This new phase will occur one day before the moons perigee, resulting in larger tides worldwide.

Friday, November 5 - Uranus at Opposition (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

Uranus will reach opposition on Friday, November 5. On that night it will be closest to Earth for this year - a distance of 1.74 billion miles, 2.80 billion km, or 156 light-minutes. Uranus minimal distance from Earth will cause it to shine at a peak brightness of magnitude 5.65 and to appear slightly larger in telescopes for a week or so centered on opposition night. At opposition, planets are above the horizon from sunset to sunrise. During autumn this year, look for the planets small, blue-green dot moving slowly retrograde westwards in southern Aries, a fists width below (or 11.5 degrees southeast of) that constellations brightest stars, Hamal and Sheratan. Or use binoculars (green circle) to locate Uranus using the nearby star Mu Ceti.

Friday, November 5 - Southern Taurids Meteor Shower Peak (wee hours)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

Meteors from the Southern Taurids shower, which appear worldwide from September 28 to December 2 annually, will reach a maximum rate of about 5 per hour on Thursday, November 5. The long-lasting, weak shower is the first of two consecutive showers derived from debris dropped by the passage of periodic Comet 2P/Encke. The larger-than-average grain sizes of the comets debris often produce colorful fireballs. Although Earth will be traversing the densest part of the comets debris train during Thursday in the Americas, the best viewing time will occur hours later, at around 2 a.m. local time on Friday, when the showers radiant, located near the Taurus-Aries boundary, will be high in the southern sky. This years peak will be moonless, favoring more meteors. Keep an eye out for meteors on Thursday evening, too.

Saturday, November 6 - Ceres Crosses the Bull (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

From November 2 to 20, the orbital motion of the dwarf planet Ceres (red path with labelled dates:time) will carry it directly through the Hyades, the large open star cluster that forms the V-shaped face of Taurus, the bull. Magnitude 6.9 Ceres is bright enough to see in binoculars (green circle) and backyard telescopes. On November 2, Ceres, will be positioned only 7 arc-minutes (a quarter of the moons diameter) to the lower right of the bright star Antares. During the following weeks, Ceres will travel westward every night, eventually crossing the bulls face obliquely.

Sunday, November 7 - Crescent Moon near Venus (after sunset)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

In the southwestern sky after sunset on Sunday, November 7, the young crescent moon will shine several finger widths to the lower right (or 5 degrees to the celestial west) of the very bright planet Venus - close enough for them to share the field of view in binoculars (green circle). The duo will set at about 7 p.m. local time. Hours later, in midday on November 8, observers in parts of northeastern Asia and the western Aleutian Islands can see the moon occult Venus - while surrounding regions will see the moon pass very close to the planet.

Wednesday, November 10 - Mercury Mars Conjunction (before sunrise)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

Look just above the east-southeastern horizon before sunrise on Wednesday morning, November 10 to see Mercury situated less than a fingers width to the upper left (or 57 arc-minutes to the celestial north) of Mars. For this conjunction Mars will appear one-tenth as bright as Mercury. In mid-northern latitudes, the best viewing time will be after about 6 a.m. local time. Tropical latitude observers will see the two planets higher and in a darker sky. The duo will be close enough to appear together in the field of view of a low-magnification backyard telescope from Tuesday to Thursday, and will be binoculars-close (green circle) from November 5 to 15  but be sure to turn your optical aids away from the eastern horizon well before the sun rises.

Wednesday, November 10 - Half-moon below Saturn (early evening)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

The moons monthly visit with the bright gas giant planets Saturn and Jupiter will kick off after dusk in the southern sky on Wednesday, November 10. Before the sky has fully darkened, try using binoculars (green circle) to find the yellowish dot of Saturn positioned a palms width to the upper left (or 6 degrees to the celestial northwest) of the nearly-half-illuminated moon. Or wait until Saturn is visible with your unaided eyes, after about 5:30 p.m. local time. Much brighter and whiter Jupiter will be shining off to their upper left all evening.

Thursday, November 11 - First Quarter Moon (at 12:46 GMT)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

When the moon completes the first quarter of its journey around Earth on Thursday, November 11 at 7:46 a.m. EST or 12:46 GMT, its 90 degree angle from the sun will cause us to see the moon exactly half-illuminated - on its eastern side. At first quarter, the moon always rises around mid-day and sets around midnight, so it is also visible in the afternoon daytime sky. The evenings around first quarter are the best ones for viewing the lunar terrain while it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight, especially along the terminator, the pole-to-pole boundary separating its lit and dark hemispheres.

Thursday, November 11 - Moon Joins Jupiter (evening)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

After sunset on Thursday, November 11, look in the lower third of the southern sky for the bright, white dot of Jupiter poised a slim palms width above (or 5 degrees to the celestial northwest) of the bright, first quarter moon. Somewhat fainter and creamy-colored Saturn will become visible off to their right once the sky darkens more. The moon will bid adieu to the bright planets after tonight, until it visits them again on December 7-9.

Thursday, November 11 - Lunar X in Early Evening (peaks at 7 p.m. EST)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

Several times a year, for a few hours near its first quarter phase, features on the moon called the Lunar X and Lunar V become visible in strong binoculars and backyard telescopes. The Lunar X is located on the terminator south of the crater La Caille, about one third of the way up from the southern pole of the Moon (at 2 East, 24 South). The V is located near the crater Ukert (at 1 East, 14 North). On Thursday, November 11 the lunar letters are predicted to start developing at around 5 p.m. EST (or 22:00 GMT), peak in intensity around 7 p.m. EST (or 00:00 GMT on Friday), and then disappear within two hours. The Lunar X and V will be observable anywhere on Earth where the moon is visible, especially in a dark sky, between about 22:00 GMT on November 11 and 02:00 GMT on November 12.

Friday, November 12 - Northern Taurids Meteor Shower Peak (wee hours)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

Meteors from the Northern Taurids shower, which appear worldwide from October 13 to December 2 annually, will reach a maximum rate of about 5 per hour on Friday, November 12. The long-lasting, weak shower is the second of two consecutive showers derived from debris dropped by the passage of periodic Comet 2P/Encke. The larger-than-average grain sizes of the comets debris often produce colorful fireballs. The best viewing time will occur at around 1 a.m. local time on Friday, when the showers radiant, located in northwestern Taurus, will be highest in the southern sky. At this years peak, a first quarter moon will set by midnight, favoring more meteors. Keep an eye out for Northern Taurids on Thursday evening, too.

Monday, November 15 - Mare Imbriums Golden Handle (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Monday night, November 15, the terminator on the waxing gibbous moon will fall west of Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows. The circular 155 mile (249 km) diameter feature is a large impact crater that was flooded by the same basalts that filled the much larger Mare Imbrium to its east  forming a rounded handle on the western edge of that mare. The Golden Handle effect is produced when sunlight strikes the prominent Montes Jura mountain range surrounding Sinus Iridum on the north and west. Sinus Iridum is almost craterless, but hosts a set of northeast-oriented wrinkle ridges that are revealed at this phase.

Wednesday, November 17 - Bright Moon near Uranus (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

In the eastern sky after dusk on Wednesday night, November 17, the very bright, nearly-full moon will shine two thumb widths to the lower left (or 2.6 degrees to the celestial south) of the magnitude 5.7 planet Uranus. By dawn on Thursday morning, the moons orbital motion will carry it farther from Uranus in the western sky, and the diurnal rotation of the sky will move it to the upper left of the planet. While Uranus blue-green dot can normally be seen in binoculars (green circle), I recommend noting its location between the brighter stars of Aries and Cetus, or the nearby star Mu Ceti, and seeking it out a few nights later, when the bright moon will have moved away.

Thursday, November 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower Peaks (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

The Leonids Meteor shower, derived from material left by repeated passages of periodic Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, runs from November 3 to December 2, annually. The peak of the shower, when up to 15 meteors per hour are predicted - many with persistent trains - will occur on Thursday, November 18, when Earth will be traversing the densest part of the comets debris train. The best viewing time for Leonids will be Thursday morning before dawn, when the radiant in Leo will be high in the eastern sky  but you can watch for occasional Leonids on Wednesday evening, too. Unfortunately, a full moon on the peak night will severely reduce the number of meteors seen.

Friday, November 19 - Full Beaver Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse (09:03 GMT)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

The November Full Moon, traditionally known as the Beaver Moon or Frost Moon, always shines in or near the stars of Taurus and Aries. The moon will reach its full phase, directly opposite the sun in the western pre-dawn sky, at 3:57 a.m. EST or 8:57 GMT on Friday, November 19. At that time it will be passing through Earths round shadow, or umbra, producing the second lunar eclipse of 2021. At maximum eclipse, at 4:02:56 a.m. EST or 09:02:56 GMT, a thin sliver of the moons southern rim will remain outside of the shadow, making this a partial lunar eclipse. The rest of the moon will darken to a ruddy red color - especially the moons northern half. The moon will first contact the umbra at 2:18:41 a.m. EST or 7:18:41 GMT and will last touch it 3hours 28minutes later, at 5:47:04 a.m. EST or 10:47:04 GMT. You should notice a slight darkening of the moon while it traverses the zone encircling the umbra, both after 1:02 a.m. and before 7:04 a.m. EST. The entire eclipse will be visible from North America and nearly all of the Pacific Ocean. Eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan will miss the early stages, while South America and western Europe will miss the final stages.

Saturday, November 20 - Watch Algol Brighten (at 6:14 p.m. EST)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

In the constellation of Perseus, the star Algol, also designated Beta Persei, represents the glowing eye of Medusa from Greek mythology. It is among the most accessible variable stars for skywatchers. During a ten-hour period that repeats every 2 days, 20 hours, and 49 minutes, Algol dims and re-brightens noticeably while a companion star orbiting nearly edge-on to Earth crosses in front of the much brighter main star, reducing the total light output we perceive. Algol normally shines at magnitude 2.1, similar to the nearby star Almach in Andromeda. But when fully dimmed, Algols magnitude 3.4 is almost the same as the star Rho Persei ( Per), which sits just two finger widths to Algols lower right (or 2.25 degrees to the celestial south). On Saturday, November 20 at 6:14 p.m. EST or 23:14 GMT, fully dimmed Algol will sit a third of the way up the east-northeastern sky. Five hours later the star will shine at full intensity from a perch overhead in the western sky.

Sunday, November 21 - Bright Moon near Messier 35 (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

When the waning gibbous moon rises among the stars of eastern Taurus after 6 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 21, it will be positioned several finger widths above (or 3 degrees to the celestial west of) the large open star cluster named the Shoe-Buckle Cluster or Messier 35. The moon and the cluster will share the view in binoculars (green circle) all night long, with the moons orbital motion (green line) halving their separation by dawn. To better see the cluster, which is nearly as wide as the moon itself, try hiding the moon just outside the top edge of your binoculars field of view.

Monday, November 22 - Mars meets Zubenelgenubi (predawn)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Monday, November 22, the eastward orbital motion of the planet Mars will carry it only 8 arc-minutes (or a quarter of the moons diameter) below the bright and widely separated double star Zubenelgenubi in Libra  close enough to share the view in a backyard telescope (green circle). Look for the trio sitting low in the east-southeastern sky before sunrise, particularly around 6 a.m. local time. Theyll be somewhat higher for observers in the tropics. Mars and the two stars will be telescope-close on Sunday and Tuesday, too  with the small, 3.7 arc-seconds-wide disk of Mars perched above the stars on Sunday and well below them on Tuesday. Mars will shine at twice the brightness of Zubenelgenubis primary star. (Note that your telescope may flip and/or invert the view, and that optics must be turned away from the east before the sun rises.)

Tuesday, November 23 - Twin Shadows and the GRS Transit Jupiter (00:00 to 02:30 GMT on Nov 24)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Tuesday evening November, 23, observers in the Americas with telescopes can view a rare treat when the round, black shadows of two of Jupiters Galilean moons traverse Jupiter, accompanied by the Great Red Spot! The show will begin when the spot and Ganymedes shadow both appear near Jupiters limb at 6:15 p.m. EST (23:15 GMT). A few minutes before 7 p.m. EST (or 00:00 GMT on Wednesday), Callistos shadow will join them. The trio will cross for 2.5 hours, until the GRS rotates out of view and Ganymedes shadow moves off Jupiter at 9:30 p.m. EST (02:30 GMT). Callistos shadow will complete its crossing at 10:45 p.m. EST (03:45 GMT). This event will begin during evening twilight on the west coast.

Friday, November 26 - The Andromeda Galaxy (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

In late November, the Andromeda Galaxy is positioned very high in the southeastern sky during evening. This large spiral galaxy, also designated Messier 31 and NGC 224, is 2.5 million light years from us, and covers an area of sky measuring 3 by 1 degrees (or six by two full moon diameters)! Under dark skies, M31 can be seen with unaided eyes as a faint smudge located 1.4 fist diameters to the left (or 14 degrees to the celestial northeast) of Alpheratz, the star that occupies the left-hand (northwestern) corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. The three westernmost stars of Cassiopeia, Caph, Shedar, and Navi (Gamma Cas), also conveniently form an arrow that points towards M31. Binoculars (green circle) will reveal the galaxy very well. In a telescope, use your lowest magnification eyepiece and look for M31s two smaller companion galaxies, the foreground, brighter Messier 32 and the more distant, fainter Messier 110.

Saturday, November 27 - Third Quarter Moon (at 12:27 GMT)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

The moon will officially reach its third quarter phase at 7:27 a.m. EST, or 12:27 GMT, on Saturday, November 27. At third quarter our natural satellite always appears half-illuminated, on its western side - towards the pre-dawn sun. It rises in the middle of the night and remains visible in the southern sky all morning. The name for this phase reflects the fact that the moon has completed three quarters of its orbit around Earth, measuring from the previous new moon. The ensuing week of moonless evening skies will be ideal for observing deep sky targets.

Saturday, November 27 - Ceres at Opposition (all night)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Saturday, November 27, the dwarf planet Ceres will reach opposition, its closest approach to Earth for the year  a distance of 163.5 million miles or 263 million km or 14.6 light-minutes. On the nights around opposition, Ceres will shine with a peak visual magnitude of 7, well within reach of binoculars and backyard telescopes. As a bonus, Ceres will be situated only a thumbs width above (or 1.4 degrees to the north of) the bright star that marks the chin of the bull, Gamma Tauri. Both objects, and the rest of Taurus triangular face, will easily fit within the field of view of binoculars (green circle). Ceres will already be climbing the eastern sky after dusk. It will reach its highest elevation, and peak visibility, over the southern horizon at about midnight local time.

Sunday, November 28 - Ios shadow and the Red Spot Cross Jupiter (from 23:20 to 01:30 GMT)

(Image credit: Starry Night)

On Sunday evening, November 28, observers in the Americas with telescopes can watch the small, black shadow of Jupiters moon Io move across Jupiters disk, accompanied by the Great Red Spot. The pair will begin to cross at 6:20 p.m. EST, which converts to 5:20 p.m. CST, 4:20 p.m. MST, 3:20 p.m. PST, and 23:20 GMT. The transit will last for approximately 2 hours. For observers in the western USA and Canada, only the later stages of the event will be occurring in a dark sky.
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP)  Cryptocurrency has officially gone to the dogs.

The recent trading frenzy over a digital token called Shiba Inu  commonly billed as a meme or joke coin  has vaulted the canine-themed cryptocurrency into the top ten most valuable digital assets by market value, hitting $40 billion and surpassing its cousin and apparent inspiration, Dogecoin.

Shiba was up another 10% at midday on Monday and has doubled in value in the past week. Most of that gain came in a flurry of trading last Wednesday, when it gained a whopping 66%.

Even with its recent meteoric rise  it's up about 900% in the past month  each Shiba coin costs just a tiny fraction of one cent. If you bought $1,000 worth of Shiba in late September, your 20 million coins would now be worth around $9,000.

Like most cryptocurrencies, Shiba is not commonly used for commercial transactions and is considered by most experts and investors to be a high-risk, speculative bet due to the broader volatility of the crypto market. Experts warn that investors need to be cautious about putting money into something with anonymous leadership that appears to have little functional use.

Lee Reiners, an outspoken crypto skeptic, teaches fintech and cryptocurrency courses at Duke University School of Law. Reiners said hes not surprised by Shibas recent spike.

This is what happens when you have massive speculation in assets with no intrinsic value, Reiners said.

Investors might be thinking this story sounds familiar. Bitcoin has doubled in value twice this year  with a rapid plunge in between  and now sells for more than $60,000 per coin. Among stocks, GameStop had a surge that rivals Shiba's, rocketing from about $17 per share in early January to $483 later that month. Lately, it's consistently traded around $180.

While Shiba is the current white-hot cryptocurrency, you cant trade it through more traditional brokers  yet. A petition with more than 450,000 signatures on Change.org is pushing for the mobile trading app Robinhood to start allowing Shiba trades. Robinhood currently allows trading of Dogecoin and other cryptocurrencies. Its CEO Vladimir Tenev told investors last week that the company would carefully evaluate whether we can add new coins in a way thats safe for customers and in line with regulatory requirements.

Stronger regulation of the crypto markets seems inevitable, but it's unclear when it might happen. The chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler, said in August that the world of crypto doesnt have enough investor protection and compared it to "the Wild West.

Whether that lack of regulation is driving the recent spikes in Shiba and other digital assets is not clear. What seems apparent though, is that retail investors  the little guys  are leading the way.

Kyle Waters, a research analyst at the blockchain data and analytics firm Coin Metrics, said the median trade size of Shiba on that busy Wednesday was $115. Thats highly suggestive that the typical Shiba trader on Coinbase is a small retail trader, Water said.

Shiba's rise is similar to Dogecoin's ascent in the spring, when it caught fire and rose jumped from around 5 cents to 57 cents between April 7 and May 7.

Like many other crypto currencies, Shiba is shrouded in mystery. According to its white paper  or Woof Paper, in this case  the token was started in 2020 by an anonymous person or group named Ryoshi. The paper, which describes how Shiba and its progeny works, is also peppered with soaring-but-vague platitudes about community, freedom, revolution and destroying traditional paradigms.

A person with limited background knowledge of technology and blockchain vernacular would be hard pressed to decipher much of the technical wording in the white paper.
C&S Wholesale Grocers is cutting 175 jobs at a Suffield warehouse, after its biggest Connecticut customer is moving distribution back in house with the promise of adding hundreds of positions to offset the C&S layoff in January.

The New Hampshire-based company reported the layoff last week in a filing with the Connecticut Department of Labor. A C&S Wholesale representative told Hearst Connecticut on Tuesday that affected employees have been offered positions at other C&S facilities, without providing additional details on the Suffield decision.

A Suffield official told the Hartford Courant the company lost a significant chunk of business with Stop & Shop, which is opening its own distribution center in Manchester. C&S has one other Connecticut warehouse, in South Windsor, of more than 30 nationally.

C&S Wholesale revenue hit $25.8 billion last year, according to Forbes, ranking the company the 11th-largest privately held business in the United States.

Major competitors include US Foods, Sysco and United Natural Foods based in Rhode Island, along with myriad smaller providers. On Monday, GS Foods announced the acquisition of the Wallingford distributor Thurston Foods, which focuses on schools, hospitals and restaurants.

Last March, Stop & Shop parent Ahold Delhaize announced it had taken over operation of a C&S facility near Fall River, Mass., which supplies some 200 Stop & Shop stores in New England. The supermarket chain is the largest in Connecticut with more than 50 stores.

The more we control ourselves, we can more control our destiny and were less dependent on third parties, said Frans Muller, CEO of Ahold, referencing the C&S changes during a mid-August conference call. Thats now paying off  and of course in the U.S., logistics and distribution is still stressed: availability of labor, fuel prices, and availability of vehicles. But I think we are potentially better positioned there, because we have a lot of drivers and vehicles under our own management.

Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop has been holding job fairs in the most competitive Connecticut job market in years, as companies struggle to lure back workers who sat out the COVID-19 pandemic due to health concerns, child care issues or being able to generate sufficient income from unemployment compensation.

Includes prior reporting by Jailene Cuevas.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
STAMFORD  Stamfords first murder trial in almost two years began on an emotional note as Maxine Goodens daughter recounted the last moments of her 43-year-old mothers life.

The joint murder trial for DeShawn Hayes, 29, and Jhonel Telemin-Valerio, 26, started on Monday  nearly six years to the day the two are accused of fatally shooting Gooden, a mother of five, in Lione Park.

Hayes and Telemin-Valerio are each accused of murder and criminal possession of a firearm.

With tears in her eyes, Goodens daughter Andrina Roberts, now 30, took the stand and told a half-full courtroom on Monday how the night of Nov. 2, 2015  the night her mother was killed by a stray bullet  started off like most other nights.

She and her younger sister went to Lione Park, or as they knew it, Jamaica Park, where Gooden made a living selling Jamaican food and alcohol.

There, the family hung out, had a few drinks with friends and danced to some music. Roberts recalled having to push at her mother at one point because her favorite song, Ushers U Got It Bad, kept playing and Gooden wouldnt stop dancing on her.

It just felt like she was having a happy night, Roberts said as she held back tears.

But what began as a happy night took a tragic turn when Gooden, who Lione Park regulars knew as Momma, went to the trunk of her car to get a drink for Roberts and a friend.

Thats when she heard the shots.

I heard bang, bang, bang, bang, and when I turned, I saw her laying there, she said.

At first, Roberts thought the loud noises were fireworks. But then she saw blood gushing from her mothers stomach.

She said she rushed to Gooden, opened up her jacket and started applying pressure to what turned out to be a gunshot wound.

I kept saying, Mom, youre going to be OK. Mom, youre going to be OK, and started giving her CPR as best I could, Roberts testified as tears ran down her face.

Eventually, paramedics arrived on the scene and loaded Gooden into an ambulance.

Roberts, reluctant to leave her mother, said she climbed onto the rear of the ambulance to get one last look inside before Gooden was rushed to the hospital. It was the last time Roberts saw her mother alive.

Nearly a dozen friends and family members of Hayes and Telemin-Valerio watched silently as Roberts gave her testimony.

After Roberts was done speaking, Assistant States Attorney Elizabeth Moran called two other witnesses, one after another, to the stand.

The two, who were teenagers at the time of the shooting and whose names are being withheld at the request of the Stamford States Attorneys Office, have been credited with being instrumental in the arrests of Hayes, Telemin-Valerio and a third suspect, Morris Moore, who has since pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm Moore and has been sentenced to 20 years in prison..

Both witnesses testified that they were hanging out on the corner of Carolina Road on Nov. 2 when they saw two people wearing dark clothing get out of a Jeep near the edge of Lione Park.

Moments later, the two claim they heard gunshots, then saw the same two individuals running back into the car.

Scared but determined, the two hopped in their own car and followed the Jeep. As one drove, the other took a picture of the license plate, which they later shared with police.

That picture led to Hayes, Telemin-Valerio and Moore being pulled over and eventually arrested later that evening, according to police.

While incarcerated, Moore wrote a letter claiming he was the gunman in the fatal shooting, that the gun that shot Gooden was his and that Telemin-Valerio and Hayes had no idea he had the gun on him when they went into the park that day.

The murder trial for Hayes and Telemin-Valerio is expected to be completed by Nov. 12.
LAS MANCHAS DE ABAJO, Canary Islands (AP)  His home went first. Then the house his father built. Then the lottery stand and hardware store he owned succumbed.

Lastly, Antonio Alvarez had to watch as lava from a volcanic eruption slowly devoured the remaining pillar of his familys wealth: the dozen acres he dedicated to growing the Canary Island banana that for generations has provided the agricultural lifeblood of the Atlantic Ocean archipelago.

My father always told me dont make the house too big, it wont make you money; invest in banana! The bananas will give you a house.' And its true, Alvarez said. When I filmed (the lava destroying) my fathers house, it was seeing him die all over again. That house was a part of him.

Alvarez, 54, is one of thousands of farmers and workers on Spains La Palma island whose livelihoods have been put in jeopardy by the destruction wrecked by volcano that is still going strong six weeks after the ground first broke open on Sept. 19.

The regional government of the Canary Islands, an archipelago including La Palma located off the coast of northwest Africa, estimates that the volcano has already caused 100 million euros ($116 million) in losses for the islands banana industry. Over 390 acres (158 hectares) of land used for banana farming have been covered by molten rock, and more than 700 additional acres (300 hectares) have been cut off after roads on the island's western side were enveloped by lava.

The banana growers association for the Canary Islands, ASPROCAN, estimates that around 1,500 of the islands 5,000 owners of banana plantations have been hurt. Most owners have small patches of a few acres. Many, like Alvarez, have seen their land burnt and crushed. Others have lost harvests because they can't get to their trees. And many more have seen their product become unmarketable due to the volcanic ash that has ruined the banana peels.

It's been an shock wave for an industry that provides 30% of the economic life of the island, according to regional government statistics. There are entire businesses dedicated to packing and transporting the fruit, which, along with tourism, keeps La Palma going.

They say it has wiped out 10% of the islands economy. I think it is more. It wasnt just the bananas, or the apartments, or the bed and breakfasts, it has taken everything, Alvarez said. What has happened to us has happened to 90% of the people here.

La Palma, an island of 85,000, is the second-largest producer of banana for the eight-member archipelago, which at its nearest point is 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Morocco. Last year it produced 148,000 tons of the local banana, most of which were shipped to Spains mainland. While usually more expensive than imported bananas from Latin America and Africa, the smaller Canary Island banana is often preferred for its sweeter taste and meatier texture.

Authorities have pledged financial aid to help the sector and fund furloughs for workers. They have also promised to revise a law that says that new land formed by the lava is property of the state.

Desalination plants have been shipped in to supply the water-dependent banana trees at points where lava flows have wrecked the irrigation systems. The islands government has asked for the military to consider taking farmers in by boat to tend to farms that have been isolated by the rivers of lava.

The lava, however, keeps spewing from the Cumbre Vieja ridge, threatening to widen and consume more land as it churns its way downward to the Atlantic, where a new patch of lava land is forming.

The house of farmer Jesus Perez is still at risk, but for him the most important property he owns is already gone.

I would have prefered to lose my house instead of my banana trees, the 56-year-old Perez said. The trees give you life, the house gives you nothing. I have sacrificed all my life, and for what, nothing?

___

Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona.
Carroll J. Hughes of Old Saybrook, a jovial, well-known lobbyist in the state Capitol with a wry, winking attitude toward the legislative process while at the same time aggressively protecting clients, died Monday at age 79 after a long illness.

With clients as wide-ranging as the thousands of Connecticut package store owners and the Police Chiefs Association, Hughes had a remarkable knack of winning the day by pointing out hidden consequences of a bill to lawmakers and reporters, often one person at a time rather than through public bluster.

His decline in recent years went generally unnoticed, as the Capitol complex was closed to the public during most of the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions, forcing lobbyists, like everyone else, to contact lawmakers online.

He was a good guy, said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the law-writing Judiciary Committee. He was a fierce advocate for his clients, a real straight shooter and someone who had a lot of respect for in the way he conducted himself in the building.

An online memorial by the Swan Funeral Home of Old Saybrook did not give the cause of death Tuesday afternoon.

Hughes, a fixture in the atrium of the Legislative Office Building or outside the House of Representatives Chamber on a session day in the Capitol, headed a family lobbying firm with his wife Jean Cronin and son Sean. Another son, Josh, runs a separate lobbying firm at the Capitol.

He was always very jovial, and seemed to get along with everyone even if you didnt see eye-to-eye on an issue, Stafstrom recalled. Certainly you could have a robust conversation with him on a host of issues.

Michael J. Riley, former longtime lobbyist for the state trucking industry, said Tuesday that no other lobbyist could come close to Hughess effectiveness during public hearings. He was the king, said Riley, who began working in the Capitol in 1971, a few years before Hughes. He was the best lobbyist at the microphone. If there was a public hearing before the General Law Committee, grab some popcorn and a beer. He would take on all comers. Give me your best shot, right down your throat.

Tim Phelan, president of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association, said Tuesday that like many, he was unaware of Hughess sickness.

He was a legend in the business, said Phelan, who credits Hughes with teaching him the ins and outs of working for clients who want to persuade lawmakers.

He really paved the way for a lot of us to lobby, Phelan said. He was just a really good professional lobbyist and he was a lot of fun too. Carroll was feisty and passionate. He took no quarter. If you were up against Carroll, you had to bring youre a game. He was such a presence. You knew when Carroll was lobbying a bill.

My heart goes out to Carroll's family and loved ones, said state Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford. I've known Carroll for over three decades. A fellow Irishman, he loved our heritage and celebrating his culture and life. He loved our state. He was an enormous figure in the state Capitol who will be greatly missed.

My deepest condolences to Carrolls wife, family, and all who loved him, said Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme. Fierce, smart, and hardworking, he was a friend to so many. He will be missed by all and remembered for helping bring the voices of many - from small business owners to the brave men and women in law enforcement - to the state Capitol.

Hughes, with roots in the Bridgeport and Naugatuck Valley areas, began lobbying in the Capitol about 50 years ago.

He might be best-known for getting hundreds of members of the Connecticut Package Stores Association to mobilize several times in recent years, in a successful 2015 battle against former Gov. Dannel P. Malloys proposal to eliminate so-called minimum pricing. Store owners, with close connections to their towns and neighborhoods, complained that bigger stores could essentially wipe them out unless statewide minimum prices were retained.

This year, the General Assembly killed legislation that would allow wine to be sold in supermarkets, amid protests by the package store owners mobilized by Hughes. Nine years ago, Hughes was less successful in an attempt to stop Sunday retail sales of alcohol, eventually seeing the momentum to enact the law, turning the 1,200 association members into seven-day-a-week operations.

Friends may call on Nov. 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. in St. John Church, 161 Main St., Old Saybrook .

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  The Democratic primary to replace late Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings was too close to call Tuesday night after most of the votes had been counted in the South Florida district.

With nearly 99% of the vote counted, fewer than 100 votes separated the two leaders in a field of 11 Democrats. Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness and health care company CEO Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick led the crowded primary, each with nearly 24% of the vote.

Businessman Jason Mariner won the Republican primary, defeating Greg Musselwhite, but is considered a longshot to win the general election in the overwhelmingly Democratic district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Hastings was first elected in 1992. The other nine Democrats seeking the nomination were state House Democratic Leader Bobby DuBose, state Rep. Omari Hardy, state Sen. Perry Thurston, Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief, author and former National Urban League chief of staff Elvin Dowling, retired Navy petty officer Phil Jackson, business consulting firm founder Emmanuel Morel and physician Dr. Imran Uddin Siddiqui.

Democrat Patricia Robinson of Miramar said with such a large field, it was a difficult choice. She voted for Holness because she felt he will be more pragmatic in what he can achieve in a divided Congress.

We really need true servants with realistic goals for the people to make things better for this country, she said.

Turnout was about 16%. The district is more than 61% Democratic and about 13% Republican. In the 2020 election, Hastings earned 78.7% of the vote to defeat Republican Greg Musselwhite, whom Mariner defeated in this year's primary.

Cherfilus-McCormick loaned her campaign more than $3.7 million and has far outspent the other Democrats in the race. Sharief was the second-highest spender as of mid-October, with about $700,000 in expenditures.

Heading into Election Day, out of the more than 345,000 eligible primary voters, nearly 33,000 Democrats and more than 4,000 Republicans had already cast votes.

Republican Kevin Cerino, who voted for the GOP's Mariner, readily acknowledged that the seat will absolutely go to the Democratic winner.

It is what it is, said Cerino, who didn't sound enthusiastic about his choice. "Mariner seems to be slightly less of a clown than the other guy running. This kind of district that's so overwhelmingly Democratic, you're not going to get a quality candidate.

The district is nearly 54% Black. Every Democrat on the ballot is a person of color, while the two Republicans are white.
BUSIA, Uganda (AP)  Dressed in his school uniform, Mathias Okwako jumped into the mud and started his daily search for gold, a commodity that may be closer to his grasp than another precious asset: an education.

His rural school in Uganda sits idle just across the road from the swamp where he and scores of children now work as informal miners. Weeds grow in some classrooms, where window frames have been looted for firewood. Another school nearby is renting out rooms to tenants.

Ugandas schools have been fully or partially shut for more than 77 weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic, the longest disruption anywhere in the world, according to figures from the U.N. cultural agency.

And unlike many parts of the globe, where lessons moved online, most public schools, which serve the vast majority of children in this East African country, were unable to offer virtual schooling.

In the void left, some students got married. Some are dealing with unwanted pregnancies. Others, like 17-year-old Okwako, found jobs.

The pandemic has manufactured outcasts, a lost generation of learners now in a battle of how to fit in, said Moses Mangeni, an official with the local government in Busia, where Okwako lives.

Efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the lives of children in every corner of the globe, squeezing their parents, complicating their care, and often removing their safety nets. Perhaps most crucially, it has thrown their schooling into chaos.

The result is the biggest global education emergency of our time, according to the aid group Save the Children, which last month identified 48 countries, including Uganda, whose school systems are at extreme or high risk of collapse. Most are in sub-Saharan Africa, a region long marked by high dropout rates and a shortage of qualified teachers.

Some other parts of the world that saw protracted closures also struggled to teach students. Mexico, where internet connectivity is low in many places, opted for educational programming via television. Ultimately, the pandemic was devastating for children in Mexico, which saw millions leave school as well as increases in child homicides, teen pregnancies and domestic violence.

In Iraq, remote learning was similarly limited and unequal, according to the World Bank.

Some wealthier countries fared better. In Kuwait, because most public schools weren't equipped to go online when the virus first struck, all schooling was suspended for seven months in 2020. But then the oil-rich Gulf Arab sheikhdom poured $212 million into an e-learning platform, and all schools went online. The rollout is considered a success.

But in Uganda there is no success to speak of.

The country first shut down its schools in March 2020, shortly after the first coronavirus case was confirmed on the African continent. Some classes were reopened to students in February, but a total lockdown was imposed again in June as the country faced its first major surge. It is now the only country in Africa where schools remain closed  though President Yoweri Museveni announced last week that they would reopen in January.

That comes as virus cases have tapered off in recent months, with the country now recording an average of 70 new infections each day and a couple of deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. So far, Uganda has fully vaccinated about 700,000 of its 44 million people.

First lady Janet Museveni, who is the country's education minister, has rejected criticism that the government isn't doing enough to teach kids. In a speech in October, she asked why our children cannot be safe at home. What happened to the family?

The problem, some Ugandans say, is that the government hasnt found a successful way to keep up learning during lockdown. A suggested national program to broadcast lessons via free radio sets didnt materialize, and in rural areas many children dont have learning materials of any kind.

As elsewhere, schools typically also provide a refuge to vulnerable children: They may be fed there or receive their routine childhood vaccinations or have access to other services not easily available at home.

But in Ugandas poorest homes, children are now often left to their own devices, without the private tutoring or Zoom lessons that wealthy families can afford.

In Busia, even before the pandemic, the sight of kids peddling goods in the streets wasn't uncommon. Things have only become worse.

Many children who spoke to The Associated Press expressed hopelessness amid the protracted lockdown.

Okwako, who said he was wearing his school uniform while searching for gold because he had nothing else to put on, sought work out of boredom but regrets that the tiring days leave him little energy to study on his own.

No time (for) reading books, he said. If you try to open a book, you just go asleep, and sleep up to tomorrow.

At the informal gold mine, students toil alongside adults, including some of their teachers, under the scorching sun. Witnesses said the risks and frustrations of the precarious work have led to fistfights, and some children have broken limbs while digging.

A typical day can bring in just over $2, enough for a child to buy a pair of used shoes. Okwako is proud of the two pigs he bought with his earnings. Other children said they use the money help to look after their families, regularly buying salt or soap.

We come here to make money, said 16-year-old Annet Aita, whose job is to wash the sandy soil in which gold dust is trapped, using highly toxic mercury.

But work also provides a refuge from other dangers that stalk those not in school. Aita said she felt more fortunate than some friends who got pregnancies at home.

Teacher Francis Adungosi said he now works at the mine from Monday to Monday and warned that he will need a refresher course before going back to the classroom.

As for his students, "they are traumatized. Remember they are having a lot of challenges. Some of them are pregnant. Some have already got married. Handling those children is going to be so tasking.

That's for those who go back. Many say they won't.

Some of the children now say, we dont recall what we read, so why should we go back? said Gilbert Mugalanzi, of the group Somero Uganda, which carried out a survey in November to assess how the pandemic was affecting schoolchildren in parts of Busia.

At Okwako's Mawero Primary School, teacher Emmy Odillo said he expects a small fraction of the 400 students to return next year.

Others have similarly low expectations.

Bosco Masaba, the director of studies at Busia Central Primary School, the private school nearby that has been converted into rentals, said he regularly sees some students in the streets selling tomatoes or eggs. He heard that some girls became domestic workers across the border in Kenya.

Some, they have lost hope completely, Masaba said.

___

Christopher Sherman in Mexico City, Zeina Karam in Beirut, and Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
If Republican business executive Glenn Youngkin prevails over former Democratic governor Terry McAuliffe in Virginia's gubernatorial election Tuesday, his stance on public education may be partially responsible. Polls have suggested that Youngkin built momentum among White suburban swing voters by addressing an issue that is not typically front and center in state politics: the curriculum in Virginia's public schools.

The Republican candidate made headlines when he criticized McAuliffe's 2016 veto of a bill that would have permitted parents to opt out of allowing their children to study texts considered sexually explicit (one of the books that inspired the bill was Toni Morrison's "Beloved"). "You believe school systems should tell children what to do," Youngkin told McAuliffe. "I believe parents should be in charge of their kids' education."

While Virginia's gubernatorial race might be the most high-profile case, the invocation of "parental choice" in curriculum - not just school selection - is having a national moment. In state legislatures and school board meetings across the country, politicians and parents are decrying transgender rights and the teaching of "critical race theory."

The history of 20th century conservative movements suggests that the growing call for greater parental control over public education is a winning strategy that has deep, nationwide roots in White resistance to racial equality. It draws on the political education and activism of conservative White women, who have for decades treated schools as extensions of their homes - arenas where they should have authority and training grounds for the next generation of young conservatives.

Conservative women initially fought for explicitly racist goals.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) successfully lobbied statewide textbook selection committees to purge books presenting slavery as the cause of the Civil War. Using the past to shape the present political landscape, the UDC tied the Confederacy's Lost Cause to the shoring up of Jim Crow, and textbook censorship joined statue-building and essay contests as strategies to recast the White South for a new era.

In the 1950s, White women in Southern California campaigned against the United Nations' multicultural curriculum, claiming its lessons in human rights weakened the lessons in American exceptionalism they taught at home. And in the 1960s, organizations of conservative Mississippi women focused on shaping public schools to sustain what they called "racial integrity" - preserving Whiteness and white supremacist thought through cultural and curricular condemnation of interracial marriage, sex, dating and socializing.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, conservative White women nationwide joined other right-wing activists in embracing a more "colorblind" political discourse to promote racist goals. As part of the nascent "New Right," these right-wing activists reached out to White conservatives and liberals, moderates and suburbanites, many of whom felt alienated by the legislative gains of the civil rights and women's movements or what they saw as too rapid a pace of change. Many New Right activists repackaged explicit opposition to racial equality, instead casting their positions as a racially neutral and constitutionally conservative response to federal overreach.

While many outside the South supported the end of racial segregation, busing to schools to achieve racial integration in northern and western cities stirred national opposition among White people. It threatened what many of them believed was sacrosanct - their choice to buy homes and to educate their children in certain neighborhoods. Anti-busing groups such as Restore Our Alienated Rights in Boston and National Action Group in Pontiac, Mich., along with organizations committed to racial segregation including the Women for Constitutional Government, claimed a new version of states' rights and decried federal intervention in schools as an attack on parental authority and White motherhood in general.

Part and parcel of this resistance, in many places, public school curriculum also became a focus. What was an unconstitutional erosion of "parental choice" in schools? Sex education, multicultural curriculum, Black Power texts, the banning of school-led prayer, advocacy for the United Nations, water fluoridation for dental health, the promotion of the Peace Corps.

Then as now, as local struggles - most famously the fights over textbooks in Kanawha County, W.Va., in the mid-1970s - made headlines across the nation, right-wing organizations such as the Heritage Foundation swooped in to lend support and financial resources to grass roots activists.

Heritage consultant Onalee McGraw outlined some of the issues at stake in an influential 1976 pamphlet: "Secular Humanism and the Schools: The Issue Whose Time Has Come." It criticized schools for promoting an ideology that placed people at the center of the universe rather than God. When educators encouraged tolerance of people's values, histories and world views, McGraw and others saw a direct contradiction to their belief in a set of absolute rights and wrongs determined by God and the Bible.

Thousands of White women turned out to oppose "secular humanism" because they believed what happened in public schools struck at the heart of what they cared most about: their children's well-being and their duties as mothers to protect and nurture their offspring. They were convinced that the government - via the public schools - was inculcating their children with ideas and values counter to their own. In 1984, James Moffett, the author of one of the textbooks that became a target in the Kanawha County controversy, observed that such fears were not to be taken lightly - parents genuinely worried that their children were being "mentally kidnapped" and that their authority to shape their children diminished each day they walk into a classroom.

These parents were not just challenging the federal government. College students across the nation demanded Black studies and women's studies programs. Multiculturalism in K-12 education increasingly became, at least rhetorically, widely accepted and understood as central to a modern democracy.

Yet conservatives continued to protest public schools exposing their children to sex education and multicultural histories that contradicted the values they taught at home and won federal support for "abstinence education" as part of the overhaul and lessening of welfare assistance in 1996. Some opted out of the public system entirely, in favor of home schooling or Christian academies. Others supported the charter school movement, moving government money away from traditional public education. Schools, they insisted, were an extension of the home and must reflect parents' morals and ways of thinking about the world.

While Democrats in the 1970s were caught off guard by these arguments and by the groundswell of local organizing, McAuliffe and others should not be. The events of the last half century have shown that voters recognize the power of public education to shape children's world views. And they have demonstrated that they will storm school board meetings and vote in local, state and federal elections to rein in what they perceive as the government's outsized role in raising their children.

- - -

Lisa Levenstein is director of women's, gender and sexuality studies and professor of history at UNC Greensboro. She is the author of "They Didn't See Us Coming: The Hidden History of Feminism in the Nineties" (Basic Books, 2020).

Elizabeth Gillespie McRae is an associate professor of history at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%..

Tonight

Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%.
DBi Services LLC and members of the DeAngelo family on Tuesday announced that they have signed a letter of intent regarding the sale of substantially all of DBis assets to DeAngelo Contracting Services, excluding DBis Digital Traffic Systems business.

DBi is an asset management and infrastructure services company that most recently provided a wide range of services for governmental and private entities across North America, with the objective of preserving infrastructure and ensuring access to safe transit for the public.

Headquartered in Hazleton, DeAngelo Contracting Services provides maintenance services to state and local departments of transportation and commercial customers, and will seek to expand its service offerings with these newly acquired assets.

My family and I look forward to putting these assets back to work serving customers, supporting employees and performing services that are vital to the nations mobility and safety, Paul DeAngelo said in a release.

DBi cited macroeconomic forces, including supply chain disruptions, higher material costs and the labor shortage, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with increased financial requirements from surieties and lenders, as impeding its ability to execute and finance its projects.

DBi shut down Oct. 22.

DBi Services was co-founded in 1978 by members of the DeAngelo family, who ultimately grew the platform to 3,000-plus employees before selling the business in 2016.

In 2020, Paul DeAngelo, along with his sons and wife, formed DeAngelo Contracting Services to re-enter the contracting business, in which it currently focuses on pavement marking, lawn care, pest control and equipment rental/sales.

DeAngelo Contracting Services looks forward to operating the DBi assets as a family-run business, according to the release.

A week ago, Amy Long of DeAngelo Contracting invited former DBi workers to reach out to DCS or her on social media.

We are GROWING, we recognize talent, she wrote in a post. I feel for all of you, and you will all be ok.
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Romania will receive another 4.6 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer in November, said Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health Andrei Baciu, agerpres reports.

"Regarding the delivery schedule for the next period, in November we will receive 4,663,000 doses produced by BioNTech / Pfizer. As we know, the doses from Moderna, their transport and delivery are temporarily suspended, as we have sufficient stocks in the country for now. The same goes for Johnson&Johnson doses, and the schedule for AstraZeneca, according to the initial calendar, is 1.5 million doses estimated for November," Andrei Baciu said at a conference on Tuesday at Victoria Palace.

According to him, Romania has so far received 24,105,089 doses of vaccine."Of these, 14,733,089 doses are produced by BioNTech / Pfizer, 3,182,400 are produced by Moderna, 3,374,000 are produced by AstraZeneca, and finally 2,815,600 are produced by Johnson&Johnson," Baciu said.He also mentioned, in the context, that until November 2 at 11.00, 7,336,530 COVID digital certificates were generated, 93% of them being certificates attesting the vaccination.
A tribute was paid, on Monday, in the plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, by the representatives of the parliamentary groups, to the honorary president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FCER), Dr. Aurel Vainer, with a moment of silence held at the beginning of the sitting, at the request of the representative of the Jewish minority, the deputy Silviu Vexler, president of FCER, agerpres reports.

"The other day we lost the one who was Dr. Aurel Vainer, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania in the period 2005 - 2020 and deputy in three legislatures in the Romanian Parliament, 2004 - 2016. He was a man who dedicated his whole life to this country and to the Jewish communities he represented both inside and outside Parliament. He was a man who strongly believed in democracy, in the role of democracy and in the importance of the Romanian Parliament for the consolidation and preservation of democracy for the future. But, more than that, he was a man of dialogue, who used to say that he had at most political opponents, and in no case enemies. He was a man who sought to convey the need for consensus and especially the need for dialogue in Parliament, but especially in society as a whole, being a man who I do not think that, during three terms, has managed to upset or disturb anyone with anything," Silviu Vexler said.

He added that Aurel Vainer has always avoided conflicts in Parliament and has always called for tolerance and consensus, for respect for women.The passing away of Aurel Vainer is "a loss for the whole society", underlined the National Liberal Party (PNL) deputy Iulian Muraru.Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) MP Mircia Chelaru also paid tribute to Aurel Vainer, who she said "made him love the Jewish ethnicity."Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP Adrian Solomon said that Aurel Vainer must be honored for everything he has achieved in Parliament and for our country.The leader of the group of national minorities in the Parliament, Varujan Pambuccian, showed with emotion that Aurel Vainer was a good friend of his, whom he does not remember other than smiling with "an unmistakable smile".Aurel Vainer, the former honorary president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania - the Mosaic Cult, was buried on Tuesday with military honors in Bucharest.
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is assuming an entry into government and all scenarios remain open, said, on Tuesday, PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu.

"It's not the first time we said that the PSD assumes entering government in this crisis, too. We will see what direction things go. (...) We noted that, after another ten days of crisis, some political leaders said clearly that a minority government cannot pass through parliament, which is what we're saying since the start of the crisis, that regardless if it's a USR [Save Romania Union], PNL [National Liberal Party] or PSD government, Romania does not need a minority government now," said Ciolacu, at the headquarters of the PSD.

Asked what the conditions of the Social Democrats are to enter government, Ciolacu answered: "All scenarios remain open and I firmly believe that returning to the people is most fair. We have no conditions, we haven't discussed. I am speaking to anyone on the phone, I have no restraints regardless of what political area these calls come from. (...) I am speaking on the phone with all political actors that can help with the exit from this crisis and the return to the true problems of the Romanian people."

He made an appeal to responsibility. "I am making a request to all representatives of parliamentary parties to be very careful what we talk in this period, because we are all responsible for our statements," Ciolacu added, when asked about critical statements made towards the PSD by the leader of the PNL, Florin Citu.

Asked if President Klaus Iohannis contacted him, the PSD leader said that he did not have a discussion with the head of state.

"I don't have any certainty, as I am not Nostradamus. I have the certainty that at this moment everyone realized that we must return to the true problems of Romanians," Marcel Ciolacu also said.

The PNL's Executive Bureau has decided, on Monday evening, that Nicolae Ciuca should submit his mandate as Prime Minister-designate and the mandate for negotiation should be more open, announced the Liberals' chair, Florin Citu, Agerpres informs.
Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciuca said on Monday that the decision to submit his resignation was made by the National Liberal Party (PNL) Executive Bureau based on "mathematical reality", after failing to "crystallize" a political solution to support a minority government.

"As I said last week, on Saturday, we started from the reality in all the steps we took. The mathematical reality is the one we all know and I hoped that through the demarches I carried out to be able to crystallize a political solution so that we can get the agreement for a minority government in parliament. There were two decisions of the two political parties that unanimously announced that they would not vote for the minority government, which we discussed this [Monday - ed.n.] evening in the Executive Bureau and the latter decided the withdrawal of the mandate, which is why I will submit my resignation," Ciuca stated.

He added that he is convinced that all activities of political parties should be based on dialogue.

"I once more call for responsibility so that a consolidated majority formula can be found so that we can have a government," Ciuca stressed.

"Making mandate flexible meant another mandate, and as such, tonight, at the level of the Executive Bureau, it was decided that I should step down and move on to make the negotiations flexible for the one who will be nominated as prime minister," Ciuca said, specifying that the president is the one who appoints a new prime minister.

He said he had informed President Iohannis of his intention to step down.

The PNL Executive Bureau decided, on Monday evening, that Nicolae Ciuca should submit his resignation as prime minister-designate and make the negotiating mandate more flexible, announced the Liberals' leader, Florin Citu.
The first 1,000 Dacia Spring vehicles have already been delivered to Romania, less than a month after the start of sales, the Mioveni-based carmaker announced in a press statement released on Tuesday, agerpres reports.

According to the company, almost a third of the delivered vehicles went to buyers in Bucharest and Ilfov County. Large numbers also went to the counties of Timis, Iasi, Cluj, and Brasov.

The vast majority of customers (95%) also wanted the DC fast charging system offered as an option. By default, Dacia Spring is equipped with a standard cable for Wall-Box 3.7 kW [Mode 3 Charging Station] AC charging.In terms of preferred color, blue is at the top, accounting for 40% of all vehicles delivered in October.The Dacia Spring has a 33 kW (45HP) electric motor, coupled with a 26.8 kWh battery pack that will last for 230 km WLTP cycle and 305 km WLTP City cycle.By default, the vehicle comes equipped with safety devices including speed limiter, ABS, ESP, electronic brake force distributor, six airbags, emergency call (SOS button), automatic headlights, and automatic emergency braking.The warranty offered is three years or 100,000 km for the vehicle, and eight years or 120,000 km for the electric battery.Dacia officials say that deliveries will continue in a sustained manner to all customers who have already filed a firm order.As of late October 2021, there were over 30,000 orders worldwide for the Dacia Spring.
His Eminence Antonie offered epidemiologist Vasile Turcan the highest distinction of the Diocese of Balti for laypersons: The Cross of Balti. It was granted for his contribution to the development of medical science and for his qualities as a man, a patriot and a Christian, the eparchy officials announced, basilica reports.

The awarding ceremony was organized on the occasion of a visit made by the Bishop of Balti to the local psychiatric hospital.

His Eminence thanked the medical staff for their sacrifice and effort to save human lives in the context of the actual pandemic. The hierarch assured the staff they are in the prayers of the Balti Dioceses clerics.

Vasile Turcan is a well-known epidemiologist, a doctor in medicine and author of over 150 scientific publications. He has registered 147 inventions in epidemiology, for which he was distinguished with golden medals of the 1st and 2nd degree. He was awarded the honorary title of The best ratio maker of the year in the Republic of Moldova (for years 2014  2017).

He has also received the High Appreciation Certificate from the World Health Organization. In 1996 he was awarded the distinction of Emeritus Person of the Republic of Moldova.
The over sixty victims of the deadly fire at Colectiv club in Bucharest were remembered on Saturday in Bucharest. The prayers on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy were offered on Soul Saturday, October 30, 2021, basilica.ro reports.

In the presence of relatives and other believers, the victims were remembered at St Nicholas-Brosteni Church during the Divine Liturgy. Additional memorial services were officiated at the monument built by the Archdiocese of Bucharest in the churchs courtyard and in front of the Colectiv club.

The assembly of priests was led by Fr. Ioan-Vartan Armasi, dean of Bucharests Sector 4 Deanery.

On this day, when we honour and remember our forefathers when we mark Soul Saturday  the autumn commemoration of ancestors in the Romanian Orthodox Church, we remember that terrible accident, and we also remember those who passed away to the Lord too early.

The Church is constantly praying for the souls of those who have fallen asleep, and this is a duty of conscience for us and, at the same time, a confession of our Orthodox faith in eternal life, Father Ioan Armasi said.
Romania has one of the "lowest" rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the European Union, stated, on Tuesday, in Glasgow, President Klaus Iohannis, who added that Romania is committing to increasing, in the future, the percentage of electrical energy coming from renewable sources.

"We cannot deny the fact that climate change represents an extraordinary challenge and that we must prove ambition in its approach! Since 1989 to 2019, Romania's greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 64 pct. We have one of the lowest rates of emissions per capita in the European Union. Between 1990 and 2019, Romania also reduced the intensity of its CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 77 pct, a rate more than double the global average. We are committed to do even more! It will be a challenge to still reduce emissions, especially as we approach net zero. I would like us to work together to develop, produce and use new green technologies," said the head of state, during the high-level segment of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

According to Iohannis, innovation is key, and, among other initiatives launched in Glasgow, Romania joins the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate proposed by the United States of America, Agerpres informs.

"At the same time, we must ensure that nobody is left behind in the ecological transition process, that jobs are being created and that social inequalities are reduced," said the President.

He pointed out that Romania fully supports the efforts of the European Union in the field of climate change and pledges to reduce the EU's emissions by 55 pct until 2030.

"We have already reached this rate of reduction at the national level and we commit to continue to reduce emissions," said Klaus Iohannis.

Romania commits to increase the production of electrical energy coming from renewable sources, the President added.

"There is no magical solution against climate change. A set of interconnected measures can help us achieve our objectives. For this, we will capitalize the force of nature itself. Romania has a high rate of renewable energy in the energy mix, 40 pct of the national energy produced in Romania comes from renewable sources. We commit to increase this percentage in the future. We will fight against climate change with solutions based on nature, using 57,000 hectares of new forests provided for in our National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) to trap carbon and combat desertification. Furthermore, we must channel the force of people in the fight against climate change. Education is key for an environmentally-friendly behaviour. We must promote education and research regarding climate change," said Iohannis.

He recalled that, starting 2023, Romania will host an innovative center of the World Meteorological Organization, which will help agricultural systems in Europe respond better to climate change.

"The impact of climate change has no national borders. I invite you to join forces to protect the environment, ensuring that we leave to future generations a greener and safer planet! We do not have time to lose! We must act now!," the head of state also said.
Romania is committed to enhance the system of forest protection and plant forests in new areas, President Klaus Iohannis says.

"Protecting forests and sustainable land use are crucial to fight #climatechange. We are committed to enhance Romania's system of forest protection and to plant forests in new areas, especially those prone to desertification," Iohannis says in a message posted on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

President Iohannis shows that Romania endorses the Glasgow Declaration on forests and land use.

"We must work together at international level to develop the system of incentives for afforestation and support those who choose forests over alternative land use," Iohannis points out.

A number of 105 world leaders signed the Glasgow Declaration. The document marks the leaders' commitment, among other, to work together to prevent forest loss and land degradation until 2030. Moreover, the leaders will consolidate their efforts to preserve forests and other ecosystems.

President Klaus Iohannis participated Monday and Tuesday in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) taking place in Glasgow, Agerpres informs.
National Liberal Party's (PNL) National Political Bureau gathered at Parliament on Tuesday to set the negotiation mandate aimed at making up the future government, agerpres reports.

PNL's Secretary General Dan Vilceanu said before the meeting that his personal option was a majority with the Save Romania Union (USR).

"Today, at this meeting, we'll do something else - set the negotiation mandate (...) with all formations. (...) There are but two options to build a majority in Romania's Parliament - USR and PSD [Social Democratic Party]," Vilceanu said.He also said that the prime minister would be designated by President Klaus Iohannis.PNL Chairman Florin Citu said before entering the meeting that "negotiation mandates for both" would be established, without replying whether that was with PSD or USR.
President Klaus Iohannis met in Glasgow on Tuesday with US President Special Representative for Climate John Karry on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26), with the talks also focusing on the inclusion of small modular reactors in the national system of energy production in Romania, agerpres reports.

Combating climate change is a priority for both Romania and the United States, with both countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Presidential Administration.

According to the quoted source, the discussion between the two officials focused on cooperation in the development, manufacture and use of low carbon technologies. The strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear and renewable energy, as well as in energy storage and electrification of transport, was also discussed.In this context, President Klaus Iohannis mentioned that Romania wants to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions, but also to benefit from the emerging green economy. Thus, he stressed that our country is interested in engaging in the development and manufacture of green goods and services and in generating new jobs in partnership with the United States.According to the quoted source, on this occasion, the President of Romania and the American official announced a concrete step in the mutual effort to reduce emissions from energy systems."Romania will include in the national system for the energy production the small modular reactors (SMR) until 2028, which will strengthen the partnership with the USA in the civil nuclear field. Given the advantages generated by the value chains that will be created around this technology, Romania wants to participate in the advanced production of small modular reactors in the region, as well as in the training of human resources and supporting the operation of this new technology in other countries, given that SMR technology ensures adequate sizing and flexibility," said the Presidential Administration.President Klaus Iohannis stressed that this type of collaboration on several levels - technology development, production, operations support services - needs to be extended to other areas, especially renewable energy and green mobility. He also pointed out that this close cooperation in the field of climate change will complement the successful cooperation between Romania and the United States in many other areas and will contribute to the consolidation of the Strategic Partnership between the two states.
The Life-Giving Spring Romanian Orthodox Parish in Long Valley, New Jersey, has announced the consecration date for its Maramures-style wooden church built to honour the Centennial of Romanias Great Union: May 1st. It is the first church in the US built in this style, basilica.ro reports.

The foundation was blessed by Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas on the second Sunday after Easter, in 2018  the Centennial Year of Romanias Great Union.

The Reunification of the Nation Wooden Church should have been finished on December 1, 2018, for the 100-year anniversary of the Great Union. Yet work has been delayed by unpredicted difficulties. Parish Priest Ionut Voicu, born in Romania, in Prahova county, declared for the Romanian media that work is progressing slowly, but predictably now.

On this plot of land which saw Romanian children playing and Romanian adults dancing folk dances dressed in national costumes from all over Romania, a community was blessed. Two years ago, there was only a foundation rock. Now, the hope of our souls has risen. A new gate to heaven is ready to pass the prayers of those who devotedly come to it, transmitted the parish priest in the communitys news bulletin.

He invited Romanians from the whole US East Coast to the consecration ceremony. The service will be officiated by His Eminence Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Americas.

The bell of the new church was donated by a Romanian family from New York. It carries the following inscription:

We, the sons of the Romanian nation from all over the world, have the same origins, the same nature and a sole and unified language and culture.

The Craciun family (Laura, Liliana, Radu, Florica and Francisc) said they made the donation with longing and love for Romania, to support the Romanian-American community from the New York/New Jersey area.

The parish priest has distributed on Facebook a touching story about the mobilization of the Romanian community around this project.

A parishioner, Carmen Vasile Busch, says God wanted to revive a community. He wanted the widows offering, a tenth from the children.

The parish priest, when he does not visit somebody for prayer and blessing, and when he is not officiating in the church, can be found on the building site, working together with the contractors who build the roof, which is being raised with huge efforts. Each member of the community contributes with all they can, adds the Romanian parishioner.

People coming from everywhere stop to take photos. It is a wonder of building. A few days ago I was there and one of the builders, an American, told me he suggests to all who stop for a photo to make a donation. The workers have also been inspired by this proiect, concluded Carmen Busch.

The church is 32 meters high, 13 meters wide and 30 meters long. The iconostasis, the crosses, the icons and the furniture are being made by traditional artisans from the Romanian village of Barsana, in the county of Maramures.

The Life-Giving Spring Parish was established in 2011 and, since 2016, it has functioned at Long Valley, 132 California Rd., New Jersey 07853. The new wooden church is being built at the same location.
Six more COVID-19 patients from Romania were transferred on Tuesday to medical facilities in the German cities of Lubeck, Kiel and Hamburg for medical care, Romania's Emergency Management Department (DSU) informs.

According to DSU, these are six patients in a critical state, intubated, stable, admitted to healthcare facilities in Bucharest who required specialist treatment in anesthesia and intensive care units.

The selection of patients was made by a team of German doctors who had been in Romania since last Friday and who analysed the state of the patients.

The transfer took place on Tuesday on a Romanian Air Force airplane.

"European solidarity materialised in actual support actions of all countries affected by various emergencies was and continues to be the preliminary step towards what we call in emergency management a return to normalcy. The joint efforts of the entire team, both the German and the Romanian teams, are considerable, with the main mission being to get as many lives saved as possible," according to a DSU Facebook post, Agerpres informs.
Strike Eagles fighter jets have returned to Bulgaria and Romania for the second phase of forward dispersals supporting operation Castle Forge, according to a press statement of the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, USAFE-AFAFRICA, released on Tuesday, agerpres reports.

US F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, have returned to Borcea Air Base, Romania, and Graf Ignatievo AB, Bulgaria, for the second phase of forward dispersals supporting operation Castle Forge, a U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa-led joint, multinational training event that demonstrates Agile Combat Employment.

Castle Forge is designed to exercise the agility and rapid movement of air power to forward locations, raising the U.S. commitment to NATO allies in the Black Sea region while demonstrating the alliance's combined ability to respond with a flexible, reassuring presence.
National leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) Dacian Ciolos said on Tuesday that over the past hours the intention of some National Liberal Party (PNL) leaders to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has become "increasingly visible."

At a news briefing at the Parliament House, Ciolos voiced hope that moving forward there will be a "clarification discussion" between PNL and USR leaders in order to establish if it is possible to rebuild their former coalition.

According to the USR leader, decisions should be taken "urgently" in the healthcare and energy areas, and rebuilding the coalition would be "the best solution," because the governing agenda has already been negotiated and a cabinet composition has been agreed upon.

"I thought yesterday, when PNL announced that the prime minister-designate is resigning, that there is a chance for the restoration of Romania's modernisation coalition. Unfortunately, over the past hours, we have seen increasingly more clearly that the intention of some PNL leaders - I understand that it is not yet a decision taken in PNL - but it is becoming more and more obvious that the intention of some PNL leaders is to throw themselves into the arms of PSD and recreate a brotherhood of the old parties," said Ciolos.

He added that PNL's decision to abstain from voting led to PSD gaining on Tuesday the position of acting speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. In his view, that is "a signal, a symbol of what is likely to follow."

In a PNL - PSD coalition version, the Save Romania Union "will remain the only pro-European, truly liberal and modernising political force," that wants an independent judiciary, according to Ciolos.

"We cannot see how the reforms that USR and PNL have agreed and that people were waiting for can be implemented with PSD at rule," he explained, Agerpres informs.
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Some of St. Louis largest, proudest, richest institutions are in or near some of the regions poorest neighborhoods.

That geographic anomaly has existed for decades, created by suburban sprawl and white flight. The institutions didnt cause it, but they also, for the most part, havent done much to address the economic pain all around them.

Until now. This month, 11 major employers formed the St. Louis Anchor Action Network, through which they pledge to hire more people of color from high-poverty areas of St. Louis and St. Louis County. They also pledge to spend more money with minority-owned businesses in the same areas.

Six of the 11 are educational institutions: Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis University, University of Missouri St. Louis, Washington University and Webster University. The others are the BJC, Mercy and SSM hospital systems, the St. Louis Zoo and brokerage firm Edward Jones.

The groups hiring and contracting efforts will focus on 22 ZIP codes covering much of St. Louis and north St. Louis County. All the ZIP codes have high levels of poverty and a high percentage of Black residents.
ROME  Pope Francis, in a visit to a military cemetery on the day Catholics remember their dead, on Tuesday urged arms manufacturers to stop, because war swallows up the children of the homeland.

On All Souls Day, Francis said a Mass at the French military cemetery in Rome, burial place of about 1,900 French and Moroccan soldiers killed in World War II.

Francis, who visits a cemetery each year on the day of remembrance, laid white roses and stopped to pray at some of the tombs and mentioned that one read Unknown, Died for France, 1944.

Not even a name. But in the heart of God there are all our names. This is the tragedy of war, he said in an improvised sermon.

But ... do we fight enough so that there are no wars, so that there are no economies of countries that are strengthened by the weapons industry? he said.

These tombs are a message of peace. Stop brothers and sisters, stop. Stop, arms manufacturers, stop! he said, calling those buried at the cemetery among the many victims of war, which swallows up the children of the homeland.
Textron declined to respond to questions, but in a statement said it was obligated to comply with Bidens order and was taking steps to do so.

Employees who are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief are being provided an opportunity to request an accommodation from this requirement, Textron said.

Spirit AeroSystems did not respond to a request for comment.

Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes last week warned the U.S. defense firm will lose several thousand employees because of the mandate.

A group representing FedEx Corp., United Parcel Service Inc. and other cargo carriers said it would be virtually impossible to have all their workforces vaccinated by the deadline.

Mercedes-Benz USA, the U.S. unit of German carmaker Daimler AG, which is not a U.S. government contractor, told employees in an October email that proof of vaccination against COVID-19 would become a condition of employment beginning Jan. 4.

The carmaker said it implemented the move in anticipation of a separate U.S. government vaccine mandate that would apply to businesses with at least 100 employees, affecting some 80 million workers nationwide.
After the board called for an outside investigation, Page said he supported the idea. But he then told the board the county would delay the request to conduct its own internal survey. That review, by a consulting firm owned by former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce and her former spokeswoman, Susan Ryan, was released in January and was largely critical of Banasco without detailing allegations. The county paid $9,750 for the review.

The same day the consultants review was released, the jail advisory board renewed its call for an outside investigation, emphasizing it needed to be wide in scope. The County Council unanimously voted to support the call, and Pages administration on March 18 issued a formal request for bidders that would examine eight areas of focus including inmate deaths, internal affairs complaints and the jails relationship with the county counselors office.
EAST ST. LOUIS  A not-for-profit group has agreed to pay $100,000 and implement controls to prevent embezzlement to settle a federal investigation that has resulted in the prosecution of three people.

The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House provides services to children and families, including housing assistance and a day care program, with money from the AmeriCorps program. But federal officials say that from 2015 through 2019 the nonprofit failed to implement internal controls sufficient to prevent embezzlement of federal grant funds, misrepresented AmeriCorps expenses and falsely certified to AmeriCorps that some members had performed the service hours necessary to qualify for an education award, the U.S. attorneys office said.

An investigation by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force and the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General resulted in three convictions.

Christopher Coleman, the Neighborhood House executive director from July 2016 to February 2018, admitted embezzling more than $250,000 by generating false invoices and receiving cash kickbacks. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to repay $270,000.
ST. LOUIS  A woman from Kirkwood pleaded guilty here Tuesday to federal bank fraud and identity theft charges and admitted helping an overseas scammer defraud others.

Glenda Seim, 81, was herself duped in 2014, when she began an online relationship with someone claiming to be an American citizen working in Nigeria, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry said in court. Seim sent some of her Social Security retirement to help her paramour get out of the country.

But in the years that followed, she ignored repeated warnings by bank officials and law enforcement that she was involved in scams.

Seim initially pawned electronic equipment that had been mailed to her, and then sent the money to Nigeria. In June 2014, she tried to wire $8,400 to Nigeria and was warned by MoneyGram employees that she was involved in a fraud scheme.

Six months later, she deposited a $45,000 counterfeit check into a bank account. The account was closed and bank officials issued her another warning, Berry said.

She then filled out paperwork to create a fake company and then opened business bank accounts that scammers used to electronically deposit money from romance scams, Berry said.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri Supreme Court judges on Tuesday heard arguments over whether a ban on publicly funded advocacy is constitutional.

Missouri law prohibits any public funds from being spent to advocate for or against ballot measures, such as spending such money to print flyers in favor of a bonding proposal.

Several Missouri cities, including Olivette, Maryland Heights and Rock Hill, sued to try to overturn the law two years ago, arguing that it is too vague and limits freedom of speech.

Judge Mary Russell asked Paul Martin, a lawyer for the cities, whether a mayor could still advocate for a ballot issue with an email blast. Martin said its not clear whether that would be allowed under the law or if public officials are banned from doing that on work-issued computers.

Martin also criticized the law for targeting public officials who speak out on issues instead of penalizing the expenditure of public funding.

Lawmakers amended the law this year to specify that violations can be prosecuted as election offenses punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
COLLINSVILLE  Tuesday's funeral service and burial for Pontoon Beach police Officer Tyler Timmins will be private, but residents are being encouraged to pay their respects by lining the procession route.

The funeral is set for 11 a.m. at Gateway Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive in Collinsville. This event is open only to those invited by Timmins' family.

A private graveside service will follow at Woodland Hill Cemetery in East Alton.

The Illinois State Police said the public is encouraged to line up along the route between the convention center and the cemetery to pay their respects. Intersections along the route will be blocked to allow for safe travel of the funeral procession.

The procession will begin by heading west on Gateway Drive, turning north on Eastport Plaza Drive, and then west on Horseshoe Lake Road. It will proceed north on Illinois Route 111, though Pontoon Beach, and then east on Interstate 270, before heading north on Interstate 255.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri marijuana regulators received two federal grand jury subpoenas last fall, almost a year after authorities issued an initial demand for records from the state.

The first demand for records, issued in November 2019, directs the Department of Health and Senior Services to provide any and all records pertaining to medical marijuana applications for four individuals. Their names are redacted from the document.

The second subpoena, dated Sept. 9, 2020, requires marijuana regulators to provide records, but what the records pertain to is redacted from the document.

Pursuant to an official criminal investigation being conducted by the federal grand jury for the Western District of Missouri, your office has received a subpoena requiring the production of certain records, said Michael S. Oliver, assistant U.S. Attorney, in a Sept. 9, 2020, letter to the DHSS.

A third subpoena, dated Sept. 11, 2020, demands more records from the Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation, according to documents obtained through an open records request. Information on those records is also redacted.

All three subpoenas were issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
PHOENIX (AP)  The Republican who has served as president of the Arizona Senate for the past three years and oversaw an unprecedented review of 2020 election results in the state's most populous county announced Monday she will not seek reelection in 2022.

Sen. Karen Fann said in a statement that after nearly 30 years serving in local government and at the Legislature, she will retire. The move comes as the Republican-controlled Legislature prepares for a 2022 session where the results of the election audit" will be a key issue. The review found President Joe Biden did win Arizona, but it raised unsubstantiated questions about aspects of the election.

I did my job. I stepped up, served my country, served my people, Fann told The Associated Press. It's time for somebody else to step up now.

Fann said the election review and the intense national scrutiny it brought did not factor into her decision to retire.

Fann spent decades building a successful company that focused on installing guardrails on state and local highways, and sold it earlier this year. She told the AP last month that she was still considering whether to seek reelection and another term as Senate President.
KINGSLAND, Ga. (AP)  A federal agency has yet again pushed back a final decision on whether to allow the construction of a launchpad for commercial rockets in coastal Georgia.

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to release its decision on Spaceport Camden by Dec. 15 rather than this Wednesday, agency spokesman Steve Kulm said. An agency statement cited a delay caused by ongoing consultation efforts. The final determination was originally expected at the end of July but now has been delayed at least three times.

Camden County, in the southeast corner of Georgia, wants to build the nation's 13th licensed commercial spaceport and has spent nearly 10 years and $10 million pursuing that goal. The FAA in June issued an environmental impact study that concluded building the spaceport would be its preferred alternative.
In the hours after he said his wife disappeared, Elledge took two drives with the couples then-1-year-old daughter to rural areas and to a popular biking and hiking trail with access to the Lamine River, according to the statement.

Elledge told investigators that the couple's relationship had been strained for several months and she had rebuffed his efforts to get closer. He said he believed she was exchanging flirtatious messages with another man but wasn't aware of that until after she disappeared.

Ji came to the U.S. from China and earned a masters degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri in December 2014. She previously attended the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai.

She stayed in Columbia and married Elledge, who was a student at the University of Missouri, in 2017.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Local administrations in some areas could be disbanded and a military leadership could be installed. Unauthorized public gatherings and any expression of opposition to the state of emergency are banned.

Such actions would be implemented by law. Ethiopian lawmakers are expected to convene within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the Addis Ababa security bureau told residents that anyone with a firearm should register it now, and it warned that searches of homes and businesses would be carried out to ensure the city's peace.

Ethiopia's prime minister this week again called upon all citizens to combat the approaching Tigray forces, adding that we should closely follow those who work for the enemy and live amongst us. A new roundup of ethnic Tigrayans was seen in the capital Monday.

The Tigray forces say they are pressuring Ethiopias government to lift a deadly months-long blockade on their region of around 6 million people, where basic services have been cut off and humanitarian food and medical aid are denied.
As a 17-year-old, Rittenhouse was not legally permitted to possess a dangerous weapon. In video interviews ahead of the shooting, Rittenhouse brandished an assault-style rifle and declared his intention, albeit unsolicited, to provide armed protection for Kenosha businesses during rioting against the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Blake was shot seven times after failing to heed orders to drop a knife. Rittenhouse, after shooting three people, approached police while repeatedly reaching toward his rifle. Instead of halting and disarming him, police waved Rittenhouse past.

In Georgia, three white vigilantes chased down Arbery as he was jogging through their neighborhood. They claim, without evidence, that they suspected him of recent burglaries in the area. After cornering him on a street, one of the vigilantes shot Arbery dead during a struggle caught on video. One of the vigilantes was an ex-police officer. Police did not detain any of the three, and charges werent filed in the case until months later, when release of the video prompted a public outcry.
Even as the Biden administration tries to close the book on U.S. misadventures in Afghanistan, it still has yet to open the books on embarrassing information that could expose how badly the 20-year stabilization effort was mismanaged. Classified information was made available to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction as he prepared his most recent report on waste, fraud and abuse in the war and rebuilding effort. But the American public and some members of Congress still arent allowed to see it. President Joe Biden must honor pledges for full transparency and declassify this information immediately.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

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The new IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) government has discovered how dependent Afghanistan had become on foreign aid, most of it American and is trying to convince other foreign donors to get them money to deal with hunger and other problems that were largely created by the Taliban attacks on the former elected IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) government. The Taliban believes democracy is un-Islamic and will not tolerate it. The Taliban is willing to modify some of their newly reinstated Islamic policies like allowing some women to get more than a grade-school education, but only in separate women-only schools that they will need foreign aid to build and maintain. The Taliban destroyed many schools before and after taking power. The Taliban calculates that it needs $150 million a month just to prevent collapse of the currency and maintain some consumer price stability. The Taliban said they would allow donors to audit this sum and how it was spent.

IEA admitted that about 75 percent of the IRA governments budget was paid for by foreign donors and that the government was only able to collect about $130 million a month in taxes and fees. Without foreign aid the IEA cannot operate like the government it replaced.

The IEA wont budge on the Taliban ban on homosexuality, although they might be able to unofficially reduce enforcement and the use of the death penalty. Another area where the Taliban wont cooperate is admitting their connection to the Afghan heroin cartels and the Pakistani military. There is much angst in the West, especially Europe, over the collapse of the Afghan economy and educational system since the IEA took over. The heroin cartel and Pakistan connection are already known problems with the neighbors and Western nations.

There is also a problem with morale among the Taliban fighters, many of them unemployed and uneducated young men hired to fight with the assurance that once the Taliban took over, they would be richly rewarded and everyone would prosper, except for the enemies of Islam. Not for the first time, it didnt work out that way and the troops are getting restless. This is also un-Islamic according to the Taliban but these young fellows are all armed and angry.

Purists Versus Nationalists

As is the case in Iran, where a Shia religious dictatorship has ruled for nearly four decades, the IEA has radical and nationalist factions. The radicals want constant religious warfare against internal and external threats. This faction is weakening Iran and the religious government but they have weapons and are willing to die to get their way. The nationalists want a religious dictatorship but one that pays attention to the economy and the welfare of the Afghan people. Currently the nationalists are dominant because the IEA government has no money while the Iranian religious government because Iran has oil and a well-developed economy. Afghanistan has none of this and it makes a big difference. Another major difference is the role of Pakistan, a powerful neighbor that nurtured and sheltered the Taliban after it lost power in 2001. Pakistan is also poor and, like the Taliban, dependent on the Afghan heroin cartels. Heroin is illegal and considered a public health problem by all the neighbors. Worse, heroin never accounted for more than ten percent of the Afghan economy, versus three or four times that for oil in Iran. The heroin cartels and Pakistan favor the nationalist faction but there are other divisions in the Taliban over the influence of Pakistan and the drug cartels. Pakistan is the most divisive issue among Taliban factions.

As a result, the Taliban has been willing to tolerate just about any successful economic enterprise inside Afghanistan, including major new operations like ToloNews, which dominates print and electronic media in Afghanistan. ToloNews is owned by Afghan expatriates who realize their continued operations in Afghanistan may not last and ToloNews itself could be confiscated by the Taliban and turned into a propaganda outlet. That would destroy ToloNews as a profitable enterprise and reliable source of news. The same can be said for many other well-funded and productive operations in Afghanistan. It may be a while before the IEA decides whether it wants to be solvent or Islamically pure and impoverised.

Forbidden Facts

Pakistan continues to deny that it had anything to do with the Taliban victory in Afghanistan and the formation of the IEA. The Pakistani military created the Taliban in the 1990s and have never stopped supporting their creation even though it was an open secret that Pakistan support continued. Foreign reporters had a constant supply of pictures and videos of the Taliban Shura (high-command) members and their families operating openly in Quetta, a southwestern Pakistan provincial capital not far from the Afghan border. Many Afghans live there and its not difficult to figure out which of these people are Afghan refugees rather than the more prosperous sanctuary Afghans. Unofficially, Pakistan let it be known since 2002 that if Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, they would do as they were told by their Pakistani patrons. That is not happening and Pakistani military commanders are unsure how to handle this, and are openly feuding with each other and the Pakistani government about how to fix the very real mess they have unofficially created.

Other nations have been disappointed as well. Afghanistan was initially seen as a new opportunity for China, but a risky one. Pakistan told China that the IEA government in Afghanistan was controlled by Afghans who were veteran Pakistani agents. This Pakistani control was not enough and Afghanistan is still a violent, unpredictable place. Now the Chinese are demanding explanations from Pakistan, which has become dependent on China for weapons, economic investment, and protection from UN economic sanctions. This support will be reduced or disappear if Pakistan cannot deliver an Afghanistan stable enough for Chinese firms to operate there. China has always demanded similar performance from Pakistan when it came to terrorist violence against Chinese in Pakistan. That violence still occurs and appears to be increasing because there are more attacks in Pakistan by Islamic terrorists or Afghan resistance groups based in Afghanistan.

Russia is also uneasy about the IEA succeeding. Russia still maintains an embassy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, but reduced the number of Russians in the embassy to the bare minimum. Russia is also reluctant to support the IEA in its effort to gain control of the Afghanistan seat in the UN. Pakistan, China, and Russia are still maintaining their embassies there. All the Afghan ambassadors, including the one in the UN, remain loyal to the deposed IRA government. Pakistan is counting on China and Russia to use their influence to change minds, but so far there is not much good news from Russia or China about the new Taliban IEA.

China sees economic potential in Afghanistan but has had a hard time doing business in Pakistan, where most of the hostile Islamic terrorists and rebel groups are kept under control. Afghanistan has no history of doing that but China recognizes the enormous economic benefits if they can do what not one else has done before; successfully exploit the trillion dollars worth of mineral deposits known to exist in Afghanistan. It is becoming obvious that such an economic miracle wont be happening with the current IEA government and Pakistan appears unable to make a difference. China is willing to wait and keep its distance while Pakistan tries to curb IEA activities that anger the Chinese. If that effort fails China will declare the IEA and Taliban hostile and concentrate on keeping Islamic terrorists based in Afghanistan out of China.

Meanwhile a local faction of the original Taliban is dedicated to turning Pakistan into the IEP (Islamic Emirate of Pakistan), something no government in the region wants, except for the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) a Pakistani Taliban group that is about a third the size of the Afghan Taliban and opposed to the drug cartels that finance the Afghan Taliban. TTP is perpetually poor and gets by anyway it can. TTP also contains a lot of al Qaeda groups that joined because that appears to be the best way to overthrow the Pakistan government.

The Afghan Taliban, despite their dependence on Pakistani support, are, like the TTP, composed of Pushtun tribesmen who have a long history of avoiding war with each other. Moreover, many Afghan Taliban believe Pakistan should have a religious dictatorship like Afghanistan now does. Pakistanis and Afghans understand how and why this absurd situation exists but many foreign nations do not. One issue that divides IEA and TTP factions is support for and dependence on the wealthy Afghan heroin cartels. The IEA tolerates the cartels because Pakistan forced the heroin trade out of Pakistan and into Afghanistan during the 1980s Russian occupation. Pakistan provided bases for the exiled Afghans who regularly returned to Afghanistan to attack Russian forces. The refugee camps were in areas of the northwest that were largely Pushtun and often exiles were now living near kin. Many Pushtun tribes were divided by the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which was established by 19th century British colonial officials in British India. Back then the Kingdom of Afghanistan tolerated this border because it did not hinder peaceful movement across the border and Afghan monarchy was pledged to act against ant Pushtun raiders who did venture into British India. That border remained after the British left a newly independent India and Pakistan in 1948. The old border agreements eventually fell apart and now Pakistan has built a fence along the Afghan border. The Pushtun tribes divided by that border are angry and have been attacking the fence construction crews and their armed security teams during the years it took to complete the fence.

The establishment of the IEA has made more visible the complicity of Pakistan in the drug trade and Taliban violence in Afghanistan before the IEA appeared. Currently many key Taliban leaders are recognized by the UN as sponsors of international terrorism and many of these men are now senior officials in the IEA. Pakistan is also widely recognized as a terrorism supporter. Those operating the Pakistani, Russian and Chinese embassies in Afghanistan appear to appreciate this problem and are seeking ways to make it less visible to the rest of the world. China, Russia and Pakistan are haunted by what happened in the 1980s and 90s. Russia got burned in the 1980s when they tried to support a communist government in Afghanistan that triggered a massive backlash from most Afghans. Now they fear Pakistan will suffer the same fate.

The IEA, like its late 1990s predecessor, desperately needs cash and access to the outside world. Afghanistan is landlocked and traditionally used two main border crossing (the Khyber Pass and a similar major crossing near Quetta.) The IEA has access to Pakistan and their two Indian Ocean ports because everyone gets paid to collaborate with the heroin cartels. Afghanistan grows poppy plants that produce opium, the raw material for heroin. This plant has long been present throughout Eurasia. To turn the opium into heroin, specific chemicals and hardware are required that must be imported. Once the heroin is produced it must be smuggled (because it is illegal in nearly all nations) to the outside world for sale. The resulting income gets back to the cartels mainly via corrupt Pakistani banks with the Pakistani military getting a cut for allowing the cartels to operate in Pakistan.

One thing everyone in the region can agree on is the corrosive effect of heroin and its unrefined predecessor opium has on society. Over ten million families in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran have one or more members addicted to these drugs and that is bad news that travels far and fast.

The Taliban/IEA have depended on heroin money for over two decades and refuse to even acknowledge the dependence. The heroin production can be disrupted and forced to find another home base. That has happened twice since the 1970s when China forced the Golden Triangle on its southern border to leave the area for a more hospitable base somewhere else, where opium and heroin was a minor industry. Southwest Pakistan was an acceptable destination initially but that soon became unpopular with the government and military. With the Russian invasion of Afghanistan there was an opportunity to push the drug trade across the border into Afghanistan, where heroin was made and sold to Russian soldiers and exported to neighboring countries, including Russia, when it was the Soviet Union, and Iran. Since then, much has changed, except for the heroin problem, which survives by funding the Taliban/IEA. The Pakistani military commanders and government officials also profited from this drug money. Pakistani denials have little credibility left.

The drug money is a major reason why neither IEA or Pakistan can do anything about their two countries being used as sanctuaries for Islamic terrorists and the associated criminal gangs.

The Resistance

There are two resistance groups to the IEA inside Afghanistan. The larger one is the NRF (National Resistance Front), the current version of the 1990s Northern Alliance that was still fighting the Taliban when the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred. Tjis brought massive American military and economic aid which enabled the non-Pushtun majority in Afghanistan to thrive for two decades while Pakistan supported the exiled Taliban and the Afghan heroin cartels while persecuting Pakistani Pushtun who, in response created their own Taliban (known as the TTP) to establish an Islamic government (like IEA) in Pakistan.

These anti-Pakistan Pushtuns now represent the second largest resistance group in Afghanistan and are known as ISK ( Islamic State Khorasan), which is also the local ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) affiliate and has been very active in Afghanistan since the Taliban gained control in mid-August and formed the IEA government. The IEA told Pakistan it would go after ISK while telling the United States they would not cooperate with the Americans or Russians in suppressing ISK activity in Afghanistan. Now ISK is once more operating in Pakistan. ISK is growing rapidly because many Taliban factions oppose the Pakistani domination of the IEA and continued discrimination against Pushtuns in general. Opposition to Pakistan is one thing that most Pushtuns can agree on. While ISIL doctrine calls for attacks to concentrate on heretics (mainly Shia Moslems) and infidels (non-Moslems), the growing number of Afghan and Pakistani Pushtuns joining ISK led to more attacks in general with a larger proportion against the IEA and Pakistani military and its ISI intelligence branch. This Pushtun war against Pakistan has been around for over a decade.

This Pushtun unity owes a lot to the Pakistani reaction to the founding of the non-violent PTM (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement or Pashtun Protection Movement) in 2014. By 2018 the Pakistani military declared the peaceful PTM a threat and used increasingly violent methods to make PTM disappear. What the military feared most was that PTM is more than just a Pushtun nationalist movement in Pakistan and is an increasingly popular idea in Afghanistan as well. Most Pushtuns live in southern Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. Pushtuns are a small minority in Pakistan while in Afghanistan half as many Pushtuns are the largest minority in the country and a force to be reckoned with. Pushtuns in Pakistan have long been a despised and mistreated minority. The PTM is mostly about addressing the persecution and discrimination Pushtuns face in Pakistan. To the Pakistani military that is a form of treason, at least when it comes from Pushtuns. One reason for that is most Afghan Pushtun agree that Pakistan is no friend of Pushtuns on either side of the border and is the main reason why the heroin business operates in Pushtun-majority Helmand (southern Afghanistan) province rather than across the border in Pakistan Baluchistan, where the heroin production used to be.

Since August the number of ISK attacks has increased about ten-fold and most of the additional attacks are against IEA and Pakistani targets. Not all anti-Pakistan Pushtuns have joined ISK and are instead fighting IEA as Taliban factions that opposed the growing control of Pakistan over the Afghan Taliban and now the IEA. Several senior members of the IEA government are known Pakistani agents. Pakistan insisted on these men, particularly Sirajuddin Haqqani, who had been the acting head of the Haqqani Network since 2009 and became the head of the Afghan Taliban in 2016. Sirajuddin Haqqani could not be the official head of the Taliban, so a respected Taliban cleric became the official head of the Taliban with Sirajuddin Haqqani as his deputy and the actual head of the Taliban. This Pakistani tinkering with the Taliban split the Taliban and created a civil war that was going on for five years before the Taliban gained control of the Afghan government again.

IEA created more recruits for ISK and anti-Pakistan Taliban factions by failing to deliver on its promises of rich rewards for loyal Taliban once the IEA was established. Sirajuddin Haqqani, former deputy head of the Afghan Taliban and now the IEA Interior Minister promised the families of suicide bombers who had died in the service of the Taliban, would be rewarded with cash and property. Most of those suicide bombers were recruited and trained by the Haqqani Network, acting as a terrorism contractor for the Pakistani ISI. Pakistan denies this but Afghans, most Pushtuns and most Western nations recognize Sirajuddin Haqqani as a major Islamic terrorist who works for Pakistan. The U.S. offers a $10 million reward for anyone who can kill or capture Sirajuddin Haqqani. For that reason, official IEA photos of the senior leadership blur Interior Minister Haqqanis facial features.

Haqqani promises of rewards to suicide bomber families as well as lesser rewards for all Taliban gunmen have not happened and because of that the resistance got more recruits. ISK, unlike most ISIL affiliates, avoids using suicide bombers and instead favors remotely detonated roadside bombs or explosives hidden in buildings. Assassination is another popular method. Suicide bombers are still available to attacks on Shia or other non-Sunni Moslem groups. As a result of growing Afghan and Pakistani Pushtun anger against Pakistan the resistance is larger than it was in the 1990s, Local observers (inside and outside Afghanistan) believe the IEA will probably collapse within a few years unless they can obtain massive foreign aid from someone. No one who understands how the Taliban operates is willing to help with IEA finances.

October 30, 2021: The IEA is trying to impose a ten percent income tax on farmers as well as a 2.5 percent tax on the value of their property. The IEA describes this as the application of Islamic charity principles in which all Moslem must pay a portion of their wealth to charity. In this case it isnt working because many of the farmer had a bad crop because of drought and Taliban disruption of transport that blocked deliveries of needed fuel and fertilizer as well as the ability to export crops. Islamic law does not recognize debts the farmers may have and neither do the IEA tax collectors. How those who cannot or will not pay will be treated was not made clear, perhaps because most of the farmers are armed and many belong to powerful local tribes. In addition to more crime in Kabul, there is more armed opposition to the IEA, with a few gun battles reported and there are probably more cases of armed resistance that have not become widely known.

October 29, 2021: The U.S. is still sending emergency aid to Afghans who have fled Afghanistan. Recently $144 million was sent and so far in 2021 this form of aid has totaled nearly half a billion dollars.

October 28, 2021: In Iran diplomats and economists from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, China, and Pakistan met with their Iranian host to discuss the risks of total collapse in Afghanistan and a surge of refugees fleeing the new IEA government. Iran is the neighbor with the most to fear from this because Iran has a 921 kilometer border with Afghanistan and feels an obligation to help protect the 20 percent of Afghans who are Shia and long the victim of Taliban violence as well as attacks by Sunni Islamic terror groups like ISIL. Even if the IEA stabilizes the situation there will still be the problem of Islamic terrorist groups able to operate more freely in Afghanistan and able to launch attacks on the neighbors, as some of these terrorists are already doing inside Afghanistan. While many of the neighboring countries revel in the departure of the Americans, they do miss what the Americans were doing to maintain stability in Afghanistan. The Iran conference released a statement supporting the Afghan people and calling on the IEA to form a more inclusive government that would make it easier for foreign aid donors to return to Afghanistan. Most of the neighbors are awry or hostile towards the IEA and bracing for the worst. The meeting in Iran did not include the IEA, which is perhaps just as well because some of those in attendance agreed that the IEA government could collapse in a few years and the neighbors had to prepare on how to deal with that disaster, or opportunity depending on how the neighbors react.

October 27, 2021: In the east (Nangarhar Province), across the border in northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province) four soldiers were killed and four wounded by IEA resistance fighters who had crossed the border to attack Pakistani targets. A lot of the locals in Pushtun-majority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province support the IEA resistance and anyone who attacks the Pakistani military.

October 26, 2021: The largest IEA resistance group, the NRF registered as a foreign agent in the United States. That enables the NRF to lobby American legislators and government agencies. The NRF, the largest organized resistance force, is based in the north and is seeing the impact of these destructive Taliban policies and expects this to benefit the NRF while weakening the Taliban. This is like what happened in the late 1990s as the original Taliban, imposed similar policies which angered many Afghans and generated popular support for the Northern Alliance that drove the Taliban from the country after September 11, 2001 and the American intervention. Defeating the Taliban may take a little longer this time because the Taliban are financially stronger and better organized than last time and the Americans are not likely to intervene again unless future major terror attacks in the West are traced back to Islamic terrorists based in Afghanistan. The NRF claims to have active armed groups inside Afghanistan and its main base is in Tajikistan.

October 21, 2021: In the east (Nangarhar Province), across the border in northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province) police raided a hideout near the Afghan border and were fired on by three Afghan members of ISK. Normally ISK operates from bases in Afghanistan but as ISK and TTP (Pakistani Taliban) strength grows in Afghanistan there are more people willing to move to northwest Pakistan and establish bases there.

October 19, 2021: The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has caused illegal immigration from Afghanistan to grow dramatically with most Afghans using people smugglers, who keep track of where security is weakest along the 921-kilometer border Iranian border. Iran is not tolerating more Afghans settling down in Iran and few Afghans want to do so anyway. Iran expected to deal with these refugees by not blocking their access to the 534 kilometers border with Turkey. That did not work because the Turks do not want Afghan illegal refugees either and have ordered border guards and police near the border to use force to get Afghan refugees back into Iran. Inside Afghanistan the Taliban have returned to their anti-Shia violence. The Taliban had assured Iran that this would not happen but like so many other Taliban promises this one was also quickly abandoned.

October 15, 2021: In the south (Kandahar) ISK bombed a Shia Mosque, killing 47 people.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2021 / LINK GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INC. (CSE:LNK)(FRA:LGT)(OTC PINK:LGLOF) ("LINK" or the "Company"), an innovative power and infrastructure solutions provider for data hosting operations and the digital economy, is pleased to announce further to its news releases dated July 30, 2021 , and October 1, 2021 , available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, it has completed the acquisition of Clean Carbon Equity ("CCE").

The acquisition allows LINK to take steps towards providing carbon offsets in the digital economy sector, immediately acquiring cash flow and creating new long-term revenue opportunities for the Company. With the acquisition complete, LINK has also operationalized its plans to become carbon neutral by 2026, well ahead of the 2030 timeline established by the Crypto Carbon Accord .

CCE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LINK GLOBAL FUTURE

Stephen Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer of Link. says, "This business model creates another revenue source apart from the digital currency mining by creating verifiable offsets that we can market and monetize." We are fortunate to bring on great partners and welcome this opportunity to grow together.

"We are excited to be joining the Link Global family. We will now have the ability to support existing and new clients in what is going to be a boom time in the carbon credit sector," added Chad Clovis, CEO of Clean Carbon Equity. "The timing really couldn't be any better to grow and expand the offset program to all industries and with plans to develop new products such as carbon-neutral NFTs, and indigenous certified carbon credit registries.

The closing of the acquisition occurred under the terms announced in the Company's news release dated October 1, 2021. None of the securities issued on closing of the acquisition were registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

CCE will continue to exist as a separate, wholly-owned subsidiary of LINK, allowing CCE to encourage and assist companies in achieving their commitments to carbon neutrality. CCE operates a user-friendly system that allows carbon credits/offsets to be calculated and traded, ensuring verification and retirement as deemed necessary. Our first order of business will be to make Link Global carbon neutral. The ongoing clients of CCE immediately generate some cash flow as well.

Carbon Offset Information

Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) and may represent six primary categories of greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.

The Market

The Voluntary Carbon Offsets market size is projected to reach USD 514.7 million by 2027, from USD 247.9 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 11.0% during 2021-2027. This growth allows for Voluntary Carbon Offset marketing companies such as Clean Carbon Equity to experience tremendous growth and profitability while supporting the global clean energy transition.

About Clean Carbon Equities

Clean Carbon Equity Inc (CCE) is one of Canada's leading traders of Verified Emission Reduction Credits in the voluntary carbon offset market. CCE sources Verified Emission Reduction credits from our global supplier base, selling them to customers to offset the CO2 emissions created by the customer's operations and managing the retirement of the offsets appropriately. CCE provides customers with value by providing customized transaction options, tailored insights, and scalable access into the Verified Emissions Reduction markets. Through these trading activities, CCE supports clean energy projects worldwide, assists customers with reducing their Greenhouse Gas footprint and provides a resource to assist in reducing emissions to support Canada's plan of Net Zero emissions by 2050.

About Link Global Technologies Inc.

Link is engaged in providing infrastructure and operating expertise for digital mining and data hosting operations. Link's objectives include locating and securing, for lease and option to purchase, properties with access to low-cost, reliable power, and deploying this low-cost power to conduct digital mining and supply clean energy and infrastructure for other data-hosting services.

To learn more about Link's activities, visit us at https://linkglobal.io/

On behalf of Link Global Technologies Inc.

Stephen Jenkins

Chief Executive Officer & Director

For more information, visit http://linkglobal.io/ or contact:

Steve Jenkins

stephen@linkglobal.io

+1-877-770-6545

For investor information, please contact:

Omar Diaz

Investor Relations Manager

omar@linkglobal.io

604-551-2950

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "forecast", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "would", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include, but are not limited, to: statements with respect to the acquisition of CCE and the potential benefits thereof; the business of LINK following the closing of the acquisition; and other business plans of the Company and CCE following the closing of the acquisition. All such forward-looking statements are based on factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including assumptions based on historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Since forward-looking statements relate to future events and conditions, by their very nature they require making assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. In the case of the Company, these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors include, without limitation:;

those set out in the Company's most recent MD&A, fluctuations in the price of electricity, fluctuations in the price of digital currencies/Bitcoin, the future potential halving of Bitcoin, increases in the network difficulty rate and price of digital currencies/Bitcoin, negative changes in the level of digital currency/Bitcoin rewards per block, the securing of economic rates for the purchase of power, the opportunities for acquiring digital currency mining hardware, unanticipated changes in laws, regulations or other industry standards affecting the business of the Company, reliance on key management personnel, the Company's ability to implement its business plan, litigation risk, stock price volatility, the effects of general economic and other factors beyond the control of the Company, and other matters that may occur in the future. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date hereof. Other than as specifically required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

This news release contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively, "FOFI") about LINK's expected increase in assets, cash flow and revenue opportunities on a post-closing of the acquisition of CCE basis, all of which are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set out in the above paragraphs. The actual financial results of LINK on a post-closing basis may vary from the amounts set out herein and such variation may be material. LINK and its management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments. However, because this information is subjective and subject to numerous risks, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Except as required by applicable securities laws, LINK undertakes no obligation to update such FOFI. FOFI contained in this news release was made as of the date hereof and was provided for the purpose of providing further information about LINK's anticipated future business operations on a post-closing basis. Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained in this news release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein.

SOURCE: Link Global Technologies Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Horvath to Address Data Analytics and Cybersecurity at Annual Event that Looks Ahead at the Emerging Business Climate and Highlights Trends, Economic Issues, and Expert Knowledge

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aunalytics, a leading data platform company delivering Insights-as-a-Service for enterprise businesses, is pleased to announce that Katie Horvath, chief marketing officer for Aunalytics, has been invited to participate as a panelist at Economic Summit 2021 on November 2, 2021 in Traverse City, hosted by Traverse Connect. The annual summit will highlight trends, speak to issues affecting the economy, and share knowledge from economic experts to support organizations efforts to thrive in todays challenging business climate.

Horvath will participate in the summits Economic Outlook Luncheon panel, which will address the economic outlook for the Traverse City region. She will specifically talk about the current state of cybersecurity and how it is impacting business insurance. For the past six years, the finance sector has ranked #1 as the most cyberattacked industry, with cyber criminals continuing to double down efforts to breach financial data, compromise accounts, and profit from this industry with increasingly sophisticated attacks and campaigns. Horvath will also discuss how imperative data analytics has become for regional financial institutions and healthcare providers with the current business climate.

The panel will also include Jeff Korzenik, managing director and chief investment strategist for Fifth Third Investment Management Group; Jamie Gallagher, president and chief executive officer for Faber-Castell USA; and Stacie Kwaiser, chief operating officer for Rehmann.

Im honored to participate in this years Economic Summit in light of the dynamic work and economic challenges and opportunities that exist at every level in our environment today, said Horvath. It has never been more important to gather information, exchange ideas, and explore possibilities. I look forward to being a part of the Economic Outlook panel and discussing very important issues, such as the importance of cybersecurity and banking, that impact our economic health and well-being.

The Economic Summit will be held at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, and feature a Business Showcase highlighting 20 businesses in the Grand Traverse region. Aunalytics is pleased to be a sponsor of this years Economic Summit.

About Katie HorvathKatie Horvath is Chief Marketing Officer for Aunalytics, Inc. She has been recognized by the United States Congress with a leadership award for innovative business models in healthcare for her work in rural oncology care with Munson Medical Center. Horvath is one of the newest members appointed by the Governor to the Michigan Womens Commission. She serves on the Advisory Board for Industrial & Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan School of Engineering, and the Michigan Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board through the Center for Automotive Research. Horvath is a mentor and advisor for 20Fathoms tech incubator in Traverse City and a regular speaker at the National Cancer Prevention Caucus and Workshop on Capitol Hill and a member of the Forbes Communication Council.

Tweet this: .@Aunalytics CMO Katie Horvath to Participate as a Panelist at Traverse Connects Economic Summit 2021 #Dataplatform #DataAnalytics #Dataintegration #Dataaccuracy #AdvancedAnalytics #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Masterdatamanagement #MDM #DataScientist #MachineLearning #ML #DigitalTransformation

About AunalyticsAunalytics is a data platform company delivering answers for your business. Named a Digital Innovator by analyst firm Intellyx, and selected for the prestigious Inc. 5000 list, Aunalytics provides Insights-as-a-Service to answer enterprise and mid-sized companies most important IT and business questions. The Aunalytics cloud-native data platform is built for universal data access, advanced analytics and AI while unifying disparate data silos into a single golden record of accurate, actionable business information. Its Daybreak industry intelligent data mart combined with the power of the Aunalytics data platform provides industry-specific data models with built-in queries and AI to ensure access to timely, accurate data and answers to critical business and IT questions. Through its side-by-side digital transformation model, Aunalytics provides on-demand scalable access to technology, data science, and AI experts to seamlessly transform customers businesses. To learn more contact us at +1 855-799-DATA or visit Aunalytics at http://www.aunalytics.com or on Twitter and LinkedIn.

PR Contact: Denise Nelson The Ventana Group for Aunalytics (925) 858-5198dnelson@theventanagroup.com

Source: Aunalytics
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Latin Metals Inc. (Latin Metals or the Company) - (TSXV: LMS) (OTCQB: LMSQF) announces that it has acquired a 100% interest in the Yanba copper exploration project, Coastal Coper Belt, Peru. The 4,000-hectare Yanba project (Yanba) is located close to the Companys Lacsha copper project (Lacsha) (Figure 1), where recent exploration has identified extensive copper mineralization at surface and where the Company expects to finalize drill targets by year end.

The Yanba acquisition was completed following completion of an extensive regional stream sediment survey, screening approximately 200 km2. The area was selected for staking due to consistent copper anomalies and geological similarities to the nearby Lacsha project.

Figure 1. Map showing the newly acquired Yanba copper project together with the extents of the regional stream sediment survey, which identified the target area. The map also shows the location of the Companys Lacsha copper project as well as land positions controlled by Newmont, Hochschild and others.https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/554054ce-a959-4a42-bf3d-7d0d70ac47e6

We are delighted to expand our land position in this key portion of Perus Coastal Copper Belt. stated Keith Henderson, President and CEO, We acquired the Lacsha copper project in 2020 following completion of a stream sediment survey in the area, and subsequent work there has resulted in the discovery of significant copper mineralization at surface. At Yanba, we have not deviated from this methodology - we screened 200km2 with geochemistry and the results pointed to a core area of copper anomalies, which we have now acquired.

Mr. Henderson continued, We are using these regional screening tools to identify areas that we can acquire 100% through low-cost claim staking and we will continue to stake new projects when the results of regional exploration are positive. In doing so we maintain a healthy pipeline of projects on which we can complete initial exploration before seeking joint venture partners.

Yanba Stream Sediment Survey

The Company has completed a stream sediment survey covering 200 km2 with 35 samples. Copper values range from 28 ppm to 139 ppm, with anomalies across 7 contiguous catchments and anomalous areas being 3 times higher than background. This geochemical anomalism drove the prioritization of this area, together with geological similarities to Lacsha.

Next Steps

Latin Metals is currently in discussions with the single local community who hold the surface rights, following which the Company expects to begin systematic surface exploration. As was the case at Lacsha, a talus survey program will be the first pass to identify the highest priority targets.

Coastal Copper Belt

The Coastal Copper Belt in Peru is a Cretaceous belt hosting a variety of deposit types including Porphyry, Epithermal, VMS and IOCG. Latin Metals 100%-owned Lacsha copper-molybdenum, Yanba copper-molybdenum, and Auquis copper-gold projects are all located in the northern Lima-Ica portion of the coastal belt.

QA/QC

This stream sediment survey was designed and supervised by Eduardo Leon, the Company's Exploration Manager, who is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program. On-site personnel at the project rigorously collect and track samples which are then security sealed and shipped to the ALS laboratory in Lima. Samples used for the results described herein are prepared and analyzed by multi-element analysis using an inductively coupled mass spectrometer in compliance with industry standards.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this release has been approved for disclosure by Keith J. Henderson P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the Companys CEO. Mr. Henderson is not independent of the Company, as he is an employee of the Company and holds securities of the Company.

About Latin Metals

Latin Metals is a mineral exploration company acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets in South America. The Company operates with a Prospect Generator model focusing on the acquisition of prospective exploration properties at minimum cost, completing initial evaluation through cost-effective exploration to establish drill targets, and ultimately securing joint venture partners to fund drilling and advanced exploration. Shareholders gain exposure to the upside of a significant discovery without the dilution associated with funding the highest-risk drill-based exploration.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

LATIN METALS INC.

Keith Henderson

President & CEO

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.latin-metals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Keith Henderson

Suite 890999 West Hastings StreetVancouver, BC, V6C 2W2

Phone: 604-638-3456E-mail: info@latin-metals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the negotiation of the Option Agreements and exercise of the Option for the Properties, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Properties and otherwise, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, and the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves on the Properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Companys Argentine projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company projects, and the Companys ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Properties, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs being proposed for the Properties (the "Programs"), actual results of exploration activities, including the Programs, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSX-V acceptance for filing of the Option Agreements, any current or future property acquisitions, financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Management Discussion and Analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein.

Figure 1. Map showing the newly acquired Yanba copper project together with the extents of the regional stream sediment survey, which identified the target area. The map also shows the location of the Companys Lacsha copper project as well as land positions controlled by Newmont, Hochschild and others.

Source: Latin Metals Inc. (formerly Centenera Mining Corporation)
First Ever Roundup of Companies that Proved Management Excellence across the Middle Market

PHOENIX, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) ("4Front" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, has been named in Inc.'s first annual Best Led Companies list  a select, data-driven list of the strongest U.S. firms across the middle market, with annual revenues of $50 million to $2 billion, evaluated on a 12-point measure of management excellence. This novel program is the first Inc. recognition list to honor both public and private companies.

The final list recognizes 250 companies that are agile enough to maneuver but also big enough to have a broad impact. In total, these companies employ 35 million people, about one-fourth of the US workforce. All 250 have a successful track record of having leadership teams that spur solid performance, create value, penetrate markets, and engage with customers.To be considered for the list, employees at each company had to fill out an application, answering questions about their company's performance, executive team, and leadership. Applicants were then analyzed via an algorithm that identified the very best companies according to their leadership teams' superlative accomplishments in four key areas: performance and value creation; market penetration and customer engagement; talent; and leadership team.

"This inaugural list represents the remarkable mid-sized companies, both public and private, often founder-led, that are at the vanguard of reinventing American business," said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. "With their leadership, all businesses will benefit from an exciting, competitive future full of possibilities." "After putting in more than a decade of hard work and becoming one of the world's most efficient cannabis companies out there, we are honored to be included in Inc.'s first annual Best Led Companies list," said 4Front CEO Leo Gontmakher. "We have remained focused on our mission of developing and delivering an unmatched family of brands, superior cannabis genetics, and innovative production and cultivation methodologies. Most importantly, we've always stayed true to our belief of doing business the right way. Our people are our greatest asset. Not only are they great at what they do  they're even better at who they are. As we continue to make strategic moves in the cannabis sector, we will continue to be fueled by our people's leadership skills and passion and our shared support for the therapeutic potential of the cannabis plant."

To compile the list, Inc. evaluated public and private U.S.based companies with a 2020 revenue of $50 million to $2 billion or a valuation of $50 million to $10 billion, by using a proprietary 12-point measure of management excellence, which was generated with input from partners at Pitchbook and Shango Labs.

Since it was founded, in 2011, 4Front's team of experienced professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, advocates, and out-of-the-box thinkers have been advancing the future of cannabis. With operations and facilities in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and managed facilities in Washington, the Company makes some of the world's best cannabis products. In the last decade, 4Front's R&D team has researched and developed more than 20 different cannabis brands and 1,800 different cannabis-infused products.Recently, 4Front commenced operations at one of the largest, most efficient cannabis manufacturing facilities in the world, in Commerce, California. The 170,000 sq. ft. facility (the "Commerce Facility" or "Facility") is manufacturing both in-house and partner brands, with product categories including infused pre-rolls, gummies, hard candies, fruit chews, caramels, mints, soft gel capsules, vapes, tinctures, and other manufactured infused products. Earlier this year, 4Front also closed the first phase of its multiphase expansion project to build an up to 558,000 sq. ft. cultivation-and-production facility (the "Facility") in the Village of Matteson, Illinois, located outside of Chicago.Gontmakher added, "Advancing cannabis is at the heart of everything we do. From superior genetics to proven cultivation and manufacturing methodologies to streamlined packaging and distribution to our consumer-first retail approach, we will continue to be committed to fostering a better cannabis industry for everyone."

To see the complete list, visit https://www.inc.com/best-led-companies.

The November issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 9, 2021.

For more information, visit https://4frontventures.com and https://missiondispensaries.com/.

About Inc.The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc., offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 allows the founders of the best businesses to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About 4Front Ventures Corp.4Front Ventures Corp. ("4Front" or the "Company") (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) is a national, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator who owns or manages operations and facilities in strategic medical and adult-use cannabis markets, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington. Since its founding in 2011, 4Front has built a strong reputation for its high standards and low-cost cultivation and production methodologies earned through a track record of success in facility design, cultivation, genetics, growing processes, manufacturing, purchasing, distribution, and retail. To date, 4Front has successfully brought to market more than 20 different cannabis brands and over 1800 products, which are strategically distributed through its fully owned and operated Mission dispensaries and retail outlets in its core markets. As the Company continues to drive value for its shareholders, its team is applying its decade of expertise in the sector across the cannabis industry value chain and ecosystem. For more information, visit https://4frontventures.com/.

Forward Looking StatementsStatements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in 4Front Ventures' periodic filings with securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to future developments and the business and operations of 4Front Ventures, statements regarding when or if transactions will close or if/when required conditions to closing are attained, the impact of the transactions on the business of 4Front and other statements regarding future developments of the business. Although 4Front Ventures has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on satisfying closing conditions, [obtaining regulatory approvals]; and engagement in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. federal laws; change in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. 4Front Ventures disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and 4Front Ventures does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cannabis-company-4front-ventures-corp-named-in-incs-first-annual-best-led-companies-301414401.html

SOURCE 4Front
A South Korean air force F-15K Slam Eagle taxis off the runway at Osan Air Base, South Korea, in 2016. (Victor Caputo/U.S. Air Force)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  A five-day air exercise between the United States and South Korea kicked off Monday with little fanfare amid increased speculation about the resumption of inter-Korean relations.

The low-key joint drills consist of South Korean F-15K Slam Eagle and KF-16 fighter jets, a Korean air force officer told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday on the customary condition of anonymity. About 100 aircraft are involved from both countries, according to a Monday report by the Yonhap News Agency.

A 7th Air Force spokeswoman at Osan Air Base described the training as routine in an email Tuesday. Lt. Col. Kelley Jeter declined to provide further details, including the U.S. aircraft involved, citing the militarys policy against commenting on the joint exercises.

Previous air exercises in South Korea, such as 2017s Vigilant Ace, mobilized more than 230 aircraft, including the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. The joint exercise reaffirmed mutual support procedures and improved understanding and trust between the two nations, according to a statement from the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan.

U.S. personnel and aircraft were jointly featured at last months annual Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition. Flyovers of U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons and C-17 Globemaster III airlifters demonstrated their capabilities at the largest military exhibition in Northeast Asia, in addition to aircraft from other countries.

Joint military drills between the allies have been scaled back in recent years and publicizing them has nearly ceased amid the ebb and flow of North Korean relations. The North frequently rails against the drills in propaganda statements that describe them precursors to an invasion of the country.

U.S. and South Korean forces teamed up for a computer-simulated military exercise in August, despite Pyongyangs protests. Prior to that training, senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol described it as an unfavorable prelude further beclouding the future of the inter-Korean relations.

Senior officials from the U.S. and South Korea have traveled between the two countries in recent weeks to discuss the resumption of dialogue with the North. South Korean President Moon Jae-ins administration has pushed to declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, and the U.S. has called ongoing discussions on that topic very productive.

U.S. diplomats, including the special representative for North Korean policy, Sung Kim, stress that the U.S. is willing to meet with North Korean representatives anytime, anywhere without preconditions.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
Donations are divided and categorized for different ages, male and female, for incoming evacuees Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Ind. (Kelly Wilkinson, IndyStar/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  When 37-year-old Ali arrived at an unfamiliar U.S. National Guard base in Indiana in September, he was greeted with three unexpected words.

"Hey man, Ali?"

He had traveled from Afghanistan, through Qatar, Germany and Philadelphia, to Indiana's Camp Atterbury, where U.S. troops were welcoming thousands of Afghan citizens escaping the sudden Taliban takeover. Ali, his wife and daughter were safe now, finally, but Ali was consumed by fears for the loved ones left behind.

That personalized shoutout jolted him.

Ali stared in disbelief at the uniformed U.S. Army officer amid the sea of refugees and camp personnel.

"I saw Sgt. Hernandez," Ali recalls, laughing. Almost like he still can't believe it. "Oh my God, that was awesome."

He's overjoyed thinking back to the reunion, like a child unable to contain his excitement on Christmas morning. The happiness in his voice is palpable, even now, more than a month later.

"After all, like, bad things with pain," Ali says, "that was a good thing."

The officer was Sgt. 1st Class Richard Hernandez from San Antonio, most recently assigned to assist with "Operation Allies Welcome" at Camp Atterbury. On the day of Ali's arrival, he had been tasked with counting busloads of evacuees coming in, but a single voice made him pause.

He'd heard it before, many years ago, thousands of miles away in Afghanistan.

"Is that really him?" Hernandez wondered.

It was the slow, gravelly voice that had helped him understand the dynamics of the country and what people were saying in both the Dari and Pashto languages. It was the voice that had introduced him to pomegranates and taught him the importance of respecting elders.

It was the voice of an Afghan translator and cultural adviser who had spent years helping the Army. It was Ali, of course.

"Sometimes laughing is so hard, and no one can make you laugh (or) can give you happiness," Ali said. "But Sgt. Hernandez, he (gave) me really happiness."

'We've been through everything'

Ali's trip to Indiana wasn't the first time he escaped the Taliban.

In 2016, he and his family began a new, safer chapter when they immigrated to the U.S., through the Special Immigrant Visa program, designed to help Afghan interpreters and others who took significant risks to work alongside the United States. The nonprofit "No One Left Behind" has recorded more than 300 interpreters and family members have been killed because of their American connection. IndyStar is not using Ali's last name out of concerns for his safety.

They have been living in Phoenix since then, settling into American culture  a process made easier thanks to his time spent embedded with U.S. Army units in Afghanistan.

He took the translator job in 2008, he says, because he wanted to help his country. He remembers learning English through private classes, BBC radio and Hollywood. Though English is known as a relatively harder language to learn, Ali says he picked it up fairly easily.

Ali doesn't work for the U.S. government anymore, but this past May, he and his family decided to pay a visit to their homeland. Just a few weeks before, President Joe Biden had announced his decision to slowly withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Ali says his family's return tickets to Arizona were booked for Aug. 21.

"We had a great time," Ali said, remembering the reunions with friends and relatives. "We just enjoyed. ... We were so happy."

Until the Taliban took over.

'We were so scared'

"We (were) so scared," Ali said, remembering Aug. 15, the day Kabul fell to the Taliban. "We didn't know what we (were) supposed to do."

He called the U.S. Embassy, he says, but no one answered the phone. He desperately hoped for help from friends and former American connections.

The sudden crisis, though shocking, was all too familiar for Afghan people like Ali who have had entire lifetimes shaped by danger and despair.

"We've been through everything in Afghanistan," Ali said.

When he was 12 years old, the Taliban killed one of his older brothers. His father died soon after because of the grief, he says. He remembers his family, part of the Hazara ethnic minority group in Afghanistan, often moving from home to home, district to district to stay safe. Ali himself has been arrested by the Taliban, he says.

Hoping and dreaming for the future were luxuries they did not have.

"We've been in danger all the time," Ali said. "We just hope(d) at that time, that Taliban will not arrest us on that day and not kill us that day."

More than 20 years later, after America's longest war, old fears and traumas are resurfacing.

"Still my family's in danger in Afghanistan," Ali said, noting his female relatives stay at home now. "I hope God and some people help Afghanistan to just ... for the Afghanistan people to become free. But still, they need some help."

He feels an even bigger sense of loss, especially after his work with the U.S. Army.

"Especially, we felt bad for American soldiers," Ali said. "I remember those years, how we suffer(ed), how we fought ... I felt so bad. ... We (spent) a lot of money ... a lot of human life in Afghanistan. Then we left like this?"

'He paved the road for me'

For Hernandez, the man who welcomed Ali back to safety in the United States, the situation in August created "mixed emotions."

"A lot of the people that I worked with," Hernandez said, "(I) definitely thought about them."

He thought about the U.S. soldiers and contractors that didn't come back home, and the Afghan military and NATO forces who helped his soldiers. Since October 2001, more than 800,000 U.S. service members have served in Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense. More than 20,000 have been wounded and more than 2,350 have died.

Researchers at Brown University estimate Afghan losses in the tens of thousands.

Welcoming Ali at Camp Atterbury was a blessing, Hernandez said, especially after their experience in Afghanistan together. It was like a favor for a favor, the ultimate "thank you."

"He just like paved the road for me and my service," Hernandez said. "The end result was all my soldiers (came) back in one piece, healthy. And I feel like a lot of that was Ali ... he molded me to where I am now, honestly."

Once Ali and his family got settled at the camp, he and Hernandez talked about their time together in Afghanistan. Just "refresh(ing) our memory," Ali says.

They remembered the Afghan man in the Kandahar province who used to offer them tea and pomegranates, a treasured staple in the country. It didn't take long for the American soldiers to become fans of the fruit, too, Ali recalls. He was surprised that they began eating like the Afghan people, messy and with their hands.

"I'm like so obsessed with those now," Hernandez says.

They marvel at how they reunited again in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

"The world is too small," Ali said.

"It's one of those moments you never really have," Hernandez said. "That's what made this mission special. ... That impacted the way I view the mission. I'm not processing Afghan refugees. I'm processing and assisting people. And I'm helping people to get to the U.S."

Ali was only in Camp Atterbury for a few days, flying back to Arizona in September to, once again, settle into a better life.

"It was good seeing you again brother," Hernandez remembers telling Ali when the two hugged goodbye. "Keep in touch."

Ali is grateful his daughter doesn't have to grow up the way he did, but he hopes other loved ones left behind will soon be able to find safety in the U.S. Bringing them over here, he says, is a long, cumbersome immigration process for just one person to undertake.

"I need for people to help me out," Ali said. "When I work with the American Army in Afghanistan ... they were the same like me. They were in my country, and I help them a lot to send them safe back home."

He's not asking for anyone to "repay" him, he says, though he reflects on his work with pride. None of his U.S. Army units suffered casualties, major or minor, during his time with them, he says.

"The same way now (hopefully) I can find people to pull out the rest of my family from Afghanistan."

rjaipuriar@gannett.com

2021 www.indystar.com.

Visit indystar.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The welcome sign at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Mich., in July 2014. (Seth LaCount/U.S. Army)

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Mich. (Tribune News Service)  A DNR proposal would open nearly 95 miles of forest roads in Northern Michigan to off-road vehicles.

The proposed opening of forest roads to ORV use would be on a trial basis, and includes 94.8 miles of forest roads on 16,000 acres north of County Road 612 in Crawford County.

The roads, located on state forest lands, are leased to Camp Grayling for military training. The forest roads under consideration will be open to the public when not in use for military training.

When the area is used for training activities, the roads will be gated off for public safety. Notice will be posted on the Camp Grayling Facebook page and shared on local radio stations.

Grayling is known for its abundance of opportunities to enjoy the woods and water, and this opening to ORVs will add to our areas outdoor offerings, said Lovells Township Supervisor Gary Neumann.

Public input will be accepted online and via email through Dec. 1. The public can also comment on or view the locations of proposed changes on an interactive web map or printable PDF maps. Emails can also be sent to DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov.

Were looking forward to the trial opening of these forest roads for recreational use, and were committed to ensuring public safety. We intend to use this trial to evaluate the feasibility of opening more Camp Grayling lands for ORV use, said Camp Grayling commander Col. Scott L. Meyers.

The camp takes great pride in our community support, and helping people enjoy what northern Michigan has to offer expands that relationship. Looking forward to seeing you on the trail!

Comments also will be accepted at upcoming Michigan Natural Resources Commission meetings in early 2022. At the January meeting, state forest road proposals will be presented to the DNR director.

At the February meeting, the DNR director will make a formal decision on the proposed changes. New maps will go into effect and be published online April 1, 2022

Forest roads are a gateway to ORV riding, hiking, hunting, fishing and enjoyment of state forest lands, said Jeff Stampfly, chief of the Department of Natural Resources Forest Resources Division.

2021 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit mlive.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Israeli air force F-15 Strike Eagles move into formation with a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer over the Mediterranean coast as part of a patrol above the U.S. Central Commands area of responsibility, Oct. 30, 2021. (Jerreht Harris/U.S. Air Force)

Some 500 U.S. Marines staged a beach-storming exercise in Israel during some of the first bilateral military drills since a major Pentagon realignment for the longtime allies.

On Monday, the Israeli Defense Force and the Bahrain-based U.S. Naval Forces Central Command launched the amphibious assault in Eilat, a Red Sea port town near Jordan, the 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade said in a statement.

This exercise is part of the next chapter in the U.S. Navys and Marine Corps long-standing relationship with Israel that is so vital to stability and security in the region, said Brig. Gen. Farrell Sullivan, commander of the Marine task force.

The three-week training also involves urban combat exercises, bomb disposal drills and firing the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

The exercise began days after Israeli fighters escorted a U.S. Air Force bomber on a patrol flight.

Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Portland began conducting a bilateral amphibious exercise near Eilat, Israel, Nov. 1, 2021. (Alexis Flores/U.S. Marine Corps)

In September, U.S. Central Command took control over American military relations with Israel. For decades, this had been covered by U.S. European Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany.

The transfer of responsibilities to CENTCOM was touted by the military as a means of ensuring better coordination between the U.S., Israel and the Arab Gulf states.

The realignment was brought about in part by a 2020 diplomatic breakthrough brokered by the U.S. known as the Abraham Accords, which resulted in the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Historically, the adversarial relationship between Israel and U.S. partners in the Gulf region was seen as an obstacle to aligning CENTCOM with Israel.

But some security analysts have long argued that CENTCOM is the better strategic fit for Israel, given that Iran is the main security threat in its area, while EUCOMs principal focus is countering Russia.

Some of that expected coordination among the U.S., Israel and various Arab states was on display Saturday, when a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted a presence patrol with fighter plane escorts from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The five-hour, nonstop patrol originated in the Indian Ocean and flew over various strategic waterways.
The nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut, pictured here in 2011, was damaged after striking an uncharted undersea mountain last month. (Timothy Aguirre/U.S. Navy)

Navy investigators say a nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine was damaged last month after running into an uncharted undersea mountain.

Mondays findings follow a nearly monthlong investigation into the Oct. 2 incident in which the USS Connecticut struck what the Navy at the time referred to as an unidentified object.

The collision injured several crewmembers and damaged the submarine, although the Navy has not disclosed how many or to what extent.

Navy investigators determined the Connecticut struck an uncharted seamount, or undersea mountain, while it was operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a U.S. 7th Fleet news release.

The investigation is being referred to 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas to determine whether additional action or discipline is warranted.

No additional information regarding the investigation was immediately available, 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Nicholas Lingo told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.

The exact location of the incident was not disclosed, but an unnamed defense official said it occurred in the South China Sea, according to an Oct. 8 report from U.S. Naval Institute News.

One of three Seawolf-class submarines, the Connecticut can support a crew of 140. Of those, nine suffered minor injuries and two suffered moderate injuries, according to a Navy official who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Japan Times. The same official reported that the sub arrived in Guam on Oct. 8.

The collision happened the same weekend an armada of 17 warships, including the aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan, USS Carl Vinson and HMS Queen Elizabeth, trained together in the Philippine Sea near Taiwan.

Meanwhile, nearly 150 Chinese warplanes flew into Taiwans air defense identification zone over a four-day period beginning Oct. 1.

The Navys disclosure of the Connecticut collision on Oct. 7 prompted criticism from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs the next day. In addition to accusing the U.S. of concealing details of the incident, spokesperson Zhao Lijian called it another example of the U.S. making trouble in the South China Sea in the name of freedom of navigation.

Lingo declined to comment on the Connecticuts current location, although various outlets have continued to report its presence in Guam.

The incident closely mirrors that of the USS San Francisco, which struck an undersea seamount 350 nautical miles south of its homeport on Guam in 2005. The collision resulted in 23 injuries and one death, as well as significant damage to its sonar dome and bow structure.
This Rock memorial was dedicated on Sept. 19, 2021, in St. Eustachio, Italy, on the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Montecorvino Rovella. The plaque says, In honor of the American Soldiers of the Third Infantry division who, with indomitable courage, liberated Montecorvino Rovella on September 21, 1943. (uswarmemorials.org)

American War Memorials Overseas is a private organization that works to document, promote and offer support toward the care of the thousands of overseas gravesites and memorials that fall outside U.S. government auspices. The nonprofit entity cooperates with special interest groups, history clubs and other organizations at the local, national and international level to highlight the existence of cemetery plots, commemorative plaques and other forms of memorials honoring the actions of the U.S. military and the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and others who fell in the process.

The organization works hard to maintain and grow a database currently listing 2,594 memorials at 1927 sites, the names of 27,395 individuals and 2,902 units worldwide. Hundreds of these sites dot European soil, the countries of our former allies and enemies alike. Not all memorials are as old as the deeds they commemorate, and through the tireless efforts of both U.S. and foreign citizens, veterans groups, local civic institutions and a host of others, markers continue to go up. The existence of such sites serves as a testament to the enduring respect afforded to the U.S. military past and present, along with those who serve.

Italy

Montecorvino Rovella, a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of southwest Italy, dedicated a monument to its liberation by the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division, known as Rock of the Marne, on Sept. 19 of this year. A steel plaque engraved in both Italian and English and affixed to a cube-shaped rock reads In honor of the American Soldiers of the Third Infantry division who, with indomitable courage, liberated Montecorvino Rovella on September 21, 1943. The monument is located in a small park next to the St. Eustachio city square. The local newspaper, Salerno Today, reports of a related event, the inauguration of an exhibition about the U.S. Army Medical Department during the Second World War at the former conservatory of Santa Sofia. The exhibition contains a section about the Operation Avalanche landings at Salerno. Online: tinyurl.com/bc9j38p9

In 1917, due to a lack of suitable training facilities stateside, a contingent of some 500 Americans were sent to the town of Foggia, in southern Italys Apulia region, to learn military flying. Upon completion of their training, many of these Foggia graduates were transferred to the Western Front to fly with the American Expeditionary Force, while 75 remained in Italy under the command of Capt. Fiorello LaGuardia, who simultaneously held office as a Congressman from New York. The American pilots were attached to Italian bomber squadrons in order to gain experience in bombardment while bolstering their numbers. These missions marked the first combat bomber operations by members of the U.S. Army Air Service, and several airmen received Italy's highest decoration, the Medaglia di Oro, for their combat heroism. At the Foggia Military Airport, on the site of the old military airfield of Gino Lisa, a white marble column pays tribute to the Foggiani, and a brass plaque in the citys cathedral honors the American aviators who fell at the Foggia Aviation School. Online: tinyurl.com/uaatmwfa

Switzerland

The B-24 Lady Patricia (42-51642) Crash Site Memorial sits at a height of 6725 feet, overlooking the Rhine Valley near Chur, in the town of Malix-Churwalden. Here, in the shadow of the Dreibundenstein Peak, a cut granite stone with a brass plaque recalls the B-24J Bomber Lady Patricia that crashed here on Nov. 6, 1944. The plane belonging to the 745th Bomber Squadron, 456th Bomber Group Steeds Flying Colts, 15th Air Force, left Stornara Air Base, Italy to bomb enemy facilities in Munich, Germany. On return from the mission, engine trouble forced the pilot, 2LT Doyle Smith, to crash land. Smith was killed, but the crew survived and was interned in Switzerland until the end of WWII. Online: tinyurl.com/vshmk952

The B17 Museum in Utzenstorf, a partner of American War Memorials Overseas, exhibits the original clothing and personal items of plane crews that surfaced after the war. The owner of this privately owned museum, Rolf Zaugg, maintains ties with veterans and the descendants of the crews of WWII bombers and fighter jets. Zaugg is constantly on the lookout for items pertaining to aircraft emergency landings, crashes, or internees in Switzerland during the war. Online: b17museum.ch

United Kingdom

On Turks Row in Chelsea, London, a plaque notes the site of a bombing incident during WWII. On the wall of the entrance gate to Cavalry Square, the white stone monument recalls the presence of the large apartment blocks known as Sloane Court and Sloane Court East, in use by the 30th Chemical Processing Company of the U.S. Army. On July 3, 1944, a V-1 Flying Bomb fell in the street and destroyed the surrounding housing units. Among the casualties were 74 American service personnel, including several women. Online: tinyurl.com/4d4zpfxu

St. Paul's Cathedral in London houses The American Memorial Chapel, which contains the names of the more than 28,000 Americans who gave their lives while traveling to or stationed in the U.K. during WWII. The tablet was unveiled by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II on Nov. 26, 1958 in the presence of Richard M. Nixon, Vice President of the U.S.A. Online: tinyurl.com/xm43a6f4

In the Puckpool Park in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, a stainless steel plaque commemorates the contributions of members of the U.S. Coast Guard toward D-Day operations. The plaque, which contains the images of five coast guard ships, notes that U.S.C.G. personnel crewed 97 British and American attack transports and landing ships and provided the sole D-Day Maritime Rescue Service, often under the severest fire, saving the lives of 1,438 Allied Servicemen in the Normandy Assault on June 6, 1944. Online: tinyurl.com/y22appze
Sudans top army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan holds a press conference at the General Command of the Armed Forces in Khartoum on Oct. 26, 2021. Angry Sudanese stood their ground in street protests against a coup, as international condemnation of the militarys takeover poured in ahead of a UN Security Council meeting. (Ashraf Shazly, AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Sudans army and politicians are edging closer to a new power-sharing deal as international efforts intensify to reverse last weeks coup, according to people following the talks.

Negotiations between the coup leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, former rebel groups and ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok continued Tuesday in the capital, Khartoum, a United Nations spokesperson said. Although theres been progress, key differences are said to remain and an outcome isnt guaranteed.

The Oct. 25 overthrow of the civilian-led government derailed a political process that was a rare bright spot in the Horn of Africa region bedeviled by dictatorship and conflict.

I think they will reach a conclusion very soon, Imad Adawi, the former chief of staff of Sudans military, said from Cairo after being briefed on talks by senior members of the army. There are many facilitators, including Sudanese actors, South Sudan, African countries and the UN.

Global condemnation of the putsch was swift, with the U.S. and World Bank cutting aid to pressure the military into releasing Hamdok and his detained colleagues. The U.S. had been cultivating new ties with Sudan following the 2019 ouster of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in mass protests, rescinding its 27-year listing as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Diplomats have said that al-Burhan sees the involvement of Hamdok, whos still under house arrest and has his interactions controlled, in a new administration as key to winning credibility. Sudan had been ruled by civilian and military figures in an uneasy arrangement since 2019.

One proposal under discussion would see Hamdok given greater powers but with a new cabinet more palatable to the army, the people said, requesting anonymity because they arent authorized to speak to the media.

The army, in control for much of Sudans history since independence in 1956, would be in charge of the governments powerful security and defense councils under the deal, the people said. The formation of a new sovereign council, the top executive body headed by al-Burhan until he said he was dissolving it, is still being discussed, according to the people.

The army and politicians are at odds over the cabinet appointments component, the people said, describing a deal as still elusive. The UN special representative said Monday the contours of a package would become visible in coming days.

Army representatives didnt respond to phone calls seeking comment.

The U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, said Tuesday the army knows support for Sudans economic development and debt relief, as well as World Bank and International Monetary Fund financing, depend on restoring the democratic path.

Feltman said he was surprised by the coup, which happened hours after hed left Sudan having tried to mend military-civilian ties.

Asked if the army deceived him, Feltman said: I wouldnt go so far to say they lied. What I would say is they seemed to be talking to us in bad faith.

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The USS Porter travels through the Bosporus in Turkey, Oct. 30, 2021. The destroyer is on a routine patrol in the Black Sea after finishing participation in NATO exercises in the Aegean Sea, Navy officials said. (Yoruk Isik)

NAPLES, Italy  The arrival of U.S. warships in the Black Sea in support of NATO allies has once again sparked the anger of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said one of the ships was in the crosshairs of the Russian military.

Putin made the comment to military leaders on Monday in emphasizing Russias need to bolster its air defenses. He cited the deployment of NATOs U.S.-led missile defense system in Eastern Europe and missions by alliance ships in the Baltic and Black seas, The Associated Press reported.

Even now, a U.S. warship has entered the Black Sea, and we can see it in binoculars or crosshairs of our defense systems, Putin said during the meeting in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Meanwhile, Russias Black Sea Fleet said Tuesday that its warships had practiced destroying enemy targets, Reuters reported.

The destroyer USS Porter entered the Black Sea on Saturday for a routine patrol after participating in NATO exercises in the Aegean Sea, U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement.

The crew of USS Porter looks forward to entering the Black Sea to maintain safety and stability throughout the region, said Cmdr. Christopher Petro, the destroyers commanding officer. Our ability to work alongside our NATO allies and partners enhances our collective readiness and overall maritime security.

The USS Mount Whitney, the flagship of the U.S. 6th Fleet, arrived Monday for a port visit in Istanbul and will soon join Porter, U.S. 6th Fleet said in a separate statement.

Mount Whitney remained in port Tuesday, said Lt. Cmdr. Karl Schonberg, a fleet spokesman. The port is considered to be the entrance of the Black Sea.

The destroyer USS Arleigh Burke also recently completed NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea, the Navy said.

Russia has long complained about NATO and U.S. warships in the Black Sea, especially when they sail near the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. The international community still considers Crimea a part of Ukraine.

The USS Porter sails by Istanbul, Oct. 30, 2021. The destroyer is on a routine patrol in the Black Sea after finishing participation in NATO exercises in the Aegean Sea, Navy officials said. (Yoruk Isik) The USS Mount Whitney sighted portside in Istanbul, Nov. 2, 2021. The Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship will join the USS Porter to maintain safety and stability in the region, Navy officials said. (Twitter/Yoruk Isik) The USS Porter sails by Istanbul, Oct. 30, 2021. The destroyer is on a routine patrol in the Black Sea after finishing participation in NATO exercises in the Aegean Sea, Navy officials said. (Yoruk Isik)

Six nations border the Black Sea, including several that hold training exercises with the United States or participate in patrols in its international waters.

In June, tensions increased just before an annual NATO military exercise in the Black Sea, with a Russian ship reportedly firing warning shots at a British destroyer traveling near Crimea. Some analysts characterized that and other actions, such as low overflights of a Dutch frigate by Russian warplanes, as an escalation in Moscows efforts to control the region.

Still, some analysts said Putins latest comments appeared less hostile than previous ones.

Remember, Moscow threatened to attack NATO warships that pass within 12 nautical miles of Crimea, even legally as part of an innocent passage, said James R. Holmes, the J.C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Putin did have a cutesy line about being able to see USS Mount Whitney through the crosshairs, but thats less over the top.

Holmes said U.S. strategy is to  fly, sail, and operate wherever the law of the sea permits, in order to preserve the right of way in waters such as the Black Sea.

Secondary objectives include contesting Russian claims to sovereignty over Crimea, although freedom-of-navigation cruises may not be as effective for that, he said.

We are showing support for Ukraine and making a statement that we can project power from the sea, even (near) Russia, Holmes said.

Jorge Benitez, an expert on European security with the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, warned that Russias behavior shows an escalatory pattern that will lead to more provocations and perhaps even a confrontation with NATO.

I believe that Putins direct threats to U.S. naval vessels are proof that Russias military aggression against NATO ships is approved at the highest levels in Moscow, Benitez said.

Alison Bath
EL PASO, Texas (Tribune News Service)  A Northeast Texas man was sentenced to more than three decades in prison in connection with the sexual assault of a child on Fort Bliss.

Roy Gene Pratt Jr., of Quitman, Texas, was sentenced Monday to more than 33 years in prison in connection with a federal charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas officials said.

"This successful prosecution was made possible by the tenacious efforts of our law enforcement partners and the courageous victims for whom some measure of justice was delivered today," U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Ashley C. Hoff said in a statement. "Safeguarding children, the most vulnerable members of our society, will always be a critical priority."

He was also sentenced to five years of supervised released after he serves his prison term.

Pratt, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge July 19. He has remained in law enforcement custody since his arrest in May 2020.

Law enforcement officials have identified six other children, ranging from six to 14 years of age, who were victims of Pratt, United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas officials said.

Pratt was the stepfather of two victims, according to a federal complaint affidavit filed in the Western District of Texas.

No information was released on the other alleged victims.

Court documents state the mother was in the U.S. Army, but do not state if Pratt was also in the military.

Fort Bliss officials could not immediately be reached regarding if Pratt was a soldier stationed at the post.

The investigation into Pratt began October 2017 at the U.S. Army's Fort Wainwright post in Fairbanks, Alaska, according to the affidavit.

The victims' mother reported the allegations against Pratt to U.S. Criminal Investigation Division special agents after her daughters told her about the incidents.

The girls, who were 10 and 7 years old when they came forward with the allegations, told their mother that Pratt had sexually assaulted them multiple times over several years, the affidavit states.

Some of the alleged sexual assaults occurred between November 2014 to December 2015 while the family was living on Fort Bliss.

One of the victims was uncomfortable saying Pratts name and referred to him as "you know who," during interviews with investigators, the affidavit states.

The victims alleged the sexual assaults happened at their home on Fort Bliss including the girl's bedroom, the mother and Pratt's bedroom and in the shower. They added the sexual assaults usually happened when the mother was out grocery shopping or at work, the affidavit states.

One of the girls said the assaults usually happened when she returned from school and her mother was still at work, according to the affidavit. The girl allegedly added that her sister would be at the home during the assaults but would be in another room playing.

Pratt is accused of telling the victims not to tell their mother about the sexual assaults.

He allegedly told the girls that if they got into trouble and performed sexual acts on him he would not punish them, the affidavits states.

One of the girls told investigators the sexual assault began before the family moved to Fort Bliss.

The other incidents happened at a hotel in Colorado prior to the mother entering the Army and later when she was in basic training, the affidavit states. Sexual assaults also happened at the family's home in the Carolinas, the affidavit states.

One of the girls told investigators she did not tell her mother about the abuse due to fear Pratt would abuse or hit her mother, the affidavit states.

The girl claimed Pratt had previously hit her mother with an electrified flyswatter and pulled her hair out.

Pratt also allegedly told the girls not to tell anyone of the sexual assaults because he would "go away," according to the affidavit.

"These crimes are gut-wrenching, and (Monday's) sentencing is a commitment from the FBI El Paso's Crimes Against Children/Human Trafficking task force that we will not allow the defendant to assault a child again," FBI El Paso Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey said in a statement. "We will continue to aggressively pursue child sexual assault cases as we are committed to protecting all of our communities, helping victims, and ensuring that justice is served."



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Buy Photo A wooden gavel and block is seen inside the Senate Hart Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)
DAYTON, Ohio (Tribune News Service)  A Southwest Ohio man accused of trying to travel to Afghanistan in order to join the terrorist group ISIS has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Prosecutors with the Southern District of Ohio say Naser Almadaoji, 22, of Beavercreek, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of attempting to provide material support  himself, as personnel  to foreign terrorist organizations, specifically ISIS Wilayat Khorasan ( ISIS-K).

This is now the second person from the Dayton area held accountable in recent times for trying to join ISIS, acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel said in a statement. Whatever grievances might exist with our government, our country, or our way of life, violence is not the answer.

Almadaoji bought a plane ticket on Oct. 24, 2018, in attempt to travel to Afghanistan. He was arrested after checking in and obtaining his boarding pass, prosecutors say.

Almadaoji told an individual posing as an ISIS supporter online about his proposed plot to start a conflict in the United States between the federal government and anti-government militias. Prosecutors say he asked for a guide on how to make a car bomb.

In August 2018, Almadaoji told the purported ISIS supporter that he was always willing to assist with projects in the U.S., according to prosecutors. Almadaoji recorded and sent a video of himself wearing a headscarf and pledging allegiance to the leader of ISIS.

He reportedly planned to travel to Astana, Kazahkstan, then get smuggled into Afghanistan so that he could join and receive military training from ISIS-K. Prosecutors say Almadaoji said he wanted weapons experts training, planning and executing, hit and run, capturing high-value targets, ways to break into homes and avoid security guards. That type of training.

Almadaoji had traveled to Egypt and Jordan in February 2018 hoping to join an ISIS affiliate in the Sinai Peninsula, ISIS Wilayat Sinai, but he was unsuccessful, prosecutors say.

In addition, Almadaoji translated a purported ISIS document from Arabic to English and he told his contact whom Almadaoji believed to be part of ISIS Dont thank me ... its my duty.

Prosecutors say Almadaoji faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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Adm. Christopher W. Grady, 58, is commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, which prepares and provides naval forces to serve across the globe. (U.S. Navy)

President Joe Biden will nominate a four-star Navy officer as the Pentagons next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tapping Adm. Christopher W. Grady to replace Air Force Gen. John Hyten, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

The nomination paperwork was delivered to the Senate on Monday night, said two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the administration had not yet announced the nomination publicly. With Hyten expected to retire Nov. 19, what is considered the Pentagons No. 2 military position could sit vacant pending Senate confirmation of his successor.

Grady, 58, is commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, which prepares and provides naval forces to serve across the globe. He previously served as commander of the Navys 6th Fleet, which oversees naval forces around Europe and Africa from a headquarters in Naples.

White House officials did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday about why it has taken so long to nominate someone for the job. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said last week that were all mindful of the looming retirement of General Hyten.

The secretary remains very grateful for his leadership, and his service, Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. And when theres something to say, with respect to an announcement or nomination, that will come from the White House as appropriate.

Senior Pentagon officials are not expected to name an acting vice chairman in Hytens absence, but will temporarily delegate some of his duties after he retires.

Vetting a nominee for such a senior position typically takes many weeks. In Hytens case, it included the Senate scrutinizing an allegation of sexual assault made against him by an Army colonel who had worked on his staff when the general led U.S. Strategic Command, which is responsible for the militarys nuclear arsenal. The womans account generated intense scrutiny in the media and on Capitol Hill, but military investigators did not substantiate the allegations, and senators ultimately confirmed Hyten on a vote of 75 to 22.

The role of vice chairman has varied, but the officer in the job often has focused on modernizing the U.S. military and the nations nuclear weapons. By law, the vice chairman cannot come from the same service as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Army Gen. Mark Milley has held that role since September 2019.

Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general and former senior Senate staff member, on Tuesday called for the Senate to fast-track the nomination. Grady, he said, is highly qualified.

There should be no gap in service with a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff given the nature of todays unpredictable world, Punaro said.
Former Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), who retired from the House of Representatives after being diagnosed with Alzheimers, hugs his wife, Stephene, after he testified at a hearing on The Rising Cost of Alzheimers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Moore died Tuesday at age 75. (J.M. Eddins Jr., MCT/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Former Kansas Rep. Dennis Moore, who as a Democrat interrupted decades of Republican control of the state's 3rd congressional district, died Tuesday. He was 75.

Moore's wife, Stephene, announced the death. She said the former congressman and Army veteran had cancer. Moore had also had Alzheimer's for more than a decade.

Voters first elected Moore to the U.S. House in 1998, when he defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Vince Snowbarger. The victory ended 37 years of GOP representation in the district, which has traditionally encompassed the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro.

Moore served six terms in the House before deciding against running for reelection in 2010. Stephene ran instead, but was defeated by Republican Kevin Yoder.

Moore was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in June of 2011 after he noticed he was having difficulties remembering random events and trouble managing household finances. He became an Alzheimer's advocate and testified before Congress in 2014 to push for increased federal funding for Alzheimer's research.

"While Dennis endured the effects of Alzheimer's disease, he remained happy, gracious, dignified and with a constant sense of humor for which he was known," Stephene said in a statement. "He stayed in touch with family and friends by phone calls and welcomed their visits. We were fortunate to experience all of Dennis' amazing, fun and big personality, which will stay within our hearts and for which we are forever grateful."

Stephene said some of Moore's proudest legislative accomplishments included passing a law requiring the federal government to pay for the return flights home of active-duty members of the military, as well as increasing the death benefit for the families of fallen members of the military from $12,000 to $100,000.

"I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Dennis Moore, and my heart goes out to Stephene and his family. Dennis was a dedicated, gracious, and principled leader who will be remembered for his service to the Third District and the state of Kansas," Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat who currently represents the 3rd District, said in a statement.

Davids recalled how the first time she met Moore in person, she had been carrying a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution that she had kept with her throughout law school. The constitution had the official label of the Office of Congressman Dennis Moore.

"After a good laugh about how on Earth I had managed to hold on to it all those years, he offered to sign my copy and gave me advice on my campaign. For his humor, his thoughtfulness, his dedication to public service (and his guitar playing skills): he will be missed," Davids said.

Former Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican who served alongside Moore, fondly remembered the Kansas Democrat's bipartisanship and his showmanship. When the two lawmakers would appear together for road dedications and ribbon cuttings, Moore would bring his guitar to perform "God Bless America" and "Home on the Range" with Roberts.

"He'd come in with a smile on his face and it was just a schtick that we had. He would play the guitar and we would sing together showing great bipartisanship. ... I think my staff didn't care for it very much, but I always got a big kick out of it," Roberts said.

Howard Bauleke, Moore's former Chief of Staff, called it "ironic" that Moore died on election day.

"If you look at Dennis' political career he was always dedicated to civility and decency and fair play and he also didn't let himself get knocked off into either ideological dig. He always kept his finger on the pulse of the district," Bauleke said.

Moore was born Nov. 8, 1945, in Anthony, a small town in Harper's County, southwest of Wichita. He attended Wichita Southeast High School and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1967 and received his law degree from Washburn University in 1970.

Moore was a captain in the Military Intelligence Corps and the United States Army Reserve. In 1971, he became an assistant state attorney general and was elected Johnson County district attorney in 1977, a position he held until 1989. Throughout the 1990s, he sat on the board of trustees of Johnson County Community College.

As a prosecutor, Moore often focused on violent crimes against women and children. He helped establish SafeHome, a nonprofit organization and domestic violence shelter.

When he ran for Congress in 1998, the 3rd district had a decidedly Republican bent. Not since 1959 had voters sent a Democrat to Washington. But Snowbarger, his opponent, was seen by many voters as too conservative in a district that at the time favored moderate Republicans.

In Congress, Moore was a "Blue Dog" Democrat  a group of lawmakers known for their centrist views who emphasized bipartisan cooperation during a less-polarized era in Washington. His service spanned several momentous occasions, including Sept. 11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president and the financial crisis.

Moore, along with every other Kansas representative, voted in favor of a resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. But by 2006, he had written to President George W. Bush, calling for private discussions about when to pull troops out of the country.

In his last election, in 2008, he defeated Republican Nick Jordan, 56% to 40%. Two years later, he bowed out and Stephene ran instead. She lost to Republican Kevin Yoder as a national wave of conservative anger encapsulated by the Tea Party movement swept GOP candidates into office across the country and restored Republican control of the House.

Out of office and diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Moore became an advocate for more funding and research focused on the disease.

"An epidemic is upon us and too many families are in situations like mine, facing a fatal disease that currently has no way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression," Moore said at a 2014 hearing. "As a nation we cannot afford to wait until Alzheimer's bankrupts us. We must make the smart investment now to realize a better, healthier future for our families and for our country."

Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican, said his respect for Moore only grew as he watched how he and Stephene confronted his Alzheimer's with a determination to help others. "His legacy will be the way in which he gave others battling Alzheimer's courage and hope," Moran said.

Moore died at Prairie Elder Care in Overland Park, Kan., where he had been living for the past three years.

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An Apata employee with strong avocado industry knowledge has won the 2021 Young Grower competition.

Melissa (Mel) van den Heuvel, 26, will now go on to represent her grower sector at the Young Horticulturist (Kaiahuone rangatahi o te tau) final early next year.

Mel emerged the winner of her sector after a two-day competition held late last month. The competition involved testing skills like tractor driving, pest identification and bookwork, as well as the presentation of an innovative idea, and delivery of speech.

Winning was a shock, a bit overwhelming, says Mel, who says she was up against a strong bunch of contestants.

She says shes proud to be in such a supportive industry and is passionate about her work.

What we produce is very top notch, says this young woman whose working life has been avocado focused.

Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree from Waikato University, Mel went straight to NZ Avocado, spending three years there initially as a graduate and then moving into an industry systems associate role. Her post-harvest focused job involved aspects such as quality standards and trials and pest monitoring protocol. Mel moved to Katikati-based Apata just over a year ago and is an avocado grower services representative there.

In February next year, Mel (who was the last finalist to be named) will face the winners of the other sector finals also vying for the coveted title of this years Young Horticulturist. They are: Tim Cooper of Dunedin as the Young Amenity Horticulture representative; Hayden Parker of Christchurch as the Young Landscaper representative; Rudrik Tripathi of Pukekohe as the Young Flower Grower representative; Martin Manea of Wellington as the New Arborist representative, Dani McBride of Mangawhai as the NZ Plant Producers Industry Young Achiever representative; and Rhys Hall of Blenheim as the Young Viticulturist representative.

Rotorua-born Mel, lives in Matamata, and commutes over the Kaimai Ranges to work  after starting the day with an avocado-focused breakfast.

You cant go wrong with avocado on toast, its stock standard. Depending on the mood, I sometimes add some avocado oil (lime flavoured) and chilli sauce, but usually I just whip some on toast and off I go, Mel laughs.

Young Horticulturist competition chairperson Hamish Gates says the competition offers a springboard from which many of its contestants go on to ensure NZs horticultural industry remains innovative and inspirational in a global context.

The competition is an important event for the primary sectors of NZ, he says, and couldnt occur without the support of official partners, supporters, and friends of the competition.

Returning as the official 2021 partners are Countdown, Fruitfed and T&G Fresh.

T&G Global Chief Executive, Gareth Edgecombe says horticulture is an exciting and fulfilling career option for young people and T&G is proud to support the great talent presented at the Young Horticulturist Competition.

Were proud to help recognise the future leaders of our industry through the Young Horticulturist Competition. Every year the competition presents many driven and enthusiastic young people ready to lead Aotearoas exciting horticulture industry forward, which is great to see.

This 2021 competition final was to have been held late this year but has been delayed until mid-February due to Covid-related restrictions.
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Direct flights between the Costa del Sol and Canada are ready for take-off Malaga's mayor revealed the news at the World Travel Market in London

Malaga Airport will resume direct flights between the Costa del Sol and the Canadian city of Montreal from next month, after the route was suspended as the coronavirus pandemic swept the world.

The Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, announced the news at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London and said that it is a key connection for the city to improve its connectivity with long-distance destinations.

The route to Montreal will be the only direct means of access to the North American market, and De la Torre said the city needs to recover the flights to the United States as soon as possible. It is a connection that we cannot afford to miss out on. It is key," he said.

Regarding the direct flight with the largest city in Quebec, De la Torre pointed out that the data provided by the airline shows that the connection with Malaga generates even more traffic than the one with Madrid.

Recovering and improving the Costa del Sol's air connectivity is one of the challenges that Malaga City Council is working on and for this reason it has included meetings with airline managers at the WTM.

De la Torre has defended the importance of being more visible and stronger than ever at the World Travel Market. The mayor, together with the head of the Tourism, Rosa Sanchez, has held meetings with various representatives of the British press, including The Times and Daily Telegraph, as well as with operators such as TUI and Jet2Holidays; and with airlines such as Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus.
The Prosecutor's Office asks for an investigation into whether blasts from the La Arana cement plant have damaged prehistoric caves It has instructed the Nature Protection Service Seprona to investigate a possible historical heritage crime following a complaint by the Izquierda Unida political party

Malagas Provincial Prosecutor's Office has opened proceedings to investigate a possible historical heritage crime against the prehistoric caves, which are classified as an asset of cultural interest.

The blasting carried out by the La Arana cement factory last summer could have damaged the caves in the area.

Environmental Prosecutor Fernando Benitez has issued a resolution, following a complaint filed by the local coordinator of Izquierda Unida, Remedios Ramos, in which he asks that the facts denounced by the Seprona team of the Civil Guard Command of Malaga be investigated.

In his letter, the prosecutor highlights that, in the IUs complaint, it is pointed out that "aggregate exploitation activities have been carried out in the area, with blasts using high-calibre explosives during the months of June, July and September 2021, by the FYM-Heydelberg cement company in the vicinity of Navarro IV Cave, declared to be of cultural interest, in the karst complex of La Arana, with possible damage to the cave named La Maravilla Blanca that was subject to inspection and report by the Delegation of Culture of the Junta de Andalucia on 25 June, with all extractive activity frozen as a result of that report."

However, in the resolution from the Prosecutor's Office it is added that "it seems that the cement company continued its activity underhandedly and there were explosions on 2 and 10 September that may have affected the site of the Navarro IV Cave and the newly discovered cave, which is within the environment of the protected area called the Complex of caves and prehistoric shelters of La Arana.

The local coordinator of IU, Remedios Ramos, explained that the objective of this legal action is "the protection of the entire karst complex that includes the caves of La Arana, the Cueva del Navarro and La Maravilla Blanca that we consider to be in danger," and has asked the Board to process the protection of the newly discovered cave because "it is an asset of great geological, historical and patrimonial value."

"We welcome this opening of proceedings by the Prosecutor's Office and trust that it will be the first step towards the effective protection of this environment, given the lack of decision to date by the Malaga City Council and the Junta de Andalucia for its protection," Ramos added.
Top Covid expert in Spain sees no need for a third dose "in general" and says "give them to the third world" Fernando Simon also claimed "in the first wave 2.3 million people were infected with coronavirus, not 226,000" and also gave his explanations for what triggered the different waves

The director of Spain's Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), Fernando Simon, has said this Tuesday (2 November) that during the first wave of the pandemic, in the spring of last year, he believes that Spain registered "2.3 million infections" of Covid -19, and "not 226,000", as the official statistics of the Ministry of Health still show today.

Simon has admitted that at the time the health system "only detected one in ten cases" due to the inability to perform diagnostic tests due to the lack of tests. "Germany stopped its exports", and when the country allowed the distribution of these products again, "we began to find eight out of ten cases were positive," said the health officer speaking at an event in Zaragoza.

First wave

Simon explained that the first wave, which arrived in Spain from Italy, was the product of three factors: Three thousand Spaniards, mostly workers, who participated in the Milan Fashion Week, from 18 to 24 February, followed by the Erasmus students returning home at the end of the same month, and 3,000 Italians who visited the Arco de Madrid fair from 26 February to 1 March.

Foreign tourists not to blame

The chief medical officer also suggested that the second wave came about not because of foreign tourists in the summer of 2020, but because when the Spains lockdown restrictions were lifted, "the infected moved throughout the country"; the third, after Christmas, and the fourth were "a small problem" and the fifth wave began with end-of-year trips by the younger generation.

'Booster' doses of vaccines

In addition, the director of the CCAES said that he believe that a third dose of a coronavirus vaccine is not necessary "in general" because "it seems that immunity lasts for years" and has instead advocated "giving them to third world countries."

He also expressed his doubts about the giving the vaccine to those under 12 years of age, a group that "is very little affected by the disease."
Spain will donate 50 million Covid vaccines to developing countries Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the doses will delivered, mainly to Latin American nations, before the end of the first quarter of 2022

Spain will accelerate the donation of vaccines to developing countries, in particular Latin American nations, in the coming months, reaching 50 million doses delivered before the end of the first quarter of next year.

"It will be a little more than one for each Spanish citizen," said Pedro Sanchez last Sunday when announcing the measure during the G20 summit held in Rome.

The fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the need to take relevant measures to face the climate emergency were the main themes of the meeting of the most developed countries in the world.

"I am satisfied with what has been achieved," said the socialist leader, saying the expectations of the summit "have been far exceeded" by the commitments reached. He acknowledged that now it will be necessary to "measure" with "facts" that the measures agreed in the final document are now delivered.

Among them is facilitating access to vaccines for developing nations so that, by the middle of 2022, some 70 per cent of the world's population will be vaccinated against Covid-19.

This G20 objective was proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), that has also set a target of 40 per cent global coverage with vaccines before the end of 2021.
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Tahlequah, OK (74464)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High around 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.
Ecochlor appoints Andrew Marshall as CEO

Ecochlor, Inc. has announced that the Companys Board of Directors (BOD) has appointed Andrew Marshall as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

He will assume day-to-day leadership of the Company. Steve Candito will continue to support the company as a senior advisor to the Ecochlor BOD and leadership team. Mr. Candito expressed his confidence in the appointment of Andrew Marshall in a released statement: When Andrew joined Ecochlor in 2019 as Vice President of Business Development he started the process of reshaping our international sales team as well as assisting in transforming the core of our business and growth strategy into the success that it is today! He was instrumental in expanding our product line into both tank cleaning via a novel gas-freeing technology, and small capacity ballast water management systems (BWMS) using UV technology whilst also leading the EcoOne Type Approval Task Force. His track record and depth of experience in the maritime business make him an ideal leader for Ecochlor at this time and into the future as we continue to leverage and build the Company to next level.

Mr. Marshal has more than 30 years of experience in developing and launching emerging technologies. He is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in international business development. Prior to Ecochlor, Mr. Marshall served as the owner of Marshall Global Consulting, Ltd., the CEO of Coldharbour Marine and the COO of Spectral Fusion Technologies.

As CEO, Mr. Marshall will be the primary intermediary between the company and the BOD. He will be responsible for communicating on behalf of the Company, with shareholders and potential investors in addition to implementing a high-level corporate strategy in line with the organizations vision and mission.

I am honored for the opportunity to lead this exceptional organization of highly-dedicated and talented professionals, said Mr. Marshall. Under Steves [Candito] guidance, the Company has grown from a startup to a leading BWMS company and we have made meaningful progress toward realizing our top company priorities and goals. During his tenure, we have made significant advancement in the improvement of our operating efficiencies, strengthen our market penetration and brand, as well as increasing our service and chemical resupply locations across the globe. I am fortunate to be able to continue to build on the foundation that he has built along with the rest of the Ecochlor team.




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Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Delhi,Ludhiana Posts: 1,555 Thanked: 2,182 Times

View My Garage





Pics & Report | BMW Joyfest 2021 @ Ludhiana



We hoped there would be some more BMW events (as they regularly used to) where i could check out the rest of the cars and get to know the limits of the cars but alas the pandemic put a stop to everything. I pretty much checked the BMW India website without fail every month to check if they are restarting the Events (Joyfest/xDrive/M driver Training) and finally after over a year of waiting, I see at the start of October; there was finally a Schedule. And the Best part? first 2 cities on it are Delhi and Ludhiana( I was fine with attending it at either city)





With the BMW website being utterly useless to register or get any info on how to sign up for it, I got help from Member Turbanator who gave me the contact of the coordinator for the Delhi event and gave me the tip to contact the Ludhiana dealer who would be making the list of attendees for the event in that city. Unfortunately, as I got to know the Delhi event was totally booked out and I was told I was late by 2-3 days, so I made sure to get in touch with my dealer in Ludhiana (helps as we bought the car from the same place). Of course, they didn't do it at once but I had to call the BMW India coordinator as well to get the dealer to get me in. This also gave me an excuse to visit home (to Ludhiana).



The Event



First Look





The Pavilion



We reached 15 min early for our slot so that we are able to choose the cars we drive on the event (it is first come first serve), but we ended up so early that we were given an option to go on the previous slot if we were okay with driving the cars that were left. After a good 5 min of me explaining that No I did not want to drive the 2GC or X1 (already drive a FWD BMW), they agreed to let me try for the next (my scheduled slot).



Meanwhile my dad and I looked around and Inside. and put in some fuel for us as well (High Tea)









The Lineup of cars









Finally as the next slot was opening up, I pretty much ran to get the keys for the 330Li (it was either this or the JCW). It was a short slalom course with an acceleration run at the end. So didn't feel like the 520d or 620d options would be well suited.



The SUVs were to be driven on an emergency maneuver course and I chose the X5 30d as I haven't driven this generation yet and hoped this would be a bit of a challenge with its size and weight. I was obviously wrong as this car doesn't seem to obey Physics with its large size and weight, going about its business like a much smaller car Rewind Back to 2019 when after years of ogling and thinking, my family finally decided it was a good idea to get a nice German car, X1 was chosen for the practicality, comfort, build quality and last but not the least the Image. Had it been me choosing the car on my own, I would have picked the 330i anyday but it was my Dad's car and the higher seating position and much better ride quality coupled with actual usable backseat the X1 made more sense. Anyway, it is still a BMW and a good entry point into the brand.We hoped there would be some more BMW events (as they regularly used to) where i could check out the rest of the cars and get to know the limits of the cars but alas the pandemic put a stop to everything. I pretty much checked the BMW India website without fail every month to check if they are restarting the Events (Joyfest/xDrive/M driver Training) and finally after over a year of waiting, I see at the start of October; there was finally a Schedule. And the Best part? first 2 cities on it are Delhi and Ludhiana( I was fine with attending it at either city)With the BMW website being utterly useless to register or get any info on how to sign up for it, I got help from Member Turbanator who gave me the contact of the coordinator for the Delhi event and gave me the tip to contact the Ludhiana dealer who would be making the list of attendees for the event in that city. Unfortunately, as I got to know the Delhi event was totally booked out and I was told I was late by 2-3 days, so I made sure to get in touch with my dealer in Ludhiana (helps as we bought the car from the same place). Of course, they didn't do it at once but I had to call the BMW India coordinator as well to get the dealer to get me in. This also gave me an excuse to visit home (to Ludhiana).First LookThe PavilionWe reached 15 min early for our slot so that we are able to choose the cars we drive on the event (it is first come first serve), but we ended up so early that we were given an option to go on the previous slot if we were okay with driving the cars that were left. After a good 5 min of me explaining that No I did not want to drive the 2GC or X1 (already drive a FWD BMW), they agreed to let me try for the next (my scheduled slot).Meanwhile my dad and I looked around and Inside. and put in some fuel for us as well (High Tea)The Lineup of carsFinally as the next slot was opening up, I pretty much ran to get the keys for the 330Li (it was either this or the JCW). It was a short slalom course with an acceleration run at the end. So didn't feel like the 520d or 620d options would be well suited.The SUVs were to be driven on an emergency maneuver course and I chose the X5 30d as I haven't driven this generation yet and hoped this would be a bit of a challenge with its size and weight. I was obviously wrong as this car doesn't seem to obey Physics with its large size and weight, going about its business like a much smaller car
What just happened? The unfortunately named Gary Bowser, a member of the Team-Xecuter hacking group, has pleaded guilty to charges relating to the sale of hardware and software that allowed people to play unauthorized or pirated games on various consoles, including several from Nintendo. It comes after Nintendo of America, which has both a president and a famous character named Bowser, launched a lawsuit against the hacker earlier this year.

Described as one of the worlds most notorious videogame piracy groups by the Department of Justice, Team-Xecuter sold various tools that allowed buyers to circumvent console makers security measures.

Nintendo claimed in its lawsuit that Bowser has been creating and selling Nintendo hacking devices since at least 2013 and has sold them for the DS, 3DS, and the Nintendo Wii; the organization is well-known its Nintendo Switch modchips. He was arrested at the same time as Max Louarn, another member of Team-Xecuter, last October and charged with 11 felony counts.

Team-Xecuter previously claimed it is not a copyright-infringing ring of software pirates and that its products allow users to make legitimate backups of cartridges and play homebrew games. It also accused Nintendo of censorship, monopolistic control, and legal scare tactics. Those who make the consoles and games didnt agree with this view. Nintendo was especially annoyed, and was joined in its pursuit of Team-Xecuter by the US government last year.

Canadian national Bowser, 51, was arrested in the Dominican Republic in September 2020 before being deported to the US. He initially denied the allegations against him but, in a plea agreement, later admitted to conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and trafficking in circumvention devices, both of which carry maximum sentences of five years. He has also agreed to pay $4.5 million in restitution to Nintendo and help locate any remaining Team-Xecuter assets.

48-year-old French national Max Louarn was also arrested abroad in connection with the charges in this case last year. The US government is seeking Louarns extradition to America so he can stand trial in the country.

Imagine if something you invented was stolen from you and then marketed and sold to customers around the world. That is exactly what Team Xecutor was doing, said Raymond Duda of the FBI. This is a perfect example of why the FBI has made the prevention of the theft of intellectual property a priority. These arrests should send a message to would-be pirates that the FBI does not consider these crimes to be a game.

h/t: Torrentfreak
In brief: Facebook changing its corporate name to Meta could cost the company more than expected. An Arizona firm called Meta PCs that sells laptops, accessories, and customized rigs already applied to trademark the "Meta" name in August but is willing to sell it to Zuckerberg and co. for $20 million.

Last week saw Facebook confirm rumors that it is changing its name. While the social media platform retains the Facebook brand, the company itself is now called Meta, named after the idea of a VR/AR metaverse that Zuckerberg has been talking about for a while.

But Meta/Facebook could face problems beyond the name change failing to distract people from its slew of recent bad press. According to a document shared by TMZ, Arizona firm Meta PCs filed a trademark for the Meta name in August, just over a year after it started trading.

Meta PCs co-founder Zack Shutt told The Guardian that the company was registered in November last year, and none of the team was aware of Facebook's plans to rebrand as Meta until last week. Both Shutt and co-founder Joe Darger say they won't sell the name for anything less than $20 million.

A TMZ source said that Facebook believes they have the necessary rights to acquire the name, and it's noted that Meta PCs' trademark petition hasn't yet been granted. There are also plenty of legal loopholes a multi-billion company such as Facebook could exploit if needed, such as filing an application in another country and using that application date to file in the US.

an announcement regarding our new name from our founder @zackshutt pic.twitter.com/I7tofqPa6Z  META PCs (@METAPCs) October 28, 2021

In a mocking tweet, Shutt posted a video similar to the one Zuckerberg made in which the billionaire announced the name change. In Shutt's clip, he states that Meta PCs is "now Facebook."
Bottom line: Samsung has revealed a pair of jeans with smaller pockets specifically designed to fit the Galaxy Z Flip3. The pants are a limited promotional item to call attention to the phone's compact size when folded. The designer jeans won't exactly come cheap, so you're gonna need deep pockets.

Samsung, in collaboration with denim specialists Dr Denim, announced the launch of the Z Flip Pocket Denim, a pair of jeans that celebrates the folding form factor of the Galaxy Z Flip3. A limited-edition run will offer 450 pairs at a price tag of AUS $1,499 (around $1,052). The "statement piece" will also come with a free Galaxy Z Flip3, which retails for around $1,000 by itself.

The back pockets have been completely removed. Instead, one of the pockets situated on the rear has been moved to the front thigh. It is designed to fit the exact dimensions of the Galaxy Z Flip3. Dr Denim has also stitched two large Z patterns over the front pockets. To make the special edition jeans stand out more, both the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Flip Pocket Denim will arrive in stylish Dr Denim packaging.

"Smartphones are often not pocket friendly, so we've leveraged Dr Denim's style credentials to design jeans that shake up the pocket norm and perfectly fit our compact Galaxy Z Flip3," said Samsung Mobile's Head of Brand Marketing Hayley Walton. "Our Galaxy Z Flip3 users expect the very best in design and pocketability, and what better to accompany our premium phones than the perfect pair of bespoke jeans."

Customers can purchase the Z Flip Pocket Denim via Dr Denim's website in both men's and women's styles. Those interested will have to be quick considering the current state of the scalping market. Remember the Xbox Series X refrigerator that got snatched up in minutes?

Samsung's latest foldable devices have displayed staying power in a fiercely competitive market. The Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3 total sales reached 2 million units since their August launch, outselling Samsung's Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Note 20 flagships.
Essential software for screen recording has been a game-changer for people in the digital age. Entrepreneurs and other social media artists heavily depend on them, especially when marketing a particular product or service.

Since the pandemic started, businesses have stayed afloat in the competition by utilizing effective tools for digital activities. For these businesses to gather more audience, certain companies offer the best services in the field of social media marketing.

For content marketers, video demos of companies' services and products represent a lot of information. That is why it is recommended to use an efficient program for screen capture.

Here are the top five software that can create a significant impact for your company's projects that require screen recording.

#1 Bandicam

Bandicam is no stranger when it comes to multimedia management. Specifically, this company boasts Bandicam Screen Recorder, the best screen recording tool that works for various purposes, such as promoting certain brands and demonstrating instructions to viewers.

When working on our screen, Bandicam will help us capture the best shots straight from our screen. Moreover, the company incorporates its craft with other game giants such as Tencent, Ubisoft, EA, and a lot more.

Bandicam offers one of the most go-to screen recorders intended for Windows users. If people have concerns about getting a good screenshot for their presentation, this company will provide the best solution for them.

We should also take into account that Bandicam will guarantee high-quality videos for their work. Moreover, the company will help them out in producing a highly compressed screen capture for their needs.

Either way, we can choose a created video in MP4 or AVI formats. For the screengrabs, Bandicam has a lot of options to save the photos in the form of JPG, PNG, or BMP and also has an option to save the PC and microphone sounds in WAV format.

Bandicam will be a reliable program partner when it comes to this technology. Access to these digital solutions would revamp users' experience in screen capturing processes.

The software brand offers the following features that we should check out:

Full Quality Internet Video and Audio

Social media clips from TikTok, Facebook, and other social media can be saved easily through Bandicam. Recording audio from several sites is also possible through Bandicam. Additionally, the program can do the same thing with known video-calling platforms such as Skype, Zoom, and Discord.

Real-time Drawing

The video recording would be more meaningful, thanks to Bandicam's real-time drawing. Its feature to add real-time notes, highlights, lines, and other helpful notations on a video can help a business creatively present its product or service information with a personal touch. It also ensures that their audience can avoid information overload during a recorded product demo by aiding them throughout the presentation using helpful cues.

Facecam Recorder

This Facecam Recorder could capture both the user's face and screen. At the same time, the real-time screen capture for our PC display and webcam feed stands as an essential feature, especially for big enterprises that aim to create product demos.

Using the facecam (webcam overlay) feature, users can put their face in the corner of their video tutorial or demo. For example, you can put your face/webcam in the corner of PowerPoint. You can even use Chroma Key to remove the background. It allows users to make a professional tutorial or demo video.

24 Hours and 365 Days Recording

Bandicam is a Free Screen Recorder that is capable of recording videos for long hours. This software could transform our CCTV into a more useful tool if we have enough space for our computers. You can save your long-term work progress on your PC through its 24/7/365 recording.

Additionally, Bandicam borrows the same purpose and function as a Computer Blackbox. A black box is an electronic device that can record data about the plane's flight. It is the same tool that Bandicam has for effective surveillance and PC monitoring.

Other Features

User-friendly UI

Scheduled recording

Webcam overlay

Chroma key effect

Mouse click effect

Various modes for screen recording

Allows image/text insertion

Benefits

Bandicam excels in its dynamic screen recording mode and web overlay functionality. That's something that other screen recording software does not provide.

Aside from tweaking settings for the video, Image, and more, this program can enable webcam recording without any problem. However, you need to have a capture card device to start recording with your PlayStation, iPhone, Apple TV, and Xbox.

The best videos are made with its screen recording feature, from product development to video tutorials. The company fills the gap for those who are looking for budget-friendly screen capturing software. Bandicam got them covered for its price.

For those who frequently use the Zoom app, recording a virtual meeting without the host's permission is possible through Bandicam. To get started, visit the official site on how to integrate it during video conference calls.

Bandicam is an all-in-one screen recorder that allows users to record their computer screen, game, webcam, computer sound, and the like.

#2 OBS Studio

For content creators, especially for gaming streamers, OBS Studio is one of the best free screen recorders that they can download. This open-source software is free to use and has no recording limits, unlike FRAPS. The latter is a Windows application that only allows users to record for 30 seconds unless they purchase the premium version.

Whether users want to capture their gaming moments or stream their games, they will not be restricted on how long they want to record a clip. They could also save them immediately in FLV format once they are done in their live streaming.

Benefits

Since this is a must-try for gamers, it is capable of direct recording from the computer's GPU. This means that it could record a screen while streaming in full-screen mode. Some screen recording software let the users record only the windowed games.

Apart from this, they could also customize the hotkeys to take advantage of improved recording. Paired with a 60FPS recording, OBS Studio will help the content creators with advanced performance, thanks to the multi-core CPUs.

OBS Studio is also ad-free and will save the users from unnecessary clicking. However, setting up this screen recording software could take some time.

It is currently available in Windows, Linux, and macOS 10.13 and later versions.

#3 Apowersoft

Another free screen recorder that we can use for tutorials and presentations is the Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder. Unlike the previously mentioned app for streaming, this software is intended for desktop tasks, not gaming.

Downloading a small launcher app is required upon using this screen recording tool for the first time. It features a control bar that lets you have more options for your desktop needs.

From the desktop or webcam, screen-grabbing footage is possible. Users could also record a clip from a microphone or PC. This in-browser tool also allows the use of both of them or neither.

Benefits

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder excels in capturing the whole screen from a video that we can obtain from YouTube and other sources. Furthermore, users can utilize keyboard shortcuts to hasten their work.

They could also process their recording in several formats such as MOV, MP4, AVI, and WMV. Adding an annotation is possible during the process.

Later, they could save it as GIFs and send it to Dropbox or Google Drive. They could also upload it to YouTube.

When accessing Apowersoft's official page for its screen recorder, you have the option to purchase its premium version, which offers more updated features.

#4 DVDVideoSoft

For virtual meetings and video calls done in Skype, the free recording software offered by DVDVideosoft is the best tool for the users. This lightweight app comes with an image editor that will help them bring out the best in their screen grabs.

In just a single click, users could get the desired outcome that they want when doing presentations. Besides printing the screen, they could also record a clip from Windows and desktop and even from a particular area through this free screen video app.

Most importantly, users will not encounter any adware or spyware when using it.

Benefits

Aside from being a recommended tool for Skype recording, this app provides a good screenshot feature to capture screen moments with friends and colleagues.

On the official DVDVideoSoft website, users could see a helpful step-by-step guide on how to use it. This will pave the way for them to properly understand how to make a screenshot and capture a video.

At the moment, the screen recording software is available in 10 languages. For output formats, users could save them in GIF, PNG, MP4, TGA, BMP, and JPEG.

Despite the lack of notice when disconnection takes place, DVDVideoSoft is still a good software that will meet the user's demands.

#5 iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite offers necessary tools for educators, especially with its screen recorder that is well-suited for video tutorials, online training, and more e-learning activities.

Whether you want to make a conversation simulator or a quiz-making tool, this screen recording software will make it easy for the users to make a screencast. In addition, they could also include annotations and voiceovers.

Users could also edit their screen-recorded file to include transition effects or remove unnecessary fragments after recording a screencast.

The full iSpring Suite toolkit costs a hefty amount per year, though there's also a 30-day trial that users can access with no charge at all.

Benefits

The reason why iSpring Suite is one of the best recording software out there is its ability to record two videos simultaneously. Users could utilize this app in recording a webcam clip and a screencast.

For a more professional presentation, it allows importing of media and even Powerpoint slides. This robust screen recording tool also helps educators replace a training video by clicking "Screen Recording" on the toolbar. After that, they could now record a new clip and save it.

The only downside of this screen-recording software is its limited format. Recorded videos can only be saved in MP4.

Regardless of whether a screen recording app is for video tutorials, product presentations, and other purposes, the most critical part is how users accomplish their tasks by taking advantage of the tool's features.

Several businesses, content creators, and education professionals always seek the best and the most trusted screen recorders for the nature of their jobs.

At the end of the day, the reliability of a screen-recording software boils down to seven factors: manageable UI, editing capabilities, screen-recording options, price, sharing format, review, and customer feedback.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Pexels)

Employee surveillance has been a growing market over the past decade. Oftentimes, company laptops or workstations are tweaked to monitor employee activities by default to measure productivity and gauge whether employees are hooked into the system during working hours.

The demand for employee surveillance software and data monitoring techniques has peaked by 50 percent since the onset of the pandemic due to the hybrid work culture that COVID-19 has brought about. Unfortunately, third-party surveillance software could lead to severe privacy breaches.

There are also several surveillance software options that employers may secretly deploy to track the websites you are visiting and the applications you use. Furthermore, if you are using your work laptop to send private emails or messages on social media, your employer might be able to monitor them, as well. In addition to this, some surveillance apps have the ability to track your physical movements and geolocation, and even take over control of your webcam to check that you aren't watching Netflix at work.

Companies might be able to legally enforce some of these monitoring techniques based on the country you are living in, but they might also be required to inform employees in detail if they deploy extensive surveillance modes including access to webcams and geolocation tracking.

If you've ever felt like your Internet speed dips whenever you try to download a huge file or watch a 4K video, there's also a chance you might be subjected to bandwidth throttling or capping by your Internet service provider (ISP).

If your data consumption is very high, your ISP might reroute your Internet traffic through slower channels to provide a positive experience to all of their users. This process is also called bandwidth shaping or throttling, and it requires your ISP to monitor all of the inbound and outbound traffic from your devices.

How a VPN can Help?

Virtual private networks (VPNs) could be your gateway to Internet freedom and anonymity. What a VPN essentially does is encode the data coming in from your device to their servers, and then safely decodes it before sending it out to the Internet. It also encodes all inbound traffic before transmitting it to your device. Only you and the VPN have the key to decipher this encrypted data.

How does this help? Well, if anyone wants to monitor your online activity while you are using a VPN, they'll find that the data packets are originating from a VPN server and not your device since your IP address will be safely masked. In other words, they won't be able to see what you do on the Internet or limit your bandwidth in any way.

The same goes for employee surveillance. Any activity outside of your work terminal won't make sense to surveillance software since your identity will remain anonymous through the VPN software. This will help you prevent any intrusive employer monitoring techniques.

Moreover, a VPN could help you outfox advertisers and bypass Internet censorship so you can watch your favorite movie show from anywhere in the world. This would be particularly helpful for those who travel a lot.

While there are many VPNs out there to choose from, your checklist should include verifying their protocols, whether they collect and store data, and how fast and widespread their servers are. We came across a global VPN leader called ExpressVPN that has developed their own encryption protocol, doesn't log your web activity on their VPN servers, and offers superfast servers spread across 160 locations in 94 countries with unlimited bandwidth.

How Does ExpressVPN Work?

Founded in 2009, ExpressVPN is a global leader in the VPN industry with over 3,000 strategically located superfast servers encrypted by the 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) protocol, which is used by the U.S. government and security experts worldwide.

Their unique VPN split tunneling feature allows you to decide which online activities you want to execute with and without a VPN. Hence, you may choose to secure your connection with their VPN when banking, shopping online, or sharing any sensitive information while the rest of your web activity is routed directly through the Internet.

Their VPN servers don't log your web activity like your IP address, browsing history, traffic destination, metadata, or Domain Name Server (DNS) queries. Unlike many VPN service providers who might rely on hard drives to carry Internet data through their servers, Express VPN's TrustedServer technology, which is audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, runs their server entirely on Random Access Memories (RAMs) or volatile memory.

When a server is relying on hard drives, it retains all of the data until they are overwritten or deleted. Until the data is deleted, persistent hackers might get a decent enough time window to bypass server firewalls and place a backdoor to steal data until traced by security experts.

What ExpressVPN does is run their VPN servers directly on RAMs or volatile memory since RAMs need to stay switched on to store data. This means that all of the data is erased whenever a server is rebooted or switched off. This way, they are able to minimize vulnerabilities by many folds. Moreover, all of their servers run the latest update patch to eliminate misconfigurations. If not done, this might cause inconvenience to their users.

Unlike most VPN service providers out there, ExpressVPN has also created their own VPN protocol Lightway that uses wolfSSL encryption to offer dynamic encryption. This means that the keys used to encrypt and decrypt Internet traffic changes frequently, making it almost impossible to snoop in on your data. Furthermore, they are one of the few VPN providers that offer 24/7 customer support on live chat to resolve all kinds of VPN-related customer issues.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA's ISS Astronauts have harvested its successful orbit-grown green Hatch chile peppers, which the team has showcased to the world, adding it to their space tacos made right out of the space station. The team's research has paid off, bringing successful research into fruition and growing produce in space aboard the space station.

NASA's ISS Green Hatch Chiles

NASA astronauts and other space people aboard the International Space Station have successfully seen a display of an actual harvest of New Mexico variant, Hatch, chile peppers right in orbit. The plant grew out of the so-called microgravity and was able to thrive, bringing a successful harvest of hatch chile right out of Plant Habitat-04.

Last Friday was the harvest day of the astronauts, wherein they were able to take the fresh hatch chiles out of its actual plant and stem and were able to hold in hand actual produce in space. The plant took months before it successfully brought out its fruit and bore its achievement as history for the ISS and its astronauts.

Read Also: Blue Origin Is Planning To Build Its Very Own Space Station

NASA ISS Astronauts: Space Tacos

What better way to celebrate and assess the hatch chiles than to have a taco party, right? Yes, this is exactly what the NASA ISS astronauts did over the weekend. According to Astronaut Megan McArthur, the team took fajita beef, as well as rehydrating dried-out tomatoes and artichokes, tortilla, and the hatch chiles to make "space tacos" right in orbit.

Friday Feasting! After the harvest, we got to taste red and green chile. Then we filled out surveys (got to have the data! ). Finally, I made my best space tacos yet: fajita beef, rehydrated tomatoes & artichokes, and HATCH CHILE! https://t.co/pzvS5A6z5u pic.twitter.com/fJ8yLZuhZS  Megan McArthur (@Astro_Megan) October 29, 2021

NASA ISS and Its Wonders

Space food is highly associated with military food as they are ready-to-eat meals that were preserved until the time they are needed to be consumed by the astronauts. However, it is not entirely correct or accurate, especially as NASA and other space agencies have demonstrated how the food in space is made and packed for its researchers.

The ISS is a place known to harbor an international consortium of individuals that come together to work on a single goal, and that is to research different aspects of science while in orbit. The ISS has been a place for many research and studies, but it has also been a place to shoot films, as done by a Russian film crew ahead of the plans by Hollywood with Tom Cruise.

Not only are research and shooting films the things to do in the space station, as it also can be a place to grow organic food, such as the hatch chiles mentioned earlier. The researchers are doing this not only for consuming but also to assess its feasibility, especially in growing various crops or produce while in orbit.

The hatch chile is one of the many possible foods to be planted and grown in space, and the future is yet to come.

Related Article: NASA Is Collaborating With National Geographic To Document The Artemis Mission

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX and NASA's Crew-3 mission launch to the International Space Station (ISS) is delayed again until Nov. 6, Saturday, due to a "minor medical issue" that one of the astronauts is experiencing, confirms the United States space agency.

SpaceX, NASA Crew-3 Mission Launch

Initially, SpaceX's Crew-3 mission for National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA to the ISS was scheduled to launch on Oct. 30., which will be flying crew members composed of NASA and European Space Agency or ESA astronauts.

As such, the 5th crewed flight of SpaceX, the Crew-3, was dubbed as the Halloween launch.

However, as per the report by USA Today, the Halloween launch of the Elon Musk-led space exploration firm was moved to Nov. 3, Wednesday, after the weather failed to cooperate with the lift-off of the Crew-3 Mission.

To be precise, the Commercial Crew of NASA said that the delay is due to "a large storm system elevating winds and waves in the Atlantic Ocean. It turns out that it is heading to the flight path of the Crew Dragon. So, the space agency decided to push it to Nov. 3.

SpaceX, NASA Crew-3 Mission Delayed Again

However, the launch of SpaceX's Crew-3 mission is facing another hiccup, delaying its lift-off to much later date.

This time around, according to the report by Space.com, the crew mission is scheduled to launch on Nov. 6, Saturday, at the Kennedy Space Center of NASA in Florida. That is if the launch does not stumble upon another hiccup.

That said, the crew members of the mission, which includes NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Thomas Marshburn, and Raja Chari, as well as ESA's Matthias Maurer, have to wait for a few more days before reaching the ISS via the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, atop the Falcon 9 rocket.

Read Also: SpaceX Crew Dragon to Fly Russia's Cosmonauts to ISS-NASA to Launch in Russian Spacecraft?

Crew-3 Mission Delay: Medical Issue?

Officials from NASA announced on Nov. 1 that the delay is due to a "minor medical issue." The space agency went on to clarify that the hiccup is "not a medical emergency, noting that it is "not related to COVID-19" as well.

Space.com said in the same report that NASA has yet to provide any details regarding the medical issue. On top of that, the space agency also did not identify which astronaut is experiencing the said issue.

However, NASA disclosed that the rest of the Crew-3 astronauts are currently under quarantine at the Kennedy Space Center. The officials of the space agency clarified that it is the normal pre-launch procedure.

Related Article: NASA, SpaceX Mars Missions Should Only Last Less Than 4 Years: New Radiation Study Says Longer Stay Would Be Dangerous

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA is offering you the chance to train the artificial intelligence that's powering their rovers on Mars.

The project, which NASA calls AI4Mars, is asking people to help the agency identify so-called scientifically interesting features in photos taken by the Perseverance Mars rover, reports Space.com.

By helping the AI recognize these features on the Red Planet, NASA says it will aid in the improvement of the Mars rover's algorithm.

According to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (the one managing both the missions of the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rover), the effort is a continuation of a project launched last year.

In 2020, citizen scientists helped analyze almost half-a-million images taken by the Curiosity rover using a special tool. This tool helped them identify land features that NASA JPL used to plan out the routes of the rovers.

This year, AI4Mars has improved enough to identify more than just sand and rocks, but very specific types of them scattered all across the Red Planet.

As per the original Space.com report, the artificial intelligence algorithm is now able to identify "more refined" details such as nodules (BB-sized balls often made of minerals) and "islands" of rocks on the Martian surface.

The project is hosted on Zooniverse.org. As of this writing, it is at 28% total completion, and has received contributions from over 12,400 volunteers.

NASA is currently deep into exploring Mars with the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers. Recently, Perseverance took new photos of the Martian surface after needing a temporary shutdown due to the solar conjunction (when Mars went behind the sun and was briefly hidden from Earth's view.

Read also: NASA Mars Recon Orbiter Captures Perseverance from the Red Planet-Here's How to Track Rover Location

How Does This NASA Project Work, Exactly?

So far, NASA has improved the ability of the Perseverance rover's artificial intelligence to identify specific land features in its route. Its accuracy sits at 98% courtesy of the project's first phase which involved the Curiosity rover.

However, the ones piloting the rovers on Earth could always use an upgrade. Their main goal with AI4Mars is to further reduce the time it takes the images to be sent to Earth and back to the rover in the form of route planning instructions.

Despite the high accuracy of the algorithm right now, it can still fail to identify specific topographic features which could be dangerous for the Mars rover to drive on.

Since the rover alone already costs $2.7 billion according to Planetary.org, NASA is understandably not taking any chances when it comes to driving it on the surface of an alien planet.

Why Is NASA Asking Civilians for Help?

If there's something you must know about artificial intelligence, it's that it does its best learning if you feed it a constant amount of data.

NASA JPL themselves said that it would be impossible for a team of even the world's best scientists to look at the rover photos with intense scrutiny. That's where data from the citizen scientists can come in and significantly reduce the route planning time for the rover.

Related: NASA Will Be Bringing National Geographic's Cameras To Artemis Moon Mission

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(Photo : Unsplash/ Christian Wiediger) Twitch set up

Twitch will now allow streamers with furry friends to create a group for easier live streaming. The platform launched a new category called the Animals, Aquariums, and Zoos category, which may end up being the most interesting page on Twitch.

Twitch's Animal Category

The company says that the new category, which was launched as part of Animal Week, is meant to bring streamers from zoos, conservation projects, and streamers that are animal owners that had been live streaming on the site. The new category will make it easier for them to find each other.

If you want to watch something relaxing, the Animal category is the one for you. It is very easy to find on the platform, and its page features a New York wolf conservancy's den live stream.

The page also features a video from an otter enclosure and a stream from the Monterey Bay Aquarium that shows a gorgeous oceanside view.

Another streamer promises to show viewers squirrels and raccoons eating, according to The Verge.

Also Read: How to Stream on Twitch | Ultimate Beginner Guide 2021

In its announcement post, Twitch stated that some platform creators have interactive animal streams. There is a farmer that live streams its ducks, and he will let you feed them if you donate bits, which is a virtual token on Twitter. There is also a turtle streamer that will allow you to change the lights if you give bits.

Launching a separate category for animals will help bring more attention to animal organizations that are dedicated to educating people about the species.

The category is also great for creators who encourage their fans to donate to those amazing causes.

There has been a lot of disappointing news around Twitch these past few months.

Twitch has been a victim of a hacking incident that had leaked the source code and the hateful raids against marginalized groups.

Hopefully, the streaming platform will be able to keep the new category as a pleasant and interesting place.

Twitch's New Features

In October, Twitch launched the test of its paid boost feature. However, it did not go well. The feature was announced on Sept. 30, and it allows viewers to pay to boost a streamer to a front-page slot for promotion. The feature is only available for viewers in the United States.

According to journalist Zach Bussey, there are three tiers that viewers can choose from. The first one costs $0.99 for 1,000 recommendations, the second one costs $2.97 for 3,000 recommendations, and $4.95 for 5,000 recommendations.

The streamers can also pay to boost their own stream, basically paying for self-promotion. As it is currently a test, it is only available for a limited number of streamers, according to EuroGamer.

However, it is already received a backlash from the community. The UserVoice platform for feedback, the top voted comments are negative, according to Polygon.

For example, one comment suggests that partnered streamers should not be able to use the feature because it could help bigger streamers instead of boosting those who would benefit from the promotion.

What's more is when viewers pay to boost a stream, the streamers do not get any of the money. Instead, it goes straight to Twitch.

Related Article: TommyInnit 'Technoblade' Twitch Comeback Prank: Twitter Users Fall Victim of Early 'April Fool's Day'

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Tehachapi, CA (93561)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 64F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Strong Santa Ana winds possible. Low 41F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph.
In Celtic lore, October 31st is Samhain (All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween): the night when Arawn, lord of the Dead, rides the hills with his ghostly white hounds, and the Faery Court rides forth in stately procession across the land. In ancient times, hearth fires were smothered while bonfires blazed upon the hills, surrounded by circular trenches to protect all mortals from the faery host and the wandering spirits of the dead. In later centuries, Halloween turned into a night of revels for witches and gouls, eventually tamed into the modern holiday of costumes, tricks and treats.

Although the prospect of traffic between the living and the dead has often been feared, some cultures celebrated those special times when doors to the Underworld stood open. In Egypt, Osiris (god of the Netherworld, death, and resurrection) was drowned in the Nile by his brother Seth on the 17th of Athyr (November); each year on this night dead spirits were permitted to return to their homes, guided by the lamps of living relatives and honored by feasts.

In Mexico, a similar tradition was born from a mix of indigenous folk beliefs and medieval Spanish Catholism, resulting in los Dias de Muertos (the Days of the Dead) -- a holiday still widely observed across Mexico and parts of the American South-West. The holiday varies from region to region but generally take place over the days of October 31st, November 1st, and November 2nd, celebrated with graveyard gatherings and Carnival-like processions in the streets. Within the house, an ofrenda or offering is painstakingly assembled on a lavishly decorated altar. Food, drink, clothes, tequila, cigarettes, chocolates and children's toys are set out for departed loved ones, surrounded by candles, flowers, palm leaves, tissue paper banners, and the smoke of copal incense. Golden paths of marigold petals are strewn from the altar to the street (sometimes all the way to the cemetary) to help the confused souls of the dead find their way back home.

According to Fredy Mendez, a Totonac man from Veracruz: "Between 31 October and 2 November, past generations were careful always to leave the front door open, so that the souls of the deceased could enter. My grandmother was constantly worried, and forever checking that the door had not been shut. Younger people are less concerned, but there is one rule we must obey: while the festival lasts, we treat all living beings with kindness. This includes dogs, cats, even flies or mosquitoes. If you should see a fly on the rim of a cup, don't frighten it away -- it is a dead relative who has returned. The dead come to eat tamales and to drink hot chocolate. What they take is vapor, or steam, from the food. They don't digest it physically: they extract the goodness from what we provide. This is an ancient belief. Each year we receive our relatives with joy. We sit near the altar to keep them company, just as we would if they were alive. At midday on 2 November the dead depart. Those who have been well received go laden with bananas, tamales, mole and good things. Those who have been poorly received go empty handed and grieving to the grave. Some people here have even seen them, and heard their lamentations."

In Greek mythology, Persephone regularly crosses the border between the living and the dead, dwelling half the year with her mother (the goddess Demeter) in the upper world, and half the year with her husband (Hades) in the realm of the dead below. In another Greek story, Orpheus follows his dead wife deep into Hades' realm, where he bargains for her life in return for a demonstration of his musical skills. Hades agrees to release the lovely Eurydice back to Orpheus, provided he leads his wife from the Underworld without looking back. During the journey, he cannot hear his wife's footsteps and so he breaks the taboo. Eurydice vanishes and the pathway to Land of the Dead is closed. A similar tale is told of Izanagi in Japanese lore, who attempts to reclaim his beloved Izanami from the Land of Shadows. He may take her back if he promises not to try to see Izanami's face -- but he breaks the taboo, and is horrified to discover a rotting corpse.

When we look at earlier Sumarian myth, we find the goddess Inana is more successful in bringing her lover, Dumuzi, back from the Underworld; in Babylonian myth, this role falls to Ishtar, rescuing her lover Tammuz: "If thou opens not the gate," she says to the seven gatekeepers of the world below, "I will smash the door, I will shatter the bolt, I will smash the doorpost, I will move the doors, I will raise up the dead, eating the living, so that the dead will outnumber the living." During the three days of Ishtar's descent, all sexual activity stops on earth. The third day of the drama is the Day of Joy, the time of ascent, resurrection and procreation, when the year begins anew.

Coyote, Hermes, Loki, Uncle Tompa and other Trickster figures from the mythic tradition have a special, uncanny ability to travel between mortal and immortal realms. In his brilliant book Trickster Makes This World: Michief, Myth, & Art, Lewis Hyde explains that Trickster is the lord of in-between:

"He is the spirit of the doorway leading out, and the crossroads at the edge of town. He is the spirit of the road at dusk, the one that runs from one town to another and belongs to neither. Travellers used to mark such roads with cairns, each adding a stone to the pile in passing. The name Hermes once meant 'he of the stone heap,' which tells us that the cairn is more than a trail marker -- it is an altar to the forces that govern these spaces of heightened uncertainty. The road that Trickster travels is a spirit road as well as a road in fact. He is the adept who can move between heaven and earth, and between the living and the dead."

Trickster is one of the few who passes easily through the borderlands. The rest of us must confront the guardians who rise to bar the way: the gods, faeries, and supernatural spirits whose role is to help or hinder our passage over boundaries and through gates, thresholds, and liminal states of mind. In folk tales, guardians can be propitiated, appeased, outwitted, even slain -- but often at a price which is somewhat higher than one really wants to pay.

On Samhain, we cross from the old year to the new -- and that moment of crossing, as the clock strikes the midnight hour, is a time of powerful enchantment. For a blink of an eye we stand poised between two years, two tales, two worlds; between the living and the dead, the mortal and the fey. We must remember to give food to Hecate, wine to Janus, and flowers, songs, smoke, and dreams to the gate-keepers along the way. Shamans, mythic artists, and fantasy writers: they all cast paths of spells, stories, and marigold petals for us to follow, keeping us safe until the sun rises and the world begins anew.

The art above is by Brian Froud, from The Land of Froud, Good Faeries/Bad Faeries, The Runes of Efland (with Ari Berk) and Trolls (with Wendy Froud); all rights reserved by the artist. Go here to see more of his work.


STONEWALL [ndash] Funeral services for Maple Hamilton, 78, of Stonewall, OK will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at the Stonewall First Baptist Church with the Apostle Gary Bruner officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Stonewall, OK. Mrs. Hamilton passed away in a Deni
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has finalized an agreement to become partners with Nashville-based OneOncology, ending its affiliation with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

The deal, which is effective Jan. 1, allows Mary Bird Perkins to tap into the larger OneOncology group, which has more than 600 providers and 175 locations nationwide. Its network has more than 2,100 patients enrolled in 609 active clinical trials.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Centers to join much larger network leaving OLOL 'stunned' Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has reached a deal with Nashville-based OneOncology to join its nationwide network, ending its affiliation wit

Local providers already in the OneOncology network include Southeastern Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group and Northshore Oncology Associates in Covington. Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates will join OneOncology by early 2022.

Dr. Jonas Fontenot, chief operating officer of Mary Bird Perkins, said the partnership will benefit existing patients. OneOncology is able to negotiate drug prices in a more comprehensive way, which will lower the costs of providing medical care. Patients will also be able to access the national network of clinical trials that OneOncology is participating in, he said.

Our affiliation with OneOncology is positioning us to accelerate toward our goal of delivering high-quality care to patients in the communities they live in, Fontenot said.

$10 million new cancer therapy at Mary Bird Perkins can target typically untreatable tumors Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center plans to invest $10 million for a new cancer treatment program at its Baton Rouge hospital that will allow onc

The collaboration will allow the programs to share technology, integrate clinical programs, including nutrition, rehabilitation, support groups, and medical oncology, and connect patients with enhanced treatment options across all facilities.

Mary Bird Perkins, Baton Rouge General reach deal to expand cancer care services Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Baton Rouge General, along with Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates have signed a letter of intent to

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The deal includes affiliation with Mary Bird Perkins' locations in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Hammond, Houma and Covington as well as in Natchez, Mississippi. It expects to continue its affiliation with Terrebonne General Health System in Houma and work closely with Woman's Hospital and Baton Rouge General.

Mary Bird Perkins will remain an independent, community-owned nonprofit. Fontenot said. There will be no transfer of assets or ownership to OneOncology and the organization will not get any seats on the Mary Bird Perkins board.

Our Lady of the Lake plans to build $100M cancer care center in Baton Rouge Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is set to begin construction next year on a $100 million stand alone cancer center.

Mary Bird Perkins and OneOncology announced in August they had reached a deal for an affiliation. The deal caused a shock in the health care community, because of the longstanding relationship between Mary Bird Perkins and OLOL. Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center leadership said they were stunned and disheartened" by the news.

While we were disappointed by Mary Bird Perkins decision to end our long-standing affiliation, we recognize their business decision and wish them the best," Scott Wester, OLOL president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "There's nothing independent about cancer care and it will take all of us to find cures and end suffering."

Mary Bird Perkins will continue to operate its flagship campus on Essen Lane, next to OLOL, Fontenot said. The organization has made enormous investments in technology, programming and academic training at the property over the past 30 years, he said.

While there has been a lot of press about the end of the agreement between Mary Bird Perkins and OLOL, Fontenot said both parties are committed to working together for a safe transition of patient care services.

Im optimistic there will continue to be a need and ways for us to work together, he said, and support common interests across our campuses.
Churchills Wine and Cigars is moving into a space off Corporate Boulevard after plans to relocate the business to Acadian-Perkins Plaza were derailed by neighborhood opposition.

Churchills was set to move into the space currently occupied by Claitors Law Books, but got rebuttal from some Southdowns residents.

A rezoning hearing to allow the business to move into Acadian-Perkins was set to go before the city-parish Planning Commission in October, but it was withdrawn before the meeting. Ronnie Lewis, general manager, said there was fear a zoning battle could keep Churchills closed for months.

Churchills Wine and Cigars plans to move to Acadian-Perkins Plaza Churchills Wine and Cigars plans to move from its Jefferson Highway location into a space in the Acadian-Perkins Plaza currently occupied by 

Instead, Churchills signed a lease and is moving into the space that had been occupied by The Cove. Carmen Austin of Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate represented both Churchills and Citiplace.

Everything happens for a reason, Lewis said. This is not too far from the old location.

Churchills has been in business at 7949 Jefferson Highway since 1997. But an Ochsner specialty clinic is moving into the space next door that had been occupied by Pearsons and it is taking over part of the Churchills space.

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Churchills closed last week and is in the process of moving into 2561 Citiplace. The space has been vacant since the Cove closed in 2018.

We would love to be open by the first week of December, said Lewis, although he admits the timetable may be too optimistic.

Some of the cedar furnishing from Churchills have been salvaged and will be used in the new location. Were keeping the nostalgia, but getting a facelift for the modern era, he said.

The Cove space is about 5,800 square feet, nearly double the 3,100 square feet that Churchills had occupied.

Plans are to use the additional space to carry items such as glassware, shirts and hats. Churchills will also start carrying cold beer and wine, along with a selection of meats and cheeses.

Were going to be a one-stop-shop, Lewis said.
After damning testimony of his young victim, her support dog at her feet, a Baton Rouge man was convicted of repeatedly raping the girl when she was eight years old and now faces life in prison.

After a six-day trial, the Baton Rouge jury on Saturday unanimously convicted Anthony James Tipton of all three charges he was facing. These included first-degree rape, sexual battery of a juvenile under 13 and molestation of a juvenile under 13.

He now awaits sentencing  the rape charge comes with a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Tipton, 34, was arrested in June 2016 by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office. The trial had been scheduled to start in March 2020, but was postponed due to the arrival of COVID-19 in Louisiana.

Baton Rouge man, 29, accused of repeatedly raping 8-year-old child A 29-year-old man accused of repeatedly raping an 8-year-old girl over the past six months was arrested Wednesday.

Tipton opted not to testify on his own behalf at the trial last week. His victim, however, did tell her story.

It was a story she first told five years earlier, revealing to investigators a series of sexual assaults that started out as requests to snuggle." Those assaults, she said, started in September 2015 and continued into the following year.

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East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said the victim deserves special credit for Saturdays verdict, going back to that initial talk with investigators at the Child Advocacy Center, where she gave "a revealing, shocking, and compelling video-taped interview."

She then, several years later, bravely and honestly faced the perpetrator in open court in front of the jury, Moore said. We also commend the victims family for taking action when she disclosed the abuse and for believing in her and supporting her throughout this lengthy process.

The victim was helped in giving her testimony by the presence of Diesel, a Labrador/golden retriever mix, who was present as an emotional support dog. In so doing, Diesel, who serves as facility dog for the District Attorney's Office, made a small bit of local court history  a support dog had not been used before in a jury trial in Baton Rouge.

Stephen Moore, Tipton's defense attorney, had argued prior to trial that Diesels presence was unnecessary and that he was simply there as a sympathy dog meant to sway the jury. Judge Beau Higginbotham, however, disagreed and allowed Diesel to stay.

Stephen Moore, who is Hillar Moore's brother, did not respond to a message left Monday at his office seeking comment.

Testimony in Tiptons trial began Wednesday and continued through Saturday. The prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorney Sonya Cardia-Porter, who was assisted at trial by fellow Assistant District Attorney Stuart Theriot.
A task force searching for ways to fund courts with tax money instead of fines and fees wants to draft some hard recommendations by the end of the month, though it has only a fraction of the information it has requested.

I dont want this to be like all the other Louisiana task forces, Rep. Tanner Magee, chair of the Louisiana Commission on Justice System Funding said Monday, alluding to the number of governmental studies that go nowhere.

Speaker Pro Tem Magee says he expects sweeping changes over the next few years, but he wants to get started now. Im not looking for a sea change. I am looking for change, the Houma Republican said.

The commission has been criticized for not moving fast enough. But when convened a couple of years ago, nobody could really say how the court systems operate. Each parish, district and most municipalities developed their own procedures, funding, and protocols over time. While the state pays the salaries for judicial district and appellate court judges, most courts get their operating funding from traffic violations, fines for misdemeanors and other crimes, plus a variety of fees  all of which are paid by the accused.

Mark Ballard: Whopping 30% collection fees? A task force looks at Louisianas court system When children are victims in, say, a car wreck and are awarded substantial damages by the court, judges generally appoint someone to ensure th

Progress was slowed when the Louisiana Legislative Auditor reported back to the commission that local and parish courts logged the money under all sorts of names and accounts. Few courts could say how many fines and fees were issued, how much was collected, and just which agencies got the money. When legislators convened last year they had to pass new laws compelling all courts to gather the information, using standard definitions, for the auditors to review.

Data is coming in from the 1,555 state or local entities that collect and/or receive payments from the fines and fees. Auditors looked closely at collections reported by 77 entities on the local level and found that defendants accused of contempt, including not timely paying traffic tickets, raised $3.2 million for those judicial entities. Criminal courts charged defendants $11.5 million for costs and $7.8 million in other fines. The credit card companies and third parties that collected the money received $757,000 for their services.

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Louisianas court system costs, maybe, $300 million to operate, Magee said, adding thats only an educated guess.

The directors of two crime scene investigatory labs pointed out to the commission that they receive money from just about every defendant assessed fees in their region. Ten dollars for some infractions, $160 from felons, $60 for misdemeanors, $50 from driving while intoxicated and some drugs convictions.

Kevin Ardoin said about 95% of the money his Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory, in New Iberia, receives comes from the courts because of the amount investigatory work performed for prosecutors. The labs really dont know from one year to the next how much money they will receive.

We operate like a church. We base our budgets on what they give us, said Joseph O. Jones, of North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, in Shreveport.

State Public Defender Remy Voisin Starns, a member of the commission, said his office, which pays the attorneys provided for defendants who cannot afford to hire their own, operates pretty much the same way. The commission's goal is to find stable funding for the courts that doesnt rely on a steady stream of alleged criminals to pay fines and fees.

The ideas being discussed range from raising millages on property taxes to reducing expenses by consolidating courts to an appropriating money straight out the state general fund. Just brainstorming for ways to find some way to pay for the court system without using fines and fees, Starns said. Whatever the recommendation, the Legislature would have to pass a law for it to happen.
Commonwealth Bank has played down lingering concerns about the risks associated with digital currencies to the local money laundering compliance regime, as it increases its appeal to younger Australians by allowing customers to trade cryptocurrencies.

In a first for an Australian bank, CBA on Wednesday said it would allow its customers to trade in up to 10 cryptocurrencies including bitcoin through its app, citing a surge in demand from younger clients.

CBA will allow customers to invest in up to 10 crypto assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin. Credit:AP

The move comes as CBA is locked in a fierce battle for young clients with fintech rivals such as Afterpay, and as regulators grapple with how to handle the risks and potential opportunities created by the global cryptocurrency craze.

One of the top risks cited by regulators and other banks is the potential for cryptocurrencies to be used for money laundering, but CBA chief executive Matt Comyn said the bank had engaged with the financial crimes watchdog, Austrac, on its plans.
What a nice symbolic bow BHP would tie if over the next ten days it could sign the sale contract for the last of its thermal coal mines, while world leaders take centre stage on climate in Glasgow.

It would be a welcome announceable for Prime Minister Scott Morrison whose COP26 recital has highlighted the major role businesses, financiers and technologists, rather than the government, would play in reducing Australias emissions.

Scott Morrison delivers a statement to the Glasgow climate summit. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Meanwhile, Australias general insurance giant, IAG, made its unintentional contribution to the climate debate on Tuesday with a profit downgrade - thanks to a number of severe weather events that hit South Australia and the Eastern states in October.

Even though insurers like IAG forensically assess the risks of natural perils the companys net claim costs for the first four months have exceeded its previous assumptions by approximately $280 million. The revised expectation for financial year 2022 also includes around $510 million for perils for the remainder of the financial year.
The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein has felled another executive.

Jes Staley quit as chief executive officer of Barclays because of controversy over his relationship with the late disgraced financier. Its a sudden end to a six-year stint in which professional success has been tainted by personal misjudgments.

Barclays boss Jes Staley announced his resignation. Credit:AP

This year has already seen Leon Black, co-founder of the private-equity group Apollo Global Management, step down over ties to Epstein, the alleged paedophile and sex trafficker.

The question that hangs over Staley is one of honesty. British regulators launched an investigation in late 2019 into how Staley had described his relationship with Epstein to the Barclays board and how the board in turn characterised that to regulators.
As the population ages, new relationships and marriages between seniors are becoming more common.

As a result, I am often asked what steps can senior partners take to prevent their assets from going to the wrong person when they die.

Forming a new partnership or getting remarried in later life can cause estate planning problems. Credit:iStock

There is no easy answer, and a further complication is that estate planning rules vary from state to state.

However, if there is any chance of bequeathed assets being challenged after a partners death, seeking out legal advice sooner rather than later is the best strategy.
Plans to frack for natural gas in a tract of land in the Northern Territory would increase Australias greenhouse gas emissions by 13 per cent but fail to generate any economic benefit, a trial has heard.

The Morrison government plans to open up the Beetaloo Sub-basin  about 500 kilometres south-east of Darwin, between Katherine and Tennant Creek  to shale gas exploration. It has awarded $21 million in grants to Imperial Oil and Energy to explore through three drilling wells. The NT government has also approved plans for gas projects in the area.

The gas mining project in the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory.

As the leaders of worlds largest economies focused on climate talks in Glasgow, a trial began in Sydneys Federal Court, where environmental groups challenged the Beetaloo project and the validity of decisions made by federal Resources and Water Minister Keith Pitt supporting exploratory drilling. The environment groups hope the court will rule to prevent the drilling projects.

The groups, headed by the Environment Centre NT, said fracking in the Beetaloo would emit greenhouse gases and undermine Australias obligations to comply with the Paris Agreement.
The 17th-century French saying A la guerre comme a la guerre originally meant that in a war you fight with the means at your disposal. Over time, it has also come to mean that when it comes to war, there are no niceties. French President Emmanuel Macrons upending of diplomatic convention over the past few days to publicly accuse Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying is an example of both at once.

With Frances presidential elections in April looming and elections to the National Assembly only weeks later, Mr Macron is a man searching for ways to galvanise the electorate behind him and his En Marche! party, swept into office in 2017 on the promise of a new approach to Frances problems.

But the old fissures between Paris and the regions remain. With the countrys two-party system of left-wing Socialists versus right-wing Gaullists in ruins, the incumbent faces volatile and disgruntled voters who could easily be won over by another outsider, such as far-right media personality Eric Zemmour. With Mr Macrons ability to deliver domestically and abroad now in question, he knows that appealing to wounded Gallic pride is a potent electoral brew, especially when it is aimed at the perfidious Anglosphere.

For Mr Morrison, the escalation in hostilities has been less welcome, though it has meant that time which might otherwise have been spent defending our position on emissions is now being devoted to political theatre. For the Prime Minister, too, it is about managing appearances, and especially trying to counter the image of him as a shifty salesman. His claim that Mr Macrons remarks amounted to slurs against Australia is a first instalment in that effort, though perhaps Mr Morrison should be reminded that he isnt the nation.
A man has been accused of stabbing another man multiple times in his inner-Brisbane home before being arrested and allegedly headbutting a police officer.

Joshua Daniel Ways matter was mentioned on Tuesday in the Brisbane Arrests Court, where the 28-year-old faced one count each of attempted murder and serious assault of a police officer.

Joshua Daniel Way will remain in custody until at least December 6. Credit:Toby Crockford

It will be alleged that two men were arguing at a house on Crowther Street in West End, where the accused lives, about 5pm on Monday when Mr Way stabbed the 35-year-old victim in the chest and leg.

Police responded to the incident and provided first-aid to the victim before paramedics arrived. He was then taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has defended his governments backing of a privately built quarantine hub near Toowoomba, while the Commonwealth has flagged scaled-back plans for its Pinkenba facility as COVID-19 quarantine rules relax.

Just as the state government announced on Tuesday that the first accommodation had been built near Toowoombas Wellcamp Airport, the federal government released artists images of its Brisbane hub.

An artists impression of the proposed Centre for National Resilience at Pinkenba near Brisbane Airport.

In doing so, the Commonwealth also revealed that it would review the need to proceed with the second 500-bed stage of its facility  adjacent to Brisbane Airport  when the first is completed early next year.

A jettisoned second stage would shave millions off the initial construction forecast of between $300 million and $400 million.
Queenslands acting chief health officer says the state can almost touch its 80 per cent first-dose milestone as the state reports a seventh day without a person infectious in the community.

But the acting CHO, Dr Peter Aitken, told reporters on Tuesday this did not mean people could relax as Queensland pushed to vaccinate as many residents as it could before deadlines to ease border restrictions closed in.

Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken says it will be business as usual with him in charge of the states health response to COVID-19 for the time being. Credit:Matt Dennien

Were inching closer to 80 per cent, we can almost touch it, Dr Aitken said from Rockhampton.

The state delivered 10,644 vaccinations in its hubs on Monday, with 7183 tests statewide. A total of 64.1 per cent of the over-16 population has now received both doses.
Former McGowan government chief of staff and Kerry Stokes employee Guy Houston has been appointed to the board of Western Australias stadium and venues manager.

Sport and Recreation Minister Tony Buti announced Mr Houstons appointment to the VenuesWest board alongside University of Western Australia director Chris Massey.

VenuesWest managed WAs major sporting venues.

The men replaced two outgoing board members  former Southern Cross Austereo general manager Linda Wayman and former UWA vice-chancellor Paul Johnson.

Mr Houston, a former ABC TV journalist and Chevron media adviser, was WA Premier Mark McGowans chief of staff for nine years but left after Labors victory on March 13 and took on a job working for Mr Stokes Australian Capital Equity in an advisory role.
Mr Doug Jenkin, who left Ringwood four-and-a-half years ago, sailed up to St Kilda Pier yesterday. In those years, 40 countries and the seven seas passed by his yachts bow. Mr Jenkin lost count of the islands he visited on the 45,000-nautical-mile journey.

Doug Jenkins is welcomed back to Melbourne by his daughter Katherine. Credit:The Age Archives

During its circumnavigation of the world, the 54-foot yacht Roama saw three marriages, including that of the captains daughter, earning it the nickname the love boat.

Ringwood to St Kilda, via the rest of the world

First published in The Age on November 4, 1991

Two of Mr Jenkins four daughters crewed with him. Pamela, 22, sailed the last 12 months, homeward-bound. Katherine, 28, married a crew member and returned to settle down in Melbourne after 15 months away.

This boat is called the love boat, said Katherine yesterday. A family friend, introduced to a crew member in London, also tied the knot during the boats travels.

The Roama showed the strain of the journey: its forward lower shroud was encrusted with rust, the halyards were stitched and mended with string, and the sails were as wrinkled as the captains face, smiling in the northerly wind.

But Mr Jenkin, 57, said the wooden-masted Roama was perfectly seaworthy. It only wants a face-lift and she could sail around the world again.

Tragically, the circumnavigation had to be done in two parts.
Melburnians sweltered through their hottest day in seven months on Tuesday as a tropical air mass moved across eastern Australia, giving Victoria an early taste of summer.

Bright sunshine and mild east-to-northeasterly winds helped people enjoy the first public holiday since Melburnians emerged from lockdown on October 22.

Racegoers enjoy the bright sunshine at Flemington Racecourse on Melbourne Cup Day. Credit:Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Thousands of spectators at Flemington Racecourse enjoyed the warmest Melbourne Cup in 16 years, as temperatures topped 29.7 degrees at Olympic Park about 4.20pm, shortly after the race was won by Verry Elleegant.

Temperatures soared to 30.4 degrees on Cup Day last year, but COVID-19 restrictions meant no race fans were allowed in the grandstands.
The public hearings running this week are part of an inquiry called Operation Watts into allegations of corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including members of parliament.

The investigation is run jointly by the Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and the Victorian Ombudsman and its remit includes allegations of branch stacking in the Victorian Labor Party, as first revealed in an investigation by The Age and 60 Minutes last year.

Branch stacking is an organised method of accumulating internal power in a party by recruiting, and usually paying the fees for, new members.

But its much more pointed than just that. The real question is whether public officers, including Victorian members of parliament, are engaging in corrupt conduct by directing ministerial or electorate office staff to perform partypolitical work when they should instead be doing ministerial or electorate work.

It will also look at whether public money given by the Victorian government as grants to community associations, has been redirected and misused to fund partypolitical activities, or for any other improper purposes. It will ask if ministers or others involved in granting the funds have dishonestly performed their functions or knowingly or recklessly breached public trust.

The inquiry will look into whether any public officer, their families or their associates, received a personal benefit from these things, and looks at what systems and controls are in place to monitor these money flows.

The hearing is expected to go for at least four weeks. Its overseen by IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich, QC, and run by counsel assisting Chris Carr, SC.
5TH: 6-THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ)

Trainer: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman

JOCKEY: Damian Lane: Really proud of this horse. Hes run a massive race. Trained to the minute and ran his best. Fourth last year, the New Zealand stayer again saved his best for his target race only to run into a few better on the day. Finished a long way from the top four. 6TH: 16-GRAND PROMENADE (GB)

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

JOCKEY: Kerrin McEvoy: Hes run a good race. We didnt have any luck. Got caught wide the trip but he stuck on well. Settled three-wide without cover from the wide draw but stuck to his task resolutely in the straight. Probably would have finished closer with a softer run though it may not have made much difference in terms of finishing position. 7TH: 7-DELPHI (IRE)

Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman

JOCKEY: Damien Oliver: He ran well. We had a great run. He feels like more of a mile-and-a-half horse than a two-miler to me.

Given a beautiful ride by Oliver, the Irish import was on the back of Verry Elleegant rounding the bend but only one-batted in the straight. Probably didnt stay. 8TH: 9-SELINO (GB)

Trainer: Chris Waller

JOCKEY: Ron Stewart: Just a little further back than I would have wanted to be. Just couldnt find the right horse to take me into the race. Overall I thought it was a good staying effort. Sydney Cup winner who ran as well as could be hoped after settling well back, passing many tiring horses in the run home. Stayed the trip, just could not run it as fast as others. 9TH: 21-TRALEE ROSE (NZ)

Trainer: Symon Wilde

JOCKEY: Dean Holland: She had a really nice run. She toughed it out but shes probably not sharp enough when you need her. At first glance a little disappointing given where she settled in the run but considering the injuries she sustained during the race she did very well to finish in the top 10.

The Melbourne Cup field at famous Flemington. Credit:Getty Images 10TH: 19-SHES IDEEL

Trainer: Bjorn Baker

JOCKEY: Craig Newitt: She ran well again. Got way too far back in the race to make an impact but picked off a few to collect a cheque for connections. 11TH: 1-TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE)

Trainer: Joseph OBrien

JOCKEY: Jye McNeil: He wasnt able to get into his usual role and at the halfway point he really struggled. Inside draw was a hindrance rather than a help for last years winner, who was sluggish out of the gates and did not have room to push forward. Never in it.

12TH: 17-MIAMI BOUND (NZ)

Trainer: Danny OBrien

JOCKEY: Patrick Moloney: She wouldnt go in the first 1000 metres. If she hadve jumped and travelled she might have run top eight. She whacked away and got the ones that were tiring. Looked like she would run a long last but she stuck to her task doggedly to pass the stragglers. 13TH: 23-GREAT HOUSE

Trainer: Chris Waller

JOCKEY: Michael Dee: Had a good run. I could feel he was coming under pressure about the 600 or 700 [metre mark]. He was gone by then but he tried really hard all the way to the line. Expected a little bit better but he tried hard today. Hotham winner who found it hard to back up after Saturdays run. 14TH: 24-SIR LUCAN (IRE)

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

JOCKEY: Glen Boss: Hes a juvenile. I had no power from the 1000-metre mark.

Another backmarker who had too much work to do. 15TH: 5-EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ)

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

JOCKEY: John Allen: He was disappointing. He whacked away, but hes missing a bit of scrap. The multiple-Derby winner has been found wanting in the major Cups. Not up to the top line stayers. 16TH: 14-MASTER OF WINE (GER)

Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes

JOCKEY: Fred Kersley: Nice. Unlucky in that he kept running into dead ends but he was gapped.

17TH: 15-PONDUS (GB)

Trainer: Robert Hickmott

JOCKEY: Rachel King: Just raced a bit dour and couldnt sprint off that speed. Had a cushy run and got into the clear at the right time but not up to this class. 18TH: 13-CARIF

Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden

JOCKEY: Blaike McDougall: It was a good effort. Got in a nice position. He travelled well. Just the class factor when they quickened up, he was under pressure. Kept going backwards when the pace came on and finished near the tail. 19TH: 11-KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE)

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

JOCKEY: Daniel Stackhouse: Hes just not going anywhere at the moment.

Entitled to finish closer given how the race was run but ran as you would expect a $101 chance to. 20TH: 12-PERSAN

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

JOCKEY: Luke Currie: I didnt think he would lead but he was sort of out at the 600. One of the disappointments of the race. After getting too far back last year and running on for fifth, the five-year-old set the speed but punctured rounding the turn and was one of the first beaten. 21ST: 18-PORT GUILLAUME (FRA)

Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes

JOCKEY: Harry Coffey: He didnt run out a strong 3200 metres in a strong pressure race. Had poor form coming into the race and ran accordingly after settling just worse of midfield.

22ND: 10-JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ)

Trainer: Denis Pagan

JOCKEY: Lachlan King: Hell go out for a spell and then assess the options after he comes back. There was no feelgood story this year for Denis Pagans 2020 VRC Derby winner, who settled at the rear and passed just the one runner in the straight. Outclassed. 23RD: 8-OCEAN BILLY (NZ)

Trainer: Chris Waller

JOCKEY: Damien Thornton: Disappointing. Was specked at big odds but gave punters little to cheer about. Settled midfield and apart from a brief spurt 800 metres out kept giving ground to finish in another post code.

SCRATCHED: 20-FUTURE SCORE (IRE)
October Retail Sales Record; Retail Sales Up 1%

Hyundai Continues to Gain Market Share





FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021  Hyundai Motor America reported total October sales of 56,761 units, a 1% decrease compared with October 2020. Hyundai set new October total sales records for Venue, Palisade and Kona, and achieved the best-ever month for Nexo. Hyundai outperformed the industry with forecasts predicting a 20% drop in total industry sales.

Hyundai dealers are turning vehicles quickly as consumer demand remains strong for our product portfolio, said Randy Parker, senior vice president, National Sales, Hyundai Motor America. We established several total and retail model records in October, and overall we are continuing to gain substantial market share.

October Retail Highlights

Hyundai sold 52,767 retail units, an October retail record, and an increase of 1%. Hyundai eco-friendly vehicle retail sales continued to grow significantly, increasing 290% on the month. SUV retail sales increased 4% on the month, representing 70% of retail volume.

October Total Sales Summary

Oct-21 Oct-20 % Chg 2021 YTD 2020 YTD % Chg Hyundai 56,761 57,395 -1% 642,396 500,820 28%

October Product and Corporate Activities

Hyundais Evolve Showroom on Amazon: Shoppers can discover available Hyundai vehicles at participating dealers and begin the vehicle selection process directly on Amazon

Shoppers can discover available Hyundai vehicles at participating dealers and begin the vehicle selection process directly on Amazon J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study: J.D. Power designated Hyundai as its highest ranked mass market brand in the annual tech experience study

J.D. Power designated Hyundai as its highest ranked mass market brand in the annual tech experience study Hydrogen Infrastructure: Hyundai joined Shell Hydrogen to encourage growth of the hydrogen refueling infrastructure in California

Hyundai joined Shell Hydrogen to encourage growth of the hydrogen refueling infrastructure in California 2022 Hyundai Sonata N Line Night Edition Hits Dealerships: The limited-production vehicle that debuted in the action film Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, is now available at dealerships

The limited-production vehicle that debuted in the action film Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, is now available at dealerships Hispanic Heritage Month: Hyundai celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a multifaceted campaign including philanthropic and community-based support

Hyundai celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a multifaceted campaign including philanthropic and community-based support Best Global Brands: Hyundai ranked 35 in Interbrands Best Global Brands 2021

Hyundai ranked 35 in Interbrands Best Global Brands 2021 OKAY Hyundai!: Hyundai and its African American marketing agency of record, Culture Brands, launched their inaugural marketing campaign, entitled OKAY Hyundai

Hyundai and its African American marketing agency of record, Culture Brands, launched their inaugural marketing campaign, entitled OKAY Hyundai Sobre Ruedas Awards: The 2022 Santa Cruz and IONIQ 5 both received 2021 Sobre Ruedas Awards at the 2021 Miami International Auto Show

Model Total Sales

Vehicle Oct-21 Oct-20 % Chg 2021 YTD 2020 YTD % Chg Accent 2,863 1,129 154% 17,699 13,444 32% Elantra 8,447 11,428 -26% 114,553 86,531 32% Ioniq 1,621 1,202 35% 17,177 10,441 65% Kona 8,440 6,540 29% 79,368 59,353 34% Nexo 63 37 70% 345 175 97% Palisade 8,670 7,519 15% 73,343 68,102 8% Santa Cruz 1,848 0 --- 4,841 0 --- Santa Fe 7,040 9,072 -22% 96,696 79,492 22% Sonata 5,561 7,570 -27% 86,021 60,696 42% Tucson 9,735 10,898 -11% 125,782 102,037 23% Veloster 218 443 -51% 1,958 7,028 -72% Venue 2,255 1,557 45% 24,613 13,521 82%

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America focuses on Progress for Humanity and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 620,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2020, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.
Mazda Reports October 2021 North American Sales Results







IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2021)  Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October sales of 19,519 vehicles, a decrease of 14.1 percent compared to October 2020. Year-to-date sales totaled 292,732 vehicles; an increase of 29.5 percent compared to the same time last year. With 27 selling days in October, compared to 28 the year prior, the company posted a decrease of 11 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 5,186 vehicles in October, a decrease of 18 percent compared to October 2020.

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported October sales of 4,836 vehicles, a decrease of 24.6 percent compared to October last year. Year-to-date sales increased 19.2 percent with 57,278 vehicles sold.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported October sales of 4,416 vehicles, a decrease of 0.3 percent compared to October last year. Year-to-date sales increased 5.3 percent, with 37,380 vehicles sold.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through approximately 780 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAOs social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

###
2021 Mazda CX-5 Only Small SUV to Achieve Highest Rating in New IIHS Side Impact Test

WASHINGTON, DC (Oct. 27, 2021)  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced today that the Mazda CX-5 achieved the highest performance and was the only vehicle out of 20 small SUVs to earn its top Good rating in a new, tougher side crash test. This was the first test series of 2020-2021 model year vehicles using a more stringent test, aimed at addressing higher severity crashes by using a heavier barrier traveling at a higher speed to simulate the striking vehicle.

Safety is a top priority at Mazda, and we have long researched how to protect occupants in side impacts, said Masaki Ueno, MNAO vice president of R&D, design, and quality assurance. We have studied real-world crashes and used computer simulation to consider body structure and load paths, resulting in the robust design that has existed in the CX-5 since the 2017 model year.

We developed this new test because we suspected there was room for more progress, and these results confirm that, IIHS President David Harkey says. The good rating for the CX-5 shows that robust protection in a more severe side crash is achievable.

Mazda is proud to add this top achievement to our list of accolades from IIHS, including all-tested Mazda vehicles earning the IIHS 2021 TOP SAFETY PICK+, the highest award in safety. These vehicles include the Mazda3 Sedan Hatchback, Mazda6, CX-3, CX-30 (built after September 2020), CX-5 and CX-9.

The IIHS is an independent, non-governmental safety-testing organization, funded by the insurance industry. For more information, visit https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through approximately 780 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Mark Twain is often given credit for the quote, History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme. The quote emphasizes that events do not always unfold in the same way, but they often unfold in similar ways. The tale of Chinas military ambitions as a great power, just now starting to
Associate Editor

Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky.
Regional Editor

Derek Draplin is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as an opinion producer at Forbes, as an editor at The Daily Caller, and as a reporter at Michigan Capitol Confidential and The Detroit News.
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Curt Bramble is a Republican state senator from Utah; hes represented the state's 16th senate district since 2001. Colin Larson is a Republican state Representative from Colorado; hes represented the states 22nd house district since 2019.
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News

Clearfield Co. DA, PA Skill come to agreement over gaming machines

Ben Destefan Shown is a Pennsylvania Skill game machine.

DuBOIS  District Attorney Ryan Sayers issued an order last week to suspend seizures of Pennsylvania Skill game machines and return redemption terminals and cash which were confiscated by law enforcement officers in eight establishments across Clearfield County in late September. These actions were taken pending the outcome of a Commonwealth Court lawsuit by Pennsylvania Skill, powered by Pace-O-Matic, to verify their game's legal standing.

"The Commonwealth is going to continue with the investigation," said Sayers. "But the DA's office in Clearfield County will not file criminal charges against those eight locations pending the Commonwealth Court either making a decision or the legislature passing a law statute to clarify the issue."

Additionally, said Sayers, casinos have what are called Ticket Redemption Terminals (TRT).

"Whenever you go to the machine and you win money, you get to print out a slip and then you take it to this redemption terminal, and that is where you get your money; that is what is being returned," said Sayers. "The order says that money is being returned, but if it is determined that these machines are illegal, then that money will be forfeited to the Commonwealth as contraband, just like we do in drug cases, when there's money with drug deals ... all that money that is around or dealing with criminal activity can be forfeited to the state."

On Sept. 28, machines, redemption terminals and/or cash were taken, by the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, executing a search warrant signed by the office of DA Sayers, from the following establishments: Snappys in both Clearfield and DuBois; the Penfield Minit Mart; The After Dark, Clearfield; Redneck Reno, DuBois; Choice Cigarettes, DuBois; BP gas station, Clearfield, by Interstate 80; and N&T Convenience Store, Clearfield.

On Oct. 1, a motion was filed in the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas on behalf of L&M Music Co. Inc. and Nittany Oil Co. Inc., seeking the return of four Pennsylvania Skill machines and one ticket redemption terminal containing $31,804, which were confiscated on Sept. 28. The property belongs to L&M and Nittany Oil and was seized from Nittany Oils premises, Penfield Minit Mart, located at 12120 Bennetts Valley Highway in Penfield. In addition, the motion sought to unseal the search warrant affidavit and suppress evidence from the seized property.

In response to Sayers' actions, Pennsylvania Skill and Pace-O-Matic have dropped all pending lawsuits in Clearfield County regarding this matter.

We thank Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers for his professionalism and the time he has spent to understand and address the difficulties resulting from recent BLCE seizures of our Pennsylvania Skill games," according to a statement released by Pennsylvania Skill. "DA Sayers worked diligently to resolve this issue in the best interests of the law, legal process, taxpayers, small businesses, and fraternal clubs, including veteran groups, which count on skill games for much-needed revenue."

The recent order, issued on Oct. 26, by Sayers pending the Commonwealth Court lawsuit, states that the Commonwealth will do the the following, by and through the DA office:

Release the TRT and the $31,804 in U.S. currency contained therein, which were seized at Nittany Oil Company, Inc.

Release the TRT seized at Reno DuBois, 13 Brady St., DuBois, in the condition in which it was seized.

Release the TRT seized at Snappys, Clearfield, in the condition in which it was seized.

Release $5,000 in U.S. currency seized at the Loyal Order of Moose, Houtzdale Lodge No. 327, 607 Brisbane St., Houtzdale, to the Loyal Order of Moose, Houtzdale Lodge No. 237.

Release $8,330 in U.S. currency seized at The After Dark, 309 N. Third St., Clearfield, to The After Dark.

Will not move forward with the prosecution of any of the eight locations regarding the operation of Pennsylvania Skill games.

As Sayers has stated in previously published articles, "The Moose is not at issue in this case, but it is listed because they were seized on that same day, but they're not subject to prosecution, they never have been this entire time."

Also, the recent order states that establishments can have up to five machines in each location and they won't be subject to prosecution, said Sayers.

"The reason for that is the big problem, and Pace-O-Matic even acknowledged this, when I sat down and met with their counsel and a couple of their representatives, is they acknowledged, and one of my big problems besides the fact that these machines are not regulated is that they're places that are operating basically mini casinos, their primary income are these machines, and that they have, you know, five, eight, 10, 12 machines, and they're only selling soda and candy bars. In other words, it's just a front for a mini casino.

"Pace-O-Matic agreed that there would be no mini casinos operating in Clearfield County, and the number we set was five machines," said Sayers. "Pace-O-Matic said that they would remove their machines from anywhere that had more than five machines, and that if law enforcement or myself come across a place that has more than five machines, then they'll remove them so that they're in compliance. In the event that they aren't, and they don't remove them, and it is over five machines, then those places will be subject to seizure and prosecution."

We share DA Sayers concerns regarding the proliferation of illegal gaming equipment, much of which masquerades as Pennsylvania Skill games," said PA Skill's statement. "We echo his (Sayers) call for the legislature to implement regulations and enforcement regarding skill gaming. Additionally, Pennsylvania Skill has agreed to work with DA Sayers to ensure best practices concerning terminal placement in locations are followed along with adherence to our code of conduct. We are making certain our policy of a limit of five games per location is followed."

The Pennsylvania State Police and Liquor Enforcement are keeping the PA Skill game machines  which are separate from the redemption terminals  because they have to get search warrants to get in the machines, do a diagnostic exam, etc., said Sayers.

"Now, whether these places put them back in, up to five, is up to them and their attorney if they want to do so," said Sayers. "The ones taken are still in the custody of Pennsylvania State Police and Liquor Enforcement and that's where they will remain."

Sayers noted that at no point is he acknowledging that these machines are legal.

"In the eyes of the Commonwealth, these machines are still illegal gambling devices," said Sayers. "However, because of the pending Commonwealth Court action ... and the legislature discussing it, it's going to end up on appeal anyhow. So we kind of saved a step. We're going to take a step back pending the resolution by the higher court or the legislature."

In their statement, Pennsylvania Skill said, We are disappointed the BLCE continues to spread misinformation about our Pennsylvania Skill games and believe that was at the heart of seizures in Clearfield County."

"I disagree with that assessment," said Sayers. "Liquor Enforcement has a job to obviously deal with liquor, as well as illegal gaming in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And right now there is not clear law on whether Pace-O-Matic or any other of these gaming systems are illegal or not. The way the law currently reads, the Commonwealth believes that these machines are illegal. Now, Pace-O-Matic specifically does have a decision out of Beaver County. However, that decision is not binding on the rest of the counties in the Commonwealth, it can only be binding on the rest of the counties is if a decision comes from the Commonwealth Court, or the Superior Court, or the Supreme Court, and that has not occurred yet. That is currently what's happening in the Commonwealth Court."

"In 2014, Pennsylvania Skill worked with the Pennsylvania State Police to organize a declaratory ruling regarding our skill game," PA Skill said. "After a lengthy trial, the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas ruled that Pennsylvania Skill games are games of predominant skill and legal."

Sayers said he appreciates the willingness of attorneys for Pennsylvania Skill games to talk with him about this issue.

"I am always willing to discuss anything and meet with anybody. I'm very approachable," Sayers said. "The fact that they wanted to sit and talk about these cases, I did appreciate. I think we came to a resolution for now."
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Oneonta, NY (13820)

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 32F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Meet Banjo! She's a fun and loving rescue kitten who brings smiles to everyone's face! Banjo's favorite thing to do is cuddle up to you for he
Jim Bob Duggar at the Stoney Creek Inn in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 3, 2012. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

19 Kids and Counting Father Running for Arkansas Senate

SPRINGDALE, Ark.Jim Bob Duggar, whose large family was featured in the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, has announced hes running for a seat in the Arkansas Senate.

Duggar, who previously served in the Arkansas House, announced Friday on the familys Facebook page that hes running for the district in northwest Arkansas that includes Springdale.

Last week, Republican state Sen. Lance Eads resigned the seat to take a job in the private sector. A special election will be called to fill the term.

TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting in 2015 over revelations that Duggars son, Josh, had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. His parents said he confessed to the fondling and apologized. Josh Duggar has also apologized for his pornography addiction and for cheating on his wife.

Josh Duggar is set to go to trial in federal court in November on two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography. He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count if convicted.

A longtime family spokesman, Chad Gallagher, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that no family is immune from tragedy, heartbreak or impact from the decisions of the ones they love.

He added that its important to note that Josh is a grown adult.

Jim Bob Duggar, who was born and raised in Springdale, and his wife Michelle have 20 children and 22 grandchildren.

Now more than ever, we need a bold voice that is pro-family, pro-business, pro-gun and pro-life, Duggar said in the announcement. Its time for conservatives to demand courageous leadership that puts Arkansas families, jobs, and our constitutional liberties first.

This is Duggars second run for the district. In 2006, he was defeated in the Republican primary.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presents a proclamation at the 46th Precincts National Night Out in the Bronx borough of New York City, on Aug. 3, 2021. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

2,500 NYC Firefighters Havent Received COVID-19 Vaccine: de Blasio

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that about 2,500 city firefighters, or 23 percent of the citys force, are not vaccinated on Tuesday.

Speaking to CNN, the mayor said that were at about 77 percent with firefighters vaccinated, adding that there is an unspecified number of firefighters that have requested a medical or religious exemption for the COVID-19. The Fire Department of New York reportedly employs roughly 11,000 firefighters.

Those who are seeking exemptions will be able to work while officials review their cases, he said in response to a question about reports saying approximately 2,300 firefighters called in sick on Tuesday to protest against the mandate.

When the decision is made, either you get an exemption or you got to get vaccinated. Once youre at that mandate point its, get vaccinated or lose your paycheck. Its very straightforward, de Blasio said, adding that 92 percent of the workforce has done the right thing.

De Blasio then said that every mayor, every CEO, and other officials across the United States should use vaccine mandates, touting the orders as a way to boost vaccination rates.

Firefighters rally against vaccine mandates outside Mayor Bill de Blasios residence in Manhattan, New York, on Oct. 28, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

People respond to the deadline, and this is whats going to make us safe. You got to do it so that we can actually end the COVID era, the mayor claimed.

Last week, Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said that unvaccinated FDNY employees should report to work as usual and defy the de Blasio mandate for all city employees. Firefighters who remain unvaccinated, he added, feel slighted by the order to either get the vaccine or face termination.

I have told my members that if they choose to remain unvaccinated, they must still report for duty, Ansbro told a news conference. If they are told they cannot work, it will be the department and city of New York that sends them home. And it will be the department and the city of New York that has failed to protect the citizens of New York, he continued.

Police and firefighters in recent weeks have joined the tens of thousands of protesters against the citys mandates, including a protest where demonstrators marched across the Brooklyn Bridge in late October.

Amid staffing shortages, the FDNY said it plans to mitigate them by forcing mandatory overtime, canceling vacations, and reassigning employees to other roles. Over the weekend, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), who represents parts of the city, claimed that 26 firehouses had been forced to close over the vaccine mandate.
911 Call Center Overhaul Could Receive Boost Under Latest Infrastructure Package

For more than a decade, there has been a push to upgrade the countrys 911 call centers from analog- to digital-based systems, which would allow callers to send and receive text messages, videos, geolocations, and other data to and from emergency dispatchers.

Progress on that push has been slow, but could receive a major boost under the latest version of the House infrastructure measure. The $1.75 trillion Build Back Better reconciliation legislation, released on Oct. 28, would include roughly $500 million in funding to digitalize emergency call systemstransforming them into whats referred to as Next Generation 911.

At a Nov. 2 House Homeland Security Committee hearing on emergency communications, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Assistant Director Billy Bob Brown Jr. touted the benefits of Next Generation 911including the ability to respond to 911 requests faster and with greater accuracy, greater situational awareness, greater resilience, and with more consistent quality.

Furthermore, interconnectivity and interoperability among 911 systems positions the nation to obtain better awareness of community needs, identify trends, and evaluate how effectively U.S. residents and visitors are served, Brown said.

Next Generation 911 technology has been around for more than a decade and has been adopted in some areas of the country. The city of Alexandria, Virginia, is launching a cloud-based 911 system this week that city officials say can locate callers with pinpoint accuracy.

But in most areas of the country, emergency dispatchers still operate on traditional analog phone systems.

Citing statistics from CISA, Brown told committee members on Nov. 2 that about 75 percent of local public safety organizations lack the funding for capital investment in emergency communications network systems. While areas such as the National Capital Region have received hundreds of millions of dollars for upgrades since 9/11, rural communities have continued to fund their systems locally.

A 2018 study by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) estimated that it would cost between $9.5 billion and $12.7 billion to implement Next Generation 911 nationwide.

Industry and public safety officials have made a concerted effort to secure this funding in the Build Back Better Act.

The Public Safety Next Generation 911 Coalitiona consortium of police and fire departments across the nationlobbied for a one-time $15 billion federal investment throughout 2021. In September, House Commerce Committee members approved a version of the Build Back Better Act that would have included $10 billion in funding for Next Generation 911.

However, the latest version released last week cut that funding to just under $500 million, including $470 million in grants for local jurisdictions to implement the technology, as well as $9 million to establish a Next Generation 911 Cybersecurity Center.

The $9 million for a dedicated cybersecurity center could be particularly important to a nationwide systems success, given the security risks posed by Next Generation 911, according to Brown.

One of the challenges weve been working with our 911 partners across the nation is the idea that we understand, that the provision of text, videos, or images to call centers provides the opportunity for the introduction of malware, he said. If malware is introduced from the beginning in a video, in an image, in a text to a 911 center, it has the possibility of providing that malware to the interconnected government systems.

Despite the cutback, industry stakeholders noted that the nearly $500 million would be the largest ever federal allocation for emergency call centers.

While some will focus on the significant drop in funding, I know the kind of people working in the 911 community, industry consultant John Chiaramonte said in a statement released by the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies. You will not find a more resourceful, MacGyver group of people than these first, first responders.

Im optimistic that the funding will all work out and we will soon see a future with a nationwide Next Generation 911 system, able to improve and enhance emergency response outcomes.
A Purr-fect Match: 101-Year-Old Woman Adopts 19-Year-Old Cat to Spend Last Days Together

A 19-year-old cat, at the tail-end of his life, found a new home after being surrendered to a shelter in Catawba County, North Carolina.

The cat, named Gus, has something in common with his new elderly owner: being 101 years old, she too is in the twilight years of life.

Guss previous owner, who had him since he was a kitten but could no longer provide care, surrendered the furry friend to the Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC) in the second week of September.

With Guss impressive 19 years of age (133 in cat years), shelter staff were anxious to find him a new permanent residence as soon as possible.

Although Humane Society of Catawba County has a great staff and medical team, shelter life is very different to living in a home and can be very stressful, something we were very conscious of for Gus, HSCC executive director Jane Bowers told The Epoch Times.

Medical staff at HSCC did bloodwork and tests on Gus and found that he was relatively healthy for his age.

Luckily, around the same time, they ran into an adoption match made in heaven; family members of the centenarian, Penny, visited the shelter in search of a cat of around her age.

The family visited and immediately decided Gus was the one, Bowers said. At 133 years in human terms, it was a great match.

Fortunately for Gus, his new forever home is a perfect fitfor both cat and owner.

Penny, who lives with her family (who already have dogs), simply needed some extra company; in turn, Gus now has a roof over his head, a warm place to sleep, food, and a tender owner to care for him.

Sharing an update on Guss new situation on their Facebook page, the HSCC posted photos of the senior cat enjoying his new home with his human mom.

They captioned: Our [heart]s are full with this beautiful adoption. Our 19-year-old (133 in human years) Great-GrandPAW, has found the loving arms of his new mamma who is the ripe young age of 101. Congratulations Gus-Gus! Wishing you the best days ahead watching squirrels and sharing your love and purrs!

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
A U.S. Air Force member receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, on Dec. 29, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier via Getty Images)

Air Force Boots 40 Unvaccinated Recruits, Trainees, Ahead of Deadline: Report

Some 40 Air Force recruits and trainees have been kicked out of the service for refusing to comply with the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a spokeswoman confirmed on Monday.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Stars and Stripes that the individuals had been handed entry-level discharges, meaning that if they choose to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future, they may eventually reenlist.

She said approximately 23 of the recruits had been undergoing basic training, and the others were in technical training when they were discharged from the Air Force. Entry-level discharges, or uncharacterized discharge, are given to individuals who have yet to complete 180 days of military service.

Troops had been asked to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus by a Nov. 2 deadline.

Those who dont get a vaccine by the deadline, and have not received or are not in the process of seeking a religious or medical exemption, will be deemed in violation of a lawful order and subject to discipline under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Air Force said last month. They could be court-martialed or face other disciplinary measures, it added.

The mandate stems from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins order in late August for all troops to get a vaccine unless they receive an exemption.

Each branch head decided separately on mandate details, including deadlines. The Air Force has the earliest deadlines for active-duty troops and reserves.

An Air Force spokesperson told The Epoch Times earlier this month that its deadlines would not be pushed back.

According to Air Force data, as many as 12,000 active duty airmen and guardians were still unvaccinated as of late last week. Some have requested or gotten exemptions, others have refused outright. They have had until Nov. 1 to request exemptions.

The Air Force also told The Epoch Times it is not tracking exemption requests and therefore could not say how many had been approved, if any. The service told news outlets last week that it would start releasing approved exemption numbers after the Nov. 2 deadline.

Air Force Capt. Molly Lawlor, 28th Bomb Wing chaplain, said that a very small percentage are seeking a religious exemption at the base. People are just trying to figure out how this new requirement fits into their belief system and the decisions that they want to make, she said.

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said during a press briefing on Monday that about 97 percent of the total force has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 99 percent of sailors, 97 percent of airmen, and 93 percent of Marines. The vaccination rate is above 90 percent among soldiers, he added.

So just in terms of first dosage, theres been a lot more progress and we continue to see the men and women of the force doing the right thingwhich is getting vaccinated, Kirby told reporters.

The Epoch Times has contacted a spokesperson of the Air Force for comment.

Zachary Stieber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Airport Disruptions Possible as Biden Vaccine Mandate for TSA Workers Looms: Lawmakers

Top Republican Congress members voiced concerns of possible domestic air travel concerns due to President Joe Bidens pending COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.

Up to 40 percent of TSA workers, who oversee airport security checkpoints, have not gotten vaccinated yet, the GOP lawmakers wrote in a letter to TSA Administrator David Pekoske. They requested that Pekoske provide an update on whether a staffing shortage of TSA workers looms and if the agency has a contingency plan in place.

Unfortunately, it appears TSA is headed toward a scenario in which up to 40 percent of its workforce may not be compliant with the Presidents Executive Order by the November 8 deadline. Such a scenario could have severe impacts on transportation security and the aviation, travel, and tourism industries, said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the ranking senator on the Transportation Committee, and Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

In mid-October, Pekoske told CNN that as many as 4 out of 10 TSA workers, including security screeners, havent received the vaccine yet.

Pekoske added that his agency is building contingency plans over possible staffing shortages. Although Nov. 8 is the deadline for all federal workers to get vaccinated under an executive order signed by Biden in September, Pekoske hasnt provided an update since his CNN interview aired.

At the time, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said that the vaccination statuses among workers are self-reported to the agency, and Pekoskes remark doesnt necessarily mean that 40 percent of TSA workers havent received the shot. The Epoch Times has contacted DHS for comment.

And while the GOP lawmakers said they believe vaccines are the best way for TSA workers to protect their coworkers and others, they warned that Bidens mandate may cause significant disruptions to air travel and the agencys operationsnamely, as the holiday travel season approaches.

Such a scenario could have severe impacts on transportation security and the aviation, travel, and tourism industries, they wrote. A steep decline in the number of available [security officers] to screen passengers during the upcoming holiday season could have severe impacts on our economy, including small and rural communities such as the ones we represent.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management in October issued a memo saying federal agencies should begin enforcing the administrations vaccine mandate starting Nov. 9 for federal workers who still arent vaccinated.

Employees who refuse to be vaccinated or provide proof of vaccination are subject to disciplinary measures, up to and including removal or termination from Federal service, OPM Director Kiran Ahuja wrote. The only exception is for individuals who receive a legally required exception pursuant to established agency processes.

Other than mandates for federal workers, Biden during his Sept. 9 speech that federal contractorswho have a Dec. 8 deadlineand most healthcare workers would also be required to get the vaccine. His administration also directed the Department of Labor to craft an emergency rule to require private businesses with 100 or more workers to either mandate their employees to get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

Also in recent weeks, both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, which are both federal contractors, were forced to cancel or delay thousands of flights due to inclement weather and unspecified staffing issues. Both airlines stressed that the delays were not related to the pending vaccine mandate.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves the stage after he delivered a short speech at at the 26th meeting of the Council of Parties to the UN climate convention, known as COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Alberta Government, Opposition Say the Province Should Be Consulted on Emissions Caps

EDMONTONAlberta politicians are warning the federal Liberal government that caps on greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas will have to be set in consultation with the province.

Both Premier Jason Kenney and New Democrat Opposition Leader Rachel Notley say Alberta has to be at the table when emissions caps are discussed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told the global climate conference taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, that Canada would impose a hard cap on emissions from the sectorthe source of about a quarter of all Canadas greenhouse gases.

A 100-megatonne emissions cap exists for the oilsands, but that limit has never been reached.

Kenney says his government needs to be consulted before any moves are made and repeated his call for a massive transfer of federal tax dollars to support projects that would capture carbon dioxide and store it underground.

Notley says if the Liberals want to impose caps, they should do it on all sectors with major greenhouse gas emissions.
Newport Beach Police and HAZMAT Units investigate 2 deaths and one injury at a Balboa Island Home in Newport Beach, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2021. (John Fredricks, The Epoch Times)

Ambush-Style Attacks on Police Up 139 Percent From Last Year: Union

Law enforcement officers have fallen victim to 86 ambush-style attacks as of Oct. 31 this year, more than double last years figure, according to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

The attacks resulted in the murder of 26 officers and the shooting of 109, according to a monthly report from the FOP.

Premediated ambush-style attacks are particularly disturbing and pernicious. These types of attacks are carried out with an element of surprise and intended to deprive officers of the ability to defend against attack, the report said. Premeditated attacks contribute to a worrisome desensitization to evil acts that were once largely considered taboo except by the most depraved.

There were a total of 48 ambush attacks on officers in 2020, according to the FOPs annual report. Twelve officers died in the attacks.

A total of 281 officers have been shot in the line of duty this year and fifty-two have been killed by gunfire, according to the report.

Every felonious attack on law enforcement officers, especially by gunfire, is disturbing regardless of circumstances, the report said. Officers are always susceptible to life-threatening attacks and therefore must always be vigilant and maintain the highest level of situational awareness.

The largest number of shootings (39) took place in Texas. Illinois and California followed, with 24 and 21 officers shot this year respectively.

The numbers are preliminary and subject to change, the report said.

The rise in ambushes follows a year of anti-police protests and defund-the-police rhetoric from liberal politicians and activists. The trend has been accompanied by hiring woes in the nations biggest police departments and an overall rise in violent crime.

Its time for the silent majority to hold our elected officials accountable, the FOP said on Twitter on Nov. 1. If they spew anti-police rhetoric, promote lawlessness and support the criminals, VOTE THEM OUT!

On Oct. 16, an assailant killed one deputy constable and shot two others in an ambush attack at a bar in Houston, Texas.

[The deputies] went outside to address a disturbance  it turns out it may have been a robbery, Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief James Jones said.

They were trying to arrest a suspect, or detain a suspect, and they were wrestling with him when they were ambushed  we believe that they were ambushedshot from behind by a suspect with a rifle, Jones said.

Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report.
Patients are treated at a makeshift COVID-19 hospital in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Oct. 9, 2021. (Andrew Kutan / AFP via Getty Images)

Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine Protests Erupt in Papua New Guinea

Authorities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have banned people from protesting against COVID-19 vaccinations after organisers scheduled a peaceful march around Port Moresby on Tuesday.

Pandemic Controller and Commissioner of Police David Manning warned the protest organisers that any gathering of more than 20 people was illegal and peaceful protests were no exception, Post Courier reported.

This march is therefore illegal and will not be allowed to go ahead, Manning said. Organisers of the march will be identified and dealt with.

Manning also appealed to Papuans to work with the authorities to stop the spread of the CCP virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

I appeal to our citizens to please work with us. We are in difficult times and need your support, he said. We are not the enemy; COVID-19 is.

The ban comes after police in PNG broke up an anti-COVID-19 vaccination protest in the countrys second-largest city, Lae, on Oct. 29.

The protest, which saw hundreds of people holding placards and banners, forced the closure of shops, schools, and banks.

The Lae police also reported that protestors stoned three cars, but no police officers were injured, media service LOOP reported.

The only incident we had was when they stoned a police vehiclebut the vehicle is okayand two civilian cars, said Lae Metropolitan Police Superintendent Chris Kunyanban.

Kunyanban said he believed the protests were a result of misinformation around the vaccines. He warned that if authorities did not listen to the concerns of Papuans, there would be more protests in the future.

We must create an avenue where appropriate authorities can listen to their concerns because if we dont, similar situations are going to occur, he said.

Hesitancy around the COVID-19 vaccines and no jab, no job policies are also said to be the cause of an attack on health workers in Lae on Oct. 18.

The incident, which was caught on camera, saw health workers who were operating a vaccination clinic attacked with stones and sticks, The Guardian reported.

The situation was so tense. The public started throwing stones and running towards the vaccination team with sticks, iron rods, and stones, said bystander Emmanuel Saem Jr.

No injuries were reported from the incident.

At present, around two percent of PNGs adult population is vaccinated against COVID-19.

Health authorities view this as dire given the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the country, which is currently in the midst of a severe outbreak of the Delta strain of the novel coronavirus.

Were at the moment barely managing with the existing load. There are surges occurring in all the major centres, said Dr. Gary Nou, head of the emergency medical team at the National Control Centre for COVID-19, told the ABC.

Patients are lying everywhere. The situation is dire, Nou said.

The outbreak has forced Pandemic Controller Manning to approve a mass burial of 200 out of the 300 bodies in the Port Moresby city morgue after it was pushed to breaking point.
Arizona Senate President Karen Fann Announces She Will Retire in 2023

Arizona Senate President Karen Fann on Nov. 1 announced she will be retiring when her current term ends in January 2023.

It has been a privilege to advocate on behalf of Arizona citizens in my twelve years at the State Legislature and the honor of a lifetime to serve as Senate president, Fann, a Republican, said in a statement.

I look forward to a successful session in 2022 advancing policies that benefit all Arizonans, and then enjoying the life my husband and I have built for ourselves in retirement with our family.

Fann, 67, has had 28 years of public service in local government and at the Arizona Legislature. She was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2011. She was elected to a seat in the Arizona Senate in 2016 and served as Senate president since 2019.

The Republican-led Arizona Senate authorized the forensic audit of the 2020 presidential election in Maricopa County, the states largest county, which started in late April, after months of contending with county executives in a legal battle. Fann issued subpoenas requesting that Maricopa County turn over 2.1 million ballots, its vote-counting machines, election department servers, and computers.

The Senate hired four out-of-state firms to carry out the audit, with Florida-based cybersecurity firm Cyber Ninjas leading the effort. Results were released five months later. Auditors found multiple inconsistencies, including potential issues with at least 53,305 ballots.

Fann forwarded the findings to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich recommending further investigation. Brnovich, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, said he was going to take all necessary actions that are supported by the evidence and where I have legal authority. His office said that its Election Integrity Unit will thoroughly review the Senates information and evidence.

Maricopa County executives have previously repeatedly denied any allegations of corruption and maintained that the election was carried out in a secure manner and the results yielded were accurate.

Fann told The Associated Press the election audit and the national attention it brought did not factor into her decision to retire after the 2022 legislative session. Last month, she told the news agency she was still considering whether to seek reelection to her seat as the District 1 senator or seek another term as Senate president.

Fann was the owner and CEO of Arizona Highway Safety Specialists, a construction company that installs guardrails and signs on state and local highways throughout Arizona. She sold the company earlier this year in March, after 37 years of ownership. Fann said she doesnt have specific retirement plans.

Fanns announcement about her impending retirement comes as Adrian Fontes, who was the Maricopa County Recorder during the 2020 election, issued a statement Nov. 1 saying he was contacted by Brnovichs office on Oct. 28 and was later interviewed by a special agent over processes followed at the Maricopa County Recorders Office during the 2020 election.

A spokeswoman for Brnovichs office told KTAR, We cannot comment on any specifics of an ongoing investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives for the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 at SECC in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Phil Noble / Pool / Getty Images)

Australia Increases Climate Finance Commitment to $2 Billion

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Australia will bypass international bodies to invest directly in its Asia and Pacific partners when it increases its climate finance commitments to $2 billion (US$1.5 billion).

Morrison, who is attending COP26 with political leaders from Fiji, Tuvalu, and Palau, said he wants to cut out the red tape and bureaucracy to make sure the funding gets directly to where its needed within the Pacific region.

Now were not putting this through other worldwide institutions or other groups like this, Morrison said at COP26 in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Were doing this direct, because we want to make sure that the climate finance investments that Australians are making are being invested in our backyard amongst our Pacific Island family and amongst our South East Asian partners and friends.

The prime minister said the funding would assist countries in the region to reduce their own carbon emissions and deal with the consequences of climate change already seen in many Pacific Island nations.

Pacifical Island nations will receive $200 million through direct grants for real projects a reality for them on the ground.

Angus Taylor, Australias federal energy and emissions reductions minister, said that an additional $44 million was earmarked to support high integrity credits, purchase credits from the South Pacific, and to provide practical assistance to reduce emissions.

We were just discussing examples in the South Pacific where theyre having to pay 13 or 14 cents a kilowatt hour to produce electricity with current technologies, Taylor said.

But what weve laid out in our plan is a pathway to get those costs to a fraction of that over the coming decade. We know within range of producing electricity from solar at more like 1.5 cents a kilowatt hour with backup and storage, which is what you need.

Meanwhile, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has called Morrisons plan a start.

Bainimarama wrote on Twitter, Australias pledge is a start. Ive now urged [Morrison] to show us a concrete plan to halve emissions by 2030.

Ive given him a copy of Fijis Climate Change Act as a guideit is our uniquely Fijian way of following the science to keep faith with future generations.

Morrison acknowledged that Pacific leaders have always asked him to increase his net zero target, and said hes confident their new plan met that commitment.

At COP26, Morrison said he is urging world leaders to drive down the costs of the low-emissions technologies that they want developing countries to take up in the fight against climate change.

Morrison said that the outcomes of Pacific Island nations wont change unless developing economies reduce their emissions.

We cant control the cost of carbon based fuels in China or in India or in Indonesia, he said. But what we can do is work with those countries to ensure that the technologies they are adopting for their industrial growth and their strength and their jobs is low emissions and low cost, which actually can help them achieve their jobs.

Australias 20 percent reduction of emissions since 2005 was underappreciated, but exceeded many other countries with like economies, Morrison said.

The Australian government has projected that emissions will reduce 35 percent by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Energy Minister Chris Bowen downplayed Morrisons COP26 speech, calling it a more spin.

Just talking about technology and saying technology over and over is not a framework for the development and adaption, or the adoption, of that technology, he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) greets Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 15, 2021. (Thomas Samso /AFP via Getty Images)

Australian PM Stands Ground in the Face of French Anger

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been forced to explain the circumstances leading up to the cancellation of the AU$90 billion submarine deal with France after extensive criticism from commentators and media outlets.

French President Emmanuel Macron on the weekend accused Morrison of lying to him around the circumstances related to the scrapping of the Future Submarines Program with French defence contractor Naval Group.

In response, Morrison read a comprehensive statement outlining the situation leading up to the cancellation of the project, saying the French government were aware that Australia was considering alternative options.

There was a lot of issues in relation to delays in the project and, of course, the costs. These were matters that we raised quite regularly, and indeed I raised with President Macron at each opportunity when we either spoke over the phone or we had our bilateral meetings going over a number of years, he told reporters on Nov. 1.

Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron look on in front of the Trevi Fountain during the G20 summit in Rome, on Oct. 31, 2021. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

After the 2019 election, I began to enquire into these issues and tasked Defence to give us options and alternatives in the event that circumstances prevailed that we wouldnt be able to proceed, he added.

This is a contract. It has gates in it, and the purpose of this contract was to deliver submarines to Australia that would suit our defence interests and our strategic defences. Thats the point of this contract, and thats what we were seeking to procure under this arrangement, he said, noting that a December project gate under the current project was also missed.

Morrison said that the French president did all he could to salvage the deal, including sending Vice-Admiral Bernard-Antoine Morio to Australia.

However, a decision was made to go with the newly signed AUKUS trilateral pact, with the prime minister saying he believed it was the right call.

I dont wish to personalise this. Theres no element of that from my perspective. I must say that I think the statements that were made questioning Australias integrity and the slurs that have been placed on Australia  But those slurs, Im not going to cop sledging at Australia. Im not going to cop that on behalf of Australians, he said.

At the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron told Australian reporters at the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome, I have a lot of respect and a lot of friendship for your people.

I just say when we have respect, you have to be true, and you have to behave in line and consistently with this value, he added.

When asked whether he believed he was lied to, he responded, I dont think. I know.

French anger was triggered following the announcement of the AUKUS pact between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom in September.

While AUKUS promises greater technological collaboration between the allies, the focus has been on how the U.S. and UK governments will assist Australia with acquiring at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.

The move saw the Australian government take up a contractual option to cancel the ongoing deal leading to French ministers reacting angrily and accusing Australia and the United States of stabbing it in the back while recalling its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington D.C.

The reaction has been mixed with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling the French government to donnez-moi un break or get over the situation, while U.S. President Joe Biden recently conceded that his administration was clumsy in its handling of the deal.

French President Macron is also busy dealing with an impending election next year and an ongoing dispute with the UK government over fishing rights.

Domestically, federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese was critical of Morrisons handling of international relations.

What you need when you deal with international relations and with diplomacy is honesty and integrity, he told reporters.

The fact is that President Macron has said very clearly, and unequivocally that Scott Morrison did not tell him. He cant have made it any clearer.

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the matter was not serious enough to warrant an international incident.

We didnt steal an island. We didnt deface the Eiffel Tower. It was a contract, he told reporters.

Joseph Siracusa, adjunct professor of the history of international diplomacy at Curtin University, said the situation should have ideally been handled behind closed doors.

Governments lie to each other all the time. Sometimes they dont tell everybody everything. So, I think this is one of those unfortunate disputes that shouldnt be in public, he told The Epoch Times.

France regards itself a great empire, and it doesnt want to be treated as a small person, small nation. So, they were offended that way, he said.

But nations do what they must do to survive, and thats beyond discussion. Australia will do what it has to do.
Australian Professor and COVID-19 Vaccine Developer Could Lose Job After Refusing Shots

Australian professor and vaccine developer Nikolai Petrovsky faces losing his job after refusing to get one of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)-approved shots, the ABC reported.

Petrovsky developed his own COVID-19 vaccine, called COVAX-19, through his company Vaxine, which has laboratories at Flinders University. It completed phase one trials in August last year and the Adelaide-based medical researcher has administered the vaccine himself.

However, he now risks losing his job because, as of Nov. 1, workers in health care settings including both public and private hospitals must show proof of at least one COVID-19 vaccine to continue working, as per a government mandate.

While Petrovsky said he is seeking an exemption to the mandate, he claimed he has received a threatening letter from Flinders Medical Centre, which is co-located with the universitys medical research labs, stating that he will be suspended from his role if he does not have a TGA-approved vaccine.

It says that as of yesterday all payments will be suspended and that my position itself will be considered to be made redundant if I dont submit to having one of their vaccines, he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

But obviously under the current mandates, I dont qualify to be able to work. Im waiting to hear whether SA Health will grant an exemption or whether Im out of a job, Petrovsky added.

A spokesperson for Flinders University told The Epoch Times, Whilst Professor Petrovsky has academic status with Flinders University, he is employed by SA Health. As such we cannot comment on the matter of his employment.

Flinders University is committed to following the requirements of health authorities and Emergency Management Directions in relation to COVID-19.

We note it is a requirement for anyone entering a hospital setting in SA to be fully vaccinated with a TGA approved vaccine. We have advised our staff, affiliates, volunteers and contractors of this requirement.

It follows that anyone not having received a TGA approved vaccine is not able to enter health facilities, effective 1 November, unless they have a medical exemption. Whether Professor Petrovsky would qualify for such an exemption is a matter for health authorities.

Professor Petrovsky through his private company Vaxine has been developing a vaccine which is not currently approved for use in Australia.

We note that the TGA is giving ongoing consideration to its approved vaccine list.

Petrovsky administered his own COVAX-19 vaccine, which is based on a protein produced in insect cells, and said he does not want to have any other dose, citing safety concerns.

That could be very dangerous to do. There is no data on what would happen if you had a full course of one vaccine and then had another course of another kind of vaccine, he said. Normally you would have to do clinical trials to establish the safety of that approach, Petrovsky added.

The professor noted that it would be a little unusual if we had someone elses vaccine rather than have the one weve developed ourselves.

Frank Pangallo, a member of the South Australian Legislative Council, took part in the COVAX-19 trial in Adelaide last year before going on to have his first AstraZeneca shot, according to the ABC.

Pangallo said he had no adverse affects after getting both the COVAX-19 jab and the AstraZeneca one.

Vials labelled AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in this illustration picture taken on May 2, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Last month, Petrovsky said his COVAX-19 jab was effective against Delta in phase three trials and had been approved in Iran but had failed to receive support from the Australian government, noting clear differences between the Australian and United States response to vaccine developments.

Fabulous safety. But no support from our govt. WarpSpeed gave US vaccine developers a billion dollars each. We are relying on crowd funding, he said on Twitter.

Petrovsky previously claimed that his vaccine was not receiving funding from the government because he was not paying them millions of dollars to use it.

Speaking in October, Petrovsky said that government ministers had told him, Youre simply not paying millions of dollars to the Liberal Partys lobbying firms that are closely associated with the party, and those lobbying firms are being paid millions of dollars by Pfizer and AstraZeneca and unless youre prepared to match that, and fund these Liberal-associated lobbying companies, your vaccine is never going to get supported by the current Australian government.

A spokesperson for The Australian governments Department of Health told The Epoch Times, Professor Petrovskys assertions are absolutely and categorically rejected.

Indeed, Professor Petrovsky did receive funding from the Australian Government. Vaxine Pty Ltd, the company developing Flinders Universitys COVID-19 vaccine candidate COVAX-19 was funded $1 million through the Australian Governments Biomedical Translation Bridge Program, an initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund.

Last week on Oct. 28, Petrovsky also expressed doubts over the current approved vaccines, and said he is one of many vaccine developers who share the same thoughts.

Because Im passionate about vaccinesyou know, obviously, its hard when I have to sayas a vaccine developer, I am not fully confident about whats happened over the last 18 months. I am not the only vaccine developer in the world who is extremely uncomfortable right now, he said during a public discussion on mRNA technology.

We have a situation where we have some very new technologies, in their infancy, and that is the mRNA vaccines, which are the only ones you are being forced to have to remain in employment  I cant tell you whether there will be a side effect in 10 years from the mRNA vaccine or there wont be, no one can  In truth, no scientist can, so if they cant, how can they mandate something which has that level of uncertainty around it? Petrovsky said.

The professor also confirmed that he will not be in his role in the medical centre on Monday because he had not agreed to have one of the TGA-approved shots.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasnt reported any long-term side effects from the approved COVID-19 vaccines, noting that they have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.
Family and friends await the arrival of incoming flights at Sydney's International Airport in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Australian Regulator Recognises Indian and Chinese COVID-19 Vaccines

Two more international COVID-19 vaccines have been formally recognised by Australias medical regulator, ahead of international travel recommencing.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said on Monday it would recognise the Indian-made Covaxin and the Chinese-made BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine.

In a statement, the administration said the decision would allow those who had been jabbed with either of the vaccines to be eligible for travel to Australia.

Only travellers who have been fully immunised with a vaccine recognised by the administration will be able to arrive in Australia under travel arrangements.

This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia, an administration spokesman said.

Citizens of China and India as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia.

It comes as international arrivals touched down in Australia without having to undergo quarantine, for the first time in almost two years.

Monday saw fully vaccinated Australians being able to arrive back in Sydney and Melbourne for the first time since the pandemic began.

There were tearful scenes at airports, with many families able to be reunited after more than a year of travel being restricted

While international travel is currently limited to fully vaccinated citizens, permanent residents and their families, its expected skilled workers, those on visas and then tourists will be allowed to enter in coming months.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was again open to the world, following a rise in vaccination rates.

The Australian public have been keeping their side of the deal, which means the national plan is enabling them to regain the things that COVID has taken from them, he said.

It comes as quarantine-free travel arrangements resumed with New Zealand, after the travel bubble was suspended earlier this year following the Delta variant outbreak.

Australians will also be able to travel to Singapore from Nov. 8, while residents from the Asian city state will be able to come to Australia from later this month.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the resumption of international travel and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the country would likely lead to a spike in hospitalisations and deaths from the virus.

That is ultimately what happens when you live with the virus, and there are no other options, he told reporters in Melbourne.

We cant live in lockdown and closed borders forever and live without our freedoms, and its why its important to ease restrictions and get on and live our lives in a COVID-safe way.

There were more than 85,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered nationally on Sunday, with 77.5 percent of over-16s being fully vaccinated and 88.3 percent having had their first dose.

Victoria recorded a spike in the number of new cases on Monday, with 1,471 new infections and four deaths.

In NSW, there were 135 new cases and four deaths, while there were two deaths in Canberra.

The national capital registered five new infections on Monday, the lowest number of daily cases since mid-August.

By Andrew Brown
Australias Economy at Risk as Nations Shift to Zero Emissions

Australias export-driven economy could bear the brunt of a global net-zero-by-2050 movement as trading partners take steps to adopt more stringent carbon abatement measures.

Australia declared a goal to reach net zero by 2050 last week, with world leaders meeting this week at the 26th United Nations climate change summit, COP26.

Analysis by the advisory firm EY estimates that Australias export industryrepresenting over 20 percent of the economycould be at risk, especially as 85 percent of exported goods are producers of high emissions.

This includes Australias economic backbone, mining, along with livestock products which contribute to high methane emissions and wheat production through its generation of nitrous oxide.

Sheep graze in front of wind turbines in Lake George on the outskirts of Canberra, Australia, on Sep. 1, 2020. (Photo by David Gray/Getty Images)

The report estimated that 64 percent of the risk on the nations export-based GDP would come from international policy changes alone, as around 82 percent of Australias goods were destined for countries with net zero emissions targets.

The direction of travel towards global decarbonisation is clear, and this will impact Australias export base, whether we like it or not, said modelling co-author and EY Oceania chief economist Jo Masters.

This is understood to manifest in several ways, such as exports of coal and oilmaking up nearly 15 percent of Australias exports by dollar value in 2020which are expected to diminish if nations adhere to net zero commitments.

Another facet includes carbon tax-based systems, such as the European Unions Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism which currently only targets aluminium, cement, electricity, fertiliser, and steel imports but which is set to expand.

EYs modelling is based on the assumption that Australias technology remains the same, which the federal government is seeking to overcome through its technology investment roadmap that will explore new and emerging low-emissions technologies, such as hydrogen.

A cubic-meter tank containing liquid hydrogen at Kobe Port Island plant in Kobe, Japan on Oct. 26, 2020. The special shipping terminal has been built in order to import liquid hydrogen from Australia. (Etienne Balmer/AFP via Getty Images)

The modelling also assumes the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) net zero scenario, which requires that the world work in unison to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But the climate action of Australias biggest trade partnerChinahas come under scrutiny, suggesting that not all nations may hold to their stated commitments.

In particular, China remains the worlds biggest emitter, producing more carbon dioxide in 16 days than Australia does in one year, and commissioning 38.4 gigawatts (GW) of new coal plants last year aloneover three times the amount commissioned internationally.

Most recently, sweeping blackouts and an ensuing energy crisis across China has forced the communist regime to re-accept Australian coalwhich had previously been unofficially banned as part of a trade spat after Australia called for an inquiry into the origin of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Combined with growing coal demand from India, which has conveyed it will continue utilising coal power to supply the nations energy needs, Australias export industry could remain unimpeded.

Chinese street vendors and customers gather at a local market outside a state owned coal fired power plant in Anhui Province, China on June 14, 2017. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

However, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had previously suggested a lack of emissions reduction efforts could undermine investments flowing into Australia.

Markets are moving as governments, regulators, central banks, and investors are preparing for a lower emissions future, Frydenberg said in an address to the Australian Industry Group. Increasingly, institutional investors are themselves committing to the net zero goal, like BlackRock, Fidelity and Vanguard, three of the biggest fund managers in the world.

Frydenberg outlined that Australias economy had relied on overseas capital to stimulate growth, with current investment stock worth around $4 trillion (US$2.9 trillion).

Australia has a lot at stake, Frydenberg said. We cannot run the risk that markets falsely assume we are not transitioning in line with the rest of the world.

The EY report also pointed out the benefit brought on by new, emissions-free industries.

The investment in developing and implementing new technologies, commercializing research and development and maximizing Australias advantages in clean and new energy sources could be a significant economic windfall, boosting our GDP, the report stated.

But Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie had previously pointed to a misunderstanding in claims that the green projects would generate tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in the renewable energy sector.

The reality is though that once they have been constructed, there isnt long-term, ongoing careers in those renewable energy generation spaces at the moment, she told the ABC.
Pump jacks used for gas and oil extraction are seen over the Monterey Shale formation in Lost Hills, Calif., on March 24, 2014. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Biden Unveils New Plan to Reduce Methane Emissions by 2030

The Biden administration is set to announce a new ambitious plan that will reduce the worlds global methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030, starting with oil and gas wells.

The new U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan will utilize commonsense regulations, catalytic financial incentives, transparency and disclosure of actionable data, and public and private partnerships to identify and reduce methane emissions in a cost-effective manner from all major sources, the White House said in a statement on Nov. 2.

The administration says this will help protect public health, promote U.S. innovation in new technologies, and help create jobs for tens of thousands of skilled workers across the United States.

Specifically, it will introduce new regulations that will significantly broaden and strengthen methane emissions reduction for new oil and gas facilities and will require that states develop plans to reduce methane emissions from existing sources nationwide, which the administration estimates to include roughly 300,000 oil and gas well sites.

The oil and gas industry is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States and responsible for approximately 30 percent of total methane emissions.

The White House says the new requirement will reduce emissions from those sources by approximately 75 percent.

A Colonial Pipeline station is seen in Smyrna, Ga., on May 11, 2021. (Mike Stewart/AP Photo)

The Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration is also implementing the bipartisan PIPES Act by upgrading and expanding pipeline rules. Those rules will require oil and gas operators to cut methane leaks and excursions. The Department of the Interior (DOI) will also be tackling the venting and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations and well closures on public lands and waters.

Landfill methane emissions, which are the second largest industrial source of methane in the United States, will also be reduced as part of the plan and the Environmental Protection Agency will be ramping up an initiative to reduce the food loss and waste that serves as a major contributor to landfill methane emissions, the White House said.

Meanwhile, the DOI will launch an aggressive program to plug hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells, including many that are still venting methane, which the administration says will lead to the employment of more union workers across the country.

President Joe Bidens unveiling of the new plan coincides with the second day of the COP26 climate summit, also called Conference of the Parties 26, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Leaders, including President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, President Ivan Duque of Colombia, and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, are currently in attendance at the climate summit to discuss key issues related to global warming and setting new emissions reduction goals.

Biden has set a target to slash greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent by 2030 but is struggling to gain congressional approval of his $1.75 trillion social-climate spending package.

The timing of this is critical. As we speak, world leaders are gathering right now in Glasgow and they are looking to the United States for true leadership, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told Reuters in an interview about the plan. This proposal is absolutely bold, aggressive, and comprehensive.

Crude oil storage tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at the Cushing oil hub in Cushing, Okla., on April 21, 2020. (Drone Base/Reuters)

While many have championed Bidens ambitious push toward green energy, the president has also faced criticism from those working in the oil and gas industry.

Jerry Simmons, the president of the Domestic Energy Producer Alliance (DEPA) last month said Bidens policies are hindering U.S. oil and gas companies from producing energy commodities, driving up the price, which in turn results in consumers paying more.

DEPA is a nationwide collaboration of 39 coalition associations representing individuals and companies who engage in domestic onshore oil and natural gas exploration and production.

Simmons noted that on his first day in office, Biden revoked the Keystone XL oil pipeline contract, a 1,700-mile pipeline that was designed to carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

They encouraged banking to not lend to oil and gas and fossil fuels, so coal companies as well. So our access to capital dried up this year, and it became very difficult  its a host of things that have happened that have caused these prices to go up, he said.

The idea that you have a federal government that has said it wants to do away with oil, gas, and coal by 2050, that makes it very hard for people to think about it as a future resource, Simmons continued.

The Biden administration has done all they can to hinder us. We have some tax deductions that we get for doing business in this country that theyre trying to remove, and again, that drives up the cost and when you drive up costs, people stop doing certain businesses, or they increase the cost of doing that business and pass it on to the consumer, which is exactly whats happening, the DEPA president added.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy and the Labor Department's September jobs report in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building's South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 8, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Biden Flips Second Circuit Court to Majority Democratic With Latest Confirmation

The Biden administration this week flipped the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to a majority of Democratic-appointed judges.

Judge Beth Robinson, who previously served on the Vermont Supreme Court, was confirmed by the Senate in a 5145 vote, with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) breaking with their party to support Robinsons nomination.

The confirmation has now given judges appointed by a Democratic president a 76 edge in the Second Circuit Court over Republican president-appointed judges.

Justice Robinson is undeniably one of the most notable champions of equal rights and equal justice, said self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in championing Robinsons nomination during a September hearing.

Robinson had served on the Vermont Supreme Court since 2011, following an 18-year career at Langrock Sperry & Wool. She was plaintiffs co-counsel in a landmark Vermont case that held in 1999 same-sex couples were entitled to broader legal protections.

But Robinson claimed to the Senate that her previous advocacy wouldnt impact her work as a circuit court judge.

Theres no space for a politically oriented person on the bench, she said. For the last decade, that prior part of my life, of which Im very proud, ceased to guide my work upholding the rule of law.

The Senate now has confirmed 28 of Bidens 51 nominees for federal district and appellate courts. Four other Biden appeals court nominees, each picked for the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit, await confirmation votes in the Senate.

Also on Monday, Toby Heytens, who previously served as the solicitor general of Virginia, was confirmed Monday to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by a vote of 5343.

So far during Bidens time in office, the Senate has confirmed 19 district court judges and nine circuit court judges. His predecessor, former President Donald Trump, had eight circuit court judges, four district court judges, and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch confirmed during the same time frame.

The pace at which Trump and Biden judges were confirmed at the beginning of the respective administrations is not an apples-to-apples comparison, because of the Gorsuch confirmation and the Senate rule in effect until 2019 requiring 30 hours of post-cloture debate for all judicial nominees. That said, Biden has been able to achieve the pace he has thanks to the willingness of moderate Democrats to toe the party line, even on the most radical nominees, Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, told the Washington Times.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Biden Fully Committing to Defending Taiwan?; China Shifting to Wartime Policy in Response to Taiwan

Is China gearing up for war? A new Party policy has hidden meanings. Now, the tension between Taiwan and China is high, and both their leaders are making statements completely opposite to each other. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen hinted at a stronger U.S. support, including potentially defending Taiwan militarily, in her recent interview with CNN, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping further reiterated his commitment to reunification. How will it pan out as global tension focuses on the Taiwan Strait and the U.S.China relationship?

I talked with China analyst Dr. Anders Corr on President Joe Bidens answer to defending Taiwan and how the United States needs to do more for the island. Plus, I will break down how much we know about Chinas Communist Party.
Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in Toronto, Dec. 23, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Graeme Roy)

California Judge Rules 4 Drugmakers Cant Be Held Liable for Fueling Statewide Opioid Epidemic

A California judge on Nov. 1 ruled that four drug manufacturers cant be held liable for fueling the widespread opioid epidemic in the state, dealing a significant blow to the $50 billion case.

Attorneys representing three counties in CaliforniaOrange, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles, plus the city of Oaklandfiled the lawsuit in 2014.

They argued that the drug companies Endo International plc., Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and AbbVie Inc.s Allergan unit, engaged in an aggressive false and/or misleading marketing scheme designed to increase, and which succeeded in increasing, the writing of prescriptions for defendants opioid medications, and that the increased prescriptions have caused or contributed to this opioid crisis being experienced in California.

The companies have denied any wrongdoing.

In the 41-page ruling (pdf), issued by Superior Court Judge Peter Wilson in Orange County on Nov. 1, Wilson said that the Court finds that plaintiffs have failed to prove an actionable public nuisance for which defendants, or any of them, are legally liable.

This court is aware of the toll being taken on society by what has been variously referred to as the opioid crisis, or the opioid epidemic, the tentative decision reads.

Drug abuse, including opioid abuse, affects not only the individuals directly involved but their family and friends, doctors and other medical care providers, emergency rooms, law enforcement, and indeed all those impacted at each step of the drug-abuse cycle. Opioid-related hospitalization rates and opioid-related deaths starkly demonstrate the enormity of the ongoing problem.

Defendants do not dispute that there is an opioid crisis. What defendants dispute is whether plaintiffs have proven that the opioid crisis constitutes an actionable public nuisance for which defendants, or any of them, are legally liable.

The ruling noted that a person can get addicted to opioids even if the person takes them as prescribed by their doctor although it said that there is a direct correlation between an increase in opioid prescriptions and the frequency of misuse, abuse, overdose, and drug-related fatalities.

Plaintiffs were seeking tens of billions of dollars in compensation.

The California Legislature passed the Business and Professions Code, section 2241.5 in 1990, which allows a physician or surgeon to prescribe, dispense, or administer dangerous drugs or prescription controlled substances for the treatment of pain or a condition causing pain, including, but not limited to, intractable pain.

Years later in 1997, it passed the Pain Patients Bill of Rights, ensuring that patients would have access to opioid medications where it was deemed medically appropriate.

However, over the past two decades, the U.S. opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 Americans.

According to separate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 100,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses in the last year.

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to take part in a landmark $26 billion settlement in New York that includes drug wholesalers AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson over their alleged role in the nationwide opioid epidemic.
Cash Machine BP Boosts Share Buyback as Profit Surges

LONDONBP added more than a billion dollars to its share buyback programme on Tuesday as it likened itself to a cash machine benefiting from higher oil and gas prices and a strong trading performance in the third quarter.

Natural gas and power prices around the world surged this autumn as tight gas supplies collided with strong demand in economies recovering from the pandemic.

BP said it expected natural gas prices to remain strong in the coming months of peak winter demand.

The company is a cash machine at these sort of (oil and gas) prices and the business is running very well, Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney told Reuters.

Underlying replacement cost profit, the companys definition of net earnings, reached $3.32 billion in the third quarter, exceeding analysts expectations for $3.06 billion.

That compares with $2.8 billion in profit in the second quarter and $86 million a year earlier, when energy demand and prices collapsed due to the coronavirus epidemic.

The results were boosted by very strong trading, which helped BP weather large fluctuations in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices throughout the quarter.

Reuters reported last month that BPs trading arm made at least $500 million in the quarter.

Its not only a trading story. We have had production growth, we have stronger reliability and availability in our businesses, Looney said.

Although the headline profit reflects a strong business, BP reported a loss attributable to shareholders of $2.54 billion due to accounting effects and hedges as a result of fluctuations in LNG prices, which are nevertheless expected to unwind in the coming quarter.

BP shares were down 2 percent by 0845 GMT, compared with a 0.9 percent decline in the broader European energy index.

Buybacks

The company said it would repurchase a further $1.25 billion of its shares by early 2022, after buying $900 million during the third quarter. BP plans to maintain buybacks at a rate of around $1 billion per quarter at oil prices of $60 a barrel.

BPs net debt fell further to $32 billion from $32.7 billion in the second quarter.

The long-term outlook for fossil fuel demand, however, remains uncertain as world leaders gather this week in Glasgow, Scotland, for a U.N. conference on climate change.

BP plans to sharply reduce its carbon emissions in the coming decades by increasing its renewable power capacity 20-fold by 2030, while reducing its oil output by 40 percent and diverting more funds to low-carbon investments.

The company can talk about Performing while Transforming all it likes but it needs to prove to shareholders and the markets as a whole that it can transition to renewables in a way that doesnt hammer its margins, and the jury is likely to remain out on that, Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said in a note.

By Ron Bousso
Pfizer/BioNTech's new pediatric COVID-19 vaccine vials are seen in this undated handout photo. Pfizer/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

CDC Recommends Children Between 5 and 11 Get Pfizers COVID-19 Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday night recommended practically every child in the United States between 5 and 11 get Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky made the recommendation, following advice from the agencys vaccine advisory panel.

Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nations fight against the virus that causes COVID-19, Walensky said in a statement.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated, Walensky added.

Nearly every one of the 28 million 5- to 11-year-olds in the country are now being advised to get vaccinated. The only exceptions are people with a history of severe allergic reactions to a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose or a component of the vaccine, or a known allergy to a component of the shot.

The White House has already begun distribution of the vaccine. Millions of doses were en route this week to states across the country. Another 12 million or so were expected to arrive next week.

Hours before Walenskys endorsement, the CDC advisory panel, formally the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recommended in a 14-0 vote that the agency recommend Pfizers vaccine for the young children.

Panel members said they were worried about post-vaccination incidence of heart inflammation seen in youth, especially males, but ultimately agreed with CDC scientists that the benefits of vaccinating children, even those who have had COVID-19, would outweigh the risks.

I think the data supports that we have one more vaccine that saves lives in children and that we should be very confident to employ it to the maximum to do what it is meant to do without significant concerns about serious adverse events, said Dr. Sarah Long, a panel member and professor of pediatrics at the Drexel University College of Medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week granted emergency use authorization for Pfizers jab for children 511 after its advisory panel, save one abstention, recommended doing so.

After regulators grant emergency clearance for a population, the CDC decides which people within that population can get a vaccine. The agency typically accepts recommendations from its advisory panel, though it has the power to overrule it.

Some FDA advisory panel members had voiced concerns about giving the COVID-19 vaccine to all children within the age group. They pointed to evidence that people who recover from COVID-19 enjoy similar levels of immunity to people who get a COVID-19 jab, that four in 10 young children have had the disease, and the lack of longer-term safety data for young kids.

While there are clearly high-risk groups within the 511 age group for which this vaccine would significantly reduce serious disease, I do not expect protection from infection to last more than a few months and this may negatively impact public perception of vaccines, Dr. Michael Kurilla, a member of that panel, told The Epoch Times in an email.

But counterparts on the ACIP shared little of that concern, even though many young children are at much lower risk from COVID-19 than older groups.

Over 1.9 million reported cases have been recorded in children between 5 and 11 since the start of the pandemic. Over 8,300 have been hospitalized with the disease and 94 have died. About 20 percent of the hospitalizations are for other reasons, according to the CDC.

Many panel members said they hoped vaccinating young children would cut both COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in the age group.

If we wait, we miss the chance to prevent many cases of COVID-19 in this age group, and that includes severe cases, said Dr. Matthew Daley, a senior investigator for Kaiser Permanente Colorado who sits on the committee.

Some studies indicate that children get COVID-19 at a lower rate than adults, though several more recent ones have suggested children get COVID-19 at similar rates. Many infections in children are asymptomatic.

Vaccinating 26 children between 5 and 11 against the virus would prevent one case and vaccinating 8,187 children would prevent a single hospitalization, according to CDC estimates using epidemiology averaged across the pandemic.

Other expected benefits include keeping children in schools and preventing parents from having to miss work when their children test positive, CDC officials said.

The key evidence supporting the emergency use authorization came from a Pfizer-run clinical trial that examined approximately 3,100 participants who got the vaccine, along with about half that many who received a placebo. The vaccine was 90.7 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19 infection, the trial indicated.

Pfizer officials and government scientists said the data, which relied on an approach called immunobridging, showed the vaccine triggered an immune response similar to that seen in those 16 to 25. That older group was used as a comparison.

The immune response to vaccine in children age 5 to 11 was at least as strong as the immune response in young adults 16- to 25-years, based on SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing titers measured one month after vaccination in participants without prior infection Dr. Sara Oliver, a CDC scientist, told members.

But officials were also forced to hedge on the predicted benefits. For example, Oliver said the vaccine would likely prevent hospitalizations, deaths, and post-COVID conditions.

They also claimed that the vaccine could prevent virus transmission even though Walensky over the summer said none of the vaccines prevent transmission any longer due to the dominance of the Delta CCP virus variant.

Much of the discussion and multiple presentations dealt with heart inflammation, a side effect seen at higher-than-expected rates in youth following vaccination with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Data from federally-run surveillance systems, for instance, show that the inflammation occurs in 16- to 17-year-old males at least 69 times per 1 million doses after the second dose of the Pfizer primary series.

CDC investigators identified nine reports of deaths in people under 30 years old that were reported to VAERS and may have involved myocarditis. They have confirmed that three of the people had myocarditis but also identified other potential death causes and werent ready to say myocarditis caused the deaths, Dr. Matthew Oster, a CDC researcher, told panel members.

Over 9,300 reports of post-COVID-19 vaccination deaths have been submitted to the federally-run Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) as of Nov. 1. That number represents 0.0022 percent of people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Reports to VAERS do not mean a vaccine caused the death. The CDC says on its website that a review of available clinical information has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines, though it acknowledged that there is a plausible causal relationship between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a serious adverse event called TTS, or blood clots with low platelets, which has caused deaths.

Oster reported that in a three-month follow-up of 16 youth between 12 and 17 who experienced post-vaccination myocarditis, four were still symptomatic, two were still on medication, and seven were still on exercise/physical activity restrictions. Researchers also found abnormal cardiac MRI results for some of the children who suffered from heart inflammation in that timeframe.

Additionally, most of the youth who suffer post-vaccination myocarditis were admitted to hospitals. Still, many have been discharged, and Oster said that hes much more concerned about heart inflammation in kids who contract COVID-19 versus post-vaccination inflammation.

Getting COVID is much riskier to the heart, he said.

A person receives a bandage after their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 7, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Several members said they were reassured by the presentations and believed surveillance systems in place would detect safety signals in the 5 to 11 group after the vaccine rollout begins.

The Pfizer trial didnt enroll enough participants to assess the rate of rare adverse events, officials said. No cases of myocarditis or the related pericarditis were detected.

Children between 5 and 11 who got the vaccine as part of the trial experienced a higher percentage of adverse events than the placebo group but few serious events were detected, and most of those were ruled unrelated to the jab.

Pfizer did include children who previously had COVID-19 in its study, approximately 225 in total. None of those children, regardless of vaccination status, contracted COVID-19, Dr. William Gruber, a Pfizer official, told the meeting.

Approximately 40 percent of children in the United States between 5 and 11 have recovered from COVID-19, according to seroprevalence estimates.

Recovery from COVID-19 grants some level of immunity from reinfection, according to dozens of studies. The CDC, though, continues to insist that even the recovered should get vaccinated, asserting that natural immunity is boosted by the vaccines. Some outside experts say vaccination isnt needed among the recovered, or some of the recoveredor children at all. Others argue children should only get one shot, especially if they have had COVID-19 before.

Pfizer did not include any children deemed immunocompromised in its trial, though the company plans to study its vaccine in that population soon.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the incidence of myocarditis following Pfizer vaccination in 16- to 17-year-olds. It is 69 per 1 million, according to VAERS data. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Men work at the construction site of a highrise building in Beijing, China, on Oct. 18, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

China-Based Developer Says Bond Default Triggers Earlier Repayment Deadlines, Pulls Dividend

Chinese developer Modern Land (China) said on Monday a default on a bond repayment last week has pulled forward repayment dates for a further $321 million worth of notes, and the company withdrew an interim dividend to hold on to cash.

The development highlights the impact of China Evergrande Group, which narrowly averted a costly default, on the rest of the high-yield sector as liquidity dries up and sales slow.

Modern Land said last week it had not repaid principal and interest on its 12.85 percent senior notes with an outstanding principal of $250 million.

The non-payment triggered conditions under which other financing arrangements, including 9.8 percent green senior notes due 2023 worth $321 million, may become immediately payable. No bondholders have yet enforced any action, the company said.

However, the company said it has already got notices from an offshore creditor demanding early repayment of $23.6 million, and was in talks for a waiver to avoid the payment and further enforcement.

The developer also withdrew its recommendation for an interim dividend of HK4.81 cents per share declared in August due to unexpected liquidity issues, and was currently taking stock of other repayment obligations.

By Arundhati Dutta
Virus cases are on the rise in China. Shanghai Disneyland reportedly tested all of its more than 30,000 visitors Sunday night, after a person carrying the virus visited the park. And they werent allowed to leave until the results came back negative.

In one Beijing district, locals are lining up en masse for virus testing. Its the same area home to the official residence and workplace of the Communist Partys leader.

Every traffic light in one county is locked on red, while every person in one city is labeled risky. Those are just some of the extreme control measures communist China has adopted to combat the pandemic.

Action by China shows apparent disinterest in tackling climate issues. The absence of its state head at the climate-focused G20 summit proved a disappointmentincluding for U.S. President Joe Biden.

U.S. retail giants are set to remove some Chinese security cameras. The devices have been linked to human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
China Gives Free Medical Benefits to Military Families to Get Troops Focused on War Preparation

Starting Jan. 1, 2022, Chinas military expenditure will be expanded to provide free or preferential medical treatment to military families, as part of efforts to maintain a focus on war preparation and strengthen troops cohesion and combat power, according to Chinese state-owned media.

The new regulation will go into effect with the approval of Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, said Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Military Daily on Oct. 27, stating that it enlarges the scope of free medical treatment to military personnels spouses and minor children, and preferential medical treatment to military officers parents and their spouses parents.

Chen Pokong, a U.S.-based Chinese political commentator, said on his YouTube media program that the CCPs new rules are a way to invest big money in buying the hearts and minds of the military.

It sounds like good news for military personnel, but there is a premise and purpose inside, that is focusing on combat, said Chen, Military personnels families get free medical care, but they have to support their spouses going to war. [The CCP] provides families free medical care in exchange for family members going to the front line to die.

Seventy percent of these soldiers and officers are the only child in the family, Chen said, and they dont want to get killed in the war, nor do their parents. Most Chinese families have only one child each due to the CCPs one-child policy since 1980the policy was said to limit population increase.

Apparently, most of the high-ranking Communist Party officials would not let their sons and daughters go to the front lines to face death. Because of this unfair environment in the military, Chen said it would inevitably result in anti-war and war-weariness in the military.

Wang He, an overseas commentator on current affairs, told The Epoch Times that the CCP aims to keep the troops in captivity and detach them from societyassuming a very tight control over their thinking and political stanceand every month the troops are provided with numerous political materials to study.

The CCP requires them [the military] to be obedient to the CCP and does not treat them as human beings, but as tools. He said.

To settle down active-duty military personnel, the CCP uses money to buy their hearts and minds, Wang said referring to many retired military personnel who are not treated well and keep appealing for help, which might have an impact on active-duty troops.

Chinas defense expenditure is made up of three main components: personnel subsistence, training maintenance, and equipment, according to the CCPs defense review released in July 2019.

Wang observed, the military equipment allocation accounts for 40 percent, training is just over 20 percent, and the other 40 percent is personnel costs.

CCPs Military Expenditure

The Chinese military will dedicate itself to weapons and equipment as stressed by Xi at a military conference convened from Oct. 25 to 26 in Beijing, according to Chinese state-owned media.

Over the past decades, China has invested heavily in military spending on weapons, equipment, and research and development. The next decade could be a harvest and blowout period for weapons and equipment, said a March 7 report from AVIC Securities (pdf), the only securities company under the state-owned military enterprise.

The report said that according to the draft budget presented at the fourth session of Chinas 13th Congress on March 5, the CCPs defense spending in 2021 is expected to increase by 6.89 percent over 2020, reaching $209 billion.

The proportion of spending on equipment continues to grow, and aerospace might become a key area of investment.

Based on the available data, the growth rate of spending on aviation equipment is greater than (>) the growth rate of equipment costs > growth rate of military spending > the growth rate of the countrys GDP, the report says.

China has allocated 1.9 percent of its GDP to the military every year since 2013, says Dr. Nan Tian, a researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure program, reported the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Chinas military budget continues to mount and now ranks as the second-largest in the world constitut[ing] 39.5 percent of the total cumulative spending across the Asian continent (including the Middle East), said the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.
A cargo ship moves toward the Bayonne Bridge as it heads into port in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Chinas Control of Global Supply Chains Will Extend to the Sea, Moon

Nearly all electronics depend on China, regardless of where it is 'made'

News Analysis

When it comes to supply chains, all roads lead to China, even if the products are made elsewhere.

A laptop sold in the United States bearing a Made in China sticker is assembled in China, and many of the components are also sourced from China. Thats the easy part of tracing global supply chains, as most consumers know that the large components of many everyday products come from or are assembled in China. The part that many people dont know, and the reason China is able to dominate global supply chains so thoroughly, is that the small thingsthe metals and elements that are crucial to making electronics workare also dependent on China.

The Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) 11th and 12th Five-Year Plans encouraged Chinese companies to invest overseas, while the regime pledged financing and support from Chinese state-owned banks. One of the goals stressed in the 12th Five-Year Plan (20112015) was to strengthen Chinas position in metals.

The 13th Five-Year Plan, which spanned from 2016 to 2020, was dubbed a decisive battle period by the CCP, which sought to control the global nonferrous metal industry. This strategy is coupled with Made in China 2025, which seeks to dramatically expand Chinas strategic industries and national defense, as well as science and technology. To this end, an action plan for Chinas metals industry to achieve world power status was announced in October 2016 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The CCPs Five-Year Plans, Made in China 2025, as well as achieving world status in metals, all included directives for state-owned enterprisesfunded by state-owned banksto purchase and control mines in resource-rich countries around the globe.

To further ensure the countrys domination of mineral markets, Beijing imposed export restrictions on those elements that are produced in China. These restrictions have been the subject of World Trade Organization grievances that were filed by the United States and the European Union, as well as Japan and Mexico, citing unfair competition.

Several laptop brands advertise themselves as not made in China, although this is a bit of a mislabel because even these laptops are dependent on inputs from China. The typical laptop contains many or all of the following elements that originate from countries spread out across the world, but that are controlled by the Chinese regime: graphite, cobalt, lithium, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, antimony, and copper.

Workers drain polluted water near the Zijin copper mine in Shanghang, China, on July 13, 2010. Pollution from the mine contaminated the Ting river, a major waterway in Chinas Fujian Province. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

China alone supplies or controls half of the raw materials used across the world. Graphite used in rechargeable batteries is found in China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and Madagascar, but 69 percent of it comes from China. Cobalt originates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Beijing controls 35 mining companies. China controls 86 percent of the global supply of magnesium, although this element can be found in the United States, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

Ninety percent of the worlds lithium comes from Chile, Argentina, and Australia. Through investment in local companies, China now controls 59 percent of the global supply. And it isnt just developing countries that are giving up their resources in exchange for Chinese cash. In Australia, China now controls 91 percent of all lithium mining, as well as 75 percent of the countrys reserves.

Two of the primary sources of vanadium are Kazakhstan and South Africa, both of which are members of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. In Kazakhstan, the China Development Bank is heavily funding the mining sector, while in South Africa, Beijing is now planning investments in vanadium mines.

Chinese companies also bought significant stakes in the largest copper mines in the DRC. In total, China owns 30 overseas copper projects in the operating stage, and an additional 38 in the exploration stage.

Zimbabwe has the worlds second-largest chromium reserve, accounting for about 12 percent of the global total. China is the worlds largest consumer of chrome and chromium, and secures its supplies by investing in extraction in countries such as Cuba and Zimbabwe. Over the past five years, China has invested billions in Zimbabwes metals sector, and is a major owner in one of the countrys largest chrome-mining companies, Zimbabwe Mining and Alloy Smelting Co. (ZIMASCO).

Locals describe the ChinaZimbabwe relationship as exchanging mining equipment and technology for ore. This is a pattern and a strategy that China has used in resource-rich countries across the globe. Namely, that China provides construction and technological services to the local mines. In exchange, the mines agree to sell a percentage of their output to Chinese companies at an agreed-upon price. Other tools used by the CCP include mergers and acquisitions, whereby Chinese companies, many of them state-owned and funded by state-owned financial institutions, purchase a controlling interest in local mining companies.

Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa reviews a military honor guard with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 3, 2018. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

A traditional leader in Mashonaland Central, a province in Zimbabwe, accused China of looting the countrys mineral resources. Local miners have complained that the Chinese regime exploits workers. In one incident, a Chinese manager of a mining company shot two Zimbabwean workers over a wage dispute in June last year.

China controls 90 percent of the worlds antimony supply and, until one year ago, owned 100 percent of the antimony processing plants. Once antimony is extracted from the ground, it must be processed into ingots in order to be used in the manufacture of other goods. Although antimony is found in Russia, Australia, and Tajikistan, nearly all of it is sent to China for processing. Last year, for the first time in 30 years, an antimony processing plant, called a roster, was built outside of China.

In addition to investing in other countries, the CCP is now scrambling to dominate the newer sector of undersea mining. Approval for seabed mining comes from the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Chinese companies have already filed 30 requests with the ISA for various undersea mining projects.

After conquering the seas, China plans to mine the moon. Last year, its Change 5 lunar probe landed on the moon and brought back 2 kilograms of samples. U.S. space analysts suggest that China is building up its lunar research experience in order to support future moon-based mining projects. Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he believes mining the moon will be possible in this century. Meanwhile, theres evidence and speculation that the moon contains many critical materials.

The CCP hopes to have a manned moon landing by 2030 and to build a lunar research station. Bao Weimin, director of the Science and Technology Commission of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) has proposed creating an Earth-Moon Special Economic Zone by 2050.

At the rate China is expanding its control of laptop inputs, its likely that 20 years from now, not only will most or all of the inputs lead back to Chinese companies, but some will originate from under the sea or from the moon.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinas New Border Law Will Make IndiaChina Relations Acrimonious

NEW DELHIA new Chinese law that empowers the protection and exploitation of the countrys land border areas, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022, is sparking a diplomatic war of words between India and China.

Chinas unilateral decision to bring about legislation which can have implications on our existing bilateral arrangements on border management as well as on the boundary question is of concern to us, Indias Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Oct. 27.

However, the Chinese regime called Indias concerns undue speculation about normal legislation and said the new law wont affect existing treaties between the nations.

Experts told The Epoch Times that Indias concerns are valid because the Chinese regimes domestic politics are linked with its larger global agendas. India needs to be vigilant and not believe in what China says, as this law will be seen as a betrayal by India and is capable of making further talks and bilateral relations bitter, they said.

Chinese leader Xi needs to show strength abroad, needs to demonstrate that he has regained lost territories before the 20th Party congress in 2022, and so, actions against Taiwan, India, in SCS [South China Sea], are all part of this, Aparna Pande, the director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times in an email.

The law focuses on India, Bhutan, and Nepal and will have direct and severe consequences on Indias and Chinas bilateral relations, Pande says.

It will make any future rounds of border talks acrimonious, she said. Let us see if India decides to respond with any stronger actions on the economic front.

How this tug of war further unfolds needs to be seen, she said, because India has applied to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is controlled by China, for a loan for vaccine production.

Tokyo-based Soturu Nagao, a visiting fellow at Hudson Institute, termed Chinas move as a betrayal for India.

India and China started confidence-building measures in 1993 to manage their border. In 1996, they decided to restrict large-scale military exercises involving more than one division and to limit the deployment of heavy weapons such as tanks, armored carriers, high caliber howitzers, and heavy motors within 1.2 miles of their disputed border, Nagao said.

The two sides set up mechanisms to manage any small skirmishes through dialogue. But recently, Chinese troops entered Indian territory and claimed these areas as Chinese territory. And now, China went through the land border law to fortify the border. These moves are a formalization of changing the status quo by force, he said.

A map of Jammu and Kashmir (not to scale) shows how the state that in 1947 acceded to India is currently under the control of India, Pakistan, and China. In 2019, the Indian administration bifurcated the state into two federally governed territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. (Map adapted by Venus Upadhayaya/The Epoch Times)

In the Name of Border Management

The new Chinese regulation was signed as Order No. 99 of the Law of PRC on Land Border on Oct. 23 by leader Xi Jinping. Experts said China will likely use this law to advance its agendas under the guise of border management.

Abhishek Darbey, a research associate at New Delhi-based Center for China Analysis and Strategy, told The Epoch Times that the law includes the standardization of border markings, a particularly controversial move for neighbors, such as India and Bhutan, whose perception of border markings differs from Chinas.

China will try to enforce this law with its neighbors and thus solidify its claims for the effectiveness of the law, Darbey said. Its important for India to understand Chinas intent behind the law, as the two countries share m0re than 2,167 miles of land border.

Darbey said there are many issues linked with the passage of this law. The first is the change of regime in Afghanistan, which has raised concerns for China about the transfer of insurgents to Xinjiang. However, for India, the most important contents of the law are those linked with Chinas infrastructure development and the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) activities on borders with India in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

In this context, the chapters of the law that deal with the management of land borders are important for India.

The management of the land borders includes the protection of boundary markers and border defense infrastructure in accordance with the border management system agreements concluded with relevant land neighbors, the management of sightlines, border rivers, border ports, border crossings, exit, and entry management, and combating illegal border crossings.

Management includes the delineation of border management areas, support for the construction of border towns, border trade areas (points) between residents, and border ecological protection, he said.

Demonstrators shout slogans as they protest against Chinas claim of six districts of Arunachal Pradesh state, in New Delhi on April 25, 2017. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

Abhishek Ranjan, founder of the New Delhi-based think tank Red Lantern Analyticas, told The Epoch Times in an email that the law is a clear signal to both India and Bhutan that the regime in China believes its land borders are unresolved with these two countries.

It is a unilateral attempt to alter the situation in the border areas, especially with India. India and Bhutan have not signed any border treaty with China. Hence, this law will further escalate the issue and discussions may go unresolved as China will claim that this law will become the negotiation point, he said.

Its also worrying for India because recently China has stepped up infrastructure development in its border areas and also attempted to create settlements along the border, he added.

Early this year, multiple Indian media referred to satellite imagery to show that China by November 2020 had set up an entire village about three miles into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh. There were similar reports of the Chinese setting up a village inside Bhutan last year.

Darbey said China is largely focusing on developing the main arteries of roads and railways along Indias border in the Tibet autonomous region.

The reason for building infrastructure is to change the economic layout of the region and Chinese companies are invited to build economic hubs or parks to stimulate the economic activities in the region. China needs to develop Tibet in terms of infrastructure to support its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) because two major economic corridors of the BRI will be linked to this region, i.e. the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, he said.

The CPEC is controversial when it comes to borders between India, Pakistan, and China because it passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, an area claimed by India and controlled by Pakistan.

Darbey said the new border law will be a blueprint for China to work out any threat to its sovereignty issues or the issues concerning border trade.

China will reiterate this law in any future negotiations with India, and India must not recognize it unless and until the border is defined and demarcated. But this law will probably be followed by other neighbors such as Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan, said Darbey.

He said that while the law is new, it has, in fact, been in practice for some time, and even the responsibilities given to relevant authorities havent changed.

This law is a method of defining the existing practice in public, said Darbey.

Ranjan pointed out that the Indian governments statement mentions that the new border law of China doesnt confer any legitimacy to the ChinaPakistan Agreement of 1963, which the Indian government has consistently maintained is an illegal and invalid agreement.

The statements have sent a clear and loud message to China on Indias stand with respect to the new law, he said.

The ChinaPakistan Agreement of 1963 recognizes Pakistans claims over regions in northern Kashmir and Ladakh and is considered illegal by India.
The wife of pig farmer Han Yi prepares feed for pigs on their farm at a village in Changtu county, Liaoning Province, China on January 17, 2019. (Ryan Woo/Reuters)

Chinas New Pig Farmers Aim to Ride out Boom-Bust Cycle

CHONGQING, ChinaChinas huge hog sector is struggling with excess production after millions of small, often first-time, pig farmers entered the industry to capitalize on record profits during a swine-fever related shortage.

Now, even as prices hover below the cost of production and the government urges them to cull their herds, many of the newcomers are reluctant to give up, dimming hopes for the market returning to balance.

Weve been losing $62,500 a month since July. But we made a profit last year so were going to hold on, said Wu Zhanhang, a farmer based in central Henan, Chinas top pig-producing province.

Wu, like many others, entered pig farming for the first time in 2019, after Chinas top leadership called for an urgent recovery following a nationwide outbreak of the deadly African swine fever virus that halved the countrys 447 million-strong herd.

Profits initially boomed in line with higher prices for pork, the countrys favourite meat. But surging output and COVID19 -linked demand interruptions have driven down prices by 70 percent this year, causing heavy producer losses over the past three months.

Wu, who has a trading business selling veterinary products, spent $935,000 on a new farm where he fattens up about 5,000 pigs at a time.

Piglets drink milk from a sow at a pig farm in Yaji, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China on March 21, 2018. (Thomas Suen/Reuters)

Last year he was making as much as $470 a hog, three times the best money seen in prior years. This year, after prices plunged, he has been selling fully grown fattened pigs for less than he paid for them as weaned piglets.

Super-Cycle

The dramatic turn in fortunes caught out even the biggest hog companies and has caused havoc across the sector and its suppliers.

Listed hog producers reported billions of yuan in losses in the third quarter.

Many breeders are struggling to pay their suppliers, said a feed company manager, and are even cutting out regular feed ingredients.

All have slowed, or even stopped planned expansions. Tech-bank Food Co. Ltd. is leasing out some of its newly built farms and halted construction of others, while delaying payment of management salaries, it told investors.

Weak demand is also a factor, said Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank in Shanghai. The massive build-out of new breeding farms has come at a time when consumer demand for pork still lags normal levels because of repeated flare-ups of COVID-19 that curb eating out.

However, industry efforts to turn things around are being undermined by an army of small producers still gambling on a return of higher prices, say market watchers.

More than 2 million small farmers entered the sector last year, according to official data, joining an estimated 20 million small-scale pig producers, while some 16,000 new large-scale farms also began operating.

In this aerial photo, a white disinfectant powder is sprinkled on the soil around a pig farm owned by farmer Yang Wenguo in Jiangjiaqiao village in northern Chinas Hebei Province, China on May 8, 2019. (Sam McNeil/AP Photo)

The current market is caused by millions of farmers speculative behaviour towards the African swine fever-related price expectation, said Pan Chenjun, senior analyst at Rabobank.

Sow Stocks

With a bigger breeding herd now than before African swine fever struck, government officials last month issued a rare instruction to farmers to eliminate their less efficient sows.

Large players have been getting rid of sows for several months and some others are following suit.

We have close to 1,000 sows, were going to cull half. If you keep them, you lose more, said the manager of a small breeding farm in northern Hebei province, who declined to be identified.

Some farmers, however, are still hoping for a recovery. Wu, the Henan farmer, says he has switched to cheaper feed rations and can ride out the heavy losses until the New Year.

A modest price rally in October also revived enthusiasm among farmers for breeding, said analysts, and will likely serve to extend the period of low prices.

Some market watchers say it could take another disease outbreak to clean up the market, with African swine fever still infecting farms and other common diseases often worsening during the winter.

At the end of the year or early next year therell definitely be a large disease outbreak, Wang Chuduan, professor at China Agricultural University, told an industry meeting in Chongqing. It will speed up the elimination of pigs and then a new market will start next year.

($1 = 6.4021 Chinese yuan renminbi)

By Dominique Patton
Delegates applaud during the third plenary session of China's rubber-stamp legislature (the National People's Congress) at The Great Hall Of The People in Beijing on March 12, 2019. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Chinas Political System Breeds Wolf Warrior Diplomats, Author Says

In recent years, the Chinese regimes diplomats have been tagged with the moniker wolf warriors over their bellicose rhetoric directed at their foreign counterparts.

While this label is relatively new, the controversial behaviors in question can trace its roots going back decades, according to an author on the topic.

That kind of combative fighting spirit has been in the DNA of the foreign ministry right from the start, said Peter Martin, during an Oct. 20 online event hosted by the University of Montana to discuss his book, Chinas Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy.

Martin, who is currently Bloombergs defense policy and intelligence reporter, said his book is based on interviews and over 100 memoirs of former Chinese diplomats.

The fighting ethos, according to Martin, started with the communist regimes first diplomat, Zhou Enlai, who decided that Chinese diplomats should think and act like the Peoples Liberation Army in civilian clothing.

What he meant by that was that Chinese diplomats would be unfailingly loyal to the Communist Party, he said.

Zhou was Chinas first foreign minister and premier in 1949, the year the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of the country. Serving under then-paramount leader Mao Zedong, Zhou ended his career as Chinas top diplomat in 1958, but he continued to be the premier until his death in January 1976.

If Chinese diplomats felt cornered, or if they worried about looking weak back home, and it meant elevating even the smallest of slights or insults into major international issues, largely I think because of a fear that if they didnt do so, theyd be judged disloyal at home, Martin said.

So this kind of approach led to what we would now call displays of wolf warrior diplomacy, he added.

There have been several incidents in the past year where Chinas wolf warrior diplomacy was on full display.

In October last year, two Chinese diplomats gatecrashed a reception held by Taiwans diplomatic mission in Fiji, resulting in a physical clash that left one Taiwanese official with a head injury.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (right) speaks as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on at the opening session of U.S.-China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In March, Chinese diplomats dressed down Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in an anti-American tirade, during a meeting between the two countries in Alaska.

Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye, who told Chinas state-run media in June that he was proud of being called a wolf warrior, has recently been called out by Reporters Without Borders to end his impassioned rants against [French] information media.

Chinese envoys are behaving so undiplomatically because they are unable to extricate themselves from the constraints of a secretive, paranoid political system which rewards unquestioning loyalty and ideological conviction, Martin wrote in his book.

Wolf Warriors

One of the differences between the past and the present is that Chinese diplomats now have access to Twitter, Martin said, which allows Chinese diplomats who are posted in less developed countries to show off [their] credentials to their bosses back in China.

Chinese diplomats now have access to this platform [Twitter] where they can pick fights with people who criticize China, or in some cases even resort to name-calling, and they can show that they, too, are on board with this project, Martin said.

Chinese officials have used Twitter to defend Beijings narrative on the COVID-19 pandemic. In March last year, Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, suggested in a tweet that it was the U.S. Army that brought the epidemic to Wuhan, a Chinese city that was the original epicenter of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Also in March, the Chinese Embassy in Caracas slammed unnamed Venezuelan officials on Twitter for calling the virus the China or Wuhan virus, and told them to put on masks and shut up.

Looking back, Martin said the term wolf warrior could be traced back to some time between 2015 and 2017. During this time period, Chinese diplomats probably decided it was fine to act in a brash way internationally, after having made the assumption that China no longer needed to show the kind of caution and defense to the outside world that they had once shown, according to Martin.

A woman walks past a video screen showing scenes from the movie Wolf Warrior 2 outside a theater in Beijing on Aug. 21, 2017. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Coincidentally, the year 2015 marked the release of the first of the two jingoistic Chinese movies of the Wolf Warrior franchise. The two movies depicted a Chinese soldier as a hero, fighting with foreign mercenaries at Chinas southern border and in Africa. The second movie was released in 2017.

The foreign media started to use this phrase wolf warrior diplomacy to describe their actions, and its a name that stuck, he added.

Moving forward, Martin said that such a form of diplomacy is here to stay since the Chinese regime has changed its mind about the way it needs to act in order to win respect in the world.

It may now seem to think that instead of persuasion, it can rely on the sheer size of its economy and the might of its military to command respect, and then wolf warrior diplomacy kind of gets wrapped up in that package.
The United States is now behind China in the ability to take down satellites. "The Shijian-21 satellite is a game-changer," said Weichert, who also produces The Weichert Report. "It is a real-world offensive capability that can hunt and destroy American systems and render the U.S. military on earth deaf, dumb, and blind." Picture: A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft with the second crew of three astronauts to China's new space station, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert in northwestern China on Oct. 16, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Satellite Crusher: Space Pearl Harbor Is Coming

Commentary

On Oct. 24, China launched its Shijian-21 into orbit. The satellite, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., is tasked with demonstrating technologies to alleviate and neutralize space debris.

As Beijing sees it, American satellites constitute debris.

Shijian-21 has a robotic arm that can be used to move space junkthere are more than 100 million pieces of it floating around the earthor capture, disable, destroy, or otherwise render unusable other nations satellites. That arm makes Shijian-21 a satellite crusher.

Brandon Weichert, author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, told the Gatestone Institute that the Chinese satellite was launched into geosynchronous orbit, where many of Americas most sensitive satellite systemsthose critical to Nuclear Command, Communications, and Control (NC3); surveillance; and military communicationsare located.

Because the U.S. satellites in geosynchronous orbit are so far away from earth, they are both expensive and hard-to-replace, Weichert said. Losing any of these systems, with no replacements on hand, would give Chinas military an unprecedented advantage in the event of an outbreak of hostilities.

China has designed its new space station, as Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center tells me, to incorporate additional large military modules that can be equipped with lasers, microwave, or missile-based anti-satellite systems.

In September 2008, Chinas Shenzhou-7 manned mission came within 45 kilometers of the International Space Station as the Chinese crew was launching a microsatellite, an obvious simulated ISS-intercept mission, Fisher said. One of the veterans of that mission, Fisher told Gatestone, is now the commander onboard the Chinese space station.

Theyre going counterspace in a big way, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. John Hyten said on Oct. 28 at an event sponsored by the Defense Writers Group.

Hyten, previously commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command and U.S. Strategic Command, said Chinese military officers are doing all those things because they saw how the United States has used space for dominant advantage.

For many years, Washington has taken its space superiority for granted, Weichert said.

Complacency is not the only American disease, however. American blindness also had a role. At one time, America was dominant in space, and American political leaders decided to go slow on developing anti-satellite weapons for fear of triggering a competition. With the United States having the most assets in orbit, the reasoning went, the U.S. would have the most to lose in such a race.

That view was the product of a fundamental misunderstanding of Chinese and Russian attitudes. The misunderstanding also directly led to America falling behind in another crucial space technology. The United States was the early leader in hypersonic flight with the X-15 reaching Mach 6.76.7 times the speed of soundin 1967. Now, however, America is about a half-decade behind China. The United States is also trailing Russia.

We had held back from pursuing military applications for this technology, Ambassador Robert Wood, U.S. representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, told Yahoo!

Wood, as described by that site, implied that U.S. officials had tried to avoid spurring a scramble for hypersonic missiles.

All that American restraint did was to allow the Chinese and Russian militaries to grab commanding leads in the race to deploy these impossible-to-defend-against delivery systems for nuclear weapons. In late July, Beijing shocked the Pentagon with an orbital test of a hypersonic glide vehicle.

Similarly, America is now behind China in the ability to take down satellites.

The Shijian-21 satellite is a game-changer, said Weichert, who also produces The Weichert Report. It is a real-world offensive capability that can hunt and destroy American systems and render the U.S. military on earth deaf, dumb, and blind.

Space, of course, is the ultimate strategic high ground, conferring control of the earth. Therefore, American leaders should have known that China would try, as Weichert explained, to build the capabilities to first knock the Americans out of orbit and then to place their own systems there.

The United States has the ability to catch up, of course, but big course corrections are necessary. For one thing, American satellites are easy pickings for the Chinese military. As Hyten put it, We actually put the president in a tough spot because we have a handful of fat juicy targets, while the adversary has built hundreds of targets that are difficult to get after.

The result, the general said, is that America does not have a resilient space architecture.

A resilient architecture, Hyten correctly believes, would be composed of lower-cost surveillance satellites that, in the words of SpaceNews, can be mass-produced and deployed fast.

Unfortunately, the Department of Defense is still unbelievably bureaucratic and slow, Hyten observed. The Pentagons bureaucracy is just brutal. So dont count on the U.S. military, which has taken a decade to design a yet-to-be-launched survivable space network.

Fortunately, there is also Elon Musk, a bureaucracy of one. His company, SpaceX, is building the Starlink constellation of telecommunications satellites in low-earth orbit. When complete, there will be some 42,000 satellites that can be used by the satellite-dependent U.S. military when China has crushed, lasered, shot down, or bumped out of orbit Americas military assets in space.

Of course, China will also try to take down the Starlink constellation too.

Beijing, Weichert told Gatestone, is planning a Space Pearl Harbor.

From the Gatestone Institute.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping applauds at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on October 9, 2021. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Xi Jinping Calls for Stronger Action on Climate Change, but Makes No New Commitments From China

Chinas leader Xi Jinping called for stronger action in dealing with climate change on Nov. 1, days after submitting a revised plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that disappointed many climate observers.

In a written statement to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Xi called on developed countries not only to do more but also provide support to help developing nations to do better.

He urged all nations to make plans based on their nations circumstances and focus on actions, according to a readout released on the website of Beijings foreign ministry.

Xi, who presides over the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases, was the only leader to address the Glasgow summit in written form, though Chinas climate envoy Xie Zhenhua attended the event in person.

China is the worlds largest user and producer of coal, a major source of emissions, but a recent power crunch has led the countrys authorities to prioritize ensuring its energy supply.

Ahead of the summit, China formally submitted its long-awaited greenhouse emissions blueprint, which reaffirmed its existing goals but added no new commitments.

In the plan, Beijing reiterated a goal announced by Xi in 2020that carbon dioxide emissions would peak by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060. It also pledged to reduce the carbon intensity per unit of gross domestic product by more than 65 percent from 2005 levels, an increase of 5 percent from its 2016 plan.

It will also increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 25 percent from 20 percent, and bring the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1,200 gigawatts. While Beijing plans to achieve these goals by 2030, it didnt change the time of phasing down coal use, meaning that Chinas coal consumption will continue to rise until 2025, and start to fall thereafter.

An aerial view of a coal fired power plant in Hanchuan, Hubei province, China, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Getty Images)

The commitments disappointed climate watchers, who had expected Beijing to roll out more ambitious pledges. President Joe Biden on Sunday expressed his frustration at China and Russias lack of pledges, saying the two countries basically didnt show up in terms of any commitments to deal with climate.

Though critics say Beijings plan doesnt offer strong commitments, an analyst has expressed doubt that the regime can even achieve these promises.

China pledges a lot, but can they make it in reality? said Edward Huang, a Taiwan-based economic analyst.

The question for the Chinese regime, according to Huang, is how it can meet the growing demand for energy to fuel economic development, while cutting the countrys high reliance on coal.

In a bid to tackle climate change, the regime introduced tight regulations to curb energy consumption and emissions, which helped trigger a widespread shortage of coal. In recent weeks, a power crisis has engulfed the country, forcing factories to reduce production or even shut down, affecting supply chains, and threatening economic growth.

As a result, the country has rushed to mine and burn more coal to stave off a prolonged energy crisis over the winter.

According to Huang, there is nothing to stop the cycle that led to the coal shortage from recurring next year, and the year after that.

So I think[Beijings climate goals] is just a target, but its hard to make it happen, he said.

Luo Ya and Cathy He contributed to this report.
Chinese Military Plans Foreign Port Destruction

Stealthy underwater explosions, drone fighter jets, and military AI reveal the CCP's technological aggression

News Analysis

The Chinese military is unveiling a range of sophisticated military technologies, from underwater stealth explosives to use against foreign ports to drone fighters and military artificial intelligence (AI).

Chinas military is testing stealthy underwater explosives for the purpose of destroying foreign ports, according to Global Times, an ultra-nationalist media outlet controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

If we can use stealthy ways, like underwater explosions to destroy the ports, we can kill off the enemys war potential, Capt. Zhao Pengduo, the deputy director of the Naval Port Demolition Test Program, told a China Central Television (CCTV) program.

Just in case the West missed it, Global Times translated the comments and published them on Oct. 25. The testing and its publicationin Englishcould be an attempt to prove the credibility of Chinas naval threat to the United States as tensions rise over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Japans Senkaku Islands, all of which Beijing claims as its territory. The CCP thus has revealed that its intentions arent honorable.

Scientific sensors were placed on the small wharf prior to its destruction as part of the test. Chinese state media reported that as the explosion took place, nearly 1,000 pieces of data were gathered, which were then analyzed to accurately evaluate how the wharf was damaged  noting that this will provide scientific support to attack hostile ports in a real war.

This tactic can play a significant role in many combat scenarios, including countering the U.S. naval warfare aimed at China, a Beijing military expert told Global Times.

Since the U.S. now understands its large vessels like aircraft carriers and large military facilities near China are vulnerable to attacks, it is scattering its forces to  smaller locations.

The expert claimed that the scattering of the U.S. Navy would make logistics, command, and communications more difficult, presumably forcing U.S. ships to rely on numerous regional ports that are vulnerable to Chinas stealthy underwater explosions. Beijings apparent military strategy is to force the failure of port-based logistics chains upon which the U.S. and allied navies rely.

Stealthy underwater explosions could be facilitated by AI-enabled drones. Just as concerning is a new report from Georgetown University that claims that the Chinese military could be spending more on AI than the United States.

A truck loaded with a Chinese-made drone, the ASN-207, takes part in a military parade in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2009. (Vincent Thian/AP)

Based on publicly available Chinese military procurement records, the Georgetown researchers concluded that the Chinese military is spending between $1.6 billion and $2.7 billion annually on AI. The United States only spent $800 million to $1.3 billion on AI in 2020. The Chinese militarys primary source of AI technology may be the United States, according to the report.

Georgetown researcher Ryan Fedasiuk, who co-authored the report, claimed that the Chinese military bought AI systems designed to identify undersea vehicles, wargame Taiwan operations, track U.S. Navy ships, and deploy electronic countermeasures.

AI will be critical to the future of air combat as well. Simulations over the past couple of years have shown that AI-enabled fighter jets often out-compete their human-only counterparts.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Oct. 29 that Chinas air force could test the worlds first two-seat stealth fighter within the next two weeks. One of the pilots would operate the plane, a variation of the J-20 Weilong Mighty Dragon, while the other would operate the AI-enabled loyal wingman drones that accompany the J-20 into battle.

Experts said the variant showed China had beaten the U.S. and other competitors, according to SCMP, which is owned by Chinas Alibaba Group. Development of the J-20 variant was an attempt to prove that the US concept of next-generation air dominance (NGAD) could be successfully applied in Chinese aircraft technology, the report reads.

Prior news of Chinas hypersonic missile development and the installation of hundreds of intercontinental ballistic missile silos in the Xinjiang region add to more recent concerns of underwater explosion tests, AI progress, and stealth fighter jet development to paint a dim picture of the CCPs intentions and willingness to execute goals, such as the invasion of Taiwan.

U.S. lawmakers and regulators have recently responded to Beijings increasingly threatening behavior, including through the essential disruption of Chinas theft of U.S. intellectual property that fuels the Chinese military-industrial complex. One effective way to approach this issue is by clamping down on some of Chinas most important technology companies.

On Oct. 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appealed to national security considerations in the revocation of a China telecom subsidiarys authorization to operate in the United States.

The Senate voted unanimously on Oct. 28 for legislation that prevents U.S. regulators from granting new equipment licenses to five companies designated on the FCCs Covered Equipment or Services List. The companies include Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Zhejiang Dahua, all of which are considered to be security threats.

By a vote of 4204, the House had previously approved the law. The majority is veto-proof in both congressional chambers, so President Joe Biden will likely sign the measure into law shortly.

But restrictions on Beijings ability to steal U.S. technology are entirely inadequate to date. The Georgetown study found that the U.S. Commerce Department only restricts 22 of the 273 firms that supply the Chinese military.

Almost none are subject to financial sanctions, Fedasiuk wrote on Twitter.

The United States must get much more serious about defeating Beijings plans to steal U.S. technology and use it to build the CCPs economic and military strength against democracy and human rights on a global scale. More subsidies of U.S. technology, before stopping the technology leakage problem, could only make it worse.

The $250 billion U.S. Innovation and Competition Act is currently held up in the House. It includes massive technology subsidies geared for competition with China and should be revised to ensure that the CCP doesnt thereby benefit more than America.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - JANUARY 07: The Taipei 101 tower, once the worlds tallest building, and the Taipei skyline, are pictured from the top of Elephant Mountain on January 7, 2020 in Taipei, Taiwan. Taiwanese will go to the polls on Saturday after a campaign in which fake news and the looming shadow of China and its repeated threats of invasion have played a prominent role in shaping debate. Ensuring Taiwans democratic way of life has dominated an election which will be closely fought between incumbent, anti-China president Tsai Ing-wen and the more pro-Beijing challenger Han Kuo-yu. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Conservatives Clash Over Whether to Defend Taiwan

ORLANDO, FloridaInfluential conservative thinkers were in stiff disagreement over whether the United States should defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China, at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando on Oct. 31.

Michael Anton, a former Trump national security communications official and Hillsdale College lecturer, argued that China would seek to conquer Taiwan regardless of whether or not the country was ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He likened the fate of Taiwan during the late 1940s, when the Republic of China (ROC) was forced to retreat to the island during the Chinese Civil War, to Chinas loss of Hong Kong in 1842 to the British Empire.

Taiwan, controlled by the ROC since Japans 1945 surrender during WWII, had been under Japanese control after 1895, when Chinas Qing empire lost the Sino-Japanese War. It had previously been controlled by the Qing since 1683.

The British signed a lease for the New Territories of Hong Kong for 99 years from 1898. When the United Kingdom tried to negotiate an extension of their lease during the late 1970s, Beijing refused, and Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.

This is something that was a thorn in the side of China as a civilizationnot as one regime, not as the communist regimeof China for 150 years, argued Anton.

Anton went on to claim that if China succeeded in sinking a single American aircraft carrier, it would cost $12 to $14 billion and cost more lives than 9/11.

Remember what a psychological shock and wound to the nation that was, he added.

Michael Pillsbury, a defense expert who served in the George H.W. Bush administration, disagreed with Anton.

Pillsbury argued that China is weakened by controversy and debate and power struggles that go on at the very top, saying that top CCP leaders have a history of killing each other.

Pillsbury went on to say that Antons very public argument, made at a major conference, would be interpreted by the paranoid group in the CCPs leadership as an American deception, further justifying their own investments in nuclear weapons.

Theres a long conservatism history of standing up for a free people, Pillsbury said, pointing to the example of Barry Goldwater, who in 1979 filed a lawsuit against Jimmy Carter for Carters nullification of a defense treaty with Taiwan in favor of China.

Im going to have to go home to Washington to say, Yes, I went to the conservatism conference. A bunch of the people there on the panel said, Surrender Taiwan, we dont want to get into a war with China. Thats appeasement. Michael Anton should clarify his remarks, in my humble opinion, Pillsbury added.

In response, Anton repeated his hypothetical about the loss of an aircraft carrier:

If they cant sink an aircraft carrier, and if the only way to stop an invasion of Taiwan is to deploy the foreign deployed aircraft carrier in [Yokosuka] and maybe send one or two others out there, which, as far as I know, is the only way for the United States to effectively defend the island if the Chinese decided to do itand they sink one of these $12-to-$14 billion behemoths with 6,500 men on board. Whats the U.S. response going to be at that point?

Well, we could turn to you and say, I surrender, Pillsbury responded.

Anton went on to argue that China could be willing to deploy nuclear weapons against an American city in the event of a conflict with Taiwan. The loss of a single American city, Anton said, would be the greatest shock, psychological shock the United States has ever had in its history.

Pillsbury responded by saying the Japanese had made a similar calculation about the American psyche when they attacked Pearl Harbor.

They thought the attack on Pearl Harbor would produce the kind of surrender syndrome youre talking about, he said.

In the event of losing a city to a nuclear weapon, Pillsbury argued, the demand for revenge would be enormous, and we would administer it to the Chinese. They dont know that.

Two other panelists, David Goldman of Asia Times Holdings and Curt Mills of the American Conservative, weighed in with their own perspectives.

The ideal situation is to maintain the status quo as long as possible, Goldman said, arguing that the United States should maintain strategic ambiguity.

I ultimately, dont care about China. I care about the United States of America, he added.

Mills argued that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be widely recorded on video, making it harder to ignore Chinese ascendancy.

Mills added that many people in the West sheepishly agree that China, as a non-European power, is due for a rise.

I think its pretty dangerous stuff, he said.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently gave EcoHealth five days to submit any and all unpublished data from its experiments at the Wuhan lab.

Daszak responded, vacillating between the dog ate my homework and were all in this together. But he failed to provide all of the required data.

Daszaks letter, more a legal brief than a compliance response, even chastised the NIH for failing to contact him before responding to any congressional inquiry.

But three material issues were raised. First, Daszak failed to submit all the data required by the NIH. And the reason for that is chilling.

Daszaks letter revealed that crucial virus data from EcoHealths experiments with the Wuhan lab is actively being censored by Chinese Communist Party authorities.

Finally, Daszak revealed the continuation of experiments in 2019 and beyond. And his letter disclosed the existence of year 6 and year 7 reports that have not been made public.

Welcome to Truth over News with Jeff Carlson and Hans Mahncke.



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Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near to the Holiday Inn Express Motorway Airport in Manchester, England on Nov. 2, 2021. (Peter Byrne/PA)

Eco-Activists Take Road-Blocking Campaign to More English Cities

Ec-activists from Insulate Britain have been arrested as they launched fresh demonstrations near London, Birmingham and Manchester.

The group said on Nov. 2 that around 60 demonstrators descended on junction 23 of the M25 near London, junction 6 of the M56 in Manchester and the A4400 in Birmingham on Tuesday morning.

The London and Manchester roads are part of the strategic road network and covered by a super injunction granted to National Highways last week.

Around 20 demonstrators arrived at the M25 but were stopped by police from getting into the road at about 8am.

Six sat on the pavement with a banner, and some glued themselves to the ground.

Another two managed to glue themselves to one lane of the carriageway on a quiet part of the roundabout.

A group of officers have been lifting activists from the pavement and putting them in the back of a van.

Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79, a retired family therapist from Bristol, was among those detained.

More than a dozen officers and seven police vehicles were at the scene.

Some passers-by shouted expletives at the protesters while other beeped their horns.

Nine demonstrators have received committal papers in relation to an injunction granted to National Highways to curb activist roadblocks, an Insulate Britain spokesperson confirmed.

Those who break the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Diana Warner, 62, a retired GP, said: One of the important reasons for coming out today was to say were all together. Its not just nine.

Activists have blocked roads on 18 days since September 13, causing misery for drivers stuck in long queues of traffic.

A Hertfordshire Police spokesperson said: Police were called at 7.45am today (Tuesday 2 November) to reports of protesters near junction 23 (Bignells Corner) of the M25.

Officers are at the scene and working to resolve the disruption as quickly as possible.

Police also received reports of protesters near the A1081 St Albans Road at around 8.20am. Officers are on the scene and partial road closures have been put in place.

Several people have been arrested.

Greater Manchester Police said officers were responding to the protest on Wilmslow Road (A538) near junction 6 of the M56 and Manchester Airport.

The force said: Delays are expected and we ask people travelling to avoid the area if possible.

So far, 161 people have been involved in the roadblock campaign and there have been 770 arrests, excluding Tuesdays action.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg gives the keynote address during the Facebook F8 Developer Conference in San Francisco, Calif., March 25, 2015. Britain's competition watchdog The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at the U.S. tech giants in a report Wednesday July 1, 2020, wanting new rules to foster competition in digital advertising markets and rein in the industry's dominant players, Google and Facebook. (Eric Risberg/AP Photo)

Facebook to Shut Down Facial Recognition System, Delete Data of 1 Billion Users

Facebook Inc. on Tuesday announced it is shutting down its facial recognition system that identifies users in videos and photos, while claiming it will delete facial recognition templates of more than 1 billion people.

Regulators are still in the process of providing a clear set of rules governing its use, Jerome Pesenti, vice president of artificial intelligence at Facebook, wrote in a blog post. Amid this ongoing uncertainty, we believe that limiting the use of facial recognition to a narrow set of use cases is appropriate.

Facebook, whose parent company rebranded itself to Meta Platforms Inc., added that about one-third of all Facebook users have signed up for the face recognition setting. The system was set up about a decade ago, initially designed to keep Facebook users engaged with the platform.

The feature, introduced in December 2010, allowed users to save time by automatically identifying them in photos. It also automatically identified individuals who appeared in others digital photo albums and allowed users to tag them, which would link their Facebook accounts to a portion of the image.

But over the years, the system has fueled privacy concerns, including instances where individuals were falsely identified, as well as lawsuits. Facebook in recent months has also faced unprecedented scrutiny from various lawmakers and regulators over its other practices.

Inside China, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) employs a vast surveillance network that employs facial recognition capabilities to track dissidents, including adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline that has been subject to a decades-long campaign of terror and persecution at the hands of the CCP.

In the United States, some municipalities have banned the usage of facial recognition software amid concerns of overreach and mistaken arrests. Privacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union have raised red flags about the software for years.

Meanwhile, a class-action lawsuit filed against Facebook in 2015 led to one of the largest-ever privacy lawsuit settlements when a judge earlier this year said Facebook can pay $650 million to users who claimed the firm created and stored scans of their faces without their consent.

This change, Facebooks Pesenti added in the post, will represent one of the largest shifts in facial recognition usage in the technologys history. More than a third of Facebooks daily active users have opted in to our Face Recognition setting and are able to be recognized, and its removal will result in the deletion of more than a billion peoples individual facial recognition templates.

The program will be shut down in the coming weeks, he added, saying the move would also impact Facebooks Automatic Alt Text technology used to create image descriptions for people who are blind.

Every new technology brings with it potential for both benefit and concern, and we want to find the right balance. In the case of facial recognition, its long-term role in society needs to be debated in the open, and among those who will be most impacted by it, Pesenti continued. We will continue engaging in that conversation and working with the civil society groups and regulators who are leading this discussion.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar before receiving his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Dec. 22, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/Pool/Getty Images)

Fauci Never Going to Admit US Funded Gain-of-Function Research in China: Sen. Paul

Dr. Anthony Fauci is likely never going to acknowledge the National Institutes of Health (NIH) used taxpayer money to fund risky research in China, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Monday.

Even the NIH admitted this week that basically they did merge viruses, and they became more dangerous, Paul said. Thats gain of function. They gained lethality. I dont think Fauci is ever going to admit it.

The NIH disclosed new information on its funding of experiments on bat coronaviruses and MERS in China last week. Experts said the disclosures showed the agency did fund gain-of-function research. Gain-of-function generally refers to increasing the pathogenicity and/or transmissibility of a virus.

One of the experiments resulted in a one log, or 10 times, growth in a modified virus, the NIH said.

Fauci, the head of the NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, defended the research, alleging it did not meet the definition of gain-of-function research of concern. That was a different claim than he made before Congress. While speaking to members earlier this year, he said the NIH had never funded any gain-of-function research in China.

Paul said the United States should stop U.S.-based risky experiments and end all funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where the research was performed.

I introduced an amendment a month-and-a-half ago, and it passed unanimously, to stop all funding to the Wuhan lab. But it has not been signed by President [Joe] Biden yet and has not gone through the House. So, yes, this is a big problem. Money still flows to Wuhan, he said.

But, even worse, heres the judgment of Dr. Fauci. He continues to say, when asked, should we be funding this research? He says, yes, thats where the viruses are, we should be funding research in China. But he fails to address the question of whether or not the Chinese Communist Party, the generals in the lab, the militarys involvement in the lab, whether theyre to be trusted, and he fails to acknowledge that this could have come from the lab, and he continues to lie about the idea of whether gain-of-function research was going on, he added.

Paul is part of a Senate panel set to question Fauci and other top U.S. health officials on Thursday. He was speaking on Fox Business.

Faucis agency has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) asks questions during a congressional hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 21, 2021. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images)

Dr. Francis Collins, Faucis boss, used similar language as Fauci during a television interview.

Researchers did not do the kind of gain-of-function research that requires special, high-level oversight, he said on CNN.

Both Collins and Fauci seemed to imply that there was gain-of-function done, but that none of the experiments met federal definitions that trigger an elevated level of oversight.

The NIH, presented with the implication, said that gain-of-function research is done all the time.

For example, cancer immunotherapy, where a cancer patient is provided new cells that have been genetically or pharmacologically enhanced to gain the function needed to attack the cancer. Most gain of function research studies do not raise significant biosafety and biosecurity risks. So saying something is gain of function alone doesnt really mean anything, a spokeswoman told The Epoch Times in an email, adding that the experiments were ruled not to need special oversight.

Not everybody was convinced, though.

In Wuhan, research funded by NIH studied live MERS virus, an actual human pandemic pathogen, and live SARS-like coronaviruses from bats. These SARS coronaviruses were ones that the researchers believed to be potential pandemic pathogens, Jonathan Latham, executive director of The Bioscience Research Project, told The Epoch Times in an email. If Francis Collins thinks that such research does not require special oversight I do not know what research he thinks does require special oversight.
(Left) Democratic gubernatorial candidate former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, speaks to supporters during a rally in Richmond, Va., on Nov. 1, 2021. (Steve Helber/AP Photo); (Right) Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin gestures as he speaks to supporters during a rally in Chesterfield, Va., on Nov. 1, 2021. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

Federal Officials Say Theyre Monitoring Elections for Cyber Threats

The Department of Homeland Securitys cybersecurity agency said it is on alert for threats on Election Day in states including Virginia and New Jersey as voters head to the polls Tuesday.

In a statement on Monday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced that it set up an election situational awareness room to monitor elections in 30 states that include federal partners, state and local election officials, and political organizations.

CISA said that those entities will then share real-time information and provide support as needed in a bid designed to curb misinformation on Election Day.

While there is no specific, credible threat to election infrastructure, CISA stands ready to provide cyber incident response and expertise if needed, the agency said. CISA encourages voters to turn to state and local election officials as trusted sources of information.

CISAs Election Security Initiative Director, Geoff Hale, told news outlets that CISA will also run its rumor control website to give accurate information about election processes to debunk potential mis-, dis-, and malinformation. The website was created ahead of the 2020 election.

Officials in Virginia, which is slated to be the most-watched state on Election Day due to its contested gubernatorial race, have said theyre confident the election will be secure.

On Saturday, Virginia Department of Elections head Chris Piper, wrote an opinion article stressing the methods used to secure voting machines in the state.

Voting is your right, Piper wrote. And it is our privilege and duty to assure you that your ballot was counted accurately and produced a reliable, trustworthy outcome. You can count on your defenders of democracy.

Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, is scrambling to stave off disaster in a state that has become reliable Democratic territory in recent years. President Joe Biden carried Virginia by about 10 percentage points last year, but Republican Glenn Youngkins campaign is optimistic about his prospects.

The race is also seen by many as a referendum on the Biden presidency itselfas well as whether Democrats can keep their House and Senate majorities during the 2022 midterms.

This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda, Youngkin, a former private equity executive, told a rally at an airport hangar outside Richmond.

Voters were also poised to decide a New Jersey governors race Tuesday, as well as mayoral elections in several of the nations top cities, including New York City and Atlanta, as well as a significant number of local and municipal elections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Students, some wearing protective masks, arrive for the first day of school at Sessums Elementary School in Riverview, Fla., on Aug. 10, 2021. (Chris O'Meara/AP Photo)

Fight Over School Mask Mandates in Florida Ramps Up

An appeals court in Tallahassee, Florida has directed lower circuit courts in two Florida counties to ensure an immediate hearing and a prompt decision about whether parents can opt their children out of wearing masks at school.

The Friday decision by the First District Court of Appeal was in response to a lawsuit filed by parents frustrated by school mask policies. They say school officials arent following a state rule that gives them sole discretion to decide whether their children should wear masks at school.

But the school districts in those counties have filed a lawsuit, too, teaming up with four other counties to dispute the validity of the state rule.

Meanwhile, the State of Florida has been financially penalizing two school districts that ignore the rule. And on Monday, Floridas Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran tweeted, In light of the First DCAs opinion declaring the Duval and Alachua County school districts mask mandates in violation of state law, Im officially putting the districts on notice: immediately come into compliance or face the consequences.

Florida has already withheld more than $600,000 from the Broward and Alachua school districts over their defiance of the states restriction on school mask mandates. That amount includes the entirety of the federal grants the two districts applied for to make up for the money being docked for their violations. The Biden administration had promised the funds to districts that defy state bans on school mask mandate.

Now, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has called for a five-day special session of the state legislature before Thanksgiving with the aim of making laws that will put the issues of school mask and vaccine mandates to rest.

What transpires on mandates in Florida could have implications nationwide, DeSantis has said.

Attorneys involved in cases fighting mask and vaccine mandates are working with lawyers across the country in a loose alliance formed by Gainesville attorney Jeff Childers, who filed the lawsuit against the Alachua and Duval school districts. The hope of the 60-plus lawyers in the group is to develop and share template lawsuits that can be used by attorneys nationwide.

For now, the school mask battle that rages in Florida involves a shrinking number of the states 67 counties. One county school district backed down and allowed mask-wearing to be at parents discretion as soon as sanctions were threatened.

And on Friday, Duval County officials, though still embroiled in lawsuits over the issue, changed their mask policy, because, they said, of dropping numbers of COVID-19 infections in the state. Florida has the lowest infection rate in the continental U.S., the governors office announced last week.

In the case of the lawsuit against the Alachua and Duval school districts, at question is not whether wearing masks makes students and teachers safer, said Judge Robert Long.

In his opinion, with two other judges concurring, Long wrote that the case is not a dispute about the wisest public policy to the virusThe foundational question before us is whether [school officials] are required to comply with the laws that govern their authority.

School officials in Alachua and Duval counties concede their policies do not comply with the rule. They do not argue the rule is unclear. They do not argue that the rule does not apply to them, Long said. They do not argue they are confused by the rule. They do not argue they have attempted to comply with the rule. Instead, they assert that they are challenging the rule in an administrative proceeding. And they explain that, rather than follow Florida law, they are following their preferred policy recommendations

The judge added that school officials have been remarkably open in their defiance In short, they acknowledge they are defying the law, but argue that the courts should refuse to compel their compliance.

Longs ruling was in response to a petition filed Oct. 2 by parents frustrated by mask mandates in the Alachua and Duval county school districts. The parents filed an emergency petition for a writ of mandamus, a legal move that can force an official or entity to stop acting unlawfully.

The parents petition asked the court to require the school boards and superintendents to follow the Florida Department of Health emergency rule that says parents or legal guardians should be able to opt students out of school-mask requirements.

The petition also asked for officials to follow another part of the rule allowing parents to send healthy, non-symptomatic children to school at their own discretion, rather than be required to keep them quarantined after being exposed to the virus.

But officials with the two school districts say the states Department of Health didnt have the authority to make that rule giving parents those choices.

So Alachua and Duval counties have teamed up with four other county school boards, filing a lawsuit against the state agency. The school districts in Miami-Dade, Broward, Leon, and Orange counties joined Alachua and Duval to challenge the state rule through the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings. The six school districts have about 987,000 students and more than 96,000 employees combined. The lawsuit alleges that the states rule to give parents authority over mask-wearing and quarantining of their children is invalid.

The lawsuit says the states Department of Health has limited rule-making authority to control communicable diseases, but the rule in question is actually focused not on controlling COVID-19, but rather on protecting parental rights. The DOH does not have rule-making authority in this area, and thus exceeded its rule-making authority.

For now, all Alachua County elementary and middle-school students must wear masks, unless a qualified physician signs a medical exemption request. Parents have complained that physicians are reluctant to sign the forms.

In Alachua, parents of high school students now may choose to opt their children out of mandated mask-wearing.

Duval County Public Schools officials changed their district policy on mask-wearing the same day Long sent out his order. Duval officials issued the statement Friday saying they had learned that day that the community transmission rate for COVID-19 has declined from high on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) scale to moderate.

As a result, starting Monday, parents and guardiansat their sole discretioncan opt their children out of the face-covering requirement without any documentation. They only need to complete the online opt-out form

Perceiving the judges order to the lower courts as a victory, Childers sent a demand letter to the Alachua County School Board. He gave district officials until 5 p.m. on Nov. 2, to rescind the mask mandate. If that happened, the petitioners would file a suggestion of mootness in the case, he said, which would resolve the matter.

That attorney doesnt have any authority to tell us what we must do, Alachua County Public Schools spokeswoman Jackie Johnson said. Right now, we dont have an order from the court.
Florida Police Chief Admits Human Error in Brian Laundrie Case

The police chief in North Port, Florida, admitted human error played a role in the manhunt for Brian Laundrie, who was sought as a person of interest in the disappearance and death of ex-girlfriend Gabby Petito.

North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison told reporters on Monday that police made a mistake when they saw Laundrie outside the home of his parents on Sept. 15. However, they later learned that it was actually Laundries mothernot the fugitive.

As a leader, what do I do? Garrison said at a forum. People want open transparency and honesty from their law enforcement officials.

Yes, we made a mistake, he added. It was human error, but I still stand behind my team.

Garrison, however, said that the error didnt derail the investigation and search for Laundries wherabouts. He said Laundrie went missing a day earlier or may have already died.

Now we know that, by the time we became the lead agency, Brian had already left the house and presumably had already been deceased out in the Carlton Reserve, he said.

Last month, officials found human remains in a wildlife preserve that was determined to be Laundries. He was sought as a person of interest in the disappearance of Petito, who was reported missing by her family on Sept. 11, and later, he was charged by the FBI for alleged bank fraud.

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman said during the same Florida forum that Laundrie was likely dead when officials mistakenly believed Laundries mother was him. Hoffman then alleged Laundrie killed himself.

That guy went out there and by all accounts probably committed suicide and he was right out there where we thought he was, Hoffman said, as reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. There was four feet of water out there at the time.

Petitos body was discovered in Wyoming on Sept. 19. Laundries remains were located on Oct. 21 near the Carlton Reserve, although his cause of death hasnt yet been determined.

Authorities in Wyoming determined Petitos cause of death was strangulation and ruled her manner of death a homicide. A suspect was never named in the case, however.

The FBI at the time did not list a cause of death for Laundrie. It wasnt clear how long the remains may have been submerged in water.

The couple was stopped on Aug. 12 by police in Moab, Utah, after they had an altercation, but no domestic violence charges were filed against them. The police department in Moab announced it is conducting an internal review to determine if policy was followed.
Fullerton Residents Urge for Roads to Be Fixed

Fullerton, California, residents are calling on city officials to address road issues amid infrastructure concerns.

The roads in the surrounding Brea, La Habra, Placentia, [and] Anaheim are so nice, Teresa Denker, a Fullerton resident, wrote on social media. Fullerton is like another country.

Residents on a community Facebook page complained about the citys lack of inattentiveness to the roads which they claim are damaging vehicles.

Denker further urged residents to bring the issue to the city council.

Fullerton, Calif., on Dec. 22, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Chris Campell, another resident, added, Any time you cross city limits out of Fullerton, you can tell by the roads. Brea roads are so kept up and Fullerton streets are 3rd world conditions.

Bonnie Stead, a Fullerton resident, has inquired about the city fixing potholes and cracks on her street. While Stead anticipated an optimistic result, the city employee that came out to the residential area tagged a couple of potholes but did not fix them, she said.

He said the city has no money to fix the street correctly, Stead wrote. If you drive over Rosecrans in Fullerton, the street is bad.

Other residents slightly joked regarding the city roads stating it was a key consideration prior to moving to the city.

Fullerton, Calif., on Dec. 22, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

When we considered moving to Fullerton, we took this into account, E.J. Heck wrote. The roads are not hurting property value. Just the shocks and struts on my wifes care that I have to replace every year.

While some residents voiced concerns over the citys lack of action to fix the roads, others commented on the efforts from the city to fix the rocky roads.

If the city is not taking care of the road issues, why is Euclid, Brookhurst, Commonwealth, and other areas in the city getting fixed, Debra Shimaoka wrote. I see road construction everywhere.

The Fullerton City Council is set to meet on Nov. 2. Residents with concerns regarding the citys infrastructure were encouraged by other residents to attend and voice their concerns.

A spokesperson for the City of Fullerton was not immediately available for comment.

Fullerton, Calif., on Dec. 10, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
GameStop COO, Dogelon Mars Surge, Snowden on Shiba Inu, J&J Settlement, Cathie Woods FB Bet: 5 Headlines You May Have Missed From This Weekend

Here is a quick roundup of the top five stories from the technology, corporate and cryptocurrency sectors that investors would not want to miss out on from the weekend.

1. Johnson & Johnson Settles Risperdal Lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said it has settled most of the 9,000 lawsuits it faced over its anti-psychotic drug Risperdal and recorded $800 million in legal expenses related to the settlement in the third quarter.

The lawsuits accused J&J of failing to warn of the risk of a condition called gynecomastia (enlargement of the breast tissue in men or boys), associated with Risperdal.

2. GameStop COO Departure

GameStop Corp. disclosed in a regulatory filing that Chief Operating Officer Jenna Owens has left just seven months after joining the company. The videogame retailer, a Reddit-favorite stock, did not give reasons for the sudden departure of Owens, a former Amazon.com Inc. executive.

3. Musk-Inspired Cryptocurrency Skyrockets in October

Dogelon Mars, a meme cryptocurrency named after Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, gained over 4000 percent in October. Dogelon, an ERC20 cryptocurrency built on the Ethereum blockchain, thanked its holders on Friday for their support in getting the coin listed on OKEx.

4. Cathie Woods Facebook Bet

Popular money manager Cathie Woods Ark Invest bought shares estimated to be worth $63.8 million in Facebook Inc. on Friday, a day after the Mark Zuckerberg-led social media company said it has changed its name to Meta Platforms Inc.

5. Snowdens Shiba Inu Warning

Whistleblower Edward Snowden has warned that people should not invest their hard-earned money in cryptocurrency Shiba Inu, which he called a clone of dog money.

His comments come after the self-described Dogecoin killer outperformed Dogecoin to become the worlds ninth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization again on Friday.

What Else

Among other stories from the weekend, investors would want to check out the EV week in review, Elon Musk laying a condition for helping the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and fast-food giant McDonald Corp.s foray into the non fungible token (NFT) market.

Tech giant Apple Inc. may launch its mixed-reality handset as soon as next year, Bloombergs Mark Gurman said in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter.

By Madhukumar Warrier

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
FILE PHOTO: An employee shows the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital in New York, U.S., December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

Good Decision: Experts React to FDA Pushing Back Decision on Moderna Vaccine for Kids

The choice to delay deciding whether or not to authorize Modernas COVID-19 vaccine for children has merit because of concerns about post-vaccination heart inflammation, experts said.

U.S. drug regulators recently opted not to decide right now on authorization for Modernas shot for kids between 12 and 17, according to Moderna, which is also delaying plans to file for authorization for its jab for kids as young as 6. The company said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating post-vaccination myocarditis among youth.

I think that is a good decision, Dr. Monica Gandhi, professor of medicine and associate division chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Moderna was proposing a 100-microgram dose in kids 12 to 17 in the United States. Pfizers shot for that group is 30 micrograms. Moderna was planning to offer a 50-microgram dose for kids 6 to 11. Pfizers shot for that group is 10 micrograms.

Both vaccines are built on messenger RNA technology and have been linked to post-vaccination heart inflammation, but the occurrence of that side effect has been higher in some countries among youth after Modernas jab than Pfizers.

Finnish authorities recommended last month that Modernas shot not be administered to men under 30 years of age. Sweden and Norway made similar recommendations.

Preliminary data from a register-based analysis completed by Nordic countries showed that the incidence of two types of heart inflammation, myocarditis and pericarditis, was higher than expected following COVID-19 vaccination, Dr. Hanna Nohynek, chief physician of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfares Unit Infectious Diseases Control and Vaccines, told The Epoch Times.

The use of Pfizers shot is still recommended in young men and the final results of the analysis are expected soon.

The FDAs decision makes sense in light of the safety signal, Nohynek said. They most likely just want to see the data more carefully and weigh the pros and cons. I think thats what the regulatory authorities should be doing, she added.

The FDA said previously that benefits from Modernas vaccine outweigh risks in deciding not to recommend some males not get the jab.

Moderna said in a statement Sunday that its own global safety database has not indicated an increased risk of myocarditis in children 17 and younger following vaccination.

But Gandhi believes the 100-microgram dosage level is likely too high for youth, noting the suspension of Modernas jab in the northern European countries.

The risk of myocarditis seems to be associated with dose in young people and also too short of spacing between doses, she said.

Some research has indicated (pdf) that extending the duration between dosescurrently three weeks for Pfizers shot and 28 days for Modernasis both safer and more effective at provoking an immune response.

Gandhi plans to vaccinate her 11-year-old with Pfizers shot, pending Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, but will be delaying the second dose for five weeks.
Supporters gather during a Rally for Hong Kong outside the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Saturday, June 12, 2021. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Hong Kong Residents in Australia Granted New Ways to Permanent Residency

The Australian government has introduced two permanent residency visas for Hong Kong citizens amid ongoing concerns over Beijings controversial national security law over the city.

It is estimated that about 8,800 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate, and student visa holders will be eligible for these new visas from March 5, 2022.

The subclass 191the Hong Kong (regional) stream would focus on those who have lived, worked, and studied in designated regional areas for a continuous period of at least three years, while the Subclass 189the Hong Kong stream is open to Hong Kong nationals who have lived in Australia for a continuous period of at least four years.

Both Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will be eligible to apply for the two visas, which allow for dependents.

A protester is detained by police during a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

These dedicated and simpler visa streams for Hong Kong nationals will attract skills and talent and build business links, helping to boost productivity and create further job opportunities for Australians, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said.

The move is delivering Australias commitment in July 2020 to provide pathways to permanent residence for Hong Kongers in Australia, after Beijing imposed a national security law on June 30, 2020, as a response to pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Supporters of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters hold placards during a demonstration as part of the global anti-totalitarianism movement in Sydney on Sept. 29, 2019. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

The implementation of the controversial law has seen Hong Kongs protest slogans banned, and crackdowns on freedom of speech and free press with the only two pro-democracy media, Apple Daily and The Epoch Times, forced to close after enduring intimidation or attack.

Australia has expressed deep concern over the national security law in Hong Kong, saying that the law threatens Hong Kongs judicial independence and the rights and freedoms of residents.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in July 2020 that about 10,000 Hong Kongers in the country would have their visas extended for another five years and applications for permanent residency to be made available after.

More information on pathways to permanent residency for Hong Kong and BNO passport holders can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Hong Kong to Tighten Quarantine Rules for Most Consular Staff

HONG KONGHong Kong is dropping a provision for most consular staff to serve quarantine at home, opting for hotel stays instead, as it doubles down on some of the worlds toughest coronavirus curbs, as the local pro-Beijing government hopes to sway mainland China to open the border with the city.

The Beijing-approved leaders of the former British colony are following Beijings lead in retaining draconian travel curbs, in contrast to a global trend of opening up and living with the coronavirus.

We are doing this to ensure the risk is reduced to the minimum, because we can see that the cases in Hong Kong are imported cases, Chief Secretary John Lee told reporters on Monday, adding that the new rules take effect on Nov. 12.

The government had identified two imported cases linked to consular staff, it said in a separate statement.

Until now, staff at consulates have only been required to quarantine at home, unlike most others arriving in Hong Kong, who have had to isolate themselves in a hotel for up to 21 days at their own cost.

The new rules cover all those below the rank of consul general, who will still be permitted home quarantine.

Crossborder truck drivers, flight and cargo vessel crews, and government officials will remain exempt.

Hong Kong officials faced criticism in August after it emerged that Australian actor Nicole Kidman had been allowed to skip quarantine for the purpose of performing designated professional work.

Authorities are betting that a tightening in quarantine and patient discharge rules in recent weeks could help sway Beijing to ease border curbs between the city and mainland China.

On the other hand, international business lobby groups have warned that Hong Kong may lose talent and investment, as well as competitive ground to rival finance hubs such as Singapore, unless it eases travel curbs.

Despite barely any recent local cases and an environment virtually free of COVID-19, Hong Kongs mandatory quarantine term is 21 days for arrivals from most countries, with an extra 14 days in a designated facility for recovered people leaving hospital.

By Jessie Pang
How the Republican Establishment Chooses to Lose

Commentary

Back in 2009, in the early days of the first Barack Obama administration, I wrote the single truest sentence about the Democrat Party ever penned. In an essay for National Review entitled I Still Hate You, Sarah Palin, composed under the name of my alter-ego, the Hollywood leftist David Kahane, I made this observation: think of the Democratic Party as what it really is: a criminal organization masquerading as a political party.

Ah, but I went on: If you had any sense, you would start using our tactics against us. After all, you have a few lawyers on your side. Sue us. File frivolous ethics complaints against all our elected officials until, like Sarah, they go broke from defending themselves Let slip your own journalistic dogs of war, assuming you have any Of course, you wont. Youre too nice, too enamored of history and tradition to realize that the rules have changed. Not for nothing is one of our mottos, By Any Means Necessary.

I followed this sage advice up with a best-selling book, Rules for Radical Conservatives, published in 2010, outlining how to defeat the Left: by confronting them at every step, refusing to be bullied by them, and mostly by turning their own weapons of mockery, lawfare and, when necessary, physical resistance, against them.

Needless to say, such counsel was then and continues to be studiously ignored by the Republican establishment, which preferred Paul Ryans wonkism then and prefers Joe Bidens wokism today. Its not just that the party of Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy likes to lose, its that they want to lose. To fight back, or even God forbid win, would be rude.

Take the last-minute false-flag stunt pulled by Democrat operatives in Virginia, perhaps in collusion with the Republicans of the Lincoln Project, a ramshackle collection of Never Trump losers like Steve Schmidt and Rick Wilson that soiled itself with accusations of homosexual sexual harassment against its co-founder, John Weaver, and then unfurled its true colors by bringing on board card-carrying Democrat strategist Joe Trippi in July.

Meant to harm gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin in his race against former governor Terry McAuliffe, it involved lining up identically clad, tiki-torch carrying conservatives standing on guard near a Youngkin campaign bus while evoking the media-crafted memory of Charlottesville.

The problem was that several of the supporters were quickly identified as Democrat activists, whereupon the disgraced Lincoln Project, hoping that someone (in other words, the mainstream media) would still tumble for their scam, volunteered to take the fallbecause, after all, even with the hated Trump defeated and gone, our democracy still requires saving.

And what did conservatives do about it? Did they strike back, try to embarrass McAuliffe in some way, launch strikes in New Jersey against Democrat incumbent Phil Murphy, put up a fuss about the continuing embarrassment of the Biden presidency, do anything to help extract the remaining hundreds of American citizens left behind in Afghanistan, protest on the floor of the House or the Senate the administrations bruited payments of $450,000 apiece to illegal aliens who were separated from their families by the Trump administration, the choking off of the American energy industry while handing the begging bowl to Russia and the Saudis for help, unsnarling the chaos at West Coast ports that have disrupted the American supply chain, orand Im still waiting for this onedoing their best to countermand the very idea of a vaccine passport/ universal mandate advocated by Biden and the fascist Democrats?

Dont be silly, Brandon.

A society that wont fight back, that refuses to defend itself, is doomed, its people deserving of scorn and contempt. And yet when has the GOP establishment ever fought back? They hated Trump and did their best to sabotage him at almost every turn. (The rest of the sabotage he accomplished by himself, on the advice of Jared and Ivanka, aka Javanka, aka the Democrats, as they were known around the White House.) They wouldnt kill Obamacare, they wouldnt build the wall on the southern border, they wouldnt even try to stop illegal immigration, they wouldnt join the president in his trade war against Chinawhy would they, since so many of them are in Chinese communist pockets?

Like the members of the Lincoln Project, some of them are even out-and-proud sham Republicans, such as Liz Cheney and the soon-to-be-retired Adam Kinzinger in Illinois, whose House district just vanished in redistricting. Unlike Democrat rebels such as senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who are vilified daily by the media and their senate colleagues, neither Cheney nor Kinzinger has received much opprobrium, much less anathema. With a Stalinist ferocity that is almost admirable, Democrats police their own and enforce the party line. Meanwhile, Republicans make mock-shows of outrage and then meekly roll over and play dead when the media barks.

The days of Republican dirty tricks, which in the modern era date back to Watergate, are long gone. Merry prankster Roger Stone, a Nixon-era veteran, found himself arrested at predawn gunpoint by the FBI during the Russian collusion investigation for alleged witness tampering and lying to congressional investigators about something that never happened.

When Democrats get caught red-handed, on the other hand, they take a page out of Bill Clintons Monica Lewinsky playback, grin sheepishly, and deny, deny, deny. Although Clinton was impeached, the Democrats decided that rather than ever come clean, they would double down on recalcitrance, and since then nothing ever happens to them even when theyre guilty as well, Bill Clinton.

This is what organized crime does and has since the heyday of the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition. I didnt do nuthin and you cant prove it has been their motto for a full century now. They run a smooth operation, with pet politicians, pet judges, pet investigators, and a federal police force that might as well be on the take for all the even-handedness it exhibits.

Fleets of handsomely retained lawyers see to it that, when and if caught, their clients lives are as little-inconvenienced as possible, their bank accounts protected, and their reputations quickly refurbished.

All the while, the Republicansthe Washington Generals to the Democrats Harlem Globetrottersdutifully play their assigned roles as chumps and stooges, voicing fake outrage, then pratfalling on cue while the media yuks it up and the war on real America takes another left turn. Theyre the real clowns in the roombut the jokes on us.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Heather Mack of Chicago, Ill., (C) escorted by immigration officers to Immigration detention center in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia on Oct. 29, 2021. (Firdia Lisnawati/AP Photo)

Indonesia Deports Chicago Woman Who Helped Kill Mother

DENPASAR, IndonesiaAn American woman convicted of helping to kill her mother on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali and stuff the body into a suitcase was deported Tuesday to the United States.

Heather Mack, 26, was released from prison on Friday after serving seven years and two months of a 10-year sentence. Her then-boyfriend, who was also convicted in the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and remains in prison.

Immigration officials escorted her to Balis airport on Tuesday for a flight to Jakarta, where she later departed for Chicago.

The badly beaten body of her mother, wealthy Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was found in a suitcase inside the trunk of a taxi parked at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.

The killing generated national and international attention for years, in part because of photographs of the suitcase that appeared too small to hold an adult womans body.

Mack, who was almost 19 and a few weeks pregnant, and her then-21-year-old boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were arrested a day later after they were found at a hotel about 6 miles from the St. Regis.

Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly before they were convicted in 2015. Under Indonesian law, she was allowed to live with her mother in her cell in Kerobokan female prison until she turned 2, when Mack gave custody of her young daughter to an Australian woman until her release from prison.

Until she was freed Friday, Mack had not seen her daughter for about 20 months because authorities halted prison visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her attorney, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said earlier that Mack had asked for the girl, who is now 6, to remain with her foster family to avoid media attention in the U.S. Indonesian officials refused.

Heather Mack of Chicago (C) is mobbed by reporters as she arrives in the courtroom for her sentencing hearing at a district court in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on April 21, 2015. (Firdia Lisnawati/AP Photo)

Minors must be accompanied by their mothers when their mothers are deported. There is no policy that allows a mother to leave her underage child here, said Amrizal, chief of the Bali immigration office.

Macks sentence was shortened by a total of 34 months due to reductions that are often granted to prisoners on major holidays because of good conduct.

After her release, Mack stayed at an immigration detention center for four days while waiting for her flight tickets and travel documents to be ready.

She was tightly escorted by immigration officers to Balis airport for the flight to Jakarta.

Jamaruli Manihuruk, chief of the Bali regional office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said his office has asked the central government to ban Mack from Indonesia for life.

Mack reportedly had a troubled relationship with her mother, with officials in the U.S. confirming that police had been called to the familys Oak Park, Illinois, home dozens of times.

Bali police said the hotels surveillance cameras showed that Mack and Schaefer had argued with her mother in the lobby of the hotel shortly before the killing, which allegedly took place inside a room in the hotel.

Schaefer testified in court that von Wiese-Mack was angry at him when she learned about her daughters pregnancy. He said she insulted him and Mack, wanted her to get an abortion, and strangled him in a heated argument before he struck her several times with a fruit bowl.

Prosecutors said Mack helped stuff her mothers body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

Later video from the corridor showed Mack bringing a cart to move the suitcase and Schaefer carrying the suitcase to the cart. Video also showed the couple talking to a taxi driver. The two allegedly abandoned the suitcase in a taxi and left through the hotels back door.

By Firdia Lisnawati
Irvine to Crack Down on Catalytic Converter Thefts With New Law

The City of Irvine is doubling down on rising catalytic converter thefts with a new law that will make it easier for police officers to arrest those with cut catalytic converters without valid documentation.

The ordinance will make it illegal to possess any catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle unless the possessor has valid documentation or other proof to verify they are in lawful possession of the catalytic converter.

Catalytic converters are a part of a vehicles exhaust system that converts toxic exhaust fumes into cleaner emissions and help the overall performance of a vehicle. They contain precious metals inside of themsome worth more than goldand can be sawed off of a car in under one minute, making them convenient for thieves to steal.

Thefts of converters have increased nationally in recent years, with 26,000 being stolen in the U.S. from January to May 2021, and 8,000 statewide during the same time period, according to IPD.

For Orange County, there have been about 2,000 stolen in 2021 year to date, according to IPD.

In Irvine alone, there have been 405 converter thefts from January to October 2021, compared to just 61 stolen during the same period in 2020, and 28 in 2019.

The Irvine Police Department (IPD) urged council to pass such an ordiance during the Oct. 26 city council meeting, where Irvine Police Sgt. Michael Bryant said that nearly all catalytic converter thefts cases go unsolved due to current laws making it difficult to arrest those in possession as a result of a lack of serial numbers on the converter.

Currently, if someone is in possession of stolen catalytic converters, the police are prevented from seizing this evidence or holding individuals accountable due to challenges facing law enforcement. This hampers future investigation efforts and deterrence of these crimes, Bryant said.

Bryant said one of the challenges is that the converters have an unpredictable crime pattern, being stolen city-wide day and night, as well as how efficient they are to steal, which reduces the number of witnesses and law enforcement catching thieves in the act.

There have been multiple instances in which Irvine police officers have contacted individuals in possession of freshly cut catalytic converters that were clearly just stolen, however, the officers could not identify the victim they came from, he said.

Because current law requires officers to identify a victim in order to take enforcement action, the officers had no choice but to release the individuals without consequence and they were unable to seize the stolen catalytic converters from them.

While thieves can sell the converters for up to $1,200, the average cost for a victim to replace their converter is $3,500.

Its really troubling to see these thefts occurring, Irvine Vice Mayor Tammy Kim said during the meeting. I have to admit, I did not know what a catalytic converter was, and now it seems Im hearing this a lot. Im seeing it on social media. Theres been a lot of people whove had their catalytic converters stolen, and so its very concerning.

If the ordinance is passed, IPD will have the discretion to arrest, cite, or release with a recommendation for charges to be filed later for those caught with cut converters.

Those in violation could be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or infraction, with up to $500 penalties and county prison for up to one year, with every converter found being a separate violation.

The ordinance was passed unanimously by the council, which will go into effect 30 days after a second reading during the Nov. 9 council meeting.
Ivermectin has been misrepresented in mainstream media reporting ever since it emerged as an potentially game-changing treatment for COVID-19. (Carl DMaster/Shutterstock)

Ivermectin and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

Has a promising therapeutic fallen victim to politics and misinformation?

Judith Smentkiewicz of Cheektowaga, New York, was given a 20 percent chance to live. She had COVID-19 and was on a ventilator at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Her son and daughter asked the doctors to give her ivermectin.

When the doctors refused, the family hired two lawyers, Ralph C. Lorigo and Jon F. Minear, to sue the hospital. A state Supreme Court judge ruled in their favor and ordered the hospital to give Smentkiewicz the ivermectin.

According to an article in the Buffalo News, in less than 48 hours, Smentkiewicz was off the ventilator, out of intensive care, and able to sit up on her own. Her family and attorneys are sure that the ivermectin had saved her life.

At the same time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesnt recommend ivermectin. The FDA hasnt approved or authorized its use for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in people or in animals.

Currently available data do not show ivermectin is effective against COVID-19, the FDAs website reads. Clinical trials assessing ivermectin tablets for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in people are ongoing.

Used for Decades

Still, ivermectin, which was discovered in the late 1970s, has been in use for decades, initially as a veterinary medicine to kill parasites in commercial livestock and domestic animals. It was then found to be an effective anti-parasitic for humans as well, most notably to treat elephantiasis in Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as river blindness (onchocerciasis), which is also endemic in Africa and in several countries in Latin and South America.

The drug has helped hundreds of millions of people and literally billions of farm animals fight against parasites. In fact, it has been so useful in the fight against infections caused by roundworm parasites that two scientists, William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for their discoveries regarding the medicine, according to The Nobel Prize Committee.

Ivermectin also has antibiotic and anti-cancer properties, as well as well-documented antiviral properties. Indeed, ivermectin has been shown to be a potent anti-viral against several infectious viruses, including West Nile, Dengue, yellow fever, and influenza A.

But the drug remains extremely controversial for the treatment of COVID-19. Those who champion it insist that ivermectin is a cheap, widely available, and helpful treatment for SARS-CoV-2. Its critics say that not only is it not a miracle cure, but giving patients false hope by promising that ivermectin can help them could have deadly consequences.

A Working Mechanism

Ivermectins mechanismhow it works against virusesis well understood. A virus cant reproduce like a living cell: It has to enter another cell and hijack the DNA in the host cells nucleus in order to replicate. Ivermectin makes it harder for the virus to enter the hosts cells, inhibiting a virus from getting into the cell nucleus (where the DNA the virus needs to reproduce is located) and interfering with the viruss ability to replicate.

Ivermectin also appears to have a side benefit in treating COVID-19: It seems to reduce the bodys cytokine response, dampening the dreaded cytokine storm that has been found to be one of the biggest dangers in acute COVID-19 infections.

Knowing that its an effective anti-viral, South African pulmonary critical care specialist Dr. Paul Marik, professor of medicine and chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, who has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed journal articles, 50 book chapters, and four critical care books, along with Dr. Pierre Kory, who spent more than five years as the chief of the critical care service at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, along with other doctors (including cardiologist Peter McCullough), decided to try this cheap and widely-available drug to treat their COVID-19 patients.

Early Treatment With Ivermectin

One of the reasons for trying ivermectin was accessibility. People in many poorer regionsincluding South America, India, and sub-Saharan Africahad access to the drug to treat parasite diseases. In France, it was also available over the counter for the treatment of lice. In 2012, Reuters News reported on an industry-funded study that found that application of an ivermectin hair lotion could kill head lice and their eggs in just 10 minutes.

Although the federal government focused its attention on developing a vaccine to prevent infections in the first place, many front-line doctors looked for effective ways to treat patients who were coming down with COVID-19. According to an extremely detailed article published in Mountain Home magazine in May, from the beginning of the pandemic, Marik and Kory had good outcomes by treating COVID-19 with a combination of steroids and anti-coagulants. In March 2020, they shared this experimental clinical protocol, known as MATH-plus, and have shared it with other critical care specialists and the public.

The MATH part of the protocol stood for Methylprednisolone (a steroid), Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Thiamine (a B vitamin), and Heparin (an anticoagulant). The plus part of the protocol included second- and third-line treatments based on the individual patients presenting symptoms. The MATH-plus protocol was intended for hospitalized patients.

Seven months later, in October 2020, the frontline doctors added ivermectin to their original recommendations, calling it a core medication in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 on the covid10criticalcare.com website.

Our medical discovery of a rapidly growing published medical evidence base, demonstrating ivermectins unique and highly potent ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and to suppress inflammation, prompted our team to use ivermectin for prevention and treatment in all stages of COVID-19, the frontline doctorswho have formed a nonprofit known as the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Allianceexplained on their site.

The I-MASK-plus protocol, which is centered around ivermectin, is now being used to prevent and treat COVID-19 before it gets severe.

Fun fact, Kory wrote on Twitter on Oct. 7. Between 100-200 United States Congress Members (plus many of their staffers & family members with COVID) were treated by a colleague over the past 15 months with ivermectin & the I-MASK+ protocol at flccc.net. None have gone to [the] hospital. Just sayin.

Science Wars

In 2020, a team of scientists from Australia decided to see if ivermectin could also treat SARS. Their study, published in June 2020 in the journal Antiviral Research, showed that it effectively prohibited SARS-CoV-2 from replicating in laboratory cells, resulting in a 5,000-fold reduction in viral load within 48 hours.

But, critics point out, testing a drug via cells in a petri dish is very different from testing a drug in humans. Yahoo News dismissed Marik and Kory as fringe doctors in September and, in October, the BBC reported that false science is the driving force behind the enthusiasm for ivermectin.

In the midst of dealing with a novel virusas well as the fallout from government policies on how to stop itits extraordinarily difficult to parse out which treatments are actually effective and which are working only due to the placebo effect.

Many dismiss ivermectin as horse paste and quackery. But a compilation of extensive data from studies across the world, which was published in the American Journal of Therapeutics four months ago, shows that ivermectin was effective across the board. In this peer-reviewed report, a team of five doctors, including Marik and Kory, analyzed the results of 24 randomized controlled trials involving 3,406 participants from countries across the world, ranging from Argentina to Bangladesh to Spain.

Their analysis suggested that ivermectin was effective prophylactically at preventing infection in Argentina, France, and Bangladesh. Indeed, among people who were already being treated with ivermectin for parasite prevention, infection rates were a fraction of the rates of the people in the same region who werent treated with ivermectin, which is one reason for the front-line doctors recommendation to use it as a prophylactic.

The same review showed that ivermectin may also be effective at other stages of COVID-19 infection. In studies of mildly ill outpatients given ivermectin in Spain, Nigeria, Iraq, and the Dominican Republic, thousands of patients improved with early treatment, experiencing better outcomes than patients who didnt receive the drug.

The review also found that, among sicker, hospitalized patients in Iraq, India, Brazil, and Florida, severity and complications were decreased with ivermectin treatment, and fewer people died.

When critics challenged the integrity of one of the studies that was originally included in the review, which was from India but had been retracted, Mariks team removed it from their data and published a response to the criticism in the next issue of the same journal. Even without the Indian study, Mariks team insisted, the combined data from the other 30 studies were still positive, showing statistically significant and substantial improvement in outcomes with the use of ivermectin.

The same month that the review came out, a Forbes report claimed there was no evidence of ivermectins effectiveness, except for one study based on cell samples in Petri dishes. The Forbes report also came one month after a review of previous ivermectin studies had already concluded that people on the drug showed a 56 percent improved survival rate. Other mainstream media reports on the drug have ignored all clinical research and described it as nothing more than a horse dewormer.

Politics Muddy Ivermectin Waters

In October 2020, then-President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and spent three days at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center before returning to the White House on Oct. 5. Trump told the American people that he had been given ivermectin, along with other remedies. Practically overnight, treating the disease with ivermectin became associated with the political right. And Big Tech began censoring people who shared information about the drug.

I was one of them. Shortly after the Buffalo News article about Judith Smentkiewiczs successful treatment with ivermectin was published, I was temporarily banned from Facebook for posting a quote from the Buffalo News and a link to the article itself, with no other commentary, on my personal profile.

At the time when Facebook and other platforms were censoring news about ivermectin, preventive measures such as double masking, wearing personal protective equipment, draconian social distancing, and social isolation, as well as vaccination became associated with the political left, even though the U.S. governments Project Warp Speed (to develop a safe and effective vaccine in record time) was initiated during a Republican administration.

News outlets began referring to ivermectin as horse paste, suggesting that the drug was only for animals. Its unclear if those reporters or media outlets were aware that people regularly take ivermectin in pills sized for human dosages calibrated by body weight. Ivermectin is one of the 400 most commonly prescribed medicines for humans and won its inventor a Nobel Prize after it cured two major diseases.

While clinical trials of ivermectin are ongoing in regard to COVID-19, its included on the World Health Organizations list of Essential Medicines with a long-established safety record.

Ivermectin Alternative

Interestingly, another antiviral that may slow the virus more effectively is on the way. Taxpayer money has funded a forthcoming drug to treat COVID-19 to the tune of several million dollars, according to an investigation by STAT News. Though its mechanism is completely different, Molnupiravir has been touted as a COVID-19 cure, and proponents say that it reduces viral replication several times more effectively than ivermectin. It also costs more than $700 per course of treatment, and it isnt yet available to the public.

The fate of this drug, too, has swung with the politics: When the Trump administration poured money into it, it was reviled by most of the media. But now that the Biden administration is continuing to fund research about it, Molnupiravir is being hailed as a cure.

Oxford Study and Cochrane Review

Despite the controversy and politically motivated demonization, ivermectin is far from dead as a COVID-19 treatment. The University of Oxford is currently conducting a large-scale controlled study to see if its effective in preventing severe COVID-19 and keeping patients out of the hospital.

The Oxford data, once its published, will certainly help inform the debate around ivermectin. But controversies over effective treatments for COVID-19 likely wont stop any time soon.

A Cochrane review of ivermectin is a case in point. Cochrane reviews are supposed to be the gold standard for research reviews. They are supposed to evaluate the available research and use existing evidence to provide a final opinion of sorts. But the Cochrane review used relatively narrow criteria to sharply limit the studies included. The reasoning was to better ensure that only studies that looked very closely at ivermectin were included, and not those that included ivermectin in more complex protocols that may see it paired with other drugs or treatments.

That limitation has raised concerns from other ivermectin researchers, including Edmund J Fordham, about the efficacy of the review. Meanwhile, the Cochrane review takes issue with the varying quality of clinical trials that have made up other reviews on ivermectin. Its a complex issue with layers of issues, but the more research conducted, the clearer the picture becomes.

Jennifer Margulis is an award-winning journalist and book author. She has worked on a child survival campaign in Niger West Africa, taught post-colonial literature to non-tradition students in inner-city Atlanta, and appeared live on prime-time TV in Paris to champion an end to child slavery in Pakistan. A frequent contributor to The Epoch Times, she was granted a prestigious Fulbright Award in 2006. Learn more about her and sign up for her free weekly newsletter at JenniferMargulis.net.

This article was edited from an earlier version to include additional information about the Cochrane review of ivermectin.
Kyle Rittenhouse walks into court for the start of jury selection on the first day of his trial in Kenosha, Wis., Circuit Court, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP)

Rittenhouse Trial Starts; Jury Selected

KENOSHA, Wis.A jury was selected in a single day Monday for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three people while they were out on the streets of Kenosha during a Black Lives Matter protest last year.

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.

The jury must decide whether Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, as his lawyers claim, or was engaged in vigilantism when the 17-year-old opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle in August 2020, killing two men and wounding a third.

In an all-day session that ran well past dark, 20 people12 jurors and eight alternateswere selected. The judge said he would decide at the end of the trial which ones are alternates and which ones will deliberate. The 20 consist of 11 women and nine men.

About a dozen prospective jurors were dismissed because they had strong opinions about the case or doubts they could be fair.

Rittenhouse had traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois during unrest that broke out after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a black man, in the back. Rittenhouse said he went there to protect property after two previous nights marked by arson, gunfire, and the ransacking of businesses.

The now-18-year-old Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide, the most serious charge against him.

As jury selection got underway, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder stressed repeatedly that jurors must decide the case solely on what they hear in the courtroom, and cautioned: This is not a political trial.

It was mentioned by both political campaigns and the presidential campaign last year, in some instances very, very imprudently, he said.

The judge said Rittenhouses constitutional right to a fair trial, not the Second Amendment right to bear arms, will come into play, and I dont want it to get sidetracked into other issues.

One of the jurors is a gun-owning woman with a high school education who said she was so afraid during the protests that she pulled her cars to the back of her house and made sure her doors were locked. She said she went downtown in the aftermath and cried.

Another woman chosen is a special education teacher who expressed anxiety about being on the jury: I figure either way this goes youre going to have half the country upset with you and they react poorly.

Another juror said he owns a gun and has it for home defense.

One juror is a pharmacist who said that she was robbed at gunpoint in 2012 but that it would have no effect on her ability to weigh the evidence in this case.

Among those dismissed were a man who said he was at the site of the protests when all that happened and a woman who said she watched a livestream video of the events and wasnt sure if she could put aside what she saw.

One person was dropped from the case after she said she believes in the Biblical injunction Thou shall not kill even in cases of self-defense.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger also moved to dismiss a woman who said that she has a biracial granddaughter who participated in some of the protests and that she could not be impartial. Rittenhouses attorneys had no objection.

Rittenhouses attorney got a prospective juror dropped after she said she would find Rittenhouse guilty of all charges just because he was carrying an assault-style weapon. I dont think a weapon like that should belong to the general public, the woman said.

The start of jury selection was briefly delayed in the morning for unexplained reasons. During the delay, the judge played a mock game of Jeopardy! with prospective jurors in the courtroom, something he sometimes does as attorneys get organized.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on Aug. 25. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, a demonstrator from West Allis, Wisconsin.

Bystander video captured Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse but not the actual shooting. Video showed Huber swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. Grosskreutz had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faces two homicide counts and one of attempted homicide, along with charges of reckless endangering and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.
Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown briefs and answers questions from the media regarding the recent police shooting in West Garfield Park, Friday, July 9, 2021. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Judge Pauses Chicago Vaccine Mandate Deadline for Police

A judge on Monday paused a vaccination mandate for the Chicago Police Department (CPD) pending the settlement of a lawsuit between the department and the Chicago police officers union.

Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell granted a partial temporary restraining order, requiring that the city cannot enforce the Dec. 31 deadline for CPD officers to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but said that the reporting and testing obligationsor testing twice a week under city policystill remain in effect

Disputes over vaccinations should be handled as a labor grievance with an arbitrator, Mitchell said.

The reporting obligation itself is a minimal intrusion, particularly considering that police officers already are obligated to provide medical information to their employer, Mitchell wrote.

The effect of this order is to send these parties back to the bargaining table and to promote labor peace by allowing them to pursue remedies under Illinois law, the judge added.

Mitchells decision centers on a lawsuit filed by the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) against the city last month in response to Mayor Lori Lightfoots vaccine mandate, under which all city employees had to report their vaccination status through an online portal by Oct. 15, and get fully vaccinated by Dec. 31, barring those who obtained exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

City workers who fail to meet the deadlines will be put on a no-pay status, Lightfoots administration said in announcing the mandate weeks ago.

The principal risk to those who are unvaccinated is to themselves and to others who choose to be unvaccinated, the judge said.

Police have lagged behind other city departments in meeting the vaccine requirements, but the numbers have been slowly increasing. City data released Monday showed about 73 percent of CPD employees had reported their COVID-19 vaccination status, and about 80 percent of those employees reported being fully vaccinated.

The judge noted that COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus has killed many officers nationwide.

In light of that terrible sacrifice, the police unions request just to have their grievances heard seems a pretty modest task, Mitchell said.

CPD Superintendent David Brown said that before the judges ruling, 35 officers had been placed on unpaid leave, CNN reported.

We continue to encourage our department members to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is about officer safety, as weve said repeatedly, and its about protecting our families and the people we serve, Brown said.

According to the news outlet, a status hearing in the case has been set for Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. local time.

The Epoch Times has contacted FOP President John Catanzara and Lightfoots office for comment.

Catanzara in a video published on Oct. 12 called on union members to refuse to comply with the citys COVID-19 vaccine mandate, instructing members to file for exemptions to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine but to not enter that information into the citys vaccine portal.

Ive made my status very clear as far as the vaccine, but I do not believe the city has the authority to mandate that to anybodylet alone that information about your medical history, he said at the time.

President Joe Biden meanwhile suggested during a CNN presidential town hall on Oct. 21, that police officers who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 should be fired.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Judge Bruce Schroeder explains the process for jury selection at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 1, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/Pool via Reuters)

Judge Warns Jurors in Rittenhouse Trial Against Relying on Media, Says Some Stories Sloppy

The judge presiding over Kyle Rittenhouses trial has warned potential jurors against relying on media reports, asserting journalists have been irresponsible and sloppy in reporting on cases hes heard.

Im not bashing anybody, but I am going to talk about what you need to do, what you need to be thinking about if you are picked to hear this case, and how much reliance you can put on things that may be just sloppy, which is a vast amount of it, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder told potential jurors as the trial got underway on Monday.

Some of it that is deliberately biased thats out there, and sometimes from respectable media outlets. But thats the price we pay for having a free press because we value that, but we also value having a fair trial, he added.

Schroeder also said the First Amendment guarantees a free press but that it also leads to a lot of irresponsible and sloppy journalism.

This is not an attack on the media. Ive read things about this case that were perfect, perfectly stated what had happened in this court. And there were things, I think was I in the courtroom when that happened?' he said.

Schroeder, who has held his position since 1983 and is officially nonpartisan, is presiding over the trial of Rittenhouse, a teenager accused of killing two and wounding another during chaotic events in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year.

Video footage showed Rittenhouse in the city carrying a gun, saying he wanted to help protect businesses from rioters. But he later became engaged in confrontations with protesters, including one who witnesses said approached him and another video showed a protester trying to grab his firearm.

Kyle Rittenhouse carries a weapon as he walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP)

The men allegedly shot by the defendant can be referred to as rioters during the trial, not victims, the judge previously ruled.

Jurors were selected in a single day in the high-profile trial, which will see a jury decide on charges including first-degree homicide.

Opening arguments began on Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors alleged Rittenhouses actions did not fall under the legal definition of self-defense.

The only person who killed anyone is the defendant, Kyle Rittenhouse, Thomas Binger, a prosecutor, told jurors.

Defense lawyers say the men Rittenhouse is accused of shooting were armed, one with a chain and another with a skateboard.

The first man to approach him, Joseph Rosenbaum, was the one who lit the fuse that night, defense lawyer Mark Richards said, adding that The defendant believed the amount of force he used or threatened to use was necessary to prevent or terminate the interference and that his belief was reasonable.
A file photo flowers are placed in honor of Kobe Bryant at the site of a helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others one year ago on Jan. 26, 2021. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

LA County Approves $2.5M to Settle Lawsuits Over Photos Leaked From Kobe Bryant Crash

LOS ANGELESThe Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved on Nov. 2 a $2.5 million settlement for two families suing the county over the unauthorized sharing of photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, which also killed their loved ones.

Under the proposed settlement, still subject to court approval, Matthew Mauser stands to receive $1.25 million, and siblings J.J. Altobelli and Alexis Altobelli would share another $1.25 million.

Mausers wife, Christine, and the Altobellis mother, father, and younger sisterKeri, John, and Alyssadied in the Jan. 26, 2020, crash that also killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and three others.

After a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed that LA County sheriffs deputies and firefighters took and shared crash scene photos for purposes outside law enforcement, the Altobellis and Matthew Mauser filed separate federal lawsuits against the county alleging they suffered emotional distress.

We believe these proposed settlements of $1.25 million are reasonable and fair to all concerned, attorney Skip Miller of Miller Barondesswho represented the countytold The Los Angeles Times.

We are pleased that the Mauser and Altobelli families, who as private citizens suffered the same grief and loss as others, will be able to move forward after these settlements, which are subject to final approval by the Board of Supervisors. We also hope that eventually the other families will be able to do the same.

Bryants widow Vanessa sued Los Angeles County last year, alleging that she and her family suffered severe emotional distress after discovering that sheriffs deputies snapped and shared gruesome photos of the helicopter crash scene.

The legal fight between Vanessa Bryant and the county intensified when county lawyers sought to have Bryant undergo a psychiatric examination in advance of the trial scheduled for February 2022.

Lawyers argued in court papers that she cannot have severe distress from crash photos she and the public have never seen.

On Monday, however, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Eick denied the countys motion seeking the exam, deeming the request untimely.

He denied the motion without prejudice, meaning county attorneys could make the request again depending on how the case proceeds.

Bryant won a separate legal victory in the case last month when LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Fire Chief Daryl Osby were ordered to be deposed in the case.

Eick said Villanueva and Osby appear to have unique first-hand, non-repetitive knowledge relative to the case. The judge limited each deposition to four hours.

The family of Sarah Chester and her 13-year-old daughter Payton, who also died in the crash, filed their own suit against the county in December, saying they were humiliated and distraught when they realized that personnel trusted to secure the site had photographed remains. That family is not part of the settlement approved Tuesday.

The county has already spent almost $1.3 million in fees and legal costs in the two cases, according to a board letter.

A report from the county counsel recommended the settlement to avoid further litigation costs.

The five-member board approved the payment without comment.
Louisiana Teenager Given COVID-19 Vaccine Without Parental Permission

A 16-year-old boy was injected with a COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana on a recent school day despite his parents not granting permission.

The boy was given a dose of Pfizers vaccine on Oct. 20 at East Jefferson High School in Metairie, Louisiana, according to a COVID-19 vaccination record reviewed by The Epoch Times.

A parents signature is required for anyone 17 or younger who wants a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

What we have is a parent who has had her parental rights stolen, G. Shelly Maturin II, a lawyer representing the family, told The Epoch Times.

A nurse from Ochsner Health gave the boy the vaccine at the school. Ochsner has administered vaccinations on-site at a number of schools since the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizers jab for children as young as 12.

The signature of Jennifer Ravain, the mother, can be seen on a vaccine consent form but the familys lawyer said she did not sign it, nor did her son forge her signature.

The boy initially thought he was signing up to get a vaccine at a later date, and planned to discuss whether to get a jab with his mom, the familys lawyer said. When he learned the shots were happening at that time, he felt pressure and got one.

Ochsner acknowledges that a mistake happened and that the boy did not receive parental consent.

While we firmly believe in vaccinating adolescents to keep them safe from COVID-19, this should be done only with parental consent. Our team has been notified that a student was vaccinated without proper parental consent at a school vaccination event on October 20, 2021. We have procedures in place to ensure that all policies are followed; however, in this instance, this did not occur. We have taken immediate action to review our on-site vaccination policies and to ensure that these policies will be strictly enforced moving forward, Dr. Robert Hart, Ochsners chief medical officer, told The Epoch Times via email.

As a leading healthcare provider in this community, we value the trust that parents put in us to care for their children, and we are revising our school vaccination program to ensure that this does not happen again. We are in communication with the parent who brought this to our attention. We offer our sincere regret and apology for any distress this has caused, he added.

But Maturin said nobody has reached out to him or the family to try to resolve what happened and he is preparing a lawsuit on behalf of the family, which hopes their effort will motivate parents around the country and make them aware of whats happening at schools.

This kind of garbage is going on around the country and it needs to stop, so I think a message needs to be sent, Maturin said.

The boys name is being withheld because hes a minor at the request of the family.

East Jefferson High School did not respond to a request for comment.

Jefferson Parish Schools said that it is aware of the situation and that Ochsner officials assured district officials what happened was an isolated incident.

We believe that broad participation in vaccinations reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission and is essential to keeping our schools and community safe and healthy. Jefferson Parish Schools has partnered with multiple healthcare partners to provide vaccination opportunities to eligible employees and students since vaccines first became available. Our standard operating procedures include obtaining written consent from a parent or legal guardian prior to a student receiving the vaccine during an event conducted at one of our schools, the district said.

We will continue to work with Ochsner Health and our other healthcare partners to ensure vaccination events conducted on our campuses follow this process.
A boy, injured during a blast, lies on a stretcher at the entrance of a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

Many Feared Dead, Wounded as Explosions, Gunfire Hit Military Hospital in Afghanistan

An explosion that was immediately followed by a deadly assault at a large military hospital in the capital of Afghanistan killed more than a dozen people on Tuesday, according to reports.

Hibatullah Jamal, a Taliban member who serves as the groups minister of defense, said that there are casualties among both our personnel and civilians, also noting that he is not immediately clear about the official death toll.

A Taliban member, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agency AFP that 19 dead bodies and about 50 wounded people were transported to hospitals in Kabul, but there was no officially confirmed casualty toll.

The attack was carried out by a group of gunmen and started with an explosion that rocked the entrance of the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan in Kabuls 10th district.

A Taliban fighter, who was injured during a blast, is pictured at the entrance of the hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

The explosion was immediately followed by an assault, with gunmen breaking into the hospital grounds and firing their weapons.

The attack was initiated by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who blew himself up at the entrance of the hospital, a Taliban member in charge of the media team told AFP.

Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi said four of the attackers were killed by Taliban security forces who pushed back the insurgents. A fifth member of the group was reportedly captured.

Tuesdays attack has not yet been claimed by any group and comes just days after the ISIS terrorist group carried out a deadly bomb attack at a mosque in the Afghan capital on Oct. 31, killing several civilians during prayers. On Monday, ISIS claimed responsibility for the explosion in Kabul the previous day.

Photographs shared by residents showed a plume of smoke over the area of the blasts near the former diplomatic zone in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of the city and witnesses said at least two helicopters flew over the area as the assault went on.

Smoke billows near the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan National Military Hospital after an explosion in central Kabul, Afghanistan, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Handout via Reuters)

A health worker at the hospital, who managed to escape, said he heard a large explosion followed by gunfire that lasted a couple of minutes. About 10 minutes later, there was a second, larger explosion, he said.

ISIS, which has carried out a series of attacks on mosques and other targets since the Talibans seizure of Kabul in August, mounted a complex attack on the hospital in 2017, killing more than 30 people.

The groups attacks have caused mounting worries outside Afghanistan about the potential for the country to become a haven for terrorist groups as it was when al Qaeda attacked the United States in 2001.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Migrants heading in a caravan to the US, walk towards Mexico City to request asylum and refugee status in Mapastepec, Chiapas State, Mexico, on November 1, 2021. (Isaac Guzman/AFP/Getty Images)

Migrant Caravan Rejects Humanitarian Visas From Mexico, Head toward US, Mexico City

Leaders of a migrant caravan consisting of thousands of migrants have rejected humanitarian visas for some travelers as they continued the march towards the United States or Mexico city.

The Mexican National Institute of Migration (INM) said that it offered humanitarian visas to pregnant women and children in the caravan but was rejected by leaders of the caravan, which set off from southern Mexico last week, according to Fox News.

The visas last a year and grant migrants access to public services like healthcare, as well as the ability to work, Reuters reported.

The caravan of migrants mainly consisted of South Americans, Central Americans, and Haitians. It left the town of Huehuetan in the south of Mexico on Oct. 23.

Organizers Luis Rey Garcia Villagran and Irineo Mujica had migrants sign up with QR codes to join the convoy.

In an interview with Reuters, Mujica said that many caravan members were distrustful of the migration officials due to what he described as broken promises in the past, such as arrests and deportations.

Garcia told Fox News that the caravan was approximately 4,000 strong with more than 400 children between the ages 7-18, and 100 babies under the age of one. In addition, 65 pregnant women (three being more than eight months pregnant) and four wheelchair bound migrants had joined the caravan.

Having travelled 60 miles, many caravan members have reportedly developed foot injuries, respiratory problems, and infections.

Volunteer doctor Kabir Sanchez told Reuters that more than 50 percent of the people in the caravan are sick.

The INM had also reported six cases of dengue amongst members of the caravan, including five children.

Sanchez also said that caravan members had possible cases of COVID-19 but were not confirmed with tests.

The Biden administration had blamed root causes in Central and South America as factors causing the recent influx in illegal immigrants.

Republicans, on the other hand, blamed the border-crisis on the Biden administrations decision to halt the border wall construction, and to reinstitute the Obama administrations catch-and-release policy.

Just last month, The Washington Times reported that catch-and-release numbers increased a whopping 430,000 percent from August 2020 to August 2021 at the US-Mexico border.

Catch and release allows illegal aliens to be released into the country after being arrested by border patrol agents. Under the conditions of their release, these illegal immigrants are expected to appear for a court hearing at a later date.

However, the Center for Immigration Studies, which describes itself as a non-partisan, non-profit research organization, found that about half of these released illegal immigrants failed to appear to court between 2015 and 2017 (pdf). In 2017, 43 percent did not show up to their court date.
FILE- In a May 24, 2019, file photo, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signs one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bills, banning the procedure on or beyond eight weeks of pregnancy, in Jefferson City, Mo. A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, blocked Missouri from enforcing the sweeping state abortion law. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis heard arguments in September in the legal battle over the 2019 law. (AP Photo/Summer Balentine, File)

Missouri Governor Mike Parson Signs Executive Order Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) announced on Oct. 28 that he has issued an executive order to protect the individual rights of his states citizens against overreaching COVID-19 vaccine mandates from the Biden administration.

As the Governor of the State of Missouri, I stand with concerned Missourians and will do all I can to stop federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, Parson said in a statement.

When President Biden announced his initial plans to force unconstitutional vaccine mandates, we immediately began aligning state resources for legal action. While we hoped the Biden Administration would recognize these mandates as the abuse of authority that they are, they have not, and we must now use every tool we have available to fight this federal intrusion, he said.

Parson argued that the federal government does not hold the authority to require that people receive a COVID-19 vaccine. He called the Biden administrations attempt to do so a power grab.

The Constitution and its historical interpretations clearly leave public health decisions to the states. The federal government has no authority to issue COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Biden Administration acting alone to dictate and mandate health requirements represents the kind of federal power grab the founding fathers warned us against, Parson said.

Executive Order 21-10 includes three specific areas of attention, according to the governor:

All agencies, boards, commissions, and other entities within the executive branch of state government are directed to cooperate fully and timely with the Attorney General of the State of Missouri in litigation on behalf of the State of Missouri against any federally imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate or requirement.

No agency, board, commission, or other entity within the executive branch of state government shall compel any individual to receive the COVID-19 vaccine according to federal vaccine mandates if the individual objects for religious or medical reasons.

No agency, board, commission, or other entity within the executive branch of state government shall penalize individuals or businesses for non-compliance with federally imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates if the individual objects for religious or medical reasons.

Parsons executive order adds to a growing number of governors seeking to stop the enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates through executive order.

Last week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) issued her own executive order against the mandates.

Iveys written statement released with the Oct. 25 order declared that the vaccine mandates were outrageous overreach.

The federal governments outrageous overreach has simply given us no other option, but to begin taking action, which is why I am issuing this executive order to fight these egregious COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Alabamiansand Americans alikeshould and must have the choice to roll up their sleeves to get this shot and certainly not forced by government, Ivey wrote.

While President Biden laughs at the idea of protecting your freedoms, I will continue fighting for Alabama businesses and their employees, the governor added.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also signed an executive order banning any entity in Texas from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Floridas Ron DeSantis is also among the Republican governors who are joining efforts to oppose the vaccine mandates in their state. DeSantis has called a special session of state lawmakers to consider a bill to oppose mandates in Florida.
A giant sequoia, right, shows blackened scarring from a forest fire, seen during a media tour of Redwood Canyon in Kings Canyon National Park, Calif., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee via AP)

More Than 100 World Leaders Support Agreement to Reverse Deforestation and Land Degradation by 2030

More than 100 world leaders have committed to support an agreement to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030, the UK government announced on Nov. 1.

The leaders, representing more than 86 percent of the worlds forests, agreed to work together on the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use at the COP26 climate summit, also called Conference of the Parties 26, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, President Ivan Duque of Colombia, and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi were in attendance at the climate summit to discuss key issues related to global warming and setting new emissions reduction goals.

Downing Street said the pledges were backed by $12 billion (8.75 billion pounds) of public funding from 12 donor countries over a four-year period between 2021 to 2025. The funding will go toward supporting developing countries, tackling wildfires, restoring degraded land, and advancing the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

A further $1.5 billion (1.1 billion pounds) in private investment will come from 11 countries and philanthropic donors and will be used to protect the forests of the Congo Basin, which is home to the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, and is critically important to global efforts to address climate change as well as to sustainable development in the region, the government said.

Fourteen country and philanthropic donors also pledged to give at least $1.7 billion over four years to advance Indigenous peoples and local communities forest tenure rights and support their role as guardians of forests and nature, Downing Street said.

An additional $7.2 billion (5.3 billion pounds) of private-sector funding has also been mobilized.

The land covered by the agreement spans the northern forests of Canada and Russia to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congowith an area of more than 13 million square miles.

Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Russia are among the more than 100 countries endorsing the agreement.

These great teeming ecosystemsthese cathedrals of natureare the lungs of our planet. Forests support communities, livelihoods, and food supply, and absorb the carbon we pump into the atmosphere. They are essential to our very survival, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

With todays unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanitys long history as natures conqueror, and instead become its custodian.

Indonesias President Joko Widodo said: Indonesia is blessed as the most carbon-rich country in the world on vast rainforests, mangroves, oceans, and peatlands. We are committed to protecting these critical carbon sinks and our natural capital for future generations.

We call on all countries to support sustainable development paths that strengthen the livelihoods of communitiesespecially Indigenous, women, and smallholders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro were notably absent from the COP26 climate summit, despite endorsing the agreement.

The UK government said that, currently, almost 23 percent of global emissions come from land-use activity such as logging, deforestation, and farming.

It is good news to have a political commitment to end deforestation from so many countries.  That Indigenous peoples are finally being acknowledged as key protectors of forests is particularly welcome, Simon Lewis, professor of global change science at the University College London, said in a statement.

However, the real challenge is not in making the announcements, but in delivering synergistic and interlocking policies and actions that really do drive down deforestation globally.
Police recruits attend their graduation ceremony at LAPD Headquarters in Los Angeles on July 8, 2016. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

More Than 1,300 LAPD Employees Have Not Reported Vaccination Status

LOS ANGELESOver 1,300 department employees had not submitted their vaccination status as of Friday, and each commander has received a list of their names to begin enforcement of the citys vaccination and testing mandate, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Nov. 2.

Each officer who has not yet reported their vaccination status will receive a notice telling them to report their status within 48 hours and to enter into an agreement to receive two tests per week, paid for by the individual employee.

If an employee does not submit information on their vaccination status, the department, myself, will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the employees, civilian or sworn, Moore said.

Ultimately, our goal is to have to a 100 percent fully vaccinated workforce.

Moore also told the Police Commission the department currently has over 9,400 sworn personnel and 2,600 civilian personnel.

A majority of those who havent reported their status were sworn employees, but Moore said he did not have the exact number.

The commanders also received lists of the officers who are seeking medical or religious exemptions. Those requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, according to the city, and if an exemption is approved, the employee will be required to test for COVID-19 once per week, but the tests will be paid for by the city.

The union representing Los Angeles police officers sued the city on Friday, alleging unfair labor negotiations related to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for municipal employees.

The unions Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit also seeks to stop the city from requiring unvaccinated employees who dont have exemptions to pay for their COVID tests, at $65 per test, twice a week.

Los Angeles vaccination mandate was updated on Oct. 26, pushing back the deadline for employees to get vaccinated from Oct. 20 to Dec. 18.

Mayor Eric Garcetti called the mandate critical to protecting the health and safety of our workforce and the Angelenos we serve.

Through Dec. 18, unvaccinated employees have to submit to two COVID-19 tests per week, and $65 per test will be deducted from their paychecks.

Employees have to get tested during their free time, and testing has to be conducted by the city or a vendor  of the citys choosing, according to a report approved by the city council on Tuesday.
SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks on a screen during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain on June 29, 2021. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Musks Starlink Registers India Unit, Targets Rural Districts

NEW DELHIStarlink, the satellite internet division of billionaire Elon Musks rocket company SpaceX, registered its business in India on Monday, company documents filed with the government showed, as it gears up to launch internet services in the country.

Having a local unit, Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, will allow the company to apply for licenses which it needs from the government before it can provide broadband and other satellite-based communication services.

Pleased to share that SpaceX now has a 100% owned subsidiary in India, country director for Starlink in India, Sanjay Bhargava, said in a LinkedIn post.

We can now start applying for licenses, open bank accounts, etc, said Bhargava, who according to his LinkedIn profile joined the company only in October.

Starlink is one of a growing number of companies launching small satellites as part of a low-Earth orbiting network to provide low-latency broadband internet services around the world, with a particular focus on remote areas that terrestrial internet infrastructure struggles to reach.

Its competitors include Amazon.coms Kuiper and OneWeb which is co-owned by the British government and Indias Bharti Enterprises.

In India, Starlink plans to carry on the business of telecommunication services including satellite broadband internet services, content storage, and streaming, multi-media communication, among others, according to the company filing.

It will also deal in devices such as satellite phones, network equipment, wired and wireless communication devices, as well as data transmission and reception equipment, it said.

Starlink separately said it will focus on catalyzing rural development in India through its broadband services, according to a company presentation shared by Bhargava on LinkedIn over the weekend.

Once it is allowed to provide services, Starlink will, in the first phase, give 100 devices for free to schools in Delhi and nearby rural districts. It will then target 12 rural districts across India.

The company aims to have 200,000 Starlink devices in India by December 2022, 80 percent of which will be in rural districts, it said in the presentation. Starlink has already received over 5,000 pre-orders for its devices in India.

By Aditi Shah
A logo for Netflix on a remote control in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 13, 2020. (Jenny Kane/AP Photo)

Netflix Removes Episodes of Australian Drama in Philippines for Showing Beijings Nine-Dash Line

Netflix has taken down two episodes of the Australian political drama Pine Gap from its service in the Philippines after the show displayed an image of a map with the Chinese regimes nine-dash line on it, which the Filipino government called a violation of the countrys sovereignty.

Following a formal complaint lodged by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippines movie classification board ruled that certain episodes were unfit for public exhibition.

In its decision, the board emphasised that every instrument of the government, given the opportunity, has the responsibility to counter the Chinese Communist Partys aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea to assert its territorial integrity.

It further noted that the portrayal of the illegal nine-dash line in Pine Gap is no accident as it was consciously designed and calculated to specifically convey a message that Chinas nine-dash line legitimately exists, the DFA said in a statement on Nov. 1.

Such portrayal is a crafty attempt to perpetuate and memorialise in the consciousness of the present generation of viewers and the generations to come the illegal nine-dash line.

Using the medium of a motion picture is but Chinas unconventional approach to gain the upper hand in the territorial conflict in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei all claim overlapping portions of the sea, which spans 3.6 million square kilometres (1.4 million square miles), but the most far-reaching claims have been made by China. (CNN)

Screentime, the Australian company that produced the series, has declined to comment.

This cancellation of the episodes comes after Pine Gap was also removed from Netflix services in Vietnam for the same reasons earlier in the year.

Netflixs violations angered and hurt the feelings of the entire people of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information said in a statement on July 1, as reported by Reuters.

The CCP lays claim to an extensive territory in the resource-filled South China Sea, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Beijing completely disregards a 2016 landmark ruling by an arbitration tribunal that repudiated its territorial claims in the region, arming its artificial islands with more weapon systems and missiles.

The CCP also frequently harasses the local fishing industry with sea militia and violates the Philippines internationally recognised Exclusive Economic Zone.

On July 12, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on the CCP to follow its obligations under international law, abide by the 2016 ruling, and cease its provocative behaviour.
A view of a portion of the Mariner's Mile from the Newport Beach Harbor, in Newport Beach, Calif., on Aug. 8, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Newport Beach Bookstore Cancels Book Signing Event After Community Backlash

Eight days before Dr. James Veltmeyers scheduled book signing event Oct. 30 at Lido Village Books in Newport Beach, CA, the stores owner canceled the event after receiving a backlash from the community.

She wouldnt explain what this backlash was, Andrew Russo, a publicist for author Dr. James Veltmeyer, told The Epoch Times.

Dr. Veltmeyer published his first book, Physician on a Mission: Dr. Veltmeyers Rx to Save America, on April 7, 2021. The book offers a compilation of editorials, Op-eds, and podcasts he produced over the last few years about critical national and international issues like COVID-19, China, abortion, and the economy.

Whoever was objecting did not approve of the views in the book, Russo said. This was an effort to suppress conservative constitutionalist American views.

He said after three months of exchanging emails and organizing the Come and Meet the Author event with Michelle Pierce, owner of Lido Village Books, she canceled the program out of the blue.

Dear Andrew, he said while reading an email exchange with Peirce. In the few hours since we have sent out our email campaign, I have received a backlash from the community. I have decided that in a moment of social and political upheaval, the bookstore needs to stay neutral.

Russo said in a subsequent final email that Pierce wrote, As a small independent bookstore we have to listen to our community  We all must do what we feel is the best option for ourselves and our business.

If you are going to stay neutral, said Russo, are you going to remove from your bookshelf any, and all, books that reflect any political point of view?

Veltmeyer hosts a podcast under the same title as his book. The show is available on Spotify, Apple, Rumble, Vimeo, and his website. The podcast was available on YouTube until it was de-platformed because of some of his positions on COVID-19.

Were dealing with a massive suppression of speech, said Russo. Were dealing with a ruling class that decides for itself what can be discussed and what cant be discussed and sets the parameters for what they believe is acceptable political discourse.

Veltmeyer is an award-winning, board-certified family medicine physician and the Chief Medical Officer for Serene Behavioral Health, IPA, and Therapeutics Solutions International. His work is published in the Journal of Translational Medicine and the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

In 2018, the California State Senate named Veltmeyer a California Hero.

Russo said Veltmeyer will continue publishing editorials, producing his podcast, and working in the medical field. However, its unfortunate they are dealing with some cancel culture aspect that suppresses the free exchange of ideas and shuts down political discourse and debate.

Lido Village Books was not immediately available for comment.
Parked school busses sit in a lot during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on April 21, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

No Evidence School Closures Reduce COVID-19 Spread: Study

There is no evidence that school closures could reduce the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, according to a recent study.

The article has been peer-reviewed and was published by Nature Medicine on Oct. 27. The authors include two Japanese professors and a visiting professor from the University of Michigan. The data of the study were collected in Japan.

We do not find any evidence that school closures in Japan reduced the spread of COVID-19. Our null results suggest that policies on school closures should be reexamined given the potential negative consequences for children and parents, the study reads.

School closures have been widely implemented across the world since the Spring of last year when the pandemic started.

In the United States, the first school closure associated with COVID-19 occurred in Washington state on February 27, 2020. By March 25, 2020, all U.S. public school buildings were closed, and over 50 million students had been affected, according to EducationWeek.

People walk by a public school in Brooklyn, New York City, on Nov. 18, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The study pointed out that school closures have broad impacts, including learning loss, future earnings loss, deterioration of physical health and mental health, maltreatment, and lower maternal labor force participation, including health care workers. Furthermore, school closures would widen social and economic inequality and lead to even long-term macroeconomic damage.

Accordingly, it is imperative to know whether the benefits of school closures outweigh these costs. Nonetheless, scholars have not reached a consensus on the degree of benefit, if any, to closing (or not reopening) schools, the study reads.

The study said that about 20 articles claim school closures are effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19, while almost the same number of articles have the opposite conclusions.

The authors of the study argue one of the reasons is methodological.

The authors said many articles do not control for any other variables, while others include only a few control variables. Therefore, dozens of potential confounders that affect school closures and the number of casesfor example, the share of children in the population, medical preparedness, and the governments fiscal situationwould bias estimates of the effect of school closures.

Also, it is challenging to disentangle the effect of school closures from those of other measures or factors such as season, economy, and weather.

Thus this study enacted causal inference methods, utilizing matching techniques to account for dozens of confounders. So municipalities the study analyzed are comparable except for school closure status; the difference between them should only be attributed to school closure status.

Empirically, we find no evidence that school closures in Japan caused a significant reduction in the number of coronavirus cases, the study concluded, suggesting that policymakers should be cautious when considering similar policies in the future, especially given the substantial costs such policies can have for the well-being of both children and parents.

School closures for COVID-19 have become a controversial issue due to the negative impact.

Last week, Harvard University professor of medicine Martin Kulldorff told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders that Sweden kept schools open last spring, but no children died from COVID-19.

One example is from Sweden, during the first wave in the spring of 2020, which affected Sweden quite strongly, Kulldorff said, talking about his motherland. But Sweden decided to keep daycare and schools open for all children ages 1 to 15. And there are 1.8 million such children who got through the first wave without vaccines, of course, without masks, without any sort of distancing in schools.

If a child was sick, they were told to stay home. But that was basically it. And you know how many of those 1.8 million children died from COVID? Zero. Only a few hospitalizations. So this is not a risky disease for children.

The current guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 protection in K12 schools states, students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall [of] 2021 is a priority.

At the same time, CDC said vaccination is the leading preventative strategy to help kids safely return to school and has recommended universal indoor masking by all students, teachers, and visitors to K12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

Zachary Stieber and Jan Jekielek contributed to this report.
Spc. Kailee Soares prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during a drive to vaccinate Hawaii National Guardsmen assigned to the COVID-19 task force response on Kauai Island, on Jan. 12, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard /Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson)

Pentagon Calls for Compassion While Considering Penalties for Unvaccinated Service Members: Spokesperson

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for service commanders to enforce the COVID-19 vaccine mandate with compassion when unvaccinated service members face punitive measures as the deadline approaches, a Pentagon spokesman said on Monday.

According to the latest data issued by the Pentagon, nearly 60,000 active duty service members are still not vaccinated as of late last week. Officials said the numbers change daily and include those who may have gotten or requested an exemption.

The secretary has been very clear with the leaders of the military departments that he wants them to execute the mandate with a sense of compassion and understanding, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday. I know hes made this clear to them that he knows, as a former commander himself, that leaders have a range of tools available to them, to help troops make the right decisions for themselves, for the units, for the familiesshort of using the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), therefore, short of punitive measures.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is seen in Washington on Sept. 29, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/Pool/Getty Images)

But clearly, its a lawful order. And so, he also trusts that commanders will ultimately do what they need to do for the readiness of their unit. And if that comes to doing something of a punitive nature, they certainly have that right and that authority. Its just that the secretary wants them to exhaust other measures before having to do that, Kirby added.

Kirby also provided updates on the vaccination rate of service members as of Monday. A total of 97 percent of the active-duty force has had at least one dose, including 99 percent of active-duty sailors, around 97 percent of airmen, 93 percent of the Marine Corps, and 90 percent of the army.

Pentagon has said that unit commanders around the world would make exemption decisions for medical, religious, and administrative reasons on a case-by-case basis.

Kirby explained that administrative exemptions include those who plan on retiring soon.

Its unclear how widely religious exemptions will be granted.

Pentagon officials must explain in detail how troops can apply for a religious exemption, the procedure for resolving the request, the criteria by which applications are judged, and the procedure the people deciding on each request use to judge them, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, a George H. W. Bush appointee, ordered on Oct. 29.

The Pentagon must file the details by Nov. 12.

Commanders can also move service members into another job, deny them overseas deployment, or limit unit access if they get an exemption or while a request is being reviewed. Those steps may be more common in smaller units such a special operations forces.

The Air Force is the first to hit a deadline with more than 335,000 airmen and Space Force guardians to be fully vaccinated by Tuesday. The deadline for the Air Guard and Reserve is Dec. 2. According to Air Force data, as many as 12,000 active-duty airmen and guardians were still unvaccinated as of late last week. Some have requested or gotten exemptions. Others have refused outright.

Any refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, absent an approved medical or administrative exemption or accommodation, may be punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), an Air Force spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.

Military commanders retain the full range of disciplinary options available to them under Article 92 of the UCMJ and must consult with their servicing Staff Judge Advocate for additional guidance on vaccination non-compliance, the email reads.

The spokesperson also told The Epoch Times that the Air Force would update the numbers Wednesday midday, including exemption numbers.

The maximum punishment for a violation or failure to obey lawful general order or regulation under UCMJ Article 92 is dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for two years, according to Gary Myers, Daniel Conway & Associates, a law firm that specializes in defending service members.

The more than 765,000 Defense Department civilians will be next after the Air Force, with a mandated vaccine date of Nov. 22. Civilians have until Nov. 8 to seek an exemption, and as of last week, fewer than half had provided vaccination proof.

Kirby said the Pentagon is still working on some additional implementing guidance for the civilian workforce that will come out very soon.

More than half of the Army National Guard has gotten at least one shot, while the Air Guard is at 87 percent. Air Guard members must be fully vaccinated by early December, while the Army Guard, which is much larger and more widely scattered around the country, has until June.

The nearly 350,000 Navy sailors and more than 179,000 Marines must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 28 and the reserves by Dec. 28. The Army, the militarys largest service with nearly 490,000 soldiers, has until Dec. 15 to be fully vaccinated. Army National Guard and Reserve, with a total of almost 800,000 Guard and Reserve troops, have until June 30, 2022.

Zachary Stieber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Perth School Students Arrested in Alleged Plot to Kill Teacher

A Perth high school girl who allegedly stabbed her teacher on Monday has been charged with plotting with another teenager to allegedly kill the educator.

Police alleged the 14-year-old girl received a knife from a 13-year-old girl at Willetton Senior High School on Monday morning and used it to stab the teacher, a Year 8 coordinator in her 50s.

The injured woman suffered a minor wound to her left armpit and was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital for treatment. She was later discharged.

The 14-year-old then fled the school grounds after the incident. But was later arrested by police in Willetton later the same day.

The 13-year-old girl was taken into custody when officers arrived at the school.

Police allege the teenage girls exchanged messages online for more than two weeks preceding the attack, which related to talking about and planning to kill a teacher.

Both students were charged with attempting to unlawfully kill and are due to face Perth Childrens Court on Tuesday.

The stabbing occurred during recess in the student services block, an area where people go for support and counselling during school time.

One student, Jazmine Lin Wooden, told 9news.com.au she saw blood on the floor.

Shes my brothers year coordinator. Shes always been nice; shes always been one of the teachers you can talk to, so I cant really understand whats happened, she said.

I messaged my sister, and she was like yeah, someone got stabbed. Im scared. The teacher said to lock the door and everything.

Surrounding primary schools Burrendah and Castlereagh were locked down as a precaution.

State School Teachers Union of WA president Pat Byrne said she was deeply disturbed by the incident.

Every teacher should be able to go to work confident that they will be safe from harm, she said.

This incident is a reminder of the dangers teachers face and the need for constant improvements around safety in schools.

Willetton SHS principal Trevor Hunter sent an email to parents addressing the attack about four hours later, just before school ended.

The incident occurred at recess, and as a precaution, all students were kept in their classrooms for a brief period, the email read.

The school and administration staff acted immediately to ensure students were kept away from the situation.

At no time were any students in danger, he said.

Worried parents took to social media after receiving text messages from their children who were placed in lockdown at the school.

It was a little worrying getting a text from my daughter this morning of her in a classroom, with all the lights off, having to keep quiet, one mum wrote.

Definitely an experience for both my kids. Hopefully, one they dont have to go through again.
A vial labelled with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 19, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Pfizers Profits Surge on Soaring COVID-19 Vaccine Sales

Pfizer reported that both sales and profits more than doubled in the third quarter of this year compared to the year-ago period, with the better-than-expected results coming on the back of soaring sales of its COVID-19 vaccine.

In its Nov. 1 earnings report (pdf), Pfizer boasted third-quarter revenues of $24.1 billion, a 134 percent boost compared to the third quarter of 2020. Sales of its COVID-19 vaccineComirnatyaccounted for $13.0 billion of revenues, or 54 percent.

Pfizers profits soared 133 percent to $7.7 billion in the third quarter compared to the year-ago quarter.

I continue to be very pleased with the way our business is performing in 2021, both including and excluding the significant contributions of Comirnaty to our results, said Frank DAmelio, Pfizers Chief Financial Officer, in a statement.

The pharmaceutical giant also raised its full-year sales forecast to between $81 billion and $82 billion, up from a previous range of $78 billion to $80 billion.

Pfizer also boosted its full-year sales forecast for its COVID-19 vaccine by 7.5 percent to $36.0 billion, as it signs deals with countries for booster doses and receives clearances for using its shots in broader age groups.

Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizers Chief Executive Officer, said on an earnings call (pdf) that, to date, Pfizer has produced 2.6 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, and shipped 2 billion of them to 152 countries and territories.

More than 75 percent of the revenues we have recorded up through third-quarter 2021 for Comirnaty have come from supplying countries outside the U.S., and we remain on track to achieve our goal of delivering at least two billion doses to low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2022, Bourla said in a statement.

Bourla said Pfizers is on track to manufacture roughly 3 billion doses of Comirnaty this year.

Pfizers earnings release comes as the company awaits the outcome of a U.S. regulatory meeting later in the day on using its shots in children aged 5 to 11.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Oct. 29 issued an emergency authorization to use Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 through 11, but before the shots can be distributed across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must first sign off on the move.

The FDA has determined this Pfizer vaccine has met the criteria for emergency use authorization, the FDA said in a release. Based on the totality of scientific evidence available, the known and potential benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in individuals down to 5 years of age outweigh the known and potential risks.

The FDA said that the agencys and CDCs surveillance systems previously identified higher risks of myocarditisinflammation of the heart muscleand pericarditisinflammation of the tissue surrounding the heartafter males aged 12 to 17 got the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA added that, based on its own modeling to gauge the risk-benefit ratio for children aged 5 to 11, the agency predicts that overall, the benefits of the vaccine would outweigh its risks in children 5 through 11 years of age.

Harvard University professor of medicine Martin Kulldorff, meanwhile, told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program that he believes children should not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

I dont think children should be vaccinated for COVID. Im a huge fan of vaccinating children for measles, for mumps, for polio, for rotavirus, and many other diseases, thats critical. But COVID is not a huge threat to children, said Kulldorff, who has often criticized the federal governments vaccine mandates on social media.

In the interview, Kulldorf pointed to data showing that children have a very low chance of hospitalization, death, or long-term effects from COVID-19.

Jack Phillips and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Possible Cyberattack Disrupts Healthcare Services in Canadian Province: Minister

A possible cyber attack against the healthcare system in the Canadian province of Newfoundland has disrupted services and forced the cancellation of some appointments, health authorities said on Monday.

An investigation was under way to understand the nature and extent of the attack, which was detected on Saturday, health minister John Haggie told reporters.

This led to progressive failure of whats been described to me as the brain of the data center and a loss of functionality and systems across the regional health authorities, he said, adding that authorities have adopted contingency measures.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said a ransomware attack, which encrypts computer files and demands payment for them to be restored, was behind the disruption of healthcare services, but Haggie could not confirm that.

There has been significant impact across the healthcare system in the remote Atlantic province.

Chief Executive Officer David Diamond of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the most affected region, said emergency procedures were going ahead on Monday and all other appointments would be rescheduled for another day.

Torontos transport agency was subject to a ransomware attack last week but did not cause any significant disruption, according to a report by The Canadian Press.

In June, a hospital in Toronto lost control of essential services when it came under a ransomware attack.
Prisoner Given Extra Jail Time for Threatening to Kill UK Lawmaker

A prisoner has had his jail sentence extended by five years for sending a letter from his cell threatening to kill a member of the British Parliament.

Rakeem Malik, 54, a Muslim convert who was born Paul Anthony Harrison, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday for threatening to kill Labour MP Jess Phillips.

Malik was already serving a five-year sentence, imposed in June 2020, for threatening to kill and rape Phillips and Rosie Cooper, another Labour MP.

He also sent malicious communications to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and said he would eat former Prime Minister Theresa May.

Malik was charged on Aug. 4 with sending another threatening letter to Philips in November last year, and sending a threatening letter to a member of the public in the same month.

After Malik was sentenced on Monday, Phillips told the PA news agency that she felt some comfort because such an attack on our democracy had been taken really seriously in light of attacks against members of Parliament.

On Oct. 15, Conservative MP Sir David Amess, a 69-year-old father of five, was brutally attacked when meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and later died of multiple stab wounds to the chest.

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, a British national of Somali descent, was charged on Oct. 21 with the murder of Amess and the preparation of terrorist acts.

The death of Amess has rekindled debate on MPs safety. Home Secretary Priti Patel told the House of Commons last week that intelligence officers had upgraded the threat level for politicians to substantial but there was no specific or imminent threat.

Phillips said she felt less scared about the threat from Malik because he was already in prison.

I dont feel this is a man who is coming out of prison any time soon and so I dont feel any particular risk. I feel pleased that the right thing happened, she said.

Birmingham Crown Court also ordered that Maliks criminal behaviour order should remain in place for an indefinite period to prohibit contact with members of Parliament.

Malik was also given an indefinite restraining order not to communicate with the victims in this case.

Malik is already serving a life sentence imposed in 1999 after admitting attempting to murder a cell mate whom he tried to strangle with shoelaces at Merseysides Ashworth high security hospital.

PA contributed to this report.
A protestor holds up a sign during rallies against government-mandated health restrictions and impending Pandemic legislation in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Supplied)

Protests During the Race That Stops a Nation

Around 200 Australians have marched from Melbournes Footscray Park to the gates of the Flemington Racecourse during protests against the Victorian governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Melbourne Cup, a public holiday in the state of Victoria, was underway at the racecourse, which saw around ten thousand fully vaccinated punters join the festivities.

The group stopped in front of the venue chanting and carrying signs reading, Kill the Bill, No Vaccine Passports, and, The freedoms you surrender today are the freedoms your grandchildren will never know existed. Police monitored the rally.

A protestor holding a sign during rallies against government-mandated health restrictions and impending Pandemic legislation in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Supplied)

Protests have become a regular occurrence in the Australian state as residents express frustration with vaccine mandates, lockdowns, and more recently, the impending Pandemic Management Bill.

On the weekend, thousands took to the streets protesting against the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021, which cleared the lower house of Victorias Parliament last week.

The bill will establish a new structure for the government to deal with future pandemics and is supposed to replace pre-existing State of Emergency powers provided under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008due to expire on Dec. 15 and extended twice already.

While the newer bill streamlines certain operational aspects of the government and establishes additional safeguards around privacy rights, it also contains wide-ranging provisions that give the state premier and the health minister unprecedented power over the state.

These include broad powers for the health minister to make pandemic orders, on the advice of the chief health officer, where it is deemed reasonably necessary to protect public health. Further, the premier can declare a pandemic and extend such a declaration three-months at a timethe number of extensions is unlimited.

A protestor holds up a sign during rallies against government-mandated health restrictions and impending Pandemic legislation in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Supplied)

Pandemic orders would give the premier and health minister the power to issue new public health decrees including closing borders, mask mandates, and introducing health restrictions. It would also provide them with the ability to target classes of individuals, even based on vaccination status.

Further, police will be able to enter private premises without a warrant to implement such decrees.

New record penalties have also been introduced including two-year prison terms and fines of AU$90,000 for aggravated offences where an individual breaches a health order and is deemed to have caused a serious risk to the health of another.

The state opposition leader and peak legal body, the Victorian Bar, have strongly criticised the Bill.

Mounted police monitoring a rally against government-mandated health restrictions and impending Pandemic legislation in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Supplied)

Christopher Blanden Q.C., president of the Bar, warned the Bill would allow unlimited interference in the liberties of Victorias residents.

The overriding concern is that the bill confers on the health minister what is, in a practical sense, an effectively unlimited power to rule the state by decree, for an effectively indefinite period, and without effective judicial or parliamentary oversight, he said in an internal email to Bar members.

The bill confers powers that can be appropriately described as draconian in authorising virtually unlimited interference with the liberties of Victorian citizens. Yet the bill lacks the appropriate checks and balances to ensure the proper exercise of these powers, he added.

This represents the biggest challenge to the rule of law that this state has faced in decades.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) talks to the media during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rep. Taylor Greene Hit With 4 More Fines for Defying House Floor Mask Mandate

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been been hit with four more fines for defying mask rules on the House floor, the House Ethics Committee said on Monday.

In a statement, the House Ethics Committee said Greene refused to comply with House rules on four separate incidents over the span of three days in late September. The Republican lawmaker did not appeal those fines, the committee said.

The House floor mask mandate, established in January, penalizes violators $500 for a first offense and $2,500 if they violate the rules again.

I will continue my stand on the House floor against authoritarian Democrat mandates, because I dont want the American people to stand alone, Greene told media outlets on Monday, defending her decision not to comply with the rules to wear a mask on the House floor.

Prior to Mondays notice, Greene had already been hit with numerous fines for defying the rules.

Nick Dyer, a spokesman for Greene, told the Washington Post that she has been issued nearly two dozen fines for defying House rules, resulting in $48,000 in financial penalties. The news outlet obtained a letter from Sergeant-at-Arms William Walker to Greene dated Oct. 28 that confirms the figures.

I have over $25,000 in mask fines bc I refuse to wear a mask in the chamber where over 80% of Congress is vaccinated and Im NOT sick, Greene wrote on Twitter last month. As a Congresswoman, if I dont stand up against tyranny & suffer consequences, then how can others?

The House mask mandate is part of a resolution passed on Jan. 12 that states that the sergeant-at-arms is authorized and directed to impose a fine against a Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner for the failure to wear a mask in contravention of the Speakers announced policies of Jan. 4.

Late July, Greene and two other Republican lawmakers filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over what they called an unconstitutional mask rule. Greene, alongside Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), said that the face coverings are oppressive and nothing but a political tool.

The lawmakers said they refused to wear masks on the House floor after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance to state that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, were generally no longer required to wear masks or social distance.

Previous guidance from the CDC had recommended that people wear masks if they were within six feet of others outside, regardless of their vaccination status.

All fines imposed as a result of the House mask rules are deducted from members congressional annual pay of $174,000.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Greenes office for additional comment.
Researchers Call for Halt on COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women After Re-analysis of CDC Study

Two researchers say countries should halt the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant and breastfeeding women after re-analyzing a study performed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers.

The study in question, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April, has been used by the CDC and health agencies in other countries to justify vaccination recommendations to pregnant women and new mothers.

A U.S. study of over 35,000 women who were pregnant and had an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine showed that the side effects following vaccination were very similar in those who were pregnant when compared to those who were not, the Australian government says in a guide (pdf) to COVID-9 vaccination for women.

The study, though, was corrected last month after concerns were raised by a researcher in Belgium. The CDC scientists acknowledged they should have made clear that they could not accurately calculate a risk estimate for miscarriages because follow-up data was not yet available for most of the women.

The correction resolved some of the issues, but there are still more, according to Dr. Simon Thornley, a senior lecturer in the University of Aucklands Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Dr. Aleisha Brock, another researcher in New Zealand.

The articles conclusions havent changed substantially as we believe is warranted from our re-analysis of the association related to early exposure to the vaccine in pregnancy, which indicates a substantially increased risk from background, Thornley told The Epoch Times in an email.

Thornley and Brock re-analyzed the data and calculated the incidence of miscarriages in the first trimester was actually 82 percent to 91 percent in a paper (pdf) published in Science, Public Health Policy, and the Law.

Of the 827 pregnancies reported through the V-Safe registry, operated by the CDC, 712 resulted in a live birth. Nearly all of them were among women who were vaccinated in the third trimester. Of the other pregnancies, 104 resulted in miscarriage. Most of those occurred before 13 weeks of gestation.

Using data from the study and several estimates, the New Zealand researchers calculated that spontaneous abortions occurred in 81.9 percent to 91.2 percent of the women who were vaccinated before 20 weeks of gestation.

We question the conclusions of the Shimabukuro et al. study to support the use of the mRNA vaccine in early pregnancy, which has now been hastily incorporated into many international guidelines for vaccine use, including in New Zealand, the researchers said.

The assumption that exposure in the third trimester cohort is representative of the effect of exposure throughout pregnancy is questionable and ignores past experience with drugs such as thalidomide. Evidence of safety of the product when used in the first and second trimesters cannot be established until these cohorts have been followed to at least the perinatal period or long-term safety determined for any of the babies born to mothers inoculated during pregnancy, they added.

Pfizer, it was noted, says on its vaccines label that the available data on the vaccine administered to pregnant women are insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy.

The CDC researchers concluded their findings didnt show any obvious safety signals among pregnant women who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. They said their findings did not necessarily represent the position of the CDC, but the agency links to the study on its website and used it to promote vaccination in pregnant women, and a query sent to the studys main author was forwarded to a CDC spokeswoman, who pointed to an August statement regarding the study.

We are aware that some of the data has been used to calculate a higher rate of miscarriage, the agency said at the time. This is not an appropriate calculation based on the data available because more than 1,000 pregnancies were ongoing, and their outcome data was not available at the time of the report. About 1025% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. CDC experts will continue to study the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on pregnancies and closely monitor any safety concerns.

The spokeswoman also referred to two research letters regarding pregnant women and COVID-19 vaccines that have since been published. One was from CDC researchers who said the estimated risk of miscarriages following vaccination was within the range of total miscarriages, regardless of cause. The other, from outside researchers, studied CDC data and reached a similar conclusion.

These findings are reassuring and can help inform discussions about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy between pregnant people and their healthcare providers, the spokeswoman said, adding that growing evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy demonstrates that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks.

Hong Sun, the researcher in Belgium who pointed out the original problem with the early CDC study that prompted a correction, told The Epoch Times that he didnt agree with Thornley and Brocks re-analysis.

While I also suggest removing the 700 cases from the dominator, I also consider such an equation is no longer valid, in other words, it is not possible to calculate an accurate rate of spontaneous abortion rate with the given data, and this view is acknowledged by CDC. In [the CDCs] follow-up study, a more reasonable rate is calculated and I consider it is a fair estimation, he said in a LinkedIn message.

The CDC recommends pregnant women get a COVID-19 vaccine, with few exceptions.

Thornley is not so sure. He said the studies do show no increased risk in getting the vaccine but there are some questions regarding the selection of participants.

There are at least some questions related to the selection of participants which are an issue for case-control studies, compared to a cohort analysis such as that found in the CDC data. The data which addresses this issue of safety, particularly with regard to exposure to mRNA vaccines early in pregnancy is sparse, from published evidence, and I would question anyone who believes it is in any way conclusive, he told The Epoch Times.

Since the risk of fatality or severe outcome following COVID-19 infection is generally extremely low for younger people, including those who are pregnant, we caution against the use of the vaccine, given the substantial uncertainty that exists, he added.
New York real estate heir Robert Durst is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing his best friend Susan Berman at the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles, on Oct. 14, 2021. (Myung J. Chung/Los Angeles Times via AP)

Real Estate Heir Robert Durst Indicted in 1982 Murder of Wife Kathie Durst

Robert Durst was indicted Monday for murder in the death of his first wife, Kathie Durst, who disappeared nearly four decades ago.

Durst, 78, was charged by a Westchester County Grand Jury in an indictment on Nov. 1, 2021, with Murder in the Second Degree, the office of New Yorks Westchester County District Attorney announced.

When Kathleen Durst disappeared on Jan. 31, 1982, her family and friends were left with pain, anguish and questions that have contributed to their unfaltering pursuit of justice for the last 39 years, District Attorney Mimi Rocah said in a statement. The District Attorneys Office reinvigorated its investigation into Robert Durst just 10 months ago when I took Office, launched the Cold Case Bureau, and dedicated the resources and skill that I thought this case deserved.

Dursts indictment is a huge step forward in the pursuit of justice for Kathie Durst, her family and victims of domestic violence everywhere, Rocah said.

In New York, all felony cases require a grand jury indictment to proceed to trial unless a defendant waives that requirement.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Previously, Durst was charged in a complaint filed on Oct. 19, 2021, with Murder in the Second Degree over his wifes disappearance in 1982. A week prior to that, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his best friend in 2000.

He is currently serving that life sentence after having been transferred last week to a state prison hospital. The transfer happened less than two weeks after he was hospitalized with COVID-19.

Kathie Durst was 29 and in her final months of medical school when she was last seen. She and Robert Durst, who was 38 at the time, had been married nearly nine years and were living in South Salem, a community in Lewisboro. Her body was never found. Robert Durst divorced her in 1990 citing abandonment. At the request of her family, she was declared legally dead in 2017.

Durst was later found guilty of having shot his longtime confidante Susan Berman, 55, in the back of the head at her Beverly Hills home in December 2000. He was also found guilty of the special circumstances of lying in wait and killing a witness, which carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Berman had provided a false alibi for Durst when Kathie went missing, and that Berman, before her death, was prepared to tell police how she helped cover up Kathleens killing, prosecutors said.

In addition to having killed his wife and Berman, Durst also killed a neighbor in Galveston, Texas, in 2001, prosecutors alleged. The neighbor, Morris Black, had discovered Dursts identity when Durst was hiding from law enforcement. Durst was acquitted of the murder charge after he testified that he had shot Black in self-defense.

However, Durst admitted to having dismembered the body, and was convicted of destroying evidence for discarding the body parts.

Separately, Durst in 2016 was sentenced to over seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge stemming from a 2015 arrest in New Orleans.

Durst is the grandson of Joseph Durst, who founded the Durst Organization, one of New York Citys largest real estate companies. His father, Seymour, took charge of the company and later handed control of it to Dursts younger brother, Douglas.

Robert Durst settled his share of the family fortune and was estimated by prosecutors to have $100 million. Family members bought out Robert Dursts stake in the business for $65 million in 2006.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
San Clemente to Pursue Different Energy Program from Other OC Cities

The City of San Clemente, California, recently joined the wave with other Orange County cities in deciding to purchase its own energy, giving residents an alternative to Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). However, San Clemente opted to go with a different program than what other Orange County cities have been joining.

Community Choice Energy (CCE) allows a city to buy and sell energy, with the intent of purchasing more renewable energy and saving money in the process. However, critics of CCEs believe these goals are not guaranteed and could be more costly than traditional energy providers.

Earlier this year, Orange Countys first CCE was created, known as the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), which seeks to provide more renewable energy to homes and businesses.

The OCPA started with Irvine, though a number of cities have opted to join on, including Huntington Beach, Fullerton, and Buena Park.

The two most viable options for San Clemente to choose from included the OCPA and the Clean Energy Alliance, due to its geographical proximity to the city, according to a city report.

After listening to a presentation from an energy consultant hired by the city during their Oct. 19 council meeting, the councilmembers seemed impressed with Clean Energy Alliance, a CCE that serves about 800,000 residents in San Diego between Carlsbad, Solana Beach, and Del Mar.

Its an absolute no-brainer for our community to obviously do Community Choice Energy  having participated in a presentation by Clean Energy Alliance myself, I was absolutely blown away. They completely have it together, Councilman Chris Duncan said during the council meeting.

Theres no need to continue to study, he said. We know where the trend is. Everybodys going to be on renewable energy soon and the sooner you get in the better. We have a great opportunity with very similar cities dealing with a lot of the same exact issues.

Mayor Pro Tem Gene James expressed his disinterest in entering into a deal with the Orange County Power Authority.

I have no interest in going North and dealing with that Irvine crowd, he said. But I am interested in dealing with the North County San Diego group and we have the commonality of SDG&E with that group. I think for me, it boils down to the word choice. It gives our residents a choice.

Councilman Steve Knoblock expressed his concerns over joining a CCE due to concerns about how much money it will really save residents by removing SDG&E from the mix.

According to the presentation given to the council, residents will only save up to 2 percent a year, with some years saving no money, or even potentially paying higher rates.

The motivation for doing this is to reduce costs and the environmental concerns, Knoblock said. But in reading this report, and looking at the history of the other cities, theres no guarantee at all that were going to have a cost or even a significant cost. And there could be not only a savings, but an additional cost, which concerns me a little bit.

The council voted unanimously to begin discussions with Clean Energy Alliance and establish a subcommittee with Councilman Duncan and Mayor Pro Tem James to be engaged with the process and report to the council in future meetings.
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison presents his national statement as part of the World Leaders' Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Ian Forsyth / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Scientists and Experts Will Solve Climate, Not Politicians: Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told world leaders that the swift invention of COVID-19 vaccines has provided cause for optimism that scientists and other experts can invent the technological solutions needed to combat climate change by achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Addressing the COP26 summit in Glasgow early on Tuesday, Australian time, Morrison said the challenge to chart the path to net zero would be met by those who are, frankly, largely not in this room.

It will be our scientists, our technologists, our engineers, our entrepreneurs, our industrialists, and our financiers that will actually chart the path to net zero, he said. And it is up to us as leaders of governments to back them in.

The prime minister spoke of Australias plan to achieve a decarbonised economy through low-cost clean technology that doesnt deny people, especially in developing economies, their livelihoods or the opportunity for a better quality of life.

Driving down the cost of technology and enabling it to be adopted at scale is at the core of the Australian Way to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2050 that we are committing to at this COP26, he said.

Cleaner technology solutions must outcompete existing technologies if they are to be successful everywhere, and especially so in developing economies.

This needs to work not just in the developed economies of the North Atlantic, but in the developing economies of the Indo-Pacific as well.

Raising the cost of energy just impacts on those who can afford it least, he said.

Morrison pointed to the swift invention of COVID-19 vaccines and the immunisation of billions just 18 months after the pandemic first emerged as proof of the capacity of experts to find solutions to global problems.

Australia has surpassed the goals of like counties, having already reduced emissions by more than 20 percent since 2005. It projects that emissions will fall by 35 percent by 2030, which Morrison said far exceeds its Paris commitment.

The scene is set. Global momentum to tackle climate change is building, Morrison said, adding that 90 percent of Australias exports went to countries with net zero commitments.

Our researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and most importantly, our people are ready. The Australian way is to bet on themand we think thats a good bet.

But former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull downplayed the projected emissions reductions, saying they were just a guess.

We have to face up to the fact that weve got to stop burning coal and gas, got to stop burning fossil fuels, he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Morrison announced $500 million more in climate finance to Pacific and Southeast Asian countries, bringing Australias total commitments to $2 billion.

Separately, Fiji signed up to Australias Indo-Pacific carbon offsets scheme.

Modelled on the coalitions emissions reduction fund, the scheme is designed to develop a high-integrity carbon offset scheme in the Indo-Pacific region.

The partnership will see our two countries share expertise to ensure Fiji is internationally recognised as a source of high-integrity carbon mitigation outcomes, Morrison said in a statement.

AAP contributed to this report.
Sega logos are pictured at Tokyo Game Show 2016 in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan on Sept. 15, 2016. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Sega, Microsoft Explore Cloud Gaming Alliance

TOKYOSega Sammy Holdings on Monday said it is exploring a strategic alliance with Microsoft to develop big budget titles using the Xbox makers cloud gaming tech, driving anticipation the move could signal a deeper tie-up.

Tokyo-based Sega is exploring making titles with global reach on Microsofts Azure cloud platform, it said in a stock exchange statement without providing further details, including whether a deal would involve exclusivity for the titles or capital investment.

Sega shares jumped 6 percent in morning trading.

Microsofts own major cloud gaming initiative is available via the Xbox Game Pass, a cross-platform subscription service which features Sega titles such as the hit Yakuza series.

Cloud gaming cuts ties to bulky hardware but requires a fast internet connection. Deep pocketed Microsofts push into the nascent sector comes as Xbox is widely seen as being on the backfoot in the console battle with Sonys PlayStation.

By working with Microsoft to anticipate such trends as they accelerate further in future, the goal is to optimise development processes and continue to bring high-quality experiences to players using Azure cloud technologies, Sega said.

A bid for Sonic the Hedgehog publisher Sega by Microsoft has been rumoured for decades. Japan, the worlds third largest gaming market and a major innovator in the industry, remains a weak spot for the Redmond, Washington-based firm.

The two firms have a long history of partnership with Mondays announcement coming after a string of critically acclaimed recent releases from Sega including in the Persona and Total War series.

Sega, which abandoned its own console business after a string of flops, is a prolific maker of pachinko machines for gambling and has flagged its ambitions to widen the appeal of its video games.

By Sam Nussey
Shipping containers wait to be transferred from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Oct. 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Ships Work to Offload Goods Before Deadline

Cargo ships and crews rushed to unload and move containers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports in the face of new fines which went into effect Nov. 1.

A record number of cargo ships continue to flood the ports as they waited to offload their goods, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California.

We have had movement all throughout the day, said an exchange staff member.

At 4 p.m. Oct. 31, 27 ships were at the pier unloading goods; 40 container ships were at anchor waiting to be assigned a berth, and 53 ships were drifting nearby, waiting to either go to anchor or get a berth, whichever came first, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California.

The scramble at the ports came on the heels of an announcement last week by port authorities that cargo carriers would begin facing fines for allowing shipping containers to sit too long on already overloaded terminals.

Containers were stacked at filled port storage areas around the docks and adjacent land, as streams of trucks and trains carried goods away from the docks.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Oct. 29 announced the new fees, and the Port of Los Angeles board approved a similar measure the same day.

The ports will charge $100 a day for each container left for more than nine days if the container will be moved by truck. Rail carriers will be charged after six days.

Port authorities originally said rail carriers would be charged after three days, but looked at the situation, talked with stakeholders, and extended the time, according to Port of Los Angeles Spokesman Phillip Sanfield.

Port authority officials based these times on historical data that showed how long cargo typically dwelled on terminals pre-surge, Sanfield said. For trucks, that was about four days, and for railways, it was less than two days.

Sanfield said last week the move is not designed to increase the ports revenue.

Port and local officials who approved the fees received backlash across a spectrum of shipping companies and retailers. They have since backed off the original fee declaration, saying they could delay the fee if companies make sufficient progress in clearing containers.

If progress is being made clearing our docks, I have the discretion to delay the start of fees beyond Nov. 15, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a news release. Our goal is to see significant improvement on our docks so that we dont need to administer any fees.

Some shipping firms and trade groups said last week they worry that the new fine would trigger catastrophicresults, including an increases in prices for consumers.

As far as the [fines] announced in Los Angeles/Long Beach, I think it will be catastrophic, Rich Roche, vice president of international transportation at Mohawk Global Logistics, said during a meeting with other trade groups last week, reported the shipping industry magazine FreightWaves.

National Retailers Charter to Smaller Ports

Some national retailers have chartered private, smaller cargo ships to ensure they get their products on shelves before the holidays.

Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Costco, Dollar Tree, and Coca-Cola are just some of the retail chains or corporations to have entered into long-term leases with private shipping companies. This means they can dock at smaller ports, which have not been affected by the unprecedented clogging, and offload their cargo quickly.

Global Ship Lease signed 40 new charter agreements by August, Executive Chairman George Youroukos told Supply Chain Dive.

Were currently in the midst of red-hot freight and charter markets, Youroukos said.

By chartering their own cargo ships, larger chains and retailers are able to stock their shelves with holiday items and needed goods more quickly, bypassing the commercial ports.

Larger cargo ships carry multiple containers and are obligated to dock at the Los Angeles or Long Beach ports, or other commercial ports that are already seeing substantial backlogs.

With a smaller ship, Home Depot avoided the Port of Los Angeles container logjam by docking its chartered ship that docked 125 miles south to the Port of San Diego, according to Reuters.

The Port of San Diego can handle fewer containers and only one or two ships per month until the end of the year, according to Reuters.

The cost to charter the private cargo ships, mean might add to expected higher holiday prices for consumers.

The average cost of shipping a standard large container has surpassed $10,000, some four times higher than a year ago, according to The Economist.

The spot price for sending such a box from Shanghai to New York, which in 2019 would have been around $2,500, is now nearer $15,000. Securing a late booking on the busiest route, from China to the west coast of America, could cost $20,000, according to The Economist.

Home Depot told CNBC this summer that it had chartered its own ship to avoid the crowded ports.

We have a ship thats solely going to be ours and its just going to go back and forth with 100 percent dedicated to Home Depot, President and Chief Operating Officer Ted Decker said in a June interview with CNBC.

This is the first time in the companys history it has taken such a step.

The Epoch Times requested a comment from the Port of San Diego but did not receive a response before press time.
Skeptical Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Texas Abortion Law

There was skepticism on both sides as the nine justices of the Supreme Court heard the arguments of opposing counsel this week in a challenge to Texass unique new fetal-heartbeat abortion law that relies on citizen participation for enforcement.

The high-profile case moved at lightning speed, by Supreme Court standards, finding its way to oral arguments at the high court exactly two months after the controversial law took effect in the Lone Star State.

Observers see the case as a way to test the cohesiveness of the courts 63 conservative supermajority thats been in place since 2020 when Justice Amy Coney Barrett replaced the late liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Some conservatives have been critical of the courts three newest members, judicial conservatives appointed by President Donald Trump, saying they havent done enough to undo the courts liberalism or to protect religious freedoms from government encroachment during the pandemic.

A September Gallup poll suggested a growing public unease with the court. It found that Americans opinions of the Supreme Court have fallen to 40 percent approval, the lowest since 2000, down from 49 percent in July. The poll was taken not long after the court refused to block the Texas law, allowed college vaccine mandates to go forward, and turned down a Biden administration effort to keep alive an expiring federal moratorium on evictions during the pandemic.

Instead of authorizing government officials to prosecute violations, the Texas Heartbeat Act, also known as S.B. 8, crowdsources enforcement. The law, which took effect on Sept. 1, permits any person to sue someone who performs or induces an abortion, or aids and abets an abortion, after cardiac activity can be detected in the fetus, generally possible starting the sixth week of pregnancy. This means that someone who helps a woman obtain an abortion by driving her to a clinic could, in theory, be sued under the statute. Private citizens may initiate civil suits seeking a minimum of $10,000 per abortion, money that some, including Chief Justice John Roberts at the hearing, have described as a bounty.

Compared to much of the world, the United States has permissive standards for abortion.

Although most Americans reportedly support abortion restrictions, the United States is only one of seven countries that allow elective late-term abortions after 20 weeks, or five months of gestation, according to the conservative Heritage Foundation publication, The Daily Signal. America is an outlier when it comes to earlier restrictions, too. A recent study found that 47 out of 50 European nations limit elective abortion prior to 15 weeks.

Despite public uproar on the pro-abortion left, including demands for boycotts of Texas and the immediate repeal of the law, the court voted 54 on Sept. 1 to deny a request to halt its enforcement. The next day, President Joe Biden excoriated the court, saying its refusal to block the law was an unprecedented assault on a womans constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost 50 years.

Political pressure continued to mount, and on Oct. 22, the Supreme Court abruptly voted to hear the case on an expedited basis and scheduled the Nov. 1 hearing. Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 22, the legal situation in Texas received saturation media coverage as activists and politicians denounced the high court and argued that Texas women have been harmed and inconvenienced by the law.

Abortion provider Whole Womans Health, one of the litigating parties, wrote on Twitter on the day of the hearing: For 61 days, patients have been forced to choose between traveling on average over 200 miles one way for care, or stay pregnant against their will. These are real peoples lives we are talking about.

Whole Womans Health, which runs clinics in Texas and five other states, had sued to overturn the new law, arguing that it violates Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), in which the Supreme Court discovered a constitutionally protected right to obtain an abortion before the fetus is viable, at about the 24-week mark. The chain of clinics also challenged the novel enforcement mechanism that relies on individuals filing lawsuits.

At the Nov. 1 Supreme Court hearing, Chief Justice John Roberts had a sharp exchange with U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who argued that allowing the Texas law to stand would lead to chaos.

Roberts said Prelogar had claimed the governments case was very narrow, yet the authority you assert to respond to it is as broad as can be. Its equity  which is a limitless ill-defined authority.

What is the limiting principle?

Prelogar replied that the equitable remedy that were seeking here is not limitless. It is the traditional remedy of enjoining implementation of an unconstitutional law.

Roberts responded: Well, its hardly traditional to get injunctions against judges, injunctions against clerks, injunctions against everybody, right? Thats part of the relief you seek, isnt it? Peopleanybody can bring one of these suitsso youre seeking an injunction against the world, right?

Justice Elena Kagan was skeptical of the arguments of Texas Solicitor General Judd E. Stone, who said the federal government lacks legal grounds to sue Texas in federal court.

Stone said, The Department of Justices suit offends the separation of powers by usurping for the executive branch the role Congress plays in determining what cases may be heard and what remedies may be provided in the federal courts.

Justice Elena Kagan told Stone his line of thinking would be inviting all 50 states to try to nullify the law that this court has laid down.

That was something that until this law came along no state dreamed of doing. And, essentially  theres nothing the Supreme Court can do about it. Guns, same-sex marriage, religious rights, whatever you dont like, go ahead, she said.

Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned why abortion clinics were in such a rush to shut down the new Texas law, which Whole Womans Health lawyer Marc Hearron said discourages people from insisting on their constitutional rights.

On Dec. 1, the court will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, a challenge to Mississippis Gestational Age Act, which allows abortions after 15 weeks gestational age only in medical emergencies or for severe fetal abnormality. Lower courts struck down the statute.
South Australia Builds Big Battery As Renewable Generation Soars

Wind and solar power generation in South Australia (SA) has exceeded demand at some moments in the day as the state prepares to add its biggest battery yet to a growing energy storage arsenal.

SA saw over 130 percent of energy demand met solely by wind on Friday at 2:25 a.m., which was a new state record. Together, wind and solar also regularly exceeded 100 percent at certain moments in the day throughout the week.

To aid in the states renewable energy drive, Maoneng Australia has been given the green light for the development of a $150 million big battery located 22 kilometres outside Adelaide in Gould Creek.

Liberal MP Stephen Patterson arrives at a swearing-in ceremony for new ministers at Government House in Adelaide, Australia, on July 29, 2020. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)

Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson welcomed the project which will be the biggest energy storage system in SA.

It will be capable of supplying 225 MW (megawatts) power to support 40,000 homes for a maximum of two hours.

South Australias reputation as Australias leader in renewable energy investment and our credentials of producing around 60 percent of our energy capacity from renewable sources, is helping to attract further investment into our state and creating jobs, Patterson said in a media release.

SA hosts the worlds largest battery upon completion which was built by Tesla. In September, it was also revealed the state would become host to the worlds largest-of-its-kind grid battery capable of providing system inertia.

This is a significant investment by Maoneng Australia into South Australias continuing commitment towards a sustainable future and Im delighted to see an Australian-owned company that is so committed to the development of projects that are critical for powering a sustainable world.

The project is due to reach completion at the end of 2023 after an estimated 12 months in development, attracting 140 to 160 construction jobs.

Australias transition to more renewable energy generation has highlighted the need for energy storage to support the nations intermittent solar and wind generation.

Hornsdale Wind Farm in Adelaide, Australia on Sep. 29, 2017. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Morris Zhou, Maonengs co-founder and chief executive officer, said grid-scale energy storage was vital in supporting the states renewable energy ambitions.

This approval is good news for all South Australians, as more battery storage will help smooth the transition to clean energy, Zhou said in a media release.

South Australia has high levels of renewable energy generation, which is a positive development but can create challenges balancing supply and demand due to the intermittency of renewables.

In particular, renewable energy generation is incapable of solely sustaining SAs energy needs, with the state last month seeing renewable generation occasionally drop to under 10 percent, whereby the state was forced to ramp up its gas-fired stations and pull power from interstate.

Our proposed battery storage will help manage this, supporting local energy reliability and security while also promoting greater uptake of renewables as a whole.
Supreme Court Orders NY Court to Revisit Ruling Forcing Catholic Diocese to Cover Employee Abortions

The Supreme Court ordered an appeals court in New York to reconsider its ruling forcing religious charities to provide abortion coverage against their religious beliefs in their employee health insurance packages.

The case is Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany v. Emami, court file 20-1501.

The Supreme Court granted the dioceses petition for certiorari, or review, on Nov. 1 and immediately vacatedwithout hearing oral argumentsthe ruling of the New York court and remanded it to that court for further consideration in light of its pro-religious-freedom ruling earlier this year in Fulton v. Philadelphia. Apart from citing the previous ruling, the unsigned order didnt provide reasons for the decision.

In the Fulton ruling on June 17, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a Roman Catholic charity in Pennsylvania may refuse on religious-freedom grounds to place children with same-sex couples, as The Epoch Times previously reported.

Writing for the court in that case, Chief Justice John Roberts ruled that Philadelphia had violated the other sides First Amendment rights.

The religious views of Catholic Social Services inform its work in this system, Roberts wrote. CSS believes that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman.

Because the agency understands the certification of prospective foster families to be an endorsement of their relationships, it will not certify unmarried couplesregardless of their sexual orientationor same-sex married couples.

In the case at hand, the New York State Department of Financial Services issued a regulation in 2017 requiring that employers fund abortions through their employee health insurance plans. The regulation exempted religious entities whose purpose is to inculcate religious values and who employ and serve primarily coreligionists. At the same time, the regulation forced religious organizations to cover abortions if they have a broader religious mission, such as serving the poor, or if they hire or serve people regardless of their faith.

Needless to say, this regulation imposes enormous burdens on the countless religious entities opposed to abortion as a matter of longstanding and deep-seated religious conviction, the diocese stated in its petition to the court filed in April.

To take one example, the Catholic Churchs opposition to abortion is well known. Yet under New Yorks regulation, Catholic Charities, which serves the poor, must cover abortions.

A group of charities representing different religious denominations sued in New York state court, arguing that the mandate to provide abortion coverage violated religious protections in the First Amendment, imposing severe burdens on their religious exercise and interfering with religious autonomy.

The petition also argued that New Yorks mandate was invalid because it impermissibly interfere[s] with internal religious governance and doctrine, which obviously violate[s] the Religion Clauses of the Constitution, citing Our Lady of Guadalupe v. Morrissey-Berru (2020). Indeed, the document stated, any attempt by government to dictate or even to influence such matters would constitute one of the central attributes of an establishment of religion.

Yet that is exactly what New York has done, by exerting pressure on religious groups to employ only coreligionists, serve only coreligionists, and limit their purpose to inculcating religious values, the petition stated.

But the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, allowed the regulation to stand, reasoning that it was a neutral and generally applicable law under the U.S. Supreme Courts rulings in Employment Division v. Smith (1990) and Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye Inc. v. City of Hialeah (1993).

The church was pleased with the new ruling.

We are gratified and grateful that the Supreme Court has recognized the serious constitutional concerns over New York States heavy-handed abortion mandate on religious employers, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger said in a statement, according to Fox News.

We are confident that now that the Court has ordered the case remanded for reconsideration in light of last years Fulton v. Philadelphia decision, the unconstitutional regulatory action taken by New York State will ultimately be completely overturned as incompatible with our countrys First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty.
Taiwan to Boost Reserve Training Amid China Tension

TAIPEITaiwans defence ministry said on Tuesday it will boost training of its reserve forces next year, including doubling down combat and shooting exercises, as China increased military activities near the island. Beijing has not ruled out taking the island by force.

Tensions between Taiwan and China, which claims the democratic island as sovereign territory, have escalated in recent weeks as Beijing raises military pressure that included repeated missions by Chinese warplanes in Taiwans air defence identification zone.

Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng last month described the situation as the most serious in more than 40 years and urged extra military spending for domestically-made weapons.

Starting next year, mandatory refresher training for some reserve forces will be increased to 14 days, from the current five to seven days, to effectively elevate combat capability of the reserve forces, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Those reservists will be required to more than double the amount of bullets they fire in shooting exercises while combat training will be extended to 56 hours from half a day, it said.

The new program will be applied to about 13 percent of the 110,000 reservists the ministry plans to train next year, before further decisions could be made on whether to broaden it.

Taiwan has been gradually shifting from a conscript military to a volunteer-dominated professional force, but Reuters reported last year the switch was troublesome, and has led to a gutting of the 2.31 million-strong reserve force, some of whom complained of wasting time on pointless drills and lectures during retraining.

China says Taiwan should be taken by force if necessary. Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its freedoms and democracy, blaming China for the tensions.
Nan Shan Plaza (L) and Taiwan's landmark building Taipei 101 are pictured through the window of an airplane, in Taipei on Aug. 19, 2018. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Taiwan to Woo Backers at APEC for Bid to Join Pacific Trade Pact

TAIPEITaiwan will seek support for its bid to join a trans-Pacific trade pact when it attends a meeting of economic leaders of the AsiaPacific group APEC next week, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday.

China, which has also applied to join the pact, opposes Taiwans membership and has increased military activities near the island which Beijing claims and has not ruled out taking by force.

Taiwan and China both applied in September to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Economic leaders from the AsiaPacific trade group APEC, which includes the United States, China, and Japan, will meet virtually next week to discuss a path forward for the region to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Id like to ask envoy Chang to use this meeting to gather support from more APEC members for Taiwan to join CPTPP, Tsai told reporters, referring to Taiwans representative for the meeting, chip giant TSMC founder Morris Chang.

Envoy Chang will express Taiwans support and insistence for free trade.

Speaking at the same event, Chang said he will use his six-minute speech to emphasize Taiwans qualification to reach CPTPPs high standards, as well as the islands already very high trade contribution to the major pan-Pacific free trade pact. He did not elaborate.

Joining CPTPP has become the latest in a string of tensions between Beijing and Taipei, which is excluded from many international bodies because of the Chinese regimes insistence that it is part of one-China regardless of Taiwan being an independent country.

In an interview with Reuters in September, Taiwans economy minister questioned Chinas suitability for the Pacific trade pact, citing restrictive trade practices by the worlds second-largest economy, and feared obstruction made by Beijing.

Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, is a member of the World Trade Organization and the APEC grouping.

Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated sharply in recent weeks as Beijing raises military pressure that has included repeated missions by Chinese warplanes in Taiwans air defense identification zone.
Tesla Expands Battery Production Plans, Signs Supply Agreement With Ganfeng Lithium

While Tesla Inc stock continues roaring higher, the company continues to push the limits of electric vehicle technology. After a 100,000-vehicle order from Hertz, Tesla is more demand constrained than ever, ramping up production to meet the insane demand for its vehicles.

To build more vehicles, Tesla needs more batteries. And to make more, it has signed an agreement with the Chinese company Ganfeng Lithium, as shared by Tesmanian.

Ganfeng Lithium has signed a contract to supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to Tesla. Ganfeng is the worlds leading lithium company by market capitalization. According to its website, Ganfeng handles upstream and downstream lithium processes such as lithium resource development, midstream lithium salt deep processing, and lithium metal smelting.

The contract includes the supply of metal for Tesla for a three-year period from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2024. The amount Tesla will pay under the contract is still unknown, as Ganfeng is still waiting to process the order from Tesla.

By Benzinga EV Insights

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on June 8, 2021. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

Texas Governor Asks School Board Group to Remove Pornographic Content From School Libraries

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday called on the states school board organization to remove books that contain extremely inappropriate content from school libraries, citing growing outrage among parents.

A growing number of parents of Texas students are becoming increasingly alarmed about some of the books and other content found in public school libraries, Abbott wrote in a letter (pdf) sent to Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The most flagrant examples include clearly pornographic images and substance that have no place in the Texas public education system.

The parents are rightfully angry, the governor noted, adding that they have the right to shield their children from obscene content used in schools.

Collectively, your organizations members have an obligation to determine the extent to which such materials exist or are used in our schools and to remove any such content, Abbott said. You must also ensure transparency about the materials being taught in the classroom and offered in school libraries.

The TASB said it doesnt have regulatory authority over school districts, neither does it set the standards of what books should be in their libraries.

In most school districts, the review and selection of individual library materials traditionally has been an administrative responsibility managed by professional district staff, a spokesperson for the association said in a statement.

Abbotts letter came after Republican state Rep. Matt Krause, the chairman of the House Committee on General Investigating, asked public school districts to report possession of a list of over 840 books.

The 16-page list (pdf) includes titles that are popular among social and racial justice activists, such as Stamped from the Beginning: the Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America and How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, and books about Black Lives Matter.

Also on the list are books focusing on transgender, gender identity, homosexuality, adolescent sexuality, pregnancy, and abortion, including those discussing the Supreme Courts ruling on Roe v. Wade.

Specifically, Krause asked school districts to report on how many copies of each listed book they possess, and how much money was spent on those books.

Krause further asked that school districts identify any other books that cover topics including human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, or HIV or AIDS, sexually explicit images, graphic presentations of sexual behavior that is in violation of the law, or contain material that might violate a new state law by conveying that students are inherently racist or sexist or should feel guilt because of their sex or race.

The school districts will have until Nov. 12 to respond to those questions, according to the letter.
Texas Judge Denies Retrial for Convicted Rapist and Murderer Rodney Reed

A Texas judge on Sunday denied a retrial of convicted rapist and murderer, Rodney Reed, after deciding that newly presented evidence was not sufficient enough to grant a new one.

Reed, 53, is currently on death row after being found guilty and sentenced to death for the assault, rape, and murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites.

Prosecutors allege that in 1996, Reed, who is black, raped, and strangled Stites as she made her way to work at a supermarket in Bastrop, a rural community about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Austin.

Reed has long maintained that the victims fiance, former police officer Jimmy Fennell, who is white, is the one who killed her after discovering she was having an affair with Reed. Fennell, who served ten years in prison for kidnapping and allegedly raping a woman while on duty as a police officer in 2007, has denied killing Stites.

Retired state District Judge J.D. Langley was appointed to review the case after the Texas Court of Criminal appeals put Reeds November 2019 planned execution by lethal injection on hold when new evidence came to light that raised serious questions about his guilt.

Lawyers for Reed claimed that prosecutors suppressed evidence, that Fennell falsely testified he didnt kill Stites, and that Reed is actually innocent.

But Judge Langley Sunday said the claims Reed is making were not enough to grant a retrial.

The court has extensively considered the entire record of this case from its trial though the 10-day evidentiary hearing, at which the Court was able to observe and witness and assess their credibility concerning applicants claims. This court recommends that all relief sought by the applicant be denied, Langley wrote in his 50-page ruling.

The judge said that evidence did not support Reeds claims and that Reed, has not proven by clear and convincing evidence that he is actually innocent.

The recommendation now heads to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which will decide the outcome, although a date for the official ruling is not immediately known.

Reeds supporters, which include celebrities such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey as well as both Democratic and Republican lawmakers like Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, have asked officials to review the evidence in the case. Supporters have often cited Reeds case as an example of a black man railroaded by an American criminal justice system.

In July, multiple witnesses and experts testified on Reeds behalf, stating that both he and Stites had been having a consensual affair and claiming that they had seen the two together. They also claimed that they had seen Fennell act suspiciously after Stites death.

Several forensic experts testified that the victim died hours earlier than the timeline presented by prosecutors.

However, prosecutors say Reeds claims of an affair with Stites were not proven at trial, and note that he had a history of committing other sexual assaults. Reed was indicted, but never convicted, in several other rape cases months before his trial in Stites death began in 1998, The Texas Tribune reports.

Judge Langley in Sundays ruling questioned the 17 witnesses who testified on Reeds behalf, saying that many had waited decades to bring forth their recollections.

Langley also sided with prosecution experts who claim that Stites died within a two-hour window, which would mean that it was not possible for Fennell to have killed her.

The retired judge also said he found Fennell to be a credible witness.

If a new jury heard the overwhelming evidence of Rodney Reeds innocence, it would have reasonable doubts, Jane Pucher, an attorney with the Innocence Project, which is representing Reed, said. Convicted by an all-white jury, Mr. Reed has spent 23 years on death row for a crime he did not commit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Texas Woman Spots Tiny Feet in Lake, Leaps in to Save Drowning Toddler, Recognized by City

A quick-thinking Texas mom whose actions helped save the life of a drowning toddler was recently recognized for her heroism, alongside first responders who attended the emergency.

Mom of four Brandi Rowntree leapt into action when she heard a woman scream for help at Linda Spurlock Park in North Richland Hills on June 9. She saw two small feet sticking out of the water and immediately jumped into the pond to pull the boy from the water, and begin CPR, the North Richland Hills Police Department stated.

After being hefted ashore, the 2-year-old boy, Carlos Gonzales, was unconscious and wasnt moving.

He was blue, so I immediately put my hands [on his neck], couldnt feel anything, Rowntree, who at that moment had recalled her moms CPR training, told WFAA. Carloss aunt made the call to 911 and reached dispatcher Kasey Moreno, who provided CPR instructions and tried to keep those who were at the scene calm.

Police Officers Hyde and Cortes, who were nearby, arrived and applied back blows to expel the water from Carloss lungs. Soon, they had him breathing on his own.

Fire department EMTs arrived shortly afterward to continue providing care, and after administering oxygen, Carlos began to inhale deeply. He was then transported to the hospital.

(Courtesy of North Richland Hills PD)

It was like, phew, and we actually knew he was going to be okay then, Officer Hyde said, recalling the boys successful resuscitation.

The department posted on YouTube footage of the incident taken by one of the officers bodycams.

Were very thankful she was there, because every second counts, Officer Cortes said. She made all the difference in the world for that kid.

Carlos has since made a full recovery.

On Oct. 26, the police department recognized Rowntree for her heroic, lifesaving efforts and quick-thinking action, without which, the outcome for Carlos could have been very different. Rowntree received a plaque of commendation.

Since the rescue, she has become an advocate of child water safety initiative Colins Hope and its free swimming and CPR lessons.

At a reunion between the rescuers and Carloss grateful family, the toddlers mom, Leslie Resendiz, and Rowntree embraced tearfully. Resendiz wholeheartedly supports the citys decision to recognize her sons rescuers.

I think its amazing that theyre doing that, she said. I think its well deserved.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Demonstrators gather at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado, during the Women's March on Jan. 21, 2017. (Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images)

The Madness of Gender Quotas

Commentary

Theres a funny fracas evolving here in Australia over the National Jazz Awards. This year this major award focused on jazz pianists, and the ten finalists have been announced.

Please take a look at them here. Horrors, they are all men!

Theres been much disquiet at this politically incorrect outcome, particularly since, due to COVID-19, the competition was judged through blind online auditions.

All ten best candidates just happened to be men.

Naturally, the very active women in our jazz world immediately started complaining, saying it needed to be made fairer by removing the blind audition and including a gender quota.

And the Australia National Jazz Awards are not the only prize that the quota ideology has touched.

Scientific American has just published an intriguing article about the most prestigious award given by the worlds largest earth and space science society, the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

The AGUs Fellows Award recognises members who have made exceptional contributions to their fields through scientific innovation, breakthroughs, and discoveries.

The list of the top five candidates, all nominated by peers after a rigorous process, emerged for 2021and they were all men.

So, the committee charged with making the final decision about the fellowship wimped out. The fellowship was not awarded.

What a crazy world we now live in.

When decisions based on merit are greeted with alarm if they dont happen to include women.

A woman holds a sign reading Feminism = Equality as she takes part in a nationwide womens strike for wage parity outside the federal palace in the Swiss capital Bern, on June 14, 2019. (Stefan Wermuth/AFP/Getty Images)

This constant kowtowing to the gender warriors is bad enough when it deprives hard-working scientists or musicians of recognition for their achievements, but far worse is when it puts our safety at risk.

Thats whats happening in all manner of critical services like defence, police, and firefighting.

Ive had many firefighters writing to me about this issue, ever since I attracted a huge feminist pile-on two years ago for a Twitter post about Australias brave firefighters, pointing out that it is mainly men who are risking their lives to save others.

I gave thanks for the good in men.

It led to a funny skirmish when one of our prominent feminists claimed the photo I used in that tweet showed a female firefighter.

She turned out to be wrongthe photo showed a male firefighter, as discussed in this television interview.

Naturally, our media responded by madly promoting female firefighters, showing photos of the small numbers of women actually involved in fighting the dreadful bushfires Australia was then experiencing.

We are currently witnessing a ludicrous campaign aiming for 50 percent female firefighters.

Ive just put out a video about this crazy business which shows that alongside the actual quotas, theres a systematic whitewashing of the real facts about womens role in firefighting. Their capabilities are misrepresented, and the problems with smaller, weaker people struggling with very difficult physical tasks are denied.

Many women are being treated as star recruits, given an easy ride to get into the service, leapfrogging over able, hard-working men to achieve promotionall to showcase that our fire services are embracing diversity.

Fire and Rescue personnel run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 19, 2019. (David Gray/Getty Images)

Firefighting is seen as one of the last bastions of masculinity, a boys club which showcases mens toughness, courage, and strength.

Naturally, feminists have been determined to prove this wrong, getting women into the job to show theres nothing women cant do.

Now clearly, theres no problem with women becoming firefighters, provided they can actually do the work. But it is still mainly men doing the really tough jobs in the fire service as in most other careers, which are dangerous and physically difficult.

Here we have a job that everyone knows sometimes requires real bodily strength and endurance, and now we have to pretend thats not so.

Its putting lives at risk. A senior firefighter described the hazards for his team when they were distracted from their essential task of managing a hazard reduction to orchestrate an ambulance rescue for a young female firefighter on the point of collapse. There are many similar stories.

The firefighting literature shows that retention rates are poor for female recruits, with a survey of volunteer firefighters showing reasons for dropping out, including equipment being too heavy and stowed too high on trucks and problems with their protective gear.

Theres also evidence that female firefighters experience higher rates of injury than male firefighters.

Male firefighters regularly cover for female colleagues who cant manage all the jobswomen are exempted from carrying ladders, connecting hoses, and handling other difficult tasks.

Knowing your colleague cant back you up in an emergency doesnt exactly inspire confidence.

I heard from a policeman who was severely beaten by a huge drunk driver he was trying to arrest. His female partner wasnt much helpshed locked herself safely in the police van.

Police use pepper spray bullets during a protest at the CFMEU headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 20, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Interestingly, women in the fire service are doing incredibly well. For example, the latest 2018-19 Champions of Change report on womens progress in firefighting notes that the critical national management body, the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services, is now 65 percent women.

Overall, only about 5 percent of Australian professional firefighters are women and about 14 percent of volunteer firefighters, but this report shows 29 percent of key management are female.

Its also pleasing to note there have been objections to whats happening here from female firefighters.

Many of these women are concerned about all these efforts to bend the rules to admit more women, knowing that will detract from their own achievements.

In the state of Victoria, female union members tried unsuccessfully to take legal action to try to stop gender quotas.

Sensible men and women know that such measures undermine the legitimacy of competent women who work hard and do the job well and create resentment and discontent in the services.

But none of this matters to bosses busily pandering to the gender mob and their lackeys in the media.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, on Oct. 31, 2021. (Sky via AP/Screenshot via NTD)

Three Dead in UK as Man Tries to Save Two in River

Three people died in Wales on Saturday in a paddle boarding accident on River Cleddau, according to Welsh police.

Two women died at the scene and a man, a former soldier, who tried to rescue them was pronounced dead as well, British broadcaster Sky reported.

Five more paddle boarders were pulled out of the river and taken to a local hospital by emergency services, Sky said.

A local official, Thomas Tudor, county councillor for the Castle ward of Haverfordwest, told Sky News the community was devastated, its absolutely tragic news.
Trust in the US Media Is in Free Fall: Poll

Trust in media, whether it be traditional or alternate, has declined considerably over the years across all political spheres, according to a recent poll by I&I/TIPP Insights.

To understand the current stance regarding mainstream media, the poll asked, Generally speaking, how much trust do you have in the traditional or established news media (Example: Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, CBS News, etc.) to report the news accurately and fairly?

The majority of people surveyed, 54 percent, fell in the distrusting, that is, little to no trust, categories, with 24 percent claiming they have absolutely no trust in the news. Fourteen percent had a lot of trust.

Regarding alternative media like The Daily Caller, New York Post, RealClearPolitics, NewsMax, and Washington Times, 62 percent of respondents fell in the distrusting category, with 27 percent having absolutely no trust in whats reported. Here, 11 percent had a lot of trust.

Most of the people who trust traditional media vote for the Democratic party, while Republicans and independents dont generally trust these sources to reveal what is happening with accuracy. However, according to I&I analysis, trust levels have gone down for everyone during the past eight months, after President Joe Biden took office.

With a 26 percent decline in traditional media and 24 percent in alternative sources, Republicans lost trust the most. Democrats fell 12 percent on the traditional media trust index and 18 percent in alternate news.

To find out whats happening around them, 16 percent of Americans turn over to cable news, based on a Pew survey. Fox News ruled the roost when it came to cable for the past 19 years with Tucker Carlson the most-watched cable news show ever.

However, based on the I&I/TIPP poll, many Americans are tuning out cable news because its too depressing and a majority are losing their trust in the content. Cable news viewers are more on the older end with the average viewer around 55 years of age. CNN cable has more younger viewers.

To regain trust, TIPP Insights have recommended media organizations to Focus solely on reporting the news and hard facts rather than shaping a narrative, separate journalism from personal political views, and make sure to tell the viewer the whole story.

Lastly, they have suggested not to invent stories. It is malpractice of the worst kind.

The poll also cited a June survey conducted by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford among 92,000 news consumers in 46 countries, which found that the United States fared the worst among G-20 nations for trust in media.

Americans also believed that the media was the driving force behind the increasing division and misinformation in the country.

The I&I/TIPP was conducted between Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, 2021, with a survey size of 1,308 adults.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets French President Emmanuel Macron as he arrives to attend the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Christopher Furlong /pool/AFP via Getty Images)

UK Welcomes Frances Postponement of Fishing Row Sanctions

Britain has welcomed Frances postponement of planned trade sanctions, as talks continue over a dispute over post-Brexit fishing licences.

France had earlier said that it would restrict cross-Channel trade from 2300 GMT on Monday in response to the UKs alleged violation of the UKEU pact on post-Brexit relations by rejecting dozens of applications by French fishermen to fish in British waters.

But French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he was postponing the planned trade sanctions on Britain so that negotiators from both sides could work on new proposals to defuse their dispute.

Talking to Sky News on Tuesday morning, Britains Environment Secretary George Eustice said the UK welcomed the fact that France has stepped back from the threats it was making.

Weve always said we want to de-escalate this and always said we have an ever open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on any additional vessels theyd like to have licensed, he said.

Eustice said there will be a very important meeting on Thursday between Cabinet office minister Lord Frost and his French counterpart not just on fisheries but a wider range of issues as well.

The Cornelis Gert Jan in Le Havre, where it was detained on Oct. 27, 2021. (Michel Euler/AP)

Eustice also said French authorities had released Scottish-registered scallop dredger, the Cornelis Gert Jan, which had been detained on Oct. 27 after it was allegedly found fishing in French waters without a licence.

But the ships owner disputed the ministers remarks, saying the vessel remains held at the port of Le Havre at least until a hearing to be held on Wednesday.

The European Union said talks on fishing rights would continue on Tuesday between officials from France, the UK, and the Channel Islands.

The sanctions threatened by France include increased border and sanitary checks on goods from Britain and banning British vessels from some French ports.

But after meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow on Monday, Macron told reporters that France would suspend the measures pending the outcome of renewed talks.

My understanding is that the British were going to come back to us tomorrow with other proposals. All that will be worked on. Well see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed, he said.

In response, a UK government spokesperson said: We welcome Frances acknowledgement that in-depth discussions are needed to resolve the range of difficulties in the UK/EU relationship.

Reuters and PA contributed to this report.
161214-N-CC918-003 BREMERTON, Wash. (Dec. 15, 2016) The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Thiep Van Nguyen II/Released)

US Nuclear Submarine Struck Uncharted Seamount in South China Sea: Navy Investigation

A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine that was severely damaged in early October in an accident in the South China Sea struck an uncharted underwater mountain, an investigation has found, the Navy said on Monday.

The USS Connecticut (SSN-22), a Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine, was operating in international waters in the IndoPacific region on Oct. 2 at the time of the collision, which resulted in 11 crew sustaining injuriesnone life-threateninga defense official told USNI News.

A spokesperson for the 7th fleet, which operates in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans, told media outlets that a probe determined that the vessel had collided with a geological formation.

The investigation determined USS Connecticut grounded on an uncharted seamount while operating in international waters in the IndoPacific region, the spokesperson first told USNI News.

The investigations findings have been handed over to the fleets commander, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, to determine whether follow-on actions, including accountability, are appropriate, the spokesperson said.

The Navy previously said that the USS Connecticut struck an object while submerged, without elaborating.

The submarine remains in a safe and stable condition. USS Connecticuts nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remain fully operational, the Navy said in a statement at the time. The extent of damage to the remainder of the submarine is being assessed. The U.S. Navy has not requested assistance.

The Navy has three classes of nuclear-powered submarines in service. According to the Navy, Los Angeles-class submarines are the backbone of the submarine force, with approximately 40 now in commission.

Seawolf-class submarines are exceptionally quiet, fast, well-armed, and equipped with advanced sensors. The Seawolf-class has eight torpedo tubes and can hold up to 50 weapons in its torpedo room. But the Navy only has three Seawolf-class submarines because the construction stopped due to the end of the Cold War.

The last known instance in which a submerged U.S. submarine struck another underwater object was in 2005. Then, USS San Francisco (SSN-711) struck an underwater mountain at full speed near Guam. One sailor died in the incident, USNI News reported.

The Chinese communist regime claims total sovereignty over the South China Sea, a stance that is not accepted by the United States and its allies. The Chinese regime protests the presence of the U.S. Navy in the area.

The South China Sea is among many points of growing contention between Washington and Beijing, including the status of Taiwan, the island that the regime claims as its own, despite Taiwan being a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution.

Li Hai contributed to this report.
Vaccine Mandate Violates Constitutional Rights: Pennsylvania Lawsuit

Have you had your COVID-19 vaccination?

This has become a loaded question with implications beyond health.

A Pennsylvania lawsuit argues that receiving or declining a vaccine has become a political act, and when employers compel employees to get vaccinated, they are forcing employees to engage in political speech, a violation of the First Amendment, the freedom of speech.

The suit was filed in October in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by attorney Bruce L. Castor, Jr. of the law firm Van Der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin, on behalf of his clients Pennsylvania Informed Consent Advocates Inc., which is a recently organized group of employees of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine), one of the largest employers in Pennsylvania.

The suit names Penn Medicine as a defendant along with U.S. Secretary of Labor Scott Ketcham and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra.

Castor is a well-known attorney, having served briefly as acting Pennsylvania attorney general. He was the lead defense attorney in President Donald Trumps 2021 impeachment trial, and he was Montgomery County District Attorney in 2005 when comedian Bill Cosbys sexual assault case came to light there.

Bruce L. Castor, Jr. of the law firm Van Der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin. (Courtesy of Bruce L. Castor Jr.)

Castor argues that by requiring workers across the United States to disclose their vaccination status, Ketcham and Becerra are forcing workers to engage in un-sought-out and individually undesirable political speech in violation of the First Amendment. And by choosing to abide by federal vaccine mandates, Penn Medicine has become an agent of the federal government, likewise violating the First Amendment.

Employers think they are holding the upper hand because they have unlimited resources for legal fees and employees dont, Castor told The Epoch Times in a phone interview. But since they all have the same issue, we formed a corporation, so they became a legal personan entity that can bring a suit. It levels the playing field.

Pennsylvania Informed Consent Advocates Inc. is made up of between 100 and 200 Penn Medicine employees who pool their money for legal fees.

Disclosing ones status as not vaccinated against COVID-19 has become politicized in such a way that the expressing of ones opposition has acquired a political meaning: bringing public derision down upon the individual or, in fewer instances, garnering public acclaim for the individual, largely depending on the political beliefs of the public toward coerced governmental action against its citizens, the court papers say. Because of its intensely toxic political nature, disclosing ones COVID-19 vaccination status holds the intent, weight, and social effect of partisan political speech, and should be treated as such.

When Penn Medicine asks for proof of vaccination as a pre-requisite for further employment, it outs some employees as unvaccinated, which can publicly stigmatize them by causing some to equate their position with political rightwing extremists, or other stereotypes, even if the employees objection is religious or due to medical risk, the suit argues.

The mandate seeks to require Plaintiff members to make a political statement against their will, and potentially against their health and well-being, and subjecting them to public ridicule and contempt, court papers say.

Were not saying there is not a competing interest that the government has in keeping people safe, Castor said. Were saying there has to be a balance of that and individual freedoms for the people who are choosing not to be vaccinated.

You cant compel people to state what their vaccination status is because it has become political, Castor said. Eventually you will get a court high enough to say vaccine mandates are prohibited absent some reasonable effort to accommodate individual liberties. And deciding what individual liberties are protected will be the question. It will be something like wearing masks or working from home.

In May, all Penn Medicine and Lancaster General Hospital employees were informed by email that unless they receive the COVID-19 vaccine, they would lose their job in three months.

Additionally, some students had a contract with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences that had them start working for Lancaster General Hospital in high school, move on to nursing school, and then after graduating; owe Lancaster General Hospital (a Penn Medicine property) one year of employment as a registered nurse, for which they receive a 75 percent tuition break. The agreement says that if for any reason they are terminated, they must pay the tuition back. These young employees had to choose between taking the vaccine or repaying that 75 percent tuition reimbursement in three months.

You cant imagine the range of regulations that companies are putting on employees, Castor said.

The suit asks the court to make Penn Medicine stop using proof of vaccination as a condition for employment and prevent Becerra and Ketcham from enforcing the mandate as long as they are in violation of the first (free speech) and fourteenth (equal protection of the law) amendments. It also asks for Penn Medicine to give employees their jobs back and provide compensatory damages for their losses and legal fees.

Penn Medicine is put at great risk, Castor said. There is a huge number of people with highly paid jobs. Penn Medicine would be liable for all that back pay, benefits, punitive damages, attorneys feesit adds up to big money. And if the court agrees with employees, similar cases could spread across the country. It would affect employers differently, based on what level of reasonableness they act on, Castor said. Employers who change union contracts, go straight to termination, or make ridiculous rules would not fare as well as those that provide both protection to vaccinated employees and reasonable accommodations to those who choose not to get vaccinated.

The government has handled this exactly backwards. It should have encouraged people through tax incentives for those who get vaccinated, Castor said. It should not have been punishments; it should have been sweeteners if they want to get vaccinated, and there should have been an accommodation for those who dont want to be vaccinated.

By telling workers they must put something in their body that they dont want, Castor said, the government causes an immediate, visceral, negative reaction.

They say, how dare the government put my family at risk by threatening my job as we go into winter.

Where are all the pro-choice advocates who use the mantra, my body my choice? Its very strange to me.

Penn Medicine, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
People protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers during a protest at Gracie Mansion in New York City on Oct. 28, 2021. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Vaccine Mandates Are an Exploding Cigar

Commentary

The exploding cigar, often seen in cartoons, is the perfect metaphor for vaccine mandates. You remember the gag: A fat cat is offered a big stogie. After a few puffs, the cigar explodes, spreading soot all over the hapless victims face.

President Joe Biden lit a national cigar with his plan to order larger employers and those that do business with the government to force their workers to receive the jab. This is the wrong approach.

Unlike Australianswho mostly accepted the far more draconian controlswe are generally not a sheep-like people. We believe in doing the right thing, but resent being herded.

So while the threat of job loss certainly has induced some of the vaccine hesitant to acquiesce, it seems to me that the mandates are in acute danger of exploding in our face.

For example, the Air Force is set to lose 12,000 trained and ready personnel who have refused the jab. The Navy, Army, and Marine mandates dont become effective until later in the year, but if the Air Force is any guide, we can expect tens of thousands of other soldiers to face such discipline.

I understand that members of the military are in a different liberty category than civilians. But fewer than 100 Army soldiers have died from COVID-19, and a large percentage of those were reservists. Are the jabs really worth losing trained military members and the potential cost in readiness at a time when China is a growing military threat and the vast majority of military members have already been vaccinated?

Now consider Southwest Airlines. It canceled more than 1,000 weekend flights recently, harming the airlines reputation for reliability. Southwest denied that its vaccine mandate caused the dislocation. But it may not be a coincidence that Southwest just dropped its plan to put all unvaccinated personnel on unpaid leave.

The same thing may be happening to American Airlines. The carrier has been canceling thousands of flights. Is there a connection? AA says not. But isnt it interesting that airline travel hit such significant turbulence at the same time vaccine mandates were about to bite?

Then theres the supply chain crisis. The last thing we need is vaccine mandates that will further tighten the already squeezed labor pool needed to remedy the problemparticularly of truck drivers, of which there are already some 80,000 fewer than needed to move goods from our logjammed ports.

Thats why big business and labor union lobbyists are pressing the administration to delay mandates until after Christmas. Especially worrying: The National Trucking Association has warned that 37 percent of drivers are expected to refuse the jab, through retirements, resignations and workers switching to smaller companies not covered by the Biden mandate.

Its not just the private sector. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio chirpily announced his own mandate for city employees not too long ago. It has not gone well. The New York Post just reported, The FDNY shuttered 26 fire companies citywide on Saturday due to staff shortages caused by the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, according to furious elected officials, who ripped the move as unconscionableand warned it could have catastrophic consequences.

Meanwhile, jab-resistant cops are still working while city bureaucrats review requests for medical and religious exemptions. But if thousands of police officers decide to bail rather than jab, New Yorks crime wave will only get worse. Then there are the thousands of sanitary workers who face layoffs because they havent yieldedmeaning the Big Apple could soon be known as the Big Stinky.

Health care is also suffering from mandate-itis. Thousands of health care workers have been laid off, forcing some hospitals to restrict service. We should also take note that hospitals, once in the vanguard of the mandate movement, have recently balked, with only 42 percent now having imposed vaccination requirements on employees.

Let me be clear. I am not anti-vaccine. Indeed, I completed my two-shot dose last March and, based on my doctors recommendation, plan to soon receive a third shot.

But in free societies, mandates must be reasonableand a national diktat fails that test.

A national mandate is unprecedented . Even during the smallpox and polio epidemics, the federal government didnt impose vaccine requirements on the entire population.

. Even during the smallpox and polio epidemics, the federal government didnt impose vaccine requirements on the entire population. Biden is empowering a corporatocracy : the federal government attempting to harness the private sector to enforce its policy prescriptions on individuals. Thats the last thing liberty needs.

: the federal government attempting to harness the private sector to enforce its policy prescriptions on individuals. Thats the last thing liberty needs. People who recovered from COVID have natural resistance . That being so, it is unreasonable to require those with antibodies to involuntarily inject substances into their bodies.

. That being so, it is unreasonable to require those with antibodies to involuntarily inject substances into their bodies. Testing can be an effective safeguard . If we had ready access to easy testing, the heat over vaccines could decrease because infected people could quarantine, people with comorbidities could be sure that everyone who came into their home tested negative, and new infections would be prevented. But there currently is a shortage of ready testing. So how about an Operation Warp Speed to manufacture COVID-19 tests instead?

. If we had ready access to easy testing, the heat over vaccines could decrease because infected people could quarantine, people with comorbidities could be sure that everyone who came into their home tested negative, and new infections would be prevented. But there currently is a shortage of ready testing. So how about an Operation Warp Speed to manufacture COVID-19 tests instead? Vaccine efficacy declines over time . That is why the CDC urged all the vaccinated to get another dose. Are we going to keep roiling the country with mandate after mandate if the vaccines provide an ever-declining benefit?

. That is why the CDC urged all the vaccinated to get another dose. Are we going to keep roiling the country with mandate after mandate if the vaccines provide an ever-declining benefit? Vaccinated people can spread the disease . We now know that the vaccinated become infected and spread the disease. That materially weakens a major argument in favor of mandates.

. We now know that the vaccinated become infected and spread the disease. That materially weakens a major argument in favor of mandates. People who choose to go unprotected are primarily risking themselves . Vaccines reducebut do not eliminatethe chances of experiencing serious illness or death. Allowing the unvaccinated to face that increased risk knowingly is more reasonable than violating their personal autonomy by forcing them to get jabbed.

. Vaccines reducebut do not eliminatethe chances of experiencing serious illness or death. Allowing the unvaccinated to face that increased risk knowingly is more reasonable than violating their personal autonomy by forcing them to get jabbed. Vaccines arent risk-free . The risk posed by the vaccine is not nonexistent. For example, a small number of young people have experienced myocarditis and pericarditis, potentially serious conditions that cause chest pain, shortness of breath, heartbeat fluttering, and so on, after taking the vaccine.

. The risk posed by the vaccine is not nonexistent. For example, a small number of young people have experienced myocarditis and pericarditis, potentially serious conditions that cause chest pain, shortness of breath, heartbeat fluttering, and so on, after taking the vaccine. In a free society, moral objections matter. Millions of us have moral objections to the vaccine. Should our government compel dissenters to be inoculated? No! Thats not the American way.

What would an alternative policy look like? Urge people to take the vaccine and continue to explain why its a good idea without exhibiting a derisive attitude or using divisive spokespeople like Anthony Fauci. Welcome reasonable dissenting opinions so that people know they have had a chance to hear fully from all sides. Be honest about what we dont know and when scientific understandings shiftas they always dobe candid about what changed and why.

In short, treat us like free Americans. Not only will that promote comity, but I believe it would also make skeptics more likely to accept the shot. And heres a big bonus: no national exploding cigar.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Vietnam Vet Loses Purple Heart MedalUntil Good Samaritan Finds It 38 Years Later, Tracks Him Down

For 71-year-old Georgia resident Gus Allbritton, surviving the Vietnam War was something of a miracle, as he was badly wounded in combat on three separate occasions. And although he received the Purple Heart medal for his sacrifice, that token of honor was later lost in a burglary.

But in a twist of fate nearly four decades later, another miracle saw that cherished medal returned to him.

In 1968, Allbritton as a teenager had graduated high school on a Friday. Hed gotten his draft notice on Saturday. And on Monday he found himself in Fort Benning in the Army. During his service in Vietnam, from 1969 to 1970, Allbritton was maimed three times in battlefor which he received three Purple Heart medals.

(Courtesy of James W.Huckfeldt Jr./Dublin VA)

I was wounded first time in the right shoulder with an AK-47, sniper shot into my shoulder, he told WGXA News. Second time, I was wounded through my feet, my legs, my knees, my groin, up this way.

The third time was through the back, an RPG hit right beside of a bunker, Allbritton recalled. I got fragments in my back, one up here in my thoraxhow it got up there I dont knowand one piece came all the way through me out my chest.

The young soldier was lucky to still be alive. And Im still walking, he said half a century after the fact. The good Lords been good to me.

On returning stateside, he received his third Purple Heart for his sacrifice.

(Courtesy of James W.Huckfeldt Jr./Dublin VA)

Allbritton then found a career in law enforcement, putting his medal in a glass jug containing loose change and other trinkets. But when his home was burglarized in 1983, the thief stole the jug along with firearms and other items. As a law enforcement officer, Allbritton knew there was next to no chance hed see the stolen property ever again.

Until 38 years later, in a twist of fate, one good Samaritan Jamie Bath in mid-September stumbled across the Purple Heart while browsing in a flea market, and saw the name Gus A. Allbritton engraved on the back. Intrigued, Bath surprisingly easily traced the medal back to its owner through Allbrittons digital footprint working with the VAthrough which Bath connected with him.

A few days later, the medal had been mailed and it found its way back to the veteran.

Receiving it was a surreal experience for Allbritton.

(Courtesy of James W.Huckfeldt Jr./Dublin VA)

I couldnt believe that after all this time my Purple Heart is back where it belongs, Allbritton said. I gave the other two to my kids, one to my daughter and the other to my son. I think Ill keep this to myself as the good Lord gave me another opportunity to care for it.

The 71-year-old former soldier, who has spent 25 years volunteering for the VA in Dublin, explained what the Purple Heart means to one who serves his country loyally and sacrifices.

You have to shed blood for your country in order to receive a Purple Heart, he told the station. And Ive shed my share of blood for my country.

Most servicemembers and veterans never want a Purple Heart as its awarded for being wounded in action or posthumously, the VA told The Epoch Times. Allbritton however, couldnt be happier to receive his third Purple Heart for the second time.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Virginia residents vote at a voting location in the Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Va., on Nov. 2, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Virginia Elections Official Responds to Reports of Maskless Voters Being Turned Away From Polls

After the Virginia GOP and others claimed that voters in Virginia were told they would be prohibited from entering polling locations if they dont wear a mask, Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner Chris Piper wrote on Tuesday that election workers cannot mandate masks as a requirement to vote.

We have gotten several reports of voters either being turned away or being made to wait until the polling place is clear before being allowed to vote if they refuse to wear a mask, Piper said in an email to other poll workers, posted online by Republican Party lawyer Harmeet K. Dhillon and former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis

You may not turn voters away because they are not wearing masks, Piper continued. While masks are encouraged, every eligible voter is entitled to cast a ballot at their polling place, he continued, adding: It is not sufficient to offer curbside voting as an alternative.

Citing state law, Piper said curbside voting is only available to individuals aged 65 and older or those with a disability. The Epoch Times could not immediately confirm the authenticity of Pipers email to his staff.

Earlier in the day, the Virginia GOP said it received reports of voters who were told by election workers to wear a mask before entering polling locations.

To be clear, the Republican Party wrote, if someone is not wearing a face-covering they may NOT be turned away or refused their right to vote.

The Virginia GOP did not elaborate on the details, including the polling locations that allegedly refused voters who werent wearing masks.

Masks are NOT required to vote. There is no mask mandate in Virginia, the party also said.

American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp, whose organization heads the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), wrote on Twitter that he was told that Virginia voters would be turned away if they showed up without a mask.

I was told at my polling station I couldnt vote without a mask. Knowing what the GOP thinks about masks, isnt this just an illegal barrier to voting? But I can count on one thing our judges will do nothing, he tweeted.

Schlapp told the Washington Examiner that he cast his ballot at George Mason Elementary School in Alexandria, adding that he couldnt enter the school to vote unless he wore a mask.

In October 2020, Piper told the Virginia Mercury that the state cannot prohibit anyone from entering a polling location over mask mandates.

If voters do not have a mask they will be asked to wear one and possible could be offered a mask if there are extra and be offered the opportunity to vote curbside, Piper said at the time Ultimately, a voter will not be turned away if they are not wearing a mask but the department strongly encourages them to do so to keep themselves and others around them safe.

According to Virginia state law, it is illegal to hinder or delay a qualified voter in entering or leaving a polling place, a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $2,500 or up to one year in jail.

The Virginia state GOP hasnt immediately responded to a request for comment. The Virginia Department of Elections didnt return multiple requests for comment.
Democrat Terry McAuliffe (L) and Republican Glenn Youngkin (R) are seen on the eve of the Virginia gubernatorial election at separate rallies in undated file photos. (Getty Images)

Virginia Polls Open for Gubernatorial Election After Early Voting Sets New Record

Virginians are heading to vote on Nov. 2 for their next governor.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. after early voting numbers set a new record.

Some 1.13 million voters submitted early ballots, nearly 20 percent of Virginians who can vote, according to TargetSmart.

About 53 percent of the ballots cast so far came from Democrats, with 30.9 percent from GOP voters and the rest from those unaffiliated with a party.

The early voting number soared from under 190,000 in the last gubernatorial election, when voters elected Democrat Ralph Northam.

Virginias Constitution prohibits governors from serving back-to-back terms.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, is vying against Republican Glenn Youngkin to succeed Northam.

Youngkin said on Fox News that he saw the early voting numbers as very much representative of our strength.

Historically, early voting has been 75 to 80 percent Democrat. And so for us to be so strong in the early voting just reflects the fact that theres not any enthusiasm on my opponents side. And we have had a lot of enthusiasm, and then we expect to do really well tomorrow, he added.

We are going to have the largest turnout in a non presidential year in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia this year. Yeah, I got a big lead in the early vote. But that doesnt mean anything. Its tomorrow in person. We got to win that as well, McAuliffe told a rally in Fairfax on the eve of the election.

During a rally in Loudoun County around the same time, Youngkin painted the election as a defining moment for the future of our commonwealth, a defining moment where we get to say no to this left-liberal progressive agenda thats trying to take us over.

Youngkin has drawn support from parents upset about a leftward lurch in school teachings and policies. In Loudoun, the school board earlier this year approved a pro-transgender policy that removes traditional gender restrictions on bathrooms.

McAuliffe has largely dismissed concerns about whats being taught in schools. He appeared at the Fairfax rally with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation for Teachers union.

McAuliffe told the crowd that he wants to build the best education by improving the average teacher pay and get children access to broadband Internet so that they can learn online.

He noted that he and Youngkin differ on a number of policy proposals. McAuliffe, for example, supports widespread abortion access while Youngkin has advocated for pro-life policies.

Voters will also vote in other races, including for who will hold seats in the Virginia House of Representatives.
Why Progressives Are Trying to Destroy the Family

Commentary

It has long been policy among Marxist progressives, socialists, and communists to undermine and destroy the family. The reason is obvious: When your goal is to vest all power in the government, any independent organization, such as the family, that retains the loyalty of citizens withholds power from the government. The commitments of families are to its members, not to the government, and Marxists think that this should be forbidden.

The self-proclaimed Marxist Black Lives Matter declared on its website, until it saw fit to scrub it off, that one of its objectives, along with disbanding the police, was destroying the two-parent family. Two-parent families are rare among African Americans, but in spite of poor academic performances, a high level of gang membership, a high level of incarceration, and a horrific rate of violent murder among African American youth, Black Lives Matters view is that one-parent families are a good plan. Black Lives Matter thinks that all will be fine (for them) once they take over.

Totalitarian societies such as National Socialist Germany, the Soviet Union, Soviet Eastern Europe, and communist China strived to undermine family loyalties, encouraging family members to inform on one another. Any anti-government sentiment, or even insufficiently strong pro-government sentiment, are grounds for re-education and punishment. Children are taught in government schools to vet their parents, and report them to the authorities if theyre not enthusiastically patriotic.

Kibbutzim in Israel were founded on the communist model. Everything was handled at the community level; nothing was left to the family unit: Cooking was communal, as was eating in the community cafeteria. Children resided and were reared in the community childrens house. But over the next decades, Kibbutzniks slowly had a change of heart, and mothers wanted more time with their children, first weekends, then full-time family apartments. Children, too, when they hit adolescence, were unwilling to reside and dress and undress in front of children of the opposite sex. Eventually unisex overalls were exchanged for clothes suitable for binary gender roles.

The logic of feminism, having incorporated Marxist class conflict for its identity politics, disparages men, marriage, motherhood, and families. What holds the greatest value for feminism is being able to kill unborn children. The feminist goal is not to support the government, but to take over the government, so that females can rule. The family stands in the way, so it has to go.

The two-parent family was the dominant form of the family, in all racial and ethnic groups, during the first half of the 20th century. But by the 21st century, the two-parent family was prominent only among Asian Americans and white Americans, with single-parent families a major percentage among Hispanics, Native Americans, and African Americans.

The two-parent family was also stripped down in both structure and function. In traditional societies in the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, and elsewhere, families were either multigenerational, compound, or extended, with a large number of relatives providing a wider family within which the two-parent family was nested. In the 21st century, two-parent families, not to mention single-parent families, were in many cases on their own. This is largely the result of the spatial and social mobility facilitated and even required by an advanced industrial and post-industrial economy.

The traditional family was the basic productive unit of society, usually engaged in agricultural production. Children provided the necessary manpower to get the labor-intensive, multiple tasks done. Think of an American or Canadian family farm at the turn of the 20th century. Male children also provided the strong arms of the family militia that would defend, if necessary, the members and property of the family. In the 21st century, child labor and military defense are no longer functions of the family.

What remains of the functions of family in the North American 21st century is the establishment of a domestic household and the rearing and socializing of children, usually a small number of children, as theyre financial liabilities rather than assets. Many people under the influence of feminism choose not to marry or to establish a household with others, but instead reside as individuals, which indicates a loss of family households. Many single women decide to have children on their own, forming single-parent households. But children are increasingly under the authority, not of their parents, but of civic and governmental authorities, stripping parents of the child-rearing function.

Educational bureaucrats, school boards, and teachers unions engage in collusion to take control of childrens lives, sidelining parents who are purposely kept in the dark regarding what students are taught and how students lives are managed. These bureaucrats and officials share the radical ideologies of the extremist faculties of education in which they were trained. Thus, we see bureaucrats, unions, and school boards pushing political ideologies on K-12 students. These include racist critical race theory that condemns little white children as privileged oppressors and little black children as victims who have no control over their lives. Schools also push children into transitioning from their birth sex to an imagined alternative sex, smoothing the way for puberty blocking hormone treatments and disfiguring plastic surgery, all hidden from childrens parents. Schools now specialize in systemic programs of child abuse.

These educational officials also collude with friendly state and federal administrations, such as the Biden administration, which concur with the radical ideologies and wish to advance them. The point of this collusion among officials and governments is to wrench all children away from their parents, making them dependent on the government, in which the school officials are low-level members. This is a major step in destroying the family and making the government all powerful, smoothing the way to despotic socialism and communism.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Will Appeasement of Climate Change Hysteria Invite a Popular Rejection?

Commentary

The day of reckoning over the Western worlds self-destructive indulgence of the excesses of the environmental movement must now be almost at hand.

An important part of the Bidenization of America has been the frivolous discarding of Americas status as an energy self-sufficient nation after 75 years of oil imports.

As if completely deaf to the many and urgent warnings of the cost of shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada and groveling to the environmental agitators by rolling back offshore exploration and fracking, President Joe Biden and other administration spokespeople have, apparently unselfconsciously, lowered themselves to beseeching the Russians and Iranians, countries with whom the United States notoriously possesses no reservoir of goodwill, to join with the rest of OPEC in increasing oil production.

This initiative is of a piece with Secretary of State Antony Blinkens scolding of the Taliban regime the White House and the Pentagon helped usher into office in Afghanistan, for insufficient diversity in the selection of the new regimes cabinet ministers, with John Kerrys degrading petition of China for greater respect for the conjured dangers of climate change, and with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley, volunteering from the Ruritanian vastness of his hyper-beribboned tunic that the recent testing of Chinese and Russian hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles was a Sputnik moment.

Where were Milley and his colleaguesprior to their masterly performance in Afghanistanand former Defense Secretary James Mattis when President Donald Trump provided the Defense Department the funds to do everything it needed to assure U.S. military superiority?

All of these reflections indicate the other-worldly preoccupations of this administration. This is the mentality that admits thousands of likely COVID carriers illegally across the southern border into the United States every day, while failing to discourage Democratic civic administrations in New York and elsewhere from laying off policemen and firefighters, most of whom have a COVID immunity from having previously contracted that illness and recovered from it, for declining to be double vaccinated.

Apart from being unjust and probably illegal and absurdly inconsistent, thats a policy that inevitably accelerates the skyrocketing rates of urban violent crime in most American cities.

Self-Inflicted Wounds

But its the saga of self-inflicted economic wounds in appeasement of climate change hysteria that most vividly illustrates the lethal toxicity of Bidenization. The spectacle of the president of the United States going cap-in-hand to the Kremlin and the ayatollahs is more demeaning than the indignities of the helicopters leaving the embassy compound in Saigon in 1975 and the seizure of the embassy hostages in Tehran in 1979.

And as the rites and antics of Bidenization accumulate, the major oil companies of the world have effectively ceased exploration, graciously introducing the eco-fairyland in Washington to the implications of supply and demand. That is, the supply of oil will decline as the demand increases and the price to ungrateful Americans increases.

If Biden imagines that the Kremlin and the ayatollahs or even our esteemed allies in Saudi Arabia (who cut the price of oil in the late Obama years in order to put a rod on the backs of the ayatollahs and, in doing so, saved Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia from Putins efforts to revive the Soviet Union), are going to palliate the violence eco-Bidenization has done to scores of millions of U.S. households by raising gasoline and home fuel prices for the American public, hes more cognitively beset than is generally reckoned. (Ironically, the United States in the past 20 years, including the Trump term, had a brilliant record in reducing carbon emissions.)

Writing on Nov. 1, I expect the elections in Virginia on Nov. 2 will provide a sobering lesson in electoral arithmetic. This will be followed by the draconian comeuppance that the whole country is reserving for the Bidenists next year and especially in 2024. But we will have to endure these upcoming years with Job-like patience as the executive branch leads America into ever-greater unnecessary energy expenses and evermore absurd sustainable energy boondoggles.

Referendum?

But theres a ray of hope that arises in mother England and in the contemporary plebiscitary spirit. It isnt widely realized what an important geopolitical development Britains vote to depart the European Union five years ago was. And its possible that a sequel is in the making.

The European Union was the successor to Cold War associations of European states that essentially strengthened the West in the Cold War by deepening the bonds that held Western Europe together and enabled it to resist the threats and blandishments of the Soviet bloc.

But after the Cold War ended satisfactorily, it became the pursuit of an ever-closer Europe that would steadily aggregate into one confederal superstate that would enable Europe to reenter the world as a great power and, accordingly, a rival to the United States, rather than as the meeting place of Americas principal allies.

For Great Britain, one of the worlds five or six most important countries and one of its very most distinguished nationalities, to secede from such a combination of states and resume the status that enabled it to be the principal ally of the United States in both world wars and in the Cold War, though it wasnt presented in this way to the British voters, was an act that reinforced Americas geopolitical position.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the campaign to depart Europe while maintaining cordial trade and political relations with it, all in the framework of the Western Alliance, is, inexplicably, a climate change enthusiast who in his more animated moments stops only slightly short of Bidens parroted bunk about the existential threat of climate change.

But the British public, like the French yellow jackets who rioted and demonstrated for an entire angry year about gasoline and home heating fuel price increases due to additional taxation to combat climate change, have real reservations about Boriss current hobby-horse.

As this is an issue on which it will be difficult to impose party discipline, as public resentment over the cost of reducing carbon emissions with higher taxes and prices becomes clearer, some are already foreseeing a British referendum on this issue, a Climate Chexit.

Historically, Britain is rivaled only by the United States and France as the most politically influential and widely emulated country in the world, and a British referendum on the cost of combating climate change, whatever its result, would generate substantial pressure for a similar consultation of public opinion in the United States.

Congressional and parliamentary democracies tend not to like referendums. The history of both systems favors the election of legislators to work out the precise wording of legislation and even in France, the history of referendums prior to the current Fifth Republic was of rubber-stamps of questionable accuracy of the most self-serving initiatives of the emperors Napoleon I and Napoleon III.

The United States has no history of such nationwide plebiscites but any reasonably worded question about the desirability of proceeding with the Biden administrations $550 billion carbon suppression program triumphantly unveiled in Glasgow, Scotland, will almost certainly produce an unambiguous vote for rejection.

Since the faddists dominate the political class and the national political media, it would be a magnificent act of self-liberation for the United States to consult itself, and puncture the giant hot-air balloon of faddish and generally mindless environmentalism.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a redistricting proposal that could sacrifice a handful of GOP members to fortify the party's majority for another decade, despite Democrats' recent inroads in the state.

Republicans currently hold a 103-77 majority in the lower chamber of the General Assembly, but face obstacles to continued dominance as more of the state's population becomes more concentrated in metro Atlanta. That spells trouble for GOP-dominated rural areas, especially in southern parts of the state.

Lawmakers convene Wednesday in a special session to consider legislative and congressional redistricting. They must redraw electoral districts at least once every decade following the U.S. Census to equalize populations. Georgia added more than a million people from 2010 to 2020, pushing the size of the ideal House district up more than 10% to 59,511.

State Senate Republicans have yet to release a preferred map for their own chamber. Minority Democrats have made proposals for both chambers of the General Assembly.

House Speaker David Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican, said in a statement that the proposal released late Wednesday holds the population variance between districts to less than 1.5% in either direction, for a total variance of 1,800 people. He also said it would reduce the number of Georgia's counties split between districts from 73 to 68 and create more districts where nonwhite voters would have a chance to elect candidates of their choice.

This will be the first time in decades that Georgia lawmakers won't be required to get federal approval of their maps after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Voting Rights Act.

The GOP plan pulls multiple districts out of south Georgia, with Republicans pairing Rep. Dominic LaRiccia of Douglas and Rep. James Burchett of Waycross, as well as pairing Rep. Danny Mathis of Cochran and Rep. Robert Pruitt of Eastman. Parts of the district of Rep. Gerald Greene, a Cuthbert Republican poised to become the House's longest-serving member after the impending departure of Rep. Calvin Smyre, is combined with the district of Democratic Rep. Winfred Dukes of Albany.

Because Georgia state lawmakers must live in their districts for at least a year before the election, incumbents who are drawn into districts they don't like won't have the option of moving to another district to seek reelection in 2022.

Republicans appear to have saved all their northwest Georgia districts, where there was also a population crunch, by pushing Rep. Rick Jasperses Pickens County-based district southeast into parts of Cherokee and Forsyth counties, with him yielding population to the north and west.

In some cases, such as in northern Fulton County, the Republican map carves up existing districts and draws new ones in an apparent attempt to save embattled Republican incumbents. In other places, maps draw together Republican members, sacrificing seats currently held by the GOP. In Cobb County, Republicans Sharon Cooper and Matt Dollar are drawn into the same districts, while mapmakers created two new Democratic-leaning districts in the county. Other new Democratic-leaning districts are created in northern Gwinnett, southern Fulton County, and crossing from Fulton's Sandy Springs into DeKalb's Brookhaven.

At least one Republican-leaning new district is proposed in fast-growing Forsyth County.

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Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran's foreign minister is at home in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus, the country's state TV reported on Monday.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's general condition was described as good. The report quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying the country's top diplomat is able to perform his work-related duties remotely.
NORWALK  A case of discrimination against Norwalk Public Schools filed by former Principal Lynne Moore is moving toward a settlement conference, two months after the lawsuit was filed.

Attorney M. Jeffry Spahr, who is representing the Board of Education, the city and former Superintendent Steven Adamowski, made the request to have the case reassigned to a settlement conference on Oct. 28, according to court documents.

I believe it is a good first step to bring us all to the table at the outset to have an impartial person (in particular a judge) look at the case and make comments or suggestions. This can help both sides see the strength and weaknesses of their positions, Spahr said Monday.

Spahr maintained that going into this process we do not believe that we have committed any wrongdoing. It will be interesting to have someone else take a look at the case.

Moore, who has been a district employee since 1998, is claiming race discrimination and retaliation, as well as age discrimination, against the defendants. She identifies her race as African American and her color as Black. She was born in 1945.

Moore, who is the union president of the Norwalk Association of School Administrators and an assistant principal at Norwalk High School, is represented by Ryan D. Daugherty. Daugherty could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Prior to filing the lawsuit on Aug. 31, Moore alleges she filed a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunity in February 2019 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April 2019.

Moore claims that, due to the complaints she filed in 2019, she was subjected to harassment, hyper-scrutiny, and retaliation from Frank Costanzo and Defendant Adamowski.

After the 2017-18 school year, Moore was reassigned from being the principal at West Rocks Middle School to an assistant principal at Norwalk High School, which her attorney described as a demotion in the complaint. The action took place under Adamowskis tenure as superintendent.

The departure from West Rocks marked the end of a long and contentious battle between Moore and her ardent supporters and school officials, which caused a divide in the education community.

In the recent complaint, Daugherty outlines a pattern of discrimination and retaliation against Moore by members of the Board of Education, Adamowski and members of his administration.

.

Costanzo, the chief of school operations, issued several warning letters against Moore during the 2017-18 school year, according to the complaint. And in June 2018, Adamowski told Moore he would ask the districts legal counsel to investigate whether she should be terminated, the suit states.

The complaint called the counsels findings conclusory and bias at best, malicious and discriminatory at worst. When Moore met with Adamowski in August 2018 to discuss the findings, the former superintendent asked her if she wanted to retire, the complaint states. She declined, and Adamowski officially reassigned her to Norwalk High School.

Consequently, for the first time in Norwalk Public Schools history, an incumbent principal was demoted to assistant principal, the complaint states.

A pre-settlement conference is scheduled for Nov. 3, when a date for the settlement conference will be set.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
SEATTLE (AP)  Moderate candidates took significant leads in early Seattle election returns Tuesday following a months-long debate about how to address the citys problems of homelessness, policing and racial and economic injustice.

In the mayors race, Bruce Harrell, a former City Council president, was ahead of current City Council President M. Lorena Gonzalez. Harrell had criticized his opponent for supporting the goal of cutting the Seattle Police Departments budget in half  a position she has since softened.

And in the normally low-key contest for city attorney, which also drew national attention, Ann Davison, who pronounced herself a Republican in overwhelmingly Democratic Seattle in 2020, was leading police and jail abolitionist Nicole Thomas-Kennedy. Davison had said Thomas-Kennedys policies would jeopardize public safety.

While Harrell and Davison now hold strong leads, it could be days before there are clear winners. Liberal candidates in Seattle tend to gain ground in later vote counts. And in Washingtons vote-by-mail system, ballots need only be post-marked by Election Day, not received.

The moderate versus left dynamic in Seattle mirrored that in other liberal cities, with back-to-basics candidates who promise law and order facing off against progressives who insist that new approaches are needed to solve intractable problems. The Seattle positions are officially nonpartisan.

The 63-year-old Harrell, who grew up in a redlined city neighborhood, would be Seattles first Asian American and second Black mayor. He has strong backing from business and real estate executives.

Were going to bring Seattle back together, Harrell told supporters after initial results were posted.

Gonzalez, 44, the daughter of migrant farmworkers, would be the citys first Latina mayor. Shes been endorsed by service-worker unions as well as environmental and urbanist groups.

In a statement Tuesday, she said she wasn't conceding, noting late-arriving votes and the fact that the votes of so many of our voters, who tend to vote at the very end, have not been counted means we may not know until late in the week or next week who the next mayor will be.

Gonzalez and other leftist candidates have said they want to tax large corporations to provide money for affordable housing. They would end forcible removals of homeless encampments when there isnt enough shelter or housing for the residents; end single-family zoning that prevents the construction of affordable housing; and invest in alternatives to policing, prosecution and incarceration.

Harrell has said he wants to bolster the police force. The department is down hundreds of officers because of retirements and resignations amid the talk of defunding, and Harrell has called for the hiring of more police, including some unarmed officers, as well as the appointment of a cabinet-level position to address rising gun violence in the city.

Harrell has courted voters frustrated with visible homelessness. He said he would keep parks clear of tent encampments while also increasing shelter space.

Incumbent Mayor Jenny Durkan is not running for re-election.

In the city attorney race, real estate and business executives have plowed money into opposing Thomas-Kennedy, who during and after the racial-justice protests of 2020 often tweeted vulgarly of her hatred for police.

Thomas-Kennedy is promising to stop prosecuting most misdemeanors. Citing her experience as a public defender, she describes such crimes as being largely crimes of poverty and says the city cant prosecute its way out of the problem. Critics say her election would make it even more difficult to hire and retain officers and it would send a message to criminals that they can get away with stealing.

Davison has her own baggage in deep-blue Seattle: She announced in 2020 that she was leaving the Democratic Party and running for lieutenant governor as a Republican. She has stressed that she is not a partisan  and that she voted for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden for president, not Donald Trump.

In recent years, Davison has advocated for sweeping homeless encampments and moving residents into relief shelters set up in warehouses, and she has opposed safe-injection sites and a sex-education law.

Davisons critics have questioned whether she would enthusiastically defend left-leaning laws adopted by the council, including renter protections and progressive taxation.

Police issues were high on voters minds.

Virginia Newman, who dropped off her ballot on Tuesday, said she was concerned about law enforcement in Seattle, citing the national outrage last year and whats happening in our city in terms of keeping those who dont have access to safe spaces who are marginalized and oppressed and how we police them unjustly in a city that considers itself so progressive.

James Vert, another Seattle voter, said the defunding movement was wrong.

I mean, our police will keep us safe, Vert said. And then we want to defund them. And then where does that leave us now with the problem we got? Look at the crime rates in Seattle right now.

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Associated Press videographer Manuel Valdes contributed.
EDWARDSVILLE  As expected, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on the mental health of Madison County residents and people across the nation.

But Deborah Humphrey, executive director of the Madison County Mental Board, notes that those effects were not instantaneous.

When COVID hit, what we heard nationally was the anticipation that suicide numbers were going to go up, said Humphrey, who is also the chair of the Madison County Mental Health Alliance. During the time when everybody was socially isolated and staying home and we were seeing lots of deaths and huge numbers of COVID cases, we werent seeing the crisis numbers going up. The number of cases for mental health agencies actually dropped.

However, when things started to open up again, the crisis numbers started to double. The number of people seeking mental health services really grew at that point.

The number of suicides in the county, which had averaged in the 50s four years prior dropped to 30 during 2020.

By August of 2021, though, that number had already been surpassed for this year.

For Humphrey and other mental health experts, the delayed reaction to mental health as a result of the pandemic wasnt totally surprising.

There is no research I can point to, but I had said from the beginning (of the pandemic) that people were able to cope for a period of time, Humphrey said. It was an unknown and we were at least in the safety of our homes with our families.

I can relate this to myself because when Im in a crisis situation, I manage pretty well. Its after the crisis when it impacts me a little more. I anticipated more fallout after things got back to being at least somewhat more normal.

Dealing with the effects of the pandemic has been among the latest challenges for the Madison County Mental Health Board, which has been serving local residents for more than half a century.

Our board came about as the result of the Community Mental Health Act, which passed in 1963, said Humphrey, who has been in Madison County for two years but has been working for mental health authorities since 2001. It established community mental health authorities or 708 boards, which comes from the act being House Bill 708.

In 1966, Madison County had a public referendum vote which brought the Madison County Mental Board into being. Madison County established a tax levy through local property taxes up to a cent and a half (of every tax dollar).

The board has a little over $3 million in revenue in its budget, and that money is used to support funding of mental health, substance use, mental health disorders and intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Funding for services is strictly for Madison County residents.

It brings additional revenue to Madison County that can fill gaps and needs and remove barriers that state funding doesnt support, Humphrey said. We cannot supplant things that the state is supposed to be funding.

Were a small administrative body with just myself and an office manager, although were trying to fill a vacant position with the increased needs in mental health. Being a small administrative office isnt a bad thing; we dont have to go through a lot of layers of bureaucracy to conduct business.

The board is mandated to create a county mental health plan, called a one- and three-year plan, which typically includes a community analysis.

It helps to identify the things that are important and relevant in terms of where we make our funding decisions, Humphrey said. We have a seven-member board of directors that are appointed by the county chairman (Kurt Prenzler).

The board has two main sources of funding that it contracts to local providers.

The first and larger source, mental health aid to agencies, accounts for a little more than $2 million of the boards budget.

From this budget, we fund 16 local providers and it services 32 programs within those providers, Humphrey said. We dont do historical funding, so everybody has to reapply every year, but those are core services, and taking those funds away would leave holes in the system. Since Ive been with the Board, a couple of new agencies have been funded.

A second, smaller, fund is system development funds. Special requests can be submitted for funding for trainings and conferences such as QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) suicide prevention training, Impact: Suicide Prevention Conference, or When Mental Illness Hits Home Conference.

We have previously funded unique support services like animal-assisted therapy, Humphrey said.

We support groups for seniors and specialized camps for children with disabilities. Weve funded a police camp for kids that have been involved with the justice system, most likely with mental health or substance abuse issues.

Three of the primary concerns for the board are suicide prevention and mental health, opioids and substance use disorders, and dealing with incarcerated individuals who have a mental health issue.

Education and training and increasing awareness of mental health and the stigma of mental illness are kind of an overarching issue in all of those areas, Humphrey said. Were looking at trying to do some things with law enforcement dealing with mental health crises and crisis situations.

Were looking at funding mental health first aid training for local law enforcement agencies and with our county jail, with officers completing that program.

Humphrey said the 988 number established by the federal government for crisis and suicide prevention is supposed to be effective on Jan. 1, 2022, in Illinois. The new 3-digit call number replaces the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

There are a lot of local concerns right now on how various entities are to respond because there hasnt been a lot of preparation for this in Illinois, Humphrey said.

There are questions about where the call goes, how it will get transferred to the right people, and what law enforcement does if theyre coming into contact with someone in a crisis situation. Were looking at how we can address this at the local level.

Part of Humphreys job is working with workgroups and organizations that deal with substance abuse, mental health and recovery.

Thats where the Madison County Mental Health Alliance comes in, Humphrey said. A lot of the work of the Alliance centers on suicide prevention, but we also look at other issues such as the criminal justice population that is mentally ill. Providers talk and discuss how we can be more coordinated in dealing with the issues that were facing.

When the alliance was first organized, it brought together agencies that provide behavioral health services. It includes hospitals and organizations such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). One of our providers represents United Way in labor union workforce issues. Its a comprehensive mix of businesses, agencies and organizations that offer services related to mental health.

For more information about the Madison County Mental Health Board, go to https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/mental_health/index.php, call 618-692-6200 or visit Madison County Mental Health Board on Facebook.
COLLINSVILLE  Flags lined Eastport Plaza Drive leading to the Gateway Convention Center where the life of slain Pontoon Beach Police Department Officer Tyler Timmins was honored Tuesday in a moving, heartbreaking, heroic, brave and, at times, humorous service.

Illinois State Troopers filled at least three rows of seats in the full ballroom of Collinsvilles Gateway Center, where about 1,000 of Timmins friends, family and brothers and sisters in blue gathered to remember the 36-year-old law enforcement officer.

We are here to celebrate the life of one very special man, said Rev. Jarad Corzine, chaplain for the Granite City Police Department. He was a father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and husband.with a servants heart of gold.

Corzine then introduced the people who loved him most and knew him best.

Timmins wife, Linsey (Hornberger) Timmins, spoke of the short five years theyd been together, having just married on Sept. 11 in Pocahontas.

Thank you everyone for coming today, she said. Your continued support is overwhelming and so appreciated.

For me the definition of hero is my husband, Timmins said in a voice filled with emotion. Every day he strapped that vest to his chest he was courageous and he paid the ultimate sacrifice.

She said he loved being a police officer, not only on the street, but also mentoring and even the occasional hazing of rookies, to which many knowingly laughed, well aware of Tyler Timmins huge sense of humor.

He truly bled blue, Linsey Timmins said. Never did he complain. He would say, Linsey, we cant do anything different. This is how God created us. To his brothers and sisters in blue, he loved every single one of you. Please do not be afraid to talk and share stories about my husband.

I am strong because of Tyler, she said. In the short five years I had with him, he taught me patience, he taught me kindness and he taught me forgiveness. His infectious smile, beautiful soul and servants heart were a perfect complement to me.

She and others who spoke, including her brother-in-law Jake Timmins, whos Tyler Timmins younger brother by four years, said she is forever a part of the Timmins family, as well as the law enforcement family of Pontoon Beach and multiple other jurisdictions.

I love you sister, Jake Timmins said during his eulogy.

Linsey Timmins said, garnering another laugh, I will gather with them, love them and play in overly-competitive family game nights.

I love Tyler with every ounce of my being, she said. I love him and will spend every second of every minute of every day for the rest of my life missing him.

Pontoon Police Chief Chris Modrusic said the day Timmins was fatally shot, at about 7:50 a.m. Oct. 26, is marked as the worst day in department history.

Timmins joined the Pontoon Beach Police Department in April 2020. He began his law enforcement career 14 years ago as a Wood River Police cadet, then became a patrolman with the Roxana Police Department, a chief with the Worden department and a patrolman with the Hartford Police Department.

Some call it an endeavor. Some call it a calling, defined by service, Modrusic said of a career as a police officer. It attracts those who are called, who soar above the rest each day, facing the unknown out on the streets.

Tyler was fully aware of those dangers. Thats why this tragedy is so hard to comprehend, he said. The pain at times is almost unbearable. We will honor Tyler by carrying on his legacy and remembering his sacrifice. God bless you Tyler and may you rest in peace.

Officer Daniel McIntyre, manager of the MidWest Heat Softball for police, eulogized Timmins with anecdotes from their softball experiences.

Im making an executive decision here today to retire the No. 3 for Tyler Timmins, McIntyre concluded in his eulogy.

Also eulogizing Timmins, who was born in Alton, were his best friend Vance Wilhelm, with the South Roxana Police Department, and his brother Jake Timmins. The Timmins brothers stepmother, Laura Timmins, led prayer.

Corzine returned to the podium before the conclusion of the service at Gateway Center.

Officer Tyler Timmins served and protected, and he paid with his life, Corzine said. Sounds a lot like Jesus to me.

A procession from Collinsville followed Timmins to his final resting place for a private burial at Woodland Hill Cemetery in East Alton.

Timmins was shot at the recently opened Speedway convenience store at the intersection of Illinois 111 and Chain of Rocks Road in Pontoon Beach. According to the Illinois State Police, Timmins was approaching a vehicle that he had stopped believing the car stolen, when the suspect reportedly opened fire, striking Timmins in the neck. Timmins was airlifted to Saint Louis University Hospital where he died at 10:30 a.m. from his injuries.

Timmins was returned to Illinois on Oct. 27, escorted by more than 100 fellow officers, as hundreds of people lined the streets holding thin blue line flags in support of law enforcement. Nothing could be heard except the wailing of police sirens.

Timmins was brought to the rear of Marks Mortuary at 6th and Lorena streets in Wood River where a large crowd of family and officers gathered to salute and pay their respects as his casket was carried into the funeral home.

Timmins is survived by his wife, and daughter Chloe Rice, of Hartford. He was the son of Timothy Timmins, of East Alton, and the late Beverly (Zeisset) Timmins, of Roxana.

A GoFundMe page to help Timmins wife and daughter is located at https://www.gofundme.com/f/family-of-fallen-offer-tyler-timmins?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_l4vs+family-of-fallen-offer-tyler-timmins.

On Oct. 28, the Timmins family issued a public statement of appreciation for all who have supported them following Officer Timmins death.

We would like to thank the law enforcement community and the thousands of others who have expressed their love, support and concern, they said.

Scott Hyden, 31, of Highland, was quickly taken into custody at the shooting scene on Oct. 26. He was charged the following day with two counts of first-degree murder, both Class M felonies; aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, a Class X felony; unlawful possession of a stolen firearm and offenses relating to motor vehicles, both Class 2 felonies; and, unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. He is being held in the Madison County Jail without bond, faces natural life in prison, and the States Attorney Tom Haine said that they would seek the maximum penalty.

The case remains under investigation. Two others were taken into custody and Haine said he did expect further charges related to the shooting.
EDWARDSVILLE  If approved by city council in November, Granite City Steel Credit Union will become Ironworks newest tenant.

The citys public services committee voted in favor of the new amendment Tuesday.

The retail planned unit development (PUD) on Plum Street was first approved by the Edwardsville City Council in February 2018. It is next to First to the Finish running store and across Plum from the AMC Theatre. Since opening, Ironworks has attracted Global Brew, Sugarfire, Strange Donuts and Chicken Salad Chick as tenants. The original PUD permitted restricted land uses on lots four, five and six. A PUD amendment in 2020 allowed additional uses on those same three lots and a reconfiguration of lots four and six.

The new amendment requests to remove the drive-through from lot five and instead build it on lot six with a two-story building with 10,000-square-feet, plus 2,400-square-feet of basement storage plus a reduced setback of 20 feet from the southern property line versus the required 25 feet. The remaining PUD conditions would be unchanged. The citys commission unanimously approved the changes at a previous meeting.

Lauren McGee, a marketing representative for GCS CU, did not respond to requests for comment. It is unknown whether the company will retain its current Edwardsville branch or if the new Ironworks location replace it.

Founded in 1941 as a source of loans and basic savings products, GCS Credit Union has grown from a single office in Granite City to a full-service financial institution serving 18 Illinois counties.

Other area branches include one on Goshen Road in Edwardsville, Granite City, Pontoon Beach (temporary drive-through access only), Collinsville, OFallon, Alton and Fairmont City. The PUD went to ACS on Thursday, where it voted on the amendment 3-0. Its next step will be to go before the next city council meeting.

The next public services committee meeting is Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave. The next city council meeting is Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., also at city hall.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
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Before becoming a courier for al-Qaida, Majid Khan (above) graduated from Baltimore High School in Baltimore, Md. He was tortured at U.S. black sites following 9/11.
IUP has been hosting voter information sessions on campus this semester in hopes of getting students to register to vote before todays election and to raise awareness about the importance of voting. Students who are voting today can do so at Zink Hall on campus from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A third of schools reopen at start of the second semester

BANGKOK: About 34% of public schools nationwide resumed onsite learning on the first school day of the second semester yesterday (Nov 1).

CoronavirusCOVID-19Vaccine

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 2 November 2021, 08:47AM

Students sit apart in their classroom at Triamwitpattana School in Bangkok on their first day back at school yesterday (Nov 1), after months of online learning due to the pandemic. Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb

Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong revealed that around 12,000 out of 35,000 schools welcomed students back yesterday after a long period of learning at home due to COVID-19, while several more will reopen their doors on Nov 15, reports the Bangkok Post.

Ms Treenuch said the ministry had not set a target for how many schools should resume onsite learning, and it is up to the readiness of each institution.

As for the response measures to COVID-19 transmission in schools, she said the ministry was against full school closures, if new infections in schools are found, as it preferred milder measures such as suspending classes linked to the infections.

COVID-19 will be around for a while and it is time for us to adjust and live with it, she said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang yesterday disclosed that 437 schools run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have still to resume onsite learning, because not enough of their students had received a second vaccination.

He said those in Matthayom 1-3 will get their second shot on Nov 6-8 and, as they are advised to look out for side-effects for seven days, the BMA will assess the situation again on Nov 15.

The BMA will decide again how much we can resume onsite classes. For the time being when inoculation programme isnt complete, the students will continue with online learning, he said.

Dr Apisamai Srirungson, assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said students do not need to be regularly tested for COVID-19.

She said weekly screenings are not required and rapid tests using antigen test kits are recommended for when students are exposed to infection risks.

If family members test positive, students are advised to take a test and stay home for 14 days. Schools will need to talk to parents about their COVID-19 control measures, she said, before saying with the measures in place, schools may not need to close when infections are detected.
First Moderna batch arrives in Thailand

BANGKOK: The first batch of 560,200 Moderna doses arrived as scheduled yesterday (Nov 1) with 77% of the vaccines to be allocated to privately run hospitals.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthVaccine

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 2 November 2021, 08:58AM

Photo: AFP

It was delivered by Lufthansa and received by the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), and will be be examined by the Department of Medical Sciences before being rolled out, reports the Bangkok Post.

Sunaiyana Kitkasetpaisan, general manager of ZP Therapeutics, a division of Zuellig Pharma and the official Moderna partner in Thailand said the company was delighted that the shipment arrived on schedule.

She said the company already submitted documents to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its plan to import more jabs from another plant in the United States.

It is part of Zuelligs attempts to speed up vaccine deliveries to Thailand after it encountered difficulties in obtaining the vaccine from its production facility in Europe.

Of more than 8.6 million Modernas mRNA vaccine doses sourced by the GPO on behalf of private hospitals, a total of 1.9mn doses will be delivered by the end of this year and the remainder in the first quarter of next year. According to the GPO, 77% of the first batch would be allotted to privately run hospitals and the remaining to state agencies.

The Thai Red Cross Society, which ordered a total of 1mn doses, would receive 20%, the largest share, before the rest is allocated to privately run hospitals in proportions related to their orders.

Deputy GPO director, Sirikul Methivirangsan, said recipients of the vaccine are insured against deaths and serious complications after inoculation and the coverage is extended to recipients of two doses and a booster shot within 90 days.

Dr Chalerm Harnpanich, president of the Private Hospital Association, yesterday urged those who placed orders to check with their hospitals as to whether they are eligible for the jabs this round.

He reaffirmed that those who had received two Sinovac shots and an AstraZeneca booster can postpone their jabs or transfer them to third parties.

Chulabhorn Hospital, meanwhile, has told customers who booked Moderna vaccines as a third shot to make sure they do not miss their appointments as left-over doses will be thrown away if they dont show up.
Pa Khlok couple injured as car hits power pole

PHUKET: A couple from Pa Khlok were lucky to escape with only minor injuries after their pickup truck veered off road, struck a power pole and a tree and flipped onto its side yesterday (Nov 1), blocking traffic in two lanes on Phukets busiest road.

accidentspolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 2 November 2021, 04:02PM

The incident occurred around 12:30pm at the u-turn point at Wat Tha Ruea, Si Sunthon Subdistrict, on the north-bound section of Thepkasattri Road just after the Heroines monument, police confirmed.

Thalang police attended the scene along with workers from Kusalatham Foundation after being notified by rescue workers from the Pa Khlok Subdistrict Municipality Rescue Unit.

Pol Lt. Col. Patutwat Yodkwan, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) of Thalang Police Station, confirmed that on arrival he discovered a heavily damaged black Toyota pickup truck lying overturned on its side across two lanes which was blocking traffic and causing a major traffic jam.

The driver of the car was confirmed as a Mr Wuttipong Phothong, 39, who had sustained a wound to his face that was bleeding; his passenger was confirmed as Ms Uthumphon Kotasan, 37, who was suffering from injuries to her shoulder. Police confirmed both are residents of Pa Khlok.

First-aid was initially administered to both at the scene before they were taken to Thalang Hospital for further examination.

Police utilised a fork-lift truck to remove the damaged vehicle from the road and confirmed the vehicle would be impounded at Thalang police station where it will undergo further tests in an attempt to try and determine what happened to cause the crash. They added that CCTV footage from the area would also be examined to determine the cause of the crash.

Mr. Sombat Sombatcharoen, a rescue worker with the Pa Khlok Subdistrict Municipality Rescue Unit, explained that he helped the injured couple from the car and to the footpath at the side of the road. He confirmed the man was bleeding from a wound on his face but that he was conscious, walking comfortably and talking on his phone.

Police offered no explanation as to how the crash occured and confirmed investigations are ongoing but did issue a warning to motorists driving on that section of road to exercise caution at all times, particularly during rush hour.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

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Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 33F. Winds light and variable..

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Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

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Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable..

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Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable.
RIDGEFIELD  Instead of picking German, which was spoken by her parents growing up, Karla Knight created her own visual language that has since become the taproot of her work as an artist.

Knight, a longtime Redding resident, recently debuted her first solo exhibition at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Karla Knight: Navigator is now on display through May 8.

I have a funny relationship to language, said Knight, who grew up in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Knights parents presented a dichotomy in natures. Her German-born mother, Gisella, who served as mayor of Dobbs Ferry in the mid-80s, was a part of what she described as the outer world. Her father, David, a writer on esoteric subjects and a student of metaphysics, inspired Knight to explore beyond the physical world and instilled in her an understanding of things relating to spirit and the occult.

I really grew up with a lot of oddness, Knight said. A lot of acceptance of a soul beyond the physical body  and a lot of interest in alternative realities.

Thus her work has reflected many of these ideas, feelings and experiences. Its more soul-level and intuitive  (and) very much about the unknown, she said. I dont try to explain it or decipher it.

Amy Smith-Stewart, a senior curator with the museum, was struck when she first came across Knights work.

The very first works by Karla I encountered were square, eye-catching color pencil and graphite drawings that swirled edge to edge with mysterious indecipherable code, celestial shapes, astronomical symbols and space traveling objects, she said, noting that the papyrus-like paper used reminded her of a recovered treasure map.

Spending serious time with this work you start to recognize Knights unlimited sight vision, she added. These works are journeys, beaming us to deep space and higher realms  but isnt that what far-sighted art should do?

Knight attended the Rhode Island School of Design and settled in the East Village in the early 1980s, where she was part of New York Citys alternative art scene. In the 90s she went to live in New Mexico, which had a key impact on her work, as did the birth of her son, Henry.

As she watched him learn how to read, Knight was inspired to create a new written language that is still a mystery to her in terms of what it means, she said. Although the conglomeration of symbols pepper her work, she explained they are not intended to convey any specific meanings or messages.

Its basically channeled, she said. The more I cant explain my work, I think the more it succeeds.

Smith-Stewart said the levels of mystery that surround Knights art are part of what makes it so engaging. This is not only Knights very first institutional exhibition, but also surveys more than 35 years of work focusing on the development of her far-seeing language, she said.

In tandem with the Aldrich exhibition, Knight is also creating tapestries that combine unique, repurposed materials with her signature symbolism. The show, Smith-Stewart said, debuts an entirely new direction in her practice ... so there is certainly a lot to get excited about.

For me the exhibit is really interesting because it traces sort of pictorial and linguistic languages that shes been working on for a long time in her career, said Aldrich Director of Marketing and Communications Emily Devoe. She noted that Knights deep roots in the area also make for a unique viewing experience.

For Knight, the chance to show at the museum is a great opportunity.

Its a thrill, she said. Its a dream come true for any artist, I would say.

For more information on Karla Knight: Navigator, visit thealdrich.org.
Salem, MO (65560)

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Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Salem, MO (65560)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

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Snow this evening will taper off to light snow late. Low around 5C. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%..

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Snow this evening will taper off to light snow late. Low around 2C. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 6C. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 2C. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Tomorrow

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Thunder possible. High around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Change is upon us once again.

Come Nov. 6, the first Sunday of November, we will gain an hour of morning sunlight. The one-hour adjustment to the clock on the wall may not sound dramatic. But our biological clock begs to differ.

Take, for example, the members of society blissfully unaware of social time: our youngest children and pets. While many will soon enjoy an extra hour of sleep, our children and pets will be the first to wake. It will be a few more days before their biological clock adjusts to the new social time.

In fact, most of us need a few days to adjust to time changes. In the meantime, we may suffer some consequences.

Heart attacks and traffic fatalities increase in the days following the change to daylight saving time (DST) in the spring, said Erik Herzog, professor of biology in Arts & Sciences and past president of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, a scientific organization dedicated to the study of biological clocks and sleep.

Recently, a 2020 study quantified a 6% increase in traffic fatalities in the days following the time change to DST. Six percent translates to 28 fatalities in the United States per year because of time switching  a tradition that most, including Herzog, agree it is time to retire.

Yet, here we are nearing November 2021, preparing to adjust to a social change once again with no help from the sun, which will rise and set on its own schedule. What is holding us back from eliminating time changes?

Do we keep DST and enjoy more sunlight in the evening hours or standard time (ST) and wake up with the sun? We cannot seem to agree.

There has been legislation for permanent ST and for permanent DST, said Herzog, the Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences. He advocates for keeping standard time. There are currently 19 states considering 45 key pieces of legislation that would eliminate annual time switching. Some already have; Arizona and Hawaii live on permanent ST.

Saying goodbye to DST, and the summertime memories we associate with it, can be difficult. But Herzog reminds us that we need sun in the morning.

Your biological clock, which controls your daily rhythms in things like sleep and wake, eating and fasting, interprets light in the morning as sunrise, and advances your wake up time. Evening light tells your biological clock to wake up later the next morning, making it more difficult to live without an alarm clock, Herzog explained.

In fact, those who live on the eastern edges of time zones and experience more morning sunlight tend to do better than those to the west in terms of health, economics and other indicators of well-being.

The current scientific data points to year-round ST being the better option for health, but also for things like safety and learning in schools. Will children be safe going to school in the dark in the morning? Does more sunlight in the evening deter crime?

Less than a month after Richard Nixons failed attempt to force year-round DST in 1974, leaders of public schools opposed the change after six deaths were directly linked to children going to school in darkness. Meanwhile, data do not show that there is less crime during DST or more crime in states like Arizona and Hawaii on permanent ST.

But Herzog points out that we need more data. In the short term, the health benefits of permanent ST are clear. Yet, there are little data on the long-term consequences of living without annual time changes.

At this point, we need to make the best decision using what we know and collect data on issues that matter most to people for once and for all, Herzog said.
WOOD RIVER  A new household hazardous waste collection site is set to open Saturday at 249 N. Old St. Louis Road in Wood River.

Madison County will use the site to service up to 400 households at each collection event, held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday and third Friday of each month.

Currently the county has been offering two semi-annual collections. Now, by partnering with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Heritage Environmental, residents can dispose household hazardous waste for free up to 24 times per year.

This opportunity is unique to Madison County and is the only collection facility within a 5-hour drive in Illinois, Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler said.

Madison County Building and Zoning Administrator Chris Doucleff said household hazardous waste can manifest itself in many different everyday items. Unfortunately, many of the items are difficult to dispose of in a manner thats safe for the environment.

As a result, these chemicals and toxic materials end up going into our waste streams and eventually can contaminate the groundwater, natural habitats and waterways, Doucleff said.

Resource Management Coordinator Brandon Banks said the county receives daily calls from residents seeking to dispose of chemicals and hazardous waste.

In the past, we were only able to provide limited resources for them, Banks said. Having a permanent site creates more opportunities for people to do the right thing when disposing of household hazardous waste.

Banks said the county is excited about the new site.

For years the household hazardous waste collections have been one of Madison Countys most sought after and popular events, he said.

Doucleff said disposal of items will be 100 percent free of charge and open to all Illinois residents.

You do not have to be a Madison County resident to drop off household hazardous waste, Doucleff said. However, appointments are required by scheduling one online or by calling.

He said funding for the new site comes from the tipping fees, the fees charged to waste haulers for disposal of items in the countys two landfills.

Its a win-win for taxpayers, Prenzler said. Residents pay nothing out of pocket and receive this new service.

Accepted items will include oil-based paints, pesticides and herbicides, lawn fertilizers and chemicals, cleaning solvents, paint thinners, hobby chemicals, antifreeze, motor oil, pool chemicals, household batteries, medicines, lead-acid batteries and fluorescent lights.

Non-acceptable items include latex paint, tires, electronics, ammunition, agricultural wastes, explosives, fireworks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, farm machinery oil, business, commercial or biohazard waste.

To make an appointment online visit https://RecycleResponsibly.as.me/hhwaste, or call 618-296-5237. For more details and tips on disposing of other items, such as electronics, visit www.madisoncountybz.com.
Jack C. Taylor, 86, formerly of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 7, 2021. Jack will always be known as a hardworking and caring family man. He was an exceptional athlete, receiving 1954, high school All-State Honors in both football and basketball by the Courier-J
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SAM MONTALTO, Stonington, Boys Soccer, Senior; Montalto scored three goals including the 100th of his career in the Bears 4-0 victory over Plainville in the Class M state tournament. Montalto, who missed the first three games of the season, has 32 goals and nine assists this season.

GIRLS & BOYS Soccer Team, Chariho; It wouldnt be fair to single out a player from either team, both of which captured Division II titles over the weekend of Nov. 12. The girls tied their game with Prout with 1:02 left in regulation and prevailed in penalty kicks. The boys scored the winning goal in the final two minutes of the second overtime to beat North Smithfield.

ZACK TUCK, Westerly, Football; Tuck rushed for 150 yards on 29 carries in a loss to unbeaten St. Raphael in the Division II semifinals. Tuck has rushed for 1,533 yards and scored 19 touchdowns this season for the 7-3 Bulldogs.

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In March last year, Edward Bramson, boss of the activist investor Sherborne, called on Barclays to sack Jes Staley after news that the Financial Conduct Authority was investigating the chief executives ties to the convicted paedophile, the late Jeffrey Epstein.

The US activist investor argued that re-appointing Staley at the May annual meeting was ill-advised because of the harm being done to the banks reputation, already reeling from Staleys peculiar attempts at unmasking a whistleblower for which he was fined 642,000 and cost him a clawed back 500,000 bonus.

Bramson was right in his judgement. Indeed, I agreed with him, writing here at the time, that Staleys link to Epstein was just one bizarre incident too many and that, however brilliant he may be as a banker, his presence was undermining the Barclays brand.

Exit: Barclays boss Jes Staley (pictured) has stepped down amid mounting concern over the extent of his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffery Epstein

While Bramsons criticism had perhaps more to do with his own attempt to force Barclays to change its business model  he has since sold his stake  he was ahead of the pack in claiming that Staley was a liability the bank could ill-afford.

It was also clear at the time that chairman Nigel Higgins needed to get a grip, and assert his authority by announcing that Staley would step down at some future date with a succession plan being put in place pronto.

But Higgins and the Barclays board ducked the issue and put their heads in the sand, hoping, no doubt, that the report would be buried. Only last month Staley himself told an interviewer that he would be around for a couple more years.

Until Friday that is. Quite what happened at Barclays Canary Wharf tower on Friday night when the board received the report is anyones guess. Clearly there was enough meat for them to sharpen their knives and demand Staleys head.

Barclays is saying nothing, other than it is disappointed at the outcome of the report.

Nor do we have a clue what is in the FCAs interim report  and it maybe months before we do because Staley has said he will contest the findings, so expect some messy court cases.

However, from what can be established, the FCAs findings have not claimed in any way that Staley saw, or knew about, Epsteins sex trafficking crimes.

Yet the FCAs investigators, it would seem, may have found enough buried in the cache of Staleys emails to show that his relationship with Epstein was not as he claimed.

And that appears to be the heart of the matter. Has Staley been economical with the truth about his relations with Epstein?

Who knows. But it is being suggested there is evidence which contradicts what Staley had previously told Barclays about his role in Epsteins affairs while acting as his private banker for many years. If that is the case, then the all elusive trust between Staley and the board has been broken, giving directors the reason to demand he quit.

The two first worked together in a professional relationship in 2000, when Staley became head of JP Morgans private bank where Epstein was a client.

Then, in 2008, Epstein was charged with sex crimes and pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute.

By 2009, compliance officers at JP Morgan had recommended the bank cut ties with Epstein because of the unacceptable risks being done to its reputation. Yet he remained a client until 2013.

Staley, who joined Barclays in 2015, has made no secret about seeing Epstein socially for many years after his conviction.

He joined him at his New York mansion in 2011  along with many other US bigwigs, including Microsofts co-founder, Bill Gates, whose own relations with Epstein are set to be disclosed in the divorce courts  and continued visiting him at his Caribbean retreat, just months before joining Barclays.

Where now for Barclays ? Its testimony to Staleys strategy of focusing on retail and investment banking that his successor is CS Venkatakrishnan  known as Venkat  who previously ran Barclays global markets trading division.

He also leaves on something of a high, with the latest results for the last nine months showing a 15 per cent rise in tangible equity on the back of the post-pandemic capital markets boom.

But the shares at 200.85p still trade at a discount to book value while shareholders havent done so well, earning a return of less than 3 per cent during Staleys six years which have been so clouded by his personal issues.

Staleys departure may be overdue but by finally asking him to leave, Barclays has hopefully made itself stronger.
LV has been accused of being economical with the truth after its website continued to claim there are no incentives for executives from a planned sale to private equity.

Chairman Alan Cook last week told MPs on the All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Mutuals there would undoubtedly be a long-term financial incentive for the insurers chief executive Mark Hartigan if he is kept on after the deal.

But yesterday, a Frequently Asked Questions article on the LV website about the proposed takeover by US private equity firm Bain Capital still said executive directors have no incentive scheme associated with this transaction.

TV times: LV adverts have been a familiar sight on British television screens over recent years

It is true that no formal incentive scheme is in place but bosses are still likely to reap large rewards.

There is no mention in the FAQs about any potential benefits for Hartigan, a former Army colonel who was paid 1.2million last year but could net a substantial pay rise under private equity ownership.

MPs were also told 205,000-a-year Cook may stay as chairman under Bains ownership and benefit from an improved pay package.

Labour MP and former Commons public accounts committee chairman Dame Margaret Hodge yesterday said: The question everybody needs to ask is why those people at the top are being somewhat economical with the truth.

If there is any way in which the chief executive will personally gain from this takeover, that needs to be totally transparent and everybody needs to be aware of it  whether its an instant gain or bonus down the line. Anything less is unacceptable behaviour.

Gareth Thomas, chairman of the APPG on Mutuals, said it was shocking LVs management were not being straight with members who will vote on the deal.

He said: Under pressure, Alan Cook finally admitted on Friday that he and the chief executive of LV [Hartigan] will benefit hugely. Pretending otherwise to force through the sale and keep lining their own pockets means the leadership are again playing fast and loose with their own members.

An LV spokesman said last night that the website was correct as future pay for Hartigan and Cook was hypothetical.

Hartigan, 58, joined LV in January 2020 and soon hired advisers to find a buyer for Britains second-biggest mutual, which dates back to 1843 and was known as Liverpool Victoria.

LV chairman Alan Cook (right) told MPs there would 'undoubtedly' be a 'long-term financial incentive' for the insurer's chief exec Mark Hartigan (left) if he is kept on after the deal

He was at Zurich Insurance Group for more than a decade, where he held roles including being head of operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before entering finance, he was commander of First Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, leading a deployment in Iraq in 2005.

His predecessor as commanding officer, Colonel Tim Collins said: He was a really nice, well-spoken, public school-educated English bloke. He disappeared into finance in his early 40s and probably realised he had a talent.

Hartigan lives in a 1.4million home near Bath and has been active in the community, running a bar at a fundraising event organised by his wife for their villages 14th century church.

Cook, 67, who was made a CBE in 2006, has held a variety of roles and is known by supporters as Mr Fixit, who rids organisations of inefficiencies.

As managing director of the Post Office between 2006 and 2010, he oversaw the continued prosecution of sub-postmasters accused of theft.

Thirty-nine were found guilty, but it was later revealed there had been a fault with the Post Offices Horizon computer accounting system, leading to a judge overturning the verdicts and describing the saga as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice.

Between 2011 and 2014 Cook was non-executive chairman of roads body the Highways Agency  now known as National Highways  when large-scale expansion of killer smart motorways was taking place.

In a report from 2011, Cook described creating the roads, where the hard-shoulder becomes a permanent live lane and which have been criticised after a spate of deaths, as sweating the asset.

LV insisted the proposed 530million sale to Bain would preserve jobs and ensure it delivered growth for its members investments.

A spokesman said: There have been no firm decisions regarding the role of the chief executive or the terms of any contract until the outcome of the transaction.

Given the opportunity and long-term future for LV under Bain Capitals ownership, the present chief executive would like to be included in the exciting journey ahead.
The FTSE 100 has closed down 13.8 points to 7,274.8, while the FTSE 250 has ended the day some 71.2 points lower at 23,140.0.

The pound also slid 0.4 per cent versus the dollar to $1.36, hitting a three-week low, as investors await the Bank of England's rate decision on Thursday.

In company news, Omni Energy, MA Energy, Zebra Power and Ampoweruk have become the latest suppliers to collapse as a result of soaring wholesale gas prices.

It comes just a day after the collapse of Bluegreen Energy and affects around 23,700 home and business customers, who will be given a new supplier by Ofgem.

BP saw a sharp rise in third quarter profit, lifted by stronger oil and natural gas prices that have soared this year as economies recover from the pandemic.

The oil giants underlying replacement cost profit  BPs definition of net earnings - reached $3.32billion in the third quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations for $3.06billion.

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Standard Chartered reported higher profit than expected in its third quarter after releasing cash that it had set aside as a buffer during the pandemic.

The Asia-focused bank posted a 44 per cent rise in underlying pre-tax profit to $1.1billion in the months between July and September, compared to $745million last year.

The figure was boosted by the bank taking a smaller impairment charge for loans that might turn sour - $107million, compared to $353million in the same quarter of 2020 as the global economic outlook improves.

Activists protest against the funding of fossil fuels outside Standard Chartered bank in London

However, the bank said it had $4.2billion in exposure to China's real estate sector, where property developer Evergrande is grappling with a $300billion debt pile and stoking worries of further defaults and contagion risks.

Its overall exposure to commercial real estate was $18.5billion, which it said represents only 6 per cent of its total loans and advances to customers of $302billion.

'We continue to monitor the potential second order impacts of recent developments,' StanChart said.

Shares fell both in Hong Kong and London, dropping by 1 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively.

StanChart's London-listed shares have underperformed rivals, having risen by 8 per cent this year compared to a 18 per cent rise for HSBC and 37 per cent surge for Barclays.

'Standard Chartered pointed out that its recovery is going to be uneven and income could be flat going forward, raising fears that some of the exuberance we've seen of a rapid post-pandemic recovery is not going to happen,' said Stuart Cole, head macro economist at Equiti Capital.

'We are certainly seeing a slowing picture of growth in the UK.'

The lender, which is structured to benefit from trade flows between its key markets of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, said trade income rose 13 per cent to the highest since early 2018.

Overall quarterly income rose 7 per cent to $3.8billion from a year earlier.

Chief executive Bill Winters, who took charge in 2015 to restore growth, said the bank had made 'progress against our strategic priorities'.

He hailed strong performance in its financial markets, trade business and wealth management divisions.

'Last week, we were also pleased to deliver on our sustainability commitment to set out a clear path to achieve net zero by 2050,' he added.

His comments come as the bank was targeted by activists including Greta Thunberg last week demanding financial institutions stop funding the extraction of fossil fuels.

Andy Halford, Standard Chartereds chief financial officer, told The Times that the commitments were 'not greenwashing' and that the bank was doing a 'huge amount to play our part in helping to get to net zero'.
There could be a 'zero-carbon' homes revolution across Britain, after a net-zero housebuilder received millions of pounds from the Government to hone its green technology.

Homes England, the Government's housing agency, has provided 3.9million of funding to Etopia Group, This is Money can exclusively reveal.

It builds extremely energy-efficient houses that could save homeowners up to 700 pounds on their bills each year.

It says the homes, which are precision-engineered in factories, save the same amount of energy over their lifetime as taking a car off the road for 35 years.

An image showing what Etopia's 'zero-carbon' homes in Cambridgeshire could look like

It is the first time that the Government has joined forces with a zero-carbon housebuilder, and comes at the beginning of the COP 26 conference, where world leaders will gather in Glasgow to discuss how they plan to address climate change.

Households account for 40 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions, according to the Committee on Climate Change.

While it is building 30 homes with the Homes England funding to begin with, Etopia has plans to scale up and says it could soon build 2,000 eco homes every year across the country.

The first development will be located in the village of Wilburton in East Cambridgeshire - a spot sandwiched between the historic cities of Cambridge and Ely.

There will be 21 available to buy while nine will be affordable housing.

Etopia, which is also backed to the tune of 19million by billionaire property investors the Reuben Brothers, has already completed an eco home development in Corby in Northamptonshire, and has other projects under way including another in Cambridgeshire and one in Kent.

Etopia homes can be fitted with solar panels if the owner chooses, which would take them from being 'net-zero' to 'energy-positive' as they could sell extra green power back to the grid

As well as building its own developments, it is also talking to some of the UK's biggest housebuilders with a view to selling them ready-made homes to use on their developments.

While he can't name them yet, Joseph Daniels, Etopia's founder and chief executive, describes them as 'the ones you would expect'.

Etopia says it is the only housebuilder in Britain to be recognised as carbon neutral on the international stage.

It was the first housebuilder in the world to achieve the Carbon Neutral International Standard, and to join the United Nations Climate Neutral Now Initiative.

What makes the homes energy efficient?

Homes can be described as net zero when they produce the same amount of energy than that which was used to build and run them - or more.

While a standard home produces 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 25 years, Etopia claims that its homes save 13 tonnes in the same period - the equivalent of taking a standard car off the road for 35 years.

The Cambridgeshire homes range from two to four beds, and prices could start at 285,000

So how do they do it? Starting with the construction process, Etopia builds most parts of its homes away from the construction site in factories, which can be more eco-friendly as the conveyor belt system results in fewer materials being wasted.

It can also be quicker, as the process is more tightly controlled and bad weather does not slow things down.

Daniels believes building homes in this way is key to meeting the Government's housing targets.

We can build faster, and we can build greener Joseph Daniels, Etopia Group

'Without technology like ours, the UK is not going to build 400,000 homes per year,' he says. 'We can build faster, and we can build greener.'

The Government seems to agree. Nigel Barclay, assistant director at Homes England, said: 'If we're to simultaneously meet climate and house building targets, then genuinely innovative steps that create supply-side incentives to increase the number of energy-efficient homes being delivered will be vital.

'Our role, as the Government's housing accelerator, is to be bold and take steps that unlock crucial capacity - and offsite manufacturing, with its sustainability and efficiency credentials, is a perfect solution.'

These types of homes also use different materials than the timber and brick that buyers might be used to.

At Etopia the frame of the home is built using insulated panels, rather than timber, as it has no embodied carbon. The walls are also made using a patented system of panels as opposed to brick.

The homes are constructed in factories using a patented 'panel' system for the walls

This is known in the housebuilding industry as 'modern methods of construction' and it often involves the use of robots and other technologies which make the process as precise as it can be.

This, as well as the high-tech construction materials used, means the buildings are more airtight and therefore allow less heat to escape - making them cheaper to keep warm.

The homes feature air source heat pumps, which can be expensive to install in an existing home costing around 5,000

Daniels told This is Money: 'With the cost of gas going up, people will start feeling the winters even more, and the type of homes we build will be even more important.

'You barely need any heating at all. The electricity that is being used is to keep the lights on and keep your phone charged. They are the most efficient homes in Britain.'

The homes also have a host of other eco-friendly features to ensure their emissions remain at net zero after they leave the factory.

These include air source heat pumps, which draw heat from the outside environment to warm a home, rather than using a fossil-fuel-burning gas boiler.

The homes also include futuristic 'smart home devices' which Etopia developed with Samsung.

These allow homeowners to track the temperature and energy performance of their home and show them how they could save money.

Solar panels can be included for an extra cost of around 5,000 to 6,000.

These, Etopia claims, would take the homes from being net zero, to being 'energy positive'  meaning they can generate more green energy than they need and sell some back to the National Grid.

How much are the bills in an 'eco home'?

Etopia showed This is Money an Energy Performance Certificate for an existing home at its development in Corby, Northamptonshire.

It had a score of 104 out of 100  meaning it exceeded the requirements of the 'A' band, the highest possible rating.

Expected heating, lighting and hot water bills were 1,314 over three years, equating to 438 per year.

The UK average annual bill stands at 1,131, according to Money Helper, meaning someone living in the Etopia home would save nearly 700 per year.

This could become increasingly important to homeowners as the cost of keeping a home warm continues to rocket amid the energy price crisis.

Etopia's eco-friendly homes have an EPC rating of A, the highest band available. This means energy bills should be lower, and the company suggests customers could save 700 a year

It said all the homes in its new Cambridgeshire development would have an EPC rating of 105 out of 100.

In the UK as a whole, only one percent of new build homes are A-rated, and the average rating is D.

Buying a home that is already highly energy efficient could save homeowners money in the long run, as there are a slew of new rules on the horizon that could require them to carry out costly green retrofits on older or less eco-friendly properties.

Proposals set out in the Government's Net Zero strategy, for example, suggest that mortgage lenders could be required to report the average EPC rating of the properties they lend money on, and face consequences if it is below a certain level.

This means those in older homes might find it harder to remortgage or sell without a costly refit.

The Committee on Climate Change puts the typical cost of retrofitting a home in the UK to make it more energy efficient at around 30,000.

And an air source heat pump alone can cost 6,000 to 8,000 to install, according to the Centre for Sustainable Energy.

Those in older homes and period properties find it harder to make their homes greener. Almost 1.7 million homes in England and Wales with an EPC rating between D and G cannot be improved to reach a C rating, according to Rightmove.

Some lenders, including Virgin Money and Nationwide, are already offering incentives such as better rates or bigger loans for those with greener homes to try and push up the number on their books.

These 'green' mortgages have increased five-fold since April, and those with energy efficient homes could soon borrow up to 12,000 more on their mortgage with one lender.

While there have been reports of mortgage lenders having concerns about homes that are partly constructed in factories, Daniels said those buying Etopia homes had experienced no issues and that its homes had been mortgaged by 'every major provider'.

How much does one cost?

For the new development in Cambridgeshire, it is anticipated that prices will range from 285,000 for a two-bed to 500,000 for a four-bed.

However, this could change depending on market conditions when the homes go on sale.

It is affordable - it won't cost over the odds Joseph Daniels

According to Rightmove, the typical house price in the CB6 postcode covering the development site was 367,651 in June 2021.

Daniels says Etopia does not want its homes to be more expensive than the typical price in the local area.

'It is affordable in development and construction and won't cost over the odds for the local area,' he says.

'Our objective is not to over inflate the cost. We are working at a local rate and the Homes England funding will help to get the homes off the ground.

'They have funded us in the hopes of making this more mainstream.'
The new boss of Barclays heaped praise on Jes Staley as he vowed to press on with the strategy started by his 'manager, mentor and friend'.

CS Venkatakrishnan told shell-shocked staff in an email that he would 'continue our existing plans to transform our organisation and build on our financial prowess'.

The message to 84,000 Barclays bankers around the world followed the sudden exit of Staley over his links with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Shock appointment: New Barclays boss CS Venkatakrishnan (pictured) - who is known as Venkat - vowed to press on with the strategy started by his 'mentor and friend' Jes Staley

'Jes has been my manager, mentor and friend for many years,' Venkatakrishnan said in the memo.

'He became chief executive of Barclays in one of our darkest hours and devised and implemented a successful recovery strategy of outstanding vision.'

The new Barclays boss  his full name is Coimbatore Sundararajan Venkatakrishnan but he is known as Venkat  takes the reins on a package worth up to 9million a year.

In a clear signal he plans to emulate Staley's commitment to the investment banking arm, his message went on: 'The strategy we have in place is the right one, and we will continue our existing plans to transform our organisation and build on our financial prowess. I know that with continued focus on delivery the best is yet to come.'

Soon after joining Barclays from JP Morgan in 2015, Staley returned to his former bank to poach Venkat along with Australian Paul Compton.

Staley described them as 'two of the best bankers I know' and last year both were promoted to senior roles in Barclays' investment bank as the board tested their mettle while trying to decide who would eventually take the top job.

Those succession plans were put on fast-forward yesterday as the City was left stunned by Staley's departure.

One senior analyst said: 'I wouldn't have been surprised if Barclays had announced Staley's departure next year, but we weren't expecting it so soon.'

Even Barclays itself was left in the lurch by the Financial Conduct Authority's report into Staley's links to Epstein.

As recently as Friday afternoon, it had been planning for Staley to represent the bank at this week's Cop26 climate talks.

And the bank could not yet confirm whether or not Indian-born Venkat, who holds US nationality and is based in New York, would even move to the UK as he takes the reins as Barclays boss.

A respected City insider said: 'I don't see how you can have the chief executive of a British bank who's not based in Britain.'

Barclays said Venkat had been its 'preferred candidate' for over a year having been promoted to head of global markets.

Joseph Dickerson, at Jefferies, said: 'Venkat's appointment creates continuity in the strategy. He's well-respected and investors generally like him.'

Venkat will be paid slightly more than his predecessor  his base wage will be 2.7million, compared with Staley's 2.4million, so his maximum bonuses will be proportionally larger. Staley said he plans to contest the FCA's findings.

The report will not be published until the process is complete.
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Today

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 47F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Carolyn Sue Bryant Ellis, 78, of Fort Walton Beach, FL, passed away on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at Somerby of Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Born March 15, 1943, at Dr. Daniel's Hospital in Pavo, Georgia, Carolyn was the youngest of nine children born to Franklin and Marie (Dailey) Bryant, of Route 2
The Hudson Valley has long been home to artists and curators, thats no new surprise. But during the pandemic, as everyone stayed inside and community fractured, a connection-driven movement emerged as a response.

The current uptick in new galleries, institutions and art centers across the region underscores the sheer amount of artists who live and work here (some recent adopters, many long-timers).

Yet unlike traditional galleries downstate, art spaces in the Hudson Valley are not limited to storefronts or town centers. Quite a few are popping up in homes and private studios. Free from the restrictions of commercial rents and the formality of client-dealer relationships, experimentation can flourish in these privately owned spaces  and gesture toward bringing everyone together.

Theres working farm-meets-sculpture park The Sunfair, an upstart from Joshua Tree cast-offs Sloan Shaffer and Jordana Longo, who now oversee their land and art collection near Hudson. A few weeks back, a group show called Interregnum opened on the private property of artists Jicky Schnee and Matt Jones, who hope to turn it into yet another art space in the region  just not a traditional one.

This private model isnt an entirely new one. T Space in Rhinebeck, founded by Stephen Holl and wedged behind the famed architects house in the midst of a shady grove, has been showing artists there since 2010.

At the heart of this current movement is a community impulse.

Kingston: River Hill Art Residency

When Zahra Sherzad purchased a 75-acre parcel of land with her husband in 2018 outside of Kingston on the banks of the Hudson River, the property posed a slew of challenges, including no water or electricity infrastructure. In turn, Sherzad and her DJ husband purchased a house only five minutes away closer to town, leaving the plot down by the river with an undetermined future.

At the height of the pandemic, after her artist friends in New York City were losing their studio spaces with nowhere to store nor create works, Sherzad realized they could provide more than just temporary relief to artists. Sherzad saw an opportunity to offer space with the propertys existing barn that otherwise sat unused  not just for New York cast-offs, but for the creative world in Kingston, too.

River Hill Art Residency

River Hill Art Residency so far has hosted a fluid mix of musical and fine artists. There are on-site artworks like sculptures by Icy & Sot, and public-facing events, including a sold-out concert to commemorate Juneteenth this year with Kinston-based trombonist Darius Christian, who has played with Rihanna, Macy Gray, and Solange.

Id like not to define it as any one thing. I want it to be more open, says Sherzad, Instead of just importing people, I want to have people in Kingston have access to the space. Sherzad means everyone who wants to engage with the project from artists to community members  and particularly not just weekenders. As River Hill emerged organically, the programming, too, is unfolding as it goes. Theres no formal plan as of yet.

As cold weather approaches, two musicians are moving in to work in winter, but Sherzad is learning how to create a place for artists to work and community to connect.

The only thing we have asked people whove been here, explains Sherzah of the artists, is that they do something with the time that theyre here to improve the space. In one instance, the artists who go by Icy & Sot built a DJ booth for the barn.

Germantown: La Granja Paradiso

@bigparadiseart

Similar in ethos is La Granja Paradiso, an artist-run space, residency, and open-concept in Germantown by Katiushka Melo Green, who also owns Cultured Cream in Hudson.

Named after Melo Greens mothers family farm and vineyard in Chile, she purchased the 20-acre property four years ago, and decided to transition to upstate full-time with her husband and child about two years ago (six months before the pandemic started). Attractive in that real estate equation was the 2-car garage that Melo Green knew she could turn into her own studio, but also knowing we have this amazing barn, and I always had a dream of making it a bigger art space.

That vision includes a space for art to be made as much as engaged with by others  production and participation is key for Melo Green. I love spaces that are outside the traditional white box, those are the most interesting to me and how that can shape your art or have your art become part of the space.

So Melo Green did some minimal work on the 1890s barn, which sits right back off the main house, in order to begin realizing the vision. This summer Melo Green was a little overwhelmed by how much was on her plate, so she asked two curator friends to help build programming for art that isnt so precious, where it can weather and resist in nature.

What resulted were site-specific pieces, including permanent installs by artist Stanton Jones, a reflective meditation platform, and Nicolas Grums Arackar  a copper-tubing hanging text-based work that lives high up in the trees, which debuted to the public during Upstate Art Weekend.

So far, thats been the largest gathering on Paradise Farm that was open to the general public, though it was mostly a crowd of word-of-mouth or friends-of-friends guests. Parking proved not to be an issue as the house sits on two public roads, and the works placed throughout the large property meant little crowding or bottlenecks.

Currently, the space is on hiatus while Melo Green takes the winter to focus on her own art practice, but plans to resume activity come the spring.

Clinton Corners: Art Sales & Research

Martin Nunez/Art Sales and Research

Lindsey Brown, over in Clinton Corners in Dutchess County, created her Art Sales & Research space during the pandemic, with similar intentions.

It reached critical mass during the pandemic where I want to do something here and I want to build community, the artist and private dealer says. Utilizing a barn on her property, Brown, whose husband is also a musician, wanted to provide their shared artist community a space to reconnect as the need for socialization became an urgent matter.

Brown has had her multi-dwelling property for 13 years, but decided to move in full-time also about six months before the pandemic as the couple was sick of commuting from New York City. Originally the 200-year-old barn was Browns studio, which she renovated when she bought the building but neglected essential repairs, like the roof. It became critical to fix about five years ago, and eventually we redid the whole thing. Now, the structures reinforced with concrete floors and track lighting, partially winterized  and open to visitors by appointment.

Art Sales & Research began officially in August 2020 with a show of Manuel Pardo, though Brown had mounted small exhibitions beforehand in collaboration with other curators. Since opening, shes held four shows, including its current group show thats a mix of people that I know and whose work I love, and people who are mid-career or have more of a history, said Brown.

That includes pioneering ceramicist Stanley Rosen, painters John Tweedle and Billy Copley (yes, the son of William Copley, the Pop Art pioneer also known as CPLY ).

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Brown also throws Potluck Talent Show, in her barn, where guests bring dinner and Brown invites friends, dancers, and anyone who wants to perform. She has welcomed over 500 people to the space since she opened it, and she will be opening up another show for November/December in the heated section of the barn.

With time, free-thinking and trying things with a different risk factor  thats what Ive been doing with this, Brown says, But Im not a gallery. Were not trying to be a major venue. Its a creative thing to do! Brown, who used to run an actual gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, didnt want to do something as formal or expensive as running a commercial space  even though Brown is selling the works in all her shows and has collectors coming from places like Florida, Arizona and of course, New York City.

Im just figuring out how this whole thing works, she says.

Hudson: Hudson House

Sometimes, though, private art spaces have a way of becoming public. Initially, curator Jesse Greenberg intended to turn an entire house on upper Warren Street in Hudson into a casual space where he could create exhibitions in the Hudson Valley. The house itself is the studio space of Christina Bolt, and as such is a commercially zoned building. With her studio only occupying part of the second floor, there was lots of room to mount shows of artists living in the region and connect with the collecting community.

Greenberg explains that this past summer, he was encouraged by house owners, Bolt and artist Nick Payne, to activate the house as an arts center, where Greenberg could flex his curating muscles in an experimental way that didnt feel like a white-walled gallery.

Though the project was word-of-mouth and inside a house, the momentum it saw from this past summer has led Hudson House to a new chapter. Thanks to private investment and public grants, Greenberg is in the process of converting the farm house more into a public community center than just a gallery then it is now, he explains Greenberg.

This way we can have more performances, writings, screenings, panels, lectures, skillshares, workshops, classes, things like that. We want to build an open space to lend its space to other entities as well.

This house is ideal, says Greenberg, because its large and expansive. It will also become an artist residency, where a single person or a couple can occupy the one-bedroom cottage in the back of the property.

While Greenberg is focusing his efforts on projects downstate at the moment, Hudson House will be continuing to mount new shows throughout the rest of the fall, including a group show that just opened. Greenberg releases the information on his Instagram.

Mineral Springs: Camp Eternal Hell Chamber

Artists supporting artists was behind Brian Kokoskas decision to turn his own home in Mineral Springs, in Schoharie County into an art space. In fact, Kokoska, who himself was a bit of an it boy painter in New York City, sees his home as an off-set of my own work as an artist. The whole thing is kinda a project of mine, he explains of this effort thats an extension of his own art practice.

The name? Camp Eternal Hell Chamber. Sounds spooky, which is actually the word Kokoska used to describe the first exhibition he created with his artist friends Nate Hitchcock and Elaine Levy.

It was an idea we came up with together, right when I bought this house and was still empty with no furniture. It was a big sculpture show, loosely based around a haunted house, he explains. (Images are easily viewed on the website.)

Now that he is fully moved in and has furnished the house, he moved the shows to the dungeon space (aka the basement) or outside  I dont want to have to move the furniture around, he said. Kokoska has been living full-time at the house since the pandemic started simply because I like it better. He purchased the property in late 2018 and still maintains a small residence in New York City.

Kokoska just closed a show with West Coast-based curator Anna Frost that utilized the property with eight artists, including Jenna Beasley who placed her mixed media painting outside the barn, and Ellie Hunter, whose stained glass work hung on the stone-walled basement (which is affectionately called the dungeon for good reason).

This week he opened The Skin I Spin, a solo presentation of Patrick Sarmiento a site-specific sculpture for the dungeon, he said. (Anyone is welcome, he assures  a DM on Instagram is the only RSVP needed.)

As it goes for most of these spaces that skate between public and private, everyone is welcome  with a heads up. The invitation and by reservation-only nature of these spaces comes with the territory, says Brown, cause youre in a neighborhood!
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Faced with sharply rising coronavirus cases, the caretaker prime minister of the Netherlands said Tuesday that the Dutch government is reinstituting an order to wear face masks in public places like stores and libraries and mandating an extension for the use of COVID-19 passes.

COVID-19 cases have increased rapidly in the Netherlands for weeks. The countrys public health institute reported Tuesday that confirmed infections rose 39% compared to the week before and hospital admissions were up 31%. The upward trend began soon after the government ended most remaining lockdown restrictions in late September.

It won't surprise anybody that we again have a tough message this evening, Prime Minister Rutte said during a nationally televised press conference. Tough because we unfortunately have to ask more of people now that the infection numbers and hospital numbers are rising quickly.

Rutte also urged people to socially distance, work from home at least half the time, and to avoid travel to busy places and during the morning and evening rush hours.

As part of the new restrictions, students will have to wear face masks at school when they walk between classes. The new mask rules and requirements for COVID passes to be shown at more public locations, including museums and theme parks, are set to come into force on Saturday.

Rutte also appealed for calm in the polarized debate between supporters and opponents of COVID-19 measures.

Because we have to do this together, he said. He urged a little understanding for one another's opinion and for every situation, with mildness toward each other.

As Rutte spoke, a group of opponents of the measures demonstrated outside. Police said some threw fireworks at officers.

Earlier Tuesday, the Dutch health council advised the government to begin giving COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to everyone age 60 and older and to nursing home residents. The health council said it was seeing indications that COVID-19 protection was waning among older people.

To get ahead of an increase in serious illness, the council advises the health minister to start offering boosters now, the council said.

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said the government would follow the advice and begin offering booster shots, first to people over 80 and to health care workers.

Other European countries already have begun giving booster shots. France started giving boosters to people over 65 two months ago.

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Just under 80% of adults in the Netherlands are fully vaccinated. The government already has begun giving booster shots to people with severely compromised immune systems.

Infections among nursing home residents rose to the highest level since the start of February, the public health institute said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed nearly 18,500 people in the Netherlands.

A week ago, neighboring Belgium also ratcheted up its COVID-19 restrictions amid a spike in infections.

___

Follow all AP stories on the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/coronavirus-pandemic.
EAST GREENBUSH  A 14-year-old was charged with falsely reporting an incident after police said he lied about finding a sewing needle in a candy bar, an assertion that initially prompted local police to warn of possibly tainted candy.

Police reported the teen found the needle when he bit into the fun-sized Twix. After an investigation, the teen admitted to officers that he made the incident up after seeing a similar hoax on TikTok and thought it would be funny.

The teenager was processed and released to probation, Det. Sgt. Michael A. Guadagnino said Tuesday.

East Greenbush police posted a "check your candy" alert on its Facebook page Monday night after initially taking the complaint from the teen's father.

This is the first time in my 17 years working Ive ever seen this happen, Guadagnino said.

Halloween candy that is tampered with is rare, although there are occasional instances. There was another case this Halloween in northern Ohio. Newsweek reported that police in the city of Fostoria, Ohio said they were made aware of two pieces of candy, including a Kit Kat, that contained needles and were given out to children on Saturday.

University of Delaware professor Joel Best, who has been tracking tampered Halloween candy since 1958, told CNN it's not common.

"I can find no evidence that any child has ever been killed or seriously injured by a contaminated treat picked up in the course of trick-or-treating," Best told the news network after the Ohio case this past weekend.

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"While reports of contaminated treats do occur, I know of only two efforts to try and investigate reports of contaminated treats; both concluded that most were hoaxes," Best said.

But while candy is sometimes tampered with, false reports happen.

In 2018, police in Hoosick Falls investigated after a child reported finding a needle in a candy bar. Police said the child did not realize a parent would call police after the youngster claimed to find the needle.
ATLANTA (AP)  After a year of dealing with false claims and death threats, election officials on Tuesday delivered a relatively smooth Election Day.

There were just scattered reports of voting or equipment problems, typical for Election Day: a technical problem delaying a count of early ballots, a power outage, a polling place opening late. It was too soon to gauge the effects of new voting restrictions in place in a few states.

In Virginia, as a sign of how relatively low-key voting was in the state, one of the biggest issues was reminding poll workers that voters were not required to wear a mask when casting their ballot.

Today was overwhelmingly a good day for Virginia, said Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner Chris Piper. Overall, the election today was about as smooth as we could have asked for.

Piper said heavy turnout in the state prompted some polling locations to run out of ballots, but election officials were able to quickly pivot  either by printing more or directing voters to ballot-marking machines typically reserved for voters who need assistance. He said voting never stopped. In Fairfax County, the state's most populous, corrupted thumb drives used in four voting machines delayed the counting of ballots cast early, some of which were still being tallied hours after polls closed.

Once polls close across the country, election officials focused on counting ballots cast by every eligible voter and reporting the results, which are all unofficial until the election is certified. That will not happen for days or even weeks as election officials finish their counting and then conduct their post-election reviews to ensure the number of ballots cast equals the number of voters who voted. Any discrepancies are researched, and election officials provide detailed explanations prior to any election being certified.

In Georgia, Fulton County elections director Rick Barron said turnout had been light but steady. Two county polling locations did not have all the equipment they needed when polls opened, but poll managers allowed voters to use emergency paper ballots until the equipment issues were resolved, Barron said.

Lines were short and Election Day was an easy experience for the vast majority of voters, said Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts.

Election officials said demonstrating secure, consistent and fair practices would help reassure those who still have doubts about last years presidential election as preparations begin for next years midterms.

It is a great dress rehearsal for 2022, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said.

Much of the attention was on Virginia and New Jersey, where voters were casting ballots for governor and other statewide offices. In the rest of the country, voters were making selections on a variety of local races, ranging from mayor and city council to school board and bond measures.

For some, the voting experience differed from last year, when officials implemented pandemic-related changes to make it easier for voters to avoid crowded polling places. Some states have made those changes permanent, while others have rolled some of them back.

In Virginia, lawmakers last year expanded absentee voting permanently by no longer requiring an excuse. But a requirement for a witness signature on absentee ballots that was waived last year is back, and officials were contacting voters who had been turning in ballots without them. Those voters have until Friday to fix the issue.

In a few states, voters encountered tighter voting rules because of laws enacted in states controlled politically by Republicans. Among them are Florida and Georgia, where voters faced new ID requirements for using mail ballots.

Georgia Republicans have been keeping a close eye on Fulton County, a heavily Democratic county that includes most of Atlanta, for any voting problems that could justify a state takeover using a sweeping new election law.

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Barron said the panel appointed to review the countys election operations as part of that process was on site Tuesday, but he said he didnt want his staff to feel extra pressure because of that.

I told the staff to focus on us and not to worry about all these external things that happen, he said.

Republican lawmakers have said the changes were needed to improve security and public confidence after the 2020 presidential election. They acted as former President Donald Trump continued his false claims that the election was stolen despite no evidence of widespread fraud.

These claims were rejected by judges and election officials of both parties who certified the results and Trump's own attorney general, who said federal law enforcement had not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.

The claims have also decreased public trust and faith in election officials, who have been the target of threats and harassment. Last week, election officials of both parties testified before Congress about the threats they have received and called for more protections for election workers.

There were no reports of serious or widespread problems in the two states with the highest-profile races. In Virginia, after reports surfaced of voters complaining about being told to wear a mask, state election officials sent an email reminding local election officials that poll workers cannot refuse entry to voters who decline to wear a mask.

Various hotlines staffed by voting rights groups were available to assist voters who had questions or encountered problems. Damon Hewitt, whose group the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law leads the effort, said Tuesday's elections presented an important test.

Its a test of voters to run the gauntlet, to figure out these new rules and restrictions," Hewitt said. "And frankly, its also a test of our democracy: How strong can it be, and are we willing to tolerate these efforts to make it harder for people to vote?

___

Izaguirre reported from Tallahassee, Florida. Associated Press writers Bryan Anderson in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kate Brumback in Atlanta and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.
TROY  Early voting wrapped up Sunday for the 2021 general election, with turnout down dramatically from the 2020 presidential election but up from 2019 when early voting debuted in the state, according to voting tallies released Monday by the New York and local county Boards of Elections.

The Capital Regions 2021 elections dont have the emotional and political fervor that brought out 2,509,997 voters statewide to cast ballots in the 2020 presidential contest between Joseph Biden and Donald Trump.

But 2021 early voting turn out is 60 percent higher statewide at 411,172 than it was in 2019 when 256,251 voters cast early ballots, according to numbers released Monday.

Early voting is starting to become popular, said Schenectady County Republican Elections Commissioner Darlene Harris.

Schenectady County Democratic Elections Commissioner Ann Hild also said early voting is continuing to increase in popularity and that voters at the polls during the Oct. 22 through Oct. 31 early voting period recounted how they were able to take advantage to easily get to the polls instead of going through delays on Election Day.

In the Capital Region, Albany County, the most populous county, saw 79 percent more voters this year than two years ago with 9,535 ballots cast. In the other counties, Rensselaer was up 127 percent to 4,393, Saratoga County increased by 31 percent to 3,967, Schenectady County went up 49 percent to 4,443, Greene County increased 2 percent to 650, Warren County went up 26 percent to 1,083 and Washington County rose by 8 percent to 314 voters.

Columbia County was among 19 counties statewide that saw early voting turnout drop off. Columbia County fell 7 percent to 3,131 voters showing up early to cast ballots.

Voting times on Tuesday are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at local polling spots.

Last year, we saw more come out for the presidential election, said Rensselaer County Republican Elections Commissioner Jason Schofield.

The 2020 early voting totals crushed what was seen in 2019 and 2021. Early voting in the hotly contested presidential election brought out 49,813 voters in Albany County; in Rensselaer County 23,153 voters; Saratoga County 27,570 voters; Schenectady County 26,633 voters; Columbia County 6,518 voters; Greene County 4,288 voters; Warren County 7,454 voters, and in Washington County 6,099 voters.

People come out and vote in presidential and gubernatorial election years, said Saratoga County Democratic Elections Commissioner William Fruci.

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Its better to compare the local election years when city, county and town offices are on the ballot than to the presidential and gubernatorial races, said Fruci.

During the nine days of early voting, each county saw a peak vote on one day. In Albany, Columbia, Saratoga and Schenectady counties the largest number of early voters turned out on Day 9, which was Sunday Oct. 31. The high turnout day for Rensselaer and Warren counties was Day 5, Wednesday Oct. 27. In Washington County the highest number of voters to cast ballots did it on Day 3, Monday Oct. 25, while in Greene County the high point came on Day 7, which was Friday Oct. 29.

The percentage of total voters going to the polls early, however, is in the single percentage points. Columbia County leads all other counties at 6.5 percent of its 48,305 registered voters casting early ballots. Its followed by Albany County at 4.5 percent of 210,592 voters; Schenectady County at 4.3 percent of 103,391 voters; Rensselaer County at 4.1 percent of 107,494 voters; Saratoga County at 2.3 percent of 174,372 voters; Warren County at 2.3 percent of 47,419 voters; Greene County at 1.9 percent of 33,928 voters, and Washington County with less than 1 percent at 0.8 percent of its 38,690 eligible voters.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul's directive creating more "transparency" in state agencies will include having the state inspector general's office begin posting the results of all its investigations online, including the letters that the office has more frequently sent to many agencies in recent years to privately summarize its findings in controversial matters.

The Times Union reported in 2019 that, during the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the inspector general's office had been increasingly sending letters to agencies, rather than posting full reports on its website, to quietly handle matters ranging from egregious sexual harassment to the alleged leak of confidential information to the governor.

Hochul, who was sworn in as governor in late August, had asked each state entity to submit transparency improvement plans to her office. Last week, those plans were publicly released, including the one generated by the inspector generals office.

"The Office of the Inspector General regularly issues letters to state agencies and authorities outlining relevant findings and recommendations of matters that are referred to the office," the plan states. "These letters have not been previously publicly available but are subject to (the Freedom of Information Law) and are frequently disclosed as part of this process."

The office's acknowledgement of that practice did not specify that the existence of the letters often remained unknown, because they were usually never made public unless they were disclosed through litigation or by confidential sources. In addition, even though the letters are subject to Freedom of Information Law, the office has declined to release some of its letters on controversial matters.

In response to a Freedom of Information Law filed by the Times Union in 2018, which sought "all written reports documenting completed investigations," the inspector general's office responded that all of its reports were available online. The office at the time declined to acknowledge or provide copies of its "letter reports," which were often nearly identical to "reports" but were not made public.

Now, OIG will begin posting all letters to agencies and authorities online (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020) with appropriate redactions to address confidentiality considerations, the transparency plan states. Additionally, OIG will issue a standard weekly press release summarizing any letters sent with hyperlinks to actual copies of the letters.

In November 2019, the office's selective disclosure of its investigations was revealed when the Times Union reported the inspector general had conducted a roughly nine-month probe into allegations that information about a state ethics panel's private vote had been leaked to Cuomo. The alleged breach followed the panel's closed-door meeting where it decided whether to investigate Joseph Percoco, the governor's former top aide.

Instead of summarizing its findings that year in a report, the inspector general instead sent a private letter to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics stating it had concluded its investigation without taking any action because the allegations could not be substantiated. The office initially declined to release a copy of the letter to the Times Union, underscoring the inconsistency of its decision-making on when and when not to tell the public about its investigations. A month later, on Thanksgiving eve, the inspector general released copies of its letter to JCOPE.

In a similar report in May 2018, the inspector general's office sent a four-page letter to a state agency summarizing a lengthy investigation into James "Jay" Kiyonaga, who was then second-in-command at the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities despite having been the target of workplace complaints filed by female employees dating back years.

The letter from then-Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott to Denise Miranda, executive director of the Justice Center, was written in the same format as one of the office's public reports, but never posted on the inspector general's website. Instead, it was leaked to the press by officials with Cuomo's administration who were eager for it to be reported that Kiyonaga, whose troubled work history had been the subject of stories in the Times Union and the New York Times earlier that year, had been fired.

His abrupt termination occurred a day after a former female attorney at the state's Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs  where Kiyonaga had previously worked  filed a discrimination complaint accusing Cuomo's administration of covering for Kiyonaga, whom she said had sexually harassed and mistreated her when he was deputy director of that agency.

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Less than a year earlier, in December 2017, Leahy Scott sent a similar five-page letter to Michael C. Green, then-commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, outlining her office's investigation that found a top official at DCJS, Brian Gestring, was never disciplined despite allegations that he had threatened female employees with physical violence and engaged in years of sexual harassment, racism and ageism. Leahy Scott's investigation concluded Gestring should be disciplined along with several administrators who had mishandled the case.

Instead, DCJS punished two women who provided testimony about the allegations to the state inspector general's office.

Gestring was later fired after the Times Union reported several stories on the details of his case. But unlike Kiyonaga's case, DCJS officials had disputed Leahy Scott's findings and instead terminated Gestring for an unrelated  and less serious  incident in which he allegedly made inappropriate remarks during a training seminar.

The 2017 letter from Leahy Scott to Green  also written in the form of a report  has never been made public by the office, even though the two women who were punished after testifying against Gestring in the inspector general's investigation filed federal lawsuits against the state. The state settled one of those cases and the other is pending.

Attorneys for the state officials also have successfully argued in court  over the objections of the two female employees  that Leahy Scott's letter should remain secret. That letter still has not been released by the office, although the Times Union obtained a copy from a confidential source and published its contents three years ago.

In a statement last week, Hochul, referencing all of the transparency initiatives across state government, had said the changes "bring us closer to creating the kind of government that New Yorkers deserve, and we'll continue to build on this progress."
COVID continues to create financial stresses for theaters as a big slice of audiences remain in their homes. As a result, most institutions are keeping their grandest artistic ambitions in check. Thats not the case at the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, where company founders John Sowle and Steven Patterson are at work what they have dubbed the Mount Everest of American drama, Eugene ONeills Long Days Journey Into Night. Their new production of the classic family saga opens on Thursday, Nov. 11 for a run of eight performances.

All actors who really consider themselves artists want a crack at it, says Patterson, who will play the patriarch James Tyrone. The balance of the five-member cast includes Bridge Street regulars Roxanne Fey, Christopher Patrick Mullen and Christopher Joel Onken with a company debut by Taylor Congdon as Cathleen. Sowle directs the four-act tragedy, which has a running time of more than three hours.

From alcoholism and addiction to resentment, guilt, and jealousy, every secret of the Tyrone family is laid bare in the play. The plot details are so close to ONeills own life that he stipulated it not be published or performed until 50 years after his death. Nevertheless it was debuted in 1956 just three years after he died. Quickly recognized as a masterpiece, it won the Tony for best play and the Pulitzer for drama.

Theres a feeling of invading the lives of these people because its so intimate. It takes you to new places of deep catharsis. Afterward, youre relieved that you survived, says Patterson.

Were having stickers printed up that read I survived Long Days Journey Into Night to pass out to all attendees who make it through, adds Sowle. Its an epic experience we think is eminently worth taking on, and were pulling out all the stops for this production.

Catskill-based sculptor Marc Swanson is providing an all-white set that will be complimented by Michelle Rogerss white costumes. According to Sowle, the colorless concept came from the frequent mention of fog in the script. Swanson and his signature white forms, by the way, will soon take on a bigger presence in the region with the March opening of a major installation at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts. A companion exhibition will go on view in July at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, also in Catskill.

You have to open your veins on stage with this and theres nowhere to hide especially on this white stage, says Patterson. You must be willing and fearless and were pretty rung out after each rehearsal.

Also part of the new production is original incidental music recorded by the California-based composer and jazz artist Justin Morell. Sowell describes the cuts as a theme and eight variations. Theres the feel of improvisation in the music that beautifully captures the progression of the play and the haziness of the fog stealing in, he says.

According to Patterson and Sowell, apart from the sheer energy and drive required to mount Long Days Journey, additional financial expenses came from the need for a longer rehearsal period. Normally at Bridge Street a cast is booked for a four week commitment consisting of two weeks for rehearsal and two for performances. With the current production, one additional week was added for rehearsing.

Above the theater is a four-bedroom apartment where actors from outside the region are housed. Lodging for performers is required by the union Actors Equity Association, which has added specific safety protocols since the arrival of COVID. Extra protections for actors is a good thing but it causes financial and logistical nightmares, says Sowel During the shutdown period, things were still happening behind the scenes at Bridge Street. Sowel edited and released online an extensive collection of videos made from 30 years of shows by Kaliyuga Arts, the production company that the couple operated in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York before settling in the Hudson Valley in 2003.

For his part, Patterson recorded new videos of him reading and displaying childrens books. I have great-grandchildren in living in Oregon and this was one way to stay in touch with them, he says.

The theater and its upstairs apartment became a place where eight different dance troupes assembled and bubbled for two week residencies during which they could work without fear of outside infection. Among the projects that were created was a pas de deux for two women of the American Ballet Theater choreographed by Adriana Pierce. The liaison to the various dance companies was Duke Dang, a part-time Hudson Valley resident who produces the Works & Process performance series at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

The Catskill producers also got busy with fundraising with notable successes from government agencies. According to Sowel, Bridge Street has received two grants from the federal program Shuttered Venues totaling $52,000, and an additional grant from a similar program administered by New York state.

Recently the companys contracted annual subsidy from the New York State Council on the Arts was raised from $15,000 to $25,000. Prior to the pandemic, the seven-year old company had grown to have an annual budget of roughly $200,000.

If you go Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night" When: Opens 7 p.m. Thursday Nov. 11 and runs for seven more performances through Sunday, Nov. 21 Where: Bridge Street Theatre, 44 W. Bridge Street, Catskill Tickets: $10-$22. Call (518) 943-3818. More info: bridgest.org See More Collapse

Bridge Street Theatre has benefitted from government funding since its launch. The 12,000 square foot building, once a dilapidated factory, was converted into an 84-seat theater thanks to $180,000 subsidy from a state program dedicated to projects that revive historic downtown neighborhoods.

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
Record numbers of Americans have quit their jobs in recent months. In what has been dubbed "The Great Resignation," one-in-four U.S. workers left their job in 2021. Much of the exodus is being driven by employee burnout, which often results from spending too much time at work.

Partly in an effort to reduce the likelihood of employee burnout, governments and companies are experimenting with four-day workweeks. Following successful trial runs in Iceland and New Zealand, Scotland is set to implement its own four-day workweek trial period, without pay reduction. The Japanese government actively encourages companies to use the four-day workweek model. Here is a look at how long the typical work week is around the world.

In the United States, meanwhile, the five-day workweek remains the norm. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, American workers in the 16 to 64 age group usually work an average of 38 hours and 48 minutes per week. But how much time people spend at work could depend on where they live, as in some parts of the country, the typical workweek is far longer.

In the Lebanon, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area, the average worker logs 39 hours and 36 minutes per week, nearly one hour more than the national average. The longer average working day in the metro area is due in part to the share of workers who are classified as full time -- defined as 35 hours or more per week by the U.S. Census Bureau. An estimated 81.6% of workers in Lebanon work full time, compared to 78.1% of workers nationwide.

Not only do workers in Lebanon put in longer than average days, but local residents are more likely to be working in the first place. The labor force participation rate among the 16 and older population in the metro area stands at 65.1%, compared to the 63.6% national average.

Metro areas are ranked on mean hours worked per week among full time and part time workers in the 16 to 64 age group with data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey. Because working-day length can vary considerably for U.S. service members, metro areas where 10% or more of the labor force are in the military were excluded from analysis. Supplemental data is from both the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the ACS. In the case of a tie, the metro area with the longer average commute time ranked higher.
(The Center Square)  Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive order establishing a permanent Office of Environmental Justice as yet another piece of his administrations climate strategy.

We must do the hard work to prevent further climate damage, to mitigate environmental pollution and the unfair harm it causes to vulnerable communities, and to ensure every Pennsylvanian can claim their constitutional right to a clean, healthy environment, Wolf said last week during a news conference at Philadelphias Discovery Center. My administration is committed to working with stakeholders to strengthen our efforts to ensure environmental justice for all Pennsylvanians.

The order also creates the Environmental Justice Advisory Board and an Environmental Justice Interagency Council. Democratic lawmakers in both chambers have sponsored corresponding legislation to codify the policies.

Many Pennsylvania communities have been disproportionately harmed by pollution, and todays executive order by Governor Wolf is a first step in making sure that we have some of the tools to mitigate and prevent it from happening in the future, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell said.

DEP Office of Environmental Justice Director Allison Acevedo said the order stands as a critical first step in building infrastructure and tools that will enable the commonwealth to address environmental justice and support communities that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and environmental racism.

One of the proposed bills mandates a more transparent process when companies pursue building facilities in burdened communities where decades of systemically racist development and housing policies have caused rampant pollution and adverse health impacts, lawmakers said.

"Study after study has shown that race is the best predictor for whether a person lives near pollution, and Black people are more likely to be disproportionately affected by pollution and even more likely than white people to die from exposure to it," Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, said. "This didn't happen by accident. It's a result of systemic racism that has placed Black people and other historically marginalized communities in danger and kept them there.

Its unlikely, however, the Republican-controlled Legislature will move the bills  or any others related to Wolfs climate strategy.

Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, said last week the best way to address this problem and other environmental goals is to unlock our homegrown energy assets for all to prosper.

Gov. Wolf continues to advance his political and ideological agenda by governing the Commonwealth through the power of executive order, said Erica Clayton Wright, Wards spokesperson. [This] announcement by Governor Wolf is one more example to add to a long list of actions demonstrating an I know best approach that continues to ignore the broader cultural demographics and geography of our Commonwealth.

Clayton Wrights comments reference, more broadly, Wolfs October 2019 executive order that entered the state into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon emissions program involving 11 other northeastern and mid-Atlantic states.

Wolf said the program will cut 225 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next decade and create 27,000 clean energy jobs. Critics argued it will spike electricity prices by double digits and eliminate thousands of coal and natural gas workers.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a gubernatorial hopeful and staunch Wolf ally, expressed doubts RGGI is the best solution to Pennsylvanias climate woes  though his office said it cannot stop the regulatory process from moving forward.

Shapiro said ultimately its a determination he will make as governor, in close consultation with workers and affected communities.

"I refuse to accept the false choice between protecting jobs or protecting our planet  we must do both and my priority will be ensuring Pennsylvania has a comprehensive climate and energy policy that will move all of us forward, he said.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, has said that the return of schools after the mid-term break on Monday is safe, despite a high incidence rate of COVID-19 among children.

His comments follow after he said that was "increasingly worried" by presence of 2,193 new COVID-19 cases last Wednesday.

It also follows a govt statement from Last Friday, which outlined that it has no intention of restoring contact-tracing system for schoolchildren amid a spike in cases among those aged between 5 and 12, despite calls to do so by the Irish National Teacher's Organisation (INTO).

Dr Holohan reassured parents and teachers by saying that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) would continue to monitor the level of the disease and review data, the international research and guidance and "to update our advice accordingly."

He explained that international evidence showed that in the vast majority of cases, children who became infected with Covid-19 experienced mild symptoms or were asymptomatic: "The public health advice is based on scientific evidence and the direct experience of the pandemic in Ireland."

Dr Holohan added: "It shows that child-to-child transmission is uncommon in school settings where there are preventive measures in place like those throughout our schools."

Similar sentiments were shared by Infectious diseases expert Dr Sam McConkey, who said he wasnt "wildly concerned" about children returning to primary school, as the virus generally doesnt "make them [kids] very sick."
The widow of a small-town Alabama police chief who died of COVID-19 says he loved the community he served and regretted his decision against getting vaccinated
November 02, 2021

September 2021, London: floLIVE, a leading provider of advanced 5G network solutions and a full suite of private and cloud-based global cellular connectivity services for IoT use cases, is pleased to announce an agreement with ARQIA, Datora Groups mobile technology unit. ARQIA is the first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) fully focused on the IoT and M2M market in Brazil. ARQIA is fully authorized by ANATEL to operate locally in Brazil and is a leader in their category, offering advanced IoT solutions to enterprise and carrier customers.







The partnership allows ARQIA to allocate its IMSI range to floLIVEs IMSI library. ARQIAs IMSIs provide access to TIM Brazils network  which has the largest coverage in Brazil with a national reach of 93% of the urban population.

Permanent roaming is a real challenge for IoT devices that do not simply roam for 3 months and then return home, said floLIVEs Americas President, Curtis Govan. Some countries such as China, Turkey and Brazil do not allow permanent roaming and mandate the use of a local SIM for IoT devices. With this partnership, floLIVEs customers will be able to include Brazil in their global IoT connectivity roadmap  compliant with all national regulations and permanent roaming safe.

We are delighted to announce this partnership with floLIVE, a company that is facilitating IoT growth around the world with innovative solutions for connectivity challenges. commented Eduardo Resende, ARQIA. By including ARQIA in floLIVEs comprehensive IMSI library, global enterprises can allow IoT devices to land in Brazil seamlessly, connect automatically or even autonomously switch where necessary, and at all times stay fully compliant with Brazils complex data privacy and roaming laws. This will allow floLIVE to offer their customers the best possible connectivity nationwide to meet their IoT business requirements.

For more information, reach out to floLIVE or ARQIA, below.

About floLIVE

floLIVE offers advanced 5G network solutions and a full suite of global IoT cellular connectivity solutions. Its unique global connectivity service, floNET, provides enterprises and mobile operators with fully compliant, highly performant, and globally agnostic connectivity. The platform encompasses a wide range of services including: a full cloud-based 3GPP core network; an IoT BSS; and device and eSIM management - all provided as-a-service via floLIVEs global cloud. For more information, visit www.flolive.net

About ARQIA

ARQIA, Datora Groups mobile technology unit, was born from the desire to insert M2M and IoT solutions at the core of every company. ARQIA is part of a solid group with a brand that is present in more than 80 countries. We create secure, flexible connections to integrate the latest technology with everything around us. It is as simple as that! Throughout 5 years in the market, ARQIA has enabled more than half a million connections of data among machines, helping entrepreneurs and businesses to go beyond. Learn how we can bring the future of connectivity to your business! https://ARQIA.com.br/en/

Edited by Maurice Nagle
November 02, 2021





When you first start a business, it can be challenging to set up a salary package for your employees and track the hours they work. While you want to avoid going overboard on your employees benefits, they must be fairly compensated.







Additionally, if you fail to track their hours worked, you could find yourself in a sticky legal situation. Below we will go into a few tips and resources that can help set up a salary package and properly track the hours your employees work.

Section 1: How To Set Up Salary Packages

Salary packages for new businesses can be challenging to set up since you do not have any employees. The base salary you give employees should be fair, while your other compensation expenses (like bonuses) should be related to the company's success. You need to consider various factors when creating salary packages, including:

The demand for the job

The skills and education required for the position

How long it takes to train a new employee in comparison with current employees

What other companies in your area are offering for similar positions

Section 1.1: The Salary Packages Components

Base Salary

The base salary is the minimum amount of money you will pay an employee over a certain period (i.e., per year). This number can change based on performance reviews and promotions. Use a paystub generator to create a salary package template to record all the components of an employee's pay.

Bonuses

Bonuses are the additional compensation you pay an employee over a particular time (i.e., per year). You can use bonuses to motivate your employees or reward them for going above and beyond. However, you should only give bonuses if your company makes enough profit to compensate your employees in bonuses.

Section 1.2: Other benefits you might want to include

Other salary package components you might want to consider including are

Health insurance

Time off from work (i.e., paid vacation)

Pension plans

Include these benefits in your packages, but only if the company makes enough money to provide them. Offering such benefits can be a great way to attract and retain talent in your field.

Section 2: How To Track Hours Worked For Your Startup Business

If you do not accurately track the number of hours each employee works, you will risk paying them more than they are owed. Additionally, if an employee complains about unpaid overtime, it could end up being costly for your business. You can use a time and attendance tracking system to monitor employees' hours worked. There is software available to help you manage employee timesheets and track their hours worked for each day.

Use the system to keep track of employees:

Onsite work hours (start and end times)

Off-site work hours (start and end times)

Time spent on breaks

Using an online, automated timekeeping system allows you to monitor and track employee hours worked quickly and easily. It is crucial to remember that each state has different laws regarding how many hours an employee can work in a day and week, so you must follow your local state requirements.

Section 2.1: The Importance Of Accurate Record-Keeping (For Tax Withholding, Etc.)

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires you to keep accurate records of the number of hours your employees work. Therefore, you should include time worked when determining how much you owe them for salary and benefits. You can track employee work hours by using a timesheet generator that is integrated into payroll software.

When deciding how to structure your employee's salary packages, it is essential to consider the factors suggested above. If you are prepared financially for that cost, you can include these components (i.e., base salary, bonuses, benefits) in each of your employees paychecks.

You should also track their hours worked with a time and attendance tracking system integrated into your payroll software.
American Express Announces Additional Actions to Help Combat Climate Change

During the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), American Express (News - Alert) (NYSE: AXP) has announced new initiatives to build on its commitment to advance climate solutions.

To help fight the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable populations across Asia and Africa, the company has partnered with Save the Children UK to develop and execute programs that engage youth to help reduce food insecurity exacerbated by climate change, support climate-resilient economic development and skills training through green job opportunities, and strengthen early warning systems to help these communities better prepare for extreme weather events, among other initiatives. As part of these activities, the American Express Foundation is providing a $600,000 grant to Save the Children UK to support its Adolescent Skills for Successful Transition program to educated youth on sustainable practices and products, and fund the development of its Green Climate Fund pipeline to develop youth-led climate adaptation projects.

In addition, American Express is supporting efforts to advance the travel industry's transition to a sustainable and low-carbon future. The company has joined the World Economic Forum's Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition which is focused on transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels and achieving carbon neutral air travel across the aviation sector. American Express has joined the Forum's Global Future Council on Sustainable Tourism, which includes government; business; and academic leaders, to advance innovation on inclusive and sustainable tourism.

"Meeting the ambitious targets in the path to net-zero aviation requires all actors in the ecosystem to take action. The role of financial institutions, especially those such as American Express with a broad footprint in travel, is crucial to overcoming some of the challenges and barriers to achieving a sustainable future for the industry," said Lauren Uppink Calderwood, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industries, World Economic Forum.

"As part of American Express' commitment to advancing climate solutions as a core pillar of our Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy, we are focused on helping build more climate-resilient and equitable communities," said Madge Thomas, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at American Express. "In our partnership with Save the Children, we plan to co-create innovative approaches to combat the effects of climate change in some of the most vulnerable communities in the world through programs that empower young people and support sustainable economic development opportunities."

The financial support for Save the Children is part of American Express' commitment to provide at least $10 million in philanthropic funding to support climate initiatives, partnerships, and programs from 2021 through 2025. The company will become a key seed funder for projects that Save the Children is developing for submission to the Green Climate Fund with partner governments in Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, and Sierra Leone.

"Save the Children is committed to supporting children and communities who are on the frontline of the climate crisis. Our partnership with American Express is expected to enable us to scale up innovative climate solutions in communities most impacted by the climate emergency," said Caroline Whatley, Director of Partnerships at Save the Children. "We look forward to working with American Express to ensure young people can develop their own climate resilient communities and create more sustainable pathways for the next generation."

American Express also announced in September that it has committed to net-zero emissions by 2035, in alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology and its ambitious objective of limiting global warming to 1.5oC, a critical target set out by the 2015 Paris Agreement.

To learn more about American Express' sustainability initiatives and overall ESG strategy, visit the company's 2020-2021 ESG report.

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express is a globally integrated payments company, proiding customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.







Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: personal cards, business cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, Kabbage, Resy, corporate card, business travel, diversity and inclusion, corporate responsibility, and Environmental, Social, and Governance reports.

ABOUT SAVE THE CHILDREN:

Save the Children fights every single day for children's futures. We stand side by side with children in the toughest places to be a child. In places where others won't go, we're there, giving everything to make sure they survive, get protected, and have the chance to learn. Every child should get to make their mark on the world and build a better future for us all.

For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Source (News - Alert): American Express Company

Location: Global

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contain words such as "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would," "likely," and similar expressions. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including those described in American Express' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. American Express undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005781/en/
[November 02, 2021] Archicad 25 Update 2 enhances powerful collaboration, design, documentation, and visualization capabilities

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphisoft, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software solution for architecture, today released Archicad 25 Update 2, with significant enhancements to design, documentation, collaboration, and visualization capabilities  including the integration of Redshift by Maxon. Users get immediate access to the Archicad improvements when they upgrade and can apply those benefits to new and existing projects instantly. Released in July, Archicad 25 is one of the most user-driven versions yet, with powerful enhancements to design, visualization, documentation, and collaboration capabilities that are a direct response to user feedback. With enhanced usability, navigation, and accurate quantity take-offs, Archicad empowers teams to create great architecture  by working in a single software from early concept designs through to construction documents. What's new in Archicad 25 Update 2 Introducing Redshift by Maxon for Archicad 25  The world's first fully GPU-accelerated biased rendering engine has been built to meet the specific demands of contemporary high-end production rendering. With Redshift, users get the flexibility and quality of CPU-based rendering with GPU-based speed thanks to a suite of powerful features tailored to support creative individuals and practices of every size. Currently available as a Technology Preview for Archicad 25 users with a Software Service Agreement (SSA) or Forward Agreement, Redshift will be offered as an exclusive benefit for Graphisoft Forward subscribers starting with Archicad 25 Update 3. Collaboration  To facilitate open collaboration, Archicad supports more than 40 export and import formats, including DWG, PDF, XLS, and SAF, as well as the manufacturer-independent and industry-standards IFC and BCF. Native Survey Point delivers streamlined coordination workflows so that architects can set and lock the project's survey point and use it to coordinate with stakeholders  rgardless of the software they're using.

delivers streamlined coordination workflows so that architects can set and lock the project's survey point and use it to coordinate with stakeholders  rgardless of the software they're using. Improved IFC export process means architects and engineers can exchange model geometry and data easily and be certain they're sharing the most accurate model.

means architects and engineers can exchange model geometry and data easily and be certain they're sharing the most accurate model. Working with Hotlink modules is easier than ever because models can now be populated with information directly from Excel.

is easier than ever because models can now be populated with information directly from Excel. FRILO Connection  Integrate structural models between Archicad and FRILO with a simple click, without risk of sharing outdated information.



David Thompson , Director, THAA Architects. "It's reassuring to know that the software continues to be developed and improved." Design  Archicad empowers architects to design with accuracy and efficiency, reducing design flaws and errors with a technology enhancement that conveniently allows for checking full and partial linear overlaps.

Available as a Technology Preview, the Overlap Check functionality has been boosted to detect partial linear overlaps, thus ensuring delivery of high-quality models. Archicad 25 already checks for duplicate and fully overlapping linear elements. "At Graphisoft, we believe that the software must adapt to the architect and not the other way around," said Shesh Gorur, Vice President for Product Success, Graphisoft. "The tool must be flexible enough to accommodate creativity while complying with local standards and regulations. Graphisoft's focus is to provide precision tools that make our products more flexible and intuitive  you work on the design, and the process runs in the background," he added. Visualization  Translate conceptual designs into compelling presentations that bring models to life and inspire the audience. The enhanced Graphic Override, new Surface RGB, and transparency slider let architects and designers further personalize the look of their designs. Documentation  Deliver error-free documentation that automatically follows your design and complies with regulations and local standards. Fully customizable textual content and zone colors and upgraded quantity takeoffs ensure accurate information in the right formats. For more information about Archicad 25, please visit graphisoft.com. About Archicad

Design and deliver projects of any size with Archicad's powerful set of built-in tools and user-friendly interface that make it the most efficient and intuitive BIM software on the market. Featuring out-of-the-box design documentation, one-click publishing, photo-realistic rendering, and best-in-class analysis, Archicad lets you focus on what you do best: design great buildings. Discover what's new in Archicad 25. About Graphisoft

Graphisoft empowers teams to create great architecture, through award-winning software solutions, learning programs, and professional services for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. Archicad, the architects' BIM software of choice, offers a complete end-to-end design and documentation workflow for architectural and integrated architectural and engineering practices of any size. BIMx, the most popular mobile and web BIM app, extends the BIM experience to include all stakeholders in the building design, delivery, and operations lifecycle. BIMcloud, the AEC industry's first and most advanced cloud-based team collaboration solution, makes real-time collaboration possible across the globe regardless of the size of the project and the speed or quality of the team members' network connection. Graphisoft is part of the Nemetschek Group. To learn more visit www.graphisoft.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/archicad-25-update-2-enhances-powerful-collaboration-design-documentation-and-visualization-capabilities-301414263.html SOURCE Graphisoft

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[November 02, 2021]

BambooHR Announces Seventh-Annual Virtual HR Summit

LINDON, Utah, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BambooHR , the industry's leading cloud-hosted software provider dedicated to powering the strategic evolution of human resources, today announced the seventh-annual HR Virtual Summit, a one-day event designed to uplift the HR industry with sessions from industry experts, thought leaders, and visionaries. The event will feature keynote speakers such as Simu Liu, Elaine Welteroth, Nadine Robinson, Casey Carey and Brad Rencher, CEO of BambooHR.

The free event is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, 2021, and is focused on providing attendees with the tools needed to free themselves from tedious and ineffective HR practices to do great work.

"We're thrilled to present another virtual event full of insights from HR and workplace experts bringing mission-critical insights, practical advice, and impactful strategies directly to attendees, wherever they are in our changing world," said Brad Rencher, CEO of BambooHR. "Our goal is to see the important work of HR flourish."

Participants can register for the free event to earn SHRM and HRCI recertfication credits. Over 60 presentations by some of the nation's foremost authors, industry experts, thought leaders, and executives will share insight about how to uplevel transactional HR practices and drive great work within their organizations.







To register for the event, please visit: https://www.bamboohr.com/virtual/ .

About BambooHR

Serving more than 25,000 organizations and almost two million employees worldwide, BambooHR is the only HR software designed for small and medium-sized businesses. BambooHR makes it easy for growing companies to manage essential employee information in a personalized, cloud-based, and secure system. BambooHR customers include innovators like Asana, SoundCloud, Foursquare, Freshbooks, Stance, Reddit, and Magnolia Homes. With customers in 100 countries, BambooHR's goal is to set HR professionals and organizations free to do great work. BambooHR also hosts more than 30,000 HR professionals at its annual HR Virtual Summit . To find out more, visit bamboohr.com or follow @bamboohr on social media.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bamboohr-announces-seventh-annual-virtual-hr-summit-301413598.html

SOURCE Bamboo HR LLC
[November 02, 2021] Bluebird Network Acquires New, Diverse Fiber Route Over the Mississippi River

Bluebird Network, a communications infrastructure provider with 10,000 route miles of fiber and operator of two data centers, announces a new and diverse fiber path across the Mississippi River between the cities of Hannibal, MO and Quincy, IL. This 6.25-mile fiber route brings a new option for carrier network traffic, avoiding congested areas and increasing the efficiency and dependability of the company's already robust fiber backbone. With the new network path being physically diverse from existing routes, information can now travel directly between major metro areas like Kansas City and Chicago without having to pass through St. Louis. Businesses in St. Louis, Kansas City and the Bluebird Underground Data Center will also benefit from an express pathway to the Bluebird Quad Cities Data Center and Chicago. The direct and discrete route offers customers an ultimate level of survivability, keeping businesses running smoothly. For the Hannial and Quincy communities, the new connection allows Bluebird to provide wavelengths, MPLS, and other services along the route.



"At every opportunity, we are going to strengthen our network throughout the Midwest to provide the best in terms of reliability, redundancy and security," says Michael Morey, President & CEO of Bluebird Network. "Having a route avoiding congested areas gives us a layer of geographical resilience to empower enterprises and carriers utilizing our network." Bluebird Network supports increased productivity and innovation for businesses throughout the Midwest by supplying robust and reliable fiber services necessary to thrive in the next era of digital transformation. The company provides an array of services including Ethernet solutions, dedicated internet, Cloud Connections, dark fiber, wavelengths, colocation, and more.

To learn more about Bluebird Network, please visit bluebirdnetwork.com. About Bluebird Network Bluebird Network is a communications infrastructure provider and data center operator. Since 1999, Bluebird Network, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, has provided internet and transport services, via its fiber infrastructure, to Carriers and Enterprises in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and the surrounding states. Bluebird owns two data centers: an underground facility in Springfield, MO, and a facility in the Quad Cities. Bluebird operates over 10,000 fiber route miles of high-speed broadband and fiber-optic connections with over 74,000 on-net and near-net buildings and 151 Points of Presence (PoP) sites spanning the Midwest, including the major cities of Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield (MO and IL), Tulsa, Peoria, Rockford, Bloomington, Normal and the Quad Cities. To learn more, please visit www.Bluebirdnetwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005023/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Cambridge Epigenetix Raises $88 Million Series D Financing to Advance Best-in-Class DNA Sequencing Technology Platform

Technology increases the amount and quality of data that can be efficiently and cost-effectively obtained from a small DNA sample

Manufacturing of the first product from a new technology platform is underway with expected commercial availability in early 2022; early access programs with renowned research institutions are ongoing CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cambridge Epigenetix (CEGX), a life sciences tools and technology company revolutionizing genome sequencing, today announced the signing of an $88 million Series D financing, bringing the total funds raised to date to $146 million. Temasek led the Series D round with participation from new investors including Third Point and existing investors such as GV, New Science Ventures, Ahren Innovation Capital and Sequoia. Proceeds from the financing will be used to commercialize the companys proprietary genetic and epigenetic sequencing technology, which easily integrates into existing sequencing platforms to enable more information to be read from DNA. The technology has been validated by leading genomic research institutions of which several, including Professor Dennis Lo of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Professor Wolf Reik of the Babraham Institute, have continued using the technology through early access programs. Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FRS, founder of Cambridge Epigenetix, said, We are pleased to have raised a significant Series D round from high-profile investors to support the commercial launch of the first product from our new multi-omic platform, and the expansion of our organization. Importantly, our sequencing technology works with all sequencers and enhances their accuracy as opposed to replacing or competing with them. Further, our technology has the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of genome sequencing, as the low sample requirement and streamlined workflow facilitate its cost-effectveness and ease of use without sacrificing accuracy. We look forward to product and to making game-changing contributions to DNA sequencing, epigenomic research and precision medicine.



CEGXs product unambiguously identifies five letters of DNA  four genetic bases (A-T-C-G) plus methylated cytosine (5mC or 5hmC)  in a single sequencing workflow with a low DNA sample requirement and high accuracy. Epigenetic marks are a vital source of biological information that will enable the next generation of diagnostics such as those for early cancer detection. The laboratory component of CEGXs product is in manufacture and these kits, combined with software, are expected to be available for purchase in early 2022. This will be followed by the launch of additional platform products, the next being a 6-letter kit. About Temasek

Temasek is an investment company with a net portfolio value of S$381 billion (US$283b) as at 31 March 2021. Headquartered in Singapore, it has 13 offices in 9 countries around the world. The Temasek Charter defines Temaseks three roles as an Investor, Institution and Steward, which shape its ethos to do well, do right, and do good. As a provider of catalytic capital, it seeks to enable solutions to key global challenges. With sustainability at the core of all Temasek does, it actively seeks sustainable solutions to address present and future challenges, as it captures investible opportunities to bring about a sustainable future for all. For more information on Temasek, please visit www.temasek.com.sg. About Third Point Third Point LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser based in New York. The firm was founded in 1995 by Daniel S. Loeb, who serves as Chief Executive Officer. The firm often engages with company managements and boards to improve performance and will also take passive stakes in companies with a long-term view of value creation. For over twenty years, Third Point has partnered with entrepreneurs throughout a companys lifecycle from the earliest stages to pre-IPO and beyond. About Cambridge Epigenetix Cambridge Epigenetix is revolutionizing sequencing by delivering new dimensions of information from DNA to see and treat disease earlier and transform life sciences and medicine. The commercial-stage companys platform provides more information with greater efficiency at higher quality and lower cost than standard next generation DNA sequencing technology. Easily integrating into existing sequencers, the companys products allow the user to see at-a-glance genomic and epigenetic information. This information can be used to detect, diagnose, treat and understand disease. Based in Cambridge, UK, the company is founded by a pioneer in DNA sequencing intent on leading the next great leap forward in genomics. Business Contact

[email protected] Media Contact

Tony Plohoros

[email protected]



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[November 02, 2021] Ceridian World Tour Brings Visionary Leaders Together in New York City

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceridian (NYSE: CDAY; TSX: CDAY), a global leader in human capital management (HCM) technology, will welcome industry experts to the stage for Ceridian World Tour New York, taking place November 10-11, 2021 at the Conrad New York Downtown.

Ceridian World Tours second stop continues the momentum established at the event series kickoff in Las Vegas. Attendees will discover top trends shaping the future of work and share how Dayforce technology innovations power a more intelligent approach to human capital management. Attendees will hear from inspiring speakers who will share their viewpoints and experiences: Ceridian customers including: Carsten Bertling, Global Head Rewards, Processes, and Organization Managements at Henkel, a global industrial and consumer goods leader with 52,000 employees worldwide Doaa Fahmy, SVP, HR Business Service North America at Danone, a consumer-packaged goods company with operations in the United States and Canada Sandy Hornak, Director, Payroll and Business Solutions at Aaron's, a North American leader in lease ownership of furniture, electronics, and appliances

Special guest keynote from Cynthia Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks

Ceridian executives including David Ossip, Chairma and CEO, Leagh Turner, President and COO, and Joe Korngiebel, Chief Product and Technology Officer



Ceridians Investor Relations website. A replay will also be available after the conclusion of the live event via Ceridians Investor Relations website. To register for Ceridian World Tour, visit: https://cloud.ceridian.com/worldtour/newyork/.

About Ceridian Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better Ceridian is a global human capital management software company. Dayforce, our flagship cloud HCM platform, provides human resources, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management functionality. Our platform is used to optimize management of the entire employee lifecycle, including attracting, engaging, paying, deploying, and developing people. Ceridian has solutions for organizations of all sizes. Visit Ceridian.com or follow us @Ceridian. Media Contact:

Rachel Kreuter

[email protected]

647.707.7835



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[November 02, 2021] Digitizing Finance with Blockchain and Cloud Technology with Ecosystem Partners at HUAWEI CLOUD DAY

SINGAPORE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global leading ICT provider Huawei today jointly hosted HUAWEI CLOUD DAY with Morpheus Labs in Singapore. The virtual event brought together industry leaders including SMEs and large corporates responsible for blockchain and cloud migration strategies, such as 0Chain, 5ire, and Geeq, to explore how evolving cloud technologies impact and strengthen digital transformation across the blockchain sector. Other industrial leaders in the industry including Blockchain Association Singapore, Temasek, AMTD Digital, and Tribe shared their perspectives on Reimagining the Future of Blockchain in Financial Services during panel discussion. At the event, Huawei and Morpheus Labs also strengthened their partnership through the announcement of a new launchpad designed to expand networks, enrich resources and solutions, and boost business performance. HUAWEI CLOUD X Morpheus Labs Launchpad in Singapore The new HUAWEI CLOUD X Morpheus Labs Launchpad provides a wider audience network that alleviates the branding services Morpheus Labs will offer Enterprise & Blockchain, through a direct route and connection to Huawei's infrastructure. This LaunchPad collaboration focuses on key benefits including: Stronger marketing and blockchain related initiatives that will positively impact businesses especially those in the Financial Services Industry (FSI)

Collaborative allocation and commitment of resources to broaden outreach through marketing initiatives, such as but not limited to Huawei Cloud Days , Webinars, Workshops, Hackathons, social media outreach, and others

, Webinars, Workshops, Hackathons, social media outreach, and others Joint go-to-market business, cloud and blockchain solutions targeted at certain industries and evolving requirements in the future

Increase utility and customer base for both parties

Increase brand awareness and outreach for both parties During his opening speech, Mr Rex Lei, MD of HUAWEI CLOUD Singapore, recognised Singapore's leading position in ICT infrastructure and technology in the region, noting that, "Blockchain has been growing at a rapid pace, even more so in 2021. The global blockchain market is expected to expand from USD $3 billion to USD $40 billion in just five years. Blockchain transition will be fat-tracked for processes such as smart contracts and digital currency. As we start to witness growing blockchain solutions being tailored to solve day-to-day business challenges, we hope the new HUAWEI CLOUD X Morpheus Lab Launchpad will enable local enterprises to elevate their brand awareness and continue revolutionising the blockchain sector with collaborative efficiency."



Diving into Digital in FSI Industries During the event, Mr Anson Shen, Chief Strategy Officer of HUAWEI CLOUD APAC, also highlighted that the finance industry is the pioneer in digital transformation and will also fully embrace cloud technology to develop Cloud-native finance to build intelligent connection in all scenarios in finance industry.

HUAWEI CLOUD partners with industrial leaders to grow in Blockchain Sector. Partnering with Morpheus Labs and key partners like 0chain, 5ire, and Geeq, HUAWEI CLOUD is dedicated to offering corporate customers insightful guidance in evaluating enterprise blockchain using cloud services, particularly in Singapore's growing financial sector. HUAWEI CLOUD will also leverage the full-stack capabilities in Cloud, such as BCS, OBS, and ModelArts to empower partners to develop targeted solutions using Blockchain technology that will meet the needs of their key customer base. Signing of MOU with Blockchain Association Singapore HUAWEI CLOUD is also very honoured to be partnering with Blockchain Association Singapore to further commitment in empowering digital transformation and innovation in blockchain sector through a MOU signing during the CLOUD Day. The Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) seeks to empower its members and the community to leverage blockchain and scalable technologies for business growth and transformation. It is designed to be an effective platform for members to engage with multiple stakeholders  both regional and international  to discover solutions and promote best practices in a collaborative, open, and transparent manner. It aims to promote blockchain literacy and build a strong talent pipeline for the digital economy in Singapore. About HUAWEI CLOUD HUAWEI CLOUD is a leading cloud service provider, which brings Huawei's 30-plus years of expertise together in ICT infrastructure products and solutions. We are committed to providing reliable, secure, and cost-effective cloud services to empower applications, harness the power of data, and help organizations of all sizes grow in today's intelligent world. HUAWEI CLOUD is also committed to bringing affordable, effective, and reliable cloud and AI services through technological innovation. For more information, please visit Huawei online at https://www.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/about/index.html or follow us on: https://www.linkedin.com/company/huaweicloudapac/

https://twitter.com/HuaweiCloudAPAC

https://www.facebook.com/HuaweiCloudAPAC

https://www.youtube.com/c/HuaweiCloudAIAPAC About Morpheus Labs Morpheus Labsprovides businesses with an end-to-end Blockchain-Platform-As-A-Service (BPaaS) solution for innovation and value creation. It simplifies blockchain application development by offering mission-critical tools, infrastructure, and various blockchain protocols, where you can build and manage your applications effortlessly at minimal cost and time, with a cross-functional team that has a combined 70 years' experience in artificial intelligence, blockchain, mobile applications, cybersecurity, and IoT across Europe and Asia. For more information, visit https://www.morpheuslabs.io/. SOURCE HUAWEI CLOUD

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[November 02, 2021] EDB Announces General Availability of BigAnimal, PostgreSQL Database in the Cloud

EDB, a leading contributor to PostgreSQL, today announced the general availability of its BigAnimal offering, the first fully-managed PostgreSQL database in the cloud with compatibility for Oracle (News - Alert) database technology. Built and backed by the world's largest roster of PostgreSQL engineers, BigAnimal is for enterprises looking to deploy their most demanding databases into the cloud. "BigAnimal was built in direct response to what our customers told us was missing from existing cloud Postgres offerings," said EDB president and CEO, Ed Boyajian. "These improvements aren't incremental - they're transformational. We've made no compromises. This means you get fanatical attention from the biggest team in Postgres, native compatibility with Oracle database technology, and extreme high availability. And we run it all inside your cloud account." Accelerate Business with the Best Cloud PostgreSQL Customers who are building serious cloud applications are realizing that they can't get what they need from the basic PostgreSQL offerings available today. Without the transparency, control, and performance tuning required for their most demanding workloads, they are held back from moving fully into the cloud. BigAnimal responds to these needs by giving organizations granular control over the database within their own accounts and all the enterprise PostgreSQL capabilities EDB has been developing over the past 15 years - while being fully managed by EDB. Specifically, with BigAnimal, enterprises will experience the following benefits: Partner with PostgreSQL builders. For over a decade, PostgreSQL users have counted on EDB for their on-premises deployments. Now with BigAnimal, users can also rely on unequaled support from EDB's world-class PostgreSQL experts. Migrate applications on Orace databases to PostgreSQL on Azure with little to no changes needed. With BigAnimal, customers can reduce costs, time, and risks when migrating workloads from legacy Oracle databases to cloud environments. BigAnimal's deep compatibility with Oracle database technology and comprehensive migration tools address a critical need for enterprises who want to move quickly without leaving behind all their legacy database investments in code, skill sets, and resources. Increase transparency and control of their cloud PostgreSQL. BigAnimal runs in a customer's cloud account, allowing them to closely manage, secure, and optimize their PostgreSQL along with their other infrastructure according to their business needs and spend commitments. BigAnimal also gives users an unprecedented level of control over their PostgreSQL with superuser access to precisely tweak database internals. Minimize complexity with the same PostgreSQL everywhere. EDB Postgres users can expect a uniform database experience, from EDB Postgres on premises to BigAnimal on Azure. This includes the ability to use their existing PostgreSQL skill sets, incorporate the database into their DevOps pipelines, and leverage EDB Postgres Advanced enterprise capabilities, such as enhanced security, performance management, and compatibility with Oracle database technology. With support for license portability, EDB also allows customers to easily deploy PostgreSQL whenever, wherever their business requires.



News - Alert): "In 2021, we saw a significant rise in cloud infrastructure spend and expect it to soon surpass non-cloud infrastructure. With this growing reliance on cloud platforms, many companies don't have the in-house skills to deploy, manage, and optimize their databases. Considering EDB's long track record of building and supporting Postgres, companies have a strong option for transitioning smoothly and optimizing their cloud database operations." For more information about EDB and BigAnimal and to sign up for a trial, please visit www.biganimal.com.

EnterpriseDB, EDB and Postgres Enterprise Manager are registered trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. EDB Postgres and BigAnimal are trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. Postgres, PostgreSQL, and the Slonik Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada, and used with their permission. About EDB PostgreSQL is increasingly the database of choice for organizations looking to boost innovation and accelerate business. EDB's enterprise-class software extends PostgreSQL, helping our customers get the most out of it both on premises and in the cloud. And our 24x7 global support, professional services, and training help our customers control risk, manage costs, and scale efficiently. With 16 offices worldwide, EDB serves over 5,000 customers, including leading financial services, government, media and communications, and information technology organizations. To learn about PostgreSQL for people, teams, and enterprises, visit EDBpostgres.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005218/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Everlaw Announces $202M Series D to Fuel Ediscovery Transformation

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlaw, the cloud-native investigation and litigation platform, today announced $202 million in Series D funding, bringing the company to an overall valuation of over $2 billion after a year of 80% YoY growth. TPG Growth led the round with additional participation from H.I.G. Growth Partners and existing investors CapitalG, Menlo Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and K9 Ventures. Mike Zappert, a TPG partner, will join Everlaw's board of directors. Everlaw is used by 91 of the Am Law 200, as well as the attorneys general in all 50 U.S. states. Total cases on Everlaw's platform have more than doubled since the company's Series C fundraise in March 2020 as the company signed significant new contracts with corporations, law firms and government agencies. New customer contracts include the Colorado State Attorney General and corporations like Lime, Snowflake and Coca-Cola Europe. During that same period, Everlaw saw case volumes grow more than 4x at Am Law 100 firms. Everlaw also continues to recognize the legal industry's top priority: protecting client data. Earlier this year, the company became one of the first ediscovery platforms to achieve FedRAMP moderate certification delivered on Amazon Web Services GovCloud (U.S.), with sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Justice  paving the way for U.S. government agencies to move ediscovery to Everlaw's highly secure cloud environment. "The legal industry has undergone a decade's worth of technological change in just 18 months. Legal professionals need tools that can keep up with the pace of change without sacrificing security," said Everlaw CEO and Founder AJ Shankar. "We're proud of what we've accomplished, but we're not resting on our laurels. This investment is part of a thoughtful and well-paced strategy for global growth, enabling us to support our customers, people and programs, including go-to-market efforts, channel partnerships and product innovation." In a market expected to reach almost $13 billion by 2025, Everlaw is leading innovation by meeting legal teams where their needs are. Just this year, Everlaw launched Storybuilder by Everlaw, the industry's first no-cost case preparation software, delivering a fully collaborative environment in which to build case strategy. Other innovations include Slack and Microsoft Office 365 connectors, which allow for rapid ingestion and review of data on those platforms, and a legal holds solution to assist with defensible preservation of evidence.



"Everlaw is the ediscovery market leader, but ediscovery is only the beginning," said TPG's Zappert. "Everlaw's best-of-breed cloud product and intuitive design is making the law more accessible and affordable for teams across the legal and regulatory spaces. The ediscovery market and the legal industry writ large are undergoing a rapid digital transformation that has only been accelerated in the past few years. Everlaw is the vanguard of that transition. We are excited to partner with AJ and the team in their mission to continue to modernize the legal field and make it faster and easier for lawyers, paralegals, litigation support teams, journalists and investigators to get the information that they need." With AI-powered and cloud-native technology, Everlaw is revolutionizing the way law firms, government agencies and corporate legal departments handle internal investigations, ediscovery and case preparation. Its platform is built for collaboration from anywhere, on tasks central to successful litigation and investigation. Legal professionals prefer Everlaw, which has more than 220 five-star ratings on G2, the most of any ediscovery provider.

About Everlaw

Everlaw blends cutting-edge technology with modern design to help government entities, law firms and corporations solve the toughest problems in the legal industry. Everlaw is used by Fortune 100 corporate counsels and household brands like Hilton and Dick's Sporting Goods, 76 out of the AM Law 100 and all 50 U.S. state attorneys general. Based in Oakland, California, Everlaw is funded by top-tier investors, including TPG Growth, CapitalG, Menlo Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, H.I.G. Growth Partners and K9 Ventures. Learn more at https://www.everlaw.com. About TPG Growth

TPG Growth is the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, the global alternative asset firm. With approximately $12.4 billion of assets under management, TPG Growth targets investments in a broad range of industries and geographies. TPG Growth has the deep sector knowledge, operational resources, and global experience to drive value creation, and help companies reach their full potential. The platform is backed by the resources of TPG, which has more than $108 billion of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.tpg.com or on Twitter @TPG. Media Contacts

Mission North for Everlaw

[email protected] TPG

Director, External Affairs

415-743-1550

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/everlaw-announces-202m-series-d-to-fuel-ediscovery-transformation-301413393.html SOURCE Everlaw

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[November 02, 2021] Exyte Completes Acquisition of Critical Process Systems Group

- Acquisition of US-based Critical Process Systems (CPS) Group from Wynnchurch Capital - Strengthening of services and process equipment offering - Growth acceleration through complementary regional footprint and synergies in semiconductor and life science markets STUTTGART, Germany, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exyte Group ("Exyte") has completed the all-share acquisition of US-based Critical Process Systems Group ("CPS") from Wynnchurch Capital. The transaction enhances Exyte's global offering for customers in the semiconductor and biopharma and life sciences businesses. "Adding CPS to the Exyte Group strengthens our services and process equipment portfolio, providing innovative product solutions and adding more value for our customers by providing immediate support for capital expansion efforts," said Dr. Buchele, CEO of Exyte. "We look forward to welcoming more than 400 employees with expert knowledge and technical competencies to Exyte." Brian Crumbaugh, Partner at Wynnchurch, stated, "CPS represented an opportunity to invest in a company with a market leading product and service offering. We are very proud and appreciative of the management team's leadership and accomplishments during our ownership period. Exyte is an ideal partner for CPS as it looks to execute on its growth plan in the upcoming years." "The closing of this acquisition opens a whole new chapter for the CPS Group companies," said Dmitry Shashkov, CEO of CPS Group. "For our customers, it means better service and more resources to support their growth. For our people, this will be an exciting time as we are joining a larger, well established company with great resoures and worldwide name recognition."



CPS will become part of the Business Area Technology and Services (T&S), led by Michael Loffelmann, SVP of T&S, with the existing management team of CPS remaining in place. "We expect the combination of the two businesses to prove highly successful, thanks to a complementary regional footprint and portfolio synergies. The joint project opportunities we have identified and our shared values will lead to a further acceleration of business growth," said Michael Loffelmann. About Exyte

Exyte is a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of facilities for high-tech industries. With a history of more than 100 years, the company has developed unique expertise in controlled and regulated environments. Exyte has a truly global footprint, serving the most technically demanding clients in markets such as semiconductors, batteries, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data centers. The company offers a full range of services, from consulting to the managing of turnkey solutions  delivered to the highest quality and safety standards. Solving the most complex challenges, Exyte forges trusted, long-lasting relationships with its clients. In 2020, Exyte generated sales of EUR 4.1 billion with over 4,900 highly experienced and motivated employees. The company is ideally positioned to further strengthen its market leadership with its broad industry insight and its exceptional talents. Contact:

Exyte

Adriana Williams

Vice President Corporate Communications

& Investor Relations

Tel.: +49 711 8804 1489

[email protected]

www.exyte.net About CPS Critical Process Systems Group, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a leading provider of mission-critical solutions for highly demanding industries and applications. The company provides a broad range of products & services including corrosive fume exhaust ducts and air flow control devices, high purity process utility modules, biopharmaceutical processing equipment, and liquid, chemical, and gas storage, blending, and delivery control products, as well as process and mechanical engineering services and project management. For more information, visit www.cpsgrp.com. About Wynnchurch Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with offices in California, New York, and an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch's strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2 billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings. For more information, visit www.wynnchurch.com. SOURCE Exyte

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[November 02, 2021] Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation On Track to Deliver 100 Service Dogs to U.S. Military Servicemembers

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Fairway Wholesale Lending, and the American Warrior Initiative (AWI) have announced that they are on track to deliver a record 100 service dogs to deserving military servicemembers by the end of this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005479/en/ Army Veteran Bryan Westerfield served in Iraq and suffers from PTSD. He was granted a Service Dognamed Thiago by the Fairway Mortgage supported American Warrior Initiative. (Photo: Business Wire)



So far in 2021, Fairway has delivered 65 service dogs and recently partnered with the Milwaukee Brewers to donate a service dog grant to U.S. Army Veteran Andrew Sievila.

Fairway underwrites all expenses of the non-profit American Warrior Initiative and Fairway employees have donated millions of dollars to AWI, enabling the organization to provide funding for hundreds of service dogs for deserving veterans and active military members over the past five years. Fairway founded AWI in 2015 as its way to give back to active duty service members, veterans and first responders, and to help local branch efforts to fund initiatives for these deserving heroes of America. The mission of AWI is to educate, inspire and encourage Americans to give back. The AWI team is on a mission to bridge the military-civilian divide by bringing awareness to civilians all over this country of the challenges facing servicemembers and encouraging servicemembers that there are people who do care. "In the past six years, Fairway has funded almost 200 service dogs for veterans," said Louise Thaxton, AWI director and co-founder and a Fairway branch manager. "Our goal is to fund 100 service dogs in 2021, up from the 50 that were granted in 2020." About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #2289) is a full-service mortgage lender with a wide array of innovative products that help make homeownership more affordable with the speed and service its clients deserve. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Fairway is dedicated to finding great mortgage options and providing some of the fastest turn times for its borrowers. Since opening our doors 25 years ago, our team has helped thousands of Americans achieve their dream of homeownership. We have been dedicated to providing unparalleled customer service. Fairway now employs nearly 11,000 team members, including more than 3,000 producers and over 600 branches nationwide. With a strong focus on purchase business, we continue to grow each year, funding over $65.8 billion in 2020. Putting Americans in homes is what we do! #FairwayNation We strive to exceed expectations, guarantee satisfaction and earn trust. For more information, visit fairway.com and home.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005479/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Festival Foods Selects Symphony RetailAI's Cloud-Based Master Data Management Solution to Optimize Technology and Improve Productivity

Symphony RetailAI, a leading global provider of integrated AI-powered marketing, merchandising and supply chain solutions for FMCG retailers and CPG manufacturers, today announced that Festival Foods has selected Symphony RetailAI Master Data Management. The fast-growing grocer will use the solution to establish a data foundation to sustain its fast-paced growth before executing on its end-to-end technology roadmap, beginning with Symphony RetailAI Promotions Optimization. Festival Foods' systems have been in place since the Wisconsin-based grocer operated only 10 locations. Now with nearly 40 stores, Festival Foods recognized that it had outgrown its current technology. The company's initial goal was to run more effective and cost-efficient retail promotions. However, the retailer recognized it needed a more analytical approach, where it could apply science to promotional decisions instead of trusting gut-intuition and determined it needed to replace its underlying system before adding new capabilities. In doing so, Festival Foods knew it could also centralize store-level responsibilities so that teams could focus less on tactics and more on creating an exceptional guest environment. "As we grow, we're committed to doing so in a way that leverages leading-edge technologies with AI and machine learning, while staying true to our customer-focused culture," said Jeff Main, Vice President Information Technology, Festival Foods. "In fact, culture was our number-one priority and Symphony RetailAI certainly fit that requirement with its roots in grocery. Plus, the breadth of Symphony RetailAI's offering was exactly what we were looking for, covering everything a grocery retailer needs today. Furthermore, because Symphony RetailAI's platform is cloud-based, it's going to eliminate IT management headaches you'd typically have with an on-premise solution. Instead, we'll have a more reliable system across the board, with less downtime and more confidence in the integrity of our data." Retailers using a single master data management solution can achieve on average a 50% reduction in data maintenance costs and a 100X faster time to market. Symphony RetailAI Master Data Management is expected to be a productivity driver for Festival Foods, with simplified vendor onboarding and the ability for suppliers to manage their data and collaborate within the shared insights platform. Festival Foods' data input workflow will be streamlined, with enforced requirements and foratting standards to ensure accuracy and eliminate errors. The grocer will also be able to capture more data attributes than before.



"Our initial goal of improving promotions led us to a broader understanding of the importance of a data foundation," said Rick Baranczyk, Business Analytics Senior Director, Festival Foods. "The confidence in our analytics will drive better decision making and allow us to be nimbler as we grow the business. We're confident that with this master data management solution in place, we'll soon be able to optimize our promotional spend to promote the right products at the right time in the right markets. That single version of the truth will also eventually allow us to ensure the best assortments are on the shelf in each market." "A solid data foundation feeds the entire retail value chain, and it is critically important to have in place to support strategic growth," said Chris Koziol, CEO, Symphony RetailAI. "We know that one of Festival Foods' driving forces is customer satisfaction and providing an amazing guest experience. With a newfound mastery of its data and resulting downstream system efficiencies, Festival Foods will be able to deliver on that commitment even more than before. We're excited that the team has invited us to be its partner in continued innovation as we help Festival Foods create an integrated retail value chain that delivers actionable insights across marketing, merchandising and supply chain."

Festival Foods will be well-positioned to integrate additional capabilities from Symphony RetailAI, including Assortment Optimization, Demand ForecastingAI, Replenishment Planning and Allocation. Visit the Symphony RetailAI website to learn more about how retailers are using the power of data to drive next-level customer relationships with Symphony RetailAI Master Data Management and Symphony RetailAI Promotions Optimization. About Festival Foods

Festival Foods is more than just a grocery store. As an employee- and family-owned company, Festival Foods prides itself on providing high-quality products and offering guests an exceptional shopping experience. Festival Foods operates stores throughout Wisconsin and was founded as Skogen's IGA by Paul and Jane Skogen in 1946 in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and is still owned by the Skogen family. About Symphony RetailAI

Symphony RetailAI is a leading global provider of role-specific, AI-powered revenue growth management solutions and customer-centric insights for retailers and CPG manufacturers across the entire value chain. Our proven, industry-leading, AI-enabled software, coupled with the industry's only conversational natural-language AI interface, CINDE, provides key users with proven prescriptive and preemptive recommendations that make it easy to identify end-to-end growth opportunities, activate plans and realize measurable profit and revenue growth. Our solutions are specific to key decision-maker roles focused on profitable growth across the retail value chain from source to consumer. With our strong global partner ecosystem, we serve more than 1,200 organizations worldwide - including 15 of the top 25 global grocery retailers, 25 of the top 25 global CPG manufacturers, thousands of retail brands, and hundreds of national and regional chains - all through the Microsoft (News - Alert) Azure Cloud. Symphony RetailAI is a SymphonyAI company. More at Symphony RetailAI. About SymphonyAI

SymphonyAI is building the leading enterprise AI company for digital transformation across the most important and resilient growth verticals, including life sciences, healthcare, retail, consumer packaged goods, financial services, manufacturing, and media. In each of these verticals, SAI (News - Alert) businesses have many of the leading enterprises as clients. SAI is backed by a $1 billion commitment from Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly to a combined revenue run rate of more than $300 million and over 2,200 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005205/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Galileo Learning Coming to Seattle In Summer 2022

Galileo Learning, LLC, one of the most renowned summer day camp providers in the country, will be putting down community roots this summer in Seattle starting for the 2022 summer camp season. Galileo Learning's mission is to develop innovators who envision and create a better world. Galileo's signature camp program, Camp Galileo, offers children ages pre K to sixth grade project-based learning that incorporates making, engineering, art, design and outdoor play. In partnership with local schools, Galileo Learning is creating 100 jobs in the Seattle region this summer for teachers and college students who assist them. Camp Galileo currently operates in California, Illinois, Colorado, and now Seattle. Through imaginative themes and programming, campers, guided by specially-trained staff, learn to apply a design thinking framework to their camp projects called The Galileo Innovation Approach(R), which has been proven by a Stanford study to have lasting impact.



"Our mission is to bring joy and creativity to kids in as many communities as possible, and we are thrilled to be entering the innovative hub of Seattle this summer," Galileo Learning CEO Glen Tripp says. "At Galileo we believe the world can become a better place through innovation, and that all children have the ability to develop the attitudes and skills they need to be changemakers," said Tripp. "Galileo is excited to expand its offerings to the broader Seattle community."

"Seattle is the perfect place for Galileo Learning's mission to inspire innovation in children through our award-winning camp programming," Jill Riemer, Galileo Learning Seattle Territory Director says. "The events of the last two years have greatly impeded children's ability to get out and be creative, and we are excited to tap into and bring out the local population of innovators, in education and beyond, to help lead and shape the city's young minds." Enrollment for Camp Galileo opens in early 2022. For more information on Galileo Learning and to pre-register, please visit: https://galileo-camps.com/. About Galileo Learning Galileo's mission is to develop innovators who envision and create a better world. In 2021, more than 30,000 kids created, designed, played and laughed at Camp Galileo's 52 summer programs in California, Colorado, and Illinois These programs were brought to life by 1,500 passionate educators. Founded in 2002 by Glen Tripp, Galileo is a certified B Corp, a Real Leaders' Top Impact Company, a Bay Area Best Places to Work and one of Forbes' Best Small Companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005364/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Generational Equity Advises The Plant Concierge in its Sale to Private Investor

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client The Plant Concierge LLC to a Private Investor. The acquisition closed October 28, 2021. Located in Dallas, Texas, The Plant Concierge (TPC) is a full-service landscaping company offering everything from design/build to landscape management. TPC prides itself on its awareness of the environment and offers organic solutions to fertilizer and pest control. The Company's projects involve the design and implementation of the installation. After the initial installation is complete, clients typically sign a multi-year maintenance agreement to maintain the landscape. TPC's goal is to be recognized as the industry leading landscape company in the greater Dallas area, through organic practices and education of their employees, clients, and communities. Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A - Central Region, Michael Goss, and his team lead by Senior M&A Advisor, Cory Strickland, with support from Vice President, M&A, Jacob Mangalath successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director David Robinson established the initial relationship with TPC. "The Pant Concierge is undoubtedly the most premier landscaping company in the greater Dallas area. The Seller's life-long goal was to grow the Company to a place where it could be transferred to the next generation; and be able to retire young and move to Costa Rica," said Strickland.



Strickland added, "It was a real pleasure to be able to be part of that vision. We found the perfect buyer who was looking to expand their footprint from Waco to Dallas that shared the same core values and organic practices as the founder. I wish both the best of luck in their future endeavors." About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With more than 250 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2017 and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year and Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005194/en/

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[November 02, 2021] HED: New Canadian Media celebrates milestone of 2,000 stories published

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - New Canadian Media is proud to announce an important marker in our evolution: 2,000 stories ! As a member-based, non-profit digital news organization that was founded to highlight the voices of immigrant diasporas which often go unheard, these 2,000 stories capture the rich and varied lived experience of newcomers to Canada as told by our talented NCM Collective of reporters. This is a celebration for all our members, partners and collaborators who have been working tirelessly to create more diverse, inclusive news media from the time we opened our virtual doors in 2014. "As founder, I never thought we'd ever get to 2,000 stories -- with some 300 individual bylines. More than the number, I'm impressed by the sheer range of stories and themes, a reflection of the varied lived experienes of immigrants to Canada. We've only just begun," said George Abraham, NCM's publisher.





NCM primarily taps into the deep reservoir of global journalistic talent that has congregated in Canada. While our objective is to cover marginalized, racialized and new-immigrant communities that are not adequately reflected through mainstream news, our readership includes a diverse make-up, evenly split between Canadians born here and newcomers, bridging the gap between the two.

Our perspective is always Canadian. We cover international, national, provincial, local and hyper-local issues that resonate within diaspora communities. Our coverage highlights immigrant perspectives on a wide range of topics including current affairs, education, politics, health, policy, youth, arts and culture. NCM is grateful for the support of our partners with whom we have collaborated over the years to help us reach this exciting milestone: the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), TVO, ipolitics.ca , The Walrus, Metroland, The Pointer, Black Press, Village Media, The Tyee, J-Source, Ryerson Journalism Review, Nieman Reports, Policy Options, Canadian Press, CBC, The Globe and Mail, Postmedia, and others. As we move forward towards creating new milestones, we invite new Canadian journalists as well as those born and raised here to contribute to the national conversation and join our 200-strong Collective , 65 of whom are also part of the burgeoning NCM-CAJ Collective. "In less than one year, the NCM-CAJ Collective has created a remarkable forum for intercultural dialogue between journalists of different lived experiences," said Brent Jolly, president of the CAJ. "Building off this incredible foundation, we look forward to breaking new ground with this partnership in the coming weeks and months." One example is the forthcoming survey on diversity in Canadian newsrooms, which the CAJ will be releasing this autumn. NCM has been a helpful partner in this project. As well, Abraham will serve as a mentor in the upcoming round of the CAJ's mentorship program . "Our goal is not just to be yet another media platform. We are raising a cadre of journalists from immigrant backgrounds that is truly reflective of a multicultural Canada, even while publishing stories that you won't read or hear elsewhere," said Abraham. NCM is actively involved in raising professional standards through in-person training workshops, interactive webinars and mentoring under its educational mandate. SOURCE New Canadian Media

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[November 02, 2021] KMS Lighthouse Now Available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KMS Lighthouse, a global leader in knowledge management, announced today the availability of KMS Lighthouse as a transactable SaaS offering in the Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications, and services built on Azure. With the advanced knowledge and AI features of Lighthouse, companies can ensure content is readily consumable for employees and customers alike and accessible from any device. KMS Lighthouse empowers enterprises with accurate and consistent knowledge delivering operational efficiencies enabling organizations to reducing on boarding by 50%, reduce error rate and shorten time to knowledge by 25%. The company focuses on the development of enterprise solutions leveraging AI and machine learning capabilities to provide the right answers at the right time. Users simply ask a question in natural language and receive an instant answer. "The Microsoft Azure Marketplace enables organizations to acquire the KMS Lighthouse solutions with the click of a button, simplifying the transaction process," said Sagi Eliyahu, CEO of KMS Lighthouse. KMS Lighthouse has seen hyper growth in the last 2 years as organizations have adapted to a hybrid work environment requiring knowledge." "Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they can trust, all certified nd optimized to run on Azure," said Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "We're happy to welcome KMS Lighthouse to the growing Azure Marketplace ecosystem."



The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About KMS Lighthouse:

KMS Lighthouse is a leading global provider of a cutting-edge SaaS knowledge management technology. Lighthouse enhances every business engagement by empowering customers, employees and agents with real-time access to accurate and consistent knowledge to improve customer and employee experience alike. KMS Lighthouse's powerful patented search functionality dramatically improves engagements across all service and sales channels, with simple integrations to existing and future self-service channels. The company supports many verticals and customers include Unum Group, GE Healthcare, Orange, Delta Dental and other Fortune 500 companies. KMS Lighthouse will be hosting its Summit with Forrester on November 11 at 11am EST / 4pm UK time. For more information, visit https://www.kmslh.com, or email [email protected]. KMS Lighthouse is now available on Microsoft Azure KMS Lighthouse Contact:

Hilee Avrahami

Marketing Manager

[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kms-lighthouse-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-301413946.html SOURCE KMS Lighthouse

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[November 02, 2021] Lohmann launches first joint startup challenge with Brightlands Chemelot Campus

NEUWIED, Germany, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG is focusing on promoting startups in the field of sustainable materials management and renewable chemistry. To this end, the Neuwied-based company is launching a startup challenge together with the Dutch startup incubator Brightlands Chemelot Campus. An interview with the initiators Dr. Evert Smit (Director of Scouting at Lohmann) and Hugo Delissen (Business Development Manager at Brightlands Chemelot Campus). Lohmann: Mr. Delissen, you are visiting Lohmann today. Please describe your impressions. How have you liked it here so far? And Dr. Smit, what are your impressions of today's meeting here in the Bonding Arena at the Lohmann TEC Center Neuwied? Hugo Delissen: My goal is to get to know Lohmann in detail. In order to make the most of the time, we started the day at 9 a.m. today. I am impressed, because with Lohmann we have exactly the partner at our side that can support startups in the materials management and chemicals sector. What do startups need? Well, first of all, time and money. But also technical expertise in the field in which they want to establish themselves on the market, and access to a relevant network, of course. Companies like Lohmann provide effective startup support for this. Dr. Evert Smit: Startups quickly reach the point where they need specific technical support. For example, it is important to test the products in a real environment and in the presence of industry experts before they are launched on the market. It is also a matter of providing expertise to the "industry newcomers" and familiarizing them with market-specific processes and applications. I am pleased that we at Lohmann can support startups in this. And, of course, to be able to show Mr. Delissen our company, that is rich in tradition, today. Hugo Delissen: The task of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, in turn, is primarily to provide support in material development. However, we are limited when it comes to the subsequent application; Lohmann takes over this part. Only here can the industrial environment be realistically demonstrated. We in Geleen, the Netherlands, are more the laboratory, Lohmann the factory. Dr. Evert Smit: It is the perfect combination of both elements. Lohmann's job, for example, is to ensure that the startups offer something that is actually in demand on the market. Ideally, the young companies then produce something that is also useful for our company. Lohmann: The Startup Challenge is a joint project between Brightlands and Lohmann. As an observer, how should you imagine the practical implementation at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus when the interested parties arrive there? : That is based on the needs of the start-ups. We usually start by working together on a technical innovation or product. Then an existing business model or business plan has to be further elaborated. In a sense, a story has to be written about how the company should ultimately be set up. We also provide support with this story and with financing. Because only with a resilient concept it is possible for us to mobilize money. In addition, we offer premises in Geleen where the preliminary work takes place. We are currently looking for start-ups that would like to operate in Lohmann's field of business and could become interesting partners for Neuwied.



Dr. Evert Smit: As mentioned, we then take on the technical part and provide support on the subject of applications. It is also important to build up a network of suppliers for the newly founded companies. This is a real difficulty for startups, especially at the beginning. For us as a large and established company, this is much easier. In the end, we then see how the joint path continues. Will the startup become completely independent, or will it function as a joint venture of Lohmann? That remains to be seen. Lohmann: How did the idea for the joint startup challenge come about in the first place? What is the story behind this project?

Dr. Evert Smit: The current CTO of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Eric Appelman, is a former colleague of mine. We have a personal friendship during which we have had many conversations. Last summer, we talked about my new position as Director of Scouting at Lohmann. Eric wanted to know all about it, and that's how we came up with the idea of getting involved in startups together. The important thing now is to communicate this project well. To this end, we have also launched a website online. Ultimately, however, we can only effectively support two to three startups. 20, for example, would be absolutely unfeasible for us. The few, however, have to be a perfect thematic fit for us. Lohmann: Although the project is still in its infancy, I would like to ask you this: Could you already imagine that Lohmann will remain active in the area of startup support in the future? Dr. Evert Smit: As you rightly say, we are only at the beginning. For Lohmann, working with startups is a first. Of course, it may be that we do it more often. Hugo Delissen: I am also optimistic about this, because especially in times of growing sustainability, it is important to create a culture of innovation in as many companies as possible. It's not enough just to establish this in your own organization. Sustainable innovations are created together. Our campus has precisely this task. We want to unite people who want to create innovations in the field of materials science and renewable chemistry. That's why we also host joint events and group sports. People meet each other and get ideas. Dr. Evert Smit: If the Challenge is a success, we will certainly repeat it. Even if we "only" gain insights and don't produce a new startup, it's worth repeating. Only if it really brings no benefit at all will we do without it in the future. Hugo Delissen: But even in this "worst case" we have achieved a minimum goal: We have done active marketing. And people will say about Lohmann: They have done something that no one has done before. Lohmann: Mr. Delissen, is there a specific success story about a company that was "born" as a startup at Brightlands Chemelot Campus? Hugo Delissen: Yes, quite a few, actually. In the past five years, we have supported more than 100 startups. The most successful example is certainly Avantium  a company specializing in renewable chemicals. Its best-known product is PEF, a further development of PET, which we know from drinking bottles. And that's exactly the goal of my scouting: to recruit startup candidates, who make materials and manufacturing processes more sustainable. Lohmann: Our in-house product TwinMelt is a good example of this, the solutions without solvents. Have you already become acquainted with that? Hugo Delissen: Not yet, but it will be presented to me this evening in Koblenz. I am already very excited about it. And it really is a good example! Generally speaking, if you don't focus on sustainability today, you will soon stop earning money. Dr. Evert Smit: Once again, back to the topic of sustainability. The cooperation with Brightlands Chemelot Campus is also extremely valuable for our own sustainability strategy. During my visits to Geleen, I have repeatedly discovered things and concepts that will also make Lohmann a more sustainable company in the future. So, we learn from each other! Lohmann: And what else is on the agenda for you two today? You mentioned, after all, that you will also be visiting Koblenz. Hugo Delissen: After we have already looked at Lohmann's laboratories together and had lunch with employees, a tour of the polymerization and glaze departments will follow directly after this appointment. And after that we will go to Koblenz. I am already very excited! Sonja Schobitz

Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG

Irlicher Strae 55

56567 Neuwied / Germany

+49 02631 34 6040

[email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676562/Lohmann_Bonding_Arena.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1671784/Lohmann_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lohmann-launches-first-joint-startup-challenge-with-brightlands-chemelot-campus-301414014.html SOURCE Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG

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[November 02, 2021] Lufthansa Cargo digitalizes worldwide cargo handling of special products & services with IBS Software's iPartner Handling solution

FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major step towards digitalization and improving quality in worldwide cargo handling, Lufthansa Cargo is partnering with IBS Software to digitalize critical handling processes for special products and services like dangerous goods, pharmaceuticals and fresh produce. The deployment represents significant progress for Lufthansa Cargo's "Mobile Digital Handling" initiative, created to eliminate paper-based processes across its operations by digitalizing tasks and process checks carried out by its Ground Handling Agent (GHA) partners. The initiative leverages IBS Software's latest iPartner Handling solution to extend Lufthansa Cargo's special checks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to its extensive global GHA network. The solution seamlessly integrates with airlines running IBS Software's iCargo cloud platform for air cargo management to provide a single access, easy to use set of mobile and web tools that GHAs can use to carry out specialised workflows and tasks. Through the iPartner Handling solution, rich information captured by GHAs is made available to Lufthansa Cargo on a real-time basis, enhancing the quality and service levels of all of its cargo products. The platform also offers digital connectivity options for GHAs via APIs and has been architected keeping future industry initiatives such as ONE Record in mind. The roll out has been planned in two phases, the first of which will see 30+ Lufthansa Cargo stations across Europe, Asia and the Americas going live, followed by additional stations and several new use-cases and enhancements being added to the solution. The first wave of five stations has already successfully gone live. "Driving the digital transformation of our industry has always been an ongoing priority for us at Lufthansa Cargo. Aside from directly improving the data quality and thus making processes more efficient, the 'Mobile Digital Handling' initiative also opens up tremendos opportunities for us for further innovating and improving how we work with our partners along the whole supply chain," said Dr. Jan-Wilhelm Breithaupt, Vice President Global Fulfillment Management at Lufthansa Cargo.



"There is significant impetus in the industry to foster digitalization initiatives that enhance partnerships and collaboration in the supply chain. The iPartner Handling solution takes us one step further towards our over-arching goal of building a digital ecosystem for our iCargo customers that can help generate positive business outcomes for them quickly and effectively," said Ashok Rajan, SVP & Head of Cargo & Logistics, IBS Software. "We are glad to develop our long-term partnership with IBS Software even further. 'Mobile Digital Handling' is the next success story for how the combination of IBS Software's technology leadership and Lufthansa Cargo's innovation capabilities contributes to shaping our industry. It was a pleasure to see how the realization of our vision went hand in hand with the development of the iPartner Handling solution. Being the launching customer, we hope that other cargo airlines will join soon this new community solution. In joining forces we will drive the digitalization of the industry," said Dr. Jochen Gottelmann, CIO at Lufthansa Cargo.

For more information https://www.ibsplc.com/product/airline-passenger-solutions. About IBS Software IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise and hospitality industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover flight & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air-cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company and operates from 15 offices across the world. Further information can be found at https://www.ibsplc.com/. For media enquiries, please email the Corporate Communications team: [email protected]. Lufthansa Cargo AG With a turnover of 2.8 billion euros and a transport performance of 6.5 billion freight ton kilometers in 2020, Lufthansa Cargo is one of the world's leading companies in the transport of airfreight. The company currently employs around 4,400 people worldwide. Lufthansa Cargo's focus is on the airport-to-airport business. The route network covers around 300 destinations in more than 100 countries, using both freighter aircraft and cargo capacity from passenger aircraft operated by Deutsche Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings Discover and SunExpress, as well as trucks. The majority of the cargo business is handled via Frankfurt Airport. Lufthansa Cargo aligns its corporate responsibility commitment with the sustainability goals of the United Nations (UN). Lufthansa Cargo has committed itself to anchoring five selected sustainability goals in its corporate activities and to making a substantial contribution to achieving these goals by the year 2030. Lufthansa Cargo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the specialist for the logistics business of the Lufthansa Group. www.lufthansa-cargo.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1675694/LH_Cargo_iPartner_Handling.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg

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[November 02, 2021] Luxury NYC Baby Gift Brand Estella Partners With Stride Rite

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Designer online baby gift boutique Estella has partnered with best-selling children's footwear brand Stride Rite to offer holiday shoppers an adorable gift with purchase. Estella has partnered with Stride Rite to offer holiday shoppers an adorable gift with purchase. Beginning November 9th, shoppers who make an $80+ purchase on StrideRite.com will receive a free Estella Toni Baby Elephant Toy (while supplies last). Stride Rite looked to Estella for this partnership because of their commitment to environmental stewardship, their beautifully crafted handmade baby toys and luxury clothes, and their reach to young mothers. A $22 value, Toni is a classic, sweet, and engaging friend for newborn babies. The elephant is made in Peru of GOTS-certified organic cotton exterior using eco-friendly dyes and stuffed with polyester. Soft, snuggly, and sized just right for little hands, the elephant featues a small heart stitched on its left leg to call attention to the support and care that the critically endangered Sumatran elephant needs. Toni is the winner of both the Mom's Choice Award and the National Parenting Seal of Approval.



Says Estella owner Chike Chukwulozie, "Estella is thrilled to partner with best-selling children's shoe brand Stride Rite to put a pep in the step of holiday shoppers this year! Our adorable Toni elephant toy is a consistent favorite among moms and gift givers alike and we know Stride Rite customers will delight in giving this gift to the littlest ones on their holiday gift lists." Meg Forno, Stride Rite's Marketing Director states, "We are delighted to be partnering with Estella this holiday season. The Toni elephant toy is a such a sweet gift for our customers to receive with their early holiday purchases!"

About Estella:

Owned by husband-and-wife team Jean Polsky and Chike Chuwulozie, Estella offers eclectic, high quality organic baby gifts, clothes, toys, blankets and nursery decor. Designed by a mother and produced by craftsman rather than corporations, the line is renowned by parents and the fashion community alike for its gorgeous colors, textures, spirit, and commitment to Earth-friendly practices. A unique combination of artisan-inspired designs, eco-friendly materials and processes, and high-quality production have kept the Estella brand top of mind for new moms and gift-givers for over two decades. Learn more at www.estella-nyc.com. About Stride Rite:

Founded in 1919, Stride Rite is a leader in the children's footwear industry. With a rich 100-year history, Stride Rite delivers quality products with advanced and cutting-edge technologies. Inspired by a child's out-of-this-world imagination and the challenges of parenting, Stride Rite puts an emphasis on fit and quality because they understand that parents' greatest desire is to provide their kids with the best. Stride Rite is distributed throughout the US in specialty retailers, independent and department stores and online. Stride Rite is a division of Vida Shoes International, Inc. a global leader in the footwear industry. Learn more at www.striderite.com and follow Stride Rite on Facebook and Instagram at @StrideRite. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luxury-nyc-baby-gift-brand-estella-partners-with-stride-rite-301414246.html SOURCE Stride Rite

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[November 02, 2021] McMaster Innovation Park Establishes North America Life Sciences Capital Markets Advisory Council

Council will be Unique of its Kind in Canada

Expertise of Council Members Spans All Stages of Financing for Life Sciences Innovation

Council to Support Life Sciences SME's with a Growth Imperative HAMILTON, ON, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) today announced the establishment of the North America Life Sciences Capital Markets Advisory Council ("Council", or "the Council"). NEW COUNCIL TO SUPPORT LIFE SCIENCES SME'S WITH A GROWTH IMPERATIVE "Canada is prolific in the creation of intellectual property in life sciences, but too often that IP either never gets commercialized, or it leaves Canada just at the point when life sciences companies are poised to create value. The Council will work on a national stage to develop recommendations to address the capital constraints that limit the potential value creation and economic growth of life science ventures," Shattuck explained. He continued, "the Purpose of the North America Life Sciences Capital Markets Advisory Council is to help identify, attract, grow and retain life sciences cmpanies in Canada by bringing life sciences innovation together with the right sources of capital at the stage when that capital is needed, and in the quantum required. By engaging capital markets leaders, we aspire to better align Canada's diverse life sciences ecosystem and Canadian capital markets in ways that create economic and societal value."



"The Council seeks to enhance the connective tissue between life science innovation and domestic capital markets," commented Ty Shattuck, Chief Executive Officer of McMaster Innovation Park. He added, "The North America Life Sciences Capital Markets Advisory Council at MIP will be unique in Canada. It includes individuals and organizations highly experienced in financing activities that support life sciences innovation and scale-up, especially small and medium-sized enterprises with a growth imperative." Inaugural members of the Council include,

Ty Shattuck  Chief Executive Officer, MIP (Chair)

 Chief Executive Officer, MIP (Chair) Michael Wong  Associate, Flagship Pioneering

 Associate, Flagship Pioneering Anne Woods , Managing Director, Life Science and Healthcare practice, Silicon Valley Bank

, Managing Director, Life Science and Healthcare practice, Silicon Valley Bank Roger Tam , Vice President, Legal, Hoffmann-La Roche Limited

, Vice President, Legal, Hoffmann-La Roche Limited Jesse Pearlstein - Vice President, BMO Capital Markets

- Vice President, BMO Capital Markets Alex Muggah  Director of SYNAPSE Consortium

 Director of SYNAPSE Consortium Nancy Harrison  Venture Partner, Amplitude

 Venture Partner, Amplitude David Gibbins  Venture Capital Advisor

 Venture Capital Advisor Matt Pittman  Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets

 Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets Rob Cook  Senior Vice President Market Development, Canadian Securities Exchange

 Senior Vice President Market Development, Canadian Securities Exchange Gordon Forstner  (Secretary)

 (Secretary) Cory Mulvihill , Lead Executive, Policy and Public Affairs, MaRS (Observer) The Council represents expertise spanning the financing continuum, from venture capital to public markets as well as financing for highly specialized life sciences infrastructure. "The goal is to connect innovators and capital, through the continuum that spans the needs of companies ranging from start ups to publicly listed corporations, in order to support growth, innovation and value creation in the life sciences," said Shattuck. In Canada, where the life sciences industry is geographically dispersed, it is anticipated that the Council will play a role that supports the industry across Canada. The Council expects to identify gaps and areas for improvement for the Life Sciences from a capital markets perspective and provide recommendations to improve the ability to finance life sciences companies. By leveraging their experience, knowledge, and networks to help advance growing companies, the members of the Council help to support life sciences companies as they scale up and seek access to growth capital. Through their respective networks, members also support awareness of the importance of life sciences innovation in Ontario, and in Canada, as well as the role of innovation parks such as MIP in the regional life sciences ecosystem. About McMaster Innovation Park McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is Canada's premier research park based in the heart of southwestern Ontario and home to over one hundred companies in the Life Science, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing and high-tech sectors. MIP's proven ability to support and grow mid-market / SME enterprises results in faster, more economically impactful, and lower risk investments for government and private investors alike. SOURCE McMaster Innovation Park

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[November 02, 2021] Nauta Capital closes one of Europe's biggest B2B focused-funds to invest 190M in early-stage software companies

- Nauta's fifth fund has exceeded the firm's 150M target and becomes one of Europe's largest early-stage funds specialising in B2B software - Backing companies from Seed and Series A, Nauta has already invested in 11 companies in verticals such as Fintech, Insurtech, Retailtech, and Open Source, among others, under the new fund - Nauta's investment interests include SaaS solutions with strong network effects, vertically focused enterprise tech and companies leveraging deep-tech applications to solve large enterprise challenges LONDON and BARCELONA, Spain and BERLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nauta Capital, the pan-European Venture Capital firm investing in capital-efficient B2B software companies, has today announced the final close of its oversubscribed fifth fund at 190M. With a 120M first closed announced in 2020 - at the height of global pandemic - the fund's final close brings the firm's assets under management to 550+M, making Nauta one of Europe's largest venture capital firms specialising in B2B startups. Simultaneously fundraising and investing, Nauta has invested in 11 companies across Europe from the new fund since its launch. Commenting on the news, Carles Ferrer, Nauta's London-based General Partner, said "It has ben a fast-moving year for us as a team  we were neck-deep closing our fund from existing and new Limited Partners, while at the same time meeting and investing in more companies than ever before. And this was all done virtually. The experience certainly gave us a new perspective in how we related to the founders and evaluated concepts while empowering our team to invest in even more game-changing verticals and companies."



The companies invested from the new fund range from SaaS purchase and management (Cledara), open source platform (Nhost), and app analytics and management platform (Appfollow)) to solutions democratising employee wellbeing (ifeel), embedded insurance for SMEs (insureQ), and b2b last-mile delivery company (Gophr), among others. "We're proud to have surpassed our target having now closed at 190M, making it our biggest fund to date and one of Europe's largest B2B funds. With most of our existing LPs from our vintage funds committing again, we are grateful for their continued trust in us and our investment strategy," added Carles.

Nauta has attracted a wide range of Limited Partners across Europe, Asia, and the Americas in their new fund. Accordingly, the vast majority of Limited Partners joining the fund are private institutions with strategic interest in fund's B2B focus as well as Family Offices with links to corporations aligned with the fund's investment thesis. Among these are Netherlands based European Family Office Merifin Capital and the private markets division of the?Spain based giant BBVA Asset?Management. The fund has also had backing from leading?investors such as British Patient Capital, ICO,?the European Investment Fund, ICF, and Germany-based KfW Capital. As a sector-agnostic B2B investor, Nauta's?main areas?of interest include SaaS solutions with strong network effects, vertically focused enterprise tech transforming large industries as well as those leveraging deep-tech applications to solve challenges faced by large enterprises. Investing from late seed and Series A, typically Nauta invests between 1M - 5M initially, with the ability to follow on at later stages. Nauta Capital has had a successful year leading up to the fund's final close with two portfolio exits in the last 8 months. The VC firm exited from Brandwatch, a global leader in digital consumer intelligence, which was acquired by Cision for $450M earlier in 2021, and from Holded which was acquired by Visma group. As part of the new fund, the VC firm will invest 100-250K in 16 pre-seed deeptech companies through its recently launched Nauta Labs initiative. These 16 smaller investments will be in addition to the approximately 35 companies Nauta plans to invest in from its new fund. With a team distributed across London, Barcelona, and Berlin, Nauta Capital has doubled its team to 24 in the last three years. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1675700/Nauta_Capital_Logo.jpg



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[November 02, 2021] Next-Gen Communications Expert Scott Wharton Joins Alianza Board of Directors

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alianza announced today that veteran communications industry expert Scott Wharton has joined Alianza's Board of Directors. Wharton, who serves as Logitech's Vice President and General Manager of the Video Collaboration Group, brings more than two decades of leadership experience driving and managing rapid and substantial growth at leading-edge communications technology companies. "Scott's rare combination of communications market expertise and real-world, experience combined with his successful development and growth of next-gen communications technologies make him an ideal match for Alianza's Board of Directors, and we are very fortunate to have him on our team," said Brian Beutler, CEO and Founder of Alianza. "Scott's creativity, vision, expertise, and collaborative leadership style will play a pivotal role as we look to capitalize on our position as the only true cloud-native, carrier-grade communications platform built for service providers  a solution that allows service providers to address a clear and growing market need for advanced unified communications solutions by offering their own UCaaS solutions, rather than ceding revenue opportunities and customer relationships to over the top (OTT) voice applications. Adding someone of Scott's caliber to our board is a tremendous validation of our business model, team, solution set and trajectory. I know that Scott will have an immense, positive impact not just on Alianza's future success, but on our service provider customers' success as well." In his role at Logitech, Wharton propelled the Video Collaboration Group to a market leadership position, enjoying a triple digi growth rate. Under his leadership, the division has become one of Logitech's largest and fastest growing business units. Prior to Logitech, Wharton founded Vidtel, a pioneer in cloud-based any-to-any video conferencing services. Vidtel was the first to connect high-end video systems such as Cisco and Polycom with consumer-based services such as Skype, Google, and WebRTC. As an early executive at BroadSoft and VocalTel, Wharton spearheaded numerous groundbreaking initiatives, including the development of the first commercial VoIP product, as well as the creation of the cloud PBX market and the VoIP service provider industry.



"I am beyond excited to be joining Alianza at this time, as the company is at a critical juncture in its growth and market position, and I believe my skillsets and expertise in next-gen communications technologies can play a valuable role in the company's next phase of growth," said Wharton. "With its distinctive, innovative solution portfolio, entrepreneurial management team, and keen focus on enabling service providers to compete and win in the rapidly evolving and growing business cloud communications market, Alianza is poised to be a game changer. I am looking forward to working with the other board members and with Alianza's leadership team to help service providers evolve their business models, upgrade their business communications portfolios, and grow their revenues while strengthening relationships with their business customers." About Alianza

Alianza delivers the only true cloud-native, carrier-grade communications platform built for service providers. Our proprietary full-stack cloud communications platform offers wholesale residential and business communications services, including voice, video conferencing, collaboration, text messaging, and standalone UC softphones. Our team of experts are passionate about transforming communications delivery and ensuring first-rate customer experiences for more than 200 service providers worldwide. As a result of the platform's exceptional quality and always-on availability, our service providers can innovate quickly and address the evolving demands of their end user customers in a way that is easy to manage, easy to consume, and highly profitable. Learn more about our solutions at alianza.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Contact

Hanna Miller

Vice President, Marketing

[email protected]

Kathleen Keith for Alianza

[email protected]

(707) 529-4507 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/next-gen-communications-expert-scott-wharton-joins-alianza-board-of-directors-301414127.html SOURCE Alianza Inc

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[November 02, 2021] Pike County, Georgia Announces partnership with WavCom for Fiber Internet Expansion

The county of Pike, Georgia announced today it has entered into a partnership with Waverly Hall-based fiber optic Internet provider WavCom, to provide affordable, real high-speed Internet access for Pike County residents. The strategic partnership plans to bring high-speed fiber optic Internet to portions of Pike County fulfilling the need of 3,770 underserved households and businesses within the County. WavCom brings extensive experience building and operating fiber optic Internet networks. The County of Pike is in the process of seeking an ARPA Broadband grant to help fund the initiative. WavCom is a subsidiary of Highline, which is a nationwide fiber internet service provider that has been providing communication services to homes and business for more than 125 years. "We have worked closely with Pike County officials to understand the struggles its citizens have had with a lack of adequate broadband," commented Dillon Watson, WavCom Operations Manager. "This partnership will allow us to accelerate deployment to these areas that need real internet service." "WavCom has been actively deploying fiber in the region, but we do not currently service any Pike County homes and business and re excited about this opportunity," added Deb Rand, WavCom President and CEO of Highline South/West Region. "The increased need for work and learning from home, not to mention healthcare and other critical services, have been brought to the forefront during the Pandemic and this partnership provides an avenue for WavCom to solve Pike's digital divide with gigabit fiber connections."



"Creating fast and reliable Internet options for the residents and businesses of Pike County is critical to meeting the economic, health, education and social needs of our Pike County priorities," said Brandon Rogers, Pike County Manager. "WavCom is focused on making a difference in Pike County!" WavCom, and the other Highline brand companies, and are building gigabit fiber internet networks all across the country, delivering real high-speed Internet to tens of thousands of unserved, under-served and unhappily served Americans. Highline works closely within its partner and part-owner Atlantic Engineering Group (AEG) for the design, engineering, and construction of their gigabit Fiber-to-the-Premise networks. AEG has worked with municipalities, rural electric cooperatives and internet service providers for over 25 years and has built over 50,000 miles of fiber plant, passing almost 3 million homes, with over 130 FTTP projects completed all across the country. All of this work brings real high-speed Internet to customers in order to narrow the digital divide that has been widening in rural areas.

About Highline: Highline acquired WavCom in August 2021, and the brand name that will continue is Highline. At Highline, we believe everyone should have access to the most reliable, fastest internet speed available - at a fair price, regardless of where you live and work. Highline currently serves the communication and internet needs for thousands of residents and businesses in Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005963/en/

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[November 02, 2021] PitchBook and Web Summit Release Fourth Investor Survey Findings at 2021 Conference

LISBON, Portugal, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PitchBook, the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, today released findings from a new survey conducted in partnership with Web Summit, the world's largest technology conference which takes place November 2-4, 2021 at Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. The survey was administered and completed by 100 venture capital (VC) investors attending the conference. This is the fourth survey PitchBook and Web Summit have collaborated on and offers a glimpse at how investment activity has fared compared to 2020, investor sentiment towards technology and focus areas for impact. PitchBook is sponsoring the Investor Lounge at Web Summit, where investors in attendance can work, take meetings and network. Global VC dealmaking has been unrelenting in 2021, with notable activity in the U.S. and Europe. Capital investment in the U.S. shattered the prior annual record with $238.7 billion as of Q3 2021 and deal value in Europe achieved 73.7 billion during the same timeframe. As of September 30, 2021, Web Summit attendees accounted for 25.1% of U.S. deal value this year, 40.1% of European deal value and 24.3% of global deal value. Investors managing funds less than $250 million comprised 83% of survey respondents while 17% reported managing funds larger than $250 million. "At the start of the year, given the uncertainty stemming from the pandemic, few foresaw the vast capital flows into global VC that already shattered annual records with two months of the year to go," said Nalin Patel, Senior EMEA Private Capital analyst at PitchBook. "It has been really encouraging to see the resilience of the venture industry continue in 202. Traditional VC funds along with nontraditional investors are eager to deploy the record dry powder into both existing portfolio companies and the healthy pipeline of new startups emerging."



"We're delighted to collaborate with PitchBook again and deliver a unique insight into the current state of the VC world," said Chris Murphy, Advisor at Web Summit and Angel Investor. "There's never been a better time to invest, and while the U.S. remains strong, the growth we've seen locally shows how much value there is in Europe." Key findings and comparisons with 2020's survey include:

Investment 90% of respondents said they are making more investments now than before the coronavirus pandemic or haven't changed their investment strategies. When asked this question in 2020, 51% said they were making investments at the same rate as before the pandemic, and only 3.9% claim to have significantly pulled back on investing.

Two thirds of investors reported making at least six or more investments in the last twelve months, up from just over half of respondents (52%) in 2020.

Nearly half of investors (45%) said at least 75% of their investments in the last twelve months were first financings, which is an indicator of new companies entering the VC lifecycle. PitchBook data has shown an uptick in first-time financings in the U.S., with Q3 2021 deal counts expected to reach 3,500 after lagged data collection, which has only been achieved in a handful of quarters since 2006. Evaluation Looking at the top criterion used to evaluate investment opportunities , the company's business model has taken over the top spot. This time around, 30% of respondents said the business model is most important followed by executive team pedigree (22%). In November 2020 , executive team pedigree was ranked first (38.2%) followed by disruption potential (30.4%), which fell to 16% this year.

the company's business model has taken over the top spot. This time around, 30% of respondents said the business model is most important followed by executive team pedigree (22%). In , executive team pedigree was ranked first (38.2%) followed by disruption potential (30.4%), which fell to 16% this year. When asked about whether increased deal sizes across financing stages are pushing up valuations and making it harder to find good value-for-money investments, 79% agreed or strongly agreed meanwhile only 6% disagreed.

Considering nontraditional investment in VC, when asked if records levels of capital from these sources including corporate VCs and financial institutions is the main driving force behind increased deal sizes, half of all investors surveyed agreed or strongly agreed while 18% disagreed. This aligns with PitchBook data, where nontraditional investment has been driving both the emergence of unicorns and shattering records. Opportunity Investor sentiment towards emerging tech has shifted from before and during the pandemic to now, with a notable change in the blockchain category. 24% of investors see this emerging technology as having the potential to be the most disruptive in the next 5-10 years, which is up from 8% in 2020's survey.

Climate technologies, which was a new category this year, came in second with 18% of investor's indicating it will be the most disruptive technology in the next decade.

When asked where VC investors should focus their attention to have the most impact, environmental and social concerns was the top choice followed by a tie between improved long-term investment results and employee engagement and recruitment. For more information about PitchBook, click here. To see the survey results, please reach out to [email protected]. About PitchBook

PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscapeincluding public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company's data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York and London and serves more than 60,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as an independent subsidiary. About Web Summit

In the words of Inc. Magazine, "Web Summit is the largest technology conference in the world". Forbes says Web Summit is "the best tech conference on the planet", Bloomberg calls it "Davos for geeks", Politico "the Olympics of tech", and the Guardian "Glastonbury for geeks". View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pitchbook-and-web-summit-release-fourth-investor-survey-findings-at-2021-conference-301414062.html SOURCE PitchBook

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[November 02, 2021] Responsibility.org Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Interactive Learning Experience to Prevent Impaired Driving

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to increase awareness and stigmatize irresponsible drinking behavior, especially among high-risk drivers, Responsibility.org today launched Wrong Side of the Roada new initiative designed to educate and change attitudes among the 21- to 35-year-old demographic who are continually over-represented in DUI crashes and deaths. "Wrong Side of the Road is a free, interactive learning experience that presents a series of videos where impaired drivers share the life changing consequences of their DUIs," said Chris Swonger, President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and Responsibility.org. "By increasing awareness, we can lower instances of irresponsible behavior, especially among high-risk drivers. It's our sincere hope that one day, this innovative and important program can help ensure no more lives are lost to irresponsible and reckless driving behavior." The launch featured remarks from several notable attendees, including U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and U.S. Representative Charles Fleischmann (TN-3). "We have the technology to save countless lives, and it's time we use it. More families should not have to go through the trauma of losing their loved ones to something so preventable," said U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12). "And that's why my legislation, the Honoring the Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving (HALT) Act, is included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill because so many recognize the need to stop these preventable tragedies. I'm grateful for Responsibility.org's leadership and partnership in this fight  especially through creating innovative strategies like the Wrong Side of the Road to educate Americans and prevent them from driving impaired." The representative from Tennessee agreed with Rep. Dingell on her outlook towards solutions needed for impaired driving. "We have lost far too many Tennesseans to alcohol-impaired driving incidents over the years. It is critical to raise awareness and provide resources to help folks see how dangerous driving under the influence truly is," said U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3). "I commend Responsibility.org for providing their unique, user-friendly tool 'Wrong Side of the Road,' and look forward to heling to continue to promote this life-saving program."



Developed by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Diageo, and implemented in America by Responsibility.org on behalf of its 11 funders, craft supporters and corporate partners, Wrong Side of the Road will run globally through 2030. Following the panel discussion, attendees watched a demonstration of the program and learned more about the dangers of impaired driving during a Q&A session that included strategies to lower the numbers of impaired driving crashes and deaths. "Diageo is committed to creating prevention tools that further educate people about the dangers of impaired driving," said Debra Crew, President, Diageo North America. "It is important that we join forces to combat impaired driving to tackle this behavior. These crashes are completely preventableno one should have their life changed forever because someone drove impaired. Wrong Side of the Road is an innovative way to get that message in front of high-risk drivers who need to hear it."

The event also included remarks from David Whitesock, a Wrong Side of the Road participant, who discussed his own DUI experience and the negative impact it had on his life. "I feel incredibly lucky to participate in the Wrong Side of the Road program and to share my story with individuals who will hopefully choose not to get behind the wheel when impaired," said Whitesock. "I am grateful for the opportunity to support this important program and serve as an example of the serious consequences of impaired driving. If there is one upside to my struggle with addiction, it's that I can now help others make better choices." The launch follows the release of the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) preliminary?Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The survey estimates, there was an?18 percent increase?in U.S. traffic deaths?in the first six months of 2021 when compared to the first six months of 2020 (the highest half-year percentage increase in the history of recorded FARS data), and a separate analysis found in 2020 police reported alcohol-involved traffic deaths increased an estimated nine percent. While drunk driving fatalities have decreased 36 percent since 1991, traffic deaths increased 10 percent in the U.S. from 2020-2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The latest data show, police reported alcohol-involved traffic deaths increased by nine percent with extreme speeds and low seat belt use noted as additional factors in the noted rise in traffic fatalities. For more information, visit Responsibility.org/WrongSideoftheRoad. About Responsibility.org Responsibility.org is a national not-for-profit that aims to eliminate drunk driving and work with others to end all impaired driving, eliminate underage drinking, and empowers adults to make a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices as part of a balanced lifestyle. Responsibility.org is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi USA, Inc.; Beam Suntory Inc.; Brown-Forman; Campari Group; DIAGEO; Edrington, Mast-Jagermeister US, Inc.; Moet Hennessy USA; Ole Smoky, LLC; Pernod Ricard USA; and William Grant & Sons. For 30 years, Responsibility.org has transformed countless lives through programs that bring individuals, families, and communities together to inspire a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices. To learn more, please visit www.Responsibility.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/responsibilityorg-launches-first-of-its-kind-interactive-learning-experience-to-prevent-impaired-driving-301414138.html SOURCE Responsiblity.org

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[November 02, 2021] ScoutCam Rounds Out Management Team with Appointments of Arik Priel as Chief SW Architect and Roee Peled as VP Business Development

Both Positions Will Focus on Advancing the Companys Expansion Strategy in the Industry 4.0 Markets OMER, Israel, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ScoutCam (OTCQB:SCTC), a leading provider of turnkey I4.0 visualization solutions, composed of field proven highly resilient image acquisition unit, data collection and storage with dedicated AI capabilities, today announced the additions of Arik Priel as the Companys new Chief SW Architect and Roee Peled as the Companys new Vice President of Business Development. Arik brings over 20 years of experience in leading multidisciplinary R&D and engineering teams in defining and navigating product development from concept to deployment, with a focus on cloud-based architectures and AI-based technologies. Prior to joining ScoutCam, Arik held several senior technology positions, most recently as CTO of Octopol, where he combined state of the art AI models together with cutting edge software technology. Prior to Octopol, Arik served as Director of Technology at Green & Gold Analytics, where he established partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. Arik also previously served as VP R&D and established the Israeli innovation center of Landesk (currently named Ivanti). Arik earned both his BSc in Computer Science and Economics and MBA from Bar-Ilan University. Roee Peled is a proven business development and sales executive, specializing in identifying and opening new sectors and geographic markets in the IoT, 3D/LiDAR, Cybersecurity and Machine/Deep Learning industries. He has overseen transactions in multi-disciplined and complex B2B sales processes (SaaS/Capex-Opex) and has deep technical knowledge in hardware and software. Prior to joining ScoutCam, Roee held senior business development and sales positions with PointGrab, imVision Mantis Vision and Orckit Systems, and comAbility Ltd. He earned his BSc in Electrical Engineering from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA from Bar Ilan University. ScoutCam develops novel, state-of-the-art products i the I4.0 domain  focusing on Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) and Predictive Maintenance (PdM) for a variety of sectors (Aviation, Energy and Automotive), and as we continue to advance our visualization solutions, the universe of potential applications expands. To strengthen our leadership position in the market its important that we assemble a team with the experience and expertise to not only meet that demand but recognize new areas worth pursuing. The addition of Arik to our team in a leadership role will strengthen our ability to innovate for Industry 4.0. Ariks role will be to help build and transform ScoutCams products to be more software based, while Roees focus will be introducing our solutions to new customers within our existing markets as well as identifying applications in new sectors, and in addition assisting in pivoting ScoutCams business model to a recurring revenue model, said Yovav Sameah, Chief Executive Officer of ScoutCam.



About ScoutCam ScoutCam is a leading provider of image-based platforms. Pioneering the use of its proprietary visualization technology, ScoutCam offers state-of-the-art solutions across a variety of Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring markets, thus paving the way for the energy, automotive and aviation industries. ScoutCams solutions are based on small and highly resilient cameras, specialized AI analysis and supplementary technologies.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Companys expectations, beliefs, assumptions and intentions regarding, among other things, its product-development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects, as of the date of this news release. They are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as believe, expect, intend, plan, may, should or anticipate or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things, our ability to maximize the economic potential and monetize the technology covered in the press release; the material and positive effect of the appointments of Mr. Arik Priel and Mr. Roee Peled will have on our business and operations, including our ability to innovate and better penetrate the Industry 4.0 sector, and our ability to identify new markets and successfully implement a recurring revenue business model; the Companys ability to effectively maximize the skills and contributions of Mr. Arik Priel and Mr. Roee Peled; the ability of each of Mr. Arik Priel and Mr. Roee Peled to help the Company secure opportunities in the sectors described in this news release; risks and uncertainties relating to our reliance on third-party suppliers; market acceptance of our products by prospect markets and industries; our ability to raise sufficient funding in order to meet our business and financial goals; and certain other factors summarized in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. For more information, please visit https://www.scoutcam.com. Contact: Tanya Yosef, CFO - +972 (73) 370 469



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[November 02, 2021] SMBC Nikko Securities America Hires Paul Spivack as Managing Director, Deputy Head of Capital Markets

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., a member of SMBC Group, today announced that Paul Spivack has joined the firm as Managing Director, Deputy Head of Capital Markets. In this role, he will work closely with the firm's debt business, providing his advice and counsel to help drive further growth for this unit. He will report to Scott Ashby, Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets and Investment Banking, Senior Deputy President. "We are very pleased to welcome Paul to the firm as a senior leader of our Capital Markets business," said Scott Ashby. "His strong and diverse background, in various asset classes, through a global lens and perspective will add significant value to our mix of clients. We are confident that Paul will help support the sustained growth of this business, will be an integral member of our expanding team, and will help to enhance the execution of our strategy and delivery for corporate clients." Paul joins SMBC Nikko Securities America from Morgan Stanley, where he spent the past 17 years, most recently as a Managing Director, Joint Head of Fixed Income Capital Markets (FICM) Americas and Head of Latam Debt Capital Markets, a role he served in since 2018. He also served as Managing Director, Global Head of FICM Syndicate and as a member of the Global Capital Markets (GCM) Operating Committee. In these roles, Paul jointly managed a group of more than 100 professionals across the U.S., Latin America, Europe, andAsia. These teams were responsible for the origination and execution of debt securities, loans (including acquisition finance), derivatives, liability management, and securitization.



Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2004, Paul served in various positions with Hawk Global Advisors, Bank of America Securities, Bear Stearns, Credit Suisse First Boston, UBS, Coudert Brothers, and the office of Hon. Ralph K. Winter. Paul earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University.

About SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. is a member of SMBC Group, one of the world's largest global financial institutions. Based in New York City, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. provides investment securities and other financial services to corporate and institutional clients, focusing on North America and Latin America. SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. caters to institutional investors such as mutual funds, hedge funds, and other investment advisors. About SMBC Group SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 85,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges. As of June 30, 2021, its total assets were $2.11 trillion. In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization's extensive global network. The Group's operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC Rail Services LLC, Manufacturers Bank, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005522/en/

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[November 02, 2021] TNS Strengthens European Reach to Deliver Enhanced Market Data Capability and Ultra-Low Latency Connectivity

Transaction Network Services (TNS (News - Alert)) has invested significantly in its European backbone and data solutions in 2021, offering expanded market data from all major European equities exchanges and ultra-low latency TNS Layer 1 in-datacentre architecture connected to TNS' points-of-presence (PoPs) across Europe. The organisation enhanced its already extensive market data portfolio adding Wiener Boerse AG, which operates the stock exchanges in Vienna and Prague. TNS is also working with Deutsche Borse to provide access to Eurex and Xetra market data for non-member organizations, leveraging its established presence at the datacentre in Frankfurt. "This strengthening of our European backbone is part of our commitment to provide premium Infrastructure-as-a-Service (laaS) across Europe," comments Alastair Watson, Managing Director of TNS' EMEA Financial Markets business. "Access to streaming market data globally is critical to the operations of financial firms. Coupled with our proven, reliable, low latency technology, we can deliver data in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This provides a far less complex alternative to firms sourcing and maintaining their own dedicated exchange connectivity for data sourcing."



Eurex is a leading derivatives exchange for futures and options, while Xetra is the exchange for German institutional organisations and the premier ETF trading venue in Europe. In Vienna, Wiener Boerse AG operates at one of the oldest exchanges in the world. These additions complement TNS' existing European equities data portfolio which includes Cboe Europe, Euronext, Aquis, LSE and SIX Swiss, among others. The TNS infrastructure brings together over 2,800 financial community endpoints to address the needs of financial market participants worldwide. TNS offers a range of connectivity, colocation, cloud, market data and VPN solutions within its laaS portfolio.

Traders using the company's Managed Hosting solution benefit from TNS' global point-of-presence footprint and extensive existing on-net connections, which include uninterrupted access to more than 100 exchanges with local, physical support around the globe. Additionally, real-time monitoring is provided by TNS' Network Operation Centres in the UK, US and Australia. ENDS About Transaction Network Services (News - Alert) (TNS) Founded in 1990, and with headquarters across USA, Europe and Asia, TNS is a leading provider of mission-critical infrastructure, connectivity, market data and analytic services for the Financial Markets community. Delivered as a fully-managed Infrastructure-as-a-Service offering, TNS provides an unrivalled global mission-critical footprint that significantly reduces the burdens, complexities and costs attributed to firms 'going direct'. Through its ultra-low latency connectivity, its global market data offerings and its dedicated 24x7x365 local support, TNS remains the trusted solution provider to more than 750+ counterparties globally. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005703/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Tyler Technologies Promotes Student Innovation to Build Career Pathways in Maine

Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) today signaled its ongoing commitment to innovative thinking with the launch of its eighth annual scholarship competition, the Maine App Challenge. Each year, the Maine App Challenge provides students in Maine with the opportunity to win college scholarships totaling $10,000 for developing a mobile application and a video to showcase its design. According to a report from McKinsey & Company (News - Alert), innovation is critical to corporate growth. By increasing students' exposure to innovation in middle and high school, the Maine App Challenge is helping to build a strong pipeline of creative technology workers in Maine. Past scholarship winners have invented mobile applications that help their peers stay organized at school, encourage independent reading, and even find ways to donate time, money, and needed items to the community. They have noted that developing a functional mobile application provides a leg-up in the college application process, as well as invaluable exposure to computational thinking, design principles, and software development. "Tyler Technologies (News - Alert) brings the latest technology to the public sector," said Chris Hepburn, president of Tyler's Enterprise Group. "To remain competitive, we continually find ways to build career pathways to innovation. The Maine App Challenge has been a unique way for us to facilitate an innovation mindset across the next generation of professionals in Maine. This year we're planning to expand our impact by working with the University of Maine to provide local students with important opportunities to develop innovative skills through increased exposure and practice withinnovation."



Participants in the Maine App Challenge, and the educators supporting them, will now have the opportunity to complete a series of free workshops related to brainstorming, customer discovery, prototyping, testing, and promotional pitching offered in collaboration with the Foster Center for Innovation at the University of Maine. The workshops - presented as live webinars on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons throughout the month of December, and recorded and posted for viewing anytime - are the first step in the pathway to earning a University of Maine System Innovation Micro-Credential. Not only will they provide students with a solid foundation to assist with the design and development of their apps, but they will teach participants a system to conceive of unique, meaningful ideas - and act on them. "Participating in Tyler Technologies' Maine App Challenge is a powerful way for students in Maine to learn new skills and differentiate themselves in the college admissions process," said Jake Ward IV, vice president for innovation and economic development at the University of Maine. "We're thrilled to validate their efforts to think creatively and bring ideas to life by offering them a pathway to receive a micro-credential in innovation. Their takeaways from the workshops, combined with this verifiable credential, will help them to stand out in their educational pursuits and their future careers as well."

Tyler has had a strong presence in Maine for many years and has more than 1,200 employees in its Bangor, Falmouth, and Yarmouth offices, where the company's ERP Division is based. Tyler supports more than 250 clients across the state. Since its inception in 2015, the Maine App Challenge has gifted more than $70,000 in 529 college savings plans to students in Maine. Tyler Technologies developed the Maine App Challenge in partnership with Educate Maine's Project>Login. In addition to awarding three students college scholarships totaling $10,000, Tyler will be gifting tablets to the first 50 students to complete a submission, offering an internship interview to students who have submitted the top 10 mobile applications, and awarding a $500 check to the Maine high school with the most eligible participants. The submission process is open now through May 15, 2022. For more information about the Maine App Challenge, including additional details on how to participate, please contact [email protected]. About Tyler Technologies Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate more efficiently and connect more transparently with their constituents and with each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions are transforming how clients gain actionable insights that solve problems in their communities. Tyler has more than 37,000 successful installations across more than 12,000 locations, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler was named to Government Technology's GovTech 100 list five times and has been recognized three times on Forbes' "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005084/en/

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[November 02, 2021] University Hospitals to Deploy Interactions IVA for Frictionless Patient Experience

FRANKLIN, Mass. and CLEVELAND, Ohio, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- University Hospitals, one of the United States leading health care systems, and Interactions, one of the worlds largest standalone artificial intelligence (AI) companies, today announced they will work together to streamline and enhance the patient experience. University Hospitals will deploy Interactions Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) to enable patients to quickly and easily schedule appointments across its network. University Hospitals, a system of 150 hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care facilities in the Cleveland metropolitan area, receives approximately 2.2 million calls annually to its contact center, 1.7 million of which are related to scheduling, rescheduling or canceling appointments. Traditionally, these types of calls can be frustrating, particularly when patients encounter long wait times or accidental misdirections. With Interactions IVA, University Hospitals is reimagining this experience through highly effective conversational self-service options that empower patients to manage these processes on their own time and on their own terms. At University Hospitals, were committed to providing the best patient experience at every touchpoint; Interactions IVA will help us deliver on this mission, said Sam Brown, Vice President of Operations at University Hospitals. In order to foster consistent patient-provider relationships, and ultimately drive better health outcomes, people must be able to meet with their doctors, specialists and technicians. Now, patients will have the flexibility to manage the appointment process with state-of-the-art AI technology that is designed to enable a frictionless experience. At University Hospitals, Interactions IVA will: Capture intent: Each conversation with Interactions IVA begins with an open-ended How may I help you?, enabling customers to speak in their own words to get the help they need. From there, the IVA ca route the patient to the appropriate next step, avoiding frustrating and time-consuming misdirections.

Each conversation with Interactions IVA begins with an open-ended How may I help you?, enabling customers to speak in their own words to get the help they need. From there, the IVA ca route the patient to the appropriate next step, avoiding frustrating and time-consuming misdirections. Identify and Authenticate: Interactions IVA is capable of understanding even complex alphanumeric phrases, like dates, addresses and emails, which enables it to securely and effectively authenticate customers through information like their date of birth, mailing address, social security number and phone number.

Interactions IVA is capable of understanding even complex alphanumeric phrases, like dates, addresses and emails, which enables it to securely and effectively authenticate customers through information like their date of birth, mailing address, social security number and phone number. Provide Self-Service: Interactions IVA provides every patient with a personalized experience after authentication (i.e., Are you calling about your appointment on October 30th?) and enables them to manage a number of tasks on their own, without waiting for an agent. Self-service options include: Scheduling an appointment (with referral on order) Rescheduling or canceling an appointment Receiving appointment details, including physician information and facility address Updating patient profiles Navigating FAQs, like what to bring to an appointment and how early to arrive

Interactions IVA provides every patient with a personalized experience after authentication (i.e., Are you calling about your appointment on October 30th?) and enables them to manage a number of tasks on their own, without waiting for an agent. Self-service options include:



To learn more about Interactions work in the healthcare industry, or to hear Interactions IVA appointment scheduling capability in action, see here. To learn more about University Hospitals, see here.

About Interactions

Interactions provides Intelligent Virtual Assistants that seamlessly assimilate conversational AI and human understanding to enable businesses to engage with their customers in highly productive and satisfying conversations. With flexible products and solutions designed to meet the growing demand for unified, omnichannel customer care, Interactions is delivering unprecedented improvements in the customer experience and significant cost savings for some of the largest brands in the world. Founded in 2004, Interactions is headquartered in Franklin, Massachusetts with additional offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.interactions.com . About University Hospitals

Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 23 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The systems flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Oxford University and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top childrens hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including Americas Best Hospitals from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit UHhospitals.org. Abbie Baxter

[email protected]

646-581-6097





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[November 02, 2021] Yieldstreet Announces New Era of Liquidity in the Alternatives Market

Yieldstreet, a top multi-asset alternative investment platform driven to reduce friction and provide previously unattainable access to alternatives for millions of people, last week launched the first pre-term liquidity event on a private market investment and fulfilled a key objective from their recent Series C fundraising announcement. This feat is an extension of new technology built to offer liquidity via a digital tender offer to shareholders of the Yieldstreet Prism Fund, a '40 Act Fund, reducing friction to an archaic process. To date, the Prism Fund has conducted quarterly tender offers beginning in the second quarter of this year and expects to continue to conduct them on a quarterly basis.1 Yieldstreet is now further applying these technologies to offer investors in private market offerings the chance to liquidate at least a portion of their investment prior to the investment's expected term. This follows Yieldstreet's mission to democratize alternatives by creating more liquidity events across the platform and reduce a meaningful barrier for alternative investments adoption by retail investors. "At every turn, we are upending the traditional dynamics of alternative investing and making them more accessible," said Michael Weisz, Co-founder and President of Yieldstreet. "Many investors have grown frustrated at the stubbornly low-yield environment we've been in for the last decade and have looked to alternatives to help generate above-public market returns. However, not all investors can afford to lock-up capital for some of the durations needed to extract the private market's premium. We hope this new liquidity option enables new investors to become more confident knowing their alternative investments will be more liquid." To begin, Yieldstreet offered investors in a private debt note backed by consumer loans the chance to either partially or completely reduce theirstakes, effectively reducing the offering's duration to initial investors by 20 months. In time, Yieldstreet expects to offer liquidity events on additional eligible offerings and will look to offer the tendered investments on the platform to new investors, effectively creating a secondary market for alternatives.



About Yieldstreet Yieldstreet is reimagining the way wealth is created by providing access to alternative investments previously reserved only for institutions and the ultra-wealthy. Yieldstreet's mission is to help millions of people generate $3 billion of income outside the traditional public markets by 2025. Its award-winning technology platform provides access to investment products across a range of asset classes such as Real Estate, Commercial, Consumer, Art, Marine, Legal Finance and Aviation. Since its founding in 2015, Yieldstreet has funded over $2.4 billion of investments and is committed to making financial products more inclusive by creating a modern investment portfolio. The company, headquartered in New York City with offices in Brazil, Greece, and Malta, is backed by leading venture capital firms. Join the movement at www.yieldstreet.com.

1 The Yieldstreet Prism Fund intends to offer to repurchase shares from investors at the discretion of the Fund's Board of Directors and depending upon the performance of the Fund. The Fund will limit the number of shares to be repurchased in any calendar year to no more than 20% of the number of shares outstanding, or no more than 5% in each quarter. If the number of shares submitted for repurchase by investors exceeds the number of shares the Fund seeks to repurchase, the Fund will repurchase shares from investors on a pro-rata basis, and not on a first-come, first-served basis. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Yieldstreet Prism Fund before investing. The prospectus for the Yieldstreet Prism Fund contains this and other information about the Fund and can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by referring to www.yieldstreetprismfund.com. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing in the Fund.

Investments in the Fund are not bank deposits (and thus not insured by the FDIC or by any other federal governmental agency) and are not guaranteed by Yieldstreet or any other party. The securities described in the prospectus are not offered for sale in the states of Nebraska or North Dakota or to persons resident or located in such states. No subscription for the sale of Fund shares will be accepted from any person resident or located in Nebraska or North Dakota. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005318/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Zayo Expands Fiber Network to Address Increasing Demand for Connectivity in Denver Area

Zayo Group (News - Alert) Holdings, Inc., a leading global provider of fiber-based communications solutions, today announced continued investment and expansion of network infrastructure in the Denver area. Zayo is building more than 170 miles of new fiber to add diversity to a key route between Denver and Dallas, two major tech hubs. Completion of the project is anticipated by the end of September 2022 and will result in new, direct fiber connectivity to hundreds of buildings in the Denver area. Driving demand for connectivity is both Denver's position as a top-ranked tech talent market and the technology focus of the area's major industry sectors which include aerospace, broadcast and telecommunications, financial services, and IT-software. Zayo is also rolling out a new product offer to new and existing customers in the greater Denver area. The package, called Shielded Internet Access, includes some of Zayo's most popular services: Dedicated Internet Access, DDoS Protection and CloudLink, all for a single price that will be competitively positioned well below current market benchmarks. "Denver continues to be a growing hub for technology companies, increasing the demand for reliable connectivity," said Dennis Kyle, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing at Zayo. "We are committed to continued investment in Colorado to support customers' demand for diverse, high-capacity fiber connectivity to enable their growth and ability to innovate. Zayo's unmatched network combined with the Shielded Internet Access package provides customers in the market with the bandwidth that takes them anywhere they need to be in the most convenient, cost-effective way possible." According to a report from the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Colorado ranked fourth for high-tech employment concentration in 2019 and the state has ranked in the top four nationally since 2000. As a result of the pandemic, employment in the IT-software service industry has also grown in Metro Denver, particularly within cloud infastructure, online security and specialized software solutions. Denver is also well known as a secondary data center market and a growing technology hub due to its numerous data center facilities and the number of enterprises and technology companies in the area. According to a CBRE report on the growth of North American data centers, Denver saw strong leasing activity that led to positive net absorption in the first half of the year, meaning demand for IT infrastructure in the area continues to grow.



"Zayo's continued investment and expansion within the Denver area underscores the region's stature as a booming hub for high-tech industries," said J. J. Ament, President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. "The fiber infrastructure provided by Zayo will support critical connectivity for the business community while also enabling continued growth in the greater Denver area." The expansion in Denver is part of an overall upgrade to Zayo's U.S. in-demand markets and includes the release of custom solutions, bundling internet and security services and enabling dedicated internet service plus distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection. Zayo's cloud-based suite of DDoS Mitigation Services provides advanced detection and mitigation technologies. The mitigation services offer three levels of tailored protection, providing important layers of defense and monitoring on Zayo's international Tier 1 IP security enabled network. The unique solutions provide an enterprise-class network for superior performance and a comprehensive security suite, ensuring guaranteed network availability through Zayo's Internet Access SLA.

For more information about Zayo's network and product offerings in the Denver area, please visit https://go.zayo.com/denver-dedicated-network. About Zayo Group Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world's most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo's 126,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo's communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, dedicated internet access and data center connectivity solutions. Zayo owns and operates a Tier 1 IP backbone and through its CloudLink service, Zayo provides low-latency private connectivity that attaches enterprises to their public cloud environments. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises. For more information, visit https://zayo.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005229/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Zhongtian Energy Storage Showcases Green Energy Storage Solutions at 8th Global Solar + Energy Storage Conference&Expo

NANTONG, China, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhongtian Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd., ("Zhongtian Energy Storage"), a subsidiary of Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co., Ltd. ("ZTT"), has made waves at the 8th Global Solar + Energy Storage Conference&Expo with its latest low emissions green energy storage solutions. The company also received two awards at the event: the Most Influential Enterprise Award 2021 and Best Energy Storage EPC Project General Contract Award 2021. As Asia's first exhibition dedicated to energy storage, the Global Solar+Energy Storage Conference&Expo brings together academics, researchers and experts from all walks of life. During the exhibition, Zhongtian Energy Storage debuted two breakthrough energy storage solutions that offer outstanding technical advantages and diverse product features suited to a wide range of applications: the Zhihui Energy Power Storage System equipped with the industry's first dedicated life-cycle diagnosis and analysis platform, and the ZTT-HES-387, an independently researched and developed 500kW/1MWh contained high-voltage outdoor energy storage system. "Our latest solutions leverage large-scale energy storage technologies while focusing on a range of applications in the grid, user and power side. We have integrated green energy system solutions with ur advanced manufacturing services to strengthen our position in the new energy industry." said Jin Chengyou, the Chief Engineer of Zhongtian Energy Storage.



Driven by the development of renewable energy, ZTT has continued to cement its competitive advantage in 2021. In September, it was shortlisted in China Energy Economic Research Institute's 2021 Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises List for the sixth consecutive year. In addition, ZTT's ranking soared to a new high of 116th  reflecting its unrelenting pursuit of technological innovation, strategic planning, and operational management. The company has also doubled down on efforts to contribute to China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality commitments with a roadmap for the rapid development of offshore wind energy, photovoltaics, energy storage, copper foil, and more. In doing so, ZTT continues to enhance its industry influence with technological innovation while helping to build a modern power system dominated by clean energy.

About Zhongtian Energy Storage Established in 2012, Zhongtian Energy Storage is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and distribution of lithium batteries and energy storage systems. To date, Zhongtian Energy Storage has undertaken nearly 300MWh of grid-side energy storage projects, 100MWh of user-side energy storage projects, and 60MWh of renewable energy for power plants across China. About Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co., Ltd started in 1992 and has established a diversified industrial portfolio spanning optical communications, smart grid, renewable energy, marine equipment, EPC, and smart manufacturing. As of 2020, the company has established over 54 offices worldwide and its products have been exported to 160 countries and regions. Contact Information:

Https://www.zttcable.com | Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2441752/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZTTCable

Tommy Ye

Phone: +86-13584627890 SOURCE Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology

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[November 01, 2021] INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against S&P Global Inc. and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of S&P Global Inc. ("S&P Global" or "the Company") (NYSE: SPGI) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. The DOJ announced an investigation on October 4, 2021, into suspected manipulation of energy pricing benchmarks published by Platts, a London-based part of S&P lobal. The federal government is probing what it believes to be manipulative behavior by traders submitting deal prices to Platts' price assessments for benchmarks including oil. Based on this news, shares of S&P Global fell on the same day.



If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211101006015/en/

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[November 01, 2021] Mynt Secures $300m in Funding from Lead Investors Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners and Bow Wave

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mynt, the Philippines' #1 digital financial solutions provider and the company behind the popular GCash payment services app, has raised over $300 million in funding, valuing Mynt at over $2 billion. This solidifies its status as the Philippines' only unicorn, and as one of the leading fintech companies in Southeast Asia. The investment round was led by global investment giant Warburg Pincus, New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners, and Bow Wave Capital, one of Mynt's existing investors. The round also includes participation from Itai Tsiddon and Amplo Ventures as well as capital from Globe and Ayala. Since the onset of community quarantines as response to COVID19, Mynt has been at the forefront of digital transformation of Filipinos as the "go-to" payment and financial services solution to over 48 million users, nearly half of the national population. With the continued relevance of the app among its users, Mynt is on track to reach PHP3 trillion of gross transaction value, 3x times more than last year's record number. The company has also recorded peak daily app log-ins and daily active transactions of 19 million and 12 million, respectively. With the entry of Mynt's new international investors, the company is joining an eminent league of world-class companies that are redefining the global technology and innovation landscape. "This is further proof that our growth and achievements have not gone unnoticed. We have been able to continuously expand by introducing game-changing innovations while improving our profitability profile," said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of Mynt. "We are excited about our new partnership with Warburg, Insight, Itai Tsiddon and Amplo, as they each bring strategic value to our team in the pursuit of our vision towards finance for all." As Mynt continues to scale, the company witnessed an unprecedented increase in its number of merchants and social sellers, now at 3 million. Additionally, it has achieved scale while improving its unit economics, delivering positive EBITDA and net income in mid-2021. With the addition of highly experienced global investors in Warburg Pincus and Insight Partners, Mynt is well-positioned to further expand its digital financial services offerings and support the Philippine's financial inclusion agenda. "We welcome Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners, and the other investors into Mynt. Their investment in Mynt and GCash further validates the strides the Company has made in providing access to innovative financial services to more Filipinos and highlighting the Philippines to the global investor audience. Together with the continued support of Mynt's existing shareholders, we are confident of furthering Mynt's market leadership and creating positive and transformative disruption in the Philippine financial services sector," said Ernest Cu, Chairman of the Board of Mynt and President and CEO of Globe. Saurabh Agarwal, Managing Director of Warburg Pincus, said, "The investment into Mynt marks our continued commitment and strong belief in the long-term prospects of the Philippines as one of the fastest growing digital economies in the region. Mynt as a dominant market position in the Philippines and is well-positioned with its best-in-class management team, innovative technology, and superior product offerings. We are excited about the partnership with the company and look forward to leveraging our deep expertise in the fintech sector to support their long-term growth."



"We believe that GCash has created the most compelling product to reach the massively underserved market in the Philippines," said Deven Parekh, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "Our investment in Mynt fits within our global thesis of increasing financial inclusion using digital tools. We look forward to partnering with Mynt as they continue to grow on their scale up journey." Mynt offers a full array of financial services, spanning credit, savings, insurance, loans, and investments. Assets Under Management (AUM) for its GSave product has grown to over P9 billion, from P5 billion in 2020, while its GInvest product has already captured 70 percent of the domestic market of total UITF accounts. GInsure, GCash's microinsurance offering launched in 2020, accounts for 1/3 of all new insurance policies issued in the Philippines.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Fuse and other banking partners, Mynt also offers credit to its users, on the back of its proprietary trust and scoring platform. GCredit disburses over P1 billion worth of loans each month, with P15 billion worth having been disbursed as of June 2021, and boasts the best repayment rates locally with the lowest past-due and non-performing loans. Mynt also piloted GLoan, a cash loan product that allows qualified users to borrow as much as P25,000, with repayment spread over 12 months. The Company is looking to launch "Buy Now, Pay Later" products within the year. GCash was also the first financial app to launch a trailblazing sustainability initiative in the country via its GForest feature, a gamified environmental stewardship program where users can convert their green points acquired from using GCash into a virtual tree, which in turn would be planted as an actual tree in critical locations within the Philippines. To date, there are over 8.7 million users of the GForest feature within the app. About Mynt GCash is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 3M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) since 2015. GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs, which impact more than 48 million Filipinos in the country today. To know more about Mynt, visit https://www.mynt.xyz . About Globe Globe is a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines and publicly listed in the PSE with the stock symbol GLO. The company serves the telecommunications and technology needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connectivity, internet and managed services. It has major interests in financial technology, digital marketing solutions, venture capital funding for startups, and virtual healthcare. In 2019, Globe became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, committing to implement universal sustainability principles. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singtel, acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph . Follow @enjoyglobe on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. About Warburg Pincus Warburg Pincus is a leading global growth investor. The firm has more than $67 billion in private equity assets under management. The firm's active portfolio of more than 215 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 20 private equity funds, which have invested more than $97 billion in over 960 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. Warburg Pincus started investing in Southeast Asia in 2013. Since then, the firm has committed over $3 billion in the region, including in Advance Intelligence Group, ARA Asset Management, Converge, GoTo Group, and Techcombank. Warburg Pincus is also a leading fintech and financial services investor globally and in Asia, with investments in Ant Group, Clearwater Analytics, Edelman Financial Engines, Network International, Payjoy, and Varo. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com . About Insight Partners Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners. For more information, please contact: Chito Maniago

VP for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

GCash (Mynt - Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.)

[email protected] SOURCE Mynt

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[November 01, 2021] BrainChip Podcast Delves into AI at the Edge with Topio Networks CEO Philippe Cases

BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN), (OTCQX: BRCHF), a leading provider of ultra-low power high performance artificial intelligence technology, today announced that co-founder and CEO of Topio Networks is the featured guest on this month's "This is our Mission" podcast. Phillipe Cases joins BrainChip Vice President of Worldwide Sales Rob Telson to discuss AI at the Edge. The podcast will be available November 9 at 4 p.m. PST across the company's podcast platforms and the BrainChip website. Cases built Topio Networks to be an industry catalyst accelerating the formation markets by creating communities around emerging trends, such as IOT with readwritelabs.com in 2014, Dapps and Edge Computing with edgecomputingworld.com in 2018. Topio Networks tracks more than 60,000 distinct technology trends though its AI technology developed over the last 5 years, capturing unique insights and connection opportunities. Cases and Telson talk about the greatest movements at the Edge and how AI specifically addresses those movements, largest growth areas in the Edge-based automotive landscape and the uniqueness of Edge-based industrial applications, among other topics. "Philippe's background in running an innovative company like Topio, experience in the technology venture capital field, and insight into subjects like AI, Big Data, Mobility and Smart Cities helps bring insight to the BrainChip Podcast," said Telson. "We are always looking for how BrainChip can fit into real-world scenarios and how Akida can make a difference in many different industries leveraging AI at the Edge. Conversing with experts outside of thecompany, like Philippe, helps our listeners and investors better understand just how BrainChip is able to positively affect the greater community. This is another wonderful conversation that I'm eager for our podcast subscribers to enjoy."



BrainChip's Akida brings artificial intelligence to the edge in a way that existing technologies are not capable. The solution is high-performance, small, ultra-low power and enables a wide array of edge capabilities, including one-shot learning. The Akida (NSoC) and intellectual property, can be used in applications including Smart Home, Smart Health, Smart City and Smart Transportation. These applications include but are not limited to home automation and remote controls, industrial IoT, robotics, security cameras, sensors, unmanned aircraft, autonomous vehicles, medical instruments, object detection, sound detection, odor and taste detection, gesture control and cybersecurity. The BrainChip Podcast is a monthly event intended to provide company and industry insight for the engineering community in target markets, as well as analysts, technical and financial press and investors. Past podcast episodes are available to listen to at https://brainchipinc.com/brainchip-podcasts/

About BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF) BrainChip is a global technology company that is producing a groundbreaking neuromorphic processor that brings artificial intelligence to the edge in a way that is beyond the capabilities of other products. The chip is high performance, small, ultra-low power and enables a wide array of edge capabilities that include on-chip training, learning and inference. The event-based neural network processor is inspired by the spiking nature of the human brain and is implemented in an industry standard digital process. By mimicking brain processing BrainChip has pioneered a processing architecture, called Akida, which is both scalable and flexible to address the requirements in edge devices. At the edge, sensor inputs are analyzed at the point of acquisition rather than through transmission via the cloud to a data center. Akida is designed to provide a complete ultra-low power and fast AI Edge Network for vision, audio, olfactory and smart transducer applications. The reduction in system latency provides faster response and a more power efficient system that can reduce the large carbon footprint of data centers. Additional information is available at https://www.brainchipinc.com Follow BrainChip on Twitter (News - Alert): https://www.twitter.com/BrainChip_inc

Follow BrainChip on LinkedIn (News - Alert): https://www.linkedin.com/company/7792006 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211101006023/en/

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[November 01, 2021] SG Blockchain Day 2021 Paves the Way for Vibrant Local Blockchain Ecosystem

SINGAPORE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) today announced that it will be organising its annual conference, SG Blockchain Day 2021, on Friday, 12 November 2021. The event aims to foster deeper social engagements among global blockchain professionals and corporates, while further enhancing the vibrancy of the local blockchain ecosystem. As part of this year's Singapore FinTech Festival Innovation Lab Crawl, SG Blockchain Day 2021 has attracted attention from numerous global blockchain leaders and industry players. The current event agenda consists of more than 30 stellar speakers and industry leaders including the Co-Founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin and David Shrier, Professor of Practice and Director of the Institutional Digital Assets Project at Imperial College Business School. The event is supported by ecosystem partners such as Algorand Foundation, Oliver Wyman and 80RR Fintech Hub, while blockchain firms including the likes of Chainalysis, IBM, Nansen, Tech Data and RegTank are gold sponsors of the event. SG Blockchain Day 2021 will focus on current and emerging developments in the blockchain & digital assets industry as well as its surrounding ecosystems, with a total of eight keynote speeches, eight panels, and a masterclass slated to take place. Commenting on SG Blockchain Day 2021, Mr Chia Hock Lai, Co-Chairman of Blockchain Association Singapore, said "The blockchain and digital assets industry in Singapore is well-positioned to grow by leaps and bounds and I hope 'the SG Blockchain Day 2021' will serve as a source of knowledge and inspiration for our members and the ecosystem. The event will also serve as a prelude to a multi-day 'SG Blockchain Week', a large-scale in-person international event being planned for 2022. This marks the start of many more exciting initiatives to come from BAS which we are earnestly preparing for." Recently, BAS also celebrated the overwhelming success of the inaugural Blockchain For Good Non-Fungible Token (NFT) charity auction held in collaboration with the National Trades Union Congress U Care Fund (NTUC-U Care Fund). Through the generous support of partners such as Singapore Airlines, KrisShop, Ether Cards, and A&A Blockchain, the charity auction successfully raised S$400,000 worth of funds to help lower-income union members and their families.



NFTs have seen a rise in popularity in recent times, dominated by the arts and collectables segments, with sales of these assets rising to more than US$10 billion in the third quarter of 2021, up more than eightfold from the previous quarter[1]. Meanwhile, Total Value Locked (TVL) in decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols reached US$187 billion[2]. According to a Bank of International Settlements (BIS) survey, 86 per cent[3] of central banks are actively researching the potential for CBDC. On the other hand, Out of the top 100 banks by assets under management, 55 have invested, directly or indirectly, in cryptocurrency and/or blockchain-related companies[4]. "As an ecosystem partner of SG Blockchain Day, this aligns with Algorand Foundation's mission to support innovation for an inclusive ecosystem that provides an opportunity to build a borderless economy. The future global promise of blockchain technology is at our doorstep and we look forward to fostering partnership and growth even as we address matters like environmental impact, sustainability and climate change," said Mr Jason Lee, Chief Operating Officer for Algorand Foundation.

"Oliver Wyman is pleased to be working alongside thought leaders in blockchain to develop breakthroughs in this space. As the knowledge partner of SG Blockchain Day, we look forward to sharing our insights and debating Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the future of money as well as the institutional opportunity in crypto markets with the ecosystem of regulators, banks, FinTechs, and corporates," said Mr Chia Tek Yew, Vice Chairman Singapore, Oliver Wyman. "80RR Fintech Hub SG is delighted to be the venue sponsor for Blockchain Association Singapore's annual conference, SG Blockchain Day 2021. With the blockchain and digital assets industry emerging rapidly in Singapore, we look forward to partnering with Blockchain Association Singapore in future initiatives to accelerate the development of the local blockchain ecosystem," said Mr Gan Boon Seng, Community Director, 80RR Fintech Hub SG. With that, the SG Blockchain Day 2021 hopes to highlight the amazing past year as well as opportunities that lie ahead for the blockchain and digital assets ecosystem in Singapore. Interested participants are welcome to register for complimentary access to the event via https://singaporeblockchain.org/blockchainday2021/ . About Blockchain Association Singapore The Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) seeks to empower its members and the community to leverage blockchain and scalable technologies for business growth and transformation. The Association is designed to be an effective platform for members to engage with multiple stakeholders - both regional and international - to discover solutions and promote best practices in a collaborative, open, and transparent manner. It aims to promote blockchain literacy and build a strong talent pipeline for the digital economy in Singapore. BAS also aims to accelerate the development of blockchain companies operating in or entering into Singapore, and their subsequent integration and acceleration into the Singapore blockchain ecosystem. For more information, please visit https://singaporeblockchain.org/ .

[1] https://www.reuters.com/technology/nft-sales-surge-107-bln-q3-crypto-asset-frenzy-hits-new-highs-2021-10-04/

[2] https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/decentralized-finance-defi

[3] https://www.bis.org/about/bisih/topics/cbdc.htm

[4] https://www.blockdata.tech/blog/general/banks-investing-blockchain-companies SOURCE Blockchain Association Singapore

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[November 01, 2021] IIDE Students Win Big at the Global Online Marketing Academic Challenge - GOMAC 2021

MUMBAI, India, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, IIDE's student team has bagged the 2nd position in the prestigious international competition - the Global Online Marketing Academic Challenge (GOMAC) 2021 in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region. Four students from the MBA-level Postgraduate Programme in Digital Marketing - Anand Shinde, Swetank Sharma, Bhavika Budhdeo, and Sakshi Shriwas - faced more than 100+ student teams from across the globe and were amongst the top 8 global finalists. They were also awarded the 5th position in the overall global ranking for their excellent 360-degree digital marketing strategy. GOMAC is a highly competitive and distinguished international competition that invites students from undergraduate and postgraduate programs to design, execute and demonstrate their marketing strategies and prowess. In an 8-month long competition from September to May, the student teams have to create a digital marketing strategy to boost the sales of an actual company and run marketing efforts in real-time to demonstrate the effectiveness of their campaign. Every student team is presented with a budget to utilise and generate actual revenue for their respective client companies. They have to prepare a pre-campaign and post-campaign report to show clear ROI, their learnings and how they adapted their campaigns. Their reports are then presented to judges who determine if the teams have succeeded in their efforts. For the competition, the student team came up with a holistic digital marketing strategy for XP - Pens, the seller of graphic tablets. With the given budget, the student team was able to generate real time sales - generating a 5x ROI of their marketing budget in revenue. Their strategy included the usage of various channels such as Google Display ads, Search as as well as Social Media platforms which showcased brilliant real-time results. The student team's efforts stood out amongst the rest of the participants due to their holistic multi-channel digital marketing approach - going above and beyond just the suggested usage of Search Marketing.



Prathmesh Kavishwar, the permanent faculty member who was the mentor and guide for the student team during the competition, was delighted with the results and their valiant efforts. "I am beyond thrilled to have had such an amazing team to mentor at GOMAC. Speaking on behalf of the entire institute and all the teachers from IIDE, we are boundlessly happy about their success. It was a pleasure working with these bright minds and strategizing with them through all the steps of the campaign. The students truly deserve all the recognition and credit they are getting for all their hard work," he added as a congratulatory note on the success of his students in the prestigious international competition.

IIDE is one of the rare institutes that always encourages a hands-on learning culture via live projects and assignments. GOMAC presented the students with the experience of crafting, executing and monitoring a real-life digital marketing strategy from start to finish while still being in their learning phase - that too on a global stage. Such opportunities are great for students to gather confidence in their abilities and explore their strengths in a competitive environment - a great simulation for their bright futures to come. IIDE's GOMAC Team: Anand Shinde

Swetank Sharma

Bhavika Budhdeo

Sakshi Shriwas About IIDE: Established in 2016, IIDE - Indian Institute of Digital Education has grown to become one of the most reputed digital marketing colleges. With 4 campuses spread across India, they offer digital marketing education in various formats like advanced live online courses, post graduation programs, and short-term certification courses. They have partnered with 100+ colleges globally to expand their reach for imparting quality digital education. They have successfully shaped the careers of more than 2,35,000 learners. IIDE is known for its rare "student-first'' approach and focuses on the overall upliftment of its learners. Top industry leaders and subject-matter experts ensure a holistic & practical hands-on training environment for the students. It focuses on upskilling candidates in the new-age professional discipline of digital marketing. IIDE continually ensures that their students are trained in soft skills that are in sync with the current industry requirements. In 2020, IIDE was recognized as "India's Best Digital Learning Institute" by the Indian Education Congress and Awards. This year they were awarded as the "Best Digital Marketing Institute'' by the World Education Congress 2021. Website: www.iide.co

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +91 96199 58615

Instagram: www.instagram.com/iideonline/

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[November 02, 2021] PitchBook Report on Women in VC Finds Growing Number of Female Checkwriters Could Bolster Female-Founded Startups Disproportionately Impacted by Pandemic

SEATTLE, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PitchBook, the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, today released All In: Women in the VC Ecosystem, its third annual report examining US venture capital (VC) investment in female-founded startups. The report, published with support from J.P. Morgan and Beyond The Billion, found COVID-19 disproportionately impacted female founders last year. Dealmaking was more sporadic for much of 2020 as companies founded solely by women experienced a 28% decline while all-male-founded companies only saw a 5% decline between March and June of that year. Valuations of early-stage female-founded companies significantly diverged from the overall market for the first time in over a decade and existing gaps at the late stage widened. Despite these headwinds, female-founded companies have already shattered the previous annual deal value record in just the first three quarters of 2021 and continue to outperform the broader market when it comes to exits, both in terms of overall exit value increases and the median time it takes to exit. Perhaps most promisingly, checkwriters have become increasingly more diverse in the post-#MeToo era, with record highs of female GPs and angel investors in the ecosystem today. Given female checkwriters are more likely to invest in female founders, this growth could lead to a long-term ripple effect on the headline numbers for years to come. To download the full report, please click here. "Since launching our Women in the VC Ecosystem series in 2019, we've seen meaningful growth in the number of women in decision-making roles at VC firms, a positive institutional-level trend that should bode well for female founders," said Nizar Tarhuni, Senior Director of PitchBook's Institutional Research Group. "However, the measurable COVID-19 setbacks for female-founded companies, despite their consistent performance and resilience, illustrate why we must be diligent about pushing for gender equity within the VC ecosystem. We hope this data-backed look at the state of female-founded startup performance and funding will empower VCs and institutional investors to allocate more funds to these companies and continue placing women in checkwriting roles within their own firms." Following the methodology of the first two All In reports, PitchBook analyzed investment activity in US-based startups with at least one female founder. The report also includes a spotlight on female angel investing and breaks down funding activity within specific US ecosystems and sectors, including tech, pharma & biotech, healthcare, retail and fintech. Key Takeaways Uncovered by PitchBook's All In: Women in the VC Ecosystem Report: In 2020, VC dollars invested in female-founded companies fell by 3% and deal count fell by 2% year-over-year. At the same time, the US startup ecosystem increased deal value by 16%  meaning female founders received a smaller portion of a larger pie.

Female-founded companies raised $40.4 billion across 2,661 deals through the first three quarters of 2021, shattering the previous annual deal value record of $23.7 billion in 2019. A decade ago, only $3.6 billion was invested in all female-founded startups.

Despite the pandemic, the median valuation for all early-stage startups increased 15% year-over-year in 2020. However, for female-founded companies at that stage, the median only rose by 4%. The gap has sustained itself so far in 2021.

Venture investors have closed over 2,000 deals totaling $30 billion with female-founded technology companies thus far in 2021  an 83% increase in value over 2020 levels already.

Exit value year-to-date ( $58.8 billion ) has more than doubled the previous annual record, marking a 144% increase for female-founded startup exits compared to the overall US VC market's 102% increase. The same outperformance happened in 2020: 32% increase compared to 8%.

) has more than doubled the previous annual record, marking a 144% increase for female-founded startup exits compared to the overall US VC market's 102% increase. The same outperformance happened in 2020: 32% increase compared to 8%. Exit volume is also up, with the 223 liquidity events by female-founded companies in 2021 representing a 12% increase from full-year 2020 figures. This pace is significantly faster than the US VC industry overall, which has only increased 3% this year. 2021 is on pace to be the eleventh straight year that female-founded companies exited faster than the broader market.

The number of US-based female checkwriters has increased by nearly 3.5% since 2019, with women now holding 15.4% of GP positions. Studies and anecdotes suggest that female founders tend to seek out female investors and the chances of a female-founded company successfully securing financing can rise with a female investor in the room.

In Silicon Valley, the proportion of female GPs increased from 15.4% to 17.1% between 2020 and 2021, an important development given the sheer size of the ecosystem. New York City saw the biggest gain among the MSAs profiled, jumping from 11.8% to 16.8% in the span of a year.

saw the biggest gain among the MSAs profiled, jumping from 11.8% to 16.8% in the span of a year. As late as 2010, PitchBook figures showed there were fewer than 100 female angel investors in the entire country. Since the #MeToo movement, the female angel scene has come close to doubling, with almost 1,000 active angels in the market today. In 2017, before the movement began, about 20% of female angel investments went to female founders. Today, almost a third of them do, and the ratio continues to grow.



Executive summary

Overview

COVID-19's impact

Q&A with Beyond The Billion

Ecosystems

Strength in numbers

Sector overview

The exit scene

Female GPs

Female angel investors

Key takeaways

Methodology To download the full report, click here.

About PitchBook

PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity, and M&A landscapeincluding public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company's data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, and London and serves more than 60,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as an independent subsidiary. About Beyond The Billion

The Billion Dollar Fund for Women (TBDF) was launched at the World Bank meetings in Bali in October 2018: with an audacious goal of catalyzing $1 billion dollars into the hands of female founders globally; addressing the gender venture investment gap where women were receiving only 2.2% of all venture capital funding. In less than a year, TBDF mobilized a global consortium of over 80 venture funds committed to investing $1 billion dollars in women-founded companies.To continue to build on this momentum, the founders, Shelly Porges and Sarah Chen launchedBeyond The Billion (BTB), to catalyze capital deployed to and with these venture funds, ensuring their continued capacity to invest- by mobilizing LP commitments, convening LPs and connecting them to GPs who invest in venture-backable companies founded by diverse women founders. Find out more on www.beyondthebillion.com; and follow Beyond The Billion on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Quote Sheet Pamela Aldsworth, Head of Venture Capital Relationships at J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking

"The All In: Women in the VC Ecosystem Report highlights unprecedented progress and a shift to greater gender parity, but we need to look more deeply at whether venture culture is truly evolving. The challenges that remain for diverse founders and investors have not changed: they need access to network, community, expertise and mentorship. Now that more women are writing the checks, and getting into the boardroom, we need to make sure their presence counts  and it's not just about optics." Shelly Porges, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Beyond The Billion

"While 2020 was a year of many setbacks for women in the VC ecosystem with a 14% decline in dealmaking vs. a 1% increase for men, we were thrilled and not surprised to see female founders and funders persevere and pivot for a record-setting 2021. As Pitchbook reports, '[Over 2600] Female-founded companies raised $40.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2021...shattering the previous annual deal value record of $23.7 billion in 2019.' Yet, we remain concerned as we see women lagging behind in the influx of late stage growth capital, resulting in women getting a smaller slice of a growing pie. We at Beyond The Billion are committed to addressing this troubling trend and to seeing that female founders receive a fair share of funding at every stage. We know that when you invest in women, you're in good company." Sarah Chen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Beyond The Billion

"As a global consortium of over 100 venture funds and LPs pledged to invest and actively deploying over $1billion of capital to female founders, we at Beyond The Billion are encouraged to see the growing number of female check-writers leveraging their influence and capital. While this trend has been noted in the U.S., we're similarly seeing this across the globe with 80% of our fund managers being women, BIPOC or both; and a growing number of male champions that recognize that investing in women is just good business. Savvy asset allocators know that diversity has to be one of their pillars of growth, and are using their capital transformatively." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pitchbook-report-on-women-in-vc-finds-growing-number-of-female-checkwriters-could-bolster-female-founded-startups-disproportionately-impacted-by-pandemic-301413631.html SOURCE PitchBook

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[November 02, 2021] Diageo to build new US$75 million distillery to produce the group's first China-origin, single malt whisky

ERYUAN, China, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, the global leader in beverage alcohol and owner of Johnnie Walker and Singleton Scotch whiskies, today broke ground on the site of its first malt whisky distillery in China. Located in Eryuan County in Yunnan Province, the Diageo Eryuan Malt Whisky Distillery will produce Diageo's first China-origin, single malt whisky. Details of the US$75 million investment were officially unveiled at a special ceremony today in Eryuan, attended by provincial and local government officials, industry representatives, and the local community. "China is the world's largest beverage alcohol market[1] and the demand for whisky is growing rapidly among middle-class consumers who are keen to further discover and enjoy fine whiskies", said Sam Fischer, President, Diageo Asia Pacific and Global Travel. "Today we celebrate another significant step forward, and one which builds upon our local insights and combines those with Diageo's global whisky expertise in order to delight the next generation of Chinese whisky consumers."



At more than 2,100 meters above sea level, the site of the 66,000 square meter distillery was carefully selected for its temperate climate, rich natural biodiversity, and access to natural spring water that is a source of the second largest highland lake, Erhai Lake, in Yunnan. Sam Fischer added, "The natural surroundings and the Eryuan landscape will allow us to craft a world-class, China-origin, single malt whisky that will capture the imagination of premium whisky lovers in China."

Diageo's 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' sustainability action plan will shape the design and development of the distillery. Renewable and clean technologies will be used in the distillery to ensure it is carbon neutral, recycles all the water it uses, and is a zero-waste site. The site will feature an immersive and interactive visitor centre that will attract whisky enthusiasts and boost the local cultural tourism industry. The sustainable and innovative design of both the distillery and the visitor center will incorporate local cultural elements and embrace the region's natural landscape. Construction is expected to begin in early 2022. Notes to Editor: Diageo's commitment to sustainability: More information on Diageo's Society 2030 Spirit of Progress action plan can be found here . Diageo's plans for building a low carbon future: Combatting climate change and its associated impacts is at the heart of Diageo's 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' action plan. The company has already halved the carbon emissions associated with its operations since 2008 and is now working to reach net-zero carbon across its direct operations by 2030, harnessing 100% renewable energy. As part of its 2030 action plan, Diageo is developing site-by-site roadmaps and is also working to achieve net-zero carbon across the entire supply chain by 2050 or sooner, with an interim milestone to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030. Building on a long track-record of environmental, social and governance (ESG) progress globally, Diageo is now in the top 1000 companies in the world taking action to address climate change in a science-led and systemic way. The company's goals in this space have been calculated in accordance with the principles of Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and recently validated as meeting the criteria for the 1.5C pathway. Diageo is also part of a pioneering group of organizations that are championing a green recovery and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, through membership of the United Nations Global Compact, We Mean Business Coalition and other key global advocacy organizations. As a signatory to RE100, Diageo aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. In addition, Diageo has signed onto the global Race to Zero campaign, a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier. About Diageo: Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness. Diageo is a global company whose products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com . Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com , for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. [1] International Wines & Spirits Record (IWSR) database, 2020 Report, accessed at https://www.theiwsr.com/

SOURCE Diageo

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[November 02, 2021] Ameba Capital Closed the World's First Fund Focusing on China SaaS Investments

BEIJING, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ameba Capital, a leading venture capital firm in China, announced the closing of a US$265 million US dollar fund, which is seeded with several China's leading "Software as a Service" (SaaS) companies and additional capital to make early-and venture growth-stage SaaS investments in the region. The fund, which is Ameba Capital's debut US dollar fund, is recognized as the world's first fund focusing on China SaaS investment opportunities. The fundraising attracted leading investment institutions from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, including sovereign wealth funds, global fund of funds, technology industrial groups and prominent family offices. NewQuest Capital Partners and its co-investors led the transaction as lead investors. Founded in 2011, Ameba Capital is one of the first venture capital firms to invest in China's SaaS sector and has successfully backed a number of unicorns with significant stake and influence. Its portfolio companies include Jushuitan, Yao Inno, Leyan Technology, Xiaoyang Education and BY AI, which are recognized as China's top SaaS companies in the e-commerce, healthcare, and education ectors, respectively. Ameba Capital believes in the tremendous potential of China's SaaS businesses, and believes that the China SaaS space will maintain its rapid growth trajectory over the next two decades.



Kevin Wang, Founding and Managing Partner of Ameba Capital, stated, "Despite challenges posed by uncertainties around the US dollar fundraising market, Ameba Capital successfully raised the largest first-time China technology-themed US dollar fund of the year. The success reflects the market's confidence in Ameba Capital and that it is increasingly becoming the partner of choice for aspirational entrepreneurs and fast-growing SaaS businesses." About Ameba Capital:

Ameba Capital is a leading venture capital firm in China. Ameba Capital was established in 2011, specialized in equity investments for early and growth companies in enterprise service and information technology sectors. Ameba Capital has a proven track-record in delivering strong returns while maintaining its elite positioning and boutique approach. For more information, please visit www.amebacapital.com. About NewQuest Capital Partners: NewQuest is the leading dedicated secondary private equity platform focused on the Asia-Pacific region with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Mumbai. NewQuest specializes in providing strategic liquidity solutions to private equity asset owners, including private equity funds, financial institutions, corporations, hedge funds and family offices. NewQuest was established in 2011 and currently manages four funds with capital commitments of over US$2.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.nqcap.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ameba-capital-closed-the-worlds-first-fund-focusing-on-china-saas-investments-301413711.html SOURCE Ameba Capital

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[November 02, 2021] Hyloris Announces Start of Phase 2 Study of Miconazole-Domiphen Bromide Vaginal Cream in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Miconazole-Domiphen Bromide (MCZ-DB) vaginal cream is a candidate product for the treatment of recurring vulvovaginal candidiasis (rVVC), which affects 10% of all women globally



Topline results anticipated in H2 2022 Liege, Belgium  2 November 2021  Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext Brussels: HYL), a specialty biopharma company committed to addressing unmet medical needs through reinventing existing medications, today announces that the first patient has been enrolled in the Phase 2 dose-finding study of Miconazole-Domiphen Bromide (MCZ-DB), a novel dual-mode-of-action vaginal cream for the treatment of recurring vulvovaginal candidiasis (rVCC) that is being developed in partnership with Purna Female Health. Recurring VVC is also known as chronic yeast infection and is defined as four or more symptomatic acute episodes of yeast infection per year.

Stijn Van Rompay, Chief Executive Officer of Hyloris, commented: We are pleased that the first subject has been dosed in the Phase 2 study of our novel, dual mode-of-action candidate product, which combines miconazole nitrate 2% cream, a currently available vaginal cream used to treat acute VVC, with domiphen bromide, a medicinal ingredient with anti-septic properties. MCZ-DB is a locally applied vaginal cream, and based on promising results from preclinical studies, we believe that it could have significant potential in recurring VVC infections, an underserved condition for which there are no locally administered topical therapies currently available. We look forward to reporting the topline results, which are anticipated during the second half of 2022. Miconazole-Domiphen Bromide is being developed in partnership with Purna Female Health (PFH). Under the terms of the agreement announced in February 2021, Hyloris has committed to milestone related investments of up to 4.3 million in PFH (of which 1.27 million paid at signing) and will lead the commercialisation and out-licensing activities. The European patent entitled Compositions against Candida Infections was granted in July 2021. About the Phase 2 study

The Phase 2 study is a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study (3 study arms), which is expected to enrol up to 90 female subjects with confirmed acute VVC, aged 18-50 years. The primary objectives at Day 15 include the efficacy and safety of two different doses of MCZ nitrate 2% + DB (MCZ-DB), administered once per day for 7 days, as compared to MCZ nitrate 2% (Gyno-Daktarin) alone. In addition, the study aims to determine the most optimal dose of DB after 7-day treatment of VVC, by assessing efficacy andsafety during 12 weeks of follow-up from start of treatment. The secondary objectives include the efficacy of MCZ-DB compared to MCZ nitrate 2% alone in the treatment of VVC based on the cure rate of VVC at Day 29, Day 57, and Day 85, as well as on patient-reported outcomes through Week 12. The exploratory objectives include pharmacokinetics (PK) of MCZ-DB at Day 7 before and after administration; the efficacy of MCZ-DB compared to MCZ nitrate 2% alone on the recurrence of VVC through Week 12; and quality of life evaluations. The study will be conducted in at least 4 study sites, all located in Belgium.



About severe and recurring VVC and MCZ-DB

VVC is a vaginal fungal infection commonly caused by the yeast Candida albicans, affecting as many as one in every two women during their life, with about 175 million units sold per year globally.1 Up to 20% of VVC patients develop severe to recurrent VVC where reinfection occurs more than four times per year. These are long-term conditions that cause significant pain and distress, with an estimated economic burden from lost productivity of up to $14.39 billion annually by 2030.2 There is a high unmet need for novel treatment options in severe and rVVC as current standard of care treatments have significant drawbacks, including lack of efficacy, the development of drug resistance due to continued use and liver toxicity.3 Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the activity of Miconazole (MCZ), the current topical standard of care, when combined with the Miconazole potentiator Domiphen Bromide, can combat the occurrence and recurrence of mucosal biofilm-related vaginal Candida infections.4 MCZ and DB work synergistically where DB increases the permeability of the plasma membrane and the vacuolar membrane of Candida spp., and MCZ acting fungicidal, thereby effectively destroying fungal activity and preventing further fungal growth. The synergistic mode-of-action of topical MCZ-DB has the potential to be effective against azole-resistant infections, possibly addressing the high unmet needs in recurring VVC.5 About Hyloris Pharmaceuticals

Hyloris is a specialty biopharma company focused on innovating, reinventing, and optimising existing medications to address important healthcare needs and deliver relevant improvements for patients, healthcare professionals and payors. Hyloris has built a broad, patented portfolio of 13 reformulated and repurposed value-added medicines that have the potential to offer significant advantages over available alternatives. Outside of its core strategic focus, the Company also has 3 high barrier generic products in development and registration phase. Two products are currently in initial phases of commercialisation with partners: Sotalol IV for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, and Maxigesic IV, a non-opioid post-operative pain treatment. The Companys development strategy primarily focuses on the FDAs 505(b)2 regulatory pathway, which is specifically designed for pharmaceuticals for which safety and efficacy of the molecule have already been established. This pathway can reduce the clinical burden required to bring a product to market, and significantly shorten the development timelines and reduce costs and risks. Hyloris is based in Liege, Belgium. For more information, visit www.hyloris.com and follow-us on LinkedIn.

For more information, please contact:

Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, Investor Relations and Media

[email protected]







Disclaimer and forward-looking statements

Hyloris means high yield, lower risk, which relates to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for product approval on which the Issuer focuses, but in no way relates or applies to an investment in the Shares.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified using forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. These statements relate to future events or the Companys future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control, that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. 1 FIOR Markets 2019; Global Info Research; IMS 2 D.W Denning et al.. Lancet Infectious Diseases (2018); D Rosati D et al., An Immunological Perspective, Microorganisms (2020)

3 P.G. Pappas et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases (2016); J.D. Sobel et al., Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy (2018)

4 J Tits., J et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother (2020); K. De Cremer et al., Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (2015)

5 Manuscript for scientific paper submitted Attachment 211102 Hyloris Press Release Phase 2 Start MCZ-DB_ENG



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[November 02, 2021]

UST Wins Business Culture Awards for the Second Time in a Row

- Recognizes company's strong workplace culture, effective management, and excellent performance in 2021~

BENGALURU, India and LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, today announced that it has won the 'Business Culture Team Award' for its Office of Values & Culture (OVC) at the Business Culture Awards 2021. The prestigious awards recognize exceptional business culture at global organisations, with more than 100 participating across multiple categories this year.

UST was also highly commended in the 'Best Large Organization for Business Culture' category, and a finalist in each of the other categories entered  'Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative', 'Best Employee Voice Initiative for Business Culture' and 'Best Internal Communications Strategy for Business Culture'.

Following a rigorous four-month evaluation process by an esteemed judging panel made up of over 40 global leaders in organisational values and culture, this year's winners were announced at the DeVere Grand Connaught Rooms, London. Praveen Prabhakaran, Chief Delivery Officer, UST, attended the ceremony and received the trophies.

Sunil Balakrishnan, Chief Values Officer and Global Head for Development Center Operations, UST, said: "We are thrilled to be recognized by the Business Culture Awards for our strong culture, built upon the three core values  Humility, Humanity and Integrity. Our OVC was formed in 2019 with the mission to sustain, strengthen and scale the values and culture of our organisation and this award truly reflects how far we have come in achieving our goals. We are extremely proud of our inclusive workplace approach and continue to offer employees an environment where they can develop and thrive."

UST's Office of Values & Culture (OVC) focuses on three areas: Values & Culture, CSR, and COLORS (UST's Employee Engagement Framework). Having already touched over 1,60,000 lives, OVC's key achievements in 2021 include:

16,000 + employees engaged through 300 + events

Touched 1,00,00 lives and planted 30,000 trees

70% of employees consider UST as a value-driven organization







Another judge commented: "UST has taken continuity of culture very seriously, creating the Office of Values & Culture and having this reporting into the CEO. Clear link between actions and organisational goals. 160k lives touched is impressive."

In UST's Values & Culture Assessment Survey 2021, 82 percent of respondents said they believe that the firm's values and culture will positively influence the growth of the organization. In 2020, UST won the prestigious Business Culture Awards for 'Best International Initiative for Business Culture'. UST was chosen by the panel for its robust, structured, and dedicated approach to company culture and commitment to the society through CSR activities during the Covid-19 times.

This year, UST was also recognized Great Place to Work in the U.S., UK, India, and Mexico. UST was also named a Top Employer 2021 in eight countries - US, United Kingdom, India, Mexico, Spain, Philippines Singapore, and Malaysia, by the Top Employers Institute (TEI), another global authority on recognizing excellence in people practices in the workplace. The company was also honoured with a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award, for being one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work in 2020 . The company had also recently announced its aggressive hiring plans of over 10,000 employees across the globe to support its global business demand, accelerate the digital transformation of companies and the rise of the digital economy.

For more information about the Business Culture Awards, please visit: businesscultureawards.com.

To learn more about UST's social commitment, please visit: https://www.ust.com/en/who-we-are/ust-social-commitment

About UST:

For more than 20 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizationsdelivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 26,000 employees in 25 countries, we build for boundless impacttouching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com

Media Contacts, UST:

Tinu Cherian Abraham

+1 (949) 415-9857

Neha Misri

+91-9284726602

[email protected]

Media Contacts, US:

S&C PR

+1-646.941.9139

[email protected]

Media Contacts, UK:

FTI Consulting

[email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422658/UST_Logo.jpg
[November 02, 2021] BT Secures Industry First Global Partnership With OneWeb

- BT announces a landmark agreement with OneWeb for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network and connectivity services - Tests to integrate LEO satellite services across consumer and business divisions to create added value for customers, with first trials expected in early 2022 - The agreement between the two British-headquartered companies will support UK Government's National Space Strategy and spans BT's global footprint - Satellite services form a component of BT's vision to enable digital solutions anywhere in the UK by 2028 LONDON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BT and OneWeb have agreed terms for a new Distribution Partner Agreement, with OneWeb to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication services across BT Group.* This builds on an initial Memorandum of Understanding signed in July and means BT is testing how LEO satellite technology integrates with its existing terrestrial capabilities to meet the communications needs of customers. On successful completion, BT will commence the first live trials with customers from early next year. The partnership will span a growing range of connectivity solutions around the world as well as specific opportunities for the UK market. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: "I am thrilled to see the UK at the forefront of this emerging technology thanks to the Government's investment in OneWeb  a crucial part of our plans to cement our status as a global science and technology superpower." Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said: "The agreement between OneWeb and BT will help bring fast and reliable global connectivity, from the Highlands to the Himalayas. I'm delighted these two British companies have joined forces to research the technological benefits of working together, and I look forward to exploring how this could play a role in our mission to put hard-to-reach areas in the digital fast lane." Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: "Space is an emerging and enormous digital opportunity, and this is an important step towards harnessing its potential for BT's customers across the globe. We will put OneWeb's technology through its paces in our UK labs with the goal of delivering live trials in early 2022. Delivered securely and at scale, satellite solutions will be an important part of our plans to expand connectivity throughout the UK and globally, and to further diversify the range of services we can offer our customers." OneWeb's Chief Executive Officer Neil Masterson said: "BT has taken the lead in the recognition of LEO satellite's advantage. We are delighted as this agreement with BT Group represents an important strategic partnership for OneWeb as we continue to make progress towards our operational launch. We are excited to be playing such a key role in improving the resilience of the overall telecom infrastructure in the UK. OneWeb's connectivity platform will help bridge the last digital divides across the country and enhance the nation's digital infrastructure." OneWeb is expected to deliver global coverage by June 2022 through a constellation of 648 LEO satellites and is poised to deliver services from the North Pole to the 50th parallel, covering the entire United Kingdom, later this year. The new partnership supports BT's wider network ambition, set out in July this year, to deliver digital solutions across the entire UK by 2028, through a combination of an expanded network and 'on demand,' requestable solutions anywhere beyond. In building a converged, software-defined network, BT will leverage and integrate both terrestrial and non-terrestrial technologies to deliver on the goal of seamless, ubiquitous connectivity. This agreement marks a clear path towards the first LEO solutions being available for customers within a year. As the next step, BT will test capabilities in its Bristol lab to demonstrate how they integrate with existing services. Current capacity levels within OneWeb satellites mean initial trials will focus on its role as a supplementary, low latency backhaul solution to sites where additional capacity or a back-up solution is required, and to deliver improved resilience for business customers. On successful completion, BT will begin early adopter trials for UK and international customers, expected early next year. As OneWeb grows their capacity, the list of future use cases could also widen, opening up the opportunity to explore the use of satellite for IoT backhaul and Fixed Wireless Access in rural areas. The work with OneWeb shows the capabilities being developed by UK businesses in the pioneering area of space technology and follows the UK Government's recently published National Space Strategy, which recognises the enormous strategic opportunities on offer. BT, which boasts a heritage of nearly 60 years in space and satellite communication innovation, continues to explore a diverse range of partners across all its services, including space, to ensure the latest and best connectivity solutions are available for customers. *The deal encompasses BT's Enterprise, Consumer and Global units, serving UK and multinational organisations.







Contacts

BT OneWeb CC Group PR Finsbury Glover Hering Richard Fogg +44 7887 845236 [email protected] Anais Merlin +44 7932526514

[email protected]



About BT BT Group is the UK's leading telecommunications and network provider and a leading provider of global communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities in the UK include the provision of fixed voice, mobile, broadband and TV (including Sport) and a range of products and services over converged fixed and mobile networks to consumer, business and public sector customers. For its global customers, BT provides managed services, security and network and IT infrastructure services to support their operations all over the world. BT consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer, Enterprise, Global and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Openreach, which provides access network services to over 650 communications provider customers who sell phone, broadband and Ethernet services to homes and businesses across the UK. For the year ended 31 March 2021, BT Group's reported revenue was 21,331m with reported profit before taxation of 1,804m. British Telecommunications plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit? www.bt.com/about About OneWeb OneWeb is a global communications network powered from space, headquartered in London, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of global gateway stations and a range of user terminals to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service, connected to the IoT future and a pathway to 5G for everyone, everywhere. Find out more at http://www.oneweb.world

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[November 02, 2021] Jacobs Establishes Office of Global Climate Response and ESG

DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of launching its PlanBeyondSM 2.0 approach designed to propel the integration of sustainability throughout operations and client solutions in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Jacobs (NYSE:J) announces the creation of an Office of Global Climate Response and ESG designed to deliver on the company's commitments to climate change through innovative solutions for its clients and shareholders. As part of the company's forthcoming 2022-2024 corporate strategy, this strategic emphasis will serve as the focal point for its go-to-market solutions within the framework of energy transition, decarbonization, adaptation and mitigation, and natural resource stewardship. Additionally, the company is coupling climate response with Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), which is taking on heightened significance, both within Jacobs and externally as companies around the globe rise to the climate challenge and address urgent social issues. "This enhancement to our existing delivery model and organizational structure is designed to expand Jacobs' ability to respond with sustainable and resilient solutions that create value for our clients, employees, communities and investors," said Jacobs President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Pragada. "As our business shifts, so do our sustainability ambitions  like integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into our operations and every client solution we deliver." Jacobs looked to its own talent force in appointing SVP of Global Climate Response and ESG Jan Walstrom to lead the office and interface with the investor community to showcase Jacobs global capabilities and technology-enabled expertise in developing sustainable and resilient solutions for a net zero economy. Walstrom has previously held progressive leadership roles in the global environment, sustainability and technology markets for more than 25 years and her experience encompasses work with governments and industry-leading multinational corporations throughout the world. Jacobs' VP and Head of Global Sustainability, Zoe Haseman  who leads the company's Sustainability Center of Excellence with responsibility for developing and driving Jacobs' PlanBeyond 2.0 and Climate Action Plan  joins Walstrom in the new office. She will focus on educating internal and external stakeholders on global trends, opportunities and market initiatives to help inform Jacobs' strategies and actions in delivering on ambitious sustainability commitments, creating social value for communities, and leading on new sustainable innovations and tools to differentiate Jacobs in the marketplace. Climate response is a critical agenda item for business and goernment leaders globally. As a purpose-led company, Jacobs will channel its expansive capabilities in resilient infrastructure, clean water, green energy and social value toward benefitting people and the planet. This move amplifies Jacobs' commitment to climate response and ESG and provides the foundation for working with its global client base in co-creating solutions for a more connected, sustainable world.



About Jan Walstrom

Walstrom's career at Jacobs spans almost 30 years, serving as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Solutions for People & Places Solutions for the past two years and the Global Environmental Market Director for the past four. As Head of Sustainability & Environment, Walstrom led the framework for the delivery of iconic projects such as the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games and East London Olympic Park, all world-leading examples of transformation and social infrastructure project development for the future. She is a member of the Association for Project Management & Project Management Institute and a University of Tulsa (OK), Department of Biological Sciences Alumni Board member. Walstrom graduated with honors from the University of Tulsa with a bachelor's degree in organismic biology. About Zoe Haseman

During her 10 years with Jacobs, Haseman has led sustainability advisory on major client projects in the U.S. and the U.K., heading up Jacobs' Global Sustainability Center of Excellence as VP & Global Head of Sustainability since 2019. With over 20 years of sustainability experience across multiple sectors, she sits on the World Environment Center Global Board, is a Trustee on the Board for Engineers without Borders U.K. and is a member of the World Economic Forum's Alliance for CEO Climate Leaders Senior Advisory Group and the U.K. Business in the Community's (BiTC) Net Zero Task Force. Haseman holds a Bachelor of Science (honors) degree in environmental science from University of Manchester, U.K.

About Jacobs

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence and spread of variants of COVID-19, and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2020, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2021, and in particular the discussions contained under Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law. For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jacobs-establishes-office-of-global-climate-response-and-esg-301413612.html SOURCE Jacobs

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[November 02, 2021] Klarna acquires PriceRunner to strengthen banking offer for its 90m global consumers

STOCKHOLM, LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global retail bank today announces it has signed an agreement to acquire PriceRunner. PriceRunner will bring new features in the form of product reviews, rich product discovery and price comparisons to the Klarna app to enhance the shopping, payments and banking experience for consumers globally. Klarna's seamless shopping experience from inspiration and product selection, to flexible payments and delivery, tracking and returns will be elevated by PriceRunner's daily price updates, reviews, professional tests and intelligent filtering options. This will enable a more engaging experience for Klarna's consumers. Klarna will add PriceRunner's functionality to its offering while Klarna's retail partners will benefit from enhanced behavior insight, increased website traffic from high intent consumers and optimized marketing opportunities to further drive their growth. David Fock, Klarna's Chief Product Officer commented: "At Klarna we constantly strive to make the banking and payments experience the best it can be, empowering consumers from product discovery to paying in a way that suits them. The acquisition will serve to strengthen our bank, card and payment services and support a competitive global landscape. It also further cements that Klarna will not be a marketplace but a viable and competitive alternative for retail partners vs Amazon, Google and Facebook. The PriceRunner team is a talented, passionate group, which will be a perfect fit and we are excited about what we can achieve together."



Mikael Lindahl , PriceRunner's Chief Executive Officer commented: "We have spent the last five years rebuilding PriceRunner from scratch to create a best-in-class comparison shopping service while helping retail partners improve their business. We see Klarna as the ideal partner to accelerate growth and achieve our long-term vision to become the most loved comparison shopping service in the world." The acquisition is subject to approval by regulatory authorities.

For additional information, please contact: Aoife Houlihan, VP of Communications

Phone: +46 (0) 72855 8047

Email: [email protected] / [email protected] About Klarna We make shopping smooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna's offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 250,000 retail partners, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 4,000 employees and is active in 17 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com. About PriceRunner



PriceRunner is the leading comparison shopping service in the Nordic region. It has businesses in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom and compares 3.4 million products from 22,500 retailers in 25 countries. During the 12-month period ending on Sep 30, 2021, PriceRunner had revenues amounting to SEK 460 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 52 per cent. PriceRunner employs more than 170 people in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Every month, PriceRunner is used by millions of consumers to compare products, offers, attributes and to take part in professional product tests and user reviews of products and retailers.



PriceRunner is independent of all manufacturers, brands and retailers. Our mission is to help consumers to find the right products and the best deals. Every month, millions of consumers find better products and save money by using PriceRunner's services. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/klarna-acquires-pricerunner-to-strengthen-banking-offer-for-its-90m-global-consumers-301413788.html SOURCE Klarna Bank AB (publ)

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[November 02, 2021] Dominant Industrial Storage Cards: FORESEE MLC Micro SD

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the concept of Industry 4.0 era has been gradually redefined, the manufacturing industry has experienced tremendous changes in recent years. The manufacturing industry tends to be intelligentized through combination of information and communication technology via cyber-physical systems. The "Industry 4.0" project mainly consists of smart plants, smart production, and smart logistics. Both the manufacturing and service industries are becoming increasingly intelligentized according to requirements. Rapid intelligentization in response to the continuous pursuit of a high standard of living has inevitably brought significant changes to the industrial environment. It has been proven that quality of life has gradually improved through standardization of industrial production environments. However, manufacturers of industrial control equipment must strongly consider the harsh nature of industrial environments. The efficient and stable operation of industrial equipment in harsh environments for long periods depends on the quality of the terminal, particularly of its various electronic components. Storage chips play a key role in data reading and writing, and device endurance. To keep up with the times and meet market demad, the Longsys industrial storage brand --FORESEE has officially launched the FORESEE MLC microSD industrial storage card. Equipped with the manufacturer's MLC storage chip, this product has a write cycle of up to 7,000P/E, and diverse capacities of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB, sufficient to meet the storage requirements of various applications.



In order to ensure the adaptability of storage products to various extremely harsh working environments, as well as their stability and reliability, FORESEE MLC microSD will undergo a series of rigorous production tests before shipment, such as thermal aging (meeting the industrial wide temperature requirement of -40 to 85?), pressure resistance, electromagnetic interference, static, vibration, and moisture tests. Longsys is committed to providing the most comprehensive mobile storage solutions for customers from all walks of life. As most industrial devices must operate for long periods in relatively harsh industrial environments, sudden power outages and equipment failures caused by overload are inevitable. In response to this, the FORESEE R&D team has developed the emergency power failure protection function for FORESEE pSLC microSD industrial storage cards, which ensures the integrity of original data and programmed data blocks before any failure, in order to protect data.

The concept of "Industry 4.0"in the information age has stimulated major changes in the industry and manufacturing fields, among others. Amid the increasing research into and application of intelligent industrial equipment, the demands of industrial storage products are becoming more and greater. FORESEE, the industrial storage brand of Longsys, is dedicated to providing customers with reliable products (through strict quality control), quality customized services and real-time technical support, so as to form a virtuous circle of increasing industrial storage product applications. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dominant-industrial-storage-cards-foresee-mlc-micro-sd-301413816.html SOURCE Longsys

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[November 02, 2021] Evotix on Mission to Reduce Workplace Accidents in Europe and USA

Every year over 5,000 people are killed in workplace accidents in the US and EU - a number that's risen in the US over the last ten years1 - and blue-collar workers in the US are five times as likely to have accidents as their white-collar counterparts2. Evotix, an ESG business, formerly known as SHE Software and a world leader in environmental, health, safety and well-being software (EHS), announces today its mission to help organizations reduce these numbers through its investment in new staff, software, support and training services. The business' proposition is focussed on giving its clients 'the confidence to transform'. For many organizations, changing the way they handle health and safety can be daunting because they don't want to uproot established practices even if they are based on out-of-date processes and technologies. Evotix has the in-depth expertise in the latest technologies, especially those that improve and simplify the user experience, that enables organizations to implement the changes they - and their employees - need to make EHS simpler and safer. Matthew Elson, CEO of Evotix, explains, "People, especially those that are less advantaged, have the right to work in a safer environment. Our business already helps protect the safety of over 3,000,000 employees worldwide and we're determined to protect many, many more in the years to come." "Too many employees suffer workplace accidents or endure workplace related physical and mental health problems, causing issues not only for those individuals but for businesses and wider society. Many of these unfortunate situations would be avoidable if health and safety were embedded in the way the organization truly functions, supported by software featuring the latest user-friendly technologies. Engaging employees on safety issues needs to be simple, sustainable and tailored for the need of each individual organization and that's what Evotix has been built to offer." "The introduction of the Evotix name is just one step on our journey. The SHE Software name has served us well during our early years, but we wanted a name that was both memorable and reflect our vision and evolved proposition. The Evotix name is a conflation of the key qualities that make us special - evolutionary technology, innovation and experience."



Based in Chicago and London, over the past five years Evotix has grown by over 40% every year and now has over 130 staff across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. In the last two years the company has experienced its fastest ever growth and major customers include: GlaxoSmithKline, New Balance, Citrix (News - Alert) and University of Cambridge. SOLUTIONS FOR TOMORROW

Evotix focusses on promoting workplace health and safety by providing innovative and engaging technology that gets embedded in the everyday flow of activity. Evotix provides a comprehensive solution covering all aspects of health and safety management. The solution is online and mobile-first designed to be used quickly and easily on-the-spot. With Evotix, incidents can be reported and shared within minutes, actions can be tracked to completion and underlying trends can be analysed. Understanding documents on a mobile phone can be challenging: many organizations have a percentage of their workforce who are illiterate. Evotix employs microlearning video and quizzes in the field to engage employees in understanding risk and following defined working methods. Every organization is different so the software can be easily tailored and adapted as requirements evolve. Evotix is continually adding new innovation as technology evolves. Matthew continues, "Our approach helps organizations and employees alike. For organizations, accidents and incidents are expensive, with direct costs including lost hours, damage, disruption and claims, and indirect costs including the impact on morale, reputation, stress and management distraction. " "We believe employees deserve better. The risks associated with workplace accidents fall disproportionately on the most disadvantaged in society - gig economy workers, casual labourers. An organization that prioritises risk reduction for all its staff will perform better financially, operationally and reputationally. That's where we are here to help." Dawn Hemmings at Citrix says, "I've partnered with Evotix for over five years at three different organisations. I have always valued them as a partner that cares as passionately about improving workplace safety as I do. That's why, when I joined Citrix, one of my first actions was to call Evotix. We know that their vision to make EHS simpler, more intuitive and more engaging is aligned with ours and they have the capabilities and plans to make that vision a reality." ABOUT EVOTIX Evotix is a global ESG technology company transforming the way employees engage in workplace health and safety. Its market leading solution, Assure, is used by more than 400 customers across a wide range of industries including manufacturing, food & drink, construction, utility services, transport & logistics, municipalities, healthcare, education and housing. Customers include GlaxoSmithKline, New Balance, Citrix, Finsbury Foods, Eddie Stobart, Network Rail, Wacker Neuson, Euro Car Parts and University of Cambridge. Evotix's intuitive, mobile first application fosters worker participation, guiding frontline activities while capturing rich data to help prioritise safety and operational improvements and ensure compliance. Ease of deployment and resulting swift customer impact drive Evotix's rapid multi-year growth. Evotix has offices in Chicago, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Melbourne, and is backed by significant investors including Mercia Asset Management and Frog Capital. 1 Eurostat: Accidents at work; US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fatal occupational injuries

2 US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fatal occupational injuries View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005108/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Medici Land Governance and The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa Sign MOU to Advance SDG 2030 Agenda Goals

Medici Land Governance (MLG) has signed an MOU with the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGCA) to advance Africa's overall development agendas and the SDGs 2030 agenda over the course of two years, with option for renewal. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which originated with the United Nations, are essential guiding principles for MLG, a public benefit corporation that provides software development and services related to land titling and government services. This latest MOU partners MLG with the SDGCA, an autonomous not-for-profit international organization that supports governments, civil society, businesses, and academic institutions in efforts sharing their experience and expertise. Among the SDGs most relevant to the work MLG and SDGCA will conduct: SDG 5: Achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls;

SDG 10: Reducing inequality within and among countries;

SDG 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable;

SDG 15: Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss;

SDG 17: Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. The SDGCA and MLG share objectives promoting gender equality and empowerment, reducing inequalities within and among countries, making inclusive cities and human settlements, protecting and restoring the environment, and strengthening partnership. "These SDGs are intended to be concrete, measurable and results focused," Dr. Ali El Husseini, CEO of MLG, says, "With The SDGCA, MLG will develop a detailed collaborative framework that also is agile and flexible enough to addressing and incorporating new issues of environment and sustainability every six months or as they emerge." He adds, "With our experience in data collection and committed investment on the continent, together with The SDGCA, we can properly, realistically and accurately enjoy benefits not only for our respective broader communication efforts but also, more importantly, for seeking out additional channels and avenues for financing and collaboration." This includes fundraising efforts reaching out to the public and private sectors, as well as other multilateral and bilateral institutions, development banks and foundations. "Gender equity, for example, is a prominent influencer of MLG's product design," El Husseini says. "This supports The SDGCA's focus on fostering inclusive dialogue with policymakers to share bet practices in creating opportunities for women and those who historically have been socially excluded."



Caroline Makasa, Acting Director General of The SDGCA said, "The SDGs signify the value of managing all aspects of systems and not just those that are productive but also have the potential to become so once sustainability needs are addressed. We look forward to our partnership with MLG, because its efforts on achieving successful land management encourage breaking with institutional traditions that have separated development, agriculture, forestry, environment, and land reform as separate domains. This is an opportunity to enable the ideal multifunctional conditions of governance, gender synergies, secured land tenure, investment, and economic markets. Together with MLG, we can demonstrate practical applications and ways of measuring the impact of SDGs." MLG has been cultivating its presence on the African continent by helping governments establish land management and administrative systems using 21st century technology, notably with gender equity as a priority. In Rwanda, MLG is implementing a land transaction system, Ubutaka, an efficient platform service which also assures protection of security of identity for citizens as well as facilitate cost-effective service delivery by the government. MLG has made many functions of digital governance not only paperless but also streamlined for access without compromising the most rigorous expectations for efficiency, equity, security and immutability. In the Republic of Zambia, MLG is providing systematic land titling, land administration and payment software to enable the issuance of 4 million Certificates of Titles (COTs) on state land over a period of seven years - the largest systematic land titling project ever embarked upon in the nation. MLG is the first external company to invest resources upfront for guaranteeing security of tenure by issuing titles to Zambians. This momentous effort follows on the success of the pilot project undertaken by MLG to collect data for 50,000 title eligible properties using their proprietary systematic land titling technology in Lusaka City, and 45% of those titles issued to women either as sole or joint property owners. In Liberia, MLG's efforts are directed toward formally recognizing and recording the rights of Liberian landowners. The demographic breakdown of this data allows for MLG to evaluate the impact of and to improve upon sensitization efforts to reach underrepresented landowners, including women.

Since July 2016, The SDGCA has been working at frontline to assist African countries in realizing SDGs by organizing high level conferences in which policy makers, researchers, academics, business people and civil societies convene and discuss on how SDGS are to be achieved in Africa. The SDGCA has offered many specialized trainings to public institutions to facilitate in harmonizing efforts and tracking the progress of SDGs across the continent. To ensure that SDGs are tracked and reported, The SDGCA compiled and harmonized indicator data points for both UN SDG Agenda 2030 and African Union Agenda 2063 goals. It mapped data elements to ease concurrent data entry for both Agendas in The SDGCA Data Portal and Monitoring and Reporting System. In a bid to expand its work with African counties, The SDGCA has signed Host Country Agreements with the Republics of Rwanda, Zambia and Liberia; and more are planned to be signed in near future to establish sub regional offices. MLG will be discussing SDG's during the 2021 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, in addition to hosting a panel discussion on "How Innovative Technologies Can Contribute to Securing Tenure Rights in Africa?" as a part of the Africa Land Forum 2021. About Medici Land Governance Medici Land Governance leverages blockchain and other technologies (such as cryptography, AI and others) to support land governance, titling, and administration with a secure public record of land ownership. With land records stored on the blockchain, land ownership is standardized and can be recognized by local and global economies. Medici Land Governance supports agencies in the digitization of their current records, engendering trust and security in data by diminishing human error and accidental damage to records. About The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (The SDGCA) is an autonomous not-for-profit international organization that supports governments, civil society, businesses and academic institutions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. The SDGCA was established by African leaders to ensure they act together in pursuit of a shared African development vision and that Africa is well-positioned in the global forum with all other actors responsible for the global conversation and actions related to the SDGs. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005498/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Gojek And Gogoro Announce Strategic Partnership To Electrify Two Wheel Transportation In Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia and TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gojek, Southeast Asia's leading mobile on-demand services platform, and Gogoro, a global technology leader in battery swapping ecosystems that enable sustainable urban mobility, today announced a strategic partnership to electrify two wheel transportation in Indonesia. The partnership brings together two of Asia's most innovative and sustainability-focused technology companies that are committed to introducing a new era of urban transportation. The partnership between Gojek (a GoTo Group company) and Gogoro initially includes two key areas of cooperation. Firstly, GoTo Group is investing in Gogoro's PIPE, and secondly, a cooperation between Gojek, Gogoro and Pertamina, on a battery swapping and Gogoro Smartscooter pilot scheme in Jakarta. "One of the greatest challenges of our time, in Indonesia and around the world, is transforming our urban transportation into a new generation of smart and sustainable electric two-wheel vehicles that are accessible and people can embrace. Together with Gojek, and the Indonesian government's support, we are on a path to making this happen," said Horace Luke, founder and CEO, Gogoro. "Gogoro battery swapping is a new generation of electric fueling that provides an open platform for two-wheel vehicle makers to introduce new electric vehicles that enable fast, safe and easy to use refueling." "The partnership between Gojek and Gogoro brings together two like-minded companies that are dedicated to making smart electric transportation the norm throughout Indonesia. Such an ambition can only be achieved if multiple stakeholders work together, so partnerships like this are essential if we are to meet our goals to re-imagine intra-city transport," said Kevin Aluwi, Gojek Co-Founder and CEO. "By combining Gojek's wide reach in Indonesia with Gogoro's capabilities, we will be able to accelerate change and share the benefits of electric vehicles with more driver-partners and consumers. This represents a significant step towards our goal of fully electrifying our fleet of vehicles by 2030 and achieving a zero-emissions future." Gojek x Gogoro Pilot Based in Jakarta, the Gojek x Gogoro pilot consists of 250 Gogoro Smartscooters and four GoStation battery swapping stations that will be located at Pertamina gas stations. Pertamina is the Indonesian state-owned oil and natural gas corporation. Together, both companies plan to scale up the pilot to 5,000 scooters and more battery swap stations in the future. Gogoro has established itself as a global innovation leader in compact electric propulsion, smart battery design, battery swapping, and advanced cloud services that utilize artificial intelligence to manage battery availability and safety. At the heart of Gogoro's ecosystem is the Gogoro Network, a hyper-efficient battery swapping platform that was recognized by Guidehouse Insights as the leading battery swapping company for lightweight urban vehicles in the world. With more than 400,000 riders and 2,100 battery swapping stations, Gogoro Network is hosting 270,000 daily battery swaps with more than 250 million total battery swaps to date. In addition to the Gogoro Network, in 2015 Gogoro also unveiled its award-winning Gogoro Smartscooter as the world's first smart electric two-wheel vehicle. In 2019 it established the Powered by Gogoro Network Program (PBGN) that provides Gogoro's vehicle maker partners access to Gogoro innovations including its intelligent drivetrains and controllers, components and smart systems, so they can develop and roll-out unique electric vehicles that integrate Gogoro Network battery swapping. The Gojek x Gogoro pilot is also in line with Gojek's sustainability goals and ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. In April this year, Gojek released its first Sustainability Report[1], where it outlined its plans to achieve Zero Emissions by 2030, including transitioning its fleet to 100% electric vehicles. As part of this, Gojek is actively exploring ways to develop a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem, by leveraging technology to address the barriers to adoption for driver-partners and ensure an optimal consumer experience. GoTo Invests in Gogoro In September 2021, GoTo invested in the PIPE financing in connection with the business combination that Gogoro entered into with Poema Global Holdings Corp. The transaction is expected to close in early 2022. GoTo is the largest technology group in Indonesia and the "go-to' ecosystem for daily life which consist of the largest mobility and on-demand platform (Gojek), the largest e-commerce platform in Indonesia (Tokopedia) and leading payment and financial services (GoTo Financial). About GoTo Group GoTo Group is the largest technology group in Indonesia and the "go to" ecosystem for daily life, capturing a majority of Indonesian consumer household expenditure. GoTo combines e-commerce, on-demand and financial services through the Gojek, Tokopedia and GoTo Financial brands, creating the first platform in Southeast Asia to host these three essential use cases in one ecosystem. GoTo's mission is to "Empower Progress" by offering an unparalleled selection of goods and services through a comprehensive merchant and partner network and promoting financial inclusion through its leading payments and financial services business. About Gojek Gojek is Southeast Asia's leading on-demand platform and a pioneer of the multi-service ecosystem model, providing access to a wide range of services incuding transportation, food delivery, logistics and more. Gojek is founded on the principle of leveraging technology to remove life's daily frictions by connecting consumers to the best providers of goods and services in the market.



The company was first established in 2010 focusing on courier and motorcycle ride-hailing services, before launching the app in January 2015 in Indonesia. Since then, Gojek has grown to become the leading on-demand platform in Southeast Asia, providing access to a wide range of services from transportation, to food delivery, logistics and many others. As of March 2021, Gojek's application has been downloaded more than 190 million times by users across Southeast Asia.

Gojek is dedicated to solving the daily challenges faced by consumers, while improving the quality of life for millions of people across Southeast Asia, especially those in the informal sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Gojek application is available for download via iOS and Android. About Gogoro Founded in 2011 to rethink urban energy and inspire the world to move through cities in smarter and more sustainable ways, Gogoro leverages the power of innovation to change the way urban energy is distributed and consumed. Gogoro's battery swapping and vehicle platforms offer a smart, proven, and sustainable long-term ecosystem for delivering a new approach to urban mobility. Gogoro has quickly become an innovation leader in vehicle design and electric propulsion, smart battery design, battery swapping, and advanced cloud services that utilize artificial intelligence to manage battery availability and safety. The challenge is massive, but the opportunity to disrupt the status quo, establish new standards, and achieve new levels of sustainable transportation growth in densely populated cities is even greater. For more information, visit www.gogoro.com/news and follow Gogoro on Twitter: @wearegogoro Forward Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Poema Global Holdings Corp. ("Poema Global") and Gogoro Inc. ("Gogoro"). In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "target," "seek" or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including projections of market opportunity and market share including in Indonesia, the ability of Gogoro's business model to be successful in the future, future products, the capability of Gogoro's technology, Gogoro's business plans including its plans to expand in Indonesia and globally, any benefits of Gogoro's partnerships including its partnership with Gojek and Pertamina, and expectations related to the terms and the timing of the proposed transaction between Gogoro and Poema Global are also forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although each of Poema Global and Gogoro believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this communication, each of Poema Global and Gogoro caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. In addition, there will be risks and uncertainties described in the proxy statement/prospectus on Form F-4 relating to the proposed transaction, which is expected to be filed by Gogoro with the SEC and other documents filed by Gogoro or Poema Global from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Neither Poema Global nor Gogoro can assure you that the forward-looking statements in this communication will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the ability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval from Poema Global's shareholders or satisfy other closing conditions in the business combination agreement, the occurrence of any event that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement, the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, the amount of redemption requests made by Poema Global's public shareholders, costs related to the transaction, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the risk that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transaction, the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings and other risks and uncertainties, including those to be included under the heading "Risk Factors" in the registration statement on Form F-4 to be filed by Gogoro with the SEC and those included under the heading "Risk Factors" in the annual report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2020 of Poema Global and in its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. There may be additional risks that neither Poema Global nor Gogoro presently know or that Poema Global and Gogoro currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Poema Global, Gogoro, their respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that Poema Global and Gogoro will achieve their objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this communication represent the views of Poema Global and Gogoro as of the date of this communication. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while Poema Global and Gogoro may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of Poema Global or Gogoro as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Important Additional Information Regarding the Transaction Will Be Filed With the SEC In connection with the proposed transaction, Gogoro will file a registration statement on Form F-4 with the SEC that will include a prospectus with respect to Gogoro's securities to be issued in connection with the proposed transaction and a proxy statement with respect to the shareholder meeting of Poema Global to vote on the proposed transaction. Shareholders of Poema Global and other interested persons are encouraged to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus as well as other documents to be filed with the SEC because these documents will contain important information about Poema Global, Gogoro and the proposed transaction. After the registration statement is declared effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement will be mailed to shareholders of Poema Global as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed transaction. Once available, shareholders of Poema Global will also be able to obtain a copy of the F-4, including the proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, by directing a request to: 101 Natoma St., 2F, San Francisco, CA 94105. The preliminary and definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Participants in the Solicitation Poema Global and Gogoro and their respective directors and executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the potential transaction described in this communication under the rules of the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Poema Global and their ownership is set forth in Poema Global's filings with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent filings in section 16 of the Exchange Act or on Form 10-Q. Additional information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Poema Global's shareholders in connection with the potential transaction will be set forth in the registration statement containing the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus when those are filed with the SEC. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: 101 Natoma St., 2F, San Francisco, CA 94105. No Offer or Solicitation This communication is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Poema Global or Gogoro, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. [1] Gojek Sustainability Report View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gojek-and-gogoro-announce-strategic-partnership-to-electrify-two-wheel-transportation-in-indonesia-301413659.html SOURCE Gogoro and Gojek

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[November 02, 2021] Stamp Free Launches Digitrack AI-based Postal Tracking App

Stamp Free Limited, the digital postage stamp company, has launched its new Digitrack app, an AI-based postal validation and tracking app for carriers. The Digitrack app can be downloaded onto an operative's smartphone or other handheld device to increase the speed, accuracy and easy handling of mail items that use the Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution that replaces a stamp or barcode labelling with a handwritten code. The Digitrack app works in three ways: Scan: The postal operative just points their smartphone/handheld device at the mail item. Our AI technology instantly and accurately recognises the handwriting on the mail item.

The postal operative just points their smartphone/handheld device at the mail item. Our AI technology instantly and accurately recognises the handwriting on the mail item. Validate: AI technology validates the code on a letter or parcel to know it's all paid and correct. The operative simply clicks 'validate' on-screen after scanning, which can be done in seconds throughout the delivery journey.

AI technology validates the code on a letter or parcel to know it's all paid and correct. The operative simply clicks 'validate' on-screen after scanning, which can be done in seconds throughout the delivery journey. Track: When operatives photograph a mail item (such as to provide evidence of delivery), the AI engine automatically extracts the label information to update the carrier's central system to provide their customers with tracking updates. The Digitrack app complements Stamp Free's existing API that enables validation through a carrier's automated sortation process. Stamp Free launched the Digitrack app during a successful week at the 2021 Parcel & Post International Expo in Vienna, where Stamp Free took home the coveted Retail and Customer Service Innovation of the Year award. Hugh Craigie Halkett, Managing Director of Stamp Free, said: "Not only are we providing consumers and businesses with the ability to send parcels, letters and reurns just by using their mobile phone, but we are now providing postal and carrier services with the equivalent benefit. Postal and carrier operatives will have the ability to scan and validate handwritten codes on mail items with the same speed and accuracy as they would conventional barcodes, which will increase the efficiency of the mail sort process. This is made possible by the use of artificial intelligence, which we believe will transform the postal and carrier industry by enabling a truly label-free and contact-free mail and returns journey."



Tim Higginbotham, IT Director of Stamp Free, discussed Digitrack at the Parcel & Post International Expo here.

Learn more about Digitrack here. About the Retail and Customer Service Innovation of the Year award

The Retail and Customer Service Innovation of the Year award was claimed by Stamp Free at the 2021 Parcel & Post International Expo that took place 12 - 14 October in Vienna, Austria. The award recognises the dramatic change experienced by the retail sector in the postal industry. It is a wonderful validation of the Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution, and we look forward to offering postal companies and carriers the benefits of our mobile phone-based digital postage products to their customers, both businesses and consumers.

For high-resolution imagery and logos, please click here About Stamp Free

The Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution ("The Solution") is targeted at postal and logistics sectors, the solution is the first in the world to be offered by a company independent of postal services. The Company has filed a patent application for its Stamp Free Digital Postage Solution. Product information can be found at www.stampfree.co.uk View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005316/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Dedrone Announces Successful Citywide Airspace Security Deployment

Dedrone, the market leader in smart airspace security, successfully implements a citywide airspace security deployment in Southern Europe. Dedrone protects people, property, and information from drone threats across large footprint areas like cities, airports, and power plants. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005321/en/ Dedrone has developed a citywide capable airspace security solution for urban environments to offer law enforcement and local governments best-in-class drone protection. (Photo: Business Wire) A major metropolitan city in Southern Europe has deployed less than a dozen DedroneSensors to detect, track and locate drones and their pilots across the city center. The protected area includes internationally renowned tourist destinations, corporate and shopping districts, residential areas, and a port encompassing 50 square kilometers. The high-security stakes for cities to protect civilians and infrastructure against unauthorized drones prompted Dedrone to develop a citywide capable airspace security solution for urban environments to offer law enforcement and local governments best-in-class drone protection. This citywide deployment follows short-term installations in European capital cities, including Berlin. Active today, the Dedrone Southern European city installation was launched in November 2020, revealing between 120-200 alerts of unauthorized drone activity per day and a 60% increase of unauthorized drone activity over the last six months. "Cities of the future are embracing the integration of drones for productive uses including deliveries, inspections, and public safety, while also considering how to manage traffic and differentiate between authorized and unauthorized drones or even malicious drones," shares Aaditya Devarakonda, CEO of Dedrone. "With public safety as our highest priority, Dedrone's smart airspace security for cities allws local government and law enforcement to comprehensively monitor their airspace of all drone activity, including higher risk areas like critical infrastructure sites, airports, correctional facilities, and high-traffic pedestrian areas."



Dedrone collaborates with local governments to develop a centralized, smart airspace security network that monitors cooperative and non-cooperative drone traffic. Dedrone's Airspace Security-as-a-Service model enables local governments to access airspace intelligence and insights as a utility across the monitored area. Dedrone smart city offering will continue to roll out to additional cities in Europe and the U.S. in 2021 and 2022. To enable cities to achieve smart airspace security, DedroneTracker fuses data from a network of sensors, using an AI/Machine Learning platform to produce critical drone activity information and situational awareness for law enforcement and security personnel guarding large public arenas. In February 2021, Dedrone announced their Remote ID offering, enabling customers to automatically receive both U.S. and EU Remote ID data through DedroneTracker as Remote ID regulations go into effect. Nearly 300 drones are currently in the Dedrone database and can be detected regardless of their cooperation with local Remote ID or other drone data broadcasting systems.

Dedrone offers an open platform enabling a layered-approach implementation with a single pane of glass view. Today, Dedrone supports dozens of approved integrations including sensors, Command & Control (C2) systems, alerting solutions, Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems, and mitigation technologies so organizations can use best-in-class technologies to meet individual site needs and easily integrate into their existing security infrastructure. About Dedrone Dedrone is the market leader in smart airspace security. Dedrone's counter-drone system is trusted by hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers globally to protect against unauthorized drones. With flexibility to host on premise or in the cloud via Dedrone's Airspace Security-as-a-Service (ASaaS), Dedrone customers can detect, classify, locate, and mitigate unauthorized drone threats. Established in 2014, Dedrone is headquartered in San Francisco, with operations in the Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, Ohio, London, and Germany. For more information about Dedrone and to reach our counter-drone subject matter experts, visit dedrone.com and follow @Dedrone on Twitter (News - Alert), Vimeo, and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005321/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Nanospectra Biosciences Announces Enrollment Completion of Pivotal Study of AuroLase Therapy for Ablation of Prostate Tissue

HOUSTON, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., a medical device company pioneering a novel use of nanomedicine for selective photothermal ablation, today announced the completion of enrollment of its open-label, multi-center, single-treatment pivotal study of AuroLase Therapy for focal ablation of prostate tissue via nanoparticle directed near infrared irradiation. The Company expects preliminary six-month follow-up data to be available mid next year with the complete data set in 4Q 2022 concurrent with expected submission for US regulatory clearance.

I would like to thank the investigators and their clinical research teams for their remarkable work on this study, especially given challenges navigating the Covid pandemic, said David Jorden, CEO of Nanospectra. Completion of trial enrollment establishes the timeline of final data availability and submission for FDA marketing clearance of our AuroLase Therapy for prostate tissue ablation. AuroLase, Nanospectras lead product, is the first and only ultra-focal ablation therapy designed to maximize treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects typically associated with surgery, radiation, and alternative focal therapies. The pivotal study enrolled 60 patients at nine clinical trial sites throughout the U.S. and followed the successful first-in-human feasibility study that enrolled 46 subjects at three U.S. sites. The combined dataset from both studies will constitute the clinical package Nanospectra will submit to the FDA. I am pleased to have led such a ground-breaking trial, which is poised to have an indelible impact on patients lives and the continued evolution of standard of care for localized prostate cancer, said Dr. Ardeshir Rastinehad, Vice Chair of Lenox Hill Urology and System Director of Prostate Cancer/Northwell Health System and the studys national principal investigator. I am strongly encouraged by the results of the feasibility study and the data that we have seen thus far in the extension sudy as it relates to oncologic control, maintenance of patient functional outcomes, and an absence of adverse side effects.



Efficacy of focal ablation of prostate tissue is being assessed by MRI/Ultrasound guided target biopsy six months after the particle-mediated ablation procedure and at one year via both targeted biopsy and standard systematic biopsy. Per standard of care, patient follow up continues beyond the one-year study visit but is outside the scope of the study. However, patients have been consented for up to five years to track their disease status and progression or recurrence, if any. The side effects of prostate cancer treatments are well known and may lead some men to delay or not seek screenings or treatment, said Steven E. Canfield, M.D., Professor and Chief Division of Urology, Edward J McGuire, MD Distinguished Chair, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston. To date, the AuroLase clinical trial has been very successful and I see a future pathway where this treatment will be a commonly used and accepted procedure for men with localized prostate cancer.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below: Dr. Steven E. Canfield and the research effort at University of Texas Health Science Center, including Nanospectras AuroLase Therapy, was profiled by the American Urological Association and highlighted in a 5-minute film at this years virtual annual meeting as well as 2022s planned annual conference in New Orleans. The segment covering the AuroLase clinical study begins at around the 1:30 mark and continues until the end. As we continue to follow these patients and evaluate the final data, we will begin preparing to evaluate additional clinical applications for our AuroLase Therapy within prostate cancer, as well as other cancer sites amenable to targeted focal therapy, added Jorden. About Nanospectra Biosciences

Nanospectra Biosciences is a privately-held medical device company, pioneering the patient-centric use of nanomedicine for selective thermal ablation. AuroLase, the companys lead product, is the first ultra-focal therapy for prostate cancer. Nanospectras ultra-focal approach maximizes treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects associated with current treatments, including surgery, radiation, and alternative focal therapies. Implementing a multi-prong growth strategy, Nanospectra is focusing on clinical advancements, exclusive partnering agreements and ongoing research and development. Nanospectras technology development has been funded to date by a series of grants, private equity investments and corporate partnerships.

For more information visit http://www.nanospectra.com. Contact Information

Joleen Schultz

[email protected]

Cell: 760-271-8150





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[November 02, 2021] Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Adopts BibliU Universal Learning

NEW YORK, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Learning Enablement technology provider BibliU today announced that Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) has adopted its Universal Learning solution. BibliU Universal Learning brings together digital content from thousands of publishers and open educational resources (OER) on one platform, ensuring textbooks and courseware are available at a per-class price that is 30 to 50 percent lower than what students would otherwise need to pay.

President of WSU Tech and Vice President of Workforce Development for WSU, Dr. Sheree Utash, said, At WSU Tech, we are continually evaluating solutions that enable student success, while also supporting our mission around equitable, affordable access to education. Having a digital-first platform that aggregates course content that our students can access from day one aligns with our strong commitment to being a leader in career and technical education. Numerous studies have underscored issues thwarting student success, with the affordability and accessibility of course materials ranked high on the list. Many students forgo purchasing textbooks due to costs. As colleges and universities seek to support students, BibliUs cost-effective, easy access to course materials is recognized as a ready remedy. Trish Schmidt, Dean of Academic Services at WSU Tech, commented, Accelerating our commitment to digital content is a key initiative as we address the needs of our diverse student population. Before BibliU, the processes for finding, selecting, managing, and deploying content were manual and cumbersome. BibliU enables us to not only offer content at a lower price but also to streamline and automate our administrative processes. Dr. Jennifer Seymour, Vice President of General Education at WSU Tech, added, There were so many different strategies to course materials, as well as numerous publisher relationships we needed to manae, each with their own processes and price points. We wanted to streamline this by working with one group that could provide access to materials using a tech-based solution. BibliU gives our students instant access to course materials at an affordable price.



Another issue addressed by BibliUs Universal Learning solution is the gap left by closed campus bookstores. In the case of WSU Tech, over the past several years, bookstores have been closed at all but one campus due to declining revenue. Seymour commented, We polled our campus bookstore to determine how many students wanted traditional textbooks. The number was significantly lower than expected, which validated our decision to make this digital-only offering available. As a tech college, our students expect tech solutions. A content procurement and provisioning model where content is packaged with enrollment in a class, BibliU Universal Learning has a set per student per course price. With BibliU Universal Learning, textbooks and courseware are digitally distributed through learning management systems. Students enrolling in a course automatically gain access to the digital materials on day one of the course. With BibliU, students realize a significant reduction in course material expense, ranging from 30 to 50 percent less.

BibliU co-founder and CEO Dave Sherwood said, Institutions such as WSU Tech, which are implementing BibliU Universal Learning, also experience substantial process efficiencies by streamlining and automating the workflows associated with identifying, selecting, procuring and distributing content  cost avoidance savings that can reach $500,000 per year. And, at the same time, publishers gain a consistent channel for their content. More information about BibliU Universal Learning can be accessed here . BibliU will also present a webinar about digital content engagement, featuring insights from Eduventures Principal Analyst James Wiley, on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET. To register, click here. About WSU Tech

WSU Tech is the leader in modern technical education in Kansas offering over 100 degree and certificate options in aviation, health care, manufacturing, design, information technology, police science, business, culinary and applied technologies. In 2018, WSU Tech was named the 2nd fastest growing college among two-year colleges by The Chronicle of Higher Education. WSU Tech serves as managing partner of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, KS, and is fully accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a Kansas Board of Regents institution. For more information, visit www.WSUTECH.edu . About BibliU EdTech innovator BibliU is defining the future of higher education by democratizing content accessibility. Designed to address the unique requirements of students, faculty, libraries, and publishers, BibliUs learning enablement solution features digital content management, workflow automation, and analytics. With BibliU, colleges and universities can finally deliver on the promise of digitalization, guaranteeing all students have first-day access to the learning content they need. More information is available at www.bibliu.com .

Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. Media Contact: Jeanne Achille The Devon Group for BibliU [email protected]

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[November 02, 2021] Altus Power, Inc., a Market-Leading Clean Electrification Company, Announces Appointment of Steve D'Agostino as Head of Analytics

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Altus Power, Inc. ("Altus Power" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Steve D'Agostino to the new position of Head of Analytics. In this position, Mr. D'Agostino will lead the Company's efforts to enhance Altus Power's analytics platform to better track the delivery of benefits to the Company's customers and provide real time analysis of the financial performance of Altus Power's assets for the benefit of all our stakeholders. Altus Power previously announced an agreement for a business combination with CBRE Acquisition Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CBAH), which is expected to result in Altus Power becoming a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. CBAH is a special-purpose acquisition company sponsored by CBRE Group, Inc. ("CBRE"). The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2021. Mr. D'Agostino will drive the design of modeling software at the rapidly growing clean electrification company and add robustness to Altus Power's analytics platform, by enhancing the analytical and reporting capabilities that support the end-to-end service for Altus Power's customers. The analytics platform will also support the real-time and projected performance of Altus Power's assets, which will help to inform the Company's interactions with rating agencies and facilitate access to capital, including the solar securitization market. "At Altus, we are extremely focused on providing a seamless end-to-end service for our customers, and our technology and analytics platforms are a critical part of our growth plans," said Altus Power Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Lars Norell. "We welcome Steve to our team and are excited about the capabilities he will bring to the design of our analytics and improved reporting systems." Mr. D'Agostino began his career at Credit Suisse, where he modeled and structured securitized transactions backed by mortgages and other types of fixed income assets featuring predictable cash flow properties. After a similar role at Chase Securities, Mr. D'Agostino went on to head the Technology & Analytics efforts for the Global Structured Credit Products group at Credit Suisse and then Merrill Lynch. Most recently, Mr. D'Agostino worked at JVB Financial Group where he began as head of Technology & Analytics for the entire firm, overseeing all analytics and systems used in both the structuring and investment management of the firm's securitized transactions. He subsequently was promoted to Managing Director and Head of JVB's Small Business (SBA) loan securitization and trading effort. Over a 12 year period, Mr. D'Agostino oversaw analytics used for the purchase and securitization of loans, personally completing over 80 securitized transactions. "I look forward to collaborating with the fantastic team at Altus Power and strengthening Altus Power's analytical capabilities to serve existing customers, drive growth of the Company's portfolio and improve analytics for all stakeholders," said Mr. D'Agostino. About Altus Power Altus Power, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is creating a clean electrification ecosystem, serving its commercial, public sector, and community solar customers with locally-sited solar generation, energy storage, and EV-charging stations across the U.S. Since its founding in 2009, Altus Power has developed or acquired over [350] megawatts from Vermont to Hawaii. Visit altuspower.com to learn more. About CBRE Acquisition Holdings, Inc. CBRE Acquisition Holdings, Inc. ("CBAH") is a blank-check company formed solely for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. CBAH is sponsored by CBRE Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, which is a subsidiary of CBRE Group, Inc. No Offer or Solicitation This communication is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the planned business combination between Altus Power and CBAH (the "Business Combination") and the other transactions contemplated by the business combination agreement enered into by Altus Power and CBAH (the "Business Combination Agreement") and shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.



Important Information About the Business Combination and Where to Find It CBAH has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the proposed Business Combination and will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its stockholders. CBAH's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and amendments thereto, and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus in connection with CBAH's solicitation of proxies for its stockholders' meeting to be held to approve the Business Combination because the proxy statement/prospectus will contain important information about CBAH, Altus Power and the Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of CBAH as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to CBRE Acquisition Holdings, Inc., 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1250, Dallas, TX 75201.

Participants in the Solicitation CBAH, Altus Power and certain of their respective directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of CBAH's stockholders with respect to the approval of the Business Combination. CBAH and Altus Power urge investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read the Registration Statement, including the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and exhibits thereto, as well as other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about Altus Power, CBAH and the Business Combination. Information regarding CBAH's directors and officers and a description of their interests in CBAH is contained in the Registration Statement. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "may", "plan", "outlook", "future" and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to the use of proceeds for the new credit facility and analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and may also relate to CBAH's and Altus Power's future prospects, developments and business strategies. In particular, such forward-looking statements include statements concerning the timing of the Business Combination, the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of CBAH once the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated thereby (the "Transactions") and change of name are complete ("New Altus"), and New Altus's estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. These statements are based on CBAH's or Altus Power's management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside CBAH's or Altus Power's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (2) the inability to complete the Transactions due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of CBAH or Altus Power or other conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement; (3) the ability of New Altus to meet NYSE's listing standards (or the standards of any other securities exchange on which securities of the public entity are listed) following the Business Combination; (4) the inability to complete the private placement of common stock of CBAH to certain institutional accredited investors; (5) the risk that the announcement and consummation of the Transactions disrupts Altus Power's current plans and operations; (6) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of New Altus to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers, business partners, suppliers and agents and retain its management and key employees; (7) costs related to the Transactions; (8) changes in applicable laws or regulations and delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the Transactions; (9) the possibility that Altus Power and New Altus may be adversely affected by other economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors; (10) the impact of COVID-19 on Altus Power's and New Altus's business and/or the ability of the parties to complete the Transactions; (11) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against CBAH, Altus Power, New Altus or any of their respective directors or officers, following the announcement of the Transactions; and (12) the failure to realize anticipated pro forma results and underlying assumptions, including with respect to estimated stockholder redemptions and purchase price and other adjustments. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements can be found in the Registration Statement and CBAH's proxy statement/prospectus when available. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and CBAH and Altus Power undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in expectations, future events or otherwise. This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering an investment in CBAH and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in CBAH. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning CBAH and Altus Power, the Transactions or other matters and attributable to CBAH and Altus Power or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Altus Power Contacts

For Media:

Cory Ziskind

ICR, Inc.

AltusPowerPR[email protected] For Investors:

Caldwell Bailey

ICR, Inc.

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/altus-power-inc-a-market-leading-clean-electrification-company-announces-appointment-of-steve-dagostino-as-head-of-analytics-301413671.html SOURCE Altus Power, Inc.

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Dental Plan Satisfaction Increases Year Over Year, J.D. Power Finds

Overall customer satisfaction with dental plans increases slightly in 2021, driven by a combined 48-point increase in claims and reimbursement satisfaction (on a 1,000-point scale) and customer service experience, according to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction ReportSM, released today. Specifically, timeliness within those two factors help increase satisfaction, as timeliness of reimbursement and timeliness of problem resolution increased year over year.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005505/en/

J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Report

Study Ranking

UnitedHealthcare Dental ranks highest with a score of 806. HumanaDental ranks second (793) and Aetna Dental ranks third (791).

The 2021 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Report is based on responses from more than 1,203 dental plan members. The report was fielded September through October 2021. The report, now in its seventh year, measures customer satisfaction with dental plan providers based on five factors (in order of importance): cost; coverage; communications; customer service; and reimbursement.coverage; cost; communications; customer service; and reimbursement.







For more information about the U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Report, visit

https://www.jdpower.com/business/resource/member-dental-plan-satisfaction-report.

See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2021147.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.

About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005505/en/
[November 02, 2021] Armour Heights Developments' 'The Hill on Bayview' Breaks Ground in Richmond Hill

Armour Heights Developments celebrates the groundbreaking of its newest development, The Hill on Bayview, in Richmond Hill. The 'missing middle' community will add sought-after ground-oriented family housing to one of Ontario's most diverse municipalities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005418/en/ Armour Heights Developments' 'The Hill on Bayview' breaks ground in Richmond Hill. Shown (L-R) Alan Tregebov, Architect at Tregebov Cogan Architecture; Lucio Mazzotta, Project Coordinator at Armour Heights Developments; Frank Mazzotta, President of Armour Heights Developments; Joe DiPaola, Acting Mayor for the City of Richmond Hill and Michael Mazzotta, Project Manager at Armour Heights Developments. Photo Credit: Arthur Mola Photography (Photo: Business Wire) Nestled where the Oak Ridges Moraine meets the prestige of Bayview, the development is ideally located between nature and city living. Featuring a collection of 200 spacious modern townhomes, The Hill is designed to meet the needs of young families. "Armour Heights began with a focused vision of building every home as if it were our own, bringing the same level of high-quality craftsmanship, dedication, and attention-to-detail to each project that bears our name. This singular mandate ensures that future residents who will call one of our developments their home will be met with the same standards of safety, security and comfort in our product as the ones we build fo our own families," said Armour Heights Developments' President Frank Mazzotta.



"The Hill on Bayview is the embodiment of this vision. Featuring the same high-quality construction Armour Heights is known for, this community features not only superior construction for safety but also community-wide security and private residential amenities for peace of mind, mental well-being and extra space for families," he added. The Hill is built with top-of-the-line safety features including immeasurably superior steel construction, concrete floors and a stormwater management pond to ensure durability and safety in all climates. Neighbourhood watch, 24-hour security and controlled access to underground parking provide residents with around-the-clock peace of mind. Along with copious safety measures, the community boasts private amenities and outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy. Expansive private terraces come included with select units and the community location backs onto a private conservation area ensuring green space will be preserved. A children's playground will also be developed on-site to cater exclusively to families in the community.

According to a report by Millier Dickinson Blais: A Vibrant Community: Richmond Hill's Cultural Plan, over a quarter of migration to Richmond Hill is through immigration and almost half of the population is a visible minority, making the city one of the most popular places to live for newcomers and the second most diverse municipality in the country. To meet the growing need for more supply in the region, apartments have overtaken single detached homes in recent years as the most common dwelling type under construction in Richmond Hill. While this is good for supply, it leaves many families who wish to have more space than a condo, but do not have the resources to purchase a single detached home with few attractive alternatives. The Hill on Bayview offers access to ground-oriented housing in a safe, secure and family-oriented environment for those looking for the comfort of community without the constrictions of an apartment. "The City of Richmond Hill continues to be a vibrant and engaged community offering great neighbourhoods," said Richmond Hill Acting Mayor Joe DiPaola. "As a desirable community to live, work and play, we rely on our builders to carry on a tradition of offering quality neighbourhoods and commercial enterprises for new Canadians, young families and empty nesters to call Richmond Hill their home. I congratulate Armour Heights Developments for their continued commitment to designing and building welcoming communities." Close to nature trails, The Hill is also a short walk to several community centres, excellent public and private schools, and nearby shopping and dining. Access to Highway 404 and the GO are only a short distance away making it an ideal commuting location to the city. Available two and two plus den towns begin from the low $1million with one underground parking spot and storage locker included in the price; larger homes over 1,400 sq. ft. come with two parking spots and storage locker. Each town is equipped with modern technology features including energy-efficient appliances, smart lighting packages and premier designed lighting fixtures throughout. The interiors feature soaring 10 foot ceilings on ground floors and nine foot on remaining levels, gourmet-inspired open concept kitchens with islands and spa-inspired ensuite bathrooms with imported porcelain/ceramic tiles. An array of additional features include bicycle storage, visitor parking, electrical vehicle charging and a car wash area complete with hose and vacuum. Those interested in ownership opportunities should register their interest at: thehillonbayview.com or visit the Presentation Gallery located at 930 Elgin Mills Rd. E. in Richmond Hill. Hours: 11 am - 6 pm Mon-Thurs; closed on Friday and 12pm - 5 pm Sat & Sun. ABOUT ARMOUR HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS

For over 30 years, Armour Heights has built custom-tailored homes of inspired design with enduring beauty throughout Toronto and across the GTA (News - Alert). Founded by President Frank Mazzotta, the company spans three generations, from thoughtfully-designed commercial properties to bespoke homes and condominiums like 89 Avenue in Yorkville and The Hill on Bayview in Richmond Hill. The Armour Heights boutique experience elevates real estate, above and beyond. To learn more, visit armourheightsdevelopments.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005418/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Cherokee Health Systems Partners with Noteworth to Boost Provider-patient Engagement, Value-based Care

Noteworth, a virtual care delivery platform that uses remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence and powerful data analysis tools to improve patient outcomes, today announced its partnership with Cherokee Health Systems (CHS). CHS is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based in Tennessee that serves 75,000 patients annually in its 23 facilities and will utilize Noteworth's digital health services to accelerate proactive interventions, boost clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, and reduce care costs. "Access to care for many patients of the U.S. population remains a challenge, especially in rural areas which makes the adoption of innovative digital health solutions so critical for FQHC's like Cherokee," said CHS' Chief Information Officer Andy Rhea. "We are thrilled to partner with Noteworth and implement their platform to help us continue on our value-based care journey to deliver the best care possible." Cherokee Health Systems plans to deploy Noteworth's full suite of products to help it address disease, finesse its telehealth delivery, and expand its digital front door. Leaders expect significant return on investment from the affordable platform, including new reimbursement streams, expanded care access, patient engagement and brand differentiation. Noteworth is the first end-to-end digital health platform serving the entire ambulatory care journey, known for improving patient outcomes and reducing costs. Unlike other incongruent solutions, Noteworth offers a turnkey approach to digital health including: Telemedicine and care coordination, including pediatric and adult medicine programs.

Condition management, including diabetes and transitional care.

Remote patient monitoring, for rising-risk, high-risk, chronically ill and other patients.

Patient engagement, such as education and wellness programs.

Home health, incuding aging-in place, hospice, and home infusion solutions; and

Behavioral health programs, including solutions for ADHD, anxiety, and depression management.



"Virtual care is the future of healthcare, and our delivery platform encompasses all the digital solutions health systems need to do their job effectively, one that focuses on patient care and scalability," said Raymie McFarland, Head of Sales, Noteworth. "Studies show that effective digital healthcare solutions help providers and patients save money. It also helps providers deliver their best possible care, which is critical as the industry transitions from volume to value."

"Although health systems are seeing more in-person visits, digital healthcare platforms remain essential because they expand access, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience," said CHS' Chief Operating Officer Suzanne Bailey, M.D. "We welcome Noteworth's help in decreasing the administrative burden on our clinicians, enabling our providers to put 100 percent of their focus on patients." As the largest health center in the state, implementing innovative ways to improve the care system and reach new patients remains an institutional priority at Cherokee Health Systems. The health center provides primary care, behavioral health services, pharmacy, and dental services to patients across 23 clinics. Through virtual care, patients, especially chronically ill populations, who cannot make it to the doctor's office are a just few clicks away from a visit, and nurses have more time to see admitted patients. "At Cherokee, we aim to meet patients where they are. As virtual health gains momentum, it's becoming a core component in helping patients improve or maintain their well-being," said CHS' Chief Clinical Officer Parinda Khatri, M.D. "We strive to remain on the cutting-edge side of technology and adapt new ways to provide high-quality health services to patients across the state." Noteworth's digital health solutions will also help CHS on cost savings up-front and in the long-run as the healthcare industry transitions from fee-for-service to value-based care models, opening CHS up to new reimbursement streams. To learn more about Noteworth, visit our website. About Noteworth Noteworth provides a comprehensive and scalable virtual care delivery platform that enables continuous, high-touch patient care and engagement across multiple specialties and chronic conditions. The platform combines patient engagement and behavioral interventions with built-in alerts to increase touchpoints and pass key information to clinical staff to facilitate proactive interventions, improve patient outcomes, and decrease care costs. Noteworth is a privately held company headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. To learn more about Noteworth, please visit www.noteworth.com. About Cherokee Health Systems Since 1960, CHS has been committed to ensuring Tennesseans get access to effective, high-quality care. CHS is a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves 75,000 people annually. We offer a wide array of comprehensive health services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy. All of our services are available to children, adults, and seniors on an ability to pay basis. CHS is a TennCare (Medicaid) and Medicare provider. In addition, CHS accepts commercial insurance for payment. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005186/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Ahead of Open Enrollment, Decisely Selects Vericred to Power Fast, Scalable Digital Enrollment and Member Management

Vericred, the API platform powering digital quote-to-card experiences in health insurance and benefits, today announced that HR and employee benefits platform Decisely has selected Vericred's enrollment and member management API for a better, faster and more accurate digital enrollment experience. Decisely made the selection ahead of the busy 2021 fall open enrollment season to help it manage a dramatically increased volume of customer transactions in a short timeframe. Decisely offers a suite of services for small and medium-sized businesses to manage critical HR functions, including employee benefits administration. By integrating Vericred's API into its platform, Decisely gains instant connections to Vericred's network of health insurance and employee benefits carriers for easy data exchange. This enables Decisely to quickly add new employer groups to its platform and complete the necessary transactions, from plan quoting to card delivery, in a matter of weeks. As a result, employers can proide a faster and more seamless benefits enrollment experience to their employees.



"Decisely has been a Vericred group rating API user for the past five years. Vericred has demonstrated the ability to manage large data sets consistently and reliably over time. This track record gives us confidence in their ability to manage enrollment transactions via their API as well," said Richard Mann, COO of Decisely. "Decisely has experienced high double-digit growth for the past two years. Vericred will allow us to continue to scale and keep costs down." Reliable, two-way data exchange with multiple carriers is a technical necessity for HR and benefits platforms. However, building individual point-to-point integrations with a multitude of insurers is resource-intensive and cost-prohibitive. HR and benefits platforms like Decisely that integrate with Vericred's APIs gain one-to-many carrier connectivity, making it faster to activate benefits for new employer groups than if they had forged individual connections with in-house resources.

"We're thrilled to expand our relationship with Decisely, and play a key role in their business as they grow and scale," said Michael W. Levin, CEO and co-founder of Vericred. "By leveraging Vericred's APIs, Decisely is making it easier and more cost effective to deliver the best possible experience to their own customers during open enrollment and throughout the year." About Vericred Vericred is the way health insurance carriers and employee benefits providers connect with new technology partners to deliver seamless quote-to-card consumer experiences. We are not the websites or apps you use to choose a plan or find a doctor. We are the infrastructure. We are the 'pipes' that simplify the complex exchange of quoting, enrollment, and eligibility data between carriers and the technology partners responsible for delivering health and employee benefits to hundreds of millions of Americans everyday. Our APIs transmit billions of data points between InsurTech and insurance carriers, powering digital distribution across the insurance industry. Come join the community of insurance geeks creating a seamless digital quote-to-card experience. Visit www.vericred.com. About Decisely Decisely is an integrated technology solution to manage all your HR needs from recruitment to retirement, and everything in between. With over 150 years of combined experience, the leadership team has grown Decisely from a simple brokerage firm to a diverse team of licensed industry experts and technical support. The Decisely family is focused on providing the best benefits, HR, and compliance management service on the market. Learn more at www.decisely.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005435/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Perimeter Medical Imaging AI Announces Important Milestone in ATLAS AI Project With FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Approval to Launch Clinical Trial Using Perimeter B-Series OCT With ImgAssist AI in Breast Conservation Surgery

Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. (TSX-V:PINK) (OTC:PYNKF) (FSE:4PC) ("Perimeter" or the "Company"), a medical technology company driven to transform cancer surgery with ultra-high-resolution, real-time, advanced imaging tools to address high unmet medical needs, today announced approval of its Investigational Device Exemption ("IDE") application by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to conduct a multi-center, randomized, double-arm study to evaluate the FDA breakthrough-device-designated Perimeter B-Series OCT imaging system that uses ImgAssist AI technology to identify regions of interest as compared with the current standard of care for patients undergoing breast conservation surgery. It is anticipated that over 300 patients across 8 U.S. clinical sites will participate in the pivotal study to be led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Alastair Thompson at Baylor College of Medicine. Jeremy Sobotta, Perimeter's Chief Executive Officer stated, "This IDE approval marks another important milestone in our ATLAS AI project, building upon the 'Breakthrough Device Designation' that we received in April, as we transition into clinical validation of the AI-enabled, next generation of our commercially available flagship OCT imaging technology. Trial start-up activities are already underway, with world-class sites and a number of the nation's leading breast surgeons identified to participate in Perimeter's pivotal study, which we anticipate initiating in mid-November at our first site at West Cancer Center's Breast Center in Germantown, Tennessee under the direction of Dr. Richard E. Fine. Our hope is that the data generated from this trial supports our belief that Perimeter's innovative OCT imaging technology will become a trusted tool for surgeons, resulting in better patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs." Dr. Alastair Thompson, Principal Investigator and Professor, Section Chief of Breast Surgery and Olga Keith Wiess Chair of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center said, "Currently, approximately one in four women who undergo breast conservation surgery require reoperation if their surgeon fails to get 'clear' margins. The goal of this pivotal study is to compare the use of Perimeter B-Series imaging technology with artificial intelligence against the standard of care and determine if it can improve surgeon's ability to reduce re-operation rates for breast conservation surgery. Importantly, Perimeter's novel imaging technology with AI fits into the routine surgical process with no additional imposition to the patient as it examines a tissue sample that is already being extracted. There is a strong medical need for tools to help surgeons identify if we have adequately removed the cancerous tissue real-time in the operating room and get it right the first time." Dr. Richard E. Fine, Director of Education & Research, Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center, West Cancer Center & Research Institute, commented, "I believe combining optical coherence tomography with artificial intelligence could represent the 'next generation' technology in specimen imaging. As breast cancer surgeons, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial stressors for patients that can come with needing a second surgery. The results from this study will not only help determine if thi tool can assist physicians with improving patient outcomes but could also provide evidence of reducing the burden of additional costs within the overall healthcare system."



About Perimeter S-Series OCT Cleared by the U.S. FDA, Perimeter S-Series Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a novel medical imaging system that provides clinicians with cross-sectional, real-time margin visualization (1-2 mm below the surface) of an excised tissue specimen. Giving physicians the ability to visualize microscopic tissue structures "real time" in the operating room has the potential to result in better long-term outcomes for patients and lower costs to the healthcare system.

About Perimeter B-Series OCT with ImgAssist AI Perimeter is advancing the development of its proprietary, next-gen "ImgAssist" artificial intelligence technology under its ATLAS AI project, which is made possible, in part, by a US$7.4 million grant awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation for Perimeter B-Series OCT coupled with ImgAssist AI, and Perimeter is conducting a randomized, multi-site, pivotal study to evaluate it against the current standard of care and assess the impact on re-operation rates for patients undergoing breast conservation surgery. About Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. With headquarters in Toronto, Canada and Dallas, Texas, Perimeter Medical Imaging AI (TSX-V:PINK) (OTC:PYNKF) (FSE:4PC) is a medical technology company that is driven to transform cancer surgery with ultra-high-resolution, real-time, advanced imaging tools to address areas of high unmet medical need. The company's ticker symbol "PINK" is a reference to the pink ribbons used during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, underscoring the company's dedication to helping surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists use Perimeter's imaging technology and AI in the fight against breast cancer, which is estimated to account for 30% of all female cancer diagnoses this year. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may relate to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results, and may include statements or information regarding the future financial position, business strategy and strategic goals, competitive conditions, research and development activities, projected costs and capital expenditures, research and clinical testing outcomes, taxes and plans and objectives of, or involving, Perimeter. Without limitation, information regarding Perimeter's proposed IDE study on its B-Series OTC device, the potential benefits of Perimeter's S-Series OCT, and the Company's plans for the clinical development of its B-Series OCT and ImgAssist AI are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Perimeter's control. Such forward-looking statements reflect Perimeter's current view with respect to future events, but are inherently subject to significant medical, scientific, business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. In making forward-looking statements, Perimeter may make various material assumptions, including but not limited to (i) the accuracy of Perimeter's financial projections; (ii) obtaining positive results from trials; (iii) obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and (iv) general business, market and economic conditions. Further risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those applicable to Perimeter and described in Perimeter's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis which is available on Perimeter's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. In particular, we note the risk that our technology may not achieve the anticipated benefits in terms of surgical outcomes. Perimeter does not intend, nor does Perimeter undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events, or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005747/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Rancho Cucamonga Cosmetic Surgery Practice to Hold Virtual Open House

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosmetic surgeons Jacob Haiavy, MD and Irene Tower, MD of Inland Cosmetic Surgery will hold a virtual patient appreciation event on Thursday, November 18, 2021. "We have been grateful for our patients' loyalty throughout the past year, and will be holding a festive celebration to say 'thank you,'" Dr. Haiavy shared. "This year's event will be held virtually so that everyone can safely and conveniently take part." For just 24 hours on the day of the event, new and current patients of the cosmetic surgery practice will be able to take advantage of specials on medical-grade skin treatments, skincare products, and injectable services (i.e. Botox). The practice will also hold raffles and award prizes to those who take part in the day's events. "We absolutely love our patients. They bring us joy every day, and we hope that this celebratory day offers them something in return," said Dr. Tower. "We will have laser treatments, injectables, and our patients' favorite skincare products on special, so patients can bank special savings on their favorite treatments for their next appointment." As part of the event, Dr. Haiavy and Dr. Tower will offer a virtual webinar to educate patients about the variety of procedures they offer. The webinar is slated to include live demonstrations of a number of skin treatments and injectables, as well as a Q&A session with the surgeons. Scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. PST, the Inland Cosmetic Surgery tea will demonstrate a number of cosmetic treatments, such as non-surgical HD PDO thread lifts for improving the appearance of the jowls and cheeks. The surgeons will also discuss topics like the difference between TUSBA and TUBA breast augmentation and how ThermiVA vaginal rejuvenation helps patients with a number of common symptoms. Those who are interested in taking part are encouraged to register in advance for the virtual webinar .



Inland Cosmetic Surgery can be found on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . On the day of the event, patients can redeem specials by shopping online at www.inlandcosmetic.com , shopping the practice's Instagram page, or by calling the practice at (909) 987-0899. About Inland Cosmetic Surgery: Inland Cosmetic Surgery offers comprehensive cosmetic surgery and aesthetic services to patients in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding areas in Southern California. As Medical Director of Inland Cosmetic Surgery and Ahava Medical Spa, Dr. Haiavy has performed over 15,000 cosmetic surgery procedures and is known for his caring approach and superb results. Visit www.inlandcosmetic.com for more information about Inland Cosmetic Surgery.

Media Contact: Dr. Jacob Haiavy, (909) 939-6626 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rancho-cucamonga-cosmetic-surgery-practice-to-hold-virtual-open-house-301412865.html SOURCE Inland Cosmetic Surgery

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[November 02, 2021] ABS Announces the Launch of Their Web-Based Loan Origination Platform for Canada

LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Applied Business Software ("ABS"), makers of The Mortgage Office, leader in loan administration and MIC management software, announced today the launch of a fully web-based loan origination system specifically designed for the Canadian market. The Mortgage Office has been the gold standard in Loan Administration and MIC management software for over four decades and is used by Canada's largest private lenders. This Origination platform is consistent with Applied Business Software's design, always using the most cutting-edge technology available in today's market. Among the features customers are already excited about is the introduction of ABS' Risk Rating Engine that will alert investors of a loan's health, and potential for closing. Also, included is the previously announced Filogix integration with no added BPS or setup fee. "We are very excited about offering our Canadian customers Loan Origination through The Mortgage Office. The seamless integration will enable them to receive deals through Filogix with noadded fees. They will enjoy world class security, the simplicity of designing their own workflow, and customizing their pipeline," said Jasen Portero, COO, Applied Business Software, who spearheaded the entire process from conception to design and execution.



About Applied Business Software Applied Business Software is a market leader and global provider of software systems and solutions to the lending industry. ABS offers a complete suite of software products designed from the ground up to specifically address the needs of those who originate and service loans. All our products are consistently rated superior in design, system interface, expandability, and ease of use. ABS is based in Long Beach, California. For additional information about ABS's products and services, visit www.themortgageoffice.com or call (800) 833-3343.

Press Contacts

For Applied Business Software, Inc.:

Elizabeth Morales

Chief Marketing Officer

(800) 833-3343

[email protected]

www.themortgageoffice.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abs-announces-the-launch-of-their-web-based-loan-origination-platform-for-canada-301413884.html SOURCE Applied Business Software

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[November 02, 2021] MontaVista Announces Common Criteria EAL4+ Certification Readiness for Carrier Grade eXpress Linux

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MontaVista Software, LLC, a leader in commercial Embedded Linux products and engineering services, today announced the upcoming completion of a mission-critical project in the security certification-services area. This is another important milestone in MontaVista's over 2 decades experience in the embedded Linux space. It further establishes MontaVista's position as a leader for security and certification services, as well as validates the maturity of MontaVista's product development and engineering processes. MontaVista's certification services leverages their Linux platform capabilities, as well as provide the extensive understanding of the methodologies required to achieve complex certification programs. In addition to its market-leading Embedded Linux products and deep technical expertise, MontaVista is offering engineering services to configure secure Linux platforms, such as MontaVista CGX, based on end customers' security requirements. Such programs target use-case -specific deployments of the underlying operating system suitable for certification. This combination of highly capable products and focused services allows customers to concentrate their engineering teams on core IP development while MontaVista develops and executes the certification process. The certification programs typically involve 3rd parties such as the certificate authorities and external test facilities. When working with MontaVista, these complexities arehidden from the end customer, and the requirements and contracts can be set up with MontaVista alone  allowing a greatly simplified process leading to a certified customer product.



Supporting Quotes: "We see increasing requirements for standardization and certification across many of our served markets," said Iisko Lappalainen, Director of Product Management at MontaVista. "At MontaVista, we have a unique opportunity to offer a certification process to our customers that takes advantage of our decades of Linux development expertise, and the processes we have adopted during this time. Few companies can claim to have a proven market presence using embedded Linux for 20+ years. These traits have allowed us to develop a streamlined certification pipeline for our customers that provides faster time-to-market and reduced risk and complexity for achieving certification."

MontaVista is inviting interested parties to contact MontaVista at [email protected] and/or visit www.mvista.com for more information. About MontaVista Software

MontaVista Software, LLC, is a leader in embedded Linux commercialization. For over 20 years, MontaVista has been helping embedded developers get the most out of open source by adding commercial quality, integration, hardware enablement, expert support, and the expert resources of the MontaVista development community. Because MontaVista customers enjoy faster time-to-market, more competitive device functionality, and lower total cost, more devices have been deployed with MontaVista than with any other Linux. For more information about MontaVista, visit http://www.mvista.com Media Contact: MontaVista Software LLC | E: [email protected] | T: +1 (669) 777-6841 *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. MontaVista is a registered trademark of MontaVista Software, LLC. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/montavista-announces-common-criteria-eal4-certification-readiness-for-carrier-grade-express-linux-301413422.html SOURCE MontaVista Software

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[November 02, 2021] Banty's Dr. Richard Tytus Explains How Doctors Can Get Comfortable Using Telemedicine

TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It is understood that adopting a telemedicine solution at a medical clinic can at first be a bit of a culture shock for some doctors. They have become used to discussing medical matters with patients in-person and don't feel comfortable with the idea of working within a virtual clinic. These doctors will feel this way for different reasons, none of which should be discounted. That said, there are pathways in which doctors can travel in order to build comfort and familiarity with telemedicine solutions. According to findings from McKinsey, 57% of healthcare providers "now view telemedicine more favourably than before the pandemic," while 64% confirm they are currently "more comfortable using telemedicine." Dr. Richard Tytus, Co-Founder and Medical Director for telemedicine solution Banty Inc. , believes these percentages can be increased if doctors choose to: Select a quality telemedicine solution: Banty Medical has been designed to provide doctors with an easy-to-use, secure telemedicine solution. When a doctor signs up for it, they get to create a custom Banty room address (i.e., Banty.com/MyClinic ). This is the only URL that a doctor will need to use in order to access an appointment. Conversely, that link is what the patient would type in to visit with their doctor. From a security standpoint, Banty Medical is HIPAA/PHIPA compliant for virtual medicine, and is end-to-end encrypted to ensure all appointments remain private and confidential

Banty Medical has been designed to provide doctors with an easy-to-use, secure telemedicine solution. When a doctor signs up for it, they get to create a custom Banty room address (i.e., ). This is the only URL that a doctor will need to use in order to access an appointment. Conversely, that link is what the patient would type in to visit with their doctor. From a security standpoint, Banty Medical is HIPAA/PHIPA compliant for virtual medicine, and is end-to-end encrypted to ensure all appointments remain private and confidential Build familiarity over time: Even if a doctor is using an easy telemedicine solution like Banty Medical, it will take time to develop a familiarity with it. During this period of time, the doctor should allow themselves time to build an understanding and working knowledge of the telemedicine solution's features and functionality. Yes, there could be growing pains at the outset, but those will quickly subside

Even if a doctor is using an easy telemedicine solution like Banty Medical, it will take time to develop a familiarity with it. During this period of time, the doctor should allow themselves time to build an understanding and working knowledge of the telemedicine solution's features and functionality. Yes, there could be growing pains at the outset, but those will quickly subside Have a pilot project with patients: Before making telemedicine services available to all patients, a doctor can instead opt to first coordinate a pilot project with select patients. These individuals should be informed upfront that they will play an integral role in helping the doctor's office develop its telemedicine service strategy and processes. Having these 'test' appointments will take some of the pressure off of a doctor who is venturing into telemedicine for the first time

Before making telemedicine services available to all patients, a doctor can instead opt to first coordinate a pilot project with select patients. These individuals should be informed upfront that they will play an integral role in helping the doctor's office develop its telemedicine service strategy and processes. Having these 'test' appointments will take some of the pressure off of a doctor who is venturing into telemedicine for the first time Be smart about scheduling: Once the pilot project has been completed and virtual visits become a regular clinic feature, the doctor and their team should devise a policy regarding when to host online appointments. This will not just help keep everyone organized, but it will also make it easier for the doctor to consistently know when virtual appointments will be happenig, versus in-person ones



Richard Tytus . "Over time, I've come to learn that with the right strategies and expectations in place, implementing such a treatment option can be beneficial for all involved." Banty.com's video call service offers all subscribers a custom, permanent URL (i.e., Banty.com/MyMeeting ); a secure, end-to-end encrypted meeting space; excellent video quality; unlimited meetings each month; and straightforward scheduling tools.

Banty has a number of solutions that are meant to make it easy to meet with those who matter most to you. (Watch the 'Banty Is Easy' video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhmVdwrR_w8&t=10s ) Today, everyone has a mobile number and an email address. In the near future, everyone will have a Banty video chat address: Banty.com/YourName About Banty Founded in 2020, Banty offers exceptional video conferencing solutions for Businesses , Medical Practices , Virtual Events , and Personal use . Banty video conferencing is easy to use and ultra-secure. The platform provides users with a dedicated Banty.com URL , accessible via any desktop browser or through iOS and Android mobile apps. In order to receive government approval to become a verified medical platform, Banty was upgraded to meet new cyber security standards, making it one of the most secure platforms available. Each day, the Banty team goes above and beyond to ensure the platform remains one of the most secure and innovative virtual meeting solutions in the world. For more information, please visit Banty.org/solutions , or follow Banty on social media to learn more about the latest platform innovations: LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube , Instagram . Contact:

Scott Wilson

289-259-8059

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bantys-dr-richard-tytus-explains-how-doctors-can-get-comfortable-using-telemedicine-301413920.html SOURCE Banty Inc.

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[November 02, 2021] Socially Determined Launches Digital Landscape Risk Metric, Providing New Insights into an Increasingly Influential Social Determinant of Health

Socially Determined, the Social Risk Intelligence company for organizations committed to addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), today announced a new metric that enables organizations to assess digital equity within a population or community and the impact it has on health outcomes and business performance. The Digital Landscape metric joins a portfolio of existing SDOH community risk scores in Socially Determined's SocialScape analytics platform including Economic Climate, Food Landscape, Housing Environment, Transportation Network, and Health Literacy that assess these domains across the entire United States at a hyper-local level. Socially Determined developed the Digital Landscape metric to address the underlying need for technology in today's society and the role it plays in healthcare delivery outcomes and equity that the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated and accelerated. For example, telehealth utilization levels have stabilized nationwide at a rate that is 38 times higher than before the pandemic, elevating digital equity as a major influencer of business performance for payers and providers, and the overall wellbeing of communities and populations. The Digital Landscape metric is unique in its ability to offer an advanced and comprehensive analysis of factors related to digital access, affordability, digital literacy, and how they all intersect. To provide insights into digital access, SocialScape's analytics go beyond acknowledging the availability of broadband internet in a certain area to consider additional relevant factors, such as computer or smartphone ownership and proximity to public spaces with internet access. To assess affordability, the score considers elements such as income, the cost of internet access and other household essentials, and the feasibility of internet access fitting into a household budget. To take the metric a step further, it also analyzes digital literacy,or a community members' ability to understand and utilize technology.



"Digital equity is increasingly emerging as a key factor influencing access and outcomes in the post-COVID world, and it's critical for organizations to understand how it impacts their performance," said Alan Lattimer, PhD, vice president of data science at Socially Determined. "It is a risk factor that is now on par with food, housing, and other Social Determinants of Health because it's so foundational to life in America in the twenty-first century, affecting not just healthcare, but also education, employment, social connection, and other areas of life. These factors are all interconnected, and SocialScape gives organizations a way to understand and act on this effectively." Organizations can leverage the Digital Landscape metric to better understand where digital inequities exist in the communities they serve. A full picture of the digital landscape enables them to provide more effective support to those who need it most while ensuring that digital barriers do not exacerbate existing inequities.

"Our Community Health Worker program brings non-clinical individuals into the community to reach people who are vulnerable and who might not be comfortable with the health care system. And in response to the pandemic, we completely shifted this program to a digital model," said Michelle Conger, chief strategy officer of OSF HealthCare and CEO of OSF OnCall Digital Health. "SocialScape's new Digital Landscape risk model will be valuable in helping us understand and address the effect on individuals across all the communities we serve, particularly those living in rural areas." As health care and social interventions continue to shift towards digital solutions, understanding the digital landscape will be critical. In the same way SocialScape's existing Transportation Network risk model helps payers and providers proactively identify communities where physical access to care may be impacted by transportation barriers, the Digital Landscape risk metric will help organizations identify and provide additional support to communities in which digital barriers may hinder utilization of virtual services. Adding Digital Landscape into SocialScape's suite of community risk metrics builds on Socially Determined's comprehensive portfolio of Social Risk Intelligence and is pivotal in creating a more holistic view of the impact that social risk has on business performance and community wellbeing. For more information on Socially Determined's new Digital Landscape metric, please contact us at https://www.sociallydetermined.com/contact. About Socially Determined

Socially Determined provides Social Risk Intelligence solutions to organizations committed to addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) impacting their communities and populations. The company's platform, SocialScape, delivers unmatched insights into social risk dynamics and their effect on health outcomes and business performance through secure, scalable data processing and proprietary analytics. With SocialScape's unparalleled view of social risk and Socially Determined's advisory services expertise, customers can deploy interventions and investments that translate to quantifiable impact. Socially Determined is headquartered in Washington, DC and operates a second office in Blacksburg, VA. For more information, follow Socially Determined on Twitter (News - Alert) (@SocDetermined) or LinkedIn (News - Alert) (www.linkedin.com/company/socially-determined), or visit www.SociallyDetermined.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005408/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Aurora University Launches Betty Parke Tucker Center for Neurodiversity to Support College Students on the Autism Spectrum

Aurora University today announced the new Betty Parke Tucker Center for Neurodiversity to support students on the autism spectrum as they earn their college degrees and take their first steps toward launching their careers. The center will house AU's Pathways Program for college-capable students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and include a first-of-its-kind, newly constructed residence hall with sensory supportive features designed specifically for college students with ASD. The residence hall will house both neurodiverse and neurotypical students as part of the university's effort to integrate students with autism into campus life. AU will welcome its first class of college freshmen and transfer students on the autism spectrum into the Pathways Collegiate Program for the 2022-2023 academic year, and applications are already underway. "We are thrilled to be one of the first universities in the nation to welcome college-capable students on the spectrum to a fully immersive campus experience that will help them reach their potential in their studies and their careers," said AU President Rebecca L. Sherrick. "These young people have so much to share and contribute. We know that when provided with the right support, the right environment, the right encouragement, college-capable students on the spectrum will earn their degrees and take meaningful roles in society and productive roles in the workplace." The Betty Parke Tucker Center for Neurodiversity was made possible by a $1.3 million gift from alumnus Don Tucker '51 in memory of his late wife Betty Parke Tucker '52. A graduate of Aurora College, Betty Parke Tucker devoted more than 40 years to the education community as an elementary teacher, guidance counselor, and school psychologist. She had a heart for students who didn't adjust easily and made it her life's work to help lift them up. The lead gift in her honor establishes a fund to support AU students with ASD and exemplifies he lifelong commitment to education and her belief that students facing challenges have the capacity to excel-provided educators create the right structure and support.



According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of ASD diagnosis in the U.S. is one in 54 children, more than double the rate of 1 in 110 a decade earlier - making ASD the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. An estimated 44 percent of individuals with ASD have IQs of average to above-average, and a portion of these students are capable of succeeding at a university, if only they have the right support. Yet, services for teenagers with ASD come to a virtual halt after high school, just as families need them most. Researchers describe this support deficit as a "services cliff," because parents often feel as if their children are about to fall off a cliff, with little help in sight.

AU is stepping into the gap with its Pathways Program. The broad-based program provides a bridge for students with ASD and their families, helping them to make the transition from high school to college and from college to career. Distinctive Elements of the AU Collegiate Experience for Students on the Autism Spectrum (News - Alert) First-Of-Its-Kind Residence Hall: Building on Aurora University's 100-plus year history of opening doors to higher education for diverse students from all walks of life, AU is building a new, state-of-the-art residence hall with sensory supportive spaces designed specifically for students on the autism spectrum. The spaces are designed with the goal of alleviating anxiety so that students can focus their energy and emotions on a positive college experience. The five-story, integrated residence hall is slated to open in late 2022 to both neurodiverse and neurotypical students.

Building on Aurora University's 100-plus year history of opening doors to higher education for diverse students from all walks of life, AU is building a new, state-of-the-art residence hall with sensory supportive spaces designed specifically for students on the autism spectrum. The spaces are designed with the goal of alleviating anxiety so that students can focus their energy and emotions on a positive college experience. The five-story, integrated residence hall is slated to open in late 2022 to both neurodiverse and neurotypical students. Weekly Advisor Meetings and Peer Mentors: Students will work with an expert team to develop an individualized plan to address executive, social and emotional functioning, and independent living skills and then will meet weekly with their assigned advisor to ensure they have the support they need to succeed. Each student is also paired with an AU student mentor trained in supporting individuals on the spectrum.

Students will work with an expert team to develop an individualized plan to address executive, social and emotional functioning, and independent living skills and then will meet weekly with their assigned advisor to ensure they have the support they need to succeed. Each student is also paired with an AU student mentor trained in supporting individuals on the spectrum. Career Exploration Experience: An increasing number of companies are creating inclusive environments with resources to support neurodiverse talent. During their junior and senior years, students will be paired with a community mentor in their field of interest who will teach them valuable career skills and provide shadowing opportunities to practice professional social skills and more. AU also provides high school and transfer students on the autism spectrum an opportunity to get a preview of college life through AU's Pathways Summer Camps and Pathways College Connections programming. "Society has an increasingly important stake in not only supporting individuals with autism, but welcoming them into our communities," said Brianne Jonathan, '11, MA '15, director of AU's autism initiative and Pathways Program. "While many of these students have the cognitive ability and desire to succeed in college, communication and social impairments can stand in the way. At AU, we can support them with the right educational structure that makes it possible for them to thrive." For more information about Pathways, visit aurora.edu/pathways. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005354/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Fast Brings World's Fastest Online Checkout Experience to the U.K.

The U.S.-based startup revolutionizing e-commerce is launching one-click checkout in the U.K. with Revolution Beauty SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast, the world's fastest online checkout experience, today announced a major expansion into the U.K. in response to extraordinary demand for the company's unique one-click checkout product. Revolution Beauty, a publicly traded global mass beauty and personal care business, is one of the first British merchants to partner with Fast, bringing one-click checkout technology to their U.K. online customers. By launching in the U.K., Fast is offering merchants a checkout button that completes online orders in just a few seconds. After entering their contact information and payment details as they normally would for their first purchase on a merchant's site, buyers are automatically signed up and can use one-click checkout at any online store with Fast Checkout. Accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, retailers globally saw a dramatc increase in demand for frictionless online purchasing. Fast's one-click checkout button enables U.K. customers to purchase online products seamlessly, just in time for the holiday season which is forecasted to be the busiest in e-commerce history.



"The U.K. has been at the very forefront of e-commerce for years. Merchants here truly understand how crucial a frictionless internet shopping experience is, and sophisticated shoppers demand speed and convenience," said Fast CEO and Co-Founder Domm Holland. "Revolution Beauty has built a global business that has mastered this new era of online shopping. They are the perfect partner for Fast to bring the world's quickest checkout experience to the U.K." Through the partnership with Fast, Revolution Beauty's U.K. customers can now complete online orders using the company's signature one-click checkout technology that has proven to increase conversion and reduce cart abandonment rates, two of the major pain points for online retailers globally.

"Revolution Beauty has seen exponential growth due to our unique digital experience and stress free, informative online environment," said Sally Minto, Digital Director, Revolution Beauty. "We are excited to become the first beauty brand in the U.K. to partner with Fast and offer best in class one-click functionality, bringing frictionless & consistent purchasing to our valued and loyal customers. We foresee high user satisfaction post-Covid-19 pandemic, moving through peak period and beyond." Fast already has several employees based in the U.K. and plans to open an office in London in 2022. The rapidly growing start-up is aggressively hiring in the U.K. thanks to the country's highly educated and e-commerce-savvy talent pool. To learn more about Fast, visit fast.co . About Fast

Fast's mission is to make buying online faster, safer, and easier for everyone. Its Fast Login and Fast Checkout product enable a one-click sign-in and purchasing experience that makes it easier for people to buy and merchants to sell. The company's products work on any browser, device, or platform for consistent, stress-free purchasing, either on a merchant's own domain or through headless checkout on any other website. Fast invests heavily in its user privacy and security, with a Zero Fraud Guarantee on chargebacks for sellers. Headquartered in San Francisco, Fast is a privately held company founded by Domm Holland and Allison Barr Allen and funded by Stripe, Addition, Index Ventures, Susa Ventures, and Sugar Capital. To learn more, visit fast.co . Contact

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[November 02, 2021] Intelligent Transportation System Market worth $68.0 billion by 2026 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets

CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new research report "Intelligent Transportation System Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis, by Offering, System (Advanced Traffic Management Systems, ITS-enabled Transportation Pricing Systems, and Others), Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from USD 42.2 billion in 2021 to USD 68.0 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 10.0% from 2021 to 2026. The key factors driving the growth of the ITS market include government efforts to ensure road and public safety, increased need to reduce traffic congestion, favorable government initiatives for effective traffic management, high adoption of ecofriendly automobile technology, and rapid development of smart cities globally, and others. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=764 Hardware segment to account for the largest size of ITS market during the forecast period On the basis of offering, the ITS market has been segmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware segment of the ITS market is projected to account for the largest size owing to the implementation of numerous heterogeneous devices, including cameras, sensors, intelligent traffic management systems, and advanced traveler information systems, across the global ITS infrastructure. Advanced traffic management systems application to account for the largest size of ITS market during the forecast period On the basis of system, the ITS market is categorized into five different systemsAdvanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS), ITS-enabled Transportation Pricing Systems, Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS), and Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) Systems. The advanced traffic management systems segment is projected to account for the largest size of the ITS market from 2021 to 2026. The largest market size of advanced traffic management systems is attributed to the increasing traffic congestion on roads acros the world. In addition, the easy affordability of vehicles, due to favorable schemes and discounts offered by automobile manufacturers, is also resulting in traffic congestion. To address this concern, advanced traffic management systems will be adopted at a higher rate across the world.



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APAC to account for the highest growth of ITS market during the forecast period Among all regions, APAC is expected to register the highest growth in the ITS market during the forecast period. The increasing number of megacities and growing population in developing countries have increased the deployment of ITS in countries such as China, Japan, Australia, and Rest of APAC. These countries are considering ITS as an ideal solution to tackle issues such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The region is expected to exhibit high growth potential for the ITS market during the forecast period attributed to strong economic growth, rise in population, and rapid urbanization. Major players operating in the ITS market are Thales Group, Siemens, Kapsch TrafficCom, Conduent, Inc., Cubic Corporation, Garmin Ltd., TomTom International BV, Teledyne Flir Llc, Indra Sistemas, S.A., Denso Corporation, Q-Free ASA, Iteris, Inc., Daktronics, Sensys Gatso Group AB, Ricardo, Redflex Holdings, and so on. Related Reports: Electronic Toll Collection Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Technology (RFID, DSRC, ANPR/ALPR, and Satellite-Based), Offering (Hardware, and Back Office and Other Services), Application, Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact:

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[November 02, 2021] Carrie Hall Named New York Life's 2022 Council President

New York Life today announced the appointment of Carrie Hall as its 2022 Council President, an honor afforded to the top-ranking agent among New York Life's more than 12,000 financial professionals. With her devotion to her clients, business expertise, and passion for empowering her community while adhering to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism, Ms. Hall has spent her more than three decade-long career exemplifying what it means to serve as New York Life Council President. "Over the course of Carrie's successful tenure, she has been committed to providing her clients with the highest levels of expertise, care, and innovative solutions to ensure their financial wellbeing." said Mark Madgett, Executive Vice President and Head of Agency at New York Life. "We are honored to name Carrie as Council President and know that she will bring the same energy, tenacity, and passion to this role as she does for her clients every single day." Ms. Hall is the Founder, Principal and Financial Adviser of Carrie Hall & Associates Financial and Insurance Services as well as a devoted public servant and community advocate. Since founding her firm in 1985, Ms. Hall provides financial, business, and estate planning to high-net worth entrepreneurs, families, and individuals across the country. While serving her clients, Ms. Hall prioritizes matching her clients' core values with their financial solutions - making Ms. Hall much more than just a financial advisor, but an advocate for what her clients care about most. In her role as advocate, Ms. Hall has been able to ensure alignment of her clients' needs and values - a true differentiator in our current mission-driven society. Ms. Hall has been affiliated with New York Life as an agent since 1988, and also is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), which is an international, independent association of more than 72,000 of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals. MDRT membership is the benchmark of success in the Financial Services profession. Additionally, Ms. Hall has achieved memberships to New York Life's Chairman's Cabinet, Chairman's Council and Life Council in her work as a financial professional.* "The "secret sauce" of New York Life's long standing Agency distribution model is the understanding that the sul of this model is comprised of individual entrepreneurs who live with integrity, empathy, aspiration, and inspiration as their core principles. I fully believe in living this philosophy and have spent my entire career bringing it to fruition for my clients and community," said Ms. Hall. "Importantly, our clients trust us to create personalized financial solutions to help them not only protect their finances, but also their lifestyle, families, and most critical needs, and I take extreme pride in having the ability to navigate complex situations for them. I am more than just an advisor for my clients; I am their advocate."



Ms. Hall is also deeply passionate about giving back to her community, which she does through serving amazing organizations such as The Arizona Women's Board, The Women's Board of The Barrow Neurological Foundation, and the Brophy Community Foundation. Particularly through her involvement with the Brophy Community Foundation, Ms. Hall has leveraged her business acumen and tenacity to help fundraise in order to provide under-resourced children with the opportunity to receive a higher education as well as the resources to achieve success in high school and beyond. During Ms. Hall's involvement with this Foundation, the Foundation provided more than $8.3 million in scholarships to over 2,400 students in 2020. The New York Life Foundation has also provided support to the Brophy Community Foundation through matching gifts and the competitive grants program. Ms. Hall graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in finance with an emphasis in accounting. She also has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from the American College and the Certified Financial Planner designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

*Council is an annual New York Life recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30. Carrie Hall & Associates Financial and Insurance Services is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company or it affiliates. Carrie Hall is a Financial Adviser offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. ABOUT NEW YORK LIFE New York Life Insurance Company (www.newyorklife.com), a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States1 and one of the largest life insurers in the world. Headquartered in New York City, New York Life's family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life has the highest financial strength ratings currently awarded to any U.S. life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies2. New York Life Group Benefit Solutions products and services are provided exclusively by or through Life Insurance Company of North America or New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY, formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York (New York, NY), or by or through affiliates or subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. Life Insurance Company of North America is not authorized in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Footnotes:

(1) Based on revenue as reported by "Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual)," Fortune magazine, 6/1/2021 For methodology, please see http://fortune.com/fortune500/.

(2) Individual independent rating agency commentary as of 9/30/2021: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody's Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor's (AA+). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005303/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Linux Foundation's Open Source Climate Welcomes Airbus, EY and Red Hat

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Linux Foundation's OS-Climate has announced that Airbus and EY have joined its cross-industry coalition seeking to accelerate the global transition to net zero through open data and open source decision-making tools for companies, investors, banks, and regulators. This follows the news in September that Red Hat (an IBM company) had joined and is contributing a world-class team of data scientists and developers to build the OS-Climate platform. Also announced is Airbus' contribution of a scenario analysis modeling platform to analyze the clean energy transition. "Every corporation and financial industry player is faced with major decisions that must quantitatively factor in scenarios of physical climate impacts and of the economic transition to net zero," said Nicolas Chretien, Head of Sustainability & Environment at Airbus. "The aerospace industry, like many other sectors, is engaged in a transition which involves a deeper reorganization of its ecosystem. As such, it requires effective data and tools to better understand, assess and model interdependencies linked to climate risks and opportunities. I encourage other companies to join us, especially those who, like us, are committed to foster climate transition through innovation." "Many promising governmental and business efforts are underway to drive climate-aligned finance and investment," said Steve Varley, Global Vice Chair  Sustainability, EY. "We believe OS-Climate's transparent governance, enablement of large-scale multi-stakeholder collaboration, and exceptional community of contributors will be a game-changer at this moment of urgency. EY teams are looking forward to collaborating." "Overcoming the complex data and analytics barriers to scaling up investment in clean energy and resilience is more than any one company or firm can achieve alone. We are delighted that Airbus and EY are bringing their formidable capabilities to jointly build the common, pre-competitive foundation of technology and data that the entire business and finance community needs, and on top of which they can more quickly innovate and compete," said Truman Semans, Executive Director of OS-Climate. OS-Climate is a collaborative, member-driven, non-profit platform hosted by the Linux Foundation for the development of open data and open source analytics for climate risk management and climate-aligned finance and investing. Membership has more than tripled since September 2020 from initial founders Allianz, Amazon, Microsoft, and S&P Global to include Premium Members BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, and KPMG, and General Members Federated Hermes, London Stock Exchange Group, the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance, Ortec Finance, and Red Hat (an IBM company). OS-Climate's Data Commons and Analytics will accelerate investment in low-carbon and resilient infrastructure for power generation, petrochemicals, manufacturing, building, and municipalities, as well as energy-intensive products such as aircraft and other transportation vehicles. The platform will also accelerate development of innovative financial products to better channel capital into these areas.



Airbus Makes a Major Contribution with an Open Source Modeling Platform to Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition Since Airbus knows the power of open source collaboration as a force multiplier and accelerator of technical solutions to complex problems, it is open-sourcing a modeling platform, developed to better understand the clean energy transition in the aviation industry. Working together with other OS-Climate members and partners in the academic community on Integrated Assessment Modeling and other fields, Airbus aims to expand this to enable climate-smart decisions across many other industries.

Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of The Linux Foundation, said, "We are very pleased that an open source-savvy company like Airbus is contributing not only its valuable intellectual property but also a 15-person team of modelers and engineers as well as its experience in projects including Linux Foundation's Hyperledger." Zemlin added, "With a flurry of initiatives claiming to be 'open source,' it's essential for everyone in the climate space to watch for 'openwash' and combat the trend of locking up intellectual property that could best accelerate climate solutions through open collaboration." EY Brings Unique Strengths to the OS-Climate Community "The Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario (CBES) Pilot will shape the way dozens of central banks in the Network for the Greening of the Financial System (NGFS) integrate climate in stress testing by banks and other financial institutions," states Mike Zehetmayr, EY Global Sustainable Finance Data and Technology Leader "We look forward to working with the OS-Climate community in helping the industry to overcome data gaps, and in making it easier for financial institutions and corporate counterparties to disclose data, and in developing open source scenario analysis tools," added Brandon Sutcliffe, EY Americas Sustainable Finance Leader. OS-Climate Event at COP26 On 8 November, during the UN Climate Negotiations in Glasgow, OS-Climate will host an in-person and virtual event to demonstrate progress in building the OS-Climate Platform. Moderated by United Airlines Board of Directors Member Jim Whitehurst, Airbus will reveal its SoSTrades models/WITNESS. OS-C members will also present the initial Data Commons, an Implied Temperature Rise Tool for aligning investment and loan portfolios with Paris Accord targets, and a Physical Risk Tool for analyzing vulnerability to extreme heat, flood, drought, and other extreme threats and for enabling investments in resilience. PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds will open the event, former US Federal Reserve Board Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin will lead a panel of experts discussing how open data and analytics can accelerate climate policy efforts globally. About Airbus Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defense, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defense and security and one of the world's leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide. About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax, and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. About Linux Foundation Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 2,160 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org. Airbus Media Contact:

Daniel Werdung

Tel: +49 40 743 59078 EY Media Contact:

Brendan Beaver

[email protected] OS-Climate Media Contact:

Truman Semans

TEL: +1-919-599-3660 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linux-foundations-open-source-climate-welcomes-airbus-ey-and-red-hat-301413670.html SOURCE The Linux Foundation

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[November 02, 2021] jCyte Announces Appointment of Peter C. Kuper as Senior Vice President of Finance and Information Technology

jCyte, Inc., a private biotechnology company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with retinal degenerative diseases, announced the continued expansion of the company's leadership team with the appointment of Peter Kuper as Senior Vice President of Finance and Information Technology. Mr. Kuper joins jCyte with over 25 years of investment banking, security analysis, and venture capital experience having played significant leadership roles in making and moving public and private markets, cultivating startups, and leading numerous large IPOs that raised over $4 billion in investment capital. Mr. Kuper joins jCyte from ClearSky Venture Capital, where he served as Managing Director of the $800 million firm. At ClearSky, Mr. Kuper invested in and served as a Board Director for next-generation technology start-ups based on his critical assessment of industry trends, management team capability, and the total addressable market opportunity. Prior to his work at ClearSky, Mr. Kuper was recruited to In-Q-Tel (News - Alert), a strategic investment firm created to accelerate next generation technology innovation for the United States Intelligence Community. Within two years, Mr. Kuper took In-Q-Tel from zero deals to a top five Corporate Investor ranking. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kper was the Vice President and Head Enterprise Software Analyst at Morgan Stanley, where he led coverage of the Enterprise Software Industry consisting of over 20 companies whose cumulative market cap was greater than $250 billion. Mr. Kuper and his team also led multiple transactions at Morgan Stanley, including some of the industry's most significant IPOs in the cyber and software segments.



Mr. Kuper's early career included stints at a number of leading financial institutions, including SG Cowen, Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, American Express (News - Alert), and Chase Manhattan, where he started his career in their prestigious executive training program. Mr. Kuper earned his BS in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. "I am extremely pleased to have Peter join the jCyte senior leadership team," said Dr. Shannon Blalock, Chief Executive Officer. "Over his 27-year career, Peter has been successful across all aspects of finance, including investment banking, securities analysis, and venture capital. He has continually demonstrated the unique ability to identify emerging market opportunities across multiple sectors and, as importantly, the financial acumen to capitalize on them. His significant knowledge, experience, and savvy are a perfect fit for jCyte as we rapidly prepare to initiate our single pivotal Phase 3 study for jCell's lead indication, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and advance our FDA designated Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) platform technology into Phase 3 studies for other retinal degenerative conditions."

jCell is a first-in-class investigational treatment for RP which has received FDA RMAT designation. In addition to RMAT designation, jCell has received Orphan Drug designation from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA (News - Alert)). About jCyte, Inc. jCyte, Inc. is a late-stage clinical phase biotech company focused on developing its first-in-class regenerative cell therapy, jCell, for RP and other retinal degenerative disorders. The treatment is minimally invasive and given as an intravitreal injection. There are currently no FDA approved therapies for RP. The Company is pioneering a new era of regenerative therapies to address the significant unmet medical needs of patients suffering from a broad set of retinal degenerative diseases. For more information, visit www.jcyte.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005255/en/

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[November 02, 2021] JMA Wireless and Kyocera Partner to Accelerate 5G Deployment Across Japan

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JMA Wireless (JMA) and Kyocera Corporation (Kyocera) today announced an agreement to jointly develop a 5G millimeter-wave backhaul system. Leveraging Kyocera's wireless base station technology and JMA's XRANthe only 100% software-based open-RAN (O-RAN) solution on the marketthis first-of-its-kind system will accelerate 5G network deployment across Japan. Kyocera and JMA's solution will provide a unique alternative to traditional RAN vendors that will be free from third-party dependencies and match carrier-grade performance. The software-based system enables Mobile Operators to integrate 5G technology into older sites that would have been cost prohibitive to upgrade with 5G hardware. It will connect donor stations and relay node stations for quick and cost-effective 5G coverage expansion across Japan, including in areas that are difficult to connect. Notably, with JMA's XRAN, the system will use an O-RAN interface, making it possible to connect to various 5G networks. Through Kyocera's hardware and expertise, the solution will help Operators save space, simplify installation, and reduce the power consumption required for the system. Using JMA's revolutionary software solution, the system provides the agility and ease to upgrade its networks to 5G and beyond. The system is expected to be live within 2022. "We are plased to announce that Kyocera has reached an agreement with JMA to jointly develop a new telecommunications infrastructure system business," said Norihiko Ina, Director and Managing Executive Officer, Solution Segment at Kyocera Corporation. "Kyocera intends to contribute to the development of 5G infrastructure systems providing our revolutionary 5G millimeter-wave backhaul system to Japanese Operators and various other carriers."



"JMA is looking forward to working with Kyocera to bring this revolutionary O-RAN-based 5G millimeter-wave backhaul system to Japanese Operators as well as other carriers in the future," said Remo Ricci, Managing Director and Head of International Sales at JMA. "We are thrilled by the potential this precedent-setting solution will unlock for carriers." About JMA

A disruptive force in the wireless industry, JMA is restoring U.S. leadership in wireless technology at a critical time in the transition to 5G. Based in Syracuse, New York, JMA makes the world's most advanced software-based 5G platform, which it designs, codes, and manufactures in the United States. JMA's cutting-edge technologymost notably a revolutionary software solution called XRANis ushering in a new era of innovation and connectivity for businesses, workers, and ultimately consumers. For more information, visit jmawireless.com.

About Kyocera

Kyocera Corporation (TOKYO:6971, https://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers, and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2021, the company's consolidated sales revenue totaled 1.5 trillion yen (approx. US$13.8 billion). Kyocera is ranked #603 on Forbes magazine's 2021 "Global 2000" list of the world's largest publicly traded companies, and has appeared on The Wall Street Journal's list of "The World's 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jma-wireless-and-kyocera-partner-to-accelerate-5g-deployment-across-japan-301414239.html SOURCE JMA Wireless

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[November 02, 2021] RMS North America Names Victor Vesnaver as Chief Operating Officer

RMS North America, a leading provider of cloud-based property management solutions to the hospitality industry, today announced that Victor Vesnaver joined the organization as Chief Operating Officer. Vesnaver will lead the company and product direction in North America, supporting its growth strategy while fostering a culture of innovation. Vesnaver comes to RMS North America during a time ripe with change, as the organization prepares for team and product expansions to support both its core markets and an enhanced hotel and business intelligence focus. With more than three decades of global hospitality experience, Vesnaver will be invaluable as the business plans for its first brand expansion in 2022, deepening its dedication to the hotel industry. Before joining RMS North America, Vesnaver was the Chief Executive Officer of Koridor Hospitality, where he led the hotel technology start-up. Prior to that role, Vesnaver served as the SVP of Sales and Marketing t Springer-Miller Systems, Vice President of the Hotel Business Unit at MICROS Systems, Inc., and held the position of Assistant Vice President of Information Technology at Hyatt Hotels Corporation.



"I am thrilled to be joining RMS North America at such a pivotal time as we broaden our hotel industry focus and recommit ourselves to our current markets," stated Vesnaver. "Unsurprisingly, the pandemic turned the hospitality ecosystem on its head. Moving forward, we must walk alongside our clients as valued partners, helping them adapt to new consumer demands and delivering tools that drive operational efficiencies and revenue. We have ambitious plans, and I'm eager to help RMS North America in setting a new standard in hotel technology." Leveraging new business intelligence features, RMS's enhanced offering is targeted at the specific needs of hotels and resorts - facilitating these customers' ability to run their businesses while catering to guest needs seamlessly and efficiently. For the latest information and updates, visit www.rmsnorthamerica.com.

About RMS RMS offers cloud-based property management solutions to fit the needs of the global hospitality industry, supporting over 6,000 properties worldwide. With more than 35 years of industry experience, their feature-rich technology is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of hotels, resorts, campgrounds, RV parks, marinas and more. For more information, please visit www.rmsnorthamerica.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005086/en/

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Sprinklr Named to Inc.'s 2021 Best-Led Companies List

Sprinklr (NYSE: CXM), the unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform for modern enterprises, today announced that it has been named to Inc.'s prestigious first annual Best-Led Companies list - a data-driven list of U.S.-based companies with the strongest management excellence and revenue of $50 million to $2 billion. The 250 companies on the list are highlighted for being agile enough to maneuver but also big enough to have a broad impact.

Sprinklr is recognized on the Best-Led Companies list for accomplishments in four key areas: performance and value creation; market penetration and customer engagement; talent; and leadership team. This recognition is a testament to Sprinklr's efforts to lead and define a new category of enterprise software for all customer-facing functions - Unified-CXM. As the single platform for brands to reach, engage, and listen to customers across digital channels, Sprinklr powers human, unified customer experiences.

"This inaugural list represents the remarkable mid-sized companies, both public and private, often founder led, that are at the vanguard of reinventing American business," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. "With their leadership, all businesses will benefit from an exciting, competitive future full of possibilities."

"We're honored to be highlighted on Inc.'s Best-Led Companies list for our strong approach to company culture, customer success, and product innovatio," said Diane K. Adams, Chief Culture and Talent Officer, Sprinklr. "Sprinklr's vision is to be the world's most loved enterprise software company. It's a lofty goal, but as this recognition shows, we have an incredible leadership team that is putting us in a position to achieve our goals while treating one another like family and taking extreme pride in who we are and what we're building."







The recognition is the latest industry accolade for Sprinklr, which was certified as a Great Place to Work, named best workplace of 2021 by Inc. Magazine, recognized as a Great Place to Work in NYC, honored for its employee wellness program with the Cigna Well-Being Award, and named one of the Best Places to Work in IT - all earlier this year.

To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/best-led-companies/2021

About Sprinklr

Sprinklr is a leading enterprise software company for all customer-facing functions. With advanced AI, Sprinklr's unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform helps companies deliver human experiences to every customer, every time, across any modern channel. Headquartered in New York City with employees around the world, Sprinklr works with more than 1,000 of the world's most valuable enterprises - global brands like Microsoft, P&G, Samsung (News - Alert) and more than 50% of the Fortune 100.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005886/en/
[November 02, 2021] Worldwide Micro Computed Tomography Industry to 2028 - Increase in Use of Micro CT for Research and Development Activities is Driving Growth

DUBLIN, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Micro Computed Tomography Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (In-vivo, Ex-vivo), By Application (Life Science, Bones, Dentistry, Plants & Food), By Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global micro computed tomography market size is expected to reach USD 327.7 million by 2028. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2021 to 2028. A growing number of applications and a significant demand for technologically advanced three-dimensional imaging technologies are driving the market for micro computed tomography (CT). In addition, the increasing use of micro-CT in research is expected to boost the market growth.



Micro-CT can be used to examine the internal structure of both material and biological materials without cutting them and preserving the samples or specimens for future research. Micro-CT scanning's unique properties enable scientists to examine a sample's morphology Micro-CT is used to research bone, teeth, tissue/organs, animal anatomy, plants, food, composite materials, medical devices, batteries, and other areas. Both in vivo and ex vivo scanning modes are available with these scanners.



Technological developments are likely to contribute to market expansion, such as faster performance, high resolution, and reduce time and labor. For instance, In February 2019, the new SKYSCANTM 1273 benchtop 3D X-ray microscope was introduced by Bruker. The SKYSCAN 1273 establishes a new benchmark for benchtop non-destructive testing (NDT), delivering performance previously only available from floor-standing devices. Furthermore, EUREKA-funded project Xamflow has developed a new software tool that makes micro-CT examinations more efficient and less labor-intensive than before.



Micro-CT imaging is bringing up endless opportunities in a variety of fields. During the forecast period, the increased demand for micro-CT in research and development activities is expected to enhance product demand. However, this system is heavily reliant on complicated computer hardware and software, and it may have frequent technical failures, demanding ongoing personnel training, which may limit the market's growth.



Micro Computed Tomography Market Report Highlights By product, the ex-vivo micro CT segment dominated the market in 2020 and is further expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period.

In terms of application, the life sciences segment held the largest revenue share in 2020 owing to the high-resolution structural imaging and nanomechanical measurements provided by the micro-CT.

The dentistry segment is expected to experience the fastest growth rate during the forecast period since micro-CT has a wide range of applicaions in dentistry, from dental research to treatment.

North America dominated the market for micro-CT and accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020.

dominated the market for micro-CT and accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR of around 8.8% over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies in China and India .



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope





Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. Micro Computed Tomography Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Lineage Outlook

3.1.1. Parent market outlook

3.1.2. Related/ancillary market outlook

3.2. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.3. Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.3.1. Reimbursement framework

3.4. Market Dynamics

3.4.1. Market driver analysis

3.4.1.1. Wide range of applications

3.4.1.2. Technological advancements

3.4.1.3. Increase in use of Micro CT for research and development activities

3.4.2. Market restraint analysis

3.4.2.1. Lack of skilled professionals

3.4.2.2. Technical issues

3.5. Micro computed tomography Market Analysis Tools

3.5.1. Industry Analysis - Porter's

3.5.1.1. Supplier power

3.5.1.2. Buyer power

3.5.1.3. Substitution threat

3.5.1.4. Threat of new entrant

3.5.1.5. Competitive rivalry

3.5.2. PESTEL Analysis

3.5.2.1. Political landscape

3.5.2.2. Technological landscape

3.5.2.3. Economic landscape

3.5.3. Major Deals & Strategic Alliances Analysis

3.5.4. Market Entry Strategies



Chapter 4. Micro Computed Tomography Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1. Definitions and Scope

4.1.1. In - vivo

4.1.2. Ex - vivo

4.2. Product Market Share, 2020 & 2028

4.3. Segment Dashboard

4.4. Global Micro Computed Tomography Market by Product Outlook

4.5. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2016 to 2028 for the following

4.5.1. In - vivo

4.5.1.1. In - vivo market estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD Million)

4.5.2. Ex - vivo

4.5.2.1. Ex - vivo market estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD Million)



Chapter 5. Micro Computed Tomography Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Definitions and Scope

5.1.1. Life sciences

5.1.2. Bones

5.1.3. Dentistry

5.1.4. Plants and food

5.1.5. Material science

5.1.6. Geology/oil and gas geology

5.2. Application Market Share, 2020 & 2028

5.3. Segment Dashboard

5.4. Global Micro Computed Tomography Market by Application Outlook

5.5. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2016 to 2028 for the following

5.5.1. Life sciences

5.5.1.1. Life sciences market estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD million)

5.5.2. Bones

5.5.2.1. Bones estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD Million)

5.5.3. Dentistry

5.5.3.1. Dentistry market estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD Million)

5.5.4. Plants and food

5.5.4.1. Plants and food market estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD million)

5.5.5. Material science

5.5.5.1. Material science estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD Million)

5.5.6. Geology/Oil and Gas Geology

5.5.6.1. Geology/Oil and Gas Geology market estimates and forecast 2016 to 2028 (USD Million)



Chapter 6. Micro Computed Tomography Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 7. Competitive Landscape

7.1. Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

7.2. Company/Competition Categorization

7.2.1. Innovators

7.3. Vendor Landscape

7.3.1. List of key distributors and channel partners

7.3.2. Key customers

7.3.3. Key company market share analysis, 2020

7.3.4. Bruker Corporation

7.3.4.1. Company overview

7.3.4.2. Financial performance

7.3.4.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.4.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.5. PerkinElmer

7.3.5.1. Company overview

7.3.5.2. Financial performance

7.3.5.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.5.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.6. Thermo Fisher Scientific

7.3.6.1. Company overview

7.3.6.2. Financial performance

7.3.6.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.6.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.7. ZEISS

7.3.7.1. Company overview

7.3.7.2. Financial performance

7.3.7.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.7.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.8. NeoScan

7.3.8.1. Company overview

7.3.8.2. Financial performance

7.3.8.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.8.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.9. Sanying Precision Instruments Co, Ltd

7.3.9.1. Company overview

7.3.9.2. Financial performance

7.3.9.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.9.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.10 . North Star Imaging Inc

7.3.10.1. Company overview

7.3.10.2. Financial performance

7.3.10.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.10.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.11 . SCANCO Medical AG

7.3.11.1. Company overview

7.3.11.2. Financial performance

7.3.11.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.11.4. Strategic initiatives

7.3.12 . TESCAN

7.3.12.1. Company overview

7.3.12.2. Financial performance

7.3.12.3. Product benchmarking

7.3.12.4. Strategic initiatives For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bgoak2 Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/worldwide-micro-computed-tomography-industry-to-2028---increase-in-use-of-micro-ct-for-research-and-development-activities-is-driving-growth-301413940.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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[November 02, 2021]

WIRELESS TELECOM GROUP ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS WILL BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Parsippany, New Jersey, USA, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. (NYSE American: WTT), a leader in wireless communications and radio frequency instrumentation, announced it will release its third quarter financial results on Thursday, November 11, 2021, before the market opens.



The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 8:30 am EST in which management will discuss third quarter financial results. To participate in the conference call, dial 800-346-7359 or 973-528-0008. The conference identification number is 903292. The call will also be webcast over the internet at the following URL:

https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1690/43473

A replay will be made available on the Wireless Telecom website following the conference call.

- END -

About Wireless Telecom Group

Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., comprised of Boonton, CommAgility, Holzworth, Microlab, and Noisecom, is a global designer and manufacturer of advanced RF and microwave components, modules, systems, and instruments. Serving the wireless, telecommunication, satellite, military, aerospace, semiconductor, and medical industries, Wireless Telecom Group products enable innovation across existing and emerging wireless technologies. With a product portfolio including peak power meters, signal generators, phase noise analyzers, signal processing modules, LTE PHY/stack software, power splitters and combiners, GPS repeaters, public safety components, noise sources, and programmable noise generators, Wireless Telecom Group supports the development, testing, and deployment of wireless technologies around the globe. Wireless Telecom Group is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, in the New York City metropolitan area, and maintains a global network of Sales and Service offices for excellent product service and support. Wireless Telecom Groups website address is http://www.wirelesstelecomgroup.com.









Contact

Michael Kandell: +1 (973) 386-9696

SM Berger:+1 (216)-464-6400

Wireless Telecom Group Inc.

25 Eastmans Road

Parsippany, NJ 07054

Tel: (973) 386-9696

Fax: (973) 386-9191

www.wirelesstelecomgroup.com
[November 02, 2021] Marker Learning Raises $4MM to Expand Access to Affordable Learning Disability Evaluations and Services.

Marker Learning, a telepsychology platform that enables the remote administration of learning disability assessments and services, has announced a $4mm seed round led by Primary, with participation from Divergent Investments, Night Ventures, and Operator Partners. Marker Learning will use the funding to expand its team and accelerate its geographic expansion in the United States. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005773/en/ Co-founders Emily Yudofsky (left) and Stefan Bauer (right) personally know the benefits of getting a learning disability diagnosed early, as they both struggled in school before getting diagnosed with dyslexia. They started Marker Learning to provide the same quality of assessments and services that they received to the millions of American students who eiter can't afford or don't have access to them. (Photo: Business Wire)



It is estimated that 1 in 5 students has dyslexia, but up to 80% of cases go undiagnosed due to the high costs of evaluations and difficulty accessing licensed psychologists. The importance of getting a proper diagnosis and assistance cannot be overstated, as undiagnosed students are more likely to drop out of school, experience unemployment, and have mental health issues. It also has a massive economic impact - a recent Boston Consulting Group study estimated that under-diagnosis and under-support of the dyslexic community will cost $1 trillion dollars over the next several decades, in California alone.

Co-founders Stefan Bauer and Emily Yudofsky have a personal connection with these statistics, as they both struggled academically before getting diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school. After receiving a proper diagnosis and support, Bauer went on to earn an MBA from Yale and spent several years working at McKinsey, while Yudofsky, a Yale College graduate and Stanford MBA, worked at Google (News - Alert) and started a successful telemedicine business. Bauer and Yudofsky started Marker Learning to ensure every student has the same access to learning disability support that they did and to fix the current broken system; evaluations for dyslexia and other learning disabilities often cost over $10,000 and are typically not covered by insurance. In addition, struggling students often have to wait months to get evaluated due to a lack of access to licensed psychologists. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these access and cost issues, as testing was nearly halted at the height of the pandemic, causing months to years-long backlogs of evaluations. By working with leading psychologists and learning disability specialists, Bauer and Yudofsky developed a digital platform that enables psychologists to diagnose students in a remote setting for a fraction of the cost and time, compared to similar in-person services. Bauer states, "Receiving a proper diagnosis was one of the most impactful events of my life. We aim to provide best-in-class evaluations to the millions of students who currently do not have access to them, so that every student can reach their full potential." About Marker Learning Marker Learning (Getmarkerlearning.com) is on a mission to inspire and support students with all types of learning needs so they can reach their full potential. The company's telepsychology platform makes gold-standard learning disability assessments and personalized action plans more accessible for schools and families. Marker Learning partners with top tier psychologists to virtually administer evidence-based learning disability assessments and leverages proprietary technology to streamline the assessment process, reduce cost, and decrease turnaround time. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005773/en/

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[November 02, 2021] CAN Health Network and Communitech Partner to Accelerate Health Care Innovation in Canada

Kitchener, ON, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - The Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network today announced its strategic partnership with Canada's leading innovation hub, Communitech . This first-of-its-kind national partnership will foster growth for Canadian tech companies and cut red tape to connect domestic tech firms to procurement opportunities through CAN Health's integrated network. CAN Health, a federally-funded program focused on growing domestic health tech solutions and supporting companies to scale across Canada, will work with Communitech to identify top-tier solutions that meet public sector procurement needs. Together, this partnership will help strengthen Canada's health care system while helping more domestic innovators access critical sales opportunities in the Canadian market. This is a long-standing, signal pain point for health tech founders and a roadblock to their success. "This is a win for Canadian health tech and our nation's economy that will not only foster growth and create jobs, but will also bring much-needed innovation to our health care system," said Chris Albinson, CEO of Communitech. "By bringing the strengths of our networks together, this collaboration will also further accelerate the commercialization of Canadian IP, creating the perfect landscape for more companies to access scalable procurement opportunities." Communitech, an innovation hub that supports more than 1,600 founders of technology startups, scale-ups and at-scale firms, also manages Canada's Tech Network , a well-established network of 28 regional innovation hubs across the country. This partnership, part of Communitech's recently announced refreshed corporate strategy , will play an instrumental role in ensuring players from all over Canada's innovation economy can effectively respond to real challenges in the health sector.



"Together with Communitech, we are focused on connecting made-in-Canada innovative solutions to the real-world issues facing our nation's health care system," said Dr. Dante Morra, Chair and Lead of CAN Health Network. "Now is the time to seize the shared capabilities of our growing, national integrated health care market and Communitech's mature network of 28 innovation hubs in order to build prosperity for Canada." CAN Health and Communitech already share a success story in common. Waterloo Region's Axonify, a longstanding Communitech member company, is currently working on a CAN Health Network commercialization project, adapting their frontline employee training and communications platform to meet the needs of the health sector - starting at Waterloo Region's Grand River Hospital to improve staff accreditation preparation.

Both CAN Health Network and Communitech are proud partners of the federal government and share a goal of making Canada one of the top health sector hubs in the world. Together, they will work to unlock the full potential of Canadian innovation in both the public and private sectors and help companies scale to own the podium as world-class, global leaders. ABOUT CAN HEALTH NETWORK The CAN Health Network is a Canada-first approach to technology adoption. It helps break down barriers to scaling in the healthcare system and provides an environment for companies to scale to their full potential. Currently operating in Ontario, Western and Atlantic Canada, the CAN Health Network plans to expand to Quebec and the North. The Network has received $3.5 million in 2019 and $3.25 million in 2021 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), $3.5 million from PrairiesCan and PacifiCan, and most recently, $2.2 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to build a national platform that harnesses the purchasing power of healthcare organizations. To learn more about the CAN Health Network, visit www.canhealthnetwork.ca . ABOUT COMMUNITECH Communitech was launched in 1997 by a group of founders committed to making Waterloo Region a global tech leader. Today, Communitech is Canada's leading innovation hub, supporting a community of more than 1,600 founders of startups, scale-ups and at-scale companies on their journey to a billion dollars in annual revenue. Communitech helps founders start, grow and succeed in three distinct ways: Communitech is a convenor  the centre of gravity for founders, innovators and partners. It's a clubhouse and connector for those building trust-based tech and world-class companies.

Communitech delivers programs to help founders with what they need most  accelerating access to talent, sales and growth capital.

Communitech is helping to build a world-leading ecosystem with trust at its core  making sure we have all the ingredients (and the brand) to help founders build successful companies, solve meaningful problems and secure Canada's position as the largest tech ecosystem on the planet. SOURCE CAN Health Network

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[November 02, 2021] Schwab Launches the Schwab Ariel ESG ETF

Schwab Asset Management, the asset management arm of The Charles Schwab Corporation, today announced it is launching the Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (SAEF), an active, semi-transparent (also known as non-transparent) ETF that invests in small- and mid-cap stocks that have been screened based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. The new ETF will be sub-advised by Ariel Investments, LLC ("Ariel"). Ariel, the first African American-owned investment firm in the U.S., brings nearly 40 years of experience integrating ESG factors into every phase of its investment process. The first day of trading is expected to be on or about November 16, 2021. "Schwab is focused on empowering clients and we know that investing in-line with one's values is increasingly important to many investors," said Rick Wurster, President, The Charles Schwab Corporation. "We are very excited to introduce the Schwab Ariel ESG ETF in collaboration with Ariel. Together, we believe our unparalleled ETF and ESG capabilities can help investors achieve their financial goals." The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF will provide investors with access to the proprietary ESG investment process pioneered by Ariel. The fund seeks to deliver long-term capital appreciation by leveraging Ariel's value-based investment process, which is focused on small- and mid-cap U.S. companies with favorable ESG characteristics as measured by Ariel's ESG risk rating process. The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF can serve as a core or complementary equity ESG allocation within a portfolio. The fund has an operating expense ratio (OER) of 59 bps. "We are delighted to expand our long-standing relationship with Schwab and bring our value-based, high conviction ESG approach to the market in this new ETF," said John W. Rogers, Jr., Founder, Chairman, Co-CEO, and Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Investments. "ESG has influenced how Ariel invests and engages since our founding in 1983. We believe in a more rigorous and thoughtful approach to ESG investing that uses proprietary analysis to gain a nuanced view of ESG risk, instead of relying solely on third-party rating systems. As long-term investors, we are driven by dialogue, not dictates. As a firm, we consistently engage with portfolio company management teams to address ESG issues deemed material to their financial health." The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF offers active management in a semi-transparent ETF. Ariel's focus on value and small- and mid-cap equity securities differentiates the new ETF from most ESG strategies, which tend to skew toward growth and large-cap securities. Ariel will leverage its proprietary ESG research to derive a proprietary ESG-risk rating for each holding, or prospective holding, in the fund. In addition, Ariel will employ a negative screening process in the fund's security selection, which seeks to exclude from the fund companies whose primary source of revenue is derived from the production or sale of tobacco products, the exploration for or the extraction of fossil fuels, the operation of private prisons or jails, and the manufacture of firearms, personal weapons, small arms, or controversial military weapons. "At Schwab we deliver investment choices, resources and education," said Malik Sievers, Head of ESG Strategy, Schwab Asset Management. "Our first proprietary ESG fund addresses a clear gap in the market for a small- to mid-cap ESG fund managed through a value investing lens. We are excited to bring investors a new option for incorporating ESG into their portfolios and which may help them to tailor their exposure to ESG investing based on their goals and preferences." The fifth largest provider of ETFs, Schwab Asset Management has more than a decade of experience managing ETFs and a robust capital markets team that plays a crucial role in ensuring the Schwab ETFs function efficiently. Schwab's holistic approach to ESG includes educational resources and broad access to third-party ESG products, in addition to this new proprietary offering. Ariel brings a distinctive actively managed, bottom-up investment approach aimed at driving long-term results for investors. Its tailored approach recognizes ESG issues as material to business outcomes and views management teams as collaborative partners in strengthening ESG performance. The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF will have two co-lead portfolio managers, John W. Rogers, Jr., and Kenneth Kuhrt, who are supported by Ariel's dedicated ESG team. Schwab and Ariel Investments have a long-standing relationship and have collaborated for over 20 years on the Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey, a body of research that explores the similarities and differences between Black and white Americans when it comes to saving, investing, and other financial priorities. For more information, review the prospectus here. About Schwab Asset Management Schwab Asset Management offers a focused lineup of competitively priced ETFs, mutual funds and separately managed account strategies designed to serve the central needs of most investors. As part of the Charles Schwab organization, we champion the needs of investors and seek to enhance the financial lives of our clients in all we do. Operating our business through clients' eyes and putting them at the center of our decisions, we aim to deliver exceptional experiences to investors and the financial professionals who serve them. Established in 1989, Schwab Asset Management manages more than $640.5 billion in assets and draws on the knowledge and expertise of more than 119 investment professionals (figures as of 9/30/2021). More information is available at www.schwabassetmanagement.com.



About Charles Schwab At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients' goals with passion and integrity.

More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. About Ariel Investments Ariel Investments, LLC is a global value-based asset management firm founded in 1983. Ariel is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Sydney. As of September 30, 2021, Ariel's firm-wide assets under management, including subsidiaries, totaled approximately $17.3 billion. Ariel serves individual and institutional investors through five no-load mutual funds and nine separate account strategies. For more information, please visit Ariel's website at arielinvestments.com. Disclosures: This fund is different from traditional ETFs. Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. This fund will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example: You may have to pay more money to trade the fund's shares. This fund will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information.

The price you pay to buy fund shares on an exchange may not match the value of the fund's portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for this fund compared to other ETFs because it provides less information to traders.

These additional risks may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions.

The ETF will publish on its website each day a "Proxy Portfolio" designed to help trading in shares of the ETF. While the Proxy Portfolio includes some of the ETF's holdings, it is not the ETF's actual portfolio. The differences between this fund and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the fund secret, this fund may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the fund's performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict the fund's investment strategy, however, this may hurt the fund's performance. For additional information regarding the unique attributes and risks of the fund, see Proxy Portfolio Risk, Premium/Discount Risk, Trading Halt Risk, Authorized Participant Concentration Risk, Tracking Error Risk and Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV in the Principal Risks and Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap sections of the prospectus and/or the Statement of Additional Information. Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. You can obtain a prospectus, or if available, a summary prospectus by visiting schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus. Please read it carefully before investing. Investment returns will fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor's shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Unlike mutual funds, shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable directly with the ETF. Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Active Semi-Transparent (also known as Non-Transparent) ETF Risk: Active semi-transparent ETFs operate differently from other exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Unlike other ETFs, an active semi-transparent ETF does not publicly disclose its entire portfolio composition each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of the ETF trade in the secondary market. Active semi-transparent ETFs have limited public trading history. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop, be maintained or operate as intended. There is a risk that the market price of an active semi-transparent ETF may vary significantly from the ETF's net asset value and that its shares may trade at a wider bid/ask spread and, therefore, cost investors more to trade than shares of other ETFs. These risks are heightened during periods of market disruption or volatility. Proxy Portfolio Risk: Unlike traditional ETFs, this fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings (Actual Portfolio) daily. The fund instead posts a Proxy Portfolio on its website each day. The Proxy Portfolio is designed to reflect the economic exposures and risk characteristics of the fund's actual holdings on each trading day, but it is not the same as the fund's Actual Portfolio. Although the Proxy Portfolio is intended to provide investors with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the Fund at or close to the underlying NAV per Share of the Fund, there is a risk (which may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility) that market prices will vary significantly from the underlying NAV of the fund. ETF trading on the basis of a published Proxy Portfolio may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, especially during periods of market disruption or volatility, and therefore may cost investors more to trade. Also, while the Fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Proxy Portfolio to identify a Fund's trading strategy, which if successful, could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the Fund and its shareholders. Proxy Portfolio Construction - The Proxy Portfolio is designed to recreate the daily performance of the Actual Portfolio. This is achieved by performing a "Factor Model" analysis of the Actual Portfolio. The Factor Model is comprised of three sets of factors or analytical metrics: market-based factors, fundamental factors, and industry/sector factors. The fund uses a "Model Universe" to generate its Proxy Portfolio. The Model Universe is comprised of securities that the fund can purchase and will be a financial index or stated portfolio of securities from which fund investments will be selected. The results of the Factor Model analysis are then applied to the Model Universe. The Proxy Portfolio is then generated as a result of this Model Universe analysis with the Proxy Portfolio being a small sub-set of the Model Universe. The Factor Model is applied to both the Actual Portfolio and the Model Universe to construct the fund's Proxy Portfolio that performs in a manner substantially identical to the performance of its Actual Portfolio. The Proxy Portfolio will only include investments the fund is permitted to hold. The fund's SAI (News - Alert) contains more information on the Proxy Portfolio and its construction. Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap Information regarding the contents of the Proxy Portfolio, and the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the Proxy Portfolio and a Fund's Actual Portfolio holdings that formed the basis for its calculation of NAV at the end of the prior Business Day (the Portfolio Overlap), is available by visiting the fund's website www.schwabassetmanagement.com Because environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies exclude some securities, ESG-focused products may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as products that do not use such strategies. Additionally, the criteria used to select companies for investment may result in investing in securities, industries or sectors that underperform the market as a whole. Value investing attempts to identify undervalued companies with characteristics for improved valuations. Securities that exhibit value characteristics tend to perform differently and shift in and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic conditions. As a result, the fund's performance may at times fall behind the performance of other funds that invest more broadly or in securities that exhibit different characteristics. Small cap funds are subject to greater volatility than those in other asset categories. Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply. Schwab Asset Management is the investment adviser and Ariel Investments, LLC is the sub-advisor. Schwab Asset Management is the dba name for Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM). Schwab Asset Management is a part of the broader Schwab Asset Management Solutions organization (SAMS), a collection of business units of The Charles Schwab Corporation aligned by a common function-asset management-related services-under common leadership. CSIM and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) Member SIPC are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation. Schwab ETFs are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO). Ariel Investments, LLC and SIDCO are not affiliated with The Charles Schwab Corporation or any of its affiliates. (1121-13E1) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005972/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Origin Hires Chad Schneider as Head of Broker Partnerships to Expand Strategic Broker Ecosystem

Origin, the employee financial wellness platform, today announced that it has hired Chad Schneider as head of broker partnerships to spearhead its global broker ecosystem. Schneider brings more than 20 years of experience in managing the onboarding, development, and strategy for broker and carrier partnerships in the insurance and employee benefits industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005529/en/ Origin, the employee financial wellness platform, today announced that it has hired Chad Schneider as head of broker partnerships to spearhead its global broker ecosystem. Schneider brings more than 20 years of experience in managing the onboarding, development, and strategy for broker and carrier partnerships in the insurance and employee benefits industry. (Photo: Business Wire) "Broker partnerships are crucial in achieving our goal of bringing financial wellnss to every employee, everywhere, and Chad's reputation in the broker community precedes him," said Matt Watson, CEO and co-founder, Origin. "Chad has a proven track record in building broker relationships and taking companies to the next stage of growth in the channel. We couldn't be happier to welcome him to the Origin team."



Schneider joins from Jellyvision, where he was the VP of strategic alliances for the SaaS (News - Alert) employee communication platform. Previously, he was the chief sales officer at Code SixFour and was a group manager for Aflac Broker Sales. Schneider has been invited as a distinguished speaker to industry conferences, such as the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo, and has served as the co-founder and co-president of the Downtown Chicago Association of Health Underwriters as well as the national media chair of the National Association of Health Underwriters. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in marketing and management. "Financial wellness has never been more important for both employers and employees, and Origin's unique platform provides the education and tools for employees to understand and take control of their financial health," said Schneider. "I am delighted to join the Origin team to expand access to this one-of-a-kind technology, as broker partnerships are a crucial path forward to accelerate growth."

For more information on Origin, please visit http://www.useorigin.com. To join Origin's upcoming webinar on the trends driving the demand for financial wellness benefits and how Origin can deliver for your clients, please visit https://bit.ly/intro-to-origin to register for this consultant-only event. About Origin Origin was founded on the belief that financial planning should be accessible to everyone at every stage of life. Origin is the first comprehensive employee financial wellness platform for the modern workforce. Its integrated solution helps employees manage compensation, benefits, and personal finances in a single place - side-by-side with financial professionals. Origin is the first platform that combines Certified Financial Planners with cutting-edge financial technology that both educates employees and allows them to create, execute, and track their personalized financial plans. Origin's team is led by repeat founders and is backed by leading VC firms and investors like 01A, Founders Fund, Felicis Ventures, General Catalyst, and Lachy Groom. With Origin, employees have on-demand access to their Origin planner, and a video call or in-app chat conversation is one click away. For more information on Origin, visit http://www.useorigin.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005529/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Juniper Networks Extends AI-Driven Support to Entire Junos Portfolio to Streamline Operator Efficiencies and Maximize End User Experiences

Juniper Networks (News - Alert) (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced a new support solution driven by artificial intelligence that delivers holistic visibility and insights across its entire Junos portfolio. As a cornerstone of its experience-first networking vision and expanding upon proven AI-driven support and operations, Juniper Support Insights easily and securely connects customers' networks to the cloud for improved network and operational efficiency. "The use of data and automation are redefining how customer experience is delivered. Juniper Support Insights represents a major step forward in how we're transforming services with a focus on personalized, proactive and predictive experience leveraging AI and cloud," said Derrell James, EVP of Juniper Global Services. "With a new level of end-to-end visibility and actionable intelligence, Juniper is making it easier for service providers, enterprises and partners to optimize the operation of their networks." Easy and Secure to Connect, Collect and Curate Juniper Support Insights was designed to address the operational and support requirements of some of Juniper's largest customers. Independent of the size or breadth of the network, Juniper AI-driven support simplifies connecting Junos-based customer platforms (ACX Series, EX Series, MX Series, PTX Series, QFX Series and SRX Series) to the Juniper cloud. Data can then be quickly collected, correlated with Juniper-specific knowledge (known defects, contract status, End of Life/End of Support (EOL/EOS), product knowledge bases, security vulnerabilities) and then curated into actionable insights. The solution offers: Ease of use: Customers have the choice of Device Direct to Cloud (DDC) or Device to Collector to Cloud (DCC) connection and data collect modes. The latter includes a fully managed Lightweight Collector (LWC) with automated provisioning. Both connection modes feature software-in-place operation that obviates the need to upgrade or install software on either collector or network devices.

Security and privacy: Data privacy, security and efficiency are maintained using a principle of least necessary device fact data collection. Zero-Residual Footprint (ZRF) and the use of ephemeral computing ensures that no data artifacts are stored anywhere permanently and helps to avoid data leakage. All data flows are TLS (Transport Layer Security) encrypted.

Dynamic scalability: The Lightweight Collector in DCC operations mode is designed to handle large deployments and each supports up to 20,000 network devices. Portal to Actionable Intelligence Juniper Support Insights includes access to a secure portal used to manage device onboarding and discovery, as well as a view into operational dashboards and reports. The dashboard provides a summary of holistic operational health metrics and insights for the entire network. Standard reports include detailed analysis into areas such as hardware and software inventory (chassis level all the way to transcevers and all serialized components, logical/physical interfaces, OS versions), exposure covering EOL/EOS and much more. Enhanced custom reports are also available via the Juniper Advanced Care services team.



Experience-First Services As part of Juniper's commitment to transform the customer experience and make it personalized and proactive, current Juniper Care customers are automatically entitled to the value-added Juniper Support Insights option. To onboard the solution, they will need to work with their sales team, Resident Engineer or Service Manager.

Additional digital support tools available through Juniper Care include a personalized self-service portal, 24/7 digital assistant, service APIs for integration into third party systems, government support and partner renewals. Supporting Quotes: "Having access to actionable insights through Juniper's new solution called Juniper Support Insights will help streamline our network operations, which will allow for increased network visibility, reduced troubleshooting times and stability for all of our users. Seamless patient experience is central to our mission at Northeast Georgia Health System. With support services from Juniper, our IT team will be able to continue working side-by-side with our clinical partners, ensuring that our hospital staff can deliver quality patient care." - Chris Paravate, CIO of Northeast Georgia Health System "IDC (News - Alert) sees a fundamental shift in the network life-cycle services space: away from reactive, manual actions to a more agile, predictive and preemptive approach. This is on the one hand driven by the core role of networking solutions in the digital world, where any downtime can impact customer experience, but also powered by the increase in AI and analytic expertise, powered by the cloud." - Chris Barnard, Vice President, Infrastructure and Telecoms (Europe), IDC Additional Resources: Launch Blog: Juniper Support Insights: Transforming Network Operations with AI-Driven Support

Juniper Software Powers Experience

Juniper Support Insights - A New AI-Driven Support About Juniper Networks Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the world's greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. category-enterprise View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006011/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Rust Foundation Achieves Significant Milestone with 15th Silver Member Organization

The Rust Foundation, an independent non-profit dedicated to supporting the Rust Project, recently welcomed its 15th Silver Member. The addition was part of a rapid expansion of the Foundation's membership roster, with companies including Arm, Sentry, Knoldus, Spectral.io, Automata, Activision (News - Alert), and Toyota Connected all joining over the past few months. The 15th Silver Member represents a milestone that validates the importance of the Rust Foundation's purpose and demonstrates the extraordinary faith that prominent high-tech institutions are placing in the continued application and growth of the Rust Project. The tech world's rapid adoption of the Rust programming language has made the Rust developer community one of the fastest growing for more than a year and created unprecedented demand for the work of the engineers maintaining and contributing to the Rust open source project and ecosystem. Finding a way to channel support to the Rust project is the mission of the Rust Foundation, which was founded as a partnership between AWS, Google, Huawei (News - Alert), Microsoft, and Mozilla earlier this year. Achieving the milestone of 15 Silver Members is a testament to the value of the Rust Foundation's investment in programs that directly impact the community of Rust maintainers - the individuals who are the lifeblood of the Rust programming language. This support includes the Rust Foundation's recent funding of infrastructure on-call support for Rust Project maintainers, relieving a team of volunteers from the 24/7 support they've provided for over ten billion downloads of more than 69,000 crates. "The Rust programming language makes it possible for developers to build secure and sustainable software," said Rust Foundation Chairwoman Shane Miller, who also leads the Rust team at Amazon Web Services (News - Alert). "The Rust Foundation creates a platform for comanies benefiting from the value of Rust to contribute to maintainer health and wealth, ecosystem completeness and stability, and growing the developer community."



The Rust Foundation model is inspired by the collaborative spirit that has defined the Rust Project. This includes direct representation from the Rust Project's governance through both Core team representatives and project area directors, who join representatives from Rust Foundation's member companies to form a board of directors that guides the Rust Foundation's activities. "We build software that will potentially run on all future Toyota cars in North America. Combining Deep Learning and the efficiency and security Rust delivers is something our developers are extremely excited about," said Ryan Wheeler, Executive Director of Engineering at Toyota Connected. "More efficient programming means better-performing software, which is great for developers, great for our customers, and great for our company. Finding a way to further contribute to this effort through the Rust Foundation just made sense for Toyota Connected."

The new Silver Members join a diverse roster of companies building on and supporting Rust, including Clever Cloud, Ferrous Systems, Futurewei, KDAB, Open Source (News - Alert) Security, ParaState, Tag1, and Zama. Platinum members include Google, Amazon Web Services, Huawei, Mozilla, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Microsoft. "Software is increasingly important in realizing the full potential of computing today," said Andrew Wafaa, Senior Director of Software Communities, Arm. "The Rust programming language is delivering on the performance, reliability, and efficiency software principles needed for the next era of computing, and as a new member of the Rust Foundation, Arm is committed to contributing to the growth and development of the Rust programming language alongside other leaders in the industry." The Rust Foundation will be hosting its first quarterly AMA on November 16th at 9am PT/12pm ET. Please join hosts Mark Rousskov, Secretary and Project Director, Core and Shane Miller, Chairwoman and Member Director, Amazon Web Services as they share the latest Foundation updates and answer questions from the community. Register here. For more about the Rust Foundation, visit our website and learn about becoming a member. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay up to date. About the Rust Foundation The Rust Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization with a mission to support the Rust Project. It perpetuates and accelerates innovation, connecting the needs of maintainers with the resources of companies in a collaborative, transparent community that builds awareness and appreciation of Rust, including its positive impact on businesses and the planet. Learn more at foundation.rust-lang.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005979/en/

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[November 02, 2021] CIM Group Sells Portfolio of Four Data Center Assets

CIM Group announced today that it has sold a portfolio of four data centers in Illinois, New York, and Wyoming to a joint venture between Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, LLC and fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty ("1547"). Located in Chicago, Illinois; Orangeburg, New York; and Cheyenne, Wyoming, the portfolio assets comprise more than 560,000 square feet of well-located data center space offering abundant fiber connectivity in leading data center markets in the U.S. "Under CIM Group's ownership, this portfolio has become stabilized and has substantially increased in value. These assets benefited from CIM's sourcing, in-house operational expertise, and the team's focused management and ability to assess and implement property modifications and additions," said Avi Shemesh, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group. 1547 previously served as CIM's joint venture partner in the portfolio. CIM continues to own and operate data center properties in San Francisco, California and Toronto, Ontario in partnership with 1547. In addition, in 2020 CIM Group made a major commitment to Novva to share in its development of a 1.5-million-square-foot data center campus in Utah and other campuses. Chicago, Illinois 725 S. Wells St. is a 60,000-square-foot, 5 MW data center in Chicago's business district that is positioned atop the city's "Fiber Ring," providing tenants access to more than 15 different fiber carriers. The nine-story facility features data center and office space. Midway Technology Centre at 40 E. Garfield Blvd. is a 230,000-square-foot, 26 MW data cente campus in a fiber-rich area adjacent to multiple fiber-optic paths for metro Chicago. Located in the Washington Park neighborhood just five miles from The Loop, the Centre features data center and office space on 4.69 acres.



Both 725 S. Wells St. and Midway Technology Centre provide connectivity into 350 E. Cermak, which is among the most interconnected data centers in the central U.S. Orangeburg, New York

1 Ramland Rd. is a 232,000-square-foot, 24 MW data center located only 18 miles from Manhattan that provides competitive low latency connectivity to New York and New Jersey markets. The property features data center and office space on a 23-acre site. Cheyenne, Wyoming 340 Progress Circle in Cheyenne is a 38,000-square-foot, 5 MW single-tenant data center with access to four diverse fiber paths on a 100 Gbps network offering high-speed connectivity to Denver and is located approximately 90 miles north of the city. The one-story facility features data center and office space on a 20-acre site. Data centers continue to be a significant part of CIM Group's infrastructure portfolio and the company is actively seeking new data center acquisitions, particularly value-add opportunities. In addition to communications infrastructure, such as data centers, CIM Group's growing portfolio of diverse infrastructure assets include renewable energy, digital infrastructure, transportation, and water and waste management that support metropolitan communities in North America. For more than 25 years, CIM Group has utilized its broad expertise to own, develop, reposition, and operate real estate assets, transforming communities and creating dynamic environments throughout the Americas. About CIM Group CIM is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer. Since 1994, CIM has sought to create value in projects and positively impact the lives of people in communities across the Americas by delivering more than $60 billion of essential real estate and infrastructure projects. CIM's diverse team of experts applies its broad knowledge and disciplined approach through hands-on management of real assets from due diligence to operations through disposition. CIM strives to make a meaningful difference in the world by executing key environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and enhancing each community in which it invests. For more information, visit www.cimgroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006036/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Dogtopia to Be Featured on Dig App

PHOENIX, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What if man's best friend could introduce you to your romantic partner for life? Dogtopia, the nation's fastest-growing dog daycare, boarding and spa franchise, announced today its partnership with Dig, a dating app for people who like dogs or have one and are looking to meet someone with the same lifestyle and interests. The partnership between Dogtopia and Dig allows users of the app to learn special tips and tricks from Dogtopia's subject matter experts, identify as a Dogtopia pet parent with a badge on their profile, and even locate the closest Dogtopia as a safe spot to meet for a first date. Additionally, Dogtopia pet parents will get an extended free trial of the Dig app, and Dig app users will get an exclusive Meet & Greet offer from Dogtopia. "We are excited about this collaboration with Dig," said Toni Teplitsky, Director of Marketing for Dogtopia. "No longer do people seeking dates need to put 'must love dogs' in their profies or worry about where to meet. This app is a great way to bring together dog lovers everywhere and forward Dogtopia's noble cause of enhancing the joy of dog parenthood."



As part of the partnership, Dogtopia will share Dig content, incorporate stories into newsletters, and showcase Dig on its Virtual Playroom website. In turn, the app will feature Dogtopia's name, logo and blog content within their app to encourage users and pet parents to check out their local Dogtopia daycare. "Dig builds relationships so dogs and dog-lovers can live healthier, longer, and more joyous lives together with the humans who love them," said Leigh D'Angelo, CEO and Co-Founder of Dig. "We could not imagine a better partner than Dogtopia, who shares our vision of amplifying the joy and positivity dogs bring into all of our lives."

With more than 170 locations across North America, Dogtopia is the nation's fastest-growing brand in the pet industry. At Dogtopia, dogs enjoy an open-play environment with protective rubber flooring to ease joints while promoting safe socialization, exercise, and education. Dogtopia's webcams also provide pet parents with peace of mind and the ability to check in on their pups when they are away. Now with Dig, Dogtopia will also be promoting the socialization of the pet parents raising these furry friends. About Dogtopia

Founded in 2002, Dogtopia is an early pioneer and innovator in the pet services industry, offering an experience focused on quality of care, safety and transparency in the market. With an emphasis on education, exercise and safe socialization for dogs, pet parents have the assurance of leaving their beloved furry family members in the hands of trained professionals in an environment created with the safety of dogs in mind. For more information, visit www.dogtopia.com . About Dig

Founded in 2018, Dig is the first dating app dedicated to dog-lovers looking for love of the human kind. Dig daters can find and connect with each other through messaging and video chat directly on the app, get dog-friendly deals from local pet companies, stay up to date on dog-focused events, and learn tips and tricks from vets and trainers. Dig is available on the App Store and on Google Play. To learn more, visit DigDates.com Media Contact: Haley Anderson, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dogtopia-to-be-featured-on-dig-app-301414429.html SOURCE Dogtopia

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[November 02, 2021] Fluxtrol Inc., and ASM International Announce the Winner of the Academic and Student Research Competitions at HEAT TREAT 2021

Fluxtrol Inc. and ASM (News - Alert) International are pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Prof. Valentin S. Nemkov Academic Research Award and Fluxtrol Student Research Competition. Congratulations to Dr. Lesley Frame for winning the Prof. Valentin S. Nemkov Academic Research Award and to Mr. Ethan Hoyt, Ms. Michelle Kent, and Mr. Joseph Boettcher for winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively, in the Fluxtrol Student Research Competition. The prestigious awards were presented during the HEAT TREAT 21 conference held September 14-16th, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri. Prof. Valentin S. Nemkov Academic Research Award Dr. Lesley Frame, through her roles as Assistant Professor at University of Connecticut and Director of the Center for Materials Data Processing, contributed to excellent research that was part of the traditional oral program, Fluxtrol Student Poster Competition, and the inaugural Strong Bar Competition in addition to participating on the Organizing Committee for the event and acting as a Session Chair. Dr. Frame will receive $2,500 from ASM International that can be used to support research activity at the Academic Researcher's Institution. The award can be used for travel expenses, conference fees, scholarship money, or laboratory equipment at the discretion of Dr. Frame to help support her team's continued research efforts. The Prof. Valentin S. Nemkov Academic Research Award is Fluxtrol Inc's annual recognition program for Post-Doctoral Researchers, Lecturers and Professors (Academic Researchers) that is presented annually at either IMAT or the ASM Heat Treating Society Conference & Expo for the researcher that had the greatest impact on the event in the area of thermal processing of materials. Fluxtrol Student Poster Competition Congratulations to the following student winners whose research was deemed by judges to be of extraordinary quality and impact to the field of thermal processing: 1st Place - Mr. Ethan Hoyt, Colorado School of Mines, Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center, Golden, CO - Hydrogen Embrittlement Resistance of High Strength 9260 Bar Steel Heat Treated by Quenching and Partitioning. He received a $2,500 award. 2nd Place - Ms. Michelle Kent, Colorado School of Mines, Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center, Golden, CO - The Effects of Thermal History on Toughness of Ni-based Corrosion Resistant Alloys during in-situ Hydrogen Charging. She received a $1,000 award. 3r Place - Mr. Joseph Boettcher, MolyCop USA - Quench severity of AISI 1045 steel utilizing intensive spray quenching. He received a $500 award.



The Fluxtrol Student Research Competition is a competition-based award and recognition program for young innovative scientists/professionals, seeking to encourage participation in ASM HTS, and to provide attractive offers and opportunities in the worldwide Thermal Processing community. Fluxtrol and ASM solicits abstract submissions based on thermal processing of metal/metal-containing components for this competition. This is a 2-step competition encompassing a poster competition, as well as an oral presentation competition for semi-finalists. To be eligible, a researcher must be a student who is currently pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a University, Institute or College (University) or are within one year of graduation, but conducted the research while still enrolled at a University, having completed an aspect of thermal processing research.

The next award will be given at IMAT 2022 in New Orleans, LA, September 12-15, 2022. Candidates are required to be present at IMAT 2022 and the winner will be announced at the event. LEARN MORE About Fluxtrol

Fluxtrol Inc. has been advancing induction technologies for over four decades and has become a world leader in the manufacture and supply of soft magnetic composites (SMC). Fluxtrol Inc. also supplies a wide range of electromagnetic induction technology engineering solutions to a multitude of global industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, Consumer Products, Energy, and many others. For more information, visit https://fluxtrol.com or email us at [email protected]. Related Links

https://fluxtrol.com

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[November 02, 2021] Inszone Insurance Services Enters the Lone Star State with the Acquisition of Ratliff Insurance Agency

Inszone Insurance Services: a rapidly growing, national provider of benefits, personal and commercial lines insurance, announced today the acquisition of Ratliff Insurance Agency, and with it the company's expansion into Texas. Founded by Paula Ratliff, Ratliff Insurance Agency has been serving Dallas, Texas as well as Richardson (News - Alert), Fort Worth, Frisco and surrounding areas since 1998. Having served the northeast Texas for over 20 years, the team at Ratliff Insurance Agency have developed close ties to the communities in which they work and live, which Inszone Insurance is looking to build upon. Following the transition, Ratliff Insurance Agency employees will continue operating out of their current location in Dallas under the leadership of Chris Ewton. "The addition of a physical location in Texas is huge for our company, as we expand across the country, Texas will become a key state for Inszone," said orm Hudson, CEO of Inszone Insurance. "The acquisition of Ratliff Insurance Agency opens the door for what is sure to be a rapid expansion in the South-Central region of the United States. We are looking forward to providing more options and enhanced servicing to customers in Texas, and expanding our brand into further areas."



Inszone Insurance is expected to announce a number of important acquisitions in the upcoming months as it continues to build its national presence. About Inszone:

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to organically grow, as well as through acquisitions. With 21 locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Texas, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006092/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Wireless Innovation Forum Congratulates Member Google on Being First Automated Frequency Coordination System Operator Applicant

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) congratulates member company Google on being the first to file a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval as an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) System operator. The proposal is in response to FCC Public Notice 21-352, released 28 September 2021. "Google has extensive experience in building highly-reliable cloud-based spectrum sharing solutions," "Google has extensive experience in building highly-reliable cloud-based spectrum sharing solutions," said Dr. Kte Harrison, Principal Architect and Senior Software Engineer for the Google AFC System. "Google is an approved first-wave SAS Administrator in the CBRS band and Google's Spectrum Access System (SAS) is already serving tens of thousands of CBRS base stations, with zero reported interference to protected incumbents. Google looks forward to applying its experience and expertise to the AFC."



There is a multi-step process that the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology will follow to approve AFC Systems, of which the proposal is one component. The filing requires detailed information on the proposed system as well as the qualifications of the applicant. Approval and implementation of AFC System operators brings the U.S. one step closer to being able to utilize new spectrum in the 6 GHz band, expanding access for unlicensed devices to promote competition, innovation, and widespread connectivity, while protecting licensed incumbents from harmful interference. The WInnForum has been collaborating with the 6 GHz community to develop guidelines, recommendations, and standards for development and testing of AFCs. Work products from the group can be found on the committee's web site: https://6ghz.wirelessinnovation.org/.

The Forum is excited at the prospect of more proposals being submitted in the near future and subsequent commencement of unlicensed operations in the 6 GHz band. About the Wireless Innovation Forum

Established in 1996, the Wireless Innovation Forum comprises an international group of equipment vendors, subsystem vendors, software developers, technology developers, communication service providers, research and engineering organizations, academic institutions, government users, regulators and others who share the common business interests of advancing technologies supporting the innovative utilization of spectrum and the development of wireless communications systems, including essential or critical communications systems. www.WirelessInnovation.org. Forum projects are supported by platinum sponsor Thales. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wireless-innovation-forum-congratulates-member-google-on-being-first-automated-frequency-coordination-system-operator-applicant-301414447.html SOURCE Wireless Innovation Forum

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[November 02, 2021] Indigenous Leadership for Indigenous Health: National Service Launches New Website to Bring Quality Healthcare to Indian Country

PORTLAND, Ore, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- High-quality healthcare is vital. However, American Indian and Alaska Native people often do not receive this level of care. In response, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, created Indian Country ECHO - a service for health care providers that offers 60-90 minute "clinics," where providers regularly gather virtually to consult with clinical experts. For Dr. Angela Troutt and Dr. Kelsey Kroon, both clinical pharmacists at Crow/ Northern Cheyenne Hospital, Indian Country ECHO has been a "lifeline." When the pair was first hired, treatment was not available for hepatitis C in Crow Agency, the rural Montana town where their hospital is located. As a result, according to Dr. Kroon, patients suspected of having hepatitis C, many of whom were tribal members, were referred to hospitals in Billings, about an hour drive away. "Patients would receive a workup, only to learn that the treatment was not covered by their insurance. We wanted to bring hepatitis C treatment to this community. So we got connected with Indian Country ECHO. The other providers helped us grow our knowledge and confidence, so we could effectively treat our atients, and eventually we started our own hepatitis C clinic."



This story illustrates the widespread impacts Indian Country ECHO is having. "Thus far," said David Stephen's, a registered nurse and the Director of Indian Country ECHO, "we have worked with over 450 Tribes and clinics to offer clinical and public health training and expertise to some of the most rural communities. We are seeing the impacts reverberating outward." For the over 10,000 Indian Health Service, Tribal, and urban Indian healthcare providers who have received training in a variety of disease areas "ECHO is game changing," says Stephens. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, and to celebrate being awarded a prestigious 2021 Outstanding Service Award by the National Indian Health Board, Indian County ECHO is launching a vibrant new website to help spread the word about its services.

Website features include: An Ask a Clinical Question tool, where health care providers, staff, and administrators can receive rapid responses to their pressing clinical questions

Quick access to Indian Country ECHO's over 20 virtual clinics, and

Inspiring success stories about Tribes and organizations bringing innovative healthcare solutions to Indian Country. To learn more and join the movement to bring high-quality healthcare to Indian Country, visit IndianCountryECHO.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indigenous-leadership-for-indigenous-health-national-service-launches-new-website-to-bring-quality-healthcare-to-indian-country-301414459.html SOURCE Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

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[November 02, 2021] University of Phoenix Collaborates with Arizona Diamondbacks to Provide Full-Tuition Scholarship

University of Phoenix is sponsoring a full-tuition scholarship, "D-backs For Change," for a bachelor's degree for employees of the Arizona Diamondbacks. A collaboration between the two organizations offers applicants the opportunity to pursue a higher education and work towards career mobility. Education costs are rising an average of 2.6% every year in the U.S. University of Phoenix and the Arizona Diamondbacks recognize that individuals encounter barriers - of cost, time, commitments, and circumstance - to reaching their academic and career goals. Scholarships are effective and highly desirable sources of financial support for students because they typically do not require repayment. "We appreciate the support of the Arizona Diamondbacks in sponsoring the 'D-backs for Change' scholarship for a student," stated John Woods, Ph.D., chief academic officer and provost of University of Phoenix. "Scholarships offer significant opportunity and hope to individuals seeking a pathway to higher education. Because we believe scholarships aren't just for a chosen few, we're grateful to work with the Arizona Diamondbacks to make more scholarship opportunities accessible to working adults." University of Phoenix offers career-relevant education, personal support and flexible, on-demand learning opportunities for working adults - all with fixed, affordable tuition and options to save time and money. "Education should hold practical value, and that's why we chose to offer the 'D-backs for Change' scholarship through the University of Phoenix," stated D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. "We know that they are committed to student success and accessibility, making a college degree more attainable. We are proud to collaborate on this scholarship and bring life changing support to someone's academic journey." University of Phoenix offers more tha 100 online programs aligned to 300+ real-world occupations. University of Phoenix includes seven specialized, career-focused colleges, with over 100 degree and certificate options - 80% of which are in high-growth fields. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor since 1978, which means programs meet rigorous academic standards.



Learn more here about The D-backs for Change Scholarship. About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. About the Arizona Diamondbacks: The Arizona Diamondbacks provide industry-leading entertainment in a clean, safe and family-friendly environment and make a positive impact on its fans and civic partners. Their mission is guided by the Circle of Success: team performance, fan experience, financial efficiency, workplace culture, and community contribution. The D-backs' pinnacle on-field moments include their 2001 World Series title and 5 National League West division titles. Since being established in 1997, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has donated nearly $75 million in charitable contributions to the Arizona community. The team established D-backs for Change to level the playing field with an unequivocal commitment to improving organizational diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeking to improve the lives of those who have been and continue to be disadvantaged as a result of systemic social injustice. The club, established in 1995 and whose inaugural season was in 1998, plays their home games in downtown Phoenix at Chase Field, the first Major League Baseball stadium to feature a pool as well as a retractable roof over a natural-grass playing surface (now synthetic grass). For more information, please visit dbacks.com and losdbacks.com and connect on social media via @Dbacks and @LosDbacks. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005045/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Agilent Names John Palma to Lead Global Medical Affairs Organization

Agilent (News - Alert) Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that John Palma has joined the company as vice president, Medical Affairs. In this role, he will build and lead the companywide Global Medical Affairs organization. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006093/en/ John Palma, Agilent vice president of Medical Affairs. (Photo: Business Wire) Palma has more than 26 years of experience in the development, management, and delivery of complex diagnostics and research products. He has consulted with global, clinical, and key opinion leaders for the advancement of high medical value companion diagnostics and has been engaged in working across the pathology and molecular laboratory customer segments. Palma's background includes deep expertise in the design and execution of liquid biopsy strategy, including clinical studies, health outcomes, development, and management. "We're extremely pleased John has joined the Agilent team," said Dr. Kate Knobil, Agilent chief medical officer. "His role will be critical to establishing our Global Medical Affairs organization as he drives important links across our commercial, marketing, R&D and quality and regulatory affairs organizations. John's experience will create new capabilities for us as we expand our presence in next generation sequencing, and he will be key to our efforts driving Ailent strategy for liquid biopsy development."



Prior to joining Agilent, Palma served in several roles at Roche over the last 10 years. Most recently, he was vice president, head of Medical & Scientific Affairs and chief medical officer for the Roche Sequencing Solutions business. "John's insights and background will help us expand our position in cancer diagnostics, and specifically in precision oncology," said Sam Raha, president of Agilent's Diagnostics and Genomics Group. "His addition builds on our acquisition of Resolution Bioscience earlier this year and reaffirms our commitment to being a preferred partner to pharmaceutical companies for companion diagnostic development, registration and commercialization, and to clinical labs around the world for cancer diagnostic testing."

In addition to memberships across a broad list of medical professional organizations, Palma has been involved in six successful patent application awards and has co-authored more than three dozen technical papers. Palma received his bachelor's degree in biology from Manhattan College and his doctorate in microbiology and immunology from State University of New York, Downstate. About Agilent Technologies (News - Alert) Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets, delivering insight and innovation toward improving the quality of life. Agilent instruments, software, services, solutions, and people provide trusted answers to customers' most challenging questions. The company generated revenue of $5.34 billion in fiscal year 2020 and employs 16,400 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com. To receive the latest Agilent news, please subscribe to the Agilent Newsroom. Follow Agilent on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006093/en/

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[November 02, 2021] A Wonder Winter's Night Presents The 23rd House Full of Toys Benefit Concert Stevie Wonder

Icon and Superstar, STEVIE WONDER returns to Microsoft (News - Alert) Theater for his 23rd House Full of Toys Benefit Concert on Saturday December 18, 2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006167/en/ Icon and Superstar, Stevie Wonder returns to Microsoft Theater for his 23rdHouse Full of Toys Benefit Concert on Saturday December 18, 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)



"In this, a most challenged time throughout the world, is when we show up to show our deepest love and commitment to helping those to still enjoy this holiday season. It is my joy to be able to return and present HFOT," said Stevie.

House Full of Toys will benefit, children, people with disabilities and families in need. Concertgoers are asked to bring an unwrapped toy or unwrapped gift of joy. Your charitable gift is 100% tax deductible since no goods or services will be provided in consideration for your gift. Wonder's We Are You Foundation, is a nonprofit organization, IRC501(c)(3). Stevie Wonder is one of the most celebrated and prominent figures in popular music, having received numerous awards and honors including 25 Grammy Awards, the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. His humanitarian efforts are world known. He is the youngest recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and is a Commander of France's National Order of Arts and Letters. Stevie has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and is a designated United Nations Messenger of Peace with special focus on persons with disabilities. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, November 5th at 10am (PDT) via AXS.COM. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006167/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Nuclear professionals support medical isotope bill

TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2021 /CNW/ - The Society of United Professionals commends both official parties in the Ontario Legislature for supporting a private member's bill recognizing the value of medical isotopes produced by the province's nuclear reactors. The bill helps mark the beginning of a key virtual trade mission to increase medical isotope exports that will bring more good jobs to Ontario. Ontario is a world-leader in nuclear medicine. Isotopes are used to diagnose, characterize and treat a range of diseases, as well as to sterilize medical equipment. Isotopes are commonly used in oncology, cardiology and neurology, with new applications being developed by researchers. Through isotopes and related technology, physicians can carefully target and kill diseased cells.



Michelle Johnston . "The by-product of nuclear power is life-saving medical isotopes. Society of United Professionals members are proud to be part of the medical isotope supply chain and appreciate the Ontario Legislature's recognition and support." The private member's bill was introduced by MPP Bill Walker, who is the representative for Bruce GreyOwen Sound and a former Associate Minister of Energy.

Isotopes have been used for medical treatment since 1901. A 1944 investment in the Chalk River nuclear laboratory kickstarted Canada's domestic industry. Today, Canada is the global leader in producing two isotopes, Cobalt-60 and Iodine-125. The Ontario supply chain also produces more than 10 other isotopes that are used domestically and around the globe. Earlier this year, the Society of United Professionals supported Ontario Power Generation's application to produce a new isotope, molybdenum-99, to address a global shortage. Isotopes are a key part of Canada's nuclear industry. Nuclear contributes 60,000 good jobs and more than $17 billion in GDP to the nation's economy while generating more than half of the energy Ontario needs to power its homes and businesses. SOURCE Society of United Professionals

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[November 02, 2021] Espressive to Integrate with Microsoft Viva Connections to Provide Immediate, Autonomous Employee Self-help

Espressive, a pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI) for enterprise service management (ESM), today announced it will be integrating its technology with Microsoft Viva Connections, one of four modules that make up the Viva employee experience platform, to provide employees one place to go for immediate, personalized self-help. The integration, available January 2022, will automate the resolution of employee questions, issues, and requests - in 9 languages across 14 enterprise departments - through Viva Connections. Pending requests and issues are accessible through adaptive cards, actionable snippets of content that can be added to a conversation through a virtual support agent or messaging extension. This integration with Viva Connections will extend the availability of Espressive Barista, a next gen AI-based virtual support agent, across Microsoft collaboration platforms including SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. "As enterprises grapple with changing workplace models, the need for advanced, adaptable digital technologies continues to rise," said Pat Calhoun, CEO and founder of Espressive. "Other employee self-help solutions fail to provide the instant gratification hybrid employees rely on to be successful at work. By integrating with Microsoft Viva Connections, Espressive Barista will simplify the hybrid work experience by providing seamless, immediate assistance." Powered by an Employee Language Cloud that recognizes over 2 billion phrases out of the box, Espressive Barista meets employees how and where they work, providing consumer-like self-help whether organizations are working remote, in-office, or both. Representing a paradigm shift in the delivery of AI-based employee self-help, Espressive is one of the only virtual agents based on an open platform that enables fast deployment, empowers subject matter experts to control their own destiny, and delivers a zero-code interface for extensive customization without ny development effort. Barista delivers the highest automated resolution rate in the industry, increasing productivity while improving employee experience and satisfaction.



"Today's workplace, made up of remote, hybrid, and in-office employees, has generated increasingly sophisticated enterprise service management needs," said Seth Patton (News - Alert), general manager, Microsoft 365. "We are pleased that Espressive is making its AI-based virtual support agent available in Microsoft Viva Connections to help employees connect to the information they need, right in the flow of their work." Viva Connections is the gateway to a modern engagement experience designed to keep all employees engaged and informed. Viva Connections gives everyone a personalized destination to discover relevant news, conversations, and the tools they need to succeed.

With this integration, Espressive customers using or planning to use Viva Connections will be able to automate the resolution of employee questions and issues. As with Teams, Barista will address the needs of Viva Connections users across the entire enterprise, enabling employees to get answers for their IT, HR, Facilities, and 11 other departments questions from within Viva Connections, where they already collaborate. Espressive also supports the adaptive cards framework, the common architecture used across Microsoft platforms including Viva Connections and Teams. Espressive Barista will be available within Viva Connections as part of the Teams mobile app (iOS or Android) and desktop (Mac or Windows) experiences, expanding the company's omni-channel accessibility. ??With Barista, employees can access the help they need no matter where they are and from whichever communication tool they prefer. Additional Resources: Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @Espressive_AI and on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at @Espressive

Request a demo to learn how Espressive can help automate your help desk About Espressive: Espressive, the pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI) for enterprise service management, a 2019 Gartner Cool Vendor, and a 2020 Forrester (News - Alert) New Wave Leader, redefines how employees get help by delivering exceptional employee experiences. Espressive Barista, the company's virtual support agent (VSA), brings the ease of consumer virtual assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google (News - Alert) Home, into the workplace. Barista automates resolution of employee questions, issues, and requests with personalized experiences that result in employee adoption of 80 to 85% and reduced help desk call volume of 50% to 70%. Espressive is backed by Insight Partners, General Catalyst, and Wing Venture Capital, and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Visit www.espressive.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005515/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Sorenson Communications Announces First Thought Leadership Series with Deaf Leaders

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services and Video Relay Service (VRS), announced the launch of its first thought leadership series. The series, named frame.influence, features interviews with Deaf leaders in business, activism, dance, and art.

We are thrilled to spotlight these incredible Deaf leaders and enable them to share their unique expertise and experience, said Sorenson CEO Scott Wood. Creating connections across languages and cultures is an important way to learn more about diverse perspectives and generate new understanding. Frame.influence explores the different ways personal frame  or perspective  is shaped and how it influences people, their lives, and how they see the world. This is the first in Sorensons new Fall Event series, frame.x. The frame.influence series features Callie Frye, a disability rights advocate and Daily Moth reporter, and the people she interviews. Viewers will learn from Nikki Reineck, the CEO and founder of Sisters in Style, a successful clothing boutique; Harmony Baniaga, a dancer who incorporates sign language into her performances; and Wes Arey, an activist and painter who leads the Deaf Grassroots Movement group. The first interview in the frame.influence series is now available. Please visit https://www.sorenson.com/events/fall2021/ to watch.



About Sorenson Communications, LLC

Connecting Life. Sorenson Communications, an Indeo brand, was founded on the principle that communication and being understood is fundamental to the human experience. Inspired by this belief and the core values of our communities, we develop the most trusted communication offerings, including Sorenson Relay, the highest-quality video interpreting service, and Sorenson Interpreting, which matches qualified sign language interpreters to specific assignment needs. As the largest employer of sign language interpreters, Sorenson endeavors to provide each customer with an exceptional communication experience. Sorenson offers innovative, Deaf-specific communication products, such as ntouch videophones and ntouch software applications that connect PC, Mac, and mobile device users to Sorenson Relay. For more information, visit www.sorenson.com.

Press Contact

Ann Bardsley

Director of Public Relations

Sorenson Communications and CaptionCall

801-287-9400

[email protected] A video accompanying this press release is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cc26cff-5d23-4aa0-94ad-e8b1556cd5b0



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[November 02, 2021] Unizin Selects RedShelf as eReader Replacement

AUSTIN, Texas and CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unizin, a member-based nonprofit consortium of 13 leading universities providing solutions around data, analytics, and digital content, and RedShelf, a leader in the delivery of digital content, today announced that Unizin will add RedShelf's eReader to its digital learning ecosystem for the 2022 fall academic term. The addition of RedShelf as the content delivery partner underscores Unizin's commitment to accessibility and furthers its mission to enable digital transformation at scale. As student preference continues to shift from print to digital textbooks, the eReader has become a fundamental extension of the content, enabling students to effectively interact with the material for the express purpose of learning. The RedShelf eReader, recently named Publishing Software of the Year by EdTech Breakthrough, is a cloud-based platform that can be accessed online or offline from any device and features a range of built-in study and assessment tools. The addition of this award-winning eReader to the Unizin partner community provides an accessibility-focused, user-friendly solution for member institutions, and will also deepen the base of learner data to support academic research through the Unizin Data Platform (UDP). "Partnering with RedShelf allows us to immediately upgrade the student experience with an eReader solution that keeps accessibility (a11y)especially for those who don't self-identify as having a disabilityin primary focus;" said Cathy O'Bryan, CEO of Unizin. "The RedShelf solution was built with the understanding that accessibility is a fundamental human right and that accessibility should, therefore, be front and center in the software development process. It's an approach that resonated with us, and a key reason we've forged this partnership." "We are honored to have been selected by Unizin and we could not be more excited to partner with them to make our software available to the nearly 900,000 students across their member institutions," said Greg Fenton, Founder and CEO, RedShelf. "We make significant investments in our eReader platform to stay on the leading edge of what's possiblea solution that will help Unizin address challenges associated with data and analytics around digital content." Through strategic collaborations between partners like RedShelf and its core institutional members, the Unizin consortium develops products, services and communities that drive the present and future states of digital education--endeavors that no single institution could achieve cost-effectively on its own. Further, this consortium model supports the development of solutions, services, and partnerships that empower its member schools to scale the use of data, analytics, and other digital content in a unified, standards-based technology ecosystem. About Unizin

Unizin provides institutions with technology solutions and partnerships that enable them to scale their use of data, analytics, digital content and learning tools to improve outcomes. Unizin is membership-based and governed by its Founding Member institutions as a nonprofit 501(c)(3). It is currently composed of 13 institutions and nearly 900k learners, making it one of the largest educational organizations in the country. About RedShelf

RedShelf is a Chicago-based EdTech company focused on helping schools, businesses, and publishers transition effortlessly from traditional print to more affordable, efficient, engaging digital textbooks, training materials, and learning content. Today, RedShelf's software (Content Delivery System & eReader) serves more than 10,000 publishers and more than 1,500 business and educational partners, reaching millions of student and professional learners worldwide. For more information, visit about.redshelf.com or follow on Twitter , LinkedIn or Facebook. Contacts







RedShelf Elio DiStaola [email protected] Unizin TonyLabriola [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unizin-selects-redshelf-as-ereader-replacement-301414562.html SOURCE RedShelf

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Ocean Bank Total Assets Top $5 Billion; Bank Reports Increase in Net Income and Equity

Ocean Bank announced today total assets topped the $5 billion mark at Sept. 30, an increase of $200 million during the third quarter ended Sept. 30.

The bank reported net income of $10.7 million for the quarter, matching the third quarter of 2020, and net income of $36.2 million year-to-date, an 81% increase from the first three quarters of 2020.

The results boosted the bank's stockholder's equity to $549.6 million, an increase of $10.1 million from the second quarter.

Agostinho Alfonso Macedo, CEO, chairman and president of Ocean Bank, attributed the results to continued strong lending and strong net interest income.

"We had net interest income of $40.7 million during the quarter and $120.8 million through the first thee quarters," Macedo said.







The Bank's Tier 1 Leverage ratio, at 10.94%, is more than double the 5.00% threshold required to be a "well-capitalized" bank. The bank ended the quarter with total assets of $5.03 billion.

About Ocean Bank

Ocean Bank is the largest independent, state-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Florida, with $5.0 billion in assets. Chartered in 1982, Ocean Bank operates its network of 23 branches throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The community bank has received numerous awards and accolades from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, The Beacon Council and the Florida Department of Education, among others, for its support of our South Florida communities. For more information, log on to www.oceanbank.com.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006247/en/
[November 02, 2021]

NASA to Provide Coverage of Human Spaceflight Health Symposium

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will provide live coverage of its Spaceflight for Everybody virtual symposium, an event aimed at communicating the current state of NASA spaceflight health knowledge. The symposium takes place Monday, Nov. 8 to Wednesday, Nov. 10.

NASA TV, the agency's website, and the NASA app will offer live coverage each day, including an American Sign Language translator.

The event will highlight NASA's operational medicine and biomedical research findings helping to establish how the human body adapts to the environment of space during missions. Other health and medical topics will include future spaceflight participation goals for a more diverse group of space explorers.

Speakers include:

Pam Melroy , NASA deputy administrator

, NASA deputy administrator Kathryn Lueders , associate administrator for Space Operations at NAA Headquarters in Washington

, associate administrator for Space Operations at NAA Headquarters in Dr. J.D. Polk , NASA chief health and medical officer

, NASA chief health and medical officer Vanessa Wyche , director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston

, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Dr. Serena Aunon-Chancellor, NASA astronaut

Charles Bolden , former NASA administrator







A full schedule of events is available online. Media, scientists, researchers, healthcare workers  especially those interested in space medicine  and others who would like to join the virtual chat should register online each day:

Monday, Nov. 8 : WebEx registration link

: WebEx registration link Tuesday, Nov. 9 : WebEx registration link

: WebEx registration link Wednesday, Nov. 10 : WebEx registration link

For more than 20 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As a global endeavor, 246 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas.

For more information about the Spaceflight for Everybody virtual symposium, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/spaceflightforeverybody/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-provide-coverage-of-human-spaceflight-health-symposium-301414638.html

SOURCE NASA
[November 02, 2021] Sysdig Global Expansion Continues with SaaS Hosting in Australia

Sysdig, Inc., the secure DevOps leader, announced today the launch of its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) offering in Australia and New Zealand. Hosted in Sydney, the new SaaS location expands the company's footprint in APAC, offering companies a local security solution for containers, Kubernetes, and cloud. With organizations looking to accelerate innovation, there has been a rapid adoption of DevOps. With this surge in activity, the number of security incidents at runtime continues to increase in frequency causing Sysdig to experience a surge in demand for its security, visibility, and compliance software. The Australian SaaS location is in addition to already established ones in Germany and both the east and west coasts of the United States. When Sysdig closed its Series F funding, CEO Sureah Vasudevan said that the new funds would be used to open new SaaS regions. Earlier this year, Sysdig announced a partnership with NextGen across Australia and New Zealand. With more than 300 customers globally, Sysdig is expanding rapidly in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) with customers from financial services, independent software providers, retail, and the public sector. Globally, there is a DevOps security skills gap, and tools like Sysdig paired with support in region, are positioned to support overstretched IT and security teams. "Having a local presence for the Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform is important as it gives our integrator partners and customers more flexibility to build at scale, and help secure the application development lifecycle for their cloud applications," said Anthony Leverington, Managing Director for ANZ at Sysdig. Benefits of an ANZ SaaS Location and Increased Support Better ANZ user experience: Sysdig can service ANZ and the wider APAC region with reduced latency.

Sysdig can service ANZ and the wider APAC region with reduced latency. Dedicated support With local staff and partners, such as NextGen (News - Alert), Sysdig is able to provide white-glove support to ANZ customers.

With local staff and partners, such as NextGen (News - Alert), Sysdig is able to provide white-glove support to ANZ customers. Stringent data protection: The new SaaS region offers full encryption. Data is encrypted at rest as well as in motion across public networks. Customers in ANZ can use Sysdig knowing their data is being protected properly and it is not leaving the region.



Run Confidently with Sysdig

Customers rely on the Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform to secure the build, detect, and respond to threats, continuously validate cloud configurations and compliance, and monitor performance in container, Kubernetes, and cloud environments. Sysdig's SaaS deployment model and curated, out-of-the-box workflows enable companies to reduce security risk while also improving operational efficiency by 25-50 percent. In July, Sysdig announced the acquisition of Apolicy, expanding the Sysdig offering to include Infrastructure as code (IaC) security. Last week Sysdig announced the addition of cloud infrastructure entitlements management (CIEM) to the Secure DevOps Platform. Sysdig was founded as an open source company and the Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform was built on an open source foundation to address the security challenges of modern cloud applications. Open source Sysdig and Falco are projects that were created by Sysdig to leverage deep visibility as a foundation for security, and they have become standards for container and cloud threat detection and incident response. Falco, which was contributed to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) in 2018, is now an incubation-level hosted project. Resources Read about the NextGen relationship

Learn more about Sysdig

Follow Sysdig on LinkedIn and Twitter About Sysdig Sysdig is driving the secure DevOps movement, empowering organizations to confidently secure containers, Kubernetes, and cloud. With Sysdig, teams secure the build, detect and respond to threats, continuously validate cloud configurations and compliance, and monitor performance. Sysdig is a SaaS platform, built on an open source stack that includes Falco and Sysdig OSS, the open standards for runtime threat detection and response. Hundreds of companies rely on Sysdig for container and cloud security and visibility. Learn more at sysdig.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006314/en/

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[November 02, 2021] Shipshape to Build Network Operations Center in Birmingham, Announces Investment Partnership

Shipshape, a company with a vision for all homes to be safe, reliable and efficient, announced plans to build a Network Operations Center in Birmingham, Alabama. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006276/en/ Rendering of Shipshape's Network Operations Center in Birmingham, AL (Graphic: Business Wire) The Network Operations Center will be housed at 2222 Arlington Avenue, a reborn Class-A office building in Midtown Birmingham delivered by New York City's D&A Companies and the local FiveStone Group. Shipshape will occupy the top floor and secured signage rights for the building. The company plans to grow to more than 750 employees by 2025. Shipshape's Birmingham-based Network Operations Center will bring high-tech, high-wage jobs to the region, including home assistants who help homeowners nationwide save time, money and energy while taking care of their homes. "We have been extremely impressed with the level of talent in Alabama and are excited to continue to invest in the community as we expand our business," said Courtney Sczudlak, Director of Home Assistant Operations. In 2020, Shipshape participated in Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator, sponsored by Alabama Power, the Alabama Department of Commerce, Altec and PowerSouth. This program laid the foundation for Shipshape's relationship with Alabama Power. Following the Techstars program, Shipshape worked closely with the research and development team from Southern Company, Alabama Power's parent company, as well as Alabama Power's Smart Neighborhoods team, to test and evaluate the Shipshape platform. "We instantly aligned with Alabama Pwer in our values and mission. It's a remarkable company run by good people focused on improving the lives of their customers and the state," said Alexander Linn, Founder & CEO of Shipshape.



Recently, Alabama Power, along with other local and national investors participated in the latest round of fundraising for Shipshape. This strategic investment from Alabama Power further demonstrates its commitment to energy efficiency and providing meaningful benefits to homeowners, local businesses and communities. In addition to the partnership with Alabama Power, Shipshape is demonstrating its commitment to the Birmingham economy with plans to hire locally. "The startup ecosystem in Birmingham has matured dramatically over the past decade and Shipshape recognizes Alabama as a major opportunity for development," said Ryan Dalton, Co-founder & Chief Revenue Officer of Shipshape.

About Shipshape Solutions Inc. Shipshape is on a mission to make homes smart enough to take care of themselves. Shipshape believes every home should be safe, reliable, efficient and well maintained. The company operates a first of its kind proprietary smart home predictive maintenance platform that offers solutions to homeowners to reduce the costs of home maintenance and operations. The Shipshape platform integrates an ecosystem of smart home hardware to enable advanced analytics and recommend actions that will reduce risks and improve system performance. Shipshape's software platform unlocks the value of sensor data to open a whole new era of the smart home. Shipshape is based in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit: http://www.shipshape.ai. About Alabama Power Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to 1.5 million customers across the state. Learn more at www.alabamapower.com. About D&A Companies D&A Companies was founded in 2018. D&A is made of architect, engineering, real estate, and construction professionals bound by conviction in the value of their work. The firm has collectively managed over 1,000,000 square feet of ground-up construction and adaptive reuse of buildings valued at over $1 billion. These include residential, hospitality, and mixed-use buildings, including seven major projects in New York City, New York State, the Southeast, the Midwest, and counting. D&A's three partners bring 40 years of collective experience in real estate acquisitions, underwriting, architecture, construction, marketing, and sales. The firm is driven to leave a legacy of beautiful, well-designed, quality buildings while building strong partnerships along the way. Architecture is central to D&A's foundation. The firm's expertise in architecture and construction contributes greatly to value of the projects D&A undertakes. The partners' experience as project managers grounds all design to the realities of time, budget, constructability, and serviceability. The interplay of these disciplines is fundamental to D&A's ability to deliver projects that are both successful and timeless. Learn more at dacompanies.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006276/en/

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[November 02, 2021] DeciBio Consulting goes carbon neutral

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DeciBio Consulting, the leading precision medicine strategy consulting firm, will become carbon neutral in 2022. Though DeciBio has a relatively small carbon footprint, it generates carbon emissions due to its two offices (in Los Angeles and the Bay Area), airline travel, commuting, and other operations. As stated by co-founder David Cavanaugh, "I have always believed that companies can be agents of positive social change, often ahead of governments and other organizations. Climate change due to carbon emissions is wreaking havoc on the planet and humankind. Thus, we must act quickly to understand and reflect upon our impact as well as actively contribute to environmental restoration. We urge our clients and peer organizations to join us in this important first step." To help accomplish this carbon neutral goal, DeciBio is partnering with My Forest Armenia (MFA), a nonprofit organization that plants trees and funds scientific research. DeciBio selected MFA due to their: 1) Commitment to planting and nrturing trees  versus merely planting seeds







3) Scientific approach and team  which includes 2 PhDs Andre Gumuchdjian, Founder of MFA, stated, "I am very happy with DeciBio's decision and long-term commitment; people need to urgently understand the crucial importance of forests. From providing oxygen to ensuring a steady supply of fresh water, forests are indispensible for sustaining human life."

Through MFA, DeciBio will plant thousands of trees in a DeciBio dedicated forest, starting in late 2021. These trees will remove CO 2 from the air, release three times more oxygen than CO 2 captured, help lower global air temperatures, prevent soil erosion, and increase biodiversity.

"While DeciBio helps drive cutting edge changes in precision medicine, environmental determinants of health will continue to disproportionately impact some communities more than others. Fighting for a more sustainable world helps to ensure a future with more equitable health outcomes. I'm proud DeciBio is acting on its ability to be part of the solution," said Mane Mikayelyan, a consultant at DeciBio. About DeciBio DeciBio Consulting (www.decibio.com) is the leading strategy consulting, market intelligence, and SaaS firm dedicated to accelerating the adoption and impact of technologies enabling precision medicine. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, DeciBio serves a global base of clients and customers, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 healthcare corporations. DeciBio offers advisory services including growth planning, market / opportunity assessments, product and portfolio strategies, voice-of-customer feedback, technology assessments, and commercial due diligences.

Contact

DeciBio Consulting

David Cavanaugh

[email protected]

310.451.4510 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/decibio-consulting-goes-carbon-neutral-301414725.html SOURCE DeciBio Consulting, LLC

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Right now we check local news links after homicide tragedy and the ongoing uptick in misdeeds across the metro.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

15-year-old dies after being shot on Sunday night in KCMO KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that happened on Sunday night in which a teenage victim died overnight. According to the KCPD, officers were called to the area of E. 54th Street and Prospect Avenue at 8:15 p.m. after someone heard gunshots.

Law enforcement sales tax up for a vote on the Clay County Nov. 2 ballot Twitter: @Sgt_Baz SOURCE: Twitter: @Sgt_Baz Clay County voters will get to decide on Nov. 2 whether to renew the existing 1/8th cent sales tax that funds about a quarter of the Sheriff's Office's operating budget.The sales tax has been in place since 1998 and goes to voters for renewal every 12 years.

Federal grand jury indicts nurse for stealing controlled substances from Overland Park hospital KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A federal grand jury indicted a nurse for allegedly taking vials of controlled substances from an Overland Park hospital. Alec Ramirez, 30, was charged with two counts of tampering with a consumer product, one count of possession of fentanyl by deception and one count of possession of hydromorphone by deception, according to a U.S.

Jury selection has begun in the trial of a Missouri man charged with killing his Chinese wife. Jury selection has begun in the trial of a Missouri man charged with killing his Chinese wife. Joseph Elledge, of Columbia, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 28-year-old Mengqi Ji. Elledge reported his wife missing in October 2019, prompting numerous searches before her body was found in March in a remote area of Rock Bridge State Park near Columbia.

KU forward Jalen Wilson arrested on suspicion of DUI LAWRENCE, KS (KCTV) --- Kansas Jayhawks Jalen Wilson forward was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Douglas County court records state Wilson was taken into custody around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. The arrest happened in the 400 block of W. 23rd Street in Lawrence.

Developing . . .
A death spree at a sketchy location in the dotte deserves a great deal of attention . . .



Check-it . . .



Authorities said officers were called Monday to the Wyandotte Towers Apartments on Washington Boulevard on a report of a suspicious death. Police said a man was found dead inside an apartment. Investigators said his death has since been ruled a homicide.



Police said that when detectives went back out Tuesday morning to the building, they discovered two additional people dead -- a man and a woman. These deaths are being investigated as suspicious.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Police investigate a homicide, 2 suspicious deaths at KCK housing complex KMBC file image SOURCE: KMBC file image Police in Kansas City, Kansas, said they are investigating a homicide and two suspicious deaths at a high-rise complex.Authorities said officers were called Monday to the Wyandotte Towers Apartments on Washington Boulevard on a report of a suspicious death.

3 bodies found at Wyandotte Towers in 2 days, KCKPD investigating 0KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department is investigating after three people were been found dead at the same housing complex over the course of two days. The police department confirmed that the bodies were found at Wyandotte Towers, which is located near Washington Boulevard and N.

Developing . . .
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(TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - October 30th, 2021 - China Outbound Tourism Market describes an in-depth evaluation study on the present and future state of the China Outbound Tourism Market, including valuable facts and figures. China Outbound Tourism Market provides information regarding the emerging opportunities in the market & the market drivers, trends & upcoming technologies that will boost these growth trends.

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China outbound tourism market to reveal momentous growth by 2026, and the markets growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 32% during the forecast period.

This report on the China outbound tourism market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as countries analysis covering around 26 nations. The report uses data and analysis to discuss potential lucrative opportunities, current and future trends related to Chinas outbound tourism flow, spending, the purpose of visits, and main destination markets. The report provides a clear insight into current and future tourism developments of the China outbound tourism market. Furthermore, this report uses a country-focused analysis to explore the China outbound tourism market. A detailed country-wise analysis of the market is provided, covering a total of 26 nations. Drivers and the restraints are studied in detail to better understand the market and to understand the future growth opportunity of the market.

Report Scope:

An Insightful Analysis of the China Outbound Tourism Market and Forecast (2015  2026)

China Outbound Tourism Market Share and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2015  2026

Detailed Assessment of the Total China Outbound Tourists Volume and Forecast to 2027

Detailed Assessment of the Total China Outbound Tourists Spending and Forecast to 2027

Delivers a Complete Insights on Number of Outbound Visitor Departures from China to Major 26 Countries with Five Years Forecasts

Analyses China Outbound Tourism Expenditure to the Major 26 Countries with Five Years Forecast

Breakdown of Historical and Forecast Data (2015  2026) of Chinese Outbound Tourism in Europe

Breakdown of Historical and Forecast Data (2015  2026) of Chinese Outbound Tourism in Asia

Breakdown of Historical and Forecast Data (2015  2026) of Chinese Outbound Tourism in North America

Breakdown of Historical and Forecast Data (2015  2026) of Chinese Outbound Tourism in Oceania

Breakdown of Historical and Forecast Data (2015  2026) of Chinese Outbound Tourism in Other Major Countries

Breakdown of Historical and Forecast Data (2015  2026) between Leisure, Visits Friends and Relatives (VFR), Business and Other Segments

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The Report Analyses the Market Based on Countries and Presents the Forecast in Terms of Value and Volume for the Next Five Years. Countries Covered in the Report Include:

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Canada

Dubai

Hong Kong

Macau

Philippines

Thailand

Vietnam

Malaysia

Indonesia

Japan

Singapore

Cambodia

Korea

Taiwan

India

Spain

France

Germany

Italy

Turkey

The United Kingdom

Australia

New Zealand

Nepal

Sri Lanka

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How the rise of Chinese tourism will change the face of the World travel industry?

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DPI Research is a leading market research publisher which offer bespoke market research reports, custom research and consulting services across multi geographies and industry verticals. We deliver a wide range of cutting-edge research solutions that help organizations in making better decisions of the business to business needs.

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Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 33F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 33F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Veda Yowell, 90, of Clinton, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at IU West Hospital in Avon, surrounded by her loving family. Veda was born in Parke County on August 30, 1931, to Harry and Angeline Ladiha Crossley. She married her husband, Fred, on July 22, 1949, and together, they
Terre Haute, IN (47803)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 38F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 38F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Joining us to talk some more about the death of Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, we have Jamaal Shabazz 
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin believes there is no immediate threat of a massive Russian invasion, while Ukraine needs to brace for a possible escalation and Vladimir Putins moves to raise stakes in his geopolitical game.

The comment came as Klimkin was speaking at a panel show on ICTV Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I definitely want to trust our intelligence, honestly, but The Washington Post is a sophisticated newspaper, it has sources in the Biden administration. If they print something, they never make it up, and we understand that perfectly well. Yes, were aware that there are no big movements there today (near the border of Ukraine - ed.) which will lead to a massive invasion tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," Klimkin said.

Read also: Ukrainian intelligence not confirming Russian troop movements near state border

The former top diplomat believes even the Kremlin realizes that a blitzkrieg against Ukraine is impossible as neither the international nor domestic audiences will buy it.

At the same time, Klimkin noted that multiple expert platforms today discuss behind closed doors what will happen if China soon tries to establish control over Taiwan. If this, experts believe, Putin will have a chance to try to gain control over the part of Ukraine Russians refer to as Novorossia.

"Therefore, of course, there is no threat that will be realized tomorrow or the day after tomorrow  this must be articulated honestly  so there is no need to panic. But we must be ready for a stake raise, for the escalation. Its not about being anxious or panicking about tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, its about calmly preparing ... Today, there are two basic ways for us to ensure our security: the first is our will, our fighting spirit, the will to build the minimum required asymmetric potential, and the second is our partners," the former foreign minister concluded.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on October 31, The Washington Post reported that the Russian military was once again massing forces and hardware along Ukraine's borders.

On November 1, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Ministry of Defense said it recorded no additional movement of Russian units, weapons, and military hardware to the Ukrainian border, adding that the report on such deployments could be an element of a psy-op.
As of 7 a.m. on November 2, one ceasefire violation by the armed formations of the Russian Federation was recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine, Ukrinform reports, referring to the Defense Ministry.

In the direction of Pavlopil, the enemy fired at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, using small arms. As a result of hostile actions, one soldier received a wound incompatible with life," reads the report.

Over the past day, November 1, the Russian-occupation troops violated ceasefire in the JFO area 11 times, using weapons banned under the Minsk agreements twice.

Near Novoluhanske, the enemy fired eight times at the positions of Ukrainian defenders, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and small arms.

Not far from Svitlodarsk and Vodiane, the mercenaries used grenade launchers of various systems and small arms.

Near Avdiivka, the occupiers fired 82mm mortars.

It is noted that Ukrainian defenders returned fire to the enemy's armed provocations, using weapons not banned by the Minsk agreements, and forced the enemy to cease fire.

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Ukraines goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2060.

Thats according to President Volodymyr Zelensky who spoke at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Ukraine has ratified the Paris Agreement as one of the first countries in Europe. In terms of emission reductions, it ranks 4th among the 45 parties to the UN Framework Convention. Our goal by 2030 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% and to achieve climate neutrality not later than 2060, Zelensky said.

He noted that Ukraine supports a number of initiatives of the conference taking place in Glasgow.

Thats including the Declaration on Forest and Land Use. It is also important for our country to have access to stable and long-term financing, in particular in the framework of the Green Climate Fund, the head of state added.

As reported earlier, the COP 26 climate conference under the auspices of the United Nations kicked off in Glasgow on October 31 and will last until November 12.

The Glasgow summit is being held a year late due to a coronavirus pandemic. Six years ago in Paris, nearly 200 countries agreed on individual plans to combat global warming. Under the Paris Pact, countries shall review their previous commitments to reduce carbon emissions every five years and then announce plans for even greater and faster reductions.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

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Ukraine aims to deepen bilateral cooperation with Chile in the trade and economic sector by concluding a free trade agreement (FTA), Ukrinform reports, referring of the Economy Ministrys press service.

"The current volume of trade between our countries is not exhaustive and needs the diversification in the areas of bilateral trade. Ukraine aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in the trade and economic sphere by creating free trade conditions, improving the business climate, and increasing investment. We are interested in starting the negotiation process on a free trade agreement with Chile, said Taras Kachka, Deputy Economy Minister - Trade Representative of Ukraine.

It is noted that in January-August 2021, the trade turnover between Ukraine and Chile increased by 13.4% compared to the same period last year, to $45.1 million. In particular, Ukraines exports doubled to $7.8 million.

The coal mining, agriculture, transport, space, aviation, pharmaceutical and energy sectors are of mutual interest for cooperation between Ukraine and Chile.

In addition, it is important to find effective mechanisms and create favorable conditions to enhance entrepreneurial activities, as well as to attract Chilean investment in important economic projects in Ukraine.

In turn, the potential interest for Ukrainian enterprises may be the implementation of infrastructure projects in Chile, increasing exports of machinery and energy equipment, vehicles, agricultural machinery of Ukrainian production etc.

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Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says he doesnt rule out imports of a certain share of electricity from Belarus under certain weather conditions.

The comment came during a briefing following the prime ministers working trip to Zaporizhia region, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The prime minister said there are no agreements on electricity imports from Belarus signed at the moment. During this autumn and winter period, nuclear energy will be the core of Ukraines generation. In addition, Ukraine has certain coal and hydropower generation capacities; as well as gas-fired combined heat and power plants.

"This is enough to pass this heating period smoothly. When the temperature drops, additional measures will, of course, need to be taken. Additional imports from Belarus will probably be needed if the weather conditions require so," Shmygal said.

He noted that from November 1, there is a possibility to import electricity from Belarus, but the market and the companies working on it should be determined to carry out such imports. Shmyhal also said Ukraine currently expects the arrival of the five vessels carrying imported coal. In addition, the Ministry of Energy is working to increase domestic coal output.

As reported, NNEGC Energoatom, the state-owned operator of Ukraines nuclear power plants, intends to create a power reserve for the 2021-2022 autumn-winter period and allows the reservation of small amounts of electricity coming from Belarus. On October 27, 2021, following the auction for access to interstate crossings (power imports/exports), Energoatom purchased 885 MW of capacity from Belarus for November.

Earlier, the Ministry of Energy reported that the issue of commercial power imports from Russia and Belarus for the upcoming heating season was off the table at the moment.

Photo: The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

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The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted resolution No. 6000-P "On Conclusions and Proposals to the Draft Law of Ukraine on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2022," which means the bill on Ukraine's state budget for next year is considered adopted at first reading.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 273 MPs voted for a respective decision at a parliament meeting on Tuesday, November 2.

"On November 2, the Verkhovna Rada completed the consideration of the draft state budget for 2022 at first reading. Thus, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Verkhovna Rada resolution on conclusions and proposals to the draft law on Ukraine's state budget for 2022. Some 273 MPs voted for a respective decision," the Finance Ministry's press service reported.

When preparing the document for its first reading, MPs, factions, groups and committees of the Verkhovna Rada submitted 3,284 proposals to the draft state budget for 2022, submitted by the government to the parliament on September 15.

Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko thanked lawmakers for a productive discussion and understanding of the importance of a balanced budget.

"The draft budget is quite balanced and realistic to implement, which the IMF confirmed as part of the work of its technical mission and in a statement on the first review of the stand-by arrangement which our partners issued on Monday. The draft budget envisages sufficient funds to finance all priority needs of the state within the current tax legislation," Marchenko said.

The Cabinet of Ministers must submit the draft state budget for 2022 to the Verkhovna Rada before its second reading within two weeks.

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As part of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the threat Russias Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project is posing for European energy security.

Thats according to President Zelenskys press service.

The head of state congratulated Trudeau on his partys victory in the early parliamentary elections.

The president also noted Canada's continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and briefed on the current security situation in Donbas and the progress of peace talks.

Zelensky thanked Trudeau for supporting Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations and expressed hope for Canada's leadership role in backing Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations.

Read also: Canada revokes recommendation not to travel to Ukraine

The parties discussed the threat posed by the Nord Stream 2 project to Europe's energy security, the energy crisis and measures to combat it, the report reads.

Also, Zelensky briefed Trudeau on the progress of reforms, including infrastructure development, land reform and digitalization.

In addition, the president spoke of Ukraines strategy toward "green" transformation.

The head of state expressed hope for strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries and expanding the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Canada, which is already yielding positive results.

The parties also talked simplifying travel to Canada for Ukrainian citizens.

President Zelensky invited Prime Minister Trudeau to pay a visit to Ukraine, the press service says.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on November 1, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with a number of foreign leaders and heads of European political and financial institutions on the sidelines of the UN COP 26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

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On the sidelines of the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Angola Joao Lourenco agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

President Zelensky wrote about this on his Twitter account, Ukrinform reports.

Met with the President of Angola. This was the first contact between the presidents since the establishment of Ukraine-Angola diplomatic relations in 1994, reads the report.

Zelensky added that they had agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries and fill it with practical content, in particular, in the economy.

As Ukrinform reported, the UN climate summit began in Glasgow on October 31 and will last until November 12.

On November 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the summit. He also met with a number of foreign leaders and heads of European political and financial institutions on the sidelines of the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference.

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Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidents Spokesman, claims the movement of Russian military hardware and army units across the country is exclusively an internal matter.

That's according to RBC, Ukrinform reports.

Speaking with journalists, the Kremlin spox was asked to comment on a recent article by Politico, where satellite images were published of the alleged movement of Russian military hardware near the town of Yelnya, Smolensk region, noting that Russia is amassing its forces near the border with Ukraine (the town is located some 250 km from the Ukrainian border and 100 km from the Belarusian one).

You see, probably, the quality of these publications shouldnt even be commented on and shouldnt be a subject of anyones attention. Were talking about the border with Ukraine, while theyre showing the border with Belarus, Peskov said, dismissing the report. He stated that "it is not worth wasting time on looking into such low-quality spins."

Earlier, Politico wrote that the pictures were taken by Maxar Technologies on November 1. In addition, citing data from the British-based Janes, the outlet reported that the military hardware from Russias 4th Panzer Division was being moved closer to the border with Ukraine, to the areas near Kursk and Bryansk.

The Washington Post was the first to break the news on October 30 on the alleged build-up of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine. The newspaper said certain officials in the United States and the European Union recorded unusual movements of hardware and forces on Russias western flank, which did not seem to be a drill.

The publication also referred to videos being posted on the Internet showing cargo trains and convoys transport hardware to the south and west of the country.

At the same time, commenting on the WaPo report, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it had recorded no additional movements of Russian units, weapons, and military hardware along Ukraine's state border, adding that the analysts saw the reports on the amassing of Russian troops as an element of an information psy-op.

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With the situation in Afghanistan escalating dramatically, more people have been forced to flee their homes and are now finding themselves in dire need of protection and support.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is on the ground in Afghanistan and is scaling up the response, which is made possible with strong contributions from Denmark, Finland and Norway. On 15 October, UNCHR sent an airlift with supplies to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan  and more airlifts, directly to Kabul, are planned for. The supplies include emergency aid that will allow the forcibly displaced to prepare for the approaching cold winter.

In Afghanistan, around 18 million people  roughly half of the population  require humanitarian assistance, according to figures from OCHA. A total of more than 3.5 million Afghans have been internally displaced  and this year alone, more than 665,000 people have been forced to flee across the country as a result of the conflict and unstable situation. Women and children account for more than 80% of those displaced. Due to damaged houses, lack of livelihood opportunities, and the general instability, the majority of displaced persons have not been able to return home. People are in urgent need of food, tents to provide shelter, and health care including psychological counselling.

The Nordic countries are already amongst the top donors to UNHCR  and the high level of flexible and unearmarked funding enables UNHCR to respond to acute emergencies and underfunded crises across the world. With these additional and considerable contributions for the Afghanistan situation. Denmark, Finland and Norway are ensuring that UNHCR can strengthen the emergency response to the soaring needs.

The contributions from Denmark, Finland and Norway are vital and timely, as they help UNHCR to increase our immediate response for the quickly developing and deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. This will make a world of difference to many families, who are struggling right now, says Henrik M. Nordentoft, UNHCRs Representative to the Nordic and Baltic Countries.

More than 445,000 internally displaced Afghans have so far this year been supplied with humanitarian support by UNHCR. The aid includes blankets, kitchen sets, and sleeping mats. In addition, 120,000 people have received hygiene kits and sanitary kits have reached over 45,000 women and girls. UNHCR has also supported many families through cash assistance and facilitated psychological support for those in need.

Another key focus for UNHCR is to ensure that children and youth, including girls, can continue to go to school. There are plans to establish several schools, including special schools for girls, by the end of the year, which will benefit around 65,000 students.

UNHCR is also involved in the health sector, where new health clinics are being constructed, planned to benefit over 300,00 people. In order to increase livelihood opportunities, UNHCR has introduced technical and vocational trainings that help develop relevant skills for more than 2,200 displaced people.

Denmark as a donor to UNHCR

In 2021, Denmark has contributed a total of USD 12.7 million to support UNHCRs operation in Afghanistan and the response to Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries  4.7 USD was contributed as additional funding, responding to UNHCRs emergency appeal in August.

Denmark is among UNHCRs top ten donors. In 2020, Denmarks total contribution to UNHCR was USD 96.6 million. USD 34.6 million of the funding was flexible, allowing UNHCR to respond rapidly to emergencies and underfunded crises.

Finland as a donor to UNHCR

In 2021, Finland has provided an additional contribution of USD 3.5 million to UNHCR for the emergency Afghanistan Appeal, supporting the situation within the country and in neighbouring countries.

Finland is a significant and strategic partner for UNHCR. In 2020, Finlands total contribution to UNHCR was USD 27.4 million. USD 7.7 million of the funding was flexible, allowing UNHCR to respond efficiently to emergencies and underfunded crises.

Norway as a donor to UNHCR

In 2021, Norway has contributed a total of USD 4.1 million to support UNHCRs operation in Afghanistan and the response to Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries  USD 2.8 was contributed as additional funding, responding to UNHCRs emergency appeal in August.

Norway is a long-standing strong partner to UNHCR, and is the largest donor seen per capita. In 2020, Norways total contribution to UNHCR was USD 79.2 million. USD 41.4 million of the funding was flexible, allowing UNHCR to respond efficiently to emergencies and underfunded crises.

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A UNHCR airlift carrying 33 tons of humanitarian assistance for displaced Afghans is unloaded in Kabul.  UNHCR/Babar Baloch

A plane carrying winter relief from the UN Refugee Agencys global stockpiles in Dubai is landing this afternoon in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The UNHCR-chartered plane took off from Sharjah earlier today, arriving in Kabul at 15:30 hours local time (1200 hours Geneva time), carrying 33 tons of winterization kits for displaced Afghans. It was the first of three UNHCR flights, with the next two scheduled to land in the Afghan capital on 4 and 7 November.

Humanitarian needs are rising rapidly in Afghanistan ahead of winter, when temperatures can dip to -25C. Many displaced families lack proper shelter while some of those who have recently returned to their places of origin have found their homes unfit for the cold season.

Weighing 25kg, each winterization kit contains flooring, partitions, and other items to improve tent insulation against the cold. The kits also provide heat resistant protection to enable the installation of a stove.

Conflict and insecurity have displaced 3.5 million Afghans inside the country, including some 700,000 forced from their homes so far this year. UNHCR is rushing to provide winter assistance to some 500,000 displaced Afghans, returnees and local host communities by the end of 2021.

UNHCR continues to distribute other much needed humanitarian assistance to displaced Afghans. Nearly half a million have received assistance so far this year, including emergency shelter kits, food rations, blankets, kitchen sets, stoves, solar panels, solar lanterns, and cash for the most vulnerable.

We are using land, sea and air routes to bring humanitarian relief into Afghanistan and other countries in the region so we can respond to the increasing needs. Further relief supplies have also been prepositioned in Termez, Uzbekistan, ready to be trucked into Afghanistan as needed.

As we continue to scale up our humanitarian response, more resources are urgently needed to reach all those who will need help to survive the harsh winter ahead.

UNHCR appeals to the international community to urgently increase financial contributions to assist displaced Afghans, both within and outside the country, who remain extremely vulnerable.

In addition to emergency relief for the internally displaced, UNHCR also continues to work in communities where former refugees have returned, by investing in infrastructure including education, health, livelihoods and shelter.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
The Most Rev. Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, gives an address during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Owen Humphreys/WPA Pool/Getty Images/TNS)
Mrs. Evelyn Holland Reddick Dixon, 81, passed away on Nov. 14, 2021. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at 11 a.m. in the Williams Funeral Home Chapel in Milledgeville. A burial service will be held at 2 p.m. in the Alligood Cemetery in Laurens County. The family wil
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DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 02nd Nov, 2021) H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, today toured the pavilions of Spain, Hungary, and the Republic of Korea at Expo 2020.

Speaking during the tour, His Highness said Expo 2020 Dubai highlights the best of innovation and excellence achieved by countries across the world, particularly solutions to overcome the most pressing challenges that the global community faces in diverse sectors. He said the mega international event hosted by Dubai represents a rare opportunity for the youth to learn about the latest innovations that are shaping the worlds future and draw inspiration from creative ideas that are driving sustainable development in vital fields.

During his visit to the pavilion of Spain, located in the Sustainability District, His Highness was briefed on its exhibits that highlight the rich productive and creative fabric of the country. Under the theme Intelligence for life, the Pavilion seeks to highlight the human capacity for innovation and the desire to preserve a good quality of life on the planet, both for current and future generations. The Spain Pavilion also celebrates the countrys deep, age-old ties to the Arab world with an open, eco-friendly exhibition that seamlessly blends ancient heritage and cutting-edge innovation. A wide range of thought-provoking exhibits focus on how Spain is pioneering new education methods and fostering entrepreneurship. Spains commitment to sustainability is embodied in the pavilion itself, which is built from reusable materials.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed also went on a tour of the Hungarian Pavilion located in the Jubilee area. Under the theme Aqua Roots of Hungary, the countrys Pavilion allows visitors to immerse themselves in a relaxing, healing and rehabilitative experience as the country spotlights its unique, mineral-rich thermal springs. The Pavilion sheds light on the healing power of water and balneotherapy  the ancient treatment of ailments by bathing in thermal mineral waters. In an interactive exhibition that reveals the origins of Hungarys thermal springs, visitors can soak up the countrys wellness and spa culture  and how it is buoying the countrys health tourism industry.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed also visited the Pavilion of the Republic of Korea, located in the Mobility District of Expo 2020, where he was introduced to an interactive smart experience that presents what the country offers the world. National values presented through the Pavilions design include solidarity, dynamic thinking, a commitment to innovation and flexibility in the face of change. These traits are reflected in the pavilions facade, which constantly changes throughout the day. The facade is made up of brightly coloured spinning cubes and puts on a spectacular display, reflecting the spirit of the Korean landscape. The five - storey building, one of the largest pavilions in Expo 2020, reflects Korea's focus on technological development and its leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially in artificial intelligence technologies.
SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 02nd Nov, 2021) The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has discussed with Kazakhstan prospects of enhancing economic cooperation, developing trade relations and mutual investment.

During a meeting held recently at Expo 2020 Dubai, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, explored with Malika Bekturova, Deputy Mayor of the Nur-Sultan city, avenues of cooperation and spoke about possible partnerships between the business communities and investors of both countries.

Both sides also discussed ways of benefiting from promising investment opportunities available in the two countries, especially in the tourism, industry and infrastructure sectors.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the chambers participation in the "Nur-Sultan Investment and Tourism Forum" organised by Invest in Nur-Sultan office in Kazakhstans Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI, and Mariam Al Shamsi, Director General Assistant for the Support Services Sector, attended the meeting.

Al Owais lauded the flourishing relations between Sharjah and Kazakhstan, saying that their ever-growing relations will push both countries economic relations towards broader horizons, promote mutual investment in new sectors, and will also help them take advantage of available opportunities to serve the interests of their business communities.

He stressed that the SCCIs participation in the Nur-Sultan Investment and Tourism Forum comes in line with the chambers ongoing efforts to develop its relations with various countries of the world and explore avenues of commercial cooperation and investment opportunities that serve the business community of Sharjah and enhance its presence in various global markets.

For her part, Bekturova commended the SCCIs keenness to improve its trade and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan, adding that such a fruitful meeting represents a step in the right direction towards building stronger and distinguished bilateral relations in various fields, strengthening economic partnership, and developing robust ties between the UAE- Kazakhstan business communities.

The SCCI has had a strong presence in the forum, which featured a number of dialogue sessions where Ali Al Jari, International Exhibitions Executive at the SCCIs Sharjah Exports Development Centre took part as a speaker in the panel discussion entitled "The Role of Special Economic Zones in the Development of Contemporary Cities".
GLASGOW, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 02nd Nov, 2021) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has joined the Global Methane Pledge at the COP26 summit in Glasgow building on its position as one of the least methane intense nations in the world.

The UAE welcomes the opportunity to share its capabilities and experience in best-in-class methane performance with signatories to the EU-US led initiative that aims to cut global methane emissions by 30 per cent by the end of the decade.

The UAE has long acted as a regional leader in methane reduction. Over five decades, the country has successfully reduced the volume of natural gas flared in the domestic energy sector by more than 90%. In turn, the UAEs hydrocarbon industry today holds one of the worlds lowest methane intensities of 0.01%.

The UAE will build on this foundation of ultra-low methane intensity in the energy sector to further improve its methane performance. The UAE aims to achieve the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 "gold standard" by deploying advanced technology from drones to satellites, and to decarbonise natural gas to create low carbon blue hydrogen for industry.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said: "We are delighted to join the Global Methane Pledge, in this special year celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our nation. The UAE has continued to lead firsts in methane, since the UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, set up the first LNG production company in the Arabian Gulf, reduced flaring and achieved one of lowest methane intensities, still leading today."

He added: "The UAE is also turning methane into opportunity with our ambitions to convert waste to energy.

Together, this makes the UAE a unique leader in methane stewardship. We are delighted to help others, to share our experiences with the world, and commit to the Global Methane Pledge."

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, expressed appreciation to the US and EU for leading the call to the Global Methane Pledge that will mobilise tangible actions in endorsing countries.

She also thanked the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for their work on the Global Methane Assessment report, published in May 2021. The document shows that reducing human-caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective and impactful strategies to slow down the rate of global warming.

She added: "The UAE is a keen supporter of the global efforts to address climate change. Recognising the urgent need for multilateral cooperation in this regard, we are proud to join the Global Methane Pledge and reaffirm our commitment to cutting down on methane emissions through domestic policy-making and developing innovative solutions."

The Global Methane Pledge acknowledges that "readily available cost-effective methane emission measures have the potential to avoid over 0.2 degrees C of warming by 2050 while yielding important co-benefits, including improving public health and agricultural productivity."

The nations methane mitigation strategy is part of a holistic approach to climate action. Recognising that agriculture contributes to global emissions, the nation has also partnered with the US and over 30 nations to launch the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, a global initiative aimed at accelerating investments in R&D for climate-smart agri-tech.
AMMAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 02nd Nov, 2021) The UAE has provided $600,000 in financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to build the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan school in the Gaza Strip.

The UAE Embassy in Amman handed in the financial support, which is provided by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to execute the project, to Tamara Alrifai, Acting Director of the UNRWA Department of External Relations and Director of Strategic Communications/Spokesperson.

The UAE embassy representatives, during the meeting, have affirmed the UAE's consistent position in support of the Palestinian people under all circumstances.

For her part, Alrifai expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to the UAE for its continuous support of UNRWA to enable it to continue to perform its tasks in support for Palestinian refugees, noting that the UAE's continuous and effective response to the urgent needs announced by the UNRWA is widely respected and appreciated by all parties concerned.

She also hailed the role of the UAE Embassy in Amman in organising and carrying out charitable projects provided by various Emirati institutions to families in need in the Palestinian camps in Jordan and the West Bank.

While handing over the financial support, the embassy and UNRWA representatives reviewed the prospects for accelerating cooperation between the two sides.
Abuja, Nov 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :Gunmen abducted six people early Tuesday from a university near the international airport serving Nigeria's capital Abuja, police said.

The dawn attack at the staff quarters of University of Abuja in Giri raised fears of safety around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) away.

"Six persons were allegedly abducted into the forest by the criminals on sighting the security operatives," police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that the gunmen have not been identified.

Armed men known locally as bandits have increasingly targeted schools and universities in recent months in Africa's most populous nation of some 210 million inhabitants.

The university said on its Facebook page that four staff and their children were abducted.

A senior lecturer who requested anonymity said the bandits "came at about 2 am (0100 GMT) in large numbers, operated for about two hours before the police arrived.

" He told AFP that staff had expressed worries about a lack of adequate security around the university, saying it was a "porous environment... surrounded by mountains." Adeh said police was dispatched to the area to "fortify security, improve public safety and protect citizens in and around the university community." Efforts are under way to rescue the victims, she added.

Gunmen in northwest and central Nigeria have kidnapped more than 1,000 students since December, according to the UN.

Most of the victims have been released after negotiations with their captors.

Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said that even when abducted students are released, "the trauma of the incidences remain long in their minds."The retired general elected in 2015 said that 12 million children in Nigeria were currently scared of going to school.
Tuxtla Gutirrez, Mexico, Nov 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :Mexican security forces opened fire on a pick-up truck carrying migrants that tried to ram a patrol vehicle, leaving a Cuban dead and several injured, authorities said Monday.

Leaders of a migrant caravan marching towards Mexico City to demand refugee status said the foreigners were part of their group, accusing the National Guard of an "attack." The National Guard said its personnel had located a pick-up truck on a dirt track in the southern state of Chiapas on Sunday after reports that three vehicles had evaded a security checkpoint.

It said in a statement that the driver ignored an order to stop and accelerated towards the patrol, prompting its forces to open fire due to fears for their safety.

Several people tried to flee the vehicle but were detained, while one person was killed and four injured, the National Guard said.

In a statement released late Sunday that did not mention the National Guard's involvement, the Chiapas attorney general's office identified the man killed as Cristobal "N," a Cuban national.

The wounded -- all Cubans according to a government source -- were taken to hospital.

Nine other foreigners were handed over to the immigration authorities, while the driver was detained by prosecutors, the National Guard said.

Irineo Mujica, one of the leaders of the migrant caravan, said the foreigners had been traveling with the group but decided to break off due to rumors of raids by the authorities.

"They were given a ride by a truck and shot," Mujica said.

Around 1,000 migrants seeking refugee status set off on foot from the southern city of Tapachula on October 23 demanding "justice, dignity and freedom."Tens of thousands of US-bound migrants, mostly Central Americans and Haitians, have arrived in Mexico in recent months fleeing poverty and violence.

Mexico has expelled 54,000 foreigners so far in 2021, according to New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Washington, Nov 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Nov, 2021 ) :Attorneys for Kyle Rittenhouse, the American teen who shot three people during anti-police protests last year, claimed he had been attacked "like an animal" and acted in self-defense as arguments opened Tuesday in the politically charged murder trial.

Mark Richards, representing the then-17-year-old who killed two men and wounded a third with his assault rifle at the August 25, 2020 protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, depicted Rittenhouse as under mortal threat from demonstrators.

Reflecting the stark public divide over the case, which arose from the nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year, Kenosha County prosecutor Thomas Binger argued the opposite.

Like a "tourist" who came to Kenosha from outside attracted by the protests, Rittenhouse brought his weapon seeking trouble, and was the only person who shot anyone else that evening, said Binger.

"Tourists from outside of our community were drawn to chaos here in Kenosha," said Binger, the county assistant district attorney.

"Yet out of these hundreds of people, only one person killed anyone that night. Only one person shot anyone that night," he said.

- Right-wing hero - Rittenhouse is charged with five felony counts, including first-degree homicide and attempted homicide, and a misdemeanour, illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

Now 18, he sat in court in a dark suit with a purple shirt and tie, listening expressionless in front of the jury who will determine his fate.

The shooting arose after anti-police protests erupted in Kenosha when a white policeman shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, several times in his car during an arrest, leaving him paralyzed.

Days of protests turned violent at night with buildings and businesses looted and burned.

Rittenhouse's case has drawn national attention.

His critics say he represents armed vigilantes on the right who police allegedly permitted, if not encouraged, to take the law into their own hands against protestors.

But in right-wing and pro-gun circles, and among supporters of former president Donald Trump, Rittenhouse is a hero figure.

Protesters "violently attacked him," Trump said during a pre-election visit to Kenosha in September. "He probably would have been killed." After his arrest Rittenhouse was freed on bail of $2 million, raised by supporters across the country, including from Trump's own circle.

- 'Attacked like an animal' - A resident of Antioch, in neighboring Illinois, Rittenhouse drove the 20 miles (30 kilometers) to Kenosha where he joined dozens of others who said they were there to protect local businesses from looting and damage after rioting.

Multiple videos and photographs captured his movements that night.

In one, Rittenhouse can be seen fleeing after shooting Joseph Rosenbaum four times.

On another, he is being chased by a small group of protesters who hit and kick him and attempt to pull his weapon away. From the ground Rittenhouse shoots Anthony Huber one time, killing him, and then shoots another man, Gaige Grosskreutz, in the arm.

Showing photos and videos of the chaotic night in his opening statement, Richards said that Rosenbaum had threatened to take Rittenhouse's gun and kill him.

The other two had "attacked him (Rittenhouse) in the street like an animal," said Richards.

"The evidence will show, and the law is clear: he didn't endanger those other individuals," said Richards.

"Kyle Rittenhouse protected himself and his firearm so it couldn't be taken and used against him."Binger though said self-defense laws are narrow and Rittenhouse was not justified in using deadly force.

"There is a privilege under our laws to use deadly force but it's a very limited privilege," he said.
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Nicosia, Nov 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :"We have 340 sunny days per year," Georgia Mouskou said, as sunlight streamed through her windows. "But we're still not betting on renewable energies in Cyprus." Faced with her skyrocketing electricity bill, Mouskou says she wants to "rent a plot" to install solar panels.

Like Mouskou, rising energy costs and environmental concerns have caused residents of the east Mediterranean island to see solar power as an obvious option.

In the past year, the number of solar panels increased by 16 percent, according to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).

But Cyprus is still struggling to increase its use of renewable power.

In 2019, just 13.8 percent of its energy came from solar and wind energy, well below the 19.7 percent European average, according to Eurostat figures.

Cyprus hopes to boost its share of renewable energy to 23 percent by 2030 as part of its National Energy and Climate Plan.

But a shift to green power faces many hurdles.

"The problem is renewable energies are unpredictable," said Markos Asprou, an electricity specialist at the University of Cyprus' KIOS research centre. "In case of shortfall, you need to be able to act." Cyprus, which lies some 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Greek mainland, its nearest EU neighbour, does not have a nearby national power network that can at present bail them out in an emergency.

In 2011, the island's main Vasilikos power plant on the island's southern coast was damaged by a massive explosion on a nearby naval base.

For weeks, Cyprus suffered frequent power cuts.

Vasilikos, a 1,478 megawatt oil-powered station using imported diesel and heavy fuel, covers nearly two-thirds of Cyprus' needs, placing it among the worst EU nations for its use of fossil fuels in producing energy.

In the control room of the plant, co-director George Moniatis points to an empty column on his screen indicating the absence of wind energy.

"What do we do if there's no wind?" he said. "It's very difficult. We can only rely on ourselves." To overcome its isolation, Cyprus has struck the costly EuroAsia Interconnector deal to link the electricity grid of Cyprus with Israel and Greece.

In October Cyprus also signed a deal with Greece and Egypt to transfer electricity through lines connecting the three countries.

Covid-19 times aside, the island of 800,000 inhabitants must also grapple with, on average, some four million tourists annually, concentrated in the hotter summer months.

Energy needs on the island surge from 300 megawatts in the spring to 1,200 megawatts in the sweltering summer heat, Moniatis said.

But renewable energy doesn't offer the adaptability to meet these needs, he added. Methods for storing renewable energy do exist but they are complicated and costly.

"People want to sleep with their AC (air conditioner) on, but you don't have solar energy during the night," Moniatis continued.

But relying on fossil fuels has hit the pockets of consumers.

A kilowatt-hour cost 16.97 cents at the end of 2020, but soared to 21.78 cents in August, according to the EAC.

"With this bill, I got completely caught off guard," Mouskou complained. "It affected our budget for the next few months." Despite her support for green energy, Mouskou says she cannot at present afford the cost of switching to solar panels.

"Even with state aid, it is impractical for us," she said.

But some in Cyprus have found green energy is possible, seeing it as the future.

At Chirokitia, close to the giant power station, Melissa Ahearn has been living off the grid with her partner for almost a year using solar panels.

"When it comes down to switching to this new lifestyle, you realise you don't need anything," the former forex broker said. "Four light bulbs, a phone charger and the computer battery, that's all."
TAIPEI, Nov. 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :Taiwan will reduce mandatory quarantine in epidemic prevention hotels to ten days from the current 14 days for the Lunar New Year holiday, said the island's disease monitoring agency.

The relaxed rules will apply to arrivals from non-high-risk regions from Dec. 14, 2021, to Feb. 14, 2022, said the agency on Monday.

Under the new regulations, only ten days of the quarantine will have to be spent in a designated COVID-19 quarantine hotel or concentrated quarantine facility. The other four days can be spent at a residence in Taiwan.

At present, all 14 days in quarantine must be spent in designated hotels or concentrated quarantine facilities.

Travelers who have been to or transited through key high-risk regions in the two weeks before entering Taiwan will still have to quarantine at a concentrated quarantine facility for 14 days.

Taiwan decided to adjust the rules amid concerns of a large influx of people for the Chinese New Year holiday starting late January. It could strain the availability of rooms in quarantine hotels, the agency said.

The relaxed quarantine requirements also came after the COVID-19 epidemic has eased on the island, and vaccination rates have risen in many countries, it added.
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Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Lt. Gen Makhmudov Victor, Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan, in the Foreign Office here on Tuesday and exchanged views on multifarious issues

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Lt. Gen Makhmudov Victor, Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan, in the Foreign Office here on Tuesday and exchanged views on multifarious issues.

The two sides discussed Pakistan-Uzbekistan bilateral relations in particular cooperation on matters related to trade and economic cooperation, regional security and defence.

The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of enhanced political and economic linkages and operationalization of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) recently signed between the two countries. Highlighting the importance of regional connectivity in Pakistan's "Vision Central Asia" policy, he reiterated Pakistan's continued support to the Trans-Afghan railway project and reaffirmed commitment for its early completion.

He said that peace and stability in Afghanistan was vital to reap the benefits of regional connectivity projects for the entire region.

The Foreign Minister appreciated signing of the Protocol between the two sides on establishment of Joint Security Commission (JSC) earlier in the day. He said that the newly created Commission will promote cooperation in security and defence areas.

In the regional context, the Foreign Minister stressed the need to remain positively engaged with Afghanistan through continued relief and humanitarian assistance and efforts to build economic sustainability.

The Secretary of the National Security Council of Uzbekistan appreciated Pakistan's role in regional peace and stability including positive contribution to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, and assured to remain in touch on the issue.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd November, 2021) France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, along with the government of South Africa, launched on Tuesday the so-called Just Energy Transition Partnership, designed to promote the decarbonization of South Africa, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

"The Partnership is expected to prevent up to 1-1.5 gigatonnes of emissions over the next 20 years and support South Africa to move away from coal and to accelerate its transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient economy," the commission said in a statement.

The initiative will prioritize the South African electricity system and mobilize initial funding of $8.5 billion in the form of grants, investments, concession loans, and risk-sharing tools to help South Africa achieve its renewed Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) emissions target under the Paris agreement on climate change, to which the country is a signatory.

In September, the South African government adopted a more ambitious NDC to lower annual greenhouse emissions to between 350 and 420 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by the end of the decade.

The joint initiative will also finance the creation of green jobs and options to mitigate the effects of the energy transition on mining workers and communities, the statement read.

Any other country willing to assist South Africa in decarbonization is invited to join the partnership, it also said.
Pirates attempted to seize an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden in the second such incident in a fortnight, Iran's ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday

Tehran, Nov 2 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :Pirates attempted to seize an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden in the second such incident in a fortnight, Iran's ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The vessel was headed towards the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the entrance to the Red Sea when six pirates aboard four vessels attempted to board it, drawing warning shots from the Iranian navy, ISNA said.

It is the second such incident involving Iranian shipping in recent weeks after pirates attacked a convoy of two vessels on October 16.

Like other countries dependent on the shipping route through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Iran stepped up its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden after a wave of attacks by Somalia-based pirates between 2000 and 2011.

But the number of attacks has fallen sharply in recent years.
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TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2021) Yukio Edano, the leader of Japan's key opposition force, the Constitutional Democratic Party, announced on Tuesday his decision to resign over the party's poor performance in the recent legislative election, the NHK broadcaster reported.

Japan held the election on Sunday, with the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party keeping its majority by winning 293 lower house seats out of the total 465.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Democratic Party won 96 seats in the legislature, a downgrade compared to 109 seats in the 2017 election.
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France on Tuesday accused Australia of using "very inelegant methods" after a text message sent by President Emmanuel Macron to Australian leader Scott Morrison was leaked in an apparent bid to imply that he knew about the collapse of a major submarine deal earlier than he maintains

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2021 ) :France on Tuesday accused Australia of using "very inelegant methods" after a text message sent by President Emmanuel Macron to Australian leader Scott Morrison was leaked in an apparent bid to imply that he knew about the collapse of a major submarine deal earlier than he maintains.

Media in Australia and Europe reported on the SMS which the French leader sent to Morrison two days before Australia announced that it had torn up a decade-old multi-billion-dollar contract with France to build a new fleet of submarines.

France, which reacted furiously to the cancellation, has always said it had been blindsided by the announcement, and Macron added to the furore at the weekend by accusing of Morrison of lying to him.

But the revelation of the text message Tuesday can be seen as suggesting Macron was less surprised by the cancellation than he has admitted.

"Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarine ambitions?", reads the SMS sent to Morrison 48 hours before the official contract cancellation announcement which was made at a news conference.

A source close to Macron, who asked not to be named, said the leak was proof of "very inelegant methods".

Standing by earlier assurances that Macron had not been given advance warning of the cancellation, the source told AFP the SMS did not undermine that narrative.

"On the contrary, this SMS shows that the president did not know that they were going to cancel the contract," the source claimed.

Had a message existed that clearly showed that he did in fact know "they would have reported that instead".

The source added: "We knew that the Australians had some issues, but they only concerned technical aspects and the timetable, as with every big contract like this one." It was precisely those issues that the SMS referred to, ahead of a discussion with submarine manufacturer Naval Group planned for the following day, the source said. It is not clear what response Morrison gave to the SMS.

Reports have said the SMS leak could have been engineered by Morrison's office in retaliation for the "lying" charge.

The row also pitted Paris against the United States which agreed with Canberra to supply submarines instead of the French.

Australia announced the pact as it joined a new defence alliance with Britain and the US dubbed AUKUS, one of a series of initiatives by US President Joe Biden who views countering China as the paramount concern of the United States.

Last week, Biden admitted Friday to "clumsy" dealings with France, in a sort of mea culpa which Macron's office said would help rebuild confidence with Washington.

"But Scott Morrison never apologised," the source said.
(@FahadShabbir)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd November, 2021) The prosecution and defense teams made their opening statements in the trial of shooter Kyle Rittenhouse at the Kenosha County Circuit Court on Tuesday, laying the groundwork for the homicide trial that is expected to take several weeks.

Rittenhouse is tried for shooting three people, killing two, who attacked him during the Black Lives Matter riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August 2020. He is facing six charges, including first-degree reckless homicide with a dangerous weapon, recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person younger than 18 years.

Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, as well as wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm during the riots.

The defense team argued that Rittenhouse shot the men in self-defense after being chased and attacked during the riots. The lawyers showed dozens of pictures and videos of the events preceding and during the shooting in order to make their case that Rittenhouse reasonably believed his life was in danger when he shot the three men.

The prosecution argued that Rittenhouse recklessly endangered the lives of the victims and others by carrying a firearm during the riots, which he attended while portraying himself as a medical official. They emphasized that Rittenhouse was the only person who killed anybody in Kenosha that night and that he is not protected by Wisconsin self-defense laws in this case.
Ivan Safronov, a former military reporter and an adviser to the head of the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos, is facing a new treason charge, that of transferring abroad information about the Russian armed forces' activities in Syria, lawyer Ivan Pavlov told Sputnik on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2021) Ivan Safronov, a former military reporter and an adviser to the head of the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos, is facing a new treason charge, that of transferring abroad information about the Russian armed forces' activities in Syria, lawyer Ivan Pavlov told Sputnik on Tuesday.

On Monday, a source in law enforcement agencies told Sputnik that the Russian Federal Security Service completed its probe into the high treason criminal case launched against Safronov in 2020.

"Before the completion of the investigation, Safronov was presented with a new final charge. In addition to the count of transferring information to a representative of the Czech intelligence, one more count appeared.

According to investigators, in December 2015, Safronov transferred some information about the activities of the Russian armed forces in Syria to political scientist Demuri Voronin, which the latter forwarded to representatives of the University of Zurich in Switzerland and Germany's BND (foreign intelligence service)," Pavlov said.

The Russian Federal Security Service believes that the information "could be used to analyze the actions of Russian troops in Syria," according to the lawyer.

"According to the prosecution, Voronin paid Safronov a $248 reward for this information," Pavlov said.

Voronin is in custody on treason charges. It was never reported before that his case was anyhow connected to that of Safronov.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Ten Egyptian peacekeepers from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) were wounded by the CAR presidential guard, the mission said on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2021) Ten Egyptian peacekeepers from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) were wounded by the car presidential guard, the mission said on Tuesday.

"Ten unarmed Egyptian peacekeepers from the Egyptian Constituent Police Unit of MINUSCA were wounded by shots by the presidential guard in the afternoon of Monday, November 1, in Bangui.

Two of them sustained heavy injuries," MINUSCA said in a statement.

The presidential guard made no prior warning, MINUSCA emphasized.

"In an attempt to leave the area, located just about 120 meters (39 feet) from the presidential residence, the Egyptian Constituent Police Unit bus struck a woman who was killed. A MINUSCA delegation ... offered condolences to the victim's family ... MINUSCA strongly condemns what appears to be a deliberate and unjustified attack," the statement read.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2021) The United States along with 23 other countries practiced to counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD) interdiction during the latest of the Proliferation Security Initiative's (PSI) DEEP SABRE 21 exercise in Singapore, the US State Department said in a press release.

"The United States and 23 partner countries recently participated in the Proliferation Security Initiative's (PSI) DEEP SABRE 21 exercise, hosted by Singapore, in support of the US commitment to countering global WMD proliferation threats," the release said on Monday.

"(The exercise was) to practice their ability to engage in WMD interdiction activities and exchange valuable information on related capabilities and practices."

Since its establishment in 2003, PSI has been endorsed by 107 countries to impede transfers of WMD, delivery systems, and related materials, the release also said.

The United States has called upon all non-endorsers to participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative to interdict WMD-related transfers, the release added.
Emmy Award-Winners Headline USM Symphony Concert

Mon, 11/01/2021 - 14:43pm | By: Mike Lopinto

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Symphony Orchestra welcomes the Emmy Award-winning artistry of Time for Three in a one-night-only concert event, Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium.

Remaining tickets are available at the Southern Miss Ticket Office, 800.844.8425, 601.266.5418, or southernmisstickets.com. The group will also perform a free educational livestream on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. on the School of Musics YouTube page, youtube.com/usmmusic1.

Time for Three performs everything from the Beatles to Guns n Roses to Mahler, said Dr. Michael Miles, music director of the Symphony. Add to that Strauss dynamic and exciting Don Juan performed by our USM Symphony Orchestra, and I guarantee there will be something for everyone in this program.

Defying convention and boundaries, Time For Three stands at the busy intersection of Americana, modern pop, and classical music. To experience Time For Three (TF3) live is to hear the various eras, styles, and traditions of Western music fold in on themselves and emerge anew.

Bonded by an uncommon blend of their instruments fused together with their voices, Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas Nick Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), have found a unique voice of expression to share with the world.

Earning praise from NPR, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Sun-Times to name a few, the band has become renowned for their charismatic and energetic performances. Having graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and The Royal Albert hall, their inimitable and mutable style fits equally well in an intimate club setting, like Joes Pub in New York, or Yoshis in San Francisco.

In 2016, Time For Three was featured on the famed Night of the Proms tour, sharing the stage with such artists as Chaka Khan and Ronan Keating, playing arenas throughout several European countries.

The trio has collaborated with artists as diverse as Ben Folds, Branford Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Aoife ODonovan, Natasha Bedingfield, and Arlo Guthrie, and have premiered original works--written for the band--from composers Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize-winners Jennifer Higdon and William Bolcom. An upcoming commission project includes a work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, Kevin Puts.

Theyve appeared on ABCs Dancing With The Stars, and won an Emmy for Time For Three In Concert, produced by PBS. Yet for all their accolades and diverse experiences, the irrepressible band constantly hungers for new ones. In 2020, the band partnered with cellist and composer Ben Sollee to put together the soundtrack to the new Focus Features' film Land, starring and directed by Robin Wright. The film first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 31, 2021.

With a collection of new songs, the band has teamed up with GRAMMY-winning songwriter Liz Rose and GRAMMY-winning producer Femke Weidema for new recordings released through Warner Music.

For more information, visit usm.edu/symphony.
In this episode of the Checkerboard Chat, Josh Lane, Ethan Stone, Riley Thomas and Andrew Peters talk Georgia, South Alabama and a potential bowl game, men's and women's basketball, Tennessee soccer and more!
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon's editorial staff.
ELIZABETH URBAN is News Editor for The Vidette. Urban can be contacted at emurba1@ilstu.edu. Follow Urban on Twitter at @eliizabethurban.

IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you.
As the deadliest winter months approach, authorities in China are scrambling to tackle its most recent energy crisis. With millions of homes and businesses hit by power outages, it has become a race against time to ensure proper heating for residents in the countrys northeastern regions, where temperatures can dip well below zero degrees, starting as early as mid-December.

Chinas economic planner, the National Development and Commission (NDRC), has outlined a number of measures to combat the growing crisis, with an unprecedented mandate ordering mines to produce as much coal as possible and increasing the price of electricity by 20 percent to incentivise ambivalent power plants to quickly ramp up production.

The China Electricity Council, which represents power firms, has also asked companies to generate power using nuclear energy, as well as increasing solar, hydro and wind turbines to mitigate outages in its most vulnerable residential areas.

Coal costs have skyrocketed as the world resumes post-pandemic life and increasing demand for Chinese goods means factories require more power to operate.

And as electricity demand increased, so has the price of coal.

The campaign will require a Herculean effort equivalent to coal production exceeding gas emissions that all of Europes mines combined produce in a whole year.

The urgent push will come at a high cost, as burning coal will increase Chinas greenhouse emissions and toxic air pollution.

Jan Ivar Korsbakken, a senior researcher at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo said Chinas extra coal production by itself would increase humanitys output of planet-warming carbon dioxide by a full percentage point.

But the short term reality is that China and many others have little choice but to increase coal consumption to meet power demand, said Gavin Thompson, Asia Pacific vice chair of consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.

The New York Times reported China is expanding mines to produce 220 million metric tons of extra coal per year, a nearly 6 percent rise from last year. China already mines and burns more coal than the rest of the world combined.

And with the holiday shopping season fast approaching, Goldman Sachs has estimated that as much as 44 percent of the countrys industrial activity has been affected by the outages.

Experts warn the disruptions could suggest negative ripple effects on the worlds second largest economy for months to come.
Human-rights affiliated site minghui.org, which covers stories related to both the beauty of and persecution of Falun Dafa, reported that on Oct. 27, the online forum titled China  Forced Organ Harvesting and the Chinese Communist Party was held at the Brussels Press Club adjacent to the European Union (EU) headquarters. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), human rights lawyers, and experts called for an end to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners and discussed matters of trade sanctions and broad human rights abuses.

Peter van Dalen, an MEP serving on the subcommittee on Human Rights and co-chair of the Parliaments Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance, indicated that trade sanctions were a desirable tactic to apply when faced with such atrocities as forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience in China. He explained that without concrete action, Its too much talking about trade, about money, and not enough about human rights and the rights of minorities. The co-chair further explained, We do not want to attack China on sensitive issues like organ harvesting, but I really think we should, because organ harvesting is really a very blunt attack on basic human rights.

According to The China Tribunal, an independent peoples tribunal headquartered in London and headed by Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC, the CCPs forced organ harvesting has existed for many years, with Falun Gong practitioners as the main victims. The highly credentialed tribunal held a 6-day hearing in 2019, in which thousands of pages of documents and testimonies from 55 witnesses were reviewed. Nice stated, The conclusion shows that very many people have died indescribably hideous deaths for no reason, that more may suffer in similar ways and that all of us live on a planet where extreme wickedness may be found. According to en.Minghui.org, Hamid Sabi, a human rights lawyer and legal counsel for the China Tribunal, said he found the findings astonishing  there is no doubt that organ harvesting has lasted in China for many years.

Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is based on the tenets of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. The practice has been persecuted in China since July 20, 1999. Massive roundups of Falun Gong practitioners took place on and after that date under the order of Chinas leader at the time, Jiang Zemin, who colluded with the CCP to destroy them physically, destroy them mentally, destroy their reputations. Due to Jiangs hold on the military and clandestine operations such as the lucrative, heinous organ harvesting industry, two subsequent leaders of China have been kept from holding full power and from being able to end the persecution of Falun Gong.

According to Minghui, 4,697 deaths from the persecution have been confirmed, but due to the secretive nature of the atrocities, the number is believed by researchers to be exponentially higher. Human Rights NGO Freedom House believes that, like the Uyghur Muslim population in China, Falun Gong prisoners of conscience have also been detained on a massive scale in labor camps and black jails. It is from places such as these that, according to the China Tribunals findings, organs are sourced from live prisoners of conscience, with the primary source having long been from Falun Gong practitioners, known for their health and vitality. In recent times, organ harvesting from the Uyghur population has also greatly increased. Freedom House postulated that the CCP is following a Falun Gong model for persecuting other minority groups, including Uyghurs.

Although the EU had adopted a resolution condemning the CCPs forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in Dec. 2013, it was silence all over the place from that time forward, according to van Dalen.

The China Tribunal, in a Judgement released in 2020, commented that expressing doubt about accusations was used by governments of the world for justifying their doing nothing to save those who were in due course to be killed to order.

However, the CCPs own actions forced the hand of the EU to defend itself recently. After EU politicians suggested that the CCPs treatment of the Uyghurs was committing genocide, the CCP ordered retaliatory sanctions against EU politicians. In response, the EU suspended its investment plan with China.

In this climate, van Dalen welcomed the decision, according to minghui.org. He felt that pressure related to trade could give the EU leverage to stop the abuses. We should use this as a whip stick to make clear to China that the violation of human rights is important, he said.

Van Dalen warned business people and medical professionals to be wary of China, and for the EU to pay close attention to the country, especially to the forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience. The co-chair seeks to bring this agenda item back under the European Parliaments radar.

Annick Ponthier, an MP from Belgium, said in an interview that forced organ harvesting is an important issue for Europe and that human rights should be safeguarded across political factions. She felt that van Dalens warning should be circulated among politicians and that together with her colleagues, she wished to be more vigilant about these topics.
The following post is sponsored by Mina Plastic Surgery.

Plastic surgery came to South Korea after the Korean War ended in 1953. American Surgeon Dr. David Millard was invited to perform facial surgery for the soldiers disfigured in battle. As it expanded through the 70s and 80s, South Korea became cutting edge with the most advanced equipment and improved technology. It is now considered one of the best places in the world for plastic surgery.

Dr. Jeongho Cha

Of the 2,000 registered plastic surgery hospitals and clinics in South Korea, Mina Plastic Surgery in Seoul stands out with highly rated clients reviews. Founded by Dr. Jeongho Cha, former chief of plastic surgery at Armed Forces Yangju Hospital, and an adjunct professor for Hallym University Medical Center in South Korea and Northern Medical Center in New York State, the clinic serves some of the wealthiest people in Korea.

As the primary Plastic surgeon at Mina, Dr. Cha is a member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KPRAS), the International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS), the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, and the Korean Society for Microsurgery. He also performed as the former head doctor at Synergy Plastic Surgery. Dr. Cha has lived in Washington D.C. and speaks both English and Korean.

The clinic offers the following procedures:

Eyes: Double Eyelids, Ptosis correction, Canthoplasty, Dual Canthoplasty, Under Eye Correction, Blepharoplasty (Upper/Lower), and Eyebrow Lift, etc.

Nose: Tip plasty, Nose bridge plasty, and aTip+Bridge Correction, etc.

Face and Body Contouring: Liposuction, Fat Grafting, Implant, Chin/Jaw Reduction, Chin Augmentation  Tie/Osteotomy, Front Cheekbone Augmentation, and Cheekbone Reduction- Quick and Semi & 3D, etc.

Breast- Non-surgical treatment: Botox, Shuring Laser Lifting, Filler.

Rebuild body shape, such as liposuction, etc.

One-day treatment, before-surgery care and after-surgery care are also available from attentive staff. Each client receives customized treatment in a relaxed setting, as the doctors and staff focus on balance and proportion. Dr. Cha has performed many successful operations for South Korean soldiers.

Safety first

Safety is top priority at the clinic. Dr. Cha has a 100 percent safety record, and belongs to the top circle of plastic surgeons in South Korea. He is certified by the plastic surgery boards approved by the government, and can perform all surgeries independently.

Dr. Cha has been listed in The International Biographical Centre, of Cambridge, England, a world leader in biographical publishing, in recognition of his skills and contributions in plastic surgery. He also won the Global International Healthcare Award 2017 from Cambridge.

To ensure quality treatment, Dr. Cha limits his surgeries to twice a day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Not all plastic surgery clinics can ensure the effect of plastic surgery for their patients. Yet with Mina Plastic Surgery, patients can count on good results. The clinic offers English service for overseas clients.

Patients reviews: Rated 10/10 by clients

100 percent of Minas clients recommend their services.

Sean T. received face filler from Mina Plastic Surgery two years ago. He was very impressed with the time and care Dr. Cha took in answering his questions, and described him as extremely thorough, takes his time on the procedure, is a perfectionist and I liked every single one of his before and after photos.

He told me exactly what to expect and everything he said was dead on. It has been one month since the procedure and my face looks amazing. Better than I expected. Im THRILLED. Everyone in his staff is so great. Jin is awesome!

Cristine J. wanted treatment for her eyebags. After an online consultation she flew to Seoul for Lower Blepharoplasty treatment with Mina. I was greeted by Becky who never left my side and served as my translator the whole trip. Everything was explained to me thoroughly and the staff took good care of me. It has been two weeks since the surgery. I love the result so much! I highly recommend Mina Plastic Surgery to foreigners They are great!

Miranda T. went to Mina for Botox in her forehead and fillers under her eyes and in her lips: They were so polite and thorough! The doctor and staff explained every step from start to finish including how to take care of the treated areas! I could not have asked for a better experience. The expertise of the doctor was way more than I ever could have hoped for! I give them a 10/10!

Jina K. said, It was my first time to visit here; my mom got a Thread Lift and Shrink procedure, and the results are amazing! Dr. Cha is fluent both in English and Korean, and he really cares about patients. My friends also got some surgeries and they all loved the experience!

Bea M. found Mina on instagram two years ago when she was looking for the best place to get Thread Lifting. After an initial discussion, she flew to South Korea for in-person consultation. I was welcomed by Ana who helped and guided me all throughout my Thread Lifting journey. Everything was clearly and thoroughly explained by the doctor and staff at the clinic. The procedure went smoothly. It has been a month now and I am very happy and amazed with how much my face has improved! I highly recommend Mina Plastic Surgery for all your surgery needs!

Samantha B. found Mina Plastic Surgery through their Instagram account two years ago, when researching Rhinoplasty. After a thorough discussion about the procedure, she booked an appointment. I flew to Seoul and met with Joseph, who helped me with everything, such as the direction of the clinic, and most importantly he helped me with the translation. I met the doctor who explained and showed me a visual image of what my nose would look like after my nose heals from the surgery. I was well taken care of by the doctor, staff and Joseph. At one month after the surgery my nose is healing pretty well. I am amazed with the result! Cant wait for it to totally heal! I highly recommend Mina Plastic Surgery!

Josie S. was very self conscious about her stomach. When she found a video of Liposuction and Tummy Tuck by Mina two years ago she knew the answer to her problem. After a free, thorough, online consultation, she flew to Seoul for treatment. Dr. Cha and the staff of Mina were very nice and accommodating. It has already been 5 weeks after the procedure and I am in love with the results even though it is still healing. I am so excited to wear fitted dresses, swimsuits and other clothes that would expose my tummy. Thank you Mina Plastic Surgery Clinic, Joseph (one of their in-clinic consultants), and Dr. Cha!

Contact information

For consultation and plastic surgery, email [email protected]

Official website: minaplasticsurgery.com.

Instagram: @minaplasticsurgery_official or @minaplasticsurgery

Address: 12F, 822-1 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Note: The Medical Aesthetic Services in Northern Medical Center in Middletown, NY now offers non-surgical cosmetic treatments and medical aesthetic services, such as Facial Tightening, Facial Contouring, Microneedling, Botox, etc. delivered by a team of skilled physicians, aesthetic nurses and healthcare professionals for customized medical beauty needs.

For non-surgical treatments in the US, email [email protected],

Consultation: (845) 800-5118

Address: 14 Jason Place, Suite 201 Middletown, N.Y. 10940
Despite being one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, Singapore is seeing a continued surge in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The situation has left experts baffled. On Oct. 27, the countrys health ministry announced 5,324 cases, which is the highest recorded number since the pandemic began. 3,277 cases were reported the previous day.

The infection numbers are unusually high today, mostly due to many COVID-positive cases detected by the testing laboratories within a few hours in the afternoon The Ministry of Health is looking into this unusual surge in cases within a relatively short window, and closely monitoring the trends for the next few days, the ministry said in a statement. Singapores weekly COVID-19 infection growth rate is 1.15.

Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 27, the number of daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases per million people rose 24-fold from 25.75 to 625.82. The number of daily new deaths per million during this period jumped from 0.07 to 2.06.

These figures increased despite the fact that over 75 percent of Singaporeans were fully vaccinated by Sept. 1. On Oct. 27, the number rose to 79.77 percent, with 14 percent who received booster shots. Oct. 27 marked the 38th continuous day of COVID-19 fatalities.

On Sept. 27, the government tightened coronavirus restrictions in the country. However, infections continued to increase in the following weeks. The country reported 1,647 cases on Sept. 27 and 2,236 cases the next day.

By Oct. 5, the government was reporting over 3,000 infections daily. Between Sept. 27 and Oct. 18 this year, 161 people died from COVID-19 in Singapore, compared to only 18 deaths during the same period last year. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) cases has also been increasing.

Our hospitals and healthcare workers continue to come under tremendous pressure Our 2,000 isolated rooms are 81% filled. Queues have formed for COVID-19 and non-COVID patients needing hospital beds in certain hospitals We have stood up 207 ICU beds. 71 are occupied by patients who are intubated, that means they need ventilators to help them breathe, Ong Ye Kung, Singapores minister for health, said in a statement on Oct. 20.

Singapore has approved three different vaccines for use among its citizens: Pfizer, Moderna, and Sinovac. Most individuals have been inoculated with the mRNA Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

In April, Pfizer boasted that its vaccine had an efficacy rate of over 90 percent, but the efficacy has been shown to drop significantly with time. A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from New York showed vaccine effectiveness dropping to 75 percent, with another study showing efficacy dropping to 42 percent in July. Meanwhile, the China-made Sinovac only has an efficacy rate of 51 percent.

Meanwhile, Singapore has relaxed entry requirements for foreigners. People who have a 14-day history of traveling to countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are now allowed entry through the countrys Category IV border measures.

However, only Singapores permanent residents and travelers under the Death and Critical Illness Emergency Visits Lane are allowed to enter. Travelers must submit an RT-PCR test taken a maximum of 48 hours ahead of their departure. In addition, they will have to take another test on arrival and stay quarantined for 10 days.
Sapa Dunia Kompas TV
Alan Reyes Picado fled Nicaragua by bus in the middle of the night, haunted by memories of government officials harassing him, throwing him in jail and then leaving him half naked in a dumpster.

After crossing the Mexican-U.S. border in February and being detained for two months, the 20-year-old immigrant lives in San Francisco and hopes to receive a work permit soon.

"I lived in fear and decided to seek help in this country," said Reyes Picado, who left his partner and an 8-month-old baby in his home country.

Reyes Picado is one of the thousands of Nicaraguans the U.S. government has encountered at the border in recent months. Customs and Border Protection data shows a big jump in arrivals from the Central American country, which is the focus of international criticism over arbitrary arrests and the restriction of fundamental rights.

U.S. authorities stopped Nicaraguans 7,425 times in June compared to 534 times in January. So far in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, U.S. officials have stopped Nicaraguans more than 19,300 times at the southern border. That's the highest number of encounters registered in recent years, surpassing record figures from fiscal year 2019, when authorities stopped Nicaraguans more than 13,000 times.

At that moment, Nicaragua was immersed in a political crisis after the government announced a plan to cut social security benefits. Widespread protests caused the government to back down, but demonstrations grew into a movement demanding that President Daniel Ortega step down after more than a decade in power. At least 328 people died during repression of the demonstrations, said the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Now, Ortega is seeking a fourth consecutive term as president in elections in November and has been systematically clearing his path of potential challengers through arrests for alleged crimes against the state.

According to the rights commission, more than 20 people have been detained, including presidential candidates Cristina Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Felix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastian Chamorro, Miguel Mora, Medardo Mairena and Noel Vidaurre.

Ortega's government did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants from other countries have also arrived at the U.S. border this year, as the new administration of President Joe Biden has eased some restrictions on immigration imposed under former President Donald Trump.

Other nationalities have also shown large increases, including Ecuadorians and Venezuelans. In June, more than one of four people stopped by CBP were from countries other than Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Nicaraguans have usually been a small number of the Central Americans trying to migrate to the U.S. However, Nicaraguas government migration offices are now full of people trying to obtain passports, a scenario that also occurred during the 2018 crisis.

Managuas Roman Catholic Archdiocese has noticed the exodus.

"It is with sadness that we see again the migration of Nicaraguans, mostly young people fleeing because of political persecution", the Archdiocese said recently.

Reyes Picado, the 20-year-old who recently fled Nicaragua, participated in the 2018 protests with his brother. Recently, he said in a telephone interview, local officials in Tipitapa, a city in western Nicaragua, would show up at the familys truck depot asking to use the six trucks the family had. He said the government wanted the trucks to move its supporters around.

Reyes Picados family said no to the request and thats how their problems started, he said.

"They would look for me at home; we couldn't live in peace," he said. "They would threaten us because we did not want to join them; they told us they would kill us, they would kidnap us."

White House officials did not respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press regarding the increase in arrivals of Nicaraguans. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, told the AP that the arrests of political rivals in Nicaragua and violence against the opposition "must be stopped".

"These actions are destabilizing Nicaragua and forcing Nicaraguans who are fearful for their lives to flee their country," he said.

Anita Wells, an activist who helps fellow Nicaraguans on their way to the U.S. and recent arrivals, said she is "overwhelmed" with work.

"We have tons of people, of young men, in detention centers. Some are hurt, some are former political prisoners, and still, some of them are not allowed in (the U.S.)," she said from her home in Virginia.

Wells is one of the founders of Abuelas Unidas por Nicaragua (Grandmothers United for Nicaragua), a group that raises and sends money to Nicaraguans in need. She is also one of the founders of the Nicaraguan American Human Rights Alliance, which has increasing work because it assists with asylum applications and tries to avoid the expulsion of Nicaraguans at the border.

Like Reyes Picado, Jose Olivera also fled Nicaragua, leaving behind a wife and two children.

A sales executive in an appliances company based in the north of Nicaragua, Olivera took buses and walked towards the U.S. border in May after being fired for not accepting an ID card indicating support for the official political party, the Frente Sandinista.

Government officials would knock on his door insisting he accept the card, and soon the threats started, he said.

"I never accepted the offer of being one of their supporters," said the 38-year-old from his small apartment in Miami. "Honestly Im scared, they would have killed me."

He fled to Honduras and then Guatemala by bus. Afterwards he walked, following train tracks until blisters hurt his feet. In Mexico, he said he was kidnapped by drug traffickers. Relatives put together $6,500 and Olivera was released three days after, he said.

He crossed the border in June and told Customs and Border Protection officials he wanted to ask for asylum. After being in a detention center for two days, he was released with an ankle bracelet.

The number of Nicaraguans entering the U.S. legally also is increasing: It went from 3,692 in January to 7,375 in June, according to CBP data. Immigration attorneys and activists say that many of those Nicaraguans decide later whether to ask for asylum in the U.S. or return home before their visa expires.

Nicaraguan asylum-seekers seem to fare well in U.S. immigration courts compared to people from neighboring countries. The grant rate for Nicaraguan asylum-seekers was 36% in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, compared to 26% for all nationalities, 17% for El Salvadorans, 13% for Guatemalans, 12% for Mexicans and 11% for Hondurans, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

Reyes Picado dreams of being among these lucky ones.

His brother, who also participated in the student protests and was kidnapped by paramilitary groups in the 2018 upheaval, won asylum in the U.S.

For Reyes Picado, life in Nicaragua meant moving in with his aunt to avoid putting his immediate family in danger.

In December 2020, a paramilitary group, their faces covered in black ski masks, took Reyes Picado and handed him over to police. He was detained for three days, he said. He then was handcuffed, sprayed with gas in the eyes and left half naked in a dumpster in a rural area.

"I feel better now because I know I can be safe," he said. "I miss my family but I know they will be here with me one day."
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected accusations French President Emmanuel Macron made about a scrapped $37 billion submarine deal. Macron has recently said Morrison lied when abandoning the submarine deal before Australia joined a new security pact with the United Kingdom and the United States known by its acronym AUKUS.

The AUKUS alliance and Australias cancelation of a lucrative defense contract in favor of U.S.-built nuclear submarines caught Paris off guard. France felt betrayed. In protest, France temporarily recalled its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra. Tensions remain.

French President Emanuel Macron told reporters at the meeting of the G-20 grouping of industrialized nations that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had been deceitful despite the two countries enjoying a close relationship.

When we have respect, you have to behave in line and consistently with this value, Macron said to reporters.

Morrison quickly denied he had lied. He insisted he had explained to Macron in June that the submarines to be supplied by French company Naval Group were not going to meet Australias military requirements.

I was very clear that what was going to be provided to us was not going to meet our strategic interest, Morrison said.

News reports in Australia have described the dispute between Australia and France as a diplomatic disaster for Canberra and that the damage looks uncontrollable.

Australian Opposition Senator Penny Wong, the shadow foreign affairs minister, believes Australia has been embarrassed by the French presidents allegations.

We have got a reputation as a nation for being straight-shooters. That is Australias reputation internationally. We do what we say. Mr. Morrisons failure to be upfront, his failure to, as President Macron says, tell the truth is damaging our interests, Wong said.

Mark Kenny is a professor at the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University. He says rarely are world leaders so openly criticized by their peers.

This was really quite a rare level of candor that we see and a very abrupt denunciation of the integrity of a fellow world leader by Emanuel Macron and I thought that was extraordinary, Kenny said.

U.S. President Joe Biden also conceded that the United States was clumsy in its negotiations for a new alliance with Britain and Australia, which cost France billions of dollars.

The AUKUS pact will allow Australia to become only the seventh country to have nuclear-powered submarines. The new fleet is not expected to be in service for decades, forcing Australia to potentially lease or buy vessels from the United States or Britain in the meantime.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced sweeping, ambitious climate commitments and delivered scathing remarks aimed at adversaries not doing the same, as leaders from more than 100 nations met for their second and final day of talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, in Glasgow.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced it would join other participants in signing a landmark agreement to halt deforestation and restore 200 million hectares of forest and other ecosystems by the year 2030. Additionally, Biden unveiled a plan that pulls together different sectors of the U.S. government  including the departments of Energy, Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Interior  to cut methane emissions.

But as he lauded those achievements, Biden also struck out at the two leaders who did not attend the COP26 meeting in person: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I think it's been a big mistake, quite frankly, for China, and this leads back to China, not showing up," Biden said. "The rest of the world is going to look to China and say, 'What value added are they providing?' And they've lost an ability to influence people around the world and all the people here at COP, the same way I would argue with regard to Russia."

WATCH: Biden announces climate commitments

This year's summit, which continues until November 12, builds on a legally binding agreement that 196 parties, including the U.S., Russia and China, signed six years ago in Paris. The international treaty commits those countries to embark on emissions cuts that aim to limit the planet's warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels.

Summit commitments

Other nations have made their own commitments at this summit. Late Monday, India's leader announced a 2070 deadline for his country to reach net-zero carbon emissions. India is the world's third-largest polluter, and critics of this announcement said 2070 is two decades too late. Climate experts have said the world needs to reach this deadline in the next 30 years.

On deforestation, the signatories to the multilateral agreement included Russia and other nations with large tracts of forested land, such as Brazil, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada and Colombia. Forests play a key role in absorbing harmful carbon dioxide.

Biden also said he would work with Congress to set aside another $9 billion to conserve forests, though when making the announcement he did not say how soon this could happen or how.

On methane, the Biden administration's plan should bring the United States in line with the Global Methane Pledge, in which the world's largest emitters aim to reduce overall methane emissions to 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.

"What we're going to do between now and 2030 is going to impact significantly ... whether we'll be able to meet our longer-term commitment," Biden said. "And one of the most important things we can do in this decisive decade is  to keep 1.5 degrees in reach  is reduce our methane emissions as quickly as possible."

Benefits of methane reduction

Methane, the simplest hydrocarbon, is a gas that contributes directly to global warming. It is produced during the production and transport of coal, natural gas and oil. Livestock, landfills and agricultural practices also produce large amounts of the gas.

"Cutting methane emissions is essential to keep global warming from breaching 1.5 C," said Helen Mountford, vice president for climate and economics at the World Resources Institute. "This pledge from over 90 countries to cut methane emissions by at least 30% over the coming decade sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally. Strong and rapid action to cut methane emissions offers a range of benefits, from limiting near-term warming and curbing air pollution to improved food security and better public health."

These plans follow Monday's announcements of new U.S. climate commitments that build on previous global agreements: the unveiling of plans for the $3 billion President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience to encourage climate awareness, financing and adaptation efforts, which are part of Biden's broader climate financing package. But it is not certain whether the U.S. leader can deliver on that promise, which still needs congressional approval.

Additionally, Biden touted domestically focused legislation that aims to shore up American infrastructure while also cutting greenhouse gas pollution by well over 1 gigaton by 2030.

That legislation has occupied the U.S. Congress for months, with members of the legislative body negotiating fiercely throughout but ultimately failing to bring the matter to a vote before Biden left for the summit last week.

The U.S. has faltered on its own climate commitments, with former President Donald Trump announcing in 2017 that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. That took effect November 2020, but Biden rejoined the deal on his first day in office.

The president's critics note that some of his administration's climate commitments are not as large as those promised by other developed nations.

China's plan criticized

On Monday, China's leader announced his nation's plans to address climate change  a plan that critics said fell short of making any new commitments to reduce emissions.

"Specific implementation plans for key areas such as energy, industry, construction and transport, and for key sectors such as coal, electricity, iron and steel, and cement will be rolled out, coupled with supporting measures in terms of science and technology, carbon sink, fiscal and taxation, and financial incentives," President Xi Jinping said in a written address to the climate summit Monday, according to a copy posted by China's Xinhua news agency.

Xi called on developed nations to "do more themselves" and to support developing nations in their climate efforts.

VOA's Chris Hannas contributed to this report.


Philanthropist Bill Gates says the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $315 million to help small farmers around the world grow crops that will adapt to climate change.

In an interview with VOA from Glasgow where he is attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference, Gates said the money will go to a seed consortium which will help farmers thrive in changing environments.

The interview was edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: Help us visualize the scope of the problem when it comes to climate change. What are we facing and how much should we be concerned?

A: Well, climate change is one of the biggest challenges mankind has ever faced. Year by year, because of these carbon emissions, the climate will be getting hotter and that means, particularly anywhere near the equator, the ability to do outdoor farming or outdoor construction work will become impossible. And so that'll really destabilize people who live in these tropical zones. And so we have to do two things: we have to stop those emissions, where there's an ambitious goal to do that by 2050, and then in the meantime we need to help countries adapt to these changing weather conditions, for example, you know, giving them better seeds.

Q: How are we going to know that COP 26 is a success?

A: We've deeply engaged the private sector. We've identified the need for innovation and how we get every sector working together to drive that innovation. And we're now paying significant effort to adaptation. And so those three things were not there in Paris. I'm not saying that the commitments here are good enough. We need to see over the next five years the same type of increased engagement on the different issues, you know, better policies, more private sector and more innovation, including the innovation that's focused on the adaptation.

Q: What else are you referring to in terms of innovation?

A: A number of countries are announcing increased resources, including President Biden. We're announcing $315 million over the next three years for the seed consortium which is called the CG System. That makes the seeds for all the different countries and the big priority for that money will be seeds that can be even more productive despite the challenge of climate change.

And so overall we expect that an additional billion dollars, including our money, will be committed to that effort. That has the potential to benefit literally hundreds of millions of these smallholder farmers. So probably won't get the attention it deserves, but probably the biggest move for adaptation using innovation for that will be announced here.

Q: What are your thoughts on the impact of climate change in underdeveloped countries, especially in a region like Africa?

A: Well, as you say, it's a great injustice. And in fact, my interest in climate change came from seeing that through our agricultural work in Africa the farmers were often having a more difficult time. And so they're already facing these difficulties, which will get significantly worse between now and the end of the century. And so I studied the issue of climate change and the Gates Foundation took on this adaptation as a big priority. That wasn't getting much attention. So I joined together with some others to create the 'Commission on Adaptation' and we had ...a lot of great participation and did a report that highlighted some of these key investments.

Q: What do you think all of us can do to contribute to this global solution in fighting climate change?

A: Well, certainly there are products that have lower emissionsIn rich countries, you know, we are starting to have food indications of which kinds of food cause what emissions. And we have more and more electric cars. You know we have the ability to heat your home with what's called an electric heat pump versus using a hydrocarbon like natural gas to your house. You know I would say that for the individual, political engagement is also important because this is a problem where we have to make near-term investments (and) even some short-term sacrifice to get the long-term benefit of having drastic climate change impacts. And so, educating people that this is very worth doing, particularly getting young people engaged.
Central African Republic's presidential guard opened fire on United Nations peacekeepers in the capital, wounding 10 of them, the U.N. mission said Tuesday. One person was struck and killed by a U.N. vehicle as it fled the scene.

The U.N. mission known as MINUSCA condemned Monday's development, calling the shooting of the unarmed Egyptian peacekeepers near the presidential palace "deliberate and unjustifiable."

Presidential spokesman Albert Mokpem Yaloke urged calm, saying it was "an incident that we are managing."

"We deplore the death of this compatriot and we offer our most saddened condolences to the family," he said.

Monday's incident took place after a MINUSCA civilian officer entered the security perimeters of the presidential residence, according to MINUSCA spokesman Vladimir Monteiro.

"After an exchange with the forces, he decided to turn back," Monteiro said.

The development comes amid mounting security fears in the capital, Bangui, of another rebel attack. Back in January rebels tried to seize the capital but were repelled by security forces after intense fighting on the city's outskirts.

President Faustin Archange Touadera recently offered a unilateral cease-fire to rebels, though said that government forces could still act in self-defense. The unexpected gesture prompted speculation that the president was becoming more vulnerable to the armed groups who oppose him.

Tensions are also rising between the government and the U.N., which has called on the country's authorities to separate from the Kremlin-linked Wagner group that is responsible for the president's safety. The U.N. has also imposed an arms embargo.

The U.N. mission, which now has more than 12,000 military and police personnel, deployed to the mineral-rich country in 2013 when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power and forced then President Francois Bozize from office.

Anti-Balaka militias, mostly Christian, later fought back, also targeting civilians in the streets. Untold thousands were killed, and most of the capital's Muslims fled the city in fear of their lives.

The country saw a period of relative peace in late 2015 and 2016, but violence then intensified once again. A 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 rebel groups has neared collapse in the years since.
A judge in the midwestern U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois, on Monday blocked officials from enforcing a December 31 vaccination deadline for its police officers, ruling that the issue must be decided by an independent arbitrator first.

The Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents Chicagos rank-and-file police officers, had bitterly fought the mandate imposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot for all city government employees to get vaccinated and report their vaccination status to the city. They are among dozens of police unions across the United States who have fought such requirements, including issuing threats of mass resignations.

A federal judge denied an emergency request by more than 100 Chicago firefighters and other city workers to stop the city from enforcing the vaccination mandate.

First military deadlines

In the nations capital, Washington D.C., Tuesday marks the deadline for all 335,000 active duty members of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force to be fully vaccinated. The Air Force says as many as 12,000 active duty members of both branches, or 3% of their total forces, were still unvaccinated as of late last week.

The Air Force and Space Force are the first of the U.S. militarys five branches to reach a self-imposed deadline for its active-duty members to either become fully vaccinated or be granted an exemption on medical or religious grounds. Those who are not granted an exemption and still refuse to take the vaccine will face some sort of discipline, including transfers, travel restrictions, limits on deployment, even possible dismissal or court-martial charges.

Among the other three branches, the Army and the Marines have the most unvaccinated active-duty personnel at 7%, while only 1% of Navy active-duty personnel are unvaccinated.

Shanghai Disneyland

Meanwhile, in China, authorities with the Shanghai Disneyland Park say the facility will remain closed Tuesday as it cooperates with a pandemic investigation in another province.

The theme park suddenly shut down Sunday night with about 34,000 patrons still inside after reports that someone who visited the park the night before had tested positive for the coronavirus. The patrons were forced to remain inside the theme park for hours until they all tested negative for COVID-19.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
U.S. President Joe Biden met his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, on the sidelines of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday, continuing their discussions from the U.S.-ASEAN and East Asia summits in October.

"Indonesia is a vital strategic partner to the United States, and your leadership in the Indo-Pacific is essential," Biden said to Widodo, also known by his nickname, Jokowi.

Jokowi thanked Biden for the 13.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, among the largest donations that Washington has provided via the COVAX vaccine-sharing mechanism.

The meeting is part of Biden's diplomatic charm offensive to win the favor of the largest country in Southeast Asia, a region where Chinese economic, diplomatic and military clout has been steadily rising.

Climate change, pandemic response, freedom of the seas, the Myanmar coup and strengthening the "strategic partnership" were among the subjects the pair discussed, according to a readout provided by the White House. This is the first in-person meeting between the two since Biden took office.

During the nearly hourlong meeting, Biden reiterated the United States' commitment to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality and support for the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific  terminology that essentially means ensuring that regional processes and engagements are determined and led by the 10-country bloc.

Since its inception, Indonesia has proudly held to the principle of nonalignment  enshrined in its "independent and active" foreign policy doctrine  by adopting a balanced approach to avoid angering either Washington or Beijing.

But now Washington wants Indonesia to take a firmer stance against Chinese transgressions, most importantly in the South China Sea, where Jakarta has recently adopted a softer, less confrontational stance in its own dispute with Beijing around the Natuna Islands, said Lucas Myers, the program coordinator and associate for Southeast Asia at the Wilson Center's Asia Program.

Tough sell

That may be a tough sell. Beijing has sought to win Jokowi over with massive investments in infrastructure and vaccine diplomacy, while Washington's efforts under the previous Obama and Trump administrations were desultory at best, said Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"We want to be close to the U.S., but sometimes it's difficult," said Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesia's coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister, to VOA's Indonesian Service in October following his meeting with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Pandjaitan said that he had told Sullivan that Jakarta has been very welcoming to Chinese investors "because we need to survive."

Beijing is Indonesia's biggest investor. According to Indonesian state media, in 2020 Chinese investment in the country reached $4.8 billion and total trade topped $78.48 billion.

With the Jokowi government prioritizing economic growth, Washington needs to enhance trade and investment with Indonesia to compete with China. "To the U.S., I said, 'Why don't you come too?'" Pandjaitan said.

The U.S.-ASEAN Business Council trade group said the Biden-Jokowi meeting was "another positive step" in expanding economic relations.

"The reform efforts by President Jokowi are seemingly improving Indonesia's ability to compete for attracting higher-value foreign direct investments in areas such as mining and electric vehicles," said Marc Mealy, the council's senior vice president of policy.

"Looking ahead, U.S.-Indonesia economic priorities of interest to American companies will include health care, renewable energy resources, and the use of digital technologies and green finance to support economic recovery," Mealy added.

It's not the first time a U.S. administration has tried to pry Jakarta from Beijing's sphere of influence. Mike Pompeo, secretary of state during the Trump administration, sought to turn Indonesia against China by highlighting Beijing's persecution of Uyghur Muslims. The effort backfired.

"Many influential Indonesians viewed Pompeo cynically and worried that heightened tensions between Beijing and Jakarta would lead to racial tensions in Indonesia," Connelly said. "So, despite Indonesia's status as the world's largest Muslim-majority country, it has been relatively quiet about the situation in Xinjiang."

In November 2020, the Trump administration dangled the promise of a $2 billion investment into Indonesia's planned sovereign wealth fund. The plan fell through because the price  recognition of Israel under the Trump administration's Abraham Accords  was too high for Jakarta.

Unified on Myanmar

Biden and Jokowi called on Myanmar's military to halt all violence and release political prisoners. The White House said the two leaders agreed Monday that the military must "provide a swift return to democracy."

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup seized power in February.

"The crisis in Myanmar is arguably the most pressing issue for ASEAN, and Indonesia stands out as consistently pushing for a stronger response against the military takeover," Myers said.

In October, Indonesia and other ASEAN ministers excluded Senior General Min Aung Hlaing from the ASEAN Summit  the bloc's biggest rebuke of Myanmar since February 1, when the Myanmar military toppled a civilian government under the de facto leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Former U.S. ambassador and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is heading to Myanmar on a private humanitarian mission that will focus on pandemic support, his spokesperson said Sunday.

G-20: Bali 2022

Jakarta is set to take over the G-20 presidency from Italy beginning in December. Jokowi has promised "inclusive, people-centered, environmentally friendly and sustainable growth" as a central principle in its G-20 leadership, adopting the theme "Recover Together, Recover Stronger."

A key element of that theme is funding developing nations' climate action plans. At the G-20 summit in Rome over the weekend and at COP26, Indonesia, a large greenhouse gas emitter, pushed wealthy nations to fulfill their climate-financing commitment to provide $100 billion a year to support developing countries' efforts to reduce emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The White House said that after a four-year absence of U.S. leadership under the previous administration, Biden is committing to meet international climate-financing goals by 2023.

In September, Biden pledged to work with Congress to double U.S. climate financing to $11.4 billion per year by 2024. In his COP26 remarks on Monday, he said he would launch an initiative to provide $3 billion per year, as part of a broader climate-financing package. Congress would first need to approve the plan.

Eva Mazrieva and Virginia Gunawan contributed to this story
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on other nations to step up cooperation and act on climate targets, but offered no new commitments in a statement to the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP26.

Visions will come true only when we act on them. Parties need to honor their commitments, set realistic targets and visions, and do their best according to national conditions to deliver their climate action measures, said Xi, who is not attending the talks in person. China is the worlds biggest carbon emitter.

China has been facing an energy shortage that sparked widespread power outages over two-thirds of the country in late September. This was one of Chinas worst power shortages in a decade. The outages affected factories, leading to concerns about disruptions to global supply chains. China, meanwhile, said it has increased its production of coal  a fossil fuel  to ease the power crunch.

The Chinese leaders long-anticipated statement shows that China cannot abandon fossil fuels during a power crunch without more infrastructure, analysts said.

Households may lack heating, while manufacturing could suffer due to the power shortage, said Jane Nakano, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

I am a little disappointed that President Xi Jinping didnt really go ahead and answer some of the key questions that many of us have had, Nakano said. I wonder if the power crunch that China is facing at the moment has really gotten in the Chinese leaderships way of wanting to have perhaps a much broader commitment.

Xi noted an earlier Chinese government plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030.

Last month, China announced a focus on green energy in a new version of its Belt and Road Initiative for infrastructure projects stretching from Asia to Europe.

Biggest global polluter

While most economies saw a CO2 emission drop of five to 10 percentage points in 2020 over recent years, China stood out as the only major economy to log an increase, the Paris-based International Energy Agency said. Its 2020 total reached 75 metric tons per kilowatt hour.

The research firm Rhodium Group reports more than 27% of total global emissions in 2019 came from China.

Lauri Myllyvirta, an analyst with the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Helsinki, recently said China's CO2 emissions grew an unusually fast 15 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021. She linked the surge to a post-COVID-19 rebound from lockdowns of the past year and an economic recovery that has been dominated by growth in construction, steel and cement.

At previous U.N. events and in its economic blueprints, China has said it will transition to greener, cleaner fuels while controlling coal consumption. Its aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060.

But China isnt ready yet, said Scott Harold, Washington-based senior political scientist with RAND Corporation, another research group.

They recognize a desire to shift their energy mix away from coal and toward renewables, but in fact their energy mix keeps shifting the other way because its really, really hard to do and they have not invested in or owned the technologies that would enable to them to make some of those changes, Harold said.

Xi said in his 500-word statement to COP26 that all countries should throttle rising temperatures by building on old U.N. agreements.

Xis statement seeks to cast China as a country that has championed a major world ambition after the United States pulled out of the Paris climate accord in 2017, Harold said. Current U.S. President Joe Biden apologized Monday for his predecessors decision to withdraw.

The U.S. is the second biggest greenhouse gas emitter after China. During the talks Tuesday, Biden announced plans to reduce methane emissions.

The Chinese leader said multilateralism, including U.N. agreements, is the right prescription for addressing problems such as climate change, which is seen as an existential threat for much of the world.

Analysts say its not clear whether China will make more statements during COP26, which is due to last through November 12.
The COP26 climate summit is taking place against the backdrop of an ongoing global pandemic. As richer nations begin to reopen, thanks to rapid vaccination programs, most people in developing countries are still waiting for their first dose, despite global pledges to distribute more vaccines.

Analysts say distrust between richer and poorer nations could hamper climate negotiations at the COP26 summit.

In most high-income countries, more than 70% of the population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But in low-income countries, the figure is less than 4%, according to figures from the University of Oxford.

If this level of vaccine inequity remains in place, 5 million people will die unnecessarily next year, said Robert Yates, director of the global health program at Chatham House.

At the G-7 summit in June, leaders of the worlds richest nations pledged to share 1 billion vaccine doses with poorer countries  half from the United States. In total, the U.S. has now pledged to share 1.1 billion doses through 2022.

Yet, while many Western nations are offering a third booster shot for fully vaccinated adults, most people in developing nations still await their first dose.

As negotiations on combating climate change continue at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, trust between poorer and richer nations is fragile, Yates said.

You can very much see countries, particularly in the South, saying, Well, why should we cooperate with you on this issue which is happening now but is going to get worse  on the situation around climate change  when youre patently not helping us at sufficient scale on something of a much, much more immediate nature that can threaten millions of people's lives next year?

COP26 organizers offered free vaccines to registered delegates unable to get them in their home countries. However, high travel costs, a lack of hotel rooms and concerns over high COVID-19 infection rates in Britain have kept some participants away.

Musonda Mumba, director of the Rome Center for Sustainable Development, part of the United Nations Development Program, chose not to attend the summit. She recently spoke to VOA from Nairobi.

Climate change is not just a climate issue, it's a climate justice issue. And so, you see an intersection on the COVID side of things and on the climate change side of things, as well, really converging. The issue of trust and empathy and transparency has come up over and over and over again. And I think this will be the test case. This will be a testing moment for the world, this Glasgow COP, she said.

Scientists say the world is facing two emergencies at once. At the COP26 summit, there is a recognition that countries must work together to tackle the existential threat of climate change. But many of the delegates will return home to countries still gripped by the coronavirus pandemic in urgent need of lifesaving vaccines.
The Ethiopian federal government declared a nationwide state of emergency Tuesday, as its battle with Tigrayan forces reaches the one-year mark and fighting has escalated in northern Ethiopia.

The Council of Ministers has a declared nationwide state of emergency effective Tuesday, November 2, 2021, read a statement posted by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. on its Twitter account.

The statement says the House of Peoples Representatives is expected to approve the state of emergency within 24 hours.

Reuters quoted the government Tuesday saying the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front is gaining territory and considering marching on the countrys capital, Addis Ababa. Residents of the capital were told to register their weapons and prepare to defend the city.

The federal government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been fighting TPLF forces in Tigray for the past year. The fighters were able to take control of the province when government forces withdrew in June, and since then fighting has expanded to the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar, displacing thousands of people and worsening a severe hunger crisis.

Speaking Tuesday at Washington-based think tank U.S. Institute for Peace, U.S. Horn of Africa special envoy Jeffrey Feltman said as many as 900,000 people in Tigray are facing famine-like conditions, while 90% of the population is in need of aid.

He said the most serious obstacle to getting food, medicine and other critical assistance to them is the federal government, which imposes bureaucratic obstacles and last month expelled seven senior U.N. humanitarian and human rights officials.

This unfortunately suggests an intentional effort by the authorities to deprive Ethiopians who are suffering of receiving lifesaving assistance, said Feltman.

Using food as a weapon of war can rise to the level of a war crime.

The special envoy said the governments airstrikes and TPLFs alliances with other disaffected armed groups are alarming, and warned that the country is at risk of sliding into a bigger conflagration.

A multidecade civil war in Ethiopia would be disastrous for its future and for its people, he said. We urge the government of Ethiopia, the TPLF, and the other belligerents to give peace a chance; to choose a different path and engage in dialogue without preconditions.

Feltman responded to some critics who say the United States is biased toward the TPLF, saying this could not be further from the truth and that the Biden administration has consistently condemned the Tigrayan forces expansion of the war, including reports it could move on the capital.

Let me clear, we oppose any TPLF move to Addis or any attempt by the TPLF to besiege Addis, Feltman said. This is a message we have also underscored in our engagement with TPLF leaders.

He also said it is not true that Washington seeks to replace Abiy with a TPLF-dominated regime.

But he warned that Washington cannot continue business as usual with the federal government and noted the announcement Tuesday from the administration that puts Ethiopias special trade benefits with the United States at risk over human rights violations.

On Wednesday, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission are releasing a report on their joint investigation into alleged human rights violations by all parties in the Tigray conflict.

There have been widespread credible reports throughout the conflict of brutal atrocities including rape, torture and executions. The report is expected to contain a set of recommendations, which Feltman said the parties need to demonstrate they are immediately implementing.

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Bill Richardson, on a humanitarian mission to strife-torn Myanmar, met Tuesday with the head of the Southeast Asian nation's military-installed government.

Myanmar's Information Ministry said Richardson held discussions with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing about prevention and control of COVID-19. Also present were the ministers of foreign affairs, health and international cooperation, it said. The meeting was shown on the evening news broadcast of state television MRTV.

Richardson's mission was announced Sunday by his office, which quoted him as saying he is "visiting the country to discuss pathways for the humanitarian delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, medical supplies, and other public health needs."

However, his mission has also raised hopes that Richardson will seek the release of American journalist Danny Fenster, who has been jailed in Myanmar for the past five months.

Myanmar's health care system is largely broken amid widespread resistance to the military's ouster in February of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Medical personnel have been at the forefront of the opposition to military rule.

The situation is exacerbated by Myanmar's poverty and increasingly fierce fighting between the government and pro-democracy insurgents in various parts of the country.

"Governor Richardson believes that, in moments of crisis and instability such as this one, we must ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to those most in need," his office said in a statement.

Detained journalist Fenster, who is from the greater Detroit area, is charged with incitement for allegedly spreading false or inflammatory information. The offense is punishable by up to three years in prison.

Fenster, managing editor of the Yangon-based online news magazine Frontier Myanmar, is also charged with association with unlawful associations, which carries a two-to-three year prison term. The U.S. government and media freedom organizations have been pressing for his release, as well as that of other journalists detained since the army's takeover.

The State Department said Richardson is making the trip on his own but that it hopes he can help convince Myanmar's leaders to allow the entry of aid for the coronavirus pandemic and other urgent needs. The U.S. government, like other Western nations, has avoided sending officials to Myanmar because it does not want to be seen as recognizing the legitimacy of the military's seizure of power.

"While this is not an effort sponsored by, or on behalf of, the United States government, we hope his trip contributes to improved humanitarian access," it said in a statement Monday.

Richardson, who has also served as governor of New Mexico and secretary of energy in the Clinton administration, has a record of acting as a sort of freelance diplomat.

He is best known for traveling to nations with which Washington has poor, if any relations  such as North Korea  to obtain the freedom of detained Americans.

Recently he has been involved in seeking freedom for U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela, another country with which Washington has strained ties.

Richardson has a long history of involvement with Myanmar, starting in 1994 when as a member of Congress he met Suu Kyi at her home, where she had been under house arrest since 1989 under a previous military government.

He last visited Myanmar in 2018 to advise on the crisis involving the country's Muslim Rohingya minority. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to refugee camps in Bangladesh after Myanmar's military in 2017 launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in the western state of Rakhine, where most lived.

The crackdown included rapes, killings and the torching of thousands of homes, and was termed ethnic cleansing by global rights groups and the U.N.

Richardson accepted Suu Kyi's invitation to join an advisory board on the crisis, but then resigned, calling it a "whitewash and a cheerleading operation" for Suu Kyi after an argument with her.

In reaction to this year's army takeover, he urged the Biden administration and the international community to strongly condemn the "anti-democratic" coup and "impose crushing international sanctions as soon as possible."

But while calling for Suu Kyi's safety, he also described her as "complicit in the atrocities conducted by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities."
Hopes are already fading that the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow will result in any new deal for a significant cut in global greenhouse gas emissions, after China and Russia declined to attend the conference and India's pledges fell short of expectations.

The summit got under way Monday as dozens of world leaders addressed the delegates, defending their performances on climate action and in some cases presenting new emissions targets.

Over 25,000 delegates are attending the two-week conference, including heads of state, government ministers, nongovernmental organizations, official observers and media.

Hundreds of protesters and members of the public are also gathering outside the secure "Blue Zone" on the banks of Glasgow's River Clyde. The area has become official United Nations territory for the duration of the summit.

Scientists have warned that a failure to agree to much deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will result in catastrophic and irreversible climate change.

Global warning

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres set a grim tone in his address to world leaders.

"Our addiction to fossil fuels is pushing humanity to the brink. We face a stark choice: Either we stop it, or it stops us. And it's time to say 'enough.' Enough of brutalizing biodiversity. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature like a toilet. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper. We are digging our own graves," Guterres said.

"The science is clear. We know what to do. First, we must keep the global goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius alive," he added, referring to the goal of limiting the average global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Will that warning be heeded?

India is the world's third-biggest polluter. Hopes were high ahead of the summit that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would seek to grab the limelight in presenting ambitious new plans to cut emissions.

"Between now and 2030, India will reduce its total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes (metric tons).  By 2070, India will achieve the target of net-zero emissions," Modi told delegates, describing the policies as "an unprecedented contribution by India towards climate action."

However, the target date of 2070 is 20 years later than the U.N. target of 2050.

In his address Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said "we only have a brief window" to fight climate change. Earlier this year, he had pledged that by the end of the decade, the U.S. would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% or more below 2005 levels.

While Biden was speaking in Glasgow, however, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a fellow Democrat, said he did not yet fully support the $1.75 trillion bill in Congress that included more than $550 billion in climate spending.

The White House also released on Monday its plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

No-shows

Arguably, the biggest story of the summit is not what's being said on stage but rather is who hasn't shown up at all. President Xi Jinping of China, which is by far the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is not attending the summit. Xi offered a written statement calling on richer nations to do more to support developing countries in dealing with climate change, but he made no new significant pledges to cut emissions.

Xi's absence is a major setback, said China analyst Martin Thorley of the University of Exeter. "Xi Jinping's no-show at COP26 is an important reality check for those who expect enlightened climate policy from the Chinese Communist Party."

Thorley continued, "Whilst it is argued that authoritarian rule gives the leadership more scope to implement ambitious climate policy, it also gives the leaders greater capacity to block out civil society pressure that in other parts of the world is driving change.  Though there is genuine concern about the climate in some quarters within the Party, the threat to the CCP's supremacy by power shortages mean that continued reliance on coal will be tolerated," he wrote in an email to VOA.

"That Xi Jinping addressed COP26 in writing only will be a massive disappointment to organizers and campaigners alike. Until very recently, China was considered a genuine leader on climate change," Thorley added.

Others argue that COP26 can make significant progress without Xi.

"(Xi's absence) could be probably because they don't have too much else to offer," said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, head of climate and energy at the World Wildlife Fund and the former president of the 2014 COP20 climate summit in Lima, Peru.

"And probably they would prefer to avoid the pressure of being in a COP (climate summit); that could be the reality. But let's recognize that Minister Xie (Xie Zhenhua, China's special climate envoy), it's probably his tenth COP. He's a top-level officer of the Chinese government  I think that is a good signal. But for sure, we are missing President Xi," he added.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which is the world's fourth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is also absent.

Among climate campaigners at COP26, the disappointment is already palpable.

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist who has inspired youth protests around the world, told a rally outside the summit, "This COP26 is so far just like the previous COPs. Add that has led us nowhere. They have led us nowhere.

"Inside COP, there are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our futures seriously. Pretending to take the present seriously of the people who are being affected already today by the climate crisis. Change is not going to come from inside there," she said.

COP26 shouldn't be written off so early, however, said Pulgar-Vidal. "To have finally a collective vision for the world that nobody's doubting or questioning, I think it is a good thing. But now we need to have more clear actions, not only targets but more clear actions."

Positives

Not all hope was lost, however. According to The Associated Press, a coalition moved Monday to put $1.7 billion toward protecting Indigenous peoples and tropical forests in the coming four years. Involved are the governments of the U.S., United Kingdom, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands as well as 17 private investors including The Ford Foundation, the Bezos Earth Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Amid the bleak warnings from the speakers at the summit, Max Blain, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said "we are seeing some positive signs so far" that leaders are understanding the seriousness of the situation, according to AP.

"We expect to see countries to come forward with some more commitments" during the summit, Blain said. "We continue to encourage that those are ambitious, measurable targets that can be delivered particularly in the next decade."

The president of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, also vowed to increase his country's climate finance by half by 2023 as part of a global effort by wealthy countries to help developing nations combat and adapt to the changing climate, the AP reported.

World leaders will address the summit again Tuesday, before most head back to their home countries, while the negotiations continue at ministerial level. COP26 is due to finish November 12, but it could run longer if it looks as though the talks will succeed in reaching a new climate deal.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press.
Hundreds of people in Malawi held protests Tuesday in the commercial capital Blantyre against the high cost of living and unemployment saying both have become unbearable during the current administration.

The civil society group known as Human Rights Ambassadors led the protests that attracted a heavy police presence.

Among other issues, the protesters accused current President Lazarus Chakwera of failing to fulfill promises he made during the campaign period last year.

Steve Chimwaza led the protests.

They promised a lot; they promised rule of law, they promised democracy, they promised 1 million jobs," Chimwaza said. "They promised cheap driving licenses and passports, nothing is there.



People in Malawi have been extremely frustrated because of the skyrocketing prices of basic goods and services.

Last month, the government increased the price of fuel by more than 20%, which then caused price hikes for other commodities.

The government blamed the price hikes on the impact of COVID-19 and also the global increase in fuel prices.

But Chimwaza says Malawians will not accept any excuses.

I would like to take you back. It is Mr. President himself who told Malawians in vernacular language [during the campaign period] that if he fails in two years he will resign," Chimwaza said. "He gave a time frame, but [to this] date, even 100,000 people have not even [been] employed.

Mary Nkhata was among the women who joined the protests.

She said she already receives a low monthly salary and the recent price hikes in goods and services have led to her failing to pay school fees for her children. She said even buying soap now is becoming a problem.

However, President Chakwera said recently that it is not realistic to expect his administration to fulfill all campaign promises within one year.



Mustapha Hussein is a political science lecturer at the University of Malawi.

He says the protesters grievances are justified.

There is a limit to which the situation can be blamed to COVID, because COVID is a global pandemic," Hussein said. "And there are some countries that seem to be progressing amidst COVID. So, government must take the responsibility on unfulfilled promises.

In their petition, the protesters are calling for the resignation of President Chakwera, his Vice President Saulos Chilima, National Assembly Speaker Gotani Hara, and leader of opposition, Kondwani Nankhumwa, if they fail to address their grievances.

Blantyre City Authorities received the petition from the protesters and promised to deliver it to the authorities for feedback.
Pakistan is to free more than 2,000 jailed activists of a banned Islamist militant group and allow the movement to contest elections, under a deal with the government struck to end weeks of violent clashes, negotiators on both sides said.

In return, the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) has agreed to shun the politics of violence and withdraw its longstanding demand to have France's ambassador expelled over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad by a French satirical magazine, they told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The caricatures have triggered repeated demonstrations by the group to protest what it considers blasphemy.

Prime Minister Imran Khan's government banned the TLP after its protests turned violent earlier this year, designated it a terrorist group and arrested its chief Saad Rizvi.

The government and the movement recently said they had reached an agreement to help end the clashes, but neither side gave details.

Two members of the TLP's negotiating team and one from the government side told Reuters the centerpiece of the deal was to lift the ban and allow the group to contest elections.

"The state has acknowledged that the TLP is neither a terrorist group nor a banned outfit," another member of the TLP negotiation team, Bashir Farooqi, separately told local Dunya News TV.

In addition, the government has agreed not to contest the release of the group's jailed leader as well as nearly 2,300 activists and to remove their names from a terrorist watch list, the three negotiators told Reuters.

Punjab province Law Minister Raja Basharat said nearly 1,000 of the activists had already been released.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not respond to a request for comment.

The settlement came after seven police officers were killed and hundreds more were wounded as they confronted thousands of TLP demonstrators marching up Pakistan's busiest highway from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad.

The group, which can mobilize thousands of supporters, was born in 2015 out of a protest campaign to seek the release of a police guard who assassinated a provincial governor in 2011 over his calls to reform blasphemy legislation.

It entered politics in 2017 and surprised the political elite by securing over 2 million votes in the 2018 election.

The next national election is scheduled for 2023, and analysts expect political groups to start gearing up early next year.

Despite the agreement, TLP demonstrators have refused to clear the Grand Trunk Road highway, which they have blocked for more than two weeks, until the government showed good progress on the agreement, its leaders said.


Wealthy Russians didn't delay their escape.

Ahead of the imposition this week of new nationwide pandemic restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, they headed to Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Or to Black Sea resorts, such as Sochi, which was anticipating an influx this week of 100,000 tourists from northern Russia.

Travel agencies reported bookings soaring for tour packages.

The Kremlin hopes the new restrictions, which will see Russians required to take paid leave from October 30 to November 7, will slow record infections and deaths. Russian officials have sought to discourage travel but to little avail.

Last week, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow, "Epidemiologists have raised concerns that many people are planning to go on trips and travel."

Whether the weeklong involuntary public holiday will slow the pace of infections remains to be seen, say health experts. The latest wave of the pandemic  the country's fourth and most deadly  has been fueled by widespread vaccine hesitancy.

Only 32% percent of Russia's population is fully vaccinated, and according to a survey published this week by the Levada Center, a Moscow-based pollster, half of the respondents said they are unafraid of contracting the coronavirus. And three out of four unvaccinated Russians aren't planning to get inoculated, according to an opinion poll conducted last month by international pollster Gallup.

Former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev publicly warned Monday of the urgency of persuading more Russians to get vaccinated.

"If we do not find ways to convince people of their irresponsibility, even, to put it bluntly, their antisocial behavior, we will face even more difficult times," he said. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is widely available.

In the last few weeks, the number of recorded COVID-19 cases has risen inexorably, with records broken day after day. By ordering most state organizations and private businesses to stop work, except for those involved in maintaining critical infrastructure, the Kremlin hopes the trend can be reversed.

Five regions  Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Samara and Voronezh  started the non-work period earlier than others and are likely to see their off-work period extended beyond November 7. The governor of Novgorod, Andrey Nikitin, has already announced he is prolonging the non-work period in his region by an additional week.

"We're extending the period of non-working days by one week, with the preservation of wages," Nikitin announced Monday.

Rosstat, the Russian government's statistics department, reported Friday that 201,945 people died from all causes during the month of September  a 45% jump from the same month in 2019. Excess deaths  a measure comparing fatalities from all causes to pre-pandemic levels  is seen by some experts as a more robust indicator of pandemic deaths, because the official coronavirus tallies leave out many people who died without being tested.

The Kremlin has been accused of playing down the COVID-19 death toll since the start of the pandemic. According to the official pandemic tally, 235,000 Russian deaths are COVID-related, the fourth-highest in the world. But excess deaths since the arrival of the coronavirus have reached almost 750,000.

Officially, more than 8.5 million infections have been recorded in the country since the pandemic struck. On Monday, Russia health officials reported more than 40,000 fresh coronavirus cases.

The pressure on the country's health service is mounting, which the Kremlin is now acknowledging. Some regions have reported oxygen shortages because of surging cases.

"Of course, the situation is not straightforward. Beds are filled to a large extent, and these days, the situation is not becoming easier," Peskov told reporters in the Russian capital. "This is an excessive and extraordinary burden on our doctors, who are demonstrating heroism with what is happening."

Shortly before he spoke, the state-run Tass news agency reported the Kremlin is planning to introduce a nationwide digital pass system similar to the European Union's which will allow Russians to show proof of vaccination or recent recovery from the coronavirus. Entry to public buildings and events is likely to be restricted to those armed with a digital pass. Many regions have already implemented a pass system and have mandated vaccinations for their public workers.

Officials hope the digital pass system will undermine a roaring trade in counterfeit health certificates. The 47News outlet, which is based in St. Petersburg, reported this week on the sophisticated operations of counterfeiters who offer falsified COVID-19 test certificates. It said clients are charged 2,550 rubles ($36) to receive a fake negative test result within three hours; forged documents contain a QR code that links to a fake laboratory website.
Senegal has all the makings of a vibrant surf scene: consistent breaks, warm water and a friendly, inviting culture. But without access to the raw materials needed to shape their own boards, many miss out on the fun. One local surfer found a unique way to create his own boards and has now launched a business with the goal of becoming the first Senegalese surfboard shaper.

Shaping a surfboard from scratch requires a great deal of skill and precision. It also requires a host of raw materials, such as resin and fiberglass, which are hard to come by in Senegal.

But those obstacles never deterred Pape Diouf from trying to make his own.

Diouf grew up in Dakars seaside Yoff neighborhood, where he learned to surf on boards borrowed from friends  boards that were typically imported from Europe or left behind by tourists. But Diouf says he always dreamt of making his own.

It allows you to not be dependent on the West in order to have boards. So, once theres a possibility to find a board locally, it will help the Senegalese surf industry develop much more easily, Diouf said.

Photo Gallery: Catching Some Waves Off Senegal's Dakar Senegal has all the makings of a vibrant surf scene: consistent breaks, warm water and a friendly, inviting culture. But without access to the raw materials needed to shape their own boards, many miss out on the fun. One local surfer found a unique way to create his own boards and has now launched a business with the goal of becoming the first Senegalese surfboard shaper. Share on Facebook

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In 2019, a Lebanese-Senegalese surfboard shaper agreed to teach Diouf how to shape and repair boards. Since he didnt yet have the funds to purchase materials, Diouf began salvaging old, discarded boards and repurposing them into new ones.

He often gave them away to young surfers from his community who didnt have their own. Over the last year Diouf raised more than $15,000 through online crowdfunding and from international investors. He was granted a free 6-month training meant to help local entrepreneurs develop their businesses. Hes now in the running for a second round of investments. He plans to use the money to purchase the foam blanks he needs to shape the boards from scratch.

Walid Moukadem is the surfboard shaper who trained Diouf.

It will be a first. It will really be a first. I dont think there are many African surfboard shapers. To know that tomorrow Pape can sell his own boards, its huge, Moukadem said.

Experts say there are many benefits to having surfboards shaped locally, particularly in countries where its not easily accessible. In Senegal, where infrastructure and businesses often rely on foreign investment, its also a matter of national pride.

Oumar Seye is the vice president of the Senegalese Surf Federation. He was the first professional Senegalese surfer and has witnessed the development of the countrys surf industry.

What we would appreciate more is to have surfboards made in Senegal from Pape, its our hope. To have boards made in Senegal by a Senegalese [surfboard] shaper, he said.

Seye said he looks forward to one day watching Diouf train the next generation of Senegalese surfboard shapers.
A U.S. envoy said Tuesday the Sudanese military exercised restraint during Saturdays anti-military coup demonstrations and that the restraint raised the possibility of the countrys return to a power sharing agreement.

Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, made the assessment during a telephone briefing with reporters from Washington, despite the Sudanese militarys fatal shootings of three protestors.

He said the death toll was far too many but added by and large ... security services exercised restraint and upheld their obligations to respect human rights. He noted the death toll was not higher because demonstrators did not approach sensitive military locations.

You saw the evidence  of the Sudanese understanding that they need to get themselves out of this crisis by the conduct of the demonstrations, Feltman said.

I think that demonstrated an understanding by the Sudanese people themselves that they have to be careful and find a way back to the civilian-military partnership this transition requires, Feltman said.

The U.S urged the military leaders of Sudans Oct. 25 coup to refrain from any and all violence against peaceful protesters one day before their march of millions demonstrations demanding a return to civilian rule.

The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said security forces fatally shot three protesters in the city of Omdurman and that 38 people were injured, some by gunfire.

Sudanese military chief General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan said the armys overthrow of the countrys transitional government was necessary to avoid a civil war.

Feltman again urged the general to restore the civilian government and release Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok from house arrest, contending the military cannot maintain power without foreign assistance such as the $700 million the U.S. has suspended.

I think that the military will recognize that they need the type of international support that was being given to the transitional authorities, Feltman said.

The military takeover occurred weeks of escalating tensions between military and civilian leaders over Sudans transition to democracy. The coup threatened to derail the process, which had slowly progressed since the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising in 2019.

Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world's largest chipmakers, has announced plans to build a new plant in Japan, a move experts say may help revive Japan's declining chipmaking sector and bolster its economic security.

The new plant is slated to begin operation in 2024, said CEO C.C. Wei,

who announced the expansion. The operation will expand TSMC's worldwide production while fostering Taiwan's economic ties to Japan, according to Yukan Fuji, a Japanese newspaper.

The move comes as Japanese manufacturers and others eye Beijing's intentions toward Taiwan, where most TSMC plants are located. Any disruption in Taiwan affecting TSMC production could strain the global supply chain to the snapping point.

"We have received strong commitment to supporting this project from our customers and the Japanese government," said Wei.

The Japanese government intends to subsidize about half of TSMC's roughly $8.81 billion project, according to TechTaiwan.

Kazuto Suzuki, a University of Tokyo professor who focuses on public policy, told VOA Mandarin that it is "very important" that "Sony and Toyota's parts manufacturer Denso is also invested in the joint construction.  Furthermore, TSMC's products are tailored to demand. With Sony's vast customer base, TSMC can establish a model of close communication with customers and create products with higher customer satisfaction."

TSMC's plans to build a new plant in Japan are part of its global expansion.

The chipmaker is already building a $12 billion facility in the U.S. state of Arizona, where production is expected to begin in 2024. The plant is slated to produce 5-nanometer chips, the latest in semiconductor technology.

Decreasing reliance on China

Expanding into Japan will bolster that country's chipmaking. "We expect our country's semiconductor industry to become more indispensable and self-reliant, making a major contribution to our economic security," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters on October 14, after TSMC's announcement.

"The increasingly tense relationship between Taiwan and China has increased geopolitical pressure on the supply chain, so the world is rebuilding the supply chain to break away from dependence on China," Ruay-Shiung Chang, president of the National Taipei University of Business, told VOA Mandarin.

"From the perspective of risk management, Western countries and China will inevitably be polarized in the future, and many industry standards may become interchangeable," he added.

Suzuki believes that TSMC's plan will make the company an "economic and trade friendship ambassador" to Japan as the economic link between Tokyo and Beijing deteriorates.

"Since the Trump administration, exports of semiconductors to China have been restricted. For example, Japan no longer cooperates with Huawei," he said, referring to the Chinese tech multinational targeted by the U.S. for its close ties to Beijing. "So regardless of whether TSMC enters Japan or not, the semiconductor industry ties between Japan and China are a big problem, and there is currently no solution."

Impact on other chipmaking countries

Nikkei Asia reported that if TSMC accepted financing from the Japanese government, South Korea and other countries could file complaints with the World Trade Organization (WTO), citing the loss of semiconductor exports to subsidized plants in Japan.

"How about South Korea's subsidies for its own domestic [chipmakers]?" Chang said. The South Korean government said in May that it plans to offer tax incentives and state subsidies worth a combined $453 billion to chipmakers to meet the government's goal of becoming a global leader in chip production, according to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency.

Chang pointed out that because TSMC is establishing a factory in Arizona, the U.S. would likely not support South Korea's filing against Japan at the WTO.

However, a country seeking to file a complaint with the WTO often encounters difficulty proving the connection between its projected losses and the subsidies provided by the possible defendant countries, Chang added. Without that direct link, an action cannot proceed.

"The U.S. and EU (European Union) regarded China's massive subsidies to support the semiconductor industry as a major issue, but they still failed to lodge a complaint with the WTO due to difficulties in producing evidence, " said Chang.

"From a global perspective, TSMC's establishment of a factory in Japan is of great help in increasing semiconductor supply capacity," Suzuki said.

Companies manufacturing chips solely for use in their own products is a model that market forces will eliminate, he added, and this will give TSMC, which makes chips usable by many manufacturers, a long-term advantage.

"However, the factory will not be fully operational until 2024, and there will be no immediate impact in the short term. The important thing is that Japan is not very dependent on Samsung's [chips] because they are designed and manufactured for Samsung's own products. Sony, Mitsubishi, Hitachi and other products rely on TSMC  more than Samsung, so the impact is very limited, " Suzuki said.
Voters are casting ballots Tuesday for governor in the U.S. states of Virginia and New Jersey, two closely watched races ahead of next years midterm congressional elections.

In Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who served as the states governor from 2014 to 2018, is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a political newcomer.

Both candidates held final campaign events Monday in the northern Virginia suburbs outside Washington. Youngkin told his supporters the future of this country is going to be decided, in Tuesdays vote, while McAuliffe said the stakes are huge.

McAuliffe has seen his lead in opinion polls slide in recent months, just as approval ratings for Democratic President Joe Biden fell. Former President Donald Trump has supported Youngkins campaign, including calling in to a rally for the Republican Monday night.

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy is seeking to become the first Democratic governor in the state to win reelection in 44 years as he faces a challenge from former state legislator Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Democrats hold a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives with all of the chambers 435 seats on the ballot in 2022.

There are currently three vacant seats in the House that must be filled before then.

Tuesday features special elections to fill the seats representing Ohios 11th and 15th congressional districts. There are also primary elections in the race to fill the seat in Floridas 20th district ahead of a special election there in January.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
Citing "gross violations of internationally recognized human rights," the United States on Tuesday said it suspended Ethiopias duty-free access to the U.S. market.

Mali and Guinea will also lose access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

"Today, President Biden announced three countries will be terminated from the AGOA trade preference program as of January 1, 2022, absent urgent action to meet statutory eligibility criteria," said U.S. top trade negotiator Ambassador Katherine Tai in a statement.

"Our Administration is deeply concerned by the unconstitutional change in governments in both Guinea and Mali, and by the gross violations of internationally recognized human rights being perpetrated by the Government of Ethiopia and other parties amid the widening conflict in northern Ethiopia."

The move against Ethiopia comes as a result of a yearlong civil war in the northern Tigray region, which has caused a humanitarian crisis.

Already under the strain of war and the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of access to the U.S. market will further weaken Ethiopias economy. According to Bloomberg, Ethiopia exported $245 million worth of goods to the U.S. under AGOA. That accounted for half the countrys exports to the U.S.

In addition to suspended access via AGOA, the Biden administration recently authorized sanctions against Ethiopian individuals it said are prolonging the war in the northern part of the country.

On Wednesday, the United Nations and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission are releasing a report with the results of their investigation into alleged human rights violations in the Tigray war.

Without a renewal, AGOA is set to expire in 2025.
The World Food Program reports successive years of extreme weather events have plunged thousands of people in Madagascar into what WFP officials say is the worlds first climate-induced famine.

Five years of consecutive drought compounded by sandstorms, as well as cyclones, an invasion of locusts and growing insecurity have created what World Food Program officials call the perfect storm.

The latest U.N. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification or IPC assessment of the food situation in Madagascar found 1.3 million people are suffering from acute hunger. WFP Deputy Country Director in Madagascar, Aduino Mangoni, said an estimated 30,000 people are suffering from famine.

This is basically the only, maybe the first climate-change famine on earth, if we look at the other current food crises, including famine-like conditions. So, South Sudan, Yemen, and Ethiopia for the Tigray, they are all driven by conflict, he said.

Mangoni said hundreds of thousands of people do not have enough food and have exhausted their coping strategies. He said many are surviving by eating cactus leaves, insects, and locusts. He said people must walk 30 to 40 kilometers to buy water, which is becoming more expensive.

He said some people who have sold everythingtheir land, their cattle, their household goods are leaving their villages behind and migrating toward urban centers in search of help.

He said about half a million children under age five are suffering from acute malnutrition. Mangoni added an estimated 110,000 children are in a state of severe malnutrition and in need of special nutritional feeding to survive.

Whenever one enters a nutrition center, the situation is heartbreaking, with silence, no joy. Kids just staring at you and in a situation of really skin and bones, he said.

Mangoni said he has worked in several emergencies including Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, in Darfur. He said he has never seen children in such a lamentable condition as these in Madagascar.

In April, WFP was forced to cut food rations in half for 700,000 people because of lack of money. The agency began restoring cuts for thousands of the most vulnerable in September.

Mangoni said WFP plans to further scale up food rations for many more people from December until, what it hopes will be the next good harvest in April. To support this program, he said WFP urgently needs $69 million.
Human rights activists are expressing surprise at the failure of Israel and Switzerland to participate in a joint statement criticizing Chinas treatment of its Uyghur minority.

France delivered the statement on behalf of 43 countries at the United Nations last month.

The two countries have signed previous statements, especially Switzerland, which has always joined collective statements condemning atrocities in East Turkistan, said Dolkun Isa, president of the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress, who used the Uyghurs preferred name for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China in an interview with VOA.

Varied responses to China and Uyghurs

In the joint statement, France's U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said the signatory countries "are particularly concerned about the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region He added that credible reports indicate the existence of a large network of political re-education camps where over a million people have been arbitrarily detained.

The statement called on China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

China's U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, rejected the joint criticism as "unfounded and likened the signatory countries the henchmen of the United States.

Xinjiang enjoys stability, development and prosperity, and the Chinese people's life is getting better day by day, Zhang said. The Chinese people are satisfied with and proud of such achievements, and those achievements are widely recognized and praised by people around the world.

Switzerland and Israel

In June at the United Nations in Geneva, Israel and Switzerland joined 42 other countries in signing a joint statement concerning Uyghur human rights in China.

But Switzerlands foreign ministry spokesperson Pierre-Alain Eltschinger told VOA in an email that his country decided not to join in the latest statement because of various factors, including an upcoming strategic dialogue with China.

Switzerland's substantive position on China and human rights remains unchanged, Eltschinger wrote. Switzerland continues to be concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and other parts of China.

Eltschinger added that Switzerland assesses support for any joint statement on a case-by-case basis. Switzerland will continue to join joint statements in the future when it deems it appropriate, he said.

Israels foreign ministry and the embassy of Israel in Washington did not respond to questions from VOA about its decision not to sign the October statement.

However, the Jewish Movement for Uyghur Freedom, a grassroots Jewish rights organization, suggested that the Israeli government is bargaining with China in order to preserve relations.

It was on the right side of the Uyghur issue in June when it signed an earlier statement, and we call on [Israel] to reestablish this position, the group said in an email to VOA.

Isa said it is not unprecedented at the United Nations for a country to shift its position on Uyghur human rights in the face of diplomatic pressure from China.

During the last statement in June, Ukraine was initially part of the joint statement delivered by 44 U.N. member states. However, it withdrew its signature shortly after, because of the vaccine diplomacy that China exercised against Ukraine, Isa said.

Sixty-two countries including Cuba signed onto a joint statement opposing interference in Chinas internal affairs in the name of human rights, according to Chinese state media.
A plane chartered by the U.N. refugee agency carrying desperately needed winter relief for thousands of displaced people landed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Tuesday.

This is the first of three mercy flights scheduled to take off from UNHCRs warehouse in Dubai for Kabul this week. The planeload of 33 tons of winterization kits will be distributed to thousands of families living under precarious conditions.

Conflict and insecurity have displaced 3.5 million Afghans inside the country, including some 700,000 newly displaced this year. U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo says her agency aims to aid half a million of this large number of displaced.

She says aid is prioritized based on needs and vulnerabilities. She says the UNHCR is rushing to provide critical aid to the Afghans before the rigors of winter set in and access is cut off.

Already, they are feeling the onset of the cold, with temperatures dipping to even zero degrees Celsius overnight," Mantoo said. "So, quite cold. People have very rudimentary or basic setup, especially those that have just been displaced. It is quite critical, and that is why there is an urgency to get this winter assistance in. In the highlands and the upper parts of the country, we are expecting even more temperatures to zip even more.

Mantoo says the winter relief supplies include emergency shelter kits, items to improve tent insulation against the cold and heat resistant protection to enable the installation of a stove. She says humanitarian aid, including food rations, blankets, kitchen sets and solar panels, also are being distributed.

We are using land, sea and air routes to bring humanitarian relief into Afghanistan and other countries in the region so we can respond to increasing needs," Mantoo said. "Further relief supplies have also been prepositioned in Termez, Uzbekistan, ready to be trucked into Afghanistan as needed.

The UNHCR is appealing for greater international support. It says more resources are urgently needed as it scales up its humanitarian response to reach all who will need help to survive the harsh winter ahead.

So far, the agencys $388 million appeal remains 42% underfunded.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government has announced it is starting to vaccinate Zimbabwes teenagers over the age of 16 against COVID-19, which has claimed nearly 5,000 lives and infected 13,000 in the country. Public health experts welcome the move.

Zimbabwes acting Health and Child Care Minister Amon Murwira told journalists late Monday that the country had so far managed to vaccinate 38% of the population.

He then announced the recommendation regarding those over the age of 16.

Based on the available scientific data in line with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe guide, the specialist pediatricians have recommended a vaccination of the 16 to 17 years age group with the Sinovac COVID19 vaccine," said Murwira.

"The protocol of the younger age groups is still under consideration. The ministry wishes to advise the public that COVID19 vaccination of the 16 to 17 years age groups has been approved. The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health and Childcare is determined that Zimbabwe achieves herd immunity by end December 2021, he added.

Dr. Norman Matara, the head of Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights, is hopeful the move would increase the number of people getting vaccinated and will push the country further to achieving head immunity.

This is a welcome move, but we just hope that the vaccine will continue to be voluntary and that these teenagers will not be mandated to get vaccines in schools and colleges. But people should just continue to voluntarily get the vaccines, he said.

Itai Rusike, head of nonprofit Community Working Group on Health in Zimbabwe, commended the government for the announcement as it helps the country reach its target of vaccinating at least 10 million Zimbabweans  or 60% of the population  by the end of the year.

This is important in order to prevent the teenagers from COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and even death, especially from the looming threat of the new delta variant. It is also important that the school health coordinators are equipped with the necessary COVID-19 vaccine literacy so that they can then assist in educating the students, the teachers and support staff on the importance of getting vaccinated. It is also important that the community leaders should play a critical role in being our COVID-19 champions and ambassadors so that they can encourage the parents and the children within their communities to embrace the vaccines, said Rusike.

Zimbabwe has fully inoculated just above 2.6 million people since February when it began its vaccination program to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Thousands of Sudanese from across the US attended a march in DC on Oct. 30, 2021, to protest a recent military coup in Sudan. VOA's Nabeel Biajo was there.
More than 100 world leaders gathered for a summit Monday as work begins at a two-week U.N. climate conference, with areas of focus expected to include pledges for emissions targets and funding to help developing nations cope with impacts from climate change.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is serving as host of the conference in Glasgow, Scotland, stressed the urgency of acting, saying humanity has waited for too long.

"If we dont get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow," Johnson said.

John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy, told reporters ahead of Mondays summit that goals for the conference include raising global ambition very significantly, and for countries to commit to what he called a decade of action in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Kerry also highlighted the need to deal with the financial aspect of climate change, both the deployment of committed funds and helping developing nations with the damage they suffer.

We also know that theres real loss and damage out there, that there are nation-states that are talking about where their people are going to move because the sea level is rising. There are areas where people can no longer live. And there are migrants moving around the planet as a consequence of the destruction of habitat, Kerry said. I dont think you can galvanize the kind of global action that you need to be able to accomplish our goals if we're not being sensitive and thoughtful about people up and down the economic food chain and people who have done nothing, in most cases, to contribute to the problem.

The climate summit follows a meeting of G-20 leaders in Rome where they agreed to work to reach carbon neutrality by around mid-century" and pledged to end financing for coal plants abroad by the end of this year, but failed to agree on phasing out coal domestically.

While I welcome the #G20s recommitment to global solutions, I leave Rome with my hopes unfulfilled  but at least they are not buried, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on Twitter.

The leaders issued their final communique Sunday at the end of a two-day summit.

They also addressed efforts to reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in line with a global commitment made in 2015 with the Paris Climate Accord to keep global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably to 1.5 degrees.

We recognize that the impacts of climate change at 1.5C are much lower than at 2C. Keeping 1.5C within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries, the communique said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking at a press conference in Rome on Sunday, said while people were disappointed that Russia and China leaders didnt show up with commitments about climate change, the leaders who did attend made significant progress.

I think you are going to see we have made significant progress and more has to be done, he said. Its going to require us to continue to focus on what Chinas not doing, what Russia is not doing and what Saudi Arabia is not doing.

The grouping of 19 countries and the European Union accounts for more than three-quarters of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions.

In October, two dozen countries joined a U.S.- and EU-led effort to slash methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.

Coal, though, is a bigger point of contention. G-20 members China and India have resisted attempts to produce a declaration on phasing out domestic coal consumption.

Climate financing, namely pledges from wealthy nations to provide $100 billion a year to support developing countries efforts to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, is another key concern. Indonesia, a large greenhouse gas emitter that will take over the G-20 presidency in December, urged developed countries to fulfill their financing commitments both in Rome and in Glasgow.

Some information in this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
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A Zanu PF activist, Simba Mavaza, who is in Scotland to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa's anti-sanctions agenda, crying foul over the stomping of his scarf by Zimbabweans opposed to the president's presence at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. (Courtesy Video)
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the West should remove targeted sanctions imposed on the ruling Zanu PF elite, claiming that the restrictive measures are impeding the implementation of climate change programs.

Mnangagwa made these remarks today at the ongoing 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

In a series of tweets, Information Secretary Nick Mangwana quoted Mnangagwa as saying, Zimbabwe has set an ambitious objective of reducing carbon emissions by 40% per capita by 2030. The removal of illegal sanctions which have been imposed on my country will go a long way in helping to enable the achievement of this target.

Zimbabwe has not been spared from climate change challenges which have led to increasing frequencies of severe droughts and cyclone-induced floods. These, coupled with the economic sanctions imposed on us and the Covid-19 pandemic, have had negative impacts on the livelihoods of the people of my country.

Mnangagwa also said it is most unfortunate that the impact of climate change is disproportionately borne by vulnerable communities that have contributed the least to the current stock of atmospheric carbon. Vulnerable countries must therefore be capacitated to adapt and build resilience 

Opponents of his government claim that Zimbabwe has been crippled over the years by mismanagement, human rights abuses and rampant corruption.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Mangwana said Zimbabwe has some specific programs for tackling global warming.

Of the countries at #COP26 Zimbabwe has one of the most ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. This is in spite of being a net carbon sink Nation.

He said Zimbabwes current emission mitigation plans in the energy sector include the reduction of transmission loss from 18% to 11% by 2025, expansion of solar to 300MW by 2025, addition of 4.1MW biogas capacity by 2024, 12% efficiency saving in agriculture by 2030 and 8% efficiency savings in mining.

Mangwana further noted that Zimbabwes response to reducing greenhouse gases also include the introduction of carbon tax on all fuel, diesel and petrol imports, to ensure the importation of fuel with ethanol, and the protection of the countrys national parks and wetlands, which act as carbon sinks.

He said there is need for financial resources for Zimbabwe and other developing nations to achieve these goals.
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Ilog (29.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : At my room upstairs doing my report when a sudden shake of house felt, light headedness felt after went outside the house after the shaking is over

Las Pinas City (528.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : i didnt feel anything. but i had a feeling an earthquake was happening. i was in the playground with my friends.

Iloilo City, Western Visayas (89.2 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 minutes : I was working on my laptop & I was startled with a jolt then followed by slow, swaying of surroundings. Noted movement of water level in water bottle.

Iloilo (84.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s

Guimbal, Province of Iloilo, Western Visayas (84.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : I was sitting down with my back against the bed and I felt a bit of swinging.

Orang, Negros Occidental, Western Visayas (35.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 30-60 s

CITY OF KABANKALAN (34.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : weak shaking

Iloilo City, Western Visayas (87.7 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

Iloilo (92.9 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

Bacolod City (93.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : 2nd floor, computer monitor moved, headache

Bacolod / not felt

Bacolod City / not felt

Victoria's city, negros occidental / not felt

Bacolod City Negros Occidental / not felt

Bacolod City / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Tanjay city, Negros Oriental / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Cauayan / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s

Bayawan City / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Horrible

Iloilo City / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

HINOBA-AN (ASIA) / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : i was sitting in a chair when i felt the shake so it was ok for me

Kabankalan City / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 15-20 s

Guimaras / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s

Sipalay City / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Felt a little bit nervous

Leganes, Iloilo / Weak shaking (MMI III)

bacolod / not felt

Hinigaran / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Was laying in bed and felt bed softly shaking from side to side with very slight rolling effect.

Jaro, Iloilo City / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single vertical bump / very short : Intensity 3

guimaras / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / very short

San Enrique / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Sipalay City / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : Weak shaking, then moderate bump

Nauhang beach resort sipalay city / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : It is very strong earthquake

Ilog / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

sipalay / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s
2185-27-10-2021

de-DE1 en-GB1 es-ES1 ru-RU1 fr-FR1

Colleagues,

I am delighted to welcome you to this meeting.

First of all, I would like to thank all the countries with representatives here for taking an active part in the recent meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, an exclusive platform that has no alternative when it comes to the scope and efficiency.

We have recently taken note of the increased activities of various regional and international forums on Afghanistan. It is important for them not to copy but to organically complement each other. I am confident that our discussion today will make a major contribution to our joint efforts to settle the numerous problems the Afghan people are facing and will help maintain stability and security in the region and beyond.

Today Afghanistan is a country that actually has to begin from scratch, to rise from the ruins in both the literal and the figurative meaning of the term. This is the logical result of two decades of the enforcement of the US-NATO model of state development. The Western countries stubborn desire to rebuild Afghanistan according to their own designs has led to dramatic consequences, namely, internal hostility and bloodshed, social polarisation, socioeconomic collapse and a humanitarian catastrophe. It has also encouraged rampant international terrorism and an unheard-of volume of drug production and corruption. But are the United States or other Western countries concerned? They always regarded Afghanistan, which is located thousands of kilometres away from them, as a useful instrument for attaining their narrow geopolitical goals.

A new administration has assumed power in Kabul. This is objective reality. The country has a real, although difficult to attain opportunity to return to the international stage as a responsible and peaceful state.

We respect the goals set out by the new Afghan authorities  to stabilise the military-political environment, to include representatives of national minorities and political forces in the transitional government, and to subsequently hold general elections. We have taken note of the efforts to resume the operations of the bodies of state administration, to create a regular army, and to ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic missions.

Russia is not inclined to force its advice or recommendations on anyone, the more so since history itself suggests effective solutions to problems. Having maximally full regard for the interests of all the main ethno-political forces in the country is of vital importance. It is for this reason that we firmly and consistently support the creation of a truly inclusive Afghan government. Citizens must know that their rights and lawful aspirations will be enforced, not in word but in deed and that they will be protected by the letter of the law  of course, with respect and consideration for the local traditions and customs.

As is obvious, it will hardly be possible to develop a normal foreign policy  particularly towards the neighbouring countries, which are the prime targets for the international terrorist groups that have become entrenched in Afghanistan and are being manipulated from the outside  unless a resolute fight is launched against drug production and trafficking as well as against these destructive forces.

For our part, we are planning to use all international and regional instruments at our disposal. I am referring to the resources available to the UN, the SCO, the CSTO, and other multilateral organisations. We are pleased to point to the closeness of the positions held by the participants in the recent Dushanbe summits. We are also pleased with the outcome of the special joint CSTO-SCO meeting.

Cutting short and controlling migration flows from Afghanistan is high on todays agenda. This is of particular importance since terrorists and criminals are able and are already trying to penetrate adjacent countries under the guise of refugees. We can only reach this goal by creating normal living conditions in Afghanistan itself. In the future, this will become an important factor compelling the Afghans to come back home.

We once again call on the countries neighbouring on Afghanistan to prevent the US and NATO from establishing a military presence in their territory, given their plans to move there after pulling out of Afghanistan.

It is clear that immense financial outlays will be required to create Afghanistans national education and health systems and in general establish an effective socioeconomic infrastructure in the country. In this connection I would like to lay a special stress on the following: the main responsibility should be borne by those who have driven that country into its present state. In all evidence, it is high time we launched mobilisation work to amass resources for financial, economic and humanitarian aid to the Afghans.

I hope the principle of holding conferences for the sake of conferences, which the Westerners are so comfortable with, is already a thing of the past. The time has come for concrete action in this regard. I am confident that the United Nations should play the coordinating role. It was to the UN that the participants in the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan addressed their appeal on October 20, 2021.

Russia is ready to make its contribution to the common effort. Quite soon, we are planning to send to our Afghan partners a batch of humanitarian aid consisting of food, medicines, and essential commodities.

In conclusion, I would like to wish you successful work.

Thank you.
Statement of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations during the consideration of agenda item 69, entitled Report of the Human Rights Council

1. It is an honor for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to take the floor on behalf of the Member States of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, made up of Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Nicaragua, the State of Palestine, the Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, Zimbabwe, and my own country, Venezuela.

2. At the outset, we congratulate Ambassador Nazhat Shameem for her leadership at the head of the Human Rights Council during its fifteenth cycle, corresponding to 2021, and express appreciation for the presentation of the report of this body to the General Assembly, in accordance with its Resolution 60/251, of which we have taken due note.

3. The Group of Friends considers the Charter of the United Nations to be a milestone and a true act of faith on the best of humanity. It is the code of conduct that has ruled international relations between States for the past 76 years, on the basis of timeless principles; such as, self-determination of peoples, sovereign equality of States, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, and refrainment from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. These are all basic norms and principles that, apart from being the foundation for modern-day international law, today remain as relevant as back in 1945.

4. In addition, we consider that ensuring compliance with and strict adherence to both the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations is fundamental for ensuring the realization of the three pillars of our Organization, as well as for advancing towards the establishment of a more peaceful and prosperous world and of a truly just and equitable world order.

5. In this context, we express our serious concern at the current and growing threats against the Charter of the United Nations. We refer, among others, to the growing resort to unilateralism; to the attacks against multilateralism; to the claiming of non-existent exceptionalisms; to the attempts to ignore and even substitute the purposes and principles contained in the UN Charter with a new set of so-called rules that have never been discussed in an inclusive or transparent manner; and to selective approaches or accommodative interpretations of the provisions of the UN Charter. These practices have resulted, as history and facts prove, in massive violations of human rights and other tenets of international law, which, in many instances, remain unpunished to this very date.

6. Seventy-six years ago, the international community rallied around a series of common purposes and principles, all contained in the Charter of the United Nations, and declared their commitment to defend life, freedom, independence, justice and human rights, the latter being, precisely, one of the three fundamental pillars of our Organization. Hence, achieving the full enjoyment of human rights in all their dimensions represents a noble ideal and objective that is today more relevant than ever.

7. The Group of Friends attaches a supreme value to the promotion and protection of all human rights, both individuals and collectives, including the right to development, without distinction of levels or categories, and considers also that their promotion and protection is enhanced on the basis of dialogue and cooperation, in accordance with the principles of impartiality, objectivity, transparency, non-selectivity, non-politicization and non-confrontation, and within a framework of equality and mutual respect between States.

8. In this regard, we reject all kinds of double standards that undermine human rights and prevent a harmonious environment and progress in this field, and we are concerned by the proliferation of unilateral mechanisms that pretend to conduct an impartial assessment of the human rights situation in specific States, especially when they do not count with their due consent and participation. The continuation of this practice infringes upon the spirit that must guide the higher ideals in favor of the genuine promotion and protection of human rights, while representing also a clear violation of the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, which has committed us to promote and encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind. We recall, in this regard, that the Universal Periodic Review (UPU) of the Human Rights Council is the proper mechanism to discuss in a constructive manner human rights situation.

9. To conclude, while calling for an end to the politicization of human rights, the Group of Friends reaffirms its willingness to continue contributing to the institutional strengthening of the Human Rights Council, on the basis of an approach that promotes multilateralism, and that it is complemented in a transparent manner with other United Nations instances. If we really seek to advance universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, we must rely on consensual political and diplomatic mechanisms for their promotion and protection, while preventing that the name of our Organization and the spirit that should guide its endeavors be misused for objectives that are contrary to the purposes and principles enshrined in its very own founding Charter.
Below Deck Boat Daddy Season 9 Episode 2 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Bravo

Somehow, Eddie, Sean, & Co. are still setting up this beach picnic. On whats probably Eddies tenth trip back to the yacht, Captain Sean asks him to get a bag of seashells from his room  and make sure we get all the price tags off the shells too. Sir, I can promise you, all these women want at this point is alcohol and food by the water! Im not a micromanager. Im hands-on, Sean says in his confessional, a bald-faced lie that I hope helps him sleep well tonight.

The women finally arrive at their (not-a-)beach picnic an hour after it was supposed to begin, enjoying rose and coconut drinks courtesy of Fraser. Yes, after Heather told him minutes before to pull that head of housekeeping out of your butt and make the guest rooms perfect, she sent him to the beach to handle drinks service instead, to his and my confusion. Sean is still here, too, for some reason, trying to be all cool and hand one of the guests a seashell he found. But can we have snacks? they ask, in a moment so perfectly evocative of what Sean thinks the guests want versus what the guests actually want. He may like to brag about having worked every job on a yacht, but theres a reason captains dont handle service  although I will begrudgingly concede his picnic setup did look very nice.

But we no longer have to worry about Captain Sean sticking his nose into service, because Lee is on his way back! He calls to let Sean know hes coming to the boat later in the day and that Sean will have to give up the My Seanna after just a few days of leading it. To be honest, Im a little disappointed we wont get more Sean mess after the setup for this season made such a big deal out of Lees absence. But at the same time, what is this show without the Stud of the Sea himself? Rachel puts it best after Sean delivers the news to the crew: Its a bummer to see somebody go, but dont let the passerelle hit you on the ass on the way out, because my Captain Lees fucking coming back.

The glamour shot of Captain Lee riding a water taxi back to the yacht is an image I never knew I wanted but actually needed all along. Id rather sandpaper a tigers ass in a phone booth than miss the charter, he says with a laugh. How could you not miss this man? Lee and Sean engage in a bit of captain banter before Lee informs Sean the water taxi is waiting. Now get off my boat, he says, in yet another perfect confessional in just minutes.

Rachel gives Lee a kiss before Heather has a noticeably awkward first meeting with the captain, whos still looking for another great chief stew after Francesca didnt quite rise to Kate Chastainlevel standards. Then Lee has a meeting with his right hand, Eddie, to talk about first officer things  including why Lee was off the boat. He dramatically pulls out some medical paperwork and tells Eddie confidentially (while also telling millions of viewers) he was getting treatment for AFib, or atrial fibrillation, a heart condition hes had for his whole life. Eddie looks a bit surprised but agrees to treat Lee the same despite the news. I will run your ass off if you dont, Lee tells him.

Lee joins the women for a second dinner, after Rachel brought him a plate in the bridge earlier in the evening. But I see why he wouldnt want to miss this, a Japanese tasting menu thats classic, over-the-top Rachel. Everything looks perfect  takoyaki fritters, vegetable gyozas, squash tempura, something with tuna  and the guests love it.

We awake the next morning to the sweet sound of goats bleating on the shore. Heather, though, awakes to the not-so-sweet sound of Nikki saying she didnt get new towels in her room. Heather is immediately mad at Fraser; Fraser and Jess, gossipping to themselves, just think these guests use too many towels (something Jess also noted the night before). So calm the fuck down, lets be honest, he says.

The morning is full of these sorts of minor messes that dont actually amount to much. Jake breaks a glass and cuts his foot, sending Rayna to search for a dustpan, which Heather cant be bothered to help her find. Girl, bye, Rayna says, within full earshot as shes walking away. Lee and Eddie are majorly stressed about some tight docking that, as usual, turns out to go fine. And Rachel pronounces the breakfast special as shashushka rather than shakshuka, to my personal irritation.

Nikki doesnt leave without first stirring the pot and alluding to the hiccups with her room. Still, she leaves Heather with her sparkly captains hat for rectifying those problems and leaves the rest of the crew with an $18,000 tip, or $1,500 per person. Not bad for a first charter! Although, of course, Captain Lee disagrees. After hearing about the issues from Heather, he reminds the crew in the tip meeting that one fuckup cancels 14 attaboys. While Eddie heaped praise on his deck crew before the tip meeting, Heather has no proper debrief with her stews. She can tell Lee all she wants that this isnt how she runs a department, but I dont see much evidence to the contrary so far.

The crew goes out to a nice dinner where the alcohol  and thus the flirtations between Rayna and Jake  is flowing. At one point, Heather pulls Fraser aside for a toast that turns into Fraser telling Heather about his issues with how interior is working. On his night off! Heather gives him her lip service about the bigger picture and how things were messy because she was getting used to the boat. But still, nothing has changed with the arrangement of having Fraser leading service and housekeeping, which is the root problem here! And Fraser sees right through it all. You cant warm to an ice cube, he says of her management.

But the real mess of the night involves Jake and Rayna, who dont even wait to get back to the boat before they start kissing. They decide to hang out in the hot tub, along with poor Fraser, already relegated to being the third wheel (despite sitting next to Jake in the van and chatting him up in the hot tub while Raynas away  I see you, Fraser!). Once Fraser leaves, Rayna and Jake make out on the deck, on the dock, in the crew mess, and nearly in one of their cabins before deciding to part ways for the night. But before going to bed, Rayna texts an I miss you  to someone named Issa. Oh Rayna, why did you do this? she says in a confessional before admitting shes currently talking to someone else as well  and leaving us on quite the cliffhanger! Will Rayna tell Jake about this next episode? Almost certainly not, but we will watch a belligerently drunk guest fight with his wife.

Tips

 Jake admits multiple times that he enjoys being pegged  information that bodes well for my shipping him with Fraser, even if he seems keen on Rayna doing the pegging at the moment.

 Rachel says Lee in his new black jacket reminds her of Captain Marko Ramius from The Hunt for Red October, and the resemblance really is uncanny.

 Raynas not the only one on board whos talking to somebody. Heather is dating a former charter guest, which she admits is kind of taboo, but its also one of the hottest relationships Ive ever had. And Eddie has a girlfriend, whos currently housesitting for him in Baltimore and whom hes excited to possibly settle down with.

 Captain Lee on Rachel: Its been a long time since somebody told me to have intercourse with myself and got away with it. And on the docking: Im as nervous as a cat with a long tail in a room full of rocking chairs. Really, how could you not miss this man?
November is National Eye Donation Month, and Alabama nonprofit Advancing Sight Network says it helps restore sight to thousands of people each year through eye donation.

Eye donation doesn't mean the entire eye is transplanted.

Only the cornea, which covers the front of the eye, is replaced.

Advancing Sight Network says almost anyone can be a cornea donor, regardless of vision or age!

You can register to be an eye donor HERE
Four months after launching service out of Huntsville, low-cost carrier Breeze Airways has already suspended two of the three routes they fly out of the Rocket City.

WAAY 31 confirmed Tuesday that the airline has changed the Huntsville to Charleston, South Carolina, flight to "seasonal service" with flights suspended in December through at least February. Breeze previously suspended their flights to New Orleans in the wake of a major hurricane, a rise in Covid-19 cases and rising jet fuel prices.

The "Welcome to Huntsville" pomp and circumstance for Breeze Airways Flight 216 from Charleston. The "Welcome to Huntsville" pomp and circumstance for Breeze Airways Flight 216 from Charleston.

Breeze is now only taking reservations to fly direct to Tampa, Florida.

They did start up in the midst of a pandemic, so theres been some interesting dynamics and some challenges they did not foresee, Barbie Peek, business development director for Port of Huntsville, told WAAY 31. "I think sometimes, when you have a new airline, they are starting to try to right-size their service.

For passengers who had already booked flights for December, emails from the company went out Monday evening, offering to book on another route or get a full refund.

Breeze agreed to fly from Huntsville after receiving incentives from Port of Huntsville for marketing in the 18-county region they serve. Peck said this is common practice and the airline made no commitment to stay for any length of time.

We do not have contracts with the airlines, and they might make adjustments that sometimes we dont like," Peck said.

This week, Breeze canceled routes in other cities in the region and changed some existing routes to seasonal operations. WAAY 31 reached out to the company for a statement and have not heard back.
Hundreds of community members and students will have the opportunity to train like an astronaut and even learn from a former astronaut in a one-of-a-kind community event this week, courtesy of Lockheed Martin, the Space Foundation and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

The free, family-friendly community night is set for 5:307:30 p.m. Thursday at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. The event is a culmination of activities related to science, technology, engineering and math, with robotics demonstrations, hands-on activities and more.

Students and their families will hear from former astronaut Capt. Winston Scott, who spent 24 days in space on two shuttle missions. There will also be opportunities to learn about the Artemis mission, which aims to get humans back to the moon and on Mars.

To register for the event, click here. Registration includes access to the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
WAAY 31 learned today that the North Alabama Medical Center in Florence is no longer doing public vaccinations and has shut down mobile vaccination clinics due to low turnout. With children ages 5 to 11 being approved to get the vaccine in a smaller dosage, many parents will have to turn to pharmacies in Lauderdale County.

Chad's Payless Pharmacy in Florence has already ordered pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

"It has not shipped yet, but we anticipate giving those doses this week, hopefully," said Audrey Newton, a pharmacist and owner of Chad's Payless Pharmacy.

Newton said they keep the Pfizer vaccine doses in a specialized freezer. She said they will give children the vaccine similar to how they do now  patients just have to come in and fill a form out.

"Our form will be the same for the children," Newton said. "They do have to have parental consent or be with a parent or guardian, but it will be the same process for the children as we have handled the adults."

The children's doses will be smaller amounts. Pharmacist Matthew Holland is handling the forms and ordering pediatric doses.

"It will come packaged differently with different-colored vial toppers, so no confusion," said Holland.

Newton said her children will be some of the first in line to get the vaccine.

"If there was any question that this vaccine was not safe for children, it never would have been approved by the FDA and CDC, and honestly, long-term effects of Covid  we don't know what that looks like, either, so I definitely am making this choice to vaccinate my children and I would encourage everyone else do to the same," said Newton.

The pharmacy currently does not have a wait list. Patients can come in or schedule an appointment to get a booster or their first round of the vaccine.
Travel headaches for many American Airlines passengers spilled over into the new week as the airline had to cancel hundreds of more flights on Monday.

More than 300 American Airlines flights weren't able to hit the skies Monday, joining more than 1,900 others that were cancelled over the Halloween weekend.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told WAAY 31 the issues sparked from severe winds in Dallas/Ft. Worth Thursday, a major hub for many airports including here in Huntsville.

They said it then became a staffing issue as crew members weren't able to make their flights.

WAAY 31 asked the airlines how much longer they anticipate this will be an issue, and a spokesperson sent a statement saying, in part: Our team members are continuing to take great care of our customers and we anticipate getting through this brief irregular ops period quickly with the start of the new month

With many people planning to travel for the Thanksgiving holidays in just three weeks, we asked American Airlines if there are plans in place to resolve the staffing issues before then.

The spokesperson said: "We continue to staff up across our entire operation and we will see more of our team members returning in coming months.

The spokesperson said nearly 1,800 flight attendants returned from leave on Nov. 1, with more returning in December. Hundreds of new hires are expected to start by the end of the year.

The spokesperson said they're confident things will only get better for travelers in coming days.
Ider Police Chief Buddy Crabtree died over the weekend after a months-long battle against Covid-19.

His daughter, Kassie Price, said he lived by the statement, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

It's something his family said he practiced each and every day.

"He loved his job and Ider," said Kristie Crabtree, wife of Buddy Crabtree. "He loved the community of Ider, his officers, the school kids."

The list goes on.

"He meant a lot more to people than I realized," Kristie Crabtree said.

At the age of 18, Buddy Crabtree knew he wanted to devote his life to law enforcement. Before becoming police chief in Ider, he served as the chief of police in Bridgeport.

"He got out of policing for about 10 years, and then went back, because that's where his heart was," Kristie Crabtree said.

Ider Mayor Wendy Lassetter has worked each day with Chief Crabtree for the last 10 years. In fact, the two could be described more like close friends than colleagues.

"I couldn't ask for a better officer to come in and be the chief," said Lassetter.

But, Lassetter said, Chief Crabtree's heart showed most when he was in the halls of Ider's schools.

"One thing that I absolutely loved was he cared so much about our kids in school," said Lassetter. "He walked the halls. He gave them high fives and called them by name, most of them."

She said students felt comfortable with him, and that was something special.

Chief Crabtree's battle with Covid-19 was a surprise to many who knew him. The family said he was not only healthy but also kept busy.

"Then, we ended up having to go to the hospital, and I think we just thought, 'He'll be there and they'll fix it,' you know, we'd go home, and that just didn't happen," Kristie Crabtree said.

She said her husband went in for care at Highlands Medical Center on Oct. 9. Ten days later, he was flown to Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

"The nurses kept saying it was one step forward and two steps back," Kristie Crabtree said.

She said her husband said he would've gotten the vaccine if he knew how hard he'd have to fight to live.

"He actually said, 'If I get better, I'll take all three, I don't ever want to go through this again,'" she recalled.

Now, it's his legacy that his family and community will hold on to.

"If he wasn't picking at you or, as the kids said, aggravating you, they would think something's wrong," Kristie Crabtree said. "He loved his kids. He loved them a whole lot."

Their daughter said the family has another hurdle to jump as they near Wednesday's funeral service.

Riley, Chief Crabtree's first grandson, is currently serving a rotational deployment in Germany. The family is hoping he can come back to the states so that he can say goodbye to his grandfather.
A new redistricting map is in the works in Limestone County after NAACP members raised concerns to the county's commissioners.

The proposed redistricting plan was originally scheduled to be voted Monday. However, due to those concerns, that vote was postponed.

limestone county commissions meeting official limestone county commissions meeting official

A new map was drawn, and the commission hopes to vote on it in two weeks. The new proposed districts would increase District 3's Black population from 20% to 21%, whereas the previous plan would have decreased the population from 20% to 17%.

"We didnt vote on the redistricting today based upon ... concerns from the community that they didnt like the way the districts were drawn," said Jason Black, District 3 Commissioner.

Despite these changes, some say there is still more work to be done.

"The other part of that equation is to have a method of voting that will assure that African-Americans have an opportunity to elect a person of their choice," said Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP.

Simelton said the new map will help, but they want better representation for minorities when it comes to voting. He said as Limestone County continues to grow, changes to the voting method would help minorities be better represented on the county commission.

According to Black, Monday's meeting had more than triple the typical attendance. He urged more members of the public will get involved and voice their concerns on this and other issues.
Several employees at the ULA facility in Decatur are feeling helpless after losing their jobs for not getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

"I know my hands are tied," Brent Vandiver said. "The other coworkers that were turned away, like myself this morning, are all just sort of in disbelief. They're all kind of wondering if they're going to have a job."

After 16 years on the job, Vandiver is now wondering whether he'll ever return.

"They just basically told me to go home and wait, so I mean, what does that mean? Does that mean you're fired? Does that mean you're not fired? I'm really not sure at this point," Vandiver said.

He said he was placed on administrative leave without pay until ULA reviews his case on why he chose not to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Employees had until Friday to get their first dose of the vaccine, and it's unclear how many employees may lose their jobs.

The company said it put its vaccine policy in place to keep employees safe and to follow President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for federal contractors, but many employees say the policy isn't fair.

"I really don't feel like that was in our best interest," Vandiver said. "I feel like it was a money decision made by this company, all financial. Some of my coworkers that are still at work that were forced against their will to take the vaccination are really regretting their decision now. They really wish they had more time and really wish their job wasn't held in the balance."

Vandiver believes the decision to get the vaccine should be up to the individual, not their employer.

Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall have filed separate lawsuits against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors.

"The end goal is to overturn what is an unconstitutional action and unlawful action on behalf of the president," Marshall said.

Marshall said the lawsuit would protect the rights of 25% of the workforce across the country. He hopes the judge quickly files an injunction to provide temporary relief.

"So that we can stop implementation of this executive order until we have the opportunity to fully litigate this in front of a judge," Marshall said.

Vandiver believes it's a step in the right direction.

"I'm hoping everyone is given the freedom to choose because this is America," Vandiver said.

Local attorney Eric Artrip said the lawsuit is not likely to succeed.

They would have to do away with at-will employment and say that mandates on certain vaccinations and things like that would be dispensed," Artrip said. "It would overturn or go against a great weight of previous authority spanning back into the late 1800s."

However, Marshall disagrees.

"The issue of being an at-will state frankly is not relevant to the specific allegations in front of the court," he said. "The question is whether or not this president, through a federal mandate that is otherwise unlawful, has the ability to dictate to a private employer what to do with their employees."

In other words, the lawsuit isn't looking at companies mandating the vaccine for its employees; rather, it's looking at whether the president can tell companies what to do with its employees.

No action has been taken on that lawsuit yet, but a summons was filed Monday for the Biden administration.

Marshall said he plans to also fight future Covid-19 vaccine mandates that have yet to be implemented.
Families across North Alabama showed off their creativity through costumes and ventured out for trick-or-treating this weekend.

Click through the gallery to see how viewers and even a few WAAY 31 employees got in on the Halloween fun.

Send your photos to share@waaytv.com!
After 33 years, state Rep. Howard Sanderford, R-Huntsville, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2022.

Sanderford was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in a 1989 special election. He said representing the citizens of Huntsville and Madison County was the honor of a lifetime, but he feels its time to let someone else take on the job.

I will leave the Legislature with the knowledge that Alabama is a better place to live, work and raise a family than it was when I first took office more than three decades ago, Sanderford said.

Sanderford currently services as chairman of the House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee and co-chairs the Joint Legislative Sunset Committee, which handles oversight, reviews and renewals for around 100 occupational licensure boards and other agencies in Alabama.

He also holds seats on the House Constitution, Campaign and Elections; Internal Affairs; Technology and Research; and Madison County Legislation committees. He chairs the Alabama Legislative Medal of Honor for Law Enforcement and is a member of the Alabama Space Authority.

Prior to political office, Sanderford worked with IBM in Huntsville and founded Computer Leasing Company Inc. He also served as chairman of the Madison County Republican Executive Committee.
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Decatur, IL (62521)

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A mix of clouds and sun. High around 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
Decatur, IL (62521)

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Decatur, IL (62521)

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Decatur, IL (62521)

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Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%..

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Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Rome-based club slams "gratituitous insult" to its fanbase.

Lazio fans have been banned from attending the Europa League match at Marseille on Thursday following a decision by the French interior ministry.

The move, which mirrors an Italian order barring Marseille fans from attending the first leg in Rome on 21 October, has been met with an angry response from the Italian Serie A club.

The ban not only concerns access to the Velodrome stadium or the southern French city of Marseille but also prohibits any person claiming to be a supporter of Lazio or behaving as such from entering France "from road, rail, port and airport borders."

France's interior ministry justified the ban because of the "recurring violent behaviour of certain groups of Lazio supporters" and their "habit" of singing "fascist chants and making Nazi salutes."

In a statement, Lazio slammed the decision to ban its fans from travelling to the match as "an unacceptable, gratuitous insult to all the Biancoceleste supporters and to the club itself."

Calling for "clarification from the French authorities", the club underlined that it has "always campaigned against violent behaviour and all forms of discrimination in and outside stadiums."

Lazio also said that the ban itself is "not surprising and is in line with what has already been decided by the Italian authorities in the first leg, before identifying the "unjustifiable" reasons as being a cause of surprise.

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Fratelli d'Italia (FdI), called on the Italian government to take immediate action to prevent the "unjustified discrimination" caused by the French interior ministry order, which she condemned as "going against all international laws on the free movement of people."
Bruck says no to award as Mussolini still honorary citizen of Anzio.

Holocaust survivor and writer Edith Bruck has declined a 'Peace Prize' from the Italian seaside town of Anzio, near Rome, as Mussolini remains an honorary citizen there.

The Hungarian-born Bruck, who has spent most of her adult life in Italy, cited her objections in an open letter to Anzio's right-wing mayor Candido De Angelis, reports news agency ANSA.

The 90-year-old writer said the town had refused to honour Adele di Consiglio, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, whose family had been "annihilated by Nazi-Fascist barbarity."

Bruck went on to note that Anzio had conferred honorary citizenship on Italy's wartime fascist dictator Benito Mussolini "who still has many followers in your area."

Italian newspaper La Repubblica quotes Mayor De Angelis as saying he was "mortified" over Bruck's refusal to accept the award.

De Angelis said that Mussolini has had honorary citizenship of Anzio since 1924 and that none of his predecessors as mayor, of whom several were communists and socialists, had ever revoked it.

Bruck, who was visited at her Rome home by Pope Francis earlier this year, was born into a poor Jewish family in rural Hungary in 1931.

At the age of 12 she and her family were deported to Auschwitz, and then to other extermination camps: Dachau, Christianstadt, Bergen-Belsen.

In 1945 she was freed by the Allies along with one sister and one brother. Her parents and another brother did not survive the concentration camps.
Leaks from energy infrastructure are the easiest and cheapest sources of methane to identify and fix. Theres also an economic incentive: Producers can make up for the cost of repairs by selling the extra gas they capture. There are also efforts to create a natural gas standard that would certify emissions associated with production and transport. As much as 80% of measures to curb methane from oil and gas operations, and up to 98% from the coal sector, can be implemented at no cost or at a savings, according to the United Nations 2021 global methane assessment. Officials also hope to cut down on the venting (releasing) of natural gas that often happens when theres no available pipeline capacity or when producers are only interested in capturing the oil from a well. Some of that gas is flared (burned) to convert the methane into carbon dioxide, but environmentalists and some investors have pushed for limits on flaring because not all the methane is combusted in the process. Instead, excess gas could be reinjected into the ground.
The vocal minority filmed by news crews as they protest at Gracie Mansion or tie up traffic marching across the Brooklyn Bridge are just that  a minority. They arent representative of most of their co-workers. A large portion of the dissenters are police officers, firefighters and sanitation workers. But even among their own colleagues, they also arent representative. About 2,500 police department employees, for example, are being furloughed, which is about 4.5% of the departments total workforce.Some 2,000 firefighters appear to be anti-mandaters and have gone on medical leave  or irresponsible bogus sick leave, as New Yorks fire commissioner described it. Bogus or not, those involved in the sick-out are just 18% of the fire departments uniformed force. Some 17% of the sanitation departments workers are reportedly unvaccinated. Again, theyre speaking for themselves and not for most of their colleagues. Another benefit of the mandate deadline: It caused vaccination rates among all of these workers to soar over the past several days.New Yorkers wont know immediately what the full impact of furloughs and layoffs might be, though Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city isnt experiencing disruptions. The New York Post reported that 26 of the citys 341 firehouses had to close last weekend because of staffing shortages, but city officials disputed that account. They said that no firehouses had been fully closed and that firefighters were being shifted to new locations as needed. There have also been reports of garbage piling up on Staten Island and Brooklyn streets.The police department said it isnt worried that the citys streets will go unpatrolled. They came to work as they always do, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said, adding that furloughs were having literally no effect on service at this point. Its possible that the contretemps over mandates may teach New York that it doesnt need as many police officers, firefighters and sanitation workers as it has been fielding, and any layoffs that come out of this may allow the city to trim its payrolls without diminishing any essential services.
Most hazardous of all to Russias pandemic response, though, has been the Kremlins toxic nationalist propaganda. Officials bet they could separate broadsides aimed at the West and the constant denigration of Western vaccines at home from domestic cheerleading. Instead, this approach just amplified existing hesitancy, something the Kremlin has also done little to reverse. Putin took his vaccination behind closed doors. And he absurdly claimed last month that foreigners were coming from Europe to get the Sputnik jab because it is more reliable and then buying false vaccine certificates. Official death figures, meanwhile, have lingered around improbably similar numbers  for example before the September legislative election. All of this leaves Russia caught in a catch-22 of its own making: Unable to bring in Western vaccines, unable to impose mandates at a national level, unwilling to provide the data required for its vaccine to be approved in the European Union, unable to rebuild popular trust.Not unlike China, Russia must hope that the pandemic ebbs before more challenging political decisions are required.
Yet the university  acting on behalf of the state  can be expected to argue that it isnt prohibiting the professors from expressing their opinions. Rather, the argument will go, the university is just prohibiting the professors from engaging in a particular type of conduct that is adverse to the interests of the university, namely participating in a lawsuit against the state and the governor. From this perspective, it matters that the professors werent just randomly subpoenaed. They were going to be experts testifying for one side, and presumably compensated for their time in doing so.
The most obvious way to correct the market perception is to get everyone  all investors including the state and senior creditors  to bail out Monte Paschis equity and debt. Its not going to be popular, but Italy has a stronger government and, more importantly, stronger economic growth than it had in 2017. Four years ago, bailing any bank would have had a negative impact on Italys already weak reputation as a place to invest. Thats no longer a problem with the countrys economy estimated to grow 6% this year. Meanwhile, Draghi has exerted strong leadership and managed to get 200 billion euros in pandemic funds earmarked for Italy.
Turkey sent a formal request to Washington on Sept. 30 to purchase from Lockheed Martin Corp. 40 new F-16s and some 80 kits to modernize its existing fighters. Turkey hopes to eventually develop its own jets but meantime is overdue to retire its F-4 jets and wants to upgrade its F-16 fleet as a stopgap measure. The requisition came a week after the U.S. finalized Turkeys removal from the F-35 program as a consequence of its acquiring the S-400 missile-defense system made by Russia, the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations top foe. The U.S. worried that the S-400 could be used to collect intelligence on the stealth capabilities of the F-35, which Turkey had helped to build and wanted to purchase. Beyond that, the U.S. is keen to prevent its allies from engaging with Russias defense sector. The F-16 deal is potentially worth $6 billion, but U.S. approval will be difficult to win given opposition to it within Congress. If denied the F-16s, Turkey has not ruled out the possibility of seeking alternatives, including from Russia.
That said, Akpan deftly reveals how racism heightens Ekongs suspicions and clouds his judgment. Consider the priest in New Jersey who tells him and his Annang friends not to return for Mass the following week because otherwise more Blacks will be here, and our church will be even more divided. Together with less-incendiary encounters, this rebuff leads Ekong, already self-conscious and sensitive, to second-guess everything. Are his colleagues at the publishing house, one of whom hes informed of the bedbugs, going to think that he brought them from Africa? I just wanted to be accused of having the same bedbugs as the rest of NYC, he laments.
Even with these glimpses of grounded reality, though, Zhao cant overcome the structural realities of the behemoth shes been tasked with piloting. Eternals is a choppy, whipsawing affair, especially in its first half, when the narrative pingpongs erratically between present-day scenes and those taking place in ancient Mesopotamia, the Gupta Empire and Aztec-era Mexico. Zhaos script, co-written with Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo, alternates between generic lines like Run! and Watch out! and leaden, self-serious perorations. There are moments when the visuals of Eternals recalls Ray Harryhausen in their adamantly analog effects, and when the heroes work their magic, it often takes on the delicacy of finely-spun scrollwork. But by the time yet another Deviant throw-down arrives with metronomic timing  and by the time the movie begins to sag under its 2 -hour running time  an inevitable feeling of dull, drearily repetitive predictability sets in.
Known for its singing teapot and other anthropomorphized-object characters, Disneys Beauty and the Beast centers on a prince whos imprisoned in a monsters form by an enchantment. Belle breaks that spell when she sees past the Beast/bluebloods intimidating appearance to his flawed but appealing soul. So a repudiation of lookism has always been part of the musical, and indeed the underlying story. But Milgrom Dodges production probes more thoughtfully into the issue and the potential pain around it, according to Ruggiero, who took a break from rehearsals to talk about the show.
I know it isn't my place to ask my parents to choose between us. I don't want him to spend his holidays alone, either. He has no one other than us, is prone to depression, and his health is failing because of his drinking.
With the exception of Samantha, who works for the University of Pretoria, we all work for the Endangered Wildlife Trust as part of the Drylands Conservation Program, Theron said. I was introduced to Samantha, who was doing research on eDNA and golden moles. We shared the same interest in the species, and she became part of our team.
The launch was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. By the time centers were scheduled to open, the Taliban had taken over in Kabul. To many peoples surprise, they allowed the project to go ahead, even committing to use the previous governments curriculum  though they have introduced more Islamic learning and typically insisted on female teachers.


In Costa Rica, people observe Dia de las Mascaradas, or Masquerades Day, by wearing large papier-mache heads that depict mythical creatures or celebrities. (Sonia Gomez)

Not many U.S. holidays celebrate our ancestors or the spirit world. Halloween and Dia de los Muertos are two occasions to do so in the United States, but around the world there are many more festivals and holidays for commemorating the dead.

Costa Ricans began celebrating Dia de las Mascaradas  Masquerades Day  after colonization influenced the native culture. The Spanish colonists brought the customs of European medieval festivals and the gigantes y cabezudos, or giants and bigheads. The gigantes y cabezudos were elaborately and ornately made of papier-mache, and they are still fashioned this way in Costa Rica.

Towns stage parades with the costumed characters teetering about with their larger-than-life heads. Traditionally, costumes draw their inspiration from Costa Rican mythical creatures, but many share the Halloween spirit of making fun of politicians, athletes and other celebrities.

In 1997, the Costa Rican government declared October 31 as Dia de las Mascaradas, according to Tania Robles, an anthropologist and artist with the Costa Rican Ministry of Culture and Youth.

In Costa Rica, there is an important influence from [U.S.] culture, so Halloween was an extended celebration at the time, Robles said by email from Costa Rica. Defining the date of celebration, she added, was intended to be the beginning of the return to the local traditions.

Near the end of summer, the Chinese celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival, when it is believed that the gates to the spirit world open and ghosts scour the earth for offerings. Families place the offerings  usually food and paper made to look like money or personal items  on an altar outside their home. The paper items are then burned to send them into the spirit world. Additional offerings are also burned to please the spirits of those who dont have living relatives.

In nearby Nepal, there are several holidays similar to Halloween in the United States. Tihar, the festival of lights, is held each year in late autumn. Children dress up, walk door-to-door and perform for their neighbors, who give them candy and money.

Families place lights around their homes and celebrate animals, such as crows and cows, that are culturally important. Dogs, for example, are given floral garlands and red tikas, or marks, on their brows as a sign of admiration.



During Gai Jatra, families bring cows into the streets to commemorate their deceased relatives. The animal is considered sacred in Nepal and other countries. (Kumar Shrestha)

During Gai Jatra, another Nepali holiday, families bring cows into the streets to commemorate the spirits of their deceased loved ones. Cows are sacred in Nepal, as well as in other countries such as India, and represent the deep respect families have for their ancestors and gods.

While the holiday is about remembering the dead, theres a lot of fun to be had during the festivities.

Recently, it has become a festival where you can make people laugh, you have satires, comedy shows [and] festivals, said Santosh Lamichhane, the president of the Nepali American Friendship Association.

These holidays, full of lights and memories of loved ones, make the spirit world a little less spooky. Whether you decide to celebrate Halloween, Dia de los Muertos or another otherworldly holiday, there are plenty of ways to keep the spirit alive this fall.

Read more from KidsPost:

How does Mexico celebrate Day of the Dead?

Halloween has become scary big, but its beginnings were humble

Some of our favorite kids homemade Halloween costumes
So I kind of got really sad. But I thought: Okay, Ill make myself better for the next round. I enrolled into a space studies program. I told myself I was going to get my instrument rating. I was going to get my advanced scuba and all of these things. But I was driving myself crazy. So I just had to stop and say: Whoa, just go back to living my life. And thats when I learned about becoming an analog astronaut living in moon and Mars simulations. A friend of mine said, Hey, NASAs looking for people to go live in this new Mars simulation in Hawaii to investigate food  and Im a foodie! So I applied and ended up living in the HI-SEAS habitat for four months and becoming an analog astronaut. It was really fulfilling because I was, like, okay, if Im not going to go to space, then Im going to advance human spaceflight here on Earth in my own little way.
The first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, Graham came to the job with limited journalism experience and no business background. She oversaw The Posts rise to national prominence; during her tenure, The Post Co. went public on the New York Stock Exchange and saw revenue increase nearly twentyfold. The story of Grahams decision to take the company public and publish the Pentagon Papers was dramatized in the 2017 film The Post.
Jennifer Reesman, a parent who has been active on the issue, said school leaders need to be more judicious in deciding which students have truly come in close contact with a classmate who tested positive. Some of the changes described could be helpful, Reesman said, but if her child was exposed at school, I wouldnt know whats going to happen.
The expanded virtual program is expected to last until early February, when the second quarter ends and Goldson hopes young students will have had opportunities for vaccinations and can get back to classrooms. While some students do well or thrive with virtual instruction, learning at a bricks-and-mortar school with a teacher is widely considered to be best for most students.
Street harassment is a manifestation of the inequalities that exist in our country and in our world, she said, adding that it not only intersects with sexism, but also homophobia, racism, ableism and more. Its all of those isms that exist in our society that are just acted out in public spaces between strangers as well. Additionally, studies suggest it can have a lasting emotional impact on victims and trigger survivors of sexual assault in particular, Kearl said.
But in 1992, she was stripped of her sociology and womens studies classes at UIC after a Black social work student said she had called him a potential rapist. She denied making the remark but said she had described him as a believer in the rape myth, in which women want to be sexually assaulted. As she told it, the social work student had taken a hostile tone that caused some women to stop showing up or participating in class. She retired three years later.
It was the constructors job to see to it that no mistake by the staff could lead to such a tragedy, Reuters quoted him having said in 1992. But of course it was easier to blame not the reactors creators but the staff at the plant. Was it permissible at that time to cast a shadow on the prestige of the Soviet nuclear industry? How much simpler to put the director and chief engineer in the dock.
In the CDF, an eight-member team of deputy U.S. marshals found large amounts of standing human sewage . . . in the toilets of multiple occupied cells and many cells in which water had been shut off for days, Ruffin wrote. He said jail staff members were observed antagonizing detainees and directing detainees to not cooperate with the review. One prisoner was warned by a staff member to stop snitching.
In anticipation of the review at the White House this month, the Biden administration sent out a survey to key U.S. allies notifying them that the United States was considering revising its nuclear deterrence policy, said western officials familiar with the matter. The survey was first reported by the Financial Times. France also expressed opposition to the United States announcing a no first use policy or making a sole purpose declaration, with at least one key ally calling it a gift to Russia or China, according to a western official.
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Harran, who did not respond to requests for comment for this article, has also declined to take a public position on whether he embraces the constitutional sheriff label. Instead, like Lomax, he has tried to thread the needle by saying he honors the power of sheriffs who report directly to voters. And, like Lomax, he plans to focus on improving the departments relationship with the countys minorities, who represent 12 percent of the population.
In a sharply divided nation, who gets to decide when its okay to use fatal force? Across the nation, there is no consensus: States are evenly divided over the core question of whether you have a duty to retreat from a confrontation in a public place that might endanger your life.
Washington, IN (47501)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 51F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
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I mean your heart breaks just hearing that because you know shes been there for 18 days. Loading Cleo disappeared from her familys tent at the Quobba Blowholes, a popular camping ground 50 minutes drive from her home in Carnarvon, between 1.30am and 6am on October 16. The fact her sleeping bag was also missing and the tent zip was out of her reach led police to believe she was abducted, sparking a major land and air search. The WA government offered a $1 million reward for any information that led to finding Cleo or arresting anyone involved in her disappearance, the first time a sum of that size had ever been made available during the first week of a WA investigation.

After nearly a week of fruitless searching, forensic teams turned their attention to Cleos family home and surrounds two weeks ago, prompting suspicion the four-year-old might have been stalked by her alleged abductor. Officers also scoured rubbish bins as their search stretched more than 600 kilometres along the Gascoyne coast looking for clues earlier this week. The officer in charge of the operation, superintendent Rod Wilde, later revealed he believed the girls suspected abduction was opportunistic rather than planned. We know [Cleos family] got there that night ... it was getting dark, he told Radio 6PR.

Loading So that would have been limited opportunity for people to observe Cleo at that time. On Sunday, just two days before Cleo was found, mother Ellie Smith took to social media to share a photo of her daughter. She begged for her daughter to be brought home. Every day is getting harder without my shining bright light, she wrote. Today shes missed Halloween with her family  her cousins, aunties and uncles, nana and pop but most of all her parents and baby sister.

I just want her to come home. Cleo was reunited with her parents shortly after being found by police. Deputy Commissioner Blanch said officers worked around the clock for 18 days straight. He likened the investigation to searching for a needle in a data haystack. They found that needle last night, he said.

Loading He said the priority at the moment was to make sure Cleo was looked after, adding that she appeared to be in good physical health and would undergo a medical examination. WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson has since revealed footage of a sedan driving on North West Coastal Highway about 3am the night Cleo disappeared led officers to the house where the four-year-old was found. The property was just seven minutes away from her family home. Police were simultaneously tracking down and ruling out those who were in the campsite and surrounding area at the time, examining thousands of calls and mobile phone data.

It was dedicated police work, skilled, dogged, never gave up  Im just so proud to be their commissioner, he said. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews told Brisbanes 4BC the high-tech capability of the Australian Federal Police was instrumental in solving the case. Cleo and Ellie Smith, Jake Gliddon and Isla. Credit:Facebook/Dominique Gabrielle She would not reveal what technology was used, but she described it as very elite. Commissioner Dawson broke down in tears when he heard the news, according to his New South Wales counterpart Mick Fuller.

Loading Whilst we were all hoping and praying, as the days went on the chances of finding her alive were so slim, Commissioner Fuller told 2GB radio. For a veteran in policing, it just speaks volumes in terms of the amount of effort they put in to finding her. You wouldnt see too many tears from commissioners these days. In a statement released earlier in the morning, Deputy Commissioner Blanch thanked Cleos parents, the WA community and all the volunteers that assisted the search. Its my privilege to announce that in the early hours of this morning the Western Australia Police Force rescued Cleo Smith, he said.

Its the outcome weve achieved because of some incredible police work. Well have more to say on the rescue of Cleo as the day unfolds. For now  welcome home Cleo. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is currently on his way home from international climate talks in Glasgow, said it was wonderful, relieving news that Cleo was found alive and well. Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound, he wrote on Twitter.

Loading Our prayers answered. Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said he was beyond relieved the nightmare is now finally over for Cleo and her family. He said the police investigation into the four-year-olds disappearance had been marvellous and would be looked at by police forces in other states and around the world. I was talking to the [police] analysts earlier and I said thered be movies made about this, he said.

Mr McGowan said there was no doubt the finding would lead to charges. Its beyond belief that someone would do that, he said. Carnarvon Shire president Eddie Smith said he was elated. The phone started ringing at four oclock and it hasnt stopped. I still havent had time to really absorb it, he told Radio 6PR. Im a bit emotional as well. I think the whole towns going to be emotional that what we all prayed and hoped for has happened. Cr Smith, who struggled to put his feelings in words, said the community in the small coastal town remained hopeful throughout the ordeal.
Government and health authorities are optimistic NSW can achieve 95 per cent COVID-19 vaccination coverage, as the Premier continues to suggest that figure could be key to the next stage of the states reopening.

On Monday, data released by the federal government showed 93.6 per cent of NSW residents aged 16 and over had received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 87.8 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Just 13 council areas in NSW had a full vaccination rate below 80 per cent. Demographers have said some of these results, particularly the City of Sydney and Randwick, were likely an underestimate due to out-of-date population data.

Other areas, such as Byron Shire, had a later uptake: the northern NSW town known for its large anti-vaccination population has a first-dose rate of nearly 85 per cent, suggesting it will hit 80 per cent double-dose by the end of the month. Only the City of Sydney and Edward River in southern NSW reported first-dose rates below 80 per cent.
Western Australias top police officer broke down in tears when he heard the news missing four-year-old Cleo Smith had been found alive and well in the states north-west early Wednesday morning.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told 2GB Radio he spoke to Chris Dawson, who revealed old-fashioned police work resulted in the young girl being found alive.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. Credit:Hamish Hastie

Whilst we were all hoping and praying, as the days went on, the chances of finding her alive were so slim, Commissioner Fuller said.

[Mr Dawson] said to me WA Police never gave up on Cleo and it was just good old fashioned police work that resulted in her being found alive.
Manila: Netflix has removed two episodes of spy drama Pine Gap from its streaming service in the Philippines, after the south-east Asian country rejected scenes involving a map used by China to assert its claims to the South China Sea.

The Philippines on Monday, asked Netflix to remove certain episodes of the six-part Australian series, saying the map depicted on the show was a violation of its sovereignty.

A scene from the ABC-Netflix co-production Pine Gap, several episodes of which have been removed from the streaming service in the Philippines. Credit:Lisa Tomasetti

The second and third episodes of the show were no longer available in the Philippines by late Monday, with Netflix announcing on its platform that those episodes had been removed by government demand. It did not elaborate.

Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At the centre of the ruckus is Morrisons decision to cancel the governments $90 billion contract for French-designed conventional submarines in favour of submarines powered by US nuclear technology. Labor doesnt disagree with the decision. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has committed a Labor government to proceeding with it. Labors criticism is all about the manner of it. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit:SMH The nuclear-powered subs were to be a potent manifestation of the new Australia-UK-US security partnership, AUKUS. It was a serious strategic moment, and it was taken very seriously in Beijing. A professor at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, Li Haidong, said the tripartite partnership could be described as the iron triangle in the Western camp. But just six weeks after the triumphal announcement, the iron is already a little rusty after exposure to the realities of Indo-Pacific salt water. Australia has six ageing conventional subs, the Collins class, due for replacement. China has 66 subs. It is expected to build another 10 by the end of this decade, six of them nuclear.

Before the announcement, Australia had a contract for the supply of 12 French-designed submarines. Now it has no contract with anyone to supply any subs whatsoever. The first of the new French-designed subs was expected in around 10 to 12 years. Now, if the in-principle deal with the US and UK can be made concrete, it will be 20 to 25 years before the first nuclear-powered arrives. Frances Macron had a little fun with this. He jeered at the fact that for the next 18 months the only thing Canberra has is a committee to discuss with Washington and London how to make the decision work: You have 18 months before a report. Good luck. Before the announcement, Australia was relieved that a growing number of capable Pacific powers was standing with it against Beijings coercion and aggression. That included not only the US, Japan and India but also Britain, France and Germany. That great convergence of concerned democracies is now looking a bit ratty, and Scott Morrison is the rat in the spotlight.

Loading On Monday, Macron accused the Australian Prime Minister of lying about the submarine contract. Hes said Morrison let him think it was intact even as he was breaking it. Asked by correspondent Bevan Shields if he thought Morrison had lied to him, Macron said: I dont think, I know. Morrison denies lying. Two days earlier, Biden and Macron together spoke to the media in Rome. Biden said that the US hadnt intended to blindside France when it agreed to the AUKUS subs deal, which had the effect of displacing the French contract with Canberra. Biden said: I was under the impression certain things had happened that hadnt happened  I was under the impression that France had been informed long before that the deal was not going through. I, honest to God, did not know you had not been. You dont need to be clairvoyant to see who had given him that impression: the Australian government. In other words, Biden was taking sides with Macron. Both are claiming theyve been misled by Australia. This has allowed Washington and Paris to reconcile at Morrisons expense.

Loading This doesnt mean theyre both necessarily telling the whole truth. Just that its very hard for Morrison to refute a stereo accusation of deceptive conduct from two powerful speakers at once. The Australian Strategic Policy Institutes Peter Jennings thinks its all too cute. Its stretching credulity to think the French were not aware of significant concerns the government had over the contract. Several months before the AUKUS announcement, Morrison had asked his officials for a Plan B  it was in all the newspapers. Macron, he says, is striking out at Australia to deflect domestic criticism of a lost deal. As for the US: I appreciate that Biden has to smooth things over with the French, but I thought his response tells you more about the dynamics of decision-making in the White House. Theres a pattern emerging here. How much is Biden on top of things? Jennings implies that either Biden was not informed by his own officials, or that he had been, and it slipped his mind. Biden recently misstated US policy on Taiwan, only to have his officials clean up the mess.
Glasgow: The Queen has delivered an emotionally charged and highly political call to arms to world leaders on climate change, invoking her own mortality to send a warning about the need to protect future generations.

In a pre-recorded speech to the COP26 climate summit, the 95-year-old monarch said politicians had an obligation to think beyond their own immediate priorities.

The Queen, on screen, delivers her video message to attendees of an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 summit. Credit:Getty

It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit  written in history books yet to be printed  will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity; and that you answered the call of those future generations, she said.

That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan to address the impact of climate change; and to recognise that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.
Reporter

I cover a range of stories for WDRB, but really enjoy tracking what's going on at our State Capitol. I grew up on military bases all over the world, but am a Kentuckian at heart. I'm an EKU alum, and have lived in Louisville for 30 years.
Wallace Harrison, 27, is missing from Evansville, Indiana, and was last seen at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, according to state police. (Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police)
Weber Historical Society Lecture Series

The Weber Historical Society offers an array of lectures that cover topics from across the globe and around the state.

All lectures are free and open to the public.

Fall 2021

Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, the Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom Spencer W. McBride Before he was killed, Joseph Smith launched a campaign for the presidency of the United States. Why did he want to become president? Was the campaign a serious effort to win or an effort to change the national conversation over religious liberties? Septmeber 13, 2021

7 p.m., Dumke Hall

Hurst Learning Center

Frank J. Cannon: Saint, Senator, Scoundrel Val Holley Frank J. Cannon was Utah's first U.S. senator. Before entering politics, he was a journalist and founded the Ogden Standard.

Val Holley has written a new biography of Cannon and will sign copies. October 11, 2021

7 p.m., Dumke Hall

Hurst Learning Center
WSU Presidential Leadership Fellows Host Open House

November 2, 2021

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State Universitys Presidential Leadership Fellows will host an open house event for the campus community to meet the current and alumni fellows on Nov. 10 from 4-5 p.m in the Shepherd Union Atrium. Established in 2018, the program helps students strengthen their leadership skills and deepen their engagement by supporting and representing the president and the university at campus and community events.

By sharing their experiences and perspectives, the fellows help us to share the powerful impact of their Weber State experience with stakeholders at all levels, said Brad Mortensen, WSU president. Their insights as current students also provide informative guidance for university leaders in our decision-making and strategy to serve students better.

Mariia Volkanova, who is majoring in both health promotion and history, is one of the many students who has benefited from being part of the program, gaining the confidence and skills needed to be an effective leader in her community.

After moving to Utah with her family from Ukraine, a friend introduced Volkanova to WSU, and she fell in love with the campus community. At the time, she thought college would be a possibility only for her young son, but through the friends help, she discovered the many opportunities WSU had to offer and was able to begin her educational journey in 2015.

Becoming a student and earning a degree was one of the biggest desires of my heart, Volkanova said. When I found out I was eligible for FAFSA and could start my education at WSU, it was one of the happiest days of my life.

Volkanova joined Weber State almost six years ago, studying diligently to maintain an almost perfect GPA while also taking care of her family and participating in many extracurricular activities. Her grit and dedication have not gone unnoticed by her faculty and peers.

One of Volkanovas professors recognized her potential and recommended her for the Presidential Leadership Fellows program. After applying and going through the interview process, Volkanova was accepted and joined the 2020-21 cohort of fellows.

This amazing program helped me develop new leadership skills and learn a lot of helpful information about professional and personal growth, she said. We also did a fundraiser for A Center for Grieving Children in Ogden, which made me very happy and gave me experience in fundraising and community engagement.

Approximately 12 students are chosen each year. Participants are expected to maintain a strong GPA, as well as demonstrate a commitment to their academic pursuits and to be louder and prouder about their educational experience at Weber State.

Throughout the year, the group attends meetings and events with WSU President Brad Mortensen, giving them a unique platform to share their experience with university stakeholders, such as the Board of Trustees, local government officials and the community.

The fellows program is another example of how Weber State gives students a unique, wholesome learning experience that will prepare them for countless academic, leadership and career opportunities, said Steven Richardson, Presidential Leadership Fellows principal advisor.

The Nov. 10 open house is also an opportunity for the fellows to put into action what they learned at the prior month's meeting about networking. All are welcome to attend.

For more information about the Presidential Leadership Fellows, visit weber.edu/PresidentsOffice/Fellows.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  Delaware lawmakers voted Monday to approve new legislative district maps to reflect population changes over the past 10 years, based on U.S. Census data.

The Democrat-controlled Senate voted along party lines to approve the new maps, while Republican Rep. Michael Smith of Newark was the only House member to vote against the redistricting bill.

Smith, who has been unable to gain much support for a redistricting reform bill that he introduced last year and reintroduced this year, believes the current process has become too politicized and arbitrary.

The process is broken, he said after Mondays vote. Its too partisan.

Meanwhile, some GOP senators expressed concern that the allowed deviations from standard population numbers for each legislative district tend to let more people to be crammed into southern Delaware areas represented by Republicans while allowing northern areas represented by Democrats to contain far fewer residents.

Based on a total 2020 Census population of 989,940, the standard population number for each Senate district is 47,140, while the standard population for each of House district is 24,145. Lawmakers allowed themselves to deviate from that standard by +/- 5% in redrawing boundary lines, purportedly in an effort to keep communities and neighborhoods intact. Other criteria traditionally taken into account in redistricting include compactness and contiguity of districts, preservation of communities of interest, and preservation of existing majority-minority districts, in which minorities account for more than half the population.

The population deviation exceeds -4.4% in five Wilmington-area Senate districts, including the states three northernmost districts, that are represented by Democrats. Conversely, the deviation is + 3.9% or higher for the three southernmost Delaware districts, which are represented by Republicans, including the minority leader and minority whip.

Our constituents in Sussex County are way underrepresented when you look at these numbers, said Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker of Ocean View, who described the redistricting bill as unfair.

Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn of Georgetown said fast-growing areas of Sussex County already are bumping up against the 5% deviation and will soon surpass it.

Were already more front-loaded then some of the other districts, he said.

Senate Majority Leader David Sokola, a Newark Democrat, said the redistricting bill, which was the subject of four public hearings and several revisions, was the product of a good-faith effort by map makers. He also noted that the redrawing of districts must be based on Census numbers, not projections for future growth in any particular area.

One of the major differences between the previous maps and the new maps is the elimination of the 4th House District in New Castle County and its reconstitution in Sussex County. The district is currently represented by Democrat Gerald Brady of Wilmington.

Brady announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election. The move came after reports that he had used racist and sexist slurs to refer to sex workers.

Residents of Bradys former district are being parceled out to neighboring districts in order to increase their population levels. The new 4th District in coastal Sussex County incorporates fast-growing areas bordering Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Mike Ramone of Newark will remain in his 21st House District after map makers backed away from an initial proposal that would have pushed Ramones address into the neighboring 23rd District, represented by Democrat Paul Baumbach.

The new legislative districts will take effect for the 2022 general election.
VIDALIA, La. (AP)  Four employees of a northern Louisiana day care have been arrested on charges involving alleged child abuse, authorities say.

Authorities began investigating the facility on Oct. 15 after it received reports of a 14-month-old child who had been hit on the back by a worker at Noah's Ark Daycare in Vadalia, the Concordia Parish Sheriffs Office said in a statement posted to Facebook.
WATERBURY  All three men allegedly connected with the homicide of 27-year-old Trevor Figueroa this summer have been taken in custody.

Police said Michael Laboy, 19, of Springfield, Mass., who was previously thought to be at-large, is detained in a correctional institution in Massachusetts on separate charges. Laboy is awaiting extradition to Waterbury police for charges related to the homicide, police said.

Earlier Friday, authorities apprehended 24-year-old Jose Soto of Springfield, Mass. Soto was charged with murder and weapons offenses in connection with the homicide, and is being held on a $2 million bond, police said.

In August, police arrested 31-year-old Carlos Leon, of Springfield, Mass., in connection with the homicide. He was charged with two counts of attempt to commit murder, criminal use of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, reckless endangerment and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. Court records show he has pleaded guilty to these charges.

He is also being held on $2 million bond, according to court records.

Around 1:50 a.m. on July 17, police said Trevor Figueroa, 27, was shot in the face at the intersection of East Main and Wall streets. He was taken to the hospital and died from his injuries a few days later.

A second victim of the shooting arrived at the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg and foot area, according to previous reports.

Anyone with information on this incident or regarding Laboys whereabouts can contact the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau at 203-574-6941. Anonymous tips can also be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 203-755-1234.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
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NORWICH, CT (WFSB)  The state is now investigating after a man shot at a Norwich Police officer with an assault rifle.

It happened just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday night where police received a 911 call about shots being fired in the area of Westwood Park in Norwich.

"Theres somebody walking around Dunham Street shooting a gun out," one 911 caller noted.

"I'm just in my house. Me and my girlfriend are terrified," a 911 caller told police.

Officer Scott Dupointe was the first responding officer to arrive in the area.

Dash camera video shows the moment Officer Dupointe came across the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Andrew O'Lone.

The video doesn't have sound, but it shows O'Lone walking across the street while carrying a rifle.

The video shows the suspect suddenly start shooting at the front windshield of the police cruiser.

"I'm at the corner of Wilmont. He ran up toward West Main. He jumped out of the woods and started shooting at my cruiser," stated one of the radio transmissions received by dispatchers.

Police said OLone began firing multiple shots at the front windshield of an officer's cruiser.

Officer Dupointe said after being shot at, he did fire back at the suspect.

"An officer has the right to defend himself against deadly force and thats in the law," Connecticut State Police retired Lieutenant and Channel Three Law Enforcement Analyst Paul Vance explained.

Vance said it's necessary for the inspector general to look at each incident to make sure laws were followed.

"You want a transparent investigation," noted Vance.

Neither the officer nor the suspect were shot.

OLone fled the area but was later found at his home, a short distance away from the scene.

He was taken into custody and charged with criminal attempt at murder, criminal attempt at first-degree assault, assault on a police officer, possession of an assault rifle, possession of a high-capacity magazine, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal mischief.

Norwich police identify man accused of shooting at officer Norwich police said they arrested a man following an incident on Tuesday night during which he shot at an officer.

"It appears on the surface that everything was probably okay. It probably was a necessary shooting, but thats for the inspector general to answer. Those questions will come out in the investigation," added Vance.

He was held on a $1 million bond.

Due to the fact that the Norwich officer fired back, the states Office of the Inspector General is investigating.
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Partnerships Officer, Philippines

Organization: UNICEF Philippines

Country: Philippines

City: Manila

Office: UNICEF in Manila, Philippines

Closing date: Tuesday, 2 November 2021

General

Description of assignment title: Partnerships Officer

Assignment country: Philippines

Expected start date: 12/01/2021

Sustainable Development Goal: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: UNICEF Philippines

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Manila

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF works to promote and protect the rights of every Filipino child, with a particular focus on those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged. We work with the Philippine government to improve national policies, programmes and services for children and adolescents. Together with partners, we address common barriers to the realization of their rights.

Context

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to childrens rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. Equity accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Task description

Under the supervision of the Partnerships Manager and the Chief of Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following functions:

Content creation a. Assist in updating the Philippine Country Offices Resource Mobilisation Strategy b. Assist in gathering comprehensive and substantive analyses, briefs, notes, statistics, and other information requirements for senior managements meetings with existing or perspective donor inside or outside the Country which includes coordination of inputs from programme sections

Quality Assurance a. Support in the quality assurance of donor proposals and donor agreements, coordinating inputs from programme sections

Partnerships Management a. Support in addressing queries from donor partners, coordinating inputs from sections

Virtual or face to face donor partner forums / events / field visits a. Supporting the Partnerships Manager in the planning and execution of the events b. Support in the production of event presentations, coordinating inputs from programme sections c. Graphic design of event material d. Production and dissemination of invitations Results/expected outputs:

Efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support to the overall donor/partnership cycle

Increased programme visibility amongst UNICEF partners

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in

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Years of work experience: At least 3 years of solid and successful professional work experience in all aspects of partnerships support and resource mobilisation and/or in the technical area or programme sector at either the national or international level

Area of expertise requirement: o Experience with development and implementation of resource mobilisation strategies. o Proficiency in using computer applications o Skills and technical competence in producing donor related materials and outputs in various formats o Technical programme knowledge high desirable o Outstanding interpersonal, negotiating, presentation, writing, analytical and account management skills are essential.

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes

Driving license

-

Languages

Filipino, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in

Type of degree: Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International Finance, public relations, media, communication, international law, or other relevant disciplines.

Competencies and values

Diversity and inclusion: Treat all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible.

Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority.

Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to UNICEFs mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments and responsibilities; promotes UNICEFs cause.

Communication: Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly; presents information with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way.

Working with people: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well.

Drive for results: Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. -National UN Volunteer Expert receives approximately PHP 36,997.67 as Monthly Living Allowance. -Provided with assignment travel cost and entry lumpsum if applicable. -Enrolled in health, life, disability insurance. -Applicable dependents (primary family unit, up to 3) are eligible for health insurance. -Entitled to annual leave, 2.5 days per month. -Provided with exit lumpsum to support transition at the end of assignment. For more information about UNV Conditions of Service and Entitlements, please refer to the following: -https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-your-country -https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/unvpf/UNVcos2021%20Complete%20hi-res-final_compressed_30.08.2021.pdf

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1635351142388
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Mostly cloudy. Snow showers around late. Low 28F. WSW winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Snow showers around late. Low 28F. WSW winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed mostly cloudy skies and a few snow showers after midnight. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed mostly cloudy skies and a few snow showers after midnight. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%.
BOSTON (AP)  Celebrity chef Mario Batali's trial on sexual misconduct charge in Boston has been set for April.

FILE - Celebrity chef Mario Batali is arraigned on a charges of indecent assault and battery in Boston Municipal Court, May 24, 2019, in Boston. Batali's trial will take place on April 11, 2022. Batali pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery for allegedly forcibly kissing and groping a woman at a Boston restaurant in 2017. (David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool, File)

BOSTON (AP)  Celebrity chef Mario Batali's trial on sexual misconduct charge in Boston has been set for April.

The trial will take place April 11 in Boston Municipal Court, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins office said Tuesday after a hearing.

Batali pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery on allegations that he forcibly kissed and groped a woman after taking a selfie with her at a Boston restaurant in 2017.

His lawyers didnt respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday but have previously said the charge filed in 2019 is "without merit."

Batali was once a Food Network fixture on shows like "Molto Mario" and "Iron Chef America." But the ponytail- and orange Croc-wearing personality's high-flying career crumbled amid sexual misconduct allegations in recent years.

After four women accused him of inappropriate touching in 2017, Batali stepped down from day-to-day operations at his restaurant empire and left the since-discontinued ABC cooking show "The Chew."

He also apologized, saying the allegations "match up" with ways he has acted. "I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team," Batali said in an email newsletter at the time. "My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility."

In July, Batali, his business partner and their New York City restaurant company agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a four-year investigation by the New York attorney generals office into allegations that Batali, restaurant managers and other workers sexually harassed employees.
GLASGOW, United Kingdom - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pushing the world to impose a global price on carbon by 2030 that would cover 60 per cent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a short speech at at the 26th meeting of the Council of Parties to the UN climate convention, known as COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Trudeau will push the world to negotiate a minimum price on pollution at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

GLASGOW, United Kingdom - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pushing the world to impose a global price on carbon by 2030 that would cover 60 per cent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions.

Trudeau spent the second of two days of meetings and negotiations at the United Nations COP26 climate talks Tuesday extolling the virtues of Canadas carbon pricing system, and urging the rest of the world to jump on board.

"We recognize right now that only about 20 per cent of global emissions are covered by a price on pollution," he said during a speech Tuesday at the climate talks in Glasgow.

"We should be ambitious and say as of right here today that we want to triple that to 60 per cent of global emissions should be covered by a price on pollution in 2030."

Trudeau assembled a stacked panel to back his call in a morning event on the sidelines of COP26, which is seen to be a critical juncture for ramping up policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, if the world is going to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 C above pre-industrial temperatures.

Above 1.5 C the impact on the world's climate starts to accelerate rapidly, and the higher it gets the more difficult it is to undo.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Throwing their weight behind Trudeaus ask today were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva, and UN climate finance envoy Mark Carney, whose influence in the investment world as the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England is significant.

The notion of a global carbon price is not new. The IMF proposed such a system last spring.

"The average global price of carbon today is $3," Georgieva said Tuesday. "If we are to make a dent on emissions in a meaningful way to retain our hope for 1.5 degree, close to1.5 degrees Celsius, by 2030 we have to be at $75 or more."

She said a minimum global carbon price would first force large emitters to have "compatible pricing of carbon" and that the price should be equitable so big emitters and wealthier countries pay more, and less developed and poorer nations pay smaller amounts.

Von der Leyen, with whom Trudeau met one-on-one at the G20 leaders' summit in Rome leading into COP26, said the European carbon trading market in place since 2005 has had tremendous success lowering emissions from industry and energy and has proven that the economy can grow without emissions growing.

She said in Europe broadly speaking since 1990, emissions are down 30 per cent and economic growth is up 60 per cent.

Von der Leyen said "in a perfect world I would love to have a global price on carbon for everybody and everything globally." But for those that don't, Europe is introducing a border carbon adjustment that will mean "if you come with a dirty product to our market, you have to pay a price as if you were in the emission trading system in the European Union."

"But we prefer you keep the money in your economy by putting a price on carbon in your economy," she said.

The Trudeau government launched consultations on a border carbon adjustment almost a year ago, seeking input on how to do it, and whether it would be effective.

Trudeau said Tuesday whether it's a carbon price or a carbon tariff the goal is the same: an incentive to curb greenhouse gas emissions and a level playing field.

"We are right now competing with aluminum around the world that can be sold at even cheaper prices, because it is done in dirtier ways with significantly lower labour standards," he said. "I don't think that's the kind of world we want where people who do the right things the right way, get penalized and people who do wrong things the wrong way get advantages."

Canada has had a carbon price since 2019. It's currently $40 a tonne and will rise to $170 by 2030. It adds about nine cents to a litre of gas, and about eight cents to a cubic metre of natural gas.

Canadians get rebates through the tax system that for most people are worth more than they pay in carbon tax, but the incentive remains to save even more money by burning fewer fossil fuels.

There are more than two dozen countries with national carbon pricing programs and the only two developed countries without one at the national level are the United States and Australia.

Carbon pricing is not part of U.S. President Joe Biden's current plan to combat climate change but Trudeau expressed confidence that other countries will come to realize that other ways to reduce emissions are more expensive and less effective.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP)  A month after a Southern California offshore oil spill, environmental advocates said Tuesday that they plan to sue the federal government over the failure to review and update plans for platforms off the coast.

FILE - Workers in protective suits continue to clean the contaminated beach with a platform in the background in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Oct. 11, 2021. A month after an offshore oil spill, environmental advocates say they plan to sue the federal government over the failure to review and update plans for platforms off the Southern California coast. The Center for Biological Diversity sent a notice to the Secretary of the Interior Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, of its intent to sue. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP)  A month after a Southern California offshore oil spill, environmental advocates said Tuesday that they plan to sue the federal government over the failure to review and update plans for platforms off the coast.

The Center for Biological Diversity said it sent notice to the Secretary of the Interior of its intent to sue, a requirement for lawsuits against the federal government.

The group contends the government approved plans for a cluster of oil platforms in the 1980s and that they are still running though they were expected to wind down production in 2007.

The notice came a month after a pipeline owned by Houston-based Amplify Energy leaked at least about 25,000 gallons (94,635 liters) of crude oil into the ocean off the coast of Orange County. Blobs of oil washed ashore, oiling birds and shuttering the famed shoreline of Huntington Beach for a week.

Environmentalists braced for the worst but the damage has been less than initially feared. Much of the oil broke up at sea and local officials put up booms to keep the crude out of sensitive wetlands.

Under federal law, the government is required to review oil development and production plans for leases in federal waters and revise them as needed in response to changing conditions or activities, though that rarely happens, said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

It is not lawful for them to just continue on with these really old development and production plans, Sakashita said.

She added: It's particularly notable in this instance where we've now had this oil spill. The infrastructure is aging and things need to be done differently.

John Romero, a spokesperson for the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, does not comment on pending litigation.

The leaky pipeline near Huntington Beach ferried crude oil from the offshore platforms questioned by the Center for Biological Diversity to the coast.

The cause of the spill is under investigation, but federal officials have said the pipeline was likely initially damaged by a ships anchor.
LAS MANCHAS DE ABAJO, Canary Islands (AP)  His home went first. Then the house his father built. Then the lottery stand and hardware store he owned succumbed.

Ash from the volcano covers a banana plantation on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. The volcano that has been roaring on Spain's La Palma for over six weeks has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers who grow and sell the Canary Islands banana. So far, lava flows have covered over 390 acres of land dedicated to the cultivation of the sweet yellow fruit that feeds 30% of the economic motor of the Atlantic island. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

LAS MANCHAS DE ABAJO, Canary Islands (AP)  His home went first. Then the house his father built. Then the lottery stand and hardware store he owned succumbed.

Lastly, Antonio Alvarez had to watch as lava from a volcanic eruption slowly devoured the remaining pillar of his familys wealth: the dozen acres he dedicated to growing the Canary Island banana that for generations has provided the agricultural lifeblood of the Atlantic Ocean archipelago.

My father always told me dont make the house too big, it wont make you money; invest in banana! The bananas will give you a house.' And its true, Alvarez said. When I filmed (the lava destroying) my fathers house, it was seeing him die all over again. That house was a part of him.

Alvarez, 54, is one of thousands of farmers and workers on Spains La Palma island whose livelihoods have been put in jeopardy by the destruction wrecked by volcano that is still going strong six weeks after the ground first broke open on Sept. 19.

The regional government of the Canary Islands, an archipelago including La Palma located off the coast of northwest Africa, estimates that the volcano has already caused 100 million euros ($116 million) in losses for the islands banana industry. Over 390 acres (158 hectares) of land used for banana farming have been covered by molten rock, and more than 700 additional acres (300 hectares) have been cut off after roads on the island's western side were enveloped by lava.

Lava from a volcano advances destroying a banana plantation on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. The volcano that has been roaring on Spain's La Palma for over six weeks has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers who grow and sell the Canary Islands banana. So far, lava flows have covered over 390 acres of land dedicated to the cultivation of the sweet yellow fruit that feeds 30% of the economic motor of the Atlantic island. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The banana growers association for the Canary Islands, ASPROCAN, estimates that around 1,500 of the islands 5,000 owners of banana plantations have been hurt. Most owners have small patches of a few acres. Many, like Alvarez, have seen their land burnt and crushed. Others have lost harvests because they can't get to their trees. And many more have seen their product become unmarketable due to the volcanic ash that has ruined the banana peels.

It's been an shock wave for an industry that provides 30% of the economic life of the island, according to regional government statistics. There are entire businesses dedicated to packing and transporting the fruit, which, along with tourism, keeps La Palma going.

They say it has wiped out 10% of the islands economy. I think it is more. It wasnt just the bananas, or the apartments, or the bed and breakfasts, it has taken everything, Alvarez said. What has happened to us has happened to 90% of the people here.

Antonio Alvarez clears ash from the volcano in a banana plantation on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. The volcano that has been roaring on Spain's La Palma for over six weeks has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers who grow and sell the Canary Islands banana. So far, lava flows have covered over 390 acres of land dedicated to the cultivation of the sweet yellow fruit that feeds 30% of the economic motor of the Atlantic island. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

La Palma, an island of 85,000, is the second-largest producer of banana for the eight-member archipelago, which at its nearest point is 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Morocco. Last year it produced 148,000 tons of the local banana, most of which were shipped to Spains mainland. While usually more expensive than imported bananas from Latin America and Africa, the smaller Canary Island banana is often preferred for its sweeter taste and meatier texture.

Authorities have pledged financial aid to help the sector and fund furloughs for workers. They have also promised to revise a law that says that new land formed by the lava is property of the state.

Desalination plants have been shipped in to supply the water-dependent banana trees at points where lava flows have wrecked the irrigation systems. The islands government has asked for the military to consider taking farmers in by boat to tend to farms that have been isolated by the rivers of lava.

Lava flows from a volcano as it continues to erupt on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain Spain, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. A volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma that has been erupting for six weeks has spewed more ash from its main mouth a day after producing its strongest earthquake to date. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The lava, however, keeps spewing from the Cumbre Vieja ridge, threatening to widen and consume more land as it churns its way downward to the Atlantic, where a new patch of lava land is forming.

The house of farmer Jesus Perez is still at risk, but for him the most important property he owns is already gone.

I would have prefered to lose my house instead of my banana trees, the 56-year-old Perez said. The trees give you life, the house gives you nothing. I have sacrificed all my life, and for what, nothing?

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Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Tuesday launched a wide-ranging plan to reduce methane emissions, targeting a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming and packs a stronger short-term punch than even carbon dioxide.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (Yves Herman/Pool via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Tuesday launched a wide-ranging plan to reduce methane emissions, targeting a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming and packs a stronger short-term punch than even carbon dioxide.

The plan was announced as President Joe Biden wraps up a two-day appearance at a United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Biden pledged during the summit to work with the European Union and dozens of other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

The centerpiece of U.S. actions is a long-awaited rule by the Environmental Protection Agency to tighten methane regulations for the oil and gas sector, as laid out in one of Biden's first executive orders.

The proposed rule would for the first time target reductions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focus only on new wells as previous regulations have done.

FILE - A flare burns natural gas at an oil well on Aug. 26, 2021, in Watford City, N.D. A new federal report released Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, says fossil fuel extraction from federal lands produced more than 1 billion tons (918 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases last year. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

"One of the most important things we can do in this decisive decade  to keep 1.5 degrees in reach  is reduce our methane emissions as quickly as possible,'' Biden said, referring to a global pledge to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above levels in the late 19th century.

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases there is,'' Biden said, adding that the new U.S. rules and the global pledge are "going to make a huge difference,'' not only in fighting climate change, but to improve health and reduce asthma and other respiratory problems.

Reducing methane leaks, capturing methane to turn it into new revenue streams, will save companies money and create "good-paying union jobs for our workers,'' Biden said.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the new rule, established under the Clean Air Act, would lead to significant reductions in methane emissions and other pollutants and would be stricter than a 2016 standard set under President Barack Obama. Congress reinstated the Obama-era standard last summer in a rare effort by majority Democrats to use the legislative branch to overturn a regulatory rollback under President Donald Trump.

The EPA's historic action" will ensure robust and lasting cuts in pollution across the country,'' Regan said, adding that the new rule will protect communities near oil and natural gas sites and advance U.S. climate goals under the 2015 Paris Agreement.

President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, listen during an event about the "Global Methane Pledge" at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Once finalized, the proposed requirements would reduce methane emissions from U.S. drilling operations and equipment by approximately 75% by 2030, compared with 2005, the White House said.

The oil and natural gas industry is the nations largest industrial source of methane, a highly potent pollutant that is responsible for about one-third of current warming from human activities.

The oil and gas sector also is a leading source of other harmful air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog, and air toxins such as benzene that are emitted along with methane.

Environmental groups call methane reduction the fastest and most cost-effective action to slow the rate of global warming. Current rules for methane emissions from U.S. oil and gas wells only apply to sources that were built or modified after 2015, leaving more than 90% of the nations nearly 900,000 well sites unregulated. Many of those sites are smaller, low-producing wells.

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, called the new rule "an important step that offers a major victory for nine million Americans living near active oil and gas sites.'' But he said EPA and other agencies must do more to cut down on flaring and leaks from so-called marginal wells that have disproportionately high emissions.

John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, speaks at an event about the "Global Methane Pledge" at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industrys top lobbying group, has said it supports direct regulation of methane emissions from new and existing sources but opposes efforts in Congress to impose fees on methane leaks, calling them punitive and unnecessary. The industry says leaks of methane, the main component of natural gas, have decreased even as natural gas production has gone up as a result of the ongoing fracking boom. Technological advancements in recent years have make finding and repairing natural gas leaks cheaper and easier.

EPA has released a sweeping proposal, and we look forward to reviewing it in its entirety,'' said API senior vice president Frank Macchiarola. The group will work with EPA to help shape a final rule "that is effective, feasible and designed to encourage further innovation,'' he said.

The administration's plan includes new safety regulations by the Transportation Department to tighten requirements over methane leaks from the nation's 3 million miles of pipelines.

The Interior Department, meanwhile, is preparing to crack down on methane waste burned at drilling sites on public lands. And the Agriculture Department is working with farmers to establish so-called climate-smart standards to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage.

Biden has previously announced plans to step up efforts to plug leaks at old oil and gas wells and clean up abandoned coal mines. A bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by the Senate includes billions to reclaim abandoned mine land and cap orphaned wells.

The administration also is taking aim at methane emissions from landfills, with emphasis on food loss and waste that serves as a major contributor. EPA has set a voluntary goal of capturing 70% of methane emissions from U.S. landfills.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview that officials are studying ways to reduce methane emissions from livestock, including changes in feed and use of specialized equipment to convert manure into electricity.

We have just a multitude of ways for agriculture to advance methane reduction to help with the presidents goal of reducing" global methane use by 30%, Vilsack told The Associated Press.

Ethan Lane, vice president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said his group has worked with the Biden administration since day one to ensure the U.S. cattle industry is recognized for our strong record of environmental stewardship,'' including methane reductions.

The administration cannot accomplish lasting conservation without the buy-in of cattle producers, he said.

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Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Glasgow, Scotland contributed to this story.
U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizers kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nations vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.

FILE - This October 2021, photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. (Pfizer via AP, File)

U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizers kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nations vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.

The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11  doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.

The announcement by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after an advisory panel unanimously decided Pfizers shots should be opened to the 28 million youngsters in that age group.

The decision marks the first opportunity for Americans under 12 to get the powerful protection of any COVID-19 vaccine.

As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated, Walensky said Tuesday night, in a statement.

In remarks earlier in the day, she said while the risk of severe disease and death is lower in young children than adults, it is real  and that COVID-19 has had a profound social, mental health and educational impact on youngsters, including widening disparities in learning.

There are children in the second grade who have never experienced a normal school year, Walensky said. Pediatric vaccination has the power to help us change all of that.

President Joe Biden called the decision a turning point."

It will allow parents to end months of anxious worrying about their kids, and reduce the extent to which children spread the virus to others," he said in a statement. It is a major step forward for our nation in our fight to defeat the virus.

The American Academy of Pediatrics welcomed the decision as its members get ready to start the first injections into little arms, which the CDC said could begin as soon as possible. The 5- to 11-year-olds will receive two low doses, three weeks apart, of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech -- the same schedule as everyone else, but using a smaller needle.

Pfizer over the weekend began shipping millions of the pediatric shots to states, doctors offices and pharmacies  in orange caps, to avoid mix-ups with purple-capped vials of adult vaccine.

Many parents have clamored for vaccine protection for youngsters so they can resume normal childhood activities without risking their own health  or fear bringing the virus home to a more vulnerable family member. But CDC's advisers said they recognize many parents also have questions, and may be fearful of the vaccine because of rampant misinformation.

Members of the advisory panel said they want parents to ask about the shots  and understand that they're far better than gambling that their child will escape a serious coronavirus infection. As for safety, more than 106 million Americans have safely gotten two doses of Pfizers full-strength shots  including more than 7 million 12- to 15-year-olds.

I have vaccinated my kids, said CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University, saying she wouldnt recommend something for other families unless she was comfortable with it for her own. We have seen the devastation of this disease.

In the U.S., there have been more than 8,300 coronavirus-related hospitalizations of kids ages 5 to 11, about a third requiring intensive care, according to government data. The CDC has recorded at least 94 deaths in that age group, with additional reports under investigation.

And while the U.S. has seen a recent downturn in COVID-19 cases, experts are worried about another uptick with holiday travel and as winter sends more activity indoors where its easier for the coronavirus to spread.

Pfizer's study of 2,268 youngsters found the kid-size vaccine is nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 -- based on 16 diagnoses among kids given dummy shots compared to just three who got the real vaccination.

The FDA examined more children, a total of 3,100 who were vaccinated, in concluding the shots are safe. The younger children experienced similar or fewer reactions -- such as sore arms, fever or achiness -- than teens or young adults get after larger doses.

That study wasnt large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that occasionally occurs after the second full-strength dose, mostly in young men and teen boys. Regulators ultimately decided the benefits from vaccination outweigh the potential that younger kids getting a smaller dose also might experience that rare risk.

Some of CDC's advisers said for some parents, deciding to get their children vaccinated may hinge on that small but scary risk.

The risk of some sort of bad heart involvement is much higher if you get COVID than if you get this vaccine, Dr. Matthew Oster, a pediatric cardiologist at Emory University, told the panel. COVID is much riskier to the heart.

Last week, FDAs advisers struggled with whether every young child needed a vaccine. Youngsters hospitalized with COVID-19 are more likely to have high-risk conditions such as obesity or diabetes. But otherwise healthy children can get seriously ill, too, and the CDCs advisers ultimately recommended the shots for all of them  even children whove already recovered from a bout of COVID-19.

CDC officials calculated that for every 500,000 youngsters vaccinated, between 18,000 and 58,000 COVID-19 cases  and between 80 and 226 hospitalizations  in that age group would be prevented, depending on the pandemic's trajectory. And CDC officials noted that COVID-19 has caused more deaths in this age group than some other diseases, such as chickenpox, did before children were routinely vaccinated against them.

What about younger children? Pfizer is testing shots for babies and preschoolers and expects data around the end of the year. The similarly made Moderna vaccine also is being studied with young children. But the FDA still hasn't cleared its use in teens, and the company is delaying its application for younger children pending that review.

A few countries have begun using other COVID-19 vaccines in children under 12, including China, which just began vaccinations for 3-year-olds. But many that use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are watching the U.S. decision, and European regulators just began considering the companies kid-size doses.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  China is at a special development stage that warrants its current status as the world's biggest emitter of climate-damaging fossil fuel pollution, the nation's senior climate negotiator said Tuesday.

Wang Yuetang stands near what used to be his peanut farm before torrential rains submerged the lowland leaving him with no summer harvest near Xubao village in central China's Henan province on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. The flooding disaster in July is the worst that older farmers can remember in 40 years  but it is also a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms up, and weather patterns farmers depend upon are increasingly destabilized. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  China is at a special development stage that warrants its current status as the world's biggest emitter of climate-damaging fossil fuel pollution, the nation's senior climate negotiator said Tuesday.

Xie Zhenhua, a special climate envoy for China, spoke to reporters at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

As a major climate polluter and as the world's second-biggest economy, China has been much talked about, but little seen, at the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping  who is not known to have left the country during the pandemic  has not joined the more than 100 other world leaders at the event, addressing observers and delegates in a written message Monday instead.

Xie, who played a pivotal role in negotiations that achieved the 2015 Paris climate accord, underscored China's longstanding position that the United States and other developed nations should be the ones acting faster to cut climate-damaging emissions, not China.

China is already "making our biggest possible effort to address climate change, Xie said, saying China was unable to start reining in its reliance on coal-fired power plants any quicker than it already was.

So regarding the fact that China is the current largest emitter, its because China is at a special development stage, Xie said. The nation will be able to speed up its emission cuts later, he said.

A flooded corn field is seen months after torrential rain flooded the region of Zhaoguo village in central China's Henan province on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. The flooding disaster in July is the worst that older farmers can remember in 40 years  but it is also a preview of the kind of extreme conditions the country is likely to face as the planet warms up, and weather patterns farmers depend upon are increasingly destabilized. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

We do not only make promises, we honor our promises with real action, he said.

China, which is heavily dependent on coal-fired power, pledged last year to start reining in its fossil fuel emissions later in this decade and to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Climate negotiators welcomed Xi's announcements then, but its 2060 date is a decade later than many other countries' target, and Xi has resisted international calls to move faster. At the climate summit, China has taken part in some initiatives  such as joining a multinational pledge Tuesday to preserve forests  but announced no new climate efforts so far.

Despite China's status as an economic powerhouse, its leaders argue that factors that include China's modest per-capita income make it a developing country still.

As such, it bears less burden to cut emissions than economies like the United States or Europe that have already powered to wealth by burning coal and petroleum, China argues. The average American still produces more than twice the climate-damaging amount of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels than the average Chinese citizen.

China and U.S. officials long have played a mutual blame game as global warming intensifies, with China faulting the U.S. as the world's largest climate polluter historically, and Donald Trump's administration in particular pointing to China's pollution in justifying rollbacks of U.S. climate efforts.

President Joe Biden used the summit Monday to express regret for the U.S. role in climate damage.

Those of us who are responsible for much of the deforestation and all of the problems we have so far, Biden said, have overwhelming obligations to the poorer nations that account for few of the emissions yet are paying a price as the planet has grown hotter.

Biden also apologized Monday for Trumps decision to leave the Paris climate accord, saying that put us sort of behind the eight ball a little bit on combating climate change.

Xie on Tuesday dismissed a reporter's question about whether China, as the world's current worst carbon emitter, bore any similar obligations to other countries for China's role in damaging the Earth's climate.

Instead, he faulted the U.S., saying it was Trump's withdrawal that slowed down climate efforts.

We have wasted already five years owing to the U.S. withdrawal from the climate accord, Xie said. And now we need to work harder and catch up.

Biden rejoined the Paris accord earlier this year as one of his first acts as president.

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Follow all AP stories on climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas Tuesday to top executives of ExxonMobil, Chevron and other oil giants, charging that the companies have not turned over documents needed by the committee to investigate allegations that the oil industry concealed evidence about the dangers of global warming.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, speaks at committee hearing on the role of fossil fuel companies in climate change, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas Tuesday to top executives of ExxonMobil, Chevron and other oil giants, charging that the companies have not turned over documents needed by the committee to investigate allegations that the oil industry concealed evidence about the dangers of global warming.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said she tried hard to obtain the information voluntarily, but "the oil companies employed the same tactics they used for decades on climate policy  delay and obstruction.''

The subpoenas follow a high-profile hearing last week in which top oil executives denied spreading disinformation about climate change as they sparred with Maloney and other Democrats over allegations that they deliberately misled the public about the risks of global warming.

Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, testifies via video conference during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on the role of fossil fuel companies in climate change, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, with Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., at left, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods testified that his company's public statements on climate are and have always been truthful, fact-based ... and consistent with mainstream climate science, a claim Democrats sharply disputed.

In addition to ExxonMobil, the committee issued subpoenas to executives at Chevron, Shell and BP America, as well as the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Leaders of all six groups appeared at the Oversight hearing last week.

Spokesman Casey Norton said Tuesday that ExxonMobil has been cooperating with the committee for months and has provided nearly 130,000 pages of documents, including internal emails.

J.P. Fielder, a spokesman for BP America, said the company is carefully reviewing the subpoena and will continue working with the committee. BP says it has provided more than 17,000 pages of documents, including internal materials.

Several lawmakers compared last week's remote hearing to a 1994 session with tobacco executives who famously testified that they didnt believe nicotine was addictive. Maloney and other Democrats sought to pin down oil executives on whether they believe in climate change and that burning fossil fuels such as oil contributes to global warming.

Democrats accused the oil industry of engaging in a decades-long, industry-wide campaign to spread disinformation about the contribution of fossil fuels to global warming.

They are obviously lying like the tobacco executives were, Maloney said of oil executives after hearing their testimony.

Republicans accused Democrats of grandstanding over an issue popular with their base as President Joe Bidens climate agenda teeters in Congress. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the panel's top Republican, dismissed the hearing as "partisan theater for primetime news.''

Democrats for months have been seeking documents and other information on the oil industrys role in stopping climate action over multiple decades. The fossil fuel industry has had scientific evidence about the dangers of climate change since at least 1977, yet spread denial and doubt about the harm its products cause undermining science and preventing meaningful action on climate change, Maloney and other Democrats said.

Woods and other oil executives said they agreed with Maloney on the existence and threat posed by climate change, but they refused her request to pledge that their companies would not spend money  either directly or indirectly  to oppose efforts to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
Looking to increase your vacation selfie game? Dont worry, Eduardo Vallin has you covered.

Looking to increase your vacation selfie game? Dont worry, Eduardo Vallin has you covered.

As Instagram concierge at the W Punta de Mita hotel in Mexico, Vallin helps guests locate and take the best social media-worthy photos while they bask in that vacation glow.

Instagram concierge Eduardo Vallin appears at the W Punta de Mita hotel in Naya, Mexico. Vallin helps guests locate and take the best social media-worthy photos. (Valentina Seriat/W Punta de Mita via AP)

One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing the pictures come to life, Vallin said. I enjoy getting to know the person through their Instagram aesthetics and interests and then creating a personalized tour, then finally seeing the finished product on their Instagram.

His is just one of a variety of creative concierge jobs that hotels and resorts have introduced in recent years.

In Aruba, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort recently introduced a carbon offset concierge; Jareth Vermeulen helps guests offset the environmental impact of their flights to the carbon-neutral hotel by purchasing carbon emissions offsets. Guests can do this on their own or have Vermeulen assist them. Though the position is new, Vermeulen had been offering sustainability tours of the property as sustainability manager.

This image shows an oceanfront view at a pool at the W Punta de Mita resort in Naya, Mexico. The hotel has a concierge that helps guests locate and take the best social media-worthy photos while they bask in that vacation glow. (Valentina Seriat/W Punta de Mita via AP)

Its really been enjoyable to mingle with the guests and understand the reason why they choose Bucuti & Tara Beach and also their sustainability passion, he said.

Why this trend toward specialized concierge services?

For hotels, its a way to stand out from the crowd and convey a vision by focusing on topics like climate change, said Emanuel Schreiner, founder of RVS Hotel Consulting.

As for customers, personalization is not just a travel trend; hotel guests want to experience unique moments, tailor-made for their vacation, Schreiner added. Having highly specialized staff that is able to cater to the most extravagant aspects of their travel will definitely create added value for the guests. We will see in the long run whether the demand actually meets all these particular offerings.

Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, said he created the carbon offset concierge because some travelers feel guilty for the emissions that come from air travel. Offsets can help guests enjoy a more guilt-free vacation, he said.

Global warming and climate change appear in almost every review of the hotel, Biemans said. Three years ago, most people didnt even know what climate change was or global warming was. Today it is a household word.

Another new take on the concierge position: The Hyatt Regency Portland in Oregon plans to have a concierge of weird, starting in November, to help guests find unique and little-hyped tours and experiences.

What makes Portland so great is that it's the small, some call them weird, off-the-beaten-path destinations and characters that make the city so beloved, said Jamie McKinney, the new concierge. We both wanted a way to highlight these quirky entities, which dont always rise to the top of Yelp, yet are so crucial to the liveliness and the effectiveness of tourism in our city.

McKinney said the position is being created in response to feedback from travelers wanting to explore the real Portland.

The places that locals actually go to," she said.

For example, guests might want to learn about the elusive Bigfoot, so she will send them to the North American Bigfoot Center, where displays feature an array of bigfoot information and artifacts.

In scouting these tours, Ive relied on my local expertise and my natural inclination to explore and dig deeper, allowing me to uncover the very best of the weird side of Portland, she said.

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Follow Kristi Eaton on Twitter at Twitter.com/KristiEaton.
AUGUSTA, Maine - A plan to export hydroelectricity from Quebec to Massachusetts is facing opposition from environmental groups in Maine  where a 233-kilometre transmission line would be built  despite the promise of major greenhouse gas reductions.

Hydro-Quebec power lines are shown on Oct. 29, 2009, in Levis, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

AUGUSTA, Maine - A plan to export hydroelectricity from Quebec to Massachusetts is facing opposition from environmental groups in Maine  where a 233-kilometre transmission line would be built  despite the promise of major greenhouse gas reductions.

Maine residents are scheduled to vote in a referendum on Tuesday on the proposed interconnection line, which would bring 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity a year from Quebec's power grid, through Maine, to Massachusetts.

Hydro-Quebec says the project would cut three million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year  the equivalent of taking 700,000 cars off the road  but Maine's major environmental groups aren't convinced of the benefits.

Anya Fetcher, director of Environment Maine, says she worries about the impact of the proposed power lines through the northern part of her state, particularly the 85 kilometres of lines that would travel across the North Maine Woods.

"It's a precious ecosystem and it's an important place for Mainers," she said in a recent interview. "People live in and visit Maine because of its natural beauty. We have to protect this area."

Fetcher said she doesn't consider hydroelectricity to be a green source of energy, because of the impact of dam construction. She said she wishes the US$1 billion invested in the project had been used instead for solar and wind energy.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Sierra Club's Maine chapter also oppose the project. That opposition saddens environmentalist Tom Rumpf, who worked for the Nature Conservancy in Maine for 21 years.

"There are sacrifices to be made  I'm aware of that  but on the whole, I believe (the project) will contribute to the decarbonization of electricity in New England," he said in a recent interview.

The line from Quebec to Massachusetts has obtained the support of regulatory authorities after a thorough analysis of its environmental impact, he said, adding that he believes the impact on plants and animals in Maine will be minimal. Rumpf, however, said that nuance is being lost in a polarized campaign.

Lobby groups have spent a total of US$94 million to influence voters, according to documents filed with the Maine Commission of Government Ethics and Election Practices  a record for a referendum in the state.

Officially, groups in favour of the project have spent almost three times more than opponents. However, those figures may not be complete, as opposition group Stop the Corridor is engaged in a legal battle with the ethics commission to keep its donors confidential.

The campaign has seen exaggerated claims of the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity by Hydro-Quebec. A Florida-based company called NextEra has spent more than $20 million to encourage voters to block the project, and it operates a nuclear plant in New Hampshire that would face competition from the cheaper electricity carried by the Hydro-Quebec line.

Richard Bennett, a Republican state senator who opposes the project, said he's concerned about "absurd" arguments put forward by the group Mainers for Fair Laws. That group has received US$11.9 million in indirect funding from Central Maine Power Company, which has partnered with Hydro-Quebec to build the power lines.

Bennett said the group claims that a vote against the project would open the door to government taking guns from their owners, an interpretation rejected by multiple independent experts.

"It's an insult to the intelligence of citizens," he said. "The most far-fetched arguments are going around at the end of this campaign."

Mainers for Fair Laws did not respond to a request for comment.

Bennett said he's also concerned about the US$21.9 million spent by Hydro-Quebec in the campaign.

Hydro-Quebec said that spending is justified. "We're doing an information campaign because of the outrageous misinformation circulating about our energy and the project," Hydro-Quebec spokeswoman Lynn St-Laurent said.

If the project is rejected by Maine voters, it would be the second time Hydro-Quebec's plans to export power to the United States have failed. In 2019, Hydro-Quebec abandoned a plan to export power through New Hampshire because of public opposition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2021.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  While pandemic style saw people put on pajamas and their hair up in a bun, 2021 is more about mascara and lip liners  and makeup sales in the multi-billion-dollar Mideast market are beginning to improve.

Mario Dedivanovic, one of the most influential makeup artists, speaks to The Associated Press at City Center Mirdif Mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. The coronavirus pandemic has been difficult for the makeup industry, with the surge in home working and cancellations of many social events like weddings. Sales in the multi-billion-dollar Mideast makeup market are beginning to improve as vaccinations see the pandemic wane. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  While pandemic style saw people put on pajamas and their hair up in a bun, 2021 is more about mascara and lip liners  and makeup sales in the multi-billion-dollar Mideast market are beginning to improve.

For women in the region  and particularly the Gulf Arab states  makeup is one of their biggest spends, offering an opportunity for expression even to those who cover their hair and part of their face with black veils.

After a pandemic sales slump, analysts now predict the Middle East makeup market will grow by as much as 5% over the next five years, even as sales in some parts of the world continue to slow, such as in Western Europe and North America.

Drawing on those trends, Dubai  the glitzy city state that is part of the United Arab Emirates  has been hosting a number of events and celebrities. Among them was Mario Dedivanovic, known for doing Kim Kardashians makeup, who hosted a talk on the future of beauty over the weekend. With more than 9 million followers, Dedivanovic is one of the most influential makeup artists currently on the scene.

Mask-less women donning designer shoes and bags and wearing the latest makeup trends, gathered at Mirdif City Center Mall to listen to him.

Dedovanovic said Dubai is on par with global beauty hubs.

Dubai is such a cosmopolitan city. Everywhere in the world, you know, everybody knows about Dubai, Dedovanovic told The Associated Press. He said makeup artists in Dubai are "doing everything at the same pace that ... it is being done in Paris and Milan and London.

The makeup industry was worth $4 billion in the Middle East even during the pandemic, according to market research group Euromonitor International. But the pandemic hit it hard with the surge in working from home and cancellations of many social events such as weddings. Pandemic-related job losses also meant less disposable income, and spending focused more on necessities.

Globally, the makeup industry declined by 16% in 2020, Euromonitor said, with the slump slightly less drastic at 10% in the Middle East.

Amna Abbas, a consultant for beauty and fashion at Euromonitor, said some areas of the Middle East, including the UAE, had shorter lockdown periods. Once markets reopened, we saw signs of recovery happening immediately, she said.

As people began to go back to offices, socialize more and attend events, makeup sales began improving. Euromonitor said makeup sales growth should hit 6% to 8% in the Mideast this year.

Abbas said the growth has been faster than expected, even though the market is not likely to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until 2022 or 2023. She added that recovery is still on.

Online shopping is also becoming increasingly important and so is the use of social media. After 2020, more women turned to purchasing their favorite shades of lipstick or foundation online, assisted at times by an augmented reality feature where they could see what they would look like wearing a specific color.

As part of the growing reliance on online shopping, women in the Gulf follow celebrities, influencers, and makeup brands on social media to find out about trends and beauty tips. Huda Kattan, a Dubai-based Iraqi-American beauty magnate, has built a billion dollar business here on that.

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Follow Malak Harb on Twitter at www.twitter.com/malakharb.
TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (21,247.01, up 209.94 points.)

Harte Gold Corp. (TSX:HRT). Materials. Down three cents, or 54.55 per cent, to 2.5 cents on 27.7 million shares.

Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX:K). Materials. Down five cents, or 0.67 per cent, to $7.39 on 8.8 million shares.

Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up 50 cents, or 1.54 per cent, to $33.05 on 7.1 million shares.

Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Up five cents, or 2.51 per cent, to $2.04 on 6.8 million shares.

Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Up 32 cents, or 2.16 per cent, to $15.12 on 6.2 million shares.

Hexo Corp. (TSX:HEXO). Health care. Down six cents, or 3.33 per cent, to $1.74 on 5.8 million shares.

Companies in the news:

Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B). Up 88 cents to 1.5 per cent to $58.44. A pair of public interest advocacy groups have asked the federal telecommunications regulator to delay a public hearing into Rogers Communications Inc.'s deal to buy Shaw Communications Inc. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the National Pensioners Federation said in a letter Monday that the CRTC should postpone the Nov. 22 start of hearings because the boardroom infighting at Rogers has made it unclear who is in control of the company. The two groups say that since the directors of the company are in doubt, it's unclear whether any submissions made in the name of Rogers continue to be supported by the board, and whether comments made by directors at the hearing will be supported by the company. The letter comes on the first day of hearings as Edward Rogers, son of late Rogers founder Ted Rogers, tries to have a B.C. court declare legitimate the board he formed after he was ousted as chair last month. He claims that he has the power to fire and appoint board members because he is chair of the Rogers Control Trust. However, his mother Loretta Rogers, sisters Melinda Rogers-Hixon and Martha Rogers and their associates say Edward Rogers' board is illegitimate and the only valid board is the one that existed before his changes.

Cargojet Inc. (TSX:CJT). Down $10.85 or 5.5 per cent to $186.20. Cargojet Inc. says clogged supply chains and a prolonged e-commerce surge helped boost revenue in its third quarter, despite an unexpected net earnings loss driven partly by higher costs. The company, which provides time-sensitive overnight air cargo services as well as aircraft leases, garnered nearly 17 per cent year-over-year revenue growth in the quarter ended Sept. 30. Chief executive Ajay Virmani said massive digital adaptation that took place over the past one and a half years has fundamentally shifted consumer behaviour. Supply bottlenecks and trucking and container shortages have further boosted demand for the Mississauga, Ont.-based company's air services, Virmani said. Cargojet was among the main beneficiaries of explosive online sales over the past 20 months, ramping up flights and expanding its relationship with e-commerce giant Amazon earlier this year via an agreement to operate two of its wide-body Boeing 767 aircraft in Canada. The 19-year-old company's revenue jumped to $189.5 million last quarter compared with $162.3 million in the same period in 2020. The growth came as Cargojet reported a net loss of $12.9 million or 74 cents per diluted share in its third quarter, compared with a loss of $20.4 million or $1.31 per diluted share a year earlier.

BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE). Up 44 cents to $64.15. Bell has apologized after it incorrectly made a time change on some customer smartphones. The company says there was an issue with its system that caused the change, which has now been resolved. Customers complained on social media about disruptions to their mornings because of the error. The company says users may need to restart their device or briefly switch their smartphone into airplane mode to fix the problem. Bell spokeswoman Caroline Audet says the company thanks everyone for their patience. Daylight time is scheduled to end on Nov. 7 when clocks are set back one hour.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2021.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday  part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes an address to an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday  part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

Britain hailed the commitment by more than 100 countries to end deforestation in the coming decade as the first big achievement of the conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow, known as COP26  but experts noted such promises have been made and broken before.

More than 120 world leaders were heading home after two days in which they received stark warnings about the state of the Earth from Johnson, naturalist David Attenborough, Queen Elizabeth II and  most powerfully  the people of countries and regions already facing climate upheaval.

Fiji's Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama attends a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Phil Noble/Pool via AP)

Johnson said at a news conference that it was important to guard against false hope, but added that he was cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the talks. The conference aims to keep the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels  the goal set at the Paris climate conference six years ago.

Johnson had a message for negotiators from around the globe who will strain over the next 10 days to turn politicians' climate promises into reality: The eyes of the populations of the world are on you.

The U.K. said it has received pledges from leaders representing more than 85% of the worlds forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan.

Climate activists from the Red Rebel Brigade take part in the 'Trillion Dollar Bash' outside the offices of JP Morgan on Waterloo Street, Glasgow, Scotland calling out the bank's continued profits from and investment into fossil fuel projects as the COP26 summit takes place nearby Tuesday Nov. 2, 2021. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Experts and observers said fulfilling the pledge will be critical to limiting climate change, but many noted that such grand promises have been made before  to little effect.

Signing the declaration is the easy part, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet.

Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at political think tank Chatham House, said world leaders promised in 2014 to end deforestation by 2030, but since then deforestation has accelerated across many countries.

Forests are important ecosystems and provide a critical way of absorbing carbon dioxide  the main greenhouse gas  from the atmosphere. But the value of wood as a commodity and the growing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, particularly in developing countries. Indigenous peoples are often among the hardest hit.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, attend a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Phil Noble/Pool via AP)

We are delighted to see Indigenous peoples mentioned in the forest deal announced today, said Joseph Itongwa Mukumo, an Indigenous Walikale and activist from Congo.

He called for governments and businesses to recognize the effective role Indigenous communities play in preventing deforestation.

These are billions in investment towards environmental preservation, but its very difficult for this money to reach Indigenous communities, reach traditional communities, said Chief Ninawa, a leader of the Huni Kui people from the Amazon attending the summit.

Some campaigners said the forests pledge was a step forward. Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher at Human Rights Watch, said there were quite a lot of really positive elements.

President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP)

She said it was positive to see China and Brazil pledging to protect forests, but noted that Brazil's public statements don't yet line up with its domestic policies and warned that the deal could be used by some countries to greenwash their image.

Brazil's government has been eager to project itself as a responsible environmental steward in the wake of surging deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands that sparked global outrage in recent years. Critics caution that its promises should be viewed with skepticism, and the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an outspoken proponent of developing the Amazon.

On Tuesday, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden launched a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The announcement was part of a broader effort with the European Union and other nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30% by 2030.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines  the focus of the Biden plan  is considered one of the easiest ways to cut emissions. Reducing methane from agriculture, in particular by belching cows, is a trickier matter.

President Joe Biden walks off after speaking during an event about the "Global Methane Pledge" at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland, as John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate is seen taking the podium, as shown on the screen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at the World Resources Institute, said the agreement sets a strong floor in terms of the ambition we need globally.

Separately, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan to provide $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.

South Africa gets about 90% of its electricity from coal-fired plants, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

But campaigners say the worlds biggest carbon emitters need to do much more. Earth has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2F). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by the year 2100.

Britain's Prince William, second left, speaks with Earthshot finalist Vinisha Umashankar, second right, during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners, finalists and heads of state on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)

Increased warming over coming decades would melt much of the planets ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, scientists say.

I dont think that activists are being heard here," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist from the Philippines.

We have to make sure that we really rally together and make sure that were so loud that the world leaders cant keep ignoring us, she said. "Because every fraction of a degree, every step towards the right direction is what matters here.

At his end-of-summit news conference. Biden acknowledged the fierce skepticism from climate activists who say world leaders are not moving with enough haste.

He insisted that climate activists have been a vital voice, and expressed optimism that the world is waking up to understanding that the issue is not just a moral imperative but also an enormous opportunity to spur economies.

Even if the funding didnt come from some of the governments, you have the private sector now engaged where theyre talking about investing literally the need to invest over trillions of dollars off the sidelines, Biden said.

So things are changing., he added. We just have to have the right stewardship and enough sense as world leaders to get it right.

Some 25,000 people are expected to attend the vast COP26 gathering, from heads of state to activists and charity workers. Attendees on Tuesday included Leonardo DiCaprio, who drew a crowd of journalists and fans. The Hollywood star, who is a U.N. climate change representative, visited an exhibition highlighting the role plants can play in providing solutions to climate change.

One not there was Chinas Xi Jinping. Biden said the leader of the worlds biggest greenhouse-gas-emitting country made a big mistake with his absence.

Theyve lost an ability to influence people around the world and all the people here at COP, Biden said

As countries announced major initiatives, those attendees appeared ready to do their small part: For a few minutes Tuesday, the vegetarian version of haggis  a Scottish delicacy typically made with sheep's lungs  was sold out. It was outselling the traditional version, servers said  perhaps unsurprising in a crowd well aware of the impact of meat-eating on the climate.

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Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
TORONTO - Torstar Corp. has joined Facebook Inc.'s program that pays media companies for use of their content on the tech company's platform.

The Toronto Star building is shown in Toronto on June 8, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

TORONTO - Torstar Corp. has joined Facebook Inc.'s program that pays media companies for use of their content on the tech company's platform.

The company says the publisher of the Toronto Star will receive payments in exchange for Facebook getting the ability to link to news stories not already posted on the social media platform.

Facebook says 17 Canadian publishers are already part of the program it calls the news innovation test.

Those publishers include the National Observer, the Narwhal, Le Devoir, the Tyee and the publisher of Le Soleil.

Facebook, which is in the process of renaming itself Meta, has not revealed the financial terms of the deals it signed with these publishers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Australian counterpart agreed in March to continue "co-ordinating efforts'' to ensure web giants' revenues are shared more fairly with creators and media after Facebook struck a payment deal with the Australian government.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021.---

Torstar holds an investment in The Canadian Press as part of a joint agreement with subsidiaries of the Globe and Mail and Montreal's La Presse.

Facebook funds a fellowship that supports journalism positions at The Canadian Press.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  The head of the U.N. nuclear agency says he sees atomic power playing a key role balancing climate concerns and the world's energy needs.

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  The head of the U.N. nuclear agency says he sees atomic power playing a key role balancing climate concerns and the world's energy needs.

Many environmentalists have long been skeptical of atomic power, citing the potential for disastrous accidents and the lingering issue of what to do with nuclear waste.

But amid concerns that the world is reducing greenhouse gas emissions too slowly, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he is seeing fresh interest in the nuclear option.

He said he has noted particular interest among younger people who do not have the "cultural burden that some older environmentalist have associated with nuclear power.

Young generations want a clear, a clean world, but they dont want a ... pastoral world without, you know, the access to technology," he told The Associated Press on Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow.

Grossi said nuclear power now accounts for more than a quarter of the energy generated from non-fossil sources and produces very few of the greenhouse gas emissions that countries have pledged to eliminate by mid-century.

While some nations like Germany and Japan are phasing out nuclear power, others, such as France, Britain and the United States, consider it an important part of their future energy mix.

It is obvious that nuclear is and can be even a better, a more efficient tool to get to these very, very ambitious goals that countries have for 2030, 2050 or whatever it may be," Grossi said.

One key advantage of nuclear power lies in the steady supply it provides compared to the fluctuations from wind or solar, he said.

When youre looking about your ideal energy mix, you need stability, you need baseload and you need the capacity to power your economy 24/7 without any interruption, Grossi said.

Nuclear is also becoming more economically competitive again, he added, citing rising energy prices currently seen in Europe that have governments and consumers worried.

Future generations of small, modular reactors could further tilt the balance.

There are four or five in construction in the world at the moment in Russia and China and Argentina, said Grossi. Once they are there, I am sure (...) this will be a game changer.

I think that we are not saying this is a panacea, but also be clear on this, but it is an indispensable element in the mix, he added.
The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry, saying consolidation would hurt authors and, ultimately, readers.

FILE - This March 13, 2003 file photo shows an outside view of the German media giant Bertelsmann in Guetersloh, Germany. U.S. regulators are suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry, saying consolidation would hurt authors and readers. German media giant Bertelsmanns Penguin Random House, already the largest American publisher, wants to buy New York-based Simon & Schuster, whose authors include Stephen King, Hillary Clinton and John Irving, from TV and film company ViacomCBS. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)

The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry, saying consolidation would hurt authors and, ultimately, readers.

German media giant Bertelsmann's Penguin Random House, already the largest American publisher, wants to buy New York-based Simon & Schuster, whose authors include Stephen King, Hillary Clinton and John Irving, from TV and film company ViacomCBS.

The Department of Justice filed an antitrust suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., Tuesday in the first major antitrust action by the Biden administration. The department said the deal would give Penguin Random House outsized influence" over which books are published in the U.S. and how much authors are paid.

If the worlds largest book publisher is permitted to acquire one of its biggest rivals, it will have unprecedented control over this important industry," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. American authors and consumers will pay the price of this anticompetitive merger  lower advances for authors and ultimately fewer books and less variety for consumers."

The purchase of Simon & Schuster would reduce the so-called Big Five, which dominate American publishing and include HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan, to four.

Because it targets the prices paid to authors as well as those paid by consumers, the suit shows a possible new direction for the antitrust regulators under the Biden administration, suggested Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on antirust.

Theres a desire to think very comprehensively about all the interests that could be harmed, he said. It raises lots of interesting questions about publishing and about competition in publishing.

The governments case addresses a conventional market of five mammoth old-line publishing houses. Overshadowing it is Amazon, which created an empire and ecosystem of digital books starting back in 1995, controlling not only the bookstore but also the dominant devices for reading e-books and listening to audiobooks, and eventually some of the content. The e-books undercut the prices of conventional books, providing ammunition to the publishing houses in asserting that they have to bulk up to survive the competition.

The deal raised concern from writers and from rival publishers. The Authors Guild has said it opposes the acquisition because there would be less competition for authors manuscripts.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns HarperCollins and had reportedly also been interested in buying Simon & Schuster, also slammed the deal. Its CEO Robert Thomson said last fall that Bertelsmann was buying market dominance as a book behemoth.

In a statement, Penguin Random House and Simon & Simon & Schuster said they would fight the lawsuit. They say blocking the deal would harm authors.

DOJs lawsuit is wrong on the facts, the law, and public policy, said Daniel Petrocelli, Penguin Random House's lawyer. Importantly, DOJ has not found, nor does it allege, that the combination will reduce competition in the sale of books."

The new antitrust suit signals that the Justice Department is willing to use its full authority to combat the wave of consolidation swallowing the American economy, said Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an organization that advocates for government action against business concentration.

This case also reflects how Amazons dominance looms as a predatory presence for most firms in the economy, Miller said in a statement. The CEOs of the number one and number three publishers openly sought to use this merger to become an exceptional partner to Amazon.

___

AP National Writer Hillel Italie and Business Writer Marcy Gordon contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Canada needs to sell the United States on the progressive virtues of its mining industry if it wants to be an integral partner and supplier to burgeoning electric-vehicle and critical-minerals markets south of the border, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Tuesday.

A tapper tapps nickel-copper matt in the flash furnace of Vale SA smelter complex in Copper Cliff, Ont. on December 8, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Gino Donato

WASHINGTON - Canada needs to sell the United States on the progressive virtues of its mining industry if it wants to be an integral partner and supplier to burgeoning electric-vehicle and critical-minerals markets south of the border, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Tuesday.

Trudeau, wrapping up two days of high-level talks that kicked off a two-week global climate summit in Glasgow, said he had "many, many interactions" with Joe Biden in recent days, most notably at the U.S. president's own supply chain summit on the margins of G20 meetings in Rome.

Biden is seized with finding ways to ease his country's pandemic-induced supply chain cluster headache: a capacity crunch at U.S. ports, a global semiconductor shortage and soaring demand for the minerals that power not only cellphones and computers, but the high-tech electric cars and trucks essential to mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Canada, meanwhile, is a key source of 13 of the 35 minerals that the U.S. has identified as critical to its economic and national security  it is America's largest single supplier of potash, indium, aluminum and tellurium, and the second-largest source of niobium, tungsten and magnesium.

China is the world's largest rare-earth producer, with more than 60 per cent of global annual production, well ahead of the U.S., Myanmar, Australia and India. Canada is relatively new to rare-earth extraction, but it's home to an estimated 15 million untapped tonnes of the valuable elements.

Canada and Australia both tried to impress on Biden during the supply-chain summit Friday the roles that each country could play in helping to ensure that critical minerals are readily available to the U.S.

"The challenge is, the extraction and the processing of those in our countries is more costly, because we have higher environmental standards and higher labour standards then the countries that are right now busy cornering the market on those sorts of productions," Trudeau said.

"So the conversation we had is about, 'Well, how much is it of value to developed countries to have a secure, friendly source of those critical minerals that are done in better and more responsible ways, even though, obviously, they may be a little more expensive?"

That's a message that ought to resonate with Biden, whose own domestic agenda is heavily geared toward arresting the increase in atmospheric temperatures around the world, and whose foreign policy includes an aggressive effort to confront an increasingly autocratic China.

It's clear that the U.S. still has a lot to learn about Canada's "huge potential" for growth on critical minerals and the role it could play as a key strategic partner, said the co-author of a new Wilson Center report that calls for the private and public sectors to start working together.

The report  "The Mosaic Approach: a Multi-dimensional Strategy for Strengthening America's Critical Minerals Supply Chain"  urges the Biden administration to work more closely with its North American partners and use the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to leverage the mining industries in both countries.

"There is awareness in some areas of the Biden administration, but it's far from being a whole-of-government understanding of the potential for greater collaboration with Canada," said Duncan Wood, a senior adviser with the centre's Mexico Institute.

"I've been working on critical minerals for the past couple of years, trying to develop a more unified approach to this challenge, and one of the things that has come out is the importance of Canada not only as a place where critical minerals can be extracted, but also where they can be processed."

Wood cited the specific example of nickel, which is mined in both countries. Canada far outstrips the U.S. in terms of production, and also handles a lot of the processing work for ore that is extracted south of the border.

"What we really need to see is actually a more concerted effort on the part of the Canadian and U.S. federal governments," as well as state and provincial governments, he said.

That's largely the message the Canadian Chamber of Commerce tried to deliver during the federal election campaign, warning that Canada risks missing out on a "major opportunity" to be a global leader in what promises to be one of the most sought-after commodities of the 21st century.

Biden seems to be have adopted a similar philosophy.

"We're going through a difficult time in the world because of COVID, because of supply chain consequences, because of the environment, and all that's occurred," the president said Tuesday during his closing news conference at the climate summit.

"I think it presents a gigantic opportunity  an opportunity to, in a sense, press the restart button and move in a direction that the vast majority of countries  think, 'This is an opportunity.'"

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  The Biden administration is planning to sell oil and gas leases on huge tracts of public land in the U.S. West, despite the Interior Department's conclusion that doing so could cost society billions of dollars in climate change impacts, according to government documents.

FILE - This April 8, 2020, file photo, shows a pump jack near Hobbs, N.M. The Biden administration is planning to sell oil and gas leases on huge tracts of public land in the U.S. West in coming months. (Blake Ovard/The Hobbs Daily News-Sun via AP, File)

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  The Biden administration is planning to sell oil and gas leases on huge tracts of public land in the U.S. West, despite the Interior Department's conclusion that doing so could cost society billions of dollars in climate change impacts, according to government documents.

Administration officials announced last week that government regulators for the first time will analyze greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels extracted from government-owned lands across the U.S.

Burning those fuels accounts for about 20% of energy-related U.S. emissions, making them a prime target for climate activists who want to shut down leasing. President Joe Biden campaigned on pledges to end new drilling on public lands.

Hundreds of parcels of land that companies nominated for leasing were dropped from the sales because of concerns about wildlife being harmed by drilling rigs.

Yet officials with the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said for now theres little they can do to prevent the broad climate change impacts from burning fuels extracted from the remaining parcels. That's in part because they cant discern the significance of emissions from government-owned fuel reserves versus other sources, officials wrote in newly released documents.

The determination applies to lease sales planned early next year in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and other states.

FILE- In this March 5, 2013, file photo, Trinidad Drilling rigs are seen off of Way Highway 59 outside of Douglas, Wyo. The Interior Department is preparing to offer oil and gas lease sales on large tracts of public land despite concluding that burning fossil fuels from those parcels could carry huge costs and contribute to climate change. (Leah Millis/The Casper Star-Tribune via AP, File)

BLM has limited decision authority to meaningfully or measurably prevent the cumulative climate change impacts that would result from global emissions, agency officials wrote in their Montana lease proposal.

Similar statements were included in documents released for sales in other states.

The leasing plans could change as the administration continues to analyze greenhouse gas emissions and their effects on people and the environment, administration officials said Tuesday.

The land bureau plans to defer leasing on almost 600 square miles (1550 square kilometers) in Wyoming, 213 square miles (550 square kilometers) in Colorado and 5 square miles (14 square kilometers) in Montana because of potential impacts to a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse, and migrating pronghorn antelope.

Still, Wyoming has the most land up for new leasing, roughly 280 square miles (725 square kilometers).

The so-called social costs of emissions from burning oil and gas from all the parcels  including more natural disasters, crop losses and public health problems due to climate change  are projected to range from $630 million to about $7 billion, according to land bureau documents.

The administration's decision not to cite the climate costs as a reason to limit leases frustrates environmental activists and others who have urged curbs in government fossil fuel sales. They said it undermined the president's participation in the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, where Biden and other world leaders on Tuesday pledged to cut emissions of methane, a byproduct of drilling.

FILE - A flare burns natural gas at an oil well on Aug. 26, 2021, in Watford City, N.D. A new federal report released Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, says fossil fuel extraction from federal lands produced more than 1 billion tons (918 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases last year. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Harvard University economics professor James Stock said it was confusing for the administration to put a dollar value to greenhouse emissions, but then assert that such impacts are impossible to discern because of the global nature of climate change.

To say its too hard, they cant do that  thats simply not true. All of those calculations have been done, Stock said. This is very surprising to me and inconsistent with the Biden administrations climate goals.

Similar determinations that U.S. fossil fuel lease sales should not be sharply restricted over global warming concerns were made under former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama.

This seems to be is business as usual," Jeremy Nichols with the environmental group WildEarth Guardians said of the upcoming lease sales. It flies in the face of scientists finding that any more fossil fuel production is unacceptable and countries need to find ways to limit production.

Republicans and petroleum industry representatives were quick to slam Biden last week when he announced plans to analyze greenhouse gas emissions. The decision not to directly address them reinforces that stopping development of federal lands would have little impact on climate change, said Kathleen Sgamma with the Western Energy Alliance, an industry trade group.

Stopping all leasing and development on federal lands would have zero impact on climate change, as the production is simply displaced to nonfederal lands or to OPEC or other foreign producers, Sgamma said.

Studies by independent experts have concluded that some but not all reduced drilling on federal lands and waters would be offset by crude imports.

Approvals to drill on leased U.S.-owned lands surged toward the end of Trump's presidency, as companies stockpiled permits. That continued when Biden first took office before slowing in recent months. Figures released Tuesday showed 261 drilling permits approved in September, compared to more than 800 during Trump's last full month in office.

Land bureau officials said in the leasing documents that their regulatory authority was limited to activities tied directly to oil and gas development  not the subsequent burning of the fuels. Instead, they propose curbing emissions by addressing methane leaks from oil field activities and other avenues.

Additional measures to reduce methane emissions from drilling were announced Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Next year's lease sale will be the first by the bureau since Biden suspended the program just a week after taking office as part of his plan to address climate change.

The administration in June was ordered to resume the sales by a federal judge in Louisiana, who said Interior officials offered no rational explanation for canceling them.

Attorneys general from 13 states sued the administration saying the suspension would cost the states money and jobs.

___

Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @MatthewBrownAP
WASHINGTON - Voters in Virginia are choosing their next governor Tuesday, a vote that could have wide-reaching implications for the sitting U.S. president, his ever-present predecessor and the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

Vice President Kamala Harris waves to the crowd along with Democratic gubernatorial candidate former Gov. Terry McAuliffe during a rally in Norfolk, Va., Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. McAuliffe will face Republican Glenn Youngkin in the November election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Steve Helber

WASHINGTON - Voters in Virginia are choosing their next governor Tuesday, a vote that could have wide-reaching implications for the sitting U.S. president, his ever-present predecessor and the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump each have a lot riding on whether former Democrat governor Terry McAuliffe or Republican newcomer Glenn Youngkin emerges as the victor  as do countless members of Congress who will face voters in their own states next year.

For Biden, a convincing win for Youngkin, a Trump acolyte, could terrify moderate Democrat lawmakers who fear the electoral consequences of voting in favour of the divisive, big-ticket infrastructure and spending package that comprises a cornerstone of the president's agenda.

A big victory for McAuliffe, on the other hand, could be a pointed reminder for Republicans that Trump, despite his own sky-high levels of support in the party, would bring a steamer trunk's worth of baggage to their own re-election efforts.

Neither is likely, polls suggest: the website FiveThirtyEight.com, which aggregates polling results, put the race squarely within the margin of error Monday, showing Youngkin with visible momentum and a narrow one-point edge over his Democratic rival.

"This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal progressive agenda and take our commonwealth back," Youngkin said Monday during a campaign event in Richmond, the state capital.

His strategy has been to focus on education, assailing McAuliffe relentlessly with his own words to portray the Democratic candidate as a progressive ideologue who doesn't want parents involved in Virginia's school system. He's also deftly dodged McAuliffe's attempts to depict him as a Trump stooge.

Youngkin has promised to ban schools in Virginia from teaching critical race theory, a doctrine that explores the impact of systemic, institutional racism on the evolution of society, even though it's not taught now.

And one of his campaign ads features a mother who wanted schools to ban "Beloved," the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 novel by Toni Morrison. As governor, McAuliffe vetoed the ensuing Republican legislation, which would have allowed parents to exempt their children from certain educational material.

"He's created hatred and division, just like Donald Trump," McAuliffe said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"All you're doing is pitting parents against parents, parents against teachers, and they're using children as political pawns."

McAuliffe is seeking a return engagement after he was first elected to the post in 2013  Virginia's term limits prohibit governors from running for back-to-back terms. A loss for Democrats will be widely seen as a repudiation of Biden, who is nursing dismal approval numbers, and a clear sign that control of Congress is likely to land in Republican hands after next year's midterms.

Ironically, McAuliffe's constant branding of Youngkin as Trump in a "fleece vest," as Biden himself put it at a campaign event last week, has given the Republican hopeful the latitude to focus on swing voters, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University in Alexandria, Va.

"Terry McAuliffe has singularly focused on the theme that Glenn Youngkin equals Donald Trump, playing on what drove Democratic base voters to the polls in Virginia in big numbers the previous four years," Rozell said.

"What has happened? Glenn Youngkin doesn't have to make the case to Trump voters that he's their guy. He can talk to independent and swing voters, while Terry McAuliffe keeps reminding everybody Glenn Youngkin equals Donald Trump. Hugely ironic."

At the same time, McAuliffe's gambit has proven more difficult than expected, in part because Youngkin doesn't look or sound the part of a Trump lackey, Rozell added: "Rhetorically, temperamentally, he comes across as non-threatening, very reasonable  not at all Trump-like."

Trump  who was scheduled to hold a "tele-rally" with supporters later Monday, an event in which Youngkin pointedly said over the weekend he's not involved in  issued not one but two statements heaping praise on the Republican hopeful, and scorn on foils like the Democrats and the media.

"We get along very well together and strongly believe in many of the same policies," Trump said of Youngkin.

"The reason the Fake News and perverts are working overtime is to try and convince people that we do not like each other, and therefore, my great and unprecedented Make America Great Again base will not show up to vote."

Clearly, Trump wants to take credit for a Youngkin victory, Rozell said.

"The fascinating thing to me is that voters in Virginia perceive that Youngkin's policy priorities and Trump's are not all that different. And yet, it doesn't seem to matter."

Indeed, Youngkin's managed to do something few Republicans in the Trump era have ever managed, Rozell added: distancing himself from the former president without alienating his famously vindictive base.

Both candidates were scheduled to attend last-minute campaign events in northern Virginia late Monday, with Youngkin headed to Loudoun County, a wealthy suburb of the D.C. area where the Republican's messaging about school curriculums has found particular resonance.

Virginia's not the only state headed to the polls Tuesday. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy is trying to become the first Democrat to be re-elected as governor in nearly half a century. His Republican challenger is Jack Ciattarelli, a former member of the state assembly.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2021.
A Manitoba teen has been sentenced as an adult to life in prison after stabbing two men to death at a house party.

A Manitoba teen has been sentenced as an adult to life in prison after stabbing two men to death at a house party.

A jury convicted the man, 19, on two counts of second-degree murder in April. It rejected his claim he was acting in self-defence when he fatally stabbed Darrell Fisher, 38, and his 22-year-old nephew Zachary Fisher.

The offender was 16 at the time of the Jan. 30, 2019 incident on Bloodvein First Nation.

The mandatory youth sentence for second-degree murder is seven years, at least three of which must be served in the community. For a youth sentenced as an adult, the mandatory sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years.

"At this moment, I am not satisfied a youth sentence would be of sufficient length to hold (the offender) accountable for his actions," Court of Queens Bench Justice David Kroft said in a written decision.

The offender "brutally murdered two people," Kroft said. "I am not satisfied today that upon the completion of (a youth sentence) rehabilitation will be achieved to the point where (he) can safely be reintegrated into society."

Reports prepared for his sentencing say the offender remains entrenched in gang life and is a "very high" risk to reoffend. While in custody awaiting trial, he planned an assault on another youth and tried to escape.

"At the moment, the evidence does not instill sufficient confidence in me to conclude there will be sufficient improvement within four years," Kroft said.

Testimony at his trial was complicated by witnesses who had clear allegiances to the accused, prosecutors argued, including one woman who initially told police she was the killer and another who testified the victims "deserved to die."

Court heard evidence the victims arrived uninvited to the party and proceeded to bully the offender, calling him "a little bitch" and goading him to drink more.

Prosecutors alleged the teen attacked Darrell Fisher first, stabbing him with a steak knife four times in the chest, leaving him dead on the porch floor.

There was no evidence Darrell "did anything to warrant this response," Crown attorney Mike Desautels told jurors in his closing address in April.

Zachary picked up a window frame to defend himself before the teen slashed and stabbed him 21 times. The last stab embedded the knife in Zacharys ear.

In a text message to his girlfriend, the accused claimed: "It was them or me."

While there was evidence the accused had been drinking and using drugs, he was not so intoxicated that he didnt know what he was doing, Desautels said. The sheer number of stab wounds showed the teen had the state of mind to commit murder and was not defending himself.

"He literally brought a knife to a fist fight  thats how it got started," Desautels said. "A drunken intent can still be an intent."

Defence lawyers argued the teen was intoxicated by alcohol, cocaine and meth and believed the victims might kill him if he didnt respond with deadly force.

"Face to face with Zachary and Darrell, (the teen) responds the only way he knows how in the moment," said defence lawyer Kaitlynn Porath.

"Its our position that Zachary and Darrell created the situation. They targeted (the accused)," Porath said.

It was open to jurors to convict the teen of the reduced count of manslaughter, but their verdict shows they found he had the required state of mind to commit murder.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
While her opponent in the Progressive Conservative leadership race was being sworn in at the legislature as Manitobas first female premier Tuesday, Shelly Glovers legal counsel was across the street applying to have the event nullified.

While her opponent in the Progressive Conservative leadership race was being sworn in at the legislature as Manitobas first female premier Tuesday, Shelly Glovers legal counsel was across the street applying to have the event nullified.

"They announced the wrong winner," Glover told the Free Press Tuesday after Heather Stefanson had been sworn in as Manitobas 24th premier.

"I shouldve been the premier-designate and they swore in the wrong person," said Glover, who insisted its not about who won or lost but democracy being in peril.

Glovers application asks the Court of Queens Bench to declare Stefansons election invalid and the office of premier-designate declared vacant or an order be issued declaring Glover the duly elected premier-designate.

"We wouldnt be doing it if we didnt want the court to make a decision that there were irregularities in the voting, and irregularities mean the election has to be redone," lawyer Dave Hill said in an interview Tuesday.

The application includes an affidavit from Glover saying the number of certified voters determined at the end of Fridays deadline for party members ballots to be received was 16,045  less than the 16,546 ballots the PC party said were cast when it announced the results Saturday.

"We're asking that the court make a declaration that the results of the PC leadership vote are invalid, and asking for an order of the court that another vote be done." Dave Hill

Stefanson was declared the winner and new PC party leader with 8,405 votes to Glovers 8,042. The party said 17 ballots were disputed and 82 were spoiled.

"I just couldnt believe it," said Glover. "It doesnt add up. Where did they get those extra 501 votes?"

The former Winnipeg police sergeant and Conservative cabinet minister has not conceded defeat to Stefanson.

On Monday, Hill wrote to Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon asking her to delay Stefansons swearing in, alleging "irregularities" that affected the outcome of the leadership race. Filmon did not respond.

Elections Manitoba and political policy experts said Monday such leadership races are administered and overseen by the political party, not the courts.

Hill disagreed, citing a 2018 case in which the Ontario Superior Court was asked to extend the voting deadline in the provincial PC party leadership race.

"Were asking that the court make a declaration that the results of the PC leadership vote are invalid, and asking for an order of the court that another vote be done," the lawyer said.

"We hope that after our election committee talks to Ms. Glover and her advisers and respond to her concerns that they will see that the process and the results were handled appropriately, accurately and without favour." PC party statement

In that 2018 case, however, Ontario Court Superior Court Justice Todd Archibald dismissed an application to order the PC Party of Ontario to extend the voting deadline for its leader. The applicants didnt avail themselves of the partys internal dispute mechanisms before turning to the courts, the judge said.

"Organizations and associations have the freedom to set their own rules," the judge wrote in his decision. "If the deadlines and timelines set by an organization appear to be autocratic to its members, then that is an issue that should, firstly, be resolved through the organizations constitution and rules and regulations.

"Asking our courts, however, to intervene in the process every time there is a grievance risks opening the door to an innumerable number of court challenges."

The application filed Tuesday wont be scheduled until Thursday to set a date for when it will be reviewed by the Court of Queens Bench, Hill said.

"Well try to get it scheduled for a quick resolution. Nobody wants this to linger on," said Glovers lawyer, who acknowledged even if a justice hears the case and makes a decision, the loser could appeal it and the case could linger.

The PC party issued a statement Tuesday saying its election process was run independently and without preference to either candidate.

"All ballots, from the time they were received to the time they were counted, were in the care and control of, initially, our independent security firm and, subsequently, our independent auditors," it said. "The counting was overseen by our auditors together with a scrutineer from each campaign.

"We hope that after our election committee talks to Ms. Glover and her advisers and respond to her concerns that they will see that the process and the results were handled appropriately, accurately and without favour."

The leadership race has been fraught with issues, Glover said.

"This party is a party I have loved for a very long time and Im mourning the party," she said. "At this point, Im very worried about what comes next."

Hill has no idea what steps to take if Glovers application is successful, a re-vote is ordered and she is declared winner.

"Its novel water," he said.

He couldnt say what legal means are available to remove a premier from office over a party leadership conflict.

The Manitoba court application included an affidavit from Kevin Cook, a retired Winnipeg Police Service special constable who volunteered with Glovers campaign and was a scrutineer during the vote count.

He claimed Glover was ahead by 500 ballots and he witnessed men taking unsecured ballot boxes out of the building through a side entrance, and Glovers team werent allowed to witness the chain of custody.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Residents of a Gimli-area drug rehab centre have been left in limbo after the building has been put up for auction by its owner.

Residents of a Gimli-area drug rehab centre have been left in limbo after the building has been put up for auction by its owner.

Mike Bruneau formerly owned Aurora Recovery Centre, a private addiction treatment facility one hour north of Winnipeg, before selling it to current chairman Paul Melnuk in 2016 for $9 million over two mortgages.

Bruneau told the Free Press hes received quarterly payments for five years, and was due $3 million under the first mortgage in April of this year, but that hasnt been paid nor the first quarterly payment of 2021, totalling around $3.5 million in unpaid fees.

After being told the payment was coming multiple times, Bruneau said, he made the decision to go into foreclosure and auction off the property.

"Im getting calls from patients, Im getting calls from mothers the patients are upset, their families are upset, but theyre telling everybody everythings going on as usual. How could they say that?"  Mike Bruneau

A classified ad announcing the action advertised it as a 28-acre, 72-bed facility with a medical detox wing and indoor pool and gym. It lists the auction date as Nov. 10.

"Whats upsetting me is theyve been trying to negotiate with me. They told me a few weeks ago, if I advertised the foreclosure theyd have to shut the place down because they couldnt take people in if they were going to be shut down, new clients, patients. But yet, theyre still taking them," Bruneau told the Free Press.

YOUTUBE - A classified ad for the property says it is a 28-acre, 72-bed facility with a medical detox wing and indoor pool and gym.

Bruneau said he and Melnuk are currently in court, over an unresolved deal to purchase 14 of the 28 acres.

Melnuk did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Aurora Recovery Centre president Steve Low said the "legal dispute" would have no impact on patient care.

"The day-to-day operations of Aurora Recovery Centre remain exactly the same. Aurora remains steadfast in continuing to support our patients with a recovery-oriented system of care. We continue to accept new patients into Aurora Recovery Centre and remain dedicated to their full recovery," Low said in an email.

They only thing they can do to save this from going to foreclosure is to give me $3.5 million now."  Mike Bruneau

Bruneau said this narrative isnt accurate, however, and there are no plans to keep the centre running should the building be auctioned off.

"Im going to be stuck with 50 (residents), and all of a sudden Michael Bruneaus kicking people with addictions out of his building, and Im going to be the bad guy and I dont want that to happen," he said.

"Im getting calls from patients, Im getting calls from mothers the patients are upset, their families are upset, but theyre telling everybody everythings going on as usual. How could they say that?"

YOUTUBE - An average 45-day stay at Aurora costs $26,900.

An average 45-day stay at Aurora costs $26,900.

Tracy Sandersons daughter is currently undergoing her third stint in Aurora Recovery Centre. Despite this, she said, the first she heard of the building being put up for auction was via social media. Sanderson said she hasn't been contacted by Aurora.

"I mentioned it to my daughter, and shes a little bit worried," she said.

Sanderson, who works with Overdose Awareness Manitoba and previously lost a child to fentanyl poisoning, had to mortgage her home the first time to pay for her daughter's first admission to Aurora in 2016.

Sanderson said she believes her daughter would be dead today if she had to wait for publicly available addictions treatment and spoke highly of Aurora's treatment plan, noting losing the facility would be a crushing blow to Manitoba families in need of support for their loved ones.

"There is nowhere for them to go. The waiting list to get into public treatment is far too long," she said.

Bruneau said there are plans to meet Wednesday with Melnuk and lawyers to discuss the possible foreclosure.

"They only thing they can do to save this from going to foreclosure is to give me $3.5 million now," he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
OTTAWA  Some of the most advanced internet technology could bypass some of the wealthiest parts of Winnipeg, according to proposed federal regulations.

OTTAWA  Some of the most advanced internet technology could bypass some of the wealthiest parts of Winnipeg, according to proposed federal regulations.

Industry Canada is proposing to block portions of the flight path of major airports from 5G transmitters, and limiting service as far as eight kilometres away from runways.

Google Maps / Industry Canada The map, labelled by Industry Canada, shows where it proposes limiting 5G connections, in order to avoid interference with airplane navigation. The red areas show where 5G base stations would be banned, while the purple areas would limit how powerfully those stations could transmit data. Winnipeg Free Press 2021

The move could deprive parts of River Heights and Assiniboine South from the highest connection speeds for mobile phones.

In early August, the regulator stunned telecom operators by launching a consultation to exclude areas near airports from having 5G base stations, and limiting other places from using airwaves at certain frequencies.

As first reported by the Toronto Star, telecoms said they were shocked by the move, which came just days after some had bought the rights to use spectrum at the frequency Ottawa is now seeking to limit, which is 3,500 megahertz.

The department is proposing restrictions at airports where planes can use automated-landing systems on a higher frequency. Industry Canada noted regulators in France and Japan have implemented such buffer zones, and other countries are considering them. However, industry groups note other countries have a far less limited buffer zone.

American regulators say the two frequencies need to be 220 MHz apart; Canada is proposing buffers that range between 550 MHz and 700 MHz.

Those buffers would mean no 3,500-MHz service in the vicinity of airports, even though telecoms argue that frequency is crucial to faster, more reliable connections.

In an online map, Industry Canada proposed excluding 5G transmission stations along two long stretches, with one spanning Inkster Boulevard to the Deer Lodge Centre on Portage Avenue, and the other going from Sturgeon Road to the Polo Park mall parking lot.

Along both ends of those two zones is a protection zone, where 5G transmitters could only operate with limited power. Those would extend from the north and west of the Perimeter Highway, with one running southwest until Pembina Highway at McGillivray Boulevard, and the other heading south until just west of FortWhyte Alive recreation area.

Rogers, Telus and Bell have rolled out some of their 5G networks in Winnipeg. According to a map from internet speed-monitoring firm nPerf, these are largely concentrated downtown, along Osborne Village and in part of Fort Rouge.

Yet, there is a small cluster of 5G transmitters along Portage Avenue, along both ends of Mount Royal Crescent, that would likely be blocked by the proposed buffer zone. Meanwhile, swaths of River Heights, Fort Garry and part of the Grant Park Shopping Centre would have limited 5G connections.

CentrePort Canada, which is developing the zone northwest of the Winnipeg airport, said it isnt aware of any problems, as it plans to have fibre optic installed in the area.

"Truckers moving through the area may be minimally impacted, however our assumption is that they will have other forms of cell data coverage while moving through the restricted area," wrote marketing director Aimee Goyer.

In a statement, Industry Canada said businesses indoors would not be impacted, and projected only a small impact on those outdoors.

"The possibility of interference to radio altimeters from radio signals outside their band of operation has been known for some time," wrote spokesman Hans Parmar.

His department "is working collaboratively with both the telecommunications and aviation industries to ensure that appropriate final rules are in place to protect the critical operations of radio altimeters, without unduly constraining flexible use deployments."

Meanwhile, Winnipeg city hall is consulting on its role in 5G small-cell technology, which is largely about which city assets should host antennae. Groups raising health concerns about 5G testified to the local innovation committee in September, but the city says its up to Ottawa to regulate safety concerns.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Heather Stefanson is expected to be sworn in as Manitobas first female premier Tuesday, despite an effort by her Progressive Conservative leadership opponent to delay the historic event.

Heather Stefanson is expected to be sworn in as Manitobas first female premier Tuesday, despite an effort by her Progressive Conservative leadership opponent to delay the historic event.

The lawyer representing defeated leadership candidate Shelly Glover sent a letter by email to Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon Monday asking that she defer swearing in a new premier because of questions surrounding voting in last weekend's Progressive Conservative election.

"From the information given to me, there would appear to be substantial irregularities affecting the result in the counting of ballots," lawyer Dave Hill wrote, telling the Queen's representative in Manitoba that he will be "shortly seeking an order of the Court of Queen's Bench declaring that the election results are invalid and requiring a new vote."

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Shelly Glover speaks to media after opponent Heather Stefanson was announced the first female Premier of Manitoba at the Victoria Inn Saturday afternoon.

Hill said he was not available to comment Monday, and Glover did not respond to a request for comment.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the legislature.

The lieutenant governor, whose primary responsibility is to ensure that a duly constituted government is always in place in Manitoba and to not get involved in politics, declined to comment.

"Please be advised that neither Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon or the Office of the Lieutenant Governor will be commenting on the recent leadership race," a statement issued Monday said.

The PC party announced the results of the leadership vote Saturday; Stefanson received 8,405 votes, Glover 8,042.

The former Winnipeg Police Service sergeant and federal heritage minister under prime minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives has not conceded victory to Stefanson. Glover said earlier her team was reviewing the results and wanted to know why if more than 25,000 members were eligible to vote, only 16,456 ballots were cast. Her campaign alleged that 1,200 eligible members didn't receive a ballot.

However, determining whether or not the election results are "invalid" is an issue for the party to address, not the courts or the lieutenant governor, said veteran political analyst Paul Thomas.

"It staged the leadership contest, it wrote the rules for that contest. It orchestrated the process of distributing ballots, collecting ballots and counting the ballots," he said.

"These are not matters that normally come before a court of law because there was no law that applied to those procedures," said Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

"From the information given to me, there would appear to be substantial irregularities affecting the result in the counting of ballots."  Lawyer Dave Hill

"It is not a matter for the lieutenant governor because, faced with the request by the new head of the PC party to be sworn in as premier, the only task of a lieutenant governor is to ascertain whether Heather Stefanson has a sufficient number of supporters in cabinet, caucus and within the legislature to command the confidence of the legislature," Thomas said, adding Stefanson received the backing of a majority of the caucus.

Nor is it a matter for Elections Manitoba to investigate.

"Leadership contests are conducted by the party, not by Elections Manitoba," said spokeswoman Alison Mitchell. "Rules and manner of conduct for the contest are set by the party, ballots are issued by the party and votes are counted by the party," she said.

"It would not be appropriate or supported by legislation for Elections Manitoba to intervene in the conduct of the leadership vote," said Mitchell.

Manitoba's newly elected Progressive Conservative Leader and the province's new premier, Heather Stefanson, speaks at a victory party after defeating Shelly Glover in a leadership race in Winnipeg, Saturday. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files)

Elections Manitobas oversight for party leadership contests are set out in The Election Financing Act, which regulates contributions, financial reporting and financial disclosures of leadership contestants, she said.

The only avenue open to Glover is to go to the party, Thomas said.

"To the best of my knowledge, based on available public documents, there is no appeal mechanism set forth in those documents," he said. "She would have to go to the head of the committee that oversaw the contest and say, 'We need to do something to remove this stain that delegitimizes the outcome.'"

And the party said Monday it was standing by its declaration of Stefanson as the winner.

"The party announced the results of the count this weekend and has nothing new to add at this time," its spokesman said in an email.

Before the results of the vote were announced Saturday afternoon, George Orle, the head of the leadership election committee, defended the process. He explained at length the steps the party had taken and the distribution, accounting and security firms it hired took to ensure the vote was conducted in a fair and secure manner.

Thomas said Glover's appeal to the party might not make a difference.

"Even if Glover was able to get some portion of the outstanding 1,200 ballots claimed, she would need to get 65 per cent of the ballots to win," he said.

Interim Premier Kelvin Goertzen announced Monday that he has submitted his resignation, to take effect Tuesday when Stefanson takes over.

"I look forward to seeing Manitobas first female premier take the oath of office," Goertzen said in a press release. "My longtime friend and colleague Heather Stefanson will serve Manitobans well with her abundance of experience, intelligence and compassion. Manitobans have much reason for optimism."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Manitobans overwhelmingly want parents to be able to screen their children for COVID-19 using rapid tests, but the province wont say whether its ever considered such a move.

Manitobans overwhelmingly want parents to be able to screen their children for COVID-19 using rapid tests, but the province wont say whether its ever considered such a move.

New polling data has the Manitoba Liberals calling on the province to make rapid testing available for families to use at home.

Probe Research asked 1,189 Manitobans a series of questions about COVID-19 last month. One of the most unifying opinions it found was about doling out rapid tests to parents.

A total of 80 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement "Manitoba parents should be provided with free rapid antigen at-home test kits for their children who may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms so they can know if its OK to send them to school."

Among the respondents, 43 per cent strongly agreed with the idea.

Rapid tests are less accurate than molecular PCR tests done by labs, which are best used for people with symptoms.

Antigen tests detect people with high loads of the novel coronavirus who dont even know theyre sick, which are often the most likely people to spread COVID-19. Yet, these tests can produce false negatives in people with low viral loads in their nasal passages.

The Free Press asked Manitoba Health if it had ever considered doling out rapid test to parents; the department didnt answer the question.

Instead, a statement pointed to a checklist issued in June, to help parents decide whether a child's symptoms means they should stay home.

"We know that parents want to be safe, and ensure their children don't go to school if they are sick (whatever the cause)," wrote a spokesperson. "The best way to keep children safe from COVID-19 is to get them vaccinated, if they are eligible."

Rapid tests are less accurate than molecular PCR tests done by labs. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

But thats the whole point of using rapid tests, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont argued.

He noted children make up the larger demographic of cases reported in the past week, including age groups too young to be vaccinated.

"What really matters is theyre readily available to parents," Lamont said in an interview. "They need to be readily available and they need to be free."

The NDP noted recent concerns about expiring rapid test kits in Manitoba, saying it was a sign the PC government should put them to use.

"Giving those rapid tests to parents so they can have peace of mind and guidance seems like an easy, simple step," wrote NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara. "Why wouldnt the PCs use every tool they have to help families and kids stay safe?"

Austria and other European countries have been using routine rapid tests on children for a year, to help contain outbreaks in schools.

Ontario rolled out a similar program a month ago, however, only for areas with high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Otherwise, officials argued rapid tests would produce too many false results, sending children out of school and their family to testing centres.

Meanwhile, Probe also asked if businesses with employees working in close contact should be required to routinely take rapid tests, even when vaccinated. Just 52 per cent of respondents agreed with that idea.

Manitobas strategy for rapid tests is to deploy them to almost any business that wants them, as well as public institutions that have unvaccinated employees required to undergo regular rapid testing.

As of Oct. 12, Manitoba had shipped out 1,130,700 of the 1,679,283 kits it has received from Ottawa or bought on its own, amounting to 67 per cent of those tests leaving the warehouse.

In September, Manitoba became the sole province to stop tracking how many COVID-19 rapid tests it has used, after persistently low uptake numbers. In previous months, fewer than one-fifth of deployed tests had actually been used.

The province argues it knows tests have been used when a company or department requests more of them.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
The Memory Tree may return to St. Vital Centre this holiday season, thanks to the help of a new partner.

The Memory Tree may return to St. Vital Centre this holiday season, thanks to the help of a new partner.

On Oct. 28, Palliative Manitoba extended a public plea searching for an organizational partner capable of storing, transporting, and assembling its 15-foot-tall Memory Tree.

Lindsay Felstead Photo The Memory Tree at St. Vital Centre the last time it was up, in December 2019.

The process requires a team of eight to 10 people and a scissor lift with a trained operator. In the off-season, the tree stays in four large crates, which need ample storage space, said Lindsay Felstead, Palliative Manitobas fundraising co-ordinator.

Palliative Manitobas former logistics partner recently stepped away, leaving the charity scrambling to find a replacement. Over the weekend, an organization came forward and offered help.

"This organization saw the news story over the weekend and reached out. We werent connected with them before this," Felstead said Monday.

The logistics arent finalized, so Palliative Manitoba has not revealed the benefactors identity, but it is hopeful the deal will go through, she said.

The massive Christmas tree is a holiday fixture at St. Vital Centre. Every year, visitors adorn its branches with hundreds of greeting cards, each carrying a message to honour lost loved ones.

As a registered charity, Palliative Manitoba provides programs and resources to the dying and bereaved. Its volunteers staff the tree during mall hours, collecting cards and lending a compassionate ear to people who want to share their memories and grief.

"When the holidays come around, it really magnifies the grief, because you feel that loss even more profoundly People need to know that grieving is normal and that its accepted, and the Memory Tree really provides that safe space in a very public place," Felstead said.

Leaving a card on the tree and sharing stories with volunteers is free, but Palliative Manitoba accepts donations during the campaign.

Funds raised over the holidays typically total more than $10,000. The money helps finance grief seminars, a telephone counselling service, and support groups for parents and teens, Felstead said.

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the fundraiser online. Instead of hanging cards on the tree, people submitted messages and donations through Palliative Manitobas website.

The virtual format was a surprising success, raising nearly $6,000.

It was the first time in 32 years the Memory Tree did not stand in St. Vital during the holiday season.

This year, Palliative Manitoba will continue to accept Memory Tree submissions online, but the organization is eager to get back into the shopping centre, Felstead said.

"Our grief volunteers are amazing individuals who are so compassionate, and they really love being able to sit at the tree and do this for other people. It was a big void last year," she said.

Staff at St. Vital Centre feel the same, said a representative during a Monday interview.

"The Memory Tree brings an opportunity for St. Vital Centres community to reflect and remember loved ones. It was definitely missed last season, and we are so happy to have them back," said Roxanne Lowen, customer service manager.

After arrangements are finalized, Palliative Manitoba and its new partner will install the Memory Tree on Nov. 21. It will stand vigil there until Dec. 27.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
Despite confusion surrounding months-old expiry dates on rapid tests, the province says the products being used among unvaccinated educators and other employees in its public sector are "safe and effective."

Despite confusion surrounding months-old expiry dates on rapid tests, the province says the products being used among unvaccinated educators and other employees in its public sector are "safe and effective."

The date  July 10, 2021  stamped on a plastic package containing a rapid test one unvaccinated teacher in Manitoba received from his employer made him do a double take. By the time the product was in his hands so he could begin routine testing for COVID-19, more than three months had passed since the original expiry date.

"(Testing) is totally not an issue, but the fact of the matter is: how could it be a valid test if its expired?" said the rural-based teacher, who must submit three negative results weekly to report to work because he is not immunized against the virus.

After learning colleagues were also given expired BD Veritor kits, the teacher has questions about their effectiveness and communication on the matter.

Manitoba has provided school divisions with thousands of kits containing Abbott Panbio and BD Veritor antigen rapid tests, which it obtained from the federal government, so they can enforce a new public health order that came into effect Oct. 18.

It remains unclear how many kits were past their original best-before date upon distribution, but the province says these tests can still be used without issue.

"While the expiry dates on some of these tests available at Manitoba facilities may have passed, these tests remain safe and effective to use by individuals in the detection of COVID-19," a spokesperson for Shared Health wrote in an email.

A risk manager at the Manitoba School Boards Association advised school division leaders on details surrounding an extended shelf-life of BD Veritor rapid tests in a memo Oct. 8; the notice included a March 2021 bulletin from the manufacturer that states testing was complete to support tacking six months onto product expiration dates.

Health Canada recently approved an even greater extension to allow for use as far as 10 months after the expiration date printed on the product, if it was in 2021. Tests with expiry dates in 2022 have been approved for use up to four months after the original date.

Ottawa also green-lit a shelf-life extension for Abbott Panbio tests in early September, increasing their expiry date from 12 months to 24.

"We should have zero room for error on this," said Lauren Hope, a teacher and parent in Winnipeg who heads Safe September MB. "If theres any question about these not being robust enough to pick-up COVID, then its too big of a risk to be using expired tests on unvaccinated teachers that are in close contact with vulnerable populations."

For months, the collective that advocates for heightened public health measures in schools has been calling on Manitoba to supply students with rapid tests. Had the province distributed the tests to divisions in the spring for families to use during the third wave of the pandemic, it could have both avoided concerns about expiry and kept schools open, said Hope.

The province indicated last week roughly 11 per cent of education staff require frequent testing. While supplies are available, employees can access tests free of charge.

 with files from Danielle Da Silva

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Sixties Scoop survivor Teri Starr is on a long journey of healing, grappling with the pain of being removed from family and community just months after she was born.

Sixties Scoop survivor Teri Starr is on a long journey of healing, grappling with the pain of being removed from family and community just months after she was born.

"It's important for us to know that we as children were taken, and it wasn't because our parents didn't love us  I was told that was one of the reasons why I was taken, was because parents didn't love me, or community didn't love me," Starr said at a news conference Monday. "But it was due to a policy."

Starr, an Indigenous woman from Manitoba, was adopted at three months old by a non-Indigenous family. She counts her upbringing a "blessing," as she was raised in a "really good home," adding "many of the Sixties Scoop survivors cannot actually say that."

Joined by northern chiefs of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Southern Chiefs Organization, and the director of the 60s Scoop Legacy of Canada, Starr spoke at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to call for a survivor-led and federally-funded inquiry into the multi-generational impacts of the program.

Between approximately 1951 and 1982, at least 22,000 Indigenous children were "scooped" from their families and communities to be placed in the adoptive or foster care of non-Indigenous families.

Survivors estimate the number of children removed from their homes is significantly higher, and say many of those children have never returned home.

"For me, it's about accountability," said Katherine Legrange, a survivor and director of the peer support group 60s Scoop Legacy of Canada. "The Canadian government has never been accountable for the Sixties Scoop, and certainly the provincial governments have never been held responsible. But also our parents and grandparents need to know that this was not their fault."

The group has held 19 healing gatherings across Western Canada, where survivors have repeatedly asserted the need for a national inquiry, Legrange said.

"It's important that we dig into the Sixties Scoop and government policies of Indigenous child removal to determine how many children were taken, where they were taken to, and the long-term effects of trauma and permanent child removal," she added.

Starr and Legrange spoke candidly of the trauma inherit in being raised disconnected from their cultures, identities and families.

"When I found out I was a Sixties Scoop, then you try and go back and learn your culture but it's been taken away. Where do you start, where do you go, who do you ask?" said Starr, who welled up with tears as she explained her hesitation to meet her birth family.

"I'm just waiting for the right time," she said. "Because I do not want to offend anybody in that search, but I do know that healing can come from both halves."

Leaders are asking for an examination of the government policies and language that allowed the Sixties Scoop to happen, a reopening of applications for access to the class-action settlement for survivors announced in 2017, as well as a healing process for those affected by the trauma of the policy.

SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the Sixties Scoop forms part of an ongoing legacy of genocide towards Indigenous peoples.

"It's important for us to understand how Sixties Scoop is a continuation of the residential school (system), how it's a part of disenfranchisement and how it's a part of the long-term strategic dispossession of First Nations identity and First Nations lands  the theft of our lands," said Daniels.

"It is all a part of a larger strategy, and the... institutionalized racial discrimination that happens in this country, which is still happening today."

Manitoba leaders said other First Nations across the country will be asked to join in the call for the inquiry, as they attempt to gain an audience with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and demand the federal government commission a survivor-led steering committee to spearhead an inquiry.

MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee stressed it is "federal legislation and policy" that "damaged" thousands of Indigenous youth and families.

"An inquiry is needed  much similar to the residential school experience  this is a government-sanctioned policy that encouraged and promoted the ideas of taking Indigenous children, thinking that it was helping them, only to find out years later it caused devastation and trauma to these children," he said.

"We cannot stand by anymore to allow policies that affect children, Indigenous children, by being removed from their communities and their culture and their language and their identity. This must stop, and it will stop."

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers
Fifteen years ago, Virginia Stephenson walked into Artists Emporium for her first painting class.

Fifteen years ago, Virginia Stephenson walked into Artists Emporium for her first painting class.

On Sunday, she came ready to paint again  but this time she brought a ladder and missed the St. James Street location by about three kilometres.

Stephenson was one of 38 customers to sign up for renovating the locally owned suppliers new hub at 580 Roseberry St.

"This was a day I didnt have anything on," she said. "So... were here painting."

Stephenson worked on Artists Emporiums new classroom, admiring the big windows and getting excited by the air conditioning. It got hot in the old warehouse.

Shes volunteered for the company before. Once you become a regular, you get to know the staff, she said.

"Its kind of a family (feeling)," she said. "Everybody that I know that paints knows Artists Emporium."

Despite being physically closed to customers during its busiest season last year, and flipping to online sales with a consumer base that largely prefers the in-person experience, Artists Emporium is moving and expanding its operations.

"Im pretty stubborn, so I would never let (the business) die," said Janeen Junson, the shops owner and president.

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS President and owner of Artists Emporium Janeen Junson at AEs current location on St. James Street.

Sometimes, that meant driving across the city to deliver a single pen after a long days work  couriers were too expensive.

"When (the pandemic) started, we were very apprehensive about how we would stay open," she said.

Artists Emporium stopped its custom framing, its classes, and selling many of its school art kits during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, most of its 22 staff were laid off.

But, online orders were flowing in.

"Families were at home with the kids, and they wanted to do art projects," Junson said. "In the beginning, it was kind of a novelty."

So, she switched from working "semi-retirement hours" to up to 16 hours per day. Family, friends, friends kids and customers took shifts answering calls and delivering orders.

"A lot of our customers have become friends over the years," Junson said, adding theyve been a massive support through the last 19 months.

Transitioning to online was difficult: normally, people enter Artists Emporium for something specific and walk out with a bag full of goods, Junson said.

"Its really like candy in a candy store for artists," she said. "I think thats part of what does keep us in business, is the fact that artists like to see the actual colour, or touch (things)... Theyre very tactile."

The vibrant rows of markers and crayons, the stands of canvases and craft kits, just dont translate to a web platform, Junson said.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new location for Artists Emporium at 580 Roseberry Street.

Being able to re-open Artists Emporiums doors has been a blessing, she added. However, the hours havent returned to normal  theyre still 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Employees hover around the 16 person mark, compared to the usual 22.

"Were still kind of watching (the pandemic)," Junson said. "We really have to budget."

Steady rent is needed to make ends meet, Junson said  hence the move.

"Our rent was just going through the roof," she said. "It was going up and up and up every year."

Shed been eyeing new locations pre-COVID-19, but the lockdowns solidified the need for a new place. Artists Emporium bought the 15,000 square foot building on Roseberry Street and took possession in September. Renovations have been ongoing since.

"Its very much an upgrade," said Sylvia DeFehr, a customer who volunteered to help paint last Monday.

DeFehr didnt know Junson or other Artists Emporium staff when she signed up. But, she was on the company email list and wanted to help the community. When Junson sent a memo asking for help, DeFehr responded.

She detailed the retail space.

When Junson first bought the company in 1999, she aimed to create a hub for artists.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Employee Haley Bean moves a display of paints in the new retail area of the new location.

"(I wanted them) to feel comfortable," she said.

She began product demonstrations in store "to encourage people to try new things". That gradually morphed to art classes where customers pay and take finished pieces home.

Artists Emporiums new classroom will be in the front of the building. The retail space will be in the middle, with employees desks scattered around so patrons can easily access staff.

The company is taking over Floatmount Mounting and Laminating, a Main Street business. There will be a dust-free room on Roseberry for mounting and lamination.

In 2009, Junson bought Dons Frames/Smith Gallery, an ornate frame manufacturer. She renamed the business AE Design One and moved into the custom framing market. Those operations are moving from a McLeod Avenue building to a room inside Artists Emporium.

"It was hard to travel completely across the city and back to get framing done," Junson said.

Artists Emporiums lease on St. James Street ended on Halloween and it awaits an occupancy permit for its new space. In the meantime, online shopping with curbside pickup or delivery is available.

Junson has visions for the sites future: different classes, more framing, walls covered in murals by local artists.

But, she hopes one thing will remain  the community.

"We have a huge, loyal community of... artists," Junson said. "Everyone is super supportive."

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Forecasting is an imperfect science, but who should we believe? World leaders gathered at COP26 in Glasgow are pledging to achieve ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, the Boeing Company is forecasting four per cent annual growth of both passenger and cargo airplanes to 2035.

Opinion

Forecasting is an imperfect science, but who should we believe? World leaders gathered at COP26 in Glasgow are pledging to achieve ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, the Boeing Company is forecasting four per cent annual growth of both passenger and cargo airplanes to 2035.

These expectations of the future are incompatible. Aviation already produces two per cent of global carbon emissions, and when released at 30,000 feet, their emissions are twice as damaging to the environment.

It is easier to dismiss global targets that will never be achieved than to ignore the reality that jet aircraft are big polluters. Moreover, the world economy depends on travel at jet speeds. Zoom has its limits.

The dilemma for jet aircraft is that they have had it so good, for so long. Setting aside the issue of the carbon emissions, Jet-A (kerosene) is an ideal form of high-energy-density fuel. It is cheap, compact and simple to store. By comparison, hydrogen is zero-emissions, but is not easily compacted or stored.

Research to develop lightweight pressure tanks and cryogenic storage of liquid hydrogen will take years to complete.

Airbus does not foresee putting even its concept hydrogen airplanes into service before 2035. At four per cent annual growth, as Boeing predicts, the jet aircraft fleet will grow 75 per cent by 2035. Technical refinements over the next 14 years may improve fuel efficiency, but more must be done to reduce the growing impact on climate change.

One alternative is to replace kerosene with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), bio-fuels, presumably made from algae or oilseeds. More research is still needed before the economics of SAF will work. This leaves the alternative of trading carbon credits in order to offset jet aircraft emissions.

The IATA ( International Air Transport Association) has already created a facility to help airlines purchase carbon credits. It claims "more than 50 airlines have made voluntary net-zero offset commitments." As always, the devil is in the details: what constitutes an eligible carbon offset, and who proves its validity?

From an economic perspective, not all carbon emissions are considered equal. In a country as large and spread out as Canada, reliable passenger air service is critical to our economy, and some level of emissions can be justified. Home heating and transport trucks are easier to convert to zero-carbon energy sources. They should be tackled first. However, no justification can be produced for the carbon emissions of dedicated cargo jets.

Cargo jet numbers are increasing sharply. Airlines have been returning older Airbus and Boeing passenger jets to air leasing companies because of the pandemic. Many are being refitted with cargo doors, stronger floors and blocked-out windows to serve the surging freight demand that is overwhelming global supply chains.

Boeing predicts the current fleet of 1,770 cargo airplanes will grow to 3,010 airplanes by 2035. More than 60 per cent of these deliveries will be freighter conversions of repurposed passenger planes. Such cargo aircraft are the oldest and most heavily polluting jets in the sky.

Speed has value, but at what cost? Very little freight has to travel at 800 kilometres per hour. Crossing the Pacific Ocean in 12 hours, only to sit in a warehouse for days, is hardly an essential use of carbon fuels. An alternative is to use slower, dirigible-size, electric airships to replace cargo jets. The door-to-door delivery times of an electric airship might be a day or two longer, but at lower costs and with zero-carbon emissions.

The government of Canada pledged a 40 per cent GHG emission reduction by 2030, which exceeds the Paris Agreement target. With such an aggressive goal, one would think the feds would be exploring every reasonable option. Raising carbon taxes from $30 per metric tonne to $170/MT by 2030 can only inflate air travel costs, because there is no currently viable alternative to jet fuel.

Windmills, electric cars and dirigibles were all commercially available in the 1930s, and then they all disappeared because of cheap fossil fuels. Wind turbines and electric vehicles have both benefited from government investment, and have returned to market prominence with a vengeance.

Electric airships can fill an important and valuable niche as well. However, no new transportation system has ever been introduced successfully without government support and encouragement. This element is still missing for airship development.

Experience has shown that green technologies can be self-sustaining. After some initial support to get started, many have proven to be highly profitable. Electric airship technology is well advanced around the globe. With proper investment, they could be in use within five years.

Desperate times, such as the existential threat of climate change, require bold initiatives. We cannot wait for some eccentric billionaire to take all the risk to develop an airship industry and solve our problems. If now is not the time for the government of Canada to act, then when is?

Barry Prentice is a professor of supply chain management at the University of Manitoba.
A June 2019 report titled Taking Action to End Online Hate, from the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, led by Anthony Housefather, unveiled a detailed plan for a digital charter to tackle misinformation and violent extremism online. This charter was to dictate how our country will combat hate speech, misinformation and online electoral interference in Canada.

Opinion

A June 2019 report titled "Taking Action to End Online Hate," from the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, led by Anthony Housefather, unveiled a detailed plan for a digital charter to tackle misinformation and violent extremism online. This charter was to dictate how our country will combat hate speech, misinformation and online electoral interference in Canada.

Two years later, in June 2021, the Liberals introduced a bill to tackle online hate by amending Canadas Criminal Code and Canadian Human Rights Act.

Bill C-36 would allow a person to appear before a provincial court, with the attorney generals consent, if the person fears that another will commit an offence "motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor."

When Parliament was dissolved in August to make way for a federal election, all business before the Senate and the House of Commons was brought to an end. This included Bill C-36.

Hate is defined in the bill as "the emotion that involves detestation or vilification and that is stronger than dislike or disdain," but hatred is not incited solely because it "discredits, humiliates, hurts or offends." In addition, the bill would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to make it a "discriminatory practice" to communicate hate speech through the internet, where it is "likely to foment detestation or vilification of an individual or group of individuals on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination."

The echo chamber of social media is filled with hate and conspiracy theories. We know these exchanges can lead to extremism, including violence. Recent testimony by Facebook whistle-blower Frances Haugen alleged Facebook executives are well aware the platform amplifies hate and extremism. Experts studying extremism have noted websites and social media are creating easily accessible pathways that encourage extreme and hateful ideologies and radicalism.

Examples that come to mind are Robert Bower, the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter in Pittsburgh, and the 29-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who murdered 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques. In both these cases, the influence of extremist agitators exacerbated what began as staunch conservatism into violent white nationalism.

Closer to home, former Beausejour resident and army reservist Patrik Mathews, a recruiter and organizer for the neo-Nazi and white supremacy group the Base, was sentenced to nine years in a U.S. prison on charges of possessing a firearm while in the country illegally, illegal possession of a machine gun, possession of an unregistered machine gun and destroying a cellphone that was a part of a federal investigation.

Mathews wanted to start a "race war," and his intended targets were Blacks and Jews, including children, and he made claims that interracial relationships should be punished with death. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) published a detailed interim report in 2020 on right-wing extremism in Canada. According to the study, (Mathews) "arrest was part of a global pattern  acts of terrorism committed by the far-right have increased by 320 per cent over the past five years, supported by an increasingly connected and internationalist community of right-wing extremism," and noting that the number of hate groups in Canada has tripled in recent years.

The ongoing study researched the scale of Canadian right-wing extremist activity across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 4chan, Gab, Fascist Forge and Iron March. It found Canadians are highly active on forums associated with white supremacists, and identified five sub-groups of right-wing extremists: white supremacists, ethnonationalists, anti-Muslim groups, sovereigntists and militia groups, and the "manosphere," which is anti-women.

Anti-Semitic neo-Nazi rhetoric was common to the above groups. (The study notes that anti-Muslim groups attempt to mask their racist views by publicly rejecting anti-Semitism). On Facebook. Muslims were the most common target of posts containing explicit hate speech, with anti-Semitism following closely behind.

It is especially important to note that online activity of these hate groups increased around the time of the attacks in Christchurch, Pittsburgh, Poway, Quebec and London. Without implementing the kinds of changes imagined in Bill C-36  changes with "teeth"  the virus of online hate will continue to spread like a wildfire in a drought, and we are likely to continue to experience violence and tragedy in our midst.

Last June, Justice Minister David Lametti stated the bill would be reintroduced should the Liberals remain in power. It is crucial to fulfil that promise at this critical time.

Belle Jarniewski is the executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada. Since 2013, she has served on the federally appointed delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Manitoba Progressive Conservatives may have felt they were making a bold move on Saturday when they chose Heather Stefanson to be their leader and Manitobas first female premier. Their party has not had a female leader since the year 2000, when Bonnie Mitchelson filled in after Gary Filmon quit, until Stuart Murray took over.

Manitoba Progressive Conservatives may have felt they were making a bold move on Saturday when they chose Heather Stefanson to be their leader and Manitobas first female premier. Their party has not had a female leader since the year 2000, when Bonnie Mitchelson filled in after Gary Filmon quit, until Stuart Murray took over.

Female heads of government are, however, no longer unusual in Canada. Manitoba is if anything a latecomer to the era of women holding the top political jobs.

Heather Stefanson at her victory party on Saturday. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files)

British Columbia, after all, has already had two female premiersRita Johnston and Christy Clark. Alison Redford and Rachel Notley both took turns governing Alberta. Kathleen Wynne ruled Ontario, Pauline Marois ruled Quebec, Catherine Callbeck ruled Prince Edward Island and Kathy Dunderdale ruled Newfoundland and Labrador. Manitoba remained until now as part of the dwindling band of Canadian provinces that never had a female premier. Little remained of the glass ceiling which once blocked women from rising to political leadership in Canada.

Once the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives excluded the male contenders from their partys leadership race, leaving just Ms. Stefanson and challenger Shelly Glover, it was certain the next party leader and Manitoba premier would be a woman. If there still was a glass ceiling to shatter, it was shattered at that point.

When a party with rising political fortunes chooses a woman as its leader, feminists of all genders can rejoice that she has a chance to ride the wave and provide a role model for women who are wondering if they should think of a career in politics. Sharon Carstairs, for example, had the good fortune to lead the Manitoba Liberal party at a moment when the New Democrats had fallen into disfavour but the Progressive Conservatives had not yet won public support. She led her party from the wilderness to Official Opposition.

There are, however, other circumstances that are less helpful to the cause of womens equality. The federal Progressive Conservatives, for example, chose Kim Campbell as their leader when Brian Mulroney retired in disgrace. She became prime minister in June 1993, called an election and saw her party reduced to two seats in the House of Commons. It seemed at the time as though the party had put her in charge of a sinking ship.

CP Heather Stefanson (right) beat Shelly Glover in a close race. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)

Events will show whether Ms. Stefanson is living through a Ms. Carstairs moment or a Ms. Campbell moment. She has been given the task of making Manitobans forget Brian Pallister. She has to persuade the public that she never agreed with the policies she supported through two terms of office in Mr. Pallisters government.

Brian Mulroney waited so long to resign that he left Ms. Campbell just five months to erase his memory. Ms. Stefanson, by contrast, may be able to govern until the summer of 2023 before facing the voters, allowing her ample time to establish a new style and a new policy.

It will be hard, however, to differentiate herself from Mr. Pallister without reminding voters of what they disliked about his government and her role in it. Every time she talks about her wish to consult stakeholders and listen to ordinary Manitobans, she will remind teachers, health-care workers and other large segments of the population how irritated they were in the Pallister years. In these circumstances, a year and a half may not be time enough to bury the partys past.
International air traffic will be returning to more regional airports soon, after flights were restricted for most of the year as part of the government's efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

A passenger checks in at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

International air traffic will be returning to more regional airports soon, after flights were restricted for most of the year as part of the government's efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a news conference Tuesday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said airports at eight mid-sized cities can reopen their runways to planes from across the border as of Nov. 30.

The airports range from Victoria to St. John's, N.L. The other six are in Waterloo and Hamilton in Ontario, Abbotsford and Kelowna in British Columbia, and Saskatoon and Regina.

"I'm pleased that increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely reopen these additional Canadian airports to international passenger flights," Alghabra said on the tarmac at Waterloo International Airport.

"This move will help ensure travellers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels this winter, while continuing to support our government's measured approach to reopening our borders."

The air sector had been pushing the government to allow more airports to take on international flights, with an eye to trips to and from U.S. and Caribbean destinations as the holidays approach.

Ten airports currently enjoy that status, expanded from four when Ottawa first introduced the restriction in February as part of a move to discourage non-essential trips, slow the spread of COVID-19 variants and concentrate the location of quarantine hotels.

Air service across the country last quarter reached just 37 per cent of its 2019 levels, and just 20 per cent for international traffic, Canadian Airports Council president Daniel-Robert Gooch said.

"We can see no reason why these communities have to wait any longer," he said in a statement, citing vaccination numbers and health protocols.

About 84 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older were fully vaccinated as of last Friday, according to the federal government.

As of Nov. 30, all air travellers in Canada must be fully vaccinated in order to board.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. spokeswoman Morgan Bell said the industry's recovery hinges on allowing all airports to clear their runways for international arrivals.

WestJet will run limited international flights from the airports in December, ramping up the volume on Jan. 7, she said.

"Network planning commences months in advance to accommodate scheduling and staffing and we are disappointed that we were forced to delay previously planned international service from these regions due to limited notice," Bell said in a statement.

Both Air Canada and WestJet have criticized Ottawa's COVID-19 PCR test requirement that remains in place for passengers arriving from abroad. Bell called the pre-departure test rule "inconsistent with land border requirements."

Garth Lund, chief commercial officer for budget carrier Flair Airlines, said the Edmonton-based company was grateful for the government's decision.

"Were eager to offer low fares to snowbirds young and old wanting to enjoy some sun this fall and winter," he said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)
The Saint Marys University Department of Fine and Performing Arts will perform The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow, Thursday through Saturday in Page Theatre. All shows in the 2021-2022 academic year are free and open to the public.

If Alfred Hitchcock had met Monty Python at a party in 1935, they might have come up with something like The 39 Steps. This fast-paced witty spoof of Hitchcocks famous spy thriller is a hilarious two-time Tony award winner, performed by only six Saint Marys actors. The plot unexpectedly propels Richard Hannay out of his boredom and into international intrigue, beautiful women, mistaken identity, and good old-fashioned romance. Pursued by train, plane, and automobile, by both British police and a notorious German master spy and his mysterious thirty-nine steps, our hero finds himself the subject of a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, audiences will experience an unforgettable evening (or matinee) of pure frivolity and fun!

Saint Marys University is welcoming audiences back in person (with safety protocols in place). Unlike last year, there will be no live-streamed performances.

The audience will be restricted to no more than 75 attendees to ensure that social distancing guidelines are followed. Additionally, masks are to be worn by audience members throughout the performance. Those who plan to attend must register at https://sites.google.com/smumn.edu/the39stepsonline. Evening performances Thursday through Saturday will start at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. On Saturday, a matinee will start at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.

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To help strengthen the diversity of the regions workforce, Red Wing Ignite, the Southeast Perkins Consortium, and Minnesota State College Southeast are working together to bring the African American Registrys Teachers Forum to career and technical instructors in Southeast Minnesota.

CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs provide exposure and experience for students who are interested in exploring work opportunities across many occupations, said Brian Cashman, secondary coordinator of the Southeast Perkins Consortium. CTE programs are the gateway to many high-demand, high paying careers, providing students with transferable skills and firsthand experience.

The Southeast Perkins Consortium, consisting of high schools in Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, Fillmore and Houston Counties, helps provide quality technical education, career development, and increased opportunity for students.

Southeast Minnesota needs to strengthen the diversity of our workforce. There exists a low participation rate of students of color in these career pathways, said Burke Murphy, Workforce Lead, Red Wing Ignite. To address the lack of diversity with students in career and technical programs, we are working together to bring a more diverse curriculum into high school and college classrooms.

To that end, Minnesota State College Southeast, Red Wing Ignite, and the Southeast Perkins Consortium have secured a grant to provide professional development training by the African American Registry for local high school and college career and technical instructors.

The Teachers Forum is a service launched by the African American Registry, the most comprehensive online database resource of African American heritage in the world. From October 2021 through January 2022, the Teachers Forum will provide professional development training workshops to schools in the five counties of the Perkins Consortium.

With an emphasis on career preparation, the workshops will introduce instructors to culturally relevant curriculum across all subjects. Attendees will also have year-long access to an archive of lesson plans and resources to use in their classrooms.

Educators know that seeing is believing. Providing our teachers with a more diverse and inclusive representation of occupations across many professions and careers is a great step in supporting our students, our employers, and our communities, said Jeannie Meidlinger, director of Secondary Relations, Minnesota State College Southeast.

For further information, contact Burke Murphy, Red Wing Ignite (burke@redwingignite.org or 734-478-0521).

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Area school districts are competing for substitute teachers, who have become a scarcer resource during the pandemic.

Beaver Dam Unified School District is working at combating the shortage by creating full-time limited employment to fill substitute teacher positions in the district.

Long term subs include those who come in and hold a specific teaching position for 45 days or more, White said. These are usually for maternity leaves, medical leaves, and other teacher leaves of absence.

Our district is fortunate to have subs who work for us regularly as well as subs who help out here and there when they can, White said. Our goal is to get subs working in a more permanent position/role so that they want to stay in Beaver Dam and therefore not have to share them with neighboring districts whenever possible.

Beaver Dam Schools recently started using full-time limited term employment subs who have been hired for the remainder of the school year.
But the political repercussions were farthest reaching in Virginia, where McAuliffe again offered the message he's repeated throughout the campaign  that his opponent will bring former President Donald Trump's divisive style of politics to an increasingly blue state.

Im closing my campaign with you in Richmond, McAuliffe said during his own swing through the state capital. He is closing his campaign with Donald Trump. Really?

That was a reference to the former president holding a Virginia tele-rally Monday night  though Youngkin himself didn't participate.

Tomorrow Id like to ask everyone to get out and vote for Glenn Youngkin. Hes a fantastic guy, Trump told an invited group of supporters by phone. The future of this commonwealth  this great, great commonwealth  is on the ballot tomorrow.
Short course on law, policy and practice for mining-affected communities

CALS is partnering with Lawyers for Human Rights and the Mandela Institute to host our first community capacitation short course online this week

The Environmental Justice programme at CALS is pleased to be presenting a short course entitled Introduction to law, policy and practice for mining-affected communities in partnership with Lawyers for Human Rights and the Mandela Institute at the Wits University School of Law. The course will be presented over Zoom from 2  8 November 2021 through online workshops, lectures and group activities. This course aims to be the first in a series of short courses that provides a formal academic programme based on the needs of communities affected by mining activities.

Mining-affected communities and their networks have achieved a growing formal recognition as stakeholders in mining through their advocacy and litigation efforts. However, the reality is that decisions about mining still do not reflect the rights and interests of those most affected by mining activities. A key challenge identified by communities is the vast disparity in their access to expertise and resources compared to mining companies, which prevents them from engaging equally in decision-making processes. Communities have therefore called for educational opportunities to develop the skills they need to engage the mining industry and for these qualifications to be recognised by higher education institutions.

We are pleased to offer just such a short course designed for and with mining-affected communities, recognising their prior knowledge, supporting their existing struggles and ensuring participants can convert the certificate to credits for further studies at university.

The focus of this first short course is on the core legal and policy frameworks that are especially pertinent to the environmental and socio-economic justice issues experienced by communities with a particular focus on the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA); the environmental impact assessment regime under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA); administrative justice under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA); and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). This course is practice-oriented and encourages using and testing the processes and remedies the legislation has put in place.

After completing this course, participants will:

Be able to explain the basic elements of the main mining and environmental legislation and policy;

Gain an enhanced ability to read and critically examine law and policy with a view to making written comments and oral inputs during public participation processes;

Gain an enhanced ability to identify which laws and processes apply to particular problems they face in their community and confidence in using the available administrative justice and access to information processes;

Gain an enhanced ability to make convincing legal arguments in communication with mining companies, state entities and other relevant role-players;

Have engaged in a discussion on combining legal and non-legal tactics and strategies for advancing environmental justice struggles in communities.

While skills development is vital, the ultimate end is for South Africas mineral wealth to be used to benefit the vast majority and for communities to choose their own development path. This requires building collective capacity to match the vast power and resources of the mining industry. We hope that this short course and those that follow will contribute towards this goal.

For more information, please contact:
UTICA, N.Y.  Mohawk Valley Health System has all three booster brands available at its Burrstone House location in New Hartford.

Eligible residents looking for Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson can schedule an appointment at the location to get a booster shot during the hours of operation, which are 7 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday at 1710 Burrstone Road.

According to the state health department, it is recommended the following people get a booster:

Those 18 and older who received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago.

Those 65 and older or residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their primary series (mix and matching is permitted.)

People aged 5064 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their primary series.

People in the following categories may also be eligible:

New Yorkers aged 1849 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Those aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

To book a Moderna or Pfizer booster appointment, click here.

For a Johnson & Johnson shot, click here.
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y.  Cookies, muffins and other baked goods were for sale at the United Methodist Church in New Hartford on Election Day to raise money for local nonprofits.

The church is a polling location for districts one through four, and will be selling the goodies while supplies last.

The churchs womens group organized the sale and donates 100% of the proceeds.

"Every penny we taken is given out to local charities, like Thea Bowman, Hope House, CareNetit never stays with us, said Carole Gehrig, a member of the womens group.

The baked goods will be on sale at the church while supplies last.
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. -- New Hartford high school senior Luke Radel and his peers have raised $10,000 for Golisano Childrens Hospital through a fundraising and awareness campaign called Lime for Luke.

Luke is battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, and wants to help other families with sick children through his fundraising efforts.

In September, his classmates wore lime to raise money for new sleeper sofas for parents with children in the pediatric program at the childrens hospital.

Monday night, Luke will also host an Election Eve Special on his YouTube channel, Elected News, to benefit the cause.

It's not often that a bunch of politicians get together to do something good so I thought this would be a good opportunity to have that, he said.

To tune into Lukes special on YouTube, click here.
ROME, N.Y. -- Rome Police Department is holding a holiday food drive to support the Rome Rescue Mission.

From Nov. 1 - 19, non-perishable or canned food can be donated at the following five locations:

Ace Hardware, 115 Black River Boulevard

Engelberts Jewelers, 275 W. Dominick St.

Rome Fit Body Bootcamp, 1762 Black River Blvd.

Spressos Cafe, 160 Brooks Road

State Farm Insurance, 1721 Black River Blvd.

Items can be dropped off at any of the locations during normal business hours.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A local World War II veteran celebrated his 100th birthday.

Thomas Smith, or "Drew" as he likes to be called, celebrated his big day, turning triple digits surrounded by his family and friends at the American Legion Post 11. Kids, grand kids, and even great-grand kids gathered to celebrate their beloved relative who was continually described as a shining light of inspiration and exemplary character.

Smith's granddaughter, Jill Heinzen said "Everybody's not so fortunate to have someone in their life that is as special as he is."

As a radio man in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Smith served aboard the USS Hinsdale. If you're a history buff, you may remember that this was one of the prominent ships that was attacked by kamikaze pilots in 1945, causing massive destruction to the ship. Of the casualties, one happened to be the soldier in the bunk next to Smith's. However, Smith was lucky enough to be one of the only 14 soldiers who survived. Of the many incredible stories Smith told, another one that stood out was that he was of the first people to be alerted in 1941 that Pearl Harbor was about to be attacked.

Smith said he was aboard a ship off the Hawaiian coast with no weapons when he was given a specific radio-halting request.

Smith's granddaughter, Jill, found that most astonishing to imagine how much life and technology has changed since Smith's childhood.

Jill recalled that "He had a very hard upbringing. I mean he would like, plow barefoot behind a mule in their farm. And didn't have, like, running, plumbing or electricity in his house."

Smith is more than a war hero, he is a family man who his grand kids said he is very involved with his kids, grand kids, and great-grand kids' lives.

So what's his trick to living a long, full life?

Tom's daughter, Cathy Smith stated, "He has attributed his longevity to treating everyone with respect and dignity."

At age 100 he can still go off about war stories, but never misses an opportunity to enjoy a good piece of cake.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  In a News 18 Update the Tastes of Chicago Food Truck will have a grand re-opening tomorrow. The business has not been operating since an electrical fire burned down the food truck about a month ago.

The brand new Tastes of Chicago food truck will be in the parking lot of O'Reilly and The Home Depot at the intersection of 52 and 26 tomorrow. The truck will be there from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The truck will be parked there during those times from Tuesdays through Fridays until further notice.

Tastes of Chicago is also ready to serve private or public events. To book the truck, reach out through their Facebook page.

The insurance funds took exactly a month come in after the original truck burnt down.

Morgan Pittman, co-owner of Tastes of Chicago, says she and her husband Reggie are grateful for the support they received from all corners of the community.

"I mean, just having people's support and knowing that they were there, and that they're ready for us to come back got us on our feet and got us ready to go even more," she told News 18.

The truck's updated menu features hot beverages like hot chocolate and hot cider for the coming winter chill.

News 18 at Noon will be giving you a live look at the grand re-opening on Wednesday.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A civil and constructive debate over West Lafayette's ban on facial recognition software occurred Monday night. And a vote was cast.

Police Chief Troy Harris and Mayor John Dennis voiced their opposition to the ban. Then two members of the community voiced their support of the ordinance citing concerns like privacy and software issues.

The ordinance ultimately passed by a margin of five to four after discussion came to an end. While the conversation was civil, Mayor John Dennis felt as though Monday night was an insult.

West Lafayette Councilman at Large, David Sanders claimed, "That was not my intention with this. This is something if I were city councilor in Kalamazoo I would still be advocating for the same thing. I know nothing about the Kalamazoo police force."

West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis said, "It's a tool. It's a tool that can be used to help assist in an investigation to hopefully bring someone to justice. It's a very important tool and the technology is constantly evolving. And for us to not be able to use it really does send first off a negative message to our police department, but second off and more importantly takes away a very important tool."

Mayor Dennis has already said that he would veto the ordinance upon approval. Councilman Sanders said even though Mayor Dennis threatened to veto the ordinance he thought the vote was a success.

When the ordinance is vetoed Sanders said they will vote to overturn the veto but will need a two thirds majority to do so.
The China-ASEAN Women's Forum 2021 is held in Guilin, in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on September 12. [For Women of China]

The China-ASEAN Women's Forum 2021, with the theme "Pool Women's Strength to Jointly Build the Belt and Road," was held in Guilin, in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on September 12. With discussion focused on the topic "Women and Sustainable Development in the New Situation," the women's forum was one of the high-level forums during the 18th China-ASEAN Expo. Participants deepened friendships and witnessed fruitful results achieved along the path of promoting women's empowerment and sustainable development.

The women's forum was cohosted by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in collaboration with Guangxi Women's Federation, the Guilin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the People's Government of Guilin. The forum attracted more than 140 participants, including officials from China and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) working on women's issues, diplomats in China, members from the coordination department of the ASEAN-China Center, women experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, foreign students and others involved in women's issues. Participants exchanged views, shared information and practices and reached agreements to build cooperative platforms.

Xia Jie, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, also member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Yang Jinghua, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Zin Mar Htwe, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Myanmar in China, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Li Chu, Mayor of Guilin, gave a welcome message and briefly introduced the city of Guilin. Liu Yongmei, President of Guilin Women's Federation, presided over the ceremony.

Xia Jie addresses the opening ceremony of the women's forum. [For Women of China]

In her speech, Xia said hosting the China-ASEAN Women's Forum 2021 was a significant event, given that this year marks both the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 18th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, pointing out a direction for creating a higher level of strategic partnership, Xia noted. Believing in the concept of developing mutual understanding and support, she added women of China and ASEAN countries have widely agreed to explore a cooperative mode, which highlights the sharing of information, resources and good practices. The 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations means a year of harvesting achievements, and also a year of beginning a new journey. Xia called on women to make greater contributions to creating a higher-level China-ASEAN strategic partnership and building a closer community with a shared future between China and ASEAN countries.

Yang Jinghua addresses the ceremony. [For Women of China]

Yang said the forum was held at a moment to start another 10 years of golden time between China and ASEAN countries. The forum, during which information, resources, practices and wisdom regarding women's development were shared, will play a role in advancing women's overall development, deepening the construction of the Belt and Road and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. She noted the CPC committee and government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will continue supporting women's friendly exchanges between China and ASEAN countries and will help women make their unique contributions to deepening China-ASEAN cooperation.

Zin Mar Htwe addresses the ceremony. [For Women of China]

Zin Mar Htwe said she was glad to be in the beautiful city of Guilin to attend the China-ASEAN Women's Forum 2021. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and practical cooperation in all fields has continuously been deepened. China has been ASEAN's biggest trade partner during the past 12 years, while ASEAN became the biggest trade partner of China in 2020. Sharing experiences and thoughts at the women's forum, participants will surely deepen friendly communications and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, she said.

Several participants joined a panel to discuss the topic "Women and Sustainable Development in the New Situation." The five guests who gave speeches were: Rukmini Tri Setiati, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Indonesia in China, Phoxay Thepvilayvon, Counselor in Education and Culture of the Embassy of Laos in China, Joyce Lee, Consultant of Guangdong Working Committee of China-Singapore Chamber of Commerce, Kanintra Suwanmanon, Assistant Manager of Sugar Technology and Biobased Chemical Department of Guangxi Nanning East Asia Sugar Group, and Mu Hong, Director-General of the Liaison Department of the ACWF. Eight participants, including professor Daw Waddy Thwin from Guangxi University for Nationalities, exchanged views during the discussion.

Panel discussion under the topic "Women and Sustainable Development in the New Situation" [For Women of China]

Women's Empowerment Leads to Great Deeds

"We need to launch various practical-training sessions to empower women under the framework of China-ASEAN cooperation," Setiati told the panel. "The Belt and Road Initiative has brought women many opportunities. Women need to improve their sense of gender equality, stay positive and take part in economic and social progress  equally and continuously. In this way, women will benefit the most from the building of Belt and Road."

Rukmini Tri Setiati (Indonesia) [For Women of China]

On behalf of the Lao women's delegation, Thepvilayvon expressed sincere gratitude and best wishes to sponsors of the women's forum. "We are grateful to have this wonderful opportunity to communicate with each other, while seeing through our eyes the marvelous landscapes of Guilin," he said.

Phoxay Thepvilayvon (Laos) [For Women of China]

Suwanmanon, a doctor from Thailand who works in the field of food biotechnology in Guangxi, recalled the story of her growth, giving an example of how obtaining knowledge has changed her life. "My mother was not quite supportive when I wanted to study for a doctor's degree. She thought women need not be well educated. But her idea did not stop me from moving on. Now, I spend much of my time on research, raising the added value of sugar products by exploring technology innovation. I think I'm doing something meaningful, because my research helps enterprises achieve high-quality and sustainable development. I hope more women will stand out in the cooperation, development and win-win progress between China and ASEAN countries."

Kanintra Suwanmanon (Thailand) [For Women of China]

Lee asked about Chinese women and women's federations' work. Mu responded to her timely and she outlined the great importance the CPC and Chinese Government have attached to women's development. Mu talked about women's participation in sustainable development. "We are willing to work with women from ASEAN countries to promote our traditional friendship, deepen communications and cooperation, advance women's overall development and contribute our new strength to build a closer community with a shared future between China and ASEAN countries," she said.

Coordinate Development

The first China-ASEAN Women's Forum was launched in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang, in 2006. To date, six women's forums have been held. The purpose of this year's forum was to build a new platform for women of China and ASEAN countries to share information and resources, achieve mutual learning and development in the post-epidemic circumstance, improve China-ASEAN women's friendly exchanges and cooperation and reach common development.

Signing a memorandum on the Action Plan of Women's Federations in Jointly Serving the Belt and Road Initiative [For Women of China]

During the forum, the women's federations of Guangxi Zhuang, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Ningxia Hui signed a memorandum on the Action Plan of Women's Federations in Jointly Serving the Belt and Road Initiative. The federations will use China-ASEAN Women's Forum to demonstrate and share women's achievements in entrepreneurship and innovation, help women entrepreneurs communicate, cooperate and establish brands of public welfare. The federations also agreed to establish a lasting mechanism for providing training, enhancing communications and cooperation, sharing resources, achieving win-win results, opening a new chapter of women's work and making new contributions to sustainable development.

In Guilin, participants of the forum visited several villages in Yangshuo County to learn about China's achievements in rural revitalization, administration at the primary level and women's participation in sustainable development. Pham Thanh Ha, First Secretary and Deputy Head of the Political Section of the Embassy of Vietnam in China, described remarkable experiences she had during the visit. "I deepened my understanding of China's efforts in poverty reduction, rural revitalization, the support provided to farmers to develop the green (environmentally friendly) economy and improve the ecological environment. I felt Chinese have gained both material and spiritual happiness," she said. She mentioned the similarities shared by women of China and Vietnam and added she hoped more opportunities will be created to strengthen the emotional ties between women of the two countries.

Participants to the women's forum watch demonstration of handicrafts making. [For Women of China]

(Source: Liaison Department of the ACWF/Translated and edited by Women of China)
Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, presents trophies to award-winning women medical workers at the seventh China Medical Women's Congress in Beijing on September 11. [China Medical Women's Association]

The seventh China Medical Women's Congress (CMWC) and a commendation ceremony for the China Wuzhou Women Science & Technology Award was held in Beijing on September 11.

The congress reviewed the work of the China Medical Women's Association (CMWA) in all aspects in 2020, briefed attendees on cutting-edge medical information, and initiated a plan for women medical workers' action for scientific and technological innovation.

Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), and Huang Xiaowei, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, attended the event. They presented awards to women medical workers who received the titles of the National March 8th Red-banner Collective, National Most Beautiful Family and the National "Five Virtues" Civilized Families and role models and groups who have made outstanding achievements at their posts.

Recipients of the Seventh China Wuzhou Women Science & Technology Award were also honored for their outstanding achievements in medical science and technology at the event.

Shen Yueyue (C), Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), Huang Xiaowei (3rd, R), Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, together with other attendees, inaugurate a plan for women medical workers' action for scientific and technological innovation at the seventh China Medical Women's Congress in Beijing on September 11. [China Medical Women's Association]

Huang Xiaowei (4th, R), Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation, poses for a group photo with award-winning role models who have made outstanding achievements at their posts. [China Medical Women's Association]

During the congress, Qiao Jie, President of the CMWA, gave an introduction to the efforts made by women medical workers in epidemic prevention and control, flood control and disaster relief, and the resumption of work, production and classes. Qiao vowed to guide women medical workers to make more achievements in the application of clinical technology, the cultivation of medical talents and the research of medical science.

Qiao Jie, President of the China Medical Women's Association, speaks during the congress. [China Medical Women's Association]

Representatives of women medical workers from Beijing, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hubei Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region gave speeches both online and offline at the event. They shared their experiences in medical science, and they determined to respond to the call of the Women's Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation, achieve innovative development in the field of medical science and technology, meet people's demands for health services and strive to take the lead in the international medical field.

A plan for women medical workers' action for scientific and technological innovation was initiated during the congress. Sponsored by the CMWA, the action aims to promote the implementation of the Women's Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation, guide women medical workers to participate in scientific and technological innovation and make contributions in building China into a world leader in science and technology.

Representatives of young women medical workers read a proposal to their peers during the event. [China Medical Women's Association]

Shen fully affirmed the CMWA's efforts to unite and guide women medical workers to take part in the Women's Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation, and encouraged women medical workers to better safeguard public health and serve the country. She also stressed focusing on problems in core technological research, and motivating more women scientific and technological workers to contribute to the promotion of sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)
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Hotel sales surge to $2 billion in 2021

According to global property consultant CBRE, Australian hotels sales have surged to almost $2 billion this year - hitting a five-year high and up from just $681 million 2020 - despite a year of lockdowns and ongoing travel restrictions.

New CBRE Hotels data highlights that activity has been propelled by a wave of hotels being sold for residential and build-to-rent conversions in addition to major portfolio sales, including the $620 million sale of 11 Travelodge hotels by the Tucker Box Hotel group, and landmark single asset transactions such as last week's $315 million sale of the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney.

CBRE Hotels' Regional Director, Valuation & Advisory Services, Troy Craig said close to one-fifth of the 2021 sales by value had been to buyers planning conversions, with the activity putting this year's sales tally on track to be in line with historic averages.

"That's quite remarkable given ongoing border closures, with activity being underpinned in part by purchasers looking at opportunities to reposition existing assets to capitalise on the strength in the residential market and rising interest in build-to-rent opportunities," Mr. Craig said.

"We've also seen offshore-backed capital continue to pursue hotel investment opportunities, which has led to prices per room being close to pre-COVID levels."

By far the biggest sale this year involved the national Tucker Box portfolio, which was acquired by Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, Swiss private equity firm Partners Group and Melbourne-based Bayview on the Park.

Conversions have been the other focus area, as highlighted by the $70 million+ sale of Melbourne's Bayview of the Park to Aware Super, the $125 million sale of Vibe Rushcutters for a residential conversion and the $178 million sale Intercontinental Hotel at Double Bay for a combined hotel and residential project.

CBRE Hotels' Managing Director, Capital Markets, Michael Simpson said, "Developers are capitalising on the continued strength of the residential market and the interest in build-to-rent opportunities to acquire well located, fringe city hotels, which will likely have a slower recovery trajectory than CBD accommodation assets and have a higher and better use as residential given their location."

In a separate Hotel Outlook report, CBRE predicts that CBD hotel markets will return to 2019 performance levels in three to five years as lockdowns end and international travel recommences.

"While the RevPAR growth trajectory stalled in Australia after a promising start in H1 2021, this has provided reassurance that once the COVID shackles are removed pent up domestic demand will quickly translate into increased hotel occupancy, which will sustain and drive average daily room rates," Mr Simpson said.

"Restricted international travel will recommence next month and will gradually increase as reciprocal travel bubbles are initially established, which will inevitably lead to normal international travel routes and activity."

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Traffic moves along a stretch of roads near the Royal Dutch Shell and Valero Energy's Norco refineries during a power outage caused by Hurricane Ida in LaPlace, La., on Aug. 30, 2021.
Woman accused of stabbing boyfriend because he wouldn't take her to a fast food restaurant, police say
Caergwrle Gypsy and Traveller site plans refused by councillors

Plans for a Gypsy and Traveller site in Caergwrle have been refused due to concerns over how it would impact the countryside.

A partly retrospective application was submitted to Flintshire Council in October last year to allow Edward Purcell and his family to live on a site at Rhyddyn Hill .

The proposals for two static caravan pitches and two day rooms were considered by councillors last week, approximately two years after they first moved onto the land.

A senior official from Flintshire Council had recommended permission should be given to allow the facilities to be retained.

However, the scheme was rejected by the majority of councillors on Flintshire Councils planning committee after neighbours and community leaders raised objections.

Speaking at the virtual meeting, Dale May, who owns a nearby caravan park, warned that giving the go ahead could cause upset among local residents.

He said: The size of the applicants site has grown considerably since the last static caravan was there years ago.

This is therefore a new development on green belt (land), not a change of use.

Supporting this development would damage further the relationship between the Travellers, local residents and the local authority because we believe the location is wholly unsuitable.

Not all the residents and some councillors have been able to express their objections openly.

Flintshire Council and Welsh Government need to address this failure in the planning system  please refuse the application.

The site is located in an area of open countryside and was previously used to house a single static caravan.

After it was vacated by the former owners, the land was targeted by fly-tippers who left a large amount of rubbish behind.

Andrew Farrow, the councils chief planning officer, said the waste had since been cleared and the site would provide an appropriate location for a permanent home.

His recommendation was backed by Trevor Mennell, an agent acting on behalf of Mr Purcell.

He said: The site is a small family site of two pitches, which was previously occupied by an unauthorised caravan which became vacant, was untidy and there was a lot of fly-tipping on site.

The site was subsequently tidied up by the applicant to the gratitude of neighbours and the local councillors a like.

The children currently attend the local school and the college and the family are very settled within the local community.

But councillors said they were worried about the impact on the countryside, as well as raising concerns over sewage and gas supply issues.

Cllr Mike Peers said: The issue we have here is we all want the Gypsy and Traveller community to have a settled base, but I think the consensus is that we need to have one in a location that doesnt impact the countryside if possible.

We have Gwern Lane and theres this application  where next?

I would hope the Gypsy and Traveller site community can find some sites that are sustainable and dont impact on the countryside.

The proposals were refused by eleven votes to three at the end of the debate.

Liam Randall  Local Democracy Reporter (more here).
Vehicles move along a road against the backdrop of smoke rising from the site of blast in Kabul on November 2 after at least 16 people were wounded in two blasts at a military hospital.
Build Back Better: What impact President Biden's bill will have on Illinois
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has closed the investigation of Metro Police officers who shot and killed the man who shot three people inside the Smile Direct Club facility on Antioch Pike in August.

The TBI said Tuesday its investigation had been closed after submitting the findings to District Attorney General Glenn Funk, who requested the case be closed.

Our investigative work has been completed and findings have been submitted to District Attorney General Glenn Funk, who has subsequently requested we close our case, TBI said in a statement on Tuesday.

Through a memorandum of understanding with Metro Police and the District Attorneys Office, the TBI investigates all officer-involved shootings in Nashville.

One victim from Antioch Smile Direct Club shooting released from hospital On Wednesday, Metro Police told News4 that Carlton Watson has been treated at the hospital and has been released.

The TBI was asked to investigate after two Metro Police officers shot and killed Antonio King, 22, of Nashville, after he was stopped by officers at the intersection of Antioch Pike and Franklin Limestone Road.

Police said King pointed a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine at officers. Officers reportedly ordered King to drop the gun. He was shot by police at the intersection. Metro Police officers Dylan Ramos and Cherelle Kinchoe were placed on administrative duty after the shooting, per department policy.

Police said King, a dayshift employee at Smile Direct Club, walked into the facility just before 6 a.m. during the shift changed and opened fire. Police said King shot security guards Johnny Hardin, 46, and Carlton Watson, 66, and Smile Direct manager Thomas Abbott, 54.
The nationwide action day organized by the IG Metall (IGM) trade union on Friday under the slogan Fair changefor a social, ecological and democratic transformation was a repulsive masquerade. The union used it to offer itself to the incoming federal government and industry, to help push through mass job cutsand to suppress the growing opposition to them.

The IG Metall rally in Berlin (Photo credit: WSWS Media)

The big corporations, especially among the automakers and their suppliers, have announced the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs. On the backs of the workers, they are waging a brutal international war for markets, which is increasingly openly turning into a trade war and preparations for military aggression. Under the pretext of technological change and the coronavirus pandemic, they are squeezing workers ever further in the interests of their profits.

At the same time, the steel industry needs billions of euros of investments to produce so-called green steel based on hydrogen in the future. The steel shareholders are not thinking of spending their own money on this but are demanding billions in state subsidies. Otherwise, they are threatening plant closures and mass layoffs.

Resentment is growing in the plants against this general attack on workers, which has the full support of all the parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament)including the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Greens and Liberal Democrats (FDP), who are currently drawing up a government programme.

Consequently, at the rally in front of the Reichstag (parliament building) in Berlin, IGM Chairman Jorg Hofmann addressed the incoming federal government directly: Our goal is modern, sustainable business while maintaining strong social cohesion in our society.

The union fears that an explosive movement is developing in the factories that it can no longer control. Rightly so, because the union has lost much of its influence in recent years due to its close collaboration with the corporations.

Even though the industries affected employ several million people, just 50,000 took part in the day of action in more than 50 cities nationwide, according to union figures.

In Berlin, the union did not manage to gather more than 500 of its members, even though thousands of workers fear for their jobs at the Siemens dynamo plant there, at Daimler in Marienfelde, at the steelworks in Eisenhuttenstadt and other plants in the region.

Less than 1,000 people came to Eisenach, where between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs are directly threatened at the Opel plant and the auto suppliers in Thuringia.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, a total of 9,000 workers took part in the actions in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Ludenscheid, Bielefeld and Duisburg, according to union sources.

In the steel city, the alliance between IG Metall and the corporations became particularly clear. The union had called for a nationwide central rally in front of the Thyssenkrupp steel mill in the north of Duisburg, where around 12,000 people work. Although IG Metall had additionally brought in steelworkers from Krefeld (Outokumpu and Deutsche Edelstahl-Werke), Bochum, Dortmund and the south of Duisburg by bus, only a few thousand participants assembled.

Thyssenkrupp itself had ordered shutdowns for the majority of the Duisburg workforce. Those who were not scheduled to maintain necessary functions in the steel mill had to take time credits, flextime or vacation.

The day of action was openly supported by the companies. A Thyssenkrupp spokeswoman said that although the rally was purely an IG Metall event, the company could identify with its aims.

The President of the German Steel Federation, Hans Jurgen Kerkhoff, also fully supported the day of action. A new German government must make the transformation of the steel industry a focus of its work in its first 100 days, he demanded. It is good and proper that the steel employees are pointing this out emphatically as part of IG Metalls day of action.

IG Metall boss Hofmann, Minister of Labor Heil and SPD boss Borjans at the IG Metall rally in Berlin (Photo: WSWS)

The entire day of action was marked by the union closing ranks with companies and governments at state and federal level. High-ranking government representatives spoke at all the rallies. In Duisburg, the newly elected North Rhine-Westphalia Minister President Hendrik Wust (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) spoke, in Berlin, Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) and SPD leader Norbert-Walter Borjans, and in Eisenach, Thuringias Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party).

Politicians, works council representatives and union officials competed in their nationalist demagogy, borrowing from the arsenal of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). In Eisenach, union representatives agitated against workers in low-wage countries, against Asians and French managers.

Among the few workers who showed up at these actions, the mood was completely different. Many were interested to take the statement of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) Defend all jobs in the auto industry! Break with the IG Metall and form independent rank-and-file committees! Unite workers internationally!

In discussions with SGP representatives, numerous workers gave vent to their anger at the role of government, companies and the IG Metall. Duisburg steelworker Cihan declared: This is a mess here. This is about the company, not about us. If it were up to me, the action would be voluntary. And then I wouldnt be here.

The steelworker, who has not been in the union for ten years, said, The company constantly announces job cuts, 1,000 here, 2,000 there. But then IG Metall never calls for protests. His colleagues Thorsten and Mesut also agreed: Theres no point in that. Because, Thorsten said, The bottom line is that IG Metall is also sitting up there, pointing to the upper floors of Thyssenkrupps headquarters, where the executive board also sits. In the past, we had real works council representatives that also fought for us. But today they sit up there and are happy to get their money.

He said you could see that in collective bargaining, which was a rigged game, as well as in the token demos. So, the last twenty years, I havent even been on a proper strike. If we did, then it was just a small demo here, which went for one to two hours, and that was from 10 to 12 oclock and then over. Either I go on strike properly, or not at all.

Significantly, rumours are circulating among Thyssen workers that Oliver Burkhard, the former North Rhine-Westphalia IGM district secretary and current head of human resources at Thyssenkrupps parent company, could soon become the successor to company boss Martina Merz.

When Thorsten learned that the German secret service had placed the SGP under surveillance and lists it in its annual report as left-wing extremist because it stands up against capitalism and militarism and for a democratic egalitarian socialist society, he had to smile in surprise: Anything they dont like up there, they dont want, and they go against it.

In Eisenach, the SGPs international perspective and its call to organize independently also met with support among workers at the rally. Workers spoke about the threatened plant closure and the dramatic consequences for the entire region.

Much interest was aroused by the growing strike wave of American workers. For example, Amir, Marco and Laurinthree apprentices at the Opel plantsupported the strike of more than 10,000 workers at agricultural machinery manufacturer John Deere after hearing about it from SGP campaigners.

Just how nervous unions are about building an independent international movement of working classes against global corporations was evident in Saarlouis. There, the IG Metall reacted to the SGPs intervention by calling the police.

Amir, Marco and Laurin in Eisenach (Photo: WSWS)

Around 5,000 people work in the Ford plants in Saarlouis, when there is not short-time working, as is currently the case. The works council plays a key role in enforcing managements demands for a reduction in the workforce. In an information letter, it reports with satisfaction that 430 of a predefined 600 workers have already left the plant after receiving severance pay this year: We want to manage the remaining part as well and are all working together to achieve this.

In Saarlouis, too, only a few hundred Ford workers were among the fewer than 2,000 who took part. Because the SGP statement met with lively interest among them, the union first sent in its stewards, who went through the ranks issuing the slogan: Do not accept!

When this did not work, the IGM officials began to intimidate SGP members with authoritarian and aggressive behaviour. When they were unsuccessful, they called the police to enforce the IG Metalls alleged domiciliary rights without any legal basis, since it was a public event in the open air.

Nothing could better illustrate the character of IG Metall. It fears a united struggle of international workers against the front of global corporations and national governments since it is itself on the other side of the barricades. The unions, as the SGP statement puts it, have transformed themselves over the past four decades from reformist workers organizations into paid lackeys of capital.

Workers must draw the necessary conclusions from this. They can only defend their jobs, rights and gains by coordinating their struggles internationally and settling political and organizational scores with the nationalist trade unions. This requires building independent rank-and-file committees and a socialist perspective.

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The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) held an online public meeting on Sunday, pushing ahead with its campaign to inform and mobilise young people and workers against Australias new anti-democratic electoral laws. Those participating came from state capitals and regional centres across Australia, as well as from New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Americas west coast.

The more than two-hour event was addressed by SEP national committee members Oscar Grenfell, national convenor of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE); Sue Phillips, national convenor of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE); and SEP national secretary Cheryl Crisp.

Over the next week we will publish the speakers contributions and urge readers to share these, and the video above, as widely as possible on social media and discuss them with colleagues, friends and relatives.

The SEP meeting was the second organised by the party since Prime Minister Scott Morrisons Liberal-National coalition government, with the Labor Partys vehement support, passed its Electoral Legislation Amendment (Party Registration Integrity) Bill in late August.

Political parties without a seat in parliament, including the SEP and 35 others, must now submit a list of 1,500 members to the Australian Electoral Commission, triple the previous requirement, before December 2. If they fail to do so, they will be deregistered and unable to stand candidates in federal elections with their party names on ballot papers.

The amendment is a crude attempt to prop up the discredited establishment political parties and block the population, and young people in particular, from seeking a socialist alternative to the corrupt and outmoded profit system. The corporate media and the unions are maintaining a wall of silence about the laws. Australias pseudo-left groups have barely uttered a word about the measures, let alone denounced or explained their reactionary character.

The SEPs warnings that the new election laws would be followed by more anti-democratic attacks were confirmed last week by the governments Electoral Legislation Amendment (Voter Integrity) Bill 2021.

The so-called Voter ID law is intended to disenfranchise large numbers of working-class voters, forcing anyone who wants to cast a ballot to produce official identification and be subjected to questioning by election officials before being allowed to vote. The government wants it legislated by parliament before December 2.

SEP assistant national secretary Max Boddy opened Sundays meeting by reviewing the rising global and Australian COVID-19 death toll and infections. The catastrophe was escalating out of control, he said, because governments everywhere were placing profit before lives, reopening schools and removing all limited safety measures, as demanded by the capitalist class.

Boddy screened a 12-minute video containing highlights from the October 24 webinar How to Stop the Pandemic sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. The powerful event involved presentations from leading scientists from around the world explaining the necessity to fight the global elimination of the coronavirus.

IYSSE national convenor Grenfell explained how and why the new electoral laws were centrally aimed against young people, now being radicalised by years of unrelenting government and employer attacks.

Official claims that young people dont die of COVID are a politically-motivated lie, Grenfell said. He reviewed the rising COVID-19 death toll and infection rates among youth. The high rates, he continued, resulted because young people were the most likely to be in low-paid, casual, precarious and unsafe work.

Grenfell said there was opposition to the social crisis, the adoption of murderous pandemic policies in the interests of the rich, and the other existential threats posed by the capitalist systemfrom the climate disaster to the danger of a nuclear warthat would imperil humanitys future. The government and Labor know this opposition exists and its one of the central reasons they have imposed these anti-democratic electoral laws.

CFPE national convenor Phillips told the meeting that COVID-19 was being allowed to infect students, teachers and families because governments, with trade union support, were reopening schools and removing all health restrictions while suppressing information about the real situation.

Warnings made by the CFPE early last month that the Victorian and New South Wales governments were putting the lives of students and educators at risk had been confirmed by surging infections in schools and childcare centres.

In the past month about 500 schools had been closed in those two states due to infections, Phillips said, but this information was not being made public. Such was the demand for accurate information that data collected by the CFPE on school closures and published on its Facebook page was being read and shared by thousands of teachers and parents.

The teachers unions, Phillips said, had unquestioningly echoed and imposed every government announcement throughout the pandemic.

Their response was to say as little publicly as possible, post nothing on social media present COVID safety as a matter for individual schools and teachers to address on a case-by-case basis and intimidate people opposing the reopenings, above all teacher-members of the Committee for Public Education.

That is why the CFPE has fought for school staff to form rank-and-file safety committees in every school, independent of the unionsdemocratic organisations to develop the widest public discussion, and based on the most accurate up-to-date epidemiological scientific research.

SEP national secretary Crisp, the final speaker, began by explaining that the partys campaign was not based on any illusions in parliamentary rule.

Parliamentary democracy, she said, is one form of class rule. There are others and they are being brought forward, most sharply in the US, where fascist forces were incited and organised by Trump and his followers to overturn the 2020 election and establish a fascist form of rule in America

The SEP has a broader perspective. The campaign for our electoral members is part of the fight for the independent mobilisation of the working class, and for the break from the confines of parliamentary democracy and the organisations which perpetuate it.

Crisp contrasted the SEPs response to the pandemic and the electoral laws to the reaction of Australias pseudo-left parties. Referring to the October 24 webinar hosted by the WSWS involving scientists and workers, she pointed out that no other political organisation had held such a discussion with ordinary people to explain, what this virus is, how it developed, how it transmits and how it can be stopped

Until the past few weeks, if one were to read the pages of Red Flag, Green Left Weekly, Jacobin and others, you would be forgiven for thinking there was no pandemic, no health crisis and no attack on democratic rightsand certainly no electoral laws.

Socialist Alternative in its belated articles on COVID-19 presented it from an utterly nationalist standpoint. In the course of the articles not one politician, political party, union or union leader or even a government is named, let alone indicted for the policies they have enacted.

These are not just errors or omissions but a political perspective. That is to block any independent opposition from workers to the program of the ruling class and the political parties which represent them.

Crisp concluded her presentation by referencing the eruption of strikes by American workers, as part of a growing movement of the international working class. She stressed that the fight to eliminate COVID-19 and in defence of democratic rights had to be based on an orientation to working class and a socialist program. She appealed to all those in attendance to join and build the SEP.

An extended question and answer session followed and over $2,800 was donated in a collection for the SEPs Monthly Fund.

In the past two months, the party has held two public meetings, published 39 articles and 16 videos, including over 50 interviews, and held three special meetings with electoral members. The party will intensify this level of political analysis and work in the final month of the campaign and urges all WSWS readers and supporters to become electoral members and join this campaign.
Colorado may introduce emergency measures to handle a surge in COVID-19 cases this week if case numbers do not improve. Democratic Governor Jared Polis said in a statement last Thursday that hospitals could move to crisis standards of care to handle the large number of hospitalizations across the state.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, right, on his way to a news conference on the coronavirus, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski]

Polis followed this up on Sunday by signing two executive orders: one that authorizes the state health department to direct hospitals to stop admissions and transfer patients to other facilities; and another that provides guidelines for implementing crisis standards of care if it is deemed necessary.

The medical crisis in Colorado is severe. Hospital beds are at 90 percent capacity with nearly 1,300 people currently in the hospital. A third of facilities are anticipating a shortage of ICU beds by the end of the week and nearly 40 percent are expecting staff shortages.

If implemented, the crisis measures would involve redirecting less experienced nurses to help in intensive care units, activating the National Guard to take over clerical and nonmedical tasks, and even mobilizing volunteers and family members to assist patients with hygiene in a last-gasp effort to free up medical personnel for more intensive tasks.

The state could also impose the rationing of medical care. This system would involve a triage based on a points system designed to allocate the sickest patients to the last of the available medical supplies. Patients who do not qualify for the intensive care unit, even if they medically require one, will be relegated to standard medical beds where they may not receive the care that they need to survive.

This is probably the biggest challenge our hospitals have faced in the modern era, Cara Welch, the Senior Director of Communications for the Colorado Hospital Association, told CBS News.

Despite the clear threat of an even greater surge of cases as winter sets in, the state government has refused to impose any stricter mitigation measures. Health officials have remained adamant that they will not bring back a statewide mask mandate, nor will they consider restrictions on capacity for indoor activities.

This is the policy of herd immunity and social murder at work. Case numbers in Colorado have been steadily rising for four months. In mid-July the state was recording under 400 cases a day, now daily case numbers are at nearly 3,000. Deaths from COVID-19 have increased as well from a daily average of five in July to over 20 today.

Cases are at their highest point since mid-November last year, just before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday surges. Colorado is now two weeks ahead of case numbers from a year ago, even with two-thirds of adults vaccinated. This is a worrying sign that a deadly winter surge may perhaps be even worse than a year ago.

The majority of patients, 77 percent, are unvaccinated. However, a concerning 23 percent of those infected have been vaccinated, demonstrating what leading epidemiologists have warned, that vaccination alone cannot stop the virus.

Behind the surge is a clear sign that school children have been a major source of infection and transmission. Those under the age of 20 make up close to a quarter of all cases in the state, and since May of this year children aged 0-11 have been the single largest group of those exhibiting COVID-related symptoms during emergency department visits. In total, children aged 0-14 constitute 15 percent of all COVID-related emergency department visits across the state.

The role of schools in fueling the surge in cases is becoming increasingly undeniable. According to data from the State of Colorado, education and childcare is the single largest source of outbreaks, accounting for 1,800 (28 percent) of all outbreaks statewide. Education and childcare has been the largest source of outbreaks since February of this year, outpacing inpatient health care outbreaks, now the second largest source of outbreaks.

Of the 572 active outbreaks in the state, 234 were in K-12 schools, 41 percent. The number of outbreaks in schools last week was also twice as many as the week before, indicating a concerning trend of how quickly COVID-19 spreads through schools.

Yet schools in the state are abandoning the most basic health and safety measures.

Cameo DeDominces, principal of Ryan Elementary in Lafayette, Colorado, told 9 News that her school was relaxing mitigation measures to allow more students into the classroom. Id rather start with being more loose because kids need to be in school, she said.

Stephanie Faren, Boulder Valley School District Director of Health Services, told 9 News that schools did not have to quarantine every student in a class when an infection occurs. Instead, schools have been isolating as few students as possible in a desperate bid to keep schools open.

Having more students in classrooms, you know, we just have to think creatively, and our teachers and our district has been doing that, Faren said.

Such a policy has clearly been a disaster. Since the beginning of the school year in Colorado, there have been more than 4,000 cases officially reported within schools. This figure is most likely an understatement considering that Colorado schools are not required to report cases unless five or more infections can be linked to the same source.

More than a third of all school cases since the beginning of the pandemic last year have been recorded in just the past two and a half months, likely in large part to the spread of the Delta variant, which is now 100 percent of all COVID-19 cases, according to the state data.

With the rate of infection in schools higher than at any point during the pandemic, it is almost certain that outbreaks will continue to grow as the winter sets in over the next two months.

Significantly, the Democratic Party in Colorado is employing the same deadly policies as the far-right Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. The virus is being allowed to run free by both parties in order to protect the economic interests of the ruling class. The working class must take the fight against the pandemic out of the hands of the capitalist political parties and take up an independent political fight to eliminate the virus in opposition to the murderous policies of herd immunity.

Regardless of whether Governor Polis implements crisis measures this week or not, infections and deaths will continue unless serious action is taken to stop the pandemic and eliminate COVID-19. Nonessential workplaces and schools must be shut down nationwide and basic public safety measures must be re-implemented.
This article contains live updates posted on Tuesday during and after the vote at Deere. To follow live developments from today, click here.

To learn more about joining the John Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee, Deere workers can email deerewrfc@gmail.com or text (484) 514-9797.

To share information confidentially with the Autoworker Newsletter on developments in your area, email us at autoworkers@wsws.org.

Striking Deere workers defeat second UAW-company agreement, in powerful show of determination that workers needs be met

Striking workers at John Deere defeated a second United Auto Workers-backed tentative agreement on Tuesday, voting to reject it by 55 percent and defying the UAWs attempts to ram the contract through. Union officials released five pages of contract highlights only two days before the vote, hoping to stampede workers into accepting the deal before they could adequately study and discuss it.

While the defeat of the contract is a courageous step forward by a significant section of industrial workers, it is more important than ever that control of the strike be wrested out of the hands of the corrupt UAW bureaucrats, who have been doing everything they can to secure Deeres wishes. There can be no doubt that UAW executives were holding emergency talks with their Deere counterparts on Wednesday and are continuing to plot with the company over how to overcome workers resistance.

The experience of the strike at Volvo Trucks earlier this year provides the sharpest warning to Deere workers. There, the UAW responded to a third rejection of a concessionary agreement by running roughshod over workers will and forcing them to re-vote on the deal they had just rejected, subsequently claiming ratification by a dubious margin of 17 votes.

For their struggle to be successful and workers to achieve their aims, the strike must find a new path forward. Rank-and-file strike committees should be quickly organized at every Deere facility, linking up with the Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee, in order to break through the UAW information blackout and mobilize reinforcements for the strike throughout the auto and heavy equipment industries.

The UAW spent much of Tuesday afternoon and evening keeping workers in the dark on individual plants vote outcomes, with many union locals waiting six hours or longer after polls closed before announcing their results.

The largest local, Local 838 in Waterloo, Iowa, which has nearly 3,000 workers and has been a center of opposition to both the contracts this year and in 2015, did not release its results until after the overall outcome was announced, in an apparent effort to prevent momentum building for an even larger no vote. Workers in Waterloo voted to reject the deal by 71 percent, which almost undoubtedly would have catalyzed even more opposition had it been revealed earlier in the day.

Read the full report

Breaking: Defying UAW intimidation, Deere workers vote to reject contract

The United Auto Workers has announced in a tersely-worded statement that Deere workers have rejected the second tentative agreement, by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent. At many large locals, the margin of defeat was far higher. According to press reports citing anonymous officials, more than 2,000 out of 3,000 workers in Waterloo voted against the contract.

The vote is a major achievement. It was carried out in defiance of a campaign of lies and intimidation from the UAW, which attempted to force it through after only three days and without even giving workers a chance to look at the contract, which would have lasted for six years.

The struggle at Deere has now entered the next stage. The experience at Volvo Trucks, at Dana and countless other struggles shows UAW will not respond by fighting for workers demands, but by re-doubling their efforts to ram through a sellout. The next step for workers is to take the conduct of the strike into their own hands by developing a new leadership of and by the workers themselves, by building the Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee and establishing independent rank-and-file strike committees at every plant. To contact the WSWS about forming a rank-and-file committee, click here.

Preliminary vote totals

Waterloo, Iowa (Local 838): NO 29% (yes) - 71% (no)

East Moline, Illinois (Local 865): NO 45% (yes) - 55% (no)

Milan, Illinois (Local 79): NO 288 (yes) - 320 (no)

Des Moines, Iowa (Local 450): YES 51% (yes) - 49 % (no)

Atlanta, Georgia (Local 472): YES 58 (yes) - 34 (no)

Ottumwa, Iowa (Local 74): YES 325 (yes) - 205 (no)

Davenport, Iowa (Local 281): YES 64% (yes) - 36% (no)

Dubuque, Iowa (Local 94): NO 37% (yes) - 63% (no)

Moline, Illinois (Local 434)

Denver, Colorado (Local 186)

Coffeyville, Kansas (Local 2366)



TOTAL: NO 45%/4030 (yes) - 55%/5010 (no)

Workers at North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, Illinois, vote to reject contract

Workers at Deeres Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Milan, Illinois, have voted to reject the UAW-Deere tentative agreement by 320 no to 288 yes, according to unofficial reports.

I voted no, a worker at PDC told the WSWS in reaction to the results. The billionaire company can put some more money on wages.

I hope its no all the way around, another worker from PDC said.

The distribution center has been a focus of Deeres efforts to offset the impact of the strike, with the company sending management personnel and salaried employees to the facility in order to try to maintain the flow of parts to dealerships across North America as the harvest season continues.

The parts center was also the site of the first casualty of the strike. Richard Rich, a 56-year-old worker and 15-year veteran of PDC, was tragically struck by a vehicle and killed while crossing a dimly lit highway near workers pickets in the early hours on October 27.



The Milan Police Department reported shortly after the incident that it did not believe the fatality was intentional, but has yet to release further information on who was driving the vehicle or any other results of its investigation.

With polls closed at most Deere locals, workers must be on guard against ballot fraud by UAW

Voting closed at 2 p.m. Central Time at most facilities, after the UAW gave workers only a few hours to vote on a six-year agreement following informational meetings in the morning. Voting is reportedly still ongoing for the Harvester plant in East Moline, Illinois, until 7:00 p.m. Voting for the parts distribution center in Milan, Illinois, closed at 4:15 Central Time.



The UAW has reportedly taken measures to isolate different groups of workers from each other during the ratification process. Voting in the Quad Cities, which had taken place at a single location in the last contract vote, was been broken up into several different locations today.



A Moline worker described how the UAW split up the voting this time: They got everyone divided this time, different times to listen and vote by alphabetical order. This will be how they pass it, without letting everyone all talk and be at the same place. He added, The first thing that was said at the podium by the local UAW president was that YOUR profit sharing money is off the table if this contract isnt ratified today. Extortion tactics is what I think thats called.



Because of the UAWs efforts to isolate plants from each other during the vote, those who spoke to the WSWS said that the outcome was difficult to determine. However, all of the workers said they themselves had voted against the deal. The contract also seemed likely to be rejected by workers at Waterloo, Iowa, a center of opposition which had rejected the 2015 deal by a two-thirds margin. The union meeting in Waterloo was the scene of angry confrontations between workers and union bureaucrats this morning.



One worker reported that vote counting has already begun in Dubuque, Iowa. The contract also was reportedly passed at Deeres parts center in Atlanta, Georgia by 58 votes to 34. However, this is a tiny local whose vote accounted for less than 1 percent of the total unionized workforce at Deere. The Waterloo workforce, by comparison, has 3,000 workers.



Workers must be on guard against any potential ballot fraud by union officials. The UAW has been seeking to ram through the deal only three days after it was announced, without giving workers copies of the full contract. It has also sought to suppress open and democratic discussion among workers, disabling comments on social media and telling workers at informational meetings to refrain from negative comments.



Workers should recall the example of the Volvo Trucks strike over the summer, which the UAW ended by forcing workers to vote again on a contract they had just rejected, claiming, under dubious circumstances, that it passed in the re-vote by only 17 votes.



The World Socialist Web Site will post more information as it becomes available.

Auto parts worker in Toledo discusses the sellout at Dana and its implications for Deere

A Dana worker spoke to the World Socialist Web Site Tuesday afternoon about how the UAW forced through a sellout contract last month at the auto parts maker, comparing his experience with the contract vote at Deere.

They had the informational meeting Saturday and on Monday they wanted you to vote. There was no time for any kind of investigation. I saw it coming, the holidays coming up and the money. They knew what they were doing.

A lot young people they just hired, who were attending school or were not going to stay [were persuaded to vote yes.] They are bringing in so many new people, 100 every month, and probably only 10-20 stay.

They had everyone vote. Before you had to have 90 days, but this time they had everybody voting. They were using scare tactics saying you would lose this or that.

He described the intimidation that workers faced, saying At the union meeting a lady asked a question and the union guy says what are you, stupid? How do you talk to people like that? They would be like a hiring an attorney and he puts you down in front of the judge. The union told them that after working 19 days you would get 2 days off. But we came to find out that only applied if the product is not in demand. The product is always in demand. The people arent getting 2 days off. They lied.

The union doesnt do anything, he concluded. It is nothing but a sellout. The truth needs to get out about this place.

More reports on ratification meetings in Des Moines, Iowa and Quad Cities

Deere workers voting today continue to send in reports of their contract ratification meetings today, with many stating there is a large amount of opposition to the deal, despite the UAWs efforts to sell it.

A worker who attended the informational meeting before the vote in the Quad Citiesthe Iowa-Illinois metropolitan area where Deere is headquartered and has several facilitiessaid that the UAW attempted to prohibit any criticism of its deal with Deere.

We were told right at the start that they would explain and answer questions only, the worker said. She said officials told workers if you have nasty comments or anything to just go vote and then leave.

A worker from the Des Moines Works plant said, I went to the contract meeting for five minutes, voiced my anger at the UAW representatives there and went to vote. Those people are UAWs peons. A majority of the people went straight to vote. People had made up their mind before coming regardless of what the UAW had to say.

The UAW canceled strike duty from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. because of the vote, he continued. They are hoping there wont be need for any after that.

Concerned that the UAW will attempt to rig the vote, many have been posting pictures of their no ballots to private Facebook groups, workers report. In 2015, the UAW claimed its contract was ratified by a margin of just 180 votes, and refused calls by workers for a recount.

Were done! Im done! Workers at local meeting in Waterloo erupt in anger at UAW over contract

The World Socialist Web Site received the following account of the contract ratification meeting this morning at UAW Local 838 in Waterloo, Iowa:

I just got home from the second ratification vote/meeting.



I stated, I pay my dues so I'm going to say what I have to say and you're going to listen. What part of full pension and benefits at retirement does the International not understand?



The place erupted in support of my comments.



Then I asked, How much did the International get paid to bring this garbage back and try to force it down our throats?



It was then they cut off my mic cuz they didn't want hear any opposing views.



I yelled, Tell the International we want full pension and benefits at retirement!!! We're done!!! I'm done!!! I tore up the highlighter, the place erupted in support, and then I left.



Needless to say, I voted NO.



Its sad they don't want to hear opposing views by cutting off my mic and shutting off comments on their Facebook page.



Will this second offer pass? If it does, itll be by fraud and corruption cuz the vast majority of people were saying, Hold the line!

Another worker in Waterloo who attended the meeting confirmed the account, saying, Yeah, they all feel that International [the UAWs national apparatus] is out of touch. He said Local 838 UAW officials tried to say all what we could buy with that $8,500 [signing bonus]. Not many happy people here.

Waterloo Drivetrain Operations worker: Its time to step up and do something

A veteran worker at Deeres Drivetrain Operations in Waterloo, Iowa, said, Most of the people Ive talked to about the contract, their view is not very positive. The raise on this isnt really a raise after cost-of-living increases.

Everybody thinks we could get that same pre-1997 package that was in the past. Health care, we were paying nothing when I started, now its $40 for each visit, and more if you have to go to the emergency room.

I need to retire somedayI cant work till Im 100but Im not going to be able to retire at 60. Im not going to be able to work 30 years and then get out, cause our 401(k) is horrid.

And youll have to go out and get your own health insurance once youre retired, and by that point you wont be able to afford it.

Describing his experiences with the UAW, he continued, I dont know how many times weve gone to UAW with complaints, about overtime and other things, and theyll say, Well, thats a gray area. I need this gray area to become not a gray area. It should either be this way or that way. Its not that hard to print a true statement.

The UAW do nothing for us, he said. Theyre right in the back pocket for John Deere, its like they think Deere is the god and we have to do what they say.

He recounted the UAWs efforts to ram the 2015 contract through, not providing workers the full contract and or time to study the terms. In 2015 you were walking in blinded. And by the time we got done voting, the news already said we passed it.

First thing the UAW said about this contract is that its the best theyre going to do, he said. But obviously their calculators are broken or they dont know how to do math. Deere has 17 quarters with highly profitable gains, and yet dont want to give good wages and benefits. We still have people working here on food stamps.

Its all scare tactics, they think that were weak, In 2015, he said, No one was communicating, but people are getting more and more word out, and we have hope.

I know we had Facebook or whatever back then, but it didnt seem used as much. Its helped a lot for us to communicate to our brothers and sisters throughout Iowa and Illinois this year, so people feel comfortable voting no.

Concluding, he said, Its time to step up and do something, we cant just complain about it.

Auto parts worker in Indiana: We stand with them 100 percent

An auto parts worker at the Faurecia plant in Columbus, Indiana, and member of the Faurecia Workers Rank-and-File Committee sent the following statement to the WSWS. The plant manufactures exhaust converters for John Deere heavy equipment.

The worker said that despite any inconvenience that the interruption of production might cause at their plant, the overwhelming sentiment among workers there is support for a continuation of the John Deere strike.

The Deere workers should stand strong and vote NO! The UAW did not even let them read the contract and they are forcing a vote. That is ridiculous and everybody knows it. They have not even seen it. They have to vote No! We stand with them 100 percent! The UAW are back-stabbers. They are going to try to push this through. The rank and file need to get together and denounce the whole process. The UAW is not to be trusted. The [former presidents are] in jail, or club fed, whatever. They need to oversee the count. They have not had any time to study the contract. The union hasnt even given them the contract to look at and they want them to vote. They need to say, No contract to study, no vote. It does not go through. I wish we had had people standing behind us at Faurecia, because I guarantee you people would have jumped up and told the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to stick it Because everybody knows that the IBEW gave away everything. All the unions are doing the same. The Rank-and-File Committee needs to get in there with both feet and protect the workers. We need to build up the International Workers Alliance of Rank and File Committees to support each other. If we had had this kind of support at our last contract, the IBEW would not have been able to ram their sellout down our throats.

Waterloo worker: This TA is not the best we can get

A worker at Deeres operations in Waterloo, Iowa, told the WSWS, I have been a part of this union for 10 years. I have been a voice and will continue to be a voice for my co-workers.

The union has shown its dark face in the past, and now its our turn. Whether we are ready or not for what is to come, we will fight. This TA is not the best we can get. Theres more. In two to three weeks we have shown and proven we are serious.

My opinion, if we turn this down, the company will let us sit and come back to us when we are in need, then offer a bad TA with a signing bonus that everyone will need at the time. We have to be strong and fight through that. The only way we will get what we deserve is to be patient and hold out.

The company is getting it from both ends though. Maybe Im wrong about that and it wont take that long. The farmers have already bought up most of the used John Deere products to make it though the year, cannibalizing tractors to make theirs work, borrowing parts, etc. After that... well, they will want new equipment. And if there's no us there is no new equipment.

I dont know honestly what will happen with this offer when it comes to vote. But my individual opinion is irrelevant because I'm part of a whole. If we stay out on strike, Im ready to fight.

Des Moines Deere worker says: Vote no for the betterment of all of us

As a UAW member working at John Deere, I reject the new Tentative Agreement that doesnt live up to the expectations of union members, a worker at Deeres Des Moines, Iowa, plant said. I also call upon my union brothers and sisters to do the same. Brothers and sisters, we should reject this new Tentative Agreement and vote no for the betterment of all of us.

Unfortunately, the UAW and John Deere again rushed the vote without allowing us to see the entire contract. Please do not allow the same mistake again, like after the last contract vote, when we found out about things not mentioned in the highlights. The digital copy of the highlights of the Tentative Agreement fails to address several things. First, how are we supposed to vote on something that we didnt even see? Second, who can guarantee us that there are no other changes to the contract? The International and UAW leadership? They have demonstrated that they dont truly represent the interests of working people but their corporate partners. Think of unity and dont allow them to divide us ever again. I urge you to reject this Tentative Agreement by voting overwhelmingly NO.

Hold the line and stay strong. In solidarity with all of you.

Video: Jerry White, labor editor of the World Socialist Web Site, reviews the issues in todays vote

Statement by Jerry White, WSWS Labor Editor: The UAW is trying to shut down the powerful strike by more than 10,000 John Deere workers.

Deere workers are in a powerful position to win this struggle, White said. But they must reject the back-stabbing by the UAW, expand the Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee, and unite with other workers to wage a common fight against inequality and capitalist exploitation.

Watch the full video

Opposition high among Deere workers on eve of second UAW contract vote

With voting set to begin Tuesday morning and conclude later in the afternoon on a second tentative agreement (TA) between global farm equipment maker John Deere and the United Auto Workers union, opposition to the deal remains widespread among the 10,000 striking workers. The workers are fighting to reverse decades of eroding wages and deteriorating benefits and working conditions, and are in a powerful position with Deere making record profits and struggling to hire.

The UAW, however, is attempting to ram an agreement through which fails to meet workers demands. The union only announced the deal Saturday and released five pages of selective contract highlights on Sunday, seeking to prevent workers from having time to carefully study the full terms of the contract before voting on it.

With many Deere workers bitterly recalling how the UAW forced through a sellout contract in 2015releasing highlights hours before voting beganthe latest attempt to force a vote without adequate time or information is provoking indignation, both among Deere workers and autoworkers who have suffered similar treachery by the UAW.

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Deere workers issue statement Sunday opposing latest tentative agreement: Reject UAW-Deere blackmail!

After more than two weeks on strike, the United Auto Workers is trying to rush through another pro-company deal, which ignores our demands for raises big enough to make up for 25 years of eroding wages, time off with our families, and fully paid retiree health benefits and pensions for all workers. To add insult to injury, the UAW is trying to pull another fast one like it did in 2015 by making us vote before we have time to sufficiently study and discuss the deal. They are telling us to vote Tuesday without access to the full contract and letters of agreement that will dictate our lives for the next six years. We are workers, not industrial slaves! The Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee calls on workers to demand the release of the full contract and all side letters now and insist on a full week to study the contract before any vote. If the UAW goes ahead and holds the vote, Deere workers should reject the deal on principle and toss it in the garbage where it belongs. Rank-and-file workers must also demand the right to oversee the voting process, so the UAW doesnt repeat what it did in 2015, when it claimed the hated contract miraculously passed by 180 votes. No one should doubt that the UAW wont try to make the vote come out the right way if they think theyre able to get away with it. The self-serving highlights no doubt conceal numerous other concessions that we would only find out later. What we do know, however, is enough to reject this deal like we did the first one.

View the full statement

UAW-Deere contract highlights show deal again fails to meet workers demands

The latest tentative agreement between the United Auto Workers union and Deere and Company, select details of which were released by the UAW in a six-page highlights document on Sunday, once again fails to meet workers demands for major wage increases, the restoration of post-retirement health care and full pensions for all workers, and significant improvements to working conditions.

The highlights posted by the UAW on Sunday show that:

There is still no health care for all retirees, which, along with wages, has been the most important issue for workers. Deere and the UAW eliminated retiree health care for new hires when the two-tier wage and benefit system was implemented in 1997.



General wage increases, while relatively higher than the previous proposal, would still occur only every other year of the six-year contract, with 10 percent the first year, 5 percent in 2023 and 2025, and lump sum payments in the alternating years.



For a worker currently making roughly $20 an hour, this would average out to only a $1 a year raise over the next six years with new COLA payments (cost-of-living allowances) taken into account, according to the UAWs projected wage table.



Workers have already taken to social media to denounce the proposed raises as a slap in the face, under conditions in which the company is making record profits this year and giving its CEO a 160 percent raise from 2020 to 2021. Workers are insisting that the company make up for a quarter century of declining real wages, since pay for newly hired workers was cut substantially beginning in the 1997 contract, and wages were kept stagnant for all workers in subsequent years.



The tier system would remain in place for retirement benefits, and workers hired after 1997 would still receive only a partial pension and 401(k). The company seemingly retreated from its demand in the first contract to eliminate pensions entirely for new hires, which provoked massive opposition, stating that new hires would now be offered the choice between a traditional pension and 401(k). However, given that the full contract has not been released, workers have told the WSWS that they suspect that the company may still be attempting to implement a third tier in retirement benefits.



Oppressive mandatory overtime rules would continue, which the company will undoubtedly seek to make even greater use of after the strike, as it seeks to speed up operations to make up for lost production.



CIPP (Deeres continuous improvement pay plans, a productivity incentive scheme) would remain largely unchanged. CIPP is a major source of dissatisfaction for Deere workers, who say that the system is used to continually wring more production and a faster pace out of them.



The contract would remain at the onerously long duration of six years, longer than the current four-year standard in the auto industry, locking workers into penny-pinching terms for more than half a decade.

The company and the UAW are attempting to sell the deal by dangling a larger signing bonus of $8,500, which will be substantially reduced after taxes and dues are deducted.

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Autoworkers voice support for Deere strikers, warn of UAW treachery: Hold out as long as you can

The struggle at Deere and the outcome of the vote on Tuesday is being closely watched by many workers in the US and in other countries, including Deere retirees. Gordy, a retired Deere worker in Minneapolis, Minnesota, wrote to the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and said, Keep a close watch on your union reps, they are as bad as the company at selling out the workers. I was a member for 30 years at the Minneapolis, Minnesota, warehouse. I was a part of the 1986 strike. Good luck.

The fact that the IUAW is still not supplying the workers with nothing more than fake contract highlights and zero time to study much of anything is absolutely criminal, a veteran worker at Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) in Kokomo, Indiana, said.

He continued, Its apparent that the UAW has not been penalized by the Justice Department, nor has the IUAW been scared straight. It goes to show you that the Justice Departments recent [corruption probe] was a big show. They only did so to appease the workers and public and to lull the public back to sleep while the corporations and bureaucrats continue stripping the workers of what little we had left.

The worker warned about the danger of the UAW bureaucracy attempting to rig the vote and encouraged rank-and-file Deere workers to find ways to monitor the balloting. Better get control of the ballot boxes. Go back and look at the FCA 2019 contract vote totals at each local. I dont think a single local had anywhere close to 50 percent turnoutaccording to the totals. But I dont know of anyone who didnt vote.

He concluded, The rank and file ought to have designated counters at each voting site. They dont have to know how everyone voted, but just the total number of votes. Like exit polling.

Read more statements of support
The Pentagon announced Sunday that the US Air Force conducted another flyover of the Persian Gulf by a B-1B strategic bomber. The resumption of these threatening operations, which were steadily ratcheted up in the waning days of the Trump administration, came amid warnings of military options by the Biden administration over Irans nuclear program.

Saudi Air Force F-15s escort a US Air Force B-1B Lancer over the Red Sea on Oct. 30, 2021 [Source: US Air Force]

In a statement on Twitter, the US Air Forces Central Command, responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, said that the flight of the B-1B Lancer Bomber over the strategic Strait of Hormuz Saturday sent a clear message of reassurance to Washingtons allies in the region.

The bomber was accompanied by fighter jets dispatched by regimes of the US-led anti-Iran axis, including Israel, the reactionary monarchies of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and the Egyptian military dictatorship of Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. This air squadron also flew over the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and its strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The menacing military maneuver came amid expectations that talks on the moribund Iran nuclear deal will resume in Vienna at the end of this month between Tehran and the six major powers that are also signatories to the agreement: the US, China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany.

Signed in 2015, the so-called JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which traded tight restrictions on Tehrans nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions, was unilaterally blown up by the Trump administration, which imposed a maximum pressure sanctions regime that targeted both Iran and any country or company that dared to trade with it. It did so as Iran continued to abide by the terms of the agreement, even though Washington never provided significant sanctions relief.

The Biden administration has maintained the draconian sanctions in place, while the Western European powers have mounted no challenge to what amounts to a financial and trade blockade tantamount to a state of war against Iran. The sanctions have deprived Iranians of imported food and medicine, condemning many to hunger and an early death. In response, Iran has stopped observing some of the restrictions imposed upon its nuclear program under the agreement, including on its level of uranium enrichment and the size of its stockpile.

US President Joe Biden met on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome Saturday with heads of the NATO member states that are signatories to the Iran deal: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The four powers issued a joint statement designed to put pressure on Tehran. It accused Iran of having accelerated the pace of provocative nuclear steps. It declared their determination to ensure that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon, while demanding that Tehran return to a good faith effort to advance negotiations on reviving the agreement. It added, menacingly, That is the only sure way to avoid a dangerous escalation, which is not in any countrys interest.

The statement presented Irans breaching of the limits set by the JCPOA, not the US abrogation of the entire agreement and the imposition of its maximum pressure sanctions regime, as the trigger for the dangerous escalation threatened by the Western powers.

Irans Foreign Ministry responded to the joint statement by insisting that the country has no plans for building nuclear weapons and that its nuclear program remains dedicated entirely to civilian purposes.

There have been six rounds of talks in Vienna between Iran and the major powers that have produced no progress. The sessions have been suspended since June, when the new government of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi took office.

The Iranian government sees little to negotiate. It has stated its willingness to return to full compliance with the restrictions imposed under the JCPOA once the US ends its boycott of the agreement and lifts sanctions.

We have already had enough of empty words, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press conference Monday. We have been waiting for an action that has been delayed for months.

For its part, the Biden administration has raised the need to fix the JCPOA and has proposed new measures that would impose restrictions on Irans missile program and force Tehran to cede its influence in the Middle East to Washingtons drive for hegemony over the oil-rich region.

In an interview on CBS News Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a chief proponent of these new demands on Tehran, responded to a question of whether the US plans include military options, declaring, As we always say, every option is on the table.

Washington, he added, was also preparing other necessary options if Iran is not prepared to engage quickly in good faith negotiations. Blinken questioned whether the US could actually recapture all of the benefits of the agreement, given that Iran has supposedly been learning enough, doing enough to enhance its capabilities to produce a nuclear weapon.

Blinkens remarks were widely reported by the media in Israel. Israel Defense Force Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi stated at the beginning of this year that he had instructed the countrys military to draw up fresh plans for attacking Iran. Last week, the Israeli government announced a $1.5 billion program to make preparations for a war against Iran and secure new weapons, including bunker-busting bombs needed to destroy Iranian underground nuclear facilities. The Times of Israel noted that the US B-1B bomber that flew over the Persian Gulf on Saturday is capable of carrying bunker-busting bombs.

Underlying the aggressive US posture toward Iran is its intersection with the increasingly open preparations by Washington for a military confrontation with China.

Beijing and Tehran signed an agreement earlier this year that provides for $400 billion in Chinese investment in Iran under the Belt and Road initiative in exchange for the guarantee of discounted oil exports to China for the next 25 years. It is estimated that Iranian oil exports to China could reach 600,000 barrels a day next year, effectively breaching the US blockade.

Even as Washington has attempted to carry out a strategic shift from the decades of war in the Middle East to its great power conflict with China, this conflict threatens to ignite a new and far more devastating war in the region, while turning every continent into a potential battlefield.
The ignominious collapse of the Biden administrations social reform pretenses has dealt a blow to the fiction that the Democratic Party can be a vehicle for progressive social change. The framework of Bidens Build Back Better budget plan revealed last week bears little relation to the bill that progressive Democrats like Senator Bernie Sanders and his allies affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, claimed would represent meaningful improvements in workers lives.

Vice President Biden congratulates Sen. Bernie Sanders during a re-enactment of the swearing-in ceremony for his second term in the U.S. Senate. (Credit: sanders.senate.gov)

In the course of negotiations with right-wing congressional Democrats, the bill was stripped of most provisions that would cost businesses money or improve the living conditions of the working class. Two years of free community college, paid family and medical leave, a permanent child tax credit, and significant expansions to Medicare have all been killed. Moreover, the supposedly progressive measures still left in the bill are actually oriented towards the interests of the ruling elite.

Out of the $555 billion allocated for climate-related spending, $320 billion is in the form of tax credits to utilities, electric vehicle manufacturers, and companies that build battery-charging stations. Another $110 billion is for subsidies to producers of solar, batteries and advanced materials.

Proposals for universal pre-kindergarten programs and federally subsidized child care remain left on the table but only to free the mothers of small children to take low-wage jobs. Medicaid has only been expanded into states which refused federal subsidies for expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. This is also aimed at inducing workers to take low-wage jobs that do not offer health care coverage. The latest reform bill also excludes any significant tax rate increases for either corporations or the wealthy.

Senator Bernie Sanders, whom the Democratic leadership promoted to chair of the Senate Budget Committee to spearhead the legislation, has not declared any public opposition to the new bill, stripped of many of the reforms he and other progressives previously called for. In an interview with CNN, Sanders called the current bill very, very strong and evaded answering if he would vote for the legislation as is.

The social welfare legislation touted by Sanders, House progressives and their pseudo-left supporters as proof that major reforms could be enacted through the Democratic Party has turned into another debacle. No progressive Democratnor any of the members of Congress affiliated with the DSAhas stated he or she would vote against the bill. This exposes the bankrupt politics of the pseudo-left, who channeled support behind Sanders and the Democrats.

In the article titled The Reconciliation Bills Gutting Is What Happens When Your Party Is Addicted to Corporate Money, David Sirota, editor-at-large at Jacobin and former senior adviser and speechwriter on Sanderss 2020 presidential campaign, explained the bills erosion was due to the presence of big money in politics. His article never mentions the role Sanders or any other progressive Democrat played in promoting the bill or whittling it down to its current state.

In general, the reason the Democratic Party always sounds so helplessly incoherent is because its lawmakers are trying to simultaneously appease their corporate donors and look like they are fulfilling their public promises to fix problems created by those corporate donors, Sirota wrote.

The Democrats allegiance to corporate interests is not a new revelation. In fact, they already understood the path the bill would take.

In September, Yahoo! News cited a lobbyist on Capitol Hill as saying there was optimism among congressional Democrats that a bill would get passed and sent to Biden for signing into law. But such a bill is likely to be in the range of about $2 trillion

While the various House committees are likely to approve bills that would total $3.5 trillion, that number would get whittled down before the legislation is sent to the full House for debate and passage, the source said. That could mean that any proposed tax increases on the wealthy and corporations would not have to be as steep as initially envisioned, the article continued.

Sirota then denounced Biden for upholding his pledge to his donors that nothing would fundamentally change under a Biden administration and blamed Democratic leaders for creating a bill that only provides marginal victories. At the same time, however, Sirota praised Bidens bill as significant steps beyond the incrementalism and corporatism of the Obama presidency.

But just 10 days earlier, Jacobin magazine, the semi-official media spokesman for the DSA, published an article by Luke Savage declaring Bernie Sanders Is Showing the Democrats How to Take on Joe Manchin. In it, Sanders was lauded for supposedly causing a stir in Washington.

With his trademark message discipline, Sanders made a direct, accessible, and moral case for the key items in the bill, going on to note the strong opposition from corporate interests and cataclysmic wealth disparities that form the appalling backdrop of the current wranglings in Congress, Savage wrote.

Now that nothing has come of Sanderss demagogy, the pseudo-left is scrambling to cover its tracks. In the subsequent article, Sirota blamed corporate media misdirection for the bills failure and workers indignation.

All of that corporate media misdirection is carefully crafted to try to gaslight youto make you feel that your outrage, frustration, and disappointment is illegitimate. ... It should be aimed at the system that guts or outright kills these kinds of bills on a regular basis. It is a system that doesnt block all positive reformsit just makes sure most reforms never alter the economys overall structure, even when society is facing existential emergencies.

Sirota mentions existential emergencies and crises without actually naming what they are. The words capitalism, pandemic, and COVID do not appear a single time throughout the commentary. Also missing are the roles that Sanders and the DSA played in helping Biden win the presidency and their support for the Biden administrations criminal policy of reopening schools and workplaces.

The feckless response of the pseudoleft cannot disguise the impossibility of reforming capitalism or obtaining progressive change from the oldest capitalist party in the world. The Democratic Party is a party of Wall Street, the intelligence agencies and the military. The role of Sanders and Co. is to provide a leftist veneer.

Workers and young people must draw the necessary lessons. The Democrats cannot be reformed, nor can the capitalist system. Instead of Sanderss political revolution to pressure the Democrats below, workers must break with the Democratic Party and build a mass socialist movement to overthrow capitalism.
Over the past several weeks, positive COVID-19 cases have been rising at the Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, without any additional safety precautions or shutting down of the facilitywith full payto prevent potential mass infection and deaths.

According to a UAW-Mack memo sent out to all employees, between October 18 and October 22, two workers tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of cases at the plant to 455. For the week of October 22 to October 29, an additional five workers tested positive, bringing the number of active cases to seven.

In all likelihood, these numbers are an undercount. At other plants, the pro-company United Auto Workers (UAW) and corporations have done everything possible to conceal the number of cases and deaths while ignoring scientifically guided mitigation polices such as social distancing, adequate ventilation, mask wearing, quarantining, and contact tracing, to name a few.

Mack Trucks Macungie Plant

According to Mack workers who spoke to the World Socialist Web Site Autoworkers Newsletter, while they are assembling the trucks deprived of proper social distancing and other mitigation measures, UAW and Mack officials are sitting in air conditioned offices, safe from infection.

Things are looking grim at Mack. Theres no direction by the company or UAW to wear masks. The majority are maskless as the infection rate climbs, said a Mack Trucks worker. The UAW-Mack memo claims the health and wellbeing of our employees is our first priority, but workers at the plant know this is a charade and the uptick in cases adds further evidence to the profit-over-lives policy being pursued by the corporations and their lapdog, the UAW.

In fact, when the pandemic first spread across the United States, the UAW refused to call out its membership to shut down production and protect workers from infection. The rank-and-file, however, decided to down their tools and launched a series of wildcat actions, which compelled the closure of most auto plants. According to a July 2020 study reported by CBS News, the economic shutdowns initiated by workers saved between 900,000 and 2.7 million U.S. lives in the first wave of the pandemic.

The shutdowns were limited and uncoordinated, only lasting a short time, as Democrats and Republicans passed a bill giving mountains of cash to Wall Street banks and corporations. Soon after, the UAW played a key part in the drive to reopen auto plants, over massive opposition, so that workers could produce the profits to repay the corporate bailout.

An April report assessing Mack Trucks first quarter shows deliveries increased 17 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020, up from 5,501 units to 6,456 units in 2021, according to the WFMZ local news. The news outlet cites comments by Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt, who states, The global supply chain for semiconductors as well as for other components remains very unstable and the uncertainty about the development is high.

This has since come to pass, as numerous shifts at the Macungie plant have been furloughed for weeks at a time. However, these shutdowns have been the result of parts shortages, not health concerns.

Although the UAW-Mack memos have not stated whether anybody has become seriously ill or died from the disease, it is only a matter of time before a worker dies, must be sent to the emergency room, or brings the virus home to a family member.

I worry how this is going to affect us all long term, how much damage is going to be done to our bodies and mentalities. If the company is allowed to risk our lives what else is left? asked the Mack Truck worker. The worker noted, I feel like Im walking into a nightmare every working day. My boss even pulls his mask down to talk to me. Im standing there wearing an N95 and he feels comfortable pulling his neck gaiter mask down.

Many autoworkers have already died from the disease, and the culpability resides squarely on the shoulders of the UAW. The most recent death of an autoworker from the virus, unreported in the media and ignored by the UAW, was on October 16. Blair Alexander Braden, who worked at Stellantiss Sterling Stamping Plant in Michigan, caught COVID-19 and tragically died. He was 47 years old, a father of two small children, and had worked at the plant for only a year.

This infection-and-death policy of the corporations, the pro company trade unions and the ruling class, which has enriched Americas billionairesincreasing their wealth by $5 trillion or 70 percentis being opposed by new organizations that have been formed in the auto industry and at Mack Trucks.

The Mack Trucks Workers Rank-and-File Committee (MTWRFC), formed during the UAWs betrayal of the Volvo strike at New River Valley, Virginia, had issued a statement in August during another deadly wave of the virus demanding safety precautions to save the lives of workers and their families.

As cold weather and winter approach, with more indoor activities, leading scientists are saying another deadly wave will hit. Workers need to demand safety measures that will save lives, rather than line the pocketbooks of the CEOs and management.

The MTWRFC demands:

Hazard pay in the form of double time if we are expected to work in a hazardous, potentially life-threatening environment.

Personal protective equipment to be distributed by Mack, with the option of N-95 masks.

10 minutes of break per hour to cool down from the heat of wearing the masks.

Air conditioning and ventilation to assist in preserving a healthy workspace.

Manning time allowances adjusted so that we can maintain six feet of working distance from each other. Mack Trucks violates its only guidelines when it tells workers to do otherwise and it is workers right to stop working until you can do your job safely.

The tripling of punch clocks to aid in maintaining safe distancing for workers entering and leaving the facility.

A return of the break areas that were removed before and during the pandemic, including the outdoor break areas.

Workers interested in building the committee should contact the rank-and-file committee or call 717-739-9517.
Seven of eight senior officers on a military jury responsible for sentencing Guantanamo Bay detainee Majid Khan have condemned his torture by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a stain on the moral fiber of America and said his treatment by US personnel should be a source of shame for the US government.

Majid Khan [Source: Center for Constitutional Rights]

The condemnation by the jurors of Khans torture underscores the utter criminality of the Bush administrations rendition and enhanced interrogation programs, for which no senior officials have been held criminally liable.

The officers made their statements in a clemency letter on behalf of Khan, 41, at the time of his sentencing and following his 2 hours of testimony where he gave a detailed description of the torture he endured at CIA black sites over the three-year period 20032006.

In the two-page, handwritten letter dated October 29, the seven jurors recommend clemency for Khan because he was subjected to physical and psychological abuse well beyond approved enhanced interrogation techniques, instead being closer to torture performed by the most abusive regimes in modern history.

The clemency recommendation from the military jury is not binding and it is not clear whether it will have any impact on the final sentencing decision. Their letter has been sent to the senior Pentagon official in charge of the case, along with a sentence of 26 years in prison for Khan, among the lowest possible sentences under the military commission rules.

The extraordinary letter states that Khan was held without the basic due process under the US Constitution and was held without charge or legal representation for nine years until 2012 and held without final sentencing until October 2021. The letter says further that although Mr. Khan was designated an alien unprivileged enemy belligerent, the complete disregard for the foundational concepts upon which the Constitution was founded is an affront to American values and concept of Justice.

Khans testimony, which included descriptions of CIA waterboarding, sexual assault, sleep deprivation, beatings and psychological torture, is the first time that a former prisoner of the CIAs black sites has publicly described his treatment.

The revelations confirm that the methods used on enemy combatants initiated by the administration of George W. Bush following the events of September 11, 2001, and under the name of the war on terror, included systematic violations of human rights and both US and international laws. The barbaric and medieval forms of torture carried out at remote sites in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa under the CIA extraordinary rendition program were used to extract information from detainees that could be used to justify the wars of US imperialism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the Open Society Justice Initiative, US intelligence collaborated with more than fifty other countries to build a global detention program to apprehend and detain without legal process at least 136 individuals. The known black sites run by the CIA have existed in Afghanistan, Lithuania, Morocco, Poland, Romania and Thailand.

It is widely known that the detained enemy combatants include many erroneous renditions in which the CIA had abducted and detained the wrong people. In the case of Majid Khan, he left the US following 9/11, was arrested in his native Pakistan and was rendered to the CIA black site in Afghanistan known as the Salt Pit. The Bush administration claimed he had significant al-Qaeda connections and labeled him a high-value detainee.

In September 2006, Khan was transferred to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay under the terms of the military tribunal system governed by the Military Commissions Act.

While Khans future remains unclearhis 26-year sentence would include time served since he pled guilty to terrorism-related charges in 2012not a single US government official involved in the design and operation of the criminal rendition and interrogation programs has been brought to justice.

This fact is an indictment of the Democrats, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as the Republicans in the White House and Congress since George W. Bush publicly acknowledged the existence of the secret CIA prisons on September 6, 2006.

The use of criminal apprehension and torture of detainees and the launching of imperialist wars were also combined with the passage of the USA Patriot Act in the aftermath of 9/11. This bipartisan legislation authorized a government assault on the fundamental democratic rights of American citizens and led to mass secret electronic surveillance that was later exposed by former NSA contractor and intelligence analyst Edward Snowden in 2013.

The refusal by both parties of US imperialism or any branch of the US government to bring to justice anyone involved in these violations of the Constitution and international law, such as former President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and others, has revealed the degree to which the American ruling establishment is prepared to dispense with democratic forms of rule in pursuit of its global interests.
In a move aimed at ruthlessly imposing wage and benefit concessions, New Brunswicks right-wing Conservative government locked out 3,000 education workers Sunday. The decision, which impacts custodians, librarians, and administrative staff, comes as some 22,000 public sector workers across the eastern Canadian province enter their fifth day of strike action today.

The strike currently covers workers in health care, education, social work, transport, community colleges, and provincial parks. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has yet to make clear if and when it will call out the remainder of its members.

New Brunswick public sector workers on the picket line (Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees)

The governments draconian move meant that all schools shifted to online learning Monday. In a vindictive move, Education Minister Dominic Cardy announced that 45 percent of all education assistants, who have been deemed essential workers to prevent them from striking, would be placed on leave without pay with just one day of notice. Cardy arrogantly asserted that these workers have no duties while students learn from home. Cardy added that schools would stay online until the strike is over, i.e., until CUPE and the government have enforced a rotten sellout agreement on thousands of public sector workers.

New Brunswicks Tory government, like its provincial and territorial counterparts across Canada, has incessantly claimed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that there is no alternative to in-person schooling. Their insistence on reopening schools as the deadly virus raged and keeping them open as infections have soared over the past month has resulted in the mass infection of kids with a potentially deadly virus. The purpose of this homicidal policy has been to free parents from childcare responsibilities so they can go to work generating profits for big business. However, when it comes to imposing vicious austerity on public sector workers, schools can apparently be switched to online learning overnight, with in-person classes suspended until the government gets its way.

Led by Premier Blaine Higgs, the government is doubling down on its aggressive attacks on wages and benefits. After CUPE proposed a 12 percent pay increase over four years in bargaining last week, which would have amounted to a real-terms pay cut, the government responded with 10 percent over five years. After the union announced the strike, the government reduced its offer still further to 8.5 percent over five years, or less than 2 percent per year. The Higgs government also wants to shift workers to a shared risk pension plan, which requires workers to make larger pension contributions from their already low wages and cover any losses when pension investments turn bad.

Higgs has threatened to criminalize the strike with back-to-work legislation, which could be tabled in the provincial legislature this week. Higgs announced Monday that the government was suspending the traditional throne speech that opens a parliamentary session so it could move quicker if needed, adding, Its going to be a day-by-day thing.

The opposition Liberals have indicated their willingness to vote to ban the strike, provided the law is debated in the legislature.

In their struggle, New Brunswick public sector workers confront a conspiracy of the entire political establishment aimed at enforcing low wages and miserable conditions. The fact that all parties, from the right-wing Tories to the nominally left New Democratic Party (NDP), are interchangeable is underscored by the role of Education Minister Cardy. Between 2011 and January 2017, Cardy served as leader of the provincial NDP. During his tenure, he was a strong supporter of federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, a self-declared admirer of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and balanced budgets. Cardy then became chief of staff of the Progressive Conservatives caucus in the New Brunswick legislature before joining the Higgs government.

By contrast, there is widespread public sympathy for the New Brunswick strikers. Dozens of protest marches were held across the province this summer. Six thousand nurses represented by the New Brunswick Nurses Association are battling the government over similar issues, having decisively repudiated a union-backed sellout deal in August.

Speaking to the World Socialist Web Site, an education assistant from Quebec described the decision to lock out education staff without pay as disgraceful he said the governments aim was to intimidate and divide workers. A caretaker from Ontario added, I think it sets a precedent for premiers across the country in the future to lock out public sector workers.

The New Brunswick public sector strike is part of a wave of working class strikes and job actions sweeping North America. Over 10,000 workers at agricultural manufacturer John Deere are approaching three weeks on the picket line in a struggle for significant wage increases, an end to multi-tier wage structures, and improvements to working conditions against the multinational. In Canada, recent months have seen strikes at Vale, Rio Tinto, and ArcelorMittal in the industrial sector, and meatpacking plants in Quebec, and large votes for strike action among grocery workers in Alberta and Ontario.

In all of these struggles, workers have confronted not only brutal employers and governments, but also the trade unions efforts to sabotage their fight. Many strikes have only taken place following massive rebellions by rank-and-file workers against the unions determination to impose concessions-laden contracts, such as when 70 percent of Vale employees defied the USW to vote down a sellout agreement. At Deere, Volvo Trucks and auto parts supplier Dana, workers have taken the step of establishing rank-and-file committees to organize their struggles independently of the pro-corporate unions.

The task of establishing rank-and-file strike committees in every workplace is posed no less urgently for public sector workers in New Brunswick. If the Higgs government feels capable of responding to the strike so belligerently, it is above all because CUPE has worked systematically to demobilize its members. Many public sector workers have been without contracts for more than four years. Yet CUPE has drawn out the bargaining process with interminable negotiations, even when it was clear that the government had no intention of seriously addressing workers grievances.

Even after all 10 union locals returned overwhelming majorities in favour of a strike in late September, CUPE New Brunswick leadership delayed any job action for a further two weeks, giving the government time to plan its attack. CUPE New Brunswick head Steve Drost justified the delay by claiming that the union was considering work-to-rule and regional strikes, options that are calculated to prevent the workers from exerting the immense social power they have in an all-out strike.

CUPE was ultimately forced to call a strike due to the militancy among the workers. But the union is doing everything to suppress the job action. It has said nothing about Higgs repeated threats to impose back-to-work legislation, which is a clear indication that CUPE will bow to such a draconian law without a fight. This has been how unions have responded across the country to the dozens of back-to-work laws implemented by governments of all political stripes over the past three decades, helping to enforce round after round of wage restraint and attacks on worker rights.

A genuine workers organization would respond to Sundays lockout by expanding its efforts to mobilize the broadest possible sections of the working class in the province and across Canada to defy the governments savage attacks. Instead, CUPE launched a pathetic appeal to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) yesterday, urging them to show their support. Picket lines were set up outside MLA constituency offices in Campbellton, Miramichi, Moncton, Sussex, Saint John, Fredericton, Woodstock, and other locations. No initiatives were announced to build support among workers.

To prevail in their strike, New Brunswick public sector workers must recognize that their struggle is above all political. Achieving a decent standard of living, including an immediate 20 percent pay increase to make up for the decades of wage and benefit cuts, and guaranteed pensions for all, will require a direct confrontation with the Higgs government and its agenda of capitalist austerity.

Striking public sector workers must prepare to defy back-to-work legislation by building rank-and-file committees and broadening their fight to other sections of workers across the country who face the same onslaught on their wages and living standards by a ruling elite that has enriched itself amid a deadly pandemic. This worker-led counteroffensive must fight for a workers government to expropriate the ill-gotten fortunes of Canadas financial oligarchy and redistribute societys vast resources to meet the social needs of the majority of working people. These include well-funded education, health care, and social services, and decent-paying, secure jobs for all.
On Sunday, the Washington Post published a three-part investigation of the January 6, 2021 insurrection detailing Trumps months-long plot to remain in power no matter the outcome of the 2020 election.

Right-wing insurrectionists loyal to Donald Trump storming the US Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File]

The first part of the series, titled Red Flags, makes clear that the entire state apparatus was aware that Donald Trump was preparing a coup attempt in the days leading up to January 6.

The Post investigation explains that officials in the Department of Homeland Security were aware that January 6 would be a mass casualty event and told hospitals to prepare extra blood supplies to treat the injured. Networks of fascist paramilitaries set up staging grounds and made detailed plans to arrive at the Capitol. The Post reports that on January 2, DHS officials Donell Harvin and Mike Sena organized a call on increased threats of violence attended by hundreds of officials from DHS fusion centers across the country. For the first time, from coast to coast, the centers were blinking red, the Post reports. The hour, date and location of concern was the same: 1 p.m., the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6.

High-ranking military officials feared that were the military to be deployed, Trump would appeal to rank-and-file soldiers and effectively split the army. The leadership of various departments of government told employees and staff to work from home due to the high chance of violence. Leaders of the Democratic Party conferred with the military and police in preparation for the days events.

The Post article makes clear that Trumps plan almost succeeded in its goal of forestalling the certification of the Electoral College vote. It was organized by Hitler-lovers like Steven Bannon and Stephen Miller and orchestrated by the commander-in-chief from his Oval Office command center. The well-planned violence that erupted in the US Capitol on January 6 made Hitlers Beer Hall Putsch appear like a provincial, improvised affair by comparison.

In a statement accompanying the publication of the investigation, Post Executive Editor Sally Buzbee wrote: The violence that day was neither a spontaneous act nor an isolated event.  The insurrection that took place on Jan. 6 at the United States Capitol was one of the most consequential moments in American history.

But this is not how the Democratic Party and Democratic-aligned media presented January 6 in the lead-up to the putsch attempt. While Trump shouted his plans on television and activated his supporters with all-caps tweets saying, JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC! the Democratic Party-aligned press dismissed it all as mere bluster. In the days and weeks leading up to January 6, the New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN chloroformed the population, echoing Bidens December 15 assertion that the democratic order was resilient, true and strong and that all would be right if the population would stay calm.

Only one publicationthe World Socialist Web Sitewarned clearly and consistently about the existential danger posed by Trumps plot and sought to mobilize the working class against the threat of dictatorship.

The warnings began months before January 6 but became more urgent and specific as Trumps fascist strategy played out over the course of the election campaign and in the lead-up to Bidens inauguration.

On June 1, 2020, when Donald Trump deployed military police to brutally clear Lafayette Square outside the White House, the WSWS wrote that a turning point in American history has been reached. Trumps efforts to establish a personal dictatorship on the basis of military rule is the product of a protracted crisis of American democracy, under the impact of extreme social inequality and endless war.

During the September 29 presidential debate Trump ordered fascist Proud Boys to stand back and stand by for the US election and its aftermath. On October 1, the WSWS published a statement warning, Trumps political strategy is fairly obvious and can be summed up with the infamous phrase: Cry Havoc, and let slip the dogs of war.

When Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and was airlifted to receive treatment at Walter Reed Hospital, the WSWS wrote, Trumps decision to return to the White House from the Walter Reed Medical Center Monday night was clearly motivated by deep concerns over the impact of his sickness on his position and political conspiracies.

Days later, Trump supporters were arrested for conspiring to kidnap and kill Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The WSWS wrote that the plot removes all doubt as to what Donald Trump means when he refuses to commit to a peaceful transition of power. The US president is clearly implicated by word and deed in a wide-ranging and violent plot to overturn the outcome of the November 3 election.

Between the election and late December, the WSWS published many articles warning of Trumps pseudo-legal strategy to invalidate votes and utilize the courts to postpone the transfer of power. Trump began to hone in on January 6. The WSWS wrote on December 28:

On January 6, Congress is scheduled to formally count the vote of the Electoral College, which Biden won 306 to 232, and certify his election as president of the United States. Trump has called for his Republican supporters in the House and Senate to derail this process, while summoning his far-right supporters to take to the streets of Washington the same day. Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there it will be wild! he tweeted, raising the specter of violence.

On January 5, the WSWS warned that Democratic Party efforts to downplay preparations for a coup on January 6 were facilitating Trumps putsch:

The message from the Democratic leadership is one of utter complacency. A top deputy to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Caucus leader Hakeem Jeffries, told a press conference Monday morning that he had not even read the transcript of Trumps phone call with the Georgia election officials. Asked whether Trump had committed a crime for which he should be held accountable, Jeffries replied, We are not looking backward. We are looking forward to the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20. The Democrats systematically downplay the seriousness of the threat to democratic rights represented by Trumps continuing coup efforts and his incitement of fascist forces.

On the morning of January 6, the WSWS wrote that the certification of the Electoral College was not a mere legal technicality:

The United States Congress is meeting today to formally count the Electoral College votes in the 2020 presidential election. Under normal conditions, this process is a formality. Todays vote, however, takes place under conditions of an active and ongoing effort by President Donald Trump to stage a coup detat, nullify the results of the election and establish a presidential dictatorship.

On January 7, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North wrote a statement titled The Fascist Coup of January 6, which stated:

The fascist insurrection in Washington D.C.which resulted in the storming of the U.S. Congress, the panicked dispersal of terrified senators and members of the House, the delay of the official validation of Joseph Bidens Electoral College majority, and even the occupation of the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosiis a turning point in the political history of the United States. The hoary glorifications of the invincibility and timelessness of American democracy have been totally exposed and discredited as a hollow political myth. The popular phrase It Cant Happen Here, taken from the title of Sinclair Lewiss justly famous fictional account of the rise of American fascism, has been decisively overtaken by events. Not only can a fascist coup happen here. It has happened here, on the afternoon of January 6, 2021.

The political record of the World Socialist Web Site in exposing and opposing Trumps coup is unmatched. And in the face of censorship and readership suppression from state actor corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, the WSWS has spent the last 10 months exhaustively reporting on the bipartisan cover-up and fighting for the broadest possible understanding in the working class of the ongoing danger posed by Trump and his fascist advisors.

The authoritative press has already moved past the Post story, with barely a mention in the corporate media about the results of their investigation.

The Wall Street Journal allows Trump to spew his fascist lies about election fraud in its opinion pages, and on October 29, the New York Times even gave space to Senatorial coup-leader Josh Hawley to recoup his reputation in high society with a policy piece about supply chains, which the Times opinion editor said he hope[s] that Times readers will find useful. The pro-Democratic Party Jacobin magazine has played a similar role, publishing multiple articles downplaying the events of January 6. On January 26, it published an article mocking those who called the events of that month an insurrection: Hyperbole flowed as the trail of tears grew to a tidal wave. January 6 was nothing more than a bizarre theater of the absurd.

Meanwhile, Trump and his fascist advisors remain free to plot their next steps. The World Socialist Web Site will continue to expose their fascist plans and to mobilize the working class against the threat of dictatorship.
The documentary Recovery 29, directed by Sofia Wenborn, was aired on Prime Television in New Zealand on October 26 and added to the Sky Go streaming website.

Title image from the documentary Recovery 29 [Prime Television]

The state-funded film is a whitewash of the Labour Party-led governments decision to continue the cover-up of the Pike River mine disaster, in which 29 workers were killed in a series of underground explosions in November 2010.

The film provides a superficial account of the Pike River Recovery Agencys (PRRA) work over the past three years. The PRRA was established by Jacinda Arderns government following the 2017 election. Labour and its coalition partners, the Greens and New Zealand First, had campaigned with a promise to re-enter the Pike River coal mine to thoroughly investigate the disaster.

To this day, no bodies have been recovered and no one has been held accountable. For more than a decade, government regulators and the judicial system have shielded the companys leadership from prosecution. Police insisted they could not lay charges without knowing precisely what sparked the first explosion, which meant re-entering the mine.

A 2012 royal commission of inquiry found that the Pike River Coal company had broken numerous health and safety laws and regulations, and placed production ahead of workers safety. The mine had grossly inadequate ventilation and gas monitoring systems, and no proper emergency exit. The company made the reckless decision to install its main ventilation unit undergroundthe fan is thought to have sparked the explosion.

Wenborns 2016 documentary Pike River addressed some of the conditions in the mine leading up to the explosion. The new film focuses on how the PRRA made the mines drift tunnel safe to re-enter, by venting methane gas and using nitrogen gas to neutralise the atmosphere, before entering to retrieve debris and equipment for forensic examination.

Many of the victims families had hoped that the Ardern government would uncover the full truth about the disaster. Recovery 29s narrator Bryan Crump declares that the PRRA was set up to right the wrongs and recover the 29.

Families of the Pike River 29 and supporters picket on the road to the mine on July 9, 2021 [Credit: Kath Monk]

The film does not point to the glaring conflict of interest in the fact that Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little, was the leader of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) at the time of the explosion. The EPMU had about 70 members at Pike River.

The union knew about the dangerous conditions in the mine, but did not make this public and did nothing to protect the workers. Instead, the union collaborated with the company to keep the mine running. When it exploded, Little defended the companys safety record, saying there was nothing unusual about the mine.

The Labour government pulled the plug on the underground investigation before it had the chance to uncover human remains and the most significant evidence. Minister Little announced in March that the government would not fund the PRRA to go beyond a roof-fall at the end of the 2.3km drift, or entry tunnel, into the workings where the underground fan and other crucial evidence is located.

Over the past month, the PRRA has been installing a permanent, 30-metre thick concrete seal at the portal of the minea decision opposed by 22 of the 29 victims families.

Recovery 29 sets out to justify the governments decision. Crump states: Pushing on is not an option to go beyond the roof-fall would require a whole new plan.

Some mine workers at the PRRA express frustration at being told the job will be abandoned. Shane McGeady, who had friends among the Pike River 29, says not going beyond the roof-fall frustrates the shit out of you, knowing youre so close. Another worker comments that its like doing a half-finished-job.

Rowdy Durbridge, whose son Dan Herk died in the mine, and who is among the minority of family members supporting the government, says the re-entry didnt achieve what I really wanted, and that was to get [the bodies] out. However, he echoes Minister Littles position that too much has been spent on the re-entry already, and it would be too expensive to proceed into the mine workings.

Durbridge is a member of the Family Reference Group, which is part of the PRRA and does not represent the majority of the families.

PRRA chief operating officer Dinghy Pattinson acknowledges that the decision will be seen as a lost opportunity. But he defends the government, saying it never promised to go beyond the drift, and that there is no more money to go further.

The film does not question these statements. There is no mention of the detailed proposal by the Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG), led by former chief inspector of mines Tony Forster. The experts supported the majority of the Pike River families pushing for a thorough underground investigation. They estimated it would cost less than $8 million to proceed through the roof fallwhich was actually two large piles of coaland recover the underground fan area. This could be done safely using standard mining techniques.

Recovery 29 devotes just over five minutes to the protests and legal action supported by 22 of the Pike River families, in an attempt to stop the government from sealing the mine. Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the mine, points out that Minister Little broke his promise to the families that the government would make a proper assessment of whether to explore beyond the mine workings, once the drift had been recovered.

Monk says in the film: I feel sorry for [the PRRA workers]. Theyve got to walk down the street and see us and think: I sealed Michael Monk into the mine.

Monk told the WSWS that the film was very light-hearted and weak. Much of what he raised in his interview was edited out; including questions about whether the miners survived the first explosion on November 19, only to die following a second explosion five days later. He noted that police were not investigating the cause of the second explosion (see also: What is the New Zealand government trying to bury in Pike River mine?).

Monk pointed out that the film makes no mention of the widespread support for the families on the West Coast and more broadly. An online petition titled Help stop critical evidence in Pike River Mine from being locked away forever! received more than 6,600 signatures. The World Socialist Web Site has published dozens of letters of support from workers in New Zealand and internationally, including miners in the UK and Australia, who condemned the official cover-up and the drive to seal the mine.

The film concludes with the end-title: The families settled their legal dispute with the government outside of court, without giving any further explanation. Carol Rose, whose son Stuart died in the mine, told the WSWS this made it sound like the families had been paid. In fact, the legal action was withdrawn in exchange for an admission from Minister Little that the Family Reference Group did not represent the majority of the families, and that the government had not properly consulted the families on its decision not to explore the feasibility of re-entering the mine workings.

Pattinson says in Recovery 29 he hopes there will be prosecutions as a result of the evidence gathered from the drift tunnel, because you cant have 29 people dying in a workplace and no one being held accountable. Police are currently drilling bore holes and lowering cameras into parts of the mine workings; it is unclear whether useful evidence can be gathered in this way, without a manned re-entry.

The film presents the police investigation uncritically. There is no mention of revelations in 2019 that crucial pieces of evidence have gone missing, including a door to a control panel on the underground fan, which was blown out of a ventilation shaft and found shortly after the mine exploded. If tested, it could have revealed whether the fan was a source of ignition.

All in all, Recovery 29 is thinly disguised propaganda, a big pat on the back for the government, as Carol Rose told the WSWS. It seeks to give the false impression that everything possible has been done to find out the truth about the disaster, to shore up the severely damaged credibility of the Ardern government, and to justify what is, in fact, an ongoing cover-up.
Last Tuesday, October 26, members from two fascist militia groups, the Proud Boys and Peoples Rights, stormed a Portland Public School board meeting and refused to wear masks, leading to the cancellation of the in-person meeting. The subject of the meeting was whether or not to mandate vaccinations for students 12 years and older.

After the meeting was moved online, members and supporters of the fascist militia groups, roughly 30 people, held their own maskless meeting inside the vacant school board room, which they occupied for a little over an hour. Despite refusing to wear masks inside the building, violating a statewide mask requirement, none of the intruders was arrested.

Michelle DePass, chair of the Portland Public School board, told KOIN 6 News that members of the Proud Boys and Peoples Rights, are organized and theyre willing to drive, you know, 20 miles or so to get here.

A call to action was sent to Portland members of Peoples Rights, a reactionary militia group founded Ammon Bundy, son of anti-government Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, the day prior to the meeting. Emulating the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, the statement called for members to arrive early in order to be able to physically be in the building.

This is not the first time Bundys group has threatened public officials in opposition to public health measures. Last December, the Idaho Central District Health board had to end a meeting discussing COVID-19 mitigation measures because Bundys group had massed outside the building, threatening health officials, including at their homes.

Before the Portland meeting could get started, members and supporters of the fascist militia groups, the majority of whom did not live in Portland or have children enrolled in the district, took off their masks. Once members of the board announced that the meeting would be suspended due to noncompliance with the mask mandate, one fascist, wearing a hat that read Shoot your local pedophile, erupted in rage, yelling, You fucking cowards!

Support for the mandate among students was made clear the morning of the meeting. Over 200 students walked out of class at Portlands Grant High School in support of the measure, which will be voted on by the board next month.

This body of students has assembled to demonstrate our support for student vaccine mandates, student Jordan Gollaway told the crowd, which loudly cheered in agreement, according to KGW8. We as students know that we see crowds every day in the lunch lines, in the hallways and in congested stairwells. These crowds are our reality, which is precisely why we need a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, said Galloway.

Speaking in support of the mandate, sophomore Tesla Chin said, I believe that you are free to do things that only damage yourself. But refusing to get a vaccine can harm not only yourself but all of the people around and especially vulnerable parties such as old people or people who are immunocompromised.

Following the far-right provocation in Portland, on Friday, aspiring Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate and ardent supporter of Trump and the Stop the Steal movement, Kari Lake, along with fascist Arizona state senator Kelly Townsend, and Trump-endorsed Arizona state senate candidate Anthony Kern, attempted to hold an anti-mask and anti-vaccine rally at an elementary school parking lot.

The school district refused to allow the meeting to take place on school property, but this did not stop the Republican politicians from holding their rally nearby, during which they falsely claimed that the school board was using police to target parents who opposed public health measures.

The use of supposed concerned parents to object to any public health measures is, and will continue to be, a major talking point for Republican politicians, acting on behalf of corporate America. They are done with enacting any mitigation measures to stop the virus, which continues to claim the lives of more than 1,500 people in the US daily and recently surpassed 5 million official deaths globally.

Defending parents during a Wednesday Senate Judiciary Committee hearing featuring Attorney General Merrick Garland, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas attacked Garland for siccing the feds on parents across America.

Ignoring and downplaying the thousands of threats levelled at school boards and teachers, Cotton railed against a memorandum issued by Garland on October 4, instructing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to hold meetings with federal, state, local and Tribal authorities to discuss strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers and staff.

Joining Cotton in propagating the fiction that fascist militiamen and Republican politicians threatening school boards are simply concerned parents was Texas Senator Ted Cruz, one of seven Republican senators who voted to overturn the election of president Joe Biden following the attack on the Capitol. Cruz attacked Garland for creating an abusive memo targeting parents who are simply upset about Critical Race Theory, about masks in schools.

While students and a majority of the population, especially workers and youth, support masks and vaccine mandates, fascist militia groups such as the Proud Boys are encouraged and incited by Republican politicians, themselves bought and paid for by right-wing billionaires to agitate against any public health measures, including by threatening, intimidating and harassing school board members, teachers and students.

The propagators of these anti-science and deadly campaigns include organizations such as Turning Point USA, (TPUSA) whose founder Charlie Kirk, started a School Board Watchlist which posts the names and photographs of school board members who have been accused of anything from teaching critical race theory to promoting mask wearing or cultural literacy and sensitivity.

Kirk founded TPUSA, in 2012, the same year he began writing for the far-right Breitbart News, whose former editor, Steven Bannon, has been found in contempt of Congress for refusing to appear before the January 6 Select Committee.

Steve Bannon at the Take Back Virginia rally in Richmond, Virginia, October 13, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber]

From 2014 to 2016 the Ed Uihlein Foundation gave Turning Point USA $275,000. The Ed Uihlein foundation is named after the father of billionaire Richard Uihlein, a Republican mega-donor. Richard and his wife Lizs recent donations included giving $4.3 million last year to the political action committee of the Tea Party Patriots. The Tea Party Patriots were listed on the marchtosaveamerica.com website as one of the 11 groups participating in the March to Save America, as part of the #StopTheSteal coalition.

On the same day that the Senate Judiciary hearing was held, Bannon, who has yet to be criminally charged for his leading role in facilitating Trumps attempted coup, called for the arrest of school board members on his fascistic War Room Podcast.

It's time to start locking up these people on these school boards, said Bannon before adding, if they're going to oversee this and let children be raped and sodomized, a reference to the Loundon County School Board in Virginia, which has been the target of a right-wing campaign following an alleged sexual assault of a student.

The whipping up of backwards and reactionary elements against public education is part of a definite political strategy by the Republican Party. On his podcast in May, Bannon, Trumps former White House adviser, said, The path to save the nation is very simpleits going to go through the school boards.

In October, the Washington Post revealed the billionaire Charles Koch, along with Dick DeVos, heir to the Amway fortune and husband of former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and the Walton Family Foundation, founded by the family that controls Wal-Mart, had all given financial and institutional support to the Independent Womens Forum. The Independent Womans Forum, the Post revealed, was responsible for drafting a document which purported to be from concerned parents but was in fact a template created to be used by Republican-aligned groups around the country to harass school boards against implementing masking requirements.

The promotion of anti-vaccine and anti-mask perspectives by the ruling class, particularly the Republican Party, demonstrates that the fight to end the pandemic on a scientific basis cannot be achieved through the present social order. As Republicans openly cater to fascists, religious zealots, and bigots, the Democratic Party continues the same homicidal herd immunity policy as Trump while preaching unity with his fascist party.

While the capitalist ruling elite, who have seen their stock portfolios rise in concert with the pandemic death toll, pollute the working class with anti-scientific conceptions in order to justify their homicidal and criminal reopening policies in the interest of profit, the Socialist Equality Party seeks to bring a scientific understanding of not only the pandemic, but of social reality to the working class. The highest expression of this was seen at the October 24 international webinar, How to end the pandemic.
Tuesdays statewide election in Virginia is the focus of political and media attention in the United States, not only for its intrinsic significanceVirginia is the 12th largest US statebut as a barometer of the political crisis of the Biden administration.

The Democratic Party has controlled the Virginia governorship for the last eight years, with Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam serving back-to-back four-year terms. Now McAuliffe is seeking to return to office, against the challenge of a well-funded Republican, hedge fund capitalist Glenn Youngkin, who is heavily backed by ex-president Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden speaks at a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in Arlington, Va. [Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Final pre-election polls showed the contest at a virtual dead heat, with one or the other candidate leading by less than a percentage point. Turnout was expected to be heavy for an off-year election, with more than 1.1 million votes already cast in mail-in or early voting.

In 2017, the last such statewide election, only 2.6 million were cast, while turnout in the 2020 presidential election was 4.4 million. President Joe Biden carried the state by more than 10 percentage points, as a huge turnout in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. outweighed Trumps margins in rural areas and smaller cities like Lynchburg and Roanoke.

Both campaigns have sought to capitalize on popular alienation from the successive administrations in Washington D.C., with McAuliffe denouncing Youngkin as a Trump clone, while Youngkin capitalizes on the disillusionment of Democratic voters with the failure of the Biden administration to produce any significant improvement in their jobs or living standards.

McAuliffes slide in the polls, from a six-point lead in the summer to a near tie, has touched off alarm in national Democratic circles, and produced a rush of prominent Democratic Party figures to Virginia to campaign on his behalf, including Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and President Biden himself.

This assistance cannot disguise the lack of any popular enthusiasm for either McAuliffe, who ran a pro-business administration in the state from 2013 to 2017, or the Biden administration in Washington. As Politico observed last week, the key to Youngkins political strategy is depressed Democratic turnout due to the electoral ennui brought on by Biden and congressional Democrats inability to enact a slew of campaign priorities.

The most important issue facing working people in Virginia, the raging COVID-19 pandemic, is virtually unmentioned by the two bourgeois candidates. One in nine Virginians, more than 900,000 people, have been infected with coronavirus, and nearly 14,000 people have died.

But McAuliffe declared October 24 in Richmond, side-by-side with Obama, I want Virginia to be the first state in the United States of America that calls an end to the COVID pandemic. He went on to pledge that he would keep open the schools and businesses.

As for Youngkin, he has embraced right-wing calls for eliminating mask mandates in schools and mandatory vaccination in workplaces, in the name of individual liberty, i.e., the freedom to infect and kill others and to subject school children to the risk of a deadly infection.

Both candidates boast of their ties to corporate America and prove it by spending record amounts of money. McAuliffe, who came to prominence as a fundraiser for Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Youngkin, a hedge fund boss, have raised a combined $117 million, nearly double the $65 million raised and spent in the governors race four years ago. Youngkin has loaned his own campaign $20 million from his personal fortune.

McAuliffe cited the success of the Democrats in winning giant corporate investments from hi-tech and social media companies through subsidies and appeals to identity politics. Amazon, Google, Facebook, are not moving to states that discriminate against gays or women, he said in one media interview. We would never have gotten the Amazon deal here if Glenn Youngkin were governor. Hes a culture warrior.

In a final desperate appeal to mobilize black voters, McAuliffe pledged to hire more African Americans as public school teachers, declaring that he wanted to reduce the proportion of white teachers, now 80 percent. Half of Virginia school children are from racial and ethnic minorities.

Youngkin has sought to balance between an overt embrace of Trump, who is deeply unpopular among the majority of Virginia voters, and the mobilization of the ultra-right using scarcely disguised appeals to racism and to Trumps big lie that the 2020 election was stolen.

Despite endorsing Youngkin, Trump has stayed out of the state, apparently at the candidates request. He has phoned in to two rallies, including one where the participants pledged allegiance to a flag that was carried into the US Capitol on January 6 by the attackers who sought to block certification of Trumps defeat in the 2020 election. Youngkin did not attend either rally.

The Republican candidate has used coded appeals to racism, pledging to ban critical race theory, although it is not taught in any Virginia K-12 school. He ran an ad campaign in the final week of the campaign denouncing McAuliffe for his 2015 veto of legislation that would have allowed parents to ban books from school librariesthe target, in that case, was Toni Morrisons novel Beloved, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

From the earliest days of his campaign as the Republican nominee, Youngkin has declared election security to be one of his major concerns, although there is zero evidence of any tampering with the ballots in the state. Elections in Virginia are conducted by 133 county and city governments, the vast majority of them Republican-controlled, and Biden carried the state by a margin of nearly half a million votes.

In an effort to forestall such charges, the state government enacted several changes in ballot-counting procedures, including a requirement that local officials count mail-in votes during the week before Election Day, and announce those totals as soon as the polls close.

This means that McAuliffe likely will appear to be well ahead, until same-day ballots are counted. Then Youngkin will pull ahead, since rural counties traditionally finish their counting earlier, before the huge and heavily Democratic counties like Fairfax, with more than 1 million people, deliver their results.

Mail-in votes received as late as Friday will be counted as long as they were postmarked by Election Day. If the election is very close, these ballots could determine the outcome. In 2020, slightly more than 10,000 such ballots were received late and counted.

The Republican Party is preparing to intimidate and discourage voters, particularly in heavily minority districts in Richmond, Hampton Roads (Norfolk-Virginia Beach) and northern Virginia, by recruiting an army of poll watchers. As many as 3,500 had been recruited and trained by the week before the election, and party officials expressed hopes to reach a total of 15,000 by Election Day.
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Latin America

Long haul truckers in Brazil stage protest strike

Long haul truck drivers and owner-operators carried out a national protest strike on October 25. At issue are fuel prices and wages. The strikers also demanded retirement benefits after 25 years on the job.

According to the National Confederation of Transport and Logistic workers (Cnttl) the strike paralyzed trucking operations in Ijui (Rio Grande do Sur) and in the ports of Santos (Sao Paulo) and Salvador (Bahia). In Santos, battles took place between police and truckers partially blocking some roads. Police also attacked trucker rallies in Goias and Rio de Janeiro.

Some truckers indicated that even though many of them supported current president Jair Bolsonaro in the 2018 elections, their demands have been ignored. Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas, chief negotiator for the government recently declared that truckers had to accept price increases and pass them on, which the strikers interpret as an attack.

National strike in Haiti paralyzes Port au Prince

Port au Prince, Haiti was paralyzed last week by a national strike of transport workers to protest violence by armed criminal gangs and the fuel crisis affecting this nation. Armed gangs supposedly control 40 percent of the capital and are blocking the delivery of fuel from the Varreux port terminal, where most of Haitis fuel is stored.

Hospitals and clinics reported being particularly affected by the fuel shortages. Before the strike, hospitals had warned of the danger of having to cease operations. They depend largely on gasoline and diesel generators for their electricity.

The Association of Private Hospitals (AHPH), whose members provide over seventy percent of the citys emergency services, warned of the closure of many of its clinics in the middle of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

National truck drivers strike in Panama

On October 27 and 28 truck drivers and social activists in cities across Panama carried out a protest strike condemning the worsening of economic and social conditions for the working class. In addition to collapsing living standards, workers also confront historically high unemployment levels.

Throughout the day, rallies took place, blocking the roads in Panama City and other regions, including Colon, Veraguas and West Panama.

In the Caribbean port city of Colon, workers rallied demanding jobs, potable water in addition to the freezing of fuel prices and the resolution of the homeless crisis in the city. The demonstrators also voiced their support for striking nurses who are demanding overtime pay and better working conditions.

Sharecroppers and rural workers protest in Argentina

On October 25, Argentinas Rural Workers Union (UTT) organized demonstrations over a land reform law currently being debated in Congress (Access to Land law). The demonstrators are demanding access to land that is currently in the hands of the landed elites.

At the rally in front of the National Legislature in Buenos Aires, the protesters gave out food and produce.

The protesters are demanding an end to abusive rents by the landlords and that the government provide them with a credit with which to acquire their own land.

UTT spokesperson Lucas Tedeco pointed out that 40 percent of the arable land belongs to 1,200 families and that 60 percent of the crops are produced by the sharecroppers and farmworkers who live in poverty.

The land law, fiercely opposed by the landowners, has been the subject of debates in the national legislature since 2016, with no results.

United States

Strike at ArcellorMittal sheet tube plant in Shelby, Ohio

Workers at the ArcellorMittal tubular products plant in Mansfield, Ohio struck at midnight, October 31 after management presented its final offer and abruptly walked out of ongoing contract talks.

The 500 striking workers are members of United Steelworkers Local 3057. The tubing plant in Shelby, formerly Dofasco Copperweld, has been in operation since 1890, starting out making bicycle parts. The plant now makes welded and seamless precision tubes in a variety of steel grades for a wide variety of customers including oil, farm machinery and automotive.

A major issue in the contract talks has been workers demands for additional time off. The plant currently operates on a 7-day schedule. According to one USW official the average workweek at the plant is 56 hours. Other issues include increased health care costs, stagnant wages and pensions.

Canada

Three-month strike at Toronto De Havilland ends

Seven hundred aerospace workers, organized by Unifor, voted to end a bitter strike over job security last week and accept the loss of their jobs for an enhanced severance package. De Havilland had recently discontinued its formerly profitable Q400 Dash 8 turboprop as market conditions changed for the commuter jet. Workers had demanded that any new products or orders would be assigned to their site at the Downsview, Toronto plant with the company signing a new lease for the Toronto location.

Hundreds of the companys Downsview workforce had already been laid off but 700 remained to finish already-existing orders. The company had announced that it would not renew its lease at the Downsview complex when it expires later this year. Although no plans have been officially announced for relocation, workers feared that the company would move any future contracts to another facility, perhaps in Alberta, making any relocation rights for the current employees virtually unrealizable.

De Havilland is a holding in the investment vehicle Longview Aviation Capita,l owned by Sherry Brydson, scion of Canadas richest familythe Thomsonsand the richest woman in the country.

Over the course of the dispute Unifor did everything in its power to prevent a broadening of the strike amongst its other members at the Downsview facility, let alone across its 300,000-strong national membership. At the same time as the De Havilland strike began, 1,500 Bombardier workers at Downsview, also members of Unifor, struck for a new contract.

But after only a five-day strike, Unifor presented Bombardier workers with a new, miserable three-year contract. The subsequent contract ratification left the De Havilland workers in the lurch. Bombardier workers took deep concessions on wages. With cost-of-living indexes in Canada running to 3.7 percent year-over-year, the new contract provides for increases of only 0.5 percent in Year 1, 0.75 percent in Year 2 and one percent in Year 3in effect a significant real-wage cut.

Weeks later, when militant picketing by the still striking De Havilland workers stopped scabs from completing and moving out some of the last Dash turboprop orders, the union immediately bowed to a draconian court order that virtually extinguished workers picketing rights at the plant.

The court ruling prevented strikers from interfering with, blocking, obstructing, or delaying in any way whatsoever, the entry of vehicles or people into the East Gate to the Bombardier and De Havilland facilities at Downsview Airport. In additioninformational picketers cannot come within a radius of 20 metres of the East Gate turnstiles. As an exception, only once every five minutes, a single picketer may walk across the entrances and exits that make up the East Gate provided that the picketer does so walking continuously and completes crossing the entrances or exits within one minute.

De Havilland workers, now completely isolated, fought for two more months before accepting the final severance agreement.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Plans are in the works to help students at all grade levels in Vigo County Schools.

Monday evening, Superintendent Dr. Rob Haworth presented a brand new strategic plan to the board. This is in an effort to help students thrive academically for generations to come.

"Uncommon." That is the Vigo County School Corporations newly proposed strategic plan

Originally Vigo County Schools had a strategic plan that was approved in February 2020. But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and changed everything.

"It opened our eyes to some of the things that we thought were strategic, but in the age of a pandemic were not," Haworth said. "They might be routine or traditional approaches but they weren't out there causing this district to reach farther so that we can help this generation and help generations to come."

Dr. Haworth says the new strategic plan has a much different approach, but it is all to help benefit students in the long run.

One of the newest proposed changes is to benefit students in their future careers. The goal is to have each student earn at least 30 hours toward industry credentials, certifications, or college credits.

"I am looking forward to that graduation day when that student walks across and they've been given the credential of where those 30 hours came from," he said. "We can applaud them. We can recognize them for that. That will make me excited to be able to see. Not just one student walk across the stage but every student that we have."

The plan also includes potentially investing $333 million dollars to bring three brand new high schools to the area.

But that is not all. The plan is also prioritizing a focus on blended learning standards, new staff attraction and retention plans, improving classroom spaces in primary schools, and introducing a new technology center.

The main goal in all of this is to help students at all grade levels succeed in the realities of a post-COVID world.

"I think you can see in the next six or seven years some pretty fantastic things happening coming out of Vigo County Schools."

For more information on the plan, click here.
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - If you work for the Aberdeen School District, you can get extra cash before the year is out.

But you have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 first.

File image, Photo Date: Aug. 6, 2021. File image, Photo Date: Aug. 6, 2021.

The school district approved payment incentives for all employees who are fully vaccinated or will get vaccinated.

School Superintendent Jeff Clay said employees must fill out a form and then show their vaccination cards.

School leaders will use money from the elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund to pay for this.

Clay said this is a great way to keep everyone safe from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Employees will see the incentive in their December paychecks.
Watch a trailer for The Rescue

Shes the Oscar-winning co-director of climbing documentary Free Solo, hes a 50-year-old IT consultant from Brighton.

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and John Volanthen dont seem like two people who would be working together, but then Volanthen also happens to be one of the worlds best cave divers, who helped mastermind the thrilling recovery of 13 people (a youth football team, the Wild Boars, and their coach) who were trapped underground in Thailand in 2018.

The incident was global news  not least because of Elon Musks bizarre interventions  which is spectacularly retold in The Rescue (in UK cinemas now) by John and his fellow amateur divers, as well as members of the US and Thai military. There is also never-before-seen footage from inside the cave and re-enactments of the operation shot especially for the film.

Read more: Miracle in Thailand: All 12 boys and their coach rescued from flooded cave

There was a fundamental problem in this film in that there was no known footage from within the cave, so we knew from the get-go we had to do re-enactments, says Vasarhelyi. [They] proved to be incredibly important to us, because John and [colleague] Rick [Stanton] and the divers were able to show us exactly what they did that no-one witnessed except for them.

The Rescue is in UK cinemas now (National Geographic Documentary Film)

As cave divers, we would claim that we cant act, so we would essentially refuse to act, which is the distinction I would make, adds Volanthen. The flow was there, the water was murky, we used real Thai children, volunteers I was certainly very aware of that weight of responsibility again, just to make sure everyone came through safely.

In electrifying detail, the documentary charts the rescue, as the authorities descended on Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Northern Thailand when word of the trapped children got out. Even though the highly-trained Thai Navy Seals were on-site, the complexity of the caves and the specific skills needed to reach the kids and extract them meant Volanthen and his friends were asked to help.

Story continues

The Rescue is in UK cinemas now (National Geographic Documentary Film)

That idea of a hobby or weekend warrior, pursuing a passion in this very esoteric minority sport, suddenly its like theyve been preparing for thirty years for this one moment, says Vasarhelyi.

We were a tiny team initially of three people whod flown halfway round the world and we knew we were dependent on logistics and support that we could find on-site, says Volanthen. To try and wade through that politically to do what we knew was the right thing was almost as difficult, if not more difficult than the diving.

The Rescue is in UK cinemas now (National Geographic Documentary Film)

Filming during the pandemic also had its limitations. Even now, Vasarhelyi hasnt met one of the key members of the rescue team, an Australian doctor called Richard Harris who came up with a way to anaesthetise the team so they could be swam to safety, despite interviewing him with the help of Zoom for the film.

When it gets really tricky, its kind of fun, she laughs. We would love to get everyone together, its just its been a pandemic. Id love to meet Dr Harris in person.

The Rescue is in UK cinemas now (National Geographic Documentary Film)

One problem the filmmakers did have is that Hollywood also wanted a piece of the story. Producers swooped in to scoop various of the life rights of the boys and some of the divers, which meant the directors werent able to talk directly to the team themselves.

Read more: Unwelcome director breaks down first trailer

It also means that Volanthen is currently being portrayed by Colin Farrell in a movie  Thirteen Lives  directed by Ron Howard that should be released next year.

Thai cave rescue diver John Volanthen with the George Medal following an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. (PA)

I didnt even know who Colin Farrell was! says Volanthen. [The documentary] tells the real story without the glitz or the glamour.

We avoided the press deliberately during the rescue and that almost became a game of cat and mouse, he continues. Afterwards other members of the team were very keen to tell the story partly because what had happened had been in some part obscured from the press and thered been a significant amount of speculation as to what had happened and how it had been achieved.

Read more: Ron Howard hits back at bad reviews

From the documentary, its clear that success only happened because of the courage of those involved  one Thai volunteer, former Navy Seal Saman Kunan, sadly died during the operation  as well as the way everyone came together in pursuit of a shared goal.

The portait of former Thai Navy SEAL, Saman Kunan, who died during the rescue operation (KRIT PHROMSAKLA NA SAKOLNAKORN/AFP via Getty Images)

I wasnt looking necessarily to be involved in a project that has a message, says Volanthen. We wanted to tell a set of facts, but then thats why Im a cave diver not a filmmaker. [But] I was pleased the film was able to capture the teamwork and the sense of the group, across nations, across all sorts of different types of disciplines.

"If I had to pick one thing I was most proud of, it would be that in the end, as the team, we were all able to come together regardless of our nationality or whatever our agendas were.

Im not concerned that people know [the outcome], says Vasarhelyi. The story of the film is so riveting and our job was to make it as vivid as possible. To allow audiences immediate access to the rescue itself and the heroes behind it.

They put their careers, the lives on the line to try and save 13 strangersI think it reminds us of our common humanity.

National Geographic Documentary Film The Rescue was released in UK cinemas on Friday 29 October. Watch a clip below.
Yahoo has officially exited China, shutting down all of its services in the communist country as of Monday, Nov. 1.

In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoos suite of services will no longer be accessible from mainland China as of November 1, a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

More from Variety

Yahoo remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet. We thank our users for their support, the rep added.

Yahoos exit from China coincided with the enactment of the countrys Personal Information Protection Law, a privacy law that went into effect Nov. 1 that imposes new data-collection restrictions on tech companies, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Last month, Microsofts LinkedIn announced it was shutting down its primary service in mainland China, saying it had encountered significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China. Later this year, LinkedIn said, it will launch InJobs, a new standalone jobs application for China that will not include a social feed or the ability to share posts or articles.

China blocks major internet services including Google, Facebook and Twitter via the regimes Great Firewall, which is used to censor online content.

In China, Yahoo had already discontinued some services, including mail and Yahoo News, dating back to 2013 because of the countrys internet content laws. Now Yahoo has shut down its remaining services, including AOL.com, TechCrunch, Engadget and Yahoo Weather.

Yahoo officially separated from Verizon in September, through a $5 billion deal to sell Verizon Media (renamed Yahoo) to Apollo Group. After the close of the deal, Jim Lanzone, former head of CBS Interactive and Tinder, took over CEO role at Yahoo, replacing Guru Gowrappan, who has been named a senior adviser to Apollos private equity business.

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The disengagement in China brings to a close a business that once was the most successful U.S. Internet company in the Middle Kingdom.

Yahoo China started in 1999 as a platform for email, messaging, translations of U.S. news and a web directory. Management quickly realized that to keep up in a market which played by different rules and cultures it needed local partners. In 2003, Yahoo acquired Chinese search company 3721. By 2005, the Yahoo parent company acquired a 40% stake in Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba, paying $1 billion for the privilege but also crucially handing control of Yahoos China operations to Alibaba.

Other U.S. companies, including EBay, Google, AOL and Amazon entered China in the early 2000s, but by the second decade of the new century all were struggling or had pulled out.

Alibabas mushrooming growth and Yahoos erosion by newer U.S. tech firms such as Google and Facebook over the following years meant that Alibaba was soon the bigger company and that much of Yahoos valuation was tied up in its previously junior partner.

The initially fruitful relationship between Alibaba and Yahoo reached crisis point in 2011 when Yahoo claimed it claimed that it had been kept in the dark about the 2009 transfer of Alibabas Alipay financial services business into wholly Chinese ownership. The same year, Alibaba founder Jack Ma openly spoke of acquiring the whole of Yahoo.

That did not happen. But the Yahoo China businesses became steadily less relevant compared with local champions Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba. And since the 2013 cutbacks they have struggled on as an anachronistic rump.

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By Luis Jaime Acosta and Oliver Griffin

NECOCLI, Colombia (Reuters) - The man Colombia describes as the world's most dangerous drug trafficker told security forces: "You beat me" when he was captured during an operation this weekend, the government said on Sunday, pledging to extradite him swiftly to the United States.

Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, was caught by Colombia's armed forces during an operation in a rural area of Colombia's Uraba region, Antioquia province, which involved more than 500 members of Colombia's special forces and 22 helicopters, officials said on Saturday.

Otoniel is accused of exporting hundreds of tonnes of cocaine each year, while President Ivan Duque said on Saturday he is also responsible for killing police officers, recruiting minors and sexually abusing children.

Colombia's government will file a petition on Monday with the Andean country's Supreme Court to extradite Otoniel to the United States, Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz told Reuters on Sunday, adding the process could take four weeks to complete.

"Extradition awaits all those who commit international crimes," Defense Minister Diego Molano told journalists in Necocli, close to where Otoniel, 50, was captured.

Colombia had offered a reward of up to 3 billion pesos (about $800,000) for information concerning Otoniels whereabouts, while the U.S. government had put up a reward of $5 million for help locating him.

Both rewards will be paid, Molano said, while describing Otoniel as "the worst kind" of criminal.

Otoniel rose to become the leader of the drug-trafficking group Clan del Golfo, or Gulf Clan, following stints as a left-wing guerrilla and later as a paramilitary.

The Clan del Golfo has a presence in 12 of Colombia's 32 provinces, and counts some 3,800 members, according to information provided by Colombia's national police.

Clan del Golfo is involved as well with illegal mining, authorities say. The government also accuses the group of threatening and killing community leaders across the country.

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Colombia's police chief, General Jorge Vargas, said much of the information leading to Otoniel's capture came from Clan del Golfo members.

"A lot of Clan del Golfo's people betrayed him," Vargas said.

Otoniel trafficked between 180 tonnes and 200 tonnes of cocaine a year with the Clan del Golfo, and is responsible for the deaths of more than 200 members of Colombia's security forces, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Colombian authorities launched Operation Agamemnon in 2016 as they worked to close in on Otoniel, killing and capturing dozens of his lieutenants, going after his finances and forcing him to be constantly on the move, according to police.

In 2017, a video in which Otoniel announced his intent to submit to justice was published, but the plan never came to fruition.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta in Necocli and Oliver Griffin in Bogota; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Grant McCool; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Cardiff are expected to announce the signing of Wales international Taulupe Faletau from Bath later this week.

The PA news agency understands that Faletaus five-year spell in the Gallagher Premiership will conclude at the end of this season, and that Bath are preparing to confirm his departure.

Back-row forward Faletau, 30, joined Bath from the Dragons in 2016. He has won 86 caps and played in five British and Irish Lions Tests.

Taulupe Faletau in action for Bath (Steve Paston/PA)

He is currently with the Wales squad preparing for remaining Autumn Nations Series Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.

Faletau has not played so far this season due to an ankle injury, but he would have been unavailable for Wales 54-16 defeat against New Zealand on Saturday.

That game fell outside World Rugbys autumn international window, with English clubs not releasing Welsh players for such fixtures.

Faletau will become the latest high-profile capture for Cardiff after they signed fly-half Rhys Priestland from Bath earlier this year, while Wasps flanker Thomas Young is also on his way to the Arms Park at the end of this term.

Watch: 6 Minute Full Body Strength Workout | Move At Home
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Inquiring minds want to know just how Elon Musks Boring Company will dig a pair of underground tunnels from downtown Fort Lauderdale to the beach in flood-prone South Florida on the cheap.

The Boring Companys 29-page pitch, submitted to the city in June but only recently made public, holds some clues to the ambitious plan.

The tunnels would not be for your car or mine, but would eventually use self-driving Teslas as a form of public transportation, shuttling riders east and west from the Brightline Station to the famous beachfront intersection of Las Olas and A1A. To start out, the Teslas would have drivers.

Mayor Dean Trantalis has been championing the project for months, saying underground tunnels could be one way to lessen the pain of downtown gridlock and get more cars off the road.

Heres how things would work, based on details laid out in The Boring Co. documents and interviews with city officials.

Las Olas Loop

The plans Las Olas Loop would send passengers through a pair of 2.7-mile tunnels spanning several blocks under Las Olas, with up to five stops, leading all the way to the beach. Teslas would speed along at 50 to 70 mph, slowing down at bends.

We figure the ride from one end to the other will be about three to four minutes, Trantalis said, adding, Its not going to be just a dark cave. Therell be lights. There will be music. There may be a narration: Welcome to Fort Lauderdale, talking about who we are. Passengers will also be able to use their cellphones during the ride.

The city has not yet worked out how much fares will be. The mayor at one point mentioned charging $5, but thats not set in stone.

Fear factor

Critics are still wondering if underground tunnels make sense in South Florida, with its king tides, hurricanes and porous limestone bedrock. Some worst-case scenario questions: What happens if theres a fire in the tunnel? What if a Tesla being driven on Autopilot goes rogue? What happens if the tunnel floods?

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What happens if Mars hits Earth? an exasperated Trantalis said after hearing the list of safety concerns. There are multiple safety features to anticipate any type of calamity. Not just fire safety equipment, but escape routes, sprinkler systems, ventilation systems. We have a long history in this country of using tunnels for transportation.

Final approval is likely months away as the citys experts and consultants embark on a due diligence journey.

This has to be properly and thoroughly vetted, Commissioner Steve Glassman said. In my opinion, theres no rush because this has to be done right. The geology has to be studied. We have to talk to everyone whos an expert on soil. We have to really pick the brains of everyone who is an expert.

Glassman says hes heard from fans excited about the beach tunnel and from critics who think its a dumb idea.

People made fun of the Wright brothers, he said. People made fun of Thomas Edison. We have to be a little bit bolder. We have to look to the future. People are moving here in droves. And we have to figure out how to move them around. If this is successful, we need to create a network of tunnels. We are going to face a transportation crunch and we need to consider all options.

How can Musk build tunnels fast and cheap?

Underground tunnels usually cost around $1 billion a mile, but Musks team claims they can build them for $10 million a mile using special technology thats faster and cheaper than traditional methods.

New technology allows crews to excavate the hole, remove the dirt and install segments of the concrete superstructure simultaneously. That means the equipment operates 15 times faster.

Traditional tunneling requires the construction of special drills for each project, but Musk is standardizing tunnel size and reusing his equipment, much the way SpaceX reuses rockets. Additionally, the boring machinery operates on electric power rather than diesel, allowing equipment to operate longer without having to ventilate the tunnel.

Will the technique change to accommodate South Florida soil?

That remains to be seen. When The Boring Co. made its original proposal, Trantalis says it was based on general conditions. Now theyre doing a deeper dive on their investigation. The citys Public Works Department is also hiring consultants to collaborate with The Boring Co., Trantalis said.

How the transit loop works

A station wont require all trac to stop when a passenger wants to disembark. Each station will have a pull-off area to allow other vehicles to speed on by.

Stations can range from the size of a car to a large subway-style venue depending on the needs of the station location.

The loop could start out with a small number of vehicles for start-up operations or non-peak periods and add more for high-demand times.

Service would start with drivers, with automated transit as the eventual goal.

Why use Teslas and not trams?

With a tram system, riders might wait 20 minutes for a tram to arrive.

In the Musk setup, a Tesla would be waiting at the station to immediately take passengers to the next stop on their destination. While trams would stop at each station, the Tesla would take passengers from pickup to drop-off without stops in between.

Potential expansion

The Las Olas Loop project would cost under $100 million, the mayor says.

In theory, Musks loop tunnels can be expanded to connect to other key destinations within the city and beyond. The tunnel network could provide service to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades to the south, the Tri-Rail Station to the west and the Galleria mall and Inter Miamis DRV PNK soccer stadium to the north.

What are the hurdles?

Fort Lauderdale has to find a way to pay for it.

Even if the city had the money in hand, several government agencies could stand in the way.

The project is located predominantly within city right-of-way.

But right-of-way permits and easements will be required from other agencies: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state Department of Transportation, Broward County, Florida East Coast Railway and potentially private property owners.

How did this all start?

It started with a tweet.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, sparked a flurry of tweets in January with this message: Cars & trucks stuck in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases & particulate, but @boringcompany road tunnels under Miami would solve traffic & be an example to the world. Spoke with @RonDeSantisFL about tunnels last week. If Governor & Mayor want this done, we will do it.

Trantalis tweeted back: Fort Lauderdale would love to be a part of this discussion. We have #tunnelvision in the #magicregion!

The following month, Trantalis was in Las Vegas to discuss the possibility of building tunnels in Fort Lauderdale to help alleviate gridlock.

Officials with The Boring Co. visited Fort Lauderdale in March to look over the terrain and get a better feel for how the beach loop would work.

Musk started The Boring Co. in 2016 after growing weary of trac gridlock in Los Angeles. In a tweet, he said trac is driving me nuts and promised to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging.

Two years later, Musk and his team built a mile-long test tunnel at his SpaceX headquarters in the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne. It was built at a cost of $10 million and accommodates Teslas at speeds of up to 150 mph.

____
Nov. 2NASHVILLE  When it comes to the art of crafting law, silence sometimes speaks volumes.

During Tennessee's three-day special session on COVID-19 mandates last week, Republican majority legislators placed new restrictions on public schools and other governmental entities, saying no mask requirements can be implemented "unless severe conditions" exist.

But private companies and employers remain free to implement mask mandates.

So how was that done? Simply by making no mention of the issue of mask restrictions in conjunction with private employers in the new code provision.

It began as an effort to accommodate Ford Motor Co., which along with Republican Gov. Bill Lee announced in September the company will build a massive $5.6 billion electric truck assembly and battery plant in West Tennessee.

Ford voiced concerns about the provision and was joined by fellow major automotive manufacturers here including Volkswagen and General Motors. Ford and eventually the other companies  it's unclear whether Nissan participated  contacted Lee to fret and note industrial masks are critical to their processes.

In reaction, Republican lawmakers agreed to exclude them from the mask provision in their omnibus COVID-19 measure. And ultimately, lawmakers also extended that to other private businesses, including privately-operated prisons and then private schools.

Under the new law, pending action by Lee, local governments and public schools would be prohibited from imposing mask mandates unless COVID-19 cases soar to 1,000 people or more per 100,000 people in a county or community.

For comparison, the current state rate is 198 cases per 100,000 people.

Even if cases reach the new threshold rate, school districts would only be able to require masks on an individual school-by-school basis, initially for a 14-day period, which can be extended by additional 14-day periods if conditions persist.

A second bill provision would prohibit public schools, governments and most businesses from requiring employees or customers in most instances to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for customers and workers  despite pending Biden administration rules that would do just that for employers with more than 100 workers.

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The bill would allow businesses to ask workers to get vaccinated but would not allow them to compel workers in most instances to provide a so-called "vaccine passport"  a card indicating they had been vaccinated. But the provision also allows businesses to ask workers to provide documentation if they have had a COVID-19 test.

The final legislation carves out some exemptions, primarily in response to alarms raised by businesses, health providers and public entities such as universities and other entities such as major federal contractors who fear a crackdown by the Biden administration.

Lee's Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner, Jeff McCord, last week warned Republicans if the bill becomes law it risks drawing in the federal government to take over the responsibilities of his department's Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

McCord noted the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's fines are higher than the state's. That has businesses worried the federal OSHA is also more likely to hammer local employers for mistakes than his department, which seeks to work to get issues resolved.

The bill allows companies to apply for waivers in the event their federal funding is jeopardized if they follow the new law. It sets up a review process to be established by state Comptroller Jason Mumpower, who would have authority to establish his own guidelines for what evidence would need to be provided in order for health providers and others to seek an exemption to any would-be law.

The legislation has yet to hit Lee's desk, the governor told reporters Monday following his first day of executive agencies' annual budget hearing.

"We've begun the process of looking at it," Lee said. "It will take some time, there's a process, as you know. I will say the legislature in their session was responding to mandates from the federal government in particular and we have expressed our dissatisfaction with that as well."

Much of the agenda on the legislation was driven by Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton and fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, the Senate speaker. On Monday, they signed the conference committee report on the legislation, House Bill 9077, and Senate Bill 9014.

Once the bills make it to Lee's desk, the governor has 10 days to sign, veto or allow a bill to become law without his signature.

Republican lawmakers also approved House Joint Resolution 9005, which urges Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery to intervene in "appropriate" actions challenging the expected federal mandate as well as initiate litigation if necessary.

Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.
Photo credit: NurPhoto - Getty Images

It's only a pilot program for now, but Tesla has big plans to allow electric vehicles from other automakers to use its global network of 25,000 Superchargers.

For now, though, only 10 such stations in the Netherlands are open to EVs with a CCS port, and then only for people who live in Holland.

Tesla said it will pay attention to issues regarding congestion and pricing before it expands availability of these Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs in other locations.

As promised, Tesla has started opening its Supercharger network to non-Tesla electric vehicles. As expected, the devil is in the details.

The California automaker just changed its rules to allow drivers of other companies' EVs to use the Tesla Supercharger at just 10 locations in the Netherlands. This makes sense for two reasons. First, Holland leads the EU in charging stations per capita with almost 75,000 stations, almost a third of the amount in the entire EU, from all charging providers, lightening the immediate load on these stations. Second, the European Union has been talking about requiring EV chargers there to be compatible with all modern EVs for years now. While Tesla EVs and Superchargers in the U.S. still use Tesla's proprietary connector, Tesla has shifted to selling vehicles with a CCS connector in Europe.

That means some of Tesla's European Superchargers already have a CCS connector in addition to the proprietary port. This makes opening the station to other CCS-equipped vehicles easier. And, starting this week, 10 Dutch Supercharger stations will be able to power up other EVs, as long as those cars have a CCS-style connector port. In other words,the Nissan Leafand other EVs with CHAdeMO portswill not be able to take advantage of Tesla's open network, but Nissan and other automakers that once relied on CHAdeMO have already signaled they are moving away from this early DC fast-charging standard and toward CCS across the board.

Tesla is calling the initial program its "Non-Tesla Supercharger pilot," and it requires drivers of non-Tesla EVs to live in the Netherlands to take part, at least for now. These drivers also need to use the Tesla smartphone app (version 4.2.3 or higher) and create a Tesla account to access a charging session. In the app, there is now an option to "Charge Your Non-Tesla," which requires adding a payment method and a few button taps to start or stop a session. Non-Tesla drivers will also need to let the app know precisely which charging cable they're using, since only Tesla EVs have the right communication protocols to determine that automatically at this point.





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Opening up its Supercharger stations will give Tesla a new and potentially large revenue stream. It's too early to estimate how much money it could bring in, but, publicly, Tesla is more worried about the costs than the profit. Tesla said it is charging varying rates at the 10 stations and that non-Tesla drivers will pay more because their sessions reflect "additional costs incurred to support charging a broad range of vehicles and adjustments to our sites to accommodate these vehicles." The per-kWh price to charge will be listed in the app, and drivers who think they will use Superchargers regularly can sign up for a charging membership that can lower the cost.





Idle Fees Coming?

Some Tesla drivers have already started worrying about how this change in policy will affect their wait times at busy locations, since Tesla drivers can continue to use these 10 stations as before. The company does apply "idle fees" if an EV is left plugged in too long or after it's done charging. The rates for these fees vary by country, but are around 50 cents per minute or $1 a minute if all plugs at that station are occupied.



Tesla said it "will be closely monitoring each site for congestion and listening to customers about their experiences," and anyone with an EV that doesn't have a CCS connector should submit a report to Tesla Customer Support. We assume this is to gauge the demand for making more changes to Supercharging stations in the future. After all, Tesla said in its announcement that it hopes to "learn and iterate quickly," as it expands the pilot program to "eventually welcome both Tesla and Non-Tesla drivers at every Supercharger worldwide."



Tesla currently operates more than 25,000 Superchargers around the world.



For Tesla drivers who want to charge up at non-Supercharger locations, the automaker includes a J1772 adapter that is compatible with most Level 2 public charging stations and supports charging speeds up to 19.2 kW with its vehicles. It also sells the adapter separately for $50.



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ZIGGY MARLEY

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Ziggy Marley with his wife and three of his younger kids

Ziggy Marley first started writing for children when he and the Melody Makers released the Arthur theme song "Believe in Yourself" in 1996. Now, he's even more focused on inspiring kids through his words.

In an interview with PEOPLE, the reggae star talks about his latest picture books Little John Crow, published Tuesday, and My Dog Romeo, which was released in July. He also discusses how he's been "getting to know" his children better and reconnecting with nature during the pandemic.

"I'm inspired to create for children right now," says Marley, 53, who wanted to write for kids after spending so much time with his own family during lockdown. "I'm just following my creative energy and it's leading me to where the children [are], so that's where I'm headed."

Little John Crow is full of energy and color. Co-written by Marley and his wife Orly, the story follows a young vulture named Little John Crow who is abandoned by his animal friends after they realize he is a natural-born scavenger. Eventually, both the vulture and his community come to realize the value he brings to Bull Bay. He arrives back home just in time to save it. (Little John Crow is illustrated by Gordon Rowe.)

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ZIGGY MARLEY

courtesy Amazon

RELATED: Father of Seven Ziggy Marley Reveals His No. 1 Rule When Playing Uno with His Kids

Ziggy says the story was inspired by the turkey vultures, known as John Crow in Jamaica, that would gather in a field near his house when he was growing up. He used to think of them as "dirty and nasty" until he understood their purpose in the ecosystem.

"If they weren't cleaning up, then we would have a lot more disease and a lot more sickness in the world, so I came to appreciate them," says Ziggy, who is the son of the reggae icon Bob Marley. Both he and Orly want to teach young readers to recognize their own value, no matter their differences.

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"It is important that children coming up be able to be themselves and to not be afraid of that," says Ziggy. "Also, to understand that the people who truly love them will accept them for who they are. I think it's important that kids understand that message."

The artist explains that he often works on projects with Orly, with whom he shares sons Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta, 5, Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta, 10, and Gideon Robert Nesta, 14, plus daughter Judah Victoria, 16. (Ziggy is also dad to three adult children  daughters Zuri and Justice, plus son Daniel  from previous relationships.)

Little John Crow was no different.

"Me and my wife do everything together. We are a team, you know? So it wasn't anything out of normal," says Ziggy of the joint writing process, explaining that Orly used to work in education. "Any group of children or a child, she has a knack of speaking to them... So her input is very important."

He also asked for his kids' insight. They "love" the story, he says. "They're involved. They're a part of my inspiration."

The Marley clan also enjoy their dad's previously released book, My Dog Romeo, which was inspired by their new dog. (The book, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska, draws from Ziggy's kids' song of the same name.)

"This book is in tribute to my dog. I'm sharing that joy of the love of a pet with others," says Ziggy. "But I would say that, in today's society, a lot of kids are not getting that full experience of being around animals, being around other types of creatures."

Ziggy says he didn't write My Dog Romeo with a "big message" in mind, but he does hope the book will help readers rediscover "a connection to nature."

ZIGGY MARLEY

courtesy Amazon

"It's about finding that connection with living things, other living things, and not just electronic things or inanimate things, but real life," he says.

Ziggy and Orly's kids got a dose of real-life responsibility after they brought home their new puppy Romeo just before the start of the pandemic.

"My older daughter, she named it Romeo and they were very excited. But I don't think they understood the responsibility," Ziggy explains. "They like the idea about having a pet, but they didn't understand the responsibility of taking care of a dog. It's a big responsibility. And so we are [going on] about, 'You wanted a dog. Here's a dog, so you got to feed him'... So they're learning."

Ziggy has been enjoying time with his family  and the chance to fully get to know his kids since he hasn't been on tour.

"It's the most time we've spent together as a family, ever," he explains.

"Me, as a parent, it's the first kind of chance for me to get to know my kids more than I did before," says Ziggy. "I would never have had this experience with them if it wasn't for the pandemic, right? So we took the pandemic and found positive things in it.

"The positive thing I've found was that I learned so much about these kids, not just as my children, but as human beings: Their character, who they are," he continues. "We learned from each other by spending so much time with them. We take that as a blessing."

Little John Crow and My Dog Romeo are on sale now.
Friends and family gather to celebrate Rosenda Strongs 32nd birthday on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Yakamart, 111 Fort Road in Toppenish, Wash. Strong was last seen on Oct. 2 after visiting Legends Casino with a friend in Toppenish.
Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Overcast. Low 63F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 83F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph.
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A judge has denied convicted murderer Bailey Boswell's request to wear civilian clothes at the court hearing in which she'll discover if she'll be sentenced to life in prison or death.

Boswell, 27, who was found guilty in the November 2017 death and dismemberment of Lincoln store clerk Sydney Loofe, is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in Saline County District Court.

Her attorneys filed a motion last week, requesting that Boswell "be free" of shackles and be allowed to wear civilian clothes at the sentencing. To be required to wear a prison jumpsuit and be handcuffed, her attorneys argued, "diminishes the decorum and dignity of a hearing in which her ultimate fate of being sentenced to death or life in prison is announced."

After a court hearing Oct. 26, the presiding judge, Saline County District Judge Vicky Johnson, denied the request. Her ruling stated that Boswell "has been found guilty of a crime" and that no jurors will be present at the sentencing hearing.

Johnson and two other district judges, Darla Ideus of Lincoln and Peter Bataillon of Omaha, have been weighing aggravating and mitigating factors in the murder to determine if Boswell will get a life or death sentence.
MUMBAI: The first look of the highly-anticipated film 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui', starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor in the lead roles, has been revealed on Tuesday. Taking to his Instagram handle, Ayushmann shared the film's vibrant motion poster with the upbeat Punjabi title song in the background.

The bold and colourful motion poster features Ayushmann and Vaani sharing an intimate kiss.

Ayushmann can also be seen sporting a ponytail for his character. "Yeh aashiqui kuch alag hai #ChandigarhKareAashiqui, trailer out on 8th November! Get ready to fall in love on 10th December in cinemas near you," he added in the caption.

The upcoming film marks the first-ever collaboration between Ayushmann and Vaani. 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui', which wrapped its shoot in late December last year, was the first Indian film to complete the entire shooting during the coronavirus pandemic.

The movie by ace filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor is a modern-day love story that will feature Ayushmann portraying the role of a cross-functional athlete, while Vaani will reportedly essay a transgender character.

'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' has been produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series in collaboration with Pragya Kapoor's Guy In the Sky Pictures.
Jaipur: The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Jaisalmer Court on Monday rejected the bail application of former SBI chairman Pratip Chaudhury, arrested in the Jaisalmer hotel loan fraud case, and sent him to judicial custody till November 15.

The former SBI chairman will now have to spend his Diwali behind bars, said sources.

He will be in judicial custody for 15 days till November 15, they added.

Pratip Chaudhury was arrested from Delhi on Sunday and brought to Jaisalmer on Monday.

After that he was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, his lawyer moved the bail application, but CJM Hanuman Sahai Jat after hearing rejected the bail application of Pratip Chaudhury and ordered to send him to judicial custody till November 15, following which he was was taken to jail.

The case relates to a hotel group in Jaisalmer which took a loan of Rs 24 crore from SBI in 2008. When the hotel group did not pay full instalments of the loan, the bank allegedly went against the RBI rules and declared it NPA after confiscating the property. It is alleged that later the property was also sold in a wrong manner. At present, the value of this property is being said to be around Rs 200 crore.

The SBI in a statement said that all the facts of the case were not presented before the court properly and SBI was not made a party to the case.

"'Garh Rajwada' was a hotel project in Jaisalmer, financed by the Bank in 2007. The project remained incomplete for over 3 years and the key promoter passed away in April 2010. The account slipped into NPA in June 2010. Various steps taken by the Bank for completion of the project as well as recovery of dues didn't yield desired results. Hence as part of Bank's recovery efforts, the dues were assigned to an ARC for recovery in March 2014. This sale to ARC by the Bank was done through a laid down process as per the policy of the Bank. "We further understand that the borrower was subjected to IBC process by the said ARC and the asset has been acquired by an NBFC in December 2017, again through due process under the orders of NCLT, Delhi," the statement said.

"As recovery efforts failed, approvals for sale to ARC were taken in Jan 2014, the assignment to ARC was completed in March 2014. It transpires now that the borrower had initially filed an FIR with the State Police against the sale of asset to ARC. Aggrieved against the negative closure report filed by Police authorities, the borrower had filed a 'Protest petition' before the Hon'ble CJM Court. Incidentally SBI was not made a party to this case. All the directors of that ARC including Chaudhuri, who joined their Board in October 2014, have been named in the said case. Incidentally, Chaudhuri retired from Bank's service in September 2013.

"It appears from the copies of the proceedings now accessed by us that the Hon'ble Court does not appear to have been briefed correctly on the sequence of events. In as much as SBI was not a party to this case, there was no occasion for the views of SBI being heard as part of this proceedings. SBI would like to reiterate that all due process were followed while making the said sale to ARC. The Bank has already offered its cooperation to the Law Enforcement and Judicial authorities and will provide further information, if any that may be called for from their side," the SBI statement added further.

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New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a massive protest against the BJP and gheraoed civic center and locked its gates against non-payment of salaries to MCD employees. AAPs North MCD Leader of Opposition Vikas Goel said the BJP-ruled MCD has not given salary to current employees and pension to retired employees for the last three months yet at the behest of the BJP, the police dragged the AAP councillors to the police station, forcibly stopped the dharna.

Goel asked How will MCD employees celebrate Diwali without salary? How can the BJP leaders party at such a time? AAPs East MCD Leader of Opposition Manoj Tyagi said that the BJP ruled MCD is filling the pockets of private contractors with the hard-earned money of employees. He said that the workers who are engaged in cleaning Delhi day and night, are concerned about the health of the people of Delhi, it is them who are unable to light stoves in their houses today. AAP demands that if the BJP led MCD is not able to pay salaries to the employees, then the people of BJP should resign immediately.

After the protest, the Aam Aadmi Party Leader of Opposition in North Delhi Municipal Corporation Vikas Goel addressed a press conference at the party headquarters. Vikas Goel said, the BJP ruled MCD has not paid salaries to the employees for the last three months. When preparations for festivals are going on in everyone's house, then there is not even a grain of ration left in the house of MCD employees. How will employees celebrate Diwali without pay? How will their household expenses run? In this protest, today we gheraoed the BJP outside the MCD Headquarters Civic Center. And demanded from the BJP to release the salary and pension of all the employees immediately. Along with this, we locked the gate of the civic center because what is the need to keep it open, when there is no work going on and the employees are not given salary?

Vikas Goel said, we had announced an indefinite protest till the employees were not paid their salaries. But like every time, this time also the BJP-ruled MCD started assaulting our councilors with the help of Delhi Police. They were forcibly dragged to the police station and the dharna was forcibly ended. This makes one thing clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not want the workers to celebrate the festival. The corporation has been ruled by BJP for the last 15 years. In these 15 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party has exploited the employees of MCD only and only, made false promises to them, misled them. Whenever they contested elections, there is only one thing in their manifesto that we will regularise employees, give them bonuses and pay their salaries on time.

Goel continued, There was a huge strike in 2018, the then BJP state president Manoj Tiwari had ended the strike by giving juice to everyone. He promised that all the employees would be regularised, bonuses would be given and all would be paid on time. But nothing happened. After that, there was a strike just last year, then their mayor also made the same promise. But even then nothing happened.

Goel further said, now they have crossed the limits. It is the time of Diwali, which is considered to be the biggest festival for Hindus, there is Govardhan Puja, there is Bhai Dooj, then there is Chhath, in such a way there is a tradition in our country that every big and small businessman gives gifts to his employees. Gives bonus, gives sweets. But ruling the MCD, the Bharatiya Janata Party has done the exact opposite. Leave the bonus and sweets, they are not ready to give their due money, even their hard-earned money. They are not getting their salary for two or three months."

"Safai Karamcharis are the ones who sacrificed their lives to clean Delhi during the Corona period, DBC workers are the ones who sanitised door to door during the Corona period and are now doing door-to-door dengue testing, Teachers are the ones who work to build the future of children, the doctors and nurses are the ones who are treating the people of Delhi by risking their lives yet the BJP-ruled MCD has not paid these people for three months. All this while their Mayor parties at a Diwali Milan event at his home. Even today he is doing the Diwali Milan ceremony but is not giving salaries, pensions to the employees. So how will those people celebrate Diwali? Due to this, the workers are compelled to go on strike. No matter what they should get their salaries, the ration should reach their house, they should also celebrate Diwali with pomp. Even today, the employees are on strike at Gate No 3 of the Civic Center, he added.

According to him, I want to ask the people of Bharatiya Janata Party that when the children of MCD employees go to bed hungry on Diwali, how can you yourself sleep peacefully and eat sweets during that time. Have you lost your morals, your humanity? I want to directly tell the people of the Bharatiya Janata Party that the Aam Aadmi Party stands with the employees. Give salary to all the employees as soon as possible, give pension to retired employees, give bonuses. Otherwise, you have no moral right to be in power. Resign immediately.

On the other hand, LOP of East MCD Manoj Tyagi said, Bharatiya Janata Party has been in MCD for the last 15 years. Despite this, it could not eliminate the problems of MCD. On the one hand, they lag behind in cleanliness rankings and promote privatization. On the other hand, you do not pay salaries to the employees engaged in the service of MCD. This is a matter of great embarrassment. Employees are neither getting salaries nor bonuses. In such a situation, how will these people celebrate the biggest festival of Hindus, the festival of Deepawali? All the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party are doing Diwali Milan celebrations. Flowers are being showered from place to place, eating sweets, and doing feasts. But the common workers, because of whom these people come to power and rule in it. They fill the pockets of private contractors with the hard-earned money of the same commoners.

He said, The Aam Aadmi Party is with the employees and in this regard, all the councillors of the Aam Aadmi Party are protesting outside the civic center. Aam Aadmi Party demands that BJP should give salary to all employees and pension to retired employees at the earliest, otherwise the Aam Aadmi Party will continue its protest. On the call of AAPs MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak ji, all the councillors will protest till the BJP announces the salary to the employees of MCD.

After this, South MCD's LOP Prem Chauhan said, it is very sad and painful that the BJP ruled MCD is not paying salaries to Safai Karamcharis, DBC employees, teachers, doctors and nurses even during the festive season. For those who are engaged in cleaning Delhi day and night, who are concerned about the health of the people of Delhi, it has become difficult for them to light the stove in their own house. Those employees have not received salaries for three months. For which the BJP ruled in MCD is responsible. If the BJP cant run the MCD then they should learn from us. Otherwise, after 3 months the public will tell you how MCD is run.

He said, even on a festival like Diwali, if they cannot give gifts to their wives and children, they cannot buy sweets, then what is the purpose of such a job? The Aam Aadmi Party always talks about the interest of the common man, so today all the nominated and elected councillors of the Aam Aadmi Party are protesting against the MCD outside the civic center here. Our demand is that the BJP-ruled MCD should pay salaries to all the employees on time and release the previous arrears as soon as possible. We are not sitting here to slander the BJP here and there. All we want is that BJP should give the salary and pension of retired employees to all the employees of MCD so that they too can celebrate Diwali.

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NEW DELHI/GOA: Exposing the facade of false promises and incessant corruption at the hands of both the BJP and the Congress partys governments that have ruled Goa in the past, AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal guaranteed to revolutionise governance in the state of Goa. He pledged to transform the face of Goa by forming an honest government, generating employment, tourism, ensuring continuous electricity supply, and more. Kejriwal's third guarantee to Goans includes residents of Goa getting to visit Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni and Ajmer Sharif for free.

In the past he had announced 300 units of electricity free of cost in Goa like Delhi, free electricity to farmers and waiver of old bills; allowance of three thousand rupees to one unemployed person from each family, five thousand rupees to every unemployed family from tourism and mining sector.

Delhi CM Kejriwal said that the Aam Aadmi Party will fulfill all its guarantees, no matter what. He condemned the shocking revelations by former Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik and said that the BJP high command should have taken strict action against CM Pramod Sawant. No party is concerned with issues of Goans, he said, AAP is the only party that has a vision and a solid roadmap for Goa. The 2.90 lakh families, i.e. 70 to 75% of Goas population, that have registered under the electricity guarantee program, and the 1.12 lakh young people that have registered so far under our employment guarantee program are proof of the faith the people of Goa have already invested in the Aam Aadmi Party. And we promise to live up to this faith.

Addressing the people of Goa, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, I wish you all a very Happy Diwali. The festive season has been ongoing for which I extend my heartfelt wishes to everyone in Goa, for Navratri, Dussehra, and all other festivals. I pray to God that all the festive season brings happiness and prosperity to the people of Goa. I had visited some time ago and promised employment to everyone. To date under governments held by both Congress and the BJP, Goans have had to persevere through great levels of unemployment due to their policies. Neither government has done its part in helping the youth, in generating employment -- simply indulged in the politics of money and power."

"The Aam Aadmi Party has declared that we will ensure jobs for one unemployed youth in each household of Goa. And until they get these jobs, we will provide Rs 3000 per month as an unemployment allowance. Additionally, given the adverse impact of Covid on the tourism industry in Goa, we have ensured to pay Rs 5000 per month as an allowance for those who are in between jobs in the sector, like hotel staff, taxi drivers, and more. Moreover, the families driven to unemployment due to the ban on mining will also receive Rs 5000 per month until the respective family members get their jobs back in the mining sector," Kejriwal said.

The AAP National Convenor said, Today I am happy to announce that after having declared these promises about a month ago, we have received 1,12,000 registrations in our Rojgar Guarantee Program. This is almost 25-30% of Goas families. The extent of peoples enthusiasm based on a political partys election promises shows how much the common man trusts the Aam Aadmi Party. I ensure everyone who has registered, that just as they say Yeh Fevicol ka jod hai, yeh tootega nahi I say Yeh Kejriwal ki guarantee hai, yeh puri hoke rahegi (Its Kejriwals promises, will definitely be realised). So I would once again say, trust us. We will together form the government, after which we will implement all these declarations without fail: will ensure employment, and its allowance until employed.

Arvind Kejriwal said, earlier we had given a guarantee on electricity that we would give 24 hour supply in Goa. There are a lot of power cuts inside Goa right now. Just like we have ensured 24 hours electricity in Delhi, we will also ensure 24 hours electricity in Goa. Just like we have made electricity-free in Delhi, we will give 300 units of electricity free in Goa also. Will give free electricity to farmers and waive old electricity bills. Under the guarantee of electricity, 2 lakh 90 thousand families have registered. It constitutes 70 to 75 per cent of the total population of Goa. This figure is huge. I do not think that till date the people of Goa have registered for any party with such gusto. I am often asked by media persons and many others. At the same time, the people of the opposition allege that where will the money come from? Former Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik has just answered where the money will come from."

"Former Governor Satya Pal Malik has alleged that there is corruption in every work of Goa. There is a lot of corruption in Goa. If this opposition party had made allegations, then the matter was different, it is the work of the opposition to accuse. But the BJP Governor is accusing the Chief Minister of his own party that the CM of Goa is corrupt. I think it has been 75 years of independent India after 1947 and this is the first time in these 75 years that a Governor has accused the Chief Minister of his party of corruption. Satya Pal Malik ji is a very mature person. He has vast experience. They utter each word by weight. The good thing is that he has shown the courage to talk about the rampant corruption in his party's government, said the AAP National Convenor.

Kejriwal said, information comes to a governor in two ways. One, many types of files go to the governor. Like I am the Chief Minister in Delhi and our LG gets our files. Similarly, too many files go to the governor here. Second, the governor has several mechanisms. Through that system, the governor gets a lot of information. The allegations made by Satyapal Malik ji are very serious. But the sad thing is that BJP is trying to save its Chief Minister. This means that the BJP is openly trying to save corruption. Satya Pal Malik has not only accused his Chief Minister, but he has also accused his Central Government. He said that when I told the Central Government about the corruption of the Chief Minister of Goa that our Chief Minister was stealing, instead of removing the Chief Minister, the Central Government removed the Governor and silenced him. That is the extent of corruption.

According to the AAP Convener, Congress also used to do corruption and BJP is also doing it. That is why Congress does not dare to speak against the BJP. They know that if they speak against the BJP, they will be put in jail. Why is it that there has been a BJP government for ten years and no case has been registered against a single old Congress minister? When the Congress government was there, then BJP people used to say that Congress is doing a lot of corruption. If Congress was doing corruption, why didn't BJP send anyone to jail in the last 10 years? Both of them are mixed and eat the cream by dividing the mill. By dividing the mill, both run the government for five years. Both do not act against each other. It is very interesting that CM Pramod Sawant has said that our government will be formed and Congress will be in opposition. Both of them have decided to connive. We have never seen so much love between the two.

The AAP Convenor, while giving his third guarantee, said, I had just gone to Ayodhya. There I went to the temple and saw Ramlalla. I felt very good. After coming out, a thought came to my mind that the good fortune that I got that good fortune should be given to everyone. I decided in my mind that I will take as many people as possible to Ayodhya and get them to have the darshan of Lord Shri Ram. Today I want to announce in Goa that if our government is formed in Goa, then we will make the people of Goa visit Ayodhya for free. We will give free travel to Velankanni to our Christian brothers and sisters. Those who are our Muslim brothers and sisters, we will make them visit Ajmer Sharif. There are many such people in Goa, who have reverence in Shirdi, we will make them visit Shirdi. I am not saying anything new."

He further said, "Our Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana in Delhi has been going on for the last few years. However, due to Corona, this journey was stopped for the last one and a half years. In the first one year, more than 35 thousand people have benefited. Under this, people are given the option to choose the place of pilgrimage, we take them there. We take them by AC train, stay in an AC hotel. The government provides all their travel, stay, food. It has been said that undertaking a pilgrimage is a very pious act. With the blessings and wishes of these people, today we are getting love from all corners. We will also make pilgrimages to the people of Goa. Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni, Ajmer Sharif. Any one of these four places a resident of Goa can choose and we will get the travel done for free. We have shown this by implementing it in Delhi.

Arvind Kejriwal said that no party has anything to do with Goa's issues in Goa politics. There is only a power game going on between them. Congress, BJP, TMC, GFP or whatever parties are there in Goa, have you heard anyone talking on the issue of Goa? Heard a party saying that we will provide employment, we will fix electricity, we will fix water or roads. No party has this issue for the people of Goa. Aam Aadmi Party is starting a new type of honest politics and people's politics in Goa. We are talking only about the issues of the people. I can abuse like other parties, but I don't. What will be the benefit of this? This will not add to the progress of the people of Goa. We are only talking about issues. Such a huge number of people are coming to register with us. 75 percent of people in Goa have registered for the electricity scheme. 30 percent of the people of Goa have registered for the unemployment program. This means that now the people of Goa have only faith in the Aam Aadmi Party.

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New Delhi: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Tuesday asked banks to remain vigilant to any emerging signs of vulnerabilities and take timely remedial measures to mitigate the risks.

In a statement, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the governor held separate meetings with the MD and CEOs of public sector banks and certain private sector banks through videoconferencing.

In his opening remarks, Das acknowledged the improved financial and operational resilience of the banking sector that imparts strength to financial stability.

He emphasised the need for banks to continue providing necessary support in the revival of economic activity, the RBI said.

"He also advised the banks to remain vigilant to any emerging signs of vulnerabilities and take timely remedial measures to mitigate the risks and maintain the stability of not only the institutions themselves but also of the overall financial system," it said.

Several other matters, including credit flows, especially to micro and small enterprises, were also discussed during the meetings.

As per the statement, discussions also took place on matters like 'outlook for stressed assets and measures for mitigation', 'pricing of risks', 'collection efficiencies' and 'engagement of banks with fin-tech entities".

Implementation of certain regulatory measures for ensuring consumer protection were also taken up in the meeting.

RBI Deputy Governors M K Jain, M Rajeshwar Rao and T Rabi Sankar also attended the meetings.

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Mumbai: A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Tuesday sent former Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh, who was arrested in a money laundering case, to four days of Enforcement Directorate custody till November 6 in a money laundering case.

The court, however, allowed Anil Deshmukh`s application for homemade food and medicines during his ED custody. His lawyers will also be allowed to be present during the interrogation, as per the court order.

Deshmukh was arrested by the agency last night in connection with extortion and money laundering allegations levelled against him by the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Singh accused Anil Deshmukh of asking dismissed assistant inspector Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels and bars in Mumbai every month.

The federal probe agency will record the statement of Deshmukh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the criminal investigation being carried out by it in the alleged Rs 100 crore bribery-cum-extortion racket in the Maharashtra Police establishment.

It has registered a case against Deshmukh and others based on a corruption case filed against him by the CBI.
Jamshedpur: Motorcycle-borne men attacked a leader of Jharkhand BJP's Scheduled Tribe unit injuring him seriously at Sopodera on the outskirts of Jamshedpur city on Tuesday (October 2), police said.

The incident occurred when Ram Singh Munda, the media in-charge of the state BJP's ST Morcha, was going to meet Union Tribal Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, who was in the city.

"Investigations are on. We are trying to identify the assailants from CCTV footage," Officer-in-Charge of Parsudih police station, Vimal Kindo, said.

The motive of the attack is still not clear but preliminary investigations revealed that Ram Singh Munda was involved in a movement against the encroachment of tribal land, Kindo said.

Munda said two motorcycle-borne miscreants attacked him with an iron rod and a lathi, and he suffered fractures in the attack.

Munda who is undergoing treatment in a hospital claimed that the attack was planned and politically motivated.

The BJP torched an effigy of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to protest against the incident.

The state party's ST Morcha president Shiv Shankar Oraon said, "The law and order situation in the state is deteriorating under the present dispensation. BJP leaders and workers were being attacked across the state. Criminals have no fear of the police."

Oraon, who met Munda in the hospital, demanded that the perpetrators of the attack must be identified and arrested soon. A JMM-led coalition is in power in Jharkhand.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will on Tuesday announce the results of by-elections in three parliamentary constituencies and 29 assembly constituencies held on October 30.

The election results will be available on the commission`s website: results.eci.gov.in. The three parliamentary constituencies which went to the polls on Oct 30 were in the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

As far as the assembly constituencies are concerned, Andhra Pradesh held an election in its Badvel (SC) constituency. Assam held elections in five assembly constituencies Gossaigaon, Bhabanipur, Tamulpur, Mariani and Thowra. Bihar held elections on two seats namely Kusheshwar Asthan (SC) and Tarapur. Haryana held an election in the Ellenabad assembly seat. Himachal Pradesh held polls on three seats in Fatehpur, Arki and Jubbal-Kotkhai.Karnataka held polls on two seats namely Sindgi and Hangal. Madhya Pradesh held elections on Prithvipur, Raigaon (SC), Jobat (ST) seats. Maharashtra held polls in Deglur (SC) seat. Meghalaya held assembly bye-polls for the Mawryngkneng (ST), Mawphlang (ST) and Rajabala constituencies. Mizoram held polls in Tuirial (ST) assembly constituency.

Nagaland held polls in Shamtorr-Chessore (ST) assembly seat.Rajasthan held polls in two constituencies namely Vallabhnagar and Dhariawad (ST). Telangana held a poll in the Huzurabad assembly constituency.

Dinhata, Santipur, Khardaha and Gosaba (SC) assembly seats in West Bengal went to vote in the assembly by-polls on October 30. In Dinhata and Shantipur, two MPs Nishith Pramanik and Jagannath Sarkar had resigned.

Earlier, in a press communication by the Election Commission of India on September 28, it informed, "The Commission has reviewed the situations related to the pandemic, flood, festivals, cold conditions in certain regions, feedback from concerned States/UT and taken into consideration all facts and circumstances and it has decided to hold bye-elections to fill vacancies in three Parliamentary Constituencies of UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh and 30 vacancies in Assembly Constituencies of various States."

The Commission had decided to hold these bye-elections to fill vacancies. The Commission used EVMs and VVPATs in the bye-elections in all the polling stations.

Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.

Electoral Photo Identity cards (EPIC) were the main document of identification of a voter. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, all polling personnel and election officials including the private persons engaged in the election duty were double vaccinated before taking their services.

One health worker was appointed as COVID nodal officer for each polling station. Officials at booths were asked to take enough preventive measures and make necessary arrangements to ensure that no poll-related violence occurred during pre and post-poll.

In the light of the advisory issued by the Health Ministry, ECI kept a close watch on the evolving situation.

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Glasgow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India is the only country that is delivering in "letter and spirit" the commitments on tackling climate change under the Paris Agreement. He told world leaders at the COP26 that India will target a net-zero goal by 2070 and aim at increasing its non-fossil fuel energy to 500 GW in its energy mix by 2030.

Representing India at the 'High-Level Segment for Heads of States and Government' at the UN COP26 at Glasgow, UK, the Prime Minister said that India is working very hard on tackling climate change-related issues. Here are key takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic speech at COP26 Summit.

1. New mantra for sustainable development of the world- LIFE: PM Modis mantra of Lifestyle For Environment is inspired by Indian culture, Mahatma Gandhi Ji's teachings and the Prime Ministers own life to ensure peaceful existence with nature. Just like other mass movements inspired by PM, this urges MindFul and Deliberate Utilisation instead of Mindless and Destructive Consumption

2. Climate Finance & Tech Transfer as an imperative: PM gave a clear message to developed countries that just like India has raised its ambition in setting its targets, they also need to raise ambitions in climate finance & tech transfer. The world cannot achieve newer targets with old goals of climate finance.

3. India takes the bold step of Net Zero commitment by 2070: This is a historic step taken by PM Modi which shows Indias ambition when it comes to fighting climate change. Despite being a developing country, India shows the way when it comes to safeguarding planet earth.

4. India raises its pledge of NDCs: When India took the ambitious pledge of achieving 450 GW installed capacity by 2030 through non-fossil fuel sources, it was seen as over-ambitious. Now, India is not only on the track to achieve this target, but India has decided to further raise it to 500 GW. India has also pledged to fulfil 50% of its energy requirements from renewables by 2030.

5. Indias contribution in climate change mitigation far outstrips its role in emissions: PM Modi shared that India which has around 17% of the worlds population is responsible for only about 5% of the total emissions.

6. Reducing carbon emissions and intensity: PM Modi announced that India will reduce 1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions from the total projected emissions by 2030. India will also reduce carbon intensity by 45% in its economy.

7. India not only commits but also acts: The Prime Minister shared how India is the only country to fulfil commitments made in Paris. He also spoke about how Paris was not only a summit but a sentiment and a commitment of 130 crore Indians.

8. Multi-faceted initiatives in India to mitigate climate change: PM Modi shared how a new India is fighting climate change. From the worlds largest railway carrier becoming Net-Zero by 2030 to saving 40 billion tonnes of emission through LEDs, India is putting climate change at the centre of its policies.
Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh resigned from the Congress on Tuesday. He sent a seven-page resignation letter to party president Sonia Gandhi, sources said.

Singh had quit as the Punjab chief minister in September amid a bitter power tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

A few days ago, Singh had dismissed reports of back channel talks with the Congress as ?incorrect?, saying the time for rapprochement was over and his decision to leave the grand old party was final.

READ | Decision to leave Congress is final, will soon launch my own party: Amarinder Singh

He has indicated that he will float a political party ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab.

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Glasgow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson will jointly launch the initiative Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-26) in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Briefing about the programme of PM Modi at COP26 on the second day, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said,"It will be a very busy day, which will begin with the photo op of the leaders at 8:30 in the morning. You have a special session that would be the launch of the initiative for Resilient Island States (IRIS), which is essentially part of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects especially in small island developing states that would also involve in some senses, setting up norms and standards for resilient infrastructure."

During the press briefing, Shringla said that the "Prime Minister has pointed out that, in many cases, lives are lost, but livelihoods and entire infrastructure, housing, everything that is to do with infrastructure is lost with cyclones, etc. Especially small island states and coastal areas the vulnerable to these ravages of climate change. And this is an effort to try and equip countries that are particularly vulnerable to these effects of climate change."

Foreign Secretary said, "You will have the launch of the Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States called IRIS. This will involve a joint effort between India and the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson will jointly launch and you will have the participation of Australia, which is also a partner in this effort."

There is one sun

There is one world

There is one Grid

There is one #NarendraModi One man who has achieved absolutely extraordinary things for his country, Welcome PM Modi : UK PM Boris Johnson pic.twitter.com/hyJnxp6mUn  MeghUpdates (@MeghBulletin) November 3, 2021

He said that there will be a number of leaders of small island states speaking on this occasion including Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji, Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Pravind Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, will also speak.

PM Modi would be meeting a number of leaders of other countries. He will be also meeting some individuals who are quite prominently associated with the work relating to climate change and socio-economic development, said Shringla.

He added, "In the afternoon, we have an event which is called accelerating clean technology, innovation and deployment. This is hosted by Prime Minister Johnson and essentially, PM Johnson and PM Modi will launch another initiative which is called "One World One Sun, One Grid".

"Green Grid" which is a UK initiative and "One Word One Sun One Grid", which is the initiative from the National Solar Alliance proposed by India would both be jointly launched as a new initiative and essentially seek to promote connectivity through solar grids across the world, he said.

"This launch will be with the participation of the US President Joe Biden. We will have the participation of the Prince of the United Arab Emirates. We will have Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh who will be part of that initiative. You also have Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, who will be also part of this effort," he said.

"Both the initiatives-- Infrastructure for Resilient Island States as well as the One World One Sun, One Grid-- are very, very important global initiatives that are part of our effort to try and get more capacity building, more involvement and, more support to other countries, especially developing countries across the world," he said.

Referring to another initiative, Shringla said, "There is another initiative, which is hosted by the US president Joe Biden on infrastructure development, Build Back Better, which is also considered linked to the development of resilient infrastructure. The Prime Minister will participate in that initiative as well."

Prime Minister will be departing from Glasgow at the conclusion of the high-level segment of COP 26, Shringla said. He also stated that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted PM Modi`s invitation to visit India saying that he would plan his visit as soon as the circumstances allow.

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Glasgow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the launch of Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) fills us with new hope and beliefs and gives us satisfaction to do something for the most vulnerable nations.

Launching the IRIS initiative at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-26), along with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, PM Modi said, "The launch of Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States fills us with new hope and beliefs. This gives us the satisfaction to do something for the most vulnerable nations."

Speaking at the launch of Infrastructure for Resilient Island States initiative. https://t.co/WMLYr56R0M  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2021

Speaking about the impact of climate change on the world, PM Modi said, "The past few decades have proven that nobody remains untouched by effects of climate change. Be it developed nations or nations that are rich in natural resources. It`s a huge threat."

"Small Island Developing States are most threatened with climate change. For them, it is a matter of life and death, a challenge to their existence. Calamities due to climate change can become devastating for them. It is not only a challenge for their lives but also for their economy," he added.

The Infrastructure for the Resilient Island State (IRIS) is an initiative to boost the infrastructure in small island countries.

PM Modi reached Glasgow on Sunday to participate in the COP26 summit.

Today, the Prime Minister is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with leaders of Ukraine, Nepal, Israel, Switzerland, Finland, Malawi in Glasgow, Scotland and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

He is also likely to attend the side event by the United States of America - Build Back Better World. Further, PM Modi is scheduled to attend an event on "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Development".

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Jammu: A man was arrested for alleged links with terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir and across the border in Pakistan after he was among a dozen people detained for questioning in connection with the ongoing search operation in a forest belt in Poonch district, officials said on Tuesday (November 2).

The accused Yasir Arafat, a resident of Bhatti Durrian forest, was among three suspects detained by the police for questioning from Nepal while they were trying to flee the country on October 25, the officials said. Besides, 10 people, including two women, were earlier detained for questioning during the operation in Bhutti Durrian forest.

They said the operation to track down a group of terrorists in Bhatti Durrian forest in Mendhar along with Surankote forest in Poonch and nearby Thanamandi in Rajouri district entered the 23rd day on Tuesday.

The operation started in Surankote forest on October 11 following the killing of five soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, and was subsequently extended to Mendhar to neutralise the fleeing terrorists where another encounter took place on October 14 leaving four soldiers, including another JCO, killed.

Pakistani terrorist Zia Mustafa, who was shifted from Kot Bhalwal Central Jail Jammu to Mendhar on police remand for questioning in connection with the operation, was killed when the security forces accompanying him to identify a hideout came under fire from hiding terrorists on October 24.

The questioning of Arafat revealed his links with Mustafa, who is the alleged mastermind in the March 2003 Nadimarg massacre of 24 Kashmiri Hindus, and his handlers across the border, the officials said, without giving further details.

Arafat was detained by a police party from Kathmandu in Nepal along with Mohammad Noor of Gulhutta-Mendhar and Mohammad Rashid of Bhatti Durrian while they were on their way to Saudi Arabia.

The trio was detained for questioning after information was received that they were in touch with terrorists hiding in Bhatti Durrian and were planning to escape outside the country, the officials said.

They said a few more detained persons are likely to be arrested for providing support to the terrorists voluntarily, while those found innocent have been released.

On October 31, authorities opened a stretch of Jammu-Rajouri national highway passing along the cordoned-off forest area after remaining closed for over two weeks.

The traffic between Bhimber Gali in Mendhar and Jera Wali Gali in Surankote along Jammu-Rajouri national highway was suspended on October 15 as a precautionary measure in view of the ongoing operation.

The officials said the search operation deep inside the forest area was continuing but there was no breakthrough against the holed-up terrorists who are avoiding direct contact with the search parties and are on the run taking advantage of the thick foliage, natural caves and difficult terrain.

The contact with the hiding terrorists was only established twice on October 11 at Surankote and Thanamandi and again at Bhatti Durrian on October 14, the officials said, adding after the fresh firing on October 24 in Bhatti Durrian which left the Pakistani terrorist killed, there was no contact with the terrorists.

A terrorist hideout was busted on October 26 during the operation, leading to the recovery of an AK assault rifle with a magazine, 29 rounds, two grenades and two detonators besides some blankets, tiffins, two pairs of shoes, two syringes and four biscuit packets.

Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.

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A lot of people become the change they want to see in society. Pankaj Mishra, a social activist from Uttar Pradesh, wants to make the world a better, safer and greener place. He is the son of Usha Devi and Kripa Shankar Mishra, who did his MBA and started doing social work after college. During his college days, Mishra saw the issues people in rural areas face, and that's what encouraged him to become a social activist.

Pankaj Mishra is the founder of two organisations - Jan Samvad Foundation, and Member of Saving Nature Welfare Society and Charitable Trust. Jan Samvad Foundation has 800 members who work day and night for the betterment of people in rural areas. Mishra and his team members educate and make the rural people aware of natural calamities, help them with food, better farming methods and educational rights.

With Member of Saving Nature Welfare Society Charitable Trust, Pankaj Mishra and his 15000 team members promote the importance of tree plantation. In the last five years, the Trust has planted thousands of saplings all over the UP. Initially, Mishra and his team planted trees in rural areas but eventually, he catered to cities to make them more green and clean. He wants every person to promote the 'Green India, Clean India' message.

Social Activist Pankaj Mishra shares, "I created Janta Nursery, which is open 24 hours a day for nature lovers. Anyone can take a sapling from the nursery. The condition is that it has to be taken care of till it becomes a tree."

During the pandemic, Mishra and his team helped a lot of people from the rural areas. They educated the villagers about what's coronavirus, the precautions and safety measures they should follow. The social activist and his team members also distributed water, masks and hand sanitisers to thousands of people.

(Brand Desk Content
Glasgow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is attending the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of Ukraine, Nepal, Israel, Switzerland, Finland, Malawi on Tuesday.

Besides, the PM will also meet Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on the second day of his UK visit.

The PM had earlier met his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, on the margins of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow during which they agreed to take more counter-terrorism measures and the need to rein in extremist activities by certain fringe separatist outfits. The two leaders also reviewed the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 priorities.

PM Modi congratulated Johnson for successfully organising the COP26 and for his personal leaadership in championing global action for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The PM reiterated India`s commitment to closely work with the UK on climate finance, technology, innovation and adaptation of green hydrogen, renewables and clean technologies, including joint initiatives under the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Announcing a bold pledge, PM Modi said that India will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. He also listed out five commitments of India to combat climate change with a bold announcement that it will achieve the target of net zero emissions by the year 2070.

Presenting the country's national statement at the Glasgow Summit, the Prime Minister asserted that India is the only country that is delivering in "letter and spirit" the commitments on tackling climate change under the Paris Agreement.

Besides, the two Prime Ministers reviewed the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 priorities particularly in trade and economy, people-to-people, health, defence, and security areas.

They expressed satisfaction at the progress in delivering the enhanced trade partnership, including steps taken towards the launch of free trade agreement negotiations. Both leaders also discussed regional and global challenges, including Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, Indo-Pacific, supply chain resilience and post-Covid global economic recovery.

PM Modi reiterated his desire to welcome Prime Minister Johnson in India soon, the release added.

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New Delhi: Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday (November 2, 2021) sent a seven-page resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The former Punjab Chief Minister also announced that the 'Punjab Lok Congress' will be his new party's name.

Taking to his official Twitter account, the veteran leader said, "I have today sent my resignation to INC President Ms Sonia Gandhi ji, listing my reasons for the resignation. 'Punjab Lok Congress' is the name of the new party. The registration is pending approval with the ECI. The party symbol will be approved later."

In the resignation letter, Singh listed out his achievements as chief minister and slammed the Gandhis for a 'conspiracy' to oust him from the state government. He also lashed out at Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and senior party leader Harish Rawat.

He told Sonia Gandhi that despite knowing him 'for the better part of his 52 years in public life' and 'that too at a deeply personal level', she never 'understood' him or his 'character'.

"You thought I was getting on in years and should be put to pasture. I am neither tired nor retired. I feel I have a lot to give and contribute to my beloved Punjab. I intend to soldier on and not fade away," wrote Singh.

Expressing his anguish over Sidhu being given the charge of the Punjab Congress chief, he said, "Despite my profound reservations and over the unanimous advice of almost all MPs from Punjab, you chose to appoint an acolyte of the Pakistani deep state Navjot Sidhu who had publicly hugged the Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan."

"Khan and Bajwa are the people responsible for sending terrorists across the border to kill Indians," he said.

Hitting out at the cricketer-turned-politician, Amarinder wrote, "Sidhu's only claim to fame was that he would abuse me and my government on a regular basis. I am old enough to be his father but that did not stop him from using the filthiest and most vile language against me both publicly and privately."

He also accused Rahul and Priyanka of 'patronising' Sidhu.

"Unfortunately, rather than being reined in, he was patronised by Rahul and Priyanka, while you chose to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of this gentleman who was aided and abetted by the general secretary in-charge Harish Rawat, perhaps the most dubious individual I had the occasion to make acquaintance off," Captain said.

The development comes ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.

Singh, notably, had resigned in September as the Punjab CM and had announced that he will be quitting the Congress after months of a rift with the party's state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. The 78-year old had told the media that the Congress leadership had let him down. Captain was then replaced by Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief minister.

ALSO READ | From being 'Maharaja' of Patiala to serving in Indian Army, a look at life of Amarinder Singh

Meanwhile, infighting in Punjab Congress continues as Sidhu on Tuesday slammed Channi for promising 'lollipops'. The state Congress chief said that Punjab's welfare comes from a roadmap and not by tactics. His attack against his own government in Punjab came after the chief minister announced an 11 per cent hike in dearness allowance for state government employees and slashed power rates by Rs 3 per unit for the domestic sector.

"Give people `lollipops` in the last two months. The question is from where they will (government) give it? Is the objective just to form government by telling lies and making false promises? Way of Punjab`s welfare comes from a roadmap," Sidhu said.

(With agency inputs)
Srinagar: A terror over-ground worker (OGW) was arrested in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district on Tuesday (November 2). The Kupwara police said they recovered two AK-47 rifles and four pistols from the persons house at Takia Baderkote.

In a joint operation based on the input that one person namely Adil Hussain, who is a hardcore OGW, and is also involved in narco-terrorism has received a consignment of weapons and narcotics from across the border, said Kupwara police in a statement.

During searches two AK-47 Rifles, two AK magazines and 208 AK rounds were seized from his house, they added.

The police further said that the OGW revealed that one Faraz Ahmed, a resident of Padna Prara, is the main supplier of weapons to terrorists.

Based on the information, Ahmads house was also searched from which four pistols along with five magazines and one packet of brown sugar-like substance were recovered, said the police.

The police, who could not nab Ahmad as he had already escaped, are looking for him.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on Tuesday (November 2, 2021) held a 'fruitful' first meeting on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit. During the meeting, Bennett told Modi that he is the 'most popular man in Israel' and also asked him to join his party.

"You are the most popular man in Israel. Come and join my party," said Bennett as PM Modi burst into laughter upon hearing the compliment.

Excellent meeting with @NarendraModi at @COP26. Narendra, I want to thank you for your historic role in shaping the ties between our countries. Together, we can bring India-Israel relations to a whole new level and build a better & brighter future for our nations.

pic.twitter.com/sfRk7cNA7d  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 2, 2021

"I want to thank you. You're the person who restarted the relationship between India and Israel, which is a deep relationship between two unique civilizations  the Indian civilization, the Jewish civilization  and I know it comes from your heart," Bennett told PM Modi.

"It's not about interests; it's about a deep conviction that you harbor and we feel it. On behalf of all Israeli citizens, we deeply appreciate this whole new approach that will go down in history as something that you brought about. So thank you," he added.



He also took the opportunity to extend Diwali greetings to PM Modi and other Indians.

Earlier, recalling their brief meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Modi had said that the people of India deeply value the friendship with Israel.

Indeed! We shall continue working together for stronger bilateral ties and for a better planet. The people of India deeply value the friendship with Israel. https://t.co/PEaJ6cFxkM  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2021

The meeting between Modi and Bennett comes after Jaishankar, during his visit to Israel last month, extended an invitation to the Israeli premier on behalf of Modi to visit India.

According to some media reports, Bennett, who became prime minister in June this year, is likely to visit India next year.

(With agency inputs)

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Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money-laundering case after questioning him for more than 13 hours. Deshmukh, 72, had gone to the ED office on Monday afternoon for probe into the allegations of Rs 100 crore extortion levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh.

Deshmukh, a senior Nationalist Congress Party leader, had said he was appearing before the ED voluntarily as he respected the law, and the arrest came on expected lines.

The former Maharashtra Home Minister had gone to the ED office for the multi-agencies probe into the allegations of extortion and corruption hurled against him by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh arrested in connection with extortion and money laundering allegations against him: ED officials (file photo) pic.twitter.com/uVLEBNk8kL  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2021

The development came a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation nabbed a middleman Santosh Jagtap from Thane, who was an alleged conduit in the corruption deals and evading arrest.

"I respect the courts... I have voluntarily decided to come to the ED for the probe. But I want to ask where is Param Bir Singh who levelled the false allegations against me," Deshmukh said in a recorded statement before he went to the central agency accompanied by his lawyer.

Whenever he received the ED summons - at least five - in the past, he had promptly responded pointing out that his case was sub-judice before the courts concerned, he added. Even for the two CBI notices, he has immediately replied citing the same reasons, and said even now his matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

"Despite all this, the ED-CBI have raided all my homes (Mumbai-Nagpur), my family members, my associates... Canards were also being spread that I am absconding for the ED, but I have come here today on my own," Deshmukh said, in an indirect swipe at the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

We cooperated in the investigation related to a case involving Rs 4.5 crores...We will oppose his remand when he is produced before the court, today: Inderpal Singh, lawyer of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/xgfLxWV0E3  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2021

He pointed out how Singh, the man who hurled the fake charges at him, is untraceable and has reportedly sneaked out of the country according to some reports in the media.

A senior NCP leader, Deshmukh came under a cloud in April 2020 after Singh`s letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that he (Deshmukh) had set a Rs 100-crore collection target for the former dismissed cop, Sachin Vaze.

Deshmukh had moved to the Bombay High Court but got no relief, while his case is pending before the Supreme Court, even as the agencies have summoned his wife Aarti and their son Hrishikesh for probes, while the ED has attached portions of his properties worth Rs 4.20 crore.

Earlier, the ED arrested Deshmukh`s former close aides Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde, followed by the CBI`s nabbing of Jagtap amid speculation that the ex-Minister could face arrest.

The BJP state President, Chandrakant Patil welcomed the move saying that "actually, Deshmukh had no options left" but to appear before the ED as he realised that the long arms of the law will ultimately catch up with him.

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New Delhi: Juhi Chawla commemorated the occasion of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's 56th birthday on Tuesday by pledging 500 trees in the actor's name.

She took to her Instagram handle and shared a short edited clip that featured several stills of her with SRK. Along with it, she also shared a collage of photos of them.

Wishing SRK on his birthday, in the caption, she wrote, "Haappppyyy Birrthhdaayyy ShahRukh ...500 trees pledged in your name ..!! with love from alllll our family ..!!! @iamsrk"

Juhi further also expressed gratitude to the people who had made the video clip for her by writing, "Thankyou @quality_juhi @juhisunicorn.x for making these beautiful special edit for us."

Last year too, on the occasion of SRK's birthday Juhi had pledged to plant 500 trees for Cauvery Calling, a movement launched last year by Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation, to revitalise river Cauvery, a major lifeline of southern India which has depleted alarmingly in the last few decades.
New Delhi: Sara Ali Khan who shares a great bond with her mother Amrita Singh and has also called her best friend on many occasions has made a big revelation in one of her interviews related to her mom and dad Saif Ali Khan.

Amrita and Saif got married in 1991 and are proud parents of two kids - Sara and Ibrahim Ali Khan. But after spending several years together, the couple called it quits in 2004.

Later, Saif married Kareena Kapoor and the duo has two sons  Taimur and Jeh. Although Sara and her brother Ibrahim share a great bond with Bebo and her two sons, she even talked about the difficulties which her mother faced post her divorce.

While talking with Harper's Bazaar India, Sara said, Ive always had the tendency to mature a bit faster than others of my age. And even at the age of 9, I think I had the maturity to see that these two people living together in our home were not happy. And suddenly, they were much happier living in two new homes. For instance, my mom, who I dont think had laughed in 10 years, was suddenly happy, beautiful, and excited, like she deserves to be. Why would I be unhappy if I have two happy parents in two happy homes? So no, I dont think that was difficult at all.

She added, Theyre both infinitely happier and in a much more positive space today. I see my mom laughing and joking and being silly, which is something I have missed for so many years. Its a joyful relief to see her like this again.

In another interview, Sara also mentioned that she feels that Amrita and Saifs divorce was the best decision taken by her parents as they both are happier in their own world.

On the work front, Sara was last seen alongside actor Varun Dhawan in the official remake of the 1995 hit comedy film Coolie No. 1. She will next be seen in Anand L Rais directorial Atrangi Re opposite Akshay Kumar and Dhanush.


New Delhi: 7th Pay Commission latest update: The Ministry of Defence announced last week that it has revised limits of two family pensions payable to a child in respect of both the parents.

The highest pay in the Government has been revised to Rs 2,50,000 p.m. after the 7th CPC. (Also read: Variable Dearness Allowance hiked for 1.5 crore central sphere workers)

"Accordingly, Department of Pension &Pensioners' Welfare (DoP&PW) has revised maximum ceiling limits of two family pension payable to a child/children in respect of both the parents to Rs 1,25,000 p.m. (50% of Rs. 2,50,000/- Ordinary Family Pension at enhanced rate) and Rs 75,000/- p.m. (30% of Rs. 2,50,000/- Ordinary Family Pension) w.e.f. 01.01.2016. Ministry of Defence vide order dated 29.10.2021 has implemented the DoP&PW order mutatis mutandis in respect of Armed Forces Personnel w.e.f. 01.01.2016," said an official release.

Earlier, in the month of September, the Ministry of Defence, decided to enhance the income criteria for grant of family pension to children/siblings suffering from mental or physical disability.

Accordingly, such child/sibling shall be eligible for family pension for life, if his/her overall income from sources other than family pension remains less than the entitled family pension at ordinary rate i.e 30% of the last pay drawn by the deceased government servant/pensioner concerned plus the dearness relief admissible thereon.

The financial benefit in such cases shall accrue with effect from 08.02.2021. Presently, the disabled child/sibling is eligible for family pension if overall monthly income of disabled child/sibling from sources other than family pension is not more than Rs. 9,000 along with dearness relief thereon.

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#mute
New Delhi: Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has shared a new post which she talks about different things which she feels important in her life.

Expressing her deep feelings, she shared of not being perfect and never giving up. This post has come after a month as she announced her separation from actor Naga Chaitanya.

She shared this post in her Instagram story and also wrote, #mymommasaid' in the picture.

The image which was shared by Sam had a motivational quote onto it, which read, I am strong I am resilient I'm not perfect I'm the perfect me I never give up I am loving I am determined I am fierce I am human I am a warrior.

Her post has garnered a lot of appreciations from her friends from the industry and her fans.

Recently, Sam visited Dubai and shared videos on her Instagram handle from her international trip. Earlier to this she also went on a Char Dham Yatra and visited all the four pilgrimage sites- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

She even mentioned in her post that it was her dream to go on a Char Dham Yatra and finally she has completed it.

On the work front, she made her digital debut with Manoj Bajpayee starrer 'The Family Man Season 2' which earned her immense love and appreciation. She even bagged the Best Actress (Series) award for her performance as Raji in The Family Man Season 2 at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2021.
New Delhi: Veteran Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna was admitted to hospital in Hyderabad. He had complained of pain in his left shoulder which was bothering the actor for the last six months.

A statement from the medical representatives of the CARE Hospitals said that Balakrishna had complained that he could not lift his right hand and was in extreme pain.

"Upon evaluation accompanied by an MRI, our team of Orthopedic Surgeons at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, we decided to treat Balakrishna. Our shoulder surgeon, Dr Raghuveer Reddy, and Dr B.N. Prasad performed a 4-hour surgery to repair the shoulder muscle tendons successfully," the press note from the hospital said.

The report also suggests that the doctors have confirmed Balakrishna's well-being, indicating that he has been doing well, and hence is ready to get discharged from the hospital.

Balakrishna's fans are worried about the health condition of their favourite actor, as they wait for more updates regarding his health.

The 'Lion' actor is to be seen in Boyapati Srinu's upcoming entertainer titled 'Akhanda'. On the other hand, he is also hosting a show on Telugu OTT platform 'AHA'. The show is titled 'Unstoppable with NBK'. The actor recently shot for the first episode of the celebrity talk show, and appeared to be quite energetic, despite the shoulder pain.
New Delhi: For Diwali, Instagram on Monday launched three new stickers to encourage its users to connect with their friends and family.

Whenever the people will post stories using the stickers, these will also be visible to their followers in a Diwali special multi-author story.

"The stickers will be visible from tonight and the multi-author story will be live from tomorrow night," the company said in a statement.

These stickers are a part of Instagram's global campaign for Diwali called #ShareYourLight. They have been created in collaboration with a Bengaluru-based illustrator, muralist and pattern designer Neethi.

To use the stickers, a user just needs to capture or upload content to a story and select the sticker tool from the top navigation bar. Now, under the featured section, one will see the three new Diwali themed stickers and then place the same on a story.

Earlier, Instagram announced that all users now have access to its Link Sticker feature in Insta Stories.

Link stickers are now available to all users regardless of verification status or number of followers.

You can access the feature by selecting the sticker tool from the top navigation bar when you capture or upload content to your Story.

After selecting the "Link Sticker", you can add your chosen link and then tap "Done". From there, you can place the sticker anywhere on your Story and tap on it to see the other colour variations.

New accounts and accounts that repeatedly share things like hate speech and misinformation, or other content that violates Instagram's Community Guidelines will not have access to the Link sticker.
New Delhi: Tuesday's episode of Bigg Boss continues with celebrity guests Kamya Punjabi grilling Ieshaan Sehgal and Miesha Iyer for not making enough contributions to the show. She says that the duo got the footage because of Rajiv Adatia's entry in the show.

Kamya also speaks to Shamita Shetty and asks her not to be image-conscious on the show. In the end, she saves Karan Kundrra from nomination.

The housemates wake up to Daler Mehendi's song the next morning.

An argument takes place between Ieshaan and Miesha over the character statement to which other housemates Simba Nagpal, Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi join the discussion and make them understand about the situation.

Tejasswi and Pratik get into an argument over kitchen duty when Teja asks Simba to take additional duty if he is not preparing dinner. Rajiv and Nishant argue over maintaining hygiene in kitchen.

Bigg Boss announces that the saved contestants have been granted a special power and they unanimously choose a housemate for direct nomination. Unsaved contestants are given a chance to speak to the saved contestant and persuade them for saving them. Three saved contestants - Karan, Tejasswi and Vishal suggest Miesha name but Jay doesn't agree to it initially. After lot of persuation, Jay finally agrees with the three rest and they take Miesha's name of nomination.

Miesha later tells Jay that she doesn't hold anything against him for naming her for nomination.

Bigg Boss announces a new task and says 4 contestants will be decided for the nomination. Afsana Khan's team wins the first round as per the decision of sanchalak. Later, the task gets intense and Simba pushes Umar into the swimming pool after the latter hurl abuses at his mother. Simba also nominates Umar for nomination. Later, everyone in the house get into a fight with each other.
New Delhi: The upcoming episode of Bigg Boss 15 will see Simba Nagpal and Umar Riaz locking horns with each other during which the former pushes him into a swimming pool in a fit of anger.

Simba and Umar have not been getting along well with each other for the past few days. In fact, the two have often indulged in a war of words over something or another. In the latest, the housemates were participating in a task when a verbal spat took place between Simba and Umar during which the latter threw abuse at his mother. Agitated by this, Simba pushes Umar into a swimming pool with full force and also throws a basket on him. Fortunately, Umar was not hurt in the incident. Soon after, Ieshaan Sehgal, who was standing there, condemns Simba's act and tells him that what he did was not right.

The promo has also caught Twitterattis attention who are now demanding the Bigg Boss to take action against Simba for getting violent on the show. Some of them are even demanding his ouster from the show. Social media users have been sharing their reactions over Twitter and have made hashtag 'EVICT SIMBA NOW' one of the top trends on Tuesday.

It would be interesting to see if Bigg Boss take any action or reprimand the duo for their behaviour on the show.
Kolkata: The relationship between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress reached a new low after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the grand old party of being an "unreliable" ally that had compromised with the BJP.

The comment prompted a sharp retort from the Congress which charged the TMC with taking "supari" (contract) from the saffron party to finish it.

Both the Congress and the TMC also accused each other of being hand in glove with the BJP. Attacking the Congress, Banerjee wondered why it should expect that the TMC would support the grand old party "when it fought every seat in West Bengal in the last assembly polls".

"There cannot be different policies in different states. We left the Congress as it had cheated us. It had cheated the people of Bengal. During our first government formed in 2011, the Congress left us midway; we did not leave the alliance then," the TMC supremo said on Monday.

The TMC was also part of the Congress-led UPA-2 government from 2009 but walked out of the alliance after the Manmohan Singh administration decided to allow FDI in the retail sector.

Claiming that she had left the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) due to rising fuel prices, the TMC boss wondered why the Congress tied up with the CPI(M) to defeat her party in the last two assembly polls.

On being part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government from 1998 to 2004, Banerjee said she had aligned with the NDA based on the Common Minimum Programme.

"When we were part of NDA, there was no attack on minorities," she claimed. "The Congress has compromised with the BJP, but we will never compromise. We are not like them who put up a facade of opposition at the front and go for a secret understanding. We are forced to venture out in other states as the Congress has failed to put up a fight (against the BJP)," she said.

Referring to her recent visit to Goa where the party will contest the assembly polls next year, Banerjee said her posters were torn and she was shown black flags. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, she said, "A Congress leader was also visiting Goa during the same time, but neither his posters were torn nor was he shown black flags."

The Congress has compromised with the BJP, Banerjee claimed. Later in a tweet, the TMC described the present Congress leadership as the "biggest insurance of the BJP".

"@INCIndia's present leadership is BJP's BIGGEST insurance! In WB, we've been fighting & successfully defeating BJP since 2001. Instead of accusing others, INC should put its house in order to effectively fight BJP or let others who've the will & ability to fight them nationally," the TMC tweeted.

Reacting to the allegations, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the TMC of taking "supari" from the BJP to finish the grand old party.

"It is for this reason that they (TMC leaders) are constantly attacking the Congress. They should be ashamed of themselves for compromising the fight against the BJP. The TMC is the Trojan horse of the BJP in the opposition camp," Chowdhury, who is also Leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, said.

He said Banerjee should explain how BJP-RSS gained ground in West Bengal in the last 10 years. "In 2011 when the TMC government came to power, the number of RSS shakas was merely 200-250. Now the number is in few thousands," he said.

After defeating the BJP in the assembly polls, Banerjee visited Delhi in July and held parleys with opposition leaders to explore ways to cobble together an alliance of anti-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She met Congress president Sonia Gandhi during that visit.

The relationship between the Congress and the TMC soured after the TMC took a dig at Rahul Gandhi's defeat at Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by wondering whether the party would erase the defeat through a Twitter trend.

In its mouthpiece "Jago Bangla," the TMC had also claimed that party supremo Mamata Banerjee, and not Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has emerged as the face of the opposition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Moscow: CIA director William Burns is making a rare visit to Moscow to discuss US Russia relations, the latest in a series of high-level contacts that show both sides want to keep talking despite mutual distrust and a long list of disputes.

A US Embassy spokesperson said Burns was leading a delegation of senior US officials to Moscow on Tuesday (November 2) and Wednesday (November 3) at President Joe Biden`s request.

"They are meeting with members of the Russian government to discuss a range of issues in the bilateral relationship," the spokesperson said.

Russia`s Security Council said Burns, a Russian-speaker and former ambassador to Moscow, held talks with Nikolai Patrushev, the council`s secretary and a former head of Russia`s FSB intelligence service.

Neither side gave details of the conversation, but security issues loom large in their troubled relationship.

Ties have hit a series of post-Cold War lows over issues including Russian-based cyberattacks against US targets, Moscow`s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the jailing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny and Russia`s behaviour towards Ukraine, from which it seized the Crimea peninsula in 2014.

Biden sent a top Russia expert, Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, to Moscow for talks last month that failed to yield any progress in a dispute between the two countries over the sizes of their respective embassies.

Biden met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Geneva in June, and said at the time it would take six months to a year to find out whether the two countries could establish a meaningful strategic dialogue.

Putin frequently criticises the United States but said last month he had established a constructive relationship with Biden. The Kremlin has said a further meeting between the two this year is a realistic possibility.

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New Delhi: Much to the ire of Sikh religious leadership, the Pakistan government has finally given the complete authority of administration of inside and outside of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartapur Sahib, to a non-Sikh lead management body - Project Management Unit (PMU)- Kartarpur Corridor - even as it had earlier outsourced the management of the outside of the Sikh religious place to a private company.

Aamir Hashmi, spokesperson of Pakistan governments Evacuee Trust Property Board informed that PMU, Kartarpur Corridor, has physically assumed the responsibilities of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib corridor adding that physical handing and taking over of almost 99% inventories had been completed. Earlier, he informed that a private company Global Noble used to manage the outside of the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib while the management of the inside of the shrine was in the hands of Evacuee Trust Property Board.

The final notification of handing over the charge of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was issued yesterday (November 1).

Notably, the Pakistan government had in November 2019 given its sanction for the establishment of PMU, Kartarpur Corridor, and a few days later a 9-member team led by Tariq Khan was constituted. Later, in July 2020 the Pakistan government advertised for the appointment of 126 member staff of PMU, Kartapur Corridor including its CEO and in September 2020 a retired army official Mohammad Latif was appointed as CEO of the PMU, Kartapur Corridor replacing Tariq Khan.

Not only did the Sikh bodies object to the appointment of a non-Sikh on the top post of a body entrusted with the task of the day-to-day management of Sikhs significant shrine but the Indian government has also lodged its protest with Pakistan.

Intelligence sources here are of the view that handing over the charge of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Corridor to a former Pakistan army officer would not only enable Paks ISI which is obsessed with terror to have direct access to the religious affairs of Sikhs but more significantly, it will keep an eye on soft targets to motivate them with its false propaganda in a bid to restart the nearly eradicated Khalistan movement in India.

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Islamabad: Pakistan is to free more than 2,000 jailed activists of a banned Islamist militant group and allow the movement to contest elections, under a deal with the government struck to end weeks of violent clashes, negotiators on both sides said.

In return, the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan has agreed to shun the politics of violence and withdraw its longstanding demand to have France`s ambassador expelled over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad by a French satirical magazine, they told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The caricatures have triggered repeated demonstrations by the group to protest at what it considers blasphemy.

Prime Minister Imran Khan`s government banned the TLP after its protests turned violent earlier this year, designated it a terrorist group and arrested its chief Saad Rizvi.

The government and the movement said at the weekend they had reached an agreement to help end the clashes, but neither side gave details.

Two members of the TLP`s negotiating team and one from the government side told Reuters the centrepiece of the deal was to lift the ban and allow the group to contest elections.

"The state has acknowledged that the TLP is neither a terrorist group nor a banned outfit," another member of the TLP negotiation team, Bashir Farooqi, separately told local Dunya News TV.

In addition, the government has agreed not to contest the release of the group`s jailed leader as well as nearly 2,300 activists and to remove their names from a terrorist watch list, the three negotiators told Reuters.

Punjab province Law Minister Raja Basharat said nearly 1,000 of the activists had already been released. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not respond to a request for comment.

The settlement came after seven police officers were killed and hundreds more were wounded as they confronted thousands of TLP demonstrators marching up Pakistan`s busiest highway from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad.

The group, which can mobilise thousands of supporters, was born in 2015 out of a protest campaign to seek the release of a police guard who assassinated a provincial governor in 2011 over his calls to reform blasphemy legislation.

It entered politics in 2017 and surprised the political elite by securing over 2 million votes in the 2018 election.

The next national election is scheduled for 2023, and analysts expect political groups to start gearing up from early next year.

Despite the agreement, TLP demonstrators have refused to clear the Grand Trunk Road highway, which they have blocked for more than two weeks, until the government showed good progress on the agreement, its leaders said.



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Washington: Congressman Carolyn Maloney will introduce a bill in US Congress, which aims to establish Diwali as a federal holiday in the United States. On Wednesday, the Democrat Congressman from New York will be joined by members of the India Caucus including Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and other advocates to introduce her legislation at the Hill.

Representing the Indian American community members, Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director, Indiaspora will also join the Congresswoman who has been a long supporter of the Indian diaspora.

If the bill gets approval, the holiday would be observed in federal institutions, with significant populations that celebrate Diwali and honour the cultural heritage of millions of Indian Americans who celebrate the holiday in the United States.

Congressman Maloney in the past has successfully worked with advocates across the country and led efforts in Congress urging the US Postal Service to approve and issue a commemorative stamp honouring Diwali, which has been in circulation since 2016.

Maloney relentlessly fought for this cause as she felt that "a relatively small action would hold great meaning for millions of people." Diwali will be celebrated on November 4 this year.

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On October 8, President Joe Biden said he has instructed the Justice Department to "deal" with the rising number of violent incidents onboard planes. The statement came after a group representing major U.S. airlines such as American, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, as well as aviation unions, in June, asked the Justice Department to prosecute violent air passengers.

Unites States has been witnessing a sharp increase in in-flight assault on cabin crew, aggravated behaviour from passengers ever since flights have resumed post corovirus lockdown. Through October 25, there have been 4,941 reports of unruly passenger incidents, including 3,580 related to pandemic face covering regulations. Non adherence to compulsory wearing of mask onboard is the single biggest contributor of such behaviour.

Also read: Ban on international flights extended till November 30

U.S. prosecutors, recently charged a 20-year-old California man with assaulting a flight attendant on an Oct 27 American Airlines flight that forced its diversion, one of the many cases in the recent past. The New York to Santa Ana, California, flight made an unscheduled landing in Denver after the alleged assault in which witnesses said a flight attendant was punched in the nose, resulting in bleeding and a concussion.

Brian Hsu, of Irvine, California, who is also charged with interference with a flight crew, was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Autumn Spaeth after making an initial appearance in a U.S. district court in Santa Ana on Monday. Spaeth ordered him to appear in Denver on Nov 15 for a hearing and directed him to submit to a mental health evaluation.

The flight attendant felt dizzy after the flight and was removed by stretcher. She was taken to the hospital where doctors told her that she had a concussion and she told the FBI she "currently has pain in her nose, head, and sinuses." Hsu said he accidentally bumped a flight attendant and claimed the flight attendant then "charged at him and hit her nose against the palm of his right hand."

U.S. airlines have reported a record number of violent incidents this year and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has pledged a "zero tolerance" approach. American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker said in a video posted on Instagram last week "this type of behavior has to stop," calling the incident "one of the worst displays of unruly behavior we've ever witnessed."

The flight attendant said she was struck on the head when speaking to another flight attendant. After telling the passenger to sit down because the fasten seat belt sign was lighted, "the male passenger raised his arms as though he were going to stretch" but then struck her on the head, the FBI said.

A union representing Southwest Airlines workers said in May that a flight attendant "was seriously assaulted, resulting in injuries to the face and a loss of two teeth."

With inputs from Reuters

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